Don't sit by me.....GUEST BLOG by Connie J!

"Common sense is not so common." ~Voltaire

I'm super excited about this week's guest blogger....Connie J! She is one of the funniest ladies you'll ever meet. She was one of the office ladies at my high school and let me tell you, she ran that school! Everyone loves her and I think we would all read her blog if she started one! When she said she'd do a guest blog, I was super excited to see what she'd have to rant about. She didn't let me down.

So......here's Connie!

Tiffany stole my thunder by already talking about cell phones…but I’m going ahead with it anyway…

Is everybody who goes to church, the movies, a wedding, a funeral, school….so important that they can’t leave their cell phones off for ONE hour? Are we all heart surgeons on call, the governor, the president, etc….that we can’t be out of touch with everyone for just a little while?

I have been highly disturbed recently at a funeral when the same guy’s phone rang not once, but twice during the service. I’ve paid actual money to go to a movie and I want to slap the lady whose phone rings five times. I’ve been at bingo for goodness sake, when you know the people in there are not lawyers and doctors and prison wardens waiting for the reprieve from the governor (some may be future prisoners however) and they have their Bluetooth headset on and they just receive all the phone calls….oh my gosh!


I remember the time when we would drive miles across the country, heck sometimes I even went by myself, and never thought about not being able to contact my friends, co-workers or family until I got to the next town where there was a pay phone. I remember going to church and never worried about not getting a message from my mother about the dog’s appointment at the groomer or how she is out of beans, could I please bring her some on my way home.

I remember going to school for 12 years (and that was a long time ago!) and not once did I feel the need, or even know of the existence of, a cell phone. If I needed to call my mom I went to the office and asked to use the phone, AND it better be pretty dang important or I could just march myself right back to class, and why did my teacher let me out in the first place!!!??? I remember going to school meetings in Albuquerque where they didn’t feel the need to ask “professional” people to please turn off their cell phones during the meeting—they shouldn’t have to ask!

When you go to Allsups or McDonalds and the brain surgeon behind the counter can’t stop texting or talking to take your money, tell me you don’t have the same issues… Technology is indeed a wonderful thing, but there are limits to my patience about it. I do not have an answering machine, and don’t have voice mail on my cell phone. Yes, I do have a cell phone and am as bad as most people about carrying it. I do, however, turn it off when the occasion calls for it to be off.

So don’t sit next to me at the movies or the funeral or the wedding…..because if your cell phone rings I will slap you.

Happy Birthday, Boys!!

"It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that really matter."

So the first couple weeks of November are apparently a great time for birthdays. Not only are there a lot of them, but there are some pretty awesome people celebrate during this time! :)

Anyway, several of my boys are having birthdays and I figured instead of doing a blog each day, I'd do one big one and give them all a shout out.

So....Happy Birthday, boys!! You guys are the best!

High School Buddy - one of my best friends from high school. He's seriously one of the funniest, sweetest guys you will ever meet. Everyone loves him! He's also got an awesome drum set so if you're ever in Lubbock, hit him up and have him play for you! And ladies---he's single. But fair warning, you've got to meet my stamp of approval and it will take alot to be good enough for him!

Basketball Star is the tall guy (as if the other's aren't...) in the black jacket. He is a coach in Oklahoma....and he and his wife, just announced they are expecting their first baby! Basketball Star was probably the one person who helped me get through my year of junior college that was pretty much a disaster! He was always there to keep me sane!

KT - Well I always knew that KT was awesome, but when I was looking for a picture of him for the blog, I realized he was famous! He's got his own band, and he's made cd's...which I knew. BUT....he has kids that actually have recorded them doing covers of his music on You tube!! I think that's when you know you've made it big! :) Here's a video of the REAL KT doing his thing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MAz_eiPMwg I stil remember being at his house one night when he was just learning guitar chords. Now he's a rock star!



Flintstone -- So I griped about junior college, but I must say I'd do it all over again because I made some FABULOUS friends there, and Flintstone is one of them! He's the one looking goofy in the green jacket and yellow tie. :) He's always there for me and tells it to me just like it is no matter what! He lives in Kansas and has a beautiful baby girl!

NM Animal House Boy---- He and I have been friends forever it seems like...he's one of the greatest guys I know! He was one of the group of guys in college who made my 3 years at OSU absolutely great! He's married to an awesome girl, who fits right in with our crazy friends and puts up with me calling and yacking to her husband for an hour when I'm mad about something!

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

"Children make you want to start life over." ~ Muhammad Ali


As I mentioned yesterday, my friends and I worked at the Arby's booth at the OSU/Texas game this weekend, helping people make signs. Some of the kids completely cracked me up with what they wrote. I took few pictures and wanted to share.





In case you were wondering, the most popular signs were "Free Dez" and "RIP Texas" neither of which apprently happened!

One sigh I loved but didn't get a picture of was a little girl's that said, "Zac....Marry Me!" She has good taste! :)

And my two all-time favorites:

We had a great time getting to hang out with all these kiddos before the game. You really never know what's going to come out of their mouth next!

Best Birthday Weekend Ever!!

"I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for the handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun." ~ Chrles Swindoll Even though I wrote this a while back, I'm linking up today to "You Say It's Your Birthday!" Be sure you go check out everyone else's birthday posts!

Wait a minute, you're WHERE on your birthday??

So it was Friday morning about 9:00 and I get a text from the Blonde Oklahoma Girl. She says something along the lines of, "You should be in Oklahoma...we have a game ticket for you!" I thought, man, I wish! Then I looked at the paycheck sitting on my desk, realized it was my birthday, and thought, why not?? So I bought my plane tickets and texted BFF something along the lines of "Got game tickets. Meet me in Stillwater." He said, "See you there!" So my lovely girlfriends picked me up at the airport and we headed to Stillwater, the happiest place on earth!! So the reason we had the tickets was because the Loud Oklahoma GIrl (lovely lady in the middle below) works for Arby's in marketing. Ironic that I'd get a free ticket from Arby's since I refuse to eat there after almost dying of food poisoning once. Anyway, we had to work the booth--it was awesome because it was a sign making booth. Kids came by for HOURS and made signs---forthcoming blog with some pictures soon! :) Here are our signs! Then it was gametime! This is a picture of the coin toss---Colt McCoy and Zac Robinson hugging at the 50 yard-line. I was wrong...THAT was what I wanted for my birthday--a Tiffany sandwich! ;) So this is all I have to say about the game. Even though the score was terrible, there's nothing like the excitement and energy of a gameday in Stillwater! Then it was off for a little fun at the Penny. Got to see some old friends and made some new friends and had a great time! After that, it was time for a little breakfast at Ihop...where everyone in the restaurant sang me happy birthday and I got free ice cream. This is me waiving to everyone saying thank you! Notice our waitress dressed in a Perkins costume and the bride behind her. Then the night ended at our friend's house when we all laid around talking until way, way too late/early!

Then the next day (although there is no picture) I got to see my SoulMate Friend and her little pregnant belly!! She's due in February and Mr. Eli Green, future Notre Dame or OSU linebacker, has his nursary furniture all set up!

Thank you guys for making this birthday the best ever!! And thanks everyone who called, texted, facebooked or emailed me on my birthday. It's so amazing to know how many people I have in my life who care about me! I'm a lucky, lucky girl!

26 on my 26th!

"Few women admit their age. Few men act theirs." ~Anonymous

In honor of my 26th birthday (which I prefer to call my box moving party....since I'm no longer in the 20-25 range)...I've decided to share 26 things about me. Enjoy.

(Me drinking from a fountain in Switzerland--get it, fountain of youth!)

1. My favorite smell is a mixture of sawdust and revive. It gives me butterflies in my stomach. Only former showers will understand.

2. I have a serious feet phobia--can't stand to be touched by them!

3. I have to sit on an aisle seat on a plane.....I feel that if we crash my chances of survival are much higher that way. Logical, I know.

4. I was the 4th Place chicken judger in America when I was in high school.

5. I hate it when highlighters run out....it has seriously made me cry before.

6. I laugh at really in appropriate times. Like when something sad happens or someone gets hurt, I break out laughing. I think that's a problem.

7. I was convinced I would be fired from my Summer Associate job the first week because the first four restaurants I went to, I had no idea what anything was on the menu. (I solved this by ordering the thing that looked closest to "grilled chicken.")

8. I am obsessed with pajama pants. My drawer is overflowing.

9. I get horrible motion sickness and have basically puked my way across America, including Beverly Hills, San Francisco, the skies over Arizona, a freeway in Dallas, Washington, DC.....and I can now proudly add a European incident on the streets of Rome!

10. I was my high school homecoming queen, but was definitely not a cheerleader!

11. I am planning to run the San Francisco Half Marathon within the next two years.

12. I am 5'3 despite the fact that both of my grandfathers were over 6'2 and one of my grand mothers was 5'10.

13. I believe from personal experience that a person must do something really, really bad to get kicked out of an IHOP. We're talking felony level bad here.

14. I truly believe STILLWATER is the happiest place on Earth.

15. I do not trust the dentist.

16. One of my best friends used to think I was stuck up. (Thanks, College Roomie)

17. I think that the book "Better Single Than Sorry" should be curriculum in small town schools.

18. I love college football. And by love I mean I have a completely obsession. I will watch any game, any time, don't care who is playing. And I can name the last 8 Heisman winners. In order.

19. I am fiercely loyal to the people I care about. I am overly-protective and hold grudges against people who hurt my friends/family long after the friends/family have let it go.

20. I have a 45 item bucket list. Last year I crossed off 6 items. This year it's looking like another 8 will be done.

21. One of my friends recently helped me discover I have rather low self-esteem. His remedy is me telling myself how cute I am in the mirror every morning. I think he's kind of crazy.

22. Apparently I am a little bit loud. Some say indimidating. Others say brash. I think it's becuase I'm a little person and I feel the need to be sure my voice is heard.

23. I went to 7 proms in high school. Other than proms, I went on less than 7 dates in high school. Go figure.

24. I have a secret goal in life of having 10 bridesmaid dresses. Like 27 dresses--I just want to make double digits. Right now it is sadly looking like I will probably be one or two short.

25. I love taking jumping pictures. My friends/family who have to be the photographers don't like them nearly as well.

26. My Gran was probably my favorite person in the world. She was a tiny little grandma who weighed like 95 pounds, but she was tough as nails, fiercely independent, and everyone knew not to mess with her.

5 Years Later....

"The hardest part of saying goodbye is having to do it again every single day. Every day we face the same truth that life is fleeting that our time here is short and to honor the fallen we must live our own lives well." - OTH

Five years ago the world was turned upside down. I still remember that feeling. In two days, my brother's best friend, one of my oldest friends, and my friends father were all killed in two tragic car accidents.


Grief is a strange thing, and even five years later, I don't think it's something that ever goes away. So remember, life is short. Tell the people who matter to you how much you care about them. And please don't drink and drive.





Please keep the Garcia and Downey families in your prayers this weekend. I know it's a hard time of year for all of them.

"All The Single Ladies...." GUEST BLOG by Lyndse!!

"Think about it. If you are single, after graduation there isn't one occasion where people celebrate you. ... Hallmark doesn't make a "congratulations, you didn't marry the wrong guy" card. And where's the flatware for going on vacation alone?" ~SATC

Today's guest blog is by my dear friend, Lyndse! We met at OSU (shocking, I know) and she is honestly one of the funniest, sweetest, most amazing people I know! She's one of the foursome of girls I love to have girls weekends with every year. She always writes the cutest emails, so when she said she wanted to guest blog, I was super excited. She didn't let me down!

So.....drumroll.....here's Lyndse!

Let me just start off by saying that I am very excited to be one of Tiff’s guest bloggers, since I live in Oklahoma and do not get to see her very much, I look forward to reading up on the latest adventures of Tiff. That being said, I couldn’t think for the life of me what to write about, my life is nowhere near as exciting.

Then it came to me when I was checking my mail. I got the normal stuff, bills…blah, something for someone named Lisa (not me obviously) and two invites to a baby shower. Two invites to a baby shower!? How can this be? When did we become the age where we are getting invited to weddings and baby showers, not to mention bridal showers, bachelorette parties, etc.

Two things about this bothers me: One, that I am getting older (I turned twenty-five this year, yes I had a pity party, and no I am still not over it) and Two, this is yet another thing that I have to buy for. Yes, I said it. That I have to buy for. This probably sounds selfish but please understand this is not the point I am making. I am very excited for my friends that are having babies, for those who have already had babies and those that are getting married or have gotten married. Congrats!! Yay!! Couldn’t be happier for you. However, all these weddings, showers, and babies are getting expensive for me. I am a single woman, who is now on a budget. Who invented a budget anyway? It’s really for the birds (another soapbox, another day). Why is it that we are only allowed to register for things when we’re getting married or having a baby? I have a house, I need or should I say “want” things, why can’t I register? It’s really only fair, don’t you think. I do not think that I have to become joined with one for someone to buy me a blender or five for that matter. I would like to get pots and pans, towels, and fancy dishes that I will probably never use. Why does it have to come when I get married? I think us, young, professional, successful, single women who are on our own, buying houses, out in the world making a name for ourselves, and getting older should be able to register. For example, turning twenty-five seems like a momentous occasion maybe one that would require a registry, just throwing that out there!

Maybe I am just jealous that I can’t go to Target or Bed Bath and beyond and take one of those fancy guns, and scan any and everything that I need or think I need. I really am excited for my friends that get to register, really I am. And as for those baby showers, don’t worry, I will get them a gift, after all I do like to shop…its where that whole not working well on a budget comes in : )

(Our fabulous Girls Weekend 2008!)

Throwback Thursday #1: Traveling to Switzerland!

"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~Kevin Arnold

So I enjoyed the idea of having themed days for the blog, that I've decided to do Throwback Thursdays. Let me explain. I was going through pictures from Europe trying to figure out which ones I want to get prints of. I thought, I sure which I had blogged while I was there so I would have that to look back on! That got me thinking....I can blog about it now.....while I still remember everything! So...Thursdays will be a throwback to the European post-bar Adventure that was. :)

Here goes day 1..... Picture it. Sicily...1947. No, just kidding.

It was Friday morning, July 31. I had finished the torture that was the bar exam on Wednesday. Spent all day packing and doing laundry on Thursday. My dear friend College Roomie stayed over to take me to the airport at the crack of dawn. I flew to Houston, where I met up with my cousin Whitney. We then flew to New York City. Well, Newark to be exact. We had a little layover before embarking on the 8 hour flight across the pond.

(Here we are....definitely post-long plane flight, but we didn't take pre-picture!)

We got on this HUGE plane...there were like 9 seats across and it seemed to go on forever. They played movies, so that was fun. They also fed us, real meals...they weren't too bad!

(Picture of the plane)

(Lasagna for dinner!)

They even had this really cool map so you could see exactly where you were flying. I was amazed to think that at this point in the picture below, I was closer to Africa than I was to home!

We flew at night, which I think is the key to a long flight. It's dark and cool, they turn off the lights, you can go put your pj pants on and cuddle up in your seat. Then, you FINALLY arrive at your destination!

(I know this is horribly unflattering, but I want you to have the full effect)

(Geneva airport...welcome in English, French and German)

After we got our bags and met up with my Cousin Swiss Mister, we rode the train from Geneva to his home, traveling along the shore of Lake Geneva. We got a great view of the Swiss countryside.

(My dear cousin who was our host)
(Swiss countryside from the train)

Then we arrived in the tiny village of Cully (pronounced Cooey) where we would be staying.

(Tiny little street in Cully, Switzerland)

(View from Sean's apartment back door)

Then it was time for a little nap before our adventure fully began....

Day 2 will follow next Thursday---it's a hike around Cully and a boat cruise on Lake Geneva for Swiss National Day! Stay tuned....

Where do they go??

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." ~ Galileo

Pencils. Highlighters. One sock. Glasses.

These things in my life seem to mysteriously disappear, like a lot, and I just don't understand where they go. Please notice my annoyed face in the picture.

I mean really---how does a sock go into the washer (and I know it does or else it would randomly be in my laundry basket or on the floor) and not come out? Huh? And you never lose a pair---like I have three single socks I have lost a match to. Why don't I lose a pair that matches? I wouldn't even notice. But no. Never happens.


And how is it I can go through like 10 pens a week at work? I know they stay in my office, but are they on my desk in the little holder where they are supposed to be at the end of the day? No!

Now some things I lose frequently and find. And anyone who has ever lived with me, or even been at my house in a morning knows that I frequently engage everyone present in "Tiffany's Lost Item of the Day." Usually it's glasses. Those suckers seriously move around when I'm not looking at night! Sometimes the object of the game is the remote control. Sometimes my keys (although I have a hook now that helps). Once, in college, I lost my glasses for like 3 weeks. I found them...in my shoe.



I know this wasn't very philisophical or meaningful, but I was just really annoyed at this today and figured, why not blog about it? That's what it's for, right? So, now I'm off to go match up socks. Cross your fingers they are all there...

My Dr. Phil cousin says....

"To dream anything that you want to dream. That's the beuaty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed." ~Bernard Edmonds

So this weekend I got to go to Houston and visit my cousin Kevin. He's the one next to me in the blue jacket. He's one of my favorite people.....don't anyone tell him I say nice things, the last thing he needs is a bigger head! Anyway, we had some good chats this weekend, and he decided to impart some old person knowledge to me. He kept referring to himself as Doctor Phil, so I decided to stick with that for the blog title. He'll be impressed. He was insistant that he was far deeper and philosophical than I thought. I totally didn't buy it.

Anyway, part of his analysis really sort of hit me between the eyes. I figured I'd share. Maybe some of you can relate.

So we had been having a conversation about life and what we want and all of that jazz.... Anyway, on the second day of my visit, I was yapping about wanting to eventually live in a small, quiet town and have a few sheep and cattle. He looks at me and says, "Tiff, you have no idea what you want. You've been here 2 days and have talked about 5 different lives you want to be living. It's a good thing you're not married, because you don't have a clue where you want to go."

As much as I hate to admit it, he's totally right. I don't know what I want----one day I want to go down one road, then the next day, I'm thinking I want head down a completely different one. I dont' think this is a bad thing at all.....I think it's a sign of me being a person who is generlly happy in situations and knows I could be happy in several different places. Also, maybe that's why I'm not married. If my cousin can figure this out about me, I'm pretty sure God knows I am a big confused ball of dreams and maybe that's why my Mr. Right is lost somewhere in a forest. He's wondering around waiting for me to get my head on straight.

Crazy to think I get all this from a cousin trying to prove to me he could be deep and serious. Who would have thought?