ex(PR)essed

It’s hard to believe the Easter weekend has come and gone already. I was just starting to really get the hang of the sleeping in and relaxing routine when my alarm went off–ever so rudely, I might add–at an inappropriate hour this morning. I sure could have used an extra hour or two of sleep. But…there’s no time for sleeping! We have presidential candidates to host. Media to accomodate. Programs to write; media kits to assemble; ticketing, invitations, and volunteers to figure out. A web site needs launched; a stage needs set. It’s crazy busy at work and will be for the next three weeks as we approach The Compassion Forum.

So, even after just one day back, my long, relaxing weekend seems like eons ago. For those of you dying to know, I had a lovely breakfast at Panera Bread on Friday. I will unabashedly admit that I slept so late that I only had about an hour at Panera before the lunch crowd started arriving. And, the lunch crowd is noisier than the breakfast crowd, so it was time to pack up “War and Peace” and move on! Over the weekend, I crossed into the 400s in “War and Peace.” I must admit that I’m honestly enjoying the book. For realsies.

Otherwise, the weekend consisted of shopping, a birthday party for a pretty cute one-year-old, and plenty of games of computer Wheel of Fortune with Jeff. We also hosted Eunice for Easter dinner. That made us feel less like orphans since all the other Easter orphans abandoned us.

So, tomorrow we hope to launch The Compassion Forum website. Keep an eye on Messiah’s homepage — some pretty exciting news is coming your way!

Since my last post, plans have progressed at a rapid pace in relation to hosting the presidential candidates at Messiah College. I never thought it possible, but I wrote the content for an entire web site today! Something about being crazy busy seems to cause me to make better use of every valuable minute and, therefore, I seem to accomplish more in the same eight hours. Oh wait. It’s actually been more like 10 hours. But, you get the drift, right?

I really just want to write about a few things that are making me happy these days. Mostly because on the days when I’m having a hard time being happy, it will be nice to reference this entry.

1) Last week it was lattes and this week it’s pulp-free orange juice. My dear friend and colleague, Berlea, has been so incredibly good to me. Twice last week she brought me skinny lattes in the middle of the afternoon. Yesterday, she brought me a cocunut-covered cupcake in the shape of baby chick — too cute! Today? When the Falcon couldn’t satisfy my craving for orange juice — did I mention that I have a cold? — Kim bought me pulp-free orange juice at the grocery store. A big container. Just for me. And, I didn’t ask for any of this; she’s just that kind. I love that girl.

2) Tonight we had corned beef and cabbage for a belated St. Patty’s Day celebration. Even with my stuffed up nose, I could smell the deliciuosness as soon as I walked in the door. I’m thankful for my slow-cooker, for a warm meal already prepared when I get home, and for a cute husband to sit across the dinner table from.

3) Four-day weeks. No work for me on Friday. No alarm clock. Wahoo! I think I’ll take myself out to breakfast. I love doing that! You’ll likely find me and my copy of “War and Peace” enjoying a bagel and hazelnut coffee at Panera Bread late Friday morning. (Pretty sure that sentence is gramatically incorrect. I recognize it. You don’t need to.)

4) Evenings at home. In this New Year, Jeff and I have worked really hard at making sure we have a free evening or two a week to spend at home together. Tonight is one of those nights. And, I love it! So, what am I doing here?!

So, I’ve been on a bit of a blogging sabbatical, and not by my own choosing! Every day, since my last post on March 6, I have wanted to write and share any number of random thoughts with you. Time has not allowed, for reasons I’m about to divulge, so now you must withstand the deluge!

First, and this is big so you better sit down, it’s looking like Messiah is going to host all three presidential candidates for a Faith in Public Life-sponsored event called The Compassion Forum. It’s an exciting opportunity for the College and for me professionally. This event, which will bring not only the candidates and their entourages, but more than 500 journalists, will keep me quite busy for the next month or so. Worry not though, I’m up for the challenge! Bring on the caffeine!

Secondly, many of you have admitted that you’ve lost sleep over the unfinished business of the four pounds of bubblegum. Well, worry no further. Check it out:

The youth were very creative with their gum sculptures, don’t you agree? Jeff and I have been planning games and lessons for Wednesday nights the past few weeks while our fearless leader recovers from knee surgery. We’ve had fun, but I think we’re both ready to be relieved of our responsibilities for awhile.

Third, some of you will be intrigued to know that my dear husband has started a blog! His entries will focus mostly on his training and running schedule, but you’ll find that he has a quirky sense of humor that pervades some of his entries. Check him out at another mile.

The fourth thing you should know is that I’m zipping right through “War and Peace” these days. Because my mind is spinning with so many work-related details, the greatest novel of all time is my way of shutting down thoughts of candidates, tickets, branding, and broadband for happier thoughts of…well, you know: war and peace. Jeff is falling further behind; at last night’s count he was more than 70 pages behind me.

Finally, I have a confession to make. I have a new favorite television show. And, it’s on Fox. It will only be my favorite show until “Deadliest Catch” comes back with a new season in late April. But, for now, I’m getting my jollies watching “Don’t Forget the Lyrics.” It’s a shame I can’t carry a tune because I think I might kick some tush on that show!

It’s good to be back in touch with you, whoever you are. Peace out.

Two days in Myrtle Beach is not enough after a rough few days with the flu and a very busy work schedule. Jeff and I definitely could have used an additional five, six, ten days at the beach with my parents to fully enter relaxation mode. As it was, we enjoyed our two days in Myrtle Beach with the very cute Bertrams who treated us to delicious meals, miniature golf, saltwater taffy, and goodies at Eddie Bauer. (For the record, I won mini golf at the Mt. Atlanticus course and Jeff won at Jungle Lagoon. My parents battled it out for third and fourth at each course, and a good time was had by all!)

I did not finish “War and Peace” in Myrtle Beach. I was just kiddin’ about that anyways. I did read another 20 or 30 pages, and I’m inching further and further ahead of Jeff who declared the book “boring” the other night. He’s just saying that because he hasn’t gotten to the duel scene yet!

So, now it’s back to work where things are crazy busy. It will feel good to get back in a healthy, car-trip-free routine next week. I can’t help it — I’m a routine girl. I thrive on the expected! I need a little normalcy in my life.

There will be nothing normal about tonight however — Jeff, Matt, and I are taking 13 youth and college students to see TobyMac in Hershey. It promises to be an excellent time — lots of groovin’ and gigglin’ for sure!