Let there be light

I think we've all had a few of those moments in our lives where we simply think to ourselves, "Wow, I'm an idiot."

I had another one of those moments last night.

My friend Deena and I got into my car to head out to Fort Worth for one of our friend's engagement parties. The sun had already set, so it was dark out. D pointed out how creepy it was that no lights came on in my car when I unlocked it and we opened the doors to get inside.

"I know, right?! Lame."

Oh my goodness.

She gave me kind of a strange look when I said that and asked if I was sure there wasn't a way to make it so that a light came on. She was also curious as to how I dealt with getting into a dark car so often. I told her that I usually just turn on the interior lights myself. When I reached up to show her, I noticed a little switch for which I had never known the actual function. It was in that instant that a little epiphany hit me.


"Wow, I'm an idiot."


D then noted that this switch probably would do the trick, so we tested it out. Sure enough, we opened the door, and the light came on automatically. I got my car on Halloween in 2009, and it took me (well, Deena, actually) this long to figure out something so simple??!

I can't even begin to describe how frustrated I've gotten sometimes when I get in or out of my car in the dark and can't see anything or find my phone or tell if I left something in the passenger's seat. It always made me so annoyed that I spend so much on car payments for a vehicle that doesn't even have a flipping automatic overhead light. It's rather humbling to realize it's not the machine that's a dunce; it's the operator.


My life has already changed so much since this discovery about 12 hours ago. This whole ordeal makes me think about life without Christ. Some people go there whole lives trying to manage things in the dark, knowing they are missing out on something but never allowing that light to enter their lives. The truth is, though, that it's just like my car light: right in front of us and within reach the whole time. And when we allow Christ's light to enter our lives, the change will be even more dramatic than the visibility provided when opening a car door.


That will definitely be a moment where all of those idiotic times will simply be overshadowed and wiped clean.

An Ocho by any other name...

For some reason, I really love Chad Ochocinco.

Yes, he is egotistical, controversial and full of it a lot of the time. Yet, I love him and think he's absolutely hilarious.

So, it's with a heavy heart that I talk about the fact that he's changing his name back to Chad Johnson. WHY??!! I had grown fond of the change and was actually really excited when he originally made up a "Spanish" number for his surname before the 2008 season. But, as he told ESPN, he "[doesn't] have a choice right now" and claims he's "done enough with the Ocho thing."

Sigh.

Ochocinco, I'm rather upset about this. However, one thing is for sure: his personality will likely remain as pompous and flashy as always. After all, he did just challenge his coach to a fight in a cage match. I mean, how can you not love the guy?

There is even an iPhone app called Ochocino. I'm not ashamed to admit that I downloaded it (for free, of course—although I would seriously consider paying almost $1 for this man). The app contains OCNN (Ochocinco News Network), a link to his Twitter, a schedule and pics. There is even a Mad Chad mobile game. Holla!

Feel free to follow his blog, though please don't judge the man's poor grammar skills. After all, he's a multimillion-dollar NFL player. I don't think he has a very high regard for syntax and dangling or misplaced modifiers. Even I choose to overlook this on occasion for Ochocinco. (Actually, most of his blog is just pictures with some wordy captions. What can I say? The man likes the way he looks.)

I part now with an ode to a name that shall never be forgotten. Let us pay tribute to the great No. 85:

You invented a way to pronounce a number
as you woke beastly defenders from their slumber
But you defeated them as you darted to the end zone
yet could not have a celebration that featured a cell phone
Sometimes you still take the fines with your HOF cloak
or doing your sassy little numbers to show that you are stoked
You used an oversized stocking to deliver footballs to fans
and let "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" play as you danced
You once carried a dollar onto the field during an official review
and did your own version of the Lambeau Leap into a crowd of more than just a few
I know a transition back to your birth name will not change the man you are
and we will forever have the real Chad Ochocinco in our hearts

No, I don't have too much time on my hands.

Some like it hot

I think it would be an understatement to say that I hate cold weather.

Lately it's been colder than necessary outside, and I feel the need to dwell on this. Sure, I could try to be positive about the whole situation, but I would rather not kid myself. Cold weather is just evil.

The picture you see is of my mom and me at a flag football game. We may be smiling, but I was not the happiest camper. I'm pretty sure I wore about four layers that night, and that wasn't enough.

That being said, I've compiled a list of reasons why warm weather is so much better than frigid misery. These are in no special order other than when they popped into my head.

Why higher temperatures kick cold weather a*%:

1. It's not necessary to wear as many layers when you go running. I love waking up knowing that all I need to find is a sports bra and pair of shorts rather than checking the temps to see how many shirts I need to wear. It also makes laundry easier.

2. My fingers don't suffer as much from Raynaud's in the summer. Winter? It's so painful that I sometimes want to cry.

3. Dry skin and nosebleeds aren't an issue.

4. Baseball season.

5. I save so much money on my electric bill. (I've never turned on the A/C.)

6. I would much rather be sitting on a float in the pool than sitting next to a fire trying to get feeling back in my extremities. This is also difficult because I don't have a fireplace.

7. A pinkish-red sunburn is such a better hue than a purplish-black frostbite.

8. Two words: snow cones.

9. You don't have to run out to your car, start it, run back inside and wait for it to warm up, and then dart back out to it in hopes that it's been long enough that your heater will be at its full capacity when you turn it on.

10. I love the smell of sunscreen.

11. You can actually enjoy outdoor activities (without packing on multiple jackets until you look like the Michelin Man).

12. You don't have to factor in "wind chill."

13. Two more words: flip flops. (It's also one hyphenated: flip-flops.)

Honestly, there is only one thing (besides wearing scarves, of course) that is better about cold temps than warmer ones: fr**s are in hibernation.

Bottom line: cold weather is stupid.