Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Adoption...

...is something that has been crossing my mind a lot lately. The thought of someday adopting a little person to love and care for as my own.

Everyone knows that I do not wish to have more children.

A little of that is due to my desire to be free at some point - free to travel the world, see the sites, lay on the beach, make it to that over water bungalow that I have promised myself I will sleep in someday (with the man of my dreams), you know all that stuff. After all, I started having children when I had BARELY tuned 19 years old.

A little of it is also due to my desire not to WRECK my body all over again.

But maybe it's just the idea of actually bearing the children that I'm not cool with. Because lately, for some reason unknown to me at this time, I can see myself adopting someone, and a part of me feels that I will.

Of course there are factors that it depends on. The main factor is having a husband. I will definitely not do it if I don't have a husband...

Anyway, just felt the urge to blog about it.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

It's ON!!

A little background so you know where I am coming from with this blog:
My office ALWAYS has a wide assortment of snacks available for the eating. To make it clear, when I got this job I gained 10 pounds in a month. Yes, I was stressed out, but that wasn't the main problem. The main problem was that people in my office want me to be FAT!!

There is a lateral file cabinet in front of my area (ok it's a flippin cubicle lol). The cabinet has SNACKS on it ALWAYS. Lots of snacks. And they vary from day to day because someone named "Steve" keeps bringing stuff in. For the first few months of this job, I would ask where the food came from when I got in. Like, "Hey, who brought that giant tray of brownies?" OR "Who dropped off the Panera bagels??" The answer was always the same: "Steve." I wondered why Steve, a former employee in our office who had moved over to IT about a year before kept feeding us. FINALLY, after a long long time of people laughing at me behind my back, I realized that Steve wasn't bringing in the darn food at all. Instead, all kinds of different people were bringing the food in, blaming it on Steve so I wouldn't give them the evil eye!!


Last week sometime, I took it upon myself to move all the snacks over to the other side of the building, in front of a different department. Granted, it's still only feet away from my desk, but at least it's not right in front of me. The other department was pissed! On Friday, a lovely woman named Diann decided to move all the snacks back to their prior home, right in front of me. To this I exclaimed, I'll just move 'em back! So today, I put a bag of miniature candy bars on her chair and then I went on an afternoon break. When I arrived back in the office, this is what I saw before me:

Can you BELIEVE THE NERVE?!?!
OK Diann...no more Miss Nice Girl.
It's on baby cakes!
It's ONNNNN!!!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

10K: Mission Accomplished

I did it! I ran my first 10K race today!! That's 10,000 meters - or 6.2 miles. It was sooo much fun and God blessed me with a knee and leg that held up under pressure. :) The boys ran too...a 1K for Ethan and a 1/2K for Brenden and Sarah. Therefore, the big blog on this topic will be over at our sister station "Three's Company."

I do wish I would have ran a little faster...I was trying to maintain a pace that I thought would leave me with enough energy on the second loop...but I had too much energy! It was great! I finished something like 415th with a time of 57 minutes and 12 seconds. I think it was 12...it was either 12 or 16. I ran fast the last three feet to beat this old man who was trying to beat me - it was hysterical. He patted me on the back and gave me a high five. Next race I will try to keep a faster pace I think.

Before the race, I wished I had gum so I asked a man who was chewing some if he had any more. He ran to his car to get me some. How nice! Then he talked to me for a minute right before it began. He wished me luck and I did the same. My fan club set up shop on the corner next to Starbucks....Mom, Grandma Doris, Kellie, Ethan, Brenden, Sarah and Ryan. I ran by them 4 times and every time they were cheering as loudly as possible. It was awesome!! I waved to them and blew them kisses. After the race, I wandered back toward Starbucks to find my family and I passed the nice gum man again. He asked how it went and I told him it was great and told him my time. He said I did awesome! :) He did the race in 45 minutes. That's 12 minutes faster than me folks!

It was a totally wonderful experience and a beautiful, wonderful day. I will post pics in the next day or two and write more here as well as on Three's Company. The boys ran their races so well and made me so proud!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Obama it is!

Barack Obama - our next president! Wow!

When he first came on the scene I thought I definitely would not vote for him.

But he won me over.

Just like the majority of the rest of the nation apparently.

I have a really bad memory so I am trying to remember why didn't like him to begin with. I think it was because he had so much negative press with the vocal preacher man and all of that mumbo jumbo.

But my views have always been pretty liberal. I have never really thought like a hard core Republican although I was a registered Republican. (Really, I was only registered Republican because the guy who registered me in college got extra credit if I registered Republican. I know, that's kind of lame, but hey I was like 18 so whatever.)

I liked Bill Clinton. George Bush kind of annoyed me. But certain issues sway me back to the Republican side. Really, I'm just me - so when I re-registered because of my move, I registered with no party affiliation. In my opinion, there are too many issues out there to stand behind someone strictly because of their political party...or even a little bit because of their political party.

So, it's Barack and Joe.
They are only two men.
Let's see how they do in this great big world.
God be with them.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Serendipity

It's been over 2 weeks now I think...over 2 weeks that I have been dying to watch a particular movie. I don't know why I have had the urge, I just have. The movie is Serendipity. You know, the one with John Cusak and Kate Beckinsale...
I tried to buy it about a week or so ago at Wal Mart. The friendly cashier and I looked through the movie log under S with no luck. So I finally rented it tonight....the story of Jonathan and Sara (I didn't remember the characters' names until I saw the movie again tonight)...they meet randomly at Bloomingdales, they click instantly, they hang out a bit, and then Sara gets all new age on everyone and leaves, deciding to let fate bring the two back together if it is meant to be. So after lots of running around and craziness, in the end Jonathan and Sara are brought back together (although I didn't get to see the end tonight because the DVD was so scratched that it wouldn't unfreeze [hmmm is that a sign?]) and they live happily ever after.

Webster online defines the word Serendipity as "the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for" Hmmm interesting, yes? Phenomenon...wow...that word makes serendipity sound magical for sure. So is there some magical, serendipitous event when finding your soul mate? Does the kind of fate portrayed in the movie Serendipity actually exist? And do soul mates actually exist? My jaded heart is telling me yes! One thing I've learned is that the heart doesn't lie. So if the heart doesn't lie then heart = truth. And if heart = fate and soulmates exist then truth = fate and soulmates exist SOOOOOO fate and soulmates do, in fact, exist. Can't argue with math!

Floors, paint, floors

For months now, I have been assisting my parents in the remodel-ization of their house. I'm not exaggerating when I say that every single room was a complete wreck before. I wish I had before pics. But slowly but surely, the efforts of all of us have turned most of their house into a home again. And I have become a painting pro, a floor installation queen and a master decorator. A couple days ago, I took a few snaps with my phone.

Please don't make me do any more work...

Let Kellie do it!
I'd rather just lay here...

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Contract of Devotion

To follow up my last post, I thought it would be appropriate to blog about a very touching "Contract of Devotion" that was signed by my friend Reyna, her husband Tom and their son Brody. Brody is Tom's stepson but Tom is now being acknowledged as "Dad" since Brody's biological father has not played an active roll in his life. I felt compelled to share this "Contract of Devotion," as Reyna shared it with me (and gave me permission to blog about it). Not only is it a wonderful idea, but is wonderfully written, and despite it's seriousness, it is really damn cute! It brought me to tears because it was created out of genuine love and really demonstrates what a great dad is, and what a family is about...even if the family is a blending of what was at one time two separate families.


Contract of Devotion and Union
October 2008

The following “Contract of Devotion” (COD) shall be considered a Philp Phamily legal document and thereby upon signature, group hug, and kiss, the contract terms shall be adhered to and abided by at all times from this date forward.

Description of Contract

This COD is an agreement between Thomas Philp (Dad) and Broderick Sorensen (Brody) and is intended to affirm the union of Brody and Dad as father and son.

The COD is a sign of devotion, genuine loyalty, commitment and dedication between father and son.

With the approval of Brody’s mother, Reyna Philp (Mom), and at the request of Brody himself, Dad will legally be named as Brody’s father within the Philp Phamily Phoundation and is hereby granted all rights and responsibilities as father.

Although the following terms and conditions have been in place since 2002, the parties involved felt compelled to sanction their devotion and union as father and son.

Terms and Conditions

The following terms and conditions apply at all times and have been agreed upon by all parties:

Dad Promises the Following to Brody:
Dad promises, at all times, to provide unconditional love, support, affection, hugs, kisses, discipline, advice, and attention to Brody.
Dad promises to attend all school meetings, sporting events, extracurricular activities, science fairs, doctor and dental appointments, and birthday parties of Brody unless there are extenuating circumstances. In the event of an extenuating circumstance, Dad will provide Brody with an explanation ahead of time, if possible, and the explanation will be a good one!
Dad promises to treat Brody, as he has for the last 6 years, with respect, care, and admiration.
Dad promises to continue his bond with Brody and support his needs whenever possible.
Dad promises to teach Brody mechanical skills, rifle skills, tool names and designations, and at least 3 different knot variations and how to treat girls.

Brody Promises the Following to Dad:
Brody promises to obey, respect, love and value Dad.
Brody promises to abide by Dad’s rules at all times.
Brody promises to accept and appreciate all of Dad’s hugs, kisses and “I Love You”s, even when it might be uncomfortable, or embarrassing. A kiss from Brody to Dad, however, is not required to show love and affection, although it would be greatly appreciated and happily accepted.
Brody promises to continue being a good young man, keeping up his grades in school and being an all around good son.
Brody promises to speak kindly and make good choices.


Additional Contract Item
Surname Change Request

At the request of Brody, with the support and authorization of his Mom, Brody would like to use the last name of Dad and from this day forward, Brody will be known as Broderick Philp within the Philp Phamily Phoundation. Brody, at any point, may terminate this portion of the contract.

After a period of time, determined by Brody, he may elect to legalize the Philp surname with the County of Riverside and will notify Dad and Mom of his wishes. Dad and Mom promise to act on Brody’s wishes, when the time arrives.

Termination of Contract Terms

Under the Philp Phamily Phoundation guidelines, this “Contract of Devotion” cannot be terminated at any time. Neither party involved can cease their rights, or the rights of the other party. This contract cannot become null or void at any point, no matter what the circumstances. You are bound by the terms of this contract and unionized as father and son.


See Page 3 for Approvals and Consent.
Approval and Consent

By signing this document, you hereby agree to all the terms and conditions detailed above and agree to communicate with each other, resolve issues as needed, and provide forgiveness if any terms or conditions are not met to your satisfaction.



Signed:__________________________________ Date:___________________
Brody Philp
Son
Stakeholder of the Philp Phamily Phoundation

Signed:_________________________________ Date:___________________

Thomas V. Philp III
Dad
Co-Founder of the Philp Phamily Phoundation


Witness:________________________________ Date:___________________
Reyna Philp
Mom
Co-Founder of the Philp Phamily Phoundation


Witness:________________________________ Date:___________________
Jacob Blackwell
Son
Stakeholder of the Philp Phamily Phoundation


Witness:________________________________ Date:___________________
Cecilia Philp
Daughter
Stakeholder of the Philp Phamily Phoundation


Witness:________________________________ Date:___________________
Xavier Philp
Son
Stakeholder of the Philp Phamily Phoundation

So really, who is not crying? :)

I have never been one to say that I want or need a man to come into my life and be like a second father to my boys...ever...and I don't want or need that at all (in fact the thought of it in my life seems strange); but if someday I get married again, like Reyna did, I imagine that he will be the type of man that would eventually want to sign something like this...and I imagine that my heart would be filled with complete adoration as I know Reyna's is...