Welcome to Poppycox, a web site dedicated to documenting the lives of Brett and Molly Cox (narrated by Molly).
You might be a little overwhelmed with all of our recent blog changes. If so, let me explain.
Our blog started out as "B+M" then a few months ago we decided we needed a new name, better yet, a brand name that could be used in any and all future endeavors. Thus the name poppyCOX was born. poppyCOX is fun to say and rolls right off the tongue. It’s a variation of the word “poppycock” which means senseless talk or nonsense. If you know me well, then you know I’m full of ideas and sometimes a little nonsense, so the name seemed fitting. The real beauty was that we could incorporate our last name, “COX” into the name.
Along with a new name, I wanted a new look. The old blog didn’t allow me the freedom to format my posts like I wanted. It just wasn’t looking “pretty.” So with Brett's design skills and my never-ending input, we have created a customized website that we LOVE. It is going to be a continual work in progress and our goal is to keep it constantly updated with new and interesting information. We are so proud of our new site and we hope you enjoy getting to know us a little better. Save us as a favorite and come back to the site often. You won’t want to miss out on any exciting news!
Christmas Time & Brett's Marathon
12.16. 2010
Christmas Time -
We decked our halls inside and out as soon as the Thanksgiving holiday was over. Brett did the exterior illumination and I worked on decorating the trees inside.
At work we had a Gingerbread Decorating Contest...which our group won 2nd place in! I wanted 1st place but it's good motivation for next year!
Brett's Marathon -
Brett ran in the White Rock Marathon in Dallas the first weekend of December. Here are a few pictures from the day before the race and the day of. Brett's goal was to finish under 4 hours. He did AWESOME finishing in 3:55:52. Five minutes may not seem like a long time but when you are running, it is. I'm so impressed with all of his hard work and the hours of training he put in. WAY TO GO BRETT!!
Silly Molly forgot to bring socks for Race Day. It was cold so I had to get creative. Brett gave me some gloves at mile 7 that soon became my socks!
Rangers in the World Series
10. 08. 10
After following the Rangers all season long, we were THRILLED when they made it to the playoffs and then all the way to the World Series!
Brett's been a dedicated fan for many years and to see his team make it this far was quite a treat!
Summer Pictures
09. 07. 10
Our summer in pictures:
-D.C. trip Highlights: Segway City Tour, Fried Green Tomatoes Eggs Benedict and our hostess with the mostess: Erin Wellen
-Rangers Game with Cassie
-Colorado trip Highlights: Family and Fishing!
-Labor Day Highlights: Weekend in Lubbock with Friends
Quarter Machine & Other Weekend Pictures
05. 3. 10
First few pictures: Where Brett spent his time and money while on the road this weekend....
Next few: Pictures with my Granddad
Last pictures: Our Homemade Derby Hats
You can see his deep concentration.
Happy as a little clam!
There lay Brett's hard earned money.
The birthday boy with the grandkids and great-grandkids. Too bad you can't see Granddad.
Out on the dock...soaking up the rays!
Our version of the Kentucky Derby...
Ok, a little silly looking but oh so much fun!
Future Purchases
04. 30. 10
Here are some things we've had our eye on....as soon as we get our tax refund, they will be ours!
Latest Ventures
(as mentioned in journal entry)
04. 16. 2010
Curtain call - These curtains are my latest creation. These will hang in the windows of our kitchen. I still need to finish the bottom with a cute ruffle. I'll update with finished picture soon.
Screen printing - I've recently discovered the art of screen printing thanks to a new artist I LOVE, Dolan Geiman. Here's my first screen printed image. It's not incredible but I'm excited to see where this new hobby takes me!
Dolan Geiman - Yes, I'm a little obsessed....here's my first piece of artwork created by him. I hope to have many more in the future. Better start saving now!
Ditch Day was a Success!
04. 05. 2010
Ranger's Opening Day was so fun. I'm glad so many were able to join us for our tailgate before the game. We had lots of yummy snacks...including cupcakes. Trying to be "Martha" I wanted to make some that looked like baseballs. I don't know how they tasted but aren't they cute?!?
And the Ranger Victory made the day that much more desirable.
Make plans to join us next year!
Egg-cellent Quick Craft Project
04. 01. 2010
Want to decorate for Easter but think it's too late? NON-SENSE! Or should I say POPPYCOCK!
- Go buy cheap plastic Easter eggs and some cute fabric.
- Cut the fabric in to small strips.
- Use Modge Podge or Elmer's Glue and paper mache the egg with the fabric.
- Let them dry and viola, you have a cute Easter egg display that you can use to decorate around the house.. Super easy, super cheap and super cute...my 3 favorite things!
Opening Day
03. 30. 2010
Only 5 more days until Brett’s favorite day: Texas Ranger’s Opening Day!! We’ve gotten a group together for our First Annual Ditch Day Party. It should be a good time! And we checked the weather today and it looks like it should be close to 80 degrees! Last year was a little chilly and unpleasant but it looks like sunny skies are in the forecast. Here’s hoping for a Ranger Win!!
Happy New Year! Or as our preacher put it this Sunday, "Happy New YOU!"
01. 03. 11
Now is the best time to start fresh and decide how to become a better YOU. I know that is something I hope to work toward this first month of the new year.
Instead of listing new year's resolutions like so many do (and I've done in the past) I've instead decided to share an interesting concept I am focusing on in 2011. It's simple but complex. (And also taken in part from this Sunday's sermon - thank you Dr. Bruster)
TIME
What is time? How do I use my time? How can I better use my time? - All of these are questions I will contemplate.
"There are only so many hours in the day." "There's never enough time." - I've heard and spoken both of these sentences countless times. But I plan to change that by making the most of my time in this new year. I will be purposeful with my every action so as to get every ounce out of my time and using it whether for work or pleasure. Getting 24 hours out of every day - 60 minutes out of each hour - 60 seconds out of each minute...well, you get the point.
"We say we waste time, but that is impossible. We waste ourselves." - Alice Bloch
Imagine planning out your entire day, all 24 hours, and then sticking to your plan. At the end of the day, you'd know you had DONE everything you set out to do. What a feeling of accomplishment that would be! Of course life gets in the way from time to time and will surprise you with little tasks and things to take you off course a bit, but that's OK, the point is you would still be getting more out of your time.
Now, here's the funny part. I am a planner by day, but when I leave work each night, that's where the planning ends. Or it did, until now. I'm not a "routine" person. I don't want to be "boring" and do the same thing day after day or week after week. More than once I've fought Brett when he's suggested having a Laundry Day. What if I don't feel like washing clothes on Wednesdays?!!?? But, as a result, I often find myself wasting a lot of valuable time. I wander from task to task and project to project without a PLAN. It makes me unpredictable but does NOT make me more "exciting or interesting" as I'd once thought or hoped to be. If you don't have a plan, a goal or a direction in general, you have nothing to disappointment you, right? WRONG! What you have are no accomplishments or if you do manage to achieve something, it's by pure luck and chance.
So how do I maintain my creative, laid-back nature while sticking to a daily schedule or a plan? Still to be determined and developed. But my hope, is that by planning out my time, I will not only be more productive, but I will provide myself with more time to creatively create whether it be: writing, sewing, collage-ing, embellishing or whatever new hobby I decide to start.
And just to be different/exciting/interesting, I'll PLAN to mix it up from time to time. My plan doesn't have to be the same each day, it just needs to be a plan, a guide for me to spend my time wisely. After all, we only get one life to live so we should make the most of every day on this earth!
Dear Friends and Family,
It's that time again, Christmas time!! Only 15 days left in 2010. I hope you've enjoyed our poppyCOX blog and all the posts that I've shared with you. Brett & I have been blessed with another year of great memories and experiences and many of them have been with YOU!
Most likely this will be my last post of the year but I can't wait for 2011 to begin. Already our calendar is full of exciting events including two weddings of some our best friends. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a safe New Year's Eve.
We'll see you next year!
~Love, Brett & Molly
Unappreciated Creativity
12. 11. 10
Creativity is a funny thing. Some people have it, some people don’t. And among those that do, it is always telling to see how they express their harbored creativity.
We are having a Gingerbread decorating contest at work and for some reason, the director of our department wound up on our team. I was less than pleased by this because he’s a bit, well, socially awkward. He can be very hard to talk to. He can talk numbers and business but when it comes to small talk, count him out. He wanted to contribute to the team effort so he took a gingerbread house home to put together. When he brought it back, two things were clear: 1)that he is not artistic in the least and 2) he had his kids decorate the house.
Over the last two days though, as our group decorates, he’ll stop by and watch in awe as we come up with new additions and creations to our houses. He has said many times that he can’t believe how creative we are. And when he says it, he sounds authentically envious, and impressed of our creativity.
To me, it would seem, he is just now realizing that our group is full of potential and good ideas. What a shame he didn’t realize it sooner!
How often are we all guilty of discrediting someone and assuming that they aren’t talented. Or, we don’t give them the platform to shine.
I think creative minds can be valuable in the business world after all, any time you get a new, fresh perspective on things, there is opportunity for growth. I wish he could see that business minds and creative minds, when combined, could be an awesome super-power.
I wish I could tell him that I am full of good ideas, but I don’t feel like anyone is listening or wants to hear. Maybe if I did speak up, things would change or maybe I’d just get fired.
But it is my deepest hope, that he is somehow, someway enlightened by our newly discovered talents and gives us all an opportunity to show him other areas where we can excel!
I'm also really hoping we'll win the competition because I think ours is the best!
Tangled
12. 06. 10
Ladies out there - ever gotten a chain necklace so tangled that you thought you'd never get it undone? Ever gotten two necklaces tangled up together and doubled the daunting task of trying to untangle them?
Knots and tangles can be so frustrating, no matter what form they are in. And they can be so difficult to un-do But once you've "untangled" man it feels good doesn't it?
This happened to me last weekend. Two of my favorite necklaces became intertwined and for the life of me, I can't figure out how they created the complicated knot that they did while sitting in my jewelry drawer. Only possibility is that they came to life in the middle of the night and did the necklace tango, twist and polka until I was left with quite a challenge.
I passed this challenge on to Brett after making a few weak attempts to un-do what had been done. Boys love a challenge right? Well, we made the mistake of bringing the necklaces to church. Before I knew it, Brett had spent the entire service trying without success to untangle these necklaces. Brett most likely missed the important message of the morning service and if nothing else, he was distracted by the project I gave him. So we're both guilty.
How many times do we let little unimportant things in our lives tangle us and distract us from the stuff that really matters? My guess is far too often.
A co-worker gave me this quote on a piece of paper and encouraged me to post it somewhere where I'd see it often. It's a great reminder:
God please help me focus on what I need to accomplish this day and don't allow the "urgent" to get in the way of the "important" in my life today.
It may well be that one of the biggest entanglements in your life is modern technology. Each form of technology creeps into our lives and becomes just another distraction pulling us in a different direction. Little by little, they wear you down until you are completely depleted.
We've all received those "Urgent" emails marked with the red exclaimation mark. We frantically open them just to find that they weren't urgent in the least. And I know I've labelled a few of my emails as such just to get someone's attention. I was too impatient to wait for a response and as a result, I may have tangled someone else's day for no good reason.
In the coming weeks and over the holidays I hope to focus less on email, text messages, facebook and other "time tanglers" and more on friends, family, and allowing myself to actually unwind and relax.
I encourage you all to do the same.
Can't blame it on the boss
We've all had bosses that were, let's just say it, a bit sub-par. And when you have a leader that is lousy at leading, it can be quite the challange.
But that doesn't give you the right to stop trying. Does it?
Take a look at the Dallas Cowboys - they are a perfect example of this very topic. I'm no sports expert but it would seem that for whatever reason, the team did not want to get behind their former coach Wade Phillips. He wasn't giving them what they wanted or needed so they just didn't perform. A team of talented professional players just stopped trying. Pretty sorry if you ask me! It really made me lose alot of respect for the team and then it got me thinking...
It's always easier to see someone else's flaws but upon taking a look in the mirror I realized that at times I am guilty of the EXACT same thing. When I don't like a rule or policy at work, it can affect my performance and it shouldn't. This shocking realization and application in my own life reminded me of the importance of work ethic. No matter the situation, we should always give our best.
My mom taught me an important lesson growing up : Every job matters to someone.
It's so true. You, the worker, regardless of what field you are in, may not care if you re-fold that shirt, tighten that screw, replace the hand soap, double-check those numbers, or score that touchdown (ahem, Cowboys) but, and this is a big but, it DOES matter to someone.
It matters to the person who's been searching for that shirt all day.
It matters the child whose bike falls apart and they scrape their knee.
It matters to the clean-freak in the bathroom that wants to wash her hands.
You get the point - Everything we do on this earth, will eventually affect someone else.
So each day, be mindful of the work you do and whether you like your boss or leader, give it your all. At the end of the day, the only thing you can control is YOU.
Consumerism Version 5.0 - Upgrade Today!
"So let me get this right. You already have a perfectly fine (blank) but now you want a new (blank) that's somehow bigger and better? What are you going to do with the (blank) you already have?"
Above is a recent conversation I had with my husband. And no, the blanks are not curse words. I was trying to come up with a Christmas list and my wonderfully insightful husband pointed out the fact that I was asking for "New" versions of things I already owned. It got me thinking about society and the dangers of our possesion-driven world. Most likely you could insert any material possesion into the (blank) above and it would apply to your life as well: phone, car, sewing machine. We've all been guilty so don't feel bad, just wake up!
~We've been so busy consuming everything we haven't opened our eyes to see that everything has been consuming us~
With the most popular shopping day looming, Black Friday, I started thinking about consumerism. We've been programed, yes programed to want the latest and greatest of EVERYTHING. It's a genius marketing plan but it's turned us into a "Spoiled Brat" society. We've even convinced ourselves that our wants are actually needs. It's really kinda scary!!
Ironic how the Black Friday holiday of "I want, I need, I'll buy anything I've seen advertised" follows the Thanksgiving holiday centered around, "I am so thankful for all that I have and my many blessings." Most of us are blessed with just about all we need (food, water, shelter) and beyond that, we typically also have everything we want (good food, clean bottled water and a nice home) Still, for whatever reason, we rush out to every store in town with turkey lingering on our breath to clobber each other over the head for that "hot" item that we just HAVE TO HAVE. We've been led to believe we cannot survive another second without it. Or, if we hesitate, they'll all be gone and then what will we do?
Upgrade, Upgrade, Upgrade
How many times do we hear that on a daily basis? So many times I am made to feel inferior just becuase I haven't paid extra for that upgrade that will lead me to eternal bliss. Marketers came up with a brilliant plan which is to slap a "Version" on everything. That way, you are put to shame if you don't have the latest version of the software, electronics, gaming system, etc. "Oh you don't have version 4.0, you poor thing. I'll pray for you!"
Throw Away Culture
Do you know how much food is thrown away on a daily basis? Perfectly good food? It's sickening really! But it's not just food that is wasted, it's everything in our lives. How many times were you too lazy for the hastle of a garage sale and just threw your items in the trash without a second thought? We've come to appreciate how disposable things can be. We've even managed to turn things that should not be disposed of into throw-away items. "Oh I'll just get a new one. I don't want to mess with it." I've heard this on so many occasions. This bad habit that must be stopped!
I too have been oh so guilty of this upgrading epidemic and throw-away mentality but my goal is to be better about this and avoid the enticing traps. I will think before I discard items that are perfectly good just to keep up with the Joneses.
I'm not saying that you won't see me out with all the other crazies on Friday or that I'll never upgrade again, but from now on, I'll take a long hard look at things before I do. Hey, it's atleast a step in the right direction.
Now with all that being said...
There is a difference between wanting more “stuff” and wanting “more” when it comes to your job, your life, your happiness. I would encourage you to evaluate ways to bring more enrichment to your life as opposed to looking for objects to bring you that happiness.
And if you are looking for this elusive “more” I don’t think it means you are ungrateful for what you do have.
It could mean that you need a fresh perspective on the life you lead, or a kick in the pants to do those things that you never make time for.
I recently read the most interesting article (check it out) about getting priorities straight, taking action and differentiating the business of life from the boredom of life.
Boredom is not always a lack of business, which I have found to be true in my life. It could be a result of spending too much time doing unfulfilling work leaving no time for engaging, enjoyable things. It’s no way to live!
I hope your Thanksgiving is neither too boring or too busy. I hope it is spent doing enjoyable, engaging activities with friends and family.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Turn the World Upside Down
11.22.10
Turn the World Upside Down - It's a simple concept, and one that I cannot take credit for. Our preacher this Sunday spoke on this very topic and it really stuck with me. It sounds so easy but it's something that I think we all often forget, ignore or wimp out on.
Imagine if every day we did something that would turn the world upside down?
I've told people before that I think one key to a healthy marriage is doing things that society thinks are crazy. Since most marriages end in divorce, I'd say it's a good thing if most people think you are crazy, right? In a way, this is turning the conformity of marriage on it's head, or flipping it "upside down."
When I die, I'd rather be thought of as crazy lady than a conformist.
But this concept applies to so much more than marriage and relationships. It applies to life. It's so easy to do what others do but much harder to take a stand be be different.
My challenge to you: Flip the bad things you see into something positive. Do good when you see others doing evil. Go against the grain and be brave enough to stand out from the crowd.
The Prayer of St. Francis speaks to this theory:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
If you must stand on your head first to see the world "upside down", then do so. But then, flip yourself right side up and set out to do what you can to flip the world instead. Afterall, you can't live your life standing on your head.
Start with little things here and there, and then build upon them until you are truly changing the world we live in, or atleast the little world that you live in. Small deeds can have a huge impact. Little by little we can change the world for the better!
Fall Frenzy
11.05.10
Dance Classes
Those who have known me for some time now know me from my famous days as a La Petite Dancer and a member of the beloved Midland High School Starz Dance team (ha!) and I’m sure you’ve all been wondering what happened to this talented dance superstar!!! Well, in an effort to get back to doing some of my favorite things (instead of just talking about it, dreaming about it or hoping it would magically happen through osmosis) I joined an Adult Dance Class so that I could start dancing again. The dance studio is a place that I have driven by for the past three years as a Fort Worthian and wondered, Hmmm, I should look into dance classes, and then I’d keep driving until something else took over that thought in my head. So the place is right down the street, classes meet weekly on Tuesdays from 8:30 – 9:30, and we are doing 6 weeks of each subject so it allows for people to pick and choose their favorite types of dance. I plan to take them all: Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Hip Hop. I completed Ballet in September/October and realized that 6 weeks was not going to be near enough time to get me back to the flexible dancer I once was, but it was nice to see that I had not completely lost all of my skills. We are now doing Tap and I’m loving it. I’ve already annoyed Brett with my tap, tap, tapping throughout the entire house. Now, I know how to threaten him and keep him in line! For a while I had been feeling like I didn’t really have anything that was my “thing” and it’s amazing how just an hour of doing something I love, something that is purely for fun, and allows for loud music and creative expression can really life my spirits and make me feel much more like myself. It’s been a great decision and I hope to continue taking classes in the future. I missed dance dearly but I’m excited to share that it is back in my life.
Rangers – World Series
They told us on Opening Day back in April of this year that “It’s Time” and they were right. The Rangers had an incredible season this year and Brett and I can proudly say we’ve been there since the beginning cheering them on. We went to over 10 games this season and I was a bit of a good luck charm helping the team win 9 of the 10 games I attended. Watching Brett, a long-time Rangers fan, get to see his favorite team go to the World Series was most exciting. He was absolutely giddy after each win and seeing him so happy was priceless. It made enduring the long season with 178 games (most of which we watched on TV) – that’s over 1,600 innings of baseball – worth it. Although, I have nominated myself for Wife of the Year for being so supportive. But it really was fun and I have to admit I got into it myself. Although I know little about the other teams in the league, I have to say I really respect the Rangers players and believe in my heart that they are good guys. It’s no secret that I have a huge amount of respect for Josh Hamilton and the incredible leader and witness he is for his teammates. But I believe every member of the team worked so hard to get to the World Series and they couldn’t have done it without the support of each other. I’ll be sad to see any of them go, but I know that will most likely happen. All in all It was a great season and one that can’t be repeated. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad to have a little break from baseball but I am looking forward to next season. We’ve already made plans to attend Opening Day again next year and I hope the Rangers players continue their much deserved success!
Brett Big Brother
Brett's been a big brother for his real brothers for approximately 25 years but recently he decided to get involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. Now, he is also a Big Brother to Carlos, who is in the fifth grade. Brett will visit him at school weekly and help him with Math & Science homework. I’m so proud of Brett’s desire to get involved and become a mentor for Carlos. I have a feeling it will be a positive experience for both of them as they continue to get to know each other and learn from one another.
Marathon Training
It’s almost that time again. Brett’s been training hard-core since August for his next marathon. He’ll be running the White Rock Marathon in Dallas in the beginning of December. I am nervous and excited for him to once again make an attempt to reach his lofty goal – finish in 4 hours, no walking. Please keep him in your prayers these next few weeks as he finishes up his final runs before the big event. Pray for good weather and no sickness or injuries. Goooooo Brett!!
Book Club
Despite all the other things going on in my life, I’ve managed to continue reading regularly. In an attempt to get some of our other friends reading, Brenda (one of my dearest friends) and I started a Book Club. Since our members live all over the place, this is a virtual Book Club. We have a conference call and webcast each month to gather from afar and discuss the book selected. We’ve had one meeting thus far and despite a few technical difficulties, it was a complete success! We read The Help which I would highly recommend to anyone who hasn’t read it already. It’s been on the NY Times best seller list for quite some time and I think it deserves it’s spot there. An excellent, quick read! Our next selection is Sphere by Michael Crichton. I had serious doubts about this one because I’ve never read Michael Crichton and quite frankly, I thought it would be WAY over my head. I will say there is a lot of science terminology in the book but luckily the author explains everything in layman terms so it is easy to get the gist of what is happening. I’ve really enjoyed it so far. I’m excited that this book club is forcing me out of my normal comfort zone and requiring me to read new genres and new authors. And as a wanna-be writer, I am trying to take note of the things I like and dislike with each new book and author I read.
Writing Club
Brenda & I have also started our own little writing club in addition to the Book Club. Every activity is more fun with a club! Right? We both have a few writing goals we’d like to accomplish so we are trying to help each other stay motivated and accountable and on track. She’s been much more disciplined about it than I have but I think if we both keep at it, we’ll be successful. My primary goal is just to start writing again. I’ve started reading some books on writing and the most important thing to do is write. Writers must write. Crazy concept, I know. It seems so simple but you’d be surprised by how many stumbling blocks keep me from just sitting down and writing. One of which is the fact that I worry what I do write will be bad, which they tell me in my books doesn’t matter. So that’s what I’ve been trying to do. Write, without worrying about the end result.
Travel to California and Chicago
Since my promotion in July I’ve racked up thousands of hotel points and airline miles. Within a matter of weeks I'd travelled to Palo Alto, CA, Chicago, IL and then back to Irvine, CA. Quite the whirlwind of meetings all over the country. It was hard being away from Brett and home although I can't complain because I was able to stay in very nice hotels that catered to my every need. I learned a great deal from my on-site training and had to "fake it till I made it" with some of the details I wasn't really sure about. So far the feedback has been positive from my meeting stakeholders so I have to believe all my hard work has not gone unnoticed. Now that it's November, the travel seems to have slowed. I don't think I'll be going anywhere until the end of January so I am relieved to have a little break. The travelin’ life can be exhausting, especially when you have to schedule 4 AM wake-up calls (which sadly I've had to do multiple times). But I'm blessed to have a job and one that gives me the opportunity to travel. Now, if I could just find the time to do a little sight-seeing when I'm in these cool cities, it would be perfect!
Nothing "Hallow" about Halloween - My vow to boycott Halloween
10.31.10
Warning: What you are about to read is nothing more than a rant. Proceed if you dare!
So let me get this right-We (Americans) can openly and extravagantly celebrate Halloween, a holiday based on evil, wicked spirits, ghosts and goblins but are basically forbidden to celebrate Christmas a wonderfully cheery, deeply religious and overall quite positive holiday for fear of offending someone. We’ll how bout this – I’m offended! I’m offended by the ridiculousness of our society and ashamed at how stupid we are. Therefore, I have no choice but to boycott the horrid holiday called Halloween in hopes that this INSANITY will not last and will fade away. Until it does, don’t come knockin’ on my door. Instead of a piece of candy you’ll get a piece of my mind! Now, who’s with me?
At work we are having a Halloween cubicle decorating contest. I know it’s all in good fun so I should just relax, but I can’t. Halloween has gone too far and it’s making me angry. Not only have I been too busy to participate but now I am abstaining purely on principle. They’ve changed the name of our work Christmas party to the Holiday Party. Which holiday will we be celebrating? I don’t know. I guess maybe I’ll dress as Columbus and celebrate the discovery of the America’s or maybe I’ll wear green and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Opps nope, better not celebrate St. Patrick’s Day after all St. Patrick was a saint, which is a religious figure, which could be offensive to some individuals. Maybe we should change the holiday to “Wear Green Day.” That’s generic enough as to not step on any toes, right? So afraid are we of offending someone of a different religion that we cannot celebrate our own? How sad!
Unlike Halloween, there is nothing morally wrong with the Christmas holiday. Even if you don’t believe in it’s biblical origins you can celebrate it in other ways by promoting the season of giving it inspires and the goodwill toward all mankind. I don’t really see how the celebration of a baby (whether you believe he is/was the Savior of the World) can be interpreted as offensive. It’s not. And we’ve let those people who want to see Christianity fail in America, win. It’s wrong and I’m sick of it. Halloween night is notoriously known for evil deeds and it is the perfect opportunity creepy, psycho people to emerge from their homes and do terrible things. Boy, that’s something we should celebrate!
WAKE UP WORLD!! It’s not cute to decorate your house with cobwebs, spiders, rats, tombstones, skeletons or giant inflatable cats! Don’t people typically want to rid their home of all of these things? There’s really only one word to describe such décor, and it’s tacky. According to the magazine “Selling Halloween” (yes that is actually a real publication), Halloween has become a 5 billion dollar industry and is the second largest decorating holiday after Christmas. We should be ashamed of ourselves!! What a shame that a country with a supposedly struggling economy has the money to waste on such crap (yup, I said it, crap). Multiple streets in our neighborhood, particularly some of the nicer houses in our neighborhood have gone all out this year decorating for Halloween. It is insane to me! For one of these houses, one giant inflatable black cat just wouldn’t cut it so they had to get two. Yes, there are two hideously large inflatable felines guarding a very nice, $500,000+ home. Do you know how many homeless cats could have been saved with the money that was wasted from that purchase? Close to 500,000 I bet.
Curious as to where the rest of that 5 billion is going? Well, I always wondered who went to those trashy Halloween shops that pop up everywhere right before September until I stepped inside of one (to my dismay and deep regret) and it was packed with people. It was amazing to me how willing people were to shell out $50 plus for a pre-packaged costume. Gone are the days of creativity and homemade get-ups. I have to wonder if creativity in general is dying. Society as a whole doesn’t typically like to exert much effort toward anything these days especially if it can be done for them. Therefore, one trip to your neighborhood Halloween store, can produce your generic costume.
And don’t EVEN get me started about the pathetic-ness of the selection of women’s costumes. Can you find any costume that is not what some would call slutty?!? Well no, unless you want to go as a nun. I think they do have that option there. But really girls, is this how we want to be represented? Apparently it is. Last weekend I attended a Halloween party with Brett, dressed as Mel, a character from the TV show, Flight of the Concords. For those not familiar, I will say that she is not the most attractive of girls and there’s nothing scandalous about her. So my costume was pretty frumpy. I was the ONLY girl at the party that was not either wearing something skin-tight, revealing their chest or wearing tiny shorts or a skimpy skirt. I was shocked. How can I be the only girl in the room that appreciates a funny, creative costume? My outfit required thought, preparation and a trip to Goodwill. I was actually supporting the less fortunate with the purchase of my costume. How many others can say the same thing?
Ladies out there, this is a call to action. Be brave, stand out, and don’t go to the party dressed as a slut this year. You can do it! You are smart, funny, pretty, creative – now prove it! You don’t have to show off your body to do it either. I bet you can still have fun too. And at the end of the night, you’ll still have some dignity and self-respect left.
Parents, instead of letting your kids dress like scary monsters and gorge themselves with candy that will not only rot their teeth but make them fat, just say No to Halloween. Decorate for Fall, attend the Fall Festival at your local church, but stop wasting money on this ridiculous holiday and teach your kids the importance of the holidays that really matter!
Boycott with me! This is what I will do:
-I will not decorate my house with Halloween décor – neither the interior or exterior.
-I will not decorate my cubicle at work and no one can make me!
-I will not dress like a slut (sorry, sometimes there are no other adjectives).
-I will not purchase Halloween candy or distribute it to greedy little children.
-I will turn the channel when a scary movie comes on (that’s not really part of my boycott…I would do that anyway because they scare me!)
-Halloween, until further notice, is dead to me. No pun intended.
What will you do?
Thank you, that is all.
Not to fear, the blog's still here.
09.07.10
I owe everyone an apology, including my husband, for abandoning the blog for the past few months! The blog was created in an effort to not only keep everyone up to date but also for me to keep writing, a goal that is important to me, believe it or not! Furthermore, Brett spent many hours getting the site ready for me so I do not want him to think I have moved on, never to return to the world of poppyCOX.
In my defense, I have been, correction, WE have been busy living life and have had a lot going on. But, I am disappointed with myself for falling off the face of the earth and not carving out time each week to at least write a quick note or post a few pictures. The result: I have so much to say and share and hundreds of pictures since my last post. YIKES.
I won’t bore you with every detail of our summer but I can give you the highlights:
-May: my birthday and D.C. were a BLAST. Erin was an excellent host and we really enjoyed ourselves. It was a whirlwind trip but we managed to fit everything in and then some. Since turning 26, my whole outlook on life has changed. Ok, not really, but I do think I continue to grow up more and more each day and I’m hopefully getting wiser with time.
-June: A wedding, a Ranger game, a trip to the lake, birthday celebrations and a bachelorette party….those are some of the activities we enjoyed. In the midst of these things I applied for a promotion within my department and had a series of interviews for the position. I was selected for the job and with the new role came new responsibilities. Very exciting yet very stressful at the same time!
-July: Another Ranger game, 4th of July festivities, more birthdays including one of the most important, Brett’s, another wedding, a week-long trip to Colorado with family, and kickball games with friends. As our schedule continued to stay jam-packed, I found my 8-5 life become more and more stressful. We had many people leave the company (by their own doing) and let left large gaps in the workload. Who better to fill those gaps than Molly?
-August: Brett started his marathon training back up again and plans to run the White Rock full marathon in Dallas in December. He is taking his training very seriously and has been keeping to a strict diet. We’ve both been eating healthier and I think it’s a great thing! Now I just need to find the motivation to run. The extreme heat and long work days haven’t helped me want to get started.
Work has continued to keep me very busy. I can tell you that the experience I am gaining is great and I am thankful for it. I hope that the continued heavy workload is job security but only time will tell. For now I’m doing my best to get everything done in the 8 hours I have at work but I’ve found myself working through lunch, staying late and taking work home on the weekends. Hopefully it will slow down a little before I go crazy!
Most importantly, in August, Brett & I celebrated our 2nd Anniversary. Having already gone on two vacations this summer, we opted to stay home but managed to still “get away.” I had a coupon for a free weekend’s stay at the Omni so we packed our bags (and dogs) and traveled down the road to check into a hotel for a little retreat. We had a great time and the dogs did too! They’d never stayed in a hotel before. It was quite thrilling for them and a relaxing time for us. We ate yummy food, slept in late and laid out at their fancy pool. I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful husband who has put up with me for 2 whole years! As time goes by we really do learn to appreciate each other more and I know our love has continued to grow.
Forgive me if I missed a few details but I think that gets us pretty well caught up to September. This weekend we traveled to Lubbock to see our dear friends, The Kissko’s, and our dear football team, The Texas Tech Red Raiders. It was a great visit and it made me miss our friends and our old stomping grounds! Something about West Texas will always feel like home, even if I never move back.
With Labor Day and summer behind us, I am happy to say that I’m excited for the Fall! I’ve decided to treat the Fall as the start of my new year (as if I were on the academic calendar and heading “Back to School”). I have many new goals and priorities and I want to start now on making a commitment to set goals and prioritize the things that are so important to me.
I’m not ready to share all of the thoughts in my head just yet but in due time, I will. What I will say is that this summer I re-ignited my passion for reading and with that came a longing to start writing again. I hope to do much more of both in the coming months. It requires discipline and setting aside time but I know I can do both. Not only can I do it but I know if I do, I will be a happier Molly!
I MEAN WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH ROAD TRIPS…(said in a Jerry Seinfeld voice) – Brett only said that about 50 times on Saturday and Sunday
05. 3. 2010
This weekend we traveled to my aunt & uncle’s lake house on Horseshoe Bay to celebrate my granddad’s 80th birthday. We left early Saturday morning around 7:15 AM and began our journey on Highway 281. We had a series of delays on our little road trip. First we forgot to turn on the electric fence before we left so we had to turn around and go back. It would NOT have been good if Maddie had gotten out while we were gone because we didn’t turn it on!
Then, we made the mistake of drinking WAY too much coffee which led to multiple potty breaks at less than pristine gas stations. At one of the said gas stations, there just so happened to be a Quarter Game Machine. You know, the one that has hundreds of quarters in it and you drop your quarter hoping that the machine will knock them off the edge and into your pocket?? Well, Brett ALMOST walked in and out of the gas station without noticing the machine ( I wasn’t planning on pointing it out for fear of further delays) but sadly, when I emerged from the ladies room, there he was, with a fistful of quarters and a determined look in his eyes. I didn’t have the nerve to stop him. So I stood by and watched him play his little heart out.
Well, as you might have guessed, he left $2 in that machine on Saturday morning. On the trip back, he cashed in another $3 to test his luck once again. He said he wanted to make sure he came out even, so he began to play. Surprisingly enough, he got on a roll and made back all of his money and then some. But greed reared it’s ugly head and he couldn’t stop playing. I also have myself to blame since I enabled him by continuing to give him back his earnings quarter by quarter. Part of the fun of the game is that you can keep going for quite some time so it’s fairly entertaining. You win earnings that allow you the opportunity to play longer. And with quarters, dollar bills, hundred dollar bills, silver plated jewelry, and pocket knives dangling off the edge and defying gravity, it’s hard not to think you’ll WIN IT ALL!
About 30 minutes after we arrived at that Hico gas station on Sunday, Brett was $5 in the hole and ready to give up. He’d gotten up $2.25 at one point but continued to play and then lost it all. It was a good time for both of us. We almost made it big on the Quarter Machine but in the end, the Quarter Machine ruled supreme. Brett says he’s learned his lesson, but we’ll have to wait until the next road trip to find out.
As for our weekend at the lake, we had a great time! My granddad wasn’t expecting to see us so that was a fun surprise. The weather was beautiful so we stayed outside most of the afternoon. Since the Kentucky Derby was on Saturday, my mom, sister and I decorated floppy hats and wore them in celebration of the occasion. Any excuse to wear a floppy sun hat is fine by me…even if I look a little goofy! If you want to see the pictures, head on over to the “News” section.
All or Nothing
04. 30. 2010
