You try to scream...

and terror takes the sound before you make it.

Here are some pictures from "Thrill the World" put on by the Alamo Drafthouse. We were trying to break the record for the most people dancing thriller at one time. It's a big MJ party, complete with zombie costumes, authentic look alikes and a sing/dance along. They taught us the dance, and we did our best!! It was crazy fun and difficult to learn.


Don't worry. It's only make up. We're not really dead. And we won't try to eat you.


Hee heeeee.


Here we are at the House of Torment. Scary. And apparently earrings come off really easily there and you lose them forever.


The stuff of nightmares.

Don't judge a girl by her debit card transactions

Sometimes I think that my bank might judge me. They do see all the transactions fit to print. And this is what I think they're saying, "Really Lacey? McDonald's? Even after all that work you put in at boot camp? Not to mention the amount you pay for it! You know we know how much you pay. Have you no self control lady?????"

To my bank I say this, "You don't know me. Step off."

Okay, maybe I'm being a little paranoid. I am judging me. I know I shouldn't be eating McDonald's.

Might I make a suggestion?

My new favorite thing to do? I'm glad you asked. Like to hear it? Here it goes: Get in my night-nights and read a book with my fancy ass book light (Lori knows what I'm talking about!). That's it. Nothing crazy. Just my night-nights, a book, my night guard and said book light. It's like, duh! How did I ever read before this book light? Like I actually had the overhead light on? When you're done, you just turn off the light and set your book down. Or if you're me, you stick the book/book light combo under your pillow only to be discovered in the wee hours of the morning. If you like to read, know how to read, or find yourself reading at night with an overhead spotlight on, get yourself one!

Neat-o.

Buddhism Part Two

Today I went to another center. A Meditation Center. Unlike my last visit to the Buddhist Center, this was an instruction on meditation. We sat in a small room (we meaning me and two other dudes) while Lynne instructed us very calmly and patiently how to meditate the Shambhala way. Apparently there are many types of meditation. You are free to meditate however you like, but they prefer you not mix the types, as then they may not know how to instruct or help you. So in this type, you sit on a tall foam block, instead of a small pillow. It was a little easier for me to sit this way. Your eyes are open. You are not looking at anything, but kind of focusing 2-3 feet in from of you. You acknowledge your thoughts and label them "thinking". This is good for me since I like to categorize and organize things. Your thoughts are just that: thinking. You concentrate on your breath. Feel it. Hear it. Live it. So we practice, then we talk about it. Then we practice again. Then Lynne gives us the ins and outs of the center and etiquette, etc. After that, she asks if we would like to sit in on the last part of the public meditation. "Sure!", I say. I'm game.

So we go into the public meditation room where meditation is already in progress. We go sit down and start to meditate. Easy enough right? Wrong. Of course I am consumed with thoughts, and try to label them "thinking". Then that sends my thoughts on another tangent. Much like the Bing commercials about search overload. Goes a little something like this. "This guy is breathing heavy. Wait, that's thinking. Yup, I'm thinking. Is it Saturday or Sunday? It's Sunday. I think. Man! I'm thinking again. Breathe. In. Out. Do they have the windows open in here? That dude totally has a mosquito on his arm. I hope it doesn't come over here to me and bite me on the face. Great. Now I'm itching. Is it a mosquito or am I just paranoid?! Why would they have the windows open and let mosquitoes in here when they know everyone is trying to concentrate. Who can concentrate with mosquitoes biting them? Not me. That's for sure. Wait. Where's the Buddha statue? What's that brush thing? Looks Native American. I wonder why they have so much rice in the bowls. Dude, that's thinking AGAIN!" At that moment I hear the familiar sounds of the singing bowl and someone says we'll now start the closing chants. Ok, I say. Not so bad. Maybe got 1-2 good seconds of meditation in there somewhere. That counts for something.

And now...

I wait. I have placed in the mailbox my signed contract stating that I won't break an international teaching contract-or pay loads of money, along with my fee for my application to teach abroad. Now I just wait. I'm sure the offers will be rolling in. I am so excited for the opportunity and really have no idea what's going to happen. Ready for the adventure...or at least for the check to clear.

In my next life...

or maybe later in this one, this is what I'll be:

1. Hip hop dancer, like in Step Up 2. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you're missing out. Check it out.
2. Broadway star. I like to sing and dance. But I don't do either that well. That can be a problem.
3. Friends with Jennifer Aniston. Still plenty of time for this one!
4. Inventor of the iphone.
5. Taller. Not plenty of time for this one. Bummer.
6. More accepting. Working on this one every day.
7. Softball star. Getting closer every Wednesday!! Ha!
8. Writer. I guess blogging is writing. But how can I do it and get paid??

Day 3

Well, less rain. In fact, no rain. But more mud. I mean muuuuuudddddy. I wore my flip flops for about 5 minutes, then they were off the entire day. I was walking around without any shoes. Totally hippie style. Saw the Toadies, some jazz band that kicked ass, Matt Morris, and of course Pearl Jam. Met some new friends. Learned to appreciate my own toilet (as if I didn't already!) and having shoes appropriate for the activity (didn't find any rain boots--EVERYONE was sold out!) Soooo glad to be home and that I took today off. :)

In conclusion:

Toadies rocked


Cody enjoying the Toadies


Me enjoying the Toadies


Matt Morris


Pearl Jam

Day Two

Bad news: Got escorted out by the cops.

Good news: We were already on the way out.

Here are the details. ACL has really missed the boat on bathrooms this year. Waiting in line for over 30 minutes is just unacceptable, no matter who you are or who you ask. Really. After seven years you would expect a little more. But, whatever. So, on the way out we stop by the port-a-potties. Cody just could not hold it. And who am I to judge? I almost went in my pants earlier in the day just to avoid the whole situation. I thought no one would notice, we were getting soaked anyway.

So, as he was waiting in the line everybody starts cheering. Apparently some dude had decided to pee beside the bathrooms and forget waiting in line. So, Cody goes to do the same thing. Unfortunately all the commotion had caught the attention of the cops. Busted. The cop was really cool and decided not to give him a ticket and just escort us out. We didn't tell him, but we were headed that direction after Cody peed. The police escort actually helped speed things along--people sure cleared out of the way. Plus Cody got to drink his beer as long as he finished it before we left the premises. They were really nice and I get that they have a job to do. Uphold the rules, keep the peace, and all. But here's what I suggest to ACL--more fucking bathrooms. Why are you holding out?

On another note, the grass that they spent $2 million on (learned this fact from our new cop friend), is totally ruined due to the rain. It was like one big, crazy, fun mud pit. I was literally kicking mud on my back from my flip flops. Even though I spent most of the day in the bathroom line, it was fun. We saw Flogging Molly, Mos Def, And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead among others. Here are some more pictures for your viewing pleasure.


Pre drowned rat.


Ruh Roh


Are we having fun yet?


Couldn't wait to shower.

Day One

ACL is in October. What a difference a week or two makes! It was so pleasant last night. Plus, they planted new grass so it won't be another Dust Bowl this year. Saw some good bands, ate some good food, and drank some big beers. Off to day 2, which includes bad allergies and rain. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.



And so it begins


$8 a pop


Kings of Leon

MB Update

That's Master Batters for short. Wednesday night we lost. It actually looked as if we let the other team win. We were up 16-0. Then they scored one run. Then we sort of let them run away for one winning. They caught up and scored 13. And we held them. Then they scored five more. Such a shame. The good news? I did get a good hit. I've been struggling with batting since the Bruisers' season started. I can hit all day in practice, then at the game I get nervous. I guess I forget how! Well, last night I jokingly meditated for a short bit before I stepped up to the plate. BAM! A solid grounder right between first and second base. I think the lesson we have learned here, is don't knock the power of meditation. Even if it is a half ass attempt so that you can get a hit in a competitive sport and temporary feel the power of winning.

Just a small town girl, livin' in a loooonely world

You know what makes my heart sing? Singing and dancing with my class. Today we sang and danced to Glee's remake of "Don't Stop Believin'". I know what you're thinking. What? When? Huh? How do you have time to teach the TEKS, TAKS and asses when you're dancing and singing in your classroom????? In my defense, they earned their right to dance today. We dance on Fridays, but that's to celebrate a week of hard work-that's a given. Well, we have started a "Manners chart". So every time I hear them using please, thank you, ma'am, my pleasure, etc. I make a tally mark. Once we have ten, we have a special class game or dancing at the end of the day. Before you think they've got this in the bag, let me introduce you to the flip side. If I hear ANY negative talk or rudeness, I erase tallies one at a time. Then, if someone complains or is ugly to the person that lost the tally mark, I erase ALL of them. Hello flip side. This hasn't happened yet. Welcome to my ship. I run it pretty tightly.

Today we got ten. Only took us one day. It. Was. Awesome. Had loads of fun. Nice to just let loose! I think that manners and respect are just as important as Math and Reading. People aren't born knowing how to act and be tolerant, they learn it. So, this is my contribution to society. It may be small, but it is significant. Plus, we get to sneak in a little fun in when nobody's looking. :)