ah ha!

Well I realize now what the PETA guy meant when he said that he thinks we should give insects the benefit of the doubt. (Apparently I don't catch on too quickly...) He thinks that we should give them the benefit of the doubt when in question about whether or not we consider them to be animals, even if they are the smallest of animals. (Of course you all are smart and already got that.)

This is awesome.

Because if a fly is an animal, no matter how small, then the animals rights activists believe that it should have the same protection as a bird, or a cow, or any other animal that is "big." Nevermind that a fly won't ever grow up into a bird - it just gets to be a fatter fly (like the one Obama manhandled).

Meanwhile, a baby's heart is formed and starts to beat within THREE weeks of fertilization, when it is only 1/17 of an inch long. (That is most likely sooner or the same time that most women would know if they were pregnant or not.) And unlike a fly, the fertilized egg will actually keep growing up into a "real" human being. (Though I consider it a real human being from conception.)

So if a FLY deserves the benefit of the doubt regarding its animal status, how much more a fertilized egg regarding its human status?

animal rights

Apparently President Obama's fly swatting abilities are as good as Matt's. For those who don't know the story, The President killed a fly on camera during an interview. It was actually pretty awesome, but apparently PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is NOT happy about the situation. Take a look at the blog post linked above.

Here are my favorite quotations (along with my commentary) from the linked post:

“We support compassion for the even the smallest animals," says Bruce Friedrich, VP for Policy at PETA. “We support giving insects the benefit of the doubt."

Giving the insects the benefit of the doubt? What does that even mean?! You may think that the fly is bothering you on purpose, but it's best to assume that they aren't trying to be annoying. Innocent until proven guilty after all.

"Friedrich says PETA supports 'brushing flies away rather than killing them' and was disappointed that the President had gone ahead and squashed the pesky fly."

I mean, most likely it won't come back if you brush it away, right? And since Newsweek's Evan Thomas thinks Obama is 'sort of God,' wouldn't you think that he'd be able to get the fly to go away by merely saying, "Shoo fly! Don't bother me!"

"This afternoon PETA sent a Katcha Bug, a device which traps bugs and allows their safe release back into nature to the White House."

Let's safely release that fly back into nature so it can get swallowed by a frog. I personally think the frogs should consider turning vegan.

Oh. my. goodness. So stupid that it's funny.

And if I have to hear more about how the spanking police are upset with Kate Gosselin for spanking one of her sextuplets, I might have to get up and move to a different country on my birthday.

"Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." - Proverbs 13:24

And here is two 'versions'(I suggest you watch both of them.) of the YouTube video of the Pres swatting the life out of that defenseless, innocent little fly. May he rest in peace.





I think turning 25 has given me a new boldness.

25 and alive

Happy Birthday to ME!

I will be accepting Starbucks Gift Cards all year.

Awe - Summm - ness

I received an award... bestowed upon me by my cousin Tracy. Tracy's blog is filled with all of her mommy activities, and I am constantly amazed at the variety of things she is able to come up with to do with her almost 3 year old (and one on the way!). Check it out. And thanks so much for the award, Cuz!


The rules are to post seven awesome things about yourself and then to pass the award on to seven awesome webloggers. Unlike, my cousin, coming up with my own awe-summ-ness was not hard! And I don't feel completely uncomfortable tooting my own horn, especially since I am just following the rules. On the one hand, I do agree that whoever made this award is completely narcissistic, and it could quite possibly be the same person who invented TWITTER. On the other hand, I can't say I'm disappointed about this opportunity. You can put two and two together. So here it goes.

1. I am really awesome at being a hypocrite. Yes, you read it right. Well, take for instance twitter, this blog post, etc. Am I the first to complain about how annoying it is to see that Johnny is soliciting opinions about whether to eat Cheetos or Doritos for lunch? YES. And yet wildly, at the same exact time, I tweet, I waste time devouring people's tweets, I share with Matt all the tweets I saw today, and I scare people with the information I know about them via social media. Ugh! I hate my own hypocrisy, but I'm good at it.

2. I am really awesome at saying NO. If you pick up any book or magazine that is aimed at women and moms, they are constantly trying to teach women that it's okay to say "no" every once in awhile, and you shouldn't feel guilty about it because if you are stretched too thin, you won't be able to do anything well. This is a concept I love and whole-heartedly embrace. So I say NO a lot. Also, I used to be awesome at breaking commitments, but Matt put an end to that (mostly) when we got married. So NOW, instead of saying yes and then flaking out, I mostly just straight up say no, and I do that kind of a lot. But my natural instinct is to say no first, and then after coming to my senses, I will come back and say yes. It's better than saying yes and then wishing that you hadn't - if you ask me.

3. I am really awesome at observing people and then making judgments about them. By "making judgments" I don't mean being judgmental in the condescending, Pharisaical way that you might be thinking. What I mean is that I observe and point out people's habits, personalities, and oddities. After collecting sufficient data, I make judgments about people, which serves as the framework for which I interpret their behavior in the future. As far as I'm concerned, my judgments are correct (hence, the awe - summm- nesss). I won't lie that there are some people out there that are just a big fat mystery to me, and I am perfectly happy leaving it that way because this isn't something I try to do. It is just something I do naturally... and awesomely.

4. I am really awesome at quitting jobs. This is just a fact. Can't say I'm proud of it. Can't say it's the right thing to do, but I think it really comes down to the cold hard truth that I just really don't like to work that much. Ain't sayin' this is good. But there it is. I am awesome at quitting jobs. Consider me Peter Gibbon's protege. I have no good defense for this.

5. I am really awesome at being an antagonist- a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another. (Note: I am also good at referencing dictionary.com.) Basically, if I feel comfortable enough in a relationship (and sometimes even when I don't), I will openly oppose any and all of someone's held beliefs and opinions with which I disagree. It's actually a rather annoying quality. But if you know that I disagree with you about certain things, consider it a compliment - it means I either feel close to you or I trust that you won't take the opposition personally. Two things I am working on: 1- Feeling confident enough to oppose strangers and acquaintances. 2- Easing up a bit on friends and family cause like I said - it's annoying.

6. I am really awesome at being self-deprecating. This might actually be a totally bad thing because it stems from too much self-consciousness, which if you couldn't tell already, I am very introspective. I pretty much underestimate myself a lot.

7. I am really awesome at living by the mercy of God. Note: That sentence contradicts itself. Note also: Gospel plug. Basically what you have learned about me is that I am an uncommitted, narcissistic, lazy, hypocrite who still somehow feels comfortable telling other people how wrong they are at life. Now don't you want to be my friend?!?!

But the deal for real is that I AM all those things, completely unfit for a relationship with God, The Creator of the Universe and yet, He loved me by sending his only son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and die on my behalf, so that in trusting His imperishable blood, my old self is dead and my new self is born again to live forever in relationship with Jesus and start to bear fruit that resembles Him. All because of His mercy and love. He has done this for the glory of His grace; I just believe that it's THE Truth. Capital T. The end. Game over.

I am also breaking the rules of listing my seven awesome webloggers because I honestly think all of my webloggy friends are awesome and it is hard to narrow it down. So, if you are my webloggy friend, here is your award and feel free to play.

Ghetto-fied

We've had a slew of problems with Matt's car in the last three years, but we decided awhile back that we'd drive it into the ground. We've also stopped taking it to the shop to fix unnecessary things.

So, when the driver's side window fell down and would not go back up (during a month of what seemed like non-stop rain), we went ahead and got it fixed.

But, now for probably two years, Matt's had some trouble with the driver's side door in general. And by trouble I mean his key no longer unlocks the door, nor does the automatic unlock button.

For over a year, Matt has had to go to the passenger side door to unlock his car, reach through to the driver's side and open the door from the inside. He has had to perform this little routine in front of people, like after meetings for work, and he will tell you that it is embarrassing to say the least... but still not something that urgently needs fixing.

Well this week, when Matt was reaching through his car to open the driver's side door, the door handle BROKE OFF OF THE DOOR. He now has about 1 inch of handle to work with when he is getting in and out of his car. I will get a picture ASAP to show you.

We're still holding out on another car though. Matt's good at ghetto anyway. He's off the heezy fo sheezy! And we want to play a part in diminishing that whole "real estate agent slash luxury car" stereotype.

it's a twister!

Were you Austin people thinking about us last night? I bet you were. Why? Because there were tornadoes. Oh yes there were, and Matt was lovin' every minute of it.

Actually I can't lie, we were at a friend's birthday dinner downtown. We saw the rain start to pour and the lightening start to flash, but once the storm started to get bad, they actually boarded up the windows at the restaurant. Of course Matt loved this because it was dramatic.

However, I think he was secretly hoping that when we left the restaurant we'd be walking out to a disaster area... that didn't so much happen, but we got to walk in the rain to our car, so I think that sufficed.

Upon turning into our neighborhood, there were quite a few leaves on the ground. This rekindled Matt's hope to find at least a little evidence of weather drama.

"Oh man, look at that! It got bad over here!"

He's so presh isn't he? I love him.

(But sshhh - I don't think it got that bad.)

it's endearing really...

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that much of my blog consists of me, lovingly sharing with you the inner-life of Matt. This of course, is entertaining, because if you know Matt publicly, he appears to be but is not in fact always 1 - very serious, 2- practically perfect in every way, as Mary Poppins might put it.

Many of you have reported increased affection for Matt since I have started this blog - I don't know if it's because you feel like you know him better, or if you just plain feel sorry for him, since he lives and deals with me, but whatever it is... it is what it is. (I know some of you hate that term - I used it especially for you.)

So far, we have learned that Matt 1 - loses things a lot, 2- secretly loves to dance and is good at it but won't perform for you, 3- watches the weather channel almost as frequently as ESPN, and of course there is so much more. Up till now, however, I have failed to blog about a major idiosyncrasy of Matt's...

Did you know that my intelligent man is what I like to call "directionally challenged?" Oh yes he is. Big time. And now is the time to tell you about it.

I knew it was bad in college. There was a coffee shop, Sweet Eugene's, literally 1/2 a mile and two turns away from my sorority house. It was very easy; From the Sorority house you take a right, drive till the street dead ends, take a left, drive till you see the coffee shop. Somehow it wasn't clicking for Gibby. I think he got it by the end of the year and then...

I moved. One street directly behind the sorority house, but I still moved. And, as you would expect... utter confusion for Matt. I assure you Matt is not dumb - his brain just perceives space differently, and ineffectively for the sake of navigating, but I'm sure the way his brain works is good for other things like... well the Lord knows.

Anyway, this brings us to (not really but I am bringing us to) last night. Last night Matt and I were borrowing my dad's monstrosity of a truck, also known as "The Boss," because we had to use it to move a couch. Because of the fact that our street is narrow, and because of the location of where our neighbor parked her car, we were forced to leave our street going the opposite way that we normally go, which really isn't a problem because the street loops around.

So. We get to the end of the street where Matt is CLEARLY supposed to take a LEFT. Now, aside from the fact that it's just plain obvious which way he is supposed to go, we also go on walks through this place frequently, and trust me there is just no excuse. So Matt is at the stop sign, and I can FEEL it in my bones that he is about to turn RIGHT instead of LEFT.

Timeout - background info: I've been chastised by my loving husband in the past for telling him to turn right or left when we are in his own neighborhood (like the house he lived in for 6 years before going to college). Usually the control freak in me just blurts out, "Turn here," even though Matt is very aware of where he is supposed to turn.

Time in. So, contrary to natural impulse, I didn't blurt out, "Turn left," because 1 - It should have been obvious and 2 - I was learning from experience.

As you could expect, Matt turns RIGHT, and as you would also expect I immediately asked him, "Where are you going?" It takes a few seconds for it to click with him why I might be asking that question, and then he smiles (cause he knows that I know this weakness of his), and he says, "Oh, I should have turned left. I thought we were on a different street."

Sweet darling. What I want to say in those situations is, "C'mon babe, you're smarter than that."

There is another part to this story, and although I fear that this post is getting too long, I must let you know that...

Every now and then I play a game when Matt is driving and I completely keep my mouth shut about where he might possibly be taking us, even if I know that he is going the wrong way. This opportunity only presents itself occasionally because usually we are under time constraints. It is fun to figure out how long it will take him to figure out that he went the wrong way - usually it's not too long, to his credit.

Then there is the occasional time when I am not paying attention (i.e. on the phone, putting on makeup, sleeping), and he goes the wrong way. Usually my reaction to this particular navigation error is something along the lines of, "How does he ever get anywhere by himself!?" To which he replies, "Babe, you've gotta just go with the flow."

Yes, if your sense of direction is like Matt's, you have to go with the flow. Also, if your sense of direction is like my best friend, Sarah's, you get really good at going with the flow. Other people, like me, find no liesure in getting lost; it is a waste of time. Taking the scenic route on purpose? That's one thing. On accident is a totally different thing for which I have no appetite.

Now, don't you love Matt even more after that?

Random Happenings

Whether you care or not...

1. I attended Westwood High School's graduation last Wednesday night for the SEVENTH time in my life (1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009). This time we were there celebrating Matt's bother, Meyer, who you should know if you didn't skip my Family Friday posts which I haven't finished and which I know you are absolutely upset about. Don't worry, if Matt's family doesn't move, I will have gone to 10 WHS graduations by the time the rest of the Giblets graduate, and I will be singing "On The Edge of the West Horizon" with my W up until I die. Not really.

2. Of course, as usual, the graduation ceremony was held in the Frank Erwin Center down near TU UT Campus, which means an unavoidable drive by TU UT's football stadium, which means unavoidable praises and shouts of acclamation coming from Matt's mouth toward the stadium - it's scary really. So this time, I beat him to it. As we were getting out of the car, and I saw him staring at the beloved field with the obnoxious jumbo-tron, I went ahead and spoke for him the exact words he was about to spew: "Oh, sweet TU Texas Football, you are so good. I love you!" Maybe you call it "being a fan" but I'm gonna call it "idol worship." Not really. Of course he exclaimed, "I was just going to say that." I know you were babe.

3. I know that I went to Texas A&M and Kyle Field is like the best thing we have to offer over there, and that I am technically supposed to be brainwashed and pour forth the same kind of affection as Matt does when we drive by TU UT, but I just plain don't. Sorry. Deal with it.

4. The other day I bought some cheap wine at the grocery store (gasp), and I got carded. You might think it's because I wasn't wearing make-up and because I look young, but I think I know the real reason, which was the other item I brilliantly decided to purchase at the exact same time... Want a hint? For starters, the last time you probably had this might have been when you were 10 years old. Give up? It was... FUN DIP. The flavored sugar that you eat with a candy stick? Yessir! Bam! I buy that goodness on a regular basis. Fun Dip and wine. Can you blame the woman for carding me? (Even though I go through the exact same lady's line every time. But whatev.)

5. The weather has been warming up, which means more bugs, which means... more lizards. And, in fact, I discovered that we have a couple of them living in our garage. I am actually okay with this, as long as they stay outside. After 2 years in our house, I no longer scream bloody murder at them when I see them like I did when we first moved in. The first summer we were in our house, we found at least 3 lizards INSIDE, not out... and one of those brave lizards decided it wanted to assault me when I was home by myself. I saw the lizard in my bathroom while I was on the phone with my BFF, screamed bloody murder, hung up with her, called Matt, and after screaming bloody murder for a few minutes and crying, he asked if I needed him to come home from work to get the lizard. After applying some problem solving skills, we decided that Justin, Matt's good friend and our neighbor, could come over and rescue me from the terrorizing perpetrator. In the meantime, I kept an eye on that lizard, and screamed every time it moved, because it obviously was trying to attack me. Justin showed up at the door a few minutes later, and I was terrified, holding back the tears. He got a plastic cup, scooped the little guy up, and let him go free outside. Game over. You need to know that I have an unrealistic fear of most every bug or crawling creature that can hop, skip, jump, or move really fast.

You're welcome.

Frowny Face

On Saturday night, I was driving along Duval Road from Mopac to 183. I was on my way to Rudy's to meet Matt and his fellow UT baseball fan friends for dinner since they had just gone to the game.

So I'm driving right along at about 40 mph, when I spot what seems to be a squirrel in the middle of the road. Thankfully, my eyes focus in time, and I realize it is not a squirrel it's a Chihuahua or a Mini Dachshund or something like that. So, I swerve just in time to miss the pup who at that point starts barking (my windows were rolled down).

YIKES. Thank the Lord I didn't hit that pup! But then I look in my rear view and I see a family on the sidewalk by the road trying to stop traffic and get the pup out of the road, and they have a kid and another dog with them. And then I see the doggy sort of dumbfounded, running back and forth in the middle of the street, barking, clearly terrified. And then what happens next is exactly what you don't want to happen next... :(

The car immediately behind me must not have seen the dog at all because he didn't even swerve. It was so sad. :( And I will just assume that after he felt the "bump" that he just assumed it was a squirrel because he didn't turn back, even with what I presumed to be the dog's family standing right there. Poor doggy. Poor family.

It's not everyday you witness a dog getting run over by a car. I'm sorry for telling this terrible tragedy on a Monday. It can't help if you have a case of the Mondays. I will have to redeem this with something funny perhaps?

boo ya fo shizzle

You know, in the last few weeks I haven't had the good fortune of encountering (or even creating) very many awkward situations - and Matt hasn't been doing anything too crazy either, much to my blog's dismay (and yours of course). I hate that Gibbizarre is in this dry season - lacking spice and flava - but I assure you, it shall pass. In the meantime, let me give you the headlines.

Matt is still losing things.
Matt did lose his sunglasses the other day. He eventually found them on the floor of his car. Yes, these are the same sunglasses that I found on the side of the road about a year ago. Trust me, I didn't panic when they went missing. I know, I know, this is not fun news.

I have ceased the typical blogger ranting...
...about whatever happens to be bothering me at the moment like how much I can't stand the song "Halo" by Beyonce. Okay, I haven't stopped ranting completely. But does anyone out there really like that song?

Twitter makes me and Matt both want to kick and scream.
In one week, I joined twitter, became obsessed with twitter, and now completely can't stand twitter anymore at all, even if it's a good tool in certain circumstances. I'll refrain from elaborating and just say sometimes when I read people's tweets I get ÜBER-frustrated. (My problem not theirs.) Am I the only one with twitter disdain around here? I know that at least Matt feels that way.

We had another Mars/Venus conversation.
Leah is wearing her new skinny jeans.
Matt: "You sure do like wearing those jeans."
Leah: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Matt: "It's not supposed to mean anything; you just wear them a lot."
Leah: "Well Matt, I don't have any clothes, so I wear all of my clothes a lot. Why did you specifically say that I wear these jeans a lot? Do you not like them?"
Matt: "No, I like them, I was just making an observation."
Leah: "And I was just clarifying your observation."
Matt: "I am just not going to say any of my observations out loud from here on out."
Leah: "No, you should make observations, but they should all be positive. If they are negative, or even neutral, then you should expect that I am going to ask you what you mean."
Matt (rolling eyes): "Okay."

Ladies, how would you respond to a comment like that?