Lord, thank you that you have not given me...

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I watch a lot of TV.

Like everyone, I have my favorites and because I do watch a lot, I rarely add in something new because I don't have enough time to keep up with my TV watching already.  I find myself now only watching things I think I might find out about through Twitter before I actually get to see the outcome (The Voice is a good example of this -- I watch it almost live usually) and holding things that I don't have to watch because, well, I don't have anyone to discuss them with (I have to keep up with the office shows such as Scandal because it messes up the lunch conversation if someone says -- NO!  STOP!  I haven't watched last night's episode yet!  And you might know that I hate being the one who brings the discussion to a grinding halt...) or because no one else I know really watches them (such as Drop Dead Diva).

Anyway, all this to say that last night I watched something new for the first time -- although I didn't stray much from my normal -- it is a Bravo show, of course:  The People's Couch.  The premise of the show is that it shows clips of shows and then shows normal people -- a family, some friends, etc. -- reacting to what they are watching.

My favorite thing that was said all night was when the couch people were watching Deadliest Catch.  Deadliest Catch is about these guys that do deep water fishing in Alaska and it really is dangerous.  People die and it is super gross.  Cynthia tried to get me to watch it for a while and I did try a few episodes, but I'm not manly enough to watch it.  My review:  Yuck.

So, they showed this grotesque clip from Deadliest Catch and the mom of one of the Couch families said this:  "Lord, thank you that you have not given me the gift of fishing."  Other than agreeing wholeheartedly with her and laughing out loud, she also got me thinking.

For what other gifts am I thankful that God didn't give me?

1. Psychic Ability -- I really don't want to know what you think about me or what your dear departed want you to know.
2. Numbers Ability -- While I'm sure that there are good things to this, the i-phone has made it unnecessary to remember numbers anymore.  Yay for me!

There are many others -- the gift of car repair, roof repair, plumbing repair -- I'm scared and/or grossed out by those.

But the main thing I am grateful for is that God did give me the gift of working for Community Partners of Dallas.  The gift of working with wonderful co-workers, volunteers, and board members.  The gift of helping kids and caseworkers.

P.S.  Of course, I also wish that God would give me the gift of being on The People's Couch.  I think Cynthia and I would kill it.

Lindsay Lohan is better than you.

Yes, I watched the Lindsay on OWN series -- every episode.

Those of you who know me know that this is not a surprise.  I love Oprah and love reality TV, so of course I was watching.  I didn't really learn much except that movie stars with chemical additions (and without them, I suppose) have lots of staff.

On the final episode they zoomed in on a bumper sticker on a car that said

Lindsay Lohan is better than you.

First, who actually has this on their car?  Her parents may, but they may be the only people to whom the phrase applies.

My mother taught me this -- You're not better than anyone else, but there's no one better than you.

I love that phrase but after my experience last night, I know it is not true.  There are lots of people better than me (and you for that matter) -- the staff members of Dallas County Child Protective Services.

Last night we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Community Partners of Dallas (where I am the President and CEO) by throwing a party for some of the BEST people in Dallas -- the CPS caseworkers and staff -- at the Dallas Arboretum.  It was a big appreciation event and -- thanks to our sponsors -- we provided a beautiful setting, dinner, and a band.  CPS staff members received medals saying "Hero" from Tenet Healthcare and picnic blankets as a party favor.  But the best part of all were hundreds of volunteers lined up all wearing t-shirts that said THANK YOU on the front and cheering for each and every staff member as they walked the path at the Arboretum.

NOTE:  When your mom or dad is a police officer or a firefighter, you know that your parent is a hero -- and when it's time for career day at school, all the kids line up to meet your dad in his uniform.  But when your mom or dad is a CPS caseworker you don't hear much about their job because the details of what caseworkers witness is too gruesome to talk about with kids -- and it is all confidential.

So the cheer line was a fantastic way to show the CPS staff members and their very own families just how important mom or dad is to Dallas.

They're better than me and definitely better than Lindsay.

Check out these photos:

The Check-In Table was filled with our great CPD staff members!

Great caseworkers, friends and co-workers

We had walking sandwich boards for lots of photo opps for using our #CPD25 Hashtag and highlighting our great sponsors

This little guy doesn't have any idea what a great mom he has

Check out her Hero medal

I've known this guy ever since I started working at CPD -- more than 12 years ago

The kids loved dancing and singing to Signed, Sealed and Delivered

A grand time had by all

 

 

 

 

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 15

I just had to write a Four Favs post this week because I found something new that I'm in love with -- and that's all it takes.  I love to share my new (and old) favorite things, so getting to write about them periodically is so much fun. 

Hope you'll both enjoy and share these ideas and let me know what you thought.  I know that a bunch of people bought my North Face jacket after the last one (visit it by clicking here:  http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2014/02/four-favorite-things-i-love-right-now.html ), but I never heard back if they liked them -- gosh, I hope so.

If not, they're wrong.

Anyway, on to FF #15...

1. How could I possibly write a post during the week of Community Partners of Dallas' Chick Lit Luncheon without giving you my favorite book by our author Julia Reed?  Her latest memoir is called But Mama Always Put Vodka in Her Sangria -- it is hilarious, chock-full of recipes, and fun -- if you are missing the luncheon Friday, you're going to miss a great one.  Read this book!
   
   
   
   
2. My neighbor and her friends were all raving about Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit Flavored Vodka the other night.  When she brought me an airplane sized bottle, I knew I was hooked and jumped over to PK's last night to stock up.  All you need is ice, club soda, a lime wedge (I use 1/4 lime for each drink), and this delicious stuff and you are in refreshment nirvana.  PK's also carries the cranberry flavored one, so I bought it too.  Texas vodka -- it's what to drink!
   
   
3. I absolutely love my Happiness Pots from Wisteria http://www.wisteria.com/Happiness-Pots-Set-of-3/productinfo/W1812/-- you can see them behind the vodka in the photo.  The tall one is HUGE and the three together really make a statement.  I bought a bunch of the small ones to hold orchids to decorate my birthday luncheon last year and they are now living in my den.  They are not cheap, but wow.
4. It's an oldie but a goodie, but I just about inhaled my Chicken Lettuce Wraps from Pei Wei at lunch yesterday.  The only thing wrong with it is who needs lettuce to healthy it up?  Wish I had some left over for today.

What are your new favs?