The Triumphal Entry

As we enter Holy Week today, we celebrate Jesus... as the people of Jerusalem did so many years ago when he rode into the city on a colt, preparing his path by laying down their cloaks and palms. However, unlike those who cried out, "Hosanna!" that day, we remember Jesus and celebrate with the blessed knowledge that his reign would not end with his earthly life. We know that this day, this Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of the holiest of weeks when our Christ would die on a cross, our sins heavy upon him. And we know that on the third day after that, he would conquer all of those sins -- conquer death itself -- and rise again.

We know that we are saved. Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

The Triumphal Entry

¹As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,²saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "

⁴They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" ⁶They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
¹⁰"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

¹¹Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

-Mark 11: 1-11 (NIV)

It Was Bound To Happen

I was about to write the following blog. And then LJ beat me to it... Which is just plain silly/ridiculous, considering the tale that follows... enjoy :)

well.

this is a funny story. ok, funny-ish. mostly because we tried to prevent how it ends. but let me back up. and start from the beginning.

a text conversation with BFF and co-worker bethany

last night, 10:55pm

and then, this morning. this conversation happened.

and then, a lil later, upon arriving at work this morning. this gchat conversation about our separate morning workouts happened. (might i suggest a little Zoom Screen action for this one? :) )

and then. i walked into her office. and this happened.

see, we really did try to prevent it. but neither of us clearly said whether or not we'd be wearing said flowery dress. i thought she said i could wear, she thought i said she could wear. you see how that could happen from our texts, right? no? oops?

so. here we are. at work. in the same dress. well, same outfit really. flowery dress, cardi, belt, tights, boots.

this doesn't quite help our argument for being different. does it?

meep.

Meep indeed, my friend. Meep, indeed.

Hot Fudge Sundaes & Duct Tape

I woke up this morning with a random desire to look in the mirror and find my hair had magically turned back to the color it's been the majority of my life... my (nearly) natural shade of blonde. Which is strange, because I've really been loving my little adventure over to the "Dark Side" for the last few months. So at first I chalked up this strange longing for my go to Goldilocks look to the change in weather; a weekend spent in the warm sunshine that has me wishing for summer so badly I can almost taste the Mister Softee. But as the day has gone on, I've realized that there are quite a few other things from summers past that I'm missing more than usual today...

My beach, for one.

Funnel Cakes in South Bethany,

Dolle's Salt Water Taffy.

The feel of hot sand under my feet,

The smell of Coppertone sunscreen - SPF 30, to be exact.

Building sandcastles and searching for sea glass,

Then hot fudge sundaes and chocolate sodas at The Royal Treat.

Late evening walks along the ocean's edge

And running from the cold waves, into familiar open arms.

Waking up to the sound of jazz and NPR coming from an old radio,

Fruit Loops and Trix on the cozy screen porch.

Loose, faded newspaper clippings gathered on the table,

Amidst countless photos of memories over the years.

Marbles and wind-up toys in random corners of the house,

Golden retrievers and Wishbone.

Duct tape, and how it could fix anything.

Ireland, even though I've never been.

Rooting for the Baltimore Orioles,

Or hiding the remote because I wanted to watch cartoons,

And hiding cigarettes... because they're bad.

Extra chocolatey malted milkshakes straight from the blender.

Silvery white hair, topped with a decade-old Winnie the Pooh hat,

And a sparkling personality, with the brightest blue eyes to match.

My grandfather.

So I suppose what I've been missing most today isn't a thing - or a hair color - at all... It's my Papa. Today would have been his 87th birthday, and even though it's been more than five years since he was here to celebrate, I can still close my eyes... and smell pink peppermints and aftershave... and hear his infectious laugh... and admire his strength of character... and be grateful for the life my Grandmom and he made for their family... and feel his overwhelming love.

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy"

-Psalm 30:11 (NLT)

In case you need me in the middle of the night...

... there's a good chance I'll be on E. 37th Street between Second and Third Aves from 11:30pm until 2:00am.

What's that? Why, pray tell, would I not be snuggled safe in my bed? What could possibly get me to wander the corners of Murray Hill during the wee hours of a Monday evening?? Well, I'm glad you asked... because I have a very logical explanation for my questionable nocturnal behavior:

Elephants.

Elephants walking through Manhattan.

That's right, friends! The circus is coming to town - my town! And cute little elephants, ponies, heffalumps, and the whole gang will be on parade from the Queens-Midtown Tunnel right on across 34th Street to MSG.

Sometimes I shudder at how much I hear this overused phrase in this crazy city, but in this case, I think I'm allowed to make an exception: Only. In. New York.

We're So Sporty

Conversations like this just make it oh-so-terribly-clear why LJ and I are BFF... AEAEAE :)

me: also, any interest in going to a rep bowling thing tonight? and not bowling?

LJ: i have no socks

LJ: and a dress

LJ: and texas is playing bball tonight

LJ: so maybe not

me: don't be silly. we would NOT be bowling

LJ: ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

me: only cheerleading/drinking

LJ: HAHAHAHAHAHA

LJ: then. yes.

It's all about the outfit, really. :)

You. Are. Welcome.

The first, of what we can hope assume will be many, full length trailer for Eclipse.

Le. Sigh.

Happy Belated, Bloggy!

Ohmygoodness! I'm a horrible bloggy parent... Yesterday was PTTP's very first birthday and I didn't have a chance to write anything! 112 posts in the last year, and then yesterday of all days just completely slipped by me... Sigh. I do hope she forgives me for this sad, sad oversight.

My spaciness aside, I like to think that if this little blog had gone out to celebrate last night, she would have woken up this morning to a scene that looked a little something like the below... because, if you ask me, nothing screams of a fabulous evening quite like a killer pair of heels abandoned on your apartment floor, surrounded by the balloons you trailed in behind you the night before...

Audrey Hepburn Complex

Here's to another year of painting this crazy beautiful town the prettiest shades of pink! xoxo