They call me U-S-H-E-R

So generally in France people don't speak English, they're a little (I don't want to say it but I will) stubborn and have the mind frame of "you're in France, you should speak French". So if generally France is this way, imagine how the city of Terville is, with it's about 6,700 population, no one speaks English because no one needs to. There are three people in this city that speak English: me, Regan, and Alice (our Romanian setter), so you'll understand why yesterday when I was alone in the grocery store, standing in line I burst in to laughter; like obscene laughter while everyone was looking at me. So Leclerc is our neighborhood grocery store, they have them all over France and at this time of year it's decked out with Christmas decorations and super packed with people. Yesterday I was standing in line waiting to pay and all of a sudden from the speakers I hear music...good music and then a voice, a fimiliar voice "you see you searching for somebody that will take you out and do you right...." All I could do was laugh, Usher "Love In This Club" is playing in the grocery store and the other at least 200 people waiting in line around me had no idea that the music had ever changed or any idea of what Usher was saying to these people, ha...I start to laugh even now thinking that "I wanna make love in this club" was playing in Leclerc, haha.

lets not fight, I'm tired can we just sleep tonight...

I stole this video from Kanye's blog but whatever. I really like the song and wanted to share it, thanks Yeezy!


Soon We'll Be Found

the most irritating phrases in the English language

Researchers went through British magazines, blogs, books, broadcast manuscripts and transcripts to compile a database of phrases and words in the English language that are in current over and misuse; they are so true:
#1 “with all due respect”
#2 “fairly unique”
#3 “I personally”
#4 “at this moment in time”
#5 “with all due respect”
#6 “absolutely” (one that I always use or I guess misuse)
#7”it’s a nightmare”
#8 “shouldn’t of”
#9 “24/7”
#10 “it’s not rocket science”

Here’s some other funny stuff that is also all too true:

• Unnecessary Conjunctions and Transitions: no offense but ..., all of the sudden, basically, ironically, actually, honestly, totally, hopefully, as to whether, I swear to God, you know.
• Misused/Mispronounced Phrases: irregardless (for "regardless"), aggravate (for "irritate"), anyways/towards (anyway, toward), for all intensive purposes (for "for all intents and purposes"), suppose to (for "supposed to"), could of (for "could have"), analyzing/analyzation (for "analysis"), literally (when meant figuratively).

Thanksgiving = Football, Texas Football that is

OK, so one of the biggest things I miss about being in the US is American sports, on tv, in person, and just highlights in general being available at any second of the day. Tonight we (yes TEXAS) are playing A&M our big in state rival for the first time in a long time on Thanksgiving Day and I’m really sad that I’m going to miss it. So I started recalling the last football game I attended oh around this same time last year, it was also the Texas Texas A&M game but in was in Hell College Station. Our will call tickets were in the absolute worst place you can imagine, barely in the stadium, beyond the goal line and facing the bleachers that were behind the end zone, yes the end zone.

It was about 40 degrees at the most the entire game, so along with our bad seats we were freezing. Pretty much a terrible time, oh wait and we loss, so I drove an hour and 30 minutes home with a loser in the passenger seat, fun..fun. Well anyway, this is a new year and we are contending for the national champion

ship (cause we didn’t lose to Kansas State and OU like we did last

year) so lets go Longhorns, kick some Aggie butt tonight!b

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/27/texas-stylish-road-to-the-big-12-title/

T H A N K S GIVING

T H A N K S GIVING is here!!!

T is for the Todd’s and Turner’s (an ex Todd’s), better known as my family. Who I’m incredibly thankful for having, their unconditional love and support is what keeps me going everyday

H is for home, my real home that I always seem to roam away from but will always hold a special place in my heart

A is for Anakoni, my nephew who will be celebrating his first Thanksgiving in San Diego and enjoying some yummy turkey out of a jar

N is for new experiences, like spending Thanksgiving in France with new friends

K is for keeping tradition alive, as Regan and I did last Sunday by going to Saarbrüken Germany to celebrate Thanksgiving with a few other Americans and a Canadian

S is for sweets. My favorite part of any meal, but especially at Thanksgiving my Grandma’s sweet potato pie, or chocolate cream pie, or red velvet cake, or peach cobbler, or anything with a little sugar in it that puts a smile on my face.

This year I have a lot to be thankful for, I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities and that is what I am most thankful for, I’m thankful for my family’s support this past year as I’ve decided to move far far away from home, but still feel so close to them, I’m thankful for my friends, new and old and lastly I’m thankful for life in general and all the surprises and challenges each day brings, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!




oh and let's go Longhorns, beat A&M!!!

if you like it then you should've put a ring on it...

Possibly the funniest thing I've ever seen on SNL, I'm really sad that they took the actual video off YouTube but here's a little remake that someone posted, you'll get the gist:



oh, and yes that is Justin Timberlake on the left and Beyonce leading the pack

un, deux, trois

Today I went to the doctors office with my coach and we saw this adorable little boy running around the waiting room. He talked with Dorell as if he'd known him all his life, they talked for at least 15 minutes before getting into a pretty competitive game of hide and seek. I'm always amazed to see small children speaking a language foreign to me and this little guy was talking so fast that his chubby little cheeks couldn't hold his saliva. I think he may be discussing his hiding strategy in this video, but my French is only on a 2 year old level, he was at least 3 or 4.

happy birthday KC

Ok, I can’t hold back anymore I have to spill the beans… Karen’s birthday just passed and leading up to the date, she wasn’t really in the best mood about it. About a week before the day, I had a few gifts in mind but hadn’t gotten her anything yet incase there was really something she wanted that I could get for her. So I asked “If there was one thing you could have for your birthday what would it be?” She thought about it and said “To have you in Schaffhausen!!!” We both knew this was an unrealistic request due to my schedule, so I’ll leave it at that. The whole week leading up to her birthday she was really was in a bad mood, so everyday I made it a point to ask a million questions, “what are your big birthday plans?” “what are yall doing for your birthday?” All sorts of stuff like that and I was always given with the same sad tone in her voice, “oh nothing, I’m just not going to celebrate this year.”

Karin (our other friend in Schaffhuasen) and I planned for about four or five days how we would work out my arrival and Karen’s surprise birthday party. The day before the big day, I took my well prepared French post it note (thanks Dave) to the train station asking for a taxi to pick me up at my house at 5:15am the next morning in order to make my 6:05 train and I have to admit, I felt like one of those kids in the airport with a sign around my neck that say my name and where I’m going. The lady at the taxi stand was really nice to me after she realized what I needed. I laughed at myself the whole way home.

Everything with the taxi turned out well and I arrived in Schaffhausen around 11:15am and Micheli (Karen’s roommate) came to pick me up. We stopped to buy balloons and a small cake to make the surprise perfect. So I'm standing outside her front door and I call Karen’s phone…no answer…and again and again…still no answer, so I ring her doorbell, no answer, and Micheli decides to open up the front door, she opens the door to her bedroom and I walk in with her cake and candles a blazin’..she’s laying in her bed and looks at me, lays her head back down and then looks up again with a the most priceless face and then there were tears. I was so excited the whole time leading up to this and it was for that exact moment, to see the surprise on Karen’s face. She couldn’t believe that I was there and couldn’t stop crying, it was perfect!

We went to have a birthday lunch at a Mexican restaurant in the city and I told her I had to leave to catch my train soon. Our short time together was perfect to put her in a good mood and make her birthday not such a bust, but I had to go…or so she thought, we said goodbye and Micheli took me back to the train station to meet Karin. Karin and I went shopping for party goods and then back to her house to decorate; we were both so excited for the second surprise. At Karin and Steven’s place we decorated and set up all the food and drinks and everyone thought that for sure Karen knew that I hadn’t left, she was way too smart to believe that I only came in town for 4 hours to have lunch with her and then go, but she had NO IDEA.


Dave, Karin, Steven, Maitt, Dani and I all anxiously awaited for Micheli, Marcio, and Mandy to show up with Karen. She thought that Karin had invited her over for drinks because it was her birthday, when really everyone would be there waiting. So when she walked in everyone was there except for Dani and I who were hiding in the bathroom and “SURPRISE!!!”…she was so happy…then Dani and I pop out of the bathroom and all she could do was scream, “I can’t believe you lied to me!!” It was so perfect; she had no idea and ended up celebrating her birthday with all of her friends and having an awesome night. And I have to say so did everyone else, I’m so glad I went :D

I'd like to say a special thank you to everyone who made this work and go smoothly, Karin and Steven, Micheli, Dave, Regan, and of course Karen for being so gullible.

remember, remember the sixth of november

November is here and I can’t believe how fast my time here in Terville has going by, it’s been almost three months here at 24 Rue Fabert. This past week I’ve had a lot going on, so I’ll start with the events of last Saturday.

We had a home match against Melun, so Regan, Alice and I decided to have lunch in the center of Thionville at one of our favorite restaurants, Brochettes & Cie, it’s so yummy. So after our perfect little lunch we jumped in good old (old like 1991 old) Matty, filled up with gas and then started home. Regan was driving when Matty decided to stop, well he kind of went “PUTT, PUTT, PHEWWWWWW” just before we pulled into a car wash, thank goodness. So we had Alice call our President to let him know that Matty’s life was over, he came to pick us up, take us home and pronounce Matty DUNZO. It was really bittersweet, but we’re getting a new car (new to us) on Monday because there is no living in this little city without a car, it just can’t happen. RIP Matty

We ended up winning the match that night in a 5 game nail biter. Melun was in 6 place and we were sitting at 9, so it was pretty cool for us and for the fans and they still think I’m Jennifer Hood…

Sunday I got some news from mom that my Grandpa was in the hospital, and we weren’t immediately sure what was wrong with him. Mom jumped on a plane and headed to San Diego to see what was going on. It turns out that Grandpa had a few small strokes and will remain in the hospital for recovery; mom spent a couple of days with him in the there, but today headed home for work, Uncle Grant will be the one to check up on Grandpa now, I’m sure that he will be out soon, he’s strong like my Great Grandfather and I know has a lot more years in him, keep him in your prayers.

This week, like the past month I have heard the question “did you vote?” followed by tons of other political question at least twice a day, so I was relieved on Wednesday when it was all finally over and Obama was named the President. But that was just the beginning, “Obama?” “You have new President?” “What about Obama?” “How do you fell about the new President?” everyone who knows Regan and I are Americans have a question or multiple questions, it’s really exhausting, especially cause I’m not really into talking politics. I think it’s amazing how far our country has come and am very excited to see what Mr. President is capable of accomplishing (HEALTH CARE, PLEASEEEE) and how things in our culture will evolve, get to work! These pictures are from an Obama rally in February 2007 in Austin.

Karen’s birthday was also this week and I hear she got quite the surprise, one of her really amazing friends showed up at her house unexpectedly and there were some tears…? I also heard something about a surprise party at Karin and Steven’s house. And something about that Dave, just making people happy. Ach, I bet it was fun, sorry I missed it KC.

Tomorrow we play in Saint Raphael, France, so that means a 10 hour bus drive tonight. I pretty exhausted, so I’ll probably sleep a majority of the 10 hours in our bus that supposedly has beds in it (I’ve never seen such a thing). So I’m looking forward to warmer weather and maybe a win? Wish me luck

qu'est-ce que c'est?

So on Wednesday us foreigners (not counting the Romanian girls, cause apparently Romanian is very close to French, in addition they have all played in France or French speaking countries before) went for our first French lesson in Metz (about a 20 minute drive from Terville). We started like a kindergarten class, learning the alphabet, numbers, random words (un crossant, une machine, un animal, un hôtel), and some basic statements, like" j'habit en Terville" I live in Terville, je suis American "I am American", and lastly “c'est un animal” this is an animal. We used pictures to practice our pronunciation which was pretty funny for two Americans, a Czech, and two Spainards. Tereza, our Cezh girl was shown a picture with some grass and two legs of some creature so our teacher Marc ask her "Tereza, qu'est-ce que c'est?"(what is this? and her very quick, very Czech-French respond was "c'estunTIGRE!". We all burst in to laughter considering that "Tigre" was not one of our random words, but "un animal" definitely was. Well be going in twice a week I think for our lessons, so hopefully in the near future when a little French lady rants off at me after a match for 4 minutes straight without realizing I don’t speak French, I'll have a response :)

Tereza the "Tigre"

Last week in Hainaut, we lost a close match in 5. Our club hasn't ever beat Hainaut and this past weekend was definitely our chance. Our libero, in game four pulled her self out of our passing formation which was for the best, but our passing and blocking struggled for the entire match. So, we lost and no matter how close we came, it still sucks to lose. But we did move up from last to 9th place :)

We've finally got our tv hooked up and actually have a few English channels, CNN, ESPN Classic, BBC, and some other random stuff that is definitely not American. But it's good to see American shows, even if they're not in English (if anyone knows how to change the language on a French tv, hollar at me). So life is pretty amazing, I wake up everyday and realize how extremely luck I am and give thanks. I have a gre

at family that is so supportive, great friends around to listen to whatever issues I may be having (thanks Karen), and I'm learning so much everyday about myself and about the world around me, life is good. Keep praying for me :)

This is Karin (the girlfriend of Dave's teammate, Steven) and I the last time I was in Switzerland

happiness

Happiness,

not in another place,

but this place…

not for another hour,

but this hour…

— Walt Whitman

back on track

Last Saturday we won our second league match against Vandoeuvre Nancy. We won in three, which was a huge morale booster for a team that got spanked in front of the entire league the previous Saturday. We were still without our starting setter but pulled it out in the end. In the second game for the last two points our coached pulled our setter out and put in our opposite to block, so we had no setter…in Europe, when the setters don’t set the middles do, so for the last two points of the match I set two balls to Regan and she scored on both! Big feat for someone with bad setting hands like mine, good job Hood! Afterward we headed to Metz to celebrate and had a pretty good time, we’re all really good friends when things are good and we win.

right before I set the game winning ball, haha!

This week has gone by pretty fast, well I guess it is only Wednesday but my weeks go by according to practices, and we only have two more after tonight until the next match. Tomorrow we have a sponsor event starting at 8:30am and lasting until 4:30pm, so it’s going to be a looong day, but this is the job, smiling, nodding, and telling people “je ne comprends pas le français” ( I don’t understand French) one of the few phrases I have learned. Plans for traveling for Christmas and New Years are in the works…I want to see more of Europe and I’ll have about two weeks off, so we’ll see what I come up with. That’s it for now, off to another practice, ciao ciao.

my favorite girl is 2 tomorrow

Tomorrow my niece and God daughter will be
celebrating her second birthday. My best friend and sister is doing her usual gig and putting on a bash for Miss Leilani and I regret more than anything not being able to be there :(









Over the past two years Mya's life has been such a joy not only to me but our whole family. As the first grandchild of my three parents, I've got see a sort of rejuvenation within of each of them with Mya's presence. Whenever Mya enters a room, everyone's faces light up cheerfully knowing that she's there. From her funny little smile to her love of music and dancing Mya truly is a happy little girl
.

To my sister, becoming a mother was such a huge
and defining step in her life and I knew that she
would embrace it with her whole heart and that
she's done with grace. There was a time when
I questioned why she would ever want to give
up her freedom to start a family so soon, but
I've come to question why anyone would
want to wait to see that look on Mya's face when
Ja'Nice walks into the room, indescribable.






Recently, Mya has become a big sister and
I know that Ja'Nice will teach her to be the
kind of big sister she was to me, dependable,
honest, trustworty, caring, supportive, and
loving. She is my best friend and I can't be
thankful enough for her bringing my Mya into
our lives. Happy birthday Mya, you are such
a blessing, love, love, love you princess!!! -Nantie

It's your second birthday, baby

Two candles on your cake;
Proud parents stare in wonder
At each new move you make. We join in celebration,
As this special date arrives,
For baby has brought pleasure
Into all our lives. We look forward now to seeing
How you progress and grow,
From the cute and tiny infant
You were one year ago. So dig into your icing;
Enjoy your presents, too.
The reason for this day
Is a special person--you!
By Joanna Fuchs

he never fails

Today was really just one of those days for me. We had a team meeting before practice to discuss our match last weekend in Paris (one word DISASTER, that's all I'll speak of it) with our Coach, Club President, and Team Manager and it was ruff. Words like embarrassment, shame, and horrible pretty much defined what el presidente had to say, but we expected nothing less, it was B A D. That was followed up by a sense of urgency from the club with pressure to win this weekend in our "Derby" match against our regional rival. Then with everyone in a not so motivated mood we went in to practice, frustrating to say the least.

While I was lying in bed tonight and recapping on my day (and situation) I decided to turn to my pocket bible for guidance and it took me to Thessalonians in the real thing and this is what changed my mood:
be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I have absolutely nothing to complain about...if it wasn't his will I wouldn't be going through it :) (with a biiiiiiiig smile)

two people I really miss, that always make me smile

crusin'

So I’ve been in Europe for about 6 weeks now and sometimes it takes as little as a train ride to make me realize how fortunate I am. This past weekend was our last off weekend pretty much until our Christmas vacation time and I chose to spend my last weekend in Switzerland (where else, right?). From Thionville I took a four and a half hour train to Zürich and then from Zürich about 40 minutes of travel. If you’ve never, I strongly recommend taking trains around Europe during your lifetime, it’s opportunity to see so much. The journey through France is filled with vineyards and lush greenery and through Switzerland tons of cows and a variety of crops. To sit with my iPod listening and repeating my French lessons for the day and just taking it all in is for me an indescribable peace.

Needless to say I had an amazing vaca, but am excited to be back in good ole Terville. Our first official match is this Saturday in Paris and I’m overwhelmingly anxious, firstly for our first official match and secondly to be going to Paris. I fall deeply into the category of American’s with that over-romanticized image of Europe and Paris is the one city that I’ve always wanted to visit and now I’m getting the chance, I’m such a lucky girl…

peace

"Peace Nantie"

The cutest thing ever period.

bump.....bump..bump MY favorite bumper stickers

cause Gossip Girl is my fav show right now;
you know you love me XOXO...




this is one of my favorite episodes of SATC,
"you with the flower, give me a twirl and a swirl!"














it's the best when Dave sings it...








cause I want to believe it's true...







cause I still believe it's out there...








cause it's my favorite word...












cause it was the
best movie this year...

XOXO

reasons to smile today:

• next weekends plans with KC
• finding a lost video of Mya smiling on my phone
• Philippians 4:4-9
• sweet Facebook messages
• Christian from PR season 4 cracking me up
• the sun is out
• making up code names for guys
• a long hot shower
• pierre with lemon syrup
• hearing my mom say “Texas-Ex” while talking about me
• old episodes of Saved By the Bell with Regan
• seeing my freshly washed hair in the reflection of a car window and thinking, I do kind of look like Oprah

home away...

Things that I miss about home:

1.my family

2.Mya’s smile

3. having a car that I can sit in comfortably

4. having the ability to read a menu in a restaurant

5. good coaching and organization in my volleyball life

6. my friends

7. being able to drive to San Diego







8. my mom coming in my room at 6:30am to check if maybe today I’m awake that early
9. dog hair on everything I own

10. my sister

Things I love about Europe:

1. being close to Karen, Aida, and Dave

2. getting paid to do what I love

3. waking up after 10am everyday

4. it's ok to drink a lot of coffee

5. Metz being 25 minutes away

6. outgoing French teammates always willing to help

7. match time

8. benigets

9. having Regan in the next room

10. Switzerland is only a train ride away