"Chuck Bartowski? Paging Chuck Bartowski..."

This summer my brother, by way of my other brother, introduced me to my new favorite TV show, CHUCK. It's about a regular guy who, in a strange twist of fate, gets roped into becoming a spy. Now, I am generally not much of a TV watcher. I hate commercials, I hate waiting a week to find out what happens next, and I hate having to be home at a certain time to watch it. My parent's don't even have TV at their house! But I simply love CHUCK! And fortunately for me, we were a few seasons behind in catching on to the CHUCK phenomenon, so we watched it all on DVD.

It became my summer tradition to watch Chuck with my dad and my brother Stephen, projected in our living room (forget flat screen, we had a whole wall!). Talk about the best kind of bonding with my nerdy brother and dad!! It's just not the same without them. In fact, when Dad went out of town for a few days, Stephen made me wait to watch any more episodes!

Recently, I went home for a few days on a break from school. Since season 3 had just come out, we borrowed my roommates copy and had a 5 day CHUCK marathon to get through season 3 before I left. Not only was it an AWESOME season, full of great stories, new characters, and suspenseful plot twists, but I got to watch it with my very own Nerd Herd :) And let me tell you what, watching with them is like living an action movie at the same time!

I've heard it said that CHUCK has such universal appeal is because guys find the title character relatable and women find him adorable. And I tell you, it is true!! Plus it has this genius blend of comedy and action, with the just the right amount of eye candy and sexual tension to keep things interesting.

If you have not seen it, come on over, I'll gladly re-watch it with you :) I seriously love this show! I love all the zany characters! And it seems all my favorite people love the CHUCK crew too. Until I find my own Chuck, my dates have to pass the CHUCK test. Don't like my show? Kind of a deal breaker.



And may I just add that if Mr. Zachary Levi is anywhere near as adorably nerdy as his fictional counterpart (and I've heard he is), I would gladly have him save my world - or my computer - any day ;)

2 whole years

Exactly two years ago my life turned upside down. I think someone was trying to tell me something. Something along the lines of "You're not the one in control! I know better, just trust me!"

The horrible cold turned flu turned rare virus and subsequent 4 days in bed didn't get it through my head, nor did any of the other trials of that year. So He used a dopey border guard and a misunderstanding to help pull me out of Florida, turn me around, and put me on the path He wanted me to be on.

And it has been two years since...

Not quite sure I've truly found that path yet, but at least I've learned to let Him take the wheel!

Isn't it ironic? Don't ya think?

"It's like meeting the man of your dreams
 then meeting his beautiful wife."

Remember a few months back when I wrote about a little crush I had on a certain semi-celebrity? (refresh your memory here) Well, I am still somewhat dazed by the whole thing, but a few weeks ago, I ran into him. Turns out we have some common friends. Not even kidding!!!

I walked into my friends very crowded apartment, and found myself face to face with this amazing guy. And yes, he is just as attractive in person. As soon as I realized it was him, I had a little inner freak-out and thought, "This is it! I'm meeting him! It might actually happen!"

Then, in the 30 seconds that followed, I noticed the thrilled commotion of my friend with a girl nearby, put all the pieces together, and came back down to reality. The beautiful girl with the huge diamond engagement ring, was this man's fiancee, and they were getting married 2 weeks later.

Fortunately, I did nothing to embarrass myself. I figured it all out on my own and kept all my instantaneous excitement and disappointment to myself. But a little part of me was crying.

It wasn't so much that I would cry over this random stranger, but rather what he represented for me. See, even though I had never met him before, he gave me hope. Hope that intelligent, righteous, good-looking single men close to my age still exist out there, and I might possibly find one who'll want to keep me. And in the moment I met him and then learned of his impending wedding, I felt like that hope faded a little. Strange, I know.

One the bright side, he found his forever! And she is around my age, a returned missionary and a redhead... go figure! I actually got to attend their wedding reception with our mutual friend. Yep, weird again. And yet, it was so fun and happy!! Seeing them together renewed my hope. They are two mature, good, beautiful people who have each been through their own trials of patience and plenty of heartache along the way. And they made it to the next step!

So yes, there is still hope for me. Just not sure when or how I will ever find it! I guess that's where faith steps in.

"Isn't it ironic...? Life has a funny way of helping you out..."