Another disappointment. Thus far, anyhow. It's 7:37pm and I'm sitting in my well-lit living room with the blinds wide open, jack-o-lanterns lit and inviting, enormous tub-o-candy sitting there by the door, just waiting to empty itself into the waiting bags/sacks of eager little witches and goblins (and Hannah Montanas and Harry Potters).
This has happened many times over the past few years, but it could always be blamed on my living situations (dorm room, secluded apartment off a major road, etc.). However this year is different. We live in a very residential area with lots of children who often play and ride bikes up and down this street. Perfect for a nice lively Halloween, right?
So far there has been ONE trick-or-treating family - and they SKIPPED OUR HOUSE!!!
Short of putting out a HUGE sign that says WE HAVE CANDY, I'm not sure what else to do.
On a slightly different note, Shaun suggested we make our house scary in honor of Halloween. Not just any kind of scary, though, but scary to Portlanders... by putting the following signs in the yard:
NO WiFi Available!
WE DON'T RECYCLE!
MMMM MEAT!
NEAREST COFFEE SHOP: 587miles
WE HATE GREEN
NO BICYCLES ALLOWED
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Random Fact #351
My inner dialog is freakin' hilarious. Not just a little funny, mind you, but uproariously, tears-rolling-down-your-face, so-much-laughter-building-up-inside-that-you're-going-to-BURST-if-you-don't-let-it-out funny!
I just thought you should know this.
I just thought you should know this.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Quickie
So the last week and a half has been crazy busy. This week is crazy busy, but I thought I'd post a quickie since I know there are so many of you on the edge of your seat just waiting to hear about my life.
ha
Okay, so here goes:
1. My husband is awesome.
2. I love autumn
3. I had jury duty for the first time ever ... definitely for a later post.
4. I love geo-caching
5. Shaun and I are apparently just entering the most difficult year of marriage
6. We are pretty darn happy, though.
7. My rabbit is adorable
8. I really love cooking
9. I could read read read for.ev.er
10. I wish I could live in Borders
11. I need to work on me some more.
12. My tolerance for people, which was steadily climbing for some time, is beginning a downhill slide once again.
13. I really love lists
14. I'm STILL fighting some sort of illness (it's there, just lurking under the surface, making me tired and emotional. grrr)
15. In the last 9 months twenty three of my friends have given birth (well, or their wives have given birth). TWENTY THREE!!!
16. I'm not sure why I'm still listing...
There you have it folks, I'm still alive - and Sarah C, if you're still out there reading this, I still REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY wish you would come back to us. We miss you!
ha
Okay, so here goes:
1. My husband is awesome.
2. I love autumn
3. I had jury duty for the first time ever ... definitely for a later post.
4. I love geo-caching
5. Shaun and I are apparently just entering the most difficult year of marriage
6. We are pretty darn happy, though.
7. My rabbit is adorable
8. I really love cooking
9. I could read read read for.ev.er
10. I wish I could live in Borders
11. I need to work on me some more.
12. My tolerance for people, which was steadily climbing for some time, is beginning a downhill slide once again.
13. I really love lists
14. I'm STILL fighting some sort of illness (it's there, just lurking under the surface, making me tired and emotional. grrr)
15. In the last 9 months twenty three of my friends have given birth (well, or their wives have given birth). TWENTY THREE!!!
16. I'm not sure why I'm still listing...
There you have it folks, I'm still alive - and Sarah C, if you're still out there reading this, I still REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY wish you would come back to us. We miss you!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sometimes....
I want to take my job, walk it deeeeeep into the woods, and shoot it. Dead. And sometimes, I don't. Today was an "all of the above" kind of day, but luckily I left feeling happy and content. I do love my job.
Oh, and I must apologize for my blogging. Normally, I am quite a stickler for correct grammar and such. In fact, one of the things I LOVED way back in my AP English class was our impromtu essays (which, coincidentally were not so impromptu, as we had at least one every Friday). Our teacher would give us a prompt and 20 minutes, in which we would sit for about 10 going "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," and then furitively pump out our pages, hoping for the best. The hope was that we would
1. be able to pass the writing section of our AP exam in May, and
2. avoid the wrath of The Red Pen Lady when it came to our "real" papers.
Who is this RPL, you ask? Well, I wouldn't really know, as I have never laid eyes upon her... nor has anyone I know. I always envisioned her as this warty old hunchback locked away in a dungeon somewhere, whose sole pleasure in life was to keep the joy away from pimply high school children everywhere. But the truth is she was some way-smart teacher lady who graded the AP exams in May and agreed to critique our writing. I think her name was Miss Mackie. Or something.
Anyhow, even though I publicly dreaded writing those papers as well as our impromptu essays, I secretly loved them. I wasn't very good, but I did get better, and every structurally sound sentance, every paragraph that stood on solid fountation, every well-organized essay brought such joy to my heart. The way I learned to craft words into rhythmic and picturesque thoughts was... wonderful and captivating! Thanks to that class, and my stickler Step-dad, I have become quite the grammar-nazi. Unfortunately, when it comes to blogging, my brain and fingers get moving faster than my good sense and I end up posting blogs that I go back and read and then want to cry. I'm sorry. Please don't hate me.
The end
Oh, and I must apologize for my blogging. Normally, I am quite a stickler for correct grammar and such. In fact, one of the things I LOVED way back in my AP English class was our impromtu essays (which, coincidentally were not so impromptu, as we had at least one every Friday). Our teacher would give us a prompt and 20 minutes, in which we would sit for about 10 going "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," and then furitively pump out our pages, hoping for the best. The hope was that we would
1. be able to pass the writing section of our AP exam in May, and
2. avoid the wrath of The Red Pen Lady when it came to our "real" papers.
Who is this RPL, you ask? Well, I wouldn't really know, as I have never laid eyes upon her... nor has anyone I know. I always envisioned her as this warty old hunchback locked away in a dungeon somewhere, whose sole pleasure in life was to keep the joy away from pimply high school children everywhere. But the truth is she was some way-smart teacher lady who graded the AP exams in May and agreed to critique our writing. I think her name was Miss Mackie. Or something.
Anyhow, even though I publicly dreaded writing those papers as well as our impromptu essays, I secretly loved them. I wasn't very good, but I did get better, and every structurally sound sentance, every paragraph that stood on solid fountation, every well-organized essay brought such joy to my heart. The way I learned to craft words into rhythmic and picturesque thoughts was... wonderful and captivating! Thanks to that class, and my stickler Step-dad, I have become quite the grammar-nazi. Unfortunately, when it comes to blogging, my brain and fingers get moving faster than my good sense and I end up posting blogs that I go back and read and then want to cry. I'm sorry. Please don't hate me.
The end
Sunday, September 23, 2007
I'm baaaaack
OH before I forget, did any of you ever watch the show Dinosaurs? With the Sinclair family? Yeah, I miss that show.
And noooow, back to the show!
I don't mind change. I actually kind of like it. Sometimes. My body, on the other hand, isn't so fond of the thing. For some reason, whenever there's a major (I use the word "major" rather loosely here) change in my life, my body revolts. I don't sleep, I get sick at the drop of a hat, cry more than any human should be able to, and generally become slightly zombie-esque. It's weird. Nothing too awfully bad, just enough to be rather irksome. I think the most major change that has happened was a few summers ago when I graduated from college, moved and got married within just a few months. Yikes. But I wasn't working, which at the time was uber-stressful, but in hindsight was such a blessing. I finally adjusted to having no more deadlines, a home of my own (withOUT four other girls!), and sharing my precious bed with another. It took quite a bit of time, but now THAT is normal, and any change to my new routine throws me out of whack. Now when Shaun is gone, things are all crazy again. Shaun ditched me for the East Coast this summer, and let me tell you - it wasn't pretty!
There is a reason for all this. The mister is now looking into joining the National Guard. And I thoroughly support this decision. In just about every way, this is a great opportunity/decision for us. We have some good contacts with the Oregon National Guard who has our best interests in mind, Shaun's ASVAB scores showed that he is able to go in an do pretty much whatever he wants, and he can even continue to do his current job (which he loves). So financially and career-wise, stability, benefits, etc., this is fantastic. I grew up with a military step-dad (hence the good contacts), so I know the wonderful benefits. But talk about change. Between Basic Training and AIT, Shaun will be gone for twenty-seven weeks. Yeah, nearly SEVEN MONTHS!!!! In either South Carolina or Arizona.
Seriously?!?
But right now, he's looking at going into MI... yeah, Military Intelligence. Oxymoron? Yes. Still super-cool? Certainly! Even though it scares the crap out of me because of my proclivity to reading books containing many government conspiracies and such. But I digress.
I'll keep you all posted on the situation. If you're "the kind," please pray. If not.... go ahead and try it... for us! Just kidding! If you're not the praying type, well then... I don't know.... be my friend when I'm here all alone for 7 months (you praying types can do this, too, by the way).
Okay, only two more things (geez this blog has become lengthy):
1. Dave Barry is freakin' hilarious. If you like to laugh, you should check out one of his books. Boogers are My Beat was a good one... but he's got lots, so read one. DO IT!!!!
2. ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS UNTIL THE OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whoo hoo!
That's all. Now I'm off to finish my honeydew melon!
And noooow, back to the show!
I don't mind change. I actually kind of like it. Sometimes. My body, on the other hand, isn't so fond of the thing. For some reason, whenever there's a major (I use the word "major" rather loosely here) change in my life, my body revolts. I don't sleep, I get sick at the drop of a hat, cry more than any human should be able to, and generally become slightly zombie-esque. It's weird. Nothing too awfully bad, just enough to be rather irksome. I think the most major change that has happened was a few summers ago when I graduated from college, moved and got married within just a few months. Yikes. But I wasn't working, which at the time was uber-stressful, but in hindsight was such a blessing. I finally adjusted to having no more deadlines, a home of my own (withOUT four other girls!), and sharing my precious bed with another. It took quite a bit of time, but now THAT is normal, and any change to my new routine throws me out of whack. Now when Shaun is gone, things are all crazy again. Shaun ditched me for the East Coast this summer, and let me tell you - it wasn't pretty!
There is a reason for all this. The mister is now looking into joining the National Guard. And I thoroughly support this decision. In just about every way, this is a great opportunity/decision for us. We have some good contacts with the Oregon National Guard who has our best interests in mind, Shaun's ASVAB scores showed that he is able to go in an do pretty much whatever he wants, and he can even continue to do his current job (which he loves). So financially and career-wise, stability, benefits, etc., this is fantastic. I grew up with a military step-dad (hence the good contacts), so I know the wonderful benefits. But talk about change. Between Basic Training and AIT, Shaun will be gone for twenty-seven weeks. Yeah, nearly SEVEN MONTHS!!!! In either South Carolina or Arizona.
Seriously?!?
But right now, he's looking at going into MI... yeah, Military Intelligence. Oxymoron? Yes. Still super-cool? Certainly! Even though it scares the crap out of me because of my proclivity to reading books containing many government conspiracies and such. But I digress.
I'll keep you all posted on the situation. If you're "the kind," please pray. If not.... go ahead and try it... for us! Just kidding! If you're not the praying type, well then... I don't know.... be my friend when I'm here all alone for 7 months (you praying types can do this, too, by the way).
Okay, only two more things (geez this blog has become lengthy):
1. Dave Barry is freakin' hilarious. If you like to laugh, you should check out one of his books. Boogers are My Beat was a good one... but he's got lots, so read one. DO IT!!!!
2. ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS UNTIL THE OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whoo hoo!
That's all. Now I'm off to finish my honeydew melon!
It's Official!!!
Well, it's finally technically, officially, wonderfully, marvelously HERE! Yes, Autumn has arrived, and "boy oh boy" (ala Joe Peschi in With Honors -if you havne't seen it, you should!) am I excited. I must admit I have been celebrating early. In the past week I have made chicken noodle soup, spaghetti, spiced cider, hot cocoa; I've pulled out my big THICK fuzzy blanket, laundered it and cuddled up with it and a nice book. Ah.
I must admit that I cheated just a little bit. I was so ready to cuddle up with my just-out-of-the-dryer blanket, but it was still a bit too warm in the house. I couldn't believe my luck. I was so bummed. But then, I had an idea. No, I didn't neatly fold the blanket and tuck it away for another day. That's right, I turned on the air conditioner. Yep. I did it JUST to be able to wrap up in a warm blanket. Call me a freak. Tell me I wasted energy and money and all that... and really? I don't particularly care. It was totally worth it!
But I digress. This morning, Shaun and I celebrated the first day of Fall by listening to my Loony Tunes Christmas CD. Oh yeah, CHRISTMAS!!!
Well, I have more to blog about, but I need to go take care of a few things. I'll try to get the rest of everything blogged tonight or tomorrow.
Hey - anyone up for a pumpkin carving party? Or.... something equally festive and fall-y and fun?
I must admit that I cheated just a little bit. I was so ready to cuddle up with my just-out-of-the-dryer blanket, but it was still a bit too warm in the house. I couldn't believe my luck. I was so bummed. But then, I had an idea. No, I didn't neatly fold the blanket and tuck it away for another day. That's right, I turned on the air conditioner. Yep. I did it JUST to be able to wrap up in a warm blanket. Call me a freak. Tell me I wasted energy and money and all that... and really? I don't particularly care. It was totally worth it!
But I digress. This morning, Shaun and I celebrated the first day of Fall by listening to my Loony Tunes Christmas CD. Oh yeah, CHRISTMAS!!!
Well, I have more to blog about, but I need to go take care of a few things. I'll try to get the rest of everything blogged tonight or tomorrow.
Hey - anyone up for a pumpkin carving party? Or.... something equally festive and fall-y and fun?
Saturday, September 22, 2007
#75
We have a bunny. She's adorable... but that's not what I'm here to talk about. She chews. She's a rabbit - that's what she does. Well, she seems to have an affinity for rubber, and in the last 7 months has managed to chew every single button off our remote control. The remote is still usable, but sometimes trying to use the correct button reminds me of that game, Memory, that I used to play as a kid. It's also a bit difficult to get your finger to press the teeny tiny button all the way down.
Today, my husband came home with this:
Seriously!
Well, I suppose we'll never loose the remote again.
hm
Today, my husband came home with this:
Seriously!
Well, I suppose we'll never loose the remote again.
hm
Sunday, September 16, 2007
'Sis the Teason
Call me crazy, but I am totally, officially IN the Christmas spirit! I'm feeling it already! Yeah, yeah yeah, so it's only September... but it's getting a little chilly finally and that just does it for me. I was able to curl up in the recliner today with a fuzzy blanket - all wrapped up for a cozy Sunday afternoon nap. For the first time since May I didn't wake up drenched in sweat because it's so freakin hot! I just stepped outside a moment ago and stood in the dark drizzle of a beautiful autumn evening! SO wonderful! Those evenings curled up with a cozy blanket and a cup of steaming spiced cider or my delicious homemade holiday hot cocoa... not so far away now! I shall take full advantage of this rainy week to make some yummy chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese and tomato soup... and cuddle up with some good books.
To those of you who cringe and cry that summer is beginning to relinquish her hold and pass the reigns on to Autumn, I am truly sorry for you. I know the devistation of seeing your favorite season slip out the back door while a new season full of weather you're not so fond of beats down the front door. I truly hope that this fall and winter are happy times for you and yours.
To us "normal" people - BRING ON THE RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To those of you who cringe and cry that summer is beginning to relinquish her hold and pass the reigns on to Autumn, I am truly sorry for you. I know the devistation of seeing your favorite season slip out the back door while a new season full of weather you're not so fond of beats down the front door. I truly hope that this fall and winter are happy times for you and yours.
To us "normal" people - BRING ON THE RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
post #72
Original blog title, eh? And boy do I have exciting news for numero seventy-dos.
I cut my toenails last night. I got a little crazy on my right big toe, cut too much nail off, and am paying for it today.
I hate when I do that. ouch
How are your toes today?
I cut my toenails last night. I got a little crazy on my right big toe, cut too much nail off, and am paying for it today.
I hate when I do that. ouch
How are your toes today?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
hefalumps and woozles
So (I think) I have been what they (cyber people, I suppose) call "tagged" to make a list. Not just any list, but a list about me. Random things about me. I think the tag was for 8 things, but I'm just going to start and see where this goes.
1. I am shy and often uncomfortable around people.
2. When I'm not too busy doing #1, I'm excessively outgoing and silly and goofy
3. I used to dream of being an anchorwoman.
4. I love the freckle-y thing I have on my left index toe
5. I'm slightly ashamed at my extreme excitement over being "tagged" for this list. I've never been tagged before.
6. I love having lots of friends and lengthy discussions
7. I dream of the day I will have more than 2 readers for my blog
8. I am an addict. If there is something to read, I can't help myself
9. I learned most of what I know about US History from The Singing American (Johnny Horton)
10. I try to use correct grammar. I especially cringe at improper pronounciation and hanging prepositions.
11. My favorite camping snack is a brown sugar and cinnamon pop tart with a cold, crunchy dill pickle
12. I love growing things
13. I'm paranoid about being an imposition on others
14. From all my days in Tae Kwon Do, the only physical residue is one wicked-cool muscle on my right foot
15. I don't walk on grates. Or manholes. Or anything that indicated that there may be a hole or room or person beneath that could possibly be under me, waiting to reach up and grab me - or open up and swallow me whole.
16. I hate dolls
17. I'm still sad that my mom would never let me make ice cream in my Barbie ice Cream Shoppe set thingy. It was the only redeeming quality of that gift, and I never got to use it....
18. I can still recall, with great vividity, 2 very disturbing dreams I had at the ages of 4 and 6.
19. I was born on Elvis's birthday
20. I cry waaaay more than I would ever let on to anyone else
21. Books elicit more emotion from me than most any person could (or has, anyway)
22. The sky is enthralling to me. Any day. Any night. Any time.
23. If I won the lottery, after settling my debt and a little bit of sharing, I would buy a watermellon farm and then I would spend the rest of the money on school. I would get about 3 more undgraduate degrees, then move on to some sort of masters degree.
24. After 23 years of little to no TV, I have discovered the joys of mindless enterntainment
25. After 24 "things" about me, I think I'm ready for bed.
G'Night
1. I am shy and often uncomfortable around people.
2. When I'm not too busy doing #1, I'm excessively outgoing and silly and goofy
3. I used to dream of being an anchorwoman.
4. I love the freckle-y thing I have on my left index toe
5. I'm slightly ashamed at my extreme excitement over being "tagged" for this list. I've never been tagged before.
6. I love having lots of friends and lengthy discussions
7. I dream of the day I will have more than 2 readers for my blog
8. I am an addict. If there is something to read, I can't help myself
9. I learned most of what I know about US History from The Singing American (Johnny Horton)
10. I try to use correct grammar. I especially cringe at improper pronounciation and hanging prepositions.
11. My favorite camping snack is a brown sugar and cinnamon pop tart with a cold, crunchy dill pickle
12. I love growing things
13. I'm paranoid about being an imposition on others
14. From all my days in Tae Kwon Do, the only physical residue is one wicked-cool muscle on my right foot
15. I don't walk on grates. Or manholes. Or anything that indicated that there may be a hole or room or person beneath that could possibly be under me, waiting to reach up and grab me - or open up and swallow me whole.
16. I hate dolls
17. I'm still sad that my mom would never let me make ice cream in my Barbie ice Cream Shoppe set thingy. It was the only redeeming quality of that gift, and I never got to use it....
18. I can still recall, with great vividity, 2 very disturbing dreams I had at the ages of 4 and 6.
19. I was born on Elvis's birthday
20. I cry waaaay more than I would ever let on to anyone else
21. Books elicit more emotion from me than most any person could (or has, anyway)
22. The sky is enthralling to me. Any day. Any night. Any time.
23. If I won the lottery, after settling my debt and a little bit of sharing, I would buy a watermellon farm and then I would spend the rest of the money on school. I would get about 3 more undgraduate degrees, then move on to some sort of masters degree.
24. After 23 years of little to no TV, I have discovered the joys of mindless enterntainment
25. After 24 "things" about me, I think I'm ready for bed.
G'Night
Saturday, August 18, 2007
darn those time-wasters
So I was wasting time I don't have to waste surfing around on some MySpace pages and found one of those "Your ________ is ______" kind of things, and clicked on it. Why? I don't know. I typed in my full name and got my "expression number." This is what mine said:
Your Expression Number is 4
Practical and down to earth - everything in your life is organized.
You are a great writer and teacher. You never forget a detail.
Very patient, you have the ability to cultivate talents in difficult fields.
You also tend to have an artistic side. You'd make a great architect or classical musician.
You face your responsibilities with a positive attitude - and you always get things done.
You are serious, sincere, honest, and faithful.
Sometimes your strong sense of responsibility leads to frustration.
You also tend to develop strong likes and dislikes, which border on dogmatism.
At you're worst, you can be a dominant disciplinarian.
Wow... now, there's a thing or 2 in there that are true; there's a thing or 2 in there that are far from true, but in general, it reminded me of all the characteristics that I used to embody... the ones that I have shirked in the last few years. Yes, blogthings has shamed me. A "blogthing" has made me take a good look at myself and say "ICK."
I want my patience back.
I want my positive attitude back.
I want my sense of responsibility back - even when it leads to frustration.
I want my creative side back.
Good thing I will be put in the perfect situation to really get down to work and get those back. This next school year is going to be challenging. My goal is to actually TAKE that challenge and not just suffer through it like I did last year.
Hmmm... it's going to be tough. I used to like tough.... I will get there again, though.
I guess you could call this my New Year Resolution. Forget January - for us teachers, it all begins in Aug or Sep.
Deep Breath
Here I am world, CHECK ME OUT!
Your Expression Number is 4
Practical and down to earth - everything in your life is organized.
You are a great writer and teacher. You never forget a detail.
Very patient, you have the ability to cultivate talents in difficult fields.
You also tend to have an artistic side. You'd make a great architect or classical musician.
You face your responsibilities with a positive attitude - and you always get things done.
You are serious, sincere, honest, and faithful.
Sometimes your strong sense of responsibility leads to frustration.
You also tend to develop strong likes and dislikes, which border on dogmatism.
At you're worst, you can be a dominant disciplinarian.
Wow... now, there's a thing or 2 in there that are true; there's a thing or 2 in there that are far from true, but in general, it reminded me of all the characteristics that I used to embody... the ones that I have shirked in the last few years. Yes, blogthings has shamed me. A "blogthing" has made me take a good look at myself and say "ICK."
I want my patience back.
I want my positive attitude back.
I want my sense of responsibility back - even when it leads to frustration.
I want my creative side back.
Good thing I will be put in the perfect situation to really get down to work and get those back. This next school year is going to be challenging. My goal is to actually TAKE that challenge and not just suffer through it like I did last year.
Hmmm... it's going to be tough. I used to like tough.... I will get there again, though.
I guess you could call this my New Year Resolution. Forget January - for us teachers, it all begins in Aug or Sep.
Deep Breath
Here I am world, CHECK ME OUT!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
ventilation
So it's not a big vent/rant - only 2 small ones.
1. my BOSS emailed a parent for me. Basically she asked me what information needed to be relayed and then typed it for me. Now, the message got across just fine; the parent received the information she needed. However, I read the email my BOSS sent and it's full of misused words and grammar and ... I know she was doing a favor for me AND it was probably an accident, but it seems in bad taste for a professional business, ya know? Just a personal irritation, nothing too major.
2. the amount of time said boss spends on the clock taking care of personal business/phone calls, etc. granted, she does a lot of work for the school on her own time, but....
gotta go. more later
1. my BOSS emailed a parent for me. Basically she asked me what information needed to be relayed and then typed it for me. Now, the message got across just fine; the parent received the information she needed. However, I read the email my BOSS sent and it's full of misused words and grammar and ... I know she was doing a favor for me AND it was probably an accident, but it seems in bad taste for a professional business, ya know? Just a personal irritation, nothing too major.
2. the amount of time said boss spends on the clock taking care of personal business/phone calls, etc. granted, she does a lot of work for the school on her own time, but....
gotta go. more later
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Royal Butt-Kickings
God's really good at kicking my butt. He is! He tends to be pretty gentle about it mostly, but there is no mistaking the intent behind the swift kick in the behind! This has happened many times in my life, and it happened again this weekend. A few times, actuallly, but there is one in particular that I would like to share with you. Remember my neighbor? Well, not much has really changed lately. If anything, we (Shaun and I) have just gotten more and more exasperated. This afternoon I had a plan. I had my afternoon and evening scheduled out until I needed to be at the airport to pick up Shaun. Part of that plan included a few minutes to go water my garden. While out there I ran into (not literally) her. We chit-chatted for a few minutes and I was talking about some of our plan/obligations and such ... or something like that. Anyhow, I said something about church. Immediately she perked up and said "you go to church? where?" I told her and she asked if we taught the Bible and if we went every Sunday and then came home afterward. When I told her that we pretty much did just that, she asked if maybe we would be interested in bringing her with us. She went on to talk about a TV program she enjoyed watching where someone just read passages of scripture and answering mail from viewers who had questions about particular passages. But they took it off the air and since then she's been thinking about going to church, but for some reason she can't sit for church AND then manage to drive home.
wow
All this time I prayed and kept trying to be patient and be a good example to her, to keep evil thoughts from my mind. Isn't that what we should be doing? Yet I never opened my mouth to her about my faith. Not once. And all this time, finding a church has been on her heart. One silly little word said in passing was all it took. She has been seeking, and I have been shirking. Jesus, you are amazing, and I am sorry. You provide. Please help me to reach out to others in your name. Help me to be your hands reaching out to those in need, even if they are annoying and regardless of how they recieve the message.
I don't know what will come of this visit to our church, but I pray that You will work in her life and that you will continue to put me in the middle of challenges like this one. Help me to close my pride and open my mouth.
Use me, Jesus. And keep kicking my butt when I'm being lazy and selfish.
wow
All this time I prayed and kept trying to be patient and be a good example to her, to keep evil thoughts from my mind. Isn't that what we should be doing? Yet I never opened my mouth to her about my faith. Not once. And all this time, finding a church has been on her heart. One silly little word said in passing was all it took. She has been seeking, and I have been shirking. Jesus, you are amazing, and I am sorry. You provide. Please help me to reach out to others in your name. Help me to be your hands reaching out to those in need, even if they are annoying and regardless of how they recieve the message.
I don't know what will come of this visit to our church, but I pray that You will work in her life and that you will continue to put me in the middle of challenges like this one. Help me to close my pride and open my mouth.
Use me, Jesus. And keep kicking my butt when I'm being lazy and selfish.
Monday, July 23, 2007
of loss and mourning
Well, this morning I said goodbye to a dear old friend.
We met through a mutual friend about 6 years ago. I can't say I was a great friend - ours was an on-gain, off-again relationship. But whenever we parted (and regardless of whose decision it was), there was always the knowledge that we would meet again. After a long parting, we met up again yesterday. Our final hours together were intense and intimate, triumphant and sorrowful. And alas, this morning we parted ways for the last time. We will always have our memories, and I'll be able to easily recall everything, as I have written documentation of every moment of our time together, but it will never be the same again. I am only slightly ashamed to admit that these last two days have been full of tears. There have been the welling eyes, the quiet spill-overs, the disjointed sobs, the quiet happy drops and the wracking, heaving bawling. It's so difficult to fathom the finality of the situation. There will be no more afternoons of peaceful heart-to-hearts, no more adventures, nothing. It's over. Finished. Done.
I will miss you, Harry Potter. I will miss the anticipation of the unknown, the adventures of you and your friends and family. I have enjoyed our journey together and am grateful to David and to Carly for introducing us. You can be assured that I will revisit our time together. Thank you for the joy and the sorrow and the escape (and vocabulary) you have provided to me throughout these past years.
Peace be with you, Harry.
**yes, I am well aware of just how pathetic I am.... but books touch me in ways I can't really explain.
We met through a mutual friend about 6 years ago. I can't say I was a great friend - ours was an on-gain, off-again relationship. But whenever we parted (and regardless of whose decision it was), there was always the knowledge that we would meet again. After a long parting, we met up again yesterday. Our final hours together were intense and intimate, triumphant and sorrowful. And alas, this morning we parted ways for the last time. We will always have our memories, and I'll be able to easily recall everything, as I have written documentation of every moment of our time together, but it will never be the same again. I am only slightly ashamed to admit that these last two days have been full of tears. There have been the welling eyes, the quiet spill-overs, the disjointed sobs, the quiet happy drops and the wracking, heaving bawling. It's so difficult to fathom the finality of the situation. There will be no more afternoons of peaceful heart-to-hearts, no more adventures, nothing. It's over. Finished. Done.
I will miss you, Harry Potter. I will miss the anticipation of the unknown, the adventures of you and your friends and family. I have enjoyed our journey together and am grateful to David and to Carly for introducing us. You can be assured that I will revisit our time together. Thank you for the joy and the sorrow and the escape (and vocabulary) you have provided to me throughout these past years.
Peace be with you, Harry.
**yes, I am well aware of just how pathetic I am.... but books touch me in ways I can't really explain.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
on -mania
I'm a maniac maaay-niac!
My very own copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows arrived in Portland approximately 1 hour and 59 minutes ago. It will be on my doorstep Saturday morning!!!!!!!!
Don't plan on seeing or hearing from me all weekend! Shaun leaves for DC early Saturday, so I've got my date w/Harry all set for the entire weekend.
My very own copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows arrived in Portland approximately 1 hour and 59 minutes ago. It will be on my doorstep Saturday morning!!!!!!!!
Don't plan on seeing or hearing from me all weekend! Shaun leaves for DC early Saturday, so I've got my date w/Harry all set for the entire weekend.
Eerie!
So I opened my internet browser this morning with the sole intention to get some good quotes for the newsletter at work, and the MSN page had a link to this article and it served its purpose in catching my eye. I clicked to the article, read it, and was flabbergasted! I seriously wondered if perhaps I wrote and submitted the article under a false name! Yeah! Anyhow, here it is:
Skip navigation
By Carrie Friedman
Newsweek
July 23, 2007 issue - I am at a party chatting with a woman I know slightly. As her young son squirms out of her embrace, she slips her hand under my shirt. She's not getting fresh with me. She's touching my tummy with her cold hand and asking me, in a concerned voice, "Why aren't you pregnant yet?" I smile, break free from her touch, and head to the food table to fill said empty belly with her brat's birthday cake.
I love children and definitely plan on having them. Maternal instinct is oozing out of my pores: I've infantilized my dogs; I've gotten down on my hands and knees at the park with babies I barely know. My marriage is wonderful and solid, and we are both blessed with good health. I've been a nanny, a teacher, a youth-group leader. I've taken childhood-development courses solely for the purpose of someday raising happy, balanced children. I have always looked forward to becoming a mother.
So why don't I have kids or even the inkling right now? It's because of you. Yes, you: the fanatical mothers of the world. It may seem like ages ago now, but you weren't always like this. You, too, were sneering at the obnoxious parents who brought their infants to fancy, adult, nighttime restaurants or R-rated movies and let them carry on, ruining things for other patrons. You've been terrible advertising for the club that you so desperately need others to join.
If you want me to join your ranks—and you've made it clear with your cold, clammy hands on my stomach that recruiting my uterus is of paramount importance to you—I need to set some ground rules.
First, please stop asking me when I'm going to get pregnant.
For all you know, I cannot have kids. For all I know, I cannot have kids, as I have not yet tried. But imagine how painful this line of interrogation would be if I had submitted to all kinds of procedures, only to come up empty-wombed. It would be emotionally devastating. Yet ever since the day after my wedding two years ago, I have fielded this question from the eye doctor, the dental assistant, my yoga teacher, the bagger at the grocery store. All of them feel entitled to ask. Don't. It's none of your business.
Next, don't completely abandon your own life and passions. You're setting a bad example for aspiring mothers-to-be like me.
I recently expressed my happiness over an achievement I had at work to a mother-friend of mine. She said, dripping with condescension, "Well, you don't know happiness until you've had a baby."
That's very possible, but don't rain on my parade, as I've never said to you, "Remind me, when you went to that expensive college you majored in diaper-rash prevention, right?"
I happen to love my job. It fulfills me in ways no other person—even a child—could. I learned through my own mother's example that the best lesson you can teach your kids is to pursue their passions. It's not selfish to have your own life. In fact, it's selfish not to.
Now let's talk a bit about manners, as in please teach your children some. The world has rules, and kids should learn them. And being well mannered does not infringe on their individuality and freedom.
I crouched to meet the eye line of an acquaintance's 4-year-old to greet her, and in response, she punched me in the face so hard my mouth bled. What was more baffling was the mother's reaction: nothing to the child, but to me she said very sternly: "You really shouldn't talk down to kids."
I also shouldn't be punched in the face by kids whose parents don't know how to set basic boundaries. Experiences like this don't exactly encourage me to hurry up and get pregnant.
Finally, don't make your kid an extension of your own narcissism.
No one could possibly love your kids as much as you do, so stop inflicting them on others. Don't bring your kid to adult parties when you're not sure if it's kid-friendly. If they didn't invite your kid, they don't want your kid there. If you don't want to get a babysitter, stay home.
My husband thinks some people, particularly mothers, behave in these ways because it helps them validate their own choices. But he doesn't truly understand how infuriating it is, and that's because nobody badgers men with questions about procreation.
Becoming a parent was your decision, and I am thrilled for you. All I'm asking is that you let me make that choice in my own time. And keep your hands off my belly.
Skip navigation
By Carrie Friedman
Newsweek
July 23, 2007 issue - I am at a party chatting with a woman I know slightly. As her young son squirms out of her embrace, she slips her hand under my shirt. She's not getting fresh with me. She's touching my tummy with her cold hand and asking me, in a concerned voice, "Why aren't you pregnant yet?" I smile, break free from her touch, and head to the food table to fill said empty belly with her brat's birthday cake.
I love children and definitely plan on having them. Maternal instinct is oozing out of my pores: I've infantilized my dogs; I've gotten down on my hands and knees at the park with babies I barely know. My marriage is wonderful and solid, and we are both blessed with good health. I've been a nanny, a teacher, a youth-group leader. I've taken childhood-development courses solely for the purpose of someday raising happy, balanced children. I have always looked forward to becoming a mother.
So why don't I have kids or even the inkling right now? It's because of you. Yes, you: the fanatical mothers of the world. It may seem like ages ago now, but you weren't always like this. You, too, were sneering at the obnoxious parents who brought their infants to fancy, adult, nighttime restaurants or R-rated movies and let them carry on, ruining things for other patrons. You've been terrible advertising for the club that you so desperately need others to join.
If you want me to join your ranks—and you've made it clear with your cold, clammy hands on my stomach that recruiting my uterus is of paramount importance to you—I need to set some ground rules.
First, please stop asking me when I'm going to get pregnant.
For all you know, I cannot have kids. For all I know, I cannot have kids, as I have not yet tried. But imagine how painful this line of interrogation would be if I had submitted to all kinds of procedures, only to come up empty-wombed. It would be emotionally devastating. Yet ever since the day after my wedding two years ago, I have fielded this question from the eye doctor, the dental assistant, my yoga teacher, the bagger at the grocery store. All of them feel entitled to ask. Don't. It's none of your business.
Next, don't completely abandon your own life and passions. You're setting a bad example for aspiring mothers-to-be like me.
I recently expressed my happiness over an achievement I had at work to a mother-friend of mine. She said, dripping with condescension, "Well, you don't know happiness until you've had a baby."
That's very possible, but don't rain on my parade, as I've never said to you, "Remind me, when you went to that expensive college you majored in diaper-rash prevention, right?"
I happen to love my job. It fulfills me in ways no other person—even a child—could. I learned through my own mother's example that the best lesson you can teach your kids is to pursue their passions. It's not selfish to have your own life. In fact, it's selfish not to.
Now let's talk a bit about manners, as in please teach your children some. The world has rules, and kids should learn them. And being well mannered does not infringe on their individuality and freedom.
I crouched to meet the eye line of an acquaintance's 4-year-old to greet her, and in response, she punched me in the face so hard my mouth bled. What was more baffling was the mother's reaction: nothing to the child, but to me she said very sternly: "You really shouldn't talk down to kids."
I also shouldn't be punched in the face by kids whose parents don't know how to set basic boundaries. Experiences like this don't exactly encourage me to hurry up and get pregnant.
Finally, don't make your kid an extension of your own narcissism.
No one could possibly love your kids as much as you do, so stop inflicting them on others. Don't bring your kid to adult parties when you're not sure if it's kid-friendly. If they didn't invite your kid, they don't want your kid there. If you don't want to get a babysitter, stay home.
My husband thinks some people, particularly mothers, behave in these ways because it helps them validate their own choices. But he doesn't truly understand how infuriating it is, and that's because nobody badgers men with questions about procreation.
Becoming a parent was your decision, and I am thrilled for you. All I'm asking is that you let me make that choice in my own time. And keep your hands off my belly.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Weekend Wanderings (and wonderings)
Shaun and I have been doing a lot of house-sitting lately. This is mostly pretty cool. Being the proud person I am, it's a little irksome when people just assume we'll house sit for them (without pay) because it's doing us some big favor by allowing us to live in their bigger, "better" house. But all in all, it's fine, and we have been enjoying ourselves. However, Friday night we both fell into our OWN bed with much rejoicing. Apparently our bed is a lot better than we gave it credit for - after almost three weeks of slumbering in foreign beds, our own was just... just wonderful!
So I took advantage of my free time and slept in Saturday morning while Shaun had to get up and go to work for a few hours. When he got home, he got a call from his good friend David and before long we had all agreed that it was a super day for geo-caching! After a slight mix-up and then lunch at good ol' TB, we headed into the woods and spent a nice day hiking the trails and finding hidden treasure. Our final cache was never found - we found a dead possum, some porn, and a little black vole, but no cache. Hmmm...
Afterwards we treked back up to my work for a quick pit stop before heading over to D & C's house for some yummy BBQ'd burgers and A Night At The Museum. Fun times.
Unfortunately it seems I have time only to blog about my weekend wandering - perhaps later I'll get a chance to blog about my wonderings.
Ciao for now!
So I took advantage of my free time and slept in Saturday morning while Shaun had to get up and go to work for a few hours. When he got home, he got a call from his good friend David and before long we had all agreed that it was a super day for geo-caching! After a slight mix-up and then lunch at good ol' TB, we headed into the woods and spent a nice day hiking the trails and finding hidden treasure. Our final cache was never found - we found a dead possum, some porn, and a little black vole, but no cache. Hmmm...
Afterwards we treked back up to my work for a quick pit stop before heading over to D & C's house for some yummy BBQ'd burgers and A Night At The Museum. Fun times.
Unfortunately it seems I have time only to blog about my weekend wandering - perhaps later I'll get a chance to blog about my wonderings.
Ciao for now!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
No Human Being Is Illegal
That's what the protest signs say. Apparently there was a big bust in Portland and a bus-load of illegals were taken to Tacoma to wait for a decision about deportation .. or something. I don't really know the details, but I know that people are feeling very strongly about this topic. Now, in general I am a pretty compassionate person. I'm appropriately outraged when people are treated unfairly. I oppose slavery and racism and prejudice and all that. But if I decided I wanted to live in, say, Italy and so I flew over there and tried to live and work without the proper documentation, I would fully expect to be unceremoniously booted from the country. Yes, this is America, but dude, if you're not going to get what you need to get to be here legally, you need to get out! I don't see any grey (gray?) area here.
That's all.
I'm a big procrastinator. I'll tell you about that sometime.
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it
That's all.
I'm a big procrastinator. I'll tell you about that sometime.
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it
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