Jeff will be ok--thank you very sincerely, everyone for your prayers and support. He is home now, and resting comfortably.
I don't have a whole lot to share other than that I never thought I'd say I was glad the weekend was over! Talk about an emotional roller coaster! My tummy is having trouble settling down...
Richard is finally home safe and sound, and maybe life will go back to normal for a little while! (Please note that by "normal" I mean INSANELY busy.)
Today is Naomi's birthday, so be sure to wish her a
Happy Golden Birthday, Naomi!!!
Happy 25th Birthday, Carla!!
(and Dave?)
Monday, October 23, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
Prayer Request
Yesterday morning, Jeff, my brother-in-law was in a car accident. He fell asleep at the wheel and hit a tree. We don't know how fast he was going, and he doesn't remember anything.
He was rushed to the hospital where they treated and have been treating his hand (several stitches), broken lower jaw, and lacerated spleen.
He will be ok, but they will keep him for a while to make sure his spleen doesn't bleed out.
The entire ordeal was very emotional on a lot of levels--over the day I felt fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, joy, comfort, exhaustion, and true, honest gratitude especially to Bia for showing such selfless love to my family. She was there with Jeff before any of us got there and stayed much longer than the rest of us. The love of Christ comes in all forms, and it seems that Bia is tuned-in to whatever God wanted to use her for yesterday.
I left work early to go visit him, and then went with Brenda to sign his car over to the tow guy, which, believe it or not, was NOT an easy thing. Let me suffice it to say that the guy at Budget Towing off of W. 7th Street in St. Paul needs to work on his communication skills.
Brenda and I spent an hour or more cleaning out Jeff's destroyed Cavalier. The engine is the only thing that stopped the tree from coming all the way through the car. It seemed like the fact that we had a job to do in cleaning out the car made it easier to deal with the crisis. I was impressed with how calm and collected Brenda was through the whole ordeal. I think I wasn't the only one who was anointed with the Holy Sprit yesterday.
We took everything out of Jeff's car and put it into bags and carried it out of the tow yard.
Brenda and I were both dressed relatively nicely when we started the whole ordeal, and as you can imagine, it wasn't a very clean job cleaning out a wrecked car (a bottle of Tide had exploded in the trunk, among other things), so as we picked out clothing from Jeff's car, we chose the cleanest pieces and put them on. I actually changed pants in the middle of the tow yard. I figure, give the jerk in the office a thrill. Talk about a winner.
The point is, I prayed for anointing all day. I knew I couldn't be what Brenda needed (whatever she needed) without help from God, which He provided. And also, shave your legs because you never know when you may need to strip down to your underwear in an impound lot.
Please keep our family in your prayers. Richard is in Pennsylvania this weekend, and being so far away when Jeff is hurt is really hard on him. Pray that the Lord will bless our interactions and help us to make good decisions. And pray that I can continue to be whatever Richard's family needs me to be.
He was rushed to the hospital where they treated and have been treating his hand (several stitches), broken lower jaw, and lacerated spleen.
He will be ok, but they will keep him for a while to make sure his spleen doesn't bleed out.
The entire ordeal was very emotional on a lot of levels--over the day I felt fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, joy, comfort, exhaustion, and true, honest gratitude especially to Bia for showing such selfless love to my family. She was there with Jeff before any of us got there and stayed much longer than the rest of us. The love of Christ comes in all forms, and it seems that Bia is tuned-in to whatever God wanted to use her for yesterday.
I left work early to go visit him, and then went with Brenda to sign his car over to the tow guy, which, believe it or not, was NOT an easy thing. Let me suffice it to say that the guy at Budget Towing off of W. 7th Street in St. Paul needs to work on his communication skills.
Brenda and I spent an hour or more cleaning out Jeff's destroyed Cavalier. The engine is the only thing that stopped the tree from coming all the way through the car. It seemed like the fact that we had a job to do in cleaning out the car made it easier to deal with the crisis. I was impressed with how calm and collected Brenda was through the whole ordeal. I think I wasn't the only one who was anointed with the Holy Sprit yesterday.
We took everything out of Jeff's car and put it into bags and carried it out of the tow yard.
Brenda and I were both dressed relatively nicely when we started the whole ordeal, and as you can imagine, it wasn't a very clean job cleaning out a wrecked car (a bottle of Tide had exploded in the trunk, among other things), so as we picked out clothing from Jeff's car, we chose the cleanest pieces and put them on. I actually changed pants in the middle of the tow yard. I figure, give the jerk in the office a thrill. Talk about a winner.
The point is, I prayed for anointing all day. I knew I couldn't be what Brenda needed (whatever she needed) without help from God, which He provided. And also, shave your legs because you never know when you may need to strip down to your underwear in an impound lot.
Please keep our family in your prayers. Richard is in Pennsylvania this weekend, and being so far away when Jeff is hurt is really hard on him. Pray that the Lord will bless our interactions and help us to make good decisions. And pray that I can continue to be whatever Richard's family needs me to be.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Smackem Crackem
Today over lunch I had to run to Cub to pick up a few things.
I turned down the aisle to park and had to stop and wait for an elderly woman in a turquoise Plymouth Relient (sp? don't care--you'll all make fun anyway--please see Pet peeve #7.). I watched, horrified, as she hit two, count'em, TWO cars while trying to back into a parking spot.
It went like this:
Car One
Stop at an angle in the aisle.
Back up, back up, back up, smack.
Forward.
Back up, back up, smack, crack, scrape.
Forward.
Turn wheel hard (take a long time to do so).
Car Two
Back up, back up, back up, SMACK.
Forward, scraaaaaaaape.
Back up, smack, crack.
Forward, scrape.
Back up into parking spot.
Smackem crackem, Ma'am.
Of course I think you should keep
your driver's license.
I turned down the aisle to park and had to stop and wait for an elderly woman in a turquoise Plymouth Relient (sp? don't care--you'll all make fun anyway--please see Pet peeve #7.). I watched, horrified, as she hit two, count'em, TWO cars while trying to back into a parking spot.
It went like this:
Car One
Stop at an angle in the aisle.
Back up, back up, back up, smack.
Forward.
Back up, back up, smack, crack, scrape.
Forward.
Turn wheel hard (take a long time to do so).
Car Two
Back up, back up, back up, SMACK.
Forward, scraaaaaaaape.
Back up, smack, crack.
Forward, scrape.
Back up into parking spot.
Smackem crackem, Ma'am.
Of course I think you should keep
your driver's license.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Strange Things Happen in Bars
It's true.
The other night we went to a birthday party / Hand Fest '06 for the boyfriend of a good friend of mine from college. The party was the celebration of Matt's 25th birthday, and the 3rd anniversary of the day he sliced his hand open. It was a typical birthday party--games, ice cream cake (with a frosting-drawn cut-off hand), and a few beers.
After a couple of hours, we decided to head to a favorite bar in St. Paul called the Muddy Pig. We took over two tables at the back of the bar and laughed and talked.
We'd been sitting there for about a half hour when my foot touched something soft on the floor. Thinking I had dropped my scarf, I felt around and picked up what was down there.
It was not a scarf.
It was a red, leopard-print thong.
Of course, horror overtook our table, and then hilarity. Being that we had had a few drinks, the germ factor was not at the front of all of our minds, but I'd like to go on record to say that I only held it long enough to determine that it was from Fredericks of Hollywood, and was a Large.
Joe, the guy sitting next to me, grabbed it out of my hand and flung it across the room. It hit some girl in the left breast and landed in her lap.
This, of course, brought about more hilarity, because, of course, she flipped, but had no idea where it had come from (can I get any more commas in that sentence?,,,). I'm thinking she had had more than a few because it wouldn't have taken much to figure out who had flung it, considering the fact that we were practically rolling on the floor with laughter.
Somehow, a few minutes later, the undies ended up on the floor again in front of Joe, who picked them up and put them around his neck.
It was at this point that we discovered that it was a red, leopard-print MEN'S thong.
You can't make this shit up.
The other night we went to a birthday party / Hand Fest '06 for the boyfriend of a good friend of mine from college. The party was the celebration of Matt's 25th birthday, and the 3rd anniversary of the day he sliced his hand open. It was a typical birthday party--games, ice cream cake (with a frosting-drawn cut-off hand), and a few beers.
After a couple of hours, we decided to head to a favorite bar in St. Paul called the Muddy Pig. We took over two tables at the back of the bar and laughed and talked.
We'd been sitting there for about a half hour when my foot touched something soft on the floor. Thinking I had dropped my scarf, I felt around and picked up what was down there.
It was not a scarf.
It was a red, leopard-print thong.
Of course, horror overtook our table, and then hilarity. Being that we had had a few drinks, the germ factor was not at the front of all of our minds, but I'd like to go on record to say that I only held it long enough to determine that it was from Fredericks of Hollywood, and was a Large.
Joe, the guy sitting next to me, grabbed it out of my hand and flung it across the room. It hit some girl in the left breast and landed in her lap.
This, of course, brought about more hilarity, because, of course, she flipped, but had no idea where it had come from (can I get any more commas in that sentence?,,,). I'm thinking she had had more than a few because it wouldn't have taken much to figure out who had flung it, considering the fact that we were practically rolling on the floor with laughter.
Somehow, a few minutes later, the undies ended up on the floor again in front of Joe, who picked them up and put them around his neck.
It was at this point that we discovered that it was a red, leopard-print MEN'S thong.
You can't make this shit up.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Blog Harassment Dipped in Chocolate--and at only $5 a bag!
I'm getting Blog Harassed.
I'm SORRY it's been over a week. I've been busy.
So here's what I've got for you today. I keep a secret stash of Dove DARK chocolate in my desk drawer. (If I leave it out, the vulchers I call my co-workers eat it ALL.)
My Dove Promise for today was this, "Collect 10 different kinds of tree leaves." Can I get a resounding "GAY."? Or if you're more inclined, "LAME."
I HATE Dove Promises. I have a friend whose mom actually wrote to Dove Chocolate to tell them how stupid their "promises" are. For those of you who don't know, a Dove Promise is a little...fortune...on the inside of the foil your ridiculously expensive chocolate came wrapped in.
I'm thinking of boycotting Dove because of these stupid phrases. They don't make me feel good, they make me irritable. YOU go collect 10 different kinds of tree leaves, you weird Dove-hippies. I'd be thrilled to have enough time to file my nails and remove the makeup smudges from under my eyes BEFORE two meetings in the morning, let alone go leaf collecting.
Yessiree. That's it. I'm through with Dove.
Just as soon as I'm done with this bag.
I'm SORRY it's been over a week. I've been busy.
So here's what I've got for you today. I keep a secret stash of Dove DARK chocolate in my desk drawer. (If I leave it out, the vulchers I call my co-workers eat it ALL.)
My Dove Promise for today was this, "Collect 10 different kinds of tree leaves." Can I get a resounding "GAY."? Or if you're more inclined, "LAME."
I HATE Dove Promises. I have a friend whose mom actually wrote to Dove Chocolate to tell them how stupid their "promises" are. For those of you who don't know, a Dove Promise is a little...fortune...on the inside of the foil your ridiculously expensive chocolate came wrapped in.
I'm thinking of boycotting Dove because of these stupid phrases. They don't make me feel good, they make me irritable. YOU go collect 10 different kinds of tree leaves, you weird Dove-hippies. I'd be thrilled to have enough time to file my nails and remove the makeup smudges from under my eyes BEFORE two meetings in the morning, let alone go leaf collecting.
Yessiree. That's it. I'm through with Dove.
Just as soon as I'm done with this bag.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Rough Seas
I'm having trouble keeping the lid screwed on today. Every time I start to feel like I have a handle on what I'm doing at work, or get the house under control, or get the spending down, I start to drown again.
God has a sense of humor, though. I've been thinking this thought, specifically that "I start to drown," for about a week now. This morning, one of my co-workers likened my current confusion to a title wave. She said, "If you can just get past the crest of this title wave of knowledge, you'll be out to sea and sailing peacefully in no time." Of course, she had no idea that I felt like I was drowning.
She was trying to encourage me, which was nice, I guess I'd just like to know how long this title wave will last...
God has a sense of humor, though. I've been thinking this thought, specifically that "I start to drown," for about a week now. This morning, one of my co-workers likened my current confusion to a title wave. She said, "If you can just get past the crest of this title wave of knowledge, you'll be out to sea and sailing peacefully in no time." Of course, she had no idea that I felt like I was drowning.
She was trying to encourage me, which was nice, I guess I'd just like to know how long this title wave will last...
Friday, October 06, 2006
Good One.
STORIES THAT WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY IF THE PROTAGONISTS HAD HAD CELL PHONES.
BY PETER NORVIG
BY PETER NORVIG
ROMEO:News from Verona! How now, Balthasar?Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar?How doth my lady? Is my father well?How fares my Juliet? That I ask again,For nothing can be ill if she be well.
BALTHASAR:Then she is well, and nothing can be ill.Her body sleeps in Capel's monument, And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred's vaultAnd presently took post to tell it you. O, pardon me for bringing these ill news,Since you did leave it for my office, sir.
ROMEO: Is it e'en so? Then I defy you, stars!But soft! What SMS through yonder RAZR breaks?
SMS ON ROMEO'S PHONE:i'm ok -- poison fake rofl cul8r :-*
BALTHASAR:Then she is well, and nothing can be ill.Her body sleeps in Capel's monument, And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred's vaultAnd presently took post to tell it you. O, pardon me for bringing these ill news,Since you did leave it for my office, sir.
ROMEO: Is it e'en so? Then I defy you, stars!But soft! What SMS through yonder RAZR breaks?
SMS ON ROMEO'S PHONE:i'm ok -- poison fake rofl cul8r :-*
Thanks, again, Tim.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Little Old Blue-Haired Ladies
It's official. I'm an old lady. Instead of washing my hair this morning, I just curled and teased it, and I think it looks pretty good. Strange thing, though--I think it's starting to turn blue.
Weird.
Speaking of little old blue-haired ladies, I forgot to tell you about Richard and my stumble at the Dome on Tuesday. After the game we had to make our way down from the ceiling (my ears popped on the way down, I swear), and we were about 5 rows down when I thought, "Wow...this is really slippery. I'd better hold on tight, I don't want to fall."
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind when Richard fell down behind me taking my feet out from under me. We must have looked like dominos. The coke Richard was holding went EVERYWHERE and finally landed in one of the seats, which is where we left it. Rich caught himself with his hands, but I was not so lucky. I caught myself with the backs of my forearms which immediately began to swell. I sat there for a second, covered in coke, and assessed my injuries, which were not bad, luckily. Richard started apologizing immediately--I think to everyone around us, and tried to help me up. The whole ordeal couldn't have lasted longer than 30 seconds, which was long enough for a little blue-haired lady to pass us and say, "Are you ok?"
The irony was not lost on me.
Little old lady,
You look cute in your jersey.
Thank you for asking.
Weird.
Speaking of little old blue-haired ladies, I forgot to tell you about Richard and my stumble at the Dome on Tuesday. After the game we had to make our way down from the ceiling (my ears popped on the way down, I swear), and we were about 5 rows down when I thought, "Wow...this is really slippery. I'd better hold on tight, I don't want to fall."
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind when Richard fell down behind me taking my feet out from under me. We must have looked like dominos. The coke Richard was holding went EVERYWHERE and finally landed in one of the seats, which is where we left it. Rich caught himself with his hands, but I was not so lucky. I caught myself with the backs of my forearms which immediately began to swell. I sat there for a second, covered in coke, and assessed my injuries, which were not bad, luckily. Richard started apologizing immediately--I think to everyone around us, and tried to help me up. The whole ordeal couldn't have lasted longer than 30 seconds, which was long enough for a little blue-haired lady to pass us and say, "Are you ok?"
The irony was not lost on me.
Little old lady,
You look cute in your jersey.
Thank you for asking.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Playoffs, Baby!
I have 9.4 hours of vacation accrued here. I used 4 hours of it yesterday and intend to use 4 of it today to go to the playoffs games! Yesterday was a disappointing loss to the Oakland A's, and just not a very exciting game all around. It's not very thrilling when your team only has 5 hits in the ENTIRE game.
I just don't think there is anything more fun than going to the Metrodome to watch baseball. I know most people HATE the Metrodome, but I love it. It holds so many great memories for me, that every time I go there I feel excited and anxious all over again--like it's my first time at a game.
The seats I bought from the ticket line are...terrible. They are obstructed view, so I knew what I was getting myself into, but I didn't know they would be BLOCKED view. It didn't matter much, though, because part of the fun of sitting in the nosebleed section is that you're surrounded by 25-year-olds who don't care where you sit, so we were able to shift around and see the entire disappointing game.
Today, though, our seats are AWESOME! We will be along the first base line, right by Justin Morneau, only 30 rows back, so be sure to watch for us in the crowd! I'll be the crazy screaming fan wearing a Santana t-shirt and my pink Twins hat. I should be easy to spot.
I just don't think there is anything more fun than going to the Metrodome to watch baseball. I know most people HATE the Metrodome, but I love it. It holds so many great memories for me, that every time I go there I feel excited and anxious all over again--like it's my first time at a game.
The seats I bought from the ticket line are...terrible. They are obstructed view, so I knew what I was getting myself into, but I didn't know they would be BLOCKED view. It didn't matter much, though, because part of the fun of sitting in the nosebleed section is that you're surrounded by 25-year-olds who don't care where you sit, so we were able to shift around and see the entire disappointing game.
Today, though, our seats are AWESOME! We will be along the first base line, right by Justin Morneau, only 30 rows back, so be sure to watch for us in the crowd! I'll be the crazy screaming fan wearing a Santana t-shirt and my pink Twins hat. I should be easy to spot.
Monday, October 02, 2006
2006 Central Division Champs!
Talk about the FUNNEST game of all time. Rich and I were lucky enough to go with another couple and I swear, I have never had so much fun at a ball game. The best part was when they started playing the Detroit game on the Jumbo-Tron and the Twins came back out to the dug out to watch with us. As I'm sure you can imagine, the Metrodome went CRAZY!
What a fun game.
Congratulations to the Twins on their win, and to Joe Mauer (my boyfriend) on beating out Derek Jeter (ugh) for the American League Batting Title. He sends you all his love.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Don't it Just Break Your Heart?: Banned Books Week
I came across this article this morning and I'm glad I did because I discovered that it's Banned Books Week! That. Is. So. Cool! I'm sorry I happened to come across it at the tail end (Banned Books Week is Sept 23-30), but I am an ardent supporter nonetheless.
Most of the books on the list below I would consider classics, and many of them even played a part in making me who I am today. Censorship is such a touchy and gray area that it's hard to take a stand--because it's so subjective. It's close to my heart, though, having dealt with it personally as an editor. Books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men and James and the Giant Peach, are so much more than offensive and obscene or racial slurrs. Oh...it just breaks my heart. These books are my friends (except the scary ones--I am not friends with scary stuff).
What it comes down to is discretion. If you don't want to read Harry Potter (though I don't know who wouldn't), don't. But don't try to take it away from someone who might be looking for a new friend.
Please note, I'm leaving the incorrect quotations as the author of the article published them.
A Long Shelf Life
By Vera HC Chan
Fri, September 22, 2006, 3:41 pm PDT
"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."—Harper Lee, "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Compelling as they are, some folks would rather you didn't read the words above. The quote comes from a Pulitzer Prize-winning book that's been denounced for so-called racial slurs and profanity, and banished from school library shelves.
Irony never ceases, nor does the impulse toward censorship. But now is a perfect time to celebrate books such as Lee's masterpiece, "Ulysses," and "Heart of Darkness." Banned Books Week is here and thumb-nosing librarians and freedom-loving bookstore owners are celebrating the 25th anniversary of reading verboten material.
The American Library Association keeps an accounting of objectionable reads. We curled up with a good computer to check which forbidden pages still beckon readers and searchers.
"Harry Potter" (Series) (J.K. Rowling)*!
"To Kill a Mockingbird" (Harper Lee)*
"The Color Purple" (Alice Walker)**
"The Outsiders" (S.E. Hinton)*
"Lord of the Flies" (William Golding)**
"Of Mice and Men" (John Steinbeck)*!
"Goosebumps" (Series) (R.L. Stine)
"How to Eat Fried Worms" (Thomas Rockwell)*
"The Catcher in the Rye" (J.D. Salinger)*
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (Mark Twain)*
"The Giver" (Lois Lowry)*
"Brave New World" (Aldous Huxley)*
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (Mark Twain)*
"Captain Underpants" (Dav Pilkey)
"The Anarchist Cookbook" (William Powell)
"Carrie" (Stephen King)
"Flowers for Algernon" (Daniel Keyes) *
"The Dead Zone" (Stephen King)
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (Maya Angelou)**
"Go Ask Alice" (anonymous)*
"American Psycho" (Bret Easton Ellis)
"The Chocolate War" (Robert Cormier)*
"James and the Giant Peach" (Roald Dahl)*!
"The Pigman" (Paul Zindel)
"A Wrinkle in Time" (Madeleine L'Engle)
*Erin's recommended reads
*!Erin's REALLY recommended reads
**Recommended even though you'll hate it. It's good for you.
Please note--not all, but most of these books can be found on my bookshelves at home. So there.
Most of the books on the list below I would consider classics, and many of them even played a part in making me who I am today. Censorship is such a touchy and gray area that it's hard to take a stand--because it's so subjective. It's close to my heart, though, having dealt with it personally as an editor. Books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men and James and the Giant Peach, are so much more than offensive and obscene or racial slurrs. Oh...it just breaks my heart. These books are my friends (except the scary ones--I am not friends with scary stuff).
What it comes down to is discretion. If you don't want to read Harry Potter (though I don't know who wouldn't), don't. But don't try to take it away from someone who might be looking for a new friend.
Please note, I'm leaving the incorrect quotations as the author of the article published them.
A Long Shelf Life
By Vera HC Chan
Fri, September 22, 2006, 3:41 pm PDT
"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."—Harper Lee, "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Compelling as they are, some folks would rather you didn't read the words above. The quote comes from a Pulitzer Prize-winning book that's been denounced for so-called racial slurs and profanity, and banished from school library shelves.
Irony never ceases, nor does the impulse toward censorship. But now is a perfect time to celebrate books such as Lee's masterpiece, "Ulysses," and "Heart of Darkness." Banned Books Week is here and thumb-nosing librarians and freedom-loving bookstore owners are celebrating the 25th anniversary of reading verboten material.
The American Library Association keeps an accounting of objectionable reads. We curled up with a good computer to check which forbidden pages still beckon readers and searchers.
"Harry Potter" (Series) (J.K. Rowling)*!
"To Kill a Mockingbird" (Harper Lee)*
"The Color Purple" (Alice Walker)**
"The Outsiders" (S.E. Hinton)*
"Lord of the Flies" (William Golding)**
"Of Mice and Men" (John Steinbeck)*!
"Goosebumps" (Series) (R.L. Stine)
"How to Eat Fried Worms" (Thomas Rockwell)*
"The Catcher in the Rye" (J.D. Salinger)*
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (Mark Twain)*
"The Giver" (Lois Lowry)*
"Brave New World" (Aldous Huxley)*
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (Mark Twain)*
"Captain Underpants" (Dav Pilkey)
"The Anarchist Cookbook" (William Powell)
"Carrie" (Stephen King)
"Flowers for Algernon" (Daniel Keyes) *
"The Dead Zone" (Stephen King)
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (Maya Angelou)**
"Go Ask Alice" (anonymous)*
"American Psycho" (Bret Easton Ellis)
"The Chocolate War" (Robert Cormier)*
"James and the Giant Peach" (Roald Dahl)*!
"The Pigman" (Paul Zindel)
"A Wrinkle in Time" (Madeleine L'Engle)
*Erin's recommended reads
*!Erin's REALLY recommended reads
**Recommended even though you'll hate it. It's good for you.
Please note--not all, but most of these books can be found on my bookshelves at home. So there.
Priorities
This morning, I found myself in a situation where I spent a small period of time near a window that looked out over the parking lot.
I watched a man pull into the handicapped spot. He struggled to get out of the car on crutches WITH a coffee in his hands, which he set on top of the car. He then struggled to take a wheel chair out of the trunk. struggled to set it up, struggled to sit down, struggled to get his crutches settled across his lap, and then realized his coffee was still on top of the car.
He struggled to stand up again with the crutches, grabbed the coffee, put it between his legs, re-settled the crutches and wheeled himself inside.
I guess a guy's gotta have his priorities straight.
I have also seen the weird skeleton lady three times this morning. I usually only get to see her once a week or so. What a treat.
I watched a man pull into the handicapped spot. He struggled to get out of the car on crutches WITH a coffee in his hands, which he set on top of the car. He then struggled to take a wheel chair out of the trunk. struggled to set it up, struggled to sit down, struggled to get his crutches settled across his lap, and then realized his coffee was still on top of the car.
He struggled to stand up again with the crutches, grabbed the coffee, put it between his legs, re-settled the crutches and wheeled himself inside.
I guess a guy's gotta have his priorities straight.
I have also seen the weird skeleton lady three times this morning. I usually only get to see her once a week or so. What a treat.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Oh. My. Gosh.
I'm tempted to say something terrible like, "This guy always needs to be the center of attention." Or, "He's more high maintenance than me."
But I won't.
Depression is a serious thing. We shouldn't joke about it.
But I won't.
Depression is a serious thing. We shouldn't joke about it.
Sapped
I had a really funny blog prepared in my head for today, but then I got to work and had two messages* waiting for me about how I screwed up (everything. in. my. entire. life.), which, combined with my evening last night has sapped my energy and humpr.
(Upon final re-reading: I'm choosing to leave that typo just where it is, because it's helping bring back my humor just a little. LOL--Bring back the humpr!)
It was a blog about my favorite radio station and that they are having their annual fundraising event. There are no commercials, which I really enjoy, so they have to fund their costs with pledges and public support. I was even going to go into a long tangent on how PBS raises money and we used to wach Anne of Green Gables every year and cry and cry because we knew Matthew was going to die--and he always dies. But, the long and short of the blog is that I could never be a host for one of these events.
Host A said, "Are you ready for another full-day pledge?? Can you handle it?!?"
Host B said, "Absolutely! I can take it! Yeah!"
I would have said, "No thanks, I'm full."
or
Host A said, "It's time to celebrate! We've reached our hourly goal!"
Host B said, "Hooray! I'm so excited!" (Or something like that.)
I would have said, "Cool. Can we head to the bar now?"
See? I wouldn't be very good at it.
So, that's what I was going to blog about today, but now I don't feel like it.
I'm going to go back to hiding in my cube.
Hiding in my cube,
just can't do anything right.
Something's gotta give.
*Just got a note from the person who was upset with me--everything worked out ok, but I'm not changing the blog because I think it's sort of funny.
(Upon final re-reading: I'm choosing to leave that typo just where it is, because it's helping bring back my humor just a little. LOL--Bring back the humpr!)
It was a blog about my favorite radio station and that they are having their annual fundraising event. There are no commercials, which I really enjoy, so they have to fund their costs with pledges and public support. I was even going to go into a long tangent on how PBS raises money and we used to wach Anne of Green Gables every year and cry and cry because we knew Matthew was going to die--and he always dies. But, the long and short of the blog is that I could never be a host for one of these events.
Host A said, "Are you ready for another full-day pledge?? Can you handle it?!?"
Host B said, "Absolutely! I can take it! Yeah!"
I would have said, "No thanks, I'm full."
or
Host A said, "It's time to celebrate! We've reached our hourly goal!"
Host B said, "Hooray! I'm so excited!" (Or something like that.)
I would have said, "Cool. Can we head to the bar now?"
See? I wouldn't be very good at it.
So, that's what I was going to blog about today, but now I don't feel like it.
I'm going to go back to hiding in my cube.
Hiding in my cube,
just can't do anything right.
Something's gotta give.
*Just got a note from the person who was upset with me--everything worked out ok, but I'm not changing the blog because I think it's sort of funny.
Monday, September 25, 2006
The Stress Factor
This has been an incredibly challenging two weeks--mentally and spiritually.
I was so stressed-out at one point that I couldn't make my fingers work right--couldn't grab stuff, couldn't type, couldn't dial the phone.
Hel-LO anxiety.
But, I think my stress levels are going back to a normal level. Know how I know?
I just caught and killed a fly with my bare hands.
I couldn't focus enough to do that last week, so I take it as a good sign. Not, for instance, as a sign that I might be SO high-strung, and over-worked, and stressed that I have turned into a killing machine. Surely not.
I'm doing better--
Call me Mr. Miagi!
I need stress control!
I was so stressed-out at one point that I couldn't make my fingers work right--couldn't grab stuff, couldn't type, couldn't dial the phone.
Hel-LO anxiety.
But, I think my stress levels are going back to a normal level. Know how I know?
I just caught and killed a fly with my bare hands.
I couldn't focus enough to do that last week, so I take it as a good sign. Not, for instance, as a sign that I might be SO high-strung, and over-worked, and stressed that I have turned into a killing machine. Surely not.
I'm doing better--
Call me Mr. Miagi!
I need stress control!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Heeeere's Your Blog
You know the Jeff Foxworthy thing, "Heeere's Your Sign"? Some days I hear a little voice in my head saying, "Heeere's Your Blog!"
This morning, I was in the ladies' room, which, between the hours of 7-9am is a very busy place here at work.
I was checking my teeth and hair in the mirror when one of my favorite co-workers walked in. I've always suspected she was a wild woman and what I heard today confirmed it. She's about 50-55 and always appears to be very put together.
She came into the bathroom and greeted me and then a friend of hers from another department.
They started to talk while I primped and listened. The beginning of their conversation was fuzzy to me, but it must have started with something like, "I'm so tired today! I have to make sure I look ok--matching shoes, check. Matching shirt and pants, check. Shirt buttoned, check."
It went on like this for a few moments.
Then, my co-worker said, "Last week I tucked my skirt into my pantyhose. It was so embarassing."
Her friend said, "Oh, that happens to everyone! Don't worry about it!"
She said, "I know...but I wasn't wearing any underwear."
That's when all sound stopped--like when someone drags the needle across the record. Complete silence.
Heeere's your blog.
This morning, I was in the ladies' room, which, between the hours of 7-9am is a very busy place here at work.
I was checking my teeth and hair in the mirror when one of my favorite co-workers walked in. I've always suspected she was a wild woman and what I heard today confirmed it. She's about 50-55 and always appears to be very put together.
She came into the bathroom and greeted me and then a friend of hers from another department.
They started to talk while I primped and listened. The beginning of their conversation was fuzzy to me, but it must have started with something like, "I'm so tired today! I have to make sure I look ok--matching shoes, check. Matching shirt and pants, check. Shirt buttoned, check."
It went on like this for a few moments.
Then, my co-worker said, "Last week I tucked my skirt into my pantyhose. It was so embarassing."
Her friend said, "Oh, that happens to everyone! Don't worry about it!"
She said, "I know...but I wasn't wearing any underwear."
That's when all sound stopped--like when someone drags the needle across the record. Complete silence.
Heeere's your blog.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
It's like groceries but shorter.
"Grosh! Grosh! I know it! It's Grosh! Listen to me! Grosh! Wait--no....Russian! If you live in Russia, you're A RUSSIAN!"
The marriage retreat was a wonderful opportunity for grosh between Richard and I.
The marriage retreat was a wonderful opportunity for grosh between Richard and I.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Moving
Earlier today I was transporting several boxes by way of a hand dolly...or whatever those things are called. One of my co-workers asked if I'd give him a ride. Har, har.
The joke isn't a very funny one but it reminded me quite pleasantly of the day we moved Grandma Shirley out to the farm to live with Gram.
I was young--like 12 or 13, and my mom had somehow convinced what I thought were the two CUTEST boys in the entire church to help us move her.
She asked Adam Hart and Josh Schettle.
My young, pre-pubescent heart was likely to explode. I had such a crush on both of them that I didn't know which one to blush over more. They were both so tall and old and mysterious and handsome; unlike FCC's other very crushworthy boys like Ben Holsteen and Derrick Hagen, both equally cute, but lacking the mysterious quality Josh and Adam seemed to possess.
Looking back on the day, they were probably paid $50 each to work like horses, and I specifically remember stopping at Hardee's for lunch, so it wasn't like the "perks" of the job were even very good. But they were happy workers and spent the entire day with us helping to move, which, I think is quite admirable for a guy of maybe 15 (??).
The day wasn't completely mischief-free, though. At one point, I looked out into the hall of the apartment complex we were moving her out of, and found Josh and Adam giving each other rides on the hand dolly as FAST as they could go up and down the hall without making a sound.
(It was a complex full of elderly people and the three of us had been severely warned NOT to make any noise).
Before I knew it, I was on the dolly myself, holding on for dear life as Josh panted in my ear as we raced down the hall. I'll never forget Adam whisper-yelling behind us, "If you hurt her, I'll kill you!" Such protective ownership! I swear to you, it's a miracle I didn't die of a massiave coronary then and there.
Josh, of course (this will come as no surprise to any of you who know him), never said a word to me the entire time--the entire day, in fact.
What a fun, random memory!
The joke isn't a very funny one but it reminded me quite pleasantly of the day we moved Grandma Shirley out to the farm to live with Gram.
I was young--like 12 or 13, and my mom had somehow convinced what I thought were the two CUTEST boys in the entire church to help us move her.
She asked Adam Hart and Josh Schettle.
My young, pre-pubescent heart was likely to explode. I had such a crush on both of them that I didn't know which one to blush over more. They were both so tall and old and mysterious and handsome; unlike FCC's other very crushworthy boys like Ben Holsteen and Derrick Hagen, both equally cute, but lacking the mysterious quality Josh and Adam seemed to possess.
Looking back on the day, they were probably paid $50 each to work like horses, and I specifically remember stopping at Hardee's for lunch, so it wasn't like the "perks" of the job were even very good. But they were happy workers and spent the entire day with us helping to move, which, I think is quite admirable for a guy of maybe 15 (??).
The day wasn't completely mischief-free, though. At one point, I looked out into the hall of the apartment complex we were moving her out of, and found Josh and Adam giving each other rides on the hand dolly as FAST as they could go up and down the hall without making a sound.
(It was a complex full of elderly people and the three of us had been severely warned NOT to make any noise).
Before I knew it, I was on the dolly myself, holding on for dear life as Josh panted in my ear as we raced down the hall. I'll never forget Adam whisper-yelling behind us, "If you hurt her, I'll kill you!" Such protective ownership! I swear to you, it's a miracle I didn't die of a massiave coronary then and there.
Josh, of course (this will come as no surprise to any of you who know him), never said a word to me the entire time--the entire day, in fact.
What a fun, random memory!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Sleep Schedules
On Sunday night, I laid awake most of the night. I'm still not sure why, but I think it's mostly because I got all wound up working on my story and then couldn't relax.
There's nothing worse than not being able to sleep--it didn't used to be very unusual for me to lay awake for hours at a time and I got used to it after a while. I don't know if it's because I got married or because I am getting older, but now it is very rare for me to lay awake more than oh...two minutes after my head hits the pillow, so I had FORGOTTEN how much it sucks to stare at the ceiling until 4 in the morning.
I did everything--I thrashed, I tossed and turned, I sighed and snorted, I elbowed and kicked. I did anything I could think of to "accidentally" wake Richard up. All I wanted was to TELL someone I couldn't sleep. Even the dog and cat didn't move when I finally got up to watch info-mercials. I flipped back and forth between Bowflex and that little silver blender one--you know the one where they make omelets and drinks and muffins and pesto/garlic sauce in one little blender? I didn't buy anything, though I wanted to. Think how FIT I could be if I had the Bowflex in our basement and the handy-dandy blender to make all kinds of healthy foods upstairs!!! I decided it probably wasn't a very wise use of our money.
As a result of my night o' insomnia, I haven't recovered all week. I've been a freaking walking zombie and just can't seem to get back on track. I can't WAIT to go on the marriage retreat to spend some much needed one-on-one time with my honey and R.E.L.A.X.
Also, I was asked to join the synchronized swimming. Thank goodness I got a new bathing suit!
The conversation went like this:
Kristen: Hey, do you want to join us for synchronized swimming?
Erin [unabashed glee]: Um, YES.
I'll keep you posted.
This haiku series is dedicated to both infomercials and the marriage retreat. Enjoy.
Don't need no Bowflex.
Don't need no crazy* blender.
Just my man and me!
The Marriage Retreat
is finally here. Dive in!
It's synch or swim time!
*The word AWESOME could be substituted here.
Yes. That was a good one.
There's nothing worse than not being able to sleep--it didn't used to be very unusual for me to lay awake for hours at a time and I got used to it after a while. I don't know if it's because I got married or because I am getting older, but now it is very rare for me to lay awake more than oh...two minutes after my head hits the pillow, so I had FORGOTTEN how much it sucks to stare at the ceiling until 4 in the morning.
I did everything--I thrashed, I tossed and turned, I sighed and snorted, I elbowed and kicked. I did anything I could think of to "accidentally" wake Richard up. All I wanted was to TELL someone I couldn't sleep. Even the dog and cat didn't move when I finally got up to watch info-mercials. I flipped back and forth between Bowflex and that little silver blender one--you know the one where they make omelets and drinks and muffins and pesto/garlic sauce in one little blender? I didn't buy anything, though I wanted to. Think how FIT I could be if I had the Bowflex in our basement and the handy-dandy blender to make all kinds of healthy foods upstairs!!! I decided it probably wasn't a very wise use of our money.
As a result of my night o' insomnia, I haven't recovered all week. I've been a freaking walking zombie and just can't seem to get back on track. I can't WAIT to go on the marriage retreat to spend some much needed one-on-one time with my honey and R.E.L.A.X.
Also, I was asked to join the synchronized swimming. Thank goodness I got a new bathing suit!
The conversation went like this:
Kristen: Hey, do you want to join us for synchronized swimming?
Erin [unabashed glee]: Um, YES.
I'll keep you posted.
This haiku series is dedicated to both infomercials and the marriage retreat. Enjoy.
Don't need no Bowflex.
Don't need no crazy* blender.
Just my man and me!
The Marriage Retreat
is finally here. Dive in!
It's synch or swim time!
*The word AWESOME could be substituted here.
Yes. That was a good one.
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