santa is funny

Santa: So what do you girls want for Christmas?

Krista: BARBIES.

Santa: Well, I think you are old enough that I can get you a G.I. Joe, too. Then they can date.

the back seat

Today was REALLY REALLY cold and I realized this at 4:05am as I walked my way to Starbucks.  When 8:45 rolled around and my shift was over I started to pout about having to walk all the way back home.

Fortunately a cop offered me a ride. Since he is a cop, that is a regular, and I trusted him, and I had my cell phone, and my barista friends nodded encouragingly: I took a ride.

I plopped down into the seat, which turned out to be hard plastic. They do not make our criminals too comfy, in case you were concerned about it.  Once we reached the house he rolled down the window so I could reach around and let myself out.  

Sweet, man.  Lydia, I am sorry you have heard this story about 7 times today. Eight counting this one.

bad ideas: cats

For some reason I decided I was going to try to find a video on youtube that had a cat attacking a human, to give you evidence as to why my reasons for hating cats are legit.  However, I only saw one pretty docile video of a cat latching on to an owner's arm and it made the fears arise.  

I don't want the reoccurring nightmares to reconvene, so I am going to quit that idea immediately.

the boots

When I was in college, my mom bought me these boots.

I said "thank you" and thought in my head "there is no way I will ever wear these!"

I wear them all the time. 

I love them.

I wore them to school today.

People asked me where I got them.

But I don't think they know how to get to the nearest Farm and Fleet.

a hunt

I went on a hunt for a chinchilla.

In my house.

When Danielle asked for help with something, I wasn't really expecting to look for Andrew in every crevice of the house.

He never left her room, he was hiding under her bed.  The little turd.  I think the most eventful part was when I tried to shoo him out with the broom so that Danielle could catch him.  While I was asking her if I squished him with her tupperware by accident, I felt him running over my legs.  Weird.

He is safe in his cage now.  Danielle scolded him, don't worry.

new labels

I created a commercial in my head today.

I'm not sure what product it is for.  I think something with a cool label. Maybe Jones Soda.

It was really detailed in my head so it will be a little hard to convey, but I am going to try to describe it to you anyway. 

The camera is the viewer's "point of view."  They see someone, and they label them in their head (visible on the screen of course).  There is a girl paying for a coffee, dressed kind of crazy. So the label says "bad dresser." Then, a split second later the camera pauses on her putting a five dollar tip in the jar (STRONGLY SUGGESTED :) and the negative label is crossed out and the label "generous" replaces it.

Another scene is a girl laughing with her friends, much louder and kind of annoyingly.  The label "annoying" is put on her.  The scene freezes on her and her friends and they seem to have caught her laughter.  The negative label is replaced with "jovial."

The catch line is: "Get a new label."

I am not sure why I shared all of that.

lovin' it

I am on my half from work. (That means I have a 30 minute break.  If you've been to Starbucks, you know we like to speak in codes such as: grande, grande in a venti, triple-tall, skinny, etc.) 

I didn't want to leave, but they made me.

I freakin love my job.

I'm at work with Amy and Katie and we are feeding off eachother and laughing a LOT.  I think the customers like it.  Kevin and Ed do, too, although they are trying to pretend they don't.  

ALSO. There is a Starbucks card that looks old-time and has a truck on it.  I love it because it is a vintage picture. Everytime I see it I go crazy and get excited and talk about how much I love the card.  I did it to a guy once. I even talked about how I have done it to him numerous times and apologized.

Today that man walked in the store and asked me if I wanted it.  I got all red and thankful and excited.  He used it up at another store and saved it. For me.

People are wonderful.

I told him I was going to frame it. I said it jokingly, but then I thought... I'm really going to. 

ph's new bff

Remember the reality show: The Bachelor?

Well now Paris Hilton has a show so that she can find a new "BFF."

I haven't ever liked Paris Hilton. I still don't.  On the show she wrote them gossip notes to see how they'd handle it. They were mean. Last time she made them do whatever their worst fear was. She is terrible. 

But it is probably more terrible that this is the second time I've made the choice to watch it.

It makes me sad for her.  It also makes me makes me want to have a really long talk with her/possibly punch her in the face. And maybe introduce her to hoodies and jeans instead of small dresses.

Sorry, everyone.

honk honk

We live by a stoplight.

Yet every time I hear a honk I wonder who is trying to say hi.  

I do realize that probably most of the time it is impatient drivers wanting someone to go, even though the light is still red.. or something.

rolly pollies

Reasons I would like to curl up in a ball and go to sleep:

1. I'm tired.

2. It's snowing outside. 

3. #2- and it's only October 27th.

4. Barnes and Noble Starbucks yelled at me again today.

5. I don't want to write my papers.

Reasons I know it will be ok:

1. Life is good.

2. God is good.

3. Microwave popcorn.

the walk

Danielle and I decided we needed to get "out" of the suburbs and take a walk since it is fall.  Beautiful weather and beautiful trees.

So we drove to the nearest forest preserve, because that is what suburbians do. (Which, being from small towns, we think is kind of weird but we were still excited about it.)  Also, we saw a lot of half dead baby snakes. That was also weird.

We enjoyed our little walk in the preserve, until our trail ended up by Portillos.

We'll have to find a better one... that at least ends up by some icecream.

dentyne

www.dentyne.com

I've been using a lot of public transportation lately.  I get to see a lot of ads, and I really like Dentyne's.  They are clever.

I went to their site to get the ads. I liked their site too.

Maybe I'll switch gum.  Goodbye, Orbit?

pick me

Really. I want to do this. Or rather, I want someone to do it for me.  Maybe without the people.  

my bed

I'm a little frustrated that my bed keeps breaking. I think it is happening for one of two reasons.

1. It wants to be like my dresser.

2. I should stop having so many boys in it (at once, at least).

verbal ability: chalk it up

From my homework:

"Based on their earlier acquisition of language and their subsequent advantage in language, some authors have speculated that females are biologically predisposed for greater verbal ability." (Gleason and Ely)

I suppose it makes me a huge nerd that I can't find time to read all of my homework because I can't SKIM it because I want to read ALL of it.  Not all of my subjects but human development class: yes.

I suppose blogging doesn't help either.

people

I love people. 

But they are so freaking different.  Which is part of the greatness, I guess.

The other day I got a coffee ready for a man about 2 people down in line. I put it on the counter and let the barista at the register know what was up. 

Next thing I know the guy is apologizing and there is coffee all over the floor.

He apologized profusely and insisted that we charge him for another coffee.  I felt so bad for this guy because he felt so bad.  I mean, today someone dropped their coffee frap and then they became really impatient when they had to wait for us to make a new one.  But this guy felt really really bad about spilling brewed coffee (the easiest thing to make/replace, and something we dump out every half hour) and wanted to come back there and clean it up after paying for a new one.

I stopped whatever I was doing. (Expediting? Dishes? I don't recall).  I told him that we spill coffee all the time. I told him he could probably get a job at Starbucks since he basically was a barista now.  

Then I told him it probably was my fault somehow.  Really, it could have been. All of my embarrassing stories happen at Starbucks. Ok, not all of them. But most.

leaving

She got up and fed her headache some coffee, like every morning.  She didn't have the grounds and coffee thing figured out quite right, or maybe she didn't even like coffee.  There wasn't really enough time to think about it.  Not sure what it was that was taking her an hour and a half to get ready every morning, she took slow steps down the stairs in her fuzzy slippers and turned on the shower.  

She got lost in the shower every morning.  I mean, the thing is a small white cube with one way in and one way out, but her thoughts ran fluidly.  Like the water, they could either sooth her or scald her.  There seemed to be no control over them.  They flooded her head.  

Differentiating between real life and thoughts hardly ever seemed to be a threatening problem, but often she wondered if they changed her actions in any way.  The conclusion reached was always that there is no real unit of measurement for that sort of thing, and then she'd just move on until the next day the thought surfaced.

As she finished lining her eyes with her "very black" eye liner she remembered a piece of her dream from the night before.  Always curious as to why it took sometimes days, sometimes minutes to remember a dream- she tried to recall it as much as possible.  Although it was pointless to try to figure out why there was a protective cow named Daisy in her dream, she would write it in her journal later that day.  Unless she forgot it completely- which often happened as well.

Her life wasn't pointless, right? I mean in a little bit, like every day, she would wash away the evidence of her addiction and put the mug in the dishwasher.  Her movements were as predictable as the fact that her roommate's alarm would go off as she walked out the door.  She would wrinkle her nose in jealousy, and no one would see it.  She knew that after she passed the house with the barking dogs, turned at the corner by the house with the sprinklers still going, the lady with the blazing red hair would mumble a good morning response.  And a few blocks down, as the man in the blue blazer passed, she would smile and it would go unacknowledged.  

She imagined it was going to be a disappointing day, with too much thought involved. Yet, just as she passed the man in the blue blazer, as a red leaf fell on the plate of cookies she carried to her grandma's dingy nursing home room, she knew it'd be alright.

Fo' sho.

magic eraser

Lydia had a magic eraser. 

She was erasing everything.

I told her if she erased the whole house I'd be pissed.

So she pretended to erase me.

Then I put her in a head lock.

Then she told me that her favorite part was the sound the eraser made when it erased things.

Which were the sound effects that SHE was making for the eraser.

I also got to hang out with Julie a lot today.

By a lot I probably mean about twenty minutes.

Twenty very precious minutes.

With some chocolate involved.

The chocolate is thanks one of my favorite parts of my birthday, a package from my parents.

I opened the package on Saturday.

But the individually wrapped presents inside? I opened those throughout the day on Sunday.

first presby

The vineyard isn't ours.

I went to First Presbyterian Church today in Arlington Heights. I really liked it a lot and almost got a little emotional because I hate church hopping and this means I MIGHT be able to stop! Yay.

I did, of course, get red when I walked in the wrong door and had to ask for help, to which a very nice man lead me through the confusing layout of their church (for newbies like me) which entailed busting through the sunday school circles starting to set up.  He then explained which doors would make it easier for me next time (after I asked).  

Today was world communion Sunday. The whole world intentionally took communion together today. (If your church didn't, you don't need to tell me.  Just play along.)  I like being connected.

The sermon was great. I am still thinking about it, which is my favorite part.  Despite the fact that I really was paying attention (thank you, coffee) I caught myself wondering how I would react if a huge dinosaur burst through the wall behind the choir.

Whoops.

dilemmas of life and sleeping

I am in my bed, covers on, head on my (lovely) pillow.

The problem is that I need to put on some pajamas, clean all the school stuff out of my bed, maybe change the laundry, and definitely wash my face/take out my contacts/brush my teeth.

I want to go to bed. I have to do the above things to go to bed.

I don't want to get out of my bed. I have to get out of bed to accomplish going to bed.

Gr.

a briefcase and a coffee

He was carrying secrets in his bag. One wouldn't think that they were so heavy but they were nearly taking off his arm with their weight.  He wanted to try to switch it to his other arm, but what if his bag spilled and his secrets were open for all eyes in the Metra station.  Surely it was better for his one arm to bare the pain, than him.  Not only him, I suppose, but his entire family. Yes, certainly better for his poor, tired arm.

He'd certainly never planned it this way.  When you are asked in grade school what your aspirations are no one says "Someday I am going to carry around my secrets in an unsuspsecting brown, tired looking briefcase knowing that I would choose some sort of arm deformity over letting anyone in on the secret."

I'm not quite sure if he knew he'd get away with it for this long.  I don't think he thought about getting caught, he just didn't know he wouldn't.  One of those things you can't quite explain, I suppose, like the beauty that is left because of pollution when the sun sets.

Andrew told me I should write short stories on my blog. This is an attempt.  My first.

lightning bug juices

I am currently wondering if the first highlighter was actually a squished lightning bug.

Have you recently noticed how bright highlighters are?

You should check it out. I, on the other hand, am going to keep reading.

I wish I could take credit for this picture, or at least saw it in person, but I found it here through Google.

laughing at others

I've secretly always made fun of rolling backpacks (among countless other things.)

I think they are dorky. I wonder where people are going that they can't just have a purse or a normal backpack. It isn't a suitcase. Did I mention that people look like a dorks?

The first day of Orientation I had the messenger bag around my left shoulder which left a bruise on my right collar bone.

The second day of Orientation I had the messenger bag around my right shoulder and I had a bruise on my left collar bone and a pain in my brain (I think from back stress).

Today I wore my traveler backpack WITH the chest and waist straps (helps distribute the weight), which is also dorky, but still hurts.

So... my back hurts.  Through mental wellness fees I can get back massages.  I don't know if those start even before classes do, though.

Did I mention that I don't have my books yet?

Lydia said that she would try to only laugh the first day.

Charlie told me I shouldn't do it.

Those are the only two people I've told so far. 

tradition. tradition

First day of school picture!

bear's camera girl

I couldn't be the camera person for Bear Grylls.

Last night on the show Bear found a dead buffalo.  After putting his hand on the buffalo and then smelling his hand he decided the buffalo had been dead for four days.  So he cut it open, just to make sure there wasn't any meat that he could still eat.

Bear went on about the smell, but you heard nothing from the camera man.  I could MAYBE do some of the filming for this (not sure I could survive climbing up the bad lands with roots Bear took out from trees and used as ice picks) but you would definitely hear me making comments (or gagging) in the background.

So I guess I will keep my plans to attend orientation for grad school on MONDAY.

ring of fire

Yesterday someone took two pennies from our tip box (it isn't a jar.. it's a box.)  I got really indignant which probably means my face got red, but I didn't say anything. I probably should have though considering that it isn't just MY tips.  I do realize it is two pennies, but what if EVERYONE were so rude?

That's probably what I would have said. So maybe it is a good thing I didn't.  Maybe next time I'll just give his hand a good swat.

When Lydia got home she brought us a FIRE PIT that her co-worker can't use because her suburb has some law against burning things.

Ours doesn't so we burned lots of things.  Ok, not really but Julie and I did start a fire and roasted some marshmallows.  

Here are some thoughts from last night's fire pit:

1. I wish I had video tapped Julie's reaction. It was the most beautiful, childlike excitement I have seen from an adult in awhile and it was precious.

2. We tried to scan the firewood in the "fast lane." I think the Jewel-Osco people probably wish that they had video tapped that.

3. Julie has a lot of determination, which is good, because we finally got quite a nice little fire going.

4. All of the roommates were out there at one point or another. We all had a/some s'more/s.  All of us that aren't allergic to peanut butter had it with a reeses instead of hersey's. Called a "super s'more". Thanks, Camp Manitoqua.

5. Julie has a lot of patience. She makes perfect perfect perfect marshmallows. Brown and gooey.

Danielle has really funny stories from 4th grade. You should ask her about them. Or she should start her own blog...

Sarah really really loves the kids in her band and it is really wonderful to hear her overflowing with love and hope for them.

Lydia was in her pajamas and heels at one point. As I type that out I realize that it sounds kind of sketchy, but in reality it was really cute.

Andrew was really loud yesterday. I think maybe he was rearranging his cage. Again. Or maybe seeking some attention. 

to your left, a giraffe

Today I feel as though I should give safari tours.

I'm wearing khaki pants (so I don't have to change later in order to go work at Starbucks- I'm really lazy about changing) and a dark brown shirt. I am not sure why I picked this combo, or why I chose to blog about it.

I can't figure out if I'm not going to care, or if I am going to change. I bet I'm going to change.  Even though I just said I am lazy about it.

lynn is leaving

I just said goodbye to my friend Lynn.

Actually, to be honest, I avoided saying goodbye.  I kind of looked at her, said goodbye while my shift gazed to the ground, and then walked out of the door while acknowledging that I was completely avoiding the whole thing.

I don' t know where the friendship started but I have been very very blessed by it. Whether it has been chilling at her house, laughing over coffee, singing songs to the campers at RFKC, or deep chats while walking around the park.

She is leaving for California to go to YWAM school of something.  The reason that I don't know which school it is could be because I didn't want to deal with the facts of her leaving, or it could be because she might not know either. I'm not sure.

Anyway, I think I should mention that I got to be in a cabin with her at Royal Family Kids Camp.  She was supposed to be our "blue" which means that she is a planner.  Blues know what is going on, where you are supposed to be, and what the next event is.  Lynn is a disfunctional blue and we were always late to stuff and we never really knew what was going on, but every single one of us loved it.  Along with our singing "I love you Lord" every night after the cupid shuffle and random songs in the morning. 

Don't go.

momma's birthday

Happy to my momma,

You are really great.

You always give me real big hugs,

And made me eat the food on my plate.

You taught me how to share my toys,

And also pick them up.

And even though you said "never ever,"

We even got a pup.

Thanks for raising me up so well,

And you did your best with Kyle.

You always show everyone lots of love,

And you go the extra mile.

I love you.

my prayers

Be Thou my Vison, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

watch out g.i. joe

I read about these in the Chicago SunTimes yesterday.  If only I had an extra $30.00.

figuring out allergies

How I found out Danielle was allergic to peanuts:

I made a chicken salad with mandarin oranges. The recipe also calls for almonds, but I like peanuts more so I threw some honey roasted in there instead. After taking a small bite, Danielle quietly asked me if the recipe contained peanuts.  She already knew the answer since her throat was staring to close up.  No epipen though, fortunately.

How I found out Danielle was allergic to down comforters:

Danielle and I had a sleep over in my bed.  She was there almost the whole night so I was confused when I woke up, went downstairs, and found her in her own bed.  I said, "Did something go wrong?" She told me that when she woke up her head was pounding, her eyes were puffy, and she couldn't breathe.  So it turns out that she is allergic to my down comforter from Ikea.  That was on her birthday.  I was really glad that she was alive and that I didn't make her birthday her death day.  

Sorry Danielle. 

backyard neighbors

I went to a garage sale. It was during the week so I was actually able to go, which was pretty exciting. I was even more excited to see that it was my backyard neighbors. I looked at their things for awhile, those old ladies are very persuasive but fortunately I am very stubborn. I bought a book for $.25.

They were very interested that I was renting the house behind them.  They also think it is cool that I am a "BARISTA" (I mean, who doesn't).. but they might even be more excited about it than I am.  Or maybe they are excited they know what Barista means.  Anyway, I told them I would return with a roomie, but they are all busy today.

So I went back and I bought a small dresser, a glass dish (for cheesy potato casserole and rice casserole), and also a skillet with a top.

I found out that the skillet with a top was in Doris's hope chest 50 years ago. She thinks it makes it an antique, I think it the story behind it makes me smile.

Then I remembered that my mom put my church's cookbook in her hope chest.. for me.  I remember when I first moved to the Chicago area I told her that I needed to eat and make things now... even though I wasn't married. It's true and I've used that thing a lot.

not too old for tantrums

I received a text from my friend Bri today, telling me that she accepted a teaching position in Arkansas.

You can confirm with Lydia and Jules, but I had a small temper tantrum.  So apparently you are never too old.

going to 'opia

I'm probably going to have to read this a couple times during trouble days at grad school/field placement.

This is my cousin's blog.  Wyatt is adopted, and they are currently in the process of adopting Gabe from Ethiopia.  You will need to know this for the story after all the great pictures.

After I read Wyatt's quote I got really excited to go to school so that I can help make these fuzzy moments happen.

my job, or its uniform

I really love working at Starbucks. I hope it always feels this way.

I've been thinking about my Starbucks attire, however.  I need to wear a white or black shirt and black or khaki pants.

When I wear the white shirt and black pants I feel like I have two options of what people could think I'm doing.

The first, is going to work at Starbucks (which is correct.)

The other option is a dairy showman for 4H.  This is also their uniform.  I know this even though, in all my years in 4H, I never showed even one animal.

I colored JBC (Jelly Bean Cow) with a black permanent marker for this picture. He's always wanted to be a Holstein anyway.

I'm guessing this blog is going to be lost on most of my suburb friends.

short stories from six flags

ARGH

"What would role would you want to have on a pirate ship?" - Ben

"Whores." - Me and Dana

Later, at Olive Garden, as we rehashed the day.

"Well I wouldn't want to swab the deck."-Dana

"But you're ok with your job duties as a whore?"- Ben

ITCHY

Ben confessed that he didn't take any of my poison oak advice I gave him because I wasn't a nurse, no matter that I SURVIVED it and had some legit advice.  Somehow it came out that he had poison ivy in his butt, since he wiped with it.

"Wait, you SHOWED me your poison oak."- Dana

HE DID WHAT?!

(Maybe I should clarify that he had poison ivy in his butt and poison oak on his thigh.. and what he showed Dana was poison oak.  Or maybe I should just leave it.)

REAL MAGIC

"Stop" -little boy while staring intently at the carousel "It stopped!" -his whispered excitement

*Gasp "you did it!"- me, also whispered

His gaze up at me I can not explain... but it was really magical.

owing people stuff

I owe Jon a dinner.

I sent him a riddle the other day, and it happened to have something to do with the fact that I could not get ivideo to work.  Apple told me it was Comcast, Comcast told me it was Apple.

Don't worry though, because Jon fixed it.  I knew he was a computer whiz but I still had my doubts.  Jon also has lots of other talents and passions, just so you know.  Like his little niece and being a good friend. Also cooking and baking and riding bikes.  And theology.

Maybe I should blame him for the bittersweet feeling that I get after talking to friends via video chat.  But I'm not going to, cause it's worth it.

following directions

My friend Charlie told me to come visit after I got done with work. I love this town and the fact that I have a lot of amazing friends here. Anyway, I shot straight over there from work since I drove today (It was raining, I drove for the first time because I need an umbrella. Or I need to find my umbrella.)  

He told me he thought I was going to text back before heading over because he wanted me to bring some Friends (the DVDs of the seasons).  So we fought about who was going to go and get it.  I said I would if he let me ride his bike.  He said "look at my crotch," hoping to point out that his legs were longer even though we are the same height and I wouldn't be able to ride his bike.  

I should be able to separate good directions from bad but I didn't and I just followed directions.

Uh.. subject change.. when I returned with Friends in hand, I had an amazing salad prepared for me.  What presentation!

Sorry, man. And sorry to all of you.

lawn mower me

Our friend Charlie is at school today so I decided that I could mow our lawn.

I should maybe mention that I only mowed the lawn once growing up. Apparently my rows weren't straight enough so my parents said I couldn't do it again. Big punishment.

I started in the back yard because less people can see you. Also there is a lot of creeping Charlie back there (not my friend Charlie being a creeper, but the weed that is everywhere) so there isn't that much grass to mow.

(Side note, Danielle's chinchilla just made a noise. He sounded like a squeaky toy. I love that dude.  There is the noise again!!)

I couldn't decide if it would be better to have someone watching me and getting some entertainment or if it'd be better for me to just laugh at me and have everyone else think it was probably just a normal "time to mow the lawn" moment. It didn't matter because I looked up and there was my neighbor.  He said that I was entertaining. I don't think that is really what he was thinking.  "Wow, look at my neighbor, she is so entertaining." Nope.

Anyway, he told me that the side was our responsibility too and then handed me some tools to help. 

I did a swell job.**

**If you come over to check please know that I know that I didn't get all of the weeds. I figured 3 yard bags stuffed full and some trees that need to go somewhere too was good for today.

pearoblem

Pearoblem:

There is a pear tree in our back yard.  That's pretty cool except that the pears drop in our yard, get half eaten by squirrels (or one of my roommates... Lydia? Are you half eating all of those pears and leaving them strewn about the yard?) and decompose.  

That leaves a mess for when you are trying to walk around anywhere. It also leaves kind of a weird, not that pleasant stench.

So I picked some up today.  There was an empty pot behind our garage so I put them in there. Now I don't know what to do with them. If I were at my parent's house I would throw them over the fence to the cows. Below are some options.

1. Make a pie. Hope no one notices the bugs.

2. Ammunition for passerby's

3. Ammunition for tweens outside of Starbucks.

4. Sling shot competition.

5. Throw over the fence.. into neighbor's yard.

6. Buy a cow. Feed pears to the cow.  (also would reduce money used on milk)

7. In the Bible Nintendo game you throw pears at the panda to get it to come to the Ark. Also a possibility.

8. Play truth or dare.  All dares include... eating a decomposing pear. (Pear dare! ha)

9. Write a note to the squirrels to finish their food!

10. Hide the pears in our weeds growing everywhere (although I did pull some!!)

11. Get the pears to drop on people seemingly from our evergreen (in front) and tape the reactions. 

Feel free to leave suggestions.

identity theft

The wrapper of this ice cream concoction said it was spiderman.

I happen to think it looks more like Strongbad from homestarrunner

than spiderman.

Let me know what you think.

master griller me

I don't really have anything to blog about but I felt like blogging.  I thought I could tell the story about how I went to a used bookstore yesterday and the guy told me it was "kind of a big deal" that my phone was turned off in the store.  I already had it on vibrate but I showed him the phone anyway since he didn't seem to believe me.

That's not that great of a story. I want to go back to the bookstore though because the old man seemed kind of crazy and there were lots of books.  I have even read some of them.

So a long time ago I grilled for the first time.  The grill looked similar to the one below, but with a lot less food on it.  I was pretty proud of myself for grilling my first time on a grill that could probably eat me.

lucky ducks

Where does that term come from anyway? I don't think many people find them that lucky..

Anyway, I turned my phone on and off again for about the 30th time, and it WORKED.  

I'm really glad I don't have to spend my day trying to figure out USCellular or making a phone book.

Thanks, everyone. Send me lots of texts in celebration of this event.

blue screen

I dropped my phone today.

I shouldn't have been checking my phone. I was supposed to be getting my swimsuit for the camp swim party since I was a volunteer today.

But I checked my texts and I dropped my phone on the ground.

I think the worst part is that I can't be mad that I dropped it and it broke, because I've dropped it a million times (in water, even) and it has always worked again.  So I completely deserve the spazzy front screen and the completely blue flip screen.

This is a warning that I'm gonna take a moment when you call to figure out who you are.  I'm also not going to be able to receive or send you texts.  I also can't call you unless you leave me your number in my voicemail.  

I may create and carry around a phone book.  This could be fun...

turtles

So... I volunteered at one of the camps I used to work at because I love camp and I have friends that still work there.  At the end of the day this kid came up to my friend Jess and I and told us that there was a turtle peeking its head.  I ignored him since I didn't find the news that exciting. 

He told me again REALLY excitedly that there was a turtle with its head out.  I stopped the conversation I was having, while looking at the pond, and asked where.  

"Out of my butt."

My friend and I took a small moment to think and then demanded that he took an immediate trip to the bathroom.

Here is the definition of "turtle head" via Urbandictionary.com:

1.	Turtlehead
	A word used to describe the current state of a departing poo. This term may only be used when the turd is protruding from your sphincter. Also known as "Touching cloth".

today

Today by 3:36 I've:

Put a shoe cubby together

Put a bookshelf together

Put books on the bookshelf

Put together tater-tot casserole in the crock-pot

Fixed my dresser* 

Looked at my orientation packet for school

Became confused over the tentative class schedule

Alerted the landlord that we've only been able to temporarily fix our basement toilet

Paid some bills

Blogged (well, not technically by 3:36)

What I haven't done:

Showered

Read

Napped

A lot of other stuff

*I thought about taking pictures but you would have not understood what was going on.  But I would have explained that the top drawer was falling into the bottom from the back, and the 2nd drawer into the third all together, which means that the bottom drawer (the one with the clothes I rarely wear) was the only one that could open sufficiently.  Fortunately I figured out how to get by with it this way, so I HAVE been wearing clean underwear and other clothing items.. in case you were wondering.

one of the roomies

There are a lot of things you should do with Sarah.  Above all I would suggest these two things:

1. Going to the zoo

2. Watching any olympic event, maybe especially swimming/a swimmer named Michael Phelps

Ok, also... making her laugh, listening to her sing, hanging out on the hammock, talking about pink cookies, talking about anything, doing anything.

film canisters and trouble

I'd say most kids probably get yelled at for not listening or hitting their siblings. Since I did neither of these things, ever, I'll tell you about what I did get in trouble for.

I was in big trouble when I didn't open the freezer door carefully.

My brother had an entomology project for 4-H. That means he collected bugs. So to keep them in good shape we'd catch them and put them in film canisters.

I don't know who donated so many film canisters to us (actually, they were probably mine) but you put the bug in the film canisters and then freeze them so they are in good shape when you poke them with a bitty needle and put the bitty papers on to classify the bugs. He got first place a lot.

Anyway, I'd go to get a myself an orange dream cone and a film canister would drop on the floor and a wing would inevitably break off of some bug and then he'd have to go catch another bug. When I was mad at Kyle I would do it on purpose.. it's just so easy to claim as an accident!

And you might think that bugs in the freezer is gross but one time I went to get a crunch bar from the basement freezer and there was a  fox right next to the Schwan's box.

haul of you

I rented a Uhaul (a week and a half ago).

I felt really grown up. And kinda cool.  Also scared that I was gonna hit something.  But not scared enough to buy the insurance..

desks

I think that if I could create a desk for myself it would be a circle around me.  There would, of course, be a place that I could enter so I guess it would be more of an almost closed "C".  I would also have a swivel chair because a circular desk without a swivel chair would be really really annoying.

Whining is also really annoying. To hear.  I suppose I don't really get annoyed when I am the one doing it, I tend not to notice.  Sometimes I do though so then I know it was probably REALLY bad for everyone else.

Back to the desk.  Right now I am at the kids' soccer practice.  That means I can't do laundry, take the dog out, or feel like I should do anything else because it is all at their house and I am not.  So... I am doing my things and I've realized that I spread out a bit to accommodate some possible mild form of ADD. ADHD? I'm not sure I remember the difference.  Actually, I am sure that I don't remember the difference.

Right now to my left I have my comcast stuff.  I had to take care of that already, so I could just put it away.  Comcast actually helped me this morning instead of pissing me off which was really surprising and great.  I accidently saved me and the rest of the clubhouse (the nickname for our new house) $200 on installation by transferring my account. Who knew.  I'm still not convinced that I won't end up getting pissed off by them.

Then in front of me I have my computer, since I am typing this on it.  To the right of that is the ipod that I haven't used yet because then I feel like a really non-caring babysitter when I do. I do care, but it isn't like they are even near me to talk to me so I don't know why I have these weird guilt things.  To the right of that is the Bible and the journal (that I have used and will use again.. after this blog.  Right now I am enjoying some Isaiah which is funny since when I read the Bible, Isaiah took me FOREVER.)

Then comes the card that I just wrote.  I should send it off soon.  Maybe later today I will get on that.  I have a mailbox now. I am really excited about not trying to find random drop off places for my letters anymore.  Also with the mailbox, when I don't get mail, I can always get a  dead june bug out of it!

Maybe you should send me some mail.

No One On My Mind

I had to think a little bit about what to blog about first. It has been awhile!  I was going to blog about uhaul, grilling, and the recent CD release party.

I'm going with the CD release party because I feel as though all of the anticipation that you have stored up waiting for another blog post from me should be rewarded with something great, like Wes Wilson's CD release party update.

It was great.  I'm gonna see if I can just put my facebook album link on here since I am too lazy to do slide.  That and I am stealing internet and never know when it is going to leave me.  But basically it is because I am lazy.

Click here if Krista is your favorite person ever.  (or if you want to see pictures)

His CD is great. I already knew this, but the other night I got to hear the whole thing live- probably the last time before he leaves for Oklahoma.  

There was cake, glass bottles of pop, relaxed atmosphere, good pre-music.  Then the show. Wes even sang "moonshine" which isn't on the CD since it is his and Brandon's song from a previous band (right?), but still one of my favorites.

You can still let me know when you know that you want a CD. I already know that you want one...

Cupid Shuffle

Lydia has this song on her ipod.

I told her to be prepared for a dance party, to break in our new house.

It was more amazing than expected.  

I love the groove of this song.  I also love that (I'm pretty sure) there are no bad lyrics.

What I love most, however, is that I can SEE the girls (that I have no pictures of) from Royal Family Kids Camp begging for us to dance to the song (again) at night, taking it seriously, and smiling huge as we do it all together.  Then we would wake up in the morning and do it with all the other campers and counselors at morning exercises.

So far, at my new place, I have spent two nights with my 5 amazing roommates.. and guests.  We've done the cupid shuffle both nights.

                          

memories in the bathroom

Today I played hide and go seek at work.

I thought I was a genius and I hid in the bathroom with the door open. Usually if kids hide somewhere, they close the door which makes it obvious that they are in there (that and all the giggling).

I then remembered when I was in junior high, for youth group or confirmation we were playing hide and seek before/after whatever it was we were supposed to be doing. I hid in the boys bathroom, standing on a toilet, with the stall door open.

As with a lot of things, I hadn't thought it all the way through.  I didn't see anything, but someone definitely used the urinal while I was in there.  Whoops.  No one found me though.

suburban folk

Wes has a show tonight.

I am pretty pumped about it.

He is also going to have a CD release party soon.

You want the CD. I want to get it for you. I don't have the money to do so. So you should send me $10 so I can purchase his CD for you.

Ask me for my address to send the money. Include your address so I can send the CD.

Here is his myspace link. Click it a few times so that he thinks lots of people read my blog and went to listen to his music.

change

I don't have a very good memory.


Yet for some reason, when I have a quarter, a dime, and a nickel in my hand... I want to buy ice cream. I had this flashback again yesterday when I was handed some change at Jewel.


I remember in high school that those three coins meant that you had enough for an ice cream in the ala carte line. I usually bought a strawberry shortcake bar.

finding things out

My friend Charlie is good at swing dancing.

I found this out when we went downtown yesterday to Summer Dance.

I get frustrated when I can't catch fish and they eat the worms.

I found this out when I was fishing with Jules and Charlie at Busse woods.

Wes wakes up happy and then gets crabby. I'm the opposite.

I found this out when we woke him up from his slumber.

I really miss sharing my room with people.

I found this out when I got to share my room/bed with Julie and Lydia this weekend.

Tyler really likes frosting.

Found that one out when he was eating all of it off of Jules' amazing cake.

Jon is a great friend.

I knew that.. but I was trying to go with a "found out" theme.. anyway, he was going to come to U of C with me to help check out public transportation, but unfortunately he felt he might die if he did (he wasn't feeling well.)

I have a lot of great friends.

I found that out when I got to spend lots of time with them this fourth of July weekend.

I am pretty resilient.

I found that out when I should be passed out right now from all of the NOT sleeping I've done this weekend.

I am hiding emotions somewhere.

I found that out when Jody walked in the door to visit and I nearly attacked her with my tears that I didn't know were coming! Sorry, Jods.

Danielle is a great friend.

"Found that out" when she handed me her camera because I forgot my camera battery at Bigby's because I took it in there since I wanted to charge it so I could take pictures... yes, I know. That didn't work out for me so well.

Dana knows me.

I found that out when she had immediate "sad face" when I told her that I was on the phone to Bigby's to tell them I left my camera battery there and not to give it to any camera battery stealers because she knew I already missed my camera (battery).

I like U of C's campus.

I figured that out when I had to walk around it looking for a Chase bank, which might not exist in the area.

Tears can store up in the back of my eyes, but only for so long.

I figured that out when I called Ashlee and she asked me how I was and I started bawling.. again. (This mostly has to do with looking at grad school finance stuff).

Nectarines are cheaper than peaches.

I haven't found out why.

I like Sarah.

I figure that out every time I get to see her.

Stella and I would be good friends.

I figured that when she threw her diaper at Wes. And she's darn cute.

goodbye post

I have drafted a couple posts about saying goodbye. I'm not going to post them.

Apparently, besides having actual issues SAYING them, I also have issues even talking about them.

This could be interesting.

crazy ladies and decorating ideas

I like crazy ladies. They make for good stories, yet also sometimes I lose patience.

When I worked at the Transitional Living Program for girls coming out of DCFS, the woman who trained me was kind of a crazy lady. 

There was the whole "black pen" thing.  We had to write our logs and legal reports in black pens.  So I would bring them and leave them there.  Right? That way you don't have to remember one all the time because they were just THERE.

Wrong.  This crazy lady would go on and on about how she would always have to bring her own pens because she didn't want to get in trouble for using a blue one.  She lectured me as I asked her if she could please leave me one of her stock since I hadn't brought my own.. being as I left my black pens at the house.  Every time this happened, she would continue her lecture as she handed me one of MY PENS.

I found these pictures while uploading them to my mac.  Apparently I wanted to blog about this before I even had a blog.  Here are some things she bought for the house.. of teenage girls.. with some state money.

Future roommates: What do you think? Potential for "our" new house??

official, i guess

Maybe you didn't even know that I applied to grad school.

But I have been accepted. And I'm going.

Minus financial, I think I would be really really excited about it. I have decided at some point to get over money and be fully excited.

Which is good.  Really good.

It'll go like this:

September 28, turn 25.

September 29, start grad school and work towards my MSW (equivalent).

pictures i couldn't take

I "just" returned from Royal Family Kids Camp.

No cliche's seem to do the trick. "What a week." or "That was indescribable." or "I'm wrecked."

I guess that you can imagine if you asked me how my week was, I would give you some look of pain mixed with happiness and my eyes would fill with tears.  I might try to dredge out some sort of sentence formation trying to describe that it was life giving to be with them and unbearable to see their pain all at the same time.

Here are some pictures that I took in my head since we couldn't have our cameras (kills me every time):

Lynn talking softly to her girls with their full intent in our cabin.

One of my girls' beautiful, but rare, smile.

All of the girls packed in the front of the boat with Lynn, huge smiles and Jack Johnson blaring.

Me and one of my girls doing the cupid shuffle using our fingers to look like legs while riding on the bus (which is why we weren't doing it WITH our legs).

Two times with counselors/kids on the big wood swing. Chilling and talking.

Reunion with my girl from last year.

Pulling three girls around in the water at one time (I'm THAT buff).

Tyler and one of his favorite camper's smiles. They are sooo similar.

Pictures that do exist that I want:

Me and one of my girls in the lake. I'm pulling her and we are laughing at each other and happy. This is before she shut me out mid-week.

One of my girls beautiful smile with her name sign behind her, sharing to the world that she is a promise (her Christian name means promise.. we put on all of the signs along with their real name.)

One of Julie's girls looking off in the distance.

One of the pictures where they are together.

Picture of one of my girls on my back in the water (maybe against the rules).

I could think of some more but it is about time I post about this, so I am going to and I may add on some more as they come to me/I read through the journal.

what? no blogs?!

Hey everyone. I am leaving for Royal Family Kids Camp today. It doesn't seem like it has been a year since last year when I went to Wisconsin to love these kids that haven't been shown it before. It seems like longer, actually.

I've thought of some things that you can do while I am gone.

Sunday: Pray for us.
Monday: Pray for us.
Tuesday: Pray for us.
Wednesday: Pray for us.
Thursday: Pray for us.
Friday: Pray for us. We'll come back this day but you can continue praying. We'll need it. So will the kids.

talent show

kmb: Hey, mr. five, you hit me with your bobber.. again.
mr. four: You should give better lessons.

After a great day of teaching the boys how to cast in the back yard (just a bobber, no hooks. best idea EVER) I headed over to a school for the talent show that some friends and I set up.

I was nervous, because that is what I do, but I had no reason to be. I have amazing, laid back, hilarious, talented friends.

We made almost $150 for Relay for Life and it was absolutely entertaining.

Ironically the day that Jake blogged about his "toenail song" is the same day that I used that very song to take third place at this very talent show to receive an irreplaceable prize.

etsy

I made my first purchase from etsy.  Etsy is a website where people can sell their crafty items to people that are cool. So everything is one of a kind, and not slave labor. 

I drag a lot of stuff to work every day, even though I hardly have time to do any of it.  I had been using a bag that I found in my basement, and it was falling apart.

I found this bag and purchased it.  It is cute AND cute little chinese/korean/etc kids did not make it for little money as it came directly from Oregon. Or Ohio. Anyway, no slave labor. Probably.

 

If you are like me and you would want to know what it is that I have to carry around every day, just in case, here it is:

Bible

Journal

Markers (I just bought new ones!)

Cards (the kind you send to people)

Real Simple Magazine

A book

Notebook- that has the book that I am "writing" (but not writing)

occupational therapists

I used to think that occupational therapists were people that helped you figure out what to do with your life. I still have to think about it a bit when I hear the term.

I wish that they were. I'd go see one.

Maybe I just want someone to make all my decisions for me.... Anyone??




I have more stuff to blog about but I am waiting for my MACBOOK. Actually, I am waiting for a time when I am free to coincide with my apartment complex office hours so that I can go get it since that is where it is. I only know that because I was stalking the macbook whearabouts on my email, not because the apartment OR fedex gave me any notice.



Excitement.

jake: friendship

At the beginning of May I told Krista that I was going to write the "Introducing: Jake" part, AND the "blog owner's note" part, and that way she wouldn't have to add anything to what I sent her. I realized, though, that Krista is really good at explaining her relationships with people, and that she's more amusing than I am... so I changed my mind.

I've seriously been thinking for an entire month about what I was going to write about. For weeks now I've been enjoying posts by all of Krista's friends, and they're all super amazingly good. It makes me wish I was friends with all of you (okay, maybe not all of you... just kidding). So, I've tried to come up with really original and creative ideas. After all, I am supposed to be the last in the "Krista's Friends" series. I wanted to go out with a bang. In the end, I stopped trying so hard, because this post could never be quite as good as I'd like it to be. So, I just want to tell you one of my very favorite stories not only of my relationship with Krista, but in my entire college career.

My freshman year seven of us took a trip over fall break to Six Flags for Frightfest. We were piled into two cars. We left campus on Wednesday afternoon and got back on Sunday evening. Along the way, we stayed at my house (in eastern Iowa) and at Krista's. On the way, she explained that she lived in a little area called Up-the-Alley, Illinois. At least, that's what I thought she said. In reality, she lived on a road called Epleyanna. It was a nice little village. I think when the seven of us rolled into Krista's driveway, we were tripling the current population, but I could be wrong. Anyway, Krista's parents were fantastic. We all had a slumber party in the basement (not her parents, just the seven of us college kids). I taught Krista the following song:

I have a magic toenail, I keep it on my foot
It's always there to rescue me when something goes 'kaput'
It has the cutest cuticles, free of all disease
As toenails go it's really quite extra-ordinary
Thank you, thank you, thank you magic toenail
(spoken)
I love my magic toenail. It is magical and good.
Sometimes I take my toenail to lunch and give it a sandwich.
Because it likes to eat the sandwiches.
Thank you, thank you, thank you magic tooooooooooenaaaaaaaaaaaaail!

Years later, after I'd completely forgotten about the song, Krista would still bring it up and ask me to sing it.

The next day at breakfast I took the Dole sticker off my banana and I stuck it to my forehead. I promptly forgot about it, and the sticker stayed on me the whole day. We spent 10 hours at Six Flags and went on 5 roller coasters (lines were long). I wouldn't have had it any other way. Our friends are hilarious. Chip and Anna had a loud, uncomfortable "break-up" in every line (they weren't ever dating, but it was fun to listen to Chip berate Anna because she had kept her "diseased ovaries" a secret from him), and my brother, Joel, introduced himself as Jedediah, the Amish guy. It was cold, dreary, and windy all day, but to this day that trip is one of the greatest experiences I've ever had.

Thanks to all of you for the fantastic reading over the last month. And a special thanks to Krista for coming up with this idea, and for being such a great friend.

P.S. I think there's a difference between "best" friends and "favorite" friends. I think there was a time that Krista was one of my best friends, but since we haven't lived near each other in years now, and since we rarely get to see or talk to each other, I don't think I can still say that. However, ever since I met her at the beginning of my freshman year at Central, she's definitely been one of my favorite friends.


*Blog owner's note: When Jake told me he was going to write the intro and the blog owner's note for me I was a little nervous because I.. uh.. maybe do have some control issues and I wanted to say great things about this man. I was also excited though because I knew it would have been really great.



Jake didn't mention that prior to his singing the song we had spent about 30 minutes yelling at eachother to be quiet because we knew we needed go to bed.. then about 10 minutes of silence later he busted into the song. The timing and setting was perfect. Man I miss this kid...