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.