Resurrection Sunday

To some, today is just about the Easter bunny, chocolate eggs, jellybeans, and Peeps. But to a Christian like me, today is the most important day of the year. It is proof that Jesus conquered death and that I will not have to suffer the penalty for my sins. The resurrection is what proves Christianity to be true, for without it, there is no hope and what we profess in the Gospel would be false (1 Corinthians 15:1-58). But Paul tells us that we have hope because Jesus is alive and he himself encountered him on the road to Damascus. Paul, who was Saul, was one of the people most fervently against the Christian movement. He was a top intellectual from his day, and he had a complete reversal of character and became one of the most outspoken apostles. From his own personal account, we are reminded that the whole of Christianity falls on the fact that Jesus did in deed rise from the dead. Without this, our labor would be in vain, but it is not. We have hope and faith because God kept His promise and Jesus overcame the snares of death. We no longer have fear of death if we accept Jesus in our hearts and repent of our sins, striving to change our ways and follow Christ's example of how to live.

Take home points from my day:

• The choir at church can bring a grown man to tears on Easter Sunday
• I enjoy the music of Imagine Dragons and Of Monsters and Men
• I still don't understand much German
• God is at work in the hearts of the people you least expect
• Arguing and being right isn't always worth it

Dessert Conversations

After the Good Friday service at church, my mom, brother, and his friend opted to go to a local restaurant for some tasty dessert. Turns out my brother had been there earlier in the evening, so the waitress was really confused. When she came up to the table she was like, "Weren't you here earlier? But you've since changed your shirt." Another waitress asked for my dad and my mom said he was out wandering, and the waitress said she'd pick him up on the way home if she happened to see him on the side of the road. Following this exchange, brownies, cannolis, and cheesecake were ordered along with some coffee, water, and milk. To be funny, my brother opted for using a straw with his coffee, but it turns out others have tried that in the past. I always avoid coffee because there is only a very small window in which it is drinkable. If you don't drink within that window, it's either scalding hot or too cool to be decent coffee.
Over dinner I recounted harrowing accounts of taking people down the river in the summer, explaining the fun joys of dealing with girls who, when told to paddle to shore, respond with, "What if we don't want to?" and another group involving people who really only knew Russian and two of whom were pregnant and I didn't know it. I guess a red flag should have been knowing they were part of a bungalow colony, but I'm not one who tends to ask questions. Maybe that should change in the future. I also shared about how I have been blessed with the opportunity to return family Bibles to two different families when deployed with Samaritan's Purse. It's amazing that these Bibles were even still intact, especially after the tornado and the demolition of the two homes, with the rubble getting piled along the road.
As we were getting to leave, we had a great conversation with our waitress. Apparently it'd been a really long day so she had opted for a Mountain Dew and two caffeine pills. We told her she didn't have to stand still since the ability to contain any movements would be too much to handle. She mentioned how her husband probably would be confused since she'd be so wired she'd wanna just go play Black Ops, rather than just passing out and sleeping immediately, which is what she normally does. Just to prove to her that she wasn't going crazy, we did show the waitress the collar of my brother's purple shirt to prove he was the same person as earlier. She commented on how it was very similar to an Easter egg, which was very fitting. She complained that she was stuck wearing all green, so I told her she was just like the grass in the bottom of the Easter baskets. Our waitress said she felt more like the Jolly Green Giant and said she should probably be holding be stalks of corn and trying to sell them to us. It was a rather random conversation, but made for some good laughs.

Take home points from my day:

• The best non sequitur when discussing weight distribution in a vehicle: and that's the same issue you'll run into if you don't compensate for added weight in a helicopter when breaking people out of jail
• Speaking of eating cats is another good non sequitur
• Apparently the only thing to do in Hdale at midnight is get inoculated for rabies
• There's great debate over whether to use "is" or "was" when describing a dead person's birthday
• Kodiak casserole = chopped bear
• We thought of behaving...well that ship's sailed

Snoring

Some might find snoring annoying, but for me, it brings back good memories. For the last two years of my college career, I lived with a girl who snored. She was by far the easiest person to live with and she cooked some epic meals when she was actually home. She worked so hard at her job, school, and boxing training that she would come home some nights, lay down on the couch, and be out within two minutes, snoring away. Again, it wasn't at all annoying, I just found it funny that she could fall asleep so fast. Not only did she snore, but she would sleep talk, which was quite entertaining for me. I would mention it to her the next morning, and she would have absolutely no recollection of the conversation.

What brought back these memories this particular evening was my cat. Yes, that's right. My cat. I was watching The Big Bang Theory when I heard a faint noise coming from the blanket closet. I muted the television, and low and behold, the noise became more apparent. It was snoring. Apparently my cat decided to crawl back behind the comfy blankets for a nap and was deep in sleep, enough to be able to snore. I thought it was adorable and it also put a smile on my face because it reminded me of a dear friend of mine.

Take home points from my day:

• The consequence from making myself blonder involved a wicked headache
• The cure for a wicked headache is a nap on the couch
• My life isn't terribly exciting at the moment
• I wonder if someone can be allergic to a cactus

Can You Hear Me Now?

I live in the middle of nowhere, or as my friend likes to call it, the sticky stix. It's relaxing, enjoyable, boring, unnerving, and isolating all at the same time. For the most part, I enjoy living in the country, but nobody ever comes to visit because nobody knows how to locate my house. Heck, the local police even think we live in a different county. We learned that one night when we called the non-emergency number to report that someone's horses were loose on our property. Thankfully it wasn't an emergency since the police would have gone somewhere 30 miles away.
Recently, our cell service has decided to get really bad again. We used to get two bars relatively consistently, but now it's mostly just one if any at all. I almost have to laugh because I can move my phone a millimeter and lose service and then exhale and it's back. This evening it took like an hour for some texts to come through, which is why my friends probably won't come visit. They'll lose their constant connectivity to the outside world whilst in the boonies. Those who aren't accustomed to this will end up feeling uneasy with a disconcerting feeling in the pit of their stomach, unless they truly desire an escape; then my home is like a sanctuary and a visit turns into a much needed vacation.

Take home points from my day:

• Be counter-cultural and stand up for what you believe in
• Gravitate towards those who truly appreciate you and are dependable
• It still snows even when it's springtime 
• USA and Mexico had a 0-0 tie in the soccer game last night

USA! USA! USA!

I like soccer. A LOT! It's probably my favorite sport to watch on TV because the players are always on the move and the game can change quickly. Plus, I like to yell at the TV for the refs ignorance or over dives that I don't approve of. I'm currently watching USA play Mexico for World Cup Qualifying. This is nothing like the game in the snow the other night, but it'll definitely be a good game given the rivalry between these two teams. According to statistics, the away team has never won in 41 years. Also, the USA has never won on Mexican soil in qualifying. At the moment, teams are playing pretty evenly, though Mexico seems to have a slight advantage. Both teams have made some good runs and had some attempts on goal. I'm hoping that Clint Dempsey has a few opportunities to add some goals to his sheet. He's scored 7 of the 13 qualifying goals according to the announcers.
Since I'm done rambling background info and statistics, feel free to enjoy my commentary on the game's action for the remaining of the match. If you hate soccer, feel free to stop reading and skip to my take home points of the day section. If you love soccer as much as I do, I hope my commentary isn't too dull. The USA just got its second yellow card in the first 19 minutes so that better not impact them later with players getting into trouble. I guess when you have a striker speeding past you, it's necessary to give a harsh foul to reduce the advantage. Mexico just made a dangerous into the box, but the ball went off the pitch. The Mexican crowd is brutal right now, booing the Americans and demanding the Mexicans put on a show. Corner kick for Mexico and Guzan giving direction to the defense. Ball soars over the heads of the Mexicans. The altitude could come into play at Azteca Stadium. They're at 1.5 miles up. Dos Santos was just fouled by Bradley, who already has a yellow, so he must tread carefully. Free kick for Mexico, but the header went straight to the keeper. Mexico made an energetic run, but no finish from Mexico as players go flying into the net trying to head/clear the ball. Corner for Mexico due to Beasley's mistake. His 99th cap, but first time as a left back. Announcer said USA is in survival mode at the moment. Dempsey is currently down on the pitch, which is a little disconcerting. USA thrown in doesn't get them anywhere. 34 minutes in and still no score. Out to the left wing for Mexico and Zusi wins the challenge, but has a short lived counter for USA.  Free kick given to Mexico, who are able to string passes together, unlike the USA. Mexico seems to have morphed into a 4-2-4. Out to the left wing for USA, but unable to attack. Dempsey attempted a run, but Mexico counters, but Dos Santos was offsides. USA is unable to protect the football. Header from Cameron goes right to the Mexican keeper. Bradley has a good opportunity, but Torres was able to tackle the ball away, though got injured. Counter by Dos Santos, but way over compensates on his cross, which goes out. Foul by USA, and Beasley must be careful after getting booked early. Free kick for Mexico towards near post and headed out of danger. Two excellent saves by Guzan, but there's a collision with the forward Zavala. Goal kick for USA with a break away, but Dempsey is unable to control the pass and goes across the end line. Quick free kick by Mexico, but USA regains control. USA thrown in and another whistle for a USA free kick after Altidore has a man climb his back. Gomez takes free kick and it's punched out by Ochoa. Throw in for USA gets kicked out by Mexico. Apparently fans might have lasers trained on some USA players. Gonzalez kicks it up field, but it trickles out of bounds for a throw in. Half time whistle blows and the crowd boos.
And the second half kicks off with Mexico maintaining possession. They scooted down the left wing before the ball went out for a throw in. USA gives it away and Mexico presses forward. Cross deflects off Besler in the box and thankfully goes wide of the goal. Mexico corner to the far side of the box headed out of trouble. Crowd is a bit volatile according to the announcers. Mexican fans demanding a win here with Mexico only having 2 points in the group for qualifying. Play has slowed as Mexico retains possession. They seem content with just passing it back and forth, rather than attacking. Cross up the left wing to Guardado. Mexico is decked out in black rather than the usual home green that traditionalists are accustomed to. Adu lost the ball at midfield and Beasley thankfully kicks the ball out for a corner kick after the mistake. Low corner with the shot deflected. Gomez is trying to make something of the USA possession. Altidore is working it on the left wing, but the ball is given away by Bradley. Great shot from Mexico left wing, but right to Guzan. Dos Santos is putting pressure on the USA defense, but the attack is short lived. Boos at every USA touch, but Mexico has the ball back. The top strikers for both teams have never scored against each other. Beasley doesn't seem comfortable defending Aquino who had a shot go off the top of the net. Aquino has another go, but the ball was intercepted, but Beasley is down and looks hurt. I guess he got stepped on during the attack. Another off target shot by Mexico. USA substitution. Eddie Johnson is ready to come on for Altidore, which seems a bit of a surprise to some, but not all. Beasley looks like he's in pain as he waits to throw the ball in. Apparently the substitution was fueled by Gatorade; who knew! USA cross was too long and goes out for a Mexican goal kick. Johnson's play doesn't have to be "cute?" but effective. What are these announcers talking about? Costa Rica is leading its game and Jamaica is leading its game. Panama is up as well. Break away by Mexico, but USA shuts it down. Mexico is stringing passes together with a chip to the left winger, who loses control. USA needs to not force things. Mexico is definitely showing its soccer prowess, but USA is holding its own. Shot by Torres gets deflected for a corner. Cross goes out for a goal kick. Zusu is limping after that challenge, but play continued. Free kick given to USA. Beasley with the free kick from the left wing, but the referee gives possession to Mexico after its taken. Mexico is charging down field, but the strikers couldn't keep up with the ball. USA isn't getting slaughtered due to the sloppy play of Mexico. Gonzalez had a great slide tackle to stop the Mexican progression. Cameron to throw in the ball. Adu chases after it, but Mexico has the ball again. Forward pass cut off by Besmer, the top MLS defender for Sporting Kansas City. Mexico is called for offsides. Dempsey leading the USA attack slows it down as the USA passes around the center of the pitch. Shot by Johnson, but he was offsides. Not a bad strike, but it was wide and the flag was up.
Enough of this play by play. I need to just kick back and watch. I'll let you know who won tomorrow. I'm sure most are thankful to not have to read anymore. Game is in the 67th minute currently.

Take home points from my day:

• I get along better with people who are older than me
• Planning anything for my birthday is never a good idea
• I have no idea what to do for my birthday
• Having friends living in various cities limits visitations
• My cat has rabbit feet

Commercials

The bad part about television is the fact that we must suffer through commercials. I typically am not at all amused by them and try to tune most of them out. This evening, two commercials caught my attention; one for it not making sense to me, and the other was awe inspiring. The Payless shoes commercial is what has me baffled. It starts out with a woman saying, "Easter is normally a struggle." Now for me, Easter represents the resurrection of Jesus and the only struggle in my mind would be in fathoming how much He must love me to die for my sins. Unfortunately, this commercial does not share in my struggle, but has its own involving fashion. Unbeknownst to me, it's apparently difficult to find the right shoes and clothing to wear on Easter. Though I guess I'm the wrong person to ask about fashion since I typically just roll out of bed and throw on whatever happens to be available; not much thought involved. Now the hipster hobo classification is making more sense....but I digress. The second commercial that was awe inspiring was promoting spray on Vaseline, but that's not what intrigued me. What intrigued me was the fact that the young woman in the commercial had the ability to get dressed so fast and literally hopped into her shoes. Yes I said hopped! How is that possible and how can I learn? I need more excitement when it comes to getting dressed for my day so that I actually go through with it, rather than spending all my hours in my pajamas. Though I guess if I had a job to be motivated to get dressed for that would be an even better start, but one thing at a time. I can only do so much in today's economy and the insistence that all applications be submitted online, which is rather discouraging since I believe it would be beneficial for a place of employment to get to know me from my personality, not a piece of paper. But such is society, run by computers and efficiency, not personal relationships. Tis quite sad.

Take home points from my day:

• It's ridiculous for there to be a novel based on the Bible miniseries. BUY A BIBLE!
• I wish I lived in a community so I could see friends frequently
• Long drives aren't as much fun when alone
• Charmin commercials don't make me want to rub my face on bath tissue

That's Not My Cup of Tea

Do you ever find yourself using catch-all or cliche phrases that have no relevance to your life? I've come to this realization recently because I have a tendency to say, "That's not my cup of tea." It seems like a harmless phrase (and it is, no nuclear attacks spring forth from it I promise), but it completely lacks relevance in my life. Anybody who knows me totally knows where I'm going with this. Those who don't, bear with me.
For starters, I don't enjoy hot beverages. I hate burning my tongue or the roof of my mouth, so I just opt out of any scalding beverages to avoid the misery. On top of that, I don't like tea of any form, including the iced version. So in all honesty, my utilization of the phrase, "That's not my cup of tea," is a blanket statement meaning that I don't like anything, since a cup of tea is never truly in high esteem in my life. Not exactly a mind blowing concept, but I should truly refrain from this phrase usage if nothing will ever be my cup of tea since tea is nonexistent in my lifestyle.

Take home points from my day:

• Talking while frying homemade fajitas greatly reduces their flexibility
• Homemade meals with friends are quite enjoyable
• I really must start watching bird documentaries
• Evolution cannot be applied to humans

What's a McGerbil?

It's funny when someone's brain and mouth have a bit of a disconnect. It's even funnier when some ends up coining the term "McGerbil" since apparently "McDonald's Big Mac" is too difficult to process.

Take home points from my day:

• Flannel shirts can be used to play checkers
• Golden Girls marathons are the best
• I can't take the Snuggles bear seriously...I blame Robot Chicken

Pet Peeves and Personal Issues

I'm normally a rather calm and mellow individual. My feathers aren't easily ruffled because I've been blessed with patience, but there are still a number of things that irk me. For starters, I'm currently peeved at ESPN2 for lying to me and making me miss the first 7 minutes of the Spain vs Finland World Cup qualifier. The game was supposed to be televised starting at 3:40pm, yet the station opted to discuss college basketball and top picks for the NFL draft rather than allow me to enjoy the start of the game. I'm not sure what bothers me more the fact that I was technically lied to, or the fact that a sporting network clearly doesn't care about soccer. If this had been the NFL playoffs, there would be an uproar! Speaking of the NFL, what's up with that combine? Any exercise physiologist could tell you that the whole event is pointless and not at all sport specific. Since when is there an instance in a game where somebody has to repeatedly bench 225 pounds or sprint, unimpeded, for 40 yards? Why this is still utilized to evaluate the talent of a player is beyond me.
While we're on the topic of sports, let me ask you this: When did it become okay for March Madness to implement a monopoly on all of the channels I typically watch? This annoyance began last night when I settled in to enjoy my Thursday evening by taking in episodes of Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest, and Elementary. To my dismay, though, CBS was televising college basketball until the end of time. And they still are, might I add. To make things worse, March Madness has now spread to TBS and TNT, along with occupying CBS. Most shocking, though, is the fact that basketball will plague truTV, which typically functions as a crime/public idiot station. Maybe those in charge of the NCAA know something about those games that I don't and crime and public idiocy will still be viewed. Time will tell, I guess.
Another channel that has been irritating me lately as of late is the History Channel. It used to be my favorite channel because I could learn things by watching Histories Mysteries, Unsolved History, Cities of the Underworld, and lengthy marathons on the Gestapo and World War II, which is why I so kindly referred to it as the Hitler channel. These days, though, it's a rare time that I can find anything remotely historical being televised. When did Ice Road Truckers and Swamp People teach us about our past? I'm not looking for modern day nonsense. If I wanted to watch that, I'd flip on MTV or TLC. (It's funny that The Learning Channel is what has the most ridiculous things on that promote polygamy, toddler beauty queens, and Honey Boo Boo). The only redeeming shows on History these days are Cowboys and Outlaws, Vikings, and The Bible. I'm pretty excited that The Bible miniseries exists to grasp the interest of this ever secular world. My only complaint about it involves last week's episode that showed the Wise Men at the birth of Jesus. For one, it's not historically accurate, but more astonishingly, it's not biblically accurate. The Book of Matthew clearly explains how they arrived to visit Jesus close to when he was two years old, which is why Herod Antipas went on a tirade and had all the male children who were two or younger murdered. Sure, some might tell me not to nitpick, but the arrival of the Magi was portrayed in a fashion that did not make any sense whatsoever, and I really wish that more care had been taken in the presentation of this story.
Now for the more mundane and random pet peeves that I hold dear. For instance, I can't stand microwaves that don't stop beeping when you open the door right away. It's like they're insisting on getting the last obnoxious word in even though I've already retrieved my food from its interior. These microwaves really make me want to yell, "Enough already!" before promptly smashing them with a sledgehammer. Phone alarms that refuse to function also annoy me to know end. It's like they are out to get me and don't want me to be on time for important events such as church or driving my brother to the German consulate. If i could, I'd use electroshock therapy on them so they'd get their act together, but alas, that would only cause it to short circuit and really not function properly.
Last, but certainly not least, is a personal issue I have that has manifested into a pet peeve out of my own ridiculousness. In order to keep bottles of soda from losing their fizziness, I always insist on tightening the caps as far as they can go to keep the carbonation under wraps. The problem that arises, though, is my inability to reopen the bottle once I've tightened the caps in such a manner. I've worn my palm raw attempting to remove the plastic caps, which is really frustrating when in the midst of a 12 hour roadtrip. Thankfully I have become creative in finding objects to use for traction when attempting to free the carbonation such as strips from my lint roller or a towel.

Take home points from my day:

• Four packs of chocolate chips and muffin mix are not the same as four packs of chocolate chip muffin mix
• I need to get excited about March Madness
• The name Xavi (pronounced shah-vee) amuses me
• My cat seems to have gained weight despite being on a diet

Keep Your True Friends Close

These days it seems like everybody is trying to get fame and fortune. They gravitate towards people who they believe will make them more popular and appear relevant in this day and age. Truth of the matter is, surrounding yourself with the so called popular folk will just end with you getting used and abused and kicked to the curb. The people you should keep close to you are the ones who know you best. The ones who know to leave you alone when you're grieving or that you love the french toast at Perkins. The people who can say something really awkward in a text message, yet you can still tell how much they love you because they truly understand your personality. The friends worth keeping are those who remind you to be your true self in public so you don't feel the need to keep wearing that mask to gain approval from people you may never see again. Your friends should be proud of you no matter what stage of life you're in because they know you're trying your best to be you and live out your dreams. They understand the craziness in your life and offer encouragement that you are doing the right thing, even if that means no steady job exists. These are the people worth keeping. Not the ones who try to use you as a step stool or are only friends with you until somebody better comes along. Those individuals don't deserve the time of day and should never consume your mind. If you question whether someone really wants to be friends with you, you probably shouldn't be friends with them. It is better to have few friends who know you well than a stadium of people who can't even remember your full name. Know that you're worth it and that you should never feel down when spending time with a friend. If they make you feel bad about yourself, it might be time to walk away because you deserve happiness.

Take home points from my day:

• It's not worth staying mad at people; it's too exhausting
• It's confusing when people eat spinach out of a butter container
• You don't always need to hold a conversation with someone to show that you care
• Always offer a helping hand
• Writing should be for yourself, not a means to impress others

Long Drives, People Watching, and Bookstores

I find long drives to be very therapeutic. It's just me (and occasionally a passenger) and the open road prepared to rock out to some awesome tunes as I absorb the beautiful scenery and zooming cars. Today I happened to have the company of my brother to headbang to some old school New Found Glory as we chatted on our way to the Big Apple. We both have a similar distaste for New Jersey and commented on how we could have sworn the smell of the air changed (which honestly isn't much different than when I cross the bridge by Walmart going from Stroudsburg to East Stroudsburg). I figure not much good can come out of a place that promoted the show Jersey Shore, which is really just based on a bunch of drunks from Staaaten IIslaaand. The only plus is that there are no moose to avoid on the roadways like Maine. Luckily I like to drive or else the traffic halting every 5 miles for no apparent reason would have really driven me crazy. The drive went smoothly enough as I looped Park Avenue a handful of times waiting for my brother to come out of his appointment. I almost did something really cool and had the opportunity to drive through the Helmsley Building via the Park Avenue Viaduct (Viaduct...why a no chicken?) but talked myself out of it. Instead, on the way home we drove through Times Square just for kicks whilst in search of the Lincoln Tunnel entrance.
Now on to people watching. If you haven't discovered the beauty of this form of entertainment, you are truly missing out in life. You'll miss seeing a man walking his dog, yet looking directly up at the sky totally preoccupied to the point that he jerks to a stop when the dog stops to sniff a tree. On top of that, you'll miss out being confused by a woman carrying a sippy cup only to discover the man behind her carrying a baby girl who the sippy cup most likely belongs too, although one may not want to jump to too many conclusions via assumptions...then you're just a total ass. It's also pretty cool to see a man pedaling a bicycle with his two children on the back. Made me reminisce about my childhood briefly. Now the added bonus of people watching is when they come close enough that you can listen to their conversations and get to play the fun game of stifling your laughter so that they don't realize that you find them absolutely hilarious. For instance, a couple weeks ago I overheard some elderly man sharing a story with two of his friends in a Barnes & Noble. All I heard was that saw naked Norwegian man with an axe waded into a river in order to chop the ice. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up! Today the people that shared the icecream shoppe with me didn't let me down, either. This woman was going on and on about a stroller and then said that it was a gift to push her cat around in from her in-laws. Apparently the year before they gave her the cat. I wonder what she'll get next year as a gift. A kitty car? She then changed topics and mentioned something about college kids in costumes chasing her daughter or some girl down the street in office chairs. Trying to quell my laughter after that was darn near impossible because I kept wondering what kind of crazy life she lead, though she definitely brightened my day!
If I wasn't living out of my car and on the floors, couches, and beds of friends, I think I would set up camp in a used bookstore. I become so engrossed in all of the possible selections and I absolutely love the smell of old books! It's also great coming across new authors or new books by favorite authors. So many worlds can be discovered within a bookstore, and there are plenty of ridiculous signs and titles to laugh at. I mean, seriously, who puts the romance novels and Christian novels in the same section next to horror? That makes absolutely no sense! What's better is when the labels don't correspond to the book genre. Then I just like to figure out the possibility of how those books could relate to the topic anyway. But, dude, I really was amused by the children's book cover that said This Is Not My Hat, which had a fish swimming with a hat on. I am slightly intrigued and freaked out at how this could possibly happen in real life. I've also decided I might start reading books by Douglas Coupland just based on the fact that the titles of his books are awesome. Who wouldn't want to read Girlfriend in a Coma and Hey, Nostradamus!?

Take home points from my day:

• It might seem like I'm mooching off my parents, brother, and my friend's parents 
• If I say I want pasta, it means I'd be cool with a can of Chef Boyardee
• When deciding between a can or a bottle, opt for a canned bottle
• Pablo = Luis Garcia...close enough
• Velociraptor runs like dolphin (Tolkien sounds like dolphin)
• If the pizza shop owner begins talking in Russian, it means we're obnoxious and should sleep in the garage
• Don't take my awakeness away!
• The groundhog either lied or was drunk

The Simple Life

Laughter is amazing! It can turn anybody's gloom into lighthearted happiness. There's no reason to take life so seriously; it's much better to question the social norms and come up with outlandish ideas and commentary. A talk about whether to home school a child and basing that decision upon living in an area that offers gatherings for homes-schooled children is much funnier given the prospect that gatherings are always near by if you live out of your car. That way you're always mobile and anything is possible! It could be the start to a great new trend, too. Why have trailer parks when one can have a car park? Gas is much cheaper than rent these days anyway. Also, why spend money for a smartphone when it would be way more fun to use smoke signals, carrier pigeons and migrating coconuts?
Life these days is just way too complicated. There's so much focus on what others have and do that nobody enjoys what they have and do. I love wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts, but when I noticed that people I'd gone to high school with and hadn't seen in seven years were coming into the pizza joint for a baby shower dressed in fashionable jeans and heels with children on their hips and another in a carrier, I felt dreadfully uncomfortable and out of place, desiring to hide my face and disappear. But when I think about it, I have nothing to be ashamed of and I don't want their lives. I'm content traveling around and volunteering and being able to wander around in my sweats. I don't do fashion and I definitely don't feel like I should be all settled down with a husband and kids at the moment. Maybe one day, but not now. And if that doesn't work out, then I can always hoard cats and be that crazy lady on a porch in a rocking chair with a pump action shotgun across her life. Whatever floats my boat, keeps me entertained, and is simple.
I have little time for having the confusion and complications of seeing if my life measures up to the people next door. I'm sure I could solve that problem really fast by just living in the middle of nowhere so I had no neighbors to compare myself to, but lets not go overboard into crazy town just yet. All I really need to do is fill my life with laughter because the happiness will follow and there won't be time for senseless comparisons. I'd rather sit around quoting Monty Python, The Marx Brothers, Eddie Izzard, and Mitch Hedberg than trying to determine who is best dressed, has the cutest house setup, or throws the best dinner party. I know I will never be queen of any of those categories, but that won't detract from my happiness at all. I'd much rather joke about how Hitler didn't play Risk as a child, witches weighing the same as a duck, hailing Freedonia, and determining it would be awful to get killed by an arrow because the cops most assuredly would walk away. And if you don't know what I'm talking about and just think I'm a crazy person, you're missing out on some classic comedy. It's okay, feel free to go back to your perfectly eloquent surroundings for your fondu party.

Take home points from my day:

• Cars that drive two only sleep one
• I'm not a high society girl
• You'll never go hungry if you know how to make mud pies
• It's okay to think of yourself before others on occasion

Multitasking Limits Concentration and Decision Making

From all of the new mobile phone advertisements, society is to garner the idea that we benefit from multitasking. Yet the conclusion that I've reached in recent weeks is that all of the gizmos and gadgets that are available at our fingertips to use simultaneously actually limits my ability to ever truly focus or concentrate. Even as I type this I'm opening new tabs on my web browser for no particular reason. I just can't seem to perform singular tasks and enjoy them anymore. When watching television, I'm typically surfing the internet or playing card games with somebody. I can't just sit and enjoy a book any more, becoming fully engrossed in the plot. Rather, I read multiple books at one time, getting through a handful of pages in one before getting bored and switching to another. And the ability to just sit and relax doing nothing are all but gone from my life. I always have a constant nagging that I should be doing something or could be doing something else once I start a particular task. It drives me crazy, too, that once I am about a mile into a run I get bored and wonder why I even wanted to go for a run in the first place. I despise our multitasking world, but have become so thickly immersed in the culture and expected to perform that I don't seem to remember how to relax and enjoy myself. I sound like one of those annoying commercials for depression: "Can't seem to enjoy the things you used to???" Even when I am talking to somebody, I can get distracted if somebody else I know close by in the room starts another conversation because part of me tries to listen to them even when I'm already supposedly engrossed in my own conversation. The end result typically involves me only half listening to both people, and dead silence when I forget to respond at the right moment.
Another issue I've come across is the fact that with so many options available and at my disposal, I can never make a decision on anything. I spend too much time focusing on what other people might want that I never really know what I want, which is never a good dilemma to be in. The constantly desiring to have my cake and eat it too has honestly left me with an empty feeling. One can't have everything, and without effective decision making, you'll be left floating through life with no purpose. This is essentially where I'm at; I have no idea what I want to do with my life, yet I'm constantly on the move trying to figure out what makes me happy. The truth is, I'll never find happiness by running away or to something in particular. This world has no comfort in it outside of God, which is where I should turn to make any sort of decision. He made me, and thus knows where I'm heading. But with the distractions that society constantly bombards the inhabitants with, it's so hard to have that singular focus on the Creator of the world. I need to recapture my ability to concentrate and focus and make a decision about what direction to go in because moping around wishing things were different sure isn't going to change anything.

Take home points from my day:

• Confusion is the story of my life at the moment
• I make a good punching bag for a 6 week old
• I have the ability to be very literal in my thinking, which might irritate some
• I need to stop comparing myself to others
• I'm afraid to share my frustrations with people who are really happy out of fear I'll ruin their day
• Chocolate is my favorite comfort food

Wanderlust Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be

Today is the first day I've actually been home in 2.5 weeks. I've spent much of the year on the road doing volunteer work, playing tourist, and checking in with friends since I have the time. Many people think it's awesome that I've been practically living out of my car (only had to sleep in it once thus far) and enjoying plenty of adventures. I won't deny that they're right in the fact that my life this year has been full of fun adventures and that living day by day provides excitement (I've been in 8 states in the past 2.5 weeks), but many don't realize what must be given up and sacrificed in the process. Any semblance of consistency or a place to call home goes right out the window. Also, though I've gotten to meet some amazing people in my travels, the issue arises that you miss these folks tremendously because they live anywhere from 2-12 hours away by car. I have no routine people in my life currently, and I kind of miss that. I miss having consistent lunch or dinner plans with particular people. My life now involves me driving to see people. I feel like I am constantly having to put forth a greater effort than usual because I'm not home to ensure that I'm not alone. I can't experience the joy of a surprise visit from a long lost friend showing up on my doorstep when I have no doorstep for them to arrive at.
On the flipside, though, time spent away has helped me appreciate the little things in life. Hugs from the waitress at the local pizzeria, sharing a meal with my parents, and laughing with old friends are definitely that much sweeter after weeks on the road. Not having to be concerned about whose couch or floor I'm going to sleep on also reduces any stress built up over time on the road. From being away I've concluded that being content with where you're at and who you are is the key to success and enjoying life. If time is spent wishing to be elsewhere or with other people, the present moment isn't appreciated. The present is meant to be enjoyed, not dreaded. Each day is different from the next and when time is spent focusing on what was or what could be, happiness fades to the background. Appreciate smiles that are exchanged, the ability to run, laughter, clean clothing, and homemade cooking. These things are never guaranteed and shouldn't be taken for granted.

Take home points from my day:

• Always give a 6 week old a mohawk
• When all else fails, run away! and quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail
• Some think it's funny that I could potentially catch on fire
• Target shooting is great stress relief
• Mud is indeed slippery
• Cat owners need cat-like reflexes to prevent felines from escaping to the outdoors

There's Always Room For Plan B

I get so frustrated by the need for plans. They are thoroughly and completely pointless because if they aren't meant to happen, they're bound to fall apart. Take today for exampl. I was supposed to go to NYC with a friend of mine from college, just like old times. We stood outside the bus station in the snow for about a half hour with no sign of the bus. It was running late and I was quite tired of the snow, so we started discussing alternative options. Once I heard that Silver Linings Playbook was playing at the movie theater, I jumped for joy at the thought of being able to see a flick I've been wanting and unable to see for months. We decided to commit to Plan B and began walking up the street, ironically passing the bus we had been so eagerly waiting for only a few minutes ago.
This new plan required killing two hours, but that was quickly solved by opting to entertain ourselves in an Irish beer drinking establishment given it's the day before St. Patrick's Day. Our options were The Porch and The Cellar. Given the latter's door was locked, we opted for Plan B: The Porch. There we were able to enjoy some chips, an overflowing Guinness, and have outlandish discussions about how to prepare for the zombie apocalypse (clearly by acquiring Bigfoot on a leash), trying to determine whether or not people from Wisconsin badger others, and the fact that there was a menu item entitled bangers and mashed.
On to Silver Linings Playbook. I'm totally a fan of this movie for so many reasons! The acting is great, it maintains your attention, but particularly, it's because I relate best to craziness and chaos and this movie really brings mental illness into the forefront of your mind. I think it's important for people to be aware of the mental struggles that some deal with on a daily basis, whether it be depression, bipolar, etc. The stigma needs to stop that it's bad to be "crazy," when for some, that's completely normal. It's a constant battle, and these people need support as much as anybody else who deals with any other illness. But back to the movie, I could totally relate to part of what Tiffany was dealing with when she spoke of feeling empty about helping so many people who never offered her anything in return. Now that might come across as selfish, but it's the honest truth. I won't sit here and tell you that it's easy to always be there for others. It can be mentally and emotionally draining over time. But I think one of my favorite quotes came from Pat at the very end of the movie when he said, "The world will break your heart ten ways to Sunday. That's guaranteed. I can't begin to explain that. Or the craziness inside myself and everyone else." It's so true! The world is a harsh environment with its own blend of chaos, and there's no solution or explanation behind it.
On another tangent, I've never been the biggest fan of Disney movies or the cookie-cutter suburbs because there's too much gloss and fakeness, not that that's even a word, but it is now! (If "bootylicious" can make it into the dictionary, anything can!) Anyways, I just don't like anything or anybody that's putting on airs and acting like everything in life is perfect and flawless. The truth of the matter is that anybody who believes that is delusional. Life is messy and chaotic and never goes the way you think it will. You can plan all you want, but it'll never function according to that layout. My point is, why lie about things breaking down and falling apart? We all have issues and dilemmas that we'd be much better off sharing, rather than masking and hiding. Nobody should be afraid to share their true self with anybody.
The moral of the story is that we should never let life get us down when it doesn't go according to plan. Look for open doors and opportunities and always be willing to keep your options open. You never know what kind of fun is just around the corner.

Take home points from my day:

• I dress like a hipster hobo
• I resemble an orange snow-cone
• Life's too short to not act like yourself
• Enjoy time with old friends
• As Billy Joel said, "You may be right. I may be crazy."
• There are some who prefer to drink alcohol separate from their food
• Managing to get Bigfoot on a leash would be nothing short of a miracle
• Trust that new friends want to hear all about you: the good, bad, and ugly