Life Irks Me

Maybe it's because I've been reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, and maybe it's because of the conversation I had with my brother this morning, but I don't understand why we insist on spending our lives wasting time at jobs we hate to make money to keep up with people we don't care about in order to have possessions that are pointless. Not that I want to waste my education, but why spend the rest of my days doing something I find dull and tiresome? I wish there was a way to spend my days traveling, writing, and helping people, whether that be through disaster relief or sharing about the benefits of running. I've discovered that I'm quite the minimalist in life and would be perfectly content living out of my car bumming around the country. So why strive for a paycheck larger than what is necessary in order to live a conventional life? I feel like I'll miss out if I just stay in one spot. I'll end up doing something useless like constantly watching repeats of NCIS or Rizzoli & Isles just because I live in a house or apartment. Wouldn't my time be more well spent traveling around and sharing experiences with others, possibly writing about all of my adventures so others could live vicariously through me if they're stuck in the hubbub of daily life that is status quo America?
Why do we feel the need to torture ourselves in order to live up to supposed expectations or keep up with the people in our circle of friends? I know too many people who loathe what they're doing with their lives and it's all just to chase after the myth of the American Dream. There's no way to fill a void with possessions, friends, spouses, or children, if the root of the problem is that you aren't happy with how you conduct your life. My goal is to go against the grain and live my life to the fullest, which may not involve heaps of money. I've never been one to want much in the way of material things (except for books; I long to turn my habitat into a library), so why do I need to make six figures by working 14 hour days in the hopes that someone might look longingly at what I have? Seems like a giant circus. I'd much rather spend my time with people I love and care about than at a job I hate.

Take home points from my day:

• I have no idea why we spend time doing what we hate
• I might write a rambling book about my haphazard life
• I have no idea what to do with my life
• My brother and I are in the same boat in life

Au Revoir

So a friend of mine is moving from Pennsylvania to the great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina on Saturday. Last night I met up with her and another friend of ours for a bit of a goodbye dinner. The restaurant that was chosen for this event was the Powerhouse Eatery in White Haven, which I had never heard of, until yesterday. When we arrived, there was a foyer where we had to wait for a hostess to seat us. As we glanced into the dining room area, we realized that the establishment was much fancier than we anticipated. I joked that I could now cross something off of my bucketlist: eating dinner in a fancy restaurant whilst dressed as a hobo.

The hostess sat us in the back room (almost like she knew how we act in public) and KK requested the booth, which was practically closed off to the rest of the eating area. It was pretty cool to have our own little nook, and it was definitely necessary given our conversations. Our first, albeit brief, discussion involved the debate of "once saved, always saved" and how to interpret certain Bible verses about the issue. Soon Hannah was speaking in foreign accents and telling a made up story about the German phrase "macht schnell," which means hurry up, but Hannah told a story about a man herding snails 37 miles in Alaska. Because, you know, that's related. Our conversation soon drifted to the show "1000 Ways to Die" and how it would be amazing if Hannah went to the beach with her future husband dressed as an Amish couple, but then they opt to rebel and strip down to a bikini and speedo. KK and I are supposed to be in the crowd to film it whenever this occurs; I can't wait for that day.
After dinner we decided to go drive past the monastery to see if it was as interesting as we made it out to be in our heads. Unfortunately, there were a bunch of workers at the end of the driveway, so we couldn't go make friends with a bunch of Greek Orthodox monks. We circled back to the eatery's parking lot listening to the Rend Collective Experiment, which Hannah determined is like the Christian version of Mumford & Sons. We had an impromptu dance party in the parking lot following our spinning in circles and trying to walk straight on the lines of the parking lot. Definitely a lot harder than I thought it'd be. Soon we were taking pictures of all of us trying to do cartwheels and handstands, followed by interpretive dances such as life of a polliwog and attack of the dinosaur. I can't imagine a better way to send off a dear friend on a new adventure in life!

Take home points from my day:

• Euthanasia...not to be confused with kids in China
• I feel like I'm in an episode of The Big Bang Theory trying to find a chirping cricket inside 
• It's fun to play the game of "Who can drop more bo-bos"
• A 4 month old pretending to be superman is rather drooly
  
  

Thunderstorm Thinking

So it just started thundering outside. I honestly should be asleep by now because I've been awake since 2am and that was after only getting 3 1/2 hours of sleep last night. Pure craziness right there. But, alas, my mind is swirling with thoughts as per usual. Today has really demonstrated that life is short and we need to be as joyful for what we have has possible. I don't really want to get into it, but started my day with two separate, yet equally sad stories. At the same time, because I'm so utterly beyond exhausted, I'm questioning everything in my life right now and desperately wanting to just fall asleep so as to not have my mind go down the rabid rabbit trails. It's an unfortunate frequent occurrence (jeepers that is one hard word to spell; like it legit took me 10 times before I gave up and typed it partly into Google) when I'm overly exhausted. I second guess myself. I wonder if what I want out of life is really what I want out of life or just somebody else's plan for me. I question whether people care, which is just plain silly. And worst of all I waste time comparing myself to others when I'm my own unique person who is loved for being herself, not some fake person. I need to always embrace the real me and be aware of if I ever sense I'm changing myself to suit somebody else because that's just bad news bears right there. Part of me would no longer exist if I opted out of my true self. Honestly I don't know why I'm so caught up in people's opinions of me. They don't really matter in the long run; only God's opinion of me. And He wouldn't be too happy if I chose to attempt to be somebody else. I can't improve upon His perfect creation and I shouldn't try to morph into another creation just to suit somebody else's liking. I need to feel comfortable in my own skin. I only wish that day would come faster so I don't feel so awkward all the time. It's an uncomfortable feeling, always being unsure of yourself and questioning who you really are to yourself and others. I don't recommend or wish that on anyone (TOTALLY JUST JUMPED DUE TO LOUD THUNDER gosh that normally doesn't scare me, but it made me chuckle cuz I typed anywon originally rather than anyone). But I digress. When will I just feel comfortable being me and love all of my quirks (or quarks...oh how I miss Petey at times like this). But alas, some things fall apart for better things to fall together. I can't rely on people or their opinions. I can just love them where they're at and for who they are. No more of this trying to compare life stories to see who is better or worse off. Seems so much like that Icon for Hire song "Get Well" and I'm starting to drive myself crazy. I can't imagine how others feel, but I'm sure enough is enough.

Take home points from my day:

• Lots of rain means road closures due to flooding
• I make no sense when I type whilst exhausted
• Scottish accents amuse me
• There's a draft in my room, but I don't know where it's coming from
• I just noticed a vent in my ceiling, which is probably the source of the draft
• Tonight's post is probably making reader's question why they follow a hipster hobo's thought processes

SAD

I'm currently in North Carolina and should be feeling exuberant and thrilled to be in one of the few places where I feel at home, but alas, it's rainy and dreary out and I just don't feel like myself. Maybe it's a touch of seasonal affective disorder; maybe not, but it's always fun to self diagnose yourself with a mental disorder. I wish I felt happier and carefree, but all I can think about is how my life isn't exactly going as planned, though I'm not really in control of that despite what mainstream media and countless self help books might have you believe. I know there is a plan and a purpose behind it all and I'm glad that my volunteer vagabondness has been inspiring to some, but it's still not exactly what I ever had in mind for myself.
On a slightly positive note, I'm glad I'm not isolated and at home, but at the same time, I'm not accustomed to being thrust into community everyday. I guess I shouldn't really say thrust because I go voluntarily, but I'm definitely sensing that I'm outside my comfort zone and it's beginning to get a tad overwhelming for my brain. I don't know how my friend appears to so easily glide through these community events, though I know it's not easy for her because she's an introvert just like me and sometimes struggles with the concept of community. I guess she just has more practice. I feel bad because small talk really isn't my strong suit, so I spend a lot of time just standing or sitting around listening to people and not contributing a whole lot. Sure there's lots on my mind, but it doesn't always go with what's being discussed and nothing is worse than telling a completely unrelated story and just getting blank stares from people followed by anyway...Okay so there probably much worse things to deal with in life in the grand scheme of things, but in my little bubble of a life at the moment, that's just a complete nightmare to endure.
Part of me feels bad not expressing these feelings out loud, but I've never been good at talking about my feelings in the moment. I can always tell people after the fact and maybe that's because I don't want to garner unnecessary attention or sympathy. Being the center of attention for any reason is one of my least favorite things, but I guess it has to happen sometimes. I think something else I'm not used to that I've realized on this visit is the fact that people have looked forward to meeting or seeing me. I feel like that rarely happens sans a handful of close friends. Otherwise, nobody ever expresses distinct interest in my existence. It's a nice feeling to have people want to hold a BBQ just because I'm in town and being told that their daughter was so happy to finally meet me. I'm flattered honestly, but at the same time, it's so totally weird and I don't really know how to respond with anything other than an awkward thank you. Not that I haven't been worthwhile to get to know in the past, but I think I've been so good at keeping to myself that not many people really know me or my crazy personality. I tend to keep it under wraps because I just make the assumption I won't fit in so I don't even bother to try. I know, it sounds crazy. Welcome to my world.

Take home points from my morning:

• It's time to accept life outside of my comfort zone
• I need to make more of an effort at small talk
• It's okay to be a bum on the couch on a dreary day

Lost in Translation

Somehow my family's harmless dinner conversation took a slight turn towards crazytown the other night. It started out simple enough, discussing my one friend's wedding and how I am one of 7 bridesmaids. This somehow made my dad think of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, which would have been fine and dandy, except he began to then think in German. My dad said some sentence in German that I didn't understand (surprise surprise) and he starts laughing. My mom and I of course asked him what he just said and all my dad could do was shake his head, which indicated that he wasn't exactly sure if he should repeat in English what he just said. Turns out it translated to The Snow Whore and the 7 Dwarfs, but of course we couldn't just stop there. My mom decided it would be best to change the dwarfs out for concubines, so we officially have a new version of Snow White entitled The Snow Whore and the 7 Concubines. No wonder I am the way I am. There's absolutely no hope for sanity, but I think I'm okay with that.

Take home points from my day:

• Running is a great way to relieve stress
• Laughter will forever be the best medicine
• Each day is time for a new adventure
• Don't always assume the worst and waste time worrying

Pray for Boston

I'm at a loss for words. The Boston Marathon is supposed to be a celebration for runners who have reached the pinnacle in their sport. It's like the runners version of the Super Bowl, World Cup, World Series, or Stanley Cup. It usually remains under the radar because few have an appreciation for the physical and mental battle that these runners endure and find it a boring event to watch. I was excited to stream it live online to have my friend's 10 week old son "watch" the race with me. Honestly, he slept through most of it, but when he was awake, he was rather intrigued. It should be a happy memory for us to share in the future, but instead, it's marred by the senseless bombing of innocents at the finish line. Why the heck would anybody want to bomb a marathon? Or anywhere for that matter? I don't understand what causes someone to lash out at people they don't even know. There's no reason to completely ruin what is meant to be a joyous occasion in the running community. My heart goes out to all of the runners, spectators, first responders, volunteers, and physicians who were all impacted in some way by this tragedy. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to endure such an event. I did not have anybody close to be at the event, but I did hear of an acquaintance's parents being there and narrowly escaping the bombing. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Boston. My hope is that the running community will endure and band together, stronger than ever to continue running. This will not stop us. We will continue to make strides in order to inspire those around us in the midst of the chaos and tragedy.

Take home points from my day:

• There is evil in the world
• Good always triumphs over evil
• Runners are resilient
• The running community is one big family
• Tomorrow is another day

I Survived!

Well since I'm able to type this, you must have figured out that I didn't die at the gym yesterday. Although, that probably had a lot to do with the fact that I opted out of the Olympic lifts and stuck to kettlebell deadlifts, kettlebell swings, dumbbell curls, and a core workout. My hamstrings are screaming everytime I walk, but I'm at least alive to tell the tale.
I also did meet an entertaining gentleman at Starbucks yesterday and did feel awkward sitting next to him as I read since he was wearing a suit and I so clearly was not dressed to impress. He apparently was preparing for a presentation at a conference on international civil societies. I told him that I work at a campground/river rafting place for 5 months of the year and volunteer with Samaritan's Purse in my spare time. I was amazed he had actually heard of Samaritan's Purse; I didn't expect a man with an Irish accent in a suit to have heard of the Christian relief organization, but it's nice to be proven wrong on occasion. We laughed at the enthusiasm of the workers at Macy's who apparently have a party every morning when they come in for work. Where can I sign up?
The rest of this post is dedicated to the fact that I can see God working in my life. I've got a Master's degree in exercise physiology and have had minimal luck finding a job in my field. A week ago I recommitted myself to working at the campground, which I think was set up by God. Why might you ask? Because today I just got a job offer in research (my dream) in the Bronx (a place that has strung me along twice). Since I prefer to honor my commitments, I kindly turned the position down, which some might think is against my better judgement. But I think it was God's plan all along to have me turn it down and go back to the place along the river to minister to those lost people. It's an eye opener to realize even more so that I'm meant to be there and maybe not necessarily in my field of expertise right now. I mean, if I took the job in the Bronx, that would hinder my ability to move to North Carolina, which is where I truly feel my home should be. And I'm beginning to believe that's where God wants me because He knew the Bronx job would come up and would hinder my path if I did not have a valid reason to reject the offer.

Take home points from my day:

• God is in charge of my life whether it's always apparent or not
• Doors will open to opportunities when you least expect it
• Loyalty is a quality everybody should possess
• If you take a bullet to the head, you don't have to worry about insurance or sheets for your bed...wise words from a Starbucks patron

Sticking Out Like a Sore Thumb

Picture it. Great Neck. April 2013. A lone female sitting in the corner of a newly opened Starbucks in red sweatpants, a gray long sleeve, and running shoes. I figured I would stick out in this hotsy-totsy neighborhood given my appearance, but luckily the barista figures I'm going for a workout this morning. We had some amusing banter about how she would have to get up at 2am to even consider exercising. She happens to be right about me and going for a workout. It helps that one of my friends is a trainer, but in all honesty, let's face it, the workout will probably kill me today. I mean, how the heck am I supposed to pull off Olympic lifting with my chicken arms and mile long legs? It's not like I'm in shape either, but I need to be in order to drag rafts, kayaks, and canoes all summer long. But I legit might not be able to move tomorrow after this workout. I've got 5 hours to mentally prepare, mull over my impending doom, or just figure out how to run away, but I know I won't do that. That wouldn't make for a good story. Me almost dying in a gym under some weights; now that'll be a good story.

Take home points from my morning:

• I found it amusing that somebody referred to a thunderstorm as Hurricane Sandy's daughter
• Everytime I show up, my one friend forgets how to function like a human being
• Do Super Atheists wear capes?
• Ironically my brother flew to Germany on National Sibling Day...way to celebrate by escaping dude :)

It's Funny Because I Thought About It

So last night I was out with friends at an Italian restaurant in Kutztown. It was a post-birthday birthday dinner extension whatever you wanna call it. Regardless, it was free food for me so I was happy, not to sound like a complete selfish jerk. I was super ecstatic to see a dessert called peanut butter explosion. Of course somebody had to be silly enough to ask me what it was and I promptly responded by saying it was an explosion of peanut butter...cue eye roll and a chorus of sighs. I then proceeded to entertain the waitress because I wrote something down on my hand to remember despite the fact that I had a notebook sitting on my lap. I told her it was because I wanted to remember it for later and I couldn't lose my hand unless somebody chopped it off. (Though that might be cool because I could be the female version of Captain Hook). The group's conversation then progressed into wondering whether or not you actually get drunker by drinking beer through a straw and the fact that Lu's family now has 15 beds for 4 people, which is the total opposite from her childhood. As she put it, "Four teenagers in the same room...I don't recommend it." We also got talking about the Train song "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" and how awesome it was and I pointed out the irony of a crappy purple Scion being parked in the parking lot behind us.

On a sidenote, I find it really touching that one of my friend's trusts me enough to text at like 1am to see if I'm awake and then proceed to spill out honest issues and truly ask for my advice. It means the world to me to be utilized by God in such a manner and being blessed with encouraging words to pass on via the Holy Spirit. Knowing that they could go to anybody else but opting for little me just makes me feel like I have a purpose. Sure, this person could have been talking to like five other people at the same time, but regardless, she still felt compelled to contact me and pour her heart out to me, and I'm grateful and blessed to have been able to assist the best I could.

To go off on another tangent, at 9pm tonight my brother is flying to Germany and will be gone until the end of July. I don't think I have allowed myself to fully comprehend the gravity of this. Not being able to randomly text him or hang out for 3.5 months will be a bit of a change. It just reminds me about how things in this life can change so fast. One minute you can be in the midst of a career and the next, you're  leaving that behind for a foreign country. In a sense, that's happened to me, minus the whole traveling to a foreign country. I fully expected to be working within the field of exercise physiology following the completion of my Master's degree, but that hasn't been in the cards for me. Instead, my life has been unemployment, temp jobs, Samaritan's Purse volunteer work, and realizing I'm heading back to my own personal Ninevah. And to tell you the truth, I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm definitely not doing what I thought I was supposed to be doing, but I think I'm on the right path. I have no bloody clue where that path is heading, but I'm happy to be on it and so utterly thankful for the people I've met along the way. I've discovered my true family in this process, which means more to me than any job or career ever could.

Take home points from my day:

• What came first, the cocaine or the brain aneurysm? 
• Paramore's new album is epic
• Everybody must read Sparkly Green Earrings
• It's best to laugh at life and yourself
• Reality can be painful and sobering, but must be accepted as is
• Accept all emotions from God, not just the good ones
• It's important to remember your life events
• The existence of the umbrella sword makes me happy inside

Quarter Century Reflections

Last night I had an early birthday dinner with my parents and brother. It was a tasty lasagna that I baked and a cake that my mom baked. Of course she used the candles that don't blow out, so I got a glass of water and dipped the candles in it since they wouldn't blow out. My brother was sweet and got me Oreos and a bouquet of roses. My dad gave me a sweet card that had a bookmark and said to keep reading and traveling, along with a large bag of mini Reese's cups. Madre got me two neon tanktops and a lovely card. Pretty awesome! I didn't realize until my brother was leaving, though, that it would be our last meal as a family until at least July since my brother is leaving for Germany next week.
Anyways, I turned 25 today. I'm not one who enjoys being the center of attention, so birthdays have a tendency to be a bit of a dilemma. I enjoy visiting people, but I don't want them to make a big deal over it or me. I also would much rather spend time with people than have them buy me presents because memories are what I really treasure, as opposed to material possessions. Overall, today was a fantastic day on many levels.
Despite the fact that I was functioning on three hours of sleep, I've enjoyed every minute of my birthday thus far. It was nice to get texts and Facebook messages from people, but I especially loved chilling with my favorite two month old. Getting to have naptime with Niklaus was super relaxing and just what I needed. Mama was nice enough to make me french toast for breakfast since I showed up at 10am, which was about 9 hours early for dinner according to Papa. I said it was because I wanted to make sure Mama didn't set it on fire by accident. J's Pop and Nan showed up for dinner, too, along with two friends and her sister Lu. Mama made an excellent spread of baked chicken, stuffed shells, Texas toast, meatballs, bowtie noodles, and sauce. To top it all off, they made me an icecream cake with chopped Oreos and Reese's cups and Skittles on top. The presents were lowkey and included a framed collage of pictures of me and the little guy, a 45 oz bag of Skittles and the book God Never Blinks, which has a bright orange cover...so me!
I think my favorite present, though, came from Hannah and KK from afar. They were at a flea market in Lewisburg and decided to make a video compilation singing me "Happy Birthday" in a variety of fashions that involved a creepy doll, mannequin heads, pictures of Dracula, and a roller skate with flowers jutting out of it. By far the sweetest and most hilarious thing anybody has ever done for me :)

Take home points from my day:

• Family is not all about DNA
• Correspond with those you love most no matter what
• I always end up getting random, extremely awkward advice from people such as you can wake up and eat at 2am but don't expect loving from a man who is fast asleep
• I'm an excellent multi-tasker
• My friends care more about me than I ever thought
• Moving in is not the same as passing through frequently

Five Hour Pancakes

Let me set the stage for you. I've been staying with a friend of mine who has a two month old; the cutest two month old ever, who is already a flirt. I see a budding mini Tony DiNizzo on the horizon. Needless to say, my sleep schedule and everybody else's in the house is a little less than normal because when the flirt wakes up, the majority of the house does too. This can make functioning throughout the rest of the day a little interesting to say the least.

Fast forward to about noon when Mama asks if we all would like pancakes. With a resounding yes, the griddle was warmed and ready for business! I opted to hold the little man while his ma ate her pancakes before I went to the kitchen for my serving of fresh pancakes. Papa was flipping over some pancakes when I got my plate of pancakes and returned to the living room. Mama insisted that I have seconds and to finish off the last of the pancakes so that there weren't any leftovers. Apparently she's realized the storage capacity of my so-called "hollow leg" and insists that I fill it to the brim with food. Once I had my fill of five pancakes, I chose to lay on the couch with the little man for the next four hours.

Four hours later, Mama walks into the living room clacking some hard brown objects together. She proceeded to tell us that I apparently did not ingest the last of the pancakes because she forgot about the four that were still cooking on the griddle and had been there for approximately five hours. Why we never smelled anything burning we'll never know, but chalk it up to some busy guardian angels! We also determined that five hour pancakes = not so instant hockey pucks. They also could be used to patch up holes in rusty car fenders, depending on your usage preference. Regardless, it makes for a funny story and Mama has since fired herself from working in the kitchen.

A little while later, the following conversation took place:

J: Can I go out on a limb here?

Me: Be careful!

J: Can I have an egg sandwich?

Mama: Now?

J: (insert sarcastic tone here) No, I'm putting in my order for tomorrow morning.

Me: Well, she figures it's gotta cook overnight (given the five hour pancake ordeal).

On a completely unrelated note, I opened the Sticky Notes application on my laptop and found some pretty awesome quotes that I typed from conversations I had with people. In no particular order we have:

"I used to be an altar boy. See I used to be close to God."..."Well what happened?"

"If you guys were in a sci-fi movie, you guys would be shot for noncompliance."

"The tank with no knees...sounds like a children's story."

"I'm not going for time. I'm going for don't break your ankle."

Take home points from my day:

• I got swayed, not suede the fabric
• Warning: if you go to grab the waffle box, beware of flying milk; it could knock you out
• Mama should attach smoke detectors to herself

It Never Hurts to Just Listen

We all have family members that we get tired of hearing the same stories from. The truth is, they just want to talk and share about their lives. Younger people tend to lose patience with older generations and decide they don't feel like listening for the millionth time. What's great, though, is when you get the opportunity to listen to stories from a member of somebody else's family because to you, they are fresh stories, and it appeases that older generation; they finally have listening ears that have a piqued interest. Because I didn't grow up having my grandparents around, I thoroughly enjoy listening to the adventures of other people's grandparents and learning their life stories. You never know what somebody has been through until you listen to what they've experienced. Just by listening, I've come across people who have helped the homeless, encountered poisonous snakes in South America, handed out socks to women on 9/11 because they had nothing but high heels to wear, overcome cocaine addictions, or were competitive ballroom dancers back in the day. Everybody has a story to share. Are you willing to take the time to listen to all of the exciting and mediocre details?

Take home points from my day:

• Don't be afraid to ask people to visit; you never know how excited they'll be over an invite
• More people care about you then you are aware
• Count your blessings, not your troubles
• Be patient and ask questions
• Two month olds can have a nasty uppercut and acknowledge this with laughter

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