Lots of things fall into the uncomfortable category for me. In fact, I'd venture to say that I am sometimes uncomfortable in my own skin. Today i contemplated calling in sick because I felt too ugly to work. Why can't that be an excuse? Since there are so many things that make me uncomfortable, today's post will be in list form. Please keep in mind that these items should be taken in no particular order.
1. Excessive spending. This is the main reason that my hair never gets cut enough, my "new" clothes are pretty much all four or more years old, and I don't own 11 cats.
2. Having Happy Birthday sung to me. Because what face are you supposed to make?
3. Super unspecific directions or inquiries. For instance: Did you send that thing to that guy? When someone is this unspecific with me, I feel like they must have a reason to believe that I'd know what the heck they're talking about, or they wouldn't be asking. So then I feel like a deer in headlights as I try to remember all of the stuff I sent to different people and mentally decide which item they might mean.
4. Going to the gym. This makes me uncomfortable for a great many reasons. Some include: I own one pair, ONE pair, of yoga pants. They are too short. I feel like an enormous nerd wearing too-short pants in my house, let alone in public. Another reason is because I am too shy to ask how to use any of the equipment and so I either stand there for 20 minutes trying to figure it out on my own, or just hop on and hope for the best. I also hate working out and give up too easily and I look disgusting covered in sweat and ugly gym clothes. These all add up to extreme selfconsciousness at the gym, thus, I hate going to the gym.
5. IVs, bags of blood, tourniquets, and various other medical equipment. My husband is an EMT and I worked (as a registration clerk) in an Emergency Room for a year and a half, but even thinking of bone cutters or hypodermic needles can make me feel queasy. I used to like watching House and my college quadmates loved Grey's Anatomy, but those shows absolutely live for showing needles going into arms and whatnot. No, thank you.
6. When doors close and whispering ensues behind them. This can be during family holidays, work, parties, public places, anywhere. Call me an egomaniac, but I know they are talking about me!
7. Driving in new and unfamiliar places. Driving in foul weather. Driving. Period. I am never at ease behind the wheel. A very dear friend of my sister's died in a car accident just before his 18th birthday. I was 15 at the time and it scared me out of getting my permit or license... I did not actually get my driver's license until I was 19 and my mom forced me to... and I was in an accident two weeks later. It was not a bad accident at all, but I was so shaken that I did not drive again until I was 21. I'm now almost 27 and I only drive to and from work and I don't really know how to get almost anywhere else.
8. "Love scenes." I don't want to see other people doing it. It spoils the whole movie for me. It makes me feel ridiculously uncomfortable and always has! It's way, way, worse when I happen to be watching the movie with a family member or something, though. Ugh.
9. Dancing. I have two left feet and no rhythm. I look like Kermit the Frog when I dance and I'm so selfconscious about it that I don't even enjoy it a little bit. It's really a shame because I know dancing gives so many people so much joy, and even people who aren't gifted dancers enjoy it. I just can't. The one exception is contra dance :)
10. Lying. I'm honestly an honest person :) I don't even tell the "little white lies" to stay out of trouble, like "Sure I remember Great Uncle Moe." No. I don't. Who the heck is that? Oh, this old coot standing right in front of me? Whoops.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Day 2: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at.
I had to brainstorm this subject. Off the top of my head, I could not really come up with anything I wanted to brag about or anything like it. Here is part of my little brainstorm list:
Things I'm good at:
procrastinating, crocheting plan granny square afghans or scarves, killing houseplants, singing loudly in my car when no one else is with me, writing letters, reading, naming cats (I consider myself something of an expert in this area but I don't think it can be taught), use descriptive and funny similes (my sister just pointed this skill out to me yesterday when I talked to her on the phone. She said that I should have been a writer for the old British Comedy show Black Adder with Rowan Atkinson when I described the way my husband's cactus looked when I left it out during a frost [like a melted Grinch] and the way a certain pizza my mom likes tastes [like a bandaged foot], but again, i don't think this is a skill that can be taught), and... making awesome chocolate chip cookies. So I think that's going to have to be the winner, even though it is kind of lame. I do make various crafty projects that I'd like to talk about but I'm in no place to post a picture tutorial at the moment. Maybe some day.
Now, you're going to think my ability to make these yummy cookies is rather lame because I'm really just adjusting an age-old recipe to my liking. Start with the classic Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe (or, if you are a FRIENDS fan, "Neslay Tulouse" ala Phoebe)...
It can be found here: http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18476/Original-NESTL%C3%89-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/detail.aspx
For my take on this recipe, omit the chopped nuts entirely. Why on earth would you put chopped nuts in these cookies? I'm just not a nut girl. I'll eat some raw almonds... maybe some macadamia nuts... but I'm not nuts about them. Oh, the cleverness of me! (Ten points if you got that Peter Pan reference).
Okay, where was I? Ah, yes, omit the nuts. Time for what we'll add.
Add: 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa, an extra teaspoon on vanilla extract, and just a smidge of milk (I put this in because that extra 1/2 cup of dry ingredient can make the dough too thick). This used to complete my recipe until about two weeks ago when I decided I'd try one more addition. I read that adding just a little corn starch to cookie dough would produce fluffy, chewy, non-crunchy cookies. Intrigued, I added two teaspoons of cornstarch to my dough. To my delight, my cookies came out thick and chewy and dreamy as a sunset in Hawai'i. Yeah, they were that good. Kyle, my husband, pronounced them "the best cookies I've ever eaten." Although he does say that sort of thing a lot. Whenever I make chili, for instance, it is not just good, but the best chili he's ever had. Since I'm not all that in to cooking, I'll take it.
So, here we go with the breakdown. I hope you'll enjoy a batch of these yummy goodness chewy cookies soon. My saliva is about to drown me just thinking about them.
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened (yes, I use butter for both sticks. I know some use margarine for one, but I'm not a margarine buyer)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12 oz. package) semi sweet chocolate chips (or use chocolate chunks or something. I've even gotten desperate at some point and chopped up a large, extra dark chocolate bar for my "morsels")
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Dash of milk
Preheat oven to 350, keeping in mind that different ovens may require different settings. My old one had to be adjusted by 25 degrees all the time, so know your own oven. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and corn starch in a small bowl; set aside. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until creamy and delicious-looking. Add each egg, beating thoroughly between additions. Gradually add flour mixture and cocoa. Dough will thicken. Add a dash of milk (not much, just a little!) and beat some more, until dough is more doughy and less thick and rigid, if that makes sense. Then add the chocolate chips or chunks and stir with a big wooden spoon (or similar). Drop my rounded tablespoon (or roll into balls) on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 9 minutes (11 if they haven't solidified). Note that these cookies should NOT look crispy and crunchy... don't burn the bottoms trying to get the tops to crack and wrinkle. And also keep in mind that they will continue cooking on the hot cookie sheet once you pull them out of the oven. After cooling on baking sheets 2-5 minutes, remove to cooling racks. I like to eat them warm and gooey from the oven, but use your best judgement and don't burn your tongue or fingers!
Here's another little tip for soft cookies. You know how they harden and get nasty after a few days storage, if you happen to have any self control and don't eat them the first day? When you put them in plastic containers that may not have the high tech freshness seal of Tupperware (like I want to spend that kind of moola when I can just reuse a Cool Whip tub!), add a piece of white bread on top. In about a day, the bread will get as hard as cafeteria pizza, the kind that you can smack on the plywood cafeteria tables and actually take a chunk out of the table (not that this ever happened at MY school... heh heh) and your cookies will remain scrumptiously soft. I say use white bread because it won't spread a flavor to your cookies like rye or pumpernickel might, but I don't know since I've never put pumpernickel in with my cookies. I can't bear to take the risk. Enjoy!
Things I'm good at:
procrastinating, crocheting plan granny square afghans or scarves, killing houseplants, singing loudly in my car when no one else is with me, writing letters, reading, naming cats (I consider myself something of an expert in this area but I don't think it can be taught), use descriptive and funny similes (my sister just pointed this skill out to me yesterday when I talked to her on the phone. She said that I should have been a writer for the old British Comedy show Black Adder with Rowan Atkinson when I described the way my husband's cactus looked when I left it out during a frost [like a melted Grinch] and the way a certain pizza my mom likes tastes [like a bandaged foot], but again, i don't think this is a skill that can be taught), and... making awesome chocolate chip cookies. So I think that's going to have to be the winner, even though it is kind of lame. I do make various crafty projects that I'd like to talk about but I'm in no place to post a picture tutorial at the moment. Maybe some day.
Now, you're going to think my ability to make these yummy cookies is rather lame because I'm really just adjusting an age-old recipe to my liking. Start with the classic Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe (or, if you are a FRIENDS fan, "Neslay Tulouse" ala Phoebe)...
It can be found here: http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18476/Original-NESTL%C3%89-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/detail.aspx
For my take on this recipe, omit the chopped nuts entirely. Why on earth would you put chopped nuts in these cookies? I'm just not a nut girl. I'll eat some raw almonds... maybe some macadamia nuts... but I'm not nuts about them. Oh, the cleverness of me! (Ten points if you got that Peter Pan reference).
Okay, where was I? Ah, yes, omit the nuts. Time for what we'll add.
Add: 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa, an extra teaspoon on vanilla extract, and just a smidge of milk (I put this in because that extra 1/2 cup of dry ingredient can make the dough too thick). This used to complete my recipe until about two weeks ago when I decided I'd try one more addition. I read that adding just a little corn starch to cookie dough would produce fluffy, chewy, non-crunchy cookies. Intrigued, I added two teaspoons of cornstarch to my dough. To my delight, my cookies came out thick and chewy and dreamy as a sunset in Hawai'i. Yeah, they were that good. Kyle, my husband, pronounced them "the best cookies I've ever eaten." Although he does say that sort of thing a lot. Whenever I make chili, for instance, it is not just good, but the best chili he's ever had. Since I'm not all that in to cooking, I'll take it.
So, here we go with the breakdown. I hope you'll enjoy a batch of these yummy goodness chewy cookies soon. My saliva is about to drown me just thinking about them.
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened (yes, I use butter for both sticks. I know some use margarine for one, but I'm not a margarine buyer)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12 oz. package) semi sweet chocolate chips (or use chocolate chunks or something. I've even gotten desperate at some point and chopped up a large, extra dark chocolate bar for my "morsels")
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Dash of milk
Preheat oven to 350, keeping in mind that different ovens may require different settings. My old one had to be adjusted by 25 degrees all the time, so know your own oven. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and corn starch in a small bowl; set aside. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until creamy and delicious-looking. Add each egg, beating thoroughly between additions. Gradually add flour mixture and cocoa. Dough will thicken. Add a dash of milk (not much, just a little!) and beat some more, until dough is more doughy and less thick and rigid, if that makes sense. Then add the chocolate chips or chunks and stir with a big wooden spoon (or similar). Drop my rounded tablespoon (or roll into balls) on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 9 minutes (11 if they haven't solidified). Note that these cookies should NOT look crispy and crunchy... don't burn the bottoms trying to get the tops to crack and wrinkle. And also keep in mind that they will continue cooking on the hot cookie sheet once you pull them out of the oven. After cooling on baking sheets 2-5 minutes, remove to cooling racks. I like to eat them warm and gooey from the oven, but use your best judgement and don't burn your tongue or fingers!
Here's another little tip for soft cookies. You know how they harden and get nasty after a few days storage, if you happen to have any self control and don't eat them the first day? When you put them in plastic containers that may not have the high tech freshness seal of Tupperware (like I want to spend that kind of moola when I can just reuse a Cool Whip tub!), add a piece of white bread on top. In about a day, the bread will get as hard as cafeteria pizza, the kind that you can smack on the plywood cafeteria tables and actually take a chunk out of the table (not that this ever happened at MY school... heh heh) and your cookies will remain scrumptiously soft. I say use white bread because it won't spread a flavor to your cookies like rye or pumpernickel might, but I don't know since I've never put pumpernickel in with my cookies. I can't bear to take the risk. Enjoy!
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Every day in May
Well, alright. I admit that I have never been good at keeping up a blog, save for the first maybe two glorious years of Xanga, which became so overshadowed by Myspace, which essentially lost out to Facebook. From the time I was about seven until around my 18th year, I kept a very regular journal. I have countless diaries from the years in which I'd write every single day. I did not only enjoy journaling, but I always thought I'd like to be a novelist "when I grow up." Unfortunately, I've neglected to write anything at all for so long that I feel displaced from it. I've had a fair few people tell me that they look forward to reading my facebook status each time I make a post. I've had just a very small number read the novel I started in 2007 (unfinished as of yet)... and now I think it's time for me to start a blog back up, if only for my sake.
An old friend of mine from elementary school posted this challenge that she had seen posted by another blog keeper, and I thought it was a good challenge to get me back on this silly blog. I'm a bit behind... The challenge is to post for every day in May, following the prompts given. And off we go:
It all started at my house. Really. I purposely born at home, and though I had little choice in the matter, I've always had a sense of pride that this made me somewhat unique. I'm the youngest of three with only 26 months between all of us. My parents divorced when I was five and my dad moved to Hawaii a few years later. My mom remarried when I was seven. I lived out in the country in northeast Ohio on a chip and seal road without any lines and barely enough room for a car going each direction. Our home was surrounded by cornfields and later, about an acre of our land was dedicated to our pygmy goats. Julianna and Jimmy (my sister and brother) were two and one years ahead of me in school, which always made me feel somewhat overshadowed. It didn't help that I looked so much like my sister and teachers constantly called me by her name. It was like I hardly had a chance to be ME because they were always waiting for me to be smart and shy like Julianna or bored and troublesome like Jimmy. The need to be my own person led me to spend my last two years of high school in a different school, learning cosmetology as a trade. Though I passed my State Board testing with flying colors, I did not wish to pursue a career as a stylist. I had been praying about college pretty much my baptism at 15 and I decided on Kentucky Christian College (now University) after attending their Summer In The Son program in the summers of 2002, 2003, and 2004. KCU was uncommonly instrumental in shaping me into the woman I am now. I had some incredible teachers. I made some eternal friendships. I had the best four years at that little school, which did so much for me from leading me to a two month mission trip in England to showing my why dating someone my first semester was a huge mistake.
Since I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Biblical Studies five years ago, I have worked in various clerical jobs, married a wonderful man, moved to South Carolina, and bought a house. Kyle and I have a ten year old grey cat named Polly, a four year old black Mongolian smooth coat chow chow named Akira, and a three year old, one eyed calico cat named Fiona. I work in a pretty little office and Kyle is an EMT. Our lives are not exactly glamorous or exciting, but they're ours we live the best way we know.
An old friend of mine from elementary school posted this challenge that she had seen posted by another blog keeper, and I thought it was a good challenge to get me back on this silly blog. I'm a bit behind... The challenge is to post for every day in May, following the prompts given. And off we go:
The List
- Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph… no one will be counting your words… probably)
- Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at. Take any approach you’d like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)
- Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable
- Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it
- Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don’t have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member
- Day 6, Monday: If you couldn’t answer with your job, how would you answer the question, ‘what do you do’?
- Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you’re most afraid of
- Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.
- Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)
- Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill.
- Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less
- Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life…)
- Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
- Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
- Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like)
- Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it
- Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
- Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
- Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
- Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
- Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
- Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
- Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
- Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
- Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
- Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
- Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
- Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
- Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
- Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
- Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory
It all started at my house. Really. I purposely born at home, and though I had little choice in the matter, I've always had a sense of pride that this made me somewhat unique. I'm the youngest of three with only 26 months between all of us. My parents divorced when I was five and my dad moved to Hawaii a few years later. My mom remarried when I was seven. I lived out in the country in northeast Ohio on a chip and seal road without any lines and barely enough room for a car going each direction. Our home was surrounded by cornfields and later, about an acre of our land was dedicated to our pygmy goats. Julianna and Jimmy (my sister and brother) were two and one years ahead of me in school, which always made me feel somewhat overshadowed. It didn't help that I looked so much like my sister and teachers constantly called me by her name. It was like I hardly had a chance to be ME because they were always waiting for me to be smart and shy like Julianna or bored and troublesome like Jimmy. The need to be my own person led me to spend my last two years of high school in a different school, learning cosmetology as a trade. Though I passed my State Board testing with flying colors, I did not wish to pursue a career as a stylist. I had been praying about college pretty much my baptism at 15 and I decided on Kentucky Christian College (now University) after attending their Summer In The Son program in the summers of 2002, 2003, and 2004. KCU was uncommonly instrumental in shaping me into the woman I am now. I had some incredible teachers. I made some eternal friendships. I had the best four years at that little school, which did so much for me from leading me to a two month mission trip in England to showing my why dating someone my first semester was a huge mistake.
Since I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Biblical Studies five years ago, I have worked in various clerical jobs, married a wonderful man, moved to South Carolina, and bought a house. Kyle and I have a ten year old grey cat named Polly, a four year old black Mongolian smooth coat chow chow named Akira, and a three year old, one eyed calico cat named Fiona. I work in a pretty little office and Kyle is an EMT. Our lives are not exactly glamorous or exciting, but they're ours we live the best way we know.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Singing in the rain...
i used to be a singer. i used to sing all the time. In the car with friends? Singing. In line at the store? Singing. In the very public showers in college? Singing.
i always thought i was a pretty decent singer. After all, i was given solos in grade school choir shows, and, i mean, my mom told me i could sing. And i pretty much always believe my mom.
My doubt first arrived when i was in the phase of religiously following American Idol (this went on for the first four seasons of the show). You know the American Idol watchers who watch it only to see the hilariously crap people who turn up in the beginning stages of auditions? i mean, i can't really blame them because it is entertaining to an extent. i know that a lot of this phase of the show is staged and rigged so that America gets to view the funniest and weirdest auditions moreso than the people who actually have potential. But what baffles me is that there really are people who think they are genuinely good singers when they are actually completely tone deaf, harsh, or off-the-wall. i would actually think that these contestants were completely fake--hired to act shocked, after their terrible performance, that they were not given a "golden ticket" to Hollywood. But then i remember two people i know who do think they are incredibly talented and who are actually some of the worst singers i have ever heard. It's embarrassing, really.
That was a lot of writing to say that Audtions on American Idol made me wonder if i actually can carry a tune.
The other thing that gave me doubt was that i befriended many a music major in college, one of whom jokingly told me i was tone deaf. i didn't know that he was joking and i was crushed. Actually, i am still crushed because i'm not entirely sure that he was joking. But since that moment, i have been much quieter. i don't sing in the aisles of the supermarket anymore. i don't singer in my now private shower. i don't even sing in the car when i'm by myself most of the time.
And you know what? i really miss singing. Before i became so paranoid, singing really brought me joy. i hate that i have become so caught up in what someone else might think of my voice that i don't just sing because it makes me feel good anymore. i hate that this morning when i thought my mother-in-law was outside and i was singing a song as i prepared my lunch, i was completely humiliated when i looked up and saw her sitting in the next room.
i also hate that i will never be a singer for Disney movies or Broadway. :( i feel a little bit blue.
i always thought i was a pretty decent singer. After all, i was given solos in grade school choir shows, and, i mean, my mom told me i could sing. And i pretty much always believe my mom.
My doubt first arrived when i was in the phase of religiously following American Idol (this went on for the first four seasons of the show). You know the American Idol watchers who watch it only to see the hilariously crap people who turn up in the beginning stages of auditions? i mean, i can't really blame them because it is entertaining to an extent. i know that a lot of this phase of the show is staged and rigged so that America gets to view the funniest and weirdest auditions moreso than the people who actually have potential. But what baffles me is that there really are people who think they are genuinely good singers when they are actually completely tone deaf, harsh, or off-the-wall. i would actually think that these contestants were completely fake--hired to act shocked, after their terrible performance, that they were not given a "golden ticket" to Hollywood. But then i remember two people i know who do think they are incredibly talented and who are actually some of the worst singers i have ever heard. It's embarrassing, really.
That was a lot of writing to say that Audtions on American Idol made me wonder if i actually can carry a tune.
The other thing that gave me doubt was that i befriended many a music major in college, one of whom jokingly told me i was tone deaf. i didn't know that he was joking and i was crushed. Actually, i am still crushed because i'm not entirely sure that he was joking. But since that moment, i have been much quieter. i don't sing in the aisles of the supermarket anymore. i don't singer in my now private shower. i don't even sing in the car when i'm by myself most of the time.
And you know what? i really miss singing. Before i became so paranoid, singing really brought me joy. i hate that i have become so caught up in what someone else might think of my voice that i don't just sing because it makes me feel good anymore. i hate that this morning when i thought my mother-in-law was outside and i was singing a song as i prepared my lunch, i was completely humiliated when i looked up and saw her sitting in the next room.
i also hate that i will never be a singer for Disney movies or Broadway. :( i feel a little bit blue.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Ho hum, pig's bum
i didn't know that it got cold in South Carolina.
Okay, maybe i sort of knew... but i don't think you really KNOW cold unless you happen to be experiencing it. And it's not even that cold. i am cold, but that doesn't mean everyone is cold. In fact, i'll bet Kyle's in heaven right now... except for the chance of rain, which makes it impossible for him to ride his motorcycle.
It is 55 degrees.
That is not cold for January. i just thought it would be warmer. i also thought that i would go to the beach every day. i don't really live anywhere near the beach. i mean, i am nearer than i was when i lived in Ohio, but that isn't really saying much.
On with the fun. i am reading Withering Tights (yes, i am aware of my spelling) by Louise Rennison. When i read books by this author, i laugh out loud as well as speak and write in fragments. i suppose that is the price i pay. i am also crocheting... all the time. And when i am not crocheting, i am playing the Sims on John's ipad. i think my life has gotten a bit pathetic.
New Year's resolutions? i resolved to write more letters this year. Every year for the last several, i have resolved to correct my poor posture and get in shape. However, i have never actually resolved either issue. That is why this year's resolution is both easier and more enjoyable. i simply cannot believe that there are people who like working out. Or cooking.
Tomorrow i will go on my very first business trip. i am nervous. There is not much more to say about that.
Okay, maybe i sort of knew... but i don't think you really KNOW cold unless you happen to be experiencing it. And it's not even that cold. i am cold, but that doesn't mean everyone is cold. In fact, i'll bet Kyle's in heaven right now... except for the chance of rain, which makes it impossible for him to ride his motorcycle.
It is 55 degrees.
That is not cold for January. i just thought it would be warmer. i also thought that i would go to the beach every day. i don't really live anywhere near the beach. i mean, i am nearer than i was when i lived in Ohio, but that isn't really saying much.
On with the fun. i am reading Withering Tights (yes, i am aware of my spelling) by Louise Rennison. When i read books by this author, i laugh out loud as well as speak and write in fragments. i suppose that is the price i pay. i am also crocheting... all the time. And when i am not crocheting, i am playing the Sims on John's ipad. i think my life has gotten a bit pathetic.
New Year's resolutions? i resolved to write more letters this year. Every year for the last several, i have resolved to correct my poor posture and get in shape. However, i have never actually resolved either issue. That is why this year's resolution is both easier and more enjoyable. i simply cannot believe that there are people who like working out. Or cooking.
Tomorrow i will go on my very first business trip. i am nervous. There is not much more to say about that.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Home Alone
Traditionally, when i lived in Ohio, my family and i would watch A Muppet Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve. In recent years, my best friend had joined in this tradition. i especially liked pointing out Ebenezer's former lover Belle's flaring nostrils during her solo, "The Love is Gone." i did this without fail... every year.
This year marked my first Christmas as a resident of anywhere other than Ohio--South Carolina. i have no blood relatives here (although i do consider my spectacular in-laws to be family!), any friendships that i've built here are still painfully new... and i was a little worried about my first Christmas away from my mom. However, the OCD tendencies i've always had during the holidays made for good distractions from all of this. i enjoyed Christmas shopping and crafting very much. i love wrapping presents, and i REALLY love arranging presents under the tree (or, in our case, the clock. The tree is up on a little end table and out of the way of a certain furry creature). In fact, whenever more gifts would appear near the clock, i took it upon myself to rearrange them, ensuring the finest display possible. i love it.
Well, since i don't actually own A Muppet Christmas Carol, i watched the Home Alone movies instead. i mean that i watched Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. i don't consider it a Home Alone movie unless Macaulay Culkin, Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci are in it. Upon watching them, i discovered many things about these movies. Here i go:
1. i think i really started liking Christmas music because of these movies. i know for sure that the first time i heard "O Holy Night" was when i first saw Home Alone. i was very young, but i still remember it giving me goosebumps. Props to the music in Home Alone. It is absolutely spot-on and set the mood for both movies.
2. i used to watch these movies and think some of the obstacles the thieves faced were more painful or dangerous than others. i think i vaguely remember thinking that the whole scene where Kevin is throwing bricks at them from the top of a New York apartment building was pretty boring and not much of a threat. Now, however, i look at that scene and think, Yeah, that would kill Marv. Don't get me wrong... i totally LOVE these movies and appreciate that they are not gory and stuff, but realistic they are not!
3. The one thing i don't really like about these movies is the notion that one good deed cancels out a bad deed. It's not a Biblical principle, and i'm sure Perry Noble could have a whole sermon on it. The pigeon woman has good intentions, but i think she is misinformed. And if you don't believe me, think about that one person who said something that really hurt your feelings. i remember when someone says something negative to me much better than i remember compliments. Maybe that's just me.
5. If i were into this kind of thing, i think the first two Home Alone movies could be fantastic drinking games. Take a shot whenever Kevin screams. Or whenever his mom or Harry or Marv screams. Or whenever anyone screams. i don't know if you realize it, but a lot of screaming goes on in these movies. If i opened a door and suddenly found my head on fire (twice) i'd scream, too.
Well, it's back to work tomorrow. i don't know that i could bear to go back if i didn't know i'd be off again after two days. i like my job, but going back to my regular schedule isn't going to be fun after this blessed break!
This year marked my first Christmas as a resident of anywhere other than Ohio--South Carolina. i have no blood relatives here (although i do consider my spectacular in-laws to be family!), any friendships that i've built here are still painfully new... and i was a little worried about my first Christmas away from my mom. However, the OCD tendencies i've always had during the holidays made for good distractions from all of this. i enjoyed Christmas shopping and crafting very much. i love wrapping presents, and i REALLY love arranging presents under the tree (or, in our case, the clock. The tree is up on a little end table and out of the way of a certain furry creature). In fact, whenever more gifts would appear near the clock, i took it upon myself to rearrange them, ensuring the finest display possible. i love it.
Well, since i don't actually own A Muppet Christmas Carol, i watched the Home Alone movies instead. i mean that i watched Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. i don't consider it a Home Alone movie unless Macaulay Culkin, Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci are in it. Upon watching them, i discovered many things about these movies. Here i go:
1. i think i really started liking Christmas music because of these movies. i know for sure that the first time i heard "O Holy Night" was when i first saw Home Alone. i was very young, but i still remember it giving me goosebumps. Props to the music in Home Alone. It is absolutely spot-on and set the mood for both movies.
2. i used to watch these movies and think some of the obstacles the thieves faced were more painful or dangerous than others. i think i vaguely remember thinking that the whole scene where Kevin is throwing bricks at them from the top of a New York apartment building was pretty boring and not much of a threat. Now, however, i look at that scene and think, Yeah, that would kill Marv. Don't get me wrong... i totally LOVE these movies and appreciate that they are not gory and stuff, but realistic they are not!
3. The one thing i don't really like about these movies is the notion that one good deed cancels out a bad deed. It's not a Biblical principle, and i'm sure Perry Noble could have a whole sermon on it. The pigeon woman has good intentions, but i think she is misinformed. And if you don't believe me, think about that one person who said something that really hurt your feelings. i remember when someone says something negative to me much better than i remember compliments. Maybe that's just me.
5. If i were into this kind of thing, i think the first two Home Alone movies could be fantastic drinking games. Take a shot whenever Kevin screams. Or whenever his mom or Harry or Marv screams. Or whenever anyone screams. i don't know if you realize it, but a lot of screaming goes on in these movies. If i opened a door and suddenly found my head on fire (twice) i'd scream, too.
Well, it's back to work tomorrow. i don't know that i could bear to go back if i didn't know i'd be off again after two days. i like my job, but going back to my regular schedule isn't going to be fun after this blessed break!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Christmas crafts
Ok, so i remember a time when "home-made" meant lame to me. i remember an episode of Friends in which Chandler and Monica are supposed to make each other Valentine's Day gifts and neither of them can come up with anything. And now i look back and go, huh?
Give me some material and i will whip something up. i love to embroider, sew, crochet, and quilt. i like making jewelry. i like to upcycle clothes. i like working in collage.
This year i wanted to do a completely handmade Christmas. i wanted to try out some new jewelry making for my sister, some scarves or little bags, soaps, homemade pretzels and candles and embroidered handkerchiefs... but i didn't really think of the fact that i now live in the South and have hardly noticed Winter coming on. Needless to say, the idea got away from me. Maybe next year?
Give me some material and i will whip something up. i love to embroider, sew, crochet, and quilt. i like making jewelry. i like to upcycle clothes. i like working in collage.
This year i wanted to do a completely handmade Christmas. i wanted to try out some new jewelry making for my sister, some scarves or little bags, soaps, homemade pretzels and candles and embroidered handkerchiefs... but i didn't really think of the fact that i now live in the South and have hardly noticed Winter coming on. Needless to say, the idea got away from me. Maybe next year?
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