House-sitting is wonderful. It's so quiet here - so removed from things I know and am used to. I hadn't realized how restorative absolute quiet can be. Only the dogs' snoring beside me infringes, and that, even, is more organic than 12-year-olds screaming or rock music blaring from bad speakers or muted Arabic accents through the walls, and therefore more palatable.
After putting 300 miles on my car yesterday (for very good reasons, I might add), I was relaxing in front of a movie when Maddie called. Because her parents were leaving for a Halloween costume party, she told me she was calling to find "some entertainment on the phone." We talked about pre-school and the Halloween party they are throwing on Monday - complete with live ponies for riding and candy give-aways and costumes.
As clothes are her current life's passion, she began describing in extreme detail the ensembles of her "Around-the-World" doll collection. But by the time she got to Doll #5, she wondered aloud if I wouldn't be more interested in talking about something else. "There are so many dolls left," she said. Her second passion is reading and storytelling, of course, and I was grateful that Kelly had some kids' books behind the couch that I could read to Maddie over the phone. Kinda lame, but when a 4-year-old asks for stories over and over, rehashing the childhood memories you've told her a million times is boring. And on-the-spot creativity has never been my forte.
But tonight I'm distraught. The mother of one of Maddie's friends died today. She had a premie about a month ago--the baby is at home; stable, but watched closely--and they thought everything was fine. She was home with the kids when she had a heart attack, somehow related to her pregnancy. And she's gone. 3 kids. One barely even alive itself.
I met her in August at our princess tea party. Lovely woman. So sweet, so kind.
It's incomprehensible. And there's nothing I can do.
29 October 2006
26 October 2006
Did you know?
that according to the Oxford English Dictionary spaghetti is the plural form of spaghetto.
That means, when I was a kid and my mom would hand me a single strand of raw pasta to eat while she was cooking, I was munching on a spaghett-O.
In other news, I got a nifty button-up sweater at Goody's yesterday for $14.31. It was 40% off along with an additional 20% or so for shopping on that particular day. What a nice surprise. And I was warm, today, because of it.
That means, when I was a kid and my mom would hand me a single strand of raw pasta to eat while she was cooking, I was munching on a spaghett-O.
In other news, I got a nifty button-up sweater at Goody's yesterday for $14.31. It was 40% off along with an additional 20% or so for shopping on that particular day. What a nice surprise. And I was warm, today, because of it.
21 October 2006
It's true that my work schedule isn't ideal. I work on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Which means I have few opportunities to leave town.
However, I have so many "fun" things going on this semester, that I have been able to finagle other into switching shifts with me several times so I can have a weekend away.
When I do that, sometimes it comes back to bite me. For instance, I just looked at my schedule and realized that I will have worked Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday beginning this past Thursday. That's five days in a row with a one day break before working three days in a row.
Who am I to complain? Real people with Real jobs have to work 6-7 days a week.
True.
But I'm not a real person with a real job just yet. I'm a disgruntled student.
However, I have so many "fun" things going on this semester, that I have been able to finagle other into switching shifts with me several times so I can have a weekend away.
When I do that, sometimes it comes back to bite me. For instance, I just looked at my schedule and realized that I will have worked Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday beginning this past Thursday. That's five days in a row with a one day break before working three days in a row.
Who am I to complain? Real people with Real jobs have to work 6-7 days a week.
True.
But I'm not a real person with a real job just yet. I'm a disgruntled student.
20 October 2006
p.s.
I feel happy.
No, it's not just a feeling.
I am at peace. For the first time maybe ever. Despite my surroundings, my circumstances, I am content.
God is so good.
No, it's not just a feeling.
I am at peace. For the first time maybe ever. Despite my surroundings, my circumstances, I am content.
God is so good.
Apology
I apologize to my readers, and to You, dear Internet, for being so lackidaisical in my blogging.
One would think that I interact with so many people every day that I surely must have things to share. And I do. But by the time I sit through 3 hours of class, take the bus, drive home from the busstop and sit down in front of my computer, I can't remember a single thing, except the work which is always hanging over my head.
I've been motivating myself with the thought of no homework and free weekends in the near future. And so, I dive in with the intention of completing all of my work as quickly as possible. Of course, nothing is that simple.
My sheets need washing, as does the quilt covering my bed, since the cats have decided to make it their new bathing blanket - eww. I always need to go to the grocery as I'm always lacking food because I'm always hungry. I can't figure out why or how I'm hungry 24-7. But it's a fact, people. Just call me Hungry-Hungry Hippo.
Has everyone heard of this amazing thing called Pandora: the Music Genome Project? If you haven't, please check it out. It is a sort of online radio - but you can make an account and specify which artists and types of music you want, and if they send something your way that you don't like, you can tell them. And they'll never play it again on your station. Oh, you can create multiple stations - in case you like country and 80's ballads and alternative music. That way, you don't have to mush them all together. Pick a station for your particular mood. These people are brilliant!
In another vein, I love this time of year - when you can be cold and warmed by the sun at the same time - when the copses of trees change to brilliant gold overnight - when walking briskly is most enjoyable - when tea, hot cider, or coffee is always the perfect treat, at any moment.
However, I also made note that yesterday, October 19th, 2006, was the first day that my fingers turned that deathly white color from lack of blood flow and frigidness. In October?! That's a record.
I think I'm going to freeze at Liz's wedding.
One would think that I interact with so many people every day that I surely must have things to share. And I do. But by the time I sit through 3 hours of class, take the bus, drive home from the busstop and sit down in front of my computer, I can't remember a single thing, except the work which is always hanging over my head.
I've been motivating myself with the thought of no homework and free weekends in the near future. And so, I dive in with the intention of completing all of my work as quickly as possible. Of course, nothing is that simple.
My sheets need washing, as does the quilt covering my bed, since the cats have decided to make it their new bathing blanket - eww. I always need to go to the grocery as I'm always lacking food because I'm always hungry. I can't figure out why or how I'm hungry 24-7. But it's a fact, people. Just call me Hungry-Hungry Hippo.
Has everyone heard of this amazing thing called Pandora: the Music Genome Project? If you haven't, please check it out. It is a sort of online radio - but you can make an account and specify which artists and types of music you want, and if they send something your way that you don't like, you can tell them. And they'll never play it again on your station. Oh, you can create multiple stations - in case you like country and 80's ballads and alternative music. That way, you don't have to mush them all together. Pick a station for your particular mood. These people are brilliant!
In another vein, I love this time of year - when you can be cold and warmed by the sun at the same time - when the copses of trees change to brilliant gold overnight - when walking briskly is most enjoyable - when tea, hot cider, or coffee is always the perfect treat, at any moment.
However, I also made note that yesterday, October 19th, 2006, was the first day that my fingers turned that deathly white color from lack of blood flow and frigidness. In October?! That's a record.
I think I'm going to freeze at Liz's wedding.
14 October 2006
The circus in which I live
I found out from a voice mail message that "we" were dog-sitting for a giant German shepard named Boston this weekend.
Lucky for me, I was at an amazing concert last night and then stayed at Liz's to escape the madness (and because it's fun to have sleepovers at age 24).
When I arrived back in B-town after sharing a Mexican lunch and margaritas with my most beloved opera singer (Cat) and lounging at Liz's for the rest of the afternoon, I found Boston - a 3-year-old sweetheart - waiting inside the front door. His eyes show him to be nervous about his dog-sitting experience, despite the fact that he outweighs all of the other animals in this small mad-house.
In all honesty, Boston doesn't fit here. He's too big to turn around in most spaces here without knocking something valuable off of a table or chair or slamming himself into a hard surface. All he wants is to be petted - but I'm not fond of petting dogs, as they smell like, well, Dog.
Wial - the Saudi Arabian 18-year-old who I share the basement with - said to me, "That is BIG dog." Then he paused before going on, "No, that a tiger, not a dog."
I guess they don't have pets in Saudi Arabia, especially not big dogs in small houses. Poor Boston. Poor Wial.
*sigh
Did I mention that I have only 8 weeks from today before I can graduate and move on?
Lucky for me, I was at an amazing concert last night and then stayed at Liz's to escape the madness (and because it's fun to have sleepovers at age 24).
When I arrived back in B-town after sharing a Mexican lunch and margaritas with my most beloved opera singer (Cat) and lounging at Liz's for the rest of the afternoon, I found Boston - a 3-year-old sweetheart - waiting inside the front door. His eyes show him to be nervous about his dog-sitting experience, despite the fact that he outweighs all of the other animals in this small mad-house.
In all honesty, Boston doesn't fit here. He's too big to turn around in most spaces here without knocking something valuable off of a table or chair or slamming himself into a hard surface. All he wants is to be petted - but I'm not fond of petting dogs, as they smell like, well, Dog.
Wial - the Saudi Arabian 18-year-old who I share the basement with - said to me, "That is BIG dog." Then he paused before going on, "No, that a tiger, not a dog."
I guess they don't have pets in Saudi Arabia, especially not big dogs in small houses. Poor Boston. Poor Wial.
*sigh
Did I mention that I have only 8 weeks from today before I can graduate and move on?
12 October 2006
This is why
...today royally sucked, including, but not limited to the following situations: a forced, long-awaited meeting with a jerk who brought a lawyer and subsequently threatened me and two of my favorite people with a lawsuit. I then had to shake hands (twice!) with Creepy McCreeperson, himself, after listening to his drivel for a good hour and 15 minutes. Directly thereafter, I sat through class, which could not have been more boring or a bigger waste of 3 hours of my life. The icing on the cake was that I missed the last 5 minutes of Grey's Anatomy.
Yet despite all of that, I'm oddly content.
It may have to do with the fact that I've finally realized I only have 2 more months of school, of living in this dump, of sharing a rank bathroom, of carrying my food from one floor to the other to prepare and eat it...2 months before I begin life anew - as a professional, an educated working woman.
For those realizations, I'm grateful.
Yet despite all of that, I'm oddly content.
It may have to do with the fact that I've finally realized I only have 2 more months of school, of living in this dump, of sharing a rank bathroom, of carrying my food from one floor to the other to prepare and eat it...2 months before I begin life anew - as a professional, an educated working woman.
For those realizations, I'm grateful.
08 October 2006
If you want to know what I've been up to lately...
...I can tell you.
Since Wednesday I have:
~ watched the season premier of Lost with good friends
~ learned how to iron a dress shirt, something I rarely wear
~ interviewed for my first real job
~ polished off a bottle of my favorite wine with one of my favorite people
~ watched the most amazing Harvest Moon rise 3 evenings in a row, and witnessed it's magnificent brilliance in the early morning darkness as I drove to breakfast at IHOP
~ landed my first real job
~ shared pizza and a movie with my cousin Stephanie, truly my second self
~ driven over 300 miles
~ played games, roasted marshmallows, and grilled burgers with my parents, brother and sister-in-law, and my sister, Leslie, who has spent the past 6 months hiking the Appalachian Trail
What I have not done:
~ worked at a Reference desk
~ slept well
~ gone to class
~ missed being at school or in my teeny dorm-like room (or sharing the pee-smelling bathroom)
Since Wednesday I have:
~ watched the season premier of Lost with good friends
~ learned how to iron a dress shirt, something I rarely wear
~ interviewed for my first real job
~ polished off a bottle of my favorite wine with one of my favorite people
~ watched the most amazing Harvest Moon rise 3 evenings in a row, and witnessed it's magnificent brilliance in the early morning darkness as I drove to breakfast at IHOP
~ landed my first real job
~ shared pizza and a movie with my cousin Stephanie, truly my second self
~ driven over 300 miles
~ played games, roasted marshmallows, and grilled burgers with my parents, brother and sister-in-law, and my sister, Leslie, who has spent the past 6 months hiking the Appalachian Trail
What I have not done:
~ worked at a Reference desk
~ slept well
~ gone to class
~ missed being at school or in my teeny dorm-like room (or sharing the pee-smelling bathroom)
A young boy was overheard in church making the statement that
"Jesus is King of the chickens."
"Be serious," says his Sunday school teacher.
"I am."
"Be serious," says his Sunday school teacher.
"I am."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)