Saturday evening I was sitting on the couch, talking to my boyfriend about our schedules, when we’d be able to get together next and generally just talking about how busy we both are. What I said next just came right out of my mouth, and I admittedly didn’t grasp how true and honest it really was, nor have I been able to shake the thought since. I said to him, “My life doesn’t really have space for a boyfriend. I’m a very selfish person, and I’m very used to it.” I then kissed his cheek and told him about how I was looking forward to the challenge of carving out time to spend together during the week and that he’s totally worth it (awww!!).
I haven’t been able to shake this. And about twenty minutes ago, it hit me as to WHY this has resonated with me so strongly…
Are you ready?
Here it is.
Are you sitting down?
I hope so…
It occurred to me that this will likely be what most of my future arguments with this man are going to revolve around: I am a selfish, selfish person. I don’t like doing things for other people and I get annoyed when I have to rearrange my agenda to accommodate the needs of others. I enjoy doing what I want, when I want, without having to “check in” with anyone. I go to bed when I want. I get up when I want. I sleep sideways on my bed if I feel like it. (I really do). My schedule, for the most part, is about me.
I’ve heard John Piper talk about how marriage to an imperfect person is God’s way of showing us how selfish we truly are. It's about holiness. Not happiness... He’s probably right…
But I’m not a wife right now.
I’m a girlfriend.
I’m just looking down the road and seeing how God is going to use marriage (someday) to break, refine and shape me. I’m peeping my eye through a key hole and almost groaning. Not that I think marriage won’t be awesome- there’s TONS of stuff I’m looking forward to (ahem!), but it’s the refining part that makes me groan and just KNOW “I’m gonna be in so much trouble.” That poor man (my future husband) is going to have his hands full.
I know to a lesser degree he’ll use this dating relationship to make me better. I’ll need to learn to be flexible. I’ll be learning healthy boundaries.
Hear me on this- I’m not waiting til I get married to work on my selfishness. This isn’t “his (my future husband's) problem”- God has brought this to my attention because it’s obviously something he’s addressing in my heart NOW. I’m just saying. I know myself. I know I need to be more flexible. I need to hold my time a little less tightly and be more willing to put aside my wants and needs to help my friends, specifically my roommate, with things they need and want.
I want to love more, and I believe that as I seek to serve God, he’ll open my eyes to opportunities to serve and love on those around me.
1 John 4:11-12 "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Happy Tonsil Day! or: Yay!! It's My Life-a-versary!!!
Why today is special...
One year ago today, through my tears, I looked each of my parents in the eye and between spitting out mouthfuls of blood, I told them I loved them very much.
I made them promise they would tell my brother I loved him with my whole heart and that I was very proud of the man he'd become. They agreed, telling me they loved me as I was wheeled off to what we all knew to be a very dangerous emergency surgery.
I remember waking up crying and freezing cold, and actually surprised to be alive. I wanted water, chapstick and I think I sassed the nurse for not letting me get up right away to use the lav.
The road to healing was a long (and very bland) one, full of oatmeal and jello. A year later, eating hot foods is still incredibly painful, but an oddly comforting reminder of the healing that has taken place and has yet to take place in my life. It has also been a very poignant reminder of the many areas of growth I've experienced over the last year, both physical, emotional and spiritual.
I'm in awe of the way the Lord has healed me in His own way. Sometimes when we go through physical and spiritual healing he blesses the scars- they become testimonies of His power and redemption. I'm thankful for my scars. No one can see them, but when I eat things that are hot or spicy, my scars burn (like Harry Potter's scar when he's near Lord Voldemort)- I will never eat a bite of salsa, spicy Indian food or hot sauce again without thanking the Lord for my life and for my amazing family (both biological and spiritual) who loved me through one of the darkest and scariest times in my life.
After 15 months of unexplained sickness leading up to this surgery, I have now been healthy for 1 full year. By the time I had my surgery I had actually forgotten what it was like to be healthy, and let me tell you- it's been absolutely amazing.
***And Kelly, I'm sorry for stealing your thunder last year. The next time I decide to have a non-vital organ removed twice (I do still have an appendix, so the possibility still exists), I'll be sure to just suck it up and wait a day so that the second emergency surgery doesn't land on your birthday. But look at the bright side- I was nice enough to not go and die on your birthday, so what am I saying?? YOU'RE WELCOME!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELLY!
One year ago today, through my tears, I looked each of my parents in the eye and between spitting out mouthfuls of blood, I told them I loved them very much.
I made them promise they would tell my brother I loved him with my whole heart and that I was very proud of the man he'd become. They agreed, telling me they loved me as I was wheeled off to what we all knew to be a very dangerous emergency surgery.
I remember waking up crying and freezing cold, and actually surprised to be alive. I wanted water, chapstick and I think I sassed the nurse for not letting me get up right away to use the lav.
The road to healing was a long (and very bland) one, full of oatmeal and jello. A year later, eating hot foods is still incredibly painful, but an oddly comforting reminder of the healing that has taken place and has yet to take place in my life. It has also been a very poignant reminder of the many areas of growth I've experienced over the last year, both physical, emotional and spiritual.
I'm in awe of the way the Lord has healed me in His own way. Sometimes when we go through physical and spiritual healing he blesses the scars- they become testimonies of His power and redemption. I'm thankful for my scars. No one can see them, but when I eat things that are hot or spicy, my scars burn (like Harry Potter's scar when he's near Lord Voldemort)- I will never eat a bite of salsa, spicy Indian food or hot sauce again without thanking the Lord for my life and for my amazing family (both biological and spiritual) who loved me through one of the darkest and scariest times in my life.
After 15 months of unexplained sickness leading up to this surgery, I have now been healthy for 1 full year. By the time I had my surgery I had actually forgotten what it was like to be healthy, and let me tell you- it's been absolutely amazing.
***And Kelly, I'm sorry for stealing your thunder last year. The next time I decide to have a non-vital organ removed twice (I do still have an appendix, so the possibility still exists), I'll be sure to just suck it up and wait a day so that the second emergency surgery doesn't land on your birthday. But look at the bright side- I was nice enough to not go and die on your birthday, so what am I saying?? YOU'RE WELCOME!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELLY!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Where my heart is...
DESTINY OF HOLINESS
-Oswald Chambers
"Ye shall be holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16 (R.V.)
"Continually restate to yourself what the purpose of your life is. The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. Nowadays we have far too many affinities, we are dissipated with them; right, good, noble affinities which will yet have their fulfillment, but in the meantime God has to atrophy them. The one thing that matters is whether a man will accept the God Who will make him holy. At all costs a man must be rightly related to God.
Do I believe I need to be holy? Do I believe God can come into me and make me holy? If by your preaching you convince me that I am unholy, I resent your preaching. The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense resentment because it must reveal that I am unholy; but it also awakens an intense craving. God has one destined end for mankind, viz., holiness. His one aim is the production of saints. God is not an eternal blessing-machine for men; He did not come to save men out of pity: He came to save men because He had created them to be holy. The Atonement means that God can put me back into perfect union with Himself, without a shadow between, through the Death of Jesus Christ.
Never tolerate through sympathy with yourself or with others any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means unsullied walking with the feet, unsullied talking with the tongue, unsullied thinking with the mind - every detail of the life under the scrutiny of God. Holiness is not only what God gives me, but what I manifest that God has given me..."
**This excerpt is printed out in *teeny tiny* font and taped into the front of my pocket Bible. I read it often and have on more than one occasion been tempted to get "unsullied talking with the tongue" tattooed on my wrist (but I usually have "beloved" or "poiðhma" written there, so for the time being, I'll stick with the "dry erase tattoo" system that I've already got going on).
-Oswald Chambers
"Ye shall be holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16 (R.V.)
"Continually restate to yourself what the purpose of your life is. The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. Nowadays we have far too many affinities, we are dissipated with them; right, good, noble affinities which will yet have their fulfillment, but in the meantime God has to atrophy them. The one thing that matters is whether a man will accept the God Who will make him holy. At all costs a man must be rightly related to God.
Do I believe I need to be holy? Do I believe God can come into me and make me holy? If by your preaching you convince me that I am unholy, I resent your preaching. The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense resentment because it must reveal that I am unholy; but it also awakens an intense craving. God has one destined end for mankind, viz., holiness. His one aim is the production of saints. God is not an eternal blessing-machine for men; He did not come to save men out of pity: He came to save men because He had created them to be holy. The Atonement means that God can put me back into perfect union with Himself, without a shadow between, through the Death of Jesus Christ.
Never tolerate through sympathy with yourself or with others any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means unsullied walking with the feet, unsullied talking with the tongue, unsullied thinking with the mind - every detail of the life under the scrutiny of God. Holiness is not only what God gives me, but what I manifest that God has given me..."
**This excerpt is printed out in *teeny tiny* font and taped into the front of my pocket Bible. I read it often and have on more than one occasion been tempted to get "unsullied talking with the tongue" tattooed on my wrist (but I usually have "beloved" or "poiðhma" written there, so for the time being, I'll stick with the "dry erase tattoo" system that I've already got going on).
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Lazy Sunday
This morning I spent a few hours in the living room with my laptop returning emails, taking the "Are You On A Boat?" quiz on Facebook (I am, by the way), and watching the Food Network while I folded several loads of laundry. I also got some work done, so all in all, it was a very productive morning.
I'm totally mystified by the Food Network. Even though I rarely cook, I still love it.
After about 40 minutes, I came to the following conclusions:
-Paula Dean can never have enough butter. I'm okay with that.
I also wish I had a southern accent so it would sound as cute as Paula when I called people "sugga"
-Sandra Lee kind of scares me. She makes it seem very glamorous to be a "lady of leisure" and I'm a tiny bit concerned about her drinking habits. (Don't get me wrong. I really like her program and don't have anything against her. She just seems to not have gotten the memo that it's 2009 and not 1949. If I was a feminist, I'd probably really dislike her. But I'm not. So I don't.)
-I want a marriage as affectionate as the Neelys. I love that when they ask each other for kisses they say "gimme some of that brown sugar!"
I'm totally mystified by the Food Network. Even though I rarely cook, I still love it.
After about 40 minutes, I came to the following conclusions:
-Paula Dean can never have enough butter. I'm okay with that.
I also wish I had a southern accent so it would sound as cute as Paula when I called people "sugga"
-Sandra Lee kind of scares me. She makes it seem very glamorous to be a "lady of leisure" and I'm a tiny bit concerned about her drinking habits. (Don't get me wrong. I really like her program and don't have anything against her. She just seems to not have gotten the memo that it's 2009 and not 1949. If I was a feminist, I'd probably really dislike her. But I'm not. So I don't.)
-I want a marriage as affectionate as the Neelys. I love that when they ask each other for kisses they say "gimme some of that brown sugar!"
Friday, March 27, 2009
Owning it
A few months ago I got busted by a traffic camera for running a red light (in my defense, I didn’t think it was red at the time- I don’t habitually run red lights… I know it’s the most dangerous driving mistake you can make, and I really don’t have a death wish). I felt guilty for MONTHS for making such a stupid mistake (even though it wasn’t intentional, I still carried the burden until I completed traffic school).
I always dread having to use that intersection because I’m always reminded of the horrible feeling of putting other people’s lives in danger and being a bad citizen.
Well, today I had to use that intersection again, and there’s TONS of construction in that area right now, and I totally misjudged the timing of the light… I followed a truck in to the intersection and wasn’t able to get out in time. I slammed my fist on my steering wheel, frustrated with myself for making such a DUMB mistake. I did notice that I didn’t get “flashed” by the traffic camera that caught me last December… I figured I just missed it and would get a ticket in the mail in about a week. I changed lanes to get out of the intersection and as I pulled around the big truck I saw them. Two motorcycle police officers.
I smiled and waved (I really did) turned on my right blinker and pulled over immediately.
I knew I’d done wrong. I absolutely deserved a ticket.
(As a side note, I suffer from severe “Black and White Fever”- I’ve been known to make wrong turns simply because I saw a police car. You’d think I was a fugitive or a drug lord or something… I have no idea why this is- I was raised to believe that “Policemen are our friends”… I have a cousin who’s a police officer, and I’ve never done anything illegal in my life (okay, that’s a lie), but still… I have NO REASON to be afraid of being pulled over.)
I had my iPod touch on playing music and I’d just picked up lunch and was headed back to work when “the incident” took place. When I pulled over I got really shakey and nervous (see note above). I couldn’t turn off the music on my iPod to save my life and I certainly didn’t have the wherewithal to just TURN THE VOLUME DOWN so I proceeded to sit on my iPod to muffle the sound. I rolled down my drivers side window expecting him to walk up to my door and almost jumped out of my chair when he scared me by knocking on my passenger side window. (btw, I also scare easily.) He laughed at me. I knew he was coming, and he still scared the crap out of me.
So I roll down the window and this is the conversation that followed:
Police Officer: Do you know why I pulled you over?
Me (excited, scared, and trying really hard to not use my little girl voice): Yes, sir, I do… And I’m REALLY sorry!!
P.O.: I know with all this construction everything around here is really crazy but what you did was really dangerous.
(by this time I’ve got giant tears in my eyes, but I’m holding them back. I will not cry…)
Me: Yes, I understand that. I shouldn’t have entered the intersection without knowing I could get out of it. I’m really sorry... I MADE A BAD CHOICE!.
P.O. Do you have your driver’s license? (I hand it to him) Do you still live in Mission Viejo?
Me: Yes
P.O. What brings you to Huntington Beach?
Me: I work at Vanguard University (which, by the way, ladies and gentlemen is next door to the Police Station- we share a parking lot)
P.O.: Oh really? What do you do there?
Me: I do helpdesk
(he looks at me and I know he wants to think I’m lying but he knows I’m telling the truth because really, why would you lie about that?)
P.O. Do you have your Registration and proof of Insurance?
(I’m thinking- here it comes… I'll hand him my paperwork, he'll say “Okay I’ll be right back” and he'll gonna go back there and write me up a big fat ticket. One that I totally deserve. 100%)
I reach for my glove compartment and I can’t open it! I yank it and the handle/lock breaks off in my hand and the glove compartment falls open. I look at him, wide eyed with the handle in my hand. He smirks and asks “Is your car gonna make it?”
I let out a little giggle and say “Yea… I think so”
I give him my registration and proof of insurance and he looks at them both (they’re both current, btw) takes a deep breath and says “I’m gonna let you go. Please. Please. Drive safely.”
Me, yelling to him like an idiot as he walks back to his motorcycle: "Oh, I WILL! I promise!! Thank you! and I REALLY AM SORRY!!"
Stop talking Amber.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
focus is key...
I was having trouble coming up with a new topic to blog about, so my dear friend Shanda suggested that I blog about fireplaces.
Uh... no thanks.
Today I was reminded of a GREAT topic, one that I know a LOT about- locking your keys in your car.
This is something I used to do often. In fact, I did it so often that AAA told me that if I called them again that year, they would charge me $50 to come break into my car for me (that was in March). I wisely decided to have a few spares made for just such an occasion and handed them out to the people closest/nearest to me. One went to my roommate, one to a close friend and one to my parents.
This was probably the smartest thing I ever did.
I've locked my keys in my car at least 20 times. At least. I remember once sitting outside of Alberto's in Riverside (the clean one) for three hours waiting for my friend to get off work...
That was four years ago. It's been over a year since I've locked my in my car... until today. Today was a crazy day at work and I was really looking forward to going home and enjoying a nice relaxing evening. I was going to watch Waiting for Guffman (it came in the mail yesterday!!! I found it online for A PENNY!) while I did some laundry and cleaned up a little bit while I waited to watch Lost.
Key words: going to.
On my way home I thought to myself, "Maybe I'll grab a kids bowl at Wahoo's for dinner" and as I was sitting in the parking lot listening to Coldplay's "Yellow" for the third time on my way home, my mind totally wandered.
When the song was over I grabbed my cell, my wallet and was fiddling with my hands free device as I got out of the car. It was then that I changed my mind- I really wasn't all that hungry so opted for an iced coffee from the Starbucks that was in the same shopping center. A little boy chatted with me while I was in line- there was a dog in the car outside and he wanted to know if it was mine. He wanted to pet it.
I didn't have the heart to tell him that I'm afraid of most dogs (I am) so I just told him no, it wasn't mine and he then showed me how he could hop in a circle backwards without falling down.
He fell down.
It wasn't until after my drink was up and I was headed for the door that I realized that I didn't have my car keys.
The girl at the counter SWORE she saw them in my hands and accused me of flushing them down the toilet I didn't use.
Whatever lady. I think I'd REMEMBER using your nasty bathroom...
I went out to my car and sure enough- there they were. My keys.
Car key in the ignition, hanging on my super cool key chain (ask me to show you sometime- it really is pretty nifty) with my house key, key to my parent's house, key to my Aunt's house, work key, heart thingy my cousin gave me with my name on it from when I was in her wedding, fob to get into the church office, LA Fitness barcode, church barcode, cool little keychain thing that has my brother's airforce photo on it, and a skeleton key from the house I grew up in...
Yup. There they were, just "hanging out" if you will... taunting me from inside my vehicle.
So I hung out at Starbucks until my mom brought me my spare.
I kind of felt like I was in highschool, waiting to be picked up.
While I was waiting for her to meet me, I thought about how lucky I am that I've never given my key to someone who's big on practical jokes....
Uh... no thanks.
Today I was reminded of a GREAT topic, one that I know a LOT about- locking your keys in your car.
This is something I used to do often. In fact, I did it so often that AAA told me that if I called them again that year, they would charge me $50 to come break into my car for me (that was in March). I wisely decided to have a few spares made for just such an occasion and handed them out to the people closest/nearest to me. One went to my roommate, one to a close friend and one to my parents.
This was probably the smartest thing I ever did.
I've locked my keys in my car at least 20 times. At least. I remember once sitting outside of Alberto's in Riverside (the clean one) for three hours waiting for my friend to get off work...
That was four years ago. It's been over a year since I've locked my in my car... until today. Today was a crazy day at work and I was really looking forward to going home and enjoying a nice relaxing evening. I was going to watch Waiting for Guffman (it came in the mail yesterday!!! I found it online for A PENNY!) while I did some laundry and cleaned up a little bit while I waited to watch Lost.
Key words: going to.
On my way home I thought to myself, "Maybe I'll grab a kids bowl at Wahoo's for dinner" and as I was sitting in the parking lot listening to Coldplay's "Yellow" for the third time on my way home, my mind totally wandered.
When the song was over I grabbed my cell, my wallet and was fiddling with my hands free device as I got out of the car. It was then that I changed my mind- I really wasn't all that hungry so opted for an iced coffee from the Starbucks that was in the same shopping center. A little boy chatted with me while I was in line- there was a dog in the car outside and he wanted to know if it was mine. He wanted to pet it.
I didn't have the heart to tell him that I'm afraid of most dogs (I am) so I just told him no, it wasn't mine and he then showed me how he could hop in a circle backwards without falling down.
He fell down.
It wasn't until after my drink was up and I was headed for the door that I realized that I didn't have my car keys.
The girl at the counter SWORE she saw them in my hands and accused me of flushing them down the toilet I didn't use.
Whatever lady. I think I'd REMEMBER using your nasty bathroom...
I went out to my car and sure enough- there they were. My keys.
Car key in the ignition, hanging on my super cool key chain (ask me to show you sometime- it really is pretty nifty) with my house key, key to my parent's house, key to my Aunt's house, work key, heart thingy my cousin gave me with my name on it from when I was in her wedding, fob to get into the church office, LA Fitness barcode, church barcode, cool little keychain thing that has my brother's airforce photo on it, and a skeleton key from the house I grew up in...
Yup. There they were, just "hanging out" if you will... taunting me from inside my vehicle.
So I hung out at Starbucks until my mom brought me my spare.
I kind of felt like I was in highschool, waiting to be picked up.
While I was waiting for her to meet me, I thought about how lucky I am that I've never given my key to someone who's big on practical jokes....
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Man-tastic man magnet...
A friend of mine has the CUTEST little brother who loves to give high fives and gives you the most gigantic RUNNING HUGS and has the sweetest most infectious smile... yup. That kid is his CHICK. MAGNET. (Hi Jon)
Well, I've discovered the female equivalent of a guy having an adorable younger sibling/small puppy/tray of delicious cupcakes... and I found it at Costco.
Someone wonderful (my grandma) gave me a Costco gift card a few months ago, and I've been saving it for something "really good." After much thought and consideration, I decided this last weekend what to use it for.
Yesterday I decided to go to Costco for lunch. After grabbing lunch for less than $3 (heck YES!) I headed inside and made a bee-line for the DVD table. After grabbing the boxed sets of Star Wars Episodes I, II, III and IV, V, VI, I headed to the check-out line.
Let me just say that 3 separate men stopped me on my way out of Costco.
First, the "boxer" (Costco equivalent of a supermarket "bagger") who, since I was only purchasing two items, had nothing to do but stand there and chatter on about how excited he was for me to be "finally" buying these- he wasn't sure how I lived until now. (I honestly don't know how I've made it this long without owning these incredible films... Especially 4,5,6)
We chit-chatted about nerd stuff- about The Hobbit that's expected to be released sometime in 2012 and how (at this point his eyes got as big as saucers, as if to say "you're in luck. there's a cure for you") Clone Wars was already out on DVD "You really need to pick that up, too."
I promised him it was on my "list" and we parted ways.
I had my handbag on my arm and was holding my drink and in my other arm I was holding the movies and as I walked out the door, a man standing in line to return something got VERY excited for me. He pumped his fist in the air and exictedly said "Oh, wow! Today's a big day for you!" I told him it was and that I was looking forward to enjoying my new purchases.
I went back to the food court to grab a napkin for my drippy drink and a man grabbing a straw saw the movies in my hand and said (in the least creepy way possible- he actually looked surprised and proud of himself at the same time) "Are you going home to watch those? Do you want some company?" I smiled and said "No, I'm going back to work now, but thanks for offering to protect me from Darth Vader!"
Yup. This is MUCH more effective than smelling like bacon all day...
Well, I've discovered the female equivalent of a guy having an adorable younger sibling/small puppy/tray of delicious cupcakes... and I found it at Costco.
Someone wonderful (my grandma) gave me a Costco gift card a few months ago, and I've been saving it for something "really good." After much thought and consideration, I decided this last weekend what to use it for.
Yesterday I decided to go to Costco for lunch. After grabbing lunch for less than $3 (heck YES!) I headed inside and made a bee-line for the DVD table. After grabbing the boxed sets of Star Wars Episodes I, II, III and IV, V, VI, I headed to the check-out line.
Let me just say that 3 separate men stopped me on my way out of Costco.
First, the "boxer" (Costco equivalent of a supermarket "bagger") who, since I was only purchasing two items, had nothing to do but stand there and chatter on about how excited he was for me to be "finally" buying these- he wasn't sure how I lived until now. (I honestly don't know how I've made it this long without owning these incredible films... Especially 4,5,6)
We chit-chatted about nerd stuff- about The Hobbit that's expected to be released sometime in 2012 and how (at this point his eyes got as big as saucers, as if to say "you're in luck. there's a cure for you") Clone Wars was already out on DVD "You really need to pick that up, too."
I promised him it was on my "list" and we parted ways.
I had my handbag on my arm and was holding my drink and in my other arm I was holding the movies and as I walked out the door, a man standing in line to return something got VERY excited for me. He pumped his fist in the air and exictedly said "Oh, wow! Today's a big day for you!" I told him it was and that I was looking forward to enjoying my new purchases.
I went back to the food court to grab a napkin for my drippy drink and a man grabbing a straw saw the movies in my hand and said (in the least creepy way possible- he actually looked surprised and proud of himself at the same time) "Are you going home to watch those? Do you want some company?" I smiled and said "No, I'm going back to work now, but thanks for offering to protect me from Darth Vader!"
Yup. This is MUCH more effective than smelling like bacon all day...
Do you smell... bacon?
At work, my department (IT) is "buddies" with the Business Services Department. We're like the black sheep of Vanguard- no one really cares when things go well, but if stuff goes wrong, it's always our fault. One of the girls in the BSO, Miss Kristi, is expecting a baby and we bet if she was having a boy or a girl. I honestly thought she was having a boy. I still believe she's having a boy. Sonograms lie all the time. But that doesn't matter.
Four other guys (and two girl student workers) and I signed up that she was having a boy and EVERYONE else (all 20 of them) thought she'd be having a girl. Well, the doctor says it's going to be a girl, so the six of us got to make breakfast on Monday for everyone.
When I say "breakfast" I mean bacon, eggs, saussage, pancakes, waffles and mini-muffins (okay, those were store-bought). So guess who got to make saussage and bacon on a hot plate in the other office? ME!!
I had a TON of fun cooking with the boys (even if one of them did whine like a little girl the whole time... I told him to knock it off and threatened to cut him with my serrated spatula) and the girls were all so gracious- it was a really great morning!
When I got back to my desk, one of my IT co-workers walked by my desk and stopped, turned around, walked back to my desk, inhaled deeply and said "I smell bacon..." and floated off to his desk.This happened several times in a five minute period...
I then smelled my clothes. Bacon.
I smelled my arm. Bacon.
I smelled my hair. Bacon.
Bacon. Bacon. Bacon.
A friend of mine stopped by my desk that afternoon. He smiled and said "You smell amazing."
... to which I replied, "Get away from me."
I posted as my status on monday that I smelled like bacon- Lisa insisted that every man reading my facebook status that day would want to make-out with me.
My friend Rick posted this awesome link to a Taco Bell commercial that perfectly depicts the reaction I got from the guys in my office on Monday.
Four other guys (and two girl student workers) and I signed up that she was having a boy and EVERYONE else (all 20 of them) thought she'd be having a girl. Well, the doctor says it's going to be a girl, so the six of us got to make breakfast on Monday for everyone.
When I say "breakfast" I mean bacon, eggs, saussage, pancakes, waffles and mini-muffins (okay, those were store-bought). So guess who got to make saussage and bacon on a hot plate in the other office? ME!!
I had a TON of fun cooking with the boys (even if one of them did whine like a little girl the whole time... I told him to knock it off and threatened to cut him with my serrated spatula) and the girls were all so gracious- it was a really great morning!
When I got back to my desk, one of my IT co-workers walked by my desk and stopped, turned around, walked back to my desk, inhaled deeply and said "I smell bacon..." and floated off to his desk.This happened several times in a five minute period...
I then smelled my clothes. Bacon.
I smelled my arm. Bacon.
I smelled my hair. Bacon.
Bacon. Bacon. Bacon.
A friend of mine stopped by my desk that afternoon. He smiled and said "You smell amazing."
... to which I replied, "Get away from me."
I posted as my status on monday that I smelled like bacon- Lisa insisted that every man reading my facebook status that day would want to make-out with me.
My friend Rick posted this awesome link to a Taco Bell commercial that perfectly depicts the reaction I got from the guys in my office on Monday.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
tweet! tweet!
About two years ago, a guy I "kind of knew" (we'll get to that part later) told me about this company called Despair, Inc. They make demotivational tee shirts, posters and other funny products. They always joke that if you have bad service, they don't want to hear it. They actually call their customer service department "disservice" and they have three really great Twitters that I follow- they make fun of stupid customers and tease each other about whatever they feel like and they're super sarcastic... My kind of company. Anyways. You can build your own calendar on their website out of their extensive line of Demotivators. What's a Demotivator? Here's two of my favorites. If you still don't get it, then stop reading this immediately.
You can see them all here.
You can see them all here.This was the second year in a row that I've made a demotivational calendar for my Dad as a Christmas gift, and this year I decided to make one for my Mom and brother as well (one stop shopping, what can I say?). I wanted to make one for myself as well, (I'd had one for 2008) but at the time I didn't want to spend the money.
So today as I was laying in bed staring at the picture I chose for December 2008 trying to find the motivation (ha) to get out of bed, I decided: Today's the day.
So I made my calendar and I was SO excited about it. I even got free shipping!
When you purchase something from Despair, Inc. they ask you if you want to join their Wailing List (which I already receive- I also subscribe to their Twitter) and they also ask how you heard about their company.
Whenever I've ordered from them in the past, I've left that field blank. But not today. Today, I told the truth.
Q: How did you hear about Despair?
A: A stupid guy I went out on two dates with. Telling me about Despair was the only half way interesting thing he ever said.
(True story. I went out with this poor guy twice about two years ago and they were two of the most painfully awkward dates in the history of dating. It was so bad, I can't even remember the guy's name because I blocked it from my memory. Seriously. If you think you have me beat, we should talk.)
So back to me.
About an hour after I placed my order, I logged into my twitter and squealed with excitement.
They twittered my response!!
See that?? @disservice said my response was AWESOME (emphasis NOT mine!)
This is a two-fold accomplishment because a) I didn't get made fun of and b) I made them laugh enough for them to Twitter it!!
BOOYA!!
Monday, January 12, 2009
No, thank YOU
Okay.
Here's the thing.
There's something that irks me like no other. I really can't figure out why it bothers me so much, except for the fact that it happens a lot and every single time I think to myself "Why is this a big deal??"
It just is.
I email a LOT at my job. People email me requests, I make tasks for them and then I send them work order numbers or tell them what they need to do to fix the problem themselves, etc. I do Helpdesk. It's what I do. I email a lot. So what.
So what?
So what is the fact that 9 out of 10 times, people respond with one of two phrases "Thank you" or "Thanks."
Now, this might not seem like a big deal, except for the fact that I send out close to 200 emails a day. A DAY! (You do the math, I don't feel like it.)
"Thanks."
Really? You sent a whole email just for that? That's all I get? I got excited when I saw that I had an email from you (okay, that's usually not true) and I opened it and all I get is "Thanks"?? Not even a "Wow, thanks so much, I really appreciate that/you etc." I mean, come on. That took ten extra seconds and it's so much more genuine than "thanks."
Oh, and don't even get me started on "thank you" text messages.
The other day I got a text from someone and all it said was "tks" (and I'm not even gonna START with text messages that just say "okay" or worse "k")
UGH!!
It's not that I don't like to be thanked. I do. It's nice to know I'm appreciated and that other people are grateful for something I said, did, gave, information I sent, etc.
But please. Do me a favor...
Don't waste the cyber space.
Here's the thing.
There's something that irks me like no other. I really can't figure out why it bothers me so much, except for the fact that it happens a lot and every single time I think to myself "Why is this a big deal??"
It just is.
I email a LOT at my job. People email me requests, I make tasks for them and then I send them work order numbers or tell them what they need to do to fix the problem themselves, etc. I do Helpdesk. It's what I do. I email a lot. So what.
So what?
So what is the fact that 9 out of 10 times, people respond with one of two phrases "Thank you" or "Thanks."
Now, this might not seem like a big deal, except for the fact that I send out close to 200 emails a day. A DAY! (You do the math, I don't feel like it.)
"Thanks."
Really? You sent a whole email just for that? That's all I get? I got excited when I saw that I had an email from you (okay, that's usually not true) and I opened it and all I get is "Thanks"?? Not even a "Wow, thanks so much, I really appreciate that/you etc." I mean, come on. That took ten extra seconds and it's so much more genuine than "thanks."
Oh, and don't even get me started on "thank you" text messages.
The other day I got a text from someone and all it said was "tks" (and I'm not even gonna START with text messages that just say "okay" or worse "k")
UGH!!
It's not that I don't like to be thanked. I do. It's nice to know I'm appreciated and that other people are grateful for something I said, did, gave, information I sent, etc.
But please. Do me a favor...
Don't waste the cyber space.
Friday, January 9, 2009
prayer... and why we're not as important as we think we are
"Prayer is request. The essence of request, as distinct from compulsion is that it may or may not be granted. And if an infinitely wise Being listens to the requests of finite and foolish creatures, of course He will sometimes grant and sometimes refuse them."
-C.S. Lewis "The Screwtape Letters"
"The infinite value of each human soul is not a christian doctrine. God did not die for man because of some value He perceived in him. The value of each human sould considered simply in itself out of relation to God is zero. As St Paul writes, to have died for valuable men would have been not divine but merely heroic; but God died for sinners. He loved us not because we were lovable, but because He is Love."
-C.S. Lewis
-C.S. Lewis "The Screwtape Letters"
"The infinite value of each human soul is not a christian doctrine. God did not die for man because of some value He perceived in him. The value of each human sould considered simply in itself out of relation to God is zero. As St Paul writes, to have died for valuable men would have been not divine but merely heroic; but God died for sinners. He loved us not because we were lovable, but because He is Love."
-C.S. Lewis
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