Wednesday, December 30, 2009

working my way to 100


I have recently noticed that I am nearing my 100th post. In honor of the 100, I'm going to be doing a series of posts about other milestones in my life (just so you know, milestone has quite a broad definition in my book:). I will be counting down (or is it up?) to number one-double-oh.

But first, let me share a little about my wonderful Christmas.

I was supposed to leave after a half day of work on Thursday and make the 5 hour trek up to my parent's house. Unfortunately it didn't look like the weather was going to cooperate. Unprecedented amounts of snow were predicted and I was feeling bummed about possibly getting stuck in my apartment for the holiday.

Fortunately for me, my coworkers decided that wasn't going to happen. They fairly ganged up on me on Wednesday and insisted I was leaving by noon that day, as bad weather was supposed to be starting between 1 and 6. My boss even offered to let me use a vacation day. (I declined, since I will be needing that day in February when my *sister* from Peru comes to visit.) However, she did give me permission, so I didn't even lose my Christmas holiday pay! What a nice boss. As the morning progressed, so did the snow. It was already beginning to look bad out by 10:30 and the verdict was in. They sent me packing and headed toward my family.

I arrived safe and sound at home early that evening. I have never had so much time off for Christmas before, since I took one vacation day for Monday. As a matter of fact, I wasn't even able to go home the last two years at the holiday because of work. It was so nice and relaxing. I didn't wear makeup almost the whole time I was there, I stayed up 'til ungodly hours of the night and woke up at even less spiritual hours in the morning, I wore sweats until afternoon, ate 'til my pants didn't fit, and I had a great time with my family.

I also got some great loot: another wii remote, some furry slippers, a super soft blanket, a wool hat, a pretty heart necklace from Baby Brother, and a lot of stocking stuffers. All in all, it was one of our best Christmases. I think the holiday should always fall on a weekend! Can that be arranged?

Well, I can't talk about Christmas without mentioning the real meaning of the season--the birth of Christ. As I drove, I was thinking of a whole post I could do about this subject. There's so much that fascinates me about the events surrounding the incarnation of Christ that I can't even express all of them. Like, why did God choose one of the most scandalous ways imaginable to bring his son into the world? Even now, unwed pregnancies are frowned upon, but in those days, people were executed for them. Obviously we were let in on the secret, but imagine the stigma Mary must have felt only to be the chosen of God, the one who would bear his son into the human world.

Really, I could do a series of posts on this subject alone. There's so much to think about, and so much to be thankful for. And it's not that my Christianity is a crutch for me. On the contrary, it's a wheelchair, a veritable gurney! I don't say this simply because there are a list of rules that I practice or a bit or rhetoric that I spew. Even I have willingly strayed from my faith. I have broken every commandment, whether in practice or in attitude, and done so of my own will. But at the same time, I have seen him, I have experienced the one of whom the Bible speaks. When I left him, he never let me go. Maybe at one time in my life my faith was rhetoric and rules, but now it is much more. I'm not perfect. I don't have even half of everything figured out, but I am learning.

I don't know how to explain this. If you haven't experienced what I talk about, it may seem so weird and foreign. I can only imagine. But I hope that, in some small way, you are jealous. It sounds bad, but I wish that everyone could have what I have. And notice that I don't say "feel what I feel." Now happy feelings come along for the ride, but they are not the gas that powers the engine. There are bad times, too, as I'm sure you know if you have read any of my posts!

Well, this post is way too long so tomorrow I will continue working my way to 100 posts. Hang in there with me and help me visit some milestones from this first quarter of a century know as... my life.

catching up

This is, once again, a lunch time post. I feel like I don't have time to catch up on everything that I want to write. But I also really want to write something. I think I'll post some good old time memories in the days (day) before the New Year.

Here's a great one. I must have been about 5 or 6. We went to a church activity, probably a Christmas or New Years party. I remember getting ready to go and not being able to find my rainbow-striped, stretchy elastic, magnetic clasped belt. But I really needed it. My pants were falling down. So, being my father's daughter, and having been trained in the ways of "making do," I grabbed a length of twine and tied those pants up nice and tight.

Well, the church party got along and I'm sure we had a part where everybody was together, doing family activities. But my memory for the day comes from later that night. I was playing with my friends, running all over the place. I'm sure I'd had a lot of soda or something, probably the reason I was running with the friends. Then, all of a sudden, it hit me. I had to go PEE! I ran to the bathroom, forced my way in the door (it was very hard to get open, as I remember), rushed into the stall, and... I couldn't get the twine undone. I tried. I crossed my legs. I struggled. I did the pee dance. I fought with the twine. I fought the urge... I lost.

Yes, I had an accident right there in the bathroom right in front of my blessed salvation-the toilet. And all because I was unable to untie the makeshift twine belt. As I recall, I had to wear my snowpants the rest of the night.

Monday, December 21, 2009

tidbits from lunchbreak

Well, as the title eludes, I'm on lunchbreak at work. I really didn't want to take a break because I really just want to leave here as soon as I can. But my boss doesn't care for that. So I punched out and now I'm wasting away the time on the internet.

I have some deep thoughts that I want to share, but I don't have enough time right now. I guess I will just say that isn't it wonderful at this time of year? Ok... maybe not. There are actually a lot of things about Christmastime that make me very sad. But one good thing is that this is a time of year when you have a special opportunity to make others feel loved. I know, anybody could do that all year long, but there's just something about Christmas... Besides, I love buying presents. I don't know why. Maybe because I kinda like to get them. Hmmmm... That kinda sounds bad... I'm not greedy though! I promise!

Well, am done taking my sorry excuse for a lunch (I've been attending to people the whole time. GRRRRRRRRR... I'm so annoyed by that!) I will write more later!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

when it rains, it pours

And I'm not really talking about "blessings" in the traditional sense of the word. Why does it seem like everything breaks down at this time of year, just when I want to buy my friends and family Christmas presents? Sigh...

So here's the story. Yesterday I woke up to a quite flat tire. I took it to the mechanic, where they (very slowly) removed a nail from it and patched it up. At the same time, the serviceman told me something I already knew--there's a problem with my battery. It's dead. So I got a new one last night (after shopping 3 different stores in an effort to get the best deal). It is currently chillin' out in my back seat, just waiting to be installed later today. Unfortunately my battery didn't make it that long. I'm afraid he's sputtered his last...

So I placed a call to the wonderful AAA. The kind lady assured me that East Side Towing would revive said dead battery within 37 minutes. If it happens to be more, they'll give me a call. Thank you Triple A! Now I'm just sitting here, waiting, wasting time, which is, btw, money.

And that brings me to a previous "rain storm." See, last Monday I was sick. I called in to work. Yeah, can you believe it? That's a big deal for me, considering that I haven't called in since March of '08. Then I was trapped in my apartment on Wednesday because of the blizzard. I had two dental appointments scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, so I arrived late to work those days. Then on top of that, there was yesterday and now today! The whole world seems to be against me ever arriving to work on time!

Sigh. This makes it difficult to earn money. Which, in turn, makes it difficult to buy presents. I know, I know, they are not the most important thing. We all just want to be together for Christmas, etc. etc. But I do want to buy presents... Oh well, I'll just have to make it up on birthdays.

At least I'm healthy, happy, and safe. I am loved, too! What more could a person ask for, right, with or without a battery.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

welcome to minnesnowta

such lovely snow...
too bad this town doesn't believe in snow removal
the blizzard ended yesterday at 1:00, but this is straight down the middle of the street

lame-o!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

orthodontowha???




This morning I stepped through the pristine gates doors of Meadow Valley Orthodontics, received my paperwork to fill out from one of 7 smiling, brown scrub-wearing employees, sat my booty into a leather couch facing a mounted, inset 32-inch widescreen LED tv, surrounded by a beautiful shelving unit filled with wicker baskets which were, in turn, filled with toys and books and I thought to myself, "Self, you cannot afford this orthodontist." (I realize--run-on sentence. Thank you Miss Tweed. Third grade wouldn't have been the same without you.)

As I filled out the paperwork I mused about an orthodontist that I could afford. He would surely operate out of the bottom level of his home. It'd be kind of like a mullet--you know, business in the front, party in the back. Except that by "front" I mean lower level and "back" I mean upper level apartment. Then an even more affordable orthodontics rig ran through my mind, quite literally. It'd be a "mobiledontics." Kind of like a bookmobile, you know... or even a trailer. I'm picturing something kind of like a horse trailer or a small refrigerated unit, only without the cold. It'd be one of those silver metal jobs with a roll-up sliding door at the back. They'd let down a ramp and you'd haul yourself right into the "consulting office" separated from the "reception area" and "business office" by only a divider meant for a cubicle. I could afford that kind of orthodontics.

You'd think Meadow Valley wanted me to promise them 5 years of indentured labor or the birthrights of my first son.

Well, I haven't lost hope yet. I'm getting a second opinion. Heck, I'll even get a third or fourth one if I have to! Things can't be all that bad. As a matter of fact, I've heard good things about this place called Odontologia Guadalupe de la Virgen de las Nieves. They say they only charge 140 pesos per visit, so I think I'm in luck!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

sticky note tuesday


Well, these are super late, but I was sick yesterday. I actually called in sick for the first time since March of 08. It was bad. But here are my stickies anyway.




Saturday, December 5, 2009

six word saturday

Here we go again. It's Saturday and I only have six words to describe my life as of right now.

Christmas shopping. Angel Baby. Happy Katie!

I'm going to be babysitting Angel Baby today! :D:D:D And also, while I'm in the city (so sad, I live in some tiny town {23,000. some ppl don't consider that small, but that's midwesterners for you} with almost no shopping options) I'm going to do some Christmas shopping.

It's actually really late at night, or early in the morning, whichever way you want to look at it. I don't feel very good and I know I should sleep, but I just don't want to for some reason. My body hurts and I feel like if I get in bed, I'll feel worse. Hopefully it's gone by tomorrow, because I really don't want to miss out on spending time with my amor!

Have a great Saturday bloggy friends! I'm sending a shoutout and a big hug to Raine from True Confessions of a Single Mother. I hope today is going better for you!


Friday, December 4, 2009

dreams of flying


Well, so far nothing has happened. I facebooked him last week and we had a short convo going on, but then it just dropped off and he never responded. That was last Wednesday. And like they say on He's Just Not That Into You, if he likes you, he will make it happen. The rest is up to you (the girl). And although, at first, he said he wanted to spend more time with me (seemed like he was interested) he hasn't really shown any interest lately, so I guess I'll just let it go.

My mom keeps saying that "at least this is encouraging for me." But I'm not really sure that I'm encouraged. In a way, I'm kind of relieved that he doesn't seem to be interested, because I'm so afraid to get into another relationship. On the other hand, I'm really sad about still being single. I want so much to have somebody who loves me, wants to be with me, thinks I'm beautiful, and wants to have a family with me. I can't even imagine that ever being true. It's almost like dreaming of flying.

So I don't really know what else to say. At least he looked my way for a moment, but I'm not sure I'm encouraged by that. I saw the Ex today and my eyes danced when they met his because, in my heart, I was laughing at him. I'm free. I'm the lucky one. And that is encouraging to me!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

hiding right in front of me

It's clear now that you never loved me
That's why you treated me like a piece of property
And it's obvious why you felt so much jealousy
Like your favorite toy, you didn't want to lose me
Even though you had others, you still wanted to use me
But now I see that I'm the one who's lucky
It was a long time before I could see
That away from you, I've finally been set free
The truth was hiding all along right in front of me
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