Snowy snowy snow!

Dear friend,
It's snowing and cold here in VA as I write this. It's snowing enough that it's covered the entire back yard. I stood at our guest room window and watched the snow fall and had a memory.
I remembered standing in the parking garage at Andrew Wommack Ministries, having been let off work early because of the snow. (That doesn't happen too often at AWM, or many other places in Colorado.) I stood near the garage door, looked up into the sky and watched the white flakes float across the grey sky. I remember thinking, "I'm leaving soon, I'm leaving Colorado, and might not see snow like this again. I'll miss it."
Well, friend, I just saw snow like that again. Maybe things will be all right after all.

I want to people to be afraid of how much they love me

Dear friend,
Do you remember that I mentioned I was becoming obsessed with the Office? I'm watching it right now, and wondering if maybe I'm a little too involved. I find certain episodes extraordinarily difficult to watch. The Christmas Party episode is one such episode. I find myself cringing and feeling terrible for Jim and Phyllis. It just feels so uncomfortable so many times while I watch this show that you'd think I was standing in the room with these people. That is probably the intention, but gah! it makes it hard to keep watching sometimes. Another episode I struggle through is Health Care. At the end of the episode, where everyone stops Michael outside his door, and he stalls trying so horribly to think of a "surprise" that will get him out of this mess just makes me want to leave the room. Pam's and Jim's facial expressions just do me in. It's probably not a good idea to watch this show while unemployed because it just reminds you that working sucks.
However, I still laugh more than I cringe most of the time. I adore Jim and Pam (yeah, I've never mentioned that before), and can't help wondering what the hell Michael will do next. I also just can't wait to see what Dwight is going to say or do, especially when Jim or Michael are involved.
I love this show.

Cliffs are for climbing. That's why God gave us grappling hooks

Dear Friend,
Tomorrow, if I play my cards right, could be my last day of work at the school. I've been thinking over what I'd like to do in the short amount of time that I plan on being between jobs. I have more hopes than time (I assume, since I don't actually know when my "break" will be over) but I like listing things. Here are a few things I'd like to accomplish this summer.

1. Pick up piano again
2. Learn to play guitar
3. Finish unpacking those boxes of stuff that belongs in my room.
4. Paint the ugly trim in my room
5. Learn to make amigurumi dolls
6. Make a felt "Much" doll, maybe
7. Make custom pillows for the daybed
8. Make a pineapple upside down cake
9. Acquire a few t-shirts and then make them into new, cool things
10. Try painting with watercolors
11. Make some clothes
12. Make it out to the new C28 store
13. Eat at the new Noodles n' Company restaurant near here
14. Lose a few inches around my tummy (can't think in lbs. since I don't know what I weigh
15. Cut a fringe (or bangs for people here in the US)
16. Read Frankenstein
17. Read Persuasion
18. Beat Mario Kart Wii
19. Acquire every character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
20. Illustrate that book by my Dad's co-worker
21. Rearrange my cork board
22. Go to the Smithsonian
23. Decorate cake with Fondant
24. Re-watch the entire (so far) series of LOST
25. Go to Colorado for a visit (maybe)

I'll stop at 25 things, but I'm sure if I sat here and thought for long enough I'd come up with quite a few more.
Hoping that your summer is filled with relaxing and energizing plans!

Catching up

Dear Friend,
How've you been the last few days? I've been busy, but it's been the good sort of busy that leads up to a desired end. A very desired end. I can't wait for the end, really. This past Friday was the K3 Celebration at school, and now there are no more classes with the little dears. I'm half relieved and half sad to think that I won't have a hand in molding their young minds anymore. I won't miss the tantrums, the tattling, the yelling, or the crying. I will miss the smiles and laughs and discoveries that mark that age as well. I'll miss the hugs and "Hello Ms. S" and random stories they tell you about themselves. I didn't cry at the goodbyes, and almost feel like an unfeeling jerk because of it. I just don't think I'm cut out for being this sort of teacher, so I don't want to prolong the time.
Two more weeks at the school, I suppose. Then life finally moves on again.
In entertainment news... I'm becoming obsessed with the Itunes commercial for the exclusive song Viva la Vida by Coldplay. If I hear it come on TV I stop what I'm doing watch the commercial. I haven't decided if I'll buy it. I've never listened to Coldplay before. What? Don't look at me like that.
So, how about LOST. So glad that Des and Penny reunited. So sad that Dan and Charlotte said goodbye. Surprised to find that I prefer Kate with Sawyer to Kate and Jack. Dismayed to discover that most of my concern for this show revolves around the relationships. Ha, maybe not. I'm really wishing the next season was coming really, really soon so I can find out what happens to everyone. I wasn't shocked or awed by who was in the coffin. I almost didn't even care. I want to know what's up with Claire. I also want to know what happens to the people in the boat, do they move with the island or are they stranded in the middle of nowhere on the ocean? Otherwise, the finale did well with tying up loose ends of this season. BTW, Penny can't die. I'd cry for days. Or not, but I wouldn't be happy.
Watched Cranford (DVR'ed from PBS) today. It felt like it went on forever and wasn't about anything in particular. It was good, and sweet, but slightly boring. It was like real life, a bunch of small happenings to a large group of people. I won't buy it, or watch it again soon. I like Gaskell, usually, though I haven't read any of her books. Wives and Daughters was about Molly Gibson, North and South was about Margaret Hale and John Thornton, but Cranford was about everybody.

I guess that's it friend,
See you next time.

Coming to an end

Dear friend,
As I'm sure you know the school year is almost over. I have only four more days to work with the children, and officially two weeks after that to clean the classroom. Then I am free, Free, FREE! I don't plan on taking a full two weeks to get out of there, but I don't know if the people in charge are as eager to be rid of me as I am to be rid of them. I can't imagine that I've been altogether pleasant an employee, but I have tried to be professional and up-front about what I thought was fair. This is the only "job" I've disliked. (Job is in quotes because it's only my second paying job, but I've worked at more than two places, and I've worked at a school before.) I remember that at the beginning of the year I told myself that once I was used to the work I'd love it, since that's how I usually am. It wasn't true with this place. Perhaps I'm naive, but I don't think you should work at a job that you don't like. I used to say I wouldn't work a job that I didn't love, but at this point love seems far out of reach of work. I do, however, want to wake up on some Monday mornings without a sense of impending doom and dread. I don't know (still) what's next for me, but I'm not too stressed about that. I wasn't expecting a real summer vacation, but maybe I'll take one anyway. I've got the rest of my life to be responsible and adult over the summer, you know.

In less heavy thinking, I was sick of the last layout and header the instant I put it up. I'm not actually that crazy about Guy of Gisborne, and though Richard Armitage was the only reason I started watching Robin Hood he really isn't enough to keep me watching it. Honestly, it's Much that I ended up adoring. It's maddeningly difficult to find out anything about Sam Troughton, the actor who portrays the lovable Much, but that's OK. What I have found out about him leads me to believe I wouldn't actually like him all that much. I do like his character very much though.
Also very airy and light in thought, I love how the English say "strawberry" and "squirrel".

An apple for the teacher, Pineapple that is!

Dear friend,
I'm not sure exactly which day it is, but some day this week is Teacher Appreciation Day. The school I work at has expanded it to a week. Each day of the week has a different theme for suggested gifts. Today was fruit/snack day. I was given a form last week to fill out with my favorite stuff. I wrote down pineapple partly as a joke. I'm not sure I really love pineapple, I do know I like it OK, but they make me smile, all the time. So, it's pretty cool that I got one, and now I'll have to decide what to do with it. If you have any suggestions, tell me, 'k?

Otherwise, life kinda sucks at the moment. I have to be at work two weeks longer than I thought I did, we have no real plans for the "graduation" we're supposed to do for our students, the teacher I work with is driving me nuts, we got a new student who's trouble and will be getting another tomorrow, and I've been sick since Saturday, I haven't slept through the night for the last two nights, I can't talk because I lost my voice yesterday, and I don't know what I'm going to do for a job or money after this school year. Oh, and did I mention the mouse in the hallway in front of our classroom today? I kind of wish I had made a bigger deal of it and made the visiting prospective parents who were pretty much in each of the neighboring rooms notice it. Yeah, I hate this school that much. I didn't draw attention to it, though. I think it was about to die anyway. It's disturbing to think that I work in a place that has (apparently) vermin. I'd never send my child to this school, it just sucks.

Ahh, that rants done. It feels good to get that off my chest.

Pixar: Have I missed my calling?

Dear Friend,
Well, friend, I have quite decidedly made up my mind that I will not be returning to this school next school year. I am not quite sure why I was there this year, I just know that's where I feel God led me, and now I just have to trust him to lead me again next year.
I've felt drawn to studying or pursuing art as a career. I have no concrete plans yet, but I'm considering it. One particular reason, I suppose, is that I wish I'd studied animation simply to work at Pixar.
I bought "To Infinity and Beyond: The story of Pixar" about a month ago and recently read through it. I knew I liked this company before, but I think I adore it now. I didn't know about Ed Catmull before, and didn't know much about John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton or even Brad Bird before I read this book. I didn't know very much about the difficulties of the medium or even how an actual hand-drawn animation background could help in computer animation.
This book is so informative that even trying to sum up the specific things I've learned would take far too long, and might be tedious to those who aren't rabid fans like me. Personally, I found the story of the start of this studio and even the people who work there to be inspirational. I love that these people knew what they wanted to do and just pursued it. Despite discouragement they persevered.
Talent isn't enough, determination and inspiration are requirements.
If only I'd had some focus, maybe I'd be living in California working at the coolest company I've ever seen.
Well, I'm not doing that. I'm at yet another time of change and uncertainty. I guess there are a lot of those in life, huh? Come on new bend in the road!

Oh no! The TV died!

Dear friend,
That's right, our 65" HDTV kicked the proverbial bucket yesterday. Guess what else happened yesterday. I bought Super Smash Bros. Brawl! Yeah, talk about bad timing. I moved the wii up to my room, and spent a good part of the day playing SSBB, but I want out TV back. It's only a year old. The fan or the temp gauge isn't working or something, as it will turn on, but only for a few seconds at a time.
Anyway, Brawl is awesome. Spoilers will exist from this sentence on, so, you're warned, OK? I played Subspace Emissary a lot today, so I got a lot of the hidden characters. I didn't think it was possible, but Marth is even prettier than he was in Melee. You see, friend, I used to make fun of Marth, call him Martha and such, because he was such a pretty character. He's downright gorgeous now, and oddly enough I like him for it. I have been trying to play with Ike, but he's so slow that I don't know if I'll keep up with it.
I bought a new case for my DS from Target. It looks like a bowling bag, it rocks. I almost bought the bigger version for the Wii, but I don't take my Wii anywhere usually and I didn't feel like wasting $45.
(By the way, I love this picture of Faraday. Gotta love a guy so odd he'd hold a rat up to his face!)
I don't want to go to work tomorrow. I will anyway. I should get ready for bed then. Friends, I miss you all. I really, really do.

Yesterday was my birthday

Dear Friend,
Yesterday I had a birthday. However, I am more excited that I have (as far as I can tell) tagged every single post in my blog. This was a completely unnecessary task, but I just wanted to do it. Granted, not all the tags are accurate, some posts don't have a tag that they need. I plan on fixing that over the next few weeks, but right now at least all of them have labels! Yay me!
I took Friday off at work, so I could do some early birthday stuff without the crowds of weekend shoppers and what-not. I went to a huge mall, got fun stuff and ate at Noodles and Company. Such fun. Top it off with a hilarious episode of Psych (though lacking in Juliet/Lassiter interaction... in my opinion) and you've got a great pre-birthday.
Then my dear brother came to visit. On my actually birthday I slept in, played video games, had my favorite dinner and cake. Great day. Even if my brother had me watching Karate Kid.

Dear friend,
I've had a bad day. No really, it just plain sucked. I cried. Three seperate times. At work.
So, are you wondering what happened? Are you concerned for my sanity? Well, friend, I appreciate your concern. Let's just say that a growing problem got beyond control and I felt alone, helpless, frustrated and abandoned. Yeah, the day was that bad. If it happens again, I will probably quit my job.
Let's see, eh?

Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey

Dear Friend,
Yes, I did catch Time Crash on Youtube. How could I not, since, despite not really watching Dr. Who, my two favorite doctors meet. I've been watching some DW, and find that, shock, I don't like it. Not at all. I need to have something else to do while it's on because it doesn't hold my attention. When it does I tend to think, "This is too creepy to be enjoyable." so I don't really know why I keep trying.
Well, actually, my friend, I do know why: David Tennant is cute. On top of that it's the longest running sci-fi show, it must have something going on for it. It helps that this doctor wears Chuck Taylors, the world's coolest shoes. Whenever I wear my light tan/off white chucks I think of them as my "Who shoes." Yes, I'm a dork.
Anyway, friend, I didn't necessarily begin to write to talk about DW. Actually, I may have. I realized a couple of weeks ago that Netflix noticed I had a "thing" for Peter Davison. It's like the program that recommends things to users looked at my queue and said "Man, this dude's in nearly everything at the top of her list. Let's recommend more!" And so, in the top suggestions for me the had classic DW, and At Home with the Braithwaite's. Both programs that I know I have no intention of watching. (I may relent on the classic Who, though)
I found out that Peter was the voice of Mole in a Wind in the Willows Christmas special I saw as a kid only once and liked. Now I want nothing more than to see it again, sadly it's not to be found on DVD.

So, Friend, how is your Thanksgiving weekend going? I've enjoyed the time off, and thank God that I don't work retail. I can't imagine what it's like to work in a store on Black Friday. I hope yours goes very, very well.
Feel free to watch Time Crash, here:

Where've you been?

Dear Friend,
There is a distinct lack of blogging in my sphere of late. Have the blogs you've frequented experienced a drop in updates, too? I hope not. For some reason my regularly checked blogs (written by "real people" not celebrities or religious groups) have been very quiet of late.
Perhaps my friends have been inundated with hectic schedules just as I have been. I've been, in a way, "upgraded" at my job. I now regularly teach the students in our class. Each day, we divide the 20 three year old children into 3 groups, according to skill level. While one group plays, under my supervision, the second group gets a review from me, whilst the third group gets a new lesson from the teacher in the next room. After the lessons, they all switch, until we've each had time with all of them. I think that system would work best if we had another teacher in the room. However the ideal system for three year old children would be to stay home with a parent, in my opinion. Since that is either not the option or the choice of these children's parents I, and the teacher, are there.
I don't really understand people who think children are inherently good. I've believed for awhile that children are really worse than adults in their habits of selfishness, deceit and just plain sinfulness. You have no need to teach a child to lie, they will discover the talent on their own. Mostly they lie to cover their own butts, but they can even lie just to be awful to someone. You don't need to teach a child about racism or either. It's easy to see how someone is either the same as or different from you. Often you need to teach a child that differences are OK, really. A good deal of what we in our classroom is teach children to say they are sorry to those they've hurt and then forgive those who have hurt them. We try to stop finger pointing.
It amazes me that our biggest "tattletales" are the children who have the hardest time listening to the rules themselves. I can't decide if they're trying to draw attention away from themselves or trying to justify themselves, thinking, "Well, at least I'm not doing that like they are." One of our girls will outright disobey you the moment you tell her to do something, but if you tell a different child to do something she'll repeat it to them as though she's the authority. A different child, a boy, seems incapable of sitting still or paying attention, yet he's the first one to say "Ooh, look what he's doing." He is also frequently heard saying "I'm gonna tell on you."
I can't stand to phrase "tell on". I don't think it makes sense, "tell" followed by "on". Children have been saying it for generations, I've even said it, I'm sure. I also abhor the tone of "Ooh" that all children make when they see someone doing what they shouldn't. They often repeat it and it drives me crazy. If I never need to hear it again it will be too soon.
I couldn't believe when one mother told me her son had flushed his older brother's video game memory card down the toilet. Three times! And broken some of the video games. What got to me most was that she seemed not to punish her son for these actions. You've got to be kidding me! If that had been my son there wouldn't have been a second memory card down the toilet, let alone a third.

I don't get people. Maybe I should work with animals. They make more sense. But, oh, as awful as they can be I do love kids.

Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy

Dear Friend,
I've had various topics to write about including, among others, the random stray thought that Peter Petrelli of Heroes would be a good K3 teacher. I simply am too tired to remember the actual reasons I came to that conclusion. I remember something about how the kids would be more inclined to pay attention to a man who could, at any given moment, blow up. He could entertain them by flying, and if they in their inherent clumsiness managed to injure him he could simply heal immediately which would cut down on catching any colds from the dear, germy kids. He was a nurse, he must care about people, and frankly, 3 year olds are some of the easiest people to love and care for. OK, so maybe I remember a few reasons...
I thought this because I watched the entire first season of Heroes in 48 hours. My brother was visiting, he brought the DVDs, he was leaving in 48 hours and it was either finish them then or wait a really, really long time. I chose to marathon so much that I think my brain turned to mush. Maybe that would be my hero ability, I'd be able to function despite severe brain damage. Nah.
Subject change, Sarah McClahlan has one of the most hauntingly beautiful voices ever. Yeah, I know, way to state the obvious. I've just been watching dueSOUTH, one of the most famous (to fans) episodes, Victoria's Secret, which heavily uses Sarah's haunting music. Amazing. Just to mention, as far as haunting sound, I like A Fine Frenzy lately.
OK, have a great weekend, friend,
SLS

Who

I was in a park today, a work picnic to celebrate our ministry's anniversary. All of the employees and volunteers were invited, most came which made for a rather large crowd. I, once again, came to the conclusion that I dislike large crowds.

However, it also inspired a question for myself. Who do I have? Not who do I have in a strictly possesive sense, or even in a romantic sense. What I want to know is, who do I have as a real friend. I spent most of the day sitting in the grass watching "normal" people have fun, talk to each other, be friendly. Even when there were people around me, ones I knew or wanted to know, I could think of little to say to them. The two creatures I felt most at ease with were a shy little sheltie dog and a sweet and funny little toddler.

Though I may sound like a friendless loser, I thank God Ray was there, as he allowed me to "follow" him around and he talked to me when he had the chance. I am grateful for Ray, but having one friend is a tad discouraging. Especially when, as far as I know, he'll be gone next year. What then? Who will I walk the length of the park with, while we each speak whenever we think of something to say? (Usually it's Ray who talks anyway)

This is my third anniversary picnic, and the first that I "flew solo". The first two years, I invited someone to come with me. This year I felt a little stranded.

As I thought through my question, I thought of a Barlow Girl song, inspired by Psalm 73. Actually, I only thought of one line, "Who have I in heaven but You?" And I'm sure that many people sing that lyric and just gloss over it, think nothing about it. I doubt that many people actually believe they truly have no one but God.

But stop, think about it, really. Even if someone in your life has promised never to leave or forsake you, unless they are God, they will probably (definitelys?) break that promise. God is the only one who makes that promise who can keep it. (Heb. 13:5) Even if someone truly loves you and intends to be with you forever, things happen that will hinder that. Death, accidents, moving, hurt feelings, fights: any number of things can seperate two people. But nothing can seperate us from the love of God.

I suppose I've gone from "Psalm 73 - My God's Enough" to "Never Alone" now. But isn't that a great promise? God will never leave you. He is more than enough for you.

God wants us to have companionship just as much as we want it for ourselves. I admit, I'm a quiet person who prefers one-on-one interaction, but I know that God will always be there for me, even if no one person ever is again.

Thank God, I think I've just taught myself someting.

Till next I write!

The longest 15 minutes

I think that the longest fifteen minutes in the day is from 2:30 to 2:45 pm. Everyday, it feels like the clock slows down. I know that the clock isn't to blame, it's an atomic clock, it's never wrong.

By contrast, the shortest fifteen minutes in the day is 2:45 to 3:00 pm. That, my friends, is my afternoon break time. Life speeds up like someone is watching a video tape and that happens to be the commercial break, and what do most normal people do during a taped commercial break? They fast-forward.

I've often wondered why this phenomenon doesn't occur in the morning. Why doesn't the half-hour involving my pre-morning break and morning break go through the same dramatic change? I believe it is because I don't actually wake up until noon. I don't wake up until I've eaten lunch. Oh, I'm awake, I assure you, I simply am not really awake mentally. I don't care about the clock until 12:15. Wait, you say, you said you wake up at noon! Yes, my astute readers. I wake up at noon, but I don't care about the clock. From noon to 12:15, I am only concerned with eating. I don't eat breakfast, you see. No need to tell me that it's the most important meal of the day, I already know that. I don't like breakfast. I don't like breakfast food, I don't like taking more time in the morning to eat. I simply do not like breakfast. The only breakfast I like is waffles, and only the kind my mom makes, not the toaster kind. Not even the restaraunt kind. I'm picky that way.

I suppose another reason that morning break doesn't fly by is because I usually don't talk to co-workers then. I don't talk much in the morning. No, really, I talk less in the a.m. if you believe that possible. I do talk a little on afternoon break. I do more listening than talking, but still conversation makes time go faster. There are more people in the breakroom in the afternoon, which makes for a noisier environment, another time-speeder.

And so, for me, 2:30 until 3:00 is the stangest, and most changeable half-hour of the day.

Till next I write!

Lost spoiler, for those who care:



Walt said "They're coming and they're close." Now, that little scene is beaten only by Claire's dream last season as far as creepy factor goes.




Now, on with life... and stuff. I know I'm a little "off" because I love a song by Il Divo (the Josh Groban boy band) (Don't get me wrong, I like Josh Groban) (And in the right mood, I can appreciate a boy band) (And I'll stop with the parenthesies riiiiiiiight NOW!) "Passera" is the only song I would pay money for off of Il Divo's self-titled album. I think it's the over-the-topness of it all, I just wish I knew Italian and could tell what the heck they're singing about.

Due to the fact that none of my co-workers know of my blog, I will reveal here who I got for the Secret Santa gift exchange, or whatever it is we call it... Ray. Yup, that makes it two years in a row that I get the only male working in our department. (Last year, Ray didn't work there) I hate buying gifts for guys. *Groan* Actually, the first name I picked out of the hat was my own. That's great! I know exactly what I want! I wish...

Tired now...

It's been too long

I am now full-time at my job. That's caused more stress than it should have, but I won't bore all you people with all the drama. *audience (of one) applauds* Gee, thanks...

Anyway, I love being the person who duplicates CDs, except for the inevitable times when all there is to do is wait. Wait for CDs to print, wait for CDs to burn, wait, wait, wait. And hope that your boss doesn't wander past the door, since just standing around (or sitting as I sometimes do) doesn't make it look like you have much use there. But when you actually do stuff, it's cool to be the "CD duplicator lady" :-)

Oh, this song on my internet radio makes me sad. "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5. I think it only makes me sad because it's the first song I heard after our dog was put down. That memory sucks. I really feel sorry for a co-worker of mine, who lost 2 dogs in as many weeks. After the 1st one died, the other was so depressed that it died too. That so sucks.

I so want to hug whoever came up with TiVo and other such devices, such as our DVR. Why? It makes it possible for me to again watch Radio Free Roscoe. At my own convenience, yet! Everyday, there it is, a new-to-me RFR just waiting to be viewed. And eventually burned to DVD. My infatuation with RFR is pretty deep right now. I don't really know why. I can guess, though, probably the guys. There is just something so entertaining about TV high school guys stumble through their lives. It isn't so funny for TV high school girls, they tend to be too whiny. But Ray/Pronto, Robbie/Question Mark and Travis/Smog are just "cuties". (No, not that way! Ok, maybe Travis... Maybe)

My eyes are drooping and itchy, and it's only 9:30. I thought I would adjust to waking at 6 am by now...

Hey, guess what! They put Faery Tale Theatre on DVD! Anyone else remember that show? Shelley Duvall and various celebrities doing fairy tales! My favorite has to be The Three Little Pigs. Watching it recently explained why I've always liked Billy Crystal, I liked him when I was little and saw him playing a pig in colorful clothes, building his own brick house and playing the oboe. Years and years later, I still like him, though I'd forgotten why. Funny, huh? Jeff Goldblum was hilarious as the Wolf, too. Of course, now that I'm older and watching this series, it's got a lot more adult humor than I ever suspected when I was a kiddie and watching. Weird how stuff goes over children's heads, and they never knew it was there to begin with.

Anyway...
Till next I write

I'm tired

I don't know how they do it. I don't know how people work full time jobs, and still have a social life. I've been working full days for the last few weeks, and I've only done "fun" thing about 3 times in those weeks, and really I'm exhausted. I'm so thankful that I only have to work the afternoon tomorrow. Of course, that all gets shattered when I realize that I have to work 8 hours on Saturday. That's just wrong! I hate doing work on weekends. I will make the exception for housework, but homework and job work are just not meant for Saturdays or Sunday. But that's just my view of it.

Recently discovered the purpose of the profiles and listing favorites. Found a few people who share my interests, including people who list Jane of Lantern Hill as a favorite book. I'm not alone!!! Yayness!

So glad I invited a friend to the young adults Bible study this week. It was entirely a social situation, and if he hadn't been there, I'd have sat, uncomfortable silent the entire time. As it was, I got to be included some in the conversation. I still need to see Napoleon Dynamite as it seems I'm the only person not to have ever seen it (on earth or in that group, I'm not sure).

Wish I could see that "Chase Me" short somewhere other than the boring Mystery of the Batwoman DVD. That short rocks.

Feel like talking

I'm in a talky sort of mood. Just watched Lost and was creeped out by it. That dream of Claire's was just freaky, and I pray that I don't think of Locke's eyes just as I turn out my light to go to sleep. *Shudders* That alone is enough to cause a nightmare, without them throwing "Ethan" in at the last minute. Then everything in the middle. I'm a wimp. Yup, Lost freaks me out. Do not, repeat, do not let me watch horror movies.

I'm counting the number of times I hear Christmas songs on the radio. At work, our station is set to the only one playing Carols and things 24/7. I heard Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer four times today. I heard the Christmas song 6 times yesterday. It was a little hard to do today, since I was in and out of the room all morning, and a "serious" theological discussion made someone turn down the radio in the afternoon. That's ok, who wants to hear Rudolph more than four times in one day? I'll add it all up on Dec 31, I think, and see just how much Christmas music I hear in a month.

I do that sort of thing a lot. I count things. One time I counted how many times Emeril used his "phrases" in a week. I lost the results paper from that "study". I'm a geek, with weird interests and a desire to count things, what can I say?

Since work is moving to the new building at the end of this week, it's been crazy. I miss the students. They moved on Monday. Work seems all quiet without them. Besides, I've been wanting to ask someone in school a question. I suppose I could e-mail them, but I don't e-mail much and I don't want to seem nosy, or whatever. I'll probably end up not asking... oh well.

For the first time in a long time, it really feels like Christmas to me. We don't even have any decorations up yet, but I'm humming carols all over the place. I've bought one present that isn't even wrapped yet, but I'm in the Holiday mood. Weirdness of me.

I ate my last dessert in the house last night. Maybe I can search the cupboards for something to snack on. I should bake this weekend.

Till next I write!

I hate that radio station

At work, we listen to a radio station that plays Contemporary Christian Music. I hate CCM. In a broad sense, that is. I don't know, it's like this station gets all the moronic, mind-numbing CCM that has little to no basis in scripture, sung by the people who can't sing. There are a few good songs, by people I actually like, like Jeremy Camp or some Newsboys songs, but on the whole, it's horrible.
If I hear "Beauty of Simplicity" one more time, I may just growl.
Thankfully, it's now the weekend. I can listen to whatever I want. Currently listening to Jadon Lavik, who ,frankly, is borderline bad. Actually, I don't like most of his songs, but "Saved by Grace" is good.
Thanks to Itunes, I can switch from Christian, to Jazz or Rock or whatever.
I may be a born-again Christian, but that doesn't mean I have to like CCM. It also doesn't mean I need to listen to nothing but Hymns. I do know some people who feel they shouldn't listen to secular. That's fine for them if that's what God wants for them. God hasn't told me to dump all my jazz and pop. If He did, I would. That's what being saved is about, a personal relationship with God, not rules and regulations that encompass an entire body of people. Sure, there are things that aren't ok for anyone to do, like adultery and gossip etc. But secular music, in my mind, isn't one of them.

In other news... I didn't go to youth group last week. A few friends dropped by, so we hung out at my house and played video games. Very cool.

Till next I write.