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So many things I could tell you all about, and so little time. It would take me a very long time to share everything about all of the events of the past few days, so here's a very, very, very edited down version.

Thursday: took the day off of work and went to see Phantom of the Opera live at the Civil Theater. It was amazing! I can't believe it! It was like watching a movie. So much so, that I kept having to remind myself that those people were doing those things in front of me at that moment. They were connecting with the story and the songs for that particular audience's benefit. It was really incredible! An added bonus was that I got to get all dressed up :)

Friday: didn't take the day off work, but it was a good day. Not very busy and I had a good section and a good partner in said section. I was done at quarter to eight (like we're supposed to be) and off to the land of pelicans to go to a swing dance. Where, to my surprise, I met a former TAC student who taught me how to lindy hop (a very enthusiastic swing step). Good, good times. He was really an impressive dancer. We also did some merangue (however you spell that), salsa, polkaing (that was an adventure, to say the least), and waltzing. Oh, and we did the Virginia Reel. But not in a slow, dignified way. We did it to a very fast Irish reel, so we ran around like mad people. I spent the night with my sister and my "sister," with whom I stayed up much too late and giggled something scandalous.

Saturday: My "sister" was going to get up at 7:30, because she was being picked up along with my brother to go to a CAP event at 8:15. Her alarm goes off three times starting at 7:00 and ending at 7:40 everyday... well, Monday through Friday. So, at 8:13, we woke up. And freaked out. But we had her pressed, dressed, combed, and eating by 8:25.

Sunday: a day of rest. I had to work, but Sundays are pretty low-key, so it wasn't bad.

Monday: we spent the day with some very good friends that we have known for years. It really was an awesome day. We ate pizza and donuts, played cranium and ultimate, and just had lots and lots of fun.

And now I have to wrap this up because I am heading out to the beach. It is the CAP squadron's fifth Tuesday event. So off I go!

Chickens

I posted three times in one day, but that was five days ago. It's high time I wrote again. Here's a snippet from this morning's homily.

Imagine you're on a farm. Imagine that there are chickens. Now, the parents sends the little children to get the chickens and put them in for the night. So, the little children run out and instantly decide to try to capture the little chicks running around. But, as you all know, little chicks are very fast. Not to mention the fact that their mothers have beaks and claws and aren't afraid to use them. So, the poor little children get frustrated with this and are about to despair utterly when the mother comes out of the house. She takes a basket and places the mother hen in it and covers it. When the mother hen starts clucking (or quacking, as Fr. Michael said) all of the little chicks come running and hop in the basket with her.

The mother hen is the Kingdom of heaven. All of the chicks are the other (morally good) desires and wants and needs that we have in our life. If we pursue the mother hen, all of the little chicks will, inevitably, follow. But going after each little chick individually will never make us entirely satisfied.


I thought it was a good point. A point that is so often illustrated by the world we live in and the people that populate it. Are we, like Solomon in the first reading today, going after the "mother hen"? Or do we ask for the little things that can never really satisfy us?

Third Post in One Day!

I know this is slightly ridiculous, but I'm doing it anyway. But I'm not going to follow the last rule. You can do this if you want. If you don't want to, then it wouldn't matter if I tagged you. My sister tagged me.

1. Link the person(s) who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

1) I say "oy" without the "vey"
2) I have monocular vision (I focus with one eye at a time)
3) I love thrift stores
4) I can kick the back of my own head
5) I can lick my elbow
6) I am familiar with emergency rooms. Very familiar.

er, yeah. There you go.

First Dance

A pic from M&Ms first waltz as husband and wife :)

Thrift Stores

I love thrift stores! My mother and sister think they smell funny and generally avoid them, but I love them! The things you can find are sometimes ridiculously random and junky. But you can find some really neat items, as well. Here's a sampling from today's expedition:

8 antique, high-backed chairs. They looked like something out of medieval times.
Simplicity patterns from when they only cost a dollar (compare that to now when they cost about 15 dollars)
A Gunny-Sacks wedding dress, which I shamelessly tried on.
A Pickles cartoon book
A fur coat
Light bulbs
Electrical outlet thingymerbobs
And a hand-knitted (or crocheted, I can't tell which) throw blanket that we bought for a bargain $7

Like i said, I love thrift stores. :)

#4

It was Saturday night and I was rather flustered. It was 7:30 and I still had four tables to reset before 7:45. We can stay later if necessary, but we tend to get in trouble if we do it too often. So I was a bit wound-up, trying to get it all done. Then I did something which seemed brilliant at the time, but ended up being very stupid of me. Instead of making 10 trips back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room with the necessary silverware, plates, and glasses, I thought that I would try putting it all on a tray and carrying it out together. I had seen someone else do it (the fact that he is a very buff guy and I'm a very not strong girl didn't register at the time) and it seemed like a good idea. So, I did it. Everything went fine until I went to put the tray down. My shoulder couldn't support a controlled movement with that much weight on it and the tray slipped out of my hands and half of the contents fell onto the floor. And a good portion of that smashed. With an extremely red face I started to pick up the broken pieces. With my bare hands. Smart move, right? Y'know, I've discovered that thinking is a very useful thing to do at times like this, but I never seem to think even of that fact. Someone brought me a broom, but by that time, my hands had multiple cuts that were all bleeding. The next step of resetting (after I cleaned up my mess) was changing the white tablecloths. With bloody hands. The rest of the resetting went well, but I wasn't done until five minutes before eight. Thankfully, someone had already done my side-job for me so I could just leave.

But not everything went badly on Saturday. I had one table that was particularly friendly and particularly interested in my name. They couldn't help but notice (can anyone, really?) that it's a very Irish combination. They actually engaged me in conversation for a couple of minutes, which is very unusual, and were extremely obliging and patient and kind. And now they remember me. One gentleman in particular calls me his "little bit of Ireland" every time he sees me. :-)

One Word

This could be rather challenging for a girl like me. I tend to answer things with as many words as possible... but a one word limit? Yes, this should be very interesting.

1. Where is your cell phone? Upstairs
2. Your significant other? Nonexistent
3. Your hair? Long
4. Your mother? Busy
5. Your father? Genius
6. Your favorite thing? Pictures
7. Your dream last night? Bizarre
8. Your favorite drink? Water
9. Your dream/goal? Heaven
10. The room you’re in? Living
11. Your church? Universal
12. Your fear? Sin
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? There
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you’re not? Tough
16. Muffins? Yes
17. One of your wish list items? Husband
18. Where you grew up? California
19. The last thing you did? Homework
20. What are you wearing? Cotton
21. Your TV? Off
22. Your pets? Spazzzmaniacs
23. Your computer? Captain
24. Your life? Blessed
25. Your mood? Mellow
26. Missing someone? Yes
27. Your car? Parents
28. Something you’re not wearing? socks
29. Favorite store? Fabric
30. Your summer? Work
31. Like(love) someone? Many
32. Your favorite color? pretty
33. Last time you laughed? Yesterday
34. Last time you cried? recently
35. Who will re post this? unknown

Interesting. Your turn!

#3

Another coworker story...

There is a young man who I work with who is pretty much the bane of my existence while there. He likes to make up songs as he goes along, and they're always about me. Every time he walks past me he taps me repeatedly along the back. He generally just makes a nuisance out of himself. And, because it made me visibly upset, he did it more. So, after a conference with Mom and Dad, I came up with a strategy.

Yesterday, I decided to ignore him. Totally and completely. When he first came in and said, "hello," I gave a very polite but minimal response and walked away. Then the antics began. But I didn't react at all. I just kept polishing my silverware. Eventually, he got tired of making fart noises with his mouth and he also focused on his job. The rest of the shift was more pleasant than previous ones. He continued to sing, and I continued to ignore him.

After all of the residents had left the dining room and we started doing our side-jobs, he started up again. The rap song revolving around me was aggravating, but I just swept the floor around him with a scowl. Now, for anyone who knows me really well, you know how big a feat this is for me. I smile rather incessantly, especially when I'm nervous or uncomfortable. But I kept a straight face. After about 3 minutes he stopped singing and looked at me seriously for the first time in his life. He asked me if I was mad. I told him that I wasn't mad, but that I was ignoring him. He asked me why, and I told him that he didn't need to be listened to. And again, I walked away.

Then, of all of the bizarre things, he started being nice to me. The songs and the poking stopped. He became very helpful and very courteous. Well, at least, very helpful and courteous compared to his normal behavior. The only problem was, all of my other coworkers noticed the change and began to think that something else was going on. Then, in confirmation of their suspicions, he asked me to go party with him. I told him "no," and that made him slightly mad. Then I told him that I was Catholic and was going to Mass in the morning, so I had to get home early. His response: oh, you're one of those? hmph

We'll see what tonight holds in store for me

#2

These stories don't have anything to do with the residents whom I serve, but rather with the coworkers whom I tolerate. (Note: I am NEVER going to complain about someone not being a gentleman just because they don't hold the door for me. . . if they don't swear at me or hassle me, I'll love them.)

Saturday: I was walking towards a door, my hands full of glasses, when the door was kicked open by someone on the other side. The door smacked into me pretty hard and I got shoved back into the wall behind me. But, rather than apologizing and moving on, the young man started using an inordinate number of expletives to express his feelings. Then, after about thirty seconds, he recollected himself, apologized, and practically ran away. I don't think I said anything besides, "it's alright" and "don't worry about it," but that didn't stop him from rambling on. Ever since, he has been meticulously avoiding me. (Note: just in case you're wondering, there is a window in the door to prevent that from happening. Unfortunately, the top of my head comes up just below the window :D)

Sunday: We all had to vacuum before we left. So, as I was waiting for my turn with it, I was amused by watching another young man entertain himself with the lighter he always keeps in his pocket. Then, all of the sudden, the entire lighter caught on fire. I don't know how it happened, but a ball of fire suddenly appeared in his hand. He dropped it onto the carpet and started trying to stamp it out. All he succeeded in doing, however, was to send if flying across the room to scorch another part of the carpet. Someone else managed to stamp it out, but not before it had left a pretty good mark on the carpet.

Incorrigible teenagers....

#1

At my new job, there are lots of little things that happen that are pretty funny. But, due to the complexity of everything, I don't really have time to reflect on them... and laugh. So, when I remember, I'm going to put them down here, for everybody else to enjoy.

For example, there is a group of 8 people who always wants to sit together. Unfortunately, the biggest tables we have only accommodate 6 comfortably. At their insistence, however, we continue to seat them together, squashing the chairs and place settings together. One lady, fed up with the squashed environment, started to complain loudly. We told her that we could split them up, seating them at two separate tables. But, no, that would not do. Instead she asked, "Why don't you just make the chairs smaller?"

Ahh, the privileges of being rich and retired. :D

M&M

Today, at eleven o'clock CST, M&M became one! I can't believe they're married! And, since I'm in a sentimental mood, I'm going to tell you a little bit about my history with these two.

Mr. M is a long time family friend. Looooongggg time family friend. Our fathers went to college together and worked together. They've remained close ever since, thus the children of both are as well. It has been at least 25 years... I'm not exactly positive on the number, but at least that long. Mr. M is the oldest of the eight children and, for a very long time, wanted to become a priest. In fact, when his mother told me he was courting the then Miss M, I didn't believe her. When you meet him now, he comes across as a nice, mature, respectful, and altogether good guy. But when he was three years old... well, let's just say he wasn't quite the model of decorum that he is now.

My mother was at the grocery store with his mother. My mother was pushing the cart with Mr M in it, while his mother put stuff into it. He, being at that very mischievous age of three, was reaching for all sorts of things that he shouldn't have. When my mother told him not to do that, he grinned at her, leaned over, and spit on her shoes.

But I also have memories of him being very helpful and kind. One in particular was when I was about ten and he was 15. I was riding my bike around a dirt path, hit a bump and fell head over heels down a hill. I was quite traumatized and crying. Mr M picked me up, carried me to his aunt and uncle's house (where they were visiting) and deposited me at the door were my mother was. He was very nice about it, and checked up on me a few minutes later - just to make sure I was ok.

Mrs. M I met just a couple of years ago, at a Father-Daughter dance Mr. M's family was hosting. The two of them were not courting at the time, but Mrs. M was another close friend's roommate at TAC, thus she had become a part of the local family already. She taught us all the basics of swing dancing, waltzing, and polkaing...all with an English accent. :) I saw her again not much later, up at TAC, where I met her sister who is going to be in my class at college. Mrs. M is such a wonderful person...I remember telling her sister after M&M started courting, that if I was going to pick any girl for Mr. M, Miss M would have to be her. Her sister replied that if she had had to pick a guy for her sister, Mr. M would have been him. We smiled at each other, and then watched M&M waltz around the room at the dance. It was clear to almost everyone that the two of them were perfect for each other.

And now they aren't two people anymore. Mr. and Mrs. M are one... married until death do them part. And I am so incredibly happy for them. I wish I was there, but as I am not, I shall spend my day praying for them with all my might and main.

Miscellaneous

This post is going to be a conglomeration of stuff. Bear with me, please.

This afternoon I go in for my third day of work. The elusive HR department never officially contacted me, but my supervisor did. He told me to come in anyway, because HR had told him that my paperwork had gone through. So far, the job isn't terribly exciting or wonderful, but it is a job. It's what I need to be doing now. And I'm just thankful I have one at all...it was looking pretty dicey for a while there. :)

I have had an abrupt redirection of my attitude towards CAP stuff. I am no longer allowed to do things for my brother. I'm allowed to help him, but not to do things for him. Apparently, there is a difference. He's learning how to iron....hehe. It's quite an adventure. He's learning, but he is a boy. There are certain limits on their domestic abilities.

And I picked up this quote today from a great source for this kind of thing: "Dating is about seeing if someone is a good match, not about beating someone into being a good match." ~ Dr. Laura

And I only have approximately 41 days until move-in day!!! And I say approximately, because I've been naughty and lost track. But I think it's 41 days :D

But where I would rather be right now is Springfield, Illinois. I hope M&M have a wonderful wedding tomorrow!!! And I wish I could be there!!!

So it begins...

Yesterday I pulled a very dusty, slightly battered, book off of my shelf. I began flipping through, skimming slightly as I went along. First fifty pages are an introduction... considering the book, that is fairly reasonable. The next 110 pages are books 1-6 which also need to be read.

"What is this?" you may be asking. Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is my first reading assignment for school: the Lattimore translation of Homer's Illiad. Generally, freshmen are given two or three days to do it, but my class has the advantage of having a couple of seniors giving us early notifications. So, in between work, getting my brother ready for encampment, and myself ready for school, I have a bit or reading to do.

But I'm not worried...yet.

The Curse of the BDU

My brother, a member of Civil Air Patrol, is going to go to 8 days of modified boot camp between the second and ninth of August. Encampment, as it is titled, is a time for making friends, beds, and laundry. Since CAP is the auxiliary of the Air Force, they wear uniforms, follow customs and courtesies, and become experts in drill and ceremonies. All of this is done in a hardcore fashion at encampment. It's always very cool and rewarding for the cadets who approach it with the right attitude. However, due to the extensive physical training that they go through, two sets of the battle dress uniforms are required. And he only has one.

This one set of BDUs cost me many hours of stress, sweat, and consternation. They're REALLY into measuring things during the inspections, so if something is a tiny bit off, the cadets are expected to have it remedied by the next inspection. To make matters worse, different inspecting officers measure things differently and have different opinions on how it should be. So, I ripped off those patches over and over again, hoping to appease the different gentlemen. In all honesty, I was beginning to think they had some conspiracy to ruin my sanity going. But, after a month or two, I managed to get it right. Scott doesn't get barked at anymore, and I don't have to fight with any more inanimate objects.

Well, I won't until his new set arrives tomorrow. I have a lot of work ahead of me. His CA Wing patch has to be creased and placed three quarters of an inch below the shoulder seam. The non-creased, reversed, flag patch needs to be attached to a creased sleeve one half of an inch below the shoulder seam. The name tape and CAP tape need to be affixed above the breast pockets, touching the top edge of said pockets and the sides lined up with the sides of the pockets.

Then, they need to pass inspection, which seems to be a slightly subjective process. Ah, well. Even if I'm not in CAP, I get to experience all of the affects of being in it. :)

Maniacally Sewing

After months of plotting, planning, and coupon clipping, I have managed to buy the materials to make myself a formal dress for TAC! The fabric is gorgeous... just running my fingers along it sends a thrill up my spine. The main part of the dress (i.e. the bodice and skirt) is a rich, dark green crepe which is very simply, but elegantly, cut. The sleeves of cream lace are bell-shaped and long, but the final length of them is something which I am still deliberating.

It is a very formal, very chic, and very modest dress :) The best part is that it only cost me $25! I'm not quite done with it yet. I need to hem both the lining and the outer dress, install a zipper, and, as I mentioned before, decide how to finish the sleeves. But I am super excited and super happy with how it has been turning out! I can't wait to wear it!

People Singing

One of my favorite songs EVER. Be inspired!

Introducing the newest member of my family!!!

Captain MacCromber!!!

My mac

I'm very excited. And slightly befuddled. I've always used PCs, so Mac's are a little beyond my comprehension. But my sister has been helpful in my management of Cap'n Mac.

But it's fun

yay!