Assessing the Damage

So... I met a bunch of Ken's family a few days ago. The verdict? I'm still alive. They're very nice people and made me feel welcome.

Ken's family is more into Christmas than my family is, as can be expected. For example, opening presents with my family at my house Christmas Eve took 2 (maybe 3) minutes. Opening presents with Ken's family Christmas Day took all of 3 hours. It was good, though. It actually felt like Christmas.

Meetin' the Family

This Christmas will be a little different for me. I won't just be spending it with my immediate family. I'll also be spending it with my boyfriend and his family. (For those of you who don't know, I recently started dating Ken - aka "kenji".) I'm looking forward to it, but also wondering what disastrous event might occur.

Sleeping Tricks

Do any of you


have tips or tricks


to sleeping at night?

P.S. I Love You

It appears I have let the term "idiot" slip into my vocabulary recently. If I use this or another negative term, feel free to call me out on it.


Last night I started reading the novel "P.S. I Love You." (Thanks, Miranda, for the tip!) It must have been July or August since the last time I read for fun (not including the newspaper or internet).

So far it's a nice read. Sad but cute and an easy read. No terms to recognize or ideas to understand! So if you already know how the book or the movie go, please don't tell me!

Winter Cleaning

Yesterday evening I wandered into my brother's room to occupy myself. While looking around I mentioned to my brother that he probably didn't need a lot of the junk he had accumulated. Amazingly, my brother agreed with me. So for the rest of the evening this is what we did:

1) I would pick something up.
2) I would give said something to my brother.
3) He would decide if he wanted to give it away, trash/recycle it, shred it, or keep it.
4) He would toss it into the correct pile.

We only followed this process for one corner of his room, but in doing so we got rid of a bunch of old college adverts. Every time we came across Indiana Wesleyan U. material, he would have to make it known that his Taylor U. is so much better. But we agreed on mocking all other colleges together.

It was fun to help him out. I was looking at his things, so I didn't get the inevitable depression that might have ensued if I was going through my own things. Here's some randomness we found:

Photo albums from 10 years ago of when my brother decided he was going to take a picture of everything he could. This mainly meant photos and photos of our guinea pig in its cage or me hiding behind a pillow, a door, a blanket... whatever I could find.

A drawing of his that caused my brother to laugh uncontrollably like an idiotic nerd and made me to laugh so hard that I started crying and had to sit down. (Disclaimer: My brother is not an idiot and outgrew most of his nerdiness in the last year or two.)

A bookmark which stated "Be good and read!" that I had made for him a few years ago when he had summer reading for an English class.

Christmas Break

Here's to mindlessly watching movies because I don't have any homework!

My Brother's Homecoming

I came home from work yesterday to find my brother in the driveway unpacking his car (the Saturn). It was a nice surprise.

I had him "open" the birthday presents I got for him. It included four different flavors of egg nog. Now, of course, I had to have him take a sip of each so he could rate them. I joined him by sniffing each. We agreed on the hierarchy:

1) Gingerbread
2) Cinnamon
3) Pumpkin
4) Sugar cookie

Our house feels complete with my brother home. Each of us adds a certain dimension to family conversations, and with all of us present, we even each other out.

Why I'm Glad I'm Not Brian Williams

Brian Williams was recently asked a question. It's a very simple and straightforward question. It might take a little time for someone to come up with an answer he or she likes, but most people should give a viable answer. Brian Williams, however, must be difficult. Read on:

The question: Who Will Be Person of the Year in 2007?

Mr. Williams's answer: "My nominee for 2007 Person of the Year is a woman--a woman with a history of abuse, a woman who has never run for elective office, someone we all know, someone who makes her presence known on a daily basis in all our lives and, for my money, is better than any male alternative. That woman is Mother Earth. I think the environment is the compelling issue of our time."

Okay, so who can tell me what Mr. Williams did wrong? Think really hard. Do you think he should have chosen a person instead of a planet? Almost any person who has been mentioned on the news could do. It would be debatable, but it would be an answer that fits the question. I have to give it to him for starting to fool us at the beginning of his answer. It was very creative and humorous; but in the end, he showed himself to be the idiot environmentalist that he is.

I am not saying that if you are an environmentalist you are automatically an idiot. I won't agree with you, but I'm sure I can respect your opinion to some degree. But to stoop so low as to pretend the earth is a person is ridiculous.

Maybe Brian Williams could have used an example answer to help him create his own. Here's what Aretha Franklin's answer was:

"There are a number of people who truly deserve this award. However, Bill Cosby is my selection because of his work and involvement in the crisis in the African-American community. Bill's objectives are to alleviate some of the problems and issues facing the community today. He truly represents a universality and global brotherhood, and in his heart and soul, he cares deeply about people."

Wow. First off, she mentioned a living person. Good start. Then notice how she actually listed very compelling reasons why the mentioned person should be 2007's person of the year. I now have a deeper respect for the lady who asked for it back in the day.

Semester's End

I just checked my final grade for my Advanced Tax Topics class...

Aah! It's not an amazing grade, but it is better than I expected. I figured I did better on the final than on the mid-term, but I did a lot better. One semester down, ??? more to go.

My brother's 20th birthday is Friday, and on that day, he'll be coming home for Christmas break. My mom told my dad and me last night that she would like us to eat out to celebrate the occasion. Upon hearing this, I thought something like, "Eat out? Hmm. What is that? Isn't that, like, weird? Don't we have food here at the house?"

My family and I practically never eat out anymore. Unless we are traveling to Florida to see family, in Florida, or Florida family happens to be up visiting us. Other than that, it's like, what's the point?

And my mom is actually telling us that we need to get him presents. I'm okay with this, but the idea that we have to is new to me.

My brother's an egg nog fan. Should I load up every available corner of the fridge with this drink? Or should I buy him a bunch of his favorite candies? The suspense! The indecision!

Annoyances

Why is it the things that get under my skin the most are the small things my family does? If some other person was nasty to me, it would probably bother me less than if one of my family members did "that" again. How silly is that?

Christmas Poll Results

If you had to go without one thing this Christmas season, what would you choose? (By choosing one thing, you must have everything else listed... choose wisely.)

Christmas tree & decorations 1 (12%)
Presents (giving & getting) 2 (25%)
Family (Please, no one choose this.) 1 (12%)

---I should have known better than to give this as an option. :)
Holiday dishes & sweets 2 (25%)
Entertainment (tv specials & holiday movies) 2 (25%)

It looks like a few of you agreed, but we were all over the answers. I'm glad my readership is a diverse bunch. I'll try not to talk about Christmas too much more, at least in the commercial sense.

Hickspeak Revisited with Snow

Okay, my friends... Remember when I was poking fun at my dad's side of the family for how they pronounce some words as if they might be hicks? Well, I might be a hick, too.

Yesterday evening my Advanced Tax Topics group gave a presentation on illegal trust schemes. Whenever I was supposed to say "illegal" I ended up saying "eellegal!"

Maybe I should just give up and let my hick side envelop me, much like how Peter Parker gave in to his dark side in Spider-Man 3.

On my drive home there was enough unplowed snow that I needed to significantly lower my driving speed, but it was worth it... pretty snow! I love it when you can see the individual flakes softly falling from the sky against the backdrop of the night.

In honor of the first decent snowfall of the pre-winter season, here is Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, and some other person singing "Snow" from "White Christmas."

Breathe In Breathe Out

Okay, I like Mat Kearney's music. And this song, being his newest, is my favorite of his. The video's not bad, but I have one main complaint... his shirt. It seems effeminate. Does anyone else agree or am I alone on this?

Christmas Hoopla

Last week someone asked me a question that I had never been asked before. And "Do you go to Grace?" was not it. The question? Drum roll please...

"Are you Jewish?"

A client and I were making small talk and we came to the topic of what we are and aren't doing for Christmas. I mentioned that my family doesn't do much, which brought on the aforementioned question. I smiled and responded with something like, "No, we're Christian. We just don't do much."

When my brother and I were younger and we had family in the area, Christmas was a bit of a production... Christmas tree all decked out, presents waiting under said tree, stockings stuffed the night before, loads of expectation, going to my grandparents' home, etc., etc.

Now it's basically Thanksgiving repeated, except we eat ham instead of turkey and we have a couple of decorations sprinkled throughout the house. And I guess we do give each other some presents, but they're very practical and/or inexpensive. That's how it goes.

I get the impression that most holiday gatherings (or non-gatherings) tend to be like this unless there are children involved. Then that's when the hoopla shows up.

NaBloPoMo Completed!

Yes! We made it through NaBloPoMo! If it wasn't for all of your comments, I just don't know if I could have kept going. This month proved to be a difficult and trying time as I attempted to come with something halfway interesting every day.

As of tomorrow, I don't know how often I will post. The challenge of posting every day did put in me a desire to update more often. The day just doesn't feel complete without it. But for your benefit, I should probably stick with posting only when I actually have something to say.

Familiar Face

I ran into an acquaintance from high school last night. We said "hey" and talked for a couple of minutes. When we went our separate ways, I felt like I had just caught up with an old friend. However, I don't remember us ever talking to each other back in the day. I knew who he was and he must have known who I was, but that was it... Maybe it's just the nicety of seeing a familiar face, someone with whom you share a connection, however small.

Love Challenge

Let me challenge us to tell our families we love them. Not just a passing "luv u" but actually expressing how much we love them, glad they're still around and/or something we appreciate about them.

Christmas Music

Last week I was somewhat annoyed whenever a Christmas song would come on the radio. This week, bring it on! I got out my Christmas collection and have added it to my playlist at work. I've got oldies, new ones, jazz, Celtic... you name it! And I keep borrowing my boss's James Taylor Christmas music!

Snow

I looked outside to see... snow! It's not the first, but it's not even winter yet, so it is a welcome sight.

And now I have "Snow" in my head from "White Christmas."

"Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow!"

Wow. When you look at the word, it looks strange. (looking) Now it looks normal again. Huh.

Surely I Can Trust Him

I'm a complainer. I might not whine out loud very often, but my head can be filled with empty complaints. The slightest thing and I'll think, "Woe is me!" Especially when it comes to the unknown or requests I have brought to God. But I've seen Him working recently. He's guided my steps on some questions I've had for a few months. Surely I can trust Him with my other unknowns.

And the ultimate matter in my life is resolved: I am safe. Eternally safe. No matter how I mess up on this side of life, the blood Jesus shed on the cross for my sins covers me. He can be trusted.

24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26Such a high priest meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

(Hebrews 7:24-28)

Thankful

I'm thankful for my family. Not every moment, but most of the time. And this week I was reminded of how God has kept them safe. He doesn't promise that they will always be around, but so far they have been. That is something.

Family Whereabouts

Mom is reading in her room. Dad is napping on the couch. Brother is watching football. I am preparing to battle my evil nemesis, the end-of-semester project.

Remember the Days When...

• You tried to make cream of wheat all by yourself, but find that it is still too difficult for you. (The proportions got reversed and it became rock of wheat.)
• You got in trouble with your mom for saying, "Crap!"
• You were sent to your room for throwing pizza at your little brother. (He made you angry, so you threw at him what was in front of you... The sauce got in his eyes and he cried like a baby.)
• You wanted a U2 cd for your birthday, but your mom didn't approve. (He called Sunday "bloody!" It's a holy day!)
• You couldn't wait to grow up so you could have your own place with your own rules.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here. My brother is home. Food has been eaten, dessert served. Naps have been taken.

Speaking of my brother... My attention was drawn to his hair, since he is sporting the "no effort" look at the same time as the "let it grow out a bunch" look. His hair is basically everywhere. After I pointed this out, he pulled it back to mockingly please me. But this backfired, for it revealed his... receding hairline! And his 20th birthday will be next month! Poor, poor brother.

"There's still a tomorrow."

This is something I heard yesterday. The speaker was just thinking aloud how, yes, there will still be business going on today, Wednesday.

But looking at the quote, it's comforting, uplifting. Whatever you did or didn't do today, good or bad, there's still a tomorrow.

Dream Themes

My dream from the other night is not typical. I don't normally remember several details to movie-like dreams. They're normally more mundane and vague.

Some themes I have had include:

• Running away from someone/something - child

• Trying to find/complete something, not always knowing what it is - child/recent

• Being in a store, not able to make up my mind about what I'm going to buy - teen/recent

They're not normally scary. They just have a general anxiety to them. Recently, though, they tend to end on a lighter note.

Step Inside My Dream World...

This is an excerpt from part of the dream I had last night:

I was walking home from my South Bend class but ended up in what was supposed to be Winona Lake. John Mayer was giving a concert while some of my past friends were studying/drinking coffee at tables. John would rant about sports in between songs.

Then the setting morphed into a big city with touristy places like museums. My family and I, along with a large group of people, walked into one. I think we were a church group. We started looking around and talking with each other when a guide of the museum told my dad something. My dad's expression immediately dropped from a smile into a concerned frown. I asked what it was and my dad said I wouldn't want to know. The guide turned to me and said, "The corpses of psychic Jews are buried in a tomb underneath this building."

As soon as these words were spoken, I looked outside the window to see locusts swarming the city. Our group proceeded upstairs where we found the zombie-like Jews waiting for us. There was tension in the air. They were going to attack us. However, they decided they needed to challenge us to game of kickball. I don't remember who won, but I have the feeling we were ahead most of the time.

Note: I have nothing against Jews. This is what my crazy mind concocted.

Hebrews 13:20-21

20May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Group Paper

One of my groups from school just finished a paper, and I was a bit of a help to them. Yeah! The feeling of accomplishment! Soak it in...

Life Is Funny

Thanksgiving's Coming!

One week from today is Thanksgiving! And yesterday I found out that my brother will be coming home on Tuesday (not Wednesday like I had previously thought). So, the current brother counter is set to 5 days!

Chewbacca Sweater

A couple months ago I bought a beige button-front cable cardigan. I've been wearing it almost everywhere I go--kind of a convenient comfort blanket that keeps me warm. Due to it becoming fuzzier and more warn, I'm starting to think of it as my Chewbacca sweater.

"Now is the Best Time to Quit" w/ Special Guest "Hot Beverage Vending Machines"

Walking from my car to my classroom last night, I saw a poster that said, "Now is the best time to quit," in big letters. There was a small cigarette somewhere on it, and I knew it was referring to smoking, but my mind immediately fell on school.

Yes! Now is the best time to quit! Just as projects are nearing due dates and uncertainty about what I'm doing is creeping up on me again, maybe I should just turn around, walk back to my car, and drive home, never to return again. If anyone asks me what happened, I can tell them I only obeyed the sign they posted by the entrance.

I do plan on sticking out the rest of the semester and taking another class next semester. But I'm not completely convinced this is my thing.

Also, I would highly discourage you from sampling the offerings of the hot beverage vending machines sprinkled throughout the IUSB buildings. The coffees (whether regular, decaf, or latte) are all somewhat decent. They do in fact resemble their labels. However, the hot chocolate has a strong metallic flavor, and the tea looks and tastes like very weak coffee.

It seems there's no winning...

Say I am faced with an opportunity to do something good, to help someone. If I don't do that good thing, I will most likely feel guilty afterward and beat myself up about it for a while. If I actually do that something to some extent, even if it is something very small, I get all bloated with pride... And then I beat myself up about it.

Maybe it takes lots of prayer and a little growth.

Baby Shower

I went to the baby shower yesterday afternoon. It was good to see some people I hadn't seen in a while. One of my friends who put it on is also expecting. Crazy. I don't want to even imagine having kids right now.
While there, we played some baby shower games. And I won a prize! You will all be proud to know I have honed my scent-recognition skills to the point where I can kind of tell what baby food I am smelling if it isn't labeled. Who knows if it will actually come in handy.

"Sunday" Post

Can't sleep. So I'm getting my Sunday post out of the way.

Today was good. Today was really good.

Baby shower tomorrow for someone I graduated with in high school.

I'm Dreaming of a White Veteran's Weekend

I drove to South Bend this morning to work on a group assignment. Man! All throughout Kosciusko County it was WHITE! Fog or whatever you call it. Some idiots didn't have their headlights on. You could hardly see lights at intersections, etc. Not long after entering Marshall County it was better.

Hickspeak

The other night at supper I was reminded of my hick roots. I've let it out. Feel free to shun me.

My parents and I were talking about the interesting and not so interesting parts of our day. During our conversation, certain words were brought up. They included "will" and "filling." My mom and I pronounce them like most of you probably would. My dad, though, says "wheel" and "feeling."

My dad's parents are worse. "Wash" becomes "warsh." And if I'm correct, "tour" (a fluid "too-er") becomes "ter." Unfortunately, that is all I can remember right now. Maybe in a future point in time I'll compile a hick vocabulary list.

My Alarm Clock, the Morning, and Me

The first few times my alarm goes off in the morning, I'm not necessarily ready to get up. And most of the time, I don't even realize that my alarm went off. I'm so out-of-it that I think something else happened.

Like today. My alarm goes off. I roll over, annoyed, thinking some stupid Frenchman made an annoying comment on my blog. I think, "Annoying Frenchman!" and push the snooze button, thinking I have silenced the evil Frenchman. (Apparently I hate France. Who knew?)

A few buzzings later, and I realize... there is no evil Frenchman. All that exists is my alarm clock, the morning, and me.

Some other morning imaginings I have had include being involved in a debate with some friends, meeting with a client at work, and finishing a tax return. I'm sure there's more, though.

Isaiah 31:1

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD.
(Isaiah 31:1)

Seek help from the LORD!

Say It in English!

In Pre-K, we have the kids memorize a verse. It's normally a very short verse, and a lot of the time it involves them just repeating after the teacher.

Recently, we have been saying the verses in different voices. We'll say it in a normal voice, a squeaky voice, a deep voice, and any other voice the kids come up with. This Sunday, one of them insisted on saying it in English. The teacher kept telling him that we already were saying it in English, but he didn't seem to get it. Maybe he was thinking of an English accent?

Imagine That

Yesterday I brought a concern of mine to God. It's not that I hadn't mentioned it to Him before, but this time I truly talked to Him about it, instead of just venting in His general direction. As a result, I'm freaking out less and feeling more at peace about it, remembering that I am not the center of the universe. Imagine that.

Fall Back

Last night we fell back, giving ourselves another hour. This action, along with the sun setting earlier in the evening, has caused it to be quite dark outside at this moment of 6:30 p.m. I do not like this one bit. Someone must pay...

The Best Season Is Fall.

This is what 80% of you have expressed. I think I agree with you. It does, after all, house the best holiday: Thanksgiving.

But Christmas is better than Thanksgiving, you might say. Yes, Christmas celebrates Christ's birth, but it has been too tainted by commercialism to be on my list of favorites. Even if I tell myself not to get caught up in it, I still get let down once the day comes and goes.

Thanksgiving, however, has less expectation, so it has less room for disappointment. Also, Christmas is still around the corner, so the warm fuzzies don't die once the last slice of pumpkin pie has been served.

Maybe part of my lack of enthusiasm for Christmas has to do with the fact that I just spend it with immediate family: Mom, Dad, brother. We don't have much family nearby, so we're stuck with each other. Now that my brother's away at school, though, it does give me something to look forward to. At this current point in time, I am counting down the days to when I get to see my brother for Thanksgiving... eighteen days!

I Don't Know

Warning: If you talk to me, be prepared to be frustrated or annoyed. I cannot guarantee it, but it's a likely possibility.

I might say, "I don't know," multiple times when trying to express myself. The sad thing is, this is my best attempt.

My brother and I get along pretty well, but on occasion it becomes obvious that he finds his communication skills superior to mine. I have to just shut my mouth sometimes, because I know what I have to say (or not say) will annoy the heck out of him. Due to my somewhat recent considerations for my brother, he has called me his self-censoring sister.

NaBloPoMo

It has come to my attention that November is National Blog Posting Month. The goal? Post on your blog at least once every day. Can I do it? Yes! Will I post material people actually care about? I don't know. By the end I might be down to describing what I had to eat for the day.

Halloween

I am the designated candy-passer-outer at my house. If I didn't do it, it wouldn't get done, so I feel the need to step up and fill this vital role.

After two hours and 135 visitors, I felt like a broken record. "Hey! Here you go! You're welcome!" On occasion I got to say, "You okay?" if one of the little ones fell over on our step.

The number of visitors this year is probably close to what we had last year. But for some reason, I prepared for 210 visitors... so we've got some leftover candy.

Dad suggested saving it for next year. Yeah, right. Even if every single piece of candy is something I can't stand, if it is in the house, it will find a way to disappear. Luckily, I had the sense to buy things I like to some degree. The chocolates will be the first to vanish. The hard candies will eventually follow, but only after some time has passed.

Maybe I'll prepare for around 150 next year. No more than 175! Or, how about as the evening progresses, I give out more than just 3 pieces per child, as I see fit? This last option is probably the most commonsensical, so therefore I must ignore it.

"And what were your favorite costumes that you saw?" you might ask. "Why, the superhero costumes, of course!" I would reply.

I love my boss. Especially today...

He was standing by my desk and asked for the phone number of a client whose file I had out. I pointed to the phone number, which happened to have our number printed next to it.

He dialed and waited a second when our line started to ring. We both looked at the ID to see who it was. Guess who was calling? Us. We both burst out laughing.

If my boss can dial a number without realizing it is his own, maybe I'm not so bad.

Visual Art

I don't appreciate visual art very much. I prefer music. But I found my way to an artist's blog a while ago and really liked a lot of his stuff. And his descriptions of how he works and what inspires him are interesting. These are a couple of my favorites: "Cherry Pop-Tart" (above) and "Cloud Study, New Mexico" (below).

Pre-K Joys

Most know me as Emily. But to some, I am Miss Emily...

Sometimes I help out in a Pre-K Sunday School class. All the kids have their own ways of being cute. Some have ways of trying to be in charge.

One of the kids has recently found the need to refuse washing his hands after using the boys' room. As I stand guard in the doorway, he starts exiting. I ask, "Did you wash your hands?" and position myself to block him from exiting the premises. He replies with "Yes!" I quickly respond with the grown up "I didn't hear any water. Let's wash your hands." I attempt to guide him to the sink at which point the boy insists I am trying to hurt him and exclaims, "I'm going to tell my mom!" I quickly proclaim, "Go ahead. Tell your mom I'm trying to get you to wash your hands." The joys of being a grown up.

We have a little singing segment during the morning, too. Without fail, every time the teacher asks them what song they want to sing, many of them insist on The B-I-B-L-E. We'll sing it a few times. Then we'll ask them what other song they want to sing. Guess what they all agree on? The B-I-B-L-E! This happens almost every Sunday.

I guess I'm not much better. At work I'll listen to the same cd or song multiple times in a row. But they last longer than just 20 seconds.

Etiquette Question #1

Is it okay to ask an acquaintance or a friend at a restaurant for a taste of something they ordered?

Earlier this month I was with a group of friends at a restaurant. One ordered a drink I had never tried. Throughout the meal I kept eying the drink, toying with the idea of asking him if I could take a sip. I ended up deciding against it. But could I have asked? Does the fact that something is a beverage make a difference?

Hot Objects = Bad

The hair straightener is for what? My hair. That's right. Don't get it near my actual face. Can I do that?

I look like I have a permanent pillow wrinkle on the side of my face. From my past experience, it will probably stay with me for at least a few days, possibly a week.

Put another tally mark under "Emily messups" for the week.

Alter Ego

I've been thinking recently. (gasp) I should have an alter ego. Maybe something of a superhero, but not necessarily. Whoever or whatever it is, it has to be at least a little more interesting/cool/whatever than I currently am. So while I let ideas bounce around in my head, does anyone already have an alter ego that you wouldn't mind sharing?

Emily-Speak

I think my mind and my mouth operate on separate levels. There's probably a snag in the connection somewhere, because I keep creating new words. Maybe I'm a character in a sci-fi in which my programming has malfunctioned... Or was I programmed this way?

In elementary school I started to notice this "gift." It would show in switching what already exists. Like dipasear instead of disappear. Or deepin' breathly instead of breathing deeply. (Doing math at this time was tricky. 56 would become 65, etc.)

Now it's more of combining words or thoughts. Today, instead of saying inanimate object, I said inadjimate. And instead of pitiful or little, I said plitiful. I guess such vocabulary could be a time-saver while increasing the description. But doesn't it taint words and their meanings?

I dare anyone to converse with me and walk away understanding everything I've said (or what I meant to say). Maybe I need to compile an Emily-speak dictionary for anyone who comes upon me...

Me: Gobble-de-gook de blah blah!
Person: Huh?
(I point to dictionary tied to my neck. Person looks up above Emily-speak.)
Person: Ah! I never thought of it that way!

Lessons in Speaking

I could benefit from thinking before speaking. This doesn't negatively affect me all the time, but on occasion I feel less than tactful.

I was talking with someone this week who is old enough to be my mom, but not much older than that general age range. So she's really not old. But she was telling me how she received the oldest female participant award for a walk/run type event. She acted as if it wasn't anything, but me, trying to be nice, started to say, "No! That means you're still..." I was cut short by her laughter and me biting my tongue.

And sometimes, when trying to be tactful/nice/say anything at all, I end up saying words that when strung together make no sense or cancel out each other's meanings.

Or even better... I'll be talking with someone, taking a certain viewpoint, but by the end of the conversation, I might be making statements that are in conflict with my previous viewpoint, without realizing that I've done anything strange.

Is anyone offering free lessons in everyday speech for the tactfully- and rationally-impaired?

Marriage: Is It Worth It?

I'm not asking if specific people should get married, but if marriage in general is worth it. Someone close to me thinks that people would be happier if they never got married, never had to deal with reconciling their own habits and viewpoints with those of someone else.

In general, I can see where he's coming from. The people who are closest to you can be the ones that get under your skin the most. And by marrying someone, you become very, very close to another human being with flaws.

But at the same time, most of us do want companionship. Yes, friends and family are nice. They can be very nice. But they don't fill a specific void that many of us have.

And then there's the whole issue of if no one is marrying (while keeping their hands to themselves), then we'll all die off! Obviously this outcome is not truly possible. But it would be the result if everyone followed this advice.

The Answer: Actress

Congratulations! Two of you know me well enough to guess that I never would have wanted to be an actress. That would mean being watched by like... a lot of people. Not good. The closest I've gotten to being an actress was playing Emily Cratchit in the fifth-grade play "A Christmas Carol."

When I was in pre-school I remember wanting to play the violin professionally (took violin lessons throughout elementary school). When I was around first grade, I wanted to be a backup singer for James Taylor (sang along to the radio all the time). Throughout high school and college I liked the idea of editing books (I've edited a few things here and there). And in college I also liked the idea of being a cost accountant (got a degree in accounting/finance).

Add Spice to Your Day!

I never cease to amaze myself. I am brilliant! Let me expound...

Most people (ordinary people) think that a good day involves the usual: get up, go to work, come home, do a few other activities (maybe go to class), and go to bed. That's okay. That's ordinary. But that's not good enough for me. I need to add a little spice to my day. I need to lock my keys in my car. Yes, you read me right: lock your keys in your car to add spice to your day. It completely changes the feel.

Instead of exiting your evening class at 9:40 p.m. and going straight home, you need to dig around your bag for a full three minutes to realize that your keys are not buried underneath your auditing book or umbrella. Then you need to go to your car, hoping against hope that for some reason the car is unlocked (even though you vividly remember locking it--someone could steal something!) You need to unsuccessfully open your car door and then look longingly at the keys sitting on your seat. Proceed back inside, find a nice janitor who is willing to let you borrow his cell phone, call your parents (like a lost little girl--see a theme?)...

So here I am at a computer at IUSB while I'm waiting for my parents (not one, but both of them) to get here for the sole purpose of unlocking my car door. Then they get to go back home. With all of this, it will take up 2.5 hrs of my parents' time. 5.0 hrs if you add up each of their 2.5 hrs. That makes me feel... Not good. I apologized a few times on the phone to my parents, but somehow, that doesn't seem to cancel out my absentmindedness. Alzheimers, here I come!

But the plus side is, I get to add a new adventure to my IUSB experience!

Passing

My dad just finished talking to me again about my family, my ancestors, my blood. Today's topic was "passing as white."

Apparently, it is pure luck that as I walk down the street you cannot tell that I am Miami Indian. Nevermind that I am only 1/64th. In my mind, of course I'm going to look white! I'm 63/64 white!

You don't see me scavenging for berries or hunting squirrels with bow and arrow. Instead, I get in a car and drive to the supermarket. And if I get mad at someone, I stew about it or confront them. I don't take out my axe and holler like a banshee. (I'm sure my ancestors didn't do this all the time. Just some of the time.) :)

Also, if you happen to see my father, don't get him started on what the government owes us. He is very much a believer in small government, but he also thinks the government should keep their word (even if it is unlikely.) If I am correct, years ago, the government bought "our" land from "us." In return, we were supposed to receive a certain number of animals on our doorstep every so often. (I believe they were to be pigs.) Either the government never made good or they stopped not long after starting. So we've been scammed!

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Do you remember that 1980's Scottish song about walking 1,000 miles? I've been listening to it a bunch, along w/ the other songs there. I love their accent!

Pushing Daisies

I had no intention of watching the new show "Pushing Daisies" last night. But it was on, and I wanted background noise while I printed off a million pages of reading material for a class.

It was adorable! I have a new favorite show! Well, maybe it ties or comes in a close second to "The Office."

The premise is interesting... A guy (Ned) has the power to bring back to life whomever he touches, however, he has to touch him/her again within one minute or someone else will die in the person's place. (You can't cheat death.) BUT if he touches that person ever again, he/she will die for good. You can imagine Ned's life has its quirks with such a power.

In the first episode, he brings to life a female childhood friend (Chuck) to try to find out about her murderer. But he can't bring himself to touch her before the minute is over, so she lives (causing someone else to die). But if they ever touch again, Chuck will die. (Sniff.) And it turns out they kind of have a thing for each other, so it is painfully cute to watch. I'm hoping Ned finds a way around his curse in a future episode.

Did anyone else watch it? Thoughts?

Sweet Monkey Sundae!

Apologies to all. I do not know how to make this any bigger. Actually, I planned it to be this small. If you can't squint enough to see it, then you need a stronger prescription!

There's a few comics I look at online daily, and Get Fuzzy is one of them. I enjoy the banter of Bucky the cat, Satchel the dog, and Rob their owner. Unfortunately, I probably identify most with Satchel. (Read a few and you'll see...)

Arby's

Yesterday on my way to class I broke down... I got fast food. As I was approaching the Arby's at an intersection, my steering wheel mysteriously turned. Instead of going straight, I pulled into the parking lot and walked inside.

Immediately I felt out-of-place. The clientele at the particular Arby's/gas station/truck stop were all male and had at least one of the following: stubble/a scruffy beard, a tattoo(s), and roughed-up clothing. I think most had all three. Everyone stared at me like I was a lost little girl. But they all had pleasant looks on their faces, so I wasn't freaked out. (After all, no one was winking at me.) ;)

While scarfing down an Arby's roast beef sandwich with 2/3 of a packet of Arby's sauce in my car before continuing on my journey, I felt like a pig. Scarf, scarf! I don't do this all the time, I told myself. And so it begins...

Spider-Man 3 How It Should Have Ended

My favorite scene is when Peter cries. Nice.

Let Me Be Content

I heard on the radio today that Jerry Seinfeld makes $60 million a year just from reruns. Wow. That's a sizeable amount of money.

I tried to imagine what I would do if I made that much each year. My giving would probably increase sizably (I hope). I'd put more money into savings and investments. I'd buy some nice things. But what about the rest of it?

I can get to wishing I had more of this or that, but when it really comes down to it, I'm probably blessed that I don't have a lot. It would probably mess me up more than it would help me.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that (1 Tim. 6:8).

I have food, and I have clothing. Let me be content with that.

Car Crash

A few weeks ago, I heard Matt Nathanson's "Car Crash" on the radio on my way to South Bend. I instantly loved it:

I'm wide awake and so alive
Ringing like a bell
Tell me this is paradise
And not someplace I fell
'Cause I keep on fallin' down

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
'Til I'm satisfied
I wanna feel the car crash
'Cause I'm dyin' on the inside
I wanna let go and know
That I'll be alright, alright

Just push me 'til I have to fly
I've shed my skin, my scars
Take me deep out past the lights
Nothing dims these stars
Nothing dims these stars

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
'Til I'm satisfiedI wanna feel the car crash
'Cause I'm dyin' on the inside
I wanna let go and know
That I'll be alright, alright

So right
It's all wrong

I'm wide awake and so alive

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
'Til I'm satisfied
I wanna feel the car crash
'Cause I'm dyin' on the inside
I wanna let go and know
That I'll be alright, alright

They're not your typical feel-good lyrics. Why are they appealing? Because we can feel numb and used to the way things are/tend to be? Because we want something out of the norm to happen? Just to give us variety? So we can have something to put on our blogs? Or do you not find them appealing?

Winking

In one of my classes this week, I had a slight scare. No deer jumped in front of my desk, but I thought someone was winking at me. It was scary.

Upon further observation of the individual throughout the class, I noticed his eye seemed to involuntarily twitch every other second. Whew! I was relieved. No psychos out to get me yet.

Now, winking in and of itself is not bad. But it needs to be in the right context. If someone I hardly know who is old enough to be my father is winking at me, that's scary. In a different situation, winking might not be so scary.

Okay, now I'm picturing a deer winking at me. What am I on?

Queen of Waterspilling

I am the Queen of Waterspilling. Bow down and behold my clutziness.

When God created me, he gave me a special power. Nothing great like spidey-sense or the ability to fly. No, that would be too useful. I can spill a mug of water multiple times in one day without even trying! And in completely different ways, too!

I can spill it while pouring it into my mug. I can spill it walking up some steps. I can spill it when picking the mug up, setting it down, or bringing it to my mouth. I can spill it standing up, sitting down, or leaning against a wall. I can spill it intense in thought or void of any brainwaves. I can spill it alone or while someone is watching me.

The point is, if you need water spilled, I'm the girl to call. No job is too great or small. I handle them all!

My Greatest Good

I read an article tonight about an Equadorian woman serving in India. (The article starts on page 4, but there's other interesting stuff, too.) There were many interesting details, but the one that sticks out to me is an obvious sign she received from God. One of those "Okay, God, you have something for me but how can I do that?" followed by an almost immediate "Follow me this way!"

Sometimes I forget that God is really there. I know He is. I believe in Him and His Son. I'm trusting and relying. But I can get used to just praying, asking for something without truly expecting an obvious answer. Of course, His answers aren't always immediate or obvious... Sometimes (or almost always) they're, "Wait. Listen. Trust."

There's a poster I see on occasion that says something to the extent of, "Trust is believing that God has my greatest good at heart when he says no." I sometimes forget that God's "No" or "Wait" is in fact an answer, not just Him taking the easy way out.

Proper Deer Avoidance Procedure

I stand corrected! I did not follow proper deer avoidance procedure on Monday. I got my dad's squirrel hitting tips mixed up with deer avoidance. Do not break for small to medium size critters. What are they going to do to you?

The first and most important action in avoiding a deer is not swerving, just as I thought. However, it is good to break. Assuming you're not being tailgated, it sounds like "you should hit the brakes up until the very last second of impact; suddenly releasing the brakes will send the deer propelling into the roadway rather than into your windshield." This makes sense to me. It also makes me smile. "Take that!"

Next time a deer is in my way, watch out! It won't even touch me.

See other tips at http://thefuntimesguide.com/2005/10/how_to_avoid_hi.php.

Dirty Business

Okay, I have to post this... So I'm at work, the fax line rings more than just a few times, so I pick it up and say my little script saying who I am and the office I'm at. A lady immediately starts in about her pet and something about a stool sample. I'm thinking, Oh, my! Definitely wrong number. After asking me a question about when she can drop of her pet, I tell her again what office it is she called. It turns out the vet's office she was trying to call has the same number as our fax number. (So she says.) But if this is the case, why is this the first call for the vet's office that I know about? She had to have written down the vet's number incorrectly.

I think I'll stick to my current job. I don't feel a pull in the direction of taking care of animals' dirty business.

Car Update

It turns out the only real damage to my car was aesthetic and won't cost too much. However... After much deliberation, my household has decided that I give up my little Saturn (sniff) to my brother who's away at school. I will get the newer and more reliable of the family Buicks. It's for the best.

When stopping by the place that has my Saturn to take a peak at it and make a decision as to what I want to have fixed, I saw "the shiny cars." I'm not ready for one yet, though. I've thought that I'd like to have at least half of the money for whatever I get up front. I've got some, but not half. Save, save. I might start looking into what I eventually want to get.

On Tuesday when I was at work, my mom cleaned off my car. She was telling me there was definite meat attached to the fur that got stuck in my hood. Yum! My dad said the important thing is there's one less deer on the road. At which my mother immediately exclaimed, "No! The important thing is that Emily is alright!" Gotta feel the love.

Continuum

I listened to Continuum on my way to South Bend for my Tuesday evening class last night. When I listen to it, almost every time a new song starts I think, "I love this song!" And throughout my listening experience I exclaim, "He is sooo good!" It's the truth.

This cd does not give me my typical cd experience. I almost feel as if John Mayer and I are hanging out and he's just letting me know what's up, what he's been thinking about lately. I feel like we've been buddies since we were kids, but now he's made it big, and I'm proud of him. Silly, I know.

Jinx!

Time: 10:41 p.m.
Place: A booth at a Subway inside of a gas station
Reason: I just hit a deer.

I'm afraid I jinxed myself by putting up a poll about what car I might get if I ever decide to trade up. Okay. Time to come clean: I grazed a deer. But part of it is still very much attached to my car. (I always wanted a red car... not.) So here I am sipping an o.j. (I'm craving it because of my slight cold.) I'm waiting for my dad to get here so he can follow me the rest of the way home (just in case.) I'm still shaking a little bit. Let me tell you--I thanked God it wasn't anything worse.

I "called it in" with the Marshall County Sheriff's Dept., but we'll see the damage. I don't feel like spending much $$$. Again... yet to see the cost/insurance coverage, etc.

I'll have to borrow one of my parent's cars in the meantime. Yeah '90s Buicks! Ugghh. I prefer my little Saturn. Complain, complain... I'm fine. That's what matters. When driving at night, I sometimes morbidly imagine what might go wrong. Then I distract myself with music.

An update will follow later in the week. Maybe I'll post something happy! (Before hitting/grazing the deer, I was thinking about looking into songs that tell you to close or open your eyes--half of them are Snow Patrol.)

Oh, and if you see a deer wandering around Central Marshall County with half it's body missing, please tell it I'm sorry. :)

Overrated Compliments

"You did an excellent job of chewing and swallowing your food today!" You probably have not heard this particular bit of praise. But it exemplifies a very real category of compliments.

Here's the situation: Someone sees you. He also wants to give you some form of encouragement. So he tries to come up with something good you did, or some good quality you possess. He searches and searches for what might very well be an eternity. (After all, how often do you do something well?)

Then he remembers! Earlier in the day he saw you eating something. Maybe it was a banana, maybe an orange. The point is, it was something. And you managed to bite it, chew it up into pieces, and swallow without causing any harm to yourself or anyone around you. Aha! An accomplishment! A very minor one, but an accomplishment none the less. And so he proudly praises you for the wonderful job of chewing and swallowing that you so masterfully performed earlier in the day.

Now how do you feel upon receiving such a compliment? You might at first feel good about yourself. Yes, I did eat that banana, didn't I? But then after the comment sets in, you slowly come to realize what little value it holds. However, it's meaning can be piercing.

Not to worry. This is just an exaggeration. But it allowed me to get out some frustration I have in another situation. And it was fun to rant.

Sweater Breakup Songs Revisited

Okay, to my amazement, without even trying, I found another sweater breakup song last night. I was listening to John Mayer's latest cd (Continuum) and heard it. However, instead of a guy wanting to keep his sweater, it's a guy wanting his ex to have her sweater. So it kind of messes up my previous thinking... But it's another song!

JOHN MAYER
I'm Gonna Find Another You

It's been your word, you made your stand
You got me crying, as well as you planned
But when my loneliness is through, I'm gonna find another you

You take your sweaters
You take your time
You might have your reasons but you will never have my rhymes
I'm gonna sing my way away from blue
I'm gonna find another you

When I was your lover
No one else would do
If I'm false to find another I hope she looks like you
Yeah and she's nicer too

So go on baby
Make your little get away
My pride will keep me company
And you just gave yours all away
Now I'm gonna dress myself for two
Once for me and once for someone new
I'm gonna do somethings you wouldn't let me do
Oh I'm gonna find another you

Scent-Obsessed

I am a smell person (not to be confused w/ a smelly person.) Call me scent-obsessed. More and more I'm realizing that some of my favorite things are scents... freshly cut grass (already touched on), coffee, country air (when not near some dog food plant or diesel trucks), my hair after washing it/using product on it, tea, something baking in the oven, clean laundry right out of the dryer, squash or sweet potatoes cooking on the stove, honeydew melon, etc., etc.

But on second thought, I really like tasting food. And listening to music is good, too. Maybe I like all human experiences. Minus pain. But if you don't experience some pain, how can you appreciate what you have? Okay, I so did not mean to go onto some philosophical tangent. (Hardly.)

Philosophy was not my favorite class in college... Most of the time I was thinking, "So what? Who cares what Mr. Deepthinker thought hundreds of years ago concerning why we are here? Can we just go to the Bible and call it done?" Maybe I'm just not as intellectual as some other people.

Envious Thoughts

I have realized that I don't have enough envy in my life. The meter's pointing to medium and I need to get it back up to HIGH immediately! Now... What should I focus my envious thoughts on? A new wardrobe? A more comprehensive music library? How about a new car! All shiny and new... yeah. Maybe in 2009.

If you care at all about what my envious thoughts should be focused on, take part in my survey. Vote as often as you like!

Nerd type

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Musician Doo doo de doo waaaa doo de doo! (<-- That's you playing something.) Everyone appreciates the band/orchestra geeks and the pretty voices. Whether you sing in the choir, participate in a school/local band, or sit at home writing music, you contribute a joy to society that everyone can agree on. Yay! Welcome to actually doing something for poor, pathetic human souls. (Just kidding.)
Literature Nerd
Social Nerd
Drama Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Anime Nerd
Artistic Nerd
http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_be_your_nerd_type">What Be Your Nerd Type? http://www.gotoquiz.com/">Quizzes for MySpace

I need to stop taking these...

In the next life...

Today, it came to me. In the next life, when I'm in heaven, I'll be playing driving piano parts like Paul McCartney. Not that I deserve such a change, but if some of our activities are "dreams," then that's one of my activities.

Center of Attention?

Your score on this personality test was 67%

Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

Personality Quiz
Take More Quizzes

I'd like to think that I'm "kind, considerate, and understanding," (I'm not saying I am) but ... Fresh? Lively? The center of attention? This quiz creator obviously doesn't know me.

Heading south for the winter?

In the fall and winter, how do birds know which direction is south? If I were a bird, I wouldn't get anywhere...

I'd probably get all excited about going south for the winter, jump out of my little nest, and start on my way. Except I would be flying west, not south. Once I hit Nebraska, I'd probably start realizing my error and turn myself around, facing east. I'd fly back over Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, but continue through Ohio. Somewhere at the Pennsylvania border, I'd see I am still not ending up in the sunny South. At this point, I'd park my little wings in the nook of a gas station roof, and, frustrated, cry out to God, pleading with Him to get me where I need to be. (Any of my family members can attest to my lack of direction, as well as following directions.)

Here's the problem. I am not a bird. And I do not know where I need to be. There is no map. Not definite. Not tangible. Certainly not obvious to me. How do I know what's what? And what gas station can I stop at?

Sweater Break-Up Songs

A few days ago at work, I got a song stuck in my head. This happens all the time. But on this particular remembrance of "that country song," as I have known it as, I came to an amazing realization. Break-up songs tend to contain the word "sweater." I found this intriguing as I recalled other songs I know of, some of which are listed at the end of this post.

Why? Why are sweaters so personal? Why do we worry about where our sweaters are when we break up with someone? Maybe it’s because once you wear a sweater a few times, it becomes an extension of you. It is stretched and pulled, keeping it’s misshapen state for the rest of its life. It takes on your scent. How dare your ex keep your sweater! It’s yours.

Upon digging deeper, it also becomes evident that guys are the ones worried about their sweaters. No girls here. I can see why this is. The sweaters I own would look rather silly on a member of the opposite sex. (Imagining…) Yes. Yes, they would. (Smile.)

What are your thoughts on this matter? And can you think of any other sweater break-up songs? How many are there?

Cake: It’s Coming Down
It's coming down.
It's coming down.
It's raining outside.
You've nowhere to hide.
She's asking you
Why you think it's funny.
It's coming down.
It's coming down.
She's leaving your house.
She had to get out.
She's mad,
And she'll take her mattress with her.
It's coming down.
It's coming down.
It's coming down.
You lie on the floor.
She's slamming your door.
She's gone,
And she's wearing your red sweater.

Keith Urban: You’ll Think of Me
Take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don’t need ‘em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you’ll think of me
And take your cat and leave my sweater
Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact Ill feel a whole lot better
But you’ll think of me, you’ll think of me

Weezer: Undone – The Sweater Song
If you want to destroy my sweater
Hold this thread as I walk away
Watch me unravel,
I'll soon be naked
Lying on the floor (lying on the floor)
I've come undone

My apologies

The banner at the top of this blog might give you, the reader, the impression that most of the topics brought up will have some depth and relevance. My apologies. It is my intent to incorporate a little depth and a smidgen of relevance every once in a while.

Tornado warning

Two weeks ago my brother went back to college. But before he left, there was a night with somewhat bad weather. The two of us were in the kitchen while the tv was on for background noise. Whatever program was on at the time was interrupted...

TV robot voice: There is currently a tornado warning for the counties of Starke, Kosciusko... If a tornado is headed for you, please do not run towards it. Instead, seek shelter in a low, secure area away from windows. [Break -- Part of OutKast's song "Hey Ya!" plays. -- Break] Repeat. There is currently a tornado warning...
Me: What was that?
Bro: That was Andre 3000.
Me: I know. But, like, why?
Bro: I think they want us to know that if the tornado gets you, it will shake you like a polaroid picture.

My brother is a genius. Ask him anything, and he's got the answer.

Warning!

I've had my suspicions for months, but now I am convinced: my boss is trying to kill me.

While lunching in a back room at work, I noticed for the first time that one of the containers on the table has a label which states, "Warning: This product contains chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer." A comforting thought.

However, I do not live in the state of California and do not plan on making the move, so maybe I'm okay.

Signs you didn't get enough sleep last night

An undeveloped "market" has recently come to my attention. Let's say you're not a good judge of whether the amount of sleep you had the night before was adequate. How can you tell? Who do you turn to? No need to worry... a book is in the works:

"Signs you didn't get enough sleep last night":

-As you begin to awaken and sit up in bed, you start to fall asleep again, while sitting upright.

-The pillow wrinkles on your face are more noticable than last week's black eye.

-Your first thought after gaining coherency is "...cofffffee..."

-Your eyeballs feel like they might sink into their sockets.

-It takes you more than a minute to remember why you walked into a room.

-You ask your boss the all-important question, "You know today's Wednesday, don't you?" (He then looks at you like you're missing a few bolts.)

-You laugh almost uncontrollably at random, mundane thoughts.

Please, I am running low on material. In order for my book to actually be picked up and published, I will need other "signs" people have experienced...

Goodbye summer

In case you're wondering, no, I do not always stay up this late. Tonight is the exception.

As we are leaving summer and moving toward fall, let me bid the warmer months goodbye in my own special way...

One of my favorite parts about spring and summer is the mowing of lawns. I have only mowed my family's lawn for a total approximate time of two minutes. (I decided this was plenty for a lifetime.) But I love hearing the distant sound of a lawnmower going about its business. I find the hum cheerful and comforting. It says, "The sun is shining! Come outside and join me!"

One of the few things I like better than hearing a lawnmower is smelling freshly cut grass. The smell is sweet and refreshing, lingering hours and sometimes days after the actual cutting. Once you sense it, you just have to stop and take a deep breath to get the full effect.

This leads me to an idea I came up with earlier this year. As far as I know, no one else has carried these ideas out, so please don't steal my genius.

I would like to develop and market a set of grass clippings aromatheraphy candles along with a relaxation cd entitled "Hummings of the Lawnmower." I realize the cd will more than likely receive mixed reviews. However, I believe it will have a very practical use in soothing infants to sleep. And it's a much more manly Father's Day gift than the selections of "Babbling Brook" or "Whispers of the Wind."

I do believe, though, that the aromatherapy candles will be more widely accepted. And not just accepted, but acclaimed. So often scents are called "rain" or "spa." But what does "rain" smell like? Doesn't it actually have a distinct dustiness to it? And afterward, there is the smell of worms hanging in the air. And who knows what "spa" really smells like. But my soon to be patented "grass clippings" aromatherapy candles will not only truly smell like grass clippings, they will also smell amazing in doing so!

So in these next few weeks, the next time you hear someone mowing his or her lawn, smile. The next time you smell freshly cut grass, stop and breathe. For it won't be long before these summer treasures will fade away.

The Book

To clear up any confusion, "The Education of Little Tree" is not my favorite book. I have read it, but I only remember that it involved a Native American boy who lived w/ his grandparents who enjoyed reading to him from the dictionary every evening. I've had the thought about being a tree (as greeny as that sounds) for a while, but not until a couple days ago did the name come to me. Although I did steal it, I guess.

Random Ideas

Right now this is just going to be a place for me to put random ideas. More for my benefit than anything. We'll see if it evolves.