Blast From The Past

Once upon a Thursday, I was leaving the Salt Lake Airport when I heard someone call my name. I turned to find myself facing a friend from college. A friend I haven't seen since in over 2 years. A friend who lives on the other side of the country.

WOW.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"I'm headed to Idaho for my sister's wedding.  What are you doing here?" he replied.

"Coming down from Idaho for a wedding."

Go figure.

Looking Up

At last.

Things are getting better.

And my vacation is within grasp.

And I'm getting things on the To Do list done.

Happy, happy happiness.

Flirt

I am the worst flirter in the whole wide world. Not as in, "shameless flirt," though. More like, "Can't Flirt To Save Her Sorry Life." Those of you who know me know this to be as true a fact as I could ever say.

I see you nodding your head over there.

But today, apparently, I am good at it. Today, I stole a boy's man's heart. Today is the day he fell for me.

Tomorrow will be the day he asks me out. Just you wait.

Spreeeeee

Benefits of being a Professional Party Planner:

--You get to spend someone else's money.

--You get to take a break from your desk job to be creative. And go shopping.

--You are a superhero.

                Credit Card Lady.

You're Back!!!

OK. I think we can say that Thursday is fully redeemed.

Getting to totally fix-up my hair (with flowers!) without being thought I'm weird. (Thank you, Halloween!)

Getting to wear my fun maid-of-honor dress for storytime.

Getting access to a smorgasbord of Halloween/Autumn goodies.

Getting closer to my big program (and its accompanying stresses) almost being over.

Getting to wish Happy Birthday to one of the most awesome Tigers I know.

Oh yes. It is a glorious Thursday with much to smile about!

Worth celebrating

My 20th Baptism anniversary--that is definitely worth Thursdayness. And part of celebrating was making a big, delicious southern meal. Not sure what else exactly makes it southern, except it's fried.

Mmmmmmm.

So...a needle...

Bob's birthday may be tomorrow, but I'm working on his birthday present today. Sweet homemakeral skills in use for a dearly beloved. That's a happy Thursday!

Who First?

Again. Again!!!

Are you just taking vengeance, Thursday?

Or maybe it's because Thursdays did take a turn for the worse and that's why none of us felt amazingly inspired to write.

Maybe it's a chicken and egg thing.

Well, I'll look on a positive side.

Apple pie!!!

With cheese!!!!!!!!

Maybe it's an unreasonable yet determined faith in you.

*sigh*

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

You heard us. Didn't you, Thursday? You heard us discussing how we were too busy, and you decided to take vengeance on me. But I will stay stay loyal and true. Why? Because you made up by the teensiest bit. Was it a peace offering? A sign of hope? While I know right now it's the dangling carrot, it's still wonderful news to hear:

Josh Groban's new CD release date was announced today!

Some days...

...you just gotta look cute.

Especially on a Thursday.

The Whole Enchilada

I'm not saying I haven't done any of my Visiting Teaching in the last 2+ years. I'm not saying I haven't made visits. I'm not saying I haven't been in homes to teach. And I'm not saying I haven't taught with my companion.

But today, I was able to teach my Visiting Teachee, in her home, with not just a companion but my assigned Visiting Teaching companion.

Good job, Thursday.

Just Talking

[from my 2010 Joy & Gratitude post today]

I spent an hour and a half just talking to my supervisor. During work hours. Oops. But then, we don't often get a chance to just talk. And I think it helps. No. I know it helps. It helps me a lot. And I've always wanted to be better friends with her, even before she became my supervisor. Sometimes I feel so distanced from her in so many ways. But today, that talk made me feel like we had more in common than I would have realized. And that she accepts and understands me.

And not only did that mean a lot to me, it was something I needed. Really needed.

Thank you, Thursday. You have been redeemed.

If You Want Something Done Right...

... you've got to do it yourself.

I went to a job fair today, and half of the booths and workshops were geared towards entrepreneurs.

That little dream I've had for a few years--the one about starting my own design and marketing business--started tapping me on the shoulder. Hello, it whispered in my ear. I'm right here. 

I tried to brush it away with the back of my hand, but it just moved over to the other ear. Maybe it's a sign, it said. Maybe they're all telling you to pay attention to me.

"I'm scared," I whispered back. "I don't know how to handle you. I'm just a kid pretending to be a grownup. I can't start a business. And besides, don't you have to have money to do that? I need a job. I don't exactly have any money."

Still, I went to the workshop for start-ups. "Twenty-five dollars," Lecture Lady said. "That's all it takes to register with the Secretary of State as a sole proprietor."

Twenty-five bucks? I thought. That's it?

See? said The Little Dream.

"Leave me alone," I said.

I don't listen to myself very often.

Top Secret Faker

I wasn't going to do this.  I didn't want to talk about this new WIP much yet, and I really hate to post something with my concept online. But seeing as only a small number of people actually read this blog, I think it's safe to post it here. But shhhhhhh, don't tell anyone.

I'm suuuuuper excited--even if it is just a fake cover. Someday it'll be real though. Someday...

Belief

I...

I feel betrayed.

Not one, but two Thursdays. In a row!

I--I can't even talk about it without jeopardizing the joy of Thursday for others.

But I believe in second (and third and fourth and...) chances. And in understanding. And in forgiveness. And in redemption.

So, Thursday?

Let's see what you've got next week, 'K?

Zzzzzzzzz

Thus sayeth my father: "You're about to fall over, Jess."

And then I did.*


*Just kidding. But almost.

The Nerve and The News

On the not-so-happy hand, I was sworn at today. More than once. Over the phone. Quite loudly. And from someone who is not a library patron.

The nerve of them. On Thursday.

But that's OK. Because I'm already laughing at it and thinking how pathetic and unprofessional of them.

Plus--I got approval to take off 2 days next week, which will coincide with my Friday off because I work Saturday. That means I will get 3 whole days in. a. row. entirely off from work! Only a joy and start of anticipation of news like that could happen on one day.

Yep. On Thursday.

Different Strokes

I've canoed with 14-foot gators.

I've rafted class 4 rapids.

And as of today, I've kayaked the Erie Canal.

*Sigh* I love paddle sports.

Over.

The bigger stresses of the SRP--which thankfully comes to its official end this Saturday, but not its technical end until next Saturday--ended for me.

Today.

Yep. On a Thursday. And my brain and self immediately decided to just shut down once my last storytime of the summer ended. Which isn't good, since there are still things to get done before the technical end. And I worry about the after-major-stress effects, which never pan out well for me.

But for today, this Thursday, it's over.

Thank you.

It's Not Personal, It's Constructive

I love criticism.

Mmmhmm. I do.

I really do, promise.

Why are you looking at me that way?

Okay, so I don't really love it.  In fact, I hate it. I hate it a lot. But I have to pretend to like it because it's important.  And it's useful. And it helps me to be a better writer.

I rarely share what I write with people I don't know and trust.  It scares the Dickens out of me. But this week, I participated in the amazing WriteOnCon conference, and I could not pass up the opportunity to have my work critiqued.

I posted my query letter (I was too chicken to post anything else) and waited.  And waited. And waited.  And I got a glimpse of what it must be like to wait for agents to respond.  I checked my email every five minutes. I drank some water.  Checked again.

Finally, three lovely individuals critiqued my query and very politely told me that it wasn't perfect.

WHAT?! I've spent hours on that thing! What do you mean it's not perfect?

Confession time: I threw a mental conniption fit worthy of an American Idol reject. Prideful Brain shouted, "But my friends all tell me it's good!" while Sensitive Brain cried, "Waaaah! I'm the worst writer in the world!! I'll never write again! I give up!"

And then the quiet little voice of Rational Brain got tired of being ignored and yelled, "HEY! Would you two please shut up and listen to me for a second?!"

Rational Brain rarely makes a big deal out of anything (I mean, come on, let's be practical...), so Prideful Brain and Sensitive Brain were quite shocked. They looked over at Rational Brain, who stood there with arms crossed, her foot tapping with annoyance.

"Look," she said. "You two are taking this way too seriously, and you need to grow up."

Prideful Brain took offense to that. "Hey!"

"Chill out," said Rational Brain. "These people are only trying to help you."

"They said I'm terrible," Sensitive Brain sniffed. "They said they hated it."

"Where?" said Rational Brain.  "Show me."

Sensitive Brain looked at the comments made by the Three Critiquers for a long time before giving a sad little shrug.

"See?" said Rational Brain. "They didn't say that you're terrible, and they didn't say that they hated it. They gave you some suggestions for things you can fix to make it better.  What did you expect? You wanted people to tell you how to make it better, didn't you?"

Prideful Brain shook her head. "I wanted them to tell me it was perfect and that I needed to send them my full RIGHT NOW and that they'd make sure the editors agreed to a $1,000,000 advance and--"

"Okay," Rational Brain said.  "Let's be realistic here.  If these people are telling you things need to be fixed, do you really think your future readers aren't going to say the same thing? And aren't you glad you're getting feedback that helps you address your query's issues before an agent sees it? Maybe if you'd actually listen to these people, your future agent will say it's perfect and they want your full. I mean, it's not probable, but it's more likely if you take the time to get some feedback and work things out."

Prideful Brain scuffed her shoe against the dirt. "I guess so."

"See? That's better. Constructive criticism is good for you.  Now, go take your vitamins."

Prideful Brain grinned.  "Fat chance!" she said, then skipped off to eat ice cream before dinner*.

The End. 

*True fact

Fame! I'm gonna live forever!

While we're on the fridge show-off kick, I'd like to add one of my own. Here is an article that came out this week in a community section of a local paper (the same day I was in a completely different paper for a completely different reason, that not only included a picture, but was on THE front page!):

[LDSJaneite], children’s librarian...is a bit of a sleuth. She’s been searching for a special program to attract young teens to the library. Thanks to her creativity and resourcefulness, she has a winner, probably in need of a quick copyright. The “Clue Did It?” library mystery program...was an original combination of “Clue” and “How to Host a Murder Mystery Party.” The victim is a Dead Book, and there are six likely suspects, including I. Ken Reed, Bess Sellers and Medda Fore, with prior offenses such as eating and running in the library, losing books or turning in books late. Among the six likely weapons are chewing gum, greasy fingers and the cruel and unusual scissors. After a 10-minute, very animated power-point orientation with [LDSJaneite] embellishing each character and weapon, the dozen participants formed four teams and were off with the riddled clues to solve the crime. Their casebooks and clues led them to the stacks, reference desk, the children’s room, periodicals, membership and circulation. Initially, the crime-solvers were a bit baffled, since they didn’t know what they were actually looking for; but once the first clue was discovered, the game was afoot! BoJangles and Subway coupons were the reward for using detective and deductive processes in this unlikely but likeable library crime. This would make a great educational birthday party event.

Now, I know it was not a Thursday that the original event took place.

And I know it was not a Thursday that the article came out.

But it was a Thursday--namely today--that a librarian from Nova Scotia contacted me, asking me for more details about my mystery program. Talk about unexpected fame and honor!!! I'm completely aghast! I don't know what to do with myself except eat brown rice with broccoli and fresh basil and then look for something in the not-too-sweet sweet side--for they can be rewards as well as stress-easers!

Fridge

I'm starting to feel like Thursday Chronicles is my virtual fridge.  I feel like a kid who comes home from school to show you what I made.  The fridge is getting a bit cluttered by now, but apparently Thursdays are my most creative day because I have another thing to show off.  Let's find another magnet to hold the ad I designed for the Kwahadi Dancer's brochure:

I'm just a wee bit proud of this one.

Thanksgiving

I know it's a little early to be busting out (the very, very few) Thanksgiving songs, but I've been craving turkey, cranberries, and family. I love Thanksgiving.

But more importantly, one line from one of my favorite songs has been running through my mind over and over this past week:

"Even though we could all do more, there's so much to be thankful for."

Amen, Josh.

PS Thanksgiving is on a Thursday! I can't wait!

I've Missed You

I've had to take a break from writing/revising lately, due to a few other projects I had on my plate. But as of today, all side projects are FINISHED, and I have returned to dote on my first love for the rest of forever.

Things have changed while I have been away. The name of MC for example--and just about everyone else in the book for that matter. The 2 first chapters are OUT, and I have to figure out a way to include all that information elsewhere. This is going to be a lot of work, but it's totally worth it.

And don't tell my book, but I think this time apart has been good for our relationship.

Oh hi, Book #2. How are you doing? *cough*

Oh man. That's not awkward at all...

P.S. I'm going to make some changes to the look of the blog. I never intended to leave it looking like this, but you know how life goes. Be excited! Be very excited! And to my lovely co-bloggers: if you have any ideas/suggestions, please send them my way. :)

Also, there is is currently a cat caterwauling outside my tent. I love Philmont.

It's All Fun and Games

I love my degree, and I love that I get to use it every day with my current job.

I am currently planning the 2010 PTC Philfiesta, and it is going to be an epic (if I do say so myself) Choose-Your-Own Adventure Capture The Fort at the Stockade.

It's okay to be jealous.  I would be if I were you. ;)

I got to make some fun posters for the event, too:

*Sigh* I love my job.

a little breather

For a week full of mental horrendousness, I'm glad that today was just a bit less on that than the other days. Thank you, Thursday.

Deep Breath

It's hard to have your own weaknesses thrust in your face.

Someday I guess I'll have this all figured out.

But right now, I think a good cry and a deep breath will have to suffice.

Par-tay

It seems that budgeting and balancing has been falling on Thursdays these days. You would think that would be a downer. But it's Thursday. It just isn't possible. Because the Magic of Thursday helps me see at every Budget & Balance night, that I am that much closer to getting completely out of debt!

And then it's a party!!!!!

Unbearable

The bears are especially active this year.  Grumpy, too. The long winter and hot, dry summer have contributed to the decrease and general bear morale in the area, and their frustration with the errors inherent in the system has led to a handful of not-so-cuddly bear encounters.  But the headlines today assure us that things aren't nearly as bad as they might seem:

Somehow, giant bears made out of blusher don't seem that scary to me...

(Please excuse the re-post.  I forgot it was Thursday when I posted this on my other blog.) 

A Change in the Winds, Says I

Things are new in my life:

I finally, FINALLY, FINALLY have a full-time job.

I have a savings account.

My niece calls me "Sheepy." It's the cutest thing ever.

I opened a banana from the top (as opposed to the bottom) for the first time since the fourth grade.

I have a boyfriend. (Seeing this in print is weird.)

I'm in a book club. The "Nerd Book Club" to be precise.

I turned down a job! Let me emphasize that: I turned down a job. They, for once, did not turn me down.

Portland got hot. Hot and sunny. Make that hot and sticky. I love summer.

I ate sushi. It was more delicious than I ever anticipated or could possibly imagine.

The winds are definitely changing.

Falling

I hate feeling this way.

Hurt.
Alone.
Disappointed.
Betrayed.
Frustrated.
Tired of it all.

Sometimes I think people cross our path just to show us how stupid and vulnerable we are.

My Note to the Teacher(s)

Seems we're all taking turns for absences!

My only excuse is that Thursday got away from me. I know. That's terrible to admit about the Amazing Thursday. But when you're so busy you honestly can't remember if you just clocked out a few seconds previously or if you told other staff about the group you scheduled, let alone what day of the week it is!, well....

Please forgive me.

And please say I made up for it by filling my Thursday with food (cheese, chocolate, turkey, and strawberry pie), friends (I stopped by to say some hellos to people at various library branches), and fun (Day 2 of the Roommate Star Trek: Voyager Marathon).

Excuse Me

Now it's my turn to explain my absence last week.  It's nowhere near as cool as the reasons aforementioned by my Thursday Chronicles Cohorts.  The truth as plain as I can tell it is that the internet simply refused to work last Thursday.  It threw a temper tantrum of epic proportions--all because some pirate downloaded a copy of my favorite movie and now The Officials are involved in finding them. 

I went into the office today and Emily says, "So, why have you been downloading illegal copies of 'How to Train Your Dragon'?"

I knew that was going to happen.  Serves me right for trying to give positive reviews of a movie I love.  To everyone I know.  And maybe a few complete strangers...

"I Thought I Heard..."

The early elementary school years were amazing, music-wise. It was in this time that I learned such greats as

Do-Re-Mi

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Great Green Globs of Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts

The 49th Street Song

&

Polly Wolly Doodle

I learned last week (after announcing a particularly interesting sneeze on my part) that Amazing Jess has not heard of Polly Wolly Doodle. There might be so many others who haven't, so I thought I would enlighten.

I couldn't just tell you about it. I had to include something so you could hear it. And as I don't really like dealing with midi files and such online, YouTube seemed a good choice.

I'm not a big fan of Shirley Temple any more. Not like I was when I was younger. Yet I still have a loyalty to her because as a be-ringletted, singing-loving child myself, we had enough in common that I somehow cannot write her off as completely annoying. I tried her version. It did not have my favorite verse in it. Besides, I have straight hair this week.

I enjoy (cartoon) Alvin & the Chipmunks occasionally. Occasionally. This song seemed right up their alley. But they changed some of the words! And it was just a little too high at the end.

At last, I found one. A choir version. The words are pretty understandable in it, and it's a really fun rendition. Plus, I got this thing about choirs (having been in so many for so long).

So here you go, Wondering & Waiting World. Enjoy the Greatness of

Polly Wolly Doodle

Good 'Ole Fashion Stake-Out

I may be, in fact, the best sister who ever lived.

See, I live with my older brother and he basically finances my entire life. Needless to say, jobless me has very few options when it comes to repaying his generosity. For example, a few weeks back I watched his kids for a week while he and his wife were at a conference in Vegas.

Well, this Father's Day presented another opportunity. I'm typically the type who enjoys making gifts or at least searching long and hard for that perfect, meaningful something. But this year, with funds running short, I gave the gift of time and sleep.

Last night at 12:30 am I packed up the folding chairs, pita chips, Apple Jacks, and sci-fi novels and headed out to the Bridgeport Mall to wait out the night in front of the Apple Store, thus reserving a spot in the iPhone 4 line for my tech-loving brother who stayed at home to sleep so that he could go to work today. He met me at about 5:30 this morning. We finally left triumphant at 9:30 am.

I could have sold my spot in line for $150 cash. Did I? No. Instead, Daven is now a proud owner of the iPhone 4. I dunno what it does, or why it's so cool, or why hundreds of people showed up to wait for hours and hours. All I know is, I got the 29th spot in line. I'm pretty much the best sister in the known universe. (And yes, I'm totally bragging).

Happy Father's Day, brother.

I Know It Sounds Fishy, But I Bearly Saw You

I went fishing today.

It was the same place I went last time, but this time, it didn't snow.  Phillips Reservoir is a secluded reservoir that sits between a mountain and a cliff face and offers an incredible view of the Tooth of Time. It was a beautiful day--if a little windy--and the participants caught a lot of little rainbow trout.  Lovely little things, those fish.  When we toss them back in the water, they lay there for a few stunned moments before jumping back to their little fishy action as if they suddenly remembered they left the iron on.

After we had helped the participants tie wet and dry flies onto their leader lines, we let them go forth and fly fish while we enjoyed the sunshine and solitude.

"What is that?" Jenny from England said, pointing to the far end of the lake, where a little inlet stays busy keeping the reservoir full. A brown shadow stood where it had not been only moments before, but even at that distance, I knew what it was.

"That is a bear," I said confidently. 

"Is it?" a participant asked. 

And right on cue, the bear turned its head and they all saw the truth. It surveyed us from afar as our excited voices carried towards it across the surface of the water, then slowly sauntered away.

It probably thought we were stealing its fish.

No Lie

Institute tonight!

Institute is one of my favorite things. I look forward to it all week. It happens to falls on Thursday. AND my teacher is nice. AND there are typically red vines aplenty. AND I have a friend there. AND the church is true.

Basically, institute is the bomb diggity.

Bomb Diggity

1. n. Totally THE awesomest, no lie

2. n. Awesomeness in its purest form

Outlaw

Okay--I know it's Friday. I'm breaking the law. But in my mind it's still Thursday. And there's something I need to get off my chest that particularly pertains to my Thursday. So without detail or context, here goes.

I don't think I've ever been more confused in my entire life. Have you ever felt like you were being torn in half by your own emotions? Well, that's how I feel. I feel happy and worried, excited and upset, exhausted and alert.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggggggggg--I thought all of this was supposed to end eventually. And just when I had felt so wonderfully peaceful about everything. Here I go again with all the confusion and hesitancy.

There I said it.

I feel like a Thursday Chronicles outlaw--I'm a cowgirl . . . on a steel horse I ride.

I'm wanted, dead or alive.

Gorgeous!

Getting to see

this

today?

Well,

All

I

can

say

is

"Thursday--

Welcome Back!"

Don't Have a Cow

Actually, having a cow really isn't all that bad.  I rather like mine.  Granted, I just got him today, but still.  He seems to be a rather sweet little bovine. 

During lunch today, I finished reading Rick Riordan's series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. AND I LOVED IT. Any series that gets me excited enough to read the whole thing, start to finish, in a month and 2 days has got to be good. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE.

So when it came time to pick a name for my calf, I chose the most sensible option: Tauros.*

Eh.  It's all Greek to me.

*The more popular spelling of "Taurus" is actually a Latinization of the Greek "Tauros".  Cool, huh?

Board

Last Thursday was busy.
This Thursday was not.
Asked for some boards,
Now those boards I have got. 
Used them to fix a big hole in my fence
Cuz holes in horse fences just don't make much sense.
But now that that's over
I've got naught left to do
'Cept laundry, and celebrating
Fine Thursdays with you!

El Fin.

Dear Friends, Readers, and Thursdays,

I promise I have not abandoned you. Last Thursday I was a mother to three cute, messy, energetic, lovable children. Needless to say, I didn't realize that Thursday had come until Friday. You can imagine my dismay and utter surprise. What?! It's Friday?! When I have three children of my own will I actually forget all about space and time and cease to exist on every online forum in the known universe? Will I stop celebrating the best day of the week? What kind of a person am I?!

But the real mother is home now. And I seem to have regained my understanding of the passage of time as well as my sense of identity.

So Happy Thursday! Today I spent my time picking giant, red, juicy strawberries and transforming those strawberries into jiggly, sticky, delicious jars of jam. There is nothing better than starting your day by collecting and eating mud covered berries and ending your day by cooking and slurping warm jellied fruit.

Ahh--welcome back to my life Thursday. Welcome back.

Sincerely,

Me

Do. Or Do Nut. There is no Nut.

I supported Relay for Life.

I got to eat a doughnut (which is rare these days).

I was able to save a doughnut for my new roommate.

I was able to give away 10 doughnuts to my co-workers.

That's one good Thursday morning. Let's see what the afternoon brings!

Bzzzzzzz

I am a bee today.  Busy, busy, busy. Busy, but happy, with friends in my hive and dancing.  Lots of dancing.

Where Has the Time Gone?

My baby.

My itty bitty wittle baby.

All grown up and graduating.

*sniff*

Even sent me a graduation announcement, which I received today.

And I feel proud. And sad. And worried. And amazed. And wondering. And nostalgic.

And really, really old.

Home Again

I went home today.  Not home as in "Idaho", though.  Home as in "Pony Barn". 

The number of staff present at the ranch swells every day, and with only a few weeks until the Summer Season is in full sway, it was time to reopen the pony barn. The ponies and other critters haven't arrived yet, so I spent the morning moving water troughs out of storage, cleaning helmets, and soaping saddles. 

When I got dressed, I stuffed my mp3 player into my pocket so that I could have some music while I worked.  But when I sat down to polish the tack and turned the music on, it made me feel strangely out of sorts.

So I turned it off and listened to the natural music that always surrounds me at the pony barn: birds of every feather sang a varied chorus as they flew above my head. The sun-bleached branches of the dead windbreak trees gave voice to the wind.  Muffled, echo-y voices from the tent and maintenance crews drifted by me.

I turned my face up towards the sun and let it warm my eyelids.  The breeze busily braided the tips of my hair. A hummingbird buzzed inches from my nose and nearly gave me a heart attack.

Already, I am sad to think of leaving this place in August.  I know it does no one any good to dread an inevitable future, but this is my home--more so than any place ever has been before. And silly as it might make me look, I am going to savor every moment.  Every wind-whisper.  Every melodic Oriole. 

And I will let the sun burn the memory of this place into my skin until I am as brown as the locals.  For someday, someday I will be one of them.

Sad Day

I knew it was Thursday.

But it didn't feel like Thursday.

I told myself many times that it was Thursday.

But it didn't feel like Thursday.

I did typical always-do-this-on-Thursday things for a Thursday.

But it didn't feel like Thursday.

However....

I have had this

background,

swimming around,

two days running,

occasionally rearing it's mean face

headache.

So if I haven't felt

quite up to snuff myself,

then it should be

no surprise

That it didn't feel like Thursday.

Still....

Sad day--very sad day--when

It doesn't feel like a Thursday.

Arg.

Ever had one of those days where everything needs to get done but nothing does? Well, today is that day for me. I am being completely and utterly distracted from everything I attempt to accomplish today. But after taking an entire weekend off--there really are things I need to do. Let's hope the magic of "Thursday" will kick in and I'll be able to finish at least one of them.

Down in the Valley, Valley So Low

I am sighing again, but this time it is with sighs of happy, happy, happy exhaustion.

This afternoon, I went riding with Mom and her friend Jill.  We trailered the horses up towards Silver City (one of my favorite places ever) and rode down a trail called "The Crossings"--and I learned how apt the name is when we crossed the river 55 times!  We counted. Well, we lost count at one point because there were so many, but there were at least 55 crossings.

I wish I had taken my camera so I could show you how incredible it was.  I fully intended to take it, but when Mom warned me that I might get pretty wet, I decided against it.  So just imagine this: the river flowed lazily through a valley flanked on both sides by towers of red, iron-rich metamorphosed basalt, where birds wheeled about on updrafts and swept in and out of caves high above our heads. We passed through "Willow Tunnel", a path just wide enough for our horses and barely tall enough for horses with riders. The water was blue and green with algae, with red rocks beneath the surface. Flecks of golden mica shimmered in the sunlight.  Rio the dog would run, dripping, from the water to the sandy banks, where she would roll, and return to the river disguised as some dog-sized sand monster. What a life for a dog--she grinned happily, tongue lolling as she trotted beside the horses and flushed water birds.

The best part of the ride, though, was when we let the horses run up a steep hill and found ourselves facing a long, flat dirt road.  I was in the lead, and just as I was about to pull my horse back to a walk, Jill passed me on the right and issued an unspoken challenge to race.  I didn't even have to ask Mo. He happily lit the afterburners and we tore after Jill and her bay gelding, the wind so loud in our ears that I could hardly hear myself laughing.  I have galloped before, but only in short bursts.  We ran like this for what seemed an eternity, and even the horses were disappointed when we finally had to stop them before we reached a ranch gate. Once through, Mo begged me to let him run again, and it almost broke my heart to keep him at a walk.  "You need to save your energy, big guy," I told him.  When you ride with Jill, you never know how steep the next hill will be.

Like the hill that nearly killed me.  It wasn't so steep as others I have ridden, but the footing was loose, sandy soil that shifted under every hoof.  We literally had to go down sideways, creating our own switchbacks on the unstable mountain side.  I would have been thrilled if I hadn't been so worried about my saddle, which had mysteriously loosened (I checked it twice before I mounted!) and was busy inching its way towards poor Mo's head! As I saw my life flash before my eyes, I thought, "Well, it's a good thing I went through the Temple this week!"

But I made it out alive and happy, and I will live to ride again another day.

These, then, are the things that I live for.

Happy Thursday Birthdays!

Thursday not only celebrates awesome things, but it celebrates awesome people. My Thursday today was utterly joyous in celebrating two birthdays of two awesome people. These two people in the last year have come to be very great friends. They entered my life exactly when I needed them--and oh how I needed them! They have blessed me so much, and I don't want to imagine what the last year would have been like without them. I love each one.

So how wonderful and fitting to celebrate on a Thursday the blessing of two amazing people entering this world.

Happy Thursday Birthdays to "Peanut Lover" and "Madame President."

The Journey to See Kay

Our adventurous heroine, Jaclyn, began her journey in the lovely Salt Lake Valley.
After a long flight, Mount Hood suddenly appeared in the passenger window.
But her trip was far from over. Cheri Kay got lost and took Jaclyn on a detour through Vancouver, Washington. She also stopped on a bridge.
On her return to Oregon, Jaclyn happened upon a older ladies ice skating class.
Proof that she really did make it to Oregon.
Before arriving at their final destination, Cheri Kay and Jaclyn visited the temple.
Jaclyn liked the flowers.
And the temple.
The end.

Sigh

–verb (used without object)

1.to let out one's breath audibly, as from sorrow, weariness, or relief.
2.to yearn or long; pine.
3.to make a sound suggesting a sigh: sighing wind.

–verb (used with object)\

4.to express or utter with a sigh.
5.to lament with sighing.

–noun

6.the act or sound of sighing.

—Related forms

sigher, noun
outsigh, verb (used with object)
un·sigh·ing, adjective

--Used in a sentence: Jess sighed for many reasons.

Source: http://www.dictionary.com/

Love. Twuue Love.

I know I said you were the only one Shad, but can't a girl have three true loves? You know I've always had a thing for your type. And well, I just can't resist. The other two are sooooo cute. Just see for yourself:

I know, look at those eyes!

Yeah, stinking cute.

So Shadow, although your Shih Tzu face is irresistible, get ready to welcome these two handsome Australian Shepherd, Border Collie brothers into the family! I am so excited! Thursdays really are the bringers of wonderful news!

Cheer-up Shaddy, I'll always have a special place for you.

"I like smiling. Smiling's my favorite."

If you chance to meet a [not-so-happy-event-on-the-supposed-to-be-amazing-Thursday]

Do not let it stay!

Simply [do a whole bunch of wahoo-isn't-this-fantastic!?! things]

And smile that [not-so-happy-event-on-the-supposed-to-be-amazing-Thursday] away!

No one likes a [not-so-happy-event-on-the-supposed-to-be-amazing-Thursday]

Change it for a smile.

Make the world a better place

By [doing a whole bunch of wahoo-isn't-this-fantastic!?! things] all the while.

~"If You Chance to Meet a Frown" (aka "Smiles") by Daniel Taylor

And it really works.

Amen.

Fired

One thing I like about The Thursday Chronicles is that we all somehow end up having similar experiences.  It is a comfort to know that I'm not the only one who is having a hard time, and I feel blessed to have such great friends who support each other even when we're literally across the country from one another.

It has been a crazy, crazy, crazy week.  I am exhausted and sore and a little frightened to go to bed tonight. Cimarron Canyon is on fire, and the smoke here in base camp is getting thicker by the minute.  I'm sure the heavy wind is not helping matters at all.

This was taken in town at lunch time.  That's not fog.

This was taken just now through my window. That's also not fog.

Scary, huh?

So it's a good thing I believe in a God of Miracles, and I am ever so grateful for His tender mercies.  It's incredible how something as simple as branding can make me feel 100 times better about my week.

We have these mini branding irons that we use to brand leather belts, wallets, Nalgene bottles, jackets, boots, iPhones--the list goes on and on and on.  In fact, when someone asked me today what we can brand, I said, "If it melts or burns, we can brand it."  I mean, obviously you wouldn't want to brand something like paper or skin (though we did have several guys point at their shoulders when we asked what they wanted branded), but possibilities are almost endless.

There is a bit of a tradition here at PTC, where we are always trying to one up each other with the unique things we have branded.

I don't mean to sound vain, but I may have taken the cake today when I branded an honest-to-goodness MOTORCYCLE.

The Bike.

The brands (top: cattle, bottom: horse).

'Course, then I was getting really vain about how cool I was, so God taught me some humility by allowing me to destroy two nylon bags.

"No project is guaranteed," we warn them before we even pull out the irons.

But I'm still fired.

from one friend to another

Dearest Thursday,

Only you could have dragged me through this day of exhaustion, and then ended with a reward of an unbelievable Italian meal and one of the tenderest romantic films ever. Thank you.

Your devotee,

Weere E. Ness

P.S. If it's not too much, could it please be a little better next week?

"You're Havin' A Hard Time"

The 4-year-old, wind-swept beauty who ties herself to the house with a purple jump-rope sums it up nicely by querying, "Aunt Cheri Kay, are you havin' a hard time?"

Yes. But I got past the Fire-Breathing stage yesterday. Today I've moved on to something I call the Incredulous Chuckling phase. It's akin to the more severe Sarcastic Muttering phase and much more endurable than the Sardonic Giggling episodes--so on the whole, I'd say I'm on the way up.

But yes, my dear, I'm havin' a hard time. Thanks for asking.

Sorting Anyone?

I like these. I'm in Ravenclaw.

Out With the Old

I have a new favorite movie. Well, favorite cartoon movie. I can't talk about it because it didn't become my favorite today, but I can talk about the soundtrack because it DID become my new favorite soundtrack today. And thanks to the soundtrack, I now have a new favorite composer and a new favorite artist. Well, new favorite European artist. (Don't worry, Josh.)

Here are the details:

New Favorite Soundtrack = How To Train Your Dragon (and I think from there, you can figure out what the taboo name of the New Favorite Cartoon Movie is...)

New Favorite Composer: John Powell

New Favorite European Artist: Jonsi (If you go to check out his music, be forewarned: There is only one song--Animal Arithmetic--on his album "Go" that has swearing in it, but it's a pretty bad word. Everything else is clean, though. A little "different", maybe, but clean. Luckily, I was able to edit out the bad word and I can listen to the song guilt free! Hehe!)

*Sigh* I'm in love.

even on Thursday

MMMMRRRRRAAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRMMMMMPPPPPPHHHHHHH

Hmm?

What?

Oh.

Yeah.

Sorry.

I forgot it can be rude to yawn in public.

Please accept my apolo--ohhh...

ohhhhh....

No no!

Stifle!

Stifle!

I can't!

Please excuse me--MMRRR...

Just a Kid

I went to the park with my nieces and got all nostalgic about my childhood.

This about sums it up.

Sit. Stay. Part Deux.

One of the nice things about Philmont is that a lot of the full time staff have pets kids. So even though I can't won't have a pet kid of my own (until summer, when I'll have 6 ponies, 2 goats, 2 sheep, 2 burritos and a plethora of chickens) until I'm married, I can always count on somebody to go out of town to a Ranch Committee meeting and ask me to take care of their critters children while they are away.

Blah de blah de blah...

After something like that, how could you expect my heart to NOT melt? Impossible.

But if one of these kids wakes me up in the morning, I'm going to wonder how they got in my house.

Thursday--You Truly are AMAZING!

Some people would think that this--Ye Olde Taxe Daye--is a terrible day. But as I filed over a month ago and received my federal turn on Tax Day, it was a pretty good day to me.

Go Thursday.

And some would think that less people coming to storytime would make it even harder to teach "The Princess Pat" than it was on Tuesday. But, no, they actually did really well with it.

Go Thursday.

And some would think that the 90 degree weather last week to a 60 degree weather this week is awful. But on my walk I felt it was exactly what a middle-of-April spring day should feel like.

Go Thursday.

And some would think that their already busy schedule with work, church, storytimes, SRPs, going out of town, downsizing, packing, fighting a cold or allergies, and all else that makes the life a whirlwind would be a bit annoyingly strained to have another meeting added for the evening.

But not if it's the one and amazing Sister Beck coming to speak to you.

Where you get to sing in the choir formed for her fireside.

In which you are singing a solo.

Need I say it? Yeah. GO THURSDAY!

(I think Thursday is becoming one of my favorite days!)

I have found my cure!

1 large increase of stress

+

1 impending move

+

1 new job

+

1.5 church responsibilities

=

unknown amounts of chocolate-flavored foods consumed

BUT

1 ridiculous, seeming-to-never-end chocolate craving

<

1 extreme distaste for chocolate-and-peanut-butter

So, way too much of a bowl full of chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream later, I am reminded of my extreme distaste. And I think I have found my cure for the insane chocolate cravings that have been coming my way.

Spring Expressionism

Spring is in the air, and for some reason, the nice weather today reminded me of one of my favorite paintings. Franz Marc's The Large Blue Horses painted in 1911. My first experience with this painting was in a spring art history class. Both projectors were humming and clicking at full speed, flashing images two at a time on the white wall in front of me. My hands were blue and aching; the air conditioning always ran full blast no matter the outside temperature, and my professor had an uncanny ability to simultaneously lecture on two paintings at a rate of 30.3 seconds each, forcing me to scribble notes in the dim light as if my hand would burst into flames if it were left in one place too long.

Since this lecture focused on pre-WWI art from the German Expressionists, my notebook had been illuminated by a faint brownish grey glow that emanated from the images on the wall. The subjects and lighting in this class always had a direct effect on my mood, so on this day I not only felt ridiculously rushed but antsy and pessimistic. Perhaps it was the vibrant flash of color that caught my attention. Or maybe Marc's deliberate and optimistic approach. Whatever it was, few paintings ever held my attention. I didn't have the luxury of really looking at anything for more than a few moments before going back to making cramped hieroglyphics that would supposedly help me in the near future.

But The Large Blue Horses seemed to dissipate every negative wave of energy that had been flying at me for the past hour. It was like someone finally remembered to turn the lights on and look at the world properly. Not that Marc's brush strokes are ignorant to the rising tensions--but he believed in battling those tensions with color instead of bemoaning what others called inevitable fate. Marc's theory, along with other past and present colorists, promotes the idea that colors can activate and inspire society. Marc also believed that nature and animals would remind people about the important, good things that are worth living for. Notes and midterm forgotten, I really looked at this painting. This one really mattered.

I could continue, but what I mean to say is, this painting never fails to make me happy. It reminds me of spring and makes me glad that there are so many colors that naturally exist in our world. Anyway, I get carried away. And the picture on the blog really does no justice to the actual thing. But there you go--I love Franz Marc and his paintings and spring.

Sit. Stay.

One of the nice things about Philmont is that a lot of the full time staff have pets. So even though I can't have a pet of my own (until summer, when I'll have 6 ponies, 2 goats, 2 sheep, 2 burritos and a plethora of chickens), I can always count on somebody to go out of town and ask me to take care of their critters while they are away.

I have been critter-sitting for a Ranch family for a few days, and I have had a blast. They have 2 delightful dogs (BB and Velvet), 4 kitties, and a horse (S'more).

When they heard my alarm this morning, BB and Velvet came running into the bedroom to help me get up. Velvet, the smaller of the two, reached up as high as she could with her front paws and rested them on the edge of the mattress, then set her face down on her paws and looked me in the eye as if to say, "Good Morning, friend! Did you sleep well? I LOVE YOU." Not even kidding. Her stumpy little tail was wagging so fast I could hardly see it.

After something like that, how could you expect my heart to NOT melt? Impossible.

April Opportunity

On this, the day of April Fools, I would like to take the opportunity to openly confess one of my favorite past-times. And although this confession is published to the world, under the protection of April Fools, I will, if so pressed by any future employer, prosecuting lawyer, attractive male, day-time talk show host, or clever song-writer, claim that this confession was only a lame April Fools Day prank.

Okay, here goes: I am an avid eavesdropper. I eavesdrop on my parents, my friends, and strangers. I don't eavesdrop in order to gain vital information. I don't use the information for evil. I simply enjoy hearing what other people have to say. My earliest eavesdropping escapade took place in August 1998. And if I had access to them, I would use extendable ears.

March Showers, Bring April....

I received flowers today. From a guy.

I don't usually ever receive flowers. From girls or guys. My sister sent some to me on my 14th birthday. As she was on the other side of the country, I thought it was so neat! And there were some carnations around Valentine's Day that came from sweet albeit pitying males from church, and one from a good friend because she knew how much I always wanted to receive flowers. And there were some that came to my apartment. And the corsages that my high school prom and college Homecoming dates gave me.

But it just isn't the same, you know? I mean, this guy actually came right up to me at work and handed me a bouquet of daffodils and mums. So bright, so pretty, so wonderfully fragrant. I haven't had a smile like that since I don't know when. And while it was technically to brighten up the place, they were given to me. Not one of the other librarians. Me.

So I like to look at it as today, o Marvelous Thursday, I received flowers. From a guy.






(Who cares if he is 3? I think that makes it all the better! Or maybe there's just something in the fact that it IS April Fool's Day and I've just had the fact that I am a fool driven in even more because of every male my age who could have and should have given me flowers some time in my life yet didn't.....Oh well.!)

3.2

I am warulnking my first 5k today.

Wow. Sorry about that. Looks like a bad word up there. It's just my (sore) attempt to combine "running" and "walking" into one word. Didn't work out so well.

But hey! I'm doing it! I have done absolutely zero training for it and don't expect to win any awards (except for maybe Slowest Person in the World), but it'll be fun.

It starts in little over an hour. *Bites nails* Geez, I shouldn't be this nervous.

It's only warulnking.

Weeding

The garden. My favorite place when the sun is hot and the breeze is cool. Nothing can rival the satisfaction of unearthing gnarled, twisted roots covered in soft dirt. Whether they're long and stringy coming out the ground like a buried fuse or thick and stalky making a glorious rip on the way out, roots—all of them—are my new favorite thing. Nothing but good things matter when my hands are covered in muddy, squishy, wormy dirt. My only tangible reward is a pile of roots and a sweaty back. But as far as the stuff I can't see and feel, the part of me on the inside that squirms with childish delight, my compensation seems to be the ability to laugh easily and enjoy little things. Things like a four year old asking “What's Mexico?” and “Do spies have swords or not?” Or emails from a freezing young man witnessing the largest sculpted Lenin head in the world.

So from a person not in any position to give any sort of advice, here's my new theory on obtaining happiness: Go weed a garden. You never know what sort of things will begin to make your insides ridiculously content.

Sitting Waiting Wishing

I've been wracking my brain, trying to remember if someone has already alluded to this song here on a Thursday. I can't find any record of it, so if I am a copy cat, please forgive me.

I literally spent all day in the waiting room of the ER today. I was asked to take a sick co-worker to the hospital (the closest form of any medical treatment center around), and though we arrived at 11:15, we didn't leave until 4:00. And they didn't call Mr. Sick Andinfirm into the back until 3:00.

So on my way home, I had this song stuck in my head, and decided to make it fit. Enjoy! (And my deepest apologies to Mr. Jack Johnson, for tarnishing such a brilliant piece of lyrical genius.)

Well I was sitting waiting wishing
You believed in quick admission
Then maybe you’d see the signs
This coughing/hacking isn’t cool
And to make him wait is just really cruel
And this waiting room is starting to look too small

Must I always be waiting, waiting on you?
Must I always be playing, playing your fool?

I try to read the book I brought
But the soaps are on and it’s just too hot
Putting up with this isn’t worth the treats in the ‘burban
And maybe you’re swamped like you say you be
But there’s no one here
So it’s hard see
That you’re not just making us wait because you can

I can’t always be waiting, waiting on you
I can’t always be playing, playing your fool

I’m waiting here now
And so patiently
Won’t you please let him in
And stop his coughing?
Keep building us up, then sitting us down
Well I’m already down
Just wait a minute
Just sitting, waiting
Just wait a minute
Just sitting, waiting

Well if I was in your position
I’d get this boy a quick admission
I’d wonder why it’d taken me so long
But goodness knows that I’m not you
And if I was, I wouldn’t be so cruel
‘Cause waiting on docs ain’t so easy to do

Must I always be waiting, waiting on you?
Must I always be playing, playing your fool?
No I can’t always be waiting, waiting on you
I can’t always be playing, playing your fool

Fool.

There is Sunshine

I love, love, love, love, love, love a sunny day!

OK.

I love rainy days, too.

But today, I love, love, love, love, love, love the sunny day!!!!

Shameless Plug

From the resident sick and unemployed--fill out your 2010 census and help un-unemploy thousands across the nation!

Calling someone to sing this to me!

How can I love something so much, and hate it, too?

By the way, listening is better than watching this--in my opinion. For further opinions, you can read my full spoiler review here.

And that's what my Thursday has been.

Queued

So I joined Netflix. Finally. It's really hard--cancel that, it's impossible--to find a place to rent movies around here. I have exhausted my movie collection (hard to believe, I know!) and even borrowed from my coworkers, but I was quickly running out of options. And when you live in a town populated by a mere 900 people, where everything closes at 7:30 and that "everything" consists of a handful of small restaurants and some art galleries, movies are kind of essential for sanity.

I got my first Netflix movie today - "The Brothers Bloom". I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie.

But this comes with some guilt - actually, a lot of guilt. The movie contains quite a bit of language, a *cough* hospital gown, and a scene you have to skip entirely.

I HATE HATE HATE that they put that stuff in movies that would be sooooo good without it. I looked to see if I could get an edited version of the movie because I would love to have it in my collection, but so far, I have found nothing.

If you can get your hands on an edited copy, or if you are one of the lucky few with a DVD player that edits for you, I would give this movie a hearty recommendation. But if you don't fit into the categories listed above, I would advise caution.

Shame.

Getting to Know All About You

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

This past week, I pretty much made my entire family take this test. And then I said to myself: "The readers (and writers) who celebrate the best day of the week should take this test too."
One rule--be completely honest.

Do it. You know you want to.

p.s. I'm an INFJ

p.p.s. This is my favorite place to read about the results: http://www.personalitypage.com/high-level.html

Seconds, Please!

The best thing about watching how many calories you eat

and being more conscious of how, what, when, etc of eating

means

that when you ask ahead of time to have half of your meal put in a box before bringing it out to you

it guarantees yummy Olive Garden food for the next day!

Never mind the rest of the chocolate cake that you polish off later that evening because it was definitely a need-chocolate day.

On the Road Again

Just enough time for a quick post today. I am on my way out the door and headed to Denver, CO for the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo! Wahoo!! I'm planning on attending some awesome classes, and famous peeps the like of Temple Grandin and Curt and Tammy Pate are going to be there! You can tell I'm excited by the number of superfluous exclamaition marks I'm using! YAAYYY!

I'll post pictures on Jest Kept Secret when I get back!

Peace!

Bigger than a Balrog

2:54 am Tuesday morning: The battle rages on. Armed with a shoe box and body spray, I lunge.
Miss. Duck. Retreat. Advance. Spray.

11:32 pm Thursday night: Stand-off.
The laundry basket and art book still strategically sealing-off the garbage can.
I can hear a faint buzzing.

I despise hornets.

"Well, Hurrah for [Me]"

I did it. I may have bombed my first toddler and preschool storytimes on Tuesday. But I did SO much better this morning! Yep. It's true. Thursdays are magical and amazing and wonderful.

Books I Have Stayed Up All Night Writing

It is 1:18 am, Thursday morning. My eyes hurt from staring at the computer screen, and I have a headache of epic proportions. I also used that phrase in twenty recruiting emails I sent this week, so if you’ve already read that phrase penned by my own hand, please ignore my recycling. I am far too tired and far too burnt out to come up with something more creative.

But this misery is the price I must pay for worldwide fame and fortune, I suppose. And if this is the only price, I think it just might be worth it. There’s always acetaminophen.

I am rambling. My thoughts don’t make sense even to me. I really should go to bed. Get some sleep. Nurse my aching brain.

I just thought that this was epic enough (there’s that silly word again) to make an early post for The Thursday Chronicles. As of 1:18 am, Thursday, March 04, 2010, the rough draft of The Last Daughter of Cair is finally finished.

And what a diamond in the rough it is. I can hardly wait to start the editing process, but I know it is going to be a long, hard process. The story may be complete now, but the words are in bad need of a facelift. And I’ll be honest, I was so ready to be able to say that I am finished with the rough draft that the final scene I wrote tonight—er, this morning—is really just some creatively penned notes about what happened/what was said. I can always flesh it out in the editing process, right?

I hate that word, “flesh”. In fact, I specifically avoided ever using it in my book.

But I digress.

Don’t worry. The last scene I wrote wasn’t the final scene of the book. I don’t write in order, see, so even though I did write the very end of the book tonight, I didn’t write it when my brain was already toast.

Toast? More like the charred remains that you find left in your toaster when the spring has busted and you forget that you have to pop it up yourself.

No, the final scene was very satisfying, actually. That’s what kept me up past midnight in the first place. I figured if I could write something that good at 12:00, I could write something that good at 1:00.

I’m generally wrong about these things, though.

Wow. I have just written 410 words about absolutely nothing of importance. Actually, scratch that. I have just written 409 words about absolutely nothing of importance. “Finished” is pretty important.

Pretty epic.

Do you believe in magic?

Thursdays are basically magical.

Here's a list of magical things that happened to me today.

1. I woke up wrapped in a warm heated blanket. Yeah, pretty sure heat and electricity fall under the "Amazingly Fantastic" category.
2. My volunteer work at the Portland Art Museum began today. The people there are nice.
3. I only got lost twice in Downtown Portland, AND I parked in a parking garage all by myself. I feel so grown up.
4. According to my one-year-old niece's mutterings, I've been officially accepted and am allowed to hold her teddy-bear and read her books.
5. For once, I found shoes that fit me comfortably and DO NOT feature sparkly portraits of Hannah Montana. And I only had to try on one pair.
6. Peaches and Cream Oatmeal. What else can I say?
7. I have a new nephew! Okay, so he wasn't actually born today, but I think that merits a week long celebration.
8. For about three hours I listened to the same Coldplay album. Over and over. Never got old.
9. My tank was filled with gas. For some reason, I absolutely hate putting gas in the car. Actually, I know the reason but I'll save that for another post. The point: in Oregon, a jolly fellow whistling to himself fills your tank for you. I never even unbuckled my seat-belt.
10. Finally, saving the best for last, tomorrow I get to be the companion to a sister missionary who doesn't have one. Yep, for the rest of the weekend, I get to look like, teach like, sleep like, and study like a sister missionary. Wha-hoo!!

See? Told you. Thursday = Magic.

Please Do Not Sit On The Chairs

Smells like old stuff in here
Like sweaty socks
And gunpowder

Eighty-three years old
All original
Well, mostly

They laugh at our jokes,
These tour-goers,
And don't seem to mind our mistakes

Or how we have to keep checking our notes
For figures and dates
And a hundred different names

So many faces
So many stories in these halls
You can't buy houses like this
With their history already kept
In pen and ink
On yellowed paper

Hard to think they lived here once
That it wasn't always a place for tourists
Snapping pictures

Making their own history

Lodging my Complaint

To the Complaint Department:

I have a complaint. I would like to submit the following supportive statements that justify my right and and opinion to this complaint:

1. I only finished graduate school 30 months ago. One guess as to if I still have school loans to pay off.

2. Have you seen what my job field is? Not the highest paying thing there is. Not to mention how generally underappreciated (financially and otherwise) we are.

3. Whatever gives/gave you the right to do a reverse phone number look-up from the address at which I reside which thus caused you to annoy and disturb my landlord and his wife?

4. Calling after 8pm? Are you kidding me? Who in heavens do you think you are?!?!? 'Cause if you knew me you'd know I only talk on the phone after 8pm to family and very close friends!

Those 4 reasons--particularly that last one--are reasons enough for me to choose not to donate to this college's annual fund, even if I am an alumnus with an education to owe the school.

Call me again when that education has been paid off and I will gladly consider helping others. Oh, and when you do call again, call at a reasonable hour and maybe try the number that is listed with the school records.

Thank you.

-Disgruntled College Graduate

City Shock

I feel like a mid-western hick. True, I only totaled five months in the land called Desolate--but I'm sure to the people in this northwestern hub, I look corn-fed born and raised.

It's just that there are so many . . . noises here. The cars outside my bedroom window, the neighborhood kids, the roller-bladers, the dogs across the street. The country was so quiet. All I ever heard was wind and rain on the other side of my window.

But here, noisy people seem to inhabit every possible space.

I'm excited for this new chapter of my life. I really am. There are so many opportunities just waiting to be harvested. And the arts and entertainment scene is a definite step up from where I came from.

So I'm content with this strange, culture shocked, corn-out-of-field feeling. But I can bet that the people who are unfortunate enough to drive behind me on the constant stream of highways that connect one suburb to another are, lets say, less than content.

Don't worry though, I'll get the hang of it eventually

Did You Know?

I am aggressive. I prefer to be assertive. Assertive is good. Right? I should learn to be assertive. Is this an easy lesson to learn, I wonder. It can't be that hard. But even if it is, I must learn. It is crucial.

Because being an aggressive brusher is just...not good.

Record Breaker

In horse racing, the last leg of the race is where the money is won. Exciting as it is, it’s not really a surprise when the jockey who has held his horse at the back of the pack suddenly gives the cue for speed. The horse surges forward as it comes around the final turn, passes all the other horses, and crosses the finish line strides ahead of anyone else. Or maybe, for more dramatic effect, the lead horses get a second burst of energy and they cross the line so quickly that the winner has to be proven by photographic evidence. The scenarios possible in this relatively short section of track are far too numerous to recount, but you get the picture: dreams are realized or disappointed. Owners and bidders make or lose unimaginable quantities of money. Names are made or hidden in shame.

Yes, folks, the last twenty seconds of a race are the most important.

I had an epiphany last night. I won’t go into detail because 1) I don’t want to bore you, and 2) yesterday was Wednesday, not Thursday, and is therefore ineligible for discussion on the Thursday Chronicles, but it bears mentioning simply because it has had an impressive impact on my day.



I FIGURED OUT HOW TO FINISH MY BOOK.




Yes, yes, and yes! Celebrations are in order! Cake will be served!

All I have to do is ignore the Olympics long enough to type a couple thousand words and I am D. O. N. E. DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE.

But tonight is the finals of Men’s Figure Skating, and I want to see Even Lysacek defeat Evgeni Plushenko so badly. There is nothing like a fabulous good vs. evil smack down to get me excited about Thursdays.

So here we are at the final turn. The impressive filly Last Daughter of Cair has a strong hold on the lead, but the crowd favorite Gold Medal Podium is about to make his move.

Who will win? We’ll have the results right after this break.

MOVING!

Packing again! Where on EARTH did all this STUFF come from?!