Monday, September 29, 2008

Moment in the Sun

Everyone has an on-going list of people they want to meet, right? I have yet to meet someone who would tell me differently. For me, some of the people on that list would be Steve Carrell, John Krasinski (both from The Office!), Rob Bell, Matt Damon (actually, I'd rather meet Jason Bourne, but Damon will do), Derek Webb, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, etc. Well...last night, I was able to check off one name from my list. To most people, meeting Derek Webb would be no big deal. but ya'll - seriously - it was huge for me. I first saw/heard Derek play/speak in Memphis somewhere around 7 years ago, and he really challenged me to rethink my ideas and core beliefs of what the Church was, and who she was supposed to be. He has refused to back down from believing that the Church could be what Christ intended her to be - and is unapologetic for it. Being from a particular denominational background, I was raised in tradition - and while tradition itself isn't bad, it can be totally detrimental to who we are intended to be, if we focus too much on it. So, last night, getting the chance to talk with Derek about this very thing was such a HUGE moment for me. Being able to shake a man's hand who radically changed my perception and thinking was such a defining moment. Incredible.

You can hear Derek's music (and even download his cd for free) HERE.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Peace On Earth Once Again

Everything in my life is finally back in order - The Office returned to NBC last night. You might be thinking how sad my life is that it depends on a tv show to be complete - and I'll say that you have clearly never watched the show. I've been a devout fan for the past 3 years, and have watched (often multiple times) every episode. I plan Thursdays around it. Last night was no different: I gathered around the television with 12 friends, plenty of food, and a stapler in jello to spend one glorious hour laughing harder than I have in awhile. If you missed last night's episode, you can watch the full video at The Office website.

Quotables:

Dwight (talking to Pam): If I don't see you again before you leave, goodbye. Actually, I'll see you when you bring me the fax confirmation, so nevermind.
**
Michael: Pam, Pam, you can't leave yet! I wrote you a poem. Just wait for me to run up to my office and get it.

Pam: I can't, I really need to get going.

Michael: Okay, well, the last word was seagulls.

**
Michael: (talking to Holly, about her date) You'll have a good time. All the men from Scranton are handsome, and they show women a good time.

Dwight: Not that guy who killed his mother. He's not so handsome. Also, Kevin.



Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Eight More Days


So ready for this:




...and this:

...and her...



and HER!!!!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

I was in the lunchroom today during the first lunch period - all the kindergarten and first graders. You never really know what you're in for with this age, and today was no different. A cute little first grader called me over to her table, and asked me if I knew a certain song. I told her I didn't, so she started singing it for me. When she was finished, I told her that she did a great job. I started to walk away, but she called me back over - she wasn't done singing yet. The next few minutes went like this:

her: can I sing another one?

me: sure, go for it.

her: "don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me. don't cha wish your girl was a freak like me. don't cha.... don't cha..."(she continued to sing the rest of the chorus, but for the sake of anything EVER, I'm not posting it!)

me: (said while trying REALLY hard not to laugh) wow. you're a good singer.

her: (said with a huge smile on her face) Thanks! I practice a lot!


What do you say to that? I mean, really. I was at a loss for words. I think I still am.

Alice Jane

Yesterday, my only grandma turned 90. I called her this morning to find out how it was, and we had a short, but very loud conversation (my sweet grandma doesn't hear that well these days!). She told me about her birthday, then we started talking about these incredible fried apples she used to make when I was little. I told her that I made some last week, but that they didn't taste like hers. Her reply? "Well, your taster must be off." I love that even though my grandma is 90, doesn't hear well, and most likely doesn't even remember those apples, her sense of humor hasn't gone anywhere. I only hope that when I'm 90 years old, my sense of humor is still going strong!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Yellow #6, How I Love Thee

I love fall for many reasons, but ranking high on the list with great weather comes this: mallowcreme pumpkins. There is nothing in them that comes remotely close to being healthy, but if I allowed myself, I could sit and eat an entire bag in one evening. When I was younger (okay, when I was in college), I would eat the green stem half first, then the rest. For some reason, they tasted better when eaten that way. I've been wondering (since opening my first bag of the season today) about what it is that makes them so incredibly wonderful. I've done some research, and came up with this: it's yellow #6 dye, aka Sunset Yellow FCF. I'm well aware that the dye doesn't actually have flavoring, but here's my reasoning: Yellow #6 can also be found in swiss rolls, hot chocolate mixes, trifle mixes, mac & cheese, fortune cookies, and DayQuil. (How can something so wonderful not be in DQ?!) If all of these wonderful products have Yellow #6, there must be something great about it.

On the flipside of it's grandness, I learned that it can cause extreme hyperactivity in children, and has been banned in Norway and Finland. Now I know why my mom wouldn't ever let me have any growing up.

Here's to you, my mallowcreme friend.


Monday, September 15, 2008

Second Chances

I'm picking up blogging again. I seem to run with it in spurts, but my friend Bethany has inspired me to start back up. My problem with blogging is this: I don't think I'm funny, nor am I around funny people on a consistent basis*. But, thanks to Bethany, I have decided to give it another try. So look out, internet world. I'm back. I'm better. And I just might be randomly creative.

*I have many friends who are very funny. Unfortunately for me, we are all incredibly busy people and I don't get to spend as much time with them as I'd like. And as I was typing "busy," I accidentally typed "busty." Maybe I'm kinda funny after all!