First, an addendum to my "Things I Love about Living in Peoria" list:
7. Re-becoming friends with Michelle! We've been friends since first grade, but we only hung out for two lunches a year while we were in college. Now that we're starting up a semi-weekly thing, it's this awesome combination of comfort (we've known each other since we were six...how can we not be comfortable together?) and newness. Like finding an old pair of jeans in the back of your closet that you forgot just how much you love them and how perfectly they fit.
I told her about living in the back apartment of my house, which is where we (plus Lacie and Rachel) had a sleepover back in grade school, before my grandpa moved in. There are so few friends in my life with whom I have such far reading memories. It's kinda nice.
And I never feel like such a girl! We ate at Olive Garden, giggled at the weird noises passing waiters made, pointed out when old men were checking us out, discussed how we really need to work out more often, and caught up on boys and friends and marriages. I love being a girl, y'all might not know that. And so often I am surrounded by boys or families. Which is fine! I love getting outside the girl bubble. But it's been a long time since I've had a girly friend, and I am quite enjoying it (because Michelle is all the right kinds of girl without any of the drama).
AND my dear Ashley Pashley is engaged!!! YAY! I am so incredibly happy for her, and even more so for Stephen, because he gets to live with Ashley for the rest of his life! I cannot wait for their wedding, because I know it's going to be all kinds of aesthetically pleasing.
AND I went looking for my life goals list that I made sometime around freshman year of college. I am pleased to announce that the following are life goals that I have since met!
-visit the Hagia Sophia (Mr. Beckman, instigator of my dreams)
-be a Sunday School teacher (haha, didn't know I'd made this goal...hilarious)
-read the entire Bible (thank you, chronological daily Bible)
-practice yoga (I'm counting four months of p90x yoga)
-get someone famous's autograph (even if I also asked Donald Miller why he wasn't rocking a handlebar mustache)
-get a real Christmas tree (after 22 years, it happened!)
-pass a song in DDR on "heavy" level (some of my dreams are not so extravagant)
My favorite ones that I have left to accomplish:
-see a site from Lord of the Rings in New Zealand (YES PLEASE)
-see the Aurora Borealis
-sleep overnight in a castle (omg where did I come up with these awesome ideas)
-ride in a hot air balloon (this must have been before my fear of heights kicked in, but! it is on the list!)
-stay up all night (HAHAHA my poor baby self)
-celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary (better get on that, huh)
-dedicate one room in my house as a library (probably won't happen since I gave away all my books...)
-go to a poetry reading in a coffee shop (although Michelle said I dress as though I belonged at one, so that almost counts!)
-publish some form of writing
-learn the Thriller dance
-take a martial arts course (so I can be awesome like Buffy and never fear for my safety!)
-learn how to swing dance (yes please yes!)
-change a car tire (missed that opportunity a couple months ago)
-go to a symphony in an evening gown (ACK YES!)
-buy an original painting (do....gifts from my friends count?)
-experience weightlessness (how did I think of this??? YES!)
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Friday Night Senegalese Memory
LOST boomed across the Forsythe computer screen like a cannonshot. Holly groaned at the typical cliffhanger ending. Ethan kept eating the piece of pizza he'd been working on for the last half hour. I patted Melody on the head and disentangled myself from her. No one watched me as I moved to the doorway, so I stretched my arms high over my head and yawned obnoxiously.
"Man, I'm tired!"
Liz looked up at me quizzically. I saw understanding flash across her face, and she burst into uproarious laughter. Kim was not pleased to be in the dark. "It's only nine o'clock. You can't be tired."
"Yeah, but....things." I hadn't thought about excuses.
Liz was already at the door, pulling the bright blue helmet onto her head. "Sorry, Kim!" she called as she snapped the buckle under her chin.
Kim entered the foyer on the prowl. "Why are you guys leaving so soon?"
"Well...okay, fine! We want to watch Buffy!" I never could lie to Kim.
"What!? You're leaving our Friday Night Pizza to watch a TV show?" She was hurt. I should have lied.
"You don't understand. It's Buffy. We're getting to the really good seasons."
"Yeah, girl. Let's go!" Liz palmed her keys.
Kim changed tactics. "Fine, then. Go!"
Liz and I shared a grin. "Okay! See you Sunday!" We bounded out the front door, giggling at our abrupt exit and at the future prospect of finishing season 6. Once we were through the gate, Liz started the moto and turned it toward the road. I adjusted my panja for maximum leg movement and straddled the seat behind her. I waved to the Forsythe's guard as we zig-zagged through the sand.
Once we hit the road, I tipped my head back and let the night breeze cool my face. I leaned toward Liz's helmeted ear and yelled, "Do you think we hurt her feelings?"
There was a pause. "But...it's Buffy!"
I laughed. "Yeah, it is."
A few minutes later, Liz stopped outside our gate. I reached through the metal latticework and unlatched the door. She drove through while I locked it back up. Once we got through our doors and locked them as well, we both paused.
"Popcorn and M&Ms?"
"That is exactly what I was thinking!"
Liz ran to the kitchen, pulling off her panja as she went. In shorts, she danced to the cupboard and pulled out the popcorn. I changed into my pajamas and pulled Liz's computer into the middle of our coffee table. By the time the popcorn was popped, salted, and candied, Buffy's theme song had played about twenty times.
We burrowed into the couch with the popcorn between us and watched all hell (nearly) break loose. The power went out halfway through the second episode, but we lit the candle that we keep on the coffee table for popcorn-light.
When the season ended and the credits rolled, I looked over at Liz. She was already staring at me. "Soooo, should we start season 7?" she asked.
"YES!"
"Man, I'm tired!"
Liz looked up at me quizzically. I saw understanding flash across her face, and she burst into uproarious laughter. Kim was not pleased to be in the dark. "It's only nine o'clock. You can't be tired."
"Yeah, but....things." I hadn't thought about excuses.
Liz was already at the door, pulling the bright blue helmet onto her head. "Sorry, Kim!" she called as she snapped the buckle under her chin.
Kim entered the foyer on the prowl. "Why are you guys leaving so soon?"
"Well...okay, fine! We want to watch Buffy!" I never could lie to Kim.
"What!? You're leaving our Friday Night Pizza to watch a TV show?" She was hurt. I should have lied.
"You don't understand. It's Buffy. We're getting to the really good seasons."
"Yeah, girl. Let's go!" Liz palmed her keys.
Kim changed tactics. "Fine, then. Go!"
Liz and I shared a grin. "Okay! See you Sunday!" We bounded out the front door, giggling at our abrupt exit and at the future prospect of finishing season 6. Once we were through the gate, Liz started the moto and turned it toward the road. I adjusted my panja for maximum leg movement and straddled the seat behind her. I waved to the Forsythe's guard as we zig-zagged through the sand.
Once we hit the road, I tipped my head back and let the night breeze cool my face. I leaned toward Liz's helmeted ear and yelled, "Do you think we hurt her feelings?"
There was a pause. "But...it's Buffy!"
I laughed. "Yeah, it is."
A few minutes later, Liz stopped outside our gate. I reached through the metal latticework and unlatched the door. She drove through while I locked it back up. Once we got through our doors and locked them as well, we both paused.
"Popcorn and M&Ms?"
"That is exactly what I was thinking!"
Liz ran to the kitchen, pulling off her panja as she went. In shorts, she danced to the cupboard and pulled out the popcorn. I changed into my pajamas and pulled Liz's computer into the middle of our coffee table. By the time the popcorn was popped, salted, and candied, Buffy's theme song had played about twenty times.
We burrowed into the couch with the popcorn between us and watched all hell (nearly) break loose. The power went out halfway through the second episode, but we lit the candle that we keep on the coffee table for popcorn-light.
When the season ended and the credits rolled, I looked over at Liz. She was already staring at me. "Soooo, should we start season 7?" she asked.
"YES!"
Hehe (This Laughter is Dedicated to Liz)
Oh my word. Funny people are my favorite. Thank goodness for the interwebs!
And here's hoping the midnight showing of Pirates 4 will also make with the funnies!
And here's hoping the midnight showing of Pirates 4 will also make with the funnies!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Forcing My Emotions to Change
I was going to write a post about how tired I am of living in Peoria. I was going to say that I can feel myself succumbing to monotonous, American dream living, and that every day of work-eat-read-friends-sleep makes me want to curl up and die. I was going to say that I have lost all pretense of reading my Bible, and that I'm tired of everything. I was going to say that I want to leave and jump out of my comfort zone and therefore kick myself in the emotional and spiritual butt.
I was going to say those things (oops, didn't I?), but then I read the Very Worst Missionary's blog. Apparently she has also been feeling low, and combated that deadness with a little Scripture and positive thinking. So *sigh* I will do the same.
Things about living in Peoria that only make me smile:
1) The weather. I love getting to wear sweaters, then short sleeves and skirts, then sweaters again. I have a range of clothing, and for a couple months I get to wear everything!
2) I got paid to cut someone's hair.
3) I'm freaking awesome with kids, and I didn't know that until I moved here.
4) I get paid to drive around and pick up donated prizes.
5) Panera all the time.
6) I get to drive places, and listen to stuff while driving, and sing crazy loud without fear of someone telling me to shut up and stop thinking I'm a superstar.
Eh. That's pretty good. Maybe I will think of more later.
I was going to say those things (oops, didn't I?), but then I read the Very Worst Missionary's blog. Apparently she has also been feeling low, and combated that deadness with a little Scripture and positive thinking. So *sigh* I will do the same.
Things about living in Peoria that only make me smile:
1) The weather. I love getting to wear sweaters, then short sleeves and skirts, then sweaters again. I have a range of clothing, and for a couple months I get to wear everything!
2) I got paid to cut someone's hair.
3) I'm freaking awesome with kids, and I didn't know that until I moved here.
4) I get paid to drive around and pick up donated prizes.
5) Panera all the time.
6) I get to drive places, and listen to stuff while driving, and sing crazy loud without fear of someone telling me to shut up and stop thinking I'm a superstar.
Eh. That's pretty good. Maybe I will think of more later.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Love Letter to Jackson
Oh, Jackson. Home of my heart, hyperbolize etc. But really, as I was driving down I-55 on Friday, I kept grinning like a fool. And once there, driving over the bypass, cutting through Union, wandering the streets downtown....I MISS IT SO MUCH.
Jackson is where I am free. Jackson is where I am independent. Jackson is where I became the person I am now.
It helps that I got to see all of my Jackson friends this trip. First I stopped by Jennie and Dusty's. Jennie kept foisting delicious food and drink on me, and later proved how well she knew me. Tim was going to sell me his camera while I was in Jackson, and Dusty told me all about how he could probably find better deals online. I really did believe him, and said I might ask for like, $50 off. Jennie turned from the stove and said, "But you're really going to pay full price." I cracked up, because I had this idea of me being super saver and assertive, and Jennie knew that was utter crap before I did. (btw, she was right, but I don't even care because the camera is so pretty and shiny!)
The kids demanded I play with them, and am I the only person who finds adorable children maddening? I want to talk to Jennie, but they're so. freaking. cute. So I play, and I love it, because they're adorable! But then I want to talk to Jennie and Dusty, and they still want to play! And I can't say no because of their squench little faces. Though really, this trip felt like an excellent balance of adult to kid ratio.
Then the sky went dark. Hannah and I stood at the door, and I tried to calm her down.
H: It's so dark! There's going to be a tornado!
T: No no. They sky is just gray because it's going to rain. Thunderstorms are fun! They won't hurt you in the house.
H: It's a tornado!
T: No. I promise, it's okay.
H: It's a tornado siren!
T: No, that's the wind. See, it's just howling like....oh. Yup, that's a tornado siren.
We booked it to the under-the-stairs closet, which Jennie had just emptied. Dusty was on his way home from work, so the four of us sat with pillows and flashlights until the radio said it was okay.
I admit there are parts of Jackson that I definitely don't miss.
Friday night I ate breakfast for dinner with Erin and Stephanie. I got caught up on what their post-graduation plans are. I meant to show them a picture from Vancouver (I never talk about that mission trip, but it was kind of fantastic), which necessitated scrolling through a bunch of freshman year pictures. Stephanie said, "That was before us, when your life was boring!" I nodded, but what? Freshman year rocked the skylimits. Every day was fun and every night was funner.
And that was perfect to remember, because I met Ashley for breakfast Saturday morning. Turns out I might get to be a bridesmaid before the year is out, and that will mean two of my three Craig 3 sisters will be married! WHAT? That's so beyond crazy I cannot actually imagine it, but also it's very sweet and I'm happy for them.
With my new camera in hand, we went to the ag something or other, where I discovered the utter joy of shooting a close-up of a flower from six feet away. Also I took a lot of pictures of Ashley looking snarky, just as I like her. Then we went downtown, and she showed me the alleyway where she takes family pictures (hahaha, that sounds sketch, but really it isn't).
Unsure what to do, we called the movie theater and found out Something Borrowed was playing in two minutes, so off we went. UGH. Craptacular movie. With maybe fifteen minutes to spare, the movie was awesome, and I cuddled into Ashley with pure joy. And then the movie dropped the ball. No, it stomped on the ball and smeared poo on it. It was awful. We spent the last half hour together yelling at each other. Not in argument, but in shared disgust of the movie.
Then it was back to Erin and Tim's. Bruce and then Stephanie joined us. We were planning to go to a Turkish restaurant in Nashville, but every else was too busy and/or tired to do so. That sucked, but we ended up spending an hour in Books A Million (where I once spent two weeks dropping by to drink their Ghiradelli mint chocolate coffee) then eating Thai food.
We crashed back at the married housing and discussed deadly things in Thailand, where Bruce will be living in a couple months. He was largely unconcerned. The party ended around 11:30 when Tim and Erin regaled me with pranks they'd pulled on his brother, and I was mildly worried what I would find in their guest bed. That ended up being totally fine, but when I knocked on their bedroom door the next morning to say goodbye, it was a weird shock to see them in bed together. Covered in a sheet, THANK GOODNESS, but still. Marriage. Weird.
Leaving was a bit of a suckfest, but I stopped by the Monahan's on my way into town, like I used to do when Peoria was temporary and Jackson was fulltime. I'm glad I did, because I showed Abby my new camera, tried to twirl David's cap guns, and watched Community with Abby. They are a nice reminder that I have friends and fun times in Peoria too.
Jackson is where I am free. Jackson is where I am independent. Jackson is where I became the person I am now.
It helps that I got to see all of my Jackson friends this trip. First I stopped by Jennie and Dusty's. Jennie kept foisting delicious food and drink on me, and later proved how well she knew me. Tim was going to sell me his camera while I was in Jackson, and Dusty told me all about how he could probably find better deals online. I really did believe him, and said I might ask for like, $50 off. Jennie turned from the stove and said, "But you're really going to pay full price." I cracked up, because I had this idea of me being super saver and assertive, and Jennie knew that was utter crap before I did. (btw, she was right, but I don't even care because the camera is so pretty and shiny!)
The kids demanded I play with them, and am I the only person who finds adorable children maddening? I want to talk to Jennie, but they're so. freaking. cute. So I play, and I love it, because they're adorable! But then I want to talk to Jennie and Dusty, and they still want to play! And I can't say no because of their squench little faces. Though really, this trip felt like an excellent balance of adult to kid ratio.
Then the sky went dark. Hannah and I stood at the door, and I tried to calm her down.
H: It's so dark! There's going to be a tornado!
T: No no. They sky is just gray because it's going to rain. Thunderstorms are fun! They won't hurt you in the house.
H: It's a tornado!
T: No. I promise, it's okay.
H: It's a tornado siren!
T: No, that's the wind. See, it's just howling like....oh. Yup, that's a tornado siren.
We booked it to the under-the-stairs closet, which Jennie had just emptied. Dusty was on his way home from work, so the four of us sat with pillows and flashlights until the radio said it was okay.
I admit there are parts of Jackson that I definitely don't miss.
Friday night I ate breakfast for dinner with Erin and Stephanie. I got caught up on what their post-graduation plans are. I meant to show them a picture from Vancouver (I never talk about that mission trip, but it was kind of fantastic), which necessitated scrolling through a bunch of freshman year pictures. Stephanie said, "That was before us, when your life was boring!" I nodded, but what? Freshman year rocked the skylimits. Every day was fun and every night was funner.
And that was perfect to remember, because I met Ashley for breakfast Saturday morning. Turns out I might get to be a bridesmaid before the year is out, and that will mean two of my three Craig 3 sisters will be married! WHAT? That's so beyond crazy I cannot actually imagine it, but also it's very sweet and I'm happy for them.
With my new camera in hand, we went to the ag something or other, where I discovered the utter joy of shooting a close-up of a flower from six feet away. Also I took a lot of pictures of Ashley looking snarky, just as I like her. Then we went downtown, and she showed me the alleyway where she takes family pictures (hahaha, that sounds sketch, but really it isn't).
Unsure what to do, we called the movie theater and found out Something Borrowed was playing in two minutes, so off we went. UGH. Craptacular movie. With maybe fifteen minutes to spare, the movie was awesome, and I cuddled into Ashley with pure joy. And then the movie dropped the ball. No, it stomped on the ball and smeared poo on it. It was awful. We spent the last half hour together yelling at each other. Not in argument, but in shared disgust of the movie.
Then it was back to Erin and Tim's. Bruce and then Stephanie joined us. We were planning to go to a Turkish restaurant in Nashville, but every else was too busy and/or tired to do so. That sucked, but we ended up spending an hour in Books A Million (where I once spent two weeks dropping by to drink their Ghiradelli mint chocolate coffee) then eating Thai food.
We crashed back at the married housing and discussed deadly things in Thailand, where Bruce will be living in a couple months. He was largely unconcerned. The party ended around 11:30 when Tim and Erin regaled me with pranks they'd pulled on his brother, and I was mildly worried what I would find in their guest bed. That ended up being totally fine, but when I knocked on their bedroom door the next morning to say goodbye, it was a weird shock to see them in bed together. Covered in a sheet, THANK GOODNESS, but still. Marriage. Weird.
Leaving was a bit of a suckfest, but I stopped by the Monahan's on my way into town, like I used to do when Peoria was temporary and Jackson was fulltime. I'm glad I did, because I showed Abby my new camera, tried to twirl David's cap guns, and watched Community with Abby. They are a nice reminder that I have friends and fun times in Peoria too.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Mostly Just Boys....Like Normal
When I went to facebook this morning, I saw that it was my high school freshman year crush's birthday. Seeing his name, I had this immediate heart constriction attack. Guys, I liked him NINE YEARS AGO. And still I get twitterpated. It is true, the never quite getting over your first crush.
Then later tonight I showed Emily a bunch of youtube clips of various So You Think You Can Dance songs. And now that I'm home from church, I cannot stop! And since my life revolves around boys, my dance choices to revisit have of course revolved around Kent (because what the what, that kid is POWERFUL), then Billy (because he can do splits in jeans and he's so freaking adorable!) and Mark (because he's so awesomely weird!).
And then I remembered Jakob. Oh, Jakob, I loved you so much. You were such a fantastic dancer. And you could rock the weird like no one else. And let's be honest, you are sexy.
I now want to marry a dancer. Who will teach me to dance. And then we will dance together!
Okay, back to youtube.
Then later tonight I showed Emily a bunch of youtube clips of various So You Think You Can Dance songs. And now that I'm home from church, I cannot stop! And since my life revolves around boys, my dance choices to revisit have of course revolved around Kent (because what the what, that kid is POWERFUL), then Billy (because he can do splits in jeans and he's so freaking adorable!) and Mark (because he's so awesomely weird!).
And then I remembered Jakob. Oh, Jakob, I loved you so much. You were such a fantastic dancer. And you could rock the weird like no one else. And let's be honest, you are sexy.
I now want to marry a dancer. Who will teach me to dance. And then we will dance together!
Okay, back to youtube.
Monday, May 9, 2011
"We Are So Blessed"
What with the Lay Ministry Weekend and the 30 Hour Famine, discussions of American privilege have been semi-common in my life lately. It has become kind of the popular thing for someone to nod their head seriously and say in a low voice, "We're so blessed, you know? So blessed."
This drives me crazy. It makes me want to pull out my hair and scream.
Because really? Is this news? We live in a country that offers us plenty of freedoms. Everyone I know has a house and a bed and a car and a cell phone. Saying we are blessed is akin to saying, "I prefer not burning to death" or "Cadbury Cream Eggs are really really good." I don't need to be hit with an obvious stick.
What I want is for people to move past the part where we are blessed and start asking why this is so. Why are Americans in general richer than most of the world? Why am I specifically the owner of a car, a computer, and a sizable bank account?
I don't think the answer is simply so that I can sit around happy that I wasn't raised in Niger. That is the selfish way out, but even worse, it's selfishness covered in ignorance. Give me someone who gleefully hoards their money and tells the poor to scram over someone who innocently hoards their money while looking at the poor with pity. Honesty over hypocrisy any day.
So let's stop talking about how blessed we are. Let's start using the material and political and spiritual blessings that God has given us to impact the poor, to balance the world's rich/poor divide, to take care of orphans and widows, and to bring about God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Faith without action is dead, after all.
This drives me crazy. It makes me want to pull out my hair and scream.
Because really? Is this news? We live in a country that offers us plenty of freedoms. Everyone I know has a house and a bed and a car and a cell phone. Saying we are blessed is akin to saying, "I prefer not burning to death" or "Cadbury Cream Eggs are really really good." I don't need to be hit with an obvious stick.
What I want is for people to move past the part where we are blessed and start asking why this is so. Why are Americans in general richer than most of the world? Why am I specifically the owner of a car, a computer, and a sizable bank account?
I don't think the answer is simply so that I can sit around happy that I wasn't raised in Niger. That is the selfish way out, but even worse, it's selfishness covered in ignorance. Give me someone who gleefully hoards their money and tells the poor to scram over someone who innocently hoards their money while looking at the poor with pity. Honesty over hypocrisy any day.
So let's stop talking about how blessed we are. Let's start using the material and political and spiritual blessings that God has given us to impact the poor, to balance the world's rich/poor divide, to take care of orphans and widows, and to bring about God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Faith without action is dead, after all.
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