Oh what a day its been. Indulge me for a moment, while I elaborate.
Umm, but if you don't like potty talk, you best not indulge me.
Last night I went to bed around one or two for a 'nap,' and then I was to wake up around three-ish to continue working on my paper.
Instead I woke up at 4:00am and, well, threw up.
And again at 9:30am right before work.
And again at 10:30am in the parking lot of America's Bank after I made a deposit.
(At this point I told my boss what was going on, and asked if I could go home when the other girl came in. He said I should stop partying so hard. He's so funny.)
And again at 12:30 in the Really Nice Clothing Store's bathroom. Hopefully no Really Rich Customers heard.
At this point, I was told to go home. :)
So I stopped by the Friendly Neighborhood Grocery store, grabbed some bubbly and saltines.
I arrived home, and, you guessed it!
And again at 1:30pm.
Here's the good news, though...I slept lots, and have kept down some bubbly and the saltines.
Man alive, I wish I knew where this came from so it could be sent back.
Bright side: I got to leave work early! And, I may get my jury postponed. woo.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
gratefulness
If you are looking for something profound, you may want to keep looking.
I, on Thanksgiving Eve, felt like sharing a few things that I was grateful for:
A vacuum cleaner, so that I may have clean floors
Dish soap for clean dishes
An almost clean apartment
A Kitty who still loves me after his Surgery
A soft bed in which I will soon be sleeping
A day off from work tomorrow
Watching good movies
Rice and beans with smushed avocado for dinner
Some chicken for Thanksgiving Dinner - oh bother, though I may not have Cream of Mushroom soup for the green bean casserole....I'll survive.
and
The bestest family in the whole widest world, as evidenced by these status updates:
Mattnew, who can memorize anything, and recite anything at will, Frau who is a dedicated teacher, and takes on those fascist Italians, and Amber, who took Paul off our hands. :)
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all, a good night!
I, on Thanksgiving Eve, felt like sharing a few things that I was grateful for:
A vacuum cleaner, so that I may have clean floors
Dish soap for clean dishes
An almost clean apartment
A Kitty who still loves me after his Surgery
A soft bed in which I will soon be sleeping
A day off from work tomorrow
Watching good movies
Rice and beans with smushed avocado for dinner
Some chicken for Thanksgiving Dinner - oh bother, though I may not have Cream of Mushroom soup for the green bean casserole....I'll survive.
and
The bestest family in the whole widest world, as evidenced by these status updates:
Mattnew, who can memorize anything, and recite anything at will, Frau who is a dedicated teacher, and takes on those fascist Italians, and Amber, who took Paul off our hands. :)
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all, a good night!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
here we are together
I'm sitting here on my oh so comfy couch. Next to me is a not-so-little-anymore black cat. [Question: Is it wrong that I like to poke him while he's sleeping?]
I started out this evening to post about what I've been studying in my Music of Southeast Asia class. Well, more how it applies to me right now.
But, I got sidetracked. [Do you like the new colors?]
But never fear, I am back on target.
For my project in the class, I am trying to answer why dancers would have been a target for execution during the Khmer Rouge. I finally have settled on an acceptable (at least to me!) thesis statement, and am beginning to really work out the organization of my paper. Once this is done, I'll be able to lay out what information I have already learned, and find any more information I may need to fill in any possible holes.
In reading stories of survivors of the regime, it has been hard to stay objective. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking flippantly about events that transpired. I guess so that I can continue functioning emotionally?
For example, one young girl relates how she and her entire family miraculously survived the years of the Khmer Rouge, and made it to Thailand in hopes of making it to a refugee camp. The arrived at a camp, and were then bussed to a location.
After disembarking the bus, they were forced to climb down a mountainside, through a minefield, then arriving back in their own country they had just fled.
And my 'Self' says: wow. that was really kind of them to do that.
[I just got distracted again. Big surprise.]
This is not the only story I've. And I doubt I would be able to read all of the stories that exist from that time period.
Many of the stories cannot be told. The number vary slightly, depending on the sources, but approximately 14,000 peoples were brought in for questioning (that includes men women and children) and only 7 survived.
'Self': hmm... wow. seven - that's an odd number.
Oh ya, and there's the story of the little boy who was the only one in his family who survived.
He knew his father had been killed, because his father would not lie. The little boy survived because he lied. Thusly, the boy learned that one survives through deceit and dishonesty. And others who believed that all that was happening to them was their fault, their karma. They must have done something wrong at some point, right?
'Self': ...
And yet, there were stories of survival - even by people who were targeted. There are musicians who had ties to previous rulers, who survived, because they had an artistic ability.
'Self': what?
What we discussed in class was that the way the Khmer Rouge ruled was through fear. And this fear was created by changing the rules. Even those who were originally leaders in the organization were afraid for their lives. No one really knew the rules. Probably not even Pol Pot himself.
In a previous post, I've mentioned how I am grateful for the Plan of Happiness, and how there is justice for both those who do wrong, yet seem to not receive their dues and those who did not do wrong and were dealt a raw hand.
Now I would like to mention how grateful I am for a God who does not change the rules on us, thus allowing us to live our lives free from fear. I believe there is a reason fear is the enemy of faith.
I also love that it is my academic classes that are continually driving home these points to me. That makes me happy.
So much more could be said.
I started out this evening to post about what I've been studying in my Music of Southeast Asia class. Well, more how it applies to me right now.
But, I got sidetracked. [Do you like the new colors?]
But never fear, I am back on target.
For my project in the class, I am trying to answer why dancers would have been a target for execution during the Khmer Rouge. I finally have settled on an acceptable (at least to me!) thesis statement, and am beginning to really work out the organization of my paper. Once this is done, I'll be able to lay out what information I have already learned, and find any more information I may need to fill in any possible holes.
In reading stories of survivors of the regime, it has been hard to stay objective. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking flippantly about events that transpired. I guess so that I can continue functioning emotionally?
For example, one young girl relates how she and her entire family miraculously survived the years of the Khmer Rouge, and made it to Thailand in hopes of making it to a refugee camp. The arrived at a camp, and were then bussed to a location.
After disembarking the bus, they were forced to climb down a mountainside, through a minefield, then arriving back in their own country they had just fled.
And my 'Self' says: wow. that was really kind of them to do that.
[I just got distracted again. Big surprise.]
This is not the only story I've. And I doubt I would be able to read all of the stories that exist from that time period.
Many of the stories cannot be told. The number vary slightly, depending on the sources, but approximately 14,000 peoples were brought in for questioning (that includes men women and children) and only 7 survived.
'Self': hmm... wow. seven - that's an odd number.
Oh ya, and there's the story of the little boy who was the only one in his family who survived.
He knew his father had been killed, because his father would not lie. The little boy survived because he lied. Thusly, the boy learned that one survives through deceit and dishonesty. And others who believed that all that was happening to them was their fault, their karma. They must have done something wrong at some point, right?
'Self': ...
And yet, there were stories of survival - even by people who were targeted. There are musicians who had ties to previous rulers, who survived, because they had an artistic ability.
'Self': what?
What we discussed in class was that the way the Khmer Rouge ruled was through fear. And this fear was created by changing the rules. Even those who were originally leaders in the organization were afraid for their lives. No one really knew the rules. Probably not even Pol Pot himself.
In a previous post, I've mentioned how I am grateful for the Plan of Happiness, and how there is justice for both those who do wrong, yet seem to not receive their dues and those who did not do wrong and were dealt a raw hand.
Now I would like to mention how grateful I am for a God who does not change the rules on us, thus allowing us to live our lives free from fear. I believe there is a reason fear is the enemy of faith.
I also love that it is my academic classes that are continually driving home these points to me. That makes me happy.
So much more could be said.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
why i love maksim*
Yesterday was a rough day for him.
He insisted on jumping up on the kitchen table (an activity I do NOT want him to get used to) so I had to keep getting him off of the kitchen table.
Same day, he ran into my bedroom, and hid behind my curtains. I don't want him in my bedroom (though as he calms down, my strength on this decision is wavering.... shhh... don't tell Maks.) The only way to get him out is with a squirt or two from a water bottle. Yesterday morning he was dripping wet.
He still tried to get in the room. I think I may lose that battle.
BUT, today, when he jumped on the table, I did not need to manhandle him off. I just stood there, and pointed down. And he got down, after a bit of pathetic mewing. (But...But... he says.)
And then, there is my favorite way he lounges around on the couch.
He posed quite well for the picture, making sure his tail was in the middle, so you could see where his leggies are.
Seriously? Oh kitty, you are so silly.
And, I must skeedaddle: time for church.
* I needed another two syllable name. That was not feminine. And who doesn't like Maksim? aahahaha.
He insisted on jumping up on the kitchen table (an activity I do NOT want him to get used to) so I had to keep getting him off of the kitchen table.
Same day, he ran into my bedroom, and hid behind my curtains. I don't want him in my bedroom (though as he calms down, my strength on this decision is wavering.... shhh... don't tell Maks.) The only way to get him out is with a squirt or two from a water bottle. Yesterday morning he was dripping wet.
He still tried to get in the room. I think I may lose that battle.
BUT, today, when he jumped on the table, I did not need to manhandle him off. I just stood there, and pointed down. And he got down, after a bit of pathetic mewing. (But...But... he says.)
And then, there is my favorite way he lounges around on the couch.
He posed quite well for the picture, making sure his tail was in the middle, so you could see where his leggies are.
Seriously? Oh kitty, you are so silly.
And, I must skeedaddle: time for church.
* I needed another two syllable name. That was not feminine. And who doesn't like Maksim? aahahaha.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
response to: how to get free chocolate
See here for what spurred this post. It was getting waaaay too long to leave in the comment section.
Read if you dare. It will be tangential, and long winded, and definitely stream of conscious. But, what else is new?
To Miss Scarlet:
Wow, you're a little bossy. :P
Haha, and, I did give myself a pat in the back.
AND, I've thought a lot about what we talked about (not stressing, etc.) since Monday, and I think this (book reading) has a direct relation to it.
I think I'll write a post, [which I am now doing] too, but because I sometimes take forever to write something, I'll give you my two cents about reading books.
I LOVE BOOKS. Remember that time when we still need to talk about Catching Fire? And there's a whole year until the next one that comes out? Or Tuesday night, instead of doing my homework, I read the Castle book? [I did get it done later....] ya... But do you know what?
1) My books (and my crocheting) literally were the only things that kept me at all sane last year [or at least some semblance of sanity], when I first moved out here.
2) Reading teaches one so much about life lessons, and helps one to see and hear new stories and ideas and use one's imagination. I think that it is an amazing gift that we can give ourselves that will help us in whatever we end up doing in our life.
3) Sometimes I do read more than one book, and I do have a stack of books that I need to read, and many that I want to get so I can read them. I love going back to old books like old friends. The first time I read a story, I read it just for a story. Then it's because I love the characters. I eventually will also read because of the way an author writes. That's when I know that a book has become a part of me. Does that make sense? For me to be able to step away from the story, and to see how a story is written. I love it.
I don't know if this is helping you with your problem.
Sorry, more practical.
When I'm reading more than one book (lately it's more likely that I'm listening to one story, and reading another) I sometimes have to turn the page back, to remind myself exactly what's going on, but I think you'll find that you become immersed in the story quick enough.
I've heard people who have the book in the car, purse, bathroom and bedroom, so that wherever they are, there's a book for them to read, so that they're never without.
My family is like that. We'll actually fight over books. Especially the parents. The only time I can remember them 'arguing' (besides pillow theft of course) is when one steals the other's book before they have finished.
My grandpa papa is currently needing to build more shelves (but not in the closet) to hold all his books.
Hmm, now I'm getting tangential.
Enough with the books. More tangents.
So on Monday, we decided to worry less, no?
My last transfer as an hermana, me and the comp decided (because we both tend to be little stress-balls) made it a goal to have fun every day. And to achieve this goal [see what good little missionaries we were? :)] we were going to do something as simple as take a picture every day.
I cannot tell you what a difference that made. Some of those pictures are my favorite pictures I own. Many times we would ask the random people we talked to if we could take a picture with them.
There's the one of us with the man, by the pine tree. There's the one with my head cut off of me and Kate with la pastora. Or the cows in the swampy land... But I digress.
It worked. We had fun. And we were still able to work hard.
As I was being driven by a member to Tampa to be booted out of the mission, our friend who was driving related something she'd heard about us. One of the members said that they knew we were good missionaries because she could always feel the Spirit around us, and that we were always so happy together. I wish that I could remember the exact words, because it illustrates my point. And my point is, we had an outlet for stress. And eventually we stopped stressing. And then we started having fun, even. And I think that the Spirit is more able to work with us, and be there with us, when we are not caught up in concerns, be they ever so big, or ever so small.
So, back to books, if books are something that helps you have fun, and thus more fully experience the Spirit in your life, I say go for it.
The other thing that I would suggest, is making it a simple goal. for example, the photograph thing? That was not something hard, that really interfered with missionary work. If it was, I think it would have caused more harm than good, by causing more stress. For example, maybe saying, I will allow myself at least one hour of quality time with my book a day. It's enough for your outlet, but it's not so much that it would interfere with school work, and thus cause you more stress.
And that, my friend, is my response. Super long, and probably doesn't help you too much with your book problem (sorry!) but I think refers more to paragraph three.
And to those who actually made it through - any thoughts or suggestions for me or Miss Scarlet?
Read if you dare. It will be tangential, and long winded, and definitely stream of conscious. But, what else is new?
To Miss Scarlet:
Wow, you're a little bossy. :P
Haha, and, I did give myself a pat in the back.
AND, I've thought a lot about what we talked about (not stressing, etc.) since Monday, and I think this (book reading) has a direct relation to it.
I think I'll write a post, [which I am now doing] too, but because I sometimes take forever to write something, I'll give you my two cents about reading books.
I LOVE BOOKS. Remember that time when we still need to talk about Catching Fire? And there's a whole year until the next one that comes out? Or Tuesday night, instead of doing my homework, I read the Castle book? [I did get it done later....] ya... But do you know what?
1) My books (and my crocheting) literally were the only things that kept me at all sane last year [or at least some semblance of sanity], when I first moved out here.
2) Reading teaches one so much about life lessons, and helps one to see and hear new stories and ideas and use one's imagination. I think that it is an amazing gift that we can give ourselves that will help us in whatever we end up doing in our life.
3) Sometimes I do read more than one book, and I do have a stack of books that I need to read, and many that I want to get so I can read them. I love going back to old books like old friends. The first time I read a story, I read it just for a story. Then it's because I love the characters. I eventually will also read because of the way an author writes. That's when I know that a book has become a part of me. Does that make sense? For me to be able to step away from the story, and to see how a story is written. I love it.
I don't know if this is helping you with your problem.
Sorry, more practical.
When I'm reading more than one book (lately it's more likely that I'm listening to one story, and reading another) I sometimes have to turn the page back, to remind myself exactly what's going on, but I think you'll find that you become immersed in the story quick enough.
I've heard people who have the book in the car, purse, bathroom and bedroom, so that wherever they are, there's a book for them to read, so that they're never without.
My family is like that. We'll actually fight over books. Especially the parents. The only time I can remember them 'arguing' (besides pillow theft of course) is when one steals the other's book before they have finished.
My grandpa papa is currently needing to build more shelves (but not in the closet) to hold all his books.
Hmm, now I'm getting tangential.
Enough with the books. More tangents.
So on Monday, we decided to worry less, no?
My last transfer as an hermana, me and the comp decided (because we both tend to be little stress-balls) made it a goal to have fun every day. And to achieve this goal [see what good little missionaries we were? :)] we were going to do something as simple as take a picture every day.
I cannot tell you what a difference that made. Some of those pictures are my favorite pictures I own. Many times we would ask the random people we talked to if we could take a picture with them.
There's the one of us with the man, by the pine tree. There's the one with my head cut off of me and Kate with la pastora. Or the cows in the swampy land... But I digress.
It worked. We had fun. And we were still able to work hard.
As I was being driven by a member to Tampa to be booted out of the mission, our friend who was driving related something she'd heard about us. One of the members said that they knew we were good missionaries because she could always feel the Spirit around us, and that we were always so happy together. I wish that I could remember the exact words, because it illustrates my point. And my point is, we had an outlet for stress. And eventually we stopped stressing. And then we started having fun, even. And I think that the Spirit is more able to work with us, and be there with us, when we are not caught up in concerns, be they ever so big, or ever so small.
So, back to books, if books are something that helps you have fun, and thus more fully experience the Spirit in your life, I say go for it.
The other thing that I would suggest, is making it a simple goal. for example, the photograph thing? That was not something hard, that really interfered with missionary work. If it was, I think it would have caused more harm than good, by causing more stress. For example, maybe saying, I will allow myself at least one hour of quality time with my book a day. It's enough for your outlet, but it's not so much that it would interfere with school work, and thus cause you more stress.
And that, my friend, is my response. Super long, and probably doesn't help you too much with your book problem (sorry!) but I think refers more to paragraph three.
And to those who actually made it through - any thoughts or suggestions for me or Miss Scarlet?
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