My graduation present (’cause I’m cheap like that)
Here in NY, it’s Graduation Weekend. And even though I’ve been doing the youth ministry thing for a while now, it’s still hard to see my kids graduate from high school every year. Especially my B’ville kids that I used to babysit when I was high school.
Anyway, even though I’m a “mom” to a ton of kids, there are always a few that I get a little more attached to and adopt them as my little sister (I have some brothers too, but I either adopted them post-graduation or they haven’t graduated yet).
But this one is special because she’s my first Crystal Chords little sister. And I’m not only saying Congratulations, but Goodbye as she treks off to St. Louis, never to be seen from again (ok, I’ll see her next August when she comes back to get married [really long story, but not for this blog]).
So, this is for Miss Jessica.
Jess, on Saturday, you will enter the “Real World” and be a high school graduate. Although that seems weird because I think you’ve encountered more of the Real World than most kids your age. You have seen a lot of good and bad that the Real World has to offer and I have to say, you possess an insane amount of grace and wisdom because of that. You hold up extremely well under pressure, yet you know that you have friends you can trust and lean on if the pressure gets to be too much.
I suppose I could go the hip-hop route and try to speak the language of the young people today to give you advice but because you’re “classy,” instead I’m going to piece this together using lyrics from barbershop songs. Which actually probably just sound like regular songs to the untrained ear, but I know you’ll be hearing ringing chords the whole time.
Baby, do I have your attention? Your attention? I’ve got a few little things I’d like to mention. While I’m alone and blue as can be, dream a little dream of me. When all the clouds darken up the skyway, there’s a rainbow highway to be found. You gotta have heart, all you really need is heart. When the odds are saying you’ll never win, that’s when the grin should start. How deep is the ocean? How high is the sky? There is beauty all around, when there’s love at home. There is joy in every sound, when there’s love at home. You try to make the most of what nature’s done, you save a lot of work and have a lot more fun. May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Jessie Angel, you’re an angel to me. Just sing sing sing sing.
Oh and this made me think of you:
Shelved in the people who rock, singing
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Water = fun, well usually
You may have noticed I’m changing the look around again. I think I like this look for now, but it needs a little something so I’m playing around until I get things just right. So, don’t mind me. And if something doesn’t look quite right, and you refresh your browser and it still doesn’t look right, let me know about it.
In the meantime, since I’m trying on new things, I decided to try a Water Aerobics class. Since I got that heel spur back in January, I haven’t been walking as much as I should be. Physical therapy helped alot with that, but now I’m having back issues due to not walking. Since I need exercise, I did some research and found that water aerobics does wonders for people with back pain. That’s nice, I thought, but there’s no way I’ll find a class like that in my neck of the woods. After all, I’m still looking for my oxygen bar.
Well, it turns out, they have water aerobics classes at the YWCA, which is right around the corner from where I work. And, they have a class at 5:15, right after I get out of work (on my good days, anyway). So, last night I tried out my first class. And I got my ass kicked. Thoroughly.
The class was actually a lot of fun. We played with noodles and foam weights. There was a lot of jumping around. I love playing in the water but the exercises took a lot of coordination that I just don’t have. But, at least since we’re all in the water up to our necks, noone can see me being uncoordinated. And the instructor told me that if I can’t do something, to just keep moving. Which I did.
And now I’m paying for it. I am sore all over. But, my back was totally fine through the whole workout. And the Pisces in me would play in the water all day long if I could. So, I think I’ll keep this up for a while.
Someone’s getting old and forgetful, I just don’t know who
random conversation at home
Jason: I thought you said you bought milk.
Erin: I did.
Jason: Where is it?
Erin: It’s where it always is; bottom shelf of the fridge.
Jason: Really? (goes to kitchen and comes back) Ok, I found it. It was on the stove.
Erin: What do you mean, it was on the stove? Holy crap, did I leave it there this morning?
Jason: It’s good. Don’t worry I sniffed it.
Erin: Are you sure? Milk shouldn’t be out more than 3 hours and I used it over 3 hours ago.
Jason: Or maybe it’s only been 5 minutes. I think I left it there.
Erin: What? You didn’t even know I bought it 2 minutes ago when you asked about it.
Jason: Yeah, I think I really did know and I put it there.
Erin: *sigh*
My husband, the soap opera
I find it funny that I can go for weeks with nothing going on to blog about and then in one night, my husband gives me enough stories to tell for months. If you follow me on Twitter you got to read most of it.
It all started Wednesday night. I was visiting the hospital to meet Desra’s new baby boy and as I left, he called me to come get him as his car had stalled out and died only a few blocks away. Yes, this is the same car that tried to kill me six months ago. So we got it towed to the mechanic and on Thursday, they determined it was the alternator. They got it all fixed up and off Jason went.
He called me a few hours later to come and get him again. This time the battery had died in the parking lot at work. So, I went to get him again. But he wanted to try jumping his own car instead of paying for a tow truck. Which we did, except the battery needed a lot more juice than we had to give. Jason needed to sit in his car and rev the engine to charge the battery, which meant me taking off the cables and such.
Well, here’s the thing. When Jason called, I had just woken up from a nap. Thinking I wouldn’t have to leave the car, I left the house so not dressed to impress; like hide your children from the white trashiness that was my shorts and tshirt. I about had a heart attack upon hearing the suggestion I even open the car door wearing those clothes. AT THE OFFICE. Which, I might remind you, is a newspaper, WHERE PEOPLE WORK LATE. As Jason got that “oh you have GOT to be kidding me” look on his face, my point was proved when my colleague and his boss’s boss, the Managing Editor, just happened to stroll by on her way out.
At that point, Jason decided his car was good to go, so he took off the cables and shut the hoods and off we went. Well, Jason’s car didn’t even get 2 blocks before dying on the street. So, we had to do the jumpstart all over again. Except, now we’re on a busy street so I have to maneuver around traffic to get to his car. Fun times. We jumped once. I left. His car died. Back I went. We jumped twice. The car died as soon as the cables came off. He put the cables back on jumped again. Then called my phone to tell me to take them off. By then, it was getting dark and I was not in front of my office so I obliged. It died again. At that point, I lost it and announced we were calling the tow truck.
So, the tow truck came and I thought it odd that he already had a car on his bed. How on earth could he pick up 2 cars?? Well, he put the car on a chain and towed the car behind him, that’s how. But he did have to use a temporary battery to put Jason’s car flashers on. So, finally, the car got to the mechanics. Again. I hear the battery is fixed but now it has a gas leak.
I really hate Jason’s car.
Photo meme? Mosaic? I’m in
It’s hot. It’s damn hot. It’s so hot I did this meme 2 days ago but haven’t been able to get this close to my computer. Now that there are 2 fans pointed at me, I can log in briefly enough to finish the post and then retreat to my bedroom where there are 4 fans awaiting me.
So, yea, it’s a meme!
Here are the rules:
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, pick one image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab’s Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.
The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food? right now?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. What is one word that describes you?
12. What is your flickr name?
1. “THE EMERALD ISLE” 2, 2. “I, Piórko, like Cheese!”, 3. alpenglow, 4. Purple fingers, 5. “Justice Kitty” graphic on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, 6. Hi, I’m Lisa…….I’m Addicted to Diet Coke [Day 8/366], 7. An Irish Sunset, 8. Dessert sweet dessert (I), 9. at anchor, 10. Happy Our Birthday 
, 11. Unconditional Love III, 12. Pi Day
Math with the Mennonites
One of the best traditions in Elmira is Wisner Market. Really, it’s a Farmers’ Market in Wisner Park, but who wants to say all that? Every Thursday in summer, the park comes alive with vendors and entertainers. The city closes the street dividing the park and everyone who works nearby walks over for lunch. Or for the goodies. Mmmmm….chocolate browny popcorn.
Since today was the first day of the Market this year, I managed to pull myself away from my desk to head over there. It was almost a nice day, aka, it wasn’t raining and the sun was kind of out. Instead of my popcorn, I opted to get some cinnamon buns from the Mennonites (they have the best bread).
While I was deciding which buns to get, the woman next to me was getting her change back for her purchase. Her change came to something and 50 cents. The girl behind the table handed her the change and this woman looks at it and says, “don’t you have any quarters?” The girl smiled and politely said no, they were out. Then the woman got all huffy about all the *gasp* dimes! in her hand. So, the girl counted out the dimes for her. “..4..5.. that’s 50 cents.” She was being so nice and polite but you could tell this girl wanted to run and cry from the looks this woman was giving her. The woman then left but I was so embarrassed to be anywhere near her for fear someone might think I was actually associated with this woman. When it was my turn, I got my something and 25 cents back in change and gave her a big thank you when she gave me 2 dimes and a nickel.
Now, seriously, why would someone pull attitude with the Mennonites? Because she gave you 5 whole 5 dimes instead of 2 quarters? Were you mad that you couldn’t do the math in your head? Or did you think the girl was lying to you? Or are you so freakin’ lazy that you might have to put more objects into your pocket for your walk back to your office? Heaven forbid the Mennonites try to crimp your lifestyle. At the Farmers’ Market.