Tomorrow is Friday and I couldn't be happier. But why is Friday so special? I know it's the end of the week, but we still have to go to work. However, this detail seems insignificant when just the mention of Friday sends spirals of pleasure down my spine and I feel myself relax just a little bit. So, in honor of the beloved beginning of our weekend here are my top 10 reasons I love Friday so much.
1. I've accomplished four hard days of work
2. I get to stay up a little later on Thursday night because I can roll out of bed one more day and survive on less sleep
3. Fun Friday! At my work people bring in yummy food to make Friday more fun - and it works
4. Everyone, including the kids, is more laid back
5. It's water day-and who doesn't like splashing around in water on a hot summer day while listening to good music curtesy of my flawless taste
6. There's something magical about driving away from your place of employment at 5:01 p.m.
7. I have two netflix movies waiting for me when I get home from work
8. I can drink as much caffiene during the day as I want and won't be worried about staying up since I can sleep in the next morning.
9. The freedom of having an entire weekend before me, completely unblemished, oh the possibilites
10. Seeing my good friends Friday night, nothing can beat that!
And with that I say to all of you Happy Friday!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I Got a Haircut!
After years, and I mean years, of long hair I took the plunge and cut it short. I was nervous. The last time I had a cut which was more substantial than a trim I ended up spending a large portion of high school looking like a mushroom and not a cute one. But on Sunday I saw a picture of a haircut I liked on Oprah.com (it was my first time on that sight - I promise). My last trim was in October, so it really was time - yes that's nine months and no that's not the longest I've gone between clips.
So, Monday morning I barged into work, looked up the picure on the computer and showed it to my co-worker Erica, who cuts the hair of all who know her. "What do you think? Will it look good?" I asked. I was skeptical and have no talent for imagining what a haircut will look like on a person. She promised me it would and agreed to cut it.
One day and a lunch hour later and here I am with short hair. When she asked me what I thought all I could say was "it's really short." A few hours later, hours in which I've caught quick glimpses of myself, stared at my reflection for long minutes, showered and added gel to my hair to see what it would look like without a bunch of tousling (obssess much?) I've decided I like it.
It may be shorter than I was going for, but the shape is great. It's going to be super easy to do, and it's super cute! I'm also going to grab some pomade, putty whatever it's called and see how sassy I can get it. Thanks Erica for a great cut and taking a chance on a girl with curls.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Time To Say Goodbye
Friday night I went to a going away party for my friend and work colleague, Ana. She is going to grad school in Philly before moving to some TBD third world country where she will no doubt save the world. I'm still slightly in denial, she doesn't leave until sometime in August allowing us at least three more "hang out" days.
Tonight, I have yet another send off party for my friend's Kathy and Jon. They are also moving in August, to the unfortunate state of Michigan (sorry if I've offended but there's a rivalry that no one can deny). In both circumstances I have channeled my sadness the only way I can, by planning a trip to visit.
This is a wonderful form of therapy. I love road trips, new places, small towns, big cities and adventure (as long as there is indoor plumbing and plenty of central air), so planning a trip seems like a no brainer. And since graduating from college I have gone to Seattle, Denver, Nashville, State College, PA, Boston, Marysville and Reynoldsburg, and possibly some other places I'm forgetting, all to visit friends.
I realize that I live in Columbus and that I listed Marysville and Reynoldsburg, but I feel it's only right. They are twenty-five minutes away and with today's gas prices I count them as road trips.
So, on the bright side, I will get to visit Grand Rapids, Michigan (just named by Money magazine as one of the best small towns in the US!) and Philadelphia in the coming year.
But the bright side is a little to rosy for me, I have to give these glasses a rest. In reality it really sucks to say goodbye to friends. People who support you and make you laugh and laugh at you, I mean with you. And staying in touch is hard. There's a reason why I've only listed places I've visited friends since college, because I didn't stay in touch with people before that. I always have great intentions, but it's kind of tricky to stay in touch without addresses and phone numbers. It's always slipped my mind on graduation day to go up to the people I've seen every day for four years and get their contact information. Pictures, yes. Data, no.
And I also have an aversion to talking on the phone for long periods of time (this began when I missed a trip to go sledding during a snow day in fifth grade because I was talking on the phone for hours about boys). Not to mention who sends real mail anymore and people really don't communicate well by e-mail.
Now, I know what you're thinking...Facebook. Well, frankly it annoys me. I don't feel closer to people when I get on Facebook, although I could write a bloody good report about them for school and make sure they have not been kidnapped or hospitalized if they haven't returned my phone calls. I can hear your gasp as you read this and I know I am ridiculous, but maybe God will change me.
All kidding aside, I know that when God moves people he also grows people. My friends who have moved away have found a new reliance on Jesus that they never would have had if they had stayed. And I have learned to rely on him through the loneliness that fills the time we used to spend together and as I battle my fears as I meet new people and develop new friendships.
So, it's "go" time again, time to be stretched, time to step outside of my comfort zone.
Tonight, I have yet another send off party for my friend's Kathy and Jon. They are also moving in August, to the unfortunate state of Michigan (sorry if I've offended but there's a rivalry that no one can deny). In both circumstances I have channeled my sadness the only way I can, by planning a trip to visit.
This is a wonderful form of therapy. I love road trips, new places, small towns, big cities and adventure (as long as there is indoor plumbing and plenty of central air), so planning a trip seems like a no brainer. And since graduating from college I have gone to Seattle, Denver, Nashville, State College, PA, Boston, Marysville and Reynoldsburg, and possibly some other places I'm forgetting, all to visit friends.
I realize that I live in Columbus and that I listed Marysville and Reynoldsburg, but I feel it's only right. They are twenty-five minutes away and with today's gas prices I count them as road trips.
So, on the bright side, I will get to visit Grand Rapids, Michigan (just named by Money magazine as one of the best small towns in the US!) and Philadelphia in the coming year.
But the bright side is a little to rosy for me, I have to give these glasses a rest. In reality it really sucks to say goodbye to friends. People who support you and make you laugh and laugh at you, I mean with you. And staying in touch is hard. There's a reason why I've only listed places I've visited friends since college, because I didn't stay in touch with people before that. I always have great intentions, but it's kind of tricky to stay in touch without addresses and phone numbers. It's always slipped my mind on graduation day to go up to the people I've seen every day for four years and get their contact information. Pictures, yes. Data, no.
And I also have an aversion to talking on the phone for long periods of time (this began when I missed a trip to go sledding during a snow day in fifth grade because I was talking on the phone for hours about boys). Not to mention who sends real mail anymore and people really don't communicate well by e-mail.
Now, I know what you're thinking...Facebook. Well, frankly it annoys me. I don't feel closer to people when I get on Facebook, although I could write a bloody good report about them for school and make sure they have not been kidnapped or hospitalized if they haven't returned my phone calls. I can hear your gasp as you read this and I know I am ridiculous, but maybe God will change me.
All kidding aside, I know that when God moves people he also grows people. My friends who have moved away have found a new reliance on Jesus that they never would have had if they had stayed. And I have learned to rely on him through the loneliness that fills the time we used to spend together and as I battle my fears as I meet new people and develop new friendships.
So, it's "go" time again, time to be stretched, time to step outside of my comfort zone.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Liscensed to Teach
It was a normal, humdrum day. The kids in my class were their normal, hyper selves and true delights (especially when they yelled loudly at one another inside). We went outside on time, to the chagrin of the children who wanted to play inside, and the teachers waited for breakfast while the kids played and reminded us they were starving to death every five minutes. Just another typical day.
One moment everything was calm (as calm as things can be with five-year-olds) and predictable. The next moment everything changed. The assistant director came to the playground and announced that licensing had arrived for a surprise visit. We have two licensing visits a year, one is supposedly announced and the other is a surprise. At my job they all seem to be surprises.
The teachers held their breath for a moment, allowing the significance of what we had just been told sink in. And then we were in high gear, double checking everything: our attendance, the outlet covers in the wall which are inevitably misplaced most weekends, and securing all dangerous objects (such as that machete you thought the children would really like to see).
My peaceful day was suddenly full of stress. The novice teachers and assistants were quivering with nerves and the rest of us were yelling at every child leaving the bathroom to flush the toilet and then double checking to make sure they actually did. After teaching for eight years and going through many licensing visits such as this I was no longer shaking in my boots. But I was still flustered. It's amazing how much power a nice, pregnant, licensing lady can wield. Suddenly all thoughts of schedule and routine vanished from my brain and the simple act of serving breakfast became as complicated as brain surgery.
When someone analyzes everything you do and expects perfection it really affects a person. I'm glad God knows not to expect perfection from me. Yes, he analyzes me for all my flaws, but with his perfect judgement he only shows me what I can handle and graciously accepts me just as I am. And despite all of us imperfect teachers we did a great job under the scrutiny of licensing.
One moment everything was calm (as calm as things can be with five-year-olds) and predictable. The next moment everything changed. The assistant director came to the playground and announced that licensing had arrived for a surprise visit. We have two licensing visits a year, one is supposedly announced and the other is a surprise. At my job they all seem to be surprises.
The teachers held their breath for a moment, allowing the significance of what we had just been told sink in. And then we were in high gear, double checking everything: our attendance, the outlet covers in the wall which are inevitably misplaced most weekends, and securing all dangerous objects (such as that machete you thought the children would really like to see).
My peaceful day was suddenly full of stress. The novice teachers and assistants were quivering with nerves and the rest of us were yelling at every child leaving the bathroom to flush the toilet and then double checking to make sure they actually did. After teaching for eight years and going through many licensing visits such as this I was no longer shaking in my boots. But I was still flustered. It's amazing how much power a nice, pregnant, licensing lady can wield. Suddenly all thoughts of schedule and routine vanished from my brain and the simple act of serving breakfast became as complicated as brain surgery.
When someone analyzes everything you do and expects perfection it really affects a person. I'm glad God knows not to expect perfection from me. Yes, he analyzes me for all my flaws, but with his perfect judgement he only shows me what I can handle and graciously accepts me just as I am. And despite all of us imperfect teachers we did a great job under the scrutiny of licensing.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Just a Little White Lie
I lie all the time. It's a problem, I admit it. But while we're admitting things can you fess up to telling some fibs too? It would at least make me feel better--even if you're lying.
Now there are the lies that are so white they are practically invisible and then there are the big blaring red ones that you can't keep covered up no matter how hard you try. Those are the life changers. There have only been two life changing lies in my life, and after the lie slipped from my lips I couldn't believe I had done it. The lie just shot through my mind like a pinball as I tried to figure out how to keep such a lie hidden in my life. In the end, I couldn't. I came clean and was amazingly forgiven each time.
We know that these lies are wrong. But what about those little white lies, the ones we've been trained to tell since we were children. Let's face it, if a girl asks her boyfriend if she looks fat in her jeans he basically has to lie, or suffer her wrath. Is it wrong to lie about that? It's not like she doesn't already know the answer to her own question.
The lies that I am most concerned with right now however are the lies I tell myself. I have started to feel the pull of these "harmless" lies as I strive to be the woman God created me to be. By nature I am somewhat layed-back, but also shy. Because of this shy streak and my easy going nature it's easy for me to just go with the flow instead of speaking up.
I was recently visiting some friends in Boston and each night we planned the next day, which was a bit of a fiasco. Toward the end of the week my friend asked if I realized that instead of saying what I wanted to do I would just list ideas. At the time I brushed it off and told her that I wanted to do all of those things. However, since my trip I have been shown just how many times I hold back from saying what I want to do. I want to be the easy going friend, not the demanding shrew. Harmless? Maybe. Probably not. These little lies begin to permeate into everything. God's showing me new places they are hidden every day.
Some of you are probably thinking, "I never lie, I always say exactly what I am thinking with no filter." To you I say, with all love and affection, maybe you should lie a little. We don't always need to know that we're having a bad hair day or that orange is a terrible color on us.
Now there are the lies that are so white they are practically invisible and then there are the big blaring red ones that you can't keep covered up no matter how hard you try. Those are the life changers. There have only been two life changing lies in my life, and after the lie slipped from my lips I couldn't believe I had done it. The lie just shot through my mind like a pinball as I tried to figure out how to keep such a lie hidden in my life. In the end, I couldn't. I came clean and was amazingly forgiven each time.
We know that these lies are wrong. But what about those little white lies, the ones we've been trained to tell since we were children. Let's face it, if a girl asks her boyfriend if she looks fat in her jeans he basically has to lie, or suffer her wrath. Is it wrong to lie about that? It's not like she doesn't already know the answer to her own question.
The lies that I am most concerned with right now however are the lies I tell myself. I have started to feel the pull of these "harmless" lies as I strive to be the woman God created me to be. By nature I am somewhat layed-back, but also shy. Because of this shy streak and my easy going nature it's easy for me to just go with the flow instead of speaking up.
I was recently visiting some friends in Boston and each night we planned the next day, which was a bit of a fiasco. Toward the end of the week my friend asked if I realized that instead of saying what I wanted to do I would just list ideas. At the time I brushed it off and told her that I wanted to do all of those things. However, since my trip I have been shown just how many times I hold back from saying what I want to do. I want to be the easy going friend, not the demanding shrew. Harmless? Maybe. Probably not. These little lies begin to permeate into everything. God's showing me new places they are hidden every day.
Some of you are probably thinking, "I never lie, I always say exactly what I am thinking with no filter." To you I say, with all love and affection, maybe you should lie a little. We don't always need to know that we're having a bad hair day or that orange is a terrible color on us.
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