Ha! Hours and hours!

I have just "wasted" the past 3 hours of my life playing some fun winter type games online. I was blogsurfing and found the address for this game where you smack a penguin and see how far you can make it fly! Oh, it is very fun. My high score is 323.5. Thanks to Friday Mom for posting it on her blog for the world to find and be entertained! Anyway, other than this, nothing much is going on. I don't think I'm going to be able to go swimming in the pool at the hotel where my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew are staying this coming weekend. We were all going to go swimming because my little pile of adorable was going to have waterwings so he could show us how he "swims." But, maybe this stuffed nose will miraculously disappear. But then, the only question is: Do I really want to risk the germs of a... dondondon *gasp* public pool?!?! Yes, there are chemicals and other things to keep it clean, but I'm a slight germaphobe. We'll just have to see. I might overlook the germs considering Nephew is way too cute to observe from afar. Oh, something funny (I think it is, anyway). I just about drove myself nuts at work tonight. I work in foodservice as a waitress/hostess/salad woman/slave and tonight was one of my waitressing nights. I thought I would be festive and where my socks with the jingly bell on them. I did. It was NOT a good idea. By 6:00 p.m. I was about ready to rip those little bells clean off. But I decided not to because then people might think I'm not in the Christmas spirit or something. Haha. Nah. So anyway, that's it for now. And remember, don't let Grandma drink too much eggnog because you don't want her staggering out the door into the snow to be run over by reindeer.

They see you when you're sleeping....

They know when you're awake.. They know if you've been BAD OR GOOD, so be good for goodness' sakes! Noooo, I'm not paranoid. I'm just kidding. I have just been kind of worked up over this whole background check thing, and the fact that it's been three months since I authorized it and still no word. So, today I decided to call the company and see if I could expedite the process or anything. The guy there said they've been done with it for well over a month. It is in my synod's hands now. I'm just wondering what the waiting is for? Maybe they're promoting patience as the wonderful virtue it is? Perhaps. Maybe they want to see me squirm! Ha. Well, now that I know that it's done and none of my references forgot to send it back or anything, I'm a little more at ease. Now I'm just wondering if they didn't like something that someone said or something. I don't know. I'm just slightly worried, but I know that I must trust God to nudge me the right way. I keep thinking about how Advent is the time of waiting and how we are such an instant-gratification society. Sometimes it is really great to wait. Sometimes, it can be extremely detrimental. Sometimes, most times, the waiting lies somewhere between those two poles. But still, I'm trying to be patient, knowing that good things, perhaps the best things, come to those who wait. Anyway.. Christmas is coming, therefore, my little buddy will be coming up! Yay! Hopefully I'm better by Sunday! I love that kid and I don't want to infect him with this whatever it is (I'm too cheap/stubborn to go to the doctor). So, if I don't post before then, Have a blessed, wonderful Christmas!

I've got good news and bad news.

Ok, so yeah, these good and bad news things only really pertain to me, but I felt like sharing. Bad news is that I'm siiiiiiiick. :( blah. Usually I get sick in mid November, but it waited till mid December this year. So long as I'm better by Saturday, I'm happy. Good news is that I got a B in Stats!!!!! I'm thrilled. I thought I bombed that last test so bad that I was going to get a C. But, nope. I got my B. I'm happy. I also was slightly worried about Sociology of Religion, but I must have gotten an A on the final because I got an A in that class. Anyway. Other than that, nothing new has been going on. I'm now a senior! Woo doggies. My head is starting to hurt though, so I'm going to go. Have a blessed day!

Phew!

Alright, so it's been a few days since I last posted. I spent a few days and nights at Sister's house in order to get good sleep and not worry about bats. However, Monday afternoon I did come home to get some more clothes, feed my dog, and a few other things. So, I was talking to Ma that day and she said that after she went shopping on Sunday, she came home and saw the bat flying around. She said it was swooping at her and acting like it was trying to attack her or something. So, she tried to get it out of the house, but it just wouldn't go. Then, she called 1/3 of the "bat squad." I call these three local people who we will call "Jackie, Julie, and Jorge" the bat squad because February 2004 they helped me out. That story goes like this:

Mom was on a cruise in the Caribbean with her "friend." Therefore, I was home alone for a week which does not bother me. In fact, I like to be alone. But anyway.. I went upstairs one night and was sitting on my bed reading some little book. So, I journaled a little bit about what I had read and then I took off my glasses, turned out the light, and laid down. Not five minutes later I heard this bizarre scratching noise. I thought, "Do I want to know what that is? Should I turn on the light or just go to sleep?" But the scratching was too loud to be a bug, so I decided I'd better turn on the light and see. Well, I turned on the light, but I am "blind as a bat" without my glasses on. However, I looked up and saw a big blurry black mass on my white window frame. I thought, "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!?!?!" So, I bolted upright, grabbed my glasses, and saw it: the bat! Then, it swooped at me and I started screaming hysterically as I pulled my blankets up over my head. Screaming was a fruitless effort, considering I was home alone, but I was really scared. So I sat there under all my covers for about five minutes trying to listen to hear if it was still in my room. So finally, I came out and was looking all around and didn't see it. But I was convinced it was under my bed, so I just sat on my bed hyperventilating for a while. Then I reached down and grabbed my socks. I put them on and talked up my courage for about 15 minutes to get out of bed. Finally, I jumped off my bed, turned on every single light I came across, and bolted down the stairs as fast as I could go. This was about 3:00 a.m. So, I put one of Ma's "chemo hats" on and went into the bathroom, shut the door, tucked a towel in the crack at the bottom, and slept in there for a few hours. Then I woke up and left the house.

Later that night, I went to work. When I got back to Podunk, I realized I couldn't stay in the house if the bat was still there. So I stopped at the local tavern (Podunk is a VERY small town where everyone knows who is who and who hangs out where, etc). So, I saw "Jackie and Julie" outside of the tavern and asked "Jackie" if she knew anything about bats. She said, yeah and then after some conversation she said she would come to my house and get it out for me. So, she poked her head inside the bar and told "Jorge" to come out because they were going to my house to get the bat out. So, they all three came to my house. I turned on the lights and gave Jackie a stick to hit it with. Jorge had a towel to use to grab it, and Julie was carrying her drink and watching the show. I grabbed this huge fishing net we have and I told them the thing was upstairs. So, Jackie went first and Jorge followed. Then Julie went up and I took up the end. When I was halfway up the stairs, I heard Jackie say, "There it is! I hit it!" Now, this was a very little stick, maybe 1/2 inch in diameter, but about 4 feet long. Jorge said, "Shut up, no you didn't." So, she said, "Yes I did! Look!" So I finally saw the bat laying there, so I started screaming, threw the net at Julie, and ran like mad down the stairs. Then, a few minutes later Jackie, Julie, and Jorge came down with Jorge holding the very much alive bat wrapped in a towel. I was hyperventilating by that time, and they made sure I was going to live before taking it across town and letting it go. So, now whenever I see those three I start humming the tune to Batman. And Jorge, who is 1/3 of the bat squad, came to get the new bat out. Man, it is times like this I am glad I know 350 of the 400 people in town! And that's that story. After that incident, it took me 6 months to sleep in my room again. Fortunately, I went back to sleeping in there this time only after a few days. Although I have been keeping the lights on. Luckily I have a dimmer switch and keep the lights low, but I want them on a little just in case. I'm a wuss, what can I say? :) Later.

Man, this sucks!

Here I sit in my house with my bright green "fisherwoman's" hat on. Why, you may ask, is this girl sitting there with a hat on inside her house? Well, that's a simple explanation. Right now, I am scared out of my MIND!!!!!! It's a long story that I will within this text block regale you. Last night I was watching "The Real DaVinci Code" on the Discovery Channel. I was lying there on my couch minding my own business when I thought I saw something flying around. But you know, the lamp was on and sometimes those Japanese beetles can look like Buicks flying around if the light catches them right. So, I didn't think much of it. But then, a few minutes later (around 1:30 a.m., mind you) I saw it: a BAT!!! So, I started screaming (at 1:30, again let me remind you) and my mom came out of her room and said, "what is going on?" and I said, "we have a bat!" and I HATE BATS!!! We had a bat two Februarys ago when I was alone for a week cuz Ma went on a vacation with her friend. So, that is a whole other story for another time. So, I sat there on the couch with a blanket pulled tightly around me to keep bats off of me. And Mom came out and looked around, and went upstairs and all that and did not see it. So, I had to sleep down here because I thought I saw the bat go upstairs. I didn't get good sleep cuz I kept waking up thinking the bat was on me. So, I had to go upstairs this morning to get clothes for church (They kinda look down on people going naked) and I put my hat on, (Buying in to the urban legend that they go for hair; I know it's fake, but still...), my robe on, and I grabbed a towel that I could throw over it if I saw it. So then, I went upstairs and was making a lot of noise because I thought it might get scared and hide and I wouldn't have to see it. Then, I went into my room and grabbed my pants, and a shirt and stuff and thought I heard some "bat noises." At that point, I ran like mad (A bat out of hell, perhaps) and ran down the stairs and was slightly hysterical. We went to church and I just had this growing sense of dread as we got closer and closer to the benediction. I KNEW we were getting closer to having to go home and contend with my bat-infested house. I HATE BATS! When I went to a "discernment weekend" at a seminary in 2004 I regaled them with my first bat story and they said that bats hate moth balls. But I thought, "If I get mothballs, that will be an admission to myself that I think we have more bats. And I do NOT want to think that we have more bats." So, I didn't get mothballs. After this time though, I think it might be time to invest in making my house smell like moth balls. It's worth it, just to keep those flying rats out of my house. Ok. I'm starting to get hysterical again, so I better go take something. Just kidding. Bye.

A fun test that reminds me of my childhood...

You are WILD AND CRAZY KIDS. You couldn't get
through life without a little fun... or a neon
colored t-shirt. You are a team player and
really into Omar Gooding. GO YOU!


Which old school Nickelodeon show are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I LOVED that show!

Bright orange.

You know what? I think there should be more bright orange in the world. Sure, it gets a good place in the sunrise and sunsets that everyone goes "oooooh" and "ahhh" over, but really, I think more things should be bright orange. Maybe some scientist somewhere should mess with some genes and make bright orange squirrels. That way people won't be blindsided by them when they start chasing people on the quad!!! Ha! Yeah. Sounds like a good idea to me. Anyway, not much is happening. I had my stats final today. I don't think I did very well, but there isn't anything I can do about that now. I just hope I get a B in the class. I REALLY want that B! Yeah, and it's snowing. A lot! It was slick in CollegeTown today and I slid just a little as I left the parking lot. I drove home at about 45 mph on the interstate. Semis were passing me making me semi-frightened. Ha, get it? Ummm. Tonight is supposed to be Advent/Christmas decorating at the church, but it's so cold and snowy and slick that I don't think I'll be travelling the 5 miles to get there to help. Sorry Church. :( I'm a bad, bad Christian. But all the same, I'm sure they'll understand that the out of town girl doesn't come. I was supposed to be working tonight anyway, but we're always slow when the weather gets bad. Last night we had a whopping 9 people and it wasn't even snowing. So, why have all the help come in when it's blizzard-like outside? Man, I'm kinda blabbering uselessly. Ah well. I need to go now. Have a good day.

Finally, some thoughts on Advent.

I was thinking about Advent the other day, and this is what I thought up. I'm contemplating using these as devotions on Monday for our church council meeting. I'm undecided. We'll just have to see.

You’re an 8 months pregnant teenager. Your pregnancy has not been “normal.” You’re unwed, and yet you know that this baby is not a mistake. You feel as big as a house, but not as sturdy because you’ve been pregnant through heat and cold, work and rest, the public’s accusing eyes and private questions. But this baby is not a mistake. You almost lost the man you planned to marry, but he decided to stick with you. You’ve made it this far, and in less than one month, your new baby will be here. Through all these surprises, you still look forward in eager anticipation to the day you can hold your little one in your arms and look upon the face that holds endless possibilities. As almost all expectant mothers feel, you feel that these past 8 months have been a time of excitement, uncertainty, and promise. I imagine this must be pretty similar to Mary’s situation so many years ago. God had a huge surprise for her one day when he sent an angel to tell her she was going to conceive a baby by the power of the Holy Spirit. This was completely unexpected. Me? Pregnant? Are you serious!? But yes, God was serious when He chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus. And she chose to be obedient to God’s will as she began to show, and as she got bigger and bigger, and as Joseph also chose to be obedient. And through all that, here she sits, 8 months pregnant and waiting. Through her obedience, a special child would be born; a child who would continue his life in the same extraordinary way that his life began. But what exactly would that entail? A questioning, expectant mother wonders, “Will he be successful? Will he be popular? Will I be a good enough mother?” She sat there not knowing the answers. We know how Jesus lived His life because we sit here on the other side of those 8 months. We have read about Jesus and his gifts to the people: sight, life, and redemption. And yet, we sit on this side of the second coming not knowing completely what lies on the other side. We wonder, “What will it be like at the second coming? Will I be a good enough Christian?” We might not think we have the answers, but we can be obedient like Mary was obedient. We can live in faith knowing that God is in control. So we are here in this Advent season, eagerly awaiting the celebration of the coming of our Lord at His birth; trusting and eagerly awaiting the day that He will come again.

Peanuts

Through some blog surfing, I found this test, "Which Peanuts Character are You?" I took it, and these are my results, although I disagree with some parts. But hey, it's all in good fun.


You are Charlie Brown!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I don't think I'm world-weary, and I'm definitely not very cynical. However, I often think people don't like me for various reasons. So, maybe there is a little truth in this whole thing. :) Ha.

It's white outside.

This morning I woke up slightly earlier than usual. My mom came up to my room and woke me up because she said the radio announcer said the roads were slick. So, I had to get up earlier than usual so I could give myself plenty of time. The roads in Podunk weren't good, and the little highway that I take to get to the Interstate was not good either. The Interstate wasn't too bad, although it was lacking. But anyway, I got here, safe and sound. I'm glad too, because we did course evaluations today. I gave one of my teachers a fairly decent evaluation because I'm doing well, so I couldn't very well criticize his methods too much. I gave my stats teacher an outstanding evaluation because he is just a great teacher (Even though I still hate statistics). So, I don't know if we'll get to do one for my last teacher of the day. I hope we do. I like doing those things; don't ask me why. But, the semester is coming quickly to a close. I'm ecstatic. I can't wait. This semester has been so boring and awful. But, I'm being a whiner, so forgive me. Hmm. last night at work we had lots and lots of people come in. I felt bad because I didn't think I did a very good job serving the two parties we had. However, the guys in the big party said, "Good food, good service. Thank you." So, I hope they weren't just being polite. I hate giving bad service. I always try my best, so I hope they were happy. Anyway, that's about all I wanted to say about that. I really am going to put my Advent thoughts on here, just not right now. This post has been long enough. Have a blessed day.