Ugh.

I think I'm getting sick. Today has been a day. I went to Church this morning and was sniffling through the whole service. Then, I went to work and sniffled all through work. After that, I came home and took a 2 hour nap. So now, I have just finished a hearty meal of lettuce salad and Double Cheese Quesadilla Hamburger Helper. The only thing left for me to do is write my 8-12 page paper that I've been procrastinating doing all weekend. Why, oh why must I procrastinate? If I'd done this when I should have, I could be focusing on making myself better. But no.... I have to be a super-slacker! For the love of sanity. Ah well. Enough complaining. I'll see you all after my paper is done!

A fun type exercise

I was reading a blog this early morning and found an interesting thing where you go to this site, click on the year you graduated high school, and then bold the songs from that year that you like. I thought I'd give it a try for fun. Thanks Lutherpunk.

Songs of 2001

1. Hanging By A Moment, Lifehouse
2.Fallin', Alicia Keys
3. All For You, Janet
4. If You're Gone, Matchbox Twenty
5. I'm Real, Jennifer Lopez Featuring Ja Rule
6. Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me), Train
7. Let Me Blow Ya Mind, Eve Featuring Gwen Stefani
8. Thank You, Dido
9. Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!), Blu Cantrell
10. Independent Women Part I, Destiny's Child
11. Again, Lenny Kravitz
12. It's Been Awhile, Staind
13. Stutter, Joe Featuring Mystikal
14. It Wasn't Me', Shaggy Featuring Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent
15. U Remind Me, Usher
16. Where The Party At, Jagged Edge With Nelly
17. Angel, Shaggy Featuring Rayvon
18. Ride Wit Me, Nelly Featuring City Spud
19. Peaches & Cream, 112
20. Follow Me, Uncle Kracker
21. Drive, Incubus
22 .What Would You Do?, Alicia Keys
23. Survivor, Destiny's Child
24. Lady Marmalade, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink
25. Ms. Jackson, OutKast
26. Love Don't Cost A Thing, Jennifer Lopez
27. The Way You Love Me, Faith Hill
28. He Loves U Not, Dream
29. Butterfly, Crazy Town
30. Put It On Me, Ja Rule Featuring Lil' Mo & Vita
31. Family Affair, Mary J. Blige
32. I Hope You Dance, Lee Ann Womack
33. South Side, Moby Featuring Gwen Stefani
34. Don't Tell Me, Madonna
35. Get Ur Freak On, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
36. Crazy, K-Ci & JoJo
37. Fill Me In, Craig David
38. Someone To Call My Lover, Janet
39. With Arms Wide Open, Creed
40. Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do), Mya
41. All Or Nothing, O-Town
42 .Bootylicious, Destiny's Child
43. I'm Like A Bird, Nelly Furtado
44. KRYPTONITE , 3 Doors Down
45. Fiesta, R. Kelly Featuring Jay-Z
46. When It's Over, Sugar Ray
47. Jaded, Aerosmith
48. Promise, Jagged Edge
49. Missing You, Case
50. Differences, Ginuwine
51. This I Promise You, 'N Sync
52. Izzo (H.O.V.A.) Jay-Z
53. Superwoman Pt. II, Lil' Mo Featuring Fabolous
54. Crazy For This Girl, Evan And Jaron
55. Nobody Wants To Be Lonely, Ricky Martin & Christina Aguilera
56. I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me), Jay-Z
57. One Minute Man, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
58. Danger (Been So Long), Mystikal Featuring Nivea
59. Only Time, Enya
60. I Do!! Toya
61. Never Had A Dream Come True, S Club 7
62 .Stranger In My House, Tamia
63. Irresistible, Jessica Simpson
64.Heard It All Before, Sunshine Anderson
65. The Space Between, Dave Matthews Band
66. There You'll Be, Faith Hill
67. Love, Musiq Soulchild
68. It's Over Now, 112
69. No More (Baby I'ma Do Right), 3LW
70. Turn Off The Light, Nelly Furtado
71. Ain't Nothing `Bout You, Brooks & Dunn
72. Play Jennifer Lopez
73. I'm Already There, Lonestar
74. My Baby, Lil' Romeo
75. Beautiful Day, U2
76. Austin, Blake Shelton
77. Southern Hospitality, iLudacris
78. Grown Men Don't Cry, Tim McGraw
79. Livin' It Up, Ja Rule Featuring Case
80. Loverboy Mariah Carey Featuring Cameo
81. I Wanna Be Bad, Willa Ford
82 .Who I Am, Jessica Andrews
83. Music, Erick Sermon Featuring Marvin Gaye
84. Contagious, Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley
85. Don't Happen Twice, Kenny Chesney
86. Here's To The Night, Eve 6
87. I Wish, R. Kelly
88. It's A Great Day To Be Alive, Travis Tritt
89. I'm A Thug, Trick Daddy
90. One More Day, Diamond Rio
91. You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This, Toby Keith
92. E.I., Nelly
93. Dance With Me, Debelah Morgan
94. So Fresh, So Clean, Outkast
95. Get Over Yourself Eden's Crush
96. Hero, Enrique Iglesias
97. Most Girls, Pink
98. Oochie Wally, QB's Finest Featuring Nas & Braveheart's
99. Be Like That, 3 Doors Down
100. Hemorrhage (In My Hands), Fuel

And the funny thing is, I don't really care for most of these songs anymore. Oh, and the reason I didn't like the #1 song of the year (Hanging By A Moment) was because it was WAY overplayed. I really liked the rest of that CD; especially the songs "Cling and Clatter" and "Quasimodo." I still play that CD on occasion.

Oh, Good.

Well, good news. Ma's purse and coat surfaced. All her money, cards, keys, and checks were still with the purse. Everything was in order. I'm happy. I guess I changed my locks for nothing. But you know, it's ok, because I'd rather be safe than sorry. Plus, I actually LIKE using my tools because it just makes me feel good about myself. Anyway, other than that, nothing much is going on. I'm tired, so I think I'm going to go now. Later, Gator

So I guess I'm kind of a feminist

Well, my hands smell like WD-40, I have grease on my face, and I used my tools tonight. Yay for me. I like using my tools. My sister and brother-in-law got me a tool kit 2 years ago for Christmas, and I've used just about every tool in there. Tonight, I changed the locks at Chez Trishy's. Why, you may ask? Cuz there is some buttmonkey out there running around with keys to my house. Again, I hear the questions... How did a buttmonkey get your keys? Well, they're not MY keys, they're my mom's keys. Ma was temping at a factory the other night and someone stole her stuff out of her locker. So, she has no car keys, no house keys, and all the other things that go in an old lady's purse. No car keys=No car right now, and no house keys=Trishy doesn't want to wake up in the middle of the night with some psycho standing over her bed. We're not big fans of that. It's happened before, although in a different context. So, I bought a new lock tonight and installed it so I could sleep sound. Yup. Anyway, I don't know how long it's going to take to get Ma some new car keys because she has a newer type car that has that little black chip in the key so you can't just have any old locksmith come and make you a new one. So, she has to send away for new keys. So, the whole feminist thing... I guess there are many reasons why I think I am a feminist. And before you get to thinking that I hate men, I will say flat out that I DO NOT hate men. I do however, hate the fact that some women think they NEED a man to do things that every woman should know how to do herself. Additionally, we women should NOT feel like we need some man to protect us and keep us safe. That's not how life works anymore. This is not the '50s. We have to watch our own backs because a lot of guys in the world are only looking out for number 1. Well you know what, I'm not going to ever fall victim to the thought that I need some man to get me through life. If one happens to come along that is great, then by all means, I'll give him a shot. However, in the meantime, if you need some minor plumbing done, or some basic handywork tasks completed, look me up.

Eat this, Peanuts Test!

Your Inner Child Is Surprised

You see many things through the eyes of a child. Meaning, you're rarely cynical or jaded. You cherish all of the details in life. Easily fascinated, you enjoy experiencing new things.

How Is Your Inner Child?

Yeah, so in another test I took on December 1, 2005, it said I sometimes hide my happiness and am a cynical person. It just seems funny that this test is about the complete opposite. I don't know. :) I think this is closer to me. I'm not much of a cynic at all.

Hmm.

Something weird that happens to me: Old men come onto me at Restaurant. I'd tell you about the most recent come-on, but I don't think you're really interested in hearing about that. I don't know.

On another note, I ordered the Aaron Shust Cd from www.aaronshust.com. I just placed my order about twenty minutes ago, so I'm excited. I asked for this cd for Christmas, but it isn't offered in stores. You have to order it online. So, since I didn't get it for Christmas, I finally ordered it. Yay for me. I figured I should do something for myself. We all need something frivolous every so often. I'm too cheap anyway; I need to lighten up. But, that's all I have to say about that.

I have lots of reading to do this weekend. I hope I can get up the determination to do it. I hate falling this far behind. I'm going to bed now. Have a good one.

A funny story

Today, I was sitting in my Sociology of Culture Class, being bored out of my mind. We had done a group exercise, and my desk was facing the window. Well, it was hurting my neck to look at the professor while he was talking, so I just listened to him while looking out the window. Well, this professor is rather boring (nice, but really boring) and he was talking about how social class affects culture. People in high class have different lawn decor, education, houses, neighborhoods, clubs... blah blah blah. Well, about 3 minutes into his schpiel on things that differ, I suddenly thought, "Shrimp Kabob, Shrimp Creole, Shrimp Salad, Shrimp Scampi, Barbecue Shrimp..." Because I felt like listening to him was like listening to Bubba talk about shrimp on "Forrest Gump." So anyway, I just smiled and laughed a little to myself. So, I thought, "It is a good thing I'm facing the window!" Then, all of a sudden, a white feather was blown past the window and I had to stifle myself because I thought, "God has such a sense of humor!" Because there is that white feather on Forrest Gump. It was like a little joke just between us. So, that is my funny story that I thought I would share with you. Have a blessed day!

Another story about Restaurant..

Wow. really, just wow. Remember a few days ago when I posted about my hard-core Catholic friend who disagrees with my vocational hopes? I said that I was sort of disappointed because he and I are not on the same wavelength when it comes to this. Well, it's amazing because this whole week at Restaurant, people have been so supportive of me. See, I find it interesting because I usually don't just come right on out and say, "I hope to someday enter seminary and become a minister." Usually when people ask me what grade I'm in and I say, "I'm a senior in college," they ask me what I'm studying. I say Sociology. Then if they drop that, I don't pursue it. However, I don't lie if they ask, "What do you hope to do with that degree?" I usually reply with something like, "I hope to someday have a vocation within the Church." Well, I'd say a good 60% of the time people don't get that far in the conversation. However, this week, so many of my customers have gone the extra question and when I tell them, they have ALL been really supportive and happy for me. An example: Wednesday night, an older gentleman and his wife were in. They were the last people of the night and so they were alone. They were nice and talkative and they asked me how old I was. I told them I am 23 and they were amazed (I look really young; usually I'm guessed to be about 16). So, they continued on and we wound up at the "I hope to have a vocation with the Church" comment. They said, "You want to be a minister?" And I said, "I hope I can someday do that." So, then the man said, "What denomination are you?" and I replied, "ELCA." Then, the man said, "BLESS YOU, my child!" and he told me that he and his wife are also ELCA Lutherans. So, it was just wonderfully affirming to me to have that. And that was not the only positive comment I received this week. It is just amazing how God provides that emotional support for us when we're feeling discouraged. I've really been blessed, and I am so glad that I am not always blind to the gifts I've been given (although I don't see all of them all the time). This week has just been great. I had a good interview (I think!), customers at Restaurant have been fantastic, co-workers have been really great, Pastor has been supportive (of course!), school has been entertaining, friends seem genuinely interested, and I got to schmooze with people tonight and make several tables laugh a lot. What more could I ask for? I feel like Jack on the movie "Titanic" when he says something along the lines of: Well, right now my address is the HMS Titanic. I have a couple blank sheets of paper and some drawing pencils, 10 bucks in my pocket, and yet i'm having dinner with you fine folks on the best ship in the world. I'm living my life and making it count. That's not a direct quote, but it is the essence of what he said. I just feel so fortunate. I may not be wealthy or esteemed, but I have what I need and more because I have love. It's a wonderful feeling.

...

You're suddenly aware that you're in an embrace. Your head is nestled gently on the shoulder of a dear friend. His arms are around you in a way that conveys absolute love and acceptance. You remember that you have felt this way once or twice before. In this wonderful hug, you feel warm and protected, like you've never been before. You feel his arms start to ease from around you so you gaze up into eyes that are so loving that your heart feels like it could flutter away. He has tears in his eyes that tell of a hope that has been realized. Suddenly you remember the last thing that was happening to you: An 18-wheeler crossed the center lane and was headed straight for your car. There was no way to avoid it as it jack-knifed into both lanes. Then comes the realization. You didn't make it. With new eyes you look and see the Savior standing in front of you, waiting patiently for you to realize where you are: safe in His presence. You feel no sadness or pain; only remarkable joy and peace. You remember that you felt vestiges of this peace at your baptism and at your confirmation. He looks at you and says, "It is nice to see you, my dear, dear friend." With that, he puts his arm around you and says, "Let me show you around."

One step closer

Here I sit, in the computer lab at School, after my meeting with the pastor from my candidacy committee. It was an interesting day, and interesting conversation, and an interesting meeting altogether. Let me regale you with the story:

BEFORE THE MEETING: I woke up at 8:30 this morning so I would have enough time to get ready and show up slightly early to the restaurant where we determined we would meet. I made a slight update to the blog and headed out wearing one of my few "nice" outfits. So, I got to the town at the time I wanted, and pulled into the parking lot. I waited for her in the waiting area of the restaurant until 15 minutes past the time we were set to meet. I thought I had the restaurant wrong or the time wrong, or even the day wrong! I was slightly worried. However, I went out to the car and got on my cell phone to call information so I could call the other restaurant in town to see if she was waiting for me there. The line was busy. Just as I hung up the phone, I saw a car coming around the corner and I knew it was hers. So, I got out of the car and we went into the restaurant.

DURING: We walked into the restaurant and introduced ourselves to each other. She knew who I was and I knew who she was already, but formal introductions are always nice. So, we ordered some breakfast and the waitress brought our drinks (I had a shot of whiskey to calm my nerves and she had a cup of coffee.) HA! Just kidding. I had water and she had coffee. So, after that was taken care of, we started talking with her telling me about herself and where she is and what she senses God is doing in her life. Then she started asking me questions and talking with me. After our food came, we continued our conversation. After we had finished breakfast, she asked me about my jobs, volunteering I do, my family life, education, sense of call, what I do for fun, and a few various other things and started writing them down. It was nice because she wasn't just grilling me like I stole something. This was more like a conversation where she would ask me some stuff and I'd reply and then she would tell me something that might relate to this question about her own life. She made me feel at ease. Pastor told me I would like her, and I really did. After all this, we said our goodbyes and left.

AFTER: This was an interesting day. I was a little nervous about meeting with someone who potentially could tell the Candidacy Committee that I'm a whack job and they shouldn't let me within 100 yards of the seminary. But she seemed to be realistic and at ease in her speech and composure. I only hope that I didn't seem like an uptight weirdo sitting there. Overall, I feel like it went really well, although there was one part of the interview that I look back on and feel kind of weird about. But, she said that it is nothing to really worry about because if this particular thing comes about it will be good for me. It is just odd to wrap my mind around at this time though. Anyway, that is my report of what happened today. I hope it satisfies your curiosity.

The day has arrived

T-minus 48 minutes and counting...