my 26 things

26 things site

yay for finishing on time.

I've been busy. Heh, maybe not so much.
Work today was...umm.
How do you describe a day in which people 2.5 times your age always feel the need to talk to you, your only task is to flip through pages in files and their corresponding images, and you're filling in for the department supervisor?
Boring...pretty much anyway. The best part was when the old ladies didn't think that I could handle walking a mile. Right...because it's not like I have to walk a mile just to get to class at school...that's right...I do.
The funniest thing? My supervisor went to the same school I go to. And, when he asked where I lived...he guessed my landlord before I said anything...because he lived there too.

Oh. And I'm crocheting a hat currently. It will be tres chic. It's almost done, actually. And no...i don't generally crochet. I've just reached max boredom.

I'm awake before noon.  How odd.

I was awoken by my cell phone ringing at the ungodly (sarcas) hour of 10.  I crawled along the floor to find my phone in the pocket or yesterday's clothes.  I didn't recognize the number, so didn't answer.  Voicemail.  Ooh.

Hey.  It's that temp agency I signed up with and then didn't call to check in weekly like they said I should.  They have a job.  Oh...but it is only four days.

Crap.  They probably called the home phone first.  I get up, go around the house erasing the number from Caller ID, and erasing the message too.  You know, that way I don't have to call anyone back and don't feel guilty about not working.

And then, I think.  4 days.  That's almost a week.  Wonder how much the job pays...ok fine, I'll call.

So I'm actually working until next Wednesday.  Maybe I'll make enough money to cover my books.  Haha.  Just because two of them are 2004 editions and one is 2005 (what are my professors on?) I have the feeling I can't get them used.

Wooo.

Oh wait...I need to find some clean clothes.

People who can't find ways to use all the zucchini from their gardens need to move next to me.  Because I love zucchini.
As in...
With dinner, we breaded and fried some zucchini today (so healthy...I know).
That was after I ate zucchini bread for lunch.
And just had zucchini bread as a snack.

Mmm...zucchini. 

I've had my camera around me a lot lately, because I've been working on 26 things.  So what if there are four days left in the month and I still need 12 more things?

So, today...it started to pour.  I don't think you understand....
Well, let me show you some pictures.  Click for bigger.



That is the end of my driveway and the street.  So what if you can't see pavement.  Don't believe me?



How is that?  (obviously license plates and mailbox don't actually look like that)  Still don't believe me?  Then check this one out.

 

Notice how my feet are barely visible in the puddle?  Heh.  It was ankle deep.

A "college friend" got married today.  How is that for making you feel old?
Ok...so she was 5th year when I was a freshman...

My mom told me today, "well, it isn't just that you look young...your voice sounds young too.  I noticed the other day when I called and got your voice mail."

I pointed out that that message was recorded a year ago.

She then said I still didn't sound 19.
:(

I mentioned earlier that I love New Balance sneakers.  Love.  I don't think you understand.
Other sneakers are cute and all, but I abuse sneakers.  I spend upwards of 10 hours/week on a parking lot during the fall semester.  Add that to any gym time...I need something that holds up.
Plus, my feet turn in slightly and I roll on the outside of my foot - so I need something that supports my ankle.  They do the trick.  Still don't understand?




Those are all the NB shoes I currently have.  They span...oh, about 4 or 5 years.  But I love them and they still fit and aren't worn out...so I keep them.

I really wanted

but, the biggest I could find (at two different stores) was 9 1/2.
I wear a 10.  Grr to my big feet.  So I got a pair of the 470's in red. 

You know I'm psycho when I refer to them by number.

For a week I've been telling myself to call my landlord...because I need to move in early.  It's not a big deal, but I have to call them.

Today, I finally called them.

And they're closed all week.  Grr.

My family does the bulk shopping.  Only 2-3 trips per year...one before each semester, and maybe one for the summer.

We buy the normal things...like massive bottles of laundry detergent, paper plates, plastic cups, cereal, in bulk.

But then, there are other abnormal things.  Like the things you don't go through quickly and don't need to stock up on.

Like deodorant.  I was organizing and packing all of my extra "toiletry" type items today (soap, shampoo, hairbrushes, deodorant, etc).  I have three new, unopened deodorants in there.  I suppose that is better than January when I had five...but still.  This is excessive. 

It's almost as bad as my supply of hand lotion and soap and other such items that stays at home.  Except this has developed for entirely different reasons.  I have at least 30 random bottles of all sizes and shape of lotion, cream, spray, shower gel, body scrub, etc.  Why?  Because my mother doesn't use any of it but, working in a school, tends to get lots of gifts of it.  So she'll come home and give all of them to me.  I gave her conditioner today...does that make us even.  Ok, so she only got it because I'm allergic to it...but we could leave that detail out.

At least I know I'll always smell good.

The Bad, The Good, and The Funny

My day has been a rollercoaster if you ever did see one, so I will organize it in the aforementioned lists.  Well...Bad and Good lists.  Things which I consider funny will be italicized because my humor does not come out well in type.

The Bad:
--I couldn't fall asleep until 4 AM.  That was three hours of trying to get my brain to stop in order to sleep.  I tried counting sheep.  I lost track at 300.
--At 5 A.M....my cat found the only cup of water in my room...which happened to be right next to my bed.  She dumped it all over me.  As in, it landed on my back.  What did I do?  Stick my blanket on the puddle to sop it up and went back to sleep.
--No new shoes.
--Spent entirely too long waiting in line at the gas station. 
--Never...ever...get directions from someone who doesn't drive.  Because, see...I was told West, rather than East.  So I ended up in Hamburg rather than Bethlehem.  If you know anything about Pennsylvania geography, you know that these places are about 40 minutes apart.  Unless you drive like me (well...my speedometer only goes to 85 and it hit that...the speed limit...definitely 55).  In which case I got back in 25 minutes.
--Well...I would have.  Except...well, I made a phone call to my mother of "what does it sound like if your muffler is falling off?  does it make a rattling sound?"  Yes...my muffler was dragging on the ground and sparking with nowhere to pull over.  I finally pulled over.  So there I am...standing on the side of a highway, talking to my mother on my cell phone and kicking my muffler so it falls off.  Pick it up, put it in the trunk.
--At this point...I'm nearly an hour late to pick up A.  Which means I'm an hour late for meeting C.  Which, is sort of a problem.  We're not late for the show...we're just on time rather than early. 
--But then, C...who I thought we were meeting at the stadium...is nowhere to be found.
--I placed numerous calls.  To my house.  To C's Uncle.  To my house.  To C's uncle.  To CH's cell, because C. is with CH...except CH doesn't have her cell on.  A. and I got dyslexic and had to call C's uncle to ask him to repeat the number...he thinks we are idiots. 
--Alas, C's uncle thinks we were meeting him at Olive Garden.  Except neither of us knew that.  We call Olive Garden.  They won't page anyone.  They say they'll give them the message though.  They don't.
--An hour later, we give up on actually getting to see the show.  We go to Olive Garden, to see C. CH, D, and S walking out.  They tell us we're late...but then they realize they forgot to tell us to go there.

 
The Good:
--The mother was totally understanding about my need to be home by a certain time today.
--two new shirts
--saw my grandma.  she says I'm beautiful.
--Saw Steph.  She is the only person who owns more orange clothing than I do.  I've known her...7 years or so I guess.  And still, everytime I see her, she gives me a great big hug.  It was the kind of hug that I needed when I got there.  I also saw about a billion people I go to school with (like my first roommate ever!), my HS band director, 8th grade english teacher, the original Cocky Bastard, and others.
--We spend time talking/throwing shoes in the parking lot.  CH is getting married monday, so it was kind of nice to get to see her.  Plus, I haven't seen C. since January and A. since April.  D. since somewhere inbetween.  First time for meeting S, CH's fiance.
--We went to the "shiny napkin people" diner (not the actual name) where we went in January. 
--The jelly they gave me for my toast?  Mint Flavored Apple Jelly.  Excuse me...what?
--We spent time running around Borders playing with things.
--Drove A. home.  Then, drove C. home.  Had a great conversation with him about all kinds of good things.  That was, when he wasn't leaning his head on me and falling asleep.  It's only a half hour ride...heh. 
--The quickest way home is past the stadium...I see that a lot of people are leaving.  So decide to stop.  This is good, because I saw everyone I wanted to see. 
--First stop was Jeff.  He is the easiest to find.  Because, well...he's Jeff.  Walk around with him for a while, remembering why I like him so much.  But eventually, he had to leave, so I ran him back to his bus.
--Saw B...the one who in high school we swore was gay.  She always denied it.  Saw her make out with a girl.  (it is noteworthy because of her, not the making out).  So maybe I go to school with the other girl.  (And please...don't even start on calling me homophobic or gay bashing...have you met my friends?  C. A. and Jeff are all gay.)  I just think this is funny...but not in the same was as the italicized things.  Shut up, I need sleep...I know.
--Ran into Kelly and J.  Talked to them for entirely too long.  K is also an amazing person.  We only see each other July/August, and September/October anymore.  Both times being shows in allentown.  The best advice she ever gave me?  "Don't change your scent for a guy."  We also discussed how two guys I go to school with are really the same guy, because their names always go together, so you never know which is which.  I love that we can go to school over 12 hours apart, yet know the same people.  She had to leave.
--Spent a half hour or so talking to J.  About random things.  Like roads.  Jobs.  Laser eye surgery.  Drunk girls who still won't hook up with him.  J. is amazing.  Even when I was in high school, it seemed he was always talking to me about whatever girl he liked at the time.  Things don't change too much I guess.
--I made it home in record time.  Normally, the drive is an hour.  My old record was 45 minutes.  Tonight?  33 minutes.  I love driving home at 1 AM. 

So...even though the point of the trip kind of didn't happen...it all turned out good.  I saw everyone that I needed to see, plus others.  Spent the time with them that I wanted too.  Plus, I could go to a show in Hershey tomorrow night... And hey...I have a muffler in my trunk.

I think that is it for my day.

I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to back to school shopping.  I get so excited and I want to play with everything I bought.
Today it was:
--New Bag (from Target, woo) because I haven't gotten a new bag since I was a senior in high school.
--Trash Can ($1.99 at Target...hot).
--Planner (this is necessary for me to not lose my head and life for forgetting somewhere I need to be)
--Shampoo (shut up...if my mom is buying, I'll take it...I'm now stocked up on shampoo for...oh, the entire year).
--Power Steering Fluid (this is back to school in the sense that when I checked it yesterday...it didn't even show up on the dipstick...and so I would like to be able to drive my car back to school without it making the gawdawful noise it does when I run out of power steering fluid)

I think that was it for today...but tomorrow?  Hopefully...depending on how late we sleep and the weather:
--shoe shopping--famous footwear because I like New Balance sneakers and they have the best selection around.  And good prices.  And my mom will probably offer to buy me other shoes too.  Yes.  I am a moooch.
--old navy
--best buy?  I need a new USB cable since I lost mine. 
--bed bath and beyond?  because we have two 20% off coupons, and one $5 off.

That should be it.  And the great thing?  They're all in the same shopping center!  Sure, it is 40 minutes away...but it is right by my grandmother, so we'll visit her too.  aren't you excited for me?  can you imagine me not sleeping tonight because I'm just so excited?  Ok, it's not that extreme...

a meme so you know I'm alive...

Friday Fiver
1. Do you follow current events? Why/Why not?
Probably not as much as I used to, but I try...something about my major...
2. Where do you get most of your news from?
Online. local news like nbc10.com, kyw1060.com, and local newspapers. Also, yahoo news, fark, drudgereport, and links from fellow bloggers. I prefer reading news to watching it...because...
3. Do you believe that the media is biased? Why or why not?
Of course. They choose what stories to present and what not to present, and also how to present them. At least online, there is a little more variety and perspective - and also foreign news...to try to counter some bias. But I don't really like news reporters on TV.
4. Will you be voting this year?
Yes. As long as I don't accidentally fall asleep like I did last year.
5. Describe one political issue that really pushes your button.
Campaign financing? Do you realize how much better the money used for advertising and campaigns could be better spent...I am sure you could get your platform out a lot cheaper and use that funding to benefit the things your platform supports...

And by the way?

Baseball players...in roster pictures...look bad 9 times out of 10.

But in person?

they look good.  Heh.  I spent three innings sitting right behind the dugout.  It was worth it.
(worth what?  I'm not sure.  My ticket was free thanks to my favorite intern, and my seat was actually behind homeplate, but I sat with one of her "friends" -aka someone she doesn't know- in the front row right behind the dugout)

No, unlike some people I am not a map fiend.  I did, for a while, have a map of the state of pennsylvania on my bedroom wall, but in general...no.

I don't even keep any maps in my car.

I do, however, keep directions.  Anytime I go somewhere "far" that I haven't been or have only been to once or twice, I get directions.  I print them out/write them down in order to not get lost.  You know, this is normal?

But then...the thing is...I keep the directions.  Don't ever put the sun visor down in the passenger seat of my car.  You will be blessed with directions to many places...

"Buc Field" in Reading.  From the one time I picked Jeff up there.  Back when I was in high school.

Governor Mifflin, a local school, from the time Ashlee and I went to see a show there.  Of course, now I pass it nearly everytime I go to school...but, alas.

Kutztown University, because I took my Praxis tests there.  These directions are special, because there are hand written with specific terms (turn at the greek like building) and illustrations by the fsil.  Oooh. 

Probably directions to school.  Although, honestly, I haven't used them...since...well...never.  I have done that trip...about 30 times.  (I am amused by KT tonight complaining about a two hour drive...ha). 

Directions to Hershey Park.

Directions to KT's old dorm.  Directions to KT's newer dorm.  Directions to Wilmington.

Which is why my hoarding of directions came in handy.  We were in Wilmington, going to Newark.  In two separate cars from two separate lots...and have you tried to keep two cars together on I-95?  But...I had directions!  I didn't get lost at all on this trip...

Well, except when I drove past her new apartment.  Not my fault, since I didn't know what it looked like.  The only bad part was when I turned onto a one way road.  So she walked out from her apt and took me on a five minute detour just to get back to the building I had turned past.  Ha.

But, after driving about four hours today, I'm home!  It was amusing.  Pictures to come when I'm not lazy.

I'm excited and leaving in 3 or so hours for Delaware. So what if I am getting there at 5:30 for a 7:05 game. Something about getting a free ticket...
Then tomorrow, I'm most likely driving to Allentown.
Followed by driving to Allentown again on Saturday.

I think that is something like 7 hours of driving? Not including if I decide to/have time to go to Newark tonight.

I was told "don't be out late" in the unofficial curfew way that I have always had. Then, the fsil called the bro, and they are going to a free concert at Penn's landing tonight - and while I'm going out of state, I'll probably still make it home before them...so "late" is relative.

The Jehovah's Witnesses here have a radar to sense whenever I am home during the day by myself. They choose this time to come knocking on the door. However, what they don't know is that I have JW radar to know when they're coming.

You see, last time they came was around during semester break. I was up in the morning baking banana bread, and saw them walking up our driveway (seeing as our kitchen window looks out onto the driveway). I answered the door before they had a chance to knock and I think they must have jumped three feet and fallen backwards down the steps because I obviously am possessed.

I wasn't so lucky today. I was expecting my mother to be coming home. When there was a knock, I assumed she had hands full of groceries or the like. So I wandered to the door...picture of perfection that I am...to see two young girls (as in...18) standing on our front steps with a Bible. Crap!

However, picture of perfection= I hadn't brushed my hair. I had a nice case of bedhead. I was wearing a beater (men's sleeveless undershirt for those who still don't get it). Of course, with a green bra underneath, because what fun is white? My shorts, two sizes too big, were falling down, so I am sure they could see my blue and yellow striped underwear. I was barefoot, with like three or four days hair on my legs. Top it off with an anklet with a rainbow...man, that is high quality.

I obliged them, because I am incapable of saying no and let the girl read the bible verse to me. You see, seeing me through the door was ok. But me stepping outside? Scary. The second girl jumped back and stared at me.

I'll teach them not to come back to this house! The devil resides in me, because I'm so unkempt, right?

Think think think Christine.  There must be something to write about.  I would tell you about the grocery store today, but I don't think my realization that I am old because a girl I used to babysit when she was in elementary school is now in high school is very interesting.  Or the woman who was shocked to learn that I'm old enough to be in college...

so...umm.  A fun childhood story?  Do I have any of those? 

I used to be a really cute child.  Have you seen pictures?  I'm so humble, right?  It went downhill from here...

*

see?  Look at that.  Cute little curl in the hair.  Bangs!  Pink barettes.  Dresses.  You would think this was not the same child.

But I was not the child who was all bubbly and cute.  I was quiet and shy and clung to my mother a lot.  Until she forgot to pick me up from school, that is...

But, this led to me getting a nickname.  You see, I became "Eagle Eyes."  If you dropped it, I could find it.  It started when I found a screw from the ceiling fan under my grandparents table I believe, when I was about the age in the photo.  From then on, if you dropped something, it would always be, "come here Eagle Eyes."  And I would save the day.

Even once my brother was in high school and had contacts (I was going to scan a cuter picture of me and my bro, but I can't find my USB cable) he would inevitably drop them and I would be called to find them. 

When I got glasses (ninth grade) this had kind of faded away.  I felt inadequate because my vision was apparently no longer perfect.

That is...until this summer.  In the same day, my mother lost her glasses and the cord to the frying pan (yes, these are slightly bigger than screws).  I walked out into the kitchen and spotted both of them instantly.

Today, she lost her phone, and as she is dialing the phone to call it, I walked over to the hutch, pushed my bro's drycleaning out of the way...and tada...phone!

I am amazing, you know it.

*and yes, my mother used to cut my hair, hence crooked bangs.

My mother is sooo nice to me.  And no, you probably won't see another entry like this from me.
 
I went to bed early last night.  I was asleep by 11:30.  I hadn't even been awake 12 hours.  But by 8, we were at the mall and I was yawning like nobodies business.  By the time I got home, I was starting with a headache.  I thought it was just from being active and happy.  So I went to bed.
 
3:30 AM I had a horrendous headache.  I tried to go back to sleep...it didn't work.  So I reached for my backpack at the foot of the bed and found some motrin in it.  Ahh, back to sleep.
 
My head still hurts, off and on.  And my mother...the kindness that she is, asked, "do you want some of that coffee stuff?"  Mmm.  That stuff is yummy and blended and just yummy.  Plus, it is in the only source of caffeine in the house currently (no soda, no iced tea, not even any chocolate...).  She asked, "could it be a caffeine headache?"
 
Just because I haven't had caffeine since Friday?  Hehe.

Monday already?  It seems that I have caught a case of the humdrums.  I'm supposed to go out to dinner with friends tonight, to DE on Thursday, and to a show Friday and Saturday.
 
And I don't want to do anything.  It's not that I won't enjoy them, because in truth, I will.  It is just that after not doing much, I don't want to do anything. 
 
I did take both of my tests today.  I suppose that is progress.
 
I'm now watching Thelma and Louise and trying to sleep.  It's not really working.

If you haven't noticed, I go back to school in a month.  In an hour and a half, it will be a month exactly.  31 days.
 
I sit here and think about how I should start organizing and packing and cleaning (because every year, the goal is to leave the room at home clean so that I don't trip over everything at thanksgiving which is the first time I come home...).  Like that has happened.  Ever.
 
Moving should be easier this year, because at least 50% of my possessions are still at school.  They spent the summer living in my brother's closet. 
 
Plus, you might recall that I mentioned not unpacking most of my clothing.  The dress clothes?  Still in the garment bags in the closet.  All my denim shorts?  Still in a rubbermaid container.  My dishes...in a plastic bag with peanut butter.
 
But I have to unpack all of that, to repack it better and get rid of that which I don't need (you know, those shorts that I was going to fix this summer...etc).  And wash my dishes.  Because I brought them home dirty.  Now, they're really gross.  I'm thinking of sticking 1-2 in the sink/week.  Then, my mother will get confused and wash them for me, right?
 
We did a little bit of "back to school shopping."  I love this shopping, because 1) my mom buys things for me 2) I love school supplies 3) new stuff is cool.  Ok...so all I've gotten is a drawer type thing, socks, some underwear maybe, and I can't recall the other thing.  Man, I'm all set.
 
And so, rather than trying to pick up all my clothes from the floor, take out the trash, remove dishes from my room, etc, I decided to write this entry.

I have a plea for those of you out there who are male, live with male(s), or have any experience with this problem (that is generally male).  I need advice.
 
Now, I understand that it is normal, at times, for feet to smell.  Like when you step in something really gross, aren't wearing the right socks, wear socks for too long, etc.  I admit, my feet smell if I wear sneakers without socks for a while.  But...
 
My brother's feet stink.  All the time.  You do not want to be in the room with him if he was wearing shoes and took them off, at any point in the day.  The smell just permeates the entire room.
 
He says, "I can't help it.  I have to wear shoes for work and my feet sweat."  I told him there are solutions, things you can buy to help, but he disagrees and says he has tried them.  I don't believe him.
 
Any ideas?  How do you solve this problem? 

I got all excited today.  I woke up and spotted my mail, nicely laid out on the table.  From afar and through sleepy eyes, I could see it.  An envelope.  Hand addressed.  Real mail (of course, it was laying on top of a credit card application...pre-approved even). 
 
But it was just from Mel.  Mel who I've known since we were five and lives right down the street except she's working at a camp all summer.  A lot of it was, "man, these campers have it so much easier than when we went camping", so I won't bore you with the details.  Just two amusing things.
 
1.  She speaks of the rain and wearing a poncho.  In these terms.  "I love ponchos, just like I love my hard-cord mess kit."
 
2.  The ink stamp over the postage stamp...it says "Greetings from Far Far Away" and has Shrek and Donkey on it!

I broke a nail today and have a nice large egg/bruise growing on my shin.
 
Why?
 
Because my family is officially hick.  My mom bought a new bed (as in boxspring and mattress) today.  Normal people borrow a truck or have it delivered.  Not us.  We tied it to the roof of the SUV.  But that wasn't really working well, so I climbed up there to fix some stuff, thereby breaking a nail when I caught it on the sunroof. 
 
Then, I climbed up the otherside, because my mom couldn't really reach anything.  And proceeded to wham (george michael?  heh) my shin on the lever to adjust the recline of the seat. 
 
I spent the whole way home with a hand out the sunroof holding a rope.  Like I said, hick.

the word of that day that I subscribe to really needs to get some better words...six of the words I have received (out of the last out) I could define before reading the email.  Some of them are thanks to having an education...but some of them?  c'mon...
haywire.  commensal.  peccant.  abide.  mitier.  superfluous.  vociferous.  knee jerk.
 
if you know don't what haywire, abide, and knee jerk mean...at the very least...I don't know where you went to school, but I w0uld want a refund.
 
Btw, saw this today (via pesky apostrophe).  dear george letters.  I haven't looked at it much yet, but check it out.

We had a fun "grab the candles and go to the basement moment today."
Because the TV broadcast a tornado warning. For my town. My town that can't be more than five square miles. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Then my mom laughed. Because she brought the cordless phone...like that is going to do any good if we lost power.

You know, I was skeptical reading lucky's account of weight loss by switching to diet soda, but...

I have really done very little of nothing this summer in terms of working out. Occasional walking/jogging. Maybe a few crunches every now and then...but pretty much nothing. Unless you count sitting on the couch watching tv.
Normally, this would spell disaster for me. I have always gained summer weight rather than winter weight.
But today, I needed to wear pants (by need, I mean I didn't feel like shaving), so I grabbed some jeans that I haven't worn since march. That were tight on me in march. And they totally fit, better than in march.

And then it hit me. I have drank soda 4 times during the entire summer. I mostly drink water, occasionally juice. Wow. I don't think I'm so skeptical anymore. I shall banish soda! Ok, maybe not...but cutting back was definitely a good idea.

Did I mention we had record rainfall here yesterday? And it's supposed to rain more this week. Things are a lot worse in NJ, with dams and bridges breaking.

Growing up where and when I did has given me somewhat of a sheltered life, in my mind anyway. It would be different if I were growing up here now rather than 18 years ago.
We didn't have computers when I was a child. I think we got our first computer in fourth grade. It was a novel thing that I could type my animal report rather than having to write it out in cursive. I think two people in the class typed their reports.
We were sent outside a lot as children (my brother and I). Unsupervised, of course. Because how far could we go? We weren't allowed to cross the street. This generally meant we stayed in our yard and the yard next to us. Going farther than two houses down required permission.

We generally entertained ourselves with the normal child things. Sticks and dirt. Plus, we would turn up the cement blocks and the slate in front of our shed and look for bugs. We would build forts with the wood piles.

One of our favorite amusements involved rocks and foil. There were always empty pots from the greenery around, wrapped in that colored foil. We would take pieces of foil, wrap them around rocks, and then go ring Mrs. Hill's door. It was our present for her. Obviously, we thought she couldn't tell it was a rock. She went along with it anyway.

I can't imagine how many waves of children have done this to Mrs. Hill. Yet I still see her sitting out in a lawn chair in her driveway most summer nights, working on crafts. She has to be in her 70s by now.

Another favorite was baseball. If you look, I think you may be able to find the spot between two trees that was home plate. The step by the front door was first, the pipes in the middle of the yard were second, and the bushes were third.
Of course, we were generally playing with two people, so all that mattered was first. The rest were ghost runners.

Sometimes, a kickball game would be gotten together at the mennonite church (two doors down the other way). They had the only parking lot in town. Then all the kids from the neighborhood would come out of the woodwork. We'd attend bible school there too, even though none of us were Mennonite.

Sometimes, we would go down to the other end of the road. The yard there was great for playing ghosts in the graveyard or hide and seek, and there were two kids that lived there. Our parents could talk and we would run around until it got dark. The kids from across the street would join in too (but then they moved away).
Some of the people on my street have moved away, and don't really do this anymore. But I see them run out to the edge of the yard and stop. Because they too, aren't allowed to cross the road.

My history professor, a woman in her 50s, claimed that things just weren't the same as when she was a kid. In that time, you could borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor. Well, I can remember walking down the street to get an egg.

I think that to say most people don't know their neighbors...well, it is a falsehood here. Heck, we used to bake cakes for new neighbors when I was a kid.

I've been going through my old diaryland site. I started writing there in 2001, so some of it is amusing. It is amazing the things I have forgotten. It is also amazing the way I phrase things sometimes. In lieu of content again, random quotes:

---

"I walked from my locker in the 2nd hallway, to the front hallway, all the way down the front hallway, back to the 3rd hallway and to the door of my chem class with my english book on my head."

That is all I ever did during chemistry. It is funny, because the teacher loved me, and to this day when I run into him in WaWa, he says nice things. He doesn't know that I stole a textbook from him. Of course, KT has an atlas from fifth grade. She couldn't get her report card because the teacher knew she had one. But in truth, she had two.

"stephanies..christin..christine...grr...whatever your name is...shit..what the hell did you do wrong?"

my instructor couldn't remember my name. I think five people in my life have mistakenly called me Stephanie.

Of course...when Jill tried to climb into my pants...that topped off the odd looks

like that has never happened to you. you don't let your friends climb into your pants while you are in them?

but Mrs Thomas was nice to me...I threw together a crap presentation last night and she loved it...so she says I deserve to go to FLorida.

Most of my senior teachers complained about how much class I missed. As in, my psychology teacher honestly had only marked me as attending class 3 times in a month. She was the only one who didn't care. But that is because she is amazing.

My brother threw my toothpaste away...how can you do that, I mean...its toothpaste!

Lets play a game. What do these things have in common.
Fish.
Target.
Wendy's.
Red and white.
Ankle.

Last week, I found that list written in a tablet. I couldn't figure out what it meant. Too bad I didn't include what it meant.

"how is kosher salt different from regular salt?"
"kosher salt doesn't eat pork."

"would you girls like a banana?"
"no thanks"
~five minutes pass~woman walks in, sits banana down in front of both of us
"oh, just take it and don't say anything"

did I mention I had psycho bosses?

my mom says I bring out the weird in people. the little girl puts her foot in her mouth. I ask "what are you doing?" she says "eating toes."

My bosses took me out to lunch. 2 of us actually...there were 6 total people there. All but 1 have kids my age. Kind of weird. Very funny. Their life advice for us was "never believe what boys tell you" and "all college food tastes like cheese"

Dan, the guy who gives me funny looks...we kept running this one set, and I kept having to pass him, and we'd look at each other funny, but I couldn't help but smile, because I was in a good mood. Finally, about the seventh time, he started laughing. You know, he still doesn't know my name.

Talk about person I completely was crushing on...then he had to go and move out of state...because another quote about him ""good morning sunshine" were the first words Dan said to me today." and then "Michelle came up to me asking if I was ok, if I wanted to talk...etc, I was just bitchy and didn't want to take it out on anyone. But the thing I didn't expect was Dan asked me too, said he was there if I wanted to talk." Too bad his current girlfriend is super nice and sweet. My last quote...because I'm sure this is boring..

"Why won't anyone play with me...I just want someone to play with me?"
"are you saying you need a playmate?"
"You're the only one who heard that!"
"I heard it" "I heard it too"
"I'm already out according to Katie"
"you're a lesbian?"
"nooo...not out like that!"
"oh...but you could be my playmate!"

now you have the history of three years of my life. to summarize the rest? I kept writing, wrote about getting drunk, had my mother find my blog, realized I needed to move, and here I am.

I lead such a complicated life.

C'mon, I had to make a big decision today. Summerland was on at the same time as Last Comic Standing. That is a tough choice.

Not to leave you on edge, I ended up watching Summerland, because chances are good of seeing LCS in rerun.

I believe my friend's mom misses her daughter who is working at a camp all summer. Everytime I see her, she ends up talking to me about when she'll be home, classes she's taking, anything really. I got paid for petsitting today, and she might have me help her with some house cleaning.

I deserve the title of Professional Odd Jobber.

I went out to my car to get an ace bandage to wrap and ice my knee (old injury aggravated by rain)...and realized that my car is in the shop. Because, you see, I have a fabulous car.
Unlike my brother, I have had the same car since I was 16. It's only 14 years old now -an ideal beginner driver car.
You see...when I bought it, the drivers window didn't work. As in you couldn't put it down. That needed to be fixed.
So, my air conditioning couldn't be fixed.
Gradually, the back passenger window stopped working. It randomly falls down and you have to put it back up by pushing it up.
Then, the power lock in that door stopped working.
And then, I stopped being able to lock it manually.
My mother and I tried to pull it apart and failed. So, it went into the shop today because I would really prefer having a car that actually locks at school. Something about the student body of my school being larger than the population of my town...

Oh yeah, and the tape player doesn't work either. CD player? That doesn't exist.
I love my car.

in lieu of real content, I'll just post an entry from two years ago today. It's not particularly interesting or funny...but ooh, it is a glimpse at me when I was 18? Taken from my old site.

07-11-02 - 3:41 p.m.

There is something wrong in the world when you put on Martha Stewart at like 2 AM and still can't fall asleep. She was raving about ironing!! omg...she is a psycho lady. Then she was hemming some guys pants, and someone stole his other pants, so he walked around the set in boxers and she commented on his underwear. Is this normal Martha Stewart behavior?

Then I watched some movie that I've seen before and don't know the title of. How's that for a description? It has Kirstie Allie in it. I can't even spell her name.

Today was crazy as anything at work. I was working on some projects i had left...then they gave me about 30 more, and sent me on errands to east jabip for gift bags. Then at 1:45, they gave me the finishing elements of 3 projects. Hello...I'm supposed to leave at 2...although I don't mind you paying me overtime...

Two funny things.

Boss A: "oh...that looks really good (talking about photocopies)...it looks like its really on letterhead"

umm...you gave me the letterhead to copy it on...

Boss B: "I need to mail this...can I just put five stamps on it? (I weigh it...she puts on five stamps) Five stamps?" I say "eh...put another one.." she says, "for good luck?" "yeah..." then she ran it outside, came in...did something...and asked "what did I do with that thing I needed to mail?"

oy vey...they are losing it.

Capris need to go out of style. Now.
Because I occasionally see a pair that I think is cute. They're generally cargo, but it doesn't matter.
And then I pick them up and hold them up to my waist...well, give me a second.
I'm 5'4". This is apparently average height for women.
But...I have the legs of a 5' person. My inseam in 25'. So, to be 5'4", I have a long torso. So now, besides not being able to find shirts that are long enough,
I can't find pants that are short enough.
Old Navy proclaims there are three lengths of capris. Knee is 18", Mid is 24", and Ankle is 26".
See my problem? Ankle capris touch my feet. Mid look like I didn't know how long of pants to buy. So, knee capris...are actually where normal ones should be. Except they have those little slits to let your knee bend...which look quite silly on your calf.
Buggerit.
But, at least it takes no flexibility to touch my toes.

the other night my mom got a free pair of earrings. Buy 2 get 1 free kind of deal.
I got the free ones (I am a mooch).
Spent 15 minutes getting them in my ears. Because they're the ones that hook into themselves...let me find a picture. Ahh, they're called "endless hoops".
And they are totally a pita.
I don't think I will be taking them out until I have to in August.
And it's a shame, because I got another really cute pair (free again, no less).
But they only look right in the same holes as the ones I put the first ones in.

So I thought, well, just get more holes in my ears. But, alas, I remembered to get new holes you are supposed to take other earrings out. Rats.

my 8th grade memory does not do 8th grade justice.

I hated 8th grade. I abhorred 8th grade. I would stand outside and make myself sick to go in, because I dreaded it so much. It wasn't peaches and cream for everyone else, I am sure, but I felt like it was torture for me. I only managed to make myself sick enough to go home once, but that doesn't mean I didn't try.

For starters, this was the first year that our homerooms were done alphabetically. So it was the first year since 5th grade that I wasn't in the same homeroom with KT (she's a B and I'm an R). But then, our first period class was language. She chose to take french, I chose german.

I hated German because the teacher (nicknamed "the goat") was young and new, and all of the guys fell all over her. She loved it too, you could see. She would pay special attention to them, especially the ones that misbehaved. A girl who was quiet got nowhere in that class. Not only did I get made fun of by the guys (for numerous reasons, including having long hair...), but I got ignored by the teacher.

Science was second. It was better because KT was there, and it was tracked - meaning it was an "advanced" class. It was full of people that I knew from the gifted program all through middle school. But we sat at lab labels. I refused to wear my hair down at all, because anytime I did, Steve complained that he couldn't see. I hated Steve.

Then off to math. I actually paid attention in there, because again, it was advanced (ooh, it was Algebra! Everyone else was stuck with pre-algebra or general math...) and the teacher actually had control of the class. She was the one who, if she gave you detention, you had to spend it putting tape on the floor so that the desks would be perfectly lined up. Plus, she got me to join a math competition thing, which meant after school time in a group of 5 students with both 8th grade math teachers. I loved special attention from teachers.

Fourth period was social studies, taught by my homeroom teacher. The only things I paid attention to were Pax Romana and Anne Hutchinson. It wasn't bad, because we all goofed off. I recall sitting there playing with stickers and taking pictures. The only reason I passed the class is because I was always doing extra credit for the teacher. You could get extra credit by taking an old worksheet made by a ditto machine and creating a typed version.

Ahh, finally, it was lunch time. I recall one lunch where I complained to my beloved friends that a song was stuck in my head. So they sang about 100 more to get the first one out.

The worst class in the world was english sixth period. You would think it would have been amazing, because the teacher was the percussion instructor. He would play Led Zeppelin and Bobby McFerrin and Yo Yo Ma for us. He would always have some music to listen to when we had to write in our journals. But, he sat me around Will, Sarah, Rory, and Michelle. All three got personal pleasure from torturing me. Sticking things in my hair was their specialty, but just in general picking on me was also amusing to them. Only later did Sarah actually become nice to me, but I think it was because Rory dropped out, Michelle transferred, and Will moved.

7th and 8th periods were specials of some sort, although I can't really recall. Gym/health, and home ec/art I think. Home ec was amusing, because we would intentionally mess up everything that we made. Like salt in the jello and sugar in the soup. I only liked gym when we played field hockey, because suddenly I became popular. All the girls who actually played on the field hockey team would ask me to be goalie for them. But otherwise, Roxanne liked to threaten to beat me up. Heh.

9th period. Ahh, the point of this entire entry. 9th period was a study hall for everyone. We ran on a six day cycle, so B/E days were band, C/F were chorus, and A/D were other, sometimes intramurals. B/E I was rescued from the terrors of homeroom. Band was crappy until the director finally let us actually audition for our chairs, rather than assigning them based on his discretion. I was sitting 5th before that. But, I got the opportunity to play in the pit for the high school musical and actually learned how to play (because the HS director is amazing). The middle school director still hated me though. As in, when the HS director recommended me for an honors 7-9 band, the middle school director couldn't even remember who I was. Magically, I became second chair.
But I quit chorus in 8th grade. So that left four days of being stuck in homeroom. Generally, I would run to the band room after gym class to get a pass for 9th period. This is when I randomly started picking up new instruments. The high school needed sax players, so I learned sax. My brother taught me trumpet, because who knows. It must be the band director coming out in him. My homeroom teacher would feel pity on me the days I couldn't get passes and would volunteer to write me a pass.

The moral of this story is - if 8th grade hadn't been such torture for me, I don't think music would have ever become so important in my life. And if that hadn't happened, I think high school may have been torture too. But suddenly, that instrument that I never practiced became the basis of my life. In the fall there was concert band, marching band, wind ensemble, and jazz band. I think I got to go home after school maybe one day per week. And I lost that day around Christmas time, because then there was brass ensemble. In the spring, switch marching band with guard, and you have my life. I had no Friday nights or Saturdays year round, and I loved it. Heck, look at college. I met all my roommates through band. I spend more time on band than my major. I go to master classes with composers that are recognized worldwide. I've actually played pieces that were directed by their composers. That was an amazing experience when it was Stamp. He would say, "the composer wants you to...even though it doesn't say that."

As I mentioned before, I went camping a lot when I was younger. I was a girl scout, so you know, that makes sense. I don't think a summer went by that I didn't go camping. Twice, I went to "resident camp"...the difference is you go for a week and stay with people you don't know. Well, ok, so the second summer, I went with KT. It was around sixth grade, so that would make us 11 or 12 at the time.

It wasn't exactly the best experience, I don't think. She didn't get along well with the counselors (they thought she hated them, so in turn she began to hate them). Our counselors were all foreign. One was from Russia, one England, and one Scotland.

I think the funniest experience of that trip has to be when our counselors thought it was a good idea to take a six mile hike off campus. This is in the middle of rural Oxford (I think). I mean, we walked past an Amish man. Plus, we had to carry our own water. Nothing says fun like taking turns carry a three or five gallon water cooler.

After three miles, we stopped to eat, have some water and rest. Being 11 and 12 year olds, we were fascinated with all of those games you play at sleepovers. No, not Truth or Dare, the other ones. Like putting people into trances and "light as a feather, stiff as a board." I think there were a few others as well.

They worked freakishly well on our Russian counselor. In light as a feather, stiff as a board, you basically tell some story, with the person laying in the center. You start repeating "light as a feather, stiff as a board" and ideally, the person is lifted by only two fingers from everybody. Generally...there is some struggling involved. Not with her, it was freaky.

Of course, then we pointed out to her that her legs were uneven lengths and she freaked out. I think we convinced her that she was possessed.

But, why I recalled this experience today is that I discovered some of my craft stuff that was in my closet (because my trumpet and clarinet decided to fall off the shelf at me).

You see, at camp they do superlatives, if you will. At the end, everyone gets some form of award. Most Polite, Cleanest, Funniest, etc.

I got the most artistic award. My mother, was shocked. Because I...am not...artistic. I cannot draw anything to save my life. So why did I get this award? Because I was always making something. Generally, it was keychains or lanyards with gimp (plastic lace), or friendship bracelets with embroidery floss, or anything else. I have a box in my closet that has about 15 dreamcatchers in it. I have beads upon beads. If you need a gimp keychain? I have a lot hanging in my closet. I even made my brother a really great keychain out of hemp. It was the perfect size to fit his wrist, was sturdy, and looked pretty cool too, if I might add.

Last semester, I was making an anklet with some hemp and brown beads. My roommates were amazed. I tried to teach them, using a macrame stitch, but I don't think they got it.

So now, you know my hidden talent.

bush was in pa
I should have read that before I decided to go on a trip to the mall today. Because he was coming through (at least this is why I think), there were 2 firetrucks, at least six cops, an ambulance, and a helicopter blocking off one highway. They closed half of the mall parking lot.

Jeebus, what did they think we were going to do? I would make a sarcastic comment, but ya know...Sacco and Vanzetti (oh no...they were anarchists..hmm).

Traffic was backed up forever. The road was closed off for I would estimate at least two hours. That is crazy.

People who don't know how to use their own resources drive me nuts. With the internet...practically anything you need to know is at your fingertips so long as you know how to look.

A former co-worker drove me nuts with this. She would call information for phone numbers. If she had a question (it was normally about trees), she would ask another coworker, who knew nothing about trees.

On occasion, she would use some crappy search engine. Like MSN search. Maybe it is valid, but not in my opinion.

The day she discovered the stationery for Outlook, it was the happiest day in her world. She used them for everything. Does anyone actually find this fun?
It was amusing when they got all new computers. No one knew how to do anything...they would ask me, the temp, how to change things. Oy.

The kicker though? Her husband has his own business and was paying to have a website created. She was coming up with design ideas. THEY INCLUDED CHEESY CLIPART AND ANIMATED CLIPART. It may have even had those silly scripts that trail from the mouse...you know what I mean. Because that just screams professional to me. I think of her everytime my professor complains that in websites I evaluate, I don't include whether they have graphics. Because that is so freaking non-descript.

See...even my own mother is better than that. She doesn't understand how to find things online - but when she needs a phone number or an address or a store location - she says, "next time you are online, will you look such and such up for me?"

it is the first step.

I should write a manual of how to go shopping with your parents. My brother and I have it down...
1. Walk at least 3-5 feet behind them.
2. Never smile.
3. Keep your hands in your pockets.
4. Drag your feet in that "I don't want to be here" kind of way.
5. Lean back and slouch slightly.
6. Still never smile.
7. Do not touch the shopping cart. Ever. Unless you're taking it from her and zooming ahead because you are fed up at how slow she walks.

we practiced it the other night in walmart, and tonight in the mall. oh...and it really makes your parents feel good too. not.

---
How to get permission to go somewhere your parents don't approve of
Don't ask if you can go. Tell them you might be going, then by the time it is time to go, they think they made the decision.

And then I forgot my other two topics...hmm.

ahh, ok. I remember. Heh. I never realized how much I used to be capable of eating until now. When I was younger, as in middle school, I would totally be able to scarf down a medium blizzard from Dairy Queen. Tonight? We stopped there and I definitely couldn't even eat half of a small. This is good, in my mind (totally ignoring the fact that ice cream makes me sick and I have an allergy to milk...shh. once in Brownies, my mom told the leader that I was allergic to milk and she wouldn't let me have ice cream. that was not cool).

But, a lot of this is a result of college. Well, and that whole growing up thing. I'm not used to eating a lot...because eating a lot means buying a lot, and who knows. As in, today, I ate:
1 Fat Free yogurt (100 calories, cause it said on the lid)
A handful of potato chips
Two pretzels
A Turkey Club (we ate dinner out)
Half a blizzard

To me, this really doesn't seem like a lot...considering it was spread over 13 hours.

And yet...I still manage to not lose weight. Gotta love that. WTF. I even only drank 1 cup of juice today, the rest was water.

I think I'm gonna make three posts in a row. Because I'm trying to be more topical. Yeah...right.

I got dressed to go to the mall with my family tonight. Note, I said dressed, not dressed up. This means I showered and changed out of my pajama shorts and beater. You know what a beater is, right? Heh. Since I had spilled three things on it, I figured it wasn't very classy.

So I put on boys shorts and my $3 t-shirt. I'm classy like that.

And then, bought a skirt. Yeah...my outfit definitely said "I am a skirt kind of girl." And by I bought a skirt, I of course mean my mother bought for me because that is why you go to the mall with your parents, and I convinced her that I will need more dress clothes for student teaching. IN A YEAR AND A HALF. shush. It was on sale, marked down from $38 or so to $16. And I got a pair of jeans, marked down to $13. I'm a college kid - I don't care if it is "last seasons clothes"...jeans are jeans.

A few other blogs lately have mentioned nicking ankles while shaving, so I don't feel so abnormal now.
Well, except, I think sometimes I am one of the klutziest people in the world. Why? Well, Sunday I cut my ankle particularly badly. Today, it started to get itchy and infected so I finally resolved to resort to neosporin and a band-aid. So, in shaving today, I was being extra careful. And then, the razor got caught on the bandaid and proceeded to take out a chunk of skin right next to the bandaid. I can't win.

Plus, it is a well hidden fact that most women shave their toes. But, I think I am the only one who manages to cut my toes. And then, because it is a hidden secret of women...you can't say you cut it shaving, so you have to claim you "had a scab" that you "accidentally knocked off" or something to that effect.

I just can't win.

I really ought to just retitle my blog "I steal content from you" because really...stolen from zoot.

WRITE ONE MEMORY/FACT REGARDING EACH

==PRESCHOOL==
The first memory that comes to mind is embarrassing, but hey, I need a good dose of embarrassment every now and then. We were sitting on the rug singing and I really liked singing so I didn't want to ask Mrs. Davidson (who I actually ran into this summer) to go to the bathroom, so I squirmed and sang, and peed my pants in the playhouse. Heh.

==KINDERGARTEN==
We had a stage in the classroom that we used for show and tell. When we broke in to the elementary school before they tore it down, the stage seemed a lot smaller than I remembered.

==FIRST==
One of the big things we did in first grade was write books. Lots of books. My mom still has them actually. But one day, Becky and I were both writing books and I think I got upset because we were both writing books about the same thing - a homework machine. This was only because I don't think I ever knew what was going on in first grade.

==SECOND==
Becky broke her arm, so she couldn't write. So, the entire time her arm was broken, I got to write her work and never had to do my own. Even in high school, when we occasionally talked, all we really had to say was, "remember when you had to do my work for me?"


==THIRD==
My best friend moved away. It was a big deal at the time. You know, because it was a whole half hour away. Of course, then she moved to California. (Then she moved back here for high school and I actually ran into her like three times because we both did all band things possible).

==FOURTH==
I wore my hair in pigtails and wore sweat suits with cats on them all the time. I couldn't even avoid it, because my mom worked at the school. None of that changing when you get to school thing.

==FIFTH==
the two elementary schools went to one middle school. I ended up in a class with practically no one I knew. This is when I became friends with KT. The Indian project, exactly. We had to create different things. KT and I decided to make a pueblo, at my house. We didn't have brown paint, so we just kept mixing colors (of house paint, no less) until it was brown. Then painted with pieces of trees. We might have gotten paint on my mom's car. That would be the last time KT was over at my house I think.

==SIXTH==
I got put in a group counseling group. We decided to name ourselves TOAD, standing for "Team Of/Against Death." All I remember is eating carrots and getting in trouble because KT and I were rambunctious.

==SEVENTH==
We moved schools (as in to a new building) in the middle of the year. We spent like two weeks packing in science class rather than learning. Then we got two random days off (that everyone else went to school) to move. Who really thought that was a good idea?

==EIGHTH==
Colin cheated off me on science tests and did better than I did. Then again, we cheated on social studies tests too. This was not my good year - the only class I paid attention in was math.

==NINTH==
I had social studies around lunch. I would spend the first half copying notes off the board, then doing my math homework. The second half I would inevitably ask to go to the bathroom or my locker, when in truth, I wandered around the halls. Man, I really was a bad student.

==TENTH==
We stole everything from the new German teacher. We as in my class, not me...but...including her bell she would ring for us to be quiet, books, papers, then the cord that connected the phone receiver to the base. Ha.

==ELEVENTH==
I got my band director to create an independent study class for me so I didn't have to go to study hall. This basically meant I occasionally practiced, spent time with the guy I liked (and realized was completely psycho), and would be left in charge of that band class because the director's wife was pregnant and he would randomly need to leave.

==TWELFTH==
We had 4th period lunch. That meant we ate lunch at 10:30. Freshman lunch. So we got a freshman that we nicknamed "Trash" who always had to take our trash up. Lunch also generally involved Jeff biting or licking someone. I have good friends, right?

==SCHOOL AFTER HIGH SCHOOL==
story of my life...hmm. I had the worst history professor my first semester. He would stand up there and ramble. I didn't learn a thing, but got an A in the class because we always had to write essays, and I would just use notes from high school. That class became an exercise in counting the number of umms (over 1000 in an hour and a half) and staring out the window at the snow.

==DESCRIBE TWO MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY PARTIES OF YOURS==
We have a tape of my kindergarten party somewhere. If you count playing on the swingset and eating a barbie cake a party. I think I may have had three birthday parties ever. Another one, my mom hired a clown. I think this is why I chose not to have birthday parties.

==DESCRIBE GETTING YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE==
I failed. Not because a duck ran across the road. Not because two other animals ran across the road. You know, something about nearly running a redlight. I took it through school, during school...so that sucked to go back.

==EVER DONE ANYTHING CRAZY TO GET YOUR CRUSH'S ATTENTION? IF SO, WHAT?==
Not so much. He had to get up in the middle of health class to puke when they made us watch "the miracle of life" if you find that attractive...


==DESCRIBE A FUN VACATION YOU'VE TAKEN==
Summer after sixth grade I went on a bus trip to Savannah. It was exciting at the time because we had a stalker, got to sleep on an aircraft carrier, etc. Plus, there were very few parents. Vacations are best that way.

==WHAT CITIES HAVE YOU LIVED IN?==
Collegeville, PA
S Mount, PA (ok, so they're like 6 miles apart)
Indiana, PA

==HOW DID YOU MEET ALL YOUR FRIENDS?==
High school, college (band stuff, mostly, not my major), and online? Some are a combination. I met some college friends online before we went there. Gerg was talking to me about what llamas eat before I even met him.

==PETS==
current?
Cats-
Cecil
Houdini
Squirrel

In first grade, I wrote a story about my family and couldn't remember the name of my fish.

==CRUSHES==
I had a crush in second grade, only because other people did so I thought that I should. Through high school, it was pretty much the same two guys. Who both seemed to ask me relationship advice because they liked other people.


==JOBS==
My first real job I was offered by phone because a friend's mom recommended me. I sucked at it, I am sure. I hate answering the phone, so why I took a secretary job...There was one guy who always came in for meetings and tried to get me to eat everytime. It was kind of creepy. He kept forcing hoagies on me. Yeah, I don't eat ham.

I'm taking two classes this summer, you remember...right?
Online classes. Which means I never do the reading, usually post on discussions as late as possible, and spend a few hours looking up the answers to the test. And pass the classes, mind you.

Well, in my sociology class, the unit is on education. One of our discussion questions is "get back at the system" and complain about something you thought sucked in your education. Heh. What I chose is entirely irrelevant. Another student posted about her child being advanced even while failing classes, so I responded with:

You know, I didn't realize how serious of an issue this was until I was completing a classroom observation for one of my education classes. I observed teachers trying to work out how they could pass a few kids or squeeze them into the system because the budget allocation for teachers limited classes. They needed to pass a few kids who were failing so that they didn't have to open a new section of a class, because that would mean an additional teacher needed to be hired. I think this is the part of education I hate the most - all the politics behind it that are to the detriment of the students.

and, to my surprise this morning, I got a response from my professor. Ha. It is the only response he posted on the discussion board, so I should feel special I suppose.

Christine,
Good points. The politics usually revolve around money as your story indicated. There are, of course, other issues at work: getting rid of pain-in-the-ass students, passing the buck, etc. Sure you want to be a teacher?
[professor]
Professor, Social Sciences

This amuses me. So much. I really like this professor (unlike my econ professor). He just drives me nuts because he sends us the answers to the homework questions before they are due...heh. And he spells things like "reorganized" wrong in emails.

When scheduling my classes for the fall (back in march or april) I chose my section of School Law based on the professor. Everyone told me not to take a certain professor at all costs. There were two sections that were taught by a different professor.

Now they changed all sections to the bad professor. Ick.

Well, at least I have that class with my brother. haha, we'll see how that goes. I've never, in my life, been in the same class as him.

I mentioned I am petsitting this week. For people that I have known since kindergarten, and have lived down the street from since I was two. So needless to say, I've been at their house quite a lot. I've slept there, in fact. I've also no slept there (we had world war three with pretzels at one point during middle school...I think it was the first time I stayed up all night). Anyway, the point is, I've been petsitting for them at least since middle school. Back when 11 was staying up late and 7 wasn't getting up early. It used to be a 3-4 times a day thing, since they had a dog. Now it is down to twice a day for a rabbit, fish, and lizard. This getting up at 8 AM thing, oy.

But, the point is...whenever I go down there at night, I am always freaked out. Moreso if I go in the backdoor because it is an addition and doesn't have electricity yet!, but even the front door, I freak out and lock myself in. I worry that maybe I left the door unlocked and someone is inside. But more regularly, I worry that I wrote the date when they'll be home wrong and they'll be inside and think I'm nuts.

I'm such a dork.

another thing that drives me nuts? a fun little story from today.
I decided to go to the grocery store with my mother, because it is the easiest way to ensure she actually buys food that I will eat. Our local non-chain grocery store was recently taken over by a local-only has two locations- grocery store. They were closed for a week but reopened last week or the week before. There is still remodeling and rearranging going on. So, I'm standing under a ladder getting bagels my mom wanted (because I like to tempt superstition) when the former owner who still works there walks by. He sees my mom and me and says, "oh, home for the summer?"
Everyone asks me that. No, I'm just home for a day to go grocery shopping with my mom? It is July. I'm home for winter. I'm wearing a shirt of my college - so it is pretty clear I don't go to school nearby.
Yet everyone asks the same damn question.

I think one reason why yesterday was good for me was because it quelled my fears that I was losing "athletic" ability as I aged. You know, because I'm so old...but it is true. If you don't do something for a while, that skill could be gone. The last time I was in a boat (a canoe in fact), I was in high school. The last time I had to do a "tip test" - in which you put a canoe in a pool and intentionally tip yourselves over and have to climb back in, was about 6th grade. So, it had been a while since my water skills were tested. heck, I can't even remember the last time I went swimming that I was in water that my feet didn't touch the ground - probably swimming in gym class during my junior year. You get the picture.
So yesterday, not only did I have to hold onto a tube as it was pulled behind boat at fast speeds, but I had to climb out of water where my feet didn't touch back into a boat. Then, when the boat broke we got out and swam, so I climbed in again. Followed by swimming for more than an hour.
So, I was confident that I wasn't losing ability. Until I woke up today. My left bicep is yelling at me, and my thighs feel it going down steps. I am getting old.
Which brings me to another point. One of my major faults (one of many, of course), is ignorance. Not the type where I am intentionally being rude, but at times I forget that other people don't have the same experiences that I do.
For example...swimming. Before the guy let us out in the innertube, he asked if we could swim. I laughed. Of course I can swim, can't everybody?
apparently, not everyone's mother made them take swimming lessons for many years when they were a child. We didn't even have a pool, so I only really went swimming when we went to the shore. But, this is apparently not the case for everyone. There we were in the middle of the lake teaching someone how to swim. Heck, I kept failing swimming lessons because I wouldn't put my face in the water (I tended to run into walls that way). But alas, apparently I have skills.

ooh, ooh, it is the obligatory fourth of july post!

Fourth of july from...oh, when I was born until around 10th grade was spent at my aunt's house, except for one or two summers that we went to my other grandparent's house at the beach (DE). But, generally, it was a "family get together, watch guys get drunk and barbeque, give the kids fireworks to play with, eat a lot, maybe play so bochee or badminton, wait until it gets dark, set off more fireworks, go home" kind of thing. Like normal family get togethers, except with explosives.
But, when my aunt got sick, that stopped. One 4th I can remember spinning at Amanda's house, because apparently we didn't care what day it was. Two years ago we went to the fsil's (future sister in law since I never sent that memo)house. This is the famous christine and cipro and the sun incident. heh. last year...hmm, nothing?
So this year, I hesitantly embraced the opportunity to go "to the lake" with fsil (and my family and hers) at their friend's house.
And man...I had a good day.
Tubing on the lake, swimming in the lake, it was good.
And I didn't even really get that burnt.
Yay.

needless to say, I am the last one to jump on the bandwagon with this meme. taken from...misanthropic tendencies, and zoot, and other places.

There are TWO rules when answering these questions:
1) Only ONE answer to each. Of course its tough - thats the point!
2) Each blog/blogger may only be used ONCE

What blogger inspired you to FINALLY start a blog?
monkey, however, the blog is no more I do believe. pity.

What blog do you visit the most often everday?
pesky'apostrophe...because it tends to be updated often.

What blogger do you think you have the most in common with?
misanthropic tendencies.

Which blog can you be sure will make you pee a little you laugh so hard?
crimeny.net.

Which blogger leaves you the best/funniest comments?
zoot...but I want to use her as an answer for so many other questions...

What blogger do you wish would update more often?
not so simple

Which blog do you wish more people would read?
all of them. i am so cheating. fine...umm...

Which blog do you learn the most from?
SDQ.

What blog is your newest addition?
wouldacouldashoulda, you know...as soon as I actually do that.

Who has been on your blogroll the longest?
kelly. I think.

Whose blogroll would you LOVE find yourself on?
yours!

Whose blogroll were you the happiest to find yourself on?
snapshots...because I can't remember commenting there first and then I got a referral from them!

If you could write like any blogger, who would it be?
clevertitle. i found it because of the title, and just kept reading.

What blogger are you the happiest you've "met?"
myca. actually, this is a carry-over from my former diaryland site. I absolutely loved reading her. Absolutely.

Which blog do you recommend the most?
see...you get to this toward the end and then everyone that you want to put there you've already used...so, see all other answers.

Who is the next person you'll add to your blogroll?
maybe a pastor's life.

Who is the blogger you hope to meet in "real" life?
I sort of freak out when I go places that I know other bloggers mention. Like the King of Prussia mall. Heh. I am sure that I must have driven past comaeroticism at some point (before he moved and stopped blogging)...especially since we took classes at the same community college.

Which blogger you admire the most?
theworkingmom

Who would you trust with your blog while you were away?
anyone. really.

Which blog has your favorite design?
yeah, see, I can't pick that.

How many blogs are on your blogroll(s)?
13. ha. but, obviously more that are "probationary" if you will since there are 20 questions.

example of a completely normal conversation with my grandmother:
while watching golf
her: aww, that girl is good. is she black or tan?
her: tan
me: asian
her: tan.

So, more like a conversation with herself.
she also said that she is going to pray for me to get a job. that frustrates me for reasons that I can't even express.

People who freak out when they get one pimple bother me. My former neighbor used to come up to me all the time and say, "look at this, I think I'm getting a zit." Another would complain to me if she had one on her chin. I have news for you - that is not the end of the world.
I would point out to my neighbor that I don't think there is ever really a point at which I don't have one...sure, they're not big honking things, but they are still there. I come from two parents who both had very horrible skin. My brother has somewhat bad skin, as do I. It has clearly up significantly since my teenage years. Anyway, she would tell me "but, it isn't as noticeable on you because your skin is darker than mine."
Yeah...ok. Take her zit and multiply it by about...20, 30, 3 million...and those were my middle school years. So don't talk to me about one freaking blemish.

Apparently, people who can shave without cutting their ankle also belong on this list because, me and my attention span of nothing, have a tendency of trying to find bone with my razor. Booya.

I'm a generally unfuckwitted, liberal, disgustingly generous, relatively well adjusted human being!
See how compatible you are with me!
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey

Sometimes, I wonder how I have made it this far in my life without being forced to go to some sort of therapy. I tend to think that I am normal (at least currently), however...
Yesterday, I was talking to a friend. We were reminiscing. It all started when we were discussing camp we went to. IN SIXTH GRADE! Because we are psycho, I suppose. In looking for a group picture from that experience, I came across my journal from english class in seventh grade.
Half of it is completely normal seventh grade ramblings. "this weekend I..." "I hate my brother.." etc. The other half, is completely psycho. Because the teacher stupidly sat this friend (katy) directly across from me. So the following is a transcript from my journal. the italicized parts are her contributions.

Katy just wrote that she is fred and that my journal is boring. She says that I write too spaced out but I don't believe her. She says that my journal is messy and I agree with that. I agree too -Me(fred). She says that I write about stupid things like my brother but in her next sentence she writes about her brother. That makes no sense. Maybe she says that my brother is stupid. Yup! But not all brothers are stupid? He is! (She writes more in my journal than hers). We have something like 38 days of school left. That's too many. (Fred agree). No english, art, french, social studies, science, math, language arts, or chorus tomorrow. Yay. I like it very much that we don't have french or chorus! Do you agree fred? Fred think that wonderful. No english!
Katy and Katie are both obsessed with chickens. Katy wrote a poem about chickens and so did Katie. Katy and Katie's poems were funny. Do you agree fred? Fred think chickens rule earth! There you have it folks. Fred the greatest in the world, howdy folks, I'm Connie CHung Yay thinks that chickens rule the earth. Connie do you agree? Connie be chicken.

This was honestly completely normal behavior for us. I am still unsure why they chose to put us in the same classes the next year. It is a wonder they didn't counsel both of us for multiple personalities (although now that I think of it KT had to go to a shrink in high school...haha). I no longer have delusions that I am normal.

Did you notice that my last seven posts have not been about my family? I don't think I have even mentioned them. I made a goal to not blog about how much my family is annoying me...because it is constant but more importantly it is boring.

But this is driving me nuts.
When my door is closed, my mother insists on trying to talk through it. This doesn't work. I finally convinced her to knock and open it when I say "what?" because what and enter are synonymous.
But currently, my rug is in the way, so I can't quite close my door.
So, rather than knocking, she just walks in. Grrr. I might be convinced to stop being lazy and move my rug just to get the insanity to stop.

By insanity...I mean sorting of the laundry (which I have been meaning to write a post about, actually) but, let's just say there is a lot of clean clothing in our basement. One overflowing basket is mine. Like 30 are hers. Occasionally, it gets mixed up. She keeps coming into my room to ask me if something is mine. Like one random white sock. Or like jeans that are hers because ...well, we don't wear the same jeans. Or a sweatshirt that she bought for my brother. Ahhhhh.
7 weeks left.