So - it's been longer than i've wanted it to be (not that TOO many people are on the edge of their seats waiting for me to update), but i was busy traveling across 6 states last week with 15 college age students in tow.
Yah - i'm sure you are like - mmmm, kidnapper? But no, trust me. Quite the opposite. I work at a university and our office coordinates an alternative spring break option for students who apply to go. So 15 students went on my trip...we went to Biloxi, Mississippi to work with a non-profit group there dedicated to working with the victims of hurricane katrina.
It's been awhile since i've done something i'd classify as "volunteer manual labor" so it was a week that i spent getting my hands dirty, literally. I'm still finding white paint on my arms and legs that just won't come off. We helped a guy who owns a historic house on the gulf coast, but couldn't move back in until some major things were taken care of - namely, the lead paint had to be scraped off and then new primer and paint had to go on. So our group worked with him for 3 of the 4 work days we had. Although scraping paint, applying layers of primer and then paint don't sound super glamorous - it was strange how i didnt' feel like i was really working all week.
Yet at the end of the day i was exhausted and dirty, ready for bed way before any of the students and often the first to rise even though i'm not a morning person at all. I was nervous when i volunteered to help lead this trip, i thought maybe that part of my heart had closed a bit. Honestly, i think that's why i forced myself to volunteer in the first place. It was outside my comfort zone - as my version of helping people is usually from my office or working one on one with someone. So i think it was sort of a challenge to myself to see if i had it within myself to really enjoy straight up volunteering again.
I guess as i type this i think i'm probably coming off as a really cruel, mean person. And i promise, I'm not - i just ahve a hard time pushing myself out of my comfort zone when it comes to volunteering. Things run through my mind like:
"What if i have to talk to someone who i can't understand very well?"
"What if i am responsible for a project i don't have the ability to complete?"
Things like that.
But here's the good news....
I went, participated, lead, followed, laughed, slept, stayed up, attempted eating peas (didn't work out), was forced into eating pork (ugh) and mcdonalds multiple times. So it was a mostly good mix. In returning to work this week - i feel like i accomplished something really solid last week. Not just for myself, but i feel like i accomplished something by working well with a group of people, many of them totally new, and actually made a difference for someone outside of where my typical comfort zone would have taken me.
I remember now that when you are really putting yourself out there - volunteering your services and never really knowing where it will take you - you always end up getting more out of it than you could ever put in.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Watch It
So i have this really decent watch. I'ts a kenneth cole reaction watch - silver, bracelet style. It's a far cry from my previous watch which was nike one - but it wasn't a huge bulky sport watch, it was sleek,black and narrow. It was also amazingly digital.
I wish so badly for another digital watch that didn't totally take away all my professionalism. I had to get a new watch because my last one broke after several years - but every time someone asks me what time it is, i think about how much easier life was when i had my digital watch. This stupid (yet classy) new watch has actual hands i have to squint to see to tell the time. And the stupid (yet professional) date at the bottom isn't smart enough to know what month has 30 days or 31 one days - or how to deal with the Real Whopper of February. So i have to constantly switch the date on it which i have to do...um MANUALLY.
As in i have to figure out how to pull the little dial out perfectly enough to change the date but not change the time. After a year - i still haven't mastered this. And on more than one occasion i have actually told someone else the wrong date because my stupid watch isn't smart enough to figure it out for me.
So today i look down and it says "14" and i realize it's not the 14 because i've already had a few people tell me that today is Friday the 13th. So i start trying to "fix it" which means that for whatever reason i can only get the dial to go UP so now i have to go all the way to 31 before it resets so i can get it to 13. After getting the date up to 23, i'm honestly considering buying a new watch.
A ditigal one.
I wish so badly for another digital watch that didn't totally take away all my professionalism. I had to get a new watch because my last one broke after several years - but every time someone asks me what time it is, i think about how much easier life was when i had my digital watch. This stupid (yet classy) new watch has actual hands i have to squint to see to tell the time. And the stupid (yet professional) date at the bottom isn't smart enough to know what month has 30 days or 31 one days - or how to deal with the Real Whopper of February. So i have to constantly switch the date on it which i have to do...um MANUALLY.
As in i have to figure out how to pull the little dial out perfectly enough to change the date but not change the time. After a year - i still haven't mastered this. And on more than one occasion i have actually told someone else the wrong date because my stupid watch isn't smart enough to figure it out for me.
So today i look down and it says "14" and i realize it's not the 14 because i've already had a few people tell me that today is Friday the 13th. So i start trying to "fix it" which means that for whatever reason i can only get the dial to go UP so now i have to go all the way to 31 before it resets so i can get it to 13. After getting the date up to 23, i'm honestly considering buying a new watch.
A ditigal one.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Ruh-diculous
Does anyone else hate it when American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi says "ridiculous?" Its like nails on a chalk board to me. Its just the way she says it - and how she says it OVER and OVER again in every single feedback opportunity she gets. I want to send her a memo that includes other words that are suitable in place of ridiculous.
In light of proper word use, here are a few things that actually ARE ridiculous:
1. Having to stay at work last night until 10:45pm was ridiculous.
2. Having to get up to go back to work this morning only one hour beyond my normal time was ridiculous.
3. Kara DioGuardi shirt on Tuesday night's idol made her look ridiculous. My first thought was the neck line with the big tied up bow made her look like she had just come from the pet groomer.
4. Lil Rounds white pants made her booty look ridiculous. Her but is NOT that big. In fact, i would go so far to say her stylist is ridiculous.
5. Last point about American Idol: the way Paula walked to her seat at the beginning of the show made her look ridiculous. First impression: The Horse Trot.
In light of proper word use, here are a few things that actually ARE ridiculous:
1. Having to stay at work last night until 10:45pm was ridiculous.
2. Having to get up to go back to work this morning only one hour beyond my normal time was ridiculous.
3. Kara DioGuardi shirt on Tuesday night's idol made her look ridiculous. My first thought was the neck line with the big tied up bow made her look like she had just come from the pet groomer.
4. Lil Rounds white pants made her booty look ridiculous. Her but is NOT that big. In fact, i would go so far to say her stylist is ridiculous.
5. Last point about American Idol: the way Paula walked to her seat at the beginning of the show made her look ridiculous. First impression: The Horse Trot.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Accident Prone
So this weekend - i managed to drop a metal tape measure on my toe, step on gum balls (you know those prickly things that fall from a gum tree) while moving in furniture in flip flops, and while trying to catch my keys from across the yard - one of them gave me a welt on my hand.
I also think that my bf must have either stepped on my toes or on the back of my flip flops 10 times over the course of our day yesterday. We went to IKEA (a new one just opened nearby) and it was so crowded, everyone was literally stepping on each other. As i turned a corner between the sofa beds and regular sofa area this girl was standing near a column and she couldn't get out of anyone's way to save her life. She eventually crouched down a bit near the column and i could hear her apologizing to everyone passing through, including myself. I guess it goes to show that you should avoid walking toward a column in a busy store - you might never be able to move forward. It was just crazy how many people were there.
I also somehow broke a toilet seat today. I mean - its not like i haven't sat on this same toilet seat many a time - but it just decided to break today. I didn't even know what to do. I just turned around and sort of looked at it. I put it back on the seat and closed the lid and just sort of snickered to myself...i mean, like that is really going to fix the problem.
When i had to tell my bf what i did - he's like "how in the hell did you do that?"
All i could do was tell him that maybe i had gained some weight since the previous evening when i sat on it. I know he was annoyed, but i couldn't stop laughing. How ridiculous is it to break a toilet seat? On the upside - i hate the toilet seats in his new house because they are fake wood ones. Ugh.
So now at least he can buy a normal toilet seat. Maybe i should tell him to get one that is extra sturdy. :)
I also think that my bf must have either stepped on my toes or on the back of my flip flops 10 times over the course of our day yesterday. We went to IKEA (a new one just opened nearby) and it was so crowded, everyone was literally stepping on each other. As i turned a corner between the sofa beds and regular sofa area this girl was standing near a column and she couldn't get out of anyone's way to save her life. She eventually crouched down a bit near the column and i could hear her apologizing to everyone passing through, including myself. I guess it goes to show that you should avoid walking toward a column in a busy store - you might never be able to move forward. It was just crazy how many people were there.
I also somehow broke a toilet seat today. I mean - its not like i haven't sat on this same toilet seat many a time - but it just decided to break today. I didn't even know what to do. I just turned around and sort of looked at it. I put it back on the seat and closed the lid and just sort of snickered to myself...i mean, like that is really going to fix the problem.
When i had to tell my bf what i did - he's like "how in the hell did you do that?"
All i could do was tell him that maybe i had gained some weight since the previous evening when i sat on it. I know he was annoyed, but i couldn't stop laughing. How ridiculous is it to break a toilet seat? On the upside - i hate the toilet seats in his new house because they are fake wood ones. Ugh.
So now at least he can buy a normal toilet seat. Maybe i should tell him to get one that is extra sturdy. :)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Fire Crotch
My bf is a huge hot sauce fan.
Every where we go he always has to look for unique hot sauce options to add to his collection. When he bought a refrigerator for his new house this past weekend - it wasn't the one he originally wanted, but I ended up convincing him it would work by showcasing all the side plastic shelving that would be a perfect place to keep his hot sauce collection.
Earlier in our relationship, he told me a story about how he was at a bar where they had various hot sauces for their wings and he was trying them all. The guy at the bar warned him early on to make sure he washed his hands before going to the bathroom or else he'd be sorry. But after a few beers - the advice was forgotten and off he went to the bathroom to relieve himself. He told me it was quite the unpleasant experience as the hot sauce from eating wings and what not still was on his hands even though it wasn't like he didn't use a napkin or whatever. So it wasn't visibly still on his hands - but the heat from the sauce made its presence known pretty loud and clear.
When he told me this story - i thought it was hilarious (he tells it better in person - including a reenactment of the "OMG face").
Months later, we were cooking dinner at my place. As usual, the recipe didn't call for hot peppers of any kind but we decided to throw some in there anyway since we both like things spicy. I cut up the pepper to put it in the recipe and must have washed my hands a few times between cutting and prepping the other food for dinner.
We ate dinner and had some wine - it was yummy. Nature called so i excused myself and went to go pee. Maybe i'm crazy, but i rarely wash my hands BEFORE i go to the bathroom unless of course i've been working outside or something dirty. Maybe you are supposed to and i missed that etiquette step in my potty training process.
Anyway, i use the bathroom and am finishing up when all of a sudden i feel a bit of tingling. Not a good kind of tingling. It starts spreading like wild fire all over my private parts. I am thinking to myself - oh my god? How could i have contracted some sort of viral burning disease in the last 5 minutes? I stand up and pace in the small space of my bathroom. What do i do? WHat is it? Am i dying and this is the first symptom?
I sit back down to think about what i should do as the fire crotch continues. My bf is out in the other room watching tv and i'm not about to go out and tell him that i have some sort of fire crotch disease. As my eyes start to water - i remember my bf's story about the hot sauce and his fire crotch incident. Holy hell! The hot pepper in the meal we ate gave me fire crotch.
I at least felt better knowing what the cause was - but that still didn't help the pain go away. I did every thing short of a focused spray down, but nothing helped. I was just going to have to wait it out.
I pull myself together and walk back into the pain room. I sit down on the couch and try to pretend like everything is okay. It lasts about 5 minutes before the pain becomes too obvious on my face i guess. He asks me whats wrong? I shift uncomfortably (literally).
"You know that hot sauce bathroom story you told me?"
"Yah..." (imagine a stiffled laugh here)
"Yah. I have fire crotch."
While it was totally uncomfortable - at least we could laugh about it and i guess in some sort of weird way - having fire crotch is something that bonds people. Because honestly - until it happens to you - you have NO idea.
Every where we go he always has to look for unique hot sauce options to add to his collection. When he bought a refrigerator for his new house this past weekend - it wasn't the one he originally wanted, but I ended up convincing him it would work by showcasing all the side plastic shelving that would be a perfect place to keep his hot sauce collection.
Earlier in our relationship, he told me a story about how he was at a bar where they had various hot sauces for their wings and he was trying them all. The guy at the bar warned him early on to make sure he washed his hands before going to the bathroom or else he'd be sorry. But after a few beers - the advice was forgotten and off he went to the bathroom to relieve himself. He told me it was quite the unpleasant experience as the hot sauce from eating wings and what not still was on his hands even though it wasn't like he didn't use a napkin or whatever. So it wasn't visibly still on his hands - but the heat from the sauce made its presence known pretty loud and clear.
When he told me this story - i thought it was hilarious (he tells it better in person - including a reenactment of the "OMG face").
Months later, we were cooking dinner at my place. As usual, the recipe didn't call for hot peppers of any kind but we decided to throw some in there anyway since we both like things spicy. I cut up the pepper to put it in the recipe and must have washed my hands a few times between cutting and prepping the other food for dinner.
We ate dinner and had some wine - it was yummy. Nature called so i excused myself and went to go pee. Maybe i'm crazy, but i rarely wash my hands BEFORE i go to the bathroom unless of course i've been working outside or something dirty. Maybe you are supposed to and i missed that etiquette step in my potty training process.
Anyway, i use the bathroom and am finishing up when all of a sudden i feel a bit of tingling. Not a good kind of tingling. It starts spreading like wild fire all over my private parts. I am thinking to myself - oh my god? How could i have contracted some sort of viral burning disease in the last 5 minutes? I stand up and pace in the small space of my bathroom. What do i do? WHat is it? Am i dying and this is the first symptom?
I sit back down to think about what i should do as the fire crotch continues. My bf is out in the other room watching tv and i'm not about to go out and tell him that i have some sort of fire crotch disease. As my eyes start to water - i remember my bf's story about the hot sauce and his fire crotch incident. Holy hell! The hot pepper in the meal we ate gave me fire crotch.
I at least felt better knowing what the cause was - but that still didn't help the pain go away. I did every thing short of a focused spray down, but nothing helped. I was just going to have to wait it out.
I pull myself together and walk back into the pain room. I sit down on the couch and try to pretend like everything is okay. It lasts about 5 minutes before the pain becomes too obvious on my face i guess. He asks me whats wrong? I shift uncomfortably (literally).
"You know that hot sauce bathroom story you told me?"
"Yah..." (imagine a stiffled laugh here)
"Yah. I have fire crotch."
While it was totally uncomfortable - at least we could laugh about it and i guess in some sort of weird way - having fire crotch is something that bonds people. Because honestly - until it happens to you - you have NO idea.
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