Here are my favorite posts from 2009. Mostly because I wanted to post something on the last day of the year, but couldn't come up with a good idea.
1. I would like to say I do not have this same drinking problem almost a year later, but unfortunately I still spend a large amount of my grocery budget on drinks. http://patsybaker.blogspot.com/2009/01/drinking-problem.html
2. 13th anniversary, love my man. http://patsybaker.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-anniversary-tome.html
3 . http://patsybaker.blogspot.com/2009/02/habakkuk-again.html and this one about shoes...I should post a picture of the new shoes Steve got me for Christmas. They are awesome.
4. This one has to be on the list, to my Wichita houswives. http://patsybaker.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-suffer-from-insomnia.html
5. http://patsybaker.blogspot.com/2009/09/tests.html If I was graded like I was in high school...
6. And of course, the achievement of my year. http://patsybaker.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-did-it.html
I am looking forward to 2010. Every year has major life events, but in 2010 my oldest will graduate high school and my youngest will start high school. I'm so excited for both of them! We have some other big changes in our life coming up, and I will share them as they come to pass. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
I have learned...
My entier list of "I have learned's" from 2009.
1. The heater in my car does not double as a hair dryer. No matter how hot and how high I run the fan, it does not dry my hair by the time I get to work.
2. Wet hair freezes on the ¼ mile walk to my office building. Crunchy frozen hair is really cool. Closest I will ever get to dreads.
3. A squirrel cannot run and carry a full piece of bread in his mouth. He trips over the bread. We have a “pet” squirrel. He eats from our hands. He will try to climb your leg to get food. He also likes peanuts, rice cakes, and ritz crackers.
4. My twelve year old daughter’s friends idolizing my son and flirting with him and him picking on them doesn’t bother me. My twelve year old girl idolizing my son’s eighteen year old friend who picks on her and pays attention to her, really bothers me. If that’s a double standard, I’m okay with it.
5. I have never been a fan of grounding my kids, but I’m starting to think it may be the only way to get my teenagers to spend time with me. I have recently even volunteered to help with homework, just for some face time.
6. Pick up lines and the whole act of hitting on someone is hilarious when you are watching it from the next treadmill. I witnessed this at the Y the other night when some old geezer (translated, my age) hit on the 21 (translated, looked about 16) year old girl on the treadmill next to me. She was adorable, he was pitiful, and I somehow managed to hold my laughter.
7. My high school friends can still make me laugh till I snort pop out my nose, twenty-five years later.
8. Not everyone thinks I’m funny. I was somehow shocked and saddened by this, because I think I’m hilarious. My future is looking like “crazy old lady” will be me.
9. Ice cream sandwiches cure depression. It may take 5 or 6, depending on your level of depression, but just keep eating. You will obtain euphoria. Euphoria - a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states as mania. I think Kansas is a pathological state.
10. The cleaner my bathroom, the dirtier my family. When I scrub my shower, Steve will come home from the gym after running 10 miles and bench pressing 275 lbs. Nate will come home from baseball practice and they will have practiced base running and sliding. In the mud. Ashley will have dyed her hair. Black. Which makes it brittle and fall out. There will be little black hairs, mud and stink in my newly clean bathroom. And, a clean toilet works the digestive system better than fiber. Nuff said.
11. Never lick a paring knife.
12. I learned this from my friend Wendi, not from my own personal experience, (but she did really do this, and it worked) you can close a four inch gash on your leg with super glue. Just stick the muscle that is hanging out back in and fill it up. I’m filing this info for future reference. Not sure if I’m filing it under first aid or never try this.
13. In the absence of a knife, you can cut birthday cake with a cookie. You can then use the cookie as a fork to eat the birthday cake.
14. A 12 year old should not be left in charge of cooking over an open flame grill.
15. Starbucks is not a food group. Mary Kate Olsen, put down the latte, pick up a burger already for crying out loud.
16. Some stains will not come out of the carpet. If you finally get them out, they leave a stain of their own, as the only truly clean spot on the carpet now is the stain.
17. Cell phones should not be washed in the washing machine.
18. I can have ice cream for lunch (Dairy Queen Fudge Brownie Hot Fudge Sundae) and dinner (Cold Stone Sweet Cream with strawberries {notice I said FOR not with}) and stay within my allotted daily calories. If I add exercise, I can even have a Fudgsicle for breakfast. I should add that ice cream is not a food group either.
19. A group of teenage girls will sit in 35 degree weather with 22 mph winds wearing jeans and sweatshirts to watch a group of teenage boys hit a leather bound cork ball with an aluminum bat and run in circles.
20. Arguing with a teenager is useless. If the first sentences out of their mouth do not include “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I won’t do it again”, just tell them they are grounded and be done. It’s like asking “how old are you” and getting the answer “yellow”.
21. My last “things I have learned” post also included ice cream. I’m learning I have a problem.
22. My Spiritual Gift may very well be sarcasm.
23. Solomon knew what he was talking about. Read Proverbs, in the Message version or New Contemporary Version. Wise man. And funny.
24. My love language is cupcakes. I read this in the Gary Smalley book. I read it between the lines, but I’m sure it’s cupcakes.
25. Wearing your hairpins too tight will give you a headache. I would rather my hair look bad than have a headache. This is surprising, because I always considered myself a fairly vain person with a high tolerance for pain in the name of beauty. (If you have never plucked, waxed, had your hair highlighted or cut yourself shaving, you don’t know what I’m talking about). Imagine my shock to learn that my tolerance of pain for beauty translated to beauty treatments, high heeled footwear and set in waist bands, but not hairstyles.
26. Popcorn is not a dessert. It cannot replace a dessert. Unless you pour a bag of M&M’s into the bowl of popcorn.
27. My husband killing a snake in my backyard did not make me get all gooey thinking about how he was protecting his family. It freaked me out that there was a snake 20 feet from my patio door. Even lying in bed last night next to my mighty warrior, I was petrified that a snake might somehow make it into my house. I will probably die of a snake induced heart attack.
28. Bologna sandwiches are not good pre-workout food.
29. Crying at Sonic will freak the carhop out to point that she will offer to pay for your drink, just to get away from the crazy lady. (They were happy tears).
30. That if “God is not the author of confusion” (KJV) or “God is not a God of disorder, but of peace”, (NIV) I Corinthians 14 where did teenagers come from?
31. Shaking your hair and running your fingers through it is sexy. Squeezing a pimple or plucking a stray eyebrow ruins the sexy picture.
32. Raising children is not a roller coaster ride. It’s that ride that you sit down, strap in, and it shoots you straight up and then it drops you straight back down. Over and over and over. And you can’t get off. And it costs $400,000 to ride.
33. If you wear your nastiest work out clothes to the gym and decide to stop for something from the grocery store on your way home, you will run into at least 5 people you know. If you smell really bad, it will be 7.
34. Whitney pointed out all my annoying habits the other day. I learned I have a lot of them.
35. My pet squirrel “Lerriuqs” (pronounced Lareeks, it’s French, okay, not really, it’s squirrel spelled backward, thank Whitney for the name), will now come to the front door and put his paws on the door and peer inside, (and will try to knock) waiting for his dinner. Bread makes squirrels fat. One thing I haven’t learned yet is how to tell if a squirrel is male or female.
36. My whole family probably needs tetanus boosters.
37. You can mark ugly shoes down 80% off and they still won’t sell.
38. Throwing the noodles in the sink before you put the colander in there pretty much ruins the noodles, at least if it’s the side with the garbage disposal, you haven’t cleaned your sink that day or there are dirty dishes piled in it.
39. An 11 mile run on a 90 degree day with 70% humidity is a tough workout. If you stop to use the ladies room after 8 miles, pulling your spandex pants back up over your sweaty body is a tougher work out than the 11 mile run.
40. If there is a personality trait (flaw) that you don’t like about yourself, one of children will have it. If there is a personality trait (flaw) your siblings have that you didn’t like or found especially annoying, ALL of your children will have it.
41. Getting hit on scares the living daylights out of me. It doesn’t happen often. (Twice this year, and once was via Facebook so it doesn’t really count). Last Saturday in the library a guy followed me around for 30 minutes and then finally approached me when I sat down to tell me that I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. I had a “radiant beauty”. (Pretty sure it was suntan glow and endorphins from my 19 mile run that morning). I was scared to go to my car. You can forget how to deal after many years of marriage and parenting. You feel invisible so much that when someone actually sees you it’s frightening.
42. Green beans do not make a good snack. Unless they are deep fried and dipped in ranch.
43. People that make the doors and walls of public bathrooms have a sense of humor. I was in one the other day and they were manufactured by “Hiny Hiders”.
44. Age 41 is better than age 21, even with wrinkles, gray hair and the effects of gravity. I’ve lived through both, so I’m an expert.
45. Being able to eat 2 donuts for breakfast, 2 cupcakes for lunch and a Braum’s banana split for dinner (this is what happens when I’m left on my own for a day) and still have a 2 pound weight loss at weight watcher’s the next day can set a very bad precedent.
46. I can walk 50 feet on a 3 inch wide concrete rail in 4 inch platform oxfords without falling. I did this to keep from getting mud on my light colored leather/linen oxfords. I wonder if that would have been as important had I fallen off and broke my ankle? Hindsight, anyone?
47. Four teenage boys cannot sneak through your living room, office and kitchen behind your back without being noticed.
48. You cannot text in mittens.
1. The heater in my car does not double as a hair dryer. No matter how hot and how high I run the fan, it does not dry my hair by the time I get to work.
2. Wet hair freezes on the ¼ mile walk to my office building. Crunchy frozen hair is really cool. Closest I will ever get to dreads.
3. A squirrel cannot run and carry a full piece of bread in his mouth. He trips over the bread. We have a “pet” squirrel. He eats from our hands. He will try to climb your leg to get food. He also likes peanuts, rice cakes, and ritz crackers.
4. My twelve year old daughter’s friends idolizing my son and flirting with him and him picking on them doesn’t bother me. My twelve year old girl idolizing my son’s eighteen year old friend who picks on her and pays attention to her, really bothers me. If that’s a double standard, I’m okay with it.
5. I have never been a fan of grounding my kids, but I’m starting to think it may be the only way to get my teenagers to spend time with me. I have recently even volunteered to help with homework, just for some face time.
6. Pick up lines and the whole act of hitting on someone is hilarious when you are watching it from the next treadmill. I witnessed this at the Y the other night when some old geezer (translated, my age) hit on the 21 (translated, looked about 16) year old girl on the treadmill next to me. She was adorable, he was pitiful, and I somehow managed to hold my laughter.
7. My high school friends can still make me laugh till I snort pop out my nose, twenty-five years later.
8. Not everyone thinks I’m funny. I was somehow shocked and saddened by this, because I think I’m hilarious. My future is looking like “crazy old lady” will be me.
9. Ice cream sandwiches cure depression. It may take 5 or 6, depending on your level of depression, but just keep eating. You will obtain euphoria. Euphoria - a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states as mania. I think Kansas is a pathological state.
10. The cleaner my bathroom, the dirtier my family. When I scrub my shower, Steve will come home from the gym after running 10 miles and bench pressing 275 lbs. Nate will come home from baseball practice and they will have practiced base running and sliding. In the mud. Ashley will have dyed her hair. Black. Which makes it brittle and fall out. There will be little black hairs, mud and stink in my newly clean bathroom. And, a clean toilet works the digestive system better than fiber. Nuff said.
11. Never lick a paring knife.
12. I learned this from my friend Wendi, not from my own personal experience, (but she did really do this, and it worked) you can close a four inch gash on your leg with super glue. Just stick the muscle that is hanging out back in and fill it up. I’m filing this info for future reference. Not sure if I’m filing it under first aid or never try this.
13. In the absence of a knife, you can cut birthday cake with a cookie. You can then use the cookie as a fork to eat the birthday cake.
14. A 12 year old should not be left in charge of cooking over an open flame grill.
15. Starbucks is not a food group. Mary Kate Olsen, put down the latte, pick up a burger already for crying out loud.
16. Some stains will not come out of the carpet. If you finally get them out, they leave a stain of their own, as the only truly clean spot on the carpet now is the stain.
17. Cell phones should not be washed in the washing machine.
18. I can have ice cream for lunch (Dairy Queen Fudge Brownie Hot Fudge Sundae) and dinner (Cold Stone Sweet Cream with strawberries {notice I said FOR not with}) and stay within my allotted daily calories. If I add exercise, I can even have a Fudgsicle for breakfast. I should add that ice cream is not a food group either.
19. A group of teenage girls will sit in 35 degree weather with 22 mph winds wearing jeans and sweatshirts to watch a group of teenage boys hit a leather bound cork ball with an aluminum bat and run in circles.
20. Arguing with a teenager is useless. If the first sentences out of their mouth do not include “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I won’t do it again”, just tell them they are grounded and be done. It’s like asking “how old are you” and getting the answer “yellow”.
21. My last “things I have learned” post also included ice cream. I’m learning I have a problem.
22. My Spiritual Gift may very well be sarcasm.
23. Solomon knew what he was talking about. Read Proverbs, in the Message version or New Contemporary Version. Wise man. And funny.
24. My love language is cupcakes. I read this in the Gary Smalley book. I read it between the lines, but I’m sure it’s cupcakes.
25. Wearing your hairpins too tight will give you a headache. I would rather my hair look bad than have a headache. This is surprising, because I always considered myself a fairly vain person with a high tolerance for pain in the name of beauty. (If you have never plucked, waxed, had your hair highlighted or cut yourself shaving, you don’t know what I’m talking about). Imagine my shock to learn that my tolerance of pain for beauty translated to beauty treatments, high heeled footwear and set in waist bands, but not hairstyles.
26. Popcorn is not a dessert. It cannot replace a dessert. Unless you pour a bag of M&M’s into the bowl of popcorn.
27. My husband killing a snake in my backyard did not make me get all gooey thinking about how he was protecting his family. It freaked me out that there was a snake 20 feet from my patio door. Even lying in bed last night next to my mighty warrior, I was petrified that a snake might somehow make it into my house. I will probably die of a snake induced heart attack.
28. Bologna sandwiches are not good pre-workout food.
29. Crying at Sonic will freak the carhop out to point that she will offer to pay for your drink, just to get away from the crazy lady. (They were happy tears).
30. That if “God is not the author of confusion” (KJV) or “God is not a God of disorder, but of peace”, (NIV) I Corinthians 14 where did teenagers come from?
31. Shaking your hair and running your fingers through it is sexy. Squeezing a pimple or plucking a stray eyebrow ruins the sexy picture.
32. Raising children is not a roller coaster ride. It’s that ride that you sit down, strap in, and it shoots you straight up and then it drops you straight back down. Over and over and over. And you can’t get off. And it costs $400,000 to ride.
33. If you wear your nastiest work out clothes to the gym and decide to stop for something from the grocery store on your way home, you will run into at least 5 people you know. If you smell really bad, it will be 7.
34. Whitney pointed out all my annoying habits the other day. I learned I have a lot of them.
35. My pet squirrel “Lerriuqs” (pronounced Lareeks, it’s French, okay, not really, it’s squirrel spelled backward, thank Whitney for the name), will now come to the front door and put his paws on the door and peer inside, (and will try to knock) waiting for his dinner. Bread makes squirrels fat. One thing I haven’t learned yet is how to tell if a squirrel is male or female.
36. My whole family probably needs tetanus boosters.
37. You can mark ugly shoes down 80% off and they still won’t sell.
38. Throwing the noodles in the sink before you put the colander in there pretty much ruins the noodles, at least if it’s the side with the garbage disposal, you haven’t cleaned your sink that day or there are dirty dishes piled in it.
39. An 11 mile run on a 90 degree day with 70% humidity is a tough workout. If you stop to use the ladies room after 8 miles, pulling your spandex pants back up over your sweaty body is a tougher work out than the 11 mile run.
40. If there is a personality trait (flaw) that you don’t like about yourself, one of children will have it. If there is a personality trait (flaw) your siblings have that you didn’t like or found especially annoying, ALL of your children will have it.
41. Getting hit on scares the living daylights out of me. It doesn’t happen often. (Twice this year, and once was via Facebook so it doesn’t really count). Last Saturday in the library a guy followed me around for 30 minutes and then finally approached me when I sat down to tell me that I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. I had a “radiant beauty”. (Pretty sure it was suntan glow and endorphins from my 19 mile run that morning). I was scared to go to my car. You can forget how to deal after many years of marriage and parenting. You feel invisible so much that when someone actually sees you it’s frightening.
42. Green beans do not make a good snack. Unless they are deep fried and dipped in ranch.
43. People that make the doors and walls of public bathrooms have a sense of humor. I was in one the other day and they were manufactured by “Hiny Hiders”.
44. Age 41 is better than age 21, even with wrinkles, gray hair and the effects of gravity. I’ve lived through both, so I’m an expert.
45. Being able to eat 2 donuts for breakfast, 2 cupcakes for lunch and a Braum’s banana split for dinner (this is what happens when I’m left on my own for a day) and still have a 2 pound weight loss at weight watcher’s the next day can set a very bad precedent.
46. I can walk 50 feet on a 3 inch wide concrete rail in 4 inch platform oxfords without falling. I did this to keep from getting mud on my light colored leather/linen oxfords. I wonder if that would have been as important had I fallen off and broke my ankle? Hindsight, anyone?
47. Four teenage boys cannot sneak through your living room, office and kitchen behind your back without being noticed.
48. You cannot text in mittens.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Training Week 2, Marathon 2
I started running again after a two week break, and while two weeks doesn't sound long, my legs rebelled against me pretty good for the first mile or so. After that, it was about the best I have felt in two weeks. Training in winter in Kansas can be rough. There are definitely places it's colder, but the last 5 days we have seen sunny, rainy, 50 degrees, 16 degrees, snow, ice, and freezing drizzle, and 35 mph winds with gusts up to 50 mph.
Tuesday when I ran at 5:00 in the afternoon it was 50 degrees and I wore regular running capris and a long sleeve tee shirt. Saturday when I ran it was 25 degrees with wind chill of 16, north wind, and had to run through ankle deep drifts on the sidewalk. I wore cold weather tights, cold weather dri fit compression socks, two cold weather shirts, ski gloves, ear band and my Norwegian hoodie over the ensemble. Sunday was the same weather, and the 10 day forecast shows 30 degree weather everyday, so I am prepared for it. I don't like to run inside tracks or treadmills, so I just dress warm.
I definitely feel better running, and I eat better and healthier when I'm running.
Having some pain in my right heel pretty much on a constant basis, the KC marathon was terribly hilly and that is different than what I was used to and the change in the terrain made my plantar fasciitis much worse than it was before. I have taken a total of 4 weeks off since October 17, and while it's better, it's not healed yet. I do take care of it like I'm supposed to, I splint it every night, never go without shoes, ice it and tape it when I'm running. Unfortunately it's an injury that can 6 - 9 months to heal, but fortunately it's one that can heal while you run with the right treatment and taking care of it.
This was Saturday's run, it was 5:30 p.m., and I'm a terrible photographer on most days, I had to take my gloves off and dig my blackberry out of my pocket so I was cold and shivering too.
AND IF!!! You are in the Wichita area and want to run a 10K with me either in April or May, I am running one both months, and you have plenty of time to be ready!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Conversations with Whitney
Setting: Sunday after volleyball practice
Me: What happened to your face?
Whitney: I hit the pole.
Me: What?
Whitney: Alex (coach) set it too far out.
Me: Did it hurt?
Whitney: Yes, I took ibuprofen.
Me: Did you fall down?
Whitney: Yes. Regan laughed at me.
Me: Did you hit the ball?
Whitney: I told you, I HIT THE POLE!
Me: What happened to your face?
Whitney: I hit the pole.
Me: What?
Whitney: Alex (coach) set it too far out.
Me: Did it hurt?
Whitney: Yes, I took ibuprofen.
Me: Did you fall down?
Whitney: Yes. Regan laughed at me.
Me: Did you hit the ball?
Whitney: I told you, I HIT THE POLE!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Mom was screaming louder than if she had just seen a mouse
(or snake, but that doesn't rhyme)
No stockings were hung by the chimney at all,
Meaning a last minute trip to the mall
No tree in the corner, wafting the fragrance of evergreen
And brightly wrapped packages? Nowhere to be seen.
No pies were baking, no turkey had been bought
No fudge had been made, no potatoes in the pot
The family all nestled in front of their respective TV's
Oblivious to mom's screams and frantic pleas
For this was nothing new in this house, no way,
Mom was the biggest procrastinator for Christmas Day
She was too lazy to get up early on Black Friday
But on December 24 at 4:30 she'd be out not matter what she had to pay
And the turkey? Who cares we'll have chicken enchiladas.
And nothing rhymes with enchiladas except more enchiladas
Christmas would come like it always does
With presents and stockings and good food because
It's Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year
And momma loves her family, so there was never anything to fear.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
And all through the house
Mom was screaming louder than if she had just seen a mouse
(or snake, but that doesn't rhyme)
No stockings were hung by the chimney at all,
Meaning a last minute trip to the mall
No tree in the corner, wafting the fragrance of evergreen
And brightly wrapped packages? Nowhere to be seen.
No pies were baking, no turkey had been bought
No fudge had been made, no potatoes in the pot
The family all nestled in front of their respective TV's
Oblivious to mom's screams and frantic pleas
For this was nothing new in this house, no way,
Mom was the biggest procrastinator for Christmas Day
She was too lazy to get up early on Black Friday
But on December 24 at 4:30 she'd be out not matter what she had to pay
And the turkey? Who cares we'll have chicken enchiladas.
And nothing rhymes with enchiladas except more enchiladas
Christmas would come like it always does
With presents and stockings and good food because
It's Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year
And momma loves her family, so there was never anything to fear.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Adventures in Jury Duty
The Case of the Missing Testicle. Yes, you read that right. I was on a consumer fraud case against a doctor because of a missing testicle. After it was all over the judge told us that this case was an anomaly, the only time this type would be tried in the state of Kansas. Because of malpractice laws, doctors are not governed by the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. The Kansas Supreme Court changed this law. Shortly thereafter, legislation was passed to change this back. In this time frame, the case was filed against the surgeon, malpractice and consumer fraud. The first judge tried the malpractice case, but threw the consumer fraud out because of the law. However, when it went through the appeals process, it was discovered that it could be tried as consumer fraud. It took two days to select a jury. Everyone who knew anyone who had ever had surgery performed by this doctor was released. Anyone in the law field every represented by anyone of the four attorneys was released. Anyone in the medical field was released. I knew within two hours I was sitting in the jury box. All former malpractice cases were allowed as evidence. (And this malpractice case was found in favor of the doctor when it was tried several years ago). But ultimately, we had to decide if a statement was actually made by the doctor, and if so, was it made with the willful intent to harm the patient or defraud him. Seven and a half days of trial, one hour of deliberation to find in favor of the doctor.
It was an interesting process, full of colorful people. I am always willing to perform my civic duty, but I am certainly relieved to know I won't get called again for a year. I do get full pay from my employer, and JACKPOT!!! I get to keep my jury pay too. I didn't know if I would have to turn that in or not.
I am really glad to get back to my normal schedule. It's just unsettling to be involved in something that pretty much controls your life and you have no idea when it will be over. There was one day where I was sure we would be there till Christmas. I was very discouraged.
I understand the reason you are not allowed to talk about these cases, because I talked to one of Steve's friends who is very familiar with the situation the patient was in and that would have been information I didn't previously know that would have affected my judgment. In addition, another of Steve's friend is an anesthesiologist and he was waiting to hear details about the case and when I told him, he was actually in surgery with the surgeon that had been the defendant. His opinion of the surgeon would have also affected my judgment.
To see the inside of the legal system was a new experience and one I'm glad I got to be part of, now that it's over and I understand all the delays, which were caused by the fact that it was a one time case, there was no precedence, so there was nothing prior to look at. At the time, it was just frustrating to show up for 8 hours of jury duty and sit for 4 hours (in the jury room) of it while they listened to motions and determined what evidence was allowable and what the jury could hear.
I really hated having to decide for one or the other. It really was a no win situation, not a guilty or not guilty, just a decision so everyone could get on with their lives.
It was an interesting process, full of colorful people. I am always willing to perform my civic duty, but I am certainly relieved to know I won't get called again for a year. I do get full pay from my employer, and JACKPOT!!! I get to keep my jury pay too. I didn't know if I would have to turn that in or not.
I am really glad to get back to my normal schedule. It's just unsettling to be involved in something that pretty much controls your life and you have no idea when it will be over. There was one day where I was sure we would be there till Christmas. I was very discouraged.
I understand the reason you are not allowed to talk about these cases, because I talked to one of Steve's friends who is very familiar with the situation the patient was in and that would have been information I didn't previously know that would have affected my judgment. In addition, another of Steve's friend is an anesthesiologist and he was waiting to hear details about the case and when I told him, he was actually in surgery with the surgeon that had been the defendant. His opinion of the surgeon would have also affected my judgment.
To see the inside of the legal system was a new experience and one I'm glad I got to be part of, now that it's over and I understand all the delays, which were caused by the fact that it was a one time case, there was no precedence, so there was nothing prior to look at. At the time, it was just frustrating to show up for 8 hours of jury duty and sit for 4 hours (in the jury room) of it while they listened to motions and determined what evidence was allowable and what the jury could hear.
I really hated having to decide for one or the other. It really was a no win situation, not a guilty or not guilty, just a decision so everyone could get on with their lives.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Training Week 1, Marathon 2
Yes, I am planning marathon 2. It was such a great experience and now that I have recovered, I'm kind of excited. I start this week with a different 18 week training schedule. Instead of novice, I'm attempting an intermediate schedule with the plan of running the next one better. Not sure what better means, but going to see how it goes. The intermediate training schedule is more miles per week, and more days per week. The biggest difference that I can think of right now is the time of year/temperature difference. I did the majority of my training in summer which had me running in 90+ degree days and this time it will be cold. But I have cold weather gear, long socks, gloves, hats, and I'm ready to go.
I have two marathons to choose from in April and I have to work around Whitney's regional volleyball tournament. Once I get the date on that the beginning of January, I will decide. So tune in on Sundays (if you want) to hear my misadventures. This week I have to run more than I have in a while, so it may be difficult, but I only work 1.5 days this week and not at all the next so it's a good time to start. The intermediate training schedule is more miles per week, and more days per week.
I have two marathons to choose from in April and I have to work around Whitney's regional volleyball tournament. Once I get the date on that the beginning of January, I will decide. So tune in on Sundays (if you want) to hear my misadventures. This week I have to run more than I have in a while, so it may be difficult, but I only work 1.5 days this week and not at all the next so it's a good time to start. The intermediate training schedule is more miles per week, and more days per week.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Conversations with Whitney
Setting: car on the way home from church after Sunday worship
Whitney: Lance sure is loving his electric guitar lately.
Me: Yes, he's been playing it alot.
Whitney: His acoustic guitar is just sitting up there lonely and jealous. It's like that mop commercial she starts singing "baby come back."
Whitney: Lance sure is loving his electric guitar lately.
Me: Yes, he's been playing it alot.
Whitney: His acoustic guitar is just sitting up there lonely and jealous. It's like that mop commercial she starts singing "baby come back."
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
God was in my running shoes
Today I had a very rough start to my day, only to have God make his presence very well known. First, I overslept. Not good, I woke Steve up at 4:20, 4:30, and 4:40. I woke Nate up at 6:15 for baseball practice. I fell asleep on the couch. When I get up at 8:30, Whit is already 30 minutes late for school, and I have to be at court at 9:30. I grab the first clothes I find which is jeans and a tee shirt and tennis shoes and a hoodie. I get on the highway and instead of taking East 254 towards the school, I turn and take South I35 toward the courthouse. So I get off the highway, back on, and have to run in and sign Whitney in to school. I blast back down the highway, barely pushing the speed limit, knowing I'm cutting it close because I have to park on the 4th floor of the parking garage, (the elevator is out) take the stairs down, travel by foot the one block to the courthouse, get through the metal detector and wait for an elevator to take me to the 9th floor, or run up 9 floors, (which I have done a couple times). I have a plan, I get to the parking garage and a red neon sign says FULL and there are cones blocking the entrance. Parking is hard to come by down town, and the garage is $5.00 a day, but we get validated. So I remember them saying we can park at the city building across the street, so I drive over there and the parking garage is FULL! No way. I manage to find a spot in the parking lot that will be validated, (at this point, I would've just paid and let them reimburse me, but there were no spaces anywhere). It is now 9:26, I am 3 blocks, a metal detector and 9 floors from where I'm supposed to be. I have no desire to draw attention to myself from the judge. I take off at a dead run and realize....this is the only day of jury duty I have worn jeans and tennis shoes. It's the only day I've worn a hoodie of my heavy winter coat, and I even changed purses and was carrying my big purse, so I had thrown my lunch and diet coke in my purse instead of carrying my lunch bag. All the running this past year had me in great shape for my 3 block sprint, I wasn't even winded. I walked into the jury room at 9:31, which was great.
Even on days I'm running late or wear jeans I typically wear heels. I always carry my lunch pail. I would've rather gotten up on time, but God did make sure I was up at 4:20, 4:30, 4:40 and 6:15, I went back to sleep. I am please to say that I found God in my running shoes this morning. He's always very involved in my life, but I love to see him at work, and when he shows himself in the small details, it just has a way of touching me.
Even on days I'm running late or wear jeans I typically wear heels. I always carry my lunch pail. I would've rather gotten up on time, but God did make sure I was up at 4:20, 4:30, 4:40 and 6:15, I went back to sleep. I am please to say that I found God in my running shoes this morning. He's always very involved in my life, but I love to see him at work, and when he shows himself in the small details, it just has a way of touching me.
Monday, December 14, 2009
All Things Common
Remember that verse in Acts? Chapter 4 verse 32 "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."
Jury duty. I spent last week and have the pleasure of spending next week with a room full of strangers. None of us knew each other, and that is something they look for in a jury. There is a young lady that works at Mcdonald's. A young man who is a student at the fashion institute of technology. There is a golf pro, a church secretary, and an aircraft machinist. A retired lady who has a horse farm. A criminal justice student. A school teacher and a bank manager. They are great people. I have laughed harder in the jury room than I would have imagined, as we are not allowed to talk about the case, and we are learning a lot about ourselves. One lady brought fudge and another brought donuts. Looking forward to what is going to happen next week. Of course, we do have things in common. We are all residents of Sedgwick County. We are either registered to vote or have a drivers license. Interestingly enough, we are all white Caucasian on this jury, but since that matches with the plaintiff and defendent, it is okay. There are a few of these ladies that I think I would have been friends with had I met them anywhere. But without jury I wouldn't have met them. I have been thinking about how you can put a group of strangers in a room, the future of other individuals in their hands, and how quickly they bond. Will see what happens when it goes to deliberation, but right now, there is a camaraderie that surprised me. It took three days before a couple of the women were feeding the group. One offered a ride to another next week because she was gong to have scheduling difficulty. There is one young man that always holds the door for everyone. Kindness from strangers. It has made an interesting experience a positive experience, the kindness of people I don't know towards me and towards others any time, but especially at this time of year is a true blessing. Juror 13. That's me. Weird number, there are 14 on this jury.
I believe the early Church was like that, when it said they had "all things common", it was a choice to look after each other, to share. Do we choose to get along? To look for what makes us common to each other? Wouldn't we all be better if we looked for good and things to enjoy about each other?
Jury duty. I spent last week and have the pleasure of spending next week with a room full of strangers. None of us knew each other, and that is something they look for in a jury. There is a young lady that works at Mcdonald's. A young man who is a student at the fashion institute of technology. There is a golf pro, a church secretary, and an aircraft machinist. A retired lady who has a horse farm. A criminal justice student. A school teacher and a bank manager. They are great people. I have laughed harder in the jury room than I would have imagined, as we are not allowed to talk about the case, and we are learning a lot about ourselves. One lady brought fudge and another brought donuts. Looking forward to what is going to happen next week. Of course, we do have things in common. We are all residents of Sedgwick County. We are either registered to vote or have a drivers license. Interestingly enough, we are all white Caucasian on this jury, but since that matches with the plaintiff and defendent, it is okay. There are a few of these ladies that I think I would have been friends with had I met them anywhere. But without jury I wouldn't have met them. I have been thinking about how you can put a group of strangers in a room, the future of other individuals in their hands, and how quickly they bond. Will see what happens when it goes to deliberation, but right now, there is a camaraderie that surprised me. It took three days before a couple of the women were feeding the group. One offered a ride to another next week because she was gong to have scheduling difficulty. There is one young man that always holds the door for everyone. Kindness from strangers. It has made an interesting experience a positive experience, the kindness of people I don't know towards me and towards others any time, but especially at this time of year is a true blessing. Juror 13. That's me. Weird number, there are 14 on this jury.
I believe the early Church was like that, when it said they had "all things common", it was a choice to look after each other, to share. Do we choose to get along? To look for what makes us common to each other? Wouldn't we all be better if we looked for good and things to enjoy about each other?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Conversations with Whitney
Setting: My kitchen, cabinets wide open
Nate: Whitney, did you eat all the Easy Mac, you fattie!
Whitney: No, you must have eaten it and don’t remember!
Nate: I didn’t eat it. You know you did. Did you drink all the Gatorade? Fattie!
Whitney: No, I didn’t drink the Gatorade. (Laughing)
Me: Nate, just eat that Clam Chowder.
Nate: We have Clam Chowder? (looking in cabinet) No we don’t, did you eat that too, Fattie?
Whitney: No, Nate, I didn’t eat that too. (Laughing)
Ten minutes later, Whitney is eating Easy Mac.
Nate: Where did you get that?
Whitney: I hid it so you wouldn’t eat it, because who’s the fattie? I hid the Clam Chowder and the Gatorade too, FATTIE!
At this exact point in time the cookie jar is full, there is left over chocolate cake on the counter and two boxes of gummi savers in the snack cabinet, milk and cherry pepsi in the fridge and my fatties are fighting over mac-n-cheese, clam chowder and gatorade. Also need to say that “fattie” is a term of endearment in our family.
Nate: Whitney, did you eat all the Easy Mac, you fattie!
Whitney: No, you must have eaten it and don’t remember!
Nate: I didn’t eat it. You know you did. Did you drink all the Gatorade? Fattie!
Whitney: No, I didn’t drink the Gatorade. (Laughing)
Me: Nate, just eat that Clam Chowder.
Nate: We have Clam Chowder? (looking in cabinet) No we don’t, did you eat that too, Fattie?
Whitney: No, Nate, I didn’t eat that too. (Laughing)
Ten minutes later, Whitney is eating Easy Mac.
Nate: Where did you get that?
Whitney: I hid it so you wouldn’t eat it, because who’s the fattie? I hid the Clam Chowder and the Gatorade too, FATTIE!
At this exact point in time the cookie jar is full, there is left over chocolate cake on the counter and two boxes of gummi savers in the snack cabinet, milk and cherry pepsi in the fridge and my fatties are fighting over mac-n-cheese, clam chowder and gatorade. Also need to say that “fattie” is a term of endearment in our family.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Better Days
I am going to air a little family dirty laundry here and ask for prayer at this holiday season, if everyone would pray for my family even just once as they read this it would be a huge blessing to me. My three stepdaughters are all in one form of trouble or another. The effects this has on my husband and their little sister are beyond words. We all act tough, but it's difficult.
The last two months they have made life brutally difficult, and while we are trying very hard to enjoy the Christmas season, it is work. I know we do realize that at this time of year we celebrate the birth of our Savior, and our hope in Him, that there are better days coming. I've had the words to this song that was sung at our Christmas Eve service previously, Goo Goo Dolls, Better Days rattling in my head all day.
And you asked me what I want this year
and I try to make this kind and clear
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
and designer love and empty things
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
So take these words and sing out loud
'cause everyone is forgiven now
'cause tonight's the night the world begins again
The last two months they have made life brutally difficult, and while we are trying very hard to enjoy the Christmas season, it is work. I know we do realize that at this time of year we celebrate the birth of our Savior, and our hope in Him, that there are better days coming. I've had the words to this song that was sung at our Christmas Eve service previously, Goo Goo Dolls, Better Days rattling in my head all day.
And you asked me what I want this year
and I try to make this kind and clear
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
and designer love and empty things
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
So take these words and sing out loud
'cause everyone is forgiven now
'cause tonight's the night the world begins again
Sunday, December 6, 2009
525,600 Minutes Post 6
36. Christmas – decorating the tree with all five kids.
37. Every person I ever prayed with when they accepted Christ as their Savior. I remember them from age 13 when they dropped us off in the West High School parking lot to Judgment House last year. There is nothing like being present when new life is born.
38. Steve went to college when he was 34 years old. Start to finish it took him 3.5 years to get his bachelors degree. It was an insane period of time with 5 kids at home, 4 of them teenagers, but his college graduation is one of the highlights of my life. I am always proud of Steve, but that was a monumental accomplishment.
39. The promo video for Newsprings “Running” series. 45 seconds of Steve running.
40. We were eating lunch at Carlos O’Kelly’s one day and my brother was with us. He had told me previously that he had a dream that Jesus called his cell phone and when he went to answer it and flipped it open he was taken up “Elijah style”. When he went to the men’s room, he happened to leave his phone on the table. I changed my name to “Jesus” in his cell phone and then dialed his phone and dropped mine in my purse. He left my number as Jesus in his phone for a long time.
41. Nate as a nominee for Homecoming King, called his name at halftime and he walked out with his escort in her fancy dress; he was wearing basketball shorts, tennis shoes and his baseball jacket.
42. Finishing a marathon.
43. This is a bonus, I couldn’t think of a way to work it in as a moment, but over the years I have been blessed, honored, privileged to be friends with some of the most amazing women who walked this planet. I couldn’t post the moments of my life without saying how much I love them. Some I have known since elementary school. Some I have known for a couple of months. These are the women that no matter how much time passes between our opportunities to visit we pick up right where we left off. Women that when we are together talk 90 mph and can talk for 5 hours straight and still have things to talk about. Women I trust my secrets with. Women that encourage me and challenge me to be better. Women that give me advice and listen to me when life is hard. Women I laugh with and cry with, women that I respect their husbands, and think their children are adorable. Sheila W., Jenny C., Cindy G., Carrie A., Meredith G., Rebecca D., my life is better because I call you my friends.
I'm thankful for every minute of the 42 years God has allowed me to live on this earth and for every individual he has put in my life. He has given me more than I deserve, and it's only gonna get better! How do I measure my life? Someday when it's over, it will be measured where it really counts. I want to live so that it measures up well.
37. Every person I ever prayed with when they accepted Christ as their Savior. I remember them from age 13 when they dropped us off in the West High School parking lot to Judgment House last year. There is nothing like being present when new life is born.
38. Steve went to college when he was 34 years old. Start to finish it took him 3.5 years to get his bachelors degree. It was an insane period of time with 5 kids at home, 4 of them teenagers, but his college graduation is one of the highlights of my life. I am always proud of Steve, but that was a monumental accomplishment.
39. The promo video for Newsprings “Running” series. 45 seconds of Steve running.
40. We were eating lunch at Carlos O’Kelly’s one day and my brother was with us. He had told me previously that he had a dream that Jesus called his cell phone and when he went to answer it and flipped it open he was taken up “Elijah style”. When he went to the men’s room, he happened to leave his phone on the table. I changed my name to “Jesus” in his cell phone and then dialed his phone and dropped mine in my purse. He left my number as Jesus in his phone for a long time.
41. Nate as a nominee for Homecoming King, called his name at halftime and he walked out with his escort in her fancy dress; he was wearing basketball shorts, tennis shoes and his baseball jacket.
42. Finishing a marathon.
43. This is a bonus, I couldn’t think of a way to work it in as a moment, but over the years I have been blessed, honored, privileged to be friends with some of the most amazing women who walked this planet. I couldn’t post the moments of my life without saying how much I love them. Some I have known since elementary school. Some I have known for a couple of months. These are the women that no matter how much time passes between our opportunities to visit we pick up right where we left off. Women that when we are together talk 90 mph and can talk for 5 hours straight and still have things to talk about. Women I trust my secrets with. Women that encourage me and challenge me to be better. Women that give me advice and listen to me when life is hard. Women I laugh with and cry with, women that I respect their husbands, and think their children are adorable. Sheila W., Jenny C., Cindy G., Carrie A., Meredith G., Rebecca D., my life is better because I call you my friends.
I'm thankful for every minute of the 42 years God has allowed me to live on this earth and for every individual he has put in my life. He has given me more than I deserve, and it's only gonna get better! How do I measure my life? Someday when it's over, it will be measured where it really counts. I want to live so that it measures up well.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
525,600 Minutes Post 5
29. The ocean.
30. Freeport, Grand Island Bahamas.
31. Nate’s first tee ball game, age 2.
32. My wedding/marriage to Steve. My wedding was uneventful. I would’ve eloped. The marriage was what I wanted. I don’t know how to describe it, or if I really want to try and define what Steve and I have because it’s great, dreams come true happily ever after kind of stuff.
33. Whitney was an unexpected blessing. When Steve and I got married we had 4 kids between us. The idea of 5 was just overwhelming. God knew we needed her, and he does know best. (I could write 525,600 Whitney moments).
34. My grandmother’s funeral, Mom’s side. She was a Godly woman who lived an extremely difficult life, and I still miss her 12 years later. I will see her again someday.
35. Scariest movie I ever saw, Pirates of the Caribbean. Nate went to the bathroom (age 8) and never came back in the theatre. I lost him for 30 minutes. I had the theatre ready to call the police, but we did one last check and turned the lights on low in every theatre so I could look for him. He had come in the other side of the theatre and couldn’t find us so he sat closer to the front.
30. Freeport, Grand Island Bahamas.
31. Nate’s first tee ball game, age 2.
32. My wedding/marriage to Steve. My wedding was uneventful. I would’ve eloped. The marriage was what I wanted. I don’t know how to describe it, or if I really want to try and define what Steve and I have because it’s great, dreams come true happily ever after kind of stuff.
33. Whitney was an unexpected blessing. When Steve and I got married we had 4 kids between us. The idea of 5 was just overwhelming. God knew we needed her, and he does know best. (I could write 525,600 Whitney moments).
34. My grandmother’s funeral, Mom’s side. She was a Godly woman who lived an extremely difficult life, and I still miss her 12 years later. I will see her again someday.
35. Scariest movie I ever saw, Pirates of the Caribbean. Nate went to the bathroom (age 8) and never came back in the theatre. I lost him for 30 minutes. I had the theatre ready to call the police, but we did one last check and turned the lights on low in every theatre so I could look for him. He had come in the other side of the theatre and couldn’t find us so he sat closer to the front.
Friday, December 4, 2009
525,600 Minutes Post 4
22. Baseball. I love to watch baseball. Getting to see Johnny Damon play for the Wranglers in Wichita, KS, AA ball for a season was great.
23. Trip to Chicago with my roommate Becca. We helped her mom move to Indianapolis, we got lost and stopped for directions in Indy at a fire station and got to go up 13 stories in the cherry picker. I loved it; Becca cowered on the floor with her head below the railing. She has always been much smarter than me.
24. Left Indy and went on to Chicago for a week of fun. First real mall I visited, saw the Sears tower, and after the Wichita skyline, Chicago’s is impressive. Visited many cool places in Chicago.
25. I was in Burger King on my way home from the gym (I know, that's counterproductive) and the cashier told me that the Gulf War was over.
26. Christmases at my grandparents house, Dad’s side. Heard my grandpa talking to his brothers about World War II experiences.
27. The birth of my nephew Cameron. I was never a baby person, but I discovered when he was born I did like babies. Just only certain ones.
28. The first time I heard Nate’s heartbeat was one of the most moving experiences of my life. At 24 this was brand new for me. It was a new life, and I fell in love for the first time at that moment.
23. Trip to Chicago with my roommate Becca. We helped her mom move to Indianapolis, we got lost and stopped for directions in Indy at a fire station and got to go up 13 stories in the cherry picker. I loved it; Becca cowered on the floor with her head below the railing. She has always been much smarter than me.
24. Left Indy and went on to Chicago for a week of fun. First real mall I visited, saw the Sears tower, and after the Wichita skyline, Chicago’s is impressive. Visited many cool places in Chicago.
25. I was in Burger King on my way home from the gym (I know, that's counterproductive) and the cashier told me that the Gulf War was over.
26. Christmases at my grandparents house, Dad’s side. Heard my grandpa talking to his brothers about World War II experiences.
27. The birth of my nephew Cameron. I was never a baby person, but I discovered when he was born I did like babies. Just only certain ones.
28. The first time I heard Nate’s heartbeat was one of the most moving experiences of my life. At 24 this was brand new for me. It was a new life, and I fell in love for the first time at that moment.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
525,600 Minutes Post 3
15. Rick and Keith’s live ventriloquist act.
16. I have 3 siblings, two older brothers and 1 younger sister. My oldest brother is four and half years older than my younger sister. We were close. (Too close???) This led to many two on two football, baseball and basketball games. Black eyes and bruises. Good times.
17. Cindy’s blue firebird, the cruising vehicle of choice in high school.
18. Trip to Barnacle Bill’s FantaSea with Sheila, Mindy, Michelle and Kris when Michelle almost drowned Sheila. Seriously almost drowned her. We laugh now, but at the time, it wasn't funny.
19. My first real boyfriend, Paul. You were a real lesson in how not to treat a woman (or how not to let yourself be treated by a man). I learned a lot from you, mostly that I deserved to be treated better. Not that you treated me bad, but you didn’t treat me good. And there is difference. Love is not performance based, and it cannot be earned, it has to be given.
20. Moved out of my parents house, shared an apartment with Becca.
21. Kansas State Fair, broken Ferris wheel. Kris and Sheila at the top of the broken Ferris wheel. Again, not funny at the time, but hilarious to talk about now.
16. I have 3 siblings, two older brothers and 1 younger sister. My oldest brother is four and half years older than my younger sister. We were close. (Too close???) This led to many two on two football, baseball and basketball games. Black eyes and bruises. Good times.
17. Cindy’s blue firebird, the cruising vehicle of choice in high school.
18. Trip to Barnacle Bill’s FantaSea with Sheila, Mindy, Michelle and Kris when Michelle almost drowned Sheila. Seriously almost drowned her. We laugh now, but at the time, it wasn't funny.
19. My first real boyfriend, Paul. You were a real lesson in how not to treat a woman (or how not to let yourself be treated by a man). I learned a lot from you, mostly that I deserved to be treated better. Not that you treated me bad, but you didn’t treat me good. And there is difference. Love is not performance based, and it cannot be earned, it has to be given.
20. Moved out of my parents house, shared an apartment with Becca.
21. Kansas State Fair, broken Ferris wheel. Kris and Sheila at the top of the broken Ferris wheel. Again, not funny at the time, but hilarious to talk about now.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
525,600 Minutes Post 2
8. Started 5th grade at Christian School. This is the school and the church where and the year when I met Sheila.
9. I started babysitting around this time. Neighbors down the street. One Friday night when I was 12 or 13 the kids were in bed and I was watching TV. I got a phone call from a guy who said he was watching me. I hung up and made sure the curtains were closed. He called right back and said he could still see me. Called twice more before my Dad could get there. Never babysat for them again.
10. Being in gym class when we heard that President Reagan had been shot.
11. Met Rebecca (Becca) my 8th grade year of high school.
12. I met Steve my freshman year of high school. Didn’t know how important he would be to my future at the time.
13. High school crushes: Robert, Tony, Steve (not my current crush Steve, either), Keith, Fred, Mike, Kevin, Donny (this list includes my first kiss at age 16 as well)
14. First job was at Dairy Queen. This was an eye opener for me as I came from Christian school, Christian home and church for everything, the kids I worked with there opened my eyes to a whole new world of teenagers. Michael and Martin Diggs were a riot, twins that I loved working with. My first two marriage proposals came when I was 16 working at Dairy Queen from two very well-bred, intellectual African American teenage boys.
9. I started babysitting around this time. Neighbors down the street. One Friday night when I was 12 or 13 the kids were in bed and I was watching TV. I got a phone call from a guy who said he was watching me. I hung up and made sure the curtains were closed. He called right back and said he could still see me. Called twice more before my Dad could get there. Never babysat for them again.
10. Being in gym class when we heard that President Reagan had been shot.
11. Met Rebecca (Becca) my 8th grade year of high school.
12. I met Steve my freshman year of high school. Didn’t know how important he would be to my future at the time.
13. High school crushes: Robert, Tony, Steve (not my current crush Steve, either), Keith, Fred, Mike, Kevin, Donny (this list includes my first kiss at age 16 as well)
14. First job was at Dairy Queen. This was an eye opener for me as I came from Christian school, Christian home and church for everything, the kids I worked with there opened my eyes to a whole new world of teenagers. Michael and Martin Diggs were a riot, twins that I loved working with. My first two marriage proposals came when I was 16 working at Dairy Queen from two very well-bred, intellectual African American teenage boys.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
525,600 Minutes Post 1
525,600 minutes (times 42)
From the musical Rent,
525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love.525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan. 525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man?In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried. In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.It’s time now to sing out, tho the story never ends let's celebrate remember a year in the life of friends. Remember the love! Remember the love! Remember the love!
Measure in love. Seasons of love! Seasons of love.
How do I measure a year? Is it a calendar year or school year? Is it from birthday to birthday? It’s all of the above. I am celebrating my 42nd birthday on December 6. It’s not a milestone birthday and generally for me, it’s just another day with cake (the best kind of day). I have been thinking though, that 42 years is a long time. That’s a lot of minutes. So in honor of my 42 years, I’m going to share 42 events from my life over the next 6 days. (Otherwise this would be a really long post. So feel free to join me on a trip down memory lane, or just come back next week when it’s over.) Mostly they are in chronological order. It was hard to condense down to 42 events. I thought about giving you 525,600 minutes of my life but that was too much for me to remember.
1. One of my earliest memories is when I was five years old and I played in my mom’s lipstick. I had it all over my face and the bathroom. When she asked if I had been in her makeup, I lied. She explained that made Jesus unhappy and it was a sin, and we knelt by our itchy, ugly, 70’s circa sofa and I asked Jesus to be my Savior. I remember skipping to the phone to call my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Morris to tell her.
2. Standing on an old milk crate to get baptized because I wasn’t tall enough to keep my head above water.
3. When I was five, my dad was attending Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO, and I was in half day kindergarten. I went to the Jack Van Impe Crusade with him. Event at that age I remember hating being surrounded by all those people I didn’t know sitting in the bleachers.
4. My first grade year we lived in Turon, Kansas. My dad was the associate pastor of the Baptist church there. The school was for Kindergarten through 8th grade, and I was in a combined 1st and 2nd grade class. We still return to Turon for our family reunion on Memorial Day and I believe I’m related to everyone in the cemetery, including the current gravedigger. - Hey, Uncle Rolla.
5. We moved to Larned, KS when I was in second grade. Lived there for 3 years. I hated living there, hated the schools, and that was where the meanest girls I ever knew in my life lived. (The two Shellys, Mary, Susan, Janet. How’s life treating you?) I never had friends, never fit in, and remember a lot of pain that was inflicted by the kids there. This is where I first learned to love books and escaped to the library and to books on a regular basis, and to this day the library is one of my favorite places, so thanks for the meanness. Something good did come from those three years.
6. My favorite toy was a small stuffed panda.
7. We moved to Wichita when I was in the fifth grade. I remember sitting in the car in the parking lot of the Christian School I would attend for the next 8 years while my parents enrolled us in school. (I take my kids to enrollment; I wonder now why we were banished to the car? Maybe my folks were afraid they wouldn’t let us in if they met us first.)
From the musical Rent,
525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love.525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan. 525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man?In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried. In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.It’s time now to sing out, tho the story never ends let's celebrate remember a year in the life of friends. Remember the love! Remember the love! Remember the love!
Measure in love. Seasons of love! Seasons of love.
How do I measure a year? Is it a calendar year or school year? Is it from birthday to birthday? It’s all of the above. I am celebrating my 42nd birthday on December 6. It’s not a milestone birthday and generally for me, it’s just another day with cake (the best kind of day). I have been thinking though, that 42 years is a long time. That’s a lot of minutes. So in honor of my 42 years, I’m going to share 42 events from my life over the next 6 days. (Otherwise this would be a really long post. So feel free to join me on a trip down memory lane, or just come back next week when it’s over.) Mostly they are in chronological order. It was hard to condense down to 42 events. I thought about giving you 525,600 minutes of my life but that was too much for me to remember.
1. One of my earliest memories is when I was five years old and I played in my mom’s lipstick. I had it all over my face and the bathroom. When she asked if I had been in her makeup, I lied. She explained that made Jesus unhappy and it was a sin, and we knelt by our itchy, ugly, 70’s circa sofa and I asked Jesus to be my Savior. I remember skipping to the phone to call my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Morris to tell her.
2. Standing on an old milk crate to get baptized because I wasn’t tall enough to keep my head above water.
3. When I was five, my dad was attending Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO, and I was in half day kindergarten. I went to the Jack Van Impe Crusade with him. Event at that age I remember hating being surrounded by all those people I didn’t know sitting in the bleachers.
4. My first grade year we lived in Turon, Kansas. My dad was the associate pastor of the Baptist church there. The school was for Kindergarten through 8th grade, and I was in a combined 1st and 2nd grade class. We still return to Turon for our family reunion on Memorial Day and I believe I’m related to everyone in the cemetery, including the current gravedigger. - Hey, Uncle Rolla.
5. We moved to Larned, KS when I was in second grade. Lived there for 3 years. I hated living there, hated the schools, and that was where the meanest girls I ever knew in my life lived. (The two Shellys, Mary, Susan, Janet. How’s life treating you?) I never had friends, never fit in, and remember a lot of pain that was inflicted by the kids there. This is where I first learned to love books and escaped to the library and to books on a regular basis, and to this day the library is one of my favorite places, so thanks for the meanness. Something good did come from those three years.
6. My favorite toy was a small stuffed panda.
7. We moved to Wichita when I was in the fifth grade. I remember sitting in the car in the parking lot of the Christian School I would attend for the next 8 years while my parents enrolled us in school. (I take my kids to enrollment; I wonder now why we were banished to the car? Maybe my folks were afraid they wouldn’t let us in if they met us first.)
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