Two posts in one day. I have been doing laundry all day at my sister’s house, and don’t have much else to do here but watch movies, write blog posts, ponder life and wait for laundry to wash and dry.
I am currently watching Sense and Sensibility, starring Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Greg Wise and Alan Rickman (and a young, unknown named Hugh Laurie). It is one of my favorite Jane Austen novels, second only to Pride and Prejudice. The movie won a Golden Globe, and does an excellent job of remaining quite faithful to the book, thanks to Emma Thompson rewriting the screenplay herself.
There are several themes in this novel (and movie) that stand out to me, and each time I watch the movie or read the novel, I always get something different from it. This time around, there are several themes/questions that I am pondering as of late:
1. Is it better to be reserved with emotions, like Elinor, or be blatantly obvious with them, like Marianne, in regards to feelings toward the opposite sex? This theme also came up briefly in Pride and Prejudice, when Charlotte Lucas told Elizabeth Bennett that it is better to show more affection than you feel to secure the man in question as quickly as possible before he is lost to someone else. Elizabeth Bennett disagreed with this theory. I believe in the past, I would say I have been more like Elinor, very reserved with my feelings and emotions. And I wonder if that hasn’t been part of my problems with guys in the past, that I have been too reserved. For me, it’s been a defense mechanism. But I also wonder if it’s not what is preventing me from really having the relationship I long to have.
2. Marianne meets and instantly falls in love with John Willoughby. He courts her for several months, and then without any notice, leaves and goes to London. When she goes to London with Mrs. Jennings and the rest of the party later, and runs into him at a party, he acts very indifferent toward her. She writes to him to ask what is going on, and his cold response tells her that he wishes to apologize if he was too free with his emotions and conveyed sentiments that he did not intent to convey; in other words, he’s sorry if he led her on, but he never meant to make her think that he liked her as anything other than a friend. She is heartbroken, and ends up going for a walk in the rain, catching an unnamed illness and almost dying because of it. My sister and I now use the phrase “I’ve been Willoughby-ed” in reference to guys that lead someone on and then decide that “you are just friends” or “you are reading too much into it” or do anything Willoughby-esque. I am tired of being Willoughby-ed. I am tired of guys that make you think one thing, just to find out later you were wrong. In Willoughby’s case in the novel, however, he really did love Marianne, but due to circumstances, some of his own doing and some beyond his control, he cannot marry her, and instead marries for money. She can at least take solace in the idea that it’s not because she’s not good enough. That is something that I am also tired of. I’m tired of not being (fill in the blank)-enough. Tall enough, smart enough, pretty enough, funny enough, etc. etc.
3. The end of the movie does give one hope, however. Elinor has fallen in love with Edward Ferrars, and finds out from her friend Lucy Steele that Edward and Lucy have been secretly engaged for the last five years. She thinks that it is over forever, especially when she hears that “Miss Steele and Mr. Ferrars were married over the weekend.” Turns out, Lucy runs away with Edward’s brother, Robert, which frees Edward up to ask Elinor to marry him. Edward had been in love with Elinor since he met her, but refused to act on it due to his honor and duty to his previous engagement. So, even though her heart had been broken, she finds out that he loved her all this time and she gets her happy ever after ending. It gives me hope that even though I think that men are wankers now, that one day I may get my happy ever after ending as well. Jane Austen wrote fiction, yes, but not fairy tales. The endings were actually endings that could happen in “real life”.
So…what do I take from this? Many things. But also many more questions have been prompted. Thanks, Jane.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Observations from BRU
As many of you may know, I work a few hours a week at Babies R Us for extra cash. Ireland was expensive, and I am still trying to pay for it. It’s whittling down slowly, but until I make more of a dent in it, I am slaving away in a crap job for crap pay.
Working there, however, I have learned a few things. People can be really stupid sometimes. Like this whole Bumbo recall. Bumbo had to recall their infant seats because stupid parents were leaving their kids unattended and sitting on kitchen counters or tables and the infants were wiggling out of them (they do not have a safety restraint system) and falling off the counter or table or whatnot. One child had actually fractured his skull in the fall. I really don’t see how it is Bumbo’s fault. We had one at the daycare, and I would have never left a child in that seat unattended. It’s not that the seat was faulty; it’s stupid parents not paying attention to their kids!
One of the greatest challenges in working there, however, is watching all of the happy married (and usually now pregnant) couples coming in. Not gonna lie, as I get older, it is getting to be one of the hardest things about the job. When I moved into my apartment in the park, that became one of the very few things I don’t like about living in the area. When I’m feeling down or depressed, watching the happy little couples strolling through the park, holding hand, pushing baby prams, having picnics, etc., just makes me want to sit on my front porch with a BB gun and shoot at them whenever they come near enough.
At the store, it’s even worse. Everyone is so freaking happy and glowing and crap that it makes me want to vomit. But what is the worst is some of the couples that do come in. There are these ladies that are so scary looking that they didn’t just get smacked by the ugly stick, they fell out of the tree and hit every branch on the way down. For example, this one person that came in the other day. From the neck up, this person resembled the late great Rich Mullins, only about 200 pounds heavier and with thinning hair in the front and in the back. From the neck down, this person was several pounds overweight, obese even. My coworker Katie and I had trouble even figuring out whether or not this person was a man or a woman. However, to my shock and dismay, this person was wearing a wedding ring set and carrying a purse (so we decided on female). But the depressing part of this was the realization that not only was she married, but someone had slept with her in order to produce a child.
And yet, I am still single and alone.
Today at church, Pastor Jeff talked about the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20) and how envy can destroy your heart and cause lots of problems in your life. As I was thinking about that today, I can see how envy can be part of my problem. I want that happy life. I want to get married, have children and grow old with someone. How can I not but be envious when I see someone else living the life I so desperately want? I see people dating, getting married and starting families everywhere I go, and they make it seem so easy. It’s hard, especially for someone like me, not to be envious of something like that.
However, although I can admit to the envy part, I wonder if there isn’t something more behind it. I don’t think it’s all just envy. However, I don’t know what the other part of it is. If anyone has any insight into what it might be, let me know, so I can destroy it and move on with my life already!
I have a busy week ahead. Only a three day work week, which is good, yet bad in the sense that I have to get a week’s work done in just three days. I actually went in to work for a couple of hours this morning before hitting the 10:45 service at CHBC.
Working there, however, I have learned a few things. People can be really stupid sometimes. Like this whole Bumbo recall. Bumbo had to recall their infant seats because stupid parents were leaving their kids unattended and sitting on kitchen counters or tables and the infants were wiggling out of them (they do not have a safety restraint system) and falling off the counter or table or whatnot. One child had actually fractured his skull in the fall. I really don’t see how it is Bumbo’s fault. We had one at the daycare, and I would have never left a child in that seat unattended. It’s not that the seat was faulty; it’s stupid parents not paying attention to their kids!
One of the greatest challenges in working there, however, is watching all of the happy married (and usually now pregnant) couples coming in. Not gonna lie, as I get older, it is getting to be one of the hardest things about the job. When I moved into my apartment in the park, that became one of the very few things I don’t like about living in the area. When I’m feeling down or depressed, watching the happy little couples strolling through the park, holding hand, pushing baby prams, having picnics, etc., just makes me want to sit on my front porch with a BB gun and shoot at them whenever they come near enough.
At the store, it’s even worse. Everyone is so freaking happy and glowing and crap that it makes me want to vomit. But what is the worst is some of the couples that do come in. There are these ladies that are so scary looking that they didn’t just get smacked by the ugly stick, they fell out of the tree and hit every branch on the way down. For example, this one person that came in the other day. From the neck up, this person resembled the late great Rich Mullins, only about 200 pounds heavier and with thinning hair in the front and in the back. From the neck down, this person was several pounds overweight, obese even. My coworker Katie and I had trouble even figuring out whether or not this person was a man or a woman. However, to my shock and dismay, this person was wearing a wedding ring set and carrying a purse (so we decided on female). But the depressing part of this was the realization that not only was she married, but someone had slept with her in order to produce a child.
And yet, I am still single and alone.
Today at church, Pastor Jeff talked about the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20) and how envy can destroy your heart and cause lots of problems in your life. As I was thinking about that today, I can see how envy can be part of my problem. I want that happy life. I want to get married, have children and grow old with someone. How can I not but be envious when I see someone else living the life I so desperately want? I see people dating, getting married and starting families everywhere I go, and they make it seem so easy. It’s hard, especially for someone like me, not to be envious of something like that.
However, although I can admit to the envy part, I wonder if there isn’t something more behind it. I don’t think it’s all just envy. However, I don’t know what the other part of it is. If anyone has any insight into what it might be, let me know, so I can destroy it and move on with my life already!
I have a busy week ahead. Only a three day work week, which is good, yet bad in the sense that I have to get a week’s work done in just three days. I actually went in to work for a couple of hours this morning before hitting the 10:45 service at CHBC.
Friday, November 16, 2007
New Baby
Welcome to the world Conner David!!!!!
Conner was born Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Baby, Mom and the rest of the family are doing fantastic!
I headed up to the hospital to visit and bring presents. Nathan and Scott were, of course, running around like the village idiots. In between runnings, however, Nathan kept demanding to hold the baby. He did a pretty good job....unfortunately, he doesn't always understand that when he done holding the baby, he needs to let someone know, rather than just letting go. This is why someone sits with him while he holds the baby. It's a learning curve for him, I'm sure. The last time he was around a baby was when Scott was born, and he was just 2 at the time.
Julie is looking great (if you are reading this: yes you are...don't argue!), if a bit tired. But then again, I hear labor does that to you. Not that I'd know from experience or anything, but that's the word on the street. And of course, when I mean streets, I mean those little fake streets they have there at the zoo. (10 bucks if you can name the quote).
For baby gifts, I decided on a new, bigger and more stylish diaper bag than the one she had for Scott, a couple of panda bear binkys (of course) and John Deere baby toys (another given). I think Scott will be playing with the tractor keys more than anyone...he was very excited about them.
I told Julie that I think I like having kids this way. Someone else does all the work, and I just get the good stuff, like playing and cuddling and all that jazz.
And, speaking of babies...........congratulations to Amanda and Toby!!!!!!! Lucas will be a big brother in July!!! It's all very exciting! Hopefully, Lucas will have updated his blog by then.....
Other than that, just trying to get ready for Thanksgiving!! So much to do, so little time to do it. Dierks Bentley and Jack Ingram are in town tonight. I may try to head over there if I can find someone to go with me....it sucks when most of your friends are married with kids, or just don't like country enough to go to a concert with you.
Conner was born Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Baby, Mom and the rest of the family are doing fantastic!
I headed up to the hospital to visit and bring presents. Nathan and Scott were, of course, running around like the village idiots. In between runnings, however, Nathan kept demanding to hold the baby. He did a pretty good job....unfortunately, he doesn't always understand that when he done holding the baby, he needs to let someone know, rather than just letting go. This is why someone sits with him while he holds the baby. It's a learning curve for him, I'm sure. The last time he was around a baby was when Scott was born, and he was just 2 at the time.
Julie is looking great (if you are reading this: yes you are...don't argue!), if a bit tired. But then again, I hear labor does that to you. Not that I'd know from experience or anything, but that's the word on the street. And of course, when I mean streets, I mean those little fake streets they have there at the zoo. (10 bucks if you can name the quote).
For baby gifts, I decided on a new, bigger and more stylish diaper bag than the one she had for Scott, a couple of panda bear binkys (of course) and John Deere baby toys (another given). I think Scott will be playing with the tractor keys more than anyone...he was very excited about them.
I told Julie that I think I like having kids this way. Someone else does all the work, and I just get the good stuff, like playing and cuddling and all that jazz.
And, speaking of babies...........congratulations to Amanda and Toby!!!!!!! Lucas will be a big brother in July!!! It's all very exciting! Hopefully, Lucas will have updated his blog by then.....
Other than that, just trying to get ready for Thanksgiving!! So much to do, so little time to do it. Dierks Bentley and Jack Ingram are in town tonight. I may try to head over there if I can find someone to go with me....it sucks when most of your friends are married with kids, or just don't like country enough to go to a concert with you.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Returning to Blogging
Wow, according to my sign-in page, my last post was July 8. Several months have past, and it's been an interesting/crazy few months at that.
Highlights:
* Went to Ireland, Scotland and England for two weeks. Unbelievable trip. Trip highlights to come in future post, for sure. Until then..Ireland was amazing. Words cannot express how much I loved Ireland. The food was unbelievable. I am now ordering it online and having it shipped to my house, that's how much I loved it! England was also amazing. I think I was born in the wrong country.
* Got a new job! Yay for me! I am now the Director of Communications at St. John's Lutheran Church. Yeah, I know...Lutherans. It sure is different than being in a Baptist Church. But, so far, it's been good. More to come on that as well, I'm sure.
* Love life is all screwed up now. Men are selfish, stupid wankers that should burn in the deepest depths of hell. I have learned two very important things these last few months.
1 - There is a reason I don't date much. You only get screwed over in the end. It's not worth it anymore. I'm tired of the games and the crap. I'm tired of them being spineless and not talking about anything. I'm tired of being led on and then told that what you were thinking and feeling was all wrong. I'm just tired of it all. I am really wondering why I ever even tried in the first place.
2 - I am destined to die alone, only to be found three weeks later, half-eaten by wild dogs.
* Getting ready for a busy holiday season. Ella Marie is going to be in the Beaux Arts Ball on the 24th, and sometime between now and Thanksgiving, another Goebel baby will have been born. Plus, in addition to all the normal holiday craziness, I am making Thanksgiving dinner again this year, which will be fun, and I'm working at a church, so this will be our "super bowl".
* The kids are cracking me up more than anything lately. Ella Marie is starting to think boys are cute. She told me the other day how much she likes the Jonas Brothers (a singing group on the Disney Channel), and apparently she likes a little boy on Barrett's soccer team. She is growing up so fast!! Barrett and Clayton are being goofy as usual. Barrett is now hit the tech age and is emailing all the time now. His emails crack me up! Nathan and Scott are getting excited for the new baby. Scott believes that they will name him "Dan Zanes", which is his favorite children's singer. I told him I don't see that happening, but he insists. Scott also told me that he'd marry me. Nathan then informed me that I am supposed to marry the person I live with, like his mommy is married to his daddy. I informed him that I didn't live with anyone, and his response is, "well, then you just have to go outside and find someone to marry and tell them that you are getting married and then you get married." FINALLY!! Now I know what I've been doing wrong all these years!!!
* Last weekend, I went to the National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis. It was such a great weekend, for several reasons. I learned a lot, as always, and had a great time, as always. But, it was also nice to hang out with Bob for the weekend. I stayed at his place because it turns out that his new apartment is right across the street from the Edward Jones Dome, where the convention was held. On the downside, I twisted my ankle, and I think I did some damage to my foot as well, because it's not getting much better.
* I had sort of a life-changing epiphany that weekend as well. At the convention, I made an appointment with one of the convention pastors, Dr. Gerali. I've known Dr. Gerali for a while now, as he used to be a professor at Judson College and we have a mutual friend. Anyway, Dr. Gerali is usually at the conventions, so each year, I always try to schedule in a Dr. Gerali mental health check appointment. This year was very crucial for that appointment, as my life has been a virtual roller-coaster for the last few months: lost a job, got a new job, went to the UK, met a boy, learned that men are wankers, and then my friend Bob's dad passed away. It was very sudden and unexpected. So, in a sense, I was dealing with all of my own crap, and trying to be strong and be a friend for Bob. Dr. Gerali made me see a few things:
1 - I can't always handle everything myself. It's ok to ask for help. That's something I have a really hard time doing.
2 - I have a right to my feelings and emotions, and I shouldn't be afraid to express them. That's something else I have a really hard time doing. I'm not one to "talk things out" and let people know what's going on in my head. So, I guess I need to start doing that more.
3 - I don't get enough rest. Not in the physical sense (although I don't get enough there, either), but in the emotional and spiritual sense. I am always so concerned about other's feelings, that I don't have time to deal with my own. My assignment from him was to go to the prayer chapel, turn off the cell phone, close my eyes, and just rest, and allow myself to cry if I need to. And I'm supposed to do that often. Which is really hard for me, because if you know me at all, you know I don't cry much. And when I'm pulled in so many directions, it's easy to then "lose it" if I don't take enough time for myself.
Well, that's the last few months in a nutshell. Christmas is coming up, then New Years and Singles Awareness Day. It's going to be a busy few months!
Highlights:
* Went to Ireland, Scotland and England for two weeks. Unbelievable trip. Trip highlights to come in future post, for sure. Until then..Ireland was amazing. Words cannot express how much I loved Ireland. The food was unbelievable. I am now ordering it online and having it shipped to my house, that's how much I loved it! England was also amazing. I think I was born in the wrong country.
* Got a new job! Yay for me! I am now the Director of Communications at St. John's Lutheran Church. Yeah, I know...Lutherans. It sure is different than being in a Baptist Church. But, so far, it's been good. More to come on that as well, I'm sure.
* Love life is all screwed up now. Men are selfish, stupid wankers that should burn in the deepest depths of hell. I have learned two very important things these last few months.
1 - There is a reason I don't date much. You only get screwed over in the end. It's not worth it anymore. I'm tired of the games and the crap. I'm tired of them being spineless and not talking about anything. I'm tired of being led on and then told that what you were thinking and feeling was all wrong. I'm just tired of it all. I am really wondering why I ever even tried in the first place.
2 - I am destined to die alone, only to be found three weeks later, half-eaten by wild dogs.
* Getting ready for a busy holiday season. Ella Marie is going to be in the Beaux Arts Ball on the 24th, and sometime between now and Thanksgiving, another Goebel baby will have been born. Plus, in addition to all the normal holiday craziness, I am making Thanksgiving dinner again this year, which will be fun, and I'm working at a church, so this will be our "super bowl".
* The kids are cracking me up more than anything lately. Ella Marie is starting to think boys are cute. She told me the other day how much she likes the Jonas Brothers (a singing group on the Disney Channel), and apparently she likes a little boy on Barrett's soccer team. She is growing up so fast!! Barrett and Clayton are being goofy as usual. Barrett is now hit the tech age and is emailing all the time now. His emails crack me up! Nathan and Scott are getting excited for the new baby. Scott believes that they will name him "Dan Zanes", which is his favorite children's singer. I told him I don't see that happening, but he insists. Scott also told me that he'd marry me. Nathan then informed me that I am supposed to marry the person I live with, like his mommy is married to his daddy. I informed him that I didn't live with anyone, and his response is, "well, then you just have to go outside and find someone to marry and tell them that you are getting married and then you get married." FINALLY!! Now I know what I've been doing wrong all these years!!!
* Last weekend, I went to the National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis. It was such a great weekend, for several reasons. I learned a lot, as always, and had a great time, as always. But, it was also nice to hang out with Bob for the weekend. I stayed at his place because it turns out that his new apartment is right across the street from the Edward Jones Dome, where the convention was held. On the downside, I twisted my ankle, and I think I did some damage to my foot as well, because it's not getting much better.
* I had sort of a life-changing epiphany that weekend as well. At the convention, I made an appointment with one of the convention pastors, Dr. Gerali. I've known Dr. Gerali for a while now, as he used to be a professor at Judson College and we have a mutual friend. Anyway, Dr. Gerali is usually at the conventions, so each year, I always try to schedule in a Dr. Gerali mental health check appointment. This year was very crucial for that appointment, as my life has been a virtual roller-coaster for the last few months: lost a job, got a new job, went to the UK, met a boy, learned that men are wankers, and then my friend Bob's dad passed away. It was very sudden and unexpected. So, in a sense, I was dealing with all of my own crap, and trying to be strong and be a friend for Bob. Dr. Gerali made me see a few things:
1 - I can't always handle everything myself. It's ok to ask for help. That's something I have a really hard time doing.
2 - I have a right to my feelings and emotions, and I shouldn't be afraid to express them. That's something else I have a really hard time doing. I'm not one to "talk things out" and let people know what's going on in my head. So, I guess I need to start doing that more.
3 - I don't get enough rest. Not in the physical sense (although I don't get enough there, either), but in the emotional and spiritual sense. I am always so concerned about other's feelings, that I don't have time to deal with my own. My assignment from him was to go to the prayer chapel, turn off the cell phone, close my eyes, and just rest, and allow myself to cry if I need to. And I'm supposed to do that often. Which is really hard for me, because if you know me at all, you know I don't cry much. And when I'm pulled in so many directions, it's easy to then "lose it" if I don't take enough time for myself.
Well, that's the last few months in a nutshell. Christmas is coming up, then New Years and Singles Awareness Day. It's going to be a busy few months!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The Search for Hope
I leave for Ireland in 7 days!
My birthday is in 6 days!
Other than that, really can't find much exciting about life. For those that don't know, I was diagnosed with depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder a few years back. So, I have good days and some days that are not so good. It's a never ending cycle that I am constantly fighting to break out of, but yet I never seem to get out of the cycle completely. I am also learning that while I can be feeling good one moment, the slightest thing can trigger a downward cycle. It can be little things, such as a friend not calling me back, someone treating me in a way that they wouldn't anyone else, or even just a long night alone when it seems like no one cares. Some of it is my own issues, such as allowing someone to talk to me in a way I don't like, but not having the confidence to call them out on it.
I look at people that have such hope in the future, and wonder how they get that hope. At times I wonder if I am just one of those people who are destined to be melancholy and alone all of my life. Some people are just born that way; usually they are great artists or musicians or something. I, on the other hand, am rapidly becoming a George Constanza...at least I'm not living with my parents right now.
How does one get hope? And is that what makes people happy? Is that why I can't get truly happy, because I have no hope? I don't want to rely on prescription drugs the rest of my life to feel happy...or whatever semblance of happy that it creates.
I need someone to tell me that it's all going to be OK.
My birthday is in 6 days!
Other than that, really can't find much exciting about life. For those that don't know, I was diagnosed with depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder a few years back. So, I have good days and some days that are not so good. It's a never ending cycle that I am constantly fighting to break out of, but yet I never seem to get out of the cycle completely. I am also learning that while I can be feeling good one moment, the slightest thing can trigger a downward cycle. It can be little things, such as a friend not calling me back, someone treating me in a way that they wouldn't anyone else, or even just a long night alone when it seems like no one cares. Some of it is my own issues, such as allowing someone to talk to me in a way I don't like, but not having the confidence to call them out on it.
I look at people that have such hope in the future, and wonder how they get that hope. At times I wonder if I am just one of those people who are destined to be melancholy and alone all of my life. Some people are just born that way; usually they are great artists or musicians or something. I, on the other hand, am rapidly becoming a George Constanza...at least I'm not living with my parents right now.
How does one get hope? And is that what makes people happy? Is that why I can't get truly happy, because I have no hope? I don't want to rely on prescription drugs the rest of my life to feel happy...or whatever semblance of happy that it creates.
I need someone to tell me that it's all going to be OK.
Friday, July 6, 2007
wow, it's been almost a month since my last post. Here are a few updates of what's been going on since then.
* I don't have mono! Yay! This theory was tested on Friday night the week I was sick. Clayton decided to bodyslam me. If I did have mono, then I am currently working without a spleen, as I believe it would have ruptured.
* Camp was June 23-30. It went really well. Jr. highers will suck your soul right out, I am convinced. Many stories will come from camp, I'm sure, but the highlights are: had to call DCFS; sent one girl home after she tried to kill herself; sent two kids to the hospital, one with a gash on his head that required stitches and the other with a broken leg (turned out to be just a chip out of the shin bone); got yelled at by a parent for trying to make her son understand why you can't destroy other people's property and why he has to pay to replace said destroyed items; spent many hours convincing Craig that I did not intentionally give him all of the hoodlums in one cabin, that it just worked out that way; did a Christian Passover Seder; taught the kids about Jesus and how Superman is a modern day parable of the Gospel story; and made fun of Patrick Embley any chance I got. Camp is always a good week, even with all the crap that went on. MY COUNSELORS ROCKED IT OUT!!! They are awesome! Except for Sarah Liz, who is just a mean counselor, of course.
The small groups at camp this year were really deep, especially for jr. highers. My counselors were telling me about times when the kids were just crying after talking about things, such as who they are, why they are here, jesus loves them, what their true identity is, etc. Hopefully lives were changed.
* I LEAVE FOR IRELAND IN NINE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's so insane to think that it's this close already. Before you ask, yes, I am aware of the bombings in London, and yes, I still plan on going. I'm flying into and out of Ireland, and really, no one is mad at the Irish, they just bomb each other. We went ahead and registered our trip with the Embassy, just in case something else happens. Today I went and got my Travel Visa card. It's so much easier than traveler's checks, and if it gets stolen, it's covered by Visa, which is good.
* I still have no job. Been sending out lots of resumes, but nothing back yet. Thankfully, I haven't had any rejections yet either, so I am taking it as a good sign.
Other than that, not much else to report on. My birthday is in 8 days! Yay for birthdays!
* I don't have mono! Yay! This theory was tested on Friday night the week I was sick. Clayton decided to bodyslam me. If I did have mono, then I am currently working without a spleen, as I believe it would have ruptured.
* Camp was June 23-30. It went really well. Jr. highers will suck your soul right out, I am convinced. Many stories will come from camp, I'm sure, but the highlights are: had to call DCFS; sent one girl home after she tried to kill herself; sent two kids to the hospital, one with a gash on his head that required stitches and the other with a broken leg (turned out to be just a chip out of the shin bone); got yelled at by a parent for trying to make her son understand why you can't destroy other people's property and why he has to pay to replace said destroyed items; spent many hours convincing Craig that I did not intentionally give him all of the hoodlums in one cabin, that it just worked out that way; did a Christian Passover Seder; taught the kids about Jesus and how Superman is a modern day parable of the Gospel story; and made fun of Patrick Embley any chance I got. Camp is always a good week, even with all the crap that went on. MY COUNSELORS ROCKED IT OUT!!! They are awesome! Except for Sarah Liz, who is just a mean counselor, of course.
The small groups at camp this year were really deep, especially for jr. highers. My counselors were telling me about times when the kids were just crying after talking about things, such as who they are, why they are here, jesus loves them, what their true identity is, etc. Hopefully lives were changed.
* I LEAVE FOR IRELAND IN NINE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's so insane to think that it's this close already. Before you ask, yes, I am aware of the bombings in London, and yes, I still plan on going. I'm flying into and out of Ireland, and really, no one is mad at the Irish, they just bomb each other. We went ahead and registered our trip with the Embassy, just in case something else happens. Today I went and got my Travel Visa card. It's so much easier than traveler's checks, and if it gets stolen, it's covered by Visa, which is good.
* I still have no job. Been sending out lots of resumes, but nothing back yet. Thankfully, I haven't had any rejections yet either, so I am taking it as a good sign.
Other than that, not much else to report on. My birthday is in 8 days! Yay for birthdays!
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