A little about a lot

A new journey and new blog

2010-07-02T09:04:00.002-05:00

Hi all,
This post is a little late in coming - but for all of you who followed me through A little about a lot - I have moved!

Our new blog is www.whoevercalls.wordpress.com and follows Seth and I as we embark upon this journey to Dallas Theological Seminary and beyond. :)

Thanks for loving us and for following us!

Edie

Playing Catch-Up

2009-02-02T13:35:00.003-06:00

20things that have happened since my last blog posting.
(not necessarily in order.)

1. We carved a pumpkin. It looked retarded.

2. I started (Nov. 12) and finished (Jan. 14 ) working on the poverty project.

3. We went to Chapman and then Atwood for Thanksgiving and for Christmas.

4. We decided to split the holidays next year.

5. I wrecked my car by running into a very large rock at 5 mph. On Christmas Eve.

6. We learned that sharing a car makes us want to kill each other only a leetle.

7. Our friend Staci had a baby.

8. Our friend Davina had a baby.

9. I helped throw a baby shower for our friend Kirsten (due this month).

10. I agreed to help throw baby showers for our friends Dana (due in March) and Jodi (due in April).

11. Our friend Amy announced that she is pregnant (due in August).

12. I asked Seth if we should have a baby RIGHT NOW.

13. He said no.

14. I watched 11 one-year-olds when our church put on a movie night.

15. I decided it was OK to wait awhile to have kids.

16. I went to an engagement party for our friends Sarah and Shea and decided they should live closer.

17. We bought tickets to go to Chicago to see Ada. And Steve and Stacy.

18. My employer introduced a new word to me, "furlough."

19. We decided to buy a house!

20. We started looking at houses and decided there are an inordinately large number of mustard-yellow homes in Hutchinson.

Do you feel caught up?

One month + two days

2008-10-29T16:27:00.009-05:00

Chapt. 1: The Wedding.

It was great.

It was a beautiful day and nothing went wrong enough for me to care and I felt pretty and I got to dance with my dad and at the end of the day I left with my husband, brushing birdseed out of my hair.

My favorite moments:
Seeing Tom and Carla at the salon where I was getting make up done and Jackie was getting her hair done. It was several hours before the wedding and I just felt like Edie and they felt like the Dills and Jackie felt like my best friend on any random day.

Putting on the dress. My mom helped me. That's what I've always wanted.

Seeing Dad for the first time.

Hugging my big brother in my blue underwear.

Attempting to tell my best friends how much they mean to me.

Sitting with Jackie minutes before the wedding. It was just us and we both cried.

Seeing Seth waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

The kiss! (we didn't practice "the kiss" beforehand. I'm so glad we didn't!)

Running out into the birdseed and the great beyond, also known as "marriage."

Chapt. 2 The honeymoon

Also great. Five glorious days of sleeping in, taking naps, wandering out of the condo once a day and chopping off my hair! Whee!

Chapt. 3: Marriage

Wonderful. Honeymoons are great, but I prefer the day in, day out, coming home to Seth in the evening and waking up next to him every morning.

Living together has been a much smoother transition than I ever imagined. Seth wakes up so much earlier than I do and is always done getting ready before I make it out of bed.

He makes sure the house is picked up and will help me do the "real" cleaning when I ask.

There are, however, some unfortunate things about the Ross household.

First off, we have a horrible smell coming from our kitchen. I can NOT figure out what it is or where it is coming from. I don't know how many times I've stuck my nose in various places and sniffed deeply to try to locate the source of the smell. For a long time it seemed it was a smell only detectable by the female nose. However, it has gotten bad enough now that Seth can smell it.
His solution: light a candle.
My solution: Go INSANE.

Also, we have no full length mirror. This is problematic on days when I look at an outfit laid out on the bed and think "this works," only to get to work (where the mirrors are full length) and find out that, "no, it really doesn't."

Case in point: Last week I put together a little ensemble that included brown tights a khaki skirt and a greenish shirt. Cute right? Mirrors at work say NO. I looked like bow-hunter Barbie.

But, overall the last month and two days has been pretty spectacular.

(Click for more pics)

At a loss for words

2008-10-16T10:49:00.004-05:00

Today I received an e-mail from a reader who wants the my newspaper to stop allowing people to post online comments about stories.

The reader says that all "negative" comments about stories or the people in the stories violate our policy to generally disallow any comments that are racist, obscene or libelous.

She says "Good job (newspaper), you are really helping this cut down on the negative feedback of (this town), not. All in all there are several people that I spoke with that would like you to do away with entirely the comment section on articles. Do that in order to make the people of (this town)not look so self centered or ridiculously uncaring."

RAGE!

(sigh)

I don't understand how people are so incredibly short sighted. We see this attitude all the time - this "only positive sentiments should be heard - for the good of the community" attitude.

At a recent school board meeting, HORDES of people showed up to defend a coach who was caught on tape going on a three-minute tirade, berating his players and even threatening to "cut your f-ing nuts off."

When a person who disagreed that this was the best way to build team discipline began to step to the podium, the others in the crowd said he should not be allowed to speak because "there is no place for your comments here."

I'm just so FRUSTRATED that this is what we've become as a society. I'm so frustrated that people would much rather sweep problems under the rug, smiling like idiots, than flush out and address issues that are poisoning the community.

And it makes me sad. It makes me sad that we send soldiers to fight wars to give freedoms that we ourselves seem to disown.

A lot of journalists hold the motto "free speech isn't free" close to their hearts. It seems that it not only isn't free, it also isn't appreciated or desired.

Wedding day weather

2008-09-18T09:39:00.001-05:00

Thanks Lord!

The thing that happened my senior year...

2008-09-17T16:19:00.002-05:00

My senior year in college the adviser of the student newspaper I worked for was fired.

One of my best friends, then the managing editor of the paper, sued the school.

The case is now being taught in media law textbooks at colleges around the country.

I would say the experience in 2004 scarred us all. It still hurts to talk about. However, knowing that K-State's outright disregard for student First Amendment rights will be made an example of in college classrooms lifts my spirits considerably.

A snippet from "Law of Journalism and Mass Communication," by Trager, Russomanno,Ross. Published by McGraw Hill

"In 2004, another fight over content of a university student newspaper involved the court-sanctioned reassignment of the paper's adviser. A federal district court reversed itself to rule that the First Amendment did not prohibit the removal of the Kansas State (University) Collegian's adviser.

The adviser was removed amid controversy over the newspaper's coverage of campus diversity issues and events, both court records and published reports show. Complaints surfaced after the newspaper failed to cover the university-hosted annual Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government. Ron Johnson had also been removed from his advising post briefly in 1998 after he refused to exercise control over the newspaper's content.

Editors of the Collegian joined Johnson's lawsuit claiming that the removal amounted to censorship. A letter from the head of both the journalism school and the university's publications board from 1997 to 2004 said content analysis of the newspaper supported the recommendation to remove the adviser. University administrators denied the decision was based on displeasure with the paper's content, and members of the student publications board said the vote signaled budget concerns.

The Society of Professional Journalists and the Student Press Law Center both officially condemned Johnson's removal, criticized administrators who recommended the move and urged the university to reinstate the former newspaper adviser."

12 days and cohabitation

2008-09-15T14:03:00.003-05:00

Last night I had my first ever dream about the wedding day. I don't remember a lot except for the flowers. They weren't even the flowers I picked out but they were wonderful!

So, we have 12 days. And that seems insane to think about and at the same time like the longest week and five days EVER. Like, EVER.

Things are pretty much ready to go. We need to print and fold the programs, write some thank you notes for the wedding party, and come up with a play list for background music during the reception. The to-do list is beautifully short.

But just to try to keep my stress level high-functioning, I've turned my attention to the task of moving. We have to move me out of my apartment before we leave Hutch for the wedding.

Kids, I'm moving in with a boy.

A boy who does not own a toilet brush.
A boy who doesn't think to wash his sheets.
A boy who rinses off his knives and sets them behind the sink and then uses them again.
A boy who has a couch with absolutely no innards (aka - the man eating couch) that he absolutely REFUSES to part with.
A boy who loves me to the point that when he says "You have no idea how much I love you," I believe him.
A boy who promised to clean his bathroom, has already cleared out space in his closet for my clothes AND SHOES and who says "whatever you want honey" when I talk about how to arrange the furniture.

Yup. :) I pretty much can't wait.

Aug. 28

2008-08-28T13:34:00.006-05:00

Today is not my favorite day.

I'm sick. Picture a big walking, throbbing nose.

Woke up at 6 a.m. so I could give a presentation about Greensburg to the Lion's Club. Really didn't make it out of bed till 6:20 and then in a panic. They meet at 7 a.m. at, not kidding - a funeral home.

When I got to the funeral home I went in what I thought was the south door. Really, it was the north door (no internal compass) and I was dangerously close to the embalming room. I FREAKED OUT, and then woke up some lady sleeping on a couch.

Drove to work. I am fish sitting for a co-worker. It's a beta named Spot and every time I come to my desk after being away for awhile, Spot goes NUTS in his little bowl. I'd like to think he is happy to see me, but I think it is more like "DIE DIE DIE!" So, the fish hates me.

About 11 a.m., after four hours of work and going to one assignment, I realized my shirt was on backward.

Went home for lunch, snorted a baking soda/salt/water mixture up my nose, slipped into a coma for 45 minutes, woke up, turned my shirt around and came back to work.

It is now 1:50 p.m. I feel like I've had enough of this day.

a 13-pound day. No wait. A 12-pound day.

2008-08-01T14:47:00.003-05:00

So, I'm getting married in 57 days. The only reason I know the amount of days is because The Knot tells me so every time I log in. Right now it's kind of fun because 57 days is, like, LONG. But I'm thinking when it's 15 days or something along those lines I'm going to be all "15 days! 15 days! Are they counting today in that?!"

Anyhow. 57 days. That should be enough to lose 10 pounds right? I mean. It's more like 8-12 pounds depending on the day and if I'm wearing my lose jeans that make me feel skinny or my tight jeans that make me want to leave work and literally run home and then eat ice for the next three weeks.

Which leads me to this:

Oprah, in all her glorious wisdom, has posted this article on her web site about women's crazy weight math.

An excerpt:
"Most women know that it is possible to immediately gain 15 pounds by eating one pint of Ben & Jerry's. And when it comes to your butt (which can enlarge six sizes in the wrong pair of jeans), the rules of physics no longer apply.
We need a better way to quantify these fluctuations -- a formula that goes beyond your BMI and calculates the feel of overweight. So I propose the personal body image index (PBII).

The general idea is as follows:

• Start with your weight.
• Subtract seven pounds if you have just worked out.
• Add five if you've single-handedly finished a plate of guacamole and chips; four for macaroni and cheese; six for death-by-chocolate cake.
• Subtract 10 pounds if people nearby are fatter than you.
• If you're wearing black pants, subtract two; if in a bathing suit, add eight."

Yes! It is ridiculous how true this is!

So, along those lines, today I started out about five pounds lighter because I put on my "tight" jeans for the sole purpose of reminding myself that I did not need to eat my weight in food today and found them to 1. look damn good and 2. not be toooo tight, just snug.

It's now 3 p.m. on the nose and I've gained those five pounds back and probably another 8 on top of that because my boss brought in donuts and I ate three.

Wait, wait - subtract a pound because I'm only drinking water today. No soda. Which doesn't do anything to my weight but makes me feel healthier in general.

I know you don't care, but I can't help it

2008-07-08T13:30:00.005-05:00

My IM conversations with Sarah are the funniest part of my life.

Sarah: it takes a lot of emotional energy to keep me in a socially acceptable level of sanity.
Sarah: i'm a nutbag
me: and I love you for it.
Sarah: at least I entertain you.
I'm good for that occasionally :)
me: :) you just make me feel less insane.
me: or at least understood in my insanity.
Sarah: yes true
Sarah: we have the crazy bond.
me: indeed.
Sarah: mm hmm
i had a grande coffee at starbucks hoping the caffeine would help my migraine (insider tip) but now I am shaking like a freak show
adding to my crazy behavior

me: nice. maybe you should go ahead and put on a crazy hat.
or mismatched socks.
just make a day of it.
Sarah: well I figure my first step might be showering.
something I haven't done since SUnday morning
which is admirable.
me: wow.
it's TUESDAY!
Sarah: Oh I know this
I Was going to work out yesterday..but instead sat in my workout clothes.
me: Just so you know. I'm gonna have to blog this conversation -minus the personal parts. But you not showering is not personal enough.
Sarah: and now I have work out clothes on again.
me: One of my favorite things about you is how you put on workout clothes but never actually go to the gym.
Sarah: just some days
Sarah: if you noted in my new facebook album, I Have man arms
which means somedays I actually do make it to the gym
me: I did note your new facebook album and did not notice the man arms but did notice the flat rippley stomach.
which i think it totally genetics which is why i don't have one. I'm sure it has nothing to do with you, like, working hard to get it.
Sarah: it's a god-given talent
me: All of my God-given talent has to be covered up all the time.
Sarah: but you have to take the flat stomach with the man arms
me: Sarah. You do not have man arms.
Sarah: yes.
me: Shea, a man, has man arms.
Sarah: true
I do have man legs
thighs rather
me: you must know some skinny-ass men.
Sarah: Shea can't even push me over with his man arms because my legs are so ...tree trunkish
me: do you have on your crazy hat yet?

Anna

2008-06-20T14:46:00.002-05:00

Exibit B of said "I-am-so-blessed-to-have-this-person-in-my-life" moments from my dear friend Anna, who apparently is in a fight with hives.

"Things I bought tonight: The strongest over-the-counter hydrocortizone cream known to man, AfterBite Xtra, Benadryl’s anti-itch gel (It’s crap. I know it already.), the slightly gritty? Blue Star Ointment, Oreo Cakesters. I’m currently wearing layers of all 4 and eating a Cakester. And? Still itchy."

Seriously? How could you not love a girl like this?

Sarah

2008-06-17T16:29:00.001-05:00

Sarah: also
why would a hotel have MTV, Spike, Cspan and TLC but no Bravo?
Sent at 4:18 PM on Tuesday
Sarah: but luckily polygamists are on Oprah
Sent at 4:20 PM on Tuesday
Sarah: this is nuts. these people are nuts.
Sent at 4:24 PM on Tuesday

It is at a moment like this, when I've just looked up from the story I'm writing and laugh outloud at an IM conversation one of my best friends has just had with herself that I get a glimpse at how incredibly, incredibly blessed I am to have people like this in my life.

Chapman

2008-06-16T14:35:00.002-05:00

I spent the weekend in Chapman, doing what I could to help clean up after a tornado cut a half-mile wide swath through the middle of town.

Standing in the middle of the destruction and Chapman looked a lot like Greensburg. So much in fact that I had moments of something that I can only describe as deja vu.

A house wrecked by a tornado, a school crumbling in on itself, trees stripped of leaves and snapped off at the trunk.

Except this time it was the house the school softball coach lived in, the school whose halls I'd roamed and the tree that stood behind a best friend's home.

It was tough to be in Chapman - to see it wounded - but it also felt good to be there and be part of the clean up. It felt good to know I was part of a community that extended much beyond Chapman city limits and even beyond Kansas when figuring in the people around the country praying and sending aide.

I was proud of my community - proud to see the trucks and tractors rolling in. Proud to see the young men with farmer's tans and shy smiles muscling through the tougher parts of the clean up.

And it was a kick to see my mom directing the younger teachers who assembled to get school supplies out of the classrooms that were still standing on how to properly pack up a classroom.

And, it was touching to see my dad roaming back and forth between the piles of rubble that used to be his friends' houses, doing what he could and wishing he could do more.

I think Chapman will be OK. It will take awhile - but things will again feel normal there. Things might even end up better than they are now.

I feel comforted knowing that aide is available - that there is federal and state dollars that will help leverage other money and fund the rebuilding.

But mostly, I feel comforted knowing that the Chapman community is one that knows what hard work is. The people there know better than most that you can't control nature - that some years it is your best friend and others your worst enemy.
Through it all there is a determination to move forward and I'm sure that's what Chapman will do again.

If you want to help, go here

Linking a link

2008-04-17T15:16:00.003-05:00

Gotta love my friend Anna, who always links to the best thing.

I laughed my rear off at this today.

Ever met "That guy?" I certainly have.

My favorites: "I Declare My Asshole-ness As A Self-Defense Guys. What are they, going through customs? “Anything to declare?” “Why yes, I’m an asshole.”"

"I Went To Italy On My Parents’ Credit Card For Two Weeks, And Now I’m A Fascist About Olive Oil And Can’t Consider Funyuns A “Valid” Snack, Even Ironically Guy."

"I Do The Outdoorsy Thing Because It Prevents Me From Sobbing Like A Little Girl About My Hairline Guy."

"Gets All His Current Events Information From Watching Fox News While Eating Froot Loops Guy"

"Repeats But Does Not Comprehend Or Accurately Attribute Deep Thoughts Guy, whose acoustic guitar case says “I DON’T BELIEVE IN BEATLES, I JUST BELIEVE IN ME — FERRIS BUELLER.”"

10-year-old's hands

2008-03-11T16:30:00.004-05:00

I saw Jackie walking with her quick, purposeful steps toward me and a huge grin spread across my face. We hugged and smiled and laughed and said our hellos in a rush of words.

I celebrated the baby bump that was beginning to form on her formerly non-existent belly and she grabbed my left hand to examine the ring Seth gave me when he proposed.

"It's beautiful!" she said. "Wow. You have, like, 10-year-old hands."

And that is why I love Jackie.

The girl has been my best friend since the 8th grade. I think she knows my heart so well that sometimes her comments carry more meaning than an outsider would think.

I have 10-year-old hands. I do. My nails are short, my fingers are small and I don't take care of my cuticles.

And now there is a diamond ring on one of the fingers that says that I'm a grown up.

And I am - but I think I still sometimes feel like the 10-year-old my hands say I am.

I have no idea how to make a pot roast. And it isn't really that surprising if I run out of gas.

There are a lot of ingredients in the typical cookbook that I've never heard of.

I don't own anything that would allow me to "dust," and my vacuum cleaner sucks -but not in a good way. It really doesn't matter though because I never use it.

A safety pin holds together one of my favorite pairs of pants and I've never even considered a pair of "sensible" shoes. I own an iron, but no ironing board.

I still own the same television my parents gave me when I went to college and it is perched on a coffee table that my grandpa gave me and I painted blue.

On really sunny spring days I still feel like taking off my shirt and driving in my bra, but typically restrain myself from doing so. (Showing progress there, I guess.)

None of my dishes match and all of my knives are dull. Also, I sustain myself with peanut butter and jelly and only recently learned how to cook an egg.

I turn bright red when I even THINK about facing my co-workers after my honeymoon and my favorite movies still tend to be of the Disney variety.

I don't read deep books, I don't watch dramatic movies, and I think going to an art gallery is fun ... for about 30 minutes.

Luckily - the man who is going to make this 26-year-old child his wife knows all of these things about me and loves me anyway. He can't eat three square meals of PB&J like I can, but is more than happy to cook himself a pork chop. Also, his knives are all sharp and he understands how a 401K works - so I think together we'll be OK.

Better than Ok, really.
:)

Brad Paisley

2008-02-14T11:40:00.003-06:00

Brad Paisley sings this song "If I could write a letter to me," giving his 17-year-old self some advice from the older and more mature model.

I think if I had, at age 17, received such a letter, I probably would have ignored it. No. I would've talked obsessively about it to Jackie and then I would have ignored it.

But still, it's fun now to think about what I would tell that thick-headed, naive girl...

Dear Eeds age 17,

Hi honey, it's me. Well, it's you - only older. We're 26 now.

You are a junior, and you are so over high school at this point. You are ready for change! For new and exciting adventures! For another boyfriend!

There are a lot of changes awaiting you, dearheart. In fact - so much changes over the next 9 years that I honestly can't remember what all is happening with you these days. I'm sure you are obsessed with basketball, wish you were prettier and are writing columns for the high school newspaper that you will cringe at in about five years.

The changes that await you, Eeds - some of them are going to make you feel like your world is falling apart. But don't worry ... in the midst of all of that, you will find Hope and Grace. You will fall thankfully into the arms of the One who will not change and will not ever stop loving you.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Some things you should know about high school...

When people let you down, Eeds, it's not because they don't care about you. It's because they are human. Stop taking everything so personally. It will save you a lot of grief.

Along those same lines - you are not perfect. You will never be perfect. No one expects you to be perfect. Chill on the perfection thing.

I know you feel like loving people the way you do is a burden right now. It actually is a gift. You will learn how it was meant to be used later on.

You will love your senior year! Don't doubt your senior spring break plans. You have a blast with Anna, Shannon and Jackie.

You will also love college. A few suggestions, though:
Go hang out with your brother. He won't think you are being a pest, I promise.

You know how things are with mom and dad right now? Well, it gets worse. But - then it gets a lot better. By the time you are my age, you have a great relationship with BOTH of them, and Steven and Stacy are two of your best friends. AND - you are an aunt to the most precious child on the face of the earth!

Eeds, I know you are new at this, but GO TO THE NEWSROOM when big things happen. Didn't realize a big thing happened? WATCH THE FLIPPING NEWS! You are a journalist.
(Really, it's OK. I still don't know sometimes when big things happen.)

In college, you will convince yourself that you have found the guy for you.
Honey, no.
Listen to Jackie. LISTEN TO YOUR GUT.
Ok, I know you are not great at the listening thing. So, I'll tell you this instead. When it is over - you will think that you have lost who you are. And you have. But it's OK, because you will find yourself again and through that process you will learn things that will make your life so. much. better.

It will take a while, and you will be impatient. But one day, truly when you are least expecting it, you will meet the guy who really is the one. His name is Seth. (I know, right? Never imagined his name would be 'Seth.'") He will be everything you asked God for - and - he will be more than you knew to ask for.

Listen, hun. There are ups and downs between being you at 17 and you at 26 - but over-all it's a great nine years. So, enjoy it.

And know this: Every time you fall down, there are a handful of people who want to help you up. You are never alone, never forsaken, never discarded. You are incredibly loved, Eeds. Incredibly loved.

And no. 26 is not old.

Love you more now than I did then,
Eeds age 26

26 in 26

2008-01-23T10:59:00.000-06:00

I know it's been done - but apparently, my wisdom is expanding.
So, 26 things I've learned in 26 years of being a girl.

1. As much as we try to deny it, all of us, ALL OF US, are high maintenance at least some of the time.

2. A collar bone can be very sexy.

3. When choosing jewelry, put on everything you want to wear, and then take off two pieces.

4. God gave us eyebrows for a reason. Shape, don't remove.

5. Every once and awhile, go get a manicure. Having pretty nails is not a sin.

6. Neither is bronzed skin. Trips to the tanning bed on gloomy winter days preserve sanity.

7. All it takes to dress stylishly is the courage to wear something that people will notice and an acceptance of the type of clothes that look good on your body.

8. Learn to apply eyeliner on the inside of your eyelid. It will change your life.

9. Snipping cuss words from your vocabulary goes a long way in encouraging your peers to treat you like an adult and men to treat you like a lady.

10. True beauty really is on the inside.

11. Still, it is OK to put something pretty on and "twirl" just for the sake of twirling.

12. Work on being silent. It also will change your life.

13. NEVER shave before using a salt scrub.

14. Try new recipes with the understanding that laughter is the best response to failure in the kitchen.

15. Chatting over coffee with your mom might be the most important thing you need to do today.

16. Exercising with the goal of being healthy rather than the goal of being thin is so. much. better.

17. Look for beauty. Once you start looking, you'll find it all around. You'll find it in other women, old and young. You'll even find it in yourself.

18. Those who resolve to be someone who embraces smile lines give themselves permission to truly shine.

19. Placing a space heater under your desk is one of the best things you can do for your career.

20. Strive for elegance, not sex appeal.

21. Don't be stupid. Just because you can apply make-up/change your pants while driving doesn't mean you should.

22. Jergens lotion goes on your body. Neutrogena lotion goes on your face.

23. Innocence does not mean naivety. Matthew 10.16 "...Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

24. Boyfriends and husbands are not your girlfriends. They are men. They will not talk, listen or act like women. When you expect them to be something they aren't, you miss out on what they are.

25. Turtle neck + Dangly Earrings = a sure winner, every time.

26. Worship God. Don't worship men. Don't worship beauty. Don't worship success. Don't worship "perfection." Don't worship popularity. Jesus is who you're looking for.

I do want to be one of them...

2008-01-14T10:34:00.000-06:00

Lord I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know
It's more than I can handle
But your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
and I cannot let it go

And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind
it often overwhelms me
but when I think of all who've gone before and lived the faithful life
their courage compells me
And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars

I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharohs court
I hear his call for freedom for the people of the Lord

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul

I see the young missionary and the angry spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sisters standing by the dying man's side

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door

I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
and when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them

This is a new favorite for me - by Sara Groves.

Makes me think of my Mom...a teacher for decades, she's now volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate - speaking on behalf of children who sorely need someone to stand up for them.

Every week she faces different situations in which her "kids" are being let down or abused - but she doesn't give up in the face of "all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind."

I think she wants to be one of them, too.

Happy Birthday

2007-12-19T10:43:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite days has always been my older brother's birthday.

I think when I was little, it was because it signaled that Christmas was just right around the corner. Plus we got to have cake and I got to see family.

As we've gotten older, I mostly like to tease brother about how old he's getting (He's 29!) Also, for the past three years, it's provided a great blog topic.

This year is different from years past, because this year my big brother is anticipating fatherhood. He's going to be a dad in February. Not only is he going to be a dad - he's going to be a dad to a little girl.

Brother isn't that much older than me - only about three years - but he definitely had an important role in this little girl's life. He has always been and always will be my friend, my confidant and my protector.

When we were kids, he was the person who made sure I wasn't left out.

When I got old enough to be interested in boys, he let me know that he expected me to expect respect.

In college, he taught me that if I was going to run to class, I should RUN. The half-walk/half-run was unacceptable. Also, perhaps more appropriate advice but no more important - he advised me that if I felt overwhelmed in the big lecture halls, I should sit in the front.

These days, he calms me down when I'm freaking out about things I have absolutely no control over. He calls me on windy days and we talk about our family, our friends, our lives and usually end up laughing.

My beautiful niece has all of these things and more to look forward to from her daddy.

She is a lucky - strike that, blessed - little girl. And so am I.

Happy birthday big brother. :)

Follow-up e-mail to Gary

2007-12-14T09:15:00.000-06:00

Yes, my power is still out.

Yes, despite my efforts to stick it out by sleeping in sweats, entertaining myself with a flashlight and a mirror and eating cold cereal with no milk (I made it the first two days) I have sought alternate shelter. Shelter that has heat and light and a working refridgerator and microwave.

Yes, I still go check my house and pick up the mail and lock the doors.

Yes, I understand that the downed power line in my back yard is dangerous, and I'm staying away from it.

Yes, I realize the food in my fridge is bad now. Especially the milk.

Yes, I know that pipes can freeze and have taken measures to prevent it.

Yes, I know not to park my car under ice-laden trees. Don't worry, I'm trying not to walk under them either.

Yes, I'm watching out for all of the big trucks coming to town to help clean up.

Also - Yes, I realize it's supposed to snow today. For information on my preparedness for winter storms, please see previous e-mail.

Love you,
Eeds

P.S. I am wearing shoes and I do have a coat. Also, the antifreeze in my car was recently checked and I'm making sure to keep the gas tank over half full.

E-mail to Gary

2007-12-10T11:55:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know there is a huge ice storm coming.

Yes, I have a snow shovel and ice melt.

Yes, I will be very careful if I MUST drive, but will stay out of my car and off of the roads when possible. I do realize the Cavalier has some limitations in the ice/cold/snow.

Yes, I know not to go outside without a coat on. Also, I do realize that shoes are important.

Yes, I’ve called my landlords to find out whether my pilot light will stay lit in the case of the electricity going out.

Yes, I have the phone number to Westar to report outages.

Yes, I have people in my neighborhood who could help me if I needed it.

Yes, I have enough food and water to last me if, for some reason, I’m unable to leave my home for a day.

Also, I have your phone number in case any unpredicted emergency comes up that only a Dad could fix.

Love you,

Eeds

Tights

2007-11-13T16:44:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite things about late fall is that increment of time where it's cool enough to wear tights with skirts rather than going bare-legged but not so cold that the only choice is wool pants.

For me, that time started today. I paired a jean skirt with some off-white tights with a little flower design in them. All day long, I felt like a little girl.

That's because until I turned 25 and started letting my crazy aunt influence my fashion choices, that was the last time I wore tights.

Side note: I can't help but laugh when I see little girls running around in cute little skirt outfits with their tights inching their way down so that the crotch is at the knees and extra material bunches aroudn their ankles. Their moms worked so hard to achieve that cuteness level, and the tights just aren't cooperating!

In other news:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, . . . something, something, something . . . K&E did something good . . . .something, something, something . . .. The End.

:O)

It's official

2007-11-08T14:35:00.000-06:00

I have now listened to my first Christmas carol of the season: "O Holy Night" performed by Shawn McDonald.

In other news:

* I went to PA to see Jackie a few weekends ago. The weekend went something like this:
17 conversations about who Seth is, why I love him and general giddyness (probably more)
6,876 pieces of Starburst candy eaten
2 walks taken
1 uncontrollable laughing fit at midnight
2 sets of manicured nails
1 celebrity comic seen
1 traffic jam
countless memories made

* This weekend is SIL's Kansas baby shower! I'm very excited to see my pregnant sister in law and all of the other aunts and grandmas! I absolutely hate one of the gifts I got for her though - because it's really not fun, and I wanted to get something fun but was completely overwhelmed by the phenomenon that is Babies R Us, so I just got the first thing I saw on the gift registry and bolted.

* I have been working on one story for a month and STILL don't have it done. Blah.

* It's Fall! Yay!

* My landlord hasn't fixed my windows - which have HOLES in them - yet. Boo.

The end.

Awesome lyrics

2007-09-06T12:35:00.000-05:00

"Are You Sure?" Bethany Dillon

I've written you a lot of songs
The kind you write on rainy days
Unrequited love
But now I'm humming a different tune
Just twelve hours ago
I was sitting on a bench with you

I've never heard of something that sweet
But are you sure you want me?

I tried to say, I want this to work
And yet take off the weight
If you change your mind, I won't hurt forever
Because I don't know what else to do
But I'd do anything to have three more hours on a bench with you

I've never heard of something that sweet
But are you sure you want me?

Everything within me doesn't want to risk
Doesn't want to risk anymore
But if it means I get to see the light in your eyes
I'll risk so much more

I've never heard of something that sweet
But are you sure you want me?

I won't be full of second guesses
So now I'll just sit and think about how sweet it is

Reporting insanity

2007-08-30T17:52:00.000-05:00

Last week I helped cover a six-hour standoff between police and a 21-year-old who had violated his parole. The SWAT team came in, the K9 unit came in, snipers set up in a field and... we waited.

At one point the wind caught the some of the tear gas wafting from the 20 canisters police shot inside the apartment where the suspect was "holed up" and I got a wiff of it. Ugh.

It ended up, there was no suspect. Thus - a non-standoff.

On Tuesday, someone called a bomb threat into two local grocery stores. At one of the stores it resulted in another nearly 6-hour standoff as well as a hostage situation. I got sunburnt, but there was no bomb at either of the grocery stores. So, non-bomb threats.

At about 11 a.m. Wednesday, another bomb threat came across the scanner. It was called into one of the grocery stores that had been threatened the day before. We ran out there ...

Don't we look scared? By this time we were old hats at standing around and waiting for something to happen, knowing full well that nothing ever would.

That day there were three subsequent bomb threats called in - all turned up to be nothing. You can read more about it here.

Then, today, the president came to visit. Since that whole incident with his secret service men frisking me, we're kinda pals now.

(Apparently, I wear tank tops and my hair in a braid EVERY day. It's like a uniform.)

So, yeah. I moved from the big city to a small rural town and its here that I have dealt with bomb threats and police stand offs and had two run-ins with the President.

Insanity.

Seriously?

2007-08-30T13:11:00.000-05:00

Does anyone else think this is a little excessive?

But...why?

2007-08-17T10:55:00.000-05:00

Things I believe have no redeemable quality.
* Mosquitos
* The over type key
* Those iiiittty bitty band aids.
* Throw-away shavers. Is it really worth having shaved legs if you have all that razor burn?
* Rice Cakes. Why not just eat ice?
* Caffeine-free Diet Coke. Wha?
* Those things you put on shelves to keep dishes from sliding. Why don't you want your dishes to slide? Why do you want to make the horrible task of unloading the dishwasher more difficult? I don't understand...
* Wall paper. Ugh. Just UGH.
* Petunias
* Stilettos that pinch your toes. I agree that heels are pretty hot, and sometimes it seems like the pain is worth it. But really, how hot can you look when your shoes hurt you so bad that when you walk you look like you're doing a combination of the "I have to pee" dance and the "Both of my legs are asleep" dance.
* The refrigerator in Brother's car. (OK, it DOES have redeemable value, but still...a refrigerator...in your CAR.)

I'm not questioning The Big Guy, here. I know He has a good reason for creating everything He created - His ways are not our ways and all of that. When I get up there, I'll ask him about mosquito's.

Caffeine

2007-07-31T09:43:00.000-05:00

Today was going to be the day.

The day that I cut back on my caffeine intake.

But then I mentioned in the morning meeting that I had considered stabbing a source in the neck and I decided that today should definitely NOT be the day.

The end.

Dear Nanaw

2007-07-23T14:00:00.001-05:00

Dear Nanaw,
I thought of you today because I had a cucumber sandwich for lunch. I went to Allie's, a little deli here, and ordered the "veggie crunch" sandwich. It had cream cheese, cucumbers and bean sprouts. It was soooo good, but not as good as the ones you make.

I was eating with a lady I met last week - her name is Pat as she's the pastor here at the United Methodist Church. I know you'd like it if I went to church there, but I probably won't. Hope that's OK. They have an evening service on Wednesdays that I think I'll go to, so that can be our compromise.

Pat is nice and I really enjoyed having lunch with her. I hope we can do it again sometime.

It wasn't just today that I thought about you. I think about you a lot.

I think about you when I look at my hands. They look like yours.

And every morning when I put your ring on, and every evening when I take it off, I think of you then, too.

The ring is fabulous, by the way. Everyone I meet asks me about it, and I get to talk about you, and tell them what a classy lady you are, and that you call this a "dinner" ring. I always add that I have no idea why you call it that. I'll have to ask you the next time we talk.

I also think about you when I wear your earrings. I have the red ones and some dangly coin ones that Par always recognizes, and some with turqoise in them.

I think about you when I'm with Seth, because I want him to meet you. He's special, and I hope you like him. I'm sure you do.

I think about you when I say the Lord's prayer, because I can hear your voice saying "And the power, And the glory ..." You emphasize the "and." That's how I say it now, too.

Sometimes I get sad when I think about you, but usually I'm smiling when you come to mind. It helps to have so many things that remind me of you, because I miss you a lot. I know you are doing great. I'm doing pretty good here, too. I can't wait to hear what you've been up to.

I love you,
Eeds

I mean, c'mon...

2007-06-20T09:13:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl I remember watching "The Secret Garden." The main character, Mary, had two friends - Colin and Dickon. Colin starts out as a whiney little brat and at one point asks Mary who she likes better - him or Dickon. (This is a very silly question for a sickly whiner to ask when his competition is a handsome kid who can make stuff grow.)

Still, Mary said: "I like you the same for different reasons."

I will always remember that. It's stuck with me all these years and I'm not sure why. Maybe because it rings so true. God has blessed me with a few very special friends - all who I love and love for different reasons.

I've written about Anna. Today I'm writing about Sarah.

I met Sarah my sophomore year of college.

We were on the Collegian staff together. As we endured some tough times together, our friendship became solid. Once we were both out of college and dealing with the real world, we seemed to get even closer.

Sarah is unlike any of my other friends. The first thing I think most people notice about her is how tiny she is. The second thing likely is that her presence is much larger than her body.

Sarah tells it like it is. When I'm the one she's telling it to, it's always in love and out of concern for what's best for me.

She's not afraid to giggle, she's tough and tenderhearted at the same time. She's intelligent and doesn't make apologies for it. Traveling all over the United States doesn't bother her, but amusement park rides do. Sometimes she's surprised at her own strength when no one else is. Someone once compared her to a bar of hotel soap and she graciously thought it was cute. She can shoot fire out of her eyes, and ... she is adorable.

I mean, c'mon...who wouldn't love this girl?

Demands

2007-06-13T18:38:00.000-05:00

The other day brother demanded a new post. I have no idea what to write about so I'll pose a question that I should probably know the answer to, but don't.

Why do misquito bites itch?

In other news ...

* TOO HOT. My duplex's ac doesn't seem to affect the climate of my upstairs bedroom, which means I've been sleeping downstairs the last few nights. This is significant because it confirms my fears that I've become a wuss. I used to sleep with no AC and no heat every night at the farm and was fine.
Luckily, from all of those childhood summers, I know the secret to sleeping without AC. You just have to lie very still until you fall asleep. Somewhere around 2 a.m., it will finally cool down enough for you to need a sheet. Then you're golden. Unfortunately I'm now a whiney impatient city girl with another, cooler bedroom to sleep in until I can buy a window unit. So the secret really does me no good.

* NUTSO. I've reached "neurotic" at age 25. (I should get points because I almost made it to 26.) It runs in the family.
It occurred to me that I had met the "crazy" half of the crazy/beautiful combo the other night when, being extremely frustrated for absolutely no reason at Seth, I got off the phone with him and turned my fire-shooting-out-of-my-eyes anger at my bed sheets, which were NOT LAYING RIGHT and were TOO CLINGY and TOO HOT. I got so mad that I wanted to cry and just as the tears were pooling in my eyes I broke into laughter and proceeded to laugh my ass off.
Then a little voice said "Yep. You're crazy all right." But I think I'm not commit-able because the little voice didn't start laughing with me.

* SUCKING AIR. For the last two mornings, I've gotten up early to go for a jog. So far, so good. I'm liking it. But this afternoon, one of our designers came by my desk and said he saw me finishing up my run this morning. He lives down the street from me, which means he saw me as I, with a "Oh Thank God" look in my eyes reached my corner and came to an abrubt and ungraceful halt. Usually, at that point, I assume I look something like this:

Great...

Reasons my job rocks

2007-05-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

1. For the past three weeks, I've worn a t-shirt and blue jeans, a ball cap and tennis shoes to work pretty much every day of the week. In fact, this morning, I came through the door in a skirt and my coworkers didn't recognize me.

2. My boss has done my job. It's always best to work for someone who was a reporter first. Also, today he bought me mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches just because he thought I deserved one. This is a guy who knows how to get me to work.

3. Every day, there is a good story to tell. It's wonderful in an overwhelming way.

4. It's only a mile and a half from my house.

5. Everyone is pretty laid back.

6. They sell York Peppermint Patties in the vending machine.

I KNOW!

7. It smells like ink in the mornings.

8. I got to change desks today. This is good for three reasons: a. I don't sit under the "News/Editorial" sign anymore, which means that now the people who come in to yell at the first "news/editorial" person they see can bewilder someone else. b. I'm no longer the first person in the line of fire if someone walks through the door with a gun. c. The police scanner on this desk allows me to TURN DOWN THE VOLUME. Hallelujah.

9. My job frequently allows me the pleasure of driving around and looking at wheatfields.

10. They still let me drive the company car even though I kinda tap-tap-tappityed that mean old lady that one time.

Being held

2007-05-03T15:23:00.000-05:00

One of my best friends is an amazing woman named Anna. Something Anna used to say, and still does say, is "I hold you in my heart."

I've used this saying myself. Sometimes it's the best way to say what you mean - that the person being held means so much to you. It means that you love them deeply, think of them often and carry their friendship with you wherever you go.

It means that the person who is held has become a little bit of who you are. It means that sometimes, as you are wandering around your life and see or hear a certain something, the part of your heart where the person is held swells up and makes you smile or laugh or praise God.

Like I said ... I've used this saying. But it never quite sounds right coming out of my mouth. It belongs to Anna. She is one of the best "holders."

This is an e-mail from Anna to me. The subject was "Purple"

"For some reason, whenever I hear of the book/play "The Color Purple," I think of you. I really have no idea what the book is about, but somehow it's in the same cubby hole of my mind as Maya Angelou and quilts and the actual color green and bare feet and cute wrinkly grandfathers and Dr. Pepper, because all of those things make me think of you, too. Strange, I know. That's how much I love you, I guess. Do you even drink Dr. Pepper any more?

But anyway. I just saw this quote that is evidently actually from the book "The Color Purple", and it totally sounds like you, so I thought I'd share. "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."

I think so, too. Maybe more disappoints, rather than pissing off, but somedays, probably pissing off is pretty darn accurate.

But anyway, again. Love you and miss you and wish you didn't live in Kansas even though you love brick streets and stars at night. Wish you were closer, or I was closer, or something.

Anna"

See?

And yes. I think most days it probably disappoints God when we walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice, and some days it probably makes Him throw up his hands in frustration at how seldom we see the ways He's saying "I love you, child."

Today, though, I didn't miss the color purple. It came in an e-mail from my friend Anna.

Introducing ...Seth

2007-04-28T13:53:00.000-05:00

To blog or not to blog about your boyfriend?

I'm not really sure what the right answer is, but I keep wanting to blog about taking the boy home to meet the parents and can't figure out how to do it without, well, introducing him to the blogily. (That'd be blog and family put together. I'm a genius.)

So, this is Seth.

and, umm...this:

Moving on...Last weekend Seth met the dad, the mom and the Par. Over-all it was a good experience, although there were some rocky points.

Meeting Dad:
This little excursion started out pretty good. Dad gets points because we were about 20 minutes late to start out with and he didn't even rant and rave.

Dad loaded Seth and I into the grocery getter and off we went to Junction City to have Mexican food. So far, so good. Dad shows us around, takes us to see the development and then we head for home. This is where things started going into the direction of "No. Noooo. NOOOOOOOO."

We were ALMOST HOME. Just a mile away from the farm, approaching Good Hope cemetery - where our family burial plot is.

I notice that dad is slowing down, but I think. "No... he wouldn't."

Oh, but he would.

As Dad turns into the cemetery my thoughts are going something like "Holy crap this is not happening to me. Dad is so going into a nursing home."

Dad started talking about Sidney Solen and George and Minnie and the woman who married a Hines who was a drunkard or something.

I honestly can't say how Seth reacted because at that point I blacked out, waking up back at the farm with drool on my shirt.

Meeting the mom:
We went by Mom's school next to say hello. It was just before the end of the day and her kids were having a checkers tournament (and screaming 'I'm gonna beat the tar outta you,' which apparently they learned from their teacher) when we walked in.

Upon our arrival the hyperenergy in the room went up about 10 notches and pretty soon we were seeing everything they had in their desks, hearing when their birthdays were, wiggling loose teeth and giving high fives. They LOVED Seth, and I think Mom did, too.

Meeting the Par:
Par, as always, shined. He sat back in his big arm chair and talked about reading the Bible, loving the kids that ride his bus and baseball. He didn't even blink an eye when Seth mentioned something about being Baptist, and only pressured him a leetle bit to make sure that any of his future plans that might involve me also include staying close to Abilene.

So, now Seth just has to make it past the crazy aunt, Brother and SIL. And Jackie. And Anna. And Sarah. Both Sarahs, actually.

Poor guy.

I'm pretty sure Brother will like him, because they share a dislike of the French. Not sure they actually have any of the same interests, but that shouldn't really matter as long as they're aligned on the whole "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" thing.

Soybeans? Seriously? Can I dip them in butter?

2007-04-24T14:04:00.000-05:00

While I was giving my brain a break from writing today, I stumbled upon the Top 10 mood-lifting foods on Yahoo.

Apparently, a diet rich in soluble fiber, omega 3 fats, folic acid, b12 adn Vitamin D goes a long ways toward making you a happier person. These are the foods they suggest:

1. Wild salmon (as opposed to tame salmon?)

2. Spinach

3. Skim milk

4. Ground flaxseeds

5. Blackberries

6. Omega 3 fortified eggs

7. Sardines

8. Soybeans

9. Beans

10. Brussels sprouts
11. Sunflower seeds

Umm...what about chocolate? Does ice cream fit in the skim milk category?

I ate soybeans once when Brother, SIL, Midge and I went out for sushi, and I like sunflower seeds apart from the whole spitting in front of people thing. But otherwise, what is with this list?

Advertising for American Idol

2007-04-18T08:49:00.000-05:00

I was walking past the advertising people this morning and overheard two ad guys talking.

One guy - a very manly man - said something like:

"I thought it would be Sanjaya, mumble mumble mumble. But what Simon said at the end mumble mumble mumble."

I got about 10 paces away and realized he was rehashing last night's American Idol and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Virginia Tech

2007-04-16T12:27:00.000-05:00

I can't put words to how my heart aches for the loved ones of the victims at Virginia Tech, or how I mourn for the students there who will always define their college days with this tragedy.

I can't understand that kind of hate, but I do understand that, even though it may not seem so today, hate had already been defeated and so has it's author.

So again - John 16.33: Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

And, Romans 16:20: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

Good things about today

2007-04-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

I met an elderly woman who was so incredibly in love with her husband even though he, because of a stroke, hasn't been able to talk with her for years.

I met a new lady in the breakroom today and didn't even have to make up a name for her. Her name is Lori and she works up front. It's always good to know the ladies up front ... they're the ones who really run the paper.

I went to the courthouse and didn't get lost! Yes! (the courthouse is about a block away from the paper, but somehow I always get lost. Today I found it on my first try, but still had to make a u-turn to park.)

At the courthouse as I was getting into an elevator, a lady told me "You have really pretty legs. I'm not queer or anything. I just noticed."

About 5 minutes ago a huge group of high school students came through the newsroom on a tour. As the tour guide was explaining that "these are the reporters who work hard to get you the news," I was balancing my checkbook online. Whoops. Oh well. Kids need to know that it's important to be financially responsible, right?

Bunch of turkeys

2007-04-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

It's 9:17 a.m. and the editor, reporter and photographer for the "Outdoors" section are doing turkey calls at each other. Then they all laugh. Then they do it again.

I knew there was a reason I got into journalism...

Sweet tooth

2007-04-09T11:50:00.000-05:00

Well it's time to fess up.

Thank you all for walking through this Lenten season with me. Thanks for the encouragement and also a big umm... "thanks" to those of you who thought up clever ways for me to cheat...I'm sure your hearts were in the right place. ;)

I did as well as I could. There was that one occasion where I licked icing off a spoon (totally not my fault) and I'll admit that I did accidentally eat a cookie.
I just wasn't thinking. I mean, it was right out of the oven. It's like a reflex to eat cookies that are still warm and gooey from the oven, right? Right.

So - yeah. I messed up a couple of times, but not on purpose - which I think is pretty good.

It's a good reminder that I'll never be perfect, and that it's not the being perfect that is important. It's the trying to be perfect while acknowledging that it is unattainable on this earth.

It's the striving to be a better woman than I am, and realizing that it will only come through my seeking a closer walk with my Lord. And this is the kicker... not only will seeking a closer walk make me a better woman for others, it will also bless my life beyond what I can ask for or imagine.

So, I'm back on sweets. Actually - I'm not really.

I tried to eat a sugar-frosted sugar cookie last night and it really just kinda made me feel sick. I cannot imagine why...

But, not one to quit after a first try, I pressed on. Unfortunately the DARK CHOCOLATE mini eggs also made me feel a little nauseous, and so did the chocolate chip cookie that I've been saving in the freezer since the end of February.

So alas, I gave up. When it warms up and starts acting like April again, I'm going to get some green ice cream. Otherwise, it looks like I'll have to ease back into sweets. Oh darn.

Interesting things about the break room

2007-04-05T11:54:00.000-05:00

1. We have two microwaves and they are both reallllly clean.

2. They really, really, REALLY don't want you to put pop cans - opened or unopened - in the freezer. There are two notes - both laminated and taped within an inch of their life to the fridge door - to that effect.

3. There is a scale in there. I'm so confused by this. Who weighs themselves at work? (there's also a scale in the women's restroom. Weird, huh?)

4. There is a man, I think he's part of the press crew, who is usually eating when I go in to get my lunch. I don't know his name, so for now I'm calling him Buddy. I like Buddy because of the way he enjoys his lunch. He always watches Fox News (at some point Buddy and I will have a talk about how this is bad for the soul) and makes his way through his ginormous lunch box. Buddy is not a big guy, but he eats soooo much. The food just keeps coming out of that lunch box - kinda like Mary Poppin's carpet bag.

And on a completely unrelated note - Happy Birthday to my Pops!
Love,
eeds

And I'm back

2007-04-03T19:13:00.000-05:00

So, the new town agrees with me.

People wave here, and old women are round like they're supposed to be.

I live on a brick street, I can see the stars at night, and the moonlight comes in through the windows and shines on my bed. Also, my neighbors are nice, my landlord is a farmer and it takes me four minutes to drive the one mile to work.

I love my little yellow house, although living in a duplex is a new experience. One night around midnight, I thought I could hear someone walking around. So I sat up and listened REALLY carefully and by golly - I COULD hear someone walking around.

This is where my Eeds logic kicked in. I took my phone and dialed 911, but didn't push send. Then, I grabbed my sorority paddle thing with the other hand and crept out of my room. The thought was that I would smack the burglar and then push send and call 911 while he was dazed.

Riiiight. Those of you who know me know that it's most likely that, had I been faced with a burglar, I would've dropped the phone and the paddle - probably on my foot - and fainted.

Anyhow, lucky for me, there was no burglar - it was the people in the other side of the duplex walking around and squeaking their floorboards, which are also my floorboards, but whatever.

Also, the new job is a gift straight from God.

Every morning I walk in and am greeted with the smell of a newspaper. The printing press is in the building, so the ink smell is all around. It's just great.

You know those old Folgers commercials where the people are all tired and then they open the coffee can and inhale deeply and are suddenly awake and dancing and stuff. Well, it's kinda like that, only I don't really dance.

I've told at least 15 people that "This is Eeds from the Kansas City Star," and then wonder why they act so surprised that I'm interested in why a tiny western Kansas town has a special question about recreation commissions on its ballot. Good thing people are patient around here.

The people I work with are nice, and I feel like there is a lot of room for me to grow here. I just feel incredibly blessed by the situation I've found myself in. But, then again, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Matt. 7:7: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Saying so long

2007-03-20T11:22:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow my co-workers and editors will have a going away dinner and cake for me. My official last day is Thursday, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be done with all of my work by tomorrow, so Thursday is going to be a short day, if I come in at all.

Being so close to the end of my time here at this big-city newspaper is exciting, but there are some things I'll miss. Even more though, there are some things I'll rejoice to leave behind.

Things I'll be fine without:
Weird ad guy who stares at me when I get out of my car. Ugh.

A kajillion e-mails a day saying "This is our new payroll system procedure," followed by "Wait, we're changing the procedure," and then "Go back to the first procedure, but make these changes," and finally "This is really just for practice because we won't really launch the new payroll system until April. P.S. We've changed the procedure again. Watch for that e-mail."

Too many editors.

Mandates from California that make me want to throw pens at people.

An EIC who wouldn't know me if he fell over me.

Weekend shifts - 8 hours of staring at a corner.

Things I'll miss:
Being able to wear jeans whenever I want.

Leaving at 3:30 on Fridays. Pretty sure that won't fly anywhere else.

Still...I think I'll be able to handle the new job and the whole working til 5 on Friday thing since I'll get to periodically get to drive around and look at wheatfields.

Whee!

Oh. My. Goodness.

2007-03-14T23:32:00.000-05:00

Just realized that on my last day at this job - when there will be a delicious cake waiting to be devoured in my honor - it will still be the Lenten season. So...no sweets.

Now, I've argued my way into being able to have pb&j, granola bars, chocolate milk and some types of mints - but I don't think I can find a way to call cake anything other than a "sweet."

So, alas. I don't get to eat a piece of my goodbye cake.

Hmph.

However, I'm reminded that it makes God no less God if I eat cake during a time I've given up sweets. The giving up is to help me.

Lent is about bringing me closer to my Creator, who is the one true Provider. So, really if I decide to take a day off to eat a piece of the goodbye cake, I can. I'm not sure I want to though... UGH! That's probably pride!

Oh, I can't win!

She's gone country

2007-03-13T12:39:00.000-05:00

That's right. My time in the city is coming to an end. Halle-glorius-lujah.

I recently accepted a position at a Kansas newspaper a little further west and south of my current location. A little further west and south and a lot more country.

I am so incredibly stoked.

I'll be a general assignment reporter, which will mean a lot of jumping and running when news happens in my soon-to-be home of about 50,000 people. The job and the locale are much more my speed. I'm so excited to get there.

On the other hand, I can't close out this chapter of my life without praising God for His faithfulness to me and the ways He has blessed me over the past few years.

He led me to my church, which I love. The people there have grown me in ways I didn't even know I needed to grow. I've found spiritual mothers and fathers - something I'd never experienced before. I will miss them horribly, but at the same time, I know that they've equipped me to go somewhere else and make a difference.

He gave me a job that has been a great experience. Upon arriving here, I was pretty sure I wouldn't want to stay for much more than 2 years. Still, I've become a much better journalist, have worked with some amazing reporters and editors and have learned more about what it means to serve a community through journalism. I've met some amazing friends through my work and have had some really, really good times.

He surrounded me with young women of faith. These women - in their own ways - are truly amazing. They are precious stones. We've all made steps toward being more of who God created us to be and that has been an amazing experience.

I've been happy in my time here. I've grown, I've struggled, I've learned, I've fallen, I've been wounded, I've been healed. I wouldn't give up this time in my life for anything. But I'm so excited for the next chapter.

ah-hem

2007-03-07T15:55:00.000-06:00

Warning: I'm going crazy.

I have a lot to do. A lot. And big decisions to make that will affect the REST OF MY EVER-LOVING LIFE DON'T TRY TO TELL ME THEY WON'T. Also, I can't have sweets.

Not a good combination, folks.

Humble Pie

2007-03-01T09:10:00.000-06:00

Many of my faithful blog readers (all four of you) have recently heard me whine about a story I'm working on that makes me want to scoop my eyeballs out with a spoon and fling them at people.

I've had sources yelling at me , and I get at least one phone call about the story a day. Add to that the fact that every time an editor reads the story, she or he has asked me to add to it, leaving the story at a whopping 52 inches with a 14-inch factbox at completion. (normal stories are 10-20 inches long)

Here's where the whining came in. It went something like "these idiot editors keep having me add stuff to this story and there is no way in heaven or hell that they are going to run a 52-inch story with a 14-inch factbox. A story that long has never been run in the history of the world. Even God in all of his benevolence would not run a story that long."

I just knew they were going to hack out all the parts I had spent hours adding at their request. How else would they get a 52-inch story down to a manageable 30-35 inches? I mean, I know I can be wordy, but I've re-written this story 15 times and had already cut out a lot of the extra words.

Last night my editorstarted cutting. She cut 14 inches out of the story by just getting rid of redundant phrases and some explanation that really didn't need to be there. She cut parts of quotes, she cut parts of transitions. The point is, she cut 14 inches - the size of a normal story - out of my story without cutting out any one section or topic.

I am totally amazed and completely humbled.

Chi-Chi-Chi-CAGO

2007-02-26T15:24:00.000-06:00

Went to the Windy City last weekend to see Brother, SIL and to play with Sarah.

All in all a good weekend. Here are the stats:

2: Rounds of sushi we ate on Friday night. It was my first sushi experience and I was de-lighted. The delight came after some very awkward moments with me figuring out 1. how to use chopsticks and 2. How to eat soybeans.

15: number of minutes Sarah and I spent in a bar bathroom listening to a girl bawl about the unfairness of life/boys. Sarah stared with open disgust.

0: number of times Sarah moves from her weird and uncomfortable-looking sleeping position during the night. This completely amazed me.

11: Time I woke up both Saturday and Sunday morning.

20: Number of dollars I spent on a pair of Banana Republic jeans that fit perfect AND were on sale. How often does that happen?

129: Number of restaurants to which Brother and SIL discussed going in a time span of three minutes.

4: Number of hours it took for Baby GAP employee to wrap gift for cousin's baby shower.

1: Pair of new black heels purchased.

17: Times I thought I was going to fall on my rear in first jaunt out in said heels.

1.5: hours spent in Shedd Aquarium. So cool! I really enjoyed this. My favorite part was the sea turtle that had been hurt and therefore swam with her butt in the air. Or the sharks. The sharks were cool, too.

13: Number of times they changed the departure time on Sarah's flight home. She finally got on the plane around 9 p.m. for her 5:30 p.m. flight.

10: Time Sunday night I was supposed to get home.

2: Time Monday morning I actually made it home.

Fat Tuesday

2007-02-20T12:58:00.000-06:00

I'm not really a give-it-up-for-Lent person. Usually, the Lenten season starts before I realize it and I miss the chance to give up something that I think makes my life better but probably actually has the opposite effect.

But not this year. No, this year I'm ahead of the game. Lent starts tomorrow and today I have an empty 3 Musketeers wrapper lying on my desk representing the last of the "sweets" for me until Easter.

Now, "sweets" means food. So if you see me guzzling a Diet Coke don't feel the need to remind me of my Lenten promise unless you want the empty Diet Coke can flung at your head.

Speaking of me doing violence to you: this blog serves as a warning. Beware. I'm giving up sweets for more than a month. The fact that sugar has the ability to make me so happy and the lack of sugar has the ability to make me a cranky mess is just ONE of the reasons I knew the sweets had taken over too much of my life, and therefore needed to be given up.

But me realizing that doesn't mean I will be any less cranky during my first donut withdrawal. Just FYI. I can't be responsible for my actions.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a completely unrelated note, I went to the YMCA last night and they had purchased treadmills with personal televisions attached. WHOOO HOOO!

This is exciting because:

1. * Now I don't have to try to get there early to get the really good magazines. ** Who wants to READ when you can watch TV?

2. I can run while watching a svelte television actress prance around, only encouraging me to KEEP RUNNING TOWARD THE GOAL of looking like Carrie. Or even better - Samantha! OK, at least shoot for Miranda.

3. Free cable! Whee! (says the girl without cable.)

* If you get there after 5 p.m. you're stuck with Parenting or Bike Riding Weekly or Newsweek while the girl next to you is reading the latest on JLo and Justin Timberlake. The most important thing in choosing a workout magazine is to get one with lots of pictures because who can really READ while running? Sheesh.
** Crap, I just verbalized the main problem facing my chosen profession.

Me-hi-co

2007-02-16T10:12:00.000-06:00

I feel like flying to Mexico, grabbing a couple of Diet Cokes, maybe some Coronas and a cooler and planting myself on a beach and staring listlessly into the ocean. Yes. I need to do this for at least three days - only leaving to go sleep in a big fluffy white cloud-like bed.

Mexico is best because then you don't have to talk to anyone because you don't speak Spanish. And since all I'll be doing is sitting under and umbrella, sipping ice cold Diet Cokes all day it's not like I'll need to do a lot of conversating.

Someone once told me the crawdads down there talk, but only in Spanish. If I see any I'll just pick them up and throw them in the ocean because it would be really annoying to be trying to let my brain drain out of my ears and hear crawdads chattering in Spanish.

They are small, so you can throw them.

... and then I shoved that peanut butter and chocolate brownie in my face.

2007-02-06T13:16:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I went to the mall.

I was on a mission to find a black cardigan sweater to replace the fabulous Gap cardigan that I have prety much worn out.

So, with the Gap gift certificate that Brother and SIL gave me for Christmas in hand, I marched into the mall after work yesterday and made a bee-line to Gap.

Before I go on, please understand that a black cardigan is very neccessary in any woman's wardrobe. It was especially needed because I wanted to wear these gray w/pink pinstripe pants to an upcoming job interview and the pants look very much good with a black cardigan. But not my trashy wornout cardigan.

Upon arriving in Gap I realized several things.

1. Despite the fact that it was 14 degrees out and the northern states were dealing with minus double-digit temperatures, Gap was displaying its spring line. As I stared in horror at the cropped cargo pants and three-quarter-length sleeves made of light weight material it occurred to me that maybe I've outgrown Gap. I mean, any respectable and GROWN UP retail outlet surely wouldn't be displaying its spring line in February.

2. NO BLACK CARDIGANS.

So, I turned my nose up at Gap, noted that I'd come back later and buy that FABULOUS belt and maybe those shoes and maybe that really cute shirt, and walked out.

I visited Express, New York and Company, Macy's, Dillards and Banana Republic where I learned that:

1. EVERYONE is displaying their spring lines.

2. NO ONE sells black cardigan sweaters that weigh more than a t-shirt and have more than one button.

Heck, I even went to Ann Taylor, where the lady sneered at my request for a BLACK CARDIGAN - A HEAVY ONE - WITH MORE THAN ONE BUTTON and suggested I shop at Talbot's. I think that was a dis, but I DID go to Talbots and they didn't have what I wanted either. Not even close.

At this point I was a little crazy in the head and had a pounding "need-to-eat-or-someone-will-die" headache, so I went to Mrs. Fields and ordered something called a Peanut Butter Decadent Delight Can't You Feel Your Rear Getting Bigger and then I shoved that peanut butter and chocolate brownie in my face.

This propelled me on to Eddie Bauer and White House Black Market. You'd think White House Black Market would have something as simple as a BLACK FLIPPING CARDIGAN. No.

Anyhow, I gave up. I held tightly to some awesome trouser jeans I'd picked up at New York and Company and was dashing toward the door when I realized that I was dashing in the WRONG DIRECTION and almost fell to the floor in a sniveling mess whimpering things like "I just w-wanted a c-c-cardigan. A black one. With m-more than one b-b-button."

I was saved by the fact that I turned and found myself in front of The Limited, which had no black cardigans but did have a black turtle neck, which after looking through 30-billion smalls and extra-smalls I found a medium, tried it on and bought it.

I have two other black turtle necks.

I'm taking it back. But not today.

snooze

2007-02-01T13:05:00.000-06:00

Need...diet...coke......NOW!

I am so tired today. My little eyeballs just can't seem to stay open.

In other news, according to experts people who are suffering from sleepless nights shouldn't take naps. I am so totally screwed.

And one more thing ...

Check it out

2007-01-25T13:55:00.000-06:00

http://www.mattmahermusic.com/

So, it might just be my mood today. But this guy's voice brings tears to my eyes.

(Jackie - it's a feeling like Jaspers, only spiritual - Spiritual Jaspers!)

It is true

2007-01-18T08:54:00.000-06:00

Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

25 in 25

2007-01-16T14:30:00.000-06:00

Things I've learned in 25 years of female-ness

In no particular order:

1. It is impossible to put on a turtle neck when your hair is in a pony tail and not screw up your hair.

2. Rings hate salty foods.

3. When you're going for sexy, lean toward covering rather than uncovering.

4. Hair is usually easier to keep and cuter when it's short. But, it feels better to have long hair.

5. Cell phones in big purses (or medium-sized ones that are really full) should be kept on "beep" or "vibrate." Otherwise it will just ring and ring and ring as you scramble furiously to find it.

6. Always buy panty hose that are a few sizes too big. They are basically spandex, so they aren't going to be baggy, but you won't get that panty hose roll thing at the top this way.

7. If your earrings are going to dangle, make sure they dangle simpley. Dangle + complex design = crazy woman with huge earrings.

8. Cocoa butter is from God. Use as much of it as you want.

9. Red goes with everything. (see picture of Reece. Notice shoes.)

10. When using hot rollers, the longer you leave them in and the more random the pattern of rolling the better the curl.

11. There are three locations in which you should always have a tube of chapstick: bed-side table, purse, and work.

12. Pearls go best with blue jeans.

13. Properly applied mascara makes everything look better.

14. At some point, you have to admit to yourself that not everything that is fashionable will look fashionable on you.

15. Embrace the high-heel-induced strut. It's our version of the power tie.

16. People's respect for you will be in direct correlation to your posture.

17. When going to the gym, consider how much you're going to sweat before you pick the color of shorts you'll wear.

18. It's never a bad idea to flash a genuine smile.

19. Men are important, but relationships with other women will be like lotion on dry skin.

20. It is sometimes in your best interest NOT to deprive yourself of chocolate.

21. NEVER try to do a "hair toss" while walking on ice.

22. Be gentle but strong with your words.

23. Beware cheap makeup/haircare products/toilet paper.

24. It's almost never a good idea to paint your fingernails blue or green or purple.

25. Keep Proverbs 31:30 close to your heart.
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

O Brother Where Art Thou

2007-01-15T12:20:00.000-06:00

The facts:
1. Besides the random postings on this blog (exhibit A) I've not heard from brother for at least a month. (OK, maybe a week and a half.)
2. No "it's windy" phone calls in that time period either.
3. One e-mail to brother that was not replied to
4. At least TWO un-replied-to voicemails.
5. Apparently, one trip on brother's part to California that I know of only because the information filtered through The Head Keeper-Tracker of the Family. (aka "dad") This is significant becuase his failure to blog about it/rub in the fact that he got to play in California while I'm freezing my tail off in Kansas shows that there is something seriously wrong here.

Possible conclusions:
1. It is no longer windy in the "windy city."
2. Brother has had a small meltdown, chucked his blackberry, jumped ship and is now living in a cave with no cell phone reception. Probably with Zeb because SIL is too smart to give up a condo for a cave.
3. Brother is dead. I really hope it isn't this one. (You are going to be in SO MUCH TROUBLE if you died and didn't tell me.)
4. Brother has not left his office for the past 10 days, has forgotten he has a sister, but really likes reading this blog for some reason. This is going to make it very awkward when I show up in February.

bears repeating

2007-01-11T12:42:00.000-06:00

I come into this place, burning to receive your peace. I come with my own chains from wars I've fought for my own selfish gain. You're my God and my Father. I've accepted your Son. But my soul feels so empty now -- what have I become? Lord, come with your fire; burn my desires; refine me. Lord, my will has deceived me. Please come and free me; refine me. My heart can't see when I only look at me. My soul can't hear when I only think of my own fears. They are gone in a moment. You're forever the same. Why did I look away from You? How can I speak Your name? Lord, come with Your fire; burn my desires; refine me. Lord, my will has deceived me. Please come and free me -- come rescue this child. For I long to be reconciled to You. It's all I can do to give my heart and soul to You. And pray, and pray, oh I will pray. Lord, come with Your fire; burn my desires; refine me. Lord, my will has deceived me. Please come and free me -- come rescue this child. For I long to be reconciled to You. Refine me.

-Jennifer Knapp

Oysters

2007-01-08T12:48:00.000-06:00

After recently flipping through brother's baby book (completely filled out with attachments) and mine (includes mostly half-completed or completely blank pages) I learned some very interesting things.

1. A sock monkey was listed as one of his "favorite things." This explains the helper monkey, that I believe is now somewhere in Vegas or Mexico...

2. Immediately after brother was born, Dad pulled the doctor out of mom's earshot and asked what in the heck was wrong with his son and WHY was he that color? (He had jaundice, poor sickly thing.) Right after I was born, Dad said "she's beautiful."

3. Apparently, brother was already showing his genius tendencies at age 4, when he began helping mom put away groceries. At that age (mom actually recorded this in your baby book) he already knew which shelf all the canned goods went on. Soups went on the top shelf, baby food went on the second shelf and "oysters" went on the third shelf. He called anything he didn't know the name of "oysters."

My take on 2006

2007-01-03T12:51:00.000-06:00

I love year in review stories. They are fantastic.

Here's how I saw this year's major events:

January:
An explosion at Sago Mine in West Virginia claims the lives of 12 miners.
Through a miscommunication, the media was first told that all the miners are found alive, and the paper I work for printed a version with the headline "Alive!" before hearing hours later that all but one of the miners perished. This was the first time in a long time our editor has said "Stop the presses."

A Danish newspaper prints carictures of the Prophet Muhammad and protesters across the Muslim world go crazy. A college newspaper in Wisconsin prints nt the carictures that have been called “the impetus of riots that have caused numerous deaths”. This raises questions in my mind of what the right decision is ... do you print something that everyone is talking about - therefore obviously news - even though you know it is offensive to a certain group? I probably wouldn't have, but it's an interesting question.

I make it a goal to always be reading something during the coming year. I set out a list of books I want to read and ask for suggestions. I meet the goal of always having a book going, but don't even make a dent in the books on the list.

February:
Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shoots and wounds a fellow hunter in Texas. Then, the hunter has a heart attack. This all gets days and days of attention. All I can think is "For heaven's sake, this is not news." Brother reports that the guy who got shot was standing in the wrong spot or something. Obviously.

March:
The McClatchy Co. agrees to buy Knight-Ridder. Everyone who knows I work for a KR paper e-mailing to ask if this will affect my job. My answer: "they don't know I work here in the first place, so no."

Hundreds of thousands march in U.S. cities to protest federal legislation to make illegal immigration a felony. My favorite picture from these protests shows a Hispanic man holding a sign that says something about "Who will make your burritos?"

I lose my Nanaw Power. I find peace in my certainty that she is with her Savior, but miss her terribly.

April:
Wyandotte County opens The Legends, its first major shopping center in more than three decades. I've been there once.

May:
Pit bulls attack three men in Independence, touching off an areawide wave of legislation to strengthen animal ordinances. Also touching off about six-months worth of stories that MUST BE DONE every time the word "pit bull" is uttered.

I join my first-ever softball team and sprain my ankle during the first game. It's the worst sprain of my 24 years. The ankle finally quits hurting in about ... November.

June:
I go to Florida for a week with mom. I watch a kajillion episodes of Golden Girls and get the best and darkest tan ever. It is the best vacation - hands down.

July:
Amid record earnings reported by oil companies, local gasoline prices $3 a gallon. I live on PB&J and turn my AC off in order to be able to afford driving to work every day. OK, not really, but this does make me diligent about filing out mileage reports.

August:
British police thwart plot to blow up U.S.-bound jetliners using liquid explosives concealed in sports drink bottles; U.S. bans liquids and gels from carry-on bags. I sit in frustration at this reminder that terrorism in the United States will likely be present for the rest of my life.

I give my first-ever testimony at church.

I go to Minneapolis to visit Sarah, meet her funny friends, go to a play and drive home in a huge rainstorm.

My hate for election season begins.

September:
"Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin dies after a stingray’s barb pierces his chest while he is diving in the Great Barrier Reef. I cry for his family and am encouraged by the way people respond to the legacy he left behind.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez calls Bush "the devil" at least eight times in a speech to the United Nations. The way both Democrats and Republicans respond to these comments strengthens my confidence in political figures.

I turn 25!

October:
A milk truck driver kills five Amish girls and shoots five others before committing suicide. This, along with a killing of a 16-year-old girl at a Colorado school the week before makes me cry out for protection of my gender.

The St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series in five games over the Detroit Tigers. I'm overjoyed for a friend who shucked all work responsibility, drove to the final game without a ticket, managed to get in and watched his beloved Cards win.

November:
My hate for election season ends

Democrats win control of the House and Senate, riding a wave of anger over the Iraq war and scandals. Nancy is the first female speaker, the media has a hayday with a Democrat senator's sudden illness and I mostly want to shake my head at how this is at once so important and so unimportant.

It's 70 degrees on Thanksgiving.

December:
Benjamin Appleby is convicted in the June 2002 murder of 19-year-old Ali Kemp of Leawood. I am relieved for her family and saddened by senseless killing of yet another young woman.

Gerald Ford, the oldest ex-president, dies at 93. I wish people always showed this much respect for the position of the president - whether or not they agreed with the man who currently filled it.

I go home for a week at Christmas. It is the best week ever. EVER.

Crazy-beautiful

2007-01-02T13:06:00.000-06:00

It's a good thing I never saw sanity as something to be grasped:

These are the women in my family. They are all crazy...

and beautiful.

I'd like to believe that I'm well on my way to being just like them.

Vacation

2007-01-02T12:47:00.000-06:00

During the 10 days I had off, I ...

Watched two episodes of Golden Girls (only two!)

Spent four hours with three of my best friends

Ate chocolate every single day

Wrapped a bazillion presents

Celebrated Christ's birth

Woke up with the sun

Saw that a diamond really is a girl's best friend (just ask SIL)

Started and finished two books

Made three trips to Manhattan

Heard the Christmas story three times

Slept until noon ... once

Broke the VCR player

Walked through the pasture with the dogs

Ate breakfast with dad

Watched mom buy a hedgehog named Lily.

Almost got stuck on a mud road

Helped clean out a basement

Decorated cookies

Looked through my baby book (I was adorable)

Visited old friends

Spent New Years with Boxer, a Weimaraner and a Chihuahua. They know how to party.

Cried when I left

Happy Birthday

2006-12-19T10:56:00.000-06:00

Today is my big brother's birthday! Obviously this is his special day, but it's also a very important day in my life. Twenty-eight years ago, the person who would become my first friend was born.

Dec. 17 was my friend Jackie's birthday. In celebrating her birthday this year, I realized how God, in creating Jackie, who will certainly be a life-long friend and sister, was blessing my future when I was only a few months old.

In creating my brother, God was doing many things, including taking care of me several years before I was born. I'm always amazed at the way God cares for His children and feel so blessed that He reserved this very special man to be an ever-present figure in my life.

So Happy Birthday big brother. It's always been difficult to find the right words to explain how much you mean to me. And as I grow older and realize that I didn't come into your life - or you into mine - by chance, but instead by a great, great blessing from Love Himself, words fail me even more than they used to.

Tuesday top five

2006-12-12T15:37:00.000-06:00

1. Diet Coke is brain recharger fluid. You'd think they'd mention that in the ads.

2. I love Derek Webb. Love, love, love.

3. When I staple papers this is the process: 1. get papers in order 2. place corner of papers in stapler 3. put right hand on top of stapler 4. hit top of right hand with left hand to staple papers.
I think something is wrong with me. Why don't I just hit the stapler?

4. My hand is all red now.

5. I ate McDonald's for lunch today. MMMMMMM.......

Hey! Neat!

2006-12-08T13:05:00.000-06:00

Check this out.

So, since the majority of the U.S. is BLUE - then I think that means the correct name for a carbonated soft drink is "pop" right?

Wha?

2006-12-05T12:03:00.000-06:00

I hope you all aren't getting tired of dentist stories. If you are ... stop reading, I guess.

I went to have three fillings yesterday.

Some notes: My dentist has an abnormal amount of nose hair. You'd think someone would tell him. Otherwise he's very nice.

At my dentist's office, they use topical numbing stuff before they shove that HUGE needle into your gums - so you don't really feel the needle - which is very, very good.

Ok - now on to the point of the blog.

Because the fillings were on both sides of my mouth, they numbed my entire mouth. I've never had my mouth numbed before and had to stifle the urge to just crack up laughing at how weird it felt to not be able to feel your tongue or lips.

The doctor did his drilling thing and then left me in the hands of Tatyana to do the actual bonding work. Tatyana was very nice, but I kinda wanted to smack her. See, she kept trying to joke with me. I 1. couldn't feel my lips or tongue and 2. had this mouth prop thing in my mouth. So - I couldn't talk, couldn't smile, couldn't even really make a laughing sound.

So this is how it went:

her: (something that is obviously supposed to make me laugh)
me: (propped open mouth grunt and tongue movement as if to say "ha ha")
her: (something else that is obviously supposed to make me laugh.)
me: (propped open mouth grunt and nod of head as if to say "ha ha")
her: (something else (that is not at all funny) that is supposed to make me laugh.)
me: (frustrated stare, no sign of propped-open mouth action that is meant to say "ha ha")

Also, I feel like my dentists office - although it is very nice and all - is kinda like the town of Stepford and all the dental assistants are like the Stepford wives. My dentist is the only male there. All of his assistants are women and they all say things like "Thank you, doctor," or "Yes, doctor," or "Here is the drill, doctor." Kinda creepy. But I'll keep them because of the flat screens. I watched White Christmas this time.

Wholly His

2006-12-04T14:03:00.000-06:00

Have you ever just read the words of some of the old hymns and Christmas carols? These people knew how to WRITE. I have loved "O Holy Night" because of its melody and the memories I have of singing it in high school.

But now I love it for another reason. The song was written by Placide Cappeau in 1847. His words for how Christ's birth affected humanity still ring very very true. I bolded my favorite parts - the truth of these sentences gives me goosebumps.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, in all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another. His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother, and in His Name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we. Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

Best Christmas Carols

2006-11-29T13:06:00.000-06:00

Yes, I do realize it's not December yet.

My Top 10: (today)
1. O Holy Night
2. Carol of the Bells
3. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful
4. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
5. Joy to the World
6. Silent Night
7. The First Noel
8. White Christmas
9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
10. I'll be Home for Christmas

What are your favorites?

We've resorted to threats

2006-11-28T12:41:00.000-06:00

In my family, it is nearly impossible to get Christmas lists from the Mother and the Father.

Mom's list this year includes: 1. Rugs for her kitchen (wait - she already bought some for herself) and 2. A teapot.

A teapot .... sigh.

With Dad, it's often something like: "Just to have both my kids home." This year he wants a Marine Corps flag. I'm wondering if this will be like the Marine Corps rock that he could've had for free, but thought it would be better for brother and I to buy it for him for Father's Day.

A flag ... sigh.

And lets not let brother off the hook just yet. So far, his list includes two items: The new Stephen King book and the new Pearls before Swine book.

But, brother has somewhat redeemed himself from his very wimpy attempt at a Christmas list. In a last-ditch effort to motivate some really good gift ideas, he's resorted to threats. And its not even December.

From brother to sister:
"Send me your Christmas list. Otherwise, you are getting a beige yuppie pullover from Banana Republic."

From brother to father:
"We need a Christmas list. If you don't give us any good ideas (or if your ideas are only "to have your kids home for christmas" or something lame like that) we are going to get you an "Over-50-And-Feeling-Foxy" t-shirt and insist that you wear it when we go pick out the Christmas tree."

From brother to mother:
"We need your Christmas list. If you don't give us any good ideas, I'm buying you a boa constrictor."

From sister to brother and SIL:
"We need your Christmas lists.

If you don’t send them, we’re getting you matching pink, rabbit-hair earmuffs with the Playboy Bunny on them to keep your little ears warm on your way to work.

We’ll also get you a dancing monkey (wait, we’ve already done that), a glow-in-the-dark velvet Jesus poster (obviously regifted) and a bag of pens.

It’s very possible dad will also send you the DVD “Gorillas in the Mist.”

Other possibilities will be: Socks. (ugly ones), books you’ve already read, perfume that makes you nauseous and old-n-ugly nick-nacks that we’ll expect to be prominently displayed every time we come to your home. Forever."

I love my family.

I'm thankful for...

2006-11-22T10:30:00.000-06:00

Ok, so it's cliche and it' s also a day early, but I don't get paid for this, so I can post cliche and untimely stuff.

I'm most thankful for God's grace and His presence in my life. I'm overwhelmingly thankful for the blessing of my mom, my dad, my brother and sister (in law) and my grandparents. I'm thankful for my extended family - both by blood and by love.

But there are other things that I'm thankful for that need to be said, at least once:
Diet Coke
pens that work really well
down comforters
living in a democracy
nature
happy and helpful cashiers
a good pair of blue jeans
that I have health insurance
the Internet
a healthy body
Cedar Ridge Christian Church
ponytail holders
cowboys
bookstores
a really good steak with some potatoes and maybe some corn
mascara
hands-free headsets

And the list could go on and on and on.

Happy Thanksgiving!

More about my teeth

2006-11-16T12:15:00.000-06:00

So, I went to the dentist today.

This marks the first time in ... I don't know ... four years maybe.

I have a vague memory of going to a dentist in Abilene and I think it was when I was in college - but it could've been when I was in high school. Ugh.

Anyhow, I went to Dr. B. in a new dentist office I watched being built this summer. This place was amazing.

First, they had a flat screen TV in the waiting area. They were playing Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

I waited approximately 1 minute and went right into do x-rays (amazing, I know.) Then I went into a little cubby area with a chair ( a really soft, leather - ok, probably pleather - chair) and they put a pillow under my knees and covered my legs with a fleecy blanket. I almost wanted to go back to sleep.

There was another flat screen TV in the cubby area and they were playing Batman on it - the one with Michael Keaton and the Joker.

They took digital pics of my mouth and teeth and then could display them on the flatscreen so I could see what the dentist was talking about. It was so frigging cool.

Then, when they were cleaning my teeth, they started playing Pirates of the Caribbean.

I never wanted to leave.

The bad news - I have to have my wisdom teeth out and I have three cavities. Somehow, I feel like I should apologize to my mother for having cavities.

So, sorry mom.

Love,
Eeds

(oh wait, one more thing - they told me they could give me local anesthetic when I get my cavities filled (which I opted for). They also offered to put me COMPLETELY under, or to give me Valium so that I would "be awake, but you just won't care about anything."

Maybe I could ask them to give me some take-home Valium for next year's election season...)

How do you forget to brush your teeth?

2006-11-13T11:58:00.001-06:00

Hi.

I forgot to brush my teeth this morning.

Not really sure how that happened.

I've chewed three pieces of gum so far, but I don't think it's helping.

ugh.

Find a happy place

2006-11-01T11:03:00.000-06:00

Have I mentioned that I hate election season?

It seems like I have...sounds familiar doesn't it? Oh wait. Yeah - look two posts down. THERE IT IS!

So, to review - I hate election season. Luckily, the bulk of the work I had to do for the Nov. 7 election ran today and is out of my mind forever and ever...or so I thought.

Today I was beckoned into the office of the "big boss." Beckoned might not really be the right word. It was more like:

Him: "Eeds!"

Me: Have a heart attack and minimize Internet, which is tuned "amalah queen of everything" blog. Stand. Search extremely messy deesk for pad and pen (never, ever go to a meeting with an editor without pencil and paper.) No pens...no pens...NO PENS! WHERE ARE MY FRICKING PENS? Finally grab broken koozie full of pens and choose LEAST favorite one. The rest fall out of the bottom of the Koozie. Shuffle into big boss office.

Him: You are doing the house race wrap up story for the daily on election night. I am your editor.

Me: Blink...blink...BREATHE..."Great!"

Him: "This is what you need to do: Yabada yabada yabada yabada A-matter schnicklfit loolig flipperysnicket ta ta ta stainkerloopy hogglogg Democrat. OK?"

Me: "Sure. How long does it need to be?"

Him: "much, much longer than you'd expect. Also, it would make things a lot easier if you'd attach the ramamamamamamama lewstroidicky and unruhklin plasertippit the wevroooooom. Do that today, ok?"

Me: "No problem." shuffling out of office.

So now I'm eating cookies that someone brought in for Halloween - yesterday - and listening to Christmas music. Find a happy place, find a happy place, find a happy place.

The good thing about this is that I'm the only reporter my age who gets her own story - so looks like they trust me. The bad thing is that the wrap up story includes a kazillioan races (26) and I'm only familiar with five of them. Damn it...should've been reading the paper, I guess.

What it says....

2006-10-26T12:09:00.000-05:00

First in a series of "What it says about me" posts... (Thanks for the idea bro.)

What I've dressed up like for past Halloweens, and what that says about me.

1. A clown. It says my mother had a pretty good clue that I'd grow up to be a dork. Also says we were poor and only had trucker hats and face paint to work with.

2. A princess/fairy thing: It says I've always known I probably had magical powers and should be treated as royalty. Considering that the main part of the costume was a blue silky night gown, it also says that I had an affinty to wearing my pajamas in public (as evidenced again in college.)

3. A belly dancer/ninja girl: First, it says that I always knew I could look good kicking someone's rear. Also, notice that the last two costumes have been a combination of two things - shows that I have lots of layers - like an ogre.

4. A rabbit: When I was little and playing "pretend," I always wanted to be some kind of animal. This shows some sort of connection with nature and/or some precursor to my absolutely wild and out of control animal-like behavior. Let's go with the connection to nature...or the fact that when brother ignored me, I had to play with the dogs.

5. A hippy: This was one of my costumes in high school, and I used it again in college. The implication is obvious. However, I doubt this was my family's first clue that I'd lean more to the left. I'm guessing it was the years of going barefoot through all types of weather and conditions that first tipped them off.

This year, I plan to dress up as... let's face it, I plan not to dress up.

Halloween will one of the FEW Tuesdays I don't have to cover a city council meeting, and after work I plan to go home, eat popcorn, watch a movie (not a scary one) and go to bed. This says that I have embraced who I am - a dorky hippy princess who looks good kicking rear and loves animals, popcorn, movies and sleep.

Couple of things...

2006-10-18T12:25:00.000-05:00

1. I hate election season.

2. I am wearing boots today and am ready to kick some rear.

3. I'm eating soup that has been in my cabinet for ... I don't know how long. I hope I don't die.

4. If I do die, bury me in my boots.

5. On second thought, bury me barefoot. There will be no need for boots in heaven.

5 Reasons

2006-10-13T14:57:00.000-05:00

Why brother and sister-in-law should move to the city in which I live.

5. No tourists.
Also, no one walks to work so you miss that whole "It's as cold/hot as snot and I'm trying to walk to work without freezing/having heat stroke, and there are 15 tourists in my way and they are all looking UP" thing.

Instead, we all DRIVE to work in our big, gas-guzzling, oh-so-comfy, heated-seats with-a-sunroof SUVs.

4. No protesters, fewer cabbies, lots more parking spots.

3. EVERYTHING here (in the county in which I live) is their favorite color: Beige. Just kidding. I know you guys also like eggshell and tan.

2. For what I'm guessing they're paying for the condo, they could have about three stories, a yard, a gate, a golden retriever, and neighbors that throw wine and cheese block parties.

1. Hellooooooooooo! I'm here!

(other reasons that didn't make the list)
a. The phrase "9-to-5" is greeted with nods of acceptance instead of blank stares.
b. MUCH closer to the new niece.
c. MUCH closer to HD and his guns and pick up truck and lawn chairs.
d. We all leave work at 3 p.m. Fridays. It's just understood. In fact, I'm leaving in three minutes, myself.

So, that pretty much settles it, right?

Love,
eeds

Interesting...

2006-10-03T09:49:00.000-05:00

So, these are my celebrity look-a-likes.

Being the person I am, I was disappointed that Kate Winslet and Drew Barrymore weren't on here. SO I TRIED FOUR OTHER PICTURES OF ME. No Kate. No Drew.

This is the only one where Marcia Cross or Zhang Ziyi showed up. However, all five showed Michelle Rodriguez and Kristen Kreuk as a match. Three of the five included matches with Jolene Blalock, Julianna Margiles and Katherine Heigl.

Sinead O'Connor showed up on two, as did Jennie Finch, Siti Nurhaliza and Rachel Leigh Cook.

At least once, these experts said I looked like Oprah, Ciera and Elijah Wood.

Seriously. I'm sticking with Drew:

And Kate:

Grieving

2006-10-02T14:14:00.000-05:00

I am grieved.

Finishing the happy feature story that awaits me half-written, is not a possibility at this moment.

We've had three fatal school shootings in this country in the past week.

In Colorado and in the Pennsylvanian Amish community that is making headlines today - the gunmen were specifically after little girls.

In both those cases - the gunmen were adults - not students at the school reacting to bullying or a horrible home life or any of the other reasons we cling to in the days of asking "Why?" that follow a 15-year-old taking a gun to school.

These men walked into a school and killed innocent little girls they didn't even know.

I am struggling to find a way to cope with this. I'm struggling to find a prayer that is adequate to lift up for these little girls' families. For their mothers who have undoubtedly lost a good friend as well as a daughter and for their fathers and brothers who have to cope with not being able to protect their daughters and sisters.

I'm just so angry at this world...and it's days when like this that I think, "Jesus, please come back now."

And until he does, here's what I'll take comfort in:
John 16:33
Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

In another life...

2006-09-30T10:41:00.000-05:00

Other jobs (that I've never done) that I would like to do:

In no particular order:

1. Work on a landscaping crew
2. College journalism professor
3. Author
4. Work at a bookstore (preferably "Happy Endings" in Jan Karon's Mitford series.)
5. Features writer for a magazine
6. Photographer (I have no talent for this, but it just looks like fun.)
7. Selling sun tan oil on the side of the beach
8. Missionary
9. Firefigher (helllloo hot co-workers)
10: Homemaker/free-lance journalist

Why I shouldn't be at work today

2006-09-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

My birthday was yesterday and it was a fabulous day. See for yourselves:

Midnight: Driving home from Drew's wedding, thinking about how much I love my friends/teachers from high school.

2:30 a.m.: Text message from Aunt Sheri, officially securing her as 1. the crazy aunt and 2. the first person to wish me happy birthday.

6:30 a.m.: Wake up to get ready for church. Look at hair, decide it's OK to wear wedding hair to church as long as I pull it back into a pony tail. Go back to sleep for 15 mintues.

7:30 a.m.: Go to church to rehearse for Kidstuf. This part wasn't so fabulous, but nothing is fabulous at 7:30 a.m. when you didn't get home until 12:30 a.m. the night before.

8:42 a.m.: Missed phone call from dad - which shows he's now a master at the "not too early but before church" phone call timing.

10:30 a.m.: Played with 2-year-olds. My favorite thing - when you're sitting on the floor playing with one two-year-old and another two-year-old comes up, looks at you and plants their little butt right on your lap while handing you a book and settling in to be entertained.

Noon: left church after lots of birthday wishes and went to Aunt Sheri's for cake. Then we went to Wal-Mart to buy fabric so she can make me a cover for my down comforter. It's going to rock.

12:15 p.m.: Call dad back. Birthday wishes!

12:30 p.m.: Text message from MAGGIE! Birthday wishes!

3:30 p.m.: Came home, got my mail, cried when I read Mom's card, laughed outloud when I read Brother's card.

3:45 p.m.: Lay down for nap. Mom calls. Birthday wishes!

4 p.m.: Turn off phone, fall asleep.

5 p.m.: Wake up, look at hair. Decide it's OK to wear wedding/church hair to dinner as long as I pull it up into a pony tail (again). Go back to sleep for 30 minutes.

5:30 p.m.: Sarah calls. Birthday wishes! despite being trapped in airplane travel hell for the past five hours.

6 p.m.: Go to dinner at the Elephant Bar with lotsa friends. Lotsa laughs, lotsa fun, great food.

7:30 p.m.: Jackie calls. Birthday wishes! (I miss her!)

8 p.m.: Emily calls. Birthday wishes!

9 p.m.: Leave restaurant completely exhausted and ready for bed. Call brother on the way home because IT'S MY BIRTHDAY AND HE HASN'T CALLED ME and to thank him for the finger puppet gift.

9:08 p.m.: Brother calls. Birthday wishes! and random talk about why I shouldn't have to work today.

WHICH - leads me to my blog topic.
Reasons I shouldn't have to be at work today:
1. My birthday was on a Sunday, and therefore, I should get the following Monday off. (They do it for other holidays - I mean, c'mon.)
2. Somewhere, today is a holiday. We shouldn't be so egotistical as to only celebrate OUR holidays...
3. One of the cities I cover recently held a yearlong celebration of their Sesquicentennial. (That means the city is 150 years old.) I should get at least a day for my quartercentennial.

10 p.m.: Went to bed, smiling.

Do you know what day it is?

2006-09-20T11:38:00.000-05:00

It's Random Thought Wednesday!

1. On Saturday I managed to get the worst sunburn in recent memory. Luckily it's contained to the right side of my forehead, the right side of my neck and my right shoulder.
OK, so I KNEW it was going to be hot at the K-State game, but I made it through a week in Florida without getting burnt at all. Sheesh. I'm fricking PEELING here. (especially my forehead - gross.)

2. Drew's wedding is Saturday. I'm stoked. I haven't seen a lot of my friends from high school since graduation or early college. I'm expecting 15 minutes of catching up followed by us reverting to our old high school selves - which mostly consists of the guys calling each other names and trying to get me to drink. One good thing is that Jackie won't be there, so we'll get to skip the awkward half-joking half-serious attempts to push our heads together and make us kiss. (gross, gross, gross you guys.)

3. My birthday is Sunday. I am 1. Getting up early to be at church at 8 a.m. so I can fill in for a character at Kid's Church. This WILL be my acting debut (unless you count Class Night, which I don't, because, for me, there was absolutely no acting included.) and 2. Playing kickball for the very first time in my life. I'm on a co-ed team, of which I know only one member. Should be a great time - hope it goes better than my first exeperience playing softball.

4. A month from TODAY I'm flying to Pennsylvania to see Jackie and Mark. Oh. My. Goodness. I cannot wait.

5. On October 6, brother and sister-in-law (to be known as SIL from now on) are flying home and we're all going ot the K-State v. OSU game. Brother has an elaborate plan for making sure he doesn't lose his cell phone/makes it home at the end of the night, and I'm anxious it in action. Should be loads of fun. Aggieville might not be able to handle us. (well, it can handle me, I'm sure ... but as a GROUP - you never know what kind of havoc will be wreaked by those about to turn 30.)

6. The country stations around here have been playing Travis Tritt's version of "Take it Easy" a lot lately. I heard it twice yesterday and again this morning. This is easily my favorite country song ever (I think) and I believe it's God's way of saying "Love ya!"

Character flaws

2006-09-07T16:04:00.000-05:00

I'm flawed 60 ways from Sunday.

But I appreciate that you all act like you don't notice.

Because I'm bored, and because Sarah's other two blog topic suggestiosn dealt with seduction and tree roots, I'm going to blog about my character flaws. To see Sarah's list, click here.

1. Impatient: I'm not a patient person. This is mostly exemplified through my driving habits. I've seriously considered - several times - ramming my car into the back of a car moving too slow - just to teach the person a lesson.

2. Over-dramatic: OK, not in the way you'd think. My drama queenness plays out in my mind most of the time - usually right before I go to bed. I manage to blow a situation, or potential situation WAY WAY WAYYYY out of proportion.
Case in point: a friend's grandfather recently died. At 2 a.m., I am sitting up in bed, BAWLING because it has just hit me that once Par dies (he's pretty much as healthy as a horse) I will never have Par's chili again AND will be a complete emotional wreck, which could possibly get me fired, depending on where I'm working and OH MY GOODNESS IF THEY EVEN DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT MY PAR JUST DIED AND I'M DISTRAUGHT I WILL QUIT ON THE SPOT ANYWAY!

3. Naive: For example: "It's probably OK to leave my sliding door open as long as I use the rolling pin/book lock combo." or "Sure (guy my age), we can be friends."

4. Sure, I can do that: I tend to take on more than I can truly handle. This creates situations where I'm working on 18 things at the same time and also trying to put together a Bible story for kids church, which gets put off until the 30 minutes before I'm supposed to speak. When this happens, I apparently get a wild look in my eyes, because lots of people ask me if I'm OK or if they can do anything for me. Which of course, I respond to by smiling and saying "no, I've got it covered," all the while thinking ***"GET OUT OF THE WAY! I'VE GOT STUFF TO DO!"***
Then I feel bad for those mean thoughts and have to pray for forgiveness.

*** Had to edit that sentence. Isn't it amazing that in a blog about character flaws I revealed a HUGE character flaw - praising God and curse another with the same mouth. Here's what James 3.9-12 says about that.
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

Why I will never live with a catfish

2006-09-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

Here are five good reasons.

1. I don't like cats and I don't like fish, so a combination of the two seems equivalent to ... something really icky.

2. It would be so annoying to have something following me around all day, sucking up the crumbs I drop and then looking at me disapprovingly for eating handfuls of popcorn while trying to read. (this usually leads to a large amount of popcorn on me, the couch and the floor ... and the book.)

3. I'm sure he would disapprove if I ever wanted to go fishing, and I can't stand those holier-than-thou types. I mean, geesh, it's not like I'm trying to kill his family or anything ... I mean, maybe distant cousins, but when you're a catfish, you have lots of those, so they are expendable.

4. After awhile, it would be hard to act like I didn't notice the smell - and then that would just be awkward.

5. Cuddling with a fish isn't all it's cracked up to be. I mean, just LOOK at this guy. Would you want to wake up to this?

A rebel who follows all the rules

2006-08-31T10:50:00.000-05:00

(click to enlarge)

I think this is how I am.

I'd like to believe I'm daring, rebellious -- heck, maybe even reckleess. But the truth is, the other day, when it was going to be low 70s all day, I spent at least 20 minutes in the morning trying to find something to put in my sliding glass door that would allow it to be open -- but open just enough that no regular-sized human being could get into my apartment.

Because, really - it's likely that someone would climb up the side of my stucco building in front of God and ever'body, swing into my balcony, squeeeeeeeeze through a door that had been left just a leettle bit too far open, and rob me blind.

In the end, I settled on a book/rolling pin combination.

Sigh.

Reruns

2006-08-24T14:46:00.000-05:00

Brother and I have decided that our blogs suck now and it's because no one comments anymore.

However, I've been looking back through the archives and have found that it's less about the comments and more about the way our jobs are SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF US.

Brother's more so than mine. I mean, today I talked to a lady that wanted me to single-handedly change the way campaigns are run - for all candidates - in all states - until the sun blows up. Who thinks that's not fun? But even with crazy election woman, I still get to leave semi-close to 5 p.m., whereas brother's clock doesn't even have 5 p.m. on it. It just says "Dawn" (that's when he goes to work) and "two hours after you wanted to be home" (that's when he leaves work.) Oh wait, it also says "Call your sister, it's windy."

Also, I've been blogging for a long fricking time. Like, two years I think ... wait ... yeah - two fricking years! I mean, look at those archives!

Anyhow, I can come up with only one solution: Reruns.

Hey, it worked for M*A*S*H

So, we'll start with the Best Post Ever.

"YER GOIN' DOWN!"

2006-08-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

(click to enlarge)

Some days, I feel like doing this. In general, the sources I work with are good ones. I mostly trust them. But every once and awhile, I want to stand on my chair, hold the phone out in front of me and scream at them. Mostly, I think this would help to balance out the "nice young lady" image I seem to have. Sometimes, I'd like to be known as "you don't want to mess with her."

Gotta love classic Bloom County.

The blog

2006-08-20T20:38:00.000-05:00

My blog used to be funny. Really, it did.

I've just run out of stuff to write about.

I'm working downtown today and have had 7.5 hours to think of a blog topic and have come up with nil.

So, here are some random thoughts:

I went home this weekend to play with Shan and Anna. We had a blast, talked about all of our old classmates (myspace is just amazing) and took a walk around Chapman in the rain. It was fantastic. I also slept with my windows open, listened to the rain at night and ran on the dirt roads. All in all, it was the most fantastic weekend ever. I miss the country more than I can even say.

Some of the guys I had crushes on in high school are not-so-cute now. Ugh.

I gave a testimony at church today - went pretty good.

Talked to big brother on the phone this evening. We decided lying is always the best solution to everything. I love that guy.

My ankle, which I sprained in fricking May, still hurts. This is ridiculous.

For the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to cooler weather. I don't know what it is, but I'm actually anxious to bust out the sweatshirts.

Going to a professional football game with dad this weekend. Brother says nothing is as good as K-State football. I'd have to agree.

Speaking of stuff not being as good ... the County fair in the city in which I live kinda sucked. The bulls quit bucking in the middle of the ride. Really.

Good lord, I miss cowboys ... and Jackie ... and Nanaw.

Random

2006-08-16T15:48:00.000-05:00

There's this lady in my office who wears her sunglasses on her head all.day.long.
Why? Just...why?

*

This made me miss home today.

*

This made me cry today.

*

This made me laugh today.

*

I am supposed to give a testimony on this on Sunday. AHHHHHHHHHH!

*

The Dickinson County dems are in deep trouble ...
Herington Hosts the 2006 Dickinson County Democrat Candidates

"... Guest Speaker, Todd Simon, Kansas State University Professor with the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications will speak on strategy, research, and mass communication aspects of campaigning. Simon has covered many campaigns, politicians, and has a great sense how campaigns operate. Program will cover how to effectively communicate with voters, how to get the voters to vote and vote for whom, and what makes a good candidate?"

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Confession

2006-08-07T11:03:00.000-05:00

I went canoeing this weekend with some people from church.

I was going to write about the funny stuff that happened - a light hearted blog, but I just can't do it...instead, I have a confession.

It was a fun weekend. I always enjoy hanging out witht his particular group of friends. One of the things I like the most about them is that they don't believe in segregation.

What I mean is - there are Christians out there who will only hang around other Christians - will only got to Christian-sponsored events and Christian bookstores and Christian movies. They segregate themselves. I think this is sooo backward from what Christ taught us about loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Neighbors implies everyone - not just those who hold the same moral and religious beliefs as you do.

So, great - we don't segregate ourselves. We talk about popular books, movies and music. No one gasps when someone, after canoeing all day, says "My ass is killing me."

The portion of the river we canoe down is far from "family friendly," but we can handle it. There might be some uncomfortable moments when you happen to see a woman remove her bathing suit top in hopes that a passing canoe full of men will give her a beer, or when that same canoe of men asks you to do the same - but we can handle it.

Yeah, we can handle it - great.

But what did we do about it? Is it enough to just handle it and then sit around the campfire and tell about the most shocking thing you saw while floating down the river and laugh at other people's stories?

Shouldn't we have prayed for them? Shouldn't we have prayed for a woman who thinks so little of herself that she's willing to have sex in a muddy and gross river in front of strangers?

So see, we didn't segregate. Great. We didn't even judge (at least not outloud - but probably we all did in our own minds) but we still didn't love. If we were loving, we would've been praying. And that's my confession.

Romans 13:8-10
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Why?

2006-07-24T13:14:00.000-05:00

Here is something that never ceases to amaze me:

People Capitalize Everything As If It Were The Title Of A Book Or The Proper Name Of An Item.

STOP IT!

"Pie Judging Contest" is NOT capitalized. "Flag Raising Ceremony" - also NOT capitalized.

"German Music:" German-yes, music-NO!

"Free Pony Rides:" Why? Just WHY?

Coffee shop

2006-07-22T10:54:00.000-05:00

It's Saturday. I'm volunteering in the church coffee shop today until noon.
I'm tired and want to go home and take a nap, but I MUST NOT.

Why?

Because all of a sudden my entire life seems incredibly out of control and I MUST CLEAN, ORGANIZE AND MAKE LOTS OF LISTS.

In reality, my life is no more out of control than it was last week when I was being lazy and not caring that my floors need mopping, my furniture dusting, my paperwork filing.

This week, I'm pretty sure the earth, or at least my brain, will explode if these things are not done immediately with a good vacuuming afterward.

How the heck do you spell vacuum? does anyone know? Are there two m's?

But I digress...

I have, indeed made a list for both Saturday and Sunday and also balanced my budget, yet again, since my spending seems out of control. (It's not, but it seems that way.)

The list says things like:
"Finish Bible study"
"Clean apartment"
"Turn in rent check"

But really, what that means is:
"FIND ANOTHER JOB BEFORE A YEAR FROM NOVEMBER, WHICH IS A REALLY LONG WAY AWAY, BUT IS GETTING CLOSER EVERY MONTH AND IT'S ALMOST TIME TO START PANICKING, BUT NOT REALLY."

"MEET THE MAN OF YOUR DREAMS AND GET MARRIED BEFORE YOU HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT."

"PAY OFF ALL OF YOUR SCHOOL DEBT,AND YOUR FURNITURE, AND YOUR CREDIT CARD ... RIGHT NOW."

I'm neurotic.

In other news

2006-07-18T16:14:00.000-05:00

I think "In other news" would be a great name for my blog. Because I'm a reporter - get it?

But that's not the reason for this extra blog - no, rather, my desk is the topic.

I just realized something ... like REALLY realized it - i think it had always been floating around in my head but I never took the time to completely and totally visualize and realize this fact: My desk would drive my brother absolutely insane.

If I imagine big brother sitting here in my chair, I can barely keep from exploding withlaughter.

Let me explain my desk to you -starting with my chair.

On the back of my chair hangs my jean jacket, which I have to wear every day because I'm cold. If I'm not wearing it - it's because i have a patchwork quilt wrapped around my legs instead of folded up in the seat of my chair. The folded up quilt thing is a good idea because it protects me from my dirty chair. It needs to be vacuumed - but who brings a vacuum to work?

Moving on to the desk: Please try to imagine this being in a strewn about fashion -nothing is at 90-degree angles on my desk.

to my left: My purse and lunch box piled ont top of stacks of papers that are piled on top of paperwork for story ideas that haven't panned out yet but someday might. Then we have some budget information piled on top of some magazines about the library. Then there are two reporters notebooks on top of the folder for my "in progress" stories (nothing in it), a case of CDs, a highlighter, some lotion, two video tapes of candidate forums, a stapler, a pen, a single peppermint, my phone, an American flag, my water bottle (which gets left every night and filled up every morning), a calculator and the paperwork to a story I want to work on but can't until someone calls me back.

To my right: My mouse, my phone, a koozie full of pens that don't work, my rolodex, a paper clip holder containing one paper clip and 14 bobby pins, a half full tub of peppermints, a post-it note pad with one post-it note left on it - a coffee cup for SILVER coins (in case someone needs a coke) five small stacks of pennies, random papers stacked up , my calendar stacked on top of paperwork froms stories that have already ran.

You really need pictures, but still. THis is absolutely hilarious to me.

From Chapman

2006-07-18T15:19:00.000-05:00

It might be a small, rural town whose police officers spend their time enforcing the five-second stop rule at the one four-way stop, but man, does Chapman produce some talent.

Besides yours truly, we have yours truly's brother - who we all know is a genius.

In my class - we have Anna - who lived and worked in Lithuania for a year. We have Jackie, who has already designed products likely to be on the shelves of Target someday and has already taught a college course, we have Shannon, who single-handedly is keeping the K-Stater from sucking while finishing her master's degree and is now thinking about starting her own (side) business at age 24.

We have the college athletes - Stacy and Tyler - who didn't get married (which is probably good considering that their child would have been like an absolutely gorgeous mega athlete who would've made all of our children look like uncoordinated, slow, slightly crippled teammates.)And - we have David Will, who is seriously a rocket scientist (naval engineer -whatever).

And that's just to name a few.

But, today Shan sent me a link that just blew me away. It made me realize - again - how incredibly talented some of the people I went to high school with are - and how bright all of our futures are.

Check it out:www.benmarkleymusic.com (thanks for the link, Shan.)

Cold

2006-07-06T14:12:00.000-05:00

OK, seriously folks. This is ridiculous.

I work with a lot of men, and because of this I've come to expect it to be a little bit chilly in the office in the summertime.

I keep a jacket here and do my best to wear pants or at least closed-toe shoes if I'm wearing a skirt (to keep the feet warm.)

Today I have on a long, heavy jean skirt, a short sleeved sweater, a buttoned-up jean jacked (that doesn't at all match the jean skirt) closed-toe shoes and a quilt.

It is fricking cold and this infuriates me.

I think this qualifies as some sort of employee abuse. I'm going outside to sit in my car now.

Hmph.

Angels with hidden wings

2006-06-26T14:59:00.000-05:00

I just read C.S. Lewis' "The Four Loves." It's about four types of love, one of which is Friendship.

Lewis basically says a TRUE friendship is one of the rarest types of love, but also very important because of the part it plays in other types of love.

Anyhow ... I've been so blessed with several friendships that, without them, I'm not sure I'd be who I am.

It becomes painfully obvious how much I take those friendships for granted when I'm confronted by situations where friendship is supposed to be present but isn't.

So, here's a list of the qualities my good friends display that I am so thankful for.

In Eeds' world, (in no particular order) a good friend:

Will tell me when I'm being an idiot.

Will never, ever leave me at a party to find my own way home.

Will know whether it's a "I need a shoulder to cry on" moment or a "don't touch me because I need space to cry" moment.

Will forgive me the moment I ask - if she hadn't already.

Will buy me a bag of York Peppermint Patties after noticing I've had a particularly evil week.

Will bring me Kahlua and Dr. Pepper while I'm taking a shower.

Will tell me what I don't want to hear if it's what I need to hear.

Will take time to come visit.

Will unabashedly tell me she/he loves me.

Sends "thinking of you" notes in the mail.

Congratulates me on my accomplishments.

Is able to accept my compliments on her/his accomplishments.

Sends me a stuffed animal lion named named "Homer," despite how ridiculous the request was.

Is always willing to listen, validate and give advice without expectations.

Is understanding of my short comings (read: that I didn't know Saddam was captured), but doesn't enable me to be less than I could be.

Is confident in his/her friendship with me, and is never jealous of my other friendships.

Respects my wishes.

Is never manipulative.

Understands what I'm saying even when I'm not talking.

Is there for me in my crisis weeks and expects me to be there in her crisis weeks.

Laughs easily.

Loves deeply.

Thanks, Friends.

Love,
eeds

Florida pics

2006-06-19T11:58:00.000-05:00

Just a few of many:

- This was at Siesta Key beach. On Sunday nights everyone with a drum comes and sits in a circle and plays until sundown. People get up and dance like crazy. Lots of fun to watch.

- Me and Leslie at the "Hob Nob" the traditional burger place to eat before a Red's game. The waitresses are paid, apparently, to not pay attention to customers. Still lots of fun and good burgers.

- THE BEACH.

- Mom hunting for sharks' teeth at Venice beach. She wasn't so successful...

- They had these cows at this steakhouse we ate at. Each cow reprsented an amount of meat sold, but I forget exactly what they were for. Fun to sit on though.

Another Kansas girl

2006-06-16T11:19:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Knapp is a Christian artist from Chanute, Kansas.

She wrote this song, "Refine Me." I remember listening to it with Jackie when we were in high school - or maybe freshmen in college - I think.

Then, I loved her voice and the music and the melody. But the song came on my Yahoo music player the other day and the words instantly drew tears to my eyes.

Her pleas to be refined are so known to me.

I have the same pleas in those moments that I feel like - somehow - I've sold out. I've started looking to the world for guidance instead of God - and the crud - the to-do lists, the problems that need to be solved, the questions that need to be answered - is just piling up around me. I long for it all to burn - for all of it to be gone except what is truly important. I long to be refined into what I'm meant to be.

Read these lyrics. If you are a praying person, make them your prayer. Ask to be reconciled to Him. Ask Him to burn away everything that is keeping you from being the person you are meant to be. Ask to be refined.

I come into this place
Burning to receive your peace
I come with my own chains
From wars I've fought for my own selfish gain
You're my God and my Father
I've accepted your Son
But my soul feels so empty now
What have I become?

Lord, come with your fire,
Burn my desires; refine me
Lord, my will has deceived me
Please come and free me
Refine me

My heart can't see
When I only look at me
My soul can't hear
When I only think of my own fears
They are gone in a moment
You're forever the same
Why did I look away from You
How can I speak Your name?

Lord, come with Your fire,
burn my desires; refine me
Lord, my will has deceived me
Please come and free me
Come rescue this child
For I long to be reconciled to You

It's all I can do
To give my heart and soul to You
And pray, and pray, oh I will pray

Lord, come with Your fire,
burn my desires; refine me
Lord, my will has deceived me
Please come and free me
Come rescue this child
For I long to be reconciled to You

Refine me, refine me
Refine me, refine me

Florida by the numbers

2006-06-12T14:36:00.000-05:00

10: a.m. woke up
12: p.m. made it to the beach
5: p.m. left the beach
7: glorious days of sunshine
7: beaches visited
5: shells collected
1: book completed
2: books started
1: bottle of SPF 15 lotion emptied
1: bottle of aloe vera emptied
67: times I got hit on (why does this not happen in Kansas?)
10: chocolate chip cookies
12: diet cokes
1: steak dinner
6: innings of a single-A Red's game
5: days that I wore my favorite jean shorts
4: episodes of Golden Girls watched
0: times that we used a map
7: u-turns made
1: sunset at the beach
1: hurricane narrowly missed. (whew!)

Glad for the vacation and glad to be back. :)

It's me again

2006-06-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

Forecast for Sarasota, FL

Jun 02 Scattered T-Storms 86°/73° 40 %

Jun 03 Scattered T-Storms 85°/73° 40 %

Jun 04 Scattered T-Storms 85°/72° 40 %

Jun 05 Scattered T-Storms 85°/71° 40 %

Jun 06 Partly Cloudy 88°/71° 20 %

Jun 07 Partly Cloudy 87°/73° 20 %

Jun 08 Scattered T-Storms 87°/73° 60 %

Jun 09 Isolated T-Storms 87°/74° 30 %

Dear God,
It's me again. How are you today? I'm OK. I know you know, but I'm just sayin'...

You know how I've been kinda stressed out lately?

Well, yeah, I guess it has been more like - since the end of February.

Well, anyhow - I wanted to say "thanks" for being my refuge and my strength through all of that. I know I couldn't have done it without You.

Tomorrow I'm going to Florida. Thanks for allowing me to take that trip. Oh, and thanks for creating Florida.

I was just looking at the forecast - you know, trying to plan ... hehehe ... your laugh is contagious. Anyway, I was just wondering if it would be OK to keep the raining between about sunset and 11 a.m. while I'm there.

If not, could you lead me to a lawnchair that comes equipped with an umbrella?

Ok. Thanks God. I love you.

alphabet

2006-05-31T12:42:00.000-05:00

Stole it from mags. Thanks!

Admiring: Nanaw's sapphire and diamond dinner ring that I inherited.

Beating myself up about: How I'm not good at saying "no."

Crying over: I miss Nanaw.

Daydreaming about: Cute softball player guy.

Excited because: I leave for FLORIDA on Friday.

Frustrated because: My ankle isn't healing fast enough.

Grumpy because: My ankle isn't healing fast enough.

Hate-filled and seething over: My ankle isn't healing fast enough.

Indignant because: My Wednesday lunch pal met a cute girl whose name he knows how to spell and demoted me to "back-up lunch plans" status.

Just shoot me now because: I have no desire to do any work between now and Friday, and yet, somehow a couple more stories have to be written.

Kidding myself regarding: thinking I could run last night.

Listening to: Kris talk to Mark about how frustrating the redesign is.

Mooning over: My old cross that Jackie gave me for high school graduation. It went to Iraq with Jared and is finally back around my neck after a year and a half. I've missed it so.

Need: A date to about six weddings in the next four months. Ugh.

Obsessing over: Whether to try to shower between a massage and dinner with an old friend from Italy (actually from Arkansas but met him in Italy) or just going smelling of bio-freeze.

Positively Crossing my Fingers: That masseuse will use something besides biofreeze that will make me smell good thus negating the need to shower between.

Questioning: Whether we really need to check in two hours early at the airport Friday like my e-ticket says or if the standard one hour will be enough.

Reading: The sixth Mitford book, the last 50 pages of C.S. Lewis' Pilgrim's Regress, Colossians, Joshua.

Singing: "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" along with the Christian Challenge CD. (No, Christian Challenge isn't a game show.)

Trying: To finish a story I've been writing for three days.

Unnerved by: A dream I had the other night. But in a good way. Can you be unnerved in a good way?

Very Interested in: becoming a motorcycle chick.

Wondering: What my next job will be.

X-tra special event: Going to the Smokey Hill River Festival next weekend and seeing the old boss, Yoda.

Yawning over: Progress stories. Ugh.

Zoinks: It's 1 p.m. and I've accomplished little to nothing.

A little about a lot

A new journey and new blog

Playing Catch-Up

One month + two days

At a loss for words

Wedding day weather

The thing that happened my senior year...

12 days and cohabitation

Aug. 28

a 13-pound day. No wait. A 12-pound day.

I know you don't care, but I can't help it

Anna

Sarah

Chapman

Linking a link

10-year-old's hands

Brad Paisley

26 in 26

I do want to be one of them...

Happy Birthday

Follow-up e-mail to Gary

E-mail to Gary

Tights

It's official

Top 10 since the last post

Awesome lyrics

Reporting insanity

Seriously?

But...why?

Caffeine

Dear Nanaw

I mean, c'mon...

Demands

Reasons my job rocks

Being held

Introducing ...Seth

Soybeans? Seriously? Can I dip them in butter?

Advertising for American Idol

Virginia Tech

Good things about today

Bunch of turkeys

Sweet tooth

Interesting things about the break room

And I'm back

Saying so long

Oh. My. Goodness.

She's gone country

ah-hem

Humble Pie

Chi-Chi-Chi-CAGO

Fat Tuesday

Me-hi-co

... and then I shoved that peanut butter and chocolate brownie in my face.

snooze

Check it out

It is true

25 in 25

O Brother Where Art Thou

bears repeating

Oysters

My take on 2006

Crazy-beautiful

Vacation

Happy Birthday

Tuesday top five

Hey! Neat!

Wha?

Wholly His

Best Christmas Carols

We've resorted to threats

I'm thankful for...

More about my teeth

How do you forget to brush your teeth?

Find a happy place

What it says....

Couple of things...

5 Reasons

Interesting...

Grieving

In another life...