Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Achievements and updates

First of all, I THINK I know where I will be living next year...finally...I haven't signed a lease yet, but will probably have by the end of this week. I will let you know more when I know. That's the update part. The achievement part is as follows: 

In the past week and a half I have successfully: 

killed several spiders and roaches...on my own. Yes, it is time to spray more poison...or move... 

I have made hamburger patties, that is, touched raw ground beef, with my bare hands...and I didn't die, as i was previously convinced I would...

I ate pimiento cheese and did not HATE it...

I played guitar hero on MEDIUM...finally!!!

I am so brave!!!


Sunday, May 17, 2009

Hoedown Throwdown!

Last night I had a wonderful girls night out! Caren and I met for sushi and then went to go see the much anticipated Hannah Montana movie. I had already seen it, I saw it with Lydia, so I knew I LOVED it. I just hoped Caren would! 

Well it was amazing as I knew and Caren enjoyed it too! Now there is a scene in the movie featuring a hoedown. Miley (as Miley) sings a song that has a little line dance number in it. I have been listening to the soundtrack for weeks now and know the song...but I have been dying to learn the dance as well.

So Caren and I went back to her house...to learn the dance. We found an awesome tutorial on youtube and went to work! We danced for nearly 3 hours! It was so funny, we had such a good time, dressed up in our dresses and cowboy boots (except I didn't really have mine...) and ended up videoing ourselves...and this is the result...for your viewing pleasure...


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Date

So here is how it all happened. It had been a normal week. I was very bored, very tired, it was cold again and I just WISHED every second that I was back in Jamaica. Christina had been waking me up every morning so I could get on some sort of schedule and have some accountability in getting up and getting the day going. I would wake up, tell her I didn't like her for waking me up, opt out of a shower and struggle to the coffeehouse. There Christina could make me do my Bible study and see that I didn't fall back asleep...naps are NOT ok for one who doesn't sleep well at night anyway.

So I got my muffin and mocha and balanced them carefully as I looked for a good spot to camp out for the morning. I decided on a comfy chair in the tree room, which was only occupied by two ladies and their two small children. I thought I would be able to work a little and could watch and be entertained by the kids if all else failed...and I was right.

The kids wreaked havoc on the coffeehouse and their mother. She was chasing them all over and in and out a lot, getting them snacks, further entertainment and going to the bathroom with them. In those times I would have short conversations with the other lady who introduced herself as Rhonda.

She asked me what I was studying and could I possibly be getting any work done with all that was going on in the room. I laughed and told her I was used to it, that I had lived with 5 kids, that I loved kids and that I was only focusing half-heartedly on my Esther Bible study anyway. She told me that she had just finished a Beth Moore book and how great she thinks she is. She told me about a lady named Priscilla Sharp (I think) who she might have liked even more than Beth Moore and we just chatted some more. I continued to read, they continued to chat, and one more time we got into a small conversation. 

She asked me about church and somehow we got on the subject of people, friends, and being in Athens although you are no longer a student, how hard it is to meet anyone and etc. Then out of nowhere she exclaimed, "Oh, You have to meet William!" So I laughed and said ok and thought nothing more about it. A nice lady who meets a sweet girl... she of course knows a perfect boy. I thought she would never really call, (she just met me this morning (poor guy if she does!)) But seriously, when Julie came back in the room she shared her brilliant idea and they took my number and said they would be in touch soon...this was Thursday morning.

Sunday night was Restoration. And though THAT should be a whole nother blog entry...I had a voicemail when it was over. It said that William's best days were Monday, Tuesday or Saturday... to let her know what works for me. Well, I still had Freshmen to do on Mondays and I was baby sitting on Saturday...but Tuesday would work. I waited a few days before I called her back. Then we played phone tag, texted a little (which THRILLED me because anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE to text...) and set it up for Saturday. I called and cancelled baby-sitting for this. Huge. 

SO a few days before, Christina and I worked on my outfit options and Friday I got a text that said, "Last Resort, 6:30 tomorrow night. Excited to see you again." Julie and her husband would be joining us. I was thrilled about that, he knew them, I knew her a little, another girl...it was going to be no big deal.

I decided I would at least like to know this kids last name so I could effectively facebook stalk him before hand. I texted Julie, searched and became his friend and wrote him a message the night before. "Hey! So...we are going on a little date tomorrow night..." is how it began. He wrote back, I felt much more relaxed and then...on to the outfit. You ALL know where my priorities lie. 

I had so much fun playing dress up! I haven't had a fashion show since Abbey West really! We just assumed that I would be wearing a dress, it was just which one and which accessories I would choose. So we first went through all of the choices of dresses I brought out and eliminated the ones that just weren't right for this. I tried on several that WOULD work and chose ones that made me feel good and were comfortable...WHEW! I settled on a new dress that was brown with white polka dots and was happy about my choice. We then, finally, moved on to accessories. 

I tried on different pant options... I decided I would be most comfortable if I WAS wearing pants, and then it would be less likely that I get cold. The classic jeans just didn't look right, so Christina suggested white pants. I tried on some of hers and though they were way too long, I remembered I had white capris at home that I would be comfortable wearing. I stuck with the everyday wear for jewelry, my pearls and pearl earrings, and Christina let me borrow a CUTE pair of shoes that made me a little more fancy than my brown flops...and I wore a white jacket that made me feel like Hannah Montana!

Then, it was time...and it was raining. There was no parking because of some Human Rights Festival that was going on downtown and all of the streets were blocked off. The ones that weren't blocked were one-way streets that did NOT help me get closer to Last Resort. I was mad because I was already ticked off and the DATE hadn't even started. I ended up parking  and walking, in the rain, with a rain jacket, and the rain flattening my hair...(oh, the hair got left down, no barrette, no bow, no headband...) but STILL arriving before everyone else. 

We all got introduced all around and were seated. I was really excited because we were on the outside covered area, it was cool, but not cold and we were outside! We all chatted for awhile before we ordered. Everything was moving slowly at Last Resort, so we all had ample time to talk to each other. I talked a lot to Julie and he and Chris talked a good bit. I enjoyed just listening and observing, typical. We talked a little about ourselves, what we were doing he told me about leading worship and youth at his church and I told him about looking for preschool jobs and Jamaica. We talked about where we were from, how long we have been in Athens, where we went to school, where we lived and roommates, etc...just very chill. 

Afterwards when we went up to the register to break up the bill (yes, he paid) I checked my phone and had a message from Christina suggesting that I invite him to come play cards afterwords at their house... He lives in Whitehall so I just said, "Some people are playing cards in Whitehall if you want to come..." 

SO he had to run home and pack some because he was leaving for a cruise the next day, but he said to text him and he would come up. He did NOT walk me to my car, but I got over that...and we both drove home. I met Christina and Stephen and we talked all about how everything went...then I told him to come on up for a little poker. We played poker and Nertz until almost 11:30. It was fun. 

He left, we texted, talked about doing something again as soon as he returned from his trip and that was it! 

As soon as he returned from the cruise he texted me and we hung out the next day at the pool...so...there we are...the date.

My summation in award-receiving fashion. I would first like to thank the girls in my Bible study, Esther, and Beth Moore. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement and accountability during the time we've been studying together.  I got so very excited to tell you all about the date as soon as it happened and thank you all for your prayers! If it weren't for "Esther" I may not have stumbled upon this opportunity at "such a time as this." 

I thank God for his timing and his love for me and desire to give me good gifts.

I would like to thank Two Story Coffeehouse for allowing me a space to study in [peace], for being a place where friends can meet...and dates can be set up! 

Thanks to Rhonda and Julie, for doing all of the logistical work to get me ON this here date, and for being so excited along with me! Thanks to Julie and Chris for coming with us so everyone would be so comfortable at dinner that night...

Thanks to Stina and Stephen for their care and outfit advise...poker game...and expert opinions.

I think that might be all!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

the whining...

So the previous blog was so long that I forgot about the whining part. [AND the tiny irrational part of me that thinks..."but what if I have the SWINE flu"...just sayin...it could happen...] 

SO here it goes...I am soooorrry that I haven't blogged in soooo long. I don't like when I can't read and write everyday and I don't have TIME to catch up and read everyone else's blogs and so I get overwhelmed and just don't and then I miss out on the things that are happening in other people's lives and no one knows what is going on in mine...and I have ONE more really important thing to blog about JUST so everyone knows...

I went on a date last night. More to come...

Whoa!

I am really good at whining...in case you don't know me...and right now I am SICK which doesn't make for a great combination...SO...the sick story:

I had a picnic lunch at Memorial Park today with friends and family from church. We had fried chicken, fresh strawberries and then a lot of junk and sweets for dessert. I didn't eat a whole lot, mostly strawberries an occasional bite of chicken...but a bunch of cookies and a piece of cake...but it had been hours and I felt fine. 

I went downtown to meet Christina and do a little shopping and just enjoying an evening in downtown Athens before it gets so HOT. We shopped and walked and talked and had a grand time (and stores began to close) and so we decided to do something fun for dinner. We tried a place that neither of us had tried before, Copper Creek, but it was closed, so we settled for Wild Wing (since I had only been there ONCE in my many years in Athens (which THAT was also a fun story...CAREN!) 

So I am into dips these days, and so I ordered a triple dipper, with kind of an odd combination of spinach dip (which is different than spinach artichoke dip), a queso dip and what they called Shrimply delicious...a shrimp dip that ended up being really good, just really spicy. I mean it was SOOOO hot. I started feeling funny and mostly I thought it was that the dip was so hot it was making my face and head feel really hot, my nose sort of run, and then my cold tea and the cold restaurant were giving me chills...then I thought maybe I was getting a little too full... 

Right toward the end of dinner when we had gotten our bill and were paying I began to feel really bad. I still just thought I ate too much... We walked down the street toward Christina's car and she was going to drive me to my car which was way further away... So we hopped in and I laid my head against the headrest and tried to just relax and take deep breaths. Christina backed out and we were just chatting like normal. I had done my usual complaining of feeling like I just might throw up a couple of times already and then Christina asked, "Well, what do you feel like doing?" (Meaning what was next for us on our fun evening...) and I said, "I FEEL like I am going to VOMIT." She just laughed and turned the corner and I said, "No! Pull over, I am really going to throw up!" 

So she pulled over right beside the court house...the same street that everyone was packed on for the Human Rights Festival...and I hopped out of the car and threw up all over the place. I puked and puked and puked...it was disgusting. It was thick and "dippy" with spinach, strawberries and a ton of sweet tea. I know EVERYONE wanted those details.

See, in case you needed to know this too, I mostly stay standing when I throw up until the very end when I am doubled over and can't stand up anymore...so if I am in a bathroom I will kneel down in front of the toilet and finish wretching...if not, as I was not tonight, I go first to hands on the knees and then a good squat. Mostly I just spit a lot at this level...but since I had done most of the action from a higher angle [I know you want to know WHY this much detail is necessary...but it is really important for this next part...] My throw up SPLATTERED all over my feet and...my jeans. I cried a little. That is so SICK! If I had not been downtown the clothes might have all come off right then. I was shaking, because you just do that sometimes...and I felt like the germiest, stinkiest, most contaminted person EVER...AND I was so humiliated because in addition to just having thrown up in public, I realized it was downtown and though THAT is not uncommon, EVERYONE who throws up downtown...is drunk! I'm sure everyone just thought I had had too much to drink (on a Sunday afternoon none the less...and me, who drinks, um, never...) 

When I was sure I was finished, when there was NOTHING left in my body at all, I felt like it was safe to get back in the car and let Christina take me to my car. One thing that I can say is that I LOVE Christina. She reacts with the most level head, and is truly "unshockable" if I have ever met someone who was...and today, when I was sick...she did NOT treat me like I had the plague...and I had just puked [almost] all over her and her car. When I told her this, she said, "it's happened before" like it was no big thing...I would like to think ( :/ ) that I would be that kind of friend. And really I am when it comes to most sick germs, for one who is quite afraid of germs-that-would-cause-me-to-die irrational... but I do NOT react well to throw up and blood and other body fluids...even in children. Especially in children. Because that usually means an accident or an emergency or something equally as panic provoking...WHEW! I have needed to write for QUITE some time. 

ANYWAY...I made it driving myself home, got in the shower (with my barf-splattered flip flops ON) and threw my poor jeans in the wash, then I settled down for an easy night of a movie, Desperate Housewives and (hopefully, thus far) no more puke.