All the Single Ladies

So, awhile ago a friend suggested I write more here about some of my thoughts on being a single lady (now a 30 year old single lady), but it's hard to do it because I don't think i have a good enough writing voice to do it without sounding like a negative nancy. But, I'm going to try it anyway. Here are 5 things that I want to remind those married girlfriends that sometimes make us single ladies (or this single lady) feel a little defeated. Maybe not defeated... but less than whole.

And seriously - I'm glad you're married and have nothing against you... but sometimes this stuff just bums us out a little. No hostility meant...

1. When you complain that you had to pump your own gas because your husband wasn't available to take your car out do it. I didn't know that once you got married you never had to pump gas again!

2. When you're all proud of yourself because you took the trash out for the first time in 5 years. I don't think this is an announcement worthy accomplishment. Some of us take our trash out every week. (though I am thankful to have a roommate that does it probably more tahn 50% of the time)

3. When your husband goes away and you need someone to sleep over because you can't be alone in your house. I know it's an adjustment - but I am ALWAYS alone in my house and I don't recruit someone new to sleep over every night...

4. In that same vein: when you call me and say "do you want to have dinner next Tuesday? My husband has to work late so I won't have anything to do." I don't want to be the "don't have anything to do" friend. I LOVE it when you say "let's have dinner next Tuesday... my husband will be fine home alone" (or even bring him! I like your husbands too!)

5. And if we're having dinner out and you actually DID leave your husband home alone - don't tell me about the dinner you cooked for him so you could still come out. Seriously???


I know that I'm not in the norm as a single 30 year old and so the culture around me is going to operate differently that I do, but that doesn't mean it's not challenging sometimes.

I'm sure there are some things that us single ladies do that bug you married folks.... any thoughts? I'm open to change :)

2010 in Pictures

A picture recap of my year....

Dec. 30 - swimming with Manatees!

January - Dinner Club (with Julia Child Recipes)

February - Jubilee with College Students

March - celebrating Beth's 30th (and my 1/2 bday!)

May - Breakfast Dinner Club

May - Celebrating Rachel's 30th!

June - picnics with friends

June - Beach weekends!

July - Laird Reunion

July - Annual Beach trip with Family

September - MS Bike Ride - Ocean City, NJ (on my birthday weekend)

October - celebrating my birthday (a little late)
*this is Bella, my sister's dog - she came in her party dress!

October - NYC with Mom (we saw Charlie Sheen!)

November - GO PSU!!!

Christmas

world's worst blogger here... i have some stuff in the works, but in the mean time i had to post this...



Merry Christmas Week!

MS City to Shore Ride

We did it!! On Saturday I, along with my sister Amy and friend Gretchen biked 45 (or a bit more) miles to raise money for MS. My brother-in-law Dallas biked 100!!! It was a long day/weekend, but we did it!!

I have never biked that far before, and while I’m not quite willing to say that it’s the most physically challenging thing I’ve ever done (hello, Napali Coast), it was up there.

We traveled to Philly on Friday night, and stayed with my good friends Becky and Tim, who made me a birthday cake!! After cake and a quick visit, we went to bed (it was late, we didn’t even get there til after 9:30). We set our alarms for 5 am and packed up and got started. We drove to the Cherry Hill, NJ area to drop off Dallas for his start. That start point is 75 miles from OC, NJ, and if he made it to the 48 mile mark by 11 am, he could do the Century Loop, which made it 100. We hit some traffic getting there and were nervous he’d make his cut off in time- but he did!!!

The three girls then traveled to the 45 mile start (it was supposed to be 50 miles, but they changed the location that week). Check in there wasn’t until 9:30 with a 10am start, so we were like the 3^rd people in the parking lot. So, we got ourselves ready and just waited. (just enough time to get all nervous).

At 10am we kicked off (Dallas called to say he was passing us right around that same time, but we didn’t connect). For our 45 miles there were 3 rest stops, one after 12 miles, then 10 miles, then 10 miles, which left 13 miles to the end. We stopped at each one to have a snack and refill our water bottles and stretch out a little.

We made pretty good time on the ride, averaging between 10-11 mph. It wasn’t fast (we were passed by about 5,000 people, I think I passed 7 people the whole day), but we still made good time. We lost the most time at the rest stops, which ended up taking about 30 minutes each time. We met up with Dallas at the last one, and continued on (mostly) together). We crossed the finish line at about 4:30 that afternoon. They had snacks and tshirts, etc, at the end, so we got those, and then at 6:30 hopped the shuttle bus back to our car, and headed home.

We were tired, a little sore (apparently me more than the others), but it was a good day. The finish line was really neat, because not only did I feel emotional about finishing (those last few miles were quite hard for me, with high winds and those bridges into OC, which I had to walk a little on); but the streets were lined with people who have MS, with signs and yelling thanks to us for doing it.

I am so thankful for the health and body that I have. I was glad to be able to spend my (almost) 30^th birthday challenging myself and doing something to raise money to help with a disease that affects so many.

If there’s anybody out there who reads this and doesn’t read my emails or FB, it’s not too late to donate to my team to fight against this disease. You can donate here. My goal was $500, which I passed, but you can always donate more to a good cause. Many thanks to you who have already supported!!!

See a few shots below - unfortunately all the pictures after the first stop are on Amy's camera - could be awhile til I see them - but I'll be sure to share them as well!

The Beckies w/ my cake. Thanks Bec!!! DELISH!

Gretchen and I with the bikes before the start

Amy and I waiting for the start

Gretchen (off in the distance) and Amy at the first rest stop - 11.something miles down!!

This is big...

This is a big week for me. On Saturday I will bike 50 miles as a fundraiser for MS. I’m doing this with my sister, friend, and brother-in-law. He (Dallas, my B-I-L) did the ride last year with his best friend, who has MS. His friend isn’t able to participate this year, so the 4 of us are doing it together (well, not quite. Dallas is riding 100 mi. the girls are doing 50 together). I’ve raised over $400 so far, and something I’ve found as I’ve worked at this is that everyone seems to have a connected with at least one person with MS. So, I’m glad to do something positive for a disease that affects so many.

I’m not sure that I’m really physically prepared for this. I’ve been exercising a little more than normal (which doesn’t take much), and biking some, but only a few times a month…. It is definitely going to be a challenge, because let’s be honest, I spend at least 11 hours a day just sitting on my butt. The most I’ve ridden to date is 23 miles. Hopefully I can successfully double that all in one day.

The other big thing this week (and part of the reason I decide to do this ride) is that I turn 30 on Sunday. I decided that I wanted to spend my birthday weekend doing something good, not something overly self-indulgent or stupid (we all know a lot of 30th birthdays that land in those categories).

I’ve decided that I’m not sure that I’m ready to turn 30. It’s a big number. I’m not sure I really accomplished enough in my life to be at this milestone already. I don’t own my house, I’m still single, my education and career paths have yet to cross.

I know that it’s happening no matter what. And I’m going to be okay with that. But I’m just putting it out there that I’m a little intimidated by this number.

We’ll see how I feel next Monday. I realize the closer it gets that I might have made a mistake doing this large physical challenge the day before I turn 30. I think that I’m likely to wake up Sunday morning and feel like I’m 60. So, hopefully, by next week, both my body and my spirit will begin to heal, and I’ll have all kinds of new ideas of what to accomplish next.

Premiere Week is here!

I think that I blog about television more than any other topic. Which might be a little sad, but I don’t care.

My relationship with television is a complicated one. I really love it, and take pretty seriously what I watch. If I watch a show, I have to see ALL the episodes. I was in to this before there were things like DVR or seasons on DVD. I recorded stuff on my vcr obsessively, I still have tapes upon tapes of all of the episodes of Friends, that I saved to rewatch. I was ahead of my time. (of course, now I’m behind, because even though I bought all 10 seasons of Friends on DVD when they came out, I still have boxes of VHS tapes that I can’t part with…)

So, of course, when you love tv as much as I do, you’re very excited for premiere week. As I always do, in late August/early September I search online for the most helpful calendar of when shows come back and in what time slots, I print it out, and I highlight the ones I want to watch, paying close attention to moved time slots and new conflicts. This year, like last year, I have only 1 recording conflict (3 shows in the same slot, the dvr can’t handle that), so I prioritize and plan to watch something online. Simple enough.

Last weekend I sat down with my calendar and I programmed my dvr to record the whole season of all my shows. I had to do this because on Aug. 30 comc*st wiped all the dvrs clean for some kind of reprogramming (to what I think is a much less user-friendly platform). I did these on in non-HD b/c I didn’t want to overwhelm my dvr with too much space, because at the end of last year when I upgraded to HD it seemed to go too fast.

Well, Monday night my first shows recorded. I had 1 hr of previous HD programming, and 2 ½ hrs of non-HD programming on the box, and when I checked it told me it was 40% full!! WTF?!?! At that rate my dvr would be full by Tuesday!! So, I looked up online and it tells me that the dvr should hold 60 hours of HD programming. Not 3. So, last night I got on the phone with comc*st and they reprogrammed my dvr to bring back its memory. Whatever. What that means is they wiped the thing clean. AGAIN. Now, the only thing I hadn’t watched on there was DWTS, which I can see online, but now I have to reprogram it all again!!!!! I set it last night for HD recording of only Tuesday shows, and they all recorded, only using 11%. Much better. So I guess tonight I’ll buckle down with my calendar once again.

All this to say – isn’t having cable and a dvr supposed to make life easier? Less complicated? Less aggravating??? Although I do appreciate that I no longer am trying to switch out and label like 5 tapes a week.

I realize that there are bigger issues in the world than my dvr… but vent I must. Can’t wait to catch up on all the premieres!!

Life...

Life has gotten away from me again. If you look at the blog history it seems to always happen in July/August. Too much travel, not enough time to reflect….

I wrote this back in early august. 6 weeks later I’m posting it. I hope I'll do better soon. But I make no promises. Clearly, since I open this prologue and the actual entry with the same sentense:

Life has again gotten away from me. I have been home for about 5 waking hours all week, and there hasn’t been time for reading, writing, or reflecting of really any kind. But it’s all good stuff.
Last weekend I left work, ran home and showered, and headed to Greene Hills Camp in Barree, PA (population like 35) for IMPACT 2010: GO! It’s an event that the youth group was participating in (Wed-Sun) and I went up for the last 3 days. It was a very special trip in many ways: Impact started in 1995- Creation was cancelled that year on like the day before, and our youth group was all psyched to go. A youth leader that our youth leader had done some corporative ministry with organized an impromptu trip for the same days (everyone already had gear packed, etc) at this camp. It was such a good, intimate time with God (compared to how creation can be) that they decided to do it every year in July rather than June.

I’ve missed 2 since then. I attended 95-97, and then 98-01 I was summer staff at Greene Hills. Since then I’ve always gone back, if only for a day, at Impact. It was a chance to see the camp, the staff, and old youth friends who are still in ministry. When I couldn’t go last year I was really sad (but, I was in Napa, so I coped), so when the youth leader at the church I attend asked me if I wanted to come and camp with their youth this year, I jumped at it (I teach Sunday School to the jr. high, so I’m always looking for opportunities to continue to connect with them).

It was a GREAT time. I connected with a lot of old friends (some who I haven’t seen in 10 years) and was glad to be in a tent (for the first time in 5 years) surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation. Greene Hills is one of those places where I feel closest to God. I went there every year for camp or impact from the time I was 11, and being there just takes me back to those encounters with God and creation.

And while I loved being there to connect with the youth, who were having an amazing time, I realized, probably even more after I got home and started my week, how good it was for me to be there too. Life is busy, and hard, and I don’t make time for God in my life like I should. I know that I continually fail at that, but also know what I believe and know that God is still there, whether I feel the connection or not.

God spoke to me last weekend, through the exhaustion. I’m not quite sure of what to make of all of the things I heard through the speakers, but I needed to be reminded of some of the things that I’ve started to take for granted in my faith. When I was in high school I was so sure of God’s plan for my life. Twelve years later it’s difficult to be as confident, knowing what I know and what I’ve experienced. But this was a reminder that the plan is still there. And I can still be a part of it.

Summer Reading

As I’ve mention before, I’m not great at reading. I mean, I am a good reader; I’m just not a very frequent or dedicated reader. But I do love it. I always look forward to my beach vacation to crank out a few books. Unfortunately though, this year since I started a new job in February, I have no vacation time. So I was at the beach for 2 days. However, I did finish at least 1 book, and thought I’d mention it.

I just finished How Starbucks Saved My Life, by Michael Gates Gill. This had been given to me as a gift for my 28^th birthday (I’m 2 months from 30 now), and had been on my reading pile ever since. It’s not that I wasn’t interested; I’m just slow at chipping through my pile. So, I finally got around to it and I really enjoyed it. Brief synopsis: It’s a memoir about a man who in his 50s is laid off from his high power advertising job, and drifts through the next 10 years, when a chance encounter at a Starbucks store lands him a job.

It’s definitely a book that talks a lot about the corporation of Starbucks and how they run, which I really enjoyed, and a good story about learning to work with all kinds of people. I finished it wanting to A. learn more about MGG and his coworkers, B. wanting to move to NYC, and C. work at Starbucks myself (I’ve twice applied for and been hired there for part time jobs, and then it just didn’t work out. I still think that I would LOVE being a Starbucks employee). Anyway, I recommend this if you like coffee, business, or stories of men finding redemption in their lives when they’re in their 60s.

I’ve actually been doing a lot more reading of late now that I take a lunch break, and have read several good books in the last few months. I’m getting to the point that if I have any downtime, I either have a book in my purse, or I’m sad if I don’t have a book in my purse. J If I ever get my life organized, I’ll tell you about them too.

Next on the pile is a new (2009 I think) Nick Hornby book that I’ve heard nothing about, but I bought it at a rummage sale for $.50 and Nick Hornby hasn’t let me down yet…. I’ll keep you posted.

Welcome Summer!

I realize that it’s a little late to officially welcome summer, we are, after all, half way into it… but on the first day of summer I did celebrate its arrival. It’s just taking me a few weeks to share it with you. This was the 3^rd in the two week time period of gatherings I hosted, and only 2 days after Junesgiving.

I’ve always wanted to host a summer solstice party; you know, celebrate the outdoors and the sunshine on the longest day of the year. I think I first got the idea from Real Simple a few years ago. And unfortunately, it’s just never worked out to do it before. There was always some kind of conflict. So I said “This is the year!” A good friend of mine hosted a winter solstice this past winter and we sat around and enjoyed wines and cheeses in the warmth of her home, and it was great fun. What wouldn’t be even more fun about that to do it outside!!!

So on June 21 I had a small gathering on my deck, where we enjoyed delicious seasonal foods, including guacamole which I made for the first time, and homemade Sangria. The guacamole turned into a bit of an adventure… I bought the avocados that Friday since I knew I’d be away all weekend, and when I got them out on Monday to use for the guac they were rotten. So, at 6:15 I had to run to giant, get home, and have food ready for guests to arrive at 7:30. It was a bit rushed, but it worked out well, and was quite delicious. Thought I did manage to get avocado in my hair and cut my hand….

We sat on the deck and enjoyed the summer weather, the snacks, and the conversation (though not really the music I had prepared because with the highway only about 20 yards away it was a lost cause) .

I used an Ina Garten recipe for the guac, and a Bobby Flay recipe for the Sangria. It was kind of a thick guacomole, you were just supposed to mix it with a fork, but I really enjoyed it. I managed to not take a picture of the sangria, which was not only delicious, but I think got an A+ for presentation.

I really enjoyed welcoming summer with seasonal foods and friends, and hope to do it again!

Flashback Friday

I feel that it is time again to share what gems from the 90s are getting me through me week…

Donna Lewis: I love you always forever (1996)

I really loved this song. It was one of those that the lyrics were fast and strung together and it was great fun to sing along to. So much so that I taped it off the radio and put it on a mixed tape. Remember taping things off of the radio? Man, those were the days. It was the only way to get a single. Well, except to buy a single tape at the store, but who did that…. Listening to this song will always make me think of my junior year of high school cruising around in Clifford (my big red jeep). I’m pretty sure that I still have the tape as well.

Ugly Kid Joe: (I hate) Everything About You (1992)

Oh my, Ugly Kid Joe. A dumb name for a band that I really enjoyed back in ’92. Well, I didn’t really like the band, but I really liked this single. And it got a LOT of airplay. For those who are wondering, a quick wiki search told me that while they broke up in 1997, in May 2010 they announced via their my space page that they’re going to do a reunion tour. I probably won’t go.

The Mighty Mighty Boss Tones: The Impression that I get (1997)

Who did NOT love Ska music? Certainly not me! And those late nineties were the years. While I never got super in to TMMBT and I stuck more with my Christian ska bands, this song was everywhere. This song immediately took me back to 1997 and the rebel that I thought I was for liking ska and punk. Makes me want to skank a little.

I don’t know if anyone else is enjoy my trips back to the 90s, but I sure am!

A Junesgiving Feast

So just 2 weeks after the Friends party I hosted (hosted is the key word here, not prepared) Junesgiving. A friend in my small group was given a coupon for a free turkey for Christmas from her work, and had to use it by May 31. So, she thought, why not share it?! Funny thing about buying a butterball in June (her coupon was only good for that brand)- they don’t stock a whole lot. So we had a 21 lb turkey. All the more people to invite!!

I offered to host because I have the most space out of the friends in my group, and we all invited a few extra people (totaling 15 I think). Each of us in the group volunteered a thanksgiving staple, and we came together and shared (just like the first thanksgiving!!). It was delicious and fun, and we all agreed that it was a great meal- which I think sometimes is hard to do with something like Thanksgiving, when everyone has their own way of preparing things. And we all got a week’s worth of leftovers. SOOOO Delicious!!!

got out the fancy blue goblets for this occasion!

This meal could not have been possible without Julie, who not only got the turkey, but spent the day at my house preparing it even though I had to work a wedding that day. So when I got home at 5:00 my house was already smelling like thanksgiving!!!

One thing we did realize in this process: There is a reason that these meals are done in the winter. It was in the mid 90s last weekend and I can tell you that the AC cannot keep up when it’s 95 degrees outside and you’re running the stove and oven inside for about 8 hours…..

here is Julie and her bf Ryan, she's doing dishes and he's carving for us (using the electric knife my mom gave me as a gift in like 2002. this was the first time it's ever been used...)

I decided to get a little Sandra Lee and decorate my tablescapes as best I could with the fact that it was June and I had spent the entire Saturday at work. But I think the pumpkins add a little something, no?

Other highlights of the night included my awesome friends who helped to clean up after nearly everyone was gone, and especially Joe and Marlayna, my roommate and his gf, who cleaned up the ENTIRE kitchen (including dishes, pots and pans, and even putting the tables away) while I was at church the next morning! It was an amazing blessing and surprise to come home to a house where all I had to do was put a few things away and mop up the floors. Which made for a better day considering I rushed immediately to my Father’s Day celebration and was hosting people again the next night (post forthcoming on the final entertaining of late).

Thomas and Steve working on the dishes! So thankful!

Billy resting after the Junesgiving haze... Everyone was a little disappointed that there was no football to watch- they said it wasn't the same. They compensated by watching the US Open. Golf just isn't the same as football though.

After all of this, I am thankful for good food, a house full of guests, and the community that we shared together. And why not be just as Thankful in June for these things as we are in November!!!

Flashback Friday - 2 in a row!

I’m dedicating this week’s Flashback Friday to 1997. I graduated HS in ’98, so the summer and fall of ’97 has a lot of memories leading up to and beginning my senior year. Because I was in the band (nerd alert), the summer and fall months have a lot of memories of summer long practices, band camp, and football games. During those times there was a lot of cramming into someone’s car, or hanging out by someone’s pool with the radio blasting. It’s hard not to make permanent associations from music to these times. At least for me. So here are 3 songs I heard this week that take me back to those months… and i wanted to include a photo from that time... but there are no photos from 1997 that I am comfortable having on the internet.

Verve Pipe: Freshmen
This song came out that summer, and my bff Rachel and felt that it was a good song to nominate and vote for our senior class song (which happened like the first week of school, I think). You know, it talked about being young and freshmen and thinking you knew everything, and then later realizing you were wrong. (Ironically, at that time we were thinking how mature we were as 17 year olds starting our senior year. HA!). However, this song did not make the vote. But Rach and I dubbed it “our senior class song” and I will always think of her and that year whenever I hear it. And the disdain we felt for our actual senior class song. Which I also heard this week….

Dave Matthews Band: Crash
That’s right. Our senior class song was Crash. You might be thinking, “this is not an appropriate senior class song- why would it have been nominated and won?” If you are, welcome to my club. Rachel and I were quite taken aback by this. It has NOTHING to do with anything that a senior class represents…. It was just the most popular song at the moment by one of the most popular artists of the late 90s. Stupid. And the administration let it win. And then, part way into the year someone on the administration actually listened to it. And realized it was wildly inappropriate- and then we weren’t allowed to play it at any event. Stupid. I wasn’t a Dave fan then, I’m not one now…. There. I’ve said it. I grew up in the 90s and I don’t like DMD. You may now cast your stones…

Bruce Springsteen: The Secret Garden
Of course, it’s hard to listen to this song without associating it with Jerry McGuire. I loved this song, and it was really the first song by the Boss that I was ever into. (my appreciation for him has since grown immensely). That song was on the radio ALL THE TIME. And I’m pretty sure that it was the first song (at least, the first one I remember) to incorporate audio clips from the movie into the song. I would now say that sort of ruins the song. But when I was 17- I thought that was AWESOME. This was a simpler time when I loved cheesy music and I didn’t think Tom Cruise was a db. The version that now gets radio play is now the original; they no longer play the one with the lines in it. But still, hearing it takes me back.

You had me at hello.

Hospitality

I enjoy hospitality. I think I’m pretty good at it. I always score high on hospitality on spiritual gifts assessments (usually just slightly behind Administration and very near Helps. If that’s not a recipe for a recreation major- I don’t know what is). Ever since I’ve been out of college, in fact, even while I was in college, I’ve always liked to host parties and gatherings (our “dorm room extravaganzas” were always a hit). I’m not the world’s greatest or most accomplished cook, but I like to learn and to experiment, and I love a house full of good friends enjoying good food and drink.

These last few weeks have provided me several opportunities for hosting, and they have been a splendid time (at least I had a good time). The first was a few weeks ago when I hosted a few friends to play Friends Scene It. I love the show friends and love to play this game, but you have to specifically invite people who are also fans, or you end up with a crowd of sore losers. (trust me, I know from experience). I believe there were 8 of us and we played 2 games (I won one, I lost one- and though it was a final round loss, it was still a loss- though I think my first one…). It was a fun mix of people, all who at one point or another told me they were a big Friends fan, which made it fun- some old friends, some new friends, and a few of the college students that we’ve worked with this year.

And always, if the star of the party isn’t the game (or the costumes – dress as your favorite character/moment- they were outstanding) – it was the food. I decided to have Central Perk themed treats for the party. So I made muffins (from a box,) homemade cranberry scones, and a fruit trifle (if you’re a friends fan, you know why I made the “English Trifle”). And then, we had vanilla and caramel lattes for all who wanted them (my friend billy has become designated bartender/barista at all my functions, depending on the type of party. I just need one less thing to worry about).

As always, I didn’t take any pictures at the event, here is the food:

the mess of the kitchen....

a trifle (with no beef or sauteed onions!)

Central Perk Scones!

Flashback Friday

Something to do every week? We'll see...

Come with me, on yet another journey into the 1990s. I know, I can’t let go…. Here are some of my favs from this week:

4 Non-Blondes, “What’s Up,” 1993
I think I mentioned that 92-93 was the first year I really started listening to top 40 radio. And this song takes me right to that year. If you can’t place this song- b/c the title is not necessarily helpful, maybe these few lines will ring a bell: “so I wake in the morning and I step outside, and I take a deep breath and I get real high, and I scream from the top of my lungs… what’s going on?.... hey….”

Des’ree, “You Gotta Be,” 1995
This was a mid-nineties classic that had staying power for several years. I think it was, at one time or another, every high school girl’s anthem. You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together…. You gotta be bold… love will save the day!!! Who WASN’T reciting that?!?!

LFO, “Summer Girls,” 1999
Slipping in just at the end of the decade, this summer from 99 was an instant classic/overplay. Some songs remind me of stuff throughout the year, and very few songs remind me specifically of summer. This one does. I worked as a lifeguard at a camp through the summers in college, and didn’t always stay up to date on music. But this is one tune that broke through into the wilderness. Pretty much every time we left site in my coworker Tif’s car, this song was playing. It was the jam of that summer. I mean, who doesn’t like girls who wear Abercrombie and Fitch?


I mentioned earlier this week that this time of year gets me nostalgic- so here are Tif and me, the summer girls of '99. (we were going to Players'- a club in state college that no longer exists. this is on the front steps of the church camp where we worked. That's right.)

Change of Pace

So, for the last month or so I’ve been listening to 90s music nearly every day. It’s a great blast from the past. I also find that I get the most nostalgic around this time of year. I think it’s the anticipation of summer. Even though summer is nearly identical to winter now that I have a job that isn’t tied to a school or university (with the exception of whether I drive home in the dark or the light), I still get that feeling of anticipation around the end of May/beginning of June. I can’t help it. The weather is warmer, the sun is shining, I’m wearing flip flops (though not at my job…). It’s glorious.

I’ve previously made mention to the tube, a specific memory triggered by the spring weather. Now, combining the spring/summer weather with the music of the 90s is even more memory triggering. I can’t help but think of all the things that marked the end of the school year, and the beginning of summer- prom, parades, camp, vacation- all the good things.

This week to mix it up I listened to an 80s station for a few days. It’s amazing how different the memories are for just that decade. While the 90s marked my coming of age- growing into adulthood- the 80s remind me of such different things. I don’t have individual memories tied to songs the way I do of my teen years. Instead- I hear a song from the 80s and it makes me think of things like the house I grew up in that we moved out of when I was 11, or riding in the backseat of my mom’s old Honda. They just remind me of being a kid. Which is a good feeling.

This week’s 90s flashback

I’ve decided that we don’t pay enough attention to the 90s. And as long as the internet brings me good 90s music, I think that I will continue to share a few of the highlights of my week… I realize I should just let them go- but I’m nostalgic for the good old days (would I go back and relive the 90s again? Heck no. but it’s fun to reminisce). A little 90s side note- I apparently dated myself last night out with friends when I referenced bringing a boom box to an event. That’s right.

Meatloaf- I would do anything for love (but I won’t do that) - 1993

Oh my gosh, I loved this song. Why? I have no idea. It was just so darn dramatic. And that video! I loved it. It must have been around 1993 or 1994 is when I got into watching the VH1 top 10 countdown each week on Sunday mornings. We didn’t have cable at my house (a cruel trick my parents played on my when I was nearly 12) but every other weekend we’d spend Saturday nights at my dad’s house- camped out on the sofa bed with a sweet cable television in front of us. Sunday mornings while getting ready for church I’d have the VH1 countdown on. I have NO idea how long this song was on that- but it felt like an eternity. And I was not complaining. I LOVED it. It’s not a short song either- they probably edited it on VH1. I know they did on my station here the other day. I watched the clock- they cut it after 5 minutes but the song was obviously not over. I still might argue that nobody makes a ballad quite like Meatloaf (or plays a man with boobs either).

Savage Garden- I want you - 1997

If you’re not sure what this song is- you might remember it as the “chicky cherry cola song.” It was fast, hot, and ridiculous. And I couldn’t get enough. I had the cd. Hearing this song (and the whole album) immediately takes me back to my senior year of high school- friends, events of the year, my boyfriend (I felt certain that Truly, Madly, Deeply was about our love and may have been one of our first slow dances together. Yes. I remember that.). Oh Savage Garden, where have you been the last 13 years of my life? I had no idea I was missing you!

Elton John - Candle in the Wind – 1997

Not the original Elton John tribute to Marilyn Monroe, but the 1997 version that he remade for Princess Diana. (Goodbye English Rose) Confession: I heard this song the other day and it was LITERALLY the first time that I actually let it play the whole way through. In the height of the fall of 97 I was feeling overexposed to Diana stories, and didn’t like that the song was different, because I had always liked the original. So, whenever it came on the radio, I skipped it. Who really knows why. But now, actually listening to it- I couldn’t just hear it without remembering hearing about her death (we were @ my dad’s cabin in the mountains when we saw it on the news), remembering the funeral (I recorded it to watch later, I think I eventually threw away the tape), or thinking now that I have more of an interest in the royal family how tragic an event it really was. Elton moved me a little bit this week. I’m not going to lie…

What songs from the 90s take you back?

Mother's Day

I’m perpetually behind on things- watching shows on my dvr, movies that came out two years ago, books on my book piles, reading and writing blogs. So today I was catching up on blogs (hadn’t read any in a few weeks) and really enjoyed all the mother’s day ones. So I thought I’d write about mine (only 2 days later!)

 A lot of the bloggers I follow are young parents, and so they have a lot to reflect about on mother’s day. I, however, am not a parent. I currently have no plans to be a parent in the near future (as I’m quite single, I’ll wager that it’s not likely to happen by the next time mother’s day rolls around at least). So, I got to spend this mother’s day (as I’ve spent most others) celebrating the moms in my life.

My recently married sister hosted a gathering for our mom, our grandmother, our aunt and uncle (parents of 3, but the closest of their children is in Dallas, TX), her mother in law, and her mother in law’s parents. She, her husband, and I did all the cooking so the moms didn’t have to bring anything. It was fun. It was the first time that “the kids” took care of the day- not leaving the work to the moms. We had “brunch” (though I still argue that you cannot call it brunch at 2:30pm)

We didn’t do anything to fancy- egg casserole, ham, scones (which my sister made from scratch) and pie. And mimosas. Our new favorite cocktail. But it was nice to just celebrate the moms in our lives. I’m a little embarrassed that it took us until 27 & 29 to serve our moms like this- but we’re slow learners.

I used to think mother’s day was kind of silly. I’m not a fan of these “card company holidays” that make you feel guilty if you don’t participate. However, how many times do we REALLY take the time to celebrate moms? I’m not even a mom and I get how thankless a job it is. I see my friends parenting their young children tirelessly- and it never goes away. I still count on my mom to do much more than me than I really need her to- but it’s just what I’m used to (29 year habits die hard). So, why not take a day to say Thanks to our moms?

I hope that if you’re a mom you were celebrated in a special way on Sunday. And I hope if you’re not a mom you had someone in your life whom you could just love and serve.

I go back...

Lately at work I’ve been listening to an internet radio station that plays all 90s music. I’m loving it. I love that it tells me the artist & the year of each song- it’s a little game I like to play with myself- I try to guess the year based on the life events that the song reminds me of. And I go back to the time…. (we all do it, Kenny Chesney just made a song about it)

I think 90s music will have that kind of memory jog for me more than the music of any other decade. I still love the 80s music- but particular songs don’t necessarily draw up certain memories- mostly because I was too young in the 80s for those specific correlations.

And in the 2000s (and I guess now the 2010s), I don’t listen to music the same way I did in the 90s. Now I listen more to specific albums and artists, but in the 90s is when I started listening to top 40 radio regularly (rather than listening to oldies w/ my parents, who, like me now, couldn’t let go of the songs of their youth). It’s when I bought my first tapes and cds with my own money, when I started driving, and when I went through highschool and some of college. I think those might be the years that the most specific memories are formed. I mean- in HS and college you do things and hang out with friends in ways that just cannot get duplicated in your 20s. It’s just not the same. Those mixed tape days are gone.

Now I listen to music more for quality, creativity, longevity, and creative talent. Then? If I made me bop in my seat and stick in my head- I LOVED it!

So, as I’ve been listening to the 90s station, a few specific songs caught my attention more than others, and reminded me of certain things that cannot be duplicated. I’d like to share a few that have come across the airwaves.

Boyz II Men – Motownphilly (1991)

Now, pretty much any of the BIIM songs that come on catch my attention, but this one might be my favorite. Back in the day it reminds me of the BIIM concert that I went to w/ my youth group friend, Emily. I think it was the first concert I ever went to (@ the York Fair!). Probably 1992. Classic. (a more recent memory of this song though is from 2001 when I was studying in Philly and some friends and I did a dance to this song for talent night. It was outstanding.)

Paula Abdul – Opposites Attract (1990)

Immediate response: 4^th grade dance recital song. I can remember the outfit- pink spandex tank top w/ orange and purple spandex shorts (one color/leg) held up w/ lime green sequined suspenders and a purple beret. The only part of the dance I remember? When she says “you take 2 steps forward, I take two steps back” – we did that in the dance. Of course. We were 10 year olds.

TLC – Scrubs (1999)

Freshman year- spring semester. We watched TRL and the top 5 countdown on MTV EVERY AFTERNOON in our door room. This was on both nearly every day that entire spring. There was a lot of dorm room dancing that year. (also in the top 5 that spring- Miami by Will Smith- 2 of us went to Florida for spring break that year- couldn’t have been more perfect)

Man, I could go on all day about 90s music. But I won’t. Check back again for some more highlights of this decade of yore that I will reminisce about for the rest of my life as “the good old days.”

Math for Commuters: 101

I realize that I haven’t written in quite some time. in fact, the last time was to announce that I had a new job. Well, since that time, said job has sort of sucked up all of my time. It’s not that I don’t like it- I do. It’s challenging and I’m learning a lot, but it’s also time consuming. I’m working slightly longer days than I was at the church, plus I am commuting to Maryland. I’ve come to realize that I don’t mind the actual drive. The 30-60 minutes (depending on traffic) is kind of nice to have to myself, to sip some coffee, to listen to music or a podcast. However, the challenging part is simply the lost time. I lived 3 miles from my last job. I could get there in 7 minutes. So, if I needed to be there at 8, I would get in my car at 7:53. Then I worked til 4:30 and I was home by 4:40. Not bad. Not to mention Fridays I only worked til 2:30. It was not a bad schedule at all. To have that schedule I gave up lunch time- but I didn’t mind at all. I was busy and there were lots of people to interact with, so my days went by pretty quickly. And I was gone from my house for aprox. 8 hours and 47 minutes 4 days a week and 6 hours and 47 minutes the 5^th day totaling 41.9 hours/week. I’d come home and have time to organize my life/eat/rest before evening activities at 6 or 6:30.

The new schedule just takes a little more time. I shoot to be on the road at 7:15 (which sometimes gets me to work before 8, and sometimes it doesn’t. traffic). Then I work until 5. Then it takes about an hour to get home, not returning til 6. However- if I have an evening activity (gym, bible study, choir, etc) I have to go straight there. Now, at best I am gone from my house for 10 hours and 45 minutes 5 days a week. That is a cumulative week difference of aprox. 11.85 hours per week. That’s almost another work day and a half!! Although most nights I go directly to another activity. For example- tonight I went to the gym and met some friends. Got home at 9. That’s a 14 hour day.

All this to say, some things have suffered. When you lose nearly 12 hours out of your average week, some things are just going to. Among them- hanging out with friends, returning emails, reading for fun (my book stack continues to grow and my magazines haven’t been opened since the December issues), and creative outlets (ex: blog).

It’s been 11 weeks since I started this new job. And I do like it. And I feel like I’m STARTING to get into a rhythm of my life. But it is a challenge. I am open to anyone willing to organize/streamline my life. Keep me posted.

And in the meantime, I hope to return to some of those things that I have had to leave behind these last 3 months. I’ll get there. Maybe.

Teddy

Last week Teddy, our beloved family dog for the last 17 1/2 years, died. It was very sad, but his health had been declining pretty quickly these last few months, so it was not completely un-expected. But, it was still very hard.

We got Teddy in November of 1992. My parents didn't want to tell us they were thinking about getting a dog- in case it didn't work out- so one weekend in November while we were away (I was at a youth retreat- not sure where my sister was)- they went to look at a red toy poodle they had seen in the paper. He was the only one left in his litter. They fell in love and brought him home. When I got home that weekend from my retreat- we had a little dog in an enormous box in the kitchen!!

We had him for a few days before deciding on a name- Teddy. Because he looked like a Teddy Bear. And he did. I've had this photo of him, just a few weeks after we got him, framed since I was in high school. All through college and my adult life I've had people question me, "why do you have a framed photo of a stuffed animal?" I have to explain to them he's a real dog!

He was a precious dog from the start- always wanted to sit with you- was a great lap dog. We never fed him "people food" so he never begged at the table. For the first, probably 10, years of his life, while we ate dinner he would curl up on the arm of the sofa in the family room- it was warm there under the light and he could watch us eat from the next room if he wanted to.

We loved playing with him, taking him for walks, and teasing him- he was always good-natured. In fact, the only time he'd really ever snap at you was if he was on your lap and you told him to get down. He'd usually growl and bark, and then get down anyway.

It was fun to have a little fluffy dog around- he was always so cute. I never thought I liked poodles- but now I am sold on them. when we'd have him out places people would often ask what kind of dog he was- because he wasn't super "poodley" looking.

This is Teddy one Christmas @ my grandparents- he always came to family holidays.

We will all miss Teddy a lot. I mean, what 12 year old expects to have their dog until they're almost 30?? I haven't been to my parents' house since he's been gone- mostly because I've been snowed in at my house, but I think it will be hard to go there and to not see him. For 17+ years the first thing you did when you walked into their house was find the dog. In fact, we only lived in that house for about 4 months before we got him- so he's as much a part of that house as anything else there has been.

I always enjoyed posing him places for photos- here he is in my teen-age bedroom.

There are hundreds of photos and stories everyone in our family has about Teddy, and they'll remind us of all the good times. As my dad reminded me this week, grief is the price that we pay for love, and we got a lot of love from Teddy.

Teddy in the sun (which he loved) about 2 weeks before he turned 16.

Vocational Update

While I typically shy away from including work information on my blog, I thought I'd just throw a quick update out into cyberspace for those who might be wondering what is going on....

I've spent the last 3 years working as the admin asst. at my church, and in November I was informed that they were cutting my position to part time. I had until the end of January until my position was cut. So I started looking for new jobs because while I was invited to stay, I obviously could not work only part time.... I finished at my church the last day of January, not knowing what I'd be doing next.

I sent out lots of applications to lots of different things, and was having a hard time finding something, when someone I used to work with told me about a job at her husband's company. I interviewed there and a few other places, and received two job offers! It was a true blessing in a very frustrating time.

I felt like the best option was the office job w/ the guy I knew from church, and last week I accepted it and I started today! I am the purchasing assistant at a printing company. I work at the corporate offices in northern Maryland, there are 6 plants around the eastern region of the country. I have about a 30-40 minute commute. Not too bad. It's very office-y. I feel like I might be Pam Beasley.

It is a job that I think will utilize my skills well, and challenge me to grow in knowledge and skills. I think it will be a good fit!

So, that's the quick update. Lots of other stuff going on too... posts to come. Thanks for your support/encouragement these last few months... it's been a difficult time, but I think things are looking up.