You Are Beautiful

"NOBODY'S UGLY
after 2am"
-license plate, front

It is

I've always felt great joy and pride when a baby, toddler, child chose to play with me or sit in my lap over anyone else in the room. As if it spoke to my good character or fun factor. But no matter what, the mom always won. If she came around, I was quickly abandoned by my tiny comrade. I always thought it must be truly wonderful to be a little being's number one. And now I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is.

Thoughts

A couple of weeks ago I was waiting for a green light at a very busy intersection. I watched a man make a left turn while actively texting. He did not look up the entire duration of the turn. His car was plastered with driver's education decals and stickers.

As I made a left turn through a busy intersection yesterday, I noticed a man standing in the median. His shirt said, "EVERY DAMN DAY."  I liked it.

I think of my uncle often. I am still angry about his death. He was loved. He suffered alone for so many days after his first stroke. He was sent home from work showing symptoms. Why did no one call us?  Why did they allow my uncle to spend his last days alone when he had so many who loved him? Could he have lived if found sooner? I hate it.

Waffles Make Cold Showers Okay

When I was a young'un, my dad's side of the family would gather up at my grandma's house and have waffle suppers. I remember my mom and my grandma operating the waffle irons. The sizzle of the batter hitting the griddle. The steam rising when they closed the lid. And most vivid, spending time with my family. Sharing stories and laughing. I associate the waffle iron with very fond memories.

When I moved out on my own, and had my own kitchen, I often thought of buying a waffle iron.  I associated so many good things with it, and I knew I'd enjoy having one.  Plus, I could host some waffle suppers of my own.  But every time I'd wander down the small appliance aisle, I would talk myself out of it: not enough space, would I really use it, I need to use the money for a necessity... blah blah blah.

Now, I've bought a house.  And I have plenty of space.  And I know I'd use it because we have big breakfast for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Despite this, I always talk myself out of it because I still could use the money for something necessary.  Until now...

We have a gas leak.  They turned off our gas.  That leaves us stove-less, oven-less, and worst of all, hot water-less.   What did we do?  We bought a waffle iron!

Amidst impending drywall cutting, cold showering, stuff possibly blow upping, our waffle suppers make it all okay.  Because waffle suppers are a very good thing.  I should never have waited so long.

Am I a bird?

I bought a house.

For a very long time I did not understand the need to stay put.  I knew my parents were going to stay put, and therefore, I did not.  I could always keep my stuff at their house while I traveled around and did whatever the hell I wanted.  I have changed.  It is not so much I need a place to put my stuff, but rather I need a workshop.  Some people call this nesting.  I call it a need to be creative.  Okay, it's nesting.  I want to create stuff, decorate stuff, make choices about furniture and paint colors, and show off my excellent party-throwing skills.  In order to do this, I need a house out of which a landlord cannot kick me.  And it's important the money you spend is going towards a long term investment.

I walk around the house and think of all the mini/many projects I want to complete.  Customized cabinet handles, pallet patio furniture, shelving, curtains, rugs, OH MY GOD I'm interested in HOME GOODS!  I am getting on my nerves.  Mostly because I do not have the financial means to get it out of my system all at once. 

So here I am...nesting...for an indefinite amount of time...

Back to School

Here I am on the eve of the last day of this school week.  The first week back after spring break.  Torturous.  That's a word to describe the return.  The very first thing Monday morning I was greeted with: I arrive early and am unpacking my bag - back to the door.  A couple of students walk in, shuffle towards me, and say (well one of them), "Ms. Chambers?"  I turn around and I hear in response to my turning around: "Ew you look rough."

Star Trek

I have discovered the joys of watching Star Trek in the past couple of years.  It all began because Joe wanted me to watch the new Star Trek movie released a few years ago.  He said to understand the references and how good it was, I had to see the original series.  We watched several episodes  and all of the movies released during the run of the first series.  And I was hooked.

I think some where along the line my mom tried to get me into the shows when they were on tv.  I thought they were just wierd and boring.  The appeal was lost on me.  But now I have Joe to point out details to me and to laugh at the ridiculousness of the show.  When we started watching, he would laugh hysterically about things I never even thought of as humorous.  I began to see it his way, and began to laugh too.  Joe has taught me to laugh about a lot of things that I did not see as funny before I met him.  My sense of humor has changed because of him.  Not really changed, but grown.

Now I've begun the next series - Star Trek: Next Generation.  I've watched the first two episodes.  Joe hates Wesley and so does the Captain.  I cannot have any real animosity towards a guy that wears such awesome sweaters.  But I'm sure that will change when his wardrobe does. 

http://shutup-wesley.tumblr.com/post/13574810684/kaleyoutloud-rofl-wesley-is-so-adorable-look