Shut up grace

So over the last month or so, I’ve been suffering from writers block.  I don’t know if an occasional blogger can truly suffer from writers block, but like a stomach bug running through kindergarten, I’ve caught it.

I have lots of great ideas that just really don’t pan out lately.  As a matter of fact, I have about three different pages of half paragraphs sitting on my laptop as we speak.  But they just don’t have the “umpf” I want. 

But recently I have noticed a thread of repetition in my daily life.  Or as I call it “UGH!”.  This thread of repetition has been on-going for a LONG time, and I’m just now starting to understand it.   I’m calling it  grace, but there’s also a smidgen of patience, kindness and a general “don’t act like yourself” in these daily lessons. 

The best plans......

I’m a goal setter.  I love to think of, plan and orchestrate a well-designed goal.  It’s a beautiful thing, the coordinated effort.   A famous line from the A-team’s John “Hannibal” Smith, “I love it when a plan comes together”.   Me too!  Long-term, short-term, financial, career, dinner… it doesn’t matter.  My mind functions best when I can work out and solve a problem.   This helps me deal with the stresses of life.  Problem, solution, execution.  Simple and to the point.  It’s a benefit, yet a curse. 

About 10 years ago, we planned a trip to Disney World with our two daughters (our third daughter was not born yet), ages 8 and 6.  Being the organized, some would call obsessive person that I am, I planned the entire trip.  Down to the hour. Where we would eat, travel time, and I even factored in possible drive delays to and from the various parks.  I even penciled in “fun” for the trip.  We were ready.   

I'm an only child, yep...it's all about me!

I’m an only child.  And yes, it IS all about me.  No, just kidding (well, maybe).  Truthfully, the nasty rumors you’ve heard about only children are not always true.  We don’t always dwell in the selfish realm of “medom”.  We do share our stuff, and we do enjoy being around other people.  Most of the time.   We are social creatures, dare I say… even friendly?   Just remember to keep the conversation focused on us! 

Now we only kids have a few quirks.  We enjoy being alone more than some.  We don’t require the constant social interaction of another person.  We enjoy reading, watching a movie or surfing the internet without the company of the entire house.  Sometimes we crave solitude. 

The LOL disease

It’s time somebody took a stand.  This atrocity has gone on way too long, and someone needs to put a stop to it.  That’s right; I’m talking about the misuse of LOL.  For purposes of this post, we’ll call it LOLing.

Let’s begin with the different variations of LOLing.

If in doubt...reboot

So I’m not a computer guru.  I am not completely illiterate, but suave and debonair, I am not. 

One time, our old computer started misbehaving.  We experienced black/blue screens, ominous error messages and slow reactions.  Being the computer guru I assessed the problem, and determined that we had a virus. (I’m not a computer doctor, but I play one on t.v. – ok,yeah not really).  My diagnosis was verified when little, animated bugs began to eat thru my desktop. I don’t hold an advanced degree in computer technology, but I knew right then and there that it was a virus… and a bad one.  By the way… kudos to the developer of that little gem.  Nice touch with the bugs – don’t let anyone tell you that you are creeeeepppppy!

Top 10 signs you’re a Facebook junkie:

10. You wake from a sound sleep at 3:42 a.m. because you’ve forgotten to harvest your crops on Farmville.  Then you remember with relief that you have unwither safely stored in your gift box. (whew! Crisis averted!).

9. All of a sudden your new boss looks eerily familiar.  You begin to suspect he is that mob boss from Mafia Wars that’s been creepin’ on you.  

8. You are completely convinced that you will survive a world-ending zombie attack based solely on the three Facebook quizzes that you’ve taken.  (Rule no. 1, cardio – yes, a shout out to Zombieland fans– you know who you are).

7. You bribe your teenager to send you that last tool you need to finish your barn on Frontierville.  That hammer was so worth $5! 

I hate millipedes

I hate millipedes.  You know those multi-limbed, elongated, speedy vermin that invade my bathroom every summer.  Does anyone even know what they are?  And why do they have so many legs?  Approximately once every week, one of the little monsters (or sometimes the giant, man-eating variety) invade my personal space.   Usually at a very inconvenient time, such as getting out of the shower or when I’ve drank one too many iced teas.  And worse, if left to my own devices too long, I can imagine them lurking, like a predator in the night, ready to launch an attack.  Indiana Jones didn’t even like them and he fought ancient curses, evil treasure-seekers and pits full of snakes! They are gross and creepy.  And I don’t appreciate them in MY bathroom.

Now before PETA members get up in arms, I do love animals.  All kinds of animals.  I believe our Lord created these wonderful creatures for individual, specific purposes.  And while I am not fond of some of them (snakes, mice and bugs particularly), I do know that we must share our planet with them according to God’s design.  And I’m willing to do that; but not my part of the planet.

So begins the story of how I came to decide that I have to change my thought process with regard to my husband. During the summer of 2009, while in-between school semesters, he took a job working at the county fair taking ticket and parking money, a very hot job for August in Missouri.