Unnecessary Necessities

The great thing about picking a broad topic is it’s so broad.  And, of course, that same thing is what can be a bit daunting about it.

Kind of like my speech class.  (Rabbit Trail: Just to update you, I’ve been plodding along for the last couple of years pursuing higher learning.  Which in many ways often feels like a trivial pursuit…seriously.)  I have the absolute best teacher.  She’s hilarious.  We are probably in the same general age bracket as she frequently makes 80’s references.   Real 80’s references, not like these kids born in the 90s who think they know 80’s stuff.   Example, first night of class she said not to shut the door because if someone knocks, it would be beyond her ability not to yell at them “that’s not the secret knock” and force them to do the “truffle shuffle.”  All right, I’ll explain.  Goonies.

But anyhoo, back to the speech class.  We had to give our first informational speech, and there were no parameters on the topic.  None.  (Just using a math term though gives me hives. Itch, itch.) 

So for your reading pleasure, here’s a couple of the more remarkable topics.  (Note, some are remarkable for their…um, nevermind.)

There were the safe topics: taxes (very helpful), the electoral college process (really nice powerpoint), competitive horse riding, fire prevention, etc.

                                                                                                                                          There were the DIY topics:  how to can extra food from your CSA (excellent props), how to make your own pasta, and how to toilet train your cat.  Mine I guess would fall into the DIY category, it was “How to Get a Speeding Ticket.”

There were the topics I can’t remember.

There was the very odd topic from a pre-med student.  He decided to fill us all in on erectile dysfunction.  (And, yes, of course my speech followed his.)

And finally there were the brilliant speeches.  Just pure delightfulness, witty, fun, a bit snarky from two cutie pies:  one on the history of beards (excellent powerpoint) and the last one of the night about the perils of using public restrooms.  Hilarious.  I wish I had them to share with you!

Back to topics, I’m not sure if this really fits in with ours or not, but hey it’s a post!

I’m off to watch The Office.  (Which will definitely make my list later in the month.  Farewell season..sigh.)

Pam 

For more Unnecessary Necessities, check out:

Day 1 - Jen

Day 1 - Pam

Day 2 

Day 3

We Belong

Well, hi there!  It’s been a while, I know.  Let’s jump right in, shall we?

This is one of my favorite songs.  I especially love the end when the children sing along.  (I love the glimpses of green that pop throughout the video.)  It sort of fit this post, so I thought I’d share.  Feel free to listen as you read. 

A few nights ago, I show up to work to be informed that I’m going to orient to a different unit so that I can be pulled to work there in the future, should the need arise.  Now, this wasn’t a problem for me.  I’m just glad they didn’t call me off when they had too many people scheduled to work. 

But.  I get over to the unit and there it is.  That awkward standing around, not knowing where to put your things, where the bathroom is, what anyone’s name is, not knowing the routine and where to find the things you need to do the job. 

So I stand.  For a while.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I wasn’t expecting anyone to drop everything to cater to me; the PCT that was orienting me was taking report from day shift.  So I just stood and observed. 

This is what I gleaned from that 5 minute wall-prop (I was very good at keeping that wall up, let me tell you.)

We want to belong.

I didn’t feel like I belonged there.  Yes, I was there to learn so that I can kinda belong there in the future.  But at that moment, I didn’t. 

It got me thinking.

Everyone wants to belong. 

We all want a tribe.  We all want community.  Not just a community, but our community.  We want a place where we fit.  I’ll go further.  We need this.

During the year from West Point, I felt out of place, adrift.  I didn’t belong.  I created an online community of like-minded people where I did belong.  Let me tell you, it made a difference.  A HUGE one!

But here’s the thing.  We do.

We belong.

We all belong to God.

He is the one who gives us life, sustains us. 

He WANTS us. 

ALL of us. 

There is not one person that God isn’t longing for relationship with. 

So.  What do we do with this?  Do we create places where the only requirement for you to belong is that you breathe?

That is what I want.  I want a place where ANY person will feel that they belong to God.  Imagine the beauty of that place.  I will find it.  I’ll create it if I have to.  But I’ll have it. 

That is where I truly belong. 

2 things. Or is it 3? (It will make sense in the end)

First I want to share my new hair.  Well, it’s not new hair.  I didn’t get a weave.  But is a new cut/color.  I’m thrilled with it.  I feel a little like an 80’s rocker.  Perfect!

Next, I tweeted about the hair.  And BFF Pam tweeted back.  Here’s that twitversation.

Here's a shout out to @davewebb87 for not batting an eye when I wanted to drop major coin on my hair. Love ya babe! (my hair's so purty now.)

@jennybekrocks a pic please of so said purty hair...I feel like ur farther away than ever..oh wait you are ;0(

@Pam525 http://twitpic.com/1p19eu Can you say Joan Jett choppy?

@jennybekrocks I know that face (LOTR ref?) I LOVE it...so beautiful!!! you rock it way better than Joan ever did ;0)

And if you don’t know what LOTR is, well I’m not sure this is the place for you.  We are geek/nerd all the way.  Dave and I have decided that nerds are our tribe.  I’ll give you a hint.  Frodo.  Bells ringing?  Lord Of The Rings.

Anywho, I saw the following video and was inspired.  If you are anywhere near our age (you know 22) you know the Fresh Prince of Bel Air song.

I bet you’ve never heard Gandalf recite it.

Well I haven’t either.  But I do have a touch of the ADD today.

Well, here’s the next best thing.  Enjoy! 

Now your turn. 

Please share your favorite (preferably funny) vid in the comments.  I’m always on the lookout for new entertainment.  Especially if it comes in 10 minute or less increments!

Barbie at 50

I couldn’t resist. I have a snarky sense of humor sometimes, okay, it’s just downright mean-spirited, isn’t it? I should be embarrassed and sorry...I should be. It's probably a little too close for comfort if you know what I mean.

I got this pic in an email, and since I’ve previously posted about my love of Barbie I thought I would give you a chuckle on this Friday.

I have no idea who to credit with this, so my apologies to whoever 'created' this. Maybe you feel I owe you an apology for even posting it? Okay, you can have that too.

Happy Friday!

Wordless Wednesdays (with a short explanation)

Jill should have been a child of the 80s...please see my evidence below. And pay special attention to the lovely fingerless gloves.

I rest my case.

We Girls Can Do Anything! Right Barbie?

The date? May 25, 1984
The significance? My 9th birthday
My heart’s desire? Peaches ‘n Cream Barbie



I wish I had photos of the ‘extreme makeovers’ I would do with my Barbie’s. I’ve always been a fan of short, spiky hair. I also gave my dolls bright-colored dye jobs with food coloring (it was the 80’s people!) The lovely mismatched--but oh so funky ensembles-- I would create..yikes maybe this is where Jill gets her fashion sense. Yep, that’s how I treated my dolls when I was 10.

But let’s go back a year, a year before I knew ‘girls just wanna have fun’ or ‘this is what it sounds like when doves cry.’ 1984 is the year we spent my birthday weekend visiting my aunt’s family. We went to a magical land called Toys R Us. My small town didn’t have one of those. Oh the wonder and beauty of a store full of nothing but TOYS. Not only did they have just toys but they had ROWS full of nothing but Barbies! And there she was, in all her peachy perfection, just waiting for me to grab her right up and take her home. And I did.

I’m pretty sure her shoes were lost within the week, if they survived the trip home. And I’m willing to bet her stole (that hooked Ken) probably didn’t make it a month. I’d like to say I’m sure I never cut her hair or destroyed her dress when I began to hit those ‘tween’ years but I can’t. Only because I really don’t remember! I don’t remember what became of her after that first day. But I remember the commercials (with a refresher from YouTube) and the feeling of getting to pick anything on that aisle (within my budget).

Maybe that’s why, more often than not, we allow our birthday child to celebrate by taking them shopping. We’ve given a few surprises over the years and last year we..okay just me, sorry D, it wasn’t you..got off track and TOTALLY overspent on birthdays. But with the ‘reinvention’ of our budget, okay, with me agreeing to stick to frugality, this year we’ll go back to the old ways. I will give them a budget and we’ll have a special day shopping, which translates we’ll have, depending on the child, 5-10 stressful minutes in the Target toy/game section. Ahh memories…they’re great aren’t they?

Happy Birthday Barbie!