Finish this line: I simply refuse to learn how to...
hi punkin
This has always been one of my favorite pumpkin displays, for sheer creativity alone:
But I've got a new favorite.
Matt, who works with me at Thrive, is in the States on furlough right now. And I could tell he's missing his African home when he showed me the pumpkin he carved:
Way to represent, Mo!
I didn't carve a pumpkin this year. Unless this counts.
Did you carve one? Can I see???
i am so not a morning person
Which one do you usually find yourself saying?
upside down
It's the weekend. And I'm feelin' a little lazy. So, I'm putting you in charge of my blog.
Who?
You.
I'm gonna write a comment, and you're gonna write something that would've gotten that response outta me.
Got it?
Good.
Tell me something that would make me say---
"So glad you shared. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit."
upside down
It's your turn to write for the Grit.
WHA?!
Seriously.
I'm gonna leave a comment and you write something that would've gotten that response outta me.
You can say as much or as little as you want. It's entirely up to you.
Just give me something that would make me say---
"I just scooped my jaw off the floor---I can't believe you said that!"
coffee talk: sock etiquette
Here's the deal: I don't know sock etiquette. So help a sister out: What socks do you wear when?
Break it down nice and simple for me please.
everything's right
We went to a show downtown on Saturday. Having SweetFriend with me for my first concert in America in over twelve years was a gift. And, let me tell you, we had so much fun.
Apparently Mr. Man in front of us could tell we were having a blast. About 3/4 of the way through the night, he turned around and said---
"You guys definitely know how to have a good time. I think you're having more fun than anyone else in here."
Really!? We didn't think we were being loud or ostentatious at all.
Despite the fact that I can now say I've danced on a bar.
**ADDED** - Be sure you check out my disclaimer / confession.
housekeeping!
I've been on vacation for almost a week. Well, kind of. Being with my sweet friend Tracee felt like a vacation; the fact that we were in Ohio did not. (No offense, Ohioans. I'm guessing that even you'd prefer to vacate out of state!)
We talked about everything and nothing, and anything in between. And we set the bar high on doing absolutely nothing and enjoying every minute of it.
This much I know is true: Tracee is good for me.
And now I miss her. (Again.)
Vacation is over. Back to real life...
What's been the highlight of the past week for you?
spit it out
A conversation from my last babysitting experience, just a few weeks ago:
::
Little Sister: There's another word I can never say right.
Me: Oh yeah? Which one?
Little Sister: New International Virgin. You know, like the Bible?
Me: [laughing] Mmhmm...
Little Sister: [trying to sound it out] Virgin... Virgin... Virgin... See. I can't say that word.
Slightly Older Sister: That's what Mary was, right?
Me: Umm, yeah. So, whose turn is it on Wii Bowling?
::
What word(s) do you have a hard time saying?
have you ever...
... texted while driving? Or rather---How often do you text while driving?
If you missed the previous Have You Evers, go back and weigh in.
Have you ever brought your laptop into the bathroom?
Or gone commando?
Come on! It's confession time!
my souvenir(s) from ohio
I've never been pulled over before. Until tonight. I've gotten tickets, but only because of those stupid ridiculous precious cameras posted along the highways in South Africa. And they've all been delivered by the unreliable postal service. I've never gotten a ticket in America. And never directly from a cop. Thankfully I can still say that. Even after tonight. Phew.
Thirty minutes before, I debated about whether or not I should hit the bathroom one more time. I'd been chugging water all night and had made frequent trips to the restroom. I kinda had to pee but figured I could easily handle the 20-minute drive home.
But as soon as I got into my freezing car, my bladder shrunk. Oh well, what's a girl to do? I just blared some tunes and hit the road. (Sidebar: In response to my recent post, a friend mailed me her iPod car adapter to borrow! Am I blessed or what?!)
Not five minutes away from my house, a cop car pulled out behind me. And when the red-and-blues started flashing in my rearview mirror, I groaned out loud. I was on this troublesome road that deceives you me with its four lanes. The speed limit is only 25; I was going closer to 35 40.
My heart was racing as I pulled to the side of the road. My only experiences with this sort of thing come from watching COPS. And we all know those encounters never end well.
I was in a borrowed car. With an out-of-state license. And I'm a resident of another country. The story was clearly way too complicated to explain to a policeman on the side of the road on a freezing night when my bladder was about to burst.
After way too long of an exchange, the cop decided just to give me a written warning. "After all," he said, "You need a souvenir from Ohio."
I smiled and squeezed my legs even tighter together. I wanted to tell him that my currently-developing urinary tract infection was more than enough of a souvenir. But I refrained.
All that to say: It's true what your mom used to tell you. You should always pee one last time.
make me laugh: winner
I so appreciate the many of you who sent videos to make me laugh. And laugh I did, I assure you. I'm also grateful that some of you sent a video hello. My face likes seeing your faces.
The winning video had me doubled-over in laughter. I've watched it over a dozen times, and it still makes me laugh. Every. Single. Time.
The Make Me Laugh award goes to...
:: insert drum roll here ::
... Tracee and Stephanie!
I hope their video makes the rest of you laugh even half as much as I did.Watching it is definitely worth the four+ minutes you'll never get back.
Tracee and Steph? Your StarBUCKS and iCASH will be heading your way soon. Oh, and you've got a week to submit your acceptance speech video, ok? Your fans will be waiting. I know you won't disappoint us.
::
A huge thanks to all of you who participated. You seriously made my day week month.
jabberwacky: snow
I could use some weekend entertainment, and I thought you might enjoy some too. So how 'bout we Jabberwacky? It's easy, I promise. Just write the first word or phrase that comes to mind when you read the comment directly above yours.
Feel free to chime in as often as you'd like between now and Monday morning.
Ready?
The first word is... snow.
cherry on top
I spent a lot of time in the car yesterday. All the snow turned twenty-minute distances into hour-long ones. Living in Africa, I don't often get the chance to drive in a snowstorm. So I actually didn't mind it---honestly, I kind of enjoyed it. I decided I wanted some hot frothy goodness for my now-an-hour drive home. I fishtailed my way through the unplowed Starbucks drive-thru. And when I got to the pick-up window, I was greeted by this:
The mini-me snowman, accessorized with coffee bean eyes and buttons, was the cherry on top of the best day I've had in a while.
What was the cherry on top of your yesterday?
i am the great wizard
I've received some great submissions for the Make Me Laugh video contest. (I'm smiling just typing that out, thinking about what some of you did!) And I've decided to extend the deadline to next Monday. Because a few of you let me know that circumstances interfered with getting your videos made on time. And really, because, well, I'd rather get in as many laughs as I can.
So if you wish you'd made a video but didn't, now's your chance. If the thought to make one never even crossed your mind, let it cross now: Send me some funny! Don't make me beg.
And if you're stubbornly stickin' to the idea that you're just not humorous, then at least send me a hello. I love seeing your faces and hearing your voices.
(Need a refresher on the rules of the contest? Go here.)
In other news... You can order just about anything these days.
but why?
Are you still working on your video for the Make Me Laugh contest? I hope you haven't forgotten about it. Oh? You have? I'll recap.
- You send me as many self-made videos as you want.
- Whoever makes me laugh the most, wins!
- The prize is money at Starbucks and iTunes.
- Deadline is tomorrow at midnight (Monday/EST).
Why make me laugh? 'Cause I love laughing. And It's good for my heart. And who can resist getting me to do this:
Of and of course 'cause you can win something.You know, if you need a selfish reason...
extreme makeover: alece edition
The last time Cathi saw me, I really wasn't lookin' my best. It's amazing how many pounds her video camera took off me this time.
If you could professionally alter, shrink, or augment any part of yourself, what would it be?
so different, yet so similar
At our first reunion, I discovered I have more in common with Cathi than I ever would've imagined. That was reinforced even more this week.
Now if only I could remember what our similarities actually are...
Wow. I wish I could speak whale.
just what i needed
Yesterday felt like a long exhale. It felt like a warm blanket. And the first day of spring. I spent over nine hours with a wonderful friend. She's a friend I can be talkative with and also sit in comfortable silence with. And we did plenty of both. She held my hand as we shared hearts, and made me feel completely loved when she hugged me.
And the best part was: We laughed till we cried. And then we laughed some more.
If the still-shots don't prove it, maybe this will:
As I drove home at the end of my perfect day, my mind settled on one thought: My heart feels strengthened.
It was just what I needed.
thought you'd wanna know...
I'm just sayin'!