Life Under Construction

I don’t know if you do much driving, but this summer has been “The Summer of The Car” in my little world.  It explains a lot about why I haven’t written anything on my blog in about a month… I was too busy driving in my car.  All summer long I had been leaving my parents house on Monday morning and driving about an hour and a half to work, then I would drive about 20 minutes to a friends apartment and spend the week with her- driving back and forth to work everyday.  On Fridays I would make the trip home again and the whole process would begin anew Monday morning.  Lather, Rinse, Repeat.  Towards the middle of July the friend whose house I was staying at moved (out of the country) and I was sent into a tailspin.  I stayed with a friend one week who lived about 40 minutes from work, one week I drove from my parents home (an hour and a half BOTH WAYS.  I was seriously questioning my sanity) every day and in the midst of all that I’ve been driving to interviews all over creation.  I’m not positive about the exact number, but I think it’s safe to say I put something like 200,000 miles on my car.

All that time in the car this summer put me in the way of some serious construction zones.  Here’s the thing about construction zones: they’re annoying.  Incredibly annoying.  I think all of us can agree that (for the most part) we realize the necessity of highway construction and we appreciate that, in the end, it’s gonna be a wonderful thing for us.  But DURING the construction?  Miserable, awful and annoying. 

What I’ve noticed lately though is that my life is sitting in the middle of a construction zone.  I’ve been searching for a job all summer and I’ve been waiting to find a new place to live until after I have a job.  And all the waiting has felt like gridlock.  Annoying, headache-inducing gridlock.  It seems that God has decided to take every comfort I never knew I was clinging onto and strip them away until the only comfort is Him.  From financial security to pride God has decided to light fire to things that are not eternal and while I see that the end product will probably bring me greater joy, right now?  I’m stuck in traffic and the car is starting to overheat.

I can’t help but think that one day (in the not-so-distant future) I’m going to really regret having written this post.  I’ll look back and laugh and say to myself: “you were such a drama queen!  Of course you had to learn that lesson, but why did you have to share it on the public domain?”.  Oh, the mid-twenties.  They are a veritable smorgasbord of insecurities.  But, I don’t have a diary that I write in every day and the whole purpose of writing a blog is to record my life and share it with others.  Whether it be about life’s big questions or about my inability to spell the word rhythm.  I mean I’d love to be able to come on my blog and write another post about how much I truly loved Shark Week (because I truly did), but the truth of the matter is, life isn’t really that pretty right now and writing about my gruesome fascination with shark attacks isn’t going to change that.  So, I’ve decided instead to just be honest and tell you my life is under construction and some days I don’t know what it all means or what it’s all about, but sooner or later the traffic will ease up and I’ll be moving ahead again.  Until then, I’m living life in a construction zone.

The Obsession That Just Won’t Quit

I may have mentioned once or five hundred times my obsession with the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.  Specifically my fascination with a little show called Air Jaws which takes place off the coast of South Africa.  So, you can imagine my delight, terror and awe at the following story and accompanying pictures (please, please, please click over!  I promise you it’s worth it!):

Beware of jumping whales if you’re sailing off South Africa - Yahoo! News

Yes.  That is a 40 TON WHALE jumping onto a boat.  (Not to be confused with pictures of me from my last sailing excursion.  I kid, I kid.)

All I can figure is that the whales in South Africa got wind of all the fame that those sharks were getting and this little guy decided to take matters into his own hands and win back some of the limelight.

One thing I know for sure: I will not be riding on ANY boats off the coast of South Africa anytime soon.  Because, honestly?  Sharks, Whales- it doesn’t matter to me.  I’m equal opportunity terrified.

Unrelated Doesn’t Mean Unimportant

I have so much to share with you all, and so few brain cells to string together a sentence.

1. Y’all I SERIOUSLY need a job.  Seriously.  The job hunt is an emotional rollercoaster that puts the rides over at Six Flags to shame.  I keep thinking to myself “you have a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in your field of study, surely the people should be beating down my door begging me to take their jobs.”  Then I think to myself: “you are so conceited… and that’s why you don’t have a job” (because, in my mind, potential employers can read my thoughts).  All I know for certain is that the summer’s bound to end sooner or later, thus ending my summer employment.  In other words: I’m a short month away from resorting to moving into my parents’ house and becoming a field hand on my Dad’s farm.  And let’s all face the facts- that’s not gonna end well.

2. I spent last weekend in Corpus Christi, Texas.  I have pictures that I’m sure I’ll post sometime before 2011 rolls in.  I went for the wedding of my dear college friend Mari.  In a weird twist of fate she married the brother (Frank) of one of my other dear college friend’s Brent.  Anyway, it was a gorgeous ceremony and wedding.  I think I may have even got half a photo of Mari’s face.  I’m not so great at taking pictures and since my camera seems to have a 9 second delay before it takes a photo I usually decide to forgo the embarrassment of whispering “wait, just wait, just hold it” in hushed tones out of the corner of my mouth to the person standing next to me.  Moral of the story?  Some pictures.  Not many.

3. As a result of my trip (see #2) my obsession with Shark Week has reached a premature fever pitch.  I’m telling you- I don’t quite know what the deal is with me and (as I like to call it) The Deep Blue, but I know I’m obsessed.

4. I watched Steel Magnolias tonight.  I bought it for $5 at Target yesterday and I’m willing to go out on a limb and say it’s the best darn $5 I’ve spent this month.  It gets me every time.

5. Is anyone else done with this 5,000 degree humidity we’re suffering in Texas?  I know I am.  I get so upset with the weather man when he says “The high today is 93, but with the heat index it’s gonna feel like 118 out there”.  Just say it’s gonna be a 118.  Don’t get my hopes up.

There you have it.  It makes no sense, but when have I ever made sense?

I Can’t Handle The Truth

I don’t know if you’ve ever spent a great deal of time around kids who aren’t yours, but the same thing seems to happen every time.  They start out sweet and kind and flattering… then they get confused.  The kids start to believe that you’re one of the family and so they believe it’s ok to abuse you and misuse you any way they want.  Since I baby sit the twins everyday and have for the past two summers, and since I’ve known them for three years they have begun to think of me as family.  Part of me loves that.  The other part of me is busy nursing my bruised leg (from when Omar thought I was a jungle gym and accidentally kicked me doing a somersault off my body) and ego.  And the hits to my ego have been especially hard lately.

To prove my case, here’s a little conversation we had today:

Iman said, “Ms. Crystal?  There’s something wrong with my eye!”

“Oh No!  We should have my friend Sarah look at it.  She’s a doctor.  An EYE doctor.”  I replied.

“Wow.  We should introduce her to my Mom and Dad” (their parents are both doctors).

I said, “That’s a good idea, we could introduce Sarah to your parents and we should introduce her husband Justin to them too, because he’s also a doctor.”

“How old is your friend, Ms. Crystal?  40?”

“No, Iman.  She’s my age.”

“Oh, I know why she’s a doctor and you’re not.” Iman said.

“You do?  Why?”

Iman said, “Because she’s smarter than you.  She’s your age and she’s already got a husband so she must be A LOT smarter than you are.”

And there you have it.  Not only am I not a doctor, I’m also not married.  And apparently, stupid.

I know she’s 7, and her reasoning may not be totally based in logic, but I’m not going to lie to you: part of me thinks she might be on to something.

I Came Just Shy Of Promising

So, remember yesterday, when I promised I had a big post planned for today?  That was absolutely NOT a lie.  However, I failed to mention that I’d have to finish that post yesterday and then I failed to remember that I am a lazy bum who had yesterday off and consequently forgot how to do anything that didn’t involve a “Real Housewives of New Jersey” marathon.  And then I failed to remember how to compose a sentence without running on for lines at a time.  What’s interesting is that even as I wrote yesterday’s post I nearly threw an “I Promise” in and then I thought-  “No.  You don’t promise, because that’s the most surefire way to fail.”  So, I didn’t promise, but I still sorta failed.

In order to tide you over between now and whenever I get around to finishing the post that I began on May 29th I’d just like to tell you all that I saw “Eclipse” tonight.  Finally.  And after viewing it all I could think about was how badly I wish I was 17 again.  Because maybe then I would feel less oogey about how extremely good looking I find Taylor Lautner.  And Robert Pattinson.  And basically every other underage werewolf or vampire in the movie.  But, unless I miraculously turn 17 again sometime soon I guess I’ll have to entertain myself with normal non-shape shifting men.  But, honestly, would a night out with a Cullen really be too much to ask? 

If I promise to avoid red meat on our date?

Sarah

Lately, all I’ve been writing have been this birthday posts, so maybe you should be thankful that my friend’s have summer birthdays.  Or maybe you’re sad that all I’m getting around to writing about are other people’s lives.  I have seen the error of my ways and I already have a post planned for tomorrow that’s all about me!  But, for today, let’s talk about my friend Sarah.

You all know the drill, yesterday was Sarah’s 26th birthday and so, here’s a list of 26 reasons to love Sarah!

1. I met Sarah on my second day at DBU.  My roommate Alison and I were returning to our room and she and her roommate Miranda were returning to theirs and we lived down the hall from each other so we introduced ourselves and became FAST friends.  We ended up hanging out at dinner that night, then hanging out after dinner, then hanging out late into the night that night.  Indicative of many days to come.

2. Sarah is a Doctor!  Doctor Sarah!  How cool is it that I have a friend who is a Doctor and can check out my eyes if I need it?

3. When we lived in the dorms together Sarah would often wake me up and keep me up until 2 a.m.- she was never ready for the party to end.  We had some of the CRAZIEST times together at around 1:45 in the morning.

4. In college we often talked about taking a big road trip to Vegas and San Francisco.  We were going to name it the “Hit That Ho Up Tour”.  I have no idea WHY we were going to call it that and I’m a little disturbed by it, but it’s mainly just funny.

5. Sarah is married to Justin, who has quickly become one of my favorite people.  It’s almost scary how perfect they are for each other.  They are fun and easy to be around, I’m very glad that they agree to hang out with me from time to time.

 

6. One time, for a college organization, Sarah and I had to sing a duet at an initiation ceremony.  We sang “Faith Of Our Fathers”.  It was hilarious.

7. Sarah’s an amazing musician and worship leader.

8. For a long time Sarah embraced the popped collar so wholeheartedly you would have thought she was a frat boy.  But, she made it work… and even made it look cool.

9. Sarah and I share a healthy fear of anything to do with horror movies.  And when I say “healthy fear” I mean we are easily terrified and may never recover if we get scared by something or someone.  I appreciate that I have someone to NOT go see scary movies with.

10. Sarah can make any place feel homey and comfortable.  When we were in Africa we lived in rooms which were a far cry from home, but Sarah took some of her old coke bottles, washed them out and put flowers in them on her windowsill.  It made her room feel very welcoming.  It’s the kind of thing she does now, in her new house (which is beautiful and welcoming).

11. She has great style!  Both in fashion and decorating (see #10).

12. The LEMON SHAKER.  Sarah has a collection of rhythm shakers and one of them is a lemon.  Freshmen year of college I stole the lemon and wrote a ransom note.  She retaliated by papering my door and begging for the lemon’s return.  I still have the decorated papers from my door and Sarah still has the lemon.  It is an iconic story from our friendship.

13. THIS PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

14. We share a mutual love for the old SNL skit “Brian Fellows”.  Brian Fellows is the world’s worst zoologist / TV host.  “That shaggy rat needs a haircut!”

15. There was a time when Sarah and I kept accidentally dressing alike.  We would get ready in different cities and show up wearing the almost exact same pink polo and jeans or blue t-shirt and khaki skirt.

16. One time we organized (and starred) in a musical for DBU’s spring sing.  It was our own take on Mary Poppins and it was genius.

17. Sarah is a person who does what she loves.  She loves being around and interacting with people and she loves eyes.  Plus, she’s really good at both of those things.  Whatever Sarah does she does it with 110%- something I’m sure her patients appreciate.

18. About 12 days after I met her Sarah took me to visit her family and I fell in love with her parents!  They are amazing and it’s been a joy to get to know the Mercer clan as I got to know Sarah.

19. We both love to go out and be adventurous, but we are equally happy to stay home, do an art project and watch “You’ve Got Mail”.  That’s not something you can say about many friends.

20. She’s beautiful!  Inside and out!

21. She is wickedly funny and has some of the best one-liners.  She makes me giggle and when we spend a lot of time laughing when we’re together.

22. Sarah has a deep and steady faith.  She loves our Lord with great passion.

23. She’s cool.  I mean it.  She’s just plain cool.

24. Sarah is one of the smartest people I know.  She’s also one of the hardest working people I know.  But, she’s never arrogant.  If she wasn’t one of my best friends it would be sickening.

25. I don’t really know how we’re still friends or even really how we became friends to begin with.  All I can figure is, God, in His infinite wisdom, knew something we didn’t and has continued to renew our friendship and grow our bonds.  We met 8 years ago and our friendship continues to grow sweeter. 

26. I love you Sarah, you are such a wonderful friend!  Thanks for being YOU.

Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July!

From Your Favorite Yankee Doodle Dandee