Now that Thanksgiving weekend is coming to an end and I'm left with a full stomach and a stuffy nose, I'm also left with a full heart.
It's nice that we have a holiday here in the States where we get to acknowledge that we have something to be thankful for. I wonder how many people take the time to do that. Often times I'm guilty of thinking only of what I don't have, but when I think about it, there's an awful more lot that I have than things I don't.
That wonderful family and friends are on the top of that list goes without saying. Getting to play with my nieces and nephew was completely worth catching their colds. Staying out late with old friends was completely worth being exhausted the next day.
Having a job is nice, one that I like is even better. Living with my parents at my age isn't exactly ideal, but that fact that I get along with them so well makes it not so bad. Having a passport with stamps in it and pictures recording my travels is pretty nifty.
Knowing that my life hasn't turned out exactly as I planned makes me question myself sometimes, but at least I've enjoyed the ride.
I'm not writing this to brag about how perfect everything is for me, 'cause Lord knows it's not, but I think sometimes we need to verbalize what we have so that we don't forget it when times are tough.
So I hope you don't mind my little Thanksgiving list and I hope you have made one of your own.
I'd like to hear it sometime.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Me and my big mouth
Sometimes I think I shouldn't be allowed to talk to people. For my own benefit really.
To fully explain the reason behind this hypothesis, I need to go back to Halloween. I had a busy Halloween weekend, attending several parties and having a grand ol' time. Of course, pictures were taken and posted on Facebook, Myspace and who knows where else on the wide Web.
One such picture that found its way onto the aforementioned sites was one that was much less than flattering. It was downright awful. I was dancing, obviously having a great time, but apparently at the exact moment my "friend's" finger pressed down on the button, the expression on my face was one that should not have been captured.
When said picture was brought to my attention and the realization that everyone I knew in the world (literally) had access to it set in, I began damage control. And as soon as possible had my friend who so kindly posted it, so kindly de-post it.
Phew. All was clear. Now everyone I knew could go back to believing I only take beautiful pictures and never look ridiculous. It was a great feeling.
However, it still must have been lingering in my mind.
The other day, I ran into a guy that I had a crush on from age 12 to 20 and even now when I see him am reduced to my 15-year-old self. (It's pretty ridiculous, but true.) So I saw him, and feeling upbeat and confident went over to say hello. We chit-chatted for a few moments and to my horror the words "So I saw pictures of you from Halloween..." came out of his mouth.
Without thinking, I reply, "Oh the horrible one so-and-so posted?" And when it didn't seem to register with him, I didn't just drop it. Oh no, that would be too easy. I proceeded to re-enact the way my eyes drooped, lips curled and the slight hunch of my body.
"Uh no, I didn't see those ones," he said.
I'm sure the color rushed to my cheeks as I realized what I'd successfully "hidden" from the world, had been brought back and what's worse, at my own hand, and what's even worse, to one of the last people I'd want to know about it. And he didn't even get the picture, he got the live show.
You've done it again Megan. The hole in the ground is open, just jump in.
Turns out, he wanted to compliment my costume, which of course had been featured in other less terrible pictures that I had allowed to remain in cyber space.
The conversation ended quickly after that, because honestly, how could I recover?
As I walked away, I left my pride on the ground where it had fallen. I couldn't help but laugh at myself and the vanity that had gotten me in to trouble.
And then it hit me...
SomeOne was teaching me a lesson. And He has a great sense of humor.
To fully explain the reason behind this hypothesis, I need to go back to Halloween. I had a busy Halloween weekend, attending several parties and having a grand ol' time. Of course, pictures were taken and posted on Facebook, Myspace and who knows where else on the wide Web.
One such picture that found its way onto the aforementioned sites was one that was much less than flattering. It was downright awful. I was dancing, obviously having a great time, but apparently at the exact moment my "friend's" finger pressed down on the button, the expression on my face was one that should not have been captured.
When said picture was brought to my attention and the realization that everyone I knew in the world (literally) had access to it set in, I began damage control. And as soon as possible had my friend who so kindly posted it, so kindly de-post it.
Phew. All was clear. Now everyone I knew could go back to believing I only take beautiful pictures and never look ridiculous. It was a great feeling.
However, it still must have been lingering in my mind.
The other day, I ran into a guy that I had a crush on from age 12 to 20 and even now when I see him am reduced to my 15-year-old self. (It's pretty ridiculous, but true.) So I saw him, and feeling upbeat and confident went over to say hello. We chit-chatted for a few moments and to my horror the words "So I saw pictures of you from Halloween..." came out of his mouth.
Without thinking, I reply, "Oh the horrible one so-and-so posted?" And when it didn't seem to register with him, I didn't just drop it. Oh no, that would be too easy. I proceeded to re-enact the way my eyes drooped, lips curled and the slight hunch of my body.
"Uh no, I didn't see those ones," he said.
I'm sure the color rushed to my cheeks as I realized what I'd successfully "hidden" from the world, had been brought back and what's worse, at my own hand, and what's even worse, to one of the last people I'd want to know about it. And he didn't even get the picture, he got the live show.
You've done it again Megan. The hole in the ground is open, just jump in.
Turns out, he wanted to compliment my costume, which of course had been featured in other less terrible pictures that I had allowed to remain in cyber space.
The conversation ended quickly after that, because honestly, how could I recover?
As I walked away, I left my pride on the ground where it had fallen. I couldn't help but laugh at myself and the vanity that had gotten me in to trouble.
And then it hit me...
SomeOne was teaching me a lesson. And He has a great sense of humor.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Clearing the debris
I cleaned my room today. And I mean cleaned. I had the day off work today (hooray!) and so after sleeping in and then laying around for a while, I decided to tackle the hurricane that was formerly my room.
At first I didn't know where to start. Clothes covered every surface. Stacks of junk mail, bills and who knows what else were leaning; any other addition would have sent them tipping over. So I cleaned here and there until the mess dried up like water down the drain, leaving just a few puddles to tidy up.
The problem I have when I clean is that I can't just clean, I have to go through everything, read every letter, flip through all the photos, making what could be a short process even longer. I realized today that I have received a lot of greeting cards over the last couple years. Birthdays, good-byes, graduation, miss yous, hellos, you name it, I have a card for it. (Thanks everybody!)
Another problem I face is not knowing what I can throw away. Do I really need to save checks from a bank account I no longer have? What about bank statements, old telephone bills or pay stubs? Chances are I don't need them, but I if I threw them away, I'd need them.
When the massive project was over and I could step back and survey my work, I was glad that I had accomplished something with my free day.
And then it hit me...
A week is probably all it will take for it to return to the mess that it always seems to be.
At first I didn't know where to start. Clothes covered every surface. Stacks of junk mail, bills and who knows what else were leaning; any other addition would have sent them tipping over. So I cleaned here and there until the mess dried up like water down the drain, leaving just a few puddles to tidy up.
The problem I have when I clean is that I can't just clean, I have to go through everything, read every letter, flip through all the photos, making what could be a short process even longer. I realized today that I have received a lot of greeting cards over the last couple years. Birthdays, good-byes, graduation, miss yous, hellos, you name it, I have a card for it. (Thanks everybody!)
Another problem I face is not knowing what I can throw away. Do I really need to save checks from a bank account I no longer have? What about bank statements, old telephone bills or pay stubs? Chances are I don't need them, but I if I threw them away, I'd need them.
When the massive project was over and I could step back and survey my work, I was glad that I had accomplished something with my free day.
And then it hit me...
A week is probably all it will take for it to return to the mess that it always seems to be.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Lucky Strike: Part Two
As I mentioned earlier this week I went bowling. I should not go bowling ever again.
Bowling has officially been added to the list of things I can't do. The good news is I almost doubled my score in the second game. The bad news is it went from 34 to 62.
There were six of us bowling. Three men and three women. We decided to go girls against boys. That was the first mistake. The second mistake is that for some reason the bumpers were up in the girls' lane, which was great... until Alisha asked that they take them off.
That was the end of things for me. I don't think I ever bowled so many gutter balls in my entire life. If I'm not hitting any pins, does that even count as bowling? I almost asked for my money back at the end.
I was so bad the lady in the lane next to mine, came over and started giving me tips. I accepted them graciously and they seemed to help for a moment. But only for a moment. I think she finally gave up on helping me when she said, "You know, the most important things is just to have fun."
And I did have fun. I probably would have had more fun if I bowled better.
Then there's karaoke. After bowling, I got up and sang "Fancy" by Reba McIntyre. Well, if you want to call it singing, I'm not sure the people in the audience would agree with me.
And then it hit me...
Maybe I should add singing to the list of things I can't do. Too bad I love it so much.
Bowling has officially been added to the list of things I can't do. The good news is I almost doubled my score in the second game. The bad news is it went from 34 to 62.
There were six of us bowling. Three men and three women. We decided to go girls against boys. That was the first mistake. The second mistake is that for some reason the bumpers were up in the girls' lane, which was great... until Alisha asked that they take them off.
That was the end of things for me. I don't think I ever bowled so many gutter balls in my entire life. If I'm not hitting any pins, does that even count as bowling? I almost asked for my money back at the end.
I was so bad the lady in the lane next to mine, came over and started giving me tips. I accepted them graciously and they seemed to help for a moment. But only for a moment. I think she finally gave up on helping me when she said, "You know, the most important things is just to have fun."
And I did have fun. I probably would have had more fun if I bowled better.
Then there's karaoke. After bowling, I got up and sang "Fancy" by Reba McIntyre. Well, if you want to call it singing, I'm not sure the people in the audience would agree with me.
And then it hit me...
Maybe I should add singing to the list of things I can't do. Too bad I love it so much.
Gym vs. Jim
"I have a gym membership."
I can say this because I pay $69 a month so that I can, thus giving off the impression that I go to the gym.
And I do. Sometimes. Not as often as I should. My gym bag is always packed and ready in the back of my car so that if at any moment I feel inspired, there's nothing to stop me.
This last week, however, I did not feel inspired, not even once. My bag sat in the back seat and every day after work I easily convinced myself I had something more important to do, like to go Starbucks or find a Halloween costume.
There's a mug on my desk at work that reads, "I (heart) Jim." Inside the red heart is a picture of Jim from "The Office" aka John Krasinski. It was a gift from Catherine who bought it from Target for a dollar. It's the greatest mug ever.
Imagine if that mug read "I (heart) Gym." I wouldn't be able to use it because it would be a lie. I do not (heart) the gym. When I do go, I'm happy that I did, the endorphins kick in and I feel accomplished. It's just the process of getting there that's the problem.
And then it hit me...
If Jim were at the gym, they couldn't keep me from that place.
I can say this because I pay $69 a month so that I can, thus giving off the impression that I go to the gym.
And I do. Sometimes. Not as often as I should. My gym bag is always packed and ready in the back of my car so that if at any moment I feel inspired, there's nothing to stop me.
This last week, however, I did not feel inspired, not even once. My bag sat in the back seat and every day after work I easily convinced myself I had something more important to do, like to go Starbucks or find a Halloween costume.
There's a mug on my desk at work that reads, "I (heart) Jim." Inside the red heart is a picture of Jim from "The Office" aka John Krasinski. It was a gift from Catherine who bought it from Target for a dollar. It's the greatest mug ever.
Imagine if that mug read "I (heart) Gym." I wouldn't be able to use it because it would be a lie. I do not (heart) the gym. When I do go, I'm happy that I did, the endorphins kick in and I feel accomplished. It's just the process of getting there that's the problem.
And then it hit me...
If Jim were at the gym, they couldn't keep me from that place.
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