Comedy

There are days when I think that my life is completely sitcom-worthy. With such characters as boss (now ex-boss), who decides there is no place for me at his company but promptly asks if I will help his company move to their new building(after I am no longer working with them); co-worker who pinches me in inappropriate places and spells my name wrong on my 'farewell' card; sisters who fight like enemies and fall like clutzes; and me who can't decide what cereal to have in the morning or the best route to take to get to walmart...the comedy would not fail for lack of viewers!!!

There are moments when I cannot believe the situations in which I have gotten involved...I lived with a houkah lounge owner for a week. I lived with a scary crazy lady for six months. I have been courted, dated, stalked (all in the same week- not all by the same person)...I have been happy, angry, sad, psychotic (all in the same five minutes)...I have conquered, failed, run away, faced my giants...

I have learned. Lessons that may not have come about without the presence of these seemingly crazy circumstances. I have learned to ask important questions. To stand up for myself in situations where my security is threatened, even in the slightest. To interview employers and roomates, don't let them do all the asking! To breathe in the moment. Take it all in and not worry about the next moments. And to take a break and laugh- at yourself, at your family, and that sitcom...because laughter is, afterall, what helps us get through it all!

Finding good...

There is a certain someone. One who I know loves me in his own way. One who, despite shortcomings, mistakes, broken promises and failures, has succeeded in knocking down some of the wall that I have built over the last decade.

I have long wished for a different family dynamic. There were things for which I hoped and that I never got. I felt jilted in some way because I did not receive love they way they packaged it. I was looking for gaudy ribbons, shiny paper and novelty tags. But their gifts came in unexpected wrapping. And many times I missed them.

Not so this time. The difference, I think, was that I asked. I needed help. I called. They came. They stayed with me, stood up for me, made sure that the problem was satisfactorily solved. In the process some things occurred which only served to escalate the situation. I was in tears, they were irate, and not a lot was accomplished. But I knew in that moment that those people would do anything in the world for me. They did what I couldn't do. They stood up to people I didn't know how to defend myself against. They let these people know that we were not going away until the problem was solved. They were the epitome of what I always thought parents should be. Defenders, protectors, warriors in the battle of the World versus their Children. And though I was in tears, drained of strength and hope for that moment, I knew that they were my strength and hope. They knew how to get the job done. And they did.

What a perfect (though quite imperfect) example of what God is for us. He has done what we couldn't do. He has conquered sin and death through Jesus Christ in order that we may have abundant life forever. He is our defense, our strength, our protection, our hope.

I have a new understanding the term 'father.' A new understanding of what that term means in regards to my earthly father and my Heavenly Father. I am seeing Him in a brighter light. One that has revealed more of who He is and what He is all about. And I am seeing my dad differently. I have, for so long, focused on the things I felt that I had missed, instead of seeing the many things that I had already been given...
And all it took was a towed car, some very cold weather, some not-nice towing company people, and my dad!!!!!

For me, he will cancel his plans...

That is what he said. He has a weekly meeting that he will skip this week, because I asked him to go see a high school play with me. And we will be eating dinner beforehand.

First date? You be the judge...

The Flowers...

...seem happier this morning. They are not so droopy. A little bit of love and a lot of water go a long way-

What I Learned in Kindergarten Today-

#1. Open-toed shoes and kindergarteners don't mix. Countless anklebiters stepped on my toes today, of all days, when I wore sandals.

#2. Always, always, always clean off your desk! You never know when some new friend might bring you flowers.

I walked into my classroom ready for a much needed break and found a beautiful bunch of Pink Tulips! Just gorgeous!!! Only, my desk was quite unprepared for this addition. It was a complete mess!!! YIKES! Oh well, I now know better. I will try to keep my desk cleaner (not that I will receive pink tulips ever again)...

And thank you, special friend, for thinking of me today. It was the bright spot in my day...

Well,

it took me several days, but all is fixed for now. I was told that nothing had been reported to the credit bureaus and that the mistake was taken care of.

Part of me wonders if it is really over. They told me all was fixed but they also told me I owed at least 1 month's rent last week...only time will tell.



;)

Ironic

Several weeks ago, I received a notice on my apartment door stating that I was renting a washer/dryer unit from them and had not paid up. I promptly called and informed them that I did not have one of their units. "Oh we know, we sent one of those notices out to everyone."

"What? Are you kidding me????? Shouldn't they know who is renting from them?
Whatever, situation taken care of...

Until today. Yes, I received another notice on my door today stating that I owed at least one month's rent.

WHAT???? I owe a lot of people a lot of things. But rent to these apartment people is one thing that has not made the list...I am current. Have been since the day I moved in!

I called. No one answered.
Went by. All locked up.

Are you kidding me? Is this really happening? Are these people so dense that they can't mark me off the list every month for paying, and on time!?!?!?!!!

This is somewhat ironic because I have had some financial trouble in the past and have worked very hard to overcome this. If I am going to be reported to the credit bureaus regardless of my good payment history, then what is the point of trying to work hard to better my credit?!?!?!!

Ugh!!!!!

Note to self...

...and any other first year kinder teachers out there.

It is not a good idea to talk with too much detail about the way our bodies work. You might just find out that they know a lot more than you do...and have some very awkward questions.

:\

Crystal needs...

to do this, simply go to Google, type in "*Your Name* Needs" and copy the top ten answers to your blog...

Crystal Needs-

1. a lot of love.

2. someone that will be patient and who is willing to explain things to her.

3. a home.

4. to sit in a super-saturated solution to keep growing.

5. just 6-8 inches of snow.

6. improvement.

7. reviews.

8. to spend a great deal of time in solitude to meditate.

9. to sparkle again.

10. her hand held a little.

Almost scary, this is. Google knows me too well ;)

Better...

Welcome to Day 2. Feeling better about myself today. Not necessarily looking better, but I AM on my way!!

Yuck

There comes a point in life when you look into the mirror and the person looking back absolutely disgusts you. That point for me came earlier in the week. And yesterday my solution arrived in the mail. I am excited at the prospect of what I can be and a little frustrated that it won't happen fast enough. Maybe if I post my success and failure, I will be a bit more motivated to work at making better choices for my life and health. So this is my starting point. I am what I am. But I am thankful that I do not have to stay this way...

I Should Have Known...

...that the day before a school party day, Walmart would be packed. There were people crawling everywhere, and I unwillingly added to the chaos. It makes me crazy that people will just stand in the way chit-chatting and wondering what to buy. Here is a little hint for you- Rush Hour is not the time to stand in the middle of the aisle trying to decide what you want. Rush Hour is the time when you rush in and grab the things on which you have already decided. If you want to go browse, shop, hang out, etc. please go at a more appropriate time- say, 2:00 am. It will save us all time and frustration. Or go shopping beforehand and make a list. Decide on what you want and then go get it. (I know this is unrealistic, but I am looking to the future when we all live in a perfect world).

And it makes me crazy that people drive their carts the way they drive their cars. There really needs to be some sort of blinker system installed on those buggies...and maybe traffic lights at aisle intersections...sounds like a policy paper- hmmmm.

Yes, Walmart makes me crazy. But it is all over and I can put it behind me. Until tomorrow (when I undoubtedly will have to go get something that I forgot tonight...)

Oy!

Receiving...

On my drive in to work one morning I heard on the radio an author promoting some new book. I can’t tell you the name of the author or his work, but the one point that caught my attention was that “one cannot give what he has not received.” I decided that to move to the place where God wants me to be, I need to place myself in positions to receive love. To learn from others how it is given and received. So that I could receive from and give to others.

But before I can do that, I need to understand what it means to receive love. And so, a journey begins. A quest to learn what love truly is, and how it is received. I know that Christ is our ultimate example. And God works through everyday people to teach us such lessons as these. He has placed me in the very place I need to be to learn and understand this complex question.

And it seems that, since that morning, there have countless opportunities to receive from others. My job now is to not only recognize them, but open up and receive them...

Continuing the game...

If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I'll assign you a letter. You post ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on. I got the letter M, so here goes!

1. Mail...I love mail! I love it so much that I have been known to send myself letters...

2. Markers. Coloring is such a stress relief. Coloring with markers is almost euphoric!!!

3. Maps. I was once a geography teacher and still am, at heart.

4. Mork and Mindy. Funny tv show. FUNNY!

5. Mysteries.

6. Matches. I am a closet pyro...muahahahahaaaa!!!!

7. Mathematics. Love solving these problems (so much easier compared to other of life's issues)

8. Make-believe...nothing quite like escaping reality ;)

9. Mad Libs...need I say more?

10. Mom's mashed potatoes...absolutely the best!

Is there anyone out there like me?

I got sucked into an infomercial this morning and eventually gave in to the urge to buy. It was a good deal, and if I use it, it will work. But then again, if I use the myriad of other impulse buys, they would work too!!! Ha! So here I sit, excited at the prospect that I have something coming in the mail and disgusted at myself for spending money meant for saving...

Maybe my joy over the the product's efficient effectiveness will outweigh my guilt... :\

Home...

If "home is where the heart is," and I don't have a home...do I have a heart?

Three and One Half Years Later...

I think I had forgotten about this blog. I came across a friend's site, signed up, and was signed in as the me I used to be...

I was so different then...but struggling with the same issues- finding my place, fitting in, becoming all that I was created to be. Somehow it seems that I am farther from my goal now than I was then...

Journeys Through Life...

Searching, wandering, lost in a world of possibilities. Where to go, what to do, explorations waiting in the wings. I will indulge them. Journey to new places so as to soak up all the world has to offer me. And yet what have I to offer it?

Maybe it is in the learning that I teach and in the taking that I give...

Learning to Live...

We spent the better half of a week not speaking to one another. Mostly because of my selfishness and anger. I did not like him taking over 'my' territory. Now I know how he felt when the situation was reversed. I also realize that I am mimicking certain qualities that I find disgraceful in other people. Am letting go of my possessiveness, though it is tough. I find that when I am not so worried about what is mine, and focus on being together with those I like and love, things are better, freer, more fun.

False Perceptions...

There are days when it seems that I am operating within my own version of reality. After all, I tell myself, my reality is merely my perspective. What I perceive to be real is, to me, real. Following this way of thinking, there are about six billion different realities in operation in the world today. If this be so, then what is true? Who is right? There must only be one reality. I have some idea of what this might be, but to expound upon it here may take too much time. I am realizing, however, that life be not about me. There are more important things going on outside of myself. I must look beyond me to find my reality.