Ruining the day, saving the day, and Robin Hood

Can you guess which of the above four items nearly ruined my day? How about which one saved the day?

If you guessed the LG Vu cell phone to answer the first question, then you just won...a big virtual high five!

If you guessed the key to answer the second question(obvious answer, right?), well, you just won a third of a virtual high five because Question #2 is a trick question. The key, the sick puppy, and the sonic cup saved my day (in that order). Well, not the cup, but the little bitty red straw you see sticking out of it in the top left hand corner of the picture. That's right, tell the straw thank you.

Now, to explain:

After getting off work at ILS, I called an absolutely amazing person (*A-ap*) to just say "hi." Well, I never can "just say hi" when I call this person, so before I knew it we had talked me all the way home, into my house, out the back door with my pup, and back up the porch steps to the door again. When I went to open the door, I realized the lock had stuck in the lock position again. No big deal, thought I, I'll just whip out my handy-dandy key and open 'er right back up.

Only, no amount of patting or poking myself presented the house key. I had conveniently left it sitting on the kitchen counter, not thinking, as I was in deep conversation with A-ap.

I called my landlord, embarrassed and apologetic for my carelessness, and she came in a jiffy to unlock the front door (hence, the house key saved the day!).

...but, then, to the surprise of us both, even when unlocked the door would only open a couple of inches! What in the world is going on? I thought. As I started to examine the front door, I realized I had, out of habit, locked the chain lock across the top. My landlord and I both tried all we could to open the door, but the chain lock wasn't budging and all the tools we used (including our hands) either were too bulky or too short to unlock the door. As I continued the struggle in the front, my landlord went around to the back door with a screwdriver and tried to break into the back door.

I was starting to feel safe about this point. Seriously, if two girls with tools couldn't get in, then my little ego decided nobody could. My landlord left in frustration to go find some wire cutters to just cut the chain lock.

Stella threw up on the porch. Her allergies have really been acting up lately, and I'm sure the heat from being outside so long was getting to her. I wanted to clean up her mess and remembered I had a bag of trash in my car which contained unused napkins. I got the trashbag (thankfully, my car was unlocked). Inside the bag was a Sonic cup similar to the one in the picture above, containing a red straw just like the one in the photograph above. (hence, my sick puppy, Stella, saved the day). You may ask how. Don't worry, I'll explain it with many words, as is my way:

Seeing the simple and elegant red straw in the Sonic cup sparked an idea in this little brain of mine. That straw is long. That straw is skinny. I could push that chain out of its lock with this little guy. He can even be smushed in the door and I could still push on him to undo the chain!.

What happened next was something that doesn't happen too often: What I thought was actually right! (Hence, the straw saved the day).

So, what I thought was an invicible wall of metal and sheetrock turned out to be foolproof but not strawproof.

Thank you, Straw. You did a great job.

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I started my new job with ILS today and LOVED it! The only thing not so great about the experience was the movie the guys picked out to go watch: Robin Hood. I am ashamed to admit I even watched that movie. There would be no movie left if you took out the violence. Oh, except for the nude scene, yeah, that'd still be there. In that case, give me 3 hours of violence and take out the nude scene that really does nothing to further the plot. Oh, did I say plot? I don't think there was one of those, either.

Let's just say I was thoroughly dissappointed, ashamed, and embarrassed to watch something like that with my client and others from his facility. I only pray they were asleep during most of it (it seemed as if they were).

Otherwise, I enjoyed my experience to the fullest and cannot wait until next Saturday!

Robert H. Williams

He was a good man, one of Wal-mart's best customers. He truly did live life to its fullest! In fact, at 79, he was out wife-hunting and in the process of writing an autobiography. I spent hours with him, as he poured out his story--one that proved full of life and adventure. His experiences were so very important to him and he wanted to share them with everyone. I hate that I did not know he was dying. He was spry and healthy the last time I saw him! My heart and prayers go out to your family, Mr. Bob! I think now you may be much happier to be with your wife and son. God bless you!

Robert H. Williams

March 16, 1931 - May 23, 2010

Robert H. Williams, age 79 died May 23rd at Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock . He was born at Benton, Arkansas March 16, 1931 the first son of Henry Pascal Williams and Maurine (Slaughter) Williams.

He was a 1949 graduate of Bauxite High School, and studied at Spartan School of Aviation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He worked as an aircraft instrument technician first for the US Navy and then for the Boeing Company. Later he owned his own instrument overhaul shop at Miami International Airport. He married Marge Clifford, a widow with three children. Bob and Marge sold their aircraft instrument business and bought some rental cottages and operated a charter fishing business on Little Torch Key near Key West, Florida.

Robert was an achrondoplastic dwarf, but lived life to the fullest. He was always optimistic and enthusiastic and never let his physical condition slow him down. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, his wife Marge, his brother James Malcolm (Linda), and his sister Ann Wilson (Jim).

He is survived by his step mother Kathleen Williams of Austin, TX, his brother Carroll (Mary Lee) of Conway, Arkansas and John (Vera) of Austin, Texas, and by three step children Fred Clifford of Houston, TX, Mary Enberg of Hernando, FL, and Edye Fuis of Las Vegas, NV, and by a nephew Garrett Williams of Corpus Christi, TX, and a niece Kayte Williams of Austin, Tx.

Cremation will be followed by a public memorial service to held sometime in early June in Conway followed by a private spreading of his ashes on Mt. Petit Jean.

Bob desired that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a memorial gift please consider Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202.

Arrangements are entrusted to Roller-McNutt Funeral Home, Conway. 501-327-7727.

"Point"ing out

Point 1> I am really enjoying being a customer service manager for Wal-mart, believe it or not. I was afraid I would be overwhelmed, but God has blessed me. I couldn't do it without Him!

Point 2> I just filled out the paperwork for my new job yesterday. I'm hoping to start Saturday. I'll be a community skills trainer for an adult man with special needs. I cannot express how excited I am about it!

Point 3> I'm trying to get my foot in the door to volunteer at Camp Connect, a local one-week camp for children with autism spectrum disorders. I have turned in my application and all is well through my communications with the administrator. They seem excited to have me on board, though I don't think their enthusiasm can even compare to my own!

Point 4> Stella looks mangier than ever. I have her nearly shaved bald in places, all but one leg is skinny, but I have yet to touch her head or tail. Therefore, she is a poofball with eyes, a stick body, stick legs, and a poofball backside! Like two pom poms on a bar. I'm sure it is stylish and adorable...somewhere.

Point 5> My car is in the shop under repair. I am trapped at home! I'm unsure what is in store for me tomorrow (I have to be at work in the morning), but God has provided transportation thus far. Shortly, I will have a sparkly clean and pretty car--without a dent.

Point 6> I'm trying to lose weight. Five pounds so far this week. It's not coming off as fast as it did my last attempt. :(

Point 7> I reinstated my facebook account due to missed game nights. Everyone forgot I no longer had facebook, so they only invited via the internet profiling site. I guess I need to keep up with the times.

Point 8> The closest I've ever come to a country other than the U.S.: I just drank a glass of apple juice made from apples in the USA, Argentina, China, and Poland.

Point 9> Anna and I baked cookies and bought tennis shoes yesterday. I had a lot of fun with her; she is a special young woman who I am blessed to call friend!

Snickerdoodlemen are much tastier than Snowmen. Trust me.

Point 10> I am facing some things right now that I need to overcome, but I cannot do it alone. It is hard for me to ask for help. I don't want to bother others, and I feel like my problems are so small--too small to bring before the Lord. That isn't true, though, and I know it. My independent spirit has not been broken yet, and that is the first step to victory. I need Jesus to help me. This is a lot more serious than my other random "points," and perhaps that is why it is last. Your prayers are coveted.

Books! (and other random topics)

I bought myself a little present, though the money should probably have been spent on something more practical. Regardless, I think it is worth it. So, from Bangzo.com, here's my newest set of those amazing things called books!



I think Jane Austen is fabulous. *sigh*

I went to Hastings the other day and discovered a lot of my favorite childhood classics--books that I either never owned (and repeatedly checked out of the library) or that I handed on to siblings when I became "too old and cool" for them. Well, now I've reverted back and don't think I could ever be too old for a book!

I'm really excited about the deals I got, for all those old classics were around $2 each!

Books are a good investment. Always.

Last night, I shaved Stella's leg. Yep. She has a bald leg. Well, an almost bald leg. The rest of her is as poofy as ever. I had no intentions of making her have the beginning look of a black and white lamb, but she refuses to let me cut any more off!

So, make a note to yourself to never, I repeat NEVER, allow me to be your dog groomist (is that a word? Perhaps I should say fur stylist instead).

Somebody, please help me. I'm a failure at raising a dog. This poor thing looks like a mangy, homeless dog after my attempts at grooming her!

Off to try cooking a new recipe--you know, it's one of my resolutions.

Or not. I just got a call from a dear friend wanting to spend some time with me tonight. And, the wonderful word "tennis" was mentioned, so...cooking will have to be put off another day.

"I'm off to see the lizzard, the loverly lizzard name Lud." <--an exerpt from my mind as it unwinds after a long day of work. I somehow have the image of Bill the Lizard from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland stuck in my head, along with the tune of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". Forgive me my oddness. I just can't help it.

My Summer Resolutions

Since coming to college, things I love to do have slowly faded into things I never do. I have gone from a mentality of "enjoy life and the things in it" to one that tells me my hobbies are a waste of time. So, in evaluating who I am now and who I was at 17, I have resolved to revive my interests and stop denying myself pleasure in life. Work is definitely NOT worth having a boring life over.

I resolve to:
[1] Design at least one scrapbook page per week.
[2] Read at least one book (not for school) per week.
[3] Send out a card to someone special in my life at least once per month to let them know how much they mean to me.
[4] Extract at least 500 words of creative writing out of my head every week, be it poetry or short story.
[5] Try out at least one new recipe each week.

I must stop my list at 5, because that alone may be overwhelming with school and work still in the picture!

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Two years ago, one of my professors recommended I read this book. It sounded very intriguing, so I scribbled the title in the margin of my notes to look up later. However, it wasn't until recently I found those notes, sparking a renewed interest in the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (a French magazine editor who had a stroke at 42 and suffered from "locked-in syndrome," where he was cognitively in tact, but could only blink his left eye and turn his head). Mr. Bauby wrote this entire book by blinking his left eye as the alphabet was called out to him, one letter at a time.

The girl at the bookstore told me there is now a film based on this book, which was kind of neat to hear about. I think it would be challenging to make a movie in which the main star cannot move or speak.

Anyways, I say all this to get your hopes up...then let you down. I was kind of disappointed with the book. It is good to open our eyes to the fact that this man was still there, 100%, and to begin to empathize with his situation. It is helpful for therapists (speech, physical, or occupational) as well as nurses, doctors, and caregivers, as it shares his comforts and discomforts after his stroke. The book is overall good. It just isn't as good as I was expecting.

It's like my blog: comprised of random thoughts. Though his thoughts came from the mind of a fellow trapped inside his body. The man was very witty and was rather good with words, too. At one point, suspense was building as he spoke of what turned out to be...french fries!

I don't really know what I was expecting, but after watching my professor bawling her eyes out as she read it, I figured it might have the same effect on me, especially since I am most definitely a crybaby. But I did not shed one tear as I read this story.

I just watched the trailer for this movie and realize that the trailer alone is 100 times more vulgar than his book. I only had to use my dark black "censor-marker" a few times in his story. His remarks were usually mild in content, but the trailer for the movie had many, MANY obscenities and even nudity. I repent for having looked it up.

Don't you just love Hollywood?

I think if you are in a medical field and may work with people who have suffered strokes, TBI, or other problems that may render communication difficult, you might find this book interesting and helpful in relating to them.

The Challenge

I have been challenged by a friend to write at least 500 words a week. 500 real words, not those silly made-up ones like shaboogity or snackeldoo, though I like those, too. So, here goes me first:

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Tears of Life

As I was driving to work this morning, the clouds began to gather quickly and turn a dark, forlorn shade of gray. My first thought was, "Oh great, here comes bad weather," but then I remembered how hot it was outside and how much I love rain in warm weather. Reminiscing about that sparked my senses, bringing back the smell of wet dirt and fresh, clean air.

Aloud, I spoke gently to my Best Friend, "I sure love it when it rains on warm days. Thank you for knowing what I wanted before I even knew!"

Within seconds, a big, fat water droplet splattered across my bug-stained windshield. Then another. And another.

As the rain began to fall, tears welled up in my eyes. I thought back to when I was a little girl, sitting on the porch with my Mamaw on a sunny afternoon as the rain started to come down lightly.

pitter patter pitter patter pitter patter

"Mamaw, why does it rain?"

"Well, rain gives water to help the plants live. All living things need water."

"Oh. Well...I thought maybe it was 'cause someone sinned and made God sad. I thought He was crying. Could He be crying, Mamaw?"

"I guess He could, Kristina. People do bad things that make Him sad."

A little part of me has always held onto the silly notion that rain is God's tears. With Him in mind, I am filled with joy when I see rain.

Rain brings refreshing and renewing to all things. It heals the cracks in the dry ground; it brings to life the wilted rose. Rain touches all of nature--transforming the still, quiet surface of a pond into a stage where water dances enthusiastically to the rhythm of the storm.

Rain gives life. It provides hydration to all things living. Rain purifies. It clears the air of dirt and particles of harmful substances.

Rain may not really be the tears of God, but there were tears He shed that held true to a purpose parallel to our current precipitation. Tears that were shed for a people unworthy of the sincerity of those precious, salty drops. They flowed freely from His eyes as He prayed for us--yes, me and you--over 2,000 years ago. The love that brought forth those tears went on to bring forth renewing, refreshing, healing, transforming, cleansing LIFE.

His love for us sent Him to the cross.

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It isn't quite 500 words, nor is it very creative, but I think it will do for this week. Perhaps creativity will come with time, and with it topics that may interest you more than those that hug my heart so tightly.

Car Boo-Boo! :(

I was rear-ended today after work.
So, do I blame the accident on my job? If I had not gone in early today, I'd have still been at work when the accident occured. Or, should I blame it on the lights messed up at the intersection--lights that have been messed up since yesterday--with no one to direct traffic? If I had pressed my gas to accelerate like one would normally do as a light turned green, instead of having to come to an abrupt stop as a car ran out in front of the person in front of me (for there was no light to judge who had the right of way), would the girl behind me not have hit me?

Probably not, and probably true...

Honestly, no one was to blame. I have come close to doing the same thing myself a few times, and I felt horrible for the young lady who's big pick-up (what is it with my cars and big trucks?!) bumped me hard enough to tear up her fender/bumper-- whatever it is called on the front--worse than my own.

My car just endured an imprint from her license plate in its smooth surface. See?



Wait, what's that? You can't see it? Oh, okay, let me zoom in...



Still can't see it? Well, hmmmm...here's the closest I can get:



The young lady had a beautiful black lab in her truckbed. I'm glad he didn't get thrown out into the busy road when she bumped me. I'm glad he was okay, and so was she. I am glad that my car only got a little bitty dent. I wish I could say the same for the bumper of her truck, but oddly enough, it was in much worse shape (looked like it was about to fall off). I don't understand how my car looked so good and hers looked so bad (come on, it's a big bad truck bullying my teeny weeny car!)

Coming from all of this, I feel pretty good. My Senator Gilbert Baker US Senate sticker is just as shiny and crisp as it was the day I put it on there.
That's all that matters.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Breakfast:
How about my first trip to Branson, two days at Silver Dollar City, one meal with my amazing friends at Cracker Barrel, a visit to see the Branson Landing fountain after all the shops had closed, and cruising "The Strip" twice over? Does that sound like a well-rounded breakfast to get your tummy pumped and ready for the day?



The wind may have been cold--very cold--and Water Boggin may have been shut down--for good--but I had so much fun I cannot even express it! Silver Dollar City alone would take me a week to explore as in depth as I would like; I cannot imagine how long it would take me to enjoy every ounce of the rest of the city of Branson, MO!


(Burr, water rides like The Great American Plunge" turned out to be dreadfully cold, but still a thrill to ride)

So, I think I have found my dream vacation spot, in the states anyway. I am definitely going back!

Lunch:
Does knowing I made 3 A's and 1 B this semester as well as I was officially transferred to customer service manager today satisfy your cravings for midday nourishment? Thanks for all the prayers and words of encouragement this year, as I faced some tough situations with school and work. Jehova Jireh, God has provided! Praise His holy name!

Dinner (or, as my Mamaw calls it, Supper):
How about some real food this time! Here's a glimpse at what I had for dinner tonight. I was craving some southern cooking and Italian all at once, so I cooked up some Garlic and Herb Chicken with Skillet-fried garlic potatoes, and green beans with bacon. I liked it so much I think I'll eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow!


(Talk about bad breath after dinner! Garlic AND Onions!)

Now the house smells of garlic, onions, and green beans. It is FANTASTIC. *breathing deeply* I really need to start cooking more often. I do enjoy it!

Well, off to beddio as I have to be at work before the cock crows in the morning!

Sad, Fluffy Ball Needs Sitter

(Dew News) Black and white fluffball, affectionately named Stella, is sad that her housemate is going to Branson without her.
"Ruff, ruff, ruff, rooooo," Stella exclaimed Wednesday, in a press conference held at her residence. In other words, Stella is very distraught and feels she is getting the short end of the stick.

Stella's housemate, Kristina, defends her choice in stating, "Branson is no place for canines, especially ones who despise getting wet. I only have her best interests in mind."

A source close to the quarrelling friends has told us no one will be going anywhere if Kristina cannot find a sitter by Friday. "Stella has put up a good fight until this point, having neglected to receive her Bordetella vaccination which is required for entry into American kennels and boarding houses. Her hair-matting move was a real winner, too, though Kristina is determined to leave. We hope Stella can hang in there, but we are afraid Kristina has connections with people who love dogs and may very soon win the battle. We don't know the outcome yet--anything can happen in 48 hours."

Storms

Last Saturday evening, I was clueless of the danger of the storm brewing around me.
I was sitting in my living room balancing my checkbook when the tornado warning siren began to howl. It took me a few minutes to recognize what it was, and when I did, I jumped off the couch, grabbed my dog, and ran outside into the pouring rain. I looked all around me at the sky, taking in the sight of dark, towering clouds on every side. I live in a mobile home, so I knew I must find shelter…quickly. The safest place I knew of would be the ditch on the opposite side of the trailer park, so I made my way to it, keeping an eye on the sky for suspicious activity. About halfway between my home and the ditch, I looked off to my right and saw this:



Well, what I saw was from a slightly different angle and a quite a bit further away (I did not have my camera on me, but was able to find a photo from someone silly enough to be snapping pictures at that time).

What a weird-looking cloud. What is it? Is that the tornado? [the news later confirmed this to be, in fact, a twister]

An elderly lady in a bright yellow poncho, clinging to a little crate, stood in the middle of the road with a wild, scared look on her face. I asked her where she was going and told her I was getting under the bridge in the ditch because I felt it was the safest and quickest place to get. She followed me down the bank, into the garbage-covered ditchbed already filling with churning, muddy water, and scooted behind me under the bridge, where the ground was still dry dirt. A man came a little later and assured us we were in the safest place possible, but to beware of flood waters. He left to check the weather. No sooner than he did, the waters started to rise--rapidly. By the time he came back, the water had risen nearly to my waist. He said that storm had passed, but another was on its way right for us and we needed to find a more stable place to go if possible.

I am still amazed at how it worked out. I had needed to call a lady from church last week, and though I had forgotten to program the number into my phone, it was still in my dialed calls list. I remembered Mrs. Karen telling me once she did not live far from me and offering her home in case of a storm. So, taking a deep breath, I called her back to take her up on that.

Here's a photo of the storm clouds from the road I live on:



And another photo from my town showing storm clouds that look as if they are growing angrier by the seoond:



Scary, huh?

The second tornado siren errupted before I made it to my car after cleaning Stella and me up a little (we were black from our visit with the ditch). I was strangely calmer than usual up until this point. I think the situation was finally starting to really sink in.

I am so grateful for Mrs. Karen and her family. They were calm, sweet, and constantly in remembrance of our great Protector. Their dependence on our Heavenly Father was evident in their behavior and their spirit. I could think of nowhere better to be in the midst of a storm than with the smiling faces of those precious people. I felt safe, even in their front yard, even though the storm around us looked something like this:



Mrs. Karen and her family are special people, but what made them even more special was the Spirit of the Lord in their hearts.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

This was a real life situation that proved to be a lesson for me, I feel, and possibly something we can all glean from if we step back and evaluate our own reaction to the stormclouds in our lives. Is our trust in the Lord? When the storms come, do we take courage in our God, or do we fall back in fear? God is still working in me. I am far from where I should be in my faith--for fear DID come upon me when I saw those clouds. I desire to trust in the Lord as my dear friends do, never doubting His unchanging, gentle, sweet, loving, protecting hands.