This is a note I wrote. I guess I never sent it, which is a shame since it's definitely a literary masterpiece. My mother says you can tell who a person is going to be by their kindergarten report card. That may be true, but you can also tell who they're going to be by the notes they wrote when they were 13.
Keep in mind that all the punctuation in this is actually made up of little tiny 'x's. All periods and bottoms of exclamation points, but oddly enough not the tops of commas...
(Captain's Log, Stardate) Thurs. March 26, 1998
*Sam*
Hi! How R u doin'? I'm fine. (*scribble* <--a really stupid drawing I scratched out.) You still like Mr. C & Mr. A? I still like my buddie. (Isn't that a doll for boys from the '80's? Also, relationships have clearly never been my strong suit.)
Ya know what I think is really funny? This. Hukd oon fonix werkd phor mee. It's funny. (Trust me, it is.)
Do you ever notice that when I write notes they have absolutely no point & say absolutely nothing. (World, meet the precursor to my blog.) Most people write notes that make sense, but not me. (Can you sense the pride I take in that?) That's why I don't write notes often. I only write them when I'm doing nothing, won't get in trouble, or really board. Usually, it's #3. I hope that doesn't insult you. I didn't mean for it to be offensive. (I'm just saying that I can only find the time to write you the notes that are so clearly the staple of our friendship when there's nothing else to do and I'm completely bored out of my mind. How could you possibly take umbridge with that?)
When you come over tonight, my sister's friend will be there, I think. It'll either be Brittany or LeLani, (if that's how you spell it) Emily just calls her Lani.
You know what. I don't usually write notes this long. I can still find things to say. Wow!! I think this is a record! Don't you feel special. (I mean, come on, you should. After all, I'm deigning to grace you with my presence in written word. That alone should make you give me your lunch money.) If this is getting to wierd, just scratch out the parts that you don't like & pretend I never wrote them & you never read them. (I've always been a problem solver.) This note is getting way to long. G/G. CUL8R. W/B. IDKWJD. (I think this is supposed to be "IDKWJWD" as in "I don't know what Jesus would do", but it's open for interpretation.)
P.S. If you wonder what any of this means, ask me. I won't mind. (As stated earlier, it means I'm bored out of my gourd, but go ahead and ask. After all, your asking will kill a few more minutes.)
Seriously. How could this be written by someone other than me? A little unintentionally offensive, a lot clueless, a dash of goofy, and with more than a touch of crazy.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Unexpected Blessings
We are SO blessed! There are so many people in the ICU in such terrible shape. We sit, nearly giddy with hopeful anticipation about what kind of change this will bring to our lives, with their somber families and all I can think about is how blessed we are.
One man and his wife were hit by a semi. He walked away with airbag and seatbelt wounds, but she's in critical condition, waiting to be stable enough to have surgery on her spine -- surgery to try and keep her from being paralized.
There's an Amish family whose brother was walking and was run down by a sleeping driver. They come by the dozens to sit and wait for news. I don't know exactly how severe his wounds are. People call from all over the country for them to find out what's going on.
Another family is here with a stroke victim. They're watching brain waves, hoping he'll make it.
I don't know why we are so lucky. I don't know what God has planned for us. I just don't know. In the words of my sister, "We have everything under control. Wait...what am I saying? We don't have anything under control. God has everything under control."
I'm so thankful.
One man and his wife were hit by a semi. He walked away with airbag and seatbelt wounds, but she's in critical condition, waiting to be stable enough to have surgery on her spine -- surgery to try and keep her from being paralized.
There's an Amish family whose brother was walking and was run down by a sleeping driver. They come by the dozens to sit and wait for news. I don't know exactly how severe his wounds are. People call from all over the country for them to find out what's going on.
Another family is here with a stroke victim. They're watching brain waves, hoping he'll make it.
I don't know why we are so lucky. I don't know what God has planned for us. I just don't know. In the words of my sister, "We have everything under control. Wait...what am I saying? We don't have anything under control. God has everything under control."
I'm so thankful.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Psalm 104
Praise the Lord,
my soul.
Lord
my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
The Lord wraps
himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.
He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
it can never be moved.
You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
it flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.
and the sun knows when to go down.
You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.
How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord
endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works —
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
may the Lord rejoice in his works —
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord
all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the Lord,
my soul.
Praise the Lord.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Giggling Gems #4
This one is definitely from junior high...
*Maggie*
Band is really boreing don't you think so? (Yes, I often feel the need to drill holes during band...) Sometimes it can be fun but most of the time it's boreing. (Pretty soon we'll make it all the way to China.) We better win our basketball game tonight or Coach Clines will kick our butts. She was in a bad mood yesterday in practice. She made me and Helen McFlarfen run extra stairs for some stupid thing. I don't know about Helen's but the reason she made me run stairs was stupid. Do you like playing the clarinet? (Not really.) It seems hard to remember what fingering goes with what notes. (Not really.) Do you still like you know who? (Not really. Gosh it feels good to get that off my chest.) I like three people. (In my head this is very Marsha Brady.) Well gotta end this letter sometime.
Your friend,
Samantha
*Maggie*
Band is really boreing don't you think so? (Yes, I often feel the need to drill holes during band...) Sometimes it can be fun but most of the time it's boreing. (Pretty soon we'll make it all the way to China.) We better win our basketball game tonight or Coach Clines will kick our butts. She was in a bad mood yesterday in practice. She made me and Helen McFlarfen run extra stairs for some stupid thing. I don't know about Helen's but the reason she made me run stairs was stupid. Do you like playing the clarinet? (Not really.) It seems hard to remember what fingering goes with what notes. (Not really.) Do you still like you know who? (Not really. Gosh it feels good to get that off my chest.) I like three people. (In my head this is very Marsha Brady.) Well gotta end this letter sometime.
Your friend,
Samantha
Monday, July 9, 2012
Birthday at the Lake
A couple of weekends ago I spent a weekend at a friend's houseboat in celebration of his girlfriend's birthday. I just downloaded the pictures. We had a good time being generally silly and trying not to lose at cards. Most of the photos I took were at dusk so they're not great quality, but you'll get the idea.
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| Trying out the panoramic feature on water -- not too shabby. |
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| This is what happens when you say, "Come on now, everybody, get together for a picture!" |
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| This is what happens when you frown and say, "Come on. Now. Everybody get together for a picture." |
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| What can I say, I'm a fan of symmetry. |
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| Morning on the lake. |
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| Weirdo. |
Sunday, July 8, 2012
4th of July
Ever since my grandma died we haven't gotten together much with our extended family -- it's almost like she was the glue that held us together. That has really broken my heart. So this year when we had the opportunity to get together for the 4th of July I was really excited.
My cousin Angela is living with her family on my grandparent's farm, and I hadn't been out there since they moved in two-ish years ago. I was a little bit nervous that it would be completely different and that it wouldn't feel like Grandma's House anymore (you know that feeling) but that wasn't the case at all. It was actually really good to see someone living there and taking care of it. I think Grandma Glo would be glad to know that there are kids running around making noise and having a good time in her house.
We ate and talked and I took every opportunity to torture my cousin Josh (he needs it, punk) and played with kittens and played games and generally had a good time. I was sitting outside thinking how great it was to have family filled with such neat people when it occurred to me that I wasn't really related to half of the people there. Dad's extended cousins and various people who have married into the family don't really share any blood with me. And then it struck me: isn't the even better thing about family that oftentimes we get to choose our family?
Mom told me one time that she loved my grandma Glo because Grandma chose to love her first. You can be related to someone and still not be family, and I know for certain that I have family that shares no blood or marriage ties with me. Though I have a wonderful family in the traditional sense of the word, I have also been lucky enough to have found family throughout my life, at school and, yes, even at work. Family are the people you choose to love, the people you choose to hurt with and over, the people you choose to rejoice with. Aren't we lucky to be able to choose?
As I get ready to become a stranger in a strange land I do wonder if I will find any family members in Boston. Will I fit in? Will I be understood? But I get to choose, and I know God will take care of me as he has in the past -- "For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation." I can't really ask for more than that.
My cousin Angela is living with her family on my grandparent's farm, and I hadn't been out there since they moved in two-ish years ago. I was a little bit nervous that it would be completely different and that it wouldn't feel like Grandma's House anymore (you know that feeling) but that wasn't the case at all. It was actually really good to see someone living there and taking care of it. I think Grandma Glo would be glad to know that there are kids running around making noise and having a good time in her house.
We ate and talked and I took every opportunity to torture my cousin Josh (he needs it, punk) and played with kittens and played games and generally had a good time. I was sitting outside thinking how great it was to have family filled with such neat people when it occurred to me that I wasn't really related to half of the people there. Dad's extended cousins and various people who have married into the family don't really share any blood with me. And then it struck me: isn't the even better thing about family that oftentimes we get to choose our family?
Mom told me one time that she loved my grandma Glo because Grandma chose to love her first. You can be related to someone and still not be family, and I know for certain that I have family that shares no blood or marriage ties with me. Though I have a wonderful family in the traditional sense of the word, I have also been lucky enough to have found family throughout my life, at school and, yes, even at work. Family are the people you choose to love, the people you choose to hurt with and over, the people you choose to rejoice with. Aren't we lucky to be able to choose?
As I get ready to become a stranger in a strange land I do wonder if I will find any family members in Boston. Will I fit in? Will I be understood? But I get to choose, and I know God will take care of me as he has in the past -- "For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation." I can't really ask for more than that.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Short but Sweet: Giggling Gems #3
Why would you waste a whole sheet of paper on this? Oh, right, because we're high school twerps.
Maggie,
Yo girl! You really need to quit skipping class! (I have no idea what this is about. The only class I ever tried to skip was in the second grade. I went to the bathroom, went back to class, and then decided to go back to the bathroom but when I got there one of the kindergarten teachers was in still in there. She gave me a "what are you trying to do missy" look that scared me straight for the rest of that year and the next 10 years after that. Not even kidding a little. Thanks Mrs. Layman. You snipped my delinquency in the bud and my life has been all the better for it.) That guy that killed that one guy! (Huh?) Well bells gonna ring!
CHRISTY
Maggie,
Yo girl! You really need to quit skipping class! (I have no idea what this is about. The only class I ever tried to skip was in the second grade. I went to the bathroom, went back to class, and then decided to go back to the bathroom but when I got there one of the kindergarten teachers was in still in there. She gave me a "what are you trying to do missy" look that scared me straight for the rest of that year and the next 10 years after that. Not even kidding a little. Thanks Mrs. Layman. You snipped my delinquency in the bud and my life has been all the better for it.) That guy that killed that one guy! (Huh?) Well bells gonna ring!
CHRISTY
Seriously though, if she's still alive I think Mrs. Layman needs to go work for the prison system. She scared me straight...as much as someone who looks like this needs to be scared straight anyway...
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| The kitten and I apparently had the same stylist. |
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