Is it possible to go to the recycling center, prayer time, pharmacy, spray the clothes with mosquito repellant, lift some weights, make some phone calls, shave my legs, take black polish off my nails, eat some dinner, throw away food that will spoil, buy a few more things at Target, send back RSVPs to some weddings, and then squeeze everything in the suitcase—in one evening? And then bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan...
It’s Halloween today. I didn’t buy candy for any kids. I wonder if my mom still has the plastic pumpkins that we used for our candy.
My brother’s had a top hat on, but I think it was another thing we used to all argue over “who’s who’s”--“Beth’s is the little one, because she’s the youngest, and mine is the one with the hat, because I’m a boy.” All of this of course was generated by my brother (who is now a minister with four kids).
Soon after Halloween, we also would spend about an hour figuring out which stocking went with which kid—“I’ve got the star because my middle name is David…and Traci has the candy cane, and Beth has the Christmas tree…” My brother’s comments again. I probably still have it wrong. If my brother reads this, he would still correct me. He loves being right. Eventually, he’d wear us down, so we’d let him be right. And then by the next Christmas, it would start again. It seems like we could have put our names on them, but I guess we enjoyed the tradition or something.
Well, I’m calming down. I talked by e-mail and phone to a few other team members, and our biggest quest so far is figuring out who will pack a waffle iron (please, no questions, top secret mission). We think we have it figured out. I’m excited to get to the airport to see everybody. We really need a before/after pic of us on the trip.
We are not a Mission Impossible Team, we are a Mission Possible. Nothing is impossible with God. Perhaps that was a cheesy statement. If so, get out some nachos to go with the queso. Speaking of nachos and queso, I’m really gonna miss that while I’m gone. Maybe in Kenya there’s an African equivalent of the nacho/queso combo.
We are not a Mission Impossible Team, we are a Mission Possible. Nothing is impossible with God. Perhaps that was a cheesy statement. If so, get out some nachos to go with the queso. Speaking of nachos and queso, I’m really gonna miss that while I’m gone. Maybe in Kenya there’s an African equivalent of the nacho/queso combo.
I'm going to Kenya tomorrow!! Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Aw, jeez, am I quoting that kid in Annie?
Last night, I gathered more supplies at Target. But then I got stuck in the Target warp, and almost didn't come out. (Target Warp = where you start looking at every new product and making plans for it) I got a neck pillow, some hand sanitizer, and a can of chili-lime almonds. Once again, I ate the almonds as soon as I got in the car. The chili-lime taste is so fabulous that I can't stop eating the almonds. And then the taste absorbs all my saliva and it's almost painful to swallow, but I can't stop eating them. A vicious cycle.
I'll probably blog about twelve times today, so don't let it annoy you.
Last night, I gathered more supplies at Target. But then I got stuck in the Target warp, and almost didn't come out. (Target Warp = where you start looking at every new product and making plans for it) I got a neck pillow, some hand sanitizer, and a can of chili-lime almonds. Once again, I ate the almonds as soon as I got in the car. The chili-lime taste is so fabulous that I can't stop eating the almonds. And then the taste absorbs all my saliva and it's almost painful to swallow, but I can't stop eating them. A vicious cycle.
I'll probably blog about twelve times today, so don't let it annoy you.
Well, I made it to some Halloween parties, and I finally thought of a costume. I had a Starbucks apron, and I built the costume around that. I added some accessories from Claire's, but apparently, I did too good of a job, because I got asked the question, "Do you really work at Starbucks?" a few too many times. And the people were serious. The lip ring and piercings also through them off. A few people seemed scared to talk to me.
Here's me and Briggs--after his 7-11 shift.
And then, me and Tex-Elvis.
Belived it or not, I was the only Twisted Barista. I guess I found out that I make a pretty good semi-punk.
Here's me and Briggs--after his 7-11 shift.
And then, me and Tex-Elvis.
Belived it or not, I was the only Twisted Barista. I guess I found out that I make a pretty good semi-punk.
Did you know that we had 435 lightning strikes in 15 minutes last night? I was driving home in the storm and it looked like a crazy light show. There was no sound, just frantically dancing flashes of light. It looked kind of like Club God. Man’s imitation of flashing light is minuscule compared to the lightshow from God. It’s fascinating and frightening all at the same time. Maybe that’s how we see God, too.
I absolutely love the analogy of Aslan the Lion and how we view God. The first time it really hit me was when I was visiting my friend, Leslee, in Atlanta and we were in her Sunday school class. One of her friends, John Isaac, quoted the from the Chronicles of Narnia with his great South African accent:
"Is Aslan safe?"
"No, child, Aslan is a lion. He is not safe, but he is good."
I consider myself to be a fairly creative person. I love the theater and have been known to play quite a variety of characters in plays and sketches. But for some reason, I get thrown for a loop every Halloween. The whole idea of a costume haunts me every year. Maybe it’s just too much pressure.
When I was probably eleven, I dressed up like Ed Grimley for the church Halloween party (this was before Halloween got banned from churches). Little did I know that it might not be appropriate for an eleven-year-old to dress up as a character from an SNL sketch. I spent the whole night explaining how I was NOT Pee Wee Herman (which at the time would have been more appropriate). http://www.edgrimley.com/blank.htm
Then, at Jason Bailey’s last big Halloween bash, I decided to be a woman from India. I sprayed my hair black and didn’t realize until I glanced at myself in the bathroom mirror at the party that I had developed a case of black beard. I tried wrapping a scarf around my head to cover up the beard, but the more I danced, the more the scarf would shift and expose my black beard. I spent the whole night in turmoil—should I dance? Or should I hide my face? I danced.
I’ve been invited to a friend’s party on Saturday. I have no clue what to be. Should I take the cutesy approach (which makes me hurl)? For just one Halloween, I just would like to experience hearing this all night, “Hey! Great costume!”, instead of, “What are you?”.
I am the Charlie Brown of costumes. I’ll guess I’ll just get a sheet and cut Swiss cheese holes in it. And maybe I’ll wear a wig and glitter eyelashes under the costume just for fun.
When I was probably eleven, I dressed up like Ed Grimley for the church Halloween party (this was before Halloween got banned from churches). Little did I know that it might not be appropriate for an eleven-year-old to dress up as a character from an SNL sketch. I spent the whole night explaining how I was NOT Pee Wee Herman (which at the time would have been more appropriate). http://www.edgrimley.com/blank.htm
Then, at Jason Bailey’s last big Halloween bash, I decided to be a woman from India. I sprayed my hair black and didn’t realize until I glanced at myself in the bathroom mirror at the party that I had developed a case of black beard. I tried wrapping a scarf around my head to cover up the beard, but the more I danced, the more the scarf would shift and expose my black beard. I spent the whole night in turmoil—should I dance? Or should I hide my face? I danced.
I’ve been invited to a friend’s party on Saturday. I have no clue what to be. Should I take the cutesy approach (which makes me hurl)? For just one Halloween, I just would like to experience hearing this all night, “Hey! Great costume!”, instead of, “What are you?”.
I am the Charlie Brown of costumes. I’ll guess I’ll just get a sheet and cut Swiss cheese holes in it. And maybe I’ll wear a wig and glitter eyelashes under the costume just for fun.