TMFH: Plugged-in

Today I sat by a guy that was seemingly addicted to electronic devices. He went from phone to iPod to laptop back to iPod, and then back to phone during my 2 hr flight by his side. The amazing part was that he nearly did this seamlessly. I was grateful I had a good book to read; otherwise, it would have been a lonely flight. Maybe I should bring headphone splitters for these types of situations? What are your thoughts on being continuously plugged-in? Personally, I hate how it relieves people from human interaction and conversation. It definitely deters face to face conversation. Me no likey.

TMFH: Concerts

Ok. Since it's expensive, we're definitely going to need a concert fund, some money we set aside just for going to live events.

TMFH: Serenade

Even if you have a horrible singing voice, please sing to me. We might both end up laughing, but I'll fall in love with you even more.

TMFH: When you're sick

What comforts you the most when you feel horrible? Do you have a go to "magical" medicine? Do you have a "when I'm sick ritual" that works for you? For me, the following seem to always work:

1. Medicate
2. Sleep till I feel better
3. Drink Sprite

There's something about that Sprite that makes the world a better place.

TMFH: Crying

If you had to rate yourself on the "cryer-scale" with 1 being "I've never shed a tear and likely never will" and 10 being "I cry all the time, when reading a touching Hallmark card, during a chick-flick, at church meetings, when I'm happy, when I'm sad, etc... etc...", what would your cry-rating be?

Just so you know, I'm seriously an 8. He he. But really.

TMFH: Lists!

I love to make lists. It really is an incurable disease. I love this time of year because I get to make a list of New Year's resolutions. My list will range forever long, and I will meet less than half of my goals. But I suppose it's one of those shoot for the moon and reach the stars kinds of insanity.

TMFH: Tough Cookies

I broke up a fight between two of my students at school today. One of the defining moments of my teaching career. Just thought you should know.

TMFH: Analogies and Metaphors

I come up with the most profound  analogies late at night. Once I compared my stress to gasping for air and pushing against walls while being stuck inside a small glass square slowly filling up with water. (I promise not all my analogies are depressing.)

Should've read the label

Tonight I accidentally bought a small box of vegan corndog bites. I even baked them for 17 minutes in the oven! (as opposed to microwaving them) Unfortunately my patience was NOT rewarded. Biting into that nastiness helped me decide definitively that I will never go vegan, EVER. (not that I really needed any true convincing before this incident) Just know, while masticating that mass of foux veggie meat, all I could think of was how much I would give to be eating a plate full of beef corndog bites. Needless to say, the entire abomination went immediately into the garbage.

In my defense, I was operating on 3 hrs of sleep due to my late night date with the Hobbit. And in my attempts to find something yummy but semi-healthy, I grabbed the bites with the healthy label stamped into the cardboard. I thought perhaps they were baked instead of fried.

So what we've learned from this is:

Never go shopping when you're sleep deprived.
Always read the label.

TMFH: TV

I really don't watch much of it, but when I do it sucks me in. It's kind of nice when you find a good show, but at the same time, it's also incredibly addictive. So, just as a heads up, I mostly avoid TV for my own good. But don't worry, I don't consider it evil altogether leading me to banish it entirely from my home.

TMFH: Yo mama!

If yo mama all up in that grill, she probably won't like me.

Translation: If your life is ruled by your mother making decisions for you, she won't like what I have to say about that. Any woman who still believes it is acceptable to control and manage her children's lives after age 18, is by definition delusional. And though delusional people are sometimes entertaining, they are not fun to be related to, especially when they yo mama. Can you say control freak? No gracias.

TMFH: Patience

Do you ever feel like you'll never achieve perfection in patience?

I do on a daily basis.

We all have different trials to go through, but all of mine seemed to be linked through God wanting me to learn to be more patient. I hope to be patient enough to find you. I've waited this long.

I can wait longer. :)

TMFH: Pet Peeves

Come on. We all have them. And if you're going to live with someone, it's good to know what might drive them up the wall if repeated time and time again.

It's simple. I call it common courtesy. But to save you the trouble of reading my mind, just know if I am in a room with the door shut, I don't mind you coming in. But when you leave, please shut the door behind you. It is closed for a reason, usually so I can think and block out distractions.

TMFH: Heaven in a cup

Smoothies.

My biggest personal hit is the blueberry, raspberry, peach, pineapple blend with a little somethin' somethin' secret. Homemade. These are so addictive and amazing that I often crave them over icecream, which is saying a lot.

TMFH: Long days = much squawking

Today was looooong for a caged animal like me.

By the time I was released back into the wild tonight, I wasn't sure how to behave. Driven mad by professional development and collaboration, I felt like flying away to freely squawk into the wind all the wild imaginations of my mind. "Performance and Proficiency are the same! They are the same! The saaaame!"

Still caged though, I sat in my car thumbing through the numbers instead. With i-pod temporarily ceased and desisted, I concluded yet again that the radio is devoid of all good music, clicked it off, and drove home in raging silence.

Upon entering habitat, I joyfully shed my clothes, my suit, my costume. And now I huddle here refuged and sequestered from the adult world covered in feathers, peeping through the colors of my childhood.

I listen. Yes. I hear a
"Squawk!" ha ha! Yes!
"Squawk!"
With each squawk, I feel a surge inside. Delightful. Wonderful!
"SQUAAAAAAWK! Ha ha ha!"

TMFH: Soccer makes me happy

After an undesired four month hiatus, I played an indoor game tonight, and I realized yet again that when I play soccer, I am happy. It's not only an incredible outlet for my energy, aggression... yes I am human... and competitive nature. But it leaves me high on endorphins and fuels my desire to accomplish things in my life. It's that powerful. Please encourage me to keep playing for as long as my body will allow.