8.28.2011

cha-ching

Where does money go?

A little here and there, some everywhere.

It's easy to spend money, but hard to put where it matters most.

It's especially hard to match your dollars with your mouth.

My mouth is bigger than my heart.

8.07.2011

shop 'til you drop

We went on a shopping excursion on Friday.  Our first stop: Sam's Club (non-members-get-in-free-day).  The whole trip went something like this:

"How much are these gatorades per bottle?"
"About 70 cents."
"How much are these packets of propel?"
 

Jesse quickly calculates on his phone.
 
"About 20 cents per packet."
"Okay. It's cheaper to add those to the 12 cent water bottles instead of buying gatorade. We need more water."


. . . and back down the aisle we went.


Or

"How much are these M&Ms per ounce?. . . okay, how many ounces are in a regular bag? . . . what a rip off, we can get them cheaper at the drugstore!"


Our next stop was to a Goodwill.

me - "Which exit is it on?"
Jesse - "Exit 64."


A few miles later... exit 64 approaches. Blinker on.
 
Jesse - "What are you doing? It's exit 62!"
"You said exit 64."
"It's exit 62."


Quickly change lanes and pass exit 64.


Me - "I could've sworn you said 64."

Jesse looks at map.


Jesse - "I mean. . . it's on exit 64."
"Oh well. We can just go to the other stores first. I think there's some off of exit 62."


. . . 6 miles later . . .


Me - "Where is this place? It should be right around here."
"I think you already passed it."
"No way! Hey, wait, look! There's the vegan restaurant we wanted to try. Let's stop here!"

"They don't look open."

. . . parked in front of the door, read sign:"Lounge For Sale."

Me - "Ah man! I'm so upset! Boo hoo. Oh well. Let's try to find that other store."

. . . 3 minutes later. . .

 
Me - "I don't think this street exists! Forget this store, let's go back and try to find Goodwill."


. . . 6 miles later . . .

 
Me - "There it is! Oh noooooo. . . are you serious?!"
"What?"

"It's a donation center only! That's okay. Let's go back to the other side of the highway and check out those other thrift stores. You can drive this time."

. . . several miles later. . .


Me - "We should be close. It's right around here. We should pass it any. . . whoops, we just passed it."
"What about this one? There's another one right there."

. . . park car, get out. . .

Me - "This is weird, how do we get in? Where's the door?"
"Oops, we already passed it."

"How embarrassing. How did we miss the door?! Let's pretend like we meant to do this, like we were just looking at all the furniture outside."
"Or we could just not take ourselves so seriously.
"


. . . a few minutes later . . .

Me - "Eww, this place is disgusting! There's dirt on everything!"
"They need to clean up around here. They could at least hose down the mudcaked bicycles before bringing them in."
"I wouldn't want to try on any of these clothes before buying them. So gross. Let's go the Plato's Closet instead."


. . . a few miles later. . .


Jesse - "What street were we supposed to turn onto?"
"Joyce."
"Oh man, I'm in the wrong lane."
"Why are you in the wrong lane? You've still got a few blocks to go."
"We just passed Joyce."


. . . one u-turn and a right turn later. . .

Me - "Where is it? It's here somewhere. I know it's still in business. . . uh-oh, how'd we get in Johnson? Turn around."

. . . one more u-turn later . . .

"Look in this plaza, it's probably in there."
"No, I already loo... quick, there it is, turn now! You were right. . ."


Our navigation skills aren't really that bad. We were just tired! I promise!

7.31.2011

How old?

For as long as I can remember, people have thought I'm much older than I actually am.  I'm not sure why - maybe my darker complexion and height give the illusion of maturity.

Example:
When I was in seventh grade I went with my sister and mom to Oklahoma State University's registration day.  My sister, Andrea, was planning on enrolling in the music program there.  When we walked around a foyer filled with booths, information desks, and employees, I was asked numerous times what degree I was going to get.

Example:
When I was fourteen, I went with my sister, Deanna, to a huge bridal show at the Marland Mansion in Ponca City.  Again, there were many booths set up with information on rings, photography, cakes, catering, attire, etc.  I was asked over and over again when I was getting married.

Example:
I went to India when I was fifteen (I turned 16 on the trip) with my sister and brother-in-law.  One day we took a train to Agra to tour the Taj Mahal.  As we were reveling in its beauty and taking photos of each other, an Indian family approached us.  They asked to take photos with us, and we obliged.  I remember feeling a little creeped out by the way one of the older men was posing with me. I later learned via my sister that one of the ladies was interested in setting me up with a marriage to her older brother (the one posing with me).  He was about 40 and can be seen standing beside/behind me in the following picture.  Of course, in India, I guess age hasn't traditionally been taken into account. . .


All that to say, a few weeks ago I'd been hanging out with some fellow staffers at camp, Ryan (16) and Chelsea (19) while waiting for my ropes course group to arrive.  After they got there, I walked over to meet them and a 14ish year-old promptly asked me if those were my two kids that I just left.

Are you serious?!  I know I look older than I am, but do I seriously look 40?!


- - - - - - -

On the opposite extreme, the director's 5 year-old daughter asked me if Jesse was my da-da (dad).  That's reassuring, as people usually think me a cradle robber.

7.24.2011

a bug on a leash!

A few weeks ago a boy at camp caught a flying beetle and gently tied a string around its neck.  After attaching the other end to a stick it was "3, 2, 1 launch!"  The bug was tossed into the air where it began to fly in circles around its new master.

Pet beetles?  They're going to be the new pet rock.


The only thing I did that was remotely close to that was to make a leash for my bunny with yarn. Unfortunately, I'd accidentally tied it in a slip knot and almost asphyxiated my own pet. It was a traumatic experience for both of us.

When I was a kid, I didn't do anything particularly creative. Definitely not as creative has having a Kite Bug, anyway.  My sister and I once sat on our front porch and chopped Rolly Pollies in half with our scissors (in fact, I think I may still have those scissors)  There were hundreds of them before we started our genocide.

Another time, my sisters and I set up boxing ring in our front yard.  We got some chairs and then connected them with yarn to make a square ring.  Unfortunately, our days as boxers were cut short after my mom investigated the ruckus.

Dragging each other down the stairs on sheets and blankets was also a common occurrence, despite the carpet burns and bruises we'd get.

When we lived in Oklahoma, we had an old shed in our pasture.  We collected artifacts (pieces of glass, old jewelry, coins, etc) and bones that we found and arranged them in there.  We called it our "museum" and opened it up for business.  We even had a log swing inside. Our customers were charged 5 cents to ride on it (or they would have been, if our mom hadn't discovered our fees sign).

In our tall weeds along the fence, we built a "house" by smashing down the grass.  We could play there for hours. There were plenty of rooms for everyone, connected by "hallways." We even built a loo so we wouldn't be inconvenienced. We had our own snack machine too, thanks to the large mulberry tree the grew above our "house."

- - - - - - - -

What kind of things did you play as a child?

6.21.2011

do you ever wonder why?

what is it that makes you who you are?

that causes you such agonizing pain?

to be so become cold and distant?

so emotionless and lifeless?

lost and confused?

tired and lonely?

- - - - -

What is it that holds you back from being free?  Free to fly, free to dream, free to feel, free to laugh and cry?

why do you imprison yourself in these walls you've constructed?