Would You Rather 16

Some people are great cooks. Some people love to experiment in the kitchen. Some people wish they were great cooks. And, some people don't know a skillet from a sauce pan, and don't care to.

I am getting better at cooking. But, usually if it' s just me, I am making eggs or a frozen dinner because it takes no time. It seems like a waste to make a big meal just for myself. More and more, though, I am finding it fun to make food for other people. A year ago, I could barely make anything that required more skill than wrapping a baked potato and popping it in the oven.

So, how are your cooking skills? Can you make gourmet dishes, or do you just like eating them?

Would you rather make dinner for someone else OR have someone else make you dinner?

p.s. feel better Jana!

Help! I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up

I am a clutz. I am pretty sure I fall more than the average person. Yesterday morning the temperature was about freezing. I just assumed with all the melting that had been going on, there wouldn't be any slick spots. I was wrong. To try to get out of the way of an oncoming bus, I leaped over this huge snow mound only to land on a slippery puddle of black ice. Of course, I crashed to the ground, right on my knee, and I have a nasty bruise. Three high school kids witnessed my fall while waiting at their bus stop...it was pretty humiliating. One boy did ask if I was alright and offered to help me up...but I was so embarrassed!
Anyway, I finished my run and thought about how many times I've fallen...it's ridiculous. So I made a little Top 5 of the best stories. Enjoy ;)

My Top 5 Craziest Falls
1. Last August--running out to the garage to get a popsicle, slipped on a rug, broke my foot

2. Senior year of college crossing Beall Ave., cars stopped, I trip, book bag comes flying over my head, slamming my head into the street.

3. Junior year of high school--on crutches for a stress fracture, decide to use them to go down a friend's basement steps, end up with a concussion. My guy friend's words right before I head down "Liz, are you sure you can get down there ok?"

4. Mountain biking with my Dad, sophomore year of high school--while taking a sharp turn I realize there is a bee on my arm, I freak out, lose control of my bike and plummet. Sliced up my arm, probably should have had stitches, but my Dad made me finish the bike ride. Then he only let me get out of swim practice for one day because "the chlorine is the best thing for bad cuts like that." My dad is a teacher, clearly not a doctor.

5. Senior year of college--using the treadmill on the cruise boat. The guy using it before me hops off, I hop on--only to realize he never stopped the treadmill. So I go flying off into the elipticals, and end up with a nasty burn/bruise/cut all over my leg and stomach. Looked great in the bikini.

I mean, seriously, this is just a highlight of the funniest, most ridiculous falls...not even counting all the childhood injuries, all the times I fell during cross country races, or practices. Holly, I think you might be right...skiing really might be out of the question ;)

As You Wish

I am very proud of myself. I have successfully convinced my niece and nephew to love The Princess Bride. In fact, when they spent the night this weekend, they watched it twice! (They even had to wait for it to rewind because I only have it on VHS....and they marveled at how long it took--made me feel old.) The best part was that after the movie they decided to play Princess Bride. So my nephew played Westley and my niece was Princess Buttercup. At one point, I heard my nephew pretend to roll down a hill, calling out "aaaaas youuuu wiiiiiish." It was AWESOME :) It's just a sweet, funny, wonderful movie...and I love it.

(This is not my favorite scene...but YouTube didn't have very much :) )

Fridays Rule

My sister had two days of conferences with teachers. From what I understand, one day was dedicated to poetry and she was shocked at how many of the teachers complained how much they hated teaching/reading poetry. I hypothesized that the teachers didn't like poetry because they didn't understand it.

I think it's interesting that we can instantly be negative towards something simply because we don't understand it. For instance, for a while I've been fed up with my job because I am in the bankruptcy/tax area and it's hard for me. It's hard because it's complex and difficult to understand. So instead of trying to learn everything I can, I instantly say things like "tax law sucks."

But anyways...I thought this was funny. My sister, in front of all these teachers, reads this poem she wrote about ME:

My sister is like a dirty martini,
At first she is hard to take, and burns.
With no frills.
But, later, you'll be wanting more.

NICE....my sister, the poet.

Anyways, TGIF everybody:)

This Little Light of Mine

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Something amazing happened this week. I won't be able to articulate everything, but here's the gist. Recently, I've been struggling with what my "purpose" is here. I've been asking questions like why do I work where I work, why do I drive down to Cincinnati two or three times a week, why do live with my sister, why do I drive a Saturn, why why why!? Life just seems so random sometimes. But on Tuesday night, I feel like something clicked.

I have been praying pretty diligently for some insight from God as to why I am in this location, what I am doing here, what I should be doing, etc. I feel like I am at a point in my life where the momentum seems to be stopping. No more graudations, first roomates, first jobs, etc. I was driving back from Cincinnati on Sunday night and I felt bored and fed up with the same old routine. (and this is only month 6 of "adult" life)

However, I feel really fired up about some things I've been reading/listening to and learning from this week. Jesus provides insight on what our purpose is in Matthew 5:14-16. No matter where we are located, no matter what our circumstances, our purpose is to be lights to the world.

One thing that specifically struck me is the concept that we are "strategically placed" where we are. What if we stopped thinking that life is so random, and started living like there is a purpose for us being where we are? At work, or at the gym, or at the bar, or wherever we are... What if we stopped waiting for the perfect job or the perfect church to serve in or the perfect relationship or perfect state of contentment before we started doing and letting our light shine?

So, whether we are in a location we love or in one we are frustrated with, our purpose is the same. And I think realizing that purpose kind of grounds me. It keeps me from making decisions that relate only to my immediate state of happiness or unhappiness, as it may be--decisions that potentially will create emotional baggage or bad consequences down the road. I've definitely made decisions before that were primarily based on alleviating feelings of unhappiness or insecurity. And they definitely have/had consequences that seem to linger around.

If we keep to ourselves, feel a connection/devotion/conviction internally, but refuse to actually do anything externally, well, then I really believe we will feel constant discontent. And while a change, perhaps to a new job or a new geographic location or a new group of friends or a new significant other, might provide some momentum for a while, inevitably, until we seize our purpose , we will never be truly content.

Now, the question becomes what do I do to live out this purpose in a way that reflects God, rather than a way that just says to the world I am a nice person who does nice things? That seems tricky at first glance. I think this question is definitely worth investigating...and I'm open to suggestions :)

Would You Rather 15

"You're the worst kind. You're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance."
-Harry Burns, When Harry Met Sally

a two-parter...one for the ladies and one for the guys:

So, ladies, would you rather be with (define "be with" as you will...date/marry/whatev) the bold, confident guy who will potentially be an arrogant jerk OR the shy, nice guy, who might be less likely to sweep you off your feet, but more likely to not stomp all over your heart?

And guys, would you rather be with the high maintenance lady with lots of needs OR the low maintenance type who is rather independent and doesn't need you to solve all her problems?

I Don't Want to Be an Adult

J.M. Barrie: Young boys should never be sent to bed... they always wake up a day older.

I can't believe how fast time moves. I shudder at the thought of turning 26 in August. Where does the time go? It seems like the more my schedule gets filled with things like meetings and deadlines, the faster the time goes. Sometimes, it really seems like time just slips away to complex work projects and paying bills and doing laundry. So much do to, so little time...right? Is this how being a grown up is supposed to be?

I spent from 630 till 10 tonight doing taxes for people. This is like the third night I've done it. And, I'll tell you what, taxes suck.

Sometimes I really don't want to be an adult. I don't want responsibilities, I don't want to deal with work and relationships and cooking and cleaning.

I love Finding Neverland . It's one of my favorite movies. And I agree with J.M. Barrie... sometimes I wish I could stop time and not have to wake up a day older! :)

Entitled

5The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

6He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

7"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
Luke 17:5-10

When I graduated law school, I believed I was entitled to a good job, because, well, I had attended school for 7 years, studied hard, and passed the Bar exam. I deserved the security of a good job. By the world's standards, a good job was my reward for working hard in school.

Feelings of entitlement totally creep in my life. I start thinking like, hey God, I’m being obedient, so when do I get my reward? It’s so hard to distinguish being obedient to God from the world’s focus on entitlement for doing the "right" things."

Jesus makes it pretty clear that we are servants to the end. And unworthy servants at that. So I go to church, so I participate in an outreach, so I try to have meaningful relationships with people at work, so I try to listen for God’s call…so what! Living out my faith in my life does not entitle me to anything. This is my duty. We are all called to full time ministry. So why do we think we deserve more for sometimes doing what we should be doing anyway?

Wooster Riot

OK so I went to this little, liberal arts, division III school in Wooster, Ohio. Not much happens in Wooster. But, on Valentine's Day, 3 students were arrested and, from what I hear, one was tazered after the Wooster police and campus security blew a college tradition way out of proportion. You can read the story of their arrests here.

One of the main academic buildings on campus is called Kauke. At its center, is Kauke Arch. Students pass through the Arch during graduation...it's a special landmark. There is a tradition that if the arch can be filled with snow, then the school will have to cancel classes. So, every year, students gather together and use buckets and trash cans to try to fill the arch with as much snow as possible. The task lasts well into the night. Somehow the students never seem to get cold....go figure. Explanation of the tradition can be found here.

Apparently, on Wednesday night, students were gathered, filling the arch per usual, and campus security, unaware of the tradition (which makes no sense to me) decided there was a riot going on and called the Wooster city police and the state highway patrol. So the officers treat the incident like a riot, barricading students away and brandishing stun guns. I can imagine the scene...and oh, it makes me wish I were in college again.

Many of the students youtube'd the incident after they video'd it with their cell phones. (In fact, you can hear the Wooster bagpipers serenading the event in the background...AWESOME!) After the police came out and tried to disperse the crowd, the dean of students came and basically said campus security screwed up by calling the Wooster police. The students cheered and all was well.

Except for the students who were arrested. Hopefully, they've contacted a good lawyer, perhaps an alum ;-) (I can't believe that was my first thought after I heard about this whole incident...law school has tainted me forever)


(In this video, you can actually hear the bagpipers in the background)

Michael is so Wise

Michael: So suck on that!

The Office rules.

Sickening

I was all ready to write a blog about how busy work was today because so few people showed up...but then I checked cnn.com... and read this unbelievable story about a man who shot up a mall on Valentine's Day.

Sometimes, most times I guess, I really don't get this world.

The Day of Love

So is everybody wearing pink and red today to work? I miss living at home. During law school, on Valentine's Day, my Dad would always leave roses and these gourmet treats from this local bakery on the kitchen table for me before I would leave for school or work. He is the best.

This year, my sister made me this little heart cake...it's pretty adorable:)

Well, here's my contribution to this holiday :) : a list of my top 5 love songs, and, if you're in a not-so-lovey kind of mood today, my top 5 break up songs. Download them. They are great! (My list is subject to change...I had a super hard time limiting it to 5)

Top 5 Love Songs
1. To Make You Feel You My Love (Bob Dylan)
2. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? (Van Morrison)
3. Shelter (Ray LaMontagne)
4. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (Carole King, acoustic version)
5. When You Say Nothing at All (Alison Krauss)

Top 5 Break Up Songs
1. Nothing Compares to You (Sinead O'Connor)
2. You Give Love a Bad Name (Bon Jovi)
3. You Can Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac)
4. You Oughta Know (Alanis Morissette)
5. I Will Survive (Gloria Gainer)

Happy Valentine's Day!

To Catch (Or Not to Catch) a Predator

About two weeks ago, NBC aired another episode of the racy series, To Catch a Predator. I'm sure you have heard of the show, but the basic premise is that this group (Perverted Justice) joins a chat room, acting as a pre-teen, and engages in some kind of sexual conversation (which is too racy to show on tv) that ends up with some kind of meet up planned between the older man and the minor. When the man shows up, the cameras are rolling, there to capture the man right when he realizes he has been set up. It's disgusting. The show has caught teachers, pastors, youth group leaders, doctors, coaches, etc. They've aired the show from big cities and small, farm towns. It never fails. The men show up, plea for their identity not be revealed or try to escape or try to justify why they showed up. It's pathetic and uncomfortable. And for sure, pretty scary. I think the scariest part is that no matter where the NBC crews take their cameras, the men show up. And for all the men that show up, there are probably a number who agree to show up, but lose the nerve...

Here's the thing. I am not sure I agree with the show. There is a part of me that thinks it goes too far, crosses some sort of ethical line. I mean, isn't this entrapment? People would be pissed if television stations began set ups designed to encourage husbands to cheat. But, you say, this involves kids, it's different. Is it, though?

It's not that I feel sorry for these men. These men are sick. Sexual crimes are sick. I have a real problem believing that people who have these kind of issues can be "rehabilitated." I think it's nuts that the show makes a huge deal about catching these "predators" (who are invited over and seduced) and typically they are merely charged with attempt to solicit a minor, a small misdemeanor. Most of these men are probably humiliated for life, probably lose their jobs, and have to register as a sex offender or sexual predator, depending on the applicable state statute. For all the hype, the legal fallout is minimal. The humilation is much more of a punishment than the actual laws impose.

So, the question is, does this show go too far? How does charging these or other men with attempted solicitation of a minor reduce or prevent these men from desiring minors? I don't think it does. I believe in harsher punishments. I think if people are fairly charged, farily prosecuted, and fairly found guilty, the repercussions for sexual crimes should be strong and harsh. Instead of entrapping people, why doesn't Perverted Justice use its resources to prevent young children from entering chat rooms of a sexual nature...to create technology that requires more than an appropriate birth year to enter an adult chat room?

I'm sure that on some level this show deters people with this sexual propensity from actually meeting up with an underage person; but, does it stop the real issue? Does it prevent certain men from wanting to have sex with young girls? I think it just makes them a little more afraid of being caught, a little more careful, a little more secretive.

I just want to make it clear I am not supporting or defending these men. I think they are ill. But, does this show help solve the problem of how to rehabilitate these men? It seems to me, most of the change would be dependent upon their own willpower--which if it's anything like mine, would only last so long. But, I'm pretty sure deporting them all to a deserted island isn't an option...and I'm just not sure this "To Catch a Predator" series is the answer either.

Groundhogs don't know crap about weather.

A week from last Friday, Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, which is supposed to indicate an early spring.

I think Phil screwed up. According to weather.com, the high temps won't be getting out of the 20s in at least 10 days, and we are in store for another snow storm. Sweet. Sounds exactly like an early spring.

I'm ready for sandals.

Progress IS Great

I don't know how to parallel park. It takes me a long time to fit my car in, and even after that I usually am like 5 feet from the curb.

This morning, I was running on the treadmill and watched this ad. Now I just need to get a job that pays me enough $$ to afford a Lexus :)

Crazy Love

I just finished watching the last episode of Sex and the City. (I won't lie, it's one of my favorite series ever). But, part of me never really got how Carrie and Big ended up together. He was the guy she was completely obsessed with. Often, he treated her like a complete doormat, using her when he was feeling lonely and never really committing to her. He would show up whenever she began a new relationship just to make things messy. And each time he would show up, Carrie would go right back to him, and end up hurt again. Finally, in this last episode, he says she's "the one." Part of me wants to say Carrie you're nuts for being with him...but, then, we all know how it is when you are completely into someone.

There are so many things I don't understand. I'm completely willing to admit that I do not have all the answers (and to be honest, I have very few answers). So maybe you all lend me some insight on this one...What is it about relationships that gets us so crazy? Why do we feel so much security when somebody else likes us?

I was "crazy" in love once. Completely infatuated. Over the length of the relationship, other things in my life became less important. I began compromising friendships, myself, my faith, etc. in order to be with this person. It didn't matter what I had to do, I just didn't want to lose that feeling of being connected with somebody, of being loved by somebody, of being needed by somebody.

But, I propose fatal attractions, such as these, can never really last. What makes us lose confidence in ourselves and hang around in destructive relationships?

I never want to be "crazy" in love again. Don't get me wrong. I want passion, I want adventure, excitement. But, I don't want my worth, self-esteem, or mood to be determined by an unhealthy relationship. I think it's kind of why I'm so cautious/pensive about dating. I'm afraid of getting caught up in something like that again. I want to be encouraged and supported with my relationship with God. I think expectations should be high. Having a boyfriend just to have a boyfriend has lost any attractive-ness it may, if ever, have had to me.

I feel fairly certain God doesn't want me to end up in a relationship like that either...I just wish I could figure out why so many of us get caught up in them at some point...

Feel Good List

I am totally stealing this from Amulya...

Here's my Feel Good List from Thursday

1. Trying to run out super fast to start my car and falling down after slipping on my snowy front yard because it's so steep, in my robe with wet hair and my dog on her leash...I had to laugh.
2. Hearing "Suddenly I See" on the radio on my way to work...love that song right now
3. Being able to wear a hooded sweatshirt to work (and jeans)
4. An awesome phone call with a friend from my summer in Cleveland who might take a job at my work!
5. Pizza with Kate for din and Fig Newtons at lunch (they are awesome...don't knock 'em!)
6. Realizing I could be out of debt way sooner than I thought! (and still have money to live on during the week :-) )
7. Hot bath with Life of Pi
8. Freshly clean, super soft flannel sheets
9. Coming home to a completely shoveled driveway
10. Signing up for the Flying Pig and the Little Miami 10 Miler...let the racing season begin! (note to self: now would be a good time to get in shape...)

Would You Rather 14

Technology is the best. I love being able to send a quick email, or a text, or an IM. It's so much faster than playing phone tag or speaking in person. But, sometimes, it's so impersonal. I just finished watching the Sex and the City where Burger dumps Carrie by using a post-it note. It's just easier sometimes to not have to confront a person. Even though I'm a lawyer, I don't love confrontation--especially when it involves deep emotions, like love. I've ended one relationship by sending a novel-length email. I thought if I could just write everything I feel, and the reasons I wanted to end the relationship, a face to face meeting for "closure" would not have to take place. I was wrong. It's nice to be able to edit, re-think, and re-phrase your thoughts until they sound really good, make sense, and seem to articulate everything you want to express. But, even then, people still find ambiguity in the words...and still get hurt and offended, no matter how nice the words are. But, OH, the in-person-break-up is so awkward, and words don't come out right, and emotions are high, and there's the potential for tears (or worse yet getting back together because you feel bad--been there, done that)... I guess breaking up really is hard to do:)

So...Would you rather break up with somebody via email or in person?

Update

At work today, the entire campus (that is what you call a 7 building corp. apparently) shut down at 330. We were notified via email...only to be followed up with an email by our department boss telling us to disregard the memo because our dept never shuts down...

maybe you can guess my mood right now...

Snow Day!

So today at work I learned that there is no chance, no matter how bad the blizzard or how icy the roads, that the legal department at my work will ever close. In fact, two years ago when there was a bad snow storm, the company I work for sent out trucks to pick up employees. Wonderful. The hope of a snow day is over. There is nothing like when you are in school watching those schools run across the television screen and hoping for yours to be there. Two days in a row my sister, with whom I live, has had a snow day. I get so jealous, I'm practically mad. But, she is quick to remind me I chose my profession. So, while she is home sleeping in and drinking hot chocolate, I am at work trying to figure out bankruptcy, tax and wills (my assigned area of expertise, feeling totally clueless...grrr). I can't help but think, what was I thinking going to law school/!?!?!?!

Top 10 Reasons I should have been a teacher:

1. June, July, August
2. Snow days and delays
3. Shorter work days (though Katy denies this despite the calculations I did tonight)
4. My student loans would be about 90% less
5. Getting out so early and beating rush hour traffic
6. Friday happy hour with the staff (oh wait, that might be every job ;) )
7. Teacher appreciation breakfasts (in general, a lounge filled with food)
8. Gifts from students at Christmas
9. Being able to pop in a movie when you're tired
10. Spring break, Christmas break, and all national holidays OFF

If I could turn back time....;-)

These Are the Days

This week has been crazy. Crazy busy at work, learning about stuff I thought I'd never have to (but glad I am learning). Crazy late nights with not as much sleep as I'm used to (I'm so an 8 hours a night girl). Crazy cold weather. Crazy good runs. Crazy fun tv (Greys and The Office were awesome tonight). Crazy awesome conversations with new friends. Crazy Super Bowl party at work and team t-shirt day (Go Steelers).

I started this week kind of frustrated, confused, and I'm no less confused today. But, I'm hopeful. On New Years Day I made a resolution to seek out the abundant life--to stop living in the past and planning for the future and just live. Somewhere between then and this week, I started planning again...feeling behind on some abstract timeline created by who knows who. But, after Monday, I decided to wake up and really believe (or at least pray that I could believe) that God really can change the hardest of hearts, that people could become more open by giving them a smile in the hallway, by being more open myself, by being interested in lives other than my own. You see, sometimes I struggle with my own problems, my own shortcomings, and become so obsessed with fixing them before I can really do anything meaningful for anybody else. That somehow I have to become perfect before God can work through me.

This is not so. God can work through my doubt, my cynicism, my failures...but surely not as much when I am so self absorbed. Not that self-reflection is bad. I'm just saying...just because I can't do it all, doesn't mean I shouldn't do anything at all.

Goals are good. But, timelines and ridiculous expectations can keep me too selfish...and prevent so much good from happening... Living the abundant life means really living...now. Not planning for an elusive future, or waiting to become the perfect servant of God...it means doing my best where I am today, listening for God... loving others more and loving myself a little less...

I am reading this post and it is definitely a stream of consciousness...hope it makes a modicum of sense :)

This is one of my favorite songs ... and it's been on repeat on my ipod this week...

These Are the Days

These are the days
These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you
Are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you

These are days that you’ll remember
When May is rushing over you
With desire to be part of the miracles
You see in every hour
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you are touched
By something that will grow and bloom in you

These are days
These are the days you might fill
With laughter until you break
These days you might feel
A shaft of light
Make its way across your face
And when you do
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
See the signs and know their meaning
It's true
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
Hear the signs and know they’re speaking
To you, to you

-10,000 Maniacs

Comic Relief

Putting how much you actually owe and spend a month down on paper is pretty scary. Especially if you are like me and you have never really kept track of what you spend, aside from calling the bank to make sure you aren't going to overdraft. Tonight I realized that I pay more for my student loans per month than I do for my car (though I do drive a Saturn:) ). I also almost wrecked that lovely Saturn twice today, but that's a story for another time. Humor is definitely in order. And I figure...if I don't get my finances organized now, well, I might just end up living in a van down by the river! ;-)