Birthday in Pictures

 Katrina and I got massages.

Then we had an amazing Brunch at Ray's Boathouse! 

Then walked around the statue park and did a little shopping in the City.

 Then we went to the SIFF (a.k.a. The Uptown) to see Midnight in Paris.

Then I spent the evening at home working on Christmas crafts.  On Sunday, my mom had a dinner for me and invited a few of my oldest friends.  I adore this family.

Sisters. :) 

And Grant was so sweet to take the night off to come spend time with us.  All-in-all it was a good weekend. :)

And these crazy ladies (Emphasis on the crazy!) made an appearance as well. :)

My Ryder

I love my cute litlte Vietnamese nephew! How cute is he!

Humility

"A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger."

Proverbs 15:1

 This was one of my dad’s favorite verses to remind me of.  I usually just kept my mouth shut when someone was upset are on the verge of being upset but unfortunately my eyes said way to much to my dad.  Lol.  But this is not about my dad and I and our journey of understanding each other in my adolescence. ; ) I was thinking about it today because I have noticed that this same verse applies to my boss.  I have noticed that if I respond with a gentle answer when he is upset or stressed out, he checks himself from taking it out on me.  For example, this morning I could tell he was in a bad mood so I asked him what was wrong and if he wanted to talk about what was bothering him.  He looked at me and said, “No.  I’ll be okay.”  It was like just caring changed his demeanor.  Man, humility really is the key to success in this industry.  I have learned a lot of it in the last 18 months but as anyone who knows me can tell you, I can be a real hot head and I certainly have an ego.  But humility is the only way I will survive, especially at this job.

I am in *HOUSE*!

Have you ever seen "House," the television show?  Well if you made Hugh Laurie a schmoozing lawyer and took away his memory, you would have my boss.  Here at the firm, I do not receive a lot of encouragement.  I don't often get "job well done" or "Thank you" from my boss.  On the rare occasions, I do receive it (usually in a note in the middle of a bunch of criticism and smart ass comments) I keep them.  My boss flatters.  He is all about the flattery, which he pretty much only says nice things (which are often flattering, blatant lies) to clients and strangers.  He also likes to play games like telling me how wonderful Katrina is and how I should really be more like her.  I take the flattery (and the games since I have no choice) with a grain of salt.  Why am I telling you all this?  Because today I receive a short but sweet email from one of the attorneys here at my office in response to my request for a letter of recommendation for my law school applications.

To whom it may concern:

I am an attorney and member of ******. I first met Kristin when she was hired by this law firm in June 2010. Kristin has worked here as a paralegal full time since then. In my opinion, Kristin will be a great law student and will make a fine attorney. She exhibits all the qualities that make up a successful attorney. She’s bright, inquisitive, is not afraid to ask questions, thinks outside the box, is prompt, gets the job done and is considerate of others. I regret to see her terminate her employment here, but recognize that a greater future awaits her.

Sincerely Yours,

Undisclosed Partner 

(I have to keep some secrets so all of you fans that read my page every day don't stock me at my work. :)

It was short but sweet and made me feel very good. 

Guess who

Guess who started working on her law school applications again yesterday...

Patch Adams

I just finished “The Ragamuffin Gospel” this morning and I was having some deep, morning thoughts.  Since my childhood, my compassion has outweighed my fear.  I would be the first to go out of my way to help someone without the consequences passing through my mind.  But I have found that people tend to think I am stupid.  When I do suffer the consequences of love and compassion, people tell me that I should learn from my mistakes.  When there are no consequences, they say I am lucky but stupid.  So here is the question I pose to you: “Are we supposed to be smart when it comes to love and compassion?”  Seriously, are we supposed to weigh the risks and benefits before we act?  Am I supposed to pick the “smart choice” to love?  Am I supposed to only invest in someone I know is going to yield a return?  The church I used to go to often encouraged us not to "waste our time" on the people who are not worthy of it: "pearls before swine" I guess.  If you didn't want it bad enough or earn it in some way, there was no time for you.  I personally think that is rubbish. 
Please don't think I am braggin in any way because I am telling you that at the end of the day, I have kicked myself senseless for some of my decisions.  I love like an idiot.  Let me give you an example of what I mean.  I want to pick up every person I see walking in the rain.  One day, there was a poor (like I felt bad for them not like they had not money) couple who had just come back from Europe and their ride had forgotten them at the airport.  They did not have their cell phones and they had been stuck at the airport all day.  They took two busses and one of them happened to be mine.  They had all their luggage and no way to get home from my bus stop.  I went through a battle between what I wanted to do and what I knew my parents would approve of all the way home.  Finally, as I was getting off the bus, I offered them a ride home (I also asked them politely not to kill me - true story).  When I told my boyfriend (at the time) what I had done, he was livid!  Once again, “it was stupid.”  Please don’t think anything bad of him, he was just loving an protective and I get that.  But the issue is that loving like I believe Christ loved is not safe.  It never has been and it never will be.  Then (because my mind is quite uncontrollable in the morning before my coffee) I thought about the movie “Patch Adams” with Robin Williams.  I think that movie came out about 13 years ago and I only watched it once but it popped right into my head.  I have been hurt.  I have been cut deep.  People tell me "a helathy person wouldn't chose that kind of person to love." 

There is always risk.  Especially when you give yourself to people in compassion and love or when you try to make a difference.  But then again, you take a risk every time you get in your car or walk down the street. 

I would love to hear thoughts.  What do you think?  Am I stupid?  Is there a way you gauge risk in terms of love and compassion?   

Legal Reflections

Since I was young, I wanted to get involved in law.  At first, I just wanted to be a paralegal.  I wanted to do the research but not the arguing.  That is what I thought at the time.  Well, turns out young lawyers do the “research”, seasoned lawyers do the “arguing” and paralegals do a little of each plus drafting, docketing, court and client communication, and in general, schmoozing everyone when your boss has upset them.  I started working in the legal field when I was 18 as a part-time legal assistant.  Then I became a full-time legal assistant, and eventually I became a paralegal.  Somewhere along the way (probably in my early 20s) I decided I would, in fact, like to be an attorney.  When I was in my last 2 quarters for my bachelors, I studied, took the LSAT, and applied for law school.  Let me tell you that the amount of time, energy and money it required to do that while I was working full-time and going to school full-time made for a rough 6 months.  In the end, I was not accepted into any of the 5 schools I applied to.  It was devastating.  But I got a full-time job at a Construction Firm downtown and I just started working. 

            I will say that something very unique to the position that I am in is that I am intimately involved in the every process that an attorney does here at this firm.  I work for a “seasoned” attorney who is stuck in his ways and will not under any circumstances attempt to learn how to use a computer.  He won’t even allow one in his office.  So I am involved in everything.  I do almost all the research he needs, I type the drafts of all legal documents (or find out how to draft them myself), I even type out all his emails to counsel and clients.  While some (most) have found my unique position annoying, inefficient and unbearable, I find it to be an invaluable learning experience.  I know the value of learning each skill set that I have developed while I have been here.  And I see all the hard work I do now as work I will not find so hard in law school or in my first few years as an attorney (Lord willing).

            What sparked this you ask?  I received my notary stamp today.  : )

          

          Since I have had my foot in the door of the legal profession for 10 years now, I know how valuable that is.  Common questions in interviews or paralegal positions include "Are you familiar with e-filing?"; "How many words do you type a minute?"; "Are you comfortable with the Microsoft Office Suite?"; "Do you have any experience with Dictation/Transcription?"; Are you familiar with Westlaw?" and "Are you a notary?"  Thanks to my time here at this firm, I am all of the above!!!  The legal world is my oyster.  : ) Just kidding.  But these are my reflections.  They are also the reasons I am not running for the door as most paralegals in my particular position have done after about a year.

The Roaring 20's

Every year my birthday sneaks up on me and I start thinking about goals and dreams.  Not just goals and dreams for the future but the ones of the past.  I usually feel quite bittersweet as I have certainly not reached all of my goals for each particular age but I have reached many goals that I set for myself and I am pleased with my life.  Some years, I could not say that at all. L   

Anyway, I am about to enter into my last year of my exciting 20’s.  And I have been feeling like maybe I should celebrate it.  I hate birthday parties.  I always have, I get so melancholy on my birthday, even depressed (not because of my age but for other reasons) and I have not had good luck with parties so far (I have only tried a couple times).  So usually my sisters are the only ones who remember it so Little Sister and I go watch a movie and eat dinner and that is about it.  Or she brings dinner and a movie to me if I am too tired.  Should I do something with people this year?  Or should I avoid the pressure of being happy for other people? 

 

The Christmas Spirit

Upon returning home from work yesterday, I was greeted by a tiny little black Santa.  Actually, I think it was Mrs. Clause.  My roommate’s little black pug, Pinkie (short for Princess Pinkie Toe), greeted me in her Christmas dress ( I will try to get a photo next time).  My roommate and her 7 year old daughter, Hadlee, were decorating and there were Christmas decorations all over the front room.  I think a normal person would have gotten excited and jumped in with Christmas cheer but not this little Grinch.  I sat down on the couch and watched “Kim and Kourtney take New York.”  Then Hadlee and I sat down and watched the Smurfs, leaving poor Des to decorate alone. J Finally, I went upstairs to read and fell asleep at about 8:30.  I have no Christmas Spirit.  I like Christmas day but the rest of the month is just nonsense to me.  Poor roomie, left her all alone. 

Circuit Training

This is what my boss wrote to one of his clients about me last week:

Teresa –  

            We have a late breaking situation here at Linville Law Firm.  Kristin has been gaining weight like a downhill runaway freight train.  Worse yet, there seems to be no end in sight.  Sounds of popping buttons have replaced those of a busy keyboard.  So, what are the chances of renewing a 6 month pass for Kristin?

Larry

 Katrina and I laughed so hard we almost peed.  That man is so funny.  Well on that note, last week I started circuit training at 6AM with Desiree (my roommate).  We are now in week two and I am so sore I almost stayed in the car instead of coming into work today because it hurt to bad to get out.  Man, I let myself get WAY too out of shape.  But we are fixing that.  We each chose a goal picture based on similar body types so that we could be practical in terms of what is possible for our bodies.  If my roommate had her way, she would look like this:

So I guess you could say we are working on healthy minds too.  : )  Anyway, These are our goals:

Desiree's 

Mine

So we look at these pictures everyday to get ourselves out of bed in the morning even though we are so sore that we literally moaned through Carmen Electra this morning (we do pilates or Carmen every other day). So here's to lookin like this by summer!

: )

Friend or Something Like It

This week is one of those weeks that I have been brutally reminded that with some people, it doesn't matter how many times you try to encourage them when they are down, hold them when they cry or swallow your pride when you disagree, they will just never return the favor. 

The Forgotten

There was once a little girl who loved broken toys.  While other children looked for the newest and most popular toys, wanting them because they may grown in value some day or because all the other children would want their toy.  But the little girl did not care whether the other children wanted her toy.  The value of her toys she judged by the character and unique qualities her toys.  She loved that the toys had a story of forgotten love.  A broken arm told her that a child once needed that you so much that they carried it everywhere with them before they  cast the broken toy aside and forgot it.  She knew that a warn and dirty face was a short lived life-time of snacks and playgrounds by the side of one who had forgotten its’ value. 

The other children laughed at her dirty and broken toys.  They scorned her for her selection of toys to love.  But the little girl loved them just the same.  She loved them for their scars and she loved them for their stories.  And when the little girl grew up, her heart never changed.

Job Market

The last few weeks have been pretty rough for my sister and I.  We each have positions that require more than forty hours of work to be squeezed into 40 hours every day.  For the last few weeks, we have also been trying to do another full-time job as well.  The other paralegal, Stephanie, quit a couple weeks ago and we have been doing our best to fill in the gap.  However, the hiring of a new person has posed a problem.  The senior partner, Larry (my boss), wants to keep Katrina in marketing.  The other two partners, David and Christian, want her to become their paralegal.  This back and forth has really gotten on my last nerve because we are both really tired of covering and we can hire a new person until they make up their damn minds. 

I am so tired of the games and manipulation.  For some reason, I keep getting dragged into the middle of it which is just so uncomfortable for me but today I realized something.  3 attorneys are basically fighting over my little sister.  Lol.  And my boss keeps calling me to make sure I don’t get mad at him for his part in trying to keep my sister as his marketing director and seminar coordinator because he knows that Katrina actually wants to move into paralegal.   If I may be so bold, they really like us.  I think they don’t want to lose us.  So our lives are miserable, but they are miserable because we are valued…? 

I am pretty grateful to my parents for instilling a great work ethic in us.  My sisters both work really hard.  We also all work at law firms.  I think that may be some masochistic quality we also may have gotten from my parents.  The thing is that while I really feel for the people who are at “Occupy Wall Street” because the wealth gap is a huge problem.  Let’s be honest, money begets money.  The more money you have, the easier it is to make.  But my sisters and I have not ever been truly poor and we have always been able to find work because my parents taught us how to put our noses to the grindstone, remember that others have it worse, and work our asses off.  : ) Thanks mom and dad.

Halloween 2011 Pics

Okay so I got the pictures from my roommate of Halloween.  Unfortunately, I see that I should have stayed with the leotard even if the feathers didn't look good because the corset did not look...appropriate.  So unfortunately, what I hoped was a super cute Halloween costume turned out to look like just another inappropriate Halloween costume. :(  Sorry for the cleavage folks.

Second Guesses

What do you think about trusting yourself?  I hear a lot of conflicting views on trusting one’s self.  Some say we are all sinful and none of us actually deserves to be trusted.  Some people say (especially women) that we have to learn to trust ourselves and listen to our instincts.  Maybe men just don’t question themselves as much as women?  I don’t but in the last couple weeks…scratch that…in the last 8 years, I have become quite skeptical of myself.  I don’t trust my memory, my competence, my intelligence, and the list goes on.  My instincts (especially in the relationship department) have been banished to the depths of my toes because I think they have a short circuit.

You know how some people hate when their boss questions if they did something or did something right every step of the way?  Not me.  I like it.  I don’t trust me anymore than he does and I would much rather he catch a mistake I might make before it causes me my job or him his license.  Thus far, I have fortunately not made many mistakes here and that is nice because I can tell my boss is trusting me more and more.  I however, know better. 

In life though, this little problem of mine has been severely interfering with my sleep.  I lay there second guessing everything I did during the day, even to the point where I question whether I am remembering correctly.  It is no bueno.  If anybody out there actually reads this blog, I would really like to know your thoughts.  Is my second guessing what makes me good at my job and a safety net for my life?  Or am I paralyzing myself with doubt and fear? 

Trick or Treat?

So I definitely celebrated Halloween this year!  Not only did I manage to win "Best Costume" for my Black Swan costume (which I was so proud of)

but I agreed to be the fatter half of the "Sister Heroes" at work today.

I will post better pictures of the Black Swan costume when Des downloads them from her camera.  That picture does not do my perfect make-up job justice. 

Halloween 2011

So Katrina and I spent last night on our Halloween costumes and I am pretty darn excited.  I have not really ever been a huge Halloween fan and I never put a lot of thought or energy into a costume but this one is gonna be awesome.  Little Sister made my tutu. 

So ignore the leggings and boots but can you guess what I am going to be?  Here is a hint

Gonna be rad!

You Know What I Think?

I think that everybody believes in love but we are all one terrible heartbreak away from losing faith in it and hoping we never have to go through it again. 

To those who have been fortunate enough to be truly loved by a great person, it seems painfully obvious that love is out there.  But to the ones who have seen that love can tear apart your insides and leave scars so deep they reach your soul, it is painfully obvious that love is a dangerous fantasy. 

Those who have been blessed by lasting love want to think they did something to deserve it.  They claim they chose right or they followed certain rules or they worked for it but I don’t believe that.  I believe love is like life, nobody deserves it and it’s a blessing you are lucky to have while you do.  It can be stolen by death, addiction, or abandonment.  If you have been blessed, cherish every moment because there really are no guarantees.  If you are walking wounded, just heal and maybe tomorrow you will believe in love again.

For all you believers out there:

Book Club

I have wanted to start a book club for a while.  The idea came to me about a year or so ago when I thought my sweet friend Krista was going to be moving here with her husband.  I wanted to start a book club in which we each take turns hosting.  The host prepares a favorite meal and hands out the recipe.  It would be an opportunity to expand our minds and our domestic skills. : )  Krista never moved here so I never started it up.  However, I decided that I am going to start the book club now.  I am pretty excited.  I am thinking we will meet once a month on Thursday evenings.  I also think I would like it to be co-ed but I don’t know.  I have a few ladies who have said they definitely want to participate but no men have committed yet.  I also think our first book is going to be Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  If you have thoughts, ideas, words of the wise, etc. please share. : )

Religious Propaganda

*****Be warned there is a visually upsetting picture is below*****

Christians burnt alive by Sunni Muslims in NIGERIA........PLEASE SHARE IT OR JUS...T UPLOAD YOUR OWN...BUT SOMEHOW SPREAD IT IF YOU'RE EVEN 1% CHRISTIAN — It is still not over yet!

Let us pray for them.

'Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those Christians burnt alive by Sunni Muslims in NIGERIA and those Sunni Muslims who are doing this now too.'

'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the Christians burnt alive by Sunni Muslims in NIGERIA and those Sunni Muslims who are doing this now too.'

'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the Christians burnt alive by Sunni Muslims in NIGERIA' and those Sunni Muslims who are doing this now too."

The truth is that there was an oil truck and peolp were attempting to collect fuel from the wreckage.  Somehow the oil caught on fire and about 400 people died in the fire (117 were Christians).  You can see the story here:

http://www.m300ministries.org/reports1/view/3149/reaching_the_hardest_places_at_great_cost

This story is truly tragic.  So why in the world would someone feel the need to make up some nonsense about the Muslims killing Christians in this brutal way?  I mean they are incorporating lies and hate into a prayer! That made me more sick than when I believed for a minute that this might be true. facilitating propaganda.  Do a little research. Think a little deeper.

When I searched the story myself, I did not find the exact story this blog is referencing.  I did find, however, that there have been several oil trucks that have burst into flames and killed local Nigerians in the last 5 or so years.  I also found that they are owned by Shell.  Shell initially claimed that someone blew them up but later admitted that these trucks were faulty and Shell was, in fact, to blame for the fires (and the lost lives of poverty stricken people who are getting no wealth from the oil that their land is being depleted of).  There was a lawsuit started back in 2009 for this exact  issue but if this story is true, Shell clearly does not give a $#!t about preventing these fires or the deaths of innocent people.  Maybe that is more important to focus on than made up religious wars.  Just sayin.

The Good Marriage

I don't blog much about the books I read because I don't want this to turn into a book blog.  However, sometimes I like to express the thought process that a book provokes in me and that is what I am going to do here.  I am reading a book entitled "The Good Marriage" by Judith Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee.  If you know me, I am sure you just blurted out "What?!!!" and started laughing.  It's okay.  I don't judge you for that. : )  My favorite professor from college and I met for lunch a couple months ago and we talked about life (as we always do) and she gave me practical solutions on all my life's challenges (as she always does : ) and one of her tips was that I read this book.  I put it on the list (a bit begrudgingly) and started reading it in Destin.  My older sister read the same book when she was beginning her relationship with Jason and it was really interesting to hear the things she gleaned from it at that important time in her life. 

It is, in fact, a very interesting book.  I am often plagued by fear of a failed marriage or an unhappy one or betrayal, etc. (You know...the usual fears...?)  I think I thought I was going to find some answers in there about how to choose the perfect mate but it isn't that at all.  It is just little treasures from happily married couples; tools for a successful relationship.  I have found it very interesting and I am not even annoyed by it at all (believe me, it surprises me too).  It has been extremely thought provoking.  I am realizing that I have become chronically selfish and that if I were to marry, the success of the marriage would hinge on 1) my ability to humble myself and become a we (Ew. yuck.  I didn't even like saying that) and 2) communication (damn). 

Anywho I am learning a lot and it has also provoked some very interesting conversations.  I am excited to keep reading and keep doing my own little research study. : )  If you are married and reading this, I would be really interested to hear thoughts. : )

Vacation

I am back from a 10 day vacation and I feel great!  There is not a lot of exciting things to report because honestly, Kim and I just relaxed the whole time.  Saturday through Monday, we spent some time with Jasey-poo, ate some yummy food, did a little shopping, and watched a couple movies. 

 Tuesday morning, Kim and I drove Destin Florida.  It was a long drive but Kim had the brilliant idea of listening to a book on CD (We chose The Confession by John Grisham) and that helped the time go by quickly and the distraction helped me not get so car sick. 

The beach was gorgeous.  The weather was warm but not horrible, the sand was like sugar, the water was green and we just laid on the beach for hours every day.  We read, we slept, we talked, we ate, we shopped, and we had an amazing time.  I would not have changed a thing (except maybe how much I spent at the outlet mall).  We stayed until Saturday morning and then we drove home (and listened to our tapes). 

Sunday we all relaxed together went out to dinner, and then we watched a movie. I loved the time with Kim and Jason and I loved the relaxing Kim and I both needed. Now I am home and so far Larry hasn’t ruined it. ; ) He was pretty glad to have me home though. I am happy to be home too. Okay holidays, bring it on.

 P.S. Sorry about the lack of photos, Katrina wasn't there and Kim and I are hopeless at remembering to take pictures.

Word...

My cell mate here in the slammer (aka LLF) leaves my weekly horriscope on my desk every Tuesday.  Sometimes I laugh and toss them but this week's was just too great not to share!

Sagittarius:  According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it’s high time for you to receive a flood of presents, compliments, rewards, and blessings.  You got a problem with that?  I hope not.  I hope you are at peace with the fact that you deserve more than your usual share of recognition, appreciation, flirtations, and shortcuts.  Please, Sagittarius?  Please don’t let your chronic struggles or your cynical views of the state of the world blind you to the sudden, massive influx of luck.  Pretty please open your tough heart and your skeptical mind to the bounty that the universe is aching to send your way.

Fight or Flight

Fight or flight?  Normally, I lean toward fight.  (Except in relationships)  But I have never in my life wanted to quit my job, sell my things and just make a new life somewhere (anywhere) like I do right now.  I don’t know what it is but I feel tied down and trapped this week and I just want all of it to disappear.  I feel like a little girl who closes her eyes trying to get away from reality…”dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far far away…”  I don’t really know why.  On my ride in today I was daydreaming about it and wondering if it was normal to have a midlife crisis at 29? 

I should stop my whining; things in my life are fine.  I finally have a job that pays the bills.  I have cheap rent and nice roommates.  My family has not yet disowned me (I know, I am on borrowed time there).   I sure hope this vacation to Nashville/Florida cures me because I am one bad day away from quitting my job and becoming a penniless traveler that may end up anywhere. 

Books

When I was a kid, I was a firm believer that books were for nerds.  Cool kids played outside and made fun of kids that spent their days reading.  Both my sisters were my definition of "nerds."  They could spend hours in used bookstores just looking (and smelling) books.  Then I read a book in high school that I actually enjoyed (Ivanhoe) and my life has never been the same since.  I read a lot.  I still don' think I read as much as them but I LOVE to read.  I love to learn and the best way to learn is to read.  My boss still doesn't believe that I actually read everything assigned in college.  I think there are two or three books on my shelves that I have guilt because I don't remember finishing them.  If I run out of books to read at home, I have to go over to Little Sister's house and borrow something.  I guess eventually I just accepted that I was born into a family of nerds.  Why fight it?  But I wouldn't say my outdoor fort building days are over.  I think I could get a lot of reading done here!  : )

For the (Biblical) Record

So I have seen the following quote pasted on people’s (particularly girls’) facebook several times now:

“To all the girls who are in a hurry to have a boyfriend or get married, a piece of Biblical advice: "Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz." While you are waiting on YOUR Boaz, don't settle for any of his relatives; Broke-az, Po-az, Lyin-az, Cheatin-az, Dumb-az, Drunk-az, Cheap-az, Lockedup-az, , Goodfornothin-az, Lazy-az, and especially his third cousin Beatinyo-az. Wait on your Boaz and make sure he respects Yoaz....”

While I can appreciate the humor of this, I can’t help but feel that it is very important that misunderstandings regarding the bible be cleared up.  I don’t want to embarrass any of the girls who posted it but I just feel the record should be set straight.  Ruth did not “patiently wait” for Boaz.  Ruth was married.  Her husband died so she followed her mother-in-law (whose husband had also died Ruth 1:1-5) back to Naomi’s family.  Then Ruth worked for him a while.  Then, she went in to his room (uninvited) and laid at the foot of his bed (well, "threshing floor" but where he slept nonetheless Ruth 3:6-9).  It was actually super scandalous and so far from “patiently waiting.”  Also I think that it is ironic that it says the biblical advice is not to “settle for any of his relatives” since Ruth’s husband was, in fact, Boaz’s relative. 

           Well I feel better, don’t you?  Moral to the story: even the bible has a whole lot of different ways to form relationships.  People try to make a follow and obey program that works but really, it is just a married person thinking that what worked for them will work for everyone.  Not the case my friend.  And remember when it comes to the bible…GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!          

           Shout out to my Dad.

Monday (FML)

This is Larry's outbox, which is basically my inbox.  That means that since I left on Friday, this is all the work he has created for me to do.  This is one of those days where I remind myself that it would be good for me to check for better job listings regularly.

Forever

I am sorry I haven’t blogged more recently.  I have been so busy at work that when I have tried, I got about a sentence down and that was it.  This weekend was beautiful but it was a hard weekend for me.  I have struggled with relationships (the romantic kind) for a very long time now.  I am very bad at gauging fight or flight.  I just always fight.  I am serious.  I have been in some relationships that have been not so good for me and with men who have been not so good to me.  But who I am and who I have always been, is someone who just sees the best and quickly forgets the worst.  It sounds like a great characteristic right?  Well it is also the same characteristic that keeps women in abusive relationships.  It makes women appear weak and stupid (the two characteristics I hate most). 

             It is a long story with me and this predicament yet I am just no more the wiser than I was at 21 when I met my first boyfriend.  So my response to people is that I am happy on my own and feel safer single.  Marriage is just not for me.  I am sickened by all the cute pictures of trendy young couples that flaunt there “love” for each other.  I can’t help but think in the back of my mind that they have no idea what they are getting themselves into.  They are naïve.  I wish them the best of luck. 

            Sometimes I think that it is just “in the stars” for some people to be lucky in love but that has just not been my fate.  Any time anyone says anything to the effect that there is a prince charming out there for me or my perfect mate literally angers me.  I want to ask them if they are a psychic or if they are just accidentally word vomiting into my life. 

             I know this seems cynical to you and sorry if it does.  The point of all this is that I was catching up on Little Sister’s blog today and I saw this picture and my eyes filled with tears. 

            I don’t know what it is about a couple that has loved each other for so many years that reaches my insides.  Maybe it is because deep down it is what I want or at least what I used to want.  The truth is, I think I could love someone forever, or at least I could have.

Labor Day

I had a really great weekend.  Saturday was a practical day in which I got (almost) everything put away in my new room and settled in.  Sunday, I got an early text from my roommate, Desiree, asking if I wanted to go out on the boat with her and some friends.  I thought about the offer for a good long time (approximately 2 seconds) and started getting ready.  We lounged by her friend’s pool with some fruity drinks for about 2 hours and then we went out in the boat and I tried wake surfing for my first time.  Of course I failed miserably and half of the lake went up my nose but I had a great time.  Then I watched a movie that night and made it to bed early.  I had expected to have to work Monday but my boss never called so I cleaned the house, did some laundry, went grocery shopping and got a little more time in the sun.  Then I was a part of my first “family dinner.”  That is what they call it when Chante and her family comes over and we all have dinner together.  Which was nice and then I was in bed before 10.  SO there you have is a fun-filled, relaxing and productive weekend.