My Wednesdays Are Never Boring

On Wednesday afternoons, I mentor an amazing (and crazy!) 6 year old girl with an awesome program called Community Hope. We have pretty basic rules for our time together: focus, have a good attitude, obey, make good guesses; and together we read books and talk and play games. It's a pretty awesome way to spend my Wednesday afternoons. And although we go through a wide array of emotions together each time we meet and despite the fact she's wide open and can't sit still, I love her. All of that to say, she says some pretty funny things that keep me laughing. Here are some samplings from tonight:

While answering our response questions to the book, The Little Red Hen:

S: I just have a question. Are you a grown up?
Me: Yes.
S: Ok, because my other mentor isn't a grown up.

When asked to use the word "young" in a sentence:

S: I am 18 years young.
(I totally counted it!)

And my personal favorite, when asked to use "were" in a sentence:

S: Were you at the club last night because you know I hate it when you go to the club without me.


In other news, I'm not entirely sure when I reached the point where a bowl of cereal and cherry pie constitutes a dinner.

Some days are just good

Some days are just good, and today was one of them.

I got to sleep in, take a nice long shower and take my time getting ready. It was chilly today, so I wore one of my favorite fall outfits. I got to work and was informed that is was Boss's Day by the amazing track out staff who put the sign up on my door and left a note on my desk. Then I got a slice of probably the best apple pie I've put in my mouth to eat while I was checking e-mails. I had a fairly productive day, a relatively good day at after school, then spent the whole evening at the State Fair with some friends.

A perfectly pleasant day if you ask me :)

This will just make you smile :)

You know how sometimes you just stumble on a song and fall in love? Well I overheard this gem tonight, looked up the lyrics, found the video and it made my heart so happy :) enjoy.

Jesus...

He's good. I like spending time with him. I don't know why sometimes I pretend like I don't need to.

Good to talk to you tonight.

October Holds Many Great Things

Fall has finally decided to come to North Carolina. Praise the Lord.

As a summer baby through and through, I'm really never ready to bid sunshine, warm weather, flip flops and sundresses goodbye;but, after a truly brutally hot summer, the cooler temperatures are refreshing and very welcomed.

The air smells of fall. I saw my first fall leaf the other day drop onto my windshield and I just had to smile to myself. Flannel is now an acceptable fabric to wear. Life is good. It makes me want to put on a plaid shirt and go to a barn dance and stand around by a bonfire.

While I don't know if there is a a barn dance in my future, October does hold many great things: the Art Gala, the State Fair, plaid, sweaters, hoodies, hopefully a trip to either pick apples and/or Busch Gardens, and my CRUISE! I'm so excited.

Downgrade

I'm currently watching a Rolling Stones concert on PBS.

Surely, doing a concert for PBS has to knock you down a few notches from rockstar status.

I Take My Job Very Seriously

Sometimes you just meet kids that, while not particularly the most fun, agreeable, or easy children, just make you excited to see them because you just don't know what they will say next. I have a daily source of hilarity this track in one of my new kindergartners.

While on the playground today, this little boy walked up to me with a water bottle full of sand and told me "This is not a water bottle full of sand." I replied, "Really? Then what is it?" To which I got "This is a magic powder that gives you muscles." I thought for a moment and said, "Hmm, it looks like sand to me, how is it going to give me muscles?" "You have to mix it with potions, with chemicals, not chemicals that will kill you though. Everyone gets one sip and we all get muscles and then we will have a war." "I don't know if I want to drink that it looks yucky." "Yes, you have to it will give you special powers."

We get temporarily distracted by lining up, in which my friend gives me the bottle to hold, giving me clear instructions not to dump it out. So, of course I continued to carry around this bottle for about a half hour and when he sees me he says "You take your job very seriously." And I do, the bottle is sitting on my desk, just in case I have need for quick muscles :)

Children

Today, Track 1 came to the Y in all it's glory. It was so good to see some of the kids I hadn't seen since the spring. The hugs and excitement were going around. The usual culprits were up to their old ways and it was amazing to see how far our first graders have come from where they were this time last year!

However, in addition to the usual goodness that comes from a day of camp, there are always moments in each day that just make me laugh out loud, and those I must share.

Scenario 1:

I walk into the Calton room to see my good pal M sitting in a corner. His counselor quickly leads me to the office to share this little story. While having the kids divide up into a nut and no nut table at lunch and saying "If you have nuts sit at this table and if you don't sit at this table" my dear friend pipes up saying "What about these nuts?" as we points to himself in the crotch. What do you say to that? It's hilarious.

Scenario 2:

In the middle of lunch assembly, a time for the kids to sing some songs and learn about Jesus, I hear this little voice across the room saying "I'm stuck, I'm stuck." When I look over, I see my new friend A has somehow managed to get himself stuck inside his t-shirt. He just couldn't quite figure out how to put all the right parts in the right holes. Later that day, when asked what school he went to, A replied, "Kindergarten."

I guess this is growing up...

I grew up in a PBS/NPR kind of family.

Many a car trip were spent listening to Click and Clack (the Tappet Brothers) give people humorous and practical advice on Car Talk. I am one of the few of my friends who "gets" the Garrison Keillor card in Apples to Apples. And I have played along on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" on more than one occasion and even knew Mo Rocca from his status as panelist on the show BEFORE seeing him on VH1. Saturday nights were always spent watching British comedies and I've even been forced to watch an episode or two of Antiques Road Show.

The point is, while I watched my fair share of MTV and sometimes refused to listen to anything but Mix 97.7, that is what I grew up with, and I hated it (or at least pretended to).

But, things change. Somehow NPR has become a preset on my stereo and I listen to it on my way home. I frequently stop on PBS to see what is on and end up staying on the channel. I laugh, hard, at Keeping Up Appearances. Does this mean I'm a grown up now?

My New Friend

A conversation I had today:

JA: Do you have any pets?
Me: Yes, I have two cats but they don't live with me, they live at my mom's house and I don't live with my mom.
JA: Dogs?
Me: No, I don't really like dogs.
JA: So it's just you?
Me: Yup, just me.
JA: Do you have a husband?
Me: No, no husband.
JA: (pause) Hmm...that's surprising.

For Dad

Goodnight my angel, time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go, no matter where you are
I never will be far away

Goodnight my angel, now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an Emerald Bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight my angel, now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart, there will always be a part of me
Someday we'll all be gone, but lullabyes go on and on
They never die, that's how you and I will be

One of the few, very vivid memories I have of my dad is of us driving around old St. Augustine at night listening to Billy Joel. The boys were asleep, and I just remember me sitting in the back, while my dad was up front and we were both singing this song together. It always makes me think of, and miss, him.

My Best Friend is a Great Listener

Me: He looks like Joaquin Phoenix.
Jordan: Walking fetus? (hysterical laughter)
Me: What? no. The guy who played Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.
Jordan: Ohh, Joaquin Pheonix!
Me: Yes.
Jordan: I thought he was kind of baby faced and a fetus reference is not unusual for you.
Me: True, but walking fetus? Come on! (more hysterical laughter)


Last night Jordan and I went to the Melting Pot for a little random fun and earlier in the night I said that our waiter looked like someone but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. After he came back and I figured it out, the above conversation took place. I love my BFF.

"This Is Real, This is Me"

Sometimes I think about the things that I do or the things that I like, and I just have to laugh, because in so many ways I just haven't really changed a lot over the years. Thankfully, some things have changed since I was a kid, I no longer wear overalls or sequined jeans as actual clothing, for example; but, the inspiration for this list comes from the things that I just think will always be true about me. Here it goes:

1. I will always be the impulse candy buyer in the check out line. I love candy, and my love goes back as far as I can remember. I have fond memories of getting a dollar from my mom or dad, marching down to the teacher's lounge and getting M&M's and a Sprite (always) and that was way back in like 2nd grade. Do you remember when a dollar got you both a snack and a drink? Gah, those were the days.

2. I will always love reality television. I mean, I was watching Bug Juice and The Real World, way back in the day when MTV still played music videos and the Disney Channel had those crazy Zoog things. I think this fascination with reality television explains a lot about why I loved psychology so much. People fascinate me, I love to study them in both a formal and informal sense and reality television puts some of the world's finest on display for my analytical pleasure.

3. I will always love paper products. I have a very vivid memory of being in a Toys-R-Us as a child, with money to spend, and wanting to buy a composition book. Why? I don't really know. I liked toys, but that is what I wanted. This love is now demonstrated with the stack of unused journals sitting on my bookshelf and the crate full of stationary and cards sitting on the floor in my room.

4. There will always be a part of me that wants to be a rock star. Now, the Lord did not really bless me with the gifts or talents neccesary to make it in the entertainment industry, but boy do I wish He did. To be honest, I kind of hate being the center of attention, but there is a part of me that craves it and always thought it would so cool to be famous. Jordan says all of us Currie kids want to be performers it just comes out in different ways. For my brothers, I would say it was with music, and I think camp allowed me to be my own version of a rock star.

5. I will always love writing. In 3rd grade I decided I was going to write a book called Christy's Big Adventure. I don't really know who Christy was, but she had a lot of magical friends, and to me, that was literary gold. I never finished it (although I do think I still have it in my room at home somewhere), but the desire and motivation to write ever went away. I have kept a journal consistently since I was 8 years old. I love to blog. I loved writing papers in school. And my freshman year of college I had the inspiration for another book that I do believe I will write someday. I just love the written word and have always preferred it to the spoken word. I love the idea of something being written down, and thus saved to keep.

6. I will always be indecisive and over analytical. This is probably one of my most annoying traits that has plagued me forever. It doesn't have to be a big decision, I am indecisive about just about everything: where to eat, what time to wake up, whether or not I should buy something in the store or wait, where I should live, whether I really want to get up and go the bathroom now or just wait until later.

7. I will always love musicals. This, I blame on Disney. Just about every Disney movie is a musical and I watched a lot of Disney growing up. I remember watching Newsies, Grease, and Little Shop of Horrors when I think we still lived in West Virginia. I remember my mom taking me to go see a stage production of Grease. We always had a lot of music growing up, whether it was the Beatles, Billy Joel, Cat Stevens or Wee Sing Silly Songs, it was there, and I am very thankful for that.

8. I will always suck at verbalizing and expressing emotions. I really don't know exactly why this has always been a challenge for me. I feel like I've always been pretty willing to express an opinion or get in front of a group to talk on a sort of superficial level, but I have always been uncomfortable with really being honest about how I really feel about things and people. I do think I have gotten better, and this is one thing that I sort of hope will change, but as for now, it's been consistent.

9. I will always love being outside in the sunshine. I don't consider myself the most outdoorsy person by any means, but I have always loved being outside. As some know, I used to pack up my backpack and head out to the undeveloped lot behind my house and read in the woods as a kid. In high school I would sit at the picnic table outside the classroom back door just to get sunshine. Even now I can't quite express the true depth of the happiness I feel when spring makes a comeback after winter. God is very present in nature for me and so many of my fondest memories are tied to camp, which was outdoors :)

10. I will always be excited about the simple things in life. I remember one time in high school being told I was simple and being very hurt and upset about it, but over the years I have learned that it really isn't a bad thing at all. While there is a part of me that very much loves to indulge in some of the finer and unnecessary things in life (The Melting Pot, shoes, jewelry, Ritter Sport chocolate, etc), I do think I am pretty simple in what really makes me happy---ice cream, watching terrible movies, sitting outside with friends, brightly colored nail polish, spontaneous dance parties with people I love. I'm ok with that.

I also think I will always be terrible about getting myself to bed at a reasonable hour :)

Jumping Bands and Wagons

I feel like, given tonight's events (and the fact it has absorbed every Tuesday and Wednesday night of my life since January), it is only appropriate that I blog my thoughts about American Idol and its most recent winner Lee DeWyze.

As someone who jumped on the American Idol bandwagon quite late in the game (as in never watched an episode or paid it any mind prior to this season), I am not disappointed. While having no real frame of reference, I feel like this was a great season. The auditions were hilarious, full of some genuine talent, awkward people with big dreams, and this guy.

Moving into the actual contestants, there are some who I have completely forgotten about, some who annoyed the bejesus out of me (Haylee Vaughn, Aaron Kelly, and Tim Urban), some who I liked but who I knew wouldn't make it (DiDi Benami and Lacey Brown), and some who I loved from the very beginning (Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze, Big Mike, and I was ok with Casey James---do I have great intuition or what?).

Since day one, I was a full on Crystal supporter. I loved that she was not a typical American Idol candidate, I loved her voice, and I just felt like she was a really good person and I enjoyed watching her perform. As the season went on, my heart quickly became torn as my love for Lee grew. Despite my growing affections for Lee, I still deep down wanted Crystal to take the whole thing. However, as the final episodes aired, I found myself unable to make a choice, yet completely content with either winning, as I loved them both equally. When Casey (obviously) got eliminated at the final 3, I knew I would enjoy the finale regardless of the outcome, but I have to admit, I got REALLY EXCITED when Ryan announced Lee's name tonight. He is just so endearing and excited and well, I just love him, and have every intention of buying his album. With that being said, I very much feel that there is a place for Crystal in the music industry and I have no doubt she will be picked up and be a success!

And, for those of you who have not been following, below is a picture of Lee DeWyze, who I like to affectionately refer to as my future husband ;)

You Know You Are From Myrtle Beach...

...when you hear a loud boom outside and your initial thought is "Who is shooting off fireworks and why are they doing it so late?" rather than "Oh, it must be thundering outside."

10 Things That Are Always Funny

So, it was recently suggested to me to get back into my list-making posts and try to conquer 10 Things That Are Always Funny. To be honest, this has been a real challenge, but here is what I have come up with (in no particular order):

1. Chubby kids with Southern Accents (please click here).
2. Mullets, rat tails, and other such hair phenomena...enough said.
3. Phineas and Ferb. I didn't think Disney could top Dave the Barbarian, but alas, they have and this show makes me laugh every time.
4. When the whiny or annoying kid gets hurt, not seriously hurt, but just a little hurt.
5. High school boys trying to lift too much weight at the gym.
6. Horrible wedding night stories.
7. Poorly thought out and cheaply made reality television (i.e. Conveyor Belt of Love and Hell Date)
8. Catching someone picking their nose in their car (extra funny if you see them eat it).
9.People running with backpacks.
10. Son-in-Law starring Pauly Shore (although, this choice could be influenced by the fact I am watching this movie right now for at least the 50th time)

It's Nice to Know Somethings Never Change

Like sitting around a campfire. It will always bring about laughter, good conversation, and strolls down memory lane that will stir up something nostalgic deep within me. Stories you have heard at least a hundred times will be told, but no one cares. The night will grow later and later, but no one wants to get up and leave, so you just let the fire burn down. So many of my fondest and most special memories were created around campfires.

I made a trip back to Rockfish today and for the first time in the past year it felt like home again. I had the opportunity to visit with some people I haven't seen in years, and it's such a blessing to know that some people will always be important in my life and that the time I've spent with them is so unique and impactful, that it doesn't matter if years go by between visits. Man, I love that place and all the people that have been brought into my life through it.

"He stole my hole..."

I walked onto the playground this morning to take up my role covering track out, and a child runs up to me and says "He stole my hole. I worked really hard on it." How do you respond to statement like that?

I also had the cutest kid ever, Freddie, help me lead 100 kids in doing The Freddie at assembly this morning. It was HILARIOUS.

I win.

Throw Back

Man, Dispatch just came on my Pandora station and I had a major throw back to my freshman year of college. I have such vivid memories of those first few weeks at Winthrop: sitting at my desk in the Nance looking out on campus, hiding out in the Christian bookstore just to get away but not having anywhere to go or anyone to go with, ending every meal in the cafe with an ice cream cone, using citrus scented Noxzema face wash...

What a weird time in life. It's hard to believe that was almost 6 years ago.

Jesus, You Know How to Color

As I was walking around Michael's today, looking for something to do because I was bored out of my mind, I had a funny memory of a song, or rather a rap, that a group of my kids at Rockfish made up one summer. It goes like this:

Red, the color of my favorite rose
Green, the color of the grass that grows
Yellow, the color of the sun that shines
Way up high in the blue, blue sky

Jesus, you know how to color
Jesus, you know how to color
Jesus, you know how to color
Jesus, you color my life with love

Not too shabby for a bunch of first graders :) I miss those days.