Teach Me How to Snuggie

Me with my Snuggie...I look like the Black Statue of Liberty

This next birthday story is from 2009.  It was the last year of my third decade of existence.  I was excited because I had just hit my stride in my job at the Roanoke Elementary Autism Program, affectionately and conveniently known as REAP.  I made some pretty good friends that year.  My co-workers were pretty cool.  That year, I guess they liked me so much that they all kinda pitched in to get me the one thing I wanted more than anything in the world, a Snuggie.  Yes, that blanket with sleeves.  Well, they all said that they got me something that I would be happy to have.  After many days of hype, the box came in.  There it sat, a brand new Snuggie in that sea foam green.  It made me smile.  Not only did I get a Snuggie, I got that awesome flipping book light that went with it.  It gets better than that.  The package came with a SECOND Snuggie and book light.  I told my pastor that if I ever got a Snuggie and it came with an extra, I'd give it to him.  So that Sunday in church, I gave him his Snuggie and book light.  He was obviously happy.  Mostly over the book light, truth be told.  I think he just liked the flipping action.  That birthday was kind of the culmination of a lot of things for me.  I was starting to really get close to God because of my new church.  I trusted God with my career after not being a youth pastor anymore.  The day I joined that church was the day that I was called to be hired to work at REAP and Mountain View Elementary.  I loved my job as a youth pastor, truly did.  However, it was hurting me to be so out of it because of working at two other places.  I also felt the call to go into education.  What facet, I didn't really know until I got into REAP.  That was a great group of people.  I still work with some of them today and keep fairly decent contact with others.  That Snuggie is still next to me right now.  In fact, I'm probably about to put it on.  It's my constant reminder that I'm in a good place now.  I'm where the Good Lord wants me, which is the best place to be.

The Beginning...

I'm starting something this week.  We are going to celebrate my birthday week. Why, you ask?  Because it's my blog.  So I'm going to go through some of the highlights of my life that happened on my birthday.  Things that I remember from birthdays past.  The first story I'm telling is from last year.  Last year, I took a nice girl and her son to the circus.  The only negative to that was that I had to pay for the dern thing.  I'm paying, on my birthday?  That's no good.  Other than that, the circus was actually a lot of fun.  I got popcorn, soda, and cotton candy.  I hung out with a really smart lady and her really cool son.  The circus was full of cool things.  The tigers were the best part.  I know there is some controversy about tigers in captivity, but the beauty of those animals are unreal.  I hated the clowns...still hate them.  I don't find them funny.  They do nothing to make me laugh at all.  Anyway, I had a good day that day.  Best part was that the very next day, Green Bay won the Super Bowl.  Of course, it got progressively worse because I started dating my crazy, paranoid ex the week after.  For the record, not the same girl I took to the circus.  That year, I turned 29 and 24 months.  Very much a landmark birthday.  This last year taught me so much about myself and the people I surrounded myself with.  I grew up a lot that year.  I finished my provisional license in Special Education.  I lost my grandmother.  I dealt with nutty roommates.  I dealt with an even nuttier ex girlfriend.  I dealt with transfer upon transfer for work.  It had been the most trying year of my life.  I'm thankful for the experience.  It was God teaching me something from this.  Let God teach you stuff when He has a chance.  Be open to learning experiences.  You'd be surprised what could happen.

The future is brighter than we thought

A few blogs back, I posted about some very ungrateful children who complained about the color of their iPhone that they got for Christmas.  At that time, I truly believed that this world was destined to be full of selfish, obnoxious brats that would throw me into a home without a moment's hesitation.  I thought we were doomed with dumber kids who cared more about fashion than phonics.  Today, I had nursery duty at church.  I have to say that the future is a lot brighter than first anticipated.  We had six kids in the nursery and they were all so wonderful to work with.  They were bright, intelligent, well mannered, and respectful.  The oldest in the group was 4 I think and the youngest was just over a year old.  They were playing, frolicking, and just being what they were, children.  It's a blessing to watch kids nowadays.  They have an innocence about them that is hard to explain.  They share whatever is on their heart.  They can make a game out of anything.  Two little girls made the crib a clubhouse.  The young one helped me put together a floor puzzle.  It was so cute to see her try to sound out the numbers on the hopscotch puzzle.  The kids all hugged the young one for her helping to clean up.  They all drew some pretty cool pictures of their families.  Some, I couldn't tell who was who, but they were artistic nonetheless.  It's pretty awesome to see some kids actually enjoy each other's company and respect adults put in charge of them at that young of an age.  Although I have to say my top moment was when I was playing with the pop up toy, and I wasn't sure what kind of animal popped up.  The child who was about 3 I guess says, "It's a giraffe.  Come on Tyrone."  No giraffes have round heads, so I think I have a case.  Point being, enjoy the kids.  They're our future.  Teach them stuff.  Share your life with them.  I suggest every person find a kid and be good to them.  It's the only way we can weed out the jerky, selfish, obnoxious ones that have infiltrated our fair world.

Random Musings

I don't really have a particular topic to talk about, so I'll just ramble about whatever is on my mind.  Be careful, things could switch in an instant.

Being hurt stinks.  I suggest not getting hurt in your life.  Just avoid it all together.

Sheetz makes some banging wings.  They're kind of high dollar, but they're worth it.  Plus if you add a double dark chocolate make-your-own shake, you're pretty much in heaven.

If there is anything that you should do if you live in or around Roanoke, go to Second Helpings.  I got three really nice sweaters for $14.00.  Seriously can't beat that.

I love Winter X Games, so much fun.  I couldn't do anything there, but I'd do it if I could.  Maybe if they created a Snow Angel making event, I'd win.  I mean seriously, who makes a better snow angel than me?

I should seriously consider secretly recording my roommate Eddie and writing a book about his random musings.  That's after the T-Bone project ends.

Speaking of, I still need to draw the pictures for that book.  The book is all done, but kids love pictures.  Actually, adults like pictures too.  No one reads magazines for the articles.

I'm reading Uncle Tom's Cabin with my Google Books.  I suggest everyone reading it at least once.  It's a raw and real depiction of slavery and the mindsets of people in the mid-1800s.

I don't understand how people can beg and plead for something, then when that something comes, ignore it and shy away from it.  It's like asking for a new car, getting the new car, then telling the car that it's a nice car, but you'd rather drive the jalopy over there.

Friend Zone, that unenviable place where your kindness can't quite overcome some particular circumstance about you.  It can be looks, financial situation, or some other superficial trait.  There are ways to leave the Friend Zone, however face lifts are expensive and bank robbery is illegal.  So, there's really no way out of it.

Australia needs to trade places with Rhode Island.  Missing the Australian Open because I'm asleep when it's on is not a good look.

I love my mom, she's great.  However my mom has to learn that everything smaller than a car shouldn't automatically cost 5 bucks or less.

I would suggest watching "Firefly".  Has that dude from Castle in it.  It was aired in 2002, very good show that shouldn't have been cancelled.

Anyone want to treat me to Buffalo Wild Wings on February 4 to see Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit?  I was going to take a small trip for my birthday, but circumstances are slowly telling me that it could be the personification of a fruitless endeavor.

Red Bull is the grossest stuff.  Their commercials are the only reason they're worth anything.

Williamson Road sidewalks are absolutely deadly.  Sometimes, they elevate and you can trip without noticing.  I almost ate the concrete at least 4 times.  I did get good exercise.

I think my bathroom needs a good cleaning.  I'll get on it soon, I promise.

I can't work my fireplace.  I'd ask the landlord, but he's as effective as a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.

I love my friends.  They're good people.  And apparently, they love my blog.  Why am I not famous yet?

I'd love to live in Colorado.  The mountains are pretty, the Winter X Games are there, and Tebow.  Who doesn't love Tebow, besides Atheists and Steeler fans?

Real talk, winning someone's heart without money for flowers or guitar playing skills is very tough.  Sweet words only go so far.  One day, I'll figure this out.

Don't have much else on the mind.  I'll rant more about one of these topics.  Leave a comment if you want me to expound on something in here.  Also, subscribe to my blog so you'll get emails exactly when I post the blog.

If it's so good...

I often wonder why people put so much into other people; outside of the whole common decency, and it's what God asked for of course.  Why is it that when we meet or see someone we find to be extraordinary, we kind of lose our marbles?  It's like all of a sudden, everything goes all blurry and you don't know your left from that other direction.  And Lord help you if you put all that emotion and thought into that person and there's no reciprocity (thank you Lauryn Hill).  Slightly confusing how you think you're doing the right thing, and then it call goes haywire.  I think we learn so much from these moments.  We learn that we can be vulnerable and still be strong.  In fact, strength makes these vulnerable moments an even tougher pill to swallow.  Also the vulnerability can eventually make us stronger.  When you put yourself out there, there are two ways it can go: blooming success or massive failure.  I haven't really thought about a middle ground because I've never really come across that sacred place between sadness and adulation.  I wish there was some way to put yourself out there without being out there.  A way to get all your emotions out without the risk of being exposed.  It's baffling how being completely honest can mess things up.  I know I blogged before about the virtues of honesty, but here's one of the drawbacks.  You are at the complete and utter mercy of the person you're being honest with.  So, what to do, what to do.  Go for it, my fear of risks be derned.  You never know what may happen.  Even if something bad happens, you'll become better for it.

Of all the things...

Yesterday's blog was about my fear of taking risks.  My fear of just being defeated with absolutely no control of it frightens me.  Today, I had a conversation about my fear of risks and other fears that I have.  I figured I'd just list them for everyone.  I'm not afraid of sharing my life with people, so it's not really any skin off my back.  In fact if more people were willing to share their vulnerabilities with others, there would be a lot more understanding and friendships among people.

1. Clowns
Pretty much everyone knows that there is one thing I can't stand, it's clowns.  Clowns are scary looking.  They give me the willies like nothing on this earth.  I cringe when I see them at the circus.  Last year I went to the circus and couldn't watch the clowns.  However, it goes deeper.  I have worked for the county school system for a few years now.  I worked in a preschool one year and a parent who loved to help out in the classroom decided to dress like a clown.  It took every bit of me not to throw red Kool-Aid upon her.  I composed myself just enough to tell her, "look, I know who you are and you're awesome for doing this.  However I'm mortified of clowns and I'm going to need you to go to the other side of the table for this party.  Thank you again."  Even if I know who you are, you can even tell me an hour or so beforehand that you're going to dress like a clown; once I see you're a clown...Katie bar the door.  Do people still even say that?

2. Bees
This also goes towards all types of flying, stinging creatures such as wasps and yellow jackets.  This is a direct result of being chased and stung by 7 wasps after taking a seat on a bench at the marina where my grandparents' houseboat was docked.  I sat down, they stung me, and I ran down the dock past the riverside restaurant screaming like a blooming idiot.  That wasn't the first time I was stung by a wasp.  The first time, a wasp got into my grandparents' houseboat and stung me on the shoulder.  I hate those things.  I remember standing outside in 101 degree heat not going inside because there was a bee floating by my front door.  If I see bees, I'm going the other way.  Do not care about anyone else's well being at that point.

3. Escalators
I don't know why, but those things give me the creeps.  I think it stems from my overexposure to Looney Tunes cartoons.  I saw a character, I think it was Daffy Duck, get sucked into the escalator and I was pretty much done with those things.  If I have to choose between stairs or escalator, you had better believe I'm doing the steps.  People ask if I would go down a broken escalator.  Not at all.  What if it restarts?

4. Heights
I have to preface this by saying that's it's only unsecured heights.  I can handle being up high if I know I'm locked into something.  Roller coasters and being in an airplane don't really bother me.  If I'm on a high bridge or ski lift, I don't mind that either.  However if I'm standing on a ladder or chair with nothing holding me up, I'm done.  How wimpy can I be?  I'm a shade under 6'5" and I can't stand being too high up.

Fear is a thing that we all have.  I don't think it's wrong to have fear.  It's a natural emotion.  We're allowed to have apprehension.  However fear is something we can overcome with God's help and a willingness to be brought towards our fears.  Never forget that we can overcome all with God.

I hate risks

I guess I know why I don't gamble too much.  I've only played the lottery three times in my.  Once when I got free tickets for looking at cars that I couldn't afford.  I won 4 bucks.  The second time, I found the tickets on the ground unscratched.  The third time, I won them in a Dirty Santa game with co-workers.  Yes, people traded me lottery tickets for a coffee mug.  Be that as it may, I don't do a lot of gambling.  I don't take a lot of risks.  Maybe it's because I hate to lose.  Possibly because I don't like what could happen.  I'm not a fan of putting money on certain sports teams.  Needless to say, my apprehension with gambling goes beyond money.  I'm okay with sharing my feelings if I know I'm right and what will happen next.  I'm okay with putting my opinions on this thing because ultimately, I control my thoughts.  However when it comes to sharing my feelings and leaving the results in someone else's hands, that scares the you know what out of me.  I don't know if I just am scared of the results.  I don't know if I'm nervous over being wronged.  It's the reason I can count on one hand how many times I've had true feelings for someone.  I really hate having all my efforts be in vain.  It's a pet peeve of mine.  However sometimes you have to swallow that pride and that apprehension and go for it.  Yes, I am basically talking to myself.  This is me telling me to go for whatever it is I have to go for and let the consequences be derned.  Mom's reading this, can't be swearing.  What will happen, I really don't know.  Just have to trust that everything will work out for the best.  Fear must be beaten.  Lucky for me, I have a hard time fearing things for longer than a minute.  Except escalators...those things will never be not scary.

On a completely unrelated side note, how did Detroit get a hold of 214 million dollars with their economy?