Ignorant Historian

So, this may have proved more difficult than I imagined.  Still, here are the answers:

1.  What’s my brother’s name? Bonus: what’s my sister-in-law’s name?

Riley and Amanda

2.  What state did I grow up in?

Kansas

3.  Where did I go to college?

The University of Oklahoma

4.  What did I major in?

History - I knew this might be a hard one, even though “historian” is in the title of this blog, I rarely talk about it!

5.  What was I scared of as a child? (may be more than one correct answer)

Answers given (and all correct) – People jumping out at me (still am), animals, dogs.  Other possible answers include: people in costumes and our house burning down when I was changing (don’t know if I’ve mentioned that last one on the blog, though)

6.  What’s one experience of Southern culture that left me scratching my head? (again, there’s more than one correct answer)

Correct answers given – half the roads aren’t labeled (though that just may be NC), and the notion that if it thunders in winter it’ll snow in 7 days (it didn’t, BTW).  Other correct answers: boiled peanuts,  Confederate flag license plates being sold by the county, and various Southern phrases

7.  What classic science fiction movie have I used more than once to explain life truths to children?

Star Wars

8.  What’s the working title of my essentially-abandoned novel-in-progress?

Four Friends – I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and have an idea of where I want it to go

9. What country (besides my own) do I love?

Turkey!

10.  If/when I become a full-time teacher, what subject would I teach? (I’ll give a point for either the subject I’m most qualified to teach or the one I’d most want to teach…and 1.5 points for correctly answering both.)

Most qualified to teach math, but would like to teach literature.  Amanda had a better answer though, “You are most qualified to teach math, but that’s simply because your dream teaching job hasn’t been afforded to you just yet; your ideal teaching position is teaching your own children.”  So true…love that my SIL knows my heart!

Amanda got a perfect 11 points, but since she had a majorly unfair advantage (hello, she got a half-point for knowing her own name!), the Paperback Swap book goes to Liz who earned a respectable 9.5 points.

As nasty as these things are, they seem to pass quickly, praise God.

Disposable ice buckets make excellent barf buckets.

Having a nurse for an aunt is incredibly handy.

Watching my brother make his wedding vows is incredibly surreal.

My brother’s friends don’t remain high schoolers forever.

Illness is a great distraction when I’m trying not to cry.

Just because he’s getting married doesn’t mean my brother will stop being a pest.

Being ill gets me out of talking to virtual strangers.

Though the thought of most food makes me want to barf when I have a stomach bug, wedding cake still sounds appealing.

My brother can be kind and compassionate (to his sister!) when required.

My dad will always go to great lengths to care for his daughter.

When I’m ill, it’s always best to have my mommy around.

I hadn’t planned on blogging this weekend.  I had thought I’d come back Monday with a cutesy “it all went well, and they’re married” post, but it seems that further developments require me to share the story with you prematurely.  At least if someone laughs at the situation, then I can feel like there’s some good from it!

So, last night after the rehearsal, I got ready for bed late.  Two of my Seattle cousins were sharing a hotel room with me, and I was doing my best to be quiet as I finished packing and showering while they slept.  As I lay under the covers, I felt unusually tense.  I assumed it was stress and/or the bed, but I found out otherwise shortly.

About an hour later, I woke up extremely hot.  I took measures to be cooler (including sitting on the cold toilet seat!), and was eventually able to cool off enough to get back to sleep.  Which lasted about 30 minutes.

At which time I knew I had an imminent date with that cold toilet, but didn’t quite make it.

Is now the time where I should say you might not want to read this if you’re queasy?  Or is it too late?

Yes, in the hotel room that I was sharing with the cousins I haven’t seen in 3 years, I threw up on the floor.  It’s a bad habit of mine; not making it to the bathroom (not that I throw up often).

At that point, I knew something was up.  I knew the tenseness and hot flashes I was feeling were not stress, but something far yuckier.

Not having any reasonable medicine, I woke up my cousins to ask if they did (they did not).  I found out later that they weren’t able to go back to sleep right away…I felt so bad!  I don’t want others to be miserable simply because I am.

Then I went down to my parents’ room and cried for help. That’s what parents are for, right?  My dad was able to find a 24-hour gas station in this 2,500-person town, and bought me a bottle of Pepto.  The color of which I promptly saw in the toilet bowl several more times in the middle of the night.

Scared to go back to bed, I slept on the recliner in my parents’ room.  I was able to sleep for about 45-minute stretches in between bathroom runs, so I certainly didn’t get much sleep.

When it was time for me to start getting ready to go to the church (5:30 AM), we knew we had a real problem on our hands.  I hoped it would have gone away, so that I wouldn’t even have to tell the bride, Amanda.  Unfortunately, there was no hiding it from her.

As an aside, Riley and Amanda were both incredibly gracious to me, carrying more for my health than my ability to participate.  She even texted me on their wedding evening to check in on me!  I’m so happy to be able to officially call her my sister.

So I went to church late (7 AM), with just enough time to get my hair and makeup done before picture.  I had one more bathroom run, but thanks to some medicine from my nurse aunt and her warning to eat and drink NOTHING, that was the last of it (I hope I didn’t jinx it…I’m not in the clear, yet)!

I was feeling better by pictures, and was able to fully participate.  But, as the time drug on and the drowsiness of the medicine started to kick in, it was obvious to all that I wasn’t all right (I’ve heard I was anything from pale or gray to green from various sources).  Thanks to some fast acting, I was made to lay down on a back pew until it was time for me again.  Without those naps between pictures and the wedding, I wouldn’t have made it!

Praise God, I was able to stick out the wedding, and look normal while doing it.  It was funny how many people whispered “Are you sure you’re okay?” to me as I walked down the aisle to take my place as maid of honor.  I actually think my sickness kept me for tearing up as I likely otherwise would have.  About 5 minutes from the end, I knew that I was on my last legs, but I made it…and promptly took a 2-hour nap during the reception.  At this point I was able to slowly introduce water back into my system, of which I was very grateful.

I also slept through the clean-up (I promise that I didn’t fake it to get out of work!) before we made the hour-and-a-half ride back to my parents house.  I’m thankful to be in some borrowed pajamas and resting with the TV to distract me (I have a hard time concentrating on reading at the moment).  I hope to take a nice bath shortly and hope into bed.  Here’s hoping for a must-needed good night’s sleep!

And that’s how NOT to spend your brother’s wedding.

Christmas is filled with fun times with the friends you care the most about.

This is not Christmas.

Christmas is cozing up with your family by the fire.

This is not Christmas.

Christmas is finally being free of the bonds of schoolwork.

This is not Christmas.

Christmas is a home decorated in tinsel and green.

This is not Christmas.

Christmas is a mailbox full of Christmas cards.

This is not Christmas.

Christmas is the celebration of God humbling himself, taking on the flesh of sinful man, being born a baby.  The greatest gift I could ask for on this or any holiday.  The incarnation that made our salvation possible.

Indeed, this is Christmas.

Photo by funkyshapes

Well I made it through NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) this November, which seemed like the shortest month ever.  I suppose it helps when you spend have of it away from home, huh?

Looking back, it was a good month.  I got to spend time in the country I love and with people that I love.  Sure, I saw emotions deeper than I’ve ever felt, and through some hard personal times, but I believe I’ve grown through those times and am better prepared for adversity in the future.  Through it all, there WERE blessings upon blessings, and I’m incredibly thankful.

So now we can look forward to December.  Only a couple of weeks until my birthday, and then after that there’s Phantom, a few days with a good friend in Texas, and then some great time with the family.  It’s bound to be another fast month!

Sleepover tonight with the baby cousins!

I thank God He’s given me food on my table in abundance.

I thank God that He’s given me family and friends who love me and show me more grace than I deserve.

I thank God for giving us quick travel that I may visit my family who’s over 1,000 miles away on this day.

I thank God for giving me not only a well-paying job in these times, but a job that I like.

I thank God for allowing me to be part of a church who, though not perfect, is seeking to grow together towards christlikeness.

Most of all, I thank God for giving His Son to save a wretch like me.

So happy Thanksgiving, and remember to thank God for the many blessings he’s given you…no matter how many or how few, they’re more than we deserve.

Photos by CarbonNYC, Julie McLeod,  aka Kath, me, Phillie Casablanca, and DrGBB

I find it interesting that my big blog days fall on days when blogging is naturally at a low.  Five hundred posts was Christmas, and now 800 posts is the day before Thanksgiving.  No problem though…I may have posted 800 times, but it’s not like they’re all of substance!

I know that many of you will be traveling today, so please stay safe!  I’m not traveling yet, as I prefer to fly on Thanksgiving morning…MUCH cheaper that way and less stressful, too.  While I’m in Kansas not only will I be enjoying Thanksgiving with the family, but I also will be hosting my first shower for my favoritest brother and sister.  Should be a lot of fun!

So, thanks for being with me for 800 posts…and here’s to 800 more!

Photo by inkelv1122

I wrote this post last week, and it’s not really where I’m at right now.  I had a wonderful time with my ABF class at church on Saturday which was exactly what I needed.  Still, I wanted to share what I’ve been through because I know there are others who are still there or will be there.

In the past week or so, I’ve felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness.  Not only is there the usual ache of walking alone on a path built for two, but there has been added emphasis on how alone I truly am through several unrelated incidents.

Perhaps it’s silly, but hearing from others about their loneliness makes me lonely.  Perhaps it’s what happens when you’re truly sharing one another’s burdens, you feel what they feel.  I’m glad to do it for friends, old or new.

Another thing that can (and has) made me lonely is to know that a crush won’t work out.  Not that I necessarily assume it will, but hopes disappointed always hurt, don’t they?

Then there’s the disappointments that can come from friendships.  Being sinful creatures, we’re bound to let each other down, aren’t we?

So, I just wanted to share that I’ve been lonely.  I know that I’m not the only one, so perhaps hearing my story will help someone else feel less lonely.  There is comfort in the loneliness, and for that I’m incredibly grateful.  I have friends and family who love me through this time.  But most of all, though, the comfort comes in the fact that this world won’t last forever.

And I can’t wait until the next.

Photo by JuriaYoshikawa

In 6 months, I’ve spent one night away from my apartment, and that was just to babysit overnight.  I enjoy being home, but I’m also a traveler at heart, so I’m starting to get restless.  Good timing too, because half of November and December (and a week of January!) will be spent elsewhere.  Here’s what I have coming up and has me so excited:

November 6-15 Turkey (a post with more on this is forthcoming)

November 26-30 Kansas for Thanksgiving with the family and my sister-in-law’s shower

December 15 My birthday, stuck in the middle of everything else!

December 17 Phantom of the Opera!  I’m going to have to borrow back my video so I can watch it again before then.

December 19-29 Kansas, Texas, and Kansas again.  I’m visiting family in Kansas for the holidays and spending some time in Texas with my college roommate and her niece.

January 8-10 Georgia (know I said that with a fake Southern drawl in my head) for April’s wedding (she was my first non-roommate friend here in North Carolina).  Just bought my dress for her wedding.  It looks like this, only navy:

Sorry it's a bad picture...we were in a hurry because the bride was waiting for a ride at the airport!

January 20-25 Kansas, for my baby brother’s wedding!

Once all that happens, it’ll be tax season in high gear for the next couple of months.  I’m glad everything worked out just like this…I think I’ll be ready to buckle down and get to work after all the traveling!

When I travel, I love to read.  Do you know of any good plane reads?