How Appropriate

I didn't eat Chinese today, but I did eat a fortune cookie. It said:

"You have an unusual magnetic personality."

Unusual?? Yes, I think that sounds right. I'm not so sure about the magnetic, but I'll take it.

A Circle is Round...

And never ends.
That's how long that you should keep your friends.
~A song from when I was in Brownies

Today I said "see ya later" to a close friend from high school. She leaves on Tuesday for Central America, where she'll be traveling until September. After that, she'll start a six-month internship working with sea turtles in Costa Rica.

Having a last visit with her got me thinking; I am very lucky to have the friends that I have. By no means do I have a lot of friends- but I'd like to think that the ones that I do have are among the kindest, coolest, and wisest people on the planet. Sometimes I think about the path I have lead in life, and the only steps that I would change would be those in which I added stress to the lives of those that I hold dearest.

Re-connecting with those that I have known for so many years is very important to me. This friend in particular was one of the first people I befriended when moving to Washington. Come to think of it, the three hs friends that I am in closest contact with now are among the first few people I even talked to during that first nervous year of high school. Coming home to meet with these girls is like coming home to family. There have been many many times that I have felt very negatively about myself and have had horrid thoughts. Somehow, though, being in the company of these precious people- I always feel loved. They are open and give their friendship freely. Every sour note I have is always counteracted by smiles and laughter over memories from years ago or stories from our most recent endeavors.

To be honest, I can be a very odd person. On any given day, I receive looks of confusion, shaking heads, and the occasional flabbergasted face. What makes my friends so special is that they take all the weird things that I say and do in stride; they know me well enough to sometimes realize that I don't always express myself in the most eloquent manner and that sometimes my quirks are more prominent than my normal sides. After all my flaws and oddities, these girls still want to hang out after months of lost connections and missed phone calls. They truly define the idea of "picking up where you left off."

Soon we will be separated again and located on all corners of this continent. Of all people I know though, I am not worried about my friendships with these girls- S, A, and R. We went to four different schools in four different cities and have managed to stay close. I know now that not even the entire globe will break the bonds that we have - those will be around fo'eva.

*This does get me thinking about those friends from college. I guess time will tell for most relationships. From those that graduated in the years before me, distances are vast and communication is sparse (heck, I just found out that one is having a baby soon!), but I hope God will bless me with the chance to stay in touch. I hope I am remembered.

Times table

Sometimes I let myself cry a little at a sappy movie. Sometimes I like to watch talk shows on tv.
Sometimes I read myself to sleep. Sometimes I indulge in Ben and Jerry's yogurt. Sometimes I obsess over little things. Sometimes I fight with my family. Sometimes I forget birthdays.

Sometimes I let life get me down.
Sometimes I try to take life down.

Most times I am fine. Rare times I am not.

Sometimes I love solitude.
Sometimes I rely on my friends.

Most times I pretend to be independent. Rare times I reveal that I'm not.

Sometimes I am afraid of the future.
Sometimes I fear that I have no future.

I have been down few roads, but there have been some that no one should have to walk. My mind has always been my biggest enemy, and I find that it will always be my largest hurdle.

Sometimes share too much with people. Sometimes I hold too much in.
I don't know where I am at right now, but I can say that I've been better.

Thank God for my family and for S. Summer is starting to suck, but I'm holding on.

Most times I am cryptic. Rare times I make sense.

Arg. That's all I can say.

Right now it is about 7:30 in the morning. I am not up because I decided to be an "early bird" and wake up with the sun, no- I am awake because I never fell asleep in the first place. Sadly, I never even made it as far as my bed to even try to go to sleep.

I don't really like getting into topics that are too personal on here, but I think last night has pushed me to a breaking point of sorts. I must share some things that are bugging me.

I live in a house that is dysfunctional on multiple levels:
1- We have rats that live in our back yard bushes. I know the bird seed that my dad leaves out is what has attracted them. He refuses to remove the seed.
2- We have pipes that leak within the floors and walls.
3- We have drains that back up on occasion. Apparently the sewage pipes in the back yard are being invaded by roots, clogging them up. When large quantities of water are drained from the house - say, through a toilet or a shower- the putrid water will flow down from it's point of origin, but will never make it away from our yard. A glowing example of this occurred last night when my brother started taking a shower. I heard dripping coming from downstairs and thought it was water leaking through the floor (from the previous mentioned pipes). Much to my dismay, I came downstairs to find a bathroom/laundry room full of water that was coming up through the shower and the toilet. Adding to the fun was a floor full of [now] soaked clothing (piles of unwashed laundry).
4- Nothing will ever dry. Because of the repeated water leakages, we actually have mushrooms growing where the carpet meets the wall.
5- Nothing is in good condition. In trying to vacuum up the water last night, I found out in the most frustrating way possible that the vacuum was missing a drainage cap. The second I stopped vacuuming, the water started pouring out of the basin of the wet vac.
6- Everything is messy. My brothers are lazy, my dad is horrendously messy, my mother is exhausted, and I have found myself in a spell of apathy.
7- My actual family also has massive issues. But this is not the place to really dive into that subject. All I can say is that certain people lack basic logic, almost all of us are hypocritical on some level, no one can communicate about anything serious in a civilized manner, and we all are slightly crazy (in different ways).
8- I have a mosquito bite on my arm and my roots are showing a lot of grey.
9- The first friend I had that got married out of college will soon become the first friend from college that has a child. This is nuts.

Okay, 8 and 9 are ridiculous and only put up as distractions. The rest, well, I guess it could be worse. Maybe going into JVC will help me realize how good I actually have it. Right now I am blessed with one brother that is the most loving person I know, another who really values respect for others, and another who can make me laugh like nobody's business. I also have a mother who is just as quirky as I am, who appreciates the small oddities of life as I do. My dad is someone who can be caring, but he is the one that I am most challenged with. I am not a daddy's girl. Around him, I resemble what could be deemed a "smart ass back-talker."

Last night, I was the one cleaning things up. I don't understand why us girls always have to take on those jobs.


On a random side note - I miss all of my friends dearly. I miss good hugs, long conversations, and random outings. I miss the parks of Spokane and the memories I made there. I miss feeling comfortable in my surroundings. Life from here on out is going to be foreign for me. I hope there will be good times along the way.
Good thing I'll be seeing two of my closest friends from high school tonight- they will provide the mental break that I need.

Wow. 8am now...

Learning About Animals

Jim Gaffigan is a wise, wise man.

More wisdom from a Jesuit author

I've been reading my book fairly slowly, but as I get further and further into it I keep wishing that I owned it - so I could mark it up. This may be a purchase once I get my next pay check.

For now, I will settle for posting quotes that have stuck out to me thus far-

"Things give meaning to the lives of people who are deprived of authentic human contact. It is not necessarily a quirk of the poor: the millionaire builds an ostentatious house; the CEO wears a Rolex; the politician has a few people in his pocket; the dictator has his disposable private army; the preacher surrounds herself with unread theology books. Collecting things fills gaps in our hurts and gives expression to an internalized deprivation from the past."

"There is something wrong. The reality of homelessness, inadequate housing, and the lack of affordable housing is a national disgraces. This reality undermines the life and dignity of so many of our bothers and sisters who lack a decent place to live. It destroys lives and families. The crime of homelessness is not that people live in filthy camps under bridges, or that families sleep illegally in their cars, or that the homeless and the near homeless panhandle. The crimes is that homelessness exists. "

"I have found that the spirit of piety in the mentally ill is stronger and more devotional and more other-oriented than that of much of formal religious life."

"The more we know the object of our love, the more we love that object."

"Out of the rubble of my life- so undeserving, insignificant, obscure, and screwed up- Jesus crafts someone who will, in spite of himself, bear fruit for the kingdom and the glory of God. It never ceases to amaze me."

"If a man wants to understand the heart of God, he must surely begin by standing next to the heart of a woman."

"Jesus isn't stupid. We can kid ourselves about Jesus, but he never kids himself about us. There is theology for a lifetime in that."

"I have seen love flourish among the people I serve, where the happiness of the beloved was all that mattered. Such love is not easy, but is exists and reminds me constantly of that divine spark in all of us that invited us to love and be loved."

"The reasons we love, really love, a person have nothing to do with appearance. They have everything to do with our heart and the heart of the beloved. Nurses know this, as do mothers and fathers and spouses who are in it for the long haul. ... As the the Little Prince said, ' What is essential is invisible to the eye.' The heart of God sees what is essential."

"Desire. Isn't that all that really matters? The desire to love and be loved and the desire to know and love God, who is the author of such all-encompassing desire. And emerging from this truth are all these other desires that drive my life: the desire to understand life, that desire to be faithful to the love I have for those I most cherish, the desire to find my life with the poor, and the desire to passionately live and preach the gospel. I the the One who fills me with desire... and who desires me."

"I was feeling the absence of friends who lived far away and gratitude for friends who were part of my life here. They are the heart of one of life's greatest mysteries."

"There are moments when I think my powers are no longer adequate to handle my problems. When I ask God for help and comfort in these moments, it often comes in the shape of a person."

"Those friends in my life whom I cherish and who cherish me are channels of God's love and power. When God has comforted me, it had occasionally been through an idea or a prayer, but is has more often been through the touch and care of a friend."

"My friends have been the ones who have pulled me through some absolutely awful moments, and they have been the people in whose presence I have found my most delirious moments of happiness."

"Friends have nurtured me, cajoled me, wept over me, breathed life on me when I thought I was dead ... In a word, my friends have loved me. One grows in the presence of love. Here is the mystery: God gets hold of things and people and uses them to bring me to life. Therein lies another mystery: I too am a channel of God's comfort for all whom God will bring into my life."



*PS- This is my 50th post... crazy!
**PPS- All the above quotes are out of Radical Compassion by Gary Smith, S.J. (c) 2002

Just My Luck

Now that I have completed a week of work and have committed to being there for the next nine weeks, of course greener pastures decide to call. Within the past few days, I have received two phone calls - one being for a job that I would really really like (one that is working with kids).

Great timing.

If it were any other summer, I would attempt to juggle both. But my logic-driven brain knows I would not be able to handle the complete exhaustion that would ensue of having two jobs when I only need one. How sucky, I really did want to work with the kiddies.

It's okay, I have the rest of my life to do what I love. This summer I will just fold a lot of shirts.

I'm the Juggernaaaaaut Biiiiiiiiiiiiiitch

By looking at the videos that I just added to the blog, I realized that I am strongly influenced by the humor and taste of my brothers. The X-men video below is the most vivid example. I realized after I had shown B the video, that I originally posted it in the first place so I could easily show it to him - since I knew he would totally crack up to it.

Gotta love family. I love seeing people laugh, esp. those I care about.

In these next coming weeks, "III'mmmm the Juggernaaaauuut Biiiiiiitch" will be often quoted in this household. hehe.

Oh to be a single human...

I ran across this blog during my typical nightly internet browse. I think this guy captures what a lot of people go through and feel, using his Nondating Life as an inspiration and source of humor. Check out his Chapters.

I like this one too!

I had to add this.

I'm the...

My last post was a doosy, so I thought I'd add this for a laugh.

Warning: there's some fruitful language dubbed over this X-men jewel.

It is days like these that I miss working with annoying little kids.

Well, I can honestly say that I have now experienced my first bad day of work.

Coming in, the day didn't have much going for it.
I woke up at around 10:30am (about 6 hours after I finally was able to fall asleep) and was in the shower at about 11. Right before I turned off the water, I was greeted with the loud pounding of an angry family member who wanted to shower in another bathroom. Arguments ensued. I was scheduled to work from noon to 7:30pm, which would prevent me from even being able to go to church.
Strike one for the day.

I got into work 10 minutes late. I had to stop to buy something to munch, since I forgot to eat at home. I jumped onto the floor, which was lightly chaotic. Today was markdown day, so everything was moving and changing prices - which makes for a lot of confusion. There were four of us working, but two were scheduled to peace out at 3:30. I quickly grew tired, we not only had a huge flux of customers with complicated returns and numerous uses of coupons, but I was supposed to be pushing the intake of credit card applications for the company (which on one level, is the hardest part of my job- I don't like pushing people into doing things they aren't certain about). Sadly, I wasn't able to get in a break until the next person came in, which was at four. (*Side note- I am someone who can gauge exactly when I need a break or a rest from what I am doing, I don't get tired without a lot of strain. Today I was definitely strained... like peas.) So I was pretty dang tired when I finally got to go and sit. So tired that I truly felt like crying or something (odd reaction, I know - but my eyes have personalities of their own). Strike two.

Later on in the day, I was able to get off of the registers and work the actual floor - which is where I am most at ease. This is where I encountered the customer from HELL. About half of an hour before our store was scheduled to close, a woman came up to me with a very specific demand (not a request, a demand). She wanted casual pants that she could work in that were like khakis, maybe something with cargo pockets, but they had to be floor length and not too fancy. I showed her the whole long pants we had that were in our main collecting - black trousers. They are actually part of our "wear to work" line, so they came to mind first. NO- they were too dressy. I pointed out that it was summer and that just about all the bottoms we had were short or cropped (it's the nature of the summer season). No, cropped was unacceptable. I showed her our clearance section, which was the only place that I knew of with floor and ankle-length options. That was where I left her to browse around.
About ten minutes later, I took my second short break and came back out the floor after the store was supposed to be closed. I assisted with a customer phone call and was then called by my boss to help a customer who was looking for jeans. I walked over to the dressing rooms and asked through the door what she was looking for, and suggested a certain brand of jeans that we carry. I then heard the oh-so-patronizing response "I don't know what that means, I don't know what your talking about, you don't understand what I want." After hearing the impatient voice, I knew I was back with the sour lady again. She walked out of the dressing room and started complaining once more, "YOU guys don't have what I want, so I tried these on. But do you see how these pants go to my waist - that's what I need. When I wear those other pairs, my ASS FALLS OUT of the jeans. Why can't you have anything customers want?" She went on. I apologized, but told her (for the third time) that our fall selection of denim and other pants would be arriving in a few weeks. She ignored me and started to walk out of the store.
Two feet from exiting, she noticed a few pairs of pants on one rack that resembled what she wanted. She come back yelling, "WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOW ME THESE?!?!?!?" I explained that those must have slipped our minds, the collection is fairly new, yet popular, and the pants she was looking at were meant to be rolled up - which is why we think of them as cropped instead of full length (forgive me, but it seems to be an honest mistake). I also informed her that I was new and have yet to totally familiarize myself with the entire stock. "So she sent YOU to help me?" The lady (that resembled a fat-assed red-headed Medusa) turned right around to lay into my boss again. "You guys did have what I want and NO ONE told me! I've wasted an hour and a half in here!" (Side point- she came in no earlier than 6:30, when our store closed at 7, and it was no later than 7:20 at this point.) My boss conceded that yes, they were full length, but yes- they were also crops - she opened a room for the lady to try the new pants on.
As fate would have it, her ass was too big for the only size we have. (Now, I am not saying that I have a small rear at all, but I would never make someone else's life a living hell because I have bumper issues.) My boss said we could call to another store to get them to check for sizes.
I was the one lucky enough to make the call with her next to me! With this witch breathing down my back, I dialed the number wrong three times (stupid 425 area code - why dial one when you are in the same area code! Ridiculous!) I finally got a hold of the store I was calling (which was known for holding more stock than my store). I asked them about the pants, and they were all out of the style. The lady then requested I call another store. I called, but this time the store was closed and the staff were busy prepping for new sales and discounts. I thanked them and told the she-devil that they did not have time to check their floor at the moment, since the store was closed. This sent her into another rage. "WHAT?!?! They don't want to help when a CUSTOMER is calling!!!?!!?!" Once again she turned and shouted at my manager- "THEY don't want to HELP a CUSTOMER!" (She says this as if they were over there choosing to sit with their thumbs up their butts instead of helping.) My manager, God bless her, finally came up with something to calm her down. "Why don't you give us your name and number and we will call around tomorrow and find you those pants." "Yes, I would like that."
I pulled out a piece of paper and gave it to her to write her information. She shoved it back to me and stormed out of the store mumbling, "If you just knew your own merchandise I wouldn't have wasted an hour and a half of my life..." We were finally able to close the store, where I would accidentally stay for an extra half hour- thrown off by the time vortex was this lady's need for one pair of pants that she could find much more easily in a less-fashionable place, like Target or something. Sheesh.
That's a big strike three- like a bat in the face.

I guess I have at least gotten a bad customer experience out of the way. Maybe I won't have any more for the rest of the summer. Unlikely, since I do work in "snob square" (I just made that up... I'm so clever.)

Really though, I wonder what makes people like that. Why would anyone think it was appropriate to belittle and degrade someone who is trying to help her? Given, we are trying to help her spend money - but everyone needs clothing, and we like helping people find items that make them feel pretty or comfortable or trendy (in the good way). It is usually fun helping people find a bra that is finally comfortable and supportive, or finding a top that flatters every curve. I enjoy that. I don't get how one could come in so close-minded to a very subjectively stocked store (which is marketed to a younger crowd: women in their 20's & 30's) and cause a ruckus over an item that would be totally out of season and age range (cargo pockets? I firmly believe only guys should be sporting that fashion statement - girls have purses to use). I wouldn't be shocked if she walked in at the end of September looking for a swim suit, shouting that we should have swim wear when it's still warm out.

I really didn't want to let this person (who obviously has some issues of her own) affect me negatively. I really want to have a steel exterior with people like that. Problem is, I am human and I do pick up a lot of stuff off of people - most of the time, it allows me to have empathy for others. This time, it made me want to come home a make myself a drink. Alcohol is never an answer, but it can be delicious.


PS- I never wanted to drink after a day of work last year. Stupid adults. I love the simplicity of kids, even when they are annoying, you know they are trying to be annoying - no ulterior motives.

It's Official!

I am now officially going to the East coast. Yes, just now, here in the middle of the night, I bought a one-way plane ticket to Washington National Airport. (I don't use that Reagan name- it's foolishness.)

So I am now set to leave Washington State at 7:50 pm, August 16th, 2006. (Given, I won't really be out of the state until about 30 minutes after that, but you get the point.)

Beginning freakout sequence in 5... 4... 3... 2... ...

Compassionately Radical

Well, I actually did make it to the library the other day. (The clouds and rain prevented some of the other goals that I had.) I have now accumulated a plethora of books on topics ranging from having fun in New York for free or very cheap to developing leadership in youth ministry. I have also picked up a few novels.

The first book I have decided to dive into is a journal of sorts. The book is called Radical Compassion and it is by Gary Smith, who is a Jesuit who works in the poor neighborhoods in Portland. I don't know quite how to describe it, but all I can say is that I was in love with it by the time I got to the fifth page. I really think this just might be the perfect book for me right now, especially with all the fears that are developing about the year ahead.

A favorite quote from what I have read thus far:

"There is in me a longing to be real, to be authentic, to be a clear reflection of what my heart holds at its deepest levels. It is a goal that the gospel steadfastly holds up as an invitation to me, to the church. It is when the church embraces the gospel selflessly that it bears the heart of God and becomes real to the world. And when it is real, the church makes God believable."

He goes on to share little stories and various interactions he has had with the people he has worked with. There is such a gracious love in his tone, he shares how the people he connects with push him to open up, to break down his own walls, to love selflessly - it really makes me excited to think that I might have a chance to work towards something similar. I know that I will never really be able to get to the point that Jesus loved, but I hope I can become a good example of the love God has for his people.

Me and my mixed-up memory

So last week my boss asked me to cover a day to make up for a girl that quit, and in return I asked her to put my shift a little later on Saturday (tomorrow) so I could make it to my brother's baccalaureate and to my friend's graduation announcement. Turns out I'm a doofus.

My brother's baccalaureate and my friend's party thing are both on Sunday, when I failed to ask for the day off. Now, I am scheduled to work all of Sunday, when everything is going on.

Silly me, I never paid enough attention or tried to remember the correct date that I needed off. Thing is, I don't have that many hours next week, so I'm not going to mess with the hours that I do have. Booface.

I have decided that I have to do something really cool and productive with the extra time I have tomorrow.




On another note, I have already recieved my first paycheck. $60 for a day. Not horrible. I like making a dent in my credit card bill as well. :-)

Magazines, panty bins, and plane tickets

Well, I have now completed four days of work at my new job. In these four days, I have learned a lot more than I ever thought I would about the business of selling clothing. I now know a special way to hang up pants and skirts, how to fold jeans, and how to pull something off of a rack that's 8ft up on the wall. I have also acquired the name K-dogg, I've given some of my co-workers "street names" including R-dizzle, Emi-J, and Sku-Check Piddle (don't ask), I've dug through a bin full of panties, organized a hell-ish clearance section, searched through racks and racks of bras, and opened dressing rooms countless times. All things I never thought I'd be doing this summer.
Yeah, these past four days have been radically different than these previous weeks. Given, I still go to bed at an atrocious time - I somehow manage to wake up with enough of a window to get ready for work. (Thank goodness for cell phone alarms.)

Tomorrow is my first day off (thank goodness, I was there till 12:30am today). How glorious. My plan is to mow the lawn, walk the dog, go to the library, and find a new park. Sadly, I don't know if I will accomplish any of that - I tend to sleep in and then progressively lose motivation as the day goes on. This house is so conducive to laziness that it is hard to do anything other than take advantage of the cable.
Hopefully I'll be able to get out of this cycle soon.

On a totally different subject, I have now received my first piece of information about where I'll be in a little over two months. It's so exciting to get real mail! It is also thrilling to actually be at the point where I have to reserve a plane ticket to the East coast. I can't believe all of this is happening! I'm going to live in New York City! I'm going to be working with kids in a church! I'm going to be making less in a month than I do in two days at my current job!

Cool item of the week: "Windows Live Local" satellite pic of my future church and workplace (It's the churchy looking thing in the center.)
I'll try to save it and at the actual picture to the blog later.

Random side note: I got approached today by some kid in the mall trying to sell me magazine subscriptions. I was hurrying to work, but I didn't want to be rude so I let him talk for a few minutes. After a little bit though, I was ready to get away from this guy. Get this - he started his whole sales pitch with, "Mam, don't think I am flirting with you, but I need to talk to 20 friendly people today. You're friendly, right? I swear I'm not flirting, unless you want me to." Ummm... yeah, no thanks. I was about to turn and leave, but he pulled out a card to prove he was actually doing something (it was one of those programs that will give scholarships for a certain amount of magazines sold). He then randomly said "You have pretty eyes, you like magazines, right?" I told him I had to get to work and that I don't really like magazines anymore. Funny enough, he turned immediately and left. I think the main thing that struck me about this was that this guy thought he could sell magazines if he played the vanity card with me. I guess it would work for most in Bellevue (especially with younger women), but I am definitely not a girl that responds to anything like that. If it sounded like there was an intellectual reason to help, (like if he were going to an expensive school or something) I might have given him a little more consideration. Silly boy, not all girls are the same.



Now: yay for sleep.

What a few hours can do to a girl's schedule

Yes! The job is mine! My [now] boss is having me hit the ground running. It is interesting how the fact that I have a college education allows an employer to assume that I can learn things on my own and that I will be able to catch on quickly. In discussing how I will be trained, she basically said that she's just gonna have me sit a look at their guide (instead of reading it with me, which is how it is usually done).
I am now scheduled for the next week, and I'll be working 39 hours! CRAAAAAZY! I didn't have any job or obligations as of two days ago. I applied for this job on Tuesday and I got it by Thursday, with one very short interview. I love it!

Of course with my luck, one of my closest friends will be visiting Seattle this weekend. She called me about one hour after the job and asked me if I would be busy Saturday night. I, of course, will be scheduled until closing on Saturday and will have to work the following morning at 8:30am. There will be little time for sleep as it is, but I guess I will have to use the time I have and visit as much as I can. I will never miss an opportunity to hang out with a friend, especially with someone who is as important to me as K is.

I guess I'll be buying a lot of Rockstar energy drinks to get through the weekend. It's cool, they now have ones that are partially juice! (Though diet will always be my fave.)

Waiting for a phone call...

Today I went in for an interview for a potential summer job. I was actually really fun! The manager took a liking to me and told me she would like to hire me within 15 minutes. The only catch is that I can only be hired on as a temp in the position, since I'll be leaving mid-August for my year of JVC. She said she had to run it by her district manager before she could hire me, but said she wanted to hire good people - even if it is only for 10 weeks.
Right now I am waiting to hear from her. If this falls through, I am giving up on the retail world and will resort to applying at a temp agency.

It is exciting to think that I might actually have something to do soon.

I live in this state?

Beauty in small things

I took this picture at Snoqualmie Falls during my drive back home two weeks ago. It is my current computer background and every time I see it, I smile a little. (I do love flowers.)

Reading for pleasure?

I have finally finished my first book of the summer. Since I am not very well read in certain regards, I normally read the books my mother highly recommends (or whatever is lying around the house). It is so odd to actually have time to just sit and read. I think now that the shock of being a graduate has worn off, I am left with this revelation that I can actually read books that I like now!
This most recent read, "Three Weeks with My Brother" by Nicholas Sparks was actually quite enjoyable. The book is a memoir of a trip he took with his brother around the world, along with a recount of his experiences growing up. I was actually surprised by a lot of the book; you wouldn't think an author that most read in order to have "a good cry" would have such a colorful past. He's had his share of mountains and valleys in his life and has somehow managed to remain grounded and hopeful. This book served to remind me that everyone has their share of struggles, no matter how well life seems to be treating them. It also reminded me that, even though there will be those times that are sad and a challenge to get through, God is still there. I believe he is.
There's a lot about this book that I could get into, but I will refrain. I will just say that it was a good transition back into reading for me (and not for some random class).