Interesting Times...

I had two new experiences this week. One was bad, the other was, well, interesting.

First the interesting. I delivered a pizza to a man today who rode his horse up to my car. I gave him his order. I think I was making his horse a little nervous, though. Or it might have been my car's running engine. Interesting experience.

Also, my last paycheck bounced. Not sure how to react to that one. Well, anger is a given, but what else? Shock. Fear. I just got another paycheck. Is this one going to bounce, too?

Who knows.

Good Things/Bad Things...

I really would be okay with the good things happening by themselves sometimes. You know?

Oh well.

I came to Kanab for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. Along the way I stopped and visited a couple friends. I also went and visited my sister in law and stayed the night. And it's been fun visiting with my parents.

In the last couple days I've heard a strange knocking sound when I hit bumps in my car. So I took it in to see what it was and how much it would cost.

It's a strut. And it's going to be about $200 to fix it. And really, that's not bad, but I wanted to use that $200 for other things, so it's disappointing.

Oh well.

Mystery Gift Game...

Ehhh, why not?
My friend, Julie, posted this on her blog, and I thought it was a fun idea. Plus, I like getting mystery gifts. Well...I've never been given a mystery gift, but the premise sounds fun. AND, this year, my goal is to give all home-made gifts for Christmas, so this will give me some practice. Here are the rules:

The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog.The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!
Who's in?

Come on, give it a shot. I'm fairly creative....right?

It's Okay to Dream...

This is a reaction to my friend Julie's recent post. I was thinking of putting this in the comments, but it was just too long once I started thinking it through.

So here's the thing. In my first visit with the therapist I just saw recently, we discovered that I was afraid to dream, because I was convinced I only got one shot at happiness and I didn't want to waste that one chance, so I never took it. It makes sense, in a weird way, but it's certainly not healthy.

Even if it's a dream you know isn't exactly fulfillable, like, say, walking on the moon, it's good for you to imagine the experience. Dream it.

If you don't, you just get depressed and withdrawn and unhappy. And of course you're not going to be happy, you can't dream. Can't hope for a better tomorrow.

Dream big. Dream lots. Dream small, too. Maybe keep lots of folders filled with different dreams of differing magnitudes. Keep one for the dreams that you know you can accomplish. Check them off one by one. Accomplishing goals and dreams is a good feeling. Almost as good as the initial rush of "I really, really want to do that someday."

Got a dream?

Fascinations...

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be slain." G.K. Chesterton, as quoted in the prescript to Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

I love that quote. When I first read it, it resonated with me in an almost audible fashion. That is part of the reason why I love reading fantasy novels so much; you know that the hero will find a way to win. It's part of what makes reading books so safe and wonderful.

I'm doing well today. I've got three days off in a row. I got my federal and Arizona state returns already. I'm getting my car fixed tomorrow. Going to a book exchange today. Good things are happening.

I feel like my life might actually be moving in some sort of direction, rather than hanging around in a hold pattern.

I have some decisions to make and things to prepare for, but I feel like I can do it now.

And that's a good feeling to have. You know?

Some Days...

"I feel, every now and then, that I want to bite someone."

That's from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." Sung by Snoopy, it's all about wanting to give in to his animalistic nature and become a fierce jungle animal.

I don't necessarily want to be an animal, but every now and then, I just want to lash out at somebody or something.

It's probably due to internalizing everything. I don't enjoy making others suffer when I'm out of sorts, so I keep it to myself and slowly simmer in dangerous emotional juices. ( I think this is the first cooking analogy I've ever used. Go me.)

Anyway, the point, kind of, is that I'm tired of having a roommate and living in a tiny little box of a bedroom. I want my own place. I don't know if I can truly afford it, but I want to. I've found what seems like a decent deal. One bedroom apartment for $565 a month, which includes utilities and basic cable. It's close to where I work, which is a plus. And I think I can afford it and the other monthly bills I have. I think I would have to give up on having the internet at home, because I don't know that I could fit that in, but this place is also close to the town library.

Another thing to consider. Getting this apartment would mean giving up on the idea of finding a job that utilizes my talents better. But I'm okay with that, as I don't plan on being here after July of 2010. I hope to be in Grad school by then.

Am I rationalizing too much? Am I giving too much up? I don't know. But it feels like what I want, which is nice.

25 Things

This was a chain letter type deal from facebook. I figured if I was going to fill it out there, I may as well post to my blog. I'm not going to tag anyone here, because, well, I don't usually do that sort of thing.

Here you go, 25 sort of random facts about myself:

1. Above all else, I try to live by the Golden Rule, treating others with the respect and consideration I would like to be given.
2. I try to be honest and consistent in what I say and do.
3. The original 15 books of the Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum are probably my favorite books ever.
4. I almost always prefer the books to the movie.
5. The only exception is "A Series of Unfortunate Events."
6. I've almost worn out my DVD player. It's starting to make bad sounds.
7. I'm starting to write a piece of creative non-fiction in the style of Dr. Seuss. Yes, that includes illustrations.
8. I want to create my own webcomic.
9. I'm trying to learn to play guitar.
10. I miss playing the piano on a regular basis.
11. I collect toys.
12. I'm a huge fan of "The Muppet Show."
13. I consider myself more spiritual than religious.
14. As much as I enjoy Disney movies, I don't like how they generate some of their ideas.
15. I wear my heart on my sleeve.
16. I get addicted to new TV series' very easily, especially once they have a couple seasons on DVD.
17. I think I'm better at editing photos I've taken than actually taking the photos.
18. I don't like being in large groups of people, unless I can sit on the sidelines and just observe.
19. I really dislike being the center of attention.
20. I've learned to occasionally enjoy watching sports.
21. I'm starting to become better at standing up for what I want, and not giving in so easily to what others desire.
22. I think I'm finally starting to grow up a little.
23. I often prefer the fictional worlds I visit to the real world.
24. I cry at movies, books, music, plays, and other forms of entertainment. If it's emotional, I'll start to cry.
25. I'm actually starting to enjoy working at Domino's. Most days.