Habits are my favorite.
They often get a bad wrap because of the finger-nail biters, the thumb-suckers, the addicts, and the coaches.
However, for me to live a balanced life, i must be a person of habit. I discovered that in the last three weeks.
But I may take habits to an extreme. Let me explain: each of my days is planned out. until December.
Now there is some flexibility in my days in case a tragedy happens, or something comes up. But the day to day living is done. Planned. Expected. Routine. Some may say, boring, but i say prepared.
i LOVE habits.
And so, when my planning, when my habit, when my routine gets stirred up, i don't respond well. My entire life gets thrown off track because i rely on my habits (this is biblical, i think). This happened only 2 weeks into my school year rhythm when Columbia Traders decided to stay open late on Monday Nights to show Monday Night Football. You can imagine the ripple this caused in my life. I think this information corresponded with my (suspected) contraction of the swine flu (see earlier post). That's how poorly i deal with change. I got sick. physically. and literally.
And Mondays were the worst days to take away. I would have preferred any other day than Monday.
Mondays are/were my "personal" days. My "me-time." My be selfish so that you can give the rest of the week, day. Mondays usually consist of a great breakfast, crossing things off my to-do list, and a night cap of Starbucks doing some preferred reading and self-inspection. A take care of myself day.
When people ask to hang out on Mondays, i respond with busy-ness.
In reality, Mondays are about personal business.
To put it frankly, Mondays were the days i looked forward to.
But sadly, these activities were deferred by football. Upsetting, even though i like football.
(I like routines more than football? yes.)
And since my schedule shakeup, i have been nostalgic about my formerly Me-Mondays, remembering how they energized me for the week.
Which leads me to the title of this blog.
A Simple Joy.
I left early from work on Monday.
I didn't know what to do...
(because the extra time wasn't part of my new schedule),
so i did what i used to do...
I grabbed a book, headed to Starbucks, and did some self-inspection.
Isn't it funny how a simple Monday can prepare you for the week.
And how being sent home can be a good thing,
And how a routine can mean so much more:
I feel energized.
I feel healthy
I feel in rhythm.
This is going to be a good week.
I love routines.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Dirty Laundry
Right now,
My room
Stinks. Badly.
Not because of Bradley (roommate).
But because of me.
Which got me thinking why in the world my room stinks. Here are a couple reasons:
1. I have soccer practice 3 times a week. By the end of this rigorous run session, sweat expels from my body at an
exponential rate.
2. I took the youth group on a float trip. Who would have thought that the Illinois River hosted a fowl stench that
floated alongside our canoes.
And so, my room stinks. Badly.
Which got me thinking about doing laundry.
I like doing laundry. With total control- separation, detergent, temperature, and load size are at my discretion. When i do laundry, i like to separate my clothes into 4 loads: whites, blacks/navy's, bright colors, and "others." I am quite particular about this process. Then i go through the regular routine of wash, rinse, repeat. And then through the dryer for a cycle or two, ending at the folding table where I fold and refold until each item reaches its correct appearance, hanging up a few articles along the way.
And then i got to thinking. You can learn a lot about a person by simply "doing laundry" together. I'm not talking about when a person airs out their "dirty laundry." Or sharing a washer with someone's "delicates." I'm talking about how someone compulsively loads, dries, and folds their clothes. Laundry reveals the real person. True colors come out. They don't fade in the wash, but they brighten as nature is cleared of stains concealing personality.
I think i like laundry because it makes me transparent. There is nothing to hide, simply my neurotic, obsessive self concerned about every color and every crease.
My room
Stinks. Badly.
Not because of Bradley (roommate).
But because of me.
Which got me thinking why in the world my room stinks. Here are a couple reasons:
1. I have soccer practice 3 times a week. By the end of this rigorous run session, sweat expels from my body at an
exponential rate.
2. I took the youth group on a float trip. Who would have thought that the Illinois River hosted a fowl stench that
floated alongside our canoes.
And so, my room stinks. Badly.
Which got me thinking about doing laundry.
I like doing laundry. With total control- separation, detergent, temperature, and load size are at my discretion. When i do laundry, i like to separate my clothes into 4 loads: whites, blacks/navy's, bright colors, and "others." I am quite particular about this process. Then i go through the regular routine of wash, rinse, repeat. And then through the dryer for a cycle or two, ending at the folding table where I fold and refold until each item reaches its correct appearance, hanging up a few articles along the way.
And then i got to thinking. You can learn a lot about a person by simply "doing laundry" together. I'm not talking about when a person airs out their "dirty laundry." Or sharing a washer with someone's "delicates." I'm talking about how someone compulsively loads, dries, and folds their clothes. Laundry reveals the real person. True colors come out. They don't fade in the wash, but they brighten as nature is cleared of stains concealing personality.
I think i like laundry because it makes me transparent. There is nothing to hide, simply my neurotic, obsessive self concerned about every color and every crease.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Seemingly Pointless
This blog is simply because i told Sonja i was going to blog about it.
Please don't misunderstand this as a bash against Sonja, because it's not.
So, enjoy this ridiculousness and ignore the fact that Sonja is providing the action...
The other day, me and Sonja went to a wedding. Apparently, there are an abnormal amount of weddings to attend at Ozark because that is what people do when they get bored. Get married. Just kidding.
The wedding was a long time coming and it was great. (Congrats Lauren and Patrick).
But, anyway.
We were in route to our final destination (not the movie) when, while traveling, Sonja broke out the finger nail polish.
I had at least 2 issues with this:
1. It smells. And we were in a car. RULE: All scents should be avoided in an air tight automobile, including but not limited to the following: flatulence, perfume/Axe body spray, chopping onions, and finger nail polish.
2. It was raining outside. Therefore, rolling down the window (which isn't enjoyable at 75 mph anyway) was not
an option.
Now, I'm sure at that time i accumulated way more than 2 reasons why this was unacceptable behavior. However, that is unimportant to this story.
Oh, you thought my story was about Sonja putting finger nail polish on in the car? Ok, it kind of was, but it gets better. Next comes the part that i have the more serious problem with, because the stench eventually resided.
You see, Sonja did not just put any kind of finger nail polish on.
No, no, no. She used a very specific kind of polish.
Clear polish to be exact.
She painted her nails in a closed-off car.
with transparent polish.
Could this not wait? Was that clear coating crucial to the appearance of the outfit or something?
Am i the only one who thinks that is crazy?! Clear finger nail polish?! What's the point?
(And I'm not trying to be mean to Sonja, because her nails always look super nice.)
This is why i think that all products should be marketed to women.
Clear finger nail polish can be categorized alongside jewelry, flowers, and anything on sale--
--All things that make women happy but really serve no point in function and practicality.
Maybe i am unable to move across my male-oriented, pragmatic way of thinking to how a female functions and views the world. Either way, for the absurd amount of women that read my blog, clear finger nail polish is dumb.
Don't waste your money. Guys don't notice that your nails are glazed over.
If you want your nails to be shiny, put some glitter on them or something.
But don't buy clear finger nail polish.
Or if you can't escape the American trap of consumerism because you NEED that nail polish,
apply it in an open, breathable area where the stench gets lost with the pollen.
Please don't misunderstand this as a bash against Sonja, because it's not.
So, enjoy this ridiculousness and ignore the fact that Sonja is providing the action...
The other day, me and Sonja went to a wedding. Apparently, there are an abnormal amount of weddings to attend at Ozark because that is what people do when they get bored. Get married. Just kidding.
The wedding was a long time coming and it was great. (Congrats Lauren and Patrick).
But, anyway.
We were in route to our final destination (not the movie) when, while traveling, Sonja broke out the finger nail polish.
I had at least 2 issues with this:
1. It smells. And we were in a car. RULE: All scents should be avoided in an air tight automobile, including but not limited to the following: flatulence, perfume/Axe body spray, chopping onions, and finger nail polish.
2. It was raining outside. Therefore, rolling down the window (which isn't enjoyable at 75 mph anyway) was not
an option.
Now, I'm sure at that time i accumulated way more than 2 reasons why this was unacceptable behavior. However, that is unimportant to this story.
Oh, you thought my story was about Sonja putting finger nail polish on in the car? Ok, it kind of was, but it gets better. Next comes the part that i have the more serious problem with, because the stench eventually resided.
You see, Sonja did not just put any kind of finger nail polish on.
No, no, no. She used a very specific kind of polish.
Clear polish to be exact.
She painted her nails in a closed-off car.
with transparent polish.
Could this not wait? Was that clear coating crucial to the appearance of the outfit or something?
Am i the only one who thinks that is crazy?! Clear finger nail polish?! What's the point?
(And I'm not trying to be mean to Sonja, because her nails always look super nice.)
This is why i think that all products should be marketed to women.
Clear finger nail polish can be categorized alongside jewelry, flowers, and anything on sale--
--All things that make women happy but really serve no point in function and practicality.
Maybe i am unable to move across my male-oriented, pragmatic way of thinking to how a female functions and views the world. Either way, for the absurd amount of women that read my blog, clear finger nail polish is dumb.
Don't waste your money. Guys don't notice that your nails are glazed over.
If you want your nails to be shiny, put some glitter on them or something.
But don't buy clear finger nail polish.
Or if you can't escape the American trap of consumerism because you NEED that nail polish,
apply it in an open, breathable area where the stench gets lost with the pollen.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Swine Flu September
The month of Pigs.
September has been one crazy month. Since my last post, i moved into the dorms, started school, and also started soccer (club team). It has definitely been one crazy month: messy, smelly, and fat. One may say, Pig-like. Which brings me to my post: Swine Flu.
I am convinced that i was a victim of H1N1
Evidence:
Symptoms: fever, stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, and headache. This means i had all the major symptoms of Swine Flu, other than severe body aches.
Time Frame: Swine Flu lasts for about 8 days, the exact amount of time i felt under the weather. Coincidence?
Treatment: After 48 hours of symptoms, it is not necessary to see a doctor. So, i did not. They simply recommend that
you treat your symptoms. So i took an immunity booster and drank lots of water/juice.
To solidify my argument for my H1N1 experience, i will reveal that i came into contact with someone who had a confirmed case of swine flu.
Therefore, i survived the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic.
I wore the H1N1 truth on my sleeve for all to see so that they may beware of my contagious nature; however, no one took me serious. They simply brushed my illness off as another seasonal cold... in September... very usual... And now, many are feeling under the weather as a result of their ignorance. Truth: when i get sick, i really do get sick. Don't ignore the signs of swine flu.
So you may be wondering, was it actually swine flu? Does it matter? I was sick...
Also, i am convinced that my strain of swine flu mutated into a stomach flu that has ravaged my dorm floor that past week. Coincidence? doubtful.
Here is the absolute truth about swine flu: It is not the violent strand that it is made out to be. The only reason H1N1 gets the publicity it does, is the contagious respiratory nature of the disease. Fact: Most H1N1 deaths have been a result of complications resulting from a pre-existing condition. In reality, it kills LESS people on average than the regular seasonal flu strand. So while the media hypes the poser infectious disease of H1N1, i will be concerned for those who come down with the real dangerous disease: seasonal flu.
September has been one crazy month. Since my last post, i moved into the dorms, started school, and also started soccer (club team). It has definitely been one crazy month: messy, smelly, and fat. One may say, Pig-like. Which brings me to my post: Swine Flu.
I am convinced that i was a victim of H1N1
Evidence:
Symptoms: fever, stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, and headache. This means i had all the major symptoms of Swine Flu, other than severe body aches.
Time Frame: Swine Flu lasts for about 8 days, the exact amount of time i felt under the weather. Coincidence?
Treatment: After 48 hours of symptoms, it is not necessary to see a doctor. So, i did not. They simply recommend that
you treat your symptoms. So i took an immunity booster and drank lots of water/juice.
To solidify my argument for my H1N1 experience, i will reveal that i came into contact with someone who had a confirmed case of swine flu.
Therefore, i survived the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic.
I wore the H1N1 truth on my sleeve for all to see so that they may beware of my contagious nature; however, no one took me serious. They simply brushed my illness off as another seasonal cold... in September... very usual... And now, many are feeling under the weather as a result of their ignorance. Truth: when i get sick, i really do get sick. Don't ignore the signs of swine flu.
So you may be wondering, was it actually swine flu? Does it matter? I was sick...
Also, i am convinced that my strain of swine flu mutated into a stomach flu that has ravaged my dorm floor that past week. Coincidence? doubtful.
Here is the absolute truth about swine flu: It is not the violent strand that it is made out to be. The only reason H1N1 gets the publicity it does, is the contagious respiratory nature of the disease. Fact: Most H1N1 deaths have been a result of complications resulting from a pre-existing condition. In reality, it kills LESS people on average than the regular seasonal flu strand. So while the media hypes the poser infectious disease of H1N1, i will be concerned for those who come down with the real dangerous disease: seasonal flu.
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