All I could think was "wow." The sheer amount of people waiting in line to get registered to be able to wait in other lines so they can then talk to some advisor who will tell them where to go and wait some more...boggles the mind. I don't remember waiting near that long when I was back in school. Granted, it was a lil' while ago and the planet's population keeps on goin'. Lotta students grow'd up in that time and here they are, college kids.
A is gonna polish off her associates degree and tackle that bachelor's this year. So that meant, waiting for 3 HOURS at her chosen local college to talk to an advisor. They gave us one of those vibrating squares you get at busy restaurants and sent us away to scour the campus-side in hopes of a rattling, blue light blazing coaster to come soon. It didn't. Like I said, it took 1+1+1 hours. That equals three. See, I went to school.
On the up side, I got a personal tour of the library and bookstore by A. She then got some beef jerky and cheese, I got a Milky Way Dark. Those are awesome. They didn't have Diet Coke. They had water - what?! - and Red Bull - huh?! - as the two dismal bevies of choice. I mean, yea, there were vending machines around, but I wanted to compartmentalize my purchasing experience into one fell swoop. Fiddlesticks! (A said she used to use that word. I thought it was cute and funny. Same time.)
Another up side? When we finally did get to the advisor, he informed A that she never really had a set degree plan set up at the school - which is required. She said she knew all along what she needed to take and just checked them off as she went. Sadly, universities and higher learning institutions rely on more than a student's spiral notebook checklist. Happily, they got her back on track. Degree up ahead!
Oh, and anyone following our charitable homeless outreach cause might be interested to hear that there is a new 4-yr degree offered that specializes in non-profit management. Sweetness, right? I know one young lady aiming to hang that degree on her wall. And one non-profit corporation very happy for her to do so.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Target in our sights
So the move approaches. Away from Dallas proper into the suburbs. And I'm excited about it. For one, there's nary a Jack in the Box near me that I know, and sometimes, I crave me some 2 tacos for 99 cents.
We grabbed E and J-Boy from A's parents' house yesterday*, where I was given arms and subsequently attacked by two knights thereafter. I held my own for a moment, then found that fending off two opponents - one with a sharp sword, the other with a sword and gun - was too much to handle. I fell victim to their clutches and was taken to a train station built by J-Boy. Apparently to await transfer to the dungeons...
However, I was sprung from the train car and we waved goodbye for the moment to A's mom, leaving to round up the other kiddos who were awaiting our arrival at a secret rendezvous point. We made the exchange with their dad and headed to - where else? - McDONALDS!!!
I know it's not the best for them, but it's not the worst either. And it's priced right and, come on, they have a playground. Duh.
The kids ran amok and A and I talked new bedroom with M. This time, she was going to get to have a say in what her room looked like. There was talk of Target and online searching. The ladies - now including J-Girl - and I also discussed upcoming birthday stuff and sleepovers and me hiding away from it all behind the closed doors of the master bedroom. Our new place of habitat has a lot of amenities to offer, some well-suited to the occasional thrown party.
We decided to table that discussion until further notice and skipped on over - not literally - to Target so M could get a first-hand account of what bedding goods were out there. Let me tell you, 7 kiddos all huddled around, or inside, a cart at Target...yea, we were a spectacle. I caught every variation of facial expression as we cruised the wide aisles. Some amused, some confused, some - for some reason - annoyed, but the outward annoyance was most likely an effect of an inner, personal annoyance cause. Anyhoo...
After Target and some small moving-type purchases by A and I, we loaded back up and took the kiddos back to the original rendezvous point for the drop-off. There, for the first time, I formally met their dad and we shook hands.
Nothing earth-shattering, but perhaps a start in the right direction.
(* Funny, reading this feels like having to decipher a military code.)
We grabbed E and J-Boy from A's parents' house yesterday*, where I was given arms and subsequently attacked by two knights thereafter. I held my own for a moment, then found that fending off two opponents - one with a sharp sword, the other with a sword and gun - was too much to handle. I fell victim to their clutches and was taken to a train station built by J-Boy. Apparently to await transfer to the dungeons...
However, I was sprung from the train car and we waved goodbye for the moment to A's mom, leaving to round up the other kiddos who were awaiting our arrival at a secret rendezvous point. We made the exchange with their dad and headed to - where else? - McDONALDS!!!
I know it's not the best for them, but it's not the worst either. And it's priced right and, come on, they have a playground. Duh.
The kids ran amok and A and I talked new bedroom with M. This time, she was going to get to have a say in what her room looked like. There was talk of Target and online searching. The ladies - now including J-Girl - and I also discussed upcoming birthday stuff and sleepovers and me hiding away from it all behind the closed doors of the master bedroom. Our new place of habitat has a lot of amenities to offer, some well-suited to the occasional thrown party.
We decided to table that discussion until further notice and skipped on over - not literally - to Target so M could get a first-hand account of what bedding goods were out there. Let me tell you, 7 kiddos all huddled around, or inside, a cart at Target...yea, we were a spectacle. I caught every variation of facial expression as we cruised the wide aisles. Some amused, some confused, some - for some reason - annoyed, but the outward annoyance was most likely an effect of an inner, personal annoyance cause. Anyhoo...
After Target and some small moving-type purchases by A and I, we loaded back up and took the kiddos back to the original rendezvous point for the drop-off. There, for the first time, I formally met their dad and we shook hands.
Nothing earth-shattering, but perhaps a start in the right direction.
(* Funny, reading this feels like having to decipher a military code.)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ding-dong, the Jeep is gone!
Sold the Jeep Wrangler on Sunday. Would've posted before now, but Sunday was crazy, Monday offered up a lovely migraine atop a large to-do list, which brings us to today and...
The sale. It was a snow day. All day Sunday, as many Dallas-area-ites may remember. Around here it wasn't Frosty-building snow, but enough to jar the bones when sitting outside for roughly 45 minutes desperately trying to get the stuck ignition to turn on the Jeep. The buyer was here. With his kid. Waiting. And the thing wouldn't budge. Remember what I said about tests...from above? Yea? Well, this was like a semester exam. Pass or fail type test. Of which, at first, I was suffering from major test anxiety. I didn't bring a pencil or a Scan-tron. I was doomed.
This was the buyer's second look at the Jeep. So we both knew that he liked it. No need to mess with it before getting down to business, right? Ugh. We signed over the title and strolled into the blizzard only to find that the ignition did not want to move - I kept thinking the Jeep was like "I'm not moving!"
Another annoyance in my mind was that we already signed over the title! Should he have a change of heart, this would mess me up in a domino-effect kind of way. You see, I had a one-week offer from CarMax that was about to expire the next day. They low-balled me real good, knowing the Jeep was worth more than they offered, but they had me over a barrel, which is where most dealerships like to have their customers. Easier to control the outcome that way apparently. So...
I had no where else to turn. I had listed the thing on several websites for weeks with zero response. On a final whim, I added it to a bunch of other stuff we were selling on CraigsList, nowhere near the auto section and - BAM! - multiple interested people. But back to...
...the CarMax deal. It was weak. But it was my only back burner option. And it was about to go bye-bye should this new sale go south, making me toss the signed/ruined title and order a new one - which would take days and days...far beyond the offer period I was given. The key had to turn!
And it finally did. But, only after I took a deep breath and left it to God. I no longer cared if this guy bought it. I was ready to give the man his check back, thank him for coming, apologize for wasting his time. It somehow was no longer a big deal to lose that money we really needed. In that moment...the key turned.
That was 45 or so minutes in the freezing weather. Both of us trying to get that key to budge. I'm just glad I decided to lower the price for the buyer, enough to where he said he couldn't pass it up.
It was sort of bittersweet to sell it. I've had it since my college graduation in 2003. But, after all the drama at the very end, I was pretty much glad to see it go. Especially to a man who knew Jeeps and was going to fix it up for his daughter.
I asked him to send me a picture of it when he's done.
The sale. It was a snow day. All day Sunday, as many Dallas-area-ites may remember. Around here it wasn't Frosty-building snow, but enough to jar the bones when sitting outside for roughly 45 minutes desperately trying to get the stuck ignition to turn on the Jeep. The buyer was here. With his kid. Waiting. And the thing wouldn't budge. Remember what I said about tests...from above? Yea? Well, this was like a semester exam. Pass or fail type test. Of which, at first, I was suffering from major test anxiety. I didn't bring a pencil or a Scan-tron. I was doomed.
This was the buyer's second look at the Jeep. So we both knew that he liked it. No need to mess with it before getting down to business, right? Ugh. We signed over the title and strolled into the blizzard only to find that the ignition did not want to move - I kept thinking the Jeep was like "I'm not moving!"
Another annoyance in my mind was that we already signed over the title! Should he have a change of heart, this would mess me up in a domino-effect kind of way. You see, I had a one-week offer from CarMax that was about to expire the next day. They low-balled me real good, knowing the Jeep was worth more than they offered, but they had me over a barrel, which is where most dealerships like to have their customers. Easier to control the outcome that way apparently. So...
I had no where else to turn. I had listed the thing on several websites for weeks with zero response. On a final whim, I added it to a bunch of other stuff we were selling on CraigsList, nowhere near the auto section and - BAM! - multiple interested people. But back to...
...the CarMax deal. It was weak. But it was my only back burner option. And it was about to go bye-bye should this new sale go south, making me toss the signed/ruined title and order a new one - which would take days and days...far beyond the offer period I was given. The key had to turn!
And it finally did. But, only after I took a deep breath and left it to God. I no longer cared if this guy bought it. I was ready to give the man his check back, thank him for coming, apologize for wasting his time. It somehow was no longer a big deal to lose that money we really needed. In that moment...the key turned.
That was 45 or so minutes in the freezing weather. Both of us trying to get that key to budge. I'm just glad I decided to lower the price for the buyer, enough to where he said he couldn't pass it up.
It was sort of bittersweet to sell it. I've had it since my college graduation in 2003. But, after all the drama at the very end, I was pretty much glad to see it go. Especially to a man who knew Jeeps and was going to fix it up for his daughter.
I asked him to send me a picture of it when he's done.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Biohazard at Brennan's!
Holy throw-up, Batman! That's what we are dealing with here. On a grand scale. First J-Boy, then Lil' A, then G, then J-Girl...the only non-infected so far are Lil' B, E and myself. M feels a little woozy - perhaps from the psychological fear of actually getting sick - and A is bed-ridden. It's a biohazard mess of epic proportions...
That was last night. Today, the clouds have parted a little. We see some major scientific breakthroughs and positive healthy signs. The boys say they feel fine and are adamant about saying their not sick at all. Lil' A is kinda mopey - but perhaps side effects of the virus, or just being anti-social. Could be one or the other. But...
A is still trapped in nausea land. Not a fun place. No rides. No games. Just pain. Sick, twisted pain. I got her some meds and we'll see what's what come a few hours. I made her some grub to build up her superstrength, but only time has the ability to tell...
tick, tock, tick, tock...
That was last night. Today, the clouds have parted a little. We see some major scientific breakthroughs and positive healthy signs. The boys say they feel fine and are adamant about saying their not sick at all. Lil' A is kinda mopey - but perhaps side effects of the virus, or just being anti-social. Could be one or the other. But...
A is still trapped in nausea land. Not a fun place. No rides. No games. Just pain. Sick, twisted pain. I got her some meds and we'll see what's what come a few hours. I made her some grub to build up her superstrength, but only time has the ability to tell...
tick, tock, tick, tock...
Saturday, January 8, 2011
"whet me wook!"
If you haven't guessed by the title, we have a new bit o' language of the E kind.
A and I were watching some Xbox happen upstairs as J-Boy, G and Lil' B stopped to look at an instruction booklet that came with the Lego Star Wars II game, and E - the curious dude that he is - wanted to "wook."
"Whet me wook," he shouted over and over again, until I began to repeat it and he gave us that grin.
And...as an added E bonus:
Pennies = little monies
Quarters = big monies
He keeps them in a little white box on the window ledge in my office. It's pretty cool. He's got like 15 little monies and 1 big monies in there.
A and I were watching some Xbox happen upstairs as J-Boy, G and Lil' B stopped to look at an instruction booklet that came with the Lego Star Wars II game, and E - the curious dude that he is - wanted to "wook."
"Whet me wook," he shouted over and over again, until I began to repeat it and he gave us that grin.
And...as an added E bonus:
Pennies = little monies
Quarters = big monies
He keeps them in a little white box on the window ledge in my office. It's pretty cool. He's got like 15 little monies and 1 big monies in there.
"Slight Judas"
Slight Judas: noun; may be used as a verb at times
A necessary evil, when at first glance, looks to be a roadblock on the path of your life, but upon second glance, has created more opportunity and paved the way for a better outcome.
* * * * *
Allow me to illustrate with a few examples. One definite, one assumed...
The definite. Years ago, my brother, a friend and I went apartment shopping. All three of us were working on Prison Break in the props dept and cash was a-plenty. We wanted a three-bedroom bachelor pad and we spotted the perfect spot: A new complex on Greenville Ave, our home away from work.
So we went in one day, under dressed a tad, but hey, we had the dough right? Well, the leasing people said they had no 3-bedroom apartments to rent, and that's only after they looked us up and down with a scowl as if we had brought in the stench that was there before we arrived.
Got the boot out of there. We just encountered a Slight Judas, although we didn't know it yet.
We then rolled over to another complex nearer downtown - one with the same owner as the Greenville Ave outfit - and they told us that, indeed, the apartments we were just denied did have 3-bedrooms. They just apparently didn't want us around. Nice. So...
Long story short (too late?) we checked out a loft building downtown called the Davis Building, where we ended up living for two years...and shooting a movie in that should soon - please, God, please - be hitting video store shelves and perhaps premium cable.
So, what appeared to be a kick in the proverbial stomach that was our lives, turned out to be a blessing.
And now, the assumed. This morning A wanted some coffee and suggested we hit up Mickey D's early and let M watch the kiddos a bit. I suggested that if we were hitting the road, then I wanted to munch at Jack in the Box. But, that's not a vital part of the story, just the set up...
So I've been trying to sell my Jeep Wrangler and had it parked out front all day yesterday. Well, that's a "no-no" around our neighborhood and our Mr.Wilson's we've been saddled with have been emailing our landlord about us violating the code. Which code? We don't know. And who cares really? Not us! Anyhoo...
So last night, I moved my Jeep back in the driveway, blocking our car. The very car we wanted to take this morning for out breakfast getaway. And as I hop behind the wheel of the Jeep to move it, the ignition sticks. As it has a few times in the past. But this time, it was like moving a mountain. And while I could've "mustard seed'd" the thing with a shot out to God...something told me that we were simply not meant to leave just yet. Stuck, victim to the cold morning air, with a Jeep blocking our way. A Slight Judas.
Turns out, however, that after abandoning the Jeep idea for the Expedition, we hopped on the road and saw I-30 backed up big time. Perhaps by a wreck that, had we left when we originally planned, we would be in. Or fallen victim to. It's uncertain, hence the "assumed" part.
So when you come across a Slight Judas (noun) or you get Slight Judas'd (verb)...don't sweat it. God has a plan.
A necessary evil, when at first glance, looks to be a roadblock on the path of your life, but upon second glance, has created more opportunity and paved the way for a better outcome.
* * * * *
Allow me to illustrate with a few examples. One definite, one assumed...
The definite. Years ago, my brother, a friend and I went apartment shopping. All three of us were working on Prison Break in the props dept and cash was a-plenty. We wanted a three-bedroom bachelor pad and we spotted the perfect spot: A new complex on Greenville Ave, our home away from work.
So we went in one day, under dressed a tad, but hey, we had the dough right? Well, the leasing people said they had no 3-bedroom apartments to rent, and that's only after they looked us up and down with a scowl as if we had brought in the stench that was there before we arrived.
Got the boot out of there. We just encountered a Slight Judas, although we didn't know it yet.
We then rolled over to another complex nearer downtown - one with the same owner as the Greenville Ave outfit - and they told us that, indeed, the apartments we were just denied did have 3-bedrooms. They just apparently didn't want us around. Nice. So...
Long story short (too late?) we checked out a loft building downtown called the Davis Building, where we ended up living for two years...and shooting a movie in that should soon - please, God, please - be hitting video store shelves and perhaps premium cable.
So, what appeared to be a kick in the proverbial stomach that was our lives, turned out to be a blessing.
And now, the assumed. This morning A wanted some coffee and suggested we hit up Mickey D's early and let M watch the kiddos a bit. I suggested that if we were hitting the road, then I wanted to munch at Jack in the Box. But, that's not a vital part of the story, just the set up...
So I've been trying to sell my Jeep Wrangler and had it parked out front all day yesterday. Well, that's a "no-no" around our neighborhood and our Mr.Wilson's we've been saddled with have been emailing our landlord about us violating the code. Which code? We don't know. And who cares really? Not us! Anyhoo...
So last night, I moved my Jeep back in the driveway, blocking our car. The very car we wanted to take this morning for out breakfast getaway. And as I hop behind the wheel of the Jeep to move it, the ignition sticks. As it has a few times in the past. But this time, it was like moving a mountain. And while I could've "mustard seed'd" the thing with a shot out to God...something told me that we were simply not meant to leave just yet. Stuck, victim to the cold morning air, with a Jeep blocking our way. A Slight Judas.
Turns out, however, that after abandoning the Jeep idea for the Expedition, we hopped on the road and saw I-30 backed up big time. Perhaps by a wreck that, had we left when we originally planned, we would be in. Or fallen victim to. It's uncertain, hence the "assumed" part.
So when you come across a Slight Judas (noun) or you get Slight Judas'd (verb)...don't sweat it. God has a plan.
Friday, January 7, 2011
the desert is like a beach, but without the water
Not that I'm sayin' A and I are like those people who stomped the sands with Moses for 40 years munching on Manna and waiting, waiting, waiting...but we're kinda feelin' like it.
And maybe our time to shine will come the day I stop complaining and we start listening with our ears, hearts and - oh wow, really? Nice timing...no lie, the boys just came in and E said...
"Kami pooped on the rug!"
...with a disgusted grimace. Ugh...hey, Moses...wait up, man!
* * * * *
And so...back to the desert. The endless marching. The "no end in sight." I've been making that journey for a long time. Just recently, I upgraded to Christian-level seating, but still, sand, sand and more sand.
Back to my line of thought: Perhaps once I stop shaking fists at the heavens, I can start shaking hands with success and contentment. No one likes a whiner, so why would God be any different?
And maybe our time to shine will come the day I stop complaining and we start listening with our ears, hearts and - oh wow, really? Nice timing...no lie, the boys just came in and E said...
"Kami pooped on the rug!"
...with a disgusted grimace. Ugh...hey, Moses...wait up, man!
* * * * *
And so...back to the desert. The endless marching. The "no end in sight." I've been making that journey for a long time. Just recently, I upgraded to Christian-level seating, but still, sand, sand and more sand.
Back to my line of thought: Perhaps once I stop shaking fists at the heavens, I can start shaking hands with success and contentment. No one likes a whiner, so why would God be any different?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)