Summer family

Speaking of Southwind, here's the best picture of the 2005 summer interns.

Near Southwind

So this happened a couple nights ago about a half a mile from where I spent my summer. Yikes!

Oh the girls of Kansas!

KANSAS GIRLS:
Three men were sitting together, bragging about how they had been giving their new wives duties. The first man had married a woman from Colorado, and bragged that he had told his wife she was going to do all the dishes and house cleaning that needed done at their house. He said that it took a couple of days, but on the third day, he came home to a clean house and the dishes were all washed and put away.

The second man had married a woman from Oklahoma. He bragged that he had given his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. He told them that the first day he didn't see any results, but the next day it was better. By the third day, his house was clean, the dishes were done, and he had a huge dinner on the table.

The third man had married a Kansas girl. He said that he told her that her duties were to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see anything. The second day he didn't see anything, but by the third day most of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye, just enough to fix himself a bite to eat, run the vacuum, do a load of laundry, load the dishwasher, and go out and mow the lawn.

Aaahhh, a Kansas girl!

february eleventh

What do you get for the boy who wants a Major League Baseball Magazine and shrimp for his birthday?

I should be used to it by now, but I know that come Feb. 11, any year, the main course will be shrimp. And honestly, I never like it; nor do I eat it. Even our evening dinner on the porch of the Culps' house this summer wasn't enough to get me to eat anything that swims or lives (or has swam or has lived) in water for extended periods of time. I did eat shrimp at their house (and three types of crab), but mind you, they live in Florida where that stuff comes fresh.

I wondering if I really know how to celebrate birthdays. What can I do that will cause him to feel really special? like he's the most important person in the world? I didn't know that my own birthday was cause for celebration until I started working at the Good Book Store. How do I recognize his in the same way? I think it comes down to loving him as I always have. He's special everyday, not only on his birthday.

But tomorrow is d-day, and I'm $80 short on the gift I really want to get him. So I'll stick with the MLB mag. HBS!

effectiveness

That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledge of every good thing that is in you. Philemon 6

guilty

I recently commented on a friend's page asking why he never writes back. I worked with him at my summer internship and even before that. I haven't heard from him since I left Florida until the other day when he replied with this introduction:

"Subject line: My bad"
"You mean to tell me that we were supposed to keep contact even after we left Southwind. That is such a foreign concept to me. The reason I haven't written back is because I take joy in just reading what is going on in your lives, such as your story about the funeral many months ago. Honestly, it is a selfish characteristic of mine in which I leach off your lives but fail to reciprocate and inform you of all the details of me. Thank you for your gentle reminder that friendships are not a one way affair."

I have some thoughts in response to his comment. First, I was unbelievably excited to hear from him and what he's been doing since August. Second, I think the word choice of "leach" was very strong, cutting right to the matter. In fact, it slice right to my third comment of how much I can relate to his comments because I myself can be a "leach" at times. For me, excuses come in the form of work and school. But relationships are reciprocal and my friend, though he is right, should not feel bad that he has not been the best at reciprocating them. I, myself, am not so great at it. Thank God and Greyhound for honesty. And for responses.

no readers

I am sure that all of my readers have since found more facinating blogs (or perhaps more consistently posted to). But that's ok with me. I enjoy reading others' blogs, too.

Yesterday, I got my birthday present in the mail from France. Sure, it's a couple months late, but late is better than never. (Though I don't know how to balance said theory with my alternate theory on tardiness: If you're already late, why hurry?) Anyhow, the gift included unmeltable chapstick (miracle of all miracles) and two chocolate bars. The chocolate is great, but better than that - the chapstick is red! As any reader can tell from my profile, red is my absolute favorite color!

So the point of my post: my lips are prepared for the cold Kansas winter. (Though the temperature outside today is 55 degrees.)