Last year, there was a coffee shop in Minneapolis that we would often frequent on our study group nights that often showcases photography or painting by local artists. There was one photographer who took all these pictures of squirrels. Some were close ups...others were a little further away. None the less I couldn't sit directly under or across from the photos because the squirrels really freaked me out with their beady little eyes.
Then in August, Amy and I moved to Minneapolis. The townhome complex that we live in has a large squirrel population. I think it has something to do with the fact that some of our neighbors have squirrel feeders and such. These squirrels didn't seem to bother me when we first moved in. I actually found myself intrigued by this one albino squirrel that is always around. This changed however Wednesday morning when I was leaving for work and was nearly attacked by a squirrel (not the albino one).
He was standing outside my back door eating some food off a wrapper. When I opened the door I was startled because he was sitting so close to where I was standing. But then I just figured he would go away. But he didn't. Instead he got closer...and closer...and even closer. He was mere inches from my foot. I told him to go away but that just spurred him on, and he started to move his hand closer to my foot. I was so flustered at this point that I was struggling to lock my door, and was trying to decide if I should go back inside and wait for him to leave. But then I thought...what if he got inside? That would be even worse. So I finshed locking the door and ran (literally sprinted) to my car. I threw my stuff into the car and looked outside and he wasn't there. So I got out to scrape my windsheild and a few seconds later I looked over and there the squirrel was again. I verbally told him to not even think about coming closer...and this time he listened. But I am still kinda freaked out.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Almost Famous
On Friday night my church, Bluer, was featured on ABC Nightline as part of a segment looking at the Emergent Church movement. There were a few comments that made me chuckle, as I didn't really agree with them, however overall I would say it was a success. The clip is able to be seen on Bluer's website or by simply clicking here.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
I am embarrassed all over again
So many have requested that I share the car wash story with you. I am willing to do so, however, please realize that while I am typing this I am once again experiencing the "sick to my stomach" feeling that I experienced when the incident first occurred.
It was 2001. I had lived in Morgan Hill, CA for a little over a month. I was 22 years old. It was the first time I lived so far away from my parents, that I had to be the one to do the responsible thing and bring my car through the car wash. So that is what I did.
I went to the local Shell Station. It was located in a very busy parking lot. Across the parking lot was Target, and Albertsons (grocery store chain), to the right of the Shell Station car wash was the blockbuster. So as you may be able to picture this was a very busy place.
I had filled up with gas, and after I swiped my credit card it asked me if I wanted a car wash for 4 extra dollars. I thought it sounded like the responsible thing to do...so I pushed yes. I then took my receipt and got in my car and headed to the car wash. There were curbs on either sides of the drive way that led up to the car wash, and there was a rather sharp curve in the drive way as well. I had just taken this curve and was noticing that the car wash entrance door was down and that there was no attendant outside to open the door (there always had been at the local car wash my parents went to in Willmar) so I started to wonder, "How do I get the door open, no one knows I bought the car wash, was I suppose to go inside and tell someone?" I decided that yes, I should go inside and tell someone. So I started to back up.
Now anyone who knows my driving ability, knows that backing up has never been my strong suit. So when I started to take the curve backing up, I was not surprised that I went up the curb. I was however surprised that my passenger side back wheel was stuck in this nicely landscaped median. So much so that my car was tilting, which we all know is not good. So I went inside and told the person working there. He of course had no clue what to do. So after some discussion I decided that I would call AAA..and they assured me that they would send a tow truck.
However when I got to my car I soon realized that there was now a long line of people who were waiting to get their cars washed but they were unable to due to the fact that my car was blocking the narrow driveway. There were also people coming over from blockbuster and people going to and from Target/Albertsons driving really slowly so that they could assess the situation. A rather large man wearing steel toed boots was yelling at me...other people were shaking their heads..and well I just wanted to disappear. The steel toed guy then asked for my keys...I gladly gave them to him. He rolled down my windows, and then the large angry mob of men who were waiting to get their cars washed lifted my car out of the median.
It was then that the steel toed ring leader gruffly pointed out a silver box by the car wash entrance that I had not seen before. He then said...now punch in your code you have on your receipt and go through the wash. I was pretty much in panic mode at this point, so I got in my car and did just as he said.
Only I soon realized that I was getting wet. You see, I was in such a frantic mindset that I forgot to roll up the windows. So I finally got those closed and decided that their was no time to wait for the blow-drying of the vehicle so I sped away and vowed never to bring my car their again. As I was pulling away I saw the AAA tow truck turning the corner. Oops.
The sad thing was that I had no choice but to go to that gas station. The group home I was working at had a shell card, so that is where I had to go to fill up our van. I however like to think that the gas station attendant never recognized me because I never went back there with my car.
So there you have it.
It was 2001. I had lived in Morgan Hill, CA for a little over a month. I was 22 years old. It was the first time I lived so far away from my parents, that I had to be the one to do the responsible thing and bring my car through the car wash. So that is what I did.
I went to the local Shell Station. It was located in a very busy parking lot. Across the parking lot was Target, and Albertsons (grocery store chain), to the right of the Shell Station car wash was the blockbuster. So as you may be able to picture this was a very busy place.
I had filled up with gas, and after I swiped my credit card it asked me if I wanted a car wash for 4 extra dollars. I thought it sounded like the responsible thing to do...so I pushed yes. I then took my receipt and got in my car and headed to the car wash. There were curbs on either sides of the drive way that led up to the car wash, and there was a rather sharp curve in the drive way as well. I had just taken this curve and was noticing that the car wash entrance door was down and that there was no attendant outside to open the door (there always had been at the local car wash my parents went to in Willmar) so I started to wonder, "How do I get the door open, no one knows I bought the car wash, was I suppose to go inside and tell someone?" I decided that yes, I should go inside and tell someone. So I started to back up.
Now anyone who knows my driving ability, knows that backing up has never been my strong suit. So when I started to take the curve backing up, I was not surprised that I went up the curb. I was however surprised that my passenger side back wheel was stuck in this nicely landscaped median. So much so that my car was tilting, which we all know is not good. So I went inside and told the person working there. He of course had no clue what to do. So after some discussion I decided that I would call AAA..and they assured me that they would send a tow truck.
However when I got to my car I soon realized that there was now a long line of people who were waiting to get their cars washed but they were unable to due to the fact that my car was blocking the narrow driveway. There were also people coming over from blockbuster and people going to and from Target/Albertsons driving really slowly so that they could assess the situation. A rather large man wearing steel toed boots was yelling at me...other people were shaking their heads..and well I just wanted to disappear. The steel toed guy then asked for my keys...I gladly gave them to him. He rolled down my windows, and then the large angry mob of men who were waiting to get their cars washed lifted my car out of the median.
It was then that the steel toed ring leader gruffly pointed out a silver box by the car wash entrance that I had not seen before. He then said...now punch in your code you have on your receipt and go through the wash. I was pretty much in panic mode at this point, so I got in my car and did just as he said.
Only I soon realized that I was getting wet. You see, I was in such a frantic mindset that I forgot to roll up the windows. So I finally got those closed and decided that their was no time to wait for the blow-drying of the vehicle so I sped away and vowed never to bring my car their again. As I was pulling away I saw the AAA tow truck turning the corner. Oops.
The sad thing was that I had no choice but to go to that gas station. The group home I was working at had a shell card, so that is where I had to go to fill up our van. I however like to think that the gas station attendant never recognized me because I never went back there with my car.
So there you have it.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
It's been a while since I've played tag
I (and my blog) have been tagged by my friend Cristina. Not tagged as in graffiti (although she is an artist who could do graffiti)but tagged as in "you're it" kind of way. Since she has tagged me I must share 5 things that you may not know about me...and then I get to tag 5 other people. So here I go.
1. In grade school my friend Anne and I would schedule time in our days to get together and write songs. The first song that I remember us completing and then performing was a children's praise and worship song entitled "The Birds are Singing in the Morning". It required both of us to sing solos...and we still remember it and sing it to her 14 month old baby. Here are the lyrics...be ready to be amazed.
Anne (A): The birds are singing in the morning
Heather (H): Morning
Repeat 1 time
H: The crickets are singing in the night
A: Night
Repeat 1 time
Together: God made them so we should appreciate them. Appreciate them...Yeah!
They just don't write songs like that anymore.
2. As a child I refused to eat pizza. I hated it. In Jr. High I soon realized that eating pizza was imperative if I was going to belong to any social circle so I learned to eat it. I now have no problem eating it, but it still isn't something that I love, crave, or order at a restaurant (unless we are at an all pizza place or I am at home and am too lazy to cook so I need something to be delivered to my door).
3. The first play I was ever in was a reenactment of the first Christmas. I was in second grade so we did not audition for parts, instead our parts were chosen by having our names drawn from a hat. I played the part of the donkey that Mary rode on her way to Bethlehem. I wore an old tanish-brown velour sweatshirt that used to be my dads and my brother made donkey ears out of construction paper and then we glued them to a headband for me to wear. I played the part convincingly.
4. Due to a horrendous car wash incident in Morgan Hill, California I no longer go through car washes by myself.
5. I have recurring dreams where I find myself walking into the unlocked homes of people I don't know. Once I am in there, I am nervous that someone is going to find me and I am going to get in trouble. Inevitably at least one person is home, and I spend the rest of the dream trying to get out of their home without them seeing me. I then wake up all anxious. It should be noted that the majority of my dreams have soundtracks.
So that is it..now I get to tag 5 people
-Amy
-Anna
-Bridget
-Melody
and
-Kandi
You're it!
1. In grade school my friend Anne and I would schedule time in our days to get together and write songs. The first song that I remember us completing and then performing was a children's praise and worship song entitled "The Birds are Singing in the Morning". It required both of us to sing solos...and we still remember it and sing it to her 14 month old baby. Here are the lyrics...be ready to be amazed.
Anne (A): The birds are singing in the morning
Heather (H): Morning
Repeat 1 time
H: The crickets are singing in the night
A: Night
Repeat 1 time
Together: God made them so we should appreciate them. Appreciate them...Yeah!
They just don't write songs like that anymore.
2. As a child I refused to eat pizza. I hated it. In Jr. High I soon realized that eating pizza was imperative if I was going to belong to any social circle so I learned to eat it. I now have no problem eating it, but it still isn't something that I love, crave, or order at a restaurant (unless we are at an all pizza place or I am at home and am too lazy to cook so I need something to be delivered to my door).
3. The first play I was ever in was a reenactment of the first Christmas. I was in second grade so we did not audition for parts, instead our parts were chosen by having our names drawn from a hat. I played the part of the donkey that Mary rode on her way to Bethlehem. I wore an old tanish-brown velour sweatshirt that used to be my dads and my brother made donkey ears out of construction paper and then we glued them to a headband for me to wear. I played the part convincingly.
4. Due to a horrendous car wash incident in Morgan Hill, California I no longer go through car washes by myself.
5. I have recurring dreams where I find myself walking into the unlocked homes of people I don't know. Once I am in there, I am nervous that someone is going to find me and I am going to get in trouble. Inevitably at least one person is home, and I spend the rest of the dream trying to get out of their home without them seeing me. I then wake up all anxious. It should be noted that the majority of my dreams have soundtracks.
So that is it..now I get to tag 5 people
-Amy
-Anna
-Bridget
-Melody
and
-Kandi
You're it!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Celebrate good times, Come on!
Well my annual night of wearing a sparkley shirt and drinking cold duck has passed, and it was a success. I spent New Years enjoying the company of many friends, and playing with my new digital camera.
Then on the first my blog celebrated its 100th visit. The fact that I even figured out how to add the counter to my blog is reason enough to celebrate, but now that I have rendered 100 hits it is even more fun!
Another event to celebrate occurred today. I successfully led my first poetry lab group for 5 Emotional/Behavioral Disordered (EBD) middle school youth. Last semester I co-lead a group with my field instructor so I saw first hand what the group was about, earned about group dynamics, and the group formation process. However I had never facilitated a group all by myself with kids I had never met before. So I was really nervous for today, especially since it was going to be their first day back from winter break, and I lead my group first period. But the kids were great. They jumped right in, I couldn't have asked for better behavior, and when we did our final check in at the end of the group they all said that they had fun, and wanted to come back next week. So yeah! Last semester we had a wonderful first group too, but then the second group was crazy...so hopefully history won't repeat itself.
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