lessons in geography

I recently took a trip with my mother. She won a major award for outstanding skills & work initiative through her company, so we accompanied 60 middle aged folk on an extravagant vacation. The first day the sponsors of the event decided to spice things up & play a few games, one of them was an American Airlines version of 'Jeopardy.' We were all a part of a team with everyone else at our table & one of the questions posed to my team went something like this: 'How many countries is American Airlines currently located in?' The answer choices were:

A. 129 countries on 6 continents
B. Every state but Georgia
C. 151 countries on 9 continents
D. Europe & the United States

Being at a table with nine travel industry professionals, I would have assumed they'd have a good handle on global geography. False. They wanted to answer C. The only problem with C is that there are only seven continents on Earth...we can't just make up two! Oh. My. Goodness. I'm going to blame it on the mimosas for breakfast.

confessions

I am bad with money. Seriously. I watched the movie 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' & felt like it was about me, except that I'm not dating any really attractive British men (unfortunately). It's almost humorous that the daughter of an accountant would be this horrible with money, but literally four days after being paid my account is totally drained & I have to wait until the fifth for my next chance to be responsible with my money.

Here's the part that sucks: it's not that I spend all of my money on stupid things, or don't understand the value of money--it's more that I just don't care about it that much. That may sound weird, but seriously--I would love to just be debt free & live simply, but if I can't even live simply now how will that ever be possible? I'm not motivated by money...I'm actually motivated by making people happy--perhaps there's an opening to become 'Bozo the Clown.' I spend my money on experiences, such as: dinner with friends, gas to go visit people, or drinks with the guys. It just disappears after a few days of social interaction...it's quite frustrating!

So...I will officially be looking for ways to better save. I know I've said that before, but it's encouraging to know I can still keep trying.

gone fishin' instead of just wishin'

Working at a music store has taught me more about men than I ever thought was possible. Before, I thought I was pretty fluent in 'male,' but I've come to realize I had only scratched the surface- talk about complicated! (Except that it's really only complicated because I'm a woman & apparently that's how we like things).

Last week I was helping a regular customer while bantering with a co-worker. I made the comment 'I'm a lover not a fighter' & my customer said 'I'm sure your fiance or husband loves that,' to which I just smiled & said nothing. Later I told my co-worker 'see my ring (worn on the appropriate finger) has done it's job'. he told me 'no...he was totally fishing'.

Fishing. There's a new one! See, here I thought I'd figured out a way to avoid awkward advances & I'm just making the game much more interesting. How annoying. Well, now that I'm wise to it all I figure it's time to bring in a story...perhaps I could be a real stinker & make it a familiar love story just to mess with them a bit.

big ben

I hate to follow up a serious blog with this, but I just couldn't resist...my life is too funny sometimes. Clearly I'm immature, but when a guy calls in asking for 'Big Bends Nut Sauce' (I heard 'Big Ben's') I just can't help but laugh...uncontrollably.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Sometimes I find that reading lyrics is extremely powerful. It's enhanced my life in many different ways. So here's one that has brought me into a deeper understanding on many occasions.

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
How pale Thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

be

I learned long ago never to plan life out because it always has a way of doing what it wants. Of course, I can adjust the course it's on from time to time, but the overall outcome can't be planned or manipulated.

Things happen.

People change.

The only thing I can really do is choose my attitude through it all- so here, in this moment, I choose to remember that in all situations...

'God is in it & God is good.'

I trust in every day that passes by I will be able to stand firm on Psalm 46:10, 'Be still & know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'