The Beauty and the Mess

Last week after Sunday School, a few of the girls and I were discussing the insanity of our society's work habits. One of my friends just had her annual evaluation, and was told that the only reason she didn't get a raise was because she didn't work enough overtime. As much as I wish that wasn't the standard, I know better. My friend flat-out told her boss that she has a husband and a life, and that if those things are keeping her from making more money, she will get by just fine on what she has. I'm so proud of her for saying that.

The whole conversation got me thinking about American vs. European work and vacation habits. I did a little research and found this article. It confirmed my thoughts and said everything I wanted to say, so I've pasted it below for your reading convenience. :) ( Work Week and Vacation Variances )

Maybe I should move to Europe. Or maybe I only find our society's obsession with career so annoying because I'm a woman. I know some women do well in the business world, but I personally am not made for this. Maybe men can take it all with a grain of salt. Thoughts?

I came across this here at the ModestyZone blog (which I think I heard about from Susan). I thought it was wonderful.

( Waiting for love: Be hopeful. )

Bad me: I just went to Target and spent $45, with my check card, because I don't have any more cash. :( The past month or so, I've been breaking envelope-system rules right and left. But I'm trying to stock up on the little things I need, like film and hair clippies, before the wedding. That way we should be okay for a while. Evan finally got a car insurance quote yesterday and it was pretty upsetting. However, this morning the guy called him back, and it turns out they were factoring in accidents the car had had before Evan bought it. Duh! So it should be slightly better, but still more than we were expecting. A lot of it is because of where we live. When I moved to my apartment from my parents' nice suburban house, my insurance bill doubled. (Of course, a year later my parked car was plowed into by a drunk driver, thus proving their point.) But if we lived in the suburbs we'd be paying way more in rent and gas, so it all comes out in the wash. Sigh.

Anyway, Target finally has those twenty-roll gift wrap holders. I've been waiting all year to get one. Tossing the gift wrap into Kathy's old closet isn't going to cut it anymore. :) Yay for organization. The other night, in a teasing attempt to woo me, Evan said, "I want to alphabetize something with you." Swoon!

Last night I dreamed that I went to visit Jen and Jason! Jen was really uncomfortable because of the baby, and we were trying to think of something to eat that would make her feel better. That's all I remember. :)

Tonight is our last premarital counseling session. We will give Robert our marriage license and he'll hold on to it for us. Yay! I may not have mentioned it, but one of my co-workers is also getting married, this Saturday. So it's all about the weddings around here. That reminds me, there's a bridal store in Germantown called All About Weddings. I never went to it, but I thought that was an interesting name for a store.

I've finally reached Anne's House of Dreams. I read the first few chapters last night in the living room while the guys were playing Halo, and almost started crying sappy tears right in the middle of their gunfire.

Has anyone read those Tara vs. Sarah columns on MSNBC? They're hilarious. Like a cross between Entertainment Weekly and the old "Even Stevens" segment from the Daily Show.

This time next week, I'll be off of work and at the church telling them where I want the fake trees to go. :D Woo hoo!

Wedding Week #1 begins. Excitement is in the air. Many things are in the works. Here are some important (to me) things that happened this weekend:

- Evan took me to see The Terminal. It was the best movie I've seen since Return of the King. I think this movie is to me what Lost In Translation was to a lot of people. I expected it to be good since it's Tom Hanks (the most brilliant actor of our time, in my opinion), but I didn't expect to be so moved and drawn into the story. This movie has so much to say about so many things- friendship, perseverance, patience, self-sacrifice, love. It's amazing. I already want to see it again. Of course, now that I've said this, you'll all see it and think it's boring. But to me it was really an experience.

- I bought my entertainment center at Wal-Mart. I ended up getting a different one than the one I had liked previously. It was $50 cheaper and much nicer-looking. We're planning to put it together tonight, but since there have been some problems with Kathy and Daniel's new apartment (basically, management didn't fix up the apartment after the last occupant), we might not be able to move things to make room for it. I hope we can, though. I'm antsy to get the process going already! New decor, yay!

- Both of my bridesmaid dresses are altered and ready to go, thanks to my mom. On a whim, she also made me a skirt in about ten minutes while I was standing there. I'm wearing it today. It's fuschia, has yellow and white flowers on it, and looks like it came from a store. She has an amazing talent. Too bad none of it rubbed off on me. :P

- Most exciting: Casey mentioned after church last night that someone had, without her knowledge, submitted an article she'd written to several Christian magazines- and one of them had accepted it. She was like, "Yeah, you've probably never heard of it...it's called...Relevant?" Of course I went nuts and started exclaiming about how I link to Relevant, and have thought about submitting something to them but have no idea what to write about. She was really flattered that I thought it was such a big deal. I mean, how exciting is that? I told you Casey was cool! :D Anyway, here's her article. It's on "The Venus Flytrap," on which topic she's developed a seminar and has taught it at summer conference for two years. It's geared toward women and is kind of blunt, just so you're aware.

( Some very special pictures. )

When I came into work this morning I was greeted with sad news. My boss's mother has had a serious stroke. Right now her recovery is iffy. I'm really worried about my boss- she is very close to her parents. So things are quiet and serious around here today while we wait for more news. I also feel sad/worried about some other things. I should be happier. Let's get happy:

- My back is feeling a lot better!
- I came across an excellent wedding planning book at the bookstore. I can't use it, but I wanted to reference it for you brides-to-be. :)
- Here's an accidental laugh-fest: beauty.about.com. Some of the actual names of the how-tos: "How To Apply Makeup for the First Time Over 50" (because so many women are introduced to makeup during middle age), "How To Slow Down Aging With Bananas" (what about cucumbers?), "How To Create A Hairstyle Perfect For Summer Flirting" (not for use during winter flirting).
- I got my Ouidad sampler pack in the mail yesterday! Yay for new curly hair products.
- My tub has been unable to drain for two days. I'll make this happy by hoping that the plumber will fix the problem today. It's 37 degrees, so I cannot bathe outside in a stream like the pioneers.
- Apparently, churches are finally taking notice that not everyone is getting married. This article isn't exactly cheery, but it's encouraging and I wanted to share.

In even more random news, I am forced to admit that I had never heard "Hey Ya" until about a week ago. Now it's all over the radio and I have to listen to Evan intone "You know what to doooooo" constantly. :)

Now is the time on Sprockets when Brenda posts.

I'm only going to say one thing about it being 9/11: I was very touched by the children reading names at the memorial this morning. One of the girls, who was interviewed on the Today show this morning, has organized a sort of art therapy session for all the children of the victims. I thought that was a really nice idea.

Oh, and since a lot of you are new to the friends list in the past year, here's my where-I-was story if you're interested.

Last night I was home alone, practicing my flute, when a strange man came to the door. I didn't answer. After a couple of knocks he went away, but I was freaked out. I called Evan and talked to him until I felt better. Then Jessica called, and I talked to her until my phone died. It was a good wake-up call to make me wonder what I'm thinking, planning to live alone again. It's weird; I never felt afraid in the apartment before Kathy moved in, but ever since that guy hit my car, I'm incredibly nervous being there alone. There are many things I don't want to be alone for: war, bad storms, roach discoveries, strange phone calls/people at the door, the aftermath of scary movies. What am I going to do once Kathy's gone? Cling to the cat and pray?

The good thing is, Evan really wants to move into my apartment complex. Ideally the apartment across from mine, which has been vacant since March. This can't happen until he has a job, which is all the more motivation for him to get one. We're having a good time planning our Friends-like existence: I'll cook for him occasionally, he'll let me watch his cable and use his DSL whenever I want. :) Anyway, the chances of him getting that apartment are slim, but I think he could get into the complex. Then the alone point would be moot because I'd have a neighbor friend for protection and companionship. So we'll see what happens there.

( Friendationship? )

Hello. I ate too many jelly beans. I want to go out and run a few laps now.

I just bought the new Derek Webb CD, since my mom gave me some money to buy a CD, for my Easter present. I also went to the bookstore to get the third Princess Diaries book- it's now out in paperback. And I finally got a small camera bag (on clearance) that can hold my digital and regular cameras. I'm trying not to feel guilty about spending all that money.

Tonight is Debra's last spring concert, so I'm going to that tonight instead of tutoring.

( The Collaborative Jessica Survey )

This article just makes me feel sick inside. And scared. After reading it, I have decided that my future children are not going to public school. That settles it for me. :P If you decide to read it, be aware that there's some disturbing stuff mentioned...but I think awareness of this is important. My former college/career minister used to say that homosexuality was going to be the next big persecution issue for Christians. I agree with him more and more each day.

Happy Good Friday, everyone. I've never liked calling it Good Friday. It's such a sad day.

Kathy sent me this article. I still can't believe this really happened. It's like Cast Away and Pearl Harbor meets real life.

I went to communion service last night, and we had pie afterward. Then I came home and watched Friends and Good Morning Miami. (I also taped Scrubs, but I haven't watched it yet.) I never thought it would happen, but I'm now firmly in the Rachel/Joey camp. They so need to be together. Who could resist such a sweet guy? Sigh. :)

I was feeling upset and frustrated last night, and then I listened to "Walk On" and felt a lot better. I think it's my new theme song. Bono always knows the right thing to say. :)

lunadomai made this icon for me!