abigail annie

my friend says (writes) it better

2011-10-11T21:40:00.003-04:00

I have spent the last couple weeks tossing around some thoughts for another blog post about Ethiopia. To say I am struggling with putting thoughts into words would be a gross understatement. So, I am going to list a few things that I keep coming back to, and then give you a link to the blog of my friend Amy. She is the one that invited me on the trip in the first place, and as a bonus, she is an amazing writer. And, I don't say that lightly...

Thoughts:
1. Our money goes SO far. We paid rent for year for 4 of the boys that live at the dump so they can move to a house, bought a fridge, replaced a roof, paid schooling fees for several children, clothed and fed 14 boys, paid office rent for a year for Yemamu and Sisay, and a few other things I am not currently remembering...all for around $1500.

2. We now have friends in Ethiopia that are doing amazing things, and it's so easy to support them, both financially and through prayers and encouragement. They are so hungry and eager for knowledge and desperate for prayer support.

3. So many of these people truly have nothing. No food. No home. No money. No hope. Nothing. Yemamu and Sisay are actively working at bringing hope into the lives of these people. It was truly humbling to watch them. And, it was easily the biggest thing that I took from this trip.

4. I want to do more. Feeding people for a week, caring for wounds for a week wasn't enough. I find myself thinking about future educational pursuits in the context of clinics overseas. What would be the most practical? I don't know what path I will be walking down for a grad degree, but my perspective is changing. It feels good to be dynamic.

5. Check out my friend's blog. She is eloquent, thoughtful, and provoking. Not to mention completely awesome. Amy's Blog

Ethiopia

2011-09-26T19:28:00.005-04:00

I have been back from Ethiopia for a week. I have been waiting for the right words to come to mind and travel down my fingers and type themselves out into a coherent, meaningful blog post. Evidently, that is not going to happen, or at least not yet.

In a lot of ways, my brain is still processing. Thank goodness for being able to have this experience with a friend Amy, who has become an ever-so-much-dearer friend in the last few weeks. It also helps immensely having a boyfriend that grew up in a third-world country. I've been told the processing takes a while and has different stages....and I am a believer.

So, my plan is to blog in pieces.

Here's the piece for today. Yemamu and Sisay.

These two men blew my mind. I have never in my life seen two people completely embody the heart and spirit of Jesus as these two have. Yemamu and Sisay spend their waking hours talking with people the people of Korah, going to their homes, meeting with them, hearing their stories, shedding tears with them, walking beside them, learning what their needs are (both physical and spiritual), and then spend every effort and energy and dollar they have to meet the needs they see. (They have been working for the last year to start an NGO, a feeding program, for 60 kids. They will feed them twice a day, every day. Their vision for the future of this program needs it's own blog post).

These two men have grown up in Korah. They both lived in the trash dump for several years of their adolescent lives. And now, by choice, they are staying in Korah. They spend their lives walking beside the least of these and loving them as Jesus does. It blew my mind to see how well they "get it." And they don't just get it, they are doing it...everyday. And I am jealous. They are loving their neighbor everyday, all day. They live in a community in the truest sense of the word. They are making a difference - a marked, huge, life-changing difference in those around them as they love like Jesus loves. Many of these people have nothing. They scavenge at the trash dump on a daily basis to eat, find things to sell, etc. But, Yemamu and Sisay are giving them something they never thought possible - hope.

I don't know how to do what they are doing. But, I am in awe. I am challenged.

Awake and Alive Give Away!

2011-08-24T11:54:00.003-04:00

Check out my friends' blog page Awake and Alive, a non-profit ministry dedicated to "move individuals and communities from complacency to vibrancy, replacing a routine existence for a passionate and meaningful one in which people look beyond themselves to assist the poor, distressed, and underprivileged in the world around them."

They are starting to do amazing things and I can't wait to see what God has in store for them. I can only imagine what God will bring into the lives of those that desperately want to serve Him and be the hands and heart of Christ! Blessings to you, Danielle and Jolene!

another fabulous thing about Colorado

2011-08-09T01:07:00.001-04:00

If you leave marshmallows out, they get stale way faster. Who doesn't love that?

mouse to mice

2011-08-05T04:46:00.002-04:00

So, some of you know that I have had a little bit of a mouse problem in the apartment. It has not been one of my favorite things. I chronicled the first mouse situation mostly on Facebook, but felt this second run-in deserved an entire post.

The first mouse was warned with a couple traps that he managed to cleverly evade. He taunted me a few times running in and out of his hiding place while I watched from my couch. But, on the third trap attempt, he did succumb to death-by-trap (I might be willing to die for a little feta myself).

However, tonight I was sitting on the couch and I see ANOTHER dare-devil mouse running around the kitchen. Only this mouse acted like he owned the kitchen...not skittish at all, just running around eating crumbs like he was at a mouse buffet. I watch him...I actually got up and moved into the kitchen and he just kept going about his business. He didn't hide until I turned the light on. And at this point I am a little panicky because...how many mice are there and where are they coming from. But, I got out the rest of my traps and and set them with some very nice little Havarti cheese (much too good for a mouse, but that's what I had). I turned around to update my Facebook status with the latest mouse episode ....and SNAP. I jumped completely out of my skin and practically hit my head on the ceiling and my heart stopped for at least 5 beats. And when I turned around I was in time to see the mouse twitch and convulse for about 30 seconds before he was completely dead. So, naturally, I had a mild melt down for a minute, and called Yemi and left a slightly crazy voice mail. I had done pretty well at being mouse-killer extraordinaire, but that kind of pushed me over the edge just a little.

Obviously, the next rational step was to head to Walmart at 1am because I wasn't going to be able to sleep anyways. I got some more traps, some D-Con, a staple gun, staples, wire mesh, a swiffer, dry clothes for the swiffer, and wet clothes for the swiffer. I came home, and there was a SECOND dead mouse in another trap. And now I am on the verge of a serious break down and trying not to freak out because I am a capable adult and have to deal with my own mice situation now, evidently. I strapped on some gloves (thank goodness I am a nurse and have a small supply of medical gloves at the ready) and disposed of the two dead mice. Then I dry dusted my kitchen floor, wet mopped my kitchen floor, set some more traps (almost lost my finger a couple of times), and pulled out everything under my sink to manage the open little area where all the pipes come in. And, of course, I got the wrong staples for the staple gun, so I had to make another 2am trip to Walmart to remedy that problem. But then, I managed to cut the wire mesh screening and staple gun it (in about 50 places...I'm sure my neighbor downstairs wants to kill me) to the bottom of the cabinet and zip tie (thank you Dad for instilling in me the importance of having zip ties at the ready, because they work in almost as many situations as duct tape) the top of the screen together around the pipes and then place D-Con in the corner, just to make sure I covered all my bases. And it's now 245am and I feel a little too wired and a little too creepy crawly to actually go to bed, and my nerves are a little frazzled at the moment.

And my window air conditioner that I am sitting next to just sounded like it exploded and shot little chunks of ice at me. So, my heart has stopped at least 3 times tonight, and I kind of feel like I could throw up a little.

Anyone have an extra cat lying around?

my ducks are crooked

2011-08-01T20:12:00.002-04:00

I like to have all my little ducks in a row. All the time. When I have things on my to-do list or or loose ends just hanging out there, it drives me crazy. At the moment, I have several duckies that are out of line, and I am working to convince myself to just let it go and trust that it will work itself out.

One duck is my Ethiopia trip. I am waiting, less than patiently, for news and updates and decisions. It's all pretty much out of my hands at this point, and I just have to sit and wait and pray. I'm not especially good at any of those three things.

Another duck is work stuff. They need SO many documents and tons of information and you can't do this until they get that and this and the other thing. So, it's kind of a juggling act, and right now I am waiting for either A)my CO driver's license to come in the mail or B)my renewed passport to come in the mail before I can be officially hired and actually start orientation.

My third out-of-line duck is budget and finances. I am trying to get everything switched from one bank account to another bank account, pay off my car, waiting for a check to appear in my mailbox, waiting for funds to get transferred over, worrying about bills, groceries, scrubs for work, and everything else all at the same time.

My last duck is scheduling work and trips and fun and orientation and everything else that pops up in the meantime. I like to have things planned out and marked down. I like to know what I am doing for the next month and get things all settled. I am trying to work out a couple important trips at the same time as starting a new job. Not usually the best plan, but they are kind life-altering little ventures, so ya know....

My ducks are not cooperating at all. I am discovering that I might have touches of OCD...my boyfriend emphatically agrees with me (as I am constantly fixing his watch if it's not COMPLETELY secured in every way the manufacturer intended or turning off the radio if there's a slight buzz that no one else can even hear).

And as I was driving home this afternoon and trying to calm myself and not worry about all the rampant ducks flying all over the place when they should be sitting calmly in a dignified row, I couldn't help but think that God was just looking at me and chuckling and telling me, "Child, chill out. Have I left you hanging yet? Have you wanted for anything? Do you think I am confused or worried about everything that you need and where I want you to be in the coming weeks? Just chill. I've got this. For you are mine and see you and know you. I've got it, so you can let go. Trust me." So, I am trying to just let it go. Trying.

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

A Few Things I Have Learned About Colorado Springs

2011-07-21T15:16:00.003-04:00

So I have been in Colorado Springs for about two weeks now. And there are a few things I have learned very quickly...

1. The weather is just as fickle as it is in northern Indiana. It can be 95 and sunny one minute and then full out storm two minutes later and then sunny again two minutes after that. And the cycle can repeat several times throughout the day.
2. The storms here are AWESOME.
3. Baking is just not the same. For as mountainous as the area is...the cookies are just as flat. It's depressing.
4. I might be out of breath at any given time for any length of time. I might be working out or I might just be driving or sitting on my couch, but I have to concentrate on deep breathing for a while.
5. There's no humidity...and I love it!
6. The raindrops here are freakin HUGE. It's like a small pond in every drop. One drop can drench your whole head. (that might be an ever so slight exaggeration, but you get the idea)
7. The sun is way closer. So, we are at about 6,500 feet of elevation, sometimes closer to 7,000, and it makes a serious difference with relation to the sun. My lily-white skin is tan. I have not laid out; I have not gone tanning. I have simply walked in and out of buildings, stores, to and from my car, and my skin is noticeably more tan. Crazy.
8. Everyone wants to visit you when you live in fun place. Bring it on!
9. The people are super nice. Mostly because everyone else recently moved here, too! (I think 90% of the people I have met so far have moved to the area within the last two years...everyone wants to make new friends!)
10. It doesn't feel quite like home yet, but it has definite possibilities!

That's the plan, Stan

2011-06-17T01:17:00.002-04:00

Just a quick update for anyone who ever checks this blog anymore. I have been slightly more than delinquent in my attentions to blogging. What can I say, nursing school can kind of put a cramp in your, well in everything.

So here's the deal. I graduated in May, took my boards this past week and passed those (thank goodness that's over), and am finishing up a few more weeks of work in the NICU, where I have worked for the past four years.

On July 1st I will start my journey westward and land in Colorado Springs at some point on the 2nd. I have an apartment all lined up and waiting for me (pictures will be posted at a later date for those who care). It's a very small one bedroom, but I am getting a seriously good deal on the rent and utilities. Seriously.

I don't have a job yet, but it will come. And, if not, then I can be a pretty fabulous server. I have lots of experience.

Hopefully more updates and some pictures will be added soon!

the purse saga

2010-08-10T00:26:00.003-04:00

My name is Abbey, and I am a shopaholic.

My friends and family know this little fact about me well. It's a part of me that I used to enjoy and indulge. However, currently I am trying a new little technique....self-control. It's been rough, people. I am a born shopper; I crave it, daydream about it, make plans and lists about all the fun things that I am going to purchase. I spend hours out scouring the mall and other various stores and snatching up whatever tickles my fancy. I scurry home with all my newly purchased treasures and take them out of their bags, remove those pesky tags, and lie them out on my bed or couch and just take time to appreciate them for a while. This routine will continue anywhere from two to around a dozen times before I can either convince myself to take things back or rationalize my way into keeping them. Obviously, I have a sickness. Good news: I know I am diseased!

So, I have been working, seriously and intentionally working, on being much more responsible with my finances, being less materialistic, and more focused on the important things in life - which is very easy to do for a short period of time...and when there isn't the sassiest little black GUESS bag you ever did see staring you straight in the face.

I had to go to TJ Maxx to look for a baby gift for a friend - a needed and legitimate purchase. I got approximately 2.5 steps into the store when my eyes fell on a super cute and oh-so-lovely GUESS bag that was perched on a display table. It was calling to me. It wanted me to take it home; I could feel this. I walked over, picked it up, unzipped it, caressed it. I loved it. It loved me. But, I was determined to be good. So, I put it back. And then promptly picked it back up. And then put it down. And then picked it back up and walked away....towards the shoes. I spent the next 30 minutes picking up a few more things: clearance sandals, a candle, a killer pair of shorts, and I did eventually find the baby gift that I needed in the first place. I then spent the next 20 minutes walking around trying to decide what I was going to take home and what I was going to put back and creating a pretty convincing argument for both sides of the question.

I ended up taking it all up to the counter. I'm weak.

The cashier starts to ring up the items, while my stomach is in knots and my conscious is super crazed with guilt. And then the cashier realizes that she forgot to sign in to her terminal, so everything must be re-rung. At this point my conscious starts to win out.

Me: "You know, I don't think I want those shorts after all."

Cashier: "Ok, no problem."

Me: " And the candle can wait, and never mind about the shoes."

Cashier: (funny sideways look) "Okaaay..."

Me: "You know what, forget the purse too. Just the baby blankets. I just want the baby blankets. Just do it quick" (in a near panic to make the correct decision and get out as soon as possible)

Cashier: (now thoroughly annoyed) "Just the blankets." (and now she thinks I am a total lune because I look like I am about to have a panic attack right then and there or maybe just break out in a dead run out to my car).

I did manage to purchase only the blankets and leave everything else in a heap at the register. However, I spent a good portion of the rest of the afternoon in a mental battle with myself over whether or not to go back and grab the super cute and sassy GUESS bag or not, followed up by a session of berating myself for being so superficial and ALL CONSUMED WITH A SILLY LITTLE PURSE.

The story should be done there, but no, that would be too easy. I decided to return the blankets the next day. As I am on my way to the store, I am praying, desperately praying, that the purse will have been snatched up by some other savvy shopper, and I won't even have to deal with it's "come hither and purchase" call to me. But no, that would also be too easy. It was there. All new and shiny and glorious. I had to walk over to it, touch it, unzip it, caress it, hold it, put it on my arm, love it for one more second. And then I snapped. I got completely and totally irritated with myself and my weak character and my superhuman strength shopping genes. I slammed the purse down, walked over to the counter, returned my blankets, and walked straight out of the store without even a glance at the devil purse. Victory! ---at least this time.

Abbey: one
GUESS bag: zilch

I am by no means cured, but I am working on it. I'm a work in progress. It will eventually get easier, right? Or maybe I will get stronger. Or maybe I will just have to stand on a chair in the middle of Macy's and yell, "Bright shiny new stuff, YOU HAVE NO HOLD ON ME." And then, security will escort me out of the store, and I won't have to deal withe the Fossil watches or the GUESS bags, or any other pretty sassy thing that beckons to me.

let time linger

2010-06-14T22:01:00.006-04:00

In the last ten years of my life, I can say there have been possibly three times that I have been fully content. It doesn't happen to me often. I know this is a flaw; I am aware.

I have always been impatient; I have always sought instant gratification. I have always been counting down days for something - something better, something more fun, something that was not what I was doing right then, something different. The last decade of my life has been an experience of impatiently pushing for the next best thing, a better time in life, a stronger feeling of contentment and peace. I have spent 10 years yearning for time to pass quickly, wishing to just get through this part and on to the next phase, which surely must be the life that I have been wanting. Or, at the very least, just get through life in general; just get to the end.

But something in me has shifted this last year. I feel a peace and contentment with where I am in my life and what I am doing with my life, which is a new neighborhood for me. And now I am suddenly aware of my life moving forward at a pace that I am not quite comfortable with anymore. I have gone from counting down days and wishing time to move more quickly to holding on to days and savoring the time spent looking forward to something important. I have moments of brief panic when I think about how my life is moving so very quickly. I just know I am going to wake up tomorrow and be 80! Maybe it's the weddings and babies and graduations and relocations and gaining and losing and change, change, change. It all feels like too much at times.

I am feeling the need to be intentional, to savor this time, enjoy this time. I want to work at actually living each day of the next ten years (maybe just a good percentage of days would be more realistic). I want to remember, and I want it to be worth remembering. I need time to linger just a little while longer.

the spider pact

2010-06-05T19:30:00.004-04:00

I live in my sister's basement. For the vast majority of the time, this is a grand arrangement. Perhaps it's a bit chilly at times, but that's nothing that a sweatshirt and a space-heater can't remedy. And no, there are no windows, but really, it's Indiana - the sun doesn't shine all that often anyways. And on the plus side, it's private, I have a bathroom of my own, and the niece and nephew think it's super cool to come visit me - usually in 5-10 minute increments, which works out well for everyone since Gage's favorite game is "break Abbey's stuff" when he is down here.

There is one small, little thing that I don't appreciate about the basement, and that would be the creepy arachnids that enjoy a nice cool basement environment too. I don't see them too often; well, honestly, I try not to look for them because there's a pretty darn good chance that I would actually find one. Unnecessary. However, on occasion they invite themselves into my shower, try to skitter across my bedroom floor unnoticed, or even have the audacity to slink down their nasty little webby strings right in front of me. None of these actions are permitted in my basement. I have made a pact with the spiders. It's a little cooperative; they agreed to the pact as well, so I'm pretty sure it's legit and all.

For example, if the Sammy Spider chooses to stay in the corner of the ceiling or nestled up close to the baseboard, he has every right to remain untouched and confident that he will live another day to spin another web. Sammy can even roam about freely as long as he stays clear of certain areas, namely, my line of vision. If he so chooses to enter into the area deemed as "human only - spiders enter at your own risk," the peace pact is instantly rendered null and void. So, if Sammy decides to visit me in the shower, he must be squashed. If Sammy wants to make his presence known and crawl down the wall while I am standing right there, Sammy must have a death wish, and so be it. I have no issue with getting my spider squash on. Plus, I happen to believe there is a serious upside to spider squashing ---

When you smoosh a spider, the spider dies, obviously. Dead spiders leave what I have coined a "squashed spider scent" that all other spiders can sense. They are very scensty creatures and all. "Squashed spider scent" remains in the location where the spider was murdered (he should have followed the rules; the rules are very simple) and serves as a warning to other spiders that if they choose to roam in that region, death is eminent. It's like being a martyr, only they are spider martyr, and they really didn't even need to be a martyr in the first place if they had just stayed put in the corner. On the upside, I think it's quite noble, warning your spider friends through your death scent and all. Ah yes, the noble basement spider, indeed.

dating 101: there's never an appropriate time to say that

2009-12-24T03:32:00.005-05:00

So last year I went out with this guy a few times. We had "the great date." For all of you non-daters out there - this is the ever elusive date. The kind of date that lasts for at least 6 hours but it feels like you just walked out your front door. The kind where the awkward silences are slim to none and the witty banter and casual flirting are abundant and well placed to create "that feeling." For girls, I think we may get this feeling about once every 3 or 4 years; boys seems to experience this every time they turn a corner...or blink. But, if you are like me, and I know lots of chickies out there that are...it's a rare and beautiful thing to get excited about a boy.

Anyhoo. We went out a few times. Things were going well. And then things kind of blew apart in a rather quick and dirty fashion that is not uncommon in my life. You get over it. However, that is not what this lesson is about.

Let me set the scene for you. We are watching tv at his place. There has been fun and flirting all night. We start to do a little kissing. And this is what comes out of his mouth...
"Ya know, if you got a dvd or something you could really flatten out your abs."

So I slapped him. Well, I wish I had slapped him. I am about 99.99% sure that a statement like that deserves a hearty, well-placed, open-handed slap right across a boy's kisser. But, I think I was in shock. So, I didn't really say much of anything. (I know! Such a waste of an opportunity to let the jack*ss really have it. sigh.) And then I got to thinking of a time when a statement such as that would be considered appropriate. Here's the one and only scenario that I came up with

If we had been together for many many many years...
and we were at the gym...
and I specifically asked...
and really meant it...
then it would be appropriate; then and only then. No exceptions on this one. Not even a hint of one. I'm sorry; you're dumb. And I'm fabulous.

blessings....I'm counting 'em

2009-12-03T21:50:00.004-05:00

I realize that counting one's blessings is usually reserved for the Thanksgiving holiday of which we just celebrated. However, I am a little bit of a rebel and don't like to do things just because I am "supposed to." (want to add an "amen" in there, mom?) I am thankful for a lot of things, but I will express it in my own time, thank you very much, and not because the calendar is making me. So, I thought that since the holiday of thanks has safely passed, I would take a page out of my friend's blogging repertoire and make a list.

I am full of thanks for...

1. a rockin' brother-in-law and sister that let me live with them for free just because they can. this still amazes me. especially since they thought it was only going to be about 2.5 years that has since bloated into a minimum of 3.5 to possibly 5 years. and they still haven't mentioned kicking me out or kicking me over to mom and dad's.

2. a job that allows me to change my hours every other month, work nights/evenings/weekends or whatever combination that I need to in order to fit everything in; gives me scholarship money every semester; provides affordable insurance; and even gives me vacation time (which takes forever and a day to build up....but my sister reminds me that I should be grateful that I get any vacation time at all since I work part-time. humph.).

3. classmates that I have come to thoroughly enjoy and appreciate. (and I was pretty sure that I was going to have to kill most of them before we ever got close to graduating.) thank goodness most of them think my cynicism is witty.

4. a niece and nephew that I get to see almost every day. (ok....sometimes I don't think this is a blessing when it's play date morning and I am trying to sleep right below a game of "let's-see-how-many-times-in-a-row-we-can-jump-off-the-bed-and-scream-at-each-other-cause-it-will-be-so-much-fun." but, 98% of the time it's kind of an awesome deal. i mean, who can resist two stinkin' adorable kids that cheer and clap and run to meet you nearly every time that you walk up the stairs? yeah, it's that awesome. no aunt could ask for more.

5. new friends and old friends. so, no, I don't have very many friends. I probably wouldn't even need to use my toes to count them all, but I think that's okay. I can keep track of these friends and make time for them and make a friendship that is actually worth something. quality over quantity...and even that takes a lot of effort and work sometimes. so, I am thankful for friends that still want to be a part of my life even when we haven't had a night to hang out since sometime last summer.

6. bad dates. yes, that's what I said. because....even though this kind of blows for me and the relationship side of my life....it provides a good amount of fodder for story telling (see previous posts). and any one that knows me at all, knows that I appreciate a good story, especially if it's mine, and in spite of the fact that it's usually at my own expense. entertainment value is worth a lot in my book. so....I should also be grateful that God gave me a pretty solid sense of humor...

7. going back to school. this has been as much of a curse as a blessing at times. I should have been done and working as of this past May. However, that isn't the way my life works most of the time. so, I will be seeing two more Mays come before that BSN is in my hand. I am okay with that now (took me a while to get here, for sure) because the more I learn and progress in this program, the more I realize that not only am I in the exact profession that I should be in, but I am in the exact program, with fantastic professors, great classmates, and a huge support system. I am precisely where I am supposed to be at this time, and that feels pretty good when I have my "thinking clearly hat" on (it does get lost from time to time though).

there are more, but those are the biggies in my life at the moment. I will get back to posting the usual fare of general wittiness (ha! yeah, I know...) in the near future. I've been busy!!!

dating 101: if you don't let me out, I swear I'll scream

2009-10-09T18:24:00.002-04:00

everyone once in a while, okay more like every other month or so, one of my friends or co-workers decides that it's a great plan to set me up with someone. I usually go along with it because 1) it's something to do on friday night 2)it's a usually a free dinner/movie/and sometimes even dessert, and 3) I am always looking for a good story :) (ok, I am a little evil sometimes, but it's just for the entertainment of those around me. kind of like britney spears but with all of my clothes on, no babies, and no marriages...or divorces. ok, so not like britney at all, but whatever.)

so, this time one of the teachers that I used to work with decided to set me up with a buddy of his. I do believe his last name was "pancake." this was unacceptable. abbey pancake? um, no. I think not. but, anyways we met for dinner and began the usual dance.

dinner was awkward. evidently it was intentionally so. he stated afterward that he likes to create awkward situation on purpose "just to see how people respond." and part of me gets this - the whole "shock value" of certain statements I throw out there from time to time (this usually makes my sister laugh and my mom give me that look that says "I raised you better than that, young lady." and she did - I am just ornery like that.). but, really, if you are trying to put your best self out there on a first date...I'm thinking maybe intentionally awkwardizing every conversation isn't the way to go. but, hey, what do I know.

so after the unending awkwardness of dinner, the date was over. we get back to his car to drive the 10 minutes back to his house so I can jump into my car and make my escape. however, he thought this would be a great time - with me being a captive audience and all - to share a special song that was near and dear to his heart. he began to sift through a few burned cds looking for something in particular. and then I realize that this guy has about 25 cds...all burned...all without any markings or indication of what may be on them. awesome. and then the search really got started. he was popping cds in and out of the player like a man possessed. skipping through to the first few notes of every song...skip, skip, skip, skip, eject, insert, skip, skip, nope, that's not it, nope, nope, maybe this one, nope, skip, skip, ugh no, nope...and on and on until...we passed his house and my car. he's still searching for the song that has changed his life and my face is smashed up against the window as my car goes flying past. i thought about making a jump for it, but skid marks are rather unattractive on a girl and I scar easily.

about 20 minutes later....I am not making this up, people....20 minutes...he finally finds the song that will end the night on a perfect note: howie day, collide. seriously? pretty sure we could have found that on the top 40 station in about 4.5 seconds. and then...he starts to quote the song to me as it's playing....

Even the best fall down sometimes (looking into my eyes)
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme (nodding his head in agreement)
Out of the doubt that fills my mind (reaching out for...something)
I somehow find
You and I collide (looking at me...expecting...tears, affirmation, understanding...?)

I was at a loss. again. talk about awkward. is this a song for me? for you? about us? what the heck? and why are you talking the song at me? that's weird. no one does that. stop. stop now. please let me out of your car. you are starting to scare me. i have mace. ok, actually it's pepper spray, but, it's the pepper spray for bears. big, black, angry bears. so, I am pretty sure that it'll sting. and I have a whole can of it, and I am pretty sure I can get ya good since you are sitting like 2 feet away from me.

so, I did eventually get back to my car that night....although it did take about 35 minutes longer than it should have. and I was starting to panic a little.

note to the men out there---if you are going to hold a girl hostage in your car to listen to a "life-changing song," it better be good. howie day does not cut it. please, people.

dating 101: don't order the spicy stuff

2009-08-19T17:10:00.009-04:00

ok, so time for another dating lesson, courtesy of abbey. you're welcome. i feel a little bit bad about this post because this guy was really sweet and was trying really hard. but, this is the job, so here goes....

once again: blind date from a certain online site. yet again: we met down town, ironically at the same restaurant as the previous dating 101 lesson (maybe that should have been my first clue). this time i was smart, though -- i brought reinforcements in the form of my good friends amy and curtis (see...progress).

first thing i saw was the cowboy boots. i know, right? (side note: i have nothing against cowboy boots. i come from farm folk. i get it. but, you are in indy. cowboy boots are a no-no. cowboy boots on a first date, with a stranger, in down town indy -- triple no-no. just saying.) but, i let the boots slide (and then made a mental note to change that habit in the future if need be).

so kevin and i and amy and curtis get settled in our oh-so-cozy little booth (awww), and start to look at the menus. it's rather obvious at this point that sweet kevin is very nervous. every movement, every sentence is strained with nerves, and i was starting to feel bad for the guy. i mean, he was starting to sweat a little, that's how stressed this guy was. and being the oh-so-smooth socialite that i am (ha!), i was trying to help sooth his nerves as best i could -- easy conversation, lots of smiles, nodding the head encouragingly, you know the drill. it wasn't working. at all.

and then the food came. and poor sweet kevin had inadvertently ordered something a little spicy. bad plan. very, very bad plan. the little beads of sweat that had started from nerves became huge rolling balls of sweat dripping down his face. the linen napkin did little to help even though he was mopping up like he just finished a marathon. there was no stopping the amount of sweat pouring from his glands. it was amazing. pro athletes don't produce this much sweat during an entire basketball game--including a double overtime. and, i know he was embarrassed (duh), because he even excused himself to go wash his face and start fresh again. i got him a new napkin (cause i'm thoughtful like that). but there was no fixing this flood. before he even planted his boots back under the table, there were great rivers running down his face again. my heart did go out to poor sweet kevin, but i couldn't help but be a little amused by the whole production anyways. i thought a second date would be a great chance for a do-over.

unfortunately (i feel like this is a strong theme in my blogs...unfortunately...), a literal do-over is exactly what i got. i invited him over to amy and curtis's for a very bland, even slightly boring dinner--steak, broccoli, potatoes--no spice in sight, not even pepper, nada spice-o.

perfect.

wrong.

we no sooner finished a short blessing for the spice-less dinner, than the flood gates opened. again. only this time, there was no linen napkin. not good. and poor sweet kevin, as he was furiously mopping up, ended up with little bits of paper napkin all over his face. it's hard to take someone seriously when they have little pieces of paper napkin stuck all over their forehead. i could not stop staring (it was fascinating in a slightly horrible and definitely embarrassing kind of way.). amy and i were trading little furtive looks trying to figure out how exactly to fix this little situation without further humiliating poor sweet kevin. but, he got up to wash his face again (maybe a dinner time ritual? maybe it's cultural. yeah, that's it. culture thing.) and came back little-bits-of-napkin less. and that was the end of me and kevin. and, no, i did not ditch him just because of the sweating thing. i'm not that shallow. at least not all of the time. there were extenuating circumstances which i will touch upon in another dating 101 lesson in the future. (i know you are excited. you should be.)

so, i was wondering as to what the over-sweating situation was caused by. and i came up with a list. (i know you are excited again.)

1. he's allergic to any and all food. this would be a bummer. food is important. especially cheese. (i *heart* cheese)

2. i made him incredibly nervous because i am incredibly hot and amazing and awesome and my mere presence caused something akin to hyperventilation which presented itself through massively hyperactive sweat glands. i have that affect on men all the time. it's my cross. sigh. (i'm pretty sure this is the real reason.)

3. he was too hot. temperature-wise, folks. (pretty sure that's not the case (how dull would that be), but i'm just presenting options here, people. (it's called being thorough.))

4. he had a thyroid problem. (definite possibility) (hey...i'm not making fun. thyroids are serious. i have one, and it doesn't work right either. so, some might even call me an expert on the whole thyroid thing.)

5. he was allergic to me. like i was a long-haired dog or some evil breed of cat (which would be all breeds of cats. just saying.). but, i don't appreciated being likened to a dog, so this one obviously can't be it. please.

personally, i'm sticking with option 2, but feel free to believe what you like. (choose number 2. it's the best one.) and if poor sweet kevin ever reads this, i'm not judging you because you were sweaty or because you wore cowboy boots (even though that was much harder to do). i'm just trying to write a blog here, and possibly help all mankind in the process. kind of like mother teresa. actually, exactly like mother teresa. you're welcome.

milkshakes, hair buns, and karma

2009-08-08T20:31:00.016-04:00

so college was rough. i won't really get into the whole nitty gritty of the whole mess, just trust me on this one. and even though i see myself as just barely surviving college and managing to get out with wounds that have since scarred over, there is at least one thing that i found in college that makes the entire experience (at least the first 2.5 years) completely worth the trauma and messes of my own making. her name is caron. and by some miracle direct from God, we have managed to stay friends for the last several years with only a few, brief weekends together scattered throughout. i love this girl.

however...when caron and i are together, we seem to create a magnet for disaster (this is usually a pretty big magnet). luckily, we both have an outstanding sense of humor (thank you very much), so a mess turns into a story (that's what this is) and frustration changes to falling into a heap in the middle of nowhere (ie: cedarville university) and laughing until you think you might pass out from lack of oxygen. it's usually that awesome.

so, it was a week night and we were studying like good little college girls (happy, dad?) and when there was studying, a break inevitably followed, and usually this break required chocolate of some variety. this night was no exception...except (haha)...that we decided a milkshake was in order. and since our college was located in a remote cornfield in the south western part of ohio (no one lives in ohio on purpose...it just kind of happens to you), we had to drive a minimum of 25 minutes to get to the closest milkshake. but chocolate is worth driving that far and then some, so it wasn't really a deterrent at the time. so caron and i hopped in my car and off we went. we had a good couple of hours before curfew -- plenty of time(yes, there was a curfew. yes, it did suck. no, i didn't sneak around curfew--usually. (i swear, mom)).

just for the record -- as we were driving through the back-country-corn-lined-desolate-murder's -best-friend roads of ohio, i told caron that we needed to get gas before we came back. (i told her--therefore, it becomes her responsibility to remind me to put gas in the tank. her job. not my fault. her fault.) betcha can't guess where this is going...

so we get to steak 'n' shake, get our delicious, well-worth -the-25 minute-drive milkshakes, and chill out for a little while. and, it must have been "bun night" there, because everyone and their brother had a bun on their head (not the bread bun, the hair roll bun...tracking now? yeah.) and, being the person that my mother raised me to be (maybe in spite of how my mother raised me...yeah, that's probably closer to reality.), caron and i had to sit there and poke fun of all the people with buns on their heads. it was entertaining. so entertaining, in fact, that we just hopped right back in my car and zipped on our way home so as not to miss curfew (cause we were such good little christian college students and not at all influenced by the $15 fine for being late) without a thought about my nearly empty gas tank. make that my completely empty gas tank.

we must have been running on fumes at that point, because right about the time we made one more turn into the depths of corn and side-road ditches, my gas pedal stopped working. and we were confused. that's how distracted we were about the hair buns. so i turned to caron and said something stupid, like, "hey, my gas pedal isn't working. weird." it took us about 10 seconds of coasting to a stop to realize just how dumb we were (or caron was, because it was her fault. i told her we needed gas.) i think that is what people might call karma. because you shouldn't make fun of people wearing buns in their hair, or even whole groups of people wearing buns and drinking milkshakes all together. it's not nice. and then you run out of gas in the middle of corn hell.

so there we were. crap. and being the strong, independent women that we were, we decided to call a boy for help (never mind that he was cute and i might have been slightly stalking him for the better part of the year). slight problem: we had no idea what road we were on. and finding out what road required actually getting out of the car in the middle of the now-pitch-black-back-country-corn-lined-desolate-murder's -best-friend roads of ohio. we needed a weapon, just in case we stumbled upon one of those corn hell murders, ya know. the logical choice for a weapon was the ice scraper. those bristles were pretty rough, and i was pretty sure i could leave a decent scratch on a murderer. unfortunately for caron, there was only one. so, she got the little scraper that was left over (if you can't remember to tell your friend to put gas in the tank, which is your job, then all you get is a 6 inch piece of plastic to defend yourself against murderers hiding in the corn. sorry. next time, you'll remember your job. (love you, caron!)).

armed with our ice scrapers we started to walk back towards the last turn to find the street sign so that the boy could actually find us and rescue us. we got within about 10 feet of the sign---our saving grace---when the murderer jumped out from behind the barn and ran at break-neck speed straight at us. and by murderer, i mean horse. now, it was really dark and creepy and quiet and scary in the middle of corn fields in the middle of the night, so it's not caron's fault that she dropped her 6 inch piece of plastic, screamed, turned around, and ran down the middle of the road....and then tripped over her own shoe and crumpled to the pavement...about 2 feet from where she started (this is one reason why i love caron. she can fall over anything, anywhere, anytime. (including the bushes outside of history lecture in front of pretty much every freshman college student. picture legs flailing, book bag flying through the air, bushes getting squashed. it was awesome.)).

so...caron was in the middle of the road, in a pile, without her weapon, with a murderer horse staring her down from behind his fence. so i did what any friend would do after her friend had a traumatic brush with a murderer horse--i laughed my ass off (sorry mom!). i laughed so hard that i had to join caron in her pile in the middle of the road. and there we sat for a good 10 minutes before we managed to crawl back to my car.

and then the cop showed up. and being the ever-helpful cop-type person that he was, he asked us if we were okay, nodded his head, and then left. awesome. so glad i pay taxes.

so, we waited for the boy to show up (which took close to a year, i think). and while we waited we sang songs. seriously. (hey, we went to a christian college in the middle of corn hell. entertainment was scarce. we made our own. no alcohol needed.) so we sang and waited and laughed about the hair buns some more (we didn't learn very quickly).

the boy finally showed up with approximately 1.2 gallons of gas and dumped it in the tank. and---the car didn't start. shocking, with that much gas?! really?! (did i mention that we might have shoved my car part way into a ditch in an effort to get it out of the middle of the road? and it might have been slightly nose-down into the ditch? hey--those back-country-corn-lined-desolate-murder's -best-friend roads of ohio can get busy at night, and i didn't want to take any chances *self-deprecating smirk*). so, now we had the boy and the gas, but not enough gas to actually reach the part of the car it needed to in order for the car to start and take us safely away from the murderer horse. bummer.

right about then God must have forgiven us for the hair bun jokes, cause a truck -- a tow truck, complete with two hillbillies and a hill-jack -- stopped and yanked my car out of the ditch and back on the road. and then the 1.2 gallons of gas was just enough to get us back to the closest gas station (back where the milkshakes were; the place where caron didn't do her job and got us into the mess in the first place (love you, caron!)).

and then we drove back to campus...three hours late for curfew (and with another reason to talk to the cute boy that i wasn't really stalking). but, that milkshake was totally worth it. pretty sure i would do it again if i got a milkshake out of it (and maybe a good hair bun joke or two).

new life-plan

2009-08-05T02:30:00.005-04:00

so i have been watching a lot of food network lately because, a) it's awesome b) there's really not much else on anyways, and c) they put cheese on almost everything (i *heart* cheese. ). however, i am pretty sure that there is no possible way to watch the food network without needing "just a little snack" or possibly half of the menu of whatever restaurant might deliver at that particular time of day. but it's okay because food is culture (that's what the experts are saying now) and we all need more culture (especially italian culture, because they use a lot of cheese. i *heart* cheese.).

so i was immersing myself in culture last night with a little show they call "the best thing i ever ate." holy freaking cow. not only do they show you what might actually be "the best thing that you could ever eat," but they also discuss each little precious ingredient; and, there are pictures, and lovely words, and smacking noises, and sounds that some might think are inappropriate in relation to food--but really--a well-placed, honest-from-the-gut moan for a little piece of food perfection seems highly appropriate if not essential. but that's just me. (and i seriously *heart* cheese.)

anyways--focus, abbey--that is what i was watching. and i am pretty sure that approximately 3.2 minutes into the very first segment of the show, the entire front of my shirt was drenched with the drool seeping from my agape mouth. that's how seriously amazing this food looks. it's mostly like torture, really. pretty close, anyways. delicious, taunting torture.

so, that's how i came up with my new life plan. forget school. (they have bad food there anyways and hardly any cheese. i know, right?) i'm ditching the whole "education" thing and the whole "career goals" and legitimate "plan for my future" deal (all completely overrated, i'm sure)---

and instead---

wait for it---

i am going to eat my way through the country wearing nothing but sweat pants (stretch is good), the biggest smile you have ever seen on a girl, and a big ole t-shirt that says "i *heart* cheese. much better life plan, yes? i thought so too. and i am sure my dad would agree. pretty sure, anyways. i probably won't let the cameras follow me (i am sure they would really, really want to though since i am really just that interesting-- i am sure of it. *self-deprecating smirk*) cause it's not going to be pretty, folks. but, there's going to be lots of cheese. and a big smile. and maybe a couple of well-placed moans...

dating 101: hoo doggies-- that's wayyy too much information

2009-08-03T21:31:00.006-04:00

so anyone that knows me at all knows that i have some of the more interesting dating stories to share. what can i say-- horrendously awful, bizarre, and ridiculous dates have become some what of a little hobby of mine. it used to make me cry; now it entertains me and all of my friends. good trade off.

ok, i am going to admit it...and without any shame or embarrassment...i am an on-line dater. i first signed up shortly after college when i moved to a new city. it seemed like a good way to meet some new people and see some of indy (for free. good deal.). so...i created my profile, uploaded my photos (chosen to display 1)that i can look pretty cute when i try 2)that i have a rockin' sense of humor, and 3)that i am fun "look at all the smiling faces with all the people in all the places...this girl must be super-awesome-cool"), and created witty little blurbs for each section. this is an exhausting process, and all you really want to write in those 3 million little boxes is: "you would be lucky to take a girl like me out because i am awesome in so many ways, and you have no idea, so suck it." however, that didn't seem like a great way to introduce myself. so witty verbiage it is.

and then i began to date.

(this is one of my favorite stories because i love the look of horror on people's faces when get to the good part.)

so...i met this guy, let's call him todd. (that's not really his name...and i'm not trying to protect him, cause who really cares about that...i just can't actually remember what his name might have been...) we met downtown for dinner; he picked a nice place, but not too fancy-schmancy (bonus point). and the awkward first meet begins. you don't want to get there too early because then you look over-anxious and lame and will be sitting there for 10 minutes looking at your cell phone and trying to give the impression that you are completely fine and simply waiting for your best girl pal to arrive and not utterly paranoid that you are going to be stood up by a total stranger and all the while pretending to text someone and make it look like you actually just had a change of plans and that's why you are leaving after sitting by yourself for 10 minutes---not that this has ever happened to me. i'm just saying---timing is important.

so i walk in and see todd sitting there. he looks just like his picture. good start (those pictures can be a little tricky, and it should be against some sort of internet dating law to use pictures from high school. you're not that thin anymore...let it go.). and...then he stood up. now, i have absolutely nothing against short guys. i actually appreciate a good looking short dude. it's cute. however, if you are 5'2" (maybe on a good day and when you use a little extra gel in your hair), do not, do not, do not tell me that you are 5'7". i can tell the difference. i'm smart like that.

so there we are, nose to nose (good thing i didn't wear my fancy-don't-i-look-fantastic-in-these-rockin-heels shoes), and ready to get this party started. the first round at dinner goes pretty well. i ask you a generic question (it really doesn't matter how many siblings you have, i just need to ask you something). you ask me a question (i know you don't actually care about what my favorite movie ever is, but thanks for asking just the same). and then...it got real ugly, folks.

it went something like this...

todd: "i'm so sorry that i haven't called you the last few days."

me: (oookayyy...please don't call me every day, really, please. seriously. don't.) "that's okay. no worries."

todd: "i have just been a bit feeling lousy after seeing my doctor three days ago."

me: (um, ok. where are you going with this *nervous shifty eyes*.)

todd: "yeah...i had a colonoscopy three days ago. man, those are rough."

me: (and now i am choking on my tortellini.)

todd: "they clean you out really well though. i think i was in the bathroom for the majority of my day. and that probe they stick up..."

me: (and now i am pushing my plate clear over to the other side of the table. dinner is over. i can no longer chew anything, let alone swallow. i think i managed to nod. pretty sure my eyes, as they popped out of my head, were sending pleading messages to stop. right now. just stop. seriously.)

somehow during that little bit of nastiness i must have inadvertently indicated that i liked his story--that i thought it was appropriate--that i thought it was even interesting and not at all revolting for a dinner conversation--on a first date--with a stranger--because...he continued. i cannot convey my utter horror.

todd: "so, have you ever had a unique medical procedure?"

me: (is this guy serious? what, like my last pap smear. yeah, i'll pass on sharing that one.) "no. no. haven't even had my wisdom teeth out." (wisdom teeth--that's safe, right?)

todd: "i had my wisdom teeth out a couple years ago."

me: (ahh...safe topic. feels nice.)

todd: "yeah, my face was so swollen that my girlfriend wrapped her bra around my head and stuck ice in the boob cups."

me: (i have no words.)

and he must have thought that i didn't hear him, or my silent response was not the reaction that he was looking for...because...he repeated the story. the whole thing.

todd: "yeah, honestly. she wrapped her bra around my head and put ice in the cups, must have been like a c-cup, i think."

me: (dinner is over. even if i wasn't grossed out and turned off like i have never been before in my life, i still have leave so that i can call my friends and tell them this story.) "check please!"

he must have thought the night went well because he called me several times the next week. i was a chicken and screened all his calls and never talked to him again. but really, when you talk about your colon at dinner (and sticking things up your colon at dinner)--on a first date--with a stranger--you deserve to have your calls screened. actually, you kind of deserve to be mocked and ridiculed on a blog that the whole world can read. yeah, that's what you deserve.

allow me to introduce myself

2009-08-02T12:49:00.004-04:00

first off - no, my name is not actually abigail annie or abigail or even annie, for that matter. but, it is what my dad would call me from time to time when i was just a whipper snapper. don't ask why...just go with it.

let's see here... i became a proud college graduate in 2004. and then precisely three seconds later realized that i had zero plans as to what i would actually do with that degree. whoops. slight planning issue on my part. so, i did what any other recent college grad with no direction in life would do -- sign up to teach junior high english at a parochial school. makes perfect sense, yes? and after about 6.5 months of that, i realized why there was about 80% turn over rate for teachers in that middle school. but, seeing as how i had no big plans for my future, i decided to do it for another year. go me.

then...i quit. i thought two years of work and then retiring was a great plan. except for the whole money thing. and seeing as how no one volunteered to pay for my life, i had to find a plan B.
enter -- nursing school! great plan. it was what i thought about majoring in my freshman year of college (the first freshman year) and then decided that it looked like a lot of work. and, i really wasn't into working so much at that point. staying up and eating double-decker oatmeal cream pies every other night with my best girl seemed like a much better plan (hey...we were working out at least twice a week *self-depricating smirk*).

so, nursing school it was.

and my oh-so-lovely older sister and brother-in-law offered me a place of dwelling in their house. exactly what every 24-year-old wants to do after they have had their own apartment, in a bigger city, away from their family, and managed their own life for an extended period of time (hey...2.5 years is a very long time...almost like a century, some say). but, lucky for me, my sister is awesome. and having a mini-apartment in my sister's basement has turned into one of the greatest things in my life thus far (see..."thus"...using the english degree. go me.).
so...moved back to where i grew up, into my sister's basement, landed a lame job that would hopefully land me a better job, and started taking classes to get in to the accelerated BSN program. plan B was in full effect.

problem: didn't get into accelerated program. this is the part where i tell you that i really am quite smart. smart enough for their dumb accelerated program, anyways. and now i am going to tell you all the reasons why i didn't get in (that are dumb reasons and have absolutely no bearing on my intelligence or self-esteem).

1. they limited the spots in the program from 16 to 8. damn.
2. evidently, your GPA had to be somewhere around God-like status. my measly little 3.7 wasn't quite up to par.
3. you probably had to pledge your first born child to the nursing program for all of the little students to practice their various new-found "skills" on.
4. it's possible you had to sleep with someone somewhere (but, i'm just guessing on that one).
5. i would also like to add that 45 people applied, 13 got an interview, 8 people got in, and 2 were wait-listed. i was on the wait-list. (cue extra little kick right in the gut) and....i always include this part in my story, because i feel the need to make people understand that i am smart and i should have gotten in, and i probably deserved a golden pathway that led right to graduation day where little angels bestowed a degree upon me with little kisses straight from heaven. that's just how i thought it should have gone....

so...i didn't get in. bummer. (that's a slight understatement. in all actuality, i was bawling my eyes out as i sat in my car talking to my dad. i think it went something like this: "nothing ever goes my way! i always get screwed over! why do i keep making plans when really, nothing will ever work out! i might as well just crawl in a hole and die because that's where i will end up anyways!" and that is probably somewhat lessened version of what my dad remembers.)
(it took me at least six months to get over this and just suck it up)
(i might have been planning a move to a tropical island where i would sell coconut bras and little flower hair do-bobbers for the rest of my life)

but...i did get into the regular program. go me. and even though it is taking me 4.5 years to earn my second degree, i am now well on my way to becoming a bona fide (yes, that is spelled and spaced correctly...i looked it up) RN! i'm just taking the scenic route.

so...this is my life. i'm 27, single, living in my sister's basment (best deal ever), working part-time, in school full-time, dating occasionally (ho boy, it's special out there), and just trying to make it all fit in to some semblance of a life that i enjoy and am proud of.

that's all i have to say about myself at the moment. more insights into my craziness to come. wait til i really get going...it's gonna get a little special around here...