First Dates Make Me Cynical

I've had some doozies of first dates. I won't go into many details, but if you must know...ask Amy, Erin or Maegen/Traci.

Last night I had a first date that restored my faith that there are, in fact, good ones out there. =)

He was very thoughtful, old-fashioned, and all about how "nobody communicates anymore, and he doesn't agree with that." (Did I just hear a collective sigh from all the single girls out there? ;) I didn't pay for a thing (not that it's about that) and he even wanted to put me in a pre-paid cab for my ride home from downtown because he didn't want me riding the L by myself that late at night. (I ended up on the L because I don't think it's necessary to spend the cab fare it would have taken, versus the $2 for the train.)

But it's the thought that counts, and my faith was restored that there are still good men looking for good women out there, and that it takes patience to find them.

Happy Thanksgiving

Americans Enjoying Thanksgiving Tradition Of Sitting Around At Airport

I am

I Am
by Lisa Orris and Marti Burger
Evangelical Covenant Church

(This was written for youth, but has such important stuff in it.)

I am more than my body.
I am more than my current relationships.
I am more than the latest hype.
I am more than my personal best.
I am more than my latest performance.
I am more than my parents think I am.
I am more than my GPA.
I am more than my last mistake.
I am more than airbrushed perfection.
I am more than my latest crush.
I am more than my ACT/SAT scores.
I am more than...

I am more because of
I AM
God said to Moses, "I-Am-Who-I-Am. Tell the People of Israel,'I-am sent me to you.'" Edodus 3:14

Evangelism Takes All Form

I'm currently sitting a Panera, doing some work on a class I'm guest lecturing tomorrow at North Park (yay! I love guest lecturing!) and I'm sitting next to a pastor visiting with a man in his 60s or 70s. He's evangelizing and coaching him on a relationship he's having with a woman. I love that evangelism takes all forms, has no set rules, and can happen anywhere. They're even talking about 'kids today' and how this guy in his 60s/70s prefers the candor of teens who are people of color rather than the passive aggressive 'lies' of 'the white kids.'

While I'm not intending to eavesdrop, I am enjoying listening to this pastor speak to this man.

A crappy day

that, frankly, is wrapping up a crappy couple of months.

Here are a couple of things said to me today:

a) A guy who works with an organization I sometimes work with called me today to tell me that he had used me as a negative example with his boss. It was actually a round-about attempt to compliment me on his part...but it landed quite flat as my pride is a big issue.

b) The guy I have been dating on/off for awhile told me, as we were navigating a disagreement, and I quote "I'm attacted to you. I just think it might all be physical." I've never actually had a guy I've dated for a significant period of time say that to me before. (Wow - just read my post and can't believe I just said it that way. Let me rephrase: I've NEVER had a guy say that to my face.) And he couldn't come up with a softer, more respectful delivery? Then he kept denying that he said it. Let's just say this was the icing on the cake I needed to not EVER talk to him again. And the very nice long-sleeve Bears jersey I got him for Christmas? It just became my most expensive nightshirt.

Seriously. Over. Dating.

Lots of HYSTERICAL 'Sound Bites'

These are some funny 'isms' that have been said to me or around me, recently:

a) "Just out of curiousity, who all is coming tonight?" asked on a Wednesday, after several emails about an activity that we're doing this Saturday.

b) "Oh no...I think she may be mildly retarded..."

c) "It's because I'm a f****** retard, that's why!"

d) "You need to leave your movie and come pay your respects to keetchka (cat). She's dying. She has the milky eyes."

e) "I hope I haven't kept you awake with my coughing" said by my downstairs neighbor.

f) "Be as loud as you want. We'll just take out our hearing aids." said by my downstairs neighbor.

g) "You know what would be great? What if I moved my car out of the garage, and you had your movers put all your stuff in there, then you could carry it all upstair the next day after my movers come to move my stuff out." said by an old roommate to a new roommate. We're talking couches, full-size beds, dressers, etc.

h) This was posted to my online class, by my small group project facilitator, the day before our dialogue was 'open' online, "I thought I'd get us started, so everyone understands the expectations and the assignment." We all have the syllabus, we all can read, we all have comprehension skills. You're not the professor, you can't answer questions about the assignment. Thanks.

I'm eerily good at this game

Check it out.

Chicago's Complaint Choir

I want to go to this so badly!!! You have no idea.