strange day

I’ve had the strangest day the other day. It started out crappy and had an emotional slam finish! I woke up in the morning with more on my mind that one should have to think about before 10am. I needed something else to focus on and distract myself from my thought, but my job isn’t the best for my current state of mind because I am doing mindless activities while I am free to think about whatever I want. So it was shaping up to be an all around bad day. Around 2 I got on the bus after a stop at Starbucks for a little pick-me-up coffee. The bus was pretty packed and I sat down next to a girl with headphones in. There was a guy sitting behind me and he started talking to me, asking me what was on my earrings, he asked, “what’s that on your earring?” I said it was an eagle. He said cool what was it a symbol for? I said, “it’s the Armani symbol but I bought them in Thailand.” “Military?” “No.” “Well that’s cool Shelly.” At that my ears perked up. I got a little freaked because I hadn’t told him my name. My next thought was, “who the heck is this guy and how does he know my name?” I turned around, totally freaked and he was silent for like 30 seconds, which was too long. Then he said, “I saw your name on your cup.” I was like, “OH!” But still thought he was weird. We talked some more and then he gave me his number and told me I should call him. I got off the bus and laughed all the way home.

Then when I was leaving work I had to pee BAD! I was walking to the bus thinking, “I should’ve gone before I left!” So I stopped at a sketch corner store and went in. I asked if they had a bathroom, they said no, try down the street. Then these two black guys were in there and were like, “Hey, you can come use my bathroom, it’s right down the street…” I kind of ignored them and bought a candy bar. Well as I was walking down the street to the “next” bathroom the guys slow down in their car next to me and said, “Guuuurl, did they let you use that bathroom?” I said, “I’m fine.” And they drove on. So I went into the bank because I needed to pee and deposit a check, the guy behind the counter was weird and said he couldn’t remember the bathroom code so I should go to the Starbucks across the street. I deposited my check and went to Starbucks. I thought, “I’ll pop in and pee at Starbucks and then my bus stop is right outside!” So I went in and into the bathroom. Well, while I was in the bathroom I heard the bus pull up so I ran out and onto the bus. I was relieved that I made it! I get on the bus and sit down and realize, “There are like 5 buses that stop at this stop and I have no idea which bus I just got on.” And I have no idea how to find out what bus I’m on once you’re on! It’s something people usually check before getting on but I was in such a rush to get on that I didn’t even look! I thought, “Well I’m on now and I guess if it takes some weird turn I’ll just get off!” Well, in the meantime I had missed a call on my phone and started listening to the message on the bus; it was from a lady at work that was going to start my training on Monday. On the message she told me her name (which I forgot instantly) and then said she needed me to call her back because she had a question for me, then she started saying the number to call her back on. So I’m thinking, “Right, well I don’t have paper and pen with me so I’ll just save the message and listen to it again when I get home.” And I push the button and my phone tells me, “Message deleted.” I was like, “NOOO!!!” So I was on an unknown bus without the name or number of the lady at my new job that I was supposed to call back! You will be happy to know that it all worked out. Turns out by some twist of fate that I was in fact on my bus, the good ole 48. And I got home and she had sent me an email with her info so I called her right back as if I hadn’t completely not paid attention to her message then deleted it! Then I got home and Carrie had written me an encouragement and I cried. It was a long and strange day.

10.11.2009

The strangest thing happened. I woke up this morning at 3:30am wide awake, which never happens, and the first thing that comes into my mind is this, "If I open a hair salon in Vancouver, I would call it VHS, Vancouver Hair Salon." And I'm picturing a sign on a glass front window with a drawing of an old VHS and has the name written in bold 80's font. Closely following this first thought was, "Why the heck am I thinking about that???" I have never thought about Vancouver or hair salons, not even remotely! I just woke up and that was what was on my mind--and it was totally out of left field! So I laid in bed confused for a bit, racking my brain trying to figure out if I had been having a dream or why the heck I would have thought that. I finally decided that the only thing to be done was to go back to sleep, which I promptly did. At least now, if I ever open a salon in Vancouver, I have a name.

Pie!

So I made a shepherds pie the other night. Friends were over and we had a potluck dinner. I was sitting on the couch next to a guy that I hadn't met before and he asked me what I had made. I said, "The shepherds pie. How is it?" And he said that it was better than his mom's.

Tribute to Luke

By: Lydia and Shelly

Lukie Ferdukie, you are so cukie.

Look! There's some dookie!

Remember the time you scared Toni with janitor jack?

We do.

Remember the time you got put in the back (of a squad car)

We do.

Remember the time we took the "cushion" to class?

We do.

Remember the time you got a beating in nertz?

We definitely do!

Remember the time we saw you in the cemetary?

We do.

Remember the time you moved to St. Kitts and we missed you?

WE DO!!!

Miss you Luke!

redhead

well, much has happened.

first, i finally got a washington state license! my texas license expires october 1st and the way washington works is if you're trying to get a license after your license has expired then you have to take the drivers test--which is bad news for me because my parallel parking consists of 40 points! so a month of getting together the correct documents, multiple trip to the dmv and $45 dollars later I HAVE MY LICENSE!!! and i didn't have to take the test!

second, i got a haircut and dye for free! my hair is now shoulder length and red! i was selected to be a hair model for an aveda salon party where they introduced aveda's new looks for this season. i was one of 3 models and we got cuts and colors for free at the party (as the demonstrations). they had a taco bar and margaritas and they did my hair and make-up. my look was "urban punk" so my lips were bright red and my eyes were done with all black. i'm not going to lie, i looked like a goth (which means i fit right in here in seattle!) after the party i rode the bus home and i thought to myself, "no one is going to sit next to me!" when i got home i looked in the mirror and wasn't sure i liked my hair. then i took off the make-up and i loved it!

that's all for now.

pix from hiking

Slugs and Getting Slugged

in case you are wondering about this title, yes, this story involves a punch in the nose...

so, since being here in seattle i've had a lot of time for adventure, which is--of course--what you do when you don't have a job.

here's a little rundown of some things that have happened since i moved here:

1. i made homemade syrup (i didn't know that was possible until i came here!)

2. i've had some major hookups like free tickets to see the black-eyed peas, franz ferdinand and modest mouse! and free coffee (which is the biggest of all hookups here in seattle)

3. i made a friend at the grocery store

4. i've gotten shampoo in my nose and mouth while showering...you don't even want to know.

5. i met a random girl in a coffee shop who knows one of my old roommates from texas!

6. me and my roommate got stuck behind a guy who decided to take a nap at a traffic light, literally he laid back his seat and we missed two lights!

7. i tried banana milk tea and it was amazing!

8. i have inadvertently become the member of a band called "shayjay" that is harp and drums, it's progressive harp.

9. we have a hijacked couch in our basement with a really funny story.

10. i have drunk more coffee than i have in my whole life (...that's not completely true...)

and now what you've all been waiting for: the slug story!

well my roommate, erika, and i went hiking the other day and there were all these HUGE slugs on the trails! it was pretty cool/gross!

okay, but for real, the slug in the nose story. so, as a preface, this story only involves myself (no huge argument that ended in a punch in the nose or heroic saving of an old woman from getting mugged by stepping in front) it's actually a bit embarrassing, fortunately for you, i do not get embarrassed easily.

so, erika and i had just gotten back from hiking and i took a shower. after my shower i was drying my hair and somehow the cord to the hair dryer got stuck in the cabinet door as i was closing it. and thus began the series of unfortunate events. well, the cord was pretty jammed in there and i started yanking on it to get it out. i was pulling and pulling and finally "BAM" it gave way and i popped myself in the nose. i'm pretty sure there was some sort of cracking noise and i felt a little dizzy. i sat down on the floor, meanwhile erika is in the shower and has no idea any of this is happening only feet away. i think to myself, "this is about to be the stupidist story ever if i just punched myself in the nose and broke it". so i go in to my room because i was feeling nauseas and the steam in the bathroom was not helping. i walk into my room and carrie, my other roommate walks in. at this point i am feeling a little shakey and as if i might pass out at any moment but i play it off. she had been hiking that day as well so she was pretty tired and out of it. we are making some small talk when i feel a sudden wave of nausea and abruptly lay down on my bed and say, "i think i might pass out". carrie, who had no idea the state that i was in or what had just taken place said, "are you sick?" shortly followed by, "do you straighten your hair?" i said, "sometimes. i think i just broke my nose." she seemed a little surprised but mostly confused how this could happen, then she said she was tired and walked upstairs. meanwhile i wait for the blue to show up on my face or my nose to swell to double its normal size. but it never happened and though my nose is still sore (quite sore actually) i am convinced that it is not broken.

the end.

Seemingly Unrelated Stories

We have this joke around the house that I am the "disabled roommate" because I don't have a job and I don't have a car.

Well, today I was taking the bus into downtown and there was a woman on the bus named Shelly...she was disabled. I supposed the "bus Shelly" and I have some things in common.

Last night I was laying down to go to sleep and I was reminded of a particularly ridiculous instance while in Bali, Indonesia last year. During the trip, I shared a thin mat on the floor with my friend Jamie. One morning she told me that she had woken up in the middle of the night and saw that we were sleeping in the exact same posture: belly-up, one leg straight, one leg bent, one arm over the abdomen the other over the head. This, of course, is the only logical position to sleep in when sharing a bed because it gives you the feeling that you're spread out without actually taking up much space. She said she almost woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me. It struck me as quite absurd that she would consider such a thing.

I was reminded of this instance because I found myself laying in that exact position. Why I was in such a posture when I was in a queen size bed that I have all to myself is...unexplainable.

Today I went exploring in town. I've bought this book that has 50 walking adventures in Seattle, perfect for me! So I did one today. I walked through the Olympic Sculpture Park, through the Edward Myrtle Park, I stopped at Pier 70 and sat and had a deliciously good cup of coffee from Uptown Espresso. Then I finished the day by meeting up with some friends at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). They have exhibits there that changed my life, it was phenomenal! I had a perfectly enjoyable day: parks, art, coffee...what more could you ask for? Then the day finished up with a phone call from my Dad, which is something I've missed.

"Yet if you devote your heart to him, and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will life up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor." Job 11:13-19

the hunt

so i'm hunting for a job up here. i've been deer hunting once, at 4 in the morning, sitting for hours behind a stump not moving or talking hoping to see a deer; then getting back to the house at the time that most normal people are just waking up, with nothing to show for my time of disciplined stillness and silence. i couldn't help but think, "i could've been sleeping. in that case i could've at least dreamt that i got a deer, or at least saw one". well, that experience was way more fun than this.

Elizabeth Elliot said, "we prize what we cannot easily get. we take for granted, we even come to despise that which cost us no effort." now, Elizabeth Elliot is one wise woman but this is an exception! i certainly would not despise a job that i got with little effort! i would be VERY thankful for a job that i don't have to spend hours laboring over my resume to perfectly tailor it, or spending what fills like years of my life filling out job applications that seem more like the spanish inquisition! no, i would be happy to be working 8-5 and making rent.

i should have job offers out the wazoo for all the applications i've filled out! consulting firms, YMCA, IBM, the world of non-profit: world relief, world vision, UW, catering companies, hotels, even job listings on craigslist!

do i want the perfect job? yes. but what i'd like more is for every time i sit down and order a cup of coffee-which is rather frequent-to not have to think to myself, "how am i going to pay for this? i don't have a job!" because really, nobody should be plagued with such thoughts when they should just be savoring a good cup o' joe.

tomorrow i will apply at starbucks.

someone told me today that i was one of the most beautiful people they had ever known.

it was a good day.

beginnings...

i woke up this morning acutely aware that my life has just completely changed. i'll be okay, it just hit me in a new wave today...actually, it hadn't hit me at all before so i guess this is the first wave. i went running and life seemed so much better after that.

i've eaten a lot of berries since being here in seattle. we have a blackberry bush in our backyard. almost every meal i've picked blackberries to eat, which reminds me of the house of grew up in. we used to have a blackberry bush in our backyard. that blackberry bush was wilder than i was and it was thorny, we would always get stuck when we tried to pick the berries but it was worth it.

yesterday i took my first bus into town and went to pikes place market. i bought some flowers from a vender, some cheese from beecher's and some fresh mussels from a nice man who told me he loved my freckles. i went home and cooked the mussels into possibly the most delicious dish i've ever made!

i like my life here.