“Every courageous gesture we make, whether or not we think it’s successful, definitely imprints our mind in a positive way. The slightest willingness to interrupt our old habits predisposes us to greater bravery, greater strength, and greater empathy for others. No matter how trapped we feel, we can always be of benefit. How? By interrupting our defeatist story lines and working intelligently and wisely with our kleshas.” — Pema Chodron, “No Time to Lose,” Shambhala Sun, January 2006.
Tomorrow’s gonna be hotter than a devil’s butthole. It could be worse - it could be August.
I took my car into Duke and Bob’s and said, “I only have $300, and there’s something horribly wrong with my car. It’s been messed up for awhile, but I couldn’t bring it in, because I had to save up the money, and then I saved up the money, but only $300, so if the repair costs more, I’ll have to take my car back and borrow some money or something.” And the Duke and Bob guy said with a happy smile, “Well then we’ll keep the repairs to under $300!” See, that’s the kind of place that makes people want to return to. I’m just sayin’ … good customer service, nice people. Although I don’t yet know what the problem is or how much it will cost. That remains to be seen. If it’s a big problem, then obviously they will have to charge what they will have to charge.
In other news, I didn’t get picked to be a juror yesterday, because the cases up for trial settled at the last minute. When I heard the news, I was so crushed I almost cried. I wanted it to be something awesome like the Casey Anthony trial going on now, which presented a new kind of forensic evidence never before submitted in a court of law. Now that’s good stuff!!!! I spent the rest of the day yesterday depressed and ate most of a large bag of Topsy’s popcorn in a weak effort to drown my sorrows. And then I took a 2 1/2 hour nap.
I was in Georgia for several days. My brain has to recover from all the excitement. In the meantime, I shall post a note that a random small child (not yet old enough to even read or know what a “Sodomite” or “Lesbian” is) kindly gave to me in a park in Savannah, GA. The note is as follows:
Brothers and Sisters,
The hour is near when Jesus, the Mighty God will descend with the shout of the arch angel ending the world and all flesh. No man can predict the hour or the day; however signs of that event are now in evidence. Recently a great earthquake devastated Japan, and on May 19th and 20th multiple earthquakes were recorded. More earthquakes (Japan, South America, Mexico) than any other time in recorded history.
The great battle of Armageddon is being waged even as you read this letter, President Obama’s Sodomite/Lesbian army has seduced our youth and made cowards out of pastors and politicians. The family system ordained by God from the beginning is no longer a valued American standard, and the recorded holy-scriptures are blasphemed daily without fear or conviction. Sodomites and Lesbians are allowed to adopt children, baby murder (abortion) well over three million since Obama’s administration.
Jon me, Prophet in the Lord’s house and God’s final messenger that we together might return back to a true holiness as commanded. I close with the words of the Almighty Jesus …
‘Behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his works shall be’ Rev. 22: 12
Prophet H. Walker
——————————————
(so do the lesbians adopt the babies or kill the babies?)
Dude, seriously there was a tornado in the sky yesterday by KU Med center, and then the art museum had to send everybody to a “safe space” until the tornado danger went away. And then the IT people gave me a new computer at work. The craziness never ends!
Hi, I’m GOING AWAAAAAAAAY for 5 glorious days! Bye! Bye! Bye!
Two things I will miss when I am away for 5 days: 1) The digital audiobook I’m currently listening on my work computer. I know I could put it on my iPod, but that sounds hard. 2) My cat Sumi. Am I the only one who feels extremely guilty leaving my cat alone for any length of time? Friends are coming over to feed/clean litter/check on her, and I’m sure I’ll be calling them at least once every day. If I want to realize my dream of becoming a “crazy cat lady” in my old age, I have to start now.
Joplin - wow, right? There was also a tornado in the town that most of my family on my dad’s side live, Osage City, KS. Nobody I know was hit, but a small town south of there, Reading, KS was hit pretty badly. Reading is really tiny though, and it’s nothing like Joplin. Now Joplin is BAD.
Tornado sirens went off in my neighborhood, and we had a good lightning/thunder storm. Usually when tornado sirens go off, people grab a beer and sit on their front porches. That’s what we did.
I bought some sandals at WalMart this weekend! Hahaha, I never thought I’d speak those words. The me who used to work at Cole Haan is mortified by the me who purchased shoes at WalMart. I’m wearing them right now, in fact. I have to admit, I kind of like them. I hope they last at least a week before they fall apart, because I want to wear them this upcoming weekend.
I know I talk about my ear **A LOT** but it freaks me out! It hasn’t stopped popping and gurgling. It’s been two months now, and it’s taking me a long time to accept the fact that I’m going to have to go to a specialist. I don’t like doctors, and I especially don’t like specialists. The last time I went to a specialist, it resulted in a surgery and removal of body part. That’s all I’m saying … .
This is a picture of my cat, Sumi:
A quick note before I leave my computer for the weekend. I’ve been doing this thing lately where I don’t use my computer at all on the weekends, and it’s pretty great.
I went to Omaha for two days. It was fun. We did a lot of stuff, some of which was NOT ON MY DIET, in particular the gelato bar and the gourmet macaroni & cheese. Those were definitely not on my diet. I attended an author event of an author I’d never heard of before, but she seems nice. She’s obviously very popular … Sarah Dessen, I think? Yeah, I don’t get out much. OMG, WAFFLES! THERE WERE WAFFLES!
There’s something horribly wrong with my car, and I drove it to St. Joseph Wednesday, back from St. Joseph yesterday, and to KCI and back today. It’s still running, tires are all still attached, and I’m still alive. Thank god, because I can’t afford to take it to the shop until mid-June. It’s probably not fit for highway travel, but as long as it holds together and moves forward, I’m gonna have to risk it. Welcome to the life of a poor librarian.
My ears are still gurgling and popping. Craig wants me to go to his ear specialist, Dr. Cullen. I think he just wants me to go because he has the same name as the vampire doctor on “Twilight.” Only disappointingly, this doctor is apparently not really a vampire.
Last night my new running partner brought a friend who, during the course of our run, casually mentioned that he’s training for a 53 mile run, which technically makes him an ultra-marathoner. I was like … “Oh yeah, so I just ran 1.3 miles and feel like I might kind of pass out and die right now.” It’s good to know people who are above your skill level so that you have something to aspire to. Right?
When you exercise a lot, there’s not much time to do anything else. I ran and made burritos last night. Oh, and placed a phone call to Delta. That’s pretty much it.
I’ve been trying to assign the seats for Pete and me online, without success, on this one Delta flight for two weeks. For some unknown reason, I can select seats for three out of four flights. What’s different about the fourth flight? I told Pete that if he calls, he’s just going to get someone in India that he can’t understand.
The representative is actually in Cape Town, South Africa. Africa … India, whatever. It’s all the same. No, says the man in South Africa, he cannot assign our seats over the phone. We can only assign our seats at the airport on the day of the flight. I’m now officially going into “white whine” mode, aren’t I? It’s bound to happen at some point! I’m American! I want my seat! Seat not happening, that’s fine though, because life is good.
I’m taking a small, two-day road trip to Omaha tomorrow and Thursday with my friend Jenny. I’ve collected a pile of books to sell to the Half Price Books in Omaha. The last time I took books in to the one in Westport, I made $111. Total score.
I leave you with a random, non-sequitur photo by the artist William Delvoye.
William Delvoye
Highlight of the weekend was discovery of a new awesome laudromat. It’s a Mexican laundromat in Rosedale, the “Rosedale Ultra Wash.” Because, I have to tell you … the laundromats in Kansas City are *NASTY*. Now, the Mexicans have it going on. They have the best grocery store and now best laundromat. I might just completely defect to the Kansas side altogether (WYCO).
I also discovered a new gum: Vortx 5 Green Apple. It’s a freak out in my mouth. It’s certainly no match for the all-time favorite: Extra Key Lime Pie gum, but it’s unusual. I eat a lot of gum. It’s probably not good for me, but I have to make it through the work day somehow, and so I need to mix it up a little every now and then. Try new things, live on the wild side, move out of the box.
I’ve secured a running buddy - we will run tonight for the first time. I’ve warned him that I’m VERY SLOW, so we’ll see how this goes. Usually when I tell people I’m slow, they don’t realize that I’m not exaggerating in the least bit. We’re talking snail’s-pace-elderly-dude-speed. I’m lucky I can even pick my feet up to shuffle my body forward.
According to one coffee roaster’s opinion, an obscure place called Revocup in Overland Park has the BEST espresso in the entire Midwest. It’s run by some Ethiopian dude who has his own coffee bean farm in Ethiopia and has been roasting for over 40 years. I kind of find this as exciting as that Chinese tea place in Crown Center that’s owned by a family who gets the tea from their tea farm in China that’s located in the high mountains of Fujian Province. How great it is that places like this exist amongst our climate of substandard corporate chain-store takeovers. There are good places out there! Seek them and you shall find.
A view from the not-so-good laundromat. Notice the prisoner bars everywhere. It’s also kind of moldy and smelly in there. Bye, bye Walnut Place!
