Mama Mia!

No FEAR

I did a lot of what I said I would yesterday. I even planted some new plants in the planter in the front yard and watered. Norma, a rep from another college close by, called and asked me if I was still interested in seeing the movie "Mama Mia". I told her yes I was. So we decided to go to the newly added on theater at the mall. It just opened July 18th. They also put in an AMC on the third floor. The movie was a chick flick and was VERY good. It was very entertaining. Dave would have hated it though. I was glad to have spared him.

I had never been there before since they had done the renovations. I parked... went into the mall... went up one set of escalators that lead to the second floor and a food court, I had to walk around to the next set of escalators to get to the second floor. I was so busy looking at all that was new I didn't take note of the glass and openness to the escalator area. I stepped onto the escalator and THEN I noticed. All of a sudden I could see down to the first floor. I have a fear of heights that I tend to forget I have. Have you heard of anyone like that?

While I am riding the escalator I am doing a lot of self talk, such as "don't look down, look ahead", "you ride these all the time, just because this one is in mid air is no big deal", "the ride will be over soon" etc. I can feel my hands, feet, and lots of other parts start to tingle with panic. I added another thought "this feeling is stupid". Ok, then I made it to the top and stepped off. I walk up to Norma who could see my face. I explained that I am a little afraid of heights. I can fly. I can even right in glass elevators such as the Space Needle. I can handle on flight of stairs. But two, I seem to not do well. Why? I have no idea.

A couple of years ago we went to visit a lighthouse. I was so excited. Just like a kid, I ran up all the stairs to the top. All was well. When it was time to go, Dave went down the stairs with Aaron. I took a couple of steps and I froze. I tried it again watching only the wall so I could see through the steps below. I froze again. I couldn't turn around or go down. Dave called up to me and I said "You guys better get up here" I could hear both Dave and Aaron trying both to climb the slim staircase at the same time. They couldn't get past each other. I stood up on the stairs frozen, except for my eyes which were rolling because of the scene below. I had to put my hand on Dave's shoulder and follow him down. His body blocked the view. I guess going up into the Statue of Liberty might be not a good idea for me if I ever found myself there. Will it stop me from going to that theater to see a movie? No. Even though there is an elevator, I would try to over come the fear. After all, I made it once already. :-)

Norma and I then had dinner at the Olive Garden. I chose to have a salad since I had to make up for my veggie portions today. I've also had a lot of ice tea. We will see if I can get to sleep but I love ice tea.

Monday... Monday... So Good to Me :-)

Summer Mondays Off

The entire month of August I have each Monday off. Last Monday I went with Renee to Bellevue to go shopping at Goodwill. An idea that paid off :-) Next week I am going to Ellensburg (in the middle of Washington state) to Central University to give support to Renee while she has a job interview. She left our college to go back to work at Central. But they had to create the job to get her back. All last year she was the "interim" and she has to interview for the position now. There isn't any reason that she wouldn't get the position unless someone was a better "fit" (which I can't see happening since she has worked with them a total of 9 years). So, today and the 26th are mine alone! I was so excited about that option that I woke up early just to have more of it. No use sleeping it away.

Auburn Good Ol Days fair is over. It was easy to get it packed up and taken back to the college. I actually got to walk around this time a little because there were three of us in the booth. So, I went to some of my favorite stores... one being an antique store. I found a few things. A book to read and some thing for Kari. For her birthday or Christmas. Birthday shopping is something I could do today. I have Dave's and Riley's this month (even though I have one myself). It is a busy month for birthdays.

So, I am going to end this post and get going. Picture me on the deck with ice tea in one hand and a book in the other. That is my goal today to relax. Maybe do this and that... when I want to do it.

Sunday

Sunday

As most of you know, I don't post usually on Sundays. I preschedule this notice ahead of time. I do know that I plan go to church and to work at the Auburn Good Ol Days booth for the college, take down the canopy, tables, and things. Then take it back to the college. I will have tomorrow off and I do not know what I will be doing. Probably just taking it easy. Norma a rep from another community college near by mentioned meeting at the new theater in town and seeing "Mama Mia" which is TOTALLY a chick flick. Have a great day!

Another Long Day

I spent 5 hours on an interview committee yesterday. Needless to say, after 5 hours of listening to interviews, I was tired. Not from "doing" but from thought etc. It was hard to sit there for 5 hours. I keep watching the clock. The only good thing to say about it is that it is over. I don't know where it will lead us. We have our recommendations as a committee... and there you go.

No sooner we were done with that task, we had to pack the van and drive to Auburn. We set up the booth in record time. I guess we have had lots of practice lately. Lindsey and I went to eat at The Pit... and Renee came by to visit with us. We talked about last year when Renee had her last day in Outreach with us this very day.

I remember that day very well. I was so depressed when Renee left her position. She had brought a ray of sunshine into a very bleak place. I didn't know then that it would get worse the next few months. Kari had her situations during the year that made me anxious and feeling hopeless. I have been looked at as not being valued because I am the oldest in the department. It did begin to get better little by little as the year went on. One thing that I fine fantastic is that Renee and I have continued to be good friends (adopted sisiters).

Time is such a big thing in my life... managing it, waiting on the Lord, coordinating it, make time, find more of it, etc. I never take it for granted and I never "waste" time like I use to when I was younger. I suppose that is true with us all. I seem to think about it a lot though. I am always "checking" myself to see if I am doing what I should be doing and maintaining a balance between work and play.

Today is a day off. I don't have to work a shift at the fair in Auburn, in which I am thankful. I am not sure what I will do with my day. I know that I will have the boys at some point and I would like to do something fun with them. Summer days and fun are becoming limited, so I have to make the best of them.

Have a great weekend!

On a Summer's Eve

Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband

Last night I decided to take Riley to the lake to see a concert in the park. We picked up some chicken & drink and then headed over to find ourselves a place to lay out the picnic blanket. The band playing this week was Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband. Mountain music meets the modern world! This quintet delivers a whole lot of fun with their energetic mix of acoustic, rock and country music that can be described as Post-Hee Haw-Funkadelic-Hip Hop-New Grass!

It was a beautiful night. Just like one dreams of in the middle of winter and dreaming of summer's warmth and joys (that was for you Julie). I will have to bring up these pictures in the months ahead. Above is the stage. Below is the lake to the right of the stage where we were sitting on our blanket. And the next photo is even a little further to the right. I was glad that I took the time out to enjoy a little taste of summer. I often tell you that I live "between the lines" of life. Which is what I should have named my blog. That is what I will call the next blog. Anyway, what I mean by that is; that we do what we must such as work at home and our jobs but it is in the moments such as these is when "real" living takes place. It doesn't have to take any money and it doesn't mean you have to travel very far. It does have to do with enjoying the moments and taking time out. When I go on a vacation somewhere, I end up needing a vacation from the vacation. So, it seems logical to me to try to find the nuggets of time where one can really vacation, even if it is in your own backyard.

Below Riley wanted me to take a picture with him on top of the rock he climbed up on. He is facing the sunset so the photo is a little bright in his face.

My education fair wasn't anything to write home about :-) Remember when I told you to pray for guidance in a "situation" about 3 weeks ago? Well, I had interviewed for Susie's job at the University of WA, Tacoma. Over 100 applied for the job, I was told. Only 6 people were choosen to interview and I was one of them! I hadn't heard anything about the job for three weeks which I figured was a bad sign. Today, one of the other college reps at the fair told the others that she had got the job. One of my close friends heard and came over to tell me so that I wouldn't find out in conversation. I know Fiona (Director at UWT) and she would be upset to find out that I learned the news this way. It was a bit unprofessional. There maybe 4 other people out there wondering if they got the job or not. I was a little disappointed but I had asked for direction in prayer. In the future, we will see why. Now I have to trust that I am where I am suppose to be.

Anyway, I was able to talk to Susie yesterday to let her know that I did not get the job. She is busy trying to find funding for the bookstore. Little by little that is coming together. She just wishes that it would come together a little faster. We all can understand that :-)

Today I will be on the interviewing committee again for the Director of Outreach. I did not apply for this position because it is an administrative position. I would not like being in that role. I enjoy too much working with the public; high school students and the community. Yes, it is more money, but everything isn't money. It would ruin my health. But, for today, I get to watch some people sweat on an interview. One thing is for sure... when you are on the hiring side, you learn a lot on how to interview. And still, it has all to do with the "right fit". It is nothing personal.

The evening will be taken up with setting up for the Auburn Good Ol Days festival. I won't be getting home until about 9 pm or so. This one is the second to the last fair of the season. The last one is the Puyallup Fair... it's big but I will explain more when the time comes in September.

Have a great weekend!