Write about a time you got in BIG trouble as a kid? (from Mama Kat's writing workshop)
My memories don't include any moments I got in BIG trouble. I'm sure I talked back to my mom, fought with my sisters and participated in toilet papering someone's house. But never anything I considered BIG trouble. I do remember a time when I felt like I was in BIG trouble even though I had no idea what I did.
We went to a private Christian school and even went to their preschool program which they called K4. Since it was a private school they had their own conservative rules even a dress code that today would make most people shudder. I can't recall all the specifics but I definitely know we had to wear dresses that went well past our knees. It didn't bother me when I was only four years old because I basically wore whatever my mom picked out for me. One morning my mom gave me a new outfit to wear. This outfit was kind of cool because they were koolats, shorts that were made to look like a skirt. Being the tomboy that I was I liked the idea of not really wearing a dress. I went to school proud of my new outfit. I felt confident and ready to tackle my preschool letters.
As I went about my day I could tell the teachers were talking about me. I knew they loved my new koolats. There eyes would light up, they would look at me from head to toe and then start whispering to each other as if they didn't want to talk about their favorite student in front of the others. Maybe I should start wearing some cooler clothes especially if I got this extra attention from the teachers.
One of my teachers slowly made her way over to me. She reached over with a piece of paper and safety pin in her hand and pinned the paper to me. Pinned it right to my shirt. I had no idea what it said or what it was for. Inside I wanted to cry. I was embarrassed even thought I didn't know what it felt like to be embarrassed. I could feel all eyes on me and everyone else questioning what was going on.
I stayed brave and walked with as much confidence as my little four year old self could muster. I saw my mom waiting in her car for me. She opened the door of the car and asked "How was your day?" In that instant the tears came pouring out and I couldn't stop crying. I was in BIG trouble for something but I still didn't know what it was.
My mom saw the letter, unpinned it and opened it up to read it.
Dear Mom,
Please do not allow Janelle to wear these shorts to school anymore. They do not follow our dress code.
Thank you!
I was still crying. My mom comforted me and reassured me that I was not in trouble and in fact it was her that was in BIG trouble.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Mushroom prank
When I was in college my dislike for mushrooms was pretty strong. I did not like it on or near anything I ate. If they were on a pizza, which they often were, I couldn't just pick them off. I had to order a completely new pizza slice. If a mushroom touched it I didn't want anything to do with it.
My roommates knew this about me and were very surprised when I actually bought a can of mushrooms for a pizza making party. (This clearly shows how much I loved my roommates and the friends we had over).
After the party was over we still had half a can of mushrooms left. Not wanting to waste food, being on a college budget, I left the half can of mushrooms in the refrigerator. I told my roommates they could eat the rest of them.
A few days later the can of mushrooms were gone and I thought nothing of it.
Then I found them. Four plastic bags filled with mushrooms. The first bag was under my pillow. The second in my shoes. Another on the windshield of my car. And the last one I found while pulling the books out of my bookbag.
At first I was disgusted. The thought of mushrooms anywhere near my personal belonging caused me to cringe. Then I realized these mushrooms were in plastic bags and they wouldn't harm me. It was a great prank and it was done in such a way that I wouldn't really be all that mad. I have to give credit to my roommates for the creative idea that they came up with.
Since this prank my disgust for mushrooms is the same but I can handle mushrooms near my food and I don't mind picking them off. Although that wouldn't be my first choice.
My roommates knew this about me and were very surprised when I actually bought a can of mushrooms for a pizza making party. (This clearly shows how much I loved my roommates and the friends we had over).
After the party was over we still had half a can of mushrooms left. Not wanting to waste food, being on a college budget, I left the half can of mushrooms in the refrigerator. I told my roommates they could eat the rest of them.
A few days later the can of mushrooms were gone and I thought nothing of it.
Then I found them. Four plastic bags filled with mushrooms. The first bag was under my pillow. The second in my shoes. Another on the windshield of my car. And the last one I found while pulling the books out of my bookbag.
At first I was disgusted. The thought of mushrooms anywhere near my personal belonging caused me to cringe. Then I realized these mushrooms were in plastic bags and they wouldn't harm me. It was a great prank and it was done in such a way that I wouldn't really be all that mad. I have to give credit to my roommates for the creative idea that they came up with.
Since this prank my disgust for mushrooms is the same but I can handle mushrooms near my food and I don't mind picking them off. Although that wouldn't be my first choice.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Fun-guy
What food do you abhor?
It's not the taste. It's not the smell. It's not the texture. It's not the touch. It's the idea.
Mushrooms equal fungus.
Thinking of fungus causes gross unsightly images of science projects gone bad or food smashed in between couch cushions that was discovered years later. It might be considered mold, but it's also fungus.
And why would anyone want to eat fungus. But people do! They eat fungus all the time. You can find it on hamburgers, in salads, and on pizza.
What value does it add to a meal? How can fungus be good for anyone?
Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!
It's not the taste. It's not the smell. It's not the texture. It's not the touch. It's the idea.
Mushrooms equal fungus.
Thinking of fungus causes gross unsightly images of science projects gone bad or food smashed in between couch cushions that was discovered years later. It might be considered mold, but it's also fungus.
And why would anyone want to eat fungus. But people do! They eat fungus all the time. You can find it on hamburgers, in salads, and on pizza.
What value does it add to a meal? How can fungus be good for anyone?
Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Early Morning Bike Ride
My friend Jeannine is training for her 6th Ironman race. Yes, that's a full ironman. She is a little crazy but also a very sweet person and a great friend to me. I met her playing soccer and since then she has been a coach and an inspiration for my own athletic pursuits.
Last summer she agreed to take me on a few early morning bike rides. It was her "rest" day so she didn't have to go a specific distance or get her heart rate to a certain level. Thankfully she enjoyed the early morning rides as much as I did and asked if I wanted to do them again this summer. I am always nervous about riding my bike, especially on the roads with cars and othe bikers. But I know this is the best way to get me on my bike.
We went on our first bike ride last week.
With every ride I get a little bit better but since it has been more than a few months I wasn't sure how I would do. I always have to reacquaint myself with the gears, pushing and pulling trying to figure out if it would make it easier or more difficult to pedal. And as always I'm most anxious about unclipping my bike shoes. This is the most fearful thing. What if I can't unclip? Would I just fall over? Would it hurt? Would there be other people to see me? I have to push these worries out of my mind otherwise I wouldn't even get out of bed.
It was a cold morning for our first bike ride. Once we started riding it seemed like "riding a bike" which is good because that is exactly what I was doing. I love Jeannine because she is not only knowledgeable about road biking but she is so enjoyable to talk to. (As you can tell we aren't gasping for air while we ride).
We rode for about 35 minutes and then turned around. We were riding up this little hill and I was adjusting my gears trying to find the perfect one for the climb. I found it and then focused on pushing with my heels down and pulling up to get as much strength up that hill. Once I was comfortable with this I noticed to dead animals (I think they were oppossums but I didn't want to look) on the side of the road. I yelled to Jeannine something along the lines of "eww, watch out for those." I passed the first animal and was right next to the second animal when my pedals started spinning with no give. I knew I was going nowhere. I tried to unclip but failed. All I thought to myself was don't fall on the dead animal. Instead I made myself fall to the right and thankfully landed in a grassy, bushy area on a slight decline. Jeannine was a little ahead of me but saw that I had fallen. "Janelle, are you ok?" I almost wanted to laugh in return. "YES! I'm fine. I'm just SO glad I did not fall on that dead animal."
She came over to help me and I told her we needed to quickly get away. The last thing we needed was to smell a dead animal.
Yuck, Yuck, Yuck!
We have another bike ride scheduled for this week.
Last summer she agreed to take me on a few early morning bike rides. It was her "rest" day so she didn't have to go a specific distance or get her heart rate to a certain level. Thankfully she enjoyed the early morning rides as much as I did and asked if I wanted to do them again this summer. I am always nervous about riding my bike, especially on the roads with cars and othe bikers. But I know this is the best way to get me on my bike.
We went on our first bike ride last week.
With every ride I get a little bit better but since it has been more than a few months I wasn't sure how I would do. I always have to reacquaint myself with the gears, pushing and pulling trying to figure out if it would make it easier or more difficult to pedal. And as always I'm most anxious about unclipping my bike shoes. This is the most fearful thing. What if I can't unclip? Would I just fall over? Would it hurt? Would there be other people to see me? I have to push these worries out of my mind otherwise I wouldn't even get out of bed.
It was a cold morning for our first bike ride. Once we started riding it seemed like "riding a bike" which is good because that is exactly what I was doing. I love Jeannine because she is not only knowledgeable about road biking but she is so enjoyable to talk to. (As you can tell we aren't gasping for air while we ride).
We rode for about 35 minutes and then turned around. We were riding up this little hill and I was adjusting my gears trying to find the perfect one for the climb. I found it and then focused on pushing with my heels down and pulling up to get as much strength up that hill. Once I was comfortable with this I noticed to dead animals (I think they were oppossums but I didn't want to look) on the side of the road. I yelled to Jeannine something along the lines of "eww, watch out for those." I passed the first animal and was right next to the second animal when my pedals started spinning with no give. I knew I was going nowhere. I tried to unclip but failed. All I thought to myself was don't fall on the dead animal. Instead I made myself fall to the right and thankfully landed in a grassy, bushy area on a slight decline. Jeannine was a little ahead of me but saw that I had fallen. "Janelle, are you ok?" I almost wanted to laugh in return. "YES! I'm fine. I'm just SO glad I did not fall on that dead animal."
She came over to help me and I told her we needed to quickly get away. The last thing we needed was to smell a dead animal.
Yuck, Yuck, Yuck!
We have another bike ride scheduled for this week.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
My first car
Describe your first car. (Mama Kat's Writing Workshop)
My first car I had to share with my brother and sister. In fact, it was my brother's and I could use it if he wasn't using it. I really didn't have to share it with my sister because she refused to drive it. That's how special it was.
Pontiac 6000 LE. Burgundy. I can't even remember what year it was.
Since I shared it with my brother it was always on empty. He had a way of leaving it empty so that I could fill up his gas tank for him. (Some things never change because he still does this with our family. Fortunately we don't really share cars with him anymore).
The car was a boat. I always felt safe in it. Another safety feature was the fact that it didn't make it much past 35 miles per hour. If I tried driving it on the freeway I had to stay in the right hand lane because I was never sure if it would get up to the required speed limit.
The keys were always left in the ignition but no one ever took it. Toothbrushes were left on the dashboard since my brother brushed his teeth on the way to school. (the worst is when I would discover my toothbrush in the car)
The Pontiac 6000 finally died but it was always faithful.
My first car I had to share with my brother and sister. In fact, it was my brother's and I could use it if he wasn't using it. I really didn't have to share it with my sister because she refused to drive it. That's how special it was.
Pontiac 6000 LE. Burgundy. I can't even remember what year it was.
Since I shared it with my brother it was always on empty. He had a way of leaving it empty so that I could fill up his gas tank for him. (Some things never change because he still does this with our family. Fortunately we don't really share cars with him anymore).
The car was a boat. I always felt safe in it. Another safety feature was the fact that it didn't make it much past 35 miles per hour. If I tried driving it on the freeway I had to stay in the right hand lane because I was never sure if it would get up to the required speed limit.
The keys were always left in the ignition but no one ever took it. Toothbrushes were left on the dashboard since my brother brushed his teeth on the way to school. (the worst is when I would discover my toothbrush in the car)
The Pontiac 6000 finally died but it was always faithful.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Olay Grandpa
This is a great commercial that highlights the innocence of children. These girls are adorable. I love it when the littlest one says "He's gonna look like a baby."
Monday, May 9, 2011
Raspberries
My neighbors had a very large garden. They needed it to feed their eight kids, a dog, puppies, cats and various other animals. Their production was impressive. They ate a lot of fresh vegetables, canned enough for winter and even gave some to our family. In addition, they also created their own little side business which often included some of their kids sitting in the front of their yard selling vegetables. I don't think it made much of a profit but it definitely kept the kids busy for hours during the day.
One summer Brian (my neighbor who is only a few months younger than me) and I decided to walk around the neighborhood and sell flats of raspberries. It was a true lesson in making cold hard sales. We knocked on doors and politely asked if they would be willing to buy our fresh, local, handpicked, organically grown raspberries. This would be a great selling tactic today. This was not the case nearly twenty-five years ago.
After a few hours, our attempts to sell hadn't made any money. Brian knocked on the door and a lady answered. Our eyes must have told her that we just wanted a little cash so we could walk up to the grocery store to buy ourselves one piece of candy. She had to see that we were tired and all we wanted to do was go back home and play. She felt bad.
"How much are the raspberries?" she asked.
We didn't know what to say. Brian answered.. "um, $2.00 for the flat."
"Ok, I'll buy it."
"You will?" Brian and I looked at each other and smiled. We had made a sale.
The lady went to get her money and handed it to Brian. Brian picked up the flat of raspberries and reached to hand it to her when the unthinkable happened. I don't know if he tripped or he thought she had taken it but the flat of raspberries fell on to the white carpet.
This very caring thoughtful wonderful lady could tell we were embarrassed. She assured us to not worry about it, let us keep our money and sent us on our way.
Brian and I retired from selling raspberries door to door and stuck with selling homemade lemonade.
One summer Brian (my neighbor who is only a few months younger than me) and I decided to walk around the neighborhood and sell flats of raspberries. It was a true lesson in making cold hard sales. We knocked on doors and politely asked if they would be willing to buy our fresh, local, handpicked, organically grown raspberries. This would be a great selling tactic today. This was not the case nearly twenty-five years ago.
After a few hours, our attempts to sell hadn't made any money. Brian knocked on the door and a lady answered. Our eyes must have told her that we just wanted a little cash so we could walk up to the grocery store to buy ourselves one piece of candy. She had to see that we were tired and all we wanted to do was go back home and play. She felt bad.
"How much are the raspberries?" she asked.
We didn't know what to say. Brian answered.. "um, $2.00 for the flat."
"Ok, I'll buy it."
"You will?" Brian and I looked at each other and smiled. We had made a sale.
The lady went to get her money and handed it to Brian. Brian picked up the flat of raspberries and reached to hand it to her when the unthinkable happened. I don't know if he tripped or he thought she had taken it but the flat of raspberries fell on to the white carpet.
This very caring thoughtful wonderful lady could tell we were embarrassed. She assured us to not worry about it, let us keep our money and sent us on our way.
Brian and I retired from selling raspberries door to door and stuck with selling homemade lemonade.
Friday, May 6, 2011
I have a problem
I think there might be something wrong with me. I don't think this is normal but these are feelings that are real and a little crazy or strange and lucky for me I can write about them here.
I have 3 boys. That is not my problem. The oldest two are about 17 months apart and the difference between #2 and #3 is 19 months. This is the first time I have made it to a first birthday (of one of my sons) without being pregnant.
Today I had some time to organize their clothes as they are growing and some of the clothes are now too little. I was putting away 12 month clothes and filling the drawers with 18 month clothes. I took 18 month and 2T clothes out of #2's drawer and put those in #3's drawer. This made me sad. It makes me want another baby and this is why I think I have a problem.
Is this normal? Well, I know I want more kids but is it normal to have these feelings. Are other moms happy to be done with a stage? It was so sad to me to see clothes that #2 was JUST wearing ready for #3 to fit into very soon. And what about all those baby clothes that #3 can't even squeeze into. I'm so glad I know I want more because I just don't know what I'm going to do when I have to put all these clothes in the donation pile.
Maybe I need some counseling but really I just need prayer if and when I am blessed with another baby.
I have 3 boys. That is not my problem. The oldest two are about 17 months apart and the difference between #2 and #3 is 19 months. This is the first time I have made it to a first birthday (of one of my sons) without being pregnant.
Today I had some time to organize their clothes as they are growing and some of the clothes are now too little. I was putting away 12 month clothes and filling the drawers with 18 month clothes. I took 18 month and 2T clothes out of #2's drawer and put those in #3's drawer. This made me sad. It makes me want another baby and this is why I think I have a problem.
Is this normal? Well, I know I want more kids but is it normal to have these feelings. Are other moms happy to be done with a stage? It was so sad to me to see clothes that #2 was JUST wearing ready for #3 to fit into very soon. And what about all those baby clothes that #3 can't even squeeze into. I'm so glad I know I want more because I just don't know what I'm going to do when I have to put all these clothes in the donation pile.
Maybe I need some counseling but really I just need prayer if and when I am blessed with another baby.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Ode to my soccer mom.
You are the definition of a soccer mom.
Playing on your own team.
Coaching our teams.
Practicing my soccer skills with me in the backyard.
Your enthusiasm for sports is contagious.
A fall sunday does not go by without football on TV.
Your competitiveness, I'm afraid, has been inherited.
My heart races and my blood pressure rises when cheering for my favorite team.
You have brought joy to my life through the love of sports.
Thank you for being my soccer mom so that I can now become a soccer mom!
I love you Mom!
Playing on your own team.
Coaching our teams.
Practicing my soccer skills with me in the backyard.
Your enthusiasm for sports is contagious.
A fall sunday does not go by without football on TV.
Your competitiveness, I'm afraid, has been inherited.
My heart races and my blood pressure rises when cheering for my favorite team.
You have brought joy to my life through the love of sports.
Thank you for being my soccer mom so that I can now become a soccer mom!
I love you Mom!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
A Casual Date
I didn't date much. It wasn't really my choice. No one really asked me out. Ok, it might be a bit of an exaggeration but growing up I felt like I really wasn't that comfortable with dating and boys and all that other stuff. The few dates that I have been on are memorable mostly because they were few and far between. With each one I learned lessons about myself but more importantly about some dating etiquette (or rules).
I would like to express my apology to this guy for writing about him and for squandering his date.
In high school I was well known for a few reasons. I was the younger sister and an older sister. This status alone instantly gave me "friends" and maybe a few "enemies". I played sports. Although I wasn't that great, our teams weren't that great. In our high school I was an athlete. Nonetheless people knew me. I got along with everyone, I think.
After high school and college when I was trying to figure out what to do with my life I "ran" into a guy (I'm not sure if I should call him a boy, man or guy) from high school. He was a year older than me (so in my sister's class) and very nice. I know it took him quite a bit of courage to ask for my phone number and then to give me a call to ask me out. I really had no interest in this guy and really didn't want to rekindle a friendship or make a new friendship because I felt it would be too awkward. Since my dating history was pretty sparse I thought that I should try something different and actually go out with someone.
I agreed to join him on a date. Being the gentleman that he was he left our date a "suprise". Really, it's a very nice gesture but in hindsight "surprise" dates should be saved for the third or fourth date with someone.
I asked him all the important details. What time? Where do we meet? How long? What should I wear?
6:00. My house. Be home around 11:00. Wear something casual.
My old navy sweatshirt and my jeans with a small hole in the knee was my idea of casual. I thought we would go to a bowling alley or do something active. After all I was a high school athlete.
When I arrived at his house he was dressed in a nice dress shirt and khaki pants. I looked at myself and said "hmmm, I think I may have underdressed". Being the genetleman that he was he left to change out of his khakis and into jeans to make me feel a little more comfortable. (at this point I couldn't drive back to my house to change because we would be late for our date)
We saw Rent at the 5th Avenue Theater among many people dressed in black ties and evening dresses.
It was a casual date.
I would like to express my apology to this guy for writing about him and for squandering his date.
In high school I was well known for a few reasons. I was the younger sister and an older sister. This status alone instantly gave me "friends" and maybe a few "enemies". I played sports. Although I wasn't that great, our teams weren't that great. In our high school I was an athlete. Nonetheless people knew me. I got along with everyone, I think.
After high school and college when I was trying to figure out what to do with my life I "ran" into a guy (I'm not sure if I should call him a boy, man or guy) from high school. He was a year older than me (so in my sister's class) and very nice. I know it took him quite a bit of courage to ask for my phone number and then to give me a call to ask me out. I really had no interest in this guy and really didn't want to rekindle a friendship or make a new friendship because I felt it would be too awkward. Since my dating history was pretty sparse I thought that I should try something different and actually go out with someone.
I agreed to join him on a date. Being the gentleman that he was he left our date a "suprise". Really, it's a very nice gesture but in hindsight "surprise" dates should be saved for the third or fourth date with someone.
I asked him all the important details. What time? Where do we meet? How long? What should I wear?
6:00. My house. Be home around 11:00. Wear something casual.
My old navy sweatshirt and my jeans with a small hole in the knee was my idea of casual. I thought we would go to a bowling alley or do something active. After all I was a high school athlete.
When I arrived at his house he was dressed in a nice dress shirt and khaki pants. I looked at myself and said "hmmm, I think I may have underdressed". Being the genetleman that he was he left to change out of his khakis and into jeans to make me feel a little more comfortable. (at this point I couldn't drive back to my house to change because we would be late for our date)
We saw Rent at the 5th Avenue Theater among many people dressed in black ties and evening dresses.
It was a casual date.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Electron Boy
A few weeks ago we were able to attend a dinner with the Sounders. This dinner was hosted by some friends who bid on it a Make-A-Wish auction. It was a very fun night especially since we are big Sounders fans.
Our Local Make-A-Wish organization granted a wish that I will always remember. Just thinking about it causes my heart to melt. The simple story is a boy's wish was to be a super hero. The creative team at Make-A-Wish devised a plan and turned him into Electron Boy. You can read more about it here.
Through the wonderful world of social media Electron Boy became pretty famous and even had a comic book made for him. We ordered five of them.
I think about this little boy and his story so often. It makes me sad knowing there are kids with terminal illnesses. Now that I am a mother I have more empathy for the parents. On the flip side, it gives me great joy knowing there are organizations and people in this world that truly care for others.
Now I'm praying Electron Boy will be able to save many more people from electrical outages or whatever he is needed for.
Our Local Make-A-Wish organization granted a wish that I will always remember. Just thinking about it causes my heart to melt. The simple story is a boy's wish was to be a super hero. The creative team at Make-A-Wish devised a plan and turned him into Electron Boy. You can read more about it here.
Through the wonderful world of social media Electron Boy became pretty famous and even had a comic book made for him. We ordered five of them.
I think about this little boy and his story so often. It makes me sad knowing there are kids with terminal illnesses. Now that I am a mother I have more empathy for the parents. On the flip side, it gives me great joy knowing there are organizations and people in this world that truly care for others.
Now I'm praying Electron Boy will be able to save many more people from electrical outages or whatever he is needed for.
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