To Be Announced

So my first day at AGS was amazing. (Arkansas Govenors School) basically all it is a gifted and talented program for 400 select students from around Arkansas. Realistically though, it’s just a bunch of geeks who actually took the time to apply, who wanted to get away from their parents for a month. Understandable. We woke up early, planning to leave at nine, so of course we left at nine thirty, got to the campus and lugged all four of my bags and a refridgerator up a flight of stairs to my room who I share with an amazing girl named Marina. After the formal ceramonies, where we had the govenor of Arkansas as a guest speaker, there was a picnic and an orentation. I met quite a few people and they are all very …uniqe. Of course we had to do those corny meet and greet games. One game, we had to gather 17 people and hold hands. The second round, we had to find another person and stand back to back. Then 6 elbows, x number of pinkys, and so on and so forth. The card game how ever was my favorite. Each person had been given a regular playing card. And then a room full of hundreds of students, had to find the other ppl with their card. Easy enough. Then we had to split that group in half, and then in half again, until each group had about 6-8 people in it. Then we all were asked to sit down on the floor, and learn each others name. Easy. Then, we had to stand up, and grab the person across from us, right hand. Then use our left hand to hold some one elses hand. Easy enough. Then we were told we couldn’t let go of each others hands, but had to untangle our selves. Talk about an interesting experience ;) eventually we prevailed and got into a reasonable untangled circle. Then… I met Pen. Bless his heart he is too sexy for his own good! Tall, tan, blue eyes, fit too. Very sweet. Once all the groups had sat down, we were told to find an interesting talent within the group. We each went around, and found we all had really regular talents, piano, guitar, sewing, etc. Until Pen spoke up. He simply said, ” I have the talent of seducing women, I have the body of a God ya know.” I rolled my eyes and turned around. So much for being sweet! Anyways, I am ready for another day tomorrow, will I ever see his body? I guess that’s To Be Announced!

Ah, a blessing today, I had a very good friend get in contact with me via text message. He actually made the assumption that I forgot about him! Granted it’s been a few months, and I’m not always the brightest bulb in the knife drawer, I could never forget Pookie! Bless his heart, he has had a previous commitment with the Navy to attend to, so I understand not hearing from him for a while. I got the text while I was on break from work, and I sent a quick reply saying I was going to call him as soon as possible. Then I ran back to the kitchen to tell Ruby. Ruby is very near and dear to my heart, good Ole Christian lady who knows how to make me smile. I shared the news that he was back on land, and she was thrilled! Not as thrilled as I was, but close enough for a third party member. And sure enough, as soon as I got off work, I drove down the street and parked at the play ground to talk to him. Oh it was so good to hear his voice! We caught up on all the subjects, our families, our friends, our goals for the next ten years… God I couldn’t keep the smile off my face! I have always called him Pookie, and he calls me Snookums… I really don’t remember how that got started, but never the less it stuck and here we are today! He leaves in a few weeks for another 6 months, but at least now he will have access to an email account. But he also asked me to keep in mind that everything sent or recieved is read by some one other than him. Which is understandable. If I was in the government loop, I would want to know what every salior talked about with a teenage girl. Pervs. I think they do that just so they can intercept any sexy descriptions and any other “morally questionable” interaction between two non married folk. Anyways! I am very very very happy to hear from him, and I look forward to keeping in touch. Will it be done? I guess that’s To Be Announced!

Amongst an abnormal Thursday night crowd, there was a moment that I am sure to remember. Picture this, a man between middle age and elderly, covers head to foot in dirt and grease, puckering his lips like a fish, and holding his hands together and making them “swim.” That my friends, is a breaking language barrier. He and two other Hispanic workers had come to enjoy a dinner at my place of employment, AKA, Big Johns Shake Shack. Bless their heart, they couldn’t speak English! And to explain what they wanted, the eldest puckerd his lips and acted like a fish. I was confused at first, but then a fellow co worker walked behind him with a catfish plate. It only took me a second to understand after that. “Catfish?!” I said, and he got a huge grin on his face and said “si! Si! And T.” …”T?” seeing that I didn’t understand, he acted like he was gulping down a drink. Silly me. Of course! Tea! We established it was in fact sweet tea, and that the group wanted a pitcher of it to keep at the table. So being smart little ole me, I got a huge glass jar of sweet tea and set it on their table for them to enjoy. When I returned later to ask how it was, all three sat there with smiles on their faces and rubbed their bellies. Ah, I love my job during times like this. As long as a non native English speaker is willing to act, then there is no such thing as a language barrier. And of course vice versa. Will I ever see them again? I guess that’s To Be Announced!

With a flurry of activities all around, there are two faithful friends who will never let me down. Although I hAven’t been playing long at all, I find my small comforting peices that I am able to play, relaxing. I know I cannot play great clasical peices, or the latest country song, but I can play a few feel good tunes from my childhood. Men should take lessons from instruments, instead of the other way around. My piano and guitar are readly available, low maintainence, and kept clean with out smelling funny. Also, when played just right, they can respond amazingly. Interpret that anyway you wish! I am going off to bed ladies and gentlemen. Actually, as of this point, it is just gentleman. I received a comment on an earlier post entitled “The Oldies But Goodies” and I am still trying to figure out if he is a bot or a boy… Will I ever find out? I guess that’s To Be Announced!

We all have parts of our body that we dislike and despise. Some people hate their feet, some people do everything they can to hide their not so white smile. Although, I have a 4 inch scar across my throat, it’s not the least favorite part of my body. Infact it’s one of my favorites! But, I have 200 lbs that I am more than ready to get rid of. With a long dramatic health history, it’s been a near impossible feat to manage my weight. Now don’t get me wrong, iv tried different things. Alli pills were the worst. For those of you uninformed about the supposedly mirical weight loss pill, it lines the intestine so most of the fat you eat isn’t absorbed. Sounds good right? Wrong. It comes out ur back hole, bright bright bright yellow, then gets darker the longer you take it. And it is actually like oil! Cooking oil. And it stinks to the high heavens. But the worst part is, you can’t control when it decides to come out. It was the most horrible thing ever. It ruiend a lot of perfectly good pairs of underwear. It is NOT worth the money spent. I didn’t have a problem with taking the pill before every meal, and at the beggining when the oil only came out when I actually wanted it to, I was fine. But when it became an unstoppable disgusting mess, I was through. Now I’m ready to try something competly different. A lap band. It’s an adjustable band inserted around your stomach to control how much you eat. My mother ever so lovingly mentioned it to me a while back. But, you had to be 18 to even get consideration for the surgery. Well now I am 17 and 4 months old. And I am open to the possibilities of surgical weight loss. What really made me want to lose weight, was this one extremly rude, crude, and socially unexceptional lady who came by Big Johns about a month ago. She was older, had teenage kids, and she wasn’t super skinny nor super fat. That comfortable middle weight that still made her trendy but also wanting to watch her weight. So when she asked me for a refill, I thought nothing of it. She said she wanted diet coke, and I said no problem. I went around the corner, refilled her drink, and set it down on her table and said “there ya go!” with a smile and walked away. Before I was even ten paces away, I hear a womans voice call out “EXCUSE ME! BIG GIRL!” and I stop midstep. I thought to myself, surely she can’t be talking to me. But, I turned around, and sure enough, she was calling out to me. I returned to her table with dead silence around me. Everybody had heard her, and now they wanted to see my response. I took the high road, walked over, and simply said “yes ma’am?” She very rudely pointed out that I had forgotten to put her lid back on. I apologized, and went and got her lid. Ignorant people in this world. I know I’m not the skinniest person in the world, but did she really need to call me THAT infront of EVERYBODY? Oh well, I have completly gone off track. Anyways! I am considering the lap band surgery. Will I do it? That’s To Be Announced!

Oh gosh, Tuesday night is Big Johns bike night. When all the old men come out on their motorcycles to exchange exagerated stories involving eighteen wheelers, bugs as big and juicy as an apple, and of course, damsels in distress. Tonight was worse however, we had a band come and play. So along with our bike night crowd, we get all the drunk dancers and desperate men. The band was exceptionally good. Playing the “Oldies But Goodies” including some Elvis hits and even a few by ACDC. Even I, a child of the new age, was singing along. With the bikers and band, we knew we wernt closing at our regular time, but thankfully I was able to leave a little after 8 to babysit a precious child who honestly believes he is a robot. God Bless his little heart, he won’t even drink water because it would make him malfunction. Big word for a little kid! He is extremly smart though, smarter than some people I serve at Big Johns. Like the lady who ordered a cheese burger…but didn’t want cheese. Even the husband laughed at her! But to be fair, I asked him if he wanted his burger raw or cooked. He was honestly about to say raw, until his wife slapped him on the arm. Although I didn’t smell alcohol on their breath, they could have been high, and not high on life. Sigh…all is well in my world. Are more stupid people on their way? I guess that’s To Be Announced!

With a new job as a high school/ college student, it can be very stressful. This Sunday I leave for an outstanding opportunity to attend a state wide function for a month at a college about 2 hours from here. Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled to be going. It’s such an honor to be chosen to attend after such a long application process. But also, I have school summer assignments and a job. Every one says that this time of my life should be fun. Right now I’m not seeing the humor. Being gone for a month and not working is going to mess up my bills that I have always paid on time. This will also be the longest time I have ever spent away from home. Not that I’m complaining mind you, it’s just a rush, an almost over whelming rush. I will finally be able to make ALL of my own decisions. Money wise, of course I have enough saved up to get through the month, but not working leaves me with very little spending money. One again I’m not that upset, I guess the only thing I’m really upset about is not waking up early enough for today. Oh well, with my iPhone I’m sure to be blogging more. With such big changes on the way, it’s probably the only thing that will keep me sane! All this, will just have to wait. It is To Be Announced :)

     My minister is sick, and I was asked to fill in. Not uncommon. I go to a realativly small church. Country, laid back, every body knows every body.  But, once or twice a year the local mens mission comes in with thier bus full of Christ seeking men, to our church. That’s all fine and dandy…when its not me behing the stand. For one, I only had three short days filled with school and work to write a sermon. Easy enough it got done. My sermon was short and sweet and packed with praisin Jesus for sure. But, when a bus load of men comes in and fills over half of my little church…talk about nerve wracking.  Im already nervouse with just my own church members in there, but a group full of strangers? I really thought it would make giving my sermon a lot easier. You know, I probably wont ever have to see them again. Just preach and flee.  But then my mind had to go a working and I got to thinkin…they are counting on me to deliever, so thats what I am going to do! I preached a sermon like no other, and at the end, the entire santuary was filled with a joyus singing that we normally dont here from our small congregation. It was an undercover blessings for sure.

KatE photography

 Ah, if only that were true. For a high school girl, getting a job can be close to impossible. Well, getting a job for a teenage girl isnt a problem…but a legal one at a place that won’t get  shot up…that’s a diffrent story. Although I have worked at a few underground fights, in a photography studio (under the table payment), and a few other places, I have no real ”previous employers” to give.  I applied at the local eye doctor for a positionon as a phone person. Didn’t get it. My school hours get in the way. Applied quite a few other places, but school always seems to inturrupt. Just today I heard by word of mouth that the local animal hospital has a position open. So what did I do? Of course,  I went in, all smiles, chatted a moment with a little girl worried about her dog, then politely asked for a job application. Filled it out, turned it in, and walked out the door with my fingers crossed. Got home, cleanedthe kitchen, baked a cake, and now here I sit. I guess the job is To Be Announced! Wish me luck!

Being out in the country, we all tend to have mice. It’s a fact of life. This morning, I had my first TBA moment, doing some general picking up around the kitchen, the cat in the corner, the rest of the family asleep. Paying more attention to the cat, I realized that he had hold of a small tiny baby mouse. The mouse was still alive and trying his hardest to run away. Now the dog, laying on the floor, watching events unfold, suddenly decided to jump up and take the mouse away from the cat. Strange huh? The dog took the mouse into the living room and continued to bat at it with his paw and nip at it. As I watched, I began to think. Should I let this happen? As much as I realized that this was natrual order at work, I rescued the small fighting mouse and put him outside. Washed my hands. And went back to picking up stray items. It’s amazing what thoughts can pass through your mind in just a few seconds when a life is at stake, even though its a small life. My first TBA moment of the day.

KatE photography