Randomest Reese's

I love Reese’s peanut butter cups. A rare indulgence since they contain a lot of yuck my body can hardly handle, I still after all my years of living retain a very specific method of consuming said glorious treats:

1.     Unwrap goody

2.     Annoyedly peal off paper cup

3.     Crumble paper cup

4.     Wrap crumple into foil wrapping so that no paper shows

5.     Nibble poky edges off peanut butter cup

6.     Bite top of peanut butter cup off and eat quickly

7.     Place bottom half of peanut butter cup (the part loaded with peanut butter) carefully in pie hole and savor like it’s the last thing I’ll ever eat again.

I have no idea why I eat peanut butter cups like this. It’s such a routine for me that I get slightly upset when a peanut butter cup doesn’t split right when I go to bite the top off. I remember this even being an annoyance when I was in the fourth grade. In my mind, the failure to split evenly is a real dilemma, though I’ve never externally expressed it in any way until now.  

Do you eat things weirdly, or am I the only one?

Colorful, Dreary World

 What a world we live in. Some days, it seems so bright and happy, while others it seems dismal and gray. Yesterday, I woke up to clouds hanging over the Ozarks with temperatures flirting with freezing. It was the first day of school: Spring semester 2015 at OTC. I didn't fight too badly to get out of bed only because my wonderful husband bought us a pretty little stain-glass light bulb (Yay for clearance sales!) and I was all too eager to turn it on. It brought me such happiness despite my grogginess that I decided to match it brilliance in my attire......

 

 

 

Walking to school

Upon arrival to campus, my get-up immediately turned heads downward, simultaneously painting smirks on the faces of everyone I passed. In turn, I too couldn't help but smile. Some people would grin and turn to their neighbor to whisper. An occasional few would compliment my little rainbow. No, I didn't dress this way to attract attention (good gracious, that's the last thing on my mind.) and no I didn't do it to make a statement. I did it simply to add a splash of color in a gray world and to even slightly saturate a (in my opinion) dull campus.

Chillin' in the chiroporactor's office

Not only did I go to school yesterday, but I visited the chiropractor as well. There too I received the same reactions as earlier in the day with the added puzzlement from the Amish visitors. Oops.

Needless to say that despite my lack of sleep combined with academic anxiety, I had a fun day.

Dumpster Diving Diva

The holidays are over: decorations are coming down, Christmas carols are getting lost into new playlists on the radio, kiddos are lining up at bus stops to go back to school, and everyone is throwing away....stuff. Yes, people are throwing away tons and tons of stuff!

Yesterday I went on a walk/run with my mom's and my dog. We took a slightly different-then-usual route, cutting through the neighborhood rather than all the way around, this way we could hit the big hill. Anytime I ran I was practically dragging both of my furry friends since they're much more out of shape than I, making me feel better about myself in a pathetic way.

We started down a street I always forget the name of and saw that every single house had sitting on the curb at least one overflowing trash can with a pile of things that didn't fit neatly (for the most part) stacked beside it. Not only was it garbage day, but also recycling day, meaning that each house also had beside the garbage can, a recycling can, also filled to the brim. Normally I wouldn't care except that instead of running on the sidewalk, I'd have to run in the street, but this time, I couldn't help but take notice, both dogs as well, that rather than mounds of filth, as would be the norm, these were mountains of buried treasure.

I've never before truly rummaged through people's home trash- only at CBC and MSU at the end of the semesters- but this time looked promising just from a glance. First, a small (about 4 foot) Christmas tree caught my attention. It was a fake, but it had those little fiberoptic thingies on the branches that change color when turned on, so I investigated. When I looked more closely, I saw that it also had a strand of white lights wrapped around it, indicating that the fiberoptics probably didn't work. Other than that it looked perfect. I noted it in my brain and carried on. A few houses down I spotted a huge box of books all to be carelessly thrown away. I began to rummage through and found that most of them were in nearly-new condition. Others had obviously been read more than once, but were still in good condition, I began setting apart which ones looked interesting and others that didn't, but then I heard a loud rumble rumble screeeeeeech!!! I looked up- so did the dogs- and saw the garbage truck resting in front of a house with a garbage can lifting into the air above it and roughly shaking loose its contents. I jumped up from a squatting position, noticed that the truck was a couple blocks down yet and on the opposite side of the street. Yes, I have time.

The dogs and I took off at a quick run up the slight incline and towards Mom's house, both the tubby pups blissfully ignorant to the reason behind the scurry, both too concentrated on not collapsing from too sudden of a fat run.

We reached the house and my plan was to let them inside, hop in my car, and hury back to my unclaimed treasures. To my dismay; however, I realized that I'd lost the garage door opener somewhere along the walk! This was my only key to getting inside. My solution: put the dogs in the back yard and hope they don't jump the fence. I sprinted back to the garbage pile just as the truck was rounding the corner after the treasure house. The pile was still there. The garbage man was likely coming back to that side of the road after his perimeter sweep. I grabbed the entire box of books, scooped up the Christmas tree, and started back to Mom's. At first, my confidence had me powerwalking with a slight bounce- as much a bounce as pounds of books and Christmas foliage would allow, but as I cleared the block, I suddenly because sore as invisible needles shot into my biceps all at once, revealing the true strength, or lack thereof of my upper body. I paused and shifted weight, then continued on. Determined to make it back with enough time to get changed for work which was in 45 minutes, I paused only briefly each time I felt I would drop something. This was too good a find to pass up. Fortunately I found the garage door opener on the way back.

When I reached the house, the dogs were eager to see what I brought back. They sniffed everything so that I'm sure there's still a layer of snot on every book. I tested the Christmas tree: the fibers were out but the light strand was perfect. All in all, my plunder consisted of one 4' Christmas tree, 20 devotional/Bible study books, two still-wrapped-yet-recycled newspapers, a journal of Bible notes, 22 novels, and a receipt for an AGCU bank deposit. Now that's a find! We plan to keep all the devotional and study books, but the novels (all war histories) we plan to sell. Perhaps it'll make a dent in my textbook costs for school.

Need another bookshelf.

Fantastical New Years Resolutions

Every year it seems I hear people talk about how they are going to make more of this year than last year. They're going to make resolutions to better themselves in ways they hadn't before, or perhaps try new things they'd always wanted to in the past, but for some reason, they're going to actually do it this time round. I think the most popular resolution is to lose weight. Many people resolve to watch less TV, raise their grades, eat less junk, of be a better person in general (whatever that means.)

Happy fantastical new year from the Kiefer's

I've never made a New Years resolution before. I've never thought of it as a thing I could actually stick to, let along make, and so I've just never tried. I've briefly considered an attempt at making a resolution, but what would I resolve to do?....that's where I'd always stop.

BUT!

This year IS different. The past seven months has been nothing but "resolutions" of sorts, being newly married and all. I figure why stop at making changes now, since the first year is nothing but. So, this 2015 year, I not only decided upon one resolution, but a bit of a list that I give permission to everyone to in order that I may remain accountable. (They are ranked in order of attainability)

1. Get fit: Sure, it may sound a little vague, but to get moving in general is a noble start.
2. Raise my GPA: This is in fact a challenge since not only have I never been particularly keen on the standardized teaching styles used in schools, but hate school in general.
3. Blog weekly: For the past year and a half, going on two, I've really slacked off. While, yes, blogging can be quite a chore to keep up with, I absolutely love doing it and once I execute the publication of a new post, I always feel such relief and accomplishment.
4. De-stress: This would seriously make my day and everyday thereafter.
5. Write a book: I've already begun my second book. Having already written and published one already (which is now available as a second edition), I have personal confirmation that it is indeed possible....and completely fulfilling on multiple levels.
6. Make a new friend: This has never been an area of expertise of mine. Perhaps I'm too judgmental or maybe a bit antisocial in general, but I truly wish to make a friend I know will be there regardless of how human I am (which is 100%). While this point may offend some people, maybe it'll challenge others to reaffirm our friendship.
7. GRADATE: This would make me cry such tears of joy that my skin would likely and in a very gruesome way melt the skin off my face, a scar I'd find worth carrying for the rest of my life. This would be my AA degree and while I know some have been adamant in their urging me to pursue a BA, MA, and blah blah blah A, I want to only focus on my AA of four years right now. I'll save the other degrees for later....365 days from now... or later.

What are YOUR resolutions. What are your plans for fulfilling those resolutions? Can we do them together? Wanna be accountability partners? I'm genuinely interested in your ideas.

Showers

Growing up I've always had incredibly controversial feelings in regards to bathing/showering. When I was a child I remember it being nearly impossible to get me into the tub, but once I was in, nearly impossible to get me out.

I wasn't particularly fond of being wet (nor am I today.) I've always had sensitive skin, likely to my detriment. Something about water water trickling down my epidermis always seemed to bother me in some colossal way. I didn't mind being wrapped in a towel, but if I actually had to wipe water away rather than receive permission to lounge in my towel awhile to air-dry, a tantrum usually followed suit.

Into my preteen and early teen years my tantrums evolved into more of pouty silent treatments which would in themselves result in refusal to shower altogether. All in all, I admit my hygiene habits were less than stellar during my middle school/junior high days.It wasn't until late high school that I finally figure it out: The quicker the shower, the sooner it ended! Not only that, but if I showered first or after everyone else had gone to bed, I could air-dry regardless of permission. It was for this reason that I to this day despise morning showers. (I'm sure my mother is laughing at the recollected horror.)

This evening; however, I experience a very rare thing: a near-perfect shower. The water was warmer than usual. I showered quickly using a lovely peppermint scrub I received for Christmas on a soft washcloth. The heat kicked in just as I finished. I cracked the door just slightly to retain the steamy heat in the bathroom, but just wide enough to accelerate air-drying. I blow-dried my hair to the perfect wet:dry ratio, the sort necessary for my fine, long hair to resist complete soakage, yet remain perfectly French-braided overnight. (I look forward to the luscious waves that will squiggle down my head and over my shoulders when I remove the braid in the morning.) I clothed myself in over-sized fleece Long Johns and a frumpy long-sleeved shirt and succeeded in maintaining every ounce of warmth felt in the shower as I dashed into the bedroom and leaped into freshly changed linens. The only thing that couldn't possibly made my experience truly perfect is if I had used my fluffy, blue towel in place of the border-line rag, and if my husband, rather than being at work, was here to snuggle me to sleep.  

First Christmas

Ah, Christmas. The one holiday nationally referred to as “The most wonderful time of the year.” It’s a time when families gather, friends congregate, and other distant relations recognize each other for once in the past 365 days simply to wish one another a good one; a time to celebrate the first coming of the Christ and declare to the world differently from how we do other days of the year the love of our Savior for all of mankind. 

This Christmas, I have a special something, or someone more like, to celebrate with. I am blissfully wed to my bestest friend, the reason I am particularly excited to celebrate this holiday season. In establishing our own new traditions, which are completely influenced by the sheer anticipation of another first, we decided to begin an “official” celebration on Christmas Eve-Eve. All to thrilled wait for Christmas day anyway, we chose to bestow gifts upon each other early before the festivities with extended family began. Strategically, we opted to gift the “best for first” so that they wouldn’t homogenize with all the others especially during all-encompassing festivities. I’ve never personally been particularly enlivened by the receiving of gifts, but this year was an exception (after the gift was opened of course.) I believe the fun of it was amplified due to our mutual pleasure in giving the gifts, making the exchange all the more worthwhile. 

I don’t normally openly advertise my receptions and distribution of Christmas, but this time I’m too excited not to brag. My sainted husband gifted me this year a potter’s wheel (I very much enjoy pottery and throwing clay as a hobby and ideal, possible future occupation,) however; this is not just any potter’s wheel.  Aaron built me this wheel with his bare, creative hands. Scrounging for any free moment he could find, he delicately and most thoughtfully constructed this fabulous piece of machinery with every ounce of love, meaning more to me than the gift itself. Easily transportable and cleanable, the wheel proves the perfect size for a humbly sized home. Barely smaller than the size I’m used to, I think I’ll find no problem in throwing pottery of the same proportions I normally would on a “normal” wheel. I can’t wait to try it!

Diary of an Insomniac

The brain, is an intriguing and complex organ (I know little about it so that's all I can really accurately say about it.) My brain particularly; however, is rather...unique. This is not to say that yours is not, though mine is unique from yours. To avoid getting all intellectual about it (oh, sweet irony) and in some cases, theological, I'll get on with my downright cockamamie, and absurdly random thought.

My brain has the greatly inconvenient difficulty, borderline incapability of turning off. No, I do not mean that I am nearly immortal/incapable of dying. I refer to the shutting down process a normal human's brain experiences in order to put an individual to sleep and rest and recuperate.

What in the world does that mean?

Well,  this means that I, when trying to make my way toward bedtime and drift off into dreamland, my brain suddenly experiences a degree of hyper-arousal, or "a state of increased psychological and physiological tension." Simply put, I can't mentally find a stopping point to my day. Medical experts say this is typically acquired after an exceptionally stressful or traumatizing event, major life changes, or alteration in health- all of these I've happened to experience over the past year and a half. 

So, here are some of the thousands of random thoughts/unrests that run through my mind on a nightly basis when attempting slumber:
     10:20 pm
I'm tired.
Ugh, the bed is a mess. *makes bed
I'm going to bed now *crawls into freshly made bed *stares at ceiling for a half hour
I'm uncomfortable *strips bed completely and changes sheets.
Much better... It's too quiet. *Turns on Christmas music and Christmas lights.
I need to call the maintenance guy tomorrow *set TO DO alarm on phone for following day
I need to sew that hole in Aaron's shirt *Sets TO DO alarm on phone for following day
I'm working tomorrow afternoon *sets TO DO alarm on phone for following day
    11:30pm
*ends up writing TO DO list on paper with many more miniscule tasks that don't really need to be done soon, but probably at some point within my remaining time on earth.
I'm tired. *goes back to bed
I didn't like dinner. I should note the recipe and avoid it again *end up journaling for a half hour about everything *writes separate list of blog ideas *writes separate list of story ideas
I need to reply to that letter *writes letter
This Christmas music is too cheery for sleep *turns off radio, turns on nature sounds on iPod
I'm cold *layers in hoodie, sweats, knee-high socks
I'm hot *kicks off covers and strips hoodie
I'm cold *pulls covers back up
     1:30 am
I forgot to workout today *does shortened routine
I want to read the next Grimm fairy tale. *reads next Grimm fairy tale.... ends up reading next 5 fairy tales
    3:30 am
I should sleep *passes out in bed, wakes up 3 or 4 times throughout night, awakens early in the morning when husband returns from work, falls back asleep, wakes up again for real.
 
You get the picture. This puts bedtime usually at about 3 am with multiple wake up times throughout the night plus early rising times. Though irritating and dismally tiresome, I find a dorky humor in it all. I have to in order to avoid deeper frustration. (It's about 2:07am as I type now.) And now that I am beginning to drowse again, I completely forget my train of thought. I guess that's it for this one.


 http://www.medlink.com/medlinkcontent.asp