I have issues...

Ok, no big shock to most of you... Cherie has issues. Notice, not an issue, but issues plural - one of which came to the surface today when I was working out at the gym. There I was full on plugging away with heavy duty cardio on the eliptical... doing the hill program with the resistance ramped up to level 17 about 24 minutes into a 65 minute workout and this guy gets on the machine next to me. Now, I have no problems working out next to others. I'm not big on talking to people - especially strangers - while I'm working out (which happened yesterday on another cardio machine) b/c I want my heart rate to the point where I can barely breathe, let alone talk. And fortunately this guy didn't try to talk to me but what he did was even worse! Consistently for the remainder of his workout which was about 7 minutes less than mine he snorted, hawked up stuff, and blew his nose on his shirt. EEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! And this was not a one time, but I've gotta get this mucus out of my system thing, it was a continual over and over and over again sort of thing. DISGUSTING. I shot him a few dirty looks but what I really wanted to do was spit on him (not exactly the best way to cope with my anger, I know but in all honesty it was what was continually crossing my mind).

I guess I just want the same courtesy that I extend to others. One early AM this spring when I was working out, I had a bit of a coughing fit. Two coughs in, I got off, went to the stretching area, tried to drop my heart rate and resume normal breathing. It didn't work, so I went down to the locker room where I hawked up some stuff (gross, I know but let's be honest here) but couldn't quit coughing so I went home! When you have to blow your nose that many times on your shirt your body is telling you something - GO HOME and rest. YUCK. That is all for now.

When your husband is a lawyer

When your husband is a lawyer, a quick trip to the grocery store to buy water, milk, and lunch meat can turn into an hour and a half ordeal.

Let me explain, Anna and I quickly ran to Kroger to pick a few minor items. Somehow, an hour and a half later, we ended up with a cart full of things but that's beside the point. So, in the water aisle (we buy bottled water, yes we're water snobs), I picked up three gallons for Kroger Spring Water (while we are snobs, we're not too uppity to buy generic) and turned around to get the Kroger Purified Water 24 pack of bottles. Anna was walking along with me and as we ventured back toward the cart, Anna found a large puddle of water and fell.

The lawyer's daughter slipped and fell in a major chain grocery store. Oh crap, I thought. Brian and I have often joked about the fact that we've many times slipped in a store but never can seem to fall so that we can sue. And here is Anna on the floor, in tears complaining of ankle pain and me realizing that my quick trip has just turned into a long one. I picked her up and dusted her off, did the you're fine talk and then dialed Brian. His directions were to go to the manager, file a report, and make sure that someone mopped it up. We did file a verbal report but that wasn't enough when I called him back so I had to talk to the manager again, look around for the other lady who witnessed the fall and puddle (never did find her), try to take some pics with my phone (which I didn't end up doing b/c I felt like a total tool).

The manager was pretty nice (she took all of our info, talked to B on the phone, and interviewed Anna about the incident) and I'm sure Anna is fine but I guess it's for the best to follow all of the steps just in case there is a problem later on down the road, especially with Anna's challenges due to low tone and loose joints.

Whew, it was not the shopping trip I had planned.

Crawl into my bed . . .

So the title alone should grab your attention today. I'm going to vent/expound on one of my greatest pet peeves today. Hopefully it will keep you, the reader, from asking me my most dreaded question.

A well meaning friend asked me recently if we had considered having another child. Now, when you have one child, aged nearly 4, most people assume that you should quickly have another. SIDE NOTE: Brian and I are pretty indifferent about having another child. There are pros and cons to both making a choice to bring another child into the world and to remaining with our current status of an only child. It's pretty amusing really that I am so indifferent (perhaps this isn't the best choice of words . . . we would be thankful if we had another child, we would be thankful if we did not) considering that I once longed for three children (you can keep that stuff - now watch me get pregnant with twins someday). And by the time that Brian and I married, I just assumed we would have at least two. After all, we both came from two child families and both of us are youngest children. However, after having Anna we've fallen into a pattern of life that is now pretty easy. There are no diapers to change, there are no midnight feedings, Anna plays on her own, and aside from giving herself a haircut this week doesn't do too much crazy dangerous you must watch her every minute stuff. The further away from the baby stage that we get, the less I long to have another baby. As well, considering Anna's size and all of the C-section challenges, I must be honest that there are physical factors that deter/distract me from getting preggers. That's not to say that that might change someday but at this hour, at this minute that's where I'm at.

Ok, so I've digressed quite a bit just to set up where I'm coming from. I think that asking if you plan on having more children is quite possibly one of the most intimate, intrusive, and out of line questions one could ask. I've noticed it more and more in the recent past. In all reality, it's asking what is your sex life like? Can I crawl in bed with you? Are you ovulating right now? How are Brian's sperm counts? Are you going to attempt conception right now, right here? Come on, so that you can have another child get it on right in front of our very eyes? Now granted, people don't intend this line of thought but in all reality it's what that question boils down to. Brian and I last night brainstormed a list of totally inappropriate, make people blush responses about specific areas of our sex life so that they would never EVER ask again and so that they would tell everyone they knew not to ask as well. However, this is just as cruel and inappropriate so I'll abstain (from replying, not from sex just to keep things clear here).

I always think, you know, Brian and I are pretty private people. What if we were trying to get pregnant (we're not, FYI) and had not been successful or worse yet had had a miscarriage. A question like that would drive me over the edge, I am quite certain. I honestly think that most people don't even think about what they're saying when they ask such a loaded question. I have often fantasized about running away in tears when someone opens the subject just to "punish" them. I know, I know - I'm sick.

So at least now you know, unless I have opened such a conversation up with you, don't ask. If we were thinking about having another child, pregnant, or trying, you would know. We would tell you. I would blog about it. Until then, please get out of my bed.

Gospel

It's always good to share good news... and this is some terrific news for a acquaintance/friend, Scot Longyear, who pastors a church in Terre Haute that B and I used to frequent long ago. He also used to be lead in a band that we loved who came and did a couple of conferences for us when I worked for the church. Anyway, I digress.

Scot received a Lily Clergy Renewal Grant from the Lily Foundation and is going to get to do all kinds of cool and crazy things in the summer of 2007 while his congregation is well cared for, encouraged, and challenged in good 'ole Terre Haute, IN.

Scot's love for Christ and energy for spreading the gospel in new and interesting ways spills out all over the edges. And though we've not been to eXchange for several years now, I've kept up with his sermons on my iPod as they podcast. It's always awesome to see someone blessed who has blessed your life and the life of your family.

For full details check out this Tribune Star article or go to their website (if you're an audial learner) and hear details of the grant.

Can't look away

I'm not sure why I'm so fascinated with this video. What are they selling? Or are they just touting a household tip? Looks like there's a phone number on there at one point.

And the winner is . . .

So, the American Idol finale is tonight and while I really wanted to Chris to win and so I could care less about who the actual winner is, I was wondering who everyone was pulling for - Katherine or Taylor?

And you thought gas was expensive here . . .

Check out the prices in California (how come I can't say that state name without singing... California, knows how to party... California).

Happy, Happy Birthday Baby...

Today is BLowe's 30th birthday. Send him greetings via e-mail or phone or post on his blog.

This week's site

So I ordered B a shirt or two for his birthday and another for a friend from RandomShirts.com. They came today in the mail and are terrific. I even got a little poster as a thank you. I didn't realize it was a Christian company. They have a ton of witty yet not obnoxious shirts for great prices. Very cool stuff.

Just too easy...

So my mom sent me this article on the local weather teams in good 'ole Terre Haute, IN (the homeland). Apparently, Jon Stewart has been picking on the tv station just down the road from my alma mater, WTWO. Here is the first piece that was featured on the daily show, followed by the "Humble Apology."

Crazy, insane week to come

Ever have a Monday when you realize the week that lays ahead could possibly gobble you alive? I have a lot to do as many people will be coming in this weekend to celebrate B's 30th, a yard to get mowed and flower beds to get all in order in spite of the fact that our rider is in the shop and it will not quit raining, and our church is undertaking a Kidstuf production which I've invested in that still has many loose ends to tie up.

And with that, I'm off!

Site of the Day

So I know I've told plent of you about Mystery Guest, INC. Brian and I did a quick lunch shop today at Smokey Bones. Basically, it's a mystery shopping service. It costs nothing and every 90 days, you can do a mystery shop at Smokey Bones, Cheesecake Factory, Bahama Breezes (or other chains owned by this conglomerate). Then, they reimburse you for your purchase (up to a certain amount), after filling out a simple survey online.

Free food is always good.

Saved By the Bell the Addict Years

Enjoy this dramatic piece...

Deal or . . .

Come on, you know that you just finished the sentence. Anyway, so somehow my daughter has become a big "Deal or No Deal" fan. I have no clue how it happened since we do not watch that show in our house. She must have seen it somewhere else or something, but not only does she have down the catch phrase but she also knows the concept of the game (open the cases, etc.). So last night, we told her she could watch it (boy was there a doozy of a contestant on there) and so she was staying up, playing with a little stuffed animal kitty on the floor all excited in the half hour before it came on.

Brian and I were having a random conversation when out of the corner of our ears we hear Anna ask her kitty, Holly, "Meow . . . or Meow Meow?!" in a Howie sort of voice. We lost it.

Improvement

While last semester, I had a student evaluation that referred to me as a "grading Nazi," this semester the reviews were a bit more complimentary. For example, "Cherie did an excellent job teaching last week--she made it WAY more entertaining. Otherwise lectures were WAY boring." I think my prof. enjoyed this one immensely.

Finish the Race...

15 exams more to grade, 15 more grades to compute.....
almost there....
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

Evil, no good, very bad Cherie...

I almost honked my horn today at an elderly man because I wondered if I could force him into a heart attack. I know, I'm horrible!!!!!!

There were of course a string of events that led up to this thought but all the same, I'm embarrassed that I had it.

Wow...

Sometimes things happen that just make you say wow (Andrea's thoughts on the word wow). An administrator at the church that I used to work for had been under some suspicion for quite some time and now has been officially charged. As messy as things were when I left, I'm thankful I wasn't working there during any of this mess.

Seasons change . . .

Feelings change... (are you humming the tune?). Who sang that anyway? I suppose I could google it and find out but if my memory serves me correctly, it's Expose. Anyway. I feeling a change in the air today. Allow me to bare my soul...

Today marks my last official day in the classroom as a TA for IUPUI, sniff sniff. It is really kind of sad. I've very much enjoyed my role in this position this year and wish that I could hang around for a bit longer. But I really need to launch into my thesis and finish that sucker this year. As I hiked to the fifth floor for one of the last times today, I reflected briefly (in between heavy breathing from walking up all of those stairs) on the past year. It's been a year of learning. I've learned how to grade, how to easily spot plagiarism, how to lecture (kinda - now if I could only stay in my chair). I decided not to make my life utter madness by finishing my thesis and TAing at the same time. I decided to launch myself into children's ministry more fully at CSC. I decided not to try to get pregnant this year (not closing the door entirely but I really felt like 05-06 wasn't the right timing). I learned that Anna needed to make her own way at school and that my role in her life is beginning to change. I'd like to think that I've accepted myself a bit more - as a woman, as a scholar, as a wife, as a mother, as a friend.

There are plenty things that I'm still working on and haven't learned though . . . still can't really manage my time effectively (laundry, laundry everywhere!), still need to take Minesweeper off of my computer (what the other TAs that I work with refer to as my "computer crack"), still am training to hopefully ride the RAIN ride this summer (the good news is that if I do ride it, I have about 13 lbs less to drag down the road), still writing, researching, reading for my thesis (when will it ever end?!?!), still trying to manage stress effectively and not leave things until the last minute (back to the time management issue) and take out my own negligence and procrastination on those whom I love the most (i.e. Brian and Anna).

It's been a good academic year. I'm not totally out of the woods. I'll still need grade finals, figure grades, organize my TA materials for the lucky soul who comes behind me but pretty much by this time next week this chapter will be closed and I'll be embarking on a new journey. I'm not sure what that path is yet but I'm excited to get on it.

Can you tell what I did today?

That's right, today marked the primary elections in Indiana. So I wore one of my favorite T shirts that really only seems appropriate twice a year and headed to the polls. They wanted to take my pic at the polling place since apparently I was only one of two dems to vote there that day(gotta love the variety and diversity of Johnson County). In other news, Brian worked as an Election Judge (guess the grand total would have been 3 had he not already voted absentee) at another polling place and Anna collected a few "I Voted" stickers for herself.