It's like packing for a week long trip...without going anywhere.

Three days of dressing up (in my mind that equals anything of nicer quality than denim and simple but nice, no-logo t-shirts) with two evenings of really dressing up for use-the-correct-fork chicken dinner banquets. Oh, and a complimentary jacket with each outfit, because I know I'm gonna be cold. Ugh.

Generally speaking, I prefer low maintenance wear with a silly flair. And comfort. Always comfort.

So this conversation happened ... inside my own head:

"Is it okay to be quirky and not just...fancy? To impress people?"

"Are you quirky?"

"Yes."

"Do you enjoy being your quirky?"

"Yes."

"Heck yes, it's okay. In fact, you should."

"Whew. Okay."

I can't believe conference time is here.

 

An Amusing Question

Quite possibly the funnest question I have been asked...ever...came this week from a little girl who I'm guessing is around two years old.

I was visiting with some friends who are closely related to this girl and we were out in her backyard, looking at the goats. (Sidenote: I should go to a petting zoo sometime soon. I wasn't ever big on actually petting the animals when I was little, timidity clogging my veins the way it does.) And this little blonde looks up at me and asks,

"Are you too big?"

If I were the type of person to belly laugh right away, that might have earned it. As it was, I smiled and chuckled to myself. What a question! Pointed, curious, and about a rather obvious physical trait--my height.

My answer? "Am I too big? No, I don't think so." I hope not. I haven't yet found any hole that I was too big to crawl through that I needed to squirm into. Sometimes I hit my head on low ceilings (or support beams). And I think it will take me a long time to remember to dodge the low-hung pull tabs for the ceiling fans when I visit my best friend. But too big? No, not really.

Sure, some people can be intimidated by my six feet of height. Some people think I am more confident and poised than I am because of it (...to which I would answer, "Ha!"). Some look up to me more than literally because I carry my frame moderately well. (I actually just read a passage of a book, such a fun series, in which a tall girl is admired by her almost-beau [they're a little slow] because she carries herself straight and graceful, never trying to shrink her height around others even if she is taller [and she's taller than he is].) And some just literally look up at me. Fair enough.

It was an honest question. And despite my uncertainties at times, the occasional desire to shrink and hide, and my perpetual tendency to slouch my shoulders (lazy muscles or short tendons, I'm not sure), I do enjoy my height (which, given my family's height and the height of most people I know--my family's tall; most people I know are average to short--I tend to think of myself as average, even though I'm considered tall for a woman). Overall, I'm just used to my height.

So, no, I'm not too big. For this Goldilocks, my height is juuust right.

 

Worth a Share

Here are some things I have found on the interwebs that tickled my funny bone, made me smile, or brought me to tears. Or any other number of worthwhile responses.

Blogs:

My good friend Jaimie Dawn Krycho describes her apartment complex in a manner that simultaneously makes me want to live there and makes me want to not. I imagine boring days are rare.

A beautiful insight from my sister-in-law. I'm glad to have her back here for now, but I know she loves her Arcata.

Another one from my friend and former classmate, Jaimie Dawn, who is apparently nearly ready to find an agent for her novel!

The Year of Less blog hit on a little gem I needed regarding gifts and stuff, and not being overrun by them. Encouraging without chastising. Beauty.

Art:

I think I'm adopting a mission to always be on the lookout for art. A couple months ago I found the painting La Mer by Vladimir Volegov, and I just love it. And basically all that I've found by Volegov.

Speaking of art, lightning-hand time lapse videos are fun, whether it's for something large and photographic or something smaller and cartoonish. Somehow I don't think it would be quite as cool to watch a time lapse of a writer. Though the facial expressions at high speed might entertain.

Stories:

This one takes a while to get through, but I think Legend of Zelda: The Return is the best fanfiction I've ever read, especially if you're a fan of the games.


What have you found that's worth a share? Let me know in a comment.

Alligator Party

I...have inspired art.

Mostly because I was being silly.

My work here is done.

Last week, a friend of mine was working on a weekly drawing (meaning he makes a drawing in a sketchbook once a week, not he gives something away once a week--there was some amusing confusion about this earlier online). He wasn't sure what to make, so in the interest of something quick and easy (and Owl City and silly) I tossed "Alligator Sky." into the comment section thinking that he could draw funny shaped clouds and call it done.

But nooooo. He took that idea and made it into something much better.

My friends, Weekly Drawing #4 by Joshua Martin, multi-talented artist:

See all of his weekly drawings here.

See more of Josh's art at his fanpage. I think you'll like what you see.

Polly want...more?

You've seen the trick with teaching a parrot the word "four", right?

What's twelve divided by three?
"Four."
What's "quatro" mean?
"Four."
What do golf players yell?
"Fore."

If I ever get a parrot, I'm going to teach it the word "more".

Was that a good snack?
"More!"
How many shows should we watch?
"More!"
How many words should I write?

Further Evidence that I Am an Introvert...and Loved

Gather 'round. While the thoughts are fresh in my mind, I will stay up late to tell you a story...


I go to a community group. It's a Bible study group with a strong focus on 1) God's Word and 2) being a tight-knit community of brothers and sisters in Christ. I love this group. We were going to get together on the evening of my birthday, and the lady of the leading couple sends me an email that I see in the morning. She wants to make me a cake, and would chocolate be okay? Of course I tell her chocolate would be fabulous and thank you kindly. Such a sweet gesture.

Then, the same lovely lady, a woman I graduated with and admire, sends a notice to the whole group, some twenty people, that it's my birthday and there will be cake.

Now I start to panic. I'm already feeling the spotlight. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a little limelight like anyone else, but I'm fine with it staying at little (and there are some situations [dance circle] in which I'd rather have none). So my little "don't look at me" mind starts to worry that, well, everyone will be looking at me.

And yet, at the same time, I know this is a heartfelt gesture of love toward me. So it's not all bad.

The day proceeds with a couple errands and life is fine. The only pressure I feel is getting everything done and making sure dinner is ready before I have to leave. Nothing abnormal there. There's meat in the fridge, I fix some instant mashed potatoes, eat a little, and head out the door.

I'm hoping for simple and not a lot of attention on me. There will be cake--awesome--for everyone, and I'll get to see these dear people, and we'll hang out and have a good, normal time.

I'd left the house a little later than I'd wanted, so I'm the last to arrive. I open the door, and one of my friends jokingly yells (but not really) "Surprise!" I laugh, wishing my mouth would function so I could say his name in greeting, but no words come out. (Yeah.) I am welcomed and well wished, and find my seat on the comfy couch next to another dear heart and able to see each person I have come to love and am learning to love better. Life is beautiful.

After we read through the book of Hebrews out loud (yes, the entire book--it was great) out comes the cake. I think someone mentions singing the birthday song, and I start my silent, head-shaking protest. You know, the one you mean, but don't, but really do? Well, Jaimie asks me if I really don't want everyone to sing the song, and I pivot my hand like a see-saw. I don't want to offend, and I know as a birthday well-wisher how fun it is to sing to the birthday guy or gal, but could it just not be about me? Or could I go into another room? Or better yet, let's not and say we did.

Well, as things are wont to do, delays happen. I think I've escaped and before the cake is cut I get a chance to get up from the couch and make sure I see it. Chocolate cake, a solid white icing background, and green-blue lettering of "Happy Birthday Dotty". (Did anyone get a picture? Jaimie, it was beautiful.)

Here, my memory fades. I don't remember why I didn't sit right back down. I don't think the cake was cut right then, either. I think there was still delay, then the song is brought up again. Now that I'm standing and it seems that all eyes are looking in the cake's and my direction, I would like to just hide for a minute. Yes, for some reason standing is worse. I'm too tall for all eyes on me when I'm standing.

Someone starts the song. At the time I could have pointed out the guilty party. Now I'm not sure who it was. Then the little living room rings with happy voices singing happy birthday to me.

My first reaction? I turn around and almost head into the bathroom to hide. I stop and turn back around because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I step toward the couch thinking that if I sit down at least that will be better. But I can't get there easily, and to get there anyway would make further scene, and I would likely trip and fall...obviously not preferred. So I stand, and try to look around the room (I think) at the smiling faces of friends who love me. I don't know how it's possible to stand six feet tall and will oneself to shrink without moving, but I did it. I'm grinning, and I mean it, but I'm also embarrassed a little. In the middle of the song, one friend sings, sings that my face is turning red. I can believe it.

But I guess that's par for the course. The song over, my seat reclaimed, the cake cut and shared (yummy), life is back to normal in my beautiful little community.

There truly are worse things than being surrounded by delight and love expressed. And I'm glad I don't have to hide from these things. I'm glad that these friends see me, know me, love me, and, yes, tease me. They've seen me weep; they've seen joy bubble out of me. They've seen the average days, too. They're there. And I really couldn't ask for more.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
-John 13:34-35

 I see this in our group, and I'm grateful for it. Thank you, all, for how you love me.