one day...

One day, when I am a rock star, I will make a killer Christmas album for all to enjoy. And by all, I mean those who like to sing along loudly, slightly off key, laugh a lot and from time to time, remember what Christmas should actually be about... Here's the track list thus far- any suggestions?

1. O Holy Night (this has always been my #1 favorite Christmas song to sing in church...)

2. My grown up Christmas list (is that the real name of that song?? Anyway- you know, the one where she goes "Noooo more lives Toooorn apaart, and wars would never staart... It just makes me glad inside to belt that out in the car)

3. Jingle Bells... the funny kid version (the classic jingle bells is fine and all, but why doesn't someone come out with the "batman smells, Robin laid an eggg, batmobile lost a wheel and the joker got aw-AY version? classic.)

4. Christmas Shoes. (I don't care if its played out. That song, without fail, brings a tear to my eye when I really listen/sing along... He just wanted to get some shoes for his dying mama. that's love.)

5. All I want for christmas Is YOU (Mariah will probably have the upper hand in singing the song well, but just wait until you see my sweet dance moves.)

6. Mary Did You Know (I'll probably have to have a guest artist on this one... probably Randy Travis with his sweet deep souther voice. I'll just like hum in the background, it'll be amazing.)

7. Christmastime is here... From Charlie brown. (for this one I'll get all the little kids I know to sing with me. SO GOOD!! haha)

8. Heaven's got a baby (A little off-beat, beautiful Christmas diddy... you may not know it, but trust me, it'll just add to the amazingness of this album...)

Okay. I realize an 8 track CD is a little lame- so I'd love some suggestions & I full intend to (given that I actually remember that I started this...) add to this list in the coming month.

:) Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and a solid start to the holiday season!

... I wish I could blog from the bus. I always think really great thoughts while I ride on the bus, staring out the window, trying to force people around me to make awkward eye contact, waiting patiently to arrive at my destination. But once I get off the bus, the thoughts tend to fly right out of my head... Alas, if only this could be a bus thought blog, your lives would all be enriched.

Instead I'll leave you with this- today while on the bus I was looking out the window and saw this mom carrying her kid- he/she was probably a year old, maybe 18 months- anyway, it's not THAT cold out yet, however the kid was totally decked out "A Christmas Story" style and its arms and legs were stuck sticking straight out from its body (I'm sorry to call the kid it, but well, I have no clue if it was a boy or a girl...). Anyway the mom had her arm around the kids body so then its head, arms and legs sticking straight out in big puffy winter gear *kind of* made it look like a starfish. I literally laughed out loud at the sight.

... I'm pretty sure people who see me on the bus very often think I'm insane. I'm okay with that. :)

packing up

People who've been around me during transition can tell you- when I'm packing, run for the hills. There is something about the process of packing things up that just causes all the nervous energy of transition and the future unknown to turn into feeling stressed, overwhelmed and all around cranky. I try to hide it, but it inevitably happens and I inevitably have to say my apologies for my cranky pants behavior...

Today was like a day long "packing up" attitude. I didn't identify it until too late in the day, but with my new job starting tomorrow, today was full of tying up loose ends and attempting to prepare myself to go back into the world of being busy. While I didn't have to actually physically pack anything and make choices about what clothes, shoes and books I would be taking with me on the new journey- I did have to come to terms with all of the unknown that awaits me. I realized as I was driving to the airport to pick up my roommate, I am nervous. I've always been able to find ways and things about my jobs that I really like, whether that be working in the dorms, working in medical records or my time at Youthworks- I generally found ways to have fun, enjoy my work and be good at what I was doing. Last year was the first time that I struggled with that. I didn't just naturally excel at my position... and I didn't enjoy or look forward to going into the office. I'm afraid of that happening again. While the humbling experience of not being the best Area Director ever has taught me a lot- I don't want to fail again, I want to have fun and I want to be content.

Its amazing to me how cool in theory I can be with the unknown, yet when you put it right in front of my face, I freak out. Little things cause me so much stress- I've honestly spent hours thinking about what I'm going to wear tomorrow (as the dress code has simply been stated as "we're really casual, you don't need to dress business professional"... I need more than that people!!). I know one week from now I'll have started to settle into a groove and figure out how to accomplish all the tasks that I previously alloted for my daytime activities, but today, I'm just nervous about it all.

I guess all of this really just goes to say- today was proof you should still avoid me when I'm packing...