Should've Listened

I kept telling Ryan I was trying not to get excited about the new Pirates movie but that I was finding it hard not to look forward to it. He kept telling me not to get my hopes up. But the two worst characters are gone! I argued. It HAS to be better than the last two! He just shook his head at me.

Then I saw this. At 33% from the critics, our odds are not so good. I should've listened to Ryan because really I did get my hopes up.

Graduate School Orientation

Ryan is gearing up for graduate school in the form of a night program. He is going to be VERY busy the next year. He keeps trying to tell me that I'm going to be busy too (doing his homework) but he is going to be sorely mistaken on that one.

Last night they had an orientation to talk about the layout of the program and force him to network with his classmates. He sent me several funny texts during the evening, but I especially liked this one:

"In case you were wondering, cucumber water is gross."

Ryan hates cucumbers so I couldn't possibly figure out what possessed him to knowingly drink cucumber water. Apparently his only other choice was iced tea. So. Yeah. He said he tried the cucumber water like four times. He kept thinking, "Nothing could possibly taste THAT gross." But then it did. The thirsty boy had to resort to drinking from the drinking fountain. Now Ryan thinks his peers must think he's some kind of country yokel for drinking out of the drinking fountain, but he was really thirsty.

Luckily he seemed to like the people he met and he seems a little less stressed about starting school in a few weeks. Although he has asked me repeatedly to cut my hair like a boy and do graduate school for him. I don't think that's quite the brilliant idea he thinks it is. And I know he'll do just fine.

Under the Bed

Sometimes I have great stories but they're other people's stories and I feel weird telling them. But this is one from somebody I worked with years ago, and I'm sure he doesn't read my blog. So I'm totally stealing it and retelling it here. I think Tamara knows this story, so please chime in if I've told it wrong.

Ed's son was three at the time, and he (his son, not Ed) was having trouble sleeping at night. He was convinced there was something under the bed. They kept trying to calm his fears by showing him there was nothing, but he was certain there was SOMETHING. Poor Ed was at a loss. He could NOT convince his son that nothing was under there, so he decided to turn the tables. He would convince his son that it was something good! In a moment it came to him and he blurted out, "Don't worry, it's just Jesus!"

Who knows what kind of doctrinal confusion that poor boy has experienced since. However, if I remember the story right, I believe Ed's son did start sleeping through the night.

My Mama

My mom is great. I found one of those silly "where will I be in 10 years" things they make you write when you're 14 at church. One thing I foresaw at age 25 (which is me...+2ish) was that "I still talk to my mom every day." I don't EVERY day but definitely several times a week. I knew I would always stay close to my mama.

• When I was in elementary school I came home and told my mom that I hated Bobby (or Billy or someone). She listened but then firmly told me that we don't "hate" anyone and not to use that word. Even now I cringe when I hear others use that word.
• In high school my mom tried very hard to be home when I got home. I'd eat what I call "second lunch" and she would ask me how my day went. If you know me at all, you know how much I can talk. About nothing. For a very long. But she listened nonetheless. She told me recently she thinks right after school is a parent's golden hour to find out what's happening with your teenager. She's probably right.
• My friend repeated a mildly racist joke that her mom made. I repeated it later to my mom. She was quiet for a few minutes then asked, "What exactly do you think she meant?" I immediately felt guilty and told her I wasn't sure. She said that I probably shouldn't be repeating it then. She knew I knew what it meant, but that was her subtle way of saying she disapproved. I took the hint.
• Some of my friends thought my mom was mean because she kept tight rules (like good grades, an early curfew). Yet she always seemed to remember what it was like to be that age. Somehow she was both strict and understanding of why I didn't like that she was strict. I'm grateful now for both.

Just What You Need

Sometimes you get just what you need. Even in VERY unexpected places. I saw a commercial for the movie "Overboard" today. Have you seen it? I don't recommend it. It's really a rather stupid movie. One year we watched it on TV on Christmas day. Our family had been going through a rough spot, so it wasn't the best Christmas. I think "Overboard" came on after something a little more Christmasy we were watching, and we just kept it on. It was just what we needed. We laughed so hard. It was so stupid but we giggled and giggled the whole move through. I've seen the movie since, and can't figure out what we saw in it. All I know is that it was exactly what we needed.

Lately I've been pretty self-absorbed (more even than usual!). I watched this movie, and I definitely DO recommend it. Seems like the lady in the video got what she needed in an unexpected place herself.

Guess Sam Got It Wrong

Bin Laden was not in Canada. Not that I'm complaining!