A Design of Another Kind

I like being just as healthy as the next girl really, unless of course it infringes upon my general enjoyment of life. For instance, I have a strong dislike for doctors | dentists | machines that tend to be overly invasive and tiny metal picks that make the most horrid Eeek-plunk noises against one’s teeth as they lie there in the super comfy leather dentist chair with all manner of bright lights and odd masked faces above.

By now, you must be realizing that this is real life on the home front here, as in it having happened only yesterday morning! Early actually. Well I suppose 10:30 isn’t really early but for something I dread, it is never really a real good time in the girl’s little book of preferences. * winks *

The only real thing I hate about the Dentist is how they just think you do a rocking job | tell you to keep up the good work and then ask if you happen to floss. To which, I usually say no without too much shame. I’m lazy like that, okay? And then they turn all end-of-the-world and give you a long speech on the long term benefits of pulling string through one’s mouth when the sun is shining and when it isn’t. Do I get points for being honest? Well anyways …

Thus, the girl is again flossing. Like you were very concerned, right? I know. But I have a feeling it will be like a new year’s resolution … as in the kind that sticks around for a short time. Ugh, confounded.

So I make amends to my siblings for a long morning in the dentist office by taking them out for an emergency Fun day out on the town. Because really, there’s nothing like brightening up a dull morning with crazy good diner food from Red Robin — which enthralled the munchkins to no possible end — walking around the Mall, window shopping, playing video games and eating chocolate Frosty’s on the way home — which Sissy also had a coupon for. * Yay, coupons! *

But what cracked me up, and really baffled me, reminding me boys are of an altogether different design in their general thought process … is when Sammy asked for a Vanilla Frosty. After having worked at Chick-fil-A for a long while, I feel the drive-thru pain of indecisive customers so I just ordered without asking any questions.

As we were driving home, with the rain pounding down in buckets, I asked Sammy why he got Vanilla and not chocolate. He licked the ice cream off his spoon with a little sniffle and said, “Well … because I was sad. I always get Vanilla when I’m sad, and Chocolate when I’m happy.”

This cracked me up so bad. Because in my feminine mind, when I’m sad I will most likely tear the world apart for cinnamon or chocolate to brighten my little world. NOT make myself twice as miserable by eating something I barely enjoy when I’m already feeling low. I shake my head, because it just baffles me.

 * smiles *

All About The Little Things

“The world may change every day, but don’t ever let

the world change who you are inside.”

— A.S.

“Cheer up. You’re too stressed to be blessed.

Wait! That’s not what I meant.”

— Adrienne

“Super-fantastical.”

… about everything.

— M.D.

“Bep, I pretty much love you.”

— Joshy Woshy

“You’re a trip, okay?”

— M. Karr

“Idiot. Why do you say things like that?!”

— The college bound boy

“Let’s cram into the car and have a good cry, you guys!”

— Mackenzie

“God is not deaf, and his arms are never short.”

— Kwon

“You WERE my friend, but I just don’t know.”

— Carolyn

“Will you eskimo kiss me when you

get married, baby?”

— The lady who loves me just cuz.

“There’s a wild side to you. I know there is!”

— The world’s most amazing boss.

“You forgot the outside trash, genius.

Are you serious?!!”

— Gribble

“You’re dumb. I’m just faking it; I gotta fit in with this family.”

— Kenna

“Take a deep breath, and just relax … ”

— A.S.

“You got jokes. Yeah, you got jokes.” 

— Devante

“Oh, is that right?”

— MWK

“Don’t make me hurt you!”

— J. Brown

“We’re stronger here together, than we could ever be alone.”

— Buble

“You make me smile. Just smile … yeah.”

“You sound like a bomb about to go off, with
that heart monitor beeping like that.”
— Lana

* There’s a lot more, maybe I’ll post them someday. *

— smiles

Carolyn, you second.

Nothing Profound-ish

I slept in today. It was more than nice, it was even terrific. I’ve discovered the value of the almighty dollar, and moving my way on to the value of a good night’s sleep. Amen.

After my grandma and I got done working this morning, we randomly decided to go to Ihop and get stuffed French Toast. Have I ever mentioned the fact that I pretty much love these bunches? I’ve only had them like three times in my whole life but they are nothing short of loveliness. So that’s what we did and had so much fun hanging out, just her and I.

 

And when I got to work, Billy said “Hi Burtney. So … I’m gonna swing ya over on headset, ’cause you’re pretty awesome at that.” To which he added, “Not much else, but you’re good over there. You won’t bother me then.” He grinned, and made me laugh. “Oh thank goodness, I thought I’d have to smell you all afternoon. And I just can’t handle that.” I said. His humor is so … Billy. Gotta love it! You really do.

We girls had a lot of fun doing drive-thru tonight. Probably too much fun, but even when the bottom fell out of two milkshakes and totally exploded all over us AND drive thru we all had a good laugh over that. Now you tell me whats so funny about three girls covered in Banana Pudding Milkshake? * winks *

We sure are a messy lot, we girls.

And then we were all comparing our cuts and bruises from work. It’s only fast food but it’s so over rated in the safety department. You have no idea all the crazy things one can do to themselves. Take that big Tea Thing for instance … when its chocked full of tea, it’s just not a good idea to lug that thing back to dishes. Even if they are hollering about not having all the dishes back. Well now I’ve learned my lesson, after earning a big bruise on the side of my hip. * smiles *

We got out a little earlier than we have been lately, so we sat around talking until our manager was ready to lock us out. We had all been talking about girlfriends and boyfriends. Some of us had the opinion that God would bring the right one into your life, and not just to date anyone that was nice to you, etc. As we were walking out to our cars, one of the guys said “You’ve got good standards, a lot of girls don’t. I respect that. Don’t ever give that up for anything.” And that made me want to cry because I never knew that. But coming from the person that it did, meant a lot because he’s a good Christian guy who is always upbeat and encouraging for everyone.

Then … it rained on the way home. And that made me smile because I love and adore rain, always. There has never been a day I have not welcomed the rain. If it just so happens to ruin plans, those plans can be rescheduled. I don’t ever mind when the gray clouds roll in and cover the sky, it just makes me smile.

I never knew Fish Sticks came in circles. So I get home from work and I’m thinking “Wow. That’s pretty classy … turn my sticks into roundness. I can deal with that.” I come back like three seconds later and my cat has pretty much helped himself.

“Cat.” I say in the firmest, most dissapointed tone I can possibly muster. “I was going to eat that.”

So make that two nights I’m going to go bed starving after work. I walk past the cat and say, “Thanks pal. Don’t come curling up next to me when you want a nice place to sleep.” He just meowed and crawed into my lap when I sat down. But thank goodness for his sake, I’m a softie. * smiles *

Goodnight my beautiful | wet and rainy world.

~ You Make Me Fall Out of Bed, dizzy in my head. And just the Thought of You makes Me smile. ~

Mckenna

5 yrs. old.

Cuddling one of her favorite puppies.

She has a heart of Gold; compassionate to the core.

A long time ago. When we were young and stupid and

played with webcams in the dark. Oh yes.

 We’re a trip, every trip. Heading down to NC for my first semester of college …

we played | we slept | we drove the parents crazy.

The day I moved into my dorm.

Goodbyes were sadness, but it’s oh so obvious we had fun!

Goofing off at the beach. Yeah, we do that sort of thing.

Gotta love her expression. We were being retarted and I grabbed

her when she was right in the middle of measuring something. She loved me

for that, its her determination face.

Oooh! This is last year when we went out to El Vaqueros for

her 15th birthday. Why does this feel like just yesterday???

Randomness at church. With some of our bestest

guys in the world … if we could adopt brothers,

they would be our number one choice.

* smiles *

Passing the sunglasses around.

Oh my goodness. This was so much fun, I’m not even going to lie!

We found a whole wall full of floor to ceiling shelves and climbed in

and had so much fun being absolutely CRAZY!

 

Valentines Day 2010.

If I remember, we were rocking pink and denim.

Sometime this Winter. We scrunched together in the hall

at church until Daddy came out of his office and said,

“Girls, WHAT are you doing?”

My wonderful and lovely sister at OBX this year.

I can’t believe she’s sixteen today! I love her so much and look

forward to bunches more of all these fun days to celebrate the

day she came into our lives and made us smile.

I love you Kenna Boo!

Joy in My Soul

“Every day we’re given small opportunities to bring someone joy that can make a huge difference in the  life of someone else.”

Nothing Profound

• Little People are slowly sounding out new words at the kitchen table as they are finishing the last tidbits of school work for the day. I am so proud of them.

• “LIFE: Complicated beyond reason, but that’s what makes it so fun.”  And how! I smile. It’s true, all the little things that frustrate us | make us laugh are part of what makes Life worth living. If my life were like your life, well … that just wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun, now would it?

• “Seven days without laughter make one weak.” This makes me smile. I read it twice and thought “Wow. I really do like that an awful lot.”

• Sunshine inspires me, just like standing under the starlit sky in the middle of the night inspires me. I crave it | soak it all in | and bottle it up for dark gloomy days.

• I can be a bum for a whole entire day, doing nothing and absolutely loving it. I appreciate my one day off like no other day of the week. I don’t care what day it happens to fall on, I just love a good day with sunshiney goodness, where I can randomly complain because I am bored for a change.

• My friend despitheth me much for abandoning her to the aches and pains of Baptist History alone. That is not something I wish to take up but alas, I know I must. *long sigh*

• Sissy jumped on the trampoline until she could jump no more. I forgot how much fun you can have.

• Today will be a GREAT day!

Nothing Profound

• 12 hours in shoes = long day for a country girl.

• Yogurt | Oreo Crumble | & Strawberries are pure happiness.

• Unfortunately, I don’t appreciate free food as much as the people on the other side of the counter.

• The downside of getting off at 5 would definitely be the traffic. *sigh*

• Catarino brightened my day — “You have a rough day, yeah?” I nod my head, he smiles and says “You get off soon and get some sunshine, little chica.”

• Miss Jackie: “Jordan! Come own down heah and get this box foe me.” Jordan: “I’m comin’, woman! … actin’ like you’re two feet tall or something.” Miss Jackie: “Don’t be messing with me, boy. I come over there and …” Jordan: “And what? haha! Here, old woman, get down before you break your back or something.”

         * It’s little tidbits of conversation like this that make me laugh all day long.

• I love how Mom wakes me up and says “Brittany, it’s almost eight-thirty.” likes its three o’clock in the afternoon. I think I’ll never catch up on all my sleep, thus my new motto: Eat | Sleep | & Be Merry TODAY for tomorrow it’s back to work.

• Samuel found out it’s my day off today. “Brit, do you like working at Chick-fil-A?” I told him I do sometimes. His solution to the problem? “I think you should just put on a green tutu and entertain the customers. I bet that’d be fun.” I laughed, uncontrollably.

• I am so looking forward to Summer time. I want to see all shades of greens and blues when I look out my window and feel warm sunshine surrounding me. I want to wear flipflips more than real shoes, and hear the crickets chirp.

• Secondly, I suddenly want to go the Beach!

Nothing Profound

• Eleven hour shifts are terrible. But it was nice getting to know more of my coworkers.
• Apparently, I am just the right size for lots of random stuff.
• When its 28 degrees outside and I’m working drive-thru, I really don’t want to know how you’re doing or discuss how cold it is. I just want you to take your food and scoot, but I’m smiling through my chattering teeth and telling you what a pleasure it is to serve you. I DO love it, but it’s just real cold.
• Ever seen a chocolate milkshake go flying through the air? I have. It’s like an enormous tasty mess that makes you laugh.
• I miss my roommates. I wish we could sit on the floor and eat Pizza in our pajamas again.
• I was dead to the world for three hours today. I turned my phone off and slept like a rock. Yeah, that’s the good stuff.
• Day off. I could say a million and five good things about those!
• “It’s a lifestyle choice, ya’ll. Don’t be hatin’.” That’s going to make me smile for a long time to come.
• Oh I see the Moon, and the Moon sees me. The Moon shines down on one I want to see. So God bless the Moon and God bless Me. God bless the one I’m longing to see.
• Woke up insanely early, fell asleep incredibly late this week. Coffee was my strongest supporter and the greatest of friends.
• I drove on Snowy white, iced over roads at midnight for the first time in my life. It was an experience I shall not wish to repeat very soon.
• My phone has only charged for a combined 32 minutes all week long. I’ve barely had time to use that lovely little device of convenience. I think it missed me.
• Returned BLESSINGS are something special. Makes one feel warm inside; like the world is good and people are even better than they’re cracked up to be.
• Valentines Day is in 4 days. When I actually sit down long enough to think about it, I think the world should be decked out in all shades of Pink & Red until then. And confetti hearts and xoxoxo’s should be thrown from the sky.

Just Playing Possum

A little brown ball of fur scampered across the road. I slowed down, squinting into the headlights thinking Oh! Is that our cat? What’s she doing all the way over here, I wonder.



I watched the furry thing dash off into the wood line, and just as suddenly as it appeared and disappeared, a second thing came running across the road in a mad dash. I had no time to swerve or stop or … anything!

If I didn’t know any better, I could’ve sworn my eyes closed instinctively for the splittest of seconds as a sickening thud sounded beneath my car.

“Oh no!” I covered my mouth. “No. I didn’t …”

All three of the girls asked, “What was that?!” in unison. I drove a little bit further down the road and then turned around. I don’t know why I thought it would make me feel better, but I had to turn around and see if maybe, hopefully I hadn’t really hit the poor thing.

“Oh Kenna, look.” I wailed, hunching over the steering wheel.

“A raccoon? Really, you’re freaking out for a raccoon.” She didn’t seem terribly bothered over the fact I had indeed played part of murderer. Here I am feeling terrible about what I’d just done and she’s blowing it off like its no big deal.

“Well maybe,” she leaned over looking like she was about to reason with me. “Yeah! They play dead like possums, ya know?”

“No they don’t!” I shrieked, stopping the car completely. I held my breath waiting for it to get up and move. I was sadly disappointed when it’s little body rose up and down in hard quick motions and then it ever so slowly rolled over with its paws in the air. That was it
That really did it. It pulled every last heartstring I had. I felt like a loser.

“Ohhhh girls, I really did kill it.”

“Yeah, well …” Elaina shrugged her shoulders in the backseat. “I guess we can just turn around again and wait for it to get up. Or die.”

Smart tail. Like I’m going to do that. “No! I don’t wanna know if it’s really dead. Maybe we should get daddy to come back and put it out of it’s misery or something.”

“It’s dead, it’s dead. You really killed it. How could you?!!!!!” Abs covered her mouth in mock disbelief. She thought the whole thing was funny too. What was with these people? Had they no heart?

“Shutup, Abigail.” Kenna and I snapped at the same time, then I added. “I feel bad enough, thanks.”

So my little happy-go-lucky drive home from church only turned into epic failure. Nice.

We only stuck around for a few more minutes, just long enough to watch the thing sort of revive itself and leave me semi-happily wondering hoping that just maybe … raccoons really did play possum too. 😉

The moment we got home and started walking toward the house, Mckenna grabbed my arm and said, “Look, Brit!”

I glance up at the night sky for a moment, wondering what she’s pointing to. The sky is a gorgeous shade of dark blue, making the stars sparkle especially bright. “Oh yeah, it’s really something.”

“A star just went up to heaven for your little raccoon buddy. Hahaha!”

I look back at her, laughing. “Dork face.”

“Yeah. Yeah. What? I’m trying to make you feel better.” She grinned back.

So I’ve no idea if it lived or died. It wasn’t in the road the next day but you never know if it just crawled its way off the road and died in some ditch. Least I’ve got such an awesome sister to teach me about such things as raccoons playing possum, hmm? 😉