Packing Style

"Pack. Unpack. Repack."

That's from You Can't Eat Your Chicken Pox, Amber Brown by Paula Danziger. 8-year-old Amber Brown and her mother are hopscotching to the car while chanting this. It summarizes Amber Brown's packing strategy for her trip to London with her aunt.

Packing always invokes a sort of panic.

do i need this? will i want it if i leave it behind? if i don't use this, i'll feel silly for bringing it. well, i'll bring it just in case. do i even need this anymore? am i over-packing? do i have everything i need? have i prepared for all contingencies between here, the arctic, and the equator?

I feel like I should be a pro at this by now, but I still pack like Amber Brown. I always feel like I'm forgetting something.

At least this time I'm starting days ahead of time so I can panic over a greater span of time, ensuring plenty of time to check, double-check, and re-check everything for greater peace of mind when all is said and done (and tucked into the car).

~"Don't forget to pack your courage for your journey to greatness." [-David Weinbaum]~

MRI Adventure

Have you ever had an MRI? I had one for the first time today (just a precautionary thing with all of the migraines I've been having), and it was interesting.

First came the jokes from the family. "Is there even a brain to look at?" Thanks, guys.

When I got there (late, of course...) and exchanged my paperwork for a nice walk down a long hallway, it looked like a loading dock for a semi. We went on this platform thing, and -- vrrrp! -- up we went! "Welcome to the 21st century," the nurse joked. ("I just like saying that everytime," she then admitted.)

I removed any and all metal from my body (earrings, belt, bobby pins, jewelry) and then got brought into The Room. They gave me ear plugs, and then proceeded to pack my head into this nice little "funny looking football helmet," as they put it. There was lots of padding for my ears. They also gave me a blankie so I would stay warm while I stayed still.

They closed the big door, and in I went. It sounded like what I'm sure the inside of a timer would sound like (tick, tick, tick...beep, beep, beep) first, and then the inside of an electric razor (buzzzzzzzzzz). Next it was like being on the inside of a hollow door (knock, knock, knock). Rinse, lather, repeat a few times. Got taken out, given a shot for "contrast", and put back in for a few more go-rounds. Then I was released and re-metaled.

I stayed still...mostly. I realized a number of times that I was subconsciously wiggling my toes. Apparently I really must always be moving in some capacity. By the end, I was about ready to fall asleep.

So that was that. And soon I'll get to know what the inside of my head looks like. Sweet.

~[I'm not even sure what a good quote to end this on would be...so just pretend there's something witty here.]~

Recanting

I think I finally have to admit it: sleep is NOT overrated.

And I just might go to bed before 12 tonight.

Well, this is certainly a far cry from being a college freshman...

[Oh no! Is this my future?!?]

~"I ain't as good as I once was. My, how the years have gone." [- "As Good As I Once Was" by Toby Keith]~

I Heart Mom

I will never stop having moments in my life where I just need my mom.

Last night we talked until 3 a.m., a late night even for insomniacs like us. We talked about relationships and life lessons.

We started talking about the future, and that lead us to the past. My mom gave me new insight into myself by relaying memories of raising me.

It's pretty fun to be at that point where my mom and I have gone beyond the scope of being mom and daughter and are now friends.

I know that I have to stand on my own feet because that's what she raised me to do, but I don't want those two feet to cause me to walk away, forgetful of who influenced me to be who I am. Even though my mom reassured me that she raised me to go out on my own and do these things, I know who I will be calling when I don't remember how long to cook a roast or what exactly can go in which laundry load.

Moms are pretty awesome forces in our lives. (Don't worry, Dads. You're not chopped liver. You're pretty astounding yourselves, but you'll get your own time to shine.)

~"Mom stands for Maker Of Magic." [-my mom]~

Little (Technological) Things

I have been contemplating our technological age for a few weeks now in light of David and I beginning the long-distance phase of our relationship. Nobody ever looks forward to being separated from the people they care about, but I have to admit that there's a measure of frustration with how much I pouted about this. We have known from the start that this was coming, so we really had time to talk, pray, and prepare.

Here's the thing: I look at all of the technology we have, and it's crazy. I'm writing this post from my iPod, which just before this was an avenue to face-to-face chat with David. And this is in addition to cell phones, text messaging, and emails.

Whoa.

Thinking back to times when long-distance relationships looked solely to letters and infrequent phone calls to sustain them, we have it pretty easy. It makes me feel like I have no room to complain now.

Does technology ever blow your mind?

~"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."~

Priceless Christmas Memories

This will be one of my all-time favorite memories of this Christmas. I don't think it'll ever stop making me laugh until I cry!

Christmas In The Air

Christmas took over my life for the past few days.

So much Christmas music.

So much cookie making.

So much Christmas Elf-ing.

Making stockings with our names on them, picking up the annual kielbasa (Polish sausage) from the butcher, and wrapping presents. My favorite part was picking up my cousin from the airport as a surprise for the girls. They didn't know he was coming home for Christmas (the first time he's been home since May).

And Christmas Eve was worth the year of waiting.

It's my favorite night of the year because my entire Dad's side of the family gets together. It's the one holiday all of my cousins are guaranteed to be together. And every year we have somebody dress up as Santa, a tradition we've had since before I can even remember. Nowadays it's usually a dear friend of my older cousin's. This year was the best. He was hilarious, and my youngest cousin LOVED it. She's the real reason that we do it; the rest of us have finally come to grips with the fact that Santa's not real. We watched a video of Christmas 1994 (discovering your brother rocking a mullet and obnoxious fist pumps: priceless). We ate, we laughed, we shared stories, and it was wonderful.

Now I'm watching A Christmas Story on TBS...the first half. I caught the second half first. That is just how I usually end up watching it every year. In pajamas...even if it's after noon.

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope it's wonderful. I hope it's restful. I hope it's joyful. And I hope you make memories you'll look back on later and laugh about. I hope God's blessings wrap around you today.