Fuzzy Green Caterpillar

Because I currently have nothing fun to blog about, and I'm sitting at school and don't have any personal photos. I'm choosing to tell a story from last August, well maybe it was September.

Anyways. I had a Friday off of school for some reason, so I went to Walmart that morning and picked up many necessities. One of those was garden clippers, two kinds in fact. The long ones for bushes, and the more exact one for single thick branches.

It was a beautiful sunny day, so I decided to put my new hedge trimmers to use. I only planned on spending an hour or less outside, I had a soccer game that night and did not want to get too worn out from the sun.

Next thing I know, I am going to town, taking out whole bushes (that were ugly of course), and really re-doing the landscape (if you want to call it that, how about untamed years of growth bushes, almost jungly, yeah that's better). So anyways, I finally realized, I need to stop and clean up or I'll never be ready for my game, plus I need to be eating my pre-game dinner in about 15 minutes.

So I pulled out some trash bags and began putting away the scraps. Next thing I know, I feel something on my back, like a bug, tickling me. So I use my gloved hand to brush off my back and continue working. But, I still have that tickling feeling, so I try again. Finally, I get frustrated and so I take off my glove and grab my shirt, pulling it around me so that I can see the lower back of my shirt (can you picture this?)

And that's when it happened. My hand felt like it was on fire, immediately. I shook my hand and tried to fling off whatever it was that was causing the fire on my hand. And onto the ground fell a fuzzy green caterpillar. I had no time to waste, my hand and my back were on fire.

I ran inside, frantic that I had been poisoned, was allergic, and would die. I called my husband at work, he just said "what? a fuzzy green caterpillar? I think you'll be okay."

I held my hand under the running faucet, I washed with antibacterial soap, 20 times, I grabbed an ice pack, then turned on the internet, I had some research to do.

I found out that this fuzzy green caterpillar may in fact be poisonous, I may in fact have a reaction, it may be bad. I was home alone.

I did the only thing I could think to do next, I called the school nurse on her cell phone. Had she heard of fuzzy green caterpillar stings before? was this normal? Would I die? Should I drive to the hospital?

No. I would be fine. but I needed to make a paste of water and meat tenderizer to pull out the venom. Oh ok. Wait, meat tenderizer? What in tarnation is that?

I immediately drove the grocery store, calling my mom to ask "Where is meat tenderizer in the grocery store???" Spice aisle. Got it. Flew in, bought the stuff, drove home, made the paste, covered my back and my burning hand. And then with my left hand tried to eat my pre-game meal, I had a soccer game to play. Fuzzy green caterpillar sting and all.

The moral of the story? Fuzzy green caterpillars are NOT cute. Oh, and by the way, before leaving for my soccer game, I did take a huge rock and smash that fuzzy green caterpillar.

But I haven't done any yard work since.

Valentines Giveaway

Just an FYI to tell you one of my favorite blogs ever, The Glamerous Life of a Housewife, is doing a Valentine's Giveaway today for the most adorable plates! Go check out her blog, enter to win, then add her to your list and start reading every day- you won't be disappointed!

ps-- I don't know how to correctly spell Glamerous- and that's okay with me

Thanks... I Think

I was walking around the classroom, helping students, when 1 little 2nd grade girl motioned for me to come close. I leaned over, she whispered in my ear,

"You are very pretty." and then out loud, "But you have a small head."

I said, "well, thanks, I think I have small everything, I forgot to grow."

To which she replied, "well it's weird, because you have a big brain."

So... I guess thanks for the compliment?

25 Things About Me

I only wrote this up for Facebook because 5,302 people tagged me to do it. It's an okay list. If I had taken more time, it could have been funnier. Maybe I'll make it funnier later. But here it is for now.

1. I like to exagerate for effect. (please see the first sentence in this note)

2. I am obsessed with chocolate- although I'm trying to limit myself to 1 dessert a week since my metabolism is slowing down.

3. I am married to a man who is way out of my league- but I love him and am soooo thankful for him!

4. Kanakuk Kamps has played a ginormous role in my life- I was a kamper there, I was a counselor there, I met most of my closest friends there, I met my husband there, I grew closer
to the Lord there.

5. I hunger to read the Bible daily- without time with the Lord, I am just plain mean.

6. I used to paint my finger nails and toe nails every day. In college, I started painting them once a week. I absolutely love having my nails painted. Unfortunately, I only get to it once a month or so now, I need to fix that soon.

7. I don't love watching tv, but I find myself doing it all the time!

8. I like folding clothes, but I hate putting them away.

9. I moved every year for 7 years and lived in 7 apartments.

10. I HATE taking out the trash. I think due to the fact that in apartments I had to walk it to a dumpster.

11. I love soccer and cheerleading. I cheered in college and absolutely love it! Now I'm playing on a soccer team- which is hilarous.

12. I used to get so bored running and now have run 2 half - marathons, so I guess I'm a runner.

13. I never read a book in high school or college- I always read the cliff notes. But now I love reading and always have a book going.

14. I lived in Quito, Ecuador for a semester. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and by far one of the best times of my life.

15. Last year I became an official certified scuba diver. Definitely one of the coolest things to do.

16. I've always wanted to be a wedding planner. And after planning my own wedding, I've decided I really would love that job (and might actually be good at it). but I dont' like the thought of working on weekends... so I haven't pursued that career yet.

17. One year I cleaned houses for a living. Too bad I don't always keep my own home clean.

18. I have a terrible habit of setting my stuff- purse, bags, coat, sunglasses, whatever- down right when I walk in the front door. And I never move it. Until Saturday, I always move it on Saturday.

19. I love to keep things for sentimental value, but I hate clutter. When I get in the right mood, I throw a lot away, but it takes awhile to get to that point.

20. I am obsessive about organization. Almost OCD about it. And if I can't organize something the right way, then I leave it totally messy until I can. Sometimes my organizational systems are too complex and take too long to keep up with... this is not good.

21. I am a "piler." I pile things on my desk until I can get to them to file them correctly (see #20). Last week it took 2 hours to get to the bottom of my desk. My husband saw it and said "oh, the desk is brown, didn't know that."

22. I used to drink Dr. Pepper daily. I decided to give it up for soccer season my senior year of high school and have never had a soda since.

23. I used to love ice cream and chocolate milk. Somewhere along the lines, I became a big of a "lac-tard" and now have to drink soy milk or take lactaid.

24. I am addicted to "The Office." My husband and I talk about the characters as if they are our friends. We know everything that they have said or done. It borders on pathetic. Also a big fan of 24 and American Idol.

25. Jesus Christ is my Savior. Without Him, I was a different person. With Him, I am becoming the person He wants me to be.

14 Days

Five years ago I was attending the Kanakuk Institute. Unlike what my brother thought, it was not an institution for mental illness... it was (and is) an institute for Biblical studies and youth ministry training. It was an amazing year, filled with Bible knowledge, growth in my relationship with the Lord, and fellowship and friendships beyond your wildest imagination. It was incredible.

We had class each day from 8-12ish. We had many other obligations too, but for now, let's focus on the class part. You see, they were trying to teach us "professionalism" as well- and so we had a dress code. It had some value, but it was a little silly as well... for example:

Dress professionally- church clothes, work attire.
No jeans.
no flip flops.
Matching warm up suits are acceptable (what?? how is this professional?)

Anyways, we ended up being silly with it.
The boys had "turtle neck Thursday" (Gross)
The girls had "warm-up Wednesday" (My Fav)

And then February 1st hit. And we went nuts. One girl came up with the bright idea of wearing pink or red every day until Valentine's Day. Most every girl did it.

And 5 years later, I'm still doing it. So for 14 days, I wear pink or red. Either a shirt, a dress, pants, or more subtle... a necklace, socks, an undershirt, or underwear (shhh...)

This past Sunday I wore a red and black dress. Yesterday I had on pink pants with a black top. today green pants and black top- but with a multi color belt (which has pink AND red) and also a pink cardigan.

So join me if you will. I guarantee you'll wear things in your closet you haven't worn in years. You may even rediscover a new favorite. And in the meantime, you'll be blessing the world with more girliness and beautiful pink-ness!

Happy 14 Days!

B is for...

I signed up over at Elizabeth's blog, no worries WYNN in love, for this little game that I thought would be so much fun! So, here's the deal: If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I'll assign you a letter. You post ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on. I got the letter B, so here goes!

10 Things I like beginning with B...

1. beaches!
2. Bible!
3. bratwursts (at K-Kountry- the best!)
4. bananas (do you think I'm hungry?)
5. Bugs (not the insects, the cars!)
6. balls (well, really sports, and specifically soccer balls and basketballs)
7. brains - yep I'm glad I have one
8. biology - it was my major, and I find it fascinating
9. bran muffins - well actually all muffins, but this one starts with B (oh and still hungry)
10. babies- nope don't want one yet, but I sure do like them. And right now, I especially like "giving them back" to their mama's!

Well there's my list... leave a comment if you want a letter.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Superbowl!

Ty and I chose to give each other a big screen T.V. for Christmas this year. And we were wise and thought there would be sales come Superbowl Weekend, so let's wait to purchase then.

No- just kidding. We did not purposely wait til Superbowl Weekend, it just happened, but it did work to our favor! And so I present to you our new T.V. - Merry Christmas to me!

here's a close up of the beauty... all 42 LCD inches of this Toshiba. What's on you ask?? Why food network of course! The Superbowl of Wedding Cakes!

Oh but in an hour we will break in our TV with this year's superbowl- GO KURT WARNER!

SO Merry Christmas and a Happy Superbowl to you!