Erinshirrrrrrrrrrrre

This weekend I successfully surprised the Abilene crew by breezing into town for Erinshire Folk Festival. When I sent out an email to some college buddies who all live in the Dallas area, seeking a ride to Abilene from the DFW airport, Zach and Melissa hopped on it and dropped me off on their way farther west. Big thanks to them for the outstanding shuttle service. I mean, they had lunch in the car for me when they picked me up!

Erinshire was great - complete with perfect weather, a lack of mosquito-plague, well-done music (especially between 10:15pm and 11:15pm), lots of laughs, a neon green t-shirt, and yes, the opportunity to buy chicken-on-a-stick.

Abilene has much significance for me. Ten years of ACU Leadership Camps before college, three and a half years in college, two years after college... lots of laughs and tears and "character-building" opportunities... and people that I love. I could have spent weeks there, visiting all the places and people that mean something to me.

I love Nashville but I sure do miss Abilene (so much). It was good to see you guys.

I'm it.

Once upon a time, about a hundred years ago, Laurie kindly booktagged me. I don't have good answers for all of them, so here goes with the ones that prompted a thought...

One book that changed my life: Growing Up Empty by Loretta Schwartz-Nobel. It was an important step in the process that led me to my current job. People who think hunger only exists for uneducated lazy poor folks from the south are mistaken. This book gives a glimpse into several lives that belong to our own neighbors at this very moment.

One book I have read more than once: My criminal justice textbook from college. I know. Had I taken that course earlier in the process, I would have minored in it. I am, indeed, Law & Order's target audience.

One book I would want on a deserted island: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. All those characters and rhymes should keep my mind occupied for a bit. Plus, it would seem appropriate to read a book with a title that described where I was stuck.

One book that made me laugh: I ran across a children's book recently about a family of peas. The parent peas are trying to teach the kid pea that she must eat all of her dessert first so that she can have her vegetables, which is what she really wants the most. Very cute, but I can't remember the title or author.

One book that made me cry: Masters of Chaos by Linda Robinson. As enthralled as I am with it, I put it down a while back and have neglected to pick it back up. I have GOT to get back to it.

One book I wish I had written: Hmm, I could write a book about workplace dysfunction... (not my current job!)

One book I am currently reading: No books at the moment because I am busy making greeting cards. Handmade Christmas card orders, anyone? (Seriously.)

One book I have been wanting to read: The Question of God by Armand Nicholi. I have it. It's next. Right after I finish Masters of Chaos.

One children's book I recommend: Any of the Hairy McClary books by Lynley Dodd. Big fun, and lines you don't mind bouncing around in your head all day. "out of the gate and off for a walk..."

One book character I'd like to have lunch with: Matilda. Ever since my Dad read that book aloud to me at night when I was a kid, I have wanted to tell Matilda that I was sorry she was treated so poorly by her parents and at school. Seriously, I used to get teary for her.

The End.

FW: Fw: Fw: FW: Fw:

I hate forwarded mass emails, especially those that include a sensational urban legend about how I should inspect my bag of salad at the grocery store because it might have a frog in it. Or how Coca-Cola will send me free cases for life if I forward this message to ten people in ten cities in the next ten minutes. Or how gang members will kill me if I flash my car lights at another driver who does not have their lights on. Or how I should be careful at parties because someone might steal one of my kidneys when I'm not looking and leave me in a bathtub full of ice. (I remember the day I heard that one on the radio, reported as a factual news story, as I drove to high school.)

You should know that if you send me such email, I will search for the topic on www.snopes.com and I will reply to ALL of the other hundred thousand people to whom you sent it, letting them know that the crisis is false. You will feel silly. Trust me.

This site is your friend. Use it.

We're trying to have a society here.*

On Saturday morning, I was loading my car on my way out of town for my cousin's wedding. (Stand by for future post about the wedding.) As I tossed my bag into the backseat, I looked over my car and down the parking lot a bit and saw that the two young boys I always see playing outside were, indeed, enjoying the perfect weather.

These nine- or ten-year-old boys climb the hill to reach the drainage culvert where they play after school most days, and all day on Saturdays. I have noticed them because they make me nervous, skateboarding down the edge of the culvert, climbing too high on the hill, and always - always - unsupervised. So when I see them, I always take a second look to make sure they aren't doing anything extra dangerous.

This time I saw the boys simultaneously rare back with giant rocks in their hands and throw them right through two windows on a car.

That's right.

They squealed with delight at the shattering glass. And then they noticed me - and took off. Knowing they weren't going far since they LIVE HERE, I ran back up to my apartment to get one last thing for my trip. I had almost convinced myself that I had not seen what I had just seen... so I drove down to that car to make sure. And I saw that those weren't the first two rocks that had been thrown at the car... there were several laying on the ground beneath rock-sized dents in the car doors.

I went to my complex office to report the boys and ask the staff to call the police. I had to leave since I had a three hour drive to the wedding, but they knew who I was if they needed me for a witness later. The maintenance guy who happened to be in the office knew who the boys were and had just seen them running to their apartment. He went to get the other maintenance guy as a witness, and they went to the boys' apartment together... I assume to have a word with them or their parents. The other employee implied she was going to call the police.

On Monday I am going to check to make SURE the staff did, in fact, call the police. If they didn't, I will after the fact. Those boys need an officer in their faces.

When I came home tonight, the car was gone and all of the glass and rocks were swept away. I hope the boys got it out of their system, especially since they saw me standing at my CAR.

*Cole says it, but I don't know where he got it.