A heartwarming story...

I went over to Karen Kool's blog today and it appears she's taking a break, so her readers are filling in for her by leaving all sorts of comments. This one was taken straight from the source, no editing involved, so I will give it a rating before you read too far. This story has been rated PG-13 (by me) for language. Here it is:

Here's a truly heartwarming story about the bond formed between a little 5 year old girl and some construction workers that makes you believe that we CAN make a difference when we give a child the gift of our time...

A young family moved into a house, next door to a vacant lot. One day a construction crew turned up to start building a house on the empty lot.

The young family's 5-year-old daughter naturally took an interest in all the activity going on next door and spent much of each day observing the workers.

Eventually the construction crew, all of them gems-in-the-rough, more or less adopted her as a kind of project mascot. They chatted with her, let her sit with them while they had coffee and lunch breaks, and gave her little jobs to do here and there to make her feel important.

At the end of the first week they even presented her with a pay envelope containing a couple of dollars. The little girl took this home to her mother who said all the appropriate words of admiration and suggested they take the two dollar "pay" she had received to the bank the next day to start a savings account.

When they got to the bank, the teller was equally impressed and asked the little girl how she had come by her very own pay check at such a young age. The little girl proudly replied, "I worked last week with the crew building the house next door to us."

My goodness gracious," said the teller, "and will you be working on the house again this week, too?"

The little girl replied, "I will if those assholes at Home Depot ever deliver the fucking sheet rock..."

We take pumpkin carving seriously...

Last year, Steve and I went pumpkin picking at a farm near Princeton. Unfortunately, we picked our pumpkin in the rain. It was okay though; we got a good pumpkin and carved a coyote howling at the moon. It was quite a fun experience. This year, we decided to pick a pumpkin from a more local area, as in, a near-by garden center. We got a bigger pumpkin for maybe the same price. However, it rained again, so now its tradition. Next year, we can't pick our pumpkin UNLESS it rains. If we have a drought, we're screwed, no pumpkin haha. Anyway, after many hours of sketching and debating about the design, drawing it out over the course of a few days, we finally settled on something that was to our liking.

We were finally able to open the pumpkin up and clean out the insides. Thus begins 8 1/2 hours of cleaning, pin-holing, magic-marker-outlining, carving and painting with vaseline so it will keep longer.


Had we known how long our design would take us, we would have settled for the easier and more messy design of "vomitting pumpkin."


Perhaps I will plant a garden next year and we will be able to pick pumpkins in the rain at my house.


We took a copy of our design, and poked pinholes into the skin of the pumpkin.


Steve went over it in black marker showing the parts of skin we should carve off.


Just as we are getting started. You can't tell what it is yet can you? I did that on purpose, mwah-hahaha!


What could it be? A horse's head?


A spooky ghost?


Ooh, getting closer...


Voila! In case anyone is wondering, it is a boy. Legend has it that there is no such thing as a female Phoenix.

videos and pomegranates

Does it bother anyone that pomegranates are not symmetrical fruit? They are round, so you think they are symmetrical. But the top hemisphere has a taller bump. Then you cut it open. The bottom looks like a star, and has extra seeds inside. The top just has five "pockets" or seeds, instead of being all across the top of the dome shape. Yay for asymmetry! I hate it when people are anal retentive about symmetry. Not even the human body is symmetrical. At a glance it is, of course. Two legs, two arms, one head in the center. But studies have shown that if you take a picture of a person's face and reverse it, people have a harder time recognizing themselves or others, which indicates the placement of facial features is not symmetrical. In addition, you've got the spleen on the left, the heart in the mid-left, the pancreas on the mid-right, and the liver and gall bladder on the far right. That's not symmetrical. People should just give it up. Nature didn't intend for things to be symmetrical. That would be boring.

Oh and here are some videos.
darth vader meets monty python
what i have to look forward to with my kitty Jack.

Random thoughts

1. Is it squirrel mating season? I almost hit 4 very lucky squirrels today. They chase each other in pairs across the street.

2. I wasn't so sure about working at the greenhouse, but when I was there today and was asked how I like it, I said "Its growing on me." Hehe I'm so clever.

3. Today I wore my tight jeans. I call them my tight jeans because I haven't worn them in at least a year because they are too tight. But they fit now. I guess that means my other jeans are now too big. Which is funny because now that winter is coming I have been craving carbs and fats so I can bulk up for the cold and maybe actually feel something past my knees this winter. And I have also not been doing jujitsu as often as I used to. So you'd think with less exercise and more fatty foods, my jeans would be tight still. I like these jeans so I'm happy. But bummer, that means I'm gonna be SOOOO cold this winter, if I'm losing weight now.

4. I just took one of those online quiz things that asks you questions based on what you're wearing and what your natural hair color is (I was born with black hair that lightened to dirty blond with faint strawberry blond hints and later darkened to brown before I dyed it for the first time, with henna- so I don't know my natural color). I discovered that I am a "skanky emo skater with a nice smile, beautiful eyes, hints of too much to handle, finally ending with a broken heart." Thats a mouthful. They shouldn't base stuff on your natural hair color.

5. Hypothetical situation #(whatever the last number was plus one). I haven't done a hypothetical in a while. I was thinking about something I heard the other day, about a Jujitsu sensei in the AJJF. They said that no one ever really sees him angry unless a student brings dishonor to the dojo. So one thought leads to another until I finally came up with this scenario. If a person does something that could be construed as "bringing dishonor to the dojo" but keeps it a secret from everyone except me, is it my responsibility to inform the sensei so that the deed can be properly dealt with? What about if there's one other person who knows? Do I rely on them to make the decision? What if I have been involved longer and have a better knowledge of the intricate workings of the dojo? Who am I to inflict my morals on the doer of the deed? Or is it better said, "Who am I to inflict the sensei's morals on the doer of the deed?" Does honor have anything to do with morals?

I'd be interested in getting people involved in this kind of discussion. If anyone wants to comment, feel free. Lead by doing, be the first to break the silence of my comments section.

My job.

I don't mention my job much. I thought I would share with you all so you know what's going on. I work in a greenhouse. I keep forgetting and saying "nursery" when people ask me what I do. Then they say "awwwwww" in a really high pitched voice and then I have to tell them its not kids, its plants. Some people that know me better know I would kill myself if I woke up from a coma and discovered I somehow got hired at a kid-nursery.

Anyway, daily chores involve checking the plants to see if they are dry and watering them, cleaning dead leaves out, checking for pests or disease, sweeping, and telling customers that they can't put that plant on the porch, they can't put this one in a south window, they HAVE to put that one in the south window, they can't transplant into that pot because it won't drain... etc.

Its ok... it may or may not be where I'm "supposed" to be. But I want to be employed and I don't have the energy to keep applying to places for the time being, so this is where I will be for now. The employees are divided into two camps that don't agree with each other's plant-care-style. I really don't care either way. I've learned the ropes quickly, (though there's still a ton to learn) and I've figured out when I'm with camp one, I can do it their way and when I'm with camp two I'll do it that way. Neither one really kills the plant or harms customer satisfaction.

Anyway, I only deal with indoor greenhouse plants. The outdoor guys take care of things like shrubbery, vegetable garden stuff, and mums. Not the manager, but the other three guys, would probably be best described as Dumb, Dumber, and Dumber-er. But they're kinda fun to work with.

Anyway, here you go. Some of my babies:


Bromeliad up close. EDIT: I'm wrong, this is Tillandsia. Oops.


The whole bromeliad table. EDIT: The whole bromeliad/tillandsia table.


Amaryllis. The smell from this one is gorgeous.


A type of Begonia bred for the leaves rather than the flowers. There are some other types but my camera failed to capture the sparkle in the leaves. Guess you will have to use your imagination.


Some kind of funny name like Hydroxifolia. I know there's a Y, an X, and an F in it. Its in the violet family, but much bigger.


Some kind of succulent, on our cactus table. I don't remember the name of it, but this is the flower stem, not the whole plant.


A flowering cactus. Its really cute, this whole pot is only three inches in diameter.

Well that's it. Maybe someday I'll take some broader pictures of the whole greenhouse so you can get a better idea of the thing that is now filling my early afternoons.

HAHAHAHA

I check the postsecret website religiously. One of the postcards that had been sent in said something about a person who took LSD at Disneyland. A reader responded by email to the webmaster, and he posted the response:

"My brother dropped acid at D-land and called me in hysterics after riding Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. He told me--through tears--that he was dead and had gone to Hell. The next time I went on the ride, I realized that the ride actually does end in Hell. Weird for a kiddy-ride."

I just had to laugh. It lightened my day a little, since my last blog was about an hour ago and pretty bummed out.

stupid stupid rain

A guy I once had a crush on once told me never to despise the rain because it is what gives life to all things, and the sun will come again another day. I always treasured what he said and promised myself I'd always be thankful for the rain.

However, he told me that in the spring. This is fall when everything is dying anyway and doesn't need rain to live. The only thing that needs rain to live is mold. And that's what I'm allergic to. So my nose started running as the rain started this morning. It didn't help that I spent the day in a greenhouse surrounded by pollen. I can't breathe and I have had permanent post-nasal drip all my life.

I just spent 10 minutes dry-heaving in the shower. I think I screwed up my back and gave myself pleurisy. At least I can breathe now. I just can't stand up straight. Woooooh!

...

Stupid hippies.

Weekend

So, its a better day and I can now write about my weekend.

SATURDAY

On Saturday, I drove down to New Brunswick, met Steve, and we drove together to Taylor's house for Navin's birthday party. I brought some yummy homemade pumpkin apple streusel muffins. When we got there, we headed (almost) straight for the bouncy thing, which Taylor somehow got a great affordable deal on. We spent most of the night in there, playing with Taylor's little brother Colin, who had us fighting him with our animal super powers. There were levels and a boss to defeat, an indication that perhaps he's had ten minutes too many on the video games.


Then Petals the Clown showed up. She is a friend of Taylor's family, and stopped by after work. We were all standing around talking about her job when Navin interrupted. "I just have one question." Petals asked what that was. "Can I have a sword?"


So Petals ran back to the car as fast as her floppy shoe could take her and in no time, Navin was happy.


So was Steve.


In fact, we all got some sort of a balloon toy before Petals had to go home. But no fear, the night is not complete without sparklers and a bonfire.


Of course, you can't have a party without a cookie cake either.

All in all, it was a great party. We did a little jujitsu in the bouncy thing which was fun and quite a different experience, since there's no way to keep your balance in that thing. Reflecting on the night, its great that in our early 20s, we can still have a great time at a party that would be heaven to an 8 year old. I have come to realize in the past few years that the best friends you can have are the ones that bring out your inner 8 year old. The ones that let you live life simply, the ones that can appreciate the tiny things in life, and the ones that help you truly enjoy living for the sake of living. If, at 23, I can have as much fun fighting the mutant lobsters as Colin is having, then I know I am friends with the right people.

SUNDAY

Steve and I went to a wedding in Mt Laurel NJ. Kevin and Heather are former Jujitsuka, and Kevin is a blackbelt. In our dojo, we have a tradition in which, at the wedding reception of a blackbelt, other black belts are allowed to throw the one getting married. Its usually at the discretion of the bride and groom, and how approving they think their friends and family would be of such a demonstration at a wedding. Kevin had the foresight to provide his own mat, which could possibly be a first in the history of the dojo, although I don't know; I haven't been around long enough. Kevin is also Jewish, so there were some traditional elements of a Jewish wedding, and Heather is from a Christian background, so there were traditional elements there as well. In all, it was both a traditional and non-traditional wedding. Traditional because there were so many traditions upheld, non-traditional because its kind of against conventional practice to mix multiple traditional backgrounds. But no one cared much and all enjoyed the wedding. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.


The most adorable flower girls and ring bearer ever.


Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Schnitzer


The Kennedy family. Scott, Stacy, and the twins.


Some good-looking wedding guests.


Congratulatory throws. My camera cannot handle both an indoor setting and a sport setting all at once.


Party favors. A much better idea than the usual bag of mints. (They are candles and the ribbons say "Kevin and Heather" with the date.)


Some guest... I dunno he kept doing cute things so I would take a picture of him. I don't know who he is.


The Jewish chair dance thingie.


Kevin and Heather, the day after.


I swear, this is not Roberto Benigni.

Screw up day...

I want to write about my awesome weekend. However, I'd probably mess it up and accidentally insult someone's mother. I have messed up a bazillion times today so I am afraid to attempt screwing up an account of a great weekend.

In short, I should have come home when I originally planned (but I didn't because I was too tired to drive). If I had done that, I would not have had to wake up at 8 am. I would have been able to resist the urge to stay eight more minutes under the covers. I would not have gotten stuck in morning traffic on 287, and would not have had to drive home to get my uniform because I would already have been there. I would not have been 7 minutes late for work, and would not have left my license in my other pants (not the uniform).

After that escapade I contemplated staying home instead of going out as I had said I would this Monday, but received a phone call begging me to be there. So, I made another phone call saying I'd make it to part of it. But not all. In the end I got to that one late, for some unexplained reason of which I am not even aware. I did have my license on me by that time though. And of course leaving I screwed up and went the wrong direction.

That being said, I am NOT going to tell you about my awesome and flawless weekend (except for losing 17 cents) involving a birthday party and a Jewish wedding. I will have to save it for tomorrow.

Oh yeah. And if you didn't figure it out, I found a job, which I didn't tell you all about except perhaps individually, because it is not a victory for me, nor is it a failure. But I suppose I will save that for another day as well.

While I sleep, enjoy this.
Birdies