Friday the 13th; Fun Facts

{1, 2, 3}

The phobia of Friday the 13th is called "friggatriskaidekaphobia" (are you slowly trying pronounce that in your head right now too?).  17 to 21 million people in the U.S. have "friggatriskaidekaphobia", according to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina. {Info gathered from HERE}.

We will have three Friday the 13th's in 2012, the most you can have in one calendar year (one in April and another July). It is a great year for all who have "friggatriskaidekaphobia". Those who have the phobia will most likely stay indoors and out of trouble. The U.S. economy loses up to 900 million dollars every time there is a Friday the 13th—many people avoid business deals, or even work altogether, on the allegedly doomed date,  according to some estimates.

Are you out n' about today?  Or curled in a ball in your toasty warm bed?  I am thinking about calling in and declaring I have, "friggatriskaidekaphobia". They won't question that.  It sounds contagious.

Happy Halloween; Frightmares Style

For a Halloween Treat the hubby and I went to Lagoon, a theme park not that far from where we reside.  Each year they jazz up the park Halloween style and let goblins and ghosts roam the park.  We set off Saturday to enjoy the rides and haunted houses.

Each time I go to Lagoon I sneak my camera on the roller coasters.  I think I enjoy the pictures more than the actual rides themselves.  When we get off the coasters we sit and laugh uncontrollably at the ridiculous faces we naturally develop when terrified out of our minds.  Each photo shows the real emotions that surface as we ride.

I think my favorite is of the one of my father-in-law screaming at the tops of his lungs sitting next to my husband who looks terrified as his hair sticks straight up in the air.  Oh what treasures these pictures are.

If you try this yourself, be sure to strap the camera on your wrist tightly and never let go! Oh what joy it brings.  Happy Halloween to you all!

{don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY, extended one more day!}

Conversations: Tennis Elbow

{via}

The conversation goes as so while a friend and I were driving back dinner;

Me: "So, I have tennis elbow".

Friend: "What is tennis elbow?"

Me: "It's when your tenant enflames because your elbows are constantly in a flexed position...  So, can you guess what I got it from?"

Friend: "Eating".

We burst into laughter.  She knows me well.  I do love food!  However, I did not get tennis elbow from eating (though I almost wish I did; that'd be a fantastic story.) I got tennis elbow from being on the computer all day at my job and then coming home and working on my blog and etsy.  Yes that's right, computers are dangerous.  You all have been warned.  

Now go outside and get tennis elbow the right way!  From tennis. 

Chinese Lanterns = Space Aliens

Remember when I mentioned I would be celebrating Chinese New Years with some friends?  We had a lovely time.  We ate an array of chinese food, played some games, and we also flew chinese lanterns.  As we sent our lanterns into the sky I mentioned that someone would most likely think they were aliens. 

This morning I found {this article} in the news about mysterious lights over Lehi, UT (where we sent the lanterns flying).  A few people video taped the "mysterious lights" and posted them on youtube as possible UFO's.  See one video {here}. Some even called the police! Who knows, maybe there were aliens up there in the sky that night.  They could have been celebrating Chinese New Years too.  An unsolved mystery, one may call it.

{don't forget to enter the CSN giveaway!}

Conversations: Honesty is the Best Policy

By day, I am a social worker at the homeless shelter.  By night, I am a sales associate at Urban Outfitters.  Sometimes, people come into UO that I would prefer not to see.  A few weeks ago a guy came in that I dated in the past.  Let's just say he was cute and he knew it.  And I dated him knowing he loved his abs more than he could ever love another human being. He was very charming and very into himself.  I was 18 at the time okay?  These things happen.  Needless to say, it ended... not well.

He came into the store and I decided not to greet him and we avoided each other.  Round and round we went staying a good distance from each other while I greeted others who came in.  Finally he approached me.

Guy:  "You are greeting everyone else in the store but you've been a pretty bad employee with me.  You haven't even said hello!  I remember you, your name is Rachael right? Remember me?" He said with his manipulative charming smile strung wide across his face. 


Me:  "Well, did you ever think I did remember you, and that's why I was not saying hello?"


Guy: "Wuh?  Uh? No... what?"

I burst out laughing and we both knew I was being half serious. He felt more comfortable after laughing.   We joke about how I was avoiding him, he's same old charmer.  He bounced back fast.  But it was fun to throw a curve ball his way.  Honesty is the best policy right?

{Don't forget to enter in the Vintage Scarf Giveaway by Ande Monster}

Conversations: Disguise

 

I was covering for my sister at her job, she books concerts for a major music corporation.  I was at the front desk answering phone calls when this happened:

Brrriinnngg brrrriinnngg (that's the phone ringing).
Me: "United Concerts"
Random Man: "May I speak with *Jeff?"
Me: "May I ask who's speaking?"
Random Man: "Jon Bon Journo".
Me: "One moment please".
And I transfer the call.

Immediately I text my husband, "ha ha I just answered the phone from a guy named Jon Bon Journo!  It sounds so much like Jon Bon Jovi!  I find it hilarious!"
My husband texts back: "My wife is a dork".
Me: "ha ha what?"
Hubs: "That was obviously Jon Bon Jovi trying to disguise himself".
Me:  "Hmmm... he is good".

{image from here}
Also, THANK YOU House of Cards by XOOX  for the card I won off of  Under Lock and Key! Check out her current giveaway {HERE}.

Fredericks & Mae

Fredericks and Mae make arrows, masks, kites, and wings.  A random array of unnecessary items of enjoyment and wonder.  I could see myself flying a kite while wearing wings and a mask and planning what to shoot my new arrows at.  If only I could grow hair on my chest like this man in the last photograph.  If only.

Conversations: Naked

After taking my shoes, hat, watch, and purse off of by body then taking my computer and cord out to put in a plastic grey container to be scanned in the airport, a random old man in front of me says:

"I hate this part about airports".

I say: "Yeah I bet by this time next year they'll have us going through the detectors naked".

Old man:  Silence.  A burst of laughter, "well I hope they have us go into separate rooms for that".

Me: "oh. . . yeah for sure".

Sometimes I don't think before I speak.  

Using the word "naked" in the first sentence you speak to a random old man is . . . probably not the best.  

Yesterday In Five

1. Got a job on the spot at the first interview!  Was on a high the rest of the day.  And this morning I am still like a bird, soaring high and not coming down any time soon.  It really is God's grace that I ever get a job.  I don't believe I could do it by myself!  I am a fumbler with my words, but when it's the right job for me I feel like someone else is making the words come of my lips.   I have always been guided in my life in many aspects: occupation being one of them.

2. Got "asked out" by an eighth grade girl named Morgan and had to let her down.  (My little brother was in command of my phone while I was in South America.  I have received plenty of texts and calls from eighth grade girls.  My little brother is a stud.  Runs in the family I guess).

3.  Locked my keys in the car.  I have about five extra sets lying in drawers and bowls, so no big deal.  I do this often.

4. I had an interesting conversation with an almost eighty year old lady named Vaniece about how she came to be the adoptive mother of her great-granddaughter's coke baby just three years ago.  (And let me tell you of how she got her name;  she was born on her Uncle Van's birthday.  So she is Van's niece: Vaniece.  LOVE IT!)

5.  I was taught how to sneak in drugs to a concert (using cake) by another interviewee at my second interview.   It was actually very creative, though odd that he was telling me, a stranger who was competing for the same position.

*I don't do drugs, never have, never will.  It's something I have no interest in bringing into my life. Though I am an avid researcher on the topic of addiction.  It's fascinating isn't it?*

To say the least it was an interesting and enjoyable day.  It feels so good to have the interviews done!  Two in one day!  I will hear back from the second interview in about a week and I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!  Thanks to all who gave me such inspirational and uplifting words before I interviewed.  I checked my comments before I left and it put a smile on my face.  That right there sent me on my way in the right direction.

 I wish you all a glorious day.  Live it up and live it well.


And be sure to check out this inspiring post.

{picture from weheartit.com}

One More Reason to Learn Spanish

I am learning Spanish while in Peru and so far, no good.   I eat lunch with the Mesa Family, who we rent from, a few times a week while Chase is at his internship.  Recently we were both over at the Mesa’s just chatting.

While Chase is conversing with the Mesa’s in Spanish:

Chase laughs.

Me: “What’d they say?”

Hubs: “They said you ate gizzard.”

Me: Gasp. “When!?”

Hubs: “A few weeks ago.” Pause to listen to the Mesa’s.  “They said you said it was very delicious”.

Me: Another Gasp.  Pause.  “Well I guess I like gizzard”.

In all honesty, I don’t even know what gizzard is.  Doesn't it just sound gross?

Road Trips

Photo by Tif Photography

I thank my parents for my love for music. I got a good of dose of music from the road trips we went cross-country.  We lived in Virginia and my grandparents lived in Idaho.  It was a three-day trip in the Silver Bullet, the Toyota Previa, we owned to get there (later that was to be my high school car… eh van… I’m cool). My two brothers, two sisters and I would sprawl out over the seats and claim our territory.  We’d eat gummies, chips and Dramamine (which I called dramabean), which we guzzled down with sprite. 

I remember once sticking gummy bears up my nose so there little shiny faces pocked out the bottom of my nostrils. I then proceeded to heckle cars we passed by on the freeway.  I’d make faces ugly enough to make babies cry.  This went on for long enough that the gummy bears melted by the warm of my breath.  I had to use baby wipes to get the sticky green and red goo from out my nostrils. They were long twelve-hour days, three of them in a row, and we were inventive with our activities. 

I really enjoyed getting swept away in the lyrics and melodies of the songs that filled the long hours.  I remember singing softly hoping no one could hear but I couldn’t stop myself from singing. I’ve always been shy about others hearing me sing.   That remains the same to this day.  

My parents took turns driving thus taking turns with their diverse music tastes.  I loved the switch and loved each song.  I also remember listening to the soundtrack of Les Miserables a thousand times over.  Castle on a Cloud was “my song” (I still have dibs on it if you want to fight me for it).  We also listened to The Hobbit on Book on Tape quite a few times. I envisioned the dragon in the sky so vividly. I knew exactly where he needed to be shot to come tumbling down from the sky.

 

Here are the names of the sounds that graced my ears and pierce my memory of being carsick, having gummy nostrils, or softly singing along.

When my mom was driving:

Zombie by the Cranberries

Alone by Heart

I Do by Lisa Loeb

She’s in Love with the Boy by Trisha Yearwood

My Sharona by the Knack

Dimming of the Day by Bonnie Riatt

Jealous Bone by Patty Loveless

My Baby Loves Me by Martina McBride

When my Dad was driving:

Jack and Diane by John Mellencamp

Mary Janes Last Dance by Tom Petty

Sandman by America

Hard Days Night by the Beatles

Losing my Religion by R.E.M.

Still the same by Bob Seger

After the Gold Rush by Neil Young

Money by Pink Floyd

Message In a Bottle by The Police

All I Want is You by U2

What did you grow up listening to in the car? 

The Reason Men Put on Weight Once Married

{here}

Hubs: I have an idea that will make this sandwich better.  You can make us eggs.

Me: I don’t want an egg.  You can make an egg.

H: *Blank Stare*

M: You’ve made a fried egg before.  Right?

H: Who are you?

M: You haven’t made an egg!?

H: I did once.  I boiled one. You know how? I cracked it open into boiling water.  It didn’t go well.

M: *Raise Eyebrow* then a burst of laughter.

Crispity Crunchity Underwear

Oh how I long for the comfort of a washer and dryer.  Having your clothes washed and dried by a machine, not your hands, is something I am longing for.  I peeled off our clothes from the line this morning all stiff and hardened to a “U” shape.  Mmmmm nothing I want more than crispity crunchity underoo’s in the morning.   

 From Here.

Now I feel guilty for complaining.  So uh…. Here are some things I am thankful for:

Hands that are able to wash clothes.

Running Water.

Clothes to wash.

The sun for drying my clothes.

I feel better. A grateful heart is a happy heart.

The Rain Came Down and The Floods Came Up

It’s been raining here in Trujillo, Peru for the past three days.  The people say that it is very bizarre.  It only rains twice a year, they say, and never this bad.  The effects aren’t so good.  The people aren’t prepared for this weather at all.  We live in the “burbs” – cement houses with tile floors no A/C.  Others who live in outlying villages have thatch roofs and dirt floors.  I can’t imagine.  Some people in our church on Sunday had to leave in the middle of church to help someone because their roof had collapsed.  The streets are filled with rain and people aren’t really going out much.

 We were slightly affected by the rain.  Two things happened in our apartment that were caused by it.  The first being me exposed to Chinese Water Torture.   I was sleeping when this happened.  The light fixture is right above my bed and water was leaking from it right square into my belly button.   (If you know anything above Chinese Water Torture you know that they drip water on your forehead until you go crazy.  I think the belly button is as easily as effective.  It only took two drops for me to get annoyed. Note: I should never be a spy).  I got up and moved my bed.  (I say MY bed because our apartment only has two twin-sized beds that we just scoot together. It's the best of both world... our own beds.... still sleeping by each other..... we might do this at home). 

As I was scooting my bed across the room I noticed some muddy footprints leading from the open window into our second story apt.  Affect numero dos of the rain.  We had a visitor.   I followed the prints around the apartment and found the culprit under my husband’s bed.  It was a cat.   It had gotten in before but we didn’t know how.   With the muddy footprints we could play detective; we now knew how to avoid having the fur-ball in our apartment (Note: think about becoming a detective).  It’s amazing how the cat jumped on all these crazy things to get into our second story window.  She had to leap from the top of the carport into the window.  I am praying I don’t wake up to a thump tonight.  But cats have nine lives right?  It’ll be fine.  

Photo From Here.

Define: Edie Knots

My little brother Spencer was complaining that he had an Edie Knot.

My mother inquired as to what that was exactly.

Spencer: “It’s a pain in my leg”.

Mom: “Did you mean a Charlie Horse?”

Spencer: “I knew it had a man’s name in it”.

Ah ha ha

I love my goofy little brother

Happy Holidays.   
Enjoy the time with your families.