A hit square in the gut

I ran across this article today and wanted to share.  I ran across it a day after someone sat in my office and told me he didn't want to stay in North Carolina because we are a racist state.  I couldn't believe it.  I was dumbfounded that he thought we, of all people, are racist.  After all, he went to college in Wisconsin.  Have you been to Wisconsin?  They are about as diverse as Kansas. 

But then I got to thinking, which is always dangerous.  I wonder if he considers me racist.  I wonder if my non-white friends consider my racist.  I say non-white because I want to include anyone outside the general white group.  One of my best friends is black.  We used to work together and I always knew I couldn't keep a secret from her.  She was mad at me at one point and it made me miserable.  We don't talk every day, but I would do anything for her. 

But outside of her, what do I have to show I'm not racist?  I know in my heart I am not.  I know I have no patience for people who are.  I am as judgemental about white people as I am about anyone.  I am usually judgemental about people who dress like this, or people who litter,  or people who ignore their children. 

When Brad and I were talking about adoption, I never assumed I would adopt only a white child.  So it felt like a knife in my gut when he said this.  He was generalizing, obviously, but I consider myself a North Carolinian and I don't want the rest of the world thinking we are all members of an unnamed organization that boasts things that are in no way morally or ethically sound.  The Bible tells us to be our brother's keeper.  I do not think this is supposed to mean only my brother who looks, acts, talks, and thinks like me. 

I know this is an odd post, but racism just really burns my butt.

Fear nothing

Have you noticed that there is always something to fear?  For one of my friends it is birds.  Yes, I think that is completely insane as well.  For another friend, it is the Dentist.  While that one is more understandable, usually the fear dies in childhood.  Or should have.  (sorry friends!)

I've noticed that people form fears at a very young age, often without a reason.  What is it that causes us to be scared?  Some kids, and adults, are afraid of the dark.  I may or may not be one of those.  I'm not so afraid of the dark, but what is chasing me in the dark.  You know, after you go downstairs and turn all the lights off before you go to bed and that thing that is in the dark that wasn't in the light is chasing you up the stairs?  I may or may not know anything about that. 

I'm also afraid of spiders.  Even though I've never been bitten, that I know of.  Actually, there was this one time when I had a huge red spot on my tummy.  I swear it was a spider bite.  But I survived and didn't see it so I have no proof.  But I'm fairly sure a jury would convict that spider of biting in the 1st degree.  I wonder what the statute of limitations is on spider bites? 

I'm afraid of those people with the "Fear Nothing" stickers on their cars or trucks.  Driving close to them is really just waiting to see what they will do.  But they are usually scared.  Or that is what I like to tell myself.  That and that the scary thing chasing me up the stairs will disappear as soon as I hit my bed and that the spider that is above my bed is a figment of my imagination and/or is protecting me from said thing chasing me up the stairs.

A few of my new favorites

Brad just bought me this CD and it has been on repeat ever since.

Eric Hutchinson - Rock and Roll

I got this CD a few months ago and now know every word by heart.  I heart them.

The Avett Brothers

"Where nothing is owed, deserved, or expected.  And your life doesn't change by the man thats elected.  When you're loved by someone you're never rejected.  Decide what to be and go be it."

We're a Happy Family

I've been reading blogs this morning, trying to avoid writing on my own.   A good friend of mine recently told me I was the best avoider she knew.  That is probably true.  I'm not a "it's about me" kinda person.  I am the middle child and I think that suited me well.  I tended to blend in.  I never made problems.  I am the peacemaker in my family.  Not so much in my marriage, however.  :)

I realized I've never spoken about my family on here.  Or not in much detail.  I had an interesting childhood in some ways.  Some ways were completely normal.  School was completely normal.  Home was not.  Don't get me wrong, I still had a good childhood, thanks in large part (heck, thanks completely) to my mother.  I'm not going to get into my childhood.  That is a conversation best left with therapists and husbands.  An interesting side note though:  I was talking to my therapist during a visit and brought up something.  He was completely shocked because I had never mentioned it before, even after more than a year of visits.  Like I said, I'm an avoider. 

As I mentioned, I'm a middle child.  My brother is about 18 months older.  Which was really quite great when we were young.  I spoke really late as a child because my brother spoke for me.  He would kiss me goodbye when he left for kindergarten.  He let me play with his GI Joe's.  Then we got older and I was taller than him for a little bit.  Then I dated his friends.  Neither is good sister behavior. 

My brother grew up without a father figure for the majority of his life.  Which is why I am so incredibly proud of him.  He is such a good dad to his girls.  Poor guy, grew up with three women in the house, still has three women in the house.  We were typical brother and sister.  Fought incessantly.  Fought for the front seat, fought for the back seat.  Whichever the other had, we wanted.  When I would ask him to pass me the rolls at dinner he would lick one before giving it to me.  I used to be upset because I never felt like he would have protected me.  You think of big brothers as the protectors.  Now I realize that #1, I wouldn't have let him, #2, he was just trying to survive himself.  He had to become the man of the house as a preteen.  He had a lot of pressure on him all the time.  And a lot of the time he acted out in ways which I didn't approve.  But he was doing the best he could. Sadly, I've only realized this lately.  And I haven't told him how proud of him I am. 

Tomorrow is Father's Day.  And even though he isn't my father, most days he is the closest thing I had.  I think it is a good day to tell him.

As a side note, when he cuts his hair he is Dale Earnhardt, Jr's doppleganger.

Travel

I'm traveling for work this week.  Of course I am.  If I was traveling for pleasure I can almost assure you I wouldn't be blogging.  Except maybe to tell you how incredibly awesome my trip was. 

I actually like traveling for work.  That is probably because I don't have to do it too often and it is a nice break from the constant stream of complaints interruptions employees.  The one thing I don't like about traveling, however, is the food.  I  know, the company is paying for it, I should have a nice meal.  But I sit here wondering how it can be so much more difficult to have fruits and vegetables away from home.  And why do companies think a continental breakfast is actually a breakfast?  Bagels and pastries are ok, but I want fruit and maybe some oatmeal.  Heck, I'll even take a nice cereal. 

I'm beginning to sound a bit high maintenance.  OR maybe I always have and I'm just now realizing it.  Either way, I'm not.  :)

I promise to post more when I get back.  Maybe.

Randomness

I must confess.  I really like to blog.  I like writing about myself, reading about myself, re-reading about myself.  And I hate it when I don't have much to write.  I lead kind of a boring life.  Honestly.  Work. Home. Bed. Repeat.  In that order, every day.  I know, I'm lazy.  Some of it is my schedule, but that is probably just as much my fault as my boss(es).  But on top of reading about myself, I like to defer blame.  So we are back with it being my boss(es) fault.  Just a few minutes ago I was giving a co-worker a hard time about a horrendous fashion choice he made today.  Honestly.  Horrendous.  With three full syllables.  He said "didn't your parents raise you to know that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything".  To which I promptly replied "you've clearly never met my parents".  See...blame diversion.  I mean, it's true, but still.  Some people just can't handle the awesomeness that is me.  But it is a truly awful shift.  Bright (as in blind you and make you think you have finally found the color of the sun, up close) yellow with large flowers on it.  It's so bad that Hawaiin shirts won't claim it. 

This isn't where I wanted to go when I started this post.  I can easily have conversations with myself, which is why I am so narcisstic.  I keep telling myself how awesome I am.

Brad and I are trying to figure out if we want to move.  Well, if we want to buy a different house.  I don't think anyone truly ever wants to MOVE.  As in, pack up all the crap you haven't used in two years so you can unpack it in another house to do nothing with.  Last time we moved we hired movers.  For anyone who enjoys being married, I highly recommend this.  Men and women shouldn't move together.  Again, referring to the actual act of moving.  Men and men do great.  Women and women do great.  Men and women, not so great.  Men have this inherent ability to know exactly what the other is thinking; this piece of furniture needs to go here, be picked up this way, will take this much momentum to get up the stairs, will make their wife this mad if they break it, etc.  Women know these things as well, but not according to men.  Most women I know are good packers.  I, like my friend Tracey, am a semi-pro packer.  Honestly.  I can pack a car with the best of them.  I can pack a box perfectly.   I can pack a kitchen like nobody's business.  But get me in a room with men during a move and I am inept.  I mean, only in their eyes, but inept nonetheless. 

That all of a sudden made me want to say "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!".  Yes, I am Baby in that scenario.  Actually, I have been told I look like Jennifer Grey (pre-nose job) quite often.  I can't decide if I like that or not. 

This is what peaceful looks like to me

I took a much needed day off work recently.  It was one of the first days of really nice weather.  Most of you probably know, but I'm a windows open kinda girl.  We have been looking a few houses recently and I'm quick to mark off any that don't have screens.  We often sleep with the windows open when the temperature allows.  This could be the reason for my sniffles, but the trade off is fair...I think.  I took a few pictures that I that made smile while I was home.





















Lucy enjoying some rays.  Please ignore all the hair on the floor.










Kitty making sure no one steals our mail. 

I couldn't get one of Maddie that day.  She is adverse to cameras.  The other two ham it up.  Maddie is more like me that way, bashful and ornery!