Cliché? Yes. True? Yes.

Lately we have had some really beautiful weather here - warm, sunny, typical spring. Until today when it was cold and wet while moving Katie and Beth to their new townhouse. How I love irony ;)

But that's not really the point of this post, as exciting as it to hear my thoughts on the weather.

The other day I was walking down my mom's driveway, admiring the trees, grass, etc., when I noticed a tiny yellow flower growing in a seam in the concrete. It reminded me how there are actually lots of things to see and enjoy if I just pay attention. How many times would I have just walked by this little "weed" and not noticed it? And the scenery of my life isn't limited to just plants and buildings. So "stop and smell the roses," "bloom where you're planted," and "[insert your own gardening cliché]!"

Moses, Moses!

One of my favorite Easter traditions is watching The Ten Commandments on TV. Even I don't watch all of it, I love knowing that it's on. Because it's always been on. I can remember being little and thinking that it is the longest movie ever. Remember when ABC would play the first part on one night and the 2nd part the next day? That's how long it is. In truth, I wasn't even watching it - I was watching my mom watch it and being excited about the Easter Bunny.

My favorite parts:

• The fact that no one in the movie ever says "Moses" just once. They always call him, "Moses...M-OH-ses." There is a long, drawn-out pause on that 2nd one. What if everyone always said to me, "Courtney...COURTney?" That would get old fast.


• Cecil B. DeMille's passionate, long, repetitive voiceovers. He is so into the epic drama and loves to build up and expound on things. A lot. For a long time.


• Two words: Charleton Heston.


• Yul Brenner as Ramses never does anything for himself. My favorite is when he points to a staff 2 feet from him and says, "Hand me this staff." It's too bad the little Egyptian guard doesn't respond, "You've got 2 hands don't you?"


• After Charleton Heston crosses the desert, he is virtually unconscious and finds some meager dates to eat. Then when the desert hotties are in danger, he leaps into the frame and kicks butt. Lesson learned: dates are a miracle food.


• The evolution of Charleton Heston's hair. The one that never fails to mystify me: the white, blown-out look after he gets the 10 commandments. Whoa.

Check out the trailer here.

Image source: imdb.com

Reunited

Hooray! My car is back! After a great deal of working/arguing with mechanics, the electrical problems are *hopefully* fixed.

To celebrate, I drove Dixie around in the Ford Focus. How is that a celebration, you may ask? I was driving again! While my direction-following skills have evidently gone to pot during the 3 days I was without my car, the trip was otherwise quite lovely. It's nice to be back in the driver's seat!

Lessons from the Rat Race

Things I have learned from summer jobs: 

• Landscaping: I do not enjoy watering plants. 
  
• Dry Cleaning Counter Sales: When asked how you are doing by a customer/client, answer: "Can't complain." Crafty. Very crafty.
  
• YMCA Camp Counselor: Working 40 hours a week isn't bad if you enjoy what you do.
  
• Corporate Mailroom: Store up your questions and ask them all at once instead of asking a different question every 5 minutes.

I've noticed that I apply these little lessons quite frequently as I work in the "real world." Okay, maybe not the first lesson so much, but I definitely encounter situations where I reflect on the others. And as that one plant at my apartment dies, perhaps I should focus more on that first lesson :)

I've always depended upon the kindness of others.

Oh little Ford Focus. Why do you have a mysterious electrical ailment that baffles the mechanics and strands me in parking lots as you sit idly by? I know it's not your fault. No doubt it is difficult on you as well - not being able to fulfill your primary purpose (transporting me around) must be hard. But don't worry. We will pull through.

And until then, let's be sure to thank all the kind people who are giving me rides while you recover. Thanks everyone! I sincerely appreciate it :)

And so does Forci the Ford Focus. 

"It's easier if you stay away from the wall."

I went ice skating the other night. Skating and I don't typically get along very well. In high school, I worked as a YMCA camp counselor. One day it was raining and we couldn't take the kids to the pool, so someone decided we should go to a roller-skating rink instead. I was nervous to skate and so these little kids tried to help me out. After a while, I was slowing down the group, so most kids skated off and it was just me and a little girl. She held my hand and led me along. This went okay (not great, I assure you, just okay) until some big kid came by and accidentally caught my pint-sized partner's skate. She went down and I just kept rolling. I couldn't stop myself, and so I just called back to her over my shoulder as reassuringly as I could, "It's okay, honey. Just come on over here." So she got up and skated back to me as I continued to roll at .25 mph. She came on over and helped me off the rink so I could help her. Like I said, skating and I don't typically work out.

Last time I went ice skating, I definitely fell. And let me tell you, if I fall, I'm taking out whoever is with me. Sorry - it's instinct. So when I stepped out onto the ice on this time, I was a bit skittish. I was trying to move along, staying close to the wall, when a punk kid skates by me and says, "It's easier if you stay away from the wall." Thank you, Punk Kid. I'll get right on that. In reality though, I knew he was right. So I tried it a little bit, and then a little more. I made it through the night without a face plant and even managed to skate a little better. I also decided that Punk Kid is my new BFF.

I wonder how many other things are easier when we step away from the wall. When does relying on the safety net become a hindrance? Thank you, Punk Kid, for reminding me to step out and give it a go.

PS - Look for me skating at the next Olympics.
PPS - Not so much.

It never hurts to ask...

Today I tried to stick it to the man. And by "man," I mean my apartment complex. I just received notice that the rent would be increased soon, and upon a little bit of research, decided that it was too high. So yesterday I called the complex and asked if the increase was negotiable. To my surprise, the manager said yes and asked if I could come in today to discuss it.

Naturally, I decided to power dress :) With my new boots on, I went in and the manager quickly agreed to lower the price down significantly, much to my surprise. It was even lower than I expected! Truth be told, I did very little other than setup the meeting. The moral of the story: it doesn't hurt to ask!

Tonight I also went to dinner and Enrichment. The theme was service, and we did a "service swap." Each of us wrote down an act of service that we could donate to someone. We then drew the slips of paper out at random. It was cool to see the different talents people have and are willing to share with each other.

Gotta go - LOST is on!

Welcome to the World of Blogging

"Courtney, you should start a blog!" That's how this little exit off the information highway first developed. So here it goes! I do have a goal to do new things, so this can count as my "new thing" of the day - yay!

My big concern is that I won't be able to keep up with regular posts. So what's the answer? Do nothing and wonder what might have been? Plunge in and see what happens? Well, truth be told, it's a lot easier to be adventurous when all that is at stake is what amounts to an online journal. Perhaps the stakes aren't as high as they seem!