Smile on my face

On Saturday, Jaime took me to Tijuana Flats for lunch. Mmm.

Ordering my favorite Tijuana beef and black bean (hold the jalapeño), I grabbed sassy hot sauce and a booth by the window.

Nibbling away and watching football, we chatted and people-watched. Mostly discussing the obviously new customers who sat down expecting a waitress. Only took them about 5 minutes to see the “Order Here” sign. Other than people watching, we observed love bugs plastering the window next to our booth. Nice.

Of course I finished first and began nibbling on Jaime’s nacho platter. After a few minutes he quietly said, “You should go outside.” Excuse me, what? “Just walk out on the patio.” Why? “Trust me.” Like, for real? You want me to go walk out onto the patio? Right now? “Yes.”

I turned around, scanning the patio outside. Nothing. Scuffing over to the door I scanned again. At that exact moment, I spotted him. My heart leapt and I may have leapt a bit myself (not an unusual occurrence when this type of thing happens) as I shoved the door open in excitement.

I rushed over and didn’t even ask the owner if I could pet him. His name was Eli, and he was lovely. A beautiful, tall, muscular, sweet natured fawn.

Turns out the owner had just walked in and left the beast with her friend. As the owner passed, Jaime leaned over and said, “You just made my girlfriends day.”

Eli was massive. Just like my old dane, Lucy. He leaned all his weight against my hip, the way danes do when they like someone, giving me a hug. After visiting for a bit, I reluctantly said goodbye. It was hot and love bugs were invading my space in gross proportion.

After washing my hands and sitting back down, I couldn’t stop smiling. It meant a lot to me that Jaime would think to surprise me like that, even if he knew I would’ve seen Eli eventually.

My friends know how much I love great danes. I’ve been known to pull off the road (in a neighborhood of course) to stop and visit one. Come to think of it, there aren’t many things I get that excited about. It’s not so much an obsession but a general love for the animal.

I appreciate the texts, e-mails and verbal affirmation of great dane sightings my friends often shower me with. It’s not uncommon to get a phone call from a good friend saying, “I was driving today and saw this huge, black great dane with his head sticking out the window of a car. I thought of you.” But it’s always so much better when I actually get to see one in person.

you just never know

today sucked

save for a few laughs and a moment to pose with cyclops at islands of adventure, the 14 hours i spent awake felt like a waste.

perhaps i shouldn't blog when i'm upset, angry, frustrated, confused, pessimistic... whatever. ::insert random emotion here:: but i can't sleep. i'm a writer. i often process in written or typed form.

two pieces of pizza around 8pm gave me acid indigestion. awesome.

my mother called today to tell me grandma died. my aunt was helping her into the bathtub this morning and grandma's breathing slowed, then stopped. that was it. she was gone.

last weekend during a whirlwind, unrestful trip to north carolina, my parents unexpectedly decided to drive to pennsylvania to see grandma who had been hospitalized for a few days. we were supposed to have a family birthday celebration, complete with grilled burgers, baked beans, corn on the cob and ice cream cake. no dice. i was bummed but understood the importance of their last-minute trip.

little did we know she would leave us only one week later.

i now have no living grandparents.

munching on my carmel candy apple on the way out of islands of adventure, i never expected to hear such grim news.

my dad lost his mother today.

that breaks my heart.

and to think i was upset to not have a birthday celebration with my family.

another reason today sucked: la nouba didn't happen.

i was under the impression we had tickets to the show. i've been telling co-workers and friends about it all week -- the anticipation building to what felt like a kid on christmas morning. birthday present and end to a week of fun. celebration of my 28th year of life.

i woke up excited. i woke up hopeful. elated.

within minutes of hearing the disappointing news (no la nouba) a cloud of grumpiness and general dissatisfaction grew over my head that lingered all day.

it's not about me. it's not about my happiness. it's not about what i want or think i need. but today was hard. today was really hard. i want it to go away or start over.

i guess what people always say is true: shit happens.

you just never know.

His image?

The silly band craze is in full swing. I'm sure it's just another fad that will fade in time, but until then, I shall embrace it along with the thousands of children, teens and adults who have done the same.

The kids I live with gave me a few select bands: a "UF blue" Florida Gator, a yellow star, purple heart and blue roller skate. Today at work I found an envelope on my desk -- a happy birthday card from sweet Bryn with a few Disney Princess silly bands. Yay!

So today as I was driving, I pulled the light blue Cinderella, then burgundy Aurora (or "Sleeping Beauty") and finally yellow Belle off my wrist. I untangled them and held them up in the light beaming through my windshield. Staring, I thought, Fascinating. The distinction a rubber band with grooved notches is incredible. I know exactly which princess each band is, only by the outline, shape, position and clothing she represents. I know from my elementary years of dress-up play time, Disney movies and trips to the most magical place on earth that Cinderella keeps her hair up in a fancy bun and wears a full ball gown, while Belle's hair is fashioned into loose curls with a slimmer dress... wow. But they're just rubber bands.

My next thought went immediately to the concept of image and what our world teaches us and propagates to us as acceptable, approved, popular or trendy.

In college, we did a book study on Galatians. To this day, the one thing I remember most is how we are called to put on the image of Christ. Galatians 3:27 - For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (NAS). This is huge. For me, it's right up there with putting on the armor of Christ (Ephesians 6) and clothing myself with Christ (Romans 13:14).

But I don't always do it.

I'm not saying we should wear Jesus silly bandz... but what would it look like if I went out each day with the intent on bearing Christ to those around me. Wow.

And well, if I did have a Jesus outline on my wrist, I'd want Him to be brown... because I think he was middle-eastern and the idea of a green Jesus kind of freaks me out.

Seriously.