A good list gets me every time

I love lists. Whoever invented them is genious. I recently purchased this book, Listography: Your Life in Lists, because I thought it'd be fun, and it is. It's the bomb, actually. Not gonna lie, some of the lists are real hard to fill out, I haven't figured out yet if it's the fill-out-over-the-years or fill-out-about-your-past kind of book, but just going with the flow on that one.
Some of the topics are funny, some make me sad, and some I don't think I'm brave enough to put on paper, but all of them bring back great memories.

List Bad (stupid/silly) Things You Did as a Kid

(Age 9) No matter how careful I was, I always managed to make the worst food spills: slice of pizza face down on Mom's brand new cream-colored rug, dropped a gallon of milk that busted all over the kitchen floor (and of course underneath the refrigerator).

(Age 13) Thought I'd help Dad out and mow the lawn, but one time forgot to pay attention and ran the (again, BRAND NEW) riding mower into a tree...oops.

(Age 5) Ok, picture a department store with color-coded bins of pretty soaps in cute shapes and sizes (much like the ones to the right) all out in the open to mix-n-match your own bag of mini soaps. Now picture being five years old and seeing this...Let's just say I found out pretty quickly that they weren't candy when I bit into one.

(Age 7- 18...seriously.) Didn't your mom ever yell at your for leaving chapstick in your pants pocket and sending it through the washer (and DRYER) which is only discovered by the random grease stains on various pieces of clothing in the load? Mine did. ALOT. I think I lost a good 10-15 sticks this way. Sorry, Mom.


(Age 8ish) Never try to curl your long hair by twisting it around and around in a round brush from the tip to the root. It will get stuck. Your mom will freak out yelling you're going to have to cut it out and have a bald spot. And you will cry hysterically. But hopefully your Dad will have the patience to slowly untangle it all. Thanks, Pops. 


(Age: My Whole Life) Can't tell you how many times I fell for the "Kara, will you go upstairs and get 'such-and-such'," "Kara, clean up this game," or "Kara, do my chores for me" from my brothers...as long as they put "We'll time you!" at the end. Tell me I'm not the only one that couldn't resist a good ol' time challenge.


(Age 11) Home by myself and hungry for dinner. Favorite food: tacos. Taco shell in the toaster oven to get crispy while I heat up the fixings.  Turn my back on toaster oven and minutes later notice a bright light out of the corner of my eye. Taco shell up in huge flames in the toaster oven. 
Panic. Unplug toaster oven. Blowing out fire doesn't work. Cup of water does the trick. Inside of the toaster a little charred, but still works. Don't tell Mom.


(Age 13) Neighborhood kids and I used to skateboard down this hill by my house. I did it a few times with no problems then my fourth ride or so I started to lose my balance halfway down the hill and ended up sliding head-first down the end of the hill. I was quite cut up, but . I think Mom was more mad about the wholes in my clothes than she was worried about me. I suppose I don't blame her. Moral of the story: Don't try to skateboard when you're not a Skater. It won't be pretty. 


I'm sure this list could go on and on, and feel free to comment if you know me and have any to add (but be nice!), but I urge you in your spare time to reflect on your life in lists. It's fun and good for the soul.

I can get used to this whole World Series thing

NOTE: This was supposed to be posted yesterday...oops. Pretend it's yesterday...


My commute to work this morning was awesome. Calm, peaceful, friendly. No one speeding past me, not a single horn honked, no one cut me off, no middle fingers thrown out any windows. Someone even slowed down to let me over when I put my blinker on to change lanes rather than speed up to purposely NOT let me in.


But why was this morning different than any other morning? Why the extreme change in driving behaviors and attitudes? How come yesterday morning road rage was out of control, but today you would've thought you were in the South? (Sorry Philadelphians, had to throw that last comment in there :) )


Simple: WORLD SERIES GAME 5; Phils won, 8-6.


Maybe it's coincidence and maybe I'm exaggerating, but I'm convinced otherwise. And I don't hate it.


Philadelphia Sports fans are some of the most intense fans I've ever experienced. They truly take on their sports teams as they would blood relatives and react to wins and losses like nothing I've ever seen before.


A bit overwhelming at times, yes, but when I slow down and step back for a minute, it's fascinating to witness how passionate native Philadelphians are about their sports teams, how much they love their city; this same city I spent so long trying to avoid and God spent so long pushing me back.


All to teach me a lesson from these crazy Philadelphians: To love my city. (that's weird to say, but it's growing on me) Love it like the sports fans do, love it like the natives do, love it like Jesus does.

And with that said...

Can I brag? Just for a second.

My niece is precious.