To lighten the mood...

Gotta try it sometime. ;)

Is it just me...

...or is it still considered rude/inconsiderate for someone to call at, I don't know, say after 11:00pm, wanting to discuss/get a work question answered?
Never mind that they're asking for the secretary, mind you - not the boss - so it's not that the secretary is going to give them the answer, but how acceptable is it for someone to not even be the least bit apologetic about it, when the person answering the phone (who was awoken) says that "it's kind of late, I think she's sleeping - we do have long work days and get up at 6:00, so we tend to get to bed at a reasonable hour".

At this point this is an experience that has only hit me here in this field (alas), so maybe I'm sounding really odd, but I think sometimes people feel that it's their right to require the services of us secretaries basically 24/7. - And I'm wondering what the reasoning is with that?
I'm not complaining, really, I realize that I'm here to serve, and if I can make life easier for anyone through putting in a bit more work I'll do it, but I'm just wondering whether those particular people put themselves in our shoes at any point and ask themselves if perhaps we're human too and do things like JJT, dishes, go witnessing, sleep, have our Word time & PnP time, take care of the kids, or take rest days, etc. - 'Cause we do!
I already have fellow home members telling me off for working so many hours as it is - someone (who was asking a work question too) asked me if I ever do anything but work as they always seem to find me at my computer or I seem to always get back to them soon enough to where I couldn't be far away from it. - So I think people are aware that we work, but why, do you think, do some people come across so demanding?
I know when it's a situation you're going through personally it's all there is to your "view", and it can seem as if there's nothing else that matters. Hey, I actually have a tendency to get overwhelmed by people's situations to where I too want to do something - but I have had to come to the realization that really, I have to trust the Lord that I'm not able to do it all lickety split and solve the problems. - And that I'm not super-human, the Lord's gotta do what I can't do!
Still though, wouldn't it be nice if we had a special answering service that asked you some basic questions like:

• Do you realize what time it is?
• Are you sure you want to discuss this over the phone or chat when the secretary will tell you to write a message?
• Don't forget to be nice to them and not tell them off

You know, stuff like that. ;)
I don't know, maybe this is uncalled for, but I've actually been moved to tears several times over some people's comments or calls, and though I've taken them to the Lord because I know that in the end whatever can better my professionalism is good, I still question whether it's weird that I feel a bit of a reminder of consideration might be needed.
After all, in the end, love is the most important thing. Right?

My quote for the day...

When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.

—Barbara J. Winter.

Domino effect...

...yet again!
This time though, I didn't get to lay out the dominoes.

I feel like I’m playing that game I played so much as a kid; the one where you're falling back (in my case, it was into the teen boys arms), and you aren't allowed to take a step back to catch yourself "in case" they drop you. - You have to trust totally and completely and risk hitting your ass instead. Ha! I was actually super good at it, not sure why I have a harder time doing that with the Lord as the One catching me.

It's going to be exciting though! - I know it! :)

The day has come...

...to be 30! :)

Seriously, why would I have a problem with that? Someone sent me some some links to the Friends episode where they turn 30 and was asking me which one I saw myself as. HA! It was a good laugh!

For me a birthday is a time to celebrate yet another year of victories, joys, opportunities, and friends. - And when you have friends like I do, there's no way you can't look forward to another B-day!

I might actually lose my head for this, though I'm looking at it as if I lived a good 30 years, so I'd die happy (snicker). I'm going to push my luck, just for my actual B-day (and it is past 12, technically, in Europe), so I'm posting the vid of what I think was one of the funniest and grandest "dances" ever done in honor of my B-day! - Aren't they just loves?

(Video removed - for the safety of the individuals were they to receive more encore requests. LOL!)

Funny conversation!

Girl (to cute guy): You know, I dreamed of you last night. ;)

Guy (with a mischievous smirk): - oh yes?! :P

Girl: Yes, in the dream you brought me home new brooms.

This might not last long...

...but look what I found!

A pic of Mikey and I at the 2nd XD. - Excuse the fact that we both look rather cheesy (ahem). I'm just trying to make a point. ;)

Simple

Someone reminded me of this song the other day and I found myself listening to it again! – Like, really listening to it. (Not the type of listening that Sofi hated me for. Ha! :D)

I'm a simple man, yes, I'm simple, but I've found
Something worth so much more than all the gold in this world.
I'm just a poor man, you see,

But the greatest joy I've found in life

Is sharing my Jesus with others on this cold road of life
Who are simple people, too.

The song was originally written as “beggar man” (yes, I know the author), but I think “simple” cuts it for me.

The other day when Mikey and I went out we got it so much, the “why don’t you do modeling” question - one guy, who said he was an actor, actually wanted to set us up. - LOL. (Mikey is a cute studmuffin after all and I guess I look ok standing by him – his beauty wears off on me. LOL! – Let’s hope he doesn’t see this post, ahem!) But our answer was, quite simply put, “we just don’t have time for that”. – But seriously, why would you want to be someone that is picked apart for what’s on the outside? – THE OUTSIDE!!! I actually comfort myself that even though my exterior might not be that “top”, the inside has so much more that others who don’t have Jesus miss! You know how you get those people who are just drawn to your eyes (yes, eyes – not boobs - eyes), they literally seem to be magnetically pulled and can’t help but keep staring into your eyes. (And trust me, this is not limited to men!) Call me weird, but I can literally feel their stare digging and searching, sucking something out of me, as if they’re searching deep for whatever it is that they’re “seeing”. I know I’m not the only one that has that feeling, but if your eyes are the window to your soul, then I like to think I have that special part of my soul shining brightly.

I guess that’s always been my dream, to meet these people I have a real “burden” for (snicker), you know, like Robbie Williams. - And show them "love"! :D As I was telling someone the other day, if I’m going to be going out with that man, just put me on PS before I walk out the door – it’s probably a done deed. Sigh! At any rate, back to the real dream, I always wanted to meet people like him; they seem to have everything on the outside, material possessions, wealth, popularity, girls, everything, but I can bet you ANYTHING that they are so, so, so empty (and sad) on the inside.

I remember when I was living in the States several years ago, we had a display table in a mall, I was dressed as a clown, and being goofy! (I actually rather enjoy that outfit – gives me an excuse to smile and cheer people up!) This man walked up to the table and just couldn’t stop staring into my eyes! – Which eventually made me uncomfortable! He didn’t seem like a pervert though, so I asked him if everything was okay and he said “your eyes, they’re smiling!” I thought that was a funny statement so pointed out how, “of course, my eyes are smiling. – I’m smiling!” To which he pointed out that I was very wrong to assume that’s all it took! (Oh well! – And here I thought I had it down all along!) He just kept repeating how the way my eyes smiled showed that it wasn’t the smile on my face, but the smile inside: “you’re actually smiling from inside, you’re actually happy”. He then went on to tell me how his job was that of a camera man in Hollywood – no one big or famous, just the dude behind the camera, but that those eyes, the way I smiled through them, he never sees it amongst even the funniest people. He used Jim Carey as an example, pointing out how the dude was (at the time) one of the best paid actors, makes everyone laugh, yet the man was so sad and had so much fear. – That’s so sad, isn’t it?!

I think the Lord allows me to bump into people like that every once in a while to remind me just how good I have it. – And how the happiness and inner beauty isn’t just something we tell ourselves we have, to try to feel better. There was this guy who hung around our stand at the London Book fair once (he was working there) totally into us (fine, me) as he was someone that sought out “talent”. He told me so many interesting things about celebrities (in the music world) he worked with at some point or another, but at the end of the day he was almost desperate in telling me to NEVER lose that inner peace and happiness. – And he was convinced the way to keep it was to not “sell myself out”. He was saying how his professional instinct was to want to use it, but that’s what all those people start off with, that’s why he couldn’t stay away from the booth, and he kept coming back to chat, but he was repeatedly stressing how I shouldn’t lose it.

Wow, I really got off on a tangent there - but yes, I've been thinking!

But hey, wish me luck with Robbie Williams, yes? ;)

They're gone! :(

Yup, the Avellino's are all back in Europe! Esty and the nephews flew out yesterday, thankfully managing to get all their luggage with them, which was a miracle as well. I'll miss them, but trust I'll see them soon for sure! - When I go to Europe for my Summer trip!

I got to spend a day with them (and with my bro) before Niel took off, so that was nice.

Goodbye! - For now! ILY!

Oh, yay!

Mexico is getting tall - well, the girls living in it are! :)

Seriously, check it out - I live in a Home with two other girls my height (note I didn't say width) and in Mexico City there are at least two other hot chicks my height (actually taller). - I'm in tall-girl heaven!

To prove it; Anna, myself and Linda at a BBQ we had for our rest day!

Reminds me of the crowd we had at the Western European YA/SGA camp, and though less, hey, we're not doing bad. Right? Small beginnings...