Author: meisaj

Living in the Cleve

The Bounce

meisajDaily Life

I have to carry a bouncey ball around with me. And I don’t care if its spelled bouncy and not bouncey, I like the ‘e’ in there.

It is a strange habit that gets me through the day and relaxes me. I carry it at work (I am lucky enough to work somewhere that doesn’t seem to mind that I bounce a ball through the halls). When I am called for something on the other side of the building I grab it to bounce while walking down the halls. If I’m waiting for the busses in the morning I have the ball in hand. It just feels right to carry a stress reliever with me. If I’m frustrated I bounce it, it changes my focus from whatever is frustrating to bouncing the ball, relaxing me instantly. I use it this way for students who are upset and can’t calm down. I give them my bouncey ball. This automatically makes them relax for a few reasons: a) it’s special, it’s something they know I cherish that I’m sharing with them; b) its the same distraction for them it is for me; and c) it can be good to get anger out, they can throw it as hard as they need to in the gym and nothing will get hurt (although it hit me in the eye once and I had a slight bruise).

So when we were away on a three day field trip with the 5th graders this last week and one of them had a birthday, it was particularly special for him when I gave him my bouncey ball. The one I had been carrying around since the beginning of the school year.

It’s not just any ball either, I need the ‘Whammo Superball’. Luckily they sell for two dollars at the local toy store two blocks from my apartment.

So today I will be bouncing my replacement Superball all over the place to break it in.

Good vs Interesting

meisajDaily Life

I remember answering this question once: Would you rather have a life full of good things happening to you, or interesting things?

I chose interesting.

It never bugged me.  I’d still pick interesting.  If I ever had to wish it for someone else I’ wish them good things, but in my own life and experiences I’d pick interesting.

I don’t know if that’s an odd answer or not, but I like stories.  I tell a lot of stories about my life.  Bouncing my face off a parked car while riding a skateboard late at night.  Walking miles in the rain (late at night).  Getting punched in the face.  Breaking my collar bone (shattering is a better word to describe it).  My appendix betraying me.  Multiple ex’s and that drama.  Getting rescued by drunken hillbillies.  Being broke as hell at 30.  There’s 9,000 more, and while none of them are horrible bad things, they certainly don’t qualify as “good” things.

In some ways I suppose I’m lucky.  I’ve never lost a close family member.  My two cats, despite their many problems, are still alive.  I’m in decent shape, eat pretty well, and exercise.  I have a job which only causes a few new gray hairs a week.  I have an awesome girlfriend.

Life is good for me, but only because so many interesting things have happened along the way.

So good vs interesting, I’ll always choose interesting.

Crazy Santorum supporter

meisajDaily Life

A Rick Santorum supporter on why being pro-life is the most important aspect of his candidacy.

“Because if we put God first in our lives he will bring economic prosperity and security to our lives.”

Really? We need more religion in government. We need to become a “Christian Country.” Sucks for all those other religions in our country. And where was God when we slid into the recession. But don’t ask the church that.

John Stewart put it fantastic when he said that Religions aren’t countries, nor are government, they are part of society. As such they can’t dictate everything that goes on in society, nor can they ignore the realities of that society. I put on my blog earlier and I’ll put it here again. Anyone saying their is a war on religion is mistaking a war for religions not getting everything their way. And that’s absurd.

I think the only thing to do is start my own religion. Obviously I’ll have to link it Christianity some how, oh and I need to make it male dominated and deny women all sorts of rights. And I’ll be the head the head of my religion so if you disagree with me I’ll just say you’re wrong and going against God. No other defense needed.

A Week’s Worth of Food II

meisajDaily Life

Here’s the second week’s worth of food.  While I’m not sure if I’m eating healthier because of this, it definitely feels good to keep this log.  I’m rolling around thoughts in my mind of how to make this easier to keep track of.  Currently I keep track of this on google documents.  I can access it from any computer, my phone and my iPad.  That’s pretty convenient.  The only other idea I’ve had is to dedicate an actual calendar to this.  But then it wouldn’t necessarily be a list of what I ate.  You’d have to look at each day for the information.  On the other hand I don’t want a bajillion page document that is just a list of food.  I suppose I could break it up by month.  I don’t know.  Open to ideas here people.

Feb 8th:

  • Cup of Cranberry Juice
  • Coffee (x3)
  • Banana
  • 6 inch buffalo chicken sub from subway
  • 2 white chip macadamia nut cookie
  • Veggie – Meat (Morningstar Fake Meat) burrito w/cheese and hot sauce
  • bowl of Mac n’ Cheese

Feb 9:

  • Smoothie (banana, oj, cranberry juice, honey)
  • Coffee (x2)
  • Banana
  • Veggie Wrap
  • Small Cup o Mac n’ Cheese
  • Med Bowl of Spaghetti
  • 1 large cookie (w/ frosting)

Feb 10th:

  • 3 Mini Muffins
  • 1 bean burrito (black beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese)
  • bowl of tortilla chips
  • cookie (normal)
  • 2 slices of pizza
  • 1 cheesy breadstick

Feb. 11:

  • 1 slice pizza
  • 1 cheesy bread stick
  • bowl of Ramen noodles
  • Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich
  • 1/2 cup of coke zero
  • 1/2 serving of potato fries
  • med Shamrock Shake

Feb 12:

  • Jozi’s Fav (2 slices of French Toast, 2 eggs w/ cheese, 4 slices of turkey bacon)
  • 3 cups of coffee
  • 7 buffalo chicken balls (Blue cheese dressing, chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, corn flakes, egg dip, flour)

Feb 13:

  • Coffee (x3)
  • Small cup of cranberry juice
  • Veggie Wrap
  • Banana
  • 5 Buffalo Chicken Balls
  • 2 Slices of bread (artisan Asiago cheese bread w/ oil dip)

Feb 14 (Valentine’s Day):***

  • Cup of Cranberry Juice
  • Coffee (4 cups)
  • 3 peanut butter cookies
  • 1 sugar cookie (heart shaped)
  • Veggie Wrap
  • Banana
  • 2 starburst candies
  • 2 Slices of Pizza (w/chicken)
  • 6 pieces of boneless chicken wings (w/ dry rub spices)
  • large cup of jelly beans

Kenny Loggins Day II

meisajDaily Life

So I celebrated the first Kenny Loggins Day at work by listening to soundtracks that Kenny Loggins was involved in or had songs on.  Granted this was at work, so I was pumping Loggins all day, but I did get more than a few co-workers on board with it.

So, what Kenny Loggins soundtracks do you know?

Here’s a list of the albums I pumped at work:

Footloose (duh)
Top Gun
Caddy shack
Caddyshack II

Next year I’ll branch out to more Kenny Loggins albums.  I heard for the first time that he was on the Over the Top Soundtrack.  I’m totally getting it.