It was somewhere between 11:30pm and midnight. I turned off the light and began the stringray shuffle towards my bed. About 3/4 of the way there I stopped, contemplating a Lambeau Leap into bed just to entertain Jennifer. Jennifer! I turned around and shuffled back towards the blinking light switch. As soon as I hit it, my roommate Jennifer and I doubled over in laughter.
Well, I doubled over; she almost fell out of bed. It wasn't really that funny, but we laughed until our stomachs hurt. Everything's funnier in the middle of the night, right?
She had been reading when I walked in from the bathroom, turned off the light, and headed to bed.
Here's the kicker: I totally knew she was reading and turned out the light without thinking anything of it!
Here's the second kicker: She didn't say anything!
I guess you had to be there. We laughed until we couldn't breathe. That could be hazardous to your health.
You know what else could be hazardous to your health? Absent-mindedly going through life. Turning off the light before you get into bed despite the fact that your roommate is reading. Making it your goal to get from Point A to Point B as fast as you can without noticing the people you pass on your way. Every day counting down until the next day when you can sleep in.
I consider myself pretty observant and friendly. I noticed Jen was reading. I wave to snowplow drivers. I address people by name when I pass them on campus.
But get me in the caf and I am in a zone! Sure, I'll talk if I'm in line, but most people tell me they saw me in the caf but I looked like I was in a hurry, so they didn't say hi. In the caf, sometimes I don't acknowledge people until they call my name. Clueless.
What if we took the time to notice the other people in the caf? Instead of just seeing bodies in between us and the milk, what if we saw the faces of God's children? What if we actually payed attention to what we were doing rather than doing it half-heartedly or rush?
What if we left the light on for someone?
What if we cared?
<>< Katie
Showing posts with label light switch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label light switch. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Gang's All Here
Well, summer is over. Even though classes don't start for another few days, I'm back at school. Most students aren't back yet, but all six of the girls in my apartment are back. (Jennifer, Nikki, Allyson, Amy, and Elizabeth) Despite our hectic pre-semester schedules, it's been great to be back together playing Banangrams, being sassed, Wii-ing, being sassed, cuddling, being sassed...
Oh, and the light switches have been fixed. Allelulia! No more being blinded because you, heaven forbid, rolled over in the middle of the night. Now if you sit still for fifteen minutes, which I can do thank you very much, the light goes off. Of the two, I prefer this (I think).
Another glitch in our brand new building is the lack of intenet. Since school is not in session, the computer lab are not open, so I have to butter up to a professor, yes, before school even starts, to check my email. I can survive without internet. Facebook can wait. Email's important, but anyone emailing me urgently right now will accept the "My internet's not connected yet" excuse. The blog, sorry friends, can survive a few days without me. Books, however, need to be ordered. At the beginning of last semester I talked about how I like brand new books and don't mind paying bookstore prices to not have to worry about the hassle. I stand by those opinions. However, this semester my schedule includes a stinky science class with a text book that costs almost a million dollars. A book I'm never going to use again and will not be able to sell. So I Amazoned it. (I just made "Amazon" a verb... it's English). Since I had to order that one online, there were a few others I ordered, too. Well, intended to order. The lack of internet put an impasse on my plan. I'm not making an online purchase from a public computer, sorry.
Periodically, I can get internet when sitting in a certain position on my roommate Jennifer's bed. Ever seen someone putting cell phone in the most bizarre of positions in order to get a signal? Yes, that's me with my computer. When I get Jennifer's Bed internet it's for about ten minutes and that's it for the entire day. This morning, I was starting to get cranky about the situation and stressed about the upcoming semester.
I only had a half hour, so I booted up my computer, plopped it on Jennifer's bed, and began to rant. "God, I can live without internet. I proved that several times this summer and again this week. However, I'm really starting to worry about this upcoming semester. If I could just order my books I'd feel a lot better." I checked my AOL email since it's my internet provider (since 1997!) but before I checked my school email and gmail, before I checked facebook, before I checked the blog (gasp!) I went to Amazon.
Finding the books was quick and easy. Checking out, no problem. I got decent deals and saved a lot of money. Life was good. I hit "Submit this purchase." It went. PAH! I closed amazon and typed "katieax.blogspot.com" into the navigation bar.
"Internet Explorer cannot display the page."
I was moderately annoyed and simultaneously moderately amused. I said I wanted internet to order books. I got internet to order books. I could not help but say, "Thank You, God." The blog. Facebook. Email. All were unnecessary distractions.
Twelve hours later, I'm using some friends for their internet to update my social media outlets, not for work. Life is good.
<>< Katie
Reason of the Day to Laugh at Katie:
I dropped my socks in the toilet. No, they weren't on my feet. Yes, the toilet was empty.
Oh, and the light switches have been fixed. Allelulia! No more being blinded because you, heaven forbid, rolled over in the middle of the night. Now if you sit still for fifteen minutes, which I can do thank you very much, the light goes off. Of the two, I prefer this (I think).
Another glitch in our brand new building is the lack of intenet. Since school is not in session, the computer lab are not open, so I have to butter up to a professor, yes, before school even starts, to check my email. I can survive without internet. Facebook can wait. Email's important, but anyone emailing me urgently right now will accept the "My internet's not connected yet" excuse. The blog, sorry friends, can survive a few days without me. Books, however, need to be ordered. At the beginning of last semester I talked about how I like brand new books and don't mind paying bookstore prices to not have to worry about the hassle. I stand by those opinions. However, this semester my schedule includes a stinky science class with a text book that costs almost a million dollars. A book I'm never going to use again and will not be able to sell. So I Amazoned it. (I just made "Amazon" a verb... it's English). Since I had to order that one online, there were a few others I ordered, too. Well, intended to order. The lack of internet put an impasse on my plan. I'm not making an online purchase from a public computer, sorry.
Periodically, I can get internet when sitting in a certain position on my roommate Jennifer's bed. Ever seen someone putting cell phone in the most bizarre of positions in order to get a signal? Yes, that's me with my computer. When I get Jennifer's Bed internet it's for about ten minutes and that's it for the entire day. This morning, I was starting to get cranky about the situation and stressed about the upcoming semester.
I only had a half hour, so I booted up my computer, plopped it on Jennifer's bed, and began to rant. "God, I can live without internet. I proved that several times this summer and again this week. However, I'm really starting to worry about this upcoming semester. If I could just order my books I'd feel a lot better." I checked my AOL email since it's my internet provider (since 1997!) but before I checked my school email and gmail, before I checked facebook, before I checked the blog (gasp!) I went to Amazon.
Finding the books was quick and easy. Checking out, no problem. I got decent deals and saved a lot of money. Life was good. I hit "Submit this purchase." It went. PAH! I closed amazon and typed "katieax.blogspot.com" into the navigation bar.
"Internet Explorer cannot display the page."
I was moderately annoyed and simultaneously moderately amused. I said I wanted internet to order books. I got internet to order books. I could not help but say, "Thank You, God." The blog. Facebook. Email. All were unnecessary distractions.
Twelve hours later, I'm using some friends for their internet to update my social media outlets, not for work. Life is good.
<>< Katie
Reason of the Day to Laugh at Katie:
I dropped my socks in the toilet. No, they weren't on my feet. Yes, the toilet was empty.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Welcome to the Family of God
Today is a special day. Today is Annie's birthday, Courtney's birthday, and Amanda's birthday. Today I declared my major. Today is also the day when God said, "Welcome to my family". I'm pretty sure today is the first day I've realized it was my baptismal birthday actually on September 10th.
Three or so years ago, I went on a retreat with my church. Picked at random, Courtney was my roommate. She was also one of two other people I knew on the trip. That night, we were too excited about the trip to go to bed. I really wanted a picture of her to commemorate our fun times, but she didn't so much like that idea. Instead, she wrapped herself up in her covers and refused to show her face (I have photos of that). So I pushed her off the bed. Then, when we finally settled down and were ready for bed we learned a very small detail about our room that created some very big problems. You see, the architect put light switches right next to each bed. Our conversations went something like this,
"Good night for real now."
"Good night."
Two minutes of silence.
Soft click.
"AHHHH!!! COURTNEY!!"
"Hahaha!"
Giggle city.
Soft click.
Five minute conversation.
"Good night for real now again. I promise this time!"
"Suuure you do. Good night."
Two minutes of silence.
Soft click.
"AHHHHH!!!! COURTNEY!!!"
Soft click.
Giggle city.
Eventually, we did finally go to sleep. The following morning we were quite rudely awakened by the singing of "Cock-a-doodle Doo" outside our door with the banging of pots and pans. It just so happened our telephone wake-up call came at the same time. Since Courtney kept me up all night, I allowed her to find a way to answer them both simultaneously. :-)
Even though she has a passion for light switches and a strong desire to wake me awake at night, Courtney and I have some great memories and great black mail stories to tell at a later date. :-) Happy birthday!
My favorite Amanda quote:
"I think this place is closed," Brittany as we pulled into a parking lot to ask for directions.
"If it's closed, then how do you account for all of the cars chillaxin' in the parking lot?" Amanda asked with a very serious tone.
"Um... it's a car dealership," we all responded laughing.
In Christ,
<>< Katie
"[Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'" Mark 16:15-16
Three or so years ago, I went on a retreat with my church. Picked at random, Courtney was my roommate. She was also one of two other people I knew on the trip. That night, we were too excited about the trip to go to bed. I really wanted a picture of her to commemorate our fun times, but she didn't so much like that idea. Instead, she wrapped herself up in her covers and refused to show her face (I have photos of that). So I pushed her off the bed. Then, when we finally settled down and were ready for bed we learned a very small detail about our room that created some very big problems. You see, the architect put light switches right next to each bed. Our conversations went something like this,
"Good night for real now."
"Good night."
Two minutes of silence.
Soft click.
"AHHHH!!! COURTNEY!!"
"Hahaha!"
Giggle city.
Soft click.
Five minute conversation.
"Good night for real now again. I promise this time!"
"Suuure you do. Good night."
Two minutes of silence.
Soft click.
"AHHHHH!!!! COURTNEY!!!"
Soft click.
Giggle city.
Eventually, we did finally go to sleep. The following morning we were quite rudely awakened by the singing of "Cock-a-doodle Doo" outside our door with the banging of pots and pans. It just so happened our telephone wake-up call came at the same time. Since Courtney kept me up all night, I allowed her to find a way to answer them both simultaneously. :-)
Even though she has a passion for light switches and a strong desire to wake me awake at night, Courtney and I have some great memories and great black mail stories to tell at a later date. :-) Happy birthday!
My favorite Amanda quote:
"I think this place is closed," Brittany as we pulled into a parking lot to ask for directions.
"If it's closed, then how do you account for all of the cars chillaxin' in the parking lot?" Amanda asked with a very serious tone.
"Um... it's a car dealership," we all responded laughing.
In Christ,
<>< Katie
"[Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'" Mark 16:15-16
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Light of the World
I had written a blog about garbage men and trash pickers, but it really had no point, so I deleted it and started over with something more useful. Then I wrote a second one but didn't like it either... so now we're on attempt three, I hope you like it!
God calls us to be a light to the world. I want to encourage you not to be like the light over the sink in my dorm room.
This light turns on quite slowly so you stand in a dark room for a minute or two before it finally decides it'll light up. Don't be slow to answer God's call, but trust in Him whether you understand it or not. (Chances are, normally it will be the latter).
This light randomly goes out. My roommate and I will be sitting there and all of the sudden the room gets darker. The first time it happened, we thought the light was broken and put in a work order. When the maintenance man came, the light turned on and worked fine. We were embarrassed and he had less work to do one day. Don't go out when you need God the most. Don't hide behind a bushel. Stand firm.
This light also has a tendency to flicker back on then off again. On again, off again. Do you always follow Christ or do you flicker in your obedience? Do you follow today, disobey tomorrow?
Ok, maybe one of the other two blogs I wrote this morning was better, but I'm not starting over again. Sorry all. I need a job.
<>< Katie
"I [Jesus] have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." John 12:46
God calls us to be a light to the world. I want to encourage you not to be like the light over the sink in my dorm room.
This light turns on quite slowly so you stand in a dark room for a minute or two before it finally decides it'll light up. Don't be slow to answer God's call, but trust in Him whether you understand it or not. (Chances are, normally it will be the latter).
This light randomly goes out. My roommate and I will be sitting there and all of the sudden the room gets darker. The first time it happened, we thought the light was broken and put in a work order. When the maintenance man came, the light turned on and worked fine. We were embarrassed and he had less work to do one day. Don't go out when you need God the most. Don't hide behind a bushel. Stand firm.
This light also has a tendency to flicker back on then off again. On again, off again. Do you always follow Christ or do you flicker in your obedience? Do you follow today, disobey tomorrow?
Ok, maybe one of the other two blogs I wrote this morning was better, but I'm not starting over again. Sorry all. I need a job.
<>< Katie
"I [Jesus] have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." John 12:46
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