"Pick them turds up."

-Tales from Operation Kindness-



Yes. That is what I did this morning. I picked up turds. Lots and lots of them. I went in to Op. Kindness early this morning around 7. I didn't realize that it is around this hour that all of the dirtiest jobs need to get done. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I awoke and got dressed in my pink volunteer t-shirt, applied the face, grabbed a polo sweater, and hit the road heading towards operation kindness for what I thought would be a relaxing morning of dog walking in the crisp and chilly weather. Wrong wrong wrong. This morning I worked with Trina, a 50 something lady with a bunch of nervous ticks (nothing against her, just observing), cleaning out 20+ kennels. Around kennel # 3 I threw caution to the wind and decided that there would be no half-ass effort on my part. I was all in, baby. Poop on my clothes? No big. Trina is a funny character. She set me to work pretty quick and gave me instructions like "Pick them turds up" and "don't slip in all this urine, honey." At one point I could hear her muttering "Shit, shit, shit...I can't believe this shit" under her breath and it made my chuckle. Trina was right though....I have never seen so much shit and piss in all my life. However, it was a job that needed to be done and I done did it.(without the least bit of fecal slurry spattering my pretty pink volunteer t-shirt. Brav-AH!)


Had I been allowed or had the proper accommodations I would have totally adopted a dog today. His name is Bugsy (I prefer to call him Mr. Bugsy Malone) and he is a mutt/stray. He somewhat resembles the dog from one of my favorite childhood Christmas Eve reads- The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy (tear jerker). He was abandoned at the shelter in the middle of the night- let behind in a pet carrier outside the back door. He may be slightly stinky in addition to being stricken with a terminal case of halitosis.... he may not be the most attractive dog (i.e those little tiny toy dogs that a certain breed of gal likes carrying around as an accessory)but he is the sweetest dog that I have come across. He is so dear and so trusting. I took him for a walk this afternoon and we took a break on one of the benches in the memorial garden. He jumped up and sat beside me with his front leg resting on my leg. He pushed his head underneath my arm and just rested there for a little while. I wanted to take him home and love him forever. When it came time to return him to his kennel it nearly broke my heart. I had to gingerly push him back in because he wasn't willing to go in on his own. As I locked him in he gave me this look that seemed to communicate "You don't want to keep me?" and I just about couldn't take it. Dogs really do have so much heart and personality and such a serious need to be loved and appreciated. I guess that's why I love them so- because I can totally empathize with all of the above. Mr. Bugsy will find a good home soon I'm sure. I don't see how someone couldn't want such a sweet and lovely stinky pup. <3

Just one more thing.

I am elated right now because I have just recently discovered that two of my papers aren't going to be due until next week!- also I have gotten my volunteer time extended so I'll be there through November. These recent discoveries have made me so happy that I am almost able to forget that my suite mate has practically used an entire bottle of my facial cleanser. But oh well. I literally don't care at this point. There are lots of things to be happy about.

Things I like... things I don't.

I really like:

-reading in my spare time

-the new cool/cold weather

-Radiant Worship and how they kind of sound like Jeff Buckley

-enjoying things and people and not taking the good times for granted

-turning out all the lights and watching movies on my computer in bed before I go to sleep

-honesty

-driving around (with the heater on!)

-walking around campus in the cold as a form of exercise

-my communications class/group/and the volunteer work we're doing


I really dislike:

-this whole growing up thing... just not ready

-'low disk space' on my computer

-not having a kitchen to cook/bake in

-my red face and nervous laugh

-being charged to do a load of laundry

-not knowing how to act

-gas prices


Lists are always good.

Last night I got really sad because I miss Elizabeth so much. Skype is such a tease. I haven't been able to hang out with her in so long and it is really starting to get to me.

My dreams are really effed up. I was taking a nap the other day and I had a dream that I was topless and trying to steal from a family on welfare....then I went to Wal-Mart to purchase Fly Away Home for $5 and after returning home realized that I had purchased The Good Son, instead. Does this dream hold any kind of significance at all? I must just be crazy.

I'm ready for the holidays.

UPDATEzZz

I really hate that (some) paperbacks are so expensive. I have been wanting to read Into the Wild for quite a long time but when I went to Barnes & Noble last night to pick up a copy they expected me to pay $14 in exchange. No thanks! I went to the library to get a library card but no dice. I don't have a mailing address in Denton so no library card for me. I went to Wal-Mart to find a less expensive copy, but alas, there wasn't one to be found. So, I bought the Kite Runner instead and thus far it has been a really enjoyable read.

Exciting news!@!@: I am probably going to be making the trek to Newcastle this summer to see EBETH! We are in the process of making plans and and and I am excited beyond words...excited and scared. air...plane..sky...water. Oh well... deep breath... aaaand mom and I might be taking a long overdue trip to a City of the New York persuasion. HURRAY!

In other news-

I have pretty much made it my mission as of late to, uh...well... stop being such a fat ass. It is something that really bleeds over into practically every area of my life and it is time that I took control. It is a combination of “I want to get healthy/be pretty” kind of a thing… since the thin = pretty rule seems to apply to me. This being said, I feel the need to rant a bit. What's the deal with cafeteria food? Am I right?? But seriously... GROSS. I should write a letter to the powers that be because the food that I am served on a daily basis is out of order! Why, oh why, would one ever consider serving pizza, chicken fingers, french fries, and cookies all at the same damn time. Perhaps UNT dining services should expand the menu to include healthier options for those of us who don't want to clog our arteries. The veggie selection is ridiculous, not to mention, totally disgusting. The meals are prepared by student workers who really don't give a care about the quality of the food. The other night I went to get some asparagus and the woody ends hadn't even been cut off. Plus, all of the veggies continue to cook because they sit in large metal vats that are continuously heated by steam... making for soggy, mushy, brown, and unrecognizable, overcooked veggies. Sick. I am not cut out for cafeteria life. The idea of food being prepared in mass quantities just really grosses me out for some reason. The only safe haven of sorts that I have been able to find is the salad bar in Bruce Hall. It isn't stellar but at least it doesn't feature 3-4 starches on a nightly basis. However, it can gross me out too at times. Especially the section devoted to condiments- huge bowls of salad dressing and such that sit for hours on end, scattered atop a bed of ice. This isn't the ideal cooling system because all of the dressings are still able to develop that undesirable "skin" on top. ALSO- (I'm still ranting here, please forgive) what in the hell is wrong with some people?- in regard to their food choices at least.... I mean geeeeez. The other day I went to Bruce to get some Bran Cereal. This TAMS kid came up next to me, grabbed a glass, filled it with vanilla ice cream, coke, and peanut butter. Ewwww.... at 9:30? Really?? Sick. How does that not make you feel horrible?? EAT SOME EFFING FRUIT. Ice cream doesn't need to be served from open to close. Also- why 20 different choices of sugar cereal and only a handful of healthy ones??? Ok. I feel loads better.

Christmas is getting closer everyday. <3

I faced off with a cop last night to defend Kristin's honor. Guys at bars are nasty but galfriends are fun. I am starting to feel trapped again... school, major, future... all that stuff. The things that I really want out of life are not things that I can get with a degree. Blah. Still smiling though :) Don't know what the hell else to do.