Big City Mishaps

About a week ago I was talking with my friend Haley and she (totally out of nowhere) asked me to go with her to Peru. I'm such a bad friend that I didn't even know she and Shad were going to Peru in the first place! Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm going to Peru in two weeks on a mission trip. Did you catch that? I learned about an opportunity to go to Peru (on another continent) and would have to leave all within a 3-week time period. Crazy!

An important part of any international trip is a passport. I went to Australia ten years ago so I already have a passport. Unfortunately, they expire and mine did just that in May. So now I was in need of a new passport and I needed it pronto! I could take the risk of having it take exactly 3 weeks through the mail or I could wait until I was two weeks out and head on over to Dallas and apply for one in person. I chose the latter and today was the day. After struggling with the automated appointment scheduler I finally got an appointment. Today was the first day I could get one (has to be within two weeks) and since my schedule is so amazingly open right now I thought I'd just get it over with. So I left my house at about 12:15 to make in time for my 2:00 appointment. I know, I know, Dallas isn't that far away but I wanted to have plenty of time to make sure I was in the right place. I think I've talked before about how much I like downtown environments so I was excited about navigating my way through this process. Unfortunately, downtown environments don't like me! The whole experience was one comical error after another.

I make it to a parking lot directly across the street from the Federal Building in plenty of time. I'm sitting in my car, reading emails, listening to music, talking on the phone...all good. Then at 1:40 I decide I should probably head in, just in case I have trouble finding the right place. As I'm walking I totally forgot I had to pay for parking, but I'm proud of myself for planning ahead and having cash. So I go to the little machine, punch in my number, give it $10, wait for my receipt and change. Mishap #1: Machine clearly states...NO CHANGE GIVEN. Of course I see that AFTER I put my money in. I laugh the whole way back to the car to put my receipt in the window. There goes a couple days worth of Sonic Diet Coke!

I walk a good ways up to the building and as I'm ready to enter the revolving door...Mishap #2: Another sign, this entrance is for employees only! So maybe my parking spot wasn't so good after all. I had to walk all the way around the building to the entrance on the other side...and it's a big building...and it's like 130 degrees outside...and I was wearing jeans. By now it's about 1:50 and I'm starting to get anxious...not knowing exactly what I was in for I was afraid something bad would happen if I was late...you never know with the government in charge. I make my way through security and head straight for the elevator.

I stepped into the elevator with some guy...he immediately presses 4 and I press 9. Mishap #3: I needed to go to the 11th floor. I knew that the whole time but the highest the elevator went to was 9 and not wanting to look like an idiot I just pressed a number and waited til he got off and then pressed 1. So, the elevator goes all the way to the 9th floor and then it begins it's descent. Lucky me got to stop on every floor on the way down. I walk in the lobby and walk straight over to the other set of elevators that goes from the 10th floor to the 16th floor. So tricky!

Now, I'm on the right floor and I see the glass doors to the Passport office directly in front of me with two nice-looking security guards on the other side. Mishap #4: I tried to push the doors in and they only go out! Nice! I could tell the security guard wanted to laugh really hard but he did a nice job of controlling himself.

The rest of the visit to the Dallas Passport Office went much better. Unfortunately, I had to turn my phone off upon entering or else I may have had some pictures to document all the craziness. Just think Driver's License experience, except on the Federal level. I had to wait about 10 minutes despite being right on time for my appointment (good thing I left so early), only to learn that my passport wouldn't be ready until Thursday. The nice man said I could either come back or they could just mail it to me. Again, I chose the latter.

There's this place...

Summer has been good...very good. I'm enjoying staying up late, sleeping in, and just doing whatever comes my way. I'm also really enjoying being outside these days. Not outside in the 100 degree heat but outside when the sun is setting and the air is moving. I recently found this place where I can sit and see for miles. The only sounds are the wind blowing, birds chirping, and an occasional something that I'm not smart enough to identify. Being outside, being still, and seeing God's glory in a way that literally brings me to a stop is definitely one of my favorite things!

Anyway, the other day I decided I was going to take my camera and try to capture some of the things I enjoy so much about this place. A photographer, I am not, but I did end up with a couple pictures that looked pretty cool...




I hope I never get tired of a sunset, a starry night, or the vastness of a big, blue sky.

Let the countdown begin...

Two weeks from Thursday I'll probably find myself camping outside the Apple store. I can't wait!

Summer, 5, Nerdiness

Perhaps this should have been three seperate posts, instead it will be one random post that's probably not worth your time!

Anyway, it's finally SUMMER! I am so excited to be done with another year of school. This year went by rather quickly and now I'm ready for the days to slow way down and the summer to drag on. I have no big plans and I'm certain I'll hit the boredom stage soon, but life is nice in the summer.

The end of the school year also marked the completion of 5 years of teaching. I can't believe I've been teaching that long. A conversation today with a student from my first class confirmed just how old that makes me feel...she will be entering high school in the Fall. High school?? They're already in high school?? It's been a great 5 years and I'm excited to see what the next 5 will bring.

I realized today that I'm officially a nerd. I went to the library. As if that wasn't nerdy enough, I really, really like the challenge of finding a book using the Dewey Decimal System. Weird, I know.

Here's to some lazy days ahead!

Happy Birthday, Baylor!!

I can hardly believe that today, my dog, Baylor turns 1! Now, I've never really been one to make a big deal out of a pet's birthday but Baylor's special. :) I think the real reason for celebration is the fact that she has lived all but 9 of her 52 weeks with me and she's still alive.

Seriously, Baylor is a great dog and she's definitely taught me lots in her one year of life. Here's a few of the highlights from her first year:

- Baylor loves anything that is round and bounces. She has a collection of about 15 toys that she keeps close to her at all times.

- She can catch objects right out of the air, even if you throw them really hard.

- She sits, lays down, does Sic 'em, comes, stays, and goes to the bathroom on command. Well, she does it when it's just me...if anyone else is around she pretends like she doesn't know anything.

- She LOVES to chew things! Fortunately, she knows the difference between things she's allowed to chew and things she's not.

- She has given me not one, but two black eyes. She has a very hard head.

- She LOVES to be around people. She literally follows me around wherever I go.

- She can throw! Just a few minutes ago she threw a giant bone at me and it totally hurt my ankle. Playing fetch with your dog is fun, but having a dog that can play fetch with herself, that's awesome.

- She thinks it's really fun to dig holes and then watch me fill them up and cover the ground with expensive pebbles and then dig it all up again. It's a great little game we play.

- She is the happiest thing I've ever been around. She always has a smile on her face, and her tail is always wagging.

I think my favorite thing about Baylor is that every time I come home she's standing up on her back feet watching for me through the window. It doesn't matter how long I've been gone, or how little time I've had to spend with her she's always waiting for me with her tail wagging. That dog knows loyalty. She's also a really great listener! :)

There have definitely been days where I question my ability to properly take care of and love her, but I think my life is definitely better because Baylor's in it.

I have arrived!

I received a very special letter in the mail yesterday:


My sizable (hahaha) donation to Baylor University this year has allowed me the opportunity to purchase "premium" season tickets for Baylor Football. Having the opportunity to attend every home football game would certainly be a dream come true!! September 4th can't get here soon enough! Well, maybe it can, there's no need to rush summer!

Jackpot!!

I've always known that I could do great things with some money, it looks like I'm going to get my chance.

FEDEX EXPRESS NIGERIA
Head Office: 70 International Airport Road, Mafoluku, Lagos
Tel.: +234-70-41340949
Email: foriegnp@gmail.com

Dear Valued Customer,

This is to inform you that we are in possession of a certified bank cheque of $250,000.00 USD from the United Nations which is to be couriered to YOU.

You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this Amount, get back to me as soon as possible for the immediate payments of your $250,000.00 USD Compensations funds. Please contact us for more information.

Best regards
Jonathan Crawford
Delivery man
FedEx Express Nigeria

I didn't even know I was a "scammed victim!"

These emails always make me laugh.