Every Situation I Face I Win

Victory
Tye Tribbett

Chorus:
Now its time to celebrate, all banners raised
I got The Victory, The Victory
Because the Devil is defeated and God be praised 
I got The Victory, The Victory
Every situation I face I win
I got The Victory, The Victory
And everything works for my good in the end 
I got The Victory, The Victory

[Verse I:]
I thought I lost
But actually I won
For by His blood, we all have overcome
There is no failure
Our God can never lose 
And that same power, it now belongs to you 

[Verse II:]
I was on my way into a burning hell 
The Devil he had my life set up to fail 
But thanks be to my God who causes me to
Triumph, overcome, to tread upon the enemy 

[Verse III:]
Somebody who’s listening 
Right now you think you’re losing 
You feel like you can’t win 
‘Cause you’ve tried everything 
But greater is He that is within you, don’t doubt 
‘Cause whatever you’re in now, God said, you have to come out 

Thanks Tye, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

7 Random Facts

Okay, this time I tagged myself.  I wanted M to know that she’s not the only one who’s OCD.  (Oh, and I copied you and added pics.  I’m trying to make it a habit to add at least one pic to every post from now on.)

1.  When I was in kindergarten, Michael Jackson was my imaginary friend.  (Don’t ask).  The old Michael, you know of Thriller, Beat It and Captain Neo, not the white woman, that molests sick children and would name a baby “Blanket.”

 

 2.  When I see a set of numbers, whether it be on a clock, a license plate and random serial number, etc., I’ll add pairs that add up to 9, then figure out how much would be left.  Ex:  the serial number on this hank of yarn is 7 80335 07965 9.
**Take out the two 9s b/c they’re done and the two 0s, well, b/c they’re 0s.  That leaves you with 7833579659

** 78335765: 3 + 6 = 9 so those are out.

** 783575: 7+8=15 and 1+4=5.  Add that to the 3 and you get 8.  That 8 plus the 5 = 13 and 1+3=4.  That 4 + 7=11 and 1+1=2.  Then 2 plus the last 5 = 7 so I’m left with 7. 

I’ve been doing this for over a decade.  I’ve always thought it was strange, but it seems even weirder once explained.   I also do something similar with a calculator, but I’ll spare you another math lesson.

3.  For a lot of my life, well since about 10th grade, people have taken to poking me in the stomach.  Not random people, but my friends or in some cases people who think they’re my friends.  I have no idea why.  It was never planned, but they would just do it for some reason.  I think its b/c I laugh so much that people subconciously compare me to the Pillsbury Dough Boy and think I’ll do his laugh.  I’m telling you now, I don’t find it funny.  The fact that so many people used to do it, coupled w/ the fact that most people think that they’re the only one who does it meant that it would be done repeatedly and incessantly in a day.  Thankfully, no one does it now.  That’s why I never touch a pregnant woman’s belly without getting permission first.

 

4.  My first name is actually a color.  Its a shade of pink.  I hated, despised, no loathed pink until about a year ago.  It started creeping into my closet as an accent color and then last year I saw a “my name” colored yarn and bought 440 yds of it, plus 764 yds of a complimentary yarn that has that color, purple, and white strands twisted together.  I have no idea what I would ever do w/ it considering that its a really bright pink, but maybe I’ll come up with something.

 

5.  I’ve been playing piano since I was 6 and dancing since I was 3.  (That’s not me)  In my prime, once I knew a song by heart, no matter how long or difficult it was I could play it perfectly while watching television.  It was the best of both worlds.  My mother would hear me practicing so I wouldn’t get in trouble and I could still watch whatever I wanted.  I do, however, wish that I could play by ear and play songs other than classical, but b/c the styles are so different it is quite difficult.  I’m still a beast at sight reading though.

6.  When I was a kid I read Stephen King religiously.  I mean I started probably when I was 10.  My mother (who’s been convinced since I was about 11 that I’d be novelist) was worried that I’d grow up to write books like that.  I still love to read horror and watch horror movies, but I’m more likely to write science fiction like my writing idol, Octavia Butler.

7. I have to thank M for reminding me of this one.  As you know if you’re a regular reader, I knit.  I’ve been knitting for about 2 years now and love it.  My maiden name is Yarn.  Yes, like the stuff you knit with.  (this was my ready response when I told someone my last name for the first time and they looked at me like they weren’t sure if they’d heard me right.)  I had probably been knitting for about 6 months before I even thought of that.  I guess I was just destined to become a knitter. 

Well, that’s it.  Just like M, I’m just going to tag whoever else feels like doing it.

The Rules:

1.  Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.

2.  Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3.  Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4.  Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I love bags

Well, I’ve figured out what I want for my birthday.  Its just too bad, that its kind of hard to get your hands on.  I want the knitting messenger bag by Namaste.  I first saw this bag on Knitty, but couldn’t really find the color that I wanted and ended up getting the Jordana Paige messenger instead.  Namaste’s philosophy is that you shouldn’t have to carry a knitting bag AND a purse, so their bags can serve as both.  Its divided into two sides, one for your knitting and the other to be your purse.

My favorite color is the chocolate, but I also like some of the other colors it comes in.

 

The other colors that I like are the cranberry,

the peacock

and the mauve.

There’s a black, but the lining is kind of plain and I don’t like the lining in the rose color either.  Its really not a bad price at $69, but I can’t always find the chocolate and that’s the color I really want.  Typically I would ask my mother for the bag for my b-day, but she bought my first knitting bag, and would just mention that I already have one.  (She forgets that she buys a new purse every season and is therefore responsible for my bag addiction). 

I’ve decided that if no one else gets me one in any of those colors for this birthday then I’ll search the web weekly until someone has a chocolate one available.  I’m really excited about it.  *sigh* I love bags. . . and birthdays.  Next year I’ll be 30 and I’m hoping to have a huge party!!  Everyone’s invited!!

a mosaic of thoughts

1.  My mother has got me watching this show called “I Can Make You Thin” on TLC.  It comes on Sunday nights.  Its by this guy named Paul McKenna and he has a program for losing weight.  Its not a diet.  One of the rules is to eat whatever you want, but the principles of it are so simple that its amazing that it works.  Of course, they have people that have already done the program come and give testimonials and these people have had amazing weight loss.  The reason that I believe it work is b/c they aren’t trying to sell you anything.  You get all the secrets for free on TLC. 

Anyway, I’m not trying to lose weight, but Sunday he showed us a technique for getting past your cravings w/out actually eating something.  The episode was all about emotional eating and so the technique is to help when you’re craving something b/c you’re depressed, bored, lonely, etc.  I’ve decided to try it when I’m anxious, or upset and so far its working.

2.  My skirt hates me.  There are 200 stitches (sts) in each round of the pattern.  Monday I tried to knit and when I got to the end of the round I had an extra st.  So when looking for that mistake I found another one and had to frog back 160 sts, and re-knit those 160 sts to fix that mistake.  Then, on the next round I found another mistake that I had actually made 2 rows back, but this time I only frogged back 50 sts, so that I could compensate for the mistake.  The only reason I haven’t frogged the whole thing and started over is because I’m about 27 rounds in.  Because the body of the skirt has 200 sts and the ruffle at the bottom has 301, that means that I would have to re-knit 6915 sts to get back to where I am now.  THAT IS NOT HAPPENING!

 2.  Since one of my colleagues, KM, just found out she’s having a girl, and one of my Towson friends, AB,  just has a girl on March 18, I think I’m going to make them both hat/sweater combinations.  The babies, not the moms.  Anyway there’s the cutest sweater pattern that I heard about on Lime and Violet.   It’s the Tulip Baby Sweater kit. 

This is the new Sorbet colorway and S & M agree that its adorable.  I’m just excited that its knit in one piece, b/c I hate seaming and M can attest to that   So, I’m hoping to get two of those done with in the next couple of months so that both can be given before I move.

 

3.  I’m currently reading, The Princess Bride, while my night school kids do their seat work.  One kid was assigned it by his day school teacher.  Although this is absolutely my fave movie of all time, I’d never read it.  I definitely love it better than the movie. 

4.  One of my night school boys is convinced that if we had met in “the real world” and he had told me that he was 21, not only would I have believed him, but we could have hooked up.  Now I will give him credit although he is only 16, he definitely could at least pull of 20, but come on. . . we’d hook up.  I told him that 1) 21 is too young for me and 2) he’s not my type.  He smokes weed, carries a gun (not to school) and uses “girl” and “b*#%@” synonymously.  Ahh, the ignorance of youth.

5.  I have 25.5 sick days left and 4 personal days.  That means that I could take off one day a week for the rest of the year and still have sick days left when I move.  Now that I’ve realized that its really hard not to take off on this Friday, but I won’t b/c I’m just giving an assessment and showing a movie all day, and as Val says, you should never waste a movie day on a substitute.  However, in a couple of weeks I might take one of our APs up on his offer.  He said that he banks sub days so that if I need to take one to grade essays then I can.

I’m pretty sure that I’m forgetting one, but I left my notes down in my car so, oh well!  This is long enough anyway.

ahhh, to be home again

I LOVE MY MOMMY!!  Well, I love my whole family of course, but my relationship w/ my mom is a perfect example of unconditional love.  that’s all I’m saying.

 As usual I hated to leave this morning.  My parents don’t really cook much anymore and for those of you that I talk to on a regular basis, you most likely know why.  So, I was spoiled and bought dinner every night.  We went to Joe’s Crab Shack on Friday, b/c we didn’t get to go last time I was home, and then on Saturday to celebrate a 16th b-day, we went again b/c that’s where the birthday girl wanted to go.

Bible study on Wednesday was great as usual, Elder Valerie taught b/c Pastor was at a revival or something.  Church on Sunday was also exceptional.  B/c it was Easter we were at the conference center instead of our church, b/c everyone and their long lost cousin come to church on Easter and Mother’s Day.  Miss Marsha did her usual stellar job of choreographing the dance performance.  That woman definitely has a God-given talent, b/c her vision is fierce.  I bet most members don’t know what they’re missing out on since she isn’t the dance ministry leader for MLBC anymore.  Not that that matters, b/c when she needs dancers, MLBC members still back her up.  When pastor told the actual dance ministry leader that he wanted flags and banners to be part of the presentation, she said that the church didn’t have any.  That’s definitely not true b/c the church bought some when Miss Marsha was still leading, but that’s okay.  I have no doubt she’ll be back in her rightful position again some day.  I also have to say that I can’t wait to be back home this summer so that I can start dancing again.  I really miss that and think I might really get back into stretching again.

It never ceases to amaze me that even though I only get to go to my home church 6-8 times a year, since living in MD, when I am there it always seems like the sermon was written just for me and this time was no exception.  I love Pastor Brown and the entire MLBC family.  Oh!  They closed on the new building.  We (the church) were going to start building a cathedral on our property, but God put something better in place. 

There used to be a Winn-Dixie, you know the grocery store, not far from our church.  Actually right behind the neighborhood where my parents live.  Anyway when it closed down, another church was supposed to be buying the building from them and did use it for events.  At that same time Pastor had wanted to put a bid in for it, but didn’t want churches fighting each other so didn’t.  Well, now that the other church doesn’t own it, we put a bid in and got it.  The floor plans for the inside of our cathedral fit perfectly in the old Winn Dixie building.  Instead of having to build a whole new building, they’ve started remodeling the inside of that, and we may be worshipping there before the end of the year.  It can hold something like 6000 people on a Sunday morning compared to the current sanctuary only holding about 2000, so they’ve had to open the overflow section again.  I’m so excited about that!  I love when we get a new building.  Everything’s going to move, the nursery, school, administration, the book store everything.  My mom will be able to walk to work if she wants to.

One more thing.  Miss Marsha’s daughter has the opportunity to go to Beijing to sing at the Olympics.  Her trip is basically paid for, but she still needs some money and their family isn’t rich.  Alex totally deserves it b/c that girl can SING!!  If you want to donate, just let me know and I’ll tell you how to get money to them.

I can’t wait to move back home!!

A sad state of affairs

Today my hairstylist was talking about a recent incident that happened to her son.  He was mugged at the LaFont Plaza station in DC.  Her son is 11 years old and goes to a private school in DC, while she works at a spa in Laurel, MD.  She drives him to school in the morning and he rides the train/bus to his grandmother’s house afterwards.  He’s only been doing this for about a year, and she bought him a cell phone so that he could call if he ever needs to.

A couple of weeks ago, on a Friday at 4 pm, he was waiting as usual for the train.  When it arrived he stood up and someone punched him in the face, searched his pockets while he was on the ground and stole his wallet.  It happened so fast and being 11, he wasn’t really sure what to do, so he got on the train.  He couldn’t take the bus, b/c his pass was in his wallet so he walked in the cold and rain to his grandmother’s house.

The first thing that’s sad is that the transit police officer who’s office they went to, to report it didn’t want to write a report, saying that b/c the boy didn’t have any injuries it didn’t seem important.

The worst part of this is that NO ONE HELPED HIM!  I can understand not chasing the guy that did it.  At first the boy said that it was a man, but later said that it could have been a teenager.  If it had been a teenager though they must have been big for this boy to think that it was a grown man.  He said that the other people at the station kept commenting and saying “Oh my God!”  No one asked if he was okay, offered to help him report it to a transit officer or asked if he needed money to continue his trip home.  Its a busy Friday afternoon, there were probably tons of business professionals on their way home and none of them thought to offer help to an 11 year old boy who had just been assaulted.

What is the world coming to?  What lesson has the boy learned?  I can’t imagine what the world will be like after these people have raised children that are even more cold and heartless.

I’m knitting again. . .

One of the knitting websites that I subscribe to has a cute skirt as their free pattern, so I started knitting my own.    So far I’ve only completed the ruffle and a few rows of the butterfly pattern.  Its not a difficult pattern, but the ruffle was 301 stitches and the rest of the skirt is 200 stitches so its kind of slow going.  I was going to do it in a turquoise, but the yarn store I go to didn’t have the shade that I wanted so dark blue is always my natural choice.  I’ll keep you posted on its progress and of course show you the final product.

Here’s a picture of the pillow that I made for K.  He says he loves it.  I think he just likes how comfortable it is and I had nothing to do with that part.  I think it turned out pretty well, especially considering that I sewed all of the blocks together on the plane.

I have to say, when I started knitting I didn’t think that I’d keep it up this long, but I really love it.  Hopefully the skirt will come out right and I’ll actually wear it in public. 

Hello, my name is . . .

. . . and I have social anxiety.  I’m not really sure when it started.  I was raised in a very loving family.  We still hug each other hello and goodbye and there are at least 15 people at holiday celebrations.

The first memory I have of this was probably in middle school.  Nothing really specific or traumatic, I just was never comfortable calling people on the phone— that includes calling to order pizza.  I was always worried that the person I was calling may feel inconvenienced by my call or might be judging me.  It probably comes from always being called weird.  I have an extremely vivid imagination and it was cultivated and strengthed by a love of books, especially Stephen King and the solitude of being an only child.  I was always being teased by people that called themselves my friends and I internalized what they said about me.  I still consider myself to be “weird” but now I’m proud that it makes me an individual.  (I just wish I could stop moving my lips when I’m thinking or daydreaming it makes me look crazy). 

The idea of cold calling a friend is excruciating.  Just thinking about it causes me to judge myself.  I convince myself that the person I’m thinking of calling doesn’t want to talk to me, doesn’t really like me or if I call I’ll be bothering them, they’ll be answering the phone just to patronize me.  If they don’t answer it will be because they don’t really want to talk to me, or they don’t really like me.  Its a little better if they call first and I’m just returning their phone call, but there is still a little anxiety there.

Social anxiety also affects face-to-face situations.  Going to a party is impossible unless I go w/someone else who is “socialphobic” (we always stick together) or unless there are a lot of other people who I know there.  The more people I know the more likely I’ll show up.  Most of the time when invited to social situations, I act like I’m excited about it, say I’m going to show and then I pray to God that they’ll forget that they invited me, that they won’t notice that I didn’t show.  This rarely ever happens though, and then I have to lie about why I didn’t show up.  I’ve gotten very good at that.

Well, now you know my story.  Now you know why I have a hard time keeping friends.  Eventually people stop inviting you to places, they realize that they always call you first and stop calling.  Before MySpace I would just lose contact w/people and never look back.  I always miss them, but I never look back.  I can’t b/c I’ll never be brave enough to call and check on them.

Wow!  That was easier to explain than I thought.  I guess at this point in my life I’m not really worried about what people think of my social anxiety.  So, when I don’t call you ever, and when I never show up at your get-togethers, you’ll know why. 

Oh no, I’m it!

So I was reading M’s blog (that’s how the other ones started) and well. . . I was tagged.  So here goes!

What is your occupation?
I attempt to convince teenagers that they will need to know what a thesis statement is real life and that Shakespeare does matter.

 What color are your socks right now?
white. . . my jeans are really long so no one will notice.

What are you listening to right now?
The silence of kids taking a test

What was the last thing you ate?
Just got back from lunch.  1/2 classic cafe salad, 1/2 frontega chicken sandwich from Panera

Can you drive a stick shift?
Nope.  I don’t even know anyone who has one

If you were a crayon what color would you be?
If you don’t know the answer to that, then we clearly aren’t friends

Last person you spoke to on the phone?
The Jackpot

Do you like the person who sent this to you?
She’s okay.  I agree with Jackpot though, her alter-ego is better

Favorite drink?
I don’t know.  Right now its McDonald’s Sweet Tea, but its slowly switching to lemonade

What is your favorite sport to watch?
Does dance count?

Have you ever dyed your hair?
Sort of and only once.  In August I got highlights and they’re growing out now.

Pets?
Not currently.   I used to have a red betta named Fawkes, but he passed away.

Favorite food?
McDonald’s french fries (if they’re not available really any french fries will do)

Last movie you watched?
On TV, The Princess Bride (my fave); in the theatres I think it was Atonement

Favorite day of the year?
My b-day of course!! In the year 2017 it will be Easter Sunday. 

What do you do to vent anger?
I used to throw and punch pillows or my bed.  Now. . . i usually just chew out the person that angered me or vent to someone else.  I’m learning to say what I mean or not say anything at all.

What was your favorite toy as a child?
My stuffed Ernie doll, you know from Sesame Street.  I still have him

Which is your favorite fall or spring?
Spring, b/c of my birthday and Summer is soon to come

Hugs or kisses?
lots of kisses!!

What kind of pie?
Apple. . . well really my grandmother’s apple cobbler

Living arrangements?
Currently with my roomie Candice, in 3 months down the street from my parents

When was the last time you cried?
Sunday, weekends can be hard

What is on the floor of your closet?
Everything that I’ve worn in the last two weeks

Favorite smell?
fresh baked chocolate chip cookies

What inspires you?
my friends inspire me to get a better job, my mother inspires me to be a good person

What are you afraid of?
being depressed the rest of my life; being alone

Favorite car?
I don’t really have one, but I do like my Rav

Favorite cat breed?
Siamese, I really want one

Favorite day of the week?
Sunday, b/c it means that tomorrow I’ll be around people

How many countries have you been to?
3, I think

Awww, I don’t have anyone to tag

the next step

So I’ve had two good ideas about my possible career change.  M suggested that I consider technical writing.  They make more money than teachers do and if working for the right company I may get to work from home occasionally, wouldn’t we all love that.  While working at night school, I’ve been working w/ an ESL student and he made me realize that I should consider that.  Thanks to NCLB (No Child Left Behind for you non-teachers) school systems everywhere are looking for ESL teachers and VA is no exception.

 After a little research Old Dominion University offers graduate certificates in both ESL and professional writing.  The ESL program is 24 hours and the Professional writing program is 12 hours.  In a little over a year and after spending about $6000 b/c I’d be paying in-state tuition, I can do something different. 

Here are the cons: 
Professional writing is not necessarily an easy business to get into, but I am confident about my writing skills and once I’m in, I’m in. 

ESL is only popular right now b/c of NCLB.  Once that is gone, ESL programs in public schools may be cut and I might have to go back to teaching the general population.

What to do, what to do?  Any suggestions??