Madness In My Method

Last weekend I went for my regular blood donation, which happened to be at the nearby mall this go-round. I dragged my roommate out as well, as she's recently discovered that she's O- and trying to also get into the habit of donating regularly. Our appointments ended up being an hour apart and they were so fully booked there was no way to get her in sooner along with me, so we both had time to kill in the mall while waiting on the other.

While she was waiting and my blood was being drawn, she sent me a pic of the Brookie (brownie + cookie) from the cookie store in the mall. When I was done, we both went back inside for a minute to visit the Carter BloodCare table they had set up to 1)bring attention to the need for donations to mall-goers, and 2)give a thank you and a free movie pass coupon to those who donated. We both stopped by the table and said hi, and got our warm thank-yous and free movie cards.

It was time for her appointment, so she left and I stayed seated for a while inside. I walked through the clothing store right behind me to see if they might have shorts, but I didn't find any and returned to my chair in the promenade. From there I could see the cookie store and I could hear it calling my name. It was just then lunch time, and I was hungry, and we already had plans to eat after we both donated, but one cookie never hurt lunch, and I was supposed to keep my energy up. I decided to not only buy myself and the roommate a cookie each, but I also decided to buy the donation workers some cookies as well. I bought two dozen, one dozen without any nuts, and the other dozen with nuts, just in case someone had allergies. I took them to the guy at the table, and he was just so absolutely flabbergasted he almost didn't know what to say. I'm thinking, "Dude, it's just cookies. You're welcome."

The roommate took some pictures of the workers in the van when they received the cookies. They were gushing over the gift the whole time she was in there getting her blood drawn. You know, I like to make little gestures like that every so often. Cookies for blood donation workers. Breakfast burritos for my skeleton crew mechanics working on a Saturday. Little things like that. I know how much I appreciate when some vendor brings in food for a company they are trying to woo for business, so I also try to do the same every so often. Pay it forward kind of thing.

This morning I received a wonderful email, reminding me that little notions can have huge effects in some folks' lives:

Good Morning Nicole, this is John Thomas who you met last Saturday at NE Mall at the Blood Drive. I just wanted to say once again how wonderful you were to bring us those Cookies and how much everyone enjoyed them. That was so above what anyone has ever done by showing your appreciation for us as a Company and the people that make up what we go out and do on a daily basis. I just cannot say enough of your kindness that you showed.

Your Roommate was on the Bus when I took their Cookies to them and they were so delighted to receive such a kind jester. You cannot teach people how to be kind, they learn it from their parents or by watching others and they know the feeling of being treated special. You are a very special person and your kindness did not go unnoticed. Blessings to you and thank you once again!

Sincerely,

John Thomas
Consultant
Carter BloodCare

I officially have more money in my savings account than the payoff balance for the car note!

This means I should be able to pay that off in the next month or two and get back to rebuilding my savings again.

He's coming over to meet the household and a few friends that tend to hang out with us.

I was reminded this evening that I'll once again have to explain that, yes, we have a coffin coffee table, my room is painted almost-black, but it's not because it's black like my soul or anything, our network connection is named StraightJacketLounge, I hope you're not allergic to cats, and please don't run away as fast as the last guy did, kthxbi.

Oh, and he seemed excited about coming over, and I'm excited that he's coming over - so yay!

Random date guy texted me this morning to wish me well. I have to say, it made me blush like crazy to know he was thinking about me. (Our bowling date isn't until Wednesday.) It feels good having the early dating flutters again, but at the same time, I'm still a little shell-shocked from the last guy I tried dating who completely disappeared on me. I feel like I should be a bit more guarded, although I have no idea if that's fair to this current guy or not. It's not his fault I went through a bad situation fairly recently.

On a side note, I'm concerned that I'm going to kill my back again by deciding to go bowling. I found out from the chiropractor reading the MRI results that it wasn't just the L5-S1 that was torn, but also the L4-L5 as well. This could end in tears if I'm not careful.

You know, when I got in trouble as a child, my parents might give me a spanking, send me to my room, make me write sentences or do times tables, sit me down for a 2 hour lecture, or make me put my nose in the corner.

But what I hated more than anything in the world was being grounded.

It's interesting how as an adult, though, being "grounded" without my head in the clouds and my brain wandering aimlessly in my imaginations actually helps to free me so that I can wander happily in life.

The more I let go and stop trying to control the world around me, the more grounded and at ease I become, and my energy and happiness shoots through the roof.

Even if I'm still in the dog house.

I mean really - have you ever tried staying angry at a child that won't stop laughing? If you're a decent person, it just can't be done.

I really needed this evening.

I've been in my room cleaning, dusting, putting things away, occasionally playing a game of Nonosweeper, checking for specials on Steam, listening to some really great music, and dancing.

I can't explain how much I want to share this feeling with someone in particular.

He may have a little something to do with my new-found mindset.
*shifty-eyes*

er....

Happy Hannakuh

uh....

Oh yeah!

Happy Birthday, Eileen!

Posting tonight so you'll see it first thing in the morning. :)

PS - This person has some really amazing steampunk thingies.

In class on Sunday, I was working with another girl who'd been going to class for a little while now. There was another guy that I had trained with some who was mid-level in another class, but still beginner in this one, and I'd been helping him study for his first test. He brought in his wife for the first time, and they were working with each other for a few minutes at the very beginning of class. At some point, he got her to start watching me and my partner working to see how I was doing things. A bit later he asked if she could train with me (and my partner) so I could teach her. By the end of class his wife was raving about my teaching to the instructor, so much so that it had me fully blushing.

That was pretty flattering.

I went to the bank, as I do almost every day for work.
I pulled up in the parking lot and drooled a little.
And, I got the nerve to ask the gentleman walking out if I could take a look inside of his Aston Martin Rapide.

Let me summarize my ABSOLUTE FUCKING SQUEEEEEEEEE:
Aston Martin
4-door hatchback
Aston Martin
Sex on wheels
(Must I repeat it again)

I hope you see why I'm probably going to be grinning from ear-to-ear for the rest of the evening.