I need a "Staycation"

Without having to go into too much detail, I will only say that I am in a rut of stress. Huge stress, unhandlable stress (I don't think that's a word), but you get the idea.

Now, I think what I need is some of Brent's awesome wisdom from one of my favourite TV shows, Corner Gas. He's got a great strategy when it comes to stress, or just wanting to go away for a while. He goes on a Staycation.

Now, this is not like a vacation, where you actually pack up and go to another country. No, this is a staycation, where you mentally pack up, mentally board a plane and mentally fly away to your dream destination of rest and relaxation.

Granted, this sounds crazy, but Brent was totally at peace at his "home away from home", and with the way my mind's been lately, I think it might just be insane enough to conjure up such a fantasy. If only I had the time to sit and create one.

CHRISSY

Cure For Hiccups

For those of you who don't know, this is my friend Kristie. We've been going to school together for almost three years now, but have really only been friends for a little over a year. We get along because we both have strange senses of humor, and for other wacky reasons, but one of them is that she always manages to make me laugh.

Example: Yesterday, righth before our midterm, Kristie had the hiccups. So I tried to scare her (she's unscarable), and nothing was working, until I managed to say something to get her mad enough to try and smack me. Now, if you know anything about psychology, when you are threatened, your mind will react in one of three ways. It will either tell you to fight (fight against the threat - hit back), flight (run away, or flinch away) or freeze (sit there like an idiot in the face of danger). So what did I do? I guess my prefrontal cortex ordered me to flight, because I moved away, and her hand hit the wall. So she yelps out and her knuckles begin to turn red and purple, and we're laughing like crazy. She blamed me but I blame my prefrontal cortex (just kidding).

But in truth, she should be thanking me, because her hiccups were gone after that. So if you're ever in dire need of a cure for hiccups, you should consider smacking your knuckles against a cement wall, and see if it works.

CHRISSY

If you're happy and you know it....

I had a really great weekend! It was so nice to just step away from life as it has been and just be myself again, with nothing to worry about.

Brad and Michelle's former pastor and his wife (Devon and Joan) came down to visit during their layover here before they had to go to Turkey on a mission's trip. So they came on Friday night and stayed until Sunday afternoon. It was so great getting to know them and them being interested in getting to know me. I had so much fun just hanging out with everybody, with Brad, Michelle, Ceilidh, Noah, Devon and Joan. I didn't do any homework this weekend, because I was just needing that extra time to just step away from all of that (so now I have a lot to catch up on) but to me, it was worth it.

Even after a bad day at work on Saturday, I was cheered up very fast when I was picked up and the seven of us went to the Mandarin for dinner. It was just so nice.

What a God-focused weekend as well. There was prayer, and even at church on Sunday, I felt totally touched by the Spirit, and things that Devon said to me really hit home, and made me reconnect with God in many ways. I feel rejuvinated and refreshed, and feel really blessed to have been able to step away for a little while, and enjoy life. I think I caught a glimpse of Heaven this weekend. Christians fellowshipping together and the focus being on God completely.

I hope to see Devon and Joan again some day, even if it is in Heaven. I'm so glad I get to keep Brad and Michelle and the kids though. That's a pretty cool bonus from the weekend.

CHRISSY

Lost has been lost

So, I'm still addicted to the ever-famous ABC show, Lost, but I'm noticing among some loyal fans from the first and second seasons are becoming "lost" among the Lost tv show. No, they're still understanding the show, but they've "lost" interest. A couple of people have lost interest in the show, which I can't understand. I'm still so addicted to the show, and am enjoying the new characters,

Especially Juliet (see girl in pink shirt). It makes me angry how they've made her character so kind, and so calm. Her voice is always so sweet and quiet and calm, she's always smiling, and yet, she's one of the Others (the bad guys, for those of you who are lost, lol). It's providing me with a heck of a lot of cognitive dissonance, (two conflicting patterns of thought). On the one hand, I like her, because she's nice, and on the other hand, I know she doesn't care about any of the prisoners, like she lets on, because she's one of the Others, unless she really is a good guy and wants out of the Others life.

Which is also weird. Okay, so I'm rambling, but this whole Lost thing has got me hooked. But Brad has lost interest. (I'm really enjoying this pun). I don't understand, but I think he's given up on it now. (Though if you want my opinion, he said that last week, and yet he still watched it last night....)

Maybe he's not lost after all
HA

CHRISSY

Herding Goats

Okay so it seems the longer I live with the Peters, the more I discover I saw or believe stupid things and dig myself deeper into the pit of being teased. And who's to blame? Myself, and possible naivety/gullibleness.

So this morning, it was pouring rain and Brad was home so when Michelle called him on his cellphone, he said something along the lines of "Yeah, this morning was like herding goats." I automatically laughed to myself, thinking what a funny line that was. I thought he was referring to the rain. Like the famous line, "It's raining like cats and dogs", I for some reason thought the animal reference was to the rain. So I thought, this is great, I'm totally going to use that line today.

Until I talked to Brad later, who I was trying to convince it was pouring outside. He said it wasn't pouring. To which I replied, "Well you were the one who said it was herding goats! What was that about then?" Ha, chalk one up for Chrissy.

No.

He starts laughing. He explained he meant getting the kids to stay close to him, under the umbrella was like herding goats, because they kept going astray.

(This is where Chrissy begins to blush).

So what? I'm gullible. I'm naive. So of course now Brad won't let me live that down. Add this to a list of many. To quote one of my favourite shows Corner Gas, "That's not even in the top one hundred weird things that kid has done."

Well, look at the bright side. My friend Kristie says with me around, one can never be bored.

CHRISSY

Heeeeeeeeeeere's "Puffy"

Okay, so I have acquired a new nickname, it seems. A new nickname from my wonderful family, aside from the typical "Noggin" or "Crash." Yes, now you may call me "Puffy."

Care to hear the origin of this strange name?

Yes, Viva Puffs. You know those chocolate marshmallow-y treats you can apparently buy in the cookie section? Yes, that's where my new nickname came from.

We were having Bible study when we randomly started asking random questions. (Funny how easily you can get off topic). Michelle asked what kind of cookie we would be if we could be a cookie. So none of us could really come up with a good answer, so Michelle proceeded to pick cookies for us, based on our personalities. Yeah, so I'm apparently a Viva Puff. (Which I argued isn't really a cookie, but they seem to think it is, since you can buy them in the cookies section). How does this relate to my personality? Here are the reasons:

1. I am thin-skinned - you know how the Viva Puffs have that chocolate shell? Well it's not very strong, and it's easily broken. Michelle said that I'm sensitive and it doesn't take much to break through that barrier.
2. Layers - okay so I've never had a Viva Puff, but apparently they have layers, which I've been told I have as well. There's different levels to Chrissy.
3. Messy - Viva Puffs are messy. Apparently, this is an important part of my personality, because I have baggage.
4. Raspberry filling - Viva Puffs have that fruit filling on the inside. Michelle said there's that sweet part underneath it all, sweet and a little tarty.

So needless to say, Brad started calling me "Puffy" and that's where the nickname came from. I don't think it will stick, but I also didn't think "Noggin" would stick, and I've been Noggin for two years now, so...

Oh, and just a side note, Lyla was a S'More (which definitely isn't a cookie), Brad was a Peak Freme, and Michelle was a Gingersnap.

CHRISSY

Mulder, Scully and Dennis???

Okay so I had this really cool dream last night. But first, just so you all know, Brad is the one responsible for getting me hooked on the show the X-Files. I never watched it when I was younger - never interested me or maybe I was just too young for it, who knows? But either way, I had a really wicked dream last night.

So I'm an FBI agent's assistant or something, because I get to tag along with Agents Mulder and Scully from the X-files. Our investigation is on something to do with a teenage girl, and at one point, I'm drawing blood, (as though I know what I'm doing).

So Mulder is still trying to figure some things out when Scully and I are standing by the door and this alien head or something pops up in the window, and makes a noise. I jump and Scully comes up behind me, saying she saw it, and did I see it. I say yes. We see it again, and I run down this hallway to try to follow it. It's pitch black, but I don't seem to be that afraid (which as most of you know, is most unlike me), until Scully comes up behind me and puts her hand on my shoulder, causing me to jump. She asks if I've found anything. I say no.

Then Mulder comes and he doesn't believe us. He thinks it's just our imagination or something.

I don't know why, but it was really cool. It was fun being an FBI agent's assistant or whatever I was. I think I may write a fan fiction about being part of the X-files. Who knows?

CHRISSY

Movie Confusion

I'm not sure if this is due to my inexperience as a youth leader, or my lack of culture when it comes to the film world.

Either way, I'm confused. Tomorrow night is movie night at the JAYS, and so far, none of my kids have given me acceptable movies that I can show in a church without fear of being sued. So far the suggestions have ranged from BASEketball to the Longest Yard and anything else that is higher than PG-13. Our original movie was going to be Benchwarmers, but the further I looked into it, by way of website and popular demand (talking with those who have seen it), I decised against it. Sometimes it's tough to be a youth leader and tear down the hopes and dreams of preadolescents who want nothing more than to watch their choice of movie.

Needless to say, I fear I will be stuck picking the movie. My biggest fear is mostly that I cannot relate to these kids, and I have no idea what they will enjoy. I've emailed them twice, begging for some kind of suggestion, and so far have gotten nothing.

So there might be a lot of moping faces tomorrow night when I show them a movie they hate. I've already been told I should show a romance, so that'll "learn 'em" not to let me pick the movie.

I guess I could always go with Narnia. You can't go wrong with Narnia for a Christian youth event movie night.

CHRISSY