an mri machine is the ultimate dutch oven and other observations

An MRI is the ultimate dutch oven. If you don't know what a dutch oven is... google "dutch oven slang". And then groan. I had Taco Bell yesterday.

My MRI was not too painful other than having to hold my mouth open for five minutes without moving or swallowing. Try it. Wait, shove yourself into a small tube and hold your mouth open for five minutes without moving or swallowing. while hearing a jet take off in the tube with you. Wearing a hospital gown.

I have de-darbied myself for the most part but I did flinch when the mri tech suggested that I step down off the table before she gave me back my backless keds. I could literally see the germs. She sensed my hesitation and slipped the shoes over to me.

I still love Kate Gosselin. I know she's gone from being humble mom next door to being celebritized but I still love her. She's left handed. This last season of Jon and Kate Plus 8 reminds me of that last season of Rosanne after they won the lottery.

I had all that time in the space capsule to think and pray and meditate and then I ended up behind a camper with the prestige tag "Old Fart" going twenty miles under the speed limit on a two lane country road. I had lots of good thinking time today!

Work was stressful again/still. Duane gave me some good news but he also sorta pissed me off. I've been working Saturdays voluntarily. He has fully supported my working on Saturdays and been excited enough that he bragged to his boss about it. Usually the time is mostly offset by the time I leave early on Wednesdays for church. This pay period I ended up with two hours of overtime. Two. He gave me a lecture about how he has to treat us all the same and how he prefers that I just adjust my time to end up with 40 hours. He invited me to change his mind if I disagreed. I didn't. I decided to pray about it before responding.

My instinctive response would be... I'm making a special effort above and beyond what anyone else who works for you cares to do... so what if you pay two stinking hours of overtime on one stinking pay period? I'm drastically underpaid for my knowledge and experience. I could pack up and head to civilization and command another $5 an hour. I know. I was offered this last week.

That's why I didn't respond immediately. That... and I genuinely like the guy and he sincerely wants me to speak my mind. And he so sweetly motioned to me as I was leaving this afternoon that he would be praying for me... made the little kids hands folded in prayer gesture. Just... awww.

And. The sad fact is that the extra $5 an hour would be in a place where rent was at least twice as much and I would have none of the same community.

Tomorrow is the three year anniversary of my first date with Michael. Yes. Our first date was on April Fool's Day. It's surreal to me to realize how much my life has changed in those three years... the places I've been... the places I've lived!... the people I've met and the people I've lost and regained communication with.

My favorite things about Michael... his blue eyes... the way he dressed... watching Jeopardy with him... the way he smelled... traveling with him... his family... grilling at Tim's house... his 80 polo shirts all hung facing the same way in the closet...

My least favorite things... I'm not thinking about those any more. I'm free of that. God is good.

My most favorite thing is the fact that our journey led me here. To Hooterville. Where I don't make nearly as much money and don't have time to do everything I want but I'm happy. Even without Chickfila, Publix and Starbucks.

On my long drive home from the MRI this afternoon I rounded the curve and the splendor of the mountains stretched out before me and I cried. In the world's eyes I've lost so much but in God's eyes I've gained. I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul. (and Michelle, thank you, every time I hear that song now I think about your son singing it and it makes it so special!)

I also heard the Casting Crowns song that I identify with so strongly... she is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction... she is trying but the canyon's ever widening in the depths of her cold heart... she sets out on another misadventure just to find... she's another two years older and she's three more steps behind... sometimes I really like being in the car and just listening to the radio. It was a good drive home, even if it took WAY longer than it should have.

My sweet friend Misti and her husband finalized their adoption of their baby today. Misti lost both of her fallopian tubes to ectopic pregnancies and she was heartbroken... and then they found out that a young girl they knew had gotten pregnant. Despite all odds against them... they were able to adopt this sweet baby boy. They're having a little celebratory dinner on Friday night.

Time for me to do something about dinner... and check my email... and catch up on facebook...
love and hugs, y'all!