Steve the Spider

Last week, I discovered that I had a spider living behind the mirror on the driver's side of my car. I didn't have time to kill it, but I planned on attacking it in the near future. Like most people, I generally don't like bugs or spiders or any creepy-crawly organism of that nature.

The Wendy's drive-thru lady noticed the web it had spun between the mirror and the car door later that afternoon. She simply reached out and destroyed the sticky threads with her bare "touches the food you eat" hands (but that's a completely different issue). I assumed it was the last I would see of the spider.

But the next morning, the spider was sitting on a newly spun web. And I left it. I don't know why, but I admired its determination. As I got in my car and drove to work, I noticed that Steve (yes, I named the spider) could hold on to his web while I was going 15 mph, then 25, then 35...I was amazed at his feats of strength!

Every now and then, his web gets destroyed. I try to prevent it from happening--for example, my car REALLY needs washed, but I just couldn't do that to Steve. Today, I was driving on the interstate. As I began to accelerate to 65 mph, I may have shouted (with people in the car...), "Steve, don't fall Steve, crawl behind the mirror!!!" He listened. Steve is really smart. And just in case you were wondering, his web is still intact despite the high rates of speed.

I suppose you could say I have a new appreciation for spiders. I'm not too sure how long Steve is going to stay, but it's kind of nice to be fascinated outside of the "let's see what this looks like when I smash it on the pavement" way by a piece of creation.

thirsty?!

Last week, I discovered that I had 10+ bottles of water that were anywhere from 11-92% full in my refrigerator. ALL of them were previously open and partially drank out of. After waiting a few days to try and decide what I should do with the accumulation of water bottles that had touched the mouths of friends or family members, I came to the conclusion that I just didn't care. So I started drinking the water, trying not to think about the possible germs that may be present.
I suppose I could make a good spiritual illustration out of this. Something about how people can become numb to the source that they try to quench their thirst for significance from. But I'm tired. So my only point in this post is to have you know that I really don't like wasting water. Or wasting anything, for that matter.

blast from the past

OK friends...I'm not too sure who reads this blog, so consider yourself fortunate that I am actually sharing this information:) For those of you who have only known me for a year and a half (everyone in Louisville), this may be more humorous. But for all of you, it's a lesson learned on how NOT to document your life online so you won't be completely embarrassed when you find your online journal a few years later. 

She only knew one song...

This was a website I created when I was a senior in high school and carried it through my sophomore year in college. I'm still actually rather impressed with my basic knowledge of HTML (the pictures and links pages don't work anymore, and i never actually finished the site...oh well). I was OBSESSED with Switchfoot, so everything is based around lyrics to their songs. My online journal contains some, uh...interesting things! Let's just say I was definitely boy crazy, a little too postmodern, and probably the most random person you'd ever met.

Arizona's caught me by surprise...

This one's a little less embarrassing...it's my journal from when I lived in AZ, for the most part. After skimming both of these sites, I've come to the realization that I've grown up a lot.

Magnifying Magnets

Just for fun, this was my first published article!

bears. beets. battlestar galactica.

Because I love top 10 lists (and lists in general), you will see them incorporated into my blog from time to time when I need something to write about that doesn't require too much thought. 

So...in honor of the laughter my own office often brings to me, I've decided to provide you with my top 10 favorite episodes of The Office. Enjoy!

10. The Initiation 

"I think we can get a lot done, don't you? On paper, at least. And we are, after all, a paper company. Are we not, are we not, are we not? Are you with me, are you with me? Thank you very much."

9. Fun Run

"It was on company property, with company property. So, double jeopardy, we're fine."

8. Email Surveillance

"I'm looking for my doctor. He's a tiny midget."

"BOOM! Agent Michael Scorn!"

7. Safety Training

"I saved a life...my own. Am I a hero? I can't really say...but yes."

6. Beach Games

"It's pretty simple. Look at what I'm doing and go tell somebody it!"

5. Conflict Resolution

"And the answer is...make the poster into a t-shirt! Win-win-win."

4. Office Olympics

"Question: Where can I put my terrarium?"

3. The Negotiation

"I made one tiny mistake. I wore women's clothes."

2. The Dundies

"...And we heard Michael change the lyrics to a number of classic songs, which for me, has ruined them for life."

1. The Injury

"He grew into a man overnight. A rare disability. It still works."

it's a trend...

People always try to claim that they aren't trendy. The thing is, it's trendy "not to be trendy." It's kind of like the people who try to convince you that they "aren't addicted" to smoking and that they could quit anytime...the more they attempt to defend themselves, the less likely you are to believe them. I once was a person that claimed not to like "trendy" things, until I realized I was being trendy in the process...which then just made me lame. So now, I embrace my trendiness.

The radio is a great way to learn what's trendy. It's trendy to talk about how high the gas prices are. And it's beneficial to know what's trendy to talk about, just in case you get stuck with nothing to say in a conversation. Because noise is trendier than silence in our society, you'll be better off talking about the trendy topic compared to the awkwardness of talking about nothing.

Listening to the radio is trendy too. And I hate it (the radio, not the fact that listening to it is trendy), but still I listen to it. Since I only live exactly 2.1 miles away from where I work, I rarely ever take the time to listen to my ipod or a CD. I'm not complaining--with the price of gas the way it is (here I go being trendy...), I consider myself fortunate to save money on the commute to work. Maybe I should buy a bike...then I would fit in with all those trendy environmentalist that talk about how "green is the new black"...someone should inform them that this is a rather trendy phrase.

Remember when listening to the radio was cool? One day in 6th grade, I arrived at school in the morning, and everyone was talking about how the local radio station was off the air the night before like it was the most monumental event in the history of the world. Up until this point in my life, I had never really dedicated much time to listening to the radio (except when my dad would listen to the oldies station in the car); but after "the day in which I had nothing to add to the conversation about WBNQ's radio blackout", you can bet I listened to the radio every day for the rest of my junior high career. I even called in to request songs.

But in your 20s, people start claiming that they never listen to the radio. Which is probably a trendy claim to make. It confuses me though, especially when I go to sporting events and a song like "Hot in Herre" (made popular in the summer of 2002 by Nelly) comes on, and everyone knows the words. Now I know they don't own the CD (or maybe they do...which is a whole other issue). How are they singing along? I think more people listen to the radio than they like to admit.

But just remember...I don't like watching Oprah and I don't own any clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch and I don't use any instant messaging programs and I don't drink Starbucks coffee. but i may occasionally write with no capitals and excessively use ellipses...and have a guitar...sitting in the corner...of my room...even though i rarely play it...