Being "Quackgrass": November 2011

Nov 29, 2011

Not-so-Patiently-being-Patient

“The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.” ― Paulo Coelho,

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” ― Leo Tolstoy

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time.” ― Lewis Carroll

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” ― Aristotle

“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight.” ― Helen Keller

“Patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is "timing" it waits on the right time to act, for the right principles and in the right way.” ― Fulton J. Sheen

“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?” ― Lao Tzu

“Patience – A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.” ― Ambrose Bierce

“The Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.”

“She was always waiting, it seemed to be her forte.” ― D.H. Lawrence

“Cooking is an art and patience a virtue... Careful shopping, fresh ingredients and an unhurried approach are nearly all you need. There is one more thing - love. Love for food and love for those you invite to your table. With a combination of these things you can be an artist - not perhaps in the representational style of a Dutch master, but rather more like Gauguin, the naïve, or Van Gogh, the impressionist. Plates or pictures of sunshine taste of happiness and love.” ― Keith Floyd

“If we could look into each other’s hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care.” ― Marvin J. Ashton

“How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success? ” ― Elbert Hubbard

Nov 22, 2011

Part-time

Today I realized my job is amazing. I love it. Sometimes, like today, when I can barely get myself out of bed and I feel like throwing up or crying (I can't distinguish between those two emotions), my job makes it better.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes my job causes me to want to throw up, but most days, it is my happy place.

I work with 20 someodd guys and a handful of girls, and I like/love them all (some more than others, and some barely at all, but I still like them).

They give some of the best advice ("If you love someone, you'll fight to make it work"), and some of the worst ("You have something called a conscience, listen to it as little as possible.").

At 7am this morning I felt like crawling up in the fetal position and not moving for several days, but by 8am I felt happy. Thank you, Patrick.

Times when I seriously consider dropping college or at least transfering, it is my job that keeps me going. At these times it usually the paycheck that makes me get back up at 5:50am the next morning.

I pull cables. I enter data. I create asset tracking bases. I pick up Steven's coat. I shut Justin's locker. I bring a little culture to their city ears with my country music.

I attend meetings. I cook turkeys. I troubleshoot internet connections. I clean the fish tank. I wear hard hats and steel toes. But the most important is . . .

I make friends.

Nov 13, 2011

Ode to My Handmixer

Twas a sad day indeed,

the day my Handmixer died.

Whirring on low it started to bleed.

I watched the beater jerk; I almost cried.

First, the left side quit

Then the right followed suit.

It choked and sputtered bit by bit,

Until it died altogether. I cried, "Oh shoot!"

I held you for five years.

I knew you, and you knew me.

We've had cheers and we've had tears.

I could always count on you as my devotee.

You have done much.

You creamed, and you mixed.

You were firm but soft to the touch.

You could sift, beat, puree but not be fixed.

I rolled up your cord;

I solemnly threw you away.

If I got married, I'd get a reward,

But a Kitchen Aid isn't worth a wedding day.

Nov 5, 2011

My Life in Music

I've already said that music is a big part of my life. Certain songs act as a sort of spark to times in my life. It's like looking at Oscar Wilde's play "Our Town" and in a minute I relive the last month of my senior year of high school. Or Cormac Mcarthy's book The Road. Whenever I see that book sitting on my shelf I think of the three days I spent in my bed reading it straight through. I literally didn't move. I skipped homework, church and school in order to just sit and read that book. Songs are the same way. Whenever I hear Taylor Swift's song "Teardrops on My Guitar" I smile at the now inconsequential, but at the time life-shattering, memories from high school crushes. Oh jeez.

One of my favorite questions to ask people is "What three songs describe your life right now?" Today I asked myself that question, and here is my answer.

School and work.

"Start a Band" by Brad Paisley and Keith Urban

Click here for lyrics