She Just Is

Yesterday Alina brought a larger than standard envelope home from school. There was a note inside that read:

Dear Alina and Parents, Congratulations! Because you have demonstrated leadership with your positive attitude and good choices, I am excited to tell you that Alina has been selected to be one of six narrators for this year's PreK, K, 1st Grade Christmas Chapels. One boy and one girl were chosen from each of the first grade classes . . .

The note, attached to her script, goes on to describe the practice requirements that come along with the privilege. Besides lots of practicing at home, she has to miss lunch recess Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. When I informed Alina of that requirement she sweetly replied, "That's alright."

I did my best to explain that she was seen as the girl with the best attitudes in her first grade class. I don't think it phased her. The character that was described in the note is just who she is and she will continue to be that way. She doesn't try to be that way. She just is.

Smell Like a Monster

This spoof of the Old Spice ad is hilarious!

Being Perfect

When I move my right thumb, it pops. Last night when I was sitting on Alina's bed to say goodnight, she asked, "Why do your fingers make noise?" I told her that I was old and creaky. She said, "You're not old and creaky, you're perfect," then she pulled me close.

In telling me I was perfect she wasn't telling me I was without fault, she was telling me that she loves me in spite of my faults. She made me tear up that she loves my despite who I am. Her love is perfect love.

Feasting Day

We are celebrating one of our favorite holidays, a few days early, today––Canadian Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving is actually Monday, but tonight we are inviting a few friends over to enjoy the great day with a great feast.

Broken Glass

Thursday I left internship about 90 minutes early under the umbrella of "self-care." I had been at internship for 11 hours and fifteen minutes the day before due to the graduation celebration. Knowing that I was leaving early, I had scheduled an inspection for 6pm that was located north of the city. Leaving early would also help me beat the 5 o'clock traffic. It had been a good day of great counseling.

As I walked to my car, I noticed an envelope on my windshield. As I got closer, I noticed my driver's side door glass was smashed. I park in parking garage. I always park way down. It's not a huge parking garage, so I was probably twenty spaces away from the entrance. My rationalism for parking where I do is that anyone who might try to vandalize or steal would do so closer to the entrance for a quick get away. I was wrong.

The envelope on the windshield was from the police department. Inside the envelope was a note from a police officer saying that the lot attendant noticed the car prowl at 1300 hours. There was so much glass on the driver's seat. So much. There was also a pile of glass that had been swept neatly into a 30"x3"x3" heap. Because of the amount of glass, I don't think it was just my car that was burglarized. At first it didn't look like anything was taken. The console was open, but I never keep anything in it. The envelope holding the registrations and insurance info, along with the car's manuals, from the glove box were on the floor. I don't keep anything of value in the glove box. They didn't take my phone's earpiece. They didn't take my Marmott rain-jacket. They didn't even take a gift card that I had on the front seat that was sitting on top of some books.

It surprised me someone would want to break into my car. It has never had a radio––it has a factory Toyota faceplate where a radio is supposed to go. The care is about as basic as you can get.

As I was driving north on I-90, with glass continuing to fall in as I was sitting on a tarp from the trunk to save my backside from broken glass, I realized they did get my camera that I was needing for the inspection. Fortunately, Alina let me borrow her camera. As I was downloading photos from my inspection, these were a few of the photos on her camera. She made me smile.