ohhh

Yes please.

Happily Ever After? Not if you're Russian.

I think I just got hit on in Starbucks. If by "hit on" your definition includes a 47 year old man, who got to the door, LITERALLY gave himself a pep talk and then came up to talk to me. The minute he opened his mouth and I was assaulted by the Russian accent I had to fight the urge to put up my hand and say "Russian? Yeah, no but thanks for trying.

This brief post is in no way meant to discourage men from talking to strange woman. For all he knew it was the perfect scenario, I was alone and on my laptop. If it had not been that his accent was like getting bludgeoned with dull mallets and he was twice my age I bet we would have lived happily ever after. It did make me feel pretty though, it was appreciated and my carnal albet evil nature to post about this is simply for laughs.

Embrace the Space.

There is something special that happens in those moments when you can sense that something is off and you don't have time to question exactly what that thing is. I thought the older gentleman who was fulfilling his community service hours was just a close talker. You see, I attract these, close sitters, talkers ext. That is ok. I have dealt wtih this and more and thanks to Molly I don't even get nervous anymore when someone cries in my presence and needs a hug. She taught me that, when someone is crying you go in for the hug. She did not however inform me of what to do when a man leans so close to my mouth when I talk, that I have to fight the urge not to say the following. "This is America, I have my bubble (insert giant arms swinging motion) and you have your, embrace the space. " So, after 5 hours of frantic work I realize that he is not a close talker at all...he is almost deaf. Of course he is, obviously. So, I am at work, literally yelling everything I say to this man. Some things are just better when they are yelled, "PLEASE! JUST LEAVE THE POTATOES ALONE, COULD YOU COME BEHIND THE LINE? PLEASE!! It was a great stress reliever.

Key demographic

Well, I have found my key demographic of men. I went to the laundry mat the other day to watch my laundry get cleaned and I got hit on a total of 4 times in an hour. Yes, I am saying this to brag. No, actually I am not annoyed... feelin pretty. No need to point out that my men were hanging out at the "Suds n Go" on a Friday afternoon at 2ish. I understand completely and ya know what...still feel pretty.

Derek es no mas

On Thursday October 12th Derek (my scooter) died. His death was painful (for both parties!,) quick and completely debilitating.

I was coming home from work on Thursday and had just reached the Bilo (grocery) and I began the inner monolog of debating if I wanted Indian tonight or tomorrow when...WHAM. I slammed into a stopped car at a stoplight at 22mph to be exact. Now, I am a mindful driver and I want to use the following information to support my statement. You see, the light had turned green and traffic had begun to move, so I just slowed down a little. There was a man at the front of the line who slammed on his breaks to make a turn he almost missed. The entire line hit each-other. Enter scene Karla, I come zooming up and only see the green light, do not see others stopped and slam into van in front of me. I should say I did a face plant off of the back of a van, helmet cracked. Yes, I was wearing a helmet, a full motorcycle one to be exact. Gotta protect the money maker. So, no broken glass, no broken jaw, no broken anything. Just a bruised rib and a messed up knee. DAN AND LIZ, I am excited for your new bike, but I also want your children to have parents! Be careful, I like you and don't want you dead.

It has been amazing how God has already begun to provide. 1) The roommate was leaving out of town the next day and I had access to her car for 5 days if needed. 2) My friend Jared, the only person in TN I know with a truck "happened" to be at Blockbuster picking out a movie, wasting time, and he stayed with me for the entire duration. he also went to go get my license at my house to show the cop (You don't need a special/any license if it is under 50ccs.) 3)My friend Leda works 2 miles from me at the same horrifically early time of 5:45 am and I can get a ride there and take the bus back. 4) There is a possible car in the works. 5) I am ok...very thankful. 7) The man I hit is not pressing any charges he said "thats what bumpers are for, to be hit." And I don't have insurance on Derek, so I am out of luck but I also don't have to pay. Finally, number 6. My job could not be more understanding. They are wonderful and giving me a few days to get better without any guilt.

So...thankful, happy and in good spirits. Please keep me in your prayers and if you know anyone who is selling a car for cheap or if you know anyone to wants to give their car away...call.

more mpls photos

Home and after

Mpls is basically a deceiving state. There are 3 weeks out of the year that are so amazingly, breathtakingly beautiful that you kick yourself for leaving. Never mind the fact that the other 49 weeks are pretty much crap. It is hard to sum up my trip, I can't say it felt like I never left and I am happy with that. The friendships that were fairly surface have faded away after a year and a half and the ones that have remained...you are family to me. Thank you Holsts, Tomlinsons, Pipers, Finks, my parents and all others that put their lives on hold to host me. Ps-Erin Moore and Amber you two are the best "dead prostitutes" that I have ever seen, words cannot express how much I treasure our 16 year friendship. (They actually played dead prostitutes in a small film, I am not just being crass.)

Back in the Nooga. Just pray for the Community Kitchen, there are staff changes, shortages and all of us are maxed out and holidays are quickly approaching. Some of you are clued in to other things to pray for!! KEEP PRAYING!

I will post other pictures soon.

Check out Scott Andersons blog (http://www.jscottalexander.blogspot.com) for a wonderful John Piper "Fresh Words" article. Thank you Scott and Piper, it was good for my soul especially with what is going on at work. I was blessed and hopefully so will you.

I am reading through Isaiah and I wanted to post this.
"But now thus says the Lord, he who formed you, O Isreal; Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, YOU ARE MINE. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cursh and Seba in exchange for you. BECAUSE you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my fame, whom I CREATED for my Glory, whom I formed and made." 43"1-7

afterthought...Holst, Erik and I (I speak for him) Challenge you to the formal rematch, giddy up partner, its go time. Ummm, ahem, Ani, I am sorry I thought you were the reason we were losing...that was wrong of me. :)

CHRIS FINK!

Christopher Robin Enoc Fink-
This is such a random shot it is laughable. In case you google yourself...DO YOU HAVE MY CELL PHONE IN YOUR TRUCK!?!?!? I AM STUCK IN ATL. YEP.....STUCK.
karla