Football Talk

One of the pros—and cons—of being the only female attorney at my job is that I frequently find myself in situations where I am the only woman in the room. Or at least at lunch today, the only woman at the table.

I’m part of the retirement committee and after our meeting with the outside vendor, he took everyone out to lunch. And by everyone I mean two of us because no one but the VP and I could make it. Which left me making slightly belabored small talk with two middle age men.

So, I did what any smart Wisconsin girl does. I mentioned football.

It was like a flip was switched. Do I know how the Packers are doing this year? No. Do I know the name of any Packer besides Aaron Rodgers? No. Do I know that if you have a guy from Michigan and a guy from Illinois there is sure to be some recent rivalry worth dissecting? Oh yeah.

It is like when I discovered that “so, how about that season of the Bachelor?” works wonders for breaking down barriers with the girls on my pub trivia team. Or: “What’s the latest anime?” for the afraid-to-talk-to-women lunch table in college.

Just a matter of finding the right topic. Oh, and apparently the Lions are going to make a comeback this year.

Pizza Toppings

My housemates and I introduced Pix to the joys of MOD pizza tonight.

In her British accent, she asked us: “Is this order too weird? I’ve got bacon and chicken and olives and mushrooms?”

Me: “I think that sounds delicious.”

L: “Your opinion doesn’t count. You have the weirdest orders. But yes, if we’re comparing that order to Amy’s usual combinations, that’s a normal order.”

Glad to serve as the litmus test for “weird pizza combinations.” In my defense, the last time I ordered I didn’t realize the cucumbers were for salads and not weird new topping choice.

The Directionally Challenged

I’ve never been known for being great with directions, but since learning to drive I’ve gotten better. Mostly.

My housemate does not drive. Because of this she is, if possible, more directionally challenged than I am.

Today I offered to drop her off at her church. She asked if I would instead drop her off near the Chick Fil A by her church where she planned to meet her boyfriend. (He also doesn’t drive. It is a whole thing.)

As it happens, I know exactly which Chick Fil A she means because I used to drive past it while it was being built. Proud of my directional abilities, I take us there.

Unfortunately, she tells me, it is the wrong Chick Fil A.

She doesn’t know where the “right” Chick Fil A is, just that this isn’t it. She can get there if she walks from the church. So, I drive back to the church and she directs me. (The conversation goes like: “Do I turn right here?” “You turn towards me.” “So…right.”)

After taking several back roads and driving through a parking lot, we arrive at the Chick Fil A. The exact same one I took her to in the first place.

She hadn’t recognized it from the front since it didn’t have enough decorations.

On the bright side, I now know two new routes to get to Chick Fil A.

First Day of Advent

Today I learned that L and Pix are highly allergic to fresh pine and not impressed with my homemade advent wreath made with pine and holly.

Once I threw out all the greenery, they fixed the ribbons, and contributed a candle for the middle of the wreath, they decided it was a lovely addition to the Christmas décor.

Happy First Day of Advent.

Next Houseguest

L’s friend from England, we’ll call her Pix, is in town for a few weeks and staying with us so get ready to read her quotes in a British accent.

This morning she came downstairs and looked at the tub of “British toffee” from Trader Joe’s on our counter.

“Guys,” (remember, British accent) “I don’t know how to say this, but I’m from the UK, and I’ve never seen this kind of toffee before. We don’t put nuts around our toffee like that.”

Let the cultural exchange begin!

Yet Another Post Full of Gratitude

I feel like I owe Anna and Kris an apology. I don’t realize how much our townhouse rang with inside jokes and common acquaintances until someone new entered our inner circle. And even Kris—who I talk with on an almost daily basis—will occasionally look blank as we lightly dance from one subject to the next.

They’ve both been very gracious.

But it has also reminded me to be grateful. I’m grateful for this new community; I’m also grateful for old friends (in which I include my sister!) L and DJ frequently laughed at the various mannerisms of Anna’s that reminded them of me. (Like when she mentioned going to bed by 10 pm instead of socializing.) TG marveled at Kris’s willingness to get dragged from bookstore to bookstore by me throughout her stay. (Expected by her at this point, I would think!)

I keep turning around and marveling at how truly blessed I am. ❤ God is good. Sad to see Anna go today; sad to see Kris go tomorrow. But I look forward to seeing them both at Christmas and I’m excited for all the adventures we will have at Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So many things to be grateful for this year!

I hope you all are having as lovely a time as I am with my townhouse’s second annual year of Thanksgiving brunch, cheesy Christmas movies, and gathered friends. This is a good day.

Thanksgiving Eve

So many things to be thankful about today!

• Kristina arriving!
• Sister time with Anna
• Quality time with housemates
• Bookstore runs (I only bought 10 books)
• Mexican food
• Christmas movies and fun plans for tomorrow

The Shopping Cart

Someone left a shopping cart at the far edge of the parking lot. After narrowly missing it myself, and watching several other cars nearly hit it, my sister Anna decided to be a Good Samaritan and return it to the grocery store all the way across the parking lot. As she returned it, it occurred to her that this shopping cart was the smaller and a different color than the others. But hey, she figured, maybe it was a child’s cart.

Then she trudged all the way across the parking lot to the store we originally went into, the one only about 12 feet from the shopping cart.

And guess what she saw.

She had returned the shopping cart to the wrong store.

Different Airports

ANNA IS HERE!!! Very happy day and special shout out to Abby for picking her up from the airport when I got into a scheduling bind.

Anna’s layover was in LaGuardia Airport in New York. It was her first time in New York. She said it made a striking contrast with Dulles International Airport in Virginia. I think you will find her description as insightful as I did:

“New York is all ‘BAGELS’ and ‘AHHHRGGGGG.’ Then you get to Virginia and it is ‘FLAGS!’ and ‘Virginia is for Lovers!’ and ‘ahhhhhh.'”