only in the south...

today marabeth called one of our media reps at a local gospel radio station and part of his answer machine message was a hearty 'i'm too blessed to be stressed'. so now we've decided to incorporate this line into all of our conversations. 'you want me to make that deadline? sorry. can't do it. i'm too blessed to be stressed'.

the other security guard at work (the one that isn't a part time exotic dancer/elvis impersonator) always greets me with a smile and a 'you have a blessed day'. it's a lovely way to start the day.

as i was driving home a few days ago i pulled up behind a black SUV and there were two women in the front seat who were TESTIFYING (and yes, it warranted all caps). i didn't really know what 'testifying' was until i lived in the south. i don't know what they were listening to or what they were saying but their hands were reaching up in the air and tears were streaming down their faces. they were feeling something. and they were not scared to express it. and as i was behind them i was a little concerned for their safety because between the tears and the looking up at the heavens and the hands waving in the air, i really felt like 'blind spots' and 'indicating-when-turning' were no longer priorities.

it was a little intense. but that could just be my reaction from a sheltered upbringing in new zealand where no one really talked about God and i went to friday night christian youth gatherings because there were cute boys there. in new zealand i certainly wasn't exposed to people openly expressing how moved they were by the spirit of their creator. and so i'm trying to overcome my own prejudices and realize that there is no right or wrong way to tap into that connection.

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my dinner tonight consisted of a banana and some almonds/walnuts/pistachios. marabeth and i were driving to an event and i turned to her, pointed at my 'meal' and said 'this is how i roll. whoever is going to be my partner in life needs to be okay with the fact that i am completely satisfied with this for dinner'. for some reason it struck us as extremely funny - perhaps it had something to do with the random almond i'd wedged into the banana that was sticking out at an odd angle - but it's true. i am a forager. i can make do with random bits and pieces. i don't need a sit down meal with all the components. i totally feel like cheese, crackers and fruit is a whole balanced dinner. i could happily live off eight grain granola and yogurt smoothies. i also like hole-in-the-wall independent restaurants/diners/cafes infinitely more than chains. in fact, have a real snobbery towards chains. i accept that this is somewhat elitist. but there you have it.

to balance out my elitist approach to eateries i will admit that i've read dan brown's 'the da vinci code' and i watch american idol.

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