Step 1:
...actually, I have no idea. Why do I keep getting myself into these messes?
Monday, November 25, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Gratefulness and Hypochondria
Our furnace inspection yesterday didn't turn out exactly the way I had anticipated. I was nervous about it since our furnace is old and we've had issues with birds sneaking their way all the down into the chimney this year. Thankfully the inspection of the furnace itself went well. Sure it's old, but it's a workhorse.
It's when he got to the smoke test that the inspection ran into a snag. The chimney vent wasn't actually venting because it was clogged. The inspector got very quiet and then started talking about carbon monoxide and chimney fires and other dangerous things. He was supposed to just write up a report about the problem but he didn't feel safe leaving it as is, so he dismantled the vent and knocked out enough leaves, hay and debris from my chimney to fill a 30 gallon trash bag.
(there was also a hilarious bit where we bet each other who could make it up the stairs faster if a bat flew out of the chimney. I'm a self-professed giant chicken but he was pretty sure he'd have me beat.)
I'm incredibly grateful that we had the inspector that we had, someone who took the time to do the job right and then went above and beyond to make things safer for my family. I'm very grateful that despite the danger, we never had a chimney fire or had our furnace or hot water heater break down due to the clogs.
I'm also grateful for my families health. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, so right now I'm going over every illness and headache recently and thinking, "was that CO poisoning?" I think I'll just chalk up any minor ache and pain over the past few months to this situation. I was feeling tired? Poisoned. Irritable and confused? Sorry, it was the hot water heater. Didn't pay my bill on time? Couldn't be helped, I was being slowly killed by a bird's nest.
It's when he got to the smoke test that the inspection ran into a snag. The chimney vent wasn't actually venting because it was clogged. The inspector got very quiet and then started talking about carbon monoxide and chimney fires and other dangerous things. He was supposed to just write up a report about the problem but he didn't feel safe leaving it as is, so he dismantled the vent and knocked out enough leaves, hay and debris from my chimney to fill a 30 gallon trash bag.
(there was also a hilarious bit where we bet each other who could make it up the stairs faster if a bat flew out of the chimney. I'm a self-professed giant chicken but he was pretty sure he'd have me beat.)
I'm incredibly grateful that we had the inspector that we had, someone who took the time to do the job right and then went above and beyond to make things safer for my family. I'm very grateful that despite the danger, we never had a chimney fire or had our furnace or hot water heater break down due to the clogs.
I'm also grateful for my families health. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, so right now I'm going over every illness and headache recently and thinking, "was that CO poisoning?" I think I'll just chalk up any minor ache and pain over the past few months to this situation. I was feeling tired? Poisoned. Irritable and confused? Sorry, it was the hot water heater. Didn't pay my bill on time? Couldn't be helped, I was being slowly killed by a bird's nest.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Thorsday!
Actually, we went to see the movie on Friday which is technically Frigga's Day which is even better because Frigga was awesome in Thor 2.
I love Avengers and the Iron Man movies are crazy rewatchable, but I think my favorite out of the first set of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Thor. I've watched it dozens of times and was so excited for the sequel and it didn't disappoint. The effects were amazing, the story was well-thought and it struck that perfect mix of action and humor that makes Marvel movies so fun.
Things I liked:
1. Darcy and Fandral - It was great to see both of these characters with such big roles. Zachary Levi is such a geek and the character of Darcy is such a geek icon that their inclusion was big news on the internet for ages. I loved seeing both of them with not only prominent roles, but important to the plot!
2. Thor: no longer a puppy - His character has grown from the loveable frat boy of the first movie and it was good to see that character development here. He has matured and I liked seeing that follow through in his actions.
3. Location, location, location - Crossover movies come with an inherent problem. When there is a problem big enough for your hero, why aren't the other heroes helping out? Having a lot of this movie taking place on Asgard or other realms it made it easier to ignore the missing Avengers. And with all the anomalies at the end battle I guess I could imagine that S.H.I.E.L.D's helicarrier couldn't get close to London or something.
4. Secondary character bonanza! - Seriously, who wasn't awesome in this film? Erik streaking around Stonehenge, Frigga being bluntly honest with Loki and then being a total fearless warrior later, Sif and the Warriors Three all helping to plan the escape and threatening Loki, Darcy and her intern throwing shoes and keys into an anomaly. It was refreshing to get to see so many characters have so much screentime!
5. BROTHER FEELINGS - So many brother feelings. Thor and Loki, man. Breaking my heart since the comic books.
Things I liked less:
1. Odin - I just feel like he's there to make bad decisions. And be shouty. And be not a good dad.
2. Jane - Has she seriously been pining for two years? Has she been pining so much she's not doing science? Has she been moping around her mothers' place in a slump because of Thor? I'm really hoping that the truth is less 'broken heart' and more 'broken science' because otherwise...yuck. Jane Foster is a grown up woman with a crazy passion for science, she shouldn't be taken down by her feelings for a man she knew for a couple of days two years ago.
3. Mumble - I'm not sure if it was just our theater or what, but the movie seemed quiet in spots. Especially in the first part where they are giving the backstory of the dark elves. We actually thought the sound system in our theater was busted it was so quiet.
4. The dark elves - their mask/faces with the big circle eyes were creepy but not particularly threatening.
5. Erik Selvig - His whole craziness makes me worried for Hawkeye. SO WORRIED!
Random awesomeness? Chris O'Dowd! It was so great to see him in this film! It made me want to go home and watch The IT Crowd!
I love Avengers and the Iron Man movies are crazy rewatchable, but I think my favorite out of the first set of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Thor. I've watched it dozens of times and was so excited for the sequel and it didn't disappoint. The effects were amazing, the story was well-thought and it struck that perfect mix of action and humor that makes Marvel movies so fun.
Things I liked:
1. Darcy and Fandral - It was great to see both of these characters with such big roles. Zachary Levi is such a geek and the character of Darcy is such a geek icon that their inclusion was big news on the internet for ages. I loved seeing both of them with not only prominent roles, but important to the plot!
2. Thor: no longer a puppy - His character has grown from the loveable frat boy of the first movie and it was good to see that character development here. He has matured and I liked seeing that follow through in his actions.
3. Location, location, location - Crossover movies come with an inherent problem. When there is a problem big enough for your hero, why aren't the other heroes helping out? Having a lot of this movie taking place on Asgard or other realms it made it easier to ignore the missing Avengers. And with all the anomalies at the end battle I guess I could imagine that S.H.I.E.L.D's helicarrier couldn't get close to London or something.
4. Secondary character bonanza! - Seriously, who wasn't awesome in this film? Erik streaking around Stonehenge, Frigga being bluntly honest with Loki and then being a total fearless warrior later, Sif and the Warriors Three all helping to plan the escape and threatening Loki, Darcy and her intern throwing shoes and keys into an anomaly. It was refreshing to get to see so many characters have so much screentime!
5. BROTHER FEELINGS - So many brother feelings. Thor and Loki, man. Breaking my heart since the comic books.
Things I liked less:
1. Odin - I just feel like he's there to make bad decisions. And be shouty. And be not a good dad.
2. Jane - Has she seriously been pining for two years? Has she been pining so much she's not doing science? Has she been moping around her mothers' place in a slump because of Thor? I'm really hoping that the truth is less 'broken heart' and more 'broken science' because otherwise...yuck. Jane Foster is a grown up woman with a crazy passion for science, she shouldn't be taken down by her feelings for a man she knew for a couple of days two years ago.
3. Mumble - I'm not sure if it was just our theater or what, but the movie seemed quiet in spots. Especially in the first part where they are giving the backstory of the dark elves. We actually thought the sound system in our theater was busted it was so quiet.
4. The dark elves - their mask/faces with the big circle eyes were creepy but not particularly threatening.
5. Erik Selvig - His whole craziness makes me worried for Hawkeye. SO WORRIED!
Random awesomeness? Chris O'Dowd! It was so great to see him in this film! It made me want to go home and watch The IT Crowd!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Struggling
Lately my biggest struggle has been remembering the difference between serving and pleasing. God commanded me to serve others but I'm only working to please Him. The problem comes when I switch those two things around. I beat myself up trying to please people and I end up serving God with a very grumbly heart.
Why is this such a hard concept for me to get right? Why do I constantly look to people for approval and validation when I know it's not going to come? Why do I always let that trip me up and make me discontent in how I obey God?
Just last week I was listening to my pastor talk about doubt and thinking to myself "wow, Jen, you used to struggle with this a lot and now you are so much better. Yay me!" I should have known that patting myself on the back for being awesome would lead me to see another huge thing I'm struggling with in my walk.
Why is this such a hard concept for me to get right? Why do I constantly look to people for approval and validation when I know it's not going to come? Why do I always let that trip me up and make me discontent in how I obey God?
Just last week I was listening to my pastor talk about doubt and thinking to myself "wow, Jen, you used to struggle with this a lot and now you are so much better. Yay me!" I should have known that patting myself on the back for being awesome would lead me to see another huge thing I'm struggling with in my walk.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
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