Next year I am definitely crimping my hair (and maybe not on Halloween)

My friend Nicole often lists one of her interests as "putting myself in awkward situations." I respect that (for more on why awkward is good - something my husband says I should know plenty about, judging by my junior high school photos - see my previous post). In the interest of following Nicole's example, I decided to wear my Halloween costume to work today. So I put on a football jersey from my husband's office wall (remind me to address the brave new world of decorating with a BOY in the house later), painted black lines on my cheeks and borrowed a Steeler's hat.

We're allowed, but it's not super common to dress up at work. I guess it's been a while since I was in an appropriately awkward situation because I had forgotten how refreshing and dang FUNNY it can be to watch people try to figure out what to do with you. Also, I should mention that there are a large number of employees from non-Halloween celebrating countries in the office. I'm pretty sure no one prepped them for the American oddity that is Halloween. Anyway, some of the reactions to my costume were as follows:

1. Awkward glance in my direction. Quick glance at the floor. Awkward glance #2 in my direction. Studied examination of the floor tile while quickening pace significantly.
2. Our department's administrative assistant (dressed as a pirate) noticed another employee start to come toward us and then veer away. She asked if he needed anything. He said, "Uh, no," and then scurried (that's really the best word I can think of to describe it) in the opposite direction.
3. "Go Steelers!"
4. More awkward stares - I love these because you can tell the starer can't decide if they should comment on your getup or just pretend it's normal for a 5'5" girl to wear an XL sized NFL football jersey to work (seriously, I was swimming laps in it on my lunch break).
5. "You should wear some Ben-Gay." I was totally lost on this one. I have no idea if that was a blanket sports reference or if Troy Polamalu endorses it. Either way, I don't think Ben-Gay is really something you wear, is it?

OK, so maybe I dressed up because last night I realized that this was about to be the first Halloween since birth that I didn't get all costumed up, and that was just one step farther from childhood than I cared to be. It was a valuable experience in awkwardness nonetheless.

Anyone know the Spanish word for "blog"?

Today I decided posting to a blog is a lot like traveling to a foreign country. Well, minus getting lost a lot and taking too many pictures. But stick with me here and I'll explain.

I speak a little Spanish, but significantly more now than the first time I got off a plane in South America. Traveling more than 3 miles in a car with two ENGLISH-speaking women on a gossip streak can be difficult to keep up with. Mix in some of the most rapid speaking Latinas in the southern hemisphere, a culture where it's the norm to cut off the second half of most words, and a significant (and I do mean significant) jet lag factor, and see how well YOU do (assuming you're not Chilean).

After about 5 hours (OK, more like 10 minutes but it FELT like much more) of staring blankly in response to nearly every question asked by two women who had been told I spoke Spanish, I was beginning to believe I'd been sent to Africa or Outer Mongolia by mistake. Or that the entire language department at Utah State had teamed up with my high school Spanish teachers in a cruel plot to ruin my summer (since what they taught me was clearly NOT Spanish).

I know, I know, "Didn't she say something about this somehow relating to blogs before?" Don't worry, I'm getting there.

Anyway, before that eternity in the car, I was terrified of speaking Spanish out loud for fear of sounding stupid. After the ride from the university to my host family's house, testing my Spanish in an audible voice became a matter of self preservation. And maybe blogging isn't quite a matter of self preservation, but it IS encouraging me (or that's the idea anyway) to write "out loud" at the risk of sounding stupid. And that's healthy.

Autumn Bliss

I have this funny idea that after I die, I'll somehow be able to spend an unlimited amount of time in the moments I have truly loved. I also believe I'll keep learning, progressing and moving forward, so I'm not really sure how that going back in time thing will work. I figure someone else will work that out.

Anyway, when I'm not ready to say goodbye to a place or a moment, I use that idea as a kind of security blanket - tell myself I can return to that spot. Like walking in autumn leaves at dusk, feeling protected by the mountains and holding hands with my husband. Some moments are just too perfect to only have once.

Political Question

I keep hearing about "Joe the plumber" and "Joe six pack." I get the plumber thing, but I'm confused about the six pack (maybe I'm just slow). Are we referring to Joe's abs? Or his beer?

...'Cause if we're talking about Joe's drinking habits, the picture that comes to mind (think sizeable gut, recliner...stereotype? Absolutely but at least I'm being honest) is not really representative of most Americans I know. But then, neither are the washboard abs.

Maybe I run with the wrong crowd (this is a definite possibility), but I just don't think this is a slogan I can get behind.

Since you asked...

...well you didn't, really. Which is probably why it's taken me all evening and part of last week to choose the colors and title for my present and future musings. I'm stalling. (For what, I don't know - someone to ask my opinion I guess.) Anywho, now that I've got everything nice and pink, there's nothing left to do except think of something brilliant (and of course free of cliche - no pressure in cyberspace) to post. Stay tuned...