Question (to be read with Dwight Schrute inflection): What is the cure for not going postal on those days when everything piles up and threatens to drive you over the edge like the demon-possessed oinkers launching themselves over a cliff?

(Ok, slightly dramatic. But humor me; I assure you, nothing else going on in life right now holds much entertainment value.)

Answer: the everyday Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich

Oh, I know. Not the answer you were looking for, but I assure you that though it may be for only a fractional moment in time, the PBJ will indeed draw all of life's angst into perfect alignment. Such an experience was mine at lunch today. Riddled with trivial invasions and the curing of another's incompetency all morning, I fled my cubicle to the nearest park and pulled out my Ziploc to reveal the world's simplest luxury. Ahh...

I remember writing my first 'How To' paper in grade school on How to Make a Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich. Although that might seem odd, you'd be surprised to know how many people ruin such a fine delicacy. Perfection lies in these simple ingredient guidelines: wheat bread (white bread sticks to the roof of your mouth and is just plain nasty), creamy peanut butter (chunks tear up the bread), and jelly of the strawberry or apricot variety (preferably homemade). While many people try to enhance the PBJ with substitutes of honey, banana, Nutella, or other falsities, it's best to stick with the original trusty ingredients.

Versatility abounds in the PBJ. This mere sandwich can endure being smashed flat-as-a-pancake when little Johnny hits Pete over the head with his soft-shell lunchbox on the school bus, ungodly temperatures of 85 degrees in February, and being stuffed in a backpack for a quick snack on a hiking trail. Not only are they acclimatized for any weather and treatment, PBJs are a healthy, high energy food, peanut butter being high in calories, protein, and monounsaturated fat, and jelly in sugar. Always a bonus in an endurance race... or just for everyday living.

My friend Tim may disagree with the demand of such an item, but a 2002 survey showed the average American will have eaten 1,500 of the sandwiches before graduating from high school. And that was 7 years ago! Popularity ensues. Point made, Timothy.

Whip up a PBJ on your way out the door in the morning. You won't be disappointed.

I took off on my last little run yesterday, an easy 4-miler just to stretch the legs. And I did some thinking...

We Nicksons like to refer to the phrase 'what else could possibly happen?', except that we don't really utter such words out loud. Because then something else does happen... But back to yesterday. This song came on my iPod with the following lyrics:

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

Hmm, so true. Not the way I would've chosen? Check. But that whole alone part... I started listing out in my mind all the things that seem to be crashing down right now. You should do the same. Start naming things off that aren't going too well for you. Come on, right now make a quick list of the biggest and baddest in your head. I'll give you a moment to complete the exercise...





Well done. Thanks for indulging. (Or 'Cheater!' if you didn't participate.)

Anyway, I was thinking, ya know what would be worse than all our lists combined? It would be 50 million billion trillion times worse if any of us had to go through those things alone. If we had situations in our life that we couldn't share, that we couldn't release, that we couldn't talk about with anyone. Darn, that would be bad, huh? (Sure there are times when we may feel isolated and detached from those around us, but we're only truly alone when we choose to be. So don't choose to be, cause that's not good.) And while I'm sure the song lyrics above are referring to God always being with us, and that's so true and an awesome thing, I'm thinking specifically about the relationships we have with each other. And I don't always say the right thing or do the right thing to help those around me, but I'm thankful for people to go through trials with. And I hope you are too. That is all.

And then there were 10... Wow.
Why does it need to be 60º inside when it's 75º outside?
I should probably pay attention to those 'gut feelings' a little more.
An area of 68" x 75" = 35.4125 square feet.
10 days out. Transition from workouts to rest + copious amounts of Vitamin C + protein = this week.
Emmerson arrives in 14 days!
Note to self: never give Xanax to a monkey. Better yet, avoid monkey altogether.
I miss being on a horse more than I thought I did.
Paper burns. Good thing.
What's the minimum number of holes you can make in a boat and still keep it afloat?
He mentioned that I'm smart. I like to think crafty is a better description...
10 days out. 10 days and it's over.
These new pyramid tea bags have got the be the coolest invention ever.
Why am I not outside?
Wonder if Jerm made one of his students cry today.
I'm hungry. For a big fat hamburger and fries. Darn.
10 days out. You've got to be kidding me. Already?
Need to find 5/8" green ribbon. Pronto.
5:30 will never get here. Ever.
It's gonna take more than that to freak me out.
When should I go to Abilene? Hmm....
Must clean room and find everything that's missing.
Is she really Daniel's mother and is Desmond going back with them?
I could use some seriously good music right now.
Maybe there's a shortcut home that I haven't discovered in a year and a half.
Would adaptability be considered a strength at this point?
In this case, 80% black just doesn't read as well as 10% of 3145.
It's way past time to call it a day.

So I'm not too big on bandwagon-jumping, but the latest craze on Facebook (not big on that either!) seems to be listing 25 interesting facts about yourself. Well, I had some time in the car while driving to Abilene last weekend and started thinking about what I would write if I (hypothetically) joined in on the fun. I'm forever in search of a good post idea. And let me tell ya, it's more difficult than you might think to come up with things other than "my favorite movie is ____" and my favorite food is ____". Granted, if you know me very well at all, none of these will surprise you – if they're new to you at all. Anyway, my list goes a little something like this...

1. I am an extreme list-maker, complete with color-coded highlights for things to get done for the day, week, and month (as if vacuuming the floor was one of life’s greatest achievements). I seem to have picked this up from my Mother.

2. I have a strong aversion to mayonnaise. It totally grosses me out. This probably stems from time spent working in a bakery, mixing chicken salad ingredients in bulk. Nothing like dishing up a gallon of fat at a time.

3. Ted Dekker is my favorite author. While Stephenie Meyer has recently pulled a close second, Ted has yet to be booted off his pedestal. His incredible way of weaving stories (books, really) together with subtle religious parallels is pure genius. I am in awe.

4. I possess a fierce devotion to my family and close friends. Fierce.

5. I played soccer for several years growing up. Canyon’s league usually consisted of only 4 teams. One year my cousins, plus DonMark and I, comprised nearly an entire team.

6. I have a strong music addiction. It’s so impressive to me how an artist can come up with lyrics and notes to exactly fit my mood; I love finding those random songs that accomplish just that.

7. I have this thing about dirty feet. Unless I’m walking in the sand on a beach, I want my feet to be clean and dry.

8. I will not parallel park unless there’s a good two car lengths of space. I will walk three miles or circle the block waiting for a space before I will attempt the paralleling.

9. My mind is incredibly analytical and runs at a much quicker pace than even I can keep up with. Good luck trying to figure out what goes on up there. I’m still attempting that myself.

10. My favorite TV shows as a child included Full House, Saved by the Bell, Walker Texas Ranger, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and MacGyver.

11. I’ve only really kept up with one friend from my HS graduating class. Shout out to you, Amanda!

12. I spend a good 50+ hours a week on a computer. I can tell you all about InDesign clipping paths and trapping a file in Illustrator to get it press-ready. However, I know absolutely nothing about the internal workings of the computer itself.

13. I tend to live in the past. Since the future is unknown, I like to dwell on constants as much as possible and hold on to the solidity of events that have already happened.

14. My views on church have been altered significantly in the last 3-4 years.

15. Claes Oldenburg, Michael Schwab, and Ansel Adams are my favorite artists, each in their respected areas.

16. I still like to color in coloring books. I will continue to do so until I’m old and decrepit and can no longer pick up a crayon.

17. 7 years of my public school life were devoted to band. I played the saxophone moderately well, at least enough to join the solo/ensemble group headed to State every spring. Senior year, I was a Drill Instructor and taught marching technique to others. Scary, I know!

18. I am constantly looking at/analyzing design everywhere I go, almost to the point of annoyance. This includes every restaurant menu opened, every piece of junk mail received, every billboard passed, and everything in between. It’s sorta ingrained.

19. I value quiet time. I love random excursions that allow me to ‘check out’ of life, even for an hour or two, and slow things down. This does not make me a quiet person as many suspect. Though often reserved, I can certainly hold my own when I choose to do so.

20. I don’t really know how to dance. Therefore, I hate to dance. Therefore, I refuse to dance. However, there is a secret part of me that would love to learn hip-hop and some of the dance steps from movies such as Step Up to the Streets. (Yes, I watched this movie, but ONLY for the dancing. Bail me out on this one, Abby.)

21. Art background? The only art course I took before college was a drawing class in JR High. Every day, we sat outside and drew the houses across the street. I joined the Art Club in HS merely to be able to wear the rainbow cords on graduation day.

22. I am a hard-core journal writer. This is not to be confused with any ‘dear diary’ stuff; I simply like that there’s one place that I can say anything to anyone under any circumstance without anyone knowing. Someday I might like to write for a living. Book ideas are in the works.

23. In 3rd grade, I was chosen to represent Oscar Hinger Elementary School to make a TV commercial to advertise Texas Public School Week. My principal took three of us to the Amarillo News Station, and we got to read our prompts off one of those rolling screens for the camera crew. I wore a retro gray-heather sweater with neon streaks running across it. That’s right. Afterwards we ate pizza at Olive Garden. That day remains the extent of my public speaking career.

24. Aside from a few ‘church camp highs’, I don’t think I truly experienced God until my time spent at Camp of the Hills. Three summers with inner-city kids and the rest of the staff changed my perspectives on life, love, God, and social justice in indescribable ways.

25. I’m an incredibly picky eater, like peanut butter & jelly picky, and I don’t tire of eating the same food over and over. I’m very limited on my vegetable intake, yet very indulgent with the ice cream.

Amber found this yesterday, and we watched it and just laughed and laughed. There are plenty of stupid spoofs on it, but the original is oh so ridiculously funny... Happy Friday!