Strange.

Well, it was a rather strange weekend.

Amos and I went up to NorCal for Thanksgiving and had a good time. :)  We left on Friday so that Amos could come, too, but on Thursday I got a cold.  I was miserable for about two and a half days, which means that I kept trying to take naps and we didn't go on any adventures; Amos and I only left Mom and Dad's house to go to church on Sunday.  I wanted to go to Nevada City on Sunday, but then Amos had a headache and slept for a big chunk of the afternoon, poor guy!  We were then going to go to the Capitol building in Sacramento on Monday, but we left later than we had planned, so we just stopped for lunch and gas on the way down to SoCal.

On the way back down, I drove and Amos asked me questions from a book.  I'm a visual person and was interested in what he was reading, so I kept trying to read the book for myself rather than just listening to my longsuffering boyfriend. ;) Inevitably, there was quite a bit of swerving as we drove down the multi-lane or sometimes two-lane freeway.  I wasn't trying to swerve, but eventually Amos got so nervous that he suggested we stop for gas so that he could drive and I could read!

Needless to say, it worked out a lot better after that. ;)

At the Nevada County Fair in August

Even if something went wrong, which it did.

Two weeks ago my tutoring boss called me in the evening.  He wanted me to pick up some kids from school the next day before I tutored because his regular driver was on vacation.  I agreed to this, and we decided that I would drive the fifteen-passenger van, picking up kids and dropping them off at the tutoring center.  I had never driven such a long vehicle before, but I figured it would be an adventure even if something went wrong, which it did. ;)

I got to the center and one of my coworkers graciously helped me figure out where I needed to go and what I needed to do.  She handed me a tiny key for the large van, and we each headed out on a different route.

When I got in the van, I noticed that the van was very low on gas, but I figured that it would be an adventure if it ran out, which it did. ;)  I really should have called my boss and told him, but I didn't.  I guess the regular driver is responsible for filling up the vans and it had been neglected.

Anyway, I picked up a few sets of kids.  I listened to two kindergarteners and one first grader discuss "cajuzzis" (jacuzzis) and my driving habits.

"Why are you driving with only one hand?"

"Oh, I don't know.  That's how I always do it.  I've been driving for seven years, and I think that's longer than all of you have been alive!"

The little kids encouraged me to speed down a long hill, but I figured it would be good NOT to run over other cars.  I dropped off the first set of kids and headed up the freeway to the next school.  I picked up three girls there (second, third, and fifth grade, I think), and we headed back to the center.

I soon noticed however, that the van did not have as much power as it had earlier in the day.  I heard a few pops and decided to pull over on the shoulder of the freeway.  The girls were a little worried, but I tried to assure them with "It's okay, I think we're out of gas, don't worry!"  Next I decided to get back on the freeway and try to make it as far as I could.  I merged back on, but since we had only fumes, we had no power!  I looked behind me to see a big rig swiftly approaching.  I quickly switched lanes, and we putted and popped up the freeway to our off ramp.

There was a lot of popping now, but we managed to pull into an industrial park only a few miles from the tutoring center.  I decided to just wait here and to call my boss to decide what to do next.  I not only had to get these girls back to the center, I still needed to pick up a few more kids from their schools!  The sun was streaming in the huge side windows of the van, so the three girls and I got out and sat in the grass.

Ironically, I had a voicemail from my boss asking if it was going okay, which it wasn't. ;)  I called him back, got the phone number of my coworker to come pick us up, and waited.

The three little girls were troopers.  They sat in the grass and weren't fazed at all.

I sat in the grass and tried really hard not to split my face with the silly grin that wanted to keep popping up.  I took out my phone and texted Amos:
"Car broke down! We.re out of gas! Haha! :P someone.s getting us tho."  [I didn't want him to be worried.]

I love adventure!  This wasn't my car, none of us were hurt, and I had a story!  This was awesome!

We were rescued in the end and everyone had a crazy story to tell, which we did. ;)

Nothin'

Well, I can't really think of anything to say, so I'll just...ummmmmm...say something.

1. It's almost Thanksgiving!
2. I subbed on Monday and Tuesday and will be subbing tomorrow.
3. Amos needs wisdom for what to do about his almost-dead car.
4. Amos is my favoritest person ever!
5. Favoritest isn't a word, but I'm leaving it.
6. I'm hanging out with Danielle today.
7. Yesterday was the last night of Bible study for the year.
8. My roommate has been gone this week.
9. Have a happy Thursday!

One small fire later...

Two hours, one striped Fab India apron, and one small fire later, I was ready for dinner!  I made two Indian dishes for dinner, and yes, it took me two hours.  I realize that one of these days I will have to choose recipes that take a much shorter length of time, but I was having a good time.  I had both of these dishes in India multple times, and they were really good.

First I made paneer, Indian cheese.  It was really easy: boil milk, add curdling agent, strain, press, and let sit.  Wahlah!  We have cheese!  I used the paneer later in palak paneer, a spinach and cheese dish.
I also made butter chicken.  Butter chicken is a tomato-based chicken dish with onions, spices, and ground cashews.  The cashews are used for a thickener instead of, say, corn starch.  I think it's called butter chicken because sometimes ghee is poured on top right before you serve it.  (Ghee is clarified butter, i.e., what you get when you microwave butter for too long ;) and the butter separates. Ghee is the clear liquid part of the butter.)

In the midst of all of this, I also made cookies!  Yes, I made cookies.  And they worked this time (they worked last time, too.).  I made coconut oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  Mmmmmm. :)

The small fire occurred when I accidentally sloshed some oil out of a frying pan and onto the hot burner.  There were instant flames, but they died down in a few seconds.  I stared wide-eyed, trying to remember what to do, but thankfully it took care of itself.  It wasn't that exciting, but it makes for a good story!  (I love telling stories, so I was thrilled that something actually caught on fire!)

Adventure is out there, even in the kitchen! ;)

Bocephus.

Yes, that is the name of one of the kids in class today.  How unfortunate!  I started a list of "Terrible Names To Name Your Kid" in my substitute folder.  We'll see how many I get. ;)

In other news, I think Amos is almost moved, a week later!  I really haven't minded helping him, but I hope we can go on an adventure soon that doesn't involve walking up and down the block, carrying boxes.  It's been kind of sad: Amos has wheeled multiple boxes on a dolly borrowed from school, and I've been consigned to carrying a single lamp or a mirror or a box of Tupperware.  Oh well.  I'm glad I have a strong boyfriend.  He even let me ride the dolly quite a ways down the sidewalk one time!  Took me back to my childhood days of my brothers and I riding our dolly down the hill, handle first.  Yes, we were strange.  But it was fun! :)

Tonight has been strange because I actually ate dinner before 8:00 pm.  This never happens.  I always eat dinner later.  I guess I'll have to have a snack later! ;)

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

I went to chapel today to hear Bill speak.  It was a great message on Matthew 16:24-27.  Before his sermon, the worship team led TMC in this song.  I highlighted the words that really hit me today.  Unfortunately I didn't find a good version on YouTube for you to listen to this time.
It was as if I had never sung the song words before.


Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
Henry Lyte

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee;
   Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
   Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought or hoped or known;
   Yet how rich is my condition! God and heav’n are still mine own.
2. Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too;
   Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
   And while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,
   Foes may hate and friends disown me, show Thy face and all is bright.
3. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
   In Thy service pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.
   I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”; I have set my heart on Thee:
   Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.
4. [Soul then know] thy full salvation; rise o’er sin, and fear, and care;
   Joy to find in every station something still to do or bear:
   Think what Spirit dwells within thee; what a Father’s smile is thine;
   What a Savior died to win thee, child of heav’n, shouldst thou repine?
5. Haste [thee] on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
   Heav’n’s eternal day’s before thee, God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
   Soon shall close thy earthly mission, [soon] shall pass thy pilgrim days;
   Hope [shall] change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

*brackets indicate the changes I've seen; fourth verse was left out