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Let’s Celebrate!

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Lately I’ve been bursting out in songs like, “Celebrate good times, come on! It’s a celebration,” or “It’s a party in the USA!”  We Americans just love to celebrate things! It’s not a bad thing to want to celebrate great events, milestones, birthdays, anniversaries, and the like. It’s actually a very good thing to commemorate important events in our lives. This past weekend, I took to the internet to explore some of the many fun things we Americans celebrate! I found thousands of reasons to celebrate!   Here are a few of my favorites!

 

National Buffet Day. January 1st.  This sounds like an amazing excuse to have to go to dinner at your favorite buffet. Every other day of the year I avoid buffets because I’m leary of food that sits around for hours on end at inappropriate temperatures. Let’s get our food poisoning over with on January 1.

National Umbrella Day. February 10th.  Why not celebrate umbrellas!?! This little invention keeps our heads dry!

National Everything You Do Is Right Day. March 16th. I have been waiting for one of these days for 50 years. I cannot wait for March 16th so I can be right all the time!

National Walk Around Things Day. April 4th.  Could this also be called National Don’t Clean Up Your House or Room Day?! I mean, as long as we’re walking around stuff….let’s leave stuff out on purpose!!!

National Limerick Day. May 12th.

This day seems like such a fun time

To celebrate this kind of rhyme.

You  may need to think

And then grab some ink

But you’ll write down a poem most sublime!

 

National Vanilla Milkshake Day. June 20th. I’ll drink to that!

World Emoji Day. July 17th.  Why not celebrate this one?!?! I mean, a picture is worth a thousand words, right!?

National Black Cat Appreciation Day. August 17th.  I am not even a cat person, but I can definitely see myself celebrating this one! I mean, those poor kitties are run away from and feared all year long. They need love, too!

National Ampersand Day. September 8th. The ampersand is a cute & cuddly piece of punctuation. What could be more fun & meaningful than to celebrate this little piece of artwork that fills in so beautifully for the word “and?!”

National Name Your Car Day. October 2nd. I don’t name my cars. I don’t know why I don’t. Because there is a special day set aside for this, I will name my new car this year on October 2nd.

National Calzone Day. November 1st.  I picked this one out for my blog simply so I have an excuse to eat a calzone. This may be “countdown” worthy!!!

National Cat Herder’s Day. December 15th.  This day is near and dear to my heart because teachers are the ultimate cat herders.  I was a cat herder for 30 years. I did not know I had an entire day set aside to honor me. I will celebrate from now on! Does your job involve herding cats? Let’s go to lunch together!

 

    Look friends, I know you can find something to be happy about and to celebrate each and every day of the year! Don’t let the monotony of your everyday routine dull your sparkle and steal your joy! Find something everyday to celebrate! It doesn’t have to be a peach pie or a chocolate shake either! It could be that you celebrate getting out the door on time by getting a coffee from the McDonald’s drive through. Celebrate your child’s great math test grade by stopping at the park to play 30 minutes before going home to do homework. Treat yourself to 30 minutes with your feet propped up after completing your “to do” list!  Life is so much more fun when we find reasons to celebrate and be happy! I think that’s why I ended up getting lost for over an hour in that Google search of celebrations! Be joyful. Have fun. Celebrate life!

Listfully yours,

Vicki

The Backdoor Compliment

/ theraisleyrundown / 1 Comment

This past week I received a “backdoor compliment” and began to ponder this strange use of words. Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a compliment and I will take one however I can get it! I don’t even care if there is a snide remark associated with it. A compliment is a compliment to me…bless my heart!

 

Here’s an example of a backdoor compliment that I hear all the time in people’s conversations.  “You look good…….for your age!” Why can’t a person just say, “you look good period?” Why must a person add “for your age?” Does that mean that on the old people scale you look good, but on a young person’s scale you would look hideous? I’m here to tell you that you should just ignore the last part of that compliment and bask in the glory of a compliment.

 

Here are other backdoor compliments that I heard while people-watching last week

What They Say: What They Mean:
You look good for your size. Fat people can be pretty like us skinnies!
You’re pretty smart in comparison. Between you and that door knob over there, I’d say you were smarter.
I’d never wear an outfit like that, but it looks good on you. That outfit is a travesty, but you wear it well.
Your kids seem very well adjusted for being in a blended family. Your blended family kids are not as good as my first-marriage-in-progress-kids.
You have a great voice considering your age! I thought old people would sound all crackly.
You cook very well for a novice. Beginners could never cook as well as I do.
You have a great job in spite of never finishing college. I think you’re a failure for not finishing college, but you make great money.
I’m so surprised that you did that well! I generally think of you as a loser, but you did well this time.

 

I’m going to give you all a challenge this week! Why not try to genuinely compliment at least one person each day without qualifying your statement with a negative edge!?! Just put it out there and let someone feel good about themselves without wondering if you were being a bit passive aggressive. I know that here in the south, we follow sentences with, “Bless your heart” when we want to add an obvious zinger, but let’s just try to be genuine and sweet with our compliments for an entire week! Feel free to start by complimenting me! (Hahahaha! I couldn’t resist!)

 

Listfully yours,

Vicki

In the Good Old Summertime!

/ theraisleyrundown / 1 Comment

The end of the school year is quickly approaching and the excitement and exhaustion is taking its toll on everyone!  Teachers are feeling more and more exhausted and less and less patient and students are becoming more and more talkative and less and less focused. While viewing my “TimeHop App” for today, I saw my post from nine years ago that said, “You know it’s the end of the school year when you fantasize about how relaxing it would be to be in jail instead of at work.”  My non-teacher friends will never be able to understand the terrible end-of-the-year-tired that each of us has to get through, but those of us who teach or have taught completely understand. So, in honor of End-of-the-Year-Teacher-Tired, here is today’s  list!

What I will NOT be doing over summer break:

I am not getting up before sunrise! (unless I need to catch a plane to some wonderful location for a vacation!)  Let’s face it, we drag these children out of bed way too early to go to school. No one should be headed to school before the sun is up!

 I will not be setting out my clothes the night before so I can rush out the door to go anywhere. Oh, and most days I’ll just be choosing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt or blouse.

I will not give a second thought to writing any lesson plans. (I am retiring, but in past years I would set aside time to write lesson plans over the summer to get ahead of the game. The longer I taught, the less I actually did over the summer. If you are a teacher, give yourself a break from all school work! You’ve earned it!)

I will not be getting that nasty upset stomach on Sunday nights because I’m dreading any bad classes on the next day! Once May hits, you actually just dread getting out of bed at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. again…not just if you have a bad class.

I won’t be jumping through hoops to say everything that I have to say in positive terms so that I don’t hurt someone’s feelings! For the summer I can just trust my own sense of tactfulness and right vs. wrong.

I won’t be eating a gross, dry “extreme wellness wrap” for lunch every day since I won’t have to be up at 5:00 a.m. to create said lunch. It will be nice to relax and have more time to create a healthy and delicious lunch.

I will not be reading professionally themed books. I’ll take something funny, a bestseller, or a good murder mystery…but keep the Classrooms That Work type books for August-May.

I will not be attending any meetings that are completely unrelated to me…or could have been put in an email. I will be going to church meetings, lunch meetings, poolside meetings, beach meetings, and shopping trips, but no more staff meetings for the summer.

I will not have to go to bed while the sun is still up just to try to recharge my physical and emotional batteries. During the whole month of May I’m torn between having a life and doing fun things in the evening and going to be at 7:00 pm so I won’t feel tired and angry all day!  Oh, and just to make you feel better, please know that I choose the extra sleep so I can be as pleasant as possible.

I will not be continuing my countdown!  I’m mean really, who would count down the days of summer that are left before the return to work?!? I can understand counting down until summer break, Christmas break, spring break, etc, but I will have to draw the line and counting down to the return to work. It’s just not going to happen.

 

I’m sure my list will grow longer as the summer progresses, but for now, those are my 10 things that I won’t be doing on my summer break! I hope that all of my teacher friends can finish strong this year. Just know you are not alone in your physical, mental and emotional exhaustion! Let’s pull together and cheer each other on as we lunge towards the finish line!!!

 

Listfully yours,

Vicki

The Traffic Jam!

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     If you’ve read many of my posts, you already know that I love to people watch. It’s fun, funny and can even teach you a thing or two about yourself.  I’ve really been watching people in traffic the past couple of weeks, and once again, it’s been a real treat. Let me introduce you to the people I’ve met recently.

 

The happy driver.

Now, this particular species is definitely on the endangered list. These are the people who are smiling, singing with the radio, happily conversinging with their other passengers, and generally looking relaxed and pleasant. They aren’t yelling at other drivers or cutting in and out of lanes just trying to get ahead. They are just enjoying the ride. I just love these people. I wish there were more on the roads.

The oblivious drivers.

These folks scare me. The other day I was driving home and the lady in the car in front of me was texting and drifted out of her lane into the right lane beside her nearly running into the driver who was on her right. He was totally unaware of the car almost striking him because he was talking on his phone. As it turns out…I was the only one paying attention and I was the only one of us about to have a heart attack. There are way too many people driving who are paying NO ATTENTION at all to the road. Jesus take the wheel!

The obnoxious drivers.

You’ve all seen these guys and girls. They ride up on your bumper fully believing that if they get close enough to push you that you will be annoyed and go faster. Sometimes they honk, wave their arms, flash you a finger, or a dirty look. They change lanes without signals and squeeze in where there is truly not room for them. These people think that they are the only ones worthy to be on the road and will take dangerous chances to annoy you and get you out of the way. The scariest obnoxious drivers are the motorcyclists who ride between lands and squeeze in everywhere. I certainly hope that no one I know drives like this.

The overly cautious (aka the roadblock).

These drivers are always going a minimum of 5 mph UNDER the speed limit. They will stay in the left lane which is normally designated for faster drivers and they will start to annoy you because you will have to ride your brakes in order to stay back far enough.Then you have to deal with the obnoxious drivers that drive on your own bumper while staying a safe distance from this roadblock.  These drivers can make even the Happy Drivers scowl a little bit. I appreciate the fact that you are being cautious and think you’re being safe, but if you are the overly cautious driver, please take as many back roads as possible and please avoid coming out during rush hour!

The Textbook Driver.

I just love these people! They  are the teacher’s pet of drivers. These folks use their turn signals all the time. They look before they merge. They signal and scoot over a lane so that other cars can easily merge onto the interstate with them. These lovely people leave safe space between themselves and other drivers and they would never even dream of not waiting their turn at a 4-way stop. These people restore my faith in humanity. I hope everyone I know is this kind of driver!

 

    Now I know that riding around on the crazy streets of Charleston, SC can be a real trial for even the best drivers. I tend to be the Happy Textbook Driver, but if I’m not careful and intentional, I could become that angry, obnoxious driver. So, I’m not saying that I’m perfect or that I’m never tempted to cut someone off to better my position on the road. I am saying that, like so many other good habits in life, good and peaceful driving is a choice. When I feel frustration building up during my commute, I consciously take steps to keep myself in control. I’ll sing to the radio, pray, converse with the people in my car or even have a chat with myself about how getting angry or upset in traffic is not worth the energy that it would be zapping from my life. This summer, why not take the challenge to be the Happy Textbook Driver and make your time on the road even more enjoyable!

Listfully yours,

Vicki

Thrown Into The Future!

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My last car purchase was in 2009. Nine whole years ago. I bought a 2008 Chevy Trailblazer back then and drove it for 126,000 miles. My husband decided that it was time for me to get a newer used vehicle and so the hunt began. Last week, we found the vehicle we were looking for and now are awaiting its arrival from its current home. In the meantime, my awesome dealership gave me a 2018 Chevy Equinox to drive around until my vehicle arrives. I feel like I was tossed head first into the future and that my rental is now 10 times smarter than me. Here’s why!

 

  • There is no key!!!! So, I get into the car to drive off and there is no place for the key. The millenial salesman kindly tells me that my car is smart enough to sense when the little key fob thingy is in the car and all I have to do is push the button on the dash to start and stop the car. This is MAGIC, people! MAGIC!!!!

 

 

  • There is a back-up camera!!!! Do you mean to tell me that I’ve been turning my head around backwards in order to back up for 37 years and now all you have to do is look at a screen?!?!  It’s a modern miracle!!!!

 

 

  • This car knows how far I can go until I run out of gas! I used to keep track of my milage and how much gas I put in the car to figure out how far I could go on a tank of gas. Now….I have NO MATH to do….I just push a button and it tells me how far I can go on the gas I have.  No way!!!!!!

 

 

  • The engine stops at long lights and other times when I’m sitting still for longer stretches. Wait, what?! You just know when to stop the engine to save fuel when I’m sitting at a red light or railroad crossing?!?!  Just. Shut. Up!!!!

 

 

  • This car won’t let me run you off the road!! There are nifty little flashing lights that illuminate my mirrors when someone is in my blind spots. If I really pay attention to my car and my surroundings, I have no excuse to ever change lanes on you and run you off the road!!! (See….there’s even something for you!)

 

 

  • I don’t need my phone while driving…my car has all the gadgets! I’ve got Bluetooth Technology, Sirius Radio, Wi-fi,  OnStar, Auxilary input, USB ports, and so much more!!! I could take a lifetime to learn all the things that this rental can already do. Heck, even opening the gas tank cover was a new experience! Wowza to all the crazy extras.

 

 

So, now I know I sound like a really old fart, but you’ve got to admit that technology sure has changed our vehicles. I’m so amazed and thankful for all the smart engineers and technologists who came up with all these advances. I guess I’ll have to learn some new features when my own vehicle arrives at the dealership for pick up!  I’m excited to say that I have been thrown into the future and I LOVE it!

 

Listfully yours,

Vicki

That’s a Fortune!

/ theraisleyrundown / 2 Comments

I absolutely love Chinese food! I’m actually quite a fan of the spicy Szechuan dishes. But, if the truth be told, my favorite part of the meal is reading my fortune and eating the fortune cookie. When I started my love affair with Chinese food back in college my fortunes would say very wise and thought provoking things such as, “To achieve great dreams one must take great risks….or….When you plan ahead you are building success.”  These days, the fortunes seem a bit less wise. Here are a few of the ones I’ve recently encountered.

 

  • If would be best if you would lay low for a little while.  Wait. What? Did I do something illegal? Is someone hunting me? How is that even a fortune?

 

 

  • If at first you don’t succeed…try something harder. Okay….so if I fail at something easy then I should try something harder. That’s just dumb.

 

 

  • Great! You’re ready for a party. Well, I am always up for a party, but what does that have to do with the price of tea in China.  Hahahaha! See what I did there?! That’s hardly a wise fortune, folks. I feel like I just got a text from someone who meant to text somebody else.

 

  • Ignore Previous Cookie. No lie. I actually received this fortune in a cookie. But…by the way…how did they know I ate my husband’s cookie before eating my own? Maybe they aren’t as dumb as I thought.  

 

  • You will be hungry in one hour.  Yeah, you’re probably right, cookie, but tell me something I don’t know.

 

  • Time wounds all heels. Clever. Sad, but clever.

 

  • You are not illiterate. True, but disappointing when I’m looking for my cookie to tell me I will become very, very rich in just a few short days!

 

 

  • Do or do not. There is no try. So, I had to read it five times before it made any sense. I have a philosophical difference with this cookie. I can TRY and fail or I can TRY and succeed. In both cases….THERE IS A TRY!

 

 

  • I cannot help you. I am only a cookie. My cookie needs an antidepressant.

 

 

  • Want another fortune? Visit our website. Wow. This fortune is so awesome that I think I want to waste data and minutes of my life looking up another one. That was not even the least bit creative.  

 

Well now you can see why I have been so disappointed in my fortune cookies lately! I miss the good old days of thought provoking sayings and wise advice. I guess now I have to enjoy the slightly stale cookie for what it is….a plain old cookie.  On the bright side, now I can throw away all those little strips of paper that I’ve been collecting in my wallet. The blog is written. Their purpose in life has been fulfilled. Oh! I wonder if I can get a free-lance writing gig writing fortune cookie fortunes!

 

Listfully Yours,

Vicki

You Said a Mouthful There, Kiddo!

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I have always enjoyed conversing with kids. I imagine that why I lasted 30 years in the education business. Children have such unique ways of expressing themselves and they seem to get words confused at times….and don’t forget this gem…they will give you their opinion in a heartbeat. Today’s list is a series of quotes by and conversations with my students over my 30 year tenure as a teacher.

*****************************************************************

Mrs. Raisley, I’m not STEALING all of your paper clips, I’m holding them in my pockets so they don’t fall on the ground. See….my hands are very shaky. (boy forces hands to shake.)

(That was a very well thought out lie…..)

***************************************************************

Student: Mrs. Raisley, what are you going to be when you grow up.

Me: I am grown up. I am a music teacher.

Student: No, I mean after that…………….I think you should be a PRINCESS!!!!

(Children are so wise, right?!)

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Kindergarten boy: Mrs. Raisley, I won’t be coming to school here anymore. My daddy is getting sent back to Mexico so we are all going.

Me: I’m so sad. I will miss you.

Kindergarten boy happily: Don’t worry!  We will be back REAL SOON!!!!!

(Apparently he doesn’t worry about Border Patrol!)

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Mrs. Raisley, my mom taught me an Easter song. It’s called “Here Comes Peter Cocktail.”

(Freudian slip, mom?!)

*******************************************************************

Child looking at my knee after a knee replacement:

Mrs. Raisley, when they cut your knee open could you see your own guts??????

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First Grader: Mrs. Raisley, Aspen is not here today because she has license.

Me: License? What does that mean?

First Grader: You know….license….the little bugs that make your head itchy.

(Oh, that!)

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Second Graders: Mrs. Raisley!!!! A boy just threw up in the hall and it was purple!!!!!

(A case of TMI)

**********************************************************************

Me (to boy who just fell on the floor): Sweetie, if you feel your pants falling down just stop what you are doing and pull them back up again.

Boy (somewhat perplexed): Oh!!!!! That’s a great idea.

(Does anyone have common sense anymore????)

*************************************************

I could really go on for hours with fun little stories, but I realize that I’m getting to the end of the average attention span. The next time you are in the car or the waiting room, don’t hand your kid your telephone. Talk to them instead! You are missing some amazing gems of wisdom and pearls of advice! Help them build a great vocabulary and some confidence in self expression! Find our what is going on in their little worlds and enjoy their fresh perspectives on things! You will be glad that you did!

Listfully yours,

Vicki

 

My Latest Obsessions

/ theraisleyrundown / 2 Comments

Over the past week I have been chatting with some of my friends about various things that we love to do, to read, to eat, to see, to collect, and so forth. It was very enlightening to learn what kinds of things make my friends happy and I got a lot of fun ideas from hearing what their latest obsessions are.  Today I will share my top 10 obsessions! I hope you enjoy!

 

  1. Lipsense Lipstick.  I have never been a good lipstick wearer. I could never be bothered with putting it on and then remembering to touch it up all day long. Enter Lipsense by Senegence. True to its claims, Lipsense really does last all day and is non-transferrable. The first day I wore it, I was teaching about the instruments of the orchestra. In all six of my classes I played the flute, clarinet, trumpet, French horn, and trombone. My lip color never came off on the instruments! I also ate and drank at lunch and dinner with no loss of color. Now, I am obsessed.

 

  1. Avery or Post-It Filing Tabs. I have been using regular Post-its as bookmarks and tabs forever! However, one day I received a free sample of the filing tabs which apply like Post-its but are shaped like filing tabs and are very sturdy. Now I have them in all of my journals, my Bible, my lesson plans, the books I’m reading and more! I need more of these tabs in my life!

 

 

  • Pens. I am obsessed with pens. I love to collect pens that have seasonal characters on them and light up. I love pens that come in all sorts of unusual colors. I love pens with unique grips or shapes. I love heavy pens that feel luxurious in my hand and light pens that don’t aggravate my carpal tunnel. I love inexpensive Bic pens as well more expensive designer pens. Just writing this makes me want to find a new pen.

 

 

 

  • Karen White’s Tradd Street Series Books. I am an avid reader. I love mysteries and suspense best. Author, Karen White, has written this series of mysteries that I have gone crazy over. All of the stories take place in historic downtown Charleston, SC. The main character is a successful real estate agent with a knack for seeing and communicating with the ghosts who are hanging around in the historic properties that she is trying to sell. The stories are absolutely fascinating and I enjoy them even more because I live in the area. You need to read these books.

 

 

 

  • Cadbury Mini Eggs. This is my all time favorite candy of choice. For more on this subject, please read my Easter blog!

 

 

 

  • Micellar Water. Three months ago I had no idea what micellar water was. A friend of mine told me about it and once I tried it I became addicted! This water is NOT for drinking! I originally got it as an alternative to expensive makeup removers. I wear waterproof mascara and eyeliner and it is difficult to get off with traditional removers. However, an inexpensive bottle of micellar water does the trick. Simply soak a cotton ball with micellar water and place it over your closed eye for 15-25 seconds. Then you will gently wipe across your eyelid and your makeup will be removed completely.  Not only will micellar water remove stubborn makeup, I have used it to clean jewelry! My son got guacamole stuck in the crevices of his class ring and it dried by the time he got home. The next morning, I dipped the ring into a cap full of micellar water and gently brushed with an old, soft toothbrush. The guacamole disappeared in an instant with not scraping or digging. I also dipped a silver necklace into a dish containing micellar water and then dried with a soft cloth and it easily removed the tarnished look and restored the shine.

 

 

 

  • Jamberry Nail Wraps. As a serious musician, I have always had short and boring fingernails. If I ever painted my nails the polish would chip and peel in a matter of 2 days. After my knee replacement, I learned that I could no longer get pedicures because the chance of infection is too great. That’s when I discovered Jamberry nail wraps. They come in all kinds of gorgeous colors and patterns. I apply them with heat and pressure for a super cute, long lasting fun look. Their gel nail colors compliment my wraps and are tough enough to last over a week on my clumsy hands. I love the products so much that I signed on as a distributor, so if you want to try this product, let me know in the comments.

 

 

 

  • Yeti Tumblers. I cannot drink room temperature water without gagging. For some reason I can only drink extremely cold water and enjoy it. I tried other cups and bottles over the years, but nothing compares to the fabulous, thermal insulated Yeti tumblers and bottles. Each morning, I fill a Yeti tumbler or bottle full of ice and add water. The water cools down quickly and stays that way until I’ve consumed it. I add water to the tumbler or bottle all day long and continue drinking freezing cold water. The next morning my tumbler or bottle STILL HAS the ice in it and is ready for another day of freezing cold drinks.These tumblers are a must for anyone who loves to drink super cold water!. They come in cute designs and colors, so they are even more fun to collect!

 

 

 

  • Watches. In all honesty, I LOVE any kind of jewelry, but watches are a real weakness for me. I love the colors, the styles, the patterns, the ones that reflect my hobbies and talents, and also the very unique. I live by the clock as a school teacher and when I have appointments for photos, so I figure that I need a great selection of fun watches to keep me going and on time!

 

 

 

  • Smelling Books.  Yes. You read that correctly. I am obsessed with smelling books. I honestly cannot pick up a book without sniffing it. I love the smell of all kinds of books, their pages, their inks and even the glues. You need to find the closest book to you and smell it right now! If you don’t have a book near you, head to the nearest bookstore or library and begin browsing with your nose. You will thank me!!!!

 

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about a few of my unique obsessions! I hope you are inspired to try some of the products, activities or books that I love! Feel free to share yours with me in the comments!  Happy Obsessions!

 

Listfully yours,

Vicki

 

People Watching: The Greatest Show On Earth!

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People watching. I sure don’t know how to describe this to you, but people watching brings me so much joy and entertainment (and writing material) that I could spend time doing it every day! It ranks right up there with crafting, biking, photography, and shopping!  It can be funny, sad, scary, motivating, reassuring, and can even teach me lessons about how to be a better and more thoughtful person. Let’s discuss people watching.

Places:

Any place is great for people watching, but here are some of my favorites.

 

  • Restaurants
  • Parks and Beaches
  • Shopping centers
  • Church

 

People You Will Meet:

  • The Angry One. This person is walking along alone and they look like someone just stomped on their last Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup! They have the full scowl and the angry walk. They may be on the phone talking loudly and angrily about what makes them mad. Often, while storming along, they are unaware of their children or spouse who are following along at a safe, quiet distance. What is really sad, yet fascinating, is that you see these people EVERYWHERE…even in the most fun places on earth…like Disney. It is truly sad watching these people. These people do remind me of how ridiculous angry people can look and make me more aware of spreading joy, not anger.

 

 

  • The Cell Phone Gang.  This group of people are the strangest to watch. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve gone out to eat and seen families at the tables around us busy on their phones and not even looking at each other. Can they not go into a public restaurant and leave their phones in their cars? Better yet, if you are going to ignore your family at dinner time, just stay home, give them a bowl of cereal and ignore each other all you want. I’ve always wanted to sit down at a table with folks who are on their cell phones just to see how long it takes them to notice that I’m there!  Oh, and don’t get me started on the people in waiting rooms with small children who play on their phones and ignore their kids. Not only is it dangerous (since someone could lure away the kids without the parent noticing), but think of all the wasted quality time you could have talking quietly to your child, naming objects, looking at the Highlights Magazine, playing I Spy, doing homework, or even just talking. Sometimes it is the parents who shove the phone in a toddler’s hand and use the phone as a babysitter. That is so very sad and such bad parenting. The Cell Phone Gang is no fun to watch…unless of course, they fall into a fountain or trip while walking and texting…then they are hilarious! These people remind me to live in the moment and enjoy the people that surround me!

 

 

 

  • The Fun Ones. These people are awesome! They walk by laughing, chatting, holding hands with their spouse or kids, smiling at other people around them and just enjoying the moment. They slow down when following someone walking slower and don’t get angry. They talk  to each other at the table. They smile and make eye contact with the servers, cashiers, or even the speaker at churches or other meetings. They are seemingly happy and pleasant people who are fun to watch. They make me smile and remind me that my love, joy and peace should be visible to others in this crazy, mad-house or a world!

 

 

 

  • The Good Mom/Dad. Nothing is more heartwarming to me than to see parents being great parents in public! Little ones on a date with their mom or dad usually bring tears to my eyes. The mom or dad who plays on the swings with his/her child instead of surfing the web is my hero. The parent who has the children in the grocery store, crossing items off of the shopping list or retrieving items from the shelf is teaching important life-long skills! I love to see parents intentionally making memories with their children. No matter how small a gesture seems, it will mean a thousand times more when that child it grown and thinks back on their childhood. I just love watching all the different ways that people find to connect with their children.

 

 

 

  • The Terrible Teens. Okay, these people are sad and hilarious all at the same time. I can’t tell you how many temper tantrums I seen thrown in public by 13-19 year olds. When I see this, I wonder if the parents were the ones who were too busy on their phones and ignoring their kids when they were young. I mean, by the time a child is 5 you should have taught them to have complete respect for what you tell them. So, if they are having a hissy fit at age 15….ask yourself if it’s your fault for not teaching them respect. Now, I know that kids can be rotten on their own, even if you have taught them better, so don’t get all upset if you think I’m saying your a bad parent. Every person is born with that rebellious sin nature and it can show up not matter how great your parents were/are. So, I love watching some of the ridiculous things teens do in public and think it’s acceptable. I feel embarrassed for them and their parents, but have to admit that I find tons of humor at the same time.

 

 

 

  • The Unique. I just love watching these people!!! The crazy clothes, the wonky hair, the large tattoos, the funky beards, the skimpy clothes, the odd piercings, the interesting gait, and so on.  These individuals intrigue me! I love how they are not afraid to be themselves! I love how sometimes they are also the Good Mom or Dad or the Fun Ones. It’s great when they surprise me by doing acts of kindness for others!  I just adore how you cannot judge these books by their covers! Watching these folks reminds me to be non-judgemental and to look for the good in everyone! They remind me that when God looks at me, he doesn’t see my quirkiness or judge my outside…He sees my heart! What a great reminder of Christ’s Love.

 

 

As usual, I could go on all day describing all the different types of people I’ve seen. The Aging Lovers, The Fun-Loving Teens, The Friend Packs, The Church Sleepers, The Grumpy Church Folks, and on and on it goes!  Just look around and enjoy some free entertainment and some introspection about which group you may belong to when out and about! Be sure to smile at anyone that makes contact with you and say a cheerful “hello!” You just might make their day!

 

Listfully yours,

Vicki

Easter’s On It’s Way!

/ theraisleyrundown / 2 Comments

Easter is close at hand! It’s time to celebrate and appreciate the death, burial and RESURRECTION our our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  I can’t emphasize enough how important Jesus resurrection is to my life story! I am humbled to think that God loved me so much that He allowed His son, Jesus, to die to pay the penalty for my sins so that I could live forever in Heaven with Him. It is amazing to think about God’s love for us. Wow!

Now, just because I am a Christ-follower does not mean that I don’t appreciate the spring festivities of the Easter Bunny and all of his sugary goodness! In fact, Easter Candy is the best candy by far! Now, I’ve been on a bit of a diet, so I haven’t had candy since January, but I am definitely making an exception at Easter time!  In case you haven’t had a lot of experience with this….FEAR NOT…I have made you a list of the best Easter candy around!!

  • Cadbury Mini Eggs. This is the BEST. CANDY. EVER. I love the candy shell and the extra sweet chocolate inside.  I could eat a personal sized bag of these every single day for the rest of my life…if it wouldn’t make me fat and diabetic! I really wish this candy had no calories.
  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs.  I love chocolate. I love peanut butter. Now, when you put them together in the shape of an egg…my taste buds are in LOVE! For some reason, these taste better than the normal Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. It could be a mental thing…but they are AWESOME!
  • Solid chocolate Easter Bunnies. There is nothing more fun than biting the ears, head, and fluffy tail off of your very own, solid milk chocolate bunny. It’s not only delicious…it’s fun!!!
  • Jelly Beans. Jelly beans have come a long way since I was a child. There are so many wonderful flavors from which to choose!!! I’ve even seen bags of only the red ones! There are spicy ones, fruity ones, tropical flavors, super sour ones and so much more! Jelly beans are an Easter “must-have.”
  • Milk Chocolate Eggs. Similar to the Reese’s Peanut Butter egg, I think the shape of the small chocolate eggs has something to do with their goodness!! I mean, they are so much like Hershey Kisses, but in the shape of an egg with pretty pastel foil wrapping. What is not to love about unwrapping and eating one of these tasty and pretty treats?!

Well, I’m going to end my list right here for fear that I’m gaining weight just thinking about all this sugary goodness. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter Season celebrating the death, burial, and RESURRECTION of our Lord! For all of my teacher colleagues, enjoy a beautiful spring break and get some rest!

Listfully yours,

Vicki

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