More Mis-Adventures

I promise you the stories I share with you are real.

When I describe clumsy, distracted, unbelievable situations that happen to me I ain't lying.

So here's a new one for you:

This past week I really tried to buckle down and get some paperwork done.  Yes, I procrastinate, mostly because I forget what I'm supposed to do until it's almost too late to do it.

Not THIS time- I promised myself.

So I settled down at my desk, got my files ready, charged up my cell phone and began returning phone calls to insurance companies I was supposed to contact weeks earler.

I certainly didn't think I'd misdialed: I mean, they give you many many (many many) numbers from which to choose.  Certainly ONE of those numbers would start me in the right direction.

I should have known something was wrong when the voice that answered the phone was one of a young lady who just sounded too happy.  No insurance company really has employees that sound that chipper, do they?

I became suspicious when this young lady asked me if I like to have fun.

Have fun?  I'm calling an insurance company.  They don't really care if I have fun.  They want my provider number and any other number I can come up with.  They mean business.

Ooooohhhhhh....I listened further.  This young lady was suggesting I didn't need to be lonely tonight.

I hung up.  And started laughing.

OF COURSE I dialed a 'dating service' number instead of an insurance company!

No lie.

Have You Ever...

Have you ever accidentally sprayed your underarms with hairspray, thinking it was deodorant?

Have you ever gone to church wearing two different colored shoes?

Have you ever sat in on a meeting only to realize you're in the wrong meeting?

Have you ever gone through an entire day and not realize until getting ready for bed you'd worn your shirt inside out?

Have you ever spent panic-filled moments looking for your car keys only to realize you'd been holding the keys all along?

How about looking for same keys in same panic while sitting in the car while it's running (so THAT's where the keys went!)?

Have you ever walked across a crowded room with your skirt tucked up into your panty hose?

Have you ever addressed the 'new wife' by the 'old wife's' name?

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by the magnitude of an important finals exam you blanked out when asked to write your name at the top of the page?

Have you ever stood on a ramp in a busy building, thrown back your head in laughter and broken the strand of beads you'd been wearing,thus sending you and everyone else chasing after rolling beads scattered everywhere?

Have you ever been onstage at a dance recital and realize your costume top had not been adequately secured?

Have you ever gotten the giggles while someone else is in deep heartfelt prayer?

Ummm...

Me neither

Afterthoughts

It's taken me a few days to catch my breath and process my impressions of "An Evening with Karen Wasoba."

First, I was overwhelmed by the dear people who endured a night of rainy weather on a Friday night to attend. I thought that was amazing, especially since there wasn't a whole lot of advertisement. We had exactly the amount of folks who could fit into such a compact place.

Second, the sense of community blessed me immensely. At one point I almost felt like we were a huge family coming to support little Joey's first piano recital.

So many friends stepped in to make sure the details were taken care of. That was a major relief to me.

Next, thanks to the dear ones who pulled me aside to pray with me. It really did calm my nerves and allowed me to surrender everything into God's care.

I felt a subtle letdown the next day when I woke up with a major sore throat and fever. Not feeling well, I found myself thinking of all the things I should have done better. All the comments I wanted to add but didn't and vice versa. I'm still dealing with the afterthoughts and working to be objective about everything.

I've gotten positive responses from attenders and I can't tell you how much I appreciated it.

I also watched the video...Don now tells me we don't have the equipment to transfer it from our camcorder to the computer. We're working on it.

I have lots more to say about this but for now let me say I'm glad I went through with it.
Was I comfortable?

Sort of.

Did I have fun?

Yep!

Will I do it again?

Um... I don't know about whether the world can handle Part Deux. Let's just say I'm glad I have a 'day job' I love.

In the end, I think we did what we set out to do:

Just sit back and have fun.

Here We Go!

It is almost Zero Hour.

I have my notecards, my crew is spiffing up the place.

I'm spiffing myself up.

In just a few hours a group of friends and I will indulge ourselves in an hour (or so) of nothing but fun.

This fun does not involve mud baths, football games (sorry guys) or shopping.

It involves laughter.

and desserts.

Tonight is the event I've been blogging about for the last little bit. I'm planning to share many true stories from my goofy life. I've asked my son Ryan to play and sing a song for the group.

I'm nervously excited. Or excitedly nervous.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Out of My Comfort Zone

Or maybe deeper into it. My comfort zone, that is.

I don't seem to think like most other folks.

While I'm generally respectful of the opinions of others, I tend to take a different approach to my outlook on life.

It doesn't take much for me to burst out laughing (NOT recommended at a funeral, as I've learned) simply because I have a running commentary in my head in response to what's going on.

My daughter Kari says I'm the only person she knows who can be alone in a room and start hooting and hollering over something. I tell her I'm the only one who gets the joke!

I've been (mostly) happily counseling for 12 years and I'm pretty experienced in teaching and encouragement.

What I've noticed is that overall, very few of us give ourselves permission to just enjoy our lives; apparently, as believers in Christ we're supposed to be very heartfelt and earnest.

Well, I'm here to tell you, laughter is good for you! It has healing power and forces us to surrender our self-control to the light-hearted moment. Any woman over 50 knows just HOW out of control we can be when we start laughing...Depends, anyone?

I'm planning an informal gathering in mid-September (exact date tba) for folks to gather to be entertained.

Um, by ME.

For quite a while I've wanted to share my ability to tell funny stories, and hopefully, get a chuckle or two out of my listeners. I'm not positive where it will all lead, but I'm willing to risk it.

So here goes. I'll be updating my blog with info as it comes in. I'm looking for a local place for us to gather (hubby Don says we can meet at the park but Honey, I'm not into inhaling bugs for ANYBODY).

Pray for me and pray for the attenders. Especially the attenders.

Thanks.

Power of the Will

One thing you've probably noticed if you've been following my blog is that I enjoy laughing at myself.

I laugh at you, too, but you don't know that.

Anyway, what I think is really funny is how many excuses/reasons I have for explaining my actions. Depending on my own viewpoint I can reason away (aka excuse)anything.

If I want to do something I'll find a reason (It's the RIGHT thing to do, I want to show my support, etc.).

If I don't want to do it I'll find a reason (I don't 'feel led,' I'm overbooked, I'd be in the way...).

But today is a great example of overcoming true obstacles (I might have broken my toe yesterday falling over something- is 'puffy purple' a medical term?)

Earlier today Don and I found ourselves excitedly riding our bikes together on the Katy Trail. Against 20+ mph winds. Me with a severely bruised toe.

I found a way and managed to overcome real roadblocks. (Don didn't: apparently while I wasn't looking he turned his wheels wrong, took a ditch, and fell headlong over his handlebars. I saw him climbing back onto his bike after his tumble but was unfazed since he tends to fall down a lot).

So...

My will managed to ignore physical pain so I could do what I wanted to do. My stubbornness said those real obstacles weren't big enough to stop me.

My will pushed my thoughts beyond what I thought I could do; I actually forgot for a while that I had aches, pains, and pressing responsibilities.

My thoughts focused outward rather than inward.

So while I nurse my aches and pains (and Don's embarrassment)I'm energized by the ability God has given me to use the power of my will to enjoy life.

But boy, will I ever remember my limitations when I try to get out of bed tomorrow.

Especially if I don't WANT to get up.