Remember The Girl Who Wore A Hoodie In A Pool?

Good morning friends!  I have survived another week and I finally have internet and time to write so I can safely say, I'm back!  First, I want to thank you for not unfolding me in my little break and for checking back in.  Second, I want to welcome anyone who is happening upon this blog from Back East Blonde. I am glad you stopped by and I hope you will stay awhile.  Heck grab a cup of coffee and poke around the archive, there are some real gems to be found there. Last, I felt like I needed another point to round out the other two.  Really I just like things to be in threes. 

Last week I was able to go to the mountains with my work for our annual camp.  Most of the time I do not look forward to this camp.  It takes forever and it is really exhausting.  I have to live in a cabin with 10 of my girl students, I find that just wrong, and I have to either wake up at 5 am because they need to do their hair or go to sleep at 1am because they can't stop talking.  The bus ride home is torture and hot. Before this year I would always come home with the world's largest migraine.  The worship band is too loud and too concerned with being cool and the speakers make me want to die.  I can not even begin to imagine what the kids are thinking.  I dread camp and all that comes with it.

My game face!  Try and mess with me kids!

This year I was actually looking forward to camp because it meant a week away from the office.  I have not been liking my new position at the school and it has been a really hard transition for me.  In fact I cried about it today to my mom while I was out for a walk around my neighborhood.  I am sure my neighbors think I am crazy pants now. With that in mind I packed up my T-shirts and shorts and joyously left town for three days with a spirit of having fun and surrendering to being in the mountains where my phone did not work and no one could bother me.  It was pure bliss... Other than trying to find a girl who tried to sneak out of my cabin.  She was found and brought to justice within 30 minutes.  I am not sure why kids mess with me.  It always ends terribly for them. 

Below are a few of my personal highlights from camp. Actually they are the only things I bothered to take pictures of myself or stole from someone else's facebook. 

The camp we go to is called Forest Home.  It is kind of funny for me because I worked there a few summers during college.  I have tons of memories from that place, some good, some terrible, and some I want to burn from my memory.  It is always a mix of emotion going back. This year though was just divine.  The camp remolded a lot and it is so much nicer than it has ever been.  My favorite improvement was the new swimming pool.  It was beautiful.  I really just wanted to spend the whole week there.  

My favorite part of the swimming pool was the girl in the red and white stripped hoodie.  that is right folks one of my darling students was so cold she wore a hoodie in the pool.

I call this photo Where's Waldo?

Here is a close up of my girl freezing in the pool.  One of the kids walked in the pool while I was marveling at this bold fashion choice and told me it was cold.  I said "duh!  That's why she's in a hoodie!"

My favorite homegirl in hoodie.

Next up on great camp moments: Pillow Pets specifically Gatsby.  Yes, I have a pillow pet that is a dog and yes, I named him Gatsby and yes, that makes me awesome.  I always bring him to camp and then ever see him once I step on campus.  The kids take him from me and give him back when I get home.  They are just so considerate.  I realized that Gatsby is in more pics from camp than I am this year.  What a social butterfly!

I love these two kids, They can steal Gatsby any day!

One of the things I liked about camp this year was that the worship band and the speaker were so good.  Usually things get over done and people try too hard.  This year everything was scaled back and it worked.  The band was made up of teachers and it was really great.  Well I think it was, I sang in the band so I might be a little partial.  The speaker was great.  He knew most of our students were English as a Second Language students and he was clear and relevant to them. I even learned from this dude.

Here are some pics from the stage.  I am the tall white girl, I do stand out a bit I guess.   The kindest thing I have been told lately was from a student who told me that she saw my inside beauty at camp.  It really touched my heart.

I can not clap and sing. I get all confused as you can see from my face in this photo.

I take really great notes to help me while I am on stage.  I think I succeeded.

 Overall camp was great fun.  In a way I want to go back there and just sing, play games, and hang out with Gatsby.  Even though I am back to life where my phone works and I am inside again I am happy that I let myself have a good time this year.  What a great lesson in positive thinking and making the best of your circumstances!  

Embarrassing ourselves for the sake of education.

One of my favorite moments was being Mulan and having my work "enemy" beat me up!

The whole Jr. High and High School :)

A few photos to end this post of the strange people I work with and the wonderful kids.  Also if you haven't read Nadine's blog yet, get your eyes over there and check that girl out.  She is great!  Thanks Nadine, for everything this month!

What Does The Fox Say?

Well folks I am back from camp and I have successfully moved into my new home.  I do not have internet at home yet, so I will write when I can.  Today I will keep it short and sweet because it is Monday and I can do what I want.  Last week I shared our video from camp last year.  It was pretty Epic.  This year we did a little dance to that viral sensation "What Does The Fox Say?"  In case you have been living under a rock for the last week, here is the gem that is making its way around the internet.  

 That was great right?  The kids had a feeling that was what we would do so we attempted to throw them off a bit at the beginning, with a girls vs. boys competition. Below is our random, terrible, non artistic version of What Does The Fox Say?    Did you see me living out my childhood dream of being Mulan and bringing honor to my family? 

Liebester

Welp, it appears I cannot get away from this Libester Award deal and I felt like i should honor the fact that some wonderful people have been kind enough to include me in their nominations.   My most recent nod came from carrie over at Huggies and Heels. Below you will find my answers to her questions and my list of nominees and their questions.  I figure it is good to give back and interact with the blog community so here goes! 

1. If you could meet one celebrity, who would you choose and why?

This is the easiest question ever!  I would meet Thor!  I have a deep undying love for Thor, not the actor who plays Thor, just Thor.  I know it is weird, but good Lord, I like that man. Maybe it is the accent, the hair, that bod, the way he works a hammer, or all of it tied together, but I am sure I would be happy to marry him. Read about my love here.  

I actually would like to meet Mindy Kaling or Amy Phoeler, I am sure we are meant to be best friends. 

2. What is the best vacation you've ever been on?

By far my best vacation was my trip to Europe in 2009.  I went with my mom for three weeks to 6 different countries.  We had a wonderful time there and only got in one fight that I remember.  I called her dumb for crossing the street without looking.  It was wonderful.  Other than that it was so great to see such beautiful history and learn about so many different cultures.  We visited, the Chez Republic, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and England.  If you ever get the change to travel with your parents I say do it.  Yes it is a little slower and No you will not get blackout drunk, but you will remember it and sleep in comfortable rooms not hostels.  

The Gazebo from the Sound of Music.

3. Where did you meet your significant other?

I meet Thor when he came from the heavens and swept me off my feet.  Actually I am still waiting for that guy to come into my life.  He will and it will be amazing.  Until then I am happy living my life and loving those who are in it. 

4. What is your favorite memory?

i do not even know how to answer this.  I have many that come to mind, but I also have a thought that I have yet to live my favorite memory.  It is a strange place to be. 

5. What is your favorite way to waste time?

Watching TV.  It is really terrible, but I can just sit in my living room for hours and watch episode after episode of a TV series on Netflix.  Recently I watched Once Upon a Time, that show is legit. 

6. If you could live anywhere, where would you choose?

Oh man this is tough.  I have been loving the idea of being in a tropical local lately.  I love my summer wardrobe and i look fantastic in a tan.  I also have been very drawn to culturally rich places.  Places where you can go to top notch theater or sporting events, or get out and do something almost every day.  In many ways California offers that, but I want the warmth that people have outside of California.  I hear Chicago is great.  Maybe Chicago.

7. What is your favorite blog post? Link to it so we can all read!

I really liked my post Lies I Tell My Students.  Unfortunately they found the post and they know my lying ways now. I guess it is better this way though.

8. What was your last New Years Resolution? Did you keep it?

I think it was something along the lines of Be happy with the life you have right now.  I have got to say that I have been doing better at this this year.  It could also have been Start a blog in which case I am rocking that NYR. 

9. What is your one, can't live without, beauty product?

My Enjoy shampoo and conditioner.  I have been investing in quality products lately and this is by far the one I love the most.  It has transformed my hair.  I figured if I am paying a lot to get my hair highlighted every few months it would be worth it to invest in good shampoo.  I was right. 

10.What is your favorite book?

Oh come on!  As a former English teacher I have many favorite books.  All my kids became frustrated because every book we read was my favorite book. I will move beyond my cliche answer of Gatsby or Jane Eyre and say Harry Potter.  I am telling you I loved these books and have been thinking about reading them again.  They are so delightful. 

11. If you could live in any era, which would you choose and why?

 I think there is a lot to be said about leanring from the past and I would love to have been alive to see many things in history, Lincoln's presidency, Jesus, ya know the big ones.  I will say that I am living in the right time though.  I know that women not being seen as equal to men would have been a huge issue for me.  I would not have handled this type of world well and I am grateful that i was born in a time where more people believe this is true, or at least society pretends like it is more than every before. 

Next things next, I would like to nominate the following blogs:Rachel at Sandals are Better Than ShoesBrittany at Blissful BrittMeghan at They Call Her MeghanTaylor at Our Fairy TaleShannon at Smile and WriteBrittany at CreatedHillary at The Drastic Fantastic Rachel at Floral and FudgeAshley at Life on Parson FarmsAnd anyone else who doesn't have 200 followers that wants to answer the questions below!Questions:1. What are you most grateful for today?2. What is your "go to movie" on a sick day or just need to get away from the world day?3.  What is one item on your bucket list?4. What is your favorite blog post with a link?5. What would you do today if you had no responsibilities to fulfill?6. What do you want to be when you grow up?7. Who has made the greatest impact on your life?8.  Why did you start blogging?9.  What song is currently on repeat on your itunes?10.  What is your favorite color?11. What has been the best advice someone has given you?

Hashtag Drunk People

This post is one of those just for fun types.  I thought I would share with anyone who chooses to read one of my favorite inside jokes with some great friends.  You see it all started when my friend posted the following ecard on her brothers Facebook page. 

Bud Light Lime has since become our code word for our friends to come help us out of a jam.  For example when my friend had to read a letter in front of many people she told me that if she couldn't do it she was going to start chugging a Bud Light Lime and that would be my cue to help her out.  

I feel like I need to say that I am sorry if you are reading this and you love Bud Light Limes or the ever famous Lime-A-Rita.  I am not trying to say that you are kidnapping people, just that your choice in drink is well.... my code word for major trouble.  

One of my favorite moments in life came at the Kenny Chesney, Eric Church concert I attended this summer.  You should read about it here.  While we were waiting for the festivities to begin.  These classy ladies sat next to us and sipped on their drinks.  My friend and I knew that they too were using it for a signal.  They wanted to get away from Michigan hat guy.  I can't blame them, he was hitting on anyone who looked like a girl that night. 

We tried our best to save them but they were already gone.  You see if you are in a dire situation you may be inclined to drink said Lime-A-Rita and then lose your inhibitions and actually flirt with Michigan hat guy.  Let this tale be a precaution to all you youngsters out there.  The Lime-A-Rita is only meant for signaling not for consumption. 

All of this to say if you ever see a picture of me holding a Bud Light Lime or Lime A Rita, call the cops, I have been kidnapped. 

Dispicable May!

Hey folks!  I am up at camp so I thought I would bring you an interview with May, the student who lives with me.  She is 100% awesome and one of a kind.  She is really a great girl and I am happy to introduce her to you today!

What is your name?May!
Where do you hail from?Beijing, (her dad actually engineered part of the opening ceremony in 2008.)
What are some of your favorite things?YELLOW! Blake GriffinMy Family Mom T (that's me!)My TwinMy friendsSpongebob

That time we went to see the Clippers.

What is your favorite subject in school?PE, because I like to be outside. 
What is your least favorite subject in school?History, because it is too hard to remember all the dates and events. 
How long have you lived here?3 years
Why did you come to study in America?My parents asked me if I wanted to because a family friend of ours was here.  I said that sounded like a good idea so I came here. 
What was the hardest part about living in America and how did you overcome that challenge?Knowing the language was the hardest part.  It is hard to practice English because most of us are afraid we have an accent and others will make fun of us.  You have to get over it and realize that everyone has an accent and just keep speaking English as much as you can. 
What is your favorite food to eat in America?In-N-Out (Which is great cause that was what she got for dinner tonight)
What do you miss most about China?The food!  All the food my mom and dad make.  

She acts like she hasn't eaten in 12 years!

What has been your favorite part of living in America?Moving in with Mom T last year (I almost cried!)Playing basketball for the school this year. 

Some girls on the Basketball team at awards night last year.

What has been the weirdest thing Mom T has done since you have lived with her?We did this thing called Sunday Challenges for a few months.  One of us would pick a fitness challenge and then we would compete to see who was the best.  Once time I picked jump roping.  Mom T came into my room and started to jump with a pretend jump rope, and told me to get ready cause she was going to win.  It was crazy!  I actually beat her that week!
What type of music do you like the most?I love the song from Pirates of the Caribbean

Theme by Klaus Badelt on Grooveshark

What is your new favorite country song, cause Lord knows Mom T loves her country rockin'!

Catfish dinner!!  I love it when the song comes on the radio and Mom T sings along.  It is so fun.

That's my Kind of Night by Luke Bryan on Grooveshark

What is your dream job?  What would you most like to do when you grow up?
Live in a pineapple under the sea with Spongebob and Patrick. 

Source

If that can't happen I want to own my own shoe factory and make amazing shoes. 

It is true homegirl loves her shoes, especially her Jordan's.

What is your favorite quote?"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." - Thomas Edison
In a world where people are trying very hard not to stand out and really want to look the same I am amazed at your uniqueness.  You are one of a kind.  Why do you think this is?I think it is because my parents.  They wanted to raise me to be independent and be my own person.  They always encouraged me to do what I like and to have a lot of different experiences.  For example I flew on a plane by myself when I was 6 years old.  
There you have it folks, my sweet May!  Hope you enjoyed our little interview and I hope it helped to shed some light on what many of the students I teach are like.  If you have any follow up questions I know May would love to answer them. 

Using the Disney pass I talked her into buying!

By the way she has assumed that she is going to be famous from this post and be offered many writing contracts.  I of course will be her manager, so please send all job offers through me. 

Camp LIfe!

Alright folks I am heading up to the mountains with my school for three days of non-stop forced merriment!  Really like this week.  I am happy to be out of my basement office, and not have to work on a computer.  It is really great fun.  The kids are hilarious, they hate every thing about the trip, the sun, the food, the walking up hills.  There is nothing they wont complain about.
Today I am going to keep this post short and sweet.  Every year we do a talent show and the kids sing the same Chinese song over and over again.  I like to sit in the back with my teacher buddies and translate their songs.  Our translation usually goes something like "I love you so much my heart will fall out.  By the way do you like my neon shoes?"  We are skilled.  
Last year we started a new tradition of the teachers starting the talent show off.  We dance to a silly song that has taken the world by storm like Gangnam Style and dance like fools for the same of our students. 
Here is last years video, the quality is OK because the kids went crazy as soon as we started and rushed the stage and jumped on their chairs.  I am particularly fond of my comrade in the red skinny pants. Check back next week what song we attempt to dance to this year.  Make sure to make your guess below, the winner gets a postcard in the mail from camp.  (Seriously I will send you a post card!)

And A Great Time Was Had By All...Except That Dad At Target

This weekend can be summed up in just a few words: Non-stop fun!  I am telling you if you have been bored with your life or are seeking a little time to remember your high school days have a foreign exchange student move into your house and hang out with her over the weekend.  Your life will be rocked. 

This weekend May, the awesome student who lives with me had a couple friends over for the weekend.  The first night they came over I broke the fan that is in the hallway and we headed over to Target to replace it.  On the way we started to talk about Monsters University and decided to go see it that night at the. Instead of buying a new fan we just went to Brea and had a great time at the Three Dollar Theater instead. 

May, Esmi, Arturo, and Me.  May's friends are Chinese but grew up in Spain.  Hows that for amazing!?

I have a deep love for the greatness that is this soda machine.  Sometimes it is all I can talk about.

How cute is Monster's University by the way?  I am pretty sure I need to show it to all my seniors to give them a realistic perception of what college will be like. 

The next morning I woke them up early to make pumpkin pancakes and get ready for our day at the water park. 

May loved Monsters U so much she makes her breakfast foods look like Mike Wazowski.

I had been telling May about the greatness that is the water park by our house for a month.  I finally convinced her that we needed to go and have a wonderful day in the sun and water.  I was supposed to have a friend with me, but she ended up having family obligations.  That did not deter me from having the time of my life in the wave pool and lazy river.  The water slides were crazy though.  About half the skin on my right elbow now belongs to the ride called the Bermuda Triangle.  I am convinced adults are not meant for this stuff, but I refuse to give up.

About halfway through the day I said good bye to the kids and chilled on my own.  It was glorious.  I found a chair, parked it under a water slide that would drip on me, read a book and took a nap.  Really growing up is great.  I had fun doing the kid things and loved just chilling too.

What summer activity is complete without a frozen treat?  We stopped by Golden Spoon for a sweet treat.  I have now 100% confirmed that I am incapable of eating dessert.  For the second weekend in a row I had a migraine the day after I had a small dessert.  I am of course heartbroken, but I will cope.

Today was a much more chill day.  I just ran errands and started to pack up my apartment because I am moving into my new place in a week! 

I have one little rant I need to get off my chest before I call it a day.  While at Target I was witness to some really terrible parenting.  I was going to the check out line and was stepping into a newly opened checkout line.  A man was there before me and then I was next.  Before I knew it the man pictured below walked right in front of me and his two teenage kids hesitantly followed behind him.

One of his kids said something about how he cut in front of me.  Then the dad looked right at me and said, "Five people cut in front of me in the other line, I deserve to cut in front of her."


I am by far one of the least confrontational people ever and I did not feel like it was worth the fight.  Really, it was just a line in Target.  I could have cared less if he went before me.  The part of this whole exchange that bothered me the most was that his children knew what what right and wrong and when they confronted him on it, he essentially told them to through making the right choices out the window.

I had a long tirade about how parents are the greatest reflection of what a functional adult in the world could look like, but I felt it was a little preachy for a lady without children.  I will simply say, parents you are the greatest refection to your kids of how to be a moral, good, contributing member to society.  Please act like, even when five people cut in front of you in line.  By the way, how does that even happen?

And now I will take a step off my soap box, but I will keep it close by in case I run into you again sir. I hope you had a great weekend and found a way to live like a kid and avoided the grumpy man at Target.

This is How It Ends

Friday Favs - September 13...Spooky!

When you read the nest sentence please do so with the inflection of Chandler from Friends.  Could I BE any happier it is Friday? Probably not.  I am having a wonderful love affair with the weekend these days.  I have never been so excited for time off as I have been these last few months.  (I really miss Friends having new episodes by the way.  Thank God for syndication!)


I was looking through my old posts this week, getting ready for a guest post, and I came across a little Feature I used to do called "Friday Faves."  Sometimes I like to share some of the best things I found in the week, a tune that I can not stop listening to, a movie I loved, food I am obsessed with, a book I couldn't put down.... You get the gist.  I love to share these things with you but I do not always feel like dedicating a whole post to one product, show, movie etc.  Unless it is about The Great Gatsby.  I could talk about that for days.  DAYS!


With that intro out of the way I present to you Everything Erica Loves Friday Favs!
 

 
 
Once Upon A Time 

source

I love my Netflix account.  Actually, in the spirit of full disclosure, I love my mom's Netflix account.  Sharing is caring in my family.  One of the things I love most about Netflix is that I can sit on my couch for two days and watch an entire season of a TV show in 2 days.  I believe this is what the founding fathers had in mind when they created America, and I am really glad I am living up to the dream for the world. 


I was addicted to Once Upon A Time this last weekend.  It is such a creative show.  Maybe it is the English teacher in me, but I loved the creative use of old stories that we all know and the innovation of making something new out of it.  Go watch it!  I have convinced May to watch it and now she is in the same downward spiral I was in last week.  The good news is I have been there and survived so I can help her with her new addiction. 
 
Keith Urban
I am loving Keith's new CD.  I was a little bit on the fence about him the last few years, but he won me over again.  I randomly get XM radio a few days a year and it came back in time for me to listen to Keith talk about his career and new album.  I just had to buy Fuse when it came out after that.  I am a firm believer that if you know some one's story you are 100000% more likely to like them and their work.  
 

 
 
Paying for Things With Coins and Animal Print
Last night I got home a little later than usual for a school night.  I hadn't eaten a ton during the day and I was really hungry.  I live dangerously close to a Del Taco, so I went through the drive through and ordered a 50 cent burrito.  I then paid for it in nickels and pennies, just because I am classy klassy like that.  

You can kind of see my other favorite thing, my new leopard print skirt.  I had an extreme aversion to animal print.  In fact I thought it was weird to be a human wearing animal print.  I just could not wrap my mind around it.  This last year I have been slowly converting to the trend.  Some of my friends at work wear it and look so dang good that I decided to hop on board the wild kingdom train.  I am pretty proud of myself and I am afraid I might be an addict.


Friendships
On Tuesday I wrote a short post about my friends who lost their father this week, read it here.  They have had one heck of a week and are just exhausted and worn down.  They called me yesterday and asked me to make them dinner.  I had already offered and I was up for the task.  A few hours later they let me know someone had pizza delivered to their house and I didn't need to cook.  They still asked me to come over and bring my "positive vibes."  I was more than happy to do this.  I love this family and if the way I can show them my love is to be a silly fool to help take their mind off of things for a few hours then I am happy to do so.  
 
I was just reminded about how beautiful our friendships can be with people.  I am so blessed to have such great connections in my life. I want to be a better friend towards others and let them be a good friend for me.  I think a lot of our 20s is spent trying to find our place in the world and it can be a little, or a lot, egocentric, which is OK.  I think though that anytime you find your place in the world with others that you can pour love into you are on the right path.


In summation, this week I love Once Upon A Time, Keith Urban, pennies, animal print, and friends.  There is nothing cohesive about this post and I like it like that!


Now of to work and a wild weekend at Raging Waters with some crazy teenagers.  

Side Note: I have to take my students to camp for a few days next week and I will not be writing.  If you feel like you would love to guest post over here next week let me know.  I would love some fresh voices here!  Also if you ever need a guest writer I love writing for others, especially with a topic.  I know it is weird, but I love rising to a new occasion!
 

I was inducted as a member of the pillow pet people last year at camp.  Cant wait to see what awaits me this year!

 
Happy Friday and try and avoid the crazies out there.  It is Friday the 13th after all!.

Oh My God! This Is My Song!

Today I am linking up with Helene over at Helene In Between, because I just love her idea for today, Songs That Define Me.  Like me Helene is a music lover.  Even though our tastes are different, I prefer country she loves electronic music, we are equally crazy about our sweet jams.  She flew to another country for a music festival I sweated for three days in the desert for a music festival.  Essential we are awesome. 
Looking back over my life there have been a few songs or musical groups that have defined a certain phase of life.  Below are the good, bad, and just plan awkward songs that have meant a lot to me in my life. 
DC Talk Back in the day I was quite the gansta, or so I thought.  Really I just listened to Christian rap.  My first CD was DC Talk's Free at Last.  I am pretty sure I could still sing/rap every song on that CD.  I am amazed my mother was not worried about me as I was rapping about not having sex and that luv is a verb. 

Luv Is a Verb by dc Talk on Grooveshark 
 Boy BandsI loved me my boy bands in the 90s.  After I got over my Christian rap phase I fell hard for the lovely boys.  I loved them all, Backstreet, NSync, and 98 Degrees.  One of my most embarrassing song confessions comes to you right now.  In high school I really liked a guy and he liked me, but we lived in different states.  We would see each other about once a month for meetings.  The last time we saw each other we knew it was probably forever.  We said goodbye, he sobbed on my shoulder (true story) and my little 17 year old self walked on the bus and contemplated the lyrics of this song:

The Hardest Thing by 98 Degrees on Grooveshark

Luke BryanCurrently in my life I am loving happy music.  I mean I just can not get enough of it.  Anytime Keith Urban's LIttle Bit of Everything comes on I car dance like I am fighting for my life.  My favorite fun song at the moment comes from my man Luke Bryan.  I actually had a dream we met and fell in love it was beautiful. 
That's my Kind of Night by Luke Bryan on Grooveshark

PS Look how cute I was at Luke Bryan's Dirt Road Diaries Tour!

Simon and GarfunkelThe band that has always had a special place in my heart is Simon and Garfunkel.  I know this is a totally random pick, but I grew up listening to them and have never quit loving their strong lyrics and intoxicating harmonies.  Plus how great is Garfunkel's name?  My mom loved S and G growing up and shared her love for them with me.  We would listen to their greatest hits CD on all or road trips and it was by far the only music we could agree on.  Nothing sounds as comforting and as happy as a great mix of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
Simon and Garfunkel by Erica Thompson on Grooveshark
Don'f forget to link up with Helene In Between!

Can You Be Too Accommodating?

This week it has become far too apparent that I am too accommodating.  In my job, dating, and social settings I am willing to do just about anything people ask me to.  It isn't like I am a door mat, If I can't do it I will say no, but if someone tells me it is important or I can do it I will usually just get to it.  
You need me to sub a class today and do my regular job because you forgot to hire a sub? Sure, I love teaching.
You want to meet for coffee at some undetermined time and place (by the way, way to make a girl feel special).  Sure, here is my number, call me and work out a plan.  
You decided not to talk to me for a month and then try a date?  OK I guess everyone needs an extra chance.  
Want me to sit with a group of students because their bus driver was lost?  Sure, I love it when teenagers sass mouth me in 100 degree heat. 
Want to go to breakfast with the family at 10? No 11? No lunch at 1?  Sure, I love food. 
Want to sing in a worship band for camp?  Sure that sounds fun.  

The above question and answer thing may seem totally silly and extreme, but it is almost word for word what has happened over the last week.  I have always been accommodating for people and I never thought that much about it.  It never was much of a problem for me.  If I can help you I will.  If my schedule is flexible I can make the adjustment.  If this is something that is really important for you I will do what I can for you. 
Well it all ends today!  That's right folks, I am done bending over backwards and making my schedule work for you.  It is time YOU make your schedule work for ME!  
Woah that last one was a little bit over the top.  I am still going to do what I can for people but perhaps take a chill pill when I just cannot do something.  
Perhaps you are asking me what has triggered this new attitude.  I was reading through the last 5 days of this social experiment 40 Days of Dating.  

40 Days of Dating

For 40 days two friends Jessie and Tim decided to date for 40 days and record their relationship.  For the first 30 days or so I was sure they were doomed.  They would fight and break up and not agree about most things.  Then around day 30 I was sure they were in love.  Things seemed to work and I had hope for these two crazy kids.  

BBC News

Well enter days 37- 40.  I should say SPOILER ALERT!  They go to Disney world for a vacation together and then break up for sure.  Well they just decided they were not going to keep dating on day 41.  I was super disappointed for these two strangers.  I was really hoping they would get over themselves and in the words of Tim Gunn, "Make it work!"
The thing that stood out to me the most was when Tim remarked that the reason he did not want to stay with Jessie after the experiment was that she was "too accommodating."  She cared to much about him, his health, and his happiness.  This struck me as odd and maybe true. 
Right now my struggle is in how do you accommodate others without being accused of being too accommodating?  What would you say is the balance that we all need in this area?  Help me stop helping others!