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!