mandythompson.com

Hey!

I’m on the internet!

So I just took a minute to read through all the comments over the past week. What I failed to mention, but you’ve probably figured out by now, is that I’m not really on the internet. I’m tucked away in a smallish hotel room on the side of a mountain. I’m hiding with my husband. And I think I’ll be in hiding for a few more days.

The deal is, he can’t read his theology books and I can’t be on the internet (I know, I’m a BAD wife for keeping him away from truth, but what can I say?!)

Right now he’s climbing a mountain or something. And me? I’m on the internet. Don’t tell him…

Here are a few things you need to know.

1) Go see “Seven Pounds” then come back and tell me what you thought of it. Me? AMAZING. I had no idea what it was about when we went on Friday, but dang.

2) I do have wireless IN. OUR. HOTEL. ROOM.  But I’m refraining. THANK GOD for that spiritual gift of “self control.” I’m not addicted to the internet, I’m not addicted to the internet, I’m not addicted to the internet.

3) I think you’re grand. Reading through the comments was HYSTERICAL! Y’all crack me up. Y’all are funny… And honest… And sincere… and kind. I almost missed the internet for a moment. And Merry Christmas. And you’re welcome for that Christmas present… You’re too good to me.

4) My husband (and biggest fan) has presented me with a rather impossible songwriting challenge for 2009. If I choose to accept this challenge, this little blog might change.  A LOT. Are y’all up for the challenge and change??? If so, hit me with your best song ideas - I’m gonna need - oh, say, 100.

Ok. That is all. We now resume our regularly scheduled “best of something or other.”

Blessings and Happy New Year.

mandy

Fallen

Original Post: 10.14.08

Fall is here. This season that has become familiar to me was once wildly new and invigorating. My ignorance made this experience so unspeakably exciting - not my ignorance of fall, but my ignorance of what would overtake fall.

The earth knows what’s coming. As the air grows cooler the landscape protests, holding brightly colored banners against the impending invasion of  white and gray snow clouds.

Trees raise their weapons high, holding back the cold. Defenders stand unmoved and determined. Just when our eyes can take no more of the visual onslaught, the trees push their protest into a crescendo of color. The landscape explodes with the terrible tints of war - fiery reds and yellows and oranges. This is the heightened peak of battle.

In this season, in this moment, we close our eyes to the fight before us. We esteem the colors of fall as if they are victorious - as if no disaster will overtake them. We celebrate. We hold festivals. Carve pumpkins. Pick apples. Walk in a rainbow of leaves.

Now, as the last trace of summer sun rests it’s head on the horizon, a determined chill bullies away rain frogs and night crawlers alike. Even thunderclouds are silenced as they escaped the coming storms. Once again, old man winter wins. In just a few short months, the cycle of life must give way to his power. He won’t hold back. Soon, he will blow in, mercilessly stripping the landscape bear of battle array. Leaving the ground colored by the casualties of war.  The trees will have no choice but to surrender.

If you watch closely, you will see that between festival and celebration, we have given up the fight. We know the battle, though freshly begun, is already over. Just as rabbits and reptiles seek out shelter, foxholes and dens safely below the surface, we begin the burrowing process as well. Adding layers - adding blankets - adding firewood. Preparing to wait out the long cold winter before us.

This is New England.

This is my New England.

This is my new home.

Blame It On the Pretzels

Original Post: 8.26.08

so… i was sitting in the airplane today.

[wait. we're already off to a bad start. let me clarify. "today" in my typing terms means monday. but "today" in your reading terms means tuesday.]

[let's try this again.]

so… i was sitting in the airplane yesterday.

[better? you're welcome]

and came up with a GREAT question to ask y’all this morning.

[oh - why was i in the airport, you ask? because i snuck in a quick trip to my parents' this weekend. but don't tell anyone.]

[why not tell? because i didn't get to see a LOT of people that i wanted to see. stupid hurricane.]

[anyway, quit interrupting so i can get back to my story.]

so the whole day was filled with traveling that should’ve been taken care of on sunday. stupid hurricane. stupid rain. stupid weather delays.

my sunday travels got bumped to monday travels. plus a rental car. plus a MASSIVE layover in the Atlanta airport, which is the size of a small city.

so, FINALLY i am in the airplane. h.u.n.g.r.y. so the stewardess flight attendant was nice enough to give me FOUR whole bags of pretzels.

[i think she just felt sorry for me - cause of all the travel drama. did i mention the hurricane?]

while eating my pretzels, i came up with a GREAT question for y’all…

but, see, here’s the thing… i think all the salt from the pretzels, on top of the whole “don’t drink anything or else i’ll have to crawl over sleeping passengers to get to the bathroom because i have a tiny bladder and the flight is over 2 hours but i still got a window seat and now i don’t know why” thing comes in to play so i don’t drink enough water when i travel, caused my brain to shrink due to slight dehydration.

plus all the confusion from flying: “due to increment weather, the Atlanta airport has shut down… translated: we ain’t goin’ nowhere, people, so start praying now, or else beg for another flight so you won’t have to spend the night in that massive airport, ’cause we’ll get there eventually, but who knows if you’re connecting flight will be waiting on you when you arrive” or there’s “not boarding now - there’s a weather delay again but we’ll keep you posted …. the weather has cleared and we can leave BUT we have no flight attendants because they couldn’t fly in due to the weather delay - no wait we’ll be boarding the plane in 30 minutes or sometime next May - we know you’ve been here for four hours already and there’s nowhere to sit, so we’ll keep you posted - thankyouforyourpatience.“

…means that i forgot the question i was going to ask.

don’t you hate it when that happens?

The Day I Learned the Truth about Guys

Original Post: 4.22.08 (Check the comments there. Ridiculous!)

i was sitting in the airport - near baggage claim. with drew.

she was standing outside the restroom, waiting.

as he turned the corner to walk out of the restroom, he was still zipping up his fly.

and, i immediately knew the truth.

he hadn’t washed his hands.

i watched him smile at her, slip his hands in hers, and walk away.

and i made myself a promise - to NEVER touch anything in public again.

ever.

::

gentlemen - PLEASE tell me that all men aren’t like this.

how do YOU “handle” subways, guard rails, arm rests, door handles, tables, etc etc etc etc etc??????

“A series”  - Is that the right way to say it? “Series” looks like a plural of “serey” or something. What IS the plural of series, anyway?? “Serieses?” Seriously. I’m confused. Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled “best of” post, with what started my favorite series of the year:

DO: Watch

Original Post: 9.1.08

I Sat There, Heart Pounding

Original Post: 4.14.08

i’d been staring at the little green button on my computer screen for more than a few seconds. mouse hovering over it. questions RACING through my mind. heart RACING in my chest - but i couldn’t tell if it raced because i was so excited or so frightened…

what if my webcam doesn’t work and she can’t hear me?
what if its really awkward and awkward and awkward?
what if her internet craps out and she can’t answer?
what if she has a really strange voice or laugh?
what if we have nothing to talk about?
what if she’s not as excited as i am?
what if she hates my accent?
what if she chickens out like i wanna chicken out and she doesn’t answer?
what if i don’t call - and instead make up some lame excuse why i didn’t?

her blog caught my attention last year and i’ve been reading ever since. once she found mine, she never left. eventually, we did the email and IM thing - even tried snail-mail once or twice. but, never had a voice to voice conversation.

i took in a deep breath. held it. and clicked the mouse.

before the line even rang i heard: click -> “HI!!!!”

i exhaled a squeal of a “HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!” as i clapped. yes. i actually CLAPPED.

the nerves dissipated. the questions were forgotten. i couldn’t have been more thrilled.

we talked about college, marriage, ministry, relationships, friends, faith, church, scriptures, fears, sadness, life, life, and life. it felt warm, cozy, familiar… yeah, there were moments of silence, but not the awkward silence of not-knowing-what-to-say. it was the silence of thinking, processing, reflecting: “holy cow, what she just said really hit me.” or “wow. is this actually happening? this is crazy.”

then the strangest thing occurred…
i looked at the clock - two hours had passed like two minutes.
and my life was the better for it.

i am officially one of those people with one of those “met-on-the-net” stories.
and, i’m more than ok with it.

…most of the time.

am i the only crazy one around here? do any of y’all have met-on-the-net stories that will make me feel more normal???

The Colors of Music

Originally posted 8.23.08

He Kept the Placenta in the Freezer for Three Months

Original Post: 5.29.08

i feel like a reporter with some hot news scoop… only its not that hot. and its not really news.

but, it is NOT for those who faint at gory stories. i’m so sorry.

THIS just in from the housing department:

there’s a guy that came into our office yesterday - bearded, braided hair, hippie type - lets call him Geo. great guy. loves Jesus. works with physical plant.

Geo’s wife recently gave birth. and he was telling us about how they kept the placenta in their freezer for a month. they almost forgot about it - but recently thawed it out.

why? he buried it in their garden to use as fertilizer. said he now has the most amazing basil and pepper plants growing.

[i PROMISE - he stoodinmyoffice and told us this!]

my boss chimes in that she knows a lady who worked at the hospital and used to fertilize her prize-winning roses with glass jars of throw-away human blood.

oh.

my.

nasty.

i almost fainted from light-headedness…

and “threatened” to quit my job. right there. on the spot.

Geo laughed. and said he’s got tons of stories. i told him (for your benefit) that he couldn’t come back unless he brings a story with him…

…so get ready for more.

what’s something crazy you’ve heard lately??

I Don’t Like Nice Yankees

Original Post: 6.19.08

so there’s this weird habit of some drivers up here.

let’s say i’m wanting to turn left at a stop. here comes somebody to the right, so i wait for them to pass. they CLEARLY have the right of way, but they stop to wave me out in front of them. and i’m supposed to pull out.

allow me to illustrate:

why???

they have the right-of-way. why?????

it takes an extra 3 seconds for them to come to a complete stop before i’ll even think about pulling out. THEN they still have to wave me out, because i’m not gonna pull into on-coming traffic when THEY CLEARLY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.

it gives me the most guilt-ridden case of road-rage!

am i the only one with nice-people-road-rage?

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I’m so thankful for all of you that come here to this blog, so I thought it’d be cool to give you a present. When you click the gift, you’ll find an automatic download of one of my songs… Just for you!