Lost in Translation

I don't know why, I guess it's hard for some people. Listening, an every day human function, is just hard for some people. It could very well be that something vital between their ears and brain is missing. Perhaps, others were not taught that as members of a society, it is polite to listen when someone speaks. A third theory is that it is physically impossible for some people to stop thinking about their own lives long enough to hear about someone elses life. I wonder how these people were allowed to be so self absorbed for so long?

For me, it is a compliment when someone wants me to listen to them. It shows that they trust me enough to hear what they have to say, without judgment. It also means that they care about me enough to tell me what's bothering them. Now I will admit when I was little and my parents tried to tell me to clean my room, or be nice to my sister, the message would sometimes get lost in translation. For some reason, "stop pulling your sister's hair" did not register as anything more than a suggestion. Now as an adult, I've realized a key to using this skill effectively is to RESPOND, to the talker. Whether it be by giving advice, sympathizing, hashing out details, defending your side, or simply doing what they ask of you, response is key.

So what is their excuse? How can people my age justify being bad listeners? Were they dropped on their heads as children? Do they know how to follow instructions? Do they respect the talker enough to do something about it? Is it honestly THAT hard?

Perhaps they are just hard of hearing. Maybe the rest of us just have to SPEAK UP.

Because That's What Roommates are For

These are my roommates. I don't know that I've ever introduced them before, but here they are. From left to right...Megan Stoddard, Mandy, Chari, Melissa, Jill and Me, Megan.

Megan Stoddard: or "The Other Megan" as I like to call her. She is the quiet roommate, but she's the nicest most considerate person I know. She is the constant in our apartment. Always kind, always happy, and always up for anything.

Mandy: Mandy Lee is my most recently happily married roommate. I guess she's not really a roommate anymore, but it still feels like it. She is the Mother, always making sure we eat, enough, sleep well and take care of each other.

Chari: My dearest Charissa is the sweetest person in the world. She has a need to make sure everyone is happy. I love that she cares about everyone else more than herself. She's friends with everyone and can listen without judgement.

Melissa: The human fortune cookie. Seriously, she gives the best advice ever. I look to her for all sorts of guidance and comfort. I've never been so impressed with a person my age in my life. She knows herself, who she is and her great worth. How rare that is.

Jill: Jill is my rock. Not only because she has rock hard calves, but also because she is my kindred spirit. She's the one I vent to when things get tough. She supports me, listens to me and keeps me sane when I'm at my wit's end. Without her I could not stand.

Then there's me, and I'm just...me.

I'm lucky.

Uniquely Logan

Let me take a minute to talk about the wonderful place I live. Only in Logan do you see the following:

• Men in cowboy boots and chaps going in to banks and restaurants
  
• College students in t-shirts and shorts during 50 degree weather. (Someone wore a bikini to class today)
  
• Kamakaze squirrels darting in front of walking students. (Yes this has happened to me)
• Old fashioned cars at a retro McDonald's.
  
• Box elder bugs in mass, flying into car windows and crawling up classroom walls.
• A sink full of ice cream being inhaled in an hour.
• A man in a cowboy hat and shorts riding a bicycle that was much to small for him. (he was serious.)
• Gym clothes mixed with flip flops and a cowboy hat.
• People riding their horses on main streets.
• A sold out spectrum (quite a sight to see, not to mention a death trap. Can you say fire hazard?)
• Cops giving tickets for going 30 in 25 mile an hour zone.
• A semi truck with a trailer carrying get this...mail trucks.
  
• Run-down homes, still incredibly beautiful despite their run-downness

This is what I love about Logan. It is constantly surprising with it's unique places and it's even more unique people. I live in a hilarious place.

Did you think that your feet had been bound,

By what gravity brings to the ground?

Did you feel you were tricked,

By the future you picked?

Then come on down....

All these rules don't apply
When you're high in the sky,
So come on down
Come on down.


Did you think you'd escaped from routine,
by changing the script and the scene?
Despite all that you made of it,
You're always afraid of the change.


You've got a lot on your chest,
Well you can come as my guest
So come on down
Come on down


We're coming down to the ground,
There's no better place to go,
We've got sunlight on the mountains
We've got rivers down below.


We're coming down to the ground,
We hear the birds sing in the trees.
And the land will be looked after,
We send the seeds out on the breeze.

Down to earth