Innocence of the Young

First of all, I have to prep you on a little story before I can tell the one that I've actually come to tell.

It was the night of my sister's rehearsal, and I had stopped at this quaint bed and breakfast where my family was staying for the weekend to pick them up and take them to the rehearsal dinner. My aunt introduced me to John, who ran the bed and breakfast. She also informed him of that bright neon light flashing above my head that read, "SINGLE! SINGLE!".

John is probably about 5 ft 7 1/2 in, looks like he's probably in his late 20's, and is a little on the creepy side.

He's also an aspiring photographer, and I happen to have interest in the subject, so we visited for a while about cameras and so on and so forth. However, as we were about to leave he just had to show us this video he constructed of one of his photo shoots.
The music was horrible. Now, I know I'm a music freak, but even my cousin was making fun of this horribly corny music under her breath.

Finally! We're heading out the door and he tells me that he would love for me to join him and his friends for evening. They were going to go see Madagascar 2 but understood that I couldn't since it was my sister's rehearsal dinner and all. I politely thanked him for the offer, but there was no way I was going anywhere with this guy.

So, the whole night my family teased and teased me about my boy, John.
"I'm sure John would love to be here!"
"Reagan, when you go out with him, make sure you where flats. You don't want to hurt his feelings."
"John" this. "John" that.
"What a cute video John made!"

And then....
My little 13-year-old cousin Austin decides to pipe in:
"Yeah, I'm sure John would LOVE to make a video of you!"

Awkward pause....
Jodie his father laid his hand on Austin's shoulder then looked at me and said, "He doesn't know what he's saying, Reagan. He doesn't know what he's saying."

I, of course, began to laugh so hard I was crying. I thought my brother was going to fall to the ground. Austin was completely oblivious to what he had just said.

However, I'm thankful that he was. Innocence is something very special and irreplaceable.

Woopie!!!

So, my friend just posted a picture of herself dressed in a woopie cushion costume. Hilarious photo. It reminded me of this random kid in Hastings I had the pleasure of interacting with.


I was walking down the movie aisles, talking to this guy I had somewhat of a crush on. The kid would come out of nowhere with his woopie cushion! I would signal to him to cut it out or get lost, but he would repeatedly just run off and then come right back. Utterly embarrassed, I abruptly told my crush I had to get off the phone, and I would call him back later. As soon has I closed my phone, the kid took off never to be seen again.


I secretly envy that child for his cleverness and bravery. What kid would do that to some random stranger!?!? Wow...

Christmas Time

Ok, it's official!
I'm ready for Christmas!
With Lindsay's wedding coming up, I haven't had time to be ready for anything. Not even Thanksgiving! People have been asking me what my plans are for the holidays, and I honestly have no idea.

The other day, I was meeting up with my step mother and sister-in-law at the mall. They said they would meet me in Bath and Body Works. So, has a strolled the lanes of the great Quail Springs Mall, I happened upon our meeting destination. I couldn't believe my eyes! The whole store was decorated in CHRISTMAS! The sound of Dean Martin singing Silver Bells and the scents of their magical Christmas candles (that's right! MAGICAL!) left me breathless. I know I'm sounding utterly ridiculous here, but I love Christmas time. This was an escape from the busy bustle of the constant mall-goers, to a place I like to call the North Pole.

Ahhhh! And Christmas music!!!! Can you get anymore cheerful!?!?! Instant happiness coming forth through whatever device you might be listening from: You're iPod, zune, radio, and so on. You get the picture.

Oh AND! My mother and I are taking a trip to Branson, Missouri during the first weekend in December. I can't wait to see the Christmas shows. Everyone tells me it's an amazing experience to go there during Christmas time. I'm sooooo excited! The picture above is actually of Branson. "Amazing" in my opinion.

Romantic at Heart

I'm going to be honest here; I'm a total romantic.
I'm also a complete freak when it comes to music and with my sister getting married, I've been having to listening to so many songs in preparation for her wedding.

Some of my favorites and what I consider some of the most romantic songs ever are as follows - no particular order and probably super-duper cliche, but whatever:

Sundress: Ben Kweller
Shiver: Coldplay
Yellow: Coldplay
Til Kingdom Come: Coldplay
Fix You: Coldplay
Remember to Breathe: Dashboard Confessional
Such Great Heights: The Postal Service
All I Need: Radiohead
New Day: Robbie Seay Band
Closer: Travis
Under the Moonlight: Travis
Your Song: Elton John
The Book of Love: Peter Gabriel
Transatlanticism: Death Cab for Cutie

I know some of these my not be solely about loving someone and them loving back - and blah, blah, blah - but there's moments in each one that the lyrics grasp my attention and cause me to sigh a deep sigh or just feel that feeling in the pit of your stomach. Yes, I'm a dork. But ask any girl - we all feel it.
Now... I could probably go on and on with more songs.... but I'm going to stop there. This is my personal list, and if I had more time to think there would probably be more. I actually have no idea why I'm writing this, I guess I've just been listening to a lot of Coldplay recently, and in my opinion they pretty much rule when it comes to being romantic.

Random Conversations We Have

Random conversation at work:

Me: So, Mom. I heard from the mechanic, and it's the alternator. They'll hopefully have....
~Melissa, my coworker, walks up behind me~

Mel: Reagan, when I walk up, You stop talking. Do you understand?

Me: When I walk up, You shut up! (Nice comeback, right? Said just like Napoleon too.)

Mom: So Melissa, did you fix that issue? (Totally ignoring the conversation we were having that Mel just interrupted.)

Mel: Yes.

Mom: What did you do? How did you do it?

Mel: I voted.

Me: What?

Mom: So, you just turned it back on?

Mel: Yeah.

Me: Wow...

That was the conversation word for word, except for what's in parenthesis. Those are just my thoughts. I was utterly confused and impressed at the same time.

Reagan VS Restrooms

Ok, so there's been several events leading up to yesterday's work of art.

I will begin with a little reminder of a few happenings that a few of you who know me may have already heard.

Not too long ago, I walked into the lady's restroom - obviously, to do my thing - and I opened the door to the stall and the seat was up. Now... usually you can tell if this occurrence is the result of a fresh cleaning. However, this was not the case. At first out of shock, I jump back then scope the room to make sure I'm in the right place. I conclude that I am, but usually resume my business in a different stall.
This incident has happened to me several times since then. Odd...
Another bathroom bewilderment happened while at TGIF's (aka Friday's). I went to the women's restroom and while I was in the first stall, I hear someone walk in. This person (hopefully a "she") went straight to the back stall, threw the door open, and then proceeded to do the same to the next stall and then the next stall. I could hear her coming closer and closer. She finally arrived at mine and jiggled the handle.
I believe I responded with something like, "Ummmm....."
And then an arm shot from underneath the door! She had a roll of toilet paper in her hand, set it at my feet, and then walked out of the restroom altogether. Again, odd...
So my theory is all these things have been happening as warning signs of a day that lay ahead, a day of absolute bathroom horror. This very day will go down in the books, my friends.

October 22, 2008.

I went to Oklahoma City for a seminar for my job. I already had three cups of coffee and upon arriving at our destination, I - of course - needed a bathroom, pronto.
I spot the women's sign and head straight for the first stall I saw. Unknowingly, I picked a stall with a broken lock. I didn't pay much attention because obviously my thoughts were otherwise preoccupied. Someone walks in, and of course, goes straight for my stall and opens the door leaving me exposed. I don't scream; I usually make this high-pitched "whoop" sound. After I did so, she shut the door and apologized. Awkwardly, I apologize also for not realizing the door was possibly cracked open. Then I just wanted to burst out laughing. I restrained myself and did my best to get the heck out of the bathroom. I then prayed I wouldn't see that woman at the seminar I was going to. God heard me, because I never saw her again.

Same day.....
I drank too much water during the seminar and also at lunch. So again, I've gotta go. I chose a different bathroom altogether. I didn't want what happened a few hours earlier to happen again. I did my thing and flushed the toilet. The toilet flushed like normal, but instead of filling back up with water, it EXPLODED. Water gushed from places I didn't know was possible. Yes... toilet bowl water was all over me and the floor. It just kept coming. I wished I could have had a shower right then and there.

I was banned from drinking any kind of liquids until we arrived back at the office.

This day was to prove that both God and I have a sense of humor.

Finding Atlas

On our last morning in NYC, my mother and I were explored Rockefeller Center. After "The Today Show" we went to the Top of the Rock and then walked around the block looking for Atlas. I couldn't remember exactly where Atlas was located, but I knew it was somewhere in Rockefeller Center. Everyone knows that. Or at least I thought. I asked about three or four people around the area one being a security guard,
"Excuse me, but could you tell me where the Atlas statue is?"

His response, "Nope." He wouldn't even look at me.
I had another lady tell me she had no idea what I was talking about even when I described the statue to her.

So I decided to walk into some clothing store on 5th Ave and 49th Street and ask again. (Keep in mind, I've been strolling down 5th Ave between 51st and 49th Streets this whole time. Ok?)

"I'm sorry, but would you happen to know where the Atlas statue is?"

With a expression of utter confusion, the lady looked at me and said, "The what?"

"Atlas. You know, the man holding the globe on his shoulders."

Still confused she said, "Ummm.... I don't... no, I don't don't know about that. You might want to ask her." pointing to a coworker. "Hey, Amanda, do you know where - Atlas? Right?" Looking at me and then turning back to her coworker. "Yeah... do you know where the Atlas statue is?"

"Of course!" Amanda said. "That big statue?!! Yeah! It's way, way, way down 39th Street. Almost to the end. Way down there." Amanda overly chipper today, just so you know.

"So... way down 39th Street?" I said. This seemed way, way, way too far from Rockefeller Center. "I'll just continue down 5th until I get to 39th?"

"Yeah! It's way, way, way down 49th!"

"Ok, so I'll go to the end of 49th."

"Yeah, go way down 59th!"

"So, it's on 59th? Not 49th."

"Yeah! Way, way, way down 59th. You can't miss it. It's all the way at the end."

"Ok, well, I'll try that. Thank you for your help."

"No problem! Have a wonderful day!"

I walked out to the sidewalk where my mother was waiting.
"So," she said, "where did they say it was? You were in there long enough."

I began telling her about the conversation I just had with Crazy Amanda. We both agreed to find someone else. Then I realized... this whole time I had my booklet with me with all the sites to see in NYC. I could have kicked myself.

Finally! Atlas was located just up the street in between 50th and 51st. The reason we didn't see it before was because they had it covered for cleaning. The box it was in blended perfectly with the other buildings, so if you just walked by it on the street you wouldn't know it was there. Pretty ridiculous, I know.... but then so was Amanda.