Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life - C

C

Cat, as in "That Darned Cat!" - I've snuck into my neighbors' overgrown yard FIVE times now to open a window and let my cat out. Her entrance has been barricaded more than once but nothing seems to stop her. Five times! I think it's time Olive finds herself a new home. And, no, I'm not referring to my neighbors' creepy abandoned home.

Concerts - I love, love, love live music. The first concert I ever went to was Michael W. Smith in the 9th grade. Although my music tastes have changed quite a bit since then my love of the concert experience has not. In the last couple of years I've had the pleasure of seeing Dave Matthews Band (2x, with and without Tim Reynolds!), U2, Sarah MacLaughlin, Indigo Girls (2x), Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds, Coldplay (2x), Cat Power, Gnarls Barkley, The Flaming Lips, Damien Rice, Feist, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eli Young Band, James Blunt, Sheryl Crow, New Kids on the Block, Shiny Toy Guns, The All-American Rejects, and (most recently) Matt Costa.

Crafts - I need to make more time for me to unleash my creative side. I'm drawn to all types of crafts and am in awe of those of my friends who excel in one area or another. Val and her quilts, Kristin and her purses, Adrian and her photography, Ashley and her painting, etc. And now that my eyes have been opened to the world of bloggers, I'm inspired each and every day by someone new. I would love to delve into a particular area (maybe mixed media collage?) and find out I had some talent in that area.

Crushes - I've been making a lot of lists these days while at my second job. I'm sure many of these lists will become their own posts in the future, but since this one is "brought to you by the letter C" I thought I'd include a chronological list of my crushes here. I wish that the intensity of school age crushes would stay with you on into adulthood. It would make the whole dating over the age of 30 thing much more fun. But probably a bit more dangerous. Hmmm...here goes:
4th grade - Kelsey H. and Jay B.
5th grade - Kelly L. (he moved away that year)
6th grade - John S. I remember he sat behind me and over one row in our reading class. I checked the clock above his head at least 15 times a class period just to get one more glimpse of him.
7th grade - Marcus M. and Ed K.
8th grade -Michael M. and Mike H.
9th grade - James W. and Phil G. This particular crush lasted until...
Junior year (college) - Mike C.
Senior year (college) - Michael F.
Post-college - Jon W. and (much further down the road) Chris B.
As with most crushes, the majority of my feelings for these boys were unrequited. I dated only three of them. And I've had relationships since, but there's still nothing like that feeling of butterflies aflutter in the pit of your stomach when you anticipate running into your crush in the hall between classes or whenever/wherever you might see him. My palms would start to sweat and I'd begin to hyperventilate. As much as I hoped they speak to me I equally hoped they wouldn't because I was absolutely sure that nothing intelligible or intelligent would escape my lips. Ah, the good ol' days.