Backroads

This is the view you would see after pulling out of my driveway. This picture was taken a few summers ago, so I need an update on my stock of nature photos. Enjoy!

There’s Hope Yet!

Today’s events were extremely ironic. It was just yesterday John, C, and I were cruising along in the old Silver Sunfire and they started chatting about their recent blood donations. It appears they are soon due for another draining and inquired whether I would join them for the occasion. I sadly declined and went back in to time this past summer.

After my trip to Nashville for IYC(International Youth Convention) with the youth group, I contracted some kind of virus that took over me. When the doctor asked if I had been around anyone, I replied “Yes, about seven thousand other people at the Opryland Hotel and multiple greyhound buses for transportation.” (To this day I sweat I will never travel by bus ever again after the merry-go-round shuffle from bus to bus at odd hours of the early mornings.) The doctor looked at me blankly and then didn’t ask any more questions concerning how I caught the terrible virus. She took a look into the back of my throat and was horrified.

From there it was a trip over to the main hospital where I would have blood work done. At first, when I heard these words, I had to slowly process the idea in my head. “They are going to do something to me…maybe it’s where they draw blood…” but I was too heavily medicated and ill to even care or stress the thought. I’d never given any kind of blood before except for spills in the driveway on the bike or paper cuts in class. I just wanted to be well again. I wanted to have a voice again. I wanted to feel better. The best guess to what was wrong with me was either strep, mono, or a virus. I love my odds.

I went over to the hospital and took a seat in the chair. My first bad move was watching her poke my vein and start drawing my blood, then watching the tube after it was filling and rolling around on the table next to me. It was almost like slow motion as I stared at my little cells sloshing around from side to side inside a container labeled with my name.

I quickly stood up and waiting as my mother chit-chatted with the nurse about how knows what. It was about then when the color from the yellow poster started going grey and things got dark and blurry from the sides, it was closing in, and I started swaying. My mother looked over and said “You alright” and relied “I guess” but the nurse quickly alerted the others of my situation and landed me in a chair before I made friends with Mr. Concrete floor. It’s a funny story now, I even wanted to laugh was they were getting me juice and talking to me continuously to keep me there. I knew what they were doing, I was like a loon on drugs, I probably was.

After my doctor’s appointment, they suggested I get some blood work done to determine a few things and have a safe idea of some matters. When she said “blood work” I said in my mind “Oh no”. Not again, I don’t want to. I walked out of the office grumbling as I made my way to the car, parked practically a quarter mile away. Parking there is an art.

Back to the matter at hand, I headed over to the hospital for another possibly fateful blood work episode. “Maybe it won’t be as bad this time, I was sick back then” I said to myself. “Be brave you wuss!” was also in there too. I love my mind, it’s so supportive.

I warned the attendant of my history and she asked another nurse to stay with her incase of any emergency. She just told me not to look. I took a seat in the purpleish room and slightly felt the prick and then suddenly another prick and a wrap of the arm. I was done? What?!

I barely felt the blood being drawn. In fact, I didn’t even really feel it. I stayed focused on the sign that said “laboratory” and tried to see how many words I could get out of it. Rat, bat, and then I kept finding the rat and bat again and again. Maybe I should have tipped my head to get a little more brain to my head since I was on the losing end with my arm. Either way, I came out feeling almost refreshed, but mostly proud of myself for the great deed I did- I didn’t pass out! Now there is hope. I always wanted to give blood but was fearful and never considered it because of the experience of the summer. There is hope yet!

The Little One

This afternoon I read Sharon’s post and was again reminded of the strange similarities we have between each other. It’s not just the hair color, which just looks the same, Sharon’s is much redder whereas mine is a strawberry blond (even though pictures tell otherwise), it’s the same optimism and idealism that traps me in, as Ron Burgundy would say, a glass case of emotion.

I work at Shop N’ Save, a retail grocery store chain in my neck of the woods. It’s fun to go away and see the other stores and what they name their pharmacy or their gas stations. I even remember the Winn-Dixie that John and I stopped in when we were in Florida visiting his relatives this past summer. There weren’t any Kwik-Fill’s or Foodland’s; maybe those names are even unfamiliar to you. But one way or another, I would up being a cashier at Shop N’ Save October of 2003, my senior year in high school.

I got the job through connections but really didn’t know who owned the store until someone pointed him out. I looked over and saw the first glance of the owner, a waddling 300 pound Santa Clause-looking fellow was making his way out the store. He never spoke to him, and still haven’t today. It seems that he spends most of his time in the office peering out through the window from time to time to notice a small yet fatal slip up by an employee.

Over time I caught wind what the owner wasn’t very well like around town, as a heartless kind of person who wasn’t very well respected by others. This past week mother enlightened me as to why. Apparently years before, back in the day, when Shop N’ Save was in it’s old location and there were only just a few grocery stores in town, the employees of Shop N’ Save went on strike- all of them. They wanted the union, something to protect their rights and give them a chance at equality. For one reason or another, they were out there picketing away was people honked their horns in support. Seeing this calamity, the owner, the same one as today, fired them all. All the meat men, the deli ladies, the cashiers, the baggers, and even the managers- gone, unemployed just like that. The town boycotted Shop N’ Save. And this is only a small instance of the owner’s actions.

I know there are more stories out there, some of them keep coming to me out of the woodwork, appearing and enlightening me even more. I first hand have seen the actions. This is where I come in.

For years now his wife has been going through Shop N’ Save, taking groceries, not checking them out through a register, and walking out the door with a big smile on her wrinkled face. I wave to the office and out the door she goes with her unbagged, unchecked, and unaccounted groceries. The idealist in me rages and ponders how much this is going to hurt the little man. Sure, people steal, but why throw off tine inventory count in the store and blame it on us? They surly can afford their own food. (This is a point where I could pull a low bow but I won’t.) To me, being a good boss is living like one, to live honestly and fairly to your employees. I thought this big fat cat from Kittanning who is “saint” at a Catholic church would know the difference between equality and rip-off.

My co-workers want me to call the union and tell them. Everyone in the store knows she steals food for free, so it’s not really stealing to him since he owns the store. I have the union phone number in my cellular, but can the union really do anything? It’s all a matter of how to live like a respectable boss. If the union did question his actions, what would he say? Probably something along the lines of “I’ve poured so much money in to this store” and other charitable words. I too want to be an idealist, but sometimes it’s hard. Yet in the best way to go is to be the example. I don’t have much respect for the man, but I have respect for my God. Even if I owned the store, if I owned the block, if I owned the town, I would have enough fairness to treat the little man with love. Wouldn’t you?

Former Acorns

It's the branches of the tree! Here's the gang from Oak N' Acorn (minus E who is covered up by me, I still feel bad about her not being in the picture)

Go fish....I mean, poker!

Nothing like poker night...especially being poker champ in the end! Boo yah!

Happy Campers Ahoy!

It's Ligonier Camp and Conference Center!

The Lazy Days of Summer

The lazy days of summer have hit. I did nothing yesterday nor do I have huge plans for today…I could get used to this lifestyle! But when I do get accustomed to waking up at the crack of 9:00PM and staying in my PJ’s till 11, SNS calls me and reminds me I’m a half hour late for my 6 ½ hour shift.

Yet amidst the busyness that soon follows for the next three days with appointments and work, I’ve done several boredom-like things in all this free time, like create the random survey you MUST fill out. I’m just kidding, you don’t have to, you should. Haha. I thought this up late at night, so excuse the extreme randomness.

1. What is your full name: Lindsay Kate Reedy

2. Where did you get your middle name from? My grandmother Kathryn

3. Do you lie about your age? No, people think I’m already 14 or so when I’m actually 18. No need to fib.

4. Addicted to any television shows? I am hooked on the Young and the Restless right now, the Apprentice was pretty good, and American Idol is a family favorite.

5. Dream car? A hot blue Dodge viper….or a Pontiac Sunfire. Yum.

6. Are you obsessive compulsive about things? Yes, to the point where I am unhappy if my clothes don’t correlate with each other. Someone call the doc.

7. Favorite sounds at night? The stream of traffic I can hear from the highway that is carried over. It reminds me of my grandmother’s house that was practically on the highway.

8. Something that gives you goose bumps: the tearing of paper towels or tissues. Ug.

9. Something unique about your body: I have a weird bump on my nose, as if it were broken. I show it off to people, haha.

10. How many surveys have you filled out this past week? Too many to remember. Why am I doing this again?

The heart of the matter

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved.

You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please.

Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you can get or discard anytime. You're feeling self centered.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

More than a stick in the mud

Even the best little bus can't overcome it all. Our tour bus at Seven Springs hit a rut and got stuck in a hole of mud- badly. But it sure does make a great photo op!

Ta Da!

It's a great view of Seven Springs! H and I use our show girl skills to pose infront of huge view of the ski resort owned by the Dupre family. It's 7,000 acres of woods and wonderland! Yea for PA!

Fallingwater

Fallingwater! It's beautiful and I'm glad to see it again without all the tarps and scaffolding. Last time I toured the place construction was underway for some slight repairs and it took away from the view. Ahh, but this time it's different. It's l'amour!

My sista from anotha mista

Here's H and I on the art club field trip we went on at the end of April that took us to various landmarks like Nemicolin Woodlands and Seven Springs. This picture was taken at the beautiful Fallingwater home designed by the talented Frank Llyod Wright for the wealthy Kaufman family.

I've been tagged!

Ahh, she got me! Melonie is so darn quick with the clicker.....I see the light....I've been tagged!

1. Total music files on your computer: Close to 2,000 on my computer, and I love all of them

2. The last CD I bought was: Bought or burned? I tend to never buy CD's, I just bought a CD-Rom thought, Zondervan's software for Leaders for bible study...does that count?

3. Song playing right now: Nothing, just the typing of my hands. Pa is on daylight shift tomorrow so the folks are in bed sleeping, but I was playing Sheryl Crow on my computer upstairs before eating oatmeal for a snack and coming down here.

4. Five songs I listen to a lot or that mean a lot to me (in no particular order):...Just five? Man, this is going to be tough, I will pick a few that are on my mind...

1. Sheryl Crow- My Favorite Mistake and The Light In Your Eyes

2. Jars of Clay- the entire CD I have on my comp

3. All my Newsboys songs, I have practically all their music. Even though I don't listen to it all the time, I can still play a song and knows the words and album. They were my first Christian band I started listening to, they hold a special play in the music section of my heart.

4, (I definitely have broken rules for this question and have named more than 5 songs but rather whole CD's) (Oh crap, someone upstairs is up, hope my monkey-like typing ability didn't wake anyone up) Back to the question at hand...I like a lot of weird stuff that isn't popular with my generation, per say. For instance, I love Elton John and the Beatles, especially George Harrison.

5. Since I cheated on the question, I will skip this one to make the tagging even.


5. Which 5 people are you passing this on to, and why? It's a little too late to tag others, but if you read this, you have been unoffically tagged, so there!

Hopefully I'll post later. Toodles for now!

(Oh, and a follow-up on the waking of someone from the typing, I don't think I did it, and if I did, it didn't last long because some massive chainsaw-like noises are coming from the bedroom. I'm so thankful I sleep in a bed by myself :)

From An Acorn to an Oak

First off, I must say sorry for completely disappearing from the blog for a week straight. It’s been a busy time at home so far with work and the trip I just came back from that lasted from Monday to Thursday. Tomorrow it’s back to the grind for the weekend and more tasks. When’s it going to get boring around here?

I’ll have to first explain what on earth Oak N’ Acorn is to you so you can somewhat follow what I am talking about in this post. Oak N’ Acorn is an amazing conference/camp at Ligonier for people to learn about leadership, evangelism, and my category, bible study. Its 4 days of fellowship with other young adult Christians from other various colleges all over Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. My friend Cody and I attended this because we have plans to lead a bible study at home this summer for “rising college students” (high school graduates this year) and college students. Needless to say, it was a terrific time.

When I heard about Oak N’ Acorn I was under the impression we were at some resort, like many conferences in the past, but it’s actually a camp, which is fine, I loved it. The people there were so warm and friendly. As I ran up the huge wooden steps in the lobby up to our rooms it felt as if I was apart of a big family in a big house- but I am in a family- the family of God. I made some great new friends and had a terrific time learning about bible study and God. My relationship with Him needs to be closer, like a relationship with a loved one, yearning to learn more and more about that special someone. Jesus completes my life- without Him I would be lost.

We had awesome times of fun and fellowship. I was the poker champ this year (it’s a miracle, haha) and I played Ultimate Frisbee for the first time. Now I’m hooked for sure, I kept asking if we were playing again soon. We are trying to making plans for the fall semester and how to bring freshman into some events we can hold. Only time can tell, God has great things in store.

God truly blessed the past four days and has blessed my life. I’m excited about the bible study this summer and all the amazing things Cody and I will discover through God’s Word. It’s more than a book, by far. It’s a history of God’s people, its word is true, and it’s amazing to fully understand it.

I’m off to crochet for the night and take it easy, another busy week follows! I will try to catch up with everyone’s blogs, I haven’t been on the computer much lately. Sorry! Have a great week, God bless, lata peeps!

Back To The Grind

It’s somewhat fun for a week to be back at old Shop N’ Save. You get to say hello to those you worked with and kid around like old times. Yet work still has it’s pangs of misery like the aching feet and the customers.

Speaking of the customers…

Over the summer you’ll read many stories about the obsessive-compulsive, green point savy customers that come through my line. Already on my frist day I had a customer give me an undermining remark. As I shut the drawer, I almost forgot about her $4.00 change. Silly me! I gave it to her along with the receipt and asked her if she wanted the extra add that printed out. With Shop N’ Save, we have the green points system where you get 10 points for every dollar you spend. Soon you accumulate about 500 and spend them on something to get a dollar off. If you’re one of those collectable people who find extra enjoyment in saving up Betty Crocker points, you’ll wait till you gave about 200,000 points at the ripe at of 70 (when you started collecting the point when you were 20) and you can go on a trip somewhere in the Caribbean. There is a whole catalog chuck-full of the stuff you can trade your points in for. Because of this system there is another machine that prints out a second receipt listing your point balance and so on. Lately they have been printing out two or three ads to give customers to shove in their purses and wallets to later throw away when they get home. Thinking I could save the woman some time, I asked her if she wanted the additional ad. She remarked “Yes, I like to read things over, to check everything again” as she looked up at me with an untrusting eye. I must look stupid, I guess.

Yet my main pet peeve of the day was caused by a person I know from here, someone I know pretty well. Yet when she came into the store, gently smiled at me like she sees me everyday and not once in 3 months, and makes her way through the store. Figuring from occurrences in the past, I predicted a “blow-off” and that she wouldn’t come through my line. Unless you have never worked in a grocery store or anywhere for that matter, you know that it’s always an added treat to see someone you know and not another stranger off the street. Of course, this woman went through another line rather than mine, which was no shorter than the other. The only thing I could figure was that she has an issue with someone knowing how much she spends on groceries or she just doesn’t trust. I mean, come on, why not have your groceries checked out by someone who could easily rip you off rather than an old veteran of the grocery store who surely knows what she is doing? Ug. Life goes on.

But in the scheme of things, work is good! Aside from the crazy customers who tell you about their 401K as you check out their bread and butter, being back to work to get a dime or two isn’t bad. Oh, how I have missed income.

Now it’s time to relax before a run for the night and to chill around on the beautiful evening!

Where Did Lindsay Go?

My apologies for disappearing for a few days without any warning. I tend to do that sometimes, like in department stores, I take my own path and wander around aimlessly away from the group I cam with until I check the clock and see that it’s time to go. (I had one of those leashes for children when I was growing up. It was red.) It’s been a somewhat busy week since the past time I posted anything substantial. The move home, an art club field trip with my old art teacher, unpacking, and Mother’s Day, and working today has all unfolded, and as each day passed by I wanted to blog about it, making mental notes, but then the next day would come and the information would be taped over like a VHS cassette tape recording the weekly soaps at 12:15PM. (Many episodes have been lost due to that.) Anyway, I guess I’ll do a quick summary of the few past days to keep you updated. I am using this as a mian sorice to keep in touch with my peeps from Edinboro, so I ought to stay true to my word and maintenance this thing once in awhile.

The move home was exhausting. After finally cramming everything I had left from my room into the car, and being unable to see anything out the back window (don’t worry, we took pictures of it so you can see it sometime), we made the trip home for the summer. It was very surreal that wasn’t going back on Monday, that there wasn’t a Sunday night trip back to the Boro, and that all this crap I owned had to fit in my room. Needless to say, there is a storage center in the basement for all of the stuff I don’t need.

After being whooped and finally going to bed at midnight, I had to drag myself out of bed at 6:15AM to drive over to West Shamokin High School for the art club field trip with my friend from high school H and my old art teacher Mrs. W. She left my high school my junior year to another school in the district, mostly because of the threat of Elderton closing down. We keep in touch because she too went to Edinboro and was thrilled I was attending there too. H and I always went on the art club field trip; I even attended all of them from 7th-11th grade, H joined the club in the 8th grade. But anyway, we had a terrific time touring Nemicolin Woodlands Spa and Resort, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, and having a tour of Seven Spring and learning about the history of the Dupre family that owns the resort. It was great to go again, even though we were chaperones. Fallingwater was beautiful as usual, but it was even more special the second time around. I will post the pictures when I get them, the view of the place is much better than it was last time because of the construction on the house.

The weekend consisted of yard sales, visiting, and unpacking. The room is finally starting to make sense after organizing everything to the last T. I really am obsessive compulsive when it comes to packing and storing things. It’s an illness, it sometimes drives me crazy.

Today I start back to work at old Shop N’ Save, everyone’s favorite place to get some grub and green points. Oh joy. I have forgotten almost all the codes for produce and other items, so I am going to have to review them before I head of to the food-filled dump. I talk as if it’s terrible, but it really isn’t. This is just sarcasm coming out and me having a perfect time to rip on the quality of the store and such. You never truly know a business until you work for them. From then on you have a whole new understanding about the place, and other’s like it. SNS will be fun for about a week because I’ll get to see the people I used to work with, tell stories from school, and make hilarious mistakes because of the alzimers I developed after leaving there in December from Christmas Break. Then after that, it turns into the miserable routine of dealing with the elderly and their 44 cent bananas and BOGO prune sales. Even then, though, it can still be filled with all kidns of stories.

I am finding myself bored from time to time, even though I know there is stuff to do. I do miss the old gang from Edinboro and the stuff we did together. It’s all a gradual shift back to living at home. The shower isn’t covered in hidden germs from 20 some other women, the food is prepared by me, and I can walk around in a towel all I want. (Not that I do all the time, I’m just saying) Yet in a way it’s nice to see spring here, it’s nice to see family and friends, and it’s somewhat exciting to see what the rest of the summer will bring. I’m off to review lettuce codes like the dork I am. Asta la vista, bloggers.

What's in a name?

LINDSAY
L
is for
Lively
I
is for
Ideal
N
is for
Natural
D
is for
Daredevil
S
is for
Special
is for
Amorous
Y
is for
Young
What Does Your Name Mean?