The Wal-Mart Greeter and the Dangerous Donut

(This adventure is dedicated to Pat – an official NPR gas consult and someone who has joined me in many adventures.  Love you!)

1.     When I was 16(?) I was in charge of a church activity.  Donuts were requested for the refreshment.  Not wanting to shop on Sunday, I decided to make them.  Note: this was a first time attempt.  (Those never end well…).

As I was lowering the donut into the hot oil, using only my fingers (I don’t know why I couldn’t use a spoon...  This story could also fit into the category of “not so brilliant moments”.) I ended up submerging my entire hand in the deep fryer.  Yep.

After consulting the nurse practitioner, I went to the meeting.  I just happened to be conducting, so I stood up with authority and pretended like it was perfectly normal to carry around a large cup of ice water and submerge one’s entire hand.  Everybody’s doing it…

2.    In most countries a proper greeting consists of addressing the person and then the person repeats the same greeting back.  For example, “Hello”, “Hello” or “Hola”, “Hola” or if you’re in Hawaii, you can delay your repetition until you are ready to leave and it still works.  Being a polite individual, there was only one proper response to the man who greeted me at Wal-Mart.  He said “Welcome” and I said….

It was actually pretty funny.  My friend punched me in the arm.  “You idiot!  You just welcomed the welcome guy!”  It’s all good.  I think I made his (the Walmart employee’s) day. 

By the way, I once overheard a roommate talking on the phone to her mom about me “I love her to death, but sometimes I just don’t know how she gets through the day…”  That’s about right… 

Choose Your Own Adventure

I have hesitated to open this blog up to my friends, however it is much more fun to respond to feedback. Plus, friends makes things worth doing.  I think that I have had some unique experiences in my life and I am happy to share them with you.  To cut down on my rambling, I have decided to ask for help in choosing what to share.

1.  Pick a category

1. Scariest moments
2. Mischievous moments 
3. Painful moments
4. Not so brilliant moments

2.  Choose a story within the category

1.  Scary moment list:

       a.  Rolling in my car

       b. “The Giant Drop”

       c.  Being chased by a pit bull

       d.  Being held up at gun point

       e.  Going over a drop off in a snowmobile

       f.  What happens in the back of armored trucks in a 3^rd world country

  

 2. Mischievous list:

      a.  Making the Youth Leaders cry at Girl’s camp

      b.  The super heros get banned from Wal-mart

      c.  Things that don’t belong in freezers

      d.  Margarine walls

      e.  The Visitor’s Center after dark

      f.  The new rules

      g.  The map theft

 3.  Not my brightest moments:

      a.  Riding in cars with strangers

      b.  Welcoming the Welcome guy at Wal-mart

      c.  Why I had to buy an apron

      d.  The spider incident

      e.  The mint extract incident

4.  Unique injuries:

      a.  Dry ice

      b.  Sewing machine

      c.  Donuts

Choose Wisely.

Pick Up Lines/ Classic Quotes

Although some of the following are quoted out of context, all of these have been said to me:

• “If I were 20 years younger and you were 20 years older…”

• “Cars may stop for blondes, but they back up for redheads”

• “I had hoped to talk to you in person, but I just sense that you have a feisty side, and I’d really like to get to know it.”

• “Your ability to facilitate touch is astonishing.”

• “What’s that in your eye?  Oh wait, it’s just a twinkle.”

• “How might one go about courting you?”

• “Wait, what did you say?  I’m sorry; I was just distracted by your beautiful blue eyes.”

• (Interrupting an actual class) “I don’t have a question; I just think you are pretty.”

Piano Students Say the Darndest Things

I am a piano teacher to 20 students (currently) ranging from 5-35 and beginning - late intermediate.  I usually travel to my students' homes and teach lessons there.  Teaching piano lessons has been the source of some of my favorite experiences.

Epic Piano Lesson Moments:

• The time I turned around and realized that while I was teaching, the 3 year old had colored in permanent marker on every cushion of the couch, on the rug, and on the carpet.  I had been in the same room as him the entire time and didn’t notice a thing.  (at least you know I focus on my students, right?)

• The time a student totally ratted out her dad and all the bad words he says.

• The time my student and I played a piano, beat-box duet.

• The time a family fed me authentic central African food after my lesson.  They wanted to share something unique to their family with me.  I was super honored and it was So good!

• While teaching a family of four children, every child stopped sometime during their lesson to comment on the picture slideshow screensaver going on in the background.  It was pretty funny how easily distracted they were.  Their father comes in to ask me a question.  Mid sentence, he stops "I took that picture." and then proceeds.  I guess I know where they got it from. 

• 7 year old boy: (putting his fingers in his mouth) “Yuck!  I know why my fingers taste gross! I forgot to wash my hands after I pooped!” (after he played on the same piano I did…)

• (Same boy) came up with a mnemonic device to help him remember the order of notes: Allison (his twin sister) Can Eat Garbage.

(One of the activities I do with my students is “play a story”.  I narrate a story while they try to convey the story through the piano.  This has led to some really interesting compositions.)

• Another 7 year old boy made up a ninja song involving his fingers positioned like people, jumping around fighting each other, and ending in an untimely death.  (It actually sounded like the story he was trying to tell).

• A 9 year old boy wrote a song about going to school and then being chased by teachers who turned into zombies. 

• Another 9 year old boy decided that the pirate song he was playing was too “upbeat” for a pirate song, so he transposed it from D Major to G minor.  No big deal…

• A 5 year old asked me to play Fur Elise (a simplified version, but 4 books ahead of his level) for him, then sat down and after only a few tries played it back to me.

• The week after teaching her different value notes (quarter note, half note, eighth note, and whole note), a 7 year old girl presented me with iron on beads that she had made into each of the notes.  (Totally awesome! 1.  She remembered what was taught and applied it in a new way.  And 2.  She made me presents! ).

• I have a 15 year old girl that makes the funniest noises when she plays, especially when she is concentrating or messes up.  It’s not consistent, but sometimes it sounds like “mmm- mmm” (second part almost a desperate squeal).

I love teaching piano and am quite attached to my students.  They remind me what is important and make my days amazing.

The Olympian and the Vodka Soda (Part 2- Random Friends)

While I’m thinking about random airplane friends, I have to mention James. 

So I’m on a plane from AZ to NC (where I would catch another flight to DC).  I have a middle seat.  Oh boy…

Side note: I’m really not a super outgoing person and I am perfectly content to quietly occupy myself  (really), but I am not afraid of people and I try to embrace unique opportunities and situations. 

After a couple vodka sodas, the man on my left (the aisle seat) started to loosen up and we ended up talking and googling random things on his Ipad (like Javelina… R.O.U.S.’s. They exist.  I’ve seen them.).  It turns out we have both been to the same remote island off of Honduras (tiny, reachable by motor boat, beautiful white sand; perfect place for snorkeling or scuba diving).  It really is not that common.  We used google earth to make sure it was the same one.  He had never used Google Earth before!  (Which turned into a whole other conversation/ tangent).

I could tell James didn’t usually talk about himself to strangers (almost in a humble way), but I learned that he is a neuro-surgeon and a former Olympic ski jumper (from the 80’s and yes, I googled him to check).  Close to the end of our trip he commented that he flies all the time and has never had such fun nor connected with another passenger as he did on this trip (and no, he was not hitting on me.  He talked about his daughter and wife throughout our conversation).  I genuinely felt like we had become friends. 

Side note, our flight was kind of ridiculous.  First of all, the only open spot for my bag was 10(ish) rows behind us.  Then, as we were landing, the runway was full so we looped around the airport three times before we actually landed, starting to descend and then randomly speeding up and ascending again.  So now super late, instead of wondering what I was going to do between flights, I was now wondering if I was going to make my layover at all.  James concocted a plan to help me.  As soon as the seat belt light went off, he hopped out of his seat ran to the back and grabbed my bag from overhead.  Meanwhile, I grabbed his ipad (rare trust between strangers, right?).  We switched outside, then he led the way to my gate (The original plan was to show me the admiral’s lounge and stop for free food, but there was no time.).  He parted the crowds like Moses.   

If that doesn’t count as a friendship, I don’t know what does…

 P.S.  My flight ended up being rescheduled for hours later.  Of course it did…

Random Stranger = New Best Friend (part 1)

So my last post reminded me of one of my favorite things: making new friends in unexpected places.  I decided to share a few of my favorite encounters.
1. The airplane and the adventurer
May I just say, surprising things can happen when you are belted in next to a random stranger in a confined space for multiple hours...
I met Bruce (50s?) on a flight from Salt Lake City, UT to Phoenix, AZ.  I have no idea how it started, but we had one of the deepest/ amazing conversations... Bruce opened up about some life defining experiences.  He experimented with a lot of drugs and ended up in a very dark place.  He was even diagnosed with a chronic disease which left him in pain every day.  Raised Jewish/ Atheist, Bruce began his search for God and ended up becoming Christian.  As he turned to Christ, Bruce experienced not only a spiritual healing, but a physical one as well.  He said his pain went away almost immediately and the doctors were surprised by his miraculous recovery.
Bruce now lives his life to the fullest, constantly trying to help those around him, learning new things, and creating new experiences.  He has also found love with his partner.  It hasn't been easy, but they are happy. 
Our conversation wasn't all serious as we talked about drum circles, rock climbing, etc.   As we were getting our luggage, his aunt called.  He had me answer the phone pretending to be airport security.  Good times...

Paint + Canvas = Masterpiece!

Yesterday ("Black Friday"), we visited the Art Institute Of Chicago as a family.  I wish you could have been there.  I may have been giggling from sheer joy...

I have been to many Art Museums, but there is something about seeing an original; a piece of history, a view into the creator's mind, something that has had an impact on the world. I finally got to see a Jackson Polluck in person!  There is something about the colors, the placement, the texture of the paint, that makes this piece brilliant.  You may not understand what the big deal is, "I could splatter paint, too...", but seeing it in person was pretty incredible.  I get it now!

So while I was ogling over Jackson Pollock and other Modernists, I made a new friend.  Tim is from Ottawa, and after teasing me for being so animated about everything and making my brother take my picture, we bonded over a piece by Barnett Newman.  He told me about a piece recently acquired by the National Gallery of Canada called "Voice of Fire".  It is a massive column of red and blue.  It actually pays tribute to the burning bush in Exodus.  Tim swore that as he stared at it long enough, the blue and red blended together to create flames.
P.S.  Tim commentated that with his red face and my gray hat, we matched this piece perfectly.  :)
P.P.S.  Bonus points to anyone who can name the artist and subject of the following painting.

Introduction- Hang on to Your Hats

Hello there!  My name is Christina.  I am possibly the most unpredictable person you will ever meet.  I can't even describe myself to you. 
This blog will be a glimpse into my head and a sidecar to my daily ride.  Aren't you excited?!

Why is this called "Saving the World with Cupcakes"?  

A few years ago, I was accepted into the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago.  I decided not to go.  When asked "Why not?", I responded that I wanted to save the world.  The response to that was "You can save the world with cupcakes!".  This has become my life motto.  Even I can make a difference.

"Let  no one ever come to you without leaving better or happier."  -Mother Theresa