Driving home

Yesterday I drove home, to Michigan that is. Not that this is a new thing or an exciting thing, it just something I do several times a year. It's not like it is a short drive. So, yesterday I started out on my 12 hour drive, I was trying to get home for something. To say the least, I didn't make it. I DID make it home however, which is a very good thing.

So, just after I entered Ohio, I called my sister to chat. I was getting tired of driving. I mean, after about 7 hours, you get a little tired. So, I called and told her I was bored and said that my drive wasn't very exciting. Well, those were the kiss of death... it was shortly after that my drive became "exciting." Not the exciting that I really wanted, but the "exciting" that I got.

Well, my tire exploded, blew up, fell apart, traveled back down the road with out me. Now, I would never want this to happen, but I believe it wouldn't be too bad if you were going, oh a normal speed, say 45. No, I was on the expressway. Going about 70-ish (maybe a bit more), in the fast lane. And there my tire went. It was the LOUDEST noise ever. It was quite scary, no it was incredibly scary. And then, I don't know exactly what happened in the next 3 to 5 seconds, but I did get my self to the shoulder on the left side. Not really where you want to be, but I was off the road, and yep only the inner part of my tire was left. My wheel cover also went with my tire, which is sad. I liked these wheel covers, now I will have to go find some more(I kind of needed new ones anyhow...but I wasn't going to get them just yet).

So, my heart was racing, pounding in fact. And, I got out of my car to see exactly what happened. And yep, no tire. So, as I look and then move my car over just a bit more. There is this durango that pulled off on the other side of the road. And they started to back up. Then they asked what happened and motioned me to the other side of the road. And they asked if I wanted them to change my tire. So, they changed my tire. Now, I do believe that I could have changed my tire. I knew that I needed to do that, but I just didn't have enough time to process everything, and so they changed it. But this meant that everything had to come out of my trunk to get my spare out. (this is sad, because it was so nicely packed - and it didn't fit back later) So, as we are getting the spare out (realize I am not doing anything here, I was just letting them - this is terrible of me, but I was still in shock and trying not to cry), this one guy (there were 2) makes the comment "it's a good thing your cute... otherwise we may not of stopped." Well, I guess it is a good thing.. (i don't know what to do with this, but it was amusing). So, they changed the tire, and didn't get hit on the side of I-75. And I made it to the next exit and checked the air in my spare (it is a donut). And proceeded to call Uncle Denny - he is a mechanic, when anything with my car goes wrong, he is usually in the list of people to call. He told me I could make it home on the donut. So, I set out to do so.

So, going through Ohio was incredibly long and boring. Now, I do like Ohio, I like people from Ohio, I enjoy going to camp in Ohio, but I do NOT enjoy driving THROUGH Ohio. It is incredibly long...and a bit boring. So, now... I have to go rather slow (not real slow, but slower that I would have liked) through Ohio. It was almost painful at times...okay it was excruciating. But I made it home.

SO, thank you 2 guys in the durango. I appreciate it.
Just to let you know, I really think I could have changed it, and I am more intelligent that I felt and seemed at the time.

Another interesting side note...as I was thinking... I was going rather fast and my tire blew up. Some how there was no one around me. I do not remember anyone behind me, and more importantly, no one hit me. I am incredibly thankful for this. As my mom said, "Someone was watching out for me." And I am grateful.

The last piece of the story... (or I think it is)... My dad is a Nascar fan, my family has watched races for the longest time...and still do. Well frequently you hear from a radio (or announcer) that a driver has a vibration, and that it is shaking... and THEN the tire blows up... well... just to let you know, vibrations in your steering wheel are not good things... eventually... your tire blows up. Not a good thing. (I told my dad this and that I was just putting 2 and 2 together...he said I should be able to do that since I am a math teacher). This thought was also started when one of the guys changing my tire had an NHRA shirt on...and then... I went "OH.. that was why my steering wheel was shaking." Realize, I didn't say this out loud.

So, there is my exciting story. I am now off to get new tires.

Amazed

At school on Fridays, I am part of a reading group with other members of the faculty. Actually, all of the faculty participates, it just depends on which period you have free. We are reading through the book of Matthew, and we only read about half of a chapter a week. (It is all set up in a book we have).

This is all to say, that this week we were reading Matthew 8:1-17. As a synopsis, we are told about the man with leprosy being healed by Jesus' touch, then we are told about the Centurion's servant being healed, and then about Peter's mother-in-law. Well, in the middle story, the Centurion came to Jesus and asked him to heal his servant. And Jesus answers and says "I will come and heal him." Then the Centurion goes on to tell Jesus that he doesn't need to come, all he needs to do is speak the word and the servant will be healed. After Jesus hears this, it says "he was amazed." And then proceeds to tell the crowd "I tell you the truth, I haven't see faith like this in all the land of Israel."

This has left me thinking. I was first struck by the fact that Jesus was AMAZED. I found that interesting, but as we sat talking about this, something else left an impression on me. This man, this Roman soldier, AMAZED Jesus by his FAITH! We're talking Jesus here, Jesus who will walk on water, Jesus who just healed leprosy, Jesus who just gave the sermon on the mount. I mean, it's Jesus, and he is amazed by the faith of a man. I just find that.....well....I don't have a word for it...incredible. I mean, what would it be like if Jesus was AMAZED by MY faith. I think it would be neat, not that my faith is there, but to have Jesus be amazed at me. WOW. Just something to think about. I just find it intriguing. But wouldn't that be cool?

Just thought I'd share.

Friday...

Yesterday, the weather was beautiful. It was almost 70 degrees on the last day of November. With such a beautiful day, I opened my window and the breeze was wonderful. We have had a week of unusually warm weather, well it is unusually warm for me, maybe not for Memphis. So after a long day, not a bad day, just long, I walked over to close my windows. As I was looking outside, I had this realization... TOMORROW IS FRIDAY! It was one of those moments that you forget that it is Friday. How can you forget Friday? Well, when you get busy going, it's not so hard. So, it was a very exciting moment, almost joyous!

So, today is Friday. It hasn't been a bad Friday, it's just been a Friday. And now, I get a break, I am excited. I like weekends. I enjoy the break. I like to be able to sit and take a break and read or watch tv or a movie, but most of all, just not have to DO anything. This is the first weekend like this in quite a while, and that makes me more excited. I really like what I do, but occasionally, I just need some time for me. I really never realized how much good it does me to have this time. I enjoy being able to think and slow down and just be still. Or to get lost in a book.

I love to read. I believe this is the first time I have ever really said that. I have loved certain stories or books before, but during school, I always found reading tedious, and I wasn't the quickest reader, and I have to read to understand and used to take more time. But, I have found, I love to read. I love getting lost in a story. I love being able to disappear into a story and "see" it happening. With this said, I have ran out of books at my house that I haven't read. Well, I have a couple "history-like" books, I want a story. So, I have been re-reading some and soon....well I will have to go to the library or buy more. I don't know.

Well, I am thinking that I need to move out of my apartment. I am not quite sure where to, but I know that I need to. I don't know what I am going to do. Hopefully I can figure all of this out without much difficulty. I need to decide whether to rent another apartment, find something else to rent or to ponder buying a house. I have thought about the house thing for a while, but I am just not sure. I think that I need to find a place soon though. If you have any insight, let me know. I have really enjoyed this apartment, so it will be sad to leave, but I am just not real comfortable there right now. So, hopefully it will be clear what I should do.

The ring banquet is in a week, a week from yesterday to be precise. Most of the details are falling into place, which makes me happy. I am excited that things are coming together, and Thursday night will be wonderful. I have to pick up some things this weekend, and I should be just about finished. Yah!

Well, it's Friday and I'm going home. OH! And it is December!! I love December, for oh, so many reasons! I love December!!! See ya!