The Day Karma Took The Wheel

I don't really believe in karma.  However, sometimes things happen, and you can't call it anything but karma.

When I was in 6th grade, my dad dropped me and my older brother off at the public library and told us to call him when we were ready to be picked up.  I was working on a school project, and wasn't nearly finished when my brother (to protect his identity, I'll call him Sdaren) said he was ready to go home.  Sdaren was insistent that we leave, and I argued that I still had work to do.  In frustration Sdaren grabbed my pencil and stabbed me in the arm, breaking the tip off into my arm in the process.

I was then ready to go home.

We called my dad and asked to be picked up, and while we waited I was convinced I was going to get lead poisoning.  I could feel myself getting weak, and are those heart palpitations?  The lead has reached my heart!  Then the kind librarian explained that pencil lead is actually made of graphite.  I was relieved, and incredibly annoyed at the misnomer.

My dad dropped Sdaren off at home, and took me to an after-hours clinic, since it was a Saturday.  Sdaren is nothing but thorough in his stabbings; the pencil tip was wedged in deep and diagonally.  The doctor had to slice the hole wider to be able to retrieve the non-lead pencil lead, clean my gaping wound out and stitch me up, good as new.

We got home and I was eager to milk my injury to make Sdaren feel bad.  However, we found Sdaren lying on the couch, groaning with a gallon Ziploc bag full of ice on his shoulder.  As bad as I felt for him, I couldn't help but laugh.

Apparently, whilst we were at the doctor's office Sdaren and our older brother, we'll call him Sbrandon, got into an argument.  Sbrandon chased Sdaren up the stairs, Sdaren went to turn the corner to run down the hall, but turned prematurely and ran into the wall.

My dad now had to take Sdaren to the doctor.  Again, it was a Saturday, and the only clinic that was open was the same one he had taken me to.  I would have loved to see the look on the doctor's face when he saw my father right back with a different kid in tow.

They got home with Sdaren's arm in a sling and an official report that his collarbone was broken.

The best part of the story?  I was talking to Daren this morning, and asked permission to write about this delightful incident.  He said sure, and I went through an overview of the story to make sure I was remembering everything right.  Afterwards he made a few amendments to the story.  Our conversation went as follows:

Daren: "I didn't actually run into a wall. I was running away, and Brandon grabbed my wrist and hit my shoulder in a downward motion."

Bre: "What I heard was Brandon was chasing you, and you went to turn around a corner, but turned too soon and ran into the wall with your shoulder."

Daren: "Yeah, that's what I told the parents 'cause I was afraid I was going to get in trouble."

Bre: "In trouble for what?  For Brandon hurting you?"

Daren: "I threw the monopoly game at him and ran."

Bre: "Hahaha, 'cause you were losing?"
 
Daren: "No, because he was cheating."

Bre: "And you chose to say that you ran into a wall?  I still don't get why you would have gotten in trouble."

Daren: "I wasn't thinking, I was in a severe amount of pain, and couldn't think properly. I'm convinced that Brandon brainwashed me to think I would get in trouble."

I believe that, Brandon was very good at getting me and Daren to believe that we would also get in trouble if we tattled.  I guess my mom was right when she said the truth always comes out eventually.

In the end, perhaps karma is real after all.  It couldn't get anymore blatant than rewarding my older brother for stabbing me with his older brother breaking his collarbone.

What do you think?  Does karma exist?  I'd like to hear your stories of karmic rewards.

P.S.  I looked it up, "karmic" really is a word.

Sunshine

Apparently I'm not the only one enjoying the sun.

In contrast, the dogs have gone emo.

Look at the wingspan on that creature!

P.S. I bet you thought you'd never see pictures outnumber sentences on my blog!

Published Again!

Remember that one time I was Published by an online magazine that features writers, Voices from the Garage?

I remember that.

Recently, I received an email from them saying that they enjoyed my post, and would like to publish something else of mine.  I was tickled pink, naturally.

I looked at their homepage, and saw that five months after it was originally posted Chillax Motivation! was still featured on their homepage.  I was tickled a deeper shade of pink.

I had no idea what to send them, and after asking a couple people and getting zero feedback (not that I'm bitter or anything) I sent them Vegatarianish, and hoped they didn't mistake me for being mildly retarded.

I got an email back saying they would love to post it, and feel free to send anything else.  I was tickled a light shade of red by this point.

Vegetarianish is now featured on their homepage, go ahead and check it out . . . here!

Love,

Bre

P.S. I bought tickets to see Lion King on Broadway today.  One month from next week I'll get to cross an item off my Bucket List.

Brotherly Love

Look at these two adorable creatures.  This is Brighton when we first got him as a pup, and his brother Havoc.  Coincidentally, my sister Britney has Havoc.  In the beginning, Havoc lived with us for a couple weeks while Britney and her husband were moving into their new house.  As you can see, they got along quite nicely.  You can feel the love; that picture is dripping with tenderness, right?

Well, Havoc went home with Britney, and ever since then they have wanted nothing to do with each other.  Especially on Brighton's part.  We take them to the park together, and whenever Britney comes to our house she brings Havoc with her.  We force them to try to bond and spend time together, but they don't seem to care about the deep blood bond they share.

Britney (look how adorable she is, being all pregnant) has developed a therapy session, where she holds one in each arm and forces them to have some face to face time.  But, obviously they don't seem too into it.  Look at that blatant avoidance of eye contact.  It's just so sad to see a rift between brothers like that.

Although, we have made progress.  It used to be that whenever Havoc came over Brighton would beg to be held, and when I picked him up he would crawl up onto my shoulder and sit there in his shoulder sanctuary.  Now, he's willing to be left on the ground.

Perhaps one day we will find them cuddling again.

P.S.  If you have to ask yourself which one is Brighton, just find the cute one, and that'll be him.

Equal Opportunity Easter

I was at Target earlier, and saw this.  I just couldn't resist taking a picture.

I know those people in marketing were wondering if the Easter Bunny really relates to every child out there?  Apparently the answer was no, and it's a great comfort to know that they addressed the situation.

This new age Easter Bunny is hip, spits mad rhymes and will pop a cap in yo @$$ if you short him on his dime bag.

I'm down.

Promotion

I got a promotion at work!  It's actually kind of strange how it all happened.  I didn't apply for this new position, and I didn't ask for it.  Not that I'm complaining, 'cause I'm tickled pink.

I'm now a project manager in Marketing, and the beauty of it is that I'm still doing what I was doing before, but I'm able to expand my role and have more say in the direction my projects go.  I also will be assuming additional resonsibilities within the Marketing Department and creating new projects to better serve the company and customers.  Hurray for actually being able to make an impact.

It's so nice to have a change since I've been doing the same thing for a while.  It's also a little intimidating because with the added responsibility there is a little voice in the back of my head asking, "what if I suck?".  Also, my new desk is surrounded by the CEO and all the executives of the company.  My old desk was literally in a corner where no one could see me, and now I'm pretty much on display.

The good news is if the CEO picks his nose I can see it.

I've made it my life's goal to see it.

So here goes, I'm starting a big ol' adventure with a great opportunity.  Wish me luck!  I just may need it.

Turf Wars

I don't know about you guys, but in my house we have prime real estate.  There are wars waged on who gets this real estate.  Who uses the bathroom first, bed space and of course who gets the good seat in the living room are all up for grabs.

The war has gotten dirty.

We were getting ready to watch a movie, and whoever gets the good seat in the living room is usually based on first come first serve.  I happened to come first, so I served myself to the good seat.

Jordan opens the freezer and in utter panic exclaims, "Bre!  Look what's in the freezer!"

I join him at the freezer, but everything looks to be the same and I ask, "What?"

"Popsicles!"

I stand there confused, wondering why he would ask me to investigate the popsicles in the freezer while he literally struts over into the living rooms and sits in the good seat as if it were his throne.

I see what he did there.  I can even admire his tenacity.  A little bait and switch action, classic.

As I stand there with my arms folded he looks around and asks, "Where are my glasses?"

I just smile and point across the room where they sit on the entertainment center, and very much out of his reach.