Blog “Friends”

What exactly determines friendship? Someone that you’ve known since middle school? That guy you sat next to in Public Speaking freshman year and still see on Facebook but never talk? That girl whose name you can’t remember even though you sit next to her every MWF at Camp Gladiator? What about a person who writes a blog that you’ve been following for years but have never met? What establishes a friendship, what are the guidelines?

You see, before this blog I had another one that I deleted because it was three years since my last post. Even though I was no longer writing about my life, I still followed blogs. I have been a very loyal follower of a few and I came to see the writers of those blogs as my friends. I’ve watched them get married, throw parties/showers for one another, change jobs, experience loss, have babies, move across the US, and create lasting memories. I have cried and prayed for them when they went through difficult times and celebrated (and commented under anonymous) when something joyous happened. For five years I have read about my “friends” lives. I know that might seem strange, but they are putting their business out there for us to read and that’s just what I did.

I can remember one time one of the bloggers gave birth but they didn’t have a name picked out when the baby was born. I checked her blog every two hours to see what they named him. I wanted to know what my “friend” was naming her baby because I was there with her during the whole pregnancy. That’s not weird, right? I also voted like crazy for this other blogger so she could go on a fully paid mission trip to Uganda. Like refreshing the browser every 15 seconds for the last hour of the contest so she could get the votes she needed. She eventually got the top 3 but did not end up as the final winner. I cried. She wanted it so badly to spread the gospel to the people of Uganda and I wanted to help my “friend.”

So just because I haven’t met these bloggers, does that mean we are not friends? Do you have to have conversation with a person to be friends? The way I see it, they are having a conversation with me through posts and pictures and sharing their life with me. Even though these bloggers do not know me personally, I still think of them as my friends. Does this make me creepy? Well, yeah maybe. People would laugh at me calling these bloggers my friends but I consider them to be, more than that guy I sat next to in Public Speaking freshman year.

 

Your blog “friend”

-Beth

July 23rd

My birthday is in one week, so I decided to list some significant historical events that happened on July 23rd in the past 100 years. Along with these events, I also added people who share the same birthday with me and someone who died on my birthday. Who was it? Find out at the bottom of the post!

July 23rd events:

1914 – Austria-Hungary issues ultimatum to Serbia leading to WWI.

1920 – British East Africa renamed Kenya & becomes a British crown colony.

1925 – NY Yankee Lou Gehrig hits his 1st of 23 career grand slammers.

1935 – Airplane crashes into the Empire State Building.

1940 – “Blitz” all-night air raid by German bombers on London begins.

1942 – The Holocaust: the Treblinka extermination camp is opened.

1956 – Bell X-2 rocket plane sets world aircraft speed record of 3,050 kph.

1962 – Telstar relays the first publicly transmitted, live trans-Atlantictelevision program, featuring Walter Cronkite.

1965 – Beatles “Help” is released in UK.

1967 – 12th Street Riot: in Detroit, Michigan, one of the worst riots in United States history begins on 12th Street in the predominantly African American inner city. It will leave 43 killed, 342 injured and 1,400 buildings burned.

1972 – The United States launches Landsat 1, the first Earth-resources satellite.

1973 – Pres Nixon refuses to release Watergate tapes of conversations in the White House relevant to the Watergate investigation.

1988- I was born. Monumental event.

1994 – Longest baseball rain delay (3:39) as Giants beat Mets 4-2 in NYC.

1999 – ANA Flight 61 is hijacked in Tokyo, Japan by Yuji Nishizawa.

2009 – Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox becomes the 18th pitcher to throw a perfect game in Major League Baseball history, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0.

Shared birthdays:

Woody Harrelson, American actor

Slash, English-American guitarist, songwriter, and producer

Philip Seymour Hoffman, American actor, director, and producer

Marlon Wayans, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

Monica Lewinsky, American White House intern, author, and handbag designer

Daniel Radcliffe, English actor <–HEYOO! Harry Potter!

Deaths:

Amy Winehouse, English singer-songwriter <– I was really upset.

actual birthday cake from last year

-Beth

Baking Hits and Misses

If you follow me on any social networking site, you know that baking is one of my favorite things to do and taking a perfectly styled, filtered picture of that baked good is a close second. The two go hand in  hand…I like to brag. I pride myself on being able to master a recipe on the first try, no matter the difficulty, to the point where I am overly confident that it will turn out perfectly. My downfall is that when something doesn’t turn out the way I think it should, I take it personally. Now this recipe could still be edible and delicious but I’m all about the appearance. If it doesn’t match what I see in my head, it will bother me and I will throw it out before I would let anyone eat it or know that I made it. There is only one thing I have baked and completely ruined. I’ll set the scene for you…

It was Saturday and the morning of my brother’s gender reveal party. My brother shared with me the gender of their baby because I volunteered to make dessert that would reveal it to the rest of the family. I planned on making strawberry cake balls with vanilla coating and drizzled with pink and blue chocolate. Now, I’ve made cake balls twice before with no problem and knew that I would be able to do it again.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

I had all of my ingredients ready, Pandora was set to my favorite station, and I was ready to make the most important thing for the gender reveal. I baked the cake, let it cool, crumbled it, mixed it with frosting, rolled it into balls, then inserted the stick into the bottom. Everything was going perfectly, until it came to melted chocolate coating. Every single cake pop that I dipped in the chocolate was falling apart. Every. Single. One. I couldn’t get those pops to stay on the stick. The cake was crumbling into the coating. I was losing my mind. This couldn’t be happening, not to me! I’ve made cake pops before when I was just doing it for fun and now when it mattered I couldn’t do it. This was devastating to me. I didn’t know what to do because the party was in 3 hours, I didn’t have time to make a new batch. Cue the crying. I had to call my brother and his wife and tell them the cake balls didn’t turn out. I felt like a failure, they trusted me to make these. My roommate saw how upset I was and called a bakery for me that would make vanilla cupcakes with pink filling in the time frame I needed. Bless her, she saved the day. The gender reveal party was great, the family found out James and Rebekah were having a little girl after biting into cupcakes.

Would you like to know the reason the cake pops didn’t turn out? I didn’t let the chocolate coating sit long enough before I dipped the balls. The coating was too hot, it was that simple. Rookie mistake.

Here are some of my favorite things I have baked in the past year that did turn out perfectly, unlike those gender reveal cake pops.

apple pie lattice

brownie cheesecake swirl

coffee cake

cinnamon scones with vanilla glaze

pecan pie with braided crust

m&m pretzel bites

turtle brownies

american flag pie

-Beth, the overly confident baker

Committed Relationships (In Years)

I got to thinking about relationships the other day while I was at a professional development. The instructor wanted us to raise our hands for how long we have been teaching. Mine went down after one year, but I saw many hands were still up when he got to the 25 year mark. These incredible educators have had a 25 year relationship with the teaching profession, some longer than I’ve been alive! I started to think about what I have been committed to for the past 25 years and decided to make a list of notable relationships.

Teacher: 1 year.

George: 2 1/2 years.

Twitter-er:  3 1/2 years.

Non-drinker: 4 years.

Non nail biter: 5 years.

Cajun shrimp pedicure polish: 6 years.

Giants fan: 7 years.

Favorite sports bra: 9 years.

Black converse: 9 years.

Phone number: 10 years.

Size 8 shoe: 10 years.

5’4: 12 years.

Runner: 12 years.

Harry Potter fan: 14 years.

Texan: 17 years.

Bad at math: 18 years.

Chocolate: 20 years.

Baby blanket: 24 years.

Catholic: 25 years.

Goofball: 25 years.

-Beth

Left-Handedingness

Roughly 10% of the world is left-handed and I’m part of that statistic. Although our generation doesn’t have the social stigma or repression of left-handers anymore, most of us still feel like we are having to adapt to living in a right-hander’s world. I’m going to share with you some of the most common things we experience. Most of the things on this list are merely nuisances that we face daily, but they do get on your nerves after many years of dealing with it.

Just for reference:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/lefties-unite

Let’s start with the desks.

I never had a problem with not being able to rest my elbow on the desk. The reason is because I write sideways; I turn my paper 90 degrees to the right so it’s parallel to my body. I know of a lot of left-handers who also write like this and it might be because of desks. We learn to adapt.

 

Second on the list are scissors.

I also never had a problem with these, I just kind of make it work with my left hand. If I noticed that I was doing a horrible job with my cutting, I would switch to my right hand because I am actually better at cutting with my right.

 

What’s next? These pens!

Okay, hate is a strong word but I really dislike these pens. It’s not enough to ruin my day but sometimes I doubt my strength when I yank the pen over to the left side and it barely makes it without snapping off. When I say barely, I mean it. Those chains have no stretch to them and I usually have to the move up the paper I’m signing in order to get the signature. In my head I’m like “UGHHHHH! Be longer!” That’s why I go through drive-thrus. Same exact situation with the electronic signing device and my signature is always messy.

 

Next up, can openers.

Well, I’m pretty good with these because I do it with my right hand…so moving on.

 

Ball point pens.

Cue the pen shaking because we push the ball instead of pulling it.

 

SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS AND 3 RING BINDERS. UGH.

HATE. Even if you write sideways like me, these still are horrible. It doesn’t actually hurt, it’s just really annoying and you get the indentations in your hand after a while. The dreaded 3 ring binders, it is so hard to write in between those things. We always have to take the paper out. Again, just annoying.

 

What’s next? Elbow bumping.

This is a huge problem in school and when eating out. Picking a seat in a booth is tricky because it’s not that big and you need to be on the correct side or you will be bumping the whole time. I’m speaking from experience here. My mom, who is also left-handed, and I usually have to sit on the same side so this doesn’t happen with the rest of our right-handed family.

Sports Equipment

There is usually little to no left-handed sports equipment in school if you have to play in P.E. and if there is, they are old and disgusting. I have a personal story about this topic. I was in the 4th grade and we were supposed to play softball during P.E. After searching for a right-handed glove and not finding one, my P.E. teacher informed they did not have one and but I still had to participate. Well long story short, I caught a pop fly with my bare hand, broke a finger in my right hand, and had to sit out of the state gymnastics meet that was that weekend. I was so upset. How could she make me play without the correct equipment to fit my needs? The nerve.

 

Last, but not least…the absolute worst.

EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. It never fails. This happens every time I use a pencil. Pens aren’t much better, but I’d rather have pen on my hand than look like the Silver Surfer. Sometimes you forget it’s there, and it gets on your pants and ruins your whole day.

International Left-Handers Day is held annually every August 13, so you should probably show your appreciation for me and all I have to endure with some cornbread or brownies.

 

South Paws Unite,

-Beth

You Say Ice Cream, I Scream Ice Cream

As you would have guessed it, this post has everything to do with ice cream. I won’t bore you about how much I enjoy this tasty treat, I thought I would express my love through literary devices. I am an English teacher, after all.

 

Limerick (AABBA)

Cold ice cream, creamy and rich,

Too much will cause your brain to twitch.

A chilling pain in your head

“You should eat slower,” they said.

Nah man, I ain’t no bitch.

 

Haiku (5-7-5)

Blue Bell, hear me out

Name a flavor after me

The Beth Crawford, please

Tongue Twister

Classic chilled chunky, chocolate candy crunch combined with caramel cream can create crazy, chaotic crowds.

 

Idiom

You’re the ice cream of the crop.

Hyperbole

Bell Blue is my life.

 

Simile

You’re cold as ice cream.

Metaphor

In the DQ blizzards of the world, everyone is a single snowflake.

 

Personification

Ice cream’s got a grip on my wallet and thighs.

-Beth

About Me

Like I said in my previous post, introductions are tricky. I answered some questions, but now I think I should tell you somethings about myself. Some of the information I’m about to share is a little odd but hey, it’s-a me. So, let’s start it off on a nice ice breaker, shall we?

I have clogged a lot of toilets in my life. I could dedicate a full post to all of the times I’ve clogged a toilet, but I don’t think that our writer/reader relationship is at that level yet. If you haven’t felt the panic of clogging a toilet then you haven’t lived. It’s a rush.

I’m afraid of needles/shots and passed out the first time I gave blood.

I have more pictures of my dog on my camera roll than anything else. George has a permanent under bite and I love him. I hate my food touching on the plate. Absolutely hate it. I have to get so many plates at at buffet.

Speaking of buffets, I have no self control at them. I make sure I get my money’s worth and then some.

I pick my favorite holidays based on food. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, with a close second is the 4th of July. Rounding out the top 3 is Superbowl Sunday. See? All based on food.

My all-time favorite candy is a Cadbury Egg.In January, I got knocked down the stairs by an 8th grader running to lunch. In his defense, it was burrito day so I can’t really blame him for his excitement.

My dream job would be making jingles for commercials.

I’m ambidextrous.

I have only ripped my pants once in my life, and that was when I was doing a cartwheel down the hall during my senior year of high school. And of course it ripped right in the crotch area. Gym shorts for the rest of the day.

I live with my best friend, Melissa, and we have been friends since the 6th grade. I love Bell Blue ice cream so much that I’m on their email list.

I think my feet are my best body feature.

I’m terrified of heights. I don’t even like going over high overpasses.

I went to Harry Potter World for my 23rd birthday and accidentally stole a chocolate frog from Honeydukes. I have to have absolute quiet and darkness in order to sleep. Also, I can only sleep on my sides.

Newborn babies freak me out, which isn’t good because I’m going to be an aunt in October.

I’m double-jointed in my elbows.

I love building and decorating gingerbread houses. When I’m thinking or daydreaming, I stare…usually it’s at people. I do this all the time at the gym and while my students are taking a test and it freaks them out. I know this because they told me.

If there is a new dance craze sweeping the nation (think Crank That, Pop Lock and Drop It, Dougie, etc.) I will watch YouTube how-to videos to learn it.

I graduated college in 3 years.

-Beth

Introductions

Hi, I’m Beth.

Introductions are always tricky. So let’s just skip over the awkward stuff (don’t worry I’ll have plenty awkward situations to blog about in the future) but for now I’ll answer some generic, but crowd pleasing questions about myself.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

If you had to give up a favorite food, which would be the most difficult to give up? – See more at: http://www.icebreakers.ws/small-group/good-icebreaker-questions.html#sthash.zeMJ9F3k.dpuf

Are you a morning or a night person? I am definitely a morning person. I have to wake up for school at 5:30 so I have to go to bed fairly early. Even though it’s the summer I can’t sleep in past 7:30.

What are your pet peeves? This list could go on forever but I’ll narrow it down to my top 3. 1). Listening to people eat. 2). Bad grammar or people who text like this: “r u going 2 b there 2?” 3). When people are late.

What are you favorite hobbies? I love to bake, cook, and run. But now that it’s summer my list of hobbies extends with all the extra time. I have now added learning Spanish (with Rosetta Stone), becoming more flexible with yoga and stretching, and learning more about my Nikon DSLR camera.

What is your favorite thing to do during the summer? I love laying out while listening to Pandora and reading a book. It’s what I look forward to every summer.

What is one food that you never want to try again? I have tried so many times to like coconut but I just can’t do it. Almond Joys and Mounds always look so good but I can’t get through the first bite.

What is one item that you should throw away but never will? My baby blanket. My brother gave it to my when I was about a year old and I’ve had it ever since and still sleep with it. It’s ratty and raggity but I can’t part with it.

What is the most listened to song on your iTunes? “Lake Michigan” by Rogue Wave

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? I hate folding laundry. I repeat. I. HATE. FOLDING. LAUNDRY.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? The best gift I’ve ever received was a diamond necklace, that belonged to my grandmother, for my college gradation. The diamond was from her engagement ring that she turned into a necklace. She gave it to me personally at our family reunion and it means so much to me.

What is one of your favorite quotes? “May the bridges I burn light the way.”

What was the first thing you bought with your own money? I bought a new car with my own money. Specifically, a 2007 black Jeep Compass when I was 19 and a sophomore in college. Looking back it was not the best idea.

What story does your family always tell about you? I played T-Ball for one summer and I cried during every game because I was hot and sweaty. But in my defense, our uniforms were ALL BLACK and we played during the summer.

Well, I think that’s enough questions for now. So what do you think, can we be follow friends? Thanks for reading.

-Beth

 

1. If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?

– See more at: http://www.icebreakers.ws/get-to-know-you/icebreaker-questions.html#sthash.HSQeGx0t.dpuf