I Couldn't Be Happier

So sometimes, I have really good days. Really, really, good days. Not like I'm trying to brag or anything, but I have really good days.

Today was a really good day. It was my last day of work, huzzah! Not that I didn't enjoy my job - I enjoyed it to the moon and back. It's just really exciting to end one phase of life and start a new one. And, being my last day, my boss took me out to lunch with my very favorite parents and two of my very favorite mission folk to one of my very favorite restaurants. Can't beat that. She also presented me with the sweetest "Thanks for being a good mission intern, I had lots of fun" token of appreciation. It's a bracelet. I'm wearing it right now.

If that isn't enough good crammed into one day, I got off work early, and got to come home and watch Project Runway with mi madre. Then two of our favorite girlies came by to pay a visit, and we got to talk about crafts and Project Runway and ladies spotted in Marshalls.

AND THEN...my dad came home from work with my new car! Yippee skippee! Just when things were starting to look bleak on the car front, this awesome prospect cropped up. I'm super pumped. I've never had "my own car" before - the one I've been driving since high school was a pass down from the brosky.

My parents have gone out to dinner with some friends. You would think eating alone would put a damper on such a good day, but I really like it from time to time. It helps, too, that my very favorite food group was on the menu. Sweet Potatoes. They deserve their own food group. Plus, I had Van Morrison blasting creating ambiance in the background to keep me company. After dinner, I retired to the playroom and starting making friendship bracelets while the music played. The CD finished after a while, and I got up to change it out, but became bold. I've been curious about turntables and records for a long while now, but I've never had the guts to do anything about it. Every so often I'd mention maybe one day my dad could show me how to use his turntable, but nothing ever came of it. And my dad's records have always been, from my perspective, off limits. It was never said in so many words, I just have always had the feeling that nobody should be touching this prized collection of audio. So...I just did it. I picked out a nice Dolly record from his collection and fumbled my way through to the right stereo settings. Maybe it's just me, but there is something extremely more satisfying about listening to vinyl than to CDs or MP3s. Probably because, to me, it's a novelty and something unexpected.

Then, I talked to one of the coolest people I know via Twitter - disclaimer: I love Twitter. - and we've set up a gameday dress making party. Not to mention, she gave the tip off that the quill was up for Pottermore, and I got into the early registration! Still not real sure as to what all of this is, but if it's Harry Potter Mania, you'd better believe I'm there no matter what.

So, that's the really good day. Nothing extraordinary by some standards, but to me it was really, really, good. In fact, I'm a little overwhelmed. Not to mention, it all has the potential to carry on to tomorrow, when I *hopefullyhopefullyhopefully* get to meet Bruce from Swamp People.

All the Rest

Um, so, my plan to blog a summary of each day of Mission Week failed. Pretty much, Byron said tons of cute Louisiana cowboy things, I answered tons of phone calls, I dealt with tons of middle school boys and old folks, I ate tons, and I had one of the most fun, exhausting, rewarding weeks.

Day Two

My first words from Byron Monday morning? "Molly. How ya doin' again, baby? You bein' a have?"

The second day of Mission Week was more on par with what I was expecting, business wise. Forgotten supplies, extra volunteers, disproportionate lunch crowds, the like. Phone lines at Command Central were busy for sure. And, once again, I'm just blown away by how special Mission Week is to our church. From my vantage point, I get to see retirees teaching the youth group, young singles hanging out with middle aged parents of college kids, middle school boys leading children's workshops, and every other combination you can imagine. Too cool.

 Byron. I think he favors Tommy Lee Jones a bit...

Day One

Today, the first day of Mission Week, was chaotic hectic insane wild surprisingly smooth. I spent my day in Command Central, answering phone calls for water and ice deliveries, organizing which crews went to which lunch, formatting spread sheets, buzzing here, buzzing there. Probably my very favorite part of this job, though, is the plethora of opportunities I get to chat it up with older generations. These people are the neatest ever. Plus, they know so much that those of us growing up today will never experience.

One such man I met today was the chef, Byron, who drives in from Louisiana to make us gumbo and Cajun spaghetti for lunch. He's tall, trim, tan, and looks like the closest thing Louisiana's got to a cowboy. His first words to me? "Molly Cook. How ya' doin', baby?" I wish millions more greeted likewise.

Intern Duties

*An excerpt from an actual phone call I received at work this afternoon*
MG: Well, the nursery has 60 students, so I would go ahead and round it up to about 75 flyers.
me: Ok, we can do that.
MG: They are just so thrilled to pass 'em out and send 'em home! You have no idea how excited they are! Now, Molly, you're a young, intelligent girl. I need to ask how on earth you handle this current music.
me: .................well-
MG: You know, they're just so crazy nowadays. It's good to know there's someone else like me who just can't stand all that yelling.
me: There is some good stuff, you just have to wade through a lot of crazies to get there.
MG: You know Charlotte Church? You just don't hear anything from her anymore. It's all these people just yelling. That's not music.
me: Yes ma'am.