I've always known it, but I realized this week that I have to admit it. I realized it when I noticed how much I liked my co-worker's bag...it was brown with pink polka dots and a pink bow...but I hate pink. A lot. My whole life, I've hated pink. I hate the color and I hate the girly fru-fru-ness it represents. But dangitt, her bag was cute! Then, I went shopping, and wouldn't you know it but I bought a pink shirt. And I love it. I willingly handed over hard-earned money for a PINK shirt. And you know what? It's the second time I've done that! Yes I own not one, but TWO PINK SHIRTS. And I love them both.
That's when I realized I had to admit it...
I am a girl.
Perhaps you may have already noticed this, most people do. But my whole life has been lived among men. I have always worked in a male-dominated field, and my best friends have always been guys. I had a construction gig in college where they called me the "Queen Bee" because I was both the boss and the only girl. So I've always been "one of the guys" and as such, I have shunned all girlyness. For example, I have routinely taken armloads of groceries into the house (while flexing my rippling biceps, mind you...ok maybe not...) when really I've wished someone was there to just take the 24 pack of bottled water inside for me. And I have victoriously killed any insect trespassing in my home when really all I want to do is trap it under a cup until someone else can get it.
But the truth is, while I will probably always be the lone woman among men, and the answer to Sesame Street's "one of these things is not like the other...", that's just who I am! And while I have never indulged in the "girly" side of me, I'm learning I don't have to just be the chick who knows stuff about tools and isn't afraid of bugs. God is starting to show me how I can be both...pink shirt, skill saw, and all.
I will never, however, watch Gilmore Girls. There is a limit.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Enjoying Life
One of the things I have been focusing on lately is enjoying life. I am a planner, so I have the tendency to always be looking ahead at what's coming up. Often that is a great skill, but it also tends to get a little overwhelming because I end up looking at too much at once, and become unable to enjoy the NOW because I'm too busy worrying about what is coming up tomorrow or next week or next month. So I spent a lot of time in Ecclesiastes reading about "enjoying life" because of this.
And of course, when you pray about something, funny how God tends to put it in front of you immediately! Well, my first real application of "enjoying life" was when I found myself driving all the way up to Plano (step number one out of my comfort box!) to hang out with a girlfriend's hometeam. Now typically, in a group of strangers, I tend to stay on the sidelines where it's more comfortable. But instead, I found myself striking up conversations with people and telling jokes, with a surprising lack of discomfort. Then as the night went on, they pulled IT out...this video game I'd never heard of before called...Rock Band. Now most people already know what this is because they don't live in the stone age like me, nor do they own solely the original Ninetendo 64 and nothing since then. But in case you don't know, Rock Band is basically a glorified karaoke machine...you can sing along, but you can also play a fake guitar or fake drumset along with the song.
Now normally, in a room full of strangers, I would never do something with so much potential for failure and embarrassment. But to tell the truth...I kinda wanted to play the drums! So when the guy playing finished the song and said "who's next", I heard a strangely familiar voice saying "I want to play!" And with utter shock and a slight amount of fear at the room's full attention suddenly aimed at me, I realized...that was my voice!!
So yes, I played the drums, and yes, I was a total rock star. I busted out 3 songs and didn't even care if I looked silly because dangitt I was having fun. But more importantly, for the first time in months, I felt like ME. I wasn't striving or struggling, pushing or pulling, worrying about what other people think, just being me, and dangitt, I love me! So here's me, being a total rock star...
And of course, when you pray about something, funny how God tends to put it in front of you immediately! Well, my first real application of "enjoying life" was when I found myself driving all the way up to Plano (step number one out of my comfort box!) to hang out with a girlfriend's hometeam. Now typically, in a group of strangers, I tend to stay on the sidelines where it's more comfortable. But instead, I found myself striking up conversations with people and telling jokes, with a surprising lack of discomfort. Then as the night went on, they pulled IT out...this video game I'd never heard of before called...Rock Band. Now most people already know what this is because they don't live in the stone age like me, nor do they own solely the original Ninetendo 64 and nothing since then. But in case you don't know, Rock Band is basically a glorified karaoke machine...you can sing along, but you can also play a fake guitar or fake drumset along with the song.
Now normally, in a room full of strangers, I would never do something with so much potential for failure and embarrassment. But to tell the truth...I kinda wanted to play the drums! So when the guy playing finished the song and said "who's next", I heard a strangely familiar voice saying "I want to play!" And with utter shock and a slight amount of fear at the room's full attention suddenly aimed at me, I realized...that was my voice!!
So yes, I played the drums, and yes, I was a total rock star. I busted out 3 songs and didn't even care if I looked silly because dangitt I was having fun. But more importantly, for the first time in months, I felt like ME. I wasn't striving or struggling, pushing or pulling, worrying about what other people think, just being me, and dangitt, I love me! So here's me, being a total rock star...
My Life in Nine Months
My last post was October 2007, about the time my life started to get just a little too busy for the average gal. But quite a bit happened during those months so for the avid reader of the Crys McDonald Show, here's the skinny to bring you up to speed!
October 2007:
*Just finished installing FC's first ever volunteer-built set and it was totally awesome! Thus began my life as a set designer and my work as production manager at Alliance was finished...insert bittersweet sniffle mixed with sigh of relief here.
*Creepy guy looked into the windows of my apartment...insert justified freak out here.
November 2007:
*Moved in with parents temporarily due to creepy window guy
*4-year spiritual anniversary fell exactly on Thanksgiving
*Began building the Christmas set!
December 2007:
*Christmas
*Christmas
*More Christmas :)
January 2008:
*First road trip with Preston, and we are still together after that! We drove to Florida to see my family and then made it back home just in time to dress up and ring in the New Year after 10 straight hours in the car!
*Broke down the Christmas set and went back to the first one in order to show off at upcoming C3 Conference
February 2008:
*Moved into fabulous new apartment, sans peeping toms
*Amazing C3 Conference, the very next week!
March 2008:
*Easter came early this year...pretty much running on fumes by this point
April 2008:
*Oh yeah...I was also still going to seminary. Decided it was impossible to keep up this kind of schedule, and we'll have to put school on pause and come back a few years from now. Sniff.
*Bought myself a new, non-gas guzzling car...although still hanging on to the truck because I just can't bear to part!
May 2008:
*My brother Jimmy got married to the love of his life, Cat! I got to be in the wedding and also throw a fabulous bachelorette shower!
*Officially met Preston one year ago, and we've been dating about 10 months now
*Yet a third set for the Fellowship Stage designed and executed, all glory to Him and Him alone!
*One of the girls moved away to get married...another one bites the dust
June 2008:
*Time to BREATHE. And apparently, blog.
There you have it, you are officially caught up.
October 2007:
*Just finished installing FC's first ever volunteer-built set and it was totally awesome! Thus began my life as a set designer and my work as production manager at Alliance was finished...insert bittersweet sniffle mixed with sigh of relief here.
*Creepy guy looked into the windows of my apartment...insert justified freak out here.
November 2007:
*Moved in with parents temporarily due to creepy window guy
*4-year spiritual anniversary fell exactly on Thanksgiving
*Began building the Christmas set!
December 2007:
*Christmas
*Christmas
*More Christmas :)
January 2008:
*First road trip with Preston, and we are still together after that! We drove to Florida to see my family and then made it back home just in time to dress up and ring in the New Year after 10 straight hours in the car!
*Broke down the Christmas set and went back to the first one in order to show off at upcoming C3 Conference
February 2008:
*Moved into fabulous new apartment, sans peeping toms
*Amazing C3 Conference, the very next week!
March 2008:
*Easter came early this year...pretty much running on fumes by this point
April 2008:
*Oh yeah...I was also still going to seminary. Decided it was impossible to keep up this kind of schedule, and we'll have to put school on pause and come back a few years from now. Sniff.
*Bought myself a new, non-gas guzzling car...although still hanging on to the truck because I just can't bear to part!
May 2008:
*My brother Jimmy got married to the love of his life, Cat! I got to be in the wedding and also throw a fabulous bachelorette shower!
*Officially met Preston one year ago, and we've been dating about 10 months now
*Yet a third set for the Fellowship Stage designed and executed, all glory to Him and Him alone!
*One of the girls moved away to get married...another one bites the dust
June 2008:
*Time to BREATHE. And apparently, blog.
There you have it, you are officially caught up.
The Blog is Back!
Yes, to the excitement of Laura Strickland and the chagrin of Jeph Kryzak, the Crys McDonald Show has returned! I'm catching up on the more important things in life, and as it turns out, blogging is one of them. I'll be posting the abridged version of my life over the last nine months so you are sure not to miss a thing, and then of course it's back to regaling you with the unlikely adventures of Crys, sure to be full of insect wars and general dorkiness. Occasional profound spiritual wisdom sprinkled in.
So...be sure to check back and leave you comments of sarcasm (Jeph) or support (everyone else!)!
So...be sure to check back and leave you comments of sarcasm (Jeph) or support (everyone else!)!
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