Prelude to a Kiss

What is it with winter and electricity? There's the awful static cling of pants on tights, the dreadful frizzy hair, and the inevitable "shock" when you touch anything... actually, in a weird (and maybe slightly sadistic) way, I sort of like the shocks- especially in the dark. Something about actually SEEING the tiny flash of light caused by the little jolt coming through my body makes me feel a little like I have a superpower. When I lived in Prague, my heat went out for about a month at one point; I slept every night in multiple pairs of pajamas underneath EIGHT layers of sheets, towels, and blankets. One night, there were so many "sparks" of electricity when I rolled over, I seriously thought that my bed might catch on fire!
Anyway, I do this a LOT... the shocking, I mean. It doesn't matter what I touch, I've come to expect the accompanying jolt. The only one that really bothers me, though, is when I kiss Rob. My big, tough husband is apparently quite delicate in the facial area, and I've seen him literally jump back from me a few too many times this winter. Usually with a disgusted scowl, which is not exactly the look I want to see after I plant one on him! It hurts my feelings more than my lips! I've finally started remembering to touch his arm or chest with my hand, discharging the electricity before I reach up for a smooch. It's kind of funny, really, but a little frustrating too! Ok, a lot frustrating...
As for my so-called 24-hour stomach bug last week... it turned out to be more like a six-day stomach flu! I lost 9 lbs from Monday-Friday and by the end of the week I had to get 1.5 liters of fluid through an IV. It was pretty miserable, to say the least. I was out of work for four days, and didn't get to enjoy the break at all! Ugh!!
I just registered for another 5K. I can't remember if I've shared here that I'm training to run the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in April. The training runs have been good so far, but brisk! It was 31F yesterday morning when my friend, Rachel, and I started, and only 33F by the time we finished. Brrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

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I couldn't think of anything clever to title this post. I'm on day 2 of an alleged 24-hour stomach bug. And it is gross! I'll spare you all the intimate details, and just tell you that I've lost 5 pounds since Monday. Deduce for yourself how that is possible.
Spending two days in bed has allowed me lots of time to sleep and watch a ridiculous amount of Gilmore Girls. I'm pretty sure Rob and I did some cool stuff this year before I got sick, but I'm having a hard time remembering it all. 2009 has been good so far... we went hiking (and picnicking) at Burgess Falls State Park- I'll try to remember to put up some pictures soon. And we saw Gran Torino (if you can look past the foul language and racial slurs, it was a really good movie about cross-cultural interaction). We've been working on plans for a trip back to Romania and the Czech Republic in March. Oh, and a new season of 24 started, and that's pretty exciting to me. (If I wasn't so in love with Rob, I would probably love Jack Bauer.)
That's pretty much all for now. Nothing great to write about, I just felt like I should check in since I had a little time on my hands. Now I need to go get a Clorox wipe and clean my keyboard. Over and out.

Happy 2009

I've told you here before that I don't make New Year's Resolutions. I used to, but I never kept them. Instead, I try to use January 1 as a bench-mark day to stop and look back and think of all the things I'm grateful for in the past year... counting my blessings, if you want to call it that. Here's my top 29, in honor of my final year of my 20's...

Jess' Gratitude List- 2008
1. Rob- easily my number one! 2008 was our first Jan 1-Dec 31 as husband and wife, and it was incredible! I love him more every day. (Seriously- I'm not just saying that.)
2. My salvation- it's been kind of a dry year for me spiritually, but I know that God is still good and my faith is growing again.
3. Sunshine- On our way home on New Years Day, Rob & I saw the prettiest sunset I've seen in a long time; I wish I'd had my camera. This morning, driving to work, I was blessed with another amazing sky shortly after sunrise. I'm hanging on to that as a promise of a beautiful year ahead!
4. My family- I appreciate my parents & sisters more and more the older I get, and I'm thankful that we have good relationships.
5. My in-laws- I know that it's a treasure to get along as well as I do with my husband's family.
6. Good health- 2008 will go down for me as the year I finally lost 20 lbs (and got into my smallest pants since high school) and became a lifetime member of Weight Watchers; I feel good!!
7. Old Friends- sometimes they know me better than I know myself
8. New Friends- I'm especially grateful for Rachel, Andie, Erin, and Charity
9. David- my nephew. I've never loved another face like I do his!
10. My job- here's to finding work with a Purpose
11. Servpro- for all that it means to me: the business that supports my family and keeps my house from disaster
12. The employees at Servpro- Rob finally has a good crew in place that he can trust, meaning he has to work fewer long hours and weekends. I appreciate them.
13. A really good church home
14. Our community group
15. Water- I just like it!
16. Facebook- it has been so fun to reconnect with old friends
17. My grandmothers- I've tried to be more intentional in my relationships with them this year. I'm lucky to still have them both! They have been an inspiration to me
18. Dark chocolate m&m's (just being honest. I'm thankful for them!)
19. The translators who are working with me on Share Jesus Without Fear and The Call to Follow Christ... 15 down, 85 to go!
20. My friends at work- Juliana, Stacie, Joan and Stephanie. They make my Monday-Friday happier
21. DVR
22. Freedom
23. Music
24. Yankee Candles
25. Coffee
26. Mexican Food
27. My iRobot vacuum cleaner (who we affectionately call "Danny Tanner")
28. Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest
29. Smiles and laughter that have filled our first home

I pray for you that 2009 will be a year with even more for which to be thankful!!