I got a letter from Alabama Power yesterday.
Things have been resolved.
From April 2005 to March 2008, I have been paying the bill for the downstairs apartment. That has totaled $5223.66
I should been paying $3083.76
Alabama Power is cutting me a check for $2139.76
I am smiling pretty big right now.
I think I am most excited because it means that my power bill is less than normal. AND... it means my conservation efforts are working.
In other news, I have been sitting on the couch watching movies most of the day. Someone like you, In Her Shoes, Mr. Hollands Opus. I have no shame. I have needed this. Joon and Max and I are just hanging out. I am quite content.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Today is a new day!
I had an awful day yesterday. Seriously. On top of working yesterday from 7am to 10:30 pm, (minus a brief 11-1 period) yesterday was just kind of miserable. I felt like some people treated me poorly. I felt like some people walked all over me. I felt like I wasn't respected. And... at 12 yesterday afternoon, our power was shut off.
I thought I was going crazy. I kept checking to make sure I paid the bill. I kept checking to make sure it went through. I called Alabama Power and reported it. No one ever called me back. I had since assumed it had been resolved.
Well, after my long day at work, I came home and found my apartment black. There is usually a small glow through the house from tiny lights. The small green lights from a computer. The light from a clock. The glow from the tiny lights on the tv. The tiny microwave lights. Nothing. None of that was on. It was awful. While I wasn't exactly filled with exorbitant amounts of energy, I couldnt go straight to bed. I told someone one day I could live like a farmer. I could get up when the sun came up and go to sleep when the sun went down. Hardly!
I took Joon on a long walk. I had my iPod singing in my ear. And Joon and I went off. As I was coming back up, I had that overwhelming since of sadness. I lit some candles, and I crouched in the corner of my apartment to try and get online with AP again. I was sitting in bed... in the dork. I wanted to read. I wanted to have some sort of light. I flipped out on the phone with Andrew. People lived without power before, but not at 12 at night. Finally someone called me.
I wont go in to detail, but basically, my downstairs neighbors forgot to pay a bill. They were supposed to have their power cut off. Andy called when he found a notice on the door. He told them his power was still on and he had this awful feeling that ours was cut off instead.
Well, in the process of everything getting back on, we discovered that the meters were switched. THAT explains why mine was cut rather than his. Do you know what else this means. It means that for THREE YEARS, I have been paying the wrong bill. It means that for three years, when I was turning off lights, installing solar lights, opening windows instead of using the AC, turning things off night, and just all around conserving, I wasn't getting anything out of it. It means that When there were four boys living underneath me, I was paying their bill. it means that when they didn't have gas, and they were heating their apartment will the OVEN (which runs off electricity) I was paying for it. When they were leaving their lights on... I was paying for it.
Alabama Power claims they are going to do some sort of credit, but honestly, what can they do?
I am so furious.
I thought I was going crazy. I kept checking to make sure I paid the bill. I kept checking to make sure it went through. I called Alabama Power and reported it. No one ever called me back. I had since assumed it had been resolved.
Well, after my long day at work, I came home and found my apartment black. There is usually a small glow through the house from tiny lights. The small green lights from a computer. The light from a clock. The glow from the tiny lights on the tv. The tiny microwave lights. Nothing. None of that was on. It was awful. While I wasn't exactly filled with exorbitant amounts of energy, I couldnt go straight to bed. I told someone one day I could live like a farmer. I could get up when the sun came up and go to sleep when the sun went down. Hardly!
I took Joon on a long walk. I had my iPod singing in my ear. And Joon and I went off. As I was coming back up, I had that overwhelming since of sadness. I lit some candles, and I crouched in the corner of my apartment to try and get online with AP again. I was sitting in bed... in the dork. I wanted to read. I wanted to have some sort of light. I flipped out on the phone with Andrew. People lived without power before, but not at 12 at night. Finally someone called me.
I wont go in to detail, but basically, my downstairs neighbors forgot to pay a bill. They were supposed to have their power cut off. Andy called when he found a notice on the door. He told them his power was still on and he had this awful feeling that ours was cut off instead.
Well, in the process of everything getting back on, we discovered that the meters were switched. THAT explains why mine was cut rather than his. Do you know what else this means. It means that for THREE YEARS, I have been paying the wrong bill. It means that for three years, when I was turning off lights, installing solar lights, opening windows instead of using the AC, turning things off night, and just all around conserving, I wasn't getting anything out of it. It means that When there were four boys living underneath me, I was paying their bill. it means that when they didn't have gas, and they were heating their apartment will the OVEN (which runs off electricity) I was paying for it. When they were leaving their lights on... I was paying for it.
Alabama Power claims they are going to do some sort of credit, but honestly, what can they do?
I am so furious.
Friday, February 29, 2008
My dream...
It is weird how the past week has led me to discover my actual dream.
Through the past week, I have been discussing with countless people about how the world has lost its love and compassion for people. We don't love people any more. We don't offer rides to our brothers and sisters. I will be honest, I didn't want to be part of Christianity anymore. I didn't want to associate myself with a religion that preaches about love but laughs at their neighbor. I didn't want to be a hypocrite. I didn't want people to think I was one of them. I, for a while, had lost all hope in humanity. Christianity, Christ, was about love. Christianity without love is just a theology study. A book club.
Last night, I went to the Tunnel of Oppression at UAB. If you went, I am so glad. If you didn't, I ask you to go next year. It was a phenomenal experience. I think a lot of us know what it is like to be made fun of.
The tunnel went through such groups as international students, poverty, disabilities, LGBT, STI's, addictions, racism, and a room of HOPE. All of these rooms put you in situations that kind of made you feel uncomfortable. They challenged everyone to reflect on their actions. While I cannot say I openly make fun of poor people or homosexuality, I can honestly say that I do not understand it.
So what did all of this, and the past week mean?
Well let me preface it with this. When I lived in Marietta, I used to volunteer at a place called MUST ministries. It was a place that brought in homeless people and gave them an actual place to stay. Sure, there were limited beds, but their goal was not to be a shelter. They wanted to pick people up and give them a means for climbing out of a hole.
When people get so low, they begin to beat themselves down. I want to work to open a place that does this. I want to bring people in and give them clean clothes, fresh meals, job skills, and help them find a job. There are a lot of shelters in Birmingham. And I think they are amazing. But the problem is that after one night, they are back on the street.
So this is my goal: To provide a place for people who need help and refuge.
But I need help. I need people. I need hearts. I need love. All of these politicians are talking about HOPE and CHANGE, but where is it?
So who wants to help me? Clothes? Fresh cooked meals? Beds? Sheets?
I am serious. I am about to email MUST and ask them how they got started. I will open this place. Maybe not in this year, but soon. Love is the only thing that will bring humanity up from out of the ground. Love is the only thing that will clean up a city. Hope is useless without love.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. " - Ghandi
Through the past week, I have been discussing with countless people about how the world has lost its love and compassion for people. We don't love people any more. We don't offer rides to our brothers and sisters. I will be honest, I didn't want to be part of Christianity anymore. I didn't want to associate myself with a religion that preaches about love but laughs at their neighbor. I didn't want to be a hypocrite. I didn't want people to think I was one of them. I, for a while, had lost all hope in humanity. Christianity, Christ, was about love. Christianity without love is just a theology study. A book club.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:7-12)Yeah, we say we care for those who suffer, but do we know about the people suffering down the street from us. Do we understand the concept of homelessness? Do we understand what it is like to be unable to pay bills? How many of us have struggled to make ends meet? I don't. I haven't. I don't even get it. But I will tell you this: I live in the middle of downtown Birmingham. Poverty and homelessness exists not far from my house. I see it. But I fail to understand it. I fail to do anything about it.
Last night, I went to the Tunnel of Oppression at UAB. If you went, I am so glad. If you didn't, I ask you to go next year. It was a phenomenal experience. I think a lot of us know what it is like to be made fun of.
The tunnel went through such groups as international students, poverty, disabilities, LGBT, STI's, addictions, racism, and a room of HOPE. All of these rooms put you in situations that kind of made you feel uncomfortable. They challenged everyone to reflect on their actions. While I cannot say I openly make fun of poor people or homosexuality, I can honestly say that I do not understand it.
So what did all of this, and the past week mean?
Well let me preface it with this. When I lived in Marietta, I used to volunteer at a place called MUST ministries. It was a place that brought in homeless people and gave them an actual place to stay. Sure, there were limited beds, but their goal was not to be a shelter. They wanted to pick people up and give them a means for climbing out of a hole.
When people get so low, they begin to beat themselves down. I want to work to open a place that does this. I want to bring people in and give them clean clothes, fresh meals, job skills, and help them find a job. There are a lot of shelters in Birmingham. And I think they are amazing. But the problem is that after one night, they are back on the street.
So this is my goal: To provide a place for people who need help and refuge.
But I need help. I need people. I need hearts. I need love. All of these politicians are talking about HOPE and CHANGE, but where is it?
So who wants to help me? Clothes? Fresh cooked meals? Beds? Sheets?
I am serious. I am about to email MUST and ask them how they got started. I will open this place. Maybe not in this year, but soon. Love is the only thing that will bring humanity up from out of the ground. Love is the only thing that will clean up a city. Hope is useless without love.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. " - Ghandi
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
I am giving up TV for lent. For Many reasons.
I have become incredibly complacent. In life. In work. In friends. I hope to God, this nips it in the butt. I plan on being more proactive. I don't watch a terrible amount of tv, but I have found that I am highly unproductive and not very proactive. This season, I hope to be more so. After reading Tao of Pooh and the section on Bisy Backson, I realized this: I am not one to run around trying to save time. I keep myself busy so that I cannot reflect. This means I don't take much time to keep to myself. I don't take much time to give God. I fill my days with nonsense. The quiet and solitude is alarming and frightening. I cannot stand it.
With Lent, I want to be productive. The season is about giving up or starting up the things that may separate you from God. This is it. I need time and loneliness to just talk with God. I need time to myself to talk to, well, myself.
I have big plans for lent: recycling, a garden, composting, cleaning, reorganizing and alone time.
I challenge all of you to take a look at your life. What keeps you from growing closer to God? What keeps you from growing as an individual?
The answer to these two questions usually go together. And for me, I plan on fixing it for Lent.
God gives us the strength to do so. Give up what is hard. Start what is harder.
Motivational time:
"When we take the time to enjoy our surroundings and appreciate being alive, we find that we have no time to be Bisy Backson's anymore."
Basically, Christ went in to the wilderness after his Baptism. This is when he states that man cannot live in bread alone. Here is why he went in to the Wilderness. This is WHY we give things up for lent...
To be tempted - it seems strange. We pray, "lead us not into temptation" but Jesus knew that that his experience in the wilderness would result in a powerful encounter with the accuser. This is an important point that cannot be ignored. We need to prepare to face and be victorious over whatever would beset us at the end of our own time in the wilderness. Our weapons should be the same as those of our Lord: the Word of God, handled correctly.
To meet with the Father - there were far fewer distractions in the wilderness. It may be worth thinking about this the next time you find yourself metaphorically in the wilerness, stripped of distracting opportunities to minister, you can focus on what really matters.
To prepare for power - without the first two, there would be no point to this final entry. It is after Jesus' baptism and wilderness experience that we see Him exercising real power to turn the world around Him upside-down.
I have become incredibly complacent. In life. In work. In friends. I hope to God, this nips it in the butt. I plan on being more proactive. I don't watch a terrible amount of tv, but I have found that I am highly unproductive and not very proactive. This season, I hope to be more so. After reading Tao of Pooh and the section on Bisy Backson, I realized this: I am not one to run around trying to save time. I keep myself busy so that I cannot reflect. This means I don't take much time to keep to myself. I don't take much time to give God. I fill my days with nonsense. The quiet and solitude is alarming and frightening. I cannot stand it.
With Lent, I want to be productive. The season is about giving up or starting up the things that may separate you from God. This is it. I need time and loneliness to just talk with God. I need time to myself to talk to, well, myself.
I have big plans for lent: recycling, a garden, composting, cleaning, reorganizing and alone time.
I challenge all of you to take a look at your life. What keeps you from growing closer to God? What keeps you from growing as an individual?
The answer to these two questions usually go together. And for me, I plan on fixing it for Lent.
God gives us the strength to do so. Give up what is hard. Start what is harder.
Motivational time:
"When we take the time to enjoy our surroundings and appreciate being alive, we find that we have no time to be Bisy Backson's anymore."
Basically, Christ went in to the wilderness after his Baptism. This is when he states that man cannot live in bread alone. Here is why he went in to the Wilderness. This is WHY we give things up for lent...
To be tempted - it seems strange. We pray, "lead us not into temptation" but Jesus knew that that his experience in the wilderness would result in a powerful encounter with the accuser. This is an important point that cannot be ignored. We need to prepare to face and be victorious over whatever would beset us at the end of our own time in the wilderness. Our weapons should be the same as those of our Lord: the Word of God, handled correctly.
To meet with the Father - there were far fewer distractions in the wilderness. It may be worth thinking about this the next time you find yourself metaphorically in the wilerness, stripped of distracting opportunities to minister, you can focus on what really matters.
To prepare for power - without the first two, there would be no point to this final entry. It is after Jesus' baptism and wilderness experience that we see Him exercising real power to turn the world around Him upside-down.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I heart James Lipton
Ashley is oh so right. I love Inside the Actor's Studio. James Lipton's idea to use Bernard Pivot's Questionnaire is so wise. It is brilliant. It says a lot about people. So i took Ashley's advice and completed it for myself.
Hoorah.
- What is your favorite word? Phenomenal
- What is your least favorite word? Can't
- What turns you on? The idea of open minds. I love the picture of friends gathered around, discussing theories, love and life.Throw in some coffee or wine - magic.
- What turns you off? ignorance
- What sound or noise do you love? Laughter, Pure laughter
- What sound or noise do you hate? squeaks or irks from machines. the space heater in the living room makes a creaking noise when it turns all the way to the right. it drives me CRAZY!
- What is your favorite curse word? Piss. it makes me feel British. or Damn. I do like damn.
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I think I would like to be a teacher... Art or English. I would actually LOVE to work with Special Education Children
- What profession would you not like to do? I abhor the idea of being a telemarketer
- If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "That was soooome ride. Huh?"
Hoorah.
It has been a while
Wow. So i haven't written in a while. But reading everyone else's blog made me want to write again. I continue to find myself highly introspective. I have been reading Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. It is a phenomenal book. I am thoroughly enjoying it.
I think it has taught me, so far, to stop and listen. It doesn't seem to be an actual theme in the book. I think primarily it is about taking things one step at a time. The father in the book constantly attempts to teach his son things: motorcycle maintenance, stories, theories. I find myself listening more because of this. Not just to my father. But to people. And the outside world. Even with it being so cold outside, I find myself standing outside and listening to the wind. I kind of wonder what it is saying.
It is funny, because I went to see August Rush at the dollar theater tonight. I loved it. The little boy, standing in the midst of New York City chaos, finds himself listening to all of the sounds that surround him. He hears it as music. I wonder if we all took the time to close our eyes and listen to the world around us, what would it say? Perhaps the song you hear is the same as someone else. I do think that nature and music call people and bring them together.
With all this being said, I have felt so spiritual lately. Not necessarily religious, but spiritual. Drew suggested I re-read Busy Backson in the Tao of Pooh. I actually found myself referencing it to Marty. I think he needed to hear it. I think I needed to hear it. I tell myself to listen more. And I know that I do, but I think it is important to remind myself. Between the Tao of Pooh, my current book, and some of my current beliefs, I have myself questioning other things. I find it actually hard to talk about. I have discussed it with a few people.
I think I am lacking a purpose in life. I may be searching for a meaning. I have a relationship with Christ. Even though at this moment I find myself distant from him. I had been looking in other things, not for answers, but satisfaction. I know the word of God is true and applicable. I don't think I can really explain this to anyone. Is it my job to go around saving people? Why do we even use the term save? Non-Christians hate us for that. That gives them the impression that they are doomed. Is it my job to make them believe. Or is it my job to know who Christ was and is and reflect is love on others? Is it my job to tell you're sinning? I think the more important thing is this: Christ led an amazing life. He taught great lessons. maybe we should focus on those.
I stopped going to church for a while. I could stand the hypocrisy anymore. I will say it. I couldn't stand having friends that talked about me behind my back. I didn't like having friends assume I was a bad Christian because of the people I associated with. I won't be a part of a religion like that. I won't do it. I can't.
The Bible teaches amazing lessons. Taoism teaches amazing lessons. I continue to have a personal relationship with God. He knows my hopes and fears. But as for now, I focus on peace and taking things one step at a time. I focus on conservation and the earth. Humanity and joy. Love. Isn't that what Christianity was founded on? Love. Isn't THAT the most prominent word in the Bible? But where is that in our hearts. The slander that exists amongst us disgusts me. The idea that non believers hate Christians because of their hypocrisy bothers me. I just don't like being a part of that. I attempt to be a voice and face of change. But talking about the very people you should be loving is truly awful. Forcing yourself to love them may be worse. Love is not something you cross off your To Do List. Love is a life style.
I finally said it. Maybe it just took some fingers to the keyboard to get it out. I discussed all of this with Andrew before. I just don't think God will hate me for this. I don't think God will disown me for wanting to find peace in my life. I don't think this will affect my faith in God. It is my faith in humanity that is suffering - not my faith in Him.
I went off on one long tangent, didn't I?
I mean, I could have continued about how people who claim to be earth loving, organic using, eco-friendly people aren't doing any good by consistently using bottled water. But that is an entirely different tangent for another day. Maybe tomorrow. haha.
I think it has taught me, so far, to stop and listen. It doesn't seem to be an actual theme in the book. I think primarily it is about taking things one step at a time. The father in the book constantly attempts to teach his son things: motorcycle maintenance, stories, theories. I find myself listening more because of this. Not just to my father. But to people. And the outside world. Even with it being so cold outside, I find myself standing outside and listening to the wind. I kind of wonder what it is saying.
It is funny, because I went to see August Rush at the dollar theater tonight. I loved it. The little boy, standing in the midst of New York City chaos, finds himself listening to all of the sounds that surround him. He hears it as music. I wonder if we all took the time to close our eyes and listen to the world around us, what would it say? Perhaps the song you hear is the same as someone else. I do think that nature and music call people and bring them together.
With all this being said, I have felt so spiritual lately. Not necessarily religious, but spiritual. Drew suggested I re-read Busy Backson in the Tao of Pooh. I actually found myself referencing it to Marty. I think he needed to hear it. I think I needed to hear it. I tell myself to listen more. And I know that I do, but I think it is important to remind myself. Between the Tao of Pooh, my current book, and some of my current beliefs, I have myself questioning other things. I find it actually hard to talk about. I have discussed it with a few people.
I think I am lacking a purpose in life. I may be searching for a meaning. I have a relationship with Christ. Even though at this moment I find myself distant from him. I had been looking in other things, not for answers, but satisfaction. I know the word of God is true and applicable. I don't think I can really explain this to anyone. Is it my job to go around saving people? Why do we even use the term save? Non-Christians hate us for that. That gives them the impression that they are doomed. Is it my job to make them believe. Or is it my job to know who Christ was and is and reflect is love on others? Is it my job to tell you're sinning? I think the more important thing is this: Christ led an amazing life. He taught great lessons. maybe we should focus on those.
I stopped going to church for a while. I could stand the hypocrisy anymore. I will say it. I couldn't stand having friends that talked about me behind my back. I didn't like having friends assume I was a bad Christian because of the people I associated with. I won't be a part of a religion like that. I won't do it. I can't.
The Bible teaches amazing lessons. Taoism teaches amazing lessons. I continue to have a personal relationship with God. He knows my hopes and fears. But as for now, I focus on peace and taking things one step at a time. I focus on conservation and the earth. Humanity and joy. Love. Isn't that what Christianity was founded on? Love. Isn't THAT the most prominent word in the Bible? But where is that in our hearts. The slander that exists amongst us disgusts me. The idea that non believers hate Christians because of their hypocrisy bothers me. I just don't like being a part of that. I attempt to be a voice and face of change. But talking about the very people you should be loving is truly awful. Forcing yourself to love them may be worse. Love is not something you cross off your To Do List. Love is a life style.
I finally said it. Maybe it just took some fingers to the keyboard to get it out. I discussed all of this with Andrew before. I just don't think God will hate me for this. I don't think God will disown me for wanting to find peace in my life. I don't think this will affect my faith in God. It is my faith in humanity that is suffering - not my faith in Him.
I went off on one long tangent, didn't I?
I mean, I could have continued about how people who claim to be earth loving, organic using, eco-friendly people aren't doing any good by consistently using bottled water. But that is an entirely different tangent for another day. Maybe tomorrow. haha.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
this is for Ashley
Ashley did this middle name thing. Basically, I have to come up with a word that represents me and give a brief description of why I chose that word. I think this is how it works.
Here goes nothin...
R - Respect?
I try to treat people with the respect that they deserve. I accept people for who they are, and for the most part, I try and let them know that. I find myself rather annoyed when I dont get the respect or dignity that I think I need. We are put on this earth, not to condemn, but to love. I respect the beliefs and lifestyles of others and I love you for who you are.
E - Environmentalist
I know we can all save the environment and I will tell you every chance I get. Whether it has to do with saving on electricity or water, or saving plastic bags and recycling paper... you will hear it from me!
N - "No!"
This word rarely comes out of my mouth. I am so afraid of letting people down and disappointing myself that the word "no" is hardly uttered from my lips. I often know when people are using me and walking all over me, but somehow I cannot confront them about this. Instead, the perception I have of you is forever altered.
E - Extrovert
I thrive off the energy from my surrounding people. I have social anxiety, but I enjoy being in public. I am hardly an introvert. At times you can find me merely sitting in the midst of people... just never a large crowd.
Ok done! I am tagging 2 people just as Ashley did. I say that NYKKI AND CARLA have to do this. HA!
Here goes nothin...
R - Respect?
I try to treat people with the respect that they deserve. I accept people for who they are, and for the most part, I try and let them know that. I find myself rather annoyed when I dont get the respect or dignity that I think I need. We are put on this earth, not to condemn, but to love. I respect the beliefs and lifestyles of others and I love you for who you are.
E - Environmentalist
I know we can all save the environment and I will tell you every chance I get. Whether it has to do with saving on electricity or water, or saving plastic bags and recycling paper... you will hear it from me!
N - "No!"
This word rarely comes out of my mouth. I am so afraid of letting people down and disappointing myself that the word "no" is hardly uttered from my lips. I often know when people are using me and walking all over me, but somehow I cannot confront them about this. Instead, the perception I have of you is forever altered.
E - Extrovert
I thrive off the energy from my surrounding people. I have social anxiety, but I enjoy being in public. I am hardly an introvert. At times you can find me merely sitting in the midst of people... just never a large crowd.
Ok done! I am tagging 2 people just as Ashley did. I say that NYKKI AND CARLA have to do this. HA!
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