I’ve had many offices/cubicles at my current place of employment. I’ve had a sweet office with a perfect view of the Space Needle. I’ve worked crammed into a construction trailer with stinky contractors. I’ve had a cubicle in the middle of empty cubicles where I could surf the web all day.

And now I have this place:

(More of my cubicle at Flickr.)

I try to keep it as plain as possible. That way I don’t actually like being here all day. What didn’t make it into this picture? My new bobblehead (which is awesome) and a post card from Mrs. Squirrel.

Now that I’ve welcomed you into my humble abode, show me where you spend your days. I’m sure it’s better than this.

(and if you want to know a secret about me, check out today’s post over at New To Us.)

When I was growing up my family and I attended church services in a beautiful old church house. It had been built in 1913 and was simply beautiful. It didn’t look like the other church buildings around the area, and I loved that part about it.

My senior year of high school our congregation was relocated to a new church house. Our old building had been scheduled for demolition. I don’t remember being upset by this. I think was excited for a fresh new building with new hymnals and softer pews. Shortly after high school graduation my family moved a few towns away. I never thought about the old church house again, except when I would be visiting friends in the town and would see that the old church was still there. I figured it was empty and they just hadn’t gotten around to the demo yet.

While visiting my family last week I picked up the local paper to catch up on the latest small town news. You know, who’s getting married, who’s having babies, who’s having babies with whose husband. (Small towns are gold mines when it comes to stuff like this!) On the cover I saw a picture of the beautiful old church house and instantly the memories started flowing.

Apparently some vandals had started the church on fire back in the summer, and I just hadn’t heard about it. Prior to starting the fire they had vandalized the church with fire extinguishers, broke doors and smashed televisions. And then, I guess because that wasn’t enough, they started it on fire. From the outside of the building you couldn’t see any damage. But the inside was a mess, not only from the fire but from the fire retardants and smoke.

Upon reading more about the fire, I read that instead of demolishing the church back in the 90’s, they had spent 1.5 million dollars to remodel it. In 1998 the church had been reopened for use.

Less than 10 years ago.

1.5 million.

This was money that had been donated. Not to mention the original cost to build it back in 1913. It makes my heart hurt to think about people going without, so that they could donate their money and time for a beautiful church house.

My Mom and I began talking about what we remembered about the old church. It was surprising how little she remembered. I, on the other hand, remembered everything. I remember the elevator that was added when a handicapped kid started to attend services there. I remember the balcony that was never used. I even remember the glass block windows. It was the first time I had ever seen glass blocks and I feel in love with them. So much that every house we ever build will have glass blocks somewhere in the house.

I remember skipping Sunday school and walking the halls with the other youth. I remember the glassed in room where you could take your fussy baby, but still enjoy the service. I remember the beautiful wood pews and pulpit. I remember the stage where the youth performed many skits and performances. I remember.

I especially remember the beautiful original oil painting of the Garden of Eden that hung above the choir seats. If I close my eyes I can picture it perfectly in my mind. The painting wasn’t damaged in the fire. It will be moved to a museum.

I don’t get it. Why do people do damage like this? I mean, its one thing to break into a church to steal. But then why would you start a fire? What do you gain from that? I can’t stop thinking about. I can’t stop thinking about the blood, sweat and tears that went into this church house. I can’t stop thinking about my own time spent there.

It has been decided that the church won’t be remodeled again. It would cost too much. The congregations that met there will continue going to other church houses until a new building can be built.

I’m betting the new church house won’t have the same chapel with an arched ceiling, stained glass windows, an authentic pipe organ, beautiful glass blocks, or a balcony. It won’t have my memories.

Stupid vandals.

Today is The King’s last day at his job. He starts at the new place on Monday. So today’s edition of King Friday is short (and late). But we forgive him because he’s been busy being taken out to lunch and cleaning out his desk.

—————-

you know what’s cool? scars are cool. i only have this one scar on my forehead where this kid threw a hammer at me when i was 13. got a few stitches. no big deal. isabel has a pretty good size scar on her arm. its cool. it comes with a story.

there was a girl that worked at the mall when i was in college that had a big scar on her face. i always imagined that someone cut her. it was cool.

you know what else is cool? missing fingers like a shop teacher. if its a shop teacher, well, there’s probably a story you’ve already heard. but if its some person at work or an otherwise attractive person with just a missing thumb, its got some mystery. i like it.

oh, and glass eyes. super cool. maybe the most mysterious. if i had one i’d put a grape in it. or a big jawbreaker. yeah. anyway, there’s free food in the lunchroom so i dont have time for much more. gotta run.

-kk

You know when you get so busy that nothing interesting happens in your life?

Yeah, that’s what’s happened to me this week. I mean, stuff has happened. And to be honest, I guess it hasn’t been all that un-interesting. Crap, that means it’s me. I’m the un-interesting equation.

(Is “un-interesting” a word? Crap.)

Actually some pretty exciting things have happened lately. Babboo and I made our first solo plane flight. Which sucked balls. But we all knew that was pretty much what was going to happen. (Please explain to me why my 9 month old needs to take his shoes off in airport security? PLEASE!) (Also, please tell me why the older planes don’t have a changing table in the airplane bathroom? Is it really sanitary for me to change a poopy diaper in the aisle way? Really?)

Babboo and I got to meet bloggers. Which, hello, was awesome. And very interesting. And we visited my family. Also, awesome. You know what I learned while staying with my parents? That I eat well at my Mom’s house. We’re talking brownies for breakfast and pizza for lunch and dinner. And not to mention the soda. They drink so much soda that I’m pretty sure I saw my Mom putting it on her cold cereal in the morning. (After she had her morning brownie, of course.)

Prior to their morning soda and brownies, my folks had to shovel all of the snow from their parking lot (you can’t see from this picture, but they have a very long private drive which my Dad has to use a tractor on). And man, there was a lot of snow. (I hate snow.)

Babboo and I stayed inside, in our pajamas, and watched my Mom and Dad freezing outside. (We were also probably even warmer since eating our morning brownies.)

My younger brother and his little family got to meet Babboo. They liked him, of course. Babboo and his little cousin got along…as well as babies who don’t know each other can get along. (I think blacking out babies is about the funniest thing ever. I plan to do more of it.)

We got to hang out with my friend, Marci, and her 3 kids. (3 kids, holy crap, when did that happen?!) My Dad was even able to take her oldest out for a sleigh ride behind his 4-wheeler. Which doesn’t sound safe. And probably isn’t safe. But dang it, they had a blast. My Mom doesn’t really own any good toys for them to play with, so they had to entertain them somehow.

All in all, the trip was a success. The King survived us being gone. It was only for a few days, so I didn’t expect him to not make it. He did tell me, when he picked me up from the airport; “I hope you got that out of your system because you won’t be leaving me home alone anytime soon!” (I think he missed me being there to make the bed every morning. And vacuum.)

As you know, I’m pretty mad at Babboo’s school lately. As much as I like my baby and like spending time with my baby, I don’t like spending time with my baby at work. Or trying to nurse my baby at work. No, don’t like that so much.

The King called me this morning to tell me that a lice outbreak has occurred at the school!!! My head tingles just thinking about it.

As a lice survivor (circa junior high), I know lice is a real threat. And I know how horrible it is. Please, please, please let the lice stay contained in the big kids room and not make it over to the infant room. I don’t want this anywhere near my sweet baby.

(Dude, I can’t quit itching!)

***Don’t forget to check my two other sites; New To Us and We Heart Logan and for updates and pictures!***

Want to know why there will be no post today?

Behold; the view from my desk today:

Damn school and there issues with closing as soon as any snow appears. Yes, damn them.

Babboo and I are back from our whirlwind trip to visit my friends and family. Most of you probably know this, but flying alone with your 9 month old is hard. Hard. I’m thinking next time The King will be flying with us.

I’m happy to report that I saw my little sister every single day we were there. She even was at the airport to pick us up. I am no longer mad at her. Phew.

I was also lucky enough to get to meet Britt (and her sweet newborn baby) and Christar, fellow bloggers that I have been anxious to meet for quite some time. Unfortunately, I only got to hang out with them for a few minutes, while my parents drove around the neighborhood. I wouldn’t let my parents come in Britt’s gorgeous house, for fear that they would find out about my oh, so secret blog. I mean, how do I explain to them how I know these ladies without mentioning my blog?

I need to go through the rest of the pictures I took. So far it seems that I took a ton of pictures of Babboo and not many of my friends. And NOT A SINGLE ONE of my friend’s new baby that just happened to be born while I was in town.

I’m back to work today. The King is home with Babboo, since his school is closed again! They will be visiting The King’s Dad in the Intensive Care unit. He slipped on some ice yesterday and ruptured his spleen. Holy crap!

So what did I miss while I was gone?

(My good friend Carrisa and I have decided that instead of just e-mailing back and forth about all things Veronica Mars, we should start our own Veronica Mars blog. So that’s what we did. It’s so good to have a place to go and fill with all my random Veronica Mars info. So come check it out!)