I will make you fishers of men.

Yesterday,
The sporting goods department at Wal-Mart.
Made me a Fisher of Fish.
I'm officially and leagally a fisherwoman.

This one time last week when I played a quality prank.

My family is mildly obsessed with watching Crime Drama's. We watch: CSI New York, CSI Las Vegas, CSI New York, Criminal Minds, Law and Order, Law and Order Criminal Intent, Cold Case, Law and Order Special Victims Unit. And I'm not around that much so there probably are a few more that get tuned into on occasion.

LAST week, for a special change that doesn't happen very often, we ALL sat down - at the same time, to watch Criminal Minds. (very rare occurance in the Gerrits House). WELL on this particular show there was a serial killer that was severely derranged. Every time he killed someone, he would take a rib bone from the victim and then he made windchimes out of all the ribs - and gave them to his girlfriend. She didn't know they were human rib bones and she probably had about 30 windchimes full of bones - thats hundreds and hundreds of victims. It was pretty sick.

WELL, the other night 4 out of the 6 of us sat down to dinner. A dinner of mashed potatoes, veggies and... ribs. (pork, not human) As The pile of ribs grew I thought... "what a perfect opportunity to freak out one of my little sisters."

So after dinner, I, Nikki Gerrits, made a windchime out of the rib bones, unscrewed the light bulb in my littlest sisters room, and hung the rib windchime above her bed with a solitary flashlight shining up on it.

Vanessa came home at 11pm. I waited up, and it was well worth the "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT DISGUSTING THING!!!!!"

Everyone got out of bed and laughed.

What a good prank.

And its still hanging there a week later. She's saving it to be a baby mobile for her kids when she grows up.

I was thinking - that there really is NOTHNG good about mornings.
I mean I can't really appreciate anything in the mornings. The sun, the clouds, the mountains, the view, the river, the drive, music, good hair.
There is nothing to look forward to early in the morning.
I don't like anything in the morning. Or anyone.
I cant see what will be good in the day.
Even my pupply licking my chin isn't cute in the morning.
The one possible thing that could maybe make me smile in the morning - is french toast.

But I do like afternoons - starting around 4pm. And Nights.

FYI

Gas prices here in "beautiful/gas guzzling BC" has reached in Kamloops an astonishing 1.26/Litre. (1.30 in Vancouver)

I drive over 100km/day.

But I get 550km/tank.

Thank you Fee-B the excellent Toyota Yaris.

For my American friends - and for Jay Leno who complains that gas is 'nearly 3.00 a gallon' that is FIVE DOLLARS per gallon.

20 Things I like to do.

1. LAUGH. I like it the most bestest of anything.
2. Rub my dogs belly.
3. Restore furniture.
4. Read novels
5. Watch TV and movies
6. Keep up to date on current world and entertainment events.
7. Be friendly
8. Hang out and mentor pre-teens and teens.
9. Hang out with my friends.
10. Play games (but not sport games. I'm talking cards and board games)
11. Drive my car.
12. Clean out the inside of my car.
13. Sing. Sing anything.
14. Sing in my car. Loudly. With made up, unharmonious harmonies.
15. Be in the sun.
16. Nap. Nap. Nap.
17. Tell stories and entertain people.
18. Go to church.
19. Spend time with my family.
20. Make up worst-case-senario and 'what-if-this-happened' stories in my head.

KarBen (Carbon) in Kamloops for the first time!


Campfire out at Lake Kamloops. Bethany made the massively impressive fire.

I found this picture and was reminded yet again, that I am short.

A Little Survey

Here is a little survey about me. All random things. Things that you probably didn't know.

Fav. Cheese flavour: OLD Cheddar
I have a freckle between the toes on my left foot.
I get stomach aches when I am really tired or really stressed out.
I can always sleep. Anytime, anyplace.
I can not sleep with a repetitive noise around me. (ticking clock, snoring etc.)
I can drive stick shift.
My middle name is Janette, (Juh-net) not Janet (Jan-et)
I have an unusual knowledge of words to songs.
I can spell my name backwards (all three names) in less than 4 seconds.
I don't puke. Ever.
I've never seen the ocean.
I've never been fishing.
I've never waxed my legs.
I don't know my 6, 7 or 8 times tables.
I have serious road rage issues.
I just learned how to use chopsticks in January.
I don't like soft fruit. Ever. (Especially things like pie, jam, booster juice etc)
I really like Roast Beef and Gravy. Like really a lot A LOT.
I don't have a dresser.
I can never justify buying jewlery for myself.
I've never been to the east coast.
I really like ghost stories.
I have to fall asleep facing the door, laying on my stomach with one leg hiked up.
I wear flannel PJ's all year round.
It annoys me when people misspell my first name.

To Lori, Kim and Katherine

HELP WANTED: Pastors Wife.
Must sing, play music, lead youth groups, raise seraphic children, entertain church notables, minister to other wives, have ability to recite Bible backward and coreograph Christmas pagent. Must keep pastor sated, peaceful and out of trouble. Difficult colleagues, demanding customers, erratic hours. Pay: $0 (TIME Magazine April 9)

I appreciate what you do. And I know that Summit Drive Baptist would not run without you, because we all know that behind every decent man, there is an AMAZING woman.

Practically a Naturalist

Well, I have decided, that after a full 5 hour day on a second grade field trip to the Tranquille River Park, I am now practically a naturalist. I learned a lot.

Prickly Pears have hooks on them and dig through your clothes into your skin.
Prickly Pears taste like cucumber.
Ants live under rocks.
Theres gold in 'dem 'der hills
Two words: Pillow Lava.
Silt is bad for salmon fish. So is antifreeze.
Native Americans used to use Sagebrush as perfume.
There are 400 species of birds between Kamloops Lake and Tranquil River (about 1km)
Beavers eat trees.
Sliding down all natural gravel 'slides' is fun, dangerous and dirty.
Tranquille River is pronounced TRAHHHN- KEEL, not Tran-quill.
Poison Ivy is itchy

You know what? In theory FIELD TRIPS are a "day off." In reality they are more work, and more stress and more energy than a full week of school.

obsessed with being popular.

Well my week of 'liking everyone' has gone well, but I do have to admit that I have used some phrases to describe people that some would say sound mean and that I don't like the people I am describing. For example I was trying to explain kindly my frustration with a person I find annoying and I used the phrase "He/She has certain qualities that I cannot appreciate." Thats just stating a fact - and stating it kindly - like it is MY fault that I find them annoying, its not being rude at all!

On a sidenote, I am addicted to facebook. I have tapped into the Kamloops area, the Redeemer club, the Clinton Club, the Canada World Youth group, and today I'm working my way through Romanians. 89 friends. I'm determined to get more than Mark Sinke who has 220. Yes I am obsessed with being popular.

You know how some people complain a lot about how they are busy? I am busy, but I'm not complaining because being busy is a CHOICE people. I choose (well partly me, partly the size of my student loans) to have three jobs, and friends, and extra curriculars and volunteer work.
BUT I just want to explain a fairly normal situation that I am in. Like today

No water at home, the well is broken. Wake up 30min early (6:00am) in order to drive to the local truck stop to shower.
Drive 30 min to drop vanessa off at school
Drive 20 min to get to the church.
Work at the church for 2.5 hours.
Drive 20 min back to the school Work 4 hours
Staff meeting from 3:00-4:00. (Oh crap I planned to meet Mark at 3:15 for coffee)
Oh no, Staff meeting at the INN at 4:00. Leave staff meeting number one 20 min early to drive to staff meeting number two. 4:00-6:00. (Oh crap, I planned to meet Tiersa at 5 - Did I really quadruple book myself between 3 and 6?)
Drive 20 min back into town to the church for youth/planning DVBS/planning Jr. Youth till 9pm
Drive 30 min home. Go to bed.

And today is a nice day because I don't have to work two eight hour shifts back to back!