Request

If anyone knows anything about the following folks, please let me know. It's been WAY too long since I heard from them!

1. Bubba
2. Beck
3. Jennifer
4. Annie

Love to all, and God bless.

Here's an update: I had a good long chat with Annie last night, maybe a record chat for both of us (over an hour). It was nice to talk to my baby girl! I also talked to Bubba for a while--he seems to be doing well too. Love you all.

Fun for the family

David and I have a busy Saturday. Right now, he is fixing the bathtub faucet, which has been dripping since yesterday when I took a shower. I almost called him at work--I had tried as hard as I could, but I couldn't get the thing to stop dripping. He told me (after he got home from work) that he had the same problem after his shower the day before--it just wouldn't stop. He would have to put washers in the faucet.

Today, being Saturday, he has a little free time on his hands (very little, actually), so he is going to work on the faucets. First, he had to find his plumbing supplies. When he went to the basement and looked on the tool bench, they weren't readily visible. So he moved a small quilted travel bag to look under the bag. "Gee, this is heavy." He opened it and found that one of our daughters (probably the one who is here more often) had assembled a small plumbing repair kit for him. Great! Of course, once he had shut off the water and disassembled the faucet, he found that the size washer he needed was missing. That and something or other else that he needed...which meant a trip to the hardware store.

He headed out the front door and casually asked me if I were interested in going with him. Gee, I really love to go to the hardware store! (Never have enjoyed it, as a matter of fact) But at least this one has the advantage of being next door to Salvation Army's thrift store. So I agreed to get dressed (it is 12:00, mind you, and I know I should have already been dressed, but...) and went with him.

When we got to the hardware store, we found the parking lot was taken up in part by a motorcycle rally of some sort! If you know David, you know that next to me and his family, he probably loves looking at motorcycles better than about anything else in the world. Hooray for him! (Next to shopping at hardware stores, looking at motorcycles is on my list of things I hate) BUT along with the motorcycles, they also had a rummage sale! Not only was there one with the motorcycles, there was one over by the storage building display and one in front of the hardware store! All right! Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

I headed for the storage buildings and started looking through boxes on flatbed trailers. There were some small Hispanic children there (along with their mothers) who were also looking through things. We spent a few minutes pulling stuff out of boxes and showing it to each other and exclaiming about how wonderful it was (it really wasn't), and then we found some books. If there's anything I'm a sucker for, it's children's books. I didn't see anything that grabbed my attention right away, but one of the little girls found an I Spy book. She was really excited, since it had numbers in it. She didn't know about looking for the other little pictures, and she got even more excited when she discovered that part of the fun. We went from the beginning through the page with the 6 on it before I left her to her fun. I do hope her mom bought the book. I imagine she would, though, since she had been watching us and smiling. Even her little siblings were getting involved, trying to find things. Like I said, fun for the family.

Well, pretty soon we need to quit our morning activities and get dressed up a little. We are going to a golden wedding anniversary celebration this afternoon for Kate and Quint, good friends from church. After that, we are heading to a wedding; April, the little girl who grew up next door to us and is now 32, is getting married, and I promised Lydia I would take some pictures.

Everyone, have a good Saturday--love to all, and God bless.

He is still HOT.

Maybe you don't want to know this, but I think Indiana Jones (also known as Harrison Ford) is still about as hot as they come.

David and I had a date this afternoon, first one in quite a while where I got to pick what we did, and went to see the new Indiana Jones' flick. I LOVED it. It wasn't perfect, but boy, was it fun. I found myself easily staying awake through the whole thing and smiling through almost all of it. It was great fun, campy, good guys winning in the end...Just plain wonderful.

If anything ever happened to David and I had to pick a new man, one that looks like old Harrison Ford or old Sean Connery, either one, would suit me just fine.

If you aren't under the age of 10, treat yourself to a good time and go see that movie. Love to all, and God bless.

It's funny.

Do you feel the need to laugh? Enjoy these. Love to all, and God bless.

The Sixties

Yes, folks, I was a child of the sixties. Read more about that wonderful decade here.

Good night to all, and God bless.

Was my face red!

This morning I walked into my Sunday School class and found the teacher telling another member how nice of me to have done what I did. I didn't know what she was talking about, of course, so I asked her what she meant. She replied, "To give the flowers in the sanctuary in honor of all the mothers." What did I say then? "Crap."

Here's why. Mother's Day has always been a special day in my life, since I was little. Mother and Daddy were married on May 11, and Mother's birthday was May 13. Often, Mother's Day came in the middle of those two days. Daddy always made a big deal of Mother's Day, getting corsages for us, taking us out for a special meal...

Fast forward to Mother and Daddy's 50th anniversary. Daddy died Tuesday, May 7, four days before that anniversary. Mother had a heart attack the night Daddy died. On Saturday, May 11, she was in the hospital. David had a dozen long-stemmed roses delivered to her at the hospital, "For my million dollar baby", which is what Daddy always called Mama. The following day was Mother's Day. We took the flowers to church in honor of their almost-50 year marriage and her 75th birthday, the following day. A couple of times after that, we provided the flowers. I decided that would be our tradition.

And this year, I plum forgot. Talk about embarrassing, especially after reading in the bulletin that I had provided the flowers. Guess who is going to bring a bouquet next week! And please, please, please don't let me forget next year!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas out there, and God bless.

Soon, soon you will see

This was a line from a play I was in in 1962, my freshman year in high school, called "The Summons of Sariel". I played a young blind child, maybe about 10 years old. My first line was, "How much longer? How much longer before we get there?", to which my guardian angel responded, "Soon, soon you will see." I should probably go into some detail about the play, since it played a significant part in my high-school experience. It was a one-act play for competition. We competed at both the regional and state levels, and received solid superior ratings at the regional level. (We didn't do as hot at state, probably because the cast was pretty upset at the gym class, who had been sitting on our set and had dented our wonderful columns.)

Because I was a pretty good-sized freshman (5'6" or 5'7"), the main consideration for my angel was that she should be taller than me. Fortunately, she was also a good actress. Sariel, the title character, was God's angel of death. He sat on a throne with those fore-mentioned columns on either side of him. Almost off stage on either side were a good angel, one of my best friends, and an evil angel. There was a lot of banter between them concerning the fate of the other characters: me, the child; a young mother who had attempted suicide, an old woman, and a woman who had been in an accident.

And here follows a bit of the plot: each of the characters had been summoned by Sariel because of a close brush with death. Some of us (me for instance) would go on to afterlife (we assume Heaven), while others would be returned to life on Earth. Sariel was the only male in the play. He was also my best friend's brother, a fantastic actor who later went to try his fortune in Hollywood. His costume was splendid, made of the finest velvet casket lining! (One of the girls on the backstage crew was the daughter of the local funeral-home owner.) Lots and lots of the best times I had in high school involved drama, and Sariel was the start of it all.

Anyway, back to my line--I hope it is going to come true! I went to the ophthalmologist about two weeks ago and learned I needed cataract surgery. I knew my vision was getting worse, but didn't really know the cause. Today, I went to see him again as a preparatory visit for the surgery. I was in the office two hours--that's an hour and a half longer than I think I needed to be there, but at least everything is done now, including some laser surgery that he felt needed to be done as a prophylactic measure. I have the actual cataract surgery on June 9, very early in the morning, and then a follow-up the next day. This will be for my left eye. I asked the doctor today when was the soonest he could do the right eye, which also needs to be done, and he said two weeks after that. So it looks like the month of June I'll spend getting these cataracts fixed, and then I'll be able to see again! Which will mean, I hope, that I will be able to drive at night and in the rain, neither of which I want to attempt now. Hallelujah!

Well, folks, take care--I hope your vision is at least 20/20, and the prospect of cataract surgery isn't looming in YOUR futures! Good night, and God bless.

Of yes you CAN go home again!

I never lived in Gatlinburg, but I have surely spent a lot of happy time there! My folks always went to Gatlinburg for vacation, from the time I turned 9, I think, until they couldn't make the trip anymore. As a matter of fact, I took both of them on their last trips down there. We often stayed in the same motel, Cox's Moonwink Motor Court. It was a collection of little mismatched cabins, and I think we stayed in all of them. Mom knew the cabins so well that she knew exactly what she needed to take for a stay, a toaster, a coffee maker, her electric skillet; she didn't need an iron or an ironing board, because Mrs. Cox would loan her one. She also knew she could use one of the grills there for hamburgers or steaks, but I imagine she brought charcoal lighter. There were probably other things she didn't need that she left at home, but those were the ones that came immediately to mind.

Our routines down there were pretty consistent. On a nonevent day, we would get up, eat breakfast, head down the street to the swimming pool (this motel had what they called 'pool privileges'). Then we would come back to the cabin, get dressed, and head downtown for lunch (meals were cheaper then than at supper). After lunch, we'd go back to the cabin. Mom and Dad would sleep; we would go back to the pool or head downtown to one of the many miniature golf courses.

On an event day, rather than go downtown for lunch, we might head up into the mountains for a picnic. We really enjoyed this, especially looking for bears--and we saw lots of them back in the 50's and 60's. We must have hit each tourist attraction in the area one year, going to Tuckaleechee Caverns, Christus Gardens, Hillbilly Village and some sort of little Frontier Town in Pigeon Forge--that was before Pigeon Forge became the shopping mecca it is now. We would go over the mountain to Cherokee at least once, and we would stop at a teepee beside the road and have our picture made with the old Indian who posed there. We even went to Franklin, NC, one summer and panned for rubies! That was a terrific experience--lots of mud and the excitement of actually finding some gemstones! Daddy kept our haul in a small box in his sock drawer for years, beside the stale menthol cigarettes left over from directors' meetings. I remember getting five bumper stickers one summer, but other than Tuckaleechee Caverns and Christus Gardens, I have no clue where they came from.

Early vacations often involved going swimming in a mountain creek. We would put on our bathing suits, climb into the car, and drive about 15 miles out the Little River Road so that we could "swim" in the creek. The first year, Daddy drove quite a distance looking for a place that was deep enough for swimming. When he finally stopped, he told us we could wade, but he didn't think the water was very deep (maybe knee deep for him). Was he surprised when he was soon up to his chest in that cold, cold water! Mama and I would sit on a little water fall and let the water swirl around us (we called it a water fall, but it really wasn't--more like a cascade). And of course Mama had to collect her rocks. She was notorious for picking up rocks that interested her. I don't think she really cared what they were, but she enjoyed finding rocks to bring home. Once on a trip out west, her traveling companions threatened to weigh her every time she got back into the car to try to keep her from weighing them down! After we had as much cold water as we could stand, we got back into the car, sitting on beach towels, and drove back to town to change clothes.

We always ate supper "at home", then went downtown to walk around. We loved to watch the people, so often we would end up sitting on a park bench beside the sidewalk and watching the show, all the people who were on vacation just like us. We would watch the candy makers at Ole Smokey Candy Kitchen (they had the best taffy logs) and the stick candy makers at Aunt Mahalia's (their stick candy was best). The candy cooks would come out with free samples of warm taffy or little warm stick candy canes. We would go through all the "junk" stores (no t-shirt shops back then), maybe play a game of miniature golf, buy some post cards, and head home. The last thing we would do would be to buy a caramel apple to eat as we walked back to the cabin.

We never failed to see someone we knew while on vacation, and twice, we ended up inviting friends from home who we ran into on the street back to our cabin to stay with us! I don't know how we did it, but one time we had four adults, three teen-aged boys, me (I was in college), and a two-year-old staying in a three bedroom cabin. Another year, there was a vacant cabin at the Moonwink, and our preacher, his wife, and their two children moved in, right across the drive from us. Those were two great years for the kids and the adults.

Gatlinburg was such a safe place, parents had no qualms about allowing their kids to go downtown by themselves. Mike and I spent a lot of days wandering around, reading tabloids in the drugstores, playing miniature golf...One summer we went downtown and I had to go to the bathroom. Rather than go back to the cabin, which really wasn't that far, we rode the Sky Lift--I knew there was a bathroom at the top.

When we are in Gatlinburg, even now, I feel like I've gone home. Gatlinburg is more familiar to me and less changed than my hometown. Oh, there are changes... Lots of the places have disappeared. There are almost no miniature golf courses on the main road now. Lydia can't take her babies to bunny golf. T-shirt stores have taken the place of souvenir shops. Mama's ritual trip to The Cliffdwellers now involves riding way out of town, since they moved off the main drag. We didn't even get there this year. My children and grandchildren will not get a chance to visit Christus Gardens and see the eyes of Christ follow them all around the room. Nor will they be able to take their spouses to visit Xanadu, the house of the future. Restaurants where my family ate regularly have closed. I miss the good rolls at Hobey's Copper Still.

But even though things change, they still remain the same. Gatlinburg still seems to me to be a safe place. I would allow my children (age 10 and up) free range to go downtown and see the sights all by themselves (well, at least as long as there were two of them going). The Sky Lift still goes up the mountain. The candy makers still perform in the store windows. The Mountain Lodge fixes a great breakfast and lunch. Arrowmont still has beautiful things in the window to see. Looking for folks from home is still fun, even if there isn't enough room in our motel room to put them up. And it's still fun to go over the mountain to Cherokee.

Home is a place in the heart, anyway. Good night to all, and God bless.

Another surprise

UPS came to my door today bearing a package. Surprise might be an overstatement, since I had known this package was coming. However, I was surprised by the contents. It was a really neat stuffed monkey, Curious George, who is riding what looks like a unicycle with training wheels. When you squeeze his hand, there's a pretty good musical rendition of "Pop Goes the Weasel", while George rides back and forth on his little bike. I was very pleased to see George could handle the carpet with no difficulties. After several rides around the living room, now he's ensconced on the bottom shelf of the teakwood table, waiting to delight someone else.

Thanks, Jennifer and Jamie! You know what I like, all right! Love to everyone, and God bless.

Gift

I got a nice little surprise in the mail today, a lumpy letter addressed to "Mommy". I love lumpy letters! Anyway, my little girl had made me a valentine at her school and sent it to me, all the way from Nashville. Thank you so much, sweetie. I really appreciate it! I'm going to go find a piece of yarn, and make a necklace so that I can wear it to choir tonight.

I hope you all get lots of nice surprises, too. Love to all, and God bless.

Updates

I get a little weary of clicking on different websites only to learn they haven't been updated since the last time (maybe last month!) I was there. I don't know how you feel, but I bet it's about the same. So rather than chastise my faithful few, whoever you are, I figure I ought to act rather than speak.

How are things going here, you might ask. How are we spending our time? I have a simple answer for that second question--sitting in the recliners and watching basketball. No, it really doesn't matter that there is neither a Kentucky team nor a SEC team still in the tournament, the television at this house automatically tunes itself to basketball. It doesn't matter that UK lost in the first round (hey, it was a miracle that the team even made the tournament, admit it!), nor that Chris Lofton, who should have been playing for UK in the first place, couldn't win the big title for TN, nor that now UNC has a chance to break KY's record in total tournament wins, nor that UCLA (who had the audacity to call the beloved Hilltopper's mascot a pregnant Elmo) is making the gap of total wins even wider, that despite the fact we trained their coach, UL couldn't pull it off...we're still watching the basketball games. (Or at least one of us is...)

What else is going on up here? Not a lot. This past week, I did a couple of stints of volunteer work at the hospital "emptying bed pans" (or at least that's what I told one of my coworkers at Friendship). The second stint, my coworker didn't show up, so I didn't bother to take the refreshment cart around. I felt guilty for a couple of minutes when the nurse called from ICU, or wherever she was, asking if "the cart with the crushed ice and soft drinks" was going to come around...for a couple of minutes, I did feel some guilt over that. Only a couple of minutes, though. I get a chance to redeem myself tomorrow, since this is one of those months when we have both fourth and fifth Mondays. But I probably won't run the cart, since my coworker is going to be gone...and I do hate that hair net.

Friendship was quieter than usual this past Thursday. We had a pretty significant rain coming down when the bus drove over to Cooperstown, UK student housing, so three of our renowned soloists in the art of operatic crying were absent. Another mom said they had called for a back-up ride but it never materialized. This week, we will be on spring break. I hope someone tells those ladies before they go to wait for a bus that doesn't show up.

This week I have the volunteer stint tomorrow followed by a coming-of-a-new-age party at Casa for one of the DTA members. That should be a pretty good time. I've already had an email asking if I was going to be there--of course. It's one more day I don't have to cook! Tuesday, I have an appointment for my "pedicure" with Dr. Rodes, not a day before it's due. Wednesday, the ad hoc shower committee is meeting to see how we are progressing toward a social event later in the month. Also, my faithful Pancho is going to be here to "clean" the house again. David asked her today if she knew how to run a vacuum cleaner, which brought a laugh.

Speaking of vacuum cleaners, I have a real aversion to ours, all three or four of them. Back when I was a child, I guess I must have been spooked by one or something. Anyway, floors have NEVER been my favorite part of the cleaning process. Look out--the following is a blatant plug for the vacuum I don't own: I remember when one of the ladies in my mom's circle of mothers bought a new silver pig. That vacuum was the talk of the town! Ladies who just barely knew this woman were quick to call her and ask to borrow that silver pig when they were going to be entertaining. Mom even borrowed it on several occasions, until she got her own. It was the thing for several years. I didn't understand why, back then, but now I'm sure that it has to do with the fact you aren't pushing that heavy machine around, rather just pushing the little nozzle part. I don't remember who got Mom's silver pig when we divided the contents of her house, but I do know it wasn't me. I have a big red jackass (one complete one and several others that we cannibalize for parts) that takes a man's strength to push around. I sort of feel like Roseanne. I'll vacuum when Sears invents one you can ride--and in my case, it better be a zeeter, with a zero turn radius.

Okay, now you know what we've been up to and what our plans are for the immediate future. I might suggest that if you haven't posted in the last couple of weeks, you go out and do the same thing! Love to all, and God bless.

Family recipes

People have been blessing me with memories lately. Just this morning, I read a post from my cousin Linda, who remembered spending the weekend with me beau coup years ago. I know it was before 1964, for sure. We spent an afternoon with my Grandmother Sleadd, in her little upstairs apartment near the school in my hometown. "Apartment" might be a stretch--it was probably a bedroom and bath, with a little bit of a kitchen.

Linda remembered Grandmother teaching us how to make a lemon meringue pie, and that it was the best lemon meringue pie she ever ate. That would be true, for sure, because Nanny did make the best lemon pies in the world! The "teaching" part, though--unfortunately for David and the rest of mankind, unless Linda learned, that was a huge overstatement. I know I didn't learn how to make that pie, and now the recipe is gone.

As far as I know, Grandmother's recipes weren't written down, more's the pity. They were recipes she knew by heart, so she didn't need the references. And, as is so true of many of our family recipe treasures, you decided how much of an ingredient to add based on "until it looks right", or "about this much". Unfortunately, there are no measuring cups with those measurements on them!

I do have a transcript of my mother telling me how to make hot-water cornbread, another of Grandmother's specialties, and how to fry the best (as far as I'm concerned) chicken in the world. I've not had success at either of those endeavors, but David can turn out a pretty good facsimile of the hot-water cornbread. He got his recipe, written down, in a cookbook from Shelby County, KY. That seems to be the origin of the recipe, as far as I can tell, at least that part of the state--Shelby, Franklin, Anderson. I haven't found hot-water cornbread outside that area.

Well, now I'm hungry, not just for that food, but for those two much-loved cooks. Love to all, and God bless.

Have mercy. My grandbaby thinks she's a rock star! Apparently being the mother of a budding Mariah Carey is hard on a pregnant woman, though. Thanks, Geron, for sharing this on your blog!

Enough

As I said yesterday, I have entirely too much time on my hands, which is what led to my discovery of this humbling post. I guess this woman agrees with the apostle Paul--she has learned how to be content. Love to all, and God bless.

Delightful Easter craft

Yes, I'll admit, I have entirely too much time on my hands. Otherwise, how in the world would I have located this treasure? I will also admit that I do not intend to attempt this, possibly because I don't own a dremel.

If you are wondering why I have too much time on my hands, it's simple: While I was waiting out the inevitable at Kroger's this afternoon, an announcement was made that UK's regular basketball season had come to an end. (Being the stalwart UK fan that I am, I chose not to stick around and watch, especially when Georgia had a double-digit lead within the first five minutes or so.) So now, rather than sit with my spouse and scarf down Fritos while we watch yet another SEC team bite the dust and kiss their season good-bye, I am surfing the net. Once again, 'nuff said.

Love to all, and God bless.

What? Another holiday?

Happy Pi Day!

It's March 12!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me!
I am so glad that my mama had me!

And happy birthday to everybody else who was born today. Love to all, and God bless.

We're recovering, and I'm in withdrawal.

I miss BawBaw. I didn't know how much I'd miss him, but miss him I do. Today when I looked outside and saw all the snow, I wondered if BawBaw had boots. I told David it would be fun to take him out into the snow. Then I pondered that thought about a second and said, "Well, it would be interesting to take him out and see his reaction; then if he liked it, it would be fun to take him out in the snow."

Things we know BawBaw likes: dirty rice (some of the time), vanilla soy milk (all the time), apple juice (once in a while), corn pops, Kix, a mixture of the two, granola, peanut butter on crackers, chicken McNuggets--yes, I'll admit, we broke down and bought McDonald's one night, French fries, noisy toys...

Things BawBaw does NOT like: baths, having his pants changed, the idea of going to sleep, apples and bananas in any shape or form, backing up in the car, having his clothes changed, stuffed animals...

Things we know we like (no, make that love): BawBaw and his family. Thank you, Lord, for letting us keep this precious little boy in our home.

Love to all, and God bless.

How's it going?

Let me put it in a nutshell: I'm definitely not planning on having any more children any time soon.

Love to all, and God bless.

One night down, three to go

A little three-year-old sweetheart was at our house yesterday, from 9 in the morning until 12 last night (actually overnight, but his daddy was here then). We had a good day for the most part. He played pretty happily, but he was aware that his mommy and daddy weren't there, especially when it was time for otherwise routine things like diaper changes and baths, and especially at the times when "Grandma Susan" thought he ought to be taking a nap or going to sleep for the night. Grandpa David and I enjoyed watching him playing with toys, and he was more than willing to snuggle up with one or the other of us at times. It was interesting to watch how he handled being told "no", how he took out his frustrations by pitching toys around, and how much fun he would have doing things like rearranging all the pots and pans in the cupboard or all the cans in the pantry. But guess what? Following a little one around all day can wear you out!

We have another go at it tonight, after he comes home from preschool/day care, and then again on Wednesday and Thursday. It's a really great experience--I recommend it to all who are considering another child!

Love to all, and God bless. A special birthday wish to my dear brother today, if he is reading. Love you, Bob!

Fun Times A-Coming!

This should be a good weekend coming up. Monday is Dexter's 90th birthday, and the folks are having a party tomorrow. Lib says that after this one, he doesn't get another one until he turns 100! Seeing that he is in pretty darn good health right now, 100 isn't out of the question. On the subject of birthdays, I heard on the news of a lady who turned 24 today--pretty impressive, when you realize that her driver's license, if she has one, says she's 96! We're going to Deck's party tomorrow, taking a 3-milk cake that I ordered last week. I hope we're taking one 3-milk cake. I have to be really careful with my order, since last June I ordered a 3-milk cake and ended up with 3 being baked!

The Nashville kids are going to be coming up this weekend for the party, and then they are staying over for church on Sunday. They plan to leave as soon as early church is over. I'd like to talk them into staying a little later, but understand that they need to hit the road, if they're going to get a good rest before work on Monday. David knew a little old lady in Whitley County who occasionally had family visitors from Detroit. She could never understand why they had to leave early on Sunday morning in order to get back for work on Monday. I don't guess the sweet thing had ever been out of the state of Kentucky and had no concept how far Detroit was from her home, bless her heart. (By the way, I guess you know the meaning of the phrase, "Bless your heart"...)

This weekend (Sunday) also starts our babysitting gig with our "grandson" Baw Baw. We'll be keeping him while his daddy works and his mom attends a job fair in New Orleans. I went to Big Lots today and bought a few supplies--sippy cups, Elmo place mats, jigsaw puzzle, bubbles, a ball, two kinds of cereal...The checker asked me if I had a spoiled grandbaby at home. I told her no, but that I did have a little fellow who was coming for a few days, and I thought I needed to put some new stuff in the toy box. I also sorted out the books in the living room and left a bunch that I thought he might enjoy. He isn't much for stories and I was reasonably sure he wouldn't be interested in the Greek myths or child's anthology of poetry. I think he'll like what's in there, though. Now I have to put away one of the sets of nesting blocks and bring up the building blocks from the basement...

I have a question for anyone who cooks for little people: What should I fix for Baw Baw's school lunch? He goes to a preschool in the morning, then stays in daycare until about 4:30 or 5. His daddy said they had been taking leftovers from supper, and his mom (who worked near the school) had been going over to heat the leftovers in the microwave at lunch time. Well, it's a little far from Georgetown to Lexington to do that, so either Baw Baw is going to have to eat cold leftovers, or Tooz is going to have to think of something else to feed him. Apparently he isn't a big fan of sandwiches--can you believe it?--but he does like fruit and vegetables. If you have any ideas, please comment.

I still have some things to do to get ready for our weekend and next week, so I'm signing off for now. Love to all, and God bless.

Why monkey mama?

Seeing as how there's nothing on this site about monkeys, a person might wonder from whence the name Monkey Mama's News came. It all goes back to my first computer experiences, in the early 90's, I guess. I was teaching a particularly squirrelly group of fifth-graders at the time and often called them my monkeys. Hence, I became, to myself anyway, Monkey Mama.

A couple more monkey tie-ins: Probably the first big word I ever managed to read on my own was orangutan, which I pronounced orange utan. (Yes, spell check, I know utan isn't a word, but I don't care.) It was in the guide book to the Cincinnati zoo.

And finally, I just love stuffed monkeys and coconut monkeys! And sock monkeys, and Curious George, and gibbons, and I always wanted a chimpanzee. I even knew (for a short period of time) a person who owned a pet chimpanzee. She managed the laundromat in my hometown, and brought her chimp to work with her. I remember watching it ride around in a cart. It was wearing a little dress and diaper, and I thought it was the cutest thing!

So now you know. Love to all, and God bless. (And by the way, it snowed again today in Kentucky.)

Wonderful weekends

David and I have had a couple of great weekends lately. February 16, we traveled to Mt. Vernon, Illinois to celebrate the golden wedding anniversary of our best man and his wife. It was a great trip, although southern Illinois is NOT my idea of beautiful scenery. That is, unless you enjoy looking at oil wells and flooded corn fields. But the folks we visited were terrific folks, and they have been happily married for 13 years longer than David and I, which is very inspiring.

This past weekend (February 22), we traveled to Chattanooga to visit the Princess and her mom and dad. It's been almost two months since we last saw our little granddaughter, and you had better believe we have missed her! I was just talking to my cousin Lib. Lib said it was a shame we didn't live closer to the Princess. I told her I believe I could see that baby every day, and I wouldn't get tired of her! They change so much in just a few months' time.

Our little granddaughter is so helpful. I do not remember any of my three children being as obedient or helpful as this child, especially at the tender age of 18 months! She starts off her day by "putting away" her pacifier (she pitches it into the crib), and then clapping for herself. She puts away her toys (or at least makes an effort), puts away her shoes, puts away pot holders, puts trash in the trash can...Absolutely a wonderful helper.

Sunday morning, her mama left her at the house with Grandpa and Granny (who she calls Bub-baw and Bubbi). She was already dressed this time, so I didn't have to pick her up by the seat of her little white tights and bounce her up and down to get her the rest of the way into them. We puttered around getting ready for church. Just as we were about to head out the door, grandbaby grabbed a little bowl of cheerios from me for her diaper bag. The lid came off the bowl, and cheerios flew all around the living room. Grand hopped down and started picking up cheerios to put in the trash. She ran into the kitchen, popped the lid on the garbage can, dropped in a handful of cheerios, then peered over to look into the can. What did she see? A banana peel! She grabbed it and pulled it out. She had been watching grown-ups peeling and eating bananas, but still hasn't mastered that skill herself. Apparently, she also hasn't learned that the PEEL is NOT the part you eat! I came in and took the peel from her and then gave her some fresh banana. She had several pieces ("Mo, peese"). When she was satisfied, she put her piece of banana into her little Dora chair and started to sit down on it. Fortunately, I stopped her before she got banana all over the seat of her dress.

I tell you, you have to watch that child like a hawk. It's a job I relish.

Good night to all, and God bless.

Be still and know

Seems like I quote Mikey's Funnies fairly often. I don't know how many of you subscribe to his email newsletter, but I know that it's been a real blessing in my life.

Last night we had an ice storm. Today there is no school in Scott or Fayette County (neighboring county), and even little old Frankfort Independent had a two-hour delay. I assume they're in session by now, but I really don't know for sure. Anyway, we had a pretty bad ice storm several years ago. Trees broke, power was out all over Lexington, the city was pretty much paralyzed. This time, though, there didn't seem to be as much impact.

One thing I always enjoy about the winter storms is the sense of quiet and peace that prevails following the precipitation. I really enjoy waking up to the silent, white world.

Mikey's newsletter today made reference to these silent moments and pauses in our busy lives. I hope you are as blessed by the message as I was.

today's"FUNNY"=========================

STILLNESS AND SORBET
By Michael A. Halleen

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

Fine restaurants have the right idea. After each course, they serve a small sorbet, something to clear the palate. It is a timeout, a minute or two to let go slowly of what has been and to allow the tongue--and mind--to prepare for the pleasures to come. Too often we live at a fast food pace, moving from one experience to another without reflection, from one encounter to the next without clearing the head. Our lives need more sorbets.

It is in those in-between times that we can put things in perspective, reflect on what has occurred, let the flavors subside before moving on to the next course. I encourage my business clients to take time to celebrate, if only for a minute, a victory of the past week, congratulate one another and consider what contributed to that success, however small. We benefit from contemplating for a moment the conversation we have had before rushing ahead to the next call. And we gain something by allowing ourselves to acknowledge a mistake or missed opportunity, even to feel the pain of a loss, before plunging into the next minute of the day-or phase of life.

Some monastic orders, I am told, have a practice called statio. It means they stop one thing before beginning another. Rather than rush from one activity to the next, they pause and recognize this time between the times. It is an idea which I try to communicate to churches I serve as an interim minister. The gap between pastor leaders can be a beneficial time of reflection and refreshment for a congregation. The Psalm writer suggests that it is in pauses--stillness--that we recognize the reality of God's presence, both in what has passed and in what is yet to come.

The father of cellist Yo-Yo Ma lived in Paris during World War II, holed up alone in a garret during the years of German occupation. In order to restore sanity to his world, he practiced violin pieces by Bach during the day, and through the long night hours of blackout, he played them again in the dark from memory. His son Yo-Yo took up his father's advice to play a Bach suite from memory every night before going to bed. "It isn't practicing," he says, "it's contemplating. You're alone with your soul."

Sorbet...statio...Bach suite. Stop for a moment. Experience stillness. God is there.

-------------------

You can contact Mike at mhalleen@att.net to be added to his weekly devotional email list, "Monday Moments."

Also check out Mike's book "You Are Rich: Discovering Faith in Everyday Moments":
http://snipurl.com/mHalleen (Amazon info)

Copyright 2008 Dr. Michael A. Halleen. Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.

today'sTHOT============================

The two hardest things to handle in life are failure and success.

=======================================

PASS IT ON!
Yeah, you can send this Funny to anybody you want. And, if you're REAL nice, you'll tell them where you got it! www.mikeysFunnies.com

===============================

Who wrote the book of love?

Officially, it's the day past Valentine's, but since I haven't been to bed yet, I am still going to call it Valentine's Day. Happy to all of you! I'm don't know who wrote the book of love, but I do know who collected a bunch of silly jokes about it, Mikey.

today'sFUNNY===========================

CORN(y) ALERT!

What do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day?
A hog and kisses!

Why did the pig give his girlfriend a box of candy?
It was Valenswine's Day!

What did the Valentines card say to the stamp?
Stick with me and we'll go places!

Do skunks celebrate Valentine's Day?
Sure, they're very scent-imental!

What did the chocolate syrup say to the ice cream?
"I'm sweet on you!"

What did the paper clip say to the magnet?
"I find you very attractive."

What did the French chef give his wife for Valentine's Day?
A hug and a quiche!

What did one pickle say to the other?
"You mean a great dill to me."

What did the elephant say to his girlfriend?
"I love you a ton!"

What did the bat say to his girlfriend?
"You're fun to hang around with."

Did you hear about the nearsighted porcupine?
He fell in love with a pincushion!

What did the pencil say to the paper?
"I dot my i's on you!"

Liz: "I can't be your valentine for medical reasons."
Jon: "Really?"
Liz: "Yeah, you make me sick!"

Why do valentines have hearts on them?
Because spleens would look pretty gross!

What did one light bulb say to the other?
"I love you a whole watt!"

What does a man who loves his car do on February 14?
He gives it a valenshine!

"Do you love me more than you love sleep?"
"I can't answer now. It's time for my nap!"

What did the man with the broken leg say to his nurse?
"I've got a crutch on you!"

Did you hear about the romance in the tropical fish tank?
It was a case of guppy love.

What did Frankenstein say to his girlfriend?
"Be my valenstein!"

today'sTHOT============================

Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

=======================================

PASS IT ON!
Yeah, you can send this Funny to anybody you want. And, if you're REAL nice, you'll tell them where you got it! www.mikeysFunnies.com

Love to all, and God bless.

Snowbound and loving it!

Today is day two of the great snow of 2008. I've only left the house once in the last 48 hours, to go to the mailbox to post valentines--I walked very carefully, mind you, and I didn't go back out after the mailman came. I had plans to go to exercise class today at the Pavilion, but my car was sort of snow-covered and I didn't want to dig it out. I called Dorothy, a fellow Silver Sneaker who lives near me, to see if she were going. She laughed and said no, that she didn't want to dig out her car! So we are enjoying a day of hooky.

This evening, we had reservations for the youth-prepared fellowship meal at church--sounded good, too, chicken parmesan. I called the church to see what the plan was for that, and it has been postponed until next week. Matter of fact, all the evening activities at church were canceled! (At least Carla thought they were--we're not sure about choir, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going!)

How bad was this snow? Who knows? Our road is clear in front of the house, but I'm not going out to measure the depth. Looks like about 4 inches on the car. David was home by 3:00 yesterday afternoon--apparently Toyota did not have a full house, and efficiency was suffering, so they let folks leave. And here's a sign that my girls can relate to: Frankfort Independent canceled classes for two days in a row. They were already posting cancellation notices by yesterday afternoon! I talked to Joyce this morning. She said that there had been a problem with a leaky roof. Considering this is the school where my son watched the principal and vice-principal circumnavigate the playground in a row boat, it must be some leaky roof!

Love to all. Stay warm, and God bless.

Simplifying my life, one closet at a time...

Something I got today on email said something about anti-procrastination day. I figured I'd probably best do something I had been procrastinating, but I did wait until after lunch.

Today I tackled the pantry. I had inspiration--my friend, Jane, has just refinished her kitchen. It looks beautiful, lovely new cabinets and appliances, beautiful new floor, shiny new stainless sink...(We have a new sink, too, only it's not been installed yet. It's still in the driveway, where we put it when we came home from Habitat's Restore with it maybe last year. It'll most likely be a while before it's installed.) Maybe I don't have new cabinets, but at least I can maximize what the cabinet space I do have!

After an hour and a half--I just looked at the clock!--all the shelves are straightened up, gobs of partially depleted boxes of miscellaneous are discarded, "use by" labels have been checked and honored, and it looks a bunch better! Of course, I still haven't found the source of the "smell" that we catch whenever we open the pantry door, but I DO know it isn't a rotten potato or a dead mouse. That's a relief. And since the smell is on the pleasant side (some sort of spice I "inherited" from Ann, more than likely), I think I'll just let it be.

Enjoy your anti-procrastination project! Love to all, and God bless.

A Love "Funny"

Straight from Mikey...

today'sFUNNY===========================

LOVE: A PARAPHRASE OF 1 CORINTHIANS 13

If I talk a lot about God and the Bible and the Church, but I fail to ask about your needs and then help you, I'm simply making a lot of empty religious noise.

If I graduate from theological seminary and know all the answers to questions you'll never even think of asking, and if I have all the degrees to prove it and if I say I believe in God with all my heart, and soul and strength, and claim to have incredible answers to my prayers to show it, but I fail to take the time to find out where you're at and what makes you laugh and why you cry, I'm nothing.

If I sell an extra car and some of my books to raise money for some poor starving kids somewhere, and if I give my life for God's service and burn out after pouring everything I have into the work, but do it all without ever once thinking about the people, the real hurting people-the moms and dads and sons and daughters and orphans and widows and the lonely and hurting-if I pour my life into the Kingdom but forget to make it relevant to those here on earth, my energy is wasted, and so is my life.

Here is what love is like--genuine love. God's kind of love. It's patient. It can wait. It helps others, even if they never find out who did it. Love doesn't look for greener pastures or dream of how things could be better if I just got rid of all my current commitments. Love doesn't boast. It doesn't try to build itself up to be something it isn't. Love doesn't act in a loose, immoral way. It doesn't seek to take, but it willingly gives. Love doesn't lose its cool. It doesn't turn on and off. Love doesn't think about how bad the other person is, and certainly doesn't think of how it could get back at someone. Love is grieved deeply (as God is) over the evil in this world, but it rejoices over truth.

Love comes and sits with you when you're feeling down and finds out what is wrong. It empathizes with you and believes in you. Love knows you'll come through just as God planned, and love sticks right beside you all the way. Love doesn't give up, or quit, or diminish or go home. Love keeps on keeping on, even when everything goes wrong and the feelings leave and the other person doesn't seem as special anymore. Love succeeds 100 percent of the time. That, my friend, is what real love is!

--------------------------

David serves as adjunct professor of journalism at Western Baptist College (www.wbc.edu). David and his wife, Renée, are co-authors of the 400 pages of devotional application notes in the "Living Faith Bible":
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0842373578/ref=nosim/mikeysfunnies-20

Copyright 2003 David Sanford ( dsanford@sanfordci.com ). Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.

today'sTHOT============================

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

=======================================

PASS IT ON!
Yeah, you can send this Funny to anybody you want. And, if you're REAL nice, you'll tell them where you got it! www.mikeysFunnies.com

===============================

Just call me Ron

You know Ron Popeel? The guy on the infomercials who makes all those wonderful inventions, like the Ron-co pocket fisherman? Well, thank you dream, I now have something new for him to work on.

Chia pets. I know what's wrong with them, why they're always left over after Christmas. First off, they cost too much--somewhere around $15 to $20 dollars. But even at the 90% off sale, they're still there. Here's my suggestion: instead of some weird looking plant, make those suckers grow chocolate! I'd buy one in a heartbeat. (Here's another idea, Ron, if you're reading: whatever chia is, don't mess with that. We have a cash crop in Kentucky that'd grow and sell a lot better.)

Love to all, and God bless.

Hmmm--any clues?

The latest pun from Pastor Tim at Cybersalt Digest:

Today's CleanPun - "Toilet Theft"

Police in New Zealand were mystified by the apparent theft of a complete toilet bowl from a police station in Auckland.

When a local news reporter asked the police sergeant if they had any leads, he replied, "At present we have nothing to go on."

And while Pastor Tim is making us smile, how about today's oneliner?

Today's Oneliner "Due to the shape of the North American Elk's esophagus, even if it could speak, it could not pronounce the word lasagna." - Cliff Clavin, Cheers

Chinese movie

Yesterday I went to sleep in front of the tv, watching the British comedies (our usual Saturday night routine). I woke up in time to catch the end of a bluegrass show and then watched the next show, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (which was great, by the way. Sometimes I'll have to post on bluegrass music.). David went to bed then (1:00), but I hadn't finished my evening scripture reading, so I stayed up to finish.

The next show was an independent film festival. I'm not a huge fan of things like that, but this one caught my attention, as it was Chinese with subtitles. I have no clue what the name of the movie was, nor do I really know how to describe the plot. I tried to tell David about it this morning. He said, "If it had been a book, you would call that the stream-of-consciousness technique, sort of like Virginia Woolf." It might have been a documentary about a Chinese film maker, who had written a script about a character who went to northern China in search of the Northern Lights. The whole movie centered around this film maker and his creation of his character--I never did figure out whether the film maker was a real person or not.

Anyway, to make a long story short, both characters (the film maker and his character) ended up in a small town called, I think, Mope (Mo-peh). If you're familiar with the area where I live, I could say it is comparable in size to Sadieville or Ballardsville. (I realize that won't be too helpful to those rare birds who happen here that aren't familiar with central Kentucky.) It was a two-store, two-road town, one school, some horse-drawn transport still going on. It was on the Siberian/Chinese border, the two countries being separated by a frozen river--it was the middle of winter, around the time of Chinese New Year (which is this week, by the way). I found the visit to the small village the most interesting part of the film, and this is what especially piqued my interest:

The film maker was staying in the home of a retired Chinese policeman. At one time, he asked the policeman what the folks in the village did at night. The policeman replied, "They all go to the Christian church. I can't go, because I'm Communist." Lo and behold, they had some footage filmed in the church of a Bible study of sorts, with a woman leading the study, and the little room was packed. There were probably 100 or more people in there, mostly folks from the age of about 40 to 60+. They were listening intently to their teacher, looking through their books to find the references she gave. Later, there was a shot of them singing some sort of song, pentatonic scale, of course, and not a recognizable tune. What surprised and delighted me, though, was that there was a church, there were people in attendance, and they appeared to be honestly trying to study the word.

Of course that wasn't the focus of the movie, it wasn't an evangelistic movie by any means, but still...how great to know that God is still working in the Far East. Love to all, and God bless.

Dreams

I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoy a good dream just as much as the next person. I always have. I remember when I was a child, I had a great dream about my Aunt Elizabeth riding on a merry-go-round. (Sorry, that's all I can remember of the details.) I told my mama about it, and that I woke up before it was over. I wanted to know what happened next. Mama told me that was the end of it, I'd never know, you never had the same dream again. Hah! I proved her wrong, I had the same dream again the next night! Only it ended just like before, so I still haven't found out if I got to ride the merry-go-round.

Speaking of recurring dreams, how many of you have the final-exam dream? It's the end of the semester in college, finals week, and you have just discovered you have a final in a class you never attended! It was too late to withdraw--drop/add week was over a LONG time ago--and now you have to face the music. I've heard that is a very common dream for former college students. Both David and I have that one, usually about the time of finals.

Another recurring dream for teachers is to go to class and find your class has extra students--and no roll to find out who they are! Then there's the class with the elusive schedule--you never know where they are supposed to be at any one time. And the class you didn't know you were teaching, and when you finally locate them, you breathe a sigh of relief that at least there's no blood on the floor! (That was always my reassurance--no blood on the floor, everything must be okay.)

Lately, I've had some good dreams. In a couple, I was teaching again, but things were going right, not like that nightmare that ended my career. I had enough help, I was enjoying the kids, they were learning, they were responding, and I (most important of all) was being respected. Thank you, God, for those dreams.

Last night I had a couple of interesting ones. I always enjoy the ones where my kids are young again. I had fun raising them, and I have fun now being with them in the dreams. Except for that one little booger, who always has different names and was born after Ann. (Ann is my official youngest child.) Of course the fact that last-night's-name Andrew never existed doesn't stop me from trying to be his mama. It's a little difficult at times, since I sometimes can't find him in the house, and when folks ask me when he was born, I'm clueless...

Phase out of the Andrew-dream: This next one woke me up. I was just going into Kroger's in the dream, regular day, probably fall, not too cold, but not hot. One of those days when you can linger outside and chat with folks you know. I met Frances H with another woman and was enjoying the chat, except something was a little off. I knew something wasn't right. Then I realized the woman she was with wasn't Donna, her daughter and usual caretaker. Something was in the back of my mind, but I just couldn't put my dream finger on it. Then another woman joined Frances and her companion, and they got on the bus to go home. Before the second woman got on the bus, she turned to me and said, "By the way, you do know that Donna died, don't you?" Yes. I knew.

That's what woke me up. It was true. Donna did die, yesterday. I am still trying to come to grips with my feelings on this. I'm going to post another entry about Donna, but the time isn't right. I need to grieve.

Dang, dreams. You either enjoy them or you hate them, or they make you cry. Love to all, and God bless.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen...again!

David and I are in to clutzy accidents this week. He came in one afternoon and showed me his elbow, which he had bumped on a car at work. The collision made enough noise that a coworker heard it over the assembly line, so we know it was a mighty wallop. He made a pretense of crying and said, "I need to go home and let Susan kiss this one!"

Not to be outdone, I left the house just a little too confident and too quickly yesterday. I made it down the front steps safely, but hit a slick patch at the foot of the steps. Somehow, I landed on both my knees and my hip--how, I'm still trying to figure out. My co-volunteer at the hospital, Martha, said I must have ricocheted. Anyway, I have a couple of bruises "where the sun don't shine". I haven't asked David to kiss them yet.

And then today, David made the mistake of trying to close his truck door before he got his leg out. I can't say a lot, because I bumped my head in pretty much the same way recently.

Let's just say we're not getting any brighter as we age. Love to all, and God bless.

Snow Pics

For those of you who were wishing to see the snow, all I can say is, "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away." It was gone noon yesterday. Sorry about that!

Snow Day!

Wonder of winter wonders, we're having a snow day today! I can hear the children next door at Darlene's, playing in the snow, and I start thinking back to my snow day memories.

For some reason, there didn't seem to be many "snow days" when I was a child. If there were, they didn't impact me like they did my own kids, I'm sure. I can remember riding around Greenfield Circle, the loop at the end of our street, on a sled pulled behind a car--there weren't many hills in LaGrange. I know we had a flexible flier, but I don't have many memories of enjoying riding on it. One sledding memory does stand out, though.

I was spending what may have started off as the end of Christmas vacation with my twin friends, Betty and Barbara. They lived over on US 42, about 10 miles or so from my house, and I probably wouldn't have had a chance to ever know them, if we hadn't ended up sitting near each other in high school chorus. They were my very best friends for a while, and like so many high-school very best friends, we have completely lost touch with one another. I learned a lot from the twins--talk about naive, I was the champ. But that "snow day" was one special time, let me tell you.

It was probably in 1964, I know they graduated that year. I had gone to spend a couple of days with them, and while I was there, it SNOWED. I have no clue how much, but enough to close schools in Oldham County, which I guarantee did NOT (and still doesn't) happen very often. The twins' father owned a garage and motel, so there was no shortage of inner tubes around. We inflated them and spent the better part of a day sliding down the hills around their house--no Great North slopes or Aspen, for sure, but still way too much fun! Probably the neatest thing about inner tubing is that you have NO control, so plowing into one another was part of the fun. Mike and I tried to recapture the fun at home, but it just wasn't the same. (Did I mention there were no good hills in LaGrange?)

I will admit that I am thankful I don't have to "car ski" to work today. Winter driving didn't scare me a lot when I was younger. I learned to drive in the summer of 1976, which was followed by the winter of 1977. The snow that year after Christmas left kids out of school until February! Our niece had just come to live with us, and her first day in Scott County schools was Valentine's Day. In order for us to do about anything, I had to drive, since David was out of town almost every daylight hour working. Fortunately, we had a great little snow car, a Chevy Vega with a standard transmission. As long as I was driving here in town, I knew NO FEAR.

Fast forward to 1983. I got a job with an independent school district which shall remain nameless. This independent district was about 20 miles from here over a two-lane road that had a few hills, twists and turns. (Actually there were two routes to work, one of which was over an interstate highway, but I chose not to go that way. Believe it or not, sliding off the road into a ditch is less dangerous to one's health than getting hit by a semi that has lost control.) When snow was predicted, I was up bright and early to see if I would have school that day--at least the first couple of snowfalls, I was looking to see if we were going to have school. After that, I just got ready to leave early, unless someone called me to tell me otherwise. Seems this district NEVER canceled school.

Many a day I drove there over roads that had barely been plowed. I often had the feeling as I crested a hill and looked down to the creek below, that I was skiing in my car. It was beautiful, quiet, and not particular scary...until others would marvel at the fact that I got to work! One day I made a stupid mistake and passed the snow plow--don't ever do that. Yes, I made it that day, too, but playing snow plow with a car just isn't a good idea.

I'm sure you have good snow day memories. I hope this post stirs a few. Love to all, and God bless.

Job Hunting

Our good friends Sam and Ting are job hunting. Sam has just graduated from nursing school with an RN degree, and his wife, Ting, has just finished her dissertation for a doctorate in chemical engineering. Sam is very computer proficient (he has a master's degree in computer programming) and has great people skills. Ting's dissertation was something to do with protein markers, ,and she would like to do research (if possible, post-doc) in an academic setting, maybe on Alzheimer's Disease. If you know anyone who can use their skills and would be willing to sponsor them as they work toward getting a "green card", let me know. They would like to live in a community with more Chinese folks around, and we would like to see them living somewhere with a welcoming church.

Let's do what we can to network and get these folks hired! Love to all, and God bless.

The coming election

I have been watching election news with not a lot of interest, other than to think, like an acquaintance's child, "There's a woman and a Black man running for President! Has that ever happened before?" Part of me says hooray, we've come a long way! while part of me wants to return to the status quo when all the Presidential candidates were white men, Protestant, happily married (at least as far as we knew), and SAFE. I had no idea whom I would be supporting, when push came to shove, until I discovered this website.

Now at least I have a clue. If you're wondering who my candidate will be, I'll admit to this much: the majority of the candidates I supposedly support are Democratic, although there was a Republican in the top 80% as well as one I had only occasionally heard of--

Go and see where you are. Love to all, and God bless.

First Dates

Ever have a bad first date? Heard this story before? I hope not--even if you had, it's worth reading again. Love you all!

Shopping

Anyone in the mood to do a little shopping? Are you having withdrawal after Christmas? Take a look at the HEMA company's website (give it a couple of seconds before you start scrolling down). Love you folks.

Intelligence

Ever wonder if you're smart or stupid? Here's your test. Once you've completed it, go find your own sign.

One of these days I'm going to write a post about smart/stupid. I have too many friends who think they're stupid, often due to bad teaching and circumstances way beyond their control. Just let me say this about that: teachers have a darn lot more influence on young children than they are given.

Love to all, and God bless.

News Flash!

Over the weekend, I was given the all-clear to make this official announcement: Geron and Lydia are going to have another baby! We found out the day after Christmas, when we got to see the "walking billboard", Miss Cora Sophia, wearing her "Special Sister" t-shirt. However, we were forbidden to share the news with the rest of the world.

Friday night, on the way to visit Ann and Dan in Nashville, Lydia called to say that they had visited the obstetrician and seen an ultrasound--they were officially pregnant, and were going to post the ultrasound on their website. Soooo, I could tell anyone I wanted. She then asked, "Who have you told?" and I could proudly answer, "No one."

If you go there to view the picture, you'll also see that they have a new header, and you'll get a chance to catch up on the antics of the world's cutest granddaughter.

Love to all, and God bless.

I think I'll use this line sometime...

A strained voice called out through the darkened theater, "Please, is there a doctor in the house?!"

Several men stood up as the lights came on.

An older lady pulled her daughter to stand next to her, "Good, are any of you doctors single and interested in a date with a nice, girl?"

Of course, I'm going to have to modify it a little...

A strained voice called out through the darkened theater, "Please, is there a doctor in the house?!"

Several men stood up as the lights came on.

The voice continued, "Are there any female doctors in the house?"

When some women were standing, the older lady pulled her son to stand next to her, "Good, are any of you doctors single and interested in a date with a nice young man?"

I love that boy, but sometimes he drives me crazy.

Anyone for geography?

David and I have found a new way to waste our time. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have! By the way, David has made it up to Level 12, I believe. Me? Not nearly so good--after all, one of my two most appalling college grades was in geography. (For those of you who might be interested, the other was in PE.) Have fun, and God bless!

New Year's Resolutions II

Remember a while back when I gave you an example of resolutions that would be oh-so-easy to keep? Well, my good friend Mikey sent me this list today, and I felt called upon to share it with you.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN KEEP

Are you sick of making the same resolutions year after year that you never keep? Why not promise to do something you can ACTUALLY accomplish?

Here are some resolutions that you can use as a starting point:

~ Gain weight. At least 30 pounds.
~ Stop exercising. Waste of time.
~ Read less. Makes you think.
~ Watch more TV. I've been missing some good stuff.
~ Procrastinate more. Starting tomorrow.
~ Spend more time at work, surfing the web.
~ Take a vacation to someplace important, like to see the world's largest ball of twine.
~ Don't jump off a cliff just because everyone else did.
~ Stop bringing lunch from home--eat out more.
~ Don't have eight children at once.
~ Get in a whole NEW rut!
~ Start being superstitious.
~ Personal goal: Don't bring back disco.
~ Don't ride in a car driven by Britney Spears.
~ Speak in a monotone voice and only use monosyllabic words.
~ Only wear jeans that are 2 sizes too small and use a chain or rope for a belt.
~ Spend my summer vacation in cyberspace.
~ Create loose ends.
~ Get more toys.
~ Get further in debt.
~ Don't believe politicians.
~ Break at least one traffic law.
~ Don't drive a motorized vehicle across thin ice.
~ Don't swim with piranhas or sharks.
~ Spread out priorities beyond the ability to keep track of them.
~ Wait for opportunity to knock.
~ Focus on the faults of others.
~ Mope about faults.
~ Never make New Year's resolutions again.

today'sTHOT============================

Aim low. Reach your goals. Avoid disappointment.

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PASS IT ON!
Yeah, you can send this Funny to anybody you want. And, if you're REAL nice, you'll tell them where you got it! www.mikeysFunnies.com

Have a great Monday, and God bless!

I thought I could

Today in Sunday school, our lesson was on "rendering unto Caesar". Yes, I've heard that lesson more than once, so I'll admit my mind wandered to some extent. However, I did come to my senses in time to hear this statement from the teacher: "If you have no control over it, it isn't your responsibility."

How deep. I had to sit there and think about that for a minute. There are some things we obviously have no control over (the weather, for instance), and others that are not as obvious (the actions of our children, spouses, significant others, or bosses). In this modern world, though, we try to assume control of those things. We're like the little engine that could: we think we can, we think we can, we think we can. We think we can change someone else's thinking. We think we can keep someone else from engaging in harmful actions. We think we can make people love us. We think we can make someone happy.

As Shel Silverstein once told us, sometimes thinking you can isn't enough. How true is that! If you're in a situation where something isn't going to suit you and you feel responsible, stop and take a step back. See if you have any control over what is happening. If you do, change what you can. If you don't, stop feeling guilty! It may not be your responsibility!

I had a rotten work situation a couple of years ago. I loved my profession (teaching), but I didn't like my job. It didn't seem that there was anything I could do that was right. I tried to do what I felt professionally was best for my particular students, but folks who supervised me had differing ideas of what should be done. The goals they put in place were impossible to be met with the resources available to me. I realized that and realized, just like Shel Silverstein said, thinking I could wasn't enough. I couldn't. No one could. Long story short, I turned in my resignation, (written in red crayon, by the way--at least addressed that way), and walked out of the job.

I miss teaching terribly at times, but I don't miss trying to attain the impossible. I couldn't do it, I had no control over it, it didn't need to be my responsibility any longer. I feel peace with the decision and joy over being in control of things that I can control.

Take a look at your world. 1. Do you have control over your situation? 2. Is there any way you can get control of the situation? (Here's a hint: if there are other adults involved doing things their way and discussing the matter with them hasn't helped, you probably don't have control.) If the answer to those questions is no, then stop making it be your responsibility. Stop taking the blame for it.

Think it over. You make be woman, you may be able to roar, but there are some things you can't do. You are NOT invincible. Stop discouraging yourself by trying to do the impossible. Give the problem to God--let Him deal with it. Guaranteed, it IS His problem, and He CAN control it. This doesn't mean He will--after all, we don't know what His plan is for the situation. But we DO know that His plan is better than ours.

Good night to all, and God bless.

Yes, they are

I have this great friend, Becky, who lives somewhere out west. I won't say where, so that she and the rest of the parties involved can rest in their innocence. Anyway, I rather enjoyed this last post of hers .

Holiday Highlights

I was sitting here wondering what was a highlight of this year's holiday for me. One was getting to have company over for Christmas Eve. This is the first time in years that we've been able to do that (or that I've been willing to do that). I started out with something simple, the Chen's and Lilly, plus Everett, Ann, and Daniel, so it wasn't too intimidating. Still, it was such a great feeling to be able to sit around and chat with folks at our own home.

Another highlight: the candlelight service at our church for Christmas Eve. This has been going on for years, but sharing it with first-time visitors is a treat. David asked to sing "O Holy Night", and we've been told that this was probably the best singing he's done. One woman told us on Sunday that guests she had with her told her, "That man is missing his calling working at Toyota!" I just know we loved hearing it.

Another highlight: Making cookies at Libby's. Going to Libby's is always a treat, especially when the family is gathered there. My cousins, Susie, Martha, and I are learning how to make divinity (or virginity, as it is sometimes known around here). It's always special to learn something that has been a part of family Christmases since a person was a child, especially when that person is as old as I!

Another highlight: Being with our darling granddaughter. Last year she was too little to understand anything about the holidays, but now she is catching on that Christmas is special. Her mama and daddy have a small nativity set up in their living room, and they have been adding to it over the course of the holidays. Lydia said even after they had opened the last box, Cora would go and stand by the nativity and look at them like, isn't there more? She also discovered candy and cookies this Christmas, and Mama and Dada keep a big supply of them in their dining room. She is big into hospitality, so one of the first things she did was run into the dining room and get the box of stick candy to bring to share with us. Fortunately, that time someone rescued it before she dropped it--the next time, we weren't quite as lucky. Now there are no more intact sticks in the box.

On the same line, another highlight (or maybe part of the last one): Seeing the way our daughter and son-in-law have grown as parents. David and I love to watch them interacting with Cora.

Another highlight: Spending time with Annie and Daniel. I am so amazed and pleased with the way my daughter has embraced married life and adulthood. She is so gracious a hostess, and so helpful around here--I really hated to see them leave on Christmas day!

Another highlight: Spending time with Everett. We had the privilege of meeting one of Everett's friends from seminary, which was especially meaningful, since this person has only known Everett as an adult. He told us some great stuff about our son, and seemed to mean what he said. That was special, too.

And probably another highlight: Having the whole house to ourselves for a couple of days, with no need to go anywhere or do anything! Right now, David is kicked back in the recliner watching UK football, which seems to be going well, and I am enjoying communicating with my friends.

I guess that does it...I'm sure there are more, and I may add to the list later, but for now, good night, happy New Year's Eve, and God bless!

New Year's Resolutions

The time has come for the making (or not making) of New Year's resolutions. I really am not one who feels bound by the need to keep the darn things once I make them, so this never has been a very big deal with me. About the only resolution I'm fairly consistent with making (and usually keeping) is the one to read the Bible through each year. I'm a little behind this year for various reasons, but I intend to catch up before midnight tomorrow. I'm up to Zachariah, anyway--if there is a Zachariah!, and I've nearly finished Revelations, so I'm getting there.

For those of you who endeavor to make and keep New Year's resolutions, I have a link to a pretty good list, but for some reason, Blogger can't decode it. So much for that. Let's just say, it starts with stuff like "Gain 30 pounds," and goes from there. What would you add to that list?

Happy New Years to all, and God bless.

The Perfect Christmas Gift

The Christmas Story

Okay, I'll admit it, it's one of my favorite movies. And don't even get Lydia started on this one (or Geron either, for that matter, even though his opinion of the movie differs from Lydia's). Today while clicking for charity, I came across this game. Let's just say, it's a great way to waste your time. Love to all, and God bless.

Wow! I guess good!

61% Geek

100% Free at JustSayHi

Reindeer Problem

I got this from my email buddy, Pastor Tim, in his Cybersalt Digest. I'm sure he won't mind if I share it with you.

As you know, it is very important for Santa and his reindeer to be very quiet when they deliver presents on Christmas Eve so no one will know they are there. One Christmas Eve as Santa Claus landed on a rooftop, he suddenly heard a very loud "Snort sniff honk honk snort!" coming from one of his reindeer.

Since he was in the sleigh behind them, he didn't know which one it was. It happened again, only louder this time: "Snort sniff honk honk snort!"

Dogs in the neighborhood began to bark. "Shhh!" Santa hissed. "Please be quiet!"

He went to work lifting the sack of toys out of the sleigh when he heard it again, only a lot louder this time. "SNORT SNIFF HONK HONK SNORT!" Lights came on all over the neighborhood and some people even stuck their heads out of their windows.

Santa was horrified. Jumping back into the sleigh, he drove quickly back to the North Pole. He lined up all the reindeer and announced, "We are not going to deliver another present until the reindeer who is making funny noises with his nose steps forward and apologizes!"

None of the reindeer stepped forward.

Santa held up a piece of paper. "I know who it is, and I have written your name on this paper. But I want to give you a chance to do the right thing on your own."

Still none of the reindeer came forward. So Santa did the only thing he could do - read off the rude-nosed reindeer!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of our house decorated for Christmas...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUOjbzs8NCA

The Bazaar

The Bazaar is done.
It was fun.
I'll be danged if I do it again.

Ain't gonna happen

For those of you who are looking for the link to the video that Jenn commented on (in the last blog)--it ain't gonna happen, since I've already deleted it. Sorry bout that.

Bits and pieces of my life this week

Those of you who know me, know that I've been really involved the last couple of weeks with the hospital auxiliary bazaar. Thankfully, by this time tomorrow, it will be a DONE DEED. Today I am baking stuff for the bake sale. We've been asked to bring at least 2 items. So far, I have 7 little pumpkin cake loaves--I had hoped they would be higher than they are, but they taste good. They probably WOULD have been higher if I had paid attention to the recipe and believed it when it said cook for 45 minutes--I jumped the gun and pulled them out about 10 minutes before they were done. I also have some Asian spiced nuts ready to package, a super simple recipe that David likes a lot.

Which leads me to this slightly off-color comment: A couple of weeks ago, we bought some cashews on sale at Kroger's, some weird flavor thing (maybe chili-lime?), and neither of us have much wanted to get into them. This afternoon David said, "That treatment you used on the Asian nuts would be good on those cashews." Next thing I knew, I saw him sitting in "his" recliner, munching away on the undoctored cashews. I said, "Would you like for me to treat your nuts with that spice mix?" and just as soon as I said, it, I realized WHAT I had said and started laughing. His response, "I think that would hurt."

Now I'm off to fix supper, then to fix a Paula Deen recipe, some applesauce muffins (Apple Barn recipe), bag up some novelty gifts, and get some sleep before this bizarre business starts tomorrow at too-early forty-five.

Love to all, and God bless.

A cure for the common cold, hmmm?

or at least the type that David has...Vick's Vapo-Rub has been around for a long time. People rubbed it on their children's chests when they had chest colds, maybe with some degree of success--I don't know. My mom didn't do that. I had a housemother in college who swore by it. You didn't dare cough around her, or Mom Venn would be showing up at your dorm room with her jar of Vapo-Rub. When I was finishing up my senior year, I had pneumonia, and there she was, jar in hand. I can't say that it worked too well on the pneumonia--I ended up in the hospital and then home for about a week after that.

NOW I'm learning that the CHEST is not where the stuff belongs. It belongs on your FEET. I don't know where I read that, but I told Mary C about it before Thanksgiving. I haven't heard if it worked for her, but it DID work for Mr. David. I caught him in the act of slathering it on his feet this morning, then left him here while I hit the stores for a frenzy of impulse buying. When I got back, he told me that the stuff WORKED. He feels better and is barely coughing. Considering that colds often hit him like a ton of bricks, I was delighted that something this simple might be helping him.

Love to all, and God bless.

What's new? Not much.

unless you count David's cold. We have to go out to the pharmacy in a little while to buy him some Delsym, you know, D-E-L-S-Y-M, as the smarta-- girl in the commercial says. Me? I'd rather have a hot toddy, thank you.

Love to all, and God bless...and maybe I'll think of what I REALLY was going to blog about in a few minutes!

Busy Day

As my regular readers (if there are any) know, it's Thursday, so it must be Friendship. Today was also hospital auxiliary, so I'm pretty pooped tonight. (Speaking of pooped, that's an interesting word to some of the internationals I know, especially in the context I just used.) ((Hmmmm, looks like a night for parenthetical comments.))

We played a new game in the toddler nursery today called "Who Poohed?" We had five toddlers today, although Fei Fei doesn't really qualify, since she isn't toddling yet. Anyway, one of the Japanese workers smelled that really ripe scent that all nursery workers have grown to love, and we went around like dogs, sniffing little behinds until we identified the culprit, Alistair. Of course it took a little work to finally find out who had made a deposit, not just had "poop gas", as Ann's friend Catbutt calls it.

Yumi attempted to pull down Alistair's pants to check, but he had on overalls underneath his buttoned-up jacket. Off with the jacket, down with the overalls, wait a minute, that "shirt" is fastened at the crotch, so off with the overalls, not just down. Yes, Yumi was right, it was Alistair. All this undressing took place as Yumi followed Al around the toddler play area. She then took him to the diapering area and changed him, and then the redressing took place all over the nursery. At least Al wasn't mad at her.

So that's how you play "Who Poohed?", or at least it was today.

Love to all, and God bless.

Not mine

Attention, anyone who was doing laundry at my house last week: The two pairs of black bikini panties, one with a chili pepper and the other with the words, "Shake it!", that you might have seen and I found in the wash, are NOT MINE.

Love to all, and God bless.

Christmas is coming, my butt is getting fat...

Just a variation on the old song--I don't have a goose. Actually, my butt isn't getting too fat.

I opened a message from Flylady today about super cruising through the holidays. She said to decorate one area of the house, to spend a few minutes putting up one decoration. Well, I already know what that will be, the Santa Claus and elves that I put in a sled last week. I'll bring it up in just a minute, after I get dressed, check my sugar, and eat some breakfast.

What are you going to decorate today? Love to all, and God bless.

We Gather Together...and then we come apart!

There's a line in the hymn "We gather together", a traditional Thanksgiving hymn at our church, which says something like, "He hastens and chastens, His will to make known."

Tonight at Christmas cantata rehearsal, I was not behaving myself properly. I have a habit of doing that. I have a habit of finding the ridiculous in the sublime, the unintended funny, the puns that weren't meant to be there, and bringing them to the attention of the choir. If anyone has ever been in choir with me, they know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm sort of like a nominally clean Robin Williams after a couple of Mt. Dews. Anyway, I kinda got off on one of my streaks tonight. About midway through the silliness, I recognized it as a result of the candy I had been eating before I left home and quit. But that didn't stop David from scolding me after it was over, despite the fact that I told him I KNEW what I was doing and knew it was wrong. Oh well.

Love to all, and God bless.

Thanksgiving dinner, the pajama party and Friday's lunch gathering

We had a good Thanksgiving at Caroline's this year. Our crew was a little later than we had intended in getting there (closer to 3:30 than 3, when the meal was supposed to take place), and a little smaller than we had intended (7 rather than 10), but we still were able to put together a good feast and a good time. We had plenty of food from the folks who were gathered there. Michael made one really great cheesecake and three chess pies, which for sure took honors in the dessert category! There were a number of good salads and raw vegetable dishes, plus a number of vegetable dishes (including cushaw), as well as the traditional turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. I contributed my hash brown casserole, purposely baked in a disposable pan so that I didn't have to bring back the leftovers, the traditionally forgotten jello salad (which was remembered again this year, so maybe the tradition is coming to an end), a new corn salad recipe I invented this year, scalloped oysters (parsley rather than cilantro this year), pumpkin cookies and cool whip, country ham (cooked and sliced by Mr. Mac and arranged by David), and two-bean green beans (green and kidney), also cooked by David. What a feed! And a very limited amount of stuff to bring back--a few cookies, some beans, and a little corn salad.

We entertained ourselves after dinner with a musicale. Virgil played guitar, accompanied by Laurel and Margaret (alternating) on the keyboard, and we sang hymns from a variety of hymnals. That is always fun, since not all the hymns are in each book, and when they are, the verses may vary. I kept Jennifer laughing by making up lyrics to hymns that didn't happen to be in our book (or had different lyrics, if they were). Actually, the adults had a pretty good time, just sitting around singing. Aunt Caroline was obviously not feeling well (she had a cold), since very little dancing took place. Aunt Margaret did get up and do some sort of Baptist-approved version of Caroline's country dancing--I even got it on video.

After the musicale, we headed back to Georgetown. Margaret rode with David and me, Jamethan rode with his mom and Everett, and Ann and Daniel brought up the caboose--well, who really knows which one was caboose? I just know we beat the "kids" here. We started setting up sleeping arrangements as soon as we got home: Jenn and Jamie, our bedroom; Daniel and Ann, guest bedroom; Everett, camp mat in the computer room; and everyone else (Margaret, David and me), the living room--Margaret on the hide-a-bed, David in the recliner, and me on the couch. Only no one was ready to sleep. Although we were back by 10:30, it was close to 2 by the time everyone was in bed. We were all curled up in the living room for quite a while, just chatting. Margaret said she was just loving the pajama party, so we kept at it, way too late for normal folks.

This morning, it was really difficult to get going again. We had intentions of going out at the stroke of 9 to buy a new dryer, but it was more like 10:30 or 11 when I went over to Goodyear and cast the deciding vote. I think we've picked a winner, and I hope it will be delivered this afternoon, before Mt. Washmore topples over and floods the basement with dirty clothes. Then I stopped at the grocery to pick up some things for the lunch we had planned with Sam, Ting, and Alex. I had wanted to buy a pumpkin pie, but there was not one to be found in Kroger's, nor was there any Cool Whip to use in a punch bowl cake! Last minute menu changes aren't always fun.

Soon after I got back from the store, David started cooking, Jenn and Jamie made plans to head to Mt. Sterling to see her aunt and uncle, Daniel left to experience the Black Friday shopping rush, David Roth called to tell us he was on the way to pick up his mom, and Glynda called to say she would definitely be here by 1:00. That meant 11 for dinner, at the kitchen table which seats 6. What to do? David kept cooking. Ann started unpacking china and silverware from the bottom of the hall tree. Dishes were washed. Clean tablecloths were located, as well as napkins. Still not enough seats...David said, don't worry, and kept cooking. The kids were sent on an expedition to locate a table in the basement--there are at least three possibilities, and they chose the correct one, with a little guidance from David. Then they brought it upstairs, cleaned it up, moved the hide-a-bed in the living room, and set up the table. Now there was enough seating for all concerned!

Good thing, too, because Sam, Ting, and Alex were ringing the doorbell. Pretty soon we were all seated at the two tables, one in the kitchen and one in the living room, dining on chicken and dumplings, California-blend vegetables, yeast rolls, green beans, and corn salad. Little Alex ate as much as they put in his bowl, and seemed to love every bite of it! He also enjoyed looking through the toy box and discovering the Grandfather clock and rhythm band instruments he had played with when he was here before. It was a good, relaxing, enjoyable meal, even though there was a HUGE amount of dish washing and furniture moving to be done.

Once again, I have to express a huge thanks to God for my wonderful husband. I sliced my thumb on a box of Press and Seal yesterday, and it is acting a little on the verge of infected today, so I am trying to keep it clean and out of the dish pan. He stepped right up to the plate, chopping everything, dishing it up in two sets of serving dishes, one for the kitchen, one for the other table, and making sure there was enough food for all. I love him so much. I know there are a million men for every one David--I'm so glad I got him.

Love to all, and God bless.

Random Thanks

The week of Thanksgiving has begun. This morning as I lay in bed (my own bed!), I gave thanks for the lovely bracelet my friend Tara sent me. It has six little flowers, one for each of the kids (birth, marriage, and grand), and I wear it LOTS. Thank you, Tara--I really do appreciate this gift! I also appreciate the friendship between your husband and my son, Everett. Thank you, God, for this wonderful family.

Let the thanks continue. Currently the population of 192 has increased by two, Everett and Ann. Thank you, Lord, that RIGHT NOW there is room for everyone! And thank you in advance that as the number increases this week from four to eleven, we will still be able to walk around here!

Thank You for my wonderful husband. This morning he quietly got up, got dressed, fixed his own breakfast, and left for work--before the crack of dawn--just like he has done every work day for the last nineteen years. Thank You for his faithfulness in supporting his family and for the fact that he ALWAYS kisses me good-bye before he leaves. Thank You for his willingness to step in when needed, as he did last night when he fixed supper for Everett and himself. And a special thanks for whichever one it was who began the clean-up!

Thank You for traveling mercies, which You bestow so often on us! Thank You for Everett's safe trip down from Vernon Hills, and for my safe trip to Franklin--a special side thanks that nothing happened to the car on the bridge near Weisenberger Mill, despite the horrible noise I heard! Thank You again for Ann's and my safe trip home from Franklin, for the little wonders You did such as letting Ann sleep during the mundane part of the drive so that she and I could both be awake and alert for the dull-as-dishwater stretch from Elizabethtown to 127.

One more quick thank-you--Thank You, Lord, for Ann's sense of humor! Especially thank You for the hilarious moment in the parking lot at the hospital in Frankfort where she was able to respond with grace to the ridiculous question, "Ann, why do I have a tail?"

Love to all, and God bless--more thanks on the way.