Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Recovery

I stayed home today. RA meds have not caught up to my pain level and I have a migraine starting. Thankfully, I can take that if need be. I've taken all the other things last night and this a.m. so I hope by tomorrow things will be a bit more comfortable. I think my biggest problem is just being off some of the meds so long. Actually, I feel better than expected. This is not a pain I don't understand but one I'm "used" to, if that a term I can apply.

I had a rather good evening sitting listening to a pod-cast of The Murder at Avedon Hill on my computer. I've discovered ITunes has some really neat podcasts. Since I don't have an IPod I can only listen at my computer but that's o.k. It gives me a way to do something else if I like but I didn't.

I must admit to not doing enough writing last night. I wasted several hours that I could have been tying up loose ends in Mist. I won't do that again. I need a good kick in the pants and get back on track. I've been a bit off for the last week. I've spent too much time blogging and answering emails and playing games. I don't usually let that get out of hand but for some reason I did. Sometimes I just don't pay attention and others I get too involved in things that are just a waste of time.

I did get the bookcases sorted out. Now I can start on another project in my path to organization. I'm in a disposal mood and I better make the most of it. It may not last long. I have a lot of computer stuff that needs sorting out. What do I keep and what to get rid of? Cables are probably a good thing to keep at this point. My old web-cam with out a mic? It works fine but I have this one with a built in mic and so I don't need it. {shrug} something will come up.

I feel as if The End of Winter has hit a snag. I'm floundering between the latest chapter and the endings which are basically already written. I am not sure what to do and it is driving me a bit crazy.

I think I'll go get some breakfast now and maybe something will come to me. I have a couple of things I should do while I am home but I need to pet this headache a bit. Catch you all later.

Thanks so much for all your good wishes, prayers and encouragement. It was nice to know you were all out there . . . for me.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Ten Things

I saw on Riete's blog a post about ten things that make her happy. I gather she got the idea from someone who had 100 things that make them happy. I won't attempt to shoot for 100. I don't know if there are that many but I think I can manage 10. I think the ranking is 10 being the highest.

1. Being in the woods. I love taking my tent to the wilds and sleeping under the stars, cooking over a camp fire, and just sitting with my eyes closed listening to the sounds of nature. My dream is to someday live in the woods!

2. The smell of books. I love to smell open books. There is nowhere in the world you can find that smell duplicated. Even old books have a distinctive smell. It is the smell of unknown places, people, and ideas.

3. The smell of Bibles. This is different from other books and I have no explanation for it. Try it if you don't believe me.

4. Writing.

5. Reading.

6. Learning new things.

7. Traveling to new places. My fondest memories are of traveling to other countries and other states.Meeting new and interesting people.

8. Raising boys. My God that was so much fun! Caught up in a whirlwind all the time. You get off windblown, breathless, and exhausted but it is the ride of your life!

9. Sarah. Anything she does is just wonderful. But watching her mind grow is absolute joy.

10. Worship. I've found no greater happiness than in the presence of God.




A Hose Runs Through It?

All done. I remember nothing. I've ordered a barrel of whatever drug they gave me to make me sleep. It was the best sleep I've ever had! I want more. What's more, I passed my test. Clean as a whistle and with all the air they left inside, I'm surprised I didn't get a whistle to boot. Jilly, never fear. The worst part of this procedure is the stuff they make you drink the night before. {shudder}

Doctor did say I need to add more fiber to my diet. I have some "weak" areas called pockets in my colon where things like nuts or seeds can get hung up and they can become infected. That's bad. Particularly since I love nuts and things with seeds. So, he confirmed the diagnosis. Diverticulosus. I told him that meant I was old. He said it usually happens to people about my age! {spit, sputter, huff, puff} People my age? And what age is that? I'm only 52 for heaven's sake. That comment makes it sound like you're ready for a rocker. Why don't they say something like, "Well we begin to see this process around age 45 or 50. Nothing to worry about, just take extra fiber."

I'm ONLY 52! That is not old. Besides, it is a misprint made by one of God's secretaries. I'm actually 25.

For lunch I got the Sonic burger and fries!! And I just had that cup of hazelnut coffee and the Oreo's! Oh, my was it good. I'm ready to continue my nap now. Later I'll put my eyes back on, my support hose on, and my teeth back in...... grrrrrr.

O.k. and I promise Alice that tonight I'll start the next chapter of Mist and try and finish the next one of Winter.




Old Man Winter Left His Calling Card

We got a couple of inches of snow last night! It is lovely but I dread going out when there is ice or snow. Much better to sit and watch it and drink hot cocoa. My son, Mike, called around midnight last night to get Jerry to MAKE me cancel my appointment. {Looks over glasses at everyone} I don't think so. I didn't drink all that crap and spend the night on the toilet to cancel for a bit of snow. I'll be breaking out skis if I had any.

I leave in about 15 minutes for the test. I can't even have water this morning. Tempted not to brush my teeth just to show 'em but they will be at the other end and it would be lost on them. So, everyone say a prayer this morning that everything is fine. I don't do drugs too well but I think I'll appreciate it better. Hopefully, everything will be smooth sailing.

I couldn't think of a submarine analogy.

I will be back later and let you know how it goes.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

All Pumped Up

I'm up now. Yep. Don't want to go to bed. This is not good.

My stars and garters! I am so hungry. I have had soup and broth until it is running out of my . . . my ears. Yep, that's it. And I'm getting giddy, too. I've been lightheaded for hours but now I'm foolish. LOL, I know how to fix the lightheadedness! Drink water. But what's the point! I have a glass of ice water and a glass of iced tea sitting beside me. But what do I want? Oh, no, I want a cup of hot hazelnut coffee with hazelnut creamer and some Oreo cookies on the side. YES! YES! YES! Ever see that shampoo commercial? I'm there but its coffee and cookies tonight.

I already asked Jerry if I could have the biggest hamburger I could find tomorrow. That'll be the Sonic Burger fully dressed with cheese and extra mustard. Or maybe their foot-long chili dog! AAAHHHHHEEE!

I sat looking at those old magazines I was weeding out tonight and found some wonderful looking recipes! I hate cooking now-a-days and I married a man who doesn't cook either. Well, thirty-five years ago he didn't have to! So that little dream probably isn't coming true. But they looked wonderful.In my next life I want a cook and maid.

{snort} Yeah, like that's gonna happen. I'll come back as pond scum in all likelihood.Thankfully I don't actually believe in reincarnation. Nice fictional concept but why would I want to come back here? Oh, unless. . . never mind. That's totally juvenile.

I seem to have become very popular this week. People are inviting me all over the place. So, I've added a couple more contacts. You that have been with me awhile know I am extremely picky. These adds have been pending for a bit and I've been adding them one at a time after several trips to their site.As usual the warning goes out that everything is on speculation, you know. I don't know why I am on this add kick. Months go by and I have no interest. Then some interesting people pop in and I'm hitting the green buttons right and left. That never bodes well for me.

I do hope I don't do anything stupid and careless and add some freak. I really hate that when it happens. Its only happened twice since I started blogging and both times I didn't see it coming. I've recently added Jo Ann and she seems like a sweet lady. I don't think she's a pervert or anything. Just a nice lady who likes company. Tonight, I added Mike and he seems like a very nice conservative fellow. I don't add many men so it is always a bit strange when I do. But I liked his blog. I have two more to decide on this week.

Did I ever tell you that I don't like parties? I hate crowds. It is why I get paranoid about adding people. Well, that and To Catch a Predator. That show just freaks me out. And I used to have the worst stage fright but I've overcome that a bit since I have to lecture a roomful of clients on the policies and procedures of housing regulations and what I'll do to them if they don't comply. You can get over stage fright much easier if you have a whip in your hand! I swear it helps tremendously. And substitute teaching helped ,too. So, I'm less worried about crowds now but I really don't want 100 contacts. I can't keep up with that many. So, I'll be a bit more circumspect from here on out.

Perhaps I should set a limit? I recently deleted some people because there is STILL nothing on their sites. I am eyeing another, too. They are never there! And a second is getting on my nerves. You'll just have to figure out who you are. LOL! Oh, I do like surprises.

See what dehydration will do to you? Makes you slap happy crazy. I have to go to bed before I start chewing on the keyboard. It is beginning to look quite tasty.

To Boldly Go Where. . .

I'm not going to say it. After I thought about it I realized it was disgusting. You can finish it if you are familiar with Star Trek. Yuk.

The Colonoscopy is only 10 hours away. Ladies and Gents, I managed to down the second 36 oz container of the nastiest stuff you ever tasted by 10 p.m.. And it also made me nearly sick to my stomach.

It is midnight here and I've only just been able to stop my trips up and down the hall. I am tired and starving! I am also dehydrated. I checked the skin on the back of my hands and it says so. YOu take the skin on the back of your hand and pull it up. If you are well hydrated it lies down nicely. If not, there is a delay. I have a serious delay. So, I have to get some fluids in me before bed. Did I say I'm tired?

I'll be back in a bit. Got to get the fluids and make a pit stop. Oh, this is just too gross. I'll have something constructive to say later.

Momentary Respite

I am between doses. Oh my God! I am telling you, this is awful. The stuff I have to drink (I've downed the first 32 oz..) is hideous. I thought I was going to throw up. I had one last swallow that I simply couldn't swallow and I just looked at it and figured that that one swallow was not going to make or break the issue. It hasn't.

At about 5:15 I began the trips to the bathroom. Remember I had to drink 8 oz beginning at 4 p.m. every 15 minutes until 5 p.m. Then, I started going to the bathroom. I've been going about every 15 minutes since. I do apologize for grossing anyone out. It is not pretty.

I have to drink the next 32 oz. at 9 p.m. and I simply don't see how I will ever get any sleep tonight. I'm so hungry I could eat the boards off the walls and I am lightheaded. Probably from a combination of hunger and dehydration. I am drinking all I can but I just feel nauseous at the thought of one more swallow of anything. I've been drinking a glass of iced tea for the last hour! They said I had to drink 16 oz of a clear liquid immediately after each liter. Why that's half a quart more liquid and I don't see how they could possibly think I can do that.

Between potty breaks I've been clearing out old magazines. Not for the paper either! I'm trying to break my information addiction. It is depressing. I wanted to stop and see if I had read them all. I think there were a couple I may not have but I believe I had read them all for the most part. But I didn't allow myself a peek. I put them in a box to take to the library and see if they want them. They are all Writer's Digest magazines and they do carry them there. Anyway, can't hurt to see. I hate tossing knowledge that someone else may benefit from.

I'm trying to slim the house down a bit and I think I am making some headway. I still have some things I want to sort out but I need to get my storage cabinet that will store my sewing items done next. I can't really put it where I want it until it is done. I've asked Jerry to get the top done but as usual he never completes a task anymore. I just will have to do it myself I suppose. I can but I thought it he could do that when I'm at work and he's home, it would make it easier for me to complete my projects.

I'm going to stop now. I want a shower so badly and at my next little respite I would like to hop in there and hose down. I feel I need a dip in the horse trough to really do the job right. If one could only heat it first it would be very enticing to find one.

It's going to be a long night so I'll probably be back. I have been working on the stories a bit today so that is something else I'm doing tonight. I've been busy clearing debris this last week that I've fallen behind. Very annoying that is.

If anyone of you are on my Yahoo or MSN messenger, you might try and buzz me here and there. I'm not going anywhere I don't think . . . well, except to the bathroom. If I can I'll pop out and chat with you. LOL.


Starvation Sunday!

We're here at last. I can have nothing to eat today but clear liquids until after the procedure which will be done tomorrow morning at 9:40 a.m. I am dreading it. Say several prayers for me. Already without my pain meds I'm having a lot more pain but I've not reached the unbearable stage, so that is a bonus. I hurt mostly in the large joints, my lower back, shoulder and upper arms and all related to motion. If I don't move around a lot, I'm o.k. I'm going to hit the shower soon for a very hot shower. I would love to have a hot tub about now. Heat helps so much.

I used to be able to fast but now after two meals I began to get sick. I suspect it has to do with my blood sugar but not sure about that. I have clear chicken broth in the kitchen and will utilize that. At 4 p.m. I have to start taking the medicine to clean out my colon. 36 oz at 4 p.m. and another 36 oz. at 9 p.m. I have to drink 8 oz every 15 minutes until I finish each one. I have no idea what it tastes like. I also have to dink 16 oz of water afterward.

I don't want to gross you all out but the last time I did this I got sick to my stomach and thought I'd throw up. I also became raw from the diarrhea to the point I was screaming when I had to go to the bathroom. The stuff literally scalded me every time. The screams terrified my sons who were young teenagers at the time. It was a horrible experience and one I'm afraid to repeat. I have a few things ready should that happen again but there is no guarantee that they will help.

So, as I said, say a lot of prayers for me. I'm going to try and get warm now. It is very cold. I got me lovely electric bill. $300 USD. You heard me. The same as my car payment. You don't want to know what I think of this utility company. And this is with my heat turned back to 50 degrees from 11:30 at night until 6 a.m. the next morning. I also keep it at 69 in the day time. I can only imagine what families are experiencing if they have it warmer!

I will try and drop a note later one to let you all know how it is going. Tomorrow I may not be around. They tell me I will be groggy afterward and probably sleep a lot. I probably need that anyway but I do hate losing a day. I only have so many of those left, you know! Losing one isn't good.


Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Priest of Heliopolis

I was reading my daily Bible reading, tyring to catch up three day I 'm behind and ran across something that drew my attention. I've probably read it dozens of times in the past but today, it sort of rang a bell with me and I felt inclined to do a little research.

I'm reading in Genesis of the time when Joseph was released from prison because he interpreted a dream for Pharaoh. The ruler was so impressed he appointed Joseph to be his second in command and to manage the food supply for the predicted seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. At that time Pharaoh gave Joseph a wife. Her name was Asenath. She was the daughter Potiphera. Potiphera was a priest of Heliopolis.

The word Heliopolis (On) jumped out at me today because several years ago I kept running across this area of Egypt in my studies. I even watched a documentary on the History channel about it and a certain Pharaoh named Akhenaten (he changed his name to this from Amenhotep IV. There are variations in spelling of both names).

The interesting thing about this particular Pharaoh was that he is began a rebellion in Egypt established a religion that stated there was only a single God whom he called Aton, rather than the pantheon of gods Egypt believed. The center for this religion it thought to have been at or near Heliopolis.I have given you a link to the History site that gives a bit more detail and there are other that will give you information about Aton, the one God of Akhenaten.

"During the 18th Dynasty the pharaoh Amenhotep III renamed the sun god Aton, an ancient term for the physical solar force. Amenhotep's son and successor, Amenhotep IV, instituted a revolution in Egyptian religion by proclaiming Aton the true and only god. He changed his own name to Ikhnaton, meaning “Aton is satisfied.” This first great monotheist was so iconoclastic that he had the plural word gods deleted from monuments, and he relentlessly persecuted the priests of Amon. Ikhnaton's sun religion failed to survive, although it exerted a great influence on the art and thinking of his time, and Egypt returned to the ancient, labyrinthine religion of polytheism after Ikhnaton's death." From The History Channel - Egyptian Mythology

Now, you may ask why I find this small bit of the Bible of any interest at all. It is a good question. I believe in a single, unified God. I believe He is one single being. So, when I find Joseph, a child raised by a father who also believed in a single God but who is a prisoner in a city where the major religion worships hundreds of gods, being given a wife who is very likely the daughter of a Priest of a religion that teaches there is one, single God I find myself experiencing several emotions. Amazement comes to mind.

Had Joseph been presented with any other woman, he may not have accepted her because of the conflict in their religious beliefs. Or, he may have been drawn away from the God of his father to accept the gods of his wife. But here Joseph is presented with a woman who may very well been taught to recognize only one reigning God.

Amazing.

Of course you could say there is no evidence of Asehath's background. No, there isn't. But I find it a bit curious that we would even be told who this Egyptian woman's father was if there was not importance attached to it. When wives are mentioned in the Bible, their lineage is only important when something momentous is attached to it. Even men's lineage is subject to this peculiarity. For example, in Genesis 36:24 we find that one of the original peoples of Edom was a man called Zibeon who had two sons named Aiah and Anah. Anah is the one who discovered hot springs in the wilderness while he was grazing his father's donkeys.

Now, that single fact has no bearing on anything in the Bible that I know of. But for those repeating the oral history it would be very important for some reason. Perhaps the springs themselves became well known but this was Edom - the land of Esau, and not a place Jacob's descendants would bother with much. Obviously, only important information was added in the lineages of the Bible. You will find this kind of thing here and there where a recitation of names occurs.

Personally, I believe this particularly wife was probably selected for Joseph for the reasons I mentioned. God looked out for Joseph. The religious uprising in Egypt probably occurred before the children if Israel came to Egypt. Imagine for a second, a rogue Pharaoh suddenly breaking with hundreds of years of tradition to establish a monotheistic religion. A single priest of this religion has a daughter destined to become the wife of Joseph and a direct descendant of Jesus Christ. The god/man of Christianity. After the death of that Pharaoh, the religion of Egypt reverted back to polytheism and never again did such a thing occur.

Peculiar, interesting, amazing? I think so.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Drive By Hi!

I am just stopping to dash off a note. I am at work. Just got out of court. I was subpoenaed for a rent and damage hearing against one of my clients. Let me just say, I hate lawyers on general principles. I'm sure there are some sincerely dedicated lawyers but my experience is that most are obnoxious, rude boors. The plaintiff's attorney was the rudest man. Understand these are not MY lawyers but the lawyers for the tenant and the landlord.

Well, started that yesterday and never got back to it! My whole day was like that. After work I went to Mike's to fix his mouse on his computer and didn't get home until 7 p.m. His computer is a mess and needs a good cleaning off. I am going to just reformat him and start clean, I think. Take two days to do it but it downloaded the Service Pack 3 for XP and my guess is that caused the problems. His speed is about the same as mine but he is not running at that capacity at all.

When I got home at 7 I realized immediately something was wrong. Jerry was at work. My heat dials back to 60 during the hours he is at work and at 5 will be warmed back up to comfort level for me when I get in. At 7 it was still 60 degrees! I tried all I knew to get it working but finally called the repairman at 8 p.m. -- after normal business hours. He was really nice and we talked about possibly waiting until morning but I was concerned the pipes would freeze and burst and then I'd have a plumber's service call on top of the heating problem. I hated to ask anyone to come out in that cold and work on it. It was 17 degrees.

So, he came and worked an hour and a half and found the problem. Then, he said he didn't have the part because it is one they don't carry on the trucks. Its an old part. He said he'd get me heat for the night and get the part in the morning. He was going to hard wire it but he went out and cleaned the part and connections and plugged it back in and it fired right up! He thinks it was dirty connections. I had a choice of not replacing the part but I was worried it may be defective and he agreed it could be and there was no way to know. So, now I'm thinking another service call and a part on top of this nighttime call.

You know, I sat in the study for the whole time he was working just outside the window and I prayed for it to be something simple. That unit cost us $3500 when we bought it 11 years ago and it is nearing the time when it has to be replaced again. I dread it because now it probably cost $5000!

When he was done, the final bill for an after hours call was $133. Today the guy called me and told me how much the part is. He says he can sell it to me at cost and just run by and put it in for us at no extra charge but there wouldn't be a warranty with it since he can't tell the company and he could get in a lot of trouble if they found out. The part was only $12 at cost and $20 with their markup. I told him I didn't want anyone to get in trouble and if something went wrong, I might not be able to get it corrected. He agreed and then said he would only charge me $50 for the part and to come by and put it in with new connectors too. So, I feel I came out ahead. He was so nice and I think he would have just sold it to me at cost and put it in for free if I had asked but I really would hate for anyone to get in trouble for doing me a favor.

So, now I have heat. I really need to get a home warranty on my appliances. This is getting expensive. I replaced the refrigerator last year. My dryer is not well. I have an old washer. Now the heat is acting up. So, I better plan now.

I have to get back to work. This has taken me the better part of two days to actually get this far. Tonight I am going to be cleaning out some files and clearing some more clutter. Hope you all have a great day, wherever you are.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Long Days, Short Nights

I wonder why it is that long days are followed by short nights? I never have enough time from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. to accomplish all my needs and desires. We had David, Becca, and Sarah over tonight and they left around 9 p.m. Sarah was in rare form. We got to sing, dance, read Clifford, and just chatter all over the place. She is such a sweet baby but will not let her mother out of her sight for five minutes when she is nearby. She kisses her and pats her cheek and says, "You so sweet, Mommy. I love you. It's all right." She is just an angel.

Potty training is apparently complete and Sarah has graduated to panties completely. Oh, and three's are too large but they don't sell 2's! So, we have to boil them to make them shrink enough to stay up. LOL! She doesn't wet the bed at all.. I'm talking completely potty trained - #1 & #2 as we used to say. In less than two months. I'm astounded. I should have been so lucky. Hah!

My pain has disappeared except for my shoulder and neck. I have no idea what is going on with that but I have virtually NO pain since Sunday night. Several people had similar experiences at church Sunday night and told about it but I didn't have any special prayer or even ask for prayer. Didn't realize it even until today. I'm thankful and will just say Praise the Lord for even small blessings. No pain is no small blessing.

I'm going to bed soon and try to get some extra rest.

I am really aggravated with myself because there's been no writing in over a week. First I was miserable with pain. Then, I had to move stuff and clean stuff and now, I'm just tired. I have been sticking to a plan though and it has been helping keep things prioritized so I will soon be back on track. Still have lots to clean out and toss away. I can't believe some of the things I've kept and don't remember why! I have realized I am an information junkie.

Yes, folks, I am addicted to information and knowledge. I can't help it. If I find an interesting article somewhere and can tear it out, copy it, print it out, or bookmark it I do. I may read it right away but more often than not, I never get around to it because something more important pushes it back. Eventually, I have this huge file (pile) of information. I do read it but I never get finished with all of it because I keep adding to it. I have several notebooks of articles I printed out to read. I'll be going through those this week.

You know, I've always said I have a mind like a sink. . . . . hole! I used to be able to win every round of Trivial Pursuit. My husband had a friend who loved the game. He came over one night and brought his game with him. We played for hours. LOL, you know, he never asked to do that again! That was about 22 years ago!

I am having a colonoscopy on Monday. As of tomorrow I have to watch my diet and can't take my anti-inflammatory medicine. This is where it could get bad. As of Friday, I can't take the RA medicine either so after that, it may get really ugly. Those are the two meds that keep my disease in check. I stand to be in a very bad place by Monday. So you can see why I really hope that this last two days is a touch from God and it continues. On Sunday I can't eat at all until after the procedure on Monday morning and as I am considered diabetic, this can give me other problems. I'm less worried about that because I produce insulin but my body doesn't utilize it well - insulin resistant.

As of tomorrow I can't have any nuts, seeds, skin, purple foods or red foods. I don't actually eat much red and purple but I love nuts. This kind of diet will be a pain because it is actually looking at my food ! LOL.

That's it for me, folks. I'm ready to call it a night. I hope you all have a great week and you get over the hump without incident.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Gloom, Doom, and A Working Day

I'm depressed today. Not sure why. Lately, I've felt o.k. except for the pain but today, I am just down in the dumps. I didn't want to come to work today. When I went out to my car I had a memory of when I was a child going to school. I hated school and never wanted to go and I had this sensation this morning of being in that place and time again.

We didn't get Sarah yesterday either. When we went to pick her up she wouldn't leave her mother. Jerry is very upset. He never gets to see her anymore and he had his whole weekend off planned around having her. I guess I'm upset too. I hated to see him so upset about it but I can't fix it. He said he's not even going to try and get her anymore. He just can't take the disappointment.

They asked me to sing at church last night. I never sing much anymore and so I have this one song that a lady there likes and I sing it every time they ask me to sing. Well, why learn a new one when you don't ever sing? But I'm bored with it now. I used to love to sing and I sang in church a lot, in the choir and special songs but since I've been here I stopped singing. Mainly, they don't ask and I finally stopped being prepared. So, when they do call on me I am a bit frustrated. I almost said no but my training under a previous pastor held true. I probably don't sing more than four times a year now. Not enough to go to the bother of learning a new song.

Well, I know a lot of songs but I hate singing without practicing. I'm not that good a singer to start with! LOL. I can carry a tune most of the time but there are only certain styles that I do well with and I don't have a large range. I tend to be between an alto and a soprano ... is that a contra-alto? Don't know. I say I sing open letter style. Open your mouth and let her fly.

I stopped and did some work and then went to lunch with Mike.

I'm really depressed and don't even want to write about it. Crazy, huh? How many times do you remember that happening? LOL.

Actually, when I feel like this it means something is wrong or about to go wrong. I hate it. It's like a fire bell but you don't see any smoke so you don't know where it is. I don't know what I can do about it so, back to work with me. I may catch up later at home.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Sundown

The day is winding down. Today is our wedding anniversary. Thirty-five years today. It has been a quiet day around here. Jerry and I went to church this morning and then, had lunch at Captain D's . That's fish for those not familiar with the seafood franchise. I had the fried clams and he had fish. We came home and sat around watching a movie we started last night but didn't finish. Footsteps with Candice Bergen. Really a good movie! It was on Hulu. I really like Hulu. When we were done with that one, we watch an old movie with Joseph Cotton called A Blue Print for Murder. Also a very good movie.

I went and had a short nap and just got ready for church. We are picking up Sarah tonight to take her with us. Not sure why but we are.It's very difficult to take her because I have to wrestle with her during the whole service and I'm not doing very well with the pain. THat means I'll be in more pain and won't get to enjoy service. This is all Jerry's idea and so, instead of sleeping during the service he can keep her occupied.

Do I sound annoyed? I guess I am. I spent all afternoon trying to get Jerry to take a nap and he sat and kept nodding off in the chair while this movie was on. Now I get to sit next to him while he gets his real sleep in church. I hate that. If you aren't going to listen to the minister why bother to go!

The other problem is that Sarah no longer understands what I expect of her at church. She hasn't been with me in nearly a year. I understand at her church her mother lets other people play with her and keep her during the service. I never let my children go from person to person in church and call me old fashioned if you want. Children should sit with their parents and behave. I always carried small toys and books for them to play with and we sat far enough apart so that they could play between Jerry and I. I never had a minute's trouble out of them and they grew up loving church and knowing that they had to be quiet. I've always belonged to shouting and singing church so noise wouldn't be noticed but I meant disruptive noise.

So, deep breath and get rid of the frustration. I'm not going to be a pain about it. I've gotten it out of my system and now I will just do what I have to do.

Sorry I have not written much this week but junk. I'm been missing writing the good stuff a lot. My pain was bad all week and I just sort of lay around. My vacation after vacation, I call it. The weather is just causing a lot of problems. A man in our church sits in front of us and he is so very nice. He has the same problem I have and he always ask how I've been doing and we laugh about our shared aches. Oh God! I'm an old lady. I talk about my aches and pains.

Well, I'm not old. I'm a young woman trapped in an aging shell and I can't get out. I keep telling people to let me out and they just shake their head and say I'm crazy to boot.



Saturday, January 10, 2009

Much Ado... No, That's TO DO

I had plans to have Sarah today but apparently they stayed up all night so that isn't happening. Again.

I also planned to do some things round the house that begins shortly. I am rearranging my study and spare room. I'm spreading things out and organizing them. I want to get more functional space in the study and I want a sewing area. I've had no place to sew for several years and I miss it. I need a nice comfy chair, too, sit and read or watch a movie. I can do it in the living room but Jerry and I don't share the same tastes in television or movies. So, I can watch Lord of the Rings and Star Wars to my heart's content if I can get a nice place to sit.

I'm going through books too. I never toss books or even give them away if I l like them but I've decided that it is time to scale back some areas. I keep too much and my children will never share my interests. So, handing books down is silly. Maybe Sarah will one day want some of those that are special to me, but those days are far down the road.

It is so cold out and Jerry and I went out this morning to shop at some second hand stores. I was looking for something. Don't ask me what. It was "I'll know it when I see it" shopping. I picked up Mike a dish drainer and two glasses. I bought him some plastic ones when he moved so he would have something to drink out of but these were two pretty cobalt blue "glass" glasses. I hate drinking out of plastic and everyone needs the real thing. He doesn't have guest as far as I know so I don't know if it matters.

Well, I have to run and get busy. Mike is here doing his laundry and the television is blaring. I hope he gets done soon so the house will be silent! He's not doing anything but Mike is deaf in one ear so things have to be loud for him. A hearing aid won't help him because it is nerve deafness and can't be repaired or aided.

Have a good weekend and maybe I'll be back later with more profound words.

Friday, January 9, 2009

The Importance of Correct Punctuation

I got this joke this morning but it is far more serious that usual. I truly can't reinforce enough how important it is to write correctly. This bears it out. And please, if you have a lack of education or ability, this is NOT targeted to you. It is a joke but one with a point.

I am aware that some people were not trained well and some not at all in communication skills. But you're never too old to learn. Writing is a good way to learn how to write and if you read and use good resources it is much easier than you think! You can actually learn to write by reading!

O.k. lecture over. Now the joke.

The Importance of Correct Punctuation

Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are
generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you
admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for
other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever
when we're apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be
yours?
Gloria

Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are
generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you.
Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For
other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever.
When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me
be?
Yours,
Gloria
--
Rate this funny at
http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20090109

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Improving

Tomorrow is Friday and I can't wait. What a week! I'm better but I've been treading lightly with this neck and shoulder. Just lay on the couch propped strategically on a pillow.

I'm a bit depressed tonight and not going to post much. I just wanted to let you all know I'm a bit better. Thanks so much for the concern expressed by all of you.

No writing this week, I'm afraid, Alice. It was more than I could deal with after a day at work and the pain levels. I'm still having joint and tissue pain all over but the neck is much improved and shoulder is not so bad. If I can keep the migraine at bay I'll manage. I'm on my way to bed now.

Have a good week, what's left of it. Say a prayer for my friend, Lisa. She's going through a difficult time with her children right now. They're being juveniles and she's hurt by their actions.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Major Paine. . . Oh, That's Pain!

I left work early with a serious migraine. Did not get the med until too late, after lunch. I left at two and came home. Slept all afternoon, off and on. Woke between five and six. Showered and lay on the couch watching videos of Dark Shadows I checked out of the library. Took a second Imitrex around seven or eight.

I've been hurting for two or three days and today it sky rocketed with this headache. On my way to bed now but wanted to stop in to say good night. I HOPE it will be a good night. I took my muscle relaxant. Lots of shoulder joint pain, leg pain and hands.

Just pray for me. The weather is a bitch. Pardon my language but that is about the most truth you'll find on the planet tonight. I say it in sincere honest. And she's killing me.

Night and not good.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

For a Soldier Boy

Please keep my nephew, James Joshua, in your prayers. He is leaving for Afghanistan soon. He has been in Iraq for a while now. He just spent the holidays with his family - my sister, Roselynn - and they are having a very difficult time with this. Pray for a covering of protection over him while he serves there.

Remember to pray for all the sons and daughters who have volunteered to serve in the military services. These people go in with open eyes. They know what they may be called to do and still they go. Some never dreamed this would happen. They just saw those military sign-up bonuses and thought they'd do their three years and be done. Others truly believe that someone must stand on the wall and watch. They knew they may have to lay down their lives in defense. These do not question or argue. They go. So pray for our service men and women.

There are so many of our people serving in this war, in harms way, for an ideal that so many have criticized. We can blame the president, we can blame the congress, we can blame anyone we want. But as a Christian, I am very aware of the forces at work in this present day that would seek to destroy this nation and any nation that refuses to be prisoner to terrorists. Say what you will, if we sit down and do nothing, this monster will destroy us. They know it ,too. They never believed we would do anything to fight. Until 9/11. So, do we wait for another 9/11?

I was wondering exactly what are we willing to give up to stop this war? Shall we sit back while millions in other countries die or become enslaved by these sub-humans? Have you really studied what they do to those who oppose them? There is so much more than what you have see in the news. Do your research and learn what they have done in those countries where they rule. They are intolerant, misogynistic, against any religion but their own, megalomaniac, and believe that the ends justify the means. Whatever they have to do, whoever they have to kill, maim or destroy is just fine as long as the world becomes Islamic. That is what we are fighting. An enemy seeking world domination. They even kill their own people. Look at the factions fighting in Iraq! Saddam was their worst enemy and once he was gone, they turned on one another and began killing each other.

Why do we fight? Because ALL people are created equal. All have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of their cultural or religious background and no one has the right to infringe on those rights for others. I don't have to agree with you. You don't have to agree with me. But neither of us has the right to enslave the other and enforce compliance.

So, hate the war, hate your leaders, hate the death and destruction. Just remember if we lose, what will you be willing to do when your loved ones head is taken? That's is what they have vowed to do to any who resist their control.

Don't think for one minute I am for this war. I don't want anyone in my family to enlist. I don't want anyone to have to fight. But I look at Sarah and I ask myself if I am willing for her to be forced to live like they make their women live? What would I do to protect her? Would I want my son to become one of them? For Sarah, I would kill whoever got between us. I don't want to die until it is my time. But I don't want to live that way.

So, pray for those who do fight, that God will protect them. Pray for those who don't, that God will protect them. For it the fight is lost, those who failed to fight will suffer even more.



I just know someone is going to rip me a new one.....

Coming Up With Ideas

Sometimes when I sit down here there are just no words and no ideas to put on the screen. My mind is as blank as the page before me. I'm annoyed today. I was going to go to church this morning but we were so late getting to bed that both of us were wiped out. Jerry worked until 9:30 and we took Sarah to see the Festival of Lights. We had to rush because they stop at 10 p.m. Today is the last day of it and we wanted her to see them. Garvin Park is filled with light displays every Christmas for about a month and the proceeds go to the United Way. It $7-$10 per car load depending on the size of the vehicle I guess. You can get a carriage ride too from downtown through the park and back for about $35 but I'm telling you, it is cooooold. I'd like it but not on a rainy or cold night. Anyway, she loved them. Kept saying "Oooooo, it's so pretty."

When we got home we fixed something to eat and played with her but it was midnight before they came and got her. I told him no more. If he wants to visit, he has to get up and go see her before work. I can't keep hours like that and get up early the next day. So, another day of church missed. I'm getting tired of it.

I'm having some pain this morningm too. Oh, who am I kidding! I'm having lots of pain! My hands feel swollen and tight and the joints hurt. My knees hurt and my lower back. My shoulder joints are really painful. Oddly, my neck is only mildly painful from sleeping on my left side. I've tried everything to alleviate that. I wake up when I roll over and get my pillow to support my head but it doesn't really help. It is sleeping on that shoulder that aggravates the pain.

So, I'm a ball of pain. None of it will stop me, of course. I still have to do things. I had a massage yesterday afternoon and felt better for it but it never last. Jerry bought that for me for Christmas. It was at a place I had not been before and I won't go back. The gift was $35 for half hour but I usually schedule an hour and pay the difference where I normally go and an hour is $60 so I just end up paying and extra $25. Well, these people charged me another $35 for a second half hour session! They made an extra $10 off me. When I scheduled it they didn't tell me that or I'd have just gone with the half hour and next time back to my old place.

I stopped here long enough to eat a biscuit and gravy and get a fresh cup of joe. I found some really wonderful gravy mix at Wal-Mart. It makes the breakfast gravy you get at restaurants! Pioneer Brand Country Gravy Mix. It is a very large box and will last a long time for just us but it is a nice change for breakfast. And this stuff is delicious! Scramble up some eggs, fix a bowl of grits and a biscuit and gravy. Heart attack here I come? Well, I won't be eating that every morning, I can assure you. I'd have to get up and fix it! I made some last night and put it in the refrigerator so I know it keeps wel. But unlike my friend Jilly, whose husband fixes and serves her breakfast in bed, I fear my spouse is of the more garden variety. Actually, more of a weed in this respect. He does bring me coffee every morning while I'm getting dressed for work or church. I like that because it saves me time but it also is a nice gesture.

I seem to have solved my idea problem so I'll be going now. I'm going to call up Samantha and Alex (Mist and Winter) and see which of those girls will talk to me. You know, sometimes, they're just down right rude.

Have a wonderful day!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Surrender

I've got my browser open where I can hear the music on my home page and write my post for today.This play list contains songs from my youth. I love John Denver and particularly that first song. I first heard Sweet Surrender in probably 1975 and I have never forgotten it. I had it on a 45 rpm record and played it over and over. For some reason this is a song that simply speaks to my heart. Denver was like that, wasn't he? I like a lot of his songs but this one song has stuck with me.

Surrender is something we just can't get our heads around. We spend our lives fighting to survive, clutching and clinging to everything we come in contact with. I remember someone pointing out that a baby comes into the world with his tiny fists clenched but a man dies with his hands opened. The infant begins life clinging and clutching at life but at death, man realizes there is nothing left to cling to or grasp and all that he held must now be relinquished. It is as if he has learned too late that surrender is the goal.

I once told of the time I had surgery and they gave me the anesthesia to put me to sleep. I fought that stuff so hard. I hate to be knocked out. I remember the anesthesiologist telling me that I had to stop fighting and go to sleep. I couldn't talk but mentally, I prayed and told God that I was surrendering to him and when I let go it was like falling backward into nothing. Frightening and amazing at the same time.

Remember when you were a kid and you played the game where you and a friend took turns falling backward into the others arms? What, you didn't play that? I did. You had to stand straight and fall straight back. And there were only certain friends that you could do that with and you knew who they were!

Surrender.

What a strange concept. To give oneself up into the power of another. To stop struggling against the tide and allow yourself to be carried away. To float on top of your troubles and let them pass beneath you.

Surrender .... Sweet Surrender, live without care

Wow.



Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year... for real this time!

Well, then... I reckon y'all got depressed by my last post. That or y'all are still in bed after a night of partying! But you know, I gotta call it as I see it. And that's how I saw it yesterday. Oh, and today, too.

The new day has dawned and we have entered a new year. I hope and pray it is a blessed year for you. I've lets birthday wishes for some of you with birthday's coming up because as you know, I go back to work next week and it is going to be a . . . well, lets just say not pretty. I have no idea what my time will be like in the evenings.

At the moment, I've run out of steam on the house cleaning. Yesterday was the day for it, I guess. Now, I just want to sit down and do nothing. Jerry is in there sorting medications. He has about 20 bottles of stuff and some is so old it should have been tossed over a year ago. I told him to get rid of it or I would. His meds are sent from the VA and the seem to send too much at one time or they change a prescription before he is done with the first one.

I'm going to get back to work on the novels today. I would like to get about 10,000 words each on them before Monday. LOL! I'll let you know.

Everyone have a great day with your families! Happy New Year!


Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Last Day

We finally reach it - our last day. Mankind had reached a nadir while above the sun is shining. On the horizon is darkness and one can only wonder what lies ahead for us all. Will we go on? Was there a better place waiting? Or would the crouching darkness devour our very souls? What will we do?

The last year has been one of radical change, chaos, and confusion. We'd weathered it but there were many wounded and many battle-scarred. Some had died on the field. Even the earth had been assaulted. The villages and towns that still stood were reeling under fiscal problems, energy crises, and joblessness. In many places children cried for food while famine raged in the land. Wars among factions had only increased, their participants splintering skirmishes around the globe.

Terror had become a raging monster fed by a demonic mindset. Children had lain bleeding or dismembered in the streets, a sacrifice to a violent god filled with hatred and minds so twisted by their fables that they believe a lie and are damned themselves.

I scanned the horizon, looking for some sign, some rising star, some glimmer of hope. I saw none. We had obliterated hope along with faith. No one prayed anymore for peace and safety because there was no longer a God to pray to. Or if there was, He must remain hidden in case someone actually grasped His garments in desperation and began to believe in Him. Goodness was servant to selfishness. Mercy lay dying on the alter of intolerance, bigotry, and self-righteousness. No longer was there freedom to speak without fear. No longer could one assert a righteous indignation without fear of reprisal or accusations of religiousness. Death lurked around every corner waiting for a willing participant to utilize his tools.

I sat down on the rotting stump of an ancient oak. It had stood many centuries, growing tall, strong, and full. It's branches had sheltered many from storms, given shade to the weary travelers, and lifted up a multitude of downcast eyes. But long ago they'd begun to hew it down. It had taken a couple of generations to succeed but finally they had chopped it down and burned the carcase. Only the stump remained, a slowly rotting reminder of a time when people actually believed in something good. When ideals, dreams, and hopes were allowed to flourish without dissension.

The sun was lower in the west now, near the time when the darkness would be complete. From the East, it had begun to crawl along the ground, reaching long probing fingers toward us. We stood and watched, making no effort to greet it and none to stop it. I knew that it would overtake us but some part of me continued to search along that dividing line between light and dark, as a thirsty animal searches for a watering hole. Still I saw nothing but approaching darkness. The light behind me dimmed further as the power of that darkness began to overwhelm it.

Then, it came. One moment a fleeting glow suddenly shut out by overwhelming blackness the consistence of tar. My heart pounded so hard I knew others must hear but I couldn't see beyond my outstretched fingertips. I felt tears begin to course down my cheeks and my stomach twisted in knots as I stood in a a night deeper than any well I'd ever seen. I had no measure of how long it lasted because without the sun, time didn't exist.

Just as the last flame of hope in my heart began to gutter like a candle in the wind, I raised my head and hands and strained my eyes to the void. Suddenly, from the farthest reaches of the heavens came a tiny flicker, so faint it would have been undetectable to the casual observer. But I was searching for that flicker and as I watched through blinding tears, it grew and expanded and blazed forth with gathering strength, until it broke through the darkness and glowed brightly -a single star in a vast expanse of nothingness. All around me I heard gasps as first one, and another and then, another star broke through until all the heavens were filled with brilliant starlight, their beams stretching to touch one another.

I looked at the horizon again and saw where the earth and sky formed a line and stars blinked along it the way diamonds do on a necklace. I turned back to my ancient stool for a seat to observe the wonder of it all. At the base of the stump, where gnarled roots snaked away and into the ground, a single green stalk now stood. Tender green leaves had unfurled during the long dark night and now began to reach to the lightening sky.

Then, it came, blazing from the east and banishing the darkness to the depths. A fresh breeze began to blow and dawn came with a chorus of songbirds. We were here.

Now, what will we do?


Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Impending Cosmic Event

A new year is on the horizon! Well, what did you think I meant?

Morning to all my visitors, friends, and wannabe friends. I hope as the end approaches you are taking the opportunity to spend time with your families, feast, and frolic. The end is near . . . when you have to go back to work.

For those already working, you have my sympathy. I've been off since Christmas Eve and will return to work next Monday. I'm not looking forward to it. It isn't that I am not thankful for my job, I am. I just hate working in an office 9-5 five days a week. I work with some fun people. I have a variety of duties that demand my time and provide a level of interest that allows me to survive until 5 p.m. But I'd rather be writing, reading, sewing, playing with Sarah, fixing up the house, writing, reading . . . oh, already said that.

This week my plan is to get this house in order but it has already hit several snags. Mike came over and helped me move the table back into the den (the one with no heat and junk headed for other areas, such as the dump if I have my way). But after that other people had places to go guess who was in charge of transporting? Jerry had to be at work at three so after three nothing got done. I had to get ready for church by six. He got off at 8:30 while I was still at church. I got in around 10:30. Uh, well, we have real church... singing, shouting, preaching, shouting, singing and praying. Not that other kinds of church aren't real . . . but I wouldn't know how to act. We are in the middle of Winter Warm-up at church. Great service last night and I expect another tonight.

I've been up since 7:30 and Jerry's still sleeping. I'm going to get dressed and get started but now I don't know where to start! LOL! There's plenty of places but what first?

I want to do some writing this afternoon. I'm working on Mist and have done two and a half chapters this week. Alice will be in clover! I need to get as many done on Winter. I have six months for that to be completely done and I reeeeeally want to do it.

So, I'm off for a bit. When I am home like this I find time to pop in more but the content is abysmally boring. So bear with me.

I have a couple of invitations pending out there. Please do not think I am ignoring you. I'm not. I just declined a couple that have been pending for a couple of months. I have a couple of posts . . . well, actually about four I think, on the process I use to add folks. If you're lazy and don't want to look them up, here they are in a nutshell. Being too lazy to read my posts will probably not get you added, by the way. They are listed as favorites on the home page and so should be easy to find.

  1. I want to see an actual site, with "stuff" on it that will tell me "who" and "what" you are
  2. I want to read several posts, usually several week's of posts
  3. I try and pray over each one I think of adding before I add them
  4. I look for things in common, of interest, or unique to your site that will keep me interested 'cause I will read it and don't want to waste either of our time (if you never post, I will eventually delete you . . . cause you're not home when I stop by! Well.... unless you're related to me. {sigh} Exceptions are not good and so rare.)
  5. I will add NO ONE with inappropriate content and will delete anyone who adds it later.
  6. I am religious, very much so but I do not expect you to share my feelings. But I do expect you to respect them and I welcome respectful disagreement
  7. I am, at times, funny, interesting, boring, sad, angry, frustrated, annoyed, irritated, and just spitting mad. I'll be saying so. This blog is all about ME. If that's going to be hard to live with, you may want to reconsider your invitations.
  8. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR BOYFRIENDS - I've had a husband 35 years. I'm over it. Although, here on multiply, I've had fewer marriage proposals . . . gee, I'm wounded.
So, there you have the gist of it. There is probably more.

I suggest you visit my current contacts to see what I like. I have some people I added for interest, some for entertainment, some for comfort, and all because I like them. Can you believe, I've actually added people at THEIR request and they later deleted me without explanation! How rude is that? They were "friends of friends" and I no longer accept these based on that relationship until I check them out for a bit.So, before you add me or invite me, be sure you want to be seen here. I certainly don't want to embarrass you or be embarrassed by you!

Now, daylight's burning and I have tons of work to do yet! Have a great day everyone!


Monday, December 29, 2008

Monday Morning Mission

I'm still adjusting the theme. I'm on a mission this morning. In about 30 minutes I will begin CLEANING MY HOUSE! I'm telling you, I 'bout had enough of this mess. Mike is coming over to help me move some things and I want to clean out closets and shelves and take down my tree. I never leave it up anymore until New Year. I want to start the new year fresh and clean and uncluttered. I have two days to do it. LOL!

Y'all better be praying for me, too, because I see major pain looming on the horizon after this. But it has to be done. I'm serious. The place is becoming a hazardous waste site. I told Jerry this morning he either cleans his side of the room up or I'm moving into Mike's old room. I can't stand it anymore.

I don't know what is wrong with him but he won't throw anything away and leaves his dirty laundry in the corner so he can do it himself. Now, why he can't take it out of the hamper, is beyond me but apparently that's too difficult. We have a small room and he can't put a hamper in the room. Besides, who wants dirty laundry in their bedroom? He can't remember to do his laundry if it isn't lying in front of him? I don't know. This is a person who was obsessively clean for decades and suddenly he hordes ever scrap of paper, every plastic bottle, every useless item he can and it is driving me nuts.

O.k. that's way more than I intended to share. Suffice it to say, I'm cleaning out some of the garbage. It has to go or I do. I'll see y'all when I get a spare minute.

I say Mike is helping. I suspect he'll help some but I'll have a time keeping him off the computer. He's a cyber-junkie.

Ta Ta for now!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Messing Around

As you can see, I'm messing around again with my page. Those blinking stars are a Google skin I added as a background. Bit busy but for now, I'll leave it as it is festive.

I've been working on the books again. Lordy, BOOKS! Two at once. I've never been this crazy! Only managed to write several pages in Mist thus far tonight. I was going to work on Winter too but I lay down at 7 p.m. and slept until 8:30 when I had to go get Jerry fom work. Since we are down to one car, I can't go to church on Sunday night if he works. He gets off at 8:30 and would have to stand in the cold for over an hour. I think I was really tired. I'm still tired and probably going to go to bed shortly. I am hoping to get a lot accomplished tomorrow and the rest of the week. I have several things I want to do before Monday.

I hope you are all enjoying your week. Some of you will already be into Monday and anticipating the New Year celebrations. My church has Winter Warm-Up every year the week of the month. Usually two to three nights. This year it is Monday and Tuesday night. Since Wednesday is a holiday, we are not having church that night. A lot of people do family things on Christmas and New Year so we usually cancel services that fall on those days and have it earlier in the week. Since Warm Up is earlier in the week. . . well you get it by now. LOL

I'm off ladies and laddies. Have a great evening if you're just starting and a great day if that is about to begin.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Whew! Glad That's Done

You know, I love holidays but I'm so glad when they are over. I really wanted a lovely Christmas day and for the most part it was. My sons argued and I sent one home before lunch! My sister got snotty about where she had to park Christmas Eve! I have a large drive area but you can only get so many cars in it and she said my husband was "double parked"! In his own driveway! So, she threatened to leave. How stupid is that? And then she didn't come to Christmas dinner because she had a headache. Whatever! I didn't point out to her that when I go to her house I have to park in the street. I don't know why she makes this issue about the parking here but she does it all the time and it is so foolish. It's my drive, for heaven's sake!

LOL, maybe I shouldn't tell all that. Makes us sound like savages. Or dysfunctional. Well, we are dysfunctional. I don't have a normal family and I've reached the stage in my life that I just am too annoyed to pretend otherwise. My sons are jerks for the most part. I love 'em dearly but those two are only about themselves. And they do not take after MY family! Daddy would have beat the crap out of us if we'd acted as they do. Believe me when I say they know better too but they're too old to beat. So, I send them home. I just won't tolerate ill manners any longer, nor pigs in the parlor!

But my son's in-laws, Sue and John, were quite nice and I enjoyed them. WE had a good dinner and visit. I really like Sue and she came over at 9 a.m. and helped me get everything ready. I'd done most of my cooking on Christmas Eve. We had ham, chicken dressing, sweet pea salad, green bean casserole (Sue's contribution), REAL banana pudding, cherry cheese cake, lemon pie, chocolate pie, apple pie and pumpkin spice pie (the last two both Sue's contribution.

Sue is a little woman but let me tell you, she can eat! I laughed because I don't see how a woman that tiny can eat like that and stay tiny! I have to get a photo sometime of Sue and post it. I feel like an Amazon next to her.

They left after dinner and I sent them some food that evening. There was plenty go around. When I make dressing I make tons! My family loves it and I freeze some for New Years Day.

My husband gave me a visit to the spa for a massage. My sister gave me an digital photo album for my desk and I think I will like it. My Dad and my step-mom, Mary, sent us money which was very much needed. I can't tell them how much I appreciated that gift. I am using it to get a new microwave. Mine went out about three months ago. We've been using Mike's because it was just sitting in storage. But he moved out and this week I gave it back not thinking I'd need one for the holiday! Dad's & Mary's gift only arrived on Tuesday and I didn't have time to shop for one. Becca brought her's over and we used it but tonight I needed one again. So, tomorrow I'm shopping for my own. Out of Dad's gift, I paid a bill for each of the boys. So, that gave them some help, too. Again, thanks so very much, Dad and Mary. And I will probably find a better deal now than I would have earlier in the week.

So, my the holiday is over and I can have a whole week to do what I want to do. I plan on doing some rearranging in the house and tossing. Things, not people. I have too much junk and am too crowded. I want my space back and no room to allow anyone to move back home. I've decided to redecorate my bedroom the way I did the study a couple of years ago. I think a hunter green with white trim. Not sure yet but my bed is blond wood and I have to find something to go with it. I don't favor browns much on the walls.

I am working on both Mist and Winter! It is hard but I think it is working for me. I've posted new photos of my little angel. Take a look.

Well, got to get going. I will be in and out. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

A Tradition is Born

Amid all the hustle and bustle and seriousness of the season, laughter is another huge part of the Christmas holiday. If you haven't laughed today, maybe you will after this. I suspect you have all seen this in your email several times, as I have, but a good joke is hard to keep down.

It was supposed to be a happy time, but it wasn't. Santa was really angry. It was Christmas Eve, and NOTHING was going right. Mrs. Claus had burned all the Christmas cookies. The elves were complaining about not getting paid for the overtime they had put in while making toys, and the reindeer had been drinking all afternoon and were dead drunk. They had taken the sleigh out for a spin earlier in the day and crashed it into a tree, breaking off one of the runners.

Santa was beside himself with anger. "I CAN'T believe it! I've got to deliver millions of presents all over the world just a few hours from now, and all my reindeer are drunk, my elves are on strike and I don't even have a Christmas tree! I sent that stupid little angel out HOURS ago to find a tree and he isn't even back yet! What am I going to do?"

Just then the little angel opened the front door and stepped in from the snowy night, dragging a Christmas tree behind him. "Yo, Santa," he said, "where do you want me to stick the Christmas tree this year?"

And thus the tradition of angels perched atop the Christmas trees came to pass...

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The Reason for The Season!

I read a post recently that said they wished people would stop saying Jesus is the reason for the season. I’ve seen a few others with the same theme and heard statements about it. I decided I wanted to shed a little historical light on this matter of Christmas and holidays in general. There are other sites that will give you even more detailed view but here’s my condensed version with a few personal interpretations.

The truth is that the Christmas holiday was instituted by the Catholic Church for Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and for no other reason, regardless of when his birth happened, ergo, the name "Christmas" - a mass to celebrate Christ's birth. There is NO other reason to have Christmas. Whether it is December 25 or June 22 has no bearing on the issue. Without the birth of Christ there would be NO Christmas since the reason for instituting Christ's Mass would not exist. I get so annoyed by the evident lack of knowledge of historical fact and the lack of logic in thinking! These two events are inextricably linked. Unbelievers need to get over it, put your packages back on the shelves, take down your tree, put away all the decorations and move on. It isn’t YOUR holiday.

Americans celebrate the birth of several early presidents... but not on their birthday. We celebrate them on a Monday, regardless of the date in February. So the argument that Christmas is not "on" Christ birthday is irrelevant. The day is not important. The REASON for the celebration is the issue. We take off from work to celebrate these presidents' births and their contribution to the development of this nation. They are the "reason" for that one holiday. You could honestly say, “Happy Washington’s Birthday!” But it is a bit unwieldy. Again, it is unnecessary to celebrate the birth of presidents who no longer server as president. They are not presidents then, they are citizens and no more important than I. But someone thought it important so they made a day for it. I benefit with a paid holiday.

We also celebrate Martin Luther King's birth on a Monday so we can be off work, whether we view him as a great citizen or not. I personally find celebrating his birth offensive. He was not a president. His major contribution to the development of the nation was to join an already large movement of civil rights activist who received no recognition. He was a good organizer, an eloquent speaker and he was a Baptist preacher, pretty good one, too. That, in my view, doesn't make him special. He sought change through peaceful means which is commendable. He was tragically murdered and that sets him apart. Amazing how dying for someone can make you very important!!!!! He is considered a savior to the African-American community because he motivated them to make a change in their status through political dialogue and peaceful protest actions. AND he DIED FOR THE CAUSE. Someone thought he deserved recognition. He gets it and I get another paid day off. It isn’t MY holiday.

Jesus Christ did the same thing, whether you believe he is God or not. He motivated billions of people for centuries to change their lives for the better. AND HE WAS MURDERED FOR THE CAUSE! Yes, some of those were dishonest and cruel people who twisted the message and used it for evil. So do some African-Americans but no one is suggesting they toss MLK Day because some of those who followed him were criminals or because others find it offensive! The message is not the problem, people are.

The pagan seasonal holidays have nothing to do with the Christmas celebration other than the fact that it falls around the time of the Winter Solstice. Although, Christmas is December 25th and the winter solstice is December 22nd. The Catholic Church probably deliberately elected to have their religious celebrations around times when the pagan holidays fell for a very good reason. People were already used to celebrating a holiday at those times of year – an established ritual already existed. They liked to celebrate something because their lives were miserable and celebrating relieved their misery for a short time and those so called Pagan priest were no better than some Christian priest. They used pagan gods to manipulate and control a miserable population!

People celebrated lots of things for good reasons. A good harvest was cause for celebration to whatever god they believed in because it meant hunger was staved off for at least another year. A wet spring could be prayed for and celebrated because it meant a good crop. The long dark night of the winter solstice would be reason to pray for the sun to rise again. It might not in such times. The Summer Solstice would be eagerly celebrated because the sun remained in the sky longer that day than any other and to see a sunrise and have one long day of life was probably something they knew the real value of.

It is important to remember that in less complex times, life was more complex. People had no knowledge of medicine, grocery stores, or department stores. The average family did not know where their next meal was coming from or if their children would even survive being born! They grasped at ritual celebrations as a way of comfort and control. They prayed to whatever they could in the hope that someone was listening and would come to give value to their existence. They wanted control of their lives.

Ritual is about controlling your environment! You can't control life and death but you can control the ritual and then the ritual becomes magical. It is why the Catholic Church easily converted so people on so many continents. They replaced pagan rituals and symbols with "Christian" rituals and symbols so the transition would be easy for those not fully convinced. The church used holidays to reinforce their teachings of the gospel. The populace was still given their celebrations, but they were centered around the gospel rather than the weather and crops.

The mass for Christ was set near the time of the Winter solstice. In many countries, native peoples still celebrate their pagan ritual along side their Christian rituals because they want to be sure they have their bases covered. It isn’t a matter of right or wrong to them. Their lives are usually still miserable. People still have no control. So they cling to ancient rituals. Thankfully, the Catholic Church doesn’t use torture anymore to “convert” them. And thankfully, other churches have moved into those areas and they that do not rely on rituals to draw converts. Some have wrought wonderful changes in the lives and treatment of these people. Others, both Christian and non-Christian have exploited them.

When the split with the Catholic Church occurred, one of the most prominent things that changed was the rituals and symbols. The protestant church eliminated icons and statues and worship of saints. It eliminated rote prayer and allowed its members to actually own a Bible so they could read it for themselves. The members now could pray for themselves rather than pay the priest to pray for them. But remember, these changes took place over centuries, not in a day.

Pagans then and now celebrate their winter holiday as do those who celebrate Kwanzaa celebrate their African heritage. I don't particularly care for an African Kwanzaa doll on my Christmas tree since it has nothing to do with Christmas but I have no problem with those who elect to celebrate "their" holiday in that manner.

I propose that those who do not believe in Christmas should not celebrate in any way. Go to work, don't buy presents, and don’t put up a tree. For heaven's sake do not smile that sappy smile and say "Happy Holidays!" There is only one holiday (meaning holy day by the way) in December and you don't believe in holy days!

However, in America, no one has the right, at least not yet, to insist those who do elect to celebrate stop doing so because you don't share their beliefs. We still have a right to say, ‘Merry Christmas” because we are celebrating! We still have a right to post a banner that says, “Jesus is the reason.” I don't get all bent when people say, "GO TIGERS!" or whatever team they squeal for or when they paint those messages on their bodies and cars. Personally, that’s the stupidest thing I ever saw but everyone has a right to be stupid. I’m fine with it.

Here’s what I suggest. All non-Christians should just ignore the greetings by saying "Up yours." if you like. I promise we'll get the message. Or perhaps, "May the Force be with you." I’m a Star Wars fan and this is a multi-religious response. All religions believe in some kind of “Force” so you won't offend anyone! They’ll just think you are a nut. And popular opinion would seem to support that.

If you are non-religious, you may just smile and say, "I'm a friend of Madeline Murray O'Hare." In America, we all know her and will understand completely. She’s the atheist who ended up murdered and buried in a trash can. She was the person responsible for having prayer and Bibles removed from all public schools. Oddly enough, only one of her son’s defected from her teaching and accepted Jesus Christ as savior. The other son, an atheist to the end . . . died with her. She changed the social and political environment of a whole nation and she was murdered! Do you know that as far as I know no one has suggested a day to celebrate her life or death! Actually, virtually no one under the age of 40 knows who she is! But she left a cancer in this nation that is slowly destroying it.

Of courses, non-Christians could still find something to celebrate, even though they aren't recognized by any agency as "legal" holidays and in fact, they aren’t holy days at all. You can celebrate the Winter Solstice but it falls on December 22 at midnight. Not many people will be celebrating then, unless you have a bunch of Druids hanging about. I believe there are some around... in England?

The ancient ones celebrated all the seasonal starts based on the sun's path throughout the year. I believe there are only four major holidays for them. Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, and the Autumnal Equinox. I think, but could be wrong, that the traditional way to celebrate is by dancing in a clearing in long white robes and having a feast. I do believe they pray in some manner, however, so it is still a religions thing. Oh, wait, do they celebrate Samhain? That's the holiday that became Halloween or All Hallows Eve. Or is it only witches who do that. Of course, you got that religion thing going on again. Amazing how humans keep creating religion, isn’t it?

If you want to really get into the concept of pagan control of December 25 and other holidays you might read this fellow’s site. Christmas - The Real StoryHe is a real fanatic who dwells on all the hideous history and goes to great detail to outline the horrors and satanic connections to December 25. You may actually decide it is just too horrible a day to celebrate the birth of Christ. He asks a very good question at the end of his page. My response to that is that on December 25 I will be celebrating the birth of the person who came to deliver us from all such atrocities as described on this page.

I don’t care about pagan roots and connections to certain days of the year.
I AM taking that day back from the pagan. I’m not a pagan. I wasn’t a participant in those events. Those days have no power over me and are merely interesting, often sad historical side notes. I believe that if you are all “het” up about pagan connections to your Christian holidays, then you need to get back to the altar. You are acknowledging that those connections have power over you. You are so concerned that 10,000 years ago someone worshiped a false god on December 25, or that someone had ritual sex 5,000 years ago on December 25, or that someone was murdered on December 25 that you want to ban the day altogether! Why, thank you very much! You know what you just did? You just gave that day back to the pagan. You abandoned territory that has already been battled over. You have just given power back to those spirits and by giving them the day, you are authorizing their right to rule over you and control your days of worship and celebration! Never surrender territory to the enemy or he will overrun your position.

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: I choose to worship any day I please and I intend to celebrate the birth of MY Savior on any day I wish. And if I want to bake a cake and put a candle on I will. If I want a tree with a star on top to honor the triumph of Jesus over a pagan holiday, I will. I will not be led by powerless Christians who can’t lay claim to one single day to celebrate and who are so terrified and unbelieving in the power of their own faith that they tremble at the sight of a decorated evergreen! Get over it!

I also won’t be controlled by people who can’t handle good wishes directed to them because they are so insecure in their own beliefs that they feel threatened by a blessing directed to them! How silly is that? I sincerely respect your right to not like it, not agree, and not participate in my worship and celebration. I promise not to participate in your New Year celebration which is a totally pagan ritual to pagan gods and has absolutely NO Christian connotation at all!

The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year began in Greece in 600 BC. It was their tradition to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth. Although Christians denounced the practice as paganistic, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced them to reevaluate their positions. The church then allowed the members to celebrate the New Year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of Jesus Christ. The image of a baby with a New Year's banner was brought to early America by Germans, who had been using the symbol since the 14th century. From: New Year’s Cheer- Traditions

There is that religion thing again and even the Greeks were doing it! Again, the church in question was the Catholic Church. Modern churches in no way believe this, at least, mine doesn’t! We do not use the “new year baby” to symbolize Jesus Christ. We are educated enough to know that it signifies the “birth” of a new year, a chance to start over and do better the next year. This is an inherent desire in the human psyche! We all wish we could have a second chance to do things “right this time”. However, we won’t be worshiping Dionysus. I will assure you that all over the world Christians will kneel in prayer at midnight and pray for the coming year to be blessed, prospered, and peaceful. All while the pagans are dancing and getting drunk. And we won’t be hugging toilet bowls or have pounding heads the next morning.

Folks, on this blog, you will hear me shouting loud and clear! Jesus Christ IS the reason for this season. Always has been and always will be. Christmas was created as a direct result of the birth of Jesus Christ. Just get over and move on with your life. The rest of us have celebrating to do!

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Mama's Boy

Mike is here tonight for supper. His oven doesn't work and it will be tomorrow before they get it fixed. He stopped by my chair for just a minute. He is so sweet and Mike loves his Mom a bunch. I have never had one moment of doubt about that.

Pray for him. He has a lot of problems I can't fix and I worry about his future once I am not here.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Staking Territory

I've driven a stake in the ground. I came home tonight and I am so tired. The whole week I've been working hard to get a bit ahead at work in preparation for my vacation. When I get off, I have had to go get Mike because his tub was being resurfaced and he couldn't bathe in his new apartment. Takes an extra 15 minutes, then I have to take him home in a few hours and then pick Jerry up at 9 p.m. We only have one car, remember.

Last night the weather was so bad they closed the "expressway" (an oxymoron here) and it took me nearly an hour to get home on the side streets. I learned something though that will help me next time but I digress.

Tonight, I had to go get Mike for him to sell blood to pay his rent but he had to go back home without doing it because he lost his cell phone and went into a small panic. We found it in the road where he got out to check his mail! So I had an hour or running after work. But he also found there is a plasma bank about three block from his house on the same street! Another bonus.

When I got home, I put a message on my voice mail. It says the standard "leave a message" stuff but I added at the end "If you are calling between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. those hours are now scheduled for my personal time and I will not accept calls or answer the phone during those hours. Please leave your name and number and I will call you back after 8 or you can call me back after 8 o'clock. Thank you."

So, we'll see how that works. I made my other son and his wife angry with me . . . again. Every time they don't get their way the get mad but suddenly, I'm ok with it. Means I don't get pestered every 15 minutes! I'm done with their Christmas. I gave them $25 each because they were hitting me up for money again and I was financially strapped this week.She called me at work to ask for it then she hung up on me when I said I didn't have it. Do you know that the only people I've ever hung up on were cursing at me? I have never been so rude in my life as to hang up on someone. I might not like what is being said but I am so thankful for a parent who taught me good manners. I started not to but I called her back and she didn't answer the phone so I left a message saying she was the rudest person I'd ever known, particularly in light of how well she was treated by this family. My son calls and starts chewing me out but with the first word I hung up on him. Well, I figured at this point they should know how that felt. He didn't like it and called back but I let it go to voice mail this time. He left a nasty message I think but I simply deleted it when I heard his voice. When I got home I took the money I'd saved for their presents and sent it to them via my husband. Merry Christmas! I've had it. I'm tired of being treated like this. I don't need anyone to pay my way!

So, the evening is mine!!! Humph, and here I sit. Actually, I've been using this time in the evenings to study and pray for an hour while Jerry is working. And the rest of the time, I think I'll be working on two novels.

I'll be back again soon. Hope you are all having a great evening. I think I am!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Working

I'm working on a section of Mist and Winter! I'm crazy. I'm tired. My whole day was blown by my kids.

Mike moved out and he wasn't the problem. I had about 40 phone calls all day long. Mostly from the other kids! It was insane. Then, I'd agreed to keep Sarah but since my whole day was shot, I kind of resented it. Oh, I'm not going into it all here. No sense in it now. I am on my way to bed. I just wanted to let you who are reading the two above works to know what to expect.

Thanks, Jilly for your comments. They are incentives to keep going. I really want the story arc completed so I can start editing it.

Eyes closing on their own. Nite!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Thinking and Thinking

I just been thinking. Hard. I'm thinking I want me a laptop. I'm wondering, too. I'm wondering if I should try and find me a good used one for now. I don't really have any money to spend on me but I really want to get one that I can carry with me and write. I spend my lunch hour reading mostly but I've decided if I could get a laptop I could spend it writing. I also want to be able to leave the house and go somewhere that no one would bother me. The library is one block from where I work. I could spend a couple of hours there in the study rooms they have writing.

I borrowed the office laptop when I went to the conference. It is a Gateway that is about five years old but it was really nice. Some keyboards are not very comfortable but this one was ok. But the end of the conference I'd decided I wouldn't mind a laptop.

I've been looking around the ads but at the moment, $500 looks like a small fortune. I have this nice new computer at home and I use it all the time. Jerry is at work often when I get home but one of the kids is apt to pop in unexpectedly. I've wished several times that I could just stay away from the house for a few hours. Since I love my being at home that's strange.

Anyway, I don't know where to start looking for used ones and not sure what I'd have to spend. I couldn't t be sure that it would be any good either, I guess. So maybe it isn't a good idea.

Your input is welcome.

I am going to bed I think. I'm tired. Got to go get Jerry from work first. Have a warm evening. It is cold here.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Rain and Other Calamities

My sister in Florida went to the hospital last night with chest pains. Her BP was 249 over something. I can never remember the bottom number! I was so stunned at the top one I forgot. She didn't have a heart attack but they kept her. Some of you may be on her contact list. She's Roselynn. They said she had too much stress in her life. Those of you who have read her blog know about the foster kids? Well, she also handles problems with our mother. I'd rather have five foster children. 'Nuff said.

My mother, as you know, is also in the hospital. The same one, in fact. She had surgery today on her shoulder and they removed the metal they had put in months ago. Roselyn said they had to because her body was rejecting it.

My uncle in Georgia fell last night an had to go to the ER. He got very ill at a dinner they attended and when he throws up he faints. He fainted in the parking lot and smacked his head. He just had cataract surgery last week so she was worried but he didn't injure that. Just his face and pride, I'm thinking. They had to call an ambulance for him and he was sent home around 3 a.m.

It isn't raining but it is colder than a well diggers ankles. I'm tired and just want some chocolate. Think I'll go get hot cocoa.


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Another Prayer Request

Keep my mother in your prayers today. She is in the hospital after a fall and has contracted a staph infection. I'm 12 hours away and my younger sister is taking care of things down there.

You might pray for her, too. Our family is crazy and she doesn't really have any help there since our other sister lives here where I live. I should qualify that. The boys are crazy in my family.

You know, the infection is serious but I'm more concerned for her soul than anything else. I was praying last night for her but all I could pray about was her spiritual state. There is a long personal story here but because of the involvement of six other people, I can't go into it. Let's just say that when you live your life your way, at the end of the day, your way may not have been the right way. So pray for her.

In other news, my shoulder is really hurting today and so are my legs. Could be the weather. The shoulder hurts from the curve of my neck straight down my back to the left of my spine to just where my bra stars. I'm sure that's a muscle but the name escapes me for the moment. I'm getting a headache as a result of that. Oh well, nothing last forever, I guess. I have too many doctor appointments coming up to take off for another cervical block.l I'm really nervous about them anyway but I did feel wonderful for nearly a whole month.

So, pray for me, too.

I gotta run. Work is calling. Wonder if I could just hang up?

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

What a Crazy World!

I have discovered Pod-cast! Really. I've decided I want an iPod, something I have not, until now, found a logical use for. But I've been listening to a audio pod-cast on my computer at home and work. It is a fiction program much like an old radio show. Well, I downloaded iTunes so I could just download it and listen while doing other things.

What I discovered is that there are a lot of free pod-cast that are really good! I can learn any language I want! I can brush up on my two year college Spanish! For Free! There are several of actual old radio shows. I like listening to these at work. Relieves the monotony of some jobs.I could listen in my car if I had a way.... {smile}. So, thus is born my reevaluation of the iPod.

I don't listen to the radio at all in the car. We.. maybe once in awhile the Christian station or the oldies station but usually not. I do frequently listen to gospel CD's. And imagine when I discovered you can get pod-cast of Christian programs.

I was just browsing, minding my own business. There were some that looked interesting. Most are not of my faith but there were some I thought might be good, like a Bible reading every day. Or maybe the XXX Church? WHAT! XXX CHURCH! I went to the information page. Yep. XXX CHURCH! A Christian Porn pod-cast!

My initial reaction: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

My second reaction: OH MY GOD! I can't believe that!

My third reaction: I gotta blog this!

Come on! CHRISTIAN PORN! Lord have mercy the world is filled with people absolutely devoid of any brain at all. They are walking around with their heads filled with pus and absolutely no idea of how stupid they really are! I do not usually blast anyone here but there are some forms of idiocy that simply can't be ignored. They boggle the normal mind, astound the intelligent, and shock the sane.

Fourth reaction: DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY??? I don't know what sicko even imagined that there was such a thing. What cesspool did they come out of?

For those who do not know... pornography can't, by its very nature be Christian! It is anathema to Biblical principals as stated in the ONLY authorized Christian text - THE BIBLE. Obviously, the moron who started this pod-cast didn't read the directions. Someone give them a bottle of Ipecac and tell them it's koo-laid! Clean that sewer out!

I am SO offended by this and there is not a darn thing I can do. Welcome to America! No wonder God plans to blow the whole place up!

Oh yes He does. Revelations is pretty clear on that.

Whew! I think I got it all out but I'm still not sure! I may be back. Sorry, folks. . . . . . . . no, I'm not. People need to say something... LOUDLY!


Rain, Rain, Rain

And snow on the way. I suspect. It has rained for the last two days and my guess is that we will have ice next. We may even get a white Christmas if this continues!

Hope all of you are doing well. I'm still caught up in other things and my posts are BORING! Nothing really riveting to post about unless it is the weather. I saw on Jilly's blog that it was raining in England, too. Doesn't it always? Seems like it rains a lot there. I wonder if it is like Seattle here? I'll have to look at the Latitude and Longitude to see how it compares.

They say it always rains in Seattle too. One of my favorite songs growing up was a sung by Sammi Smith and called "Seattle". "The bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle and the hills the greenest green, in Seattle." It made me want to go to Seattle!

Boy am I reaching!

I gotta get back to work. I just returned from lunch and had appointment all morning. Maybe catch up later.




Saturday, December 6, 2008

Finding the Center

Alice sent me this this morning and I really enjoyed it. I hope you will, too.

It is a powerpoint presentation and you will need a viewer on your computer. For those of you who don't have a Powerpoint viewer, you can get a free PowerPoint viewer from Microsoft here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD010798701033.aspx Just select PowerPoint Viewer 2003 and follow the prompts to download. Then, select the attachment and it will open in the viewer.