I'd Rather Be Here...

I finally did it.

2008-09-09T11:58:00.001-04:00

I've decided to move my blog. You can check out new and exciting posts at:

www.verityslog.wordpress.com

See ya there!

I finally know who I'm voting for this November....

2008-08-22T08:27:00.002-04:00

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Happy.

2008-08-18T16:59:00.004-04:00

Nothing says happy like two boys on the first day of school....

July 24, 2008

2008-07-25T11:09:00.001-04:00

Wednesday night, I spent the night up at Mom and Dad's for one main purpose: to take Mom out for breakfast on her birthday. Thursday morning, we got up and headed towards town. At the end of our road, Mom says "Shoot. I've been meaning to take a picture of that field all week. I think it's beautiful." As luck would have it, I had my camera with me, so I offered to take a few shots. Unfortunately a car pulled up close behind us, so we had to move on before I could take my shot. Mom was going to dismiss the opportunity, but I asked her to pull in the neighbors drive to turn around. The view from the neighbors was better than the view from the end of our road.

I don't think you have to be country girls like us to find the beauty in these shots, the perfection of God's creation and the comfort in preparing for the harvest.

So, here's some beautiful pictures for a beautiful lady. Happy Birthday Mom.

What I've been up to...

2008-07-25T10:27:00.002-04:00

A few days ago, Cousin Valerie asked what we'd been crafting lately...

Among other things...I knitted this pair of swell socks. They were my first pair and were quite mis-matched in terms of size, but that just adds to the character, right? The yarn was self-striping, which was SUPER cool.

I also crocheted this adorable little piggy. I found the pattern on the Lion Brand website. They have tons of free patterns. Check out the Amigurumi link on the main page. That's where I found the piggy. I'd like to try this bunny next.

Isn't she CUTE? Of course, I don't measure, so she's a little lopsided. I just think it looks like she's dancing!

WOW

2008-07-18T09:19:00.004-04:00

Last night, Mom and I went and saw the broadcast of Glenn Beck's most recent concert, Unelectable.

Wow.

Amazing.

Everyone needs to see this message. He's in Houston tonight, and Columbia, South Carolina Saturday night (hint hint Doc Loveshack!!:)

Highlights of the night (and I don't remember them word for word, but here's my summary)

**It's about time people realize that the Second Amendment is not about sportsmanship....it's about protection. If you come break into my house in the middle of the night and take things that don't belong you and try to hurt my family, I have the right to shoot you. If you do this, you have the right to carry my bullets in your body.

**In America, you have the right to succeed, you have the right to fail and you have the right to pick yourself up again. You have the right to be fat, thin, smart or stupid. You don't have the right to universal health care and a universal education.

**The standing ovation for Macus Luttrell. If you don't know Marcus Luttrell, check out his book Lone Survivor. Marcus Luttrell is a Navy Seal, who's SEAL team was surrounded by approximately 200 Taliban supporters in Afghanistan. The SEAL team got a rescue chopper called, but it was shot down, killing all 13 crew men. Marcus Luttrell was severely wounded, but crawled 7 miles to be taken in by an Afghan tribe. He was rescued 6 days later. He was the only one of his SEAL team to survive. Since his rescue, the US has helped the village that sheltered him, digging wells and bringing supplies.

**If you are going to fight a war, you fight to win. It is immoral to send our troops over to a foreign land and not give them the full backing of the United States of America. Fight to win and bring them home.

**If you're standing in the unemployment line, and you don't have a high school diploma or your GED, you get no more help. We (the taxpayers) gave you a free education and you did nothing with it. You get no more help until you take advantage of that which has been given to you.

**I don't care if you the polar bear is sitting up in ANWR with his coke and the Disney bluebird of happiness, if he's sitting where we need to drill for oil, shoot it.

**Never give up on America. When you knock her on the ground, look out. Cause she's not going to give up. She's not going to stop fighting. We are the leaders of ther world. The world is waiting for us to act....

**Do not look to Washington for answers...they aren't there. God places the answers upon our hearts and it's our responsibility to speak them. The power lies within us, given to us by God. Don't forget.

I just love these guys...

2008-07-16T12:56:00.001-04:00

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

DENIED!

2008-07-16T11:01:00.002-04:00

FYI -- Starbucks has discontinued their Cheese Danish. Never again will you be able to enjoy the flaky cinnamon pastry...the sweet yet tangy, creamy filling...the perfect compliment to the Caramel Macchiato. Please observe a moment of silence with me as we mourn the loss of one of the nations most satisfying breakfasts.

Thank you.

How far off am I?

2008-07-15T19:33:00.002-04:00

So, I know I've been hit and skip lately with the posts. There are a couple of reasons that I may tell you about later, maybe not. Mostly, the things that are coming to my mind are so complex, that I'm finding it hard to sort it all out and find a starting point to get it all down. I've come to the conclusion that I need a reference point...to gauge where I am against public opinion. So, public, I need your help.

Recently there was a court ruling in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. If you would like to read the article, you can go here. If you trust my summary, here goes:
A 13 year old girl was suspected of having prescription drugs on her person, against school policy. A fellow student tipped off the school nurse, who literally strip searched the 13 year old. All that was found was OTC strength ibuprofen. The parents sued claiming that the girl's fourth amendment rights (unreasonable search and seizures) were violated. The court sided with the girl and her family and claimed that the school had no right to search the girl.

Here's where you come in. Do you agree with this ruling? Why or why not? I'm anxious to know your opinions. I'll post mine shortly....

Judgement Day

2008-07-09T15:17:00.002-04:00

So, last Thursday was judgement day for Punk Nephew #1 and his goats (you can tell I've been reading too much of Ree when punks = kids.) PN#1 had two goats...Fred and Eddie. To this day I can't tell you which is which. One had horns. One was bigger. One was nice in the pen. One was nice to lead. It could be all Fred or the other, I don't know.

PN#1 was extremely nervous, so I broke the tension by congratulating him on being voted Pork Princess of the fair. Of course, that honor wasn't given to him, but the congratulations did elicit a smile and a harder-than-necessary punch on my upper arm.

Last year was his first year showing goats at the county fair, and he won his showmanship class. So this year, he had to compete with kids 2-3 years older than him, and with that many more years experience. He ended up placing third, so we were all thrilled.

As for Fred and Eddie, well, one placed fourth in his weight class for market goats, the other placed third. PN#1 was just thrilled to have three ribbons to hang above his goats pen.

The best part about the goat show? Well, fair food of course. Who doesn't want an elephant ear for breakfast and sugar waffles to take home? But honestly, they do a pee-wee class. I'm sure that it's for kids probably 5 and under. They enter with their goats and a helper -- usually a big brother or sister, sometimes a mom or dad. The point is just to give them the exposure of showing, so when they're old enough to show for real, they feel comfortable. There's probably 20 goats of all different breeds and sizes -- tiny little pygmy goats to 100-pound boar goats -- and two people each to handle them. It's like a circus. The little girl who won was the one we met dancing through the barns, proudly declaring that she was showing a goat that day. Boy was she excited! She made sure she was the first one in the ring and her little face never turned away from the judge. Too cute!!

So what are Fred and Eddie's fate? PN#1 did get to sell one of the goats at the auction on Saturday. Goat bologna anyone? The other one goes back to the goat farm. I still don't know who's who.

And so, the political posts start...

2008-07-02T08:45:00.002-04:00

'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.'
- Barack Obama

I seriously don't get why people are star struck by this man.

Random Pictures from My Camera

2008-06-24T11:33:00.001-04:00

Sunset over Hilton Head

My Dad was OBVIOUSLY surprised by something.

Lollipop Eyes at the Relay for Life

Isn't Linus a BIG sweetie!

Teddy Wasn't There!

2008-06-23T09:08:00.003-04:00

But I still had a good time at the Governor's Mansion.

The event was actually for the First ever Bexley Home and Garden Tour. The Gay Frog is a landscaper and was one of the sponsors. We had cookies and toured the Governor's mansion. Rubbed elbows with Mrs. Strickland. Met Jackie the turtle who lives in the fountain out back. The Governor's Mansion has an interesting garden. There are landscapes from all of the different areas of Ohio, including a HUGE sand dune from Lake Erie with all sorts of marshy plants around it.

After touring the mansion and grounds, we had a few hours to view the other houses on the tour. They had trolley's running between all of the homes. Apparently The Shottenstein house was amazing....infinity pools, groves of Japanese Maples and a maze. I didn't see it though. It looked like rain, so the Gay Frog and I went and had a beer at a local bar and caught up.

After a few hours of touring, the event ended at the Bexley Gateway. It's a new structure that has shops, parking and luxury condos. The event was in the parking garage, but it was decorated so well, you would never have known. Hot pink paper lanterns everywhere, lime green or black and white print tablecloths, steel drums, HUGE potted trees and flowers and fountains. WOW! Many of the local restaurants were there offering appetizers and treats. Everything from pizza to shrimp cocktail, quesadillas to sesame crusted tuna and rice noodles. Everything was yummy.

A huge storm went through, but it didn't ruin the event. I had such a good time.

Oh...did I forget to mention....

2008-06-20T15:13:00.002-04:00

That I'm going to a soiree at the Governors mansion tomorrow night? I've been invited to escort a gay frog to a benefit. So, if anyone has anything they'd like whispered in Teddy's ear, let me know. I'm sure I'll have the opportunity (wink wink, nudge nudge). I do hope I have the opportunity to go through the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. I love doing that. I'm such a snoop.

Adios!

2008-06-20T14:37:00.004-04:00

Today my dad is tearing down the Taco Bell in Marion. Don't get too upset...they're building a new one in it's place. This store has been standing as far back as I can remember. It seemed old and outdated even when I was a kid. It's time for a fresh start. Here are some random memories in memorial to this particular Taco Bell:

1) As a kid, Mom would always buy me crunchy tacos (the only way they were served back then!) and dump the insides out so I would have a salad. I'm not sure if it's because I didn't like the shell, or they were hard to eat, or I was just obsessed with using The Spork. I LOVE the spork.

2) Lawgirl -- it was at this Taco Bell that the "My Dad almost choked to death on a tortilla chip" story originated. If you don't know that story, sorry. It's all about the voice and timing. Can't tell it on a blog....

3) Growing up, it was the only place open late. It tasted great after a night at Mickeli's.

4) The bathrooms were on the outside of the building. You had to get the key from the manager and run around back by the drive-thru if you needed to use the facilities.

5) It used to be next door to Duffy's -- the best vegetable stand ever. Duffy's is long gone and a car wash now stands in it's place.

6) Years ago, this Taco Bell had been closed down for health code violations. Yet, we still continued to eat there.

7) The last and my favorite story. Taco Bell wanted to hire people for the closing shift, so on their sign out front they put up "Closers Wanted." I don't know if someone did it on purpose, or if it was an act of God, but at some point, the "C" disappeared so that the sign read "losers wanted." Still makes me chuckle.

Adios Taco Bell!

What's up with the weird trees in South Carolina?

2008-06-19T16:49:00.004-04:00

Actually, the trees in South Carolina are quite lovely. They are beautiful and practical. They arch over the road and make for a lovely, shady drive.

They grow wild and crazy, overrun with moss. Their limbs are all twisted like some huge maze. So maybe it's not the trees in South Carolina that are weird. Maybe it's the people who take care of them.

Like this beauty. Possibly struck by lightening or suffering from some fungus, someone went to a lot of trouble to build a brick wall inside of this tree.
I don't know. It seems like a lot of work. Wouldn't it have been easier to remove the tree altogether? It wasn't attached to anything. There was no placard stating the significance of the tree. I wonder why someone thought this was the best way to keep the tree from falling over. Oh...and that's Doc Loveshack demonstrating how hard those bricks really are. Ouch!

Or lets take a look at this lovely little guy. Beautiful palmetto -- the State tree of South Carolina. But don't you think someone some day is going to need to use that parking spot? Can you imagine someone pulling in late and thinking there's an open spot, only to find a tree beat them to it? Again, who thought this would be a better solution? I know how a parking lot goes in...and it's a lot easier to remove/move the tree than to pave around it and deal with the maintenance.

Those silly South Carolina Gardeners and their trees. They make me laugh.

Old Sheldon Church

2008-06-19T16:14:00.003-04:00

While in South Carolina, Doc Loveshack and I came across the Old Sheldon Church...or more formally known as the Church of Prince Williams Parish.

We found it quite by accident. See...we were on our way to find the South Carolina Cherry Company. You would think between mapquest, a GPS, and 8+ years of post-graduate education between the two of us, we could find the place easy. Ha ha. I thought so too. But the back roads of the lowlands don't resemble anything that looks like what the map says. So we got on this road that ran through the middle of a forest. Palmettos and pines as far as you could see...and I told Doc Loveshack that this is exactly how EVERY horror movie starts out. All we needed was for the car to break down and for some creepy guy in an old rusty pick-up to come offer us a ride to the nearest town where we would have to run for our lives....EEEK!

I was on the verge of a full blown panic attack when we passed a "No Parking" sign. Hmmm...that's kinda odd -- who would want to park out here? Then, as we were coming around the bend, we just about hit a whole slew of parked cars. Huh? What are they doing out here. From the road you couldn't see anything, but a sign that read "Historical Site of Old Sheldon Church." So we stopped and decided to explore. Boy am I glad we did! What a beautiful old relic.

The Old Sheldon Church was built during the Mid-Eighteenth Century. During the Revolution, it was used to store gun-powder. It was burned down during the Revolution by the British. The Church was rebuilt, only to be burned down yet again during Sherman's march to the sea. Now, all that remains are the arches and columns that merely suggest was a stunning building it once was. It turned out to be a peaceful place to get out and stretch our legs. I'm mighty pleased we got lost.

Oh, by the way, the South Carolina Cherry Company ended up being around the corner from the Old Sheldon Church. And it was worth the trip! Cherry Cider, Peach Cider, Pickled Garlic and Sweet Potato Butter just to name a few of the fine things that were sampled or purchased that day.

Relay for Life

2008-06-15T18:53:00.001-04:00

So last week-end was the Relay for Life up in Marion. The company sponsored a team again this year. Over $60,000.00 was raised by the Marion relay for cancer research.

Here's our team during the initial team lap:

One major way to raise money is to sell luminaries in honor of people who are currently fighting cancer or in memorial for those who have lost their battle with cancer. You can say that Grandma J. lost her brief battle with cancer last fall...but I don't think it's fair to say she lost. She graciously surrendered so that she could finally go home....

A light for everyone that cancer has touched...

The relay is almost a 24 hour event. Not only does it raise money, but it also provides awareness, new friendships and hope. Here, we watched the sun rise on a new day...

To find a Relay for Life event in your area, check out this page.

Relay for Life

2008-06-06T10:56:00.002-04:00

I know I've been bad about blogging lately...and I do have some funny stories to tell you about my vacation, but there is something more important going on this week-end.
Our little business is sponsoring a team for the Relay for Life event in Marion. It's from 6PM tonight until 3 PM tomorrow. We'd like to have walkers on the track at all times (despite the 90+ degree heat!). The good news is, we're selling popcorn and Sno-Cones!! I can't wait for one myself. Apparently our site is also by the water hose, so I've also brought a plastic swimming pool. You can wade around and cool your tootsies after you've done your walk.
The event is being held at the new River Valley High School. You can read all about it here.
Come out and walk a lap or two for us, won't ya?

Household A-Z

2008-05-20T08:29:00.003-04:00

Valerie had this on her blog. Feel free to join in....

Aprons – Y/N? If Y, what does your favorite look like? Sometimes. Depends on if I still have "nice" clothes on. I end up tucking towels in the waistband until I look like some bizarre kind of tribal leader. I have a couple of Grandma J's aprons. But my newest one is lime green pinafore style...with 1950's Cool Cats on it.
Baking – Favorite thing to bake - Whatever's easy. I prefer Cooking.
Clothesline – Y/N? No...but hangers on the edge of the gutter works in a pinch.
Donuts - Have you ever made donuts? YES! Pillsbury buiscuits, hole out of the middle and fried up and tossed in sugar. My mom used to make these every morning before church.
Every day – One homemaking thing you do every day- make the bed. Well. ALmost every day :)
Freezer – Do you have a separate deep freeze? No. Linus and I don't freeze that much...
Garbage Disposal – Y/N? Yes. Love it. Love grinding up the orange and lemon rinds in them. It makes me feel powerful -- and I do my Mr. Obvious impressions while it's running.
Handbook – What is your favorite homemaking resource? Just one? Books, TV, internet...friends.
Ironing – Love it or hate it? Dread it. But once I'm in the thick of it -- it's not that bad.
Junk drawer – Y/N? Absolutely. But I'm whittling it down to organized chaos. Then I need to tackle the junk garage and the junk storage shed.
Kitchen – Color and decorating. Avacado green walls and cottagy-kitch. Oh. And a lovely picture of a cemetery I took while writing my Masters thesis in England.
Love – What is your favorite part of homemaking? 1) Tangible evidence that I did work. 2) clean house + Fresh laundry + baking cookies = good smells and comfort
Mop – Y/N? Thank God for the Swiffer!
Nylons – Wash by hand or in the washing machine? People still wear nylons?
Oven – Do you use the window or open the oven to check? Both. Depends on what I'm baking/cooking. Pizza open the door -- mereingues look through the window.
Pizza – What do you put on yours? I can go for anything but anchovies and hot peppers. Cartman likes pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers. Meat, vegetables and fungus.
Quiet – What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? Lately I've been outside, blowing soap bubble for Linus.
Recipe card box - No. I'm always pulling them out and losing them. Now all my favorites are being glued in a book. That way I have LOTS of room to add my notes about who likes what/substitutions, etc.
Style- What style is your house? It's a little, gray cottage, originially meant to be a summer home for the wealthy of Columbus, built in 1928. One Saturday a guy stopped to tell me he grew up in the house. Showed me where the outhouse used to be in the backyard. I love modern plumbing :)
Tablecloths and napkins – Y/N? No. They are just play things for Linus -- and hair attractors.
Under the kitchen sink – Organized or toxic wasteland? Toxic Wasteland. That would be a good name for a band.....
Vacuum – How many times per week? Usually once a week...
Wash – How many loads of laundry do you do per week? People do laundry every week? I do about 8-10 loads a month, and they might all be in one week or they might get spread out.
X’s – Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off? I LOVE lists. I am a list queen. I found post-its that have a to do list chart on them. They fit nicely on my "master" list
Yard – Y/N? Who does what? Unfortunately, I'm responsible for both inside and outside of the house. I keep up on the flower beds and patio, but I hire Bob next door to mow it. It's the best $10 bucks I spend each week.
Zzz’s – What is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed? I try to be done so I can chill out before going to bed. But the last thing I usually do is cuticle oil and hand cream. Hands work so hard all day, they deserve some pampering. Oh...and then Linus gets some snuggle time.

So much to say...so little time

2008-05-19T15:52:00.003-04:00

No I haven't forgotten all of you. Thanks for asking. Spring is always SO busy at work, and with less people in the office and the same amount of work, there just hasn't been the time for the frivolities of blogging. **sigh**

Things are good though. Thanks to all who called, wrote, sent cards and or gifts, or blogged about my birthday. It was wonderful, thank-you. Cartman tried to get tickets for "Flight of the Conchords," but, long story short, we didn't make it. I did get many wonderful meals out of my friends though, and much laughter was shared. I love birthdays. I'm going to love some more birthday cake when I get home tonight and watch the last night of competition on 'Dancing With the Stars' Who else loves guilty pleasures? ahhhhhh :)

Anyways, there are lots of good posts rolling about my head. I just need to sit down and get them out. Hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later. Although, I do have to jet off to the Carolinas for a week to visit Doc Loveshack. I'll be back after Memorial Day. Hope you survive without me until then.

Oh. And my exclamation point doesn't work anymore. I wore it out being excited about things. oh well.

Why I'd like to lay on the couch all day today under my blanket.

2008-05-11T08:30:00.002-04:00

1. The weather
2. Sampson
3. It's Mother's Day

It's the middle of May. I'm not asking for 90 degrees and full sun, but 52 and rain is just way too much.

Sampson was my other dog. He only really liked me...and then only part of the time. He was part shepherd and part crazy. But I loved him anyway. I never worried about anyone breaking into my house when Sampson was around. Last Mother's Day, Sampson got loose and ended up biting the neighbor's grandson. The grandson is fine. As a responsible pet owner, I believed the only thing to be done was to have Sampson put down. His aggression was overwhelming him and this wasn't the first biting incident. I know it was the right thing to do, but Linus and I still miss him.

Lastly, it's Mother's Day. I have a great relationship with my mom -- she's amazing. AND she believes that this is a silly holiday that was made up by the card companies, so she doesn't expect anything. BONUS. Although, I did buy her an ankle bracelet about two months ago as an "early" Mother's day gift. She loved it.

But, it's also the first Mother's Day without Grandma J. I miss her alot. My peonies are budding out, and I can't help but think of who's worthy enough to get the first bloom this year. Traditionally, that was Grandma J's honor. She was so strong for such a tiny little thing. The night Grandpa died, I spent the night with her. She cried and asked how she could ever live without her best friend. She found a way and lived for more than a decade after his passing. The night she found out that Macular Degeneration was going to rob her of her sight, she sat at my kitchen table and cried in her Cashew Chicken. She told me she was scared and she didn't want to be blind. Ya know what? I personally, never heard her complain after that night. Her life continued to be full and vital, right up until her death. I miss her enthusiasm for life. I miss her ability to call a spade a spade. I even miss her duck-waddle style of walking.

One of the things Grandma was always thankful for was her kids. It's hard for me, today of all days, to not flip that coin over and look at the other side. Today, I'll call my friend B. up in Vermont. She and her husband have been trying for eight years. Their China adoption has been pushed back from 18 months to 3-4 years. Their hearts are heavy.

Mine too. Last night Cartman called to tell me good-night. He's out-of-state visiting his mother. We talked for about 45 minutes, and the subject of Mother's Day came up and I just lost it. Poor guy. He didn't know what to do. If me crying over not having kids doesn't make him run for this hills, I don't know what will. I can't stand going to church and hearing all the tributes to "mother"...and all the mom's with flowers and gifts given to them by sticky little hands. Mother's day brunches and Mother's day sales. Blech. I can't go anywhere without being reminded of what my life doesn't have.

So, if you're missing your mom, grandma, or anyone who fulfilled that need in your life today, my heart is with you. And if you're aching because you have been denied the privilege of parenting, for whatever reason, my heart is with you as well. As for me, I'm taking my sad heart and going back to bed to listen to the rain.

Batter up!

2008-05-06T16:44:00.002-04:00

I surprised my nephew and my brother last night by showing up at C-man's first little league game of the season. Sixty-eight degrees and fresh cut grass...it was a perfect night for a game. I wasn't the only one thinking that! Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles all were on the sidelines -- some had even brought picnics to share.

As I watched my brother pitching to these kids, I couldn't help but remember cousin V's blog from last week. It was titled "Did Jesus play little league?" You can read the whole thing here, but to summarize, she was asking some honest questions on whether or not extra-curricular activities interfered with being raised as a Christian. The catalyst was this quote:

I’m not trying to say that it is necessarily wrong for children to play organized sports. My point is simply this: Being a member of an organized traveling baseball squad at age ten doesn’t add a single day to one’s life. In fact, many of these activities get in the way of much loftier pursuits. People turned boys into men and girls into women for most of recorded history without dragging them around town with their tongues hanging out in an effort to keep up with their overachieving, undereducated, theologically illiterate peers as they try to win trophies that will eventually gather dust in a basement somewhere.
If I teach my son to keep his eye on the ball but fail to teach him to keep his eyes on Christ, I have failed as a father. We must refuse to allow trivial, temporal pursuits to interfere with the main thing. Making the team is a tremendous achievement; however, it must be put in its proper perspective. No sports endeavor will ever be as important as becoming a man or woman of God. ~Voddie Baucham, Family Driven Faith, p.20

I felt so judged when I first read that, and then I got really steamed. And I don't even have kids. So, I let it percolate for a bit, so I could come back with fresh eyes and see if I missed the point. I'm not sure I did, but I think I did discover why I don't agree with Mr. Baucham's opinion.

He deals with the extremes. I acknowledge he starts out with it's not, "necessarily wrong" for kids to play sports, but than he rails on for an eternity (yes, I'm exaggerating) about why it is wrong. He paints the picture that anyone who participates in sports are loud, obnoxious morons. This implies that those who don't participate are refined, mature, educated and somewhat better.

There are two things to realize about extremes. The first is there is always another side. I know some parents who do seem to overdo it with their kids when it comes to sports and such. On the other hand, I know other families and individuals who have no life experience outside of church, homeschooling/Christian schools and church sponsored activities. From my vantage point, both scenarios can be harmful. Just as the actions of a child with no moral guidance may be mean and hurtful, a child with only education and no practical experience may become judgmental and equally hurtful.

The other thing to remember when dealing with extremes, is that there are always exceptions. Within either group, the over-involved and the non-involved, you're going to find people who are excelling and people who are failing and need to find a balance. I suspect that most of us fall into this need to find balance.

Now I don't claim to be a theologian. I'm just me trying to put it all together. I think I have these ideas down pretty solid though

1) Part of living a Christian lifestyle is actually trying to embody the characteristics of Christ. Being Jesus on two feet in this world -- showing compassion and love -- agape style.
2) Everything in life is to be done with worship in your heart.
3) It's not an accident I'm here -- born in 1974 in Marion, Ohio. God chose for me to live during this time -- to use the resources at my disposal to advance the Kingdom.
4) Speaking of which -- growing the Kingdom. Because surely, if you've truly tasted grace and forgiveness, you couldn't keep it to yourself, could you? Even if it's not the politically correct thing to do?

I wish I could ask Mr. Baucham why sports, or any extra-curricular activities, can't be used as a vehicle to re-enforce these Christian values? Can't friendships be built on a ball field? Can't you swing a bat with joy in your heart, even if you're not good at it? And why, oh why, if God chose for us to live during an era where there is time and opportunity for evangelism, should we not take advantage of it?

It was on the news the other night that a soccer game between two of the "better" school systems in Columbus ended in a fist fight. It was especially distressing as one of the parents involved was a cop. As I watched the story on the news, I couldn't help but wonder, did any of these people know Christ? Who better than someone who truly loves God to step in and show how to gracefully handle conflict resolution? Could you imagine what would happen in this world, if all of us were out there, involved in our schools and communities, making a positive difference instead of, "not taking our eyes off the ball," as Mr. Baucham puts it.

My sister-in-law shared a story the other day, about one of my nephews. He was riding home on the bus when one of his buddies came over to sit with him. This is a buddy he had gone to school with, played ball with and went to church with. His friend asked him point blank if he knew Jesus as his personal savior, and my nephew honestly replied no. His friend talked to him a while about it and my nephew thought about it. Then, the two of them bent their heads and prayed for my nephew's salvation, right in the middle of a school bus ride home.

So did Jesus play little league? Not during his lifetime. I'm fairly confident about that. Mostly because Little League wasn't founded until 1939 by Mr. Carl Stolz (I had to look it up). Maybe a more accurate question is this: Would Jesus play little league if he was born today? If it meant reaching out to someone who was lost, like my nephew, I think the answer is yes.

Inspired by Liberty

2008-04-30T18:48:00.001-04:00

My cousin posted pictures from her garden the other day...so I just had to get in on the action.

Double Tulip

Double Daffodil (can ya tell I like the doubles?)

The beginnings of a GREAT big chive. I honestly can't remember the names of these, but if you dry them and spray paint them with a metallic paint, they look like fireworks. Cousin S. did that one time at a rummy tile party. AWESOME!

Hey...does anyone else know what to do with rabbits in the garden?

More Pictures from My Garden

2008-04-30T18:45:00.001-04:00

The hosta is ready for it's closeup

Japanese painted ferns bought on a Mother's Day shopping trip to the lake....many moons ago.

The Virginia Creeper looks like it's going to bloom this year!

Spiky beginnings of a hosta.

Other Funnies from C-man's Birthday...

2008-04-28T08:37:00.000-04:00

Is it time to go home YET?

Senor Heffe

Pepaw sans margarita. Can you believe it?

Happy, sad, surprised, mad. C-man practices acting.

C-man's Family Birthday Dinner

2008-04-28T08:28:00.001-04:00

We finally got to celebrate C-man's birthday together as a family. He chose the local Mexican restaurant for his birthday dinner.

So excited to FINALLY have his own PSP.

Now C knows they do a pie in the face during the birthday song...but who has it?

Gotcha!

Mmm-mmm Good!

Pennsylvania Primary Humor (A Man's Perspective)

2008-04-22T10:16:00.008-04:00

I don't understand why the choice is so hard. Choice number one:

An attorney married to an attorney.

Choice number two:

An attorney married to an attorney.

Choice number three:

An ex-war hero, married to a gorgeous, blond, busty billionaire heiress to a beer distributorship.

Any questions?**

**Freely adapted from a bit I heard on my drive home yesterday on the 610 WTVN John Corby Show.

Awwwwwww yeah.....it's Business Time!

2008-04-21T13:42:00.003-04:00

For all other 'FOTC' fans (excluding Mel, obviously,) you can pre-order their eponymous titled album that drops tomorrow here.
I can't wait!

Happy Birthday C-Man

2008-04-20T19:51:00.003-04:00

Happy 7th Birthday C-man.

I can't believe my nephew is 7 already. Here are some of my favorite things/memories of the little guy...

1) On the day C was born, his dad had to take older brother #1 to Kindergarten registration, and Me-maw and Pe-paw had to take brother #2 somewhere... His mom was zonked out from the C-section, so C and I spent most his first day on this earth snuggled together, just getting to know each other. If I never get to have kids of my own, I'm glad I've had the experience of bonding with a newborn.

2) Speaking of newborns, I've yet to see a child born with a darker complexion or as much black hair. He should have been in a papoose.

3) C can eat more Reece's Peanut Butter Cups in a minute flat than anyone else I know. Hands down.

4) He is absolutely brilliant -- even if he is still a little dutch.

5) He doesn't mind sharing a meal and reading quietly to ourselves.

6) There is no one better to have on a road trip. He'll go anywhere and do anything with a smile on his face.

7) While he might get mad once in a while, I've never seen him throw a temper tantrum or have a fit like so many little kids do.

8) Once, while playing electronic hangman, he asked me, "Wa-wa, what's a five letter word for blank-blank-blank-blank-blank?" (Answer = water)

9) He likes peanut M&M's in his popcorn just as much as I do.

10) Last night, at the movies, he left his brother and friends to curl up in the seat between myself and his me-maw. Then he promptly lifted his shirt so we could tickle his back -- cause he knew we couldn't resist!

The Good Samaritan

2008-04-11T14:28:00.002-04:00

Today Mom and I had lunch at the office. Ben and Jeff went to Hong Kong Buffet -- their typical Friday lunch stomping ground. Ben calls back and says that he has an "ethical" question.
Apparently, after eating, Ben and Jeff noticed that the car next to them had three infants strapped into car seats. The windows were up, there were no adults in site. Now the China Buffet is at the end of a strip mall. There's a tanning place next door, then BW3's. There is a drug store, but surely no one would park that far away and leave triplets in a locked car. They sat and waited. The babies were asleep and didn't appear to be in distress. Ben's question was, how long do you wait before you call for help?
After 20 minutes, the Sheriff came. He tapped on the window of the car...the babies remained asleep. He tapped harder. Then he turned to Ben and asked the million dollar question, "Are you sure these aren't dolls?"
At that moment, the owner of the car came flying out of the restaurant. Her company made life-like babies. She got them out and proved they weren't real.
So everyone had a good laugh at Ben and Jeff's expense, but the Sheriff called them Good Samaritans anyways.
By the way, the above picture IS a doll!

I don't like today very much.

2008-04-01T08:52:00.001-04:00

Maybe I'm gullible. Maybe I'm trusting. Maybe I just like to believe the best in people. **sigh**

It's not even 9 AM and I've endured silly pranks on blogs and in e-mails. There have been calls from nephews saying that they are sick...they can't go to school...their mom got a new car...there is a cardinal in the garage (that last one might be true). Even google has a new thing out where they can "postdate" your e-mail...so you'll never be late with a birthday greeting or important information again.

Mom and I both hate this day and do our best to remind each other...DON'T FALL FOR ANYTHING. This is one of the reasons why I'm her favorite...I watch her back.

Mi Jalapeno is supposed to have it's grand re-opening today. I certainly hope that its not a joke too.

I'll be glad when today is over.

I'm Alive!!!

2008-03-31T13:00:00.003-04:00

Tee-hee-hee. But just barely. There's a gem of an old song about the girlfriend of the whirling dervish. He was so busy whirling, he didn't notice what she was doing...or more accurately with whom she was going.

Again, I feel like I've been whirling so much, I haven't noticed whats going on around me. There are legitimate reasons for my whirliness (some valid, some not so much!) Here's some random bullets to catch you up with what's been going on in my world....

**Had a crafting party which was WAY fun. Good food and lots of laughs. It was also the celebration of my long awaited room unveiling. I'm glad the re-do is done and there are no more big projects -- well until it's time to plant the garden....

**Went to a Chocolate Fantasy Fair in Cleveland to support the Red Cross. Just an excuse to drink a lot of wine and eat a ton of chocolate. H. and I had a fantastic time, despite an extraordinarily scary run-in with the maintenance man. That might deserve it's own post in the near future.

**Because Grandma J. always insisted on something "nice" and that bed is the closest thing to heaven, I figured a good way to spend some of my inheritance was on a new TV for the bedroom. 37 inch, flat screen, LCD/HD TV. Grandma would be so proud!

**Having lots of lap top troubles. First it was crashing and had to be de-bugged. Now it's currently in the shop getting soldered. Nice. I'm currently on the oldest office computer. I do believe I'm running Windows 95.

**Currently have a canker sore AND a cold sore. I guess I'm Queen of the Herpes. Couple that with a sore throat and sinus pain, and I pretty much want to throw my whole head away.

**Went to see the movie "Penelope" about a girl who is cursed with the face of a pig. The curse is only broken when one of her own kind loves her for who she is. Anyone who doesn't want spoilage, close your eyes NOW. Obviously, we're supposed to think that "true-love" makes her beautiful. In a different twist, Penelope learns that she has to love and accept herself to be beautiful. While this may be a step closer to a positive message, I can't help but hope for a movie that correctly suggests....You are already beautiful and loved, because you were created by God.

**Was almost taken out on Riverside Drive the other day when an oncoming driver made a wide turn onto the street. Why didn't he know where he was going? Is a cell phone to blame? No, my friends...the man was CLIPPING HIS NOSE HAIRS. And they make fun of women for putting on make-up in the car.

**My mother called me a jig-saw puzzle Nazi. Everyone knows my way is the only correct way to do them. Border first, big color groupings, then fill it in. Geez. Is it that so hard?

**Frogs suck. Period. OK, Cartman doesn't, but if slow were people, he'd be China. Step up my dear. Any time.

**Finally got to talk to my long lost friend Doc Loveshack. It's been a while. Why do I miss talking to Doc Loveshack? Because the man is genuinely grateful for all he has and knows he is very blessed. It's so refreshing to talk to someone who isn't complaining, who endeavors to do better and knows how to have a laugh to boot. He's an inspiration. **sigh**

**Tonight, Linus and I are going over to his breeders house to see a new litter of puppies. Who thinks that Linus needs a sister?

That catches us up a bit, doesn't it?

WOW!

2008-03-27T16:51:00.003-04:00

Lawgirl and I were having a conversation the other day about how e-mail has become almost obsolete -- an archaic form of communication. Between IM and blog comments, I seem to communicate more with smileys than anything else. :)

E-mail, however, does have it's perks. Like this little gem my brother sent me. I put it under the category, "Things that make you go whoa."

Family on holiday in Australia for a week and a half when husband, wife and their 15 year old son decided to go scuba diving. The husband is in the navy and has had some scuba experience. His son wanted a picture of his mum and dad in all their gear so he got the under water camera ready to go. When it came to taking the picture the dad realized that the son looked like he was panicking as he took it, and gave the 'OK' hand sign to see if he was alright.

The son took the picture and swam to the surface and back to the boat as quickly as he could, so the mum and dad followed to see if he was OK. When they got back to him, he was scrambling onto the boat and absolutely panicking. When the parents asked why, he said 'There was a shark behind you!!' and the dad thought he was joking but the skipper of the boat said it was true, but they wouldn't believe him either. As soon as they got back to the hotel they loaded the picture onto the laptop and this is what they saw.

Sometimes we learn things we wish we never had to....

2008-03-24T08:28:00.003-04:00

Like this week-end, I learned that while chocolate is toxic to dogs, it takes one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of dog to be fatal. In other words, a 90 pound golden retriever won't die from eating 15 Cadbury Eggs. That's a fact.

Thanks MedVet for your grace and knowledge on a stressful Easter morning.

Dizzy

2008-03-21T10:06:00.005-04:00

When you were a kid, did you ever sit in the middle of the merry-go-round and have someone else push? Everything was so clear, and you could focus on things. Suddenly, you would be going so fast, all of those clear images would become smeared together...and even when you stopped, it took a while to get your focus back.

When dancers spin, they "spot." They find a fixed object and concentrate on it, turning their bodies and keeping their head focused on the spot, eventually whipping their heads around and again focusing on the "spot." It keeps them from getting dizzy.

Over the past week, I've lost my spot. Everything has been going so fast, that events and conversations seem almost blurred, and it's hard to focus on any of them. I apologize gentle readers, for leaving you out of the loop. Big thanks to Sleepy Scott for pointing out my lack of attention.

I wish I could say that since I've been so busy, my life is more fulfilling, but it's really not. It's just busier. Even time spent with family and friends seems rushed because of everything else that "has" to be done. Like so many people in this world, I've made my life busy to distract myself from the things in my life that are painful. It's just easier to say "I'm too busy to deal with that...."

For those of us who try to walk a Christian faith, it is the perfect day to re-focus. Good Friday. The day Jesus loved me enough to give his life for mine. To recognize that the pain is necessary. My head knows this all the time. My heart forgets...but when my heart remembers, I find my "spot" again. Everything jars into focus. It's a raw feeling, but one that I'm grateful for.

I've been listening to Glenn Beck's Easter Essay. I'm not sure you can listen to it if you aren't a member, but if you get a chance, do it. It's amazing. When he tells the story of the Passion, he sets it to the music of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." It perfectly captures the confusion among the apostles and the abandonment of Christ. That's the part that always gets me. Jesus pleading for his friends to stay awake and pray with him...and everyone drifting off to sleep, oblivious that it was their last night with him.

Sunday we will focus on the Resurrection, but today is the day to focus on the death. To recognize the pain and not try to avoid it...but to look at it straight in the eyes and start to deal with it.

You're not alone, my friend.

Thanks Mom!

2008-03-12T13:07:00.005-04:00

Ever since Mom mentioned that Hillary Clinton looked like Sandy Cheeks from Spongebob Squarepants, I can't look at her the same way any more. What do you think?

Nanny State Here We Come

2008-03-10T14:35:00.003-04:00

First they told us to wear our seatbelts. Then we were told where and when we can/cannot smoke. What's next you wonder? Check this article out:

Homeschoolers' setback sends shock waves through state
Bob Egelko, Jill Tucker, Chronicle Staff Writers

Friday, March 7, 2008

A California appeals court ruling clamping down on homeschooling by parents without teaching credentials sent shock waves across the state this week, leaving an estimated 166,000 children as possible truants and their parents at risk of prosecution.

The homeschooling movement never saw the case coming.

"At first, there was a sense of, 'No way,' " said homeschool parent Loren Mavromati, a resident of Redondo Beach (Los Angeles County) who is active with a homeschool association. "Then there was a little bit of fear. I think it has moved now into indignation."

The ruling arose from a child welfare dispute between the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and Philip and Mary Long of Lynwood, who have been homeschooling their eight children. Mary Long is their teacher, but holds no teaching credential.

The parents said they also enrolled their children in Sunland Christian School, a private religious academy in Sylmar (Los Angeles County), which considers the Long children part of its independent study program and visits the home about four times a year.

The Second District Court of Appeal ruled that California law requires parents to send their children to full-time public or private schools or have them taught by credentialed tutors at home.

Some homeschoolers are affiliated with private or charter schools, like the Longs, but others fly under the radar completely. Many homeschooling families avoid truancy laws by registering with the state as a private school and then enroll only their own children.

Yet the appeals court said state law has been clear since at least 1953, when another appellate court rejected a challenge by homeschooling parents to California's compulsory education statutes. Those statutes require children ages 6 to 18 to attend a full-time day school, either public or private, or to be instructed by a tutor who holds a state credential for the child's grade level.

"California courts have held that ... parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children," Justice H. Walter Croskey said in the 3-0 ruling issued on Feb. 28. "Parents have a legal duty to see to their children's schooling under the provisions of these laws."

Parents can be criminally prosecuted for failing to comply, Croskey said.

"A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare," the judge wrote, quoting from a 1961 case on a similar issue.

Union pleased with ruling
The ruling was applauded by a director for the state's largest teachers union.

"We're happy," said Lloyd Porter, who is on the California Teachers Association board of directors. "We always think students should be taught by credentialed teachers, no matter what the setting."

A spokesman for the state Department of Education said the agency is reviewing the decision to determine its impact on current policies and procedures. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell issued a statement saying he supports "parental choice when it comes to homeschooling."

Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, which agreed earlier this week to represent Sunland Christian School and legally advise the Long family on a likely appeal to the state Supreme Court, said the appellate court ruling has set a precedent that can now be used to go after homeschoolers. "With this case law, anyone in California who is homeschooling without a teaching credential is subject to prosecution for truancy violation, which could require community service, heavy fines and possibly removal of their children under allegations of educational neglect," Dacus said.

Parents say they choose homeschooling for a variety of reasons, from religious beliefs to disillusionment with the local public schools.

Homeschooling parent Debbie Schwarzer of Los Altos said she's ready for a fight.

Schwarzer runs Oak Hill Academy out of her Santa Clara County home. It is a state-registered private school with two students, she said, noting they are her own children, ages 10 and 12. She does not have a teaching credential, but she does have a law degree.

"I'm kind of hoping some truancy officer shows up on my doorstep," she said. "I'm ready. I have damn good arguments."

She opted to teach her children at home to better meet their needs.

The ruling, Schwarzer said, "stinks."

Began as child welfare case
The Long family legal battle didn't start out as a test case on the validity of homeschooling. It was a child welfare case.

A juvenile court judge looking into one child's complaint of mistreatment by Philip Long found that the children were being poorly educated but refused to order two of the children, ages 7 and 9, to be enrolled in a full-time school. He said parents in California have a right to educate their children at home.

The appeals court told the juvenile court judge to require the parents to comply with the law by enrolling their children in a school, but excluded the Sunland Christian School from enrolling the children because that institution "was willing to participate in the deprivation of the children's right to a legal education."

The decision could also affect other kinds of homeschooled children, including those enrolled in independent study or distance learning through public charter schools - a setup similar to the one the Longs have, Dacus said.

Charter school advocates disagreed, saying Thursday that charter schools are public and are required to employ only credentialed teachers to supervise students - whether in class or through independent study.

Ruling will apply statewide
Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association, said the ruling would effectively ban homeschooling in the state.

"California is now on the path to being the only state to deny the vast majority of homeschooling parents their fundamental right to teach their own children at home," he said in a statement.

But Leslie Heimov, executive director of the Children's Law Center of Los Angeles, which represented the Longs' two children in the case, said the ruling did not change the law.

"They just affirmed that the current California law, which has been unchanged since the last time it was ruled on in the 1950s, is that children have to be educated in a public school, an accredited private school, or with an accredited tutor," she said. "If they want to send them to a private Christian school, they can, but they have to actually go to the school and be taught by teachers."

Heimov said her organization's chief concern was not the quality of the children's education, but their "being in a place daily where they would be observed by people who had a duty to ensure their ongoing safety."

HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO SCREAM NO BEFORE WE ARE HEARD?

For My Friend....

2008-03-10T07:29:00.001-04:00

Happy 3? Birthday Lawgirl!

Snowed In

2008-03-09T08:12:00.003-04:00

The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 15, 1918, p. 8, cartoon of an "old timer."

I guess they've been making jokes about Ohio weather for a long time. Personally, I love being snowed in. It provides a perfect opportunity to get all of those annoying tasks done that I've been putting off for so long. It also provides for a great learning experience. Here's a list of the few things I've learned during the great blizzard of 2008:

1) Even if I have 500+ channels, nothing is as entertaining as Mindy and Marshall on channel 4 mis-reporting snow emergencies every 5 minutes, defending their drive into work and wondering what Tacoma is going to buy from Panera to measure the snow. (FYI, the snow was one baguette deep in the Panera parking lot on 23).

2) I have 9 cake mixes in my pantry including pineapple, angel food, pound, spice, carrot and pumpkin. Hmmmm.....

3) Uggs are not drift proof.

4) 1 Hot shower + 2 Alleve = 3 hour nap.

5) I have a king size bed, a full size bed, 6 dining room chairs, a couch, an ottoman, an overstuffed chair and 4 baskets of laundry. The cats favorite place to sleep? Whatever pillow my head is laying on.

6) Reading "The Long Winter" during the Long Winter is extremely gratifying.

7) It IS possible for my backroom to be organized.

8) Linus loves to shovel snow. He likes to rear back, stiff-legged onto the shovel as I scoop, then bury his head into the shovel and spill the contents. I didn't attempt the drive, but I did manage to clear the sump pump outlet.

9) 5 cans of Diet Dr. Pepper is my limit before my tongue starts cramping from the acid.

10) I am so thankful for family with snow plows.

Hopefully, Spring will arrive soon...like Buckeye Chuck said.

As Ohio goes, so goes the nation....

2008-03-03T08:51:00.003-05:00

Usually there are a multitude of parties and get-togethers in the months of January and February to attend. This year has been different -- I'm not sure why. Anyways, it's left me with a need to talk all things political. And I can't help but wonder who ya'll are voting for tomorrow and why. Party line or sabotage vote...or maybe you honestly believe what these candidates are saying...what's your strategy going to be?
Yes. I did it. Can of worms. Opened.

Hey ya'll

2008-02-28T15:03:00.002-05:00

FYI -- Sara T. Has the flu. Blech. So I stayed home and painted a wall in the living room red today. And made a coconut cream tart. And some Grandma Helen Potatoes. And took a nap. Good day...despite the hacking and the temperature.

Froggy Update

2008-02-22T15:15:00.003-05:00

So....what's going on with the frogs you may ask? Well...it's been kinda a slow year. I still see Cartman quite often, but again, no commitments so I continue to "kiss" other frogs....

Snakecharmer and I are both American Idol watchers, so we have begun a Tuesday night ritual of watching AI. We flip back and forth between houses, host makes dinner and or dessert. Snakecharmer makes excellent nachos! As for me, it's nice to have someone to cook for and share a meal with. This past Tuesday he requested lasagna, and I was happy to oblige. I also introduced him to risotto, which he also enjoyed. I make an excellent risotto with lemon and rosemary. I do believe it's more comforting than mashed potatoes...yes, I know. It's almost sacrilegious.

I haven't heard from the Hand-Me-Down since his friend painted my bedroom. Maybe the age difference was too much, maybe it was the weird way in which we met or maybe he just wasn't ready. It surely couldn't possibly be me could it?

Mr. Football missed our first date because he was in a "car accident." He never even called to confirm the second date, and I have to say, I wasn't all that upset. I'm sure my nephew "The Hammer" will be upset. He was impressed that he plays for the Marion Mayhem. In his mind, we should get married so he could be related to a real-life football player.

I met the Gambler last Saturday night. I got online about 8...he was online too. Instead of "talking" online, we just decided to meet for a late dinner. He was hysterical. I don't think I've ever met someone who talks as much as he does. The Gambler is 28, worked professionally, and is now back at OSU studying Golf Course Management. He also likes to gamble -- particularly blackjack and poker. He has even considered going professional. He was really nervous because it was his first date in quite some time. He'd been dating a girl for about 3 years, and then he got sick. They discovered a large tumor growing beside his heart. When they removed it, they had to remove part of his lung and part of his pericardia sack. He pulled the neck of his t-shirt down to show the beginning of his scar where they cracked his chest. Four days after his operation, his girlfriend dumped him. That was in December. So, who knows where this one is going...I'm not sure if he's going to be worth the gamble (I know, bad, but I couldn't resist).

What a Co-inky-dink!

2008-02-20T15:31:00.003-05:00

Many of you will know that on July 8, 1947, witnesses claim that an unidentified flying object (UFO) with five aliens aboard crashed onto a sheep and cattle ranch just outside Roswell, New Mexico . This is a well-known incident that many say has long been covered up by the U.S. Air Force and other federal Agencies and organizations.

However, what you may NOT know is that in the month of March 1948, nine months after that historic day, the following people were born:

Albert A. Gore, Jr.
Hillary Rodham
John F. Kerry
William J. Clinton
Howard Dean
Nancy Pelosi

See what can happen if aliens breed with sheep and or cattle? I certainly hope this bit of information clears up a lot of things for you. It did for me.

Do you smell that?

2008-02-19T15:03:00.002-05:00

Well, it's beginning to be late winter. Know what that means? Yep. The skunks are mating. For about a month or so now, there will be a surge in skunky roadkill. It will subside until the babies are ready to be out and about in late spring.

Why would Sara T. know this? Well, let me tell ya. I live in the woods...in a cedar sided house. I attract all kinds of critters: Mary Lou, the big ole' groundhog who lives under the porch and steals apples from the neighbors tree, Casper the albino deer and Foxy the fox, who has no need to be sly and trots down the middle of the road at his leisure, just to name a few.

For the next month or so, I will be awakened in the wee small hours of the morning by the stench of love-sick skunks. They don't spray the house, but they are somewhere near-by....close enough to wake me out of a sound sleep. By mid-morning, their aroma is gone. I'm sure they are resting in preparation for the next night's courtship.

Think this will be a good selling point if I ever put my house on the market?

Happy Presidents Day

2008-02-18T12:42:00.005-05:00

It was February of 2000. I was living in England, working on my Master's Degree. I was required by the course to take a latin class. I had always been good at latin, but was having a hard time adjusting to the British style of teaching. Consequently, I wasn't thought of as a stellar latin student. I made high grades on exams, but the oral translations we were asked to do was something I never caught on to.

The professor seemed to delight in singling me out for these oral exercises. At first I thought it was for my own good -- the more I did it, the more I would become comfortable and I would improve my skills. I was so naive.

Presidents Day 2000, I was asked to stand before the class and translate a paragraph. Often, the professor would write the passages, so that they would provide numerous examples of whatever lesson was being taught. That day, I stood up and recognized the professors work. She was using the moral of George Washington and the cherry tree. Because I knew the story well, it was easy for me to translate. I rushed through it...all the way to the end, "Father, I cannot tell a lie. I cut down your cherry tree." I was pleased -- until I read the next line:

Operor vos non votum totus Americans erant is pia?

I fumbled through the translation. Roughly, it says....don't you wish more Americans were like this? Ouch. I sat down red-faced and embarrassed amongst the 30 or so twittering Brits.

I never did win the favor (or should I say favour) of that professor. But that's ok. She couldn't deny my grades and I ended up with more than one good friend in that class. And they know that some Americans still are honest...just like George Washington.

Wanna boycott Kohl's with me?

2008-02-15T11:25:00.002-05:00

It's never been my favorite store. It seems suspicious that there is always a sale going on. The layout is not well thought out. Their products aren't always the greatest.

However, I had gotten a pair of slippers for Christmas that I needed to exchange. Two pairs actually. Cause she knows me well, Mom wrapped up both pairs, figuring I would like one better than the other. It turns out that neither pair fit. The slippers still had the price tags on them, but the receipt was lost. I took them back right after Christmas knowing that I would have to get store credit. There was a sales clerk inside the door who told me I could make the exchange at the check-out stand. I took my lunch hour, found a pair of sneakers that I could use, and stood in line. When I reached the cashier I found out that no, you can't do exchanges at the check-out stand, you have to go to the service department. The line was long and my lunch hour was almost over so I gave up and left the store.

I finally went back this week to exchange the slippers. I understand that without the receipt, they cannot honor the price on the pricetag. That's fine. With all of their sales, I didn't expect the full price to be refunded. I was, however, shocked when the service clerk said that she could only refund $2.00 of the purchase price. Hmmm.......

I told her no thank you and was going to leave the store. Want to know what I found on my way out? Yep. Kohl's is selling the same exact slippers (model, size, and color) for MORE than what was on the price of my Christmas slippers -- the ones that are only worth a $2.00 refund. And guess what? They were on "sale."

As my friends in England would say, they're a bunch of wankers.

So...anyone want a pair of size 8/9 slippers? I've got two pairs to choose from!

Prompted by a good friend....

2008-02-14T15:27:00.002-05:00

So a good friend just discovered my blog, and chose to e-mail me instead of commenting. Among other things, the e-mail said that now that she knows what's going on in my life, she wonders what's going on in my heart. The truth is...I don't want to face what's going on in my heart.

I find myself without a church home and without a pastor to really talk to. It's a terrific loss. I've been hurt and know I'm in the valley -- desperate for the mountain top. And of course, once you're down, the enemy likes to close in and the attacks come hard and fierce. I wouldn't say I'm having a crisis of faith, but there is a weariness in my bones.

I was cleaning out my e-mail folders and came across the following e-mail. I was in the middle of reading Rob Bell's "SexGod." It's an awesome, quick read.

Anyways, he starts be talking about how he got his courage in junior high to ask this girl to dance and she ran into the girls bathroom and how he had to live with that rejection. And he talks about the risks that start there and continue for the rest of our lives, and sometimes the rejection that comes when we give a part of ourselves to someone, and they say no. He talks about how love is giving away yourself and giving up control. Then he asks this question, "So if you were God -- which I realize is an odd way to begin a sentence -- but if you were God, the all-powerful creator of the universe, and you wanted to move toward people, you wanted to express your love for the world in a new way, how would you do it?"

He goes on to explain various personalities that we all deal with, both those that are aggressive and controlling and those that are weak and manipulative. He concludes, "If you were an almighty being who made the universe and everything in it, you would need to meet people on their level, in their world, on their soil...like them. This is the story of the Bible. This is the story of Jesus."

WOW. So often, I get caught up in the bigness of faith, that it's easy to forget that it really is a simple love story. God is in love with me. He's in love with you too :)

Rob Bell puts it much more eloquently than I. He closes the chapter by saying, "In matters of love, it's as if God has agreed to play by the same rules we do. God can do anything -- that's what makes God, God. But God can't do everything. God can't make us love him -- that's our choice. Love is risky for God too. Which is a bit like a boy asking a girl to dance."

whew. I just had to share.

I miss the girl who wrote that. I don't know where to find her again.

Happy Valentine's Day

Vacation

2008-02-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

va·ca·tion [vey-key-shuhn, vuh-] _-_noun

3. freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.

Attention gentle readers: I'm taking an undetermined amount of vacation from my blog and other forms of written communication (ie IM and e-mail).

Technology is great and enhances our lives in many ways. But it is no substitution for the power of the human voice and companionship.

In the past month, I've encountered four different situations where I've been hurt, or I believe others have been hurt, by things that were written...and most of them come from misunderstandings. It's easy to write things that you would never say to a persons face. and it's easy to assume you know the writers attitude. The world of technology makes it easy to accuse and easy to hide. We might have more information, but at what price? It will never offer you a hug or return your smile.

Today, in the choice between all of this and the real world, I choose the real world, hands down.

If you want to get ahold of Sara T., I hope you still have her number!

Providing Service?

2008-02-05T16:50:00.000-05:00

OK...I'm throwing this out for public comment, cause I'd love to hear some of your views.

Some of you know the full story, for others, here is a brief synopsis. I grew up singing in the church. I love it -- I find it the most complete way I can worship. Four years ago, when my church started it's contemporary service, I was asked to "produce" it. I did so willingly, even though I wasn't using my primary gift. I "retired" after three years and started singing with the band at the same service. Singing with the band -- leading worship in this way -- is one of the most fulfilling experiences of my week.

Now the band we have for this service has gone under many changes, trying to find the right personnel and sound. A while ago, it was decided that the band would be paid, so that more "control" could be put upon them, in terms of quality. So when I started singing with the band, I assumed a paycheck would be headed my way too. It didn't turn out that way. When it finally came to a head, budgets were already turned in and there was nothing left to pay a female singer. Although I was hurt and could have used the extra income, I realized that my relationship with Christ was far more important than a paycheck, and I continued to sing....

Then the lead of the band was switched out for someone who has a bit more charisma and experience. My Sundays were cut from every week to every other, so his wife could sing in the off weeks. I welcomed the opportunity to attend other services in the church and worship with friends. Also, it was too difficult to sit in the service that I helped build from scratch and not be in "work" mode. Thoughts like, "are the ushers ready?" and "are the back doors shut?" would invade my worhship.

Then came the e-mail about mandatory rehearsals. Now, I'd been going to rehearsals when they were sporadic, but they weren't very productive. If you know anything about bands, they aren't the most punctual, efficient people in the world. It would literally be an hour after rehearsal started before the first note was played...and then it would mostly focus on the instruments -- not the vocals.

The mandatory rehearsals are two hours every Thursday night. When you sing every other week, that works out to four hours of rehearsal for one performance. Even when I was working on my music degree, I never had to put that much rehearsal time in. So I contacted the leader and explained that I'm more than happy to come to rehearsals for the weeks I sing, but it's asking too much to make those of us who aren't paid attend mandatory rehearsals.

I was told that this was a ministry and that exceptions couldn't be made for anyone (even though everyone else who is non-paid came in after this leader took over and knew these rules from the start), that rehearsals are a time of fellowship (even though the rest of the band is mostly men under 24 who like to discuss things like...the ultimate fighting championship) and that I need to fully commit or step down from the band. He also mentioned that he didn't think I was committed because I wasn't there on my "off" Sundays.

So, here's my dilemma: Do I commit to this as well as all of my other commitments and get stressed out because I'm overbooked, or do I quit some of the other commitments I've undertaken to do the one thing I love, or do I give up the one thing I love so that I can keep my obligations to others?

PS -- somethings wrong with bloggers spell check...I apologize for my horrible spelling.

Random Frog Blog

2008-02-05T11:04:00.000-05:00

Cartman isn't interested, nor is he able to commit to anything more than friendship right now. I still have good times with him, but obviously need to jump back in the pond with some sort of vigor and intention. So here's what's been going on.

The hand-me down and I talk somewhat frequently. We're both tentative, which can make for a lot of assumptions of intentions on both ends. He did hook me up with his good friend who is going to paint my bedroom cheap cheap. When it comes right down to it, he has a very full schedule and I'm not sure how things will pan out.

Trolley popped up on IM Friday night and wanted to go out. I explained I had been on funeral watch all day and was really not in any shape for company. He made some inappropriate comments. For whatever reason, I suggested Saturday night. For 10 minutes we IM'ed about where and when, and it ended up with, he was going to call at noon the next day to set something up. After multiple phone calls, we ended up meeting at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. Now, I had seen a picture, and knew that he was a mocha color, grew up in Zambia, and his name was Mo. Why I didn't piece this together, I don't know. Mo was short for Mohammad...and he was Muslim. All I could hear was Aunt's C's voice in my head, "A Muslim and a Christian will never be friends...." Needless to say, we didn't see eye to eye on anything...including where Muslims and Christians split....he says with the identity of who Jesus really was, and I said NO...it goes back much further to the Patriarchs and a stolen blessing and a ticked off older brother.

Mo did take the liberty of ordering my dinner for me, then asked me to pay for half. I said that's ok, I'll let you get it. When we were getting ready to leave, I said that I didn't think this was going to work, and he said ok. THEN HE GRABBED MY REAR END. I shrugged out of his grasp, gave him a curt good night and sent him on his way. He keeps IM'ing me. Blech.

Sunday, I had plans to watch the Superbowl with Seriously. We talked earlier in the day, to confirm. Seriously said he would call back closer to the Superbowl, cause we were undecided if we were going to a party, a sports bar, or my house. He never called back, and then he wouldn't answer my call. For those keeping track, that's 4 dates he hasn't shown up for, two he hasn't bothered to call or cancel. Buh-bye.

Monday, I'm home because of the whole Salvation Army fiasco, and Mr. Football pops up. Now, Mr. Football and I have been e-mailing, but he just recently hooked up IM. He's my age, owns his own buisness, and plays semi-pro football as a linebacker. He trains with the Marion Mayhem. We're chatting and he asks if we can meet, so I say sure. We were both free for the next couple of hours. Now, I always arrange a meeting in public for the first time. We confirm a place and I gave him my cell phone number. I told him I needed to take the dog out and then I would be on my way. Fine. So I go and sit by myself for an hour doing the USAToday crossword and watching Superbowl recaps. I get home, and immediately IM him -- don't know what happened, I didn't see you, waited an hour, hope you're ok. Haven't heard a thing yet.

I have a question. Where are all the nice guys? If you know one, will you please introduce me? I'm tired of wasting time....literally.

Rant and Roar

2008-02-04T11:48:00.000-05:00

As some of you know, I've been in a seemingly never-ending process of "re-doing" the bedrooms. What started off as a simple project of re-painting the "guest" room has turned into a near 6 month endeavor of moving furniture, sanding down and painting hard-wood floors, purging years of stuff I don't use and moving piles of "stuff" from one room to another as it is needed.

I'm nearing the end. The "guest" room is now completed and is serving as a staging area for everything that will go in the the "master" bedroom. The master bedroom will get new paint this week-end, new carpet for Valentines day, and new furniutre next week-end. Since there is new furniture coming, the old furniture has to go. Up to this point, I was still using the white/gold french provinical Sears furniture that every girl growing up during the 80's in the mid-west had. I had updated the dressers with fresh paint jobs and new hardware. I had also supplemented with other pieces picked up at second hand shops and yard sales. But it was time for all of it to go.

I made an appointment with Salvation Army to come pick up the items. SALVATION ARMY REFUSED MY DONATION. Apparently, my stuff is not good enough for anyone else. They suggested I call MAP, a furniture bank that doesn't sell things, but gives furniutre away to the needy. They also gave me a receipt showing that I did make the donation of dressers, which I will certainly put toward my taxes next year.

So, I called MAP. THEY REFUSED MY DONATION AS WELL. I guess noone likes free, functional furniture. I am beginning to doubt if there really are needy people. If there were, they wouldn't be refusing these items.

It reminds me of a story my cousin tells, about a family who said they had no money for food, yet turned their noses up at the meal they were asked to share.

I contacted a local junk removal company. They will gladly haul my stuff to the dump....for $100 minimum. Geez. I can't donate it, I have to pay for junk removal...I guess the only "free" way to get rid of it is to sell it.

Thankfully Dad will be able to stop by Thursday and pick everything up to store up at the shop. We'll put it all in the next garage sale and I bet ya....someone will pay for it. Afterall, it is from the 80's -- I can tell them it's "vintage."

Thoughts on Vermont....

2008-02-03T08:29:00.000-05:00

I had an EXCELLENT trip to Vermont. The best thing of course was seeing my dear friend Beth again. We've known each other since 7th grade...and our friendship has grown a lot over the years. I have to say, that probably my favorite part of the trip was just hanging out at their house and chilling. I picked up some self-striping sock yarn and knitted a lot. We also cooked, did jigsaw puzzles and watched the entire season of "Flight of the Conchords" (my current fave obsession right now...cause I'm the motha flippin' hiphopappotomus).

Burlington itself is a nice town. It's located between the Adirondacks and Lake Champlaign to the west, the Green Mountains to the east. All are visible from the city and are just gorgeous. There is a neat downtown area that has a lot of shops and eateries. The University of Vermont is in Burlington, so there is a bit of a college-town feel.

Beth and I did drive over to Stowe to visit the Von Trapp Family Lodge. Yes, the same Von Trapps whose story was told in "The Sound of Music." I did spin around with my arms outstretched singing my best....The hills are alive....

Beth and Craigs house is strategically located between the Ben and Jerry factory, The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and The Magic Hat Brewing Company. Wanna guess which one I wanted to visit?

The Magic Hat Brewery was AWESOME. They had free tastings of all of their beers, including an organic beet beer that I fell in love with. I actually bought a growler to bring home, but unfortunately it froze in the car and I was denied any more of the ruby colored goodness. **sigh** I bought souvenirs that included glasses, cards, lighters with bottle openers built into the bottom (cause Toby needs that!) and the Mardi Gras sampler pack.

I also found something unusual in the brewery gift shop. Magic Hat has come out with their own line of condoms. I was standing in front of the display, trying to decide if it was something I should laugh at or not, when a gal who worked there walked by and saw my inquisitive look. Apparently, the brewery wanted to give something back to the community, so they sell condoms. All the proceeds go the the local rape crisis center. I did laugh (cause the Magic Hat Condom Logo is quite funny), but I also supported the cause. So, if you're in need....

I also got to attend a free hot chocolate tasting at the Lake Champlaign Chocolate Company...but it wasn't nearly as fun as the brewery. There wasn't anything quite as funny in their giftshop.

We didn't go to Ben and Jerry's or the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. I had brought Graeters Ice Cream from C-bus as a belated Christmas gift for Beth. She actually danced a jig when she saw it. We had more ice cream then we knew what to do with.

I have to admit that I was glad to come home though. Mainly because of the people. They complained about everything, but in a nice way. It just seemed fake and hypocritical. Noone seemed genuine. Examples:

**At 4 PM, Beth and I stopped at a pub for a pint. We were going to take some wings home for Craig, so we asked to place a carry-out order. We were told that they don't do carry-out on Saturdays, because they were too busy. We were almost the only ones in the place. The waitress went on to explain that she would bend the rules for us this one time, but we shouldn't expect it next time and she would probably get in trouble for it. OK.....

**At another restaurant, we asked for them to split the bill. We were told that they were unable to do that, but they would run separate credit cards. Hmmm....in my world, that's called splitting the bill. I felt like I had to be told I was an inconvenience for them.....

**I find it laughable to overhear conversations about how evil President Bush is, how we need to take care of each other and the environment, and how horrible the economy is by people who are wearing more labels than I have in my entire closet, sipping their Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts Coffee in disposable cups, and who don't even have the common courtesy to hold the door open for the person behind them.

**I don't think anyone in Vermont owns a brush or a razor or soap. Those items must be illegal. I felt like odd man out because I have a haircut. Also, it's freezing cold, and these women are wearing skin tight jeans, Uggs and puffy jackets that leave their muffin tops hanging out. How do you explain that only your bellybutton and/or coin slot has frostbite?

So there are my thoughts on Vermont. They have good beer (and cheese), it's absolutely beautiful, but I'm not rushing back anytime soon. Unless of course, my friends stay there, for whom I would endure 1000 Vermonters just to have a chat with them face to face.

Why there hasn't been any posts about Vermont yet...

2008-02-02T14:55:00.000-05:00

First of all, if you haven't done it lately, give thanks for your thumbs. Last Sunday I was cooking up a storm (as I do almost every Sunday...making "leftovers" for the week). I ran the side of my thumb through the mandolin grater. My thumb somewhat resembles the Pyramids of Gaza now. It has been extraordinarily painful. I've been keeping Band-aid and Neosporin in business. Anyways...it literally hurt to type...hold a pen, zip up my pants, knit or a myriad of other things. It did not affect my ability to lay in front of the TV and drink coffee.

Secondly, this week was bookmarked by two events similar in nature, but drastically different in circumstances.

Monday morning, a friend and colleagues son took his own life. Our family has spent much of the week doing whatever we could for the family -- making food, taking up donations, making more food, babysitting the house.... In fact, I was babysitting the house yesterday morning while the family was at the funeral. While I was there, I got a text message from my friend Nancy. Her mom had finally passed after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She had been under the care of Hospice for almost six months.

The contrast between the two events is overwhelming. On one hand, you have a young guy who's death was unexpected and senseless. It was met with deep hurt, anger and questions. On the other hand, Ruby's death was welcomed, expected and those left behind were thankful, not only that she was finally out of pain, but also that they had those precious end days with her.

I had a conversation with a friend this week who said that they would rather take their own life than grow old and suffer with any number of ailments and maladies that come with age. This is the second time I've heard this viewpoint recently. I can't really agree. Life is precious...no matter how long it extends or in what capacity we are.

So...that's basically why there haven't been any posts about Vermont yet. I'll get on it....just had a lot on my mind this week....

Why I'm Glad to be Home From Vermont

2008-01-28T14:14:00.000-05:00

Brattleboro to vote on arresting Bush, Cheney

January 26, 2008

By Susan Smallheer Herald Staff

BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro residents will vote at town meeting on whether President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney should be indicted and arrested for war crimes, perjury or obstruction of justice if they ever step foot in Vermont.

The Brattleboro Select Board voted 3-2 Friday to put the controversial item on the Town Meeting Day warning.

According to Town Clerk Annette Cappy, organizers of the Bush-Cheney issue gathered enough signatures, and it was up to the Select Board whether Brattleboro voters would consider the issue in March.

Cappy said residents will get to vote on the matter by paper balloting March 4.

Kurt Daims, 54, of Brattleboro, the organizer of the petition drive, said Friday the debate to get the issue on the ballot was a good one. Opposition to the vote focused on whether the town had any power to endorse the matter.

"It is an advisory thing," said Daims, a retired prototype machinist and stay-at-home dad of three daughters.

So far, Vermont is the only state Bush hasn't visited since he became president in 2001.

Daims said the most grievous crime committed by Bush and Cheney was perjury — lying to Congress and U.S. citizens about the basis of a war in Iraq.

He said the latest count showed a total of 600,000 people have died in the war.

Daims also said he believed Bush and Cheney were also guilty of espionage for spying on American people and obstruction of justice, for the politically generated firings of U.S. attorneys.

Voting to put the matter on the town ballot were Chairwoman Audrey Garfield and board members Richard Garrant and Dora Boubalis.

Voting against the idea were board members Richard DeGray and Stephen Steidle.

Daims said the names submitted to the town clerk's office were the second wave of signatures the petition drive had to collect, because he had to rewrite the wording of the petition.

He said he gathered nearly 500 signatures in about three weeks, and he said most people he encountered were eager to sign it. He started the petition drive about three months ago.

"Everybody I talked to wanted Bush to go," he said, noting that even members of the local police department supported the drive.

"This is exactly what the charter envisioned as a citizen initiative," Daims said. "People want to express themselves and they want to say how they feel."

He said the idea is spreading: Activists in Louisville, Ky., are spearheading a similar drive, and he said activists were also working in Montague, Mass., a Berkshires town.

The article asked the town attorney to "draft indictments against President Bush and Vice President Cheney for crimes against our Constitution and publish said indictments for consideration by other authorities."

The article goes on to say the indictments would be the "law of the town of Brattleboro that the Brattleboro police ... arrest and detain George Bush and Richard Cheney in Brattleboro, if they are not duly impeached ..."

Daims said people in Brattleboro were willing to "think outside the box" and consider the issue.

Daims had no compunction in comparing Bush and Cheney with one of the most notorious people in history.

"If Hitler were still alive and walked through Brattleboro, I think the local police would arrest him for war crimes," Daims said.

Greetings from Vermont!

2008-01-18T09:17:00.000-05:00

For being in the Green Mountain State, there sure is a bunch of white! So far, my adventure has been fairly uneventful. I made it up here to B&C's around 7 PM last night. It felt great to finally be in. I forget that the further north you go, it starts getting dark earlier. I remember living in England and it would start to get dark around 3:30 in the afternoon. It's not quite that bad here, but it was definitely dark by 5. I got SO sleepy and hungry driving in the dark.

The last 100 miles or so was on a two lane highway, behind a semi, in the dark. I am anxious to get up, go out and explore -- really get to see exactly where I am at. B&C are both working, so I have the majority of the day to myself. I hope to find a couple of neat little shops and a coffee house, where I can park myself, read and people watch for awhile. I did bring my Glenn Beck, "An Inconvenient Book" to read. I'm sure people will flip here. While thumbing through the paper this morning, I noticed that the local church was having a celebration rally of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade as well as hosting a workshop on how to cut CO2 emissions. Yes, I am definitely in Vermont.

First things first though....I wonder if I remembered to pack the windshield scraper and brush......

My jeep from the upstairs window -- hence the window screen checkerboard. Hope to post more pictures soon!

RBoC

2008-01-14T16:35:00.000-05:00

**New phone is not so hot. In fact, when I tried to link it to the laptop, I believe the computer caught a virus. Now I have to return the phone and get the laptop de-gunked.

**Was stood up by Seriously. Seriously -- what's with these guys? I did make the polite phone call to make sure he was OK...nothing. Whatever. I'm not losing any sleep.

**While I was out getting my new phone that crashed my computer last week, my fridge started acting funny -- as in it won't keep it's door closed anymore. I've been using a paint can to hold it shut, but it's a bit cumbersome. Mom and I picked up a new one at Menard's today. It's a bottom mounted freezer -- just like Auntie G! I must be moving up in the world.

**Had a date with the hand-me down. He's quite a bit older, so I'm not so sure...but he is one heck of a nice guy. In fact, his friend does contract painting on the side and is going to help me paint my bedroom. Cause let's face it, this oompa-loompa can't paint 12 foot ceilings on her own....even with an 8 foot ladder!

**Speaking of new room, I also ordered carpet. It's called "Basil" and it's a gray-green California Berber. Beautiful. The guy I ordered from is a friend from church....he's going to put down new pad and carpet and do a patch in the kitchen very cheaply.

**Leave Wednesday for Vermont to visit B. Dropping Aunt C off at the cousins house in Hershey along the way. I can't wait. They are expecting a couple of feet of snow while I'm there. I've been asked several times if I'm skiing, to which I always reply, Have you seen me walk? You really think I should attempt skiing? And they get a good chuckle. Also want to stop at Ikea in Pittsburgh on the way back and get a good look at the linens and lamps.

**Have had several good times with Cartman. There is alot of fun being had and I am enjoying myself immensely.

**Till I'm able to post again...take care! xoxo

**RBoC -- Random Bullets of Crap. If you are offended, get over it.

How Good are Your Eyes?"

2008-01-13T14:36:00.001-05:00

This is an image of one of the new dollar presidential coins that are starting to pop up. Can you tell what's missing?

That's right. The new coins don't have one of our nations greatest credos imprinted on them: "In God We Trust."

"In God We Trust" has been read on our legal tender for quite a long time. If you want the details you can go read about it here.

Once, I heard a sermon that talked about a child who fell off the end of a dock into a murky lake. The boy was young, didn't know how to swim and had no life vest on. Immediately, he sank beneath the surface of the water and disappeared from view. Without hesitation, his mother plunged into the lake and rescued her child from the dark water where he certainly would have perished without her aid.

I think it's the best analogy I ever heard for salvation. How many times have you felt like you were drowning? How many times do you kick and struggle to find your way only to find yourself more turned around than before? And, if you do know Christ, how grateful have you been that your Father plunged into the murkiness of your life to lift you up and save you?

My perspective is this: to remove the words "In God We Trust" from our currency is like saying, "No thanks. I don't need help. I'd rather drown on my own than to acknowledge I need saving." This country was founded on the basis that God is our sovereign...and to remove the King will result in anarchy. We are not meant to be a godless society.

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
John Adams, October 11, 1798

So...if you get a dollar coin...are you going to take it? Or do you ask for the paper version with "In God We Trust" printed on it?

Is there anything better than....

2008-01-06T04:47:00.000-05:00

...holding a newborn?

There is nothing like a newborn baby to renew your spirit - and to buttress your resolve to make the world a better place.
--Virginia Kelley

Here's the first official portrait of me and baby Stone.

Welcome to the world little one!

More Froggy Updates

2008-01-04T21:51:00.000-05:00

So, JJTMB has yet to call and explain his actions. Good riddance. I agree with Leigh Annsy...when someone shows you their character, believe them. If I can remember this, I think I'll save myself a lot of grief.

Last night on the way home from band rehearsal, I stopped by Cartman's. He wasn't feeling well because his daughter and he have been passing a flu bug back and forth. I got to demonstrate my fab bedside manner by getting ice and Mt. Dew. I should have been a nurse -- if it wasn't for the blood and the throw up and the 12 hour shifts. Maybe it's more accurate to say that I should have been an inn keeper.

Also had a nice long talk with Snake Charmer. Poor guy. I stopped in on Christmas night to make sure he was home. I had visions of him stumbling home from the bar and laying in a snow bank along the way. I had purchased a Christmas gift for him on a whim....just one of those things where it would be a crime not to buy it cause it fit so well. Anyways, he was so appreciative. The man just about cried. I think a part of him has given up hope that anyone will ever be nice to him, but at the same time he runs away from kindness because he's not used to it. Then his dog died the day after Christmas. Wonderful. I certainly hope 2008 is a better year for him.

Happy Birthday!

2008-01-03T22:58:00.000-05:00

I should have posted earlier, but I was waiting on the news. Today, two of my favorite childhood friends, Missy and April, celebrated their birthday. Another friend and his wife, Josh and Joy, welcomed their first child into the world tonight -- a boy named Stone Cole. Mother and son are both doing well.

Birthday blessings all around!

Here's an opportunity you've been waiting for....

2008-01-03T06:40:00.001-05:00

You can call me a fool. As suspected, JJTMB didn't show up, call confirm or cancel our date last night. I was all dressed up and nowhere to go. I called him. No return call...no email, no text, no IM, no smoke signal, no nothing. In the world of modern technology, this is just really, rather pathetic. It annoys me to no end.
Here's another list of things that annoy me:

1. People who waste my time.
2. Mary and Lily -- both of whom kept finding ways into my bed last night.
3. I was silly enough to buy pens and mechanical pencils that look alike. I'm FOREVER grabbing the wrong thing.
4. I accidentally dropped the toothpaste cap down the sink and now my toothpaste is just oozing out into a big, congealed pile of crust in the cabinet.
5. Socks. Yes, Grandpa Royal pontificated on their virtues, but one of the pair is always lost or holy. Of course, it does make me love my (mom's) Uggs even more.
6. Presidential election years. I will vote...but I really don't want another 11 months of polls, ads and surprise tactics.
7. Dry hands and hangnails.
8. Bagged lettuce. Why does it taste so funny? And why do I keep buying it?
9. Ants. I have'em. Nothing I try is working. Any ideas?
10. Cleaning out the litter box.

Have anything that you need to vent?

First Frog Blog of the New Year

2008-01-02T12:06:00.000-05:00

So...it looks like more frog kissing will need to be done in 2008. It would be nice to settle down and just be with one, but I still seem to be coming across toads.

Here's some updates and introductions:

The Original Frog. I'm still keeping in contact with him. He's been busy with his kids lately, they've been in town over the holidays. We did have a date set up, but he hit a deer and totaled his truck on the way over, so it didn't work out. Maybe that's a sign....who knows?

Cartman. I really like this one. I can always count on having a good time and laughing a lot when I'm with him. We see eye to eye on most issues, but can still have spirited debates, which I usually let him win. However, he just came out of a LTR and isn't really sure what he wants in life, so we continue to have a mutually non-exclusive relationship. Partly because I don't want to be bored waiting, but mostly so that he can take some other women out and finally realize how wonderful I am. He also admires my modesty.

JJTMB. Even though he stood me up with a pathetic excuse of a broken ankle, I have consented to go out with him again. In fact we're supposed to go out tonight...and if he stands me up again, you can all delight in calling me a fool tomorrow.

Mr. Garvey. Went out with Mr. Garvey last night. I had high hopes for this one. We met online, and have "talked" since October. I was all wrapped up in the romantic notion that I was going to meet a sweet yet very masculine man like characters Merlin Olsen used to play. Instead, I got the reality show version of Mr. Garvey. This one thought it was OK to introduce himself with a full kiss on the lips, of which he slobbered more than kissed. I was so stunned by that gesture that he must have thought it was OK to repeat. Second time around, he literally burped during the kiss -- into my mouth. GROSS. Buh-bye Mr. Garvey.

Seriously. 30 years old. Owns his own company. Seriously. Owns his own house. Seriously. He's a bit more red-necky than I usually go for, but overall a very nice guy. We've been out for drinks. Other plans have been thwarted by work and holidays. Will need to go out with this one a few more times to see if there is something to pursue...or if I know someone who would be good for him.

Hand me down. A cast off from my friend Lawgirl. She went out with him, but they just never clicked. So, she's handing him down to me. We've just started talking, and he seems nice. It turns out we both used to work at the same law firm, both in the probate department. We missed each other by a year. At first I thought I scared him with a "putting the fun back in funeral" joke, but he thought it was funny. Which is good....cause who really wants to spend time with someone who won't laugh at a funeral joke?

So that's a wrap up of who's who's next and who's on deck. There are some more in the hopper, including more who want to know if I'm OK if they're bi....I don't know what's with some of these guys.

Keep on Hoppin!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

For those of you who don't know Sara T. personally, I will let you in on something that most of the inner circle finds very disagreeable. I am a morning person. It is a rare gift that was given to me by my mother.

I remember one time, my mother shaking me awake to go to the grocery store with her. She promised breakfast as a post-shopping treat. So I got up, got dressed, got in the car and rode along. We walked around Meijer's, looking in all the departments. We pondered future meals and groceries and selected new books for breakfast (our favorite thing is to go out to eat and not talk, just read our books). Breakfast at Bob E's was leisurely...enough time for three cups of coffee. On the way home, I had a hard time keeping my eyes open. The sun was just coming up and was so bright. Yes, young grasshopper. We went shopping and had breakfast and still made it home in time to watch the sun come up.

Recently, the first conversation of the day I had was with Cartman. I greeted him with a grin and a Good Morning. I got a scowling response. He said that "Good Morning" was an oxymoron. Hmph.

I love the morning...and New Years...and the first day of school...meeting new friends for the first time. I love beginnings. They are exciting, full of promise and hope. For one brief second, I feel as though I am perfect -- just as I am. It's heavenly.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Then when we've first begun.
Last verse to "Amazing Grace"

Maybe that is part of why Heaven is Heaven. We've no less days...then when we've first begun. In other words, every day we are there is like the first day -- the beginning of eternity. Full of promise, hope and excitement. And we will be perfect.

Like today...the beginning of a new year.

Happy New Year my perfect friend.

Blue Light Special Christmas

2007-12-21T10:23:00.000-05:00

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The older I get, the more that statement makes sense.

As a child, my mother always decorated our house with blue lights for Christmas. We would have those three-prong, plastic candelabras in our windows with blue lights. I would fall asleep bathed in the smurfy light they provided.

There were always blue lights in the bathroom. But these would be the small twinkle lights, wrapped around garland and hung around the mirror.

Mom said that the calm, blue light reminded her of the hope for peace on earth that was born with the Christ Child, and the quiet, expectant hush that must have been the mood in the stable that night.

On Christmas Eve, we would get dressed up in our Christmas finery, attend the candlelight service at church and drive around afterwards to look at everyone elses lights. When we got home, my brother and I would beg to open a gift...and we would be allowed to open our presents to each other. Then we would be tucked in bed and given instructions not to venture out to the tree until everyone was up.

In the morning, B. and I would crouch outside our parents bedroom door and plan our blitz attack to wake them from their long winter's nap. While we bounced around their bedroom, Grandma and Grandpa were called. We were allowed to explore our stockings while we waited for them to arrive. They took forever. And then, the adults had to get their juice and coffee and settle themselves into the living room, so they could get a good view of us "kids." B. and I would race in, and there would be squeals of joy and great excitement in exchanging gifts.

And after all of the craziness subsided, and friends were called and hair was combed and teeth were brushed, we would pile in the car to head to Aunt G's. All of the aunts and uncles and cousins would be there. And we would share a meal, and give thanks for the birth of Jesus.

This Christmas, the immediate family will exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. We'll go to church together, and then there will be the drive to look at Christmas lights. Inevitably, we'll pass a house decked out in blue, and the wonder of Christmas will invade my heart, and I'll feel all of eight years old again. Christmas morning, my nephews will be waiting for Mom and Dad and me to show up to their house so they can open gifts. I'm sure they think we take forever. I'll take my time getting my coffee and picking my seat, just like Grandma and Grandpa used to. Then the nephews will be allowed in, and they will squeal with joy, and be excited to show us the gifts that they picked out at Secret Santa. And we will share breakfast together, and give thanks for the gift of Jesus.

And the heart of Christmas remains the same, despite changes in circumstances and perspectives.

Happy Christmas everyone. See you in 2008.

And my vote for T-shirt of the year is:

2007-12-17T14:36:00.000-05:00

Christmas Cheer!

2007-12-17T09:28:00.000-05:00

So this week-end, Linus was outside making dog shaped snow angels. He'd burrow through the snow, right to the bare earth. Then he'd roll on his back, flail all four legs in the air, and wriggle for all he was worth. He was so pleased with himself. Once he came back inside, he would immediately head for my bed...because of course, everyone needs wet-golden-retriever-scented-sheets-with-accompanying-muddy-paw-prints. I would try to reprimand him, but he would just smile back at me. Wonderful.

Contrast this with my conversations with Snake Charmer this week-end. He has chosen to not see me anymore because he's just too depressed over the holidays. He would rather have the company of a bottle. After all, it's far easier to drink through problems than to deal with them and change your life for the better. We'll still be friends, or so we agreed. But honestly, I doubt I ever talk to him again.

It's so easy to go to the dark places at Christmas time. I can get very down if I let myself. I watch the majority of my friends take their kids to go get pictures with Santa, or watch my nephews in their Christmas play and it's very easy to get into the pattern of thinking, "What's so wrong with me that I don't have that?" Cause let's face it, every Christmas that passes is another year to acknowledge that I don't have a family of my own, and the likelihood of it happening grows dimmer.

But this isn't really the time of year to focus on ourselves and our downfalls, is it? Linus instinctively has the right idea: play hard --delight yourself in the season-- and run home to where you're safe and loved, no matter how dirty you get. There are so many ideas that correspond to this attitude: Encourage others to join your merrymaking. Forgive those you hold grudges against. Make "Peace on Earth" a living, breathing part of your life. Give until you think you're done...and then give some more. Love -- everyone. Just don't forget to be silly, have fun, and make a snow angel.

So long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!

2007-12-15T07:59:00.000-05:00

There are so many ways to say good-bye...and all of them pretty much stink. Especially if you are saying good-bye to a friend.
Pastor Jeff informed me this week that he was leaving our church and answering a call in Minnesota, where his wife's family lives. They will make a formal announcement to the church after Christmas. He'll start his work there sometime in March.
I will truly miss Jeff and Nancy and their boys. They have proven themselves to be excellent friends. Of course, after offering Jeff my congratulations, I immediately chastised him for not moving somewhere warmer and exotic.
Who really wants to go Minnesota? I will endure it, but only if it means I get to see such dear friends.

We Should Have Known

2007-12-14T08:46:00.000-05:00

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November. Female reindeer, however, retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer in late December, the beloved reindeer, from Rudolph to Blitzen had to be girls!

We should have known. Only women would be able to drag a fat-old man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

A game I play while I'm surfing the net...

2007-12-10T11:04:00.001-05:00

I don't know why I like this game so much...but I've been playing for years. It reminds me of the peg game they have on the tables at Cracker Barrel. Enjoy!

Frendz

Complete as many rounds as you can.

Play this free game now!!

Let's Keep Christmas

2007-12-07T11:13:00.000-05:00

This is by far, my favorite Christmas "story." Technically, it's a sermon by Peter Marshall. It's a long post, but well worth the time. I hope you will come to love it as much as I do.

Let's Keep Christmas by Peter Marshall

Changes are everywhere. Many institutions and customs that we once thought sacrosanct have gone by the board. Yet there are few that abide, defying time and revolution.

The old message: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" is still the heart of Christmas. It can be nothing else. And this message can neither be changed - nor quite forgotten although there are many things that tend to make us forget.

The idea of Santa Claus coming in a helicopter does not ring true. No interior decorator with a fondness for yellow or blue could ever persuade me to forsake the Christmas colors of red and green.

I must confess that modernistic Christmas cards leave me cold. I cannot appreciate the dogs and cats the galloping horses the ships in full sail . . . or any of the cute designs that leave out the traditional symbols of the star . . . the manger . . . the wise men on their camels.

Angels there must be - but not modernistic angels in evening dress with peroxide permanents.

There is no need to search for stories new and different. There is only one after all - and no modern author can improve it:

" And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they where sore afraid.

"And the angel of the Lord said unto them, Fear not, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

We all fee the pressure of approaching Christmas. The traffic is terrible. You can't find a parking space . . . The stores are crowded . . . Mob scenes make shopping a nightmare.

You are thinking about presents - wondering what in the world to get for so-and-so. You can think of friends and loved ones who are so hard to shop for. You can't think of anything they need (which is rather strange when you take time to think of it).

Maybe there is nothing in the store that they need. But what about some token of love- what about love itself . . . and friendship . . . and understanding . . . and consideration . . . and a smile . . . and a prayer? You can't but these things in any store, and these are the very things people need. We all need them . . . Blessed will they be who receive them this Christmas or at any time.

Let's not permit the crowds and the rush to crowd Christmas out of our hearts . . . for that is where it belongs. Christmas is not in the stores - but in the hearts of people.

Let's not give way to cynicism and mutter that "Christmas has become commercialized." It never will be - unless you let it be. Your Christmas is not commercialized, unless you have commercialized it.

Let's not succumb to the sophistication that complains: "Christmas belongs only to the children." That shows that you have never understood Christmas at all, for the older you get, the more it means, if you know what it means. Christmas, though forever young, grows old with us.

Have you ever been saying, "I just can’t seem to feel the Christmas spirit this year"? That's too bad. As a confession of lack of faith, it is rather significant.

You are saying that you feel no joy that Jesus came into the world . . . You are confessing that His Presence in the world is not a reality to you . . . Maybe you need all the more to read the Christmas story all over again, need to sit down with the Gospel of Luke and think about it.

I thank God for Christmas. Would that it lasted all year. For on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, all the world is a better place, and men and women are more lovable. Love itself seeps into every heart, and miracles happen.

When Christmas does’t make your heart swell up until it nearly bursts . . . and fill your eyes with tears . . . and make you all soft and warm inside . . . then you'll know that something inside of you is dead.

We hope that there will be snow for Christmas. Why? It is not really important, but it is so nice, and old-fashioned, and appropriate, we think.

Isn’t it wonderful to think that nothing can really harm the joy of Christmas . . . Although your Christmas tree decorations will include many new gadgets, such as lights with bubbles in them . . . it's the old tree decorations that means the most . . . the ones you save carefully from year to year . . . the crooked star that you've been so careful with.

And you'll bring out the tiny manger, and the shed, and the little figures of the Holy Family. . . and lovingly arrange them on the mantel or in the middle of the dining room table. And getting the tree will be a family event, with great excitement for the children . . . And there will be a closet into which you will forbid your husband to look, And he will be moving through the house mysteriously with bundles under his coat, and you'll pretend not to notice . . .

There will be a fragrance of cookies baking spices and fruitcake . . . and the warmth of the house shall be melodious with the lilting strains of "Silent Night, Holy Night." And you'll listen to the wonderful Christmas music on the radio, Some of the songs will be modern - good enough music perhaps - but it will be the old carols, the lovely old Christmas hymns that will mean the most.

And forests of fir trees will march right into our living rooms . . . There will be bells on our doors and holly wreaths in our windows . . .

And we shall sweep the Noel skies for their brightest colors and festoon our homes with stars.

There will be a chubby stocking hung by the fireplace . . . and with finger to lip you will whisper and ask me to tip-toe, for a little tousled head is asleep and must not be awakened.

And finally Christmas morning will come. Don't worry - you'll be ready for it - You'll catch the spirit all right, or it will catch you which is even better.

And then you will remember what Christmas means - the beginning of Christianity . . . the Second Chance for the world . . . the hope for peace . . . and the only way. The promise that the angels sang is the most wonderful music the world has ever heard. "Peace on earth and good will toward men"

It was not a pronouncement upon the state of the world then. Nor is it a reading of the international barometer of present time . . . but it is a promise - God's promise - of what will come to pass.

The years that are gone are graveyards in which all the persuasions of men have crumbled into dust. If history has any voice, it is to say that all these ways of men lead nowhere. There remains only one way - The Way - untried, untested, unexplored fully. . . the way of Him Who was born a Babe in Bethlehem.

In a world that seems not only to be changing, but even to be dissolving, there are tens of millions of us who want Christmas to be the same . . . with the same old greeting "Merry Christmas" and no other.

We long for the abiding love among men of good will which the season brings . . . believing in this ancient miracle of Christmas with its softening, sweetening influence to tug at our heart strings once again.

We want to hold on to the old customs and traditions because they strengthen our family ties, bind us to our friends, make us one with all mankind for whom the Child was born, and bring us back again to the God Who gave His only begotten son, that "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

So we will not "spend" Christmas . . .
nor "observe" Christmas.
We will "keep" Christmas - keep it as it is . . .
in all loveliness of its ancient traditions.
May we keep it in our hearts,
that we may be kept in its hope.

MIA

2007-12-06T16:48:00.000-05:00

So last night, JJTMB was supposed to come over for pizza and movie night. I was STARVING, so I called him about half an hour before he was supposed to come over, so that I would know what he liked on his 'za...no answer. Hmmm...10 minutes after, still no answer. Half hour later, still no answer. So, I go online to pass time and chat.

About 10 PM, Snake Charmer checks in and gives me the guy perspective. He was only interested in what he could get...he wasn't really interested in me...I shouldn't take it personally...and boy he wished he knew I was sitting home alone, cause he would have liked to have kept me company.

JJTMB calls back today. Apparently, he broke his ankle on the ice yesterday. He got home from the hospital around 7:30 and went to bed. He says they are going to cast it tomorrow when the swelling will be down. He was sorry he didn't call.

Which frog do you believe? Until I see crutches...I know which one I believe!

More Froggy Updates

2007-12-04T08:56:00.000-05:00

So here are a few updates about the frogs...

This week-end worked out just fine. I stayed in Friday night, watched movies with Snake Charmer on Saturday and had dinner with Cartman on Sunday. The Original Frog ended up working all week-end.

So...updates on the latest newbies:

Frog #12 -- the Stand Up. He is exactly as his name implies. We arranged two separate dates and he stood me up both times. He didn't even call to give an excuse...just left me sitting...TWICE! So, after the second time, he wanted me to call him. I chose to send an e-mail instead. I was honest and said, look, I don't like my time wasted, so buh-bye. He responded with some VERY hostile remarks about the Steelers (because he knew I cheer for them), which just goes to show that he probably wasn't such a nice guy after all.

Frog #13 -- Mr. Garvey. Hand to God...this guy looks just like Merlin Olsen aka Mr. Garvey from Little House on the Praries aka Father Murphy from well, er...Father Murphy. Mr. Garvey repairs electronics and only works week-ends. He's also an outdoorsy kinda guy. Why he would be interested in a girl who considers no air or cable as "roughing" it, I don't know. He has two sons from a previous marriage and is a boy scout troop leader. He seems very much a boy scout himself. We will have to see...

The pond is full of frogs...

2007-11-30T18:13:00.000-05:00

...but I'm alone on a Friday night.

Actually, it's a funny story. I'd set up a date with Cartman for tonight. However, Snake Charmer texted me this morning and asked if we were still on for tonight. What?! Did I mess up and double book myself? Yikes!

After some careful research (I do archive all of my online conversations...yes, I know..that's a smart thing to do!), I realized that I did not set up anything with Snake Charmer. So I texted him back and said, sorry darling, but we didn't set a date, but if you would like Saturday or Sunday night, that's great with me. He said he would get back to me...Sunday looked good, but he wasn't certain.

So then, Frog #1, the Original Frog called. He had been MIA for two weeks while his son was in town. He wanted to get together...would Sunday night work? I told him I was going to be in and out on Sunday, but I'd let him know. Great.

Then Cartman called. Guess what? His daughter has strep...and he wasn't feeling so hot himself. Could he rain check for possibly Sunday night? I told him we'd see how he was feeling and go from there.

Ever the opportunist...I called back Snake Charmer. "Hey Snake Charmer! My plans were cancelled due to illness. Do you still wanna go out?" He'd already made other plans...and again he would let me know about Sunday.

So, if you're keeping a tally, it goes something like this:

Beginning of the day: 2 dates
End of the day: 0 dates
Possibilities for Sunday: 3 dates
Christmas gift for Sara: Erasers and white out for my planner.

It Worked!

2007-11-28T09:42:00.001-05:00

My Z--pack worked. I am feeling much better. I almost forget what it's like to have energy.
Frog updates: Have been going out a lot with Snake Charmer and Cartman. They are both nice in their own way. I enjoy time with both of them. Since I can't make up my mind, I figured I'd try another frog...who I will be having lunch with Thursday.
I'll keep you posted about how that one goes.

Modern Medicine?

2007-11-25T06:29:00.001-05:00

So, my mono test came back negative. Strep test came back negative. They have no idea what I might have. So, they gave me a z-pack and here's hoping that does it....I certainly don't want to entertain the thoughts that it's anything more than what an antibiotic can take care of!

In Everything, Give Thanks

2007-11-21T12:43:00.000-05:00

So, I'm driving around the outer belt this morning, and I notice a license plate that says:

H8 SNOW

I chuckled to myself while at the same time thinking, why do you live in Ohio then? My thoughts immediately turned to a green Ford Taurus I often see while driving on 23in Marion. The owner has taken window paint, and in big block letters, wrote all over the back window:

Jesu Christo Perdona Me

In a world full of political correctness and innuendo, it's nice to receive a clear message. I have no doubt that the lady with the vanity plate hates snow. I have no doubt that the man in the Taurus wants forgiveness from his Saviour.
Today, this was part of my devotion:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15

I sincerely hope that my life sends the message of thankfulness that I have. Thankfulness for my Creator, my friends and family, my health, my citizenship and certainly, my dog. In fact....maybe I'll get a vanity plate so that my message can be easily understood by others:

GR8 FUL

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Q: What happens if you kiss too many frogs?

2007-11-20T18:10:00.000-05:00

A: You get mono. Seriously. Apparently, that's what my doctors think I have. Test results should be in later this week....

I haven't posted about frogs lately, so let me catch you up:

Frog#6: Jojo the monkey boy (aka JJTMB). JJTMB used to be an engineer for the Navy. Now he teaches math for Columbus public and Ohio Dominican. He's the oldest of three boys, grew up on a farm outside of Toledo and is Catholic. Went out once...he says he would like to go out again, but our schedules are chaotic and don't seem to match up. Interesting note...he put an offer on a house on my street, but ended up buying elsewhere.

Frog#7: Rusty Bucket. Transplant from the great state of West Virgina, Rusty Bucket is a truck driver for Honda. He's a single dad who mentioned on our date that he was bi-curious. He asked if that was a problem. Ummm.....yeah. That's pretty much a deal breaker right there. He still writes once in a while, to see if he can create a "spark" with me. I'm apparently too nice when I say no.

Frog#8: Cartman. A true geek in every sense of the word. The man owns a genuine light sabre. His house has two bookcases in it...one full of science fiction books, another full of toys for his daughter, whom he has on the week-ends. Cartman is truly a sweet, kind man. We've been out several times. He was the first to bring food when he heard I was sick.

Frog#9: Snake Charmer. A docent at the zoo, this guy volunteers to hold the snakes while kids pet them. He also is involved with greyhound rescue and owns two greyhounds himself. He also has a 10 foot python named Matilda. Snake Charmer is also a national pistol shooting champion and runs a couple of leagues here in the central Ohio area. This guy has had a really rough life. From those circumstances, Snake Charmer has decided that God doesn't exist. Although I get along with Snake Charmer, I sometimes wonder if this is more of a missionary endeavor for me.

Frog#10: Dr. Ross. Remember when ER first started, and it was really good and George Clooney played Dr. Ross? Yeah. I met his younger twin. This guy looks a lot like Dr. Ross, except he has light green eyes instead of brown. We were chatting one day online and discovered that we live two streets apart. He invited me over for a drink. He has a gorgeous house on the river. The entire back of the house is floor to ceiling windows that over look his boat slip. He also has an adorable American Bulldog named Bailey. Dr. Ross "writes code" for computers and has several rental properties. He also is a pothead. So, he's just fun to look at. Ahhh...

And that brings you up to date on the frogs I've actually met. There are several waiting in the wings though.....until next time!

Why I love "Dancing With the Stars"

2007-11-15T14:26:00.001-05:00

Instant Pick-Me Up

2007-11-14T07:43:00.001-05:00

Often times, I'm unmotivated. I don't want to go anywhere or see anyone. The thought of tackling another project makes me sick to my tummy. I let myself think that a nap, or some time in front of the TV would be the perfect way to rejuvenate. Oh, the lies we tell ourselves and are willing to believe....

Actually, the best way I've found to get motivated is to get up off your lazy rear and do something -- FOR SOMEONE ELSE. When you give to others, you get so much more in return. This shouldn't be a surprise -- this is part of the core of Christianity...the heart of Jesus' teaching...love one another, as I have first loved you.

So, if you find yourself a little down today, and need to give to someone for an instant pick-me up, check out this site hosted by Xerox. You can personalize a card to be sent to someone serving abroad in our military. It only takes a moment, and it doesn't cost a thing. But, you get to give your gratitude to these men and women who are risking their lives, so that others may enjoy the freedoms we take for granted here.

I don't know about you, but I certainly have a bit more energy!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T09:17:00.001-04:00

A woman was asked by a coworker, 'What is it like to
be a Christian?'

The coworker replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.'

God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and
washes all the dirt off of you.

Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky
stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.

Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His
light inside of you to shine for all the world to
see.'

Lessons I've Learned

2007-10-29T12:52:00.000-04:00

There was frost on the ground this morning. That means it's time to get out the socks. Wouldn't you know it, my big toe went right through the end of the sock. I looked down at my protruding toe and thought, when am I going to find the time to mend this sock? And then I flashed to Grandma Jean, sitting at the kitchen counter, darning socks and stockings and listening to Paul Harvey.

Grandma Jean always darned her socks and stockings inside out, with a light bulb pushed up inside, stretching out the toe area where she was mending. She said that way, the mending didn't change the shape or the size of the toe. The sock remained comfortable.

I couldn't help but think of some of the other lessons I learned from Grandma.

**Freshly shredded sweet onion is the key to any good cheese ball or bologna salad

**A bag of Constant Comment in your iced tea makes it taste better

**If there is a gap in the wallpaper seam and the wall shows through, you can color it in with a crayon. A 64 box of crayola is sure to contain a perfect match.

**Dipping your fingertips in milk and wetting the top crust of a pie will make it brown better....of course, you MUST sprinkle sugar on top of the milk.

**Steel wool tucked around the pipes under the sink keep the mice from getting in.

**When you make scrambled eggs, always add 1/2 shell of milk for every egg. It makes your eggs fluffier.

**Always flour your hamburger patties before frying.

**Use Miracle Grow when you're planting

**If you turn your head away while you throw a whole stick of butter into a kettle of potato soup, the extra calories don't count (I think she made this one up!)

**Iron your clothes out of the dryer...not when you get them out to wear. It saves time. I haven't mastered this one yet.

**A match book and a candle in the bathroom can be a lifesaver.

I'm curious...what lessons did you learn from Grandma?

God is Great

2007-10-24T09:30:00.001-04:00

Every day, I get a devotional sent to my e-mail. Today, the devotional was this:

“Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7 AMP).

We asked that Grandma Jean not feel pain. God answered. We asked that Grandma not be alone. He answered. We asked that Grandma not suffer long. He answered.

God IS good...ALL the time.

One of my favorite Grandma Jean memories

2007-10-20T20:45:00.000-04:00

So, about 10 years ago, my family took Grandma Jean to a little movie we thought she would enjoy...Titanic. She had seen the previews, knew many things about the plot and was very interested in seeing the film.

We went St. Valentine's day week-end. Me, mom, dad, Ben, Serena and Grandma Jean arrived early, got tubs of popcorn and vats of soda and chose seats mid-way up the stadium style theater, smack dab in the middle of the row. We anxiously waited while other patrons filed in. By the time the movie started, the theater was packed.

Now, if you've never seen the movie, there are some important plot lines you need to know. The movie is about a boat...that sinks. The plot follows two young lovers on the boat. Jack is a starving artist and Rose is a wealthy socialite. They have a forbidden romance that at one point involves Jack drawing Rose in, shall I say, less than modest attire. Actually, no attire at all. The movie is also really long.

So, about two hours into the movie, Grandma Jean announces in a normal speaking voice, "If he's going to draw her naked, he better hurry up. That boat's going to sink." We all slid down into our seats as the row ahead of us turned around to see who was disrupting the movie.

Later as the ship was sinking, the string quartet decided to stay on deck and play music instead of abandoning the ship. Apparently, when the real Titanic sank, the string quartet actually did this. They played hymns to calm the passengers.

Well, when they started playing in the movie, Grandma recognized the hymn right away and began to sing along. For the rest of my life, I'll never forget my Grandma sitting in a dark, crowded theater, singing "Nearer My God to Thee" in full voice for everyone to hear:

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
E'en though it be a cross,
That raiseth me
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

There let the way appear,
Steps unto heaven
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given
Angels to beckon me,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise
So by my woes to be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Or if on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee!

How things ended with Staples.

2007-10-19T18:22:00.000-04:00

Grandma asked me today about the "boyfriend." I didn't have the heart to go into detail, so I told her that he was fine -- which I know he is. Not exactly a lie, right? More of an omission of truth.

The real story is that Staples and I aren't going to be seeing each other any more, unless it is in a public forum. We had several great dates and enjoyed each others company very much. He's a really great guy.

Since we met online, we were open about the situation. We both knew that there was no reason to be "exclusive" for any reason. Fine. It doesn't seem to make much sense to meet someone and decide that day to be exclusive.

As our conversations progressed, I learned that Staples had been going out with one girl on and off for a few months. As he told me about her, it came to light that she was on vacation in Michigan the week we met, and he was, well, a little lonely and a little confused about exactly where their relationship stood.

One night, he was at my house. We had made dinner and were watching TV when she called. He was very tense after the call, so I just had to lay it out for him:

Me: Have you ever considered, that you are just a monogamy kind of guy? You weren't meant to "play the field?"
S: But my marriage dissolved after 4 years. What if I try and this fails too?
Me: Yeah. You might try and it might last for only 50 years.
S: But I don't want to hurt you.
Me: (giggle) Like I'm going to be that smitten for any guy after a week? Sweetie, you're a great guy, but you ain't all that. (OK, that was in my head...here's what I actually said:) I'm not that fragile. I will be ok. But what's important here is to figure out what you want. If you want to try with her, great. If you don't, stop leading her on. If you don't know what you want...maybe you should take some time for yourself and figure that out.
S: I don't know.
Me: Of course you don't...you're a man. (OK -- that was in my head again. What I actually said was:) Why don't you go home and start thinking about it.

And he did.

This week he contacted me to let me know that they were going to try the monogamy thing for a while. He then thanked me profusely. I told him he owed me one...and so did she.

There is an upside all of this though. Yes, I did lose out on a possible relationship, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.

1) I met a really great guy, was totally myself and didn't scare him away.
2) I got a man to make somewhat of a commitment, not to me of course but still, a commitment was made.
3) He committed to a woman...not a man. At least I didn't turn this one gay. he he.

Have you hugged your pet today?

2007-10-15T12:31:00.000-04:00

On October 4th, our friends the catholics, celebrated the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of all animals. To commemorate the event, I'm holding a caption contest. A prize will be awarded to anyone who participates AND comes to rummy tile Tuesday night.

Milk bone, anyone?

Captions so far:

"Thank you Lord, for sending me to this house, instead of Michael Vicks"

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord would send me a big bone to eat!"

And in hops Frog #6

2007-10-13T06:54:00.000-04:00

So, I figured you need to just jump back on the horse...right? I got online and there was Frog #6 AKA Trolley, waiting to talk to ME! Whoo-hoo. Trolley was waiting for his flight at the airport in beautiful San Francisco.

Apparently, he has a new job and is moving to Columbus. He doesn't know a soul here. We spoke a bit about moving where you don't know anyone...and I told him about England. What a surprise, he has family who lives in England. He used to live there himself...and Africa, and Oklahoma and I can't remember where else. I laughed and told him that I hope our little cow town can live up to his worldly expectations.

Now, I normally wouldn't blog about a first conversation, but in the course of the blab-fest, the following dialogue occurred:

T: Do you think it's true that you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet a prince?
Me: Well...I've been kissing some frogs...haven't met my prince, so experience proves the old saying correct.
T: Are you tired of kissing toads? Are you ready to meet a prince?

HA! In light of how I've been writing about these guys, I just thought it was too funny and needed to share. If I play tour guide for Trolley, I'll be sure to let you know.....

So, the bloom fades quickly....

2007-10-12T14:49:00.000-04:00

Staples and I have spent much time together this week. We've spoken hours on the phone and IM'ed each other more than my boss knows! We had dinner Wednesday night AND Thursday night. He also took me to the shooting range Thursday.
Little aside here...I'm good with a gun. I mean REALLY good. I shot a 22 and a Glock 9MM. I was good with the 22 and great with the 9MM after some practice. It wasn't hard to impress myself, but Staples was impressed too. We shot for a couple of hours. I got to wear the safety glasses and the head phones, run the targets back and forth on the automated clothesline and pick up the shell casings so they could be repacked later. It was a blast -- pun intended.
So why does the bloom fade quickly? It is increasingly obvious that Staples hasn't fully recovered emotionally from his divorce. Personally, I don't think he's ready for anyone as confident and as independent as I am. I sent him home last night and asked him to think about what he wanted. After all, I'm not here to play therapist. He agreed that taking the week-end to himself to consider different possibilities would be more beneficial in the long run than me calling in sick on Friday so I could stay home with him...which is what he originally wanted.
It is a curse to be this desirable. ha ha ha.....
Anyways, Staples know that the door is open to him, but I'm not expecting much. I guess it's back to the drawing boards for me. I'll keep ya posted

Frog #5 -- The Shimmer of a Prince

2007-10-08T15:10:00.000-04:00

So I had a very nice date with Frog #5 yesterday. I had originally given him the nickname Steely J., but after meeting him, I discovered he had his own nickname -- Staples. Whys that you ask? Because he has an easy button...just like the commercials. And indeed, he is a very laid back and easy going guy.

Of course, when I met Staples, the first name that popped into my head was Fat Pat...because he reminded me of my cousin, but just in a smooshed down, wider kind of way.

Staples and I met at a bar to watch the Steelers crucify the Seahawks. We shared some pizza and beers, laughs and cheers for our team. We decided that more time needed to be spent together so movie and a dinner followed.

Staples is a blissfully normal guy. He works as a computer geek for JPMorgan/Chase. He owns his own house and property, likes to hunt -- both gun and crossbow, and he's an avid pool player. He grew up in western PA (around Slippery Rock) and has been transplanted in Ohio for almost 10 years. Staples is an excellent conversationalist...he speaks easily and encourages conversation, while never dominating it. That talent is a welcome treat from the one word grunts I've encountered thus far. More vital stats: he's 34 (soon to be 35 in January), has been previously married and has a 12-year-old daughter. He's Southern Baptist and because he owns guns, one can only assume that he's Republican.

So, after our 7 hour first date, I informed Staples that it was time for this little chick-a-dee to go home, as there was a dog with his legs crossed waiting there. Staples laughed and agreed. After I got home, I got an IM sayting that he had a great time. I wrote back that I did too...and we IM'ed for a bit. Then he declared that he couldn't type fast enough and asked if he could call. That conversation lasted over an hour. **sigh**

Thursday, Staples is taking me to the shooting range. We can also deduce that he is brave....very brave.

Some Recent Pics....

2007-10-06T10:24:00.000-04:00

Miss Mary quite contrary....

Linus and his favorite stick

Hmmm....wonder who took this one?

The Polyester Chief

2007-10-05T16:08:00.001-04:00

Q: At what point, do you think I start trusting my instincts and be a bit more selective?

A: Right Now.

Last night I had a date with The Polyester Chief. He told me he wasn't really into talking online, and would I mind meeting him for coffee. OK. He gave me his phone number and suggested we meet Sunday after church. However, when I called him, I got his voice mail...so I left a message. By the time we met last night, he had called 7 times, just to confirm a time and place...or to change it. Ugh.

Now, this guy told me that he was 41. My acute visual awareness told me that he was a liar. I don't think of myself as judgemental...after all, he was nice enough and bought me coffee, but let me see if I can describe him: gray and balding, gold pinky rings, silver polyester shirt unbuttoned low enough for his graying chest hair to pop out, khaki shorts, mules, baby-butt smooth legs and a walk that indicated he suffered from the gout.

The Polyester Chief was the fire chief for a small burg outside of Columbus. He taught drivers-ed on the week-ends. He liked stamp and coin collecting and antiques. He was divorced for two years and lived with his brother and his wife. The Polyester Chief immediately wanted to know if we could go hang at my house and have order a pizza.

Unfortunately, I was taking dinner to a "friend" and couldn't stay. After I ran for it, I went over to Jersey Mikes, where I know the owner. He felt sorry for me and gave me a free sub. So it wasn't a wasted night after all!

So, after a week of trying this, here are Sara's super groovy Internet dating rules:
1) If they are aggressive online, don't meet them.
2) If they can't spell or write well, don't meet them.
3) If they refuse to show you a picture, or send you a picture of something that would generally not be shown in a police line-up, don't meet them.
4) If you do agree to meet, ask them what car they are driving and to meet you in the parking lot. Don't reveal your car type, because then you can do a drive-by check to see if you want to stay.

All this is not a loss though. I have very high hopes for Frog #5 aka Steely J. We've had some great conversations and he seems....normal. We're meeting Sunday to watch the Steelers beat Seattle. I'll update you ASAP.

Leisure Suit Larry and Frog #3

2007-10-04T17:16:00.000-04:00

Did you ever play that video game in the 80's called 'Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards?" Yeah, I didn't think so. I used to play alot. Our friends the Crawfords had it. You were the character Larry and you were navigating through the night life. You had to over come drunks, jealous boyfriends, whiney women etc. etc. But you know what? No matter how far you advanced, Leisure Suit Larry never left the lounge.

Enter Frog #3, aka Bartender Ted.

Bartender Ted was one of the first guys I met online. He approached me on IM and chatted easily. He worked construction during the day and tended bar at night. He was a little forward in his approach, but I didn't really think to much about it at the time. He invited me to the bar where he worked on Saturday night so we could meet (He works in a restaurant, so the bar wasn't always crowded). I told him I would try, but didn't make any promises.

So Saturday night rolled around, and Semi-Steve had offered to actually take me out...which I thought was a better deal than sitting at the end of a bar talking to a guy between customers. Of course we all know how that turned out. While I was out with Semi-Steve, Bartender Ted started calling. Where are you at? Are you coming? I'm getting ready to leave! Call me. Several messages were left.

After I excused myself from Semi-Steve, I called Bartender Ted back....no answer. I left a voice mail and drove home. When I got home, Bartender Ted was waiting on IM to talk. He claimed the night was still young and proposed we go out. I told him that I just wasn't in a going out mood anymore, I had an early morning and sorry, we'll have to make it another time. I asked if that was OK, he said it was and he understood. Great.

Then he started contacting me about how I missed such a great opportunity. He had all the power and I was on a hook...so he claimed. Apparently he believed that I couldn't wait to go out on a date with him, and that he was just going to keep me waiting out of spite. HA! Every time I logged on to IM, he popped up with this kind of drivel.

After talking to some other girls who meet men online and use IM to communicate, I discovered that Bartender Ted is the lounge lizard of the Internet. He waits online and then pounces on whoever is new to the scene, uses them to his best advantage and then never really moves on. It amazes me that friends as far away as Cleveland have even been subjected to Bartender Ted. Nice.

Bartender Ted is now blocked from my IM list.

Tune in next time to hear about Frog #4 aka The Polyester Chief.

Me and my frogs

2007-10-02T15:31:00.000-04:00

So, if you don't know, I've been very, very frustrated with the whole dating world. The old fix-up seems to be a thing of the past, or at least no one is fixing me up. I have asked so many people for their advice, and all I get is blank stares and shrugs, and alot of "gee, wow, that's rough." In fact, when discussing the situation with a staff member at church, I was advised to either try e-harmony (which I have deduced is a joke) or maybe MOVE TO A DIFFERENT CHURCH! (The ridiculousness of this statement astounds me as our church is trying to grow. Obviously, we wouldn't want to cultivate a thriving men's ministry that would attract single men of God. Noooooooo, it is far better to just tell the single women to go elsewhere. I guess we are just supposed to come back when we are married with a family?) ACK! I'm getting off topic.

I decided that in order to date a prince, I was going to have to suck it up and kiss a few frogs. I thought you all might enjoy a good laugh about how horrible the dating world is.

Enter frog #2 aka Semi-Steve. (Frog #1 aka The Cable Guy will need an entry of his own at a future date).

Semi-Steve and I met online (this seems to be the easiest way to meet men these days). We exchanged pictures and IM'ed each other for a bit. He was very charming...asked about me, interested in my background -- wanted to know about what my masters was in. He suggested we meet for a drink on Saturday night. Fine. We agreed on a place/time etc. He said he would meet me outside. And I naively thought that he would be a gentleman. HA!

I pull up to see a guy with dripping wet hair and the arms ripped off of his t-shirt. Apparently Semi-Steve was a bouncer in a former life, and now was a truck-driver. It took from the time we met in the parking lot until the time we sat down to realize that Semi-Steve couldn't put a sentence together without swearing. Semi-Steve insisted we sit outside on the patio, as he did not want to hear anything about the Buckeyes. In fact, he hated the Buckeyes. He hated that they were winning. He hated that people in Columbus were crazy about them. He hated how people acted the next day (apparently Buckeye Victory Gloating made Semi-Steve feel bad **sniff sniff**)

As it turns out, Semi-Steve hated just about everything. Here is a short list:

1) The Buckeyes
2) Being hot (physically)
3) Patio's without hot tubs
4) Kids
5) Mustangs (the car)
6) Columbus in General
7) Black Ice
8) Columbus Drivers
9) Columbus Drivers + Black Ice
10) Not having a house
11) His job
12) His boss
13) The headlights of his Camero (apparently one wasn't working properly)
14) Janitorial supply companies
15) My ringtone
16) The newly re-routed Powell Road

I could go on, but why? The date ended when he told me that I would need to shut my phone off when we went back to his place because he couldn't "concentrate" with that ringtone going off. HA! Like there was any chance I would go anywhere with him. He didn't even get a handshake. I thanked him for my drinks, explained two was my limit and I was going home. Buh-Bye!

Tune in next time for the exciting tale of Frog #3 aka Bartender Ted.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

2007-09-27T08:06:00.000-04:00

...From the Hummels...

2007-09-24T15:53:00.001-04:00

Here's an exerpt from Bryson Hummel's blog, written by his dad Beau. Bryson is the little boy who lost his leg in a lawn mower accident. You can check out the entire site here.

Tense. It’s the only way to possibly describe the drive to Marion Friday night. The last time we made this drive was the last time Bryson had two legs as 15 minutes after our arrival, the incident occurred. I kept replaying the first time I saw Bryson on the ground over and over again. Nicole even mentioned that she felt herself getting a bit nauseated. But ultimately we both agreed that all we had to do was get there…just get that first trip over with and we’d feel a whole lot better.

What we received was better than expected.

It was heaven. Sheer heaven. If it weren’t for the feeding tube, wound-vac cords everywhere, and only one leg protruding from underneath Spider Man pjs, you wouldn’t have known anything was wrong as 6 young cousins played frantically around their patriarch. Bryson sat on the floor giggling as he played with matchbox cars on the floor with his cousins. He got the biggest kick out of trying to hit them with his stuffed lamb (the one he sleeps with every night affectionately known as “Lamby”). The laughter of children…THE LAUGHTER OF BRYSON…heaven for Bryson and heaven for his mom and dad.

The next morning at about 9:30am I loaded Bryson into the van to head of to church as Nicole was making final preparations inside. As I adjusted his wound-vac and began to buckle him in, Bryson initiated this conversation:

Bryson: Daddy, this is where I got hurt.

Me: Where did you get hurt?

B: In the yard.

M: Where in the yard?

B: Over there (pointing around the corner of the house where the accident occurred).

M: What happened?

B: The lawn mower got me.

M: Did it hurt?

B: Yeah.

M: Did you cry?

B: Yeah.

M: I cried, too. I cried when you got hurt Bryson.

B: No you didn’t…you ran away.

(My body froze in disbelief at his shocking statement.)

M: No I didn’t. I sat down with you. You had a big bleed didn’t you?

B: Yeah.

M: Well, I took off my shirt and wrapped it around your leg to stop the bleeding.

B: No, you can’t take your shirt off. You ran away.

He said is so matter-of-factly. It wasn’t an accusation, blame, just the truth to him. Baffled, I let the conversation end as Nicole came to the van. As we pulled out of the driveway, I told her about our conversation and how stunned I was that Bryson thought I ran away when it was me that provided the truncate for his leg. Nicole looked and me and said calmly, “He’s right, Beau. You did run away. When you first saw him you came back to get me.”

So it was true. There laying beside the lawn mower with skin and bone strewn around the ground, tears streaming down his face in pain and frustration as he tried to stand up, I left him. His eyes were screaming, “DADDY! HELP ME!” But I turned away. My body began to shake as I clenched the steering wheel even tighter…and then tears exploded from my eyes. I’m his best friend. I’m his protector. I’m his strength…and I ran away. I was trying to help him, but all he knows is that daddy left him. Things escalated during the worship service when this verse to the song He Knows My Name:

I have a FATHER

He calls me His own

HE’LL NEVER LEAVE ME

No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought

HE SEES EACH TEAR THAT FALLS
AND HEARS ME WHEN I CALL

Again I began to cry. I did hear Bryson call! I did see him crying. I left him, yes, BUT to go get more help so I could do what was best for him! And it was. As I held his leg, mommy comforted him and he never lost consciousness. People told me he’ll understand someday. But I don’t want someday; I want him to know now how much I love him and how much I hurt for him that night. I didn’t hear the sermon that morning because God was giving me a personal one in the pew. When we’re in crisis, we, too, call out to God for immediate aid. Sometimes we perceive the immediate silence as God not caring. He left me. He doesn’t hear me. He doesn’t understand what I’m going through. If He really cared, He’d do something right NOW. But knowing our pain, hearing our cry, maybe God is just rounding the corner of the house to get someone to work for Him: a co-worker to encourage us, a friend to unexpectedly take us out for a meal, a pay raise out of nowhere, a spouse or parent to get home to listen to us and cry with us. I was giving Bryson what was best and I can’t begin to love him as much as God does. If I want to do what’s best, why wouldn’t, why doesn’t God want it too? He may not look like He’s acting right away, but He is acting in the right way.

Winning people over, Sara style...

2007-09-24T12:50:00.000-04:00

After a recent conversation about workers comp, college football and the economy, the following dialog took place:

Him: "You're pretty smart, aren't ya?"

Me: "Yes. I am. You aren't so bad yourself."

Him: "It's like I always say, I'm so bright my mom has to call me Son."

Me: "Hmmmm.... Too bad she can't call you funny."

I didn't forget!

2007-09-21T08:53:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was Garrett's 12th birthday. I was at home without my laptop, so I couldn't let you know about it until now. Anyways, I can't believe he is twelve. Here are some favorite Garrett memories:

1) How cold it was the day Garrett was born! Brrrr....
2) He had the curliest hair I'd ever seen on a little kid.
3) He used to get upset if his shoe-lace loops showed, or the seams on his socks
were crooked.
4) He played peek-a-boo longer than either of the other two.
5) Once, he called 911...on accident.
6) He stinkered on an airplane trip and told pe-paw it was 'airplane air.'
7) He used to always ask for his "balia fook" which meant bottle of chocolate milk.
8) The first time we got a root-beer float together, he told me that adding ice
cream was a perfectly good way to ruin root-beer.
9) On our way to see 'The Lion King' Garrett noticed a homeless man. He worried so much about that man all day. It was the first day we ever talked about "grown-up" issues...and the first day he learned that not every question has an answer. His compassion for others continues to be an inspiration to me.
10) He's 12...and he still gives me a hug and tells me he loves me.

Q: Where are Ben and Serena not going to celebrate their anniversary?

2007-09-19T14:43:00.003-04:00

A: Hawaii

Don't feel bad though, they got to spend their Honeymoon there.
I can't believe they've been married 15 years. Here are a few things that I won't forget about their wedding:

1) How CUTE little Joshy Loyer was in his tux. (FYI -- he was the ring bearer)
2) Serena standing half-dressed in the nursery crying, "How am I supposed to look like a princess...ALL DAY?!"
3) Grandpa Royal didn't want to sit up front, but then didn't like being left in the back and ended up sitting somewhere in the middle of everyone.
4) Joe Daniels, the best man, bought me drinks all afternoon at the reception.
5) Ben and Serena smashed their wedding cake into the faces of their best man and maid of honor...instead of into each other.
6) Dad arriving late with the forgotten petticoats
7) Vacuuming the church once everything was over with.
8) Pulling double duty -- bridesmaid AND vocalist
9) Ben and Serena driving down to their apartment in Columbus, only to discover they had forgotten their keys and had to make a round trip back to Marion to get them.
10) Coming home and watching the Miss America pageant. Why? I have no idea.

Happy Anniversary Ben and Serena!

Another reason why it's the most wonderful time of the year...

2007-09-18T16:15:00.000-04:00

With increased TV time, comes increased knitting time. YEAH! I am at the same time mourning that my favorite knitting ship appears to be closed. If they moved, I haven't found them yet. If you know anything about "The Stitch Stops Here" in Delaware, please let me know!
Anyway, I did start one of my favorite scarf patterns. It goes something like this:

Any kind of ribbon type yarn and size 10 needles.

Cast on 10 stiches in your preferred method.
Pattern: Knit 8 rows
on the 9th row, *Knit one, make two by wrapping the yarn around the right needle. Repeat from *until you reach the end of the row, ending with Knit1.
On the way back, drop all of those stiches you added.

Start all over by knitting 8 rows. Repeat pattern until you have the desired length.

Adorn with fringe if you like.

It's super quick, super cute and very versatile. I use them as belts, scarves, and in one very desparate moment, a purse strap.

Enjoy!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

2007-09-17T10:52:00.000-04:00

...all of my old friends are coming home! I have so many questions! Will Kitty marry the handsome, young Senator? Will Meredith find bliss with Dr. McDreamy? Will Elliott and Olivia remain partners? Will Betty once again save the day at Mode? Oh, SNAP!
Yes, fall premier season is right around the corner. After stale re-runs all summer (except for the wonderful folks over at TBS and TNT who provide us with a great summer line-up), I am ready for fall programming.
Although we are going to have to wait until January to see what's up with CTU and those who are LOST, we'll have plenty of things to entertain us until then.
Wanna know when your favorite show is starting? Find out here.