I love typos.... was working on our website and instead of "click here" I typed "lick here" - brings a whole new dimension to the online experience!

Christmas 2011

This is my niece, Savannah and Brandon before we started opening presents. It is about 11am- looks like they just got up, huh?

I know, I've been mia again. It has been an interesting, but altogether nice, Christmas. Started on Friday night when Savannah and I went to the Men's Shelter in downtown Charlotte to prepare and serve dinner with 6 others from my Sunday School class. Saturday found me kicking the eldest out of the house for stealing and lying; then taking a nap and going to my mom's for Christmas with the extended family. Sunday was relaxed and easy- opening presents, easy dinner of ham and baked potatoes. And I've been off for the past two days so I have a lot of things put away already. Not the outside lights though. Was going to do that today but it rained. So I guess they'll stay out until at least the weekend! Have some presents to mail tomorrow, but they're boxed and ready!

Baby Seal Enters House and Naps on Couch

Annette Swoffer fell victim to a home invasion – of cuteness! Lucky the seal pup, named for its knack for crossing busy streets without a scratch, wound up asleep on Swoffer’s couch after apparently entering her home through a cat door, Dec. 11, 2011, according...

Link

Ten "Bah Humbug" Thoughts...

1. It took me a minute to remember that it is Tuesday! I took today and tomorrow off to get some Christmas shopping done and totally messed the week up in my head.

2. I'm just not in the Christmas mood yet. It really doesn't feel like December. Part of it may have to do with the warm weather. The other part is just the year flying by too fast. My internal clock hasn't caught up.

3. I did go shopping today and got at least two things crossed off my list. I'll do most of the rest tomorrow.

4. I don't have any decorations up either. I am to the point that they're either going to have to go up now or not go up at all. It is a lot of work to have to un-do in three weeks.

5. I know I sound like Scrooge- I feel a little bit like Scrooge. Not in an "I hate Christmas" way but in an "I'm too tired to bother" way.

6. Savannah has her first JO volleyball tournament this weekend. I can't wait to see how this team does- this is the highest level she has ever played at and every girl on the team is beyond good. I have no idea how much she'll even get to play, but she is learning a LOT!

7. They've had a lot of drama in school this week. One of the boys in her class called in a bomb threat to the school. Now he is expelled and several others have been suspended for a week. We all just want to know why? Seemed like a good, smart kid from a good family. I know, you never know what happens behind closed doors.

8. I went to the Y today. It makes me feel so much better to go, but I'm sure good at finding excuses not to. Although my back is hurting, and hurts every time I go. I suppose I should ice it down. I go to the chiropractor on Thursday, so maybe she can give me some better advice.

9. I'm so sleepy. It felt like a good soup night, so I made potato soup and had a salad. Now I have all this warm milk in my belly. I could sleep like a baby.

10. My new driver is doing well. She doesn't like to be corrected much, but I'm learning how to do it constructively and gently. I suppose holding onto the handle and screaming wasn't the best way.... lol.

Good night everyone!

Does anyone want to do an ornament exchange this year? Christmas cards? What we've done before is put addresses in a pm, open to whoever is participating. Then you send everyone on the list something. It was fun in years past but has crept up on me this time!

Ten Thoughts for a Rainy Tuesday

1.  I was really enjoying the mild November we were having. It was fine. It really didn't have to turn cold and rainy. But it did anyway. I don't really like winter... but here it comes anyway.

2. I am enjoying my Thirty-One business. I made $200 last month! And I'm having an open house on Saturday with a friend who sells Mary Kay. Cross your fingers that we sell some and get some good leads for later! Oh, and if you want to buy something as a Christmas gift, use that link, but do it by December 12 to get guaranteed shipping by Christmas.

3. My back has hurt this week. It was feeling so much better, but I slept on it wrong and got my neck all messed up where I couldn't turn my head left. I did go to the chiropractor and she helped a lot. I hate it when they crack your neck, though. I keep thinking I'll be paralyzed or dead or something like what happens in the movies.

4. I'm hooked on Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series of books. If you aren't familiar with them you may have watched Legend of the Seeker on ABC for two seasons. It is medieval good vs. evil with wizards and sorceresses too. But underlying it all is a real sense of living your life in truth. Most people are either dedicated to the Creator or the Keeper. I'm in the 6th book and you're really starting to get a good look at some political things, too. But what I love most are the Wizard's rules. I am going to list them as the rest of my thoughts. Each book introduces one more, so I'm sure there are more to come.

5. Wizard's Rule #1- People will believe a lie either because they want it to be true or because they fear it is.

6. Wizard's Rule #2- The greatest harm can result from the best intentions. I think this is where that enabling comes in.

7. Wizard's Rule #3- Passion rules reason. Yep, been there!

8. Wizard's Rule #4- There is magic in forgiveness- magic that can heal.

9. Wizard's Rule #5- Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie.

10. Wizard's Rule #6- The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason.

Sue made me...

Who actually reads my posts? Let's see who reads this entire post................

Leave me  a "ONE WORD" comment about me......

Using the "FIRST LETTER OF YOUR  LAST NAME"

It can only be one word.

Then, copy this to your blog so I can leave a word about you too. Okay?

Picture Perfect- Header Competition

Here's a little contest to come up with a new header for the Picture Perfect site. This was taken with my little Canon on the streets of Assisi, Italy. It is my favorite picture of the year!

For more Picture Perfect, click here.

I'm going to Amsterdam for 5 months!!

Sweet Death

Those of you who are my friends on Facebook will probably know that my step-father died on Friday night after a 20 year battle with cancer. He married my mom 13 years ago, a couple of years after his first wife died. He treated my mom like she was a princess! He was an amazing husband and to watch his declining health saddened the whole family.

He spent the last month at a Hospice facility where he charmed all the nurses. He was one of those people who left a mark everywhere he went, but he left an imprint on my life that I will not soon forget, since I had the privilege of watching him take his last breath.

I have never seen someone die. I really didn't know what to expect, and honestly didn't expect to be there. Mom called me at lunch on Friday and said that they didn't think he'd live through the night. I asked her if she wanted me to leave work and come be with her, but she told me to stay, that his daughter was coming over and so was my brother. So I told her I'd see her after work.

I called on my way over and asked if she'd like supper. She wasn't really hungry but wanted some comfort food, so I stopped and picked her up something. I arrived about 5pm to find her doting on him as usual. His breathing was shallow but he was alert and following you with his eyes. He looked pitifully wasted away and had a very gray pallor.

Mom and I settled in beside him to eat our food and went through the preparations of finding plastic ware, salt, drinks, and such. Right before she started to eat, she stood up and asked him if he had another kiss for her. His little lips puckered with all the strength left in them. It may not have been a textbook definition of a kiss, but his intent was clear. She told him she loved him and turned her attention to her food. I think we both had taken two or three bites when we realized that we hadn't heard that next breath. Time of death- 5:20pm.

It was that easy. He was breathing softly and then just never took another breath. There was no fanfare- no other movement of his body. Just a soft slipping away to somewhere much more peaceful. It was the sweetest thing I'd ever experienced. I'm so glad that mom got her "goodbye kiss" as she is calling it. And I am pleased that he died peacefully and easily.

Thanks for all the well wishes. If you can, just pray for healing and comfort for my mom in the days ahead. She will have to find her "normal" again without him and will be lost without her friend and confidant. The rest of us will miss his humor, wit, and love.

So, tell me the best thing to do when the dog smells like skunk...

Ten Rainy Thoughts

1. It has rained all day. This is one of those days that started out warmer than it ended up. And the days are noticeably shorter now. *sigh* Winter is coming.

2. Work is much calmer this week! Thank goodness.

3. I have had time to work on my new business! I actually have THREE parties planned for this month with two more people who want to have one next month! These are mostly my friends who have agreed to help me get started, but I'll take it! Hopefully there will be some people at their parties who want to have a party!

4. That's www.mythirtyone.com/mommadish if you're interested- I can have online parties, too!

5. Speaking of parties, I got fantastic news today. Our church is sponsoring a trip to Belize in February to work with street children there. I was really interested but said no when I found out it was going to cost $1100. A man at church called me and told me I should go- and that he was going to pay for it!

6. Now I'm wondering- Belize in February. I'm going to have to Google it to see what the weather will be like. Central America I'm assuming is never cold?

7. My step-father is failing quickly. He has been with Hospice since June, but has been at a Hospice facility for the past three weeks. Mom is a wonderful nursemaid for him.

8. He is 89- I don't know if I want to live to be 89!

9. I bet I'll feel different when I'm 88!

10. Well that's all the news from here. Good night friends!

My New Business

I really need to earn some extra money. I'm going to need another car next year when Savannah gets her license and that will mean a car payment and more insurance (way more insurance!) I've been thinking about things I could do to earn more money for about a year but working 40 hours a week plus keeping up with the kids doesn't leave me a lot of free time.

I went to a Thirty-One party the other night. I love their stuff! I have several things of theirs and it is good quality, affordable, and stylish! The consultant there asked me if I had thought of becoming a consultant, since I liked the product so much. *ding* It was like a light bulb came on! Of course, a good way to earn a little extra with a flexible schedule. So I signed up!

My first party will be October 24. So say a little prayer that the people who come want to have a party of their own! That's how it gets going. Also, you can have an online party- no food needed, no cleaning your house, etc. As a hostess, if your guests collectively spend over $200 total then you get one item at half price and $25 worth of free stuff! And the rewards just go up from there. So think about all those people who might like Christmas gifts, and might help you get some free Christmas gifts!

You can go to my website to check out more!

Ten Thoughts for a Post-Vacation Tuesday

1. You know how work is always worse the day you get back from vacation? My whole week is going to be like that.

2. Three people died on Friday. One lady had cancer and was expected. Two were murdered.

3. Yep, murdered. I don't think I've ever known anyone who was murdered. Click here if you want to know more.

4. Their funeral is Thursday, and should prove to be the biggest circus I've ever seen. Media have been all over this story.

5. The sweet lady who died from cancer will have her funeral next week. She was my Monday office volunteer until she got too sick to continue. That one's going to be harder!

6. Then I got to work this morning and found out that another man, who had been ill for a long time, died last night. His funeral will be Friday.

7. As I was sending out email messages about news and arrangements to our members, the associate pastor told me (jokingly) to include that "deaths will be postponed for the time being. We will alert you when this service is available again." That was after I said "can I suggest that anyone else who is planning to die wait for awhile? We're kinda busy!"

8. I know, there's nothing funny about any of this. But sometimes you have to laugh or you'll just go nuts!

9. So I really don't wanna go to work tomorrow. It's just been stressful and over-the-top crazy. And I never feel that way about my job.

10. I know, I should pray and meditate. Believe me, I need it!

Dream Workshop- Session Four- Prayer and Meditation

How to pray and meditate:
Read Deuteronomy 30 and John 14-17...
- Read with the faith that Jesus is speaking to you
- Read 5-10 verses a day
- Meditate on them
- Apply the truths in them to your life

Meditation brings health, solace, peace, joy, affluence, brotherly love. You can be helped through meditation more than any other source.
- This is how you enter the Holy of Holies
- Meeting God within
- Builds our relationship with our creator
- Attunes mind and body to Source
- The ideal is given power in meditation

Role of Christ
- To awaken us to truths
- To transform us
- To protect and guide us
- To baptize us with the Spirit
- To meet us within

Requirements for meditation:
1- A desire to know God
2- Disciplined and consistent effort
3- Desire to serve

Global Consciousness:
1- Vision of the New Age
2- Start Now
3- Enter into Consistent Prayer and Meditation
4- Co-creating- become willing participants with God
5- Claim the Spirit- ask for it!

Find time to pray and meditate. If you don't have time, pray to find time! We find time for the important things in our lives. Use down time (car line at school, for example)

Measure of Meditation
- Find your own way
- You become more merciful, kind, gentle, patient
- "Consciously choose to become more lovely"

Dream Workshop- Session Three- The New Age

What is the New Age?
Hinduism measures periods of time in yugas. The age we are in now (the Kali Yuga) is coming to an end after nearly 3000 years. We are entering the Satya Yuga, or the age of truth. Edgar Cayce referred to this as the "Age of the Lily" - the age of Aquarius. He said it is a good time to be alive! This is an age of peace that only the pure will comprehend.

Signs of the Time:
- Cleansing of rebellion, hate, selfishness, sorrow, tears, and sadness
- Corruptions brought to light
- Leveling of power structures
- Strifes (Cayce predicted Lybia, Egypt, Syria, and Ankara!)
- Earth changes- upheavals in the arctics
- Volcanoes and earthquakes
- Atlantis will rise
- These will be gradual changes

Promises of the New Age
- A new heaven and a new earth- no desire to sin, glory of the Son
- Those who are prepared will be shown the way
- Revelation
- We will be our brother's keeper
- Spirits of light enter the earth
- Greater communication with God and Creative Forces

Christ- the 2nd Coming:
- Is His coming literal or symbolic... or both? Will be like the 40 days after his resurrection (Jesus appeared to those who knew him and believed in him.)
- Cayce says Jesus will return in his same body- will appear to those who align their will with his

When will Christ come?
- No one knows (not even Jesus) but it is not our concern
- We will be able to enter the Holy of Holies
- Matt 24 and Mark 13 (many will come in His name, there will be war, nation rising against nation, famine and earthquakes in new places.

To put all our efforts into looking for Christ to come is foolish; preparing for Christ to come is wise; asking Christ into our hearts now is wisest.

What will Happen? We will walk and talk with Him.

What is expected of us?
What will Jesus find us doing?
Jesus carried a message wherever he went.
Be ready to give an account- how did you use your gifts?
Be true to ourselves and our calling.
Abide in the truth- keep commands- love one another.

Preparation:
-Be in the world but not of the world
-Do not be worried or anxious (develop the Spirit to rebuke the winds). When worries come, turn within. Pray daily "Lord, use me."
- Work on the ideal- the spiritual foundation
- Service- the ideal is made alive by living the truth- meet anger with love and compassion (Ghandi is an example)
- We come into grace by helping others

We cannot contain Christ in Christianity
- any religion who sees the One True God has a Christ spirit.

Prayer...
- Engages God in our efforts to obtain our ideal
- Sets self aside- purges our selfishness (like Jesus drove out the moneychangers from the temple)
- sets the stage for meditation

Dimensions of Prayer:
- "Thy Will be Done"
- Learn how to carry the cross (that thing's heavy!)
- Pray about anything and everything- nothing's too big or too small for the Creator
- Meet crosses, trials, and temptations
- Repentance
- Faith makes things manifest (your faith has made you well)

Dream Workshop- Session Two

Four Stages of Dream Work:
1- Preparing your consciousness through prayer and meditation- show an interest in your dreams
2- Recalling (pray for remembrance- self-suggestion that you remember dreams before going to sleep)
- set the stage, have an inquiring mind, desire to learn and grow and be guided
3- Interpreting
- You are your own best interpreter
- Come to the core message of the dream
- review the dream in your mind and go back to sleep asking for the meaning to be revealed (same night dreams often carry the same message)
4- Applying
- honors the dreamer and the Creator
- Claim our own Christhood

Strategies for Recall:
- Review past dreams
- Record dreams, either in a notebook or on recorder
- Stay still- recall dream before you move
- Talk about your dreams to others
- Prayer and self-suggestion

Dream Work is Work! It takes consistent practice to see the patterns emerge. The more you work on it the better you can become at listening to God through your dreams. Coupled with prayer and meditation, this is a way to come into a complete relationship with God.

(Workshop Leader- Jerry Lazarus, speaker for A.R.E.)

Dream Workshop- Session One

Purpose of Dreams:
1- To take stock of ourselves
2- To build a relationship with our Source (God, Creator)
3- A way God provides aid and help
4- To instill profound changes
5- To prepare us for what is coming
6- To provide warnings
7- To aid and help loved ones
8- To be of service
9- To provide an unbiased report
10- To uncover what we are trying to ignore
11- To alert us to new opportunities
12- To encourage and empower us
13- To provide practical guidance
14- To answer the mysteries of life (visits from beyond)

We have three levels of consciousness:
1- Conscious- the body- like the outer court in Solomon's temple. Is awake when we're awake and asleep when we're asleep.
2- Subconscious- the mind- like the inner court of the temple. Active while we're in sleep.
3- Superconscious- the Spirit- like the Holy of Holies- where visions are seen- active while we are in sleep

Nightmares are usually caused by mis-functioning systems in the body:
1- Assimilation
2- Circulation
3- Relaxation
4- Elimination
(Haven't you ever eaten something that gave you nightmares?)

Varieties of Dreams:
1- Warnings
2- New Opportunities (when we don't understand or respond to our calling)
3- Assurance or Empowerment
4- Lessons or Corrections
5- Lessons in truth/honesty
6- Business or practical guidance (may remind you to change the oil!)
7- Unreasonable thinking (shows our flawed thinking)
8- Prophetic dreams- there is no time in dreams- dreams are perfectly timed to come when we need them
9- Service- how we can help
10- Telepathic dreams- consciousness between two subconscious minds.

What Do We Do with Information Received in Dreams?
1- Be a help- give aid
2- Give or use knowledge
3- Pray

Not the Blog I Wanted

I know, I was going to blog about my workshop this weekend. I ran out of time to get my notes typed up, and I think they need to sit another day anyway. We covered a lot of ground! So, here's a crazy quiz for you:

1. The most expensive thing that you have ever stolen: A glass paperweight- I was 7 or 8 years old. Can't think of anything else.

2. Something that would make you throw up if you ate it: Anything with tequila in it... blech!

3. Do you have any deformities?  Not until you get to my mind....

4. A liquor that you will never touch again:  See #2! Yes, there's a story, Super Bowl 1988- Denver Broncos vs. Washington Redskins. I was in college. We thought it would be fun to do a shot every time our team scored. I was a Redskin fan. I figured, how bad could it be? Super Bowl scores weren't usually outrageous. Wrong. It was 35-10 at half-time. I was so sick!

5. The worst accident that you have ever had:  I've never had more than a fender bender, thank goodness!

6. Someone you would like to be for a day: Hmm... that's an awesome question. I wish I could think of an answer. Oh, I could be Kat or Susan for a day and get them a better job!

7. Have you ever tried to kill yourself?   No, I like me!

8. An animal that you would like to come back as:  Definitely Kat's Bela. He's king of the hill, and well taken care of. Doesn't take anything off of anyone, either.

9. Something you can go buy right now that should be illegal: Tobacco

10. Something illegal that you wish you could go buy right now:   I can't think of a thing.

11. If my parents ever knew this, I would die: I'm sure if you'd asked this 25 years ago I could have thought of something.

12. Your dream car: BMW Z4 Roadster convertible. Well, while I'm dreaming, that is. I want a Nissan Altima coupe for my next real car!

13. *Poof* and you are there for a day: Greece. Or maybe Ireland. Or the Galapagos Islands. This was an easy one!

14. The worst of the 7 Deadly Sins:  Skepticism. Ok, that isn't really one. I'd pick greed.

15. My dream job would be: Retired! I like my job- except maybe tomorrow after having 3 days off last week.

16. Has an animal ever touched your genitals: Have you ever had a dog? They love to sniff!

17. What is the meanest thing that you have done to someone?  I can't think of anything specific- I'm sure I've probably said things to people that hurt them.

18. Something you regret doing: Probably talking too much instead of listening.

19. If I could wish anything away, it would be: Hatred of people who are different from you.

20. Your #1 guilty pleasure:  York Peppermint Patties.

I'm back from my mountain weekend retreat- it was lovely, but COLD! I'm planning to type my notes out later on tonight in blogs if you're interested in dreams and such! Great speaker this weekend!

Picture Perfect- Letters in Nature

So this time, Gator has challenged us to find letters in nature. I have a ton of pictures that I took in Italy, and with all the towers it was going to be easy to find the letter I! Then, I came across this picture. It reminded me of trying to write my m's in cursive. You know, when you're not sure how many humps they have and you just keep on going? Oh, and you don't always get them even either.

This picture was taken in Verona at their Roman Colosseum, which is not a ruin but is still used for outdoor operas.

Find more Picture Perfect HERE.

It's Tuesday!

1. I'm not sure I have 10 thoughts...

2. I'm enjoying my Kindle. Never thought I would, though. I love books so much, but the Kindle is super handy! I am currently carrying around 53 books in my purse, most of which were free!

3. Work has just gone nuts. I feel like I'm on a roller coaster where you're not belted in good... just have to hang on! Relief is coming soon- they're hiring two people at the end of October. Just in the nick of time!

4. I'm bored with food. (That's not keeping me from eating, however!) I'm just tired of the same old stuff. And I haven't had much time at home to experiment with new recipes. Now that the weather is cool, I might pull out the crock pot and make some different things. I just need to remember to do that BEFORE I leave for work!

5. I'm going on a retreat next week! I can't wait- it is my yearly ARE workshop. This year, we're talking about dreams. I've been trying to keep a dream journal the past week. Problem is, once I'm awake enough to remember that I'm supposed to be writing my dreams down, they have begun to fade. I'm getting better at it, though.

6. Here's the link to the workshop if you're interested: http://www.edgarcayce.org.

7. Mom is supposed to be my roomie for the weekend. I hope she gets to go. They have put my stepfather in a Hospice facility. He had a small stroke last week and mom can't care for him alone anymore. This is a fantastic, brand new facility close to home. So far, he loves it there. I just hope she will feel like leaving him for three days.

8. I'm thinking....

9. I'm thinking I was right... I don't have 10 thoughts.

10. How about this? Good night peeps!

Help a 7th Grader

A friend of mine is a single mom struggling to make ends meet. She created this site to take donations from her friends (and friends of others) so her 7th grader can afford to go on a school trip to Washington, DC. I used the site and paid with PayPal, which is totally safe.

If you have $5, $10, or more to spare, why not pitch in? I'm a single mom and know what it is like to try to give your children what comes easier to others.

Thanks for caring!

Happy birthday to my friend Kat! I wish I was closer and we'd celebrate together in person...

Ten Frazzled Thoughts

1. I thought once school started things would calm down around here but we're still running wide open!

2. From the middle of July until now there have only been a handful of nights that I was home before 8pm. Tonight was no different.

3. At least most of the things keeping me out are things I like doing- vacation bible school, mission trips, campmeeting, camping, etc.

4. We went camping over the weekend and ended up coming home a day early. The forecast was for lots of rain. It rained on us Saturday, then Sunday was pretty. We got out of there! The river had risen 6 inches in that one day and they were calling for 8-10 inches of rain on Monday. Even without the safety factor, packing up a wet tent is not fun!

5. Turned out to be a good thing. We had all of Monday just to laze around. I went over to my friends' house and we ate the rest of the food we took camping.

6. I have to go back to weight watchers. I have been exercising pretty faithfully but I still have put on 4 lbs. since the middle of July! Yikes... wrong way...

7. The other thing keeping me busy is Savannah and her volleyball games. She made the varsity team as a freshman and is the STAR of the team- their leading scorer. So much that the local paper named her their athlete of the week last week. That's out of 4 high schools!

8. I am enjoying watching her play. I thought I wouldn't go to the away games (freshman on varsity usually means bench warmer...) but I don't want to miss a game!

9. Our children's worship is gearing up to start this Sunday after a summer break. We still have a lot of work to do, although we almost finished painting sets tonight.

10. I am sorry I've been so slack posting blogs lately... I have been reading a lot and commenting on some. Just want you all to know I'm still around and paying attention!

"I feel the earth move under my feet..." Earthquake felt here in NC- was freaky! My computer screens were shaking, the floor vibrating...

Momma has to brag: First volleyball game of the season for my 9th grader and she started! And played the entire match! One ace, 3 blocks, and 5 kills!! Solid effort from her (even though they lost the game...)

Picture Perfect- Two

Two columns remain on the Temple of Jupiter in Pompeii, Italy. Off in the distance, you see Mount Vesuvius. I'm amazed that there is structure among these ruins. I really expected foundations and footings, but in many cases tall structures like these survived being buried for nearly 2000 years.

8 1/2 inches :(

Picture Perfect- FIVE

On a recent mission trip, we were able to give new shoes to 40 children in a summer camp program. These children had their feet washed, had a moment to hear about the love of Jesus, and received a new pair of shoes and a backpack full of school supplies. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the children, but I had the bright idea to take pictures of their feet! So here are five feet bearing new shoes!

Welcome to

Picture Perfect

 The Rules of Play are HERE

on our home page.

I've been to a lot of places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone. I've also never been in Cognito, either. I hear no one recognizes you there. I have, however, been In Sane. They don't have an airport, you have to be driven.....I've made several trips.

Ten Thought... um... what day of the week is it?

1. I know, I missed Tuesday. Honestly, Monday felt like Tuesday. I've been working my 8-5 and then going to church for Bible school until 9 or later.

2. We spent Saturday setting up, then began VBS on Sunday morning during 10:30 worship; were back at 4pm for our 5:00pm Sunday night start, and have been going every night since. So by Monday, we were through three sets.

3. I'm a drama actor and music leader. Which basically means I get to dress funny and talk silly. I love it!

4. My character is obnoxious- a know-it-all with a high pitched voice who is very concerned about her appearance. Kinda a Valley-Girl meets Cheerleader type. She's a hoot!

5. You know it is bad when your own voice begins to annoy you. I think it was about Monday night that I came off stage and said "I know know if I can handle hearing myself much longer." This was right after I (my character) pitched a major hissy fit!

6. One more night to go! Tomorrow is fun night- bouncy things, water slides, dunking booths (I get my 15 minutes in there- I'm sure they're all aiming for me!), hot dogs, ice cream, and just plain fun. Then sleep.

7. But not for long, because we leave on a mission trip to Cherokee on Saturday morning. I'm the leader again, so I'll spend a good part of Friday at church packing things, counting, going over lists, etc. But I'm excited about it.

8. This year, we partnered with Samaritan's Feet to take shoes to the children there. I'm really excited about this- they do a foot washing and talk to each child for a few minutes. Office Depot also donated backpacks and school supplies for them.

9. My brain just stopped. I'm so sleepy tired, but can't go to sleep. Ever been like that?

10. At least I had time to type a blog- finally! I told Kat the other day that I missed her posting that day when I haven't written anything in a long time! Feels a little hypocritical!

I've been intending to write a blog... but life keeps getting in the way! VBS at church all week this week and a mission trip the next... maybe I'll get to write that blog in August!

Visitors

I have these two guys in my office this morning. Someone put them out overnight here. They're really friendly, but totally curious. They spent an hour exploring every inch of my tiny space. Our landscape guy is coming by to take them with him. He wants some barn cats, but thinks these might end up in the house!

For some reason, I thought of Kat and Susan... and I considered taking in two strays for a minute. I just don't know what Roxy would do. She runs off squirrels and birds. I can only imagine what she'd do to a kitty!

PP-Unusual Perspective

To join in on the fun this week, click here.

Sitting under a palm tree gives you this unusual perspective...

Apparently, laser tattoo removal really hurts!

10 Tuesday Thunks- the Prejudiced, Stereotypical Edition

1. I guess we'll see if I can come up with ten thoughts. That seems like about 9 more than I think I have!

2. Chris lost his job at the car wash today. The company made a new "no tattoo" rule and fired all employees who had one that they could see under their uniforms. He's devastated- he was on track to be a manager. He's looking into laser removal. I hope he does, because I don't like the ones you can see. They look like an amateur did them.

3. So isn't that discrimination? Apparently not, says the NC Labor board. His grandmother, who runs a coffee shop business, called them. I guess you can make up what ever rules you want, as long as you enforce them uniformly.

4. So he has had a good lesson today about stereotypes- fair or not. I told him that, unfortunately, being a young man with tattoos on his forearms gives him a certain image- justified or not. He is making a statement with them that some people might not like to hear.

5. I don't think tattoos are bad at all. Don't get me wrong. And I love the boy, I am just glad that he can see that dressing a certain way, having a certain haircut, and body piercings, and tattoos can make people think you're a certain kind of person. (BTW, he has a military haircut, no piercings other than ears- and I'm not sure those haven't grown shut.)

6. So what do you think about tattoos? Do they make a statement? Should someone lose their job because they have one? (ok, three?) Should we better educate our children before they go marking on their bodies, or are the ones making the rules against them the ones who need to be enlightened?

7. His manager was upset, because he told the district manager that he was having to fire the best employee that he had. What they'll do is hire all these rich boys who have the preppy, no tattoed look to come in. They won't work hard because they'll be afraid to get dirty- they might break a nail.

8. He already has two other offers- one from a competitor store and one from a guy who wants to start a car detail business. This guy has everything set up, just needs an employee (he already runs a bed liner business, too.) Chris would go to people's work, pick up their car, do whatever to it, and take it back. All while they're at work. Heck, I'd hire him!

9. Brandon is doing better- he got to drive today for the first time since his knee surgery. I made sure he could stand on the brake (that was the dr's test!) before I let him go. Poor boy, he's been miserable being stranded at home.

10. We have VBS at the church I work for this week. Over 100 kids- and it has been so much fun already! I love seeing them all sing and shout! Day 3 tomorrow- I'd better wash some clothes, take a bath, and have a restful night. 

I can sleep late this morning... so why was I awake at 6am?

Long, long day today. The boy had knee surgery (again)- supposed to be 30-45 min in surgery then 1-2 hours in recovery. Turned out to be almost 2 hours in surgery and 5 in recovery. I'm wiped!

Ten Thought Tuesday

1.  I have one more dose of penicillin to take and my 10 day regimen will be over with. I am feeling so much better! I never want strep again!

2. It is hotter than August here today-  high of 98. This time last week- high of 65. Normal this time of the year is high 70's. Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that!

3. I have tomorrow off work. Savannah is having her wisdom teeth cut out. Say a prayer- for me! She's not worried. I'm so scared- I hate seeing my kids hurt!

4. I told her now she wouldn't be smarter than me! (I had mine out when I was 17!

5. We went camping this weekend. I love camping. I had so much fun playing in the river like a little kid!

6. I hate packing up and driving home, though. We went to Virginia, about a 3 hour drive from here. Dublin, VA, if you want to look it up on the map.

7. I wasn't quite close enough to Sue to drop by- and I was with other people and didn't have the chance. I told Savannah that next spring when we go, we'll take a couple more days and go on up to the Creeper trail. That's always fun.

8. I'm sitting here listening to Harry Connick, Jr. on TV. He's on Great Performances on PBS. He is one of my favorite entertainers!

9. I'm sleepy. We stayed up too late each night this weekend. And I have to get up early in the morning since her surgery is scheduled for 7:30am. Ugh.

10. Good night!

SAD NEWS -Please join me in remembering YET ANOTHER great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Dough Boy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes to the belly. He was 71. Dough Boy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children, John Dough, Jane Dough, and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the Oven. Services were held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes. (stolen from FB...)

Ten Tired Thoughts

1. I'm sick. I don't get sick. I don't like being sick.

2. I have strep. I don't think I've ever had strep before. Even my mother can't remember me having it as a child. Strep is not fun.

3. I got strep from my best friend. Her 5 year old had it and gave it to the rest of us.

4. Yes, all of my friends have it. We're also all supposed to go camping this weekend. I sure don't want to have to miss that!

5. I'm tired. Did you know that having strep makes you extremely tired? I'm also tired of being tired. Laying around all day is very boring.

6. There is nothing on TV during the day. Ok, there's nothing on at night either, but daytime is even worse. I'm camping on HGTV, and it is even boring during the day.

7. The doctor gave me penicillin. Not amoxicillin, but pure penicillin. Apparently, the strep virus is somewhat resistant to the amoxicillin and penicillin is working better.

8. Apparently, penicillin also makes my stomach hurt. So I'm taking probiotics too. Fun.

9. At least I'm not as bad off as my friend. She went back to the doctor today feeling worse and has the beginnings of pneumonia. I really don't want that.

10. Funny, my throat didn't really hurt until today, and I started feeling bad on Sunday. And this is day 2 of the antibiotics. Figures.

Picture Perfect- Something Blue

Welcome to

Kaleidoscope

on

Picture Perfect

A surprise one week only...burst of color themes, as each day we challenge you to post a picture of a specific color. Each morning  the new color will be posted, and you will have all day to post up your picture. Leave your link here so we can all interconnect and share in the celebration of Spring. 

Just one picture per day please, and one that you have taken yourself.

Today's color 

is

Blue

This is the Rocco Maggiore Castle in Assisi, Italy. It isn't blue, but the sky was a vibrant blue on the Thursday afternoon that we spent in this lovely town.

Picture Perfect- Tools of the Trade

Meet Vincenzi. He is sitting at his desk, on which you see the tools of his trade. Vincenzi makes cameos for tourists in a shop in Pompeii. It was incredible to watch him carve away on a shell to leave a beautiful portrait. Vincenzi still uses the same tools that artisans used hundreds of years ago.

This is
Picture Perfect

To see more entries this week, click here.

Because I'm a Libra....

I'm usually able to see both sides of an issue. My friends come to me for advice because they know I'm going to consider an angle they haven't even thought of. But this gift is often a curse. Today, it has made me feel sad while most are cheering.

I went to bed early so I didn't hear of Bin Laden's death until this morning. My military son greeted me with the news as I got ready this morning. He was so happy, feeling that his fellow soldiers had done the world a huge favor in removing this monster from the realm. He was happy and exciting, rejoicing at the news.

For some reason I couldn't pinpoint at the time, I was just sad. On one hand, I am very glad that an evil person can no longer harm innocent people. But this was a God-created life, just like everyone else, and I can't help but think that we killed someone and shouldn't be that excited about it. There are reports of people celebrating, even setting off fireworks! I can't be that happy about the loss of a life, no matter whose it is.

Which sets off more conflicts inside of me. I've always supported the death penalty, at least in people like Timothy McVey, Jeffrey Dahmer, and others who have no regard for human life. There is just a point in time that allowing a life to continue is detrimental to life on the planet. Surely, that support should extend to a monster like Bin Laden.

What disturbs me the most is that he was simply executed- no trial, no "presumed innocent until found guilty", nothing but a bullet to the head that ended life. Somehow this seems to me like we're no better than the people we call our enemies.

I'm not saying any of this to detract from our military and their progress in the war against terror. I don't want to get into conspiracy theories, or whether the news stories are true, or whether Bin Laden existed to begin with (yeah, I have heard that one too...) but if we have no regard for a human life, can we expect others to regard our lives, either?

The Libra in me may never figure this one out....

Picture Perfect- Discarded

Welcome to

Picture Perfect and our weekly photo challenge!

 

 The Rules of Play are HERE

on our home page.

Cherie is your host

(and it's good to be back again)

this weeks theme is

 

Discarded

In the ancient city of Rome, pieces of monuments, columns, and marble litter the streets as discarded elements of the past.

Italy- Day 7

The last day of our time in Italy was spent on a visit to the ruins of Pompeii. Mt. Vesuvius still looms over the ancient city, almost looking like two mountains where the entire top was blown off. Erupting on an average of once every 40 years, the last eruption was in 1944. (As our guide, Gino, told us, "we are waiting for it to erupt again soon- but not today, I hope!")

I wasn't sure what to expect from this ancient town, but got a real treat! The city streets are uncovered to reveal ancient Roman roads, many with the wear of carriage wheels. The houses still have remnants of mosaic tile floors, plastered walls, and frescoes. The Roman baths are nearly complete with pools and tubs intact. The brothel has many of the pictures on the walls that were used as a "menu" of services- the kids got a big kick out of that! They also had a hard time understanding the phallic symbols carved into sidewalks, doorways, and the road. This was an ancient symbol of prosperity and to this society, a talisman more than a sexual symbol.

All in all, you get a glimpse of a rich city that was dealt a tragic blow. From ancient writings, we know that ash was falling at a rate of 1 foot per hour. This seaside port town is now nearly two miles from the sea. The mountain, which would have been one large, arching dome, is now nearly two mountains with a giant crater at the top.

We returned to Rome for a dinner of pork, french fries, pasta, and fruit (and the ever-present vino!) and returned to our hotel room to pack for the journey home.

All in all, Italy was fascinating, and definitely a place I would travel to again. There were a lot of things I didn't get to do because, it being a school trip of one week, there wasn't the time or opportunity to do it all. It was good to be in a global society and get a different look at the world. I probably learned over 30 Italian words in a week. This is prompting me to come home and learn Spanish, not because I want to be able to talk to the Mexicans here, but because if we don't (and we don't teach our children to) then we will be at a disadvantage. Most Europeans know two or three languages and even our immigrants, as they learn English, will be bilingual. I didn't realize that until this week.

Italy- Day 6

We got to see Rome today in all its glory. The Colosseum is well named- it is colossal! Which is not how it got its name. It is really named the Flauvian Amphitheater. There was a statue of Nero beside it that was nearly as tall- a colossal statue! The Colosseum was built two years after the death of Nero on the grounds where he had one of his palaces and the statue changed to that of a Roman God (Apollo). Contrary to popular belief, Nero couldn't have fed Christians to the lions there- it wasn't built yet! Parts of the colosseum are missing. I thought it was because it fell down. But no, it was because, during the building boom of the Renaissance, much of the material was used in other buildings, including St. Peter's.

What I found most interesting, besides the size and scope of the building, was the area below the floor. Tunnels and rooms brought animals and gladiators to panels that were then raised up to the floor through a system of pulleys. Much killing, not only of gladiators but of animals, was done in this place. Often, 50 turkeys would be turned loose and hunters allowed to shoot them with arrows, all for sport. The place could hold nearly 50,000 people, all of whom had seating assigned. Each archway still boasts a number so that the patron would know which entrance to take to get to their seats.

Across from the colosseum, past the Arch of Constantine (who is the emperor who legalized Christianity) is the Roman Forum. This is perhaps the est archeological site in Rome. Remains of temples to gods like Saturn and Vesta are there. It also contains what would have been public meeting places and "The Sacred Path" that victorious gladiators walked. I wasn't really impressed with the Forum itself, but with my imagination of what it once was. Rome periodically flooded by the Tiber River (until high walls were built) and the forum ended up buried under layers of silt. I would guess they had to excavate about 30 feet of earth to get to the road bed.

What strikes me most about Rome are the "discarded" artifacts- pieces of stone columns, copulas, and marble just lying around randomly. These give the city a sense of antiquity and decay.

However, the visit to the Vatican in the afternoon was a different story. St. Peter's Basilica is amazing from St. Peter''s square (which Savannah is upset about - the square is in a circle!) Lined with statues of the saints and flanked by statues of St. Peter and St. Paul, the facade is stately and welcoming. Designed by Michaelangelo, he died before it was finished but, unlike most buildings of the time that were finished under another architect, his original plans were kept. We didn't get to go inside since there was a service later in the afternoon, but we did get into the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel.

The Sistine Chapel was the highlight of my entire trip. Tears came to my eyes as soon as I stepped into the room. There were many visitors who were not respectful of the place, but with my earphones in, tuned to Mozart, I didn't really notice. The details of the room are amazing. It was built between 1477 and 1480 and decorated by a team of painters that included Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio. They created a series of frescoed panels depicting the life of Moses and the life of Christ. The ceiling and chancel area are where the true treasures are, though. The details are amazing. It only takes one glance to know that you are looking at the creation of a master, with the flat ceiling coming out in depth with moldings, statues, and pedestals painted on to look real.

We had such a whirlwind visit to the museum that we didn't see much else of note. I really wanted to get into the Raphael rooms, but they were on a different floor. Also, our guide was not very good and failed to point out much beyond the chapel.

This was a very tiring day and my feet and back hurt! I treated myself to a bubble bath (in the only bathtub we had on the trip, thank goodness) and turned in for a good night's sleep.

Italy- Day 5

We were up early and packed for Rome. Plans were to make the 3 hour drive to Assisi, spend 3 hours there, then travel 2 more hours to Rome.

Assisi is beautiful. It reminded me a lot of San Gimignano with compact streets and tall towers. One church there pre-dates Christ (as a building, not a cathedral! It used to be a pagan temple.) Throughout the town you see the Franciscan friars and nuns, distinctive because of their robes with three-knotted belts, representing their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. St. Francis worked to heal and change the church from the inside out. His tomb, underground at the basilica, is beautiful, surrounded by the tombs of his contemporary friars.

The lower church, built two years after his death, is a beautiful but dark place. It has many side chancel areas, carvings, paintings, and frescoes. It was not large enough to accommodate the number of pilgrims who came to see him, so a larger church was built above it. It has glorious 13th century frescoes depicting not only Biblical scenes, but scenes from the life of St. Francis.

Overall, the experience of being at the Basilica of St. Francis was quiet and moving. To think of the number of prayers and petitions said there throughout hundreds of years is astounding. Second only to the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, this is a popular stop for pilgrims wanting to pay honor to their saints. It was also a lovely place to spend an hour.

After our time in the basilica, we were off to the capital city of Rome (or Roma, as the Italians call it.) It was founded in 753BC on the Tiber river. Legend has it that Romulus and Remus, twin brothers fathered by Mars through a Vestal Virgin founded the city. What you find in Rome is interesting- many legends combined with mythology and some history lead you to not know where truth ends and fiction begins.

Rome is interesting- the old bits are sometimes just lying around in pieces, or new parts have been built to include the old parts. We took a night tour of the city, seeing many of the ruins lit in a beautiful way. We threw our coins in the Trevi Fountain. We saw the Pantheon and the Colosseum. We also got a fantastic view of St. Peter's lit up across the river.

Tomorrow will be a longer day. At least the hotel room is bigger this time!

Italy- Day 4

This was, I believe, the best day yet. It was also, I know, the most tiring day yet! We left on this Wednesday morning for a little Tuscan town called San Gimignano. Tuscany lives up to all you have heard or read about it. It has beautiful vineyards, olive groves, rolling green hills, and ancient buildings that make it a picturesque place.

We arrived in the village of San Gimignano early in the day. This fortified hillside town still looks like it would have 1000 years ago. Fourteen of the original 70 towers still stand around the town. The cathedral is covered in frescoes dating back to the 12th century. (Our guide called them the "comic books of the church" because they illustrate Biblical stories in a way that people who couldn't read can understand them.) We climbed the tallest tower and had a fantastic look at the countryside. After shopping for the region's premiere wine (of which I brought home two bottles) we headed back to Florence.

The afternoon in Florence was spent climbing the Duomo (like we hadn't climbed enough already?) The dome is 463 steps high and you get a view of the inside painted dome as well as an open view from the very top. It isn't a place you want to be if you don't like tight spaces. Much of the climb was stone spiral staircases, down tight one-way only corridors, and up metal ladders. The view was worth the effort, thought, and I got some great pictures.

If my feet were hurting the day before, they really hurt today! But I wanted to see the real statue of David in one of the art galleries. The line was so long that we decided  to go to a cafe and enjoy a bottle of wine first. After that, the line was much shorter and we got to see the treasures of the Accademia Museum. David is, well, wow! The replica in the square wasn't the same as seeing the real thing. Maybe it was the marble, or maybe it was knowing that a master carved him, but he was really imposing. We also got to see several statues that Michaelangelo never completed. The rest of the gallery was disappointing (mostly pre-renaissance work) but since we didn't have much time before closing time, I wasn't disappointed that we didn't get to see everything.

Dinner was lovely- pork and pasta (with ham sauce?) and a salad. Too much walking and tower-climbing made me go to bed pretty early. (After I soaked my aching feet in warm water in the bidet! I could just picture Kat and Dai laughing at me for using it the wrong way!)

Italy- Day 3

We left for Florence (Firenze) right after breakfast, crossing the Apennine Mountains between Bologna and Florence. The views were gorgeous- reminded me of the Appalachian Mountains here. My first view of Florence was a little disappointing. I was hoping that Venice was not going to have been so spectacular that it spoiled everywhere else. It turns out that we were coming into town right at the train station and weren't seeing the pretty parts yet.

Our hotel was close to downtown and was very lovely. The room was still small but, since I didn't plan on doing much there but sleep, it was fine. We went on a walking tour downtown. My first view of the Duomo made up for whatever feelings I first had about Florence. The Duomo is over-sized and over-ornate, a true old-world cathedral. The marble facade is pink, green, and white and is adorned with carvings and statues. Its most impressive features are the giant dome, the bell tower, and the baptistry doors.

We Also saw the palace of the Medici family, the town hall government center (outside of which stands a replica of Michaelangelo's David- the original being placed in an art gallery many years ago to protect it), the Ponte Vecchio bridge, the exterior of the Uffizi Art Gallery, and the lovely Florence streets.

My feet hurt! We did a lot of walking over cobblestone and marble. There isn't much other way to get around unless you have a scooter, segway, or a mini-car. Italians are funny, too. They will sacrifice comfort for looks every time. They also don't pay attention to traffic rules. But they are bubbly and friendly and helpful. After 3 days I had learned several Italian words, like please, thank you, you're welcome, and I feel comfortable using them.

The night ended with a wonderful dinner in a cafe and a stroll for gelato. Florence has a different feel at night. The tourists are mostly gone and the natives are out for dinner and the night life.

Italy- Day 2

Day 2 found us up at 7:00am for a breakfast of ham, cheese, hard rolls, jam and coffee. The bus took us to the dock where we got on a boat to the island of Murano. (This is where they make Murano glass!) We saw one of the artisans make a vase from glass, then make a small horse statue- all in about 5 minutes! Then we perused the glass art gallery with some exquisite pieces in it!

After Murano, we boarded the boat to the Grand Canal at Venice. After disembarking, we met Carlo, our local guide, who took us down the back alleys of Venice, pointing out the more interesting sites. Many of the streets are very narrow. often allowing enough room for only two people to pass. The oddest thing, to me, was that the entrance to many of these streets was through what appeared to be a "door" in a building.

We saw the Campo San Zaccaria, where the remains of John the Baptist's father (Zacchariah) are. We crossed small canals and tiny alleys to end at the Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square. The Basillica of San Marco is exquisite, and the Doges Palace beside it is even more elaborate. Home to the rulers of Venice (the Doge) it also housed the government as well as the prison. Opulent with gilded ceilings, massive carvings over fireplaces, frescoes, and paintings from artists like Tintorello, Veronesse, and Risso, it was built in the 9th century and partly reconstructed in 1580 following a fire. It has a huge "grand hall" which is said to be the largest room in Europe.

Following the self-tour of the palaces and prison (where Cassanova was imprisoned at one time) came the best treat of the day- a gondola ride! For 20 Euro, we had a relaxing 45 minute ride through the back canals of Venice and partway down the Grand Canal. Our gondolier "Gianni" was humorous and sweet as he showed us where the first floor of buildings were now flooded as Venice slowly sinks. It is built on mud with wooden pilings driven down into the ground to create the foundation of most buildings.

We had an hour before it was time to meet the boat off the island and used that time to have gelato and wander through the street vendors. I would have loved to have more time in Venice. We only saw a part of the city and saw, but didn't get to cross, the Rialto bridge.

Italy- Day 1

Day 1 was a long day, because it really started the day before. We got on a Lufthansa plane from Charlotte to Munich, leaving Charlotte at 5pm and arriving at Munich at 8am their time. The flight was long and cramped. It is hard to sleep sitting up, even with two glasses of wine and some melatonin. I did watch two good movies, though- The Switch and The Tourist.

Munich brought a lot of standing in line- first for passport checks and then for re-screening with security. I guess they don't trust the American airports to do it properly. Then, we were in the air again on the way to Milan. We had to ride a bus out to the tarmac and climb the stairs to the plane to get on this little flight. I believe the pilot was also a crop duster- at least he drove like one! Flying over the Swiss Alps was beautiful, though.

We met Stuart, our tour guide for the week, and Salvatore, our handsome Italian bus driver, collected our luggage (none got lost) and were on our way to Verona. Verona, in its day, was a big trade town since it is situated at the North/South pass through the Alps and on the East/West highway across Italy. Verona has a colosseum, much like Rome's, but theirs is still intact and still used for outdoor operas.

Verona is also the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, although Shakespeare never visited the town. Although Juliet was a fictional character, you can visit her "house" and take pictures of her balcony. There was an actual Capulet family in Verona, and this was their house, where they attached a Roman sarcophogous to a window in the courtyard and called it a balcony.  Verona is also the first place of many that we tasted gelato. It really lives up to its reputation!

Dinner at the hotel that night was wonderful- polenta (which is like a potato cake made from grits), sausage that wasn't spicy (tasted more like hamburger), and some sort of beans. Dessert was a sweet cornbread with fruit jam on it. Tasted a lot like southern cooking to me!

Our hotel room was tiny, but clean and quaint. We had a good laugh at the kids playing with the bidet (not knowing what it was used for.) We also had a little balcony facing the sea, but with the view obstructed by the seaside hotel beside it! I also learned something about European hotels that I would love to have in my house! The key, once you opened the door, went into a slot on the door that activated the lights. You could turn lights on and off by normal switches but, when you left the room, you pulled the key out and all the lights you'd left on went out. I so want that at my house!!

Italy 2011

I don't know why I can't import pictures here... but go to my facebook album to see:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150163635314854.310874.808434853&l=7bccd930a3

I'm all packed- need to check my list one more time, but we're ready to go! The bus to the airport leaves at 1pm. This time tomorrow, we'll be in Venice! I'll see you all when we're back! Have a great week- and a happy Easter!!

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Ok, so maybe it wasn't that bad. But we had really bad storms overnight, with 60-70 mph wind gusts that knocked out power to almost the entire area. I heard it at 2am- probably the worst wind I have ever heard, accompanied by large hail and lots of lightening. Savannah was scared and came into my room. It didn't last too long, though. School was canceled today because the school didn't have power.

Part of I-485 was closed in Charlotte because of a power line that was down across all lanes of traffic. Of course it was on the most heavily traveled part, too! There weren't any tornadoes (although this line of storms produced some 100 miles away.) I didn't have any damage around the house, but it did knock over the trash can (which was due to be picked up today) and scattered trash around the yard. The oak tree also lost a few limbs. It blew one of my wrought iron chairs across the patio.

I went to work to find the power out there, too. The boss and I did a few things that we could do without computers, email, and internet, then decided to go shopping for some things we needed next week. Might as well, since we couldn't do anything else.

While I was out, my best friend calls and tells me she has a tree down in her yard- across the fence from the neighbor's house- and into her hot tub. So I went over there to help when I got off work early. We moved limbs, swept leaves, and cleaned the pool, draining the hot tub and sweeping debris out of the bottom.

The power came back on about 3pm and we kept working. My friends husband went in the house for a drink and came out upset- his salt water fish tank lost 3 fish. He was really sad. The kids had to give them a nice burial. Then, another friend called to say that her father-in-law had just died.

This is one of those days that no one wants to do over again. But as I look back over the day. I see the blessings in it all. No one was hurt by the storms. I spent some good planning time with the boss that we wouldn't have had otherwise. (We even went shopping and to lunch together!) I got to help a friend in a crisis- and see some others pull together to help, too. Yes, the fish died, but not all of them did and we watched the angel fish go from lying on the bottom to swimming around again once the pumps came back on. And even the father-in-law's death was a blessing as he is no longer in agony.

Maybe I should re-title my blog to "every cloud has a silver lining!"

I'm alive.... and my A, B, C's

I know I've been MIA far too long. I do miss being here a lot, but I started working full time three weeks ago. I haven't worked a 40 hour week in over 11 years. It is taking some getting-used to! It hasn't been too bad, but it leaves me less free time. (read: less computer time!) Coupled with an intense volleyball season by the the girl, and I have no free time at all! We're leaving for Atlanta on Thursday night for the last one, thank goodness. I've enjoyed it but will be happy to see the season end. Then in just over two weeks, we leave for Italy! I think right now I'm too tired to be excited, but I know that will change as we get ready to leave. Don't worry, I bought extra cards for my camera and will pack plenty of batteries!

I'll leave you tonight with more about me... ABC style!

A: Age - 44

B: Bed size - King sized, just for me. And yes, I sleep in the middle!

C: Chinese food dish - sesame ginger chicken

D: Dentist name - Hatchett (unfortunate name, huh? But he's a good dentist!)

E: Early bird or night owl - neither? I like going to bed early and sleeping late!

F: Favorite color - green. Unless you're talking flowers, then I like pink!

G: Gold or silver - gold

H: Height - 5'8"

I: Ink - blue medium point gel... oh, if you mean tattoos, I have none.

J: Jellybean - popcorn! (Don't eat too many!)

K: Kitchen meal or restaurant - both, depending on who is doing the dishes!

L: Living arrangements -  home in country (well, it used to be country, now is becoming suburban) with daughter, two step-sons, a dog, and my niece two nights a week usually.

M: Month of birth - October

N: Nicknames - Mom, Aunt NeeNeen

O: On time or late - on time if not early. I hate being late!

P: Pet peeve - coming home to a dirty kitchen after I left it clean!

Q: Quote from a movie - "Death cannot stop true love... all it can do is delay it for awhile." (see if you can guess before I tell you - and not you Kat, I know you'll get it!)

R: Right or left-handed - Right 

S: Siblings - one brother; three step sisters

T: Time you wake up -  6:30am weekdays, just depends on what is going on for Saturday; 8am on Sunday.

U: Urgent thing on your to-do list: Go to the bank for some euros; buy other things we'll need on our trip.

V: Vegetable you dislike: turnips

W: Wishing for - greater faith and more trust in God;

X: X-rays you've had - teeth; ankle

Y: Yummy food you make - baked beans, spring rolls, spaghetti

Z: Zoo favorite - sea lions