The Clock is Ticking

I looked around yesterday and realized I have 6 different UFOs in my house.

Un-Finished Objects.

I crochet and embroider. In the last year, I've finished exactly 4 objects and gifted them away. For December birthdays and Christmas gifts. That's right, December...last year.

So, my goal this Christmas was simple. Learn to knit. So that I can have other UFOs lying around.

So, I did learn to knit. I found a great little CD that had pictures and live motion directions. And then I looked around and saw the UFOs. And formed a new goal.

Finish one of them. Any of them..just one of them, before I start a new one.

I picked the socks. I figure those are relatively small and should be the easiest to finish up. Then there is prayer shawl (which is 2/3 finish), 2 afghans (each of which is 1/2 finished), a set of pillow cases to embroider, and 1 of a set of pillow cases to embroider (yes, 1, the other is already on my bed and has been for 18 months, sigh.).

Plus, I learned to knit... so I imagine I'll start something with that new skill.

This morning, I've been watching Prince Caspian. I hadn't yet seen the movie, just never had time to hit the theaters when it was there, so I'd bought the DVD during the week. I love The Chronicles of Narnia books. I re-read the whole series about once a year, beginning to end. In story order rather than the publishing order. I guess reading isn't really the right word, though. Actually, I devour them. They take me back to when I was little, listening to my 4th grade teacher read them to us a chapter at a time. But they also fill me with hope.

Last night I watched The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Regardless of whether C.S. Lewis intended to fill the books with Christian symbolism, it's there. It's really not hard to find it, and it doesn't take an active imagination to see it. It warms me to see it, reminds me that Christians, true Christians, cannot help but have Christ seep into everything they are and do.

I love the credits version of Switchfoot's song "This is Home." From those lyrics..

So everyday starts with a magic spark,
I've got my hopes high with second start,
we are miracles, every breath is magic...
So you give yourself away, with your miracle heart,
yeah, just to be alive is a magic art,
we are miracles, every breath is magic...

Aren't those beautiful? It's such a simple way of thinking about ourselves.

Recently, I was asked how I get through tough times. It's not secret, to those who know me, what my greatest pain is right now. To get through, I remind myself to breathe, and to be thankful that I can. And, frankly, it's a miracle that I can hurt, that I can cry over what upsets and scares me.

I can't really explain why, but Prince Caspian had me crying this morning. Towards the end, when I knew how the story would end, and that High King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund, and Queen Lucy would be leaving Narnia again. And knowing that, as the story plays out in the books, Peter and Susan will never return there, because they will have grown up too much. What started as a trickle of tears quickly became great gulping sobs.

We do that, though, don't we? We outgrow childlike faith. Or think we do. Wouldn't be amazing if Peter and Susan could return, this time bringing their own children with them?

As an aside...

C.S Lewis's famous series of children's stories were published between 1950 and 1956, in the following order:

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)

2. Prince Caspian(1951)

3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)

4. The Silver Chair (1953)

5. The Horse and His Boy (1954)

6. The Magicians Nephew(1955)

7. The Last Battle (1956)

All current editions of the books, however, number them in a slightly different order (this is the story order):

1. The Magicians Nephew

2. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

3. The Horse and His Boy

4. Prince Caspian

5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

6. The Silver Chair

7. The Last Battle

I found this information in the article "In What Order Should the Narnia Books Be Read?"
By Andrew Rilstone

"Imagine a complex, multi-cultural society that annually holds an elaborate winter festival, one that lasts not simply a few days, but several weeks. This great festival celebrates the birth of the Lord and Saviour of the world, the prince of peace, a man who is divine. People mark the festival with great abundance- feasting, drinking and gift giving....." (Richard Horsley- The Liberation of Christmas)

But who is that Saviour? At RevGals this morning, Sally tells us that this description from Horsley's book is of a Roman celebration during the time of the first Roman Christians. These early Christians went from celebrating the Emperor as the savior to celebrating the Risen Lord as their Savior.

I read somewhere recently that there are "Christmas Christians" and "Easter Christians." I'm of a mind to believe that there are a dozen other delineations, but I know that I am a Christmas Christian. Really, an Advent Christian.

Sally says that, regardless of what your local WalMart looks like,

"Advent on the other hand calls us into the darkness, a time of quiet preparation, a time of waiting, and re-discovering the wonder of the knowledge that God is with us. Advent's call is to simplicity and not abundance, a time when we wait for glorious light of God to come again..."

I've never really thought of it in this way, as calling me into the darkness. But, oh isn't it?

So, the Friday Five this morning suggests that we list 5 Advent longings...

1. I long to find peace. In my own heart, I struggle with one thing. Well, probably more than one thing, but one thing that takes up a lot of time in my head, too. I suspect I don't need to look far for that peace, but I think I need to find the courage to let that peace take me over.

2. I long for my students to "get it." To really get what Christmas is about, and understand that what they do for someone else is so much more valuable than what they'll find under a tree.

3. This time of year, I suddenly realize how busy my life is, and I long for the quiet the 2 weeks off work brings. Not only for the chance to sleep in and spend time with my family, but also for the renewal that I feel every year.

4. I long for family, and wish that I was closer to my extended family. We aren't on speaking terms with some of our family for some very good reasons (I think no counselor or pastor would argue those reasons with us). But I do wish it could be different. Family is so important to me and it hurts that I'm not closer to some of them.

5. A better world around me. I know world peace is the "Miss America" answer. I fear that it will only get worse before it gets better. It's always hard for me to watch the news and see so much bad stuff right now. Bombings, murders, fights, the economic situation, large scale lay-offs in my area. And at this time of year it's even worse for me. I feel like Christians should endeavor to be at their best this time of year and we should be trying to flood the news and the world with hope. And we don't. Well, we do, but it's still over-shadowed by negative.

For more Advent longings, visit RevGalBlogPals today.

A few weeks ago, R suggested that I look into The Artist's Way. It's basically a 12-week creativity workshop/experience. I think (and I'm probably speaking out of turn here) that the point is to help you find/foster/facilitate your inner creative self. From what I gather, it looks like many find that their creativity becomes more productive--in the sense that they are producing things grounded in their creativity. It really did sound very up my alley, though it bugged me that R was the one suggesting it. (It bugs me that someone who has been conspicuously absent from my life for 2 years knows me well enough to suggest something that is so obviously right for me.) So, I ordered the book and the workbook and well...they're gathering dust at the moment.

I really do want to do this. I do. And I have to keep telling myself that. See, I'm hung up on the first thing you're supposed to start doing every day. Their called "morning pages." The very thought of them has rendered me unable to read past the introduction of the book.

Morning pages are meant to be a connection with your "artist brain." You get up in the morning and before you do anything else you write 3 pages of whatever, longhand. Totally stream of consciousness writing. Then you put them aside and don't read them for several weeks. I think the book says 6 or 8 weeks in you can start looking at the early ones. They may be full of nothing, or you may spark something that turns into a new piece for you.

It's the "before you do anything else" bit that's getting me. It's also the "longhand" thing that gets me. I have a specific pattern in the morning, a routine. I get up, start the coffee, walk the dog, drink the coffee and swallow some Tylenol Arthritis, because my hands and I don't get along very well in the morning. (My back and I don't either, but I'm not sure that would have an affect on my writing abilities.) Until the Tylenol kicks in, which is aided by the heat in the shower, I couldn't possibly grasp a pen long enough to write three pages.

Just writing that sounds like an excuse in my head. I've got to find a way to make the morning pages work for me. I've been toying with the idea of doing them at work in the mornings. I've been getting there earlier the last couple of weeks, and in my office in quiet for at least half an hour. There's nothing that has to be done during those thirty minutes that can't be done just efficiently a little later in the morning.

Okay, that's what I'll do. I'll make a stop today to buy a pretty binder, some bright paper, and a pretty pen. Because it's all about the tools, right? That's why Emily here is metallic spring green (Emily would, of course, be my laptop).

Some things are just amazingly cool all by themselves. Some people are, too.

Take Brent for example. For not planning to become a Latin teacher, he sure is making it big, isn't he?

Aahhh..the comics. Rather, the “funnies” as my family has always called them. Still, at 32, that’s the first thing I read in the paper, after pulling out the ads and skimming the front page.

So, this morning, PresbyGal asks us to think about the funnies for a few minutes.

1. What was your favorite comic strip as a child? Ah..Garfield. Still my favorite one.

2. Which comic strip today most consistently tickles your funny bone?
Without fail, Get Fuzzy

3. Which Peanuts character is closest to being you?
Wow, I’d like to say someone cool, like Snoopy, but I feel like maybe, deep down, I’ve always been Marcy. Quieter, less inclined to get involved, and always liking the slightly dorky guy (Charlie Brown).

4. Some say that comic strips have replaced philosophy as a paying job, so to speak. Does this ring true with you? You know, I think so. Comics these days tend to speak to the human condition—even when we don’t think they do. They give an outlet to the stresses of daily life, and help us to see that sometimes, you really can’t sweat the small stuff.

5. What do you think the appeal is for the really long running comic strips like Blondie, Family Circus, Dennis the Menace as some examples? Hm..simplicity. Even for those of us who are children of the 80s and 90s, reading those make me feel more like a kid. There’s no “thinking humor” it’s just fun.

Bonus question: Which discontinued comic strip would you like to see back in print? The Far Side. Man, I miss those.

If you're up for more travel through the funny papers, visit RevGalBlogPals for this week's Friday Five.

A Twitter contact shared this blogpost with us. Lots to think about.

Make the World a Better Place

It's Thursday. This is a beautiful day.

It really is. I woke up, to find that The WonderDog had slept through the night, which he hasn't all week. In fact, we've been sitting here half an hour after our morning walk and he's dozed back off. He's seriously catching up after days of not being able to sleep.

More than that, I'm feeling renewed myself. I feel rested and happy today. I'm still not pleased with the things going on in the country, but I realize there's nothing left for me to do right now. I can, however, make plans for my garden in the spring, continue to save money and pay off my bills, and look forward to the Christmas season. This year will be good. And I need to plan ahead for the next. May seem a bit 'head in the sand' to some, but it's what I can function right now.

But, it's also just a beautiful day. It's Thursday, one more day in the work week. I'm heading to our land this weekend, and feeling way beyond content with me right now. It's beautiful today.

I'm so sad today.

My candidate didn't win. I worry about the future of our country. I worry about the future of our economy, our people, our rights. I worry about my own financial safety.

I think he was a poor choice. And I hope the predicted 'hard road to hoe' that the pundits say working with a Democratic Congress will be for him is just that.

What was the campaign slogan? "Change You Can Believe In?" I do believe there will be change. I don't believe it will be good for us.

So sad.

I have themes from SchoolHouse Rock going through my head.

I'm excited about election day this year. I'm also rather pensive. Yes, I'm worried.

I know nothing grander, better exercise, better digestion, more positive proof of the past, the triumphant result of faith in human kind, than a well-contested American national election.
~~Walt Whitman

I hope that, if you haven't already, you're planning to vote today. I don't care who you vote for. No, that's not true. I do care, I want you to vote the way I did. But I won't disown you for it.

Okay, I'm ready, I think I can actually pull 10 together this morning. It's been a nice out for a few days, it's been quiet in my world for a few days. Both of those are good things.


1. Good friends. You know, those make the world go round sometimes. Particularly, this week, I feel I must point out M. She knows who she is.


2. Catching up with old friends. A good friend from years ago popped back into my life last week. It was nice to sit and catch up with him over the weekend. I hope for many more chances like that.


3. Dads who call just when you need them. Daddy never calls just to shoot the breeze or check on things. We're very close, but I think most of the news he hears about me comes second hand from Madre. Last week, he called just when I needed a daddy. There's no way he could've known, but he did anyway.


4. Commercials that make me giggle. Like the Happy Cows from California. Even when I'm down, those will make me smile like you wouldn't believe. (BTW, I can't make these work in IE7, but they do in Firefox.)

5. Not being able to focus for a week. I'm self-diagnosed A.D.D. Seriously. I don't have that hyperactive bit, but yeah. I can't focus to save my life sometimes. A lot, okay most of the time that's a huge issue at home and at work. The last week, sure it's taken longer to get things done, but I've also got to do some interesting reading and worked up some neat ideas and turns of phrase that made it into my writer's notebook.

6. It feels so odd to put this one down, but...paying attention to the elections this year. I've gotten to have some meaningful conversations with some people, including my dad. He and I made a deal to never discuss politics, because I am historically more socially liberal than he is. And, because being more liberal than some members of my family got me blacklisted once, by his father. We didn't ever want that to become an issue between us. And so, because we're both stubborn, it seemed best to never discuss those things. But, this year, we're right on with each other.

7. Cool weather. Let's me pull out my long sleeve T's and sweaters, and toe socks!

8. Our campus is testing again this week. As much as I hate it for my students, because they really get worn out by all this testing, I like the quiet.

9. Curling up with a good book under a blanket. I don't even mind so much that I'm waking up at 4 a.m. when I get to do that.

10. My insomnia. I'm actually thankful for that. Regardless of all the negatives, I love that I get to lie in bed and think, and pray, and daydream. And read sometimes. The best part is that it's in the quiet. I've even bundled up and gone to sit under the stars in the middle of the night. Even in a smallish town like I live in, there's never really any quietness to town, unless a hurricane's just come through and the whole town is without power. But at 2 a.m. under the stars, I can almost pretend the noise away.

For more blessing and thankfulness, visit Mrs. Brownstone at XBox Wife.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my outlook on life lately.

I've got to learn to be less pessimistic. Not that I'm horribly so, I don't think, but I know that I am too often.

I talked once about my dad and "wonderful, wonderful" (I'll find that link later.). You know, the basic idea is that my dad is never just "fine" when you ask how he is. He's always "ginger peachy" or "wonderful, wonderful." Of all the people in my life, he's probably the most consistently positive person that I know. It's really pretty awesome, and I hope to be just like him one day.

Anyway, I was thinking about that post again. I reread it recently, and was thinking about how I'm always "pretty good" or just "fine." What a boring way to live.

Then, a few weeks ago, I read an article in a parenting magazine about raising joy-filled kids (to which I cannot find a link. If I do, I'll share it.). I came to two realizations. First, I do an amazing job with The WonderDog. All those little things they suggest to raise a child (um, dog) who is joyful are the things I do for him. One thing stood out, to me and I've been pondering it for weeks.

Get caught up in "wow" moments. Of course, what the writer was suggesting was that you allow yourself to get caught up in your child's wow moments, even if you don't think they're particularly "wow." It'll make them feel good that you think the things that spark them are exciting too. I do this with The WonderDog. He is completely wowed by frogs, lizards, and the sprinklers here at our apartment complex. So, we take time to go play with them. We've been on frog hunts more than one evening, actually managed to catch our quarry even.

But, I got to thinking, positive people let themselves get caught up in wow moments. Negative or pessimistic people do not. I rarely let myself get carried away with wow things. I always tell myself I don't have time. Lately, though, I've been on the look out for them, in the back of my mind. I let myself be taken over with the sheer joy of just something pretty or word play or whatever.

I told The Man about this over lunch in New Orleans a week ago. I'm sure he thought I was nutty--I was going nutty over the sauce on the hot wings at Pat O'Brien's. It was AMAZING. I can still taste it. I think I actually moaned at one point. After one look from him that had tones of "what the hell is going on over there?" in it, I felt I'd better tell him that I'm restructuring my outlook.

So, I explained. I explained that I'm tired of not absolutely loving my life. Okay, so there are aspects of it I'm not ever going to like (like being alone), but that doesn't mean I shouldn't let myself be happy and excited about all the wonderful things in it.

And so, I'm trying. This last week was rough. Very rough. But, it was made easier by allowing The WonderDog to lead on our walks, so I could see what captured him. You can't tell me dogs don't have imaginations. He's all over the place when we walk. And just like a child, he plays with the thin air. There's a story line going on in his head that he gets caught up in. When he gets caught playing with the characters, he gets this sheepish look on his face. I can tell he's a little embarassed that he got caught fighting with imaginary foes, but he'd really rather get back to the fun.

While it wouldn't be strictly appropriate for me to get caught up in the story with him (how exactly would I explain that should someone ask what I'm doing?), that doesn't mean I can't allow myself to get caught up in a day dream now and again.

Yesterday, I skipped out on church. I should've gone, I know I should've. I needed some quiet, though. Needed to be still, and I wouldn't have done that going to church. So, I spent some extra time on the couch, and when it had warmed a little, I moved outside. I took a book, my old favorite To Kill a Mockingbird. The WonderDog alternated between the sunny spot on the patio and my lap. I sipped tea, first iced tea, then chamomile. I just loved the day. A little lizard sunned himself on the rail and didn't care that I was staring at him, or that I held up The WonderDog to see him.

There were no big wows yesterday, but there were some little ones. Like The WonderDog just sniffing the lizard and not freakin' completely out because OMG MOM THERE'S A LIZARD, THERE'S A LIZARD!!!! Or, dozing off a little in the sun. And the fact that my complex, which is NEVER silent during the day, was peaceful and quiet all day long.

It was a good day. I came in just after sunset and settled in with a cup of cocoa and my needlepoint. The small dog snuggled in under the afghan, effectively becoming my personal space heater. We watched our shows, then migrated to the bed.

All in all, it was pretty wonderful. Wonderful.

Might've been ginger peachy, too.

I started the new diet this week. It's a mix between higher protein and the SlimFast plan. Totally mixed up enough to be obviously for me. My only problem seems to be that I'm not making it from meal to meal. I do what I'm supposed to, but find that the snacks aren't filling enough. But it's getting better. I guess it was just trying to adjust to the lower calorie counts.

This was a really rough week. Really rough. And I don't mean on the diet front. I'm dealing with something that shook me. It may not have been the best time to start a diet, since one of my mechanisms for dealing with being upset is eating. But then again, maybe it is the best time.

Ah..it's Friday. It's Halloween Friday, even. WonderDog's birthday is today. Since I have plans this evening, tomorrow he and I will make a pilgrammage to the big pet store and buy a new toy. And TREATS!

Today's Friday Five theme is "Positive Potpourri." This is the the time of year that we all start that craziness of fall and winter holidays--that goes right through to the first of the new year.

1) Your work day is done and the brain is fried, what do you do? I run home for a cuddle session with the WonderDog. And eat pasta. And find an episode of House.

2) Your work week is done and the brain is fried (for some Friday, others Sunday afternoon), what do you do? Vegetate. And read pure drivel.

3) Like most of us, I often keep myself busy even while programs are on the tv. I stop to watch The Office and 30 Rock on Thursday nights. Do you have 'stop everything' tv programming or books or events or projects that are totally 'for you' moments? House. Stop everything and watch it. As for an event..well, the WonderDog keeps me grounded, having to take him out for a walk just makes you slow down and breathe.

4) When was the last time you laughed, really laughed? What was so funny? Last night, actually. Mother had picked me up to go to a rehearsal. After rehearsal, we got all the way home--her home--and into the garage before we realized she hadn't taken me home yet.

5) What is a fairly common item that some people are willing to go cheap on, but you are not.
Socks. I'm all about fabulous socks. I don't buy Hanes socks.

Bonus:
It's become trite but is also true that we often benefit the most when we give. Go ahead, toot your own horn. When was the last time you gave until it felt good? Everyday..my students know that my reason for being is them. I am not above crying in front of them out of joy or frustration. I've dropped everything and run to help them more than once.

For more positivity this weekend, visit RevGalBlogPals.

Even on the most solemn occasions I got away without wearing socks and hid that lack of civilisation in high boots.
~Albert Einstein

So, this week is Red Ribbon Week at our school. Today, is supposed to be "Sock it to Drugs," so we're all wearing crazy socks.

Oh yeah...these are making an appearance...

Luckily, it's been cool out, so there's more than just one reason to wear them.

So, yesterday, I'm flipping through channels yesterday and land on Oprah. I have to explain--I don't watch Oprah. I believe that she's disturbed and completely well...off her rocker.

Yesterday, she had a panel of people on. All I caught was that she was checking in with a mother who had called in about a disturbing series of text messages her 12 year old son had received from another 12 year old after a failed first kiss. The girl had texted him saying she loved him and offering him oral sex. The mother's question was does she or does she not address the girl's mother?

Okay, easy answer...yes. You're daughter has some issues if she's 12 and offering that. Chances are not good that she just doesn't realize what she's said. Sady, twelve year olds know these days.

As disturbing as that was, what really disturbed me was that Oprah was giving this advice. I work with teenagers every day, but I would never dare to tell someone how to parent his or her child. Why? I'm not truly a parent. Sure, for 8-12 hours a day, I'm "mom" to my kids at school, and they know they can come to me. But I'm not really a parent.

So...because that disturb-ed me...Some music for you. I realize that this song doesn't lend itself to this issue well, but..that's not the point.

1 Corinthians 10:23. Paul tells us,
"We are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good." (Bible in Plain English verision)
Paul's not just saying be careful what you do (which is the jist of the 1st sentence), he's also reminding us in the second sentence, we can't just take care of number 1, we have to think about numbers 2-infinity sometime. We can't be so focussed on "me", that we bring harm to someone us, either by commision or ommission.

Let me take this moment to get political for a second, something I rarely, rarely do. While I feel this is a good individually socially-responsible way to think and behave, I do not think it's fabulous all-the-time practice for nations. Particularly ours. We aren't intended to be police force for the world (regardless of what previous presidents have said). We aren't intended to fund the social programs, like welfare, for the planet. Sometimes, when talking about nation-size individuals, you MUST take care of #1 first, because #1 is who is filling your coffers with his taxes. But maybe I'm crazy for thinking that my government should use my money in ways that benefit my country--not others. And shouldn't squander it.

Off the political thing.
The real reason I'm posting today. It has something to do with this.

Yes, my friends, it's my birthday.

Gifts and cakes are optional. Embarassing me is not--don't do it on penalty of death. *hugs* Also, birthday suits are not optional--I prefer to not see yours. And I promise not to show you mine. It's nothing personal, I just don't want a messy cake incident.

So, I've resolved something. You may know already that I don't do New Year's resolutions. However, I see birthdays as a perfectly legitimate time to resolve some things.

So, I am.

1. I resolve to balance my life more, well..to get my life more in balance. For years now, I've been to heavy on the work-not-personal side of the scale, and I'm going to tie my church responsibilities into the heading "work." There's only 3 months left for some of that responsibility, and I will add no new church responsibility for at least a year, maybe 20. I've already got my work-work sorted into a more balanced place, so that helps.

2. I'm resolving to balance my checkbook. Stupid, I know. But I used to be fanatical about it. Then I got depressed every time I'd do it and have $2 left for the next 15 days. I'm going to do it again. I bought a new checkbook and got a new register and everything. Yay me!

3. I'm also going to resolve to really get back on my diet. A diet, rather. Because my diet right now is, frankly...bad. Any other diet couldn't be too much worse.

Somebody hold me to it. Please?

Yes, I know it's Wednesday. I actually started this last night, but I was encouraged to go to bed early, so I'm up early now and am finishing my list.

I haven't posted a Tuesday thankfulness/blessings in a few weeks. It's not that I haven't been blessed or thankful, it's more that I've been a bit more...um...occupied with life. So much so that sitting down to write wasn't much of a possibility.

1. I'm grateful for opportunities at work. These chances to earn a little more, and do a little more for my students at the same time, are giving me the chance to feel more secure financially. Something I hear not everyone is feeling right now.

2. Cool mornings. I love cool fronts. Which I know is odd, since I don't like the cold.

3. You know, I kind of see it as a blessing that I'm paying attention to the presidential race this year. Somehow, I think my grandfather is pleased that I'm paying attention. I think he might also be pleased that I'm at a loss..I don't know who to vote for (especially since I'm not canceling his vote this year!).

4. Maybe I've told you about my little dog. Do you remember him? The WonderDog? Something happened in the last month or so--he grew up. I know I've said that before, but this time I mean it. He's been....insightful. Can a dog do that?

5. I'm having a birthday this week. I'm not enjoying the idea much. I keep inserting the new age into conversation--I'm hoping it will make it easier when I really am that age. I know I'm supposed to count this as a blessing, so I'm doing that in the same vein.

For the record..I expect no gifts, but I particularly like the items at Rebound Designs. Specifically--To Kill a Mockingbird, The Wizard of Oz, The House at Pooh Corner, and Nancy Drew and The Secret at Red Gate Farm. But, please, feel no pressure. ;)

6. Augmentin. If you've taken it, you know whatI mean.

7. The cool front has pushed the clouds out of the way so that, this morning, the sky was pretty clear. At 5 a.m., it was nice to gather up the WonderDog at the end of our walk and look at the stars.

8. Hot cocoa. I traded that for the coffee this morning. Not a big deal, but it was nice to have a warm cup after the chilly star-gazing this morning.

9. I'm planning a trip to New Orleans! Yay for me!

10. Supervisors that appreciate the job I'm doing. Go figure. There are supervisors who do that. Crazy.

Visit XBoxWife for other blessing and thankfulness.

Sally at RevGals reminded us that Friday was the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. You may remember him as the Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment. Check out her retelling of his story for this week's Friday Five.

In honor of St. Francis, she dedicated this week's Friday 5 to him.

1. Saint Francis experienced a life changing call, has anything in your journey so far challenged you to alter your lifestyle?
Yes, actually. It may well seem like a small thing, but it was very difficult for me. I've pushed for so long in my life to be independent, on my own. Somewhere along the way, I missed the point that none of us can ever really be independent of anyone else. It's not enough to "do it on my own" and lean only on Jesus. I have a network of people (and animals!) who, despite my stubbornness, pick me up and show me that sometimes, a little co dependence is alright.

A couple of years ago, it seriously hit home. I was sick, had been sick for months, and wasn't getting answers from my doctors. I was losing weight and trying to hide the fact that I was sick from a new boyfriend. He is probably still amazed to know that for 2 months, the only time I ate real food was when we went to dinner 2 or 3 times a week. The rest of the time I drank Ensure shakes because nothing stayed down. Just as I found a doctor who was getting answers, boyfriend left and I was scheduled for surgery. I went from being completely independent, even to the point of not talking to my parents about all the various issues involved in being sick, to desperately needing my mom and daddy to help me with the surgery and recovery to helping to heal my broken heart. In 10 years, I hadn't turned to them like that and it was horribly hard to do. But it taught me to hold on to that network and to let them take care of me, to let them care about me.

To be fair, it turned out to be only a gall bladder that had mysteriously died on me. Well, in me. But none of the tests showed that, it all looked like everything was working fine, but I was losing weight practically overnight. I was a little overweight when it started, maybe 10 or 15 pounds. By the day of surgery, I'd lost that plus 35 more. It was bad.

2. Francis experienced mocking and persecution, quite often in the comfortable west this is far from our experience. If you have experienced something like this how do you deal with it, if not how does it challenge you to pray for those whose experience is daily persecution?
I can't say I know this feeling. I've never been persecuted for anything, really. But I do admit that I don't often think about those who live through constant persecution. It's much like the war in Iraq (or the whatever going on in Iraq)--it's not happening in my living room or next door, so it's not really real to me. I suppose it's a blissful ignorance of sorts. Bringing it back to the forefront of my mind, in reading Francis's story, and in thinking more about the things that go on outside my comfortable little bubble, I am challenged to remember those people that don't have the option of ignorance, like I do.

3 .St Francis had female counterpart in St Clare, she was influenced by St Francis sermon and went on to found the Poor Clare's, like the Franciscans they depended on alms this was unheard of for women in that time, but she persisted and gained permission to found the order. How important are role models like St Clare to you? Do you have a particular female role model whose courage and dedication inspires you? If so share their story....
I think women need role models like St Clare. I think sometimes women believe that because religious history seems to be more focused on men, women cannot or should not push. But strong women who bucked the patriarchal system can show us that God moves in and through us just as strongly (if not more so, sometimes) as He does in men.

My grandmother was not mover and shaker. But she was incredibly dedicated to her role as wife, mother, and grandmother. When I was fresh out of college, in my first real job, I angered my grandfather very much, to the point of being disowned and bad-mouthed to my family. A rift was created my father and his, because obviously my choices (about politics of all things) were directly influenced by the job my parents did in raising me--which apparently was a poor job. I wish, still, that my grandmother had stood up to my grandfather during that time and supported me. But I also, now, respect her decision to remain loyal to my grandfather, a man she vowed to support in all things, as tough as it must have been to allow relationships to be battered and bruised and severed.

4. Francis loved nature and animals, how important is an expressed love of the created world to the Christian message today?
I think it's immensely important. It's not just about nature and the animals, or the people around you. I believe everything is here by the grace of God, the good and the not so good. God can be found in some way in everything we see, do, or experience. Painful and evil things even. I love the world my Father has put me in, though I don't always love the things in the world. But those individual things that I find hard to love are the things He has placed in my path to learn from, to open my eyes to Him.

So is it important to express love of His created world? Yes. He loves it enough to have sent His Son into it. And He gives us this created world, with all it's problems, so that we might appreciate Him and eternity better.

5. On a lighter note; have you ever led a service of blessing for animals, or a pet service, was it a success, did you enjoy it, and would you do it again?
I've never done this, but would love to at some point. For now, I am content to do my praying and Bible study with WonderDog in my lap. When I was at my mother's during the summer, I would spend the cooler mornings and evenings in her screened in patio with my Bible and my laptop. I would pray out loud, and would open my eyes to find that not only WonderDog was sitting still (a miracle in and of itself) listening to me, but her cats had wandered up and were curled at my feet. All three (WD and the cats) had glazed eyes and were breathing slowly. I would feel God's presence more strongly than I ever have in that house. He was there, with the 4 of us, wrapping all of us in His love, through my prayers. What an amazing way to start and end a day.

To view other thoughts and ruminations on these questions, visit RevGalBlogPals this week.

I went to see "Nights in Rodanthe" yesterday. I'd completely forgotten that it was based on Nicholas Sparks's book of the same name. Had I remembered, I would also have gone to Wal-Mart to pick up a box of tissues prior to the movie. Yes, ladies, it will make you cry. Big boo-hoo tears, too.

Duh, it's a Sparks movie. *wink*

Anyway, at one point, Adrienne (Diane Lane) and Paul (Richard Gere) are looking this driftwood box that she'd made years before. The local lore says that you build this box and put things that are most important to you in your life. They get around to the idea that these things are the things that save you. And he asks her, "What saves you?"

(Now that I think about it, I may have misunderstood what he said, but the point is still the same.)

What saves you?

The obvious answer here, for someone like me, is Christ. Right? And no, I don't mean to belittle the idea that my faith in Christ is what drives me and fills me. Because it absolutely does.

But, that's not all. I think where I'm going with this is that what saves me, what really really does it for me in ways that I can name, is where I see Christ in my world everyday. Only, I don't think I've ever said it that way before.

What saves me? In no particular order, other than this is how I can best put words to it.

Music. Music is such a huge part of my world. I don't know how to function in silence. Power outtages? Thank God for my iPod. You know the old question, if you had to lose one of your five senses, which one would you choose? Sight. No question. I can get by not seeing the people and places that I love. I could live without seeing the beauty around me. But I couldn't bear the thought of not hearing music, or the birds, or the voices of my loved ones. Not a one. I guess, really, what I mean is sound, more than music. But, when all else is silent, I plug into my music and escape.

My family. For all the times I've wanted to scream at them (and I know that makes me no different than anyone else.), I know that in the end, I'd be lost without them. Moms and daughters are supposed to clash a bit, I really do believe that. (And I fear families in which that doesn't happen.) Brothers and sisters aren't supposed to be perfect angels together when growing up (again with the fear). And Daddies are supposed to risk it all for their little girls when they're being stupid. And you know what, that's how my family is. I don't know how we got here, because I'm certain the dynamic that the 4 of us have is nothing like how my parents grew up in their childhood homes. And sometimes, I wish we could go back to our little foursome in the house across town.

The WonderDog. I know this is probably silly-sounding to an outsider. But, I got WD during a time in my life that was dark. I was very low, I was alone in that way that only the isolated feel. I'd wanted to get a dog when I first moved out of my parents' house, but decided to wait until I finished my grad school, so that I would be home to be with a dog. I finished my graduate work in August. In October, someone at work said his dog was going to have an unplanned litter puppies at the end of the month, half yorkie/half schnauzer. (Imagine, WD's parents were papered pure breds. Oh the horror! Oh the shame!) I told him to keep me in mind, I might want one of the pups. Turns out WD was the runt, and the only boy in the litter. He's also the cutest one in the whole bunch. He healed my wounded heart and mind. Four years later, he's my favorite little buddy.

So...what saves you?

There's a part of me that wants answers to questions that I fear have no easy answers.

I sat one day and listened to a teenager girl advise another teenage girl on how to "do right by her baby." Essentially, it amounted to signing up for every government aid program available--WIC, food stamps, etc. Why not just, I don't know, get a job? Graduate high school, get a better paying job? Be productive and not look for a hand-out?

Did I mention that both girls were wearing clothes more expensive than me? Me with my masters degree, full time job, and zero dependents I can claim on my tax return.


I chatted today with a former student. Actually, chatted isn't the right word. My heart broke over her. She should be graduating in May. She won't be.She doesn't have the credits for it--she doesn't have the credits to be in 10th grade. There's a baby story in there, as well as a family that sees little importance in education. I want her to graduate. I'll do whatever I can. She doesn't know how to use a computer, so even fast food jobs are limited for her. I think she wants better for herself and her baby. But how do you get it when no one who is supposed to love you tells you that you can have it? When no one at home thinks it's important?

I wasn't raised in a house like that. I don't know what it's like to grow up in home that doesn't want you to be successful, productive. That doesn't want you to feel good about who you are and your hopes and dreams. And now, because she doesn't know any better, will her child ever feel the way I did growing up--that the world is full of limitless opportunity, if you just look.

How do you take care of those kids when you can't get them into a school building? And not because they are resistant, but because you can't get through to Mom and Dad. I feel like I've failed her somehow.

Mmm...it's Tuesday again. I haven't done a "Ten Things Tuesday" post much this summer. (Okay, without looking at the archives, I'm betting twice, tops). So, here we go...because I'm sitting on a comfy bed, with a warmish dog beside me.

1. I'm thankful for the rain. As late as 9 p.m. last night, tropical storm Eduardo was slated to make land about 40 miles from my house. Well, my mom's house, where The WonderDog and I came to whole up for the duration of the rain. Instead, some time after I gave out and went to bed, it turned a bit and went in much farther up the coast. But we are getting some rain...which we needed.

2. I'm thankful I have a place to hide out in a storm. And I don't just mean those that sneak in from the Gulf. Any storm. We joke that my place is "home" but the house I grew up in is the "homestead." It's nice to know I've got the old family homestead run to when the going is gonna to get rough.

3. Parents that worry. It only took one recorded phone call from our esteemed mayor (who is concerned about me! He said so.) for my parents to call and offer a bed for me and The WonderDog. They just didn't want me to be stranded in my one bedroom across town if it should get bad.

4. I discovered this morning that my little darling dog has adopted my slightly twisted sense of humor. My dad had closed the guest room door after I fell asleep. In the dark, I can't see at all. I got up, and headed for the doorway, and ran into the door. I hear The WonderDog behind me snort. I hit the light switch and he's got this amused look on his face..I think he was laughing at me. Oh well, at least I know he gets me. *grin*

5. Penguins. I don't know why. I keep seeing pictures of penguins lately and I'm just kinda glad we have them around.

6. I've been eating tomatoes a bunch lately. Not raw tomatoes, it's a texture thing and I will NOT eat those. But I roasted a bunch last week and have used them on pizzas, on an egg over easy, on egg sandwiches, and just by themselves. yummy!

7. Lazy days. I've been off work for 2 weeks, this is my last week for the summer. It's been so nice to be able to sleep in, and then play around a bit, maybe spend the day in my pajamas and just relax. I really love days like that.

8. Friends that call out of the blue and validate my thoughts and concerns. I've not been certain lately about some decisions I've made, but they helped me affirm that I was in the right.

9. The Bible in 90 Days program. I'm on day 3. I know I said I was going to start last Friday, but I put it off until Sunday. I have more time to focus then on the video sessions. Right off the bat, Day 1, I "learned" something I don't think I'd ever realized before. When it says that people were "calling on the name of the Lord," it means they were proclaiming Him. Wow..I thought that was just another way to say they were petitioning the Lord--beginning to ask for things rather than just talking to Him.

10. I'm thankful for my Father's Word. I'm so blessed to be able to read and comprehend what He has given to us.

Those are the things on my mind this week. There are so many different things to be thankful for, obviously, but that's where I am right now--the mildly silly to the very serious.

If you want to check out other thankful thoughts, check out the list on Mrs. Brownstone's blog, "XBox Wife" this week.

So, like I said, I've been writing, even if it's not been here.

I've published a few things over at Associated Content. Here's my shameless plug.

Go...read my stuff....please?

The other day, I was reading Quotidian Grace's blog. I like to hear her take on Presbyterian news. And sometimes her dachshund Beatrice guest blogs. Too cute.

I found information about a Bible program I'm starting this evening (thanks to my postal carrier actually carrying the mail today--you have NO idea.). Check out the Bible in 90 Days site. I confess, I caved and bought the leader kit, right after sending an email to our Christian Ed convenor with the info.

I like the premise...in 12 pages a day, using the Bible the program was designed around, you read the Bible cover to cover in 90 days. There's also DVD sessions for each week, and a guide. I'm excited.

Like I said, I'll start this evening. I'll watch the first DVD session, read the first 12 pages, and maybe do the first week's questions. Okay, so if I don't get those done tonight, then I'll do them in the morning.

Like I said before, I've been a bit absent a bit. And I've laid out of doing some of the lists that I like to do--like RevGalBlogPals Friday Fives.

This week, they got red-flagged by Blogger as potential spam. That's all worked out, but not before there was a little franticness. So, Songbird ran with the idea of being locked or, or maybe locked in for the Friday Five.





1) How do you amuse yourself when road construction blocks your travel? I don't amuse myself. I'm not a patient person. At. All. (And yes I know patience is a virtue, I'm quite content to not be a virtuous woman if it's a requirement.) If I'm not feeling rushed when I come across it, and find myself having to sit, I'll usually grab the book in my purse and read for a few minutes.


2) Have you ever locked yourself out of your house? (And do you keep an extra key somewhere, just in case?) No, every place I've lived since leaving my parents' house has a deadbolt that has to be locked with a key from outside. And I'm terrified of losing my keys, so I always know where they are. But if I ever did, my parents have one (thankfully they live 10 minutes away) and I have one hidden safely away for emergencies.

I have locked myself out of the car before. Rather, The WonderDog locked me out. I'd dropped the keys on the car seat while I belted him in and didn't realize he'd mashed the remote and locked the doors. Agonizing 20 minutes in July with a 8 month old puppy wilting before my eyes. Smartly, since I'm a single girl, I gave my parents the spare key to the car for just such reasons.

3) Have you ever cleared a hurdle? (And if you haven't flown over a material hurdle, feel free to take this one metaphorically.) I did finish my masters degree, on my own, under my own steam and funding. Yes, I'm still paying for it, but I did it. As for physical hurdles, I don't do those. That looks like physical activity. *grin*

4) What's your approach to a mental block? I take a walk, I jog (I just don't do hurdles), I sleep, I pray. Not necessarily in that order. But I always get away from whatever's blocked or blocking me. I do the same thing when I write. I either put aside the piece I'm writing and try a different piece (genre even), or walk away completely, taking WonderDog with me.

5) Suggest a caption for the picture above; there will be a prize for the funniest answer!
"I want to see the world to sing, in perfect harmony..."

or

"It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!"

If you'd like to see some other ideas, check out RevGalBlogPals.

Ugh..this is what happens when you give yourself a break from the things you normally do. You get behind...

My friend Sharon, over at Reservoir tagged me this week. So, I'm not totally behind, but still. I would normally have seen it IMMEDIATELY and responded almost as fast!

So, here goes...

The rules (because they all have rules)

1. Link to the person who tagged you. Done..did you see that link up there?
2. Post the rules on your blog. Ahem...notice?
3. Write 6 random things about yourself. Keep reading
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them. ...
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog. ...
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up. ...

Hmmmm....

• My favorite place in my house is my bed. I love to lay (lie?) in bed and read a book. With all the work I've done and money I've spent to make it perfect, it's almost the most expensive thing I own.
• I used to long-hand write everything, even my blog posts before I typed them in. But, the more I used my computer, I developed some arthritis in my hands. So, unless I'm willing to take something everyday, there's some mornings I get up and can't hold a pen, unless it's a really, really fat one.
• That's why I prefer to use those kindergarten pencils that are chubby. No, that's just the excuse I use now. I've always preferred those.
• I don't eat raw tomatoes. Ever. It's a texture thing. But I've recently learned to lurve roasted ones. By recent I mean "just this week."
• I don't know how to swim. I'd love to, but I don't.
• I love greasy food...just love it. I know it's horrible for me, as nasty medical conditions that are aggravated by poor diets run in my family, but I can't help it. It's almost like grease is a comfort food.

Anyway, there they are, 6 random facts about me. I don't have 6 people I can think to tag, that haven't done one like this in the recent months...so....I tag anyone who wanders by! Just leave me a comment so I know you played!

Yes, I know I've been exceedingly absent from my blog for nearly a month.

Again.

But that's okay. I've been writing. In fact, I've got a document open in the other window with the scribblings for a new book concept I was attacked by this afternoon. I have the croonings of a former student and trip to the Christian bookstore to thank for this one. And, I think, since I've already got 6 pages of scribblings and chapter ideas in about 45 minutes, that this will be the one I actually convince myself to send off. Maybe. We'll see.

Anyway, Watch this space. I'm about to get busy. *grin*

Alrighty, so over at RevGal, Sally tells us that it seems a little strange that she, a Brit, is posting questions for the 4th (ahem)...but so what! It's all in good fun, anyway.

So lets have a bit of fun:

1. Barbeque's or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?) No, they aren't the same. Barbecue's have hot meats--brisket, burgers, hot dogs, maybe chicken or porck chops. Picnics have buckets of fried chicken.

2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being? If I could find a quiet beach park or lake this weekend, I'd be there. Instead, I'll take the hammock at mom's.

3. Fireworks- love 'em or hate 'em? Love 'em. I think they're beautiful and they make me feel like a kid.

4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory...Last year, with The Man's family, we were supposed to watch the neighborhood parade, which we discovered, just as we got settled in our spos roadside, had been cancelled. So, his sisters, DD, and I took the little ones back to the house and made paper plate masks and used kazoos and made our own parade down the stairwell in the house. (It was his dad's birthday, too, so the parade was all about "Poppa.")

5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be?



To see some other fireworks displays, check out RevGalBlogPals this week.

Over on Eternal Echoes, Sally poses an interesting question.

"I wonder, do we still have what Peter had? Do we have the faith to believe in a God who heals, that as we go about our everyday lives and are surrounded by suffering and needs are we able to reach beyond ourselves and place our faith in a God who has such compassion upon the suffering of humanity that he will bring healing there and then?"

It's made me think, because in my meditations during the last few weeks, I've asked for some healing myself.

Here's what I said on Sally's post:

I think that we often assume that we need to do something to kick-start the miracle. We've got to do something more than just pray. It's a human condition to "fix" things, to feel that inaction means no action will take place at all.
I also think we have a convoluted concept of healing--it doesn't have to be physical to be miraculous.

I think the miracle is in that God hears us at all. That I can say anything to someone who actually has the power to do something at all. Often, that is all I need. Sometimes, I think the fact that someone felt moved to speak to Him at all opens the door to move in someone's heart or to have Him stir the pot, so to speak.

It's been a while since I've done a post on what I'm watching on TV when I get up. It's a lazy morning, so I'll do that.

I've turned on CMT this morning. I really do like to watch music videos. I like to see what other people's ideas about the music. I like to see if my ideas are in line with ideas.

The first one I see is a live performance by Taylor Swift. It's her performance of 'Should Have Said No" on the ACMs this year. I like Taylor Swift because I think she really is talented, and I'm amazed that a 17 year old is doing this. However, I think as a live performer she's not all that great. Her voice lacks quality in my ear.

Hehe..Julianne Hough "That Song in My Head." What a fun song. And she's fun to watch. She's one of the Dancing with the Stars actually dancers (not the celebrity wannabe dancers).

Kid Rock's new one "All Summer Long." I'm not really much a Kid Rock fan, but I sure do like this song. It's my new summer favorite. (ok, so maybe not the part about "smokin' funny stuff")

Miranda Lambert's "Kerosene." I like this pretty girl gone witch. All of her songs are well..anthems for women who've been walked on. I love it.

"Home" by Blake Shelton. I love this sexy man. And this song is great. It's one of those things I can't explain, but it gets to me.

Sugarland's Stay. A song about "the other woman" realizing she doesn't have to lay there and wait for him to choose her--not that she should've put herself in that position in the first place, of course. Jennifer Nettles (1/2 the duo) is an emotional singer. She puts everything she has into what she sings. I saw them when the opened for someone else last summer. Amazing. Utterly amazing. And I love this blackbox video.

Jimmy Wayne..new guy out these days. Song's called "Do You Believe Me Now?" Apparently, the voice in this song had a premonition about losing his girl to another guy who looked at her. She laughed it off And then the guy got her. I like the song. It gives credence to all those who fear that sort of thing.

Alan Jackson "Good Time." Okay, cute song, I guess. I have this fear that I'm being sacrilegious here, I don't like Alan Jackson. Never have. I recognize his now some sort of country music icon, but...no.

Ok..it's a beautiful day. Find me poolside.

This afternoon I went to see The Incredible Hulk. Really, really good movie. Much, much better than the Ang Lee version in 2003. (Which, frankly, isn't too hard to believe. That one really stunk.)

Butt that's not why I'm sighing. No, I've been reminded that I find men who are well-formed bordering on scrawny so damn hot. For example, Edward Norton.

Okay.

Everyone's got that one singer or actor or whatever that reminds him or her of what life growing up was like. That just takes you right back, right?

This is mine. Okay...to be accurate, these are mine.



It would be incredibly appropriate to send me concert tickets for Houston some time soon. *grin*

This is WAY TOO COOL.

This 17 year old convinced his school board to let him take Latin via distance learning. Now, he's posting lessons on YouTube for others. He rocks.

LatinGuy

Trapster® - Speed Trap Sharing System

This is pretty cool. You can send a text message to this system, alerting others to speed traps and red light cameras. You'll also get to receive them. Cool.

Posted using ShareThis

It's Friday, the day when the Friday Five-game goes up at RevGalBLogPals. (Okay, rereading that, I realize how un-awake I sound. Well, duh, it's Friday you nut, when would you expect to find the Friday game? Tuesday? Sheesh.)

Blame it on the coffee being slow and the allergy meds being quick.

Anyway...on to the real show. *grin*

Mother Laura told us about her new beach-close home. And then asks us to take a beach trip..down memory lane and maybe soon!

1. Ocean rocks, lake limps? Vice versa? Or "it's all beautiful in its own way"?
Well, sure, it's all beautiful in it's own way, but I just can't help but pulled to the sandy beaches on the coast. It's the sound of the waves that make it the beach for me. They drown out the noise in my head *wink*

2. Year round beach living: Heaven...or the Other Place?
Well, living on the Texas Gulf Coast (which I know has faired relatively well over the last 25 years), I don't think I could live on the beach during hurricane season. If it weren't for that, I could sure do a near the beach situation, like Mother Laura's, but not on it. I have an aversion to sand--I really only tolerate it when I go to the beach now as it is.

3. Any beach plans for this summer?
Nothing specific, but when you've lived your whole life 20 minutes from a couple decent stretches of coast, you've got the opportunity to call for a beach day when you get up in the morning.

4. Best beach memory ever?
Actually, a fairly recent one. Last fall, there was a meteor shower expected and The Man (my very very bestest BFF) and I drove out to sit on the beach and watch for it. I don't think we ever saw one, though we didn't stick around for the peak hours anyway. It was wonderful to sit out there in the breeze, listening to the waves crashing, and just be together.

5. Fantasy beach trip?
Hm..someplace quiet...like a cottage with a private stretch of beach. I'd love to have a couple of my closest friends with me, lounging around with umbrella-decorated fruity drinks and some wonderful books. But I just love vacations that allow for solitude.

Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what the beach means to you.

Okay, I was trying to find a still shot from the movie City of Angels of just the angels at sunrise on the beach, but I guess I'm not looking hard enough. So, imagine that Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage aren't in this picture. *grin*

Couple with these words from the GooGoo Doll's song Iris. (Which is on the City of Angels soundtrack.)

And all I can taste is this moment And all I can breathe is your life

And I don't want the world to see me Cause I don't think that they'd understand.

When everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am

(Line spacing and arrangment is mine. It means something to me like this.)

To see what others have done on their mini-vacation beach trips today, check out RevGalBlogPals Friday Five for this week.

Okay, so I saw this over at Miss Judy's, who found it at Apartment Carpet's. It sounds like fun, and is certainly a different take on a meme.

And well...I've got some free time.

Here's how it works...

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name


And here it is ....

Mosaical Meme,originally uploaded by jaynemarche

I know it's small..sorry. My Flickr skills suck. Just click the name to see the big one. *wink*

So, let's see, I've been practicing being still for 10 days now.

It's not been easy every day. But it is getting increasingly easier. If you'll recall, there's a five- minute morning meditation, and then a one-minute hourly meditation. I don't do the hourly meditations as much as I would like. It's a little hard to stop mid-lecture in summer school and be still for a minute. 14 and 15 year olds look at you funny. And then they start talking, which would totally destroy my stillness.

I've been mad at myself that because I don't feel like I'm doing it right. Then, a few days ago, I found this quote..

To be is to do. (Immanuel Kant)

I collect quotes all the time. And it seems that I run across quotes all the time that speak to something important in my world at that time. Do you see where I'm going with this?

In order to be still, I need to do still.

So, I realized that part of my problem was that I was trying to work off of an imposed schedule. And that's why I was feeling bad--I couldn't keep to the schedule. And geesh, we'd even been given permission to not worry about the schedule.

So, I decided to alter what I was doing. I get up and do the morning meditation. And then, when I think about it. I've a tendency to fiddle with things, so I put a ponytail holder around my wrist. Every time I mess with it, I stop, focus, and pay attention to my breathing. I just let myself stay still. And it's working.

Anyway, 10 days into it, I'm feeling more calm, all the time. I'm sleeping better, which tells me that being still is having an effect on my blood pressure and heart condition. Obviously, that can't be good. Things aren't getting to me as quickly---not that things that don't bother me at all, but I'm slower to frustration.

I really feel like this is making a difference. I'm so glad Sharon turned me on to it. Thanks Sharon!

I think my mother's cat is possessed.

He's always had this "tail" thing going on. Sometimes he'll be lying there, seemingly asleep, and his tail is awake. Just his tail. It starts doing this thumping thing that you can hear in another room (big cat=big tail). Before you know it, he's attacking his own tail. Sometimes he won't stop until he draws his own blood.

He's been relegated to a strictly outside cat lately. His younger sister (who he normally dotes on) is scared of him. He's jumped her a couple of times. Like he wants to wrestle, not like he feels the need to be incestuous. No kidding. It's like some freakish kamikaze leap with a yowl that's only heard in horror movies. She now cowers in the corner if we let him inside (she's strictly and indoor cat because she gets lost and can't find home.).

We've suspicioned that this might in fact be hormonal on his part, as he's not fixed. But since he'd always been and indoor/outdoor cat, we figured he took care of his needs elsewhere.

This morning, I'm sitting on the back porch, quietly sipping at my coffee, a small WonderDog curled up next to me, and enjoying the quiet. Suddenly, I hear 2 cats sending warning rowrs at each other. There's a neighbor cat (Lucky, the one-eyed cat) who comes in the yard from time to time, but unless food's involved our big guy and Lucky get along just fine. I went to see what was going on, because I'd just put food down and I don't believe in serving a buffet for the neighborhood felines.

It was just the big cat. Both voices were coming from him. And that tail was just a thumping to beat the band. (For those of you who were in marching bands in other lives, it's like listening to a soft thump on bass drum #4, if #1 is the smallest one...freakish.)

What do you do when you think your cat might need an excorsism and you're not Catholic?

I've laid out a couple weeks, because school/work stuff got the better of me. And yesterday, well....I laid on the couch for a few hours after dealing with my parents banged up car (what a way to start a vacation..I'll tell you that story some other tim). But, today, I'm really into the prompt. It seems, to me at least, to go hand in hand with the my wanderings while doing the Stillness Experiment this month.

And so, Sally, over at RevGalBlogPals says:

This week I took some time out to stop and walk and take in the view; my son Chris is studying in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, too often we simply drive up there, turn around and come home! This time Tim and I took time out to take in the view. It occurs to me that we need to do that more in life....

With that in mind I offer you this weeks Friday Five:

1. How important is the "big picture" to you, do you need a glimpse of the possibilities or are you a details person? I think seeing the big picture is my goal setting opportunity. I need to see where I'm heading, even if I'm fully aware that the picture may evolve as I work through whatever it is.

2. If the big picture is important to you how do you hold onto it in the nitty gritty details of life? Depends on the project/experience. I'm a planner, so a lot of times at work, I'll make a chart or a list with the big umbrella being the final goal, the big picture. Then all the detail stuff I'll put underneath (I know you've seen these things before...they're SUCH an English teacher tool--hmm...I was an English major.). It helps me to see where my little detail fits in the big picture. And then there's the whole sense of accomplishment as I see the details being wiped out!

3. Name a book, poem, psalm, piece of music that transports to to another dimension ( one....what am I thinking....) Hm...Luke., as in "The Gospel of." I think it's because I feel like, him being a doctor and all, he's the most detail-oriented. Then the chorus "Sanctuary." That one gets me most every time. (I don't like the voices in this one, but you'll get the idea).




I get seriously caught up in Gone with the Wind, too. Okay, so darn near anything Southern, to be honest.


4.Thinking of physical views, is there somewhere that inspires you, somewhere that you breathe more easily? Yes, actually. I breathe more easily when I'm outside on a cool, quiet morning. I've been soaking it in the last few days, being off a week before the summer sessions start up. What's even better is laying out under a tree in the cool grass. The kind where you can feel where every blad of grass is touching your body. It's heavenly.


5. A picture opportunity... post one if you can ( or a link to one!)



Borrowed from AllSpice1's Flickr stream. Thanks!












To view some other thoughts inspired by the view, visit RevGalBlogPals Friday Five for this week.