The Clock is Ticking

Hm...I haven't posted a 10 things in a couple weeks. Not that I haven't had plenty to be thankful for, I just haven't had time to sit and tell you what I'm thankful for. That's okay, I'll keep going to night until I run out of things to share (that'll make up for it, right? *grin*)

1. I met a man who knows what to do with these when he sees them:




For the record, it is not say "Ooo, look! A piggie!"




2. He makes me giggle ;).


3. The WonderDog has no fleas. Did you know that vinegar and lemon juice diluted with water can be sprayed on your dog and it will either kill or run off fleas? Then, if you put salt down on your carpets and leave it overnight, it'll dehydrate the fleas who are mostly water. So, when you vacuum in the morning, they all go bye-bye. Do it again in a week or so to catch any new births from eggs laid.

4. I survived 4 days in Dallas. And the car trip that got me there.

5. I've inherited my grandmother's stoneware dishes from the 60s, maybe the 50s. I had no idea she owned these, but they're mine now. I've often felt like she's watching me since she passed four years ago. Now I have a little bit of her in my home.

6. I'm losing weight! I won't ask how or go into details. Just say YAY!!

7. The old-lady creams and potions I got from Avon are WORKING!

8. I got a replacement phone in the mail Friday. It's so nice to discover it working better than the first one EVER did.

9. I'm sleeping through the night again. I bought one of those noise machines. I set it on the ocean wave noise, and I'm out like a light.

10. It's been pretty and warm lately. I love this time of year, I get to feel pretty in my little sundresses and skirts.

11. Pedicures are heavenly. Right up there with new socks.

12. Read several good books lately. All for teenagers.

13. WonderDog is sleeping through the night, too. I guess the noise machine drowns out all the outside noise for him, too.

14. Go to YouTube. Search for "canine freestyling." You will laugh. I promise. Anything that makes me laugh is a blessing.

15. I've just been happy lately. I smile more, and fewer things annoy me.

"It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know and I feel fine."
--R.E.M.

I've always kind of laughed at the lyrics to the R.E.M. song. I laughed freakin' hard when I saw the movie "Independence Day" in theaters (on, ironically, Independence Day). Pay close attention, the song playing in the opening sequence in the room where they're monitoring the skies is R.E.M.'s "End of the World as We Know It."

I've always laughed because I happen to think that phrase pretty regular. Like this year, at work. Things have been happening there that I don't like. Things involving the students. Since it's been in the news, I don't feel bad saying we've had a loaded gun on campus.

It scares me. Quite a bit. Since Columbine, either I'm more aware of things like that, or they actually are happening more often. I don't know which it is, and I don't guess that part matters. It's a huge problem to me that it's happening at all. I realize that lots of people see it at as a huge problem, too.

And really, after Columbine, I really had the words "it's the end of the world as we know it" go through my head.

I think we're on a downward spiral. We're outraged when something like a school shooting. But, you know, there were days and days and days of coverage after Columbine. After the Virginia Tech shootings, it was a week-ish. We're becoming desensitized and it's really rather sad. Evil should shock us, should make us stop and feel anger and fear. It shouldn't be one of those "oh my gosh, again? okay, what else is on?" deals.

Do I think there's hope for our future? Of course there is. There has to be. It can't keep going down without hitting a bottom somewhere. And once you're there, there's only direction to go--up.

Actually, the Sunday Scribblings prompt is about the future of the planet. Check it out to see other takes.

I never expected to have a spiritual 'ah-ha' moment in a room full of librarians, at the largest state conference of them.

But I did.

I never realized that a prayer for peace in my soul and sense of humor about a situation that would be fraught with annoyance would be answered in a foreign language.

But it was.

Fanga Alafia, ase, ase.

We were being entertained by a rhythm duo and were taught what we were told was a Liberian welcome song (I've since been researching and can find a similar form in Nigerian, and then listed as just a West African chant. Whatever. That part isn't pertinent to my moment.)

Fange Alafia, ase, ase.

They told us that it means "Welcome to peace, so be it."

My gosh, or--more accurately--My God! These dang goofballs making us hum on kazoos (because you don't blow on them) were God's agents to my heart. To my mind.

I joked as I dealt with my frustration over a particular situation I was put in, that I had not under any circumstances prayed for patience on this trip. I'm not stupid. I don't ask for patience because God doesn't grant virtues like patience. Rather, he provides teachable moments. Because I know that and I don't take well to force-fed lesson, I don't ever ask for patience. EVER.

No, no, I asked for peace. Did you know, as I now do, that those moments and things (and people) that try our patience are the things that God will sue to teach us peace.

Welcome to peace. So be it.

Peace doesn't always look like a pastoral scene. Or a white dove. Or a sleeping baby.

Remember, Jesus on the boat? Sleeping soundly though the storm raging around Him on the Sea of Galilee? That's peace--the ability to be calm when surrounded by a world that would have you be frantic, angry, frayed at the edges. To be calm when all inside you wants to be anything but. Because there is no point in falling prey to those feelings, they will not remedy the situation.

Fanga Alafia. Ase, ase.

Welcome to peace. So be it.

Over at RevGalBlogPals, the Friday Five is up. Certainly some good things to think about, I actually looked at it this morning, But wasn't able to stop and write because I was being bombarded! But I kept it in the back of mind.

1. What modern convenience/invention could you absolutely, positively not live without?
My laptop, Emily. And my cell phone, Phoebe. Yes, they're named. And they're synced. They get along quite well, thank you.

2. What modern convenience/invention do you wish had never seen the light of day? Why?
The alarm clock. Because it interrupts a perfectly good sleep cycle.

3. Do you own a music-playing device older than a CD player? More than one? If so, do you use it (them)?
Personally? No. But we do have tape recorders at work.

4. Do you find the rapid change in our world exciting, scary, a mix...or something else?
A mix--I love technology and really do enjoy learning the new stuff and being able to actually make my day more efficient. It's so exciting! On the scary side, we're training ourselves and our kids to not be self-sufficient without relying on the technology. Not to sound all Y2K here, but what if?

5. What did our forebears have that we have lost and you'd like to regain? Bonus points if you have a suggestion of how to begin that process.
The ability to live without all these tech pieces I am so reliant on. Easiness in silence--you know what I mean? You read about families sitting together on Sunday afternoon, not working, just resting quietly. Maybe reading the Bible, or whatever. But they weren't wired into noise makers. How do we get back to that? It's going to take concerted efforts to just enjoy God presence and realize that it's not at all related to the machines around us.

For more musings, check out this week's Friday Five at RevGalBlogPals.

Assault by Carrot

Thirteen Things about Jayne--Words I Love




1. Molybdenum

2. Aluminum

3. Grace

4. Plum

5. Coffee

6. Dale, Jr.

7. Blush

8. Breakfast

9. Pillow

10. Seep

11. Nap

12. Mint

13. Grrrr



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Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. (Albert Einstein)

Just doing a lot of thinking today. Ok, so I've been up for all of , oh, 30 minutes. Lately, I've been thinking about simplification. I think, sometimes, I complicate things because I can. That doesn't work, huh?

It's one of those things I need to work on. I say that I appreciate simplicity, and then I rework the things that I do or think. Not intentionally, it just happens.

Really, all that matters, is loving my God and being happy in my world. It really doesn't get any simpler than that, right?

This week's Friday Five is about moving. I don't enjoy moving. In fact, I don't plan to move again until I get married, whenever that may be. I keep saying I'd like to get out of apartment living and find a rent house, but the fact of the matter is, I won't. Unless rent gets much more ridiculous.

1. How many times have you moved? When was the last time? Um, counting in and out of dorm rooms in college, 7 times.

2. What do you love and hate about moving? I hate the packing, unpacking, lifting, carrying. Hm..pretty much all the physical stuff. I love getting organized and discovering new spaces.

3. Do you do it yourself or hire movers? I've done it both ways. I've also recruited family and friends. Pretty much I try to find others who can do the heavy lifting, because I'm not supposed to.

4. Advice for surviving and thriving during a move? Try to be organized and don't leave off packing until the night before. I also try to have a firm plan about where things need to go. I also learned to have the movers put the big stuff in the new place first--you can use that to stack boxes on afterwards so that you can still see the floor.

5. Are you in the middle of any inner moves, if not outer ones? Yeah, trying to remind myself to simplify things. Not just things that I do, but the way that I think.

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

Oh, this is easy. I wrote this poem in high school, and I think it applies to so many different situations.

Things are not as they
teach us--the Earth is hollow;
I have touched the sky.


**To see more posts about "moving" posts, check out this week's Friday Five at RevGalBlogPals.

Ok..this week, I'm actually feeling thankful for a lot of things. So, I'll play again. *grin*


1. I changed The WonderDog's food 10 days ago. Apparently, what I'd been feeding him has been tearing his stomach up for oh...3 years. Now, he gets excited about me putting supper down.

2. And we've had no instances that require a gas mask! (You probably don't want to know that, TMI and all that, but you have no idea how wonderful that is.)

3. I've been reading a lot, which just feeds my soul.

4. I got some new clothes this week. Including NEW SOCKS!

5. I think I've lost some weight. The clothes definitely fit differently, in a good way.

6. I really haven't watched my television this week, and that's really a good thing. Especially since nothing good's been on.

7. My insomnia hasn''t been too bad this week. Knock on wood.

8. I'm still loving my coffee.

9. Mrs. Brownstone is a new blog pal--YAY!

10. It was quiet at work today, so I put some CDs on and sand along...loud.

11. Heading up to see my aunt and uncle this weekend. Gonna stop in and see Ms. Judy on the way.

12. My Avon order came in today--all old lady stuff, but I'm so excited it's here!

OOOOOO...LOOK! I was an over-achiever! Mark it on your calendar, it won't happen again anytime soon!!

To see what others are thankful for this week, check out Ten Things Tuesday over at XBox Wife.

HEMA is a Dutch department store. The first store opened on November 4, 1926, in Amsterdam . Now there are 150 stores all over the Netherlands . HEMA also has stores in Belgium , Luxemburg, and Germany. In June of this year, HEMA was sold to British investment company Lion Capital.

Take a look at HEMA's product page. You can't order anything and it's in Dutch, just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens. Don't click on any of the products pictured, just wait and see what happens. And be sure you have your sound turned up.

This company has a sense of humor and a great computer programmer, ya?

HEMA

I love to look at pictures. This morning, as I was blog shopping, I landed on one that has some pictures that just do me in.

The Daily Coyote

I love to look at pictures of animals just enjoying life. Charlie is doing just that. I've always believed that when animals and people come together and it's a obviously a good thing, the animal has chosen them. I think Charlie's done that with Eli the cat and his human.

That's what I think about The WonderDog. He chose me. I didn't want a little boy dog. I actually, I wasn't picky at all. When the guy at work brought the puppies up, knowing I wanted one, he dropped them off in their laundry basket with one of the ladies in the front office. She called to tell me they were there and to come pick mine out.

He was sitting in her lap when I walked in, the only boy of the 5 puppies. I came through the door and he stood up and chirped at me. I patted his head and knelt beside the basket, a few feet away, looking them over. He walked to the edge of her lap, and she put him on the floor where he tumbled over and crawled in my lap. I think it took 2 seconds for him to curl up and fall asleep.

Now if that's not choosing me, I don't know what is.

And I tell you what, I wouldn't choose anyone else.

I'm not an endorser--unless it's a book or a good idea. Otherwise, you'll never know if I prefer Coke or Pepsi (Coke Zero), McDonald's or Burker King (Jack in the Box, actually), Nike over Adidas (Nike, all the way), blue states vs. red states (purple, to be honest).

In fact, the only thing you'll ever know for certain is that I much prefer Dale Earnhardt, Jr. over Jeff Gordon. If I have to explain that, you obviously aren't a fan.


jumping coffee beans,


But, I'm going to step out here and endorse some coffees. Yes, coffees.

Lola Savannah Coffee Company
This is a Houston native group. I started drinking Lola Savannah coffees when I discovered the food Mecca Central Market. I love good coffee, and love to buy good beans and grind 'em myself for my little coffee pot or my espresso machine. Grinding them yourself makes for a better coffee, regardless. Good beans just make it even better.

This morning, I'm having a spiritual experience over a new find. "Lunch with Elvis." Oh my..wonderful. The name caught my eye yesterday when I was browsing the beans. Then the description.."tastes like fried bananas and peanut butter!" (If you haven't had that particular delicacy, you need to try it.) And IT DOES! Mm..a little cream, a little sugar, PERFECTION! I'm singing Elvis Songs this morning. Okay, I'm thinking Elvis songs this morning, 'cuz I won't be singing much of anything with the coffee cup to my mouth.

Equal Exchange: Fairly Traded Coffee, Tea, & Chocolate
I can't feel bad about a company that is involved in fair trading. We've been involved with this project for only a little while at church, as part of the Presbyterian Coffee Project. (If you look at Equal Exchange's website, you'll find under the "Interfaith Program" tab that there are several denominations with coffee projects. Check it out, it's a good thing.) At our alternative Christmas market, we had a booth with fair trade coffees. I picked up a bag of the whole bean "mind, body, & soul" blend.

WOW. From the website...

"Popular on both coasts and points in between. Two roasts promote the hardiness of our Mexican beans and highlight the chocolate and spice that make this coffee a connoisseur's favorite. We blend the distinct characteristics of Oaxaca and Chiapas to bring true meaning to this smooth, soft and soulful cup of black gold. Our multi-roast blend accentuates the mellow body and light acidity along with the dark chocolate finish that beans from these two states are known for producing."

I'm here to tell you that it is in fact a soulful cup of coffee. And to know that I'm doing a little good because I'm drinking it makes me feel like I've put a point on my side of the Karma tally sheet. To be honest, I've tried a few of the different blends, and while this is my favorite, they're all good. You can't go wrong here.

You won't find me endorsing Folger's. I drink that only if there is nothing else--and even then I consider whether I really, really, REALLY need that cup of coffee before I put my lips to it. I figure if I'm going to have an addiction to something, I'm gonna be addicted to the good stuff, not the cheapy stuff.

I missed last week's Friday Five, though I think I'll go back in a bit and do it.

This week's is a good one, and I'm sorry I didn't stop to do it yesterday.

Sally writes,

" With this Sunday's gospel reading in mind, that wonderful revelation of Christ to the companions on the Emmaus road. I wonder where you might have been surprised by God's revelation recently."

How has God revealed him/herself to you in a:

1. Book Well, this might be a little backwards. I started reading A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose this week. You know, the Oprah Book Club selection right now that has everyone suddenly realizing all kinds of things. It's not a hard book to grasp, but I was getting incredibly frustrated by all that Eckart Tolle had to say. Some of this stuff is common sense. And so, while I was getting into a particularly verbose rant (bout how ambiguous and esoteric writing about things we already know can lead to confusion and, well "missing the point"), this deep voice rang in my ears "some people will only get the point that way." That deep voice is the one I associate with God.

2.Film I can't say that I've had God revealed to me lately in film. I mean, I watched Star Wars last night and now I'm watching I am Legend. I do find myself wondering how a person utterly removed from society (like Will Smith's character) would make it. While I know God would carry me through, I'd fear the quiet. We're not meant to be quite so solitary a creature.

3. Song The new Rascal Flatts release has been on my mind today. I heard it in the car on the way home last night. I'm sure the radio intention is a love song, but you can't miss that the heart of this group is their Savior.

You could have bowed out gracefully
But you didn't
You knew enough to know to leave well enough alone
But you wouldn't
I drive myself crazy trying to stay out of my own way
The messes that I made
But my secrets are so safe
The only one who gets me
Yeah, you get me
It's amazing to me

How every day
every day
every day
You save my life

I come around all broken down and crowded out
And you are a comfort
Sometimes the place I go is so deep and dark and desperate
I don't know
I don't know

How every day
every day
every day
You save my life

Sometimes I swear I don't know if I am coming or going
But you always say something without even knowing
That I am hanging onto your words with all my might
And it's alright
Yeah I am alright
For one more night

Every day Every day Every day
Every day Every day Every day
Every day Every day
You save me
You save me

Every day Every day Every day
Every day
You save my life

It just makes me think about the promise of each day. I may have failed yesterday, failed to be the best for Christ that I could've been, but I got up today, a new day and He saved me once again. See, I don't think salvation is a one time thing--it's renewed every minute of every hour of every day. You just have to keep holding on to His hand.

4. Another person I see God in others constantly. I work with high school age students and I'm regularly finding that they are more aware and often more faithful than we think. Watching them care for each other gives me hope.

5. Creation I went for a run this morning, the first I've gone in several months for various reasons. Even though it was a breezy 36 degrees (Fahrenheit, y'all), I was jazzed and raring. I love to run. Getting out there in the gray morning was amazing. Squirrels were up, birds were getting going. This one little rat terrier joined me for one leg of my path. He was just the happiest thing on the road. Jogging along beside me (not even breathing hard!), barking for joy. Joy for the morning, for being alive, for being able to run. It was awesome.

For more revelations, visit RevGalBlogPals Friday Five for this week.

Thirteen Things about The WonderDog



1. When I picked him up at 5 and a half weeks old, he weighed only 12.5 ounces. (He was 8 pounds now).

2. For Christmas that year (when he was 6 and half weeks old), my brother and I had pictures made for our parents' gift. I took some by myself with WonderDog.

3. His mom is a salt-and-pepper miniature schnauzer and his dad's a yorkie. Both are registered.

4. He has 9 older sisters (5 in one litter and 4 in his).

5. He's the cutest of all 10 puppies. Seriously. That's not just his mom talking.

6. He skips when he's in a good mood. It's way too cute.

7. The yellow chair in my bedroom? Yeah, it's his. Not mine. I'm not allowed to sit in it.

8. He gets so excited about getting a treat that he crows.

9. He has no use for dogs. By that, I mean, he doesn't like dogs. He doesn't count, because he's not one.

10. Somehow, he always knows when I want to take a picture of him. He'll stop whatever cute thing he's doing that I wanted to capture and pose for the camera. Everytime.

11. He loves limeades from Sonic.

12. He knows no strangers. He might not like you a lot, but he'll fake it for a few minutes.

13. He can identify each one of his toys by the name I gave them. And he'll grab the right one everytime you send him after one.


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Ms. Judy tagged me..like a long time ago. Ok, like a week ago. So, here goes...

The rules are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules here
3. Share 7 random or weird facts about yourself
4. Tag 7 random people at the end of the post, linking to them.
5. Leave a comment on their blog so that they know they’ve been tagged.


Hm...randomness...ok...

--I used to be a professional flag twirler. Yes, that's right..professional. (Remember, to be considered a pro as opposed to an amateur all that really counts is that someone paid you to do it.)

--I am probably the only person Ms. Judy knows who can gracefully work in a comment about squirrels mating on a sidewalk into a campus tour. But only if the the tour group stumbles upon the squirrels in the act.

--I don't know how to swim. Ok, so, I know what you're supposed to do, but I can't make it happen.

--For all my technological know how with computers and VCRs (I am not a "blinking twelve"), I can't make the copy machine do what I want it to when I want it to.

--I think a new pair of really soft socks are Heaven on Earth. I also think freshly washed and starched sheets with tightly tucked hospital corners might be.

--I am a closet dork. Really.

--I am terrified of growing old and have no idea what you people who are going to do it "gracefully" are smoking. I've already considered the boob lift, I color my hair, and may well be the reason Oil of Olay is still in business.

I don't have too many "blog friends," (and Judy's one of them), so...I'll tag only 2.

EQ and XBox Wife.....you're up!