The Clock is Ticking

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.