This is a news article I saw on my local television affiliate.
~~~~~~~~~~
NH man swipes debit card for smokes, charged 23 quadrillion dollars (plus $15 overdraft fee)
By Associated Press
9:05 AM CDT, July 15, 2009
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man says he swiped his debit card at a gas station to buy a pack of cigarettes and was charged over 23 quadrillion dollars.
Josh Muszynski (Moo-SIN'-ski) checked his account online a few hours later and saw the 17-digit number — a stunning $23,148,855,308,184,500 (twenty-three quadrillion, one hundred forty-eight trillion, eight hundred fifty-five billion, three hundred eight million, one hundred eighty-four thousand, five hundred dollars).
Muszynski says he spent two hours on the phone with Bank of America trying to sort out the string of numbers and the $15 overdraft fee.
The bank corrected the error the next day.
Bank of America tells WMUR-TV only the card issuer, Visa, could answer questions. Visa, in turn, referred questions to the bank.
___
Information from: WMUR-TV, http://wmur.com
~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday Thirteen
"Reasons I Won't Have A Credit Card" and "Why I Think This Is Funny"
1. This was a DEBIT card, so I am still at risk.
2. 1% of this bill is more than four times the National Debt. (To copy the media, "That is QUADRILLION, with a Q!" Imagine the perky blonde anchor making you feel stupid, because you couldn't have heard it the first time.) I can live happily on that kind of money. The bank can never have enough.
3. Bank of America, the man's personal bank, is the bank known to give accounts to Undocumented Illegal Immigrants... I suppose they have to make up for that in some small fashion. I hope they don't think this is SMALL fashion.
4. I am sure that the numbers are meaningless..... no SSN or PIN in there. (Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!)
5. One of my friends on Facebook commented that the average daily balance would yield an interest charge that could be "ugly". They are allowed to be around 30%, especially if you are overdrawn.
6. How many people didn't get charged for their transactions that day, due to the keying error? I wouldn't want to be that person!
7. Cash Is King! Check out Dave Ramsey, and learn to survive without plastic. This is not a paid advertisement, just a personal testimony. I am not completely debt free, but imagine that as a goal! Now imagine that as a lifestyle!
8. I know that smoking kills you, but I thought it was for actually smoking! I am excited knowing that the guy is still alive after the SHOCK of seeing that bill.
9. Jesus said that our hearts are tied to our treasures. Junk purchased with plastic and debt are not treasures, but our hearts sit there with it anyway.
10. Nothing in the world like the Bank of America and Visa pointing fingers at each other. Poor guy had that balance on his personal checking account for a whole day, and nobody wanted to help him fix the problem.
11. The banks don't keep records better than I do. They can't! I am a perfectionist about accounting. I can't afford to let a penny slip by unaccounted for. I can't afford to write off mistakes. I can count!
12. Banks are really good at sticking you with fees when you really do overdraw... by a penny or two. Shouldn't they PAY you when the mistake is THEIRS?
13. Even Bakers know how to give a little extra to get a lot of loyalty. Banks could learn from this generous practice.
Blessings to you, more than money.
Showing posts with label silliness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label silliness. Show all posts
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
A Full Plate
I often have to tell the tale of the origin of the nickname. Explaining CHELF gets my readers a little bit closer to the CHELF SPACE headline here. I think I have explained some before... but for those of you who may have forgotten, and those who have not read from the beginning, let me tell the story once more. (Oh, yeah, like I don't like talking about this!)
When I was in High School (and early in my Junior College days) I did babysitting to supplement my income from my first job. My favorite charge was a little girl named Amber. Now, Amber was VERY smart. Quick. Not just a kid who talked early, but one who comprehended more deeply at a younger age than other children around. Logic was obvious in her little two year old brain.
Our story begins with Amber being my rag doll. I carried that child all over our church building. Her mom would play "Who's Got You?" with her when she was with someone else. One day, I was holding Amber, and Mommy asked "Who's got you?"
Amber had made a point to try to say my name. Michelle is actually almost as hard as saying J names... it is long, and has a difficult transition in the middle. I had decided that maybe using the nickname I used in High School might work easier, Chelle. Just say Michelle and take out the MI. Chelle, like a sea Shell. Amber had decided somehow that my name needed an F on the end. It sounded better to her. It seemed to flow off her tongue. Chelf. With this in mind, I will tell you now that this time she answered with a huge sigh and a big hug around my neck, and she told her mom, "MY Chelf!"
I don't know when the idea really came to me, but I know that I chose to spell the nickname the way I do in order to put it on a license plate some day. When DH bought his little red hatchback, before we were married, I informed him of my dream. The very first all MY NEW CAR needed to have a special license plate that would say... you guessed it! MYCHELF!
This week, my dream was realized.
Now I think about Hammy the Squirrel in Over The Hedge: "Kinda anti-climactic."
I have been wanting not only the tag but the new car to put it on for more than 16 years. Amber is now in her Freshman year in college someplace. (I hear she graduated with honors near the tippy top of her class.) I have been working and saving and thinking toward this goal for a very long time. I haven't had my husband as long as I have sheltered this dream.
So, I had to share my joy today! This is a cliche', a dream come true. With pictures! Thank you for sharing in this silly joy of mine.
When I was in High School (and early in my Junior College days) I did babysitting to supplement my income from my first job. My favorite charge was a little girl named Amber. Now, Amber was VERY smart. Quick. Not just a kid who talked early, but one who comprehended more deeply at a younger age than other children around. Logic was obvious in her little two year old brain.
Our story begins with Amber being my rag doll. I carried that child all over our church building. Her mom would play "Who's Got You?" with her when she was with someone else. One day, I was holding Amber, and Mommy asked "Who's got you?"
Amber had made a point to try to say my name. Michelle is actually almost as hard as saying J names... it is long, and has a difficult transition in the middle. I had decided that maybe using the nickname I used in High School might work easier, Chelle. Just say Michelle and take out the MI. Chelle, like a sea Shell. Amber had decided somehow that my name needed an F on the end. It sounded better to her. It seemed to flow off her tongue. Chelf. With this in mind, I will tell you now that this time she answered with a huge sigh and a big hug around my neck, and she told her mom, "MY Chelf!"
I don't know when the idea really came to me, but I know that I chose to spell the nickname the way I do in order to put it on a license plate some day. When DH bought his little red hatchback, before we were married, I informed him of my dream. The very first all MY NEW CAR needed to have a special license plate that would say... you guessed it! MYCHELF!
This week, my dream was realized.
Now I think about Hammy the Squirrel in Over The Hedge: "Kinda anti-climactic."
I have been wanting not only the tag but the new car to put it on for more than 16 years. Amber is now in her Freshman year in college someplace. (I hear she graduated with honors near the tippy top of her class.) I have been working and saving and thinking toward this goal for a very long time. I haven't had my husband as long as I have sheltered this dream.
So, I had to share my joy today! This is a cliche', a dream come true. With pictures! Thank you for sharing in this silly joy of mine.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Silly Saturday
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
I love to nom your branches.
Your ornaments make lovely sounds
When I knock them to the ground!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
I love to nom your branches.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Results Are In
Months ago, I got a new car. Brand new off the lot with less than 30 miles on it. Amazing as this is to me, I really love it. This new car is the blessing I knew it would be, and has been even better than I thought.
The question was this: In a car, is it really better to get 100% Whole Gas, or is the Ethanol Mix Gas better? We decided to test this. What better way than to test a NEW car? I should know this, so I can use the better option.
I decided that one tank of each would not be fair. They could mix and affect the results of each other. One tank of 100% Gas could be used to go to see the in-laws, the next tank of Ethanol Mix could be used only to drive to DH's work, and that would falsely change the results, as well. According to DH, the idea was to get the tank as low as possible (safely, of course) and then fill the tank with 100% Gas. Has something to do with the fumes that Ethanol causes in the tank. We emptied the car (driving for no reason to distant parts of our fair city), and filled with 100% Gas, and did so for at least 4 tank fills.
I kept careful notes. I figured the mileage for each tank, and figured the cost difference and the distance from my home to get to the 100% Gas. I also averaged all four tanks. I calculated Value.
Then, I switched. We were gone on a trip, and could not find 100% Gas. We might have used it, but we can't know. In Oklahoma, it is law to post on each pump a sticker that says if there is any Ethanol in the mix. Texas has no such laws. I wonder if that is law anywhere else? We then purposely used the 10% Ethanol mix for four tanks.
Again, I kept careful notes. I kept a record of the cost that would have been for a tank of 100% Gas every time I filled the tank with 10% Ethanol mix. I again averaged, and calculated Value.
Today, you get to hear the results.
I found that, in our New Honda Fit, it was actually better to use the....
10% Ethanol Mix Gas.
Yep. The cheap stuff is better. In my calculations. For my new car.
This may surprise many of you. It certainly surprised me. I thought that it would be the other way around. And it wasn't just the mileage. It was the cost, the distance to get the 100% stuff, and it was the fact that newer engines are built to handle the mixture better these days. I even found that one of the 100% stores did not have pay at the pump capabilities... so it was not convenient. How can that be more efficient?
I would say that an older car was built before the Ethanol was actively being added in would run more efficiently on 100% gas. This is my opinion, based on my own observation and testing of my own vehicles, not a fact studied by a group of influential people. Just saying.
So, there you have it. If you have an older car, I would say test it for yourself. Make sure to take into account the distance, cost, efficiency and even your own driving habits. Pay attention to your inflation of tires (it won't cure "global warming", but it will effect your individual mileage) and notice the time you spend sitting in traffic. It all works together.
Have a great week, and I will see you later!
The question was this: In a car, is it really better to get 100% Whole Gas, or is the Ethanol Mix Gas better? We decided to test this. What better way than to test a NEW car? I should know this, so I can use the better option.
I decided that one tank of each would not be fair. They could mix and affect the results of each other. One tank of 100% Gas could be used to go to see the in-laws, the next tank of Ethanol Mix could be used only to drive to DH's work, and that would falsely change the results, as well. According to DH, the idea was to get the tank as low as possible (safely, of course) and then fill the tank with 100% Gas. Has something to do with the fumes that Ethanol causes in the tank. We emptied the car (driving for no reason to distant parts of our fair city), and filled with 100% Gas, and did so for at least 4 tank fills.
I kept careful notes. I figured the mileage for each tank, and figured the cost difference and the distance from my home to get to the 100% Gas. I also averaged all four tanks. I calculated Value.
Then, I switched. We were gone on a trip, and could not find 100% Gas. We might have used it, but we can't know. In Oklahoma, it is law to post on each pump a sticker that says if there is any Ethanol in the mix. Texas has no such laws. I wonder if that is law anywhere else? We then purposely used the 10% Ethanol mix for four tanks.
Again, I kept careful notes. I kept a record of the cost that would have been for a tank of 100% Gas every time I filled the tank with 10% Ethanol mix. I again averaged, and calculated Value.
Today, you get to hear the results.
I found that, in our New Honda Fit, it was actually better to use the....
10% Ethanol Mix Gas.
Yep. The cheap stuff is better. In my calculations. For my new car.
This may surprise many of you. It certainly surprised me. I thought that it would be the other way around. And it wasn't just the mileage. It was the cost, the distance to get the 100% stuff, and it was the fact that newer engines are built to handle the mixture better these days. I even found that one of the 100% stores did not have pay at the pump capabilities... so it was not convenient. How can that be more efficient?
I would say that an older car was built before the Ethanol was actively being added in would run more efficiently on 100% gas. This is my opinion, based on my own observation and testing of my own vehicles, not a fact studied by a group of influential people. Just saying.
So, there you have it. If you have an older car, I would say test it for yourself. Make sure to take into account the distance, cost, efficiency and even your own driving habits. Pay attention to your inflation of tires (it won't cure "global warming", but it will effect your individual mileage) and notice the time you spend sitting in traffic. It all works together.
Have a great week, and I will see you later!
Monday, October 13, 2008
I Didn't Mean To Stay Quiet So Long, Though
Hello again, readers!
I have just been so busy. I know that excuse won't hold water with some of you, because you understand the housework part of my job of Homemaker. Sure, I probably could have put something up here. But when I tell you some of the exciting news around here, you will maybe forgive me for a week or two of distance?
On Tuesday last week, Oct. 7, DH and I should have been awake when the phone rang. SIL's babysitter was sick, and SIL needed someone to watch the Niecephews. I sleepily agreed. And then rushed to get out of the house in less than an hour, and over there as soon as possible, so BIL could go to work.
We had a blast! We played so much, I thought Gum Drop was going to fall over where he stopped, and sleep for hours. Thinking back on my own childhood, I realized that the most fun we had playing indoors on cool days was building forts out of couch cushions and blankets and bed sheets. Jelly Bean had already watched an episode of Dora where they had to go through a tunnel. I got smart, and pulled an ottoman away from its over-sized chair, and strew a throw blanket over it, and called it a tunnel.
As you can see, I was blessed with awesome helpers! This was well into the process, they wouldn't let it stay up long enough for me to get a picture.
We learned action verbs. Over....
Under....
....and last, but not least is Through!
There was much tickling and more laughing that day than I have had in a long time. Those kids do me good. They remind me how much fun life can be, and how to use my imagination again.
Gum Drop is learning quickly how to talk, and he is walking and chasing and running now. He said, ever so clearly, "Drink", "Thank You", "No", and I am certain that he tried to say "Pacifier". They tell me now he also says "Hot Dog", but I didn't hear that one. He says "Uh-Oh" and then drops his cup on the floor, which if it weren't so ornery would be funny. He waits for an audience, does something cute, and then yays for himself. He likes very much to test fate, and looks at you with a sneaky grin if he knows he is doing something that he knows not to. Like climbing on the coffee table, for one. SIL says he is Sneaky, FAST, and Persistent. And, boy oh boy, is she right about her boy!
Before the laptop gives me any more funny noises, I am going to take a short intermission.
Cue the Dramatic Music...
I have just been so busy. I know that excuse won't hold water with some of you, because you understand the housework part of my job of Homemaker. Sure, I probably could have put something up here. But when I tell you some of the exciting news around here, you will maybe forgive me for a week or two of distance?
On Tuesday last week, Oct. 7, DH and I should have been awake when the phone rang. SIL's babysitter was sick, and SIL needed someone to watch the Niecephews. I sleepily agreed. And then rushed to get out of the house in less than an hour, and over there as soon as possible, so BIL could go to work.
We had a blast! We played so much, I thought Gum Drop was going to fall over where he stopped, and sleep for hours. Thinking back on my own childhood, I realized that the most fun we had playing indoors on cool days was building forts out of couch cushions and blankets and bed sheets. Jelly Bean had already watched an episode of Dora where they had to go through a tunnel. I got smart, and pulled an ottoman away from its over-sized chair, and strew a throw blanket over it, and called it a tunnel.
As you can see, I was blessed with awesome helpers! This was well into the process, they wouldn't let it stay up long enough for me to get a picture.
We learned action verbs. Over....
Under....
....and last, but not least is Through!There was much tickling and more laughing that day than I have had in a long time. Those kids do me good. They remind me how much fun life can be, and how to use my imagination again.
Gum Drop is learning quickly how to talk, and he is walking and chasing and running now. He said, ever so clearly, "Drink", "Thank You", "No", and I am certain that he tried to say "Pacifier". They tell me now he also says "Hot Dog", but I didn't hear that one. He says "Uh-Oh" and then drops his cup on the floor, which if it weren't so ornery would be funny. He waits for an audience, does something cute, and then yays for himself. He likes very much to test fate, and looks at you with a sneaky grin if he knows he is doing something that he knows not to. Like climbing on the coffee table, for one. SIL says he is Sneaky, FAST, and Persistent. And, boy oh boy, is she right about her boy!
Before the laptop gives me any more funny noises, I am going to take a short intermission.
Cue the Dramatic Music...
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Eulogy Of The Car
Wordless Wednesday
2002 Buick Century
Purchased January 9, 2003 ~ Traded July 26, 2008
R.I.P., old bucket.
(Rust In Pieces, that is.)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
For Jan And Her Dare
Jan, I take that Dare, and I will go farther than just one more of the quizzes! I picked a few that made sense to me, and didn't give me unfavorable results.
I wear shoes that are like Crocs, but a different brand, with flowers cut in the pattern of holes. Navy, with little ladybug buttons added. Comfortable, stylish, and easy. Light, and perfect for traveling. Airports love me.
I only have one shade of purple in the basket of nail colors. Light and iridescent. But I also have a pair of clogs that are purple, and I do love wearing lavender. I don't like the smell of the plant, but the color is soothing.
I had to see what my Element was. Unfortunately, it wasn't a Honda. But, the Earth stuff aligns well with my Taurean sign. I am not surprised. I have been called Grounded a lot, and I don't mean as punishment from my parents. Steady, loyal and stubborn. I would guess that about sums me up.
OK, I have taken a few more of the quick quizzes. Now, to waste more time, and this time money, on entertainment today. We are going to the new Warren Theatre in Moore, to see Kung Fu Panda. I have been in one of the Warren Theatres in Wichita, and they are nice. This one has dinner in the balcony, and a bar! I have to laugh, though. If popcorn and water costs so much, what will the alcohol cost? I am scared to even ask. I won't be able to take pictures to show you, but I will make some mental notes and bring back some thoughts later.
I have to go find something comfortable to wear to the theatre.
You Are Clogs |
 You are a solid and down to earth person. You seek, and almost always achieve, a really sound balance in your life. You are stylish yet comfortable. Mellow but driven. Excited yet calm. You are the perfect mesh of contradictions. No matter what happens, you have the ability to stay well grounded in your life. People know that they can truly depend on you. You should live: In Europe You should work: At a company dedicated to helping the world |
I wear shoes that are like Crocs, but a different brand, with flowers cut in the pattern of holes. Navy, with little ladybug buttons added. Comfortable, stylish, and easy. Light, and perfect for traveling. Airports love me.
Your Nail Polish Color is Purple |
 How you're unique: You are artistic and expressive Why your style rocks: You pay special attention to color and fabrics What this color says about you: "I'm creative and know how to take care of myself" |
I only have one shade of purple in the basket of nail colors. Light and iridescent. But I also have a pair of clogs that are purple, and I do love wearing lavender. I don't like the smell of the plant, but the color is soothing.
Your Element Is Earth |
 You excel at planning and strategizing. You could be a champ at chess or Survivor. Well grounded, you are able to be realistic and rationalize. On the inside, you have a hard core. It's tough to phase you. You are super productive, and you are able to think anything through. Focused and super charged, your instincts are a good guide for your next step. |
I had to see what my Element was. Unfortunately, it wasn't a Honda. But, the Earth stuff aligns well with my Taurean sign. I am not surprised. I have been called Grounded a lot, and I don't mean as punishment from my parents. Steady, loyal and stubborn. I would guess that about sums me up.
OK, I have taken a few more of the quick quizzes. Now, to waste more time, and this time money, on entertainment today. We are going to the new Warren Theatre in Moore, to see Kung Fu Panda. I have been in one of the Warren Theatres in Wichita, and they are nice. This one has dinner in the balcony, and a bar! I have to laugh, though. If popcorn and water costs so much, what will the alcohol cost? I am scared to even ask. I won't be able to take pictures to show you, but I will make some mental notes and bring back some thoughts later.
I have to go find something comfortable to wear to the theatre.
I Let The Peer Pressure Get To Me
Alright. I had to. I took the "What Cake are YOU?" quiz. And I got a disappointing answer.
I can't have ice cream often, no matter how much I love it. This thing calls me High Maintenance, and Easy to overdose on. How... odd.
Here you go, Jan. I may try again, just to see what other cakes are available. I prefer Cheesecake, in a variety box from a Factory.
I can't have ice cream often, no matter how much I love it. This thing calls me High Maintenance, and Easy to overdose on. How... odd.
Here you go, Jan. I may try again, just to see what other cakes are available. I prefer Cheesecake, in a variety box from a Factory.
You Are an Ice Cream Cake |
 Surprising, unique, and high maintenance. You're one of a kind, and you don't want anyone to forget it. You're fun in small doses, but it's easy for people to overdose on you! |
Sunday, June 22, 2008
It All Depends On Your Definition
Word of the Post
Today's word is: perk
/perk/
Today, we get several words for the cost of one. Ah, the perks of being a reader here at Chelfspace.
1. verb. To perk; to make smart, to straighten up, to display jauntily or saucily, to erect. As in, to perk the ears. Also, perk as a peacock.
2. verb. To gain or regain energy. I perked up after my nap.
3. noun. A perquisite (abbr.), which is an incidental benefit awarded for employment. A company car is a great perk.
4. verb. Percolate (abbr.), which is to strain through. I love the smell of coffee perking.
5. adjective. Perky, as to be bubbly with enthusiasm, to the point of annoying others. Katie Couric is paid to pretend to be perky.
~~~~~~~~~~
This week has been an adventure.
Saturday, June 14, DH and I were honored to pick up Niki and Benny and Max at the airport, so they could run Camp Zenith at O.C. They had an amazing week, and I got to help a few days. I dearly miss my days of being a counselor at Four Corners Encampment in CO. Kids can ask the deepest questions, and they take home a fire from camp that is a high like none other. They learn that there are other kids struggling in the same ways, and they learn to lean on the strong for support. Unfortunately, they also learn to let the weak drag them back down sometimes. Teens are just as human as the rest of us, but learning to handle their crazy hormones, too.
Monday, June 16, DH got up around 7. He cleaned up a hairball. (We do have two cats as masters) Then he took his shower, got dressed complete with tie, went to feed the cats. He came and kissed me goodbye with the "I love you" I get every day. His pattern is set.
Tuesday morning, June 17, at about 5:00, I heard one of the cats giving us a new "gift"... so I got up to clean up. I did not sleep well that night, so getting up early like that meant that I stayed up. Tuesday was a rather long day for me.
Wednesday, June 18, DH was scooping the cat boxes (his job now, so that someday when I have kids, I don't have to touch that junk and make me and the kiddos sick!), and rounding up the trash from all over the house, as is his pattern before we leave for our midweek Bible study. He was just dumping his own trash into the bag from my can (reusing those plastic bags - our small bit to be more green), when he discovered a treasure. The "hairball" from Monday was actually a "hairy" MOUSE!
We always use massive amounts of tissues or a paper towel to pick up the yuckies, so I know DH didn't actually touch the mouse, but now I am grossed out by the fact that there was a dead mouse in the trash on the other side of the room for THREE DAYS. And I am pretty sure that DH is grossed out that he pick up a dead mouse. He says that fortunately, there was enough time between the touching and the noticing that the disturbedness was lessened. Still... Ew.
I don't know which cat caught it, but they put it on the floor at the foot of the bed, precisely in the middle. A "gift" for both of us. How sweet. As if to say, "I know you don't always eat breakfast, but you need your protein. I love you, parents!" I have been grateful for years that the toy mice are not real. They end up on the bed all the time. We even joke about the "Gift of Mouse" that gets left while we are away. This time, I am just grateful that it wasn't on the bed. And I wonder which baby to thank for it?
Today, we got our laptop up to date with new downloads. We had to install the driver to tell the computer that it has a wireless card. Now we can see our own wireless network at home! We also got the new "genuine" Windows copy activated, and now I have to get used to all the updates that have come in the time our poor laptop was disconnected. I used to have cats on my buttons for Firefox, I have to try to get that back. We have been playing all afternoon.
As much of a blessing as this laptop has been, it can be frustrating for me too. I assume (I know this is what my problem is) that the computer should do what I tell it, the first time. Yep, I expect Windows to work. Ha! There is the rub. I guess I have to treat this new update as a new program that I have to learn. All over again. I wish we could afford a Mac. Right out of the box, they work. And I could reasonably expect it to work the same every time. Anyone know how to make a Gateway laptop sleep? Since the Great Blockage, it stays hot if it stays on, even when the lid is closed and the screen goes dark. I have been afraid to leave it on at night, I would rather turn it off, until I can tell it to sleep. I can't have any fires starting in my living room while I sleep.
I hope you get all the perks you could ask for this week!
Today's word is: perk
/perk/
Today, we get several words for the cost of one. Ah, the perks of being a reader here at Chelfspace.
1. verb. To perk; to make smart, to straighten up, to display jauntily or saucily, to erect. As in, to perk the ears. Also, perk as a peacock.
2. verb. To gain or regain energy. I perked up after my nap.
3. noun. A perquisite (abbr.), which is an incidental benefit awarded for employment. A company car is a great perk.
4. verb. Percolate (abbr.), which is to strain through. I love the smell of coffee perking.
5. adjective. Perky, as to be bubbly with enthusiasm, to the point of annoying others. Katie Couric is paid to pretend to be perky.
~~~~~~~~~~
This week has been an adventure.
Saturday, June 14, DH and I were honored to pick up Niki and Benny and Max at the airport, so they could run Camp Zenith at O.C. They had an amazing week, and I got to help a few days. I dearly miss my days of being a counselor at Four Corners Encampment in CO. Kids can ask the deepest questions, and they take home a fire from camp that is a high like none other. They learn that there are other kids struggling in the same ways, and they learn to lean on the strong for support. Unfortunately, they also learn to let the weak drag them back down sometimes. Teens are just as human as the rest of us, but learning to handle their crazy hormones, too.
Monday, June 16, DH got up around 7. He cleaned up a hairball. (We do have two cats as masters) Then he took his shower, got dressed complete with tie, went to feed the cats. He came and kissed me goodbye with the "I love you" I get every day. His pattern is set.
Tuesday morning, June 17, at about 5:00, I heard one of the cats giving us a new "gift"... so I got up to clean up. I did not sleep well that night, so getting up early like that meant that I stayed up. Tuesday was a rather long day for me.
Wednesday, June 18, DH was scooping the cat boxes (his job now, so that someday when I have kids, I don't have to touch that junk and make me and the kiddos sick!), and rounding up the trash from all over the house, as is his pattern before we leave for our midweek Bible study. He was just dumping his own trash into the bag from my can (reusing those plastic bags - our small bit to be more green), when he discovered a treasure. The "hairball" from Monday was actually a "hairy" MOUSE!
We always use massive amounts of tissues or a paper towel to pick up the yuckies, so I know DH didn't actually touch the mouse, but now I am grossed out by the fact that there was a dead mouse in the trash on the other side of the room for THREE DAYS. And I am pretty sure that DH is grossed out that he pick up a dead mouse. He says that fortunately, there was enough time between the touching and the noticing that the disturbedness was lessened. Still... Ew.
I don't know which cat caught it, but they put it on the floor at the foot of the bed, precisely in the middle. A "gift" for both of us. How sweet. As if to say, "I know you don't always eat breakfast, but you need your protein. I love you, parents!" I have been grateful for years that the toy mice are not real. They end up on the bed all the time. We even joke about the "Gift of Mouse" that gets left while we are away. This time, I am just grateful that it wasn't on the bed. And I wonder which baby to thank for it?
Today, we got our laptop up to date with new downloads. We had to install the driver to tell the computer that it has a wireless card. Now we can see our own wireless network at home! We also got the new "genuine" Windows copy activated, and now I have to get used to all the updates that have come in the time our poor laptop was disconnected. I used to have cats on my buttons for Firefox, I have to try to get that back. We have been playing all afternoon.
As much of a blessing as this laptop has been, it can be frustrating for me too. I assume (I know this is what my problem is) that the computer should do what I tell it, the first time. Yep, I expect Windows to work. Ha! There is the rub. I guess I have to treat this new update as a new program that I have to learn. All over again. I wish we could afford a Mac. Right out of the box, they work. And I could reasonably expect it to work the same every time. Anyone know how to make a Gateway laptop sleep? Since the Great Blockage, it stays hot if it stays on, even when the lid is closed and the screen goes dark. I have been afraid to leave it on at night, I would rather turn it off, until I can tell it to sleep. I can't have any fires starting in my living room while I sleep.
I hope you get all the perks you could ask for this week!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Random Wordiness: The Musical
Word of the Post
Today's word is: anathema
/a*nath"e*ma/ noun
I found this on dict.org, my first dictionary site, and decided they had the best explanation:
Anything devoted (especially to evil), a curse, to dedicate.
1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication. Hence: Denunciation of anything as accursed.
2. Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by ecclesiastical authority.
This definition makes me want to read Colleen Coble's newest book, Anathema. (Anathematized... wow that looks like a $10 word I could use in a sentence! Ooh, and Solemnity. I love vocabulary building!)
~~~~~~~~~~
I have always enjoyed watching a passing storm. Dad used to turn the couch around to let us view it all through the widescreen of our picture window. Today, the raindrops fall on the trees in gentle music, tickling the ivory keys of the leaves, percussion falling on different surfaces below, creating a symphony of sounds. Like parts of the music in Fantasia (Disney presentation), the scene would be almost serene, save for the clashes of the lightning and resulting thunder's sonic booms. "Drip, drip, drop, little April showers..."
(Funny, that looked a lot longer in the notebook when I wrote it yesterday than it does now that it is typed.) This is the big branch that is still in our backyard. The big tree in the center of the yard is partially dead, and likes to "drop hints" that it needs to be pruned.
So now that you have the soft plinking of piano in the background of your head, I can share more of my last two weeks. The royal owners of the plantation, the cats, were having a busy day guarding the grounds. Can you tell what they are so interested in?
Yes, that is a squirrel... on the front stoop, taunting the cats. Oh, for a paintball gun, or a pellet gun. These nasty little creatures have made all our lives miserable recently. They have managed to get back into the formerly sealed hole in the roof, I think, and they are making a wreck of the cats' senses. Nasty vermin.
On Friday, June 6, when I was granted an audience with the Prince Gum Drop, I took the moment to be paparazzi. (I thought that was a collective term. I wonder how I am one female photographer of stars? Papparazza?) Most of my pictures, and experience, up to that day had been with both the Candy Kids. Here is me, and the Gum Drop.
After we had dinner with Gramma and Grampa, we played in the back of Grampa's truck. Gum Drop left little "ghost" footprints in the dirt in the bed of the truck. Here we see the path of the Sasquatch, coming toward us, through the rough terrain.
This is the resulting dirty foot.
The ants are still around, but only show their faces when DH leaves a little juice in the bottom of the glass. This photo was taken after a three day absence of ants.
I played a little with the view at the side of the glass. Does anyone else read "OC" there? Ack! They are coming back to haunt me! I paid them off, and now they want more. Beware the groove.... Groove!
I spent Monday this week doing laundry and my nails. I told Niki in an email that I had chosen to go with "an obscenely bright pink". This is one of my new little bottles of joy from O.P.I. nail products. The bottles are big enough to give me four or five manicures, and small enough that if I don't like them, they are not a huge loss when I throw them away. If I really like them, then I can buy a full-sized bottle.
This is WAY out of my comfort zone, but will go nicely with the purple shirt I am wearing today for our Steak 'N' Shake luncheon today. Niki is doing what we try to do when we travel. We love to go to restaurants that we don't have at home. When we went to Colorado, DH picked Black Eyed Pea, because we haven't seen one outside of Texas in several years.
I got this picture of Marvel yesterday. I love how I somehow caught him looking at me, and you can see that he has gorgeous eye color. I am amazed that it didn't turn out looking like reflective marbles like my picture attempts usually give me.
This is one happy kitty! Look at those whiskers!
I hope the world is rubbing you the right way today. Have a nap, have a party, have a quiet time with God. Do whatever makes you happy today.
Today's word is: anathema
/a*nath"e*ma/ noun
I found this on dict.org, my first dictionary site, and decided they had the best explanation:
Anything devoted (especially to evil), a curse, to dedicate.
1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication. Hence: Denunciation of anything as accursed.
2. Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by ecclesiastical authority.
This definition makes me want to read Colleen Coble's newest book, Anathema. (Anathematized... wow that looks like a $10 word I could use in a sentence! Ooh, and Solemnity. I love vocabulary building!)
~~~~~~~~~~
I have always enjoyed watching a passing storm. Dad used to turn the couch around to let us view it all through the widescreen of our picture window. Today, the raindrops fall on the trees in gentle music, tickling the ivory keys of the leaves, percussion falling on different surfaces below, creating a symphony of sounds. Like parts of the music in Fantasia (Disney presentation), the scene would be almost serene, save for the clashes of the lightning and resulting thunder's sonic booms. "Drip, drip, drop, little April showers..."
(Funny, that looked a lot longer in the notebook when I wrote it yesterday than it does now that it is typed.) This is the big branch that is still in our backyard. The big tree in the center of the yard is partially dead, and likes to "drop hints" that it needs to be pruned.
So now that you have the soft plinking of piano in the background of your head, I can share more of my last two weeks. The royal owners of the plantation, the cats, were having a busy day guarding the grounds. Can you tell what they are so interested in?
Yes, that is a squirrel... on the front stoop, taunting the cats. Oh, for a paintball gun, or a pellet gun. These nasty little creatures have made all our lives miserable recently. They have managed to get back into the formerly sealed hole in the roof, I think, and they are making a wreck of the cats' senses. Nasty vermin.
On Friday, June 6, when I was granted an audience with the Prince Gum Drop, I took the moment to be paparazzi. (I thought that was a collective term. I wonder how I am one female photographer of stars? Papparazza?) Most of my pictures, and experience, up to that day had been with both the Candy Kids. Here is me, and the Gum Drop.
After we had dinner with Gramma and Grampa, we played in the back of Grampa's truck. Gum Drop left little "ghost" footprints in the dirt in the bed of the truck. Here we see the path of the Sasquatch, coming toward us, through the rough terrain.
This is the resulting dirty foot.
The ants are still around, but only show their faces when DH leaves a little juice in the bottom of the glass. This photo was taken after a three day absence of ants.
I played a little with the view at the side of the glass. Does anyone else read "OC" there? Ack! They are coming back to haunt me! I paid them off, and now they want more. Beware the groove.... Groove!
I spent Monday this week doing laundry and my nails. I told Niki in an email that I had chosen to go with "an obscenely bright pink". This is one of my new little bottles of joy from O.P.I. nail products. The bottles are big enough to give me four or five manicures, and small enough that if I don't like them, they are not a huge loss when I throw them away. If I really like them, then I can buy a full-sized bottle.
This is WAY out of my comfort zone, but will go nicely with the purple shirt I am wearing today for our Steak 'N' Shake luncheon today. Niki is doing what we try to do when we travel. We love to go to restaurants that we don't have at home. When we went to Colorado, DH picked Black Eyed Pea, because we haven't seen one outside of Texas in several years.
I got this picture of Marvel yesterday. I love how I somehow caught him looking at me, and you can see that he has gorgeous eye color. I am amazed that it didn't turn out looking like reflective marbles like my picture attempts usually give me.
This is one happy kitty! Look at those whiskers!
I hope the world is rubbing you the right way today. Have a nap, have a party, have a quiet time with God. Do whatever makes you happy today.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Little Things From The Back Of The Brain
Inspired by Jan's Thursday Thirteen this week... I give you a little Friday Five.
Memorable Things My Mother Said To Me:
1. Don't look at me in that tone of voice!
2. Hide and watch.
3. Because I said so!
4. You may want horns, but you'll die butt-headed. (She got this from a friend.)
5. Jo... MICHELLE! (Brother's name was "Miche.... JON!")
Memorable Things My Mother Said To Me:
1. Don't look at me in that tone of voice!
2. Hide and watch.
3. Because I said so!
4. You may want horns, but you'll die butt-headed. (She got this from a friend.)
5. Jo... MICHELLE! (Brother's name was "Miche.... JON!")
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Click Clack Mem-Moo-Ry
Word of the Post
Today's word is: macropterous
/ma*crop"ter*ous/ adjective
Having long wings or fins.
I like dragons with wings more than the snaky ones with legs; I like my dragons macropterous.
~~~~~~~~~~
60 words
I saw this on Overwhelmed with Joy! Hers said she got 56 wpm, and I remember getting about 55 or so in High School. I never did achieve 60. My mom used to be able to type so fast, it would amaze me. She could type numbers on the top of the keyboard just like she could be fast with words. I could use a ten-key, but those numbers at the top are only for passwords, and barely that. She took a test once after about 20 years of not typing often, and still got over 60 wpm. The temp agency she was trying for didn't really appreciate her level of skill. She no longer can type, because of nerve damage from Diabetes. I think that frustrates her. I have actually always typed slower, but more accurately than mom. She said it was because I could spell, and I think it is because I am a perfectionist. I love computers. We can always hit backspace, and use spell check.
Those old manual typewriters frustrated me, but their historical value is intriguing. I recently attended a concert of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. They performed a song that was written to include an old clack typewriter. They had a place for the sound of the slide of the carriage, the clicking of the keys, and even the ding of the bell. The funny part was that they had disabled the actual bell on the actual typewriter, and supplemented with a chime from the percussion section. It was quite amusing. The only things missing were Snoopy and the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night..."
Something about me made me take the test three times. First time was 59, second was 56, third was this result of 60. I have to show off. Seriously. I have never typed that fast. However, now that I am not answering to anyone else about my speed, I can type faster. What is that about? I guess I am way more relaxed, now that I don't have "the Man" hovering over my shoulders.
I remember the Jr. High typing class, we had to type rhythms that turned out to be little pictures. Lots of strange characters, lines, and repeated letters. Those were fun, and boring all at once. Does that make sense? I wanted to learn to type, and I wanted to practice. We made cute little pictures, but I didn't want to type useless bits. I wanted to type letters and real documents for the school; they could have had us typing permission notices or ads for the newspaper about events at the school. I passed Jr. High Spanish because I could correct the teacher's papers for the English as a Second Language class he taught at the college. I freely admit that there were things in Spanish class that I could still use today, had I actually learned them. I didn't. I am not the only one responsible for that, but that is water under the bridge, around the bend and over the waterfall.
Thank you for following along with my random keystrokes.
Today's word is: macropterous
/ma*crop"ter*ous/ adjective
Having long wings or fins.
I like dragons with wings more than the snaky ones with legs; I like my dragons macropterous.
~~~~~~~~~~
60 words
I saw this on Overwhelmed with Joy! Hers said she got 56 wpm, and I remember getting about 55 or so in High School. I never did achieve 60. My mom used to be able to type so fast, it would amaze me. She could type numbers on the top of the keyboard just like she could be fast with words. I could use a ten-key, but those numbers at the top are only for passwords, and barely that. She took a test once after about 20 years of not typing often, and still got over 60 wpm. The temp agency she was trying for didn't really appreciate her level of skill. She no longer can type, because of nerve damage from Diabetes. I think that frustrates her. I have actually always typed slower, but more accurately than mom. She said it was because I could spell, and I think it is because I am a perfectionist. I love computers. We can always hit backspace, and use spell check.
Those old manual typewriters frustrated me, but their historical value is intriguing. I recently attended a concert of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. They performed a song that was written to include an old clack typewriter. They had a place for the sound of the slide of the carriage, the clicking of the keys, and even the ding of the bell. The funny part was that they had disabled the actual bell on the actual typewriter, and supplemented with a chime from the percussion section. It was quite amusing. The only things missing were Snoopy and the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night..."
Something about me made me take the test three times. First time was 59, second was 56, third was this result of 60. I have to show off. Seriously. I have never typed that fast. However, now that I am not answering to anyone else about my speed, I can type faster. What is that about? I guess I am way more relaxed, now that I don't have "the Man" hovering over my shoulders.
I remember the Jr. High typing class, we had to type rhythms that turned out to be little pictures. Lots of strange characters, lines, and repeated letters. Those were fun, and boring all at once. Does that make sense? I wanted to learn to type, and I wanted to practice. We made cute little pictures, but I didn't want to type useless bits. I wanted to type letters and real documents for the school; they could have had us typing permission notices or ads for the newspaper about events at the school. I passed Jr. High Spanish because I could correct the teacher's papers for the English as a Second Language class he taught at the college. I freely admit that there were things in Spanish class that I could still use today, had I actually learned them. I didn't. I am not the only one responsible for that, but that is water under the bridge, around the bend and over the waterfall.
Thank you for following along with my random keystrokes.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Snips and Snails and Puppy-Dog Tails
Word of the Post
Today's word is: akimbo
/uh*kim"bo/ adjective
With a crook or bend; appendages bent outward, with the joint away from the body.
Sitting "criss-cross applesauce" (it used to be called "Indian Style", but that is racially unacceptable to the PC crowd now) can be described as sitting with legs akimbo.
Can also be an adverb, describing the person's whole stance. A person with hands on hips, and elbows facing out can be referred to as standing akimbo.
~~~~~~~~~~
I am not sure what part of nature failed this year, or it if it is actually natural, but we have a lot of spiders right now. Last night, DH came back from his late night Friday fun job, and walked face first into a spider web on our front stoop. I shiver for him! He found the culprit builder, and had it removed from the gene pool. I went out this morning to spray the area with spider killer deluxe spray, and remove the web; the parts that DH may have missed with his face, anyhow. I found the remains of our criminal, as well as four smaller spiders. All different, so that lends hope that there is not a brown recluse around. I guess I need to wash the house. With Bleach. UGH!!! I committed Arachnacide. I am Woman, Hear me scream!
I am not nearly so fearful of spiders as others I know. (Hi, Nicki!) I don't really scream very often. I usually do more of a startled yell. (Holla!) In my searchings, I found many egg sacks, so I will soon be removing those to a distinctly impromptu funeral on the other side of the house. The coffin of the trash barrel will be emptied on Thursday next week.
Now that we are all buggy, I will move on to a better subject. Tuesday night, DH and I went on an "UnDate". "What is an UnDate?" you say? WELL... DH wanted to see the Simpsons Movie, and I had no desire at all to join him. I wished to see Becoming Jane, to which DH returned the sentiment. We decided that we could each see our movies separately, at the same time. The Dollar Theatre was quiet as we entered. We purchased tickets and the requisite snacks, and parted ways. I think we each had a good time. I am happy that we only spent 50 cents each to see movies that would have cost $8.75 a month ago. This way, for the same money, we got two movies and snacks instead of just one movie and nothing else. Date, and yet not. UnDate.
Thursday we went to a special Birthday dinner for BIL. He is now 35. A mutual friend sang "Happy Birthday, old Geezer..." which I found refreshing. I am not the oldest in the room when we hang out with this crowd of friends. Jelly Bean was pitching a little fit (I have seen much worse out of other kids... she is tame, even if it is unacceptable to her parents) and BIL tried to distract her by asking what day it was. Jelly Bean cried a little more and said, "Not MY birthday!" BIL said, "Well, a very merry UnBirthday to YOU!" She didn't get it. She's too little, and has not seen Alice in Wonderland. She must have been tired. She was clingy, but only to certain people. She also did a lot of running around and around the table to keep herself awake and entertained.
I got to hold Gum Drop for a while, to let BIL eat his dinner. I am not so selfish as to not share. I kept getting him, and then passing him off to other friends. One friend has twins, and his son was incredibly jealous that Daddy was holding a strange baby and not his own son. He cried, and reached for me. Now, I am no stranger to this family, but I am no auntie to them either. I don't see them very often, and the kids don't really know me, so it surprised me that Son would try to get me to hold him. Daughter was a little more subtle. She just screamed. These two make the funniest faces! I know that parents get irritated at children acting up at dinner, but I just don't pay so much attention. Is it practice for me? I watched the Mommy of the twins correct, threaten, and actually follow through on the punishments. All very quiet, and personal to the child each time. I think she even had a good time, despite the screaming interruptions.
BIL got a free dessert at the end of the meal, because it was his Birthday. I think half the crowd had a bite of it. And I am pretty sure we finished it. It was a kind of Tiramisu, covered in whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. It was five inches high, and four inches square! The coolest part was that they wrote "Happy Birthday" in a chocolate sauce on the edge of the plate. Jelly Bean got more dirty eating this than she did at her own birthday party.
I have not posted many pictures of Gum Drop lately, because I haven't really gotten to see him much. We go to a different church congregation than BIL and family do. We live close enough to call, and far enough that it is rude not to call when dropping by. We are all so busy with work and school and home and other friends... we don't see each other nearly enough for my taste. I get baby withdrawals. I have to grab babies at my church to fill the void.
This is me, holding Gum Drop, and DH took the picture. That was the first real smile I saw out of the kiddo. We were wandering around a Wal-Mart in Kingfisher. That is our family meeting place for the baby swaps, or the Gramma's Baby Fix Visits. We eat at a restaurant, and go to a park, and wander at the Wally-World, looking at cute clothes for the kids.
This is a rare moment, and you need to savor it. I have run out of things to say. *GASP!!!*
Have a great weekend!
Today's word is: akimbo
/uh*kim"bo/ adjective
With a crook or bend; appendages bent outward, with the joint away from the body.
Sitting "criss-cross applesauce" (it used to be called "Indian Style", but that is racially unacceptable to the PC crowd now) can be described as sitting with legs akimbo.
Can also be an adverb, describing the person's whole stance. A person with hands on hips, and elbows facing out can be referred to as standing akimbo.
~~~~~~~~~~
I am not sure what part of nature failed this year, or it if it is actually natural, but we have a lot of spiders right now. Last night, DH came back from his late night Friday fun job, and walked face first into a spider web on our front stoop. I shiver for him! He found the culprit builder, and had it removed from the gene pool. I went out this morning to spray the area with spider killer deluxe spray, and remove the web; the parts that DH may have missed with his face, anyhow. I found the remains of our criminal, as well as four smaller spiders. All different, so that lends hope that there is not a brown recluse around. I guess I need to wash the house. With Bleach. UGH!!! I committed Arachnacide. I am Woman, Hear me scream!
I am not nearly so fearful of spiders as others I know. (Hi, Nicki!) I don't really scream very often. I usually do more of a startled yell. (Holla!) In my searchings, I found many egg sacks, so I will soon be removing those to a distinctly impromptu funeral on the other side of the house. The coffin of the trash barrel will be emptied on Thursday next week.
Now that we are all buggy, I will move on to a better subject. Tuesday night, DH and I went on an "UnDate". "What is an UnDate?" you say? WELL... DH wanted to see the Simpsons Movie, and I had no desire at all to join him. I wished to see Becoming Jane, to which DH returned the sentiment. We decided that we could each see our movies separately, at the same time. The Dollar Theatre was quiet as we entered. We purchased tickets and the requisite snacks, and parted ways. I think we each had a good time. I am happy that we only spent 50 cents each to see movies that would have cost $8.75 a month ago. This way, for the same money, we got two movies and snacks instead of just one movie and nothing else. Date, and yet not. UnDate.
Thursday we went to a special Birthday dinner for BIL. He is now 35. A mutual friend sang "Happy Birthday, old Geezer..." which I found refreshing. I am not the oldest in the room when we hang out with this crowd of friends. Jelly Bean was pitching a little fit (I have seen much worse out of other kids... she is tame, even if it is unacceptable to her parents) and BIL tried to distract her by asking what day it was. Jelly Bean cried a little more and said, "Not MY birthday!" BIL said, "Well, a very merry UnBirthday to YOU!" She didn't get it. She's too little, and has not seen Alice in Wonderland. She must have been tired. She was clingy, but only to certain people. She also did a lot of running around and around the table to keep herself awake and entertained.
I got to hold Gum Drop for a while, to let BIL eat his dinner. I am not so selfish as to not share. I kept getting him, and then passing him off to other friends. One friend has twins, and his son was incredibly jealous that Daddy was holding a strange baby and not his own son. He cried, and reached for me. Now, I am no stranger to this family, but I am no auntie to them either. I don't see them very often, and the kids don't really know me, so it surprised me that Son would try to get me to hold him. Daughter was a little more subtle. She just screamed. These two make the funniest faces! I know that parents get irritated at children acting up at dinner, but I just don't pay so much attention. Is it practice for me? I watched the Mommy of the twins correct, threaten, and actually follow through on the punishments. All very quiet, and personal to the child each time. I think she even had a good time, despite the screaming interruptions.
BIL got a free dessert at the end of the meal, because it was his Birthday. I think half the crowd had a bite of it. And I am pretty sure we finished it. It was a kind of Tiramisu, covered in whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. It was five inches high, and four inches square! The coolest part was that they wrote "Happy Birthday" in a chocolate sauce on the edge of the plate. Jelly Bean got more dirty eating this than she did at her own birthday party.
I have not posted many pictures of Gum Drop lately, because I haven't really gotten to see him much. We go to a different church congregation than BIL and family do. We live close enough to call, and far enough that it is rude not to call when dropping by. We are all so busy with work and school and home and other friends... we don't see each other nearly enough for my taste. I get baby withdrawals. I have to grab babies at my church to fill the void.
This is me, holding Gum Drop, and DH took the picture. That was the first real smile I saw out of the kiddo. We were wandering around a Wal-Mart in Kingfisher. That is our family meeting place for the baby swaps, or the Gramma's Baby Fix Visits. We eat at a restaurant, and go to a park, and wander at the Wally-World, looking at cute clothes for the kids.
This is a rare moment, and you need to savor it. I have run out of things to say. *GASP!!!*
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Soda Or Pop? Name That Fizz!
Word of the Post
Today's word is: ecclesia
/ec*cle"si*a/ noun
Public legislative assembly of Athenians; a church, either as a body or a building. When the early Christians were finally called something, the Greek word used to describe them referred to being "called out", or a special group. Iglesia is a transliteration into Spanish.
~~~~~~~~~~
I found this wonderful answer to the same basic question I had. Should we or should we not now use oil and anoint the sick? Go check it out for yourself. I have come to a similar conclusion. I just did a lot of reading on the subject, because it landed in my brain. Being a medicinal instruction, we are not required to smear olive oil on our sick friends. Which is, most likely, a good thing. But, if you feel you must try, I have also found the perfect (local to me) outlet for purchasing such oils. They seem to have the Lord at heart. I still think that it might be a good thing to add back, to focus the attention of the people doing the praying, or to help the faith of the sick person. It would require touch, which requires a little bit of intimacy, and that is good for intercessory prayers.
The Oklahoma State Fair opens tomorrow, and in honor of the Centennial of our fine state, the admission for opening day is 100 cents. Yep, for one small dollar, you can get into the fairgrounds and enjoy all the craziness that the State has to offer. I am sorely tempted to go and take it in two rolls of pennies. Opened, in a Ziplock baggie. Make them count it, and make the people behind me mad. But, oh, such fun!
I bet many Oklahomans don't even know what I am about to tell you. Did you know that Watermelon is a Vegetable? It was announced on April 26th of this year that Watermelon is now the official State Vegetable. I want to know some answers. Seriously. Who thought we needed a State Vegetable? Who decided that it needed to be a Watermelon? And why, Why, WHY did it need to be decided in April of our 100th year as a State? We got along just fine for over nine decades, without a dome on our Capitol Building and without a State Vegetable. Someone was really wasting time and money, and they really need to cut it out.
Imagine the new State Seal, with the fancy cut Watermelon, full of little melon balls, next to a Peace Pipe , a Horse and an Oil Rig. What's next? The State Slouch? The State Shoe? The State Tattoo? A note for you non-Okies... Oklahoma was the last State in the Union to legalize tattooing, and that also happened in our 100th year. Go to Texas for a few years more if you want a good one. Give these guys a little time to practice. You want experience when you get a tattoo. Otherwise, you get a junky tattoo or a disease.
Speaking of disease, this looks like Magenta has chicken pox. No, really we just painted her (Magenta is a girl, right?) with strawberry marshmallows stuck on by using strawberry icing. This was a variation on Pin-the-Tail-on-a-Something. Jelly Bean's 2nd Birthday Friends Party was a Blues Clues party, and it was the cutest thing! The kids got their own Handy Dandy Notebook, and followed BIL all around the building, and find the Clues that had been planted. They found a tattoo/sticker, a package of Fruit Snacks, and an empty goody bag. Then, they came back where they started, and sat in their chairs to Think, Think, Think. Then Jelly Bean gave everyone a goody bag. This was really a clever way to do a party! One of Jelly Bean's gifts was an inflatable red Thinking Chair, like the one pictured below on the Handy Dandy Notebook. I even got DH to wear a striped shirt to the party.
This is me, holding the Gum Drop, at Jelly Bean's party. That little foot is only as long as my index finger.
On Labor Day, we went to Stillwater to have lunch with some friends. Ferret's daughter Ani would turn 5 on the 5th, so we had a party for her. We ate at Eskimo Joe's. We got our drinks in the famous cups (this time we got yellow cups that turned green when they get cold) and had a grand time. They even announced her (twice, because we missed the first one). On the way back to town, we ended up taking the Mother Road less traveled. We came back by way of Route 66. We passed the Big Round Red Barn, and then we came to a nifty little attraction that I didn't even know about.
This is a Soda Shoppe of the old fashioned variety. They have rare, odd and popular sodas of all shapes and colors. The biggest one is... this.
This is the Pops Soda Shoppe bottle. {Edit: I found out that the bottle has a name. It is "Bubbles". Isn't it cute?} It is (you could guess) 66 feet high. The cool thing about it for me was that it lights up at night.
Each of those rings lights up individually. They have it in motion, looking like the bottle is filled and then emptied for each color of soda the thing has. I saw Green, Red, Orange, Yellow, and Purple, as well as the basic White. I got this picture because of the "perfect" filled height. This was close to the example we saw when we went to see the Dr. Pepper factory in Dublin, TX. I hope Fuzzy looks at this page, because they carry more than one variety of soda from the same company that makes the Black Lemonade he so loved. They also had a Cherry Bomb Jolt (pretty good, better than the Black Cherry Soda we also tried) and lots of other amazing and long-lost soda favorites. If you ever get a chance to come see me, I can take you there. It is fun. This is a link to show you the "raising of the bottle". Here is the link to their official website.
Note for today's post: All photos by me or my Dear Hubby, on our digital camera. Designs of products pictured are property of individual copyright or trademark owners. I took my own pictures in a public forum, and gave credit to the official site. This way, Pops can thank me for the free ads instead of persecuting me for plagirism or something else just as ugly and not intended.
Have a great weekend. Think deep thoughts, and blog them for the world to see!
Today's word is: ecclesia
/ec*cle"si*a/ noun
Public legislative assembly of Athenians; a church, either as a body or a building. When the early Christians were finally called something, the Greek word used to describe them referred to being "called out", or a special group. Iglesia is a transliteration into Spanish.
~~~~~~~~~~
I found this wonderful answer to the same basic question I had. Should we or should we not now use oil and anoint the sick? Go check it out for yourself. I have come to a similar conclusion. I just did a lot of reading on the subject, because it landed in my brain. Being a medicinal instruction, we are not required to smear olive oil on our sick friends. Which is, most likely, a good thing. But, if you feel you must try, I have also found the perfect (local to me) outlet for purchasing such oils. They seem to have the Lord at heart. I still think that it might be a good thing to add back, to focus the attention of the people doing the praying, or to help the faith of the sick person. It would require touch, which requires a little bit of intimacy, and that is good for intercessory prayers.
The Oklahoma State Fair opens tomorrow, and in honor of the Centennial of our fine state, the admission for opening day is 100 cents. Yep, for one small dollar, you can get into the fairgrounds and enjoy all the craziness that the State has to offer. I am sorely tempted to go and take it in two rolls of pennies. Opened, in a Ziplock baggie. Make them count it, and make the people behind me mad. But, oh, such fun!
I bet many Oklahomans don't even know what I am about to tell you. Did you know that Watermelon is a Vegetable? It was announced on April 26th of this year that Watermelon is now the official State Vegetable. I want to know some answers. Seriously. Who thought we needed a State Vegetable? Who decided that it needed to be a Watermelon? And why, Why, WHY did it need to be decided in April of our 100th year as a State? We got along just fine for over nine decades, without a dome on our Capitol Building and without a State Vegetable. Someone was really wasting time and money, and they really need to cut it out.
Imagine the new State Seal, with the fancy cut Watermelon, full of little melon balls, next to a Peace Pipe , a Horse and an Oil Rig. What's next? The State Slouch? The State Shoe? The State Tattoo? A note for you non-Okies... Oklahoma was the last State in the Union to legalize tattooing, and that also happened in our 100th year. Go to Texas for a few years more if you want a good one. Give these guys a little time to practice. You want experience when you get a tattoo. Otherwise, you get a junky tattoo or a disease.
Speaking of disease, this looks like Magenta has chicken pox. No, really we just painted her (Magenta is a girl, right?) with strawberry marshmallows stuck on by using strawberry icing. This was a variation on Pin-the-Tail-on-a-Something. Jelly Bean's 2nd Birthday Friends Party was a Blues Clues party, and it was the cutest thing! The kids got their own Handy Dandy Notebook, and followed BIL all around the building, and find the Clues that had been planted. They found a tattoo/sticker, a package of Fruit Snacks, and an empty goody bag. Then, they came back where they started, and sat in their chairs to Think, Think, Think. Then Jelly Bean gave everyone a goody bag. This was really a clever way to do a party! One of Jelly Bean's gifts was an inflatable red Thinking Chair, like the one pictured below on the Handy Dandy Notebook. I even got DH to wear a striped shirt to the party.
This is me, holding the Gum Drop, at Jelly Bean's party. That little foot is only as long as my index finger.
On Labor Day, we went to Stillwater to have lunch with some friends. Ferret's daughter Ani would turn 5 on the 5th, so we had a party for her. We ate at Eskimo Joe's. We got our drinks in the famous cups (this time we got yellow cups that turned green when they get cold) and had a grand time. They even announced her (twice, because we missed the first one). On the way back to town, we ended up taking the Mother Road less traveled. We came back by way of Route 66. We passed the Big Round Red Barn, and then we came to a nifty little attraction that I didn't even know about.
This is a Soda Shoppe of the old fashioned variety. They have rare, odd and popular sodas of all shapes and colors. The biggest one is... this.
This is the Pops Soda Shoppe bottle. {Edit: I found out that the bottle has a name. It is "Bubbles". Isn't it cute?} It is (you could guess) 66 feet high. The cool thing about it for me was that it lights up at night.
Each of those rings lights up individually. They have it in motion, looking like the bottle is filled and then emptied for each color of soda the thing has. I saw Green, Red, Orange, Yellow, and Purple, as well as the basic White. I got this picture because of the "perfect" filled height. This was close to the example we saw when we went to see the Dr. Pepper factory in Dublin, TX. I hope Fuzzy looks at this page, because they carry more than one variety of soda from the same company that makes the Black Lemonade he so loved. They also had a Cherry Bomb Jolt (pretty good, better than the Black Cherry Soda we also tried) and lots of other amazing and long-lost soda favorites. If you ever get a chance to come see me, I can take you there. It is fun. This is a link to show you the "raising of the bottle". Here is the link to their official website.
Note for today's post: All photos by me or my Dear Hubby, on our digital camera. Designs of products pictured are property of individual copyright or trademark owners. I took my own pictures in a public forum, and gave credit to the official site. This way, Pops can thank me for the free ads instead of persecuting me for plagirism or something else just as ugly and not intended.
Have a great weekend. Think deep thoughts, and blog them for the world to see!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wii Laugh
Word of the Post
Today's word is: evince
/e*vince"/ verb
To show in a clear manner; to succeed in proving beyond a reasonable doubt; manifest; bring to light.
I will attempt to show you that owners of the Nintendo Wii evince a great sense of humor.
~~~~~~~~~~
FUNNY FRIDAY
I was in our favorite coffee shop tonight, and one of the baristas showed me this video. I had to share. I warn the faint of humor that there are some that are a bit on the crude side, and one that is NOT what you think, but all are funny!
Today's word is: evince
/e*vince"/ verb
To show in a clear manner; to succeed in proving beyond a reasonable doubt; manifest; bring to light.
I will attempt to show you that owners of the Nintendo Wii evince a great sense of humor.
~~~~~~~~~~
FUNNY FRIDAY
I was in our favorite coffee shop tonight, and one of the baristas showed me this video. I had to share. I warn the faint of humor that there are some that are a bit on the crude side, and one that is NOT what you think, but all are funny!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
And Now, A Word From Our Sponsors
Word of the Post
Today's word is: insouciance
/in'sou'siance"/ noun
Heedlessness; thoughtlessness; carelessness; unconcern; the cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you.
I long to regain the days of my college education, to experience again the time when homework was the only worry; recapturing the happy insouciance of playing cards at lunch, and having the weekend off.
~~~~~~~~~~
Honors have befallen me. I have been blessed by people who read, pay attention to and like my blog. Wow. I really don't know what to say, besides the traditional "Thank You". Allow me to try to do a little better than that.
First, WAY back on Saturday, July 7, Niki gave me this award:
Rock On! I am not a noisy kind of music listener, but this is fun. I want to turn up the radio, do a little head-banging, and wear lots of black with band names on my chest. I have met Niki, and I am blown away by her commitment to God, her open heart, her thoughtful nature, and her coolness as a mom. She prays with a genuineness that puts me to shame. I know she deserved this award, and I hope that I can too.
Next, on Wednesday, August 22, Sally gave me this award:
I have met many new people online, and Sally is definitely one of the nice ones. We will meet face to face someday soon when I go to her hometown for a visit with some friends. Chatting at a Starbucks is definitely in order! I look forward to reading her blog every day. It is good to know that someone else is thinking some of the same things, and reacting in the same ways as I. It makes me feel a little less alone in the world. And that is Nice.
Now, when I got these, it was a tag sort of thing. I am supposed to pass them both on. Since I am new to this world of blogging, I don't really know whom to give them to. I just thought I would share them with you. You can see how cool they are, and pass them on for me!
This past Saturday, we went with the family to see Jelly Bean get her two-year pictures taken. She is a HAM and a hoot. She was having fun playing with the ladies who were taking the pictures. These people at Portrait Innovations here know their stuff. Jelly Bean would not smile, until one of the ladies said, "Show me your teeth!" and "Where did those teeth go?" Smiles came out, but only just long enough to snap the picture, and the lady was fast with the camera. She got to sit in a rocking chair in a "garden", but she was finished with that pretty quick. "I done." She got to play with flowers, sea shells, some posts that looked like the corners of a dock on the ocean, and two different chairs. In the sea shell picture I have on my mantle, she is talking to the ocean like on a cell phone. "Hello! Yes. Gampa? Bye!"
SIL said that this wasn't fair. They expected her to sit in a chair, look at a huge screen picture of her Baby, and tell them that it looks bad. They are all of her Baby, and they are all great! But we had to pare them down. It took 6 adults more than 45 minutes to go through 70 pictures of that 1 little girl. We saw another family come and get their pictures taken, chose the poses, get their prints (20 minute turnaround) and leave while we were deciding what poses to keep.
I have physical pictures, but I don't yet have computer renditions. I have to get those from SIL and her disk. You know the minute I get some, I am posting them here, to brag on my girl! For now, I will try to satiate our desire for pictures with a view from my own digital camera.
Here, Jelly Bean was looking at her reflection in the TV screen. I like this picture because it shows a little of how long her hair has grown. We all want to trim her hair to make it more even, but none of us want to take away those wonderful little fly-away curls! Too cute!
Rumor has it she has a 3 year old vocabulary, and has long had the 2 year old attitude. Dangerous mix. Recently, she was getting a "talking to" for something, and told BIL, "Daddy, don't talk to me anymore." What do you say to that? She was not being malicious about it, so how do you stop that without scaring her? Tough not to just laugh out loud, for me. But, then, I wasn't there in the heat of the moment. I don't know what BIL did about it.
DH was putting her in her car seat on Saturday after our dinner, and then gave her kisses, and said, "I love you." She responded by telling him, "Go to your car." Again, not malicious. We had talked about DH going to his car, and Jelly Bean going to her car, and Gramma and Granpa (I spell they way they do, because that is how she says it) going to their car. So, she just decided it was time. It was raining at the time, so who can blame her? We are still laughing.
Jelly Bean is happy being the center of attention. I hope that doesn't translate into stealing the attention once she is not the focus anymore. At the babysitter's house, she is the youngest of the kids, so maybe she has learned about being part of a group, and the new baby won't be so much of an intrusion. She won't remember her alone time, anyway. It is just something for me to ponder, as her attentive awesome Auntie.
Happy Thursday!
Today's word is: insouciance
/in'sou'siance"/ noun
Heedlessness; thoughtlessness; carelessness; unconcern; the cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you.
I long to regain the days of my college education, to experience again the time when homework was the only worry; recapturing the happy insouciance of playing cards at lunch, and having the weekend off.
~~~~~~~~~~
Honors have befallen me. I have been blessed by people who read, pay attention to and like my blog. Wow. I really don't know what to say, besides the traditional "Thank You". Allow me to try to do a little better than that.
First, WAY back on Saturday, July 7, Niki gave me this award:
Rock On! I am not a noisy kind of music listener, but this is fun. I want to turn up the radio, do a little head-banging, and wear lots of black with band names on my chest. I have met Niki, and I am blown away by her commitment to God, her open heart, her thoughtful nature, and her coolness as a mom. She prays with a genuineness that puts me to shame. I know she deserved this award, and I hope that I can too.Next, on Wednesday, August 22, Sally gave me this award:
I have met many new people online, and Sally is definitely one of the nice ones. We will meet face to face someday soon when I go to her hometown for a visit with some friends. Chatting at a Starbucks is definitely in order! I look forward to reading her blog every day. It is good to know that someone else is thinking some of the same things, and reacting in the same ways as I. It makes me feel a little less alone in the world. And that is Nice.Now, when I got these, it was a tag sort of thing. I am supposed to pass them both on. Since I am new to this world of blogging, I don't really know whom to give them to. I just thought I would share them with you. You can see how cool they are, and pass them on for me!
This past Saturday, we went with the family to see Jelly Bean get her two-year pictures taken. She is a HAM and a hoot. She was having fun playing with the ladies who were taking the pictures. These people at Portrait Innovations here know their stuff. Jelly Bean would not smile, until one of the ladies said, "Show me your teeth!" and "Where did those teeth go?" Smiles came out, but only just long enough to snap the picture, and the lady was fast with the camera. She got to sit in a rocking chair in a "garden", but she was finished with that pretty quick. "I done." She got to play with flowers, sea shells, some posts that looked like the corners of a dock on the ocean, and two different chairs. In the sea shell picture I have on my mantle, she is talking to the ocean like on a cell phone. "Hello! Yes. Gampa? Bye!"
SIL said that this wasn't fair. They expected her to sit in a chair, look at a huge screen picture of her Baby, and tell them that it looks bad. They are all of her Baby, and they are all great! But we had to pare them down. It took 6 adults more than 45 minutes to go through 70 pictures of that 1 little girl. We saw another family come and get their pictures taken, chose the poses, get their prints (20 minute turnaround) and leave while we were deciding what poses to keep.
I have physical pictures, but I don't yet have computer renditions. I have to get those from SIL and her disk. You know the minute I get some, I am posting them here, to brag on my girl! For now, I will try to satiate our desire for pictures with a view from my own digital camera.
Here, Jelly Bean was looking at her reflection in the TV screen. I like this picture because it shows a little of how long her hair has grown. We all want to trim her hair to make it more even, but none of us want to take away those wonderful little fly-away curls! Too cute!Rumor has it she has a 3 year old vocabulary, and has long had the 2 year old attitude. Dangerous mix. Recently, she was getting a "talking to" for something, and told BIL, "Daddy, don't talk to me anymore." What do you say to that? She was not being malicious about it, so how do you stop that without scaring her? Tough not to just laugh out loud, for me. But, then, I wasn't there in the heat of the moment. I don't know what BIL did about it.
DH was putting her in her car seat on Saturday after our dinner, and then gave her kisses, and said, "I love you." She responded by telling him, "Go to your car." Again, not malicious. We had talked about DH going to his car, and Jelly Bean going to her car, and Gramma and Granpa (I spell they way they do, because that is how she says it) going to their car. So, she just decided it was time. It was raining at the time, so who can blame her? We are still laughing.
Jelly Bean is happy being the center of attention. I hope that doesn't translate into stealing the attention once she is not the focus anymore. At the babysitter's house, she is the youngest of the kids, so maybe she has learned about being part of a group, and the new baby won't be so much of an intrusion. She won't remember her alone time, anyway. It is just something for me to ponder, as her attentive awesome Auntie.
Happy Thursday!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Drinking In The Memories
Word of the Post
Today's word is: libation
/lie*bay"shun/ noun
The ritual of pouring out wine or oil to honor a god; liquid used in such a ceremony; an alcoholic drink.
The bread to feed the hungry needs to be accompanied by the libation upon the altar. Yeah, this comes from the lyrics of an old camp song. "Would you be poured out like wine upon the altar for Me? Would you be broken like bread to feed the hungry?"
Religion makes cannibalism so much symbolism, so it is not as creepy.
~~~~~~~~~~
I got the honor of hanging out with Jelly Bean on Thursday. Her mom and I took her swimming. I guess this is the first time she had ever been in a community pool. Up until this week, it had only been bathtubs and kiddie pools. She had a blast! She laid back a little to practice floating, but she kept turning her head and getting water in her nose. She was very good at letting us hold her, and kicking those legs for all she was worth. She will be a good swimmer someday. She is fearless. She liked standing on the side of the pool, and "jumping" in... basically falling into the arms of Mommy or Auntie Chelf.
I also got to watch her all day Friday, and DH and I were invited to Sis-in-law's house for dinner, too. Jelly Bean is growing up so fast! I took her with me to go shopping (shop shop shop, until we drop drop drop!). I don't get tired of hearing how cute she is. The clerk at Bath and Body Works asked her how old she was. I watched, curious to know if she knew. She said something that sounded like "20 munse", which is very close. She is actually 23 months. I was going to say that she was almost 2. It sounds less complicated. Amazing, brilliant girl!
It is fun to be loved by a 2 year old, and yet... sometimes the love is hurtful, even if it is unintentional. The sweet little Jelly Bean is expecting a sibling, Gum Drop. Now, we don't know if Gum Drop is a girl or a boy, because her parents think the surprise is fun. DH and I both think that is for the birds, we would want to know. Sis-in-law is about 6 weeks away from finding out, so she has a very distinct belly. Jelly Bean said something about a baby in the belly to me, wondering if my similarly shaped (Santa has nothing on me!) belly had the same progression as Mommy's. She is perfectly innocent in thinking that big bellies carry babies. She has no idea that I cried for an hour while she was napping.
For the first time in recent memory, DH was told he was little. You must understand, he is 6'6", and weighs more than I am allowed to tell you. Nobody has thought he was "little" since... well, since he WAS little. Jelly Bean was wanting to cuddle, and kept saying she wanted to "hold you". This, of course, means that we must hold her. She told DH she wanted to hold him, so he leaned over, and put his head on her lap while she sat in the couch. She pushed him off her lap, and said, "No! You're too little!" She meant that SHE was too little, and he was too big to be on her lap.
Jelly Bean knows where all the toys are at Auntie Chelf's house. She knew that she wanted the football, and not the soccer ball or the basketball, from the collection of stuffed ball toys on my shelf. As soon as it was in her hands, she spiked it on the floor, and yelled, "Touchdown! Kansas City, Chiefs!" with her hands up in the air, like she was signaling the play on the field. Her Daddy is speechless, and glowing; a real "that's my girl!" moment for him. The "Chiefs!" sounds like "Cheese!" but we don't mind. Somewhere, I think they have a cheerleader outfit for her. Destiny might be at work here.
I remember my dad and my cousin playing when she was little. She kept yelling, "Uncle Frank!". Finally, after a little thought, he yelled back, "Niece Morgan!" She stopped, and gave him a funny, curious look. "My mommy doesn't call me that!" Well, no. DH had a game with Sugar Bunny when she was about Jelly Bean's age. She would almost sing, "Dzif!" (Those J sounds are tough!) and DH would sing back her name, and she would say, "What?!?" She would forget whatever it was that she was going to say to him, because he answered her in a way she didn't expect. We do a game where DH pops up behind me on alternating sides, and says "boo" to any kid I am holding, while I bounce the baby each time, and say "eek!" I do it for the giggles. Aren't baby giggles the best? I now have Jelly Bean trained to answer "Boo!" with "Eeek!" and a hop.
OUCH! Have you ever coughed and immediately then hiccuped? Not fun. I have the hiccups, and I hate them. They are useless pains. I don't understand why such a thing would be a good creation in the life of a human, but God must see some purpose to it.
I need to get back into writing. J. K. Rowling has more money that the Queen of England! I was told just the other day that I had a gift, and I needed to write a book. I actually have three in the works. One fiction, one observations of the world (maybe including memoirs), and one of religious study. I was always better at poetry than prose, but this blog outlet seems to have struck a chord with me. I do my best writing while sitting at the computer, and typing the gibberish that falls out of my brain.
Sometimes, however, the best release is a freshly sharpened cedar wood #2 pencil and a new notebook of perforated College Ruled paper. The drivel that happens when I am angry gets hand-shredded into tiny bits, and burned or tossed as so much confetti. It is a party to release anger like that.
Throw a party with your anger-confetti.
Have a Blessed Day!
Today's word is: libation
/lie*bay"shun/ noun
The ritual of pouring out wine or oil to honor a god; liquid used in such a ceremony; an alcoholic drink.
The bread to feed the hungry needs to be accompanied by the libation upon the altar. Yeah, this comes from the lyrics of an old camp song. "Would you be poured out like wine upon the altar for Me? Would you be broken like bread to feed the hungry?"
Religion makes cannibalism so much symbolism, so it is not as creepy.
~~~~~~~~~~
I got the honor of hanging out with Jelly Bean on Thursday. Her mom and I took her swimming. I guess this is the first time she had ever been in a community pool. Up until this week, it had only been bathtubs and kiddie pools. She had a blast! She laid back a little to practice floating, but she kept turning her head and getting water in her nose. She was very good at letting us hold her, and kicking those legs for all she was worth. She will be a good swimmer someday. She is fearless. She liked standing on the side of the pool, and "jumping" in... basically falling into the arms of Mommy or Auntie Chelf.
I also got to watch her all day Friday, and DH and I were invited to Sis-in-law's house for dinner, too. Jelly Bean is growing up so fast! I took her with me to go shopping (shop shop shop, until we drop drop drop!). I don't get tired of hearing how cute she is. The clerk at Bath and Body Works asked her how old she was. I watched, curious to know if she knew. She said something that sounded like "20 munse", which is very close. She is actually 23 months. I was going to say that she was almost 2. It sounds less complicated. Amazing, brilliant girl!
It is fun to be loved by a 2 year old, and yet... sometimes the love is hurtful, even if it is unintentional. The sweet little Jelly Bean is expecting a sibling, Gum Drop. Now, we don't know if Gum Drop is a girl or a boy, because her parents think the surprise is fun. DH and I both think that is for the birds, we would want to know. Sis-in-law is about 6 weeks away from finding out, so she has a very distinct belly. Jelly Bean said something about a baby in the belly to me, wondering if my similarly shaped (Santa has nothing on me!) belly had the same progression as Mommy's. She is perfectly innocent in thinking that big bellies carry babies. She has no idea that I cried for an hour while she was napping.
For the first time in recent memory, DH was told he was little. You must understand, he is 6'6", and weighs more than I am allowed to tell you. Nobody has thought he was "little" since... well, since he WAS little. Jelly Bean was wanting to cuddle, and kept saying she wanted to "hold you". This, of course, means that we must hold her. She told DH she wanted to hold him, so he leaned over, and put his head on her lap while she sat in the couch. She pushed him off her lap, and said, "No! You're too little!" She meant that SHE was too little, and he was too big to be on her lap.
Jelly Bean knows where all the toys are at Auntie Chelf's house. She knew that she wanted the football, and not the soccer ball or the basketball, from the collection of stuffed ball toys on my shelf. As soon as it was in her hands, she spiked it on the floor, and yelled, "Touchdown! Kansas City, Chiefs!" with her hands up in the air, like she was signaling the play on the field. Her Daddy is speechless, and glowing; a real "that's my girl!" moment for him. The "Chiefs!" sounds like "Cheese!" but we don't mind. Somewhere, I think they have a cheerleader outfit for her. Destiny might be at work here.
I remember my dad and my cousin playing when she was little. She kept yelling, "Uncle Frank!". Finally, after a little thought, he yelled back, "Niece Morgan!" She stopped, and gave him a funny, curious look. "My mommy doesn't call me that!" Well, no. DH had a game with Sugar Bunny when she was about Jelly Bean's age. She would almost sing, "Dzif!" (Those J sounds are tough!) and DH would sing back her name, and she would say, "What?!?" She would forget whatever it was that she was going to say to him, because he answered her in a way she didn't expect. We do a game where DH pops up behind me on alternating sides, and says "boo" to any kid I am holding, while I bounce the baby each time, and say "eek!" I do it for the giggles. Aren't baby giggles the best? I now have Jelly Bean trained to answer "Boo!" with "Eeek!" and a hop.
OUCH! Have you ever coughed and immediately then hiccuped? Not fun. I have the hiccups, and I hate them. They are useless pains. I don't understand why such a thing would be a good creation in the life of a human, but God must see some purpose to it.
I need to get back into writing. J. K. Rowling has more money that the Queen of England! I was told just the other day that I had a gift, and I needed to write a book. I actually have three in the works. One fiction, one observations of the world (maybe including memoirs), and one of religious study. I was always better at poetry than prose, but this blog outlet seems to have struck a chord with me. I do my best writing while sitting at the computer, and typing the gibberish that falls out of my brain.
Sometimes, however, the best release is a freshly sharpened cedar wood #2 pencil and a new notebook of perforated College Ruled paper. The drivel that happens when I am angry gets hand-shredded into tiny bits, and burned or tossed as so much confetti. It is a party to release anger like that.
Throw a party with your anger-confetti.
Have a Blessed Day!
Can This Thing Make Vacuuming Fun for Mii?
Word of the Post
Today's word is: pestiferous
/pes*tif"er*us/ adjective
The base words mean to bear a plague; noxious; annoying.
The lack of Wii outlets in the Oklahoma City area was getting pestiferous.
~~~~~~~~~~
Wii have made it into the new millennium of gaming! We bought a Wii tonight. As if I don't have enough peripherals to draw my attention away from my housework, we have added another. We got home at 8:30 pm, and it is now 12:07am. We played that silly thing for almost 3 hours after we got it set up.
I can tell you that we did Golf (which I don't play in real life, because I make the boys mad), and I got some really good scores on the Target Practice in the Training area. I am good (mom was always better) at bowling in real life, but the Power Strikes section is my nemesis. My arm is so tired.
I know that Jared has gotten into the Wii Fitness... and that sounds like a really good idea right now. I need to bowl and golf and tennis with my left arm, to equalize the workout. I suppose that the boxing would be helpful in the learning of defense, and in the strengthening of my weak girly-girl arms. That, and chasing the Jelly Bean while she "races" everyone... and I should be fit to live in no time.
Which is another discussion. Back in my Junior College days, I took a class called, "Fit For Life". In this class I discovered that by the time I was "fit" to live, I would be dead. I seriously gave up. It took me moving to Oklahoma for another round of college to get back to thinking healthy. There, I thought that I could not be healthy, and anything I did backfired on me. I can blame that on my attitude, I know. Here, I walked to all my classes, I walked to church on Sundays, I walked circles around the campus with my friends, and I ate so much less. I did not snack, I did not overeat; I spent my lunch hours talking (not eating everything I saw) and playing Spades with my friends. I distracted myself into health.
I lost 20 pounds that first year at college away from home. I was so afraid that the "Freshman 5" I was told I would gain would turn into 15. I have never been healthier in all my life. I desire nothing more in this life than to surpass that old me, and be a more healthy and lighter me now. Swimming this summer, eating less, eating better, and now adding the Wii Workout.
My goals have become attainable again.
Yay for Mii!
Today's word is: pestiferous
/pes*tif"er*us/ adjective
The base words mean to bear a plague; noxious; annoying.
The lack of Wii outlets in the Oklahoma City area was getting pestiferous.
~~~~~~~~~~
Wii have made it into the new millennium of gaming! We bought a Wii tonight. As if I don't have enough peripherals to draw my attention away from my housework, we have added another. We got home at 8:30 pm, and it is now 12:07am. We played that silly thing for almost 3 hours after we got it set up.
I can tell you that we did Golf (which I don't play in real life, because I make the boys mad), and I got some really good scores on the Target Practice in the Training area. I am good (mom was always better) at bowling in real life, but the Power Strikes section is my nemesis. My arm is so tired.
I know that Jared has gotten into the Wii Fitness... and that sounds like a really good idea right now. I need to bowl and golf and tennis with my left arm, to equalize the workout. I suppose that the boxing would be helpful in the learning of defense, and in the strengthening of my weak girly-girl arms. That, and chasing the Jelly Bean while she "races" everyone... and I should be fit to live in no time.
Which is another discussion. Back in my Junior College days, I took a class called, "Fit For Life". In this class I discovered that by the time I was "fit" to live, I would be dead. I seriously gave up. It took me moving to Oklahoma for another round of college to get back to thinking healthy. There, I thought that I could not be healthy, and anything I did backfired on me. I can blame that on my attitude, I know. Here, I walked to all my classes, I walked to church on Sundays, I walked circles around the campus with my friends, and I ate so much less. I did not snack, I did not overeat; I spent my lunch hours talking (not eating everything I saw) and playing Spades with my friends. I distracted myself into health.
I lost 20 pounds that first year at college away from home. I was so afraid that the "Freshman 5" I was told I would gain would turn into 15. I have never been healthier in all my life. I desire nothing more in this life than to surpass that old me, and be a more healthy and lighter me now. Swimming this summer, eating less, eating better, and now adding the Wii Workout.
My goals have become attainable again.
Yay for Mii!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
I Hate To Say "I Told You So"
Word of the Post
Today's word is: divination
/div'i*na"tion/ noun
To foresee, foretell; The act or art of divining; Gift or pretense of prophecy by supernatural means.
This is one of the many subjects available for study at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is condemned profoundly in the Bible.
~~~~~~~~~~
I find myself upset. I have just spent the better part of 16 hours reading a fictional book. I have wasted an entire day of my life to find out if Harry Potter lives or dies.
I have said before that I wish I could settle myself to read the Bible with such enthusiasm.
Of course, I know that Jesus lives eternally after that nasty physical death. So, knowing the ending takes all the mystery out of the read for me.
I had a few notions that were solidly confirmed with this book. JKR had the daunting task of finishing her thoughts without destroying the hopes of the futures in fan fiction. I think she did well. I have always enjoyed these books, from the very first. I got involved during the 3rd one, when the whole of the preaching world was in a tizzy over the introduction of witchcraft and spells to the 11 to 15 year old reading public.
I am the first to tell you that I believe that witchcraft, of any kind, is named as bad in the Bible.
I am also the first to tell you that your 11 year old can tell the difference.
The spells that are named are just Latin conjugations of real words. Levicorpus, for example. Levitate, the corpse. Yep, you guessed it: this one lifts a body. Usually by the ankle. That is funny, when you think about it. The potion ingredients are mostly stuff that you could find, but will probably make a stinky and gross mess if tried in real life. Fanciful names for historical herbs that were once thought to have the magical qualities of what we today refer to as "medicine".
Legend, creatures, and mystery all crammed into a little book that only takes a day to read. JKR does much research, and most of it is accurate. There are some details that she massively messes with, to make it all fit. I am OK with this policy, as long as the messes are consistent.
~~~~~~
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book in Hardback on Release Day: 21.50
Time spent reading the book: 15 hours 45 minutes
Sleep in the middle of the reading: 4 hours
Arena Football Game in the middle of reading: 4 hours
Bathroom Breaks and Lunchtime: 15 minutes
Still smiling on Sunday morning at church: Priceless
~~~~~~
Hopefully, I can be clean and happy on Sunday morning, and not fall asleep during the lesson.
Today's word is: divination
/div'i*na"tion/ noun
To foresee, foretell; The act or art of divining; Gift or pretense of prophecy by supernatural means.
This is one of the many subjects available for study at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is condemned profoundly in the Bible.
~~~~~~~~~~
I find myself upset. I have just spent the better part of 16 hours reading a fictional book. I have wasted an entire day of my life to find out if Harry Potter lives or dies.
I have said before that I wish I could settle myself to read the Bible with such enthusiasm.
Of course, I know that Jesus lives eternally after that nasty physical death. So, knowing the ending takes all the mystery out of the read for me.
I had a few notions that were solidly confirmed with this book. JKR had the daunting task of finishing her thoughts without destroying the hopes of the futures in fan fiction. I think she did well. I have always enjoyed these books, from the very first. I got involved during the 3rd one, when the whole of the preaching world was in a tizzy over the introduction of witchcraft and spells to the 11 to 15 year old reading public.
I am the first to tell you that I believe that witchcraft, of any kind, is named as bad in the Bible.
I am also the first to tell you that your 11 year old can tell the difference.
The spells that are named are just Latin conjugations of real words. Levicorpus, for example. Levitate, the corpse. Yep, you guessed it: this one lifts a body. Usually by the ankle. That is funny, when you think about it. The potion ingredients are mostly stuff that you could find, but will probably make a stinky and gross mess if tried in real life. Fanciful names for historical herbs that were once thought to have the magical qualities of what we today refer to as "medicine".
Legend, creatures, and mystery all crammed into a little book that only takes a day to read. JKR does much research, and most of it is accurate. There are some details that she massively messes with, to make it all fit. I am OK with this policy, as long as the messes are consistent.
~~~~~~
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book in Hardback on Release Day: 21.50
Time spent reading the book: 15 hours 45 minutes
Sleep in the middle of the reading: 4 hours
Arena Football Game in the middle of reading: 4 hours
Bathroom Breaks and Lunchtime: 15 minutes
Still smiling on Sunday morning at church: Priceless
~~~~~~
Hopefully, I can be clean and happy on Sunday morning, and not fall asleep during the lesson.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Lucky Me
Word of the Post
Today's word is: Friggatriskaidekaphobia
Morbid fear of Friday the 13th.
Can also use Paraskavedekatriaphobia, or Paraskevidekatriaphobia.
I will not bother to try to help anyone say these, because they are too technical and clinical. I suppose it is a noun, being a name of an idea. I will just say that I will probably never use any of these in a sentence, but I can pronounce them. You have to take my word for that. :-)
~~~~~~~~~~
I don't know why people are so superstitious. I remember working in a print shop, and being open on Good Friday. That year, it was also the 13th. So, with my very intelligent boss, I pondered why we were the only shop open in the whole of the town. He observed that people could be religious (Good Friday) or superstitious (Friday the 13th). I wonder still how many people closed up shop, for fear that the Universe would get them from both sides if they were working.
I don't go out of my way to avoid things like stepping on cracks and stuff, but I don't go out of my way to pursue them, either. I will pick up any penny on the ground, because I am now a penny richer than I was a minute ago. I don't care where the face was facing. Does one face up and one face down cancel out the bad luck of the face down? I don't go running under ladders at every chance. I found out that you are supposed to spit if a black cat crosses your path. I never knew this. I know that the black cat is bad in America, but good in other places. I know that Rachael Ray throws some salt over her left shoulder for luck when she cooks.
I figure that I am a Christian, and my life is no place for superstition. I don't need the gods of Chance, Luck or Doom when I have the God of the Universe. I am not saying that Coincidence is lost. There are times when God speaks in still, small whispers. SQuire Rushnell calls them "godwinks". A little wink from across the table from a God who notices YOU and shows you He loves you. And since I have experienced many, almost countless, of these "godwinks", I can tell you that coincidence is God-engineered to steer you in the right direction, or just to love on you. If you prefer to think of it as Chance, Luck, or Doom, that is your choice. I choose joy over doubt.
I also have to share that good things happen on Friday the 13th. DH got a Bonus today. So I don't have to worry about where the money will come from to pay for the new lawnmower we are considering. And we still have money left to buy a Wii (if I could ever find one available!!!) and still help out on a few needs we know of. The wonderful part of this is that I don't have to work. I could, if I get bored, or if we needed me to. But, we are living quite well on DH's income. That is the truly miraculous part. I can live well, prepare for emergencies, save for the distant retirement and help others, all without having to work an 8 to 5 slave job. DH loves his work, which is an added bonus. I am blessed beyond dollars.
Happy Friday!
Today's word is: Friggatriskaidekaphobia
Morbid fear of Friday the 13th.
Can also use Paraskavedekatriaphobia, or Paraskevidekatriaphobia.
I will not bother to try to help anyone say these, because they are too technical and clinical. I suppose it is a noun, being a name of an idea. I will just say that I will probably never use any of these in a sentence, but I can pronounce them. You have to take my word for that. :-)
~~~~~~~~~~
I don't know why people are so superstitious. I remember working in a print shop, and being open on Good Friday. That year, it was also the 13th. So, with my very intelligent boss, I pondered why we were the only shop open in the whole of the town. He observed that people could be religious (Good Friday) or superstitious (Friday the 13th). I wonder still how many people closed up shop, for fear that the Universe would get them from both sides if they were working.
I don't go out of my way to avoid things like stepping on cracks and stuff, but I don't go out of my way to pursue them, either. I will pick up any penny on the ground, because I am now a penny richer than I was a minute ago. I don't care where the face was facing. Does one face up and one face down cancel out the bad luck of the face down? I don't go running under ladders at every chance. I found out that you are supposed to spit if a black cat crosses your path. I never knew this. I know that the black cat is bad in America, but good in other places. I know that Rachael Ray throws some salt over her left shoulder for luck when she cooks.
I figure that I am a Christian, and my life is no place for superstition. I don't need the gods of Chance, Luck or Doom when I have the God of the Universe. I am not saying that Coincidence is lost. There are times when God speaks in still, small whispers. SQuire Rushnell calls them "godwinks". A little wink from across the table from a God who notices YOU and shows you He loves you. And since I have experienced many, almost countless, of these "godwinks", I can tell you that coincidence is God-engineered to steer you in the right direction, or just to love on you. If you prefer to think of it as Chance, Luck, or Doom, that is your choice. I choose joy over doubt.
I also have to share that good things happen on Friday the 13th. DH got a Bonus today. So I don't have to worry about where the money will come from to pay for the new lawnmower we are considering. And we still have money left to buy a Wii (if I could ever find one available!!!) and still help out on a few needs we know of. The wonderful part of this is that I don't have to work. I could, if I get bored, or if we needed me to. But, we are living quite well on DH's income. That is the truly miraculous part. I can live well, prepare for emergencies, save for the distant retirement and help others, all without having to work an 8 to 5 slave job. DH loves his work, which is an added bonus. I am blessed beyond dollars.
Happy Friday!
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