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February 27, 2007

Plastic Face, Spoiled Pets, Inane Interview Questions, and a Whole Lot More! All for the low low price of 3 easy payments of 22.99 plus shipping and handling! Call in the next 10 minutes and get a free spray bottle to make your purchase even more conven

Another morning trapped in the laundromat. I didn't have my book, I forgot to put my Bible back in my bag, and all the magazines in the car I've read too many times. What's a girl to do?

Watch the TV and think about the shows.

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I caught the last 45 minutes of the CBS early show. I was in and out of the laundromat at the beginning of my stay, so I missed out on the first few newsy blurbs they did. But here are some of my reflections:

--Why do TV interviewers always ask such lame questions? Think about it. I'm not going to give examples because that would limit your memories of this phenomenon, but it seems like they learn in journalist school to ask obvious questions. Examples? Ok. Here are just a few: "And then, when you were hiding in your classroom while the gunmen walked by, were you afraid?" or "And when you came back to the wreckage of your trailer after the tornado came through and destroyed everything for a two-mile-wide swath, were you devastated? How did you feel?" or "Why do you think you're friends with each other? Why has your friendship lasted so long, through all the changes in your lives?"

Yes, that was the gem this morning. "What is it about each other that makes you friends?" How is the interviewee supposed to answer that in a 1.5 minute segment?

--Why do we spend so much money on our pets? Why buy doggie treats that you can dip in doggie icing before you give it to your doggie? Why buy an automatic tennis ball thrower? Why buy a motion-sensitive dog bowl that will play a recording of your voice when your doggie puts his snout down to eat out of the dog bowl? (It'll be as useful as saying hello to your doggie over the phone. Ever tried that trick? The dog doesn't get it!) Why do we spend over a billion dollars a year on doggies and pet toys? Here's clue, it's either for the pet or for us...and the pet doesn't care.

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And then there were the 45 minutes of 700 I had to tolerate. Blessedly, it wasn't a whole hour. But 45 minutes was enough.

They begin with news reports, and their lead story was VP Cheney's attempted assassination yesterday in Afghanistan. (According to Pat, it was the militant irrational terrorists that made the attempt. Love the adjectives, Pat. Good choice.)

Soon after their lead story (I was folding tee shirts, so I didn't write down exactly what order the stories came in) came a story about a Muslim in Tulsa who wrote a letter to the editor of Tulsa's local paper which spoke out against American mosques funding the Middle East terrorists. (At this point I thought, Oh good, a story about an American Muslim who's not a crazy stereotypical terrorist. But, no. I made that conclusion waaaaay too soon.) After his letter was printed, he was nearly assaulted the next time he went to worship at his mosque. One witness described the account similar to the account the main guy gave, but that witness preferred to remain anonymous. Other people who were willing to speak on camera told the CBN crews that the main guy was not being honest. (There was a little discrepancy there, as you can see, but the emphasis and subtext were clear. It's obvious who was telling the truth! Obvious!) The main guy and CBN's analyst both emphasized the fact that the Tulsa imams were angered by the letter to the editor and its content: that American mosques are funding Middle East terrorists.

(Ok, I thought, a bit of a different take on the news...a story about fractures and differences in an religious ethnic group that we Americans tend to believe are one monolithic religion...maybe a story that points out that not all Muslims are terrorists...and so on.) If they had left the story as it was, there could have been hope. But then [cue Jaws music] Pat decided to commentate. He spun the whole news report by saying "See? We do have reason to be worried. Muslims in America are just as dangerous, and even more militant, than Muslims in their home country! They are the enemy!"* Oh, Pat. (That really made me steam. Why did he have to speak up and spin the news report that way?? Grrr.)

And after the Oscars and seeing all the wonderful, brilliant actors who have also put a huge amount of effort into maintaining wrinkle-free skin (did you notice Peter O'Toole and Clint Eastwood? And while I'm on the subject, has anyone looked at Regis's face lately? They all look plastic, like a male Barbie, with too-tight skin. There's a look they get that yells "plastic surgery!"), I noticed Pat's got that ageless, plastic-y, too-tight look going. I wonder how old he is. Is he one of those characters on TV news programs that everyone just smiles at, pats on the head, and goes on with the real work after he passes by? Because I have to say, if it weren't for his non sequiturs, his commentaries, and his interpretive, random remarks, 700 would not be that bad.

It's just too bad.

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* Pat's quote is a paraphrase...but I guarantee you that he said the words "They are the enemy" in his little speechy bit there. Oh, Pat.

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February 26, 2007

Just a little ironic?

I sold a bacon press on Saturday.

It's shaped like a pig.

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Help wih a capital Aitch

After taking The Dude to school this morning, I had juuuuust enough gas to get to the RaceTrac in Ft. O. I got out of the car, opened my tank, and was just about to swipe my card when I heard a voice behind me.

"Good morning!" she chirped. "You look like you just got out of bed!"

What? I thought. "No," I said. And just stood there. I let the awkwardness fall back on her. ( If you come up to me at the gas station and tell me I look like I just rolled out of bed, you've already broken social rules. I refuse to try to play conversation tennis anymore. Nope.)

Finally, she said, "My friend and I" and she gestures to her crummy conversion van parked at the next pump over, "are handing out these magazines."

I look at the cover. The title is Alive! or something like that, and I see a little side-title that says something about homeschooling. "We want to share about Jesus" she continues, but I say

"No thanks, I don't need one." And turn away. And pump my gas.

When I looked back, she was gone. So was the van. They weren't even gassing up. They just followed my car into the RaceTrac and decided That's the one! She is the one that needs Jesus!

I told the Dude about this incident this evening, and we got to laughing. Does "You look like you just got out of bed!" translate to "You look like a pathetic slob!" or "You look like you're really down on your luck...can't you afford shampoo?"

If I'd had my wits about me (and it was before my coffee, grr!), I'd have explained that I already know Jesus, and that I appreciate the offer. But I'd also have asked her what it was about me that made her think I needed help with a capital H.

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Yoked

I'm dealing with waves of homesickness. They usually come when my guard is down (in other words, not when I'm sleeping in on a lazy Sunday morning, or when I'm satisfied with circumstances).

There's no way for me to ward them off. In fact, I've been struggling with mini panic attacks for the last few years, and they seem to be manifesting themselves this way lately. I just get to missing my parents and my sister so much!

I was catching up on my voicemails today during my lunch break and heard one from my dad, and then my mom got on the phone and left her two cents. I just wanted so much to be there, cause I just miss them.

Here's the verse I leaned on for help:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. --Matthew 11:28-30

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February 24, 2007

Happy Valentine's Day to Me!

Last night, we got home late. It was like midnight till we got home. We enter through the kitchen so I immediately saw 1) the corn chowder that needed to be refrigerated and 2) dishes that needed to at least be rinsed off, if not washed. (By the time I jarred the chowder, I was too pooped to start in on a sinkload of dishes. I finished them just now.)

So I followed the Dude into the bedroom because he went in first to turn on a light and I turned off the kitchen light...and there on our bed was a big package with red bows on it! Wow!

I ripped the paper off and...

Continue reading "Happy Valentine's Day to Me!"

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February 23, 2007

Tidbits: missed memos, iMac?, organization, and kitchenware encyclopedia

Ok, I know I said I was going to keep it to specific categories, but I just have a few tidbits.

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I work at a kitchenware store now. I'm learning all about kitchen stuff. There's a book all about kitchen tools which is kind of like an encyclopedia. During boring times, I read it and study it. I'm in the pots and pans chapter now. I'm just full of information.

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We had two computers. Each one was a PC. Each one broke. Then a good friend (thanks so much!) gave us his leftover iMac (by the way, is this a loan or a gift? Just want to make sure...) and while I'm so thankful, I have to confess I'm just not getting bit by the Apple bug. I'm used to a PC and I'm good at a PC and I just rock with Microsoft Word, and I don't understand the iMac. Maybe you need to come over for dinner and explain the organic, easy-to-understand organizational system here. It's just not clicking with me.

Don't get me wrong! I'm so so so grateful to have computer access at home, but I think I just missed out on the "Everyone Loves a Mac and Here's Why" memo.

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I miss a lot of memos. Somehow I tend to blunder socially or relationally, and don't realize it till it's too late. Some people are color blind...I think I'm Status Quo Blind (or at least impaired). Thankfully friends and family clue me in, and I've learned to ask when I'm not sure.

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Maybe my discomfort with the Mac is related to the fact that our internet access in our new home is s-l-o-w. Not quite as slow as molasses on a winter day in Alaska, but definitely as slow as molasses on a winter day in, say, Florida. Or maybe Georgia. Seriously, I just get so frustrated waiting so long. Sometimes it just stops altogether and the page is still not loaded the next morning.

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I'm working at getting organized. I have to be, and it's nice to have more motivation to be so organized. Off I go then (to quote Mary Poppins, "spit spot!"), to make my list for today and my list for next week.

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February 22, 2007

For my perfectionist friend.

Recently I heard a friend described via a story. She was trying desperately to make a blini (a kind of thin, thin pancake). She couldn't, and the story teller said, lovingly, "You know, sometimes you can't be perfect. You just can't be perfect at everything."

Well, friend-you-know-who-you-are, I read this in the Kitchenware Textbook I've been studying and thought of you. (By the way, my computer connection can't seem to handle Amazon. So I'll update this post with a true bibliography soon. In the meantime, please don't sue me for plagiarism.)

CREPE PAN

DESCRIPTION: Shallow plain steel or aluminum pan, no more than 8 inches and as small as 5 inches in diameter. Sides may be slightly curved or angled. A pan 4 or 5 inches across may be a blini pan, for making the Russian buckwheat version.

USE: Making crepes (thin French pancakes) or other, similar pancakes.

USE TIPS: Wipe with oil after making each crepe and keep the pan hot. The smaller models are for dessert crepes, the larger models for entree crepes. Keep steel pans well seasoned for best results.

BUYING TIPS: It is much easier to get good results with a high-quality, well-seasoned crepe pan than with a regular skillet. Plain steel or thick anodized aluminum and nonstick pans are good choices here. Do not confuse this with the fancy, flat crepes suzette pan.

Ettlinger, Steve. The Kitchenware Book. Research Consultant: Irena Chalmers. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1992.

I emboldened the bit that made me think of you. Maybe your crepe pan wasn't top quality and that impeded your perfection? Now that you are in a place where you most likely have higher quality cookware, consider trying again. Or, in lieu of that, remind yourself that you are an awesome event planner.

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Here's another tidbit for the same friend:

Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa and lover of French cooking, said on her show today that she loves French flower arranging. She was in Paris and showed us several examples of each technique.

Would you believe she showed us a pink bouquet? It featured roses, peonies, and sweet peas, but it was pink and perfect. Just thought you'd like to know. It's another feather in your cap, to remind you that your event planning is a highly developed skill, and that the event you recently planned was perfect.

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He's That Important

I noticed tons of state troopers on I-24 Tuesday evening. I commented on it to my mom and to the Dude (yes, I was on the phone while I was driving).

Then yesterday on my way to work, I noticed 8 state troopers and cops from the 24/75 split to the Hamilton Place exit. I couldn't figure why, but I just shrugged it off. This was north-bound 75, by the way, away from down town and toward Knoxville.

It all became clear when I got to work. My coworkers mentioned that they thought I'd be late, because of the President's visit. I wasn't late. I was on time.

Our manager was late, though, because she couldn't get through downtown to get to the store from the warehouse. She got to the store after 5, and spent the whole afternoon lunching and shopping.

Another colleague had taken a long lunch, walked with her colleagues to a park, where they saw his motorcade and even saw him waving from his limousine window. She reported that he wanted barbecue for lunch so he ate at a local barbecue place--and that he ate with two Cigna employees (because his visit was all about healthcare) and that he didn't clear out the restaurant for his visit...but nobody could drive by (colleague saw this from her office window) and there were Secret Service everywhere.

And I heard him on the radio last night.

That's not a very interesting report, is it? I know. That's the extent of my interaction with President Bush yesterday. He's one of the most powerful people in the world and definitely the most powerful person in our nation, and he visited our little city yesterday! So if I went downtown tonight, I could eat at the very restaurant he did! Wow.

Here it comes: the moral of my little fable.

Some people spend their lives just on the fringes of life with Jesus. They know He snarls traffic sometimes. They know someone who saw Him. They read about Him. They hear what He has to say on the radio or maybe on TV. They see how many people value Him and also see how many people hate Him and make a big point out of telling everyone, but they themselves don't really have much to do with Him. They just carry on with life, thankful that today the traffic is running, today they can go downtown on a whim, and tomorrow they can wake up and go to the park on a beautiful weekend day to enjoy the sunshine.

I'm not expected to know or really be involved in Bush's personal life. I'm not a family member or a member of his staff. I'm not a Texan. I'm not really into politics, so I'm not even sure of my opinion on the Iraq War. But I know he's important and very powerful.

If this is your brand of Christianity...you know He's there and He's important, but He doesn't really change your daily life or affect you much, then slow down. Read what He has to say and see if He might indeed be talking to you. Don't just drive on by and go on with life. I'll go on with my life since Bush's visit. But Jesus really is important; Bush's presidency will end, foreign policy will change, and in just a few years he'll have a chapter or two in history textbooks and will fade into memory. In a few decades, centuries, or millennia, he'll be no more interesting than Julius Caesar or King Richard Lion-Heart is to us.

But Jesus is so much more important than any of us. He's never going to fade into the background, never going to be just a chapter in a history textbook, never going to be just worm food. Because He's alive, He rules, and He's coming to judge us all. Please know Him, so that when He comes, you'll be ready.

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February 20, 2007

Full Time Adjustment

I have only a few moments before I have to go to work. Yes, work! Hooray, I have a job, and thanks to all of you for your prayers and concerns. I work as a cashier (again) this time at a small business. So my tasks are more varied--but I still deal with the crushing boredom.

I am full time, though, so I am thankful for that.

I've spent the last month or so stuck in a rut of selfishness and self-pity. More on that later...I really do have to jet out of here.

My family is working on summer plans already. It's hard to imagine heat and sunshine, isn't it? Growing up in Colorado, I miss the sunshine here in the South. Even on days that aren't overcast, it's still not the same. My body craves sunshine! My eyes never wake up, and I'd rather have a cold morning if the sun is bright than an overcast warm morning. It's just not the same.

Well...I'm off. The only problem so far with my new job is that the full-time-ness makes me have to plan for wifey chores. When will I cook dinner? When will I grocery shop? When will I do laundry (esp. since we still haven't bought a washer)? When will I iron? When will I clean? Ick. But God's provided, all I have to do now is adjust.

TTFN

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February 18, 2007

Proverbs

We are reading Proverbs* together.

In the ESV**, it starts with quite a few infinitives. Like a preamble. Like the preamble to the Constitution. Here's the preamble to the Constitution. As you read, notice the stated purposes, set out right at the beginning of the document:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Here's the first few lines of Proverbs. Notice the purpose set forth, right there, right out front:

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth--
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

--Proverbs 1:1-7

If you are a Bible-reading newbie, an important skill that will help you understand what you're reading is to know the purpose of the book. This list is the stated purpose of the book of Proverbs, and there's a lot of depth to this passage. (By the way, the studied discipline of Bible interpretation is called hermeneutics. One of the basic principles of hermeneutics is to understand the purpose of a passage within the context of the book. There you go! Lesson number one.)

Anyway, The Dude and I really enjoyed the beginning of our trek through Proverbs. I got a lot out of this passage...but I'll share that later.

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* Proverbs: a book of the Bible. It comes right after Psalms, and is full of pithy little statements that take a lifetime to understand. Most proverbs are two lines, where one line echoes the other line, or where one line contradicts the other line; either way, the two lines deepen each other to bring deeper meaning.

** ESV: a version of the Bible, the English Standard Version. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, so whether a committee or an individual translates into English, they reflect the dialect of the time (that's why the King James Version, commissioned by King James in 1611, sounds so dated with all the 'thees' and 'thous' and 'verilys'). They also have to make translation choices: neither Hebrew nor Greek translates into English word for word, so they have to choose: will they be as literal as possible, resulting in awkward English, or will they emphasize smoothness of English, resulting in less-literal translation? The ESV is a relatively recent translation put out by Crossway Publishing (the NIV is published by Zondervan, and the King James Version is now public domain) which strives for literality of translation. There are many, many English versions of the Bible available; the bottom line for a choice is to find one you will read. Find one that fits your sense of English so you will actually read it. You don't have to be intimidated about old-fashioned clunky English!

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February 13, 2007

Resume sent

One resume sent does not a job acceptance letter make.

--Me, just now.

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700

Hm. Read this list then read the deduction:

The Dude is teaching an interim class about pop television (so many kids signed up that he has to teach a morning session and an afternoon session!), specifically the way Christians are treated in the media. I've been thinking about it and discussing it with him quite a bit lately.


-If you know next to nothing about economics and stocks and whatnot, and you turn on Bloomburg television, you're going to be bored and confused.
-If you ever go to a dinner party as a friend of a friend and most everyone there engages in shop-talk, discussing their boss and jobs and workplace, you'll feel excluded and slightly hurt.
-If you don't have any context for the gospel and the kind of gift Jesus offers, and you turn to the 700 Club just to hear Pat Robertson call you to repentance for your sin, you'll be offended and confused.
-All 'they' know about Christians and Christianity is that folks like Pat Robertson exist. ('Isn't he that guy that hosts the 700 Club? He made that foolish and foolhardy comment a few months ago (anyone remember what it was? I know it was something bigoted or something).')

--No wonder that we all turn them off if this is all they know about us. We're not all like that, but how will crazy liberals ever know that?

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* Health and Wealth Gospel: the erroneous, even heretical, belief that Jesus wants us to be wealthy. In reality, that teaching is not found anywhere in the Bible and is thought of to be promoted by black sheep who actually want to mislead people away from the truth of the Gospel.

** Legalists: those who are trapped into false comfort by obeying rules upon rules upon rules. In reality, most of the rules taught by Legalists are actually cultural expectations not Biblical commandments.

*** Hermeneutics: the systematic study of the Bible. One of the rules of hermeneutics is that we should interpret a passage based on its genre. If it's a book of poetry, it's not meant to be literal; if it's history, it's not meant to be a textbook; if it's instructional, it's not meant to be a fable or a parable. The beginning of the book of Revelation (oh, and it's singular, not plural!) says that the description to follow is composed of signs and symbols, and so we shouldn't interpret it literally, but figuratively, like figures of speech aren't meant to be literal (I didn't really eat a horse).

**** Global Trends: a required course at Covenant College, whose goal is that the student will have a basic understanding of the forces of modern economy, politics, foreign policy, and how they interact to cause the current events we hear about (and those we don't hear about) in our news reports.

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February 12, 2007

Monday I

From Curious as a Cat:

What spiritual concept, from any religion, is the hardest fo you to understand? Is it something you have studied, or something you have only observed from the 'outside'? I'm a Christian, and have grown up well inside the Christian subculture. I've learned this stuff since I was a tot, and have a memory for things I've read in doctrine textbooks. Hence the difficulty in answering this question. HOWever, I still don't get suffering, especially in relation to God's sovereignty. That's a question a lot of new Christians and non-Christians ask, and I wish there were better answers than just "that's a matter of faith." It seems to me that we all need to keep asking, both of each other and of God, and see how he will answer. Because I do know there is an answer!

What kind of doctor would you want to be? Not a proctologist, urologist, or gynecologist. (I'd love to ask a proctologist how he or she decided to go into the pooper for their specialty!) I would like to be a family practicioner, I think. (I never really wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to be a nurse when ER came out, so I candy-striped for a semester. Candy-striping cured me of wanting to be a nurse!)

If you could run any existing charity, which one would you pick? Why? How would you change it, or would you keep it just as it is? I'd run a crisis pregnancy clinic. I think Roe v. Wade is horrible and has caused so much suffering in our nation, and I'd like to take positive steps to undermine the quick-fix-abortion mentality in America. I'd take the crisis pregnancy clinic also in the direction of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for post-abortive women and men, to help them work through the consequences of the sin they committed against themselves and against their aborted babies. That's suffering, and I want to help relieve it.

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Jealousy

I have to say, I'm a little jealous of other people with rockin' blogs. Or at least those of you who get a lot of hits, a lot of comments, and a lot of people reading your posts. So many of you are really good writers.

I'm not that good of a writer, but I feel like I have good things to say. (Why can't I put together a good essay?) I don't know how, but I'm bound and determined to make this blog a better blog.

So I have some theme ideas:

I think I'll attend to each of these categories. Prepare yourselves...it'll be the new improved Colorado Mountain Passes! (After all, a mountain pass gets you from one valley to another. They're easy to drive over, but imagine how they were back in the day of horse and wagon, burro-riding, and mountain men like Jeremiah Johnson! It takes serious effort to cross a pass.)

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February 11, 2007

Categories

I love to categorize. Don't you? Here are some kitchen categories, AKA the contents of my cabinets.

1. Tupperwares which are not really tupperwares. They're just leftover-tubs. And I have a nice lid-organizer. When I was growing up, Mom had her leftover-tubs in a lower cabinet. You know what we did when we put them away? Opened the door, threw in the container and/or the lid, and slammed the door shut before an avalanche of containers fell out. So mine are in the upper cabinets.

2. Bowls. Many bowls. Salad bowls. Cereal bowls. Icecream bowls. Mixing bowls. Prep bowls.

3. Platters and cake pedestals.

4. Plates. Dinner plates, dessert plates.

5. Drinking glasses. Some tall, some short, some shiny, some Latvian, some blue.

6. Baking stuff. Cake pans, pie dishes, 9x9's, 9x13's, all sorts.

7. Baking stuff: software. Flour, sugar, salt, cornmeal, cornstarch, oil, olive oil, oats, etc.

8. Mugs. Everyone we know could come over for coffee at the same time and they would each have their own mug. We have a lot of mugs.

I like to categorize. Things need to be organized and properly and efficiently stowed away. But why can't I categorize people or life issues? They don't fit neatly into a box or a cabinet or 'with all the others of this type.' How do I break my bad habit of categorizing people like they're just objects, treating them as less complex than they are?

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February 09, 2007

Her True Story

I just finished watching the 4-hour long "Diana: Her True Story." (Aired on WE Women's Entertainment. Don't you just love to watch, like slowing down for a car accident?) It was made in 1993, just after Charles and Di announced their separation. Knowing how the story ends--divorce, her hooking up with Dodi, her death, those sons losing their Mummy (I stayed up and watched the funeral in 1997. Did you? I cried! That card on the flowers on her coffin, remember? "Mummy"), and his marriage to Camilla (I don't like her, by the way)--is so poignant and just makes me sad.

I know full well that it's a TV movie and made for drama. (It should be aired on TNT, the network for drama!) But it's awful to have watched the two of them use the intimacy and trust and privacy of the marriage relationship to do nothing but hurt, abuse, and injure the other.

Being married is like having nuclear power. You can set a bomb off in your spouse's life so easily, even in the best of marriages.

But to use that power to deliberately hurt the other...it makes me sick. Sick to my stomach. Charles (that jerk. I don't like him either) went out of his way to hurt and humiliate Di, withholding a husband's most valuable asset--his love and support. Poor Di had such a shock of a life-change in becoming part of the Royal Family, and he did nothing to help her. Ick. And Di! She reacted out of immaturity and sinfulness and shamed and humiliated and disrespected him. They acted and reacted and reacted and reacted and everyone around them suffered.

Now, The Dude and I aren't perfect! We know it. We have our land mines and blind spots and weaknesses, but we try. We both grew up in homes where our parents worked hard on their marriages and succeeded! I can't wrap my mind around the kind of hurt people sustain from living through a civil-war-marriage...and the hurt of growing up in a family whose parents hate each other also makes my mind explode. (Like trying to understand quantum theory..."Dr. Petcher, you're telling me that someone who shines a flashlight at me who is traveling .99 the speed of light will actually shine the light at me yesterday? Someone who travels to Alpha Centauri at .99 the speed of light will return in 80 years but won't have aged, at least not to us? What??")

I wish fairy tales were true. I think fairy tales, like the ones The Brothers Grimm et al wrote down for us, are just symbols or caricatures, but real success stories don't leave out the flaws and the sweat and the pain of actual struggle. Because real success takes a hell of a lot of effort, you know! And it takes (gulp) death to self and true self-sacrifice.

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February 05, 2007

Post - Dallas Thoughts

It's been a long time since I've been with a group of girls that are all my age, all fun, all nice, and all ready and willing to get hyper at a wedding reception and dance like crazies. I purposefully ate the chocolate groom's cake with chocolate icing and drank some really tasty coffee just to get wired and dancedancedance.

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It helps to get uninhibited when you're one of eight girls wearing the same dress.

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We danced in a circle around the bride to "Twist and Shout." That was fun. And we didn't plan it. It was just fun!

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About 10 minutes before the getaway, the groom was walking determinedly out of the reception hall with bride by the hand. She was being a good obedient wife and following along, but greeting people and chatting with people while being gently and firmly pulled out the door. He took her to the changing room and waited outside while she and her mom and sister and aunt helped her out of her gown and into her getaway outfit. It was quintessential Heather and Troy, and it was good to see. He's going to be good for her.

---

I've never seen a bride or been connected to a wedding that had every detail of the wedding weekend planned so well. Heather was totally relaxed and enjoying every minute. It was refreshing. And highly recommended. You should all do that if you're not already married.

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I danced a crazy fun tango with Marshall Rowe. He basically stood there (still stepping in rhythm) while I did things like spin myself and dip backwards and spin again. It was fun, and he laughed. I'm glad he was there...he meant a lot to Heather while working on the mountain.

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It's vital to have lots of friendly helpers at a wedding. I stood in the dressing room watching a bridesmaid have her hair curled by two of the most beautiful, most graceful, tallest sisters ever. Then I had my hair curled. I was telling another bridesmaid about it during The Wedding Pictures, and she agreed. "They surround you with such gentle conversation, too." Ahhh. Who need a massage, a pedicure, or a glass of wine to relax when you've got those two sisters to gently take over your hair and have great conversation? If you're reading this, thanks, you two.

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I was seated at the "Thanks, but we're taken" table at the rehearsal dinner. Others, including some bridesmaids, some house party, some groomsmen, and some ushers, were seated at what we called the "Swinging Singles Table." It didn't look like anyone met their Mate of Destiny, but nobody can tell until the love wakes up.

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Being in a Successful Couple and really liking it, I want others to be in one too. So I have been thinking of suitable single men for these unattached ladies...but then I mentally slap myself for treating them like they're not good enough on their own. That tightrope walk never ends. I think the key is to acknowledge that it is a tightrope walk and to listen...singles, if I steamroll you or make you feel like you're outside the club, please tell me.

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I laughed more in 72 hours than I have in a long time. It was great to be there without the Dude so that I could just relax and be with the girls.

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Although I missed him. But it's easier to be the one who's away having an adventure and traveling, than to be the one left behind. You're used to the routine you both developed (which, believe me, isn't the easiest thing to get used to!), when BAM all of a sudden the other half of the routine is gone. It's like missing a finger...makes me thankful I'm not a widow.

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There were so many rooms of us in the hotel that it felt a bit like dorm life again. A lot of us put the little security lock (the thing that passes for a security chain in hotel rooms) over to prop the door open and walked in and out of the hotel rooms. That was great.

---

And I think that's all for now. It was a wonderful weekend, a wonderful wedding, a beautiful bride, and handsome groom. Married folks, aren't we thankful? Singles...if God can put Heather and Troy together one year after she moved to Chattanooga, then He can find you a mate too. AND there's that damn tightrope again. I'm sorry if I crossed the line and steamrolled you again.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 03:13 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Seventy Meme.

  1. Are your parents married or divorced? Married. To each other.

  2. Are you a vegetarian? Hah. I love meat. I have to make myself eat veggies.

  3. Do you believe in Heaven? Yes. And hell, too.

  4. Have you ever come close to dying? Depends on how you mean that.

  5. What jewelery do you wear 24/7? Wedding and engagement rings. Also, whatever necklace I happen to be wearing and forgot to take off.

  6. Favorite time of day? Sunset-time. I really like the beauty and peacefulness of the end of the day.

  7. Do you eat the stems of broccoli? Yes. You know what's awesome? To simmer them, blend them, and mix the hot broccoli puree with cheese and some milk and rice, maybe, and have a tasty soup.

  8. Do you wear makeup? A little. (Eyeshadow, lipstick. Sometimes blush.)

  9. Ever have plastic surgery? No.

  10. What do you wear to bed? Clothes.

  11. Have you ever done anything illegal? Yes. I often speed while driving. And once I accidentally went the wrong way on a one way. And I jaywalk, too.

  12. Can you roll your tongue? Yeah.

  13. Do you tweeze your eyebrows? I try, but I got kind of lazy and hadn't for a while, so I got them waxed for the wedding. Heather is, as a bridesmaid put it, really sensitive to facial hair, so she was pleased I got them waxed.

  14. What kind of sneakers? New Balance.

  15. Do you believe in Abortions? I believe they happen? Do I believe they should? No.

  16. What is your Hair color? Dark blond. Hair-colored.

  17. Future child’s name? Classified. But we've got a pretty short list. (Not that I'm pregnant!)

  18. Do you snore? No, but I snort when I laugh sometimes.

  19. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? To a houseboat with all my family and friends. That would have to be several houseboats, and it would have to be someplace warm with warm (at least not-cold) water.

  20. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? Not anymore. I did, right up until I married at age 25. And I still did a few more times after I married, but only when I was sick. He didn't mind.

  21. If you won the lottery, what would you do first? Cry. Then scream.

  22. Gold or silver? Silver.

  23. Hamburger or hot dog? Both! Cheeseburger, lettuce, mayo; hot dog, ketchup.

  24. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Something of my mom's. Probably her veggie soup.

  25. City, beach or country? City for shopping. Beach for relaxing. Country for relaxing, too, and for going on long walks and hikes.

  26. What was the last thing you touched? Besides the computer and other technology toys? Umm, a crochet hook and yarn.

  27. Where did you eat last? TV tray, breakfast cereal.

  28. When’s the last time you cried? During the wedding pictures. The organist was practicing the wedding march, and it was so beautiful. But I didn't ruin my eye makeup, so no worries.

  29. Do you read blogs? Duh.

  30. Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex? Ok, I'm a girl. I've worn pants. Is that what you mean?

  31. Ever been involved with the police? I got a speeding ticket once. And I had to go to court. AND I watch Law and Order all the time. And CSI:.

  32. What’s your favorite shampoo conditioner and soap? Dove.

  33. Do you talk in your sleep? Yes.

  34. Ocean or pool? Ocean. No chlorine to bleach out my suit, dry out my skin, and turn my blond hair green.

  35. So, who has the original missing questions? Not me. They were most likely icky. I've already taken out four.

  36. Here's an icky question. My replacement: Week-at-a-glance, month-at-a-glance, or something else? I like a month- AND a week-at-a-glance.

  37. Window seat or aisle? Window. I like to look out. But aisle if it's a flight to Hawaii. There's only water between the continent and them. 5 hours of ocean. Bleah.

  38. Ever met anyone famous? Not superfamous, but I waited on the mayor of Colorado Springs one, when I worked at a dry cleaner during my first job. And I saw Julia Robers in Chicago O'Hare airport once. She has quite an entourage and looked a little pissy, like she was straining on the toilet and had just eaten some lemon. Not a good look.

  39. Do you feel that you’ve had a truly successful life? Yes, but not due to me. (Ok, that was my canned-doctrinally sound answer. Here's what I really feel but often delete because I believe my doctrine more: Successful? Maybe. It depends who's asking and who you're comparing me to.)

  40. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? Twirl when it's fresh. Cut when it's reheated and the noodles are a little less slippy.

  41. Ricki Lake or Oprah Winfrey? Ick. Is Ricki still on? Here's a better question: Martha or Rachael Ray? Ummm, Martha, just because Rachael kind of irritates me with her hyper-ness and her voice and her lack of ability to listen to the experts she invites on her show to give advice. And another thing: I really hate Meredith Veiera. She doesn't listen either.

  42. Basketball or Football? Neither. I like to watch volleyball. And live hockey games are cool. I get football more now that they have the glow stripes on TV...I could have enjoyed more football during my childhood if only they had invented those earlier. I'd ask my dad what was going on and he's say "That's the center, he's about to hike to the quarterback and he'll GOGOGO YEAHHH WOO HOOOOOOO!" Not very helpful to me at that time.

  43. How long do your showers last? Our shower drain doesn't go too fast, so it can't be too long. 5-10 minutes.

  44. Automatic or do you drive a stick? Automatic, but The Dude thinks I'd enjoy a stick.

  45. Cake or ice cream? Cake. They had chocolate groom's cake with chocolate icing at the reception. I got a corner piece. It was super.

  46. Are you self-conscious? It depends on the situation. Not usually.

  47. Have you ever drank so much you threw up? Nope.

  48. Have you ever given money to a beggar? Yes. Once. I also bought a couple cans of soup (the pop top kind), some plastic spoons, and a Snickers for a guy living behind the Aldi. He cried. He didn't want the Snickers, said it wasn't very nutritious and a homeless guy didn't need candy. I told him nobody needs candy but we still buy them anyway. I made him take it.

  49. Have you been in love? Yes.

  50. Where do you wish you were? Living near my family so I could stop by anytime.

  51. Are you wearing socks? Yes. And slippers. I get cold feet.

  52. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? No.

  53. Can you tango? No, but I could learn. I can polka like a Latvian, though.

  54. Last gift you received? Bridesmaid gift (which was awesome, by the way): an embroidered leather purse (each of us got one with our monograms), containing Mary Kay Satin Hands, cool Target choxies, a cute pink umbrella, nice Bath and Body Works body lotion, and nice Bath and Body Works body spray. Yay.

  55. Last sport you played? Croquet, last summer at Happy Camp V. Also bocce. AND guess what??? I won the croquet game! I beat my dad; I won for the first time ever!!!!!!

  56. Things you spend a lot of money on? We don't have a lot of money. BUT if we did, we'd buy books. I would buy more craft supplies, esp. a better sewing machine and fabric. No, wait. A washer and dryer.

  57. Where do you live? Chattanooga. Hence "chattablogs."

  58. Where were you born? Colorado, of course.

  59. Last wedding attended? Heather's, two days ago. Woo hoo!

  60. This question was deleted when I got this meme, so I'm making my own up: Organ music or piano music? Piano. Unless Friberg is playing the organ.

  61. So was this one. Another made up question: The South or the Southwest? Southwest. No bugs! No humidity! Blue skies! Ahhh.

  62. Most hated food(s)? Most anything where you're eating the whole animal, like shrimp. I don't like seafood. And I don't like lima beans.

  63. What’s your least favorite dessert? That's a hard one. I don't care for flan or other custardy desserts. They're too gloopy.

  64. Can you sing? When others sing with me.

  65. Last person you instant messaged? The Dude, back in 2004.

  66. Last place you went on holiday? I just got back from Dallas and the Rantal-Greene Wedding. Being one of eight bridesmaids made it a fun no-boys-allowed time.

  67. Favorite regular drink? Coke. But when I'm being healthy, it's cold milk. Skim.

  68. Current Song? Let me go put three fun CD's in and tell you. Be right back...here I am! And it's Alison Kraus and Union Station's "Cluck Old Hen" (from their Live album).

  69. Tag 3 friends. I don't tag for memes. Do this one if you want to. And add questions of your own.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 02:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 01, 2007

Dallas

I'm off to Dallas for the Rantal Greene Wedding. I'm excited. We've been praying for a wedding for H for so long. It's finally day after tomorrow!

I'm packing. That's yet another benefit of being married to The Dude. He packs the suitcase and does a damn good job of it.

Ta ta till Sunday or even Monday.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 12:46 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack