Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Dog Food

Simba has been ill. As in off his food. He is never off his food.
We even took him to the vet.
I am very encouraged though because yesterday, while on a short walk on a 6 foot leash,
he caught a frog. Or maybe it was a toad.
Either way we made such a fuss at him he dropped it and it lived.

This is the second critter he has caught while leashed on a walk. The first was a squirrel.
He has also caught birds, snakes, voles, moles, chipmunks, and a possum.
We used to joke that we'd get worried when he tried to drag some antlers through the dog flap.
Simba, mighty hunter.

We've had him for 7 years and we are used to his conquests. We're sympathetic, now that he is an apartment dog and not the mighty hunter of his backyard savannah. And secretly very glad that he caught that frog. He can't be that sick.

Biblical Baby Boom

My neighborhood is always having a baby boom it seems. It may just be that many of us in seminary are at the right time in our lives to start our family but my-oh-my are there a lot of little ones around.

Of course there seems to be a baby boom in the entertainment industry and I will admit here that I read FAR TOO MANY gossip columns and entertainment magazines. This is why I know that Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani and Mira Sorvino had their babies this weekend. And much has been said about the birth of Gwynth Paltrow's new son Moses, a while back. Angelina named her new baby girl Shiloh.

Biblical names have come around again, sort of. Our forebears were named Martha, Ruth, Joseph and Ezekiel. Then came the Matthews, Michaels and Mary-somethings. Then the Bethanys. Five years ago there was a new crop of Hannahs and Noahs.
And now the Gideons, Moses', Selahs, Judahs and Shilohs are here.

Who needs a baby name book? Just break out your Bible!

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Weddings!

It is that time of the year! Over the weekend we went to a beautiful wedding uniting two wonderful people. Most weddings are about the same in my eyes with the exceptions of the wacky, unusual or the mistakes! What fun! The unusual: Her church is tiny..make that really tiny. So when they need to have an event that is larger they use the chapel in the huge cemetary down the road! What a great idea! I was thinking of how nice it was for that building to have a happy occaision for once! Also, the bride is chinese-american and the groom is italian-american, so much was said about the meeting of two cultures. The bride wore a beautiful white gown for the wedding and a traditional red chinese dress to the recption. LOVELY! And in the toasts the sister of the bride expressed how pleased she was to have the groom as her new sister! Of course the marriage is so much more important than the wedding but, they are off to a wonderful start.
This coming weekend is my cousin's engagement party. They are having a very long engagement (wedding is Sept 07) so we need to start the celebration now. Irish meets Armenian. Should be fun!

Friday, May 26, 2006

Friday5: I believe

1. that There is God and he makes and breaks the rules.
2. that being useful and friendly helps the world along.
3. ... in creating "intentional community". Bloom where you are planted and help others to bloom also.
4. You can have a clean house or you can have children and pets, not both. I have chosen children and pets.
5. that I am very lucky and that I don't make my own luck.
BONUS
Just do it is one of the best phrases, ever.

Not sure I like all of these, but there you go. Tag, you're it!

Ravens and Lilies

I have the normal stress that everyone has. But I seem to be surrounded by people who are having very a stressful period. A co-worker's teenage son has been in and out of the hospital for a month . They are still trying to figure out what is wrong two surgeries later. A friend is ready to move her family half-way across the country to a new house and life, but the bank is asking for unreasonable things in an unreasonable amount of time.
Difficult pregnancies, travel, jobs, moving, transportation, housing, weddings, illness, family strife. Prayer requests abound.
Last night I read Luke 12:22-? for all of them, those present and those far away.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Recipes for a Sore Throat

I have a "garden variety" cold and lost my voice for two days. I am still working to get it back. Right now I feel fine, but still sound like Kathleen Turner (which is just fine with my hubby).

Anyway, people have stopped me in the library, church, pharmacy, everywhere with sore throat recipes. I hereby pass them along as a public service. I am attaching the origin of a few of these only because I had not heard them before and suspect they are cultural remedies.

Chicken soup (naturally)
hot tea with:
honey
lemon
ginger
sage
green tea (this person recommends this for everything, including splinters I guess)
hot water with cayenne pepper (as hot as you can stand - my African American neighbor)
echinacea
orange juice
hot pear "slushie" with ginger (the Korean woman who sits in front of me at church)
stewed pears with sugar (my Chinese co-worker, "Pears are good for the voice")
popsicles and ice cream (children primarily)

I tried almost all of them. I am reminded though, that colds go away in 7 days or, with medicine, one week.

Monday, May 22, 2006

Busy, bouncy and two years old by Flash

Sunday was so great!
Up with the sun, breakfast followed by a very necessary shower. Walk the dogs, change shoes and head off to church to play with Miss Margaret! Don't forget to bring your tea party set! Play with friends in the nursery and then have Church Lunch (which is almost as great as Chuch Supper!) and play outside and sniff the pastor's flowers but don't pick them! Get a long wet drink from the water fountain and head home for a quick nap! Then we went to our friends birthday party at Kid's Gym and bounced, climbed and danced my little heart out! When it was time to have cake, I licked off the icing and tried to get back into the play area. I cried when I couldn't. Then scrubbed clean, hooray! we were allowed back in and I wasted no time bouncing and running and laughing and dancing until we finally sang our last Happy Birthday. I was ready to rest. But only for the car ride home. Daddy went to Youth Group and I was so hungry and Mom made us walk the dogs and Max pounced on me and hurt my hand but I need to run all the way home to have Chicken Noodle soup! A whole bowlful. Yay! Now we run to my friend's house and play in her new play kitchen. And ride her tricycle, through the house? And Daddy came home and scooped me up and flew me home. We washed and changed and drank milk and chatted and prayed.

And I slept like a brick! And Mama and Daddy did too.

Moving Truck Season

This is Moving Truck Season in our neighborhood.
They spring up between mid-May and Early July each year. Strawberry season!
It struck me as I watched our neighbors pack up in the rain. They left on Friday, just as the sun peeked out. As I walked the dogs around the block, I counted only three moving trucks, but there will be so many more in the next month. Our building has 8 apartments. 4 families are moving on. We have one year left in seminary. Next year, it'll be us packing. It'll be us, waiting for the call. It'll be us moving on in one of those trucks.
But for now, we have goodbye parties to attend and friends to help pack-up.
And strawberry shortcakes to make!

Friday, May 19, 2006

Friday5: Misused words

The Revgals have posted their Friday suggestion.

"Please tell us five words you had to think about really hard before saying them out loud for the first time, or that you discovered you had misapprehended when someone corrected your pronunciation. "

I don't think I can come up with five. But here goes:
1. supercilious - I didn't pronounce it wrong..I had the meaning wrong.
2. prejudice - The first time I used it I said prEE-jud-iss. A few weeks ago young lady at church read the word alimony aloud, but she said uh-lim-ony. At one time, these words were foreign concepts!
3. sects (There is a class at this seminary called Sects and Cults. Giggle!)
4. OK, not mine, but I love the way little kids say spaghetti, don't you? I heard one the other day say "spuh-betty". Flash says "sketti". But, sometimes our floor gets "slippily".
5. ?

For fun, check out myfavoriteword.com Add your own!

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Silently Chatty

I have a miserable cold and laryngitis, so I can't talk.

I went to work to help with the Tuesday morning rush and to finish the book order, due today. Its amazing how quiet it was this morning, without me chatting. We prepped the library in total silence. Eerie. And its raining, pouring actually. And I couldn't do much of anything because I can't talk. Can't help customers, can't answer the phone.

How did I miss the signs?
I should have stayed at home.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

3 parts of Prayer

I don't know where this came from, but its been in my head since I was a kid.

Prayers have three parts - apologies, requests and thanks.

Its been part of my prayer life since I was a kid. Is it "correct". Does anyone else know this? Is this one of those things I learned in CCD that are floating around in my brain? Or is it from somewhere else?

I've never even thought twice about it, until I read this post at Micahgirl.
http://micahgirl.blogspot.com/2006/05/flee-to-desert.html
Thanks Micahgirl.

Pomp and Circumstances

Its graduation time here at the seminary. Since the space where they hold it is so small, each student only gets 4 tickets. Thats a spouse, two parents and a child, but what about siblings, mentors, and grandparents? There's a quite a market, naturally. And who wants to bring their child at the cost of that golden ticket? They'd only be miserable. Has anyone ever been to a really fun, interesting graduation?

The best one I ever went to was my own undergrad graduation. After 20 mnutes of sitting and listening, a huge thunderstorm blew in and everyone ran for cover. The Chancellor announced over the loudspeaker "I hereby confer upon you the degree which you have earned" and took off running. We were still there, sopping wet and windblown because my friend said she wasn't leaving until someone said she'd graduated.

Anyhow, Hubby is babysitting for about 5 neighbor kids whose parents are at graduation (2:30-6:30). Whew! He's got 9, 6 and 4 year-old boys and two six year-old girls and Flash, of course, who is 2. Thank goodness it is beautiful outside so he can let them loose at the playground. And we have the Incredibles and Shrek on DVD. Did I mention that I'm at work until 5 p.m.?

Friday, May 12, 2006

Revgal Friday5- Conferences

1.Describe a memorable conference, retreat, workshop or convention you've attended.
I attend the American Library Association conference each year. We descend on a city in our glasses, comfortable shoes and totebags each summer! This year, its in New Orleans! We go there every five years or so and its been scheduled for years. I understand that after Hurrican Katrina, the ALA representatives really wanted to keep it there and have added a volunteer component!

2. Favorite Speaker
No one famous I'm afraid. I tend to avoid the keynote speakers as they tend to be politicians, not librarians, and I don't really need to hear how important they think libraries are or about the first library they used. I have seen some great authors and librarians though.

3. Do you attend all of the scheduled events, or play hooky? If the latter, what do you do with your free time?
ALA is usually on my own dime, so I do not feel obligated to attend everything. But I am really interested, so I go to a lot of things. For the past few years, committee meetings have taken up a lot of my conference time. I always try to do "one fun thing" in each city. Sometimes they can overlap too. One of the big Library Automation software vendors always has their "Thank You" party at a museum after hours, so we can see the exhibits.

4. Do you like having a roommate or would you rather have a room to yourself?
I always have a roomate since I'm paying, but recently I've been rooming with a colleague from an old job in another state. When I was going to move she lamented that "We'd be only Christmas Card pals now." But instead we're ALA roomies!

5. What's the most exotic location you've conferenced or retreated?
It was in Toronto one year and that was the first time I'd ever been in another country, and it was in San Fransico too. But I really love to go when its in Chicago!

Feel free to play along!

Adult Sunday School suggestions?

We've been doing The Wired Word since January and I love it! It relates a news story from the week to scripture and provides a discussion guide. It arrives in the email on Thursday.

I am not keen on doing this weeks topic, for several reasons. Does anyone have a suggestion for another news story of the week that we could talk about in a religious setting like Church school? I've been toying with the DaVinci Code, since it comes out this weekend, but it may be more interesting to talk about it once someone has seen it.
Suggestions welcomed!

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Booksuggestions

When I started this blog the tagline was "Life reflections and Book Recommendations".
It has been months since I even mentioned a book, so let me make up for lost time.
On my desk...

Now You See It
by Vivian Vande Velde
Young Adult fantasy about a girl who finds a pair of glasses that allow her to see things as they really are and things that aren't or shouldn't be. There are elves, portals and mischief makers as well as her Grandmother as a teen. So far, so GREAT!

The Messies Manual: A Complete Guide to bringing order and beauty to your home
by Sandra Felton
So, my house is a messy pit, I can't find much and its getting worse each day. Except that last night I guzzled a Diet Coke and set to work on it. I am working late tonight so possibly, probably, my efforts, however meager, have been in vain. Let's hope Hubby and Flash have been neat. (cross fingers!). This book has some great suggestions that I will probably lose.

Here Lies the Librarian
by Richard Peck
Written by the amazing author of Long Way from Chicago and A Year down Yonder and the Blossom Culp books. Enough Said!

Ark Angel: The sixth Alex Rider book
by Anthony Horowitz
What if MI5 recruited an amazing 15 year-old boy to be a spy? I have been tearing into these books since February and I am so sorry that I was late-to-the-party!

Gilead
by Marilynn Robinson
I am reading this for Church Bookclub and it won the Pulitzer in 2005. Here's a snippet from the Library Journal review "As his life winds down, Rev. John Ames relates the story of his own father and grandfather, both preachers but one a pacifist and one a gun-toting abolitionist. " Not my usual fare and it has to be finished soon!

Do you know how many books you have out from your library right now? Although many (40+) are for Storytime for the next month, I have out 64 books.
And yes, I am proud of that!

Lost and Found Haiku

In my April 24 post I mentioned that I couldn't find a poem I wrote
because it was lost (trapped) in my house...possibly on my kitchen table.
Here it is:

Its an age away.
Good things tarry, bad-hasten
Come on vacation!

It is probably more apt today that when it was lost.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Gotta song in my head!

Good day sunshine duh duh duh
Good Day Sunshine...
This is running through my head and no, its not particularly sunny.
My co-worker has "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas". Everyone around here seems to be humming something different today! I often wonder what sets off a song in my head. Memory, suggestion or maybe...the holy spirit!
What is playing in your head today?

Haiku Year 2- Done

Semester over!
Family time and couple time!
Hey, wait. What meeting?

Pastor2b has finished year 2 of seminary. Hooray! Only a year left...

About the haiku though, He finished classes last week and is taking a continuing education class (on Aging Congregations) this week and has church meetings three nights too (deacons, presbytery, session).
Oh, its a busy wonderful life!

Friday, May 05, 2006

Cucumber dances with tomato!


Flash's daycare had their spring program last night. He danced to a VeggieTale song dressed as the cucumber. And I think he stole the show...but I'm biased.

Friday5: Birthdays

The revgalblogpal's suggestion/game/meme for today is about birthdays.

Favorite birthday cake/ice cream/dessert
In my family-of-origin ice cream cake was the thing. We still have them on all festive occasions. No really, all of them. My husband thinks its funny.
I love lemon cakes and pies. One year I got myself a lovely lemon cake with rasberry filling from a shop that did mostly wedding cakes. Very nice. One year I made myself a spice cake with cream cheese icing and put it in my glass pie stand, and when I came home, the dogs had smashed it and eaten the cake. Whose birthday did they think it was anyway?

Surprise Parties -- have you ever given or received one?
I don't think I've ever received one but I have been"in" on several unsuccessful surprise parties. They always know, don't they?

Favorite birthday present
I once got tickets to a show! What a great present! I completely enjoyed it from opening the present to the anticipation of the show to the actual event and then the great stories afterwards!

What do you think of those candles that won't blow out?
They can be fun, especially if the partiers are casual about it and ummm....its not your birthday!

Best. birthday. ever.
I don't know but I almost always like my birthday. I try to take the day off of work and I figure every year God gives you is a blessing.

Have a wonderful birthday whenever yours is!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

THankful THursday

Health and safety,
Family, Friends, Faith
pastor2b has finished another semester
A co-worker is giving us her old couch and it doesn't boing when you sit on it.
Two wonderful storytimes about vegetables this morning.
Pizza lunch out with a fun colleague.
The computers are down...except what I need to use.
Flash's school play is tonight... he'll be a cucumber, and my Mom is coming to watch.
Cookout supper with friends.
Beautiful weather, the weekend is coming!
Thank you God for the simple little things
that make the big scary things
fade into the background for a while.

Weird thought about Hair

Many people are repulsed by a hair in their food or a hair on their workspace, etc. They say its unsanitary. I am not saying that it isn't, but I've never heard of a disease passed by hair...is there one? And does this mean that bald people could possibly be healthier than the reas of us? I'm just asking.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Gas prices vs. Milk

I need to fill my gas tank. But I'm procrastinating. I can't procrastinate too long for several good reasons:

1. I am only allowed to run out of gas once every eight years, I think...and I already did last month. And you think gas is expensive at the pump? Think about getting one gallon, delivered! It was about $30.
2. Maybe my husband will fill it. (unlikely)
3. Maybe the price will go down (very unlikely...for now)

Are you cutting back on the gas you use, because of the cost? I am trying to cut back on extra errand trips but I still have to drive to work. I'll still go 1 hour to visit my mom. We're planning to drive to GA this summer and MA too. And although its expensive, its kind of cheap too. Cheaper than flying, cheaper than renting a car when we get there. Its like milk.

Milk is about 3.50 a gallon and I buy two gallons a week. Gas is about 2.70 a gallon and I buy 10 gallons a month. Thats about $1.07 for milk and $0.87 for gas everyday. Makes you think doesn't it? Try it with fancy coffee places, Ice cream or Laundry detergent..things that are staples. Makes gas look like downright cheap. I know that it is a limited resource and that it may ruin our air...but thats not what people are talking about on the news, is it?

ps...Its about 2.90 now