It's All About the Dress and Unconscious Mutterings

Growing up my mother made most of my sisters and my clothes. Most things I really don't remember, they were just the clothes we wore. I can actually remember 3 outfits very well though, partly because they were special to me or because the legend of them has been kept alive by the retelling.

One was a pink dress with gray polk-a-dots on it trimmed with gray rick-rack. That was the dress I wore in third grade to the UIL story-telling contest (which for those unfamilar with Texas story-telling it should be called story retelling since that is actually what you did; not make up a lie to tell). I felt very special in that dress the day of the contest and even more so when I won first place. Many things about that day are etched in my mind to be treasured always.

Another outfit I remember well was a vest and skirt made from a linen type material in a great apricot color. I was a freshman in high school and I just felt so dressed up when I wore it. There are no other special connection with that outfit, so I'm thinking I just felt good in it and it was probably the start of my obsession with being fashionable.

But the dresses in the picture below are the ones my sisters and I all talk about to this day. They were red and white striped and were made for us to wear to the 4th of July fireworks display held in Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, Texas. This was big doings back in the mid 1950s. Mom said the reasoning behind dressing us all alike was so that if any one of us got separated from the rest she would only have to point to the girls with her to tell what we looked like.

To the best of my knowledge none of us ever got lost wearing those dresses.



I'm the one on the far right with her chin tucked down looking like she is about to hurl!




The I say :: You think meme which comes out on Sunday, but can be done anytime.

1. Cups :: saucers


2. Brilliant :: genius


3. Disobey :: defiant


4. Abstain :: from


5. Daily :: grind


6. You make me :: laugh


7. Hurl :: puke


8. Intensify :: increase force


9. F#$%! :: "Excuse me, that will not be said here."


10. Race :: run

A Useful Tidbit and Unconscious Mutterings

Every once in a while I get something in an email besides a joke that has been around a dozen times or a picture of something foolish someone has done or something that is politically incorrect, racist, sexist, or improper, or something that will bring me good luck or rich blessings if I pass it along. Those are not things that I usually send along. However, today I received the following from a dear friend. It is something I hadn't seen before and gave me pause to wonder -- *Well, why hadn't I thought of that?* The answer doesn't need to be stated aloud, and you really don't have to write back with why. Just read them and pass along or use or ignore.

Coffee filters ..who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
Oh, and they are great for using in your coffee maker, too.

And moving right along it is time for Unconscious Mutterings. The *I say :: You think* meme I enjoy each Sunday.

Check it out, click on the icon

1. Take :: it on the chin


2. 350 :: an incomplete circle


3. Stand :: amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazerene and wonder how He could love me a sinner condemned unclean (corrected after my smarter than me sister commented, thanks Jo)


4. Raspberry :: blowing on a baby's belly


5. Turnstile :: counts you going in or coming out


6. Infomercial :: too loud, too long


7. Dejected :: depressed, rejected


8. What’s the word? :: Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!(http://www.rockabilly.nl/lyrics4/s0130.htm)
   
9. Awestruck :: totally blown away by the magnitude of the event


10. Smashed :: inebriated

It Tickled Her Funny Bone & Unconscious Mutterings

I wouldn't say my life is dull, but it is very routine. We do much the same thing each day of the week. Monday through Friday is work with various things happening to keep us entertained, but nothing all that exciting. We share with each other many of the funny or cute things that happen and because I have shared with him I often forget that some of it would be stuff I could write about here. Here is one such story that I haven't shared with Robert. I'm not sure he would appreciate it.

Yesterday while at a meeting of the Women's Ministry Steering Committee, which I still can't figure out why I'm a member of, Carolyn our leader got a phone call. Now you need to know that Carolyn is a very quiet woman who has one of those sweet soft voices and who is lot of fun while being proper at all times.

When she gets off the phone she begins to laugh and I'm talking laughing to the point of crying. We were a little concerned. I've seen Carolyn laugh before but not like this.

It had been her husband on the phone. He just called to tell her he was going to the store to buy bread. That was it --- She looked at us and asked, "How was I to respond to that?" It tickled her funny bone and ours that he felt it necessary to let her know. We weren't sure if he was asking permission, letting her know he knew were the grocery store was, or if it was his way of chastising her for not having bought bread the day before.

Men -- and they say women are hard to figure out.

The I say :: You think meme

1. Unwanted :: News


2. You’d better :: do it now


3. Woman :: man


4. Weighed :: rejoice (the scales have gone down the past couple of weeks)
5. Upright :: piano


6. I feel :: pretty, oh so pretty and witty and bright
   (edited because I have friends who help)


7. Ill :: sick


8. It’s like :: you know


9. Poor man :: rich man


10. Great :: excellent

Unconscience Mutterings & The Interview

The I say :: You think meme

1. Arrival :: departure


2. Vomit :: puke


3. Fit :: too tight


4. Stutter :: stammer


5. Lifestream :: family


6. Tread :: lightly


7. Desire :: lust


8. Freezing :: cold


9. Permit :: allow


10. Crinkle :: wrinkle

THE INTERVIEW

This is a meme where you get to be both the interviewee and the interviewer. I guess it started with Maria at Immoral Matriach, who asked Maggie some questions, who then asked Lou some questions, who asked Julie some questions who then asked me some questions that I've answered below.

1. What is your earliest childhood memory? My earliest childhood memory is the birth of my youngest sister. Well, I don't actually remember her being born and I think the memory is really me wanting my mother. I was three. The memory came more like a dream than a sharp clear picture. I remember being in a dark park. Dark because the sun was blocked by all the big trees. I remember being scared, but it was okay because Daddy was with me. We were looking up at a very large building with dark red bricks and lots of windows. Way up at the top was my mommy. Her blond hair was shining because she was above the trees where the sun was shining and she was waving to me, but she wouldn't come down. That is what I remember. When I described this scene to my mother she said that what I pictured was the old Saint Anthony's Hospital (edited because of Ida's comment) grounds in Amarillo and it was right after Ida was born. At the time children were not allowed in the maternity ward of a hospital and she was holding the new baby up for us to see. I don't remember there being a baby, but I have a very clear image of my mother in that window.

2. What is your dream vacation? Where would you go if you had unlimited funds and were excused from all responsibilities? Wow, unlimited funds and no responsibilities and since you didn't specify I'm going to assume no time limit. I'd start by going back to Ireland and Scotland. There is so much more of those two countries I want to experience. The trip we took in '08 has whet my appetite to see and do more. I would rent a car (and possibly hire a driver just to be safe) and drive everywhere. Stopping where I want, spending as much time as I want in each place, soaking up the beauty of the country and the pace of the people. Then if I hadn't grown weary of travel I would venture back into England, hey it's right there, and do more of the same.

3. Where is your favorite place to be? After pondering this for some time I've actually decided my favorite place to be is home. Yep, right here in my house with my stuff and my stuffy, but lots of fun hubby. We are just a nice fit. We like to do much the same thing. We both love to just sit -- him in front of the TV and me at the computer but we are in close proximity to each other. We comment on what the other is doing. We like to poke around in old shops looking at things from decades before -- too much of which we know what is and have actually owned our used in our lives. We like to travel together, but neither of us has ever suggested a trip without the other --- well, let me correct that we take lots of side trips alone -- me to see the kids, him for the job or Lions. But vacation type travel is always together. And he is a good sport and takes me to things where I get to dress up. My favorite place to be is with Robert. Yes, that's it.

4. Tell me about your favorite book or movie or song or something. The song by Enya Only Time is probably one of my all time favorites. The words, her voice, the music -- it moves me each time I hear it. Actually the entire CD is a favorite. wild child tempus venum one by one -- They are all favorites for different reasons. That being said, I will read about anything you put in my hand, I listen to a variety of genres of music with enthusiasm, and movies are just not my cup of tea, but I'll watch one if you want to.

5. If you were the supreme ruler of the universe, what petty little pet peeve would be a capital crime? And what would be the punishment? (Like, would people who suck their teeth at the table be banished to the outer rings of Pluto? Or maybe people who drive for miles with their left turn signal on might be allowed to only ever make right turns...) SUPREME RULER OF THE UNIVERSE PATSY says if you drag your feet you will be made to walk 100 miles through a maze made with bars set three inches high so you CAN NOT drag your feet. This comes from walking students to and from sessions each day and then being in the hall during class changes. These are elementary kids who are just to lazy to pick their feet up. It drives me crazy!!!

Want to be part of it?

Follow these instructions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions. (Patsy adds leave an email address if your not sure I have one all ready or I'll leave your questions in a comment.)

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

and 6. Link to this post and all the previous post.

100 Word Challenge -- March & Unconscious Mutterings

The 100 Word Challenge word issued by Velvet Verbostity this week comes from A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeliene L’Engle and is March. When I think of March I think of wind. I grew up in the Texas panhandle and I remember standing on the playground with a strong wind blowing, back turned to protect the eyes and hunkering down to protect the legs from the sting of the blowing sand.

March

A gentle March wind stirs
Softly, gently as the lamb
Hope of spring then summer fills the heart
Too long held hostage in winter’s icy grip

A stronger March wind rises
By the breath of lamb and lion.
Tender buds on trees are tossed to and fro
As the air and soul are warmed

Gusty March winds roar
Loudly, furiously as the lion
Blue skies change to the dusty brown
Plunging the soul into despair

March with ever changing winds
From winter’s cold to summer’s heat
The heart and soul are carried along
Never sure of what will be






I say :: You think

1. Resolution :: ending



2. Break :: ruin



3. Tied :: shoestrings



4. Suffering :: pain



5. Instead :: option



6. Slash :: cut



7. Divorce :: remove from



8. Cough :: cold



9. Happy :: elated



10. Sniffle :: cough

Tough Choice to Make & Unconscious Mutterings

The meme of I say :: You think

1. Confirmation :: affirm


2. Verse :: chapter


3. Authorize :: okay


4. Blog :: write


5. Thirty :: forty


6. Heir :: descendant


7. What are you doing? :: what's up


8. Complaint :: disgruntled


9. Leave :: go away


10. Tune :: song

A Bit of Musing
The news for the Gaza Strip is a bit unsettling. I haven't followed it closely. But I do know there is war, unrest, rioting, murder and mayhem in the Holy Lands right now. That all makes the choice about going in December of this year even harder.

The Holy Lands has never been high on my list of must see places, but I would like to take advantage of the opportunity since it is making itself available.

The people we would be traveling with are all good friends and people we really enjoy.

Money isn't a big issue. We always manage to have what we need when we need it.

But that silly fight (okay silly is my word. I'm sure those who know much more than me would choose a different word) has me nervous about committing to this trip. Should a person plan a trip to a war zone? Should a person be excited about the possibility of putting himself in harms way? I'm going to have to wrestle with this a bit longer.

Tonight we go to the first actual meeting about going. Our pastor is the one putting the trip together. I'm sure he will have much information that can calm the nerves, maybe even persuade me that all will be safe. No money has to be exchanged just yet --- and maybe, hopefully by the time it must be things will be better.

A Little Christmas Spirit

This wonderful award was given to my by my friend Anni over Hootin' Anni's. This gal has more Christmas spirit and spunk than most of us have in a couple of years. If you don't know Anni, then you are missing out on a treat.

Here are the rules for the Christmas award.
~~~~~
You must be a true Christmas lover to receive this award. The person to whom you give the award must also be in love with Christmas. You must link back to the person who gave you the award. You must list 5 things that you love about Christmas. If you can't limit it to 5 things, then keep going till you run out of space! Pass the award along to as many people as you like. That can be 1 or 50. It's up to you! But, you must pass it on to at least one person in order to keep the Christmas cheer going! Let your recipients know that you have tagged them by leaving them a comment.

Five things I love about Christmas:

1. Being with family. It's always a rush, but we manage to get around to everyone or as close to everyone as we can. Parents, children, and grandchildren.

2. Ringing handbells at the Legacy. A nursing home/assisted living facility here in BC. These ladies and gentlemen know what Christmas is about and sing with us as we play there favorite carols.

3. Children who know Santa exist. Last year I had the most touching experience when one of my third grades saw *Santa* in the hallway. The pure delight on his face still moves me to near tears. That's Christmas for children.

4. Food --- everyone makes that special dish. The *vision of sugar plums* that has danced in their head all year presented in that special dish handed down for generations or found new in a cookbook or on a cooking show.

5. Decorating. I didn't realize this until this week. I wasn't going to put out any decorations because we would be traveling starting on the 19th. But because I was asked to host a gathering I decided I needed to put out a few things. As I set up the nativity my heart began to catch something. Then came all the Santa's that usually hang on my tree but this year only a few are out -- the large ones sitting around spreading cheer and I really began to know what was missing in me. Finally I put some silver bells and ribbon on a small tree and I knew the spirit of Christmas was truly in me.

I'm passing the award on to the following because I've read their blogs and know they have the spirit in them also.

Donna
Losing Myself
Sandi
Story Teller
Ladykli
Heather

Okay, my job is done. Now it is your turn to spread the spirit.

To Do and Soon plus Unconscious Mutterings

I have a deadline for things that must be done in the next few days (before December 19). I know that sounds like lots of days, but for me it is just a couple of blinks. Especially since I've known about most of these things for several days, weeks, and for a couple even months.

1. Clean the house. Yep, it must be cleaned and soon. I'm having a small Christmas gathering here in my home on the 15th. I know people aren't going to give the place a *white glove* inspection, but still the crud needs to be wiped off the counters, the dirt (we are beyond dust) removed from all flat surfaces, and the floors really should be vacuumed.

2. Put out a few Christmas decorations. See #1. This place really looks bah humbug right now. No tree, no nativity, no poinsettia, no cute Santas sitting around --- very bah humbug. Who hosts a Christmas party with NO Christmas decorations?????

3. Wrap presents I've gotten for the kids (yes, you are getting token gifts) and grand kids. That alone would make the place more festive.

4. Do laundry --- probably more than once.

5. Bake some holiday goodies, which I won't be allowed to eat more than a nibble of. I'm thinking like a mouse. Why did I accept that *lose 7 pounds by Christmas* challenge? I must be an idiot. But I've lost 3 pounds already so I can't undo that just yet. I MUST WIN!!!!!

6. Buy four more Christmas presents. They are just little ones for people here in town, but must be bought and given before the 19th.

7. Play handbells at the retirement home with my group, attend the Coastalaires dinner show, and work in the kitchen Wednesday evening at the church. Hey, Robert volunteered us for that and now he is out of town. I'm thinking this isn't fair.

8. Decide what will be taken with us to the panhandle for a week long visit and do laundry so said items can be packed.

See this list has nothing on it that is hard to do and several will be quite enjoyable, but here I sit typing away not getting any of it done. I'm a procrastinator, I work better under pressure, I like the rush I get as a deadline rapidly approaches and that excitement of not knowing if it will all get done.

Yeah, right Lets face it ---- I'm lazy.


The I say :: You think meme. I never know why these thoughts jump into my head. They just appear so I write them down. I'm sure each could be anylized and something none of us really want to know about me could be revealed so let's just not go there.

1. Love affair :: with chocolate


2. Bubble :: wrap


3. Pimple :: boil


4. Knocks :: pounds


5. Persistent :: continuous


6. Infected :: overrun


7. Yay! :: hooray


8. Repaint :: restore


9. Daily :: grind


10. Quickly! :: Pronto

Day 30 NaBloPoMo and Thanksgiving Memories

This has been another full day. Two grandchildren, three daughters, two son-in-laws and a husband who was feeling less than great proved to be a stressful mix of people at times since the weather didn't cooperate and everyone had to be in the house all the time. But now the house is quiet. Two children, two daughters and two son-in-laws have left for their homes leaving a void not only in my house but in my heart. I enjoyed every moment of the noise, the cooking, the dishes, the noise, the conversations, the games, the TV, the noise, the laughter, even the noise. I always feel sad when people leave --- (sigh)

The previous is my post from one year ago. Last year all three girls and theirs came to me for Thanksgiving. The noise and chaos where here. This year we all (minus one daughter who was missed) traveled to Albuquerque. So the noise and chaos were somewhere else, but now her house is empty except for a husband and a cat.

It is much easier being the one leaving than the one left behind. Robert and I had an early flight (6:00 AM) out of A-town and arrived without incident in BC by 11:30. Although I miss them all, there is not the same feeling of emptiness that I had when everyone left here.

We enjoyed four complete days of family and food. Carrie is a wonderful organizer and always has ideas for keeping everyone entertained. We didn't get to do all of them, but next time we might just venture down to the parade of lights or ride the train to somewhere or some other wonderful excursion she has available for any takers. Thanks Carrie for keeping us all busy.

Robert got his way with the remote which always makes him happy and he was nice to the grandchildren and put it on their shows some. Miss A and Mr. B were in fine form and we all enjoyed them greatly. I played a million games of giant pick-up sticks with A and built things with big Lego's with B. I managed to get in a little time with Guitar Hero, but that is much better when done with only an audience of one or none. Then all of us played with the Wii Music Maker. I would like to spend more time messing with it.

The shopping felt rushed even thought we spend four hours searching for items needed or wanted. It was fun being with my girls. The best was A though. In Old Navy, I found a little blazer in what appeared to be her size. I had her try it on and OMG it was perfect on her and she knew it. That blazer was n. o. t. coming off her. She wore it the rest of the time we were in the store and even did a spot dance wearing it while the rest of us shopped. I was keeping an eye on her without her knowing it. Her *professional jacket* as she called it inspired her to groove to the tune being played to keep shoppers happy. I must say she did an excellent job feeling the beat and had some excellent moves. When we checked out I had the cashier cut the tags off and she wore her new jacket the rest of the day.

This is my special memory for this year Abby and the blazer.



The meme where I say :: You think. It is always interesting to see if I match up with anyone. More often than not I don't --- Does that make me weird or them?????

1. Sleepy :: Head



2. Thanksgiving :: Over, but not forgotten



3. Fifteen :: Sixteen



4. Authority :: In charge



5. Bangs :: too short or too long; never just right



6. Curled :: or straight, that is the question



7. Young man :: My doctor; they get younger every time I have to go :(



8. Surprised :: OMG



9. Mistake :: oops



10. Handle it :: Make it go away; take care of it

Day 23 Huge Success and Unconscious Mutterings

Yesterday was Robert's 60th birthday. We have never made a big deal of his birthdays. It is usually just a "Happy Birthday" the morning of and maybe a cake and small present with the evening meal. Or we would go out to eat.

This year needed something more special. I mean 60 is some sort of mile stone isn't it? When asked what he wanted to do about it several weeks ago he stated that going to Hunan's with *the group* would be fun. So that is what I set out to make happen.

It was a little rocky at first. When I mentioned it to a couple of our group members --- this is not an official club, just the people we hang with at Church --- they weren't sure they would be around. I fretted a little, but kept at it. Thinking all the time that the one thing he wanted I wouldn't be able to give him.

But on Wednesday last week everyone said they could go and Bro. Mike had reserved the bus for us to use to travel together -- Hunan's is about 60 miles from here but so worth the drive for. I called and made the arrangements with the restaurant on Thursday for a group of 14 and yesterday evening we met together at five in the parking lot.

Funny how a group of 50 and 60 year old people become like 14 and 15 year olds when you put them on a bus. We talked loud, we laughed, we saw something sail through the air but nobody did it, and the bus driver wouldn't stop for ice cream.

The food and conversation at the restaurant was great. Everyone had a wonderful meal with lots of left overs. Then we rode home. The only down thing was the Tech/OU ballgame. YIKES!!

You say :: I think

1. Spit it out :: just say it



2. Shadow :: a tall skinny me



3. Database :: brain



4. Expression :: *the look* or just something to say



5. Boss :: tell what to do



6. Baby :: makes three



7. Mystic :: magical



8. Kate :: and Ally (isn't that an old TV show?)



9. Boobies :: breast



10. Raid :: plunder

Day 16 -- Random Happenings, Unconscious Mutterings

The handbell group that I'm part of was part of the services today. We rang the Call to Worship and the Offertory. Overall both pieces in both services were well received, but I had a hard time with the Call to Worship in the first service. I think it was because we were so rushed in practice this morning and when we played I just didn't feel calm and centered. I know this isn't about me, but I always want to do my best and I just don't feel like I did.

Robert is gone today. He left about 9:30 to go with our travel agent over to check the Conquest, the cruise ship we will be sailing on with the children this summer. When I signed us up Lee asked if we would be interested if a tour came available. Of course we were, it just happened to fall on this day. Since I didn't feel I could not be at church, I sent Robert without me.

It was 36oF this morning at 7:00 a.m. This is the coldest we have been thus far. We will have a few days colder, but not many. The best part though is that the sun is shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky and NO wind. This is the kind of day I really enjoy.

I have a bear pinned on the material to cut out and stitch up. It will be an all white bear made from an old bed spread. The kind that is woven with French knots in a design on it. I've never made a bear from this type material before. I'm always a little apprehensive about how a new bear will turn out. Even more so when I'm using new materials. Fingers crossed it goes well.


I say :: You think

1. Please stop :: bickering; or and think; or the music These all went through my head. The word bickering and the phrase and think are from when the girls were little and to some degree with my job now. Isn't there a song something about Please stop the music or just stop the music?


2. Move over :: your crowding me What I said to Robert last night. He was crowding me while sleeping. He woke up thinking I was crowding him on his side of the bed. Surprise, surprise, surprise.
   
3. Sweet as :: apple pie That's a nice Southern expression. To pinch a babies cheek and comment, "She's as sweet as apple pie."


4. Bet :: wager Ever *bet chur bottom dollar* I have when I'm 100% certain about something.


5. Mad about :: nothing, absolutely nothing today It isn't often that there isn't some little something nagging at me. Today was just one of those good days when all is right with the world. Praise God.


6. It’s over :: finished I always think of Judge Judy --- I didn't watch that show often (who needed to?) but she used the expression. "It's over, put a period and move on." I like that. More people need to do it.


7. Intend to :: get around to Something I'm bad about saying. I intend(ed) to, just didn't get to it.


8. Blame :: his fault What is wrong with many of our children. They want to find someone else to blame for everything that goes wrong in their lives.


9. Jefferson :: Davis Honestly that is the first thing that popped into this blonde mind. Not sure what he did in history, I just know he was important. Okay, I Googled him, seems he was president of the confederate states during the Civil War. I knew that name rang a bell for a reason.


10. Heartless :: villein The character Snidely Whiplash from the Dudley Do Right show came to mind. He was heartless. Of course, many people feel that way about bankers, but I have a different opinion there.

Day 10 A Memorable Party

I was looking around Blogspot just a few minutes ago and came across a site that I want to share.
It is here. It is called The One Minute Writer. Each day you are given a prompt and a timer and asked to write for one minute.

What a wonderful way to come up with ideas for blogging the month of November. I read through several of the prompts and each one basically led to some personal event in your life or something you might consider doing.

Today's (well when you read this it will be yesterday's) prompt is *Write about a memorable party or gathering you attended.*

I instantly thought of the surprise party Robert threw for me on my 40th birthday. I think what made it so memorable is that it truly was a surprise. Even the girls didn't know about it.
We had to go to Dumas that day and close on a house we had just sold. I remember being upset with him because we didn't even take time to celebrate after the closing by going out to eat. He said we had to get back home to go to some hokey meeting. I was pouting and grumbly when he pulled up to the fire station (the center of all activity in the little town of 400 people where we then lived).
When we walked in everyone shouted "Surprise and Happy Birthday." My reaction -- well according to Robert I turned to him --- slugged him on the arm and said, "You shit." The DJ began playing then and I had a wonderful time with the whole town celebrating turning old or what I thought at the time was old.

I Say --- You Think

Coverage :: of the election, sports, the new media in general likes to think it gives us up to day coverage of everything -- even things we don't really need to be a part of

Cynical :: how I feel about politicians; CEO's of large companies; and evidently the news media judging from my last comment

Gust :: west Texas winds that blew through my childhood

Improvised :: most meals I cook; have I mentioned I really don't cook much

V :: victory

Guests :: what I wish I had more of; maybe if I were a better hostess maybe actually prepared things for them

Brutal :: winters in the north

Grant :: allow

Pull :: push; if there is a pull sign on a door I will invariably push on the door before pulling

Streaming :: video; although I don't understand what one really is I've heard the expression often in association with the internet and it popped into my head

I Laughed, I Cried, I Enjoyed

I had a wonderful time at the Women of Faith Conference Friday evening and Saturday. We heard some wonderful uplifting performances by Sandi Patty, Mandisa, Sheila Welch and Nicole C. Mullins. Each one of these women have a powerful voice and a powerful testimony for the Lord.

The speakers were motivational and inspiring. They shared personal stories as well as scriptures. They had us laughing and crying and all wanted to be better, do better. Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meberg, and Luci Swindoll are marvelous women for God.

Allison Allen is a dramatist. I enjoyed her skits. She too had us laughing, crying and realizing how we are all alike in our differences.

I could spend much time and space reliving each moment of the weekend, but I won't. I'll just say that if you ever get the chance to go to one of these meeting, jump on it. I know you'll be glad you did.



This is something I came across at Hootin Anni's that looking interesting and fun. What would you reply to each of these words? Click here to join the fun.

1.Contemplate :: Consider

2.In the house :: here

3. Classical :: Music

4. Quest :: Adventure

5. Best friend :: Husband

6. 1991 :: Nothing outstanding

7. Never will :: Won't

8. Fool :: Hearty

9. Unhappy :: Sad

10. Best man :: Robert (my husband)