Thursday Thirteen

My children are back in school and I am happy and gleeful. They are in new schools this year and so far it's been a wonderful experience. I drive them. I was spoiled as they have walked to school for the past three years. No more. I leave with them every morning at 8:15. But it's good for me. It jump-starts my day and I'm having very productive days.

This morning I read a quote from Helen Keller. "The best, most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." It got me to thinking about the invisible great things in my life. So fittingly, here is my Thursday Thirteen list:

Invisible Beautiful Things in My Life (in no particular order).

1. prayer; talking to God
2. sensing God's presence
3. love
4. commitment
5. discipline; self-control
6. knowing God is in control
7. joy
8. acceptance
9. peace
10.grace
11.forgiveness
12.thankfulness; gratitude
13.thinking

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen one (or two) liners from stand-up comedians:

Women don’t want to hear what you think. Women want to hear what they think—in a deeper voice.
-- Bill Cosby

Gay people invented sports. Think about it. Boxing: two topless men ... in silk shorts ... fighting over a belt.
-- Ant

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, “Where’s the self-help section?” She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
-- Brian Kiley

I didn’t understand NASCAR until I met some NASCAR fans. You talk to a couple of NASCAR fans and you’ll see where a shiny car driving in a circle would fascinate them all day. I can make fun of NASCAR fans because if they chase me, I just turn right.
-- Alonzo Bodden

The problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time.
-- Robin Williams

Michael Jackson is the spokesperson for people who cut off their noses to spite their face.
-- Dennis Miller

You know you’re getting old when work is a lot less fun and fun is a lot more work.
-- Joan Rivers

I called a discount exterminator. A guy came by with a rolled-up magazine.
-- Will Shriner

Have you seen the deer heads on the walls of bars, the ones wearing party hats, sunglasses and streamers? I feel sorry for them because obviously they were at a party having a good time...
-- Ellen DeGeneres

Did you know babies are nauseated by the smell of a clean shirt?
-- Jeff Foxworthy

How many people here have telekinetic powers? Raise my hand.
-- Emo Phillips

You know, marriage is making a big comeback. I know personally that in Hollywood people are marrying people they never married before.
-- Bob Hope

I constantly walk into a room and I don’t remember why. But for some reason, I think there’s going to be a clue in the fridge.
-- Caroline Rhea

Thursday Thirteen

These are some Winston Churchill quotes. It's no wonder I like reading his stuff.

1. "The more knowledge we possess of the opposite point of view the less puzzling it is to know what to do."

2. "You cannot deal with the most serious things in the world unless you also understand the most amusing."

3. When the cliche' "familiarity breeds contempt" was used in an argument against him, he thundered, "I would like to remind you that without a degree of familiarity we could not breed anything."

4. Never good with math, he called it, "the dismal bog of sums." (I love that.) As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he brought financial near-disaster on England, making one bad decision after another. Out of that position he said, "Everyone said I was the worst Chancellor of the Exchequer that ever was and now I am inclined to agree with them."

5. "We are worms but I intend to be a glowworm."

6. When corrected for using a preposition at the end of a sentence he said, "This is the sort of English up with which I will not put."

7. His nanny, whom he loved much, was very religious and trained him in Bible. In a math lesson he grew so frustrated that his recourse was to threaten to "bow down and worship graven images." (I think that is so clever and cute. Clearly his spunk and creativity was evident very early in life.)

8. Regarding a colleague, he quipped, "He is not in complete harmony with the normal."

9. Regarding a fellow Parliament member he said, "He has many good qualities, some of which lie hidden, and he has many bad qualities, all of which are in the shop window."

10. Following his humiliating defeat after the war, when asked to tour the country and let the people honor him he replied, "I refuse to be exhibited like a prize bull whose chief attraction is his past prowess."

11. After defeat, his wife consoled saying it was perhaps a blessing. He replied, "If it's a blessing, it is certainly very well disguised."

12. Nancy Astor and he had an ongoing strained relationship. Once she said, "If I were your wife I would put poison in your coffee." Churchill responded, "Nancy if I were your husband, I would drink it."

13. When asked if Niagara Falls looked the same as the last time he'd seen it, he was perturbed with the question and answered, "Well the principle seems the same. The water still keeps falling over."

Thursday 13

As is often the case, I only have a few minutes left of Thursday to post 13. Today is a list that I've been pondering for a few weeks.

My 20th Century Heroes and/or Mentors - A very diversified list. They are in no particular order.

1)Mother Teresa - what a selfless woman she was.
2)Coretta and Martin Luther King, Jr. -- the personal sacrifice they gave for racial equality.
3)Rosa Parks. Would I have the guts to just say "no" like she did? Probably not. But I want to be that courageous. Without her the Civil Rights movement in the US may not have gotten off the ground.
4)Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain during WW2. He was a bold, persevering, compassionate leader. A leader less than him probably would have fallen to Hitler's advances. He had a brilliant wit and a command of the English language that I greatly admire.
5)Julia Cameron -- she, as far as I know, is not a believer (as I mean it), yet she mentored me in seeing God in creation, of living in the moment, of noticing the details around me. I'm much richer because of that heightened awareness.
6)Gary Larson, creator of the Far Side cartoon. Please don't think less of me for admiring his work so much. He is a brilliant student of humanity; this is clear in his cartoons. His observations are genius and acute. (And he's absolutely hilarious too.)
7)Norman Rockwell, artist. Oh to capture the emotions he so successfully painted of mundane Americana life. He too was a magnificent student of humanity.
8)Gandhi--I do not know nearly as much about Gandhi as I'd like. I intend him to be my next history subject.
9)mothers who delay personal gratification for the good of their children. I am a stay-at-home-mother-of-preschoolers-proponent, big time.
10)Ann and Philip Hatley from my hometown. They live simple in a complex world. They were living simply before I knew the concept, continually going against the flow of a materialistic culture. I don't know if I could do it in Small Town USA where appearance is everything.
11)Gordon. He can be a real pain in the butt,:-) but he has taught me more good than any single person in the universe.
12)Catherine Marshall. She was a Christian inspirational writer who influenced me significantly in the mid-90's. Hannah's middle name is Kathleen. Kathleen is homage to Catherine Marshall.
13)active people, those who jog, hike, mountain bike, etc for the pure pleasure of it. I want to be like that but I'm not.

Thursday Thirteen

Television Shows from my childhood - shows we actually watched.

We had one channel, Channel 5 out of Ft. Smith. If the weather was just right, we might turn the antenna -- a big heavy antenna that stood beside the front porch -- toward Tulsa. If we were lucky we could pick up Channel 7. But Channel 7 didn't grace us often.

1. Petticoat Junction. I'd love to see this show today. It was about a lady who ran an inn and her 3 daughters. It had something to do with a train too. I can't remember too much, but I remember the train tooting at the beginning of the show and the steam rising.

2. Lawrence Welk. Saturday nights, 6:30. Stacie and I would dance to the big bands.

3. Gunsmoke. 4:00 pm. Only if Daddy wasn't around to forbid us from doing something as lame as watching tv. If he caught us watching tv during the day, he'd find work for us. Typically we kept one eye on the tv, the other looking out for Daddy. When we spotted him, the tv went off FAST and we quickly started peeling potatoes or something like that so we looked busy. Awh, what a fond memory.

4. Billy Graham. He was never a regular program, as you know, but whenever he had a crusade and it was on Channel 5, we watched it. During Just As I Am at the end, I always got saved again. That's a joke. What I mean is that I wasn't sure I was a Christian, so just to be safe, I always invited Him into my heart again, and again, and again. Billy Graham crusades kind of scared me. They reminded me that I wasn't sure I was going to heaven.

5. Emergency. I'm not sure what they were saying, but "Rampirt" was what I thought they were saying. It was about Firemen and Paramedics. When they were working on a patient they always called Rampirt and reported the dilation of the eyes, pulse, blood pressure, and respiration. I felt I had the credentials of a doctor after watching Emergency.

6. HeeHaw. Yes, we were faithful HeeHaw watchers. "Where oh where are you tonight? Why did you leave me here all alone? I searched the world over and thought I'd found true love. But you found another and pluuutz, you were gone."

7. This wasn't a show, but a movie that was on tv. We never went to the theatre for movies. That's what the Methodists and Catholics did, and we weren't like them at all. We did watch movies on television. This particular movie gave me the scaredy cat willies. If there is such a thing as opening up oneself to demons, I got one or two that night. After that movie, I was pretty sure no one could be trusted. No one. Anyway, the movie was called, Diane the Devil's Daughter. I didn't see it once, but twice. I'm sure I didn't understand it, but one thing I knew was that everyone turned on her. I mean they turned on her in a really wicked way. Their eyes would spin real demon-ny like. Even Jesus in the stained glass window of the church had spinning, evil eyes. It was really quite a horrible movie for a little impressionable girl. I've often wondered if my hardship trusting others stemmed from that movie. It was quite critical to my emotional formation, I fear.

8. My Three Sons. I think we watched this after school when Daddy wasn't around.

9. Marcus Welby, MD. Another medical credential of mine.

10. WWF. World Wrestling Federation. This was NOT my choice. This came on on Saturday afternoons during the NBC's Wide World of Sports, I think. I hated the show. Michael was the wrestling buff. I cringed as he grinned evil grins while he watched it. It meant he was going to try those moves on me. And indeed he did. I knew lots of wrestling tricks. I don't mean to imply I could do them, rather I was on the receiving end of them.

11. Hogan's Heroes. Daddy would have had a conniption if he knew we watched these shows after school when there were potatoes to be peeled and fried. Seriously though, most of my tv exposure was sneaking it after school.

12. Brady Bunch. "Here's a story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls,..." I thought Greg was "hot" although I didn't know that expression back then. My girls use it now, so now I know that was what I thought of Greg. I thought that middle girl Jen was so petulant. I never liked her.

13. Andy Griffith. What a great show. I still love it, although I never see it. But Gordon bought me some DVDs of it a few years ago. My girls even get a kick out of it. We have all kinds of Barneyisms around here, but not as many as my sister Diane has.

Now, in the above I know I sound critical of my dad. I don't mean to be disrespectful. However he was terribly rigid about tv, especially watching it during the day, and he was quite the task master too.

So to balance that perspective, I will share a memory that is sweet. Daddy had a rocker that was his and his alone. For all my growing up years, it remained in the same spot. The rocker was replaced a few times with a new one, but it always went in the same spot. In the evening when we watched tv, I always sat on Daddy's left side with his arm wrapped around me. It was my watching-tv spot. I felt very secure and comfortable there. It's a very special memory.

Thursday Thirteen

I must really type fast if I'm going to actually get this posted on Thursday.

Here are 13 things that sound wonderful to me.
1. a retreat by the ocean
2. a retreat in the mountains
3. a family holiday to Hawaii
4. having all the house projects completed
5. a nicely manicured backyard with no mosquitos
6. soaking in the sun in that nicely manicured backyard with no mosquitos, enjoying the singing of birds, the gurgling of the fountain, the scent of the lilacs. heavenly.
7. visiting Ireland with Stacie and Diane
8. holding my grandson Roman, inhaling his scent and listening to every grunt
9. a weekend in Jasper just with Gordon and his father's day cologne that drives me wild
10. a date with Gordon to the Cheesecake Cafe
11. a granite countertop. way too extravagant for me, but lovely still
12. a visit from a relative
13. lots of hanging out time with Stephanie and Christopher.

Thursday Thirteen More

More memories from school:

1) In third grade I sat close to the door. When the second graders would walk by and look in, I'd turn my text book to the glossary where the writing was small and difficult looking. I got a thrill out of making third grade look hard. I relished the idea of scaring them.

2) In second grade I couldn't find any panties one day so I raided Diane's drawer for a pair. Diane was 8 years older than me, and at that time, she was much bigger. Unfortunately I wore a dress the same day.. During jump rope at recess, I jumped right out of Diane's panties. Gina Dowdy was turning the rope. She went double laughing as I went double trying to put the panties back on.

3) One summer during hay season, Daddy did some work for a man (LD Kesterson?) and the man sent some fine gifts home to me. I got 2 beer steins, a liquor carafe, and a porcelain tea pot. I was thrilled and proudly displayed them for all to see. In sixth grade there was a school rummage sale. Someone brought a carafe and tea pot and everyone oohed and awwhed about them and I was positive mine were much nicer. I wanted everyone to see mine. So the next day I brought all my goodies that I loved so much. I didn't take them for the sale, I took them to show off. In front of everyone, Mrs Cunningham thanked me for my stuff. I didn't have the fortitude needed to confess I didn't want to donate them. With terrible sadness and anxiety, I gave my beloved treasures to the rummage sale.

4) In 6th grade, I tried to follow the family tradition in sports. It was a nightmarish experience and still embarrasses me to think about. From whence my siblings got their athletic abilities I do not know. But I surely screwed up the family name with my antics - which were far from athletic heroics. Gawsh. It hurts to remember.

5) After resigning myself to not being sporty, I was asked to be team manager of the junior team. I thought it would be a cool way to get to go to all the games so I accepted. When I told Stacie, she blurted, "Valerie, you can't be the water boy!" Ashamed, I looked for an excuse to quit the job. I found one. Her name was Miss Kirby. I told her something like "you go or I go." She stayed, I went.

6) In 7th grade I took a young girl with horrible social, emotional, and mental delays under my wing. The intent was good, the result was pathetic. Becky had a pretty face, but she had many challenges. Strangely in 7th grade, my abilities to rehabilitate the less fortunate were limited. I put her in a pink dress and spiked heels. Becky barely could walk normal in sneakers. Poor poor Becky. I wonder what came of her. A wave of sadness just washed over me. Seriously.

7) I got a boyfriend in seventh grade. His name was David. We sat and walked about 3 feet from each other. The whole school seemed to be holding its breath for us to hold hands, but that wasn't going to happen. No siree. Purity all the way for me. I don't think we ever did hold hands. If we did I don't remember.

8) Walked in a walk-a-thon with Odetta. Actually it was a bike, skate, walk-a-thon and it was 20 miles. Turned out Odetta and I were the only walkers and we got totally forgotten about. We made it back to the park about 14 hours after everyone else. For some reason we were expecting other thon-ers to be there. They and the supervisors were resting in front of the tv in their living rooms. There were no phones to call home. We sat on the ground, exhausted, waiting for some sort of deliverance. After a long wait, the sign-picker-upper came through. He was surprised to find us stragglers. You know what our question for the sign guy was? "Where do we take the money we raised for March of Dimes?" Talk about honesty. It never entered our minds to steal it. And certainly no one ever would have known -- given they didn't even know we existed. The sign-picker-upper told us we turned our money into "Kay." With due exasperation, Odetta sighed, "Well just who and where is Kay?" Somehow, (maybe the sign guy called her?) Mama came to the McMillan Park to pick us up. Mama laughed all the way home at Odetta's tale of the day's events.

9) In 5th grade I went to Basketball Camp. Lord only knows why I did that. We ran this figure 8 drill, ad nauseum. I couldn't get it. Simply couldn't. The coach yelled, "You there. You sit out. You're gonna hurt someone." Bastard.

10) In grade 4, I went behind the gym with Dan Murphy. He kissed me and I felt I'd been raped. I cried for years and prayed every night (for years) that God would forgive me and come into my heart again.

11) After my trauma behind the gym, I ran to the dressing room to see Stacie and confess my wrong-doing. She got in my face and said, (I promise this is what she said), "You stay away from that Dan Murphy. He's dangerous."

12)I know I'm confessing many strange emotional woes here, but here's another. Stacie loved and adored Mrs Frashuir. When I got her in home-ec for the first time, the first class she asked us to tell about our hero or the person we respected most. Thinking it was the "right" thing to do for Stacie, I told the class that Stacie was the person I respected most. After class I hunted Stacie down to make sure I'd given an acceptable answer since we both wanted Mrs Frasiur to like me. Stacie had a mild hissy fit and rebuked me promptly with, "Oh good grief Valerie. You were supposed to say Mama." I had an epiphany at that moment. I realized that I just didn't get it. I couldn't navigate the nuances of life with any degree of skill.

13)I had watched many girls sit out of PE for "physical reasons." I decided I should give it a try since I abhorred gym class. Miss Kirby got all nosey and wanted to know if it was that time of the month. I didn't talk about those sorts of things - ever. I answered no. She said, "Is it just before?" I said no. She said, "Is it just after?" and I said no. I never feigned sick to sit out of gym again. That personal inquisition cured me.

You know something that would make me very happy? It would be so cool if you all left comments and wrote 13 of your school memories. It's really kind of fun remembering those horrible horrible days of youth.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen School Memories

1) In the first grade a couple kids were chosen each day to take the erasers outside to clean them. The first time I was chosen, I didn't know there was an eraser- cleaning-slab-of-concrete that I was supposed to use. I used the side of the building. Unbeknownst to me, the school superintendent, Mr Shinn, was sitting up on the hill watching me. The next day, Mrs Wallace asked the kids who did the erasers the day before to stand. I stood and promptly got chastised for beating the building with the erasers.

2) In second grade I turned in my timed achievement test (a big deal) but inadvertently I hadn't completed one of the pages. Poor Mrs Strothers about had a stroke. She called me to her desk and asked what the hell was the matter with me. Actually she said it a little different than that, but the idea was the same. I felt like a super loser - the kid who skipped a page on a timed test.

3) Finally succeeded in something in third grade. I scored the highest on a test. My reward was a red piece of gum. It was called a hot dog because it was cinnamon and shaped like a hot dog. I popped it in my mouth. Within minutes, Mrs Jones called me to the front of the class and asked what the hell I was doing chewing gum in class. She said it a little different than that, but the idea was the same.I thought since it was a reward, I got to chew it then. She made me spit it in the garbage.

4) I really liked Mrs Jones. I cried the last day of school because I was going to miss her.

5) Mrs Barrow (grade 4) had us lay our heads on our desks for a rest after lunch recess. When we "woke up" (yeah, right), she read us a Bible story. (I hear public schools are different these days).

6) In fifth grade I learned I was the toughest kid in the class and started beating up boys. I also learned I was really good at football. I was always the first one picked.

7) In grade six, we had to do a skit in front of the whole school. I remember nothing but getting the hiccups during my moment to speak and then I started laughing and hiccuping. I tried really hard to get my words out, but either a hiccup or a laugh came. Mrs Cunningham wasn't impressed.

8) In sixth grade, Mama made me quit playing football and beating up boys. It was downhill from there. I never excelled again.

9) Mr Anglin scared the bajeezies out of me. He was my homeroom teacher. During study hall, 5 or 6 of us got to be lunchroom helpers. We had so much fun.

10) Grade 8 was a year of transition. I changed schools. Shelly became my best friend.

11) Had loads of fun with Shelly. She was the redeeming quality of school. School was such a torture.

12) Hated a teacher. (It's wrong to hate. Therefore I don't claim to hate her anymore. What a self-righteous winch she was. I can still see her pursed lips and condescending... Oops, got carried away there. Yes, hating someone is wrong.)

13) In 11th grade, Shelly and I got a paddling. Is that embarrassing, or what? I think it was for talking in assembly, but I'm not sure. It actually really hurt. I took it like a man - would rather die than let on that it hurt. Shelly, more honest and noble than me, took her 3 licks then said, "Ouch, that hurt," to the teacher.

PS Back in those days, paddlings were commonplace (for someone like me). I can't remember details, but I think I got a paddling in every grade except 7 (Mr Anglin would have been giving it, so I walked the line big time in grade 7), grades 9,10,and 12. When I was a kid, this fact was my badge of honor. I was too stubborn and proud for my own good -- from a very early age.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Quirky Things About This Family

1. Our dishwasher is our "recycling bin."

2. Gordon couldn't stay in the bathroom to brush his teeth to save his life. He wanders around the house while he brushes.

3. Rachael runs - always runs - to the bathroom during the night.

4. We have found many many "treasures" among other people's garbage. That bites to admit, but it's true. I personally stay out of others' garbage, but my kids and husband have brought home many cool things.

5. When the kids are whining, but she got to do it, that's not fair, I counter with, "that's because she's my favorite." I know, it sounds sadistic, but it's wonderfully effective in making my kids smile and change the subject.

6. Hannah puts on her pajamas right after school even though she plans to play outside. No doubt the neighbors think we're strange to allow that.

7. Deborah has a wart the size of Memphis on her knee. She cries at the mention of having it removed. Gordon calls the wart "Deborah's friend" because she cries at the idea of getting rid of it.

8. The girls and I speak for our dogs. When we are petting Lucy, Bear comes running yelling, "Break it up."

9. We have more dressers and desks than anyone I know. I'm having a garage sale in a few weeks to get rid of some.

10. My garage sale proceeds will go to sewing classes.

11. We have a big water jug that we all drink out of. At meals, there's one jug on the table that the girls and I share. Gordon thinks he's too good for it. He uses a glass.

12. Deborah's best friend from next door uses the same jug. Yesterday she came upstairs and said, "Where's the water jug?" (Don't you know her parents would be thrilled to know this.)

13. The girls and I are pretty loosy goosy with our toothbrushes. We use whichever one is handiest. But we don't use Gordon's.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I’d Do Differently Given a Second Chance

1) I wouldn’t date in high school.

2) And I sure as hell wouldn’t have sex in high school.

3) I would be nicer to my sister Stacie as a teenager.

4) As teenagers, Stacie and I would help each other have the good sense to do the things we should.

5) I would go straight to college from high school.

6) I would finish that degree.

7) I would go to East Texas University where I had a full scholarship for Business and Journalism.

8) Supposing all the above never took place, but still playing the game of Second Chance, I’d be a better wife to Kent. I was a self-righteous bitch. I didn’t realize it until I was married to Gordon. Age is wondrous at showing us our folly.

9) Once divorced though, I would never remarry and never date. (This is in no way about Gordon, rather a belief about divorce and remarriage that came post-re-marriage for me.)

10) I wouldn’t work at CMA.

11) I would be humble and recognize my absolute need and dependence on God to sustain me.

12) I would eat lots of fruits and vegetables from the get-go.

13) I would learn compassion for the poor and the joy of living simply early in life.

I could easily keep going, but then I’d have to change the name of my post.

Post Script: I have been told by an astute reader that this blog implies I wouldn't marry Gordon again. My intent was not to be negative toward Gordon. I've made more mistakes than I can shake a stick at. The mistakes mentioned here are mostly from way before I met Gordon. Gordon is a most wonderful man and I couldn't ask for a better husband. (Maybe some days, but not most). ;-)

13 Things
(How's that for generalizing?)

1. When I get in my neighborhood, I always unbuckle my seatbelt (except if my kids are with me, then I set a good example). Once I turn down my street, I feel very uncomfortable belted in.

2. Whenever I get behind a big truck, or for some reason I'm particularly noticing a truck, I pray for my brother. (He's a trucker.) Because of this habit, I pray for him often, especially his safety.
3. It's a good thing he's not a sailor as I don't see many ships around town.

4. We are giving our house a minor makeover which it's badly in need of. Gordon and I aren't seeing eye to eye on paint colors.

5. Most people call Gordon Gord except those who know him through me. They call him Gordon, because that's what I call him.

6. My pet name for him - and I only say it at home - is Noogie-Boy.

7. I recently watched a few country music videos and heard the following songs which I thought were touching or cute. When you see the videos, you'll know which ones were touching and which were cute. http://www.yallwire.com/player/heartlandilovedherfirst.html?detect_mediatype=flv&detect_bitrate=_700&shash=b011dce354427ca309e05e41ed9e28aa The only thing I don't like about this video is that the bride and groom look like they're barely past puberty. Also the singer says "eltz" instead of else.

8.http://www.yallwire.com/player/claywalkerforeshewasmama.html?shash=644ba73145eb11a4d0c6a69a1ccfb092 This song makes me smile, but the video I don't really like. I like watching the boys staring into the sun. And I love Clay Walker's smile. FYI, when I was filmed in the red and white 2 piece, I didn't know they would put it in a video for the world to see. I'm so embarrassed.

9. http://www.yallwire.com/player/rodneyatkinswatchingyou.html Kind of sweet and cute.

10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go Very very poignant.

11. If you watch these videos, I'm interested in your feedback.

12. My dad reminds me of Johnny Cash.

13. Because I like Johnny Cash, here's another video. http://soundpedia.com/music/dmlkZW9fMTM3ODU=/Goin__by_the_Book-Johnny_Cash/index.html It was made in the early 90's during the Gulf War. I remember watching it then, sure we were in the last battle.

Thursday Thirteen

Tonight my girls and a couple of their friends are going to a Jars of Clay concert. Doesn't that sound fun?

Thursday Thirteen is a bunch of trivia that I found interesting.

1. The names of the continents all end with the same letter with which they start.

2. The word "listen" contains the same letters as the word "silent".

3. "Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

4. 55 per cent of people yawn within 5 minutes of seeing someone else yawn. Reading about yawning makes most people yawn. Did you yawn when you read that?

5. The term "devil's advocate" comes from the Roman Catholic Church. When deciding if someone should be sainted, a devil's advocate is always appointed to give an alternative view.

6. The word 'news' did not come about because it was the plural of 'new.' It came from the first letters of the words North, East, West and South. This was because information was being gathered from all different directions.

7. Alma mater means bountiful mother.

8. The most common name in the world is Mohammad.

9. The term, "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" is from Ancient Rome. The only rule during wrestling matches was, "No eye gouging." Everything else was allowed, but the only way to be disqualified was to poke some one's eye out.

10. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

11. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

12. A survey of people's greatest fears had the following results: a.) Heights, b.) Snakes, c.) Spiders, d.) Public speaking.

13. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of where they grew up.

Thursday Thirteen

Things I smiled when I read today:

1) As I let go of my feelings of guilt, I can get in touch with my Inner Sociopath.
2) I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia.
3) In some cultures what I do would be considered normal.
4) My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of good judgment.
5) I honor my personality flaws, for without them I would have no personality at all.
6) I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper and complain.
7) All of me is beautiful and valuable, even the ugly, stupid, and disgusting parts.
8) I am at one with my duality.
9) Only a lack of imagination saves me from immobilizing myself with imaginary fears.
10) The complete lack of evidence is the surest sign that the conspiracy is working.
11) Becoming aware of my character defects leads me to the next step -- blaming my parents.
12) I will find humor in my everyday life by looking for people I can laugh at.
13) To have a successful relationship I must learn to make it look like I'm giving as much as I'm getting.

Thursday Thirteen

Things I love about winter.

1) The snow illuminates the outdoors at night. I can see outside my window almost like a yard lamp is on. In the wee hours of the morning, I always notice how the light is reflected off the snow creating light aplenty for the middle-of-the-night bathroom visits .
2) I cook lots of soups, chilies, and homemade bread. They are easy, very hearty and so very soothing on a cold cold day.
3) Warm evening drinks
4) Christmas festivities
5) Reading on the sofa in the evening with a throw draped over me
6) spending more time in the family room. In the winter I always spend more time in the cozy family room. I'm not drawn to it in the same way other times of the year.
7) My girls are Canadian indeed. My soul smiles as they build snow forts, ice skate, and whatever else they do outside. I'm a watch-from-the-window kind of mom.
8) I love the clean unpolluted untouched snow. Parks and yards (the ones without children and dogs) look so beautiful.
9) spruce trees laden with snow
10) I sweat less. You did want to know that didn't you?
11) Cleaning windows is so easy. Soups cooking produces a condensation on the windows and I wipe it off with a towel, and presto, the window is clean. So so easy. No excuse for a dirty window. That is not to say there aren't any.
12) Lucy loves to play in the snow.
13) Sweat suits! I love sweat suits.
And since I'm on a roll, I've only been privileged to see the Northern Lights a few times, but it's always been on winter nights. A beautiful experience.

Thursday Thirteen

13 things about me that you may not know (probably don't know) and that may raise lots of questions in your mind. Once again, I am a very nice person, and my background isn't as shady as these things may suggest. Be amused.

1. I've had 7 surgeries. Not bad for a healthy person, eh?
2. I had a warrant out for my arrest in Wyoming.
3. I have been threatened with jail two times; once in my hometown, once in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
5. I smuggled Bibles into Vietnam and China.
6. Oh yeah, I was threatened with jail in China too,-- the officer was carrying an AK47. I got caught smuggling Bibles.
7.I've thrown-up in many public places and not always in a bathroom.
8. The muscle that controls throw-up doesn't work on me.
9. The most scared I've ever been was when Stephanie nearly drown when she was 4 or 5. I didn't sleep for 2 nights, reliving it and thinking "what if."
10. I miscarried a baby at 12 weeks.
11. US Customs always treats me like a criminal.
12. I've been threatened with deportation by both my countries.
13. I've been quoted in an "ornpae" magazine. ("Ornpae" is pig latin for po--. I didn't want to use that word lest it lead perverts to this site.) My quote was not "ornpae."

Thursday Thirteen

It's Wednesday evening as I write this, but I know I won't be around tomorrow, so here she goes.

13 things I do every day:

- drink 2 mugs of coffee
- compost scraps, peelings, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells
- work an advanced level Suduko after supper (I just had to tell my level)
- pack lunches for Gordon and the girls
- put junk mail in recycling
- assess the girls' rooms for tidiness; if they aren't tidy, they get docked a quarter
- pray for the girls before they leave for school and at bedtime when I tuck them in
- pet the dogs
- put pj's on as early as possible
- look in the mirror and recognize anew that things just keep going downhill
- tell Gordon and the girls I love them
- read CNN headlines
- turn off lights others left on

Everyone desires to know and be known, so they say. Do you?

Thursday Thirteen

Random Thoughts from the Week

1. Joy is being thankful.
2. I've never seen my daddy cry.
3. Every new season is my favorite.
4. I know 12 ladies with breast cancer.
5. Joy - Thanksgiving - Worship; might they be synonymous?
6. Connotation is everything. Vulva and Volvo, so alike yet one's an ugly word and one's not.
7. A Maritime accent is similar to a Southern accent.
8. My present Bible has no baby scribble anywhere in it.
9. Who does an unbeliever thank?
10. Why do braces cost so much money?
11. I hope Joanne and Baby Sela like the blanket I made.
12. Why does my ear hurt and why can't the doctor find anything wrong with it?
13. Who reads this blog anyway?

Thursday Thirteen

Things I love about fall:

1) the colors
2) the smell of decaying and decomposing matter
3) crisp mornings
4) bringing out the flannel pajamas
5) back to school
6) apple pies
7) fresh vegetables
8) fall decor; pumpkins, ghords, Indian corn
9) the crunch of leaves
10) shorter days
11) candy corn
12) warmer clothes
13) the return of soups and chili

Follow-up Friday Four

Not that I'm certain anyone cares, but I thought I'd follow yesterday's Thursday Thirteen with a follow-up.

1. Hannah loved her mirror, hugged me, and thanked me just like I predicted she would.

2. Gordon and I had a wonderful conversation with the principal this morning. I've been basking in God's grace all day. It was phenomenal how well things went. I know the Holy Spirit was present.

3. Regarding the teacher who humiliated Rachael, she apologized to Rachael for her insensitivity and told Rachael she didn't mean to hurt her. Yea!

4. I will thank that teacher next week for talking to Rachael.

Thursday Thirteen

I feel like some kind of thief when I type "Thursday Thirteen." It is not original. But I really like the concept. So hear we go again. Thursday Thirteen.

1. I joined a writers group. I hope to have fun, fun, fun, till my daddy takes the t-bird away.

2. I made soap the other night. Note to self and anyone else who plans to make soap: There is a GREAT BIG difference between fluid ounces and ounces in weight. I had never thought of that, but now I KNOW in no uncertain terms.

3. I had a huge confrontation with a teacher at the kid's school. She rebuked my 11- year-old-for her panties showing on the swing. In front of Rachael's male teacher, she said to Rachael in her snarky sarcastic way that I'm all too familiar with, "Rachael, it not like we want to see the pattern on your panties." Rachael was humiliated. My head about popped off in anger. That's because we have so much history with this woman. All I wanted from her was to recognize that it was inappropriate to shame Rachael like that. She didn't feel it was inappropriate. "You mean you want the whole school to see Rachael's panties?," she said GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRR. I snapped. I haven't snapped like that in years.

4. Tomorrow I'm going to talk to the principal. Really this is just the straw that broke the camel's back. We've had soooo many episodes like this. I haven't disliked someone like I dislike her in years.

5. Praying hard regarding my attitude.

6. Deborah told me today that Matthew called her a "retart." (Retard)

7. Deborah also said, "Tyson hurt my feelings. He said someone in my family is fat." Hummm, who could he have meant? I thought it sweet that Deborah didn't want to come out and name names. She's sensitive that way.

8. Bear is weasling his way into my heart. I haven't loved him like Frodo. Yesterday I accidentally shut the door on him (not too badly). He limped for a few minutes and I realized how much I loved him in those moments. Life is funny.

9. I had fun re-working the ribbons and lace at work today. I love organizing.

10. Gordon is good to me and he is wise. I could easily forget the principles that I'm fighting for regarding aforementioned teacher. He keeps bringing me back to that focus when I'm getting carried away on an emotional (ungodly) tangent.

11. I made Hannah a funky mirror tonight. I can wait to hang it while she's at school tomorrow. She will be so pleased to find it. She'll run out of her room as soon as she see it to hug me and say thanks.

12. I am like a kid in a candy store at the fabric store. I love the fabric, patterns, ideas....

13. I miss the tidiness of my last store, but this store is more "me."