But this time it was 1849 San Francisco. I haven't found an author in a long time who's writing I can get lost in so easily. It was a good day though. I worked. I did laundry. I went to Curves. I went to FPU. We had dinner with my mom while she was in town tonight. It's not like ALL I did today was read. I just did a lot of it.
Ahh ... sweet decadence of reading. What a wonderful past time.
And what a wonderful husband I have to allow me that guilty pleasure in life ...
(speaking of my wonderful husband - go read his blog from today. I laughed out loud. And I cried a little. It was sweet. And I swear I had no intention of "training" him ... there are just certain things that should be done during your daily routine ... but that's another blog all together. Off to make the bed with our freshly laundered sheets.)
Monday, June 25, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
I don't usually do this ... but how could I resist ...
an 80s Survey!!!!!!! (Okay ... I really don't do this ... like ever. But I just got such a kick out of reading it on another friend's blog, I felt the irrepressible desire to fill it out for myself.) So some of this pushes into the early 90s I think. But that's okay by me ... it was all that fabulous period of my life ... ahh ... memory lane ...
Did you listen to New Kids on the Block?
I had a pillow case with their faces on it ... I wore it thread bare ...
Did you ever own a slap bracelet?
Yes. Until my school outlawed them because we spent class time throwing them at each other and watching them snap and fly up into the air. It was great.
The Baby Sitter's Club or Sweet Valley High?
Baby Sitter's Club. I wanted to be Kristy.
Salute Your Shorts or Hey Dude?
Hey Dude. Hands down.
Kids Incorporated or The Mickey Mouse Club?
I remember watching both. But I think I preferred MMC
Did you want Dylan to end up w/ Brenda or Kelly?
So was not allowed to watch 90210.
Who was ALF?
Furry brown alien dude.
Do you remember the show Dinosaurs?
"I'm the baby. Gotta love me. Big purple eyes and I'm so cuddly!" I know I watched it. I can't remember any specifics though ...
Do/did you know the words to the Fresh Prince theme song?
"Iiiiiiiiinnnn west Philadelphia born and raised. On the playground was where I spent most of my days. Chillin out nights and relaxin all cool ..."
That would be a yes.
Kimmie Gibbler or Urkel?
Kimmie kind of annoyed me. I remember when both were on TGIF on ABC though. I think I'll go with Urkel.
Blossom or Clarissa Explains It All?
Clarissa. I tried so hard to convince my mom that I needed a baby pool with an alligator in it in my room. But I LOVED my Blossom hat. (Self made I might note. According to mom, I ruined a perfectly good church hat by pinning one side up with a sunflower pin I had.)
Did you have a crush on JTT?
Yeah.
Bobby Brown or Tevin Campbell?
neither
Step By Step or Full House?
Both. Though Full House has stood the test of time for me. Thank heavens for daytime reruns.
Did you listen to Milli Vanilli?
Sadly, yes I did. But I think it was because I was fascinated with a man's ability to sing like that.
Mr. Rogers or Reading Rainbow?
I watched both way longer than I should have. But I LOVED Reading Rainbow. "Butterfly in the sky. I can go twice as high. Take a look. It's in a book. A reading rainbow."
Did you own a Glo Worm?
I think I got my cousin's when she was done with it. I don't remember having one of my own though.
Paula Abdul: better now or then?
Then. How can you beat Scat Cat? Seriously.
Wild 'n' Crazy Kids or Double Dare?
Double Dare. I wanted to be on Family Double Dare so bad ... but there were only three people in my family, and my mom refused to get dirty ... :(
Remember Legends of the Hidden Temple?
I forgot about it until just now… I loved that show. Awesome.
The Mighty Ducks or The Little Giants?
Mighty Ducks. I had a crush on Emilio ... a major crush.
Did you watch Saved By The Bell?
Still do. And I'm not to proud to admit it.
Who was hotter: Zach or Slater
I'm a sucker for dimples ... but it was still Zach.
Camp Nowhere or House Arrest?
neither
Did you own a pair of Reebok Pumps?
oh yeah. The laces were pink and orange.
Care Bears or Smurfs?
I watched both of their cartoons. I loved the Care Bears' Movie, the one where they saved the boy who was a magician's assistant and his younger sister. Also, I had the most AWESOME Care-A-Lot playset.
Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake?
Strawberry Shortcake. Although, I had a couple of Rainbow Brite dolls that got their fair share of play time.
Did you watch Miami Vice?
no ... I feel like I missed out on something there ...
Did you own a pair of Jelly Shoes?
They were pink. Fuchsia really.
Did you own a Trapper Keeper?
Duh. Until we weren't allowed to have them at school because they took up too much space in the coat hook area. That was about the time they outlawed those backpacks that were on wheels.
Atari or Nintendo?
I've never owned a game system. Tyler has some, but I never have. My step-sisters and cousins had Nintendos. I enjoyed my fair share of Tetris and Duck Hunt. But that's about it.
So? It sparked memories for you too. I know it did. Share if you like ... :)
Did you listen to New Kids on the Block?
I had a pillow case with their faces on it ... I wore it thread bare ...
Did you ever own a slap bracelet?
Yes. Until my school outlawed them because we spent class time throwing them at each other and watching them snap and fly up into the air. It was great.
The Baby Sitter's Club or Sweet Valley High?
Baby Sitter's Club. I wanted to be Kristy.
Salute Your Shorts or Hey Dude?
Hey Dude. Hands down.
Kids Incorporated or The Mickey Mouse Club?
I remember watching both. But I think I preferred MMC
Did you want Dylan to end up w/ Brenda or Kelly?
So was not allowed to watch 90210.
Who was ALF?
Furry brown alien dude.
Do you remember the show Dinosaurs?
"I'm the baby. Gotta love me. Big purple eyes and I'm so cuddly!" I know I watched it. I can't remember any specifics though ...
Do/did you know the words to the Fresh Prince theme song?
"Iiiiiiiiinnnn west Philadelphia born and raised. On the playground was where I spent most of my days. Chillin out nights and relaxin all cool ..."
That would be a yes.
Kimmie Gibbler or Urkel?
Kimmie kind of annoyed me. I remember when both were on TGIF on ABC though. I think I'll go with Urkel.
Blossom or Clarissa Explains It All?
Clarissa. I tried so hard to convince my mom that I needed a baby pool with an alligator in it in my room. But I LOVED my Blossom hat. (Self made I might note. According to mom, I ruined a perfectly good church hat by pinning one side up with a sunflower pin I had.)
Did you have a crush on JTT?
Yeah.
Bobby Brown or Tevin Campbell?
neither
Step By Step or Full House?
Both. Though Full House has stood the test of time for me. Thank heavens for daytime reruns.
Did you listen to Milli Vanilli?
Sadly, yes I did. But I think it was because I was fascinated with a man's ability to sing like that.
Mr. Rogers or Reading Rainbow?
I watched both way longer than I should have. But I LOVED Reading Rainbow. "Butterfly in the sky. I can go twice as high. Take a look. It's in a book. A reading rainbow."
Did you own a Glo Worm?
I think I got my cousin's when she was done with it. I don't remember having one of my own though.
Paula Abdul: better now or then?
Then. How can you beat Scat Cat? Seriously.
Wild 'n' Crazy Kids or Double Dare?
Double Dare. I wanted to be on Family Double Dare so bad ... but there were only three people in my family, and my mom refused to get dirty ... :(
Remember Legends of the Hidden Temple?
I forgot about it until just now… I loved that show. Awesome.
The Mighty Ducks or The Little Giants?
Mighty Ducks. I had a crush on Emilio ... a major crush.
Did you watch Saved By The Bell?
Still do. And I'm not to proud to admit it.
Who was hotter: Zach or Slater
I'm a sucker for dimples ... but it was still Zach.
Camp Nowhere or House Arrest?
neither
Did you own a pair of Reebok Pumps?
oh yeah. The laces were pink and orange.
Care Bears or Smurfs?
I watched both of their cartoons. I loved the Care Bears' Movie, the one where they saved the boy who was a magician's assistant and his younger sister. Also, I had the most AWESOME Care-A-Lot playset.
Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake?
Strawberry Shortcake. Although, I had a couple of Rainbow Brite dolls that got their fair share of play time.
Did you watch Miami Vice?
no ... I feel like I missed out on something there ...
Did you own a pair of Jelly Shoes?
They were pink. Fuchsia really.
Did you own a Trapper Keeper?
Duh. Until we weren't allowed to have them at school because they took up too much space in the coat hook area. That was about the time they outlawed those backpacks that were on wheels.
Atari or Nintendo?
I've never owned a game system. Tyler has some, but I never have. My step-sisters and cousins had Nintendos. I enjoyed my fair share of Tetris and Duck Hunt. But that's about it.
So? It sparked memories for you too. I know it did. Share if you like ... :)
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
'Twas Sinfully Glorious
I got a new book this past weekend. We were in Columbus servicing my mom's computer. (She had an "emergency" and so felt the need to call in PC Geek - thing Geek Squad but slightly cheaper - instead of calling her daughter, and perhaps more importantly, her son-in-law. So we took off rather quickly to save her from those worthless charges.) Anywhoo ... as I've stated more than once, my mom likes to shop. And this weekend we added the bookstore to our list. More often than not, we go to Half Priced Books (ahh ... Heaven really must be a book store ... I'm sure of that.) but this time we were at Barnes & Noble. How wonderful book stores smell. How wonderful the colors and type on the covers of all the volumes. How wonderful the diversity of material. (Yes ... this truly must be Heaven ...)
I've grown up around books. I've always enjoyed reading. Even when I was sick and tired of reading for school, I always enjoyed my pleasure reading. I so enjoy the escape to another world that a well-written book provides. That being said, I also fear that, at least at some times, it can be sinfully glorious. Today was sinfully glorious.
I got a new book. It was a good book. I opened it this morning. It is finished. I did other work today, but none of it really mattered. I needed the escape. I needed the down time. I have done this once before in my life. I still remember that glorious, wonderful feeling of having lost an entire day to another world that is not my own. It is quite the rush for me. I was thinking about that first book ... and realized that this latest book is somewhat of a "grown up" version of that first book. Amazing how I haven't really changed all that much in the last 12 or so years.
At times I've wondered if I was born at the wrong point in history. Now, for all practical purposes I know I'm wrong. I enjoy my a/c, running water, indoor plumbing, and all of the 21st century conveniences. However, the hopeless romantic in me so easily gets lost in the majesty and mystery presented in tales of times gone by. I'm a junkie for historical fiction. It's just such a beautiful and carefree existence in the stories. I know better. But that doesn't change the little pangs in my gut for the simpler times portrayed in the books I truly enjoy.
And so, once I quiet my mind and return to today, to here and now, I'll go to bed and crawl in next to my peacefully sleeping husband. He went to bed several hours ago ... but I just couldn't put the book down. There was too much crucial action going on. And tomorrow, the "sinful" will sneak in on my glorious day. For tomorrow all the work that could have been accomplished today will still be there, piled on the work to be accomplished tomorrow. And I will have to function in reality, once again subject to the 21st century. But tonight I will just remember the glorious feeling. Tonight I will go to sleep with that cradling me. Tonight I will be in the 17th century. Tonight I will be on a Virginia tobacco farm. Tonight I will stay wrapped in the warmth of the love story I just finished reading.
Tomorrow I will iron ...
I've grown up around books. I've always enjoyed reading. Even when I was sick and tired of reading for school, I always enjoyed my pleasure reading. I so enjoy the escape to another world that a well-written book provides. That being said, I also fear that, at least at some times, it can be sinfully glorious. Today was sinfully glorious.
I got a new book. It was a good book. I opened it this morning. It is finished. I did other work today, but none of it really mattered. I needed the escape. I needed the down time. I have done this once before in my life. I still remember that glorious, wonderful feeling of having lost an entire day to another world that is not my own. It is quite the rush for me. I was thinking about that first book ... and realized that this latest book is somewhat of a "grown up" version of that first book. Amazing how I haven't really changed all that much in the last 12 or so years.
At times I've wondered if I was born at the wrong point in history. Now, for all practical purposes I know I'm wrong. I enjoy my a/c, running water, indoor plumbing, and all of the 21st century conveniences. However, the hopeless romantic in me so easily gets lost in the majesty and mystery presented in tales of times gone by. I'm a junkie for historical fiction. It's just such a beautiful and carefree existence in the stories. I know better. But that doesn't change the little pangs in my gut for the simpler times portrayed in the books I truly enjoy.
And so, once I quiet my mind and return to today, to here and now, I'll go to bed and crawl in next to my peacefully sleeping husband. He went to bed several hours ago ... but I just couldn't put the book down. There was too much crucial action going on. And tomorrow, the "sinful" will sneak in on my glorious day. For tomorrow all the work that could have been accomplished today will still be there, piled on the work to be accomplished tomorrow. And I will have to function in reality, once again subject to the 21st century. But tonight I will just remember the glorious feeling. Tonight I will go to sleep with that cradling me. Tonight I will be in the 17th century. Tonight I will be on a Virginia tobacco farm. Tonight I will stay wrapped in the warmth of the love story I just finished reading.
Tomorrow I will iron ...
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
oops
I guess I let my blog go too long without an update. Sorry about that ...
We've been crazy busy. I went down in the middle of last week to see my mom. I needed the mommy time. I didn't realize it, but Tyler did and told me to go. I am super glad that he realized what was going on and that I needed to see mom. He's a good one ... definately a keeper. :)
We went to JT and Beth's wedding last weekend. It was really pretty. They had their reception at the Packard museum ... I was totally in love with the cars. I dig classics. It was beautiful there. Ahh ... cars ...
Sunday we went to the Columbus Arts Festival with mom. (We stayed with her on Saturday night after the wedding.) It was fun. She bought us a couple of really pretty Celtic harp cds. Good stuff. She also bought Tyler a painting of the Jake in Cleveland. It's really nice. I'm looking forward to finding a frame for it and getting it up on the wall.
I'm with Sophie 18 hours a week now. That's three 6 hour days. Today was good. we went to Curves, the bank, the library, the mall to spend some of her birthday gift cards, the post office ... I'm sure we went somewhere else. We were very productive. I'm there again on Thursday, she's with her dad tomorrow.
Okay ... time to down some dinner before Bible discussion group. Tyler cooked. It smells really good. Yeah ... he's definately a keeper. :P
We've been crazy busy. I went down in the middle of last week to see my mom. I needed the mommy time. I didn't realize it, but Tyler did and told me to go. I am super glad that he realized what was going on and that I needed to see mom. He's a good one ... definately a keeper. :)
We went to JT and Beth's wedding last weekend. It was really pretty. They had their reception at the Packard museum ... I was totally in love with the cars. I dig classics. It was beautiful there. Ahh ... cars ...
Sunday we went to the Columbus Arts Festival with mom. (We stayed with her on Saturday night after the wedding.) It was fun. She bought us a couple of really pretty Celtic harp cds. Good stuff. She also bought Tyler a painting of the Jake in Cleveland. It's really nice. I'm looking forward to finding a frame for it and getting it up on the wall.
I'm with Sophie 18 hours a week now. That's three 6 hour days. Today was good. we went to Curves, the bank, the library, the mall to spend some of her birthday gift cards, the post office ... I'm sure we went somewhere else. We were very productive. I'm there again on Thursday, she's with her dad tomorrow.
Okay ... time to down some dinner before Bible discussion group. Tyler cooked. It smells really good. Yeah ... he's definately a keeper. :P
Sunday, June 03, 2007
babette ate oatmeal
(yes. I'm a Gilmore junkie. I admit it.)
So there's something that really frustrates me about Christianity and the Church. (Actually, there are a lot of things that frustrate me, but this post is only about one ... so on with the rant ...) There seems to be this line of thought or belief or theme or something that states when one prays, "God, use me." that God's use of you will be monumental. People say that they're scared to use that prayer because they're afraid of what will be asked of them. Why is it that the feeling is that being used by God means that He'll ask you to sell all of your belongings and move to a tiki hut in the middle of Africa to preach to the aborigines who only speak African clicking languages? Why must everything be newsworthy? Why do we assume that we'll be there to see and know that what we did was huge and a major impact in someone's life? Doesn't the Bible tell us that we're not always there to see the fruits of our labor? Why can't God using you look like you smiling at the cashier at Wal-Mart? Why can't it be feeding a friend dinner one night? Why can't it be sending an email or calling someone you're thinking about right then? How do we know that our small, seemingly insignificant actions don't mean the world to someone?
And so - this begs yet another question. Why must everything newsworthy be huge? We're the one's who define "newsworthy", so why not redefine it? I know that Tyler and I have been monumentally blessed and gifted by friends who thought they were doing nothing more than feeding us dinner. It was mundane to them - but monumental to us. We felt it was newsworthy. But did they ever realize that? Were they ever meant to? I don't know the answers to those questions. But, what I do know is that we too often overlook the mundane because it doesn't seem monumental to us. Perhaps we should shift our focus? Maybe that's the idea. Maybe the idea is to not be afraid of moving to Africa ...
God, use me.
So there's something that really frustrates me about Christianity and the Church. (Actually, there are a lot of things that frustrate me, but this post is only about one ... so on with the rant ...) There seems to be this line of thought or belief or theme or something that states when one prays, "God, use me." that God's use of you will be monumental. People say that they're scared to use that prayer because they're afraid of what will be asked of them. Why is it that the feeling is that being used by God means that He'll ask you to sell all of your belongings and move to a tiki hut in the middle of Africa to preach to the aborigines who only speak African clicking languages? Why must everything be newsworthy? Why do we assume that we'll be there to see and know that what we did was huge and a major impact in someone's life? Doesn't the Bible tell us that we're not always there to see the fruits of our labor? Why can't God using you look like you smiling at the cashier at Wal-Mart? Why can't it be feeding a friend dinner one night? Why can't it be sending an email or calling someone you're thinking about right then? How do we know that our small, seemingly insignificant actions don't mean the world to someone?
And so - this begs yet another question. Why must everything newsworthy be huge? We're the one's who define "newsworthy", so why not redefine it? I know that Tyler and I have been monumentally blessed and gifted by friends who thought they were doing nothing more than feeding us dinner. It was mundane to them - but monumental to us. We felt it was newsworthy. But did they ever realize that? Were they ever meant to? I don't know the answers to those questions. But, what I do know is that we too often overlook the mundane because it doesn't seem monumental to us. Perhaps we should shift our focus? Maybe that's the idea. Maybe the idea is to not be afraid of moving to Africa ...
God, use me.
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