Updatedness....

Henceforth, thereafter and all the past updated to this date and moment in the ever advancing time continuum of life (say, what?…oh, never mind…just keep reading).

It appears I haven't blogged since last, er, um, Wednesday, November 24, 2004. Thanksgiving Day loomed, company was coming and no cakes baked (which IS an old Southern saying). So, I have spent the majority of my brief four days off…cooking! Of which, I truly love to do.

Wednesday (11/24/04 - 12:20 p.m.) - I clocked out from my place of employ and began the Thanksgiving dash. What is the "dash" you ask? Ah, well, it would be the list of last minute things you need to get at the grocery store, for the last time, so you don't have to run out at 11:30 p.m. and vie for a parking spot at the local grocery retailer. You WOULD be amazed at how many people are shopping for Thanksgiving dinner ingredients at 11:30 p.m. on the eve of Thanksgiving! Venturing forth into the grocery store at such a time is equal to taking a tightrope walk across Niagara Falls (quite dangerous, and very messy - all that misty water swirling around you, and NOT to mention what that mist does to your otherwise straight hair). Well, it was upon this last excursion to the grocery store wherewith I alighted upon a hair frosting kit that was on sale. CanNOT pass up said bargain.

Same day - 2:30 p.m. - arrived at home to find a quite amicable Jameson most willing to do my bidding (which must be a direct result of being allowed to stay home and play Halo2 for several hours). Tasked Jameson with unloading the car. I will spare you the minutia of details involving my Wednesday afternoon, but it encompassed a sparkling clean bathroom, set straight bedroom, breakfast casserole preparation, baking a cake (truly), shredding roast beast for the black-bean-chili, assessing the spare bedroom for dumpage of miscellaneous odds and ends and a brief respite in my favorite chair at 6:25 p.m. Somewhere in this timeframe, Mistress Sarah sauntered over and challenged Jameson (a.k.a. Deaths a'knockin) to a Halo2 duel. Secured Sarah's services for assisting me with frosting my hair later in the evening.

Same day - 7:05 p.m. - arrived at church for the Thanksgiving Eve Service. All were thankful. Jameson declared his thankfulness for me in the car on the way home (must be the eagerly anticipated breakfast casserole prompting his gratitude). [On a huge side note: perhaps my mother is correct after all in her assessment, "the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach."]

Same day - 9:00 p.m. - finished prepping food for T-day. Unloaded and loaded dishwasher for the umpteenth time (yes, I KNOW, be thankful I have a dishwasher!!!). Around 9:30ish p.m., engaged Sarah in the frosting of my hair. Several references to "Gollum", an "Alien" and other such unflattering comments spewed forth from several degenerate tweenagers. I must say, however, Sarah makes a fine hairstylist. As a hobby, she could always take up "doing hair" for fun. I am truly sorry she was traumatized by the experience, but not one hair was lost nor one hole poked into my skull (not for lack of trying, however). The results were exactly as I desired! Thanks so much.

Well, I am exhausted just rehashing my "Thanksgiving Eve" exploits…so, you shall have to await further comments on the gourmet turkeys, etceteras, so forths, and so ons.

dogledanje!!

I love Thanksgiving!!!

A Psalm for Thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and
not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him,
bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Well, why not? We have Christmas Eve. What are you thankful for? Me, well, I have an abundance of blessings and reasons to be thankful. Aye-yup…here comes my Thanksgiving List (not to be confused with my Christmas List…he.he.he…)

1. God's grace and mercy to me.
   
2. Friends who love God and care more about what He thinks.
   
3. A husband who loves God and lives an incredible love to me.
   
4. A son who makes me laugh.
   
5. Parents who are still alive (and kickin' - or trying to!).
   
6. A roof over my head, wood in my fireplace, food in my pantry, heat to stay warm and light by which to read.
   
7. God's Word, His love-letter to me.
   
8. Great neighbors!
   
9. A clean house (thanks profusely to the youngest neighbor!).
   
10. A normal, healthy son who is smarter than he thinks, and enjoyable to have around.
    
11. A clean fishtank.
    
12. A steady job with great benefits. The ability to work.
    
13. The opportunity to serve in God's work.
    
14. The freedom to pray, worship and attend church openly.
    
15. Two-for-one Starbucks coupons.
    
16. The "beast" which keeps running, even though it seems like it is on its last leg (er, wheel).
    
17. Clothes that fit.
    
18. Hair that doesn't seem to be falling out.
    
19. Vanilla-Swiss-Almond Ice Cream.
    
20. A great cup of coffee in the morning!
    
21. A mouthy, but obedient dog and cats who still like to curl up on my lap.
    
22. Settlers and LOTR Monopoly.
    
23. Chai Lattes and Chai Crème over ice.
    
24. A sense of humor (okay, well, I think I have a sense of humor).
    
25. No driveways to shovel, no icy windshields to scrape and no icy roads to navigate.
    
26. That I live in 2004 and not 1804, when there were no food processors, microwaves or washing machines & dryers. *Remind me to tell you about my pumpkin theory.
    
27. Everything I have is a direct gift from God.
    
28. Thanksgiving!
    

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. May you eat to your fill, praise God for all you have and enjoy even the mundane events associated with visiting relatives, friends and family. Look at each face, enjoy each moment, and find a way to bring a smile to everyone.
Dogledanje!!

Good question!

Titus 3:1-9

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

From Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotions

"Avoid foolish questions." Titus 3:9

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle’s precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings.

There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to "avoid foolish questions."

So, as you go into the weekend, consider these questions:

• Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
  
• Are you renewed in the spirit of your mind? Do you know what that means?
  
• Are you walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Do you know the difference?
  
• Are you growing in grace? How do you know? What is your benchmark?
  
• Do your conversations adorn the doctrine of God your Savior?
  
• Are you looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master?
  

What more can you do for Jesus? Today and every day?

What do you think?

Dogledanje!!

Life imitates fiction...OR does it? Hmmm???

I KNOW I did not give Judy her bug. Mine was entirely different and hung out in the nether regions of my body. Unless, it was a trans-migrating-mutant-imported bug (which would lean one to look askance at Sally as she is the ONLY person who has recently traveled and returned hither from thither).

You know what is super strange? I'm reading "The Stand" by Steven King. (NO! It is NOT strange that I am reading, silly reader…what is strange…oooops…need to leave this parenthetical section.) This is my second time to read "The Stand". The same thing happened to me the first time I was reading it! That is really weird! So what is it???? Well, read on.

First off, as before, I cannot recommend anyone actually waste their brain cells reading the book. However, I can say it is his best work - next to "The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon." I've attempted to read several of King's novels…only to be put off by the foul language and pithy characters who only manage yawning two-dimensional personalities.

Secondly, I read "The Stand" after a recommendation from a friend I respected and admired. Whom now I can't seem to remember their name nor why I respected or admired them. Isn't that interesting? See, wasted brain cells from re-reading a Steven King novel. Okay, I detoured a bit there. Thanks for sticking with me thus far. (Most folks don't really say "thus" any more. I wonder why THAT is? Boy, I sure seem to be all over the map today! Maybe I have a touch of ADD!!!)

Um, thirdly…what? I am sooo sorry if this blathering and botching of thought seems disjointed.

Uh, so, what is super strange? Well, glad you asked! When I first read "The Stand", I was a bit of a traveler for business reasons. Which has not much to do with this, now that I think about it. But, the plot of the book (Do you think you're going to read the book? Well then do not read on as there are SPOILERS, sort of, to follow - about the plot of the book, I mean.) is apocalyptic in nature. In the book, the government has finally blown it and mistakenly released a trans-migrating-mutant-imported bug (sound familiar?). It is super fatal, super easy to catch (as it is airborne) and starts off like the common cold. So, while you're reading the book, people are sniffling, coughing (ahem, Frank), hacking and harboring fevers of like 102 or something (in the book that is). As you are reading the book, you no longer treat the sound of someone coughing as benign. It kind of freaks you out. As it did me the first time I was reading this book.

Then, I saw the movie. If you saw the movie (which was a mini-series over a period of nights on network television…and starred Rob Lowe, Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, etc.), and you liked it, you would probably find the book a bzillion times better ('cept there is a bunch of foul language, by the foul-language people). However, when I saw the movie…I didn't think twice or pay attention to any one sneezing, coughing or sniffling around me.

Now, I'm re-reading the book (for reasons I can't explain, unless you want to go with the wasted brain cells theory I introduced earlier…) and the same silly thing is happening again.

And, now, I WORK at a HOSPITAL. And, what happened today????

Glad you asked. Today was a "County wide disaster drill". Our hospital took part in the drill. Guess what the disaster was that all the kiddies were coming in for? You guessed it: a non-determined bio-agent threat with "flu-like" symptoms. Sheeesh!
Is that creepy or what?

aaaachooooooooooooooo! Sheesh!
dogledanje...

14 hOuR dAy!

Hey! I get to work a 14-hour workday today. Hold me back. Currently, we are on hour 8.25 and I have 5.75 more hours to go.
Little known fact: There are approximately 104 pieces in a medium sized (net weight 11 oz) bag of Almond M&M's. How do I know this….need you ask? Next time, I think I shall have to go for the large sized bag of Almond M&M's. Did you know that eating Almond M&M's while watching testimonial videos of parents, siblings and relatives discussing their dying or deceased child ALMOST renders you tearless?
Did you also know physicians have to attend 12 continuing medical education hours covering Palliative Care and/or Pain Management, End of Life Care? And, they have to achieve this to renew their licenses by 2006.
That is why I'm working 14 hours today. We are offering 6 hours of CME for Palliative/End of Life Care for children with chronic or acute illnesses. We had a session this morning, another at lunch, an afternoon session and will end the day with a dinner lecture.
The Physician/Palliative Care Educator: Marcia Levetown, MD is absolutely amazing. Her warmth, compassion, empathy and emphasis on the individual as a person is exceptional. Even as she lectures and discusses case examples, you can still hear the personal affection for each child and her dedication to having them live life with dignity until the last breath.
Hmm…dealt with a death topic yesterday and again today.
Question for you: When you think about dying, what do you think? I know Frank doesn't want to have any pain…he is allergic to it or something.
Oooppss…time to run. More lectures on end of life care! Yahooie!
Dogledanje!!

Heavenly ponderings...

Today, I have the joy and privilege of driving around "the beast." That would be the Ford Ranger, to you less informed folks.

Frank needed my car to drive to Forest Lawn and act as a pallbearer at Hank Cowell's funeral. Frank reported there were tears, but mostly rejoicing in Hank's passing from this troubled world into eternal glory with Christ. And, there was mention of Hank finally meeting up again with his beloved Olive. I wonder if those are nice sentiments for the benefit of those left behind? I mean, it is romantic to think of Hank and Olive embracing and enjoying being together again…but, really, how does that compare to being with Christ? It cannot compare. I think marriage now is a dim shadow of the perfect relationship we will share in glory with Christ. Granted, a relationship we can enjoy and relish NOW. It will be a bzillion times better after this life is over cause we'll escape these fleshly bodies, imperfect and be transformed, glorified into heavenly bodies…perfect. I can only imagine!

Have you ever wondered what happens at the exact moment you exhale your last breath on this doomed planet and inhale your next breath in the presence of the Lord? (I'm assuming you still look like you might be breathing…but, do spirits really breathe? Probably not-but maybe they still look like they do when in a body form of some kind? So, when Jesus was on the earth for 50 some odd days after His resurrection, walking around, talking and eating with His disciples…did he NOT breathe?)

Have you heard angels are sent to accompany or transport us in the "blink of an eye" time it takes to go from earthly passing (physical death) to heavenly living (spiritual eternal life)? I'll have to research this tidbit to see where exactly folks get that bit of trivia from as one of the jobs the angelic beings have.

And, if a thousand days here is like a day to the Lord and vice versa…does time end when we die and eternity, without time, begin? So, if time ends when we die…how long does it REALLY take to get from here to there, requiring angelic assistance along the way? I am sure I am so limited by my finite brain to truly grasp and comprehend such data. Probably why I still think in terms of time, distance and locality.

But really kind of cool to ponder, eh? Don't hurt your brain too much. God provides plenty of information to satisfy the rudiments of curiosity and leaves the rest unsaid. So to quote a famous friend, "don't go there." Playing around with the "what ifs" sparkfires my imagination and spurs me to wonder and wander down paths of fantastical thought. I can only imagine!

How about you? Do you wonder in awe at someday being in the presence of the Creator of the universe? Do you eagerly long for that day? Hmm..if you don't, aren't you a bit curious as to why? I would argue perhaps you don't know your Creator like you should.

Otherwise, you'd be able to agree with John and stand on a hilltop, with your arms outstretched as if you are embracing the sky and pray, or excitedly holler, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

Revelation 22:20
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Indeed, come Lord Jesus!

I can only imagine….

Dogledanje!!

Official Flu Bug...bugging everyone

Okay, so, I know it is a lousy excuse, but I had some intestinal flu bug on Saturday AND Sunday...and that is why I wasn't there....so, I would feel better and be able to come to work here...

And, here...everyone has that same intestinal flu bug and there is a real shortage of residents today and bosses and admin. assistants...at least I know I didn't give it to everyone else, cause I was home when I was sick.

So, er, um...watch out Bethany, Sarah, Judy, Sally, Jameson and Frank...if your tummy hurts and you feel the need to relieve it of its contents...my bug jumped from me and landed on you.

The up side, is, I'm not real hungry, still. The down side is, I missed church! Which I love! I love going to church!!!

Okay, well, I have to get back to work and do what I'm paid here to do. Which today, is everything.

Joke -

How does a Rancher count his cows?

Are you ready?

Don't groan.

He uses a COWculator! Guffaw..guffaw...guffaw!

Thank you Sarah, for updating your Blog. It is part of my daily routine to read your blog. It always brings a smile to my face!

dogeldanje...

Remember the Children from Ma'alot

It would take an encyclopedia to catalog all of the evil Arafat committed. But that is no excuse for not trying to recall at least some of it.

Perhaps his signal contribution to the practice of political terror was the introduction of warfare against children. On one black date in May 1974, three PLO terrorists slipped from Lebanon into the northern Israeli town of Ma'alot. They murdered two parents and their child at home, then seized a local school, taking more than 100 boys and girls hostage and threatening to kill them unless a number of imprisoned terrorists were released. When Israeli troops attempted a rescue, the terrorists exploded hand grenades and opened fire on the students. By the time the horror ended, 25 people were dead; 21 of them were children.

Thirty years later, no one speaks of Ma'alot anymore. The dead children have been forgotten. Everyone knows Arafat's name, but who ever recalls the names of his victims?

So let us recall them:

Ilana Turgeman
Rachel Aputa
Yocheved Mazoz
Sarah Ben-Shim'on
Yona Sabag
Yafa Cohen
Shoshana Cohen
Michal Sitrok
Malka Amrosy
Aviva Saada
Yocheved Diyi
Yaakov Levi
Yaakov Kabla
Rina Cohen
Ilana Ne'eman
Sarah Madar
Tamar Dahan
Sarah Soper
Lili Morad
David Madar
Yehudit Madar

The 21 dead children of Ma'alot -- 21 of the thousands of innocents who died at Arafat's command.

Taken from Jeff Jacoby's article: Arafat the Monster

Let us not forget. Ever.

Go home. Hug your children. Hug your parents. Thank God for allowing you another day and a life lived thus far. If you are a believer, make sure your life counts for God. Nothing else matters.

dogledanje!

Remember the Victims...NOT the Criminal

Before we shed a tear for the passing of the PLO leader, Yasser Arafat, one should recall the violent and criminal record of this hideous man. I was quite young back in the early 70's, but I still associate the face of Arafat with the word "terrorist." In fact, he was largely responsible for introducing the world to brand new terrorist tactics and heinous crimes rivaled only by the memory of the hideous atrocities committed by Hitler.

For a bit of history, here is a stark yet interesting article written by Rachel Neuwirth (a freelance journalist in Los Angeles).

Yasser Arafat hated Israel. He hated the Jewish people.

This morning on KRLA AM870, the talk show host, who replaced Dennis Prager today, did a decent job of reminding listeners of the terrorist criminal Arafat was. He recounted one "strategic mission" of PLO terrorists, sanctioned by Arafat, a decade or so ago which resulted in holding an elementary school hostage. After several days, the standoff ended with 25 people dead, 21 of whom were children. The host read each name. I was moved to tears.

We need to do more remembering of the victims and less touting of the criminals.

And personally, I think former president Jimmy Carter should resign his American citizenship and become a Frenchman or an Arab. His presence at the funeral for Arafat's "carcass" (as one writer at TruthNews.com put it), is a betrayal of America, our values and the men and women shedding their blood to fight the war on terror.

God: vacation home or permanent dwelling place?

"The eternal God is thy refuge." Deut 33:27

From Spurgeon's Morning & Evening:
The word refuge may be translated "mansion," or "abiding- place," which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home. There is a fullness and sweetness in the metaphor, for dear to our hearts is our home, although it be the humblest cottage, or the scantiest garret; and dearer far is our blessed God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. It is at home that we feel safe: we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. So when we are with our God we "fear no evil." He is our shelter and retreat, our abiding refuge. At home, we take our rest; it is there we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. And so our hearts find rest in God, when, wearied with life’s conflict, we turn to Him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our hearts loose; we are not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of our words being misconstrued. So when we are with God we can commune freely with Him, laying open all our hidden desires; for if the "secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him," the secrets of them that fear Him ought to be, and must be, with their Lord. Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in Him whom far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labor. The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burden, and quickens the fingers to perform the task; and in this sense we may also say that God is our home. Love to Him strengthens us. We think of Him in the person of His dear Son; and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labor in His cause. We feel that we must work, for we have brethren yet to be saved, and we have our Father’s heart to make glad by bringing home His wandering sons; we would fill with holy mirth the sacred family among whom we dwell. Happy are those who have thus the God of Jacob for their refuge!

Besides, "this world is not my home, I'm just passing through."
And, if you haven't read, "My Heart, Christ's Home" let me know. I have a copy I'd love to lend you.

Another beautiful analogy is "The Room" found on Josh Harris' website.

Thank you God, for the Veterans who willingly (or sometimes, not so willingly) served our country yesterday, today and in the future. By Your grace and mercy, we live in freedom today.

Chase God today!

Dogledanje!!

Frog jokes...Halo-2...Thanksgiving

Did I mention my favorite day is approaching?

Yes, boys and girls, November 21st is my favorite day! Do not question why, as I will not be able to give a response to soothe your curiosity. It just IS....my favorite day, that is.

Sorry Sarah, I DO like the frog jokes. They make me smile.

And yes, I was briefly on the Hugh Hewitt radio show last night via cell phone. I called in to be the first female to comment on Halo 2 and it's debut. I even mentioned my neighbor, who is also female, but didn't mention her name to protect her. The host was mildly impressed that 1) I called in; 2) I'm over 40 and have played this game - er...more like...kinda got nauseaus and would just get oriented enough for Jameson to blast me out of existence; and 3) Don't think it will bring the downfall of America if our kids play the game. However, it must be used in moderation and have time limits (really).

I love THANKSGIVING! Probably moreso than Christmas. And, I am excited that this year, we will be in a somewhat larger living space and have REAL dishes to mess up.

No bolding, color changes or aesthetic alterations on this post. Silent protest, you know.

dogledanje!

Wrong Information!!!

So, ahem! The Extended version of the LOTR: The Return of the King does NOT come out this week. It IS December 14, 2004.

I propose we have a LOTR marathon...soon...very soon! The first movie, LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring debuted (how come that word looks like "day-butt-ted"?) on national Television last night. I did NOT watch it.

Instead, I watched a heart-rending home improvement show that had everyone teary-eyed and hopeful that "Lance" wouldn't accidentally fly over the fence.

It is the simple things in life.

Hey, what do you know? Reading glasses really do work on tiny letters and lots of black writing on white paper. Go figure.

Wahoo! I get to go home and make Tuna Casserole in exactly 8 more minutes. Ah, but first, must stop off and purchase a dairy cow to stave the consumption needs of the men in my home.

Oh, the joys of November.

dogeldanje!!

Sneaky Frankses...trying to trickses us, presciousssss...yesss...trickses ussss

Well, the time has come...

Yes, it IS true. I can no longer deny...the fact that I...

***drum-roll please****

**dum..da..dum..da..dum..da..dum**

**bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrump....bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrump**

**dum..da..dum..da..dum..da..dum**

**bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrump....bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrump**

**dum..da..dum..da..dum..da..dum**

**bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrump....bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrump**

**dum..da..dum..da..dum..da..dum**

**bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrump....bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrump**

....need reading glasses. Aargh!

Being over 40 is wonderful in so many ways...but this little physiological fact of life ain't one of them!

Heavy sigh.

Could explain the sinus headaches and eye fatigue.

Funny, my eyes don't seem to bother me when I'm reading at night before I go to bed.
Isn't that odd???

Hey! Quit laughing....have a great weekend!

dogledanje!!

Christmas is coming!!!

Okay, it IS official. I have red hair! NO, it is NOT strawberry blonde. NO, it is NOT goldish-red. Thar be no blonde hars upon me heed!

One of the docs just walked into the office and took a double look at me - sitting quietly at my desk - minding my own business - working in my own office- and he says, "Bruja! (which I think is affectionate Peruvian for
"witch") Vat hoppened to yer har? Yer har usedt to be so prurety and
goldfish (he.he.he..) in curlor!! Me-ja! Vat did yewe due ter yer har?"
To which I replied, "Shut up and speak American!!!"
"I zink it wuz bheader the othur curlor!" Then, he rudely stands in my doorway gawking at me! Grrr…

To add insult to injury, my son (for whom I endured much pain in childbirth to bring into this world) walks into the Student Ministry room last night and said (in a manner as to alert the media), "Your hair is RED!" (Can't get anything past him!)

Okay, so it is a bit drastic. It IS a bit different. But I don't think it looks bad! Frank doesn't seem to have a problem with it. The truth be known, my hair color now is the closest to my natural color (gasp!).

Random thought - I want to go back to school and get a degree in Biblical counseling.

Must be a mid-life crisis I'm having.

Hey! Tonight Frank and I are going on a date. We're going to be all romantical and stuff and walk around Laguna Beach and hold hands and giggle and peer into each other's souls (he said we could!). And, we'll probably get something to eat too.

Another Random thought - I HATE the fact that food tastes soooo good! I wonder if there is a medical procedure to deaden your tastebuds so nothing tastes good anymore and you just eat plain, healthful-type stuff to keep your body in nutritional shape!? Wasn't there a scene in a movie where some actress tried to do something like that? Er…no…it was her smeller. She wanted to remove her smeller ability so she wouldn't be able to smell smells that reminded her of the cad that just broke her heart. Well, I don't have THAT problem. I think Ashley Judd was in the movie with Hugh Jackman. Ahhhhh, yes…."Someone like You" was the title. Chick flick. Pretty funny chick flick.

May have to go on my wish list for Christmas….

Speaking of which…for those of you who care…here is Mary's official Christmas Wish list:

1. $1 Billion dollars, tax-free.
2. Any Mindi Abair Music CD.
3. 5 karat total, diamond anniversary band.
4. Any Marc Antoine Music CD.
5. A 5,000 sq ft country cottage with a wrap-around porch, which back door opens 500 feet from a placid lake in the woods with no fleas, ticks, mosquitoes or other such nuisiances.
6. The book, When People are Big and God is Small.
7. A convertible Mazda Miata, honey/peachy colored with gold trim and tan leather seats and a personalized license plate: honybun or TBKsBQ
8. A queen-sized down comforter with a moss or celery green duvet.
9. To not have to work, but get paid anyway.
10. A villa in Tuscanny, Italy.
11. Halston Perfume.
12. A not still a kitten, but not fully adult, Ragdoll or Maine Coon cat named: Peaches, Precious, Willy or Beautimus Maximus (Maxi for short).
13. An ant-immune house.
14. A real telescope to star gaze and moon gaze and planet gaze.
15. A personal assistant/maid/double/robot.
16. A cleaned out, organized, boxes culled & discarded, garage.
17. "Sense & Sensibility" on DVD.
18. "Someone like You" on DVD.
19. Anne Klein Perfume.
20. To feel like I'm sleeping in when I get up at 6:00 a.m.
21. "Aladdin" on DVD.
22. Any Acoustic Alchemy CD (except the two I already own).
23. A visit to see and play with Fainting Goats.
24. A Master's Degree in….???
25. All the Aahhhh! Real Monsters episodes.
26. A huge cutting board (like the one the Jones' have).
27. My "Guess" watch fixed.
28. My own island.
29. A Starbuck's Giftcard.
30. A huge box of milk-chocolate covered cherries.
31. Tickets to see the "Ten Commandments" with Val Kilmer.
32. A ceiling fan in my bedroom.
33. A 12-month subscription to "Sunset" Magazine.
34. All my photos developed and organized in scrapbooks.
35. A sewing machine.
36. A huge tub of Sweetstripes.
37. A huge jar of Almond M&M's.
38. Trips to see the Grand Canyon; Mount Rushmore; Banff, Canada; White Sands, NM; A tour of the Antebellum homes in the South; Edward Island; my sister in Colorado; and to stay in the hotel from the movie "Somewhere in Time".
39. A WalMart giftcard.
40. To plan and execute the repainting of our kitchen.

Have you made your list? What do YOU want for Christmas????

Dream BIG!

Rhetoric...Victorious and otherwise

In case you missed it (which most of us did…as we were either at work or at school or in surgery [okay, I don't know anyone who was actually in surgery] or taking a nap [I could use a good nap!])….

Here is the text of President Bush's Victory speech -> here

and, in case you are curious, and because I want to do my part to help "begin the healing…" [I didn't know anyone was sick…since when, when two people argue from different points of view is a call for "healing" needed?]…anyway

Here is the text of John Kerry's concession speech -> here
I have to admit, the reading of it sounded very warm, fuzzy and kinda gave me goosey-pimples (well, really, only because I have stood in Fanuiel Hall, where Senator Kerry stood today to give his concession speech.)

Well, there you have it. Now it's back to business.

In retrospect, we should've stayed up all night watching the pundits hem and haw over Ohio! We could of played Scrabble [100 points for "GWBush" and 50 points for "JFKerry" and 270 points for "Ohio"…he.he.he…I just kill myself sometimes!], drank hot cider and developed carpal tunnel syndrome from hitting the "previous channel" button on the TV Remote!

Okay, so it wouldn't have been as exciting as waiting for the 3rd installment of the LOTR Trilogy…but it would've been fun! Sleep is over-rated anyway!

Yeah, right.

Eh?

Wonder if anyone attended classes at the Electoral College today? He.he.he….

President Seabiscuit...

I like this article I just read entitled President Seabiscuit.

I may have to read the book now.

Pleased AND disturbed...

Overall, I am please with the results of our November 2nd election! If you are curious to see how Orange County voted on stuff (some of which I do not recall casting a vote for or against…hmmm), you can click here to see the breakdown from the OC Registrar of Voters.

Here are a few stats, just for Orange County -

Total Registered Voters - 1,495,824
Precinct Registration - 1,495,824
Precinct Ballots Cast - 601,352 - 40.2%
Early Ballots Cast - 29,228 - 2.0%
Absentee Ballots Cast - 153,884 - 10.3%
Total Ballots Cast - 784,464 - 52.4%

So, 52% of Orange County registered voters voted in this election! I know for a fact that the 1,495,824 "total registered voters" is off by at least 1. They had Frank down twice to vote! Which was pretty interesting in itself.

I find it interesting that I did NOT have to show any kind of ID to prove who I was. I mean, I KNOW who I am, but these dedicated poll workers had no notion of who I was!

I am thankful that President Bush was re-elected. Praise God!

I am very sad California passed the Stem Cell Research Proposition (71). In fact, I am deeply disturbed by this. I wonder if where I work will get on the band wagon and try to get a piece of the $6 Billion pie??? I will have to discuss this issue with Frank. For, if they do decide to do embryonic stem cell research where I work, I will have to start looking for another job (that IS how strongly I feel about this issue)!

I know our Research Department has been using stem cells from saved umbilical cords donated for this very purpose. I hope and pray they leave it at that. My director is keeping a close eye on this and promises to keep me informed on the future plans of our research!

Perhaps we should consider moving to Ohio??? At least I know how the voters there feel about keeping marriage between one man and one woman! Hmmm…that is also where Alistair Begg preaches!!!

There's always Canada.

eh? After all, Judy is from Canada...so it can't be that bad!