.: February 2007

Wordless Wednesday ... leftovers...

Labels: WW

A Pointless Post

So. Yesterday was a wordless Monday, and tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday ... I guess I better get some words down today! Huh? Yesterday I was less than thrilled with the world and it's happenings, so I chose (for once) to keep my mouth shut and go back to bed and try to sleep it away! In case your wondering, it didn't work. The world was still here when I woke up.

We are having "vehicle issues" in my home. Mathew's car is in the shop because someone backed into him last week. Derek's car is out of breaks. My car needs tires before I go to New York this weekend. Ugh. Since Amanda is still in Colorado, her car has been available as a "spare" which has been helpful ... Today we are celebrating car day! I'm getting my tires at 10:30... Derek is getting breaks at 1:00 and Mathew's car should be ready when he gets off work today! YAY! I had to drive him to work this morning which means I've had less sleep. I also had less patience over some issues surrounding all this... and he and I exchanged words on the trip to work. (loudly) Less is not always more... sometimes less is less...

My camera's both ran out of batteries yesterday. Mathew had my car so I couldn't run out and get any. I'll have to get some this morning while I'm wasting time waiting for tires! Even if I don't spot ANYthing to take a picture of - just knowing that I can't drives me crazy! Yep... I'm a camera addict. Do they have Photographers Anonymous? My name is Melli... I take 70 pictures a day... I can't control myself... My old camera had the rechargeable battery pack. I liked that SO much better! I don't know why most of the new cameras have gone back to the disposable AA batteries. They are less reliable!

With ANY luck I will also remember to take my six overdue library books back today. They have been stacked on the cat-tree right next to the front door for over a week now. But I have less of a memory these days, and too many good books at home right now. Less need to get to the library! I got a notice in the mail this week ... so I know they are pretty far past due. My library loves me. I support them on a regular basis!

It's Tuesday which means Krysti and I will be playing Trivia tonight at a local restaurant here in town. For awhile I had the whole family (sans Dennis) going ... but the others dropped out slowly but surely. I'm hosting a round tonight. If I'm hosting a round, it gives Krys and I a little better chance of scoring some points! Captain Tom and Amy (his first mate) take our place to answer the questions that I have come up with. Cap'n & Amy are lots more knowledgeable in the Useless Information arena than Krysti and I are ... so this helps! Krysti and I always come in LAST place. Every week. It's okay. We're happy there. We are low-lifes and we know our place as such! It's comfortable at the bottom. No pressure. ;)

Had enough yet? Okay... well I have! I'm done!

Have a great day!

Another Busy Sunday....

So we were supposed to wake up to (yet another) ice storm this morning.... I went to bed thinking I probably wouldn't get to go to church and praying for some Divine intervention on my behalf! GOD is GOOD! (real good!) I woke up at 6:30 this morning -- and there was a LITTLE bit of ice -- but it was kind of slushy ice -- not really sure if it wanted to crystalize... or melt. So I made it (easily) to the 8:00 service ... have I mentioned how much I LOVE this church!? LOL! *a time or two ... maybe*.... Today I met "the" woman who I'm going to assume is the "black sheep" of the congregation. She spotted me ... sitting in her pew... and after the service she grabbed me! She asked if I was "new" and I told her I'd been coming for about a month - but to the 11:00 service, and that I had something to do this morning, so I came to the early one - and that I had been wanting to TRY the early service anyway, because I really DO like the more traditional songs sometimes! Well that got her started! The opening hymn this morning was A Mighty Fortress Is Our God -- and I commented that while the tune was the same - the words were not the same that I was used to. THAT set her off! She didn't know WHY they did that version today, and well, she was just going to have to have a TALK with the organist! They've been doing this "newer" version too much and they need to go back to the OLD version sometimes! LOL! I moved on to another topic! I asked if she was involved in any of the Bible studies because I'm interested in joining one.... Well! I got an earful about that! She was being very NICE... so at first she had me a little worried! I thought "oh no! What if there is dissension among the masses at my new beloved church?" This idea was terrifying! I LOVE this church SO much and to find out now that their might be squabbling was going to break my heart! About this time she started telling me about how she just LOVES fellowship - and that she is sO disappointed because the "fellowship" after the Sunday services has been "stopped" and a LOT of people have LEFT the church, and BOY! I thought -- this is just NOT what I've been noticing or hearing from ANYONE else! About this time a nice gentleman came over to talk and I was saying to her that I thought there WAS fellowship after each service - and also a large fellowship gathering -- as a matter of fact, a DINNER - every Wednesday with a brief service following. Oh NO she said! That's only this PAST Wednesday because of Ash Wednesday and Lent and all. ( I was pretty sure I had read that it was every Wednesday...) So she says to this gentleman "REMEMBER when we used to have fellowship at this church?" ... and he looked at her like she had six heads... and that's when I knew! So he assured her that there WAS still coffee and fellowship after each service on Sunday -- but she swore there was NO ONE back there! And then he set her straight about Wednesdays -- there IS a dinner every Wednesday before the service! ( I thought so) ... So, he wandered away - and I went back to my question about Bible studies. Well then she explained that I shouldn't get her started on Bible studies because THAT was a sore topic! It seems that she will NOT join a Bible study! Why? Because Pastor Paul WANTS her too! Apparently she doesn't LIKE Pastor Paul! (now... he has been there for FIVE YEARS!!!) And I'm wondering HOW could ANYone NOT like Pastor Paul??? But she doesn't! And if HE wants her to join a Bible study, she's NOT! LOL! I did laugh! I really DID laugh! I said (here we go again!) "ooooh. You are really being belligerent aren't you?" (okay -- I said it NICELY!) And she laughed, and said "well maybe a little" - very sarcastically! (meaning - oh yea, a lot!) So I said to her... "Hey! Why don't you JOIN a Bible study with ME?" and SHE laughed!!! "Ohhhhhh NO!" she said! "Ungh-unh! NO WAY!" I laughed! I said "No... seriously! I've NEVER been in a Bible study before ... and it sounds like you're a little scared of a Bible study. Why don't we do it together?" Sooooo... she said she'd think about it! I don't have much confidence about this -- but I'm PRAYING on it! God may have plans for her! ;)

So this afternoon Krysti was speaking in the Regional rounds of her Oratorical competition! About an hour before we had to leave our semi freezing slushy sleet turned to full blown wet, heavy SNOW! I do nOt drive in snow! This was BAD! It was stickin' FAST, and I was hating life! I said a prayer, asked God to STICK with me on this one, and got behind the wheel! I made sure He knew HE was driving! It was UGLY! We passed a service truck (like a utility truck???) that was FLIPPED on it's roof just up the road from here! A few miles later we passed not one, but TWO cars who were driving north - in the SOUTH BOUND lane!!! They had spun out! Keep driving Lord, keep driving! We DID make it there. In time! But we passed about a dozen vehicles that had gone off into the ditches on the side of the road. I'm sure glad I wasn't driving!!!

I forgot to ask for prayers for Krysti here this morning ... but I did ask for them at Church! God MUST have been listening, because although He did NOT see to it that she did her BEST ... or ... well... maybe He did... But her BEST was verrrry poor! LOL! But He definitely put blinders and apparently maybe some EAR PLUGS on the judges ... because she got 2nd place! I don't know WHAT they were thinking! There was another kid there that did SUCH a beautiful job -- and I was POSITIVE he was going to WIN ... but he got 3rd! Krysti flubbed her lines on the long speech and forgot the last half of her short speech and beat that poor kid out. Sometimes there is NO justice! I apologized to the kid - and to his father! I really don't know what the judges were thinking! I LOVE my daughter - and I want her to do well -- but I'm not one that thinks she has to be perfect EVERY time ... I was boggled on this one! She was boggled too! At any rate -- only first place goes on to the State level - so it's over for us! I wish it wasn't over for that boy though!

Labels: Churchy Stuff

Sunday 7

Sunday Seven is a meme designed to give thanks for the little things, or give recognition to the POSITIVE things that happen in our lives. This looked like something that I would really enjoy doing... but just a TINY bit differently. I decided since it is Sunday SEVEN, and there are SEVEN days in the week... I would tell something that I was thankful for or positive in my life on each of the seven days of the past week! If you would like to learn more about Sunday Seven, go here! But make sure to come back! ;)

This week I decided I'd rather start my Seven with the PAST Sunday - that way I can look back over that day instead of trying to decide what to be thankful for - or what might be important in the morning... I prefer to make these decision AFTER I've lived the day! ;)

Sunday - I am sO thankful for Pastor Paul, and his quick wit and his fabulous ability to tell a story and make the Bible come to LIFE! With each passing week I am more and MORE positive that the Lord deposited me on this minister's doorstep!

Monday - I'm thankful for friends like Barbara, who even though she has never met me before, has invited me and my daughter to stay in her home on our upcoming travels to Keuka in March. UNfortunately I had to decline the offer because Krysti would not be comfortable with this at all, but we DO look forward to meeting with her and MAYBE Krysti will feel comfortable to stay with her on a future visit! (we all knOw that I would be there in a heartbeat, and poor Barb would have to BOOT me out a week later! Don't we Daisy???) LOL!

Tuesday - I was thankful for Chiropractors in general - and MY chiropractor specifically!

Wednesday - Wednesday night I was thankful that my friend, Brenda, showed up at Curves right at quitting time to make me stay and do Pilates with her. Our instructor got called away right after Christmas and has not yet returned to conduct our classes! So our little group got a DVD and we still TRY to meet on Wednesday evenings. The last two Wednesday's no one has shown up, so I have come home. So I was very happy that Brenda did show up this week!

Thursday - I am very grateful for such a successful and informative meeting with Pastor Paul today! God IS good... alllllllll the time! (a friend told me that -- and I LOVE it!)

Friday - Sometimes things "happen" and you just think WOW! I got my new work schedule for March on Tuesday, and realized that I've been scheduled to work for the same time that I had scheduled my next massage. I've been meaning to call and rearrange my massage - but I kept forgetting! TODAY, the therapist called ME -- she said "Melli... I don't know HOW this happened, but I accidentally scheduled you when I already HAD an appointment." I laughed -- told her it wasn't going to work for me either - and we rescheduled for the day BEFORE that! YAY!

Saturday - Today I'm thankful that after traveling all over the tri-county area UNsuccessfully trying to find the new "lower carb" pasta made by Dreamfield, I was able to order it on-line straight from their website! I ordered about a months supply of different types so I'll be good for awhile!

Labels: Sunday Seven

SPEAK No Evil !!!

Ohhhhhhh WHEN will I ever get this right??? I got in an argument today. With an 87 year old lady! Uh-huh... yep.... A little OLD lady! A very rude little old lady!

I was in the Hallmark store. She was in line behind me. I was paying for my purchases. It went something like this:

OL (very cranky to clerk) : Do ya HAVE a place in here for a person to sit down?

this is a Hallmark store...

Clerk: No ma'am... I'm sorry, we don't.

OL: (crankier) Well you should HAVE a place in here for a person to sit down! I'm an 87 year old woman and I got bad knees and you should HAVE a place for a person to sit down!

she has a point....

Me: (Looking behind me and not even thinking that I should keep my mouth CLOSED) Perhaps if YOU said please. (and no, I didn't say it sarcastically... but I did feel it sarcastically!)

OL: YOU stay out of this! All I did was make a request!

definitely did not ring of request to me...

Me: "Requests" are usually either preceded or followed by the word PLEASE. You didn't make a request. (heeeeeeeere we gooooooo!) YOU were RUDE! (now, who's being rude???)

OL: (yelling) I was NOT rude! YOU'RE being rude! (correct!) And you shouldn't talk to me like that! I'm 87 years old and I have BAD knees and I NEED a place to sit down!

Me: You're right... I'm being rude too. (but did I say I'm sorry? nooooo... the "sorry" word did not come out of my mouth...) BUT, you were being rude first and I felt a need to defend this young lady. She can't defend herself because she would get fired!

OL: (screaming) I WAS NOT BEING RUDE! I am an old OLD lady! I am 87 years old!

Me: (getting irritated) But being 87 years old does not give you the right to treat other people rudely.

OL: I was NOT rude! YOU are rude and impertinent and you should respect me because I've lived longer than you!

Me: Yes ma'am... and in 87 years, I would have thought you would have learned some manners.

At which point the OTHER worker in the store, brought the old lady a stool. She was appropriately grateful.

OL: Thank you dear! Thank you! You are so kind! I'm just an old old lady and I need a place to sit down. And SOMEbody is calling me rude.

And then I was done paying for my stuff. The clerk whispered "thank you" and I told her to have a nice day! But as I was driving home, I sure wished I'd told that old lady I was sorry. I was. I was very sorry she was being so rude! And ... I was very sorry I couldn't keep my mouth SHUT! *sigh*

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Soft

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Mmmmmmmm.....
My most favorite yummy treat!
A Jello sugar free/fat free double chocolate pudding
with a large squirt of sugar free/fat free whipped cream!
THIS is what allows dieters to be successful!
Soft on the eye...
Soft to eat...
Soft on the calorie budget!

Labels: Photo Hunt

Friday Feast #132

Play Along?

Appetizer
Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it?
Hmmmm... I have a lot of scars! I guess I should just pick one.... Ummmm... I have a scar on my heel and ankle from when I was just a baby - not quite 2 years old - my sister was riding me on the back of her two wheeler -- remember how they used to have those long metal seats that stretched out over the rear fender? Well, I was on that and I stuck my heal in the spokes of the bike! OUCH! I SHOULD have had stitches -- but I think the skin was so torn up that they couldn't really DO stitches (I'm sure today they would find a way to clean it up and do them - but this was almost 48 years ago!) so anyway - they just kinda slapped it all back together and wrapped it up and let it heal! It's not pretty, but over the years it's gotten so it's barely noticeable anymore!

Soup
What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?
4 healthy happy children for starters! But I've also have had some pretty powerful "signs" from above a couple of times. Once was enough to convince me of God's presence -- not that I ever questioned it! He just chose to insure I would NEVER have a doubt! I would say the most recent was allowing me to get all the way to Daisy's house, and parked in a parking lot before my breaks snapped! Well... no... actually, the MOST recent was the HUG he gave me when I found my church! That was pretty powerful.

Salad
Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves.
Sadly, all of them. And I can't name ANY of them! I know one name I expect to HEAR a lot today though -- I don't know how to spell his last name -- but that Simon from American Idol! I bet a LOT of people are going to say him!

Main Course
What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")?
We had a friend who lived up the street -- an elderly gentleman who adopted me so he could play grandpa to someone (lucky ME!) and his name was Mr. Maloney. But I always and forever called him Mr. Baloney! LOL! And now I just have to share one that my oldest son used to say --- cuz it was sooooooo cute! Instead of potato chips he always said "tayta p'chips" -- I don't know HOW he came up with that!

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have always thought beer was disgusting!

Labels: Friday Feast

Meeting Pastor Paul ... one on one...

Yep... today was the day I had my meeting with Pastor Paul. I learned a LOT about my new church. And I learned some stuff about my OLD religion too. But as far as the faith goes, mine is good and no changes needed! As far as the liturgy goes, it's practically one and the same! (I already knew that!) All of my "issues" with the Catholic church are "political" and not a matter of faith. So this is all good! The baptisms are the same, so I'm good on that. Communion is ALMOST identical and I'm very good with that! I haven't taken communion as of yet when I went to church because I really had questions about the confession thing, and being free of sin before accepting communion. So he got me all squared away on that, and I really do believe that the Lutheran way of handling it is better. Basically it's just part of the regular service UNLESS you have something that is really grating on you, in which case you CAN have a private confession. So, this was very good! Good information. We talked about my family and where each of us are "spiritually" -- or since I was the only one there - where I BELIEVE the rest of my clan is at! We talked about tithing (of course!), and we talked about being a "member" vs. just attending. If I want to "join" there are classes that I need to take -- but I'm allowed to take them even if I'm not ready to actually join!

So then he asked me...

PP: "Melli, if you were standing before Jesus right now, and He said to you 'why should I bring you into Heaven?', how would you answer?"

oh help!

Me: "Wellllllll... I would tell him because I LOVE him."

PP: Mmmm hmmm... well that's nice. But WHY should He take you into Heaven?

oh double help!

Me: Ummmm.... uhhhh... cuz I've been a fairly good person and I've tried to do what He wants me to...

PP: Mmmm hm...

Me: Uhhhhhhyyyyyyyea... IIIIIIIIIIII dunno... I think I'm goin' to Hell. (help!) What are you lookin' for here?

PP: Well, WHO do you TRUST to get you into Heaven?

*Light Dawns!*

Me: JESUS! HIM! I trust HIM to get me into Heaven! HE should take me into Heaven cuz he PROMISED he would if I accepted HIM as my Savior! And I did! So HE should keep His promise!

Pastor Paul SMILED! Unh-hunh! He did! I got it!

So then we talked about Bible studies - and there are multitudinous Bible studies ... I just have to decide on one, and wait for them to start a new topic. NONE of them are closed, EVER! I can join any one I want! (this was an issue because I have wanted to join the one held at Curves on Thursday afternoons -- but it's a "Small" and they say they can only have 10 members and they're full! The Christian in ME doesn't think that's a very Christian attitude!) LOL! But since I've never done a Bible study in my life before, I'm really not up on the ins and outs of how these things work! But Pastor Paul assured me that none of the church's Bible studies ever close! Then he told me about a lot of the activities they have and some of the missions we support, and various things that I may or may not want to get involved in at some point! All very helpful - great information!

And then... when we were done ... this was sO cool! ... he showed me their library! This was amazing! I really thought I might be in Heaven! This church has it's own library. FULL of nothing but Christian books! It's a whole BIG room - FULL! It's got a children's section. It's got a video section. And it's got books upon books upon books that I can go in and take off the shelf and be guaranteed that every one of them is a Christian read! It's all set up to the Dewey Decimal system.... it is awesome! I've been BUYING all my Christian books because our county library has such a pitiful supply of them! And here the Lutherans' have their own little stash! Well, needless to say, I know where I'll be donating my most recent buys now!

Labels: Churchy Stuff

NOT a Thursday Thirteen

I quit doing TT's a long time ago because it got to be quite a chore trying to come up with something new and different and fun and exciting every week... it became hum drum, and so I gave it up... So, this is NOT a TT! Definitely not...

Do ya ever just get SILLY though? I know you would not expect that I ever get silly -- I mean, it would just go SO against my character, right? Well... let me tell you a little secret... I DO get silly!
As a matter of fact... when nobody's looking.... I like to make faces in the mirror!

And so... here ya go... 13 faces of me... but NOT cuz it's Thursday!

And it's great face exercise too!!!

Labels: TT

Some Fun With Tarot...

Find Wordless Wednesday below this post.

I've never been able to "really" believe in Tarot Cards and their predictions... much like horoscopes... I just think they're kind of fun to play with sometimes. My sister is very much into Tarot, and Astrology - she even knows how to make the charts AND explain them! I do believe a bit about the astrology stuff... I think the power of the planets could be real -- after all, they were created by God, and are influenced by Him! (MY belief!) But the Tarot stuff? It's just for fun! While visiting The Old Fart this morning, he had this quiz posted and I took it. RARELY do I post the results of these - but I thought this one hit pretty close to home -- and I liked the picture! LOL! Sooooo...

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Wordless Wednesday -

Labels: WW

I am SHOCKED!!!

I think everyone got the wrong idea about my Emily Dickinson post below. I wasn't complaining about my lurkers AT ALL! On the contrary... I am very grateful for my lurkers. I thought the poem made that pretty clear - but maybe it's just the way I interpreted it. But my feelings on lurkers are, that they are very LOYAL readers! I don't want them to STOP coming by... I want them to feel free to stop by and lurk if that is their wish. If it weren't for my lurkers, my site stats would be pretty pitiful! LOL! They don't have to comment to me. The fact that they keep coming back tells me they like my blog! And that's good enough for me!

Emily Dickinson.... For Want of an "L" ... in honor of Lurkers everywhere...

A few weeks ago we celebrated a time of trying to get the "lurkers" to come out of the shadows and post a comment or two on our blogs. Actually - many of YOU did this... I left my lurkers alone and let them cower in the shadows, understanding that SOME folks just don't want or need to be recognized. Apparently Emily Dickinson understood this too. So, in HONOR of the lurkers of the world, today I post Ms. Dickinson's poem ... with the addition of just one "L".

I Am Nobody! Who are you?
by Emily Dickinson

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us - don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bLog!

I bet all my lurkers find it much more fun hide from a blog ... than a bog! Here's to YOU, dear lurkers! Have a wonderful day!!! And may my commentors have a delightful day too!

Chai Tea

Have you TRIED this???

Nope... I have NOT gone paid advertising! But I have found a product that I just REALLY like! I'm a HUGE fan of Starbucks, and a chai tea latte is probably one of the most comforting things in my world. But they are also JAM PACKED with my worst enemies -- calories and sugar and carbs out the wahzoo! I found this in the grocery store yesterday and I am excited! I've been using the vanilla chai spice creamer in my coffee -- BAD, BAD, BAD for me! But NOW I can get my "fix" of chai and do it completely fat free - calorie free - carb free - sugar free! Or any combination of those I so choose! (well, i think the tea bag does have 1 gm. of carbs!) This is GREAT stuff! GREAT stuff!!!

Labels: diet

I Got A Joke!

There's an 18 wheeler toolin' down the highway, and he sees a toll gate up ahead. He proceeds to slow down and as he approaches the booth he realizes that it's broken to pieces! Gate, booth, the whole shebang! It looks like another truck has just plowed right through it and left it a complete mess!

As the driver is pondering what to do about this, another 18 wheeler pulls up along side of him, and about a dozen guys hop out and start smearing white GOOK all over the broken pieces of the toll booth. The driver is mesmerized and just keeps watching... wondering what in the heck they are doin'.

After a few minutes the men start picking up the pieces and proceed to put then ENTIRE toll booth back together. Yes, indeed -- it's good as new! You'd never even know it was ever broke!

The driver is just amazed! He looks at the foreman of the work crew and he asks "How did you DO that? What IS that stuff you just smeared all over the toll booth? That is some miracle stuff! What IS it?"

The foreman nonchalantly answers...
--> Why it's Toll Gate Booth Paste, of course! <--
(highlight between the arrows to read the punch line!)

Sunday Seven....

I found Sunday Seven while visiting Lazy Daisy and Cozy Reader last weekend. This looked like something that I would really enjoy doing... but just a TINY bit differently. I decided since it is Sunday SEVEN, and there are SEVEN days in the week... I would tell something that I was thankful for or positive in my life on each of the seven days of the past week! If you would like to learn more about Sunday Seven, go here! But make sure to come back! ;)

Monday - I was very thankful that we heard Krysti WILL receive a LARGE scholarship from Keuka College. We don't know yet if she will receive the FULL scholarship or "merely" a very substantial scholarship - but she is a finalist for the FULL one and guaranteed a very large one! This is such a blessing -- and we feel Krysti really has earned and deserves it! Apparently Keuka feels that way too! We thank God, and all other parties involved!

Tuesday - Was a very quiet day without any excitement OR surprises... this translates to no disasters. No accidents, no tickets, no phone calls from principals, no bad news from doctors and no one died! (not even the washing machine!) I'm always thankful for such a day as that! It was a great day to just be thankful for the roof over my head and the food on the table!

Wednesday - I am a major lover of "extreme weather", and on so I was quite thankful for the ice storm that God sent my way on Wednesday! I was ALSO extremely thankful that the SMECO people got our power back up and running in a timely fashion! That made it ever so much easier to enjoy the ice storm!

Thursday - LOL! Well... because of my ice storm Wednesday, schools were delayed opening again, and so I didn't have to work... again! YAY! (it is getting harder and harder to get me to school... I'm sO done!)

Friday - This was a "spoil Melli" day! I had my DEEP tissue massage, followed by my manicure and pedicure. And THEN I went to work and worked out and felt gooooooood all over! I still have enough left on the gift certificate Hubby got me to have TWO MORE massages! Ooooo... sooooo good!

Saturday - We had a "breakfast event" to attend on Saturday. It was a fund raiser / scholarship opportunity for Krysti (and Derek could have participated had he wanted to). It was a pancake breakfast at Applebee's - the kids had to pre-sell the tickets and then they also had to WORK the breakfast! In the end, there will be I think 4 scholarships given from the money raised, and it was ALL done in honor of Scott Coyle, who died of cancer 4 years ago in March, at the tender age of 13. Scott was Derek's best best BEST friend in the whole world and the Coyle's are very special friends of ours. It was great fun participating in this event -- and we enjoyed seeing many old friends that we had not seen for quite some time! (first rule of participation was that the you must have attended Scott's school - and been in his grade with him! So it was a fairly limited group of students who could participate!) It was FUN! There is another one next Saturday, and we will be there again! (if you're interested in reading Scott's story, I linked him to the website that I made and maintained for him and the family as they went through the whole ordeal.)

Sunday - TODAY! Today is a GLORIOUS, beautiful sunshiney day! I have my cup of coffee which I have begun drinking with sweet 'n low and half 'n half, instead of those fancy schmancy FLAVORED creamers (that I LOVE soooo much). The doc says I might be borderline diabetic, and that I should cut SOME of my carbs (which are already pretty darned low) ... so I figured I would cut out those creamers -- because EVEN the low fat ones have more carbs than I need! Soooooo... TODAY I am thankful that I have "options" in my life that allow me to make educated decisions about keeping me healthy! Annnnd... I'm thankful that in two hours I will be sitting in my new church - again - and that Pastor Paul will probably have some tremendous words of wisdom and faith for me to hear! YAY!

THIS is a sign that is posted as you are leaving my
church! I had taken this picture (OF the sign) just because
I thought it was such a cute message. But then when I got home
and looked at the WHOLE picture, it just cracked me up.
LOOK at it!
You have the sign itself - with it's message. And ABOVE it you have
a sign telling you that it's a RIGHT turn only. And BEHIND it, another sign
telling you there is only ONE WAY to go! You'd think the Lord himself
erected these signs!!!
LOL!

Have a very BLESSED Sunday!
(and the rest of the week too!)

Labels: Sunday Seven

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Antique

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This old treadle sewing machine belonged to Dennis grandmother, and then his Aunt Hazel. We acquired it a few years ago, when Aunt Hazel passed away. The train on top only LOOKS old -- it's actually a "new" replica of an old antique cast iron toy. I found it for Dennis while taking a little trip to Luray Caverns a few years ago.

Labels: Photo Hunt

Friday Feast #131

Play Along?

Appetizer
What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make?
Actually... MY phone makes almost any other sound except the normal ring! Right now it plays a different song for each of my family members... and another song for "anybody else".... and I like that! But hmmmm.... a sound I don't have? Oh - maybe a wind chime! OR it could sound like a doorbell - then everyone would still shout "I GOT IT!" hehehe... could be fun!

Soup
Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.).
SUNNY & breezy! Tornado warnings remain in effect!

Salad
What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects?
Blogging 101? Are we talking regular school subjects? Cuz that would be English - though you'd never know it from my blog! ;)

Main Course
Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?
Oh WOW! What a great gift that would be! I'll tell ya -- I would NOT read ANY newspapers or magazines -- most of what is in them is junk anyway - and things that are merely of interest, but not really valuable knowledge. I think I would spend the day doing my BEST to get through an entire dictionary, and the Bible! I think having the correct definitions and USE of words would make reading anything else a more valuable experience - and knowledge and understanding of the Bible can provide enlightenment on so many situations. Other than that -- with the internet so easily at our disposal, information on ANYTHING is so easy to obtain these days! It's really not necessary to have too many facts committed to memory -- you just need to know how to FIND the information when you DO need it! (or want it)

Dessert
If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?
Okay.... well... the PERFECT candy is ALMOST out there -- and it's called Snickers! I would make a change though. Peanuts are okaaaaaay ... but to be truly a FABULOUS concoction it should be chocolate, caramel, vanilla nougat, and PISTACHIO nuts! Mmmmm hmmmm! What would I call it? Scrumptious!

Labels: Friday Feast

The Long ... LONNNNG Meme...

I thought I found this meme over at Mar's blog... but then I ~~discovered~~ was told I had been TAGGED for it over at Barbara's... so either way, I'm DOIN' it! Okay? I was going to break it into bits... but I haven't done a meme this week - so... what the heck! Now, the main problem with this meme IS that it is SO long... and that I am not really programmed for the "short response"... but we'll see how this goes! If you get bored and leave... I'll take full blame!

01. Are your parents married or divorced? They're dead... but they divorced first.
02. Are you a vegetarian? No.
03. Do you believe in Heaven? Yes, indeed!
04. Have you ever come close to dying? I don't think so...
05. What jewelry do you wear 24/7? My watch and my wedding ring
06. Favorite time of day? Morning
07. Do you eat the stems of broccoli? I will if they are served to me... but I don't serve them!
08. Do you wear makeup? Only occasionally.
09. Ever have plastic surgery? Nooo... but I plan to when I'm done losing weight!
10. If you did have plastic surgery, what would you do? Tummy tuck? Excess skin removal?
11. What do you wear to bed? p'jammies
12. Have you ever done anything illegal? LOL! Have you READ some of the laws?
13. Can you roll your tongue? Physically? Yes. To speak... like French ... no!
14. Do you tweeze your eyebrows? You can't even SEE my eyebrows...
15. What kind of sneakers? Usually Nike's
16. Do you believe in abortions? I believe a life is life from the moment of conception. (don't get me started)
17. What is your hair color? Naturally curly red hair - just like Charlie Brown's little love.
18. Future child’s name? Riiiiiiiight!
19. Do you snore? Ha! They say I do... they are sO wrong!
20. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? Anywhere in the world! And then Greece!
21. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? Never have, never will.
22. If you won the lottery, what would you do first? Bank it, and start planning!
23. Gold or silver? Gold
24. Hamburger or hot dog? A different restaurant? (okay... hamburger)
25. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Salad!
26. City, beach or country? BEACH!!!
27. What was the last thing you touched? The ~~mouse~~ keyboard...
28. Where did you eat last? At home
29. When’s the last time you cried? The other night when I found out my son-in-law has permanently lost vision in one eye.
30. Do you read blogs? Do fish swim?
31. Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex? I think most of the time... Jeans and t-shirt? Right?
32. Ever been involved with the police? On numerous levels!
33. What’s your favorite shampoo conditioner and soap? S&C - St. Ives... soap - Dial
34. Do you talk in your sleep? Sometimes...
35. Ocean or pool? Both.
36. Sauna or whirlpool? Whirlpool.
37. Starbucks or Krispy Kreme? Starbucks!
38. Window seat or aisle? Aisle. I've GOT to be able to move!
39. Ever met anyone famous? A bunch of football players.
40. Do you feel that you’ve had a truly successful life? In many ways yes... in some ways my life needs work.
41. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? I'm a cutter.
42. Ricki Lake or Oprah Winfrey? Neither.
43. Basketball or Football? Baseball. ALRIGHT! Football...
44. How long do your showers last? Until the hot water runs out...
45. Automatic or do you drive a stick? Automatic
46. Cake or ice cream? CAKE!
47. Are you self-conscious? Isn't everyone?
48. Have you ever drank so much you threw up? I think it was flu!
49. Have you ever given money to a beggar? Many times actually.
50. Have you been in love? Yes...
51. Where do you wish you were? At the chiropractors...
52. Are you wearing socks? Indeed... it's FREEZING!
53. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? Yes... but only WITH someone...
54. Can you tango? I wish!
55. Last gift you received? Flowers and heart shaped candy
56. Last sport you played? Bowling
57. Things you spend a lot of money on? Books
58. Where do you live? In my house
59. Where were you born? At the hospital!
60. Last wedding attended? Jessi and Mr. Jessi (I feel bad, but I can NOT remember his name!) (later I remembered it's Allen -- Jessi & Allen!)
62. Favorite position? Chief executive officer! (??? - NOT goin' there!)
63. Most hated food(s)? Liver
64. Most hated soda pop? Jolt
65. Can you sing? LOL! Not EVEN!
66. Last person you instant messaged? I don't even have IM on my puter.
67. Last place you went on holiday? Ocean City
68. Favorite regular drink? Iced Tea
69. Current Song? Mountains, by Lonestar
70. Tag 3 friends. Or not.... tag yourself! But let me know if / when ya do it!

Labels: meme's

De Ja Vu All Over Again!

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS!
I can't believe it either!

After JUST posting YESTERDAY about the wild and woolly ice storm of 1994, I woke up this morning to NO POWER and another icy winter wonderland! Good GRIEF! Thirteen years and one day later.... heeeeeeeere we GO again! (once again, all pictures can be clicked to enlarge)

This was the view up my driveway this morning.

You can see, we didn't have any *snow* with this ice storm -- it was all just freezing rain and sleet. Quite a different look from the '94 storm -- but JUST as chilly... and no hot coffee this morning. I was too lazy to go dig through the basement for the camp stove! Figured I'd hold out until supper time!

A view into the woods -- ya really need to make it BIG!
It's GORGEOUS!

This is my little plum tree... I sure hope it makes it!

These two little guys were NOT too happy about this whole situation today!

I scattered some seed out on the ice for them...
they were MOST grateful for that!

A little later in the afternoon, it got a bit warmer, and the wind picked up. This wasn't a GREAT situation -- but it WAS interesting! I really wish I could have audio recorded it for you ... it was AMAZING! The ice falling off the trees and hitting our roof sounded very much like a stampede of cattle... or perhaps even buffalo! It was verrrrrrry LOUD!

This is right out my front door.
As you can see - NOW it looks like we've had snow!
(but just in spots!)

Here's a closer view of some of the CHUNKS!
I'm wondering how many dings and nicks I'm going to have on my car when this is done.

Here's just one more picture of the bushes on the side of my house.
It just fascinates me how they look ENTIRELY different when they're coated in ice.
(even though it's clear!)

Today's storm was not NEARLY as bad as the storm of 1994. I wasn't sure this morning though -- while the power was OUT, you just don't know!!! But this afternoon when things started to melt, I HOPED that the power would come on sooner rather than later -- and it did! (obviously -- I'm HERE!) Krysti actually slept through the entire power outage. Derek wasn't so fortunate. He kept wandering downstairs to make SURE that his computer still wasn't working. Then he'd *sigh deeply* and wander back upstairs! Poor thing. Freedom had the right idea --

She stayed in on the heating pad all day!!!

Happy Valentines Day!!! (better late than not at all!)

Sorry it took me sO long to get here today my friends!
But, honestly - I'm lucky to be here at all!
I will be putting up a post soon that will explain -- and you're NOT
gonna BELIEVE it!!!
Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Love Me, Do!

Get your own valentinr

FINALLY! I have finally gotten to read all of my valentines -- and I just want to THANK everyone who left me one -- here or ... in OTHER places around the net! You are all just sO sweet - and each card and thought is truly appreciated! Thank you!
:o)

Wordless Wednesday - Freezing...

Labels: WW

On THIS Day In History....

LOCAL History that is...

On February 13, 1994 we awoke to a Winter Wonderland! A very COLD wonderland as we had lost power during the night and the house was freeeeezing! None the less, we bundled up and went out to see what was going ON in our world! (all photos can be clicked to make larger and enjoy a better idea of the beauty... or whatever...) It was NOT easy getting up our driveway - and as a matter of fact, we have videos of the kids trying, and falling and sliding alllllll the way back down! LOL! But finally we did make it!

When we got up to the cul-de-sac we found this forsythia bush that was just covered in the most beautiful, glistening icicles! Little Derek thought they were pretty enough to eat! This was the first time the kids had EVER seen an ice storm - and it WAS pretty mesmerizing! It was for Dennis and I too -- we had never seen one LIKE THIS!

We wandered on down the "big" road just to see what we might see. We were hearing SNAP *crackle* POP all over the place as branches weighed down by the heavy ice were breaking and falling to the ground. As we rounded a bend in the road...

... we came across these amazing trees bowed over the power lines! With all the sounds around us, we weren't sure how much longer they might stand! We proceeded verrrrrrrry cautiously.

It wasn't long before we came across this one! We felt pretty sure we had found "the culprit" responsible for OUR power loss! Other's were out walking on the road too... but NO one was going past this! It was just way too scary! So we headed home from this point.

We went back in the house. We started a fire in the fireplace, being pretty sure that we would not see power again for a day or two! We spent the day inside playing games and reading stories and just huddling near the fire to keep warm! You would THINK that the kids would have been out sleigh riding -- but honestly, it was TOO slippery to sleigh ride! A trip down the driveway was dangerous enough -- but putting a sled on the back hill would have been suicide!!! The ONLY way it would have stopped would be to hit a tree! NO WAY!

That night we set up sleeping bags all over the living room, and put up blankets over the doorways to TRY to keep the heat confined to the one room so we could sleep comfortably (ha!). Dennis and I took turns getting up during the night to stoke the fire and toss on a few more logs. Amazingly, the kids slept like little logs! This was a GREAT ADVENTURE!!!

The next day was more of the same. We all stayed in... played games, drank hot chocolate, soup -- thank goodness we do HAVE a camp stove! We were in better shape than a lot of people! Some had no fireplace AND no campstove! Really it was like a mass exodus from the county! People were heading north to relatives homes and hotels where they could get a hot meal and warm shower! Alas, WE had NO showers. At some point on day two ... I don't remember exactly when... but we had gotten fairly used to the sounds of the trees cracking and breaking by that point. But we were all just sitting around and suddenly we heard a HUMONGOUS *CRACK*, followed very shortly by an earth shaking THUD! We all just looked at each other and went "WHAT IN THE WORLD???" Honestly, it was the kind of thing you couldn't tell if it was an explosion -- or if maybe a power line had ignited -- or WHAT! Hubby thought maybe he would go take a walk and see what he could find out.

Well, he didn't have to walk to far! All he had to do was look down to the bottom of our driveway.

We had this BIG OLD Tulip Poplar tree -- It was probably about 60 or 70 feet tall... and IT was the tree that had our children's tire swing on it. It grew almost at the top of the hill, so they would get on the swing and swing waaaaaaaaaay out over the hill! Oh, they LOVED that tire swing! Many a hour was spent enjoying it! But now our tree was gone. The ice storm ate it. The branches were just too heavy with all that ice! And as it had started to melt a little it actually got even heavier. Pulled a little harder... the tree just couldn't take it -- and you SEE what happend! We mourned that tree. And there was NO other that was suitable for a tire swing... so we mourned that swing too! I'm SO glad my kids have those memories though!

We had NO way of knowing when this storm hit, that we would end up without power for OVER A WEEK! On day 3 Dennis was finally able to get out to go to work. It was a LOT warmer at work! I was very jealous! And we were all getting a little antsy because the Winter Olympics had started in Lillehammer, just the day BEFORE our ice storm! So we were MISSING the Olympics! Our family is huge fans of the Olympics and this was just devastating to us! And besides... if we were all off school, and couldn't get out to play, then we should at least be able to watch the Olympics! Well, on Day 4 Dennis stopped by his Mom's house on the way home from work - his brother had a little generator! He brought that home, and we were able to plug in ONE lamp, and the television! HURRAY! We had the Olympics back!!! We still didn't have a shower -- OR flushing toilets mind you!!! But we HAD the Olympics! (and Dennis had a shower - at his mom's house!) On Day 5, the gym that Amanda worked out at regained power -- and THEY had showers! Amanda invited the kids and I to come up and get clean with her, and we HOPPED on that chance! The owners at the gym were very sweet about allowing us to do this and I will forever be grateful for THAT shower! I don't think any shower has EVER felt so good! On day 8 we were considering another field trip to the gym showers, when finally the lights flickered on - and then out again. About an hour later they came back on for good! And our adventure was over! I think it was Day 10 when school's reopened and the kids got to go back and share their stories and hear of the others! Needless to say - the Ice Storm of '94 was THE topic of conversation for quite some time!!!

.

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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Wordless Wednesday ... leftovers...

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

A Pointless Post

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Another Busy Sunday....

Sunday 7

Saturday, February 24, 2007

SPEAK No Evil !!!

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Soft

Friday, February 23, 2007

Friday Feast #132

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Meeting Pastor Paul ... one on one...

NOT a Thursday Thirteen

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Some Fun With Tarot...

You are The Empress

Wordless Wednesday -

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

I am SHOCKED!!!

Emily Dickinson.... For Want of an "L" ... in honor of Lurkers everywhere...

Monday, February 19, 2007

Chai Tea

Sunday, February 18, 2007

I Got A Joke!

Sunday Seven....

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Antique

Friday, February 16, 2007

Friday Feast #131

Thursday, February 15, 2007

The Long ... LONNNNG Meme...

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

De Ja Vu All Over Again!

Happy Valentines Day!!! (better late than not at all!)

Love, Love Me, Do!

Wordless Wednesday - Freezing...

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

On THIS Day In History....