Naomi Interviews Moi!
We Interupt your regularly scheduled LONG meme to bring you this other looooong meme! I will get back to the 100 question meme tomorrow! ;)
Naomi ( bless her heart), also known as the Old Old Lady Of The Hills ... or Ooloth for short, has been so kind as to send ME five interview questions! And they are dillies! ( I knew they would be!) Now... I know I just recently answered questions for Jennifer, and offered up questions for you... but the offer stands again! After you read this interview, if you would like to be interviewed, just say so in the comments and I will pick out 5 wonderful questions JUST FOR YOU! ;) Heeeeere we gooooo!1. Do you believe in the "power of positive" thinking? Explain please.
Well... I believe that a positive attitude is essential to success and happiness. I believe that if you think positively and behave positively that you are far more likely to get positive results from whatever you do. And I believe that with a positive attitude, even if things don't go your way, you will still be happier just for keeping a positive attitude! However... when I use positive thinking, I am also incorporating prayer and the assitance of God. I believe He gives me the ability to do things as long as I BELIEVE I can do it with His help! Some people say you don't even have to "believe" He will help... and that could be too ... but I tend to think that if you don't "believe" he can help, you probably wouldn't even bother to ask. (that may be narrow minded on my part! Maybe non-believers ask frequently... what do I know?) Scientifically though, I know that some people believe they can, for instance, "heal" themselves with JUST positive thinking.... mind over matter. I'm not sure that the mind DOESN'T have that capability.... but I don't think the average person has achieved the level of thought processing that it would require to make it work! If I had to fight cancer or some other horrific ailment, I want God in my court! (did I sufficiently skirt this issue?) LOL! I'm tossin' my hat in the ring next week! Yep! Politics, here I come!
2. Through the "magic" of magic, you can become a completely different person than you are right now. Who would you become and how would that be different than who you are right now?
Gooooood grief ... WHY would I want to do this? Well, first off, I can NOT think of another person on the planet that I want to BE... so I will NOT be becoming some famous actress, or the Queen of England... (although maybe the Crown Princess of Denmark...) ... NO! And I'm NOT becoming a man either! No no no... if I'm getting the benefit of "magic" of magic I definitely want to remain ME, but I would go through some changes! For instance... I would immediately be 150 pounds and lean! No flab. I would also be outrageously wealthy and able to give GOBS of money to charities without even thinking about it! And I would be ABLE to travel anytime I want - but MOST of the time I would stay home - at least once I have a grand baby! (which I would have a LOT sooner because money would be NO OBJECT for my darling daughter to have invitro ... or adopt ... whichever she and HER darling hubby decide upon!) And AS a grandma I would be VERY Mary Poppinsish! I would have a bag of tricks that never ended and wisdom beyond that of Gandhi and Mother Therese put together! Sooooo... right now I am a heavy me that has to struggle to get the weight off -- I would be a naturally thin, lean me that can eat whatever whenever - but I would still exercise! I would BE the philanthropist I've always wanted to be but never have been able to be! And because Hubby would no longer have to worry about finances, he would (hopefully) give up this outlandish idea of me being employed FULL TIME, and I could spend all of my time doing volunteer work - which I LOVE, and maybe travelling on some mission trips, and also travelling on some pleasure trips! Of course, through the "magic" of magic, I would be fully versed in ALL languages so that no matter what country I went to I would be able to speak the language! Once my darlingest in all the world grand baby came into existence, I would be perfectly satisfied to stay home (by the way home is NOT where home is now...) and be a Nanny Granny until the little darling was old enough to go off on WONDEROUS adventures with the Magnificent Rambling Nanny Granny!
3. Martini or Margerita?
After the last answer I think I need both! And make them doubles! LOL! Honestly I like ANY pretty fruity yummy frozen or iced concoction -- but please don't ruin it by putting salt around the rim! I don't DO salt! I like an apple martini... and I think there's a raspberry martini that I like. I do NOT do chocolate martini's - the idea of it absolutely disgusts me! Chocolate and alcohol should NEVER be mixed... ew! But I've never met a margarita I didn't like! And honestly... I really don't drink ANY of them very often! (though it does seem to be a bit more often THIS year than it has been in the past 20 years... which was nearly never.)
4. Imagine this: You must give up the religion you are right now and choose another religion. What would you choose and why?
THIS is just not even a fair question! Naomi KNOWS I have only JUST gotten back into church! But... given THAT... I could take the easy way out and say well technically I am still Catholic and I AM choosing to become Lutheran! But I don't think that's what she had in mind! I'm sure she would LIKE me to say I would become Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist ... but this is NOT happening! (although I am verrrrrry fond of driedels and collecting them MIGHT be a good reason to become Jewish!) LOL! On those same thoughts IF I was to become Buddhist it would be so I could rub his little tummy and get some benefit from it! Not knowing enough about the Muslim faith I can't even kid about that one! Nope... I'm sorry Naomi - but whichever religion I would choose would HAVE to be a Christian faith! I DO believe in Jesus Christ and I HAVE since I was born, so that is not something that I can even imagine NOT believing. Soooooo... if I MUST give up Catholicism AND Lutheranism?... then I suppose I would head back over to the Methodist church! Although... there are still several I never got around to trying before I settled at First Lutheran... So MAYBE I would begin the search anew and see where it lead me again! There's the Church of Christ, and Grace Brethren, and Baptist and Presbyterian, and the Adventists and Pentacostals.... oh my ... the list goes on and on and on.... and I still have friends telling me - even though they know I have thoroughly settled in to First Lutheran ... "oh, you should come try MY church! You would LOVE it!" ... and I might... but God has spoken and He wants me at First Lutheran! LOL!
5. Name five songs that have touched your heart and soul and being, like no others in your life, and tell us what it is about each of these songs?
1.) The first one HAS to be Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA! There are other verrrrry patriotic songs that I just absolutely LOVE - almost ALL very patriotic songs as a matter of fact - both old and new -- but God Bless the USA just brings my pride bubbling right up to my skin and I CRY every single time I hear it! Before he came out with it, The Ballad Of The Green Beret always did that. But God Bless the USA is the number one favorite! And when they played it at my daughter's graduation from boot camp, I honestly thought my heart was going to explode!
2.) Elton John's Daniel is another one. This one came out when I was about 14 years old and my sister (the one closest to me in age) had just taken off for California in search of one of her many dreams. She took my darling little niece, who at that time was the light of my life, and off they went. My heart was breaking to lose both of them and there wasn't a thing I could do about it and for sOMe reason this song....
Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
etc...etc...etc...
.... it just tore me up and comforted me all at the same time! They weren't heading for Spain - but they might as well have been -- and I definitely felt the clouds in my eyes. Funny how much that affected me back then -- but now this sister and I don't even talk to each other.... Life is so strange. The song, however, still affects me and takes me back to that time.
3.) LOL! What a mix of songs this is going to be! This one probably should have been in the number one spot... The Oak Ridge Boys - Thank God For Kids -- This is supposed to be ( i guess ) a Christmas song -- because it mentions Santa Claus! But the song speaks my exact feeling on children - having them and raising them and making them the most important thing in your world. There's never been a time since this song first came out that I wouldn't listen to it over and over and over again and again and again. It just speaks to me and makes me feel good! It always makes me smile!
4.) Of course, you know I have to include a spiritual song in this group -- especially because of the way the question was asked -- songs that touch my heart, my soul and my very BEING ... well, they probably ALL should have been spiritual... and I do LOVE some of the old hymns... and I do LOVE a lot of newer spiritual songs too! But the one that seems to come back to me again and again whether times are good in my life, or bad, is the one that Kris Kristofferson made famous -- I don't know if he wrote the lyrics or if he just performed them -- but the song is Why Me, Lord? It pretty much says it all!
5.) And number 5? THIS one! LOL! If you're feeling GOOD you can't HELP but sing it! Zip-a-dee-doo-dah
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my what a wonderful day!
Plenty of sunshine heading my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Mister Bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actch'll
Ev'rything is satisfactch'll
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!
The 2nd 5th!
Still working on the 100 questions....
21. When was the last time someone hit on you? Oh heavens! I can't even remember back that far! Did anyone EVER hit on me??? LOL!
22. What did you have for dinner? Oooo... I had lemon-pepper turkey cutlets, baked red potatoes and asparagus! YUM!
23. What is your biggest fear? Losing one of my children. I don't know how I would bear it!
24. What color is your car? Champagne! (i've answered that before!)
25. Can you whistle? Sorta... maybe ... a little bit. But not songs or anything! I mean really I can make a noise -- but it won't even call the dog!
26. What is your favorite Christmas/winter movie? Ohhhh... I have 2 and it's a tie! One would be Miracle On 34th Street - and I like the OLD version with Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle! The version with Sebastian Cabot is good too - but I really don't like the "new" version at all. The other one of course is It's A Wonderful Life. I'm SUCH a believer anyway - honestly... at almost 50 years old I still FIRMLY believe in Santa Claus ... and I have NO doubt about angels!
27. Do you make your own jewelry? Noooo... the idea really never even occurred to me. I did used to make bead bracelets and necklaces back in my "hippie" days!
28. Have you ever participated in a protest? YES! Definitely! I have marched for Right To Life on many occassions! I used to pop Amanda on my back or toss her in a stroller and off we'd go! My first march I carried a sign saying "The unborn have no freedom of choice!" and Amanda wore a sweatshirt that said "Mom chose to give me choices!"
29. Who was the last person to call you? Krysti
30. What is your favorite ride at an amusement park? Roller coasters hands down!!! I LOVE 'em!!!
31. What is something you must do everyday? Brush my teeth. Pray. Eat. (not really in that order!)
32. Have you ever dated one of your best friends? Ummmm... noooooo.... but some of the guys that I dated BECAME my best friends...
33. Did you watch cartoons as a child? Absolutely!!! Gooooo Popeye!!!
34. First three things you think of when you hear the word "dream": Beach, peace, sleep.
35. How big is your local mall? There is no such thing as a "local" mall here... the nearest mall is not bad though... it has Montgomery Wards, Macy's (used to be Hecht's), JC Penney, Nordstroms... and then all the little stores inbetween! I don't like malls really.
36. What is your job title? LOL! Ummm... Fitness Consultant I believe...
37. What do you miss most? My babies. *nods* Yea... my kids... when they were babies.
38. Would you ever sky dive? Oh boy! When I was young I WANTED to do this and never got the opportunity (never made the opportunity?) ... at any rate... once upon a time I believed I had outgrown my stupidity and would NOT do it... but honestly I think if the opportunity were presented to me I would probably HAVE to try it!
39. What are you allergic to? Apparently I'm allergic to being skinny...
40. What is your biggest regret? Nope.... I can't go there. God says we should have no regrets and I'm trying REALLY hard to work on that! It's really really hard! Especially when you're sure you made some whopper mistakes!
To be continued.... stay tuned!
Labels: meme's
Just a Little Prayer....
I had to share this! You see? It's GOOD I take my camera EVERYWHERE with me! This little girl went up to communion with her mom and she just knelt right down there too! When Pastor came by, of course he bent down and gave her a little blessing! I was scurrying to get my camera out and get the picture!!! LOL!
Sunday Seven
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. I like to do mine over the course of the seven days of the week - giving thanks for sOMething each day!
THIS week I decided that while I'm sure God loves that we thank him for the "important" things on a regular basis, that perhaps SOMEtimes he would like to hear thanks for some of the real LUXURIES he has provided us! You know? Like "sure, I gave you a roof, and I gave you health, and I put food on your table! But what about alllllllllll that OTHER stuff I gave you? The stuff I didn't really have to provide at all!?" Soooooo.... that's what THIS weeks Seven is about! Thanks for the luxuries!
Sunday - I am sO thankful for restaurants! At my house cooking is a real chore because no matter what I cook at least one out of the six or seven people living here doesn't eat it! It's nearly impossible to put together something that makes everyone happy! Also... I'm NOT a very creative cook - so just being able to go out and get something that I would never cook at home - that is sO nice! I love to eat out!
Monday - 450 count cotton bed sheets! You wanna talk luxury? I'm quite positive God did NOT have to provide the idea or the technology for these wonderful sheets! Some mornings I lay in bed and think "nope... I'm just not gettin' up today!" ... but then of course I do! Because the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away - and I'm sure if I got TOO attached to those sheets something AWFUL would happen to them! LOL! But I AM thankful and appreciative of them!
Tuesday - Over the counter cough, cold, and pain medications. Necessity? No. Man survived a good many years without them! Luxury! How wOnderful that if I develop a headache I can reach into my medicine chest and take an Advil... that Derek has DayQuil to combat his runny nose and allow him to stay awake during classes all at the same time... that when we get cut, scraped, or burned we have Neosporin or Bactine to help disinfect and keep infection away... that we don't have to run to the doctor for every little thing - but that we don't have to suffer through it either!!!
Wednesday - Chocolate covered, creme filled, glazed donuts! The ones that I so often wish had NEVER been invented ... but God knew that I would LOVE it! This week at my Monday Bible study we were talking about the difference between temptation and a "test"... these donuts are a TEST! I'm sURe of it!!!
Thursday - Beauty Salons! Sharp scissors! A good hair cut! Need I really say more? Oh! Yes, I must! How about walking in without an appointment and finding 2 stylists sitting around waiting for someone to come in!??? Kinda gives one the idea God wanted me to get a haircut! LOL!
Friday - Hummingbird feeders! Okay... the birds themselves are a luxury too considering we do NOT feed upon them -- but I guess something does. (sad thought) But the feeders were really totally unnecessary - especially in view of the fact that He gave us flowers that would attract them! But since we can't plant the flowers right in front of my favorite window ... where we CAN hang a feeder... well - gotta give thanks!
Saturday - Nike's. (or whatever your favorite sneaker is) New technology in shoes just amazes me! I have really REALLY bad feet! Walking is NOT a favorite activity for me - although I would LIKE it to be! But I have numerous problems with my feet - even when I'm skinny! So really cushy soles and built in GOOD arch supports are a luxury that have quickly become "necessity" for me! I do sometimes wear "cheap" sneakers... but I usually end up "paying" for it in the end! Croc's are a GREAT invention though! Oh yea! I can BE thankful for Croc's!
Labels: Sunday Seven
1/5th of Another LONNNG meme!
I found this meme over at Jennifer's place. It is 100 questions so I decided to split it up into 5 separate days! 100 is just toooooo many! I don't want to put y'all to sleep! LOL! So... just 20 today...
1. What is the best way to get over someone? Stay as far away from them as possible! And do NOT accept calls from them! Do not talk to them.... do not see them. 2. What makeup do you wear on a daily basis? The only makeup I ever wear is lipstick - but I don't even wear that EVERY day!3. Is your AIM away message on? I don't have AIM ... or any other instant message program either.4. If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? I guess it would probably have to be salad! You can put sO many different things IN it that it can be a different meal every time! ;)5. What curse word do you use the most? Well... I do use **it sometimes... but I try not to!6. Do you own an ipod? No... Haven't really had a need. I've bought a couple of them though!7. Who on your Myspace Top 8 do you talk to the most? LOL! I almost forgot I HAD a MySpace! I guess my son - Mathew! I only have a Top 6 though! There is no numbers 7 or 8!!! ROFL!8. What time is your alarm clock set for? Most days it's NOT! But when I need it I set it for 5:00 AM.10. Do you wear flip-flops even when its cold outside? Yes, indeed! My feet are very free spirits!11. Where do you buy your groceries from? Usually Safeway ... sometimes Giant.12. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture? I'm good either way really! But photography IS one of my hobbies - so I definately like being behind the camera!13. What was the last movie you watched? Bobby ... about Bobby Kennedy...14. Do any of your friends have children? I don't think I have ANY friends who DON'T have children!15. If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would buy? Well... I guess it would depend upon how big of a payoff I was getting... (and since I never PLAY the lottery we are assuming that I actually DID purchase a ticket - right?) ... If it was a BIG win I would buy a piece of waterfront property somewhere! 16. Has anyone ever called you lazy? LOL! Oh yea!17. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep faster? I have tried it -- I don't need it often - I usually fall asleep before I even want to! But occasionally I've had a hard time. What I found out though was if I take something it just makes me wake up as tired as I was before I slept - so what's the point???18. What CD is currently in your CD player? I think it's empty.19. Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk? White milk! 1% white milk!20. Has anyone told you a secret this week? Yes. And it's going to stay that way!
To be continued....
Labels: meme's
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt - Rare
Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.
This really isn't all that rare -- and there will probably be many of them posted this weekend... but it's about the rarest thing I could find in my collection! It's rare that I get to SEE one, and even rarer for me to actually think to get out of the car and photograph it! LOL! It will have to do!
Labels: Photo Hunt
Friday Feast #141
AppetizerHow fast can you type?
I am pitifully slow actually. Probably about 45-50 wpm! When I was taking the business classes in High School -- this will date for me sure -- I was the fastest one in the class at Shorthand! But the slowest in the class at typing! LOL! Some of you don't even know what shorthand IS!
SoupWhat is your favorite online game?
Ohhhhhh... now you're bringing out my deep DARK secrets! LOL! They change! I am addicted to those stupid Neopets games... right now my favorite is called Snowmuncher. But there are probably 3-400 games on this site... I think I have tried 275 of them! Lunacy! Absolute lunacy!!!
SaladOn a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), how intelligent do you think you are?
I know I'm far more intelligent than I give myself credit for! Unfortunately I am like my youngest son... way too much like! My IQ is relatively high -- but my effort is substantially lower! When I'm interested in a subject, I soak it up like a sponge. But if I'm not interested, it goes in one ear and out the other! I'm only going to give myself a very middle of the road 5 on this! (possibly 6 - but I don't wanna push it!)
Main CourseName three of your best teachers from your school years.
Now see? Here we go! School was a BAD time for me.... I can actually only remember ONE teacher's name! Mr. Kahn! We called him Ghengis! (his real name was David - in case he's out there anywhere!) LOL! He was big and burly and had full facial hair! BUT the important thing was that he taught World History - and he brought it to life! Any little tidbit that I do happen to remember about World History would have to be thanks to Mr. Kahn! But honestly, the person who I remember the most and who made the greatest impression on me was not a teacher at all - but my vice principal -- Mr. Joseph Cammisa. I loved that man! You have NO idea! He CARED about me when I honestly didn't think another soul in the world did! And were it not for HIM, I doubt that I would have graduated! He did everything under his power to get me through my High School years! Now.... digging out my HS yearbooks I can find the name of the other teacher that left a positive impression ... yes... Mrs. McCabe! She was my English teacher and she got me through dangling participles! LOL! She also had the BEST ideas for writing prompts! I thoroughly enjoyed her class! She challenged me like no other English teacher ever did! She was great!
DessertWhat are your plans for this upcoming weekend?
La di da.... hmmmm.... I haven't really made plans! It does me no good to make plans most of the time, so I don't! Because... the kids change them! We live very spontaneously around here! I do have "in mind" a few things I would LIKE to do -- one being to get some flowers in the ground! And another being to go see Thoroughly Modern Millie at the school I no longer work at! ... but I've heard rumblings of visiting Point Lookout... or Sandy Point... so I'm not really sure!
Labels: Friday Feast
It's all in a day....
Soooo... I woke up a bit later than normal this morning -- around 7:45.... I still wasn't "rushed" knowing that I didn't have to be at work until 10:00. I spent a few minutes talking with God, voicing a few hopes for how my day would go, and thanking him for giving me this day to add to my repertoire... then I hopped in the shower, got dressed, came down stairs, brewed a pot of coffee and sat down to read blogs. And that was when it hit me that today is Thursday and I don't work today! ROFL!!! So, I guess I am ready for whatever comes my way! :)Just one other thing -- wanted to let y'all know that those GIANT dandelions in my WW down below -??? -- they stand about 3 feet tall, and they are NOT in my garden - they were in the raised lawn of a home I passed in DC on my way home from the zoo last year! I have NO idea what they are -- I was actually hoping that one of you were going to tell me yesterday! But I guess they will remain one of life's great mysteries to me! ;)
A Brighter Tail!
We've returned from the vet! She said Jewl's tail probably WAS sprained -- but don't ya know - about 5 hours after I made the appointment yesterday Jewl's tail started to wag a little! By this morning she was pretty much at full wag! LOL! I kept the appointment anyway because she was due for her shots, so I figured why not?! Now it's done and I don't have to worry about it! (boy is she gettin' FAT though! She's gained 22 pounds in two years! went from 66 to 88!)
Too many of THESE I guess!
(((Awwww... she deserved a treat!)))
Wordless Wednesday - GIANT dandelions???
Labels: WW
A Sad Tail...
Jewl has a sad little tale to tell... It's all about her sad tail. We're not actually sure what happened to it... but we think it might have gotten "sprained" when Amanda tripped over her in the dark two nights ago. At any rate, she can't wag it. It just won't move.
We have an appointment at the vet at noon tomorrow.
Stay tuned for more tales of the tail....
Sunday Seven
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 ya come back!
Sunday - Pastor gave an incredible sermon today! His sermon's are GREAT on a bad day. Today was a GOOD day! He is so amazing. There was a spaghetti lunch after church today. I ususally don't attend the meal functions because I like doing meals with my family... but today Sue & Cordell (friends from Monday night Bible study) sat next to me at service and asked me to come with them to the lunch - so I did! It was fun and I'm glad I got to spend that little extra time in fellowship! Also met a few more members - so this was a very good thing!
Monday - Hard Day. Messy weather - wanted to stay in bed - but had to work. Came home to find power out -- had power outages off and on all day. Didn't even HEAR about the Virginia Tech shootings until around 3:00 this afternoon! Then Bible study got cancelled due to the weather and we were asked to stay home and pray for the VT families instead. Hard day. I'm thankful for a loving God who is going to help all these families get through this miserable time, somehow... some way. He is good.
Tuesday - What IS it with Tuesdays that I always have to stretch to find something to be thankful for? I am definitely noticing a pattern here! Today I'm going to be thankful for kitties! My three (hmmm... I guess I've finally gotten "over" losing Squash...) always provide me with smiles -- even the BAD one! Maybe especially the BAD one! Missy (my son's cat) is IN to EVERYthing! But she is also the one with the most spunk and energy! She instigates everything! She probably also causes me the most smiles!
Wednesday - AWESOME day all the way around! Started with a fabulous talk with God before I even got out of bed - not prayin' -- just talkin' ... then I opened Curves this morning and had the BEST time there today! Just fun and laughter for 4 full hours! Had two members come in today that actually wanted my help and motivation! I LOVE it when that happens! I ended up working out for almost the entire 4 hours! You know I left feeling GOOD! THEN I made arrangements to meet with Darlene - one of the members for a late lunch at 3:00 -- and had time for a little NAP before that! AWESOME day!
Thursday - Went to Hillwood House with Susie - and got to MEET Tillie!!! This whole day was just such a treat! Bible study this evening deserves mention too - this is a FANTASTIC group of women - after only two weeks with them I feel like I've made friends for life! They are sO sweet!
Friday - Well, even though the "slumber party" part of my day was very short (about an hour), the time that we gals spent together preparing for the yard sale was great. It was a LOT of work (to be expected) but we had a lot of help! Several of our EVER SO GOOD members came in and helped out! I guess there was probably about a dozen or so of us all working together and it was just a nice group of caring women!
Saturday - I am WOWWED by how successful the Curves yard sale was! We brought in $1,021.80 -- ALL for Relay For Life / American Cancer Society!!! Whooo hooo! I am sO psyched up about this! And honestly - God WAS looking down on us with favor! He sent us someone in the last hour that was going to be having a yard sale NEXT week - also for a non-profit cause - who was willing to buy EVERYTHING we had left over at the end AND haul it off for us!!! Is that amazing? God is good! ALL the time!!!
Labels: Sunday Seven
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt - Steps
Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.
I'm putting this up waaaaaay early this week. My apologies! I'm leaving for work soon and from there I'm going to a "slumber party" tonight - LOL! And then working a yard sale at Curves in the morning! I'll be home in the afternoon and will visit as many as I can at that time! I bet you couldn't GUESS I found these steps at Hillwood House yesterday - eh?
Have a GREAT Saturday all!!!
Labels: Photo Hunt
Friday Feast # 140...
Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of bread?
LOL! The kind that comes warm straight out of the oven ... saturated in real butter... mmmm.... Okay! For real... my favorite is either dark rye or pumpernickel! I LOVE the dark breads! Oh! And I also love crunchy oatmeal bread!
Soup
When was the last time you bought a new pillow?
Hmmmm.... I'm actually pretty picky about pillows and I like them soft and fluffy -- not pancake-ish... so I buy new ones for ME fairly frequently and then Hubby takes my old ones because he doesn't like them "very" fluffy. I would say I've probably bought new ones within the last 12 months!
Salad
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net?
You know... I really don't do random surfing too often. Occasionally I go off on a hat hunt or something... but usually I'm either researching something specific or I'm just blog hopping! I'll say I only spend maybe 1 or 2 hours just random surfing.
Main Course
What’s the highest you remember your temperature being?
Oh, I don't think I've EVER had an out of control fever! Or maybe I was just too delerious to KNOW that it was that high! LOL! I DID have the flu so bad one time that I couldn't even think to take my temp! But I survived! However -- my eldest son had a realllllllllly high fever when he was about 13 months old! We had to RUSH him to the hospital because I had a digital thermometer and it registered 106.4! I was SURE he was going to have brain damage! We got him to the hospital and they didn't even bother to take his temp - they just stuck a Tylenol suppository up his little butt and plopped him in a tepid bath and once he started cooling off a bit - about 20 minutes later - they took his temp and it was 104! A few hours later he broke out in chicken pox! By that time they had gotten the fever under control.... it was a hairy night!
Dessert
Fill in the blanks: When I ____________, I _____________.
That's it? That's all we get? Good grief! I don't know. When I eat, I get full. When I hear music, I dance. When I laugh hard, I pee! When I sleep, I snore. Sometimes these questions are just TOO vague! LOL!
Labels: Friday Feast
On a Roll!
I happen to be on a roll of having really good days here lately!
TODAY ... a friend from Curves - Susie - had invited me to go to a spot in D.C. that I had actually NEVER been to before! I found this to be quite amazing because really I am one of the more "touristy" life long residents of the D.C. area! I LIKE to enjoy my neighborhood! But Susie invited me to go with her to the Hillwood House. This is the mansion that belonged to Marjorie Merriweather Post - heiress to the Post cereal fortune. As a young woman she was introduced to Russian art and thus began a love story! She collected many many MANY beautiful pieces of Russian glass, ceramics - Faberge' eggs! -- as well as paintings, textiles, and religious artifacts. Because of her (2nd) marriage to Joseph E. Davies - who was Amabassador to the Soviet Union during the time of the Russian revolution, Marjorie was IN the Soviet Union at that time and was able to obtain many many MANY wonderful pieces for a fraction of their value! Really, because of her great LOVE for these beautiful things, they were rescued from sure destruction and she brought them home to America! Soooooo many other pieces like these were smashed and broken and burned and just destroyed! But she managed to save a good many! Others she bought at waaaaaaay high prices later! (of course, she could!)
Sadly, we were not allowed to take ANY pictures inside the museum. As a matter of fact they made us CHECK our cameras at the door! I cried FOUL - but they would not listen! They would not EVEN let me take a picture of the beautifully carpeted stairway leading from the main level to the upper level for this Saturday's Photo Hunt! FOUL, I say! FOUL! However, we were allowed to take pictures in the gardens! AND in the tea room where we had lunch! So... here are a few pictures that I WAS able to take!
We started with lunch before even going into the museum....
I started with a bowl of Russian borscht! For those that don't know this is a cold soup made of beets, with cucumber and sour creme... I had never had it before and felt I MUST try it! I was sO glad I did! It was yummmmmmmmmy! My entree was a spinach & tomato quiche with a garden salad -- also very good!
Then for dessert Susie and I each had the raspberry cheesecake! Toooooooo good! Trust me!
Tilly had lemon merangue cake... not pie!
Of course, who did not get ANY dessert? The husband! Bill! Where do men get their willpower from??? UGH! From left to right this is Tilly (Matilda) - Susie's friend from California (originally from Holland), ME (in the hat, hehehe...), Susie and Susie's hubby - Bill!
So, after lunch we went into the museum where NO pictures were allowed - but ooohing and ahhhhhing was most welcome! We did plenty of that! (SO many things I wished I could show you! FOUL!)
Then we went out to the gardens! You can click to enlarge all of these pictures.... I just thought I should save some space by making them smaller!
This is the view from the portico as you walk out the front door of the mansion. The angel statue to the right is the same one that is standing in the middle of the front garden. I think the little house that you see across the yard is the Butler's cottage ... I could be wrong - but that's what I'm thinking. And to the right of that would be the carriage house - which is now the tea room (cafe').
I don't remember what the name of this garden was... but I do remember that Marjorie Merriweather Post's ashes are buried under the statue in the middle! This is the rose garden - though none of the roses are in bloom at this time -- I'd love to go back in just a few weeks and see them when they are! But for now the tulips were so gorgeous that I was just in awe! To the right is a close up of the most beautiful orange tulips I have ever seen! I don't even think this picture does them justice! They are just gorgeous!
Ms. Post must have had a great sense of whimsy about her -- I really think I would have LOVED this lady! Throughout her gardens she has many many wonderful pieces of statuary and some were absolutely beautiful - but expected. Others... like this one... caught me totally off guard and brought me GLEE! There were actually two of these - different but the same - so I'm only showing one! I just LOVED them! Both were a woman's bust on a lion's (lioness) body. I think they are fitting for this woman because I think she was very strong - and very smart! But she also liked to PLAY ... and definitely DEFINITELY knew how to throw a party! (Teas for 500!!! Can you imagine?) LOL!
Another fun statue -- I love the look on the lions face! Also, I meant to get a closer look - but I am pretty sure that that is a frog sitting on top of his head! Also, you can not see it in this picture - not even in the largest version, but when you are standing in this garden and looking between the two umberellas down in the back - you can see the Washington Monument! What a great view to come out to each and every day of your life! The picture on the right just shows one of the gorgeous tulip borders - and most of the bushes behind them are azaleas that are going to be in bloom probably next week! SOME of them will be in bloom by Saturday!
I actually have many many more pictures of these beautiful gardens ... but I think for now, I'm just going to leave you with this view of a small portion of her oriental garden. Of course there are goldfish in the ponds... maybe koi... but they are small... I think of koi as being the big ones... IS there a difference between koi and goldfish? I'm really not sure!
I sure hope that one day YOU will get to Washington DC... and if you do - please make an effort to get to Hillwood House! You will NOT be disappointed!
It's A Great Day!
And it's a great day to be alive I know the sun's still shinin' when I close my eyes There's some hard times in the neighborhood But why can't every day be just this good?
Lyrics by Darrell Scott
Sung by Travis Tritt
It IS a great day to be alive! Aren't they all? And there is, of course, some hard times in the neighborhood... Virginia Tech is weighing heavy on all of our hearts, and we certainly are saying prayers for those poor families involved. And we say prayers for our Nation as a whole - and indeed for our world! Prayers that this madness will end and that we will all learn to live in peace...
... and then we go on. And we live our lives. God actually expects us to DO that! If you weren't personally involved in this tragedy, He would like you to know that it is okay to go ahead and HAVE a great day! As a matter of fact, He's serving this one up -- just for you! Enjoy it!
He served me up a GREAT day yesterday! I started it off with a very short talk with Him before I even got out of bed! His message got through though - just like *snap* that! I proceeded to get up and I was opening Curves so I got ready and hit the road! I had the best time at Curves yesterday that I have had ... maybe ever! We just had SO much fun! And I ended up working out for almost my entire shift! Why? Because after I had done MY workout, a couple of people (one at a time) came in that wanted or needed me to pace them - to keep their heart rate up. I have NO problem with this! This is the part I LOVE about working at Curves! I don't feel like I'm there to "entertain" you through your workout... which is what my boss wants us to do... I'm not a stand up comic! I feel like I'm there to encourage. To help our members get the most for their money. To help people who are having ho-hum workouts turn them into WOW workouts! THAT is the Melli way of working at Curves! And yesterday provided me with SO much of that! And not just those two people -- but just the whole scenario yesterday - the conversations - the energy - it was just all GOOD! I left there feeling totally energized! And then... I had made arrangements to have lunch with one of the members that I've become pretty good friends with! We met at 3:00 for a late lunch and spent two hours really enjoying each other's company and getting to know each other on a different level!
See??? It was a great day! I'm going to have another one today! And while I'm having it, I'm going to keep those VT families in my heart and in my mind and ask the Lord to heal their hearts and help them get through their hard times. And I'm asking that He give the rest of you a GREAT day!
Wordless Wednesday
Labels: WW
Mirror Of My Life
Last Thursday Lazy Daisy made her Thursday Thirteen list on things she wished she had learned earlier in life. The first thing she listed was to learn from other's mistakes because we don't have TIME to make them all ourselves! Daisy's list reminded me of a poem I had written back when my eldest was graduating high school and setting out into the "real" world. She was a bit bull-headed ... she still is. She comes by it naturally.... as you will see from my poem...
Mirror Of My Life
by Melli Lantz
SHE walks along behind me
Taking the very same steps I took
Like a shadow of my past
It pains me just to look
Even this, I once did too
(followed the footsteps of someone I knew
making the same mistakes they made)
When I was just her age
If I held up a mirror for her to see
I'm afraid the reflection she'd see would be me
Why, when she reaches that fork in the road,
does she go the same way that I went long ago?
Didn't I tell her that path would be brutal?
Must the mistakes of the Mother always be futile?
If only she'd slip - miss just one step of mine
Forge a new path, a new direction
in time
She'd reject my unwarranted protection
Err, though, she must - and so we all do
She'll learn from her own - but can't she learn from mine too?
Most of the lessons I've learned in my life
as a result of my errors and personal strife
have only been realized too late for myself
But my daughter has time to use them herself!
If only she could accept without hesitation
Those lessons learned by a previous generation
Well... unfortunately there is a lot stylizing in the "form" in which I wrote this that just won't "hold" in the blog! So I just centered it... but you get the general idea.... This is actually one of my favorite poems I've written... I'm glad Daisy reminded me to share it with you.
Random Questions ...
The other day I answered 5 Random Questions that Susan gave to me. Today it's my turn to post 5 random questions for those who chose to play with me! Jennifer and Bill have decided to play -- if you would like to play too just let me know when you've posted your answers! (I'm so easy!) LOL! Heeeeeere ya go......1. What is something that you have done in your life ... either in childhood or as an adult ... that to this day you do not know WHY you did it or WHAT could have possibly possessed you?2. If you had the opportunity to give a speech to ANY audience of your choice, on ANY topic of your choice what would the subject matter be? And to whom would you like to address it? (hint: "I can't/won't speak in public" is UNacceptable! Pretend you can!)3. You woke up this morning and discovered someone had left a box on your front steps! Inside is a baby animal. What kind is it ... and what are you going to name it? (and we're going to pretend that there are no laws against keeping ANY particular kind of pet!)4. Spring is IN the air! (i know it is ... SOMEwhere...) So... what kind of flower, tree or bush are you? And why?5. How many speeding tickets/traffic citations have you had? What was the LAST one you were pulled over for? Did you pay it or go to court? What happend?
Sunday Seven
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 ya come back!
Sunday - EASTER! Yep! I'm being thankful for it two weeks in a row! I think it's worth being thankful for two weeks in a row.... And I was thankful (and sO happy) to wear my pretty dress and hat to church! I continued to wear it all day long! And I was thankful AFTER church that the family had come up with ONE MEAL that everyone would eat so I didn't have to cook 4 or 5 main courses!!! Yep! It was a wonderful wONderful day!!!
Monday - HOLIDAY! No work, no school, no nuffin! Jammie day! I do LOVE jammie days! Well... it was... until Bible study! We celebrated a birthday at Bible study ... that involved cake! I can give up jammies for cake!
Tuesday - Soft terry towels. I LOVE brand new thick thirsty soft terry towels!
Wednesday - Today I actually worked a 6.5 hour shift at Curves! Whoo hoo! If I could just get one of these EVERY day, I'd be in good shape!
Thursday - Joined a new Bible study group tonight. This one is taught by MRS. Pastor Paul. This was the first time I met her - and she is just as sweet and lovable as he is! They are such a perfect couple! This study is from Women of Faith and it is on Contagious Joy! UNfortunately, I came into it on chapter 7 - so I have quite a bit of reading to do on my own... but this is a delightful group of women and I just hope I'm not getting in over my head with 3 studies at one time!!! I was ALSO very happy to meet Krysti's new boyfriend this evening. He seems like a really REALLY nice boy and I'm so happy that she is so happy again!
Friday - *G* ... today I'm thankful I didn't throw that stupid scale right out the bathroom window. That would have broken glass and made a horrible mess that I would have then had to clean up. So isn't God wOnderful that he gave me enough self-control to NOT throw the scale out the window? God IS good ... all the time! *nods*
Saturday - Oh this has been a busy week! And I can be thankful for busy weeks! I guess.... LOL! Nothing worth "blogging" about though ... just general life busyness! One thing I'm very happy about is that I got to the store and got my grocery shopping done today - this means that tomorrow is just church and relaxation! As it should be! :o)
Labels: Sunday Seven
I'm HERE! I'm HEEEEERE! (The Ball!)
Oh my gosh!
I'm running sooooo late!
Well... fashionably late... yea... that's it!
(got held up at work - no, not guns and such - just ... oh, you know...
and then had to do the dinner thing... had a run in my nylons...
was out of mascara... my lipstick fell in the toilet...
sandal broke... )
BUT I'M HERE!!!
YAY!
So what are we waiting for?
Let's PARTY!!!
(do you LOVE my hair extensions?)
The Cyber Cruise Scheduled portsLifecruiser Cyber Cruise in TechnoratiLabels: Cyber Cruise
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Hobby
Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.
Today, since I rarely take pictures of myself participating in my own hobbies, I decided to share one of Hubby's hobbies with you. This is his latest greatest hobby! It's a little radio controlled helicopter - and in this picture it still had it's "training wheels" on! The little styrofoam balls were to offer a bit safer landing when the Hubs was first learning how to fly! It's quite tricky actually!
Now I'm off to work this morning! I'll be around to visit MUCH later this evening! Have a great day!
Labels: Photo Hunt
WHAT is Susan Asking? ....
Susan got this from Linda who got it from Deena ... It's the randomizer meme! LOL! The way it works is Deena gave Linda 5 RANDOM questions. Linda answered the questions and then gave Susan 5 NEW random questions. And so on and so on... so... HERE are the questions that I got from Susan... with my answers... and if you would like to play, let me know in the comments and I will come up with 5 random questions for you! (you DON'T answer THESE random questions...)
SUSAN ASKED...
1. What's your worst pet peeve?
I think it would have to be gossip. I don't like gossip at all. I don't like to DO it, and I don't like to listen to it. It has absolutely no benefit whatsoever, and in most cases it proves to be destructive. If it's not YOUR story to tell, don't tell it. I don't even tell my kids something that went on with one of their siblings. I MIGHT say "Krysti has some news today - make sure you ask her about it." ... but I don't tell Krysti's news! It's HER story to tell! It really bothers me very much when I hear someone telling something about someone else. So many times the information gets mixed up or exaggerated -- and sometimes it's just out and out false. It's just best to only to tell your own stories!
2. What are five things you would do if "money were no object"?
a. For ME, I would buy a piece of ocean front property and build a house on it.
b. For my family, I would make sure all my kids had brand new reliable vehicles.
c. I would give a humongous donation to Equipping The Saints - Lazy Daisy & Mr. Wonderful's mission.
d. I would make substantial donations to Right To Life, Children's Hospital, and a few local charities that I would like to support more.
e. Yea... back to me ... I would travel! I so desperately want to explore this whole big world that God created! It breaks my heart that I'll never get to see sO much of it!
3. If you could be an inanimate object, what would you be and why?
Amazingly this was the question I chose to answer first! It was just easy for me... I would be a lawn sprinkler! LOL! They are cool, and refreshing, they serve a useful purpose and they are fun!
4. OK, fess up, some people have eaten crayons or tasted glue. What's the strangest thing you've ever taste-tested? Where were you and why did you do it?
Ohhhhhh my gosh.... I didn't "taste test" it... but I did eat a piece of paper one time. Why? Because I was in 10th grade and it was a note a friend had written to me and after it got passed to me the teacher asked for it! I was afraid she would read it to the class and it talked about a certain boy I liked and HE was in the class! So I ate it! LOL!
5. And because I LOVE music and Linda used music: If you were standing before all of your friends and family and they asked you to summarize yourself in one to two songs, what would you sing and why?
Ohhhhhh goodness! This is sO hard! There are sO many! One would probably have to be a very patriotic song... probably Lee Greenwood's God Bless The USA.... because it's what I feel! I AM verrrrrry patriotic! But for the other it would be a toss up between It's A Great Day To Be Alive, by Travis Tritt or Lucky Man by Montgomery Gentry. Right now It's A Great Day To Be Alive is my ringtone for when non-family members call me.... that pretty much sums up my attitude in general on MOST days!
So... if you want to play just let me know! I promise to come up with something ... interesting!
Labels: meme's
Friday Feast #139
Appetizer
When you were a child, which crayon color was your favorite?
Ya know... I don't think it's changed in alllllllll these years! I'm pretty sure I liked them ALL equal even waaaaaaaaay back then!
Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how likely would you be to change jobs if it required you to move?
LOL! TEN! *oooh oooh! Pick me!* I'm dieing to move! I would snap that up in a heartbeat! Would hubby come with me??? That's the question!
Salad
Take all the numbers in your birthday and your phone number and add them up, one by one. What’s the total? 64
Main Course
Have you ever “re-gifted” anything? If so, what was it and who did you pass it on to?
I never have regifted anything. I'm pretty sentimental about gifts, so I always hang on to them and use them at least for a while! I mean, I don't still HAVE every gift I was ever given - but if I don't have it it's because I either outgrew it or the need to HAVE it.
Dessert
Name something you need from the store.
ROFL! WHICH store? The furniture store? New couches! The clothing store? Some shorts that FIT! The grocery store? Milk & Fabric softener sheets. The shoe store? The Hallmark store? The fabric shop? The jewelry store? This question definitely needed to be pared down a bit!!! LOL!
Labels: Friday Feast
Shopping... I HATE Shopping!
Dear Diary~
UGH! Today I had to go out shopping for a gown for the Cyber Cruise this weekend... what a DISASTER this was! You know how I am! I will simply NOT wear just ANY old gown! It has to be right! It has to make a statement! It has to be ME! Well... I flew into Paris to see what was being offered this season...
Okay... Armani had this.
But if HER hips look like that, imagine what MY
rolls of flesh would look like.... I think not.
Maybe Dior has something better...
Uhhhh... NO!
Well... I dO like that it comes with it's own hat!
But... ummmmmmm... no.
Maybe Channel?
Oh gooooood grief!
Is there NOTHING for the full figured girl???
Well, thank you Vera Wang!
Isn't this attractive!?
Can you spell c.o.m.b.???
Ya have to admit - it hides the fat...
(not that SHE has any!)
I'm thinking Nordstroms or Bloomies is looking mighty fine right now!
And I've still gotta find shoes too!
Oy vey!
(by the way... do y'all remember when it was expected
that models would be beautiful?)
The Cyber Cruise Scheduled portsLifecruiser Cyber Cruise in TechnoratiLabels: Cyber Cruise
Rain, Rain....
*smiling* I woke up to a rainy day today. I love this. I have to tell you ... I absolutely LOVE a rainy day! I looked out the window and the first thought that went through my mind was "Thank you Lord!" and the second thought that went through my mind was the song... you know... Eddie Rabbit... Well I love a rainy night
I love a rainy night
I love to hear the thunder
Watch the lightning
When it lights up the sky
You know it makes me feel good...
And it does! I love the sound, I love the smell, I love to watch the rain fall! And I have always been comforted by songs about rain! Another old olllllld OLD favorite of mine was by the Cascades....
Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain
Telling me just what a fool I've been
I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain
And let me be alone again....
Really it wasn't the lyrics to that song that I loved as much as the sound of the rain in the background.... and it was a catchy little tune. But I remember playing this one over and over and over on my old "record player"... boy, those were the days!
Another favorite "rain" song was the famous song from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ...
Rain drops keep falling on my head
And just like the guy who's feet are too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Those raindrops keep falling on my head
They keep falling...
But if you notice those last two songs put rain in a bad connotation - even though the songs are GREAT songs - they predict life will be better when the sun comes back out! And I love my sunny days too.... but there is something EVER so special about a good gloomy gray rainy day!!! Mmmmm... a matching fluffy gray sweatshirt... a pot of hot coffee... open one window... a good book... I think I'm ready! You know... there was ONE rain song I never did like much...
Rain rain go away
Come again another day
Little "Melli" wants to play...
Nope... I never cared for that one much! Little "Melli" was always more than happy to go out and splash in the puddles! LOL! Or take a walk with an umbrella! *smile*
Y'all have a great day! I'm off to enjoy the rain!
Other favorite "rain" songs...
Singing In The Rain - Gene Kelly
Fire & Rain -- James Taylor
Here Comes The Rain Again - Eurythmics
Have You Ever Seen The Rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Do YOU have a favorite rain song?
