Alert and Oriented (x4)

Praying that God will bless you this New Year and bring you ever closer to Him. And, to steal a page from My ADHD Me , today we're gonna have a special visitor! Now, isn't this about the cutest thing you've EVER seen?

I really wasn't planning on doing this, but the bloodshot eyes in the post below started to creep me out a little. Join Lidna over at 2nd Cup for the 2009 final edition of Random Dozen 1. Do you find it gross to share drinks with family? Friends? No. Well, yes. Are they older than 12? Because the whole backwash thing totally gags me. Ted used to take a ½ gallon of milk to work to use throughout the week for cereal and the like. People kept drinking it from the communal refrigerator, even tho’ it was clearly labeled “Ted.” Once, during a station meeting held in the break room, he took it out, took a big swig of it, swished it around and spit it back in the container. Then he said, “By the way, this is MY milk!” No one ever drank his milk again. He is a legend at the ABQ Airport…(sorry, probably not something you wanted to read with your morning coffee). 2. What have you learned this year? (You didn't see a question of that weight coming, did you? At least not for #2.) ...

This weekend (Sunday night, to be exact) I won’t be gett ing much sleep. I am chaperoning at a Youth Christmas Lock-In. For the uninitiated, this is a night of torture fun and games that generally begins about 9 p.m. and ends the next morning at 8 a.m. Once they arrive, they won’t be allowed to leave until the next morning. Hence, the “Lock In.” We’ll begin with some icebreaker games, have devotional and worship time, a white elephant exchange, more games, watch a movie or three…interspersed with eating, laughing and general good times. And, OHHH! This is the exciting part! My friends will bring us Chicken Minis from Chick-fil-A in the morning for breakfast. That alone, may be what keeps me going for the whole eleven hours. I’m afraid to fall asleep, for what the little darlings, grades 6 through 12, might do to me…. So…what’s the most unusual white elephant gift you’ve given or received? And any suggestions for some fun games? My daughter is in charge of that and we’re alwa...

When will the extravaganza end? Never, I hope! Lidna at 2nd Cup is hosting another edition of Random Dozen. Join in and link up! 1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about? I have a lazy eye…my kids tease me and tell me they can’t tell who I’m yelling at, and often times I catch people peeking over their shoulders to see who I am talking too. Nevermind, I’m still self-conscious. 2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom? I liked Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin from One Day at a Time) and Claire Huxtable (Felicia Rashad from the Cosby Show). They were both pretty unflappable. I long to be unflappable. I'm pretty much a fish on a dock, though. 3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn? I am quite f...

Isn’t it funny how something are etched so deeply in our minds and hearts, that we remember every single detail, while others, even though they may have impacted our lives just as much, leave us with only a blurred memory? The birth of your firstborn…weights and lengths of all your children….remembered or blurry? The date of your first date…know it by heart, or are you a little fuzzy? The day you decided to make Jesus the leader and forgiver of your life….Crystal clear or misty? I often wonder what crystallizes certain moments, while others dissolve like so much sugar in a tall glass of ice tea…the tea is different--irrevocably changed, but for the life of me, I can’t see the little pile of sugar that was dumped in. At least for me, there seems to be no rhyme or reason. I vividly remember a time when my sister and I irritated our mom by our incessant bickering so much, we earned the spankings of our lives. I may have been four years old. But I don’t remember the details of my wedding r...

The other day I did a closing that was strangely disturbing. Everything was a disconnect. At several junctures during the evening, I looked around to see if maybe there was a hidden camera, a la’ Candid Camera or Punk’d. The disconnect happened because there were too many agendas. And all of them were mixed. Although I can’t really explain how it was so odd and disturbing, the factors added up to make a totally dissatisfactory evening. My agenda was simple: get the papers witnessed and signed properly, and go home. The widow, age 83, who was the borrower had several agendas, and sub-agendas. She is a beautiful lady—an artist, a pianist. Two of her adult sons were there. Her agenda was to complete the loan signing so she could get out from under crushing monthly financial obligations. She was also flirtatious and coquettish with her sons. She was striving for their attention—for their adoration and approval. And yet, while longing for that approval (I could tell she hadn’t m...

Lidna over at 2nd Cup has been hosting this meme for 14 weeks. I haven't done all 14, and actually have been told by a friend that she quit reading my blog when I WAS doing them....but that being said....welcome back! 1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like? I’m thinking Toto, because I can get all yappy when I'm excited and Toto was a Silky Terrier, just like Claire . And having 4 kids, high excitement can also lead to leakage (sorry--probably too much information) like many small dogs. However, my husband and kids might say on occasion the Wicked Witch…. 2. When you're deciding what you're going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why? Top or blouse…make-up considerations. I don’t matchy- match, but I wear warm with warm, cool with cool.. 3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without? Do cockroaches count as an animal? I hate snakes, but know we’d be overrun with rodents without them. I figure that God, in His wisdom, c...

Wishing you all a joyous Thanksgiving!

I have not jumped on the bandwagon and joined Twitter. Although I think their little blue bird is completely adorable, I just can't allow myself to do it. Frankly, I’m a little bit afraid. Facebook is kind of like crack to me, and I really don’t think I could fit another aspect of social networking into my day. Something would have to give, and with the very real fear that it might be eating chocolate or personal hygiene, I’ve decided NOT to tweet. That being said, I have something to say about all the status updates. Recently, a ‘friend’ (really more of an acquaintance, but a very nice lady nonetheless, and while I can befriend someone on fb, I can’t ‘be-acquaintance’ anyone) challenged me to post a status update each day during the month of November that begins, “Today I am thankful for…” I don’t know really how many days I’ve been at it, but probably four or five. I challenged other friends, and have enjoyed reading the heartfelt and the humorous. My sister-in-law posted t...

Yes, someday I will write an actual post, with actual content. But until then, play along with Lidna at 2nd Cup with this fun meme.... 1. What was the last song you listened to? How to Save a Life by the Fray 2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything? Many times...most often over 'bargain clothing' that turns out to be not such a bargain when it requires complicated underwear, alterations or it just plain doesn't fit. 3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing) When I first saw the house I now live in, I really didn't like it very much. It was about 25 miles from work and had been left vacant for several months. Now the area around it has grown, and I probably wouldn't have met most of my close friends if I lived in another area. Plus, I love my home! 4. Do you watch the Macy’s Tha...

Linda, over at 2nd Cup of Coffee , has the 10th edition of Random Dozen. Come play! 1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light? Probably run it…unless there were one of those pesky red light cameras. 2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything? I probably should’ve gone to bed earlier. Otherwise, it was a pretty productive day. 3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her) It depends on how personal the comment was. I’ve been known to do all of the above. I always try to visit the other blog, anyway…and sometimes with Mary from Monkeys are Funny, we have a regular dialog in the comments. p.s. What about him? What if it's a man? 4. Your favorite Disney movie is: Live action? The Parent Trap (old one with Hayley M...

Honestly, I told myself I wouldn't be blogging this week. It's the last week before the big huge retreat that gives me tics in my eye and ulcers and not enought sleep. But behind me, if you were here, you could hear my trusty Canon ImageRunner cranking out multiple copies of two different booklets, along with their covers. I figure there's at least 30 minutes left on this print job. They will all be stapled tomorrow and loaded up, with the help of a very nice lady. SO...Lidna at 2nd cup of Coffee is doing the Random Dozen blog again, and for what it's worth, here's my take: 1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher. Her name was Betty Askew. She was my 6th grade teacher and she convinced me that I was more capable than I ever believed. Her husband was on a tour of duty in Vietnam and she had the most adorable little 2-year-old boy. 2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life. When my mom died, I was 18. I was 31 when I lost my dad. It was pivotal...

Lidna over at 2nd Cup of Coffee is continuing her fun Random Dozen meme this week. Pop on over and link up at her place. 1. Candy corn: Your thoughts? Eh…it’s ok. Not my favorite Halloween candy. Good for making fake vampire teeth when you stick them over your own teeth. When I do eat them, which is a seldom occurrence, I have to bite off each color successively from the pointy part first. I think I am now officially weird. And oh-so-OCD. 2. Briefly, what was the first conversation you ever had with your spouse? (or best friend, if you're not married.) (Or someone significant, like your librarian.) I was walking into concert choir room and he said, “You have great lips!” I don’t remember how I replied. 3. Could you ever become a vegetarian? If I had access to Dion’s Santorini pizza, probably. 4. Have you ever dressed up your pet in a costume? Claire has a coat that looks like a Santa outfit. Tyler bought it for her last year for Christmas, oddly enough. She really loves it. We as...

This has been a strangely contemplative week. I’ve been contemplating the fact that I’m one year older as of Friday. Older doesn’t really freak me out. Hating the wrinkles, but loving the confidence I have now. But now I’m just 4 years younger than my mom was when she died. Does that mean I’m within 4 years of being as wise as she was? I’ve been contemplating something that the son of a friend said about eternity. On Monday, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with an 84-year-old woman. She was a pretty little thing, and smoked like a chimney. Her voice sounded exactly like Roz from Monsters, Inc. Exactly. She asked me, with a little bit of wonder in her voice, if I knew that the Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. And that they (the Jews) don’t believe that Jesus is coming back. She had just come across those facts in the last day or so. Wow. Talk about an open door. Not sure if maybe, being 84, she may have known those salient facts last week and ...

Well...here you go. See how well you did: Brushes with Celebrity 1. I once sat next to Grant Goodeve (the oldest--and best looking--son on 8 is Enough) and his wife on a flight. Bad thunderstorm, she was hysterical. I thought I’d have to slap her a la’ Airplane. 2. I was an extra in Convoy . They didn’t pay us, but gave us hotdogs, beer and coke. It was really, really hot. I was about 5 yards from Ali McGraw and Kris Kristofferson. The scene was at the end of the movie when they rolled into town in their big convoy. You can’t see me in the crowd. But I was there. 3. Sandra Bullock commuted to Albuquerque while making a move back in the early 90’s. She was a regular on our red-eye flight and once brought me cookies that she had baked. My husband still thinks she is really h-o-t-t. I still think Kris Kristofferson is, but the man can’t even speak on key. Brilliant lyricist tho’… # 3 is the lie. This is one of those half-truths. Do ya'll remember The Facts of Life, w...

Ok…time for the second edition….these are harder to come up with than I originally thought. Please play along, post your own and then come back and link up. It’s kind of like that old TV game show To Tell the Truth…. Brushes with Celebrity 1. I once sat next to Grant Goodeve (the oldest--and best looking--son on 8 is Enough) and his wife on a flight. Bad thunderstorm, she was hysterical. I thought I’d have to slap her a la’ Airplane. 2. I was an extra in Convoy . They didn’t pay us, but gave us hotdogs, beer and coke. It was really, really hot. I was about 5 yards from Ali McGraw and Kris Kristofferson. The scene was at the end of the movie when they rolled into town in their big convoy. You can’t see me in the crowd. But I was there. 3. Sandra Bullock commuted to Albuquerque while making a move back in the early 90’s. She was a regular on our red-eye flight and once brought me cookies that she had baked. My husband still thinks she is really h-o-t-t. I still think Kris...

Time for this week's edition of Random Dozen. I just argued with myself over the placement of that apostrophe. It's way too early for this. Anyway, play along and head on over to 2nd cup and link up. (wow--that rhymes) 1. On an average, how often do you splurge and buy something for yourself? Maybe a couple of times a year. But the thing is, it usually has to be on clearance, and then additional savings off. Last week I gained huge ground and bought a top that was just on sale, not clearance. I don’t have this problem when I buy things for others, just myself. 2. Are you more like Hall or Oates? Just kidding. Real question: What is the last creative project you began/finished? Feel free to post a pic of it. Creative? Like in crafts? Pshaw. I wrote a pretty good article for our church website. Does that count? 3. OK, Goldie Locks, do you consider your house too big, too little or juuuust right? I love my house. But it has 6 people and 3 bedrooms and 1600 sq feet. In the gran...

The big reveal…..Ok. I’m coming clean. Here are the answers… Animal Planet (Please don’t tell P.E.T.A!) 1. Finding a dead gerbil (mummified) in the air conditioning/heater system in our Jeep. No wonder it always smelled funny when we turned it on. 2. Finding half (top half) of our hamster, Cinnamon on the living room rug. The cat ate the bottom half. 3. Starting the car one cold winter morning and hearing a terrible racket. Opening the hood and finding a bull snake curled around the engine. In pieces. # 3 is the lie. However, Ted’s cousin used to live with us when going through a tough time. He started his truck one morning and found a cat had decided that under the hood next to the warm engine was a nice place to nap. Quite a disturbing noise. We had to pull the kitty’s claws out of the fan belt to disengage her. The cat survived, but always walked with her head listing to the right after that…. I broke down and looked in the trash at the poor, unfortunate victim in #1. I...

Have all of you played that icebreaker game called Two Truths and a Lie? You put on a name tag and list 2 things that are true about yourself and one that is a lie. People try to guess which is which and in talking, they get to know you better. This is a game-meme thing kind of like that. Post some sets of 3…2 truths and a lie. And then come back here and do some linkage love. Here are mine: Animal Planet (Please don’t tell P.E.T.A!) 1. Finding a dead gerbil (mummified) in the air conditioning/heater system in our Jeep. No wonder it always smelled funny when we turned it on. 2. Finding half (top half) of our hamster, Cinnamon on the living room rug. The cat ate the bottom half. 3. Starting the car one cold winter morning and hearing a terrible racket. Opening the hood and finding a bull snake curled around the engine. In pieces. Emergency Room for Dummies 1. Breaking my pinkie when I get stuck going down a slide with my nephew in my lap. I weighed about 97 lbs at the time an...

Today is the anniversary of my mom’s birth. If she were still alive, she would’ve been 80 years old today. She died at the age of 52, when I was 19 years old. I got married about six months before her death. I look at her two sisters: one lived to 90 and the other is still going strong at 91. Yet, her brother died at a young age, too. I don’t remember how old he was—just that I was in elementary school. Her own mom died as a result of complications from childbirth when my mom was only three weeks old. She had a hard scrabble life, but if there was a word to describe her, I would say sturdy. Steadfast. Ok, two words. She was forced to grow up long before her time, and I don’t think she got to experience much joy as a child. My mom abused her poor little body and it just plain wore out and couldn’t go on any more. I have very few of the bad habits she had, and I try to take care of myself. The closer my own age gets to 52, the more I realize how much of a vapor our lives re...

Linda, over at 2nd cup , has her Random Dozen theme meme up again. It's all about Jr. High. Or middle school. I guess it depends on your time era or your part of the country as to what you might call it. Personally, I went to Jr. High in 7th, 8th and 9th grades. Only went to high school for 3 years. I was the last 9th grade class in Jr. High. Then, in all their wisdom, Albuquerque Public schools went to middle school--6th, 7th and 8th grades. Folks: 6th graders don't belong with 8th graders. And 9th graders don't belong with 12th graders. But I digress. Here we go..... 1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share. Um, at the 9th grade dance I was walking in and it was REALLY REALLY windy. This was my outfit: (Yes, I wanted to be at the dance. No, I did NOT want my mother to take my picture) My skirt blew up. OVER my head. And completely blinded me. I looked like someone who had...

Missy, over at It's Almost Naptime is hosting a fun meme called Friday Favorites. This week, it's shoes...Your favorite shoes you own, and the shoes you WISHED you owned!! I did a similar post back in the day, but this one seems like a kick! (Pun intended). Because I'm trying to post more, I seem to be doing more memes. I think this is because my creative juices are dry. But ANYWAY..... These are my very own favorite shoes that I own. I love them SOooooooooo much that I bought them last June to wear to my bff's daughter's wedding on October 3. And I haven't bought the dress yet! Yea..I know. That's kind of backwards thinking, but that's how I roll. Anyway (drumroll, please....): Note the pretty gold band around the toe and the super sexy side vamp. Yes, patent leather slingbacks. Clinton and Stacy would be proud. Now I just have to go find a dress that goes with them. Good thing my Kohl's coupon came....30% baby!!! As to shoes I WANT to...

Conversely, however, just looking at this picture seems to make my hindquarters expand...sigh. Lidna, over at 2nd Cup , has a fun meme that I've now actually particpated in for 2 weeks running. I KNOW. So copy, paste and post and pop on over and visit Lid and get in on the linkage love with Mr. Linky. 1. Which is worse: a long, boring meeting or standing in a return/exchange line after Christmas? Standing in line. Inevitably, I’m next to someone with a suspiciously tubercular cough and within eardrum splitting distance of someone with a toddler who is either a) singing Dora the Explorer or Manny the Handyman or b) pitching a temper tantrum where pea soup comes out or his/her mouth as the head spins around. 2. Except for maybe Rosie O'Donnell or Ann Coulter, nobody likes confrontation, yet we all have to deal with it. When you feel cornered and defensive, do you "bite back" or become passive aggressive? If I am personally cornered, passive/aggressive. When I see ...

We all remember. Everyone who was living in the United States on September 11, 2001 more than likely remembers exactly what they were doing when they heard the awful news that our country was under attack. The very date evokes a memory in most people's lives. The events of the day don't even have to be recounted; the date itself reminds us all of where we were and what our initial feelings were. I was in my laundry room, attempting to find 4 pairs of matching socks for my kids to wear to school. It was an ordinary Tuesday. Ted, working at the airport, called and told me that he believed we were at war. Situated near, and sharing runways with, one of our key defense bases, the airport was under incredible tension. Within 2 hours, the tarmac was covered with planes that were landed immediately, in an effort to forestall any further attacks. I turned on the television and watched an airplane hit the second tower. Ted asked me to get as much cash out of the bank as I could. H...

Lidna, over at 2nd Cup , is hosting a fun meme. Please join in! 1. What is something that you have changed your mind about either recently or over a number of years? Hmm…tattoos. I don’t think they are nearly as creepy as I used to. Secretly, I kind of admire them, but would be afraid to get one. 2. Choose either subject, but does your a) church b) job feel more like a dental chair experience or an easy chair (recliner) experience? Hmm…I work at my church. Neither one really describes it. Maybe more like a controlled cyclone? Controlled most of the time, anyway. 3. Kisses or hugs? I actually typed "huts," which might have been a more interesting question. Usually hugs. Have an old friend (male) ALWAYS greets me with a kiss. Never fails to creepy me out a little. 4. What do you think is the biggest threat to families today? The acceptance of disrespect towards parents, dads in particular. Man-bashing has become a part of most sitcoms. When we don’t respect the aut...

I secretly love that my daughter borrows my scarves and jewelry and perfume and shoes and belts. Admittedly, I resent a little bit that she does all this with infinitely more style and grace than I have. And she rejects much of my clothing and accessories. She is smarter than me, more athletic than me, more driven than me and pretty much what I wanted to be when I was a teenager. Sometimes, I feel like it’s just the two of us protecting femininity in a sea of testosterone. She’s also one tough cookie and, according to her brother “slaps harder than most men hit.” Not that she would ever slap her brothers… We’ve discovered the secret to making mornings bearable. Like me, she is an unrepentant night owl. Owls are her favorite animal, by the way. She is grumpy in the mornings and can have an ugly temper. We’re all careful not to ask her too many questions; in general we stay out of her way in the mornings. But, if I wake her with a glass of orange juice, her blood sugar equalizes and she’...