That was the text message I received from my dear friend Julie this afternoon. And I laughed and laughed!
The first day we were at the beach, we were walking back to the beach house, talking about what games she wanted to play that evening. I am not a big gamer, board or otherwise, and I admit I was making fun just a LITTLE bit. As we walked along I suggested a game we could play without any hard rules, cards, boards or whatever. And moreover, the game could get more interesting as we got further down our bottle of wine.
"Let's come up with a song for every letter of the alphabet," I said. Julie loves to sing, is a fantastic singer, and had said she wanted to sing together during the week she was here. Well, I can't hold a candle to her vocalizations, so I was hoping this kind of thing would satisfy that urge of hers and also be a game I could deal with.
On we went, coming up with some pretty fantastical songs, although I did make fun of her for her inordinate number of hymns and spiritual songs (she is a preacher's wife, after all). And we got a little mired down at at times. But when we got to 'Q' we were totally stuck. And had no internet access either.
This bugged her. Julie does not give up. In fact, this is a photo I took of her on another quest she had while we were at the beach...her desperate need to find a shark's tooth.
We never did come up with a song for the letter 'X.' I have internet access now, but haven't availed myself of the opportunity to google it.
Que Sera Sera. Maybe we'll never come up with one for 'X.'
Friday, July 03, 2009
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Away We Go: A GREAT Movie!
Cassie and I went to see this movie this afternoon. I absolutely loved it. Yes, I did get restless near the end, but I get restless near the end of most movies.
So this couple is expecting a baby and they realize they really have not grown up. They lived near his parents (hers are dead), only to have the parents announce they are moving to Belgium for two years. They live in a crappy, run-down shack, and so they decide maybe they should move somewhere too.
So they start off on a round-the-country trip to visit friends and family to see if there is a good placed for them to settle down with the baby. And along they way they learn some valuable lessons in how to, and how not to, be parents.
It can be a little crude at times. I would not take my 14-year-old son to see it, but it's a great flick for adults.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Today
I'm up early this morning on a summer day. Got up at 6:30. I'm stressing myself about summer ending too quickly. I have to report back on July 27, so it seems like I'm not getting much of a summer break at all. I don't think I've fully recovered from the last round of 10-hour days, and now I'm dreading the next round already. So I'm doing a lot of self-talk, trying to remind myself to enjoy each day as it comes. Otherwise I think I'll lose the enjoyment of the current time off because I'll be brooding too much about going back to work.
"I live a day at a time. Each day I look for a kernel of excitement. In the morning I say: 'What is my exciting thing for today?' Then, I do the day. Don't ask me about tomorrow."--Barbara Jordan
"I live a day at a time. Each day I look for a kernel of excitement. In the morning I say: 'What is my exciting thing for today?' Then, I do the day. Don't ask me about tomorrow."--Barbara Jordan
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
I Didn't Embarrass My Teacher
So we went to The Yoga Center in the Elizabeth neighborhood in uptown Charlotte last night. Phyllis Rollin teaches Iyengar style yoga, which is very precise and detailed. There's not really any room for making the poses your own in terms of style. But I think that's a good thing sometimes. You really learn about your own anatomy as she leads you through what you think is going to be simple forward bend. She starts pointing out parts of your body that haven't thought of before, and telling you to adjust each of them. I mean, when I bend forward over one leg, I usually don't think of the opposite side of my ribs collapsing.
Anyway, we did not do much sweating, which Liz had told me we would do, but she also said the class seemed easier last night than usual. We attributed that to the fact that Phyllis was a little under the weather.
There were two men in the class, which was kind of cool, and I ended up next to the wall by one of them, Tom. He had a lot of back issues going on and so was doing most of his poses rather gingerly and receiving some assistance from Phyllis. As we were working on a prep for handstands, I muttered to him, "So when do we get to the napping part?" And he really enjoyed that one. The woman on the other side of him said, "That's just a rumor we spread to get people to come to yoga." And then pretty much our entire wall of people started cracking up. Phyllis hadn't heard the conversation, so she walked along the line of us asking us what was so funny, which made us laugh even more. All in all, it was a challenging yet fun class. I think I'll go back whenever I can, although that will mean sacrificing my Monday night Jazz class. We'll see.
This morning it's Jazz and then yoga at The Gym in Fort Mill and then afternoon is free. I have some tidying up, bathrooms to clean, and laundry to do. And I imagine I should cook supper too.
Anyway, we did not do much sweating, which Liz had told me we would do, but she also said the class seemed easier last night than usual. We attributed that to the fact that Phyllis was a little under the weather.
There were two men in the class, which was kind of cool, and I ended up next to the wall by one of them, Tom. He had a lot of back issues going on and so was doing most of his poses rather gingerly and receiving some assistance from Phyllis. As we were working on a prep for handstands, I muttered to him, "So when do we get to the napping part?" And he really enjoyed that one. The woman on the other side of him said, "That's just a rumor we spread to get people to come to yoga." And then pretty much our entire wall of people started cracking up. Phyllis hadn't heard the conversation, so she walked along the line of us asking us what was so funny, which made us laugh even more. All in all, it was a challenging yet fun class. I think I'll go back whenever I can, although that will mean sacrificing my Monday night Jazz class. We'll see.
This morning it's Jazz and then yoga at The Gym in Fort Mill and then afternoon is free. I have some tidying up, bathrooms to clean, and laundry to do. And I imagine I should cook supper too.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Is that Utthita Hasta Padangustasana or Utthita Parsvakonasana?
My yoga teacher told me in an email last night that the class we are going to is fun. It will make you sweat and work hard. The teacher is funny. Then she said:
"I realized - she also says all poses in sanskrit! so we will just do as the other students do..."
"I realized - she also says all poses in sanskrit! so we will just do as the other students do..."
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Church: The Whole Family
I couldn't be happier. Well, I imagine there are things that might make me happier, for right now? I'm delighted that Nate, Erin and Ryan are all coming to church with us. We'll be filling that second pew!
"I am familiar with Potato Gun safety," he said.
That was the end of the last conversation Mensa Boy had with the kids last night. All four of them (Nate, Taylor, Ryan and Erin) had disappeared around 8 o'clock. After asking me if they could "shoot my onions."
"No," I said. "I need my onions." I didn't even bother asking them to clarify.
We went to bed around 9:15 (yes, on a Saturday night) and shortly after that we started to hear sounds from the garage. Bear was also barking from his perch in Taylor's room.
Mensa Boy went down to investigate. He came back and said "At least there are no flames involved." Apparently they were building a potato gun with PVC pipe and cement. They had a can of hairspray and planned to use that as a propellant for potatoes.
"Three of them are adults now," MB said. "I hope they don't get in trouble with the police."
He said they were going to take it down to one of the stalled developments where there are no houses being built right now and shoot it off. He was tense. I reminded him that he and his friends had done a lot worse than that. "Yeah," he said. "We tended to use fire."
There are several videos of people making and using spud guns, or spudzookas on YouTube.
"No," I said. "I need my onions." I didn't even bother asking them to clarify.
We went to bed around 9:15 (yes, on a Saturday night) and shortly after that we started to hear sounds from the garage. Bear was also barking from his perch in Taylor's room.
Mensa Boy went down to investigate. He came back and said "At least there are no flames involved." Apparently they were building a potato gun with PVC pipe and cement. They had a can of hairspray and planned to use that as a propellant for potatoes.
"Three of them are adults now," MB said. "I hope they don't get in trouble with the police."
He said they were going to take it down to one of the stalled developments where there are no houses being built right now and shoot it off. He was tense. I reminded him that he and his friends had done a lot worse than that. "Yeah," he said. "We tended to use fire."
There are several videos of people making and using spud guns, or spudzookas on YouTube.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Game of Set
Julie likes to play games. Not in the negative sense of the word. She likes to play board games and card games. We played Sequence a couple of times while she was here.
And she played Set quite a bit. I get the hang of it, sort of. But don't have the patience to find the more complicated sets. Here she is showing Mensa Boy how it works.
This has always been one of his expressions that I find most endearing.
And she played Set quite a bit. I get the hang of it, sort of. But don't have the patience to find the more complicated sets. Here she is showing Mensa Boy how it works.
This has always been one of his expressions that I find most endearing.
Mensa Boy's Dog Training School
Latest tip for housetraining:
Brainwashing. "It's FUN to not poop in the house."
He and Taylor talked about posting signs around the house to this effect. In bark language, of course.
Brainwashing. "It's FUN to not poop in the house."
He and Taylor talked about posting signs around the house to this effect. In bark language, of course.
Kingklip
Last night we tried Kingklip. I'm glad it didn't look like this when I bought it. Kind of eel-y lookin', eh?
I was looking for salmon to make our favorite salads with and saw this. The meat was gorgeous-looking and the price was $8.99/lb. I asked the fishmonger about it. He told me it's a lot like grouper.
And it is, but it has a very firm, almost crabmeat quality to it too. It kind of strings like crabmeat, if you get what I'm saying. We grilled it. I put Jerk seasoning on it after brushing it with olive oil. I started with it on foil on top of the grill and then moved it to the grates to finish. We also had roasted corn on the cob and salad. Excellent meal! We had a little piece left over so today I've shredded it and added to pasta, fresh tomato and pesto for my lunch.
Last night we watched an episode of "Expedition Africa." I think it's on the History channel. Too lazy to stop and look it up. Anyway, these people are reinacting Stanley's journey when he ended up finding Livingston. Kind of cool.
Did Jazz and then yoga this morning. I have one month to do as much yoga as I can before school starts. I intend to do that. I also talked to the teacher about doing a couple of private sessions. I've told her what my goals are and she'll craft a home practice for me. Woot!
Mensa Boy is out fixing the sprinkler system. It got stuck on the last station the other day and sprayed for something like 90 before I noticed it. He says it was a bad solenoid...is that how you spell it? He's so cute when he fixes something he's never fixed before. Proud of himself. And he should be! His next couple of projects are the ice dispenser in the refrigerator and the carpet cleaner.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Beach Trip
BFF Julie and I, as you know, spent a few days in Cherry Grove last week. After we nearly wore ourselves out painting the first part of the week.
We did a lot of heavy duty relaxing while there, but did spend part of one day wandering through local bookshops, antique stores and thrift shops. Julie is into the latter two. For lack of any other ideas, we stopped at the House of Blues for lunch.
I tell you, traveling here in the south with a vegetarian can be a bit of a trick. It's easy for me to feed her, but it can be hard to find places that have anything worth eating for a vegephile. I thought for sure the House would have a few items.
Salad.
And a stupid one at that. The lettuce was poor quality and there not really any "bits" in it to jazz it up. I felt badly for her, but she took it in stride. I, on the other hand, had an excellent gumbo. We shared a plate of sweet potato fries as well.
This is a meat-and-three state and now that I think of it, we probably should have just looked for places like that. She would have enjoyed the "three" part. Although she wasn't impressed with the roasted okra I made her Saturday night.
Maybe if we'd made dined out in Charlotte a couple times we would have a had a little better luck. But even the Billy Graham Library didn't have a decent veggie sandwich. Just a cold American Cheese sandwich on the kids' menu.
But we had a great time and I'm looking forward to doing this again.
We did a lot of heavy duty relaxing while there, but did spend part of one day wandering through local bookshops, antique stores and thrift shops. Julie is into the latter two. For lack of any other ideas, we stopped at the House of Blues for lunch.
I tell you, traveling here in the south with a vegetarian can be a bit of a trick. It's easy for me to feed her, but it can be hard to find places that have anything worth eating for a vegephile. I thought for sure the House would have a few items.
Salad.
And a stupid one at that. The lettuce was poor quality and there not really any "bits" in it to jazz it up. I felt badly for her, but she took it in stride. I, on the other hand, had an excellent gumbo. We shared a plate of sweet potato fries as well.
This is a meat-and-three state and now that I think of it, we probably should have just looked for places like that. She would have enjoyed the "three" part. Although she wasn't impressed with the roasted okra I made her Saturday night.
Maybe if we'd made dined out in Charlotte a couple times we would have a had a little better luck. But even the Billy Graham Library didn't have a decent veggie sandwich. Just a cold American Cheese sandwich on the kids' menu.
But we had a great time and I'm looking forward to doing this again.
Words about Birds
Well, I have this birdfeeder, you see, that no one...and I mean no one...has visited for a year. I don't know why. At least, I didn't know why until yesterday.
It's one of those feeders that's supposed to be squirrel-proof. If anything heavier than a bird sits one one of the perches, this sort of exterior cage slides down and closes all the feeder holes.
Yesterday I noticed that, despite brand-new food...and good quality stuff, I might add...STILL no one had visited. So I went over there to shake things up and see what the scoop was. Apparently the springs on the feeder have given out and the exterior cage has been leaving the little holes shut permanently. DUH. So I've rigged it to stay open and hopefully we'll get some visitors soon. There's a fresh bath for them too.
On the other side of the patio is the hummingbird feeder. The glass on the last year's feeder had cracked so I bought this adorable new one at Lowe's last week that looks like a hot air balloon. The hummers found it within 48 and have been draining it regularly since then. I usually don't fill with more than about 4 oz. of liquid at a time because when it's hot like this you have to change it every couple of days. But they are actually draining it dry now, so I just loaded it to 14 oz. now.
Things are supposed to cool off here a bit a few days...a "cold front" should be coming in that pushes temps down below 90. If that happens, I think I'm going to try to rig up my cameras on tripods and get some bird shots using my remote.
It's one of those feeders that's supposed to be squirrel-proof. If anything heavier than a bird sits one one of the perches, this sort of exterior cage slides down and closes all the feeder holes.
Yesterday I noticed that, despite brand-new food...and good quality stuff, I might add...STILL no one had visited. So I went over there to shake things up and see what the scoop was. Apparently the springs on the feeder have given out and the exterior cage has been leaving the little holes shut permanently. DUH. So I've rigged it to stay open and hopefully we'll get some visitors soon. There's a fresh bath for them too.
On the other side of the patio is the hummingbird feeder. The glass on the last year's feeder had cracked so I bought this adorable new one at Lowe's last week that looks like a hot air balloon. The hummers found it within 48 and have been draining it regularly since then. I usually don't fill with more than about 4 oz. of liquid at a time because when it's hot like this you have to change it every couple of days. But they are actually draining it dry now, so I just loaded it to 14 oz. now.
Things are supposed to cool off here a bit a few days...a "cold front" should be coming in that pushes temps down below 90. If that happens, I think I'm going to try to rig up my cameras on tripods and get some bird shots using my remote.
There's No Coffee in My House!
And I'm definitely feeling it this morning.
Last night I left Lancaster around 9 and got a text inviting me to a friend's house for wine. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep and really just wanted to hang out.
By 11:30 we'd had 2 or 3 small glasses (I don't know we didn't just fill up on big one) of a pinot grigio, a bowl of potato chips and then decided we needed ice cream!
Needless to say I'm a little tired this morning and suffering from swollen fingers from the chips. But we had a great time.
Woke up around 6. Hung out in bed for a while, did a nice 30 minutes of yin and then took a deep, warm bath. So now I'm sitting in my robe on the back patio with TEA because there is NO COFFEE!
But all is quite good. Happy Friday!
Last night I left Lancaster around 9 and got a text inviting me to a friend's house for wine. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep and really just wanted to hang out.
By 11:30 we'd had 2 or 3 small glasses (I don't know we didn't just fill up on big one) of a pinot grigio, a bowl of potato chips and then decided we needed ice cream!
Needless to say I'm a little tired this morning and suffering from swollen fingers from the chips. But we had a great time.
Woke up around 6. Hung out in bed for a while, did a nice 30 minutes of yin and then took a deep, warm bath. So now I'm sitting in my robe on the back patio with TEA because there is NO COFFEE!
But all is quite good. Happy Friday!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Could He?
So. Sanford drops completely out of the spotlight the very moment Michael Jackson bites the dust.
I'm thinking he's a happy man.
Sanford, that is.
A friend mused "Maybe Sanford killed MJ."
I'm thinking he's a happy man.
Sanford, that is.
A friend mused "Maybe Sanford killed MJ."
My Summer Begins
And so begins my own personal summer. No I'm not talking about hot flashes! Sheesh!
Today will be largely a day of rest. I've got a hitch in my git-along that just doesn't seem to want to quit. It's the left hip. I'm going to yoga this morning to see if that helps and then consider stopping at the chiro this afternoon. Tonight I have Trustees dinner with the county. Other than that, the agenda is clear, and I intend to keep it that way.
My first order of non-business is going to be to finish "The Book Thief." That thing is like an albatross around my neck. I'm not really enjoying it, but am reading it because it's been so highly recommended.
At some point, but only if I feel like it, I'm going to play with my new Wacom Bamboo pen tablet. I took a photo of Julie and me next to the House of Blues police car and now I see I have a loudspeaker protruding from my left ear. So I'm going to try to remove that.
Today will be largely a day of rest. I've got a hitch in my git-along that just doesn't seem to want to quit. It's the left hip. I'm going to yoga this morning to see if that helps and then consider stopping at the chiro this afternoon. Tonight I have Trustees dinner with the county. Other than that, the agenda is clear, and I intend to keep it that way.
My first order of non-business is going to be to finish "The Book Thief." That thing is like an albatross around my neck. I'm not really enjoying it, but am reading it because it's been so highly recommended.
At some point, but only if I feel like it, I'm going to play with my new Wacom Bamboo pen tablet. I took a photo of Julie and me next to the House of Blues police car and now I see I have a loudspeaker protruding from my left ear. So I'm going to try to remove that.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
May He Now Fade Into Oblivion
Well, let me begin with the snarky comment: Apparently our governor was rejecting part of the stimulus package because he had his own personal stimulus package going on. Wouldn't want to be over-stimulated now, would we?
By now Sanford's mysterious disappearance, reappearance and public confession of infidelity has made its' rounds through the news cycle. Not as big as the shot heard 'round the world, but certainly a shot that has been heard from coast to coast.
Here is the story.
Even if you just skim it, be sure to click the link that has his wife's statement. It is a wonderful one. Really.
So he was crying for 5 days in Argentina. Well, he's not getting a lot of sympathy from anyone around here. Most aren't too sure that there was much crying involved. This man states that he has been having this affair for a year, his wife found out 5 months ago, and they have been working on their marriage since then. So while he's working on the marriage he's off in Argentina with the gal pal? Lying to his office and the entire state concerning his whereabouts?
There has been much speculation that Sanford's stimulus stance was a method to position him for a run for the presidency. And when his disappearance was noticed and questioned, many further speculated that he was on the Appalachian Trail crafting his Presidential bid speech.
Well, buddy. That ain't gonna happen. You and John Edwards should build an East Coast Playboy mansion together and just get out of our politics. I'm very sorry I voted for him. Unlike my feelings about Dave Durenberger, I never suspected his crookedness.
By now Sanford's mysterious disappearance, reappearance and public confession of infidelity has made its' rounds through the news cycle. Not as big as the shot heard 'round the world, but certainly a shot that has been heard from coast to coast.
Here is the story.
Even if you just skim it, be sure to click the link that has his wife's statement. It is a wonderful one. Really.
So he was crying for 5 days in Argentina. Well, he's not getting a lot of sympathy from anyone around here. Most aren't too sure that there was much crying involved. This man states that he has been having this affair for a year, his wife found out 5 months ago, and they have been working on their marriage since then. So while he's working on the marriage he's off in Argentina with the gal pal? Lying to his office and the entire state concerning his whereabouts?
There has been much speculation that Sanford's stimulus stance was a method to position him for a run for the presidency. And when his disappearance was noticed and questioned, many further speculated that he was on the Appalachian Trail crafting his Presidential bid speech.
Well, buddy. That ain't gonna happen. You and John Edwards should build an East Coast Playboy mansion together and just get out of our politics. I'm very sorry I voted for him. Unlike my feelings about Dave Durenberger, I never suspected his crookedness.
How is this all going to play out?
Inspiration Network, a Christian cable network, owns 92 acres of prime property in Indian Land. As a nonprofit company, they expect to be exempt from taxes. They were also given $26 million in financial incentives by both the county and the state when they located here.
Recently the state Department of Revenue ruled that they are not going to be exempt from property taxes. This could amount to about $830,000 annually.
Inspiration Network, which calls its' campus the City of Light, has built two buildings and done some landscaping that includes a set of lighted spires.
So my question is this: if the City of Light has to pay taxes, an expense they were not planning to have, are we are in danger of becoming the home of an abandoned, undeveloped piece of property right in the middle of Indian Land, ala PTL in Fort Mill?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Father's Day, Julie Gone, Work Tomorrow
Today we celebrate Mensa Boy's career as a Father. Any my own Father's career as the same thing. They are both great dads.
And I mourn losing buddy Julie as she wings her way back to Minneapolis. This was the easiest visit for us. Just the right amount of work, rest and play.
And I dread going back to work tomorrow. I only owe 3 more days. 2.5, actually. But I'm in summer mode so those 3 days are going to seem like an eternity, I'm sure.
I'll write more. Soon. For now I plan to eat a late lunch, take a nap, and then do whatever comes to mind.
And I mourn losing buddy Julie as she wings her way back to Minneapolis. This was the easiest visit for us. Just the right amount of work, rest and play.
And I dread going back to work tomorrow. I only owe 3 more days. 2.5, actually. But I'm in summer mode so those 3 days are going to seem like an eternity, I'm sure.
I'll write more. Soon. For now I plan to eat a late lunch, take a nap, and then do whatever comes to mind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)