Nearing The End (if 100 is the goal)

93. thermostats
94. peace
95. quiet
96. rubber bands
97. recipe.com
98. cream cheese
99. a new day
100. the Lord's lovingkindnesses

Library Fines?

Been praying about Amanda's tuition payment due this month for Spring semester. Read the pamphlet from Geneva called "How to pay my bill". One suggestion was to bring cash to the cashier's office. What a great idea!
Amanda and I have both been saving. The bill came this week (along with the very helpful pamphlet). Amanda's bank statement came today. I added up the amount in her account and the amount I have for her and compared the total to the amount of the bill. We are over by $1.81. Makes me think that God must know something we don't. Maybe Amanda has a library fine.
I think Amanda and I will go the bank and make a withdrawal from our accounts and drive right over to the cashier's office and pay in cash. If we don't need the $1.81 for anthing else, we can stop at Sheetz and get a gallon of tea.
How good is that?

Recipe for Kisses

Up.Date. Up. Date. Up. Date. This Just In...

I don't care what Timmy thinks about titles. I like them. Lets just start with the next ten:

82. Chipmunk Christmas Albums
83. A furnace that works
84. A furnace that does not catch fire and burn your house down
85. Warm slippers
86. Space heaters
87. Space
88. Recipe cards
89. Hair
90. Siblings
91. Knowing where my tylenol is
92. Not needing tylenol

Wait-That's eleven. One for good measure.
What do you know about sticky keys? Evidently, if I press the shift key 5 times, I can activate sticky keys. I don't know enough about sticky keys to know if I want them activated. Sticky sounds bad. Like if I left a can of Pepsi in my car and it froze overnight and exploded and then melted down over the cup holder and everything underneath it. Sticky. Bad.
Evidently my keys are not sticky now and I function fairly well that way. Unless you can convince me otherwise I will keep my keys unsticky.
Wait, I have a new thought: Grilled Stickies (ala mode). Sticky. Good. Now I am really undecided.
Why don't you just try it? Press your shift key 5 times and see what happens. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Sixty Five Going on Eighty

Today it was 65 degrees. Unseasonably warm and downright delightful even though it rained. Dixie and I walked Alex to the bus stop this morning. I made a very ambitious list and accomplished precious little of it. It was a good thing I put "Buy Hershey kisses" on the list. At two o'clock this afternoon it was the only thing I had crossed off. The good news is that I am off again tomorrow and I already have my list. Speaking of lists...

71. Subarus
72. Zero interest loans
73. My George Foreman grill
74. Foodland (close to home)
75. Vintage video of Suzy Snowflake
76. Sprint to Sprint
77. Clean shirts
78. Did I say mango salsa? (worth repeating)
79. Calculators
80. Christmas stamps

Seventy and Counting

1. Rice
2. Kennels
3. Friends who take care of your dog while your away
4. Car trips
5. Wrigley Field
6. Chewing gum
7. Ivy
8. Sunshine
9. Shadows
10. New winter coats

Wednesday Going on Friday

In a three day school week everyday is like Wednesday. On Monday there are only two days left, so Monday is the third day before the weeks end, so it is like Wednesday. Tuesday is the middle of the school week, so it is like Wednesday. Wednesday is of course Wednesday. Tomorrow is Wednesday, but the last day I work this week so it is like Friday. There is something special about Fridays. I am looking forward to tomorrow. If I go to bed now and sleep well, when I wake up it will be Wednesday which is like Friday this week. Unfortunately, I have two loads of clothes to finish and gravy to put away. How did this Tuesday get in my week?

Sixty and Counting

1. Small group
2. Online shopping
3. Joyful giving
4. Hugs from 2 year olds
5. Construction paper turkeys
6. A God Who listens to my prayers
7. A God Who answers my prayers
8. A dog who does tricks for hot dog bites
9. Blogging
10. Comments

Drop and Give Me Ten

Remember...these are things I am grateful for:
1. Kohl's coupons
2. Pajamas
3. Sparkly things
4. Baby pictures
5. Antibiotics
6. Completed school projects
7. My digital camera
8. Micah
9. Cranberries
10. Hot chocolate with marshmallows

Diversity Lyrics--By Request

If we minded our own business
And stayed in our own continents
Then maybe we would not have it
It's called diversity.

But no, no, no! We immigrate.
We switch countries and then we mate
And when the ceremony's done
We're practically related to everyone.

Lyrics by Alex Havener

Oh, And Ten More Things...

1. Pretzel chips
2. Music
3. My iPod nano
4. I don't need a PS3
5. Part-time
6. Payday
7. My clothes dryer
8. Mitochondria
9. 1LUKE37
10. Adverbs (really)

Official Kickball Rules

Alex is searching for the official kickball rules. Seems there is some discussion on the playground about what the rules are. Some people want to vote on the rules, but Alex's concern is that more than half of the people with a vote are the cheaters. Alex discovers the problem with democracy in fifth grade. He downloaded offical rules from a few kickball leagues at both the college level and adult competitive leagues. One set of rules for a community fun league was 21 pages long. Evidently, more than half of adult kickball players are cheaters too.

This Makes Thirty

1. Toothpaste
2. Teeth
3. Periodontists
4. Smiles
5. Sisters
6. Aunts
7. Chicken broth
8. Homemade noodles
9. Gluten free noodles that don't dissolve in chicken broth
10. My Mom

Oodles of Noodles

From generation to generation...

Some things you should learn as a child. Things like eating raw noodle dough will stick your guts together. (Or give you worms, depending on which Aunt you listen to!) And that your aunts are really your mom's sisters and they were once kids together. And that making things is really more about the process than the end product.

Some things don't change.

Traditions handed down from generation to generation. Things that we do because our parents did them and our grandparents did them. Like piles of flour and eggs mixed and stretched and dried and cut and dried some more--until they are noodles spread all over the house on faded flowered tableclothes. And that you share things with your cousins that you don't share with just everyone. Like your bed. And your sense of humor.

And each generation adds its mark, uniquely its own. Like a noodle hat.

Ten More Things

1. apple dumplings
2. husbands who clean
3. sisters who understand clutter
4. nieces
5. nephews
6. Hershey kisses
7. clean sheets
8. automatic washing machines
9. swiffers
10. kids who still need resters

November-Virtue of the Month

Gratitude: Letting others know you see how they've helped you.

Is gratitude really an attitude or is it an action? Can I be thankful for something, or do I have to be thankful to someone. Can I just feel grateful or is it only gratitude when it is expressed?

Ten things I am grateful for:
1. My husband
2. My children
3. Noodle makers
4. My dog
5. Towels that wrap all the way around me
6. Hot chocolate
7. Mango salsa
8. Warm water from the tap
9. Indoor plumbing in general
10. Instant messaging

Friday Night Sights

Alex at Tae Kwon Do
Rain pouring down outside
Pumpkin cookies from Eat 'n Park
Dave making rice and beans for supper
Stray rice in a rootbeer float
A family of three and a dog watching Grease
Tigers losing the World Series
Orangutans and salt water crocodiles
arranged to make a Jack o'Lantern

Things crossed off my list

Finding a dermatologist
Taking a day off

Things I still need:
A dishwasher

I'm a 'V' or A Very Small Group

Tonight is the night that our small group usually meets. Frank and Tim and Steve had to work late. Laurie and Rhonda don't feel well. So we called Chuck and told him not to come. Dave is cranky and rather noncommunicative. If we were a Shel Silverstein poem we would be like this:
Laurie, our 'L', was home with the flu,
Frank, our 'O', had homework to do.
Chuck, our 'E', stayed home to play,
So I'm all of LOVE that could make it today.

Nevertheless,
'V' is very, very extraordinary...

All By Myself

I am feeling very alone here. I am never alone here. I want some time for myself. I am tired of being by myself. How can this be? Obviously it is because all of my sentences start with 'I'. Today I will mow the grass, wash two loads of clothes, go to the store, be home while Alex's friends come over. The sun is shining and I will smile and take the dog for a walk. I am going to plan a trip to NYC. Maybe I will even go there. But not today. And not by myself.

Holy Haircuts

Amanda and Brenda got haircuts together this afternoon. Here are the results. We are happy even though we currently have a lot of product in our hair. Our next big adventure for the day is to eat Chinese takeout. And then we will shop at Kohl's and save 20% on all of our purchases. Then Amanda will have to go back to college. All in all a great day.

Don't Tell Me Any Secrets

I used to have two secrets. Then someone talked to me about one of the secrets, so I assumed it was no longer a secret, so I talked about it to someone else who didn't know anything about it and if it wasn't a secret anymore then I think they would have known about it, so I think I told the secret. So now I just have one secret and a little guilt. I was doing very well, but obviously I am not as good as I thought I was. Sadly, it only takes one mess up to ruin a whole months worth of secret keeping. Some things don't come with do-overs. This makes me sad.
Now I only have one secret and it is not as much fun as it used to be to have it.
Don't ask me about it.

Little Red Flags

When he can't stand the idea of having two days without access to you every minute.

When he shows total disregard for your parents' values, rules and decisions--more than once.

New Phones

Abi's cell phone is in a box. Inside another box. Speeding along through the U.S. postal service. I insured it so that if along the way a disgruntled postal employee smashes it with a hammer, it will be replaced. The sad news is that Abi's service has already been switched to her new phone which will spend two days in a box. Last month Abi talked over 4000 minutes on her cell phone. This weekend she will suffer cell phone withdrawal. Maybe she can use the extra time to study. Night and weekend study minutes are free.
I have two cell phones. My $14.99 plan can't be cancelled until the end of the billing cycle which is the middle of October. (Alex wonders if there really is an end to a cycle?) I also am the proud owner of a brand new $69.99 family plan which will allow me to talk to Abi, Ami, Dave and millions of other Sprint PCS users all I want to. Last month I wanted to talk on my cell phone for 22 minutes. My new cell phone flips and takes pictures. Last month I did not have to open my phone to talk for 22 minutes and I didn't take any pictures with my phone.
The good news is with my new plan nights start at 7:00pm. I've been wanting more hours in the night, so this is a really good deal for me. I would also like summer to start in April. What does that plan cost?

Great Train Robbery

A surprise attack took place this weekend against an elderly woman and her innocent nephew traveling alone through the narrows--the scene of many infamous train robberies in days gone by. As the woman was reminiscing about her youth, one armed bandit emerged from the woods. The victims attempted an escape, the suspect gave chase, and a violent crash occurred. The suspect and an unknown accomplice in the ambush attack were last seen plunging into the river from a railroad bridge along the Clearfield line wearing nothing but their underwear. The condition of the victims and their underwear was not being released. One witness remarked that the suspect looked remarkably like the infamous duct-tape bandit active in a string of home burglaries in New York State. Anyone with imformation on this case should contact local authorities.

Shake Your Booties

Okay, remember this is not a knitting blog, but the booties are finished and the baby has arrived. My next booties will be pink and purple, so I hope the next baby is a girl. (and doesn't arrive for several months because I am a very slow knitter)

Also, this is not the Uncle Michael blog, but one more thing about him:
He is going to have a new baby in April.

I hope that wasn't a secret. I know two secrets and I am not telling them.

Ouch!

On Monday I had more periodontal work done. Oddly enough, I like my periodontist. He showed me his new phone, which does all sorts of tricks-take pictures, movies, internet, e-mail, PDA, MP3, etc. I think he showed it to me because I actually paid for it. On Tuesday, I felt pretty good. It is amazing to me that you can get used to the idea of someone surgically removing the roof of your mouth and suturing it in at your gumline. Today (Wednesday) I felt like someone ripped out the roof of my mouth and sewed it into my bottom lip. Ouch!

I tried to comment on Amanda's xanga, but I was not successful. First, I didn't include my birthdate. Then I didn't have the right combination or number of letters in my password. Then I tried three different names, but they were all taken. By then I forgot whatever comment I wanted to make so I gave up. So I do not have a xanga account, so I can not comment on Amanda's blog, but it seems to me she writes about crying alot. As her mother, this concerns me.

Uncle Michael's Red Bicycle

If you say it just right it rhymes.

So two of my red headed consanguins, who also happen to be my nephews, are on their way to Pittsburgh International Airport with Uncle Michael's red bicycle. (I didn't put any air in the tires so I don't think they will get very far.)

In other news....
Alex had a tooth extracted this afternoon. He has not had any dental work done since he was in first grade and then they put him out to do it. So he had no frame of reference for novacaine. He was somewhat upset about getting a shot, but he was really unnerved when the oral surgeon tried to inject it in his mouth. (He thought he would get it in the arm.) "Have you ever had a shot in your mouth?" he wanted to know. Once he understood he held very still and the tooth was out in less than a minute. It was an extra tooth to begin with, but it seems a shame to pull a perfectly good tooth.

Note to Uncle Michael: It was not a bluetooth.

Uncle Michael Weighs In

Tip:n. getting two clock radios from one of your paper customers.

Complaint: n. getting a clock radio from two different paper customers.

Thanks to Uncle Michael for today's Words of the Day.

Some things about Uncle Michael:
His name is not Mike.
Stasi mistakenly told her Slovak teacher that he works in a factory that makes bottles and cans.
He reads peoples blogs but has not been known to (officially) comment on them.
I have his red bicycle in my garage.
His daughter has red hair.

Okay--so that makes me wonder--Why isn't there a word for nieces and nephews collectively.
i.e. sons + daughters=children

Would nieces + nephews be niecews or maybe nepheces as in Three of my nepheces have red hair.

Really I'm thinking that this calls for a new word altogether. Something akin to nauffy.
Any suggestions?

This may be turning into a dictionary blog. I'm not a sure a knitting blog might not have been a good idea.

Tip of the Week

Things we have gotten as tips on the paper route:

Homegrown tomatoes
2 clock radios

Okay--so the 'two clock radios' was the best tip of the week.
Alex desires to spend the paper profits on a new gaming system
Mom desires to spend the paper profits on a new sewing machine.
"What's in it for me", Alex wants to know.
"I will make you clothes," says Miss Brenda.
"Maybe we could go on a cruise!"
"Yeah!"

We will need better tips than the clock radios before we see the Carribbean.

Virtue of the Month

Orderliness-arranging things to make your day easier
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. Ephesians 5:15-16
This evening I will make the most of the opportunity to clear off the dining room table. I am not going to bed until it is done. (It may well be a late night.) I have many things to do this week to prepare for the beginning of new minstries for AW Bible study and for the launch of WildLife for the 5th and 6th graders. I will miss Cubbies this year, but it is exciting to see new things begin. I know that Cubbies will be fine without me.

10 other things (not necessarily in order):
I miss my girls.
I love having a dog.
I had a good hair day.
I wore my shrug today.
I did not wake up with a praise song in my head.
I brought watermelon home from community appreciation day.
I am reading a book with Alex.
I am going to read another Hemingway book.
My booties are almost done.
I know a big secret.

Amendum

n. a combination of the word amend meaning to add or subtract and the word addendum meaning an addition, usually at the end.
Clearly the word amendum can be used to describe the subtraction of an addition--the cumulative effect being nothing. Therefore amendum does not have any meaning at all.

Unless, of course, you speak Abiese.

Note: If Amanda subtracted an addition, it could be rightfully called an Amandum, but this would always require proper capitalization.

Endlessly Patient

"God, God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient—so much love, so deeply true—loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. Still, he doesn't ignore sin. He holds sons and grandsons responsible for a father's sins to the third and even fourth generation."

Bedlum

a combination of the word Bedouin and the word hoodlum
meaning a wandering troublemaker; as in Abi needs to hem her pants or she will look like a bedlum.
Also spelled bedlam.

This definition has been submitted by Abi--obviously a speaker of another language.

Mark Cuban's got nothing on me

Except maybe a basketball team. But I don't really want one of those. Okay-and maybe people read and subscribe to his blog. But I have a blog and I write in it and people could read it if they wanted to. I am going to see if Mark C. ever used the word cloy in his blog. If not that would make us pretty even or maybe even give me the advantage.

Still looking for...

a dermatologist
a dishwasher
a day off

Rules

Alex's observations on rules after playing the game of Flux:
Rules are always changing.
Rules are unfair.
Rules are never unfair in your favor.

Things I need to do:
AW Bible study
5/6 ministry
laundry
make appts.-- dentist
dermatologist
gynecologist
preschool churchtime lesson
relax
mother
clean
shop

Things I am doing:
checking for pics from campfest
posting on my blog
enjoying the quiet

Things I fixed

My lawnmower!

Things that are broken

My dishwasher
My sewing machine
My lawnmower

Things we replaced this week
Dave's cellphone

Sleeping in

I worked 5 days this week--four in a row. That is too many for me. Today I shut off the alarm and slept in until the time I had planned to leave for work. I wanted to get there a little early so I could get a good start on a very busy day. Instead I arrived a little late with bad hair. It was, as expected, a very busy day. On a bright note, I was well rested.

Knitting Booties

One thing this is not is a knitting blog. I will not tell what I knitted or post pictures of it. I am knitting one bootie, but I can't find my knitting needles. Maybe they are all in Slovakia, or maybe they have been sucked up by the same giant magnet that continually eats my hole punches. Hole punches are cheaper than knitting needles, but you can't knit booties with a hole punch.
This blog has been checked for spelling errors by the spelling master. (The one who has been known to spell her own name wrong.)

A Day in the Life of a Super Heroine

Miss Brenda woke slowly and made a quick decision to stay in bed until 10am. Her Super Hero brought her hot chocolate in bed and she read her book. Unexpectedly and unceremoniously, she was jolted out of her lazy decadence by a phone call from Church Lady, her arch nemesis. She and her side kick, church stuff, threatened to disturb Miss Brenda until lunch time, but Miss Brenda fought back and eventually hung up. She started a load of laundry and then she tackled the evil Paper Work. At the end of the day after two trips to the post office and to two banks, Miss Brenda and her side kick Penny Shaker retired to the living room with her book. Stay tuned till tomorrow and hear Miss Brenda say, "Where is my penny shaker?" **fade** Theme Song

Cloyed

The heroine in my book doesn't eat anything that starts with the letter "P". This might work for me as well. Ice Cream, for instance. I could eat as much as I wanted and never be cloyed. May Jesus Christ be praised!

Inhibited

I think I am too inhibited to post anything of interest here. Maybe I am not really cut out to blog. Maybe nothing of interest ever really happens to me. It is disappointing to find out that something you thought you wanted is less than you'd imagined. Maybe I'd be happier if I just blogged in my head.
Still, I am happy to have a blog. I will work it into many conversations this week. When I was posting on my blog...I need to find more time to blog...Blog,blog, blog...

My Theme Song

Miss Brenda
Miss Brenda
Miss Brenda Brenda
Brenda Brenda Brenda