Its been raining lightly here, all morning long. The dog is eagerly staring out the sliding glass door, watching the birds peck at the wet grass. I'd let him out, but then he'd want to come right back in again. The 'walk' sort of got lost in the midst of this sleepy starting day.
There's a stillness that creeps up to me right now, inviting me to feel its void with creativity, a skill that seems somewhat long lost to me right now. I am slowly trying to recapture this butterfly though. Time has made time for me to do so.
Maybe, this quest will just start simply - (really, why do I always think that creativity = writing poetry and painting in watercolor?)
Let's start with the basics, and then I will feel like I am making a little more progress in this department. Basics, eh? Like making the front porch more agreeable. We worked a lot on both the front and back yards these past weeks - if I can dig up the camera, I'll get a picture of that work's results.
I'm getting there
10 April 2008
Rain
02 April 2008
Yikes
I had to peel my jaw up off the cement as I was filling up my gas tank yesterday - $3.19 per gall. is a lot for Texas. I closed my eyes when I swiped my card. . . ignorance is certainly bliss in this case.
I know that you CA folks are suffering even more, and you do have my pity . . .
26 March 2008
No . . . please, not yet . . .
Did someone mention the dreaded S word? Texas must've heard you - we are going to be creeping into the warm SUMMER-like 80's this week. But its not just that. . . something was waiting for me when I stepped outside this morning to get the paper. . . a familiar enemy, ah yes, humidity. And, on top of that, with everything blooming, the pollen count is off the charts . . . icky
I am trying to focus on the good things this week - like the Spurs winning by ten over the Orlando Magic last night, or more importantly, the wonderful BSF retreat this weekend in Dallas :)
But > > >
I just can't seem to shake my disappointment with the weather.
Sigh ;)
18 March 2008
Milk & Toast
Why?
Maybe because its so simple - a little something to start your morning that can give you energy to lunch.
It doesn't have to be elaborate - like pancakes, muffins, or eggs (although, I am a fan of these choices, on special occasions). You can just pop an english muffin in your toaster and in a minute or so you are spreading soft cream cheese on the tops and grabbing your mug of coffee (or, in my case, tea or milk).
Mmmm - so good.
I used to skip breakfast for coffee when I was younger, only to end up spent by noon. . . the kick of caffeine would last for a couple of hours, but then would wear off, leaving me cranky. I slowly weaned myself back into the thought of eating breakfast with a banana on the way out the door. It felt like a lump was in my throat, and all morning long, I could feel it slowly sinking into my tummy. Ughh. I tried oatmeal - apples - lowfat poptarts - cold cereal - bagels . . . I found my favorite to be boring old toast of all things. Toast is like a peanut butter staple (oooh, and it tastes sooo good with smooth and creamy peanut butter)- there is just something so wholesome about it, something so classic, so delicious.
MMMMmmmmm . . . . breakfast - and, can you guess what I am having this morning ;)
12 March 2008
Sheesh Peesh
This afternoon, I made a stop to the ladies room. It is only normal to go after lunching, beveraging, and walking around in the park. I am not really one to want to chat it up with the other women I meet in the bathroom - after all, we go there for usually ONE purpose, and that purpose is to be privately done behind a stall door. But I will exchange polite smiles and hellos to people I see coming in and going out.
But then, its down to business.
Except when, which seems to be a greater frequency these days, that business concentration gets completely thrown when in walks some woman, jabbering on her cellphone.
She goes into the stall next door. You peek under the stall just enough to do the shoe check- yep, just one person, not two . . . one person with an ear extension.
So, she's talking - and your, well, peeing. . . its awkward. You don't want to be loud, you don't really want to flush. But its the place where this is done, not talking on your phone. She doesn't seem to mind doing her business and talking. . . but does that person on the other line know? Who cares, concentrate, hurry up.
You just keep concentrating, going, and then, take a deep breath, and FLUSH!!!
Done.
Wash your hands and try not to stare down the woman when she emerges from the stall, phone still intact. (Shouldn't she disinfect her phone too? Eww, Gross!)
Courtesy people. Courtesy. Talk OUTSIDE the bathroom.
10 March 2008
Braggy ;)
Naturally, I am proud to my tippiest tip-toes of my hubby. Not only is he extremely goodlooking, God-fearing, and hardworking, but he's also incredibly intelligent.
We saw 10,000 BC the other night, a very captivating and interesting film. With a movie as creative as this one was, usually it takes me a good day or two to process. I wonder internally about things, but then I have to muse on them for a while before I spit them out.
But then there's my hubby. He has good brains, working overtime before, during and after a movie, a book, an article, a conversation, whatever it may be. . . He is able to articulate and bring to light things I never would get close to finding - you know, like a new set of eyes that finds all the missing items that you are looking for, except, in this case, you didn't even know that you were missing them) Well anyway, this movie was no exception.
I love how he thinks.
Here's his review:
http://www.thewaterspout.com/blog/?p=486
And Honey, do you know how much I love you? Well, now everybody knows ;)
27 February 2008
News of the Weird
PHEW . . .
At least it was a terrier-chihuahua cross-breed
Python Eats Australian Family Dog
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
(02-27) 19:16 PST BRISBANE, Australia (AP) --
A 16-foot python stalked a family dog for days before swallowing the pet whole in front of horrified children in the Australian tropics, animal experts said Wednesday.
The boy and girl, ages 5 and 7, watched as the scrub python devoured their silky terrier-Chihuahua crossbreed Monday at their home near Kuranda in Queensland state.
Stuart Douglas, owner of the Australian Venom Zoo in Kuranda, said scrub pythons typically eat wild animals such as wallabies, a smaller relative of the kangaroo, but sometimes turn to pets in urban areas.
"It actively stalked the dog for a number of days," Douglas said.
"The family that owned the dog had actually seen it in the dog's bed, which was a sign it was out to get it," he added.
"They should have called me then, but (the snake) got away and three or four days later, I was called and went around and removed it" after the dog had been killed, Douglas said.
By the time Douglas arrived, all that could be seen of the dog was its hind legs and tail.
The zoo manager, Todd Rose, said pythons squeeze their prey to death before swallowing it whole. The 5-year-old dog would have been suffocated within minutes.
"The lady who was there threw some plastic chairs at the snake, but you've got to remember that this is about 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of aggressive muscle," Rose said.
Removing the half-swallowed dog could have harmed or even killed the python, Rose said, because dogs have sharp teeth and claws that could do the snake internal damage if it were wrenched out.
The snake was still digesting the dog at the zoo Wednesday. It will soon be relocated to the bush, Douglas said.
Manners, please . . .
And he didn't say 'excuse me' . . .
19 February 2008
Middle Name Game
*Every answer must begin with 1st letter of your middle name ;)
1. Middle name: CHRISTINE
2. Famous artist/band/musician: COLDPLAY
3. 4-letter word: CRAM
4. U.S state: CALIFORNIA
5. Boy name: COLTON
6. Girl name: CECILIA
7. Animal: CRAB
8. Something in the kitchen: CHEDDAR CHEESE
9. Reason for being late: CRUSHED MY FINGERS IN THE CAR DOOR, CAR CRASH
10. Body Part: CURVES ;)
11. Drink: COKE
12. Something you shout: CRUD!
13. Something you eat: CHOCOLATE ;)
07 February 2008
Whole
Hot water is now humming in my tea kettle, ready to squeal at any given moment.
I love the process of how we have to heat the water to make tea, the steeping of the tea bag in the scalding water, and that first sip, which burns just the tip of your tongue. The infusions of flavor, the sweet smell, the soothing feel down your throat . . .
04 February 2008
Oops
The other day, I acted without thinking. Well, this is not really a rare thing I guess, but this particular thing was completely mindless of me. . .
I was sitting at my desk at work, when a young teenage girl walked in the door with a box full of something. While normally I would shue her away like any other vendor, her youth and sweet smile kept me from pushing her out the door.
She was friendly and conversational, and said that she was part of a group that was selling these stained-glass-like designs made from shells from the Philippines to raise money for character leadership training.
pretty ain't it?
Now, if I was not so absorbed in leafing through the wares, I would have been more attentive to what the organization actually was.
I had to be hasty and impulsive, and buy the sun catcher above for a rip-off of $25, only to realize later, as I glanced at the bookmark she had left with me, what I had just supported. . .
1. There is one God who is the Creator of all and the Parent of humankind (check - agreed)
2. Human beings are essentially spiritual in nature (okay)
3. The family is the "School of Love" and Cornerstone for World Peace (m'kay . . . ?)
4. The Highest Standard for relationships is to "live for the sake of others" (alright)
5. Inter-religious and international cooperation are essential to world peace. (???)
The Need
21Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed." 23But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us." 24But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."27But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 28Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
Looking at this passage for this week's lesson for bsf seemed like perfect timing. My soul is weary.
This past month has been incredibly difficult, with many reasons I cannot convey to you. All that I can convey is that God took us through a storm and we are now in a calm again. Through this time of testing, I was tempted to turn away from God with my lack of faith. But His hold is secure on His chosen, and He bolted me firmly.
Going back to this passage, it emotionally overwhelms me that God acknowledged the faith of a Canaanite, one not of His chosen, and yet she believed. She had persistent faith- she had quick wit to say that 'even the master's dogs feed on the crumbs . . . ' She was so eager for anything, anything that the Lord would give to her. And what she desired was not for herself, but her daughter.
Oh to be like that - to tug at the robe of Jesus, daily in prayer. I have needs, I have anxieties and concerns, and I hunger for righteousness. I have doubts, and I have sin but He collects that garbage and folds me in His embrace.
29 January 2008
Random
Okay - Em tagged me. . .
I am lazy about these things - they are fun and mindless, and sometimes annoying. I am not putting anyone up to doing it. Do as you will.
My 6 things are.....
1) I can't blow my gum into a bubble. I've tried. I just can't do it. :(
2) I used to pretend I was a unicorn when I was little (this strange fascination with unicorns stopped at 8, I think) ;)
3) I have never gotten a massage because I don't liked to be touched by other people (except for my hubster)
4) Someday, I want to get another horse.
5) My toes are crooked :(
6) I can't believe this was my sister's answer to this question:
6)If I weren't a Christian, I'd be a hippy in Santa Cruz california--dreadlocks, grass skirts, hand-painted VW van, a pet ferret, and a beat up guitar.
16 January 2008
15 January 2008
09 January 2008
It makes me smile
Driving home from work this evening, I noticed a little white Subaru legacy wagon in the lane next to me. . .
The familiarity was somewhat bittersweet.
Haven just sold his a month or so ago. That car got him from Seattle to Texas, and back and forth faithfully as a commuter car.
26 December 2007
Windcrest Lights
Christmas Day, we took a little drive for the Windcrest Light-Up. They have some of the most magnificent Christmas lights and displays! ;)
14 December 2007
Cold, Wet and Sniffy
No, we are not sick. Just a little sniffy. Mountain cedar seems to be confused. The weather is warm, then wet and cold. It blooms, spreads pollen, and then shrinks. We are happy when it shrinks. Unfortunately, allergies just seem to be year-round here in ol' San Antone.
And speaking of slumps - our poor Spurs are down with our two best players gimping with sprained ankles. . . 2 losses = sad times :( We still love 'em though!
Its been raining all day, tidge on the nippish side of things. Coat weather makes me happy :) H and I dream of getting back to the northwest someday, where days like these are the norm.
09 December 2007
Christmas Blessings
What sweet surprises have come our way, making our Christmas so merry this year -
Thank you Dad and Laurel - we love our Spode dishes!
27 October 2007
About Me
* Wedding Day * 10-08-05
