Donna of Made In Heaven Tagged me... here are my answers:
7 Things I Plan To Do Before I Die
1. Have at least one work published
2. Make sure I share my family history with my boys
3. Make sure my husband and boys know how much they mean to me
4. More Travel (especially back to the Oregon Coast)
5. Get my hundreds of photos organized
6. Read, read, read... my hundreds of books
7. Try to make a positive difference in this world
7 Things I Do Now
1. Write
2. Blog
3. Watch Movies
4. Watch TV
5. Photography (still learning)
6. Listen to music
7. Pray
7 Things I Can't Do
1. Hold a grudge
2. Run
3. Sleep on a normal schedule
4. Bungee Jump
5. Cheat
6. Keep My House Organized
7. Everything... (well, can you do everything?) ;-)
7 Things That Attract Me To The Opposite Sex
1. Integrity
2. Sense of Humor
3. Eyes
4. Smile
5. Intelligence
6. Compassionate
7. Loves children and animals
7 Things That I Say Most Often
1. I love you!
2. What were you thinking?
3. I need a coke!
4. I have to hurry, I'm late!
5. I forgot...
6. Where's my phone? keys? purse? sunglasses?...
7. It will all work out.
7 Celebrities That I Admire (This was very hard for me, and subject to change)
1. Maya Angelou
2. Paul Newman
3. Sidney Poitier
4. Jim Carey
5. Jennie McCarthy
6. Chonda Pierce
7. (and some classics that are gone... Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,... too many to list!)
7 Favorite Foods
1. Baked Salmon
2. Roasted Chicken
3. Sweet potatoes (or yams)
4. Oat Bread
5. Cheesecake
6. Cornbread Stuffing
7. Brownies
7 People Who Need To Do This
(I picked people whose blogs I love to visit... I hope you each have fun with this. Please go ahead and link to an old post if you've already done this.)
1. http://silvervalleystories.blogspot.com/ SVG
2. http://gatheringaroundthetable.blogspot.com/ IEG
3. http://daisyslittlecottage.blogspot.com/ DarLy
4. http://countrygirlathome.blogspot.com/ Tammy
5. http://honeysucklelane.blogspot.com/ Lana
6. http://humble-heart.blogspot.com/ Vikki
7. http://thepatchworkheartcom.blogspot.com/ Patchwork Heart
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sleepover, Encounter, and more...
It's been a busy week. Starting last Friday, I went to a girl's night sleepover. Silver Valley Girl and I met at my cousin Laurie's home for a night of fun and conversation. We always have more to talk about than we have time, but we covered a lot of topics in one night.
SVG also introduced us to "Slings and Arrows" a Canadian television program. It's a TV show based on a Shakespearean Theater festival. If you like Shakespeare, comedy, or theatre, check it out. I really enjoyed it and look forward to renting Seasons 2 and 3. We watched three hours of Season One Friday night and the last 3 hours Saturday morning. Before our Saturday morning viewing, we "had" to make a run to Starbucks for coffee and pastries! My first pumpkin latte of the season! So good!
We chatted about our respective writing projects, Laurie's upcoming concert, family and so much more. When I got home Saturday afternoon, I mentally went over the list of topics we never got too. Even though we talked for hours, there were many! That just means we'll have to do it again sometime.
Sunday found Lucky 13 and I coughing our heads off. I think it was brought on by allergies. Sadly my favorite season, autumn, is also my highest allergy time. Apparently, Lucky 13 is following my lead... His turned into a terrible cold/bronchitis/fever which meant missing 2 days of school, another trip to the doctor, and all that goes with this... cough meds, nasal sprays, decongestants... you know the drill. We had a run to the doctor last week, when he passed out at at school, fell, and ended up with a strained tendon in his wrist. Turns out he is anemic... which means iron, red meat (which we'd been avoiding), and more leafy greens! Thankfully, all is well at my little home this morning!
I have about a million and one things to get done today and tomorrow. I'm scheduled to attend an Encounter weekend beginning Friday and ending Sunday. I was unable to go to the one in June, and I'm looking forward to this! It is a small group of women selected by our Pastor, who meet for an intense time of examining our spiritual selves. No TV, music, cell phones, computers... oh my! That part will be hard, but I know there will be Bible study, prayer, and exercises to strengthen our spiritual walk.
Well, I'd best get back to my list of to-do's! I find it so easy to get lost in my writing and in reading from many of the wonderful blogs I've discovered. If you want to do some reading, check out my list of favorites on my sidebar. It actually needs updating as I have met several more wonderful people in the past few weeks. That will be on my to-do list for next week.
Before I forget, thank you to all who continue to pray for Sally. She actually got to leave the hospital for a few hours with her family. This is part of her therapy, to see how she handles everyday situations. Reports are that she had a very nice time. They were careful not to let her get too tired. Her progress has been amazing, but we appreciate your continued prayers as there is a long way to go.
SVG also introduced us to "Slings and Arrows" a Canadian television program. It's a TV show based on a Shakespearean Theater festival. If you like Shakespeare, comedy, or theatre, check it out. I really enjoyed it and look forward to renting Seasons 2 and 3. We watched three hours of Season One Friday night and the last 3 hours Saturday morning. Before our Saturday morning viewing, we "had" to make a run to Starbucks for coffee and pastries! My first pumpkin latte of the season! So good!
We chatted about our respective writing projects, Laurie's upcoming concert, family and so much more. When I got home Saturday afternoon, I mentally went over the list of topics we never got too. Even though we talked for hours, there were many! That just means we'll have to do it again sometime.
Sunday found Lucky 13 and I coughing our heads off. I think it was brought on by allergies. Sadly my favorite season, autumn, is also my highest allergy time. Apparently, Lucky 13 is following my lead... His turned into a terrible cold/bronchitis/fever which meant missing 2 days of school, another trip to the doctor, and all that goes with this... cough meds, nasal sprays, decongestants... you know the drill. We had a run to the doctor last week, when he passed out at at school, fell, and ended up with a strained tendon in his wrist. Turns out he is anemic... which means iron, red meat (which we'd been avoiding), and more leafy greens! Thankfully, all is well at my little home this morning!
I have about a million and one things to get done today and tomorrow. I'm scheduled to attend an Encounter weekend beginning Friday and ending Sunday. I was unable to go to the one in June, and I'm looking forward to this! It is a small group of women selected by our Pastor, who meet for an intense time of examining our spiritual selves. No TV, music, cell phones, computers... oh my! That part will be hard, but I know there will be Bible study, prayer, and exercises to strengthen our spiritual walk.
Well, I'd best get back to my list of to-do's! I find it so easy to get lost in my writing and in reading from many of the wonderful blogs I've discovered. If you want to do some reading, check out my list of favorites on my sidebar. It actually needs updating as I have met several more wonderful people in the past few weeks. That will be on my to-do list for next week.
Before I forget, thank you to all who continue to pray for Sally. She actually got to leave the hospital for a few hours with her family. This is part of her therapy, to see how she handles everyday situations. Reports are that she had a very nice time. They were careful not to let her get too tired. Her progress has been amazing, but we appreciate your continued prayers as there is a long way to go.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sunday Scribblings - Invitation
Time for Sunday Scribblings again (see the link on my side bar to read all the entries). The prompt this week is "Invitation". Here is a short story I wrote on the subject:
The light was blinking on the answering machine. She'd kept the land line even though she didn't use it anymore. All of her personal and business contacts came to her cell phone or email.
She'd had the same phone number since 1974. Since she hadn't moved from her home town, she was able to transfer her number with each address change. The question now was why?
Without listening, she knew who it was from. She could hear the sound of his voice, the slightly pleading tone. After almost 30 years, he still called. The old flame. She'd walked away when he cheated on her. No regrets. The first call came in the second year of his marriage; "Can we just meet for a coke? You said we could still be friends." But it was there, just under the surface. The certain knowledge that it was more than coke and conversation that he wanted. She gently closed the door, not wanting to be harsh. "It just isn't a good idea." "I'm seeing someone and he would not like it." "I'll always care for you... yes, we were in love... no, I just can't see you."
Over the years he continued to call, always with the invitation. And always, she was gentle. There was no need to be mean. The past was the past and she held no bitterness. She'd forgiven and forgotten. Maybe that was the problem. She'd forgotten. She'd heard stories over the years. His ruined marriages and relationships. He could not stop cheating.
She was totally and completely in love. She'd met a man who shared her convictions. They enjoyed many of the same things. And, he was open to try new things that she loved, like visiting museums and listening to jazz.
She sat in the big plush chair next to the phone, the light blinking steadily. Slowly she reached over, picked up the receiver and looked. The caller ID had confirmed what she already knew. She dialed, and waited patiently. A friendly voice answered and she responded, "Hello, I'd like to have this number disconnected." "No, I won't be needing another connection at this time. Can you get it done right away?" "Thank you so much."
Taking the receiver, she placed it in the cradle. She knew without a doubt that she had prolonged this moment with her kindness. If she'd been blunt or angry, it would have ended sooner. Standing, she walked over to the wall and unplugged the line. She wrapped it around the old, familiar phone, then walked to the hall closet and placed it in a donation box.
It's done. No more guilt over a love that had been destroyed, and had died, so many years ago. No more blinking red light. No more invitations to turn down.
She'd received a beautiful vase of flowers from her new love last night. Carefully, she moved them to the spot where the telephone had sat. They looked lovely there, and there was just enough room for a photo. A photo of her new love, holding her.
copyright 09/19/08
Invitation to the Past
The light was blinking on the answering machine. She'd kept the land line even though she didn't use it anymore. All of her personal and business contacts came to her cell phone or email.
She'd had the same phone number since 1974. Since she hadn't moved from her home town, she was able to transfer her number with each address change. The question now was why?
Without listening, she knew who it was from. She could hear the sound of his voice, the slightly pleading tone. After almost 30 years, he still called. The old flame. She'd walked away when he cheated on her. No regrets. The first call came in the second year of his marriage; "Can we just meet for a coke? You said we could still be friends." But it was there, just under the surface. The certain knowledge that it was more than coke and conversation that he wanted. She gently closed the door, not wanting to be harsh. "It just isn't a good idea." "I'm seeing someone and he would not like it." "I'll always care for you... yes, we were in love... no, I just can't see you."
Over the years he continued to call, always with the invitation. And always, she was gentle. There was no need to be mean. The past was the past and she held no bitterness. She'd forgiven and forgotten. Maybe that was the problem. She'd forgotten. She'd heard stories over the years. His ruined marriages and relationships. He could not stop cheating.
She was totally and completely in love. She'd met a man who shared her convictions. They enjoyed many of the same things. And, he was open to try new things that she loved, like visiting museums and listening to jazz.
She sat in the big plush chair next to the phone, the light blinking steadily. Slowly she reached over, picked up the receiver and looked. The caller ID had confirmed what she already knew. She dialed, and waited patiently. A friendly voice answered and she responded, "Hello, I'd like to have this number disconnected." "No, I won't be needing another connection at this time. Can you get it done right away?" "Thank you so much."
Taking the receiver, she placed it in the cradle. She knew without a doubt that she had prolonged this moment with her kindness. If she'd been blunt or angry, it would have ended sooner. Standing, she walked over to the wall and unplugged the line. She wrapped it around the old, familiar phone, then walked to the hall closet and placed it in a donation box.
It's done. No more guilt over a love that had been destroyed, and had died, so many years ago. No more blinking red light. No more invitations to turn down.
She'd received a beautiful vase of flowers from her new love last night. Carefully, she moved them to the spot where the telephone had sat. They looked lovely there, and there was just enough room for a photo. A photo of her new love, holding her.
copyright 09/19/08
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)