Good Wednesday morning!
The Gallery Pics are the leftover photos from the 4th of July... our Bunco game... which I lost... again.
As promised for today and tomorrow, I am posting an old story from the Archives. As always, feel free to skip ahead if you've read it before!
A Little Story About "Having Things Removed"
Last week, Mikie took me downtown to have a little "pigmentation" removed from under my tongue. It looked like someone had lifted my tongue and drawn a little line with a Sharpie. "Hmmm. That's a little odd-looking, isn't it?" That's what my dentist said. That's also what the oral surgeon said one week later. Not what you really want to hear, is it?
"Oh, I've seen a million of those... and it's called a __________... and when you have one it usually makes you smarter!" That's what you want to hear.
But since I wasn't getting the correct responses, I decided to have it removed. "You'll need to have someone here to drive you home because we have to put you to sleep." Ahh, man. Anesthesia... really?
"I have to have major surgery," I told Mike as I left the doctor's office that day.
"You mean they have to put you to sleep for a few seconds while they remove your Sharpie mark?" he calmly responded.
"I have to have an IV and EVERYTHING... AND they called it an ODD PIGMENTATION! That's how I'd like for it to be referred to from now on, please." I responded a little bitterly.
"Be honest. They asked you if you had put an open Sharpie in your mouth recently, didn't they?"
"No," I lied.
Last Thursday, Mikie drove me to the doctor's office for my "major surgical procedure," and they took me back immediately. NOTE: I have to give a shout-out to a nurse whose name I don't remember for the best IV stick I've ever received IN MY WHOLE LIFE. She was amazing and I didn't feel a thing!
My nurse kept asking me questions, and for the most part I answered her honestly. Then my anesthesiologist came in. This is the guy you have to be careful with.
"Hello, Mrs. Faulkner. How are you today?" he asked.
"Fine," I answered as I braced myself for another onslaught of questions.
"Well, before we start your IV drip, Mrs. Faulkner, may I ask how much you weigh?"
I gave him my normal anesthesiologist answer. "I weigh 250 pounds."
Now this is a tricky one. Your main goal is to make sure you have enough anesthesia in your system to NOT wake up in the middle of the procedure. However, you do not want him to nod immediately and go to the next question taking your answer as the gospel truth.
"Really?" he said, glancing at me. "And how tall are you?"
"I'm about 6'5"... more or less," I responded with gusto.
"Really?" he said, again. Moving closer, he leaned down and said, "Mrs. Faulkner. It is evident you are NOT 6'5" OR 250 pounds. Now, do you want me to get your weight and height off your driver's license or do you want to start talking?"
Well, I DEFINITELY didn't want him to get my weight off my driver's license. There was no way he'd give me enough anesthesia to knock me out if he thought I was 5'3" and 130 pounds. (I always put my "enchanting" weight and height on my driver's license.)
In the end, he had the "correct" information and the procedure began. (Oh, did I mention this was a Two Parter? Sorry. I slipped a "blog teaser" in there, didn't I? You'll have to tune in tomorrow for the rest of the story.)
Wednesday Wisdom - Since I will soon be meeting The Mighty Tom Selleck in person, I decided today's Wisdom should come directly from one of his most memorable characters... Thomas Sullivan Magnum, III!
Hawaii is one of those places that keeps topping itself - just when you think you'll never see a sunset as beautiful, there comes a sunrise that even Gauguin can only imagine. It kind of makes unemployment easier to take.
One of the cliches of my profession is that to get information from a bartender you have to slip him bills of various denominations. Bills that you can't afford with pictures of unfamiliar presidents and usually for information that isn't worth it.
Okay. This isn't earth-shattering stuff, but I liked Magnum, P.I. back in the day. I've decided to add a few Tom Selleck quotes to the mix today, too.
I live a pretty simple life. (SO... DO... I!)
I've never reacted well to other people telling me what to do. (NEITHER... HAVE... I!)
If you buy an expensive thing and you never use it, I don't think there's a point to it. (Hmmm. I don't necessarily agree with this one... but I still like Tom!)
Celebrate the Month
This might be fun to try. Google "National Days Celebrated in July" (or any other month). Click on "July Special Days." You will then see THE LIST. Some of the days celebrated are serious, some are silly and some would be EASY to try!
The following is just a few of the many days celebrated in the month of July:
National Baked Bean Month
National Blueberry Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
National Picnic Month
National Recreation Month
July 1 - Build a Scarecrow Day (Build a scarecrow together as a family, and donate it to a neighbor or friend who has a summer garden.)
Canada Day
International Joke Day
July 4 - Independence Day
National Country Music Day
Tom Sawyer Fence Painting Day (Read a kid-friendly version of Tom Sawyer aloud each night the month of July.)
July 5 - Caribbean Day (Serve a Caribbean-style dinner.)
July 6 - Fried Chicken Day
July 7 - Macaroni Day
July 8 - Video Games Day
July 9 - Sugar Cookie Day
July 10 - Teddy Bear's Picnic Day (Plan a Teddy Bear Picnic with your daughter and her friends.)
July 11 - Cheer Up the Lonely Day (Call someone or take someone a small bouquet of flowers. Visit for at least ONE HOUR before you leave.)
July 12 - Paper Bag Day (Make paper bag puppets with the kids.)
July 13 - French Fries Day
July 18 - Cow Appreciation Day (Get in the car and go on a cow hunt. See how many real cows, cow pictures, cow billboards, etc. you can find in 30 minutes.)
July 19 - Stick Your Tongue Out Day
July 20 - Ice Cream Soda Day
July 21 - Junk Food Day
July 25 - Threading the Needle Day (Have a piece of thread and needle at everyone's plate at dinner. Count to three and see who can thread their needle first. Winner gets a candy bar!)
July 29 - Lasagna Day
July 30 - Cheesecake Day
See! How much fun would it be to celebrate some (or all) of these days? Pick a month this year and have a good time with your family celebrating some of the CRAZY things and events which have become "National Days."
I think I'm going to start with August!
Have a wonderful Wednesday. Visit again Thursday for the rest of the "tongue" story, Blog Linkage and a fun date or two.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
Showing posts with label Wednesday Wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wednesday Wisdom. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Pick a Night Family Night
Good Wednesday morning!
The Gallery pics are just a few more photos of "Things That Make Me Smile." I'm hoping I will see my neighbor's new puppy out and about today. He is precious, and although not a zoo animal, you can't beat good puppy pics in the Gallery.
RANDOMNESS #1 - Fun fact for ya! I LOVE African music. I'm not sure why. It just speaks to me. We were fortunate to see the Broadway version of The Lion King when it came to Birmingham about four or five years ago, and in the middle of the play I remember a group of men on stage in traditional African costume singing the most beautiful song. I was hooked.
Well, when you have a Music Education Major in your home for the weekend, you may find yourself exposed to some other eclectic music choices. I now LOVE Hawaiian music... specifically "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" sung by the late Israel (IZ) Kamakawiwo. It is the most soothing, lovely rendition I have ever heard. Love it.
And there's more! Nick introduced us to Thailand Throat Singing. I know. I know. What is a self-proclaimed Fanilow doing listening to such unusual types of music? I don't know, but I will use the word "soothing" over and over. Maybe that's what my ears need these days. "Soothing." I have no way to describe Thailand Throat Singing, but I did copy a definition which may (or may not) help. "High whistling melodies, expressive warbles, and intense low croaking tones." I will say that definition does not do it justice. It's pretty amazing.
I guess listening to these songs this past weekend would be the "new" things I experienced last week. I wanted you to know food is not the only "new" thing I try.
What can I say? I'm an enigma!
RANDOMNESS #2 - Is it just me, or does anyone else want to RUN to the nearest theater to watch the new movie Babies. The movie chronicles the first year of four different babies from four different cultures around the world. When we saw the preview at The Last Song, Roxie turned to me before I had a chance to say a word and just said, "No." Mikie doesn't want me to see it because he doesn't want to be a new Daddy again at age 48 (almost 49), and that is exactly what this movie is going to do to me... make me want another baby when I'm practically grandmother-age. I should avoid this movie like the plague... but I'm pretty sure I'm sneaking out to see it at least once (maybe twice). Shhh. Don't tell Mike.
Wednesday Wisdom - Today's Wisdom comes from author Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). Very insightful stuff.
Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.
Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.
The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that. (Amen, Sister!)
Smart, smart woman, that Harper Lee.
Pick a Night Family Night
We have not done this, but I have read of two families who live by this rule... and seem to have had some success with the Weekly Family Night.
Both families (which do not know each other) picked Monday night as their weekly night to do something together as a family. I like the fact they stay away from the busy weekend. They start with the most basic family gathering... the evening meal.
After the meal, Family Number One picks a piece of paper from a jar and reads it aloud. Whatever is on that piece of paper dictates what the family will do for the evening. It may be a movie night. It may be going for a bike ride. It may be making ice cream sundaes after playing a family game. Of course, the activities in the jar have been contributed by all of the family members. I will also mention, Family Number One now has three teenagers and one pre-teen in the house. Because they have been doing this since the kids were small, it is an unspoken rule no one makes plans for Monday nights.
Family Number Two calls their weekly Monday night get-together Family Talent Show Night. They use Talent Time Themes. "Two favorites are Talents in a Bag -- each person draws a couple of items from a sack and uses them as props -- and Together Talents, where two people team up to do a skit, a song or a dance. We also do Silent Talents (no speaking allowed), Outside Talents (performed in the yard) and Pet Talents (which feature one of the members of our pet family)."
I also like the flexibility Family Number Two uses. "On a busy night, we shorten the show. Each person gets 30 seconds to do something small, such as whistle a tune, show off a school project or recite a brief poem." Family Number Two (Bud and Casey Cluff of Sammamish, Washington) has been featured in this month's Family Fun Magazine.
As with many ideas I share from other folks, I am going to give this a try. It's never too late to introduce a new tradition to the family. Beginning next week, we're going to declare Tuesday night as Faulkner Family Night. We may do something as simple as driving to Sno Biz to enjoy a snow cone or watching an old TV series (Boy Meets World, etc.). Doing something simple and fun as a family doesn't have to last two hours. It can be a 30-minute activity. That's okay.
The main goal is to pick a specific night, write it in ink, and stick with it as best you can!
Have a lovely Wednesday. It is a new day, so if you haven't been able to spend that extra time with family or friends, make a plan (in ink) to carve out some special time in the next day or so... take a kiddo to breakfast, surprise your spouse with a lunch invitation, go to a Thursday night movie (no crowds), serve a family meal on the deck. The possibilities are endless! I'll have a date to share with you tomorrow, Blog Linkage, and what has now become my custom, RANDOMNESS!
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
The Gallery pics are just a few more photos of "Things That Make Me Smile." I'm hoping I will see my neighbor's new puppy out and about today. He is precious, and although not a zoo animal, you can't beat good puppy pics in the Gallery.
RANDOMNESS #1 - Fun fact for ya! I LOVE African music. I'm not sure why. It just speaks to me. We were fortunate to see the Broadway version of The Lion King when it came to Birmingham about four or five years ago, and in the middle of the play I remember a group of men on stage in traditional African costume singing the most beautiful song. I was hooked.
Well, when you have a Music Education Major in your home for the weekend, you may find yourself exposed to some other eclectic music choices. I now LOVE Hawaiian music... specifically "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" sung by the late Israel (IZ) Kamakawiwo. It is the most soothing, lovely rendition I have ever heard. Love it.
And there's more! Nick introduced us to Thailand Throat Singing. I know. I know. What is a self-proclaimed Fanilow doing listening to such unusual types of music? I don't know, but I will use the word "soothing" over and over. Maybe that's what my ears need these days. "Soothing." I have no way to describe Thailand Throat Singing, but I did copy a definition which may (or may not) help. "High whistling melodies, expressive warbles, and intense low croaking tones." I will say that definition does not do it justice. It's pretty amazing.
I guess listening to these songs this past weekend would be the "new" things I experienced last week. I wanted you to know food is not the only "new" thing I try.
What can I say? I'm an enigma!
RANDOMNESS #2 - Is it just me, or does anyone else want to RUN to the nearest theater to watch the new movie Babies. The movie chronicles the first year of four different babies from four different cultures around the world. When we saw the preview at The Last Song, Roxie turned to me before I had a chance to say a word and just said, "No." Mikie doesn't want me to see it because he doesn't want to be a new Daddy again at age 48 (almost 49), and that is exactly what this movie is going to do to me... make me want another baby when I'm practically grandmother-age. I should avoid this movie like the plague... but I'm pretty sure I'm sneaking out to see it at least once (maybe twice). Shhh. Don't tell Mike.
Wednesday Wisdom - Today's Wisdom comes from author Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). Very insightful stuff.
Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.
Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.
The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that. (Amen, Sister!)
Smart, smart woman, that Harper Lee.
Pick a Night Family Night
We have not done this, but I have read of two families who live by this rule... and seem to have had some success with the Weekly Family Night.
Both families (which do not know each other) picked Monday night as their weekly night to do something together as a family. I like the fact they stay away from the busy weekend. They start with the most basic family gathering... the evening meal.
After the meal, Family Number One picks a piece of paper from a jar and reads it aloud. Whatever is on that piece of paper dictates what the family will do for the evening. It may be a movie night. It may be going for a bike ride. It may be making ice cream sundaes after playing a family game. Of course, the activities in the jar have been contributed by all of the family members. I will also mention, Family Number One now has three teenagers and one pre-teen in the house. Because they have been doing this since the kids were small, it is an unspoken rule no one makes plans for Monday nights.
Family Number Two calls their weekly Monday night get-together Family Talent Show Night. They use Talent Time Themes. "Two favorites are Talents in a Bag -- each person draws a couple of items from a sack and uses them as props -- and Together Talents, where two people team up to do a skit, a song or a dance. We also do Silent Talents (no speaking allowed), Outside Talents (performed in the yard) and Pet Talents (which feature one of the members of our pet family)."
I also like the flexibility Family Number Two uses. "On a busy night, we shorten the show. Each person gets 30 seconds to do something small, such as whistle a tune, show off a school project or recite a brief poem." Family Number Two (Bud and Casey Cluff of Sammamish, Washington) has been featured in this month's Family Fun Magazine.
As with many ideas I share from other folks, I am going to give this a try. It's never too late to introduce a new tradition to the family. Beginning next week, we're going to declare Tuesday night as Faulkner Family Night. We may do something as simple as driving to Sno Biz to enjoy a snow cone or watching an old TV series (Boy Meets World, etc.). Doing something simple and fun as a family doesn't have to last two hours. It can be a 30-minute activity. That's okay.
The main goal is to pick a specific night, write it in ink, and stick with it as best you can!
Have a lovely Wednesday. It is a new day, so if you haven't been able to spend that extra time with family or friends, make a plan (in ink) to carve out some special time in the next day or so... take a kiddo to breakfast, surprise your spouse with a lunch invitation, go to a Thursday night movie (no crowds), serve a family meal on the deck. The possibilities are endless! I'll have a date to share with you tomorrow, Blog Linkage, and what has now become my custom, RANDOMNESS!
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
"Kiddie Pool" Pumpkin Patch
Good Wednesday morning!
As promised, the Gallery Pics are from Mike and the boys at the Indy Grand Prix Sunday afternoon. They had such a good time, and while Roxie and I are almost 100 percent positive it isn't something we would enjoy, we're always willing to "bite the bullet" and let them have a day (or month) to themselves.
RANDOMNESS #1 - Fun fact for ya! (Think Paul Blart, Mall Cop.) When I was a kid, I wanted to be a marine biologist when I became an adult. Of course, that career path changed immediately upon the release of the movie Jaws, but for a few years there, I was really into marine life trivia. To this day, I love aquariums ALMOST as much as I love a good zoo. So imagine my utter delight (no exaggeration) when I began planning a little trip to Amelia Island for the family this summer and discovered manatees LIVE in the river separating Amelia Island and Cumberland Island.
Okay. Stay with me now. There's more. There is a two hour river cruise you can book for the morning hours, and the captain assured me I would see various species of cranes, wild hogs, manatees and (GET THIS!) feral horses on Cumberland Island. (I'm not sure what feral means, but I do know these are wild horses which run free on the Island and along the beach.)
But wait! There's more! There's a chance we'll see sea turtles swimming in the river, too. I am going to be in marine biologist/zoologist heaven!
I know it is going to be awhile before our little getaway, but I discovered this information a couple of days ago and wanted to share. I know you're glad I did.
Semi-Funny Manatee Story - I know what you're thinking. Everyone has a semi-funny manatee story, but I'm going to throw mine into the mix.
Several years ago, Mikie had a business conference in Tampa. We had never had a desire to go to Tampa for vacation purposes, but we tagged along and had one of the best vacations ever. Tampa has so much to offer. And one of the best things we did while on this trip was go to Lowry Park Zoo (voted in 2002 as the Family Fun Best Zoo in the Southeast).
It is a fantastic zoo. We spent over six hours there and still didn't see everything. They had a "Pet the Ray" exhibit where we touched stingrays as they swam past us. The kids rode camels. There was a sky lift which took you from one side of the zoo to the other. It was a very interactive zoo.
But the best exhibit in the Lowry Park Zoo was by far the "Manatee Feeding" exhibit. The kids went to the bottom level and Mikie and I stood at the top while a trained marine biologist fed two manatees and told the kids and adults all about this animal.
Now, if you grew up wanting to be a marine biologist, there are a few things you already know about the manatee. Their nickname is "sea cow." The scars and cuts along their backs come from the huge air boats and other sea craft which travel too quickly through their natural habitat cutting them with the propellers. They have no natural enemies except man... and I guess boat propellers.
One more thing, and this is important. They are not swift animals. They don't have to be quick because of the "no natural enemy" thing.
So imagine my delight when the marine biologist told us the two manatees in the tank were going to do a little trick. They were going to swim in circles, gather up speed and jump over a log she was standing on and grab the head of lettuce she was holding in her hand before diving back into the water.
The crowd of over 100 people just stood there. Except for me. I had gotten so excited about these obviously exceptional manatees that I clapped my hands and shouted, "Woo-hoo!" I felt Mikie leave my side trying to blend in with the crowd behind me. I saw Roxie turn around to glare at me... and I saw Austin's hand turn her head to look back toward the exhibit. Josh and Austin never acknowledged I was their mother.
The marine biologist never missed a beat. "Of course, manatees are not like dolphins and do not swim swiftly enough to leap over logs... but wouldn't it be fun if they did?" I again clapped my hands, softly this time, and muttered, "Yes, it most definitely would."
As the show ended, I left alone. I caught up with my family at the aviary... and thankfully, they let me walk with them during the rest of our visit. "I just thought maybe they had found two 'special' manatees," I tried to explain.
"We really don't want to talk about it... ever," was the reply. And except for today, we haven't.
And that, my friends, is my one and only manatee story. Hopefully, this summer I'll have a new and exciting manatee story to share from our River Cruise adventure. We can only hope!
RANDOMNESS #2 - Well, it's official. I must make a rhubarb dessert. I was sitting in the dentist office yesterday (for Roxie... not me), and while flipping through a magazine I saw a recipe for a Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie. Rhubarb is calling out to me, and I will be baking the cake in the very near future.
Wednesday Wisdom - Last Saturday, Dixie Carter from Designing Women fame passed away at the age of 70. I was a huge Designing Women fan, and I loved all of the characters on that show. I'm going to share some favorite "Julia Sugarbaker" quotes with you today. There are many, many more, but if you ever watched the show, you'll probably remember some of these.
(Boarding a plane)
Suzanne: Where are our seats?
Julia: I don't know. If history teaches us anything, mine will be next to a baby who smokes.
Julia: Have you all just COMPLETELY lost your minds? (This was a line Julia said repeatedly on the show. This is a line I adopted soon after all of my kids became teenagers. It seemed appropriate.)
(As Mary Jo nervously prepares for her first date since her divorce.)
Julia: Here is a quarter for the payphone, Mary Jo. Mother always used to give Suzanne and me a dime to call home in case somebody got too fresh. I don't think Suzanne ever used hers. She eventually used the money to go to Europe.
Julia: I keep a list of people who touch my behind without permission. Some of them have died unnatural and untimely deaths.
(Talking to Charlene after being trapped in the hotel room with her all night.)
Julia: I think this illness has affected your brain. Or, I've just never before noticed the extent of your unequalled ability to be fascinated at absolutely nothing.
Charlene: Y'know, Julia, I used to think that if I were a man I'd be interested in you, but not anymore!!
"Kiddie Pool" Pumpkin Patch
Want to have your own home-grown pumpkins this fall? Well, here's a way to grow a small, yet manageable, pumpkin patch.
1. Purchase a small kiddie pool. Make holes in the bottom for draining purposes.
2. Place the pool at the back corner of the driveway, a cement patio or in a natural area of your yard. If you leave it on the grass, you'll have a dead spot in the yard by the time you harvest your pumpkins.
3. Buy several large bags of potting soil and a bag or two of pumpkin seeds.
4. Fill the pool with the potting soil and plant the seeds according to the instructions on the seed packet.
5. The pumpkin patch should be kept in a sunny spot.
6. Plant your patch between June 1 and June 15... and watch them grow!
This would be a great activity for the kids because it is a tradition which keeps on giving. Grow your own pumpkins and in the fall you can bake your own pies, decorate for Halloween and share with your neighbors. (This is "multi-purpose" tradition!)
Have a great Wednesday. Thursday I will have a fun date or two and some Blog Linkage I hope you will find inspiring. Enter the Contest if you get a chance today... and if you have any questions, don't forget to leave them via e-mail, Comment Section or Facebook for the May 3 Q & A on A Simple Life.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
As promised, the Gallery Pics are from Mike and the boys at the Indy Grand Prix Sunday afternoon. They had such a good time, and while Roxie and I are almost 100 percent positive it isn't something we would enjoy, we're always willing to "bite the bullet" and let them have a day (or month) to themselves.
RANDOMNESS #1 - Fun fact for ya! (Think Paul Blart, Mall Cop.) When I was a kid, I wanted to be a marine biologist when I became an adult. Of course, that career path changed immediately upon the release of the movie Jaws, but for a few years there, I was really into marine life trivia. To this day, I love aquariums ALMOST as much as I love a good zoo. So imagine my utter delight (no exaggeration) when I began planning a little trip to Amelia Island for the family this summer and discovered manatees LIVE in the river separating Amelia Island and Cumberland Island.
Okay. Stay with me now. There's more. There is a two hour river cruise you can book for the morning hours, and the captain assured me I would see various species of cranes, wild hogs, manatees and (GET THIS!) feral horses on Cumberland Island. (I'm not sure what feral means, but I do know these are wild horses which run free on the Island and along the beach.)
But wait! There's more! There's a chance we'll see sea turtles swimming in the river, too. I am going to be in marine biologist/zoologist heaven!
I know it is going to be awhile before our little getaway, but I discovered this information a couple of days ago and wanted to share. I know you're glad I did.
Semi-Funny Manatee Story - I know what you're thinking. Everyone has a semi-funny manatee story, but I'm going to throw mine into the mix.
Several years ago, Mikie had a business conference in Tampa. We had never had a desire to go to Tampa for vacation purposes, but we tagged along and had one of the best vacations ever. Tampa has so much to offer. And one of the best things we did while on this trip was go to Lowry Park Zoo (voted in 2002 as the Family Fun Best Zoo in the Southeast).
It is a fantastic zoo. We spent over six hours there and still didn't see everything. They had a "Pet the Ray" exhibit where we touched stingrays as they swam past us. The kids rode camels. There was a sky lift which took you from one side of the zoo to the other. It was a very interactive zoo.
But the best exhibit in the Lowry Park Zoo was by far the "Manatee Feeding" exhibit. The kids went to the bottom level and Mikie and I stood at the top while a trained marine biologist fed two manatees and told the kids and adults all about this animal.
Now, if you grew up wanting to be a marine biologist, there are a few things you already know about the manatee. Their nickname is "sea cow." The scars and cuts along their backs come from the huge air boats and other sea craft which travel too quickly through their natural habitat cutting them with the propellers. They have no natural enemies except man... and I guess boat propellers.
One more thing, and this is important. They are not swift animals. They don't have to be quick because of the "no natural enemy" thing.
So imagine my delight when the marine biologist told us the two manatees in the tank were going to do a little trick. They were going to swim in circles, gather up speed and jump over a log she was standing on and grab the head of lettuce she was holding in her hand before diving back into the water.
The crowd of over 100 people just stood there. Except for me. I had gotten so excited about these obviously exceptional manatees that I clapped my hands and shouted, "Woo-hoo!" I felt Mikie leave my side trying to blend in with the crowd behind me. I saw Roxie turn around to glare at me... and I saw Austin's hand turn her head to look back toward the exhibit. Josh and Austin never acknowledged I was their mother.
The marine biologist never missed a beat. "Of course, manatees are not like dolphins and do not swim swiftly enough to leap over logs... but wouldn't it be fun if they did?" I again clapped my hands, softly this time, and muttered, "Yes, it most definitely would."
As the show ended, I left alone. I caught up with my family at the aviary... and thankfully, they let me walk with them during the rest of our visit. "I just thought maybe they had found two 'special' manatees," I tried to explain.
"We really don't want to talk about it... ever," was the reply. And except for today, we haven't.
And that, my friends, is my one and only manatee story. Hopefully, this summer I'll have a new and exciting manatee story to share from our River Cruise adventure. We can only hope!
RANDOMNESS #2 - Well, it's official. I must make a rhubarb dessert. I was sitting in the dentist office yesterday (for Roxie... not me), and while flipping through a magazine I saw a recipe for a Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie. Rhubarb is calling out to me, and I will be baking the cake in the very near future.
Wednesday Wisdom - Last Saturday, Dixie Carter from Designing Women fame passed away at the age of 70. I was a huge Designing Women fan, and I loved all of the characters on that show. I'm going to share some favorite "Julia Sugarbaker" quotes with you today. There are many, many more, but if you ever watched the show, you'll probably remember some of these.
(Boarding a plane)
Suzanne: Where are our seats?
Julia: I don't know. If history teaches us anything, mine will be next to a baby who smokes.
Julia: Have you all just COMPLETELY lost your minds? (This was a line Julia said repeatedly on the show. This is a line I adopted soon after all of my kids became teenagers. It seemed appropriate.)
(As Mary Jo nervously prepares for her first date since her divorce.)
Julia: Here is a quarter for the payphone, Mary Jo. Mother always used to give Suzanne and me a dime to call home in case somebody got too fresh. I don't think Suzanne ever used hers. She eventually used the money to go to Europe.
Julia: I keep a list of people who touch my behind without permission. Some of them have died unnatural and untimely deaths.
(Talking to Charlene after being trapped in the hotel room with her all night.)
Julia: I think this illness has affected your brain. Or, I've just never before noticed the extent of your unequalled ability to be fascinated at absolutely nothing.
Charlene: Y'know, Julia, I used to think that if I were a man I'd be interested in you, but not anymore!!
"Kiddie Pool" Pumpkin Patch
Want to have your own home-grown pumpkins this fall? Well, here's a way to grow a small, yet manageable, pumpkin patch.
1. Purchase a small kiddie pool. Make holes in the bottom for draining purposes.
2. Place the pool at the back corner of the driveway, a cement patio or in a natural area of your yard. If you leave it on the grass, you'll have a dead spot in the yard by the time you harvest your pumpkins.
3. Buy several large bags of potting soil and a bag or two of pumpkin seeds.
4. Fill the pool with the potting soil and plant the seeds according to the instructions on the seed packet.
5. The pumpkin patch should be kept in a sunny spot.
6. Plant your patch between June 1 and June 15... and watch them grow!
This would be a great activity for the kids because it is a tradition which keeps on giving. Grow your own pumpkins and in the fall you can bake your own pies, decorate for Halloween and share with your neighbors. (This is "multi-purpose" tradition!)
Have a great Wednesday. Thursday I will have a fun date or two and some Blog Linkage I hope you will find inspiring. Enter the Contest if you get a chance today... and if you have any questions, don't forget to leave them via e-mail, Comment Section or Facebook for the May 3 Q & A on A Simple Life.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
50 Dates
Good Wednesday morning!
The Gallery Pics are from Zac's 12th birthday party held last Sunday (a little early). His birthday celebrations are always fun because he still gets "wrapped" gifts instead of a pile of cards with money. I LOVE wrapped gifts. And truthfully, so does everyone else because even the adults wanted to play with his remote control helicopter and other cool toys. (Money is highly overrated. That being said, never buy me a remote control ANYTHING... I'll take the cash.)
My weekly date with Mikie was fun, yet simple. I am convinced the best time to celebrate Mother's Day is the weekend AFTER Mother's Day (absolutely NO lines anywhere), and the best time to celebrate Valentine's Day is in the middle of the week a few days AFTER February 14. We walked into our movie and sat down with six other people. We ate dinner after the movie at Waffle House. (I know. How romantic!) But it was romantic... and we had fun... and I had a BLT which I had been craving for quite some time. So there!
Roxie attended the Heart to Heart Banquet our church held for the 6th to 11th grade girls. The Senior girls served. Roxie absolutely loved this banquet. On the way to school this morning, she was still talking about the speaker (Denise), the message and all the fun the girls had together. It was a huge hit!
TOPIC OF THE WEEK - The Mikie and Belinda Story - Part Two
Let's see. Where did I leave off? Oh, yes. I was in the balcony of Shades Mountain Baptist Church with my friend, Kelley. She had just pointed out Mike, as well as her friend, Alesia, who we were to meet after the service.
Alesia turned out to be very established in the Singles Department at the church, and we met literally dozens of people our first two Sundays visiting there. Kelley, Alesia, and another girl, Celeste, and I became close friends, and it wasn't long until we were doing EVERYTHING together. Beach trips, shopping, movies, more shopping, out to eat, and even more shopping. Many of our activities were "group" activities, and along with Kelley, Alesia and Celeste we had many other friends (male and female) in our core group. Mikie was one of our guy friends.
Mike and I hit it off immediately. He was incredibly easy to talk to, and he was fun to be around. He was considerate and sweet. He was a good listener... and I was a good talker.
Over our next three years together at Shades Mountain, he became my best male friend. Also, during our next three years together at Shades Mountain, it became obvious Mike's one and only goal was to date as many nice, Christian women as possible. And this was a goal he met!
It honestly did not bother me. Many times after a date, Mike would call and we would talk about anything and everything. I knew his story from beginning to present, and he knew mine. Because we were going on trips and retreats with the Singles Department, he had definitely seen me with no make-up, little sleep, and very grumpy, and I could say the same of him. Well, except the no make-up part. As far as I know, Mike has never worn make-up. (That would have been a deal breaker.) It didn't matter. We were friends.
I can remember the first time it bothered me when he called after a date. The girl he was dating at the time was wonderful, and she was a friend of mine. (Not close, but a friend.) Mike really enjoyed dating this particular girl, and she obviously, enjoyed his company, too.
At the time, I wouldn't have said I was jealous, but looking back, I'm sure I was. I was not livid or pouty or incredibly sad, but it definitely DID bother me... and up to this point, who Mike chose to date had never bothered me at all.
He, of course, was oblivious, and when he asked me my opinion of whether they should continue to date, I found myself hesitant to answer honestly... because I had to admit, the honest answer would have been, "NO! Are you insane? Open your eyes, man!"
Instead, I deferred and asked him what he thought. HUGE mistake. Having to listen to him go on and on and on for an hour or so about how this girl was SO wonderful and SO sweet and SO funny and SO cute was pure torture. And it was only made worse because she was definitely all of those things and more. I even thought so!
It was probably the first time I was happy when he said, "Well, good-bye," and we were able to end that very one-sided conversation.
Tomorrow, things turn around a little, but only because I took matters into my own hands (which, by the way, I do NOT recommend).
Wednesday Wisdom - Of course, today's quotes will be about first dates. There aren't too many good ones to choose from, so I guess you all know what I'll be working on the rest of today... First Date Quotes!
"If you think there are no new frontiers, watch a boy ring the front doorbell on his first date." Olin Miller. (I only know how it felt from the other side of the door.)
"I can't imagine dating a boy, meeting him only outside the home. What's a home and family for if it's not the center of one's life?" Loretta Young. (Being a mother of boys, I love this quote. I know many would consider it "old-fashioned," but I also am a lover of all things "old-fashioned.")
50 Dates
Since Mikie and I are trying to date weekly (and I emphasize the word "trying"), I thought today AND tomorrow I'd share 50 Dates to keep it interesting AND fun AND affordable. Below are the first 25 Dates...
1. Pick a good TV show, get a whole season on DVD and set a time to watch it (ALONE) together each week.
2. How about dinner and then stargazing at the planetarium's evening show?
3. Try brunch and a matinee. Fancy restaurants are more affordable in the morning.
4. Pick up an order of your favorite fast food and head for the drive-in.
5. Museums usually have one free night a week.
6. Hit the local arcade. (I know I'm considered older than dirt by the "arcade crowd," but Mikie and I both love pinball! I would definitely do this.)
7. Head to the highest point in town. Spend an early evening watching the twinkling lights turn on. (Take a picnic basket of sandwiches, drinks and snacks.)
8. Leisurely walk through your local botanical garden.
9. Sign up for a one-night class at your local college (TOGETHER). (Mikie would LOVE this. Me... not so much.)
10. Hit a farmers' market and look for dinner you can cook together.
11. Hit a flea market.
12. Take a tour of garage sales in the ritziest neighborhoods.
13. Don't you just drive each other up the wall sometimes? Prove it... at an indoor climbing gym.
14. Head to an ice skating rink and strap on skates for some icy fun.
15. Poke around an antique shop.
16. Stop at a fancy bakery and pick out a tasty treat for each other.
17. Feed the ducks at the pond.
18. Frisbee. Try throwing it around in a park.
19. Rent a tandem bike and go for a ride.
20. Get up early, fix a pot of coffee and watch the sunrise.
21. Head to a batting cage and swing at some balls.
22. Hit the bowling alley.
23. Get in the saddle for a horseback-riding lesson or a trail ride.
24. Map out a long bike ride through a local park.
25. Go play paintball.
Mike and I have done most of these things with the kids, but only 11 out of 25 ALONE as a date (since the kids arrived). We need to get busy! There will be more ideas for dating fun tomorrow.
Have an exceptionally good Wednesday. I cannot believe it is already the middle of the week. Friday will be here before we know it. Come back tomorrow for Blog Linkage and 25 more fun date ideas. Oh, and I'll be telling a little more of The Mikie and Belinda Story. (It was on the New York Times' Best Seller List for over four weeks, you know.)
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
The Gallery Pics are from Zac's 12th birthday party held last Sunday (a little early). His birthday celebrations are always fun because he still gets "wrapped" gifts instead of a pile of cards with money. I LOVE wrapped gifts. And truthfully, so does everyone else because even the adults wanted to play with his remote control helicopter and other cool toys. (Money is highly overrated. That being said, never buy me a remote control ANYTHING... I'll take the cash.)
My weekly date with Mikie was fun, yet simple. I am convinced the best time to celebrate Mother's Day is the weekend AFTER Mother's Day (absolutely NO lines anywhere), and the best time to celebrate Valentine's Day is in the middle of the week a few days AFTER February 14. We walked into our movie and sat down with six other people. We ate dinner after the movie at Waffle House. (I know. How romantic!) But it was romantic... and we had fun... and I had a BLT which I had been craving for quite some time. So there!
Roxie attended the Heart to Heart Banquet our church held for the 6th to 11th grade girls. The Senior girls served. Roxie absolutely loved this banquet. On the way to school this morning, she was still talking about the speaker (Denise), the message and all the fun the girls had together. It was a huge hit!
TOPIC OF THE WEEK - The Mikie and Belinda Story - Part Two
Let's see. Where did I leave off? Oh, yes. I was in the balcony of Shades Mountain Baptist Church with my friend, Kelley. She had just pointed out Mike, as well as her friend, Alesia, who we were to meet after the service.
Alesia turned out to be very established in the Singles Department at the church, and we met literally dozens of people our first two Sundays visiting there. Kelley, Alesia, and another girl, Celeste, and I became close friends, and it wasn't long until we were doing EVERYTHING together. Beach trips, shopping, movies, more shopping, out to eat, and even more shopping. Many of our activities were "group" activities, and along with Kelley, Alesia and Celeste we had many other friends (male and female) in our core group. Mikie was one of our guy friends.
Mike and I hit it off immediately. He was incredibly easy to talk to, and he was fun to be around. He was considerate and sweet. He was a good listener... and I was a good talker.
Over our next three years together at Shades Mountain, he became my best male friend. Also, during our next three years together at Shades Mountain, it became obvious Mike's one and only goal was to date as many nice, Christian women as possible. And this was a goal he met!
It honestly did not bother me. Many times after a date, Mike would call and we would talk about anything and everything. I knew his story from beginning to present, and he knew mine. Because we were going on trips and retreats with the Singles Department, he had definitely seen me with no make-up, little sleep, and very grumpy, and I could say the same of him. Well, except the no make-up part. As far as I know, Mike has never worn make-up. (That would have been a deal breaker.) It didn't matter. We were friends.
I can remember the first time it bothered me when he called after a date. The girl he was dating at the time was wonderful, and she was a friend of mine. (Not close, but a friend.) Mike really enjoyed dating this particular girl, and she obviously, enjoyed his company, too.
At the time, I wouldn't have said I was jealous, but looking back, I'm sure I was. I was not livid or pouty or incredibly sad, but it definitely DID bother me... and up to this point, who Mike chose to date had never bothered me at all.
He, of course, was oblivious, and when he asked me my opinion of whether they should continue to date, I found myself hesitant to answer honestly... because I had to admit, the honest answer would have been, "NO! Are you insane? Open your eyes, man!"
Instead, I deferred and asked him what he thought. HUGE mistake. Having to listen to him go on and on and on for an hour or so about how this girl was SO wonderful and SO sweet and SO funny and SO cute was pure torture. And it was only made worse because she was definitely all of those things and more. I even thought so!
It was probably the first time I was happy when he said, "Well, good-bye," and we were able to end that very one-sided conversation.
Tomorrow, things turn around a little, but only because I took matters into my own hands (which, by the way, I do NOT recommend).
Wednesday Wisdom - Of course, today's quotes will be about first dates. There aren't too many good ones to choose from, so I guess you all know what I'll be working on the rest of today... First Date Quotes!
"If you think there are no new frontiers, watch a boy ring the front doorbell on his first date." Olin Miller. (I only know how it felt from the other side of the door.)
"I can't imagine dating a boy, meeting him only outside the home. What's a home and family for if it's not the center of one's life?" Loretta Young. (Being a mother of boys, I love this quote. I know many would consider it "old-fashioned," but I also am a lover of all things "old-fashioned.")
50 Dates
Since Mikie and I are trying to date weekly (and I emphasize the word "trying"), I thought today AND tomorrow I'd share 50 Dates to keep it interesting AND fun AND affordable. Below are the first 25 Dates...
1. Pick a good TV show, get a whole season on DVD and set a time to watch it (ALONE) together each week.
2. How about dinner and then stargazing at the planetarium's evening show?
3. Try brunch and a matinee. Fancy restaurants are more affordable in the morning.
4. Pick up an order of your favorite fast food and head for the drive-in.
5. Museums usually have one free night a week.
6. Hit the local arcade. (I know I'm considered older than dirt by the "arcade crowd," but Mikie and I both love pinball! I would definitely do this.)
7. Head to the highest point in town. Spend an early evening watching the twinkling lights turn on. (Take a picnic basket of sandwiches, drinks and snacks.)
8. Leisurely walk through your local botanical garden.
9. Sign up for a one-night class at your local college (TOGETHER). (Mikie would LOVE this. Me... not so much.)
10. Hit a farmers' market and look for dinner you can cook together.
11. Hit a flea market.
12. Take a tour of garage sales in the ritziest neighborhoods.
13. Don't you just drive each other up the wall sometimes? Prove it... at an indoor climbing gym.
14. Head to an ice skating rink and strap on skates for some icy fun.
15. Poke around an antique shop.
16. Stop at a fancy bakery and pick out a tasty treat for each other.
17. Feed the ducks at the pond.
18. Frisbee. Try throwing it around in a park.
19. Rent a tandem bike and go for a ride.
20. Get up early, fix a pot of coffee and watch the sunrise.
21. Head to a batting cage and swing at some balls.
22. Hit the bowling alley.
23. Get in the saddle for a horseback-riding lesson or a trail ride.
24. Map out a long bike ride through a local park.
25. Go play paintball.
Mike and I have done most of these things with the kids, but only 11 out of 25 ALONE as a date (since the kids arrived). We need to get busy! There will be more ideas for dating fun tomorrow.
Have an exceptionally good Wednesday. I cannot believe it is already the middle of the week. Friday will be here before we know it. Come back tomorrow for Blog Linkage and 25 more fun date ideas. Oh, and I'll be telling a little more of The Mikie and Belinda Story. (It was on the New York Times' Best Seller List for over four weeks, you know.)
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Valentine's Day Cards... Who Will Be Your Special Valentine?
Good Wednesday morning!
The Showcase Pic has changed! I actually "bumped" into Charlotte last night (Code for I SAW HER, AND I TACKLED HER AT THE DOOR OF THE RESTAURANT). Just kidding. Charlotte is fine. And I got not one, but TWO new pics of her along with her beautiful daughter, Gracie. (See the Gallery Pics, too.) It was a good night!
SPECIAL GUEST - Charlotte Guffin
I'm still having a few technical difficulties with the interview process, BUT when I saw Charlotte at the restaurant last night, I was able to get three more answers from her. YES!
3. Name two places in the United States you want to visit, and why?
I want to go to Chicago to visit the Wootens, and I want to go to Wisconsin to visit my sister. (Charlotte, if you make it to Wisconsin, I want a Big Cheese Hat. I'll pay for it, but I want one... really, really badly. And if I find out you went to Wisconsin and didn't buy me a Big Cheese Hat after I featured you as my Special Guest and everything... Well, I might be pouty for a week or so.)
4. What is one thing that instantly puts a smile on your face?
That one is easy. That one over there (she pointed toward her Gracie), and my other three (Abbie, Graham and Zac).
5. What is one surprising thing people do NOT know about you?
WARNING - If you haven't eaten breakfast yet, do not read this answer.
I like to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and order an omelet and turnip greens. (I had breakfast an hour ago, but just typing this is starting to bother me a little.)
Yes, Charlotte is a fascinating guest. And thankfully, her Gracie has agreed to be the "ghost writer" for the remainder of this interview. So tomorrow, we will have more questions, more answers (and if I happen to "bump" into Charlotte again... more pictures)!
TOPIC OF THE WEEK - Answered Prayer
Where did we leave off yesterday? Oh, yes. We had one flying squirrel, a very good interview under our belt.. and Keith's severance pay was about to run out. Great and mighty things were about to happen.
This part of the story is interesting, but it really doesn't have anything to do with the next answered prayer in Kim and Keith's life. They found another flying squirrel. They think there may even be a third. That remains to be seen, and I will let you know if and when the herd of flying squirrels is totally rounded up!
Now, on to the rest of the story. Keith and Adam left last Tuesday morning on an outing. Five minutes (or less) after they left, Kim received a slightly strange phone call from Keith. "Do you mind going to the bedroom and setting the alarm clock for 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning?"
"No. I'll do it now. Why on earth do you need to get up at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning?" she asked. (With all the squirrels flying around their house at night, I imagine they had not been getting a large amount sleep in the nights prior to this request.)
"I just got a call from the temp agency, and they want me to start work... tomorrow morning." Get this. The day before his severance pay was to end. Oh, and get some more. Keith had previously worked at this particular place years earlier, so he was more than a little prepared for this temporary job.
"Unbelievable," I murmured as she finished her story. And then I was ashamed. Why was it unbelievable? God answers prayers ALL the time in ALL kinds of ways. Why had I not just EXPECTED this outcome? It comes down to faith... and remembering... and praying with confidence... and not taking for granted the many, many, many times He has answered my own simple, sometimes childlike, requests with a big, fat "YES!"
I told Kim I hoped they caught flying squirrel number two. And then I hoped they caught flying squirrel number three. Because when there are three little flying squirrels sitting side by side in their comfy little "flying squirrel homes," I want the first one to be named "Manna," the second to be named "From," and the third to be named "Heaven." Get it? Manna From Heaven!
Fine! Rascal it shall remain. But "Rascal From Heaven" doesn't have the same catchy ending I had originally wanted for this story. But I guess it will have to do.
Wednesday Wisdom - This week I thought I would share some quotes on prayer.
"All prayers are answered if we are willing to admit that sometimes the answer is no." Anonymous.
"I have had prayers answered - most strangely so sometimes - but I think our heavenly Father's loving-kindness has been even more evident in what He has refused me." Lewis Carroll. (I love this quote because it shows the parent-child relationship so clearly. Because I love my children, I do not give them everything they request. Due to concern for their well-being and wisdom I've gained from life experiences, I know everything they ask for is not good for them. At 48 years of age, God, MY heavenly Father, knows everything I ask for is NOT what I need even though I may disagree at the time. I think this little bit of wisdom is very eloquently stated.)
"As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools." Anonymous. (And all the students said, "Amen!")
Valentine's Day Cards... Who Will Be Your Special Valentine?
Today I'm going to urge you to take a few minutes to think about your neighbors. Are there any elderly men or women who live alone on your street?
If so, why not spend a little time and a little money on Sunday, February 14, and deliver a homemade or store-bought Valentine's Day Card to those neighbors. A carnation or a small box of candy are inexpensive gifts which can go along with the card and the visit. As always, include your children in the making, shopping and delivery of these cards. They will learn to be compassionate much more effectively by example than by words alone.
Remember, your neighbor was once someone's Valentine, too.
Have a lovely Wednesday. The rain is coming! The rain is coming! Enjoy some sunshine today. Tomorrow I have wonderful Blog Linkage to share with you, and a very fun date. I'll also have more answers to questions answered by Gracie about her Mom! It could be a very interesting day on A Simple Life.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
The Showcase Pic has changed! I actually "bumped" into Charlotte last night (Code for I SAW HER, AND I TACKLED HER AT THE DOOR OF THE RESTAURANT). Just kidding. Charlotte is fine. And I got not one, but TWO new pics of her along with her beautiful daughter, Gracie. (See the Gallery Pics, too.) It was a good night!
SPECIAL GUEST - Charlotte Guffin
I'm still having a few technical difficulties with the interview process, BUT when I saw Charlotte at the restaurant last night, I was able to get three more answers from her. YES!
3. Name two places in the United States you want to visit, and why?
I want to go to Chicago to visit the Wootens, and I want to go to Wisconsin to visit my sister. (Charlotte, if you make it to Wisconsin, I want a Big Cheese Hat. I'll pay for it, but I want one... really, really badly. And if I find out you went to Wisconsin and didn't buy me a Big Cheese Hat after I featured you as my Special Guest and everything... Well, I might be pouty for a week or so.)
4. What is one thing that instantly puts a smile on your face?
That one is easy. That one over there (she pointed toward her Gracie), and my other three (Abbie, Graham and Zac).
5. What is one surprising thing people do NOT know about you?
WARNING - If you haven't eaten breakfast yet, do not read this answer.
I like to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and order an omelet and turnip greens. (I had breakfast an hour ago, but just typing this is starting to bother me a little.)
Yes, Charlotte is a fascinating guest. And thankfully, her Gracie has agreed to be the "ghost writer" for the remainder of this interview. So tomorrow, we will have more questions, more answers (and if I happen to "bump" into Charlotte again... more pictures)!
TOPIC OF THE WEEK - Answered Prayer
Where did we leave off yesterday? Oh, yes. We had one flying squirrel, a very good interview under our belt.. and Keith's severance pay was about to run out. Great and mighty things were about to happen.
This part of the story is interesting, but it really doesn't have anything to do with the next answered prayer in Kim and Keith's life. They found another flying squirrel. They think there may even be a third. That remains to be seen, and I will let you know if and when the herd of flying squirrels is totally rounded up!
Now, on to the rest of the story. Keith and Adam left last Tuesday morning on an outing. Five minutes (or less) after they left, Kim received a slightly strange phone call from Keith. "Do you mind going to the bedroom and setting the alarm clock for 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning?"
"No. I'll do it now. Why on earth do you need to get up at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning?" she asked. (With all the squirrels flying around their house at night, I imagine they had not been getting a large amount sleep in the nights prior to this request.)
"I just got a call from the temp agency, and they want me to start work... tomorrow morning." Get this. The day before his severance pay was to end. Oh, and get some more. Keith had previously worked at this particular place years earlier, so he was more than a little prepared for this temporary job.
"Unbelievable," I murmured as she finished her story. And then I was ashamed. Why was it unbelievable? God answers prayers ALL the time in ALL kinds of ways. Why had I not just EXPECTED this outcome? It comes down to faith... and remembering... and praying with confidence... and not taking for granted the many, many, many times He has answered my own simple, sometimes childlike, requests with a big, fat "YES!"
I told Kim I hoped they caught flying squirrel number two. And then I hoped they caught flying squirrel number three. Because when there are three little flying squirrels sitting side by side in their comfy little "flying squirrel homes," I want the first one to be named "Manna," the second to be named "From," and the third to be named "Heaven." Get it? Manna From Heaven!
Fine! Rascal it shall remain. But "Rascal From Heaven" doesn't have the same catchy ending I had originally wanted for this story. But I guess it will have to do.
Wednesday Wisdom - This week I thought I would share some quotes on prayer.
"All prayers are answered if we are willing to admit that sometimes the answer is no." Anonymous.
"I have had prayers answered - most strangely so sometimes - but I think our heavenly Father's loving-kindness has been even more evident in what He has refused me." Lewis Carroll. (I love this quote because it shows the parent-child relationship so clearly. Because I love my children, I do not give them everything they request. Due to concern for their well-being and wisdom I've gained from life experiences, I know everything they ask for is not good for them. At 48 years of age, God, MY heavenly Father, knows everything I ask for is NOT what I need even though I may disagree at the time. I think this little bit of wisdom is very eloquently stated.)
"As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools." Anonymous. (And all the students said, "Amen!")
Valentine's Day Cards... Who Will Be Your Special Valentine?
Today I'm going to urge you to take a few minutes to think about your neighbors. Are there any elderly men or women who live alone on your street?
If so, why not spend a little time and a little money on Sunday, February 14, and deliver a homemade or store-bought Valentine's Day Card to those neighbors. A carnation or a small box of candy are inexpensive gifts which can go along with the card and the visit. As always, include your children in the making, shopping and delivery of these cards. They will learn to be compassionate much more effectively by example than by words alone.
Remember, your neighbor was once someone's Valentine, too.
Have a lovely Wednesday. The rain is coming! The rain is coming! Enjoy some sunshine today. Tomorrow I have wonderful Blog Linkage to share with you, and a very fun date. I'll also have more answers to questions answered by Gracie about her Mom! It could be a very interesting day on A Simple Life.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Winter Boredom Busters
Good Wednesday morning!
The Gallery Pic needs a little explaining. During my periodontist visit yesterday morning, I was told I wasn't going to be dismissed for two more weeks. TWO MORE WEEKS before I can go to Stage Three. The little tool shown above looks very "dental" until you add the necessary element... a broken toothpick. That's right. A broken toothpick. And get this... They want you to put the broken toothpick in your mouth and move it back and forth around the crown and surgical area. And you hope your husband or your 16 year-old son do not decide to sneak up behind you and say, Boo!" because it would all be over then! It's very high-tech, isn't it? Two more weeks.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - PANIC ATTACKS - It's "doctor week" around here... for me. Today I go in for bi-yearly stress test because I have a tiny tear in one of my valves I've probably had since birth. You may think this would cause me great stress and worry, but to the contrary. When you suffer from panic attacks which copy heart attack symptoms, you actually look forward to stress tests. I know. It's nuts, but so are panic attacks.
Even though I've decided to write a little about these attacks today in my quest to de-mystify all things labeled "mental illness" or "mental disorder," panic attacks are different. The more you think, talk or write about these attacks, the worse they become. It opens a door most people would like to keep closed.
"Why open the door if it is going to make everything worse?" you ask. Good question. My particular door was open anyway because of the test, so it was a good time to talk about the attacks which have been very prevalent the last two or so weeks.
Again, I want to mention this particular illness in case someone else may be having these attacks, and may be embarrassed or ashamed. And I want people to know there isn't anything to be ashamed of because it isn't anything your body or mind can control. As I've said before about Josh's OCD, it's a chronic illness like any other (asthma, diabetes, etc.) which needs treatment and sometimes medication. I doubt people who have never experienced a panic attack (which can have many different symptoms) can truly understand, but they most certainly can be compassionate, listen if you need to talk, read information about the attacks, etc. Not talking about it and/or pretending it's not a big deal is not helpful AT ALL.
In my particular case, attending my kids' sporting events has an added bonus. There will always be a defibrillator, medical personnel and an ambulance located at the end of the football field. It's the next best thing to being in an Emergency Room.
Also, over a year ago when my grandmother had knee surgery, I was more than willing to take a night shift to sit with her. She had a rough night, and apologized the next morning. It was an unnecessary apology. Having nurses come in every half hour or so to check on her (us), doctors down the hall, monitors in the very room I was staying in... I was very content.
Unlike what many people may think, panic attacks do not always occur in high stress situations. In most cases, they begin during your most relaxed time of the day. It totally catches you off guard. They also occur in locations where you may be your most comfortable such as church, Wal-Mart, home, etc. There is not a lot of rhyme or reason when it comes to panic attacks.
I know I've mentioned it in an earlier post, but I think about it quite often. Several years ago, I overheard a woman who was experiencing extreme grief and depression ask another woman, "Is it okay for a Christian to be depressed?" I'll never forget the woman's answer.
"It's okay to be depressed. It is not okay to STAY depressed. You need to keep praying." Her answer was not unkind. It was just very uninformed.
This woman would not have answered the question in the same way if it had been about diabetes. "It's okay to have diabetes. It's just not okay to have diabetes over a long period of time. You need to keep praying."
I agree we need to pray for healing. I do. But if God decides to answer the request with a "no" or "not now," it is my responsibility to prayerfully seek good doctors, prayerfully consider medications and prayerfully take care of my illness and body.
I am much better than I was December 16, 2006 when I had my first attack. I am much better than I was the year 2007 when I had four tests, each one more extensive than the last, and four Emergency Room visits. But it isn't over yet.
My attacks are accompanied with chest pains, racing heart, sweat, nausea, numbness, extreme weakness and a higher blood pressure reading. If you have panic attacks, your symptoms may be totally different. It is a very personalized illness.
And my panic attacks were triggered by Josh's illness. I suffered my first attack almost a year to the day of his total breakdown with OCD. That also made no sense to me. We had learned so much. We were getting the help he needed. He was starting to show some small improvements. In other words, we were moving forward. According to my doctors, this is not uncommon. Moms do what they have to do when they have a sick child as long as they have to do it. When things started settling into a routine, my panic attacks began.
The ONLY reason I share this with anyone reading today is to try to diminish the stigma. Believe it or not, I used to be a pretty private person. But it's time to talk. It's time to admit we do not have perfect lives, perfect families or perfect bodies.
But we are supposed to encourage each other, pray for each other, lift each other up, and NOT avoid the ugly or uncomfortable or sad situations other people face every day. Because believe it or not, if you live long enough, you will find yourself in an ugly or uncomfortable or sad situation... and you will want someone to reach out to you.
"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." Psalm 10:17. On the sidebar of my Bible next to this verse, it says the following:
"Jesus paints a vivid portrait of how much the poor, needy, afflicted and oppressed are valued by a compassionate God... and how his children are to represent Him on earth in the way they support and defend victimized and lonely people. Unfortunately, we do not always come through for those in need. Our Father has a very tender heart toward those who suffer and cry out to Him." In striving to be more Christ-like, shouldn't we do the same?
Be the person who reaches out to someone in need today. Yes, it takes time. Yes, there is a good chance it will be unpleasant. Yes, it may make you sad for a time. Sorry. We were never promised a perfect, painless life.
Let's make that call or visit TODAY!
Wednesday Wisdom - I have two today. Both of them refer to winter, but one is serious and sweet and the other a little humorous.
"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." Edith Sitwell.
"Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat." Author Unknown.
Winter Boredom Busters
I looked around for some new winter ideas for moms with small kids, and I found a couple of good websites from moms in the know. These ideas are from a website called www.bostonmamas.com.
Play Flour. Sprinkle flour onto a cookie sheet (or use a rimmed baking sheet or large plastic tray to cut down on mess) and let your kids draw or race match box cars in it. When the kids are done, sweep up the flour and put it in a sealable container labeled “Play Flour.” Reuse as necessary. The possibilities are endless and different textured materials (such as cornmeal, oats, etc.) will offer fun fodder for sensory exploration. (I love the term "fun fodder," don't you?)
Wash the Dishes. If you don’t own a dishwasher, your kids may not find this as exciting as mine do. Fill the sink with water and bubbles, give them a washcloth and some plastic stuff to wash, and let them go to town. Give your kids straws to make bubbles with water and dish soap. Remind them not to drink from the sink! (Austin used to wash Josh's bottles for me huge amounts of time. He loved it. When he tired of dishes, we would let the soapy water out, refill the sinks with clean, warm water and a little blue food coloring to make lakes and oceans. He would play with his animals and dinosaurs until his hands were pruny!)
Simulate Summer. Have your kids hop in the bath and break out the summer pool toys. Let them wear a bathing suit to simulate summer (or you could multi-task and give them a bath while they play with beach toys).
Make Indoor Snow People. Buy marshmallows, cake decorating gel tubes, and other little candies. Have your kids use toothpicks to assemble snow people, then decorate using the gel. You can also use the gel to stick on sprinkles or other nonpareils. Toothpicks make good arms and rope licorice makes a great scarf. Display for the day, and eat for dessert later. Or, don’t tell your kids they’re for eating at all, and display until stale.
Make Pomanders. Take Mandarin or Clementine oranges that are getting slightly hard, and stud with whole cloves. Use a toothpick or fork to make starter holes, otherwise the cloves will be hard for little fingers to push. Make patterns, or just randomly insert cloves all over the orange. Display a whole bowl as a centerpiece or place a few here and there to fill your house with a lovely scent.
Of course, I had to go to a Disney website for just one idea.
Make It a Family Night. Turn family night into a movie-themed event night! Depending on the theme you pick (Animal Night, Diva Night, Magic Night, Pirate Night, Princess Night, Super-Hero Night), choose a movie and dinner and/or snacks which go with the theme.
Animal Night - Planet Earth OR Fox and the Hound. Add animal crackers to munch on with popcorn.
Pirate Night - Pirates of the Caribbean OR VeggieTales - Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. For dinner, add jerky to the menu.
The ideas are limitless... and fun!
I'll have another blog listed tomorrow under Blog Linkage with even more Boredom Busters, so check back for easy, fun ideas.
Have a fun Wednesday. I'm pretty sure my Wednesday will improve as the day progresses. (How's that for a "glass half-full" attitude?) Tomorrow I will have two or three things for you to read under Blog Linkage, and I'll tell you about a fun date Mikie and I had Sunday afternoon (in GREAT length and detail). I bet you can't wait, can you?
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
The Gallery Pic needs a little explaining. During my periodontist visit yesterday morning, I was told I wasn't going to be dismissed for two more weeks. TWO MORE WEEKS before I can go to Stage Three. The little tool shown above looks very "dental" until you add the necessary element... a broken toothpick. That's right. A broken toothpick. And get this... They want you to put the broken toothpick in your mouth and move it back and forth around the crown and surgical area. And you hope your husband or your 16 year-old son do not decide to sneak up behind you and say, Boo!" because it would all be over then! It's very high-tech, isn't it? Two more weeks.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - PANIC ATTACKS - It's "doctor week" around here... for me. Today I go in for bi-yearly stress test because I have a tiny tear in one of my valves I've probably had since birth. You may think this would cause me great stress and worry, but to the contrary. When you suffer from panic attacks which copy heart attack symptoms, you actually look forward to stress tests. I know. It's nuts, but so are panic attacks.
Even though I've decided to write a little about these attacks today in my quest to de-mystify all things labeled "mental illness" or "mental disorder," panic attacks are different. The more you think, talk or write about these attacks, the worse they become. It opens a door most people would like to keep closed.
"Why open the door if it is going to make everything worse?" you ask. Good question. My particular door was open anyway because of the test, so it was a good time to talk about the attacks which have been very prevalent the last two or so weeks.
Again, I want to mention this particular illness in case someone else may be having these attacks, and may be embarrassed or ashamed. And I want people to know there isn't anything to be ashamed of because it isn't anything your body or mind can control. As I've said before about Josh's OCD, it's a chronic illness like any other (asthma, diabetes, etc.) which needs treatment and sometimes medication. I doubt people who have never experienced a panic attack (which can have many different symptoms) can truly understand, but they most certainly can be compassionate, listen if you need to talk, read information about the attacks, etc. Not talking about it and/or pretending it's not a big deal is not helpful AT ALL.
In my particular case, attending my kids' sporting events has an added bonus. There will always be a defibrillator, medical personnel and an ambulance located at the end of the football field. It's the next best thing to being in an Emergency Room.
Also, over a year ago when my grandmother had knee surgery, I was more than willing to take a night shift to sit with her. She had a rough night, and apologized the next morning. It was an unnecessary apology. Having nurses come in every half hour or so to check on her (us), doctors down the hall, monitors in the very room I was staying in... I was very content.
Unlike what many people may think, panic attacks do not always occur in high stress situations. In most cases, they begin during your most relaxed time of the day. It totally catches you off guard. They also occur in locations where you may be your most comfortable such as church, Wal-Mart, home, etc. There is not a lot of rhyme or reason when it comes to panic attacks.
I know I've mentioned it in an earlier post, but I think about it quite often. Several years ago, I overheard a woman who was experiencing extreme grief and depression ask another woman, "Is it okay for a Christian to be depressed?" I'll never forget the woman's answer.
"It's okay to be depressed. It is not okay to STAY depressed. You need to keep praying." Her answer was not unkind. It was just very uninformed.
This woman would not have answered the question in the same way if it had been about diabetes. "It's okay to have diabetes. It's just not okay to have diabetes over a long period of time. You need to keep praying."
I agree we need to pray for healing. I do. But if God decides to answer the request with a "no" or "not now," it is my responsibility to prayerfully seek good doctors, prayerfully consider medications and prayerfully take care of my illness and body.
I am much better than I was December 16, 2006 when I had my first attack. I am much better than I was the year 2007 when I had four tests, each one more extensive than the last, and four Emergency Room visits. But it isn't over yet.
My attacks are accompanied with chest pains, racing heart, sweat, nausea, numbness, extreme weakness and a higher blood pressure reading. If you have panic attacks, your symptoms may be totally different. It is a very personalized illness.
And my panic attacks were triggered by Josh's illness. I suffered my first attack almost a year to the day of his total breakdown with OCD. That also made no sense to me. We had learned so much. We were getting the help he needed. He was starting to show some small improvements. In other words, we were moving forward. According to my doctors, this is not uncommon. Moms do what they have to do when they have a sick child as long as they have to do it. When things started settling into a routine, my panic attacks began.
The ONLY reason I share this with anyone reading today is to try to diminish the stigma. Believe it or not, I used to be a pretty private person. But it's time to talk. It's time to admit we do not have perfect lives, perfect families or perfect bodies.
But we are supposed to encourage each other, pray for each other, lift each other up, and NOT avoid the ugly or uncomfortable or sad situations other people face every day. Because believe it or not, if you live long enough, you will find yourself in an ugly or uncomfortable or sad situation... and you will want someone to reach out to you.
"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." Psalm 10:17. On the sidebar of my Bible next to this verse, it says the following:
"Jesus paints a vivid portrait of how much the poor, needy, afflicted and oppressed are valued by a compassionate God... and how his children are to represent Him on earth in the way they support and defend victimized and lonely people. Unfortunately, we do not always come through for those in need. Our Father has a very tender heart toward those who suffer and cry out to Him." In striving to be more Christ-like, shouldn't we do the same?
Be the person who reaches out to someone in need today. Yes, it takes time. Yes, there is a good chance it will be unpleasant. Yes, it may make you sad for a time. Sorry. We were never promised a perfect, painless life.
Let's make that call or visit TODAY!
Wednesday Wisdom - I have two today. Both of them refer to winter, but one is serious and sweet and the other a little humorous.
"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." Edith Sitwell.
"Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat." Author Unknown.
Winter Boredom Busters
I looked around for some new winter ideas for moms with small kids, and I found a couple of good websites from moms in the know. These ideas are from a website called www.bostonmamas.com.
Play Flour. Sprinkle flour onto a cookie sheet (or use a rimmed baking sheet or large plastic tray to cut down on mess) and let your kids draw or race match box cars in it. When the kids are done, sweep up the flour and put it in a sealable container labeled “Play Flour.” Reuse as necessary. The possibilities are endless and different textured materials (such as cornmeal, oats, etc.) will offer fun fodder for sensory exploration. (I love the term "fun fodder," don't you?)
Wash the Dishes. If you don’t own a dishwasher, your kids may not find this as exciting as mine do. Fill the sink with water and bubbles, give them a washcloth and some plastic stuff to wash, and let them go to town. Give your kids straws to make bubbles with water and dish soap. Remind them not to drink from the sink! (Austin used to wash Josh's bottles for me huge amounts of time. He loved it. When he tired of dishes, we would let the soapy water out, refill the sinks with clean, warm water and a little blue food coloring to make lakes and oceans. He would play with his animals and dinosaurs until his hands were pruny!)
Simulate Summer. Have your kids hop in the bath and break out the summer pool toys. Let them wear a bathing suit to simulate summer (or you could multi-task and give them a bath while they play with beach toys).
Make Indoor Snow People. Buy marshmallows, cake decorating gel tubes, and other little candies. Have your kids use toothpicks to assemble snow people, then decorate using the gel. You can also use the gel to stick on sprinkles or other nonpareils. Toothpicks make good arms and rope licorice makes a great scarf. Display for the day, and eat for dessert later. Or, don’t tell your kids they’re for eating at all, and display until stale.
Make Pomanders. Take Mandarin or Clementine oranges that are getting slightly hard, and stud with whole cloves. Use a toothpick or fork to make starter holes, otherwise the cloves will be hard for little fingers to push. Make patterns, or just randomly insert cloves all over the orange. Display a whole bowl as a centerpiece or place a few here and there to fill your house with a lovely scent.
Of course, I had to go to a Disney website for just one idea.
Make It a Family Night. Turn family night into a movie-themed event night! Depending on the theme you pick (Animal Night, Diva Night, Magic Night, Pirate Night, Princess Night, Super-Hero Night), choose a movie and dinner and/or snacks which go with the theme.
Animal Night - Planet Earth OR Fox and the Hound. Add animal crackers to munch on with popcorn.
Pirate Night - Pirates of the Caribbean OR VeggieTales - Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. For dinner, add jerky to the menu.
The ideas are limitless... and fun!
I'll have another blog listed tomorrow under Blog Linkage with even more Boredom Busters, so check back for easy, fun ideas.
Have a fun Wednesday. I'm pretty sure my Wednesday will improve as the day progresses. (How's that for a "glass half-full" attitude?) Tomorrow I will have two or three things for you to read under Blog Linkage, and I'll tell you about a fun date Mikie and I had Sunday afternoon (in GREAT length and detail). I bet you can't wait, can you?
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
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Friday...
Finally, some new basketball action shots.
The JV team had two 40-minute games Friday, so I thought I would just go ahead and start filming now!
And here's the obligatory Bryant Tuggle pic. He's a HUGE supporter of our baskeball team. Always has been... always will be. Well, until he gets his own driver's license!
Saturday...
We spent the day with the cousins Saturday. Monica, Amy, Roxie and I shopped at Brookwood, ate at Yolo's and went to the movies (Pirates 4). It was a great day, but the best part was our celebrity sighting...
That's right! Will Ferrell! (Please feel free to use your imagination. I know we did!)
Sunday...
Mikie's 50th Family Birthday Celebration! Everyone knows 50 year-old men LOVE the Green Lantern...and their wives really like Ryan Reynolds! (How cool would it be to have your picture on a birthday party plate package? Another goal, perhaps?)
What do you give a 50 year-old guys for his birthday? Cards... filled with money, Ricky Skaggs' concert tickets, a True Grit DVD and a Red Devil's Food Cake with Divinity Icing (from his Mom). It was a very good day!
Lovely Melia gave him the True Grit DVD. (I LOVE that movie!)
And it wouldn't be a birthday without a hug from Roxie!