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 |  Fibro fog, pain, writing sandwiched in between. Quotes. Sermon notes. Encouragement. |
A Texas Sunrise  A friend, William Taylor, took this picture. He visits Surfside Beach with his dogs almost every morning, watching the sun rise while the dogs prance about at the water's edge. This is only about ten miles from where I lived in Lake Jackson, Texas. Sadly, I only visited this beach about four times in the six years I lived nearby. Each day is a challenge. A challenge to get by without thinking about the fibromyalgia pains. A challenge to stay awake when chronic fatigure wants to take over. And a challenge to navigate through fibro fog. I haven't been writing as much as in the past. For years, I wrote at least 500 words a day. Now, I'm lucky if I write 500 words in month. Sigh. For more information about what my day (or life) is all about with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic pains, IBS, depression and everything else thrown in, check this out:
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| Well, of course it is. Yes, it hurt to get out of bed this morning. And it will hurt to get back into bed tonight. And in between, there will be more hurting times. But I'm alive. And I am blessed with being able to sit at my computer and write a few words. I can watch out the window and see things gradually changing. (I would wish for faster season changes, but...) I have two cats that depend on me. And I think each one loves me, in its own way. Of course, being cats, they might not admit to that.  Yes indeedy, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Well, maybe not for someone. As I was riding down the street to pick up my son from work, I noticed some folks in front of a store gathered around and pointing and shouting. From where I was, I couldn't tell if they were shouting at each other or about someone else. Then, a car sped up behind me, went around me, then decided to make a right turn from the left lane. Curious. Farther down the road, there were four police cars racing in the direction of where I had been. They had lights flashing, but no sirens on. Real curious. I don't think I've ever seen that many cop cars in our area before. Except at parades and community good time events.  I picked up my son at Target, and on the way back, we noticed a bunch of flashing lights ahead. I told him what had happened on the way to get him. As we passed the police cars, we noticed that two more had joined in on the....chase? It must have been because it appeared that they had cut a car off. Very, very curious. Then I realized why my mom always loved having a police scanner tuned to local police and fire stations. There are some flashing light events that you can pass and never know what happened. They just don't always make the newspaper or the nightly news. (And we only get the newspaper on the weekend anyway.) Poor Mom. Some might think she had a fascination with police and fire calls and the tragedies of others. She loved listening to the police scanner. When I was a kid (and later as a teen and young adult) my mom loved chasing fire trucks to see what was happening. As a kid, I thought it was fun. If the fire engines roared past our house, we would get on our roller skates or hop on our bikes to follow my mom to the fire. We never saw any major fires. Just backyard burning piles that got a bit out of control. Or kitchen fires that damaged just one room. Then one day, when I was working and in college at nights, we heard sirens. By then, Mom had her scanner and when we heard where the fire was - near where we shopped for groceries - we hopped in the car to go and see what we could see. We parked the car, then walked to within a block of the fire, but on the opposite side of the street. This fire was a bit more serious. It had spread to most of the stores in a strip mall. The roof caved in, and two fire fighters fell through. The gathered crowd cheered when they exited the building, knowing that they were safe. At the end of this strip mall was a gas station, and it was then that I realized this could really be a serious fire (and explosion) if the fire traveled a bit more. We left, and Mom was forced to listen on the scanner. I'm not sure we did much fire gazing after that. I know I didn't. How did my mom become so fascinated with fire? Actually, she feared fire. When we went to restaurants or movies, she always looked for all the exits. If there were not lots of exits, we would have to leave and go somewhere else. You wonder why? When my mom was about three years old, the lumber yard right next to their house burned to the ground. My grandparents had six kids and they got them all outside. Then my grandfather and the other men in the neighborhood started using their garden hoses to squirt down their houses and roofs so they wouldn't catch fire. My mom snuck back into the house and alternated between hiding under the bed and watching from the upstairs window. The fire scared that three year old child horribly. And, it's a wonder that her fears didn't get embedded into each of us. Still, I was curious about what happened down the street a ways. But not curious enough to want to get a police/fire scanner. Since that day that we feared that the gas station might catch fire, there have been two fires that I saw that I'll always remember. The first was in Michigan. My first husband and I lived in a fancy mobile home park. He wanted new stuff and all the things that his parents had right off the bat in our marriage. And the easiest way to appear to have those things was to buy a new mobile home. The first weekend that we were in our home, there was a fire. Just like folks often say, that mobile home was completely destroyed in less than three minutes. Not long after that, we had a bunch of fire and smoke detectors installed in our home. There weren't a bunch of the cheap ones that you can find today. No sireee. It cost us over $300 for those smoke and fire detectors. But we felt just a bit safer with them. Then just a few years ago, when my son and I lived in Texas, the hardware store and lumber yard just a few blocks from our house burned down. I think I finally understood my mom's fear and fascination. It was probably 10 pm, maybe a bit later, when we heard explosions, one after another. From inside, they sort of sounded like gun shots, but a bit stronger. I went out on the porch to see what I could see and discovered lots of neighbors rushing down the sidewalk. The stench of fire and smoke was in the air. I heard the crackling. I was just as curious as my neighbors, so my son and I joined them all to go and see what we could see. What a mess. The hardware store had lots of paints and other chemicals in it, and that's what we heard exploding. The spray paint cans had actually flown across the street and embedded themselves in the sidewalk. The mixture of burning chemicals soon had us all turning back to the safety of our homes. Even indoors one could smell the horrible smells. Once the fire fighters had the hardware store part of the fire under control, they just stayed around to make sure that things didn't get out of hand. The lumber yard part of the fire just burned until there was no more fuel for the fire. How sad for the owners. Strange, how the mind works. All of this came from just seeing a few cop cars with flashing lights. |
| Vincent van Gogh said, "The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." He had a point, don't you think? I found a few other quotations tucked away in my files today. I really like quotations - from famous or not-so-famous people. They are snippets of wisdom. How about... "Take care that old age does not wrinkle your spirit even more than your face." Michel de Montaigne  Something to ponder... Theologian Fredrick Buechner said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." "Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance." John Petit-Senn "Reflect upon your blessings, of which every man has plenty, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." Charles Dickens Sure, sure. Our world is a rather crappy place. But there are pockets of joy out there. You just have to find them and scoop them up and take them home with you. Once there, though, you'd better share them! Didn't someone say that it's not really joy until it's shared??? Now...these statistics are not shared to make you feel that you might have set you sails for the wrong course (writing - especially writing and publishing a novel). No sirreeeeebob. These stats are just a reminder that the number one reason we should be writing is that we feel called to do so. And the number two reason should be to share words that we can no longer keep inside. Anyway, here are some statistics. They're old - from 2004 - from Publisher's Weekly. I couldn't find any more recent ones.  950,000 titles out of 1.2 million tracked by Nielsen Bookscan sold fewer than 99 copies200,000 sold fewer than 1,000 copies25,000 sold more than 5,000 copiesThe average book in America sells about 500 copiesOnly 10 books sold more than a million copies Fewer than 500 sold more than 100,000Nearly 200,000 new titles are published each yearThe number of books published per year is probably much more than this number now, since there are so many more companies and methods of publishing. Like I said, these stats are not shared to make anyone discouraged about writing. They are eye-opening, though, aren't they? And they should remind us that we write because we have a passion to do so and because there are words just screaming to get out. Remember that Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest I mentioned a few days ago? http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/wergle/we_guidelines.php I decided to write something for the contest. As you'll recall, you have to enter the poem at one of those vanity poetry sites and have it accepted before submitting to the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. I did that, and sure enough my poem was accepted. (I knew it would be! ) So, I promptly sent it off to good ol' Wergle Flomp. Here's what I wrote: A Dead Poem Comes Back to Life By Marilyn Mackenzie A glob of goo splattered to the ground. I picked it up and tossed it into the fish tank. I sprinkled fish food over it. I thought it might be a dead fish. It was not. That glob of goo had to belong somewhere. I picked it up and buried it in the backyard. I used plant food and watered it. I thought it might be a dead plant. It was not. That glob of goo really had me confused. I picked it up and put it in a tree in my yard. I put twigs and feathers beside it. I thought it might be a dead bird. It was not. Turns out that glob of goo was really a dead poem. I brought it to life again; changed its name, Rearranged some words. Until it was as good as new again. No longer just a glob of goo splattered here and there. Now it is splattered instead All over the Internet For all to see. And I am proud. Purrrrty bad, huh? Oh yeah. I posted two things today. One I put in my "Old Notebook Pages"  . The other is here:
Later gators.  |
| Every once in a while, I go to this web site to see if my favorite pin is still available. One day, I'm going to buy it for myself. It's the one about the Proverbs 31 woman. http://scripturewear.com/onlinestore.html I was conducting a Bible study one time and the Proverbs 31 woman was part of the study. I think the study was Becoming a Woman of Excellence by Cynthia Held. Have you ever seen/done any of her studies? I love them. As we read about the Proverbs 31 woman, so many of the women in the class said that they just could not be like that woman. I told them - if they were totally responsible for the household, including the cleaning, laundry, shopping, plus responsible for feeding her family, and all of the other things that women tend to (besides holding down full time jobs) that they were probably closer than they thought. I also shared a favorite paraphrase by Beverly LaHaye. It can be found in the book Spirit Controlled Family Living by Tim and Bev LaHaye. In the paraphrase, LaHaye says: 31:14 She shops wisely at the local supermarket and fresh-vegetable stands for the best buys in foods and provides well-balanced nutritious meals that are attractively servced. 31:15 She rises early in the morning and serves a good breakfast to her husband and children before driving her children to school and starting her day's schedule. 31:16 She holds home Tupperware parties. From the money she earns, she pays her children's tuition for a Christian education. 31:17 She goes to the local health club and exercises her body to keep physically fit and strong. Don't you just love the part about Tupperware parties? I do. These words and phrases that we understand. In fact, LaHaye calls this The Twentieth-Century Woman of Proverbs. Anyway, I just love the pin that depicts the Proverbs 31 woman. There are new pins too, since the last time I visited the site above. Like the one about being a New Creation. I don't get any kick backs for mentioning this site. I just like it. I think the women who make the pins are stay at home moms. ******* I know I have mentioned taking sermon notes before, but I'm not sure if I mentioned that our pastor provides fill-in-the-blank pages to take notes. I dutifully fill them in like everyone else. But I make lots and lots of scribbles in the margins. I think some of the pastor's best words are those ones I've put in the margins. Maybe because they're not rehearsed, but, more likely, the Spirit giving him some words to share as he goes along. I never did like coloring in the lines, you know? The sermon yesterday morning and the study last night were about hurting and healing and forgiveness. Big topic(s). Here are some of my margin notes: Want to get well? Want to get even? You can't do both. Resentment and bitterness hurt you and everyone around you. What you resist the most is what you become. Your focus is what you teach and what you learn and what you live. Focus on peace and joy and become peaceful and full of joy. Negative and faulty data (that we receive from others and ourselves) never disappears. Your self-esteem is defined by what the most important person in your life thinks about you. Make sure that most important person is God...then yourself. What others think should not overshadow what God thinks of you. And God perceives you as clean. (Jesus saw to that!) God never wastes a hurt. The main points of our pastor's sermon were: Prescription for Healing: 1) Reveal my hurt. Learn to be honest with yourself, with God and with someone you trust. 2) Release those who have hurt me. Why forgive? Because I need forgiveness - today, tomorrow and to get better. If I need forgiveness, so do those who have hurt me. 3) Replace old tapes with God's Truths. Romans 12:2 (NLT) "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Ephesians 1:4 (TLB) "God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes without a single fault -- we who stand before him covered with his love." 4) Refocus on the future. Job 11:13-26 NIV "Yet if you devote your heart to Him and stretch out your hands to Him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters going by." I think this explains why one of my sisters calls me Pollyanna. She's always surprised at the hurts I seem to have forgotten. Our pastor shared that these verses say it's not only okay but important that we forget the hurts done to us - UNTIL WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW COMPASSION TO OTHERS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN THERE/DONE THAT. And then, we will only remember them as passing hurts. "recalling it only as waters gone by." Now I know why I'm made this way! II Corinthians 1:4 (NCV) "He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us." Yes, indeed, it all makes sense now. |
| I just want to rant a minute about shoes. Huarache sandals, to be exact. I have rather ugly toes and when I lived in warm climate and everyone was showing their tootsies, I had to find shoes or sandals that would be cool while not focusing on my ugly toes. I have a few pairs of...what do they call them?...maybe fishermen sandals? They cover the big toes. Then one day back in about...oh, maybe 1990, I discovered what Payless Shoe Store called huarache sandals. They were fantastic. Just what I needed to keep my feel cool and my toes covered. The first pair I bought was on sale for 5 bucks. Couldn't beat that. Cheap shoes don't last a long time. So? I purchased the same pair of sandals once a year from 1990 to 2003 when I moved to Michigan. Those sandals I bought in 2003 are rather shabby by now. I only wear them around the house as comfy slippers. Anyway, I decided to see if the Payless site still showed these sandals, and sadly, they do not. When I Googled "huarache sandals" and came across a picture that was probably what the real huaraches looked like back when that song was on the radio. You know the one? Was it the Beach Boys? I forget and the only words that pop into my head are, "huarache sandals too..." Back when I was listing to that song 1) I had no idea what the words were saying and 2) even if I had known, I didn't have a clue what those sandals were. They were rather ugly, I suppose, not at all like my huarache sandals from Payless. Continuing on in my huarache search I discovered that everyone is calling their shoes by this name. Really. There are 3 inch heels with this name. And there are Nike tennies with this name. What's up with that? |
Here's an interesting poetry contest. No, TexansBeatTheMiamiDolphinsBy3   there is no entry fee. Actually, if you're a serious poet, this might not interest you. Except that the prize money is pretty good. It's called the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest so you know it can't be very serious. It could be fun, though. You have to make a not so good poem and send it to one of those....rip-off poetry sites. You know the ones that accept everyone's poetry then want you to pay for chapbooks and such. Anyway, you have to submit to one of those and be accepted. (I think everyone is!) Then you have to enter that poem at the Wergle Flomp contest. By April 1 - so you have to hurry. The prizes are: 1st place $1,359, 2nd $764, 3rd $338, 12 honorable mentions of $72.95 - plus everyone gets published on winningwriters.com. Here's the URL for guidelines: http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/wergle/we_guidelines.php Go on y'all. You know you want to enter. Make us proud. |
| Well, not really. I just hate having the same blog titles over and over again. Wanted something different and something that would get your attention. Did it work? Great news! Angela's Niece needs Praye is back from the hospital. She's already been online today. Said she actually flatlined twice in the hospital. I told her that God must still have some jobs for her. Mosey on over to her port and tell her howdy, won't you?Don't you just love my word choices today? Sludge. Mosey. Wonder what else will sneak out, going from brain to fingers to page. Guess we'll see. Strange weather again. Weather folks said that we would have - maybe - some snow flurries today on and off. Well...we have had some snow flurries on and off, that's true. But we have also had a few short snow blizzards. At least that's what I'd call them. You know, when the snow is coming so fast and furiously that you can't see but a few feet in front of you? That kind. Fortunately, it's too warm for it to start piling up. And it hasn't lasted long. ********* How about a few cat/kitty stories? Opera still isn't gaining weight. I probably already shared this, but the vet said the next tests would have to be for her thyroid. Yippe skippy. I surely hope we haven't gotten ourselves a cat that will need constant meds. Hubby and I have enough trouble keeping up with our medical stuff. Anyway, she's cute, but she's one wild kitty. She runs all over the house, plays constantly. Sneaks up on the table or one of our desks and knocks pens and pencils on the floor so she can play with them. Yesterday she really had me going. I don't get angry very easy, but... I had a pile of newspapers by the door waiting to out to the recycle bin outside. She decided that looked too inviting to pass up, so while I was making a pit stop, she scattered them all over the place near the front door. I piled them up again, and of course that made her even more determined to play with them. It became our game of the day. She tried to scatter newspapers while watching me, then when I reached for the water sqirt bottle that I use for training purposes, she scurried out of range. Then when I was occupied with something, she'd start all over again. Last night when hubby came home, he took that temptation to the recycle bin. Today, Opera decided that a box in my closet looked rather inviting. So she proceeded to start emptying it a bit. Soon she had "important papers" on the closet floor - a car title, financial records, those kinds of important papers. She lay in the box looking up at us so innocently. I did take a picture of her there before I chased her out of the box and put the papers back in the box. Gee whiz. Both cats have been having fun with a regular paper grocery bag this afternoon. We got it at a church rummage sale. This was the second day of the sale and it only cost $3 for anything and everything you could shove into a bag. That was fun. We got some things for Tiff (she's here for the weekend), some for me and some for hubby. Plus we all got a couple of old record albumns. That was fun. The cats got the empty paper bag and they're just loving it. ********* My mom's birthday is Monday. She'll be 78. I sent her a card, but I doubt she'll remember that or even that it's her birthday. Then again, if she does remember that I wonder if she'll remember that exactly 7 days later was Mom and Dad's anniversary. I guess they waited until she turned 21 to get married. That was a tradition in my family - Mom's side - for years. All of cousins got married at 21. I did too. I think maybe the next 2 younger cousins did too. Then the tradition stopped. My brother was quite a bit older than that when he married, and my baby sister was still a teen. So much for tradition.********** Hubby and I are finally - really - going to Texas to get the rest of my stuff out of storage. We'll probably early Monday, March 19. He has to be back at work the next week, so we won't be doing much site seeing on the way down or back. Every solution we considered was costly. We thought about flying down and driving a moving truck. Both of those cost way too much when it's just one way. We've decided to just drive down. Who knows what shape my "stuff" (and my son's) is in since it's been in storage since...June, 2003!. Lake Jackson, TX doesn't usually flood, but it did either last year or the year before. And just being Texas, I'm sure the boxes are full of roaches now, since they've been ignored for almost 4 years. There may not be anyting of value left. If there is, we're going to ship some back and load up the car with some. Maybe get one of those roof-top carriers if we need it. Sorting through the stuff will probably take us 2 days. Then we have to drive on back. We'll probably be staying at my sister's house while we're there. She very kindly offered it, even if she's out of town. That will, at least, save a few nights of motel costs. ********** Hey, I heard that our buddy, Budroe turned yellow. I guess I'll mosey (there goes that word again) over to his port to see how he looks in yellow.Oh yeah, did I tell you? I got 100% on his music trivia quiz. I think it was about my 4th try, though. Later gators. |
| I'm hoping she made it home, but her niece said it would be with a nurse in attendance. Did you see those storms and tornadoes yesterday? Here we had some rain and thunder, but nothing like that. The temperature got warm today, but with the wind (which threw our porch chairs onto the lawn), it didn't feel that way. Now they say snow is coming. Awwwwwww. Come on. |
| Do you ever find yourself on a web page but have no idea how you got there? Or why you ended up there? That's what happened to me yesterday. For some reason, I ended up on a page about the Ethic of Reciprocity. Dictionary.com defines reciprocity as: 1. a reciprocal state or relation. 2. reciprocation; mutual exchange. Perhaps I wandered upon these sites because there was a person (a young man, I think) who showed up here in the past week and who decided, yesterday, to post some rather racist stories and poems, plus comments in forums. He was also rude (vulgar) to TexansBeatTheMiamiDolphinsBy3 . I believe he must have caused pain to others as well and it appears that the higher ups have taken care of the problem now.Anyway, I found myself on a few sites about this topic. Perhaps I've always known this, but one site reminded me that there are at least 21 different religions and cults that have in their "rules" something similar to the Christian's Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (See Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31.) Even famous philosophers were all for this type of ethical behavior. Plato: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me." Socrates: "Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you." I guess what surprised me most is that one fellow (and I lost his web site - naturally) has decided that he is going to start peacefully picketing in front of churches during worship services. Why? He says that since we're supposed to do to others what we want done to ourselves, that we must want others to picket since Christians picket in front of abortion clinics. He's decided that he will boycott Christian businesses because Christians boycott businesses that do not meet their standards. He wants to do to us what we have done to him or others he has known. He has not just singled out Christians, though. He also commented about the actions of persons in the Islamic and Jewish faiths, as well as those who did not condemn violent acts by these faiths. (He did not, thankfully, say he was going to do harm to these persons or to Christians who have hurt people at abortion clinics.) As I thought about his comments, I also visited a site about religious tolerance. The author of this site pointed out that although most faiths have similar beliefs about behaving kindly toward other humans, they don't actually practice it except amongst persons of their own faith. From that site: "Only when religions stres that their membership used their Ethic of Reciprocity when dealing with all persons, not just their fellow belivers, will religiously-related oppression, mass murder and genocide cease." Personally, I always thought that the "Golden Rule" and Jesus' answer to what were the greatest commands (loving God and loving our neighbor) were supposed to go hand in hand. When we're talking about loving our neighbor, I don't think we're talking merely about tolerating him. We're talking about respecting him and holding him in high regard. I heard a preacher once who said, "The easiest way to evangelize is to love them into the Kingdom." I wonder if we can do that by picketing or boycotting. I certainly don't have the answer to that. But I know One who does. Perhaps it's time that we ask. Here are a few of the sites I visited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethic_of_Reciprocity http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm This one lists Bible verses about serving others, helping others, honoring others, judging/not judging, saluting, forgiving, teaching, etc. http://addiesramblings.com/2006/11/28/do-unto-others/ ********* I found some more writings scribbled in notebook pages today.
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| Thanks to everyone who has been praying for Angela's Niece needs Praye . Hubby talked to her niece a while ago. Angela is doing well enough now that they're taking her out of ICU. They're even talking about maybe sending her home soon, but with a nurse. Yippee! God is good. |
| That title will only make sense if you read Wednesday's entry - the first one - and chances are that you have not. Last night about 6:30ish, I was having the typical fibro/chronic fatigue meltdown. Hubby was also getting ready to crash for a while and he told me he liked my blog entry. I asked him which one. "Today's entry about the tower," he said. I informed him that I had two entries for the day and he said he'd look at the other one later. I really did sleep soundly. I remember his beeper going off, but I couldn't tell you what time that was. (He said he got about an hour nap.) Then at just past midnight he crawled into bed and I asked, "Whacha been doing?" It turns out that he turned on the bedroom light and hooked up his laptop to try to fix a work gliche from the house. When that wouldn't work, he got dressed and went into work. When he got back, he then got ready for bed and I woke up, not because anything he did woke me, but because I needed a pit stop. It worries me sometimes that I can and do sleep that soundly. I'm awake now, so here I am. ********* Now, about that Thursday's child title above... When I logged on, I discovered that folks had commented about the Bok Tower entry but not about the first one of the day. I wondered why that was. Well, while I was working on that entry yesterday, I put it on "Keep private" and never changed it. DUH!!! So...if you wouldn't mind, would you please go back and read yesterday's chit-chat? Yes, right now. I'll wait. Tapping foot... Done? Okay, on with Thursday! ********* Yesterday, one of our writers sent me a nice review on my piece about Mr. Rogers. If you have never read it, it's right here: "My Favorite Neighbor" She said that she had heard that Mr. Rogers was in the service and killed a bunch of people and that's why he ended up being so peaceful. Well, I had never heard that story about Mr. Rogers, so I went searching. It was an urban legend, of course. Here's some of what I found on urbanlegends.com, plus the link: "Fred Rogers won our hearts, true enough; but the rest of the story is hogwash. After graduating from Rollins College in Florida with a degree in music in 1951, he immediately embarked on a broadcasting career -- a career that continued uninterrupted for nearly 50 years, even while he studied for a Bachelor of Divinity degree, eventually becoming an ordained minister in 1962. Far from hiding a secret past as a trained killer, Fred Rogers was an exemplary individual who devoted his entire adult life to educating and bettering the lives of children, and as such he deserves to be remembered." http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-mr-rogers.htm I also found an article by someone who grew up as a real neighbor of Fred Rogers and went to church with him. http://www.time.com/time/sampler/article/0,8599,88632,00.html And this from someone who interviewed Mr. Rogers: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/165/story_16581.html I believe it was at this time of year four years ago that Mr. Rogers died. ************ When I woke up after my 5 1/2 hour nap, for some strange reason, a line we used in my childhood kept running through my mind. "It's all Dutch to me." I guess we said that because there were Pennsylvania Dutch all around? But what possessed us to tell babies, "You're Dutch" as we interacted with them. Strange. As they gooed and cooed, that was our response to them. You know how the mind works. Thinking about those two phrases also made me remember an elementary teacher who always said, "It's all hieroglyphics to me."Of course, "normal" folks say, "It's all Greek to me." Right? Am I right? Hello? Are you out there????? Guess not. I think everyone's sleeping. |
| Isn't it funny...how inspiration comes to us? As I gazed at the pictures below of Bok Tower and Bok Tower Gardens, I remembered how inspiring it was to just sit amongst the plants and flowers. Hearing the carillon bells, especially during the afternoon recitals (rather than the taped music that played at the hour and half-hour), and watching God's creatures play, helped me put pen to page. Just viewing these pictures brought back those times to me and it was as if I was sitting in the gardens again. My mind scribbled these lines as I felt the quiet...
********** Sometime soon, I need to make a list of all the places I have lived and try to find pictures of each of the communities and anything that makes them special. Here's the beginning of that. From about mid-1993 to the end of 1997, my son, his dad and I lived in Lake Wales, Florida. Lake Wales is in Polk County, in Central Florida. Just a few miles from us was Bok Tower Gardens, sitting atop "The Ridge" - the highest place in Florida. Bok Tower Gardens is a beautiful place. It's only about 45 minutes from Disney World and well worth the side trip for anyone visiting Central Florida. I used to take Derek to the gardens to study and to do tests. (Home schooling, remember?) When we first moved to the area, the squirrels used to come running for food. They sold peanuts to feed them. Then, someone got bitten by the squirrels and they had to ask visitors not to feed them. It only took the squirrels a short time to realize that tourists and visitors were no longer feeding them. Then they acted more like "normal" squirrels and avoided the human population.      Bok Tower is a carillon tower, dedicated in 1929. Visiting this web site will give you some history of the tower and gardens: http://www.boksanctuary.org/ For years, visitors to the tower and gardens could tour the inside of the tower. Sadly, people began trying to steal parts of it and those public tours had to cease. Since I worked in the gift shop, my son, my ex and I were able to take a tour. Inside and out, it is quite beautiful. The front door - brass, I believe - has the Creation story etched upon it. On the side of the tower is a sundial. The carillon consists of 60 bells ranging in weight from 16 pounds to nearly 12 tons. There are regular carillon concerts daily at 1 and 3 p.m, and clock music selections beginning at 9 a.m. and every half-hour following. Special concerts take place throughout the year. Weddings and other celebrations are beatiful events at Bok Tower. Sounds like they're paying me to promote it, doesn't it? Naaahh. I just loved the place.   |
| Okay, so the quote from the nursery rhyme has absolutely nothing to do with today, except that it's Wednesday. I just wanted a different title today and that's what came to mind. But...as someone with too much time on her hands (sometimes) I Googled that line so I could read the whole poem and decided I don't like it. The first site I clicked, though, to get the whole rhyme has a doo-daddy at the bottom where you can enter your birthdate or any other date and find out way day of the week it was. http://www.bethanyroberts.com/MondaysChildIsFairofFace.htm I know what day of the week it was when I was born. It was Sunday, Easter Sunday actually. The way the date of Easter changes, I've only had Easter on my birthday a few times since. Anyway... Angela's Niece needs Praye and her family still need our prayers. I called her niece yesterday afternoon and found out that Angela was off the respirator. But her blood pressure and pulse are not good.When I read the Contest/Activities newsletter today, there was a link to this:
What a fun quiz. It showcases the quotes from WDC members, from their bios and from stories/poems they have written. What a great idea! I recommend that you take the quiz, then when you review you can send a quote and link to something in your port to be added to the quiz. Speaking of fun quizzes...I hope you've taken Budroe 's quiz.
Since I'm promoting items, maybe I should mention something of my own. I added this one yesterday. It's another miracle story. I wonder why the miracles I have experienced have all been about cars and driving. Hmmm.
I had two items featured in newsletters this week. In the For Authors: "I Never Said That!" . And in the Romance/Love newsletter, an old, old poem. (No, it is not about hubby.)Speaking of hubby...Yes, we did eat at Sonic last night and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. We brought back something for Derek too. He was thrilled that we found a Sonic. Even though he's a vegetarian, there are some things on the menu that he can eat. We learned that the trip was 26 miles, but 19 of those miles are on the freeway and it was really easy to find. I'm guessing we'll have to take Tiff there one weekend. I doubt she's ever had Sonic burgers either. I did a bit of portfolio housekeeping today. My "What's New?" really does have just what's new in it again. It holds everything since December, except for that one miracle story that tied for 2nd place. That's in the "Awards and Recognition" folder.The weather folks say that we're going to have some warmer weather in the next few days - in the 40's and 50's. I really hope so. I'm so tired of being cold all the time. Our house is sooooooooo cold. I don't think it has much insulation. And the kitchen window is a huge bay window. The way it was designed, it's almost impossible to put any curtains on it. So, even though it has newer double windows, in the winter the cold just pours in. And since my computer sits beside the window, I freeze! (It can't be good for the heat bill either.) That bay window is rather useless. The cats have claimed it as their own and that's where they get their food and water. And where they watch the birds flying around as they get ready for their first spring concert. Oh well. Without the bay window, the cats would probably be knocking the cereal off the top of the refrigerator. Or the baskets on top of bookcases. ************ Yippee skippeeee. I have made blog entries every day this month. That probably won't happen again. I targeted February as the month I would make an entry every day....'cause it's the shortest month. |
| Incurable Romantic and I have been married two years today. Wow. Sometimes it seems like it has been so much longer. Sometimes it feels like it's been just an instant. I guess that's part of getting old...or maybe it's that crazy ol' fibro fog. Know where we're going out to eat? Sonic Burger. Yep, you read that right. Back when I was a single/divorced mom in Texas, it was my birthday and a guy friend of mine asked me where I wanted to go for dinner. He lived in Houston and I was about an hour south of that. But he was willing to drive down and pick me up and take me to a nice restaurant in Houston. He felt sorry for me 'cause I lived in a town of only 25,000 instead of massive Houston. Hey! We had some nice restaurants in Lake Jackson, and towards the end of my years there, we even had quite a few national chains pop up. But we didn't have an Arby's yet at that time, and I told my buddy that's where I really wanted to eat. I guess he thought I was kidding, because instead he took me to a fancier Thai restaurant. The foods were even hotter/spicier than Mexican or Tex-Mex foods. Wow. Before we were ready to head on back to my small corner of the world, this friend asked me if there was anywhere else I wanted to stop or shop before going back. (Remember, he felt really sorry for me living so far away from real civilization...) I told him that I wanted to stop at Arby's. Again, I'm sure he thought I was kidding, since we had just eaten a big meal. But I wasn't kidding. I wanted to stop at Arby's. I finally convinced him to stop and I bought a bag full of Arby's roast beef sandwiches to take home and freeze and eat at my leisure. That incident became a barometer for the guys I dated. If said they cared but wouldn't take me to Arby's (we did later get one about 15 miles away), then that was the last date we had! So...when hubby asked where I might like to eat for our anniversary (and he knows all about the Arby's story) I told him I'd like to go to Sonic. We did have Sonic's in our little town in Texas, and I haven't been to one since I moved from there in June of 2003. I think it's about time. Besides: 1) We don't have lots of money to spare right now on some fancy place. 2) Hubby has never been to Sonic. We have seen Sonic ads on the TV a lot, but have never seen a Sonic near us. We figured they must be in some other part of the tri-state area - like Kentucky or Indiana. We finally got seduced by the ads and looked on the Internet and discovered that Cincinnati does have one Sonic restaurant. It's purrrrrrty far away, considering that it's a fast food joint. But, heck, what's 15-20 miles for your anniversary, right? *************** I have not heard any more about Angela's Niece needs Praye . I don't know whether or not the hospital was able to get her breathing on her own. Do keep her and her family in your prayers. Angela has a heart for the Lord, but her family is more apt to look at and seek out life's negatives. At least that's the impression I have gotten from her. *************** Have you ever read any of the works of jw52130? She is a woman who is in her late 70's. I think it's admirable that she uses a computer. I know my mom and aunts had enough trouble just learning how to email. They could have never figured out this place. But this dear lady did. I just heard from a writer on another site, where it appears that jw52130 is getting active. That means she has learned to use yet another writer's site. Way to go! She is not well (I think she's had a stroke) and just needs our prayers and encouragement... even if she sometimes doesn't use capitals or beautiful formatting. She loves God, and that's the important thing! **************** What's up with this? For some reason, a Flintstone episode just popped into my head. Betty and Barny Rubble were singing "Happy Anniversary" to Wilma and Fred Flintstone. I can even remember the tune. How weird is that???? |
| Angela's Niece needs Praye has been in the hospital, I think, since Thursday. She needs our prayers. As many of you know, Angela has been in a wheel chair for many years. Her kidneys have been failing for years and Thursday was the day that she was supposed to find out if she would need a transplant. I don't know all the details, but I do know she was admitted to the hospital. We've heard that she has not been breathing on her own and today they were going to start trying to wean her off the respirator. |
Yesterday, I left one item on my list of things that needed blogged unchecked and unfinished. Remember?  Sermon notesWe started a new sermon series and small group study yesterday. I made it to church, although I felt pretty sleepy as I listened to the sermon. I didn't make it to my small group again. This time, I wasn't sick or hurting. Just plum tuckered out. I shut down about 6:15 I think and got back up at around 7:30, and then just because I had promised to fix my son's dinner and make sure he was up by 8 pm to get ready for work.Anyway... Our pastor's series for the Lenten sason is called Beginning in Christ. Sunday's theme was The Teacher. I filled in the blanks on my sermon note page, just like everyone else. But I also made lots of notes in the margins. I usually do. Like... If you're waiting for a life without stress before you'll feel at peace, you never will. (Be without stress or at peace.) And... God does not owe you an explanation (for the stress or unfair situations). God is both fair and loving. And... God gives us care, compassion and comfort - but not explanations. And... Acceptance is a learned experience. Good notes, huh? I wrote those in the margins so I could ponder them a bit. Pastor John pointed out that: Circumstances are uncontrollable.People are unchangeable.Problems are unexplanable. (See margin notes above.)We're supposed to accept what cannot be changed. That's a big one, isn't it? Acceptance is never easy. We think that we - and especially we and God together (forgetting that He can do everything without us?!) - can do anything. But...what we forget, sometimes, is whether or not the changing or doing is in God's Will. Hmmm. Our pastor used Philippians 4:11-13 as part of his focus. Paul talks about learning to be satisfied with everything. He speaks of learning to be happy with anything that happens. And my favorite verse is the 13th one: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Yes!!! But then that acceptance thing comes into play. The Serenity Prayer was printed on our sermon notes page. I always thought that the Serenity Prayer was affiliated with St. francis of Assisi. That's not right. The prayer most remembered from St. Francis of Assisi is: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. The Serenity Prayer as most of us have memorized is only a portion of what the theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, wrote. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that You, God, will make all things right if I surrender to Your Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. I wonder why that entire prayer is not offered as something to memorize, rather than the short version. It's so much more meaningful in the complete version. Our pastor's next point was that we should trust in God's guidance and grace. Here, his Bible references were: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Another version uses, "and he will direct your path." Either way, this is also a verse I memorized and that I recite sometimes when I need the reminder. Lastly, our pastor reminded us that there are two common mistakes we all make when we're stressed or having problems: 1) We try harder. 2) We give up. Neither of these are the correct actions needed in times of stress. Rather, as mentioned above, we're to accept and trust, and finally.... Surrender to God's loving control. Do you remember what Muhammad Ali said of his Parkinson's disease? That he had Parkinson's so that he would know that he was not the greatest...but God was. I don't know if that's true or not. But I do know that we all experience greater peace when we can accept things as the Serenity Prayer suggests. When we can accept what cannot be changed, trust in God's guidance and surrender to God's control. But who among us remembers that all the time??? |
Early this morning, I made a list of things that I wanted to include here today. I added to the list as the day went on...and until I could finally write. That fibro fog. Gotta make lists... 1) Hurt someone's feelings 2) Computer day 3) Derek invented something 4) Boomers and older with HIV/AIDS 5) Eating together/apart 6) Google search - Valentine box 7) Birds8) Sermon Notes Okay, I didn't check off the sermon notes yet. It was good, though. We started a new sermon series and small group series. Today's message had one of my favorites in it. Philippians 4:13. Love it!!! I'll write more about this later or tomorrow. Promise. *************** Yesterday I learned that I hurt the feelings of another moderator many months ago. I know she and I had an online discussion back then. But I didn't know that she was negatively affected by what I had said, nor that it had changed her behavior here. I was really surprised. Those of you who know me, must know that I would never hurt someone intentionally. And I would certainly not have let hurt feelings go on for months without trying to remedy things. Hopefully now, they have been. I feel so badly...  *************** When hubby saw the brief posting early yesterday, he figured that it would be one of my two entry days. It probably would have been, if my computer had not been acting up a bit. A few days ago, my virus protection detected yet another virus on the boot sector. I'm still not sure that it has been deleted. Sigh. Our computer guy is great and rather inexpensive. But if I'm going to have to spend $33-66 a month having him delte viruses, I could better spend that money, I think, on purchasing a new computer. One that doesn't have Windows 98, which is not very well supported by anyone these days (and not at all by Microsoft). *************** My son came up with an invention while he was at work, either last night or this morning. It's not the first time he has come up with an invention. I can think of at least three others he has told me about. Some have even come on the market many years later, and he has wanted to kick himself for not following through with his ideas. I suggested that this time he should follow through. But, you know, in checking the US Patent office site, I discovered that patent fees have gone way up. That just means that being the little guy with an invention idea, it's harder than ever to patent and market it. Grrr. I wonder... Does my son "invent things" because that was something his dad did? Because he grew up with his dad talking about patents and patent attornies? Or is he just smart and creative? Or all of the above? It turns out that there is a patent attorney within about a mile or two of our house. Perhaps for his birthday I should pay for the patent application. One would think that the first consultation with a patent attorney should be free. Right? *************** As I sat in the car waiting for Derek to get off work this morning, the oldies station had a talk show on. They usually do on the weekends. I think on Saturdays they talk about gardening, but I don't listen to that one. I guess on Sundays they talk about health matters. Since it's an oldies station and lots of baby boomers listen to it, baby boomer health is the focus of the programming. Today? They talked about how many baby boomers and older (like our parents age!) are contracting HIV and AIDS. What? Yes, the numbers in those age groups are growing. Spouses are dying and divorces are happening and in both groups, the folks are having unprotected sex. Oh my. In my parents' day, the only reason to use a condom was for birth control. In my day, we had birth control pills and not many used condoms. (Besides, in both cases we ususally waited to have sex until we were married.) Remember, it wasn't until the 80's that we discovered or learned about the AIDS virus... Anyway, the lady speaking on the radio this morning was a 55 year old nurse who visits retirement villages/centers, nursing homes and assisted living centers to educate the folks about condoms and having protected sex. Wow. My Mom is in an assisted living center. She doesn't remember the time of day or in which state (geographical ) she lives. But she has wanted a boy friend since my Dad passed away. I surely hope those folks are keeping an eye on the residents.*************** The next part of the health show this morning talked about eating. I had never thought about this... We don't think twice about our spouses watching sports while we read a book. We don't mind that one spouse likes golfing and the other swimming. We don't mind that one spouse bowls and the other doesn't. There are plenty of activities that we will do separately. But...we expect not only to eat together but to eat the exact same things. The nutritionist said that now that we know folks have food allergies and some need special diets for their own illnesses or disorders, we should be thinking differently. She said that if one partner likes or needs to eat 6 small meals a day, the other one should not be expected to do that. Nor should the one who only needs 3 big meals expect the other to eat his/her way. I really never did think about these things. If one of us likes seafood and the other red meat, the answer is to cook both or go to a restaurant that serves both. The same with if one partner is vegetarian and the other is not. (Although my son says that when a vegetarian is one because of animal cruelty and moral issues, the thought of being close or kissing someone who just ate a burger is rather repulsive.) *************** Here's something funny. Two people - non-members - have found their way to my blog because they entered the words "Valentine box" into a Google search. I found that information in my blog statistics.*************** This morning I heard the song of a bird that I didn't recognize. Not that I recognize many bird calls, but whether or not I can identify the birds, there are some songs that just sound familiar. This one did not. The bird's song was a repitition of four notes. Each note was different and the third one was sometimes so quiet and fast that it was almost lost in the song, but it was still there. From a tree down the block, another bird answered. When the first "sang" the four notes really distinctively, the second one copied. When the first sang that third note a bit quieter, so did the second bird. I was fascinated. Soon, a few other birds joined in with different songs. It seemed to me that the song leaders had arrived first and were getting ready for the songfest. They were making sure everything was ready, that the music was available and the concert hall was ready for action. The soloists arrived as well and they were practicing. In a few short weeks, though, there will be a full choral concert as the birds worship the Creator and announce the arrival of Spring. Today, they let me hear the first sounds of their rehearsal and it was wonderful! I thought I had written something about the wonderful songfest of the birds, but I could not find any in my port. How strange. I did write about the wonderful dance of the birds, though. 
|
| My cousin, the psychologist turned truck driver, said something that struck a chord with me yesterday. He said the problem with friends (and he added spouses and lovers to the mix) is that they learn your interests but not your passions. They learn and know your interests, but don't know really know your political views or the depth of your faith. They learn your superficial desires, but not what's really in your heart. I think Edward may just have something there. In today's busy world, we probably don't take the time to get to know the insides of our friends. (Heck, we may not want to know the turmoil that goes on there!) We should, though, if we're trying to be more like Christ. The Bible tells us that God knows our heart. |
| Recently, another writer was trying to feed my own words back to me. She thought that I had said that everyone was a writer. No, I certainly never said that! In today's world, everyone writes, but being able to write an email or blog does not make one a writer. Although there is a language created just for text messaging and chatting, it is one that even old farts can learn. My mother used to use just an "L" rather than "LOL" in her emails. When I asked her about that, she said, "Of course I'm laughing out loud. Have you ever known me to stifle a laugh?" She was right. She also knew that she could get hurt if she actually did ROFL. On the news a few days ago, they showed a list of words used in text messaging. I was reminded of the first classes I had in speedwriting many years ago. In the first lesson, we just eliminated vowels. In the next one we learned a few one-letter codes to use for entire words. Yep, that's what came to mind with the list of code words for text messaging. Back to the subject. Although more folks are writing messages, that doesn't mean they are writers. But I do believe that many are writers - at heart. The need to write words on a page or computer screen is something that grows within us until we finally have to succumb. Some begin writing at an early age. Others stave off the desire to write until they have raised children or other tasks that they decided were more important than the aching in their hearts to write. Often times, people have been discouraged from writing from those who have no creative desires in their own hearts. They don't understand that ache within the person who must create or design. Eventually, though, every writer begins writing, and once a person has begun committing words to the page, the writer is born. Yes, I believe that folks who write - real writing, not just emails and text messages - are writers. But just as in any field or facet of life or work, there are writers and then there are writers. In spiritual terms, some folks talk about "baby Christians." They say that baby Christians are those who have accepted Christ as Lord, but who have not taken steps to develop their relationship with Him. They may pray and read the Bible and go to church. But their prayers are still a laundry list of wants and have-to-haves, just like a child pleading with a parent. The baby Christian has not yet learned to sit and be still and quiet and listen for God to touch his or her soul. He has not yet delved into the Word. She has not sought her true purpose, the one for which she was created. One can be a baby Christian throughout a lifetime, always believing, but never really becoming a true follower of Christ. And so it is with writers. Having the desire in one's heart and then acting upon that desire and writing makes one a writer. But one can be and stay in the "baby writer" stage throughout a lifetime. But wait!!!! Someone suggested that this might make a good item on it's own. Perhaps it will. So...if you want to read the rest of this, click here:
Sorry, guys. This entry was getting rather long... Anyway, I think I might just need a nap. I'm starting to feel like I'm shutting down. I'm getting warm, my mind is getting a bit fuzzy and my eyelids are starting to droop. Those are all signs that my fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are taking control of the day. I hate it when that happens. Later! |
Cool beans. I got a second place prize in vivacious  's contest, "Invalid Item" Check it out:
There were some great entries in that contest. If you have not seen them all, I recommend a visit. ********* Someone commented to me that she didn't qualify for that no-entry fee contest I mentioned yesterday, because of the age thing. Here's another place you can look for poetry contests without entry fees: http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/free/log/frl_results.php You might have to register - free, of course - to view the list of contests. There's also a newsletter that you can get. *********** It must have been last summer when we found out that 3 year old Marcus Fiesel had been killed. His foster parents reported him missing/kidnapped. But they had bound him and put him in a closet while they went out of town. At the trial of the foster mother - Liz Carroll - there was some confusion about whether or not he was actually dead before being tied up. Yesterday, it took the jury between 5 and 6 hours to decide that Carroll was guilty on all counts. The prosecutor was good. In his closing remarks, he showed a picture of what Marcus looked like alive. Then he held up a styofoam coffee cup and said, "Marcus' remains would fit in this cup." (The foster parents had burned his body after - surprise, surprise - discovering him dead when they returned from their trip.) Then he said, "People would say they wouldn't do this to a dog. She wouldn't. She wouldn't. She took her dog on the trip." What a powerful closing. Today, the sentencing hearing took place. Some thought she would get about 15 years in prison, but the judge sentenced her to 54 years to life. I don't know when the foster dad's trial is scheduled. Sadly, the other adult involved in this - the girlfriend of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll (huh?) - is going to get off, since she's the one who got a plea bargain. For telling the whole horrible tale, even though she participated, she'll get off. You have to wonder about the process that decides who is and isn't worthy of being foster parents. After all of this happened, it was determined that the Carroll's could not afford their own children, let alone a foster child. They were, apparently, only into foster parenting for the money. ********** The higher temperatures the last few days and the rain yesterday have melted the snow. Yippee. Here's hoping we don't get any more. I'm ready for bright Spring colors. The shades of gray of winter are some of the things that keep me "down", I think. *********** Here's another poetry contest (no entry fee) for the over 50 crowd. Not just for women this time. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/foundation/Emily_Dickinson.html The Poetry Foundation seeks one book-length poetry manuscript to be published in the Emily Dickinson Poetry Series. The competition is open to any American citizen 50 years of age or over who has not previously published a book-length volume of poetry. In addition to publication and promotion of the manuscript, the winner will receive a prize of $10,000. Submissions accepted: May 15, 2007–June 15, 2007 |
| TexansBeatTheMiamiDolphinsBy3 says I keep finding poetry contests with entry fees. Here's one with no entry fee. A poetry contest - no entry fee - for women over 50. http://portiasteeleaward.org/contest.htm Deadline April 15, 2007; Awards announced June 16, 2007 $100 awards. Publications seeking submissions: http://thedabblingmum.com/writersneeds.htm http://www.faithtoday.ca/writer.asp |
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