Will I Need An Umbrella?

Genesis 6:8 ....Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 7:12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

Only 40 days to go....

A Meeting of the Minds

I have a thing about meetings. I do not like unnecessary meetings, or meetings that ramble on and on. If I must go to a meeting I like a firm start and end time and a clear and concise agenda. A successful meeting accomplishes goals. If a handout is given, assume that the people in the meeting can read - don't read it all for them.

That said, I am booked for bi-monthly stake girls camp meetings. I think I am the certification advisor. There is no firm schedule to work with yet, but we do have "themes" to work with. We have a floral theme going on. Each ward is a different color and flower. Our ward is the orange tulips. Do tulips come in orange? I have bit of a rotten attitude about the whole flower thing. Stake Camp (of which I am a part) will be "Mums" and our shirts will be burgundy. Sounds a bit like "Queen Mum". It's probably a really good idea to never put me in charge of girls camp - I tend to have a more rigid, drill sergeant demeanor - when what they seem to want here is a Fairy Godmother.

(I have a different idea for the Stake Camp flower, and we wouldn't even have to change our shirt color....)

I think this sounds like I don't enjoy Girls Camp. It's not that, it's that I do enjoy a good nights sleep and the two seem to be mutually exclusive. Did I mention that it takes place during the week of my anniversary?

A Little Dry Spell

Yeah, 42 was a great number and I'm sure over the next few days I will be wishing I was back there, with great countdown links, but alas we are heading into a virtual Mohave, Sahara and possibly Gobi Desert.

So...what have I got for 41? Here's a few trivial factoids:

• Charleton Heston's designation as a galley slave in the film Ben-Hur.


• the international direct dialing(IDD) code for Switzerland. (Maybe you've had to use it when calling ME lately)


• Montana is the 41st state of the United States. Which hosts "Evel Kneivel Days"


• George W. Bush's nickname for his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States.


• the number of the last symphony of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Also called the "Jupiter Symphony".

Life, The Universe and Everything

This number is probably one of Nathan's favorites. He loves the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He has read pretty much everything by the late Douglas Adams. The recent movie of Hitchhiker's Guide was okay, but I really preferred the older version that Steve and I first watched in the early 80's (coincidentily just a few months before Nathan was born.........).

Enrichment Night

Cultural enrichment, that is.

We are going to see the BYU Folk Dancers tonight. I am looking forward to great things. We get to stay after the show and take home two of the dancers. We got 2 free tickets for volunteering to be a host family. I've never done that before - so I'm slightly nervous. Frankly, I'm more nervous about how late it will be before we get home. I'm betting 10:30pm. That's on a school night will 6am seminary the next morning. I'm wondering how hard it will be to get Alex up in the morning. I was going to take Danny instead - it would look great on his homeschool report, but he's still pretty sick.

Super Steve

We've been discussing imaginary superpowers and alter egos on Keira's blog. Keira is "Personal Space Woman", Suzanne "The Lethal Listener", Tia "Sonic Boom", Nathan "Captain Mop-up" and mine, well, let's just leave it on Keira's blog.

Anyway....I was thinking about my husband's superpowers - and I would have to say that they can best be described as an amalgamation of Keira's, Nathan's and Suzanne's. Especially Suzanne's, but he has his own way of using them.

Even though Vin Diesel has already used it, I would call my husband....wait for it.....The Pacifier. Able to put screaming babies into a comatose state without blinking an eye. I've never met anyone that could take a crying baby and put it to sleep faster. He has a special hold - he cradles them in the crook of one arm, and in the other hand he holds the newspaper(and "reads harder"). I believe his real secret is being able to completely tune out the screaming (ala "The Lethal Listener)- and somehow the babies sense that he isn't paying attention and they simply surrender to the inevitable. Doesn't matter whose baby it is...they all eventually succumb.

As for super-hero costume - probably something in washable camouflage and instead of a cape he would sport a burp cloth on his shoulder (in case of "mop-ups").

What's In Your CD Player?

This cd from Pink Martini is in mine. I was listening to it on my way to and from my root canal today. When it's in I always listen to track #7 - and I think of my niece. Guess which one?

Number Fetish

I was having a tough time finding any interesting facts and/or links to go along with today's countdown number....43 (read the words to this one). Then I found a blog by a guy that is obsessed with the number 43. Evidently he is not alone. Weird, huh?

The "Barp" Must Be Catching

Sue blogged about her girls spewing over the weekend, Keira chimed in with her tales of Laura..I guess it's my turn. Yup - my "baby" barfed 3 times last night. At least that's what he told me. I wasn't invovled in the clean-up this morning - Steve knows how to use the washer and dryer, and he did. He is my super-hero.

But I Wanted To Sleep In...

It's 6:30am. I have to leave in 15 minutes to go have my root canal. My husband woke me up this morning and said "you poor dear". Was it wrong to subdue my desire to slap him upside the head for that?. It might have been nice to have lived in "De Nile" a little while longer.

Do I Feel Lucky?

I found a clip of this quote on Youtube, but due to issues with "language", the written quote will have to do.

...I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

44 to go.

What Ho!

Because you can never have too many P.G. Wodehouse quotes:

There is only one cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine. ~P.G. Wodehouse

I adore P.G.Wodehouse. I will read nearly anything by him. He even makes golf funny (just think of the story he could have come up with if a dog ran into HIS car next to the golf course). It's been a few months since my last "fix" - I think I'm due - maybe I'll pick one out to read while I'm convalescing tomorrow after my root canal. I have the perfect one...it's called "Laughing Gas"...it's about a guy who goes in to the dentist.....well, I don't want to spoil it for you. You'll just have to read it yourself.

Thank you Mr. Wodehouse for brightening my day.

Sunday Ramblings

8:00am - realized that I had promised to substitute for Daniel's Sunday School class. Oops. Thank goodness for lds.org. I remembered the basic topic and was able to print up the lesson and the handouts. Then I got dressed for church.

8:45am - left for church

10:15 am Sunday School - 9 twelve and thirteen year olds. The lesson went quite well. It was nice for me to hear 8 other kids (besides Danny) read scriptures aloud. Danny has a much better scripture vocabulary and fluency than any of the other kids. That's not to say that he understands anything any better, but he doesn't stumble over archaic language. Yea Danny.

Noon - drove home from church.

12:10pm - involved in a "hit and run". Yes - Hit and Run. As we were driving past the golf course a dog ran out in front of me. I slowed way down and missed it, but the doggie had a canine companion that wasn't paying attention. Dog #2 ran headlong into the side of our van. I started to pull over, in case I had killed it or something - but when I glanced in the rear view mirror - there was Dog #1 AND Dog #2 running down the street. Dumb dogs.

I think I'm pretty much done for the day. Time to put on some loungewear and relax. Sunday is after all a day of rest.

45 days to go.....

The Wages of All Night Partying

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death.....

Danny had a sleepover birthday party last night - I don't know if any of the boys went to sleep at all - Danny claims that he stayed up all night.

Steve and I came home from the store around 4:30 this afternoon and found him sound asleep sitting at his computer. I had Steve move him over to our bed - where I suspect he will continue in slumber until we kick him out and send him downstairs to his own bed.

But Who's Counting?

46 Trivia

1. In Psalm 46 in the King James Version of the Bible, the 46th word from the beginning is "shake" and the 46th word from the end is "spear"; at the time of publication of the King James Bible, playwright William Shakespeare was 46 years old



2. The number of samurai, out of 47, who carried out the attack in the historical Ako vendetta; sometimes referred to as the 46 Ronins to discount the one samurai forced to turn back



3. At age 46:
   Ben Franklin conducted kite experiments, and discovered lightning is an electrical discharge. John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 . Alfred Eisenstaedt took his a photo of a sailor sweeping up a girl in a kiss during the V-J day celebration in Times Square.



4. The total of books in the Old Testament, Catholic version, if the Book of Lamentations is counted as a book separate from the Book of Jeremiah .



5. The atomic number of palladium .



6. The number of human chromosomes .

Be Kind, Rewind

Steve and I went out for a date tonight. It was lovely to get out for the evening. Really lovely. Thank you.

We went to the movies and saw "Be Kind, Rewind". Not an Oscar contender, but not too painful either. I'd like to recommend it, but it doesn't end as satisfactorily as I would like it to...It sort of dribbles off the screen.

For those who are keeping track - 47 days to go. I wish I could have found a clip of Hugh Laurie (as Bertie Wooster) singing:

JEEVES & WOOSTER

47 GINGER HEADED SAILORS LYRICS

Now there's a good ship,H.M.S. Cock-Robin.

On her home trip,Up and down she's bobbin'

Oh the crew's pretty tough.

The sea is so rough.

They're all fed up and say

That they've had more than enough.

She's got a father

He's an able seaman

And they call him Redhead Tom

I wire to say I'll meet you

And with your friends I'll treat you

So who do you think I've had a message from?

Forty-seven ginger-headed sailors

Coming home across the briney sea

When the anchor's weighed

And the jouney's made

Yes they'll start the party

With a heave-ho, me-hearty

Forty-seven ginger-headed sailors

You can bet you're going to hear them when they hail us

An old maid down in Devon

Said my idea of heaven

Is forty-seven ginger-headed sailors!

There's No Place Like Home

6:45 am. Just finished shopping at Albertsons. Cell phone call to hubby:

Me: Hi. Tell me to go home.

Him: What?

Me: TELL ME TO GO HOME. Say the words "GO HOME".

Him: Okay...go home.

Going Postal

I have been sending increasingly lame letters to Nathan. I am hampered by the fact that I am getting excited for him to get home, but I don't want to communicate that fact too aggressively. I don't want him to lose his focus, so I find I don't have too much to say. I have resorted to pasting blog entries into my letters. The nice thing about that is I feel very virtuous spending inordinate amounts of time on my computer.

Only 5 or 6 more letters to write.

48...days...to...go.

See Food

Did you eat your cookies? Yes, grandma. See.

Miriam came over for a play date with me this afternoon. We had a good time having lunch together, changing doll clothes (somehow they all ended up in PINK clothes), watching Curious George and coloring. Good times.

By the way 49 days to go. Or 7 weeks. (til' Nathan)

Listmania

Daniel's 13th birthday is coming right up. The night before last he wrote up his birthday list. It goes like this:

1. 500 GB External Hard Drive


2. New Sunday pants


3. More long sleeve shirts


4. More underwear


5. New robe


6. New snow gloves


7. No jokes


8. New shoes/socks


9. Please get #1


10. A mind


11. 1 game from Game Crazy that's my choice. I want the first one more.

Read This!

Hmm...I wonder what he wants?

I did get a kick out of socks/shoes/underwear/pants/robe/shirts...This from a kid that would wear the same clothes for a week if you didn't tell him to shower and change. He's been angling for a new computer for a couple of months now. We keep telling him that when Andrew leaves he could probably inherit that one (which is less than a year old...I think). He figures that Nathan will want to use it - so he (Daniel) should get a new one. I'm impressed that he only asked for a new hard drive. Of course, I'd much rather get him a new bike. We'll have to see how that works out.

Boy, You'll Be A Man Someday

We had Scouts tonight. Alex and Daniel have a few required merit badges that they will be working on for the next few months. These are the ones that take 3 months each. I really want them to finish these up. But I find it's a fine line to encourage without enabling. I want my boys to succeed in Scouts, but I don't want to be one of those parents that micromanages the whole process. All part of growing up and becoming men.

50 - It's the New 40

When I was in elementary school (good ol' Elizabeth Page Elementary) we had some kind of spring concert. It must have been late spring because it was the only concert I ever remember having outside. Anyway, one of the classes sang the song "Fifty Nifty United States". I don't remember what our class sang, but I was so jealous that it wasn't nearly as fun and cool.

50 days to go.

Random Cover Art

Originally published in 1943, this reprint in 1976. Cover does actually relate to the story. Except that the girl on the cover looks more like a guy in drag... The main characters have typical GLH names - Benedict Barron(very manly name) and Alexia Kendall (nickname: Lexie). Also typical of GLH, both characters have lost both of their parents (this smacks of my favorite line from Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Ernest":"To lose one parent in unfortunate. To lose two could be considered careless." )

Originally published in 1931, this reprint in 1973. Not a very flattering portrayal of men and women in the 70's. Both main characters have again lost BOTH their parents (it's not healthy to be a parent in GLH's world). Strange things about this cover:

1. The plane has red wings, not silver.



2. Our heroine (Amory Lorrimer) is shown in a sleeveless dress. GLH would not have approved.



3. Our hero (Theodore Gareth Kingsley) has used way too much self tanning lotion.

Thought bubbles I would like to see over the couple:

Gareth: Yes, I'm secure enough in my manliness to use self tanner, bleach my hair and throw my jacket over my shoulder.

Amory: Are you sure? Cause I'm just not feeling it. In fact I find it more than a little weird.

Bloggin Through Some Rage

Hat tip to Keira for the blog title. Unfortunately I can't discuss why I'm furious. Frankly, it's probably better that way. But. I. Am. Mad. I can't even say who I'm mad at, but it's not my husband, children or grandchildren, or anyone that I am biologically related to. Nuff' said. Sorry for the rant.

51 days to go

For your countdown enjoyment. 51 days to go.

Nothing a Little Make-up Won't Cover

I'm sporting a bit of a black eye this morning. I can't tell yet, but I might have 2 black eyes. My nose is a little swollen and red also. Boy am I glad it's not school picture day at my house.

How did I manage to get a black eye on a quiet Sunday evening? No, my husband doesn't beat me. I am not a pro wrestler...or boxer. I have grandchildren.

I was trying to help Trevor (age 3 1/2) to get his pajamas on - I was leaning over him as he was crouched down on the floor. All of a sudden he sprang up - right into my nose. The good news is that I'm pretty sure he didn't break my nose, but boy oh boy did it hurt. My son-in-law was very concerned (he was the lone witness) - especially when I covered my face with my hands and was unable to speak for a minute or two. He was probably imagining newpaper headlines: "THREE YEAR OLD TOT WALLOPS GRANDMA - FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION NEEDED!"

52 Days...But Who's Counting?

2 or 3 people at church today asked when Nathan will be home. It sort of reminds me of those long ago days when I was expecting a baby and people would always ask "how much longer?". I'm just glad I don't have to go through labor pains for this.

April 9th. That's the day.

Dignity, Always Dignity.

We found the snow.


I think I was the only YW leader to actually do any sledding. Thank goodness I still have my dignity intact.


Except for the goofy hat. I would care more, but since I usually only wear a ski hat once a year....not worth buying something stylish. Besides, that's just sissy.



Cassie (my MIA Maid president) and I sat up at the top of the hill for a while and judged wipe outs. I was the "East German Judge".

Baby, It's Cold Outside

It's not that cold outside here. It's cold at Mt. Baker - which is where we are going today.

We're going on a youth snow activity. I'm terribly excited. I am really glad to have a good excuse to leave the house for the day. I just wish it was to go somewhere warmer.

I had the boys gather up their snow gear last night. It's important to check it out ahead of time - especially since we only use it about once a year. I had Steve get some new gloves last night - I never even considered duct taping the ripped ones we have. Darn, now I need to go look for the duct tape.

My Happy Place

Today I managed to finally finish (well, it's 99% done...) cleaning and organizing my office/workout room/homeschool room/craft room. That should count for 4 rooms cleaned and organized. I mean it.

Take a Hike!

It's no secret that I love to travel. I love the planning/researching phase nearly as much as I like taking the actual trip. When Steve and I went to Europe a few years ago I had a great time planning the trip. One of the resources that I used was a Rick Steves travel guide. He had some great tips on places to go, and how to best use your time in some of the cities that we visited.

Rick Steves is actually from Edmonds, Washington, which is just down the road - about 30 miles south of us. I wish I didn't find his guide books so useful, because I have a few issues with the increasingly liberal slant to his writings. I don't much care if he is a far-left, tree hugging, pot smoking, hippie liberal, if he is, fine - just don't foist that off on the rest of us "ugly Americans". He seems to get a little more self righteous and "down with Americans" as he goes on. Oh well, look who he's hanging out with now....ACLU. Nuff' said.

Valentine #14 - Happy Valentines Day

Excerpt from my Valentines card from my husband:

Rhett: Did you pick all the brownie chunks out of the ice cream?

Scarlett: Maybe.

I was very impressed that my husband found a card all about us and our somewhat stormy (ha ha) relationship over the years. We have grown to know each other better and better as those years have passed by. Steve wouldn't even feel the need to ask who had been "mining" in the ice cream, and if he did have the temerity to ask, I would answer with a simple "yes, it was I."

We met in 1980 in the Wilkinson Center and danced together for the first time. Our dance instructor asked us to "pick a partner" Steve took her literally, and here we are 27 1/2 years later still dancing.

Happy Valentines, sweetie. And thank you for the pink carnations. I like the irony, and the fact that they are disposable after a few days.

Valentine #13

This valentine goes out to Alex. Whenever he needs me to pick him up from school(which is thankfully seldom) he ends up having to wait. And wait. Sorry.

Thank you for your patience.

Oh yeah, and thanks for all the fish.

Red Roses vs. Pink Carnations

My daughter and her children came over to visit today. Stephanie and I were having a discussion about Valentine's Day.

Me: I told your dad not to get me any Costco flowers for Valentines. They're $14 for only a dozen right now.

Stephanie: I like pink carnations. Nothing says "I love you, but let's be reasonable" like pink carnations.

Valentine #12

This is a group valentine - I'm sending it out to my daughter Stephanie and her family. In honor of all the times the kids come over to my house and want to watch Curious George.

Mantra du Jour

Serenity now, insanity later. Thank you Keira for that drop in my mental health bucket. Although when I think of serenity I often think of the movie "Serenity". Which might go a long way to explaining my lack of serenity.

Anticlimactic

I was all ready to do a post about dental brutality. Really I was. I was polishing off some juicy adjectives, adverbs, pithy sayings, cliches, alliterations, proper nouns, some truly fine onomatopoeia, and a bit of creative puncutation.

Dr. Jacobson was all ready for me when I got there, we had a nice little chat then he did some x-rays, looked at my teeth, and we were done. Done for now. I expect I might really be "done for" in a couple of weeks when I go in for my root canal. I will be sure to bwief you then.

Open Up and Say "AAH"

I think a little of my grumpy mood today might be due to the fact that I am anticipating a dentist appointment tomorrow.

We actually have a very nice dentist. Dr. Jacobson is really very sweet, unfortunately I think I was permanently scarred by Dr. Elliott (childhood dentist). I am the type who holds on the the chair with white knuckles the entire time. Even a whiff of the dentist office can make me nervous.

Hopefully I'll be feeling no pain tomorrow night.

Grumpy Pants

Lately, I've often found myself needlessly grumpy. I may not always be "sunshine and happiness", but usually I am in a much better frame of mind.

I need to find my "happy place".

I don't think I can use Keira's.

Valentine #11

I am Switzerland. I am Switzerland.

Actually today I feel a little more like the war torn Middle East. Oh well, today's valentine goes out to Sherri. A lifeline when I really need it.

Valentine #10

This one goes out to sick Suzanne. I would like to send get well wishes to her - as long as she'll do the same for me (I SO don't need to be sick right now). Hope you're feeling better. I also hope that tomorrow doesn't turn out to be a sick day for me.

Valentine #9

This one goes out to the Tia's puppy, Baily. I know, I know. You're thinking "that mutt chewed up her bra - why is she sending any love her way?".

Because Baily chewed up my bra I went to the store and got a NEW bra that I love. It's just like the ones I used to get, but Fred Meyer stopped carrying for a while.

I now promise to stop posting about bras.

Thanks Baily.

Word of the Day: Concatenation

concatenation
1. the state of being linked together as in a chain; union in a linked series
2. the linking together of a consecutive series of symbols or events or ideas etc; "it was caused by an improbable concatenation of circumstances"
3. a series of things depending on each other as if linked together; "the chain of command"; "a complicated concatenation of circumstances" [syn: chain]
4. the act of linking together as in a series or chain

It is now time to use the word "concatenation" in a story.

It was Friday. I had had a toothache all week. It was also "that special time of the month". Tia's puppy, Baily, chewed on my only good bra. I had hit the trifecta of bad karma. Danny and I took the train back home. Saturday came. With it the caucus, and ward temple night. After a long and stressful day I was more than ready to go to bed when I discovered that instead of merely chewing a hole in my bra, Baily had managed somehow to destroy the underwire. Due to the concatenation of circumstances, I found myself in the lingerie department of Fred Meyer at 10pm on a Saturday night.

Valentine #8

With thanks to Keira for getting me (and Danny) to the train on time.

Valentine #7

My valentine for today goes out to baby sis Tia. I have spent hours last night and today helping her to paint her house. I know she would do the same for me (or better yet, offer to crawl in my attic and wire a light fixture).

Valentine #6

This valentine goes to my travel buddy, Danny. We're leaving for the train station in a couple of hours. We are going down to Portland to help Tia paint her house (there's sisterly love).

I've taken the train to Portland many times, but this will be Daniel's first real train ride. I think he's excited.

Valentine #5

This Valentine goes out to Mike the Mechanic (at Pilchuck Auto). We haven't needed his services for a couple of years or so (since Andrew totalled the Taurus).

When Steve was running for office a couple of years ago Mike gave him one of his few (very few) campaign contributions. Which was cool, especially since Mike doesn't even live in our district. Today he told Steve he should run for president. I wonder how many transmissions he would have to repair to be a major contributor?