Christmas Quiz...

We live for these things!!!

pssst. pass it on.
to those of you who have been giving me problems about not writing...
I answer these and then pass them on to you.
I will EXPECT to see them on your blog soon.
:)

What you want for Christmas... if your friends were millionaires: a new boat for BT, all bills paid, uh, maybe my own movie theatre?

What you want for Christmas... for real: I got baby chicks... what more could I want?

What you want for Christmas... in abstract: the end of AIDS...and no more cancer...ever.

Year of the first Christmas you can remember: I think I only remember it because there is video of the thing... learning to fish in front of the tree with my dad.

Ever in a holiday play? When? I was of course, Lucy in the Charlie Brown Christmas in junior high.
An early Christmas memory? walking into the living room and seeing my swing set, set up in the living room... or maybe the box of springs Santa gave me, that came with the trampoline. Imagine my face though when I saw just a box of springs... I was like WTF?. Yeah, I was spoiled. I did have a pony.

Favorite holiday ornament (Past and present)Past: My friend Darren decorated the coolest ornaments with holiday scenes. those are my fave.

Classic Christmas song you never get tired of: God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen

Classic Christmas song you loathe: O Tannenbaum... uh. ode to a freakin tree... hate it.

Modern Christmas song you never get tired of: Baby It's cold outside is that a Christmas song? Also Santa looked a lot like Daddy rocks too.

Modern Christmas song you loathe: Grandma got run over by a reindeer...stupid
How many languages can you say "Merry Christmas" in? English, Spanish, Hawaiian. Mele Kaliki Maka

Naughty or Nice? I would say, mostly nice...

Favorite Christmas Ghost: Ghost of Christmas Past...of course.

Favorite Misfit Toy: a reindeer that poops jelly beans.
Can you wrap presents well? My mom used to be a professional wrapper... insert Kanye West, Eminem joke here.

What tops your tree? tree? what tree?

If you were a Christmas elf, what would your name be? OOOOOHHHH. I love this question....ummm... but can't think of anything good right now... leave comments for suggestions...

Who's IT: spideygirl, revmommy, chaos, entropy, sparks, joker, other rlp pirates, ging, New Anglican (only if he can find a way to answer from the book of common prayer), BT, My mom...this will force her to get a blog. anyone else who is up to the challenge.

Nativity

I decided this year to be quite bah-humbuggy about Christmas decorations. Right after Thanksgiving, I didn't have the energy, or the desire to get out Christmas Decorations. When I did eventually have time, it seemed too late to even bother. Why get them out when I would just have to put them away in a week? I know, bah- humbug. I figured I would only get out the necessities... the nativity scene and the stockings (gotta have Santa fill those up!) but I realized... I didn't have a nativity scene.

When I was young, we had the coolest nativity scene. Made totally out of cardboard...or cardstock or something like that. It was like paper dolls. They would store flat, and you would have to bend paper and fit tabs into things to make the shepherds stand up. I think the manger was even three-dimensional when put all together. No clue where my mom got it. Maybe from a paper doll kind of book? Who knows. For something so simple, the pictures were so intricate and beautiful.
This thing got so worn out from years of us putting it together, that my mom had to laminate it to get it sturdier. As far as I know, she still puts it together every year.

A few years ago, when I was really crafty into clay, I fashioned my mom a nativity scene made entirely out of polymer clay. Even though I am not artistic, and it looks like something a fifth grader could have done, I am proud of it. It is me.

My friend Ging was sort of complaining a month ago, in a mom sort of way, about her nativity scene. It seems the little boy genius had been playing with the porcelain baby Jesus and had lost him. hmmm. Quite the predicament. So we were thrilled to see in the store, a little kid plastic play set of the nativity.
I will admit that at first I had issues with this plastic play set. I had problems with, for some reason, little kids making up their own version of the story... (this coming from the girl who proudly owns an action figure Jesus?)

But then, isn't that what has happened for ages now? We all have made up our own story of the birth of Jesus? Sorry folks, it never talks about Mary riding a donkey. Sorry people, It never says how many wise men were there. Could have been 3, could have been 20. Who knows.
It was strange to me, reading the Gospels to figure out just how much of OUR story of the birth of our savior was missing from the actual text.
Why? Why had we, for many many years, added details to the story? To make it nicer, more festive?

The little boy genius, I hear, makes the shepherd wear the king’s clothes. The angel likes to be snuck in with him on shopping trips, and I am sure baby Jesus is lost on a regular basis. And that is ok. Kid, you make up your own story of the birth of Baby Jesus. Everyone else has.
And does it matter? I guess not. What matters is we worship Him and we know that with his birth, comes miracles, love, grace, patience, and forgiveness. That is the True Story of Christmas my friends, forever and always.
Merry Christmas!

never enough time...

This has been one of the funniest weeks EVAH... and I have NO time to blog about it. Next week I will officially be on vacation and maybe can blog some of the funny stuff.
I just hope my crazy mind can remember things by then!

ah, musicals... or how addicted to RENT I am...

My mom was a speech and drama teacher when I was growing up. I went to my share of play practices. I learned all the lines, even when the teenagers couldn't. And I was especially in love with musicals. Love isn't even the word for it.
I worshiped musicals. I can remember turning on the soundtrack of the day, putting on my sock feet, and sliding, dancing and singing all around the living room. I was every character in every show. I was the guy wanting to take the girl on the surrey with the fringe on the top. I was the girl who can't say no. I was the girl who's dad put a fence up between her and her boyfriend's house. I could sing and dance them all baby!
And it didn't end when I was 10. Oh no. When BT and I saw Chicago when we lived in Indiana, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Cell Block Tango was MY song. He did have it coming...
And imagine my surprise to find out that BT HATED musicals. With every fiber of his being... HATED. Ugh.
Are you sure you are my soul mate?

So, I had to have Ginger drive 2 plus hours to go with me to see the movie Rent.
Poor Ging...
:)
So now, I have listened to the soundtrack five hundred twenty five thousand, six hundred times. I can sing every note, every line. I could be Benny, or Joanne, or Mark. I love it all.
I love love it all.
So, if you are driving down the street and you see some crazy woman singing... maybe doing a few "jazz hands" moves, just keep driving... and enjoy the show!

Even when you were little...

You were a bad MO-FO!!!!



Yea and Hip Hip Hooray!!! BT is turning 42 today!!!!

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, there was a guy who spent the entire month of December working... almost 24/7 working, far away from me. It was rough I tell you, but I always knew he would be home on Christmas Eve. One night, we were talking on the phone about his job and what he had accomplished and he said, "yeah, baby, I am a bad mo-fo!"

And you know what? He is!!!
He isn't afraid of anything. I don't know of one thing that makes him nervous or scared, well other than going to the movies in a weekend evening. That freaks him out a bit.
He is good at most everything. I haven't noticed much, besides singing, that he doesn't do well. He is a natural at most things, but those he isn't perfect at, he works hard to learn and get good at.
He is the smartest guy I know. Need to know about the history of anything? He is your man! From all of the History Channel he sleeps through, there is no surprise.

So, you would think with all of this talent, he would be cocky, well he is, but he can be pretty great too.

He is a great cook. While I cook boring food, BT loves to make up the most delicious meals! I love it when he cooks dinner... a delicious adventure every time.
He has the biggest heart I know. He will do just about anything for anyone who needs it. He will lend a hand and appreciate, and love, and give of himself whenever he can.

I guess you might say I think he is pretty awesome! Even if he is a bad mo-fo!


The boy geniuses... two of my favorite men, hanging out together!


Happy Birthday BT! YOU ROCK MY WORLD!!!

for BT...

"When It Don't Come Easy"
Patty Griffin...

Red lights are flashing on the highway
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home tonight
Everywhere the waters getting rough
Your best intentions may not be enough
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home tonight

But if you break down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I'll try to remind you
And stay by you when it don't come easy

I don't know nothing except change will come
Year after year what we do is undone
Time keeps moving from a crawl to a run
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home

You're out there walking down a highway
And all of the signs got blown away
Sometimes you wonder if you're walking in the wrong direction

But if you break down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I'll try to remind you
And stay by you when it don't come easy

So many things that I had before
That don't matter to me now
Tonight I cry for the love that I've lost
And the love I've never found
When the last bird falls
And the last siren sounds
Someone will say what's been said before
It is only love we were looking for

But if you break down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I'll try to remind you
And stay by you when it don't come easy


BT, no matter what, when it don't come easy, I will ALWAYS drive out and find you. I will love you forever and always.

Grateful

I have this darling little girl I teach reading to. She is the highlight of my day most days. In the boy filled world of reading instruction...(most struggling readers in first grade are boys) it is nice to have a girl in the group to change the pace a little bit. She is just darling and is doing better than I could have imagined.
Today, as we began to write, I asked her to tell me something about herself. Really, I wanted her to learn to spell the word "am" so I suggested she tell me some things she is..."I am a sister, I am a reader, I am smart," I gave her examples. Then, I asked her, so, what do you want to say you are?
She looked at me with her large brown eyes and said, "I want to write, I am grateful". That was it.
I am grateful.

Now, I realize that Thanksgiving came and went and the turkey sandwiches are still tasty and new, and the conversations about being thankful are far from a thing of the past, but I would never have expected to hear, "I am grateful" come out of a 6 year old mouth. Wow.

As I drove home, I thought about things that have been going on lately. My graduate class is almost over. Whew, I am SO thankful for that! Things are slowing down and I can actually relax a little bit. Really grateful. I got to eat some great food and hang out with friends and family this past week. thankful.
All of those things I could list pretty easily.

Then I got to thinking about my friend Spidey who went out in the cold with a hand full of Wendy's chili just to feed the man who happened to be invisible after all. I thought about the man who has been coming by the church for help, asking for candles and a nice place to shower because he has no electricity or water at his house. I thought about the man on the corner with the sign. As I handed him what little money I had, and he blessed me and thanked me, it hit me. My little 6-year-old friend was right. What we need now is to be grateful.
In this time when we get so busy rushing to find the perfect gift or the perfect things, the perfect decorations, we somehow forget to be grateful. We forget to be courteous and kind. We forget to be grateful.
I have been reading lots of advent books lately. I have been trying to get in the mood of the season. This year, I want to spend time waiting and anticipating Jesus. I want to spend my time really reflecting on Him and being grateful for what I do have. Being grateful for what I can do. I want to at the end of each day, be able to say the same thing my little friend said, above all else, "I am grateful".

That, Charlie Brown, is what Hula Boola is all about.

Yeah! EEEEK is right!!!

A teacher found this today on the floor in a first grade classroom! It is classic! The funny thing is, as soon as she showed it to me, I thought, THIS would be perfect on the blog!!!
Ah always thinking about blog potential.
:)

Who's to say????

I hadn't heard this song in forever and recent events brought me back to this song.



Who's To Say?
Pat Green


I don’t wear my shirt tucked in
I like a little bbq on Sunday
Well I hang out with a rougher crowd
Who drink too much, who talk too loud
Don’t you know that it’s all right with me
Yeah I don’t go to church too much, but I know that Jesus truly loves me
And if he was here I’d be drinking beer and
Hanging out and saving all of my friends, Amen

Who’s to say and who are you to judge me anyway
This is my road, I take the corner as fast as I can go
Who’s to say how I got so lucky anyway
I am my own at least until the Man comes to take me home

Well I got my mama’s features, and my daddy’s fixtures
All day long I been looking at pictures wondering
How in the hell they came up with me
Well, I’m crazy as a loon, I’m howling at the moon
My baby, she don’t know what to do
She’s wondering how in the hell she’s gonna stay with me
Well, she’s been to church more than Billy Graham
And she knows the Bible like the back of her hand
Yeah but she drinks Gin like it’s going out of style
Oh, it makes me smile

Yeah, who’s to say and who are you to judge her anyway
This whole world spins, never gonna take that chance again
Yeah who’s to say how we got so lucky anyway
We have a home, neither one of us will ever be alone

It’s a lesson of survival
To ride out every trial
It’s the secret of forgiveness
Way down deep inside

Who’s to say and who are you to judge me anyway
This is my road, I take the corner as fast as I can go
Yeah, who’s to say how I got so lucky anyway
I am my own at least until the angels come
Angels gonna come and take me home


This song is posted for Don and Sandra, who had the sense, the belief, and the guts to ask, "Who are you to judge?"
It is for Hugh, who knows Jesus truly loves him and he will never be alone.
For BT, who reminds me to take the corners of life as fast as I can go.

Five hundred, Twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes...

How Do you measure a year?

Wow. You know, I am OLD now, so I must reflect before I get so old I can't remember...

Here are a few things I have learned in the past five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes...

*I actually Do like all kinds of music... and itunes rocks.
*Songs from itunes are not really 99 cents if you include tax.
*No matter what you have experienced in life, someone can top it.
*Some people are just down-right mean. Sometimes it really isn't me, it is them.
*Switching checking accounts is just as fun as having a tooth pulled.
*New cars smell like new car for a long long time.
*BT looks HOT in medieval wear.
*Bangalore is in India and even though they have diseases, they still have computer emergencies.
*Little red headed boys grow up, like it or not.
*Teenagers are pretty funny and have a lot to say if only you will ask the RIGHT questions and listen, really listen.
*I am not as smart as I think I am.
*Hula Boola is alive and well in our house.
*Putting skirting on a trailer house is as hard as it looks.
*I actually do like to work out.
*Craps is fun when someone else does the math.
*Pirates are really important.
*RLP chat is addictive.
*The real way to say it is... EXTRAGAVANT... :)
*Shallow pockets and bathroom visits are no good for cell phones.
*Parties can come in a box and make a big difference.
*BT is an awesome writer...
*If God continues to ask you to serve, you have to start saying YES.
*I am beloved. I am a child of God. I have been called by name. I have been charged to do better, to grow, and to love.
*Everyone else is a child of God, beloved and called.... like them or not.

Wow! What a year! Thanks friends, not only for the awesome birthday wishes, but for being a part of my life. I may not have known you a whole year, I may have known you my whole life, it may just feel like I have known you forever. No matter what, I thank you for making me who I am. You challenge me, love me, laugh with me, and make me better. For that, I am thankful.

Zoom Song... Guest blogger... My MOM!!!

My birthday isn't until Thursday, but Mom is going to be out of town on my birthday and I wanted her to see her blog entry before she left!
Thanks to my mom for this dedication. :) I love it!




I was invited by “Suz” to keep the birthday “ZOOMS” going.
She was almost born on Halloween but missed it a few days.
I should know, I was there. Recently someone (I didn’t
know at all) told me that because of something she saw me
do, I was her HERO. I’m afraid I told her she was hard up
for heroes.---Not a kind thing to say to someone.

I have a HERO. I’ve known her all her life.

A few of her HEROIC qualities I can take some slight credit
for but some are purely her own. She is her own person.

*She holds really strong beliefs. You can talk to her and
give her another side of an issue, but it is difficult to
shake the opinion that she has thought about and has made
her own.
*She is a gifted teacher. She has an innate ability to
know what to do for a student (child or adult) who needs
help. Her empathy draws children to her and she is
respected by students, parents and educators alike.
*She’s a computer geek. When her family has computer
trouble, she is the one we turn to. She didn’t read
manuals or take lessons she just “played” and learned on
her own. She even found her wonderful husband online. She
helps friends and co-workers when asked. She does
presentations to colleagues using the latest techniques.
But ............her most heroic quality is that
*She is a good friend. She knits scarves for friends
to take to Russia, she worries about her friends, she cries
with her friends, she helps, she encourages, she bullies,
she buys (or makes) them gifts. She wants her friends to
be as happy as she is. When her friends disappoint her,
she continues to wish them well.

Now by this time you might think I’m talking about a saint.
As with all heroes, she has her Achilles heels.

------She doesn’t suffer fools. Stupidity can really
irritate her and she has trouble dealing with stupid rules
or those who apply them.
------She is a name caller. Most of her name calling is in
fun. Some names she makes up, but she has had her name
calling moments that might not be in fun.
------She gets her feelings hurt. She expects
professionalism and coutesy from those with whom she works.
At times her expectations are too high and she gets hurt.
She gets over it, but slowly.
-------She likes to be in control.. She would like to be
in charge of organizing and arranging everything. Not that
she has the time or energy to do it, but she “knows how
things should be done” and thinks people should do things
the right (her) way. I think she is working on this one.

If I thought they would get into this blog, I’d put a
picture or two here of the girl I remember as a child, but
I’m sure they would be censored before you read it.
(Because I dressed her funny)
Needless to say I’m proud of this birhday girl and wish her
many, many more Happy Birthdays.
Captain Zoom says to you--- “ It’s your birthday --I’m in
charge of the stars and I’m here to say ,You’re the big
star --today.”
Love ya’ kid,
Mom

For Ginger...

Because Patty Griffin speaks to my heart.
Because I love you and that family of yours...
Because the little dreams we dream are all we can really do.


Kite
Patty Griffin

The Sunday after, there was laughter in the air
Everybody had a kite they were flying everywhere
And all the trouble went away and it wasn't just a dream
All the trouble went away, and it wasn't just a dream

In the middle of the night
We try and try with all our might
To light a little light down here
In the middle of the night
We dream of a million kites
Flying high above the sadness and the fear

Little sister, just remember as you wander through the blue
The little kite that you sent flying on a Sunday afternoon
Made of something light as nothing
Made of joy that matters too
How the little dreams we dream are all we can really do

In the middle of the night
The world turns with all its might
A little diamond, colored blue
In the middle of the night
We keep sending little kites
Until a little light gets through

Lessons from third graders

I am a reading specialist, a reading facilitator, no one is really sure my title... especially me.
I work with first graders mostly, but I get to go hang out with third graders during the day too. It is, aside from the paperwork and not really knowing how to use my time wisely, a great great job. I love it.
I have a small group of third graders at the moment that I work with every day. Every time I walk into their classrooms, their friends in the class beg and plead to come with me too. As soon as I walk in the rooms, you can see the other kids sit up straighter, look at me with a hopeful smile. "Me! I want to be picked next!!" I never do though, (again, we are talking a lack of time here) but it is always great to know that I am wanted and needed.

The biggest group of third graders I deal with consists of boys. No girls, just boys, so it is a challenge finding books that they can read and will want to read.
I used my handy dandy Bookbuilder CD and made books all about them... with their names in them the other day.
You would have thought I gave them gold! These kids were amazed, as they looked onto other books to check and see if their name was on their friend's book too. They read and read the book at least 5 times and were dissapointed when they had to stop to go back to class. This was THEIR book, no doubt. They had been made special. They had been made something important.
One of the third graders, as he was walking away with his book said, "I am goign to keep this book forever and ever. I am going to show this to my son when I am grown up!"
Wow.
It was that important.

Right now I am missing Cursillo. It is happening without me this time because I am WAY too busy. I didn't realize how much I would truly miss the activities, the friendships, the way God talks to you in the craziest ways. I am thinking alot about God recently. I haven't made enough time for God in my life. I haven't been one of those kids who, when God walks in, sits up straight and tall and says, "please pick me!" I have been the one still sitting at a desk, too involved in the work of the day to even notice that a visitor has entered the room. I have been caught up in me, my work, and my life and haven't let God in.

And I know God wants to talk to me. He calls me... Just like he called Zacheus and Samuel, long ago. He called them BY NAME to work with them, talk with them, and love them. Maybe God has taken the time to write my name in a book. Maybe God has taken the time to make things special for me. Do I cherish that enough? Do I appreciate that enough? Do I read that book over and over soaking up the fact that HE used MY name? Or do I just read through it, not noticing what a special gift it is?

I hope that I can take the time today to get past the reading and the research and the dirty house, and focus on God and His Love and I can notice when he walks in the door. I can hear when he calls MY name. And I can say, "Here I am Lord, Your servant is here."

I never said "I do".

I wouldn't really call it eloping. We had the whole thing planned. I wasn't really a girl who needed to have the big fluffy wedding. We didn't have a church at the time, and my 90 year old matron of honor wasn't alive anymore, so why not look for other options? It was pretty easy. My mom made my dress so after that, it was just one phone call... decide what date, what time, and what color flowers, and the wedding was all set! In the world of weddings, I would consider it a very very low key event.


On the way to get our marriage license the day before, we met an Elvis impersonator, and a hooker who had to have been in her 80s! "This is Vegas, Baby!"
The day of the wedding, BT and I spent time shopping and playing in the casinos. We played, laughed, and kissed in front of statues. We had the best time.

While my mom, my friends and I primped before the wedding, BT and my dad hung out in the bar close to the chapel and bonded. BT even got some marriage advice from a drunk woman who had been married three times.
I can remember walking through the casino being congratulated by anyone and everyone. Old ladies stopped playing video poker just to wish me luck. It was amazing!
And then I was there, sitting in a room about to throw up. I wasn't regretting anything, I was just nervous that I would mess up, or maybe BT would get scared and not show.

Since we were in a castle, it was of course fitting for Merlin to marry us. We didn't request that, it just was a perk of the wedding package.
He looked rather official in his garb, and we got to say very fancy shmancy Elizabethan words.
I loved getting to vow to BT, "All my worldly goods, to thee I do endow".
One thing though, I never got asked the question... I never got to say "I DO".

So, seven years later, I have a few things I want to say to BT...

Thanks for showing up that day. Thanks for meeting me at the front of the chapel. Thanks for putting up with me and my craziness. Thanks for being silly with me and laughing and playing with me for so long. Thanks for listening to me and valuing my feelings. Thanks for being my best friend. Thanks for killing mice and large bugs for me. Thanks for always making sure I have oil in my car and that my phone is charged. Thanks for worrying about me and loving me so very much.
If you ever start to wonder if I love you and if I appreciate you... let me say for the record. I DO. Forever and always.

Deep Fried Oreos?????

I went to Canton last weekend... I LOVE Canton!!!
So, here are some things I learned from Canton...

*even bathrooms with curtains instead of doors on the stalls might still have attendants. Tip them well... especially if they have to fish your phone out of the toilet. Damn those shallow pockets!

*real lemonade rocks more than you will ever know. It at least helps to soothe the pain of the toilet water soaked cell phone.

*fair food is always the best. Anything on a stick is preferred...oh or deep fried. Can't forget the deep fried crap! You could get your heart attack from fried twinkies, fried snickers, or the newest and greatest deep fried oreo. Wow. I didn't however, try any of those things. Darn the big lunch!!!

*sparkly, fuzzy things are so IN! Why decorate your home with plain lamp shades when you can pretty them up with boas? Why have just a plain bulletin board when you can make it beautiful with fun fur and more feathers? Why have a plain purse when you can have one made totally out of fake animal fur? Why go out in public in boring chamo when you can have bedazzled chamo? Ah the fashion of Dallas/East Texas.

*the NEWEST and greatest thing is the one size fits all plastic stretchy jacket thing. ugh, I can't even describe it... it is like the old Units (is that what they were called? They were crazy 80s fashion) but bumpy and truly made of plastic.
At $20 a pop, you should all get one in each color! Plus, you KNOW one size fits all = awesome.

*you would be amazed at the amount of artsy craftsy cutesy stuff that can actually be made out of picket fences. This fact drives BT crazy!

*want a sign that has some sort of cowboy saying on it? "don't squat with your spurs on" "Unless yur George Strait, wipe your feet" (I kid you not! That is an actual sign) ... yeah, let's hang some of those in the living room! Want a sign with some sort of cutesy saying on it? I was looking for one that said, "hula freakin' boola" but I couldn't find one. I guess I will have to get out some picket fence wood and start working on one!

*scripture is SO in... especially when embroidered on items. It isn't good enough to LET people think you go to church... let's advertise by emboidering it all over your clothing! I think it would be fun to pick some random "I will smite you" sort of scripture and have it embroidered on my purse.
hee hee.

So, Want a true taste of Texas? Come to Canton. Want a true taste of Hula Boola, come to our house!

You'll Look a Little Lovelier Each Day with Fabulous Pink Susiederk.

My slogan.
:)
or

Be Young, Have Fun, Drink Bloghead.

Makes you want to read my blog everyday doesn't it?

find your slogan at the slogan maker: http://www.thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan.cgi

Happy B-day NewAnglican...

I have been thinking about it and I can't quite remember when I officially met JRD. I know I didn't know him our freshman year of college. I was hanging in some strange circles freshman year. I do know that I got to know JRD when I started dating his roommate our sophomore year. He seemed like a nice guy and I know he had a crush on my roommate, so it was all good.
We became better friends each year after. He and the rest of the boys hung out with me only because I was A's girlfriend. I was always around and they put up with me.
Our senior year was full of chaos, breakups, and my gaining custody of the boys. We officially became the Circle of Friends and they officially became "my" boys.
I can tell you that my friend JRD became like an angel our senior year. He talked me through many a hard time. I was thankful for him. I can never explain just how much that meant to me!

So, years later, JRD and I are still friends. He just went for an interview recently for a really great job... Here are some things he should have put on his resume...or at least some reasons for you to want to get to know him!

1. He is the cleanest person I know. When he was little, he stood OUTSIDE the sand box so he wouldn't get dirty... I kid you not!
2. He has very fresh breath.... Ask his wife... he brushes his teeth like every 20 minutes!
3. He has a dry, witty sense of humor. More than once, I have snarffed a drink all over the place because he made me laugh, mid-drink.
4. He is well read and can have a conversation about just about anything!
(he really can talk about things besides the book of common prayer, I promise)
5. He is the most spiritual person I know.
6. He has a favorite font. How many other people can say that?
7. He has a very lovely wife whom I dearly love.
8. He had the coolest wedding on the planet... and I got to have a little part of it.
9. He is the one we all go to for deep talks. He is the one we lean on in times of trouble. We only hope we have done the same for him.


Happy birthday my dear friend. I wish you many many more!!!

Another Quiz...

Those of us Pirates and even some non pirates have been taking quizzes lately... What is your pirate name? How evil is your blog? (How in the world can my blog be 62% good when Hugh's blog is 78% good??? hee hee) What useless talent are you? (I was Latin) What old classic movie are you most like? ( I was the Godfather... Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday)

And those have been fun and all...
Here is a new quiz for ya. Something that came from The Message...

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil;hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Help the needy, be inventive in the hospitality.
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Romans 12:10ish...
The Message

So, how do you rate? I don't know about you but I would be getting a pretty bad score recently.
The one that really kicked me in the butt: Don't be the great somebody. How many times do I need to remind myself that? How many times do I feel the need to be the great somebody. "Hey everybody... look at me!"
I swear I need sticky notes of that one all over my office! OH and the NO cursing under your breath business... hmmm.
Geeze!
I am working hard on being a friend who loves deeply, even when I am not so fond of my enemies.
It will take time, but it will come. More practice in the Hula Boola for me.
Until then friends, how do you rate?

pamper yourself...

My nose has been in a book for the last few weeks. I haven't had time to do the fun things that I love. I haven't had a chance to hang with the knit wits, talk to and be silly with the pirates, even hang out and say goodnight to BT! Ugh, life is crazy!
So I treated myself today. I looked at my droopy hair and my sloppily painted toes (the old nail polish was aptly named "computer geek") and decided I needed something different!
So, I went between meetings and got a hair cut and some brand new cutie cute toes!
I had never had a pedicure before this summer.
What a treat they are!!! I love them! I am hooked now!
Here is wishing something small like a new hair cut or new toes will help bring some light into your day too!


p.s. I took 5 photos of my feet and none of them turned out right. They don't look that freaky in real life do they?
I will try to post photos soon of the cute toes!

Ahhh Summer! Bye old friend! I will miss you!
Now heat, go away!!!

NO BIG SHOCK HERE!!!

My pirate name is:

Captain Bess Bonney

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

I make scarves.

Yeah, you know I learned to knit this summer. It has become a great way for me to relax after a long day. It is a time killer when I am bored out of my mind, which lately hasn't been so often. And it has been a way to hang with friends. My Knit Wit group rocks.
When we get together, we have to find the comfiest chairs... so we usually go to Starbucks, although I hate coffee. What they lack in their supply of tea, certainly they make up for in the comfy chair department, so I go.
We sit and talk about stuff.
Breezy is the teenager of the group, so she usually fills us in on the life of a high schooler and we just laugh and laugh and remember the days. Tracy and I just are thankful we don't have to re-live being a teenager. We listen to music from the ipod and sing quietly. I mean, Starbucks has their share of freaks, they don't need us to add to the numbers.
We laugh and laugh till at least one of us cries. A prank call to Aaron (of The Story of Anthony) always happens. Poor Aaron! I don't know why we pick on him, but we do!
We each come with our own project to work on and we help each other out. Breezy is still learning, so she is making sample potholders. Tracy makes baby booties and kid outfits.
I love making hats, so I am usually working on one or the other, but now I am about to start working on a Polly sweater for Hugh. We love hanging with each other and being part of a group.

It all began though, our little group, with the scarves.

Let me explain. My friend Tracy hasn't been my friend for very long, so the details of this story are sketchy at most.
I will tell you the little that I know, and maybe you will understand.
Tracy was sort of a wild child in her younger days. She was in love with a boy and was dating him when he decided to move to Texas. She followed him here and then not long after, he stopped calling her. He just left.
That was the biggest gift he could have given her though because she found Steve. Steve is such a great guy! They married and not long after they were married, Tracy discovered she had ovarian cancer. It was serious.
She needed surgery and chemo stat! So it happened and these newlyweds, still glowing from the new union, had to realize rather quickly that they would not have a baby of their own. Steve had to walk every day through the nursery in the hospital, to get to his sick wife. Life creates the cruelest jokes sometimes.
Tracy has healed and now they are hopeful about adoption. They have filled out paperwork and gone though all the steps to adopt a baby from one of the Russian orphanages.
They know that at any minute, they could be called to go to Russia to pick out their baby. They also know that they must bring gifts to all of the orphanage workers. What a racket.
So, we make scarves. We make them for the workers and for the kids and for everyone Tracy needs to impress when she goes to Russia. We make scarves because we love Tracy and Steve and want them to have a gift from heaven.

The news from Russia is not good. They have stopped adoptions recently. The scarves just sit, ready for cold necks. The babies wait for parents while the government gets itself sorted out.

Until then, we will continue to knit scarves, baby blankets and little booties. We will sing and laugh and prank call Aaron. We will love each other and pray. That is the best we can do.

I literally work in a closet most of my day. I have an actual office, but I am never there. So as I sit in the closet, and as I travel between classrooms, I hear and see lots of interesting things.

Things I heard/saw today...
* The picture above is a gift from my little friend from "Nahlens". Notice the happy face? Notice the blue skies. He is healing so beautifully. :) I look forward to seeing his smiling face every day.

* ANTS!!! This morning, I discovered my closet is infested with ants. Could it be the fact that I eat lunch back there every day? hmmm... Anyway, I noticed a nice little line of ants, all going to one location, all working together. Then, there was this one ant... wandering away from the group. I thought, "You go little wandering ant!"
In life, I feel like that ant most of my life! I am either wandering away from the group because I am being defiant, or just because I don't know what the heck I am doing... Usually the latter, is the case. No matter what, I admired that little wandering ant.
I feel your pain, friend.

* Walking in the hallway, I saw a little boy peeking his head out of the bathroom. As soon as he saw me, he sang at the top of his lungs..."I feel good, na na na na na na na."
Yeah, honey, somedays after going to the bathroom, I am ready to sing that too!!

* From a substitute trying to teach safety..."If you get hit by a car, you might die, and that would be sad." uh, yathink?

* From the classroom next door, "What color IS Miss Muffett?" -isn't that up there with "what color is God"? Wouldn't we ALL like answers to that question that keeps us up nights!

* Thirty bright shining fifth grade faces tonight at the PTA meeting all singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
I was a slobbery, crying mess by the end of the song!

Hi. My name is Susie and I am a control freak.

they say the first step is admitting...

Say it slowly... I can do better. I don't need to take control...of everything.
I will not try to take over someone's classroom.
I will not make teachers cry.
I will be nice and represent the Hula
Boola to the best of my ability.

Scars...


Ok, here is a newsflash. I am not the most graceful person on the planet.
I try not to wear white shirts any more since every white shirt I own these days has some sort of stain on it.
I run into things, too, all the time as a matter of fact. I am considering a big padded bumper for the foot of the bed.
Hey, what's that bruise on your leg? Oh, the one that is the same height as the bed? Well, the corner of the bed moved in the middle of the night and attacked me.
So, this summer, on the mission trip, we did some climbing. Not huge mountain climbing mind you, just some treading on slickish rocks. So, surprise surprise, I fell.
I can actually hark back to the scene. I was trying hard to walk as carefully as I could, but something happened. My footing was off and I slipped. I didn't fall far, but I fell hard. My camera came crashing down on the rock and so did my butt and my right arm. All got bruised pretty badly.
Soon enough, I got bandaged, on flat land, and chastised by a bunch of teenagers for being so clumsy. Nothing like being chastised by teenagers to make you feel old and stupid. Oh and thank goodness this happened at the beginning of the mission trip so I could hear about it all week! What great fun that was!

So, three months later, the bruise on my butt has healed but the scar on my arm from the fall is still there.
I have been looking at that scar recently. I could get some "stuff" and make it heal, or I could leave it there. It is sort of a battle scar for me. A memory of sorts.
It becomes a division of time, in a sense. Did you know me before or after I met B? Before or after I moved to Indiana? Before or after the scar? See? It is a mark in time.

Today is September 11th... another passage of time. Everyone always says, "Where were you when you heard the news? Do you remember what you were doing?"
I remember I was giving my first graders a test and wondering if my husband and pen pal were all right.
September 11th changed our lives. It changed our world in so many ways. It made us angry. It made us stop trusting. It made us realize that we were vulnerable to our enemies. It also created heroes of great proportions.

Katrina is similar... life will be different now. Because of Katrina, people are living in churches, at homeless shelters, in major sports arenas. I know that Katrina has changed lives and has totally taken away more than I can imagine. Our schools are full and the town seems to be busting at the seams with so many bodies. Like I said before, Texas has opened up it's Big Tex sized arms and said, "Come on in y'all! Pass the fajitas!"
But that is the greatest part! I think it has given us hope. It has made us gain faith, and forced us to become the face of God to strangers. It is making us love, accept and grow. It is making us work together and wrap our loving arms around each other and heal each other.

My arm won't ever be the same again after that fall. I am convinced of that. Neither will we as people be the same again. Hopefully, because of this, we will learn, grow, and open up our hearts to each other like never before. We will mark our lives by those scars.... and we will be better for them.

Annie... Pet Art from Hugh...






More Art... this time from Hugh... Man Genius... and BESTEST of all!!!
Isn't this awesome????
:) He rocks!!!

just some art given to me recently from the Boy Genius.
:)
I love that little man!

My MOM...

There is no other way to put it... my mom is.... EXTRAVAGANT.
I had to check the spelling twice by the way!
My mom is so awesome and since today is her birthday, I thought I would create a little ode to her.

My mom and I have been pals for a long long time. My poor dad sometimes feels slighted, knowing that when I call the house, it is really to talk to mom and he becomes the middleman in the process.
My mom is incredibly intelligent. She gave me my love of books and my thirst for knowledge.
She reads entire encyclopedias for goodness sakes!

Me: Hey mom, what are you doing?
Mom: Oh, nothing much, just reading.
Me: Really, something new and cool?
Mom: oh yeah it is cool but not so new...
I am reading all of the Ms in the World Book.
It is great!

Yeah, that is a real conversation I would have with my mom.

She was a speech and drama teacher for years and years so who can even wonder where I got my sense of style? I wear the tap shoes and she wears the medieval capes.
Then, she became an elementary principal. Let me tell you, that was a shocker... going from attitudinal high school kids to kindergarteners that pee all over the place! But she did it in style. I never worked for her, but I have a feeling I would have liked her as a principal. She knew that what was important was teaching kids. She did everything in her power to make sure that happened.

Then, she retired and spends her time making quilts, playing with her crazy cat, teaching adults how to read, and singing in the church choir, and organizing her things. Yeah, she is a Virgo... we forgive her if her cans are organized by color in her pantry and her spices are alphabetical. We love her anyway.

But I think the most incredible thing about my mom is how great she did with me. As busy as she was with speech tournaments and play competitions, and teacher crap, she never never never made me feel unimportant. She always worked really hard to make me feel special, loved, and important. And she works really hard to do that with everyone she meets.

So, this is my turn to make her feel that same way. I don't tell her enough just how awesome she is...
So mom... here is your zoom song, and know just how EXTRAGAVANT you really are!!!
(Yeah, I know it is spelled wrong!)

I love you!

Scrapbooks...

I love me a road trip in the springtime. Everything smells fresh and clean and the wind can flow through your hair as you speed down the highway admiring the bluebonnets. But it isn't spring. It is still considered summer here in Texas and it is hot. H...O...T hot.
So a road trip wasn't really on my to-do list this weekend but since my mom's birthday is coming up soon, we decided to take advantage of the days off to go see her. (yeah for mom!!! b-day post coming soon!!!)
Another purpose for the trip was to sort through boxes of my crap that my parents don't feel like storing any longer for me.
They figure I have my own garage. I can store my own stuff.
Ugh. Close minded thinking!
hee hee.
So, I went through photo albums and scrapbooks, from eighth grade all the way to college. At first, I was ready to pitch them all... put them all in the trash. But no one would let me.
"One day," they said, "you will want that stuff, you will want your memories." I don't think so, but I kept them anyway.
I looked through those books a bit and laughed and remembered great times. I remembered crappy times and got angry all over again.
Now I know why I don't scrapbook any more.

I looked at those books and thought about the people in my life who had come and gone. The pages of the scrapbooks filled with friends who took up my heart those days.
How silly I was and how stupid.

I went to church with my mom on Sunday. They are in the middle of a minister search so for now, they do with "fill ins" from around the area. I knew this visiting minister well. We had staffed Cursillo together. We had talked about Austin College (go roos!) and had laughed. I was excited to see him there, but knowing that he is an older man and knows lots and lots of people, I didn't figure he would remember me.
The service began and it was order as usual... a little singing here, a little praying there. Then it happened. Jack, the minister got up and before he read the scripture, he stopped and scanned the room... he looked directly at me and I smiled. He got bright red and smiled a huge smile back. Then, this 70+ age old man did the funniest thing. He sheepishly waved at me. Like the first graders do to me in the hall when they want to say hello but don't want to get in trouble by their teacher. It was cute. I sheepishly waved back and he began the reading of the scripture.

At the passing of the peace though, I was surprised to see him right at my side to give me a big hug. He didn't know my name, I knew, but he knew my face. I was a friendly face among the strangers.
I realized as soon as he looked at me that I had been placed into his emotional/mental scrapbook. I was sure glad to have been placed there!

I used to think my scrapbook was full...overflowing with friends, people I know who have shaped my life and have an imprint into my future. I didn't think there were any more pages available. I didn't think there was room in my heart for any more love. Boy was I wrong.
So, to my mom and dad, my BT and Annie, the CoF, Ging and Miles man...boy genius, the Knit Wits, the Westminster Youth Connection, Cursillistas, my Renewal Group, and my newly added, Pirates of Penance... thanks for the ride.
Thanks for filling my scrapbook even more. For you, I am truly thankful.

Hugh's Birthday!!! Yeah!!!!


So, my man Hugh is 44 today! Wow! What an amazing thing! And how many amazing things has he done in those short 44 years? I would love to sit on the back porch of my house with him and talk for hours!!! I would love that! Oh the things I would learn! He is my hero.
I imagine he is sitting in his apartment celebrating that birthday. Just for today, he is wearing his Hughman Super Hero cape, eating homemade cookies and drinking the Hughman superhero elixir of life... (With an umbrella of course).
He might have even risked giving away his mild mannered alter ego by marching himself to the dog park in that same cape.
You never know with that Hugh. And hiding underneath the superhero cape, you are sure to find a pirate tattoo of some sort, I just know it! ARRGGG!
If you don't know Hugh, you should. We all should.
He is one of the best writers I know. He can make you laugh, cry, and think so hard your head hurts, all in one blog. He has a way of looking at the world that I love.

Hugh is a teenager trapped in a 44 year old body that is for sure!
He is the class clown in the chat room. (I am certainly the most serious one there.)
He can also channel a teenage girl in no time flat. Hugh also knows all the cool kid popular culture references, and even is daring enough to make up his own.... Hula Boola... totes brill for sure!
Hugh is so cool, his favorite color is black... who else is cool enough to say that?... oh, and lime green! Now that is coolness personified!!! Hugh is so cool that his favorite food is not the normal, "Mexican, Italian" crap. Oh no. That Hugh loves him some sushi.
The best thing about Hugh is his enormous heart! It is brimming with love for everyone he meets, and lots he may never meet.
So, I have asked Hugh lots of questions lately, and he has kindly put up with them all... but I have a few more questions for him in the form of a song that I heard today... (I couldn't help but think of him!)
Lyrics have been changed a bit to fit... please forgive me!

To be that good, it must be taxin’
No such thing as satisfaction
You’re makin’ things happen while I’m relaxin’
Like a Sunday afternoon
My dad used to tell me I was lazy
I got dance moves like Patrick Swayze
I’m the left over turkey for the world’s mayonnaisey
The star next to the moon

Now I know I’m just here to amuse you
And I don’t mean to abuse you
But if I could just use you one time

Tell me what it’s like
To be the queen of it all
The Neiman Marcus of the Mall
And tell me what it’s like to be the one and only
All American Hugh


Every now and then I get to the kneelin’
To thank him for it all
But you probably got some inside connection
So many numbers that you gotta rolodex them
So much muscle that you never gotta flex them
To catch you when you fall

And I know I’m just here to amuse you
And I don’t mean to confuse you
But if I could just use you one more time

Tell me what it’s like to be the house on the hill
The number one diet pill
And tell me what it’s like to be the one and only
All American Hugh


And I know you’re not here to amuse me
But you sure know how to confuse me
So if I could just ask you once again

To tell me what it’s like to be a star on the rise
A breakfast cereal prize
And tell me what it’s like to be the one and only
All American Hugh
The All American Hugh
The all amazing crazy Hugh...



The thing is, Hughman IS the all American. He is the breakfast cereal prize...the bee's knees, THE HULA BOOLA!!!
I love you Hughman! Happy birthday!
Here is your zoom song.

The president of your fan club...
Susiederk.

:)

it is almost midnight my time, which means it is almost Hugh's b-day!
Look for a blog to take this space very soon...
my ode to the hughman.
Susie

The kids are coming in... The rains may have washed them out of Louisiana and Mississippi, but Texas has wrapped its big texas size arms around them and said, come on! We will teach your children. We will love them and support them as we do our own. So they came today. By the dozens into our classrooms. All with parents who said the same exact words, "we lost everything... Please take care of my child." And we did. And will will continue to...


I guess that is the best I can do right now for the world...

Just Stuff.....

I guess about six years ago, the Circle of Friends were all gathered in Mullin, Texas for our annual New Years Eve gathering. We spent some time doing the usual heart-felt but cheesy toasts, to one another, to friends far away, to... blah blah blah. Then the question came up..."what was the best thing about this past year?" As we went around the table, lots of things were mentioned... new cars, new computers, new stuff. Then it was BT (the older and wiser member of the CoF) who spoke up and said, "you know, all of those things that you mentioned, the computer, the car... they are all great things... but they are just stuff. We need to spend time thinking about our year and whom we loved and how we touched other people's lives. Stuff comes and goes, but our friendships, that is what really matters in the world." Boy, were we feeling stupid.


Tonight, I came home griping about the master’s class I enrolled in. I griped about people I work with, I griped about my headache and my hungry belly and the coming of a head cold. I griped and griped and griped, and then I turned on CNN. I sat and stared at the devastation of it all. How stupid had I just been? I got to come home to medicine, a warm bed, the smell of cooking food, a roof over my head, and most importantly, my husband who loves me and listens to me gripe about my petty crap.
I watched the news and realized it wasn't just the "stuff" that people were worried about...it was their relationships with others. It was their family members and their friends. It was the important things that they worried about. And it made me feel sick to my stomach.
I pray tonight for forgiveness for being so petty in time of crisis. I pray for the people who have been affected by Katrina. I pray that they will find comfort with friends and family, as they sort through the "stuff" of their lives. I pray that we can all gain perspective, just like BT tried to impart that New Years Eve. I pray that those precious children of God will be able to rebuild and gain strength and hope. I just pray. I hope you will too.

Another Birthday... These never end!!!

Seems like when I started this, I didn't realize what I was getting myself into. EVERYONE I know has a birthday coming up. This birthday thing may last a while friends. Bear with me.

I was telling someone the other day that this past year, I have managed to get to know three people who are going to seminary, and like about a million ministers. I need to be hanging out in seedier places for sure! So, I have learned something from all of this... ministers are people too. They have issues just like the rest of us.
They have bad days and days when they are tired and grumpy and frustrated with the world. They worry about finances and jobs and the world just as much as the rest of us.
Some days are good and they love their jobs. Other days, they would like to scream, curse and run away as fast as they can. hmmm. Sound familiar?

So, this person who is celebrating a birthday on Friday is someone I only know through chat and her blog, but she is someone who has made me really realize that preachers are people too.
You need to meet her... I promise you would like her. Her name is rev stacey and she has a blog here...

Ok, Stacey is a first year minister and she is still in her 20s. She lives in New York somewhere in the boonies... too far away from civilization to be able to order pizza delivery. She lives with an enormous, I mean gigantic dog. She is going through life one day at a time in her job. She loves it some days, hates it other days, but mostly, I think she is just trying to get by... and listen to God the best way she knows how. I think she is worth getting to know. I know that in the real world, in real life, she and I could be friends... or else she might sick that gigantic dog on me!!!

Stacey, here is your zoom song... enjoy!

I HEART BOOKS!!!


Rev Stacey has kindly added me to her list of links. Trust me friends, if I had a clue how to add links, I would be adding all kinds of people. :)
She also tagged me with this little questionaire about myself. Considering the fact that I write about myself all the time, this shouldn't be a stretch, but it really was!

1. Number of books owned: uh, millions? billions? mostly children's picture books which I love. My mom is to blame for my love of books. Amazon thanks you too, mom...

2. Last book bought: David Sedaris audiobook. This thing cracks me up! Also Stichin' Bitch, the knitter's guide.

3. Last book completed: Uh this is a hard one. As a reading teacher, I don't actually read. Well, I read lots of kid's books, but nothing substantial. I have about 6 or so books that I am in the middle of.. I guess Harry Potter #7 I actually finished....wow! Go me!!!

4. Five or more books that mean a lot to me:
Real live Preacher.com is the best! I refer to the stories all the time!
World According to Chuck, because it is also great writing and he signed it for me! Love that!
Any of the Mitford Series. I love that little minister man.
Reading Recovery guidebook... it is my Reading teacher bible.
About the Author... a great guide for teaching writing in the K-1 classroom.
Who's Mouse are you? my favorite book of childhood. Lots of great memories in that book!

5. Four bloggers I am passing this on to...
my friend Jay... so he can write about himself and not about the book of common prayer.
My BFF ginger... she is a fantastic writer... this will force her to do some writing.
My friend David Mahfood... because no matter what, he is a deep thinker and he can turn this whole quick question thing into a study on religion for sure.
Paula...because even though I just met her, we are soul sisters for sure.

Another Birthday Zoom Song...

please scroll down and read about the zoom song before reading this.
Annie...

There is Annie hiding in the monument to slactitude...

Well, the vet told us August was when Annie must have been born, so I figured I would write a little birthday zoom message to her as well...
The school I worked in when I first met Annie was quite old and had some really strange classrooms. The only doors to the rooms were from the outside. Hallways were for wimps.
I arrived at work, early as usual, and noticed several kids outside messing with something in the bushes. Now, as a teacher, the sight of several third and fourth grade boys messing with something in the bushes is, as a rule, never a good thing.
So, I got ready to face the chaos and went over to talk to them.
There in the tree was the tiniest little kitten ever! She was full of fleas and as thin as she could be. She was so tiny she could actually fit in the palm of my hand. I took her away from the mean older boys and took her inside the school. What was I going to do with this little thing? I couldn't leave her out there for more kids to come up and torture. I had to do something. Luckily, we had a little atrium in our school where she could go and we could keep her safe during the day. But then, what would we do with her after school was over?
I felt responsible! I had found this little thing! I was going to have to take her home. I made the call home and prepared for the worst. Here I was, the cat person, calling the dog person in the family, to break the news that we would be having a cat come live with us. Needless to say, BT was not pleased. But he did go to the store and purchase all the needed supplies for her to live comfortably at our house.
On the drive home, she slept in a box the entire time. I was so worried she was sick... I just knew she wouldn't make it.
As soon as we arrived home, BT made her a bath and gave her medicine for the fleas. She didn't move or fight when we put her into the water. We fed her, we loved her, and we watched fleas jump for their lives to avoid the medicine on her body. Neither one of us thought she would make it.
She was that sick. But something happened because once the fleas were gone and she got some good food in her, she was like a different kitten. She was running all over the house jumping and playing and being silly. She became our cat from that moment on!
That first Christmas when BT was gone the whole month of December, Annie and I became best friends. She slept on his side of the bed and looked after me as much as she could. She and I bonded. She was sure not happy when BT came back home! Her side of the bed was being taken over again. When she was little, she slept so that her body was leaned against my heart. I loved that.
Annie is no longer the teeny tiny little kitten with huge bat ears. She is big and fat and lazy and takes up half the bed, but she still sleeps right at my heart... right where she belongs.

Birthdays and the Zoom Song...

When I was little, my parents bought me one of those super cool floppy 45 records, that played the coolest song I know.
It was MY song. It had MY name in it and it was about some space captain named Zoom who was flying through space just to wish me a happy happy birthday.
I think I played it like a million times. Especially on my birthday of course!
Once I got to high school, I was too cool for such childish things and that floppy record went away.
Then college came and my friend Julie had that same record. This time, Zoom was talking to her... it had her name in it.
Once I got over the initial shock of not hearing MY name...(what??? Zoom sings to everyone???) I grew to like that silly song again. Now, whenever someone in my family has a birthday, we call each other up and sing the zoom song to them!
Unfortunately, I am way too lazy to actually buy the actual CD, so I don't know all of the words...only the ones posted in the little snippet on the internet. So, thankfully it is usually pretty short when sung.
I got to realizing last night that lots of significant people's birthdays are coming up or had just recently passed. Since they might find me calling them in the middle of the night singing the Zoom song a bit odd... I think I will do this instead...
Here is some info about people I know and love, who's birthdays are coming up or have just passed, and why you would like them too...

Consider it a cooler version of the zoom song...

Meet My DAD...
Maynard...yep, that's his name... that's what I call him anyway. NO one else calls him that but me.
His birthday was in June and I didn't get to see him on his birthday. He has the unfortunate luck of having his birthday before or on father's day every year. But, I guess that means more gifts for him.
My dad is the oldest of three kids, so that comes with lots of responsibilities. He has a great way of calming the waters when things are tense or crazy with his brother and sister. He also has the job of taking care of my grandfather, which is a full time job sometimes. He is so kind and sweet with my grandfather. You should see him! As much as my grandfather drives us all crazy, my dad is so patient and kind and willing to help him.
My dad is an incredibly smart guy. Although it was never diagnosed, I swear my dad has ADD and Dyslexia. He thought he was dumb in school because he had such a hard time reading. That didn't keep him from doing what he loved though. He became a teacher, and a principal and eventually retired as the Director of Fine Arts for the school district. Not too shabby for a guy with some reading problems. He is one reason I do what I do now... teach struggling readers. My dad didn't have it easy in school. He didn't have someone to focus him and help him when he struggled.
My dad is a great speaker. He loves to tell stories. You should see his face light up when he starts to tell stories. Some stories are not necessarily even close to the truth, which I guess helps since he is a fisherman and a golfer. :)
I can remember fondly walking down the dirt road with my dad, hand in hand. His big hand engulfing my little one. I remember looking at those two hands and knowing that he would always take care of me. Always.
My dad is a pretty great guy. He has a heart of gold and he means well. He would do anything for anyone and I love him a lot!!

There's your zoom song dad!!!



Ginger

I almost forgot Ginger's birthday since it was the beginning of August and I got involved in getting myself ready to go back to work! I meant to call her on her birthday too and force the Zoom song on her, but I don't know what happened. I suck.
So hope this helps...
Ginger and I met in college. We weren't really friends though until senior year when she moved in across the hall from me in the dorm. We hit it off and became pretty good friends, but not what I would consider close. She was part of the Circle of Friends though, so we were at things together. I fondly remember spring break of our senior year when we decided to rebel and not go home. We stayed with the boys instead and hung out at their apartment. I can remember being shocked when she washed her bra and hung it up in the boy's bathroom for all to see. I don't know why that really shocked me so much at the time. What a prude I was back then!
Ginger and I have become really close friends within the past ummm... 4 years now? She moved to Texas and I fell in love with her little red headed son. He is my bestest friend on the planet. If they didn't live 2 hours away, I would see that little Miles man every weekend! I love him so much!
Ginger is a fantastic writer. She is the kind of writer I want to be like when I grow up. She can take words and use them to make something that was ugly into something totally beautiful. She has a gift for that. A knack! She is my fashion guide and help. "Ging, I am going to some semi formal thing... what the hell does semi formal mean these days??? I am a teacher! I wear khakis on a regular basis!"
Ging calms me down and talks me through my fashion issues. She is also my positive influence. She is always looking on the bright side of things, when I want to just scream and yell and throw a temper tantrum, she is always there with a positive comment.
She and I have exchanged official BFF necklaces... the one with the half of the heart. Not really, but I know that if I ever needed her, she would be there... and I hope she would feel/say the same thing about me!!!

KNIT HAPPENS...

I taught myself to knit this summer. It wasn't hard, it wasn't time consuming, and it was fun to learn. Really, thinking back on it, I have no idea why I decided this would be a good hobby for me.
I am a crafty person to a certain extent. I stink at sewing, so any sort of project like that is out. I used to scrapbook, then I ran out of patience, and space. I used to create things with polymer clay. Yeah, other than the nativity scene I made out of that clay, there were very few useful things I actually made. They were all cute and lovely, but sort of silly and not of any worth or value. Then, I moved on to jewelry making. That was the cool kid craft at the time and I loved picking out really pretty glass beads and things. Problem was, I never officially learned how to make jewelry, and sort of made it up as I went along, so my bracelets always seemed to fall apart at the most inopportune times... in the middle of a friend's wedding for instance. So, I sucked at jewelry making, pretty much.
Then I got a new computer and realized that I could make movies! Oh, fun! I took all of the old movies of our annual New Years Eve events, edited out all of the stupid things I did, accentuated all the crazy things my college friends did, and created our own little "Best of" movies. Those were pretty cool. I still watch the trailer I made for them when I am in need of a hearty laugh. I still like making movies and already have two more movies to work on this year.
But, it is not something a person could do everyday as a hobby.
So, I needed to find a good use for my ADD and my hands. So, I picked knitting.
The funny thing is, it turned out to be less of a hobby and more of a study in people once I got into it.
I realized that there is an unspoken knitter's club. We have a secret handshake and password.
Once, I was staring at the needles in the middle of Hobby Lobby one day when I noticed a lady, in her 50s or so walking down the isle. I don't know what in the world compelled me to stop her and ask questions, but I did.
She was so nice and so helpful. I was instantly joined into the fold of knitters. She told me secrets and plans for taking over the world with knitting... I would tell you but ...
No really, she taught me all kinds of things! And by the end of the time, this once perfect stranger had given me her phone number and hugged me as she walked away. That was when I knew I was IN, baby!

Once you say, "I'm a knitter. I can purl and everything," you are an official card carrying member of the club. So, I thought I was pretty cool. I became a knitter... the hipster of the crafting world. :)
Then I made the mistake of telling my friends. I should have known that those you love would take things the hardest...

"Hey, when we go to the lake for the fourth, I am going to take some knitting. Want me to knit you a beer koozie? I just learned how to make them! What color you want me to bring?"
My friends were dumbfounded...
I might as well have told them I was putting myself in an old-folks home. Suddenly, in their eyes, I became like a million years old, the grandma from Loony Toons sitting in her rocker knitting. And I guess they thought I was kidding... because when I showed up at the lake with my little knitting bag and a blue knitted beer koozie just for them, they were all freaked out.
"OH, you really DO knit. You weren't kidding about that." Those were actual words from a few people.
I wanted to say, "NO, I really don't knit. I was just kidding. This bag, these needles, they are all a big plot to trick you...I guess it worked... ha ha to you!"
Ugh.
I have learned from that, that I need to not spring the news of my knitting all at once, but do it gradually. I have begun sneaking my knitting out of my bag during several occasions just to "feel the waters". You never know how people will take the news... but a big part of me wants to announce to the world... KNIT HAPPENS... Deal with it....you might get a nice scarf out of the deal.

It's a small world after all.

Yeah, I know... silly phrase makes you imagine those scary Disney dolls all singing and dancing in their syrupy sweet robotic, Stepford Children sort of way... sorry. Erase that image from your mind please and bear with me here...

Let's hark back shall we? (wavy screen) To a time about 9 years or so ago. The internet still had that "new car" smell and the world was not as harsh back then. Those were the good old days when kids could run out and play on the information superhighway unharmed. Back when, yes there was always porn, but it wasn't on every world wide web street corner.
When surfers were innocent. Back then... it was different.
My computer geek friends were scattered in all regions going to Grad school and I was in El Paso and I was bored... really bored and lonely, trying to find my place in the world, and missing them. So they patiently taught me about the world of chatting. They taught me to LOL and to ROFL. They taught me BTW, BRB, and even WTF (mom, don't ask about that one) and it was there that we caught up with each other's lives. I loved chatting. It was my way of reaching a big hand out and giving my college friends a hug. It was my way, as the only girl of the group, to keep tabs on those boys. It was new, fun, and exciting. I loved it.
And then I got hooked! I was chatting all the time. I was chatting the day the bomb went off in Oklahoma. I got to hear first hand what happened there and what it looked like, from chatters who were there. Made me feel like I was there too, feeling the pain, experiencing the horror right along side them.
And boy did I play with my "handle", my user name... we all did. LT would be Calvin, or Spaceman Spiff, or one of the other Calvin and Hobbs characters and so I settled pretty well on Susiederk... for Susie Derkins of course... nemesis to Calvin. LT would bug me and I would just shake my head and think, what a strange kid that one is... so it fit.
I was Susiederk. It was settled.

Then one day, as we chatted, some mysterious person came into our little chat room. His "handle" was BT224... and he seemed kind of nice. He was funny! That was what attracted me to him. He was funny!
He and I had the same sense of humor and we got along great.
We talked every night, like clockwork. Poor thing, he was working a crazy shift at work and would get 3 or 4 hours sleep a night just because he wanted to talk to me instead of sleep. He was a crazy man.
We talked about everything under the sun. We got to know each other... better than any couple would if they were going to the movies or dinner on dates. We became best friends. And I knew, I really knew that I loved him. He was THE ONE.
And he still is.
Ahhh. the world of chat.

And once we got together in real life, we didn't really need chat. We tried chatting again later on, but it wasn't the same. The place and people weren't the same. It was a different place. Those times, they were a'changin'.
And we hadn't really gone back to chat much since then... till now.

Oh that RLP! He challenges us all the time doesn't he? He changes things on us all the time.
RLP now has a chat section. It is pretty fun. I do it every once in a while...
Who I am I kidding? I am hooked! So is BT although I am sure he would never admit it.
I don't know if it is because it reminds us of the "good old days" of chat or what, but it is great.
We were just talking a few minutes ago about how it feels like a little family in the room. Everyone belongs and everyone has something valuable to input... well MOST anyway. And I have made such great friends! I think fondly about people in that room and would consider them a friend. I hope they would think the same about me.

So, if you are thinking of joining the RLP chat, here are some hints to help you make the choice...

Things you need to know:
1. Don't consider in any way that it is all religion all the time. It is not. As a matter of fact, when some people are in there it is just chaos. Trashing the place out and stuff. It is nuts.
2. There is a crazy Jetson's game going on there. You may join if you wish but you may NOT use the following characters... dj, or elroy. Those are saved for the creators of the game.
3. Hugh cheats. He is a cheater who likes to make up his own rules. Deal with it. You will be happier for it.
4. rlp will show up every once in a while. When he does, always say, "look busy"... he likes it.
Also, don't expect that he will want to talk about religion. He is a real person too. He wants to make up crazy games and be silly just like us. He also doesn't ever stay very long. Deal with it.
5. Be prepared to meet famous people... and realize because they are famous, they like to make up their own rules to things... (see also #3) Appeals for autographs are accepted but not always granted.
6. Realize that the later it is, the crazier it gets in the chat room.
7. Know that there is no age limit to chatting. Some people chatting are kids. Watch your language please.
8. Understand that I am the one and only president of the Hugh fan club... THE saint of the HULA BOOLA... do not try to take my title. I will wrestle you to the ground. It won't be pretty.
9. Don't do it if you can't take the pressure. :) We mess with each other a lot in there. If you are thin skinned, stay home, sissy.
10. While David and JoKer are chatting, don’t even bring up the words church, religion, orthopraxy. You will get a big lecture on the history of the church thus far with charts and graphs and everything! Danger, Will Robinson. Avoid Avoid… unless you are into that thing.
So, now that you have the cool kid's inside scoop... go at your own risk.
Enjoy the ride!!!
:)

Just a quick note...
There is a big possibility that The Story of Anthony will be published...
in a real live magazine!
Presbyterian Today is sending me contracts to sign and everything!
Wow!
I will keep you posted!

Ode to a new school year...

Don't you just LOVE the smell of brand new crayons? I love to just open the box and sniff. I am sure to the outside world, I look like I am snorting something else, but I love new crayon smell.
I also love the look of new school clothes. They rock! Freshly pressed, not yet stained from the latest lunch special.
I can remember trying them on like a million times before the first day of school. I even did fashion shows for my dad. I would model them around the house like I was so cool. I am sure my dad was thinking, "yeah, whatever... that's a pink skirt...woohoo" but I thought I was the coolest!
And don't even get my started on the new backpack...pencils, erasers, and such. Oh and the big chief notepad. If you are too young to remember the big chief notepad, you are really missing out! That thing always made me feel so grown up, walking in with my new pink skirt, my freshly sniffed crayons, and my big chief notepad. I was the bomb baby!
I think that is why I am a sucker even now for the school supply section of major department stores.

And thinking back, I can remember just how excited, but tremendously nervous I was to be there that first day. My mom worked in the school district, I knew all the teachers and they knew me... but I would still pray that the first day of school I wouldn't have to speak, for fear of my newly eaten breakfast being tossed as soon as I opened my mouth!
There is nothing like that feeling on the first day of school. Nothing...
So, let's raise a glass of Kool-aid to the kids...the ones who are headed to school this next week and those unfortunate souls who have already begun.
You, my friends, are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Remember that! Learn a lot because you are our future and really, our present.
Don't let us down... and sniff a few crayons, just for the heck of it!

I just spent hours chatting with some friends tonight (B was watching football which is code for napping on the couch) ... blog friends, but friends.
We talked about writing and how no matter what, we all just need to write. Crap or not, just write.
So, I am going to really work harder at writing.
Funny how as a teacher of writing, I don't do enough writing on my own.
My goal this year is to change that.
So, let's try this out.
:)
special thanks to Hugh. I meant it when I said I was official queen of your fan club!
N

The story of Anthony

You could tell just by looking at him he had had a hard life. He was weathered and worn and dirty. He was street smart and rough. And he certainly wasn't sure what was going on at his house when we, the adults and youth of Westminster Presbyterian Church showed up that day. He knew though, that he didn't need any help. He knew that and told us that for sure, several times.
As we began work, we watched him kick the dog and curse it out. That was the beginning of our introduction to Anthony and his use of language. As we got to know him, we also realized that he had quite the vocabulary. He would let all sorts of words fly. He was no stranger to shit, or damn, ass, or hell. He had no embarrassment about using these words around us. It was as if those were things every person said on a daily basis.
"Do you get to cuss?" he asked one of the kids from our youth group... "my grandma let's me cuss." And yeah, we were no strangers to those words, but never coming out of a four year old mouth. Yes my friends, Anthony is four years old.

You see, God chose our little group of youth to work on several houses in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. We went to the Garcia house where we painted and helped repair windows and doors. We met twin boys there named Jesse and James and their cousin named Jasmine. We got to know these kids and love them, but our attachment to Anthony was quite different.

Anthony lived with his Grandma and Grandpa and his 10 year old aunt and his little sister. We think his mom lived there too although I don't think any of us saw her. Dad was in jail and according to people who knew, he was a bad bad man and would be there for a long time. Anthony was in need of serious male role models in his little four year old life, so it was no surprise that he attached himself instantly to 14 year old Aaron.
Anthony became Aaron's shadow, working hard to convince Aaron to quit doing that work on the house, "leave it to the girls to do," and come play with him. He wanted Aaron to ride bikes with him and skateboard with him and talk about boy stuff with him.
He was Aaron's buddy. And Aaron was so good with Anthony. So sweet, so kind, so giving, so understanding. And they worked together pretty well. When Aaron got breaks from work, he could be seen adjusting Anthony's bike seat, or talking to him about not hitting the dog, or other people.
Before we left that Wednesday, Anthony had invited Aaron to spend the night with him. When Aaron kindly declined saying that he was going to have to go out to dinner with the group, Anthony invited the whole group over to dinner and to spend the night saying, "I got crackers. You guys can eat dinner here."
The next day, we were ready for work once more and there was Anthony ready for us to be there.
He was still in yesterday's outfit and as dirty as ever. He followed Patrick and Aaron around like they were movie stars.
He was there to hold nails and move things that were in their way. He liked Patrick, but Aaron had really become his best pal.
That Thursday, Cathy, the minister from First Presbyterian Church Ruidoso came to check on us. Anthony was sitting on a roll of wire inspecting our work and she sat on the hard, hot dirt to talk to him. She asked him if he knew why we were there. He didn't. She said that these kids and grown ups had been sent to his house to help him and his family. "We don't need no help," was his answer.
She said that these people came all the way from Texas to make his house better because they had been told to come by God. God, she explained, had brought us there. She then told him that whenever he needed help, no matter when, all he had to do was find a steeple. She drew one in the sand, and told him that he needed to look for a cross on the top. Whenever he needed help, was hungry, or didn't feel safe, he needed to find a place with a cross and a steeple and he just needed to walk in the door and say, "My name is Anthony and I know you will help me". She told him her church was the one right across from McDonalds but he didn't have to go there... He could go to any church and say that.
"My name is Anthony and I know you will help me."

At the end of our day, the last day of work there, we tried to prepare Anthony. We wanted him to understand that we, (most importantly, Aaron,) weren't coming back. As much as we tried, it was impossible to reason with that four year old mind. It was impossible for him not to feel like one more person was leaving him and his life. As Aaron said goodbye, Anthony kicked him, punched him, and angrily said, "Go then. Go away." But as we were packing up and walking back to the van, he ran up to Aaron and quietly said, "Could I hide in the back of the van and go with you?"


That evening, we were blessed by a concert at the church from California Baptist University. At one point in the evening, they looked at our youth kids, sitting in the front row and said, "so, we hear you are from Texas... what are you doing in New Mexico?"
Cathy then stood up and told the congregation about the community action project and how we had come on our mission trip to fix homes that would have been condemned. She praised our kids for their hard work and then said, "but tonight, we need to lift some big prayers up for Anthony. Anthony adopted this group and they adopted him this week and he needs some big prayers."
She handed the microphone back to the college choir expecting them to begin a prayer but they didn't pray. Instead, the leader of the group said, "we could pray for Anthony, but we don't know him very well. We think you guys should do the prayer," and handed the microphone without hesitation directly to Aaron.

Sweet sweet Aaron stood up and started in his teenager voice, the best prayer I have ever heard. It was a true conversation with God about Anthony and how much he needs His help in the world. At that very moment, I was so proud to know Aaron and so honored to have met brave, courageous Anthony and to have been a part of letting him know that he is a precious child of God.