today's word is moron

and that is all i have to say about that guy, well i could actually say more, but i try not to use words like that here and because my brother said some of them for me already.

God's peace y'all and perhaps a little understanding for kids with asthma and autism

thank you for the inconvenience

years ago, right after hubby and i got married, we moved to newark, nj for the year to do our internships. the year we moved there newark unseated detroit or washington dc (whichever it was then) as the most violent city in america. we never had any problems and actually loved living there. perhaps only the way newly weds can love a tiny apartment with crazy landlords and car alarms going off throughout the night.

i would travel to montclair, nj for my internship. montclair is the complete opposite of newark. it was affluent and well-to-do. the people who lived in montclair were highly educated and worked in corner offices in new york city.

hubby stayed in newark and split his time between a new mission and a church which had been around forever. the new mission was tri-lingual: english, spanish, and portuguese. the neighborhood we lived in was made up of mostly portuguese and brazilian people (many of whom weren't here legally.) the other church was in the hood and the stories the people there could tell would break your heart.

i loved all three communities.

one day we were out looking for something to eat at one of the local eating establishments in the hood. i can't remember which one we tried first, but when we pulled up to it there was a sign on the door explaining that they were closed for one reason or another. it then said, "Thank You for the Inconvenience."

strangely enough the word inconvenience was spelled correctly.

it has become a catch-phrase with hubby and me. one of those in-jokes that couples have. he knows exactly what i mean when i say it and vice-versa.

i had the opportunity to use it last night to describe my experience picking up prescriptions at our local cvs. i have been having terrible luck with them the last few times that i have had to deal with the pharmacy. we keep talking about switching to rite-aid, but cvs is closer and right next to several other stores we frequent.

i had 3 scripts to pick up and it took them so long to wait on customers in line ahead of me that i also had to buy the gummy worms inconveniently located right in the sight of the silent prince who i intended to get dinner for immediately following picking up our scripts.

by the time we got out of there and bought our dinner and took it home the prince was no longer interested in eating because he had consumed too many gummy worms.

he was a sticky mess and i decided to feed him the several different meds that he has to take (including the stool softener that i had to get for him and the antibiotics that he has to take for his up-teenth ear infection since having the tubes put in.)

so i give him his abilify (which is working great) and the laxative (which still hasn't worked yet) and then i go to get out the antibiotics from the little white bag and the only thing in the bag are two liquid medicine dispensers. i look at the bag again and notice that the word "fridge" is written on the bag, meaning that the antibiotics need to be refrigerated and were most likely still in the fridge at the cvs.

i look at the sticky silent prince who is so ready to take a bath and go to bed and say, "thank you for the inconvenience."

we go back to the cvs which is conveniently located two doors down from the liquor store and decided to make a pit-stop. smirnoff now makes cosmos, mojitos, and pomegranate martinis already conveniently mixed in bottles... thank you very much.

back inside the cvs we again waited in line, but this time i didn't put the prince in a cart so instead we stood there turning in circles while 5 employees slowly waited on one customer at a time.

sure enough the meds were in the fridge.

at least i got a pretty good cosmo out of the deal.

God's peace y'all

abilify

did you know that there are words that are copyrighted? i don't mean strings of words put together into sentences and paragraphs and stories. i mean individual words. i'm guessing the word ability is one of them otherwise the medication we have just started giving the silent prince would have been called: abiliTy rather than abiliFy.

we went to see the kids' doctor (fiscus) the other day. i periodically schedule these appointments because we never just get him when we go for sick visits or other little issues. he is an incredible guy and we knew from the moment we first met him that we wanted him to be our children's doctor. he spent about a 1/2 hour with us starting when he came out into the waiting room to call us back. i've never had a doctor do that before (with the exception of my chiropractor who really needs an receptionist.)

i had a list of things i wanted to go over with him including getting a prescription for pull-ups. (still don't know if the insurance will cover it or not.) one of the things that we wanted to talk about was putting the prince on meds which would help him focus and calm him down. the developmental pediatrician we had seen back in march had sugested doing this and we had finally gotten up the nerve to talk to fiscus about it.

he suggested that using something like riddlin would be counter-productive. meds like riddlin would help the prince concentrate more, but according to fiscus chances are he would start to concentrate on the behaviors we don't want him to do. autistic kids can become a bit ocd on things like riddlin and focus all their attention on things like banging their heads against a wall, or spinning, or flicking things, or any other stimming behavior that they do. (the prince doesn't bang his head... but he does bite and i'd rather he not concentrate all his energy on that behavior.)

so instead fiscus suggested that we try an anti-psychotic called abilify.

so far we are on day 3 and have had 2 side effects. the first side effect is that he has been a bit constipated. which means he has pooped once in 2 1/2 days. this from a kid who i have considered sticking a cork in his butt (only jokingly, don't call any hotlines on me) to keep him from going 5- 10 times a day. i think i have mentioned that poop is a major part of my life and i'd like to undergo a real life-change in this regard.

the other side effect is that every day so far he has taken a nap at about 4pm. he's sleeping right now. as i talked to the grandmom today about it she mentioned that he's really not too young to take naps. the fact of the matter is that he hasn't napped regularly since he was a baby. all this time... maybe he's been so hyper that he hasn't been able to nap when he has really needed to.

i'm really positive about this however. the fact of the matter is that i spent some time yesterday reading stories about people who put their autistic children on abilify and have seen unbelievable results. non-verbal children have even become verbal. and while i don't need my son to talk in order to love him or know that he loves me if this medicine is going to help him learn how to communicate better i will deal with the fact that he is napping in the afternoons and seems a little sluggish as his body adjusts to the meds.

he also has two loose teeth. i'm trying to figure out how i explain to the tooth fairy what to do with his teeth (whih hopefully will come out when i'm around and not when he's asleep.)

God's peace y'all

radio edit

in high school i was in the drama club. my freshman year we did a play with a lot of profanity in it. (though i can't remember the name of the play i remember the entire story) the art teacher who also doubled as our set designer was a born again christian and insisted that we change most of the words to something else. basically we had to step down every word to another curse word. the f word was changed to "screw" the s word was changed to "damn."

it was actually pretty comical how many times we had to relearn lines for the sake of his sensitive ears.

panic at the disco is one of my favorite bands. they have a song called, "i write sins not tragedies" which uses the phrase God-damn.

i love words even words that can be very ugly and feel that there is an appropriate place for all of them, especially in art. i can also curse like a sailor, but there are certain phrases that i would prefer not be played on the radio and this is one of them mostly because my kids are exposed to the same music i listen to.

so the other day i turned on my car radio because i forgot to bring along my ipod and this song came on. i expected an edit. what i didn't expect was which word they would edit. at first i thought i heard it wrong. sometimes when they bleep out a word you can still sort-of hear it, but then it happened again.

apparently "God" is the more offensive piece of that phrase because that's the word that was edited out.

it was like stepping down the phrase... we did the same exact thing in our highschool play with this particular profanity. but if the purpose of a radio edit is to clean up the language of a song then why choose "God" to be the word they clean up?

ah well...

*bleep* peace y'all

some welcome

i've been wicked busy since the princess kitty's birthday party and almost all of it was blog-worthy (especially the silent prince taking a hunk out of my friend's wedding cake before the pictures were taken.)

last week we spent in new hampshire at a place called camp calumet. we were all there (including the kids and mel our babysitter extraordinaire) for confirmation camp. which meant that we were there with a bunch of 12-14 year olds from all over new england. it was a great week and while there were some mishaps it went much better than i expected it to.

7 churches joined forces to teach all the kids about prayer and the kids really responded to what we were teaching. i talked about it in my sermon yesterday.

when we got to camp we were welcomed with songs, cheers, games, and an ice cream social. the next day when we gathered for our learning time we told the kids about a group of 16 year old boys who were travelling to calumet this week. there were supposed to be 10 of them from our companion synod the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. they were going to be at camp for a week then visit with some families and go see new york city before retuning to their homes in palestine.

except that only 5 boys were granted permission from the israeli government to leave their homes and travel here. there was no reason for them not to be allowed to come except that they are palestinian.

the kids we were teaching made them prayer beads, enough to give to the boys left behind and more to others living in that choas. we wanted them to know that we were praying for them.

the next day we were given an update. the 5 boys and their male adult leader had safely landed at JFK to make their connecting flight further north but had missed the flight.

because they were detained, questioned, and strip searched.

and to make matters worse there wasn't another flight for them to take until the next day, nor was their a hotel for them to stay in so they spent the night at JFK airport.

let me just contrast these welcomes one more time...

ice cream social --- strip search

sleeping in a cabin out in the woods --- sleeping on a chair in an airport

the kids at camp didn't understand at first why these boys were detained until i jumped up and got on my soap box.

it's because they were from... palestine
and most people from palestine are... muslim
and most people believe muslims are... terrorists

we could see it begin to sink in. 12-14 year olds get it. at 12-14 years of age they understand what it feels like to be judged based on how you look or how you act or where you are from or what you believe. they get it and they were as horrified and angry as i was.

and i hope they remember.

God's peace y'all

everybody was kung fu fighting - panda style

or... prepare for awesomeness!

even though the princess kitty turned 9 at the end of may we didn't have her birthday party until today. usually we do a joint party for both kids because they are about 1 1/2 months apart. this means that the princess kitty hasn't had her own birthday party since she was 2. (her brother was about 1 1/2 months old for her 3rd birthday).

she's asked for a theme party for years now and hubby and i have avoided it up until this year. i don't have any recollection of how i came up with the idea of a movie party, but that's what we did. she had 9 of her friends (though i was expecting 11) go to the movie theatre with her to see kung fu panda.

i've been stressing about this for weeks now. first of all... it's expensive. far more expensive than putting hot dogs and burgers on the grill and asking grandmom to bring a salad while the kids run around the back yard until it is time for cake.

at first we were going to see narnia; prince caspian, but wound up deciding that kung fu panda was a better choice. this is fine except that kung fu panda just came out and i wasn't sure of the exact showing time until yesterday. i put a deposit down weeks ago and was told that i could use the party room... no problem. i even stopped by the mall yesterday to make certain that we were all set since everytime i called or went by no one seemed very on top of things.

when i arrived there today with 10 minutes to set up there was another party going on in the party room. i was livid. i had been planning this for weeks and no one did more than write my name down on a scrap of paper and assure me that they would be ready for me when we arrived.

at 1:00pm, when the party was supposed to start, they were roping off a corner of the lobby next to the bathrooms and the video games for us to use and were setting up tables for us. i wanted to be mad, but the manager was so flustered because the other party was supposed to be there the week before and changed their plans and no one informed him that we were also coming. when i asked what my discount would be he told me he wouldn't charge me for the party room to which i responded, "that's good because i wouldn't pay you for the party room."

strangely enough after that everything was great. one mom stayed and they refunded her her money for the ticket she bought and moments before we were supposed to go in to see the movie they invited us to see a 3:00 showing and took us on a tour of the projection room where the manager showed us how movies are loaded onto these enormous projectors and then cut pieces of film and gave each girl a piece.

they then ate up $30+ (i lost track) of quarters playing video games and went in to see the movie each with a box of popcorn, drink, and skittles.

the movie was great except for the 1/3 of the middle that i missed taking girls to the bathroom. and best of all the princess kitty had a blast and said her day was, "AWESOME!" which fits perfectly with the tagline of the movie: prepare for awesomeness.

all the girls had a great time. and this just makes me so happy since the kitty has been having trouble with friendships in school. there weren't any spats or fights or tears. she even had 3 girls who she desperately wanted to come say they could come at the last minute. (one family had trouble with their answering machine and called us this morning hoping they could still come.)

and now one friend who she doesn't ever get to see is spending the night.

and i feel like a good mom who was able to make her daughter's day really special.

God's peace y'all!

HE DID IT!!!

one of the worst parts about having a child who is non-verbal is knowing how to potty train them. how do you teach a child how to go to the bathroom if they can't tell you they have to go?

this means that potty training is trip training. you just take them over and over again and hope they catch on. the bad part is trying to catch on as a parent to when they have to go so that no big messes are made.

we regularly have to clean up poop. it is G0d-awful. he doesn't understand that he shouldn't play with it and if we are in another room when he goes...

... well, like today. i was sitting in the kitchen reading jenny mccarthy's book about her son evan. someone had just given it to me yesterday and i am almost done it. the silent prince is home early because it is so horribly hot out that they had to dismiss school early.

he was fine one moment and by the time i read the next chapter i realized he was covered in what should be in his diaper. i took him upstairs, pulled his clothes off and stuck him in the tub then sat down on the toilet to read and keep my eye on him.

and don't you know that little bugger was pooping again. in the tub!!!

i pulled him out and put him on the potty. i want him to somehow get the connection between the toilet and what comes out of his butt.

and he started to pee. well, he's done that before, but then he pooped.

it's hard to understand the magnitude of something like this unless you've been there, but at 6 years old that was the first time he has ever gone #2 in the potty for me.

i know that potty training stories are typically in the realm of things you shouldn't discuss in mixed company and so be it. but this is a triumph for me, a landmark, a beacon that eventually things will get better and i had to share that.

God's peace y'all

too hot

it is currently 90 degrees out and gas prices down the street are over $4.35/gallon.

i woke up this morning with every intention of going to the Y to walk on a treadmill in an air conditioned room. it is now 2:39 and i am still in the clothes i slept in and taking a brief interlude from work to write this.

i have a visit this evening at 7:30 and i don't think i'm going to get showered and dressed until right before i have to leave otherwise i will certainly be sweaty and stinky by the time i go for the visit.

meanwhile my brain is slowly melting and the knowledge that i still have computer work to do, that i have to go to the grocery store, do laundry, and return a way overdue movie is beginning to drain out of my ears into little puddles on my shoulders.

hubby is going to have to put the ac units in the windows tonight. at least the one in the silent prince's room. we can only crack his windows for safety issues so it is ungodly hot in his room. the princess kitty has been sleeping on his trundle bed for the last week or so. (she goes through phases i don't understand) which means that she is adding to the body heat in the room.

you know... maybe i will go jump in the shower and cool off. maybe that will help me think straight.

God's peace y'all

the next best thing

i guess the next best thing to losing weight is having people believe that you have lost weight. twice now i've had people tell me that i look as though i have lost weight. of course my weight continues to fluxuate within 5 pounds. my scale also does body fat percentages and those seem to be going down. i take this as a good sign because it means that i'm turning fat into muscle. and the bottom line for me is that i want to be healthy no matter what weight i am.

we recently joined the YMCA. they give clergy discounts! (who said there are no more perks to this profession.) my fantastic uncle gave the kids and us a 3 month membership to try it out. and so far we've been taking advantage of it. going to the pool on a regular basis is wonderful, but they also have treadmills and other exercise equipment i can use when it's raining. but today was too nice of a day not to walk outside. and i am proud to say that i did 3 miles in 50 minutes, which is only 5 minutes over my goal of 15 minutes per mile.

i also bought some new exercise clothes today. 4 pairs of capri length sweats. i want to wear shorts, but i hate how i look in them. it's the baby belly and the j-lo butt that ruin the experience of shopping for any clothes that cover from the waist down. i just can't bring myself to even think aout trying on any shorts that are "in" currently since none of them pass the fingertip test. (meaning that if you put your hands to your side the bottom of the shorts falls below your fingertips.) i was thrilled when i found the capris. they're comfy, light, and look great on me. i got two pairs in 2 styles for under $60 at fashion bug. funny how i never shop there, but everytime i do i find a favorite article of clothing to add to my closet. i still have a shirt that i bought there 2 years ago that i love and wish i had gotten in 4 different colors!

hubby made fun of the pants, asking me where the flood was. he thinks he's hip and with it (editor's note: i understand that using terms like "hip" and "with it" place me in a similar category as i've just placed hubby in, but so-be-it), but capri pants throw him off completely even though the stores are now full of them. of course being that i am 5'2" most capris look like full length pants on me anyway.

well, it is now time to go make lunches and dig through the piles of clean laundry for the kids' outfits for tomorrow.

God's peace y'all!

Memorial Day

yesterday was the first time i have gone to the local memorial day parade. for as small as a town as i live in the parade is huge and draws people from all over the state. the princess kitty and hubby marched with her soccer team and the silent prince and i met up with two members of my church who were watching in order to see their vietnam vet march.

i was asked to to the invocation at the ceremony afterwards. (i almost did the invocation and the benediction, but the other pastor was there.)

i always find this task somewhat daunting, not because i'm out in public, but because i really want what i say to be meaningful.

this was my prayer:

Let us pray.
Oh God as we gather to celebrate this beautiful day, to enjoy a parade, and spend time with family and friends may we also pause to remember...

As we gather to remember all those we have died serving this country let us also be reminded of your steadfast love, your wondrous spirit, and your abundant gifts of grace and freedom.

As we gather to remember let us also gather in gratitude for all those who have fallen and in gratitude of the promise that you do not leave any of us behind, but collect us up into your arms.

As we gather to remember their sacrifice let us also remember your sacrifice so that we are encouraged to be generous towards others with our gifts.

As we gather to remember let us also gather to forget war and look to you for true and lasting peace.

We pray this in your holy name. Amen.

God's peace y'all and many thanks to all those who have served in the military and those who are serving now.

am i really that warped?

every year when we go to the obx (outer banks, nc for those of you who don't know) for vacation i buy hubby a t-shirt to memorialize the trip. )i usually make him buy me jewelry).

last year i bought him a t-shirt he has yet to wear. i had forgotten all about it until today when i was looking for a nice big baggy t-shirt to walk in and opened his closet to steal one and there it was. (i can also say that later on when he saw me in it he didn't even accuse me of stealing like he usually does.)

pirates are a big theme at the obx. i have one of those oval shaped bumper stickers with a jolly rogers and the statement that "Women who behave rarely make history." on my car. and i have a baseball hat with the jolly roger on it too which i usually wear to walk in as well.

the t-shirt has a pirate/jolly roger theme. i think it's hysterical. in fact when i was shopping with my sister-in-law, slick, she and i were in hysterics when we saw it.

on the back it has a skull and crossbone and it saws: "Hi. I'm Roger. I'll be flogging you today."

hubby didn't get it neither did the people i work with. i think they are pretty smart people with good senses of humor. in fact when i married hubby i told my mother-in-law that i was going to laugh for the rest of my life because hubby is that funny.

the only conclusion i can come to is that slick and i just have terribly warped senses of humor.

ah well, at least i am in good company.

God's peace y'all

of mexican food, coffee, chocolate, and bullet-proof glass

it's been too long since i have blogged. i finished my detox, what seems like weeks ago. in fact it was only a little over a week ago. hubby rewarded me by taking me out to lunch for mexican food. i had chicken with pipian sauce, refried beans and spanish rice with a mango margarita. i walked an extra mile that day and tried to eat sensibly the rest of the day. but i also got to have a cup of coffee again and chocolate... oh how i missed coffee and chocolate!

of course the next day i attended a special lunch at the highschool where i was served pasta, salad with lots of dressing on it (i'm now used to having my salads naked), and a homemade chocolate chip ice cream sandwich.

the lunch was given by the special ed department at the highschool because we have kids from one of their programs come to the church to work 3 times a week to give them experience in order to transition into the workforce after they graduate. the food was all made by them and i didn't want to offend anyone by not eating. i especially didn't want to offend any of them by not eating the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich.

then that night we had a dinner at church for the kids that are being confirmed this coming sunday. i made lasagna and since i haven't had any of my lasagna in years i decided i would eat a nice piece of it and walk it off the next day.

friday hubby and i drove to philly for what is called a "beef and beer." had i blogged about the end of the detox previously and then our trip this post would have been titled: "of beef and beer and bullet-proof glass."

first of all the trip was horrendous. it should have taken 3 1/2 hours to get there, but 3 1/2 hours into the trip and we were about half-way there from the bumper to bumper traffic that kept us going an average of 30 miles per hour. i felt like kissing the ground when we finally arrived.

the purpose of the trip was to go to a fund raiser for my future godchild who is going to be adopted by friends of ours (and also the silent prince's godparents). since it costs an incredible amount of money to adopt they decided to have a beef and beer which is basically a party where you buy tickets to eat pasta (though they do sometimes have some sort of beef) and drink beer. you also have autions and raffles and dancing.

by the time we finally got there all that was left to eat of dinner was some lukewarm stuffed shells and lots of dessert. i had a stuffed shell and a piece of cheesecake and something that tasted like a peanut butter kandy kake made by tastykake (another philly tradition).

still we had a great time and i even danced the twist with the mother of the mother-to-be. i was disappointed though not to be given my jack rabbit flash trophy after wards.

we hung out with the parents of our godchild after the party for a bit before sending them on their way home and us driving to our hotel. this is the part of the post that deals with the bullet-proof glass, which is what the people working at the hotel were standing behind when we went to check in.

now i grew up in philly and still love it despite the fact that this time last year it had the highest murder rate in the country. i lived in newark, nj the year it was rated the most violent city in america... but the fact that i had to hand my driver's license to a guy behind bullet-proof glass in order to check in to a hotel kinda freaked me out a little.

it got worse from there. the only ammenity in the hotel room was the tv remote unless you count the bottle opener that was crewed on to the back of the bathroom door and, ok, the shampoo and soaps they left for us in the bathroom.

it was midnight by the time we got there and we wound up staying up much too late. since there was no alarm clock hubby set his phone to go off at 7am. at 9am when we both woke up hubby said he was going to pull on his clothes and grab some coffee from the continential breakfast in the lobby.

he walked out of the room at 9:08 and returned at 9:09 to say that breakfast was over and the only thing left were crumbs on the counter. i told him to throw his things in the suitcase so that we could get the hell out of there and find a wawa for coffee and donuts.

the trip home was far better than the trip there even with the 30 minute wait over the george washington bridge. and of course i gained back all the weight i had lost, but that's ok. i'm still eating healthy, walking almost every day, and i feel great!

keep happy thoughts going for the wonderful parents of my soon-to-be godchild.

God's peace y'all

is it still a detox if...

i am doped up on allergy meds and cough drops?

the coughing started friday and hasn't stopped. when i checked the pollen forecast for my area it looked more like the government's warning system telling us that terrorists had attacked and we were all going to die horrible deaths.

i'm sure my throat looks as though terrorists have already been there. it now hurts to talk and has felt this way all day. this doesn't bode well for me since sundays are the one day i have to talk and the fact that i have been sucking on ricola drops like my life depended on them doesn't help.

i only have 2 days left on the detox. when i woke up yesterday i decided not to walk even though i had gotten up to 3 miles a day. i was exhausted and misreable from not really sleeping the night before. last night was worse though. in between waking myself up from coughing the princess kitty couldn't sleep and made sure i knew that twice during the night and the silent prince chimed in at least once that he wasn't happy.

i want to feel better by tuesday when hubby says he will take me out for mexican food to celebrate the end of the detox. but as i said before... am i still detoxing if i've replaced my daily salad and 8 glasses of water with benedryl, robitussin, and nyQuil just to get me through my day? and if i am really no longer detoxing because of all the crap i am taking... can't i just go have a bowl of ice cream to numb my throat?

guess i'll just suck on another ricola.

God's peace y'all

just walkin' in the rain

i hadn't walked since friday morning. i was too tired on saturday after the day we had on friday and sunday just didn't work. yesterday i got up and got dressed, headed downstairs and opened the back door to see what it was like outside and saw a duck float by. well, not really, but it was pouring. this is good since we needed the rain, but i had hoped that it would wait to fall until later in the day.

this morning i wanted to stay in bed, but decided that i had to get up and walk. the only thing that would keep me from it would be the same kind of rain as yesterday. it was drizzling out, but that was it. i asked hubby if he thought i would get sick if i walked and he told me no, according to scientists, but yes, according to everyone else. so i went.

there was only one person fishing and two people walking. it wasn't raining at first, but it was definitely damp out and thankfully the water level of the pnd had drastically increased. it stared to rain when i hit 2 miles, but today i kept going. i walked 3 miles!!! and though i expected 2 miles to be hard since i hadn't walked since friday it wasn't hard at all to go 3 miles!

now if i could just get over the sugar cravings...

God's peace y'all

my own private cheering section

the princess kitty had her tonsils and adenoids out yesterday, but surgery wasn't until 1pm so she and hubby decided to come with me for my walk. i made certain that they understood that what i was doing was not a leisurely stroll and that they had to take it seriously. so we got in the car and drove to the pond where there is also a playground and tennis courts.

hubby had never been there before though the kitty often goes there on field trips with day care during the summer. i put on my ipod and headed out for my walk while the two of them leisurely walked around and stopped to observe nature. as i passed them on my first of 6 laps they stood to the side and started to cheer me on. i laughed and kept moving. each time i passed them they did something a little different. the kitty held out her hand like she was holding a microphone to interview me and hubby did a one person wave.

one my 5 th lap another woman walking noticed them and mentioned to me that i had a nice cheering section. i told her i should bring them with me every time i walked. when we finished, hubby the kitty, and i cheered her on when she passed us by the parking lot.

the poor kitty was pretty hungry when we got home. all she could have was water and apple juice before 11am. she got very angry at me when she walked into the kitchen and found me eating breakfast, but she was a trooper.

she had agreed to be part of a study at the teaching hospital where she had her tonsils out. the study measured stress factors in children having surgery. the good news was that this meant that i could go into the OR with her.

typically they give kids a liquid med that makes them very sleepy and relaxes them before they take them (sans parents) to the OR. instead i got to don a paper gown and surgical hair net and walk the princess kitty into the OR with the resident who is working on the study and the anesthesiologist. the kitty was amazing. she didn't even walk with me but skipped ahead to walk with the doctor. she got into the OR, hopped up onto the table, and took the mask from the dr all by herself.

they were amazed by her bravery and she and i have probably thrown off the study results.

unfortunately she threw up from the anesthesia after the surgery while they were still in the OR, the again several times in recovery. this blew all our chances of leaving by 4pm, which was a possibility. a little before 5pm we thought we would be going home and we had slowly started to make arrangements to that effect when she said she need to go to the bathroom. she made it there and back just fine, but then suddenly all the color in her face drained and the anesthesiologist came in and said she couldn't leave until she had eaten a popsicle and kept it down. they put her on more meds for the nausea and i left to go pick up the silent prince from grandmom and grandpop's house.

by 7pm they released her and i picked her and daddy up from the hospital and took them home.

poor thing needs some pain killers now.

God's peace y'all

day 8

yesterday ended my first week on the detox which means today begins my second week. i'm feeling very good except that i haven't lost one ounce yet. in fact when i got on the scale yesterday i had gained 2 pounds! if someone could explain that one to me i would appreciate it.


i found a really nice place to walk yesterday about a 2 minute drive from the house. i would walk there, but i live on a very large bump on a serious hill. if i walked at this point in the game i would wind up calling someone to come pick me up after i arrived there. there's a little pond where people can fish with a track around it. every lap is 1/3 of a mile. half-way through my 5th lap i was really excited with myself that i only had one more lap and i would have walked 2 miles. i hit the point where i could take a step forward on the track and do that last lap or take a step to the right and go to the parking lot and get back in my car when i suddenly felt very dizzy. i knew if i tried to do that last lap i would wind up passing out and one of the fishers would call an ambulance that i didn't need.


so i went back to the car, drank the rest of my water and headed home to eat the rest of the breakfast i guess i should have eaten before walking.


today i purposefully woke up at 8am so that i could get a walk in before other things had to happen. for those of you who know me personally: no, there are no pods in the basement. i haven't been taken over by aliens. i really did get up at 8am to go exercise.

at about the same point on lap 5 i thought the same exact thing as yesterday: 1 more lap to go and i've walked 2 miles. then at the same point in lap 5 as yesterday i started to feel dizzy and light-headed. i walked back to the car and had a big drink of water and the rest of my morning shake then walked that last lap!!!

as i finished i had the strange desire to do the rocky dance on top of the art museum steps. i didn't though, figuring the fishers would find it way too odd and wonder what was wrong with me. instead i got in the car and called my brother, lrns. the voice mail picked up right away and i chastized him for not waiting by the phone in case i might call at 9:30am for the first time ever in our lives.

then i called idad on his iphone and had to talk to his phone as well. feeling deflated that i couldn't share my accomplishment with anyone i ran into hubby on the road a block and 1/2 away from home. we pulled up to one another and i rolled down my window thinking, he loves me, he'll listen and be proud of me when he pointed to his ear to signal that he was on the phone with someone else. i made the sign for i love you with my hand, which was nicer than that other sign i could have made with my hand and drove around the corner.

i then stopped in church, the head teacher, mag, is also on a fitness kick and so i told her my news and she very nicely supported my ego, which was all i really wanted.

happy sigh, now i think i will go shower and get moving on with my day.

God's peace y'all

rhymes with witch

i couldn't have been in a worse mood yesterday. no one could do anything that was pleasing to me and everything they did do just really made me mad as anything.

i know that it is the detox that's making me crazy, but i'm beginning to feel bipolar with the mood swings from the cravings that my body is having. today wasn't much better except that i had to be at a conference which meant that i had to wear my game face anyway. usually that isn't too difficult of a problem except that i was certainly pushed to my limit when i realized that there were hershey's kisses spread on the tables we sat in for lunch.

i thought i could handle it, but i was already hungry and we had to listen to people talk before i could pull out my non-dressed salad for lunch. the only thing that saved me from scooping up every kiss and eating them wrapper and all was that there were people at the table who knew i was detoxing and therefore couldn't have any chocolate.

the worst part is that it is the silent prince's birthday (no, not a bad thing that he turned 6 today) but it was very hard to watch him and his sister eat cupcakes after eating brown rice and unseasoned and un-fried flounder. (at least it was something other than chicken.) and here i am complaining aboout detoxing rather than talking about his turning 6! some mom i am!

but day 5 is almost over. there were moments today when i felt good about what i was doing like at the grocery store when i looked into my basket and saw all the healthy, lovely fruits and veggies (of course i forgot the baby carrots) and earlier when i realized that i do want to continue to eat well after day 21 is over.

i'm also realizing that i need to find replacements for all the bad things i put into my system for comfort. a banana just isn't as good as a bag of m&m's and carrot sticks just aren't as good as a bag of doritos. and i gotta do that before day 21 or i'm just going to go back to eating the way i did a week ago. mmm doritoes and m&m's.

i am planning to go out for mexican once i'm done. i am fantasizing about that meal like a politician fantasizes about call girls.

and on that note...

God's peace y'all

happily-ever-after-life

cinderella the cat is dead. she must have died sometime last night on my closet floor. which was a pleasant suprise for me this morning when i went to pick out clothes before i took my shower.

"cindy..." nudge nudge... "oh, $#@&."

luckily hubby was in the backyard already and could go dig a hole. she was completely stretched out and wouldn't fit in a box so i had to wrap her up in a cut up paper bag. hubby has also volunteered to break the bad news to the princess kitty later tonight. i wonder if i shouldn't go get ice cream to help the news go down.

sigh

God's peace y'all

i want a cookie

today was my official start date for the detox. i used yesterday as a transition day. by 3pm i had a migraine from lack of caffeine and made myself a cup of tea (i wasn't going to brew a whole pot of coffee.)

i picked up all the stuff this morning and met with the nutritionist, c'marie. it took me 20 minutes to organize all the supplements that i have to take in a day: 48 to be exact. thank God for the pill case she gave me or i would be a mess trying to remember it all. it's kinda cool with a sticky pad inside so i can remember what's what.

i can drink all the green tea i want even the kind with caffeine! whoopie! i can even have salt so long as it is sea salt! whoo-hoo! i can even use organic unsalted butter! the grocery store doesn't sell unsalted organic butter, just the salted. boo-hoo!

i actually feel really good today except for all the cravings i am experiencing... like my deep deep desire for a cookie. i'm thinking that by the end of this sugar will still be the one thing i want on a daily basis.

all well, think i'll go much on some grapes and pack lunch for the princess kitty.

God's peace y'all

driving observations

i had a road trip yesterday to pennsylvania. i stopped and visited the parents of my soon-to-be-adopted godchild and then went to visit a college friend and her intended to do a pre-marital visit with them.

there were a few things i noticed on the trip there and back.

1. i am not a timid or slow driver. if you really feel you need to pass me, you are driving too fast. slow the you-know-what down and get off my butt.

2. the left lane is for passing. if you are steadily going the speed limit or slightly under it, get out of the left lane.

3. north jersey smells. especially around exits 13&14 of the new jersey turnpike. yesterday it smelled like someone had made a salad of rotten eggs and old socks then dressed it with petrol.

4. the north jersey smell can penetrate into your car even if you have all the windows shut and no fans blowing. breathing through your mouth helps, but only enough to keep you from gagging.

5. the sign over the george washington bridge that said i wasn't allowed to take pictures while driving across the bridge is missing (either that or i missed it.) this might mean the end of my dream to get a picture of that sign someday.

6. new york needs to turn off their street lights during the day. they are useless during the daytime, even when it is overcast.

7. i hate, with a passion, driving at night in the rain. this might not have been so bad in new york if perhaps the street lights that were on during the day were also on at night.

8. spending almost $100 on gas just to see a few friends for a short time is still worth it.

God's peace y'all

toxic

the bursitis is back. i was at the chiropractor today and we are certain that, while it isn't as bad as the first time that's exactly what it is.

the question is why do i have it again.

the obvious answer is stress.

it started during holy week, which, let's be honest, is a stressful time. but if i am completely honest then i also have to admit that i don't take very good care of my body. i don't eat or sleep well and i never get any exercise...

so, her suggestion: go through a detox.

i've seen the nutritionist and we have agreed that i should start a 3 week program of cleaning out my system.

i don't know when i will start, but clearly i'd better do it soon before i lose my nerve. 3 weeks without caffeine or sugar is going to take some willpower.

so wish me luck. i'm sure there will be plenty to write about during this.

God's peace y'all

autism awareness

apparently today was autism awareness day. and apparently since i am the mom of an autistic child i am too busy to really observe that fact since there are only 35 minutes left in the day.

so here is the face of autism... in all his bubbly glory:



and with just 4 minutes to spare before the end of the day i checked my email to find this from uncle jefro:

Help make a difference without even reaching into your pocket - use your mouse and keyboard! For every person who takes a virtual "test drive" of the new Chevrolet Malibu online at www.autismspeaks.org during the month of April, Chevrolet will donate money to Autism Speaks. They have made a commitment of a minimum of $500,000 but your "test drives" can drive the donation amount up - all the way to $1,000,000!. Can I count on you to do so?

Please spread the word to all your friends and neighbors.

click here to take the test drive.

God's peace y'all

29 again

tomorrow is my birthday or shall i say the anniversary of my 29th birthday (i won't tell you how many of those i have had.)

i have nothing special planned except that i am taking the day off and taking th eprincess kitty for an appt with the ent that did the tubes and adenoids for the silent prince.

today we will go to my parent's house for dinner. she's making oven fried chicken which is a special treat. we haven't had that in a long time.

so happy birthday to me a day early!

i hope it gives you a good reason to have a great day tomorrow and maybe do a little celebrating in my honor.

God's peace y'all

if you want my two cents

well, now that holy week is over i still don't have time to write anything, but i decided i would take the time anyway.

so much has been going on in the world, but the thing i would make mention of (in the short time i have to write anything) is the whole fiasco surrounding the sermon soundbite that we've been hearing over and over again.

you know which one i'm talking about don't you?

there are a few things i would say about the whole thing. (and for the sake of this post i'm going to use the terms "pastor" and "preacher" to refer to all religious leaders, not just christian ones.)

the first thing is that the media does a terrible job of portraying any religion and if you form your opinon about one particular preacher, church member, or theology on a 30 soundbite on the news you are going to have the wrong opinion. i don't care who the preacher is, what religion he or she is from, what culture they come from, or what ugly words come out of their mouth. you will get it wrong. period. because i know that there are plenty of things i have said in my preaching that if put into a 30 second soundbite would make me look all kinds of bad.

i've heard lots of christian conservative leaders say far more horrible and offensive things than, "God damn America." and they have gotten far more air time than a 30 second soundbite. in fact some of them are now employed by 24 news stations as experts in religion and politics.

racism and every other ism is just plain bad for everyone. i think i mentioned this before. the only way to deal with isms is to get them out in the open and talk about them honestly. isms will still run people's lives, but at least if we talk about them openly and respectfully (which also means listening) we have a chance of making a difference.

as a pastor i think i have an important message to share. it's part of my job. it is a radical message and will offend people. love your neighbor, turn the other cheek, give to the poor... that's radical and offensive stuff because we are taught to mistrust our neighbor, fight back, and get as much stuff for ourselves as we possibly can. so why is it that the only time religion gets any press is when some clergy person has a gay affair, has a politican as a member of their organization, or issues a religious fatwah?

no one should be told that they should disown their pastor just because of something they said. pastors are human. sometimes we make huge mistakes in judgement, say things we shouldn't say, preach sermons that would have been better left unpreached. but many times we do significant things for people that make a difference in their lives.

no one should be judged based on something that their pastor said. we have our own opinons. i don't share all of mine with everyone, but certainly people can guess things like my political party by some of the things i share out loud on sunday mornings and in meetings and on other ocassions. but they are my opinions and i am not under any notion that everyone who attends my church is going to agree with all my opinions.

in order to hear the good news we also need to name the bad news. this is part of the preaching task. life isn't happy all the time. people are angry, hurt, suffering, and full of resentments. those things have to be put out in the open and named otherwise the good news is meaningless drivel.

and that's all i have time for right now.

God's peace y'all

holy week

this is the holiest week of the year for me and therefore the most stressful.

i've wanted to write about all sorts of things, but usually i can't bring myself to expend any creative energy here since it's mostly been wrapped up in the 3 sermons i have had to write this week.

and if that was all i had to do...

maybe next week when i can think and relax i will share something more than this.

in the meantime you can certainly read the sermons i've written at my sermon site.

God's peace y'all.

things that suck - in no particular order

racism. racism sucks. there is not one good thing about it. there are no redeeming qualities within it. it just sucks.

white guilt. white guilt sucks. it especially sucks when it causes a person to do something they think is not racist at all, when in fact it is actually worse than overt, in your face, white-hooded racism.

vomit. vomit sucks. or perhaps it does the exact opposite. no, i don't mean it is actually great. but who wants to suck vomit?

children's vomit. children's vomit sucks. especially when it is your child and your child is developmentally impaired and it is impossible to explain to them where they should aim if they need to vomit again or where they should sit until you have cleaned up said vomit.

day light savings. day light savings sucks. i don't care if we leap forward or fall behind, my internal clock is now off and won't completely readjust until it is time to change the clocks again.

mornings. mornings suck. with all due respect to morning people... what is wrong with you?

mornings when you haven't gotten enough sleep. mornings when you haven't gotten enough sleep suck. this is especially true when you have spent the night cleaning up children's vomit, slept in a bed that is not comfortable so you can be near said child just in case they vomit again, and you lose an hours sleep.

wow, i feel better... and that doesn't suck.

God's peace y'all

some t and a

first, get your heads out of the gutter. i'm not talking about that kind of t and a.

secondly, the silent prince and his very tired parents are home from the hospital where he had his Adenoids taken out and Tubes put in.

the day started early (especially for me because i am NOT a morning person.) we were supposed to be at the hospital, which is a good 45 minutes away, at 8:35am. we gave ourselves an hour to get there but at 8:20 we were still a good 20 minutes away because of an accident. i called the hospital in a panic, but was told that his surgery wasn't scheduled until 9:35 and we could just take our time.

there were a few other minor hiccups, which are inconsequential. the prince did great despite the fact that he kept trying to find sippy cups and food in my pockets and in his book bag. poor kid was hungry. he didn't like the meds they gave him to start with, but by the time the anesthetists came to take him back for the surgery he let one of them carry him to the o.r. without assistance from mommy or daddy.

it only took about an hour before the dr came to tell us it was over and take us back to see him. he woke up the moment i put on my coat to go out and call the grandparents and find some food for hubby and me. originally the dr thought he would have to spend the night, but the nurse in the recovery room agreed that there was no need for an overnight. grandpop even had time to come and visit and take me for lunch.

so, here we are. grandmom is on her way to pick up the princess kitty for a sleep-over. there is a special event being held at the same hospital tomorrow for siblings of autistic children. there will be a sculptor there and clay for them to make their own masterpieces and the grandparents have agreed to take her. thank God for grandparents.

tiem to go pack her bag. thanks for all the prayers out there!

God's peace y'all

doctors and diagnoses

yesterday we had a meeting at the princess kitty's school with her principal, teacher, school psychologist, school social worker, special ed teacher, and speech therapist. these meetings are also known as ppt's (which stands for planning and placement team). we all agreed that we needed to have the princess kitty tested for a learning disability and we were getting the results of those tests.


as it turns out she does indeed have a learning disability. for the most part she scored at an average intelligence. which is just fine. she doesn't have to be a super genius for me to be proud of her. her problem is in something called her working memory index. according to all the paperwork they gave us the working memory index (WMI, not to be confused with WMD) involves the ability to attend to information, to hold it in short-term memory while attempting to process it in some way, and to then give a response either orally or in written form.


this affects her ability to read and spell words. and it affects her ability to do math, which she is actually pretty good at.


she's also a sensitive kid and wants to please others, so her ability to do well in school affects her self-esteem.


the good news... and there is good news here, is that now she is going to get extra help. currently they are doing the cmt's or mastery tests. instead of doing them with the rest of her class and being timed to do them she is doing the testing in a small group, with a reader (someone to read her the questions so she isn't struggling to figure out what she is trying to do), and she won't be timed.


it also means that she has a chance to focus on the things she's good at while at the same time work on those things she doesn't do well. for instance, her expressive vocabulary is excellent, but she has trouble writing down her thoughts. this way she'll be able to express herself in writing assignments.


honestly, i am thrilled. she's also going to be able to talk to the social worker once a week about life, which she needs. it isn't always easy being her and now she has another person who she trusts to be able to talk to.


and then there is the silent prince. on friday he is having his adenoids out and tubes put in. we spent time today at a pre-op visit and are feeling pretty comfortable with the whole thing. tomorrow he sees the developmental pediatrician. the last time we saw her was a year ago. it will be interesting to see what she says about his progress because he is doing really really well. (except for the fact that he has regressed yet again with potty training. he refuses to go for me anymore at home and i'm starting to get frustrated like you wouldn't believe!)


he now waves hello and good-bye. he can sign "more" and "eat." when you ask him where his nose is he points to his nose. when you ask him where his belly is he pulls up his shirt and then expects to get tickled. he can put on his own jacket and shirt. and he can get undressed all by himself and put his clothes in the hamper. and he is a puzzle wiz!


he has also learned how to climb over the gate between the tv room and the kitchen and occasionaly he can even open it. (which is why his mom-mom calls him a monkey)


and just because i've burdened you all with all this talk about them both i'll treat you with a picture:

God's peace y'all

a new favorite

the princess kitty came home sick yesterday. i think we need a germ exorcism done in my home because this is getting ridiculous. i picked her up from school and stopped at the cvs to pick up necessities for a sick child and she asked for puffs plus. her little nose gets so red and she knows that these tissues feel better than some of the other brands.

apparently tissues have come a long way. you can get tissues that are antibacterial, tissues with lotions, and tissues with vicks vapor rub.

all last week i kept thinking i should get some vicks for my cold, but never did so i jumped at the idea of puffs plus with vicks.

the princess kitty, of course, doesn't like the smell of them, but OMG do i love them!!!

since i am still blowing my nose from the cold that i got a week ago they are like heaven. i keep sticking my nose in the box and breathing in.

who knew tissues could make me so happy.

you can even decorate your own box and print out a template when your head starts to clear and you are feeling creative again.

God's peace y'all

fave fours

i’ve played this game before, but here it is again for kat-kat

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. video store clerk (and yes, there was a back room)
2. assistant manager of a women’s accessory store
3. director of a inner city summer program
4. pastor

Four movies I've watched more than once:
1. man of la mancha
2. crash (just yesterday in fact)
3. buffy the vampire slayer
4. the princess bride

Four places I have lived:
1. philadelphia, pa
2. lynchburg, va
3. newark, nj
4. atlantic city, nj

Four places I have been:
1. the grand canyon
2. antigua
3. chicago
4. hoboken, nj

Four of my favorite foods:
1. shell fish
2. chocolate
3. my mom’s mac and cheese
4. marsha, marsha, marshmallow ice cream by ben and jerry

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. bed
2. any warm beach
3. on vacation
4. bed (did i say that already)

I am looking forward to this year:
1. vacation at the obx
2. doing 2 weddings for 2 wonderful women
3. 10 year anniversary from seminary and seeing all my old friends
4. celebrating my 29th birthday all over again

Four T.V. shows that I watch:
1. M*A*S*H
2. heros
3. lost
4. american idol with the princess kitty

God's peace y'all

what are they teaching our children?

before email, in order to send a letter to someone, one had to write words down on a piece of paper, fold it and put it into an envelope. one would then have to place information on the outside of the envelope with a stamp and place it in a big blue box called a mailbox where a person called a mail carrier would pick it up and take it back to a place called the post office where it would be sorted by the information on the envelope, given to another mail carrier, and then be delivered to the person to whom it was addressed.

i know this because i was taught how to do it in grade school, before email became my primary means of sending information to another person. however, i do still on occasion need to put something in the mail where i use the above technique.

last weekend hubby and i went on a confirmation retreat with 20 kids grades 6-9. we wanted to teach them about how they had gifts that they could share with others and part of the process was to have them do a service project. the service project was to send appeal letters to other churches asking them to participate in something called God's Global Barnyard which is the ELCA's (my denomination) version of heifer international.

i made the service project as simple as possible... they basically had to stuff and address envelopes with information that i gave them and then they had to come up with a project to do in their own church.

had i known that many of them didn't know how to address an envelope properly i would have told them about return addresses and where the stamp had to go and where on the envelope the addresse's information went. silly me, assuming that they would have learned this in school by the 6th grade.

hubby says that we are old. afterall, mail is sent electronically now. in fact, when i did a google image search of "mail" this is what i got. of the 20 images of "mail" there was only one picture that showed an envelope (and that was clip art) and 1 picture of what looks like the inside of a post office. there were 2 pictures of george w and somehow i can't help but think that there is a correlation between his no child left behind and the fact that kids almost in high school have no idea how to address an envelope!

sigh, they aren't teaching cursive writing anymore either.

God's peace y'all

8 inches addendum or how to make a hot toddy

i'm now losing my voice so i decided to do what the mucinex will not...

make one of my mother's hot toddy's.

here's how:

in one mug full of scotch whiskey add a tea bag and just enough hot water to heat the booze stir in honey (no honey had to use sugar) and drink... repeat as necessary.

still sick, but now i don't care as much.

God's peace y'all

8 inches

i have had a cold since waking up on wednesday. everyone and their mother has told me that i should take mucinex, "it's the wonder drug" "nothing else works for me."

it is also the most expensive over-the-counter cold medicine on the shelves of the cvs and even though i have been taking it religiously it has not helped ONE LITTLE BIT!!!

meanwhile there are up to 8 inches of snow outside. hubby and the princess kitty shovelled earlier and you can't tell that they did anything.

i'm going to go make some tea and collapse in front of the tv now.

God's peace y'all and remember to wash your hands.

writing about writing addendum

if you haven't read the post "writing about writing" then do that before reading this one.

this afternoon i decided to look around the attic to see if i could find my file box that i kept stuff in that i had written and sure enough there was the short story i thought i had lost. i had to stand there in the attic and reread the whole thing.

i suppose i have written better since, but when you think something you've written is lost is becomes larger than life, pulitzer prize winning work.

i also discovered the portfolio of my final assignment for my 12th grade creative writing class. i was afraid to even get that one out of the box!

and since i was asked... the excerpt in the last post is from book 2 (remember i haven't finished book 1 yet) about a warrior woman that becomes a queen. i did say i loved to write fantasy.

God's peace y'all

writing about writing

i wasn’t exactly tagged by the pobble, but since she said she was interested i will do my best.

What is the last thing you wrote? a sermon for ash wednesday.

Was it any good? actually i think it was… you can always read it for yourself

What’s the first thing you ever wrote that you still have? i would have to searching through boxes in the attic to answer that.

Write poetry? i used to, but i was horrible at it.

Angsty poetry? please see the above answer

Favorite genre of writing? fiction, but rarely ever get to write it.

Most fun character you ever created? don’t know about “fun” but my favorite is a man named olin

Most annoying character you ever created? a guy at a diner who insists on playing the same song on the jukebox over and over again.

Best plot you ever created? well, hopefully it’s the one i’m working on

Coolest plot twist you ever created? the birth control berry

How often do you get writers block? every saturday night

Write fan fiction? nope

Do you type or write by hand? yes

Do you save everything you write? i try to, but invariably things get lost

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you have abandoned it? i hope to go back to the book someday… does that count?

What’s your favorite thing that you’ve written? alas, a short story i can no longer find

What’s everyone else’s favorite story that you’ve written? hmm, i don’t know

Do you ever show people your work? well, people get to hear what write every week, but yes, i often share… i’m needy that way

Did you ever write a novel? someday…

Ever written romance or teen angsty drama? yes, when i was a teen

What’s your favorite setting for your characters? fantasy lands where i can make anything happen

How many writing projects are you working on right now? well, if you go back to the two books i have started… and i have another sermon due on sunday.

Do you want to write for a living? in a way i already do, but that’s what i’d like to do when i retire

Have you ever won an award for your writing? when i was in 8th grade i won a contest for the zoo for an essay i wrote on teddy bears. i still have the mug i got as a prize

Ever written something in script or play format? yes

What are your five favorite words? i love them all, but i am fond of the word: cryptic

Do you ever write based on yourself? i’m sure i do

What character have you created that most resembles yourself? all of them have something of me in them

Where do you get your ideas for your other characters? they are just born

Do you ever write based on your dreams? you mean the kind you have when you are sleeping?

Do you favor happy endings, sad endings, or cliff hangers? i’ve never been a fan of cliff hangers, though i do enjoy endings that aren’t neatly tied up in a bow.

Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen? no

Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write? only because of the squiggly lines my computer makes on the screen when i do something wrong. can’t stand those lines.

Ever write something entirely in chatspeak? no

Entirely in L337? good Lord, why would anybody do that?

Does music help you write? no

Quote something you’ve written. this would be from the second book:

My father was a soldier, but then so was my mother back in the time when the great lands were at war and unnamed. The moment I could lift my newborn head my mother strapped me to her back and followed behind his regiment; her body tensing each time he followed the charge into battle. If it was for fear of his death or desire to join the fight I do not know, nor do I know for which side she prayed for victory to be granted.

She had been the enemy and captured; given to my father as a prize for bravery by his commander because he had said that only my father could tame her. I suspected that she grew to love him as she grew to desire peace for lands constantly divided by the pettiness of warlords.

After each battle we would sort through the dead and wounded looking for him, but my father was indestructible though scars decorated his body like trophies or medals he would display with pride. I was his only child and never once did I believe that he would have preferred a boy to the girl that I was. And if my mother grew to love him he loved her as well, weeping openly at her grave more so than I cried for her. She died in childbirth, a battle of its own kind that produced only another death; brother or sister I was never told. Its little body was wrapped up with my mother’s and lowered into the ground amid whispers that she had been too old to bear another child. Her burial was more than most received at the time; the countryside was covered with mass graves filled with warriors and peasants alike.

I grew up in death, not a life for a young girl, but it was mine and I embraced it.

anyone else wanna play?

God's peace y'all

what kind of world do you want

i've now gotten this link for more than the tenth time in my email. i've also been alerted to it via a message board i frequent.


yes, five for fighting is donating $.49 to autism speaks for each time the video is viewed and that's great.. and you should all go clink on the link... really, because it's wonderful.


and yes, i appreciate all the people who have seen it and thought of me... but i already know about the video and have watched it several times. i think i saw it for the first time a year ago... when the band first created the site.


so please, no one has to forward it to me anymore... if you want to forward it... please do.. just to someone else. the band (according to the email) wants over 10,000 hits and i can't do it all myself.

God's peace y'all

a day in the life

like i was saying, not long ago one of my high school friends found me. (actually 2 have found me but that's another story). he was a year ahead of me and one of my dearest friends. we were a part of the popular crowd only because we really liked one another and could care less what other people thought. honestly, my high school had lots of clicks, but no real popular crowd and i was lucky to be able to hang out with other groups of people.

i grew up in philly and philly is all about the neighborhoods, which when i was in high school were still pretty ethnic. each group had their own space at the school. for example, if i remember correctly, the east lawn was where the south philly italians hung out and the south lawn was where the punks hung out. (but it was a long time ago and i could be remembering the lawns wrong).

i do know that i spent a lot of time on both lawns and in other areas of the school and i don't ever remember there being territorial debates about who was welcome where.

but back to my point... in our emails back and forth to reacquaint ourselves he asked me what a pastor does and i have been trying to find time to actually sit down and explain my job. it occured to me that perhaps i had already done that since at the end of every year and the start of a new one i have to write an annual report that includes all the stuff i did over the last year. here's an edited version with the edits in italics.

there are three pieces to the pastor pie: congregational, synodical (a geographical area of churches headed by a bishop), and community (while this is typically the area around the church it can also be national or international.)

Congregational:
I served on all committees of the church including the Church Council and Childcare board; taught adult forum and confirmation classes, preached, presided, and planned all worship or provided supplies; visited the sick, shut-ins, and other members; performed 3 weddings (1 of non-members); supervised all lay staff (secreatry and the staff of the childcare); held office hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (Thursdays in 2008 will be used for visitation days); managed the insurance for the flooding at the rental house; Attended Borough Board meetings in regards to the rental house (a house the church owns, once rented, and now is trying to sell); trained in Kids, Money, and Stuff (a stewardship program for children and youth) for continuing education; organized the booth for and attended the Harvest Moon Festival; and designed and maintained the new website for the church. (i also do funerals, but while may people died in 2007, none of them were from my congregation.)

Community:
I participated in the Ecumenical Ministerium (the other churches in town) by attending meetings, preaching at the Thanksgiving and Good Friday Services and speaking at the Virginia Tech Memorial Service; I led worship services at 5 different nursing homes and or rehabilitation centers; Represented the church and childcare at the Duck Race Dinner, gave the invocation at the Memorial Day Parade (I even marched in it) and at an Eagle Scout Ceremony; submitted a sermon for Voices (a local community paper); walked during the Crop Walk (a walk to raise money for hunger), and maintained our relationship with the other lutheran church in town through the Gardener Cooperative with joint services for an Animal Blessing and Ash Wednesday as well as a week of VBS.

Synodical:
I attended weekly pericope studies (the bible readings for sunday) with other area pastors to prepare for preaching, attended meetings of our Conference, served on the Synod Worship Team, attended Synod Assembly where I assisted with worship; and attended 1 ordination and two installations of area pastors.

so there is just a taste of what i do. of course each and every day is different. today i have to work on the service for ash wednesday which means putting together the bulletin and beginning to prepare to write a sermon (sermon preparation/writing takes a minimum of 8 hours each week, but usually no more than 10). and i have a huge load of filling i'd like to get done when i go over to the office.

guess i'd better get to work.

God's peace y'all

we're having a heat wave

well, not really all that hot, but the heat is up and running today. the plumbers (yes, plural) suggested that i pray over it so i laid my hands on the *&#% thing and called out, "BE HEALED!"
and after they worked on it for almost 2 hours it was working again.

we still need a new furnance, which will include needing a new chimney and major electrical work, but the house is actually warm again!

God's peace y'all

chilly willy

there have been a lot of things going through my mind that i've been meaning to blog about. a dear friend from high school just got in touch with me. i hadn't heard from him since i graduated high school... which was a long time ago. when i told him that i was a pastor he responded with "it's hard to imagine anyone i went to high school with becoming a pastor. what does a pastor do?"

so i've been thinking that would be a good topic for a post. few people really get just what kind of stuff i do... but right now i am too cold to try to put together any kind of list like that.

why am i cold?

well, it all started last night when i sat down to watch pan's labyrinth (which was very good) and realized that i was freezing... so i cranked up the heat and huddled under the covers to read subtitles. by the end of the movie i decided that it had started to heat up and i turned the thermostat down to 69-70 degrees for the night.

when hubby woke up this morning it was 50 degrees in the house.

we cranked the heat back up and i checked the pilot in the basement for the 3rd time... it was lit... and we went on with our day.

it was when i got back from lunch with hubby (we had a little date at the olive garden... yummy salad, bread sticks, and soup) that i decided to call the plumber.

now here's something pastor-ish... i live in a parsonage, which means that the house belongs to the church. i pay utilities, but no rent and when something goes snafooey the church has to handle it.

well, it seems that the heater is older than the house. ok, i'm exaggerating and the house had originally been heated with coal, but this is besides the point because the plumber can't fix the problem because he doesn't have parts that old.

here's the problem: the pilot is lit, but the burner isn't lighting. so heating the house is much like trying to cook something on a gas stove by the heat of the pilot flame.

hence... i am chilly willy.

i have the heat set at 80 and it's about 60 degrees in the house. and oh, it's below freezing outside.

the good news is that the plumber called one of his other plumber friends who works more with gas than oil, which is his specialty, who thinks that he might be able to do something to fix the problem for now, but he can't come until monday morning.

i'm praying (yes, another thing i do as a pastor) that he will be able to do something to get the heat working for now because clearly the next step is to replace the heater, which is not as simple as it sounds and far more expensive than i care to think about.

all this after the kids have been sick off and on for the last week or so. that in and of itself is post worthy because of the goat rodeo that was...

... so i am off to put on two pairs of jammies, set up the electric heaters i borrowed, and watch what i hope will be a semi-entertaining movie.

stay warm and God's peace y'all

ode to a good night's sleep

ok, this isn't going to be a poem (poetry has never really been my thing), but rather just an update on the whole sleep thing and how i haven't gotten much for some time now.

i seem to be going to sleep later and later lately. the lights had been going out at midnight, but now i don't seem to be getting to sleep until after 2am. don't know why except that i seem to dread the idea of tying to fall asleep and so i'm staying up later and later in hopes of it being easier to actually fall asleep once in bed. ha.

on thursday we took the prince to the dr's for a follow-up on his ears which continue to get infections. it sounds as though we will be seeing an ear, nose, and throat dr to determine whether or not to get tubes. while i really don't want to do it i'm almost relieved at the thought that maybe this is going to solve some of the issues the poor kid has with his ears.

while at the dr's office the prince fell asleep on my lap in the exam room. the night before he had been up partying: jumping on the bed, laughing, getting into all his toys. i figured he was tired after his late night and didn't ask the nurse or dr to check his temperature even though i did think he was a bit warm.

later hubby and i decided that we have amazing instincts with the kids, but are too stupid to follow through with them.

this we decided after taking the prince home and my informing hubby that he had thrown up in his bed several times and why didn't i mention to the dr that i thought he was warm!

he slept most of the day and night, waking up to eat some toast and an apple, but we kept him home from school the next day to be on the safe side.

friday night i went to bed like usual, but the prince wouldn't let me stay in bed. he cried most of the night and my instincts failed me as to why. after getting about 3 hours of sleep i got up to get on with my saturday, which was a work day.

i tried to get into bed before midnight and actually succeeded, except that i was up with him 4 times. when i talked to a friend about it later she suggested that maybe he was having night terrors which would account for the fact that at one point he was running up and down the halls shrieking bloody murder.

after no more sleep than the night before i woke up at 8am to get on with my sunday, also a work day. thankfully i was able to take a nap in the afternoon and while the prince got me out of bed twice before 1am he either slept through the rest of the night or i slept through his not sleeping through the night. (though i am guessing he slept since i find it physically impossible to sleep through either of the kids crying.)

another bit of news is that his lead levels are still about the same, though his body burden did drop a bit his blood level is still below the number where they would chelate him. we'll see the ent the same day as we take him to the lead clinic. hopefully they will go up just enough for a short treatment to get things moving.

now it is time to finish the bedtime routine and read a book with the princess kitty so we can write a book report by the end of the month. and maybe... just maybe i'll get some sleep tonight.

God's peace y'all

misery is a butterfly or don't you want me baby?

bds over at two dollar productions recommended this meme and I thought, hey cool I should do that… then the pobble did it and I couldn’t resist.

The rules:
1. Put your music player on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT. (This is in capital letters, so it is very serious.)
4. Add editorial comments in parenthesis after most song names.

(ok, so here is the 1st parenthesis… i have several play lists on my music player including one that is entitled “jesus rocks” with all my gospel music, but the two lists i listen to most are my contemporary music and my 80’s music, so i had to do this twice. the first answer is from the playlist that i listen to most, the second is from my 80’s list)

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY? Beautiful Disaster - 311
Just Like Honey- The Jesus and Mary Chain

2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Believe- Red Hot Chili Pepers
Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Clash

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Bitterweet Symphony- The verve Pipe
Love is a Battlefield- Pat Benatar

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? Epiphany- Staind (well, it was tuesday when i got this answer and hubby always says i have epiphanies on tuesdays)
Crazy For You- Madonna (actually, just crazy)

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE? Cobrastyle Teddy Bears (i seriously thought about skipping this one, but i followed the rules)
Vacation- Go Gos

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? I Write Sins Not Tragedies- Panic! At the Disco (ok, this one made me giggle)
Moments in Love- Art of Noise

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Mother Mother- Tracy Bonham
Psycho Killer- Talking Heads (i need to have a long talk with my friends)

8. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS? No Way Out- The Foo Fighters
Stupid Girl- Garbage (no i don't, honest!)

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? Hole in the Earth- Deftones (there’s a hole in the earth? i never thought of that)
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me- Culture Club (i think i might have some issues)

10. WHAT IS 2+2? Oh! Gravity- Switchfoot
Right here Right Now- Jesus Jones

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? When Your Heart Stops Beating- Plus 44
I Wanna Be Sedated- The Ramones

12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? The Kill- 30 Seconds to Mars
Relax- Frankie Goes to Hollywood

13. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Don’t Lose Touch- Against Me
Golden Years- David Bowie (i'm not even 40 yet - golden years... geeze!)

14. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Icky Thump- The White Stripes (sometimes i think i am that already)
Jessie’s Girl- Rick Springfield (doesn’t everyone want to be jesse’s girl?)

15. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Undone (the Sweater Song)- Weezer
Rush- Big Audio Dynamite

16. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Painted By Numbers- The Sounds
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper (oh, daddy dear you know you’re still number one…)
17. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? China Girl David Bowie
We Could Be Heros- David Bowie (funny thing is that both songs are bowie and that pobble got this one too! and we didn’t actually play any bowie at our wedding! but who is cooler than david bowie?)

18. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Teenagers- My Chemical Romance
Shock the Monkey- Peter Gabriel (for God’s sake, i might not actually be dead!)

19. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? A Certain Romance- Arctic Monkeys
Obsession- Animation

20. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Baby One More Time- Dilana (the biggest secret might be how much i love this song)
Down Under- Men at Work (honest, i was born in philly)

21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Hey Kids- Jet
All I Want is You- U2

22. WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS? Misery is a Butterfly- Blonde Redhead
Don’t You Want Me Baby- Human League

undecided?

i still don't know who i am ultimately going to vote for in the presidential primaries. i keep going back and forth on this issue and wish i could just decide. however, i do kinda like the fact that i'm having such a hard time deciding since it has been a very long time since i have felt this way about 2 candidates.

and so finding this link was actually helpful. the candidate calculator asks just a few questions, but then tells you who you most match up with. i didn't even know who my first choice was, but my second choice was one of the two i am thinking about. my other choice was way down on the list.

God's peace y'all and don't forget to vote when the time comes.

of hot pink, fuzzy robes

this past christmas i asked for a specific list of things and received just about all of them. the spoons being just one of the things i truly wanted.

i also got itunes from my brother and slick. it's been fun adding some new music, though the album i've been waiting for doesn't come out until march and i suspect that by then i will have spent all the itunes. (but my birthday is in march, so i have hope).

i asked my parents for a gift card to see the hair dresser we all visit with. she and my mom have become good friends and before xmas when my mom went to get the certificate she told gloria about hubby's test. gloria responded by writing a second certificate just from her. i can't wait to go get my cut, color, and my eyebrows waxed. (i'm started to get a little hairy above the eyes.)

when hubby's mom asked what we wanted for xmas from our pollyannas i said i needed a square frying pan so i could make more than one piece of french toast or grilled cheese sandwich at a time. and guess what my wonderful mil put under the tree for us!

and then there were the gifts from hubby and the kids. i mentioned to hubby that perhaps next xmas i was going to ask for jewelry, but that i really wanted a pretty long sleeved nightgown for this year... the nightgown looks really good with the white gold diamond hoop earrings they gave me.

months ago i mentioned to the pobble that i wanted a new cutting board. and it came with a hot pink fuzzy robe. i think i have lived in the robe since christmas. it's one of my new favorite things.

even with all the stress of the past few weeks i've realized how much i've really enjoyed this past christmas. it's not all about the stuff that i got though i can't remember the last time that "santa" listened so well. being around family and friends was such a joy.

it's been two years now that we have been able to spend christmas at home; exactly the same amount we weren't able to spend at home the two years before. traditions seem to be reinventing themselves. we even spent new year's with the prince's godparents, something we missed doing for a few years because new year's was falling too close to sunday and we couldn't travel.

even missing friends at the table this year wasn't such a downer. not having the pobble here for christmas (last year she was the guest who wouldn't leave) was sad, but the joy of knowing that she was happy where she was made the melancholy go away.

and we saw hubby's nephew who now lives in hawaii. and one brother-in-law, hubby, and i went out for drinks with his neice. nephew was 13 when we got married and hubby bought my engagement ring the day of the neice's 8th grade graduation. it's scary that they are growing up so fast (actually, they are totally grown now) but how much fun was it to see them as the adults i always knew they would become!

all in all it was a wonderful holiday time... a warm, hot pink, fuzzy holiday.

God's peace y'all

I GOT SPOONS!!!

when hubby and i registered for our flatware over 11 years ago we picked a set that was higher in quality on purpose. i expected that we would never own a set of actual silver (until my parents and uncle suprised us on our 10th anniversary with my grandmother's set). i wanted something that i could put out with the china and use every day.

we picked a simple, but elegant pattern, but then discovered that we couldn't register for a slotted serving spoon. for 11 years i have been without a slotted spoon and somehow our teaspoon numbers dwindled from 12 to 4. now how you lose spoons i don't know, but they have disappeared like socks in the dryer.

so, for christmas hubby's family does a pollyanna. my mother-in-law organizes it and our rule is that she and the grandchildren don't participate, only the siblings and spouses. when she asked for ideas for me to give my pollyanna i went to oneida.com and looked up my pattern and low and behold... there was a slotted spoon.

i wanted it! i needed it! 11 years without one and i was this close to having a dream come true.

and guess what. i got 4 new teaspoons and my slotted spoon from my wonderful sister-in-law!!!

sometimes dreams do come true.

christmas and new years were wonderful, but i am too tired to say anymore at the moment. i still have to read with the princess kitty and pack lunches for the kids for tomorrow because it is back to school tomorrow! hey, another dream come true!

God's peace y'all!