Today was the last vacation day that I had to take before the end of the year. I had something I had to do up around Arlington today, so I was going to try to accomplish my Christmas shopping today (another story).
So, I was about to head out when I looked and noticed one of my tires had lost some air again. I was going to put more air in it at the gas station at Brookshire's. Someone was already there airing up all of their tires at the free air pump. OK, fine, I'll go to the Shell station, it's on the way out of town. I get there and didn't four quarters to buy air. Best not to worry with it anyway, so I call Mom to borrow her car. Then I had to find a parking spot at the courthouse to get her car - a pain in the butt. Play musical keys with her because she needed to get into her house at lunch because the garage opener was in her car, yada, yada, yada.
I had to drive back over to my car to get some stuff out that I was taking with me. I thought at this rate I was never going to make my way out of town.
I've driven her car enough that I'm used to it. BUT... driving someone else's car is never the same as driving your own.
When I drive a distance especially, I am a chronic radio changer. Don't like that song, flip it over. I hate that singer, flip it over. Massive station changer, I tell you. And I'm used to my radio controls being on my steering wheel, even though one button isn't going through my presets just right.
And of course, Mom isn't going to have the same stations on her buttons that I do. I have no problem with that. At least they would be something to flip through. She has XM radio on her car, and listens to it alot. That's all good except I'm not used to the stations on there and scanning through is a pain. I can deal with listening to FM radio, and was trying to listen to FM radio. Except on 11 out of 12 of her presets on her FM stations are one station.
That one station was 99.1 FM in Dallas. A Spanish station. That's 11 of the 12 FM presets with Spanish music and the only word my mom knows in Spanish is "no."
That almost drove me nuts. So not only was I having to scan through, I was having to reach over to the radio itself and flip through. Which was a little bit of a stretch at times. Annoying more than anything.
After trying to get my dad to get my tires looked at last week, trading cars with my mom led him to decide to go get tire prices... what I tried to get him to do last week. *sigh*
Although I'd rather spend money on something besides tires right now, I hope I get them on before next Friday night. I have a Christmas party out of town to go to and don't need to go on my tires. If I have to take Mom's car again, I need to figure out how to program her radio.
On another note, I had a friend once who was absolutely convinced that every song in Spanish had the word "corazon" in it. If it means heart or love, I guess he was correct, but I can't hear a song in Spanish without thinking about that.
In high school Spanish class, we sang this stupid song about the colors. My classmates knew I hated it (it just got on my nerves), so they would sing it to me all the time just to be mean to me.
Azul,
Blanco,
Rojo,
Violeta.
Amarillo,
Anaranjado,
Verde y
Rosa.
Of course, one of the other songs was, "quiero, quiero, quiero el bistec." I thought it was dumb too because I never wanted a steak.
The one phrase I can really still remember after two years of high school Spanish and four semesters in college is "me duele la cabeza" or "I have a headache".
"La cabeza, me duele la cabeza. La cabeza, llamarle el doctor."
OK, that's your Spanish lesson for the day. That's all I've got.
What are you listening to?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009I would just like to add, it was my idea!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Have you ever noticed that God gives some people a better sense of direction than He does others?
I'm not talking spiritual direction of purpose and right vs. wrong (though I think He does that too). I'm talking about right vs. left and north, south, east and west.
My dad has said that I have a better sense of direction than most anyone he knows. I've even had co-workers that had to take a detour on the way back to their metroplex homes call me to figure out where they have gone off course. Why? I'm not really sure. It really could have just been because I was at my desk and could have pulled up MapQuest.
My father's other child was not so fortunate. Let's put a positive spin on this. Brian has seen much more than he would have ever seen had he not gotten lost as frequently as he has.
I'm never really surprised when he calls me while wandering around the DFW area asking how to get back home. A couple of years ago, Paige was on a competitive cheer squad that had meets up in the Dallas area. One particular Sunday morning, I was at a convention in Philadelphia. My phone rings and it is my brother. Hmmm... what's up with that? I don't think he realized I was in Philly, but he would have set my phone off in church had I not been up there.
"Uh, I'm in Garland, and I can't find my way back to the road to get back home. I'm headed towards Rockwall or something."
"Well, I'm not exactly sure where you are, but you are definitely headed the wrong way. Do you know what road you are on?"
A couple of weeks later, he had gone to Denton or somewhere and got lost around Texas Stadium on the way home.
I'm always willing to try to help, but when the person on the other end doesn't really know where he is or what road he is on, it's kind of, sort of, really hard to tell them where they need to go.
That all happened in November. Every year my parents struggle to figure out what they are going to get Brian for Christmas. I suggested, "you know, Brian is always getting lost. Why don't you buy him a GPS?"
Oh, they might have looked around, but didn't seriously do so.
Move forward a year. Brian relays a couple of other stories about getting lost. Christmas comes. TomTom, Magellan and Garmin all vie for shoppers attention. My parents and I go to Radio Shack in Corsicana. We go to Wal-Mart. We look at Radio Shack in Lewisville. We almost have a throw down in middle of Radio Shack in Lewisville because they just won't make up their minds. I say that one might not have all the features, but it does the main job it needs to do since they were out of the model that was Dad's first choice.
Buy the poor guy a GPS already. But, no...
Fast forward to this year. Last month, Brian and Julie were going to take the kids up to "Ice" at the Gaylord Texan. Brian makes the comment, "I hope I don't get lost."
Later that day, I say, "did you hear Brian comment that he hoped he wouldn't get lost. I really think you should get him that GPS." My parents both agreed that they heard him. They briefly looked last weekend they said, but evidently weren't too serious about buying.
So, my parents took Paige and Peyton to Granbury for a Christmas show. For some reason, Brian was in Ft. Worth this morning. Mom calls Brian to let him know they were on their way back. Brian was lost in Ft. Worth.
On their way home, they stopped in Waxahachie and finally bought Brian a GPS.
I kind of predict this to be the way opening Christmas presents will go down...
Brian opens up his GPS. "I've been wanting one of these for three years. Can't you people take a hint every time I say that I hope I don't get lost?"
I chime in, "I've been telling them to get you one for three years, but no one ever listens to me!"
Now granted, I might be getting the calls, "how do I work this thing?"
Who do I Talk to?
Friday, December 4, 2009
Gabrielle Fairbanks knew her husband was upset with her. But she never expected him to change the locks on their Chicago penthouse, cancel her credit cards, and disappear with their two boys. Now she's literally on the streets with her elderly mother, her mom's dog...and $220 to her name.
Thank goodness she has somewhere to go--Manna House, the women's shelter where she works. But even in the bustling shelter--surrounded by residents and the Yada Yada Prayer Group--Gabby feels more alone than ever. She longs for someone she can really talk to, someone to help mend together the pieces of her broken life. Her warm-hearted lawyer seems ready to offer more than legal counsel...but is he the answer to prayer or just a pleasant distraction?
As her fragile plans fall apart, Gabby hits on a possibility so wild and wonderful it has to be one of those "God things." Something she's only seen happen to other Christians. Until now.
For everyone who loves the best-selling Yada Yada Prayer Group novels...The Yada Yada House of Hope series features familiar faces and places, with a fresh new life all its own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the first book, Gabby kind of got to me because she had some characteristics of a human doormat. As Neta promised me back at the time, Gabby did grow in this book. She becomes a stronger person through all of her struggles and finally stands up for herself. Gabby has a pretty tough go of it, but if I tell you what, I'd mess it up for you.
BUT... don't pick up this book without reading the first in the series, Where do I Go?. I think you might get lost. Actually, I would tell you to start with The Yada Yada Prayer Group book one, then 2-7, then start this series to really be in the loop. Having read them all leading up to this one, I knew all of the characters that were in the first series. You could probably just start with this series and be OK because you didn't know what you were missing and Neta fills you in on who everyone is.
I can't wait to see how things turn out for her in Who do I Lean on? next summer.
And reading the book made me want to go Chicago again. But, as cold as it is here right now, I can imagine what it's like in Chicago and think it would be better to wait for summer.
Will it snow?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
It's cold in Texas. Imagine that!
Three of my co-workers that live further north of here were all admiring snowflakes yesterday. The rest of us witnessed rain. BUT, some people saw snowflakes before Christmas!
And the weather people are calling for more snow by the weekend. And snow in Houston at that! To me, this seems very strange for December. The last time we saw real snow, it was in April a few years ago because Texas weather is just that wacky. Normally, if we are going to get sleet, snow, slain, sneet or anything like that, it's in February or maybe March.
Just for the history buffs or weather geeks that may be reading this rather pointless blog tonight, 33 years ago, it snowed within the first half of November - a good bit I am told. One of my uncles had to volunteer to have tire chains ready in case my mom went into labor with me.
An author I work with wrote a children's fantasy book focusing on the weather. In a Q&A, he basically said that while people usually think that chatting about the weather is a minor deal, it's actually a much bigger conversation. In the context of what he was talking about, this is true.
However, on my blog tonight, it's just pointless ramblings so that I won't go three days without a blog entry.
So... will it snow, will it snow, will it snow?
John Blase's Touching Wonder
Monday, November 30, 2009
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
and the book:
Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas
David C. Cook; New edition (September 1, 2009)
John Blase’s work includes Living the Questions and Living the Letters Bible-study series, the Worldviews reference book (TH1NK), Real Life Stuff for Couples, and The Message Children’s Bible. A former pastor, John currently edits by day and writes by night. He and his wife, Meredith, have three children and make their home in Colorado.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434764656
ISBN-13: 978-1434764652
AND NOW...an excerpt: Angelic Visitor
Luke 1.26–38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.
She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.
He will be great,
be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
no end, ever, to his kingdom.”
Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”
The angel answered,
The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.
“And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”
And Mary said,
Yes, I see it all now:
I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.
Then the angel left her.
Gabriel
The theologians have rendered us mindless God-slaves, wisps of cloudy wings, doing nothing but the bidding of the Mighty One. Theologians. There is so much they do not know.
I found her just as He said she would be found: sitting on her bedding, barefooted, knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around them, chin resting on her knee-tops. I saw why she had gained the favor of the Mighty One. I liked this daughter-of-Eve-to-bethe-mother-of-God.
“But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”
I expected this. But unlike that old priest’s, hers was not the doubting of a skeptic but rather the wondering of a child.
“But how? I can’t see it.”
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you. Mary, you have nothing to fear.” The Mighty One had expressly said, “Herald the news, Gabriel. Don’t report it.” I would have liked to elaborate further, but Mary would have to live out the details of my news in days to come. Truths unlived are not truths.
Then she paused and looked away. I have spoken to many of God’s children, and their eyes are always transfixed on me. They should be. I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God. But Mary’s gaze wandered for a moment. But what I initially took for a distracted mind was rather a devoted heart.
Her eyes returned to me. “Let it be with me.” Ah, the Mighty One had chosen well. Her words were not
resigned, but faith-full. The faith of a child. Of such is the Mighty One’s kingdom.
“Cousin Elizabeth? Really? Old Elizabeth? But how?”
I laughed.
“Nothing, you see, is impossible with God. Mary, you have nothing to fear. I have told you all you need to know for now. You are more ready than you realize, stronger than you know. God is with you. Now I must go.”
But I did not want to go. Faith is rare, at least true faith. Yes, the word is often used, but the reality is hard
to find. Yet here I found it, in an earthen vessel surrounded by an earthen room. I liked Mary.
I left her just as He said I would: barefooted, sitting on her bedding, knees pulled up to her chest, arms
wrapped tightly around them, chin resting on her kneetops. She looked older now. Human eyes would not
recognize this, but mine have seen much.
The Mighty One had revealed glimpses to me, what days ahead would hold for this glorious girl. Her cousin’s leaping womb. Joseph’s broad shoulders. The back of a borrowed burro. Herod’s jealous-red face. The cries of the innocent. The breath of stable animals. The agony of pushing the Mighty One out into this world.
I found myself praying for the favored one. Mary had so much to carry.
©2009 Cook Communications Ministries. Touching Wonder by John Blase. Used with permission. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.
Petunia the Pig Caller
Sunday, November 29, 2009
At Cracker Barrel on Friday night, I found something that I wanted to get for Paige, but Dad said if I got it, she'd never speak to me again. I'll have to back up the story before I tell you what it was.
On Wednesday, Brian had called Paige about showing an animal this coming spring in the youth expo. Paige's friend Emalee had already gotten her pig. Brian talked to Paige about getting her a pig too. So, Paige had been talking about getting her a pig.
Paige now has this spacer/expander contraption in her mouth so that she can get braces in a couple of weeks. She also had some sinus issues so when she started making this noise she started making, I don't think she realized what sound she was making. I asked her, "what is this noise you are making?"
Dad said, "she's working on calling her pig."
I said, "that's it! It does sound like a pig call!"
She did not like that we decided this, yet she kept making this stupid little noise that annoyed the heck out of us.
Paige also didn't like my idea that she should name her pig "Petunia" if it happens to be a female pig. She said that was the worst name in the world. Granted, I hated it when Dad went through a phase of calling me Petunia, but in my defense, Petunia was Porky Pig's girlfriend. We had been making random pig jokes on through the day along with her pig call.
So later, Dad told Peyton not to eat or drink something after Paige because of germs they had. Dad made some reference to the Swine flu. I laughed and said, "I think Paige already has it. Oh, she doesn't get the joke Dad..."
"Yes, I did and you are mean."
Mom says, "you better go apologize."
"Dad started it," I proclaimed as he and I continued laughing.
I did go and apologize even though she knew we were joking.
Well, at Cracker Barrel, they had this little stuffed pig that snorted out the tune of "Jingle Bells". I picked it up, took it over to Dad and said, "does this sound like anyone you know?"
Dad started laughing and some woman working there said, "be nice!" Dad told me that Paige would never speak to me again if I got that for her. Mom agreed it would not go over too well.
I think little "Petunia the Pig Caller" would have to love it because I gave it to her.
Home for the Holidays at Bass Hall
Saturday, November 28, 2009
My mom received an offer for some tickets to Bass Hall and had a certain number of vouchers to exchange for certain shows. So, last night, we went to the "Home for the Holidays" show featuring the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
All the "Black Friday" shopping I did yesterday is late in the afternoon in Waxahachie on the way up (where my dad had to return something to Belk that he and mom got the week before) to Ft. Worth. Oh, and we stopped at Home Goods in Midlothian. We were there around 4-5 PM, a good 12 hours after the masses were in stores.
We decided to do the Friday night show, but didn't realize that the Ft. Worth downtown lighting and Christmas parade were taking place last night. We got stuck in traffic and could not get to our parking garage for Bass Hall. We were driving around block, and block, and waiting for police direction and so forth and so on. I was driving at the time, but my eyeballs started floating from too much Diet Coke at Cracker Barrel where my mom purchased sock monkey salt and pepper shakers for the Christmas season. (I admit they were quite cute.) I had enough of what could be a long time of sitting in traffic. I called for a Chinese fire drill and made Dad get out and drive.
I ran on up the block to Bass Hall where they asked if I had my ticket. Normally, they don't make you show a ticket until you are going in the doors to the concert hall to be seated. I told the usher that the people I was with had my ticket and were stuck in the traffic. I was just heading down to the restrooms. Heck, I wasn't going to argue with the guy. I probably would have pushed him down. I know, I know, TMI.
Anyway, it was a great show with the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Southwestern Seminary Master Chorale and the Dorothy Shaw Bell Choir. I don't think I had ever actually seen a bell choir before. At the end when they had an audience sing-along, Santa Claus made an appearance and fake snow floated down from the ceiling.
Great show, but I'm no closer to being in the Christmas state of mind than I was before. Unfortunately. No, I don't think I am a trying too hard. I'm trying to be open about it. And the fact that Mom had a lot of her Christmas decorations out and her tree up didn't make me want to put mine up.
