Sightings

There are famous people in town! One right next door!

This is what I saw on Saturday afternoon:

That's right! SpongeBob SquarePants was in my neighbor's yard. And, judging by the silly string on my driveway, he was in my yard, too. My neighbor was having a birthday party for her son, and SpongeBob came! I couldn't resist taking a covert photo from my car. At this point, they're singing, "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands...." First, I feel sorry for the dude in the yellow box. Maybe he loves kids, or gets paid a huge amount of money (which I doubt), but that's gotta be on my list of jobs I'd never want. Second, I feel sorry for mom, and every other parent in the world who has to listen to SpongeBob and Barney all day long. What do parents do to stay sane? Maybe this was why my parents didn't have a tv when we were growing up. For their own well-being, not ours!

My next sighting that day was Tim Curry! Okay, maybe not Tim Curry himself, but he seems to be campaigning in my town!

If you don't know who Tim Curry is, he's an actor who's been in lots of things, but I will always think of him as Dr. Poole in Oscar:

And those are my famous people/sponge sightings!

Does anyone want to shop for me??

I'm stuck. Or maybe unmotivated. Or maybe figuring I have no way to find the solution. So...I've decided to come to the Blogger community for help!

Preface:
My dining room table seats six, but came with no chairs, so I found six mismatching chairs in various places: garage sales, resale shops, etc. The plan was (is) to paint the chairs all one color (black), and have the shabby chic look going on.

Problem:
My chairs are falling apart. One has always had problems, one seems rickety, and I always make sure the smallest person sits in it, and another has decided to crack all through the chair legs. So three of my six chairs are now out of commission. The cracked chair might be fixed with a little gorilla glue, but the issue remains that these chairs are not really made to last. Or they are, but I bought them at the end of their days. However, of the three remaining chairs, I really like two of them, and don't want to part with them.

Problem (continued):
We are hosting a rather large Christmas dinner, in which there will probably be more than six people eating, and now we only have three acceptable chairs. And, now that I think of it, our table only seats six....

Solution:
I need to find very cheap, very sturdy chairs! Do I need to go garage-saling again? And I'd like to spend no more than $20 per chair. Is this unrealistic? I guess these chairs have lasted almost four years, which is pretty good for garage sale chairs. I found $20 chairs at IKEA, and they're even black and in the mission style I like, but I'm not sure I can trust IKEA for sturdy chairs.

Here are chairs I like:

This one I found at a "discount" store online for $150. I like armed chairs for the head and foot of the table, and no arms for the side chairs.

This one is from IKEA for $60. I like the cushion, since I sit at the table all day every day, and I'd like something comfy.

And this is the $20 chair I've seen from IKEA. It doesn't look very comfortable (the seat is so flat), but it is in the price range, and it's mission style, which fits the rest of the house. All in all, an acceptable chair, except for the comfort, and it's probably really cheaply made. (And, concerning comfort, I already have a cushion I can use for work. Otherwise, we don't stay at the table that long.)

All these chairs are stained dark brown, but painted black is fine, too.

So...does anyone want to spend time chair hunting? I know some of you just wander aimlessly on the internet; you could use some direction! It'll be like a treasure hunt! If you find anything, post a link in the comments section! Thanks, and have fun solving my problem!!

Drivin' Along in My Automobile....

Today I drove to Dallas for a design conference. The conference was really great, and Karen got to come, too, which made it even better! The drive, though, was not so fun. I don't really like to drive, mostly because I like to look around, and I can't look around as much when I'm the one responsible for the large object careening along at 70 mph. However, I did manage to see some funny things.

First, I got stuck behind one of those new VW bugs. It was going about 58, and driving me crazy. I couldn't get around, and I was getting mad at whatever teeny bopper girl was not paying attention and driving below the speed limit. Finally, there was a break in the line of cars in the next lane, so I took advantage of it and moved around the bug. As I passed it, I was surprised to see a handicapped tag hanging on the rearview mirror. The driver was a little old man! He was so cute, in his little VW bug, that I had to laugh. That's what I get for being impatient.

Then, I came up behind a large truck, kind of like a moving van. The company name emblazoned on the back was "Totally Confused Transportation." That's right! Then, as I moved alongside it, I saw its logo:
Is that funny or what?? And why on earth would you ever name a trucking company that?

Anyway, those made me laugh today. Traffic wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been, and I didn't get lost! All in all, a successful day!

Who is the wind beneath my wings?

I just read an interesting article today. It discusses the top 10 songs requested at British funerals. Here is the list:

1. Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt
2. Angels - Robbie Williams
   
3. I've Had The Time Of My Life - Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley.
4. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
5. Pie Jesu - Requiem
   
6. Candle In The Wind - Elton John
7. With Or Without You - U2
8. Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
9. Every Breath You Take - The Police
   
10. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers

I know I live in a bubble, and I wouldn't know about some if these songs had it not been for my dear friend and roommate, Leanna (you know which songs!), but none of these would be in my top 10 list. I'm not sure I would want a love song sung at my funeral. But then again, I know I will always connect certain love songs to Jon, and if he does the same for me, I wouldn't want to deny him the playing of those songs. However, I think we both understand that a funeral is not just about celebration of life and love, but of the new life that our loved one has now stepped into. As a matter of fact, this life, and any love in it, pales to that new life. And I think the service should reflect that.

I'm also not sure I would want a contemporary song sung at my funeral. The occasion seems much more...timeless. But then I'm considering these things as how it should be 80 years from now (I'm going to be really old when I die!). Maybe it would be different at a different age.

Anyway, just thought the article was interesting. I think any topic surrounding death is interesting, when comparing a worldly view with a Christian one. I, personally, can't wait for heaven, and I hope, when I die at age 104, that the funeral is a party! You're all invited! If you're not down here, I'll be partying with you up there!! :D

Toot Toot!

Tooting my own horn here, I wanted to show you what I made for the Love Offering for Jesus push that we do every year at our church. The offering is a year-round offering, and it gives money to the major things like Annie Armstrong, Mary Hill Davis, etc. Because it's a pledge to give year-round, the amount we as a church give to these individual emphases is much higher.

I made this banner! It's 4 feet by 12 feet, and it hangs above our baptistry. The Minister of Media helped with it, as well, so I can't take all the credit, but I was there to teach him how to use Illustrator, and for design instruction. It's the biggest thing I've ever made, and I think it turned out great! So fun!

In other news, I won the Most Positive award that my coworkers and I have been in the running for throughout this past month! I won $100! Considering that the Big Boss smoothly pulled out a hundred dollar bill from a wad in his wallet when he presented the contest, I don't think he would have really appreciated the money had he won. I, on the other hand, have only seen a hundred dollar bill one other time in my life, and I'm excited about it. I'm thinking it should either go to Friday's ophthalmologist bill...or to the State Fair!!

Yay for blessings!

God's Creation

This morning I received a call that my friend, Joe, lost his beagle. She was well into her teen years, and died of old age. It reminded me of when I lost my cat, who had been my best friend as I grew up. I'm sure you can remember the loss of your favorite pet, or the love of your current one. Pets somehow touch a part of us that nothing and no one else can.

I'd like to think that animals go to heaven. If a burro can proclaim God's message, then who says animals can't also claim that message? I'm pretty sure I wouldn't win any theological debates on that point, but I'd still like to think it. A professor once said that heaven is different for different people. To some, heaven will be a library; to others, an orchestra hall. For me, it would be nature perfected. I don't really agree with that professor's idea of heaven (after all, who cares about books, or even nature, when we're in the presence of God??), but I also can't picture a "new heaven and new earth" without animals. Animals not because I like them, but because God created them. The fall of Man was actually the fall of creation. We see that in viruses, trees afflicted by cancer, and animals behaving as they shouldn't. Why do we think that only Man can be redeemed?

The import of that is this: If animals do indeed go to heaven, it elevates their significance. "Just another dead bird" is now flying as it never flew before. A deer is leaping for joy at meeting its Creator. We can't look at animals callously. And, really, we shouldn't whether they're in heaven or not. They're still God's creation. A pet isn't here just for our whims; a pet is for us to care for and protect. I wonder if our view of animals doesn't come from our habit of being slightly narcissistic, and believing the world revolves around us? Is it too hard to imagine that Christ came to redeem the world, and not just the people?

I'd like to know what you think. If you've been changed by a wet nose, happy bark, soft face, or contented purr, I'd be interested to know if you believe that your childhood pets are frolicking with mine. And if you have never experienced that sort of bond with an animal, your thoughts would be appreciated as well (and I think you should head to the Human Society right after posting). :)

The End of Summer Camp

It's officially the end of summer camp. Cliff and Teresa came and picked Buddy up last night. Now, we're waiting to see Friday's reaction. We're wondering if he even realizes Buddy is gone. After all, it took him a while to realize he was here! I thought up different ideas to keep Friday entertained over the next few days while he readjusts to being an only child. We decided not to let him in our bedroom last night. It would just be one more deviation from the norm. And he did just fine. Never whined or scratched at our door or anything, which is good for him on any day! Now he's just slept all day today.

I hope Buddy is adjusting well! I wonder if he's ventured out of his basket today, and if Gracie remembers him. Maybe he's found a nice window to watch the squirrels.

In other cat news, Friday has been battling a corneal ulcer for over a month. That's right--an ulcer on his eye. He's been a trooper, and has endured countless medicines and vet visits. (Did I say countless? I meant 4 medicines, over a period of 6 times a day at its worst, and 5 vet visits.) Yet, despite our efforts, his eye is not healing. The next step is to take him to a veterinary opthalmologist (did anyone know those even existed??), which we'll do in two weeks. That was the earliest we could get in. A corneal ulcer did not sound like a big deal to them, and they think he'll be fine. Then again, in the realm of eye grossies, I'm sure they've seen much worse.

My prayer is that whatever the solution is for Friday's eye, it doesn't make us decide between spending enormous amounts of money, or losing the sight in that eye. I don't think I could handle a tough decision like that. I mean, with a child, the answer is obvious. But I realize that a cat is not a child, and maybe it's not wise to spend lots of money on an animal that wouldn't really worry if he only had sight in one eye. But maybe it is wise. I mean, he's ours, and we're responsible for caring for him. I'm just not sure where the line is.

We've been blessed that our vet is a Christian, and knows we're in seminary, so he often doesn't charge us for things he could. I'm hoping the eye vet will be as sympathetic, because I have a feeling that he can charge pretty much whatever he wants. We'll give a report after the appointment on Oct. 9!

On Silent Films

I was going to leave this blank, and only post with the title, but I figured only my dad would get the joke, and he doesn't read my blog. So on with the (non-silent--quite wordy, actually) post....

I think I'm pretty safe in assuming that none of you in my general audience are old enough to have experienced silent movies first-hand--none save one. I know my Grandpa reads this, and he just might have been old enough to remember them. Anyway, I certainly had never seen a silent movie until a few weeks ago. I pulled a movie from our shelves that I had never watched. It was a dollar movie I picked up over a year ago at the grocery store. The blurb said it was "The Ring" by Alfred Hitchcock, a 1952 movie about a man who gets out of the slums by boxing, and has to work to regain respect from his dad. Sounded fine to me, so I stuck the DVD in the player.

My first impression was of the quality of the movie, and how it reminded me of a VERY old film. It was black and white, lots of dust and things coming across the screen, and the motions were really jerky, like those "0ld-timey" movies that didn't get the film speed right. I kept expecting Alfred Hitchcock to make his traditional appearance, and things to return to 1952 normal, but they never did! After being quite confused for several minutes, I finally realized the blurb on the DVD was for the wrong movie. This was "The Ring" by Alfred Hitchcock, a 1927 silent film where a man rises in celebrity as a boxer, and has to fight to keep the love of his wife.


All in all, it was a great film! Alfred Hitchcock did not make his appearance, and it wasn't even a mystery. I'm not sure when he began directing, but I would assume this was one of his first films. However, the shots were excellent, and the angles very well thought-out, just as in his later films. The characters mouthed lots of conversation to each other, very little of which was "subtitled" for the viewer. But I was surprised that I was able to follow the plot all the way through. I didn't realize how little conversation I actually needed to hear to know what's going on.


It was more tedious to watch this film than modern films, but it was neat to imagine that, until recently, this film had probably never been seen outside of the big screen. This was a movie about the 20s, for people from the 20s to watch. The depiction of the roaring 20s was a little different from what I've seen in my history books. The Charleston was a lot more lively than I've ever known it to be!


Somehow I felt a little of that realization that the "here and now" is not all there has ever been. It was a neat experience, and I would recommend anyone who hasn't seen a silent film to see one. And if you're at a loss of where to start, try "The Ring" by Alfred Hitchcock.

Time for a random post

Well, it's been awhile since I've just rambled on, so I thought it was due. I mean, you could tell I was stretching with the cat bath post. Stories are just not coming into my head lately. So, today, you get snippets.

I got a new toy yesterday! It's a speedometer for my bike! How awesome is that? This morning we tried it out, and we go 10-12 mph. I have no idea if that's bad or good. Jon keeps telling me that speed isn't what's important, though. That it's keeping your heart rate up for a certain period of time. So I guess I won't worry about it. But it's still cool to have a speedometer.

Friday thinks he's found a new toy. It's my vase of flowers. These are orchids, and there are 5-10 flowers on each stem (no leaves). Friday has figured out he can pull off a flower and have a very fun toy, until it wilts and tears, of course. I think he thinks he's found a toy tree. Kind of like a money tree, only more exciting for cats.

This weekend is the Saturday o' Showers for Leanna! I've gotten almost all my Matron of Honor duties accomplished, and it's not even Friday yet! I'm so proud of myself. And I'm so excited about the showers, and especially about the wedding in less than a month! But here is my question to you: Have you ever heard of another title for the Matron of Honor? If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it! I am so glad to have the honor, but if there were another name that didn't add 20 years, that would be nice. I think it should at least be "Matron o' Honor" just for fun. :)

What else....?

Work is crazy. So crazy, that the marketing boss is giving a prize to the person who can remain positive through the next month. I'm determined, because it's a good prize. But I have to make the button or certificate or whatever that will be handed out with the prize. Like I have time for that! With all the other junk I have to do!! ... Oh, was that not positive? I mean, yes sir! One button coming up, sir!

Which brings up the topic of positive reinforcement. I've been wondering if traffic would be safer if cops gave out tax breaks or something to good drivers, instead of tickets to bad ones. Because, frankly, a speed limit just provokes people to want to break it. I have no idea why, but when the limit is 65, I want to go 70. I'm perfectly fine with going 70. But then the limit bumps up to 70, and suddenly, I feel a need to go 75. It's a vicious trend. However, I think if cops were handing out gift cards for gas, or 6 mos worth of car insurance, I might be more inclined to see a cop and say, "Pick me! Pick me! I've been going 2 miles under the whole time!!" I really think DPS should look into the idea of positive reinforcement.

Well, that's about it. If you notice that I'm posting during work hours, that's because I've worked well into the night the past several days (yes, that includes the weekend). It's been that crazy. But hopefully my part of this project we're doing is almost over. The end is in sight! I can do it! I'm going to win the button! And I really love my job, so it's worth a few nights working. Too many, and it won't be worth it. But for now, it's still a really great job.

So those are my random thoughts for the day. You may have to wait for things to slow down a little before something more interesting comes out of my brain. :)

How to Bathe a Cat

First of all, this topic is not for the faint of heart. You have to know your own cat, and each one will act differently. As a matter of fact, each one may act a different way each time. So always stay on your toes. Reading this and following these directions will in no way hold me liable to any injury caused in the process of bathing a cat. Proceed with caution.

1. Find a partner in crime. It takes two people to wash a cat.
2. Gather your materials before getting the cat. These are: cat shampoo (not people shampoo), an old bath towel, a sink with a spray nozzle attachment.
3. Turn the water on in the sink to start warming it up. Warm it to where it feels neutral to your hand or slightly warmer. Cats are warmer than humans, and it will feel colder to them.
4. Find the cat. Suggestions: under the bed, back corner of the closet, the mystery place you haven't yet found, but he always seems to disappear to.
   
5. One person needs to hold the cat with two hands under the cat's armpits. Let the cat's back feet rest on the floor of the sink. Be sure and stop up the sink drain so the cat doesn't accidentally slip and get a foot stuck in it. You may have to pause the process and drain the sink periodically.
6. The other person needs to quickly wet down the cat with the sprayer. Wet everything but the cat's head. Ignore the yowling that may commence. The cat is not in pain; it just thinks it is. If the cat begins to resist and struggle, have the holder restrain any part that is trying to move, or lift the cat above the sink, so he has no leverage. Do not bring the cat near your shirt, or you will most likely receive several new unneccessary buttonholes.
7. After the cat is sufficiently wet, squirt a fair amount of shampoo all over the cat (again avoiding the head).
8. Vigorously scrub the cat, making sure you get soap all the way through the thick coat. Concentrate on areas that attract dirt, like paws.
9. Again use the sprayer to hose down the cat. Start at the top, and rinse all the way down. Be sure to get as much soap off as possible. Even though it is pet soap, it's not good to ingest too much.
10. Apologize when you accidentally hose down the holder, as well.
11. At this point, use your wet hands to gently wipe down your cat's face. Only do what it necessary to clean your cat's head. You don't want water going in their ears or eyes.
12. Drape a bath towel over both arms, covering your chest.
13. Have the holder place the cat in the towel hammock you've created.
14. Immediately wrap the cat tightly in the towel. The cat will not be happy, and will want to use his claws for evil, as well as jump as far away as he can. By wrapping up both back and front legs, you can keep this from happening.
15. While keeping the towel tight, vigorously rub the cat down. Cats get cold easily, and you don't want excess water in their fur. (Do not give a cat a bath during winter.) While it seems like a good idea, a hair dryer usually doesn't go over too well with cats.
    
16. Slow your rub-down to a pet, and speak soothingly to your cat. Try to calm him down before letting him go. If he'll take it, give him a treat.
17. Release the cat.
18. Go change your clothes, as, despite your efforts, you will now be soaking wet.
19. Watch as the cat proceeds to lick every clean part of him, undoing all your hard labor.

Friday has had this process periodically ever since he was small enough to bathe holding him in one hand, and it only took a hand towel to dry him off. Now he soaks a full-blown bath towel, and tries to make as much mess as he can. The first time we bathed Buddy, he went completely limp. Jon was holding him, and he was dead weight the whole time. He had no idea what we were doing to him, and I think he would have rather been dead. The next time, he was much wiser, and decided he didn't want any more of that. It turns out cats can be quite strong!

Cats don't really need baths unless they get into something. Most of the time, they clean themselves just fine (unless, like Jon, you think that cat spit could in no way be considered clean). Bathing a cat once a month helps control the amount of dried saliva on a cat's skin, which is what causes allergic reactions in people.

So there you have it. Nineteen steps to a clean cat, and a happier you. Okay, maybe you won't be too happy. And yes, I'll understand if you reconsider the importance of a clean cat after this.

But you now have a clean cat, and your cat feels he has taught you a valuable lesson. All in all, a worthwhile venture.

Our Tour de France

One lap around the neighborhood

Two point five miles

"Check the time!"

And we're off.
At first a struggle

Then quicker down a hill

to set the pace.
A cool breeze

Is fall already here? It won't last.

The ice cream truck

plays The Entertainer

No, it's still summer

A fire burning

Steaks on the grill

Mmm, that smells good...

I shift my balance to ease into a curve
A lawn mower roars
Freshly cut grass
Clean smell of nutrient-filled soil
Clamor of nails on asphalt
"Dog!"
Rush
My legs ache.

Another grill, this time links
I would definitely choose steak
Boom boom thwack!
Boom boom thwack!
"Car!"
Exhaust

The battle cry of a chihuahua
The Entertainer follows us with tired tones
Ice cream sounds good....
A basketball dribbled

Nod.

Coast down a hill
Rest for burning muscles
Breathe deeply
Prepare for The Hill
Accelerate
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon.....
Hit the base of the hill
Frantic pace
Struggle
Come....on....!
Momentum lost
The Hill conquers as I
slow to a crawl

Down the back of The Hill
Defeated.
"You're doing great! Keep it up!"
Renewed energy

Second lap around

Shadows
Lazy cats
Leaves rustle
Another nod
to passersby
Or are we the passersby?

A nod
to community

One more hill
One final turn
Our street at last
Home
The end
of our Tour de France

"How'd we do?"
"Twenty two minutes. Not a record, but what a great ride!"

Sharks in the Brazos

I saw sharks in the Brazos, and...okay, so they were just on the bank of the Brazos...and they were already dead...and...okay...they were only 1.5 feet long, but they were still sharks, and I reported it to Texas Parks and Wildlife, and got to create a sensation in their office, and the Game Warden (or somebody like it) called me, and I got to tell him my shark story, and we figure someone dumped them there, and I hope they get caught!

Handywoman

I love to do things with my hands. I like fixing things, and WD-40 is one of my favorite products. Therefore, I was excited the other day when I realized one of our showers was not draining properly. I did my research, accumulated the right supplies, applied a little elbow grease, and voila! our shower works! All at the expense of a couple of dollars.

My weapons were:
baking soda
vinegar
boiling water
clothes hanger

Baking soda and vinegar fizz their way through blockages, and baking soda and boiling water turns into a force to behold against grime. :) The clothes hanger was bent to pull out grossie things which I won't describe, but frankly made me want to puke.

I was very proud of myself. I made Jon come and observe the wonder of water draining as it should. And then I proceeded to clean out the other shower drain and a sink. I've decided that the baking soda and vinegar combination might just make it to my list of favorite products.

My dream car

Many of you know that the Corvette is my favorite car. When I get rich as a painter, I'm going to get one, just for fun. I've had trouble deciding on what color, until our trip to Granbury a few weekends ago, when I saw this:


I've decided it has to be a red Corvette. Previously, I thought that might be too ostentatious, but it's so beautiful.... And I've also decided to install massive amounts of lights in my garage, to get just this effect.

And yes, I'll take you for a ride, but no, you cannot borrow my dream car.

The fruits of my labor

Well, summertime is coming to a close (though it doesn't feel like it), and gardeners everywhere are picking the bountiful harvest of their summer vegetable gardens. Today, I collected the fruits of my labor from this summer's garden:


Yes, that's it. A pepper. One little, tiny pepper. According to the picture on the seed packet, it should have been about 4 inches long. This one's pushing an inch. Then again, if it had been 4 inches, it would have hit the ground, because the plant itself never made it much taller than that.

So I'm going to make a few amendments to my gardening plan next year. Because I did have success with the peppers (and yes, considering the rest of my vegetable garden, one pepper is a success, thank you), I'll plant those again, only earlier, and in more soil. Then I'm going to buy beautiful flowers like the ones my grandmother gave me in July--only I'll get them in March, so they'll have time to grow before Hades hits Texas.

Someday, I'm going to be a great gardener. :)

Okay, seriously, people!

Is it true that eyebrow waxing gets less painful the more you do it, or is that some horrible lie being passed around so more people will join in the misery? Because I just got my eyebrows waxed for the first time, and it stinkin' hurt. And now my eyebrows are about half the size they used to be.

I'm thinking this is a case of Misery Loves Company, and I'm not sure I'm joining after this.

On my way....

Well, I just got home from Home Depot with 64 feet of lumber for frames for my paintings! I've picked out four photos that follow the same basic style and are ones I'll enjoy painting, so I am really excited. If I get picked to be in the festival, I've decided that I'll make several more big paintings, and supplement with lots of small ones. We'll see how it goes! I'm on my way!! More postings later on the topic.

Oh, I also came home with a bump on my head. Jon put all the lumber in the back of the truck at Home Depot, and I was about to staple a red rag on the longest piece (it stuck out a few feet from the back of the truck). I had to get the staples from the cab of the truck, and in heading that way, I walked right into the end of a 1x4! I guess that's why it needed a bright red rag on it.

Jon took me to Granbury this weekend! We went to a bed & breakfast on Saturday night, and enjoyed an art museum, a nice restaurant with two guys singing requests, the lake, and a picnic! It was so great and relaxing. I just learned that I shouldn't ask the couple across from us at the breakfast table how long they've been married--just in case they aren't married at all. It was an honest mistake!

We have a new member of the blogging community. My mom has started a blog up called Carolyn's Chronicles, with some interesting commentary on working in a prison, and other things. Witty, yet poignant. :) I'll be putting her blog in the links section of this site.

Entrepreneurship

I think I have a streak of the entrepreneur in me. I have come up with about 18 different ideas on how to make money, have acted on about 3 of those, but never to the point of actually doing anything.

I just think there needs to be a way to make money doing what I love. As an artist, there seems a very obvious answer. However, it takes a whole lot of guts to create art. I'd almost rather a big money investment than to release my art to the public. And you know how much I hate spending money! So, it seems I have stage fright. I really enjoyed painting for John and Karen, and that's kind of gotten me thinking back to one of my ideas: putting together several paintings for the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival that's held in downtown Fort Worth every year.

The first year I went to the festival, Jon and I wandered into a tent with beautiful, very realistic, acrylic paintings. There was a man in the tent, and we started a conversation with him. It turns out they were his wife's paintings, but she hated the "selling" part of the deal, and contented in making the paintings, and allowing her husband to do the PR. Jon and I decided that if I were ever to do paintings, we could probably work a deal like that. At the time, though, I wasn't really sure painting was my art form.

In a way, I feel unqualified. I know God has given me artistic talent, but it still has to be honed to be any good. I've only taken one acrylics class, and didn't feel like I understood what I was doing until the very end. It's hard for me to work hard at something that I'm not good at. It's hard for everybody. But, I would be dishonoring God to not perfect a gift He has given me.

So here it is. I'd like to start making paintings for the arts festival. I know, I know...I come up with a lot of hare-brained ideas, and I don't follow through with most of them. And I'll probably get discouraged and want to quit. So that's why I'm letting you know, so you'll encourage me, ask me how it's going, critique paintings I put up here, and above all, come to the festival if I make it in! :)

Here is the info: I have to submit photos of 5 paintings by October 31st. I already have one, and if I come to the end, I could use photos of the paintings I did in college. I would apply as an Emerging Artist, which is for people who don't have experience displaying or selling their work. If I'm selected, I would be provided a booth and electricity free of charge!

I'm letting you know all this so you'll keep me accountable! I already want to give up! How intimidating! But how exciting! Aaahh!!!

Introduction

I'd like to introduce "Through a Lense Darkly" written by my very own husband! :) Jon's decided to start a blog about world issues, how Christians should respond to those issues, and our call to be a light in a dark world. His goal is to call Christians to think. He's started off with a compelling book review, and I'm sure would love your comments! I've put his blog in my "links" section.

Last week, Jon and I tried something new.

It's CocaCola Blak, and it's supposed to taste like coffee. Imagine a Starbucks Frapuccino from the grocery store. Only this is carbonated, and it's got an aftertaste of Diet Coke. All in all, not good. Stick to Starbucks. But wow! what a gorgeous design!

Bad Days

What do you do when you have a bad day?

I sleep. I do not like to deal with problems, and the more that piles on my plate, the further under the covers I burrow. That really doesn't help my situation any, but I haven't figured that out, yet.

I have a tendency to get overwhelmed. I think of the things I need to do for the week, and then the things I want to do for the week, and then the things I should do before I die (and I might as well put those on this week's To Do list), and I get overwhelmed.

I'm learning to differentiate between need and want. Next, I need to learn the discipline to do the needs before the wants. I need to work on keeping my To Do list short, and actually do-able.

When I have a bad day, and feel overwhelmed, I don't need to sleep. This is what I need to hear:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:6-7

Sleep does nothing, but this verse gives me a very clear-cut--and manageable--To Do list.

1. Do not worry
2. Be thankful
3. Present my requests to God

And the beautiful promise of God follows: He will grant me peace--a peace that I can't understand, but that pervades my whole being. Peace that tells my heart to slow its frenzy, and my mind to stop racing. Peace that calms my spirit. Peace that frees me from the paralysis of anxiety.

Peace that allows me to throw off the covers and do what needs to be done!

This promise is not mine alone, but yours as well! Don't worry! Thank God for the things (good and bad) that He's given you. Share your worries and requests with God. Then take hold of His promise of peace.

Commentary on the World

Odd things I've noticed lately:
I was driving home from Waco, and noticed a huge semi with the words "Student Driver" on the back. I suppose they have to learn somewhere, but I had never, ever, in my wildest imagination, thought it would be on the roads! Can't they build some huge parking lot or something?

I was in the snack aisle at the grocery store. In the section with all the single-serving sized stuff (small bags of cookies, chips, etc.), there were individually-sized bags of marshmallows! With a big "Fat Free!" label on the front! Yeah, it's fat free, but that's because it's just SUGAR. There's nothing else to it. No fiber, no calcium-fortification, no nothing! Just sugar. I mean, what? You're going to pack a bag of marshmallows in your kid's lunch? It just doesn't seem right.

Okay, those are my two thoughts of the day. Maybe more will come later. :)

A day at Camp

Dear Diary:
I'm at Kitty Kamp this summer. It's been pretty fun so far. We do all kinds of things. Here's a typical day....

8:30--Chow time. My bunkmate Friday plays with my tail while I eat. It's kind of annoying, but I don't let it stop me.


9:30--Nap Time. Well, at least I try, but Friday has P.E. on his schedule, and he always asks me to join in.

10:30--Wrestling. I get my workout every day. My mom and dad will be proud at how in shape I'm getting! Don't worry, the camp counselors never let anything go too far, and I'm so much better at this than Friday, anyway.
11:30--Bird Watching. I really like this part of the day. It's so peaceful to watch the birds....

....until Friday comes along! I can't help it that I get excited and flip my tail all around! Evidently he can't help it that he likes to play with it.


1:30--Naptime. Finally! I'm in my basket....


...and Friday's on the tile in the entryway.

2:30--Naptime still. I'm in my basket....


....Friday's moved to the bathroom tile.

3:30--Working on a really good nap. I'm in my basket...and Friday is stealing my bed. I don't mind so much, as long as he doesn't get in my basket. If he tries that, I bop him on the nose.


4:30--Still naptime! And yes, I'm still in my basket....
....and Friday's in the bathroom again. I think that boy sleepwalks.


5:30--Rest time. It's not officially napping, but we like to hang out under the table.

Sometime between all the naps, we go to classes. Here, Friday and I are in Death Ray class, in preparation for taking over the world. We're both getting pretty good. Soon I'll try out my new skills on the next door neighbor's dog.
Okay, the dog was a joke. I really like dogs, actually. Friday doesn't know what a dog is, which turned out to be pretty funny when a stray invaded camp one day. But that's another story.... Needless to say, he has much to learn. I've heard he's staying at camp longer than I am to catch up. I try to help him as much as I can, but he gets so distracted by feathers and jingle balls....

Well, I guess that's about a typical day. It's fun here--we get lots of treats and brushings. Baths, I found out, are not so fun, but they don't happen often. Sometimes I get homesick. Friday's okay, but I feel like I could squish him. I could never squish my friend Gracie the Dog. And I miss my parents, but they say hi to me on the computer every once in awhile, and I know they're having a lot of fun and getting a lot accomplished. It's pretty cool that my parents are world travellers. I hope they bring me back a good souvenir. Maybe some of those sardines would be nice....

Good night, Diary! I'm off to nap again, and dream of being Superman!

Happy Birthday Friday!!

Today is Friday's first birthday!! How do I know this? Well, I don't for sure. But the vet's office estimated 7/11/05 as Friday's birthday. What is interesting about that, is that I actually remember 7/11/05. In the Summer of No Jobs, the days pretty much blended together, but Leanna had told us that since we were in Ft. Worth, we should go to the 7/11 and get a Slurpee on 07/11, so we did!

So, perhaps, while Jon was enjoying his Darth Vader Slurpee, and I my watermelon-pineapple, little Friday was being born!

I thought about putting pictures of Friday up here, sort of a chronology of events, but you've probably seen them all in some form or another in other posts. So instead, for those of you who don't know, I thought I'd tell you where kittens come from.....

That's right...Pier 1!

Happy Birthday little kitty-o-mine!!!

4th of July Flowers

My family came and visited last weekend. For the first time, my grandparents got to come to see (and stay at) our house! It's such a turnaround to host the family who has taken care of me for so many years. I still forget things like refilling glasses and keeping an extra roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, but I love to host. I get that from my mom, who gets it from my Grandma. I only hope to someday be as good at it as they are!

A tradition we have in our family is the hostess gift. I thought this was an American tradition, but evidently not. Anyway, if we stay at someone's house, especially for an extended period, we offer a hostess gift. Sometimes it's cookies or something for the family pet. Sometimes it's a decorative item. This time, for me, it was flowers.

If you're a dedicated reader of my blog, you know I planted a vegetable container garden last April. I was very excited about it, but it turns out "vegetable" and "container" are never supposed to go together. I want to adamently note that the plants were all alive (I did not kill them!), they just weren't growing. I had planted too late, and the containers were just too small. Needless to say, the 3 in. tall cucumber plants, and spindly green onion shoots were rather a sad sight.

So when my Grandma saw my pitiful attempt at gardening, she determined I needed new plants--and this time, full-grown flowers that were made for containers. Here is the result:


Isn't it beautiful? Sweet potato vine, zinnias, marigolds, vinca, and impatiens, flanked by two beautiful crape myrtles! It's so colorful, I've seen butterflies, and today, a cardinal! It looks like a real garden.

Inspired by such a generous gift, I filled another pot with some flowers as well. John and Karen gave me the pot, and the two green leaves poking of the dirt weren't doing it justice. So now, hibiscus to match the pot!


Yay for flowers! God knew what he was doing when he made things beautiful.

Work Blues

Things that make me want to not work when I'm in Waco:

• It's too cold
• There are people I need to talk to and "catch up" with
• I get full eating good food with Karen
• Karen and I talk about non-work stuff, like Hobby Lobby or Central Texas Marketplace, and I want to go there instead of back to work
• John works just downstairs, and I have to say hi!

Things that make me want to not work when I'm at home:

• It's too hot
• Jon is playing and enjoying summer
• The kitties are both napping, which makes me SO sleepy
• Mess distracts me (though I usually don't do anything about it once I'm off work)
• Fun projects tantalize me (painting just 7 feet away from me!)

I'm doomed!

But wait! It's the end of the work day for me, and I'm off until next Wednesday!!

Goodbye computer! Goodbye hard chair! Hello sleepy kitties and painting project!!

Hooray!!

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I just finished reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel, on loan from Teresa. I now understand why no one I know who has read it has fully reviewed the book. It's an amazing story! Full of life and imagery. Something so full that at the end, I feel I can't explain it. I can't really review it, except to say that it was a great book.

Pi is 16 years old when the ship bound to Canada--carrying his family and the animals from their zoo--sinks. He is the sole survivor, and he survives in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days. His story is one of survival, but most importantly, of resisting the animal instincts that push out morals and faith--that push out humanity itself.

My one regret is that Pi is lost. He equally (and devotedly) practices Christianity (Catholicism), Hinduism, and Islam, and feels there is no problem with that. I kept hoping that he would find true salvation, but he doesn't.

All in all, a wonderful book! So colorful and rich! Read it!

Buddy at Summer Camp

Buddy is our friends' cat. He's here for summer camp! He's a little older than Friday, and much better behaved! As a matter of fact, since Buddy came, we've noticed a dramatic difference in Friday's behavior. He hasn't bitten us once since Buddy came! I think he realizes he has some competition.

Here is Buddy:
Isn't he a nice looking cat? I'd already taken 10 pictures of him. He looks like he's getting wise to the camera, now.

He likes to sleep a lot. This is also very different from Friday. Friday likes to poke Buddy until he finally gets up and wrestles with him. They like to rough house. :)
At first, due to the changing from normal people/schedule/home to summer camp, Buddy didn't eat much, but now the bowls are getting emptied at a pretty fast rate!
You'll notice Friday is the messy eater. No Clean Camp Award for him!

All in all, camp is going well for both kitties. Buddy is getting daily exercise, and Friday is getting schooled in the ways of wrestling. He's getting much better. If I could figure out how to get video sizes small enough, I'd post a funny video where Friday shows himself to be a pansy who's never encountered another cat before, much less one who will bonk him on the head.

In other news, I got my hair cut today. I took a picture right after the lady fixed it, because I figure it will never look like this again:
Pretty much bangs and layers, and for the first time ever, my request to still be able to put it up in a ponytail was actually granted! Sorry I look so serious. It's hard work trying to take a picture of yourself! :)

The Blue Snake

Have you ever seen a child with the proverbial "blankie?" The blanket/toy/whatever is nasty and old, dirty and ragged, but the child loves it and carries it around anyway?

Have you ever heard of cats leaving "presents" for their owners? The dead bird on the doorstep, the mouse on the bed....

I think Friday has combined those two ideas into Blue Snake. It is his blankie and evidently his present to us all in one.

Teresa gave me Blue Snake before we even had a cat. We were moving to a duplex that allowed pets, which got me one step closer to owning a cat. So Teresa gave me Blue Snake (along with some gardening things for my other exciting thing--a yard). Therefore, when Friday came to our door, we were prepared with Blue Snake (and I always keep cat food in the pantry...just in case).

Here is Friday with his friend when he was very little:
Notice how tiny Friday is, and how clean Blue Snake is!

Lately, we've found Blue Snake in some interesting places.
Here:
Here, when we got back from vacation:
And here:
Oh, and this is one of the several times I've had to hang Blue Snake up to dry after Friday tried to drown him in the water bowl:
I can't tell if Friday is leaving Blue Snake as a present for us, if he plays awhile and then forgets, or what. The weird thing is that I rarely even see Friday play with Blue Snake! It only happens at night, I guess. But Blue Snake is always in a different place in the morning from where he was the night before. A lot of times Friday leaves him at our door to greet us in the morning.

What a silly kitty. Thanks, Teresa, for making sure Friday had a blankie even before he came. :)

Posting for the Sake of Posting (look out for rambling)

It's been far too long since I've posted. Since then, I've thought of several things to post about, but either they take too much work (posting pictures) or I forget by the time I'm at a computer. So for now, you'll just have to be happy with a random post.

Last night, Jon and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Mexico Real (thank you, Karen D for telling us about it!). It's one of those family-owned places with really good salsa. I love it. Anyway, it turns out that every Thurs-Sat evening, there are two musicians who walk around the restaurant singing and playing classical Spanish guitar. I was so excited! I watched the two men meander from table to table, singing in that beautiful harmony of Spanish music. By the end of our meal, the duet had made their way only a couple of tables away. I watched as they turned toward us. One looked at his watch, and I was afraid they were done for the evening. But they weren't! With a smile, they approached our table and asked if we had any requests. Coming up blank for any Spanish songs, Jon instead requested a romantic song (he's a smart one!). They proceeded to play and sing a beautiful song. It just made my day. So much fun! I want to go there every weekend!

Jon and I have seen several movies lately. Here are my reviews:
Over the Hedge: Very good! Unlike Ice Age 2, there were no hidden "adult" jokes. I laughed all the way through. Stay for the credits.

Cars: Very good as well! Pixar did its signature short film at the beginning, which was enjoyable. The animation was amazing, the moral was good, and it was just funny. Stay for the credits on this one as well. And then stay a little longer, because there's a little bit at the end after all the credits have rolled.

Cellular: Okay, this was false advertising at its worst. I thought the movie was going to be scary. It turned out to be about some guy that could have been in high school that needed to grow up to impress his girlfriend. It was so stupid. The real-life documentary on dirty cops in the extras was far more interesting. And William H. Macey did a great job.

Fun with Dick and Jane: Not really very good. Some parts were funny, but it wasn't worth the time spent to watch it.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Actually quite good. I'd heard that if you wanted to watch a weird movie, then this one was the one to see. And that was true, but I liked it. Admittedly, I like the more "artsy" films that some people don't like, and this falls under that category. I thought the idea behind it was very good: you can erase your memories, but it doesn't mean you won't make the same decisions later, and you lose out for not having those memories. It's rated R for language, no nudity.

The DaVinci Code: Surprisingly disappointing. For the big-name cast, I was very disappointed at the film. It was awkward and felt like it was being forced along. The music was stale--nothing to convey the intensity of the story. The acting wasn't even that good. Just a s0-so movie.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Well, I've seen this one lots of times, but I did watch it this week, so it goes on the list. This is a must-see for anyone who hasn't seen it. And if you're in the mood for a chick flick, it's a really great movie. The people are so normal in it. It's one of the few movies I've seen where the lead actress wears an outfit more than once. Family is important, faith is important, and love is a commitment. What a great movie. Also, if you're planning a wedding, this is the best movie to watch to get the right perspective. Tulah was my constant reminder to not worry about the details of the wedding.

Well, that's it for the movies. Anything else random...? Oh, I just tried Blue Bell Wedding Cake ice cream. It was pretty good. I could have done without the vanilla wafers (is that supposed to be like cake or something?) but the rest was good.

That's all for now. Maybe next time I'll take the time to post some pictures. :)

A Call to the Twenty-Somethings

Whoever said the 20s were their best years was seriously messed up.

I have friends going overseas for the summer. When they get back, they don't know where they'll work, or even where they'll live.

I have a friend living hours from her fiancé. She's moving soon, but doesn't know where she'll work, or even where she'll live.

I have a friend who just lost her new job because of something silly. She's just gotten married and decided to go back to school, and the loss of a job makes things even tighter than they were.

I have friends buying homes for the first time, or choosing not to buy, because life is too uncertain to put down roots just yet.

I have friends with unexpected honeymoon babies, and friends just getting on the roller coaster of trying for a baby.

The 20s stink.

And where am I in all this? I'm at the realization that getting out of college was not the end of the maze like I thought it might be. There are still new and unknown options at every turn. Which ones lead to dead ends? I don't know. Ask me where I'll be in 5 years, and I have no idea.

The 20s are the years when you notice your knees starting to hurt, you have a little trouble focusing quickly, and you can't keep up in ultimate frisbee. The 20s are the years when you look at accomplished people, realize they're your age, and wonder how you missed that boat. The 20s are the years when you figure out why so many people drink coffee in the morning, because there's no other way you could look like you've got it together when you walk through the office door at 8am.

The 20s are the end of the beginning, and the beginning of the end. They're the end of all the training, all the nurturing, all the care. They're the fall-or-fly, sink-or-swim period where our parents look on with their breath held, hoping and praying that all the choices and turns they made in their own mazes got them to the end result of well-balanced and capable children.

But the 20s are also the beginning. We spread our wings. We soar for the first time in our lives. We make decisions on our own, and as scary as they are, we find we can make good decisions.

We begin to realize our worth as people. We have the faint realization that it's not the youth who can change the world, but us. We are the new business world, the new media, the new society. We are shaping our professions into what they will become. We are shaping society into what it will become.

We are faced with two very clear choices in our maze: the path of mediocrity, or the path of passion. Follow the first, and our world never changes. Follow the second, and there will never be a calm moment in your life.

But then again, the world will never be the same either.

Initiations, of sorts

The past few days have been a series of initiations in our little family.

For Friday:


The bath is not his initiation. He's had baths since day one.

No, today was the day of the first hairball.

He managed to get it all over himself, hence the bath. But Friday is now a true cat, hairball and all. You'll notice Jon's wet shirt. I remember the days when I could wash Friday holding him in one hand and the soap in the other, but not anymore. Bathtime is a two person job now! He also only required one hand towel to dry off. Now he soaks a full-sized bath towel.

For Jon:


I know this is a picture of Friday again, but he's sitting in what became a barbecue grill. Jon is now one step closer to the American dream: a wife, .3 kids (Friday), and a grill in the backyard. :) Somehow I forgot to take a picture of the grill all put together, but it looks nice and makes good burgers!

For Lydia:


I'm not sure what my initiation is...maybe the first time to cry over a piece of wood? This is what happens when the strap falls off the guitar. It was through no fault of my own, but that didn't make it any less broken. However, a very skilled person is taking care of my guitar now, and it's actually fixable!

So we've got a hairball, a barbecue grill, and a broken guitar. There you have it--an update on our life. :)

Buddy is coming to visit the Norvell Duplex 'o Fun pretty soon! We're looking forward to it, and praying the two cats get along!

Sunflower-cide

Jon just ran over my sunflowers with the mower. It's kinda funny actually--we went out there together and talked about how to mow around the sunflowers (they're about 5 in. tall right now). I watched out the window as he carefully moved all the pots and benches, and then mowed the whole thing down.

I almost ran outside to yell at him, but decided to stay inside and see what his face looked like when he figured it out for himself. He backed up the mower to take another swipe at it, and all of the sudden his eyes got really big and he started yelling. It was so funny, I ran outside laughing and saying, "It's okay! I can plant more!!"

He looked from the beheaded plants to me and said, "I've committed sunflower-cide!" It was just too funny to be mad at him. Now I'll just start over again, only this time maybe in a pot. :)