I'm Not Bossy, I Just Have Better Ideas!

Advent Musings

2011-12-16T09:47:00.000-06:00

Lately I have seen a lot of Facebook comments and posts from friends of mine who are ordained clergy or lay ministers calling for people to not put the cart ahead of the horse and get all crazy about Christmas before the actual event. One of my friends was so bold as to state that no one should decorate their homes or sing Christmas Carols before Christmas Day. (I got no reply when I asked about singing them on Christmas Eve... guess my smarty pants self didn't ingratiate myself with that comment.) He continued to say that Advent is about waiting and preparation. That instead of decorating we should be praying, watching, waiting, and anticipating. I agree that during Advent we should be doing all of those things, but my question is... why does it have to be in exclusion of our rituals and traditions such as decorating and singing Christmas Carols?

For me putting up my tree and getting to stare at it for a month before Christmas adds to my anticipation. The festive feel in my apartment adds to my excitement. Last weekend we sang some Christmas Carols at a party hosted by a congregation member and it just added to my feelings of joy and apprehension. Did those who heard the prophets proclamations not have a level of excitement along with their anticipation? Those from Bethlehem who were told by Micah that a great ruler of Israel was coming from them had to have been stoked! All the other kids with their pumped up kicks who were baptized by John had to have felt that something huge was happening and been beyond excited. Mary herself sang for joy when she learned she was with child.

Rituals and Traditions are a very important part of our lives as Christians... I think as long as you have balance, then there is no call for people to quit decorating and singing. Find a good Advent devotional. Read the Bible. Pray. Listen. Wait. Anticipate. AND HAVE SOME FREAKING FUN IN THE PROCESS! Advent is about waiting, reflection, and anticipation, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring and painful!

JAVALUIA!!!

2011-12-08T09:19:00.001-06:00

Did you miss me? After 2 years I've decided to get back to blogging. Not that I was ever all that dedicated to actually writing anything... or that all that many people read what I did write. Regardless, I'm giving it another go.
My topic this morning? Well, it will be a topic many mornings and said topic is COFFEE! I am a certifiable coffee addict. I am at the top of the frequent customer list at my local coffee shop, Chiro Java, and the ladies who work there know me by name and my drink by heart.

Given my love affair with the "sweet nectar of wonder.....that bean roasted and ground, pressed with water to release sweet oils just for my pleasure " (Corina Wilson - favorite Auntie and quite possibly a bigger addict than myself) and my vocation in ministry, it was not a far leap for me to fall in love with the following video and the phrase... "JAVALUIA!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_dZTrjw9I&list=FLEvOtMI8nntjNhxfh3K2HOg&index=2&feature=plpp_video

I've fallen so in love with the phrase (as did my Auntie) that I designed an image to put on a t-shirt so that I can wear my JAVALUIA! with pride. Too far? For those who know me well the answer is... OF COURSE NOT! So, who's in? Let's start a JAVALUIA revolution, baby! #VIVAMORECOFFEE!!!

Rain, Rain - GO AWAY!!!

2009-05-11T15:22:00.005-05:00

When you think of the state of Texas and weather what do you think of? Hot? Humid? Hot? Sunny? HELL HOT? Yeah, me too, which is why the three straight weeks of rain and thunderstorms is driving me INSANE! Not only that, I have been completely motivated to complete house projects… I guess it’s the whole “spring cleaning” phenomena or something. Needless to say, the rain is seriously cramping my style on that front! I can’t paint, I can’t garden, Roger can’t mow or weed-eat. I have things to do and the weather is SO not cooperating! Saturday I was halfway through painting my front door when yet ANOTHER thunderstorm moved in and killed my inertia. The worst part is that there is no end in site… if you don’t believe me… check out the 7-Day Forecast from weather.com!

7-Day Forecast
Tonight May 11	T-Storms	61°	90 %
Tue May 12	Isolated T-Storms	84°/68°	30 %
Wed May 13	Partly Cloudy	89°/69°	0 %
Thu May 14	Isolated T-Storms	84°/68°	30 %
Fri May 15	Isolated T-Storms	85°/69°	30 %
Sat May 16	Scattered T-Storms	82°/63°	40 %
Sun May 17	Few Showers	77°/59°	30 %

You’d think I was back living in Oregon or something!!! Wait... no you wouldn't, Oregon RARELY has friggin' thunderstorms!!!!

Home Improvement Here I Come!

2009-04-24T13:53:00.013-05:00

Wow...I realized today that it's been a whole week and I haven't posted anything! What's wrong with me? Honestly, work has been busier than it was, and at home I just haven't felt like getting on the computer. (I'm sure it has nothing to do with me sitting at a screen for 7.5 hours every day.) This weekend will more than likely be a true test to the security of Roger and my marriage... we have a ton of home improvement projects to work on. This weekend we are cleaning (and boy does our house need it!) and working in the yard. We may work inside a bit... that remains to be seen. (Honestly it depends on whether or not our help is available this weekend or not.) This could either go very smoothly or an argument could ensue. Why is it when the common goal is to further beautify our home, we end up at each others throats? I know this is not a unique phenomena to just Roger and I. I guess it must be that whole Mars and Venus thing. In any case, think happy, peaceful thoughts for us this weekend! Next weekend... BRING ON THE PAINT!!!

The Woes of Potty Training!

2009-04-17T10:17:00.002-05:00

I’ve decided that potty training has to be the crappiest (no pun intended), most disgusting part of parenting to date. I keep hearing that boys train slower than girls, etc, etc, etc, but my son so does not get the concept of pooh!!! Actually, he gets it because when asked where pooh-pooh is supposed to go his answer is "in the toilet!" Apparently he is just not clear on the execution part. That or he just doesn’t care. I keep seeing ads online for a book that will teach you how to potty train your child in three days and I really wonder if it works. Part of me is so desperate I’m almost willing to spend the $25 to find out! Patrick and Isabelle are at the stage where dirty pull-ups/underwear is just nasty! (And Isabelle will tell me when she goes that it’s “nassy”.) Please tell me I’m not the only one with a slow to train child? We do suspect that Patrick is gluten intolerant (like his daddy) and that this is part of the problem. (We get him tested on May 11th to find out.) If he is then eliminating gluten should help significantly. Be that as it may… I really want to be fully potty trained!!! Both kids rarely have accidents at preschool, so I guess that’s progress. Oh…and can I say that potty chairs are the biggest waste of time and money! Both kids wanted to use the big potty right from the start. Seriously… whoever decided that little people would actually want to use something other than what their parents use, obviously didn’t have kids.

Ironical Tea Parties

2009-04-16T08:45:00.007-05:00

I try to avoid political conversations and spouting my political beliefs when at all possible. I guess mostly because I live in the South and my political viewpoint is DRASTICALLY different from the general population around here. (You can take the girl out of Oregon, but you can’t take Oregon out of the girl.) Today however, I am going to break my personal code of political silence because I’m flat out irritated! Last night around the country many different people held “Tea Parties” which from what I can gather were political rallies to protest taxes, bailouts, and stimulus packages. This in and of itself I have no problem with. People are entitled to their freedom of speech and have the right to gather and protest. If they want to waive signs and wear ridiculous outfits, that is entirely their prerogative. The problem I have is that the local “Tea Party” was held right outside of my church on a Wednesday evening. In the south almost every church, regardless of affiliation, holds Wednesday evening services. Our church holds a service and then has an adult learning time and dinner following. First of all, this rally made it almost impossible to even get to the church, once we were finally able to maneuver our way through the madness and arrived at church, the music and speeches were so loud it interfered with the service. When the time came for us to leave, the rally was still going on. Our Trailblazer which was parked right outside of the church had protesters leaned up against it, and people were sitting on both our front and back bumper. It seems ironical to me that people who were out there protesting the fact that they felt their personal assets are being attacked and violated felt the freedom and liberty to sit wherever they pleased… including OTHER PEOPLES PERSONAL PROPERTY!!! I had to ask people to move so that I could put Isabelle in the car. Roger had to back all the way up the street avoiding protesters because they barricaded off the street. There were police officers there to assist which was much appreciated. They were gracious and did their jobs well. However, there are locations that geographically would have created less of an inconvenience (church not even included in the equation) and the protesters could have been FAR more respectful. Practice what you preach people!!! If you want your property protected, don’t violate others property in turn!

The Next Kandinsky

2009-04-15T09:12:00.000-05:00

Okay, maybe I’m not the next Kandinsky, but I have recently discovered that I love painting! I’ve taken several classes from a local artist who holds classes. Her “Art and Libations” is a blast… it’s basically paint-by-numbers for adults. In the most recent class I attended we did a modified version of Kandinsky’s Squares with Concentric Circles. (I succeeded in dragging Roger along and low-and-behold… my husband who claims to be all jock, truly does have artistic talent!) I realize that abstract art is not in everyone’s taste, but I love it! Not only that, you don’t have to have a ton of ability to do it. I’ve been contemplating taking the plunge and purchasing my own painting supplies and branching out on my own… if I do, then you may see more of my creations posted.

Chuck

2009-04-14T14:17:00.000-05:00

It’s all Roger’s fault… he got hooked on the television show Chuck. Slowly and stealthily he exposed me to it, and now I’m hooked! We purchased Season 1 and my mother (also a recent Chuck addict thanks to Raj) and I spent most of Easter Sunday (post-church and post-Cracker Barrel of course) watching as much of Season 1 as we could. I finally went to bed sometime between midnight and 1am. I find myself sitting at work thinking about the show and wanting to get home so that I can watch more episodes. Once I complete Season 1 I’ll be scouring the internet trying to find Season 2 episodes that I’ve missed. Thank goodness it’s only the second season or I could have many more Chuck-Catch-Up days in my future. It’s nice to get to watch a whole bunch of episodes all at once…the only downside is once I’ve gotten myself all caught up I will actually have to WAIT to get my next fix. You’ll find me sitting in the corner of my house rocking back and forth waiting for Monday night to get here. Speaking of Monday nights and Roger getting me hooked on television shows… I must say that I secretly enjoy WWE Wrestling. Before anyone asks… YES I KNOW IT’S COMPLETELY STAGED AND FAKE!!! But it’s like a soap-opera for guys and it’s hilariously bad! Last night was the WWE draft and it’s taking a lot of will power for me to not go to their website to see who was switched from show-to-show. (I will wait patiently until I get home tonight to watch the 3 hour long episode.) I don’t know if it is like this for anyone else, but Monday nights have become for Roger and I, what Thursday nights used to be. So many shows we want to watch and they are all playing at the same time. Monday Night RAW (WWE), How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Chuck, Rules of Engagement… THANK GOD FOR TIVO!!!

No, Don't Touch Me, Go Away!!!

2009-04-09T08:57:00.000-05:00

Are all two-year-olds completely manic or is it just mine? She fluctuates between being super loving and affectionate to “No, Don’t Touch Me, Go Away!” There are two times of the day in particular, that I get to hear her melodious little voice screeching these heartfelt words at me. First thing in the morning and around bedtime. She is either upset with me because I woke her up (she is so NOT a morning person), or because I’m making her go to bed (which usually means she is baby-gated in her room and is pulling out any toy or piece of clothing she can get her hands on). I have heard the phase from time to time when trying to get her to go potty (which is another BLOG in and of itself!) but for the most part she reserves it for incidents involving sleep. I’m sure it’s just her age. Her 2-year-old bad-self needing to exert her independence and has absolutely nothing to do with her being very much like her mother at that age.

Hmmm...How'd About?

2009-04-09T08:06:00.000-05:00

Patrick (my three year-old) is learning the art of negotiating. Maybe it’s the Middle Eastern side of him coming out… not really sure! All I know is that one of his most frequently used phrases right now is… “Hmm…How’d about?” Patrick, would you like milk or water? Hmmm…How’d about juice? Patrick, would you like a fruit bar (his term for Nutrigrain Bars). Hmmm…How’d about a Pop Tart? Patrick, would you like corn or green beans for dinner? Hmmm…How’d about a apple? Patrick, do you want to take a shower with daddy? Hmm…How’d about bath? And one of my personal favorites… Time to start getting ready for bed. Hmmm… How’d about NO!

PNW Girl Living in Texas

2009-04-08T10:32:00.000-05:00

When I moved to the South in 2002 I didn't think it would be that different from Oregon... BOY WAS I WRONG! Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a foreign country. The people are nice and helpful, but they just don't see things the same way I do. I guess it's always good for us to experience new places and ideas... it helps us grow as people, right? I can say, that although I love the weather, I'm thinking Big City Texas is where my family needs to relocate to. I've been told that Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, etc... are generally more open-minded than some of the isolated smaller communities around. (Such as the one that I live in.) Not that people are rude, or narrow minded, they just haven't experienced much outside of their sphere of existance and don't really have a ton of desire to do so. I honestly don't mind all aspects of life in my community. I wish there was more of an Art/Music scene. I miss culture! I miss quaint little ethnic restaurants, live local music, art & cultural fairs, real coffee shops, and people with tons of piercings, dread-locks, and second-hand clothes NOT looking out of place. Maybe I should grow dreads and open a coffee house... Hmmm. First turn into a dirty-hippie... next implement my plan to take over the world! Mwah, hah, hah, hah!!!