In just under 6 hours by MST, it will be a brand new spankin' year. Out with the old and in with the new -- new goals, new ideas, new expectations and what not.
I was flipping through my rarely pulled-out journal last night and discovered I had indeed set some goals for '07. I did okay on some, totally forgot about others, and was struck by how I seem to set the same goals year after year after year.
Get in better shape/lose weight.
Do better at work.
Do better at my volunteer work.
Write more.
Spend less time watching TV/aimlessly surfing the 'Net/time-wasting activity of the month.
Basically, :-P. Same old, same old.
I was prompted out of my 'same old' mindset in church yesterday when my pastor taught on the Holy Spirit's work in us, through us, and with us as Christians. God wants us to be blessed, to be successful, to be free and prosperous in every sense of the word. We're not supposed to look back. Like Paul wrote to one of the early churches, this one thing he did was forget those things which were behind him and press on toward the goal of the upward call in Christ Jesus.
Hmmm.
So Paul wasn't looking back and he was moving onward and upward. And I need to do the same.
It's time for me to quit looking back at all the things I was going to do, but to look at where I want to be and figure out (prayerfully!) how to get there.
On that note, I have one goal already which is more defined than my . . . wait, I'm not looking back! Okay, here is the one goal I have thus far: Write one new chapter for my novel every 3 weeks (this is a minimum number -- if it's every two weeks, that's great).
Happy New Year, everyone!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Time Flies . . . Does Cake?
I technically have another 18 hours and 35 mintues (if I remember correctly -- or else it's 19 hours and 5 minutes) before I turn the big 3-6. Yup, I'm on what some would call the downward slope to the even bigger 4-0. No longer can I say I'm in my early thirties. It's now the mid-to-late thirties and I think I lost an important note or something along the way or else I would be feeling more prepared for this.
Such is how life seems at times, eh? It's happening, we're not ready, but on it goes none the less. %-P
Not that I'm really having issues with getting older or regretting things not done and even a few things that were done. I think it's more just me being in a contemplative mood as I look toward the new year and wonder what sorts of things are going to happen in '08.
Now I was feeling as if I should write something all profound and meaningful about getting older and making changes and what-not. But the facts of the matter are presently as follows:
#1. It's (as I type this) 11:18 PM where I live.
#2. I'm tired.
#3. I have these really great flannel sheets which make going to bed even more appealing in my sleepy state.
#4. Ramblings of a tired mind can be oft-regretted in the morning. Or revered for their awesome depths. Either way . . . it can be dicey at best.
So g'night. I'm too tired to pull my foot out of my mouth so I best not be creating an opportunity for it to get in there to begin with. ;-P
Such is how life seems at times, eh? It's happening, we're not ready, but on it goes none the less. %-P
Not that I'm really having issues with getting older or regretting things not done and even a few things that were done. I think it's more just me being in a contemplative mood as I look toward the new year and wonder what sorts of things are going to happen in '08.
Now I was feeling as if I should write something all profound and meaningful about getting older and making changes and what-not. But the facts of the matter are presently as follows:
#1. It's (as I type this) 11:18 PM where I live.
#2. I'm tired.
#3. I have these really great flannel sheets which make going to bed even more appealing in my sleepy state.
#4. Ramblings of a tired mind can be oft-regretted in the morning. Or revered for their awesome depths. Either way . . . it can be dicey at best.
So g'night. I'm too tired to pull my foot out of my mouth so I best not be creating an opportunity for it to get in there to begin with. ;-P
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Look at the Time!
Oh my word!
I was going to do a big update on mine & hubby's sunny California vacation so far (2nd day in!) when I realized it is 11:46 PM in the Pacific Time Zone. :-P
So in a nutshell for now:
1. Going to The Gospel Brunch at The House of Blues in Disneyland was an interesting experience, and I'm not just talking about the singing. (Lord, please help me to get rid of some more incorrect & preconceived ideas!)
2. "The Glory of Christmas" live Nativity The Crystal Cathedral has been putting on on for the past 25+ years is *amazing*! Live animals, a very large crew involved on stage and off, amazing music and some very brave actors on harnesses!
3. Waiting in line is fun when with my hubby.
4. There is a right time and place to let someone know toothpaste *and* mouthwash are not cutting it for their breath. :-/
I was going to do a big update on mine & hubby's sunny California vacation so far (2nd day in!) when I realized it is 11:46 PM in the Pacific Time Zone. :-P
So in a nutshell for now:
1. Going to The Gospel Brunch at The House of Blues in Disneyland was an interesting experience, and I'm not just talking about the singing. (Lord, please help me to get rid of some more incorrect & preconceived ideas!)
2. "The Glory of Christmas" live Nativity The Crystal Cathedral has been putting on on for the past 25+ years is *amazing*! Live animals, a very large crew involved on stage and off, amazing music and some very brave actors on harnesses!
3. Waiting in line is fun when with my hubby.
4. There is a right time and place to let someone know toothpaste *and* mouthwash are not cutting it for their breath. :-/
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
*<):-/
People, myself included, can confuse me.
I regularly post on a message board where people share the ups and downs of their daily lives along with some good (some bad -- LOL) jokes and some amazing recipes and travel stories/pictures. Some solid friendships have been formed, in my opinion, in this little corner of the world wide web. And it has been at times frustrating, challenging and just plain fun and encouraging.
So please pardon me, but I do wonder why some people choose to leave and then wonder why I'm wondering about it. Am I naive? Blind? As negative a . . . okay, I can't think of an 'n' name that isn't the name of someone I know . . . okay, am I as negative or of as ill of a character as the people supposedly causing other people to leave?
Hmmmm.
Well, the Bible does say many things of how we're to judge people by their fruit and watch who we associate with for 'a little leaven leavens the whole lump' and all of that is true. But as my pastor stresses time and again, we have to look at the context of the verses before running willy-nilly with them. Because the same Bible says not to judge others and try to deal with their little speck of a problem when we have our own logs to deal with. It also says only God knows the true intents of a person's heart. Yet we all try to figure out just that. And then we act on it.
Gadzooks, it's not like I'm perfect in my relationships. I'm not. But such *grace* has been shown to me by God and He does say as I have freely received such grace, so must I give it to others. Does that mean I become a doormat? Or put up with all kinds of sin and garbage?
Mmmm, no. It doesn't.
Lets look at it this way. If you are behaving in a way others didn't like, would you prefer they just dump you or judge you first, then dump you? Or would you try to find out the 'why' behind their 'what'? Basically, how would you like to be treated if the shoe were on the other foot? "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is one of the most oft-quoted Bible verses used by many sides in many arguments.
So why does it seem we all want to be treated so poorly?
I regularly post on a message board where people share the ups and downs of their daily lives along with some good (some bad -- LOL) jokes and some amazing recipes and travel stories/pictures. Some solid friendships have been formed, in my opinion, in this little corner of the world wide web. And it has been at times frustrating, challenging and just plain fun and encouraging.
So please pardon me, but I do wonder why some people choose to leave and then wonder why I'm wondering about it. Am I naive? Blind? As negative a . . . okay, I can't think of an 'n' name that isn't the name of someone I know . . . okay, am I as negative or of as ill of a character as the people supposedly causing other people to leave?
Hmmmm.
Well, the Bible does say many things of how we're to judge people by their fruit and watch who we associate with for 'a little leaven leavens the whole lump' and all of that is true. But as my pastor stresses time and again, we have to look at the context of the verses before running willy-nilly with them. Because the same Bible says not to judge others and try to deal with their little speck of a problem when we have our own logs to deal with. It also says only God knows the true intents of a person's heart. Yet we all try to figure out just that. And then we act on it.
Gadzooks, it's not like I'm perfect in my relationships. I'm not. But such *grace* has been shown to me by God and He does say as I have freely received such grace, so must I give it to others. Does that mean I become a doormat? Or put up with all kinds of sin and garbage?
Mmmm, no. It doesn't.
Lets look at it this way. If you are behaving in a way others didn't like, would you prefer they just dump you or judge you first, then dump you? Or would you try to find out the 'why' behind their 'what'? Basically, how would you like to be treated if the shoe were on the other foot? "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is one of the most oft-quoted Bible verses used by many sides in many arguments.
So why does it seem we all want to be treated so poorly?
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sort of Sad, But Sort of Not
As Kenny Rogers sings in his well-known song The Gambler, you've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. And twelve days shy of the November 30th deadline, I am folding the cards otherwise known as my National Novel Writing Month entry. Not only am I 12 days shy of finishing, I'm also about 37,000 words short. Add to that other commitments and upcoming holiday plans and rather than stress myself out about it, I'm putting it away for now.
So, yeah.
I'm out of words. And I'm okay with that.
So, yeah.
I'm out of words. And I'm okay with that.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Traffic and Shoppers and Palpable Tension, Oh My!
Wow -- the Halloween stuff is barely packed away (I don't 'do' Halloween, so that was a snap) and all the Christmas decorations and music and shoppers are out in full force. My younger sister was at the local Wal-Mart, surprised to discover as of November 1st they were already playing holiday tunes. The cashier she talked to wasn't thrilled about it, but I'm sure she has already learned how to tune it out.
I think all the holiday shoppers made their start today. Hubby and I went to the mall with his mom and it was busy. And I was a little stressed. Not by all the shoppers so much, but by my mother-in-law who felt it necessary to walk closer to my hubby. Not a problem under normal circumstances (he's her son, after all), but when I'm between them, it's not so swell. I finally just stopped walking and let them get ahead of me as I told them "I don't want to be sandwiched between you two!"
Maybe for this reason alone, I'm seriously going to check into doing my holiday shopping on-line or at Disneyland as we'll be there for a week in December.
As such, I decided to change things up here a wee bit. Let me know if things look weird on your computer screen as mine tends to soften things a bit.
I think all the holiday shoppers made their start today. Hubby and I went to the mall with his mom and it was busy. And I was a little stressed. Not by all the shoppers so much, but by my mother-in-law who felt it necessary to walk closer to my hubby. Not a problem under normal circumstances (he's her son, after all), but when I'm between them, it's not so swell. I finally just stopped walking and let them get ahead of me as I told them "I don't want to be sandwiched between you two!"
Maybe for this reason alone, I'm seriously going to check into doing my holiday shopping on-line or at Disneyland as we'll be there for a week in December.
As such, I decided to change things up here a wee bit. Let me know if things look weird on your computer screen as mine tends to soften things a bit.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Check This Out!
Have you ever talked about trying something new? Changing your habits, hobbies, or . . . something? (Wouldn't it have been cool if I had thought of another 'h' word?)
Well, some I know is doing more than talking about it. Every day for the next year, she is going to to so something new. You can follow her adventures here. (The link can also be found in the links section to the left -- it is "The Mysteries of Tomorrow".)
I am in the beginning stages of the annual National Novel Writing Month challenge and that, coupled with work, my write-a-novel correspondence course, and other what-nots have deemed November not a good month to join in on such a challenge. But I'm telling you, it is reminding me to quit talking about making changes and actually start taking some action.
Speaking of which, I have a word count to meet so I had better get cracking.
Well, some I know is doing more than talking about it. Every day for the next year, she is going to to so something new. You can follow her adventures here. (The link can also be found in the links section to the left -- it is "The Mysteries of Tomorrow".)
I am in the beginning stages of the annual National Novel Writing Month challenge and that, coupled with work, my write-a-novel correspondence course, and other what-nots have deemed November not a good month to join in on such a challenge. But I'm telling you, it is reminding me to quit talking about making changes and actually start taking some action.
Speaking of which, I have a word count to meet so I had better get cracking.
Monday, October 29, 2007
'Bye, Little Snat*
My work day had started ordinarily enough. I was in the third month of my new job, still nervous as all get-out at the start of each day and somewhat less befuddled by the end and on my own as the woman I was filling in for had begun her year-long maternity leave.
This day in particular was gray and rainy, but it was not long before it took a right turn. Due to the beauty of the Internet, I was able to fill my husband in right away:
From: The Scribbler [thescribbler@work.com]
To: Mr. Scribbler [mrscribbler@work.com]
Subject: question
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 11:02:13 -0600
Hey, you know, I was thinking - perhaps Phil would not be so crazy if he had another cat to play with. Say a cute little gray kitten. That my boss & one of the guys found in the storage bin. That's really tame. And cute. And needs a home or else he'll be a warehouse cat. Did I mention he purrs (or maybe it's a she - dunno!) like crazy??
Think about it and let me know asap - by mail or phone.
The Scribbler
Yes, a little gray cat was found in the warehouse of my work place. And it managed the amazing feat of purring and eating simultaneously. My husband was reluctant at first, as you can see from his reply:
From: Mr. Scribbler [mrscribbler@work.com]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 11:14 AM
To: thescribbler@work.ca
Subject: RE: question
AHHHHHHH.... HA HA HA HA HA HA HAH AHHAHHAH HAHA HAHA HAHH....(gasp).....HA HAH AH AH HHA HA HA AHA HHA ....
But seriously, I dunno, we should probably see if Phil will allow another cat about (hiss hiss swipe grrr, or mew?). Also there will be LOTS more kitty litter.
Yes, ever the practical sort, he was concerned about increased kitty litter (aka more litter box cleaning). But the little cat was cute, purred like a motorboat, and I could not shake the words of my boss who, in a phone conversation with his wife, said the little cat would have a good life as a warehouse cat. Not a great life, but a good one. Undeterred, I e-mailed my husband back:
From: The Scribbler [thescribbler@work.com]
To: Mr. Scribbler [mrscribbler@work.com]
Subject: RE: question
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 11:20:25 -0600
Hardy-har-har.
I say lets give it a go.
I can bring him/her home tonight?
(It's not like this has never been done before.)
Hee.
The Scribbler
He eventually came around to my awesome logic:
From: Mr. Scribbler [mrscribbler@work.com]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 11:36 AM
To: thescribbler@work.com
Subject: RE: question
Okilee-do-ki-lee
And so we welcomed into our home a little gray cat who, after a day or so of various monikers, was named Penny. We soon learned she ate like a horse, had an affinity for pretty much anything going on in the kitchen, was a real snuggler and loved to play fetch with the ring from the milk jug. Penny also did an awesome impersonation of Linda Blair in “The Exorcist” the first time we put her in the cat carrier to take her to the vet.
And here we are, two years later, minus the little gray cat. She fought through a weird blood infection this summer only for us to discover (after three great weeks of her being her old self) she had liver problems which would require more tests and trips to the big city to maybe fix the problem. So last week we made the difficult decision to have her put down. And today was the day we said goodbye. (Needless to say, she was spoiled like crazy this weekend.)
(It is also . . . hard to try and sum up two years in a few words.)
As we drove home with the empty cat carrier, my husband commented on how odd this go-around of loss was. We've experienced some serious ones, he and I, with the loss of his brother almost 14 years ago and the loss of my grandmother and two uncles since then. No, this was a sadness at the passing of a furry little friend tempered by the knowledge we really did do the right thing.
So we're thankful for the time we had Penny who, by the way, did have a pretty great life.
*Snat -- a term used in my family as a substitute for 'cat'. Why, I have no idea.
ETA: The e-mails included in this entry are the actual e-mails exchanged by my husband and I on that day in August of '05 (with our e-mail addresses, obviously, being changed). Sometimes being a packrat is a good thing. ;-)
This day in particular was gray and rainy, but it was not long before it took a right turn. Due to the beauty of the Internet, I was able to fill my husband in right away:
From: The Scribbler [thescribbler@work.com]
To: Mr. Scribbler [mrscribbler@work.com]
Subject: question
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 11:02:13 -0600
Hey, you know, I was thinking - perhaps Phil would not be so crazy if he had another cat to play with. Say a cute little gray kitten. That my boss & one of the guys found in the storage bin. That's really tame. And cute. And needs a home or else he'll be a warehouse cat. Did I mention he purrs (or maybe it's a she - dunno!) like crazy??
Think about it and let me know asap - by mail or phone.
The Scribbler
Yes, a little gray cat was found in the warehouse of my work place. And it managed the amazing feat of purring and eating simultaneously. My husband was reluctant at first, as you can see from his reply:
From: Mr. Scribbler [mrscribbler@work.com]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 11:14 AM
To: thescribbler@work.ca
Subject: RE: question
AHHHHHHH.... HA HA HA HA HA HA HAH AHHAHHAH HAHA HAHA HAHH....(gasp).....HA HAH AH AH HHA HA HA AHA HHA ....
But seriously, I dunno, we should probably see if Phil will allow another cat about (hiss hiss swipe grrr, or mew?). Also there will be LOTS more kitty litter.
Yes, ever the practical sort, he was concerned about increased kitty litter (aka more litter box cleaning). But the little cat was cute, purred like a motorboat, and I could not shake the words of my boss who, in a phone conversation with his wife, said the little cat would have a good life as a warehouse cat. Not a great life, but a good one. Undeterred, I e-mailed my husband back:
From: The Scribbler [thescribbler@work.com]
To: Mr. Scribbler [mrscribbler@work.com]
Subject: RE: question
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 11:20:25 -0600
Hardy-har-har.
I say lets give it a go.
I can bring him/her home tonight?
(It's not like this has never been done before.)
Hee.
The Scribbler
He eventually came around to my awesome logic:
From: Mr. Scribbler [mrscribbler@work.com]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 11:36 AM
To: thescribbler@work.com
Subject: RE: question
Okilee-do-ki-lee
And so we welcomed into our home a little gray cat who, after a day or so of various monikers, was named Penny. We soon learned she ate like a horse, had an affinity for pretty much anything going on in the kitchen, was a real snuggler and loved to play fetch with the ring from the milk jug. Penny also did an awesome impersonation of Linda Blair in “The Exorcist” the first time we put her in the cat carrier to take her to the vet.
And here we are, two years later, minus the little gray cat. She fought through a weird blood infection this summer only for us to discover (after three great weeks of her being her old self) she had liver problems which would require more tests and trips to the big city to maybe fix the problem. So last week we made the difficult decision to have her put down. And today was the day we said goodbye. (Needless to say, she was spoiled like crazy this weekend.)
(It is also . . . hard to try and sum up two years in a few words.)
As we drove home with the empty cat carrier, my husband commented on how odd this go-around of loss was. We've experienced some serious ones, he and I, with the loss of his brother almost 14 years ago and the loss of my grandmother and two uncles since then. No, this was a sadness at the passing of a furry little friend tempered by the knowledge we really did do the right thing.
So we're thankful for the time we had Penny who, by the way, did have a pretty great life.
*Snat -- a term used in my family as a substitute for 'cat'. Why, I have no idea.
ETA: The e-mails included in this entry are the actual e-mails exchanged by my husband and I on that day in August of '05 (with our e-mail addresses, obviously, being changed). Sometimes being a packrat is a good thing. ;-)
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Relationships -- Take 'Em or Leave 'Em?
Ah, relationships. By many I am blessed and by some I am absolutely confounded. By some, it is both.
I'm blessed by my relationship with God. Blessed by His love, saving grace, and just by . . . Him! Though I'm confounded by it at times, too. I mean, how does the holy, omnipotent, omniscient Creator of the universe have the time for me? Why does He desire to spend time with me when I muck so many things up? And there are so many things He provides as well. It's mind-blowing, really. And life-altering.
I am blessed by my relationship with my husband. We've been married almost 13 years, have known each other for almost 15 and I know there are still things I don't know about him. This could be mainly because of one of two things: a) He doesn't tell me and b) I don't ask. Ha, ha! But seriously -- he's a treasure. I know I'm not always the best as a wife. Shoot, neither one of us is perfect, but I am amazed and what a good fit we are as a couple.
My familial relations bless/confound me (biological and marital). 'Nuff said there, I think.
Friendships are another tricky thing. There are people you think (either accurately or through some form of denial) you are 'in good standing with' only to find out you're not. Or those you think of as casual acquaintances only to discover in a crunch there's a stronger bond there. Then there are the friendships which have withstood ebbs and flows, fights, periods of silence and what-not and have been full of blessings received and given. What a treat!
No man is an island,
This I know to be true.
For God by His hand
Has given a precious gift through you.
I'm blessed by my relationship with God. Blessed by His love, saving grace, and just by . . . Him! Though I'm confounded by it at times, too. I mean, how does the holy, omnipotent, omniscient Creator of the universe have the time for me? Why does He desire to spend time with me when I muck so many things up? And there are so many things He provides as well. It's mind-blowing, really. And life-altering.
I am blessed by my relationship with my husband. We've been married almost 13 years, have known each other for almost 15 and I know there are still things I don't know about him. This could be mainly because of one of two things: a) He doesn't tell me and b) I don't ask. Ha, ha! But seriously -- he's a treasure. I know I'm not always the best as a wife. Shoot, neither one of us is perfect, but I am amazed and what a good fit we are as a couple.
My familial relations bless/confound me (biological and marital). 'Nuff said there, I think.
Friendships are another tricky thing. There are people you think (either accurately or through some form of denial) you are 'in good standing with' only to find out you're not. Or those you think of as casual acquaintances only to discover in a crunch there's a stronger bond there. Then there are the friendships which have withstood ebbs and flows, fights, periods of silence and what-not and have been full of blessings received and given. What a treat!
No man is an island,
This I know to be true.
For God by His hand
Has given a precious gift through you.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Office Confessions
As my husband will quickly attest to, I am an avid fan of The Office. I enjoy the comedy, the writing, the characters, and the storylines. I frequent www.OfficeTally.com for quotes, interviews, and my share of spoilers. I have talked about it with friends who are fans. I have even (and I'm a bit . . . hesitant . . . to share this fact) read a good chunk of fan-authored fictional stories about the show. (I had to quit/dramatically cut back, however, as my own writing endeavours were suffering as a result.)
So I was pretty excited about the start of the show's fourth season. And I still am, two episodes in. What is sort of perplexing to me, however, is the number of crticisms I have read on-line about this new season. Things such as the hour-long format being too draggy; too much focus on Jim and Pam; potential bad acting; bad writing; Michael's antics being too over-the-top and so on.
You know, I don't even know for sure why this is bothering me. I mean, people are entitled to their opinions, right? I guess what bugs me about such comments is they have been leading me look to at the show with a critical eye I would not be looking through otherwise.
Hmmm.
Time to toss another activity in the 'no longer do' pile.
;-P
So I was pretty excited about the start of the show's fourth season. And I still am, two episodes in. What is sort of perplexing to me, however, is the number of crticisms I have read on-line about this new season. Things such as the hour-long format being too draggy; too much focus on Jim and Pam; potential bad acting; bad writing; Michael's antics being too over-the-top and so on.
You know, I don't even know for sure why this is bothering me. I mean, people are entitled to their opinions, right? I guess what bugs me about such comments is they have been leading me look to at the show with a critical eye I would not be looking through otherwise.
Hmmm.
Time to toss another activity in the 'no longer do' pile.
;-P
Saturday, September 22, 2007
A Thousand ???
Sometimes . . . okay, many times . . . well, there are times when I wonder why God bothers with me at all. I mean, really. I can get myself stuck in a bad rut faster than you can say "Quit spinnin' your wheels!"; I have missed my share of oppurtunities to do the right thing and generally have made many, many messes.
Then I have those times when I'm working with the kids at my church or I'm working on a writing project or am out with my husband or doing any of a myriad of things and I know, I know I'm where I'm supposed to be with Him, doing what He wants me to do.
The trick, I'm thinking, is to carry the lessons I've learned in the past and keep on moving forward without constantly looking over my shoulder. When I honestly and humbly come before God, admitting to Him my screwups and ask for His forgiveness and His help to change, I need to trust and believe changes will happen.
I'm blessed to teach Sunday School with a wonderful lady at my church, and today she did the coolest demonstration of how completely our sins are erased from God's record. What she has done is have the kids write their sins on a piece of flash paper she purchased from a magic store. Then she set it on fire and, being flash paper, soon it was gone without a trace. No ashes. No smoke. No record at all of the sins recorded on it.
And that's how it is when we ask God to forgive us. Our wrongs are gone without a trace. So when the devil or other people or our own selves try to bring those things up again, we need to remind them and ourselves to God, it's as if we never did those things.
And that can put a lot of ??? to rest.
Then I have those times when I'm working with the kids at my church or I'm working on a writing project or am out with my husband or doing any of a myriad of things and I know, I know I'm where I'm supposed to be with Him, doing what He wants me to do.
The trick, I'm thinking, is to carry the lessons I've learned in the past and keep on moving forward without constantly looking over my shoulder. When I honestly and humbly come before God, admitting to Him my screwups and ask for His forgiveness and His help to change, I need to trust and believe changes will happen.
I'm blessed to teach Sunday School with a wonderful lady at my church, and today she did the coolest demonstration of how completely our sins are erased from God's record. What she has done is have the kids write their sins on a piece of flash paper she purchased from a magic store. Then she set it on fire and, being flash paper, soon it was gone without a trace. No ashes. No smoke. No record at all of the sins recorded on it.
And that's how it is when we ask God to forgive us. Our wrongs are gone without a trace. So when the devil or other people or our own selves try to bring those things up again, we need to remind them and ourselves to God, it's as if we never did those things.
And that can put a lot of ??? to rest.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Procrastinating or Smelling the Roses?
I caught the last bit of Ellen DeGeneres' stand-up routine on the Comedy Network a couple of Saturdays back and discovered she has the best way of looking at procrastination. It is simply the universe's way of telling us to slow down. So I have, therefore, not been procrastinating in regards to writing my novel. I have been stopping to smell the proverbial roses.
The only glitch with this is my instructor will most likely not buy it if I fail to send in my next assignment (ack! the third chapter!) by Wednesday.
siiigh
I'm thinking part of the problem I'm having is I really want this to be *perfect*. It needs to be funny, advance the story, show the reader what's going on and just be really good. It could also be I really did let too many people read what I have written to date, thereby opening myself up to more pressure in that now I have more people to (possibly) critique the thing. Or else I worry if they don't say anything at all. (Which is worse -- criticism or silence?) And is this whole thing just a hobby for me or something I really want to do something with (aka earn some money)?
Hmmmm . . .
The only glitch with this is my instructor will most likely not buy it if I fail to send in my next assignment (ack! the third chapter!) by Wednesday.
siiigh
I'm thinking part of the problem I'm having is I really want this to be *perfect*. It needs to be funny, advance the story, show the reader what's going on and just be really good. It could also be I really did let too many people read what I have written to date, thereby opening myself up to more pressure in that now I have more people to (possibly) critique the thing. Or else I worry if they don't say anything at all. (Which is worse -- criticism or silence?) And is this whole thing just a hobby for me or something I really want to do something with (aka earn some money)?
Hmmmm . . .
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
A Week to Go!
Okay, I was excited about the release of season 3 of The Office on DVD, particularly when my pre-order arrived in the mail this past Friday, ahead of the Sept. 4th release date. It was an Office-filled weekend, to my husband's slight chagrin. (We balanced things out with some episodes of Invader Zim so it was all good.) If you're a fan of the show, I recommend picking this set up, if only for the blooper reel and episode commentaries. Good stuff.
But I think I'm getting a bit more excited for this Sept. 11th release:
Yessir, Paul Brandt's new album "Risk" is due out on that date and I'm really looking forward to it. His music has encouraged me many a time (in addition to having some really fun tunes to listen to), and even has been used as a soundtrack for my own creative endeavours. The video for the first single (Didn't Even See the Dust) is on You Tube and as I read in an interview with Mr. Brandt, is one that makes you want to speed, much as the single Leavin' from his previous release "This Time Around" is likely to do. Not that I have ever sped while listening to that song in the car. ;-)
But I think I'm getting a bit more excited for this Sept. 11th release:
Yessir, Paul Brandt's new album "Risk" is due out on that date and I'm really looking forward to it. His music has encouraged me many a time (in addition to having some really fun tunes to listen to), and even has been used as a soundtrack for my own creative endeavours. The video for the first single (Didn't Even See the Dust) is on You Tube and as I read in an interview with Mr. Brandt, is one that makes you want to speed, much as the single Leavin' from his previous release "This Time Around" is likely to do. Not that I have ever sped while listening to that song in the car. ;-)
Monday, August 27, 2007
Pets and Drivers and Bad Fan Fiction
Our little cat has been looking a little puffy for the past month or so. We didn't think much of it as she was still moving around okay and eating and such. Plus we had quite the stretch of hot weather so we thought it was somehow making her retain water or something. But on Wednesday she wasn't looking too hot. By Friday when we had her at the vet, we were wondering if we were going to have to have her put down. Not because she seemed to be suffering great deals of pain, mind you, but due to the huge $$ of treating a severely anemic cat with a raging blood infection. If we had done to date everything recommended to us, we'd be looking a bill of roughly $1000. It is a difficult decision many pet owners face, and we will not be the last to do so. Right now she's on a considerably more affordable oral antibiotic as, wonder of wonders, she started improving without costly medical intervention over the weekend.
= = = = = = =
Now there are some drivers who are just stupid. Coming into the town where I live, there has been road construction going on for the past few weeks, meaning two lanes of traffic heading in has been reduced to one. Well this afternoon someone suicide passes! As in we're all in the right-hand lane and they passed us on the right-hand side! Yikes! I hoped they met a police officer and got a nice ticket. Not to be mean, but c'mon! But there are times when I have been incredibly impatient and made dumb driving decisions, so I can't say too much, I guess.
= = = = = = =
I read fan fiction centered on the American version of The Office. (I highly recommend all stories by Cousin Mose, time4moxie and Wendy Blue over at Fanfiction.net.) Now some, like the aforementioned, are really well-written. But there are many fan fictions out there (in many categories) that need to quit doing something. Namely this: Realize that people can still breath when they kiss. There is no need to break the kiss because 'the need for oxygen became too great'. Unless, I suppose, the person has consumed a large plate of raw onions and garlic and the receiver of their kiss is trying not to choke on the fumes. Other than that, we have noses for a reason. Even fictional people get to use them.
= = = = = = =
Now there are some drivers who are just stupid. Coming into the town where I live, there has been road construction going on for the past few weeks, meaning two lanes of traffic heading in has been reduced to one. Well this afternoon someone suicide passes! As in we're all in the right-hand lane and they passed us on the right-hand side! Yikes! I hoped they met a police officer and got a nice ticket. Not to be mean, but c'mon! But there are times when I have been incredibly impatient and made dumb driving decisions, so I can't say too much, I guess.
= = = = = = =
I read fan fiction centered on the American version of The Office. (I highly recommend all stories by Cousin Mose, time4moxie and Wendy Blue over at Fanfiction.net.) Now some, like the aforementioned, are really well-written. But there are many fan fictions out there (in many categories) that need to quit doing something. Namely this: Realize that people can still breath when they kiss. There is no need to break the kiss because 'the need for oxygen became too great'. Unless, I suppose, the person has consumed a large plate of raw onions and garlic and the receiver of their kiss is trying not to choke on the fumes. Other than that, we have noses for a reason. Even fictional people get to use them.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Good Timing
I arrived at work this morning after having Monday off and found my desk sort of in order. There were papers here and there, mentions made of X not getting done and some other what-nots to sort through. All in all, I was stressed for a little bit but by the end of the day, things were getting back on track.
But as I am at times inclined to do, I was thinking about all the things I haven't done yet (ranging from around-the-house stuff to school assignments to relationships) and feeling a bit discouraged. Until I went to my church's weekly prayer meeting, that is, and after praying for things I knew I needed dealt with beforehand and things I discovered there I needed dealt with, my pastor did a short teaching after on Proverbs 16: 2-3:
Now we humans like to think everything we're thinking is a-okay. But God weighs the spirits or, in other words, what is motivating our hearts. Now my pastor did some word studies which I should really look up as I can't 100% remember how he explained this verse. So in order to not mess it up, I'll just leave that one alone for right now.
In verse three, the word "commit" means in the original Greek that we are to 'roll off' our works -- the things we do in our day-to-day lives -- onto God and then our thoughts will be correctly established (this last part ties into the previous verse, which (again) I'll have to do some studying on). Much like a camel would lower itself down and tilt to one side to roll off its heavy burden, so are we to kneel down before God and roll off onto Him the heavy burdens we are carrying. Then our yoke will be easy and our burdens light.
I'll add more on this when I can, but what I did share really touched me and encouraged me tonight. Sometimes I get really frustrated with myself and/or others and/or (I'm sorry to say) God. Then something like this happens, leaving me so thankful to know a God who knows my heart so well.
:-)
But as I am at times inclined to do, I was thinking about all the things I haven't done yet (ranging from around-the-house stuff to school assignments to relationships) and feeling a bit discouraged. Until I went to my church's weekly prayer meeting, that is, and after praying for things I knew I needed dealt with beforehand and things I discovered there I needed dealt with, my pastor did a short teaching after on Proverbs 16: 2-3:
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits.
3 Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.
Now we humans like to think everything we're thinking is a-okay. But God weighs the spirits or, in other words, what is motivating our hearts. Now my pastor did some word studies which I should really look up as I can't 100% remember how he explained this verse. So in order to not mess it up, I'll just leave that one alone for right now.
In verse three, the word "commit" means in the original Greek that we are to 'roll off' our works -- the things we do in our day-to-day lives -- onto God and then our thoughts will be correctly established (this last part ties into the previous verse, which (again) I'll have to do some studying on). Much like a camel would lower itself down and tilt to one side to roll off its heavy burden, so are we to kneel down before God and roll off onto Him the heavy burdens we are carrying. Then our yoke will be easy and our burdens light.
I'll add more on this when I can, but what I did share really touched me and encouraged me tonight. Sometimes I get really frustrated with myself and/or others and/or (I'm sorry to say) God. Then something like this happens, leaving me so thankful to know a God who knows my heart so well.
:-)
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Signs
There is road work going on just outside of the town where I live. And because where I live is not where I work, I get to drive through the construction zone twice a day, five days a week. No, wait . . . hubby and I are in the city often on the weekend, so it would be two times five plus three more . . . no, wait . . . four . . .
Yeah, I drive through it a lot.
And it amazed me one morning how many people put off getting into the correct lane. There are signs, big signs letting motorists know there will soon be the one lane of traffic. Yet many a person will pull out from behind you, go speeding off and then basically budge in front of you because (surprise!) there is now only one lane of traffic.
Then I was thinking how often do I do the very same thing when it comes to doing the things God has planned for me. I see the signs where He is telling me to slow down, wait a second (or however long) yet I go barrelling on ahead only to end up having to wait. Or things are mucked up because I had to budge in. (Then there is the reverse, where you wait and wait and wait (aka procrastinate) until you have to go speeding off to try and catch up. Only to be thisclose to your destination and delayed further because you're getting a ticket.)
So the trick is to read the signs. Then obey them. It will really safe you time, frustrations and (depending on the circumstances), cash.
We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.
Proverbs 16:9 (MSG)
Yeah, I drive through it a lot.
And it amazed me one morning how many people put off getting into the correct lane. There are signs, big signs letting motorists know there will soon be the one lane of traffic. Yet many a person will pull out from behind you, go speeding off and then basically budge in front of you because (surprise!) there is now only one lane of traffic.
Then I was thinking how often do I do the very same thing when it comes to doing the things God has planned for me. I see the signs where He is telling me to slow down, wait a second (or however long) yet I go barrelling on ahead only to end up having to wait. Or things are mucked up because I had to budge in. (Then there is the reverse, where you wait and wait and wait (aka procrastinate) until you have to go speeding off to try and catch up. Only to be thisclose to your destination and delayed further because you're getting a ticket.)
So the trick is to read the signs. Then obey them. It will really safe you time, frustrations and (depending on the circumstances), cash.
We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.
Proverbs 16:9 (MSG)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
The Dude Returns
I returned to work on Friday from a lovely lunch with my older sister and her daughter, which in turn was preceded by a near-miss with a truck pulling a flatbed trailer, to receive a phone call from The Dude mentioned about two posts back.
I had just started freshening up my lipstick (Remarkaberry from Avon -- my favourite) when said telephone rang. "Hi, this is The Dude. I'd like to pick up x bags of product y." It was not the best day for such a request. Our plant had been running 24/7 to get some last-minutes shipments taken care of and I wasn't seeing how we could get some stuff together for someone else, much less The Dude.
So I told The Dude I would have to put him on hold for a minute. I then applied my lipstick, called my boss on the 2nd phone line and explained the situation, asking if I could tell The Dude "No." My boss, being more sensible than I am at times (hence, he's the boss) said I could patch The Dude through to his cell phone. The Boss had to explain Monday was not a good 'some day' to pick things up as it is Christmas Day and we're closed until the new year. The Dude is coming in the new year for his stuff.
I can wait.
I had just started freshening up my lipstick (Remarkaberry from Avon -- my favourite) when said telephone rang. "Hi, this is The Dude. I'd like to pick up x bags of product y." It was not the best day for such a request. Our plant had been running 24/7 to get some last-minutes shipments taken care of and I wasn't seeing how we could get some stuff together for someone else, much less The Dude.
So I told The Dude I would have to put him on hold for a minute. I then applied my lipstick, called my boss on the 2nd phone line and explained the situation, asking if I could tell The Dude "No." My boss, being more sensible than I am at times (hence, he's the boss) said I could patch The Dude through to his cell phone. The Boss had to explain Monday was not a good 'some day' to pick things up as it is Christmas Day and we're closed until the new year. The Dude is coming in the new year for his stuff.
I can wait.
Lost in the Translation
Planning a story is great fun until I need it to have a specific purpose. Or maybe I do have a purpose, but in my mind it lacks a certain je ne sais quois which, when translated, means it lacks a certain degree of literary greatness which will then translate into a contract and sales. Or something to that effect -- my French is a bit rusty.
Anyhow, it then follows that my story has no purpose. I think that is why National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for the initiated) holds such an appeal for me. I can just dive in with the vaguest of ideas and character names which I hope to remember two chapters in and run with it. Literary greatness, sales, and getting a publisher are no where near my 'to do' list. Okay, they're lurking at the edges but if they make too much noise it's the time-out chair for them!
And, darn it, my NaNoWriMo story is never lacking in purpose. It must not peter out before I reach the 50, 000 word mark or exceed the 30-day deadline.
If that's not overflowing with je ne sais quois then I don't know what is.
Anyhow, it then follows that my story has no purpose. I think that is why National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for the initiated) holds such an appeal for me. I can just dive in with the vaguest of ideas and character names which I hope to remember two chapters in and run with it. Literary greatness, sales, and getting a publisher are no where near my 'to do' list. Okay, they're lurking at the edges but if they make too much noise it's the time-out chair for them!
And, darn it, my NaNoWriMo story is never lacking in purpose. It must not peter out before I reach the 50, 000 word mark or exceed the 30-day deadline.
If that's not overflowing with je ne sais quois then I don't know what is.
The Boss is Away and . . . Things Happen
Oh, it's just great fun (and I use the word 'fun' loosely here) when the boss goes on holidays. Throughout the region, little 'boss-free zone' radars go off and, suddenly, people are confused . . . perplexed . . . forgetful . . . and/or just plain grumpy.
Forget the fun and sun in California. Back at my office, in the wind, sun, snow, and, well, wind is where the real party is!
Take some mix-ups had with a shipment. I thought everything had been worked out. X didn't happen, so there was no hope of Y coming to fruition. Someone Who Had to Know knew this. But the next day the boss is gone and *poof*. Confusion. So I, the still-a-newbie-shipper was asked to find out what happened. Someone Who Helped Organize Stuff said it was a problem on our end before adding they could not quite recall the event in question. Lady in Another Time Zone became a bit . . . snippy when I requested an e-mailed explanation of our earlier phone conversation. "We have done nothing wrong and do not need to send a written explanation." (Translation: "No way are you tracing this back to us.") A few other people said "Do Z, because of X and Y will be taken care of." Someone Who Had to Know called after a brief e-mail conveying Z, X and Y. Didn't leave a message.
Thankfully, I was able to take a breather after talking to a few Higher Ups. Low and behold, after some time (the weekend) and a perusal of the notes compiled during the investigation into X and things made a bit more sense. After hearing from The Fence Post that Someone Who Had to Know was looking for Someone to Crucify, I whipped off another e-mail (after relaying when the boss would be back) and have not heard a thing since. Is no news good news in this case, or is something going to hit the fan come Monday?
But the fun and excitement doesn't end there! No siree-bob!
A Dude had been calling, wanting a price on a bag of seed. Now I don't know how things are where you come from, but when someone asks me for a price on a bag of seed, I take it to mean they want just one bag. So a price was procured for the one bag for the Dude. He came in the following day to pick it up. At the time, I was on the phone in regards to Situation X, the other lady in the office was also on the phone. Okay, so I should have said "Be right with you." My bad. But before I knew it, the Dude was gone, having gone through the door marked "Employees Only", grumbling about being ignored for an hour and broken bags.
A Fellow Employee took up the call, letting the Dude know his bag of seed was ready, here is the invoice and here is the seed. Well the Dude must have been operating with some sort of new math because he wanted 40 bags of seed. Fellow Employee makes a call to obtain the price. It was $5 more per bag than the price quoted for the single bag. This made the Dude mad. He grabbed the invoice, waving it in the air as he began to rant about wanting the price to be honoured which is on the invoice; he's a shareholder in the company, by gum (not a direct quote) and he won't be delivering anything to our company again. Fellow Employee told him the price on the invoice was being honoured -- one bag of seed for x amount of dollars. I piped up with the fact that any time the Dude had talked to us, he only mentioned the one bag, not a pallet with forty.
This did not placate the Dude. He obtained Fellow Employee's name, the name and number and location of one of the Higher Ups and off he went. I secretly hoped we would never see him again.
Ha, ha!
He came back for more seed, was accidentally given a deal, and then in the process of trying to invoice it for him, I asked Two . . . Folks for help. Two . . . Folks proved to be not good folks to ask, as it was later revealed they were making fun of my not knowing how to to something I have done only once or twice (and minus the Dude) since working for the company.
But things are smoothing out a bit. Fellow Employee was a bit stressed earlier this week for saying Yes to Too Many Things. And today Supplies Were Low which may not help us with Someone Who Helped Organize Stuff.
The boss is back on Monday.
I can hardly wait.
Forget the fun and sun in California. Back at my office, in the wind, sun, snow, and, well, wind is where the real party is!
Take some mix-ups had with a shipment. I thought everything had been worked out. X didn't happen, so there was no hope of Y coming to fruition. Someone Who Had to Know knew this. But the next day the boss is gone and *poof*. Confusion. So I, the still-a-newbie-shipper was asked to find out what happened. Someone Who Helped Organize Stuff said it was a problem on our end before adding they could not quite recall the event in question. Lady in Another Time Zone became a bit . . . snippy when I requested an e-mailed explanation of our earlier phone conversation. "We have done nothing wrong and do not need to send a written explanation." (Translation: "No way are you tracing this back to us.") A few other people said "Do Z, because of X and Y will be taken care of." Someone Who Had to Know called after a brief e-mail conveying Z, X and Y. Didn't leave a message.
Thankfully, I was able to take a breather after talking to a few Higher Ups. Low and behold, after some time (the weekend) and a perusal of the notes compiled during the investigation into X and things made a bit more sense. After hearing from The Fence Post that Someone Who Had to Know was looking for Someone to Crucify, I whipped off another e-mail (after relaying when the boss would be back) and have not heard a thing since. Is no news good news in this case, or is something going to hit the fan come Monday?
But the fun and excitement doesn't end there! No siree-bob!
A Dude had been calling, wanting a price on a bag of seed. Now I don't know how things are where you come from, but when someone asks me for a price on a bag of seed, I take it to mean they want just one bag. So a price was procured for the one bag for the Dude. He came in the following day to pick it up. At the time, I was on the phone in regards to Situation X, the other lady in the office was also on the phone. Okay, so I should have said "Be right with you." My bad. But before I knew it, the Dude was gone, having gone through the door marked "Employees Only", grumbling about being ignored for an hour and broken bags.
A Fellow Employee took up the call, letting the Dude know his bag of seed was ready, here is the invoice and here is the seed. Well the Dude must have been operating with some sort of new math because he wanted 40 bags of seed. Fellow Employee makes a call to obtain the price. It was $5 more per bag than the price quoted for the single bag. This made the Dude mad. He grabbed the invoice, waving it in the air as he began to rant about wanting the price to be honoured which is on the invoice; he's a shareholder in the company, by gum (not a direct quote) and he won't be delivering anything to our company again. Fellow Employee told him the price on the invoice was being honoured -- one bag of seed for x amount of dollars. I piped up with the fact that any time the Dude had talked to us, he only mentioned the one bag, not a pallet with forty.
This did not placate the Dude. He obtained Fellow Employee's name, the name and number and location of one of the Higher Ups and off he went. I secretly hoped we would never see him again.
Ha, ha!
He came back for more seed, was accidentally given a deal, and then in the process of trying to invoice it for him, I asked Two . . . Folks for help. Two . . . Folks proved to be not good folks to ask, as it was later revealed they were making fun of my not knowing how to to something I have done only once or twice (and minus the Dude) since working for the company.
But things are smoothing out a bit. Fellow Employee was a bit stressed earlier this week for saying Yes to Too Many Things. And today Supplies Were Low which may not help us with Someone Who Helped Organize Stuff.
The boss is back on Monday.
I can hardly wait.
So There I Was, Furiously Brushing My Teeth
Oh, I was mad when my husband came upstairs about an hour ago to ask me how my assignment was coming. He found out pretty quickly it was not going well at all as I shut off the computer and stomped (yes, I was feeling particularly mature) off to the bathroom to get ready for bed. Fan fiction is like crack, people! For procrastinators anyway . . .
*ahem*
Anyway, by the time I brushed, rinsed, scrubbed, rinsed again, and smoothed on some moisturizer (what does it mean to age gracefully, exactly?), I had decided Jim and Pam from The Office were not going to win and I was going to write my freaking letter. I dug through one of the piles still decorating the computer room, and found . . . squat. Remembering I had actually filed some stuff, I quickly found the letter I had written for my first course (and also in a time crunch if memory serves correctly) and got to work.
I now have two story ideas to work on. They sound so great in my head, but are currently looking sort of sad and limp and lifeless on paper. Of course, if I wrote more than "Novel Idea #1" along with a one-line synopsis, things might be looking better. Seriously, all this late-night writing and caffeine-fuelled mornings is making me think the National Novel Writing Month challenge will be fun! Isn't sleep for caffeine-deprived people anyway?
*ahem*
Anyway, by the time I brushed, rinsed, scrubbed, rinsed again, and smoothed on some moisturizer (what does it mean to age gracefully, exactly?), I had decided Jim and Pam from The Office were not going to win and I was going to write my freaking letter. I dug through one of the piles still decorating the computer room, and found . . . squat. Remembering I had actually filed some stuff, I quickly found the letter I had written for my first course (and also in a time crunch if memory serves correctly) and got to work.
I now have two story ideas to work on. They sound so great in my head, but are currently looking sort of sad and limp and lifeless on paper. Of course, if I wrote more than "Novel Idea #1" along with a one-line synopsis, things might be looking better. Seriously, all this late-night writing and caffeine-fuelled mornings is making me think the National Novel Writing Month challenge will be fun! Isn't sleep for caffeine-deprived people anyway?
Some Favourites
Hello!
I don't know if it was the set up or or the content or the fact I like fiddling around with the templates, but it was time for me to move, as it were, and set up a new blog. (I was formerly at the now-deleted scribblings06.blogspot.com under the title of Scribblings.)
Following are a few posts I enjoyed, anyway, from my 'old home' and I hope you enjoy them as well.
:-)
I don't know if it was the set up or or the content or the fact I like fiddling around with the templates, but it was time for me to move, as it were, and set up a new blog. (I was formerly at the now-deleted scribblings06.blogspot.com under the title of Scribblings.)
Following are a few posts I enjoyed, anyway, from my 'old home' and I hope you enjoy them as well.
:-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)