Pay no attention to the woman behind that pastor

Faith or Works?

2011-03-03T19:21:00.004-05:00

And that's a wrap.

2010-09-14T12:43:00.000-04:00

This weekend I found two foodie blogs I likehttp://www.5dollardinners.com/ & http://feastonthecheap.net/ . I'm all about new recipes & live on a budget like most of you, but, neither Roy nor the girls are picky eaters, so I get to experiment a lot. A long time favorite ishttp://foodwishes.blogspot.com/ . Since I cook a lot, have access to a farmer's market & wide variety of cuisines at the grocery store I like to try a new recipe or two every week. Last week I made a Green Coconut Curry, Pork & Pepper Kakbobs & Pho. It doesn't always happen - Sunday night was grilled cheese & tomato soup with fancy ingredients like Campbells soup & Kraft Singles on white bread.

Right now I'm trying to decipher cell phone plans & providers for our family. There are "night & weekend minutes" here & texting rates are MENTAL if you go over your plan. Roy & I use our phones differently from Ceilildh & Sarah so a "one size fits all" plan really doesn't. It's so confusing. My last conversation with Telus may have triggered a brain bleed. To top it off, Verizon has changed their cancellation policy & wants to penalize us for breaking our contracts back in VA, despite the fact we were told a year ago that wouldn't be the case. There's lots of aggravating details & angry phone calls in which I may or may not have developed "Temporary Telephone Customer Service Tourette's", but I'll spare you the details.

This week I will work on my resume. I've been off all summer to get us settled & I have loved it. However, all good things must come to an end & it's time to get back to work. I haven't put together a resume or gone on a job interview for a loooooong time. Not gonna lie, not looking forward to it. Ceilidh starts college in what feels like 15 minutes & our recent home sale wiped out our retirement. Yes, I said home "sale", not "purchase". Stupid housing market. When we said "Okay God, we'll start over in our 40's", He took us at our word & we are really starting over.

I'm reading cooking blogs. See above.

Favorite Tweet: @JimGaffigan Protesting the building of mosques and a Burn-a-Quran Day? Gee, anything else we can do to prove to Al-Qaeda we ARE infidels?

Favorite Movie/TV/Music of the week: I love the new Stephen King series Haven. It's not Masterpiece Theatre or The MacNeil/Lehrer Report,but for my money, it's a great way to waste an hour. I realize that's not really a favorite moment, but a fun show. Really, you need crackers & a glass of wine to go with all the cheese, but I love it.

Where were you?

2010-09-11T16:32:00.000-04:00

Where were you on September 11, 2001?

I was at work at a small private school in Bethpage, NY. Roy dropped me off at my office and while he was driving to work called to tell me a plane had crashed into one of the towers. My first thought was that some moron had gotten disoriented & crashed - a couple of weeks prior some fool with a hang glider had gotten hung up on the Statue of Liberty's torch - & I assumed this was another incident like that. I wish.

We only had a radio - no TV - so I wasn't exposed to the images but hung on every word from the radio. The staff had to decide whether or not tell the elementary students, but as the events unfolded it became obvious we had no choice. I spent the day trying to reach parents that worked downtown - we couldn't put students on the bus unless we talked to families to make sure there would be someone there to meet students when they got home. Cell phone service was almost non-existant. It was a long day. A lot of parents picked up their kids early - everyone just wanted to be close to their family.

When we finally got home, I locked myself in my room to watch the news - I didn't want my kids to see the images. I just sat & wept.

Where were you?

Movin' on Up

2010-09-09T21:12:00.000-04:00

Just a heads up I'm moving my blog over to wordpress. It's been recommended to me by a couple of bloggers & I'm finally doing it.

I'll let you know when I'm done, in the meantime, talk amongst yourselves. The Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy nor Roman nor an Empire. Discuss.

Outside the Zone

2010-09-07T16:37:00.001-04:00

I am a very self-conscious person. After I talk to you, I'll run the conversation in my head & think "WHY did you say that?" The voices in my head frequently tell me to stop talking, in the name of all that is good & right, stop talking, but, I nut up & keep talking anyway. I say inappropriate things, including phrases like "nut up", & I thank God every day for a husband that doesn't judge, cajole or demean me when I do.

As a pastor's wife, certain things are expected of me & not only do I not fit the profile, I'm pretty sure I make the profiler cry. But, I'm okay with that. Most of the time. If I start to feel bad about myself, I am reminded that Roy, the person I love & respect more than anyone else on the planet not only loves me too, he picked me. And, he's glad he did.

In Fairfax, back in New York, even in Michigan, I was immersed in 'church culture'. Pretty much everyone I had contact with on a daily basis had a similar world view to mine. But, since moving to Burlington, I am floating around outside that comfort zone. Most of the time it's been fine. My addiction to pop culture, the BBC & the History Channel plus being the mom of teens means I can talk (not necessarily intelligently) on a pretty wide variety of topics. In fact, the only uncomfortable/negative 'church-y conversation' I've had was with someone who'd been in church the past 60 years. He thought the music was too loud at our first service & wanted my opinion on Christians & alcohol.

It's different. Not that different is bad, it's just, well, different. I find myself second guessing myself & feeling like I have to be 'on' when I have a conversation with random people. When you spend years in one culture, well, two for me - American and church, then suddenly find yourself transplanted to another, it's a little, well, perplexing.

I find myself weighing my words so because of the preconceived notions people have about church. Just two weeks ago, a church in Toronto made the news for picketing & harassing the home of a gay man. They were spiteful & malicious but they kept saying they had the "right to preach the gospel". Between this guy & Bishop Lahey, we're fighting an uphill battle as "Christians". Not every priest is a pedophile or hypocrite & not every Protestant is a hate-monger any more than every Muslim is a terrorist.

The tricky part for me is to remember to relax & be myself. Everyone says dumb things sometimes. Well, okay, maybe not everyone, but most people. I can't be myself if I'm constantly worried I'm going to say the wrong thing. I need to accept it's just a matter of time before I say something dumb. When it happens, I'll acknowledge that it was moronic/rude/awkward/embarrassing & do my best to clarify.

It's a lot of work being yourself.

And that's a wrap.

2010-09-06T13:49:00.000-04:00

The picture has nothing to do with the post, just made me laugh.

This weekend I ate my equivalent body weight in ribs & smoked meat. Burlington is home to Canada's largest ribfest with vendors, (or "ribbers" as we were instructed) from all over Canada & the US. We volunteered with the recycling team - it was a really great way to connect with the community & start BCC's reputation off on the right foot. We were smart enough to pick the pre-event shift so we didn't have to pick up too much trash. >: ) The event is very 'green' - no styrofoam or plastic cutlery allowed. The waste is separated into 3 bins: trash, compost & recyclables. On a side note, after years of coordinating & organizing Trunk or Treat, it was strange to be a volunteer on the team, not leading it. But, by the end of our 4 hour shift, we were asked to train the new volunteers who showed up & direct them to their stations.

Right now I'm enjoying a very lazy Labor Day & gearing up for a Shrek marathon with my kids. Later, we'll grill the steaks we picked up & enjoy the vegetables I picked up from the farmer's market this weekend. Delicious.

This week I will no longer be a homeowner. I don't care what anyone says, I think the American banking system is magical. They turned my dream home in beautiful Fairfax, VA into a giant anchor on my back, crushing me with its' pressure, never ending timeline & constantly changing demands. We've signed all the papers on our end, sent a massive check, and hopefully by this time tomorrow it will be over. I'll believe it when I see it.

I'm reading nothing really good. I started a novel I picked up at Salvation Army for 99 cents, but I don't even remember the name - that's how lame it is. A few pages at night & I'm ready to sleep - hey, it's cheaper than Ambien.

Favorite Tweet: I love "The Supersizers Go" & especially Sue Perkins - sueperkins

@HelmStone Wanted to do Stone Age Supersizers, but it just involved me getting clubbed, eating berries, getting clubbed, eating berries...

Favorite Movie/TV/Music of the week: Just discovered "Republic of Doyle". My Aunt Sandra loves it, told me I'd love it, & low & behold, she was right.

Comfort Food Kinda Day

2010-09-04T18:52:00.001-04:00

Today is rainy, cold & miserable. Yay! That means comfort food at my house. I had a hankering for some good old Long Island Baked Ziti this week, & I decided to do something about it. I had cooked for a neighbor who spent the past 4 days running back to the hospital with her 1 year old, & made ziti & some meatballs in sauce for her. I made enough for our family, but this weekend is Ribfest, so the ziti went into the fridge til tonight. : )

It's one of my go-to meals if someone had a baby, surgery or just a bad day. I know there are more complicated & authentic versions of the recipe, but this is how it goes at my house - play with the sauce & spices to make it work for your family. I added meatballs to mine this time, I've used a couple of different sauces, (honestly I usually make my own), & I have a huge crop of basil so I added a bunch of fresh basil to this last recipe. It's very flexible & very forgiving. Enjoy!
BAKED ZITI

1 16 oz box ziti
1 26 oz jar spaghetti sauce
1 16oz Ricotta cheese
2 c mozarella
1/2 c Parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta til it's just shy of al dente. Remember it's going to bake & you don't want mushy pasta.
Combine the spaghetti sauce, ricotta, mozarella & parmesan cheese. When pasta is cooked, drain & add to the sauce mixture. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
You can sprinkle with additional mozarella - I highly recommend it.
Bake 350 for about 30 minutes til heated through & cheeses melted.

It's been one of THOSE days

2010-09-01T18:15:00.000-04:00

Ever have a day where nothing catastrophic happens but it's still tough to be Mary-freaking-Sunshine?

Today has been one of those days.

It started off fine. Roy made the coffee as usual & it was delicious as usual. I had the bathroom to myself to get ready & the breaker didn't pop like sometimes happens with 2 teen daughters & the amount of hair-do-in' that gets done around here. Out the door with no complications to my plan.

It started to go wrong at the High School when my previously undiscovered ability to become invisible chose to reveal itself. I stood across the counter from a receptionist that could only have come out of a Harry Potter novel. I'm sure her last position was at Gringott's. I finally got her attention after 15 minutes by creeping closer to the counselor's door. Suddenly she was on me like a TMZ photographer outside a courthouse. The rest of the experience was no more helpful & was capped off by my daughters politely asking me to wait in the lobby. Not a big deal & they couldn't have been more subtle, but still, to be sent to the lobby to sit with the other dorky parents was humbling. I remember when I was cool! Wait, no I don't. You know what I mean.

So, I sat there & stared at my feet. Mistake. I run around barefoot & in flip flops or sandals all summer & my last pedicure was waay too long ago. I have the feet of a Masai Warrior. Not. Even. Kidding. I could chase a gazelle across the Serengeti barefoot without blinking an eye. Time to get these hooves in for a shoe change.

That got me thinking about our budget. Blech. This being a grown up thing is SO overrated. Good grief. That's something they should teach in school. Not that we would have listened. Grown ups are so not cool. (See paragraph 4).

The day went downhill from there.

So here I sit, in a blissfully quiet house. Dinner's been prepared, served, eaten & cleared. Roy is working on a project & the girls are downstairs talking on Skype with friends. I can hear them laughing all the way from the second floor. The dog is snoring at my feet, & I have the TV to myself. Maybe it's not such a bad day after all.

And that's a Wrap

2010-08-30T11:03:00.001-04:00

This weekend I had my in-laws in town, helped host a block party & had the second service for BCC. All in all, a great weekend. My in-laws are pretty low maintenance, the block party food was amazing with so many different cultures & nationalities on the block & we had a new family visit church. They've drifted away from their faith & after reading Roy's article "Church - Why Bother?" in the paper, they were curious. That's what we're here for.

Right now I'm looking at my beautiful hardwood floors & wondering if as a stay at home mom on a budget I can justify hiring someone to come in & sweep/mop the floors. They'd need to be on the clock from around 8am - 8pm & just follow us around with a Swiffer...can't pay much but I would feed them...hmmm...

This week I will go to the US Consulate in Buffalo to sign over power of Attorney to Roy in selling our house. This way I won't have to miss my kids first day of school here in order to be present at the closing there. It may seem like a little thing to you, but it's a new year, new school, a new country AND it's Ceilidh's Senior year. It's my last first day with her. It's a big deal to me.

I'm reading "Memoirs of a Cape Breton Doctor" by Dr. C. Lamont McMillan. I also have a stack on my nightstand that I'm jumping between, "And", "Borderland Churches" & a few others.

Favorite Tweet: @julianperretta: just read how Chris Brown has joined a charity which supports women who are victims of domestic violence. If you can't beat them, join them.

Favorite Movie/TV/Music of the week: Jim Parsons aka "Sheldon" from Big Bang Theory wins the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy series. Equally as important, Jon Cryer does not.

Home again home again

2010-08-30T10:16:00.000-04:00

I made a whirlwind trip home to Cape Breton this summer - out on a Thursday back before breakfast on Monday. I needed to see my grandmother - her health has steadily declined & she recently fell & broke her hip. She shouldn't have been out of bed, & we'll never know what she was up to - her Alzheimer's has progressed too far. I din't take pictures of us together this year - I choose not to remember her like this.

I timed the trip to connect with friends - my high school had a reunion. It was great to reconnect. Seriously - I truly enjoyed my time, although it was waay too short.

Anyhoo - a few pictures of the trip.

Our class shirt - can't believe he still has his.

Judique - where I went to school grade 4 - 12

& home of Judique on the Floor

JCHS Class of '84 - well half of us anyway

Looking down from McKenzie Mtn into Pleasant Bay

Midtrail Motel & Inn

The cleanest beds, best food & friendliest staff in Cape Breton

Forbidden

2010-08-25T19:28:00.000-04:00

There are certain things that are forbidden in my house. At the top of the list are Control top pantyhose, country music, Mein Kampf & heroin. In a special category all their own are products or sites that are forbidden based solely on the commercial. Topping this list is Mucinex, whatever the product is that's tied to the animated creature LIFTING a toenail (I don't know what it is - I've run screaming & vomiting from the room before the product is mentioned) Daisy Sour Cream, and Empire Carpets (as in 800-588-2300, Empire!) I refuse to "do a dollop of Daisy". I won't allow these products in my house even if they cured cancer. Ridiculous, yes, I know. It's part of my charm.

These are all commercials tied to US stations, but here in Canada I've been introduced a new level of hell known as Marineland commercials. Now, heard once or twice, the commercial is mostly forgettable. Catchy, sticks in your head after you hear it a few times - exactly what a jingle is supposed to do. However, it runs on a seeming 24 hour loop. Every commercial break is capped off with this ear worm. It seems to be on ALL THE TIME. I have come to hate it so much, if the Pearly Gates were located in Marineland, I might have to take my chances & look for a back door.

And that's a wrap

2010-08-23T13:46:00.000-04:00

This weekend I: Kicked off Burlington Community Church. We had a great day. Roy's message - "What to Expect From BCC" as part of his "Church - Why Bother?" series was practical & effective. The team of volunteers that came up to help were everywhere & served with a great attitude. My MIL cooked up a feast: turkey dinner with all the fixin's plus a roast beef (or 'roast beast' as Ceilidh used to say) dinner. She cooked for 80 & though there were only 60 of us, there weren't too many leftovers. We had the maintenance staff from the Community Centre grab a plate - they were great to work with & we wanted to get off on the right foot with them. Great people, great facility, great start.

Right now I'm: Cleaning, sorting & processing the last week. Plus, I feel like the little drummer boy has moved into my head. Goldenrod season is here with a vengeance.

This week I will: Follow up on the people who wanted to know more about BCC.

I'm Reading: My Inbox trying to catch up on the past 2 weeks' email.

Favorite Tweet from Last Week: Sorry - don't have one.

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: Started watching "The Supersizers Go" - a random BBC show about 2 friends who spend a week eating & living the lifestyle of a man/wife or brother/sister from diverse periods of British history, i.e. Edwardian, Victorian, or even the 80's. I know it sounds completely dorkish, but it's amazing the human race survived let alone Brittania ruled the world based on what they ate. No wonder the sun never set on the British Empire - someone was always awake & in the loo, purging the kidney pie, roasted ox tongue or Sheeps head stew.

Here we go!

2010-08-20T21:15:00.001-04:00

This Sunday is the first service for Burlington Community Church at Tansley Woods Community Centre . To thank the staff for all their help getting started & make sure we get off on the right foot I made them a bunch of homemade treats - Toffee Bars, Rocky Road Brownies, Banana Bars & Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. When I walked up to the desk with the tray, U, one of the staff said "For me? You shouldn't have!" & laughed. I said "Of course I should - this is for you." After a few, "What?" & "No really!", "Seriously?", & "They really are for you!"'s, I handed off the basket. She even hugged me. I am so glad I did it. It was a fair bit of work in a crazy busy week, but maybe the most important "thing" I've done.

The only down side is that I wasn't smart enough to keep a few treats for myself...

Argh.

2010-08-11T19:21:00.000-04:00

My blogging friend Jamie wrote a post the other day about needing to paint the living room but instead was cleaning the carpets, organizing closets etc.

I am in the same trap. For days I have needed to wrap up plans for my trip to Cape Breton. I.can't. do. it. I am not a procrastinator. I am list & task driven. I am so obsessive about my to-do list that I sometimes write something down after I've already done it just so I can cross it off . I have a list of things to accomplish before I pull out of the driveway at 5am.

Yet, instead of packing, I ran errands, organized my shoes, baked a cake, & now I'm blogging.

I'm going to do it this time. For real.

If I ever

2010-08-10T11:50:00.003-04:00

If I ever quit my job, this is how I want to do it. Genius.

I QUIT

And that's a wrap.

2010-08-09T16:15:00.005-04:00

Don't know what's up with Blogger.com - this keeps re-formatting itself, so...good luck making sense of spacing, font, & text size. Sorry.

This weekend I: Spent time with my mom, brother & his girlfriend. We laughed, relaxed and ate way too much. In other words, a perfect weekend.

Right now I'm: Burning through my "To Do" list. Our kick-off service for Burlington Community Church is August 22 & next Monday (the picture is Roy & the girls sorting our postcards for the mailer) & we have teams coming to help us pass out flyers, meet & greet, & run a Vacation Bible School program. That starts next Monday. In between now & then, I'm squeezing in a trip to Cape Breton to visit my Nanny & attend a high school reunion. My life is mental, but I wouldn't know what to do with myself if things were any other way.

This week I will: Fly home, literally drive from one end of Nova Scotia to the other, cram in as many visits as possible & eat all the seafood I can shovel into my gaping maw. I cannot wait.

I'm reading: "Ten Lost Years 1929-1939" by Barry Broadfoot. It is the memoirs of ordinary Canadians who survived the Depression. Really interesting - all true stories, much of it in their own words.

FavoriteTweet from last week:

If you see a success, someone made a courageous choice. If you see healing, someone loved. If you see a miracle, someone trusted God. Rick Warren

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: So many from "Despicable Me":

Gru: Do you speak Spanish?

Miss Hattie: Do I look like someone who speaks Spanish? Gru: It's just that your face is so... Como es burro. Miss Hattie: Oh! Why, thank you!

Then again...

2010-08-03T11:21:00.001-04:00

I'm having a wretched time getting into a routine.

I foolishly thought not going into an office every day would give me ages of free time & I would drive you mad with all my posts. However, the lack of routine means every day is different & presents all sorts of challenges to blocking out some time to sit down & organize my thoughts. My personality craves routine as my friend Lauren would tell you. Also, we're down to one computer. Since Ceilidh & Sarah's main form of communication with friends in VA is through Skype & Oovoo, I feel bad bumping them offline so I can rant.

So until I get back on track, here's one more attempt at stalling & keeping you coming back.

And you thought your family photos were funny :
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

People actually pay money for these:
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

Let me think...

2010-07-27T23:10:00.003-04:00

What would your child self think of your adult self?

The question has been in my head as I've been trying to plan a trip home to Cape Breton. It's not a good summer for me to travel because I have a lot on my plate. The big reason I'm pushing for a trip is to spend time with my grandmother - my Nanny. Her Alzheimer's is marching with the fury of Hitler's Storm Troopers & stealing a little more of her from us every day. I need to see her & store up the bits of her I can still have.

Also while I'm home, my high school is having a reunion & I'm hoping to catch up with some of my friends from the Class of '84. You know, time to compare who is fatter than me, looks older & even more important, who looks suspiciously like they belong in my younger sisters' Class of '94.

All that to say, my Grade 5 self (in Canada it's Grade 5, not 5th grade), as perched so pertly on that authentic wood-like fence rail in my skintight Danny Terrio Dance Fever wanna-be bodysuit would never have dreamed I'd marry a Baptist minister. I was a good Catholic girl at the time that photo was taken & I'm pretty sure I'd never even heard of the Baptist Church. Nor could I have imagined I'd have spent my entire adult life living in the US - Michigan, South Carolina, New York & Virginia. I wouldn't imagine getting cancer, losing my Dad, my hero, when he was only 42 or being in NY for 9-11. I couldn't have pictured myself married to an amazingly patient husband like Roy let alone as a mom - I consistently forgot to feed the cat.

I can't help but wonder what that trying-to-look-hot-but-ending-up-tepid-at-best-girl would think of who I am today. Not what I have, a nice house, a great family, but who I am. I think I'd be ashamed of my insecurities about my Lothar of the Hill People teeth, the extra 25 pounds I drag around, and worse, my sarcasm, mean streak, innate selfishness, frequent lack of compassion, the fact I let everyone & everything intimidate me, & my tendency to be too cynical about people & circumstances.

I do think I'd be proud of the marriage I have not only sustained (take that everyone who gave us a year! see there's that mean streak) but have enjoyed, grown , loved & laughed in beyond what I could have hoped for. I'd be proud of my daughters, who, though human & cursed with my DNA are so much more beautiful inside & out not to mention more mature & responsible than I ever was at their age. I think I'd be proud of myself for finally being able to admit that I am broken & flawed and it's okay. It's okay because I'm not who I was and thank God I don't have to stay who I am today either.

I think that's pretty cool.

How about you? What would your elementary/Elementary self think of who you are today?

Stay Tuned

2010-07-23T23:36:00.001-04:00

I'm working on a post - my daughter's laptop is about as reliable as poor Lindsey Lohan so I'm not making any promises. But, if the gods of blogging smile upon me, I'll have more mostly useless information, senseless rants, and general time wasters for you tomorrow. So, stay tuned.

And on that theme, may I offer this time waster while you wait.

Not Dead Yet

2010-07-07T14:34:00.000-04:00

I know you all miss me terribly, but we are down to one computer - the desk top - and my selfish husband doesn't share well. Something about starting a church & making a living. Blah, blah, blah. Both his laptop & my kids' have died, so we're about ready to start a sign up sheet. I'll be back...eventually.

I Am Canadian

2010-07-02T14:29:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was Canada Day & to celebrate, Roy spent 4 1/2 hours waiting to cross the border north of Niagara Falls so he could pick up our daughters who had spent time in PA with cousins. The goal was to be home around 1 & relax & enjoy the BBQ we had invited our neighbors for. Instead of relaxing, I spent the day cursing my husband's stubborn-ness, as he did mine. Happy Canada Day dang it. He beat our guests to the front door by about 20 minutes. Nice. In the end, we had a great time with the new neighbors - it was the first time we'd ever spent longer than 5 minutes talking in our front yards as we walked the dog. We ate a lot, laughed a lot, talked about everything - even awkward "you don't talk about it on a first date" stuff like "How do you start a church anyway?" They asked - we didn't bring it up. We don't want to be the creeper neighbors who are only being nice so we can draw them into our cult. : )

In honor of our national holiday, I thought I'd post a few Canadian themed clips. Some are stereotypical, some rail against the stereotype. Either way, enjoy. Who knows, maybe you'll learn something.

My Favorite Beer/Hockey/Baby/Yelling Commercial

I Am Canadian Rant

Tom Brokaw Explains Canada to Americans

And finally, Rick Mercer (like John Stewart) explains everything you wanted to know about Canada but were afraid to ask:

And That's a Wrap

2010-06-29T15:55:00.002-04:00

This weekend I: Spent the weekend with Roy's sister & her family. Very relaxing, saw Knight & Day (which I give 1 1/2 "mehs" - it wasn't that great), & spent a lot of time doing nothing more than sitting around the table eating & laughing.

Right now I'm: Watching Elizabeth: The Golden Age - one of my favorite movies. It's just nice not to be sitting in a car for a change.

This week I will: Take another number, stand in line, wait my turn, fill out more forms & answer more questions. I am very grateful I've not gone back to work yet so I have the freedom to take another number, stand in line, wait my turn, fill out more forms & answer more questions.

I'm Reading: "Desperation" by Steven King. I've had it for years, can't get into it. So far it's not one of his better books. However, I just finished The Bishop's Man by Linden McIntyre. Wow. I have a powerful connection with the book & the author. I grew up Catholic in Creignish & Troy where the book is set, and my mom grew up with the author - his mom was her teacher. My mom credits Mrs Mc Intyre with instilling in her a love of reading & passion for current events that she carries to this day. That may not mean much, but if you grew up in a tiny community clinging to the cliffside on an island on the east coast of Canada, you'd feel it too.

Favorite Tweet from Last Week: @xianity BOOKS: “23 Minutes in Hell” author admits it was more like 45 seconds & "hell" might have been a rest stop bathroom near Muncie."

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: Any moment from "Billy the Exterminator". Have you seen this show? Lord help us all. It's like Dog the Bounty Hunter with less cleavage. It's a guy named Billy who is an exterminator. You may not have picked that up from the obscure title. He & his family run Vexcon in Louisiana. The dialogue is SO over the top & melodramtic. Think telenovella. I can't stop watching. He wears leather studded clothing, his hair is somewhere between a mullet & Flock of Seagulls with crazy highlights. I can't stop watching.

Friday Leftovers

2010-06-26T21:14:00.000-04:00

We'll hello again from the Great White North! It's actually not very 'white' right now - it's gloriously hot & summery.

I've neglected you my dear readers & I apologize. I can't tell you how many emails, comments & Facebook messages I've received asking when will I post again. (I can't tell you because there weren't any, but I digress).

Been feeling a little like I've been eating soup with a fork lately trying to get settled and adjusted to our new home & community. Kinda feels like an Owen Wilson movie - sure there's some funny moments & a few inappropriate jokes, but it just doesn't really seem to come together. Don't get me wrong - the girls are great, love their new rooms & are having fun making their space their own. Roy is sorting through the myriad of details officially establishing the church. I'm trapped in a stack of OHIP, SIN & CTC paperwork. I know those acronyms mean very little to you & honestly they mean little more to me. At least we're all in the same country again.

So, here's the bits & bobs that I've collected over the past couple of weeks in my David Sedaris style notebook I've started keeping in my purse.

Huggies Jean Diapers. What the heck is going on there? The diapers I get - kind of stylish for the 'still okay to smell like urine' set, but the commercial weirds me out. All the grown ups staring at the toddler in the diaper? All that head turning, peering over the glasses & leering at that kid is WEIRD. Weird I say!
Gordon Pincent was on a rerun of Corner Gas. Love Gordon Pincent!
Last week as I was trapped in the madness of Hartsfield Jackson Airport in Atlanta, I was subjected to one of the most awkward cell phone conversations ever. There I was - huddled up against the wall since it seemed the entire city was being evacuated & there was nowhere to sit - with my book & Diet Coke minding my own business. Suddenly the man next to me started talking more & more loudly - I hope to God he was a gynecologist, or the conversation is even more awful. "Is there a rash? A rash? I said does she have a rash? Is the skin broken? Broken. Is the skin broken. Okay. Okay. She needs to get some Vagisil. Vagisil. I said she needs to get some Vagisil. Tell her to use it according to the package directions." The conversation started loudly & got progressively louder. Either his receptionist is really hard of hearing or has the IQ of a Golden Retriever. At first I was a little embarrassed, but then I sat & snickered like a 12 year old boy. It was glorious to watch everyone try not to get caught looking at him & people past a certain age not make eye contact with one another.
Thanks to my husbands'determination to beat his own land speed record on traveling from Fairfax to Burlington, I now know I can last 93 minutes past "Can we look for a rest stop? I really need to pee."
We passed a funeral home on the way up to Burlington called - wait for it - "Amigone Funeral Home". I kid you not. "Am. I. Gone." I wish I had a photo, but I couldn't get to my phone in time. Instead, here's a link so you'll know I'm not making it up.
The G20 Summit is in Toronto this weekend. What a mess. My friend Sharon works for a law firm in the Red Zone & she took the option offered by the firm to take Friday off. They were so eager for employees to avoid the chaos, they offered a BOGO on days off. Sharon wisely took the extra day. Smart girl.
We had an earthquake last week. Interesting. I didn't really pay attention - I was cleaning the house & didn't realize what was going on. Sarah asked why the floor was shaking - I thought it was just the washer on the spin cycle - that'll tell you how serious it was. I didn't even know our area was in an area that got earthquakes. Huh. Who knew?

Well, I think I've rambled long enough. Thanks for hanging in this long. Now, go do something useful with your life.

Alrighty Then

2010-06-10T15:30:00.000-04:00

Okay - I'm in Canada, blogging from my basement which is roughly 40 degrees. Not that Canada is that cold, it just seems that our basement may be linked to that wheel thingy in LOST that sent Ben from the Arctic to Morocco. Not even kidding - I could store meat down here.

Anyway - it's been a heck of a ride boys and girls.

We immigrated/emigrated last Saturday from the USA into Canada. We loaded the truck on Thursday night with an army of friends from church and were able to get almost everything onto the truck. After 20 years together & two teenagers, we've got stuff. The drive was an adventure that included an unplanned detour - thank you GPS - through a small town in rural NY with a hill that rivals Denali on the outskirts of town. FYI - I have never been closer to Jesus than I was following a 26ft truck loaded with my husband, daughter & dog plus most of my worldly goods, towing my husbands' 1985 Chysler 5th Ave up a 35 degree angle hill across RR tracks as I followed with my other daughter in our SUV. I actually has the thoughts, "OK, if that hitch lets go or if the car rolls off the trailer do I swerve & let it miss us & hit whatever is behind us (house, old lady, another car) or do I swerve & let it hit us broadside so it hits my side of the car & I die but Ceilidh lives?" Moving is awesome!

Immigration & our experience at Fort Erie Customs & Immigration can't be explained without the red string chart thing from "A Beautiful Mind" or I run the risk of bending the Space/Time Continuum. Apparently all the information I was given prior to standing in front of the Immigration officer on Saturday was part of a conspiracy that makes "The Moon Landing is a Hoax" look rational. It was wrong. All wrong. Can't explain other than to say we've been to 1 Emabassy, 2 CIC offices & been snubbed by 2 separate CIC departments in less than 4 days. I have a lot more to say on the subject, but can't b/c I don't want it on paper. Not kidding.

Completely off topic, but there is a show in my TV Guide here in Canada called "Little Mosque on the Prairie". I have no idea what it is other than it's listed as a 'comedy' but I'm pretty sure it isn't going to get picked up for syndication in the states.

So far I have the nicest neighbors I've had since I left Cape Breton in the late 80's. I realize Jeffrey Dahmer's neighbors said the same thing about him (minus the Cape Breton part), but so far no weird smells coming from their houses, so fingers crossed!

For all my hockey loving friends- Congrats to the Blackhawks on winning the Cup but I have a hard time really being happy for the team with Hossa on their roster. 'nuff said.

Finally, a little off putting, I found Rosary beads left hanging on mirrors by the previous tenants & my dog won't come into the basement. I'm not saying the house is haunted - no such thing as ghosts, that's a post for another day - but I'm just throwing it out there in case, you know, anyone from the SciFi network is checking out my blog. You never know. : )

And that's a wrap

2010-05-31T21:24:00.001-04:00

This weekend I: Said "See ya later" to our friends & church family at Fair Oaks Church, our home away from home since 2002. I loved my job - not kidding. People with jobs they love are more rare than woodland fairies - although I did meet one in West Virginia last summer & I happen to know they like tea.

Right now I'm: Watching Stanley Cup playoffs Game 2 - Flyers vs Blackhawks. Not nearly as much fun this year since neither Roy nor I have a team in the playoffs, but this time next week I'll be watching it amid a tower of boxes IN CANADA so I think I'm legally bound to watch. Besides, we have to get through Customs & Immigration in Fort Erie on Saturday morning. No way am I taking a chance someone tosses in a "random" hockey question & I'm caught off guard. You're not fooling me that easy Monsieur.

This week I will: Act like I'm still in my 20's and load up, drive , immigrate, & unpack a 26' truck in 36 hours. Nothing to it.

I'm Reading: Customs & Immigrations Guidelines for returning citizens. Good times. I feel my IQ dropping like pine needles on a dead Christmas tree.

Favorite Tweet from Last Week: @RickWarren God sometimes removes a person from your life for your protection. Don't run after them.

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: Rerun of Arrested Development - my favorite TV Show. Narrator: So the speech was disturbing, the food was inedible, the service lousy especially after GOB found out he wasn't going to get any tips, and that old racist woman choked on Buster's thumb. All in all, it was one of the Bluth's better parties.

Friday Leftovers

2010-05-29T16:12:00.001-04:00

I KNOW IT'S SATURDAY!

It's been that kind of week my lovelies. Actually, that's not true. For the most part, things are going very well (with the exception of yesterday morning) & I am really not stressed out . I've had to shoot Roy with a tranquilizer gun once or twice as he's run screaming past, but other than that, it's all good. Really, that's what triggers my Full Metal Jacket moments - if Roy (who is normally as calm as the dead sea) panics, to me, that's a sign of the Apocalypse. It's just a matter of time before the rider on the pale horse comes a' gallopin' down my street.

So, here's the stuff that caught my eye but isn't worthy of a full post or I just don't have time.

Very grateful for my friends D & J who twice this week said exactly what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it. It wasn't one of those intense girl moments like in a tampon or some awful feminine hygiene commercial - thank you God - it was better. It was just an "I'll miss you" & an "I love you" at just the right time. How cool is that? Very "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" Prov. 25:11 wouldn't you say?
Gary Coleman died. Hmm. Michael Jackson, Corey Haim, & now Coleman. Brett Michaels had a stroke. Lately, 80's icons are dropping faster than the slutty girls in a horror movie. Glad I kept my knickers on in high school.
Speaking of high school, mine is having a reunion this August. Not just my class - everyone is invited. That may sound insane unless you're familiar with Cape Breton or more specifically, Judique Creignish Consolidated High School who graduated - wait for it - 26 students in my Class of '84. So, inviting all the grads back is not nearly as epic as it sounds. EXCEPT THAT IT IS! I cannot wait to go back & see everyone. Despite the Guidance Counselor's dire predictions, I am happily married (to the same amazing man for 20 yrs in July) with two kids who have never been to juvy & a good life. I've enjoyed my career, mostly in my chosen field & I beat cancer. Of course, I will obsess about my weight & teeth & hair & American accent, but still, soooooooooo worth it.
This is my favorite commercial in a long time - Rhys Darby is a bit mental & I love him. He was hilarious as the manager in "Flight of the Conchords" Brilliant.
Finally gave up on "The Human Stain" by Philip Roth. I've been told it's one of those 'must reads' but I'm not to proud to tell you I did not enjoy it. I labored through the first half & realized every time I thought of reading it I sighed. Not a good sign.
Facebook's privacy settings are exhausting me. Just don't tell anyone my information. The End.
My daughter Ceilidh went to prom last weekend. She was beautiful & I couldn't be more proud of her & confused about how I have a 17 year old who is so much more mature & responsible tha I ever was at 17. Good grief. I was barely responsible enough to wipe my own bum, & she is this amazing young woman. That in itself boys & girls is proof God is real.
I miss being part of the Arts meeting at work. Yes, you read that right. I miss being in a meeting. I had the opportunity to work with incredible people & I will really miss that.
I LOATHE email forwards - I'm talking to you Mom : ) - but this one is the exception. Mike Z the fearless leader of the Arts team entered some of our videos in a contest & yes, some made it to the finals. Take a minute to click through & vote for us. Hey everyone. We recently entered a few of our videos into a Film Festival from Church Media Design and have made it into the finals! So we need your help! Click on each of the 3 links below and vote for each of our videos and help us win!Vote for "Chapter Eleven" Vote for "I don't wanna move" Vote for "Lamentations 3"
I love my husband. That's not as random as it may seem. He has the courage to start over in his 40's when most people are thinking of retiring. As overwhelming as this process has been at times & as disruptive as this all could have been to our family, I know that I know that I know this is what we are supposed to do. Everyone keeps asking if my kids are okay - that's a legit question - what high school girl wants to move away from all her friends? But I can honestly say my kids are fine. They are more than fine actually. They're really excited. With a Dad who is a pastor, my girls have seen & been through a lot. This isn't the first time we've moved, but they know every single time it's been good for our family. Some things are different, but our lives are better. That's not to say our lives at Fair Oaks haven't been good - in fact, they've been great. It would have been easy to stay. We both liked our jobs, our coworkers & our boss. But, if we stay beyond our "expiration date" and don't leave when God has so clearly asked us to, what kind of leaders are we?

How do you say frustrated in French?

2010-05-28T10:23:00.001-04:00

It's been one of those mornings. I'm on kind of a deadline since this time next week my life will be crammed in to the business end of a 26' ft U-Haul headed to the Great White North, and anything & everything that could possibly go wrong has. Even the simplest tasks like pulling pictures off the computer I need to turn back in to the church & dropping them on a flash drive WILL NOT work. I've done it a 1000 times, but today, the demons' of technology have conspired against me & let me tell you they are kicking my butt Frank Perretti novel style. There was a (new) blood red t shirt in the wash, guess what color the rest of the load is? I was emptying the trash & the bottom fell out of the bag when I snagged it on the side of the can. Filled a box with shoes & forgot to tape the bottom & that bottom fell out. Battery died on the phone while I was on with Vonage customer support - for 23 minutes. Finally decided enough is enough, I'm getting out of this Amityville house before the walls start bleeding, assembled my list to enter ~~the bowels of hell~~ Wal Mart, & Roy has the car. Not even kidding. Am I Job? It was either scrape my no doubt soon to appear boils with a scrap of pottery or rant about it online & overshare. You're welcome.

Did You Know?

2010-05-18T09:33:00.000-04:00

We produced this video for church last Sunday as part of our current series "What's Your Kingdom Footprint?" We're trying to get people to think past the immediate - which we all know needs a lot of attention - to the long term. In other words, more important than what you are doing to save the planet, what are you doing in the lives of the people around you? Obviously, we need to take care of the planet - unless Dr. Who is actually a documentary it's all we've got.

My friend Deb's daughter Audrey did the narration - their foster care to family story is beautiful & one I hope to tell you more about someday.

In the meantime, did you know...

Kingdom Footprint - Did You Know? from Fair Oaks Church on Vimeo.

Let's Just Wrap this Up

2010-05-13T20:12:00.002-04:00

To say things have been a little mental around here lately would be a gross understatement. Relocating your entire family & the dog to another country in your 40's is complicated. Who knew?

As a result, I've have been an epically bad blogger. Sorry Dude. We drove to Burlington & back in 48 hrs - left Sunday afternoon, back Tuesday afternoon - 900 miles. Blarg. So, here's the Thursday edition of Friday Leftovers a day early. Stuff I've seen, heard & smelled since we last talked.

Driving through NY Sunday afternoon, we passed a house with a boy & a girl playing in the backyard. Nice right? Not so fast. The boy was wearing a black hooded cape, swinging a bat & the girl was dancing by an oildrum bonfire fire & pelting him with tennis balls. Huh?
We had dinner at Milestones Tuesday night. I had the Kobe beef meatloaf. Absolutely delicious. And brutal. It raged through my system like a 'roid rage fueled wrestler. I spent the night sprinting - okay, more like a zombie stagger - to the bathroom to puke & huddled under the sheets begging Jesus just to let me come home.
Sophie - my dog - follows me everywhere & scoots up close any time I sit down. I swear she senses things are a little stressful right now & wants to help. If you don't have a dog you're probably calling me crazy. It's okay, I've been called a lot worse.
Saturday our realtor emailed me 37 - yes, 37 - properties to pare down & determine which we'd like to view & settle on when we looked around on Monday afternoon. We found & lost a house within a week back in April, so this was a rerun in order to keep on track with our June 5th move date. Not sure if you've ever picked up & started over in your 40's with teenagers & a dog, but it can be complicated to sort out. We narrowed it down to 8 houses & prayed that God would give us clear direction on which house to choose. We had one we thought was probably 'the one' but weren't sure. Sunday afternoon I was nodding off on the drive & specifically prayed that God would make it perfectly clear which house was right for us. When I woke up, I had an email from the realtor informing me that all but 2 of the properties were sold or leased. One of the 2 left was in a sketchy high school district & the other was the one we thought was 'the one'. How's that for clarity?
I am addicted to goat cheese. I realized I have eaten it in some form 5 times in the last week & caught myself thinking about it 3 times at work today. I had some in the fridge along with some delicious tomato basil bread just waiting for me to come home. That's normal right?
It's been very interesting to watch my relationships morph over the past year since we announced we were moving. Some good, some bad, a lot indifferent.
I cleared out my desk & shelves in my office today & I found a stack of cards & notes I had tucked in a drawer over the last 8 years. It was very interesting to go through the cards & read what had been written. Individuals who loved me & wandered or drifted away. Some who had loved me then but wouldn't pee on me if I were on fire today. Some I barely knew but have become life long friends. It was very interesting.
This weather is insane. It's the middle of May & I drove through SNOW in PA on Tuesday. What?
I love the new NBC show "Parenthood". LOST is almost over so I had room for another hour long weekly drama in my life.
There's loads more I could throw at you, but I can't believe you stuck it out this long. Don't you have a life?

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T16:18:00.000-04:00

Hopefully I will be too busy lounging by the pool being fanned & having various delectable treats fed to me by my children who will tell me over & over again how blessed they are to have the Tracey Mac Lean Dowdy as their mother to blog tomorrow, so in advance, here's a rerun of my favorite Mother's Day sketch/tribute I've ever seen. Thanks to the hilarious Barats & Bereta for the original idea.

Friday Leftovers

2010-05-07T10:28:00.003-04:00

Here's the weekly round up of stuff I was too ~~lazy~~ busy to post this week in no particular order:

Omigosh they killed Sun & Jin! If you don't watch LOST that means nothing, if you do, you're probably still reeling too.
I tried to bring my friend B flowers this morning. It's her first Mother's Day without her mom & I thought it might cheer her a little. So I cut 4 beautiful peonies from my backyard, wrapped the stems & brought them in to work forgetting one very important thing about peonies - at least the ones in my backyard. THEY ARE ALIVE WITH ANTS. Not kidding. Got to work, went to pick up the flowers, and they were moving. My car is crawling with them even now. I tried drowning the little buggers in the kitchen sink by immersing the blooms & rinsing them out, but there was no end. So, I ended up tossing them in a grocery bag, tying it closed & tossing them in the trash. I feel like my skin is crawling.
We got the community center that was our first choice to meet in for the church. That is HUGE. We got bumped for two other churches - what are the odds? - so we started looking for other locations. Lo & behold, the others changed their minds & voila! We're in. Way cool.
I am addicted to Cow Tails. They are a caramel with a cream center & they're kinda nasty. I'm a bit of a food snob, especially with sweets, and my unnatural love of this candy is a mystery to me. Tumors in certain areas of the brain can trigger phantom smells - maybe this is related to a tumor. Just throwing it out there.
The 'new girl' in the office who is taking over as Children's Ministry Director & absorbing some of my role & some of Roy's is doing a great job already. She's caught on & caught up with everything that 's been thrown at her - and it's a lot. It makes it easier to leave a job you love when you have full confidence in the person coming behind.
Being on both sides of the selling/searching for a house process is draining. It's tough living in a museum as the house needs to be spotless for potential buyers. Last Sunday night I got a 5 minute warning from a realtor, managed to shove 8 loads of laundry back into the dryer & clear dinner dishes & leftovers into the dishwasher to make the place presentable. On Monday we had prospects but the husband didn't bother to get out of the car. Then last night, I delayed cooking dinner 11/2 hours b/c a realtor gave us a decent amount of warning - then didn't show up & didn't call to cancel. I think I've whined about that enough.
We found & lost another house in Burlington this week. The market seems to be moving pretty fast & what we find & like is gone before we can plan a trip. Really ready to wrap up that part of things.

It seems like there was more to rant about but I can't find my post it note & it probably wasn't that important.

AHA! Just remembered. My mother is concerned that I was talking to her on my cell while driving. So, she has taken to sending me email forwards with subject lines like "The Last Call She Ever Made" & "Warning: Graphic Images". Oh Sally.

Toodles.

And that's a wrap

2010-05-03T12:43:00.002-04:00

This weekend I: We opened the pool (to be clear, I didn't, NV Pools did & they are amazing) but it's glorious either way. I also spent two glorious hours sanitizing preschool rooms at the church after a break out of hand/foot/mouth virus. It was a lot of work, but I had great help & the rooms were cleaner than a surgical suite when we were through.

Right now I'm: Catching up on my TIVO'd programs.

This week I will: Cook dinner for my family again. Our lives have been so chaotic we haven't had a proper family dinner at the kitchen table for almost 3 weeks. That has never happened since I've been married. Normally we have dinner together at least 3-4 times a week. I miss it.

I'm reading: The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir. It's an extensive biography, lots of facts & quite detailed. I love it. I'm in nerd heaven.

FavoriteTweet from last week: from @simonpegg: To pass the time when walking my dog round the block, I pretend she is a horse and I am a giant. Walking a horse. Round the block.

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: Graham Norton had the brilliant John Cleese on the show this weekend. Lee Mack told the tragically hilarious story of a disastrous stand up performance that left Cleese crying he laughed so hard. For some reason, seeing someone who has made me laugh so much laugh so heartily at another's story was very satisfying. How cool would it be to know you made the John Cleese laugh that hard?

Telephone

2010-04-30T15:23:00.000-04:00

I'm not a big fan of Lady Gaga but I loved this. The Smoking Gun has the story here if you want the backstory. Not sure what posessed them to put this together, but with what our soldiers live every day, it's nice to see them have a little fun.

Mother's Day is almost here...

2010-04-29T15:34:00.000-04:00

The Arts team has been working on ideas for sketches/videos for Mother's Day & as I was surfing the internets for inspiration I came across this little nugget. Made me laugh. Hope it makes you laugh too.

And that's a Wrap

2010-04-27T14:44:00.006-04:00

Don't know why this is formatted so strangely - for whatever reason I can't get the font, type size or spacing to work. Enjoy my wonky format today.

This weekend I: Flew back from a conference in FL, cleaned the house at 10pm for a potential buyer that didn't get out of the car when they showed up 36 hours later than the appointment, and thanks to my freaking allergies have sneezed so often & so forcefully I'm pretty confident I have expelled brain tissue.

Right now I'm: Distracted by my "to do" list.

This week I will: Stick to my WW points, open the pool, and attempt to catch up with my life. Okay, only one of those is real. Can you guess which one?

I'm reading: The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory. meh. It's just okay. I ran out of things to read at the airport so I bought a book - there weren't many choices.

FavoriteTweet from last week: don't have one.

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: 30Rock - Liz: Then tomorrow is the wine and cheese tasting ... or as I like to call it, 'singles fart suppression.'

And that's a wrap

2010-04-19T21:32:00.000-04:00

This weekend I: Hung out with friends on Friday night, ran like I was hunting a one armed man on Saturday, showed up at 7am Sunday for a volunteer position I wasn't scheduled for & did eleventeen hundred loads of laundry Sunday afternoon.

Right now I'm: Blogging quietly while Roy sleeps in. This never happens. If it wasn't for the snoring I'd be a little nervous...

This week I will: Attend a conference & refresh my spirit after being repeatedly pelted with bad news last week. Started to feel like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day".

I'm reading: "The Sweet Hereafter" by Russell Banks . It's the (fictional) story of a school bus crash in upstate NY close to the Canadian border that devastates the people & relationships of an entire small town. It sounds dark, and it is, but it focuses on four individuals who were damaged long before the accident. I saw the movie years ago on IFC & it was brilliant. Ian Holm & Sarah Polley completely draw you into their characters. I recommend the book & the movie if you can find it.

FavoriteTweet from last week: loswhit

"Airport security paging passenger who left box of feminine product 2 checkpoint A to retrieve yr box"#thatjusthappened

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: The worship set at church yesterday was my favorite collection of moments. None of the songs are my favorites though I like them all but this week they were exactly what I needed when I walked in the door. The Arts team plans the music weeks out, & it amazes me that God knew a month ago what I'd need.

These are the songs:

Soon We'll Be Living in the Future - Straylight Run - The Needles The Space

Everybody Praise the Lord - Lincoln Brewster - The Best of Lincoln Brewster

Great is the Lord - Elevation Worship - God With Us

Reign In Us - Starfield - I Will Go

Came to My Rescue - Hillsong United - Healer

Follow You - Leeland with Brandon Heath - Love is On the Move

Friday Leftovers, Noggin Nuggets or Hot Dish #4

2010-04-16T15:47:00.000-04:00

My friend Debby does Friday Leftovers, La Bev brings you Noggin Nuggets, & my friend John Z.'s mom is notorious in our circle for her casseroles that were not named but numbered as in "Hot Dish #4" instead of "Tuna Casserole". Basically the idea today is this is stuff that doesn't necessarily warrant a full blog post but popped in my head anyway.

"Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum is the WORST song since "Muskrat Love". To me, it is the musical equivalent of being mauled by a grizzly. I'd actually prefer the grizzly attack - at least he'd have the mercy to kill me after the assault.
Saw a size 22 bikini at Target (maybe it was Wal Mart, yeah, now that I think of it, must have been Wal Mart) last week. I am all about being comfortable in your skin and being a confident powerful woman no matter what the scale says, but have mercy. Just because you CAN buy a bikini that size doesn't mean you SHOULD.
Read a news story on Fark last week about a woman who tried to pull a "Weekend at Bernies" maneuver & bring her DEAD husband on a flight back to Germany. They propped him up in a wheelchair, slapped on a pair of sunglasses, & rolled poor Fritz up to the check in counter. The women - his wife & step-daughter - have been arrested. I can't bring toothpaste but they bring "carrion luggage"? bahahahahahaa! Sorry, couldn't help myself. Fark had it in their tag & it was too good to waste.
FYI guys that interviewed us back in November then didn't call then this past week randomly emailed to see how we are & acted surprised that we weren't interested in help from your organization any more (are you out of breath just reading that? me too): If you interview someone & don't call or email for 5 months the interviewee will assume you aren't interested.
I may be catapulting into perimenopause. I decided sometime during my 30's I would not experience menopause - I am that strong willed - but my body appears to be betraying me. Relax, I'm not disclosing gross secrets about my lady business, just that I had a situation that made me cry on Wednesday when we had a set back with our move to Burlington & I cried. And when I'd stop & someone would speak kindly to me - Roy - I would cry again. I don't cry. I'm the "Let's solve the problem" person, not the "Let's talk about your feelings" person. But, I was more unstable than a teenage boys' promise to behave on prom night. I'm not used to that. I don't like it. So far this is the only indication of a rebellion. I have every intention of crushing it like that naughty boys' hopes on prom night.
"I deserve to be happy" is not a valid reason to walk out on a relationship. I've lost count of how many times I heard that lame excuse over the last several years & I heard it again this week. Marriage is hard. Especially a good one. So put your big girl panties on - unless you're a dude, then you have another issue to discuss - and start taking responsibility for your actions, your choices and your commitments.

Things that make you go hmmm

2010-04-15T09:59:00.000-04:00

Trying to play catch up with what feels like my entire life so I'm having a hard time being consistent with my blogging. It's not you, it's me. Really.

We were in Burlington last week & thought we checked off two of our biggest "to do's" off our "To Do" list, but turns out we were wrong & we're back to the drawing board. We aren't back at Start & we've passed Lollipop Woods & Gumdrop Mountain so I guess we're stuck in the Molasses Swamp. I intend to eat my way out, but that's my answer to everything.

Kidding! I'm kidding! I kid! That's what I do! (What movie is that from? I can't remember. Elliott will know.)

I'm praying for clarity & peace, not answers. I can get the answers wrong if I'm in a dark place, but if I keep in mind this whole endeavor is God's idea, I know I can trust him to make it work. If the other realtor/landlord was shady enough to do what he did - you know who you are - I'm thinking we were spared a miserable experience.

So, onward & upward! I'm just grateful it's Candyland & not Snakes & Ladders. Things could be a lot worse.

And that's a wrap

2010-04-13T13:26:00.001-04:00

This weekend I: Celebrated my 44th birthday. I don't mind telling my age because my life is better at 44 than it was at 34. Plus, after cancer, any birthday you're here to celebrate is a win.

Right now I'm: Trying to decide what to do for lunch since I had a brain fart & left my sack lunch in the fridge at home.

This week I will: Catch up on my life after being gone for a week.

I'm reading: "Not the Religious Type" still. It was a hectic week & I didn't sit still long enough to read & when I did my brain was as sharp as a bowl of custard. I started "The Life of Pi" but only progressed a few chapters. My daughter's English class is reading it so I decided to read it too. It's been interesting discussing it with her.

FavoriteTweet from last week: prodigaljohn

God "could bear Israel's misery no longer" Ju10:16-Not only does God care about you but your misery is unbearable to him

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: Tiny Fey's rant on SNL's weekend update. For some reason the link won't work, but trust me. Brilliant. I miss her Weekend Updates. Referring to Jesse James' mistress Bombshell McGee: "When your body looks like a dirt bags' binder from 7th grade metal shop, it doesn't bode well for your character."

And off topic, have you seen the new sandwich from KFC? The Double Down? It's the dietary equivalent of flipping the American Heart Association the bird. According to their website:"This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce." Good Lord. If you're so ready to die just teach a teenager to drive. It'll be over quicker.

I'm not dead yet

2010-04-06T18:57:00.000-04:00

I'm not dead yet - see you on the weekend.

In the meantime, this clip makes about as much sense as the actual show - still, I love you LOST & your convoluted story lines and constantly being introduced new characters!

Guilty pleasures

2010-03-31T16:03:00.000-04:00

Yesterday evening I was driving home after a really fun afternoon with my kids & Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." came on the radio. My first thought was "Oh, I love this song!" and my immediate second thought was "WHAAAAAAT? No I don't! I hate this song!" What is going on in there? It occurred to me that I actually do kinda sorta like the song - I never claimed to have great taste in music - but I really don't want to like it. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it. To me, Miley represents everything that is wrong with pop culture - the crap music it produces & the sluttification of younger & younger girls . Miley - the product - is a pop tart. Sugary & fake with no real nutritional value. As a person, I have no idea. Who celebs are at home in sweats without hair extensions & personal assistants is another thing all together. Many of them do charity work & support families - things we never hear about because it doesn't directly support their image. That's a post for another day.

It got me thinking of things that I like that aren't exactly 'cool' & maybe a little trashy. Things like "Billy the Exterminator" on A & E. Oh. my. Lord. I can't stop watching. The plot isn't hard to follow. It's about a guy named Billy who is an exterminator. Still with me? I can wait if you need a minute to catch up. Billy's hair alone is worth tuning in to see. It's kind of Flock-of-Seagulls-meets-Billy-Idol-meets-a-rabid-raccoon. The man has side bangs & frequently wears gloves not normally seen outside the Thunderdome.

Being Human on BBC America is another one. None of them have hair to match Billy's, and wisely they don't even try. It's about a werewolf, a vampire & a ghost who are housemates in Bristol, England. I know, I know, I know. I should have a little wine with all that cheese. Sometimes I do. It's ridiculous, impossible & I love it.

Yesterday for lunch I had a McDonald's Filet o' Fish. Notice how they try to class it up with that "o'" instead of an "of"? (How poorly constructed was that sentence? Apparently I love bad grammar as well.)
We all know the Filet o' Fish is the stepchild of the fast food industry, but I can't help myself. Every once in awhile I crave a steamed bun filled with breaded & pressed fish bits smothered in miracle whip & pickle relish with an edible oil product designed to look & taste like cheese, even though it's unlikely there's any real dairy in there. Mmm. Now you want one too don't you?

I could go on, but I want to hear what you're not proud of. You eat Chips Ahoy cookies a sleeve at a time? Fudge Rounds & Pepsi a favorite snack? You're a man who loves Twilight? I'm hoping that lat one is a mythical creature like Minotaurs & flying monkeys. I don't want to live in a world where people like that exist. So lets hear it. Spill.

And that's a wrap

2010-03-29T11:04:00.001-04:00

This weekend I: Drove back from Pittsburgh, spent 4 hours doing yard work at the church, entertained my sister & her family & watched part of a Lifetime movie. The last part is significant if you know me because I'm not a Lifetime kind of girl. I couldn't find it on the guide on Direct TV & actually had to phone a friend.

Right now I'm: Procrastinating. I should be getting ready to go into the city, but it's raining, my allergies are kicking my bootie, and I'd kinda really rather go back to bed with a book & a cup of tea.

This week I will: Take time off work to hang with my daughters who are on Spring Break. Their plan to fly to FL & visit cousins fell through, so they are looking forward to an awesome "stay-cation" here at home & will use the money they saved for plane tickets to shops their hearts out.

I'm reading: "Not the Religious Type: Confessions of a Turncoat Athiest". I read the first page, so I have no opinion yet.

Favorite Quote from last week: Joel McHale on The Soup : "This week Jesse James told Tiger Woods, "I'll take it from here.' "

And now we wait

2010-03-26T08:41:00.001-04:00

Sitting in the hospital waiting for my 39 year old otherwise perfectly healthy brother in law to come out of open heart surgery. Crazy. Started out with a simple twinge in his chest before Christmas, moved to having heart catheterization Tuesday that became open heart surgery at 6:30 this morning. So here we are waiting for the doctors to come out & tell us the results of his quadruple bypass. Did I mention this is crazy?

We're in Pittsburgh & will head home later this afternoon once we get the all clear. Pittsburgh. Ewwwww. I'm sure there are areas that are beautiful but where we are at Allegheny General gives the distinct impression Uncle Sam had a bowel movement in the middle of PA & tada! there's Pittsburgh. I said yesterday & it bears repeating that this area makes Detroit look like Paris. blech.

Anyhoo, I'm ready to fall asleep so I think I'll close my eyes for a little bit. I'm a little tired. Did you know there's a 4:30 AM? Who knew?

VISION TO

2010-03-25T10:34:00.001-04:00

I talk a lot about our upcoming move to Burlington, just outside Toronto. We are starting a church - not the "Jim Jones come drink the Kool Aid" or a "Canadians are all heathens so we Americans need to get in there and help them" kind. We'll be doing the same thing there that we're doing here. We just get to go home. I'm Canadian & Roy grew up there though he's till a U.S. citizen.

We love what we do at our church here in Fairfax (you can check us out here or here ) which is to bring practical solutions to every day problems through our ministry. We see Fair Oaks Church as church for people who've never been to church or have been 'done wrong' by church or church people. We are a 'come as you' are ministry - you don't have to dress up or put on your church face to be here. We recognize we live in a broken world full of broken people. It's not about opinion or denomination but it is absolutely about what the Bible has to say. Jesus hung out with publicans and sinners not with the self righteous church crowd.

We put together this video from footage I shot while we were in Toronto, Oakville & Burlington last summer. Mike Z. our Arts team creative guru did all the editing & narration. Hopefully it gives you an idea of what we'll be up to.

And that's a wrap

2010-03-22T11:03:00.001-04:00

This weekend I: Played cards for hours with friends on Friday night. The kind of friends that made fun of me for sweeping the floor before they came over. Those kind of friends are the best.

Right now I'm: Listening to the rain. Not in a meditative, reflecting on my life as I gaze out the window across the meadow kind of way, but as in "Wow. I am so glad that isn't snow coming down. Dang it, I hope this passes before the Redwings/Pens game tonight. I'll be ticked if the satellite goes out & I can't watch the game. What am I going to make for dinner tonight?" kind of way.

This week I will: Get back to cooking healthy meals for my family. Last week was one of those "lets pretend that didn't happen" weeks. Corned beef & cabbage, reuben sandwiches, Ledo pizza, Chick fil A, Wendy's Bacon & Blue...ugh. My stomach hurts just thinking about it.

I'm reading: "Dress Your Family in Corduroy & Denim" by David Sedaris. I love his essays. I've read the book before, but Roy surprised me with tickets to his show in Baltimore & I want to read it again. The tickets are my birthday gift. It was supposed to be a surprise, but for the first time since I can remember, I opened the mail, & I saw the tickets. In my defense, we're being audited - AGAIN - & I was trying to intercept any more bad news. oops.

FavoriteTweet from last week: "The weird thing about this social networking thingy isn't how much people stalk, it's how much they want to BE stalked..."@JamieTheVWM

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: 30 Rock: "And by the way your food obsession is not as endearing as you think it is. It's like being in a Cathy cartoon that just won't end."

Here's one of my favorite David Sedaris essays "Six to Eight Black Men"

Rick Mercer Canada Explained

2010-03-21T22:29:00.000-04:00

Oh how I love you Rick Mercer.

Friday Leftovers

2010-03-18T20:12:00.002-04:00

My friend Debby over at What to Expect When You're Not Expecting had a "Friday Leftovers" post recently & I loved the idea. I'm a big fan of lists & it's been a crazy week. I've been busy at work & at home - mostly good stuff - & it's been tricky to focus. My insomnia kicked back in so I've had to resort to Ambien to sleep at night & after taking it a few nights in a row it leaves me foggy. Not sure if that's a real side effect or just my perception because I don't like taking it so often. However, taking it & getting a few hours sleep makes much more sense than veering into oncoming traffic because I've just developed narcolepsy or face-planting at my desk when the 2pm/post lunch nap attack hits.

Blah, blah, blah. All that to say I've had several ideas that I wanted to blog about but didn't take the time. And I know it's only Thursday, but I love you so much, you get your Friday Leftovers a day early.

Here's my random leftover thoughts - talk amongst yourselves.

Oh Kirstie Alley. I'm not buying your crazy diet/exercise plan. That would make as much sense as buying a book on marriage advice from John Edwards.
Speaking of man whores, did I need to see smutty pictures of Edwards' ex/current mistress on the Today Show? Are you kidding me. Here I sit, enjoying my breakfast, nibbling my toast & marmalade, only to look up & be visually assaulted by photos of her half dressed in a sexy pose next to a pile of her kids toys. eeeeeewwwwww. What's worse? The fact she posed for the photos or that a 'reputable' news program gave the story a nearly 10 minute segment?
I don't think I have ever looked forward to spring more than this year. Winter has been a long hard slog here in northern VA & I am so ready for flip flops.
On the other hand, I enjoyed our snow days & managed to pack on my share of, um, shall we say, insulation, and am not looking forward to giving up the layered "covers a multitude of sins" look.
I' really enjoying Apparent Danger by David R. Stokes. I mentioned that I'm reading in in an earlier blog & I highly recommend it. If you've ever read any of Erik Larson's books , you have an idea of the style. It isn't an imitation of 2 parallel historic events Larson is known for, but the attention to detail & use of documentation is similar. If you're a history nerd, and I am, you'll like it. Larson is one of my favorite authors by the way.
We are being audited. Again. You suck Virginia. Yes, I really did give that much to my church & charity as I proved with acres of documentation last year. And, I can't believe how much my mortgage is either. But, if you'll refer to the acres of paperwork from Wells Fargo that we submitted last year as well, you'll see we aren't making that up either. Welcome to real estate in northern Virginia.
I met the most obnoxious condescending woman on the planet when she knocked on the door of the church this week. I think some people have the perception that just because I work at a church I'm a little slow & have to be nice to everyone. Uh-uh. Nope. If you talk to me like I just stepped off a short bus with my Fraggle Rock lunch box & somehow wriggled out of my harness to answer the door, I'm not really interested in what you have to say. She represented a political candidate running for Congress & if she really "represents" him, even if his policies line up with everything I see as good and right, I'm picking the other guy just so I can live with myself.
Saw "Alice In Wonderland" last weekend & I lo-hu-hu-huhoved it. It was different enough that it couldn't be compared to the other versions, casting was great, & Tim Burton weird in a good way. Helena Bonham Carter & Johnny Depp were perfectly cast & even the supporting characters were strong. Matt Lucas was great as Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, Alan Rickman was sublime as the Blue Caterpillar & Michael Sheen was completely bonkers as the March Hare.

Well, that about covers it. How about you? How was your week?

And that's a wrap

2010-03-15T14:03:00.003-04:00

This weekend I: Lost a windshield wiper while driving carpool in the rain. Not cool. But, I went to Target & replaced it all by myself. Which, is not that impressive if you know how easy it is, but heck, I'm proud of it anyway.

Right now I'm watching: Boondock Saints curled up on the chaise with Roy. Love Mondays off. Update: Still love Monday's off, but can't handle the swearing in Boondock Saints. Too bad. I liked it otherwise.

This week I will: Observe St. Patrick's Day by making a big pot of corned beef & cabbage, one of my favorite comfort foods. The house will reek like poo gas so I'll likely cook in in the garage. : )

I'm reading: "Apparent Danger" by David R. Stokes You can order it here. It's a true story - think if Billy Graham shot a man, admitted it, & walked away from the trial a free man.

The Reverend Doctor J. Frank Norris was many things: a pastor who led the nation s first megachurch, a provocative publisher, and a pioneer broadcaster. At his apex during the roaring twenties, Norris preached to a congregation of 10,000 at First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. With the flair of a great showman, he railed against vice and injustice.
Rev. Norris was also a killer.
To those who dared to challenge him, J. Frank Norris was a formidable foe, as demonstrated with swift brutality in 1926, when he shot an unarmed critic to death. The killing and subsequent trial became a national media sensation.
Using more than 6,000 pages of newspaper articles, court records, and a variety of other published works, author and minister David Stokes vividly recreates the story of the fundamentalist movement s most controversial figure. Mesmerizing in its vivid details, Apparent Danger skillfully explores the events leading up to one of the most intriguing--yet least known true crime dramas in America s legal history.

Cool side note - David Stokes is my pastor at Fair Oaks Church

FavoriteTweet from last week: GaryJBusey: I'm multilingual if you count the voices inside my head.

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: My daughter Sarah's Show Choir performance. It was so cheesy they should have provided crackers & wine. Sequins, jazz hands, & feathers. In other words - AWESOME.

Bahahaha Photo of the day

2010-03-13T20:32:00.000-05:00

Bahahahaha! Get a load of my Dad's hair! "Hello Wolverine? Yeah, Brian Mac Lean wants his hair back."

Seven

2010-03-12T12:16:00.000-05:00

My internet/imaginary friend Bev over at http://outofbevshead.blogspot.com posted a list of factoids (what an awful word "factoid" - sounds like something that should be lanced or frozen off by your doctor) about herself. The challenge is then to ask 7 others to post about themselves like one of those obnoxious memes Facebook freaks constantly send out. I don't know if I have seven people who want to post their own version, but if you do, let me know. I'd love to read your answers. Anyway, never one to pass up a good list, here's my list of seven:

1. I don't like chocolate very much. I don't really dislike it, but if there's another choice like lemon or caramel, I'll pick those every time.

2. I shave my arms. The tops. My ethnicity is Celtic - Scottish highlander specifically - which roughly translates to "pasty white & just a few generations removed from hairy barbarian". My Dad had a five o'clock shadow by noon. As a child, I was teased mercilessly about the pelt on my arms and worried about getting caught in a snare if we played in the woods. So, as an adult, I got rid of it. Problem solved, no more teasing. Until I told everyone about it on the internet.

3. I hate feet. They skeeve me out. There is a verse in the Bible "How beautiful are the feet ..." Nope. Colored it out with a sharpie. It's the one part of the Bible I reject as untrue or possibly mistranslated. You know what makes a foot pretty? Covering it up. Jimmy Choo's, a rubber boot or a dirty gym sock. I don't care. Cover that sucker up.

4. I wash my hands. A lot. A LOT. I have to wash them after I touch a restaurant menu, if I've had to open doors or touch a handrail in a public place, after I shake your hand. Oh, I hate shaking hands. It's people germs that bother me. I can pet your dog and it doesn't really bother me. I can pull a couple of weeds in the front yard on the way to the car in the morning. But, make me touch a salt & pepper shaker in a restaurant? Not without a napkin wrapped around them.

5. I cheated on my typing test in college & am a lousy typist to this day. I can type fairly fast, but without great accuracy & I have to look at the keys. My degree is in broadcasting & we needed a certain level of proficiency to be able to type a story quickly when we pulled it off the AP wire. Mrs. Dickson lost the records - I saw my chance & said "Yep, I passed. You don't remember? Huh. That's weird." Typing without looking at the keys is the equivalent of a Vegas magic act to me. Seriously. If you can do that (as any random first grader having grown up playing games on Mom's laptop can) I think you should get to wear a cape & have a fog machine under your desk because you are so awesome.

6. I married the only boyfriend I ever had. I went out on dates with a few other guys, but Roy was my only serious boyfriend. I have never regretted it. Our romance was a fairy tale, but one written by the Brothers Grimm. It involves mono, (that was me), dates where we would arrive together & time would be spent with others (that would be me ), a cold hearted break up at the airport (me again), a mother so angry she gave the silent treatment & intended to skip a university graduation over the break up, (you know that was me), massive regret at what was given up (yep, me) and sweet forgiveness & a proposal (that would be Roy). The man is a saint.

7. I have two amazing scars. One is across my throat & the result of thyroid cancer. I had an amazing surgeon who did a darn good job sewing me back together & preventing me from looking too Frankensteiny. I used to tell people I got it in a knife fight when the scar was still fresh. The second scar you'll never see. I very nearly gutted myself when I was 11 or so. Climbing an apple tree, the branch I was standing on broke & my first reaction was to hug the tree as closely & tightly as I could to keep from falling. Mistake. The broken branch ripped me from just above my belly button all the way up to about 4 inches from my collar bone effectively ending my modeling career because, as you are well aware, there is a great demand for pale, hairy models. I could have been the girlfriend in one of those Geico caveman commercials. Most of the injury faded and healed but I still have a pretty spectacular 5 inch scar.

That about covers it. Just in case I have any dignity left, I thought I'd throw up this gem of a school picture. My husband found some old albums while we were packing up the house. We've been laughing at ourselves ever since. For my kids, it's like Christmas. "You & Dad were such dorks!"

Let me boast for just a minute

2010-03-11T11:13:00.000-05:00

I'm really proud of my kids. Twice in the past month each of my girls have stood up for what they believed in & displayed more courage than I ever would have when I was their ages. Neither situation was life threatening but to me, their choices were epic. It's amazing to see your kids grow up and demonstrate the values you tried to instill in them. Both are teenagers & in many ways we're almost through raising them. That 'moral core' better have been established by now.

Ceilidh made a simple choice not to watch a movie we felt was inappropriate for someone her age. She was at a party & called her Dad to come get her. She didn't make an issue out it to her friends & act like a pious, self-righteous Christian. She didn't call them all sinners & tell them to "Turn or burn!" She just said, "Yeah, this movie isn't for me". We'd never have known she watched it if she hadn't told us. She hangs out with good kids so we trust her. We'd talked about 'things you can't unsee' & the trash we are exposed to every day. We've talked about how we get de-sensitized to everything from sex, to violence, to profanity. I realize she knows more about sex than I ever did as a teenager - probably more than I knew until my honeymoon. But, I'm grateful for small victories, because at 17, she'll be off to college soon & have to make choices independently from us every day. I know she'll make mistakes & make bad choices I'll wish she hadn't made. But, I know that in the end, it'll be all right & her Dad & I will be so proud.

Sarah's moment to shine came in her Pre-AP English class. They're studying Dante's Divine Comedy, specifically Inferno, and the question was raised by another student about the character "The Hermit" & what he represents in the story & about 'limbo' and whether babies went to hell. (I know that was a really poorly constructed sentence, but I don't totally understand what the question was so just go with it). The teacher opened it to the class & asked if their was anyone who could explain the allegorical reference & the doctrine of limbo. Sarah raised her hand, presented her argument & when challenged by the teacher to back up her statements with facts, she pulled her Bible out of her backpack. She was able to show specific verses that backed up her position that God would not send the "Innocents" (i.e. a baby) to hell & was rewarded with a 'well done' from her teacher. Like Ceilidh, she wasn't in a hostile environment & the teacher wasn't belligerent when he asked her to back up her statements - he was teaching her to think independently & be able to defend your belief system when challenged. As a teenager, I was wanted so much to fit in I'd have taken a bullet before I pulled my Bible out of my backpack. Who am I kidding? There was no Bible in my backpack.

Mostly I'm proud because they've realized church isn't just where we go on Sunday or where their Dad & I work. Church is who we are. Their faith is an ingrained part of them. It isn't brainwashing & we haven't threatened them with church. We have open honest discussions about the good the bad and the ugly in church. Believe me, as a pastors' kid, they've seen more than their share. Roy's grandmother once told me "There ain't no mean like church people mean" & she was right. There's more self righteousness and condescension in the church than we like to admit. The divorce rate inside the church is just as high as outside, but that's a blog for another day. So to me, my daughters being good students, good friends and good citizens demonstrates who we should be as Christians far more than them toting around a giant King James Bible & telling everyone they meet they're going to hell.

Again, I know we have a long way to go & there will be times I won't be blogging about how amazing they are. I'll be sitting in a corner rocking, wondering, shaking my head & asking "What the heck were you thinking". But today, I'm going to bask in the glory of good choices & good kids. Some day you'll thank me. One of them might marry your son. Think how grateful you'll be.

Today I am tired of...

2010-03-10T10:06:00.000-05:00

Hearing about the David Letterman & John Edwards sex/blackmail scandals. You're all nasty. Put your pants on, get some dignity, & go to work.
Stupid lawsuits. Lindsay Lohan is suing e-trade for the "Milkaholic" ad. According to her, everybody knows the reference is to her & that's slander. Really? Milkaholic is the hill you choose to die on? Have you heard the other things you've been called? Please.
Anonymous comments. From the stupid "First!" to the incomprehensible spam - I get comments in Korean - to the lame "Anonymous".
People with seemingly endless resources that whine about how tough their situation is. Please. You have no idea.
The dentist. I know you went to college for 100 years & you have very specific skills that no one else can match, but when people have to consider skipping a mortgage payment to repair a single tooth, there's something wrong.

And since that may have come across as cranky, I leave you with this clip my friend Brian sent me. Prepare to be blown away:

And I Ran

2010-03-05T17:33:00.000-05:00

Got a new phone & have been pondering ringtones. Decided to go with this little nugget of 80's craptastitude. Love it. It isn't my favorite 80's song, but I have several good memories tied to it, including a reference in one of my favorite cheesy movies "The Wedding Singer."

Saw the lead singer interviewed once & he is incredibly bitter that this is the only song anyone ever wanted to hear them play. Get over yourself. It paid for your Aqua Net.

Enjoy.

Roy Roy Roy

2010-03-04T14:27:00.001-05:00

Today is my husband Roy's birthday. I could write all kinds of sentimental things about how he's the most incredible husband (he is) his infinite patience with me (he has it) his leadership in our family (what an example) and the way he loves & cherishes our daughters (good luck to their future husband's living up to THAT standard). Instead I will simply say I hope you married peeps (my daughters will be mortified I used that word) are half as happy, satisfied, content & fulfilled with your spouse.

Happy Birthday honey.

Tuesday = Toronto: Hockey Hall of Fame

2010-03-02T14:00:00.001-05:00

You had to know this post would be about hockey didn't you? Of course you did. We had friends over to watch Sunday's game - which was AWESOME by the way - and had a blast. Each trip we've made to TO we've had an agenda - little stuff like finding a place to live or a school for our daughters - simple things like that. Besides, we aren't actually moving to Toronto - we'll be in the 'burbs, out in Burlington. But since we'll be so close to the city, I've enjoyed looking at all the places we'll have an opportunity to check out. On the top of that list is the Hockey Hall of Fame http://www.hhof.com/

Right now they've got an exhibit of Olympic medals dating back to 1896. It's the entire collection & marks the first time they've been exhibited outside the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

I hope we get in to see it before the exhibit leaves. I'm nerdy like that, but based on my current lack of athletic prowess & the fact I get winded folding laundry, it's the closest I'm going to get to an Olympic medal.

Medal Facts (from hub.com)

Modern Olympic medals must be at least 60mm across (2.36") and be at least 3mm (a little less than 1/8") thick. Gold and Silver medals must be made out of 92.5% (or purer) silver. Gold medals must be gilt in at least 6g (0.21oz) of gold. Bronze medals are made of bronze.
It was at the 1904 Games in St. Louis that gold, silver, and bronze medals were all awarded.
The last Olympic medals made entirely out of gold were handed out in 1912.
The first time medals were hung around the neck of victors was at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
The coating of gold was so sparse on the 1920 and 1968 medals, that time and wear have made many look like silver medals.
In May 2008, the value of 6g of gold stood at $180 USD.
The amount of silver in a gold or silver medal has massed from a low of 16.5g in 1912 to 269g in 1992 (most recent reliable figures available). Given modern requirements, this means that the smallest legal Summer Games medal will mass 169g of silver -- worth $97.60 USD (May 2008).
The different metal medal types in most games held before 1980 were of varying thicknesses.
The 1908 gold medals were the costliest with 25g of solid gold worth up to $750 USD (May 2008).

Exclusive to the Hall: The Hockey Hall of Fame has secured the entire Olympic medals collection on loan from The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. All 137 medals from every Summer and Winter Olympic Games, dating back from the first in 1896, will be on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame for a limited time. This marks the only time such a collection had ever been available for viewing outside The Olympic Museum.

And that's a wrap.

2010-03-01T15:57:00.001-05:00

This weekend I: Almost broke my hand when I didn't stick my landing. I was jumping on the couch when Sid the Kid scored that goal - yes THAT goal - for team Canada & drilled my hand into the end table on my way to jumping on the floor. Just another reminder of my lack of athleticism & why I am watching from the safety of my home & not on the ice myself.

Right now I'm watching: Food Network. About to change the channel 'cause "Giada at Home" is coming up & I'd rather take out my own appendix with a rubber spatula than watch her.

This week I will: Celebrate Roy's 41st birthday at a Caps game thanks to some very good friends.

I'm reading: "Just Walk Across the Room" by Bill Hybels.

FavoriteTweet from last week: prodigaljohn

Trying to convince someone who hates you that they should like you is an exhausting way to waste the waking hours you get each day

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: Shutter Island
Teddy Daniels: So what's our next move? Chuck Aule: You tell me. Teddy Daniels: I gotta get off this rock, Chuck. Get back to the mainland. Whatever the hell's going on here, it's bad. Don't worry partner, they're not gonna catch us. Chuck Aule: That's right, we're too smart for em. Teddy Daniels: Yeah, we are, aren't we. You know, this place makes me wonder. Chuck Aule: Yeah, what's that, boss? Teddy Daniels: Which would be worse, to live as a monster or to die as a good man?

Holiday Road

2010-02-27T14:05:00.000-05:00

Came across this little nugget of sunshine this past week. Sorry Lyndsey, I'm sure you're more proud of just about everything else in your catalog of Fleetwood Mac hits, but for my money this 1983 hit is my favorite. Besides, who doesn't think of the Griswold's when you hear it? That alone will make you smile. Favorite "Vacation" moment?" Anyone?

Things that make you go hmmm

2010-02-25T11:52:00.001-05:00

This morning in the shower - I do my best thinking in there - I started thinking about what exactly we've gotten ourselves into with our upcoming move. I'm not going to lie to you - it started to freak me out a little. I know I'm married to a pastor & so our house is nothing but days filled with sweet conversations, Bible verses brought to life & Cleaver family moments. Yeah. Right. Have you met us? Better yet, have you met me? because as we all know, the source of the conflict has to be me. I married Ghandi's nicer brother. (I have said "Jesus' nicer brother" in the past, but I offended someone(s), & since I'm not aware of any avid Ghandi fans who follow me or my blog, I'll take a chance on offending one of them. Besides, they're all about the whole non-violent thing so unlike church people, they won't fight back).

Anyhoo, as I look at what's coming down the track, I started thinking about all the little things we're giving up & having to adjust to. Now let me be clear - we are moving to Burlington, Ontario. Hardly a third world outpost. Burlington/Toronto has everything Fairfax/DC has except the crime rate, and we're okay with that.

I mutter imprecatory Psalms & curse Customs & Immigration Services for their endless redtape, loopholes & incomprehensible qualifications for status, but want to know what really freaks me out? Finding a new hairstylist. Not. Even. Kidding. How shallow is that? My husband has a mandate from God to build a church & I'm worried that I'll look like this.

I can handle the big stuff. CIS frustrates me, but I expect them to be challenging. I have my dogs up to date with shots & ready to cross the border. Getting my daughters transferred to their new school & making sure they took the right classes & electives for next year doesn't worry me - I took care of that - no problem. But I get a little anxious thinking about their first day. I want them to fit in. No body likes to be the new kid - not in high school. Have you ever seen one of those teen high school movies? Brutal. No one breaks into song or dance on a cafeteria table in Burlington. Believe me - I checked.

And don't get me started on grocery shopping. I know my grocery stores in this area inside out. Literally. I know the aisles inside & I know parking at Wegmans is a bee sting in the eye. I know which ones are expensive/overpriced & I know which ones are sketchy & sell cat flesh masquerading as chicken. (Hey Bill the Butcher - chickens don't have paws. Hello, Shoppers Food Warehouse in Chantilly, I'm talking to you.)

That's my personality. I'm great with the big stuff, but the little stuff derails me. Where's the Post Office? What vet won't rip me off? Who has decent Chinese take-out? I have to get used to a whole new cable/satellite system! Oh the humanity! Will my suffering never end? Am I Job? In fact, I think I'll just go scrape my boils with a shard of pottery.

Actually, it's not that bad. And writing it all out & subjecting all you to my madness has helped.

I know this is what we're supposed to do. More than knowing in my head, I know it in my heart. I believe in this project. I believe in my husband. I believe in his vision. And most of all, I know it's in God's hands. It's such a relief to know I don't have to freak out over all this stuff that clutters my brain & ruins a perfectly good shower. If God called us, He'll equip us. It's a cliché but there's truth in there. I'm not in this alone, no matter what negative thoughts creep in and tell me. Every time our family has moved, God has made our lives better. This is no exception. It's not like God decided He's tired of carrying me & my occasionally overwrought thought processes. He created me. He knew what He was getting into when He gave us this next direction. If anything, I should be excited we've been trusted with such an important challenge.

Oh great, something new to freak out over. There goes tomorrow's shower.

Tom Brokaw Explains Canada to Americans

2010-02-23T13:22:00.002-05:00

I watched this on TV, saw it over at http://www.losethatgirl.com/ & then my mom sent it to me this morning. So, I felt like it was the universe telling me to share this with you.

And that's a wrap

2010-02-22T14:35:00.002-05:00

This weekend I: Had a blast hanging out with friends playing board games. Do I know how to party or what? Felt like I was 14 in my parent's basement.

Right now I'm watching: Criminal Minds reruns

This week I will: Stick to my commitment to work out even though I hate it.

I'm reading: Cookbooks. Trying to modifying my favorite old recipes and make them a little healthier.

FavoriteTweet from last week: @jimgaffiganYou're either bad or good at spelling cause the bad spellers can't spell mediocre.

Favorite TV/MOVIE/Music Moment of the week: From Vancouver: "I ate s***. That's what happened. I was pushing it. I made a couple of mistakes that caught me off guard." - Canadian downhiller Robbie Dixon after he crashed. Gotta love the honesty.

Today's favorite recipe

2010-02-20T18:38:00.000-05:00

I say "today's" because I'm constantly trying new recipes so I constantly find new favorites.

Thursday night I wanted to try a new fajita recipe - I was a bored with my old one. This one is from http://simplyrecipes.com & I loved it. Dee-lishus.

So here you go. It's really simple & you get solid results - a great week night meal for sure. I buy our tortillas from Whole Foods. They make them fresh in house & will ruin you for store bought tortillas forever. Plus, at the one here in Fairfax, they're under $2 a pack. Also, it helps if the steak is partially frozen when you slice it. It makes it a lot easier to get nice thin slices. It'll finish thawing as it marinates.

So, with no further fanfare, here's the recipe.

Steak Fajitas Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 lb of flank steak or skirt steak
1 large yellow onion, peeled and sliced with the grain, not against the grain as one would normally slice an onion. Slice first in half, and then slice off sections a half inch wide at widest point.
2 large bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, de-ribbed, sliced lengthwise into half-inch wide strips

Marinade:
Juice of 1 lime
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 fresh Jalapeño pepper, seeded, ribs removed, finely chopped (be careful not to touch your eyes or anywhere near your eyes after handling a Jalapeño pepper!)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, including stems

METHOD

1 Mix all marinade ingredients. Set the steak in the marinade and let it sit at least an hour, the longer the better.

2 Heat to high heat a large cast iron pan or griddle. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to the pan. Add the steak, frying on each side for 3 minutes, or to desired doneness. 3 minutes per side will yield approximately medium rare doneness for an average cut of flank steak. If pan starts to smoke too much, reduce the heat to medium high. We want the steak browned, not burned. Remove from pan and let sit for 5 minutes.

3 Reduce the pan heat to medium high. Add a little more oil to the pan if necessary. Add the onions, bell peppers. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, until the onions are slightly translucent.

4 Slice the meat against the grain into thin slices. If you slice the meat at a slanted angle, you will be able to get your slices pretty thin. (I forgot to do this in the photo above!) Flank steak is flavorful but can be a little tough, so thin slices will really help make it easier to eat.

5 Serve immediately with shredded cheese, salsa, shredded iceberg lettuce, sour cream, guacamole and warm flour tortillas. (Hint for warming tortillas - put in microwave over a paper towel for 20 seconds on high heat.)

Serves 4.