Greetings from the Gallery!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted - life has been a bit crazy lately. But just wanted to take a moment - while the Gallery is empty for the first time today - to say Happy Thanksgiving! I thank God for the blessings of this year and especially the blessings of my friends - God Bless Us Everyone (oh, wait - that's Christmas)! Enjoy the long holiday weekend and I'll try to get something posted later in the weekend - have a cute story about my nephew Luke. Blessings to you all!

Enjoy The Ride

Early Saturday morning greetings!  Couldn't sleep - so rather than lay in bed all frustrated like - thought I would get up and ramble on the computer for a bit - there are several stories to tell - which will all probably just spill out - so enjoy the ride...

When I woke up at 3am this morning - I immediately started to pet the cat - thought it might relax me into being able to sleep again - and the rule in the house is - if I'm not sleeping - neither is Sadie - she gets the pleasure of sleeping all day long while I have to be at work - so the least she can do is stay awake in the middle of the night when I can't sleep.  Of course, by 3:30am she'd had enough and jumped off the bed - unacceptable.  I thought maybe she was just using the facilities or getting some water - but I heard her jump onto her cat tree - probably thinking she would get more sleep away from me - definitely correct in her thinking!  But I wouldn't have that - again - if I can't sleep - neither can she - so I called her name - made my clicking and kissy noise and within a minute she was back up on the bed - of course, her tail told me she wasn't really happy about it - but she was a good sport all the same - sat nicely while I bugged her before I decided that trying to sleep was a futile endeavor and just decided to get up.

One of my problems is that I've been sick all week - caught a nasty cold early on - and driving to and teaching in Long Beach all week probably didn't help.  I've been taking my Zicam all week - which I think has helped - but this cold seems determined to make its way down to my chest.  Was all congested and started coughing while in bed and decided that getting up and sitting might help - that along with cough syrup, if I could find any.  Well, I did find some - although it expired in March of this year - oh well - I took it anyway - what's the worst that can happen - it will have lost it potency and won't work.  Although I'm not sure if it is sitting up or the cough syrup - but I do feel better since I got up.

Now the battle is not to eat anything - I woke up hungry but have to weigh in at Weight Watchers in a couple of hours.  I really wanted hot chocolate when I woke up - but will save that for later - have had a craving to try Starbucks Hazel Nut Hot Chocolate on recommendation from a good friend! - am making myself a cup of tea right now instead.

I just noticed that the cat is watching me from just inside my bedroom - like she is beckoning me back into the room to sleep!  Maybe I'll lay on the couch for a bit and continue my marathon of 'The Office' - have only watched it on occasion - but have started renting it from the first season - hilarious - and the commentary by the cast on the DVD's is wonderful!  Ok - enough for now - wanted you all to know that I am still alive and relatively speaking - well.

Looking For God

So I got home from church today and as I walked up to my place - I looked for the cat in the window - one of her favorite spots is to position herself between the blinds and the window to get full access to the scenery and in the morning - the sun.  Well, she wasn't there - I walk in and look in the usual places and I still don't see her - then I realize that there is a pile of laundry sitting on my bed - yep - there she was.  And it got me thinking about something that has been on my mind this week - and really helped me through - something Pastor Darren said in his devotional on Tuesday night - about looking for God in the everyday things.

So I want to share with you some places that I've found God this weekend...  It goes without saying that He is in the wonderful friends that I have been blessed with - I love you all!  But He was also in my students this week - such a wonderful group - I look forward to seeing them again on Tuesday!  At breakfast yesterday morning - He was in the 9 or 10 year old kid that was so polite and held the door for me.  I went to the grocery store yesterday and saw this little girl all dressed up and her dad was dancing with her in the aisles.  Today He was definitely in the prayer that Aaron gave - but He was also in Julie and Allison (a mom and 1st grade old daughter) as they held hands and danced to the praise music!  And He was definitely in the little boy during the children's moment that when asked by Pastor Darren what his favorite gift was - said his brother Jake.

And last night - I went and made dinner for my niece and nephews and we sat down to eat at the dining room table - I commented that the breakfast nook table seemed more formal like it should be in the dining room probably because of the candlesticks.  My 5 year old nephew - without saying a word - got up - walked over and brought the candlesticks to our table - God Bless him and his family!

I Wasn't Paying Attention At All

Believe it or not - I was able to pass by the Caltrans sign today without being completely obsessed with it - of course, as several of you know, I had other things on my mind.  It wasn't until I was past the airport that I realized that I hadn't been paying attention to it at all - maybe I've broken the habit - we'll see tomorrow!

So I was looking for an outlet this evening so I picked up my guitar and started blasting out Christmas songs - I figure if my friends can have garland up in their house - I can start singing Christmas songs.  And I just really enjoyed it - I need to remember how therapeutic guitar playing can be.  I'm not sure the cat agreed - notice her one eye open - watching me!

And finally - ended up at the Communications meeting tonight even though I told them I wouldn't be there - my other plans for the evening were cancelled.  I debated going - but was glad that I did - Darren gave a wonderful devotional that was exactly what I needed to hear - God is Good - as I sometimes need reminding of as hard as that is to admit - anyway - enough for tonight...

The Obsession Continues...

So I'm teaching in Long Beach for the next two weeks and went today to set up the classroom - and on the way home - this time on the 405 - there was a sign indicating the amount of time it should take to get to JW Airport - 12 minutes.  I, of course, had to time it - and I did get there in 12 minutes - but again, I was speeding most of the way.

So as I'm speeding down the freeway - cruising in the fast lane - this little white Sentra comes whizzing by me.  I watch for a bit as he weaves in and out of traffic through the slow lanes.  I lose track of him and then a few minutes later - here he comes again - whizzing by me in the slow lanes.  He passed me FOUR times!  Apparently - all the weaving in and out of traffic without using his signal wasn't really working out for him.  Just goes to show that slow (relatively speaking) and steady wins the race!

One other thing I had to comment on - last week, some friends of mine went to see Madonna and asked me to stop in and check on their dog.  Well, I get to the house - walk in and I can't believe it.  Click here to see what I saw - unacceptable!  I'm so traumatized - that's all I can write tonight!

Wanted To Create Suspense

I guess it has been a little longer than a day or two - wanted to create suspense of whether I followed 'the rules' - yeah - that's it!  So to find out whatever happened to Mr. Pumpkin - you'll have to click here...  because the picture that is showing here was actually carved by B's step daughter - I think she did a wonderful job!  Isn't it cute?!

Anyway - I know it isn't very much - but this entry will have to do for now - not sure where all my time has gone - but, like always, will try to do better this week!  Blessing to you all!