Trend Setter

I had lunch with my brother the other day and I was talking bout how mom is sometimes wearing her clothes inside out and I commented that I wasn't sure how often that happens.  He said - probably half the time - if the shirt is on properly - it becomes inside out when she takes it off - so the next time, she just puts it on that way.  And sadly, he is probably right - I find her sweaters in the closet inside out all the time.  Fascinating to me just how her mind must be working (or not) these days.

So I always worry about her putting her clothes on inside out - what will people think?  Apparently I don't need to worry so much about it. I was in Target this week and noticed these pants that were sewn with all the seems on the outside!  Who knew she was such a trend setter!  God Bless Her!

Optimism

I love Sheer Freesia from Bath and Body - found it over 10 years ago (when it was originally called Freesia - I wonder if they have sold more now that it is called 'Sheer Freesia') and have tried to keep it stocked in my home  - which can be a difficult task - they don't carry it regularly in the store anymore and don't always have it online.  So a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I would try to find a new scent (a bit traumatic for me - did I mention that I LOVE sheer freesia?!).  I went into the store and asked for help - the associate showed me several different scents and in the end, I decided to try two of them - Blushing Cherry Blossom (not their other scents - Cherry Blossom or Japanese Cherry Blossom!) which is a nice floral scent and Optimism which is part of their new aromatherapy line.  I've worn both scents several times to see what I liked better.  I had decided that I liked the Blushing Cherry Blossom better but didn't want to waste the Optimism (a terrible thing to waste) so after several weeks - decided to wear Optimism today.  And driving in - it drove me crazy in the car - I kept sneezing which continued when I got in to work!  So I decided that I must be allergic to Optimism!  Dang - there goes my 2009 new year's resolution.  And, of course, lo and behold - I went online recently and after being out of it - I was able to get my cherished Sheer Freesia - so all is right with the world again.

Online Disclaimer And Age Verification

I found another calendar with a disclaimer.  One of the guys at work had a day by day calendar called ‘Dumb Dares for the Office.’  Not only did it have an online disclaimer you were supposed to look at - but an age verification also!  So I have to peruse through the calendar, of course, and one of the dares was to yell the word ‘phone’ when the telephone rings - well, I actually already do that on occasion.  There was another dare to charge people a toll when they walk by your desk...  hmmm... have done that also!  Or make up words during meetings - we already have someone in the office that does that.  One that intrigued me was to take your trash can over and empty it in another coworkers trash can and then walk away without saying a word - that could be fun - might have to try that at some point.  The one I probably won’t be trying is smelling both your armpits during an important meeting - yeah - don’t think so.

So I’m taking a cashiering class this week so when I get questions about what is covered in that class - I’ll have a little more knowledge about it.  I went to sign up for the class and lo and behold - I hadn’t met all the prerequisites.  So I check to see what I needed to take - as it turns out - it is a class that I teach!  Go figure!  Apparently - teaching the class doesn’t count.  Crazy!

And one more work story - about a week ago we were having a team meeting and during the middle of it - our supervisor got a call from her husband - since he knew she was in a meeting that day - she was concerned about why he was calling - so she answered to find out if he was ok.  Yeah - he was fine - he just got his first cell phone for Christmas and was checking to see if the speed dial worked!

SAD

A shout out to Kris and Terrie for a very enjoyable dinner on SAD - Single Awareness Day aka Valentine's Day.  Nothing like good food and good conversation with good friends!  We had dinner at a little Mexican whole in the wall place that Craig introduced us all to - yummy!  After that we ventured up to the Spectrum for some Pinkberry - also yummy!  Although the flow of the place isn't very good - everyone seemed to just be standing around not sure of where to go or where to order - Jan, can you get on that?! :)  I tried the pomegranate with blueberries and I think Kris was sold on the new Belgian milk chocolate on the pom swirl.  It was just an all around lovely evening!

Conversation Hearts

These have to be one of the best reasons to celebrate Valentine's Day - I've always enjoyed them - ever since I was a kid.  I love eating them one by one and reading the message that each one offers.  But when I was a kid, I remember them saying things like 'Kiss Me' or 'I'm Yours' or 'Love You'.  I opened a package up this year and found messages of 'Email Me' and 'Got Love?' and 'You Rock'.  But my very favorite was 'Just One' - not too sure what that meant. For me, it serves as a reminder of business trips that I used to take.  When going into a restaurant they always ask how many - and I would always say 'One'.  To which they would respond 'Just One?' - which was always followed up with 'Would you like to sit in our full service bar?' - apparently 'just one' doesn't deserve a table!

Thinking about it - on this holiday of love - maybe Just One means that there is just One that offers a perfect love.  It makes me think of the prayer that Sunny gave this morning at breakfast reminding us of the love God has to offer - it is unending, unconditional and above all other love.  So as I get ready to go and celebrate the love of friendship - it will be three for dinner tonight - not just one...  I wish for you the love of family and friends and the perfect love that God offers - because He loves you - no matter what.  Happy Valentine's Day.

Counting My Blessings

So it’s been a bit of a crappy week - and then today to top it all off - I was so frustrated with something that happened at work - I left at 1pm.  Went by the church office to help with multimedia stuff - and had a bit of a frustrating time there also - so on my way home I was trying to think of my blessings this week and decided that maybe I could get myself out of this funk by counting my blessings and there are two that really stand out.

First was my dinner last Saturday night.  A very belated thanks and kudos to baker Holly for a wonderful devil’s food cake!  And even better fudge!  I have to come back soon for more fudge!  I traveled up to Thousand Oaks last weekend for dinner with the Newton clan.  And as Jan always says - a fun time was had by all - at least in my opinion.  Their church youth group was having a spaghetti dinner and dessert auction that night so we went to that - good food and lots of fun.  And what a treat to finally meet Jan’s husband, David - just a really nice guy - and to meet the pups, Scooby, Shadow and Daphne.  I look forward to dinner again sometime soon so I can hear about the trip to Paris!  So after dinner - Jan was heading over to Burbank to visit that Pinkberry (Jan - did you get the google alert?!).  There was someone in town that she wanted to meet - so since the night was still young (only 9pm!) I went on with her.  We got there and the place was hopping!  I tried the pom swirl with the new Belgian chocolate shaving toppings.  They were good - but I liked the milk chocolate better.  Dark chocolate would be good - that has become my new favorite chocolate - isn’t it considered a health food now?!  It was fun - we sat a chatted a bit - her friend Eric is the regional manager for that store and since he was working that evening - he sat for a moment and chatted as well.  It really was a fun night - thanks to Jan, David and Holly for such a good evening!

And then last night - I went and had dinner with my friend Tana, my old college roommate.  I have been a bit of a bad egg and haven’t kept up with her and her family - or any of my married with children friends the last year or two - am trying to change that - I’m having dinner with another college roommate on Monday.  So last night I had dinner with Tana and her family - and we had a good time - we had really good conversation and then the kids wanted to play this game - I think it’s called Werewolf - or something like that - it is a fascinating game of observation and human behavior.  We only played two rounds since it was getting late - and although the kids were off today - I wasn’t.

So there were definitely blessings this week - I had a really good group of students and Bible Study, as always, was good.   Those are the things I need to hang on to and try to forget the rest. 

Post Script:  So I wrote this when I first got home today - life improved quite a bit after that - Sadie and I laid on the couch for a while and then I got together with our prayer group and finally ended the evening at dinner with friends - Life is definitely looking up!

Desert Hot Springs

Real quick - I know I said I would post pictures of the mini family reunion we had a couple of weeks ago in Desert Hot Springs - so if you are interested in seeing other members of my family - on my dad’s side - click here.  He had his three sister’s there and one of his two brothers (he had a third brother who passed away several years ago).  It was fun to see everyone - we met at my cousin’s house and then all went to lunch.  And it was fun to drive out there - I had never been to that area before - it was a bit of a last minute trip - but was glad that I was free and able to make it.

Two Crazy Things

I did something crazy this week - actually two crazy things...

Here's the first - check out the category...

And if that weren't enough - check this out for September - again, check out the category!

I'm not sure exactly what prompted all of this - maybe it was this...

yes - that is me finishing my very first 5K last Sunday at the Surf City Marathon and Half Marathon (and 5K for the rest of us)!  I know - it was only a 5K - but is was so much fun - maybe that's why I'm willing to try something a little longer... actually I think the true reason that I signed up was because of this...

Nothing like a nice morning run with your friends - a BIG shout out to Kris and Jan for hanging back with me - you both made all the difference in the world!  Thanks - and the incessant chatter was appreciated as well! :)

So I'm ready to start training - I think - now all I need are for the shin splints to heal!

God The Gardner

Two quick things - 

First from last night - Brandy and I went to dinner at the Spectrum and all was well with the world - although we weren't at our regular table (I actually couldn't remember which table it was) - we were in the little room in the back.  The room with the shark head in it - it was cute to see this dad bring his little boy in - maybe 2 years old to see and touch the shark.  When they were walking out to the parking lot - they stopped by the window to wave goodbye to the shark - God Bless them!  Just precious!

And then this evening at Bible Study - Craig asked a question about who was the unseen person in this passage of scripture were studying - I said Jesus - not quite - then tried the Holy Spirit - still not quite right - it was 'God the Gardner'!  And all I could think was - is he a friend of Bob the Builder?!