An Entire Church Full of Kids Watching Me

Wow - what a day.  I didn't start in the right place this morning.  Maybe because I didn't get any hot chocolate - will have to fix that tomorrow morning.  But at VBS during chapel time this morning when we were singing the theme song and doing the motions and I looked up and there was an entire church full of kids watching me and soaking it all in - it just melted everything away.  Especially the little ones in the front row.  What little sweeties!  God Bless them all!  Little kids scare me - when I have to be in charge - but when I can get up there and just have some fun - it's the best thing in the world!  In a bit of a schedule change - I'll be teaching some music classes tomorrow - the older kids and I think a group of the little kids.  And although it's completely out of my comfort zone - I'm looking forward to teaching the bigger kids - there is a song that just screamed 'sing me' when I first listened to the VBS music and now I have a chance to teach it to them - because it is, of course, all about me!  :)

So after VBS - because I hadn't had enough of little kids - I went up to see my mom - took her out to have her hair cut and then just sat and chatted a bit.  Of course, it truly is just like having a little kid - I find myself using phrases like...  'Did you flush the toilet?' and 'Did you wash your hands?' - and unfortunately - I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with her today either - but I tried to fake it a bit.  She tried to wrap the seat belt around her neck again - God Bless Her.  And then when we were talking - she told me that people come into her room and move her TV remote around and sometimes they take it - but they always bring it back.  Great - just what I need - is her accusing the staff of taking her stuff!  So she hides the remote in her drawer so they can't find it - of course - then she can't find it either.  She also made a request for different toothpaste - apparently the toothpaste she has doesn't clean her teeth.  So I made a comment about taking her to the dentist to have teeth cleaned - fearing that I might hear about the oozing tooth that she used to be so obsessed about - but didn't hear anything about it - apparently the remote has taken the place of the tooth!

And one last note - about the Olympics - I can't believe it - I've been doing all this watching - and last night was so tired that I went to bed early - didn't tape it - and missed probably the most exciting finish to an Olympic event ever - at least according to several commentators this morning - I'm talking, of course, about the swimming relay where Michael Phelps won his second gold.  Will probably miss swimming tonight also - I'm sure it will some of the last coverage of the night - and 12:30am is just too late to be staying up - even though I am on vacation - I have my second job to go to tomorrow! :)  Such is life.

Shouldn't The Men Wear Speedos?

Hope you don't mind hearing a little more about the Olympics - haven't been watching too much today - have been at my second job most of the day - more on that in a moment.  So right now I'm watching synchronized diving - didn't even know they had that - it's pretty cool - do they still have synchronized swimming?  I saw it recently at a swim party I was at in July - the ladies were pretty good!  And what's up with the men's beach volleyball uniforms - they wear tank tops with swim shorts - the ladies wear bikini's - shouldn't the men wear speedos?

So spent most of the day today at church getting ready for Vacation Bible School.  As a kid - I never really appreciated what went into the whole event - but I don't remember it being such a big thing - and we usually only had about 20 - 30 kids - at most.  We will have 186 kids starting tomorrow and we will give it our all!  We'll have a blast with each and every one - no matter how small!  Jan - that's the best I can do - hoping to impress even the tiniest of Who's!

So after getting done at the church tonight - the last thing I wanted to do was go home and cook - so I stopped by McDonald's and picked up one of their new southern style chicken sandwiches - the new one with the two pickles - hmmm - I wonder where they go the idea for this sandwich - could it be my favorite place?  And I have to tell you - it was ok - but still doesn't beat out Chick-Fil-A!  The fries were nice and hot and salty though - yummy!

One last thing - so I get weekly newsletter from the Alzheimer's Association and found the latest one a little upsetting - this is what it said...

"A new study suggests that those who are unmarried or not living with a partner in midlife may have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease" - great - so apparently I need to get married or find a partner to live with!  There is hope - though - in the same newsletter it said this...

"Additional research indicates that people who ruminate, or repeatedly think about their problems, may also reduce their Alzheimer's risk" - hmmm... wonder if this cancels out the other!  God Bless Me!

The Cat Keeps Looking At Me Like I'm Crazy

Greetings from my dining room table.  I actually did a bit of cleaning today and have a mostly clear dining room table - that and my 25 foot network cable and I’m in luck - can sit here at the table - under the ceiling fan and enjoy the Olympics - today was just as good.

I’ve been watching the Olympics all day today - while doing laundry and dishes and cleaning the house - and have enjoyed watching all the different events.  I’ve seen indoor volleyball, cycling, rowing, swimming, beach volleyball, and am currently watching gymnastics.  WOW!  I just had to take a break to see Sacha - the 2nd alternate that is now competing for the USA compete in the pommel horse - did you see it - he was amazing!  I actually had to clap when he was done.  And good for him - since he fell off of it during the Olympic Trials.  I’ve enjoyed the Games so much today that I might have to cancel my participation in VBS this coming week so I can stay home and watch (just kidding, Diana and Lynne!).

Speaking of VBS - since I’m helping out with the music - I’ve been working on the songs and hand motions - the cat keeps looking at me like I’m crazy - takes one to know one!  I think she felt that way last year also - check out my blog from last year.  She is in seventh heaven right now - I found some packing paper today while cleaning and set it on the couch - she has taken up residence on the paper rather than her favorite comforter that is also on the couch.

So as I was watching the Olympics earlier, they were doing a story on Michael Phelps and talking to his mom.  She was talking about how busy he is and she has learned to text message him to talk to him.  Tom Brokaw asked if she knew what LOL meant and she said ‘Lots of Love’ and that she figured that wasn’t what it really meant - but between Michael and his mom - it meant Lots of Love - how cool is that!

Well - the next week should be interesting - look for stories from VBS and other things.

Did I Mention That I Just Loved It!

Did you watch them?  The Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing?  As a kid - I was always riveted to the TV during the Olympics - and I remember getting to stay up late to watch them.  I have to admit, though, that it has been a long time since I have really followed them at all.  But tonight I sat and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience - including some of the commercials (24 Hour Fitness had the best of the evening).  I just might have to do a little more watching this year.  

So tonight - in honor of the Opening Ceremonies - a few thoughts and observations.  I truly just loved everything about the Ceremonies - the first part of the ceremonies - the artistic part - China really put on quite the show.  All of the performers and the drummers and the precision - just fascinating!  And then the Parade of Nations - I love watching the athletes coming into the stadium - they are all so excited - the big smiles, all them taking pictures and waving with conviction and the little countries that only have a few athletes - they are the best!  Did I mention that I just loved it!

And hearing all the interesting stories about the countries...  Did you know...

Japan has the oldest athlete competing in equestrian - he is 67 and competed in the 1964 Olympics.

The president of Israel had to walk back to his hotel so he didn’t violate the Sabbath by being driven in a car (thank you, God, for sending your Son!).

Great Britain has a 14 year old diver competing and will host the 2012 Olympics.

The flag of Paraguay is different on both sides.

Hong Kong had its own delegation - they weren’t part of China - which only has one time zone for the entire country.

Roger Federer was the flag bearer for Switzerland and today was his birthday - what a cool birthday present!

The Prime Minister from Australia is fluent in Mandarin.

China represents 1/5 of humanity - 1.3 billion people!

I found it amusing when the British Virgin Islands came in after Great Britain and either Bob Costas or Matt Lauer commented about them following the Mother Country!

I noticed a lot of Track and Field athletes carrying the flags.

And since when did Sailing and Table Tennis and Taekwondo become Olympic sports?  I heard that BMX is going to be a sport for the first time this year.

And what exactly is Whitewater, Flatwater and Judo?

And all politics aside - it was wonderfully moving when the Chinese athletes entered the stadium - moved me to tears (go figure)!  That and the little boy that survived the earthquake back in May that walked with flag bearer Yao Ming.  Again, did I mention that I just loved it!  God Bless all the athletes and Good Luck to them all!

Any Puppet Except That One

Greetings from my couch!  I procured a 25 foot network cable today - so I can plug into my router and sit on my couch and watch TV - I may never leave this spot!  Before I hooked up the cable - I was sitting at my desk in the bedroom and the cat laid down on the bed next to me - even without any paper or fresh laundry.  I think she missed me this weekend - either that or she was hungry - probably the latter!  God Bless Her.

So some random stories for you today...

Yesterday when I was in the Gallery, there was a family that came in and Sheila and I were talking to them and Sheila commented about how humid it was - well the woman asked very sincerely, 'This is humid?' - she then commented that they just moved here from Texas - yeah - this is probably bone dry for them!

As I was driving home from wuh wuh wuh (work) today, I came up behind this SUV with an odd looking color - I realized as I got closer that it was a Mary Kay pink colored Cadillac Escalade.  And then as I passed the car - I noticed there was a man driving it - not to be sexist or anything - but I certainly wouldn't want to drive the car!  And then as I passed him - I also noticed he was holding his hand up to his ear - talking on his cell phone.  Maybe he figured that the police would be so distracted by the pink car that they wouldn't notice he was holding his phone!

I need to make a shout out to Lynne!  So we are getting ready for Vacation Bible School next week and like we have done the last couple of years - we will have puppets performing.   Also like in the past, I have taken on the role of Puppet Director - and being one of the puppeteers, Lynne, wanted to practice - so I told her to help me out and pick which puppet she would like to be.  Well - unbeknownst to her - I had made a decision this weekend to play the two animal puppets myself since we are short on puppeteers and have her and our other puppeteer play the two kid puppets.   Before I could tell her this - she sent me an email and told me that she had decided to play the dog puppet!  Great - now I have to tell her that after forcing her to pick her own puppet, she can play any puppet except that one and the squirrel!  God Bless Her for being so flexible!

And last but not least - the sunset from my dad's house on Saturday night... Enjoy!

  

How I Spent My Big Bear Vacation

So I came up to Big Bear this weekend with such grand ideas of doing stuff.  I brought my 4 DVD disk set of England photos to look at, my iWork ’08 book to learn how to use Pages (Apple’s word processing program) - brought the music I’m singing next Sunday to practice, along with the VBS music and puppet scripts to go through, two books and 3 DVD’s from Netflix to watch.  Not really sure when I planned to do all of this - I had also planned on composing a few more England blogs - the best laid plans!  So here is how I really spent my Big Bear vacation (all two days of it)...

A few driving observations...  what’s up with the people that try to merge on to the freeway at 30 or 40 mph?!  And then driving up the hill - nothing like getting stuck behind a car doing 20 in a 40mph zone.  Of course, I was only 1 of 9 cars behind this one guy - he can’t pull over and let us go? - it’s not like we are all going to get in front of him and drive slower.

So I hung out at the Gallery most of the day - did some computer work for my dad and then he and I had a nice lunch together.  We then went up to the house to do some work - we had to move all the stuff from the ‘junk’ room into the garage - one flight up!  Check out the pictures to get the full view of what we were doing - and when you look at them - keep in mind that about 90% of the stuff had to go upstairs - so I definitely got my exercise.  What is scary is the reason we had to clean out that room - apparently there is quite a bit of dry rot and the main beam that supports the driveway is now leaning - onto the gas line!  Lovely - again - take a look at the pictures - the side of the building buckles and the driveway has sunk about 2 inches!  They had a contractor out Saturday and will start work on Monday to get it fixed.  Got a really cute picture of my dad and I while we were resting - getting the picture was definitely worth all the work!

And as if I didn’t get enough exercise making 30 - 40 trips up the stairs - I decided I needed a walk also - walked around the block - about a mile.  Kenai came with me - and it wasn’t until the end of the walk that I realized that he just isn’t in the same shape that I am - when we got back he laid down next to the door with his water bowl and panted the night away.

Slept in this morning - which was good - and then just sat around the house a bit - just enjoying the quiet and solitude of the morning - enjoying the beautiful scenery and just trying to stop a little and take a break.  Wanted to spend the whole day at the house - but also wanted to spend time with my dad - and he was at the Gallery - so I have since wandered down to the Gallery - where it is relatively quiet - nice for me - not so good for sales - oh well.  Will be up here until tonight and then will take the trek back home and then back to the grindstone tomorrow - it’s been so nice to get away and just slow down and relax... might have to do this more often.  Happy Sunday and check out the pics from yesterday.

Hey, Now - Some Privacy Please!

There's a bunch of stuff that has happened this week that I took notes on - if I can find the notes - that I will blog about later - but for now - enjoy this visual story about the cat (finally figured out how to put more than one pic in an entry - and after playing with the html code to move the pics around - figured out on the last pic I uploaded that I can click and drag them without working with the code - who knew!)...

So I printed out some stuff today and set it on the bed - well, I'm sure I have said before - but Miss Sadie LOVES paper - so she was all excited when she saw that there was paper for her to sit on and sniff...

of course, can't go long without licking...

and then - must rip paper to shreds...

and, of course, must lick again...

hey, now - some privacy please!

forget the paper, there's nothing better than fresh out of the dryer laundry... 

Goodnight!