Horrible Haiku Friday

Good-bye to July

You are my favorite month

Not one day of school

Think About It Thursday

I've been wondering about whether or not to write this post. It might be considered TMI. Its content could be joked about, goodness knows I have acted silly about it, but it's really about serious and necessary stuff. So isn't that reason enough to write about it?

I spent all of Tuesday prepping for and much of yesterday involved in and recovering (sleeping) from a colonoscopy. It's one of those tests we all dread having to have. Most doctors require this test for folks over 50, but because my dad died from colon cancer in 2000, I was supposed to have one when I turned 40--coincidentally in 2000.

But I avoided it. I have taken two loved ones to have this potentially lifesaving diagnostic test, each time wondering when they were going to hold me to the fact that I hadn't had mine.

Summer is when I squeeze in as many doctor visits as I can, and when my "chick" doctor asked me if I'd had this test yet, I was embarrassed to tell her, again, "No." So, I scheduled one.

I shall spare you the details. Suffice it to say:

It wasn't as bad as I expected.

The worst part was the fasting the day before, and

the second worst part was the needle for the I.V. (I'm a wuss about needles.)

The doctor found a polyp, and that's not great, but it's not awful news either.

And who knows? It might have saved my life.

The best part, I scored these slipper socks!

Aren't they fab?

They too may save my life. See the little grips shaped like paws? I plan on donning these royal blue babies the next time Brad cleans our hardwood floors with Pledge...

that man is dangerous!

Seriously?

If there's some medical test or exam you've been putting off,

will you schedule it?

Now?

I only ask because I love you.

Wordless Wednesday

Usually I'm Tidier

I sat down at my computer on Monday afternoon, and my desk chair hit a roadblock...or a Brooks. I'm not sure which.

The sad thing, the sneakers (aka big ol' shoes) eclipse the cute sandals...

I'd like to say I've been busy lately, but really, I've been kicking off my shoes and taking it easy.

Here's proof!

So how is your summer progressing?

Who do you tell?

This wasn't at all the Question of the Week I planned on asking, but it's a timely one. You'll see why shortly...

Sometimes, when I go to find my friend Betsy at school to say hello in the morning (or she comes to find me), we find ourselves plucking stray hairs or fuzz off each other and tucking in errant clothing tags. We joke that we're like mama monkeys the way we groom each other. To be fair, Brad is very observant, and he's always kind to fix a tag or help me de-lint, so Betsy's work load has lessened in the last two years.

Yesterday, in church I was sitting a few rows behind a woman I don't know well. We've only spoken for a moment once or twice, and I'm not totally myself with her. She dresses really well, quite fashionably, but every time I see her, she has an errant strap or a shirt tag sticking out.

I can't get myself to tell her.

The same was true yesterday, her shirt tag was hanging out, yet no words from me (to be fair she was rows ahead of me).

Funny thing was, after service and a snack of an Oreo, my friends Lisa and then Amy pointed out I had schmutz on my face, and I appreciated them for it. But they know (and love) me and the feeling is mutual.

So, is pointing out such a fixable flaw a familiarity thing?

A number of years ago, I was taking a video course over the summer. I had to get to the post office first thing one morning to get my final paper mailed in time to get a return transcript, so I rolled out of bed and into shorts, a T, flip-flops and a ball cap to drive into downtown Napes.

There were only a few people in line, and one woman was extremely impatient, lots of huffing and foot stomping. She was pretty, quite thin, and dressed in business stylish, but I couldn't help but note her shirt was inside out. Since she was ahead of me in line, I couldn't tell her privately, and I didn't want to embarrass her. She finished her business, snapped at the clerk about the wait, and rushed out.

I mailed my paper, and walked out feeling kind of guilty I hadn't found a way to tell her. True, she'd been kind of rude, but I still felt awful that she might be embarrassed later in her day. As I walked up Washington Street, she came zipping out of the "postal employees only" parking lot, blocking my path, so I had to come to a sudden halt. I will admit, when I saw she had parked in that lot and then she almost hit me the pedestrian, I did rethink telling her.

However, I had to tell her, so I motioned for her to roll her window down. She, of course, frowned and rolled her eyes at me and hesitated (remember, I was lookin' kind of bad), and when she did crack her window, I gently said, "I'm glad I caught you. You're shirt is inside out."

She was mortified and thanked me.

Since then I've told lots of other women about tags and the like (I always say it's a "chick responsibility"), but I just can't get myself to tell (help?) this particular woman at church.

So...this week's Question of the Week is:

Who do you tell?

Everyone?

Women only?

Only people you know?

This was kind of a themed day at church, because as the service began, Brad pulled a dark thread off my friend Anne's shirt, and she thanked him saying her husband never noticed things like that.

So...another question:

Does your husband help you with tags, threads and the like?

Don't I just have the most inquiring mind?

Praises for...

all gifts from God.

(Taken at the Morton Arboretum after a bike ride, July 25, 2009.)

Christmas in July

Did you ever enjoy a party so much you didn't take nearly enough pictures to capture the memories? Well, that's what happened to me tonight. I had girlfriends over for a Christmas in July party, and I only took a handful of snaps as we made ornaments for Jeanette's tree, ate, drank, and talked. I didn't even take pictures of the ornaments that I made. Whoops!

Here a few pics that aren't all about me...

Even though it was a girls' night, Brad was there at the beginning and end to help out. Kathy had missed sushi night two weeks ago, so she make sushi ornaments out of felt. She and Brad had to slice them with a real knife, nothing else worked!

Aren't they cute?

Here's the work table (with Jeanette's "Victoria's Secret" cloth). We were messy, but creative.

We painted Christmas salt and pepper shakers, glass balls, we beaded wire and formed hearts, made drops that looked like crystal, and put bows on angels. All were gorgeous.

Kathy then found a Sharpee and wrote on these balls...Bible verses mostly.

Her calligraphy skills are such a gift!

Sorry the pictures aren't swell, I was having too much fun making memories to capture them with a camera!

But Jeanette took plenty... give her time, and I'm sure she'll have a post. And I'm sure Brad and I will be finding glitter throughout the downstairs for months. Totally worth it though, we love our friends.

Next day post script--Jeanette's blog post is better. I stole this photo from it:

These are my hearts and angels. The hearts are so cute, I'm going to make some for my tree. I got the idea from a book of kids' crafts. Gold beads strung on a wire. My friends are artistic, but I'm so not crafty! (Sorry for the wild backdrop of our glass-topped game table!)

Horrible Haiku Friday

In honor of my friend Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings...

Each morning greeted

By a sunny yellow box

Love my Cheerios

**********

Sure I buy face creams

And I would look much younger

If I applied them

A cap full of craftiness

Yesterday was a day off, no tutoring and nowhere I had to be until 2:00. So I lazed around a bit here at home, and then I took a walk. I wanted it to be a long walk, so I headed into uncharted territories also known as cul-de-saq land. You see, if I enter an unknown subdivision, I can think I'm walking directly, but then find myself trapped in a maze of "Circles" and "Courts" and "Trails."

Works for me, I walk longer and farther than if I just walked a known loop.

Eventually, feeling I had walked good and far, I made my way back to a main and oh-so-boring road and turned a corner to lead me toward home. I was a bit further than 1.5 miles from home, but I was feeling good. Then, at this new corner, I spied the cutest little pine cones.

Very unlike me, I picked one up and wondered just how I could use it for some kind of winter (we are not to say Christmas) craft with my fourth graders. I got an idea, trust me nothing fabulous, and so I picked up two more. Walking home with three, I thought, was doable. I calculated as I walked just how many trips I'd have to make back to that corner to get enough for my as of yet unknown number of students. Too many (I like variety in my walks). So I picked up four more.

So there I was, at least 1.5 miles from home gingerly holding seven pretty pine cones in my hands. I felt like the goof that I am, but I also felt genuinely teacher-y--I was planning for December in July.

(Okay, have I looked at any fourth grade curriculum yet?

Nope, but I'm all set with a cute little gift for the kids to give their folks!)

Walking with seven pine cones cupped in both hands wasn't exactly a chore, but it did restrict movement. Of course, when I started to sweat, I couldn't wipe it away, so I started to tilt my head so it wouldn't roll into my eyes. My ipod wire got caught in the cones a number of times. Every itch went unscratched. I wondered if I'd wake this morning with my arms bent as if I was still holding this precious gift from nature. Such a sacrifice, right?

Then, about a quarter mile from home I realized three things.

1) It wasn't sunny.

2) I was wearing a hat.

3) I could use said hat to carry the pine cones, and not be concerned about a sunburned nose.

Huh.

I'm always thinking. But sometimes my thoughts are delayed.

Overheard at Summer School

My friend Annemarie related this story to me after teaching second graders in summer school:

Child 1--I have ADD!

Child 2--So do I!

Child 3--I have ADHD!

Child 4 (eager to be in on things)--I have Comcast!

And there are this week's words for Wednesday...

Admission (and Q of the W)

Okay, so this was meant to be my "summer's half over, check in on progress" post, and I was going to use The Cat here for the reading portion.

(I have been reading volumes, but I'll save that for a later share.)

But the more I looked at this picture, whimsical as it's meant to be, the more anxiety I felt, so I'm going to admit something really dorky to you all.

This book freaked me out when I was a kid.

I've read enough kids books, taken enough kiddie lit courses, and worked in libraries long enough to know what you all do--Theodore Geisel aka Dr. Seuss is a children's literature god, right?

But I've always been a little skeptical of his easy reader The Cat in the Hat. Heck, if a five-year -old could have stress sweats, I would have had them every time I read this book. Nope, not the reading part, I was an early reader so the words didn't cause me stress, That darn Cat did.

He was not at all fun.

He made huge messes.

I did not find either of his Things, 1 or 2, at all amusing.

And, the thing that really caused my stomach to flip...

(think back now...)

The kids' mother was out and The Cat makes an enormous mess of the house, and then they see she is in fact on her way home--

SO CLOSE THAT HER FOOT (in a snazzy pump) CAN BE SEEN AT THE END OF THEIR DRIVEWAY,

and it isn't until then The Cat in the Hat decides to clean.

Why did this stress me?

I knew there was no way with mom so close he could clean that whole house.

Yeah, I know he did.

And once I read the book the first time, I always knew he would, but it just didn't make sense to me. I think each time, I thought logic would win out and he wouldn't.

Apparently, I was an anxious kid. My husband the counselor finds this story (mine, not Seuss's) quite revealing.

So...here's the question of the week:

What simple thing secretly (or maybe not so secretly) scared you or caused you anxiety when you were a kid?

The Thwarting of the Green

This week, I've looked around our home trying to find little ways to make it more green. I've been recycling for over two decades, and that's good, but I'm often looking for more ways to live right.

I decided to get a bunch of cheap washcloths to use with my Cetaphil instead of tissues for washing my face. I cut up an old T to use to remove nail polish instead of consuming a handful of cotton pads each time I give myself a manicure. We continue to use our reusable bags at an astonishing rate for two somewhat forgetful people

But the prettiest change made was these cloth napkins I purchased yesterday. I was careful to get a pattern so they won't look dingy too soon. And the color really doesn't match, but it compliments the tones in the mats and the room--that's better I think.

Apparently the hubs like 'em too. On the way out to church this morning, Brad said, "Couldn't we just leave those for show, they're so pretty, and use paper napkins anyway?"

It made me laugh!

Simple changes are the best.

Sing it, baby--Karaoke Night

The hubs and Art (Amy).

She's single and looking, and her "dad" wants any man to know:

You break her heart, he'll break your knees...

These are my girls!

(So I thought I'd get to this post yesterday, since Karaoke night was Thursday night, but I started my chiropractic treatment, and I have been sore and out of it for two days in a row now. The doc compared it to getting braces or working out a different way, some soreness is expected, but this has been wearing me out. Add to that, I almost killed my PC last night, it was definitely having a near-death experience until Brad revived it, and I couldn't get myself to sit down to do this.)

Anyway! On Thursday night, two of our campus worship leaders, Jeanette and Charles, invited everyone to a pub in Lisle for Karaoke night. We went early for dinner, hung out after eating and then those who were wanting to sing selected their songs. Brad had never been to a Karaoke "event" and was worried it would be a bunch of drunks singing off key, and there were some of those, but none from our group.

So this belated entry isn't too long, I'm going to share only a handful of pics. I took many pictures, but you don't have to see them all, right?I walked away from the table and came back to a contest.

Notice Jeanette (party organizer) is winning...

Our new best friend John, this was the first time we hung out with him, and I swear when he wasn't eager to show me his monkey face, he was a handsome man!

(see arm wrestling photo above)

Friend Jen and (co-)organizer Charles laughing over dinner.

The singers selecting their songs.

Jen sings Karaoke for her first time!

All in all, fun was had by each person there. It's amazing the sense of community that fills the air whenever I'm with these people. And as corny as Karaoke can be, it was just plain ol' fun to have a sing along (especially to "Tiny Dancer" which we sang Phoebe-style, "Hold me closer Tony Danza").

Thank goodness it was loud in there, no one could hear me sing!

New gal pal on the blogck

This isn't going to be much of a post...late fun night last night, slept in this morning, made breakfast for Brad, and now I'm off to the doc in hopes I DON'T have to get tubes put in my ears.

(What am I, 2?)

So until I can post about last night, I encourage you to visit my friend Jeanette's blog to see some of what went on last night. It's her second post, on her this-week-new blog...take a look and leave a comment.

She'll love you for it.

Oh, and there's a great pic of my husband there...

Yep, that's how I roll

I try to never say I "work-out," it just seems I should be more focused and more buff if I truly "worked-out." But I am pretty good at exercising in that I do it four or five times a week. That's healthy right?

Some days (pretty much all summer) the more time I have,

the less focused I am on fitness.

Yesterday I exercised for almost two hours (hahahahaha),

but as you'll see, I definitely didn't have that needed focus to call it a work-out.

Here's yesterday's "routine" in detail:

Jumped rope for 15 minutes

Checked my facebook

Replied and commented as needed

Jumped for 10 more minutes

Cleared the mess off my nightstand

(I'm irrationally bothered by little messes when I exercise)

Sat and sewed a button back onto Brad's shorts

Took out exercise balls

Worked lower body with various moves, three sets each

Went downstairs

Poured some Crystal Light and sipped

(hey, it's sugar free)

Ate a cookie

(not so much)

Folded laundry

Noticed a to do list on the counter

Crossed off "button" and "laundry"

Noted I had written "walk"

Went back upstairs

Checked facebook, gmail, and sitemeter

Replied and commented as called for

Jumped 5 more minutes

(total of 30, finally)

Got on-line to deal with a magazine snafu

Returned to purple ball for three sets of squats

First set made me consider more jumping

Completed 25 squats

The doorbell rang

Went downstairs

It was the garbage man coming around to reclaim the can I already turned in two weeks ago

Back upstairs for last two sets of squats

Debated making lunch or taking a walk

(it was on the list after all)

Brad came home and asked me to make a call for him

27 minutes on the phone with Comcast

(now that's a work-out)

Returned to room for, finally, last two sets of squats and 5 more minutes of jumping

(the icing on the cake, so to speak)

Yeah. I am seriously into my health.

Okay, maybe not so much.

Strange thing is?

My calves were sore this morning, as if I had worked-out.

Not nearly the exercise in futility it seemed to be as it was taking place.

Maybe I should write a fitness blog?

Almost a Wordless Wednesday

My president, my team.

How cool is that?

Somewhere in the Bible it says

The URL for my blog comes from a Bible verse (hey, don't stop reading yet) that is incredibly meaningful to me. I remember I came across it when all this "God-stuff" awareness was so new to me a few years back.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17.

This verse explained what had happened to me, what was happening to me, and resonates with me still (as in Ellie is a New Thing).

My friend Walt says his favorite verse is, "Somewhere in the Bible it says..." I love that one too. I also like the one about His ways not being my ways and the one about Him knowing the plans He has for me. I'm not able to quote chapter and verse often, but it's the words that matter.

Like many of us, I don't spend the time in the Bible that I should. But almost every time I dig in, I have an a-ha moment. Yesterday in church they shared Jude 1:24, and it was such a perfectly simple way to describe my God, I had to reread it at home in the afternoon. It's a prayer of praise, I learned, and I love the way God is described:

"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault."

He keeps me from falling away.

This week's question of the week is a please.

Will you please share a Bible verse that means something important to you, changed your life, moved you recently, sticks in your head and heart or one you just, well, like?

Even if you're not a church-goer, I would bet something comes to mind. The Golden Rule is one for some, my friend likes "...that one about faith as tiny as a mustard seed," and even one man I know who sees himself far from God gets a lot of strength from Isaiah and it's mention of soaring on eagles wings.

I'm not asking you to be a biblical scholar, I'm asking you (again with a please) to be relational.

I can't wait to read your thoughts.

Sushi anyone?

As a girls' night out/let's learn something new kind of experience, my friend Jeanette hosted a sushi making party last night. Since I'm not a cook, I was feeling a little anxious about this event. I joked I was going to make candy sushi.

Turns out, I wasn't joking...

Isn't it the cutest?

Okay, back to the party, Jeanette demonstrated for us, and then she set us free. She had stations set up through her kitchen and dining room.

(Aren't you digging on her "looks like Victoria's Secret bags" vinyl cloths? Well, it was a girls' night!)

First was the seaweed (shiny side down). I could handle this step.

Spread with rice (too thick this first time),

I rolled and came up with:

Edible, but too fat.

So I did it all again.

My much more compact sushi is on the top row of the platter. Filled with egg and carrots, it's not too shabby for a second effort.

By the way, Tracy was my side-by-side tutor. I couldn't have done any of it without her encouragement!

Now for the moment of truth, time to eat.

Meh. It was fun to make, but I'm still not a fan of eating it.

Andi got fancy and made hers rice outside. It looked so amazing!

Jen and Janet talked and worked.

Everyone talked and ate.

My daughter friends chopsticking their creations.

A great idea for a girls' night out! Thanks Jeanette!

And a special thanks to Agnes. I used your mat, we all used your seaweed and plates, and some of us even ate your Wasabi.

Greening, bit by little bit

This little pile of stuff doesn't look like much, but it's the start of one of my projects for the day. I've been keeping in mind the verse from Genesis,

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden

to work it and to take care of it."

I've started to look more earnestly for more things I can do to reduce my impact on the environment.

Kane County has a monthly electronics recycling event, and the list of things they accept is extensive. This little pile is what I found in our office, and later on Brad and I are heading to the basement to see what else we can recycle.

Cool too, while looking to see what types of things Goodwill industries takes, I learned they have an extensive computer recycling program that benefits both them and God's earth.

Impressive!

So long self

On Wednesday evening, I was out walking, and I had what I'll call a body revelation. I've been thinking about it since then, though I didn't really expect to share it here. This morning I feel compelled to.

Readers of this blog know I struggle a bit with my body image and I have a particular frustration with my thighs. The truth is, and this is not a disparaging comment, though I'm fairly slender overall I am also curvy. I have hips. I am a woman.

I will never state anything bad about my body on this blog again.

I will work to not utter such words in conversation.

I will work harder to not think harmful thoughts about myself.

I am not perfect but...

I am loved.

My legs take me places I want to go.

My legs take me places I need to go.

My smile makes others smile.

My skinny arms still give good hugs.

The shape of my body doesn't impact my friendships.

The shape of my body doesn't hinder my teaching talents.

I have been blessed with incredible health.

My husband loves my body.

God thinks I'm His masterpiece.

So:

I am not flawed.

I will continue to work towards strength.

I will stop comparing myself to other women, particularly much younger women.

I will gratefully accept the gifts God has bestowed on me.

At our church, we believe in confiding in accountability partners, in sharing things we're struggling with to make them real. You are now my partner in this. I invite you to call me on this any time. If my words are harmful to myself, let me know.

Will you?

Now, be good to yourself.

Our Second Second

Why do I always feel like I have to explain this?

Brad and I were married in a civil ceremony (at the Kane County Courthouse) in April two years ago. Then two years ago today, we were married at our church (which was really a high school).

Anyway, we celebrate both anniversaries because, well, life is worth celebrating!

To celebrate today, here are only a few photos* from that day.

(Vintage dress for a vintage bride...my mom's dress reworked a bit for me.)

So the words for this Wednesday are from a wall hanging we received as a wedding gift,

"May Christ always be at the heart of this marriage.

'...a chord of

three strands

is not easily broken.'"

Ecclesiastes 4:12

*Photos taken by Jim Stewart

"I can't believe you still have...

...that bike."

Okay, to be honest, no one has ever said that to me (feel free though).

I graduated from junior high in June, 1974. Yes, that was a long time ago. Yes, I am old.

For gifts, many of my friends received new Schwinn bikes from their parents. My parents understandably said, "If you want one of those expensive bikes, you'll have to save up and buy one for yourself."

So I saved.

For a year.

(Think about this, I made about a dollar an hour for baby-sitting at the time. I also bought Christmas gifts for family and friends and had to pay for my own "fun stuff"--this includes movies at the Elk Grove Cinema, and many different colors of nail polish.

The following June I walked into Elk Grove Schwinn and bought, for $147.95 (plus tax), a russet colored ten-speed Continental. My first ride was the three miles home. Boy, I was so proud of that bike. I rode it like crazy and locked it wherever I went; I even locked it in my own garage. I inflated the tires (to 90 psi) each time I rode it, and I wiped it dry if I ever got caught riding in the rain.

A year into owning it, it fell over, and the handlebar tape was torn about a half centimeter. That remains its only boo-boo.

I had it tuned up when Mac was little, and I rode him around in a helmet and baby-seat.

I haven't actually ridden this bike in about 20 years. But I still have it.

Why? I guess because I earned it, I valued it, I loved it.

So...

This week's question of the week is:

What "silly" thing do you hold onto that few others would understand your attachment to?

We all have snips of our babies' hair or special photos or ticket stubs from concerts, but I guess I'm looking for something less "trinkety." Like, my friend Brenda for the longest time held onto the dress she wore at her H.S. graduation. Still have it B? And Debbie, who I was chatting with at church last week still has her Barbie AND her Barbie Dream House.

Come on, do tell...

Church in the Park

Well, as you know, our church campus is meeting in a synagogue this summer while they work on the HS where we usually meet. This weekend, the temple was in use, so our campus leaders decided we'd have church at a park.

Oh my gosh, we had a blast:

acoustic worship,

a fresh breeze,

great teaching (as usual),

FIVE baptisms,

and a picnic.

I'll save you from photos of us chowing down.

Oh yeah, and a visit from Tony the Jersey Cow who brought us a little lesson in patience...

Yep, he's a male with udders. Don't ask, he's from Jersey, who knows how he'd react...

A great day, between Brad and I we took 140 snaps. Whittling them down to these two hand fulls was tough!

(If you're a friend of mine on facebook, I've made an album of them there.)

My little part in the day?

I was blessed with the opportunity to read each testimony. Before each person was dunked, I read their stories, and what wonderful stories they were!

Waterfall Glen

Today, Brad and I got off our beaten path, got in my little red car, and drove to Waterfall Glen near Darien. We were definitely in need of a change of scenery.

When we got there, we scoped out a trail map only to learn the routes were pretty short or pretty long (as in 9.2 miles). So we headed in figuring we'd walk a while and then turn around.

We made it to just about 3.25 miles (some bits past this sign) before turning back. Not too shabby, 6.5 miles over all and a vicious blister for me to prove it.

Next time, we are bringing our bikes, a picnic lunch and the goal of finding the waterfall!

These pink "weeds" were all over, interspersed and entangled with other plants, but we came across this thicket of them

Crossing a road that cut through the woods, we spied these deer. This was as close as I could get to them. Note them checking me out. Lush.

Is this poison ivy? I really don't know what it looks like.

Brad will say, "Oh my legs are white!"

I love craggy trees.

My Oh So Guilty Pleasures

Some of these I partake in/enjoy regularly, some are hit-or-miss (though admittedly, when I miss them, I do find myself missing them.) Please don't judge me, I'm admitting great weaknesses here.

Oh wait, I heard about some stunningly guilty things from you, so I think I'm good! The following is a list of things (in no particular order) that when indulged in I enjoy thoroughly, but probably should avoid totally:

1. The Real Housewives of New York/New Jersey*

Orange County and Atlanta didn't grab me, but, oh boy, those eastern ladies did.

In my defense some of these women strike me as being of good character.

No? You disagree?

Okay then how about this...when I admitted this guilty pleasure to a friend at church who teaches at a prestigious college in Chicago, she confessed she watches EVERY episode of

"Rock of Love."

2. The three major fast food restaurants that serve diet Pepsi--

Taco Bell, KFC, or Pizza Hut. Oh, I jones for T-Bell.

3. Mary Higgins Clark books

I usually read one a summer. I find I've fallen behind, so this summer I have read two. Not quality literature. In fact, they were awful.

4. Tater Tots with BBQ sauce and salt

So NOT healthy.

5. And whilst we're there...chewy candy

Mike & Ikes, Twizzlers, Red Vines.

And now, thanks to the comment Shannon made on Monday's post, I have found that Menard's (of all places) has a great assortment of the chewy stuff. I crave it; I give in to the crave--pictured above are spice drops for Shannon who came for dinner last night and fruit slices for me which are already more than half gone.

6. N'SYNC

Mac used to buy their CDs for me. Now if that doesn't prove he loves me, what does? Smart boy that he is, he would buy them used, BUT at the store he frequented, he had to ask for them by name. "Bye, bye, bye."

7. Napping

Ahhhhhhh. Twenty minutes is all I need, and I often fulfill that need.

8. The People's Court

I love Marilyn Milian. She can be incredibly gracious, but she's to the point.

Sometimes I wish I could talk to people like she does--I don't mean in Spanish, though that would be cool too--and get away with it.

9. diet Mountain Dew

Looks like anti-freeze, tastes like I don't know what, but every once in a while, I just need one.

10. People

You know, the magazine?

For a long time I subscribed, and now, when I see one on the newsstand, I swear, I twitch as I walk past it without buying it.

I currently read Vanity Fair, but I'm a People lover at heart.

11. Sleeping in my Blackhawks T-shirt

Mac won it in a bar over the winter.

Along with a Hawks logo, it also sports a couple of Bud Light logos.

I have nice jammies, but this is just soooo comfy and cute with boy shorts.

It's a very good thing that Brad likes it too!

12. George Michael songs

Particularly "Faith" and "Father Figure"

13. Whack-a-Mole, Skee-Ball and air hockey

All great ways to get out aggression.

My son no longer clamors to be taken to arcades (good thing, he's practically 23), but when he was younger, he'd play video games, and I'd go old school quarter games.

I miss those days...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there's my list.

I have never claimed to be classy, never refined. This list points out how low-brow I can go.

Thank you for loving me anyway.

*I once compared a family member to acting like one of the Real Housewives. I was truly only teasing,and I apologized earnestly, but it seriously damaged our relationship.

Green in THE Word

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."

Genesis 2:15

I knew there was a directive from God in the Bible about caring about Earth, and I didn't have to read very far to find it.

We not only get to enjoy our planet, but He means us to be careful with it.

What you can you do differently to care for our home?

What can I?