My Husband, the Scavenger

Bob is a scavenger. Period. Exclamation point.

Yesterday we were on our way home from - dare I say the words - Wal-Mart. We were just getting on the ramp to get onto Rt. 50, when out of the blue, Bob swerves to the shoulder and brakes. I was daydreaming and listening to Christmas music. Wal-Mart stresses me. I look in the side mirror for flashing lights and listen for sirens. Was it an ambulance or police car? Nothing. No lights. No sirens. "What's wrong?", I ask. He says, as he is backing down the on ramp: "I think I saw a socket back there." "A what?" I asked. "A socket." says he. All the time I am looking in the side mirror just waiting for someone to come onto the ramp and not see us and rear end us and who's fault would that be? Hm? Yea, I thought so.

"Yep. It's a socket." he says as he is exiting the van. "Lordy, look where you're going Bob!" I'm thinking. Next vision is someone side swiping him - all for a socket. And, not just any socket I may add, but a 3/8 universal, almost brand new, except for a little "road wear", and pricey. Good gravy Marie! He was quite pleased.

This man will stop for anything, but bungee cords. There's trillions of them along the road. And we always need them! Go figure.

But. . . my question for the day is: "How does one see such small things on the side of the road when you are traveling at, let's just say, 30 to 75 mph? How?"

I've told him, one of these days you are going to stop for something and it's not going to be what you want to see. So, consider yourself warned.

What's a woman to do? What, may I ask?

Happy Birthday, Carrie!

Happy Birthday, Carrie!

Hope you have a wonderful day.

Um. . . I snagged the pic from your FB album!

I'm good at that - *tee-hee*

It really fit the occasion.

Love ya!

AC

Case of the Moods

I'm not sure why I'm writing tonight. I just feel the urge. If I don't write, I'll surely hurt someone and we don't want that to happen now do we. I also feel like spelling every other word wrong. How's that for a mild case of rebellion? Not bad, if I say so myself. You may turn the page now if you are sensitive and don't want to read, otherwise, read at your own risk.

I get into these "moods" every now and again. It's all okay. I wouldn't really injure anyone and I eventually right myself. But I must have them. Otherwise I would eat 300 pounds chocolate a day and maybe, for added kicks and giggles, about 20 gallons of ice cream on top of 20, 9x13, pans of brownies loaded with 20 bags of chocolate chips for good measure. Ha! Now that's what I'm talkin' about.

So. . . . you're probably wondering why I'm in such an intolerable mood. I would like to say: "Because I can be." , but that's not really appropriate - or is it? Hmmm. . . . Well aside from the fact that I am dog tired, my house is upside down, my kitchen isn't done, (and its bugging the daylights out of me), we are in the proverbial bread line, again. Did I say I am tired? Dog tired? Being unemployed drains me emotionally and physically. And it sets me up to have these nasty moods. Most of the time I roll with it. Right now, not happening. But, this too shall pass. It is just a season. I don't know how long it will last, but I know it won't last forever. Amen on that.

I know I am in the cleft of His hand. I know I am secure during the turbulent rides. But, they are turbulent none the less. And sometimes it is a bit frightening. And it is dark. And I don't like the dark. So I have to remind me that He has me. But sometimes I forget to remind me and let my emotions take charge. And take charge they do. But I know it will be okay. It always is. With that, tomorrow is a brand new day. With brand new opportunities. I am making it my job to look beyond those gray clouds I love so much at times to the Son that shines behind them. My silver lining is there - somewhere. I just know it is. He promises me.

I'm better already. Just had to scrawl it out.

100 Mile an Hour Tape

I've talked to Jenny a lot this weekend. She called Sunday and told me she had put up her outdoor Christmas decorations. She had hung some green light spheres on her porch. The cords had hung down so she taped them up with clear packing tape. We tossed around a few other options, just in case, and I finally ended with: "If the clear tape won't hold up to the weather, just get some hundred mile an hour tape and use that." She thought she would be okay with the packing tape, and I said, "you're probably right".

She called me again tonight on her way home and was chatting to kill the time. Our conversation went something akin to this:

Chat, chat, chat.
Chat, chat, chat.
Chat, chat, chat.

Then - the hightlight of our conversation!

Jenny: "The packing tape didn't hold. It started coming down. I sent Todd to Home Depot last night to get some hundred mile an hour tape. He couldn't find it, so he asked a sales person where it was. The sales person told him he has never heard of it. They didn't know what it was. He came home empty handed. So I asked at work today if they knew what hundred mile an hour tape was. They hadn't heard of it either. What is it Mom? I don't want to use duct tape unless I have to."

Me: (inside my head: Bahahahahahahahaha! ! ! ! ! Bahahahahahaha! ! ! !) Sorry
It is the same thing as duct tape, Jenny. (inside my head: bahahahahaha! ! ! ! ) Sorry. Again.

What is the world coming to when your local hardware stores don't know what hundred mile an hour tape is? That's all we ever called duct tape when I was growing up. And still do, as a mater of fact. And, I knew the story behind it, to boot.
Oh. . . . you haven't heard of it either? Well, let me enlighten you as to how it got it's name:

100MPH tape according to Urban Dictionary: (just in case you wouldn't believe me)

Army slang for what civilians commonly call duct tape. The actual army name for it is olive drab green reinforcement tape which is what you would need to call it if you were to order it from the army supply store (GSA).

The story goes that during WWII the army asked Johnson & Johnson to develop a seal that would keep moisture out of their ammo cans. J&J answered with OD green reinforcement tape. It is said that the tape was so effective at keeping moisture out that water would bead off it like "water off a duck's back" earning it the name "duck tape". Duck tape would end up having multiple uses in the military, though; with supply short during WWII, duck tape became the military's answer to fixing equipment in the field. Seeing how effective, efficient, and versatile a roll the tape played in the military, J&J marketed the tape to civilians as a fix all. The tape became known as "duct tape", but I'm not sure if this is because the most common usage was to hold ducts together or because civilians misheard the name.

Throughout the history of the military, supply was always an issue, and in the event that GI's didn't have the proper tools to fix something they would use duck tape. As a fix all, duck tape was so effective that it was said it could hold a jeep together travelling at 100 mph, hence the common army name "100 mile an hour tape." Ask anyone from the army what it is and they'll tell you.

So Jenny, use duct (duck) tape. I don't think the makers of hundred mile an hour tape will mind.

My Sunday

My Sunday has been lovely. Waking up to bright sunshine is wonderful. Makes my mornings more tolerable!

1. I really appreciated today's message in church. It was on Proverbs 14:34:

"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

In a nut shell: We must beware the reproach of sin. It is repulsive in its nature. It is shameful, it offends a Holy God and it brings down the name of Christ. Sin is scandalous, unrighteous, wicked, and shows lack of faith. Sin is a reproach to others. It affects them and it affects without fail.

On the flip side: Righteousness exalts or lifts up. We ought to practice it, promote it, and preach it - pointing others toward the way of righteousness.

Made me examine myself. Period.

2. When we got home from church today Ben had made french toast! Yummy. What a nice thing to walk in to. I was a happy camper! Yea for guys that aren't afraid to cook!


3. But. . . before I could eat, there was a knock at the front door. When I opened it, there stood my little Goldilocks with a motorcycle helmet on her tiny little head! I looked beyond her and there sat her mode of transportation. A HARLEY! Kelly's roommate's daughter's grandfather was giving the girls rides.

She's too tiny. Sniffle, sniffle. And she's wearing flip flops. Horror, horror!

Bye, bye my sweet thing. Hang on now! Don't let go!

Ah, another one of my treasures. Same thing. Flip flops. Horror, horror!

It's okay! Just hang on! Don't be frightened!

Well, they weren't frightened at all. In fact, they loved it! And grand pa was very mindful of them. I am glad he brought them by so I could see! I think Pop-pop may have been a little jealous, though. A HARLEY, of all things! ! !

Blessings. . . . when you least expect them.

I've had several blessings this week. All of them quite unexpected and from unusual places.

1. From Christie's blog - via FB:
Isaiah 46:4 NKJV: "Even to your old age, I am He. And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
I am certainly at the gray hair stage, and I am certainly, eternally grateful that God will still carry me!

2. Kelly texted me and said she didn't feel well and was staying home today. This meant she would have Piper. I was sorry she felt bad, but being babyless opened the doors for me to get odd things done. Like: trimming around the baseboards with paint, laundry and - a blog post over on my other blog.

3. And because I didn't have Piper, I went to Kohls with my 30% coupon in hand and got things I needed. ie: jeans, shoes, *wink* and a Trans Siberian CD! And, and I got $10.00 Kohls cash!
Ta-da! ! !

4. As I was pulling into Marshalls (after my Kohls run) I was listening to Dr. J. Vernon Megee. He was very, um, adamant today. A couple of things spoke to me in his message:
A. People are too busy "playing church".
B. He doesn't like it when people say "I've given my life to Christ." He already has our life. He wants our righteousness!

5. I read a blog that Heidi had linked to on FB. I really did relate to that. About not judging people so quickly. You never know what they are feeling or what they are going thru at that moment in time. But to be sensitive to the hearts of others. A little kindness goes a long, long way.

How perfect the timing has been - only God is capable of putting so many things out there from so many different people to minister to what I need at this moment in time. It never ceases to amaze me. Never.

My Poetry

"The Leaves of Fall"

Fall's leaves are blowing thru the air
Like bright, electric snow.
Scurrying across the waiting ground
With no particular place to go.

They pay no heed to daily tasks
Such things, as humans do.
Only falling from the trees around
So earth can start anew.

When night does fall they gather close
On the ground, 'tis where they'll rest.
Waiting for that cool crisp air
That becomes a blanket upon their chest.

When the sun shines upon them in the morn
They'll be heavy laden with night's frost.
It has settled upon their quietness
But not all is counted loss.

They'll glisten as the sun shines bright
While on the ground they lay.
Waiting for the suns' sweet warmth
To drive the dew away.

Then they'll hustle excitedly
Across the ground some more.
Much like the startled geese
Headed for distant shores.

Until such time the earth reclaims
Them back to the dirt below,
They will journey in the fall
Allowing their colors to richly glow.

And we will be most sweetly blessed
If we but stop to enjoy
What God has put upon His earth
For every man, woman, girl and boy.

Crickett

Sometimes. . . .

. . . you just can't wait.

This morning as I was fixing Piper's cereal, I put her in her bouncy seat. She likes it and I figured it would keep her occupied the three or four minutes it would take to get her breakfast ready. I could hear her "complaining" so I tried to hurry. It does no good to try to feed an angry be`be`. When I arrived upon said be`be`, this is how I found her:


Sound asleep. No two ways about it. She was out on her feet. Literally. I did manage to get her awake enough for her cereal, but the bottle - well, it went down the drain. That little gal slept 'til noon!

Oh, the joys of grand-mother-hood!

I Did It! I Did It! I Did It!

I did it!

I cut my hair!

Short!

That's all I have to say about that. :)