Hanging out with a friend: clockwise from top is Boo, Bunka, Melon and our buddy.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Be Bold; Keep the Rules
I glanced at the cover of what I thought I had brought home from the library "free" pile of magazines. It wasn't the one I thought I'd grabbed. It was a magazine I hadn't seen before called "More" for women over 40.
Wanting to be open minded, I read through the highlighted articles. The largest, with a big picture of Diane Keaton read: "Be Bold, Break the Rules."
You know what? It's not at all bold to break the rules. Not really. Not now. Breaking the rules, especially the perceived rules, is somewhat of a sport.
Take a look at any lifestyle or personality section of any paper or magazine. The headlines revel in rule-breaking. When was the last time you opened the local paper to read the elevating story of a monagamous couple celebrating the birth of their 5th, 6th, 7th, etc. child? Or are you more likely to hear of drug use, jail sentences, wild parties, scanty clothes and various liasons? Now, I know I sound like a cranky old lady, but really, what's the challenge in following the crowd?
Being a veteran rule-breaker, I have to tell you, it's quite simple to break the rules. It's so much easier to let the tide of anger or sloth sweep you away from what you should be doing, or not doing. Ahem.
Truly, it's more of a challenge to keep the rules. Wouldn't it be easier to simply say, "Gee, I've had enough of sock wads near (not in) the hamper. You're out of here buddy!" than to bite your tongue and pick up the said sock wad? For the billionth time. Try it. Just for a day. Keep your tone gentle and your words kind. Or, more personally, eat only what you need. Where's the glory in pushing away the second helping? NOT eating the gooey chocolate dessert? Be bold. Keep the Rules.
Wanting to be open minded, I read through the highlighted articles. The largest, with a big picture of Diane Keaton read: "Be Bold, Break the Rules."
You know what? It's not at all bold to break the rules. Not really. Not now. Breaking the rules, especially the perceived rules, is somewhat of a sport.
Take a look at any lifestyle or personality section of any paper or magazine. The headlines revel in rule-breaking. When was the last time you opened the local paper to read the elevating story of a monagamous couple celebrating the birth of their 5th, 6th, 7th, etc. child? Or are you more likely to hear of drug use, jail sentences, wild parties, scanty clothes and various liasons? Now, I know I sound like a cranky old lady, but really, what's the challenge in following the crowd?
Being a veteran rule-breaker, I have to tell you, it's quite simple to break the rules. It's so much easier to let the tide of anger or sloth sweep you away from what you should be doing, or not doing. Ahem.
Truly, it's more of a challenge to keep the rules. Wouldn't it be easier to simply say, "Gee, I've had enough of sock wads near (not in) the hamper. You're out of here buddy!" than to bite your tongue and pick up the said sock wad? For the billionth time. Try it. Just for a day. Keep your tone gentle and your words kind. Or, more personally, eat only what you need. Where's the glory in pushing away the second helping? NOT eating the gooey chocolate dessert? Be bold. Keep the Rules.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
8 Things about me
So Minnesota Mom has challenged me to tattle on myself a bit. I'll have to think hard and come up with at least one she doesn't know yet from my denizen of dark secrets. Hmmm...
1. I speak french; not well, but I try. I began learning french when the german class was too full at our little high school and I was told to take the class if I wanted to have a foreign language credit that semester. But why a foreign language? I decided in 8th grade that taking a foreign language was mysterious and exciting, like being a spy or taking typing. (Seriously, that the was mental equation)
2. I secretly aspire to be a writer someday. I have always loved to put pen to paper and be part of that mysterious creation. Which leads me to #3:
3. I am a serious, dyed in the wool, hard-core procrastinator. I "have all the good intentions" and so on, but I get lost in the shuffle of daily life. Admittedly, I have made real progress through the years, but making and keeping priorites, is, well, something I'm still learning.
4. I have lived in 7 states: Indiana, Minnesota, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, and Alaska. How's that for geography? North to South, East to West and a bit in the middle. Brian says the next move will have to be to a territory, just to keep up the theme. (The next move?!?) I never cease to be amazed at the goodness of people and how unique each place is and was.
5. I am not a "natural" mom. I have always admired moms who effortlessly cuddle their wee babes and straighten their young men's ties with finesse and affection. To me, this is a learned skill. God, in His infinite goodness has given me oodles of grace in this area.
6. I have 8 siblings: 5 here with us and 3 wee 'uns rejoicing in the beatific vision. I am number 4 and have yet to learn how to not cook far more food than the 4 1/2 of us here need to eat.
7. I am a collector of things. I love teapots and baskets, fabric and paper, books (and books and books and books) and all office supplies. Hence, I am having a garage sale before moving across town in a few short weeks.
8. I have a wickedly short temper. St. Jerome is my bud. He knows my need. This is one of those "growing with time and grace" things. I still boil over sometimes, but most of it gets dealt with inside rather than after the fact. Mercifully, Our Lord also gave me a fairly short memory. While I might have been wildly angry yesterday, I might not remember why today. Only that I need to apologize.
So, who to tag? How about Lauren, both Summa Mamas, and Helen? That's not 8, but it is what I came up with.
For this meme, each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules
of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At
the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then
goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have
been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
1. I speak french; not well, but I try. I began learning french when the german class was too full at our little high school and I was told to take the class if I wanted to have a foreign language credit that semester. But why a foreign language? I decided in 8th grade that taking a foreign language was mysterious and exciting, like being a spy or taking typing. (Seriously, that the was mental equation)
2. I secretly aspire to be a writer someday. I have always loved to put pen to paper and be part of that mysterious creation. Which leads me to #3:
3. I am a serious, dyed in the wool, hard-core procrastinator. I "have all the good intentions" and so on, but I get lost in the shuffle of daily life. Admittedly, I have made real progress through the years, but making and keeping priorites, is, well, something I'm still learning.
4. I have lived in 7 states: Indiana, Minnesota, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, and Alaska. How's that for geography? North to South, East to West and a bit in the middle. Brian says the next move will have to be to a territory, just to keep up the theme. (The next move?!?) I never cease to be amazed at the goodness of people and how unique each place is and was.
5. I am not a "natural" mom. I have always admired moms who effortlessly cuddle their wee babes and straighten their young men's ties with finesse and affection. To me, this is a learned skill. God, in His infinite goodness has given me oodles of grace in this area.
6. I have 8 siblings: 5 here with us and 3 wee 'uns rejoicing in the beatific vision. I am number 4 and have yet to learn how to not cook far more food than the 4 1/2 of us here need to eat.
7. I am a collector of things. I love teapots and baskets, fabric and paper, books (and books and books and books) and all office supplies. Hence, I am having a garage sale before moving across town in a few short weeks.
8. I have a wickedly short temper. St. Jerome is my bud. He knows my need. This is one of those "growing with time and grace" things. I still boil over sometimes, but most of it gets dealt with inside rather than after the fact. Mercifully, Our Lord also gave me a fairly short memory. While I might have been wildly angry yesterday, I might not remember why today. Only that I need to apologize.
So, who to tag? How about Lauren, both Summa Mamas, and Helen? That's not 8, but it is what I came up with.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Overheard
Preteen daughter, holding 6 month old bald-as-a-peach Bunka, freshly bathed: "I used volumizing shampoo. I think it helped."
Thursday, May 31, 2007
May flowers bring good neighbors
This was the first May Day that refused to slip by unnoticed by us. Inspired, as we so often are, by Minnesota Mom, we made a handful of May baskets and deposited them on our neighbors doors.
Keep in mind that is it more our custom (when I say our, I mean my) to procrastinate and look back with regret after the fact at the missed opportunity. So this was, genuinely, a coup.
We don't know our neighbors well. Although we have been here for over 2 years in our "temporary" duplex, for the most part we haven't taken many opportunities to extend ourselves. Many neighbors have come and gone, as is the case in most rental areas. Our little cul-de-sac is entirely duplexes, largely owned by landlords, though a few are owned by tenant landlords. They live in one half while the other half is rented out.
Such is the case with our nearest neighbor. They have been here, if I remember correctly, as long as we have. But things have not been as quiet and simple as one might desire. In fact, there were a few dramatic moments. Like the one where I flew breathlessly down the steps and begged the gentleman to please, please, please not allow his dear pets to use our yard in the process of their "morning duty." He was taken aback, partly I am sure by my appearance, the hour, and my begging.
So imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang a few days into the month of May early in the day. I was still in robe, so I let eldest son answer. It was the neighbor. She had a pot of clever little "roses" to give to us, thanking us for the May basket. Each was a silk flower attached to a pen, pushed into several inches of pinto beans.
I was humbled. Here it took us so long to do a little something kind and how much it would have saved us! And the very next weekend, Mr. Neighbor cleaned and raked our back yard while we were away! Lesson learned (I hope!) as we prepare to have new neighbors.
Keep in mind that is it more our custom (when I say our, I mean my) to procrastinate and look back with regret after the fact at the missed opportunity. So this was, genuinely, a coup.
We don't know our neighbors well. Although we have been here for over 2 years in our "temporary" duplex, for the most part we haven't taken many opportunities to extend ourselves. Many neighbors have come and gone, as is the case in most rental areas. Our little cul-de-sac is entirely duplexes, largely owned by landlords, though a few are owned by tenant landlords. They live in one half while the other half is rented out.
Such is the case with our nearest neighbor. They have been here, if I remember correctly, as long as we have. But things have not been as quiet and simple as one might desire. In fact, there were a few dramatic moments. Like the one where I flew breathlessly down the steps and begged the gentleman to please, please, please not allow his dear pets to use our yard in the process of their "morning duty." He was taken aback, partly I am sure by my appearance, the hour, and my begging.
So imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang a few days into the month of May early in the day. I was still in robe, so I let eldest son answer. It was the neighbor. She had a pot of clever little "roses" to give to us, thanking us for the May basket. Each was a silk flower attached to a pen, pushed into several inches of pinto beans.
I was humbled. Here it took us so long to do a little something kind and how much it would have saved us! And the very next weekend, Mr. Neighbor cleaned and raked our back yard while we were away! Lesson learned (I hope!) as we prepare to have new neighbors.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
A Successful Hunt
So the house we originally had our little hearts set on sold to a different family. But within a few days, and many houses later, we found the exact same model house (they're everywhere!) for only a wee bit more with every little thing updated. St. Joe's good.
Now we wait. The closing isn't scheduled for 7 more weeks, but, if all goes well, we'll be using our new school room by the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. And that, I think, would please St. Joseph.
Now we wait. The closing isn't scheduled for 7 more weeks, but, if all goes well, we'll be using our new school room by the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. And that, I think, would please St. Joseph.
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