March 31, 2018

March 30, 2018

Saturday 9: Easter Parade

There's so much to do this weekend, but I'm carving out some time to join in with Sam and the rest of the gang for the Saturday 9 and a little Easter fun. Thanks, as always, for a great song and questions, Sam. I don't know how you find the time to come up with all the background info and questions based on each song.

Ok, let's get at it and if you enjoy it be sure to visit the Saturday 9 site to find links to all the other bloggers playing along. Maybe you'd even like to play along? Please do. We love making new friends!


Saturday 9: Easter Parade ("In Your Easter Bonnet") (1948)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a special Easter hat to be worn with your "Sunday best." Will you be getting dressed up this weekend?

No.  We don't attend a church right now so I won't be dressing up for a service and we're a pretty casual family. We don't dress up for family holidays. 

I loved this song for some reason when I was a kid. Maybe because we still dressed up for Easter. I always got a new dress, hat, and purse for Easter. I think there were a few years that I wore gloves, too. I don't remember doing any of that except the dress beyond the very early 1970s.  The Easter dress didn't go by the wayside until the 80s.  After that, I'd still dress up but didn't get a new dress every year.


2) Judy Garland's partner in this movie was supposed to be Gene Kelly, but he was unavailable because he broke his ankle playing volleyball. Have you ever lost a big opportunity because of a medical issue?

Maybe.  I interviewed for a job at Cedar Point (a huge amusement park in Ohio) when I was in college.  Unfortunately, I was sick as a dog the day of the interviews and only found out later in the day that I was running a fever of 105! I ended up spending a week in the infirmary, missed my mid-terms, and was still not well for at least two weeks after being released and sent home.  I didn't exactly make the greatest impression in that condition. I was very disappointed at the time.

3) Garland later confessed that, at first, she would have preferred Kelly because she knew him well and was intimidated by Fred Astaire. By the end of filming, she found she enjoyed Astaire a great deal. Can you think of a friend with whom you had a rocky relationship at the beginning?

No. I can't think of any that started out rocky.  I can think of a few that ended rocky.
 
4) This song was inspired by New York City's Easter Parade. Does your community host a similar event?

No. We have the biggest 4th of July parade in the region and a decent Christmas parade. I don't think an Easter parade is in the budget.


5) The biggest chocolate Easter egg was made in Italy, measured 34 feet tall and weighed a staggering 15,000 lbs. Do you thinks it's possible to have too much chocolate?

Well, I do love my chocolate, but yes, I do think you can have too much of a good thing.

6) Jelly beans are also popular this time of year. A 2013 poll tells us that red is by far the favorite jelly bean color, with yellow a distant second. Do you have a preference?

I like the orange ones (and will throw the black ones away!), unless we're talking about Jelly Belly Beans....then I like the light green, pear flavored ones.


7) We've been talking a lot about sweets this morning. The only holiday that generates more candy sales is Halloween. When do you eat more candy: Easter or Halloween?
Probably at Halloween because that candy is in the house for a while.  The Easter candy goes home with the grandkids...if they don't eat it all while they are here.  (My son's kids are only allowed candy on holidays/special occasions so when they get their hands on it they go a little nuts.

8) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated?

Spending time praying and reading the bible, rocking out to a favorite song on the radio, summer mornings, a great day with family or friends, a road trip with no plan, the last day of the school year....knowing that I am on vacation for the next 3 months.


9)  This year, April Fool's Day happens to coincide with Easter Sunday. Do you expect to fall victim to any pranks this weekend?

No. We've never been big prankers, but I did consider this one.



Thanks for playing along. Have a great day!

Trying a New Look

I'm tired of the old look of the blog. Let me know what you think. Is it attractive? Is it easy to use?  What do you like/not like?

March 29, 2018

Thankful Thursday: Easter Thanks

I've missed a couple of Thankful Thursdays lately, but there is no way I could skip it during this holiest of weeks for those who believe in Christ Jesus.  Join with me today as I link up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand to "count my many blessings."


This week I am thankful....

* above all else, that Jesus was obedient to the Father's plan to save His people from death and an eternity separated from Him. That though He, Himself was without sin, He willingly took on all the sin of the world...He took on my sin...and became the perfect, final atoning sacrifice once and for all time.



* that the Lord never gave up on me. He loved me and pursued me until my heart finally opened to Him.


* for the Random Journal Day Reunion taking place over on my friend's blog, Enthusiastically, Dawn.  I've been reading some great posts by the others who have linked up and it has been a blessing.  You can see my post here.

* for the bit of insight one of those reunion goers shared concerning Jesus's night in the garden. One line of scripture that I have somehow never taken notice of in Luke's account of that final night. In Luke 22:42, we find Jesus praying to the Father.  He asks, if it is possible, that "this cup" be taken from Him (He was afraid of what was coming), but even afraid to the point of sweating blood, he says "not My will, but Yours be done."  He was willing to be obedient no matter what. 

It's the next verse that I've not noticed before. Luke 22:43 says, "And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him."  God heard His Son's cries and sent an angel to comfort him!  That blows me away.  I don't want to tell you all about Pamela's post.  If you'd like to read it, go here.

* that we had a 2-hour early dismissal today and now I have 4 glorious days off.

* that the final package of parts for the big wooden playset Tim is building for the grandkids came today. (Bless Amazon and their 2-day delivery.)  We hope to have it done (except for the slide, which NO ONE has in stock...not even online) and let them see it on Easter.  It's looking doubtful that they will get to play on it, however.  We are expecting BUCKETS of rain tonight on top of the rain we've had over the last 3 days.  Everything is already a swampy mess, this should put us in build-an-ark territory. Now I hear it's supposed to SNOW on Sunday. Oh well, it'll be done and ready for them whenever they are here.

* for the 2 days of sunshine we had before the rain started.  We don't see many sunny days in the winter here and it sure was a boost to the spirits.

* for Chinese takeout for dinner tonight!

* for all of you.

Have a blessed and happy Easter!

March 28, 2018

Random Journal Day Reunion

A long time ago, in another blogging life, I met a blogger named Dawn who loved journals, diaries, and planners as much as I do.  She also loved God and the beach.  We became fast blog buddies.  

Over the years, Dawn's blogging and passion for journaling evolved into something much bigger.  While my own blogging stagnated, she began reviewing journals (you really should watch her cute YouTube videos), hosting giveaways, writing great poems and having them published, leading how-to journaling boot camps, and this past November her first book, Journaling for Discovery and Delight, went on sale!    

Along the way Dawn united other journalers she had met and created a community.  That group of journaling bloggers met up under the name of Random Journal Day.  Each month Dawn featured a different journal keeper. You can view my month here.  Along with the featured journal keeper, others linked up and shared a post from an archived journal. Eventually, life and busyness took everyone in different directions and RJD fell by the wayside.

This month Dawn invited all of us to an RJD reunion.  She has provided links to many of the group's past posts and provided a place to link up to share about our journaling journeys.  I had forgotten what wonderful writers these ladies are and I'm honored to be included among them.

I'm not sure where this post is going, so I thought I'd begin by answering the prompts Dawn gave us.

How many journals do you have in your archives? Do you harvest your journals? How often?  

I have 5 journals in my "archives." That's not much to show for a lifetime of journaling.  It is, however, 5 more journals than I had back in the days of RJD. The reason why I didn't keep my journals can be found in the same post I mentioned above.  It's a pretty big deal that I'm saving them again. 


Thought you might like to see where I do most of my journaling.
I do love this spot. It's filled with all my favorite things.

This is my summer journaling spot.  Because I don't work
during the summer, I begin most days here with my
Bible, my journal, and my camera.

As for harvesting my journals for writing ideas, I don't.  I do go back and read them again fairly often, but I don't use them to fuel my blogging.  I never have.
How has journaling brought delight into your life?

It's the one place I feel completely free to be myself, to let it all hang out so to speak.  It's also where God and I spend a lot of time hashing things out and all my time with God is pure delight!
What have you discovered through journaling about yourself, others, life etc?

Only everything! Seriously, my journals are where I work through things and admit things and stress over things.  My journals have always been my emotional dump, that place to unload stuff and sort through what's really important and what's just my emotions getting the best of me.  Journaling about a situation helps me see it more clearly and consider it from all sides and that helps me to see where others are coming from, to consider their motives and feelings.

Over the years as my faith has grown, my journals have changed, too. At first I kept separate journals for life and for prayer or Bible study. Then I started keeping it all in the same journal but distinct entries. These days it's all happily blended and muddled up together just like life.

As for what I've learned about myself, I don't know where to start. I often write about what I'm studying in the Bible and as I start writing words begin to flow and thoughts begin to form. God is a tough task master and he has shown me many areas over the years that I need to work on and then we work.


This was last year's journal.
God was a particularly stern taskmaster
last summer and I had much to work on.

The entry on the left side is a list of do's and don'ts
of the Christian life from Romans 12.

Some bright, happy pages.

This page with a picture of a jewelry box filled with
sparkling gems was an entry about choosing
our treasures with wisdom and maturity.

IN what ways has journaling enriched your : daily life, career, mental or physical health, spiritual life, and relationships?

Let me get the career question out of the way first.  It hasn't enriched my career since I don't have one.  I have a job.  There's a difference.  I'm not seeking a career, either.  There was a time when I wanted to be a journalist or maybe even a writer of books and articles, but the door has never opened and I don't desire it these days.  It doesn't seem to be God's leading for me and I'm okay with that.

As for my daily life, I believe I'm a calmer, more patient, and thoughtful person than I used to be.  Journaling helps me settle down and get centered.  It helps me to think through things and organize things and often shows me where I am off track or way out of line.  All of that has been a balm to my mental state.  These days I am much happier and filled with the joy of the Lord.

My physical health surely benefits from the release of stress and pent up emotions and I like to think, well...I hope, my relationships are better because I process irritations and hurts on paper and then forgive, rather than let them fester or blow up at the one I'm irritated with.

We've already covered spiritual benefits, I think.  All that work God and I do on the journal pages has sure made me grow.  Often, when it was the last thing I wanted to do.


This is my current journal. Isn't it pretty?
It's leather and ties shut. I found it in
a clearance bin at Barnes & Noble
for a mere $9! Can you believe it?

Here's a peek inside.

Others use their journals to jot brief bits of inspiration, beautiful poetry, a scripture that speaks to them, or a bit of revelation from God.  Me?  Like Forest Gump and his box of chocolates, I never know what I'm going to get. I just start writing and God takes it from there. It's rambling and free-form and often full of run-on sentences that would make my college journalism professors cringe.  It can be messy (I'm dangerous with a glue stick) and I've been known to fall asleep while writing, leaving an ink trail running off the page.  It's really a lot like me...messy, imperfect, but trying to get better and loving the journey.

Hodgepodge To Go

1. What's a word that describes your life? A word you wish described your life?  

Mundane or lonely could both be applied to my life a lot of the time.  Mundane because it is usually the same old, same old. My husband works so much and has such long commutes to get to project sites that we rarely make plans to do anything or get together with friends because it is likely when the time comes either he will be too tired or he'll get stuck in traffic and not make it home in time.  That's also why lonely often applies.  When he is home, he spends most of the time sleeping.

I'd like it to be more active, I guess.  More filled with all those things I mentioned above that we don't do.

2. Back in my day we___________________________________?


Never sat around like today's kids do. We played outside all day every day and we were rarely bored. Even the kids who were lucky enough to have an Attari game system only played it a little. It was way more fun to go out and run around with our friends. We worked hard, too. In my family it was the huge garden my dad planted every year that kept me busy. It was a given that during the gardening season I had to help in the garden every night after supper. When that was done I could catch up with my friends again. Plus, many afternoons were spent snapping beans or shelling peas. And my friends, they were the kids in my neighborhood...parents didn't drive kids all over the countryside to play with friends. That didn't happen until we could drive ourselves.

3. When it comes to takeout are you more likely to opt for Italian, Mexican, or Chinese food? Does a typical week at your house include takeout?


We are most likely to get Chinese, unless you count pizza as Italian. I love Mexican, but my hubby isn't a big fan. I'd say we get takeout twice a week during the school year when I am working, too. Less often during the summer.

4. Think about the people you most respect. What is it about them that earned your respect?


Whether or not they have integrity and whether or not I can trust them. Those are the two biggest factors for me.

5. What's something your friends might see and say is 'so you'?


I don't know. Anything to do with books or gardening, I guess.  Anything pumpkin-y. Anything in autumn colors. Anything antique. Maybe something unique because I have a quirky sense of humor.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.


So, the story that caught my eye on social media yesterday was that Utah is now the first state to pass a law legalizing "free range" parenting. I had to read up on it to find out what it was. 

Free range parenting is parenting that decides a child is old enough or responsible enough to do certain things unsupervised...like walk to school or play in the park, or even stay home alone.  The first thing that popped into my head was "When did it become illegal to allow your child to do such things?"

I don't have an answer to that last question, but it had to have been in the last 15 years or less.  Going back up to question #2, back in my day ALL the parents would have ended up in jail if it was illegal to run around unsupervised. We ran all over the neighborhood all day long. By the time we were preteens we were allowed to walk or ride our bikes downtown by ourselves. Even when my own kids were growing up, all the neighborhood kids had the freedom to run around the neighborhood all day.

I get that we have to protect the kids who are born to common senseless/uneducated/drug addicted parents, but thankfully, most parents don't fall into those categories so why did we start taking parenting away from the parents?

Thanks for visiting me today! I've linked up
for the Wednesday Hodgepodge.
Stop by and pay her a visit and find
links to all the other Hodgepodgers!

March 24, 2018

Sunday Stealing: Tuesday TMI

These are from Kwizgiver, who says it was Stolen from Samantha who stole it from TMI Tuesday, which stopped publishing in 2011.

(Photo just 'cause Kwizgiver will like it)


1. You can flip a switch that will wipe any band or musical artist out of existence. Which one will it be?  I wouldn't want to totally wipe out any person or group of persons, but if I could eliminate a genre of music I'd go with the really hardcore rap that promotes hate and violence. Death metal would be a close second.

2. You seem to be having an excellent day because you just came across a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk. Holy crap, a hundred bucks! How are you gonna spend it. 
If it was near any business I'd turn it in. Someone may really be needing that and be distraught over losing it.

3. What is your favorite curse word? 
I really, really try not to curse. Sometimes it's harder than I'd like to admit, but usually I don't let fly with anything worse than "Poop on a stick!" or "Crap on a cracker!"

4. You can travel any time in the PAST. What time are you traveling to and what are you going to do when you get there? 
I'd like to go back to the days our country was being formed. I'd like to take news reels, newspapers, and other things showing what we're like today and get the Founding Father's views of what we've become and see if they have any advice. I'd also like to ask them to explain exactly what they had in mind when they wrote the Constitution, what did they envision?

5. You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What’s it gonna be? 
Controlling the weather. No more extremes...or at least not where it can cause so much damage and loss of life.  Or I could use weather to throw a wrench in plans.  Going to start a war today? I don't think so, here's a monsoon for you!  Feel like shooting up a school or mall?  Nope, here's 3 feet of snow that makes it impossible to get anywhere.

6. When did you last use your cell phone as a flashlight? 
It's been a while. I don't remember.

7. On a scale from 1-10, how comfy are you being naked? 
By myself...10. The number drops depending on who and the situation....like it's probably a 9 or 9.5 with my husband, but locker rooms, the doctor's office...all rate lower and differently.

8. When did you last use food or drink to enhance your mood? 
Not any time recently.

9. Give us a word that gets you excited. 
Books. Vacation. Auction. Flea market (two words but one thing). Beach.

10. Now give us one that makes you squirm. 
Taxes. Remodeling. Speak (publicly). Budget. Diet.

11. What word makes you smile? 
Grandkids. Love. Jesus. Kindness.  Thanks.  Sorry.  Hello. Welcome. Nanny.



That's it for this week. I do like these shorter ones. Thanks for throwing them in Bev!  Be sure to visit the Sunday Stealing site to find links to the others playing along or to join in yourself.

As we begin Holy Week I hope each of you has a
blessed and meaningful week!

Saturday 9: Sweet Disaster

I'm off to an auction with my mom tomorrow morning so, I'm getting an early start on the Saturday 9Thanks to Sam for providing the questions each week, hosting and getting them posted ahead of time for those of us who need to get done early.  

Sweet Disaster (2016)

Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.

1) This video begins outside a convenience store with a sign advertising beer, produce, lotto and an ATM. Will you buy beer, produce or a lotto ticket this weekend? Will you visit an ATM?  No beer and no lotto ticket. I will probably buy some produce on Sunday and I will be visiting an ATM in the morning to get cash out for the auction.


2) As the video progresses, fountain drinks and donuts are consumed. When you stop for a snack during a road trip, what do you usually grab?  A Milky Way candy bar and a diet Coke.

3) The lyrics reference "a river of champagne." When did you last enjoy a spot of the bubbly?  I have no idea. Maybe at a taste testing while touring the wineries along the PA/NY border?

4) The end of the video features sci-fi/horror images. Is that a genre you enjoy? If not, what kind of books do you read most often?  Nope. I do NOT like horror. Sci-fi is okay in small doses. I read mysteries and thrillers most often with fun, chick-lit coming in next.

5) The trio that makes up The Dreamers are dyed-in-the-wool New Yorkers. If you could live in any city or village in the world, would you move or stay right where you are?  I would move in a heartbeat if I had the money and if my husband would agree to it...and if my kids and grandkids came, too. I'm not really in love with PA's horrible winters and sweltering summers now that I'm older, but everyone would have to move with me. I really don't think I could stand to move away from our youngest grandson. I am very close to him and there is always the hope that we may still grow closer to our other grands.

6) The Dreamers describe themselves as "impractical."  What about you? Do you consider yourself practical or impractical?  I'm usually practical leaning to the extreme and some of my family thinks I'm a kill-joy when I don't go along with their bright ideas.


7) They also won't "listen to those who doubt" them. Sometimes we find the ones who doubt us most are ourselves. What about you? Are you confident, or do you suffer from self doubt?  I've been working on that the last couple of years and I think I'm a lot more confident than I used to be, but I would suppose that just like most people, I have areas and moments that make me doubt.

8) Do you often remember your dreams?
  Rarely, and when I do, it's because they are strange. Very strange. 

 
 9) Random question: Would you rather get $100 today, or $250 on this
date a year from now?   I'll take $100 today, thanks.  Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. I may be dead a year from now so I'll take the money now. 

March 23, 2018

Currently - March 23

Currently I am...

Reading: A Man Called Ove

Listening toGood Morning America 

Loving: the sunshine...it feels like it's been sooooo long!

Thinking: about all I want to get done today

Feeling: hungry...I haven't had breakfast yet.

Celebrating: that today is a day off...apparently a scheduled in-service day for teachers, but somehow it never registered with me so it feels like a bonus gift!

Grateful for: our new refrigerator...I can't tell you how much I love that thing.

Weather: Currently sunny and in the low 20's but it's going to get close to 40 today.

Enjoying: catching up with my favorite bloggers.

A quote I want to share:



March 21, 2018

Springing Into the Wednesday Hodgepodge

On a 2-hour delay this morning thanks to the snow (will it become a full-blown snow day?), so....I have time to link up with Joyce @ From This Side of the Pond for the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Visit Joyce to play along and find links to others playing.




1. On this first official day of spring tell us something (besides the weather) you're looking forward to in this season of the year. Easter and the whole family getting together. It will be fun to have the 3 grands together now that the littlest guy is on his feet and running.

2. When it comes to spring cleaning would you rather wash windows or wash baseboards? Windows. Clean out closets or clean out the garage? Closets. Dust ceiling fans or dust bookcases? Bookcases. Wipe down the patio furniture outside or wipe down the light fixtures inside?  Patio furniture. Any job that means warm weather is here is a good job. Any of these tasks recently completed? Nope. Spring hasn't actually made an appearance here yet, so spring cleaning isn't on the list of things to do yet.

3. Your favorite thing to make/eat that calls for cream cheese? Strawberry pretzel "salad." Sour cream? Corn spoonbread. Whipped cream?  Jell-o dream pie.

4. I read here a list of commonly mispronounced words. What is a word that gives you trouble when it comes to pronunciation?  Hmm...according to this list I pronounce at least half of them wrong. Aside from the list, I can never get Worcestershire sauce right.


5. What's a song you love with the word 'rain' in the title or lyrics?  November Rain by Guns N' Roses.



6.  Insert your own random thought here.  No real thoughts here. I'm on a 2-hour delay after having to drive in pretty bad weather yesterday. With today's forecast for all-day snow, I'm hoping the call comes through for a snow day. However, while I wait I need to get going and get dressed just in case I have to go. Be safe and warm wherever you are!

March 18, 2018

Sunday Stealing: In the Pink

Linking up with Bev and the gang over at Sunday Stealing for a little Sunday morning fun.  Pay a visit to find links to more players or to join in yourself.



*This from Fickle in Pink, which doesn't seem to be a blog any more.*

1. Do you tend to have a guilty conscious?  If I do something that's wrong or hurtful I certainly feel guilty and heed the prompting to make things right, but I don't think that in general I'm walking around with a guilty conscious or guilt complex.
 
2. Do you still have your wisdom teeth?  No.  I had all 4 removed at the same time when I was a freshman in college. It was done the last day of Christmas break. I ate my favorite pizza that night and had no problems at all. Makes me wonder what oral surgeons are doing different these days that has everyone so swollen, sore and miserable for a couple of weeks afterward.
 
3. Peanut Butter - creamy or crunchy?  Creamy. Crunchy bits have no business being in peanut butter. It's called "butter."  Butter is smooth.
 
4. Get up off your butt. Take 5 steps. Which leg did you start out on? The right one.
 
5. What color is your favorite kitchen utensil?  I don't know that I have a favorite, but all of my kitchen tools are either black, green, or bamboo.

6. Did you watch the Michael Jackson memorial/funeral?
No. I don't really get into celebrity watching to begin with and while I loved his music, there were just too many questions about who he had become and what he may have done.

7. Do you know anyone who graduated from high school this year?Were you invited to their graduation party? Did you go? 
I don't know anyone who graduated last year and I don't know anyone graduating this year.

8. White with black stripes or black with white stripes?
On what?  It would depend on what the stripes are on.

9. If we were to call your 6th grade teacher, what would they say about you? 
I can't even remember who my 6th grade teacher was. I don't think they'd say anything bad, though. I always did well in school and wasn't a trouble maker.

10. Can you draw a perfect circle?  Am I allowed to use a compass? Or a nail and a string? If so, then yes. Freehand, not even close.
 
11. What was your favorite scratch & sniff sticker scent?  Scratch & Sniff stickers came after my childhood, but we had a book for the kids called The Sweet Smell of Christmas that had scratch & sniff stickers. I read that book over and over to them so I guess any of the smells in it would be favorites...pine, cinnamon, apple pie, orange...
 
12. What does your sibling do for a living? I don't have any siblings.
 
13. How many light switches and electrical outlets are in the room that you are in right now? There are 4 switches and 5 outlets.
 
14. Do you know sign language? I used to know a fair amount, but I haven't used it since college. I might be able to squeak out the alphabet, but probably not much else.
 
15. Do you step on cracks in the sidewalk? I don't try not to so, I suppose I do. I'm not superstitious at all.
 
16. And the sheets on your bed look like....? We're still dealing with winter weather so one of two sets of fleece sheets are on the bed. The ones currently in use are an off white with leopard spots. They are so comfy, warm, and snuggly that we hate to crawl out of them.
 
17. What is something that everyone else has, but you don't? I really can't think of anything. Lots of people have more or more expensive or bigger stuff than I do, but I have everything I need (except for a finished bathroom!) and a lot that I don't need, but like. I am blessed to have more than many in this world.

March 16, 2018

Erin Go Bragh!

Cead mile failte romhat! (A hundred thousand welcomes!) Celebrating that we're all just a wee bit Irish today by linking up with Sam @ Saturday 9.  

Saturday 9: Danny Boy (1956)

"Danny Boy" was selected in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This is a sad song of farewell. Who is the last person you said "goodbye" or "so long" to?  I can't think of anyone recently. Two years ago we said goodbye to Tim's brother. He suffered a stroke and then a blood clot at the age of 57.

2) According to the 2000 Census, Massachusetts is the state with the largest percentage of residents of Irish descent. Have you ever been to The Bay State?  Dad and Mom decided to take a driving tour of New England when I was 12. I remember staying at a hotel outside of Boston and being able to see some of the landmarks from the window, but I don't remember actually stopping to do anything in Massachusetts.  

I hope to go back one day.  I need to do some digging into my family tree and I want to see Plymouth since my ancestors were there.


3) "The wearing o' the green" is one way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear something green in honor of the day?  I'm going out to a movie and dinner with a bunch of the girls from high school tomorrow night.  I don't think I have anything appropriate in green. Maybe I'll wear my Irish Princess tiara.


4) What color makes you look best?  To my dismay, pink.  I don't mind a little of it once in a while, but not a lot and not all of the time. Green's not too bad, though.



5) Will you drink something green in honor of the day (like a Shamrock shake or a green beer)?  Nope. I don't particularly like either one.

6) A four-leaf clover is considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm?  Nope. I don't really believe in luck.

7) Though she's singing an Irish ballad, this week's featured artist, Joni James, is of Italian heritage. Can you think of a song as identified with Italy as "Danny Boy" is with Ireland?  The only thing I can think of is this....



8) Soda bread and potato bread are popular in Ireland. Are there any rolls or bread in your kitchen right now?  Would you believe there's actually a loaf of potato bread on the counter?

9) Ireland is known for its whiskey. Do you enjoy Irish coffee (black coffee, whiskey and whipped cream)?  Nope. I don't like coffee at all and I'm not crazy about whiskey.  My family has always celebrated with corned beef and cabbage rather than alcohol.

My own little bonus to you:  Here's one of the hardest tongue twisters ever. I use it on the bus kids all the time.  Try saying "Irish wristwatch" a couple of times at normal speed. No dragging it out.  Let me know how it goes.



March 15, 2018

Thankful Thursday: March 15

Linking up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand to share a little thankfulness on this Thankful Thursday!


This week I am thankful...

* for my new refrigerator...even though it isn't actually in my kitchen yet.  We got home from work last night to find that our refrigerator had kicked the bucket, given up the ghost, taken the last train to Clarksville....died. It is dead, done, deceased. 

This morning I went to Lowe's after the morning runs and found the frig of my dreams.  It came with what I thought was a hefty price tag ($1799), but was actually one of the more moderately priced models. A man I know from church works there and happened to be there this morning. I told him my sad story and what I was looking at and he led me to the exact same refrigerator in stainless steel (the one I was looking at was black stainless steel). It was the old floor model and was on clearance for around $1550. I wasn't really interested at that price because it had a couple of small dents but for $1500, I want perfection! Then my friend used his handy, dandy Lowe's scanning app and found out it had been marked down again to $1350.  Before I could even say anything he said, "I could let you have it for $1000."

Seriously????

Yep, he was serious and I now have a new refrigerator.  Well, I will have it as soon as Tim picks it up tonight.  No delivery because the earliest they could deliver was Saturday and that was kind of iffy. We kind of need it now.

* the winter storm(s) that wasn't. We haven't gotten much more than flurries from the last couple of storms that blew up the coast.  Yay!

* for finally getting my bus back from the garage. I'd been driving an old spare for nearly a month. I think it's the oldest bus in the fleet. It drove well and had lots of power going up the ridge, but it was from before everything was push button. Having to open and close the door the old-fashioned way really messed with my degenerative disk disease and had my back in spasms. So, I'm really glad mine is back and running well. (It should be for the $17,000 it cost to have it repaired.)     

* my mom's second eye surgery went well and she is recovering nicely.

* that Mom and my stepdad are going to take their dog with them when they go to Florida for John's cancer screening later this spring. My dog and their dog don't get along so it would have been a not so fun time to keep her for a couple of weeks.

* for all of you!

I could list a lot more, but I have to head back to work soon. I guess I'll have to go since that winning lottery ticket continues to elude me.

Be blessed!


March 12, 2018

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

Wow. I'm not sure where to begin. I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars because while it was very interesting and I had a hard time putting it down, it left me feeling....unsettled. Or maybe disturbed. Reading about Vance's childhood, his family, and where he came from I had to admit something. I just might be more than a little bit hillbilly.

Vance grew up in Middleton, OH which sits smack in the middle of the Rust Belt, that region once defined by the giant steel mills. His people had migrated there from the hills of Kentucky. My family is not dysfunctional in the extremes that Vance's is or of the friends and neighbors he describes. However, I live in an area that is firmly in the Rust Belt, but also exists on the edges of Appalachia and I saw many things in his story that I recognized in either my life or those of my family, friends, and neighbors. I wasn't expecting that.

The book was "recommended" to me by several liberals in an online discussion the day after Trump won the presidency. They were struggling to understand how it could have happened, how they could have been blind-sided so thoroughly. As a conservative and one who voted for Trump, I was trying to explain what brought me to that point and what, as I understood it, brought a majority of those I know to that point as well. I was treated with such blatant condescension that I was put off and refused to even pick up the book. 

In the year that has followed, I kept hearing about "Hillbilly Elegy." It seemed to have become something of a rallying point for liberals, a explanation of the circumstances leading to the uneducated, racist, drug-addicted, blindly patriotic, gun-toting, bible-thumping base that got Trump elected. Things have calmed down enough, for me, that I finally allowed my curiosity to push me to read the book.

I didn't see in it what I have heard from liberals and while Vance is a conservative Republican (or was at the time the book was published), I didn't see great support for the GOP, either. I didn't see support for any political party. What I saw was a fair, insightful, and heartfelt look at a section of society as Vance knew it. He doesn't cast blame in any one direction and in fact, suggests no solution will be found until we stop playing the blame game. He doesn't offer solutions, either. He definitely doesn't think the solution will come from the government. Instead, Vance offers that the solution lies within the people themselves.

In short, "Hillbilly Elegy" doesn't offer any solutions or make any person or political party the scapegoat. All it does is give an honest and intimate look at a segment of American society that feels forgotten, overlooked, and left behind....the white working-class family.