My cute little niece is coming on a big girl trip on an airplane to visit me in about 10 days. I'm SUPER excited. I've planned 17 days worth of activities in our two-and-a-half days together.
My sister didn't want to tell her funny little daughter about the trip too early, since she would (of course!) be too excited and find it difficult to concentrate at school.
Somehow she found out she was going to visit Aunt Stephanie and Grandma and Pop, but Aunt Stephanie first. I like to think that she is a lot like me and a detective at heart.
Today I talked to my sister who told me the niece had a ziploc bag full of her savings. My sister asked her why she had her money in a baggie, to which she replied,
"This is for when I go visit Aunt Stephanie. In case she doesn't have enough money. I can help her out!"
I'm feeling the love!
Monday, May 30, 2011
One fun fact about me...maybe
It's been quite a while since my last blog post.
There are several reasons:
I started a new position at work around the time I last posted and I lost track of the time.
I've spend WAY less time using this here computer. I only check my Google reader a couple times a week instead of a couple of times a day.
I recommitted to working out and spend 3 hours a day at the gym, which leaves precious few minutes for blogging.
I wasn't quite sure what I should write for the next item on the list--A fun fact about me.
Ok. Ok. One of the above isn't true AT ALL. And one is the most true.
The most true is that, although blogging may be one of the most narcissistic things to do, do I really think there is a fact that is so "fun" about me that it deserves its own posting? Seriously? And what if no one else finds it "fun"? Then I will have posted a "Supposed Fun Fact about Me." And that's no fun.
The lie above is that I have been working out. Anyone who believed that is crazy. Well, maybe not. I DID recently begin paying money to a gym. I've sorta shopped for new workout clothes ('cause if you look good, you'll work out). I've planned on going to the gym on multiple occasions. And I may even show up on the Memorial Day.
So, I guess a fun fact about me is that I have a good imagination. That's what I call my tendency to stretch the truth. My mom calls it lying. I like to call it poetic license.
And I tend to take it often.
There are several reasons:
I started a new position at work around the time I last posted and I lost track of the time.
I've spend WAY less time using this here computer. I only check my Google reader a couple times a week instead of a couple of times a day.
I recommitted to working out and spend 3 hours a day at the gym, which leaves precious few minutes for blogging.
I wasn't quite sure what I should write for the next item on the list--A fun fact about me.
Ok. Ok. One of the above isn't true AT ALL. And one is the most true.
The most true is that, although blogging may be one of the most narcissistic things to do, do I really think there is a fact that is so "fun" about me that it deserves its own posting? Seriously? And what if no one else finds it "fun"? Then I will have posted a "Supposed Fun Fact about Me." And that's no fun.
The lie above is that I have been working out. Anyone who believed that is crazy. Well, maybe not. I DID recently begin paying money to a gym. I've sorta shopped for new workout clothes ('cause if you look good, you'll work out). I've planned on going to the gym on multiple occasions. And I may even show up on the Memorial Day.
So, I guess a fun fact about me is that I have a good imagination. That's what I call my tendency to stretch the truth. My mom calls it lying. I like to call it poetic license.
And I tend to take it often.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Favorite quotes
I had to choose several. These are some of my favorite quotes by and about women. I need to remember them more often. And especially live up to them better.
"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." Margaret Nadauld
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion." Martha Graham
"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily difference we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." Marian Wright Edelman
"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." Diane Ackerman
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Theresa
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A book
That's a favorite.
Hmmmm....
I'm one of those people who love to read, but forget that I do.
And even when I remember, I'm much too lazy to do much about it. I seem to find other things to do that require even less effort....watching TV, reading blogs (hey...that's reading!).
I love to peruse book stores...all the hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. I end up buying so many books from the bargain area that they cannot truly be considered a bargain. (Ok, each book is a bargain, but when you buy $70 of books, I think it teeters closer to spendy). I have filled my bookcase to overflowing (which is color coordinated and fun). But, alas, I have read a mere fraction of the books.
I haven't quite mastered the art of librarying. When I was seven and lived in Arkansas, I remember going on monthly, maybe weekly, trips to the library with my family. The library cards were cardstock that had a little piece of metal attached. Somehow that combination of paper and metal worked together so the library could keep track of the books you checked out. We were limited to ten books per card, so we stocked up. We lived far enough away (which wasn't so far, but when you are seven, it seemed FAR), that by the time we got home, I had read nearly each book already. College sort of scared me away from libraries. I never quite mastered the Dewey Decimal System and when I saw that there was a semester-long class devoted to learning how to find books at the library, I was done. I recently got a new library card and look forward to using it.
I'm a member of a very prestigious book club. I've read maybe a dozen and a half of the books since joining nearly three years ago. Not very good stats. We always have lively conversation, so even if I haven't read the book, there is something exciting to discuss. Since our discussions don't revolve solely around the book but sometimes go on until the wee hours of the morning, Darrell thinks we should just read a magazine article and discuss that. I think he thinks I will get home much sooner if that is the case.
So, unfortunately, I don't have a trove of books upon which to base this posting.
I guess that could be viewed as a good thing, though. Because, after all, I wouldn't want to think too hard!
One of my faves is "The Persian Pickle Club." It's a book my mom recommended after her book club read it. My grandmama read it, also, and we all talked about favorite parts. It is a book that really can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
After my mother-in-law passed away, we were going through her belongings and I came across a copy of the book. I don't know if she read it, but it would have been right up her alley.
I'm glad that some of the most influential women in my life could all share a book that meant so much to me. Especially since there are so few books that I have loved as much.
Hmmmm....
I'm one of those people who love to read, but forget that I do.
And even when I remember, I'm much too lazy to do much about it. I seem to find other things to do that require even less effort....watching TV, reading blogs (hey...that's reading!).
I love to peruse book stores...all the hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. I end up buying so many books from the bargain area that they cannot truly be considered a bargain. (Ok, each book is a bargain, but when you buy $70 of books, I think it teeters closer to spendy). I have filled my bookcase to overflowing (which is color coordinated and fun). But, alas, I have read a mere fraction of the books.
I haven't quite mastered the art of librarying. When I was seven and lived in Arkansas, I remember going on monthly, maybe weekly, trips to the library with my family. The library cards were cardstock that had a little piece of metal attached. Somehow that combination of paper and metal worked together so the library could keep track of the books you checked out. We were limited to ten books per card, so we stocked up. We lived far enough away (which wasn't so far, but when you are seven, it seemed FAR), that by the time we got home, I had read nearly each book already. College sort of scared me away from libraries. I never quite mastered the Dewey Decimal System and when I saw that there was a semester-long class devoted to learning how to find books at the library, I was done. I recently got a new library card and look forward to using it.
I'm a member of a very prestigious book club. I've read maybe a dozen and a half of the books since joining nearly three years ago. Not very good stats. We always have lively conversation, so even if I haven't read the book, there is something exciting to discuss. Since our discussions don't revolve solely around the book but sometimes go on until the wee hours of the morning, Darrell thinks we should just read a magazine article and discuss that. I think he thinks I will get home much sooner if that is the case.
So, unfortunately, I don't have a trove of books upon which to base this posting.
I guess that could be viewed as a good thing, though. Because, after all, I wouldn't want to think too hard!
One of my faves is "The Persian Pickle Club." It's a book my mom recommended after her book club read it. My grandmama read it, also, and we all talked about favorite parts. It is a book that really can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
After my mother-in-law passed away, we were going through her belongings and I came across a copy of the book. I don't know if she read it, but it would have been right up her alley.
I'm glad that some of the most influential women in my life could all share a book that meant so much to me. Especially since there are so few books that I have loved as much.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
20 Faves
peanut butter and chocolate
green
sleeping in
hawaii
freshly laundered linens (especially if laundered by someone else)
gel roller pens
ruffles
the day after a good haircut
red geraniums with dark purple pansies
maps of any sort
halfway done.....
1985
starbucks hot chocolate and pumpkin scone
my new bedding, complete with twelve (yes 12!) pillows
lipstick
a relaxing evening in with Darrell
only five more...
creating something beautiful or funky
a clean house
visiting my extended family
masterpiece on pbs
lots of comments on my blog (hint)
green
sleeping in
hawaii
freshly laundered linens (especially if laundered by someone else)
gel roller pens
ruffles
the day after a good haircut
red geraniums with dark purple pansies
maps of any sort
halfway done.....
1985
starbucks hot chocolate and pumpkin scone
my new bedding, complete with twelve (yes 12!) pillows
lipstick
a relaxing evening in with Darrell
only five more...
creating something beautiful or funky
a clean house
visiting my extended family
masterpiece on pbs
lots of comments on my blog (hint)
Monday, March 28, 2011
So totally on a roll
So Post Number 2 on "The List" is a favorite movie.
That's such an easy one.
Because I.Love.The Princess Bride!
What's not to love?
fencing
"You are using Bonetti's Defense against me, ah?"
fighting
"You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?"
torture
"Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever. "
And (because apparently I'm a HUGE fan of torture)...
"As you know, the concept of the suction pump is centuries old. Really that's all this is except that instead of sucking water, I'm sucking life. I've just sucked one year of your life away. I might one day go as high as five, but I really don't know what that would do to you. So, let's just start with what we have. What did this do to you? Tell me. And remember, this is for posterity so be honest. How do you feel?"
revenge
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
giants
"It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise."
And (because giants are fantastic poets)...
"That Vizzini, he can *fuss*."
"Fuss, fuss... I think he like to scream at *us*."
"Probably he means no *harm*."
"He's really very short on *charm*."
"You have a great gift for rhyme."
"Yes, yes, some of the time."
"Enough of that."
"Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?"
"If there are, we all be dead."
"No more rhymes now, I mean it."
"Anybody want a peanut?"
"DYEEAAHHHHHH"
monsters
"Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."
chases
"He's right on top of us. I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using."
escapes
"No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too."
true love
"As....you....wish!"
miracles
"Have fun storming the castle!"
I so need to watch this again!
Let me know what your favorite movie is.
That's such an easy one.
Because I.Love.The Princess Bride!
What's not to love?
fencing
"You are using Bonetti's Defense against me, ah?"
fighting
"You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?"
torture
"Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever. "
And (because apparently I'm a HUGE fan of torture)...
"As you know, the concept of the suction pump is centuries old. Really that's all this is except that instead of sucking water, I'm sucking life. I've just sucked one year of your life away. I might one day go as high as five, but I really don't know what that would do to you. So, let's just start with what we have. What did this do to you? Tell me. And remember, this is for posterity so be honest. How do you feel?"
revenge
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
giants
"It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise."
And (because giants are fantastic poets)...
"That Vizzini, he can *fuss*."
"Fuss, fuss... I think he like to scream at *us*."
"Probably he means no *harm*."
"He's really very short on *charm*."
"You have a great gift for rhyme."
"Yes, yes, some of the time."
"Enough of that."
"Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?"
"If there are, we all be dead."
"No more rhymes now, I mean it."
"Anybody want a peanut?"
"DYEEAAHHHHHH"
monsters
"Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."
chases
"He's right on top of us. I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using."
escapes
"No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too."
true love
"As....you....wish!"
miracles
"Have fun storming the castle!"
I so need to watch this again!
Let me know what your favorite movie is.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Finally...I'm posting to this here blog!
I lost a bit of my mojo and couldn't figure out for the life of me what to post.
and so I didn't.
Then, I saw a great list of topics and decided that at least I would know what to post about.
The problem then became that the first topic was "A favorite song."
I have too many. How could I choose? It was like asking my mom which of her kids is her favorite. (Ok, probably not, since she would say, "Stephanie," without any hesitation!) (Just kidding) (Sort of).
So I've tossed and turned at nights, trying desperately to decide on which favorite to post.
And then it happened. When I stopped fretting, it came to me.
You may wonder, "How in the world can this be Stephanie's favorite song? It's the theme song from the not-so-popular 1970's TV show "S.W.A.T." It's not from the 80's. There are no words. It's not that easy to dance to. And who even knows who...performs it?"
I admit. I don't think I ever saw the TV show. I didn't even know the name of the song until 2003 when the movie version was released. But I knew the song since the TV show debuted.
Ok...I DO like songs other than 80's songs, although 80's is probably my favorite decade for music. I heard about a study somewhere that whatever music you enjoy when you are about 15 is the music that stays with you and forms your taste for life. Seems reasonable to me.
You are absolutely right. There are no words. But, when I was about 5, my sister and I would sing this song, using "Duh" for each syllable. We would only sing it when we were cleaning our room. Here is what would happen. We would be sent to our room to clean it. We would dawdle and end up playing with our toys instead of cleaning. My mom would come in and remind us to clean. We probably rolled our eyes. Or at least I did. I had "sass." My mom would call to us that we had five minutes to clean our room before (1) we ate dinner, (2) had to go to bed, (3) were going somewhere, or (4) would get spanked. Suddenly, Jennilyn and I needed something to help us clean like mad women. I think we tried wiggling our noses a couple of times, but we were no Samanthas. So, we would "sing" the "Pick Up Song." The faster and louder we sang, the faster we cleaned. I'm sure it looked something like a tornado. I remember running in circles, chucking stuff as I went. I'm sure the room did not get clean, but my stuff was hidden from immediate sight. And so, there are, in fact, words to the song.
I would have to disagree that it's not easy to dance to. As you can see in the preceding paragraph, Jennilyn and I danced like fiends as we were trashing, I mean cleaning, our room while singing the song.
And come on...who doesn't know that American funk group, Rhythm Heritage, performed the song? Ok. Me. But wikipedia knew. And Barry De Vorzon wrote the song. Doi! Ok...I got that from imdb.com. But he was a theme song composer extraordinaire.
And not just because he wrote one of my favorite songs.
and so I didn't.
Then, I saw a great list of topics and decided that at least I would know what to post about.
The problem then became that the first topic was "A favorite song."
I have too many. How could I choose? It was like asking my mom which of her kids is her favorite. (Ok, probably not, since she would say, "Stephanie," without any hesitation!) (Just kidding) (Sort of).
So I've tossed and turned at nights, trying desperately to decide on which favorite to post.
And then it happened. When I stopped fretting, it came to me.
You may wonder, "How in the world can this be Stephanie's favorite song? It's the theme song from the not-so-popular 1970's TV show "S.W.A.T." It's not from the 80's. There are no words. It's not that easy to dance to. And who even knows who...performs it?"
I admit. I don't think I ever saw the TV show. I didn't even know the name of the song until 2003 when the movie version was released. But I knew the song since the TV show debuted.
Ok...I DO like songs other than 80's songs, although 80's is probably my favorite decade for music. I heard about a study somewhere that whatever music you enjoy when you are about 15 is the music that stays with you and forms your taste for life. Seems reasonable to me.
You are absolutely right. There are no words. But, when I was about 5, my sister and I would sing this song, using "Duh" for each syllable. We would only sing it when we were cleaning our room. Here is what would happen. We would be sent to our room to clean it. We would dawdle and end up playing with our toys instead of cleaning. My mom would come in and remind us to clean. We probably rolled our eyes. Or at least I did. I had "sass." My mom would call to us that we had five minutes to clean our room before (1) we ate dinner, (2) had to go to bed, (3) were going somewhere, or (4) would get spanked. Suddenly, Jennilyn and I needed something to help us clean like mad women. I think we tried wiggling our noses a couple of times, but we were no Samanthas. So, we would "sing" the "Pick Up Song." The faster and louder we sang, the faster we cleaned. I'm sure it looked something like a tornado. I remember running in circles, chucking stuff as I went. I'm sure the room did not get clean, but my stuff was hidden from immediate sight. And so, there are, in fact, words to the song.
I would have to disagree that it's not easy to dance to. As you can see in the preceding paragraph, Jennilyn and I danced like fiends as we were trashing, I mean cleaning, our room while singing the song.
And come on...who doesn't know that American funk group, Rhythm Heritage, performed the song? Ok. Me. But wikipedia knew. And Barry De Vorzon wrote the song. Doi! Ok...I got that from imdb.com. But he was a theme song composer extraordinaire.
And not just because he wrote one of my favorite songs.
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