Blog Challenge - Day 3

DIY Project You Would Like to Do

I know that this kind of post typically requires a picture. It serves to explain what 1000 words cannot. There are at least two reasons why words will have to be sufficient. I searched and searched for a picture and could not find one of this specific idea. Also, I am typing a rough draft from my cell phone which means I can't post pictures anyway.

While I was in Argentina I saw many variations on the same idea. People would make covers for their scriptures and hymnals using cardboard and tape and pictures. The book would then slide into the
case, binding side out. This protects the pages from being bent or torn or stained.

I want to do this! I carry scriptures in my purse and I'd like to protect them. They are already well used and not so gently loved. I want to preserve them. I also think it'd be nice to have a tangible reminder of something that I learned from people I love, in a pleasant place I love.

Blog Challenge - Day 2

Use a random photo generator search, choose a picture, and write something related to that photograph

Photo thanks to Murray Newell via a photo gallery.  http://www.pbase.com/image/134217113

Two trees, long time friends, overlook the lake from their peninsula.  Like twin souls they have stood, inseparable and stalwart.  It seemed like such an unlikely pair.  The one was bereft of leaves, old and wizened in appearance.  Its slender branches bear the weight of many passing seasons.  The other, full of live and leaves and promises of a peaceful shady place to rest on hot summer days.  Both reach heavenward. 

Their friendship is the sort that allows them to remain in silence for hours or days, with no word exchanged between them.  They contemplate the azure sky so beautifully reflected in the placid lake and the juxtaposed image of bounty and barrenness.  The one offers revived energy and hope in the future to come, the other shares strength and wisdom from years now gone.  When one is weak, the other strengthens her.  They laugh at the clouds and revel in the carresses of the breeze and the kisses of the rain.

When one looks at these two trees, they cannot help to hear the message they are silently sharing.  Have strength, as we two, in whatever conditions you may find yourself.  Find a friend to share the load and the road.  And never forget to look and stretch towards heaven.

Blog Challenge - Day 1

Something you love to hate

There is a song I hate.  I change radio stations every time it plays.  Even if that means sitting on a station with commercials.  And I hate commercials.  But no matter what, it comes on the radio and bam!  I change it.  Every. Single. Time.

You are asking yourself right now, so what song is it?  Do you really think I'm going to put that song on here, to haunt me?  (Okay, it actually did occur to me, too. But then I realized that I hate it so much that I have no idea who sings it or the song title.)

As it turns out, having this habit of not listening to the song and changing stations at all costs is somewhat noticeable if there is anyone else with me.  I almost always hear it in the car, on the way to being dropped off at work.  This means that my carpool buddy is now quite clear on my deep loathing of the song.  Knowledge is power.

The lyrics, whatever they may be, may or may not use offensive vocabulary or address offensive topics  Honestly, the song is very very fast rap, which is kind of amusing in and of itself and might otherwise be a song I would endure.  BUT.  There is an undeniably obnoxious noise as part of the song which, in my estimation, entirely dessimates whatever redeeming qualities the song may otherwise possess.  (Nobody else feels similarly, apparently.)

So this is how it goes.  The song comes on.  I cringe.  In the nanosecond that it takes for my hand to reach the button on the car stereo, my eye is twitching and it is quite feasible that I will suffer a brain aneurysm.  This is even more the case if we are on a different station, and change over to one playing this song in the middle and Obnoxious Sound is being played.  Psychologists are now studying this effect.  You may have seen it in cartoons.  Kind of like on American Tails: Fievel Goes West, when the cat is trying to learn how to give the lazy eye and in reality has his face totally tweak out.  Like that.

(For those of you who are either of the wrong generation to know of what I am speaking, or those of you who do not have any recollection of this classic moment of animated awesomeness:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqPykv2vajQ&noredirect=1 )

At this point, it is a matter of who has the faster reaction.  There is now a challenge in place.  We try changing the station vs. keeping it.  Turning the radio off entirely or keeping it on.  Adjusting the volume (all the way down vs. all the way up).  Obviously, I am choosing the option that separates me from having a allergic reaction, Tiger style.  In the driver's seat you will find my nemesis, who is seeing how much of the song he can make me endure.  It is a friendly little game.  I've only dislocated three of his fingers. ;)

Then one day I get a call while at work. "Hey, check this out!" And what could it be? The phone placed next to the car speakers, max volume... the evil song.  I bust out laughing.  Loudly.  I hate that song!  At this point it is hard to tell if the laughter is a sign of anaphylactic shock, or possible (dare I say it?) enjoyment.  I prefer to say the former, though, honestly, it has provided some cheerful laughter.  Okay, lots of laughter.  Which, in it's own bizarre way, sort of makes the song more endearing.

But lest we get the wrong idea here, I still hate that song.

Taking the Challenge

I love writing.  It is my passion.  It brings me joy.  And I rarely do it.  That, well, it's just bizarre.  I can never quite figure that out about myself.  I think I wait until I am in the "proper mood." 

I have friends who ask, "when are you going to blog next?" Um... about that...  And I keep thinking, but I don't have anything to say, really, that we could consider blog-worthy.  Yet, I have a cousin who is taking a 30 day blogging challenge, and I thought, hey, that's a good idea!!  But anyone who knows me knows that I have committment issues.  I don't want to decide today what I'll write about in 30 days.  So I compiled a list, only a few of which are my own ideas.  I figure I'll pick one I'm in the mood to address.  It's a long list, but for those of you who don't want to have to google for over a half hour, here are enough choices for over a year.  I'm grouping them in sets of ten.  There may be some semi-duplicates, though I did try my best to eradicate those.  If you are looking for a motivation to blog, to write in your journal (as I do esteem some to be far more personal-journal-material than blogosphere-material), maybe these will give you a jumping off point?  Yes?

If you have some ideas that you would like to see me address, or topics that you have enjoyed for yourself, or random ideas, by all means share away.  I don't promise that they will make it into my 30 day challenge, but they may come up sometime when you least expect it.

Five ways to win your heart

Something about which you feel strongly
Bullet your whole day
Things you want to say to an ex
Your views on mainstream music
Five pet peeves
What you ate today
How important you think education is
Your family
Five guys whom you find attractive

Your opinion about your body and how comfortable you are with it
What you wore today
Write a letter to someone you miss.
Something about which you think "what if?"
Something about which you are proud
A problem you have had
Five items you lust after
Your fears
How you hope your future will be like
Your academics

Five words/phrases that make you laugh
Something that currently worries you
Things you like and dislike about yourself
A quote you try to live by
Somewhere you'd like to live or visit
Five weird things you like/things nobody would suspect
One thing about which you are excited
A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
The meaning behind your Blogger name
A picture of you and your friends

A habit that you wish you didn't have, or something that you are looking forward to.
A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Favorite super hero and why
A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Short term goals for this month and why
Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
A person you would love to meet.
Your Blog Story.
A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
A letter to someone you have hurt recently

A picture of you and your family
Put your mp3 player on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Another picture of yourself (baby pic!)
Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Plans/dreams/goals you have
Nicknames you have; why do you have them
What does your future hold/where would you like to be?
A picture of something that makes you happy
What makes you different from everyone else
Something you crave for a lot

A letter to your parents
What I would find in your bag
What you think about your friends
Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
In this past month, what have you learned
Who are you?
Something you're looking forward to this year.
Something you regret not having done last year.
Something with which you struggle.

Something that is part of your routine that you enjoy.
Something in life that gives you balance.
Something that excites you and fills you with joy.
Something at which you've been a champion or the best.
Something about which people seem to compliment you.
Something you hope to change about yourself and why.
Discuss some of the things on your bucket list.
Someone who has made your life worth living.
A band/musical artist whose music impacted your life.
A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.

Someone with whom you shared a friendship/relationship that simply drifted out of your life.
Someone you met randomly that's made an impact on your life.
Something that shook your belief system to its core (a big disappointment in your life).
Discuss your favorite movie and why it's so special to you.
Write about your best friend (not significant other) and what makes them special.
Describe a dark/turbulent moment in your life.
Describe a truly spiritual moment in your life.
Discuss a spontaneous moment in your life that that turned out to be fantastic.
Discuss something you planned that ended up not being what you expected.
How do you handle/deal with both success and failure?

What is your vocation (why are you here on earth)?
What is your biggest dream in life (what one great thing do you want to accomplish)?
What WAS your biggest dream in life (you wanted to do as a kid but no longer can)?
Someone in your family that means so much to you.
Write a letter to yourself.
Your favourite pair of shoes.
A photograph of your mobile phone.
A photograph of yourself two years ago.
A day in the life, photographs taken throughout your day.
A photograph of a hairstyle you’d like to have.

A photo of yourself, not taken by you.
A photo of someone you fancy at the moment.
The contents of your fridge, MTV Cribs style.
Your dream wedding.
A photo of the item you last purchased.
Your favourite movie.
What you want more than anything right now.
Your current wishlist..
Something you regret.
The most beautiful picture of your best friend.

A TV show you’re currently addicted to.
A photo of your house/apartment.
A photo of your handwriting.
A band/artist not many people know of, but you think should.
A photograph of the part of you that you dislike the most.
A photograph of the part of you that you like the most
The next plan you have coming up that you’re really excited for.
A song to match your mood.
A photograph of the town you live in.
A celebrity you don’t like, and why.

A photo of your favourite item of clothing.
A cartoon character that you’d love to meet in real life.
The place you want to live.
A photograph of yourself taken today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days
Write an article worthy of eHow
If you called in Kidd Kraddick to play "Does that make me crazy?" what would be your crazy atribute?
Something you love to hate
Something about which you don't really feel that strongly, but you pretend like you do and why
Comfort clothes
Who do you stalk on social media/blogs?

A project you are working on
Rewrite children story
A recent inspring discourse/sermon
A scripture that stood out to you
Memories of a holiday as a child
What characteristic of video games would you like your life to have?
A super power you would like to have
Something that you thought you'd never do/have that is now irreplaceable
A current project
Things you are good at

I am looking forward to …
Week/Weekend Goals
Least favorite words
Favorite websites and blogs
Date night ideas
Weekly rituals
My 3 Wishes
DIYs I want to try
Things I love about _______
On my shopping list

Places to see in your town
Words that are hard to spell
Favorite Childhood Memory
Recipes I want to try
Celebrity crushes
Things to do Winter
Today I saw...
Guilty pleasures
I make lists for...
Things I’d rather be doing right now

Books I’d like to read this year
Vacations to take
Favorite foods
Today’s to-do list
Your favorite movie
Your favorite television program
Your favorite quote
Whatever tickles your fancy
A photo that makes you happy
A photo that makes you angry/sad

A photo you took
A photo of you taken over ten years ago
A photo of you taken recently
A non-fictional book
A fanfic
A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Write about any particular habits/mannerisms that you have.
Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Your Spouse

A song to match your mood
Favorite movies
Favorite tv shows
Something you’re afraid of
Something you don’t leave the house without
Dream house
Something you’re looking forward to
Favorite Place to Eat
Favorite Picture of yourself of all time and Why?
Something you’ve learned

Your Wedding
Something that stresses you out
If you have tattoos, show them. If not, talk about the tattoos you want or why you don’t think they are right for you
Your favorite song
Your favorite quote
Say something to your 15 year old self
A hobby of yours
A recipe
A website
A YouTube video

Your day, in great detail
Your week, in great detail
This month, in great detail
This year, in great detail
Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Something you ate today
An animal you’d love to keep as a pet
The item you last purchased
Something you would like to do but are afraid to do it!
The last thing that made you cry

Talk about the last “random act of kindness” you encountered
Something you crave a lot
A photo of something that means a lot to you.
How have you changed since last year
Something you could never get tired of doing
Talk about a regret you have
Explain how you got one of your scars
How do you think others view you
A poem you wrote
Tell us about your best friend

A talent of yours.
Your deepest fear
5 good things that happened since you started the challenge
How many languages can you speak?
Top 5 favorite Board Games
Do you believe in soul mates?
What is the best piece of advice you've received?
Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
Summer or Winter?
Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?

What would you do if you only had 24 hours left to live?
What is the first thing you notice about people?
Top 5 favorite bloggers you like to read
What is your favorite food?
Top 5 favorite Sports players (male or female)
What was the last movie you've seen?
What was your most recent trip of more than 50 miles?
What is your favorite pizza topping?
What is the worst thing that happened to you during the past week?
What's your favorite Broadway musical?

Write about your last birthday and how you plan to spend your upcoming birthday.
Who's your favorite Care Bear?
What do your parents do for a living?
Computer or television?
If you could go to Disney World with any celebrity alive today, who would it be?
Post one confession/secret
Mountain hideaway or beach house?
What is on your mouse pad?
Hugs or Kisses?
What was a changing moment in your life?

Has a painful experience ever had a positive impact in your life?
What are three of your biggest passions?
What is your dream career?
What in life is most beautiful to you?
Describe a specific moment where God obviously was working in your life.
What is your place of refuge?
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? What about now?
What song has moved you recently?
Who is your "best self"?
What is your favorite age?

If you knew you would die in two weeks, would you change anything about your life now?
Why do you keep a blog? What is your favorite part of keeping a blog? Least favorite?
When do you feel most alive?
Have you ever regretted something you DIDN'T do?
How do you spend time alone?
What kind of impact do you want to make on the world?
If you had a friend who talked to you like you talk to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?
What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
Are you an optimist, a realist, or a pessimist? Which would you rather be?
What do you miss most about your childhood?

How are you inspired?
What is a quality about yourself that you like? That you're striving to change?
Who is someone who changed your life for the better?
How is God working in your life right now?
If you could write a letter to your thirteen-year-old self, what would you say?
What do you like best about each member of your family?
If you could do one thing to make the world a better place, what would you do?
At this time in your life, do you think you're fulfilling God's plans for you?
Share your testimony.
Something you hate about yourself.

Something you love about yourself.
Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Something you have to forgive someone for.
Something you hope you never have to do.
Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like trash.
Someone you didn't want to let go, but just drifted.
Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn't know.
Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Something you never get compliments on.

A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough days. (write a letter.)
A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Something or someone you couldn't live without, because you've tried living without it.
Someone or something you definitely could live without.
A book you've read that changed your views on something.
Your views on same-sex marriage.
What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Your views on drugs and alcohol.
(scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
The reason you believe you're still alive today.
Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
What's the best thing going for you right now?
What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Top 5 Websites you like to visit
Top 5 Desserts
Top 5 TV shows
Top 5 Fast Food outlets
Top 5 Things you’re looking forward to in April
Top 5 Clothing stores
Top 5 Female bloggers you like to read
Top 5 Home improvement projects you’d like to complete
Top 5 Countries You’d Like To Visit
Top 5 Female names that you like
Top 5 Actresses
Top 5 Gigs/Concerts You’ve seen or would like to see.
Top 5 Albums
Top 5 Video Games
Top 5 Animated Films
Top 5 Actors

Top 5 Cities (either visited or would like to visit)
Top 5 Favorite memories from high school.
Top 5 Meals/Recipes
Top 5 Male Bloggers you like to read.
Top 5 Gadgets you own.
Top 5 Chocolate/Sweets
Top 5 Drinks
Top 5 Celebrities (Web, TV, Film, Music, Other?)
Write about the best friends you’ve had over the years.
Look up your horoscope for today and tell us how accurate you think it is.
Write about a period of time in your life where things seemed to be constantly going good.
Write about a period of time in your life where things were not so good.
How do you feel today?
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?
What’s the meanest thing anyone has ever said to you?
A TV show, book, song and artist you’re currently addicted to.
Upload a picture of your room and talk about your room.
How has your life changed over the past year?
What made you smile the most today?
Describe what you spend most of your time on.

Write about something you once loved, but now despise.
Where do you think you’ll be in 5 years?

Numb3rs

"Are you going over to watch that show tonight?"  This is the husband.  He has discovered a newly established pattern.

Saturday he left to play soccer with the guys.  He had survived an entire week of my business meetings and lousy schedules, so he went to have fun.  I sat in a vegetative state for a while, also recuperating.  And then I got a text.  From my sister.  "Whatcha doin?"  My answer "nothing."    It may baffle mathmaticians, physicists and philosophers: this is a case where nothing+nothing= something.

We got together and watched a really bizarre 80's movie.  That may be redudant.  80's and bizarre are synonymous.  We were still wide awake, and somewhat disappointed with the movie, so we were ready to launch into something else... but it was too late for another movie.  We opted for a television program instead.  This is when we happened upon Numb3rs.  And we loved it.  Analytical.  Problem-solving.  Fun.

Monday came.  Tempation was there.  I couldn't let her watch Numb3rs alone!  So I went!  Then Tuesday I had to take some things over for the girls to get ready for girl's camp.  And while I was there... of course we had to watch again!  So, I am sure you can all see how the pattern started.

Last night, to avoid total moocher land, I made dinner.  It has no name yet.  I'll take some pointers.

I shredded zucchini and sauteed it.  While I was doing this, I soaked tvp chicken in hot water with frozen peas.  Once the zucchini was sauteed, I added the meat and peas mixture.  There were dried onions, garlic, vegetable boullion, cumin, salt and cilantro in the seasoning.  I continued cooking that over low temperature.  I added a can of cream of mushroom, and continued cooking over low.  Then I dumped it all in an oven-safe glass dish, turned the oven on to 350.  I crumbled cheese crackers over the top of it, popped it in the oven for a few minutes, pulled it out, and voila!  It was pretty good. 

So now I think my evenings involve food and Numb3rs!  It's a fun way to hang out. =)

Succotash

Dear Succotash,

If that is even your real name.  I remember having a love affair with you as a child.  It was summer then, as it is now, and the memories come back.  My grandmother made you for dinner out of food from our garden.  I recall a delightfully made casserole with zucchini and summer squash, and vaguely I recall cheese.  If there was not cheese, I would not object to its inclusion.  I seem to recall you were made because it was my mom's birthday.  Maybe that's not entirely true, but it seems like it fits.  Our Sunday dinner, then, differed from the roast and potatoes and carrots and salad that we usually had.  It was a light summer Sunday, and I ate succotash, and I was happy.

I am distressed that I cannot find how to revive that old love affair.  At home, right now, fresh from the garden I have zucchini and squash.  They beckon to me.  They call your name.  But I cannot heed their call.  I am saddened that I do not have my grandma's recipe for you.  My kind friend googled you for me, to track you down, but it was not you.  It was an imposter.  Lima beans?  LIMA BEANS?!?  Oh, fair squashy food fit for the summer palate... wherefore art thou?

Your veggie loving childhood friend,
Ms. Vegetarian Craving Succotash

A Summary of Recent Events

The following post includes a limerick, wherein I commemorate national limerick day (last week), the Civil War (which started 150 years ago this past weekend), and my new experience with a game like baseball that apparently was more common during the 1860s.

In the great North versus South war,
Heartache and loss came to every door.
Had it been solved with cricket,
the target, a wicket,
Our country would have been spared the gore.

The idea was okay, the execution of the idea was somewhat lacking.  But there you have it.