Just for the record, I haven't fallen off the planet. I am the busiest I've been in months - I've driven over 2000 miles in the past week and will drive another couple thousand before the weekend.
A different hotel every night or so, combined with hours and hours of driving, makes for a very tired me. Which means restless nights filled with recurrent dreams of. . . you guessed it. . . more chewing gum! But, last night, I was able to get all the gum out of my mouth AND help some poor random dream woman remove the gum from her mouth as well. Yay!
In other news, my company car has some of the most wonderful creature comforts: Bluetooth for miles and miles of hands-free phone conversations carried through the speaker system. Auxiliary audio input for easy iPod connection. Auto-dimming rear-view mirror that adjusts not only when the sun goes down but also when the crazy driver behind me has his brights on. Power outlets that charge electronics even with the engine off. And really, really comfortable seats!
More later, folks. But to entertain you until the next random post, here is a short list of personalized plates I've seen lately:
BADPONY on a red Mustang
TERMN8TR on a silver Hummer
IRESQ U on a white Fire Dept Pickup
UNDRCVR on a black SUV with dark tinted windows
So, I've created a separate blog where I can archive Quotes of the Day. You can get there by clicking on the section title "Quote of the Day", which is right above the actual quote of the day.
I've rescued a few of our recent QOTD's, as well as all of the ones that were stored as an actual post. At the very least, I've lost every single one from June. Let me know if I've missed your favorite.
Enjoy!
I have always taken great comfort in the heroes of our faith. Moses the murderer, David the adulterer, Paul the persecutor. Great men, who God chose despite their faults. God sees my sin, too. Indeed, He is repulsed by it. And He wants me to be a giant of faith, anyway.
Why, then, is it more difficult to see past the shortcomings of the modern church? Look around - people are judgemental, rude, annoying, and just-plain-crazy. The Body of Believers is made up of people just like me - major faults but also deeply desiring God's presence in our lives.
And that's why this article is so important. Because I need the reminder that the Bible includes more than just men...it includes churches. Real churches full of real people, who God chose despite their faults.
That is to say: I'm using my blog to beg for advice. Well, code really.
By now you've all noticed the QOTD feature on the side panel. Here's the sad part. I don't archive the quotes. Once they're gone, they're gone, which is a travesty because some of them are pretty darn funny.
Now for the reader participation portion of our program:
Bleg #1: Do any of you have an idea of how I can post quotes so that they are in an archive without having to include them as an actual post? I'm just not sure how to accompllsh it.
Bleg #2: Please post your favorite QOTD in the comments, since I'm trying to create a complete list/archive.
Merci Bien.
On Saturday, I visited the Humane Society to get my cat fix, since I am 2000 miles away from Trixie. One of the cats decided I would make a good mountain, so she proceeded to climb out of her cage, over my shoulder, and onto my back. With claws. A few minutes later, four kittens in another cage decided to make a break for it. Mayhem ensued.
Yesterday, I bought a hands-free kit for my cell phone. On clearance. For 50 cents. That's a 95% discount, folks. I've been giddy ever since.
This morning, I caught a drive-time radio show on a local rock station. The DJ was proclaiming the need to reincorporate the Ten Commandments and corporal punishment into the public school system. I nearly drove off the road, I was so astonished. Then, I programmed the station to #1.
This weekend, I plan to begin a mail campaign to my nephews and niece. Since I travel all over the place, I thought they might enjoy a few postcards from the interesting places I go. I'm really looking forward to my next road trip, and I really hope they will be surprised.
It's been a whole year since my first posting here. In that year, many things have changed in mine & Handsome's life.
First, there's the promotion and ensuing business travel. Insane amounts of business travel. Next, our health has somewhat improved. Handsome has lost several pounds, and we're both walking 2-3 miles almost every day, whether together or apart. And finally, our future seems brighter somehow and our marriage stronger. We are far more patient with each other and much more communicative.
A year ago, I was whining for a change, and boy did I ever get change. It looks like the coming year is going to be even more exciting. Stay tuned!
P.S. In the past year, the blog has seen 1930 visits, including some from such far-away places as California, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Georgia, New York, Canada, France, Ireland, England, Poland, Portugal, Israel, Singapore, and Japan. Thank you all. Your visits mean the world to me. Seriously.
Handsome and I enjoyed the most perfect week together. We relaxed, watched movies, and cooked on the grill. And ate ice cream - every night. I am so grateful for such wonderful time with my husband. We needed it.
But I'm on the road, again. And this morning, I got some heart-wrenching news. My dear friend, Leanne, called early to relay the results of a recent CAT scan and MRI. The cancer is back, and it's on her liver this time. What's more, Leah is having a rough time. Fighting a battle in her mind against a body that has betrayed her. Her scars are more than skin deep, not unlike Leanne's.
A wise woman once wrote, "scars are proof that we have lived." The wound on Leah's body shows the hope of four babies and a mother saved by an incision. The gash on Leanne tells of a malignant growth reluctant to release its grip. But, neither Leanne nor Leah are at peace with their scars. The scars, however, are begging to tell their stories - stories about what it takes to survive.
Trixie is a seven year old SDSHF (spayed, domestic short hair, feline) who lives a comfortable life with two humans who usually jump at her slightest command. But not today. Today, her woman-servant's behavior was completely unacceptable. After a day of lazing around the house being petted, the upstart maid wrestled Queen Trixie into a cat carrier and carted her off to the veterinarian. The shock! The horror! The wailing and gnashing of teeth!
Then, poor Trixie was forced to suffer the indignity of a public weighing. Her eyes were like daggers. The next time you step on the scales, woman, I will be watching. I'm not the only one who could stand to lose a pound or two. But it only go worse from there. Some other cat's hired help proceed to take Miss Trixie's temperature. Rectally. With eyes the size of saucers, she squirmed futilely against her restraints, all the while plotting her revenge. Someone will pay for this humiliation, and I'm going to begin by drilling holes into her face with my precision-guided laser stare.
Finally, the examination was completed with not one, but two, injections. Trix would not be disgraced again. Without so much as a whimper, she endured her vaccinations while she plotted her revenge upon that upstart human servant. Upon returning to her castle, the Fiesty Feline gave not one, but two, dirty looks - one for the "Pet Taxi" (limo to hell) and one to the maid (you're fired.) The she streaked upstairs to hide in her room.
But just when she thought it was safe, when things could get no worse, that heavy-handed housekeeper dragged the poor, long-suffering Trixie from her hiding place and plunged her into the BATH! You will pay for this, woman. But the cat didn't make it easy for her captor, no. She squirmed and wriggled and made certain that both of them would be "enjoying" the bath. Revenge! Ha!
But the evening ended in the usual way, with Queen Trixie on her throne being hand-fed her favorite tuna-flavored delicacy, by humble, repentant humans who have now seen the error of their ways and sought forgiveness from their ever-patient kitty monarch.
The end.
Yesterday was a thunderstorm-filled day, complete with flash flooding, which continued through the evening. At some point, Handsome and I decided to skip the local fireworks display to avoid getting rained out or on. Grilling and hanging out together sounded like more fun. And it was.
He put some salmon on the grill, and I sauteed some zucchini, mushrooms, and crab. While I was cooking the pasta, my pot holder somehow slipped into the gas flame. And before I knew it, I had a small fire on my hands. A quick dip in the sink and the situation was under control - well, a little smokey.
And you know what...it was pretty funny. What an adventure!
At this moment, I'm sitting in an airport to go home. Finally.
But let me tell you about my adventures this morning. As per usual, I'm up at stupid-o-clock in the morning to catch a 7am flight, which is about to board any moment now. (Yikes, better type fast.)
Anyway. It took 30 minutes to check in because two of the three clerks (count 'em) were helping 6 people who MISSED their earlier flight. The other 20 of us had to wait for the one clerk who could get the rest of us to our flights on time.
Turns out those 6 guys are a band. Thus requiring special attention. Even though it was their own fault they missed their flight. How rude - of those tardy passengers and of the clerks who inconvenienced the rest of us when stars filled their eyes.
Grrr.
And let's not forget the very rude chic who CUT in line in front of us 20 patiently waiting passengers. Because *gasp* she was late for her flight. Get this...wait for it...she's on my flight.
Double Grrr.
Anyway.....I'm off toward home. And Handsome. Life is good after all.
