Brain won't shut off...

At the end of the exhausting day I trudged up to my car, calling Sally to see if we were on for Friday (I'm making her dinner that involves shrimp) and she invited me over for pizza and the current NetFlix, Howl something. You better believe I took her up on that one! After which, I chatted with her and her DH. Her DH just joined Facebook today. So I gave both of them pointers. They're now married on FB. Twas fun(ny). They are 5 and 6 years older than me and that's not much, but since they have three kids I often think of them as much older, not more like my contemporaries, my peers.

Then Sally and I chatted whilst she folded laundry. My eyes were getting scratchy, as I now take my allergy meds in the evening and they were wearing off. (Sally has a cat.) So I left, and as I did, Sally mentioned a mechanic that might be able to assess if my car is worth fixing up to inspection standards. Oh good. Take one step. And one more.

Then, because it takes a half hour to get home and it was almost 9:30, I called my folks on the cell before I gassed up at $3.96 (which is like $50/tank, yeesh!). I had a chance to mention Aunt Margaret's table to my mom, it needs to be fixed and it doesn't serve my purpose so Sally is giving me a table she's getting rid of Friday (that's where the shrimp and dinner fits in.) I said, I don't know how attached you are to the table, but I wanted to put out there that it's not fitting my purposes right now (and really hasn't for years, I didn't add.) It is a lovely table that would make someone very happy. Until we figure out what to do, it will live in the foyer, where there is room for it and it will look pretty.

Meantime, I'm also working on getting the pull out bed (sofa/couch/davenport/what-have-you) out of the apartment, which involves muscles from church, me paying in beer, and maybe someone from Freecycle taking it. But I'm not sanguine, as none of the sofas offered in the past coupla days have been taken, and a sofa-bed was offered three days ago, not taken.

Also, my landlord is listing the 2nd floor apartment! They only moved in in March...I didn't comment on that short amount of time when he asked me to list it on the neighborhood list-serv, as I might have a similar announcement someday in the near to far future.

On the way to work today, I thought, I am going through a transition. Even if in February 2009 I am still driving Lucy along Rte. 8 to work, this summer is big stuff, me admitting that I'm LOOKING (and not for a man). That I'm changing some things up in my apartment and considering painting and changing flooring. (Have I mentioned that the entire apartment is wall to wall carpet? Yes, the bathroom too.)

So it's no wonder that until just this moment, (yawn) my brain was moving mile a minute and trying to process all that is going on. (Yawn.) (Yawn.)

And totally unrelated, I just peeked in my spam to see if something had bounced and I have at least three emails dated year 38. (1938? or 2038? That's some kind of email time travel...)

Okay, enough blog puttering, off to bed.

As I fade out, Brooks and Dunn, "Put a girl in it" plays on the radio. Grin.

We sang...

there's some song that has we sang and it goes...well, my brain (brian) cells aren't firing completely. I don't think it's the same one as "kisses sweeter than wine" but it is the same album (New Christy Minstrels.)

I sang to the babies this morning. Then I had Chinese lunch--I ate the whole thing! So my appetite is back--I think sleeping straight for two days I may have lost weight, my pants feel loose.

And my sense of humor returned around 5 pm when the receptionist at the chiro said, there IS an envelope here, are you expecting something else from us? (I'd lost one of my signature teardrop silver earrings). "A million dollars," I replied. No, just the earring, which which is enough. I'll pick it up on the way to work Friday.

I had breakfast for dinner at Sally's. I thought I'd do laundry when I got home, but the sofa is calling my name. I think I'll even miss the Idol elimination show.

Insomnia...thy name is...I give up.

#87 why I don't like DVDs: if you put one in and fall asleep, you will inevitably wake up to the stupid menu music.

And someone has "requested" to follow me on Twitter. I think I know them, since they are following people I know, but I don't know who they are. (WHY do people choose bizarre nom de plums?) (Kettle? Hello, you're black.) (But at least I have my first name attached to my Twitter account...) GAH. I also have accepted a FB friend who is friends with one person I know...

Oh, and I dropped (not on purpose) (so I guess that would be "knocked over") a glass of red wine last night and am STILL finding how far it reached. GAH.

Oh, had an absolute ball at the last SRC committee meeting. Laughed until I sort of had tears. We all revealed a deep dark secret and mine was "I want to move to New York." The rest just came out and they were super supportive and E. knows someone who already works for QBPL!!!
The ELib meeting was great, but when I got home, my introvert sirens were at high pitch. Oh, and I finally reconnected my camera and my computer, but the software is different, fun. One fascinating thing--each day of pictures gets its own folder. Which could be sort of helpful, except that it was 280 pictures.

Okay, Kate Hudson in the VCR (not DVD), let's try to drift off, shall we? Why didn't I buy the eye shades when Target had them for $1? Cuz I can't find the one that came with the nightgown mom bought me for Christmas. (I used to always think those things were ridiculous, but once I got one, oy, just wonderful.)

Oh, and I may have already received my stimulus payment, b/c it would have been/will be deposited direct as this is how I got my tax refund. I'm earmarking it towards "interview expenses." K. interviewed a few years ago at Queens and turned them down, Pittsburgh being more affordable--they all want to visit me when I move. And the cover letter/resume goes off THIS WEEK. Because otherwise I'm just spitting into the wind or something. Say a prayer...I am a little petrified.

Last night explained SuperPoke to two folks at ELib meeting. I said, it is how my sister communicates with me. She sent me a pig dressed up as Princess Leia for Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Force be with you.) I didn't know anyone knew about that except everyone that knows my dad, but hey...it made MY day. Cuz I had forgotten it was May the Fourth, you know, Pens game and all.

Okay, let's see if I can get a little more sleep.

Musings on a Sunday evening...

So last week I made a big fuss about taking some days off and I did, but in the end, I didn't do anything "special" with the time not blogging except visit everyone else's blogs, send longer emails to friends...but now that I'm back, it's like Woo hoo, I'm back, and I think I've been posting every day. And twice, today!

I came home from John's ordination (woo hoo) to watch the last bit of the Playstation Pros.

A word about the ordination: it was wonderful and worshipful. John, we love you!! It was sheer poetry when we all sang "Did you hear the mountains tremble?" which is how we got our name as "Open Door." I love that song with such a love...

So, little known fact but the secret is now out, I love watching BMX bike tricks and skate park tricks. Daniel Dhers, of Venezuela, won the bike part. Here's a clip of "best of moments" from last year. (It's too soon for 2007 footage to be on YouTube...)



I love this stuff. I really do. I hope in heaven to spend a lot of time doing tricks like this in both the BMX and skate park divisions...Here on earth, I have to relearn how to ride a bike every time I get on one, as I didn't properly learn as a child. Oh well.

The thing about the ordination, I told NH Sally on the phone, was that the folks that were there were folks that are in our lives because John is. So Marlaena was there, and John's parents, and Alyssa's parents, and folks from the Presbytery...it was like old home day. I was in my element. And I have a lead on one car and a lead on a person to talk to and some sound advice on"It's just a car, who cares what color it is!"

I've been dealing with a slight cold and depression so I had to force myself to fix dinner* (which means I have to go shopping tomorrow, I've eaten all the ready made food in the house.) I guess I don't have breakfast...drat. And it was so good to hear NH Sally say, "but it's October" and give me a chance to give myself some grace. (Neither of us had done any homework for Tuesday's study. As soon as I post this, that's what I'm gonna start...)

Well, this WOULD be the best time to go shopping (the game is on) but Max will be back from work in the next half hour to hour and I need to do some Beth Moore homework, haven't done any this week yet. Tomorrow is packed with dr. appts and meetings. Oh, and calling the car rental folks to renew for another week.

Just me, chatting...I'm working on a post about church soon. For now, go read Biscotti's.


_________________
*Take the feta and cheese sandwich out of the box and put it in the microwave...

Lilies of the valley mark my garden wall... (updated)

Well, they are morning glories and this is not my garden wall, but a fence along my morning walk. But I really want to keep posting pix, so I AM!

My new schedule is rigorous--I now work split Tuesdays and Thursdays,* but it means that I work in both depts. on Tuesdays--I always felt behind when I started in Children's on Wednesday, often the first order of business was prepping for the Mother Goose storytime.

And tonight was the last Beth Moore Breaking Free study meeting. I have a few videos to catch up on, but my Wednesday evenings are my own once more (when you work Tues/Thurs eves, it's a lot to be out Wednesday night too!) Morning Women's Bible Study starts up next Tuesday. This upcoming Tuesday is the breakfast. I'm taking muffins.

Okay, to bed.

Oh, but WOW! I leave the blogosphere for a few weeks and Eliza Jane/Amy has moved to Michigan, Newlywed is about to pop her baby, and all the chilluns are back in school!
____
*split between the two depts I work for: Tech Serv, where I catalogue, etc, and Children's, where I run programs, and other stuff. So I work, say, from 1-5 in one dept, have dinner, and then work 6-9 in the other.

(So I don't actually work a split shift, just the day is split between two departments within one actual shift.)

Don't judge a book by its cover...

I heart Jen Weiner. Yes, we're so close that I call her Jen.

Go read her post about how covers change from hardcovers to paperbacks, and then look at all the foreign covers of her own books. Trés interesant!

It's too hot to sleep--I think I'll turn the ac back on.

(I took my dinner meds at lunch, made it through the afternoon pretty well, actually, then went to J.Clarks for their fab Chicken Gyro samwich. Then I went for my manicure, drove home, and crashed on the couch. It took a half hour for me to wake up to my phone reminding me to take my bedtime meds. And now I'm UP. So I've been journalling and blogging and yes, commenting.)

Today I started on "books I want to take on vackay" or just read right now. They're all in the front seat of my car, I'll list them later.

I'm not procrastinating, I'm letting things percolate...

Geez, do kids these days even know what a percolator is? I used to love watching the coffee percolate in the knob at the top.

So, things I'm percolating:

• Nomination essay for Steering Team at the OD. Ack! What are my gifts?
• Pictures to Walgreens from Yellowstone n'at.
• Changing the computer from Me to XP
• Cleaning the Abyss (my walk in closet which by walk in I mean you can't walk in it anymore)
• The laundry problem
• Posting and writing about The Family Vackay to Montana

I will report I am mostly up to date with dishes, and my pile of items for Goodwill is growing.

Last night I made Eggplant Parmigian* (I won't spell it, I won't!) and folks must have liked it, because there wasn't any left!

Oh, and this week I have to finish working on the Mother/Child thing. Cuz it's on Saturday!! I need to finish my questions, get prizes, and and and I always think that my week starts on Monday. In Children's, it starts on Wednesday. So maybe I'll go in tonight for a few hours. Yes, on my day off, but I have to see where I am, because I have a feeling if I wait until Wednesday, I'll have a meltdown on Thursday. We do not want that.

Oh, and Tuesday I'm helping fix up a house. Oh, and because it's summer, Tuesday night I will be in Children's. So maybe I don't need to go in today.

I think I need breakfast.

Lucky me, it's Entamanns (and yes, I know that's spelled wrong too!!)

Today's agenda:

• breakfast
• therapy
• do the Walgreens photo thing
• have lunch with Mr. FF
• percolate (see above)
• probably some laundry

Have I thoroughly bored you yet?

________
* On the second Sunday, our church has dinner. We are all pretty good cooks.

Thursday's child has far to go...

No kidding!

So Caro posted pictures of her kitchen, which is what MY kitchen looks like, wasn't that nice of here? Esp since my camera and computer don't like each other right now, YES I know I should just reinstall the software, but have you seen my to do list? Software is the LOWEST priority right now.

I slept ten hours last night!! Oh, and this is what I wanted to tell you: We now have over 1200 kids signed up for Summer Reading Club.

EGAD! And that's not even 10% of the kids in our service area--we need branches!!

That is all. Off to wash hair, then dishes. IF I have time, I'll throw a load of t-shirts. Doubtful though. I need a wife...

Oh, and if you're the praying type, say a prayer for Sis, who has the flu. Yes, she's driving to Pgh on Saturday...

I'm going crazy, wanna come??

You can pull all you like, and have it your way, but this door is pretty stubborn...

(seen on a door marked "PUSH" at Burger King.)

I had to laugh. I went to ALDI to get frozen waffles for breakfast, but when they were all out and my stomach was clearly saying "feed me!" (Feed me, Seymour, feed me!) I went across the highway to BK. I got one of their breakfast croissants, and sat reading The joy of doing things badly by Veronica Chambers. On the other side of the divider were tables full of retired old men, doing what they do best, passing the time with a cup of Senior Coffee.

I'm pretty stubborn too. I've been on my own for a long time now, and I know what makes me happy and what makes me mad.

Things that make me happy:

• Looking at paintings and drawings at the Frick, with someone else. I never look that closely when I'm by myself, figuring out the stories the pictures show, counting the flies in the Dutch still lifes.
• Grilled cheese sandwiches. I've had them twice this week.
  
• Singing. Listening to songs. Tapping my fingers to the beat.
  
• My friends--all of a sudden they have bloomed out of every corner, like the honeysuckle about a week ago.
  
• Seeing groundhogs (this morning, one) or possoms (last week, one) when I clearly live smack dab in the confines of the City of Pittsburgh.
• Seeing a wild turkey cross the road with her turklings (what are they called?) on the way to work one day last week.
  

Things that make me mad (or just annoyed):

• Remembering how I stayed with men who wanted too much, too soon.
  
• That economics still defines how we live our lives.
  
• That I have to pack pills and call in refills for a trip that is in less than seven days.
• That I have to spend my day going from doctor to doctor.
  
• That I left a vinyl record (duh!) in my car on a hot day and it's warped now, so I'll have to pay for its replacement.
  
• That I second guess my spelling. (Is that really it's or is it its?)
• That I really have to get on with my day. My list for today (not counting the remaining three doctor's appts, I've already been to see the chiropractor) is over ten items long.
  

I took a walk this morning, when I woke up at 7:30, wondering what my life is going to be these days. As a jogger passed me on the right, I had a flash of Téa Leoni in Spanglish, and all of a sudden, of how she fought for her marriage by not panicking when her husband stayed out late, the night he spent at the restaurant with Paz Vega.

Gotta go. Have to cross something off the list before I'm on the road again...

You're what? (Tin roof--RUSTED!)

Tomorrow starts the library's summer hours. Which means we close at 5 on Fridays. Which means I start at 9. Which means I won't have time to blog before work tomorrow.

And it's not like I have tons to talk about, except that (this just in) there will be ONE more blushing bride this summer than expected. So, my party will be postponed until July. (Yes, the next wedding, just announced, is in two weekends, the day before my party was gonna be...)

But YAY! I get to go to the "Best Books for Babies" event sponsored by Beginning with Books on the South Side this Saturday. (Try to say that five times fast...) Thanks to Janice, who is forgoing her last day of being a soccer mom so that I can go. Thanks, Janice!!

I need to do laundry AND send some off...and pay bills. And get a haircut. And continue to stock up on small gifts...I think I forgot to get something for the shower I'm not attending this weekend. But I found something for the shower I'm not attending NEXT week, does that count? Well, um, sure. But I still need something for tomorrow's, unless I wait to gift at the event. Which I might do. Because tomorrow is DAY TWO and folks, that's not necessarily pretty. Plus, I have a cookout to go to tomorrow eve.

Plus, did I mention that my appetite hasn't stopped? Lucky for me, I have guacamole in the fridge. Hmmm...I don't think I'm getting a full night's sleep tonight...

My mother's comment when I relayed the happy news, "she's Sunny's roommate, who's getting married in two months," my mother, the one who NEVER pressures me to find a man, says, "Oh, you should move in there." Like getting a fiancé is contagious--thanks Mom.

I want them to have grandchildren. I really do. The guy on Sunday who gave the message, he's 60 and has grandchildren. My parents are 64 and going on 65. Besides, Christmas isn't fun anymore--we're all adults giving each other grown up gifts. At least when my Grandma was living, she added something to Christmas--she was very childlike her last three years of life.

I am happy to be 35. I am happy with my life for the most part. But pretty soon all my single friends are going to be married...I need a new crowd!! (And I don't really want a new crowd...I think I need some guacamole and chips and some Miranda, Carrie, Samantha, and Charlotte.)

ACK!!!

Today was a day for retail therapy. I'll fill yins in on that next time. Maybe by then I'll have figured out how to post NEW pictures. I went to Goodwill and got pants and books and after work to Targét and got shirts and paper towels.

In which Sarah Louise goes to Phipps (Pt 1 of ?) [with spelling corrections]

Well, I'm not up for a long post with lotsa pictures, but this was my favorite scene at Phipps and believe me, I took lotsa pictures of this one scene, from many vantage points. But I figured I'd give you a little something. The artist, Chihuly (which I'm sure I spelled wrong) (Thanks CatStevens!), goes from place to place, doing art installations in glass. It's very cool. I was enamored with this boat full of colorful balls. It's just so playful.



And now I'm off to do some laundry. I might take a drive later. Lily and I had a lovely lunch at the Waterfront Pizzeria Unos and then we walked along the river. I'm going to the moon tomorrow. Oh, I mean Moon Twp. For training. And I think free lunch. I better double check on that. I promise more pictures to come.

"If you're tired of New York you take a nap-a, you don't move to Napa."

(Carrie to Big, SATC)

So far today I have sent myself at least three emails with blog post ideas. Plus, I promised pics of the new purse....

And I really should make a list of all the things I need to/want to get done.

Tomorrow I'm going over to NH Sally's to declutter her place, in preparation for her in-law's visit this weekend.

Today after work I have some packages to mail--I think the McKnight P.O. stays open until 6 pm. One thing I do like about working 9-5 is that I generally get home in time to watch Frasier.

I didn't make it here at 9, but I took a 45 minute lunch, so that cancels out my 9:15 arrival. Tip: if your audience is children in the 6 mos to 24 mos range, Minerva Louise is not a good choice if you want their rapt attention. It was an experiment, and while the adults loved it, we'll find something better for next week. Yawn--it must be almost time for my 2pm cuppa coffee.

(So instead of posting an interesting post on one of the scintillating topics I've proposed to myself via email, I've written a pedestrian post on...stuff.)

On the other hand...

Why is it that we tend to focus on the negative? I had a lovely jewelery party, my two best friends came, one brought a friend, and I love the lady who is the consultant, so we all had a blast, trying on jewelery. Ms. Second Floor came up and ordered something before the party started (let's get it started, yo, let's get it started, hey.) b/c she and daughter had evening plans and then just now, she called to see how it went. She can drive me up a wall with her vacuuming at 10 pm, but she really is a sweetheart. She works tomorrow but I'll have to figure a way to get her some of the leftover strawberries.

On the other hand, I invited almost thirty five women!! About 15 had other plans, were out of town, or don't wear jewelery, but some women said they probably would come and why do I care so much that they didn't when clearly, I had a good time?! It's just another indictation that relationships take time. And care, and nurturing. So, we're not there yet. So...move on! And keep inviting folks. This was the first time NH Sally came to one of my parties, the first time Kelly even ever saw my apartment, and the first time I let Ms. Second Floor in--she keeps an immaculate apartment with all new furniture and I felt, well, like the poor cousin. But she knew Sherry, who does work at her daughter's school for their garden, and I stood there washing dishes, it was really nice.

I can still feel my skin--ARGH!! I had a rough day at work, but I made it through and even solved a few problems!! I cleaned my desk this morning, which is a good feeling, I got rid of probably a ream of old papers. And now I know where things are.

Tomorrow's plan is to veg and to go see that new Meg Ryan flick that has Women in the title. And to post pictures of last Monday's trash-pick find.

Hug your little or big ones, and I'll catch ya on the flip side. Smile--your teeth need the sunshine.

Oh, and I got my first wedding invite in almost two years--exciting, exciting!! I love weddings. And I LOVE the invites--the envelope all calligraphied n'at...

I can see clearly now...

What do I love about winter? The whiteness. The austerity. Yes, it is cold, but very uncluttered. You can see through the trees because there are no leaves. And right now the hills are covered in white snow or icicles. This morning, on the way to the chiropractor, the Allegheny River was almost completely frozen over. And on the way home, the air was warmer than the river, because there was steam coming off the ice. It might have been the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and it reminded me of Genesis chapter 1, verse 2, "while the mighty wind swept over the waters." (NAB Translation)

School is cancelled for the second day in a row here in da Burgh. Monday is a day off for me, and I spent it cleaning the garret, napping, and doing homework for Women's Bible Study, which probably won't meet tomorrow, as school is cancelled. I also drove a friend home to Mt. Washington. That was a treat. I love driving around town and now that I spend so much time commuting to the North Hills, I don't see the grandeur that is this great city as often as I'd like. So I'm grateful that I have friends I can give rides to.

Today was a day of much soul searching and intense emails and phone conversations. And I labored over the Bible study homework. And I listened to Michael W. Smith's Worship album. The result? I think everything is going to be okay. Not in a Pollyanna sense, but in a real sense. I don't know when, or where, or how (especially how--as Babs would say, have you met me? And have you met the world we live in?) but I am confident:

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights. (Hab. 3:17-19, NIV)

I checked a coupla blogs that have been dormant for awhile and was rewarded with new content. (Yay!) Tomorrow is another day...in eight minutes. I plan to be asleep very soon.

It's eight degrees out there, I don't want to know the wind chill, thankyouverymuch!

And I'll be at church at night, without the advantage of the sun. Yeah, this will be layer city, I'm thinking...

So a few words on blogging. I have added a few to the right (and I still laugh at when I first did a post on adding things to the left and Poppy was like, um, is your screen aligned differently?).

I have been spending the morning at Poppy's. We're kindred for many reasons, including she is also a Sagittarius. I sometimes worry about how I spend too much time on one blog, commenting five times in one day, are they going to think I'm stalking them? Because, truly, I'm not. I'm just bored out of my gourd, this being the fifth day of this cold and I've only been out of the house twice. (Friday, to spend some much needed time with my peeps, and Saturday to work a few hours and grocery shop.)

Yesterday I wrote a rant about how everyone in Pittsburgh has their family nearby (except lil ole me). It was a little too ranty for my own taste, I may tone it down and take it out of drafts. I'm also crafting a post on "Mama Said" because mine is the smartest woman in the world. Or so she claimed, when I was in fourth grade. Nowadays she denies that she is the SWITW, but to me, she always will be. In my real world, I'm working on a "positive piece" about the bus crisis in da Burgh to publish over at I heart PGH. I will not be publishing it under Sarah Louise, or linking it to this blog, but you're smart enough to figure out how to find it, I'm thinking. While I do not currently ride the bus in da Burgh, buses are an integral part of this vibrant city and...well, they just can't take away 100 routes without a fight!!

My diet is pretty much oatmeal and ramen soup, clementines, water, and zinc. Although the zinc is not really helping--it usually clips the main pain of the cold after the first day and hasn't this time...

So, I have added on the left, I mean the right, Colin, a student at MIT. Found him through Pat and Adrian. There's this fun Pittsburgh expatriate vibe going with Adrian and Colin...anyways.

Also, Jenny. She is a hockey mom and very funny. The meme below this post is one I swiped from her.

Let's see, oh, I added Paula's photo blog, Finding Beauty, to the "Bohemian Shoes" area. I'm considering stopping the whole "Shoes categories" because I have a definate order in which I read them--it should be like "Everyday shoes" "Once a month shoes" "Once a week shoes." Because some of my friends don't update but every two months (but I still love them to pieces!!) I think there is a way to fix the HTML (maybe with RSS) so that you can see which ones have updated (because Bloglines is like crack for me--a bad idea) I think the PCUSA blog has that going on. Maybe since I'm homebound AGAIN today I'll work on that. Or maybe not. I feel a nap coming on...

Also, church is during the SB, but GO BEARS!! I wonder if You Tube has the Superbowl Shuffle...

(The super-fun music video was pulled due to copyright worries, but this gives you an idea at least...)

Where I shop and why

As I left Whole Foods, with my one paper bag, I mused on why I chose to go there on my way home instead of Giant Eagle, even though I have one item on my list that Whole Foods doesn't carry. (Carnation Instant Breakfast.)

Why did I pull into the Whole Foods parking lot at the last minute? Because life is unpredicable. I didn't know at that moment if Sally would be coming tomorrow morning to help me sort out my life (she is a saint, you know that already). I knew I was tired, bored, and a little listless, all not good places to be when you need to go to the grocery store. But I needed milk or I would have no breakfast tomorrow. And while shopping can be stressful, the atmosphere at Whole Foods feeds me. It even smells good when you walk in! I paid an outrageous $3 for 4 oranges, but I need to eat more fruits and veggies. I don't know what I spent on soy milk, but I had many choices, and I needed that, as I really can't fathom moving away from cow's milk. They didn't have blueberry waffles, but I'll try flax waffles, and I finally got EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) which might crack you up to know I use on popcorn. At the checkout, I did buy a magazine (Paula, you knew this was coming) but it was Harper's, a magazine I used to subscribe to. It was soothing to flip through the pages and not be focused on "15 things you can do in 15 minutes" or "How to slash your food bill" or "Jen is going to be a single mom."

I shop at Walgreens because I have heard the success story of Walgreens in Good to Great by Jim Collins time and again, as I listen to Jim on audio in my car. (Now I have to get it on CD!)

I shop at Borders because their rewards card is free and I get free stuff (I got $30 free the week before Christmas, making a few gifts for other people FREE!)

I shop at Barnes and Noble because it's close by and I know folks there, and because I used to work for the company, I know the general set up.

I shop at Giant Eagle because I spend about $30 on drugs every month and every time you spend $50 you get 10 cents off per gallon of gas. (It adds up!) And because they are on my way home from work, in a manner of speaking. (Although at Walgreens you can transfer prescriptions and it doesn't matter which store you go to...that seems very tempting to me, but then again, I like that I sort of know the people at Giant Eagle.)

I do not have to tell you why I shop at Target (I imagine most of you are also Targét shoppers), but I will: their products are so beautiful, enticing, and...(mostly) cheap!

I wish I shopped at independent bookstores. But I don't know where they are in Pittsburgh anymore. I wish I shopped at Trader Joes. But they close at 9pm and that's usually when I'm coming back into my 'hood. (Which brings out another great thing about Walgreens--they are open 24/7, even on NYE!) I wish I shopped at Aldi more. They have good stuff at great prices.

So maybe that's my resolution for the year: to do more things in 15 minutes. To slash my food bills. And to not focus so much on Jen being a single mom but reading things like Harper's magazine, which feeds my mind and soul.

Show and Tell is tomorrow morning, your leftover Christmas picture(s). I can't wait to see what you'll post!

Love-30, or Tennis Courts I have known...

Webster's Dictionary: Love (Tennis) a score of zero.
Wikipedia article on tennis scoring.

We're experiencing warm weather here in the Burgh. Well, colder today--36 degrees Fahrenheit. But mostly, it's been in the 40s and 50s. I've been wearing my pink fleece jacket instead of what I normally wear in December--my brown Russian coat.

I'm grateful for the warm weather. They've been finishing up the Mae West Bend on Rte. 8, and the nice weather makes it easier for them to finish--before Christmas??? All I want for Christmas is four lanes of highway?

On my birthday, in late November, I went for a walk. Not so unusual, as I try to go for one every day. But it was coldish on my birthday, and yet, in the middle tennis court, two men were playing tennis. I don't claim to read two men playing tennis on my birthday as a sign from God that..x y and z, but it was hopeful. For a good (or bad) year, I walked daily to and from the Seminary on my morning walk. Their tennis court is abandoned. It became a metaphor in my mind, the abandoned tennis court. So imagine my surprise and delight when this morning two men were playing tennis in the middle courts again. It's not a sign of x y or z, but hopeful. That my neighborhood has people that play tennis, that care about the upkeep of the tennis courts, and the community gardens. That there are people walking their dogs.

When the sparrows flew away as I walked through the grass where they had been resting, I thought of the sparrow, and how not a one falls without God knowing about it. "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." (Hymn)

And when I think of hope, I think of the lady poet from Amherst...

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

(Emily Dickinson)

The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10, TLB)

You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to stop and rest. (Psalm 139:3, TLB)

How well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times. (Ephesians 1:8, TLB)

My senior year of college was the worst and the best. (Isn't that the beginning of a Charles Dicken's novel?) The verses I've just quoted you are from a page-a-day calendar I had that year. I have resisted getting a page-a-day Bible verse calendar ever since, because I liked this one so well--it had trivia questions at the bottom, like, "Q: Where eight people made a new start" (and then you turned it upside down to read, "Mount Ararat (Gen. 9:1)"

I didn't go for my walk. And now I'll have to rush around to get ready for my physical. I started to look for a book, Other Bells for Us to Ring, which is a sad story around Christmas time, which is what I feel like I'm living right now, as I remember Joy.

One of these nights I need to stop avoiding the pain and sit and read Patricia MacLachlan's Baby, which tells the story of a family that lost a baby and never talked about it. But I don't see a free night in the forseeable future, or a free lunch hour to sit and read...Sunday. I have nothing planned for Sunday.

Joy comes in the morning--I found that verse this morning, without looking for it. It's in the 30s of Psalms.

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight. (Isaiah 45:2)

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well. (Dame Julian of Norwich)

Go hug someone. Or send someone flowers. Or call them on the phone. Or just leave a comment. I am so not ready to face today or the next two. Can't we just leapfrog to Sunday?

Oh alright. I'll go get ready. I'm getting my hair trimmed Friday--can't we leapfrog to then?

So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs, and mark out a straight path for your feet, so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, shall not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong. (Hebrews 12:12, TLB)

Denial is just a river in Egypt...

Tonight I am staying in. Tonight I am watching a movie. I may not even call the 'rents. In the next 3 days I'll be attending 4 holiday/other parties:

Thurs: lunch with Tech Serv Dept at a Country Club
Fri: lunch (I'll be making my strata) at Waverly's with the Kid's Dept.
Fri eve: party at Kelly's
Sat eve: graduation party for Jay.

I never leave shopping this close to the end, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. And this girl's gotta veg.

Geography Lesson: How to be a rebellious Pittsburgher (plus books!)

Let's see.

Today I left the house by 8:20ish. I arrived home at 5:45pm. Gosh, that doesn't sound like a day off...but as a result of this morning's Children's District meeting I don't have to go into work until 5 pm on Thursday, woo hoo! I might catch a matinee!! (Suggestions??)

The point of living in Pittsburgh is to stay within a five mile radius of your house. I break this every day when I leave the city to go to work in the North Hills. (13 or so miles, plus one river.)

Because that's the other thing in Pittsburgh--all these bridges and the point of life in Pittsburgh is to not cross rivers. Well, today, not only did I drive to the South Hills (13 miles), I also:

• drove through 2 tunnels (or the rather the same tunnel, both directions.)
• crossed two rivers twice. (Mon, Mon, Allegheny, Allegheny)
• went to the South Hills for the morning and the North Hills for the afternoon.

I'm such a rebel!

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I continue to read Good Will by Jane Smiley (the second novella in the collection of two novellas called Ordinary Love and Good Will.) I heart Jane Smiley. She is just superb.

Also reading How to be Perfect by Jean Kerr (who also wrote plays, including Please Don't Eat the Daisies). HTBP is a collection of essays and it is delightful. It reminds me of Erma Bombeck or Peg Bracken. I'm sure Kerr's book is out of print, so it will now be my quest to find a copy.

I tried Lee Smith again (The Last Girls) and, nope, I just don't get her. Let me know if you love her, I'll pay postage within the U.S. Send me an email this week, or it goes to Goodwill.

And today I did my last bit of homework on Beth Moore's study on The Patriarchs. Oh how I love love love Beth Moore. Tomorrow at Women's Bible Study will be the last video session and then starting in January we'll be doing a book about being Mary in a Martha world? Something like that. It's hard to believe that the new year will be here very soon!! (No, I will not admit that Christmas is just three short weeks from now....)

I seriously could take a nap...which I might, since I'll be up at ten, to watch Studio 60...

I'm having some gals over Saturday for a Mary Kay party--a dear friend is qualifying to be a director and so to show her support, I'm having this party for her. I still have to invite more folks, but that nap thing is sounding really tempting....

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Tried taking a nap: Sis called, Sally called, Kelly called. Oh well, I did catch a few winks and I did dishes while Kelly told me about her day.

10 mins to Studio 60!!