Ronda's Rants

What Was Waldo Thinking?

2012-01-17T13:21:00.002-05:00

I remember fondly looking for Waldo in all the children's books "Where's Waldo?" as it was an amusing way to pass the time as we traveled...and we traveled quite a bit as I grew up. My father was in the Navy, which means we were all in the Navy and when he was transferred...we were all transferred. I got used to being the "New Kid" in town as I traveled with my family in tow and we all felt like we were "all in this together". The books, which I think the British version is called "Where's Wally?" remind me of a time of travel, future uncertainties and a hideous red and white striped sweater that stood out usually like a "sore thumb"!

I would open the books and think..."Where's Waldo?" and mumble later...when I got older, as a pre-teen "Where's Waldo going now?" personifying his experience as my own. It's that memory that has me asking "What was Waldo thinking?" meaning me..."What was I thinking?"

The simple answer is every move I dreaded. I, as a child, teenager and an even now as an adult dislike change. I love to travel and to see new things but I always want to return home. I think of this now as we settle in Virginia living in temporary housing while we decide what home to build. I feel a little "not part of the picture" and a little like I am wearing a "Red and White Striped Shirt" in a room full of plaids and florals. This longing for a place to settle with familiar people, familiar landscape and my familiar things is not a new feeling for me...I remember the times of my childhood where I craved my "home".

I think now about what our new home will look like...Will it be a lovely red and white striped beach house perched on the side of a mountain? Will that feel like home? Or will I settle into my new surroundings and crave a mountain cabin of lovely florals and plaids? Will that look like home? Maybe...I should build something new and modern befitting "The New Kid" in town.

I don't know... and Waldo is not saying.

Color Me Shades of Gray

2012-01-09T22:12:00.004-05:00

I am no longer a Floridian, no longer working and no longer warm. (Virginia is cooler than I remember.) I am also no longer a person who believes in blacks and whites ...it's not the colors or the races that I am thinking of but rather those absolutes of certainty that I had of my youth. I was recently in a class where a young women of about 20 or so spoke her mind...I loved listening to her as she was so certain of her opinion, certain she was right...and I felt a mixture of envy and admiration, well, maybe admiration and THEN envy. I loved her excitement at knowing she was right.

I wonder if the more we color our hair to cover our gray the more we lose our ability to see only black and white issues...I wonder if that is where the gray creeps back into our lives. I wonder if I stop coloring my hair...will I be the woman who believes the absolutes of my youth again...like the young women I admired so much. For some reason I keep thinking of the line from Billy Joel's song "...when I wore a younger man's clothes."

No...I don't think that's it ...So, even though I color my gray hair...I want to keep my gray thinking these days...as people say they have earned their gray hair...I HAVE earned my gray thinking. I am happier NOT having all the answers and NOT judging everyone wrong or right. I don't know all the answers but I am not afraid to ask the questions and I am not afraid to say I don't know. The Ronda who were the younger girl's clothes wasn't able to do that. Very freeing...but I am going to still color my gray hair for awhile longer!

Back to the Future

2011-09-06T18:27:00.002-04:00

I left my job May 13, 2011 and on May 19th I got in my car and drove to the small town in Virginia where my husband was already living and working. He and I had begun our marriage there ...almost 34 years ago and now I was returning. My car looked nothing like a DeLorean and I, nothing like Marty McFly but Back to the Future is where I landed. When my Hubby and I first arrived in this town, we were young newlyweds and we thought sincerely this was where we would live and breed. When I did unexpectedly become "An Expectant Mother"...and that sweet baby arrived all those ideas changed! I wanted to be in Florida, where my family was and still is... and I wanted "that" life. My Hubby wanted ME...so, he went along with my decision. Because he did that for me ...I felt like it was important to support him now in his decision to accept a job in Virginia and build on land that has been in his family for many years. We have left all of our grown children, their children, my parents,siblings, grandmother and a church family that we felt blessed to be a part of...to start a new life. That life, this new life seems so much like "The Life we might have had..."
Everywhere I look I see the past...buildings are the same, businesses are the same...even the land, we left seemed to quietly wait our return! Everything is different and yet, the same. We first arrived as Newyweds and now return Empty Nesters. In the places we visit we see our young lives beginning ...except the mirror... it is there we see that we have already had our beginning. Everything is different and yet, the same! That image in the mirror asks question after question..."Did we make the right decison in leaving?" "Did we make the right decison in returning?" "Did we make the most of our time away?" "Will we make the most of our return?" So far, the image hasn't any answers...just a reflection of hope for our plans for our Future!

Yes, Virginia...there is a Ronda!

2011-04-03T12:30:00.000-04:00

Last election I voted for change...not sure I got much change in the political arena but I did get a whole lot of change in my personal life and it would seem I have a whole lot more to come!

The changes that have already happened...Our family business is no more, our adult children all found work that was meaningful and rewarding. I found a job and a group of people I enjoyed working with and for! My husband however did not find work...for a very long time! But, that also has recently changed...and after he had wall papered the country with his resume he did find a job in a small town, in Virginia, where we ironically, lived as newlyweds.

Another big change for us...After attending our church for almost 20 years we realized that churches' future direction and ours weren't the same. This was a "beyond painful" realization and took a great deal of prayer on our part to make the decision to leave and join another church, a church that had a passion for the mission we felt very passionate about.We did this, only to discover that we would be leaving that church to move to Virginia. Hubby joked if we had only waited to leave..."They'd have baked us a cake, Ronda!" But, the spiritual journey my husband and I had making this decision was priceless as a couple. God was present for us and we do feel blessed now because we tried to be faithful to what God wanted for us. It's always easy to say this in hindsight, I struggled mightily during that time!

So, currently Hubby lives in a small town in Virginia and I live in a not-so-small town in Florida...which is a change neither of us would have voted for but yet...Here we are...or Here I am and there he is!

I am leaving a job I enjoy, family I adore, weather that is perfect and a life that was what was "supposed to be" to live in... Virginia...to be Bob and Ronda, in Virginia. I don't know what other changes are in store for us but we will see them together side by side.

It's a Family Affair!

2010-09-04T09:11:00.003-04:00

My commitment to myself was to get back to blogging so I was startled to say the least when I went to sign in and my blog looked as messy as my house! I couldn't remember how to update anything and I had to even think for moment what my password was. There was a time I blogged everyday and a "gang" of us "hung" out each morning "listening" to each other. (That's a lot of air quotes, if you are reading this out aloud!)

I miss those times and I have become nostalgic for a few other times as well. I, no longer have my own business and while I do miss some aspects of having my own business for the most part ...I am happy doing what I am doing now. There are times I miss working with my family very much, mostly because they were great and are my actual family!

Last week while working an event, I saw a woman I worked with for 10 years, long before we started our own business and I was moved almost to tears...I know all of the time that I worked there couldn't have been perfect...I was a full time working mother, so I was beyond stressed, busy, tired and guilty! But, there she was reminding me about herself and a group of people who were to me like family.

My Hubby and I have more changes in store for us, some we have chosen and others thrust upon us like a rogue wave at the beach.. I have come to believe that you can remember friends and family, whether it be your actual family, bloggy family, work family or former church family fondly while embracing the new changes...the alternative is a lot of disappointment! That's not how "my family" operates!

That Girl Rocks the Dress too!

2010-07-14T18:42:00.000-04:00

Happy Anniversary!! I love the dress and the Groom is cute too!

33 years ago, this Friday...I Married a Really Cute Guy!

2010-07-11T10:21:00.003-04:00

This is my favorite picture ever taken of me, including my wedding day... I frankly, rocked that dress! I love the way my husband looks, I love the expression he is making, our youngest son makes the exact same modest smile. The picture was taken at our daughter's wedding and the next day we flew to California and stayed at the Ritz Carlton to celebrate our anniversary.

That was a pretty good day! I WOULD like to have that day over and over!

I have so many things I NEED to blog about but I haven't...so odd that I would use such a public forum to maintain my sanity and clearly if you look at the frequency of my current blogging you would wonder about my mental state. Big changes have been made in my life and still bigger ones to come...

I am currently taking my life on a minute by minute basis... I don't think that means I am doing badly because for a woman who likes to plan her life down to what she will wear two weeks from now...I am making great strides in just "not knowing" what the future holds for me.

All that I know, really know is that man will be with me! Happy Anniversary, honey...see you then!

Accepting...Even Me!

2010-06-27T21:41:00.000-04:00

It is funny how accepting you can be of others and then you can be so hard on yourself...I know this seems to be a trait women have although I do know a man who shares this trait with me. I try to be a good friend and I never, EVER judge others on their physical appearance but I have struggled with judging myself and my looks all my life. I think you could safely say I have never been satisfied with my appearance and I usually dislike having my picture taken.Two years ago when I started my blog...I chose the picture I have on my blog, not because I thought I looked good in it but because I was happy when the picture was taken. Today, I discovered a picture that was taken while I was volunteering and it is awful and for awhile it almost took all the happiness away from me that I had felt while working hard for a good cause...shallow, yes that is me!

I saw the picture and all these feelings of unworthiness starting invading my thoughts and suddenly every good feeling I had of serving a very worthwhile organization that helps at risk children were swept away...ALL BECAUSE OF A DUMB PICTURE OF ME. Craziness...

My daughter-in-my-heart listened to me complain about the picture and how awful I looked in it and she reminded me of a book that she had given me, Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow and a chapter that deals with being content with your body. The chapter is called Content to be Me...Each day I think I have made peace with my body and that we are friends and I accept all of the parts of me and then I will have a moment that makes me believe I have not.

But, it's just a moment and then I remember that I would never judge another person so shallowly and I won't treat myself that way either. So, today was a great day filled with happy moments serving others...and my picture was on the news and I looked....HAPPY!!

The Perfect Little Pink Dress...

2010-06-22T19:32:00.018-04:00

I have the perfect little pink dress, it is a pale pink with beautiful pink flowers along the hem line and while the tags say $198.00, that is NOT what I paid for it...I paid only $29.99, on sale at Talbot's. It was such a bargain, my perfect little pink dress. The palest of pink, the color my daughter describes as a shade that completely wipes all color from me making me appear corpse-like. The wonderful design of the dress, shows off not one of my attributes but somehow hangs lifelessly on my body.

I have had the dress for over five years now and each and every time I pull it out of my closet, I marvel at my great find of only $29.99 and I ponder on when and where I might wear this perfect little pink dress...

Then I stop and remind myself , that my daughter, who doesn't lie much to her mother says it is an awful dress and that it is not in fact the perfect little pink dress!

I have learned that shopping doesn't make you happy...not in the long run! It just really fills your closets with "things" and "things" do not make you happy.

I Love You! a Gift by Sivan Garr

2010-06-16T08:45:00.000-04:00

We Are Like Two Peas in a Pod...Only One is a Bean!

2010-06-13T20:32:00.001-04:00

Recently I told someone my Hubby was my best friend and he is...that has not always been the case. We started out as friends but as marriages, sometimes do... we got busy and became acquaintances! Working, raising children and even our church would become a distraction that kept us from feeling like friends.

Both of us are very tolerate of other people and each of us have friends who think very differently that we do; it took a long time for us to allow that with each other. It took us even longer to realize that married people don't have to have the same mind ... it's okay to disagree and be different.

I have wonderful friends, in fact if you were to judge me just on my friends alone, I think, I would be judged a success. My friends are varied, Christian, Atheists, Hindus and I think I have one who classifies herself as Pagan but I think she's joking and really she's agnostic. Some of my friends are conservatives and believe it or not they love me in spite of my liberalism. I have one friend who is a conservative Nudist and while I am neither, I love him just the same and I know he would do anything for me or my family. My husband is probably more accepting than even I am, however, for years we struggled to accept each other for just who we are and remember that we fell in love with each others differences.

It's funny how we all strive to accept our neighbor but we needle our spouses for their shortcomings! God gave me a patient man who forgives easily...and I am grateful.
That's the great thing about getting older...what's essential is more clear to you everyday!

Less is More...but More of What?

2010-05-30T08:15:00.001-04:00

For awhile now my Hubby and I have adopted a "Less is More" philosophy and for the most part we have enjoyed these changes. But, these choices have given us challenges, disappointments and CHANGES to our lives. C.H.A.N.G.E.S to your life does not necessarily result in happiness.

We thought we would be happy because it would be a more simple life which would result in happy!
Those changes did not make us happy nor was it simple...in fact sometimes it was just complicated and time consuming.

We had thought " happy" would result from our choice to have one car...One car is less than two cars, so, less is more, more happiness...

I did ride the "smug train" for a year, not literally but metaphorically. I wish Florida did have a commuter train, smug or otherwise as I would ride it and it would be a step up for Florida's public transit! Alas, Florida does not have a "smug train"...

But, we are now on four years of my Hubby and I sharing a car. While I know we have saved on expenses, gas, and have lowered our carbon foot print...these choices while not impossible to make have not resulted in a simple life but rather a complicated set of planning and rethinking of our values and how we live our lives!

It has also resulted in one of us being stranded places for longer than we anticipated, missed appointments, late appointments and the knowledge we as grown ups don't share all that well!

The Less is More philosophy has caused us to make some really hard decisions and that has resulted in us making difficult choices in other parts of our lives, as well. Which did not make us happy! So, not happy in fact we wavered on our decision to keep doing the Less is More. It's really hard, even for grown ups NOT to just go along with the crowd... I used to love having the latest fashion but I am not living that life style anymore...

I know, bigger is not better, brand new is not better...More of more does not make you happy!
So, these days, you will find me wearing last year's dress, sitting in the passenger side of my six year old car and going to a church that feeds the homeless on Sunday mornings!
My happiness is not based on things but rather on how God can use me and that is my ministry...and really most days...I am happy!

Doing the Impossible...

2010-05-23T08:45:00.001-04:00

Weddings make me happy, I didn't really realize that until I started my year long Happy Project. I am trying for a year to focus on my happiness, sounds selfish but it's not...it's mindful!

The part of the wedding I enjoy most is hearing the couple recite their vows because while they do I remember mine...

I, Ronda, take you Robert, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

At the time, I thought, geez "piece of cake,"... "wedding cake" to be exact. But, I was wrong, it is the hardest job you will ever take on, (the army is wrong) it's not just my marriage, it's marriage...it's not easy. But, it's not meant to be easy. It's the ultimate challenge and to struggle in your marriage is to grow in faith, to grow in knowledge and to grow in love.

I have not been a perfect wife nor has my husband been a perfect husband but we have grown in love and I honestly didn't realize I could love him more than when I took my vows for the first time!

I love weddings, I love watching a couple, in front of their family and friends promise to do the "impossible" while other "old" couples hold hands and silently agree to continue doing the "impossible."

It was a beautiful wedding!

Being HAPPY!

2010-05-17T11:44:00.009-04:00

For awhile now, I haven't been happy. I haven't been unhappy but rather something in the middle of happy and unhappy... hap-limbo...it is my word, deal with it! I started this blog when I turned 50 and it was my outlet for trying to be not-so-fearful! This year, my start of 52 years on this planet will be my pursuit of "happy"! I understand, that many will tell you that being happy is not what it is all about but this is not their blog nor their life... and I want to be happy.

If you have ever read my blog, you know I like to read and it brings me happiness. So while looking for something to read I found The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It has inspired me to begin a year long HAPPY Project. While I read her book, I realized many of the things that brought her happiness , would not bring me happiness and actually, that is her point. We each have unique ways of finding happiness based upon our personalities and our unique talents.

Ah, talents...I had begun to feel like I hadn't any...
I read somewhere, that if you ask a child...
"Can you sing?" that they would answer enthusiastically "YES"
or
"Can you dance?" that same child would answer "Yes" again...never doubting their talent or abilities.
As we age, we start believing we can't do some things because we aren't as good as others!
But, we CAN!
Some one recently asked if I could Kayak?
I answered without thinking, "Yes" and then I started to doubt that I still could.
So the Hubby and I went kayaking...
and "I can" and it made me Happy!

I had my HAPPY on and I am going to keep being HAPPY...for a year and maybe longer.
By the way...I have missed blogging and it also, makes me HAPPY!

What makes you HAPPY?

2010-05-17T09:04:00.000-04:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-05-15T19:46:00.001-04:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Rolling with the Punches...

2010-04-25T20:26:00.005-04:00

The saga continues...

So...we (he) made an appointment to have that cracked windshield fixed on our car and literally (not metaphorically) we were rear ended by another vehicle the morning of the appointment.

What I noticed about the incident/accident is that while my husband and I both showed kindness and compassion to the young man who failed to use his brakes at the red light, instead allowing our back bumper to do the job for him; we weren't all that kind or compassionate to each other. We weren't mean but we were nicer to the man who hit us than to one another. Both of us have had car accidents that were our fault when we were younger and I think this allowed us to remember how it felt and gave us compassion for this young man. I am glad as I think he needed it.

Where we failed, was being there for each other. I am not complaining as I am as guilty as the Hubby...we weren't there for each other. To give credit to one another , we didn't realize we needed it. But...why do we married people sometimes show more compassion to a total stranger than to one another?

We kept going...I mean we have this giant TO-DO List..and DO we must!

But, later I felt achy... not from the accident but I think just from being so tense about the experience of the accident.

So, I took a moment to really thank God that no one was hurt, that my husband is a gracious man who can be kind to a young man who makes a mistake and that THIS...thankfully is no big deal! A peace came over me...

My windshield is fixed like brand new...and Monday morning my car goes in for repairs to fix my smashed rear end!

We will keep rolling on and doing our TO-DO List...

Cracked Glass...and Other Crack Ups!

2010-04-12T06:16:00.004-04:00

My husband picked me up from work for a quick lunch the other day and I noticed the spot where a rock had hit our windshield had become not just a little spot but rather an inch long crack.

"Whoa...How did that happen?" I asked.
He said " I must have hit a bump...and it's spreading! "
"Well, our insurance pays 100% of your front windshield replacement and we should just take care of that! " I commented.

Now, I said we...but I meant he. We nor he has taken care of it. More importantly...I did not take care of it! (There is no "I " in teamwork...wait that's not what it means...) that was a week ago....
it it now about six inches long.

I looked at it yesterday and I have decided that the crack in the windshield is a metaphor for our lives right now...

I am just hoping the windshield doesn't land in our laps!

Our to-do lists keep growing and we don't seem to have enough hours in the day...

Easter... New Beginnings

2010-04-04T18:55:00.004-04:00

Today a young man sang a song in church that moved me to tears...it wasn't the words although they were beautiful...it was the way he sang the song. He put everything he had into it, using his gift from God to his fullest potential. I wish I could sing like that...I so... can not! It's not my gift and certainly it wouldn't be from God if I did break out in song.
A yet, a new song is in my heart.

His song did remind me that for awhile, I haven't been using my gifts from God, to my full potential. I haven't any good excuses but rather instead deluded myself in thinking...that either my gifts weren't needed or worse maybe I never really had them to begin with. The trouble with this line of thinking is that while you may not use your gifts...God will make your passion bigger and bigger until you have to use them!

My husband and I have made some changes, for some time now we haven't worshiped at the same church as our children. They have each married wisely and they have each picked churches that were right for their families. While my head has understood all of this...my heart has missed them at every turn. I refer to this as "the ghost of children past". I have spent about 5 years missing my children in the halls of our church! I love our church and consider the people there our family but for the last two years, both my husband and myself quietly thought of leaving. Neither one of us wanted to hurt the other by bringing it up but this heaviness in our hearts persisted.

Our passion for serving the homeless led us to a new church where 200 are fed every Sunday morning, even Easter...or should I say, especially Easter! Their mission statement is simple and easy to remember... Making God's love real. It was our passion that led us to this church and our passion will lead us to serve there.

I will miss our old church family, as I miss worshiping with my children but I do know that we, together will always be a part of God's family!

I welcome new beginnings....Happy Easter!

Hi...My Name is Ronda and I Use to Blog!

2010-03-29T08:58:00.004-04:00

Hi...My name is Ronda and I use to be a blogger, now I am having trouble finding where to type a new post. This struck me as funny as I use to post daily but that was when I owned my own time! I now no longer own my own time or my own business, well I still own it but it's more like... Owning the debt one incurs from owning your own business.

I work for someone else now and I still try to do the other things as well... I am having time management problems. I am having a time management problem right now as I am choosing not do laundry or clean my house on my day off and blog instead! Life is all about choices...just remember there are ALWAYS consequences to the choices we make!

My husband and I have made some painful choices recently and that has taken some of our time. We have chosen to include God in our choices because we have found that in the past where we haven't included God, we didn't like the "road NO ONE would have taken"!

I started this blog almost two years ago, on my 50th birthday and I want to continue on with it! I want to be better about the choices I make, my time is precious and I want to make the most out of it and blogging again is part of that plan.

Have a great Holy week! God is in the house...well, As for me and my house...

Sunday Salon, Bloggy Book Club and All Girls Book Club Combo

2010-01-31T19:20:00.002-05:00

I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen for this month's Bloggy Book Club and for the first ever...All Girls Book Club, which is a book club that meets once a month. While I have loved blogging for Sunday Salon and for Bloggy Book Club and I love reading the comments of fellow reading enthusiasts on this blog and others...it was very gratifying to hear every one's opinion about this book in "real time"!

Water for Elephants was a great read...I know that I do write that phrase many times ...I am not a critic...I enjoy reading a story and I am led easily into it. I take the story for what it is...

In the Authors Notes in the back of the book, Sara Gruen writes that the idea of this book came about unexpectedly while researching for an entirely different book. The Chicago Tribune ran an article on Edward J Kelty, a photographer who followed traveling circuses around America in the 1920's and 1930's. The photograph that was included fascinated her so much she began researching Circuses and had abandoned her first idea for a book entirely instead deciding to write about the train circuses.

This is a story about a young man and his loss of both his parent's during the Depression and his adventure of running away with the circus. Sara Gruen contrasts the world of a showman's glamor and equestrian pageantry with the senseless cruelty of a sleazy sideshow.
This is also the story of an old man and his aged memories and his real fear of losing control of his mind and his life...and those memories he holds so dear.

The All Girls Book Club met and discussed this book at length and all of us either liked or loved this book very much! It is a great historical fiction and I liked it very much!
We decided that we will all go to the movie that is being made out of this book starring Reese Witherspoon, Sean Penn and Robert Pattinson

Sunday Salon...Read Along

2010-01-17T09:21:00.006-05:00

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell is a great book that I am re-reading ...The subtitle of this book is How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.
I enjoyed this book when I first read it and reading again at a new place in my life has been rewarding for me. I love to watch people and how they respond to one another...this book will make you see those interchanges in a new light! Change is inevitable but it is human nature for most of us to not respond favorably when we feel it is happening.

Because I like driving myself somewhat crazy and I just plain love to read...I am reading three other books right now...all good!
I am missing a great Sunday School class today because I am working but the book we are reading for that class, and while I am only on the second chapter it has been very interesting! It is by Paul F. Knitter and it is called Without Buddha I could not be a Christian.
It's probably an intriguing title to Christians and to Buddhists but I have found it to be sensitively written and very thought provoking!

I am reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen for Blogging book Club this month and for my brand-new-no-name-yet-in-real-life-thank-God-I-have-it-book-club!
I do like it and I will share more later in the month!

The fourth book I am just finishing up is a must-have for any young woman leaving college or as I am, any woman reentering the work force. It is Cathie Black's Basic Black...this book is terrific and has given me just the pep-talk I needed!

I am off to work today and I am actually happy to as I will be at the Florida Fairgrounds working at a booth for work ...which is fun for me!
Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

Bloggy Book Club...so late!

2010-01-04T18:44:00.008-05:00

When last we left our sweet heroine she said something about reading The Lost Symbol for Bloggy Book Club and that was way back in November...

Well, she ...uh, I did! I just didn't blog about it!

So...Bloggy Book Club for November was The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and I did enjoy it with some small reservations.

From the front cover: When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon- a prominent Mason and philanthropist- is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and-never-before-seen-locations- all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.

Sounds good....doesn't it? It was! I enjoyed it because of the interesting, historical and mysterious plot but this is my third time reading about Robert Langdon's experiences and frankly it read a little formula-like and became very predictable for me and that was disappointing. Even though the story is somewhat different...you basically know who the "bad" guy is and what is going to happen, because it is a very similar story line in all three books! This was an interesting storyline about The Masons and I did find that part of it intriguing.

But, the most annoying part for me is that while telling the story Dan Brown chooses to only honor some of Robert Langdon's past...he always has these characters who appear who are old dear friends who weren't mentioned in his past books. You then find recent characters you just read about in the last books aren't mentioned in the new book, which would be fine if he didn't reference events that occurred in the past book. It annoyed me that the author mentioned details from the last books and then doesn't mention anymore about any of the "dear friends" from the other books! It seems odd for his character to have these relationships that don't carry over to the other books.
This may not bother others...just me but it did distract me from an otherwise great storyline!

It is a great historical, fiction who-done-it?

For Bloggy Book Club in January we are reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Join in by blogging Sunday, January 31, 2010... Happy Reading!

To all My "Friends"...Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T06:30:00.004-05:00

A young "friend" of mine ( I put it in quotes because she is my facebook friend so I am still unsure if that carries over into-real-world) said on her facebook status that she was dreading the New Year! While I do not believe in questioning others, okay that is a lie I do believe in questioning others...I did take the opportunity to question how I was looking at the New Year!

and....I am looking forward to it! 2009 is a year I would gladly kiss goodbye! I am grateful for the good things and there were many...I was lucky enough to get a new daughter-in-law.
But, for the most part 2009 was difficult and I am ready for it to go, with a big sloppy kiss good-bye!

I welcome 2010! Here's to you all in 2010....May all your dreams come true!

Random Rambling

2009-12-28T18:02:00.004-05:00

You know you are getting older when...

You find yourself yelling at your husband for taking your reading glasses out of your purse and not telling you he took them!

While drying yourself off, you glance up, see your reflection in the mirror and realize you took a complete shower with hair wash while wearing your reading glasses!

You share your reading glasses with your friends, swapping them like 12 year old girls with a tube of lip gloss.

You can not cook, sew, do a crossword puzzle or BLOG without wearing your reading glasses.

You find a man especially attractive who wears reading glasses, especially if you are married to that man!

I wish you a household full of reading glasses for the New Year!

It's Not BeginningTo Look A Lot Like Christmas!

2009-12-03T19:03:00.005-05:00

I haven't started decorating for Christmas...not..one..bit!
I watched Floral designers decorate where I work and it just made me sad!
It was beautiful...but I knew there were no designers at my house...NOT ONE!
We have just been so busy with other stuff...Advent and Christmas have just not found a place in my heart ...or my home...yet!

I did want to tell you about an awesome give-away...
Artificial Christmas Tree
Giveaway at Balsam Hill!

Good Luck!...and maybe I will start pulling boxes from the attic!

The Big Day!

2009-12-01T20:53:00.005-05:00

My youngest son is married. He has married wisely but then he is a smart guy. I look at these pictures and see how very blessed both our families are! This photographer also photographed our oldest son's wedding. His name is Victor Junco...visit his web site Victor's Pho-to-jour-nal-ism! These are just as sample as we haven't even got the proofs yet!

The blessed couple are going on their honeymoon cruise this weekend. I wish them...Bon Voyage!
(Click on the picture to enlarge)

A Father To Be Thankful For...

2009-11-24T19:03:00.004-05:00

My Grandson got to meet Tom Turkey at his school's Thanksgiving feast...
He also noticed that the turkey had his father's legs!

Here is The-Cutest-Boy-In-America chasing his Dad the turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving! May you all be as happy as I am!

He's Getting Married Today!

2009-11-21T09:17:00.005-05:00

My youngest son is getting married this morning...and we could not be any happier!
It's not a surprise as they have dated for seven years and we all see how much they love each other! But...we are so happy to have a new "Baer" family member and we love her almost as much as Ryan loves her!

3o Years of Fun and Joy!

2009-10-30T08:00:00.008-04:00

My son's 30th birthday was on the 27th of this month...it's quite the milestone!

When I had him...I was quite young at 21...and.... s.c.a.r.e.d!
I have muddled through parenting...just trying to do the best I could...lot's of praying!

My oldest son changed my life and made me happier than I could have possibly imagined.

I simply did not know joy until I met him. I delighted in all things he did as Rob delights in all he does...he puts his heart into the task and...tries hard to make it fun!

Because of him...I wanted more and more children...I thought I had not wanted children...until I had him!
I love you Rob...Happy Birthday! Thank you...for all the joy you and your family bring me!

For more friday fotos and joy visit Candid Carrie!!

Scary Man

2009-10-22T07:19:00.003-04:00

I have blogged about Scary Man or Scared Man as he has been labeled by another and if you want the whole story it's here!

I was volunteering at the Cafe where we feed the homeless last Monday night and I was behind the line dishing the food into plates as other volunteers were serving our guests. I looked up as Scary Man was walking in, a volunteer greeted him and he said without smile..."Please give this to the lovely lady smiling in the back" and without another word he handed her a large green leaf that he had picked!

He did not speak to me again all evening and he left without saying "Goodbye" or even a "Thank you"

I know this much from my encounters with Scary Man...
He is educated as he speaks knowledgeably on many topics from Science to Shakespeare and he knows the Bible inside and out.
It is heartbreaking...he is mentally ill and he might be better if he took medication.

Looking For Contrast in the Dark.

2009-10-18T19:28:00.008-04:00

I was looking at a friend's pictures of his vacation and he had taken an opportunity to try different lens settings for a unique look. Another bloggy friend had a picture that contrasted light and dark while capturing the moon and sunset in the same frame for a truly beautiful picture.

It got me thinking about my life...I have had some dark times lately but even in the midst of those times I have had some truly beautiful light filled moments.
I wonder... Is that where God is...Is he there in those moments...clearly that IS where and when I see him!
But...if He is there then and I do believe He is...then surely He is there in the dark, as well.
I don't always feel His presence in the dark times...but yet I know He is there.

If I don't always feel His presence ...How do I know He is there? Is God hidden in the shadows?

They say that hindsight is 20-20. I can look back at two incidents in my life that were the worst times of my life. If you would have told me at the time that those would be times God was blessing me... I would have said you were full of "proverbial stuff"!
But...God did bless me and while I would not want to relive any of it...I am glad that it happened because my family and I were made stronger.

I can look back on my life and clearly see that God was there and working in our lives and I believe He is here now...working in the dark.

Have a great week...I am trying to learn to manage a new work schedule and make time for my love of blogging. I am sorry I haven't visited in a while...I am looking forward to an extra hour to my day!

Turn... Turn... He's Four! Turn...Turn...He's Thirty!

2009-10-15T21:11:00.007-04:00

The Cutest-Boy-In-America turned four and his Mama made him the coolest cake...he asked for a Dinosaur cake and he got it!

Russ Robinson took these great pictures and many others that day...this is my oldest son's oldest child...and this month my son turns 30! It seems like only yesterday he was the age of the Cutest-Boy-In-America...

Time flies....
Visit Cute Candid Carrie for more friday fotos!

Yes, he is biting it's head off!

Things You Learn From Being Unemployed

2009-10-11T20:18:00.004-04:00

1. It's nice to have a steady paycheck...I mean really nice...and you miss it and remember it fondly!

2. You discover who your friends are...they are the ones who can still make eye contact when you say..."I am afraid and I am worried." They also don't say things like "Your unemployed and your over 50!"

3. You gain ten pounds...I don't know why... but you do.

4. You have to fight...I mean fight... the desire to nap for a reaaaaaalllllly long time.

5. You are grateful...really grateful when you do find work and you pray for others who are looking for work...because you have been there!

Bloggy Book Club

2009-10-05T17:23:00.005-04:00

I am late with this post as with some book reviews I have done!
I have been in the midst of a pity party and if you have ever had one or been an invited guest...
then you know they aren't that much FUN !

I am reading Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol for October's book club and I am actually quite excited to read it! I could use some excitement...right about ... NOW!
Rules are easy...
Read and Blog Sunday, October 25, 2009.

Stop Talking and Listen to Others!

2009-10-05T08:37:00.004-04:00

Dear...To no one in particular and everyone else:

My business is failing...we don't have any work. My company is allowed to fail by my government as I am clearly not "too big to fail"! I am not being political here although I am sure there are some who will take it politically because that is what this country does!
We have become a country of talking heads who never listen!
I would like someone to hear my pain...
My company, my family business is failing...Don't look away! Don't marginalize me with "Monday Night quarterbacking" ...I know there are many others like me. Don't send me your stupid email forwards with the analogy of "The Ants and The Grasshopper!"

I am not asking for money or even sympathy...I am asking that you hear me.

My business that my sons, my daughter, my husband and I have poured our hearts and soul into is over. Our dream, our American dream is done. The sadness sometimes washes over me and I cry...I know God has plans for us and we will move forward but allow me my sadness.

I once took a course on customer service training...and one statement that I have never forgotten...
People's perspective is their reality...their reality is their truth...even if it is not the truth...it is to them! They can not move forward until you hear them.

I am trying to make a new reality and a new truth for me.
I encourage everyone to stop talking and listen to others...Hear what they have to say!

From:
No one special.

Bloggy Book Club : Rage Against the Meshugenah

2009-09-27T10:15:00.003-04:00

This month's Bloggy Book Club choice was Rage Against the Meshugenah by Danny Evans who is the author of a very popular blog Dad Gone Mad. His writing has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Southwest Airlines Spirit, Orange Coast, and other national and regional publications.

From the back cover:
In his revealing, funny, and no holds-barred memoir, Danny Evans takes us on his "heartbreaking and hilarious" odyssey from having it all one moment and plunging into a crushing depression the next. He confronts his dependency on beer and porn, his innermost demons, and the hidden truths about his family in a raw and honest account. Nothing is off limits on his quest- not even analysis of the most embarrassing and inconvenient sexual side effects of his get-well medication. It's enough to drive a man insane. But Danny learns the hard way that he may have to go a little crazy in order to find his way home.

While my brother was in college and I was living the life of a busy young mother, my brother recommended I read A Time to Kill by John Grisham. It has a lovely dedication to his wife, and then on page two a 10 year old is raped and... I.stopped.reading. My brother asked me a month later how I liked it and I told him I couldn't read it...it was too difficult. He begged me to pick it up and finish it and I did and to this day it remains one of my favorite books.
That experience taught me a lesson, when I get to a difficult part... I... keep... reading.

Rage Against the Meshugenah had some difficult parts for me but I kept reading and I am so glad I did. This is a very good book about a topic I don't think many people have written so graphically and honestly about.
Depression affects many people and I think even more go undiagnosed in this country and we all have different methods of trying to cope or self-medicate.

I was uncomfortable with the authors detailed description of his porn dependency issues...
I am sure I am some kind of repressed feminist but it still made me uncomfortable. But, this author's honesty was transparent and I appreciate the courage that took to express that struggle.

That being said..."It is laugh out loud funny"....
I was reading this book in public many times...laughing loudly.
Someone would always ask what are you reading...I would explain it was a memoir about a man's crushing depression and his dependency on porn and beer!

That would look genuinely perplexed and I would reply...

"It's a comedy!"

This is a great book but not for the faint hearted!

PS...At the end of the book he has a touching acknowledgement to Sharon his wife...
Well, let me just say John Grisham couldn't have done better!

I Am Glad He is Not Sorry He Married Me!

2009-09-24T11:23:00.006-04:00

I have made my blog public again after a falling out with a fellow blogger...I have enabled comment moderation and while I hate it...I hate her comments more! :)
I am sorry if anything I have written ever offends as it is never my intention. I am just sharing my opinions and you know what they say about opinions...

Early in our marriage...My Hubby and I discovered that, he did not like, understand or know how to make or even fake an apology. This became a problem as mystery of all mysteries I needed one to get over whatever happened. We will define "get over" as anything that prevented me from pretending there was not anything wrong...I should also suggest here I am not good at faking or pretending. It was a difficult time for both of us.

My husband has learned to give "good apologies" since this time in fact he is better at giving a sincere apology than anyone I know. When I am sorry...I truly try to give the apology in the manner my Hubby has shown me.

First...
Do not say I am sorry you got your feelings hurt!
This is like saying "I am sorry you were run over by a car!" while you were the driver of the car!

Second...
Don't apologize unless you are.
This is when you say "I am sorry but ...you started it! "

Third...
Don't apologize and then continue doing the behavior.
"I am sorry you were run over by the car!" Now stand here while I get back into the car and hit you again.

To apologize you say "I am sorry that "whatever happened" occurred and I admit "my responsibility" and I hope you accept my apology as I will not let this happen again."

It is okay to say it was unintentional but to say to someone " You shouldn't feel whatever you are feeling"... is not okay!

You accept apology and you should!! ... (in a perfect world)

Maybe, like My Hubby you are married to someone like me who wants to revisit said injury.
He patiently listens and says while smiling..."And, I am still sorry for all of that!"

I can't think of anyone who could still be angry with a person like that... Well, I can but he loves me anyway!!!

I do love you Bob!!

Does This Outfit Make Me Look Racist?

2009-09-23T13:56:00.007-04:00

Maybe...but I have to say wearing a flag on your butt does make it look big!
Also, the guy next to you looks like the punch line to
"You know you are redneck when..."

It would seem that some people object to former President Jimmy Carter stating that some of these people's anger comes from race rather than just plain old disappointment with our President.

I don't know if some people protesting are racist or not but I know all them aren't...most are just mad about what is "going on" and "they want to "take" their country back.
Now what they want to take it back to might be a concern to some folks! Especially to people like 80 year old southerners who remember what it used to be like. Would this frighten an 80 year old black citizen of this country who lived through our history?

I would like to point out that when I protested the war in Iraq and questioned why we were in the wrong country...as in "They-went-that-a-way Cowboy Bush!" And when I chanted "How are we going to pay for this George Bush?" I was called Un-American, aiding terrorists and anti-military! I was dressed in Jeans and a T-shirt and ...
yes...it made my butt look big too!

Squatters Rights?

2009-09-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

It has been a busy, humbling week and ...then I got this picture on my cell phone from my son. So...I called my Mom to tell her that..
"Dad, is doing "his business" on the front lawn!"
Mom said "He is NOT! "
"He is and I have the photo!" I reply.
My Mom screams...
"OH, MY LORD!"
The moral of the story when you think you just can't be humbled anymore...you would be wrong!

I am kidding...My parents are having their bathrooms remodeled and my Dad has a wicked sense of humor!

For more friday fotos visit cute Candid Carrie.

Happy weekend!

Word...That Girl is Cute!

2009-09-16T10:00:00.005-04:00

This picture was taken by Russ Robinson at my grandson's birthday party and I think he has great timing...and it does not hurt that the girl is so dang cute!

She is out-going, fearless, inquisitive, spunky-as-the-day-is-long and has the best laugh in the world!

Papa and Gigi love you sweetie!

Visit Russ Robinson's blog!

For more Wordful Wednesday's visit the ever perfect Angie at Seven Clown Circus who has an unwelcome visitor this week!

The Cutest-Boy-in-America

2009-09-10T11:13:00.004-04:00

Today is the Cutest-boy-in-America's birthday and he is four as in...

"I am four, Gigi!"
He has made the world a better place and I am not exaggerating at all!
His mother once said "He will save the world!" and I laughed and I think I hurt her feelings!
She was right of course ...
as he did save the world!
I love you "Carter Pie!"

Thank you to my son and Daughter-in-my-heart for this amazing grandson of ours!

friday foto

2009-09-03T22:30:00.011-04:00

When we were at Disney my oldest son stood for about 40 minutes trying to get a picture with my camera of his son going down the flume ride.

That's not them!

Not them either!

Nope.

and there were about 30 others like this and then...woops...he missed it!
While the Cutest-Boy-in-America loved this ride... I loved watching my son try hard to capture his son's enthusiasm on film while I made a mental image of my son that I will cherish!
For more friday fotos visit Cute Candid Carrie!

This and That

2009-09-03T13:33:00.005-04:00

My Hubby and I are old. Getting older by the minute, in fact there are times when we are together that I begin to wonder what we will be like as ancient people.

Scene:
Two people home alone.
Sitting at two desks.
On two separate computers.
at least one of the two are having a conversation, the people not the computers.

Wife: "Do we have plans for next week?"

Hubby: "Some...I need to mow the lawn!"

Wife: "Can we go to Disney?"

Hubby: "Sure...How about Saturday?"

P A U S E (I mean just that long of a pause...not any longer I promise)

Wife: "How about we go during the week? There will be less people there."

(The sound of silence....crickets...birds chirping....car drives by...more silence...a dog barks in the distance...that kind of silence)

Wife: "Hubby.."

Hubby: "What?"

Wife: Just staring.

Hubby: "Are you talking to me?"

Wife: "Do you see anyone else here?"

Hubby: "What?"

Wife: "Never mind..."

A younger woman would have fought over this or at least this woman when younger would have fought over this! But not anymore...
Maybe we will make it to Disney next week.

The Lure of Dark Chocolate!!

2009-09-02T12:29:00.005-04:00

The news gets me down but nothing this cute girl and dark chocolate can't cure!!

Like most of the women of our family...she likes Dark Chocolate!

Seriously...How cute!!!

Visit Angie at Seven Clown Circus for more Wordful Wednesdays!

Bloggy Book Club

2009-09-01T08:41:00.005-04:00

Because as Angie reminds us....It's Not All About You (ME)

September's Bloggy Book Club is a recommendation from one of my favorite bloggers, Coachblogger. He has a friend who wrote a book and Coachblogger said it was GREAT!

He actually said many good things about the book but I am just summing it up!

Danny Evans, who's blog Dad Gone Mad is very funny and irreverent has written a book Rage Against the Meshugenah...Why It Takes Balls to Go Nuts.

(I haven't read it yet but this might contain some four letter words...which I of course will be shocked...shocked to read!)

Please join me in reading Rage Against the Meshugenah and blogging about it September 27th!

Danny Evans

MESHUGENAH [meh-shuh-geh-nuh] adjective

mad; crazy;
mentally deranged; demented; insane

[origin: 1892, from Heb. meshugga, part. of shagag "to go astray, wander." The adj. has forms meshugener, meshugenah before a noun]

In his early thirties, Danny Evans had it all—a hot wife, a new baby, and a steady advertising job. Then, in the span of one week, a series of inauspicious events plunged Evans into a crushing depression. At turns poignant and uproarious, RAGE AGAINST THE MESHUGENAH vividly traces Evans' journey through the minefield of mental illness from a modern man's point of view.

The stigma surrounding clinical depression is ominous enough to prevent many men from discussing it, but Evans (author of the wildly popular DadGoneMad.com) holds nothing back. Through his confrontations with sexual side effects, his self-medication with beer and porn, and even his private therapy sessions, Evans boldly details his odyssey to get back to being himself.

More about Rage Against the Meshugenah

Did You Know?

2009-08-31T10:25:00.000-04:00

I watched this in...wait for it...church yesterday! As Bob Dylan said ....
These times they are a changin'

Our world is changing and how we view and learn information is ever changing...our churches need to evolve! I love this video! Enjoy...

Kathryn Magendie's Tender Graces

2009-08-29T22:00:00.004-04:00

This month's Bloggy Book club choice was Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie.

(I have started this first sentence three times each differently trying to say the same thing...without it sounding like a cliche.)

It is a great novel.
I care about these characters as they are beautifully described and their words seem authentic.
I was sad to reach the end of the novel as I knew I wouldn't be spending time with them anymore.

Back Cover states:
The death of her troubled mother and memories of her abused grandmother lure a woman back to the Appalachian hollow where she was born. Virginia Kate Carey, the daughter of a beautiful mountain wild-child and a slick, Shakespeare-quoting salesman, relives her turbulent childhood and the pain of her mother's betrayals. Haunted by ghosts and buried family secrets, Virginia Kate struggles to reconcile three generations of her family's lost innocence.

My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and while these books are dissimilar ...the stories are equally powerful and I equally care for the character of Virginia Kate in the same ways that I care for Jean Louise "Scout" Finch.

I loved Tender Graces and Kathryn Magendie has written a story of triumph over sadness and the release that comes with the acceptance of all the frailties of our lives.

I found out that this author is writing another novel based about Virginia Kate by reading her blog ... and now... I want to leave comments asking...

Are you rested? Are you getting enough sleep?
I am wondering if she has enough to eat...Can I make you a sandwich or anything?
Is she working lovingly on this next book?

... as I miss my time with Virginia Kate.

Seriously...no cliche...I enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to the next one!

Ad Man... The Cutest-Boy-In-America

2009-08-26T07:22:00.004-04:00

Awhile ago I won a box full of Poprs and here is my grandson trying them! This is the cinnamon flavor and he put it on his toast for Cinnamon Toast! They have many, many different flavors...your kids will love them!
We have decided that The-Cutest-Boy-In-America (who just started pres-school on Monday) might make a terrific Ad Man!

Visit Aunt Julie for more about Poprs and to say "Hi"!

And for more Wordful Wednesdays visit Angie at Seven Clown Circus!

It'sNotAllAboutMe...

2009-08-25T15:39:00.008-04:00

Angie from Seven Clown Circus Hosts Tuesday's It's not all about you...This is my first time participating. The point, I think is we often blog for ourselves and/or about ourselves and this is a day we can highlight someone else! I thought about a previous post and some insight a commenter, Lauren gave me and I wanted to share it!

Hubby and I, once a month feed the homeless at a meal and shower shelter that also provides a clothes closet. We met a man that seemed to have some mental health issues and he was very scary and I at one point mishandled him...resulting in a very Scary Man Moment!( You can click on Scary Man and read the original post if you would like.)

He has continued to scare people and intimidate but I still smile and greet him and try to be kind to him. It's not always easy.

But last Monday... a young volunteer came up to me and said while I served food..."He's here!" and I knew who she was talking about because she is especially frightened of him.
I walked outside and I watched as he walked back and forth like a caged animal...my first reaction was fear so I prayed... "Let me see him as you do."...and instantly I did.
He was scared!

I remembered my earlier post and one of the comments...
Lauren wrote.
Maybe he is not really Scary Man, just scared man?

Scary Man was scared!
I smiled and waved from the kitchen door but I did not approach him and within minutes he was walking in the back door...

I smiled and walked slowly to him and spoke softly (for me, anyway) and yet he still shushed me and said crossly..."You speak too loud...too much buzzing!!"

I tried to look contrite and said even softer..."I am so glad you are here...May I bring you food"
and he smiled and said...

"I am so glad you are here...you weren't here before!"

I came back and told my group...myself smiling..."Prince Charming would like to eat."
We fed him and while he can still be rude and seem ungrateful and certainly scary...I do see he is scared.
My fellow blogger Lauren helped me see him as he was...
she and I don't agree always on politics but I value her as a friend and fellow blogger!
My Tuesday's Tribute is Lauren....cause it's not*all*about*me!

Tangling with Tyrants

2009-08-24T11:21:00.002-04:00

Tangling with Tyrants by Tony Deblauwe is a must read especially in today's economic environment where finding a new job may not be a quick or even a viable option!
I think, all of us have at one time or another experienced a difficult boss and all of us have tried varied ways of coping with varied levels of success.
Deblauwe gives great tips in determining exactly what is going on and a process to outline a strategy for change for a lasting solution!

The back cover states:
Through exercises and real examples taken from workplace, Tangling with Tyrants can help you break the conflict you have with your boss. Specific techniques demonstrate how to improve your thinking and change your behavior to ultimately enhance your power in a relationship.

I did learn quite a bit from this book...apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks!

I learned the role I have been playing in conflicts in my work environment ( I work with my husband!)
I now know which behaviors I have participated in that have undermined my power in our company decision making.

I have also learned that while turning things over to God in prayer is important you shouldn't just be "hoping" things will change without any work on your part.

I have also learned how to have a "plan" for lasting change.

Tangling with Tyrants is a great book that I highly recommend...it retails for $19.95 and it is a small price to pay for great career advice!

This is Mickey Mouse Tired...

2009-08-21T00:06:00.005-04:00

Our sweet grandson sleeps soundly on his Papa's shoulder after a very long but fun day at Disney World!
This very big boy turns 4 soon and I can't tell you how quickly it has gone by...
He is just the best grandson!
He started preschool and we are so proud of him!

My son and daughter-in-my-heart have raised him and his little sister to be caring and loving little people!
We are blessed!

For more friday fotos visit Cute Candid Carrie...although I hear some squatter has taken over her blog!
For my latest book review go here!

Is Your Ghost Holy by Shay Bills

2009-08-20T21:03:00.008-04:00

I have just finished reading Is Your Ghost Holy
Eight Principles for evaluating Your Walk in the Spirit by Shay Bills. I am actually late in reviewing this book as I wrote the date down incorrectly when I agreed to read the book.

I was intrigued with the title and topic of this book...there are not many in my denomination, that feel comfortable talking about the Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Helper or Comforter. I am sure I have just made all my Presbyterian friends angry with this blanket statement and convinced the author of this book of our quick trip to hell...but I am just telling my experience. We, I believe as a denomination do not acknowledge what we know to be true and that is the evidence of the Spirit working in our lives.

The Back cover states:
Discover how his Word shatters residue doubt and uncertainty. Learn how to walk in the power of the Holy Ghost, by applying the Word of God and trusting His promises. His Holy Spirit will awaken and reveal the hidden crevasses of your heart, mind and soul and fill you with His wisdom. Called by some, a spiritual journey, Bill leaves no stone unturned when removing the superficial layers of spirituality.Once read, you will walk boldly and confidently in the knowledge that your inner man is holy, therefore you are called to holiness, according to Scripture. From uncovering Truth to understanding your Purpose, you will conclude this book having gained more wisdom, knowledge and power of the Holy Ghost that dwells inside of you.

First, as I mentioned I was supposed to have had this done two days ago but I wrote the date incorrectly on the calendar...had I done this two days ago I would not have had the opportunity to discuss it with my daughter beforehand. I think this matters as the conversation was enlightening to me and I know this blog entry will be richer and fuller because of it...Thank you my daughter! Thank you to the Spirit of God as well because I do know when it moves in my life.
As I wrote earlier, I was intrigued with the topic of this book and while the author and I do disagree with some theological aspects...she and I most definitely agree of the importance of the Holy Spirit in one's life!

Bills writes eloquently and knowledgeably about the Holy Ghost...my criticism is that while she writes in words that many Christians use everyday, this will make it difficult for people new to their faith to understand some of her better points. She is in essence preaching to the choir.

My favorite truth from this book is on page 84...
It is in regards to forgiveness and I believe many times in my live that without Spirit's help I would not have been able to do it!

You have to search deep within and make sure you are not harboring unforgiveness toward anyone, past or present. You have to dig to the marrow of your bones for any fragments of lingering emotions intertwined in unforgiveness. You have to do it. You have to be honest with yourself and forgive those you know who have deliberately wronged you, accused you, and abused you.
Forgiveness is for your healing...

If you are interested learning more about the Holy Ghost and evaluating your walk in The Spirit...I recommend this book...but I also want you to talk it over with someone you love!
You...do remember...Where two or more are gathered...

I Am No Longer with Stupid!

2009-08-18T08:33:00.004-04:00

I am reading a great book that I think many people would enjoy. I am half way through it...life has interrupted my finishing it as quickly as I would like, however.

I am sure there are many of us out there that at one time or another have had jobs that have become impossible because of an awful boss! You know the kind where you dread getting up and going...you know in your heart it's bad when you wake up throwing up and you are happy about it because you won't have to deal with your boss!

I had a job once where I worked for a woman who was demanding and critical. She was paid according to her sales and God help YOU if something went wrong with any of her closings.
She once screamed at me over the phone...
"Are you STUPID?" while her customers sat across from me at my desk...so I replied "No" and then promptly proved my point by giving two weeks notice to the HR Department.

In today's economy I am sure many of us can't afford to just up and quit over an awful boss and from what I have read so far this book would be helpful in ensuring you maintain your sanity as well as your job!

Have any of you had an awful boss or supervisor?
What makes them so awful?

I have thought about this woman on occasion and I think she was very insecure and fearful of her own inabilities to do her job.
Let's just say she did not "play well with others" in the sandbox of her life, as I was not the only person she had problems being "human" to!

So...How about you? Having problems at work...Consider reading Tangling with Tyrants by Tony Deblauwe. I will do a book reveiw on Monday, August 24th!

I Had a Bad Day...

2009-08-12T09:32:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I feel like my bucket is too full...and it's my fault entirely. You see for me...when I pray and literally put my problems in God's hands...they really are not my problems to carry as I have put them in "His Bucket!"
This is the image I use as I pray...and it works. No matter what you believe about prayer...this works for me.
Now whether you feel this is an exercise in mental health or as I believe... God in spirit taking them from me...
It only works if you do it...

I let too long a time go and too many things happen in between my times with God.
I forgot...once again that this time is priceless and yet costs me very little.

We, human beings always say or do the wrong thing accidentally but God doesn't...He has the words...
If we are still and listen.

What happened yesterday...
Unexpected bad news on top of a full bucket...
I had a moment of real sadness and an inability to think in a meaningful way...

I typed on my facebook page that I was at a low point...
Within minutes, my friend's from church, former neighbors, family and my blogging community were reminding me of ways to cope and saying prayers...
I tearfully read meaningful scripture reminding me of God's promises...
I left for a long walk alone but not feeling alone...
I talked later with a friend via instant messaging on facebook...we brainstormed ideas for my continued sanity!!

Technologies change but God and His love for his people do not!

Thank you to all my blogging friends whether you believe or not... I felt God's love from you!

Can I Just Say Grace or Do I Have to Mean It?

2009-08-07T07:56:00.003-04:00

I have read the most amazing novel... Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie. I literally haven't stopped thinking about it...it is the kaleidoscope I view all that has happened these last few days. It is through this lens I view my mothering and certainly many of my choices.

When I think of the word grace...I think of forgiveness although I know it has many different meanings and it is a word of significance for Christians in particular.

I struggle with accepting grace and giving grace...but I am ashamed to say that I struggle with forgiving others. My husband on the other hand is a very forgiving person who has shown me incredible grace as well as to others...He just does!
I on the other hand ( y'know the one you want to cut off...) revisit the trauma and ruminate until it's all fresh and new! Why?
I honestly don't know...I do the very thing I do not want to do.

I have been hurt in my life but no more than I have hurt others I am sure...
Why do I keep this record of wrong doings...when it is not what I want to do!

I do know that this flaw in my nature has kept me close to God...I mean I don't think he would like someone like me to roam too far away!

I loved this book...it has a few broken and interesting characters ...like me!

How about you? Is it easier to receive grace or to give it?

Bloggy Book Club: Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie

2009-08-01T07:31:00.008-04:00

Bloggy book club choice for August was recommended by two different bloggers....Elizabeth and Jeanne... both women are great bloggers...Jeanne is also a great writer!
The really great news is the author for this month is a fellow blogger, but more than that...the book is a beautifully written.

I am not a writer but ...I am a reader...I love to have a book transport me to another life, another place and to be immersed in all of it's telling. I was reading two other books...which I have now put aside, the day my package arrived (I am not saying what I was reading!)

My package came on Thursday from Amazon and in it was my copy of Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie...

I opened it at once and read the first paragraph...
I rarely care about what others say on the outside flap...
It is the first paragraph of a book that captures me and this one surely did...

All my tired flies out the window when I see Grandma Faith standing in the mountain mists that drift in and out of the trees. She's as she was before, like one lick of fire hasn't touched her, whole and alive and wanting as she beckons to me. Grandma whispers her wants as she's done all my life.

...and like that...I could not put it down.

Join me in reading for the month of August Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie and stop by her blog and say "Hi"!

I Hate Texting!

2009-07-30T06:57:00.005-04:00

I am about to show my age...all 51 years of it...I know this because when I shared my opinion on this topic to my daughter who is 26 years old...she said "You are showing your age!"

I hate Texting!
as in "Ronda send me a text with the information!"
I never learned to type having read that Jacqueline Kennedy said supposedly
"If you learn to type you become a typist!"
So...with this information I have sat waiting for my non-typing self to become the first lady!

So when asked to text information to someone this non-typing girl who was all thumbs to begin with can't use her thumbs to text...hence, I hate Texting!

I hate texting as in,
I am here and you are here...only you are hunched over a square box while you thumbs are moving at crazy rate of speed...making you look like some sort of evolutionary human being!
While I sit across from you looking like the missing link!

I do-not-like-greatly you sitting across from me Texting at a restaurant while I am forced to stare at wallpaper or make witty conversation with the waiter!

You Texting while with me...makes me feel there is a better party somewhere else and I haven't been invited!

When you are driving and Texting with me in your car....
Well, I don't have to type what I said...

Because I screamed it at 65 mph!

Texting is stupid....

They have this wonderful device and it is very near to what you are using right now...
Each individual has a number attached to their person...
you merely punch in these numbers (if your phone is super-fancy...you just speak my name)
and you will hear "Hello!"

And wonders of wonders...
It is like the person is sitting next to you!

OH WAIT... I AM SITTING NEXT TO YOU!

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

2009-07-26T02:18:00.004-04:00

My guest blogger for July's Bloggy Book Club is Lauren, my future Daughter-in-law and she loves reading as much as I do.

The Art of Racing in the Rain was a pleasant surprise and probably not a book I would have picked up on my own. I have a bad habit of sticking with the same authors and I am trying to branch out. The story is written from the family dog’s perspective which presents a completely different light to the triumphant and tragic events this family endures. Garth Stein does an incredible job capturing what the dog feels; a difficult task when the character is not capable of talking. You fall in love with the characters and find yourself crying when tragedy happens and rejoicing when grace falls upon them.

I believe that anyone, not just those who love dogs, should invest in this book. There are a great number of lessons learned along the way that anyone can relate to. One that I took away with me was you will stay here on Earth until whatever it is you are supposed to do is accomplished. Sometimes people die unexpectedly and no one really understands it, but just as the dog learns in the book it merely means their job here is done.

As a dog owner, I often wonder how my dog views the world in which he lives. He experiences my life in the most unfiltered way possible. He is a witness to fights, growing in relationships, tragedies, and triumphs. I am able to be vulnerable in front of him because I do not have any fears of him judging me. He loves me unconditionally and never questions the things I do wrong. Maybe this is because he cannot talk? Or maybe not? I truly believe that dogs are sensitive, caring creatures and that even if they could talk they would help you learn from your mistakes and, just like a mother or a sister, be behind you every step of the way.

Come on People...Get Happy!

2009-07-24T07:30:00.004-04:00

This has been a hard couple of days...I love this song and I love Judy Garland!
Have a wonderful weekend and if you are of "the wonderful praying kind" I ask for prayers for our family.
Visit Cute Candid Carrie for more friday fotos!

Tourists Come in All Sizes, Shapes and Shades of Red

2009-07-19T10:49:00.004-04:00

I love to people watch and recently while at Disney...while all others in my party risked life and limb on a roller coaster ride...I had the opportunity!
We in Florida love our tourists...really...and if anyone here ever gives you the impression otherwise, you remind them it's because of you that we don't have a state income tax!

So...it is with love in my heart that I offer these observations...

For the love of God and all that is holy please put some clothes on those pale translucent white limbs and some sun block... say like 100 spf. Your bright red tender flesh reminds me how quickly shrimp cook in a fry pan!

Some fashion advice...even a 51 year old grandmother (me) knows you do not wear white or brown socks with flip flops...I mean really...I don't know how you say "Dork" in France but we here in Florida have a mental picture of you now to put in our dictionary.

Also...when your small child says..."Mom, I think I am going to be sick..." you have maybe, at most three seconds to get ready for vomit!
I must say Miss woman from New York...you don't seem to know the meaning of a New York Minute...but your small daughter does!

And...lady talking on your cell phone about your grandchildren and your daughter-in-law...I almost slapped you! (again, with only love-in-my-heart)
With everyone listening because you have a big and insensitive mouth you disparaged your grandchildren aged 11 and 13 by saying they are ungrateful brats because their mother hasn't taught them any better... I wondered what you have taught them!

To the older couple who sat with their disabled daughter in the wheel chair while she cooed like a baby...I saw you watching other people as I watched you...I know you felt badly about envying others. I hope my speaking to your daughter and she cooing to me made it a little easier.Thank you for sharing that it was her fourth birthday...I saw the tears well up in both your eyes when I said she was beautiful and she is...and so are both of you! I treasure this memory.

I saw much more...

friday foto and Cute Candid Carrie

2009-07-09T21:19:00.001-04:00

Riley is checking out the latest from newegg.com...she and Miley were considering making some purchases!

They have made themselves at home at the rental house in Jacksonville...
they are getting used to living out of a suitcase rather quickly.

For more friday fotos visit Cute Candid Carrie and while you are there congratulate her on winning an opportunity to attend the very prestigious Bread Loaf Writers Conference. There are some expenses Carrie will incur attending this conference that I am hoping we can help her with.
If you have enjoyed your many Fridays with Carrie ...please join me in helping her with travel expenses as it is costly.
She is very talented and it is my pleasure and joy to be her friend...I know many of you feel the same way!
Email me or comment of your desire to help and I will let you know where to send the love!
And if you would like to blog about this...all the better!
Please visit Carrie and tell her how proud you are of her!

Random Ronda's Rants

2009-07-09T08:32:00.005-04:00

I am in Jacksonville...it has been interesting...we stayed for a month in St. Augustine and then the following two months in Jacksonville. We are remodeling a few fast food restaurants...I won't say which because I will rant about that in the next sentence or two! It takes us about a month to remodel one and the work is fast paced and difficult...we are doing these because we don't have anything else right now!
We are grateful for the work but...it isn't fun being away from your home and family.
What is fun however, is living in someone else's home! We have chosen to rent homes in the area we are working in...I loved the older bungalow we stayed in St. Augustine and the walking lifestyle it afforded us. The second home was a third floor condo on the inter coastal...our dogs became city dogs quickly and learned what the "dings" of the elevator meant! The home we are currently staying is on the St. Johns river and so far has been very peaceful.

My rants...I do not ever shop at Walmart but the closest grocery store is a Super Walmart and so that is where I was yesterday...
They had two register lines open for 10 items or less, with about 10 people in each line. The other register line was labeled 20 items or less and had about five people in it...the other line was for the fools who bought more than twenty items and I was in ...IT! Me and about thirty people waited in one line with other people who chose to buy more than twenty items of Walmart's cheap stuff and we are rewarded... with a twenty minute wait!
This makes no sense to me!
I miss you Publix...very much!

My second rant...
We are remodeling a popular fast food restaurant...they really need to be remodeled...they look nice when we are done...nice little stucco boxes...with no insulation of any kind in them!!! In Florida...no insulation...yes, I am contributing to part of the problem!!!
I guess, this is more of a confession than a rant!
Enjoy your day!

Michael Jackson is Still Dead...

2009-07-07T07:44:00.004-04:00

I am so tired of the Michael Jackson coverage that I am turning off all media in my car and home...this is just surreal to me. It has made me consider how our news coverage has become...not NEWS! Before, turning off Good Morning America...I heard that ABC is running three Michael Jackson specials today! CNN is just as bad.
I have wanted information on Tegucigalpa and I haven't been able to get very much at all.
But, Lord help me, I have heard every thought imaginable about Michael Jackson.

RIP Michael Jackson...but today I would like some peace from all the people trying to make money off of your corpse!

May you have a peaceful day and enjoy your blessings!
God bless the people of Honduras and keep them in your care.

It's a Pool Party for a Little Lady!

2009-07-03T08:56:00.011-04:00

My grand daughter's second birthday party was last weekend and it was so much fun.

Her parents held a pool party in her honor complete with crown!

She loved trying on her new clothes saying "On" each time she got a new outfit!

She loved eating cupcakes and ice cream! Her cupcakes were lovingly made by Mommy and her older brother.

My sweet girl is fearless like her Mommy, Daddy and her brother...Here she is swimming...kind of...she makes my heart stop!
For more heart stopping pictures go see Cute Candid Carrie for friday fotos!

July's Bloggy Book Club

2009-07-02T12:55:00.001-04:00

July's Bloggy Book Club choice is The Art of Racing in The Rain by Garth Stein and my guest blogger will be Lolo my future daughter-in-law who likes to read even more than I do!
I have already read this book and I loved it...it is written in a unique and captivating way...the narrator is a dog. I love this book...it will be one of my all time favorites and I look forward to reading what Lolo thinks. This is a great read and great story told by Stein and his character Enzo the dog.

Wordful Wednesday

2009-07-01T08:57:00.000-04:00

This has been a hard month for me...I haven't been able to see my grand children very much as we have been away! They are angels...well, also a spider man and a kitty cat! These were stolen off of facebook...it is a wonderful invention that has allowed me to see what they are up to!
Have a wonderful Wordful Wednesday and to see what others are up to visit Angie at Seven Clown Circus

Guest Blogger...Here's Rhonda!

2009-06-27T20:42:00.024-04:00

I am having technical difficulties with this post...it has now briefly disappeared...this is my attempt to recreate Rhonda's post and my earlier post...sorry!

My guest blogger for Bloggy Book Club is Rhonda from A Day in Rhonda's Life...she is one of my favorite bloggers...she is funny, witty and charming. This month's Bloggy Book Club choice was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

The Lovely Bones is a story of young Susie Salmon, her tragic death, and how she is able to watch her family, and her murderer, from Heaven. It is a heavy, sad novel of tragedy, vengeance and ultimately of healing.

Stories of children in this context are never easy reads. It would not be a novel I would recommend for some light beach reading. It is, however, a story that makes you think.

I have often wondered what happens after you die. This viewpoint is how I like to think of it. No matter how I go, I want to be able to watch down on my family. I don’t want to miss graduations and weddings and babies being born. I like to think that this is possible.

Watching my family struggle, however, would be horrendous. Susie has a front row seat as her family copes with their loss. She sees her family fall apart. She watches her murderer live among them. Her friends. She witnesses horror and sadness, revenge and grief, and finally, acceptance, healing and love.

I’m not entirely certain whether or not I’m to assume you’ve read the novel and give away the ending. So I will anyway. It was a huge disappointment to me that there was no REAL ending. Yes, her family and friends were able to move on. We find out what comes of her murderer. But I needed them to find HER. I needed that closure. And that never happened. In life, yes, parents never find bodies of their children. People are left for years wondering. I know this is a real-life ending. But they were so close! I wanted to jump in and start screaming “She’s right there!! LOOK!”

I read for enjoyment. I read because I love a good story. I like a book with a beginning, a middle and an end. If you are like me, then you may want to avoid this book. It isn’t a happy read. It is difficult to get through at times, although it is well written. Sort of like The Shack in many ways. I think this stems from the real life experiences of the author, Alice Sebold. Her story, Lucky, is one you may want to read if you enjoyed The Lovely Bones.

I look forward to hearing other people’s thoughts on this novel! Thanks, Ronda, for letting me be your guest blogger today!

Thank you Rhonda, I agree with everything you wrote. I found this an interesting read and Alice Sebold is a great writer...it was interesting how she used the dead child's voice to tell the story. I found the author's idea of heaven intriguing. But, like you I wanted the child's body found and I wanted "the bad guy" caught and it was very unsettling for me that it did not happen in the context of the story. Perhaps, that is what she intended for her readers to feel...unsettled.

I do think a hallmark of a good book, for me at least is my willingness to pick up and reread a book through however, because of my feelings of this story...I wouldn't do it.

She does writes beautifully...it was her story I had issue with.

Wax and a Hair Cut...Two Bits!

2009-06-25T16:05:00.003-04:00

I recently blogged about the importance of good customer service....the kind I found at the Panache Salon in St. Augustine...it is an Aveda Salon and it is wonderful. After visiting this great salon to have my roots touched up and my brow waxed...it became clear that my old salon had to go!

I had liked my old salon at first...I mean it was okay...but then the person who was doing my hair went on maternity leave...I was given a lady who was from another country...to be honest I never understood where she was from.

But...the first time she looked at my hair she held it like it was a badly dyed rug...
She said "I can fix this...and I will give you an age appropriate hair cut!"
I thought..."Okay...that was way...harsh!"

So...she dyes my hair dark...dark... and shreds my hair with a razor to a chin length bob...which I sorta thought was okay but Hubby hated it. So...while it may have been age appropriate hair cut...apparently my eyelids weren't supposed to look age appropriate. While waxing my brows she mentioned that my eyelids needed to be done...
I usually don't have a problem speaking up but I was just feeling so defeated...
and to make matters even more special...this so-not-fun time is costly and you are required to tip, as well...

"May I tip you for that insult.." I thought as I was leaving...and of course like the wimp that I am...I did tip her!
There is a funny line in Nora Ephron's book I Feel Badly About my Neck in which she talks about the price of maintenance and when she sees a homeless lady...she isn't worried about financially becoming a homeless person but she says she is about eight days without maintenance of looking like a homeless person!

So after I had such a great time at The Panache salon in St. Augustine...I decided I would find an Aveda salon in Tampa....and I did...so my new hair salon is called HQ Salon and it is an Aveda salon...and now...I have a "Ronda" appropriate hair cut and color and... we are going to leave my eyelids the way the are for now....

I Wish I Had Learned an Actual Second Language!

2009-06-23T08:06:00.001-04:00

I have had issues with swearing since my first thrill of saying a shocking curse word when I was 13.
I honestly must have had a very sheltered life until then.
Now it may seem like I am going to blame an entire country on my cursing but at that risk...

When I was 13 my father was transferred to England and we lived in New Quay...a beautiful sea side town. I wasn't exactly thrilled that I would have to wear a uniform to school but I was thrilled to be going to school with "the British" as my Mother would call them.

I rode a Double Decker bus to school which was thrilling and it was on that bus that I learned the doozy of all swear words...and many others to follow. Let's just say I learned to speak like the natives...and I haven't stopped! I have wondered all these years that if we had moved to France maybe I would have actually learned a real second language!

When my oldest was two...I tried in vain to call them "adult words" that children don't use when in reality it is "childish words" that adults use.
One time my son used a terrible word in public and because it was common knowledge that I swear it was assumed that I had taught it to him...I still maintain I was framed!

Swearing is my "thorn in my flesh"...the very thing I do when I say I don't want to do it!
I am very careful around my grandchildren...it is unspoken but I am pretty sure I will lose "Gigi" privileges if I let loose a swear word in front of them.
It is rather odd because I am the only member of my family who swears...it's something I haven't been able to conquer...
I think sometimes when I am in a analytical mood maybe it is the only rebellious thing I do...I wouldn't type these words but I would let them fly if you were rude or mean to anyone I cared about it.

Anyway...
I thought the days of my young children repeating what Mommy said was long, long behind me...until a couple of days ago.

I had an extremely unpleasant couple of phone conversations with a man who felt like he was owed money faster and of more quantity than he was going to receive. He had called me and The Hubby and was threatening all kinds of nonsense using all kinds of inappropriate language... y'know my native tongue!
But, I kept it professional... until about round three.

Finally...as he is making more threats because he feels that General Contractor has cheated him...which I haven't any control over...not the General Contractor's actions or this man's feeling...

I say...
"Well, sir we can't all act like assholes... but you can and do act like an asshole, so you go right ahead!"
"Have a good day! " I said calmly...
My adult daughter who is our office manager is smiling behind me...I am embarrassed and frustrated that I allow this man to cause me to say things I was really hoping...I wouldn't say anymore!

Then...I sign onto Facebook and find this posted on my daughter's status....

just witnessed one of the funniest conversations my mom had with one of our subs. TOO FUNNY. Running some errands now...which includes picking up my laptop that's been out of commission for over a year!

Seriously...there is always a witness!

Anybody else have a bad habit you are trying or have given up trying to break?

Sunday Salon... Is There Really a Human Race?

2009-06-20T08:25:00.008-04:00

I don't normally review children's books but I bought my one and only grand daughter a book for her second birthday! SHHHHH! I did not give her this book on her birthday as I am saving it for her party later...don't worry she got lot's of gifts on her birthday from Papa and Gigi, however!

This book is called Is There Really A Human Race by Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrated by Laura Cornell and it is my new favorite book! It has great truths for children and gentle reminders for grown ups...I love it! It is written so well and the illustrations are just beautiful! I love this book...
All of us should slow down and rethink what success is all about!
From the book....

"Shouldn't it be that you just try your best?
And that's more important than beating the rest?
Shouldn't it be looking back at the end
that you judge your own race by the help that you lend?
So, take what's inside you and make big, bold choices.
And for those who can't speak for themselves use bold voices.
And make friends and love well, bring art to this place.
And make the world better for the whole human race."

My favorite!!

Car Rides!

2009-06-19T08:15:00.005-04:00

My entire family loves dogs and we all have at least one! My children's dogs are like family members.
I love them all and they are my grand doggies!

This is my handsome son-in-law and my two grand doggies Harley and Rocky (He's the one looking adoring at Daddy)...they were coming to Gigi's house!

For more friday fotos visit Cute Candid Carrie!

David Letterman and Me

2009-06-18T07:42:00.003-04:00

I am in Tampa...I came home to:

a) Have my roots colored.
B) See my grand daughter on her birthday.
C) Pay bills.
D) Call our customers who owe us money.
E) All of the above.

If you answered All of the above...you are correct!

My Hubby is is Jacksonville...we don't do well apart and sometimes we don't do well together either.
I am leaning towards apartments next door to each other at the moment....

When Hubby and I are apart...I don't sleep in the bedroom...I fall asleep on the couch in the family room watching TV...I haven't a clue what I was listening to but I dreamed of David Letterman!

I was a guest and I did great! Yep!

He asked me my name and what I did for a living.

I said "Well, Dave...seems like I have now started supporting myself by begging people to pay me what they owe me!"
I may have said that differently in my dream because the people laughed really hard and I smiled.

"Hey, Dave" I said "You know that Palin joke was lame!"
He leaned in a said "I didn't know she had more than one child!"

"She has lots of kids!" I replied.
"Man, don't you have someone who checks these facts out?" I questioned.
"Nah, our budget is really tight these days."

"Oh... I hear you." I said and again it must have been my delivery because people were laughing so hard they were holding their sides.

So...I get up to leave waving to all my new friends as I go and...Dave starts walking me off the set.

Dave tells me " I think I do need someone to fact check my jokes! "How about you start right away...$20,000 a year, okay?"
I am thrilled (yep, I said thrilled) and say " Sure, Dave. When do I start?"

"Right Away...only we have just started asking everyone to only get a paycheck every other week...so next week no paycheck for you!"

"Sure, Dave...anything for you!"

So...I guess I am off to New York to work for David Letterman checking joke facts! I will make $20,000 a year payable every other week.
It beats what I am doing now!

It's Big Number 2!

2009-06-17T07:42:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday to our sweet grand daughter!

If we could have asked God for a special ordered little girl...this is who we would have got!

She is fearless like her Mom and Dad.
She bounces after she falls and shakes it off like her Dad did at that age.
She is sweet like her Mom...
and she likes shoes...like her Gigi!

Happy Birthday Kate Marie,
Love you always and forever,
Papa and Gigi
For more Wordful Wednesdays visit
Angie at Seven Clown Circus! She is amazing...and it looks like she has some work to do on her new house! :)

It's Simple...really!

2009-06-16T15:38:00.003-04:00

The book I am currently reading I found on a clearance rack at Books-a-Million...it's called Simplify Your Life and the author is Elaine St. James.
It is a very easy read...It has 100 ways to slow down and enjoy things that really matter...It is 100 chapters or ideas expressed in a couple of pages for each!
This is an older book, so some of the ideas are outdated but many are still relevant especially in today's economic climate!

The author started by deciding that her life had become unmanageable and she set out for weekend retreat to repair the damage...out of the experience she changed her life and this book was born. I love the ideas...and I was proud to realize I was already doing or not doing many of the ideas...
I no longer wear clothing that needs to be dry cleaned and I am building a simpler wardrobe that includes separates that I can dress up or down. I no longer need as many clothes as before.

Begin by simplifying your schedule...Say no to things that you no longer enjoy doing but feel a misplaced sense of obligation to continue to do.

I found this blog called Zen Habits that did a great review of this book and you may enjoy some of their ideas.

The Sunday Salon...or Here's What I am Reading!

2009-06-14T08:43:00.005-04:00

I just finished Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones...loved this strange little book and it's story but will blog about it later...however I disagree with the great Anna Quindlen's quote...
"Destined to become a classic in the vein of To Kill a Mockingbird..."
My quote..."Are you kidding me?"

I just finished Bill Hybels' book the Volunteer Revolution unleashing the Power of Everybody
I enjoyed this book and for me it fit nicely in the direction God is pushing er directing me!

I also just finished re-reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis...again for obvious reasons...
if you ever need a fresh perspective in regards to your faith or lack thereof...this is a must read!

My best read this week is The Green Bible...I now own about 30 Bibles...I have my first Bible from my parents...the King James Version which I can never make sense of and then my second Bible the New Testament Good News version which had much hipper and easier to understand language and ...many others.
I have a Serendipity Bible...I have used for small groups and then a Women's Study Bible which has studies geared for yes, you're ahead of me here....women!
I have a copy of The Bible for dummies...which again, you're right there...for dummies!
I am all of those things.

But, this The Green Bible is beautiful in the fact that it is Environmentally friendly- cotton and linen cover, recycled paper, soy-based ink, and water-based coating.
It contains inspirational writings by scholars and leaders including one of my favorites Brian McLaren author of Everything Must Change.
It contains a Trail guide for further study...but it is called The Green letter edition because it has over 1000 verses highlighted in green print to support the thought that God cares greatly that we take care of His creation!
Have a beautiful Sunday...as we enjoy God's creation!

What Does the Lord your God Require? Of Me...Ronda?

2009-06-13T11:22:00.005-04:00

I am still trying to get used to this little-itty-bitty computer we have bought...
small screen...small keyboard...I think the type is itty-bitty, too! (just a sec)

Better...
We are still in Jacksonville...that's not the problem...the problem is my lack of control and lack of schedule thereof!
I make plans for Tampa...like our church...I don't pack clothes because we will be back for Sunday...and then we aren't there.
Then we are given a schedule...which every trade except ours ignores...and then the general contractor uses us to push the other trades back on schedule!

What all this means...we have missed church and it has forced us to be responsible for our own worship. I am used to doing devotions...for myself or leading others but to sit by myself and worship God is not easy...it is why we have churches in the first place.

I have never been a person who thinks you only worship corporately on Sunday Morning in a Church sanctuary...I have found this is the easiest way for me. But...I know too many people who worship differently from me in their own way...and I acknowledge authenticity when I see it...

I have been forced to spend alone time with God and question some of my actions and realize I have been allowing myself to be complacent in my role of worshiping God.I am thinking of that Easy Button commercial...I am not proud of this but I am honest when I say...I have gone to church...check that off the list...now what else is on my to-do list! I am also questioning what I think God expects from me at worship...so I have been listening...just listening...quietly listening to God...
my answer so far is... He expects MORE from me.

I fear change...and change is coming. I don't adjust well to change...this tiny keyboard is an example...but real change is what is required of me...

Have a great weekend...Thank you, God.

Drinks and Laptops...Not a Good Mix...

2009-06-11T18:02:00.005-04:00

So... we are in Jacksonville...here on business...Hubby had the laptop at a restaurant and he spilt his drink all over it...so laptop is in the hospital and not expected to make it!

So, we have been without internet for about two days...not pretty!

I have been cranky...possible detoxing from blogging withdrawals! We bought a Aprire One Acer...I think it's called a Netbook...I like it, although it is tiny! I need it for email, transferring funds between accounts and OH... BLOGGING!

I realized I had a problem when I was at the pool and there was a preteen sitting by the pool with her laptop and it was all I could do not to try and take it from her...

Hi...my name is Ronda and I realize I am powerless over blogging and I am an addict!

I have been busy reading and I have read some great books...

My friend Carrie at Candid Carrie says she only writes non-fiction and I have read two memoirs back-to-back that reminded me so much of her and her sense of humor...I can see us all reading her books some day!

I read Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking ...this is her memoir detailing her life with celebrity parents, addiction to drugs and alcohol and her treatment for manic depression. It doesn't sound like it would be funny but it was very funny!

The second book I read was also a memoir and it was I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron ...this is a favorite author of mine and I love her real life story...she writes from her heart and she also happens to be hysterically funny!

I have loved biographies , autobiographies and memoirs since third grade when I read all the Presidents biographies which turned into a love of history. I now love to read memoirs because it's the authors version of history that is told and I find that an interesting perspective.

I have read the novel The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold for Blogging book club and I am dying to blog about it but I won't... I'll wait until after my guest blogger Rhonda from A Day in Rhonda's Life blogs first about it....
I will say that the real life story of Alice Sebold sounds more interesting to me than her novel...she has quite the survival story and I find that very inspiring!

Enjoy Your Day!

2009-06-06T11:44:00.003-04:00

We are headed back to Jacksonville, Florida...Here is the view of the condo we rented...with NO Internet!

Starbucks...close by though...
Coffee and Blogging...my favorite!

The condo is on the inter coastal and the area below is a nice area to walk our dogs!

Have a great weekend!

What Do You Think?

2009-06-04T15:19:00.000-04:00

... And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

I am going to change my blog and wanted some input...

So... what do you think?

The Lovely Bones

2009-06-02T08:45:00.003-04:00

June's Bloggy Book Club choice is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold...this was a recommendation by Rhonda of A day in Rhonda's Life. Rhonda will guest post for me on June 28th. This best seller has also been made into a movie, directed by Peter Jackson and it will be released in December

Bloggy Book Club

2009-05-31T11:05:00.005-04:00

May's Bloggy Book Club: The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

Guest blogger, my daughter Rachel, reviews this month's selection.

First of all, I would like to apologize for not posting this at least 24 hours ago. I've been experiencing these annoyingly vivid flashbacks from middle school of my mother nagging me to finish my book reports. So...I've been distracted :)

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes was a pleasant surprise. After reading the synopsis, I'll be honest, I didn't see what all the fuss was about...So what?!? It's another book about a mother with a past full of deception and secrets - The Memory Keeper's Daughter anyone?

However, this was my first Diane Chamberlain book. Wow. She writes with such eloquence and purpose. Prior to reading the book, I read one review that said Chamberlain does not develop her characters well in this book...I completely disagree.

Not only do I know and adore CeeCee, Eve, Corinne, Jack, and Dru of The Secret Life, but I missed the characters when I finished the book. I was on the roller coaster with CeeCee when she made her life-altering decision. I felt her panic as the novel's conflict unfolded, as well as supported AND justified the horrific path she chose. I followed her down the road of unimaginable consequences. I felt sick for Eve when Tim's truth was revealed. I laughed when Dru defended her mother to Corinne's critical fiance ...For several nights, my poor husband had to fall asleep in bed with all the lights on because I didn't want to stop reading this book (I guess I could have invested in a book light...). I think I finished all 528 pages in less than a week.

Although, I could continue to talk about this book all night (and I already have for one of my book clubs), I will just say that The Secret Life brings to light some great discussion topics - the importance of a mother/daughter relationship...and lack thereof...the repercussions of a young woman's choices, and ... capital punishment (!!).

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes had me intrigued from the opening chapter and kept me captivated through to the last words. I will be reading more of Diane Chamberlain!

Always Looking Up...

2009-05-30T09:57:00.005-04:00

I just finished a great read that I highly recommend...Michael J Fox's Always Looking Up.
I am a fan of this guy so I guess it would not be surprising that I enjoyed his book...he is funny and charming whenever I see him in an interview or in any of his film work and I feel this comes across in his writing. He strikes me as someone who does not take himself seriously and I love that humble attitude.
The other quality I admire and one I have tried hard to acquire is the ability to disagree without being disagreeable...he is never mean spirited... even when others (Rush Limbaugh) are mean to him.
His most endearing quality however, is his optimistic spirit which I do not posses and his is evident throughout the book.

The cover states:
The last ten years, which is really the stuff of this book, began with such a loss: my retirement from Spin City. I found myself struggling with a strange new dynamic: the shifting of public and private personas. I had been Mike the actor, then Mike the actor with PD. Now was I just Mike with PD? Parkinson's had consumed my career and, in a sense, had become my career. But where did this all leave me? I had to build a new life when I was already pretty happy with the old one.
Always Looking Up is a memoir of this last decade, told through critical themes of Michael's life: work, politics, faith, and family. This book is a journey of self discovery and reinvention, and a testament to the consolations that protect him from the ravages of Parkinson's.

I think many of us with today's economy can relate to these themes...many of us feel we are standing on sinking sand even without having to experience a life threatening illness...there are so many uncertainties for many of us!
I think this book is also a testament to the saying..."We shall overcome!"

That Girl...Reads and Writes!

2009-05-29T07:31:00.007-04:00

This will be my guest blogger for Bloggy Book Club on Sunday, May 31...My Daughter!
Bloggy Book Club hasn't really gone anywhere since I started it...well, it's really a membership of "one" ...Me! Rachel's book club that meets in real life just finished up The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain .....so...since I am changing Bloggy Book Club a little and asking for guest bloggers who have read the book that I choose for that month. Rachel will be the first...she doesn't blog yet but that may change. She is an English major from UF and she loves to read!

So, if you have suggestions for June's Bloggy Book Club and you would like to guest blog or just have me link to your blog for June the 28th ...let me know!
This picture was taken in Orlando over the Memorial Day weekend...for more friday fotos visit Cute Candid Carrie!

Will the Sunshine Ever Come Back?

2009-05-28T08:42:00.009-04:00

I am feeling a little bit sad. I think part of the problem is I am solar powered and the sun is missing from the Florida Sunshine which by the way is messing up the whole Florida tourist campaign of "Share the Sunshine" as frankly, there is none to share. I could share "Buckets of Rain" not just figuratively but literally..."Buckets of Rain!" It's hard to complain about something we have prayed so hard about because Florida has been in a 3 year drought but...seriously I can complain about anything! I have earned...and I do mean earned the nickname Eeyore...and I can crack my Hubby up by imitating this name sake.
But...Eeyore is a tiring character to imitate...it even hurts my shoulders. We have all worked too hard, put too many to-dos on our calenders and most of all struggled with this economy! I am just tired and cranky...if I were a toddler... someone would put me to bed!
We have planned a trip to Austin, Texas in June and I will be grateful for the time away...it is helpful for me to get-a-way when I feel this overwhelmed, also talking to a friend (Karyn...expect a phone call)...but mostly it's time to sit with God by the lake. I won't be talking...I will be listening!

He's All Wet!

2009-05-26T20:01:00.005-04:00

Hubby took this picture on Soppy wet Disney Day (aka My Birthday) he thought it was artistic...
Yeah...well, I love him, anyway! No special lens ... just a wet camera, wet camera man and a wet day! Happy Wordful Wednesday visit Angie at Seven Clown Circus for more artistic pictures!

Share A Little Sunshine!

2009-05-26T08:08:00.008-04:00

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend...Thank you to everyone who has ever served and to their families that served with them! I know some of the sacrifice... as my Dad is a Vietnam Vet!
I watched Band of Brothers all day Saturday...it was on the History channel... we have never had anything but limited cable...so I have never seen this wonderful series that was an HBO production. It was at least 12 hours long...and worth every hour!

I stayed home this weekend and doggie watched for my children...I had Harley and Rocky for the long weekend while their Mom and Dad went to Orlando for the weekend. Then on Memorial Day I watched Jake while his parents went to Universal for the day...I love dogs and especially my children's dogs! My Hubby grilled shrimp for me and chicken for him on the grill...a great weekend!

I have heard on the news that California is going Bankrupt ...another crisis...Florida's economy is a mess here too...But we have a plan...we want all of you to come here and be a Tourist!!!
I had plans of adding a video but I can't get it to go on my blog....technical difficulties...is my middle name!
Anyway...visit here....Share a little Sunshine... When I first heard of this promotion by Visit Florida ...I thought they wanted me to invite all my friends to Florida and come stay with me!
Which by the way...if you live in Florida...happens anyway...BUT what they want you to do is email a video to your friends suggesting you come see us...us being the state of Florida and we would like it if you brought your wallets! :) That's our plan...I guess California has not thought of "Sharing their sunshine!"
You could win something...if you live in the Continental United States!
Have a great Day!

PS. I am sure the Sunshine will come out any day now...and I will share it with you all!
Okay...Here's the video!

Disney on....Rain!

2009-05-22T07:27:00.007-04:00

We went to Disney for my Birthday...if you go to Disney.com and register you receive a certificate for one free pass on your actual birthday. Well, this year my birthday fell on the rainiest- day-of-the-year! But...I had fun...I went to the Haunted Mansion...still haunted! I went to Pirates of the Caribbean...and now Jack Sparrow is there...really cute! I saw a parade...my favorite and had lunch with a cute guy...not Mickey...my Hubby!
It was a great, soppy wet day!

Visit Cute Candid Carrie for more friday fotos

Have a great weekend!

Here's What I am Thinking...

2009-05-21T07:36:00.006-04:00

I had a great conversation with a friend yesterday who could feel sorry for herself but she does not seem to feel this way, she could be angry but again she does not act that way! Instead, we laughed for about an hour on the phone...thank you...dear friend it was a gift to me!
Life for many of us hasn't turned out the way we planned. We should be angry, disappointed...like many of the people who "talk" on TV!
I guess the people I know or at least those closest to me...did feel anger initially and then it turned to a more productive state of mind...acceptance...which I think has resulted in creative ideas!

My sister and her husband are both out of work...they are living off their savings...they have grown a garden and literally eat the fruits of their labor! My sister is someone I admire...she has not become a bitter person but rather still someone who has maintained her sense of humor.
She called me to chat and she said for the first time in her life she doesn't mind answering the phone and talking to telemarketers.

First Call...
"Mrs.Smith*"
"Yes" my sister answers.
"I see that you and your husband own your own home out right..."
"and that you have excellent credit!"
"Yes" my sister agrees...
"And do you also see that both my husband and I have lost our jobs!" my sister adds.
"Have a nice day, Mrs. Smith!" telemarketer replies before hanging up!

Second call...
Recorded message states "Are you tired living paycheck-to-paycheck?"

My sister stops listening and says she starts longing for the good old days when they did live paycheck-to-paycheck!

I am not making light of people's pain but my sister has not given up...she has a great sense of humor and I don't doubt she will find a job! I realize not everyone has family, friends and a support network...believe me I know as I volunteer once a month at a kitchen that feeds the homeless.

While I was in St. Augustine I met a woman named Joanne...obviously struggling...she had health issues and her family had fractured due to an argument and she does not attend church...she does not seem to have a support network of any kind!
But...she still had her sense of humor and she and I laughed together. I know I was important to her because I reminded her of the good... life still had to offer.
I am not suggesting you strike up a conversation with a stranger but if you know of someone who is hurting...please listen and make them laugh...it really is the best medicine!
That's what I am thinking...

*not her real name....Duh?

Wordful Wednesdays

2009-05-20T07:30:00.007-04:00

It's my birthday...well yesterday...we went to Disney World...and it rained all day...all day!

It was still a great day! Disney gives everyone a free day on their birthday...just go to Disney.com to register.
When I checked in I was given a Birthday Pin...that said Happy Birthday Ronda...I wore it proudly...even in the rain! Disney people are the best...polite and kind...and all wished me a Happy Birthday!
I guess after turning 50 last year...I thought 51 would be anti-climatic...but it did not disappoint.

Disney has been so much a part of my life...I dated my Hubby there and our young family went there often! So even though it rained all day...Hubby and I had fun at Disney World's Magic Kingdom! Disney's wet pictures are for friday foto for Cute Candid Carrie...
but today is Angie's day... join her at Seven Clown Circus for Wordful Wednesdays...Here is the Cutest Boy in America helping me blow out my Birthday candles...my children gave me a Panini maker...YUM!

Take a Long Walk...

2009-05-17T21:08:00.004-04:00

Everyone is under stress these days...I see it in our industry in Florida...not a lot of work and many people competing for the work there is. Physically working out at a gym is helpful but maybe that is not in your budget these days...so take a long walk. Be present and in the moment...mindful of your breathing...I have noticed when I feel stressed...I tend to hold my breath! My Pilates instructor told me that is not good for your blood pressure...when you are 51...you think about things like your blood pressure!

While I was in St. Augustine I took some pictures of doorways and entry ways that I liked...it was a great long walk...I was present in the moment...besides a nice memory...I may frame some of these for collage on my dining room wall!

Nancy Pelosi...Please Shut Up!

2009-05-17T09:25:00.010-04:00

Hey, Ms. Pelosi,

"I was wondering Nancy...May I call you Nancy? Listen, would you do all of us a favor...and just Shut up!"
I mean seriously, "Who do you think you are fooling? Okay, you say CIA lied...Uh, Yeah they did!
For God's sake they torture people...lying is nothing..."
I would like to believe with all my heart that if I was sitting in some boring meeting and some CIA guy said "Well, we have these Enhanced Interrogation Techniques we are going to use!" I am hoping and praying I would have said "WTF, (sorry Mom) does that mean, sir?"
Nancy... we all knew when you took impeachment "off the table" for George W. Bush ...you were culpable!
We are all culpable...I am culpable...I knew CIA was doing this...All Americans knew CIA was doing this...very few people spoke out against it...to my shame I did not!

I love to hear Christians discuss this...
These good Pro-Life, God loving Christians haven't said anything about torturing a human being! Many of these people want it illegal to burn an American flag...but torturing a suspected terrorist is okay!

First group of people led by George W. Bush say "America does not torture people!" That's it...it just did not happen!
This reminds me of another president who said "I did not have sexual relations with that woman!"
So...George W. Bush is lying or like Bill Clinton he does not understand the question!?
But...to give George W. Bush all the credit in the world ...he has gone quietly home to Texas to write his memoirs, unlike others...

Then, we have the next group of people who are led by Dick Cheney... and He says.."Yes , we did it... but we saved a lot of we people's lives...so it's okay!" "The information that we tortured out of them...saved lives!"
These are my very favorite people...I love to listen to them...I love to listen to good people justifying human torture! If you don't say a word...just listen...it will break your heart into a million pieces but they just keep talking!

And...then Nancy...there is our group...you and me...I watched you at the press meeting...watched you stammer and stutter! We, in our group, most assuredly do not want to talk about it! I wondered what I would say if I were in your place...and I don't know! But...you knew it was happening...The House knew...Congress knew...America knew!
I wonder if you heard the rooster crow...
I did...

If I have offended any of you...I am sorry! This is my rant...it belongs to me...I should have spoke out much sooner!

PS. Nancy...I just heard the GOP would like you to apologise...
Please say your sorry for not being as good a liar as those boys are!

friday foto...Saturday!

2009-05-16T07:49:00.004-04:00

As you can see...I am a day late and more than a dollar short for friday foto...it has been that kind of week! Here is a fun carriage ride that we had with my youngest son and his fiancee in St. Augustine. This very sweet couple will be married November 21, 2009 and I could not be any happier!
I am busy cleaning, reading (always reading) and doing yucky paper work!!!
Have a great Saturday and visit Cute Candid Carrie for more friday fotos!

Doctor's Orders ...Take a Laugh!

2009-05-14T07:48:00.007-04:00

I think the importance of a sense of humor in life shouldn't be underestimated...seriously!
My Hubby has many qualities that I find sexy and endearing but he has a great sense of humor.
Someone who has the ability to make others laugh in a stressful time is so important. I have many of those people in my life...I married that kind of guy...granted a good deal of the stress I am under he has provided but he does make me laugh all the time! Most of my friends make me laugh and all of my children and their spouses have a great sense of humor! We like funny people which this story does not indicate at all... other than to suggest we were very tired!

Last evening...Hubby had a meeting to go to and I was not invited nor did I want to attend but I did make the drive back to St. Augustine with him...a three hour tour.
So...he suggested places to drop me off and I decided I wanted to go to Marshall's which even though they have very low prices (they do and no...I am not getting paid to say this) ...My Hubby was worried about me spending too much money!

So...as I am getting out of the car..
He says " Remember we are Broke..." and as I turn to look at him...thinking "Yeah...that was going to slip my mind"...he adds...
"...Back Mountain!"
I know he's cheesy but I can't believe he said it and I start laughing...
"I don't think that means what you think it means! I say
and "Not that there's anything wrong with that!"
I tell him adding..."I think you may want to see the movie before you tell people we are indeed Broke Back Mountain..."

So...we will never be on the comedy circuit but
"Who makes you laugh?"

Let Them Eat Chocolate Bread Pudding!!

2009-05-12T21:04:00.006-04:00

This is my granddaughter showing some of my DNA...she is eating chocolate...big spoonfuls of Chocolate Bread Pudding with two scoops of ice cream!!! Yum-O!

When we were in St. Augustine at our favorite restaurant Harry's we ordered this for desert!!!

I highly recommend it and so does our sweet girl!

For more Wordful Wednesdays visit Angie!

Thinking About a Year of Blogging

2009-05-12T07:22:00.005-04:00

It is coming up to a year of blogging for me...
I started when I turned 50...an act of bravery on my part! It was sort of like here it is...I have "nothing" to hide! The blog started with a ride on a Harley with a friend and a story about the cutest-boy-in-America and his absolute bravery!
As I look back...on my posts and what I have had to say...it's really funny that any of you read this blog but yet you do...I have about 15 people who I have never met who regularly comment and genuinely seem to care about me and my family...Thank you!
I understand that caring as I care about you and your family too!
There were two bloggers who I enjoyed who have stopped blogging and I still miss them...they were more fun than TV or the news but then look at TV and the News!

We are finally home and grateful to be home...our family business will struggle like everyone else during this economic time...sometimes it is overwhelming...but God is wherever you go!

Friday Foto

2009-05-07T23:03:00.003-04:00

My Grandchildren...

The Cutest-Girl-and-Boy-in-America!

Photo taken by Russ Robinson

For more Friday Fotos visit Cute Candid Carrie

I Tend To Look Down the Road... Too Much!

2009-05-07T12:28:00.007-04:00

I am reading Always Looking Up...The Adventures of an Incredible Optimist by Michael J. Fox and it is very good so far, I am about a third of the way into it.
Apparently, there is a special tonight on TV about optimism featuring Michael J. Fox.

I know I am not an optimist...I am someone who perseveres... but I am not by nature an optimist.
I do admire optimists especially those who clearly have adversity and yet retain their optimism.
I am the kind of person who expects something to go wrong and I always seem to have contingency plans in place...for when it does occur. I have trouble not knowing what the future holds for me...but you can best believe I have imagined every scenario and what I would do!!

I am always exercising my faith...or should I say God is exercising my faith...because I am clearly not in control!
My son and daughter-in-law and our grandchildren came to stay with us...and I wanted to plan a perfect outing!
The cutest-boy-in-America was told about the carriage ride with the horse and he was so excited...and I was for him.
We did have a wonderful time, however when he and my Hubby were getting off the carriage...my grandson fell backwards and hit his head on the road with a sickening thud that I keep hearing over and over in my head.
It was heartbreaking...
He cried and cried...he no longer wanted to pet the horse and I was so afraid he had a concussion!
It was out of my control...I silently prayed and continued to pray every two hours as I tried to wake him while he slept that night.
First...I am grateful to God that Carter is okay, and that his mother trusted me enough to let him sleep with me.
But my silent vigil with Carter and God turned out to be important to my faith...
I would gladly and willingly take any pain for my grandson but I do believe God uses adversity in our lives to draw us closer to him. I rarely handle adversity well...but I do learn about God's love for me!
He loves me...imperfect and all!
Thank you God for my Grandson's health and well being!

My Pilates Teacher...Miss You!

2009-05-02T10:06:00.007-04:00

I have not been to my Pilates class since coming to St. Augustine...
Maria my instructor/torturer sent me this email with her latest interview to remind me of the joy/pain!!!

It's My Hair!

2009-04-29T15:26:00.003-04:00

I have cut back on many things during this "economic downturn " ...we don't eat out as much, we sold our second vehicle and downsized to a smaller house. But ....I don't scrimp on my hair! I recently went to a fancy spa salon called Panache located here in charming St. Augustine, Florida as I needed a eyebrow waxing and my grey roots made brown!

It is in a really cute old building and I was able to walk there from the house we had rented.
It is an environmentally aware or conscious business with many great organic products which I appreciated but the very best part...was the great customer service!

From the very first moment I walked in the door, I was greeted, I felt valued and appreciated. I knew instantly they were thankful for my business. This really wasn't much more costly than my normal salon but the feeling I had after my stay was transforming...this simple training of their staff in simple courtesies that make you feel like you are so important to them.
I introduced myself...the receptionist seemed to be delighted to meet this "Ronda person!" and all the while making eye contact with me.
She said Jesse would be with me in a few minutes and she was.
Jesse came in and introduced herself and promptly said my name in a sentence as in...
"Ronda, I am so happy to have you here! Could you follow me?"
and I said " Uh Huh! "
( I knew within minutes I was in a great place)
Jesse was the person who would be doing my eyebrows...she was kind and gentle...even when she laughed at me!
She opened this door and in the beautiful room was a table...
I was perplexed as I normally have to bend over backwards at a shampoo bowl to have my eyebrows done.
So I said sheepishly..."I am not here for a massage!" and she laughed but kindly!
She said "No...this is where we do eyebrows!"
It was comfortable, quick and painless as I was comfortably lying on my back while she waxed my brow.

She walked me to meet Sean who would be doing my hair...again the same thoughtful greeting and handshake.
While Sean was talking to me about my hair...Jesse came back with a mug of hot tea for me...saying..."I know you have water but I thought you might like to try our new tea!"
Listen...I know she was trying to up sell me and that she most definitely worked on commission but I was so touched by this gesture and guess what... it worked... I bought the tea!

In the end...I got a great color and a great haircut and was treated quite well!
As I walked home I thought...Gee... a three hour drive is not a lot for that kind of service!
I mean it's my hair!

Where do you go for great service? What makes it so special?

Ronda's Rants

What Was Waldo Thinking?

Color Me Shades of Gray

Back to the Future

Yes, Virginia...there is a Ronda!

It's a Family Affair!

That Girl Rocks the Dress too!

33 years ago, this Friday...I Married a Really Cute Guy!

Accepting...Even Me!

The Perfect Little Pink Dress...

I Love You! a Gift by Sivan Garr

We Are Like Two Peas in a Pod...Only One is a Bean!

Less is More...but More of What?

Doing the Impossible...

Being HAPPY!

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Rolling with the Punches...

Cracked Glass...and Other Crack Ups!

Easter... New Beginnings

Hi...My Name is Ronda and I Use to Blog!

Sunday Salon, Bloggy Book Club and All Girls Book Club Combo

Sunday Salon...Read Along

Bloggy Book Club...so late!

To all My "Friends"...Happy New Year!

Random Rambling

It's Not BeginningTo Look A Lot Like Christmas!

The Big Day!

A Father To Be Thankful For...

He's Getting Married Today!

3o Years of Fun and Joy!

Scary Man

Looking For Contrast in the Dark.

Turn... Turn... He's Four! Turn...Turn...He's Thirty!

Things You Learn From Being Unemployed

Bloggy Book Club

Stop Talking and Listen to Others!

Bloggy Book Club : Rage Against the Meshugenah

I Am Glad He is Not Sorry He Married Me!

Does This Outfit Make Me Look Racist?

Squatters Rights?

Word...That Girl is Cute!

The Cutest-Boy-in-America

friday foto

This and That

The Lure of Dark Chocolate!!

Bloggy Book Club

Did You Know?

Kathryn Magendie's Tender Graces

Ad Man... The Cutest-Boy-In-America

It's*Not*All*About*Me...

Tangling with Tyrants

This is Mickey Mouse Tired...

Is Your Ghost Holy by Shay Bills

I Am No Longer with Stupid!

I Had a Bad Day...

Can I Just Say Grace or Do I Have to Mean It?

Bloggy Book Club: Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie

I Hate Texting!

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Come on People...Get Happy!

Tourists Come in All Sizes, Shapes and Shades of Red

friday foto and Cute Candid Carrie

Random Ronda's Rants

Michael Jackson is Still Dead...

It's a Pool Party for a Little Lady!

July's Bloggy Book Club

Wordful Wednesday

Guest Blogger...Here's Rhonda!

Wax and a Hair Cut...Two Bits!

I Wish I Had Learned an Actual Second Language!

just witnessed one of the funniest conversations my mom had with one of our subs. TOO FUNNY. Running some errands now...which includes picking up my laptop that's been out of commission for over a year!

Sunday Salon... Is There Really a Human Race?

Car Rides!

David Letterman and Me

It's Big Number 2!

It's Simple...really!

The Sunday Salon...or Here's What I am Reading!

What Does the Lord your God Require? Of Me...Ronda?

Drinks and Laptops...Not a Good Mix...

Enjoy Your Day!

It'sNotAllAboutMe...