Blithering Idiot

One in the morning, America. I'm up and trying to keep my mind off of TV.

My cat is staring at me. No, he can't speak. He reads minds. He just doesn't care what you think.

My dog is snoring in another room. Key phrase: in another room.

CC & AJ are asleep. Not awake. Quiet. Peaceful. Silent. Sshhh...

{I'm blathering, aren't I? Yea. I'm tired.}

Church comes early. Know what I mean? It's coming for me soon.

Deseret Dessert

Today I got this in the mail from an outstanding thinker:

*cough..LL..cough*

It made perfect sense to me.

My response:

LL always has such great ideas! Amen, sista.

[by the way, the magnet above reads as follows:

WOULD YOU LIKE

to get off your butt and clear the table so Mom can have

SOME DESSERT?]

Raggedy Addict

Okay, I liked it. So sue me.

This one had some funny stuff that wasn't cookie-cutter Ben Stiller. My favorite part had to be Rhamen-Noodle guy with a lisp, no less. "I'm back to Life!!!"

[When we lived in Maryland, we visited Washington D.C. a few times. I remember the Air & Space museum and the Natural History museum. We never had enough time to take it all in. Some of the scene backgrounds were so familiar.]

AJ and I went together tonight to see it courtesy of a gift card that was generously donated to us by my nephew T. when he moved back home from college. Thanks, T. We got popcorn with it too. [Poor AJ laughs at the same sarcasm that I do. Sorry, AJ. Genes and all.]

CC doesn't like films or TV. She spent the evening at the local high school football game with her friends. She'd rather do the social thing than sit still and stare at a screen of any size. She's always been that way. Smart girl.

So, that brings us to today's issue: I'm a TV addict. The screwy thing about that is that there's nothing on worth watching! It's so very sad. Me and my raggedy TV habit. For shame. Last night I surfed channels and watched nothing for hours until the sun came up and the kids went to school. Yeah, that's right. I didn't sleep at all. What???? Now that's a sickness. I don't understand it myself. I can't sleep, so the TV keeps me company. I never have made the best choices in companions, have I? {It's rhetorical, people....Geez.}

What did I do to counteract the stupidity? I went to the temple this morning. Isn't that what every insomniac does? To be sure, I drove slowly on back roads and took my time. My empty stomach groaned and grumbled because it was empty. Poor patrons on either side of me could hardly hear above the noise. I was alert and attentive, however, so that is in my favor and in the favor of the soul on the other side who was a first-timer, if you know what I mean. Once the session ended, I spent some 30 minutes in the peace of the Celestial Room pondering. (No, I didn't get any major insights or visions to help me direct my life. Not this time.)

Don't ask me to explain it. There's no reason to my insanity.

I did feel better on the drive home. Tuna on toast, apple juice and a nap helped too.

Messed up, huh?

A Little Light Reading

Environmental Hazards.

World Affairs.

Geospatial Information Systems.

Map Use & Interpretation.

Middle East History to 1800.

Gotta love it!

Haterade

I've noticed that one of my connections on FB is a hater. The object of his rage is always a believer, most especially a Christian believer.

What caught my particular attention was the consistency. Mr. FB can be counted on to attack any and all facets of Christianity at the drop of a hat. Why is that? Hmm?

When a Christian dies, he bashes.

When a Christian makes a mistake, he bashes.

When a Christian doesn't act, he bashes.

When a Christian speaks up, he bashes.

When a Christian doesn't speak, he bashes.

When something bad in the world occurs, he blames all of Christianity for it somehow.

Methinks that Mr. FB protests TOO much. It's called a conscience. Look into it.

This guy says the word Christian or Christ more than anyone I've ever met. But he mentions them with extreme hostility. As if he has personally been slighted and forever seeks an apology.

If he only had a clue who Christ is or even the slightest inkling of what the Savior has in mind for all of us, he'd be ashamed of himself. If Mr. FB only knew the Christ that I know, he could be happy and quit trying to prove himself to the minions and masses who have such a hold on his self-esteem.

Kinda pathetic. Mr. FB's style is to vomit his negative bile up and hope the world will happily lick it up and thank him for his wisdom. Ego, thy name is __________.

I'm looking forward to seeing Mr. FB's face when he steps through to the "other side". I'll be happy to see him and to give him a hug (mostly because he can't stand genuine sentiment). {And dear reader, you know you want to be there too!}

Isn't it fortunate for him and for all of us that the Savior is forgiving and loving, whether Mr. FB believes or doesn't believe? I take great comfort in that fact. FACT.

Bring a spare pair of shorts, my friend. You're gonna need 'em.

Time to put away the haterade and drink in the peace of truth.

Aluminum Falcon?

Thought for the day...

Memreez

Let it be

If it is to be it is up to me.

We don't need no stinkin' badges...

-------Court of honor, Life Scout!

----------All merit badges are complete.

---------------Eagle Scout project is all that is left.

------------------- Can you smell it? The end is near...

Where's my pin, anyway?

'Sup?

BLT-licious

Seeing as how I have some pretty generous friends in the ward, it is my good fortune to have a large supply of fresh tomatoes! Needless to say, the BLT season has officially commenced. However, I must make it clear that although I have allowed the L to grace my sandwich once, the more superior experience is one with no L and plenty of B & T. Toasted bread, light touch of mayo....

-

Now I realize that in the family there is a a mutant strain of DNA which makes some people hate tomatoes. This is tragic. I mean, bacon and lettuce? Blahhhh. The tomatoes are absolutely essential to the nirvana experience of a BLT. On the other hand, lettuce contributes little more than the color green. It is highly expendable.

Simple things for a simple mind. What do ya want for nuthin? Rrrrrrruuuubbber biscuit?

Whacked Weeds

Our home teacher came over this morning with a heavy duty weed destroyer and hacked away at the 6ft. tall weeds down the side of my home.

This year I got lazy and let that area just go to ruin.

The result: weeds as tall and taller than myself.

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Usually we have a garden there because it gets sun all day long. The heat bounces off the side of the house and keeps the ground and vegetation nice and warm. But not

this year. Just didn't have the desire to try a garden.

No motivation, no funds, no energy...Now it looks like a yellow pile of straw. At least I can see the ground though. What a nice thing to do. Just thinking about pulling all that trash by hand made my head ache.

-

So, I came inside the house after the home teacher left, I got on my knees beside my bed, and I cried. What the heck? I didn't understand it. This was a good thing that happened. Somebody did something nice without asking for anything in return. Why cry about it?

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I realized that I was feeling overwhelmed by the gesture. Yeah, life has been delivering hit after hit for many years now and it hasn't been fun. I suppose the act of kindness that addressed a real need I have ( with no strings attached ) just caught me in a sensitive moment and I wasn't prepared. No waiting for the other shoe to drop. No wondering if I was thankful enough. No thoughts of imposing. No self-defeating tapes playing in my head about how I am such a loser and can't do anything for myself. Nothing like that. Just simple joy and gratitude for help that I really really needed.

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We are officially noxious no more.

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Boring post, no? Oui!

I'm sure I can get more tedious though. Give me a sec.

SS

You know, because I'm a Big-C survivor, I have radar for anyone else's anxious tests and procedures.

Tonight I chatted on FB with someone who is going in to have an ultrasound because of a lump in a private area that has been bugging them for about a year and a half. This person won't tell the family until after the results are in. My firsts thought was to ask if they have had a blessing yet. I guess the doctor is pretty sure it is a tumor but will do the ultrasound to confirm. Wow. Scarey stuff.

I remember this person from years ago. When we first met they were a teen and we hit it off right away. Since then we've had limited contact but have always been happy to re-connect. When I think about this stressful time I remember this person as the teen I first encountered and see the laughter and remember the sense of humor.

Good luck, SS. I will keep you in my prayers and hope for all to be well with you and yours.

P.S. Finally heard the diagnosis on Aug. 17th: non-cancer, but a lump to be treated. YAY~!

Viral

Well, I think I'm in trouble.

I've been house-sitting for some friends and using their computer to check my email, etc. Today while online I was hit with a giant TROJAN infection that kept growing and growing as I stared in disbelief. The sick thing about it too was that it crept in from nowhere and not only disabled their anti-virus software, it erased it! So the computer is a sitting duck for the nasties.

It made me think: we humans sure have to spend a lot of time protecting ourselves and our property from the evil elements around us. Police, jails, lawyers, security systems, firewalls, anti-virus, spyware, malware, shoplifters, burglars, vandals, politicians...

Did you ever think about all of the spectacular progress humankind could have made beyond where we are today if all of the nasties put their genius and coniving to work for good instead of evil? What a waste.


Well, we'll have to take my friends' hardrive in for an overhaul. Shame. I say Nie!

So, folks, don't click anything that looks like a warning about a viral attack or a trojan infection because that is the virus itself and it will take you to other sites that will be more viruses pretending to be helping or pretending to have something for sale that will be helpful.

It's a sick world sometimes, huh.

Gloryland

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh do remember me.

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh do remember me.

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh do remember me.

Look away be-yond the blue, blue, blue, blue.

I gotta home in glory land that outshines the sun.

I gotta home in glory land that outshines the sun.

I gotta home in glory land that outshines the sun.

Look away be-yond the blue, blue, blue, blue.

Oh Ya Can't Get To Heaven

Oh ya can't get to heaven

--Oh ya can't get to heaven

In a rockin' chair

--In a rockin' chair

.

.

Cuz the Lord don't allow

--Cuz the Lord don't allow

No loafers there

--No loafers there

Oh ya can't get to heaven in a rockin' chair

Cuz the Lord don't allow no loafers there.

I ain't a-gonna grieve my Lord no more.

Oh ya can't get to heaven

--Oh ya can't get to heaven

On a pair of skates

--On a pair of skates

Cuz you'll roll right by

--Cuz you'll roll right by

Them pearly gates

--Them pearly gates

Oh ya can't get to heaven on a pair of skates

Cuz you'll roll right by them pearly gates.

I ain't a-gonna grieve my Lord no more.

Animal Fair

I went the animal fair.

The birds and beasts were there.

The big baboon, by the light of the moon, was combing his auburn hair.

The monkey, he got drunk; climbed up on the elephant's trunk.

The elephant sneezed, fell down on his knees.

And that was the end of the monk...the monk...the monk...the monk...

Good Grief

This evening I put on an apron and walked over to the church to help out a friend who's daughter was having a wedding reception. I spent the time in the kitchen preparing the little plates with fruit kabobs and chicken salad rolls. It was good to give some service. I stayed in the kitchen because I wasn't dressed for the reception. After about 2 hours I came home and plopped into a chair. TV.

-

CC came home from babysitting and went to her room to get ready for bed. When I went to her to say goodnight she was crying. After much coaxing she told me she was overwhelmed with sadness for a friend of hers. This friend's little brother was killed while he lay on the warm cement driveway and his aunt backed her vehicle over him. He died instantly. The family is devastated. My daughter knows their daughter who is her same age.

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705320424/Orem-4-year-old-run-over-killed.html

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I told CC that her grief and empathy are a good thing. People who can feel what others feel and grieve with those who grieve are tuned in to the Spirit. She went to bed still crying but trying to come to terms with the whole event.

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AJ knows the girl whose brother was killed too. He was shocked and wondered how that aunt must feel about having run over her own sister's child- her own little nephew whom she loved as one of her own.

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Empathy is a gift. Grief can be good.

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Things change in an instant.

Be careful.