11:15

He called just after 10:30. He's on his way and should have no traffic or weather problems at this time. I expect him by 2:00 or 2:30.

Sounds of sawing and hammering coming from next door. However, only one or two of my neighbors have boarded their windows at this point. Potential flying objects are all inside now.

Beautiful sunny day...a light, pleasant breeze has picked up in the past couple of hours....

Update

Thanks for your prayers! We are far enough west of the projected landfall, and far enough away from the coast, that we are not in an evacuation zone. In our area, Fort Bend County, we anticipate sustained tropical storm-force winds, with possibly some Category 1-level winds. It won't be fun, but we should be all right. As far as water, food, batteries, etc., we're ready.

The Scientist intends to leave San Antonio mid to late morning, so he should be back by mid afternoon. I don't think the projected tropical storm winds will have materialized that far west by then, but please pray for his safety on the road. The evacuation has gone very smoothly--nothing like the nightmare before Rita--so there has been no need to make I-10 contraflow, which could have impeded his return.

I'm going to take Amie to get her arthritis shot before the vet closes. I'll update again later.

New week coming

Busy week ahead, but possibly less stressful than last week. I am pleased to report that I have increased my agency days to four and will be cutting my practice back to one day a week, if that. This should definitely lower my stress level.

Speaking of stress, have you seen Ike's latest projected path? The Scientist will be away later in the week, and it remains to be seen whether or not I will need to follow him...with my ailing MIL and three dogs in tow. We've been through a Category 3, and that was scary but managable. Right now I'm thinking that I won't leave unless it's going to be stronger than that. But I'm not thrilled about the idea of being separated from the Scientist during a hurricane.

Watching the weather report. Trying to remember to just BE.

Request from your Luddite friend:

If you receive a Facebook "friend" request from me, PLEASE feel free to ignore it. You won't hurt my feelings. I responded to one I received (setting up a Facebook account in the process) because I didn't want to hurt somebody else's feelings. So...since I have no experience with this sort of thing, can y'all please explain to me the advantages of participating in this? Do I really need another way to get sucked into the internet for hours at a time? I would appreciate all explanations and comments, pro and con.

Random rambling asterisks of the beginning of Labor Day weekend

...because I can't formulate a coherent F5 right now.

*Enjoyed the speech last night. I want one of those buttons that says, "My Heart Belongs to Hillary, But My Vote Belongs to Barack."

*I'm even more annoyed at the Republicans than I was yesterday. "Here, pick some random politician with two X chromosomes... OK, this one will do." I mean, I'm sure she's intelligent and capable, but the whole thing just brings out my cynical side.

*My friend Favorite Lurker and I had lunch at one of my favorite restaurants today...upscale interior Mexican. The duck enchiladas, the tiny goat-cheese cheesecake, and the little bitty chocolate mousse cake with the Mexican vanilla ice cream were out of this world. One of the things I love about this place is the fact that they make their own chocolate--they roast and grind the cacao beans themselves, so anything they serve that involves chocolate or mole sauce is outstanding.

*Coping with the realities of caring for an elderly dog: I got one of those black lights that you can hold over the carpet and it shows you where all the pee stains are. Quite impressive. Depressing, though.

*Really depressing.

*We have gathered all of our Gustav supplies (which mostly are our leftover Edouard supplies). Pray for the folks in Lousiana and Mississippi, but please pray for us too. Nobody knows just where this thing might go once it enters the Gulf.

*The Scientist had to travel for part of this week, and will be away part of next week too. Amie seems a bit more confused and distracted than usual when he's gone. (Me too.) It's so good to have him home this weekend.

*We're looking forward to a couple of events in October. Our previous jaunts with Amie have been so enjoyable, we're taking her with us for a long weekend in the piney woods of East Texas, in an area known as the Big Thicket. (We might even take her canoeing with us!) But the weekend before that, company's coming!!

*OK, that's enough rambling. Have a relaxing and restorative weekend.

Congratulations are in order!

Go look at teh precious!!!!

Friday Five: When is the Fourth Friday Not the Last Friday?

It's Friday afternoon, Eastern Time, and this is your faithful Songbird with a calendar-related Friday Five. Due to some confusion with our dates, I'm stepping in today, although I am usually here only on the 5th Friday, when there is such a thing.

Here are five things to ponder about dates. I hope you'll play!

1) Datebooks--how do you keep track of your appointments? Electronically? On paper? Month at a glance? Week at a glance?
I don't fool around with those newfangled electronic gizmos. I have a professional week-at-a-glance planner, with each day divided into fifteen-minute increments. My clients' complete names aren't in there, for confidentiality's sake, but I keep up with all of my appointments that way.

2) When was the last time you forgot an important date?
I don't know! I'll have to ask the Scientist if he remembers a time when I did.

3) When was the last time you went OUT on a date?
Last Saturday night, to a great mom-and-pop Tex-Mex joint down the road. Isn't it fun to finally try a place you've driven past for years, and discover a new favorite? We enjoyed ourselves so much, we had no room to stop at the nearby paleteria for dessert!

4) Name one accessory or item of clothing you love even though it is dated.
In the early 80's, we and a number of our Houston friends all moved to California at about the same time, and would get together up and down the coast when we could. In those days there was a venerable old music store in San Francisco called Chickens That Sing Music. Some years later, after the store was gone, our friend George gave me his old Chickens t-shirt. I never wear it, because it's such a relic; I love to take it out occasionally and remember when we all were young adults, just beginning to make our way in the world.

5) Dates--the fruit--can't live with 'em? Or can't live without 'em?
I like them, but don't cook with them often, except to make my fruitcake cookies at Christmas. One of my favorite restaurants serves them stuffed with chorizo and wrapped in bacon! Oh man, are they good!

Friday Five: Fall Transformations

With a fine picture of a bowdark ball (bois d'arc or Osage orange, for you non-Texans) and a beautiful vase made from the wood of the bowdark tree, Mary Beth poses the pre-autumnal question:


For this Friday's Five, share with us five transformations that the coming fall will bring your way.
1. Choir break is over, and we are gearing up for fall. Some of our Advent/Christmas music is already in our folders! It will be here before you know it....
2. The long-awaited temperature change. Except for the ragweed, I love October in southeast Texas. I know summer is finally over when I feel that first hint of morning coolness, even though the temperature may still be up in the 80's in the afternoon.
3. On fall evenings, I finally get to wear my sweaters! Sweater season is so brief here, and all through fall and winter I have to resist the temptation to buy more.
4. The Scientist and a friend of ours will be teaching a new Sunday school class, Presbyterian 101. I'll help and sub as needed.
5. This is one I hope will happen this fall. I'm waiting to hear whether the agency where I work three days a week will have the funding to take me on for another day. If I can do that, I'll be that much closer to being able to close my practice. An unbloggable combination of managed care woes and frustrating office politics is deepening my desire to move on.

Bonus: Give us your favorite activity that is made possible by the arrival of fall.
Doing anything outdoors without being "wringing wet" within ten minutes! Fall (again, except for the ragweed) makes yard work, picnics, and hikes much more pleasant.

Old girl takes a tumble

My poor old Amie fell down the stairs last night! She was so thrilled that her daddy was calling her to take a WALK that she did a little dance, began to hurry downstairs, missed a step, and tumbled to the landing. We were horrified, but she got up, limping a bit, and insisted on going outside anyway. This morning she was still limping, and I took her to the vet to make sure she was OK. No serious harm done, but we are watching her closely, anyway.

Her arthritis seems to be getting worse, and sometimes we think she is starting to lose her hearing. (Other times we think she's saying, "Yeah, I hear you, all right--I just don't care.") She spends a lot of time in the closet now, not just during storms, and she has become a very sound sleeper. We're trying to keep her comfortable, and monitoring her troublesome liver enzymes. Her vet thinks she's in very good shape for such an old dog, so I pray we'll have her with us for a while longer.

I give up. It was a fun meetup.

I have been fighting with Blogger since this afternoon, trying to bring you this picture of Amy, her friend Jenny, and me (in the traditional RGBP stance) in front of a Santa Fe cafe last week. Photography is courtesy of the Scientist, who decided he didn't want to be in the picture. I have no idea why Blogger refuses to print this right side up (it looks just fine on iPhoto), but it has seen through all my attempts to trick it. So, Amy and Jenny, here we are, and we had a fine lunch...and if anyone knows how to fix this, please let me know! :)

Friday Five: God Days of Summer

Thanks to dear PG for this cool Friday Five:

1. What is your sweetest summer memory from childhood? Did it involve watermelon or hand cranked ice cream? Or perhaps a teen summer romance. Which stands out for you?
I can't pick one. I remember long summer days roaming the neighborhood with my friend Joy, not coming home until supper time. I also remember going to the swimming pool and getting a big crush on an older boy named Philip (nothing ever came of that, of course). Singing "Under the Bamboo Tree" at camp, and high hilarity around the campfire when a girl got a bit too exuberant and her hot dog flew off the wire hanger on which it was being roasted, and disappeared! I'm laughing now, remembering that. You had to be there.

2. Describe your all time favorite piece of summer clothing. The one thing you could put on in the summer that would seem to insure a cooler, more excellent day.
Shorts and sandals. I remember a blue knit shorts set I enjoyed.

3. What summer food fills your mouth with delight and whose flavor stays happily with you long after eaten?
Wonderful blueberries and strawberries, along with other summer fruits. Cantaloupe and blueberries make a fine fruit salad, all by themselves.

4. Tell us about the summer vacation or holiday that holds your dearest memory.
Again, it's hard to pick just one. But I'm remembering a summer we went to Tacoma for a friend's wedding, then spent several days roaming around Seattle, the San Juan Islands, and Victoria, BC. Everything in Washington was green and lush--so different from summer in southern California, where we were living at the time--and Victoria was clean and neat, with flowers everywhere. I would love to go back to all of those places some day, especially the San Juans.

5. Have you had any experience(s) this summer that has drawn you closer to God or perhaps shown you His wonder in a new way?
A week ago we were hiking in the mountains above Santa Fe, enjoying the firs and aspens. The temperature was in the low 70's. It has probably been thirty years since I've been at an elevation high enough to walk among the aspens.

Bonus question: When it is really hot, humid and uncomfortable, what do you do to refresh and renew body and spirit?
Stay indoors in the AC, and read!

Calling all restless Presbies

Our Church Information Form has been posted. Email me if you know anyone who would be interested.

Who Am I

My friend Darlyne sent this to our fellow choir members. This is a church group from Oslo, Norway; they are wearing white gloves and are in front of a black light. The song is "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns. Enjoy.

"Warn't much to it"

...as my dad used to say. Edouard brought our side of town a steady, drizzly rain (thanks, Ed) with minimal wind. Now at 3:45, the sun has come out. Looking out at our patio, I note that a few pecans appear to be our only loss. However, there are lots left on the tree.

Our office was closed today, and I'm taking advantage of this free afternoon by writing a report. (I dawdled around this morning, or I could probably have written two reports.) I've downloaded all of our Santa Fe pictures, and do have some to share, as well as thoughts on the conference and a meetup report! I need to get this report done first, though. More later.

Thanks for all of your weather-related prayers. So far I haven't heard any reports of serious damage or injury.

My God for the other life that you have given my Soul
I thank you.
For the tranquility that you have given my soul
I thank you.
My God--the night is coming. You will close my eyes
Before the dawn.
And I--then I will paint new pictures for you, of the new
Earth and a new sky.

Marc Chagall, near the end of his life

(The painting is his Le Paradis.)

Gone to Santa Fe!

Looking forward to a great conference, lots of carne adovada with posole on the side, an Over the Rhine concert, and a blogger meetup too! See you next week.

Note to parents:

1. When your teenaged daughter is sobbing on my couch, having just received a diagnosis of depression, that is not the best time to glance at her and say in an exasperated tone, "It's not the end of the world."

2. When your anxiety-ridden three-year-old is too shy to demonstrate to me that he knows his colors and can name the parts of his body, it does not help to encourage him with, "You won't show the doctor your knee? Next time she'll give you a shot!"

That is all. Have a nice day.

Friday Five: What's in a Name?

Thanks to RevHRod for this week's Friday Five!

1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog? My blog and I are named for my dear red heeler, Zorra, who's been gone nearly three years now. I used to tell the Scientist that if we ever had a place in the country I'd like to call it Red Heeler Ranch. I think this cyber-country place is as close as I'll ever come!
   
2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there? Just my wonderful Scientist (Happy anniversary, sweetheart!). He really is a scientist, and so far I haven't been able to think of a better pseudonym for him (his suggestion is "Finger of the Illuminati").
   
3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun? I love the title of RevHRod's blog, "You don't have to listen. I just like to talk." And isn't that what blogging is all about?
   
4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals blog of course! As I mentioned recently, I've followed Rob Rummel-Hudson's chronicles of his daughter Schuyler for several years now. Recently I've been checking in fairly often with some of my new Houston Chowhound buddies, especially neverfull and Anonymous Eater.
   
5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why? That would be my friend QG, who thought my blogging would be a great idea...and kept telling me so, until I agreed!
   

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks?
I met an outstanding group of blogging friends last spring on a great big boat. May we all be together again (along with many more RGBP's) next spring for Big Event 2.0! In the meantime, Amy C. (soul and culture) and I plan to meet about two weeks from now, in Santa Fe!

A prayer for today

Upcoming books

Well, it's late, I've been at an Asperger's/ASD workshop all day, and I'm having trouble thinking of answers for some of the FF questions. However, I just placed a big book order yesterday (went on line to order one book...30 minutes and many dollars later, I had ordered six...you know how that goes), so let me share what I will be reading this summer. I'll report back later.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. My supervisor (another dog person) came into my office yesterday to tell me I HAD TO read this book. I read the first chapter online and was hooked. More later.

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor. A neuroscientist's account of her recovery from a debilitating stroke. This one's had a lot of good press and interests me for professional reasons as well as personal, as does the next one:

Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison. Life as a person with Asperger's Syndrome.

Three Junes by Julia Glass. Some people whose literary opinions I respect have had good things to say about this one.

Getting On Message: Challenging the Christian Right from the Heart of the Gospel, Rev. Peter Laarman (ed.). I don't know much about this, but it sounded interesting. I bought it for $0.01 plus shipping, which is kind of sad.

Animal Rites: Liturgies of Animal Care by Andrew Linzey. Linzey has written several books about animal rights from a Christian viewpoint. This one is just what it says, prayers and liturgies for various occasions and situations related to animals and human responsibility for them.

Have you read any of these books?

Does James Dobson speak for you?

Take a look at this:
http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com
I was impressed. You?

Summer highlights so far

In late May we spent a long weekend in the hill country celebrating a young friend's graduation, and took time to roam around Canyon Lake, go boot scootin' at Gruene Hall, and enjoy the local wildlife from the balcony of our country B&B...



...which certainly got an old ranch dog's attention!

Meanwhile, back home, the ixora and crepe myrtle in the front yard are enjoying the sun.

I have to work this afternoon, but because of a cancellation I get to enjoy dawdling around at home this morning.
How's your Monday shaping up?

A Word Association Friday Five

Hot town, summer in the city...
A little word association for a summer day, courtesy of Singing Owl:

1. rooftop
"When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face..."
(I'll show my age; the voice in my head just then belonged to Carole King, not James Taylor.
No, not the Drifters! I don't go back quite that far!)

2. gritty
Beach! Sand! Feet! Bathing Suit! Car!

3. hot town (yeah, I know it's two words)
Houston, of course!

4. night
Muggy summer nights in South Texas (or the Mississippi Delta), hoping to catch a little breeze as the temperature drops from 95 to 80....

5. dance
"Summer's here and the time is right
For dancin' in the street"
Sounds like a good idea!

WOO HOO!!!

We're celebrating tonight!


Stick a fork in it--it's done!
Thank you, Lord!

Late Sunday afternoon

Old friends came over after church. We grilled wild Alaskan sockeye salmon--Copper River, only available for a few weeks in the summer--on cedar planks, with a special grilled squash salad. The Scientist made sangria. The conversation was peaceful. I spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch, reading the paper, while my dear husband and sweet dog dozed nearby.

Aunt Icy's crinums are in riotous bloom. The dark red crepe myrtle by the front door is having the best year it's had in a long time.

No reports to write tonight. Only one more load of laundry. Not much to do but rest and read.

"Thank you, dear God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough."
--Garrison Keillor

Guest blogger: Amie

Yesterday Mama and I walked to the mailbox, just as we usually do at midday, and as she was looking at the mail, a little dog ran up. He wouldn't go away, and I told him to get away from my mama! He wouldn't leave us alone, but followed us all the way to the house! I didn't like that At. All. Mama put me inside with the mail and then went to find him. He was racing up and down the street looking lost. He was so happy to see a kind person! His name was Sam, and he had a phone number on his tag.

Mama put him in the back yard and tried to call his humans, but they weren't home. Meanwhile, Sam didn't like being in our yard. He cried and cried! Mama phoned again, and was very relieved to get ahold of Sam's dad. Sam lives two blocks away, and he is very curious about the world outside his yard. Mama took Sam to meet his dad, who said, "Hey, buddy! Did you have fun?" Sam looked so happy to see his dad again!

Mama says the moral of this story is that I can't go outside without my collar any more, not even in the back yard. That's a pain, but I remember one night when I took a long walk without telling Mama where I was going. (All the humans had just set out their garbage, so I had a lot of sniffing to do. I wasn't lost! I knew where I was.) I was nekkid and nobody would have known where I belonged. When she found me about a block away, she was so relieved she nearly cried.
So everybody, wear your collars!

P.S. Last night I discovered that Sam had peed in MY sweet alyssum! Some nerve!

Friday Five: Beach Trip

1. Ocean rocks, lake limps? Vice versa? Or "it's all beautiful in its own way"?
Any body of water is fine with me; as a teenager I enjoyed swimming in the oxbow lakes near my home town. But I really love the ocean for the sound of the surf and the breeze off the water, calming my spirit as I walk. If I have enough sunscreen, I can walk the beach for hours just looking for shells, watching the seabirds, and listening to the waves.

2. Year round beach living: Heaven...or the Other Place?
Oh, that would be heaven! Imagine a little cottage on a private beach...with a nice barbecue grill on the deck...and no jellyfish...

3. Any beach plans for this summer?
We had a great time taking Amie to Galveston about a month ago (see above). Alas, I suspect that will be our only beach trip this year.

4. Best beach memory ever?
Only one? That's impossible! Please indulge me as I share a few:
--Sitting under an umbrella on a Cozumel beach with Mid-Life Rookie. All was right with the world that day as we sat enjoying the breeze, admiring our catamaran, and watching some very happy people play volleyball in the sand.
--Another perfect day of snorkeling from a catamaran, sailing along the Na Pali coast on the north shore of Kauai. As we drew close to Hanalei Beach, we jumped off the boat and swam the rest of the way to shore.
--Exploring the rocky Oregon coast with the Scientist, fascinated by the colorful creatures in each small tidepool.
--Our many trips to quiet Point Dume, near Malibu, when we lived in California; gazing up at the mansions on the cliff and wondering which one was Bob Dylan's!

5. Fantasy beach trip?
Back to Hanalei, please Lord, someday!

Books read in 2008

As my MIL would say, I'm busier than a one-armed paper hanger, but thought I'd take a few minutes to share this list.

Schuyler's Monster by Robert Rummel-Hudson. Some years ago I began following Rob Rummel-Hudson's former blog, Darn Tootin', a source of often thoughtful, sometimes acerbic, occasionally obnoxious commentary on life, work, music, and the universe. After his daughter Schuyler was diagnosed with polymicrogyria, a rare cerebral malformation leaving her unable to speak, Rob became her champion and her voice. His accounts of life as Schuyler's dad are moving, often very funny, and occasionally heartbreaking. Several years' worth of his blog entries have been edited and compiled in this book. Highly recommended to anyone interested in children and families with special needs, or anyone who can testify that life is what happens while you're making other plans (I guess that would be all of us).

Christianity for the Rest of Us by Diana Butler Bass. Already being pretty sure that the mainline church was alive and well, at least in some quarters, I didn't get a lot of new revelations from this one. I may go back and look through it again.

Take This Bread by Sara Miles. A wonderful testimony to the Holy Spirit, who can choose and call anyone, anytime, usually to that person's amazement. I didn't get to participate in the RGBP discussion, but this book pushes and prods me to remember that there are no limits on God's faithfulness or on what God can do, not to mention the ways in which the thread of God's love and call runs throughout our lives, forming a pattern that is only clear in retrospect. This book is a keeper.

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice. I finished it already! I could barely put it down. If you enjoyed Out of Egypt, you'll like this one too.

Two books by Buechner are still on the nightstand, as is A People's History of the Civil War: Struggles for the Meaning of Freedom by David Williams.

Summer meme

RevKim and QG have tagged me for this summer meme, that had to wait while we were spending a gorgeous summer weekend in the Texas hill country. More later (including deer pictures), but now to the meme!

1.) What first tells you that Summer is here?
The weatherman's prediction that temperatures will remain around 80 degrees overnight.

2.) Name five of your favorite distinctively Summer habits or customs.
-grilling (I grilled chicken legs tonight, with Stubb's rub under the skin)
-baking blueberry pies and peach cobblers
-making ice cream on the back porch
(Why am I always thinking about food?)
-going to the beach (well, that's not really limited to summer around here)
That's all I can think of...summer is about seven months long here, so it's hard to think of a lot of things we can only do in June, July , or August.

3.) What is your favorite smell of Summer?
-a big bag of ripe peaches!

4.) What is your favorite taste of Summer?
-see #3!

5.) Favorite Summer memory?
I don't know that I have just one. I remember day camp and trips to the city pool as a child...YMCA overnight camp for a two week session...lemonade stands...walking outside in the early morning when there was still the slightest hint of a cool breeze (but not for long)...
Summer was my dad's busiest time of year (he was an agricultural chemical consultant, and spent his summer days walking the cotton and soybean fields), so I don't have many childhood vacation memories associated with it.

6.) Extreme heat or extreme cold? Which would you choose and why?
Extreme heat, since it's what I'm already used to. As long as the A/C works, I'm fine. I've lived in the Sun Belt all my life, and can't imagine life in a very cold climate.

7.) What books do you plan to read for the season?
Anne Rice's Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana is next on my list. I never wanted to read her vampire books, and it wasn't until I read Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt (highly recommended) that I realized how vividly she writes. Her descriptions of street scenes and crowds are almost cinematic. Frederick Buechner's Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons is waiting on the nightstand, too.

8.) How does the Summer affect your faith? Is it a hindrance or an ally?
Life does slow down a bit (at least at church), which gives me a little more time to think and read. I hope that I will take some contemplative time this year and allow the slower pace to be a spiritual ally.

I don't think there's anyone left to tag for this one! But if you haven't done it yet, be my guest.

Friday Five: Vacation Thoughts

Sally says: It is a holiday weekend here in the UK, and the weather forecast for much of the country is not good!!! But we can still dream and so with that in mind I bring you this Friday Five.

1. Getting ready for summer, do you use the gradual tanning moisturisers ( yes gentlemen you too can answer this!!!), or are you happy to show your winter skin to the world? I never use those because I wind up with orange splotches. I don't tan well, and spend most of my time covering up in the sun. But I love to be outside, if there's enough shade or a breeze to keep me cool.

2.Beach, mountains or chilling by the pool, what/ where is your favourite getaway? I enjoy the mountains, but I really love the beach if I can keep from getting sunburned. Just sitting by a pool is pretty boring after a while.

3.Are you a summer lover or does the long break become wearing?
...The long what?? I could use me some of that "long break" you're talking about. The sauna-like atmosphere around here in the summer gets old fast, but that's why God made central air conditioning, right? The best things about summer are the chance to go to the beach occasionally, and the luscious summer fruits that are among my favorite foods.

4.Active holidays; hiking swimming sailing, or lazy days? A bit of both. On an extended trip I enjoy being active but for a short break like this weekend I prefer to hang around and take it easy. We're seeing my cousin's new baby and going to the ballet tomorrow night, and grilling in our own back yard on Monday; that's as active as I plan to be this weekend.

5.Now to the important subject of food, if you are abroad do you try the local cuisine, or do you prefer to play it safe? I'm all about the local cuisine, and usually do a lot of research before we go on a trip. I want to eat where the locals eat!

No bonus this week unless you can think one up!!!

Well, I'll share our vacation plans; at the end of July we're going to Santa Fe for a week. I'm attending an outstanding conference called Creativity and Madness that is held there every year. In the mornings I'll attend fascinating lectures about famous artists, writers, and musicians and how their lives and struggles inform their work; a field trip to the Santa Fe Opera is part of the week! And I get CEU's for all of that! Then in the afternoons we're free, in Santa Fe! We did this about six years ago and had a marvelous time. And talk about the local cuisine...!

Oddly familiar meme

Dogblogger tagged me for this one.

Rules:
The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
Each player answers the questions about himself or herself.
At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Yadayadayada

Ten years ago:
Ten years ago, I had just escaped from a job I hated (the only job I ever had where I would cry in the car on the way to work), and had started working in a group practice headed by a psychiatrist friend and three of his colleagues. That practice imploded about two years later, but it was a pretty good two years. I learned a lot about pain management, and enjoyed working with the other therapists and doctors in the practice.

Five things on today's "to do" list (we'll make this "tomorrow", since today's nearly over):
- Clean up the back yard (again!)
- Send my billing service a long convoluted email about an old account
- Review drafts of narratives that other PNC members and I have written for our CIF (Church Information Form, for non-Presbys--the document that prospective candidates will read to learn about our church)
- Confirm whether or not we will be attending the local Chowhound dinner in June
- Vacuum the foyer and the major dog zones

Things I'd do if I were a billionaire:
- Endow a scholarship at my alma mater
- Pay off our church's mortgage, including what we owe on the land adjacent to the church
- Upgrade local animal shelters...or something else related to animal rescue, I'm not sure what
- Give lots more to our favorite charities
- Travel wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted, for as long as I wanted!

Three bad habits:
- Spending too much time on teh internets
- Getting into the candy jar at work
- Cussing

Five places I've lived:
- Greenville, Mississippi
- Memphis, Tennessee
- San Antonio, Texas
- Pasadena, California
- Houston, Texas

Five jobs I've had:
- Envelope stuffer
- Drug store clerk
- Day care center worker
- School psychologist
- Clinical psychologist

Five people I'm tagging:
This one went around, in a slightly different form, several months ago, and I think most people have done it. If you haven't, and you'd like to, consider yourself tagged!

Spring keeps springing

We are so pleased with how the landscaping in the front yard turned out. I love the bicolored gingers...
...on either side of the front door.
Meanwhile, in the back yard, some of the lirope (monkey grass) is starting to bloom.
After the pansies and cyclamen faded in the heat, we replaced them with caladiums...
...in all their variety!

Friday Five: Grand Tour

Songbird says, Name five places that fall into the following categories:

1) Favorite Destination -- someplace you've visited once or often and would gladly go again
That would be Tuscany. The people, the scenery, the little towns, the vineyards, the wine, the food...ah the food....

2) Unfavorite Destination -- someplace you wish you had never been (and why)
I won't say I wish I had never been to Cozumel, because I have very fond memories of our honeymoon there, nearly 26 years ago. In those days it was a quiet little island where you could ride a scooter to the beach for the day, then come back to the peaceful village of San Miguel for a simple dinner. Now it's Tourist Trap Central, and although I was not surprised, I was disappointed at how the years have changed it. So I'll say that I wish I hadn't seen that, and that I wish it could have stayed the way it used to be--but nothing ever does, does it?

3) Fantasy Destination -- someplace to visit if cost and/or time did not matter
I would love a long trip through Greece, with plenty of time for the Scientist to explore antiquities and archaeological sites to his heart's content, followed by a leisurely cruise around the Greek isles. Santorini, anyone?

4) Fictional Destination -- someplace from a book or movie or other art or media form you would love to visit, although it exists only in imagination
Well, I tried to think of something other than Narnia or Middle Earth, since it seems that's what nearly everyone else said, but I can't come up with anything else. In search of inspiration, I asked the Scientist where he would go, and he quickly answered, "Narnia. Or Middle Earth, of course." Oh well. Either would do.

5) Funny Destination -- the funniest place name you've ever visited or want to visit
Hushpuckena, Mississippi, and its near neighbor Alligator come to mind, but I think my favorite is a little community about 60 miles north of here: Cut 'n' Shoot, Texas.

Random asterisks of Wednesday

*After fifteen years of looking out at scraggly grass, I am really loving this garden. When I got home tonight I sat and watched a juvenile mockingbird forlornly hopping around the patio, cheeping plaintively, stretching its wings again and again but not quite mustering the courage to use them. When another mockingbird (a sibling with advanced motor skills, I think--it still had some speckles on its breast too) suddenly swooped down, the kid lurched aloft with a brief FLAP FLAP FLAP before crashing into the caladiums. It resumed hopping across the yard, still cheeping, still stretching its wings. When I told the Scientist about it, he said that yesterday he saw a young bird following its parent, mouth open plaintively, as the parent ruffled its feathers and turned away. Tough love!

*I'm sorry you missed the Scientist's impression of a hungry half-grown bird.

*We had the front yard landscaped last Saturday, and it looks wonderful too. We got some bicolored gingers that are among the most gorgeous things I've ever seen. I'll take a picture of them soon. Please forgive all my flower pictures. I just can't get over all these fabulous plants (and thank you, Lord, for the sprinkler system we installed last year, without which this would not be possible).

* I wanted to go to one of RLP's Franciscan retreats in June, but I'm already signed up for an Asperger's conference on the Friday I had intended to go. Rats.

*All of our peaches are in the freezer now. The tree is still small, and there weren't enough to bother with canning. Maybe next year we'll have enough for preserves.

*My dear spouse and my dear dog have returned from their evening stroll, so I think I'll go down and join them now.

(sniffle)

We had a wonderful weekend at the beach. Amie seemed mildly puzzled by the water moving around her feet, but I think she enjoyed the change of scenery. If you ever want to take your dog to Galveston, be sure you have dinner here, where she was welcome on the delightful patio while we ate interesting sandwiches (especially a salmon club sandwich that reminded me of Scotland) and drank sangria.

Unfortunately, I seem to have caught a cold there. Scratchy throat, sniffles, etc. I gave myself permission to stay home tomorrow.

This has been one of those weeks when retirement sounds really, really good, so Dr. Z is looking forward to hiding out at home tomorrow, maybe sleeping in a bit, and just being a slightly sniffly wife and dog mama.

(Added Thursday morning, 10:15:) Now this is the way to take a sick day: sitting on the back porch with my second cup of coffee and my laptop, admiring the gorgeous agapanthus in full bloom, enjoying Amie's company, the light breeze, and the call and response of the mockingbirds and mourning doves.

I picked peaches this morning, too.

And speaking of agapanthus:

Quick getaway

We're off to the beach tomorrow, with the dog in tow. We'll see whether or not that turns out to be a good idea! We'll be back sometime Sunday. Have a pleasant weekend!

Family ties and funeral food

My dear cousins are here, from Tennessee and Alabama. The last time I saw either of them was at their daddy's funeral, eight years ago. Their aunt (on their mother's side--not related to me) "went on" Friday night, at the age of 89. Most of her children and grandchildren live here, but I've never known them. Last night her daughter graciously welcomed the Scientist and me to her home, where the usual Southern "everybody bring food and sit around and eat and talk" funeral-related rituals were in progress. What a lovely family--I came away with a whole group of "kissin' cousins" (and yes, we did). Tonight is the visitation and tomorrow is the memorial service. My cousins are coming to stay at our house tomorrow night before flying home on Wednesday. Think we'll get any sleep?

Why does it take a funeral to get cousins together? There've been weddings, too, and new babies, but it seems a funeral is the only event that spurs everyone to travel. And as always, the laughter that comes from being together and sharing memories flows as freely as the tears.

Just for the record, there was not a scrap left of my broccoli salad.

3 c. broccoli florets, blanched with a little water in the microwave for three minutes then drained
15 pieces of very crisp bacon, crumbled
1/4 c. red onion, finely chopped
1/2 c. chopped pecans
2/3 c. raisins (I bet golden raisins would be good in this)

Toss these together and mix with this dressing:
2 T. sugar (or Splenda)
3 T. apple cider vinegar
1 c. mayonnaise

Don't save this for an occasion--share it with your loved ones any time.

The dread day approaches

OK, this is a rant, and will be something of a downer. Just let me get it off my chest, thanks. This post struck a nerve. (I did thank Jan for "getting it", which many people do not.)

Mother's Day is fast approaching. Mother's Day is not fun for everybody. In fact, it is so fraught with baggage I wonder whether it's much fun for anybody. Pastors, if you must mention it (and I realize you must), please don't make a huge to-do over it. My mother died in early May, and the very next Sunday was Mother's Day. That was 17 years ago, but every Mother's Day I relive it.

Another thing: I have some lovely memories of my mother, but not everyone's memories are pleasant. Enough said.

And then of course, some of us never become mothers. If you feel you absolutely must hand out carnations at the door after church, please admonish your ushers not to do what once was done to me--an usher handed me a flower and GRABBED IT BACK upon realizing that I didn't have children.

Now, I'm reluctant to skip church just because it's Mother's Day, but if you look for me after the service you'll find me busying myself in the choir room or around the sanctuary until the flowerfest is over.

Well, I deal with Mother's Day every year, and--despite all this ranting--by now it's more of a minor annoyance than a major trauma. I bet you've already noticed that this year it falls on Pentecost. Now there's a good place to put our emphasis that day. My red shoes are ready!

Back yard, April afternoon

The pansies we've enjoyed all winter are beginning to fade, but they aren't finished yet.


My supervisor, taking a break on the patio.

A "Red Sister" (cordyline terminalis) recovering nicely from frost damage.

Aunt Icy's day lilies (crinums, really) have found a new home in this bed, but they won't bloom until June. But this time next month...
...peach cobbler!

Friday Five: For Just 24 Hours

Poor RevHRod is wondering:

Yesterday I had the 24 hour flu. I had been told by the people who had it first that it really was a twenty-four hour bug. And so while I dealt with all the blech of the flu, I kept reminding myself that morning would come and I would feel a lot better.

This is certainly a strange way to start out a Friday Five but it made me think about what I might like to do if I knew it would only last for 24 hours. There are no reality boundaries to these imaginings. So here are the five things for you to consider...

1. If you could dramatically change your physical appearance for 24 hours, what would you do? I would re-lose the 17 pounds (and make it 20 this time) I lost three years ago and found again last year! I'm working on it, but it's going to take a lot longer than 24 hours!
   


2. If you could live in another place for 24 hours where would you go? I might go back to Portland, Oregon--such a beautiful city. But really, 24 hours isn't long enough to go anywhere.
   


3. You get to do somebody else's job for a day...Wouldn't it be fun to run a doggie day care? I wouldn't even mind cleaning up after the dogs--I do that all the time anyway!
   


4. Spend the day with another person from anywhere in time and space...I want to be with my dad again. If I could I would go back to the fun-loving dad I remember from my childhood...the one who laughed for joy at family gatherings, who took me fishing and put me to bed at night with funny stories about bullfrogs and growing up on the farm...many years before I could imagine how Alzheimer's would take him away, a little at a time.
   


5. A magical power is yours. Which one would you pick? I've seen enough of cancer to know I'd gladly accept the power to cure it, if I could. But the power to heal human heartache is one I would like to have, too.
   

Friday Five: Moving

Mother Laura says:

We are right in the middle of a move--only twenty minutes away, but we're still a mix of busy, excited, nervous and surprisingly full of grief about what we're leaving, for me at least. So this week's Friday Five asks about your experience of the marvels and madness of moving...


1. How many times have you moved? When was the last time?
I lived in the same house from birth to age sixteen. Then my parents, who were nearly sixty, decided to move to an apartment. In our small town there weren't many of those, and while waiting for some new ones to be completed we moved three times (in the same town) during my senior year of high school, and even lived in our church's manse briefly. After college, let's see...two apartments in San Antonio, five in Houston, two in California, a duplex back in Houston, then in 1991 we moved into the house where we live now. I realized the other day that in a few more months I will have lived in this house longer than I lived in my childhood home. The Scientist and I hope we can stay in this house for many more years, until we are ready to, as we say, "go to The Home". (i.e. the old folks' home--that's what my dad called it)

2. What do you love and hate about moving?
I can't think of anything I love about it, although the excitement of the new is a good thing. I loathe packing and hauling, and most of all I hate leaving old friends behind.

3. Do you do it yourself or hire movers?
We hired movers for our cross-country moves between California and Texas, but otherwise we have always moved ourselves with the help of friends. Alas, I don't think all of our stuff will fit into a few hatchbacks anymore.

4. Advice for surviving and thriving during a move?
Eat regularly, and not just junk. Drink lots of water. Mark a couple of boxes with crucial stuff to be opened as soon as you arrive. In fact, take those boxes with you in the car.

5. Are you in the middle of any inner moves, if not outer ones?
Yes, I am trying to figure out my next move! Is this the year I follow through with my application to the three-year training program for spiritual directors? After my service on the PNC is over, what else is there at church, at Presbytery, at work, that I should say yes to, or that I need to leave behind?

Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what moving means to you.
In our travels, the Scientist and I have identified a number of places where we are sure we could build a satisfying life if we ever had to move (Austin and Little Rock come to mind). We had seven good years in Southern California, a place where neither of us had ever thought about living. I believe we could build a good life anywhere, as long as we are together. So the old Billy Joel song, "You're My Home" is most applicable. Long as I have you by my side/There's a roof above and good walls all around...I need you in my house, 'cause you're my home.

Guest blogger: Amie

This morning my mama and daddy met some of their friends for something called a CROP walk. I stayed home because they didn't think I would enjoy walking that far. But while they were there, they made a new friend. This is Ruby.

Ruby's mom says that when they met her, she was skinny and very, very hungry, and so sick that she had no fur on her backside. Now she is one of the sleekest, shiniest, happiest dogs you could ever meet. Ruby loves her people, and they love her.

I think Ruby has been blessed, like Sister and me. I bet she is thankful, too.

(Now Mama has two beautiful friends named Ruby. But the other Ruby only has two legs.)

Seeking new dreams

During our first group session at the BE, our lovely facilitator Mary Marcotte passed around a stack of cards, each of which contained a single word. She invited us each to take one, spending time throughout the weekend sitting (or walking) with that word and allowing the Spirit to reveal its significance to us.

My word was "dream", and indeed I've had many dreams throughout the years. One of my biggest dreams, having children, was not fulfilled. But everything else I dreamed of at fifteen, eighteen, twenty-five, thirty--loving husband, education, professional achievements, nice house, travel--has happened. What do you do after your dreams have come true?

In recent months the Scientist and I have spent some time talking about our retirement--where we might live, what we'd like to do. But I'm only fifty-two! I don't believe God wants me to sit complacently on my behind for the next ten or fifteen years, thinking, "Gosh, I sure have a nice life." It seems that I have reached a plateau from which, theoretically, my life could putt along much as it is now, but surely that would be a waste of many productive years. I'm busy with home, work, and church, but something needs to change if I am to keep growing. Right now I have no idea what that would be. It's time for some new dreams, especially some that aren't all about me!

God, show me your dream, and help me to make it mine too. I fear that, whatever it is, it will require more exertion than I want to expend at this time of my life. So I pray for inspiration, and for your holy energy to fill me and set my feet on a new path. So may it be.

Until I have time to write:

Our ship, the Fantasy, docked behind her sister ship, the Ecstasy, at Cozumel.



Two views from Lido Deck, starboard aft:


Every night the cabin stewards left towel animals on our beds. Mid-Life Rookie and Dogblogger enjoyed this cute puppy.

What's a sailor without a tattoo?

Carnival Fantasy: Home of the Ecumenical Disco. (Vegas rules apply.)

RevHRod: Lutheran down to her toes!

Berry Delicious

That's the name of the nail polish I bought for my pedi. The one I'm getting tomorrow...to go with the sandals I bought today...because I'm about to get on a BIG BOAT...and I wish ALL of y'all were coming!

I look forward to reading the comments from the cyberparty that surely will be held this weekend (with teh Clooney in attendance).

Oh, no, I forgot--that would be Captain Clooney. Those on shore will have to settle for teh Rickman.

A boy and his dog

Spring

Christ is risen!

Sing hymns to him, O earth-born; praise the one
who suffered
And died for you, and when in a short time
You behold him living, receive him in your hearts;
For Christ is going to be resurrected from the tomb
and he will make you new...
Make ready for him a pure heart
In order that your King will dwell in it,
making a heaven.
Only a short time now, and he will come to fill with joy
those who are afflicted,
In order that Adam might exult.

--Romanos (sixth century)

Five for Good Friday

Thanks to RevHRod for this thoughtful Good Friday five.

Our prayer concerns are as varied as we are this day. For whom would you like us to pray?
Please pray for light and peace for all who are struggling and aching in their marriages, and also for Paula, Jill, Ron, and others who are battling cancer. And I would appreciate prayers for Amie, who continues to have seriously elevated liver enzymes, with no firm diagnosis despite numerous tests.

Are there things you have done or will do today to help the young ones understand this important day in our lives?
I hope that children and teens will listen and take to heart the story of Jesus' suffering and death for us, as it is presented in our Tenebrae service tonight.

Music plays an important part in sharing the story of this day. Is there a hymn or piece of music that you have found particularly meaningful to your celebrations of Good Friday?
Regarding hymns, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" have both been deeply meaningful to me. On Tuesday night we were privileged to attend a beautiful and moving performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, music that gives much glory to God and has enriched this Holy Week for me.

As you hear the Passion narrative, is there a character that you particularly resonate with?
Peter, who professed endless devotion to Jesus then denied Jesus when he felt threatened--the same Peter whom Jesus lovingly restored to Himself and even entrusted with ministry.

Where have you seen the gracious God of love at work lately?
I have a cousin who has struggled with cocaine addiction for many years. During her most recent stay in rehab, she met and fell in love with a young man who was a fellow patient--much to both families' dismay. Despite relapses and setbacks, they have stayed together and are now clean and sober together, recently married in her home church, and have a beautiful, healthy baby girl, Anna Leigh. Here she is!

Mystery!

We had a beautiful Palm Sunday service, but now I have a mystery to solve. First hymn: "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna". The kids come down the aisle, waving their palm branches, deposit them under the communion table, and exit off to the side. I blink rapidly (can't help it, that scene gets me every year), keep singing, we sit, the service continues. About halfway through the service, I look down...and there are no palm branches under the table. Where did they go? What did I miss? I still don't know. Did I really see the kids set them down? The sun and tears were in my eyes, after all. Friends could shed no light; when I mentioned the mystery to the baritone behind me, he said, "Did that happen? When did the kids come in?" LOL.

The preaching text was Matthew's account of the triumphal entry, with a twist I had never heard before: why two donkeys? A naturalistic explanation would be that it's almost impossible to separate a mother donkey from her foal! But the application our pastor drew was that the second donkey is for each of us to ride, to go with Jesus straight into and through the crises of our lives. As we know, to get to Easter, we do have to go through Good Friday.

We are all going to be crazy busy this week. My prayer is that we will each make time for reflection, and intentionally and consciously walk through this week with Jesus.

Friday Five: Time for Palms

Mother Laura says:

Can you believe Daylight Savings Time is here already? It's hard to get used to the new, earlier onset. My family has been getting up and out a little late and a little sleepy in the mornings. (Yeah...us too.)

And can you believe that in two days it will be Palm Sunday for Western Christians? Our Lent is almost over, while our Orthodox sisters and brothers, whose liturgical year follows the older Julian calendar, are just starting theirs. Nicholas did a recent book report on George Washington, and we were surprised to find out that our first President's birthday was originally Feb. 11, since he was born just before the change to the Gregorian calendar. Apparently the change almost caused rioting, as some indignant people were sure that they were being cheated out of eleven days of their lives!

To help you adjust--and enjoy the process--here's a Friday Five about time and transitions....

1. If you could travel to any historical time period, which would it be, and why?

As an almost-was English major, I waver between two choices: Elizabethan England, and high Victorian London. Between the two, I guess I'd go with the nineteenth century because the improvements in sanitation and health care since Elizabeth's day would make it an easier place to visit! Victorian London was a modern society in many ways, and I would enjoy seeing how everyday people lived.

2. What futuristic/science fiction development would you most like to see?

Wouldn't it be convenient if Scotty could just beam you up whenever you were running late?

3. Which do you enjoy more: remembering the past, or dreaming for the future?

I am fond of remembering the past, because so many of my dreams have already come true. But that makes planning and working toward the new dreams a pleasure too.

4. What do you find most memorable about this year's Lent?

I am sorry to say it has gone by in a blur.

5. How will you spend your time during this upcoming Holy Week? What part do you look forward to most?

This will be an extremely busy week at work, as (1) it is Spring Break all over our six-county region, so tout le monde made their children's eligibility evaluation appointments for this week, and (2) we are preparing for our state audit the first week of April, and I have to get all of my files in order before I get on a certain big boat on March 27. So the part I am looking forward to the most is Good Friday, when I am most definitely not working, and plan to spend the whole day at home. We are singing Dale Wood's "A Service of Darkness" that night. It has been a while since I participated in a Tenebrae service, so I'm looking forward to that.

I'm also looking forward to Easter morning, of course, and celebrating with two wonderful anthems, C. V. Stanford's "Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem" and Ralph Vaughn Williams' arrangement of "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name". Then we'll come home and grill a leg of lamb! Marinate the butterflied leg of lamb in olive oil, lemon juice, and chopped fresh rosemary or oregano. Drain the marinade, then rub the lamb with more herbs and grill it to medium/medium rare. It's a fabulous Easter dinner. If you have a vegetable grilling basket you could cook some asparagus alongside. I think I'll make a lemony rice pilaf too...and maybe some strawberry shortcake!

Wowie Zowie! He Saved My Soul

He's the Rock that doesn't roll!

I am way behind the curve on commenting on the death of Larry Norman, who left us on February 24. If not for the often-maligned Larry Norman, there would be no "contemporary Christian music", good or bad--none of the artists I loved back in the day (and still do), like Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, Keith Green, Steve Taylor, all the way to current bands that you or I may never have heard of, but whom the kids in our youth groups know very well. In these times when every church has a praise band, it's hard to remember the horror with which the combination of Jesus and rock and roll was greeted in the late '60s and early '70s. My friends and I weren't horrified, we were thrilled!

This is the best video I could find of my favorite LN song, The Rock That Doesn't Roll. The video and sound quality aren't so great, but when you watch it, try to imagine how exciting this music was to young "Jesus people", so long ago.



Go dig out your old vinyl copy of Only Visiting This Planet or--even better--In Another Land. They still rock! Better than that, they still praise and glorify Jesus.

Rest in peace, brother Larry, and rock on.

Re: crossover voters

There's a lot I could say--particularly about some people's visceral, irrational fear and hatred of That Woman...but I'll just say: Maybe it's just me, but wouldn't you be mortified to admit that you had gone out and done something, anything, because Rush Limbaugh told you to?

Calendar flip

Time continues to march on, and I am another year older. We celebrated yesterday with an afternoon of museum meandering, including the members' preview of the new Pompeii exhibit at the MFAH. I was a bit disappointed, but I don't know exactly why, or just what I expected the exhibit to include. It mainly included multiple cases of jewelry and small household items recovered from the site, along with several of the poignant and unsettling plaster casts made of the people--and even a dog, poor creature--who were unable to escape the volcano's eruption. At Pompeii there are so many of these casts that one can see them tucked away in storage areas next to random bits of pottery. Their pathos provides reminders that these were mothers, fathers, children, people not so different from us. A more amusing example of our common humanity was a mosaic from the wall of a tavern, with patrons yelling to the barmaid, "Here," "No, it's mine," and the weary barmaid's rejoinder, "Whoever wants it should come get it!"

Later we walked down the street to the crafts museum and enjoyed a traveling exhibit with everything from glass (our favorite) to handcrafted chairs to mid-twentieth-century silver teapots. We topped off the afternoon with an early dinner at a fabulous restaurant where locally-produced foods are emphasized. Barack Obama's local headquarters is across the street from the restaurant, and as we relaxed on the patio before dinner, we watched young staffers standing on the corner nearby, waving placards and cheering for their candidate as many passing motorists honked in appreciation (or so it appeared).

Two more days until the primary! I'm looking forward to seeing the results, and I will be so glad when the political phone calls stop!