Surrender Dorothy

I have not one but TWO friends named Dorothy. Amazing? Perhaps not. Pretty cool, and even unusual? Maybe. Before meeting the Dorothies, my only exposure to the name was via the movie, The Wizard of Oz.

One day as I was riding around on the lawn mower as a teenager, my sister and mother put a sign up in the dining room window that said 'Surrender Dorothy.' The joke being that I was the Wicked Witch of the West riding around on my broom stick. I must have been particularly evil to them that day. They were both cackling from the window while I chuckled from the seat of the lawn mower. I remember throwing back my head and cackling while randomly circling the yard, you know, just to put on a show.

I met my first 'real' Dorothy at Camp Cherith in western NY. She was a camp counselor nicknamed 'Teddy'. Dorothy is me squared. She's loud, she's fun and she's fabulous. We nicknamed eachother 'Pamela' after Baywatch star Pamela Anderson. We life guarded together at the pool. We still use the name in the occasional correspondence. (Coincidentally, we both married men named Jeff).

My second Dorothy is 10 years my senior and a mentor. She's short, she's fun and she's also fabulous! Dor was Jeff's youth group leader, and now she's a teacher and world traveller. There is always a party around either of the Dorothies. They don't know eachother, but they have both been teachers at some phase of their lives and my dear friends. I wish they did know eachother. There would be much to say.

So that's my story. Do you know a Dorothy? Do you think you know my Dorothies?

XP or Vista? Showdown at the M.S. Corral

Pick an OS! If you had to choose between XP or Vista, which would YOU choose and why? It seems we are at the mercy of Microsoft when it comes to forced upgrades, though one might be able to hold off and eek by via XP service packs for a little while...at least until our software is no longer compatible... so in a sense, MS is like the Borg from Startrek, and resistance is futile.

When you're a monopolizing supergiant software maker, and the populace is at your mercy...you can pretty much do whatever you want. Short of revolution on the part of the gen. pop. proletariat, I'd say, this mega beastie will probably just continue to swat flies as it directs our comments and complaints to the appropriate department for disposal...ahem...review.

So imagine this is Microsoft OS Idol... and you had to pick a winner between these two contestants. Who would win? Vista or XP?

Visit this link to read the skinny on what others are saying about the OS debate.

P.S.

P.S. When are you and I getting together for coffee or breakfast and general laughter? We could even make a D.Q. run sometime. There is a cool park over by (names withheld to protect the innocent's) house where you can feed the geese, but I should warn you. There is this gang of geese there that seriously, would steal your lunch money.

I was there, alone, with bread to feed the nice birds, when they surrounded me and got all up in my business. I had to stand up and back away or else get into it wit dem bitches. I guess female geese aren’t technically called bitches though and I probably shouldn't use that language. OK, I know I shouldn't.

In my internet search to this page: http://www.dierinbeeld.nl/animal_files/birds/goose/ looking for the word for female geese to substitute for “bitches” I learned this:

“Geese in mythology

In Egyptain mythology, the earth-god Geb (also called Seb, or Keb) was sometimes depicted with a goose surmounting his head. He was also described as a goose called The Great Cackler, whose female each day laid the egg from which the Sun hatched (the Sun was thought to be reborn each morning). The goose was clearly a solar creature. As such, geese are still sacrificed at the turn of the year in some parts of northern Africa.In Ancient Egypt as well as in Ancient China the goose was considered a messenger between Heaven and Earth.In China geese are still a symbol of marriage, because of their lifelong pair-bond.

In the Roman empire, the goose was the sacred animal of Juno, a goddess of light, marriage and childbirth, who was later considered adviser and protectress of the Roman people. A story tells of how geese saved the Romans with their warning cries when the Gauls attacked the citadel of the Capitol. The Celts associated the goose with war, possibly because of its watchful nature and aggressive temperament. Warrior gods were sometimes depicted with geese as companions.

Remains of geese have been found in warrior's graves. The Britons kept geese, but did not eat them. They were, however, sometimes used as sacrificial offerings.”

Interesting stuff right?

My Peeps

This past weekend I was surprised, royally surprised! My people/peeps had a surprise 31st bday for me...and here I was thinking I was attending a regular old Jane Austin Party...LOL! (Thanks Ruthie)

I can't remember the last time I had an all-girl bday party, (probably in my teens). As long as I can remember, I've had family bday parties. After you reach a certain age, most people don't have pinatas or "pin the tail on the donkey" anymore... I speak for myself.

When did we stop getting together to celebrate our lives? A birthday is a reason to celebrate, but I think that the older we get the less we tend to make as big a deal about our birthdays. Some prefer it this way (and then again, some people still party).

The French call birthday "anniversaire" like it's your anniversary... I think it's good to be thankful to the Lord, at LEAST once a year for giving us all the wonderful people in our lives. They are real blessings that need to be celebrated. If you have a friend with an upcoming birthday, why not celebrate in your own way?

Developing Self-Discipline

So what's it take to develop self-discipline? Everything that is opposite of laziness, instant self-gratification, and self-indulgence.

It's meal planning, sticking to a regular workout schedule, and just saying "no" to food and "yes" to choosing a better way of living. I think losing weight is one of the more difficult things to do in life. I want to do it. I want to shuck 30 lbs and stop waisting my life by not living life to the fullest, (Did I mention I recently turned 31? There is nothing like a birthday to help me to recalibrate my life-perspective).

Today is my second to last Statistics class (next week is my last test!). Tomorrow is my last night of Ed. and Assessment of Exceptional Children. I'm almost through with my Spring '08 semester. Soon, I'll begin my first summer class. I have three classes left in my program of study for my MA in Multicultural Ed. I'll student teach and complete my practicum next spring. Between now and then, I want to look fabulous so I can enter the classroom in confidence!

I want to go from wishing I had the discipline to eat right and exercise in the midst of being busy, to doing it. Time to spend some quality time in prayer and meditation, instead of plugged into the TV or a book.

Wish me well!

The Job

This is pretty funny. Have you ever seen Fun with Dick and Jane?

Traditional Family Values

Ghandi's Opinion of Christians

If you could put every funny or interesting thought that occured to us on a bumper sticker....that would be alot of bumper stickers. Try this one from Ghandi on for size...

Voltron Minisode - Secret of the White Lion

Here's a blast from the past my friends...

Current TV feature on charity: water

This is amazing...

Jennifer Connelly in charity: water Clean Water Africa PSA

This is a really cool video. Clearn drinking water is a blessing that we can share with others.

Peachy Keen My Bruthas and Sistas

This morning, on the way to work I was JAMMIN' to Frank FM in my car. I was sporting my giant sun glasses, ghetto makeup, dangly earrings and I was listening to David Bowie "Let's Dance."

It's going to be 70 degrees today people! The birds are singin' the sky is blue and the plants and animals are out in force, soakin' up the sun. Rock on!

Did you ever have a really good day that stands out in your memory as one of the best? What made it good? The food? The company? The weather? The activities? What caused it to stand out among all the others that could have come to mind? I would enjoy hearing about it and what made it special for you...

Influential People

Have you ever received that email about 'Remembering the Influential People in Your Life"? That wasn't the exact subject line, but you get the point. The unknown author tried to get you to list different famous people in different categories, (i.e. Presidents of the USA, Olympic Medal winners, Pageant winners etc.) and it was difficult to name just a handful of them.

But then the author asked you to remember the names of your people who had an impact on your life, i.e. teachers, etc. The names easily came to mind...

The people who often receive all the national acclaim, the fame and the glory are not the ones that leave a lasting impact on our lives. The people that do, seldom receive the praise they deserve for the selfless things that they do each day for others. Those are the people that make the greatest impression on us, and the ones worth remembering.

Today, thank someone that has made a lasting impact on YOUR life and remember what they did for you. Now pass it on...

The Visit

This is a picture of my Dad and my niece Gabby. My parents are coming this weekend and they're bringing my sister and Gabby with them. It's going to be a full and happy house.

I love it when they come. It's like a giant, weekend-long hug from dear people I love. They're very presence has a calming effect on my soul and I can't wait to greet them and tell them I love them when they arrive on Friday.

There are a lot of hard things in life, and then there are the moments that make life worth living, like the one captured above in this picture. This was our family visit to Bare Island, NC. We didn't stay on the island long (we had an 18 month-old with us that needed a nap), but while we were there, we had a day to remember; walking on the beach, searching for seashell treasures to take home with us, and enjoying each other's company.

Not everyone can say they have a loving relationship with their families, but Jeff and I can, and we're glad. Family is one of God's greatest blessings.

Wake UP Christians!!!!

Check this out...

Oprah leads others astray into New Age territory

Photo Contest Winner

Remember that AAA photo contest I asked you to vote in a few posts back? The vote was for my friend Melissa Heller with the photo of the Momma and baby elephant from their trip to Africa. Well! See her note below...

Hello!

Thanks to everyone who voted in the recent AAA Photo Contest. From what I have heard, we had friends and family voting around the world -- how lucky we are! I wanted to let you know the results of the contest -- I found out this afternoon that our photo won first prize! Thanks again for taking the time to vote...

All the best,
Melissa

P.S. I'm Still Fat and Indecisive

It's OK. You can laugh and I won't think any less of you...and No. That's not my butt.

So boot camp started up again...and P.S. I'm still fat. Weighing in at an astonishing 189lbs. I dream of losing weight by just thinking about it. POOF! I'm 30lbs. lighter. What would Jillian say...

I went to the doctor's office the other day, with a pain in my lower left abdomen. (Maybe it's a 30-lb. benign tumor) My hypochondriac spidey-sense was tingling and I had to get it checked out...the doc says....(drum roll please)...

I pulled my groin muscle. Yup. Don't remember THAT happening. The pain had fueled my sense of impending doom that one of my ovaries was pulsating with a giant cyst...or that I have a tumor or something awful like that. When something hurts...I automatically assume the worst. Just to be sure...I'm going to the gyno this week. It never hurts to be thorough, does it?

The 60's

I wasn't even born when they happened, but I can appreciate the history there, whether or not it's effectively presented in it's entirety in the presentation you're about to view. Click Here.

My friend, we'll call Bryan (thanks for the permission) had this to say about the link above (which I emailed to him for nostalgic purposes):

Talk about selective memory. I was alive in the 60’s (born in ’61). My life got off to a horrible start because baby formula (read inedible gruel) had just been invented and that was my nourishment. Then I remember drugs, gangs and racism in my public elementary school, Playboy being sold out in the open at the local drug store, and watching “family shows” such as “Laugh-in” and “Hee-Haw” where the ladies in short shorts would sing songs about God’s love and the wonder of adultery back to back. Innocent generation?…please. We rushed home from school so we could watch Bug’s Bunny blow the head off of Elmer Fudd several times in a half an hour. I remember being highly upset when Bugs Bunny was pre-empted so we could watch someone land on the moon. After TV we would roam the neighborhood unsupervised for hours until dinner. The next day, we had to walk to school and run the gauntlet of all the neighborhood dogs. When we got to school we practiced sitting under our desks as if that would somehow protect us from the nuclear attack that was sure to come. Sure stuff was cheap but when you didn’t have any money, you couldn’t buy it anyway. Oh, and smoking cigarettes was cool. Everyone has selective memory but it was a cool video to watch. Now back to what I should be doing.

Get with the Plan

I wanna give a shout out to Charles Stanley for his sermon titled, "When Your Fire Goes Out." I have been challenged to do what I know I ought to do.

Where I'm at: I'm not tithing. I'm not going to Sunday night services. I'm not reading the Word of God on a regular basis, or spending concentrated time in prayer. Heck...I'm 0 for 3. My spiritual fire is burning low... if it isn't in ashes. As I write to you, the Holy Spirit convicts me of my sin and calls me to repentance. I'm glad God isn't finished with me, even when I allow myself to become bitter and cynical.

The Challenge: "If you want to call yourself a "Christian," how are you demonstrating your devotion to Christ? (paraphrase of what the Spirit said to me)

The Story: As Charles Stanley's voice flowed out of my radio at work, I was captivated by his message likening our spiritual fervor and devotion to Christ to the light of a fire in a fireplace; the presumption being that as people are drawn to the light and warmth of a fire, they will be drawn to or away from you, depending on the status of your fire.

The message according to Chuck:

'Be aware of where you are (spiritually). Ask yourself: What is the status of my fire? What's going on in my life?

'Recall where you were. What was your life like when you were on fire for God? When you loved to sing hymns, read his word.

'Repent. Confess what is wrong, haven't prayed, haven't tithed, wrong attitudes, lost devotion to Jesus, confess priorities aren't right, love and devotion has gone cold... repent of the things that aren't the way they ought to be in your life. What has changed since you became a Christian?

'Refocus your attention. Something changed your focus from God to yourself. Decide how you are going to refocus your life. Start thinking about what your life can be when you get your life right with God.

'Get in the word of God. Find a short book of the Bible, begin to read so that you can say you have accomplished something. Pick up the word of God ask him to speak to your heart, be open to what he has to say to you, to convict you, to speak to you. He's after godliness, righteous living...God will bring things to your mind as you read his word continually.

Feel challenged?