Shoes

I have nothing particularly important to say, so I'm going to talk about the 4 pairs of shoes I have (I'll not say anything about the 2 pair of flip-flops, because I'm just like that).

So, I have 4 pairs of shoes. One pair of sneakers, one pair of black pumps, one pair of strappy white sandals (with heels), and one pair of black sneaker-like shoes (only nicer looking and with better soles).

The sneakers are my shoes of choice. I like my feet to be comfy, and those are the best for if we're going somewhere and walking. Second best is the black shoes, specially kept for ice and snow because of the better traction given by the soles than the sneakers.

I dislike the strappy sandals the most, despite the fact that they were the shoes I wore in my wedding. They have no padding, and my feet hate them, but they are the only dress shoes I have that aren't black (and one of only 2 pair of dress shoes I have, period), so I keep them anyway. I'm not in love with the black pumps, as my feet hate heels, but at least they have some padding.

And now, you know about my shoes. Which is funny, as I prefer to be barefoot most of the time (however, safety dictates shoes in public).

And now, I'm off to do laundry.

The Hilarity of Spam Part 6

It's a double post of spam fun today. This one had pictures but they didn't show up when I copy and pasted, so you'll just have to pretend they do.

>Anti-Terrorist and International Fraud Division.
>Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
>935 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
>Washington, DC 20535

Seriously, does the FBI have an anti-terrorist and international fraud division? I really want to know.

>ATTN: BENEFICIARY

Darn, I've been down-graded from citizen (where I'm not one) to beneficiary. I dislike it when that happens.

>This is to Officially inform you that it has come to our notice and we >have thoroughly completed an Investigation with the help of our >Intelligence Monitoring Network System that you legally won the sum of >$800,000.00 USD. from a Lottery Company outside the United States of >America. During our investigation we discovered that your e-mail won the >money from an Online Balloting System and we have authorized this winning >to be paid to you via a Certified Cashier's Check.

Random capitalization. Ah, it's good to see you again. When did my e-mail get put into a lottery outside the US? Or inside the US for that matter? And I'm glad I "won" this money legally. I'd hate to win money illegally.

>It will take up to 10 business days for an International Check to be >cashed by your local banks. We have successfully provide FBI Guarantee >Letter in your package which will enable you cash your check instantly at >any bank in United Sate

Who says I have a problem waiting 10 days for $800,000? I looked at the original spam, and it cut off the sentence like that. Odd that. What is the United Sate?

>We have completed this investigation and you are hereby approved to >receive the winning prize as we have verified the entire transaction to be >Safe and 100% risk free, You will be required to settle the following >bills directly to the Lottery Agent in-charge of this transaction whom is >located in Lagos, Nigeria. According to our discoveries, you were required >to pay for the following -

Mentioning Nigeria - if there were a drinking game associated with spam, you'd have to drink because of that. And why is it that Nigeria always seems to have large sums of US dollars to give away? Isn't Nigeria a rather poor country? Have they been lying to us in real life and telling the truth in the e-mails? Let's see what I have to pay for, to get unsolicited money.

>(1) Cashier's Check Conversion Fee ( Fee for converting the Wire Transfer >payment into a Certified Cashier's Check )

That feels wrong on all kinds of levels. But, I don't know enough about wire transfers to adequately say what is probably wrong with that statement.

>The total amount for everything is $200.00 (Two Hundred-US Dollars). We >have tried our possible best to indicate that this $200.00 should be >deducted from your winning prize but we found out that the funds have >already been converted to Cashier Check and cannot be accessed by anyone >apart from you, the winner; therefore you will be required to pay the >required fee's to the Agent in-charge of this transaction via Western >Union Money Transfer Or Money Gram.

And they couldn't have sent me the money via Western Union? Who says I have $200 to give them for this? Bah!

>In order to proceed with this transaction, you will be required to contact >the agent in-charge ( SAMUEL OLIVER ) via e-mail. Kindly look below to >find appropriate contact information:

What if I'm not feeling kind? Should I look below anyway?

>CONTACT AGENT NAME: SAMUEL OLIVER

>E-MAIL ADDRESS: agentnusam100@gala.net

Um... make of that what you will. Not the most professional e-mail address.

>You will be required to e-mail him with the following information:

>FULL NAME:
>ADDRESS:
>CITY:
>STATE:
>ZIP CODE:
>DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:

If I give him all of that, he can get a hold of me. If he was really going to give me money, I could almost see it, but he's not. I know he's not, you know he's not. So, no I won't give him this info.

>You will also be required to request Western Union details on how to send >the required $200.00 in order to immediately ship your prize of >$800,000.00 USD via Certified Cashier's Check , also include the following >transaction code in order for him to immediately identify this transaction >: NA5533-974.

If I send him all that contact info, and he knows I've "won" this "lottery", shouldn't he know that I need the info on where to send the money he's requiring of me? Also, the spammers are sending out so many spam e-mails that they have a numbering system in place.

>This letter will serve as proof that the Federal Bureau Of Investigation >is authorizing you to pay the required $200.00 ONLY to Mr. Samuel Oliver >via information in which he shall send to you, if you do not receive your >winning prize of $800,000.00 we shall be held responsible for the loss and >this shall invite a penalty of $3,000 which will be made PAYABLE ONLY to >you (The Winner).

This e-mail is proof of nothing, other than spammers are still out there. And is that saying that if he doesn't (more like when he doesn't) pay out, my consolation prize (that I'll also never get) is $3,000? Why would I do that?

>Please find below an authorized signature which has been signed by the FBI >Director- Robert Mueller, also below is the FBI NSB (National Security

They cut off that sentence too. Supposedly, it's the National Security Branch (which I've never heard of) at least, that's what the pictured logo says.

>FBI Director
>Robert Mueller.

Say hi to Robert Mueller 111 for me... in your will or something.

>NSB Seal

(National Security Branch seal, if there is such a thing)

>Authorized Signature

Here was a picture of Robert Mueller's signature. Could have gotten it from almost anywhere.

>NSB SEAL ABOVE

This was actually right below the seal, but it is meaningless here. Just ignore it.

>NOTE: In order to ensure your check gets delivered to you ASAP, you are >advised to immediately contact Mr. Samuel Oliver via contact information >provided above and make the required payment of $200.00 to information in >which he shall provide to you.

Bad English rears it's head again. Spammers need to learn grammar rules. Also, I'm not going to do it. Not unless FBI agents show up, in person, to promise me this will really go through. Since they won't, I'm not doing it.

The Hilarity of Spam Part 5

This one is special. It's not from the FBI. It's from Interpol (supposedly).

>Dear Citizen,

I'm not a citizen of anywhere that Interpol is over. I'm in the USA. I've never even been out of the Western Hemisphere.

>We are hereby bring to your notice, from the United Kingdom,London, >Interpol Service,and New Scotland Yard (MP) of a certain funds that has >been released from the BANK OF ENGLAND,we have in custody of this funds, >we have conducted several investigation we think the funds needs the >appropriate clearances.

I'm fairly sure the grammar rules of subject-verb agreement are still applicable in English English (instead of American English, which is different, but mostly in spelling). Also, what does any of this have to do with me?

>We have decided to keep you informed at this point in time of the funds
>transfer, we have decided to make this transfer confidential and strictly >on the bases of law. Now as a law abiding citizen we have decided to make >this funds deposit in a bank here in the United Kingdom, but before these >funds could be released to you, the Funds has to be cleared of anti >terrorist before the release to you, once we receive the
>needed funds we will send you the anti terrorist certificate which you >have paid for, and our agent will bring the funds deposit slip to your >door step.

Again, what does this have to do with me? And why would you send someone from Interpol (or Scotland Yard) to the US to give me money? And how do they know that I'm a law abiding citizen? (I am, but how do they know that?) Is the FBI giving them info on me? Is this how Robert Mueller 111 is contacting me again (I hope he's doing okay, whenever he is)?

>The Anti Terrorist and Money Laundering Clearance is going to cost you >$1020 dollars, and you will have to send the required fund to facilitate >the funds released and clearance. This funds should be sent not other than >to-morrow latest to ease time and must be sent via the fastest means of >picking up funds here in the united kingdom, which is Western Union Money >Transfer, you are to let us know when you will be sending these funds so >we can give you the details information you will need to send the funds.

Isn't it anti-terrorist? it doesn't quite look right with the space (anyone from UK willing to let me know, I'd appreciate it). Why is this going to cost me dollars? Why not pounds? Or euros? That's kind of fishy. They forgot to capitalize United Kingdom, now I really don't believe them (it's the random capitalization and non-capitalization that really points out that they are scammers). Also, it's been a while since they sent this. Guess I won't be getting that money (the amount has yet to be specified).

>Get back to us as soon as possible on this matter, or if you don't feel
>the legitimacy of this matter, you can get back and we will give you our >ID'S for proof of our identity.

Because they swear it's their identity and not some poor idiot who fell for their scam already. Promise.

>Best Regards
>Sinclair Stevenson
>Email:interpolservice@discuz.org
>Interpol London {United Kingdom}
>http://www.interpolnyc.com/

I'm doubting the veracity of that e-mail address. Also, I'm using big words.

>CC: Interpol Secret Service
>CC: International Court of Law
>CC: International Monetary Funds Department
>CC: United Kingdom Department of treasury
>CC. Department of Scotland Yard Security
>CC. Interpol Investigation Unit United Kingdom.

None of these groups (who didn't get this e-mail, I'm sure) scare me. Also, why would this e-mail supposedly be sent to any of these groups? What purpose would that serve?

Christmas Came 2 Weeks Late

Or We Traveled for 3 Days in a Row and Now My Nose Is Stuffy

Thursday, Ace and I decided that we should have a weekend of travel. And that we should start by going to his parents' house, because it would be smarter to get the less fun parents dealt with first.

So, Friday, we loaded up our car with laundry, us, and sandwiches and headed to Tulsa. It was COLD. My feet didn't feel warm for most of the rest of the day (until after I got in their hot tub and relaxed for a while). They pointed out that we hadn't seen them in over a year, and I was surprised that it had been that long. Then, they gave us a large check (bigger than their normal Christmas gift of money) and didn't ask too many prying questions and it was a decent trip. They even attempted to give us food before we left (unfortunately, half the food we took had expired, so it was somewhat of a waste).

Then, Saturday, we went to see my dad and step-mom and brother. The day wasn't nearly as cold, and we had hot chocolate. After we got there, we got to open up Christmas gifts and the fact that I gave them a list got me quite a decent haul (I gave them mine in late October, because I knew then what I wanted). I got 4 books from the Discworld novels (4 of 23), a new hooded sweatshirt (in gray, so light enough to see at night while being dark enough to disguise any potential stains), and 3 CDs (2 of which I asked for, 1 they knew I'd like). All the CDs have 2 disks each (one is a DVD disk), so it's like I got twice the gifts with those. Ace got an emergency kit for the car and some cash (which is always a nice gift, but was given since he didn't give any kind of list because he didn't ever remember to send one). Nicely, he likes the CDs I asked for, so they are kind of like presents for both of us.

Then, Sunday, we came back to Springfield. And our car's heater actually got us warm enough to want to take our coats off (which hadn't happened before that). Since then, my nose decided that it was going to be somewhat stuffy and runny at the same time, just to annoy me. Also, I think the room is rather dry or something, as I have sneezed more this past week than I have in a long while (I was sneezing before we left, but that stopped while we were gone).

But, we finally got to feel like it was Christmas and I got to make my dad (and Ace) happy with a big smile on my face Saturday after opening gifts. I think I'm okay with a slightly runny/stuffy/sneezing nose now. Because I'm still happy about our trip.

A Fresh Canvas

I'm doing much better now. Ace helped me get better, as always. He also reminded me to let go of stress and that we are doing what we feel we should be right now.

Now that I've pointed that out, I'll start with the actual post portion of this post.

It snowed last night. I know, because the ground is covered in white today and it wasn't yesterday. I love the snow, as it makes me feel like the world is fresh and new. The snow hides any flaws. I love looking at the snow the best before anyone has walked on it and ruined the seeming perfection.

In a way, the snow falling is like a new year starting (or even a new day starting). It's a fresh canvas. While the old is still there, it's covered with a new chance. I'm pretty sure that this fresh chance, this fresh canvas, has helped some with bringing my spirits up higher today.

And while, occasionally, in the past, I've struggled with newness (feeling stifled with no limits, because sometimes creativity is like that), today the pure white is a relief. I made it through an emotionally exhausting year. I've made more decisions than I expected to in a short time and feel less pain based on those decisions than I expected. Things changed so much, and this is yet another reminder that Ace and I are starting fresh here.

Today's fresh canvas, this new year, there is much hope. Because we've left behind pain and sorrow in another city. And while it briefly tried to follow me, I pushed it away for the hope that has been around since my birthday, surprising since it seemed so near all the heartache.

Today, the snow covers the ground and reminds me of a fresh canvas. And to me, it is beautiful.

Ultimately, I'm Fine

Or: One of Those Days

Today is a day where I'm struggling slightly. I'm feeling funky, and time isn't quite passing by at the rate I want it to. There isn't anything wrong, I'm just not quite feeling right.

It's one of those days. The ones where I haven't had enough sleep and I'm tired, but I don't want to sleep (for unknown reasons) and I'm fighting off depression because there is nothing to be upset about. It's a day where getting something to drink or making a sandwich feels like a big deal even though I know it really isn't. When I know that my feelings are silly and irrational and stupid and there is no explanation for it.

It's one of those days where I wonder why I got up. It's one of those days where instead of living just minute by minute or hour by hour, sometimes I'm just living second by second. Everything feels all dramatic and crazy and important, and the reality of the situation is just that I'm being all dramatic and crazy.

And I know that I'm fine, when it all comes down to brass tacks (Where did that statement originate? And why don't I really care right now?). I'm healthy (overall), I've got all my basic needs met (food, clothing, and shelter), and I've got a supportive husband who tries his hardest to pull me out of these funky moods (and succeeds).

If you're wondering, I refuse to post another post about this past year. No best of/worst of/let me focus on the past, again, posts here. I think about myself way too much already. I don't need to get even more introspective at the changing of the year. January 1st is, after all, just another day.

Besides, I already feel like I've limped through most of the last year (emotionally speaking). I think it's best to leave it as it was and try to focus on the future. And maybe in doing that, I'll pull myself out of this funk and all my mental drama (about sandwiches, which makes me feel silly), and remember the hope that resides in the possibilities of the future.

But for now, for today, I'll just work on making it stop being one of those days, and work towards making it a better day.

The Hilarity of Spam Part 4

I know I've been quiet lately (which isn't really all that like me), but I've been sorting out myself emotionally. And I haven't wanted to talk about it. I still don't, so instead, we're going to look at my spam.

>Dear Sir,

Oh. So wrong. At least you guessed, that puts you one up on my other spam.

>This mail is from the FBI/INTER-POLICE UK, pardon me to start by saying >God have come to your rescure.Our mission is to help protect you, we just >recieved a mail from the FBI UNITED KINGDOM that they have catch the >people involve in the internet fraud business which your email was one of >the email address that was given to them as a victim. Well, from all >indication, you are to contact them on their email address below for more >information and to know when to send your recovered money back to you.

This is new. Supposedly they want to give me money back. Except, I never sent any money to anyone. Also, the FBI doesn't have jurisdiction in the UK. Also, the spelling is bad, very bad (What is rescure? I know what word they mean, but that's not the word they used.). Plus, I think they just said that I have to send my recovered money back to me (maybe?).

>Name Desmond Carl
>Email fbilondoninterpoldep@9.cn
>Please they are awaiting your mail immediately.

Keep waiting. It won't be coming. Since I've never sent money to anyone that I met by e-mail.

>Regards
>FBI

I'm hurt. This time the e-mail wasn't from Robert Mueller 111. It's like he's given up on me (without ever sending those FBI agents to my residence). If you're angry with me, Robert, we can make up. I'm not like that anymore. I'll never make fun of you again. After all, you're from the future, right? You know that I won't, because I didn't in your past. Why don't you love me anymore, Robert? (and scene)


>----------------------------------------------------------------
>Correo Electronico, Gobierno del Distrito Federal.

Yeah, that makes the whole thing more convincing, doesn't it?

Oh, spammers. You never learn. You're never convincing, even when offering me "recovered" money. On the plus side, this was the short spam I've been sent from the "FBI".

White Chrismtas

Ace and I noticed last night that it was snowing. This morning, with the sun up, it's easy to see that it's still snowing some, but the flakes are tiny.

The ground is covered in white, but it's not exactly coated. Looking out our window, I still see plenty of ground cover still sticking out of the top of the snow.

Still, it's a white Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone.

How I Succeeded in Annoying Myself Needlessly

Once a month, I have gotten cramps. Bad ones. Bad enough to make me take medicine to avoid the irrational side of me that comes out when I'm hurting (although, even the not so bad cramps bring out the irrational side of me).

So, in order to not snap at people irrationally, I take Midol and I feel better. Except for when I got up today. Instead, I was overly focused on getting a couple of errands done quickly that I didn't take anything before we left. Which meant that I was cranky. And a little too hormonal.

So, we went and got our mail, went by the bank, and headed to buy supplies. At Wal-Mart. 4 days before Christmas. It was an insane plan, but I need these supplies.

We find what I'm looking for (a small package of my preferred brand and size, for much less than I was expecting) and get in the express 20 items or less line. Then, someone gets in line behind us and mentions that it's going to be a wait. Of course it's going to be a wait. It's 4 days until Christmas. Nicely, the line moves fairly quickly (not as fast as it might normally, but it wasn't taking forever). I put down my purchase, the cashier scans it and asks how we are (since Ace was with me). We gave the appropriate and correct answer of fine.

In the car, we wondered about why he asked how we were (other than to be generally nice). Obviously it's not great. We're going out to a crowded store the week of Christmas to buy supplies for my period. I'm not happy because I'm on my period (and my pants were tighter than my stomach wanted them to be) and Ace isn't happy because there is no sex when I'm on my period (I don't generally want to be touched the first few days of my period, much less think of sex). It was a stupid question given that we had only the one item.

And now I sound cranky again.

Startling

Ace and I have shifted our schedule to where we're going to bed around 8 am and getting up around 4 pm (give or take a few hours).

Today, around 1 pm, the fire alarm went off. Not surprisingly, we were startled out of sleep by it. Since we are currently staying in a hotel, we followed their instructions to call down to the front desk (since there was no fire in our room). It turns out that they were working on the system and tripped the alarm and couldn't turn it off right away.

Now, while the alarm was going off, Ace and I got dressed. Then, he started combing his hair and I emptied my bladder. Neither of us was particularly concerned about a need to get out quickly, which was good since there was no fire. In fact, the only thing I wondered about was if my ears would be okay (that alarm is loud, in case people are heavy sleepers, I suppose).

Ace decided to stay up for a while, because of the adrenalin rush. I, however, went back to sleep even though I knew that there was a possibility of the fire alarm being tripped again (it wasn't). So far, he has been up since then, but he may take a nap in a little while.

And now I must go, I've got other things to do and pay attention to.

TTFN!

The Hilarity of Spam Part 3

Okay, this is beginning to be this thing here. How many different e-mails from the "FBI" can I post? I'm not sure what else to say about it, but they keep being funny. And pure spam mail.

>Attention:
>ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION
>FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
>FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
>J.. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
>935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001

Um, I'm not the FBI headquarters. Neither is the e-mail address you keep spamming.

>Contact Rev.John smith: revjohnsmith@atmcardapprovalslip.com for more >information.

Information about what?

>Attention,

No name at all. Darn, I've gone back down in their opinion.

>Records show that you are among one of the individuals and organizations who are yet to >receive their overdue payment from overseas which includes those of Lottery/Gambling, >Contract and Inheritance. Through our Fraud Monitory Unit we have also noticed that over the >past you have been transacting with some impostors and fraudsters who have been >impersonating the likes of Prof. Soludo of the Central Bank Of Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Aziza, >Anderson, none officials of Oceanic Bank, Zenith Banks, Kelvin Young of HSBC, Ben of FedEx, >Ibrahim Sule, Dr. Usman Shamsuddeen and some impostors claiming to be The Federal Bureau >of Investigation. The Cyber Crime Division of the FBI gathered information from the Internet >Crime Complaint Center (ICCC) formerly known as the Internet Fraud Complaint Center >(IFCC) of how some people have lost outrageous sums of money to these impostors. As a result >of this we hereby advise you to stop communication with any one not referred to you by us. We >have negotiat

1. If I've ever heard of any of these names, it's from other spam e-mails.
2. Could you get more generic than Ben of FedEx (which Ben?)? Also, I don't know anyone named Ben that works at FedEx.
3. They stopped mid-sentence, no clue why.
4. Which country supposedly wants to give me money now?

>Below are few list of tracking numbers you can track from UPS website to confirm people like >you who have received their payment successfully. Name : XXXXXXXXXXXXXX: UPS Tracking >Number: 1Z757F991598420403 (www.ups.com) Name : XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX: UPS >Tracking Number: 1Z757F991596606592 (www.ups.com) To redeem your fund you are >hereby advised to contact the ATM Card Center via email for their requirement to proceed and >procure your Approval of Payment Warrant and Endorsement of your ATM Release Order on >your behalf which will cost you $350.00 only nothing more and no hidden fees as everything >else has been taken cared of by the Federal Government including taxes, custom paper and >clearance duty so all you will ever need to pay is $350.00 only.

I deleted the names. No clue who those people may be, but they don't deserve to be mentioned here (if they are real). Also, wouldn't the "ATM Card Center" pull $350 out of the amount they are sending me? Why wouldn't the "Federal Government" (which country?) cover that last bit too? At least they are willing to admit how much they want in this one. But they forgot to tell me how much I would be getting. Sloppy, scammers. I'll never respond with no idea how much money is at stake.

>Contact Information
>Name:Rev.John Smith
>Rev.John Smith Email: revjohnsmith@atmcardapprovalslip.com

"Rev. John Smith" gets no protection, he's obviously part of the scam. Also, could you get a more generic name?

>Do contact Rev.John Smith of the ATM Card Center via his contact details above and furnish >him with your details as listed below: Your full Name:Your Address:Home Phone:Cell >Phone:Occupation:Age: On contacting him with your details your files would be updated and he >will be sending you the payment information in which you will use in making payment of $350 >via Western Union Money Transfer for the procurement of your Approval of Payment Warrant >and Endorsement of your ATM Release Order. After which the delivery of your ATM card will >be effected to your designated home address without any further delay, extra fee or any >authority raising eyebrow.

Yeah, no one else will wonder about you suddenly having money (especially not the IRS). And if they have my cell number, why do they need my home number?

>Upon receipt of payment the delivery officer will ensure that your package is sent within 24 >working hours. Because we are so sure of everything we are giving you a 100% money back >guarantee if you do not receive your ATM CARD Shipment Confirmation within the next 24hrs >after you have made the payment for shipping. Once again we are so sure of you receiving your >payment at no any other cost as we have taking it upon our duty to monitor everything in >other to cub cyber crime that is perpetrated by those impostors. Thanks and hope to read from >you soon.

What does "other to cub cyber crime" mean? Are they trying to curb cyber crime? Why is the word other in there? What do they mean?

>Note: Disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of >your ATM card, you are hereby advice only to be in contact with Rev.John Smith of the ATM >card center who is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your payment and forward any >emails you get from impostors to this office via the above fax number so we could act upon it >immediately. Help stop cyber crime.

I'm hereby advice, how am I advice? I don't feel like advice, I feel like a person. How do I forward e-mail to a fax number? And what fax number? It's like they aren't even trying!

>Regards
>Robert Mueller 111
>FBI Director

This man obviously has no other important business as the director of the FBI than to e-mail random citizens (who he doesn't identify) with attempts to help them get money from overseas (read scam them out of money). Also, he still can't figure out that three 1s does not equal the third (Is he the one hundred and eleventh Robert Mueller from sometime in the future?).

>Note: Contact Rev.John smith: revjohnsmith@atmcardapprovalslip.com for more information >within 24 hours.
>Contact the ATM CARD center within 24 hours to receive your ATM CARD or else the FBI will >visit you at home.

So, if I don't take money from overseas, the FBI will visit me (even though they may not know where I'm at)? What for? Are they bringing me a big check? Are they acting as enforcers for this Rev. John Smith? Will they look like Seely Booth from Bones?

Why is that these e-mails always leave me with more questions that answers?

Dads are Human Too

I can remember, with clarity, the first time I realized my dad was human with regards to health concerns. Not the date, just the instance. I was 12 (I think) and he was starting to have neck issues from his football playing days when he was in high school. The way they were showing up was as bad migraines that had him lose track of time. It was the first and only time I ever was truly afraid of my dad.

He had neck surgery, got some vertebra fused together, and he was back to his old self (if not being able to turn his head as much). And my fears were relieved. I got to forget that my dad had health problems for a while.

This year has reminded me, once again, that my dad is human and that someday, he won't be here any more. I'm hoping for that day to be a long time away. He helps some by joking that only the good die young so he'll live forever (not that he's really bad, he just likes to pretend he's tougher than he is), and that chicks dig scars. Of course, that only does so much good before I'm wanting to just sit and watch him and make sure he's really okay.

My biggest frustration lately with Ace and I not having kids yet is that I want them to know my dad for as long as possible. This year had been reminding me that I've only got him around for so long (and I don't know how long that is). I can tell he's ready for grandchildren too, he's getting to play pretend grandpa with a friend's daughter (to her, he's like an uncle, but he's clearly pretending she's his grandkid until he gets one of his own).

It's hard emotionally, this realizing that my dad is human and that he won't be here forever. That someday I'll probably be attending his funeral. That he won't be here to buy me Mickey Mouse pajama pants forever.

Sorry this isn't very cheerful or seasonably appropriate. It's just what's on my mind today. And now I think I'll go give Ace a hug and remind him that we do have plans to get out of our room today. I think I really need that piece of free chocolate right now.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

So, Ace and I have been leaving the TV off. It's been good, for the most part. Except that I'm not getting the feeling it's almost Christmas, because I'm not watching any of the shows I'm used to. And I probably won't get to see Frosty the Snowman (who I love to watch), because it'll be shown on Friday at a time when we have church.

So, right now, even though my brain knows it's nearing Christmas, it feels like it could be any time of the year that is cold (like January). It's like this weird disconnect inside my brain.

I miss watching all those shows I've seen for years (over 25). I'm not saying it's a bad thing to not watch them, I just miss them. Listening to Christmas music on CDs just isn't cutting it, as I could listen to those CDs any time of the year.

So, any ideas how I can convince myself it's Christmas without turning on the TV or spending money? Because I am just about tapped out of ideas.

I'm Sensing a Theme

Okay, now that all my thoughts have stopped tumbling, I think I'm ready to say something. I don't know how much it will be worth, but it'll be something.

I have a cousin who is a nurse. She recently became a certified acute care nurse practitioner. She works in the critical care unit of some hospital. She wrote about the value and quality of life on her blog. It was an interesting post, and it was a post from a point of view that I'm sure doesn't normally get expressed, that of a care-giver with medical training, mostly seeing people who are dying everyday around them. It was haunting and sad and beautiful. And I could never do it justice trying to explain it.

Shortly after reading that post, I read an update about Anissa Mayhew, who is slowly recovering from a stroke (her second). I, unfortunately, had never heard of her before that happened. I've read some of her writing since then, and found someone who I could truly respect as a person while laughing at what she has to say. Her husband is keeping all her internet followers (new and old) as up to date as he can while not neglecting Anissa or their three children. I'm happy to say that she is doing better, even if she's got a long way to go before she's fully healthy again.

Then, another short while later, I read about Jenna and her IVF treatments. How Jenna and Joey are hoping that they will be able to celebrate a pregnancy very soon. And, I am hoping that they will too. And I'd say more about Jenna, but every time I ever try, my brain stops and I just wish there were some way for me to give her a hug. Besides, I could never try to retell Jenna's story, because it's her story to tell and she tells it so well.

And it hit me, all these posts jumbling around in my head, they are all about medical stuff and showing how precious life is from three very different points of view. From someone who fights for her patients lives (even as they die), to someone fighting to get back to her normal life, to someone trying to create a new life (or two).

It's reminded me that life is special and fragile. It's reminded me that people are tougher than they look, despite how fragile life is. And it's reminded me that life is worth fighting for.

A Jumbled Metaphor

After taking more than a few days off, I'm back to say that I'm currently without anything important to say.

Right now, after reading the blogs I normally read, I've got several things tumbling around in my head (none really taking up my attention, they're just tumbling around in the background, reminding me they are there). It's like my head is a dryer and these things are just bouncing around in there trying to find where they belong.

Hopefully, before too much longer, I'll have everything sorted out and put away in the right place. But for now, my head is a dryer and my thoughts are tumbling like laundry.

Check in the Mail

After Ace and I got foreclosed upon (something I'm not up to talking about right now, maybe someday), we had to move quickly. Then we had to cancel services with all the utilities and then try to figure out what the next step was.

We found ourselves moving in with my dad and step-mom for a while, then finding we could move to Springfield, MO (where Ace wanted us to move) fairly shortly after.

Today, or probably yesterday, we got a check in the mail from our homeowner's policy. We've gotten a refund from the payment made to them since we are no longer homeowners. This check will cover our rent for the next month in Springfield.

I'm sitting here, trying not to squeal (again) in excitement. We weren't expecting this check, but we are happy to get it. It'll help me relax more knowing what to expect over the next month.

And now I have to go find a bank. Fun!

30 Posts in 30 Days? Easy... or Not

Once again, I have now posted 30 times in 30 days. And once again, I found it to be an interesting exercise. I had things to say most days, but there were a couple of days that I found myself struggling. All I could think was, I have nothing to post because nothing has happened.

I think I have a slight tendency to be dramatic, but other than moving states this has been a rather boring month.

I mean, who wants to hear about our exciting turkey and cheese sandwiches for Thanksgiving? Who wants to know what we discovered about what happens to all the dye in our cheap Kool-Aid knock off when it passes through your body? Not me, although I was here for both those things (I did, however, keep them to myself).

Instead, it was much more exciting to post silly spam mails (I've yet to hear from the FBI, even though it's been 9 days since the e-mail claiming I had 48 hours to contact someone and I might supposedly be a terrorist, or a money launderer, which ever one is scarier). It's been more exciting to talk about books (I finished Snoop. I wish I had more to read of it.).

To some degree, I'm thankful for the calm. After such a chaotic year, it's been rather restful. On the other hand, it made it hard to find things to post about (which is why you got a post where I was talking about doing dishes...).

So, it's been 30 posts in 30 days. I think I may take a day off now. Maybe. Unless something exciting happens today.

Snoop

I've been reading a book called Snoop by Sam Gosling. It's been interesting to read (I have one chapter left to go).

The idea of snooping is that you can find traces of the personality of a person based on the things they leave behind. He's studied bedrooms, offices, and websites (plus read research of people studying other things, like personal interviews or social behavior).

Interestingly, the best place to learn about people is their website. You can find out how open to new ideas they are, how organized they are, to some degree how much of an extrovert they are, and how uptight or nervous they are (I am way watering down what the book has to say, I'd suggest just picking it up and reading it). Websites, however, will not tell you how nice to be around someone is.

Let's see if you can tell me anything about my personality (based on what you've read from my writing). Anyone who's right will get a virtual hug. Anyone who's wrong will also get a virtual hug. And if Dr. Gosling happens to stumble across this, I'd love to know what I'm telling the world with my blog (not that the world is generally reading it), so please let me know.

Selling Cell Phones

Ace and I are selling our old cell phones. Since we can't use them here, and they weren't under contract, we have no problems doing that. We looked online to find someone to buy the phones from us.

We (or rather I) found someone who offered not just to buy the phones from us, but who would also send us a box to send the phones to them in (postage paid, even).

Today, we picked up our mail and we now have a box waiting to go out in the mail Monday with the cell phones in it. Soon, the phones will be on the way to this company (they resell them, or if they can't they recycle them, but they should be able to resell these phones because they are less than a year old).

At least these phones will be useful again, to someone.

Hymns

Lately, I've been going back over old hymns I remember from years and years of singing. I've been looking at what the lyrics say and comparing it to what I know the Bible says.

Some of my favorites, the ones written in the late 1800s, are the ones that follow closest to what the Bible says. That makes me happy, because if I'm singing to or about God, it should be something that agrees with what God said about himself.

Some songs seem to offer comfort to me, as they are familiar at a time when things seem to be so different than what I'm used to. Some songs offer me encouragement, they remind me what God has promised. Some songs surprise me, I find more faith in them than I originally expected to find.

That's not to say that I haven't found some disappointment in looking a hymns too. There are a few too many that seem to have been written based on how people expect life to be, because of what they are seeing, instead of what the Bible tells them life should be. The writers seem to not have much faith in God doing what he said (or much faith in God, period). It doesn't seem right that those songs have found their way into the mix with songs full of faith and God's word.

I know that I've been talking about God a lot lately. Part of it is posting every day this month. I'm finding that I'm posting about what I've been focusing on, which has been the Bible. Part of it is the fact that I've been focusing on the Bible. I've been stirring myself up in my most holy faith and it's come shining out.

And I think I like that. It's what seems right for right now. Maybe we all need a little more light in a world that seems determined to drown us in darkness. Maybe it's God, trying to reach out and touch someone (probably me).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is a day to be thankful, so I'm going to write (or type) out a list of things I'm thankful for having in my life.

1. God. I really shouldn't have to explain this any more than that, should I?

2. Ace. My love. My sweetheart. The man who does very little for me to ever complain about (seriously, the only real strong complaint has to do with socks, and it's just because I have issues with dirty socks). The man who can make me laugh when all I want to do is cry. The only person I'd want to live in a somewhat small hotel room for more than a night or two with.

3. Hot water. Oh, how I'm loving having hot water again. I've had more baths to soak since we got here than I ever have in a month before. It's still a wonderful and exciting thing to have. I kind of hope that it always will be, so I remember to be thankful for it.

4. Time. Right now, it feels like we've got nothing but time. Time to play games, time for sex, time for sleep, time to listen to good preaching and teaching.

5. New experiences. Ever since we've moved to Springfield, everything seems like it's new and different. Even the things I'm used to us doing or having. And that's nice right now.

And that is just a short list of things that I'm grateful for today (there are other things, but these are the ones I'm willing to share currently).

Why I Don't Judge Most People

I don't like the idea of being judged. I, in my own mind, feel like I am being judged by everyone around me, even though I'm fairly sure most people don't pay any attention to me.

I got reminded last night why it's a good thing not to judge others. I don't know their hearts or their intentions behind their actions. Since I don't know why they do something, I am unable to judge them effectively. I don't know what all they thought their options were, which would make judging someone even harder.

I'm not perfect about this, I know. If I were, I would probably still be talking to my mother, at least a little bit. But I know how her decisions have effected me, so I find it harder to look for good intentions behind some of her actions (mostly the intentions behind her harsh words).

So, I'm trying to be better about this. I'm trying to realize that some people have messed up thinking and intentions that I'll never understand. I'm trying to remember that just because I don't understand why someone is doing something doesn't mean that they have bad intentions or bad logic.

I'm trying not to judge others. And usually, I succeed. Maybe the world would be better if we could all do this. Maybe.

Friendships Come and Go but the Love Still Lingers

My cousin has a post up that has be bothering my head since I first saw it towards the beginning of the month. She mentions that if she's ever loved you for a second she'll love you forever.

It's not that I don't believe that, it's just that I don't think she and I would see eye-to-eye on how to show friends that love. All the various friends I've had over the years, the ones that were there at the time I needed them, but that I've not kept in touch with, seem to come to my mind when I read that. It's not that I don't still care for these friends. If I saw them, I would definitely greet them warmly and ask them about how they are and truly care to know the answer.

It's just that I understand how you don't always need to keep the same people as friends for the rest of your life. You aren't always going to be as close to those people as you once were. Sometimes, you need the friend for a time and it's time to let each other go. It's not that you stop caring, it's just that you are in different stages in life. Sometimes those stages just don't allow your former closeness to remain.

The hardest lesson I learned after Ace and I married was that I was no longer the same person with the same concerns as I had been 6 months earlier when I was just engaged. The people I had spent 3 or 4 years being close friends with weren't at the point that they could see things the same way I was now seeing them, because they didn't have a spouse whose input was just as important as their own when making decisions. It hurt to find that these people who I thought I'd be friends with for at least a while longer were people I could no longer fully relate to. And while we could use a shorthand for inside jokes, it wasn't really going to be the same. It was time to start making new friends with people in the same stage of life I was now in.

I'd love to know that all those friends are happy, but the past friendships, no matter how near and dear to my heart, weren't enough to make me stay in contact. I realized that they were important to me, but they were in my past. Still loved, memories still cherished, but the relationships times had passed.

Dishes

If there is one chore I will gladly put off as long as possible, it is folding laundry. The only other chore I knowingly put off is washing dishes.

It's not that I just hate either chore. I'd just as soon not do them as my back tends to hurt by the time I'm done. And not surprisingly, I dislike causing myself pain.

Today, besides being a day I need to do laundry, I did dishes. Of course, just because I did dishes doesn't mean that I'm going to fold my laundry (I like my clothes clean, I like them being put away, it's just the step in the middle that I dislike so much).

While my back is now somewhat sore, it didn't actually take too long to do the dishes (which is nice, since I have to wash them all by hand). What made the task more pleasant was having warm water to wash the dishes in (cold water and hand-washing dishes do not go pleasantly hand-in-hand). The orange-scented dish soap didn't hurt either.

As I was stacking the dishes in the dish strainer thing (what is that called? I can't be bothered with looking it up just now), I was finding myself pleased that I'd actually done the dishes today like I had planned before I fell asleep last night (I originally intended to do them yesterday, but that plan didn't come to fruition).

And now I've bored you, dear readers, because I felt the need to talk about doing dishes. I've really got to get a more exciting life. But not too exciting, after all I'm liking the calm I've been feeling lately.

And now, I find I've run out of things to say about dishes (and my life, or lack of one). So, I think I'll find something else to occupy my time until I determine that it's time to do laundry.

Light and Easy

Today has been a good day. Today, Ace and I got up way earlier than I wanted to and went to church. We got to sit nice and close to the front, so there wouldn't be anyone distracting us.

And then, when we could have let the sermon seem like it was stepping on our toes, we instead looked at it as a gentle reminder of what we need to be doing so that our toes don't need stepping on.

Church lead to a nice discussion on the way home and a chance to work on forgiving Christians who have hurt us in the past, as we need to not carry hurt and anger around. It lead to us talking about our faith and how we've continually trusted God even when we were shaky on trusting Christians we didn't know very well. And how we feel like we can trust other Christians at our new church.

And then we spent a good portion of the afternoon playing World of Warcraft (Ace is still playing, which doesn't surprise me at all). And now I'm sitting here thinking that this has been a great day. We could use more days like this. And the only reason I don't feel like we have them is because of me focusing on the wrong things.

Today has been light and easy. Just as it should be.

The Hilarity of Spam Part 2

Okay, this time I'm going to do something different. I'm going to comment within the e-mail itself. We'll see how it goes. If a line starts with > then it is from the e-mail. If there isn't anything at the start, it's a comment from me.

>Attention:
>ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION
>FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
>FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
>J.. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
>935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001
>TELEPHONE: 206 984 0470

Right address, wrong phone number. It's not that hard to find out the FBI's phone number on their site ((202)324-3000, not sure if the FBI has an anti-terrorist and monitory crimes division).

>Attention:

>BENEFICIARY,

They're calling me something this time, guess I should be impressed. Except it isn't a name, so it's like addressing the e-mail to Occupant.

>Funds, you are to contact the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION >(EFCC)London, England to obtain the above required document, find below their contact >information's:

No mention of documents, no clue what they could be referring to. The documents the FBI wanted me to send last time (the ones the FBI could find on their own)? A copy of my marriage license? A copy of my driver's license?

>Contact Person: Mr.James Parker

>PRINCIPAL STAFF OFFICER ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)
>Email: jamesparker@efcc-staffmails.org

Please don't try e-mailing this address. I have no idea if it's legitimate, but I doubt it. If it is, you would just be annoying some guy who doesn't know what you're talking about.

>Lagos Office Address 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, London,England

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Lagos in Nigeria, not London, England? I know there are thing called embassies, but I'm fairly sure they have addresses that match the type of the city they are in.

>Furthermore, be advice that according to the United State Law together with the FBI rules and >regulations, you are to obtain the document from the EFCC OF London,England where the fund >was transfer from. Also Note that you are to take care of the cost of the Document, which will >be issued in your name. due to the content of the document and how important and secured the >document is, you as the beneficiary will send to the EFCC OF ENGLAND the sum of >Usd250Dollars only for the issuing of the document right away and your Usd1.5 million will be >release to you, That is the lay down rules for EFCC OF NIGERIA to release such sensitive >document, EFCC will issue you the authentic and original copy of the documents with seal on it >for verification and approval.

The lack of spaces after commas on place names is starting to bother me. And at least this time there is some money being sent somewhere mentioned. It's still not a believable scam, but it's better than last time. Apparently the document they want is $250. Um, wouldn't they be willing to pull it from the $1.5 million they are holding? It's not like I wouldn't expect them to do that.

>You are here by advice to Contact them through the email address above to make an enquiry >concerning how you will send the official fee to them. Note that you are to observe this >immediately, if you really want your funds to be credited to your personal bank account and to >avoid any legal battle with the security operatives over this matter... We have already >informed the EFCC OF ENGLAND about the present situation, go ahead and contact them >immediately. Your fund is under our custody and will not be release to you unless the required >document is confirmed, after that the fund will be release to you immediately without any >delay.

They misspelled inquiry, which means they didn't spell check this thing. We also have the odd capitalization and slightly off wording to point out that the writer doesn't speak English as their first language (at least, not American English). And I'll be happy to take that legal battle. My lawyers will be wondering what they were smoking when coming up with this plan to steal $250 from me while threatening me with jail. Or rather, threatening Beneficiary with jail.

>NOTE: We have asked for the above document to make available the most complete and up-to >date records possible for no criminal justice purposes. The documents will clarify the intensity >of this fund; exonerate it from money laundry, scam and terrorism

Again, you never mentioned any document. Just the $250 that any government would be happy to dip into the $1.5 million they are holding to take, if it were a legitimate thing. And how intense is this fund? It's crazy intense.

>WARNING: failure to provide the above requirement in the next 48 hours, legal action will be >taken immediately by arresting and detaining you as soon as international court of justice >issues a warrant of arrest, if you are found guilty, you will be jailed....... As terrorism, drug >trafficking and money laundering is a serious problem in our community today and the world at >large. The F.B.I will not stop at any length in tracking down and prosecuting any criminal who >indulges in this criminal act. FORWARD THE DOCUMENT TO US VIA EMAIL a respecter of anybody. We presumed you are law abiding citizen whom would not want have >scuffles with the authority, in and outside America.

So, I could go to jail for not following up with this? Let me get right on that. And if this document (this mystery document) is so important and hard to get, why would you want me to send it as an e-mail attachment? They have made presumptions about Beneficiary too. How dare they! Apparently they don't believe this presumptions any more though.

>We are charged with the responsibility of implementing legal norms and our authority is >irrevocable so dont dare dispute our instruction, just act as instructed.The person you know >will not help you in this matter rather abide by this instruction. the funds inquestion was >depsited by those people that contacted you.

Um, dude. The FBI, while policing America for the federal government is not the end all be all of law enforcement (I respect the FBI, I'm just saying that this statement of irrevocable authority is BS). Also, my lawyers would definitely be able to help me if I were arrested, it's one of my rights as a citizen of this country. And how do you depsite something?

>Faithfully Your's

It's yours, not your's.

>Robert S.Mueller 111

What's up with the ones? It should be III, for the third. The real Robert S. Mueller III would know that!

>FBI Director

Because the man has nothing better to do than harass beneficiaries all day?

>CC. TO:

>Supreme Court of the United States
>U. S. Courts of Appeals
>U. S. District Courts
>U. S. Circuit Courts
>Courts of Special Jurisdiction:
>Bankruptcy Courts
>Court of Claims, 1855 - 1982
>U. S. Court of Federal Claims, 1982 -
>Customs Court, 1890 - 1980
>U. S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, 1910 - 1982
>U. S. Court of International Trade, 1980 -
>Commerce Court, 1910 - 1913
>Territorial Courts
>Courts of the District of Columbia
>Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals
>Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation
>Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
>Federal Courts Outside the Judiciary

I love how they included the names of courts that just wouldn't care about this kind of thing (Commerce Court, 1910-1913? U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, 1910-1982? Customs Court, 1890-1980?). Also, they sent it to all the district courts and then to the courts of the District of Columbia again, just in case.

How do people fall for this stuff? I'd like to know.

My World... Rocked

Today I got some news that has rocked my world. My brother is moving in with my dad. Tomorrow.

I'm happy. He needs the discipline and structure that he'll get at our dad's house. He'll have our step-mom to be there to listen and give him the love he needs. He'll be required to shower and clip his nails regularly, so he might, potentially, find a girl who likes him.

I'm in shock, because my mom swore she would never let this very thing happen. It was one of the things that sticks out most from the last time I talked to her, so long ago. I'm guessing my brother just decided he wanted to move, so he is. If so, good on him.

But for now, I'm waiting for my world to stop rocking so much.

P.S.: Yesterday I had a bad day, mourning for things from the past. Today I'm feeling and doing much better. Even if I am shocked by how things are changing.

Running on Empty

Or I'm Whining About What I Miss Because I Need Sleep

So far this month, I've had plenty to talk about. Moving to a new city in a new state will do that. Today, I've got nothing to talk about except the fact that I have nothing to talk about.

Add to that the fact that no matter how much sleep I get I still seem to be somewhat tired and I am currently running on empty when it comes to things to say. Hopefully this afternoon or evening, something will happen and give me something to talk about tomorrow.

And while I'm adjusting well to change, I miss some things about how we were living before. I miss the schedule that we had (without a schedule, things feel odd). I miss the options of what to watch on TV (we are currently listening to all these CD/mp3s on Biblical teaching, so the TV is staying off, which isn't a bad thing). I miss my bed, the soft squishiness of the 5 inches of foam and the lack of major movement when Ace would move (my stomach objects to him rolling over or sitting up while I'm laying on the bed, as it doesn't like the sensations).

I miss my chiropractor, as I still had back issues even with my nice bed (it was supportive of my back while still being soft) and this bed. Is. Not. Helping. *annoyed sigh*

I miss not feeling whiny, as today I'm feeling a little whiny. I'm thinking too much about the wrong things and not enough about the right things. And I feel a little better having gotten all this off my chest.

I guess I had something to say after all. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have something to say that's worth reading.

Sex Cometh

So, the best part about Ace and I moving to Springfield has been the sex.

Before we moved in with my dad (for 2 and 1/2 weeks), we had kind of gone through a... well, dry spout isn't quite right, but it's close, when it came to sex. Ace was probably interested, but I was focused a bit more on anything and everything else. We had sex, but not often (mostly roughly in potential baby making times).

Since we got moved, we've had sex much more often. I'm a lot less stressed and have been interested a whole lot more. So, we've been having lots more sex (lots being relative to the lack of sex before the move).

It's been nice.

God Is Good

Last night, Ace and I were listening to a series (we're still in the middle of it, so we're still listening to it I guess) about God being good. And while this isn't a surprise, it's more meaningful right now than it would have been in the past.

Ace and I are spending more time immersing ourselves in the Bible and Biblical teachings lately. We've been reaching out to find God in a way we hadn't in a long time.

All of this is reminding us how good God is. How important we are to Him (He knows how many hairs are on my head right now, according to the Bible. That's kind of impressive, and definitely love.). How He wants good things for us.

And it's changing how I'm looking at life. I may not be where I want to be (I'd rather Ace and I have more room and preferable no one living quite as close as they are now), but I'm content that it's good, which is what God wants for me.

And because God is good, I'm willing to trust and obey what the Bible says. I'm willing to rely on the promises God made. After all, isn't that what He's really asking me to do? To trust, obey, and believe that He is willing to perform all that He has said? And if I believe the Bible is the truth, shouldn't I act on those beliefs?

Right now, I don't know what will happen later today or tomorrow (although, I have some ideas). I just know that God is good. Maybe that knowledge is enough for right now, right this minute. After all, I can't control everything, nor would I really want to.

God is good. All the time.

Weight Loss

Okay, it's official, again. I need to loose weight.

My dress pants are a little too snug, which makes it where I want to take them off, but I can't yet. It's frustrating me enough that I'm having problems typing.

On the other hand it could be worse. Ace and I were driving around the other day and saw a Sara Lee Outlet right next door to a Weight Watchers. It was kind of amusing and seemed rather odd.

Now if I can just get some exercise happening, it'll be all good.

Another Poem?

If I keep posting poems, you'll think I write poetry all the time (I don't). But I've got another poem to post today.

His Mercy Endures

With every trial
I think my faith will fail
With darkness around
I want to turn tail

But just when I think
I’ve reached my end
His strength comes through
And I find I won’t bend

His mercy endures
Forever more it seems
His mercy endures
Fresh with the sun’s new beams

And as I look back
I’m surprised to see
Strength and mercy
Surrounding me

Through all the good
And all the bad
God’s grace and mercy
Are all I've had

His mercy endures
Forever more it seems
His mercy endures
Fresh with the sun’s new beams

My next trial
Won’t be the same
Because I'll only lean
On His holy name

His Word will save
It will protect
Now I won’t feel
Any risk to my neck

His mercy endures
Forever more it seems
His mercy endures
Fresh with the sun’s new beams

Ode to the Past

I'm posting a poem I wrote. I'm not loving all of it, there are some parts that need work and at least one rhyme that doesn't really rhyme. But I'm posting it anyway.

Ode to the Past

Your words cut me
To the quick
I still can’t fathom
What makes you tick

You pushed me out,
But never stopped.
You didn’t seem to care
Where I hopped.

Now I’ve left your nest
I’m trying to start my own.
If only your words
Would leave me alone!

What do you want from me?
What didn’t you get?
Don’t you remember
The ones you’ve got left?

Don’t talk to me.
Leave my head.
Because you don’t deserve
The love I’d give.

It hurts to think
Of you in my life.
Let me be
My husband’s wife.

From what I hear
You’ve pushed her too.
When no one’s left
What will you do?

If you change
It’d be real nice.
I’d expect it more
From some mice.

I doubt you’ll change.
It’ll haunt you.
I’ll stop looking back.
I’m already through.

The things you’ll miss,
All of me and more.
You won’t see me
Come back through your door.

A Different Kind of Office Job

Or Weird Dream Ahead

Or Beware the Parenthesis Ahead

This morning, I dreamt that I was working in the office of MamaPop, a pop culture blog. The odd thing about it is that MamaPop has no office, as it is made of bloggers from several different areas and an office wouldn't be easily accessible by most of their writers.

Now, I wasn't a writer for MamaPop in my dream. I'm not sure why I was given a desk in their office since I wasn't working for them (although, dream me was hoping for an assignment when they were being passed out, even though I don't do much research on pop culture and therefore wouldn't be the best person for a job with them).

Also, I was the only one at a desk in jeans and a t-shirt, everyone else was wearing business clothing (which is odd, since most professional bloggers don't seem to get dressed up for writing).

So, I can only guess as to why I was working at the MamaPop office in my dream (there was a reason in the dream, but I don't remember it). Also in my dream, I convinced someone to at least go find out what they could make by blogging about technical products (something they would have been happier doing than working a below minimum wage job (no clue how that would happen) doing something they hated) for MamaPop (I don't know that they are looking for something like that). Unfortunately for me, I woke up before I found out if they were going to do it (also, they are a fictional character on a TV show, so it didn't really matter).

Yeah, my dreams are weird and awesome all at the same time.

Feeling Humble

Yesterday, Ace and I went to do a little shopping (something that it seems like we've been doing daily since we moved, because it's been almost daily). When we got to the store, there was a Veteran standing right by the doors giving out paper flowers.

I took one, stuck it in my purse, and felt humbled by the whole thing. Here was a day to honor this man, and he's giving away something to people.

As we were going to our car, I noticed one of the paper flowers on the ground. It had been run over. It made me sad.

After we got home, I stuck the flower I got on the fridge with a magnet. And that made me happy again.

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day. Today we honor those who serve/have served the USA by serving in the military.

It really doesn't seem like enough, giving them a day. They've given us more than just a day. Some of them have given their lives. Most, if not all, have given up time with their families to serve.

Yesterday, Ace and I were at the mall, looking for potential seasonal jobs. I kept noticing offers for discounts for people with military IDs. Springfield isn't too far from a military base, so those signs are probably there year round (I don't know, we haven't been here long enough for me to say with any certainty). While I like the idea, it doesn't quite seem like enough either.

How do you adequately thank people for giving up so much so that you don't have to? How do you thank their families for being willing to give them up, possibly forever, to protect all the rest of us?

However we're doing it, it doesn't seem like enough.

Thank you, veterans and active duty military people. I appreciate your service, all your giving. I pray that God watches over you and keeps you safe from harm. Thank you.

Happy Anniversary Sesame Street

Or I'm Not Sure What to Talk About Today

So, sometime this month is the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street. This makes me happy, because I remember watching Sesame Street when I was little. I remember the videos with counting and the video of how crayons are made. I remember how much all the characters meant to me.

I remember my parents (I think it was my parents) taking me to see a Sesame Street stage show. I remember Bert and Ernie singing about letting your smile be your umbrella.

I remember that Sesame Street helped me learn to count to 10 in Spanish (okay, it helped my mom learn and she taught me, but I think that counts). I'm fairly sure they helped me learn my letters and my numbers, or at least reinforced what I had learned.

So, Happy Anniversary Sesame Street. I hope you have at least another 40 years of educating children

Tidbits of Randomness

I don't have any particular thoughts to try to elaborate on, so instead I'm going to randomly talk about a couple of things that have popped in my head.

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Ever since we moved out of our house, I've been sleepy. I'm not sure what's up with that, but I've just wanted to sleep for the most part. I think I may go try to take a nap in a few minutes.

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Thinking about your biological clock while next to a ticking clock can be confusing. It doesn't help if you start seeing white hairs in places they shouldn't be (like on your 29 year old body).

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When we were shopping the other day, we bought 10 pounds of sugar. Ace figured that was a lot of sugar. I figured that if we were going through 2 quarts of Kool-Aid in a 24 hour period than we would need a lot of sugar to keep Kool-Aid in our fridge.

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We bought some measuring cups (to measure the sugar). Ace managed to break the handle off the 1 cup measuring cup already. Then he pointed out that that was why there were more expensive measuring cups. I'm just wondering what he did that caused it to break.

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And that's your tidbits of randomness for today.

New Bras

It's getting to be time for me to buy some new bras.

I can tell because my current bras are giving me some not so subtle hints that they are worn out. The bra I'm currently wearing lost one of the hooks (it's got 5 more, so it'll stay in place). Also, I had to use some pliers to rearrange one of the hooks on this same bra this morning.

It's time for new bras.

But first, I have to talk to Ace about it. We need to decide how many to buy and where to get them from. I know that for now I'll be sticking with plainer bras instead of going for the really pretty ones (at my bra size, there is a noticeable price difference). I don't really need my bras to look pretty right now, I just need them to do their job.

But, it's time to get me some new bras.

The Differences Between Oklahoma and Missouri

Or Learn to Drive Already!

So, Ace and I have been in our new state a little over 48 hours at this point. And we've noticed some big differences already.

1. People seem to be more concerned with getting where they are going than with letting people in. This is more annoying than it seems.

2. The same phenomenon occurs with shopping carts here. Forget letting other people in, out, or around the aisle, take up space and get in the way.

3. You can buy wine here at the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. I don't remember ever seeing wine in either store in OK or Arkansas. It's different.

4. Oddly, the hardest parts about starting over is going and buying things you left behind. It's weird to spend money on new stuff when you know you had this exact same thing in the past, but didn't keep it because you could buy it again (okay, not really a difference between OK and MO, but it stays because this is my post).

5. The highways tend to be more winding than straight, but not as winding as Arkansas. Missouri seemed to decide to cut through some of the mountains/hills, but not all of them.

6. There were more cars than we expected at the Barnes & Noble this morning. That doesn't mean we don't think people read, we just weren't expecting a mostly full parking lot.

7. We've seen layouts for stores that are unlike any we've ever seen before. It'll take some getting used to before we don't make 2 or 3 trips across the store each time we go to buy stuff because we forgot something located on the other side of the store.

So, yeah. Things are different right now. We're still adjusting. But for now, it all seems different and strange.

Organized Chaos

Instead of everything looking like organized chaos yesterday, when we were packing things up, it looks like organized chaos today, when we need to unpack things and settle where things will live.

We have laundry we need to do. We have lots of stuff to unpack. We need to rearrange stuff all over the room.

But we are finally starting all over again. We're trying something new. We're living in a new city.

And at some point, it'll stop feeling like a vacation or a trip and start feeling like a new life.

Well, I need to eat so we can get a mailing address and do our laundry.

Later.

Moving Day Part 2

So, today is moving day again. This time there is less chaos, but there also isn't much packed already. In fact, we need to pack up all our clothes, our laptops, and all the stuff we normally need (combs, alarm clock, deodorant). Nicely, it shouldn't take that long to pack us up. Not that we're in a big hurry right now (we've got until at least 1 pm before we should head out).

We've got a few things to go through from our stuff to store too. We've got paperwork we'll probably need and I'd like to find a few books for me to read (if I can get myself off the computer).

Now I've got to go. I need to get dressed so that I can start laundry so that we can get out of here.

Later.

Great News

Today, Ace and I made a trip to Tulsa. When we got there, we picked up our mail, and we found out that the check we were waiting on were there (we knew it should be there, so it wasn't too surprising).

Tomorrow, we move again, but we're moving less stuff with us this time. Mostly, we're moving clothes, laptops, and the things we actually need (like an alarm clock and our CDs), but not all the books we've got (most are staying here at my dad's until we get to a bigger place).

We also found some stuff that I can do from home and hopefully make enough for me to support us, while Ace works outside the home for extra money for things like Christmas gifts & educational goals.

It should be an interesting month, since we've already changed our original plans greatly to these plans. We're just waiting to see if these plans are the ones to pan out.

But we're looking forward to seeing how it all goes.

It's a Small Town After All

Ace and I are currently, temporarily (a few more days at this point) living with my dad and step-mom. Today, they left the house to go do something (we didn't ask what, we're trying to let them live as normal a life as we can).

A while after that, we decided we needed a change of scenery, so we got out of the house. Ace and I decided to go to Barnes & Noble to walk around and look at books.

While we were there, guess who we ran into.

Come on, guess.

Yep. We found my dad and step-mom at the Barnes & Noble. This area is kind of small, so there were decent odds that we'd see them while we were out, but it was kind of surprising that we picked the place they were at.

Later.

The Hilarity of Spam

MA's Note: This is the exact e-mail I got (I copied and pasted) yesterday. I left off the header stuff (e-mail addresses), but this was obviously not from the FBI. There was never any name listed in the e-mail and I just noticed that I was BCCed for some reason.

Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division
Fbi Headquarters In Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001 Website: www.fbi.gov


ATTENTION

This is an official advice from the fbi foreign Remittance / telegraphic
dept.,it has come to our notice that the C.B.N Bank Nigeria district has
released 10,500,000.00 US dollars into bank of America in your name as the
beneficiary, by inheritance means. The C.B.N Bank Nigeria knowing fully well that they do not have Enough facilities to effect this payment from the united kingdom to your account, used what we know as a secret diplomatic transit payment (s.t.d.p) to pay this fund through wire transfer, they used this means to complete the payment.

They are still, waiting for confirmation from you on the already Transferred funds which were made in direct transfer so that they can do final crediting to your account.

Secret diplomatic payments are not made unless the funds are related to
terrorist activities why must your payment be made in secret transfer, if your transaction is legitimate, if you are not a terrorist, then why did you not receive the money directly into your account; this is a pure coded, means of payment? Records which we have had with this method of payment in the past Has always been related to terrorist acts, we do not want you to get into trouble as soon as these funds reflect in your account in the U.S.A, so it is our duty as a world wide commission to correct this little problem before this fund will be credited into your personal account. Due to the increased difficulty and unnecessary security by the American authorities when funds come from outside of Europe, and the Middle East, the f.b.i bank commission for Europe has stopped the transfer on its way to deliver payment of $10,500,000.00 to debit your reserve account and pay you through a secured diplomatic transit account (s.d.t.a). We govern
funds immediately we receive this legal documents.

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We have decided to contact you directly to acquire the proper Verifications and proof from you to show that you are the rightful person to receive this
fund,because of the amount involve, we want to make sure is a clean and legal money you are about to receive. Be informed that the fund are now in United State in your name, but right now we have ask the bank not to release the fund to anybody that comes to them, unless we ask them to do so, because we have to carry out our investigations first before releasing the fund to you. Note that the fund is in the BANK OF AMERICA right now, but we have ask them not to credit the fund to you yet, because we need a solid proof and Verifications from you before releasing the funds. So to this regards you are to re-assure and proof to us that what you are about to receive is a clean money by sending to us FBI Identification Record and also Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer(DIST) to satisfy to us that the money your about to receive is legitimate and real money.


You are to forward the documents to us immediately if you have it in your
possession, if you don’t have it let us know so that we will direct and inform you where to obtain the document and send to us so that we will ask the bank holding the funds, the Bank Of America to go ahead Crediting your account immediately. These Documents are to be issued to you from the World Local Bank that Authorized the transfer, so get back to us immediately if you don’t have the document so that we will inform you the particular place to obtain the document in United Kingdom (U.K), because we have come to realize that the fund was Authorized by (H.S.B.C) Bank in London.

An FBI Identification Record and Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer (DIST) often referred to as a Criminal History Record or Rap Sheet, is a listing of certain information taken from fingerprint submissions retained by the FBI in connection with arrests and, in some instances, federal employment, naturalization, or military service. These Condition Is Valid until 10th day of Novenmber.2009 after we shall take actions on Canceling the payment and then charge you for illegally moving funds out of Nigeria. Guarantee: funds will be released on confirmation of the document.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Final
Instruction;
1. Credit payment instruction: irrevocable credit guarantee.
2. Beneficiary has full power when validation is cleared.
3. Beneficiaries bank in U.S.A., can only release funds.
4. Upon confirmation from the world bank / united nations.
5. Bearers must clear bank protocol and validation request.
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NOTE: We have asked for the above documents to make available the most complete and up-to date records possible for the enhancement of public safety, welfare and security of Society while recognizing the importance of individual privacy rights. If you fail to provide the Documents to us, we will charge you with the FBI and take our proper action against you for not proofing to us the legitimate of the fund you are about to receive. The United States Department of Justice Order 556-73 establishes rules and regulations for the subject of an FBI Identification Record to obtain a copy of his or her own Record for review.


The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division processes these requests to check illegal activities in U.S.A. An individual may request a copy of his or her own FBI Identification Record for personal review or to challenge information on the Record. Other reasons an individual may request a copy of his or her own Identification Record may
include international adoption or to satisfy a requirement to live or work in a foreign country or receive funds from another country, i.e. Diplomatic Immunity Seal of Transfer, letter of good conduct, criminal history Background, etc.)

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.

ROBERT MUELLER

WASHINGTON DC
Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division
Fbi Headquarters In Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001 Website: www.fbi.gov

Now to start off, does it sound like our writer speaks English as a first language? Since the e-mail's address ended with .de, I doubt he or she does. Also, they misspelled November and didn't catch it.

Second, the random capitalization is hilarious, isn't it? All rules of grammar seem to have left the building when they wrote this e-mail.

Third, FBI should always be capitalized. And the FBI only has authority in the USA. I don't know who would be coming after me if I was supposedly getting money from Nigeria, but I doubt the FBI would be the only ones involved. (Also, why would they be asking me to send them info they have access to? And why warn me they are looking at me if I am doing something wrong?)

The last thing I want to nit pick right this moment is that the name signed near the bottom of the e-mail is the name of the director of the FBI. Why would he take time out of his busy life to send me an e-mail (from a foreign country)? And why send it on a Sunday?

In short, none of this e-mail makes any sense. Why would someone fall for this? And what info were the spammers hoping for? They don't really tell me where to send anything (unless they really wanted me to send stuff to the FBI, which doesn't make any sense).

NaBloPoMo

The first two years I remember seeing anything about NaBloPoMo, I was impressed with the people who were doing it. Then, last year, I decided to try posting every day for a month myself. To my surprise, and delight, I found myself posting and being relatively content with my posts.

This year, I struggled slightly in my decision to do NaBloPoMo again. It's a nice thing to do to challenge yourself and see if you can find things to write about, but I wasn't sure I was in the right frame of mind for NaBloPoMo this year. Then, I asked Ace what I should do.

He told me to do it, so I am.

And not just because he told me to, I did truly want to do NaBloPoMo this year, I just needed someone to push me a little so that I would go do it. Which is why I'm glad I've got Ace. He pushes me when I need him to and pulls me away when my willpower seems to be fading. And I do the same for him, which makes our marriage great. We help each other be strong.

Yeah... I think that last paragraph got a little away from me there.

So, here I am, trying again to do a post a day for 30 days. Let the good times roll.

We Have GPS

One of the few things (other than free tv service) that Ace liked about working at DirecTV was that he could get some free stuff.

The latest free thing we got is a new GPS. We're hoping that we'll have better luck with TomTom this time (it tried to send us the wrong way last time we tried using one). Even if it's not perfect, it's still a free GPS, so we aren't complaining, at least not right now.

Nicely, it got here before we would even possibly be moving to Springfield, so we now have something to assist us in finding our way around our soon-to-be new hometown. It's always a good thing to be able to find our way around, so we're happy (provided it installs the new updated maps this time).

So, we are ready for our new lives to start, mostly, but we have to wait at least a little bit longer (2 nights, we believe) before we can move. But, we're looking forward to it.

A Time To...

1TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:
2A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted,
3A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up,
4A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6A time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away,
7A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak,
8A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (AMP)

This has always been one of my favorite parts of the Old Testament. It's a good reminder for the bad times to endure them, as they won't last. It's a good reminder for the good times to cherish them, as they won't last forever either.

Lately, life has felt like a time to lose and a time to cast away. On one hand, it's a strong reminder that everything Ace and I didn't bring with us is just a thing, we can get it (or something similar) again. On the other hand, it's hard to sort through 6 years worth of stuff and decide what isn't vital.

But, it has brought about a new hope for a future without some parts of the past weighing us down. We're freer now from some bad memories. We can move forward in our lives instead of glancing back in an effort to make sure we never forget. We won't ever truly forget the past, but now we can make a fresh start of life. We're going to be moving to a new city and a new state. We'll be learning things together. It's a chance to grow.

I'm still partially mourning the loss of the old and familiar life, even as I'm looking forward to starting the new. It's odd, to feel some sorrow mixed in with my hope. But, looking at how my life has been this past year, maybe it's time for all these changes. Maybe these particular changes, the ones I was dreading, are the ones I need the most.

It's becoming an interesting ride lately.

Fluidity

Ace and I have been having to react to new and seemingly ever-changing situations lately.

We found out that we had some savings that we forgot about, so we're moving again as soon as we have access to the money. We're heading up to Springfield, MO. We've found somewhere to live (it'll not be a ton of space, but it'll be private), and we found out it will be cheaper than originally quoted.

With our savings, we'll have a chance to look for work up there without having to impose on my dad and step-mom any longer than we have to. The only minorly bad thing is that we need new cell phones, as we have no service with our current phones. But we'll get that sorted out soon.

Guess it's a good thing we're happy with things changing right now, huh?

Happy Birthday To Me

Today is my birthday. 29 years ago, my mother gave birth to me. I feel like I should have more to say about that, but I really don't.

Instead, I'm taking a page out of Jenna's book (or a tradition from her family) and posting what I've learned this last year.

1. While it's embarrassing for a little while, you get over the embarrassment of having gone through a foreclosure. And you get over leaving the better part of a houseful of furniture, because it's just stuff.

2. My marriage is strong. It doesn't always feel that way, but that's usually because we are focusing on the small differences. When we're dealing with anything big, those differences can come in handy.

3. My family rocks. My dad is currently letting us live with him (we aren't sure how long that's going to last). My sister came up to help us move (even though we didn't end up needing her help that much). My dad has also offered to store some of our stuff until we are ready for it again.

4. Sometimes someone else's pain cuts just as deeply as our own does. We can mourn for their loss as if it were ours. It can make us long to be able to comfort someone, even though there isn't really much we can say or do. It can give the past some merit, even if it doesn't feel like enough.

5. Often change, even painful and surprisingly drastic change, is a good thing. Sometimes when things seem the hardest, you find that you're happy to see the changes happening. And while you may get nostalgic for what was, you're happy that things changed.

6. No two people, even when they go through the same experience, feel the exact same way. You can sympathize more, but it's not the same.

7. My sister is fun to talk to, even when she's talking about people I don't know. She's a great person and I'm glad I got to spend a lot of time with her Friday and Saturday. Also, we both describe movies the same way (We jump around in the movie, trying to tell everything we think is important. I'm sure it's annoying.).

8. Sometimes situations are more fluid than they seem. Things can change quickly. It's amazing how quickly you can adjust to change. It's also amazing how quickly you can figure out what is really important and what isn't.

Today is my birthday. This past year has been one of the roughest of my life. But, I survived it and am able to meet new challenges.

But first, I'm going to celebrate. Because it is my birthday.

Moving Day

Today, Ace and I move. We're working on finishing up our packing and waiting for the assistance of my sister and her boyfriend.

We're moving in with my dad for right now. We aren't sure exactly what the next few weeks will bring, but we do have a plan in place for the future.

So, I should probably get back to working on that.

Later.

A Break In Packing

I am taking a break in the craziness that is packing and trying to figure out what is important to go visit my dad with my siblings for today and tomorrow. Ace is so cool, as he is fine with this.

And now I have to look something up for him before I forget and am gone.

TTFN!

Change in the Wind

Well, the big change that I knew was coming, but was ignoring refuses to be ignored anymore.

Ace and I are moving. Within the week. And we aren't sure where we are moving right now.

And I'm sitting here, possibly a little shock, trying not to think about it. My life isn't really in my control right now.

It doesn't help that my dad recently got in an accident on his motorcycle. He'll be fine, will have a couple of scars probably.

But right now, I think I've had 1 too many things happen lately. I don't know how I feel. I don't know what I think. I just know that everything seems to be changing, and I'm not the one choosing these changes.

So, I'm focusing on breathing and will start packing up books here soon. After all, if I'm moving, I'd like to take as many of my friends as possible with me when I move.

Walking in Love

Lately, Ace and I have started focusing more on spending time in the Bible and spending time listening to teaching from the Bible. And it's helping us both a lot, I think.

I know that it's feeding our faith. And it reminds me of when we were first married. We spent so much time with God and each other. I never realized before now that I had missed that.

As I've looked back over my life (over the broad-strokes, I'm not messing with looking at the details right now), on the good times and the bad, I've found that for every event that seemed like it should or could shake my faith in God, it's instead brought me closer to Him.

When my parents divorced, I was going to a church that really didn't know how to react to that or how to support me emotionally through that time. When my mom got remarried, we changed churches, which was awkward for me because I really didn't know anyone there. Through all of this, my faith in God just got stronger. And even when things have happened that have shaken my faith in humanity's ability to be good, my faith in God hasn't wavered. It's constant.

While my faith has remained steadfast, my attitude and my habits have changed over the years. My knowledge of the Bible has grown and my beliefs on the smaller issues, things that I see as minor details now, have changed as I've gained knowledge. And while Ace has helped with that, I'd like to think that I would have adjusted my beliefs to what I saw in the Bible had I been growing on my own.

I'm still trying to find a way to fully walk in God's agape love. I know that I'm not perfect, most days I feel like perfect is a long way away, but I'm trying. I'm also trying to figure out how walking in love with my mother works (I guess it's easier when I'm not dealing with her, but it feels more awkward).

So, while my faith is stronger than ever, I'm feeling like my attitude and my habits still need work. Maybe all this time with God will help.

Later!

We Must Be Thinking of Something Good

(Jenna, I blame you for my post title.)

Since Ace and I got our couch from Karen, we've started a few new traditions.

1. Ace is lotioning my feet every night. Which helps make sure we spend at least a little bit of time touching each other everyday, which helps keep us connected. Also, it means my feet won't be dry.

2. We are coming up with 5 things we are grateful for and sharing them with each other. This way, we focus on good things, just like we're told to do in Philippians 4:8. They are usually simple little things, but I think it helps us both concentrate on the good things in life instead of the bad.

It's amazing what all can change in just 3 days.

P.S.: We have a slip-cover on the couch. It's not pretty and doesn't really fit quite right, but the couch is no longer clinging to our skin so we're happy.

Good Things

Well, yesterday was a day for good things.

I discovered the toilet I thought had to be baby-sat to stop flushing just needed a minor adjustment (which has now been made), so there is a fully functioning half bath in this house.

Also, while Ace and I were shopping, we decided to get some pillows for the new-to-us couch (for support/something to cuddle/something to nap on/whatever), and are planning on buying some slip covers for both the couch and the love-seat so that at least some of our furniture in the living room will match (the only things that currently match are the massage chair and it's footstool). I'm not sure when we'll get the slip cover for the love-seat, but we are looking at getting the slip cover for the couch very soon.

After several months of feeling like we've just had bad news piling up, it's good to get some good news.

The Great Re-Arrangement

Yesterday, we got a newer couch. We bought a couch from Karen and her husband shortly before the wedding, and yesterday they delivered it.

Between the time Karen called to let me know they were coming by and the time they got here, I spent a good portion of my time moving furniture around (something Ace scolded me for last night). I moved our love-seat to another wall. I moved my massage chair temporarily into the dining room (it's back in the living room now, I was smart enough to let Ace move it around).

Now, our living room looks a lot smaller, but has a lot more seating than it did before (if someone came by, they could sit on something besides the floor). And today, I have a somewhat sore back from moving furniture. But, overall, both Ace and I are feeling good about how things are arranged and are happy that I'm not feeling as bad as we both thought I would today.

Time for a Hobby?

Today, I'm thinking that I need to take up a new hobby. I think I need to learn how to knit.

I've always been interested, but I haven't taken the time to do anything about it. Maybe now is the time to do it.

Plus, I want to start being able to say "I knit sweaters, yo" and seeing who knows what I'm talking about, while at the same time not lying about my abilities to knit (right now, I can't knit sweaters, yo).

So, yeah. I think it's time for a hobby.