93%

Ran across a Bible quiz on a friend's blog. Unfortunately they didn't tell what question/s I missed, and I don't recall how many questions there were so I can't even figure out how many I missed (one? two?). I'll admit without a Bible in front of me there were some things I guess on (what books comes after Colossians or something).

One question was "What was created on the fourth day." Call it a hunch, but I don't *THINK* it was "myspace."

You know the Bible 93%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
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en route

One of the things I do in life is to help with my church's contemporary worship service once each month. This consists partly of running the computer/projector during the service, and sometimes helping setup the slides.

This causes me to do searches of images on google using somewhat obscure - or at least unusual - search terms. And sometimes I find things that just tickle my fancy. This week the theme is the popular and unpopular Gospel of Jesus, and I was sent some slides of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" which sent me to search for "two thumbs up" on the google.

I came across the following - which amused me (and the way this week is going, I can use some amusement -- I figure you might use some also). (note to self -- sometime when you're stuck for something to be grateful for -- remember those thumbs.)

But the bottom line is .... feed me

Today I'm grateful for

Alto 2

Whodathunkit. 11 years ago a lot of women were pregnant. Many of them had due dates in August, and we found each other on the Internet. Whodathunkit then that a group of us would form strong long lasting friendships. It's amazing. In this group different people bring different things to the table, and Alto2 brings a lot.

1. She has a gift for words. Now, personally I have some of that Irish "gift of gab" and can chatter and make small talk in person. But Alto2 has a gift of the written word (which is something I can't master, no matter how much I use the Little Brown Handbook or Strunk & White's) .
2. Alto2 is "up" on etiquette. Again, one of the things I have not mastered. I think I get on pretty well in life anyway :} but there are times you need to know the "proper" way to do things, and it's wonderful to have a resource (that doesn't involve a lot of googling - just a quick email).
3. Unlike myself (I can't seem to get this stuff by osmosis) Alto2 has, in fact, managed to learn a thing or two about wine, and when we have our annual reunion dinner, you can count on her picking something fabulous that we can share.
4. Generally, she has a lot of knowledge, and a lot of resources, and if she considers you a friend she will share endlessly. (But if you read her blog, you'll realize that you really don't want to be on her bad side -- she shared the other day about how she felt about her OBs partner).
5. She doesn't hold back on ideas. She gave a great idea on our attempt to sell our business. Like DUH I never thunk. I guess that's why I have friends.
6. The self proclaimed "Queen of Tarts" is a good cook (obviously if someone can feed me, they earn my gratitude). When our group went to Florida she put on quite the spread for all of us.
7. She has a website called The Need to Feed where she posts recipes. A while back she had a request (from some mom that rambles about minivans) for more crock pot recipes. Last night my family was lovingly fed Chicken Cacciatore which was downright YUMMY (after the prep time).

So, I guess looking at the bottom line, if you feed me I'll love you. I now tag anyone willing to accept to post some more crock pot recipes. I'm hoping that Cooking is Love steps up -- she's good some great food ideas.

Prep time

So this morning I made dinner in the crockpot (yeah Crem I know I know but you're preaching to the choir here). Alto2's Chicken Cacciatore.

I got to thinking about prep time. Typically, especially in "fix it fast" type cookbooks they list preparation time ...

never, of course, taking my lifestyle into account.

1. Ask Spouse if he can get the kids off to school
2. Get out crockpot.
3. Wash crockpot as Spouse didn't do a good job last time it was washed.
4. Yell at Chip to get his shoes on and let the dog out.
5. Put presliced mushrooms into crockpot.
6. slice onions and put in crockpot.
7. Look for can openen.
8. Find can opener in a drawer - but not the one it belongs in. (Housework done incorrectly still blesses your family -- yeah right flylady).
9. Tell Spouse he needs to go to the store to get garlic.
10. Put plum tomatoes in crockpot. Get mental release by crushing the poor innocent tomatoes in my hand.
11. Add basil, oregano, and fennel spices to crockpot.
12. Remind Spouse to make Chip's lunch.
13. Help princess snap her jeans.
14. Go to get chicken from downstairs fridge.
15. Start a load of laundry as long as I'm in the basement.
16. Look for kitchen shears - which are not in their assigned place.
17. Rip open chicken
18. Spouse is yelling at Princess to get her shoes on, go to look for Princess' shoes, and find them -- on her feet.
19. Yell at Chip to let the dog out before he poops in the crate.
20. Season chicken with salt & pepper.
21. Add chicken broth to crockpot.
22. Say goodbye to family as they leave.
23. Check recipe (which was upstairs the entire time)
24. Call Spouse and tell him to pick up some tomato sauce while he's at the store.
25. Argue with spouse while looking for tomato sauce because he insists there is some in the house, and I insist there is not.
26. Find pizza sauce, marinara sauce, tomato paste, and black beans.
27. Realize I never made my lunch, figure "forget it I'll go to the Jewish deli"
28. Leave for work late.
29. Get to work and find out the person I needed to meet with never showed up.

Cee Cee

When I was very young, I could not pronounce my sister's name, so I called her CeeCee (I'm not sure how that was spelled Cee Cee, SeaSea, C.C. -- heck I was like 3 or something).

Today I'm grateful for

CeeCee.

My sister is a bit older than me (and I'll never let her forget that simple fact). And she's a whole lot smarter than me (and, when we were in school, the nuns would never let me forget that fact.)

1. My sister has a sense of flare and style and color that I will never have. On the day that the fashion genes were being handed out, I don't know where I was. There have been times when my sister has helped me out with wardrobe, makeup, etc. But I really plan to use this quality when it comes to Princess. Princess adores Auntie CeeCee, and the feeling is mutual. I'm sure there will come a time in my daughter's life when she needs guidance in things like fashion and makeup and all that girlie stuff. I'll be glad CeeCee is around, cause I won't be much use to Princess.


2. I like wine, I really do, but I don't know squat about wine. CeeCee is a wine connoisseur (wine snob?? drunk??) She's actually going so far as to start taking Sommelier classes. I'm amazed at how wicked hard those classes are. You need to sip some wine and tell what altitude of what side of what mountain in France the grapes were taken from or something like that. Next time Spouse takes me to an upscale restaurant I'll respect the Sommelier more, and tip him (or her) well (note, we've been married since 93 -- I think we've been to one restaurant that had a Sommelier). Even though sis is a wine snob, she doesn't treat me like a wine idiot, but she does try to guide me in trying to figure out not only what I like, but why I like it. Maybe someday I'll even understand what the difference is between an "oak" and "berry" nose.


3. I know that as long as sis is around, if it all falls apart I have a place to go. Not that that will happen but it's nice to have that insurance policy. It'll come in handy after my spouse kicks me out on the street after I shoot him for snoring.


4. CeeCee is a wicked good cook. I mean absolutely fabulously awesome. I grant if you ever end up at her house for dinner, you will eat really really yummy food. I try to be a good cook, but I am a humble Padawan comparatively.


5. She keeps the family together. I love my brother dearly, and he loves me, but neither my brother or I are likely to remember to call each other and get together.


6. I'm lucky to have family I get along with that is not insane

Happy Birthday sis.

Okay I'm it

Okay Alto2 has set the challenge to find 5 things I like about my body or myself. I figure this can double as a tag and a gratitude.

1. I mentioned it once but I can repeat it (cause 5 will be a stretch) I like my hair. It's always been healthy and a good color and hasn't yet started showing much gray (knock wood)


(I added woody -- not because my hair is red -- though it used to be -- but because he's knocking on wood)





2. I also happen to like the color of my eyes.

3. I like my feet, they get me from place to place and while I certainly give them a lot to bear, I also spoil them by buying them comfy shoes.

4. I think I have a great phone voice. Especially when I'm talking to people I don't know. I'd be great at customer service (or other phone oriented jobs :}).

5. I hate hate hate to pluck eyebrows -- my hair color also lends way to very light color facial and body hair -- this does have its advantages.

6. I was having trouble coming up with 5. If I couldn't come up with 5 then I was going to add that I'm modest - but maybe I can't add that now???

For all you do

Today (and after thinking about sweet hitch-a-hiker) I'm grateful for

All the people that do animal rescue. There are tons of them in all sorts of cities and towns. Crem's neighbor fosters dogs for Rover Rescue Rover Rescue, my dear friend Rose who runs The Critter Corral a guinea pig rescue, and all the others that give their time, talents, and energies to those that have no voices.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with The Rainbow Bridge. It's the place where animals that have died go and hang out and wait for their owners, so they can cross together into heaven. Somwhere along the way I ran across this interesting twist on the tale ...

The young pup and the older dog lay on shaded sweet grass watching the reunions. Sometimes a man, sometimes a woman, sometimes a whole family would approach The Rainbow Bridge, be greeted by their loving pets, and cross the Bridge together.The young pup playfully nipped at the older one. "Look! Something wonderful is happening!" The older dog stood up and barked, "Quickly! Get over to the path!""But that's not my owner," whined the pup, but he did as he was told. Thousands of pets surged forward as a figure in white walked on the path toward the Bridge. As the glowing figure passed each animal, that animal bowed its head in love and respect. The figure finally approached the Bridge and was met by a menagerie of joyous animals. Together, they all walked over the Bridge and disappeared. The young pup was still in awe. "Was that an angel?" He whispered. "No son," the older dog replied, "that was more than an angel... That was a person who worked rescue."

When I think about the Rainbow Bridge, at least from the perspective of a cat, I think about a song by Garrison Keillor. I can't find the lyrics online (amazing) so let's see what I can remember

On an afternoon in the month of June
a wistful cat sat sighing
For her owners were not good to her,
a cousin of the lion.
On her plate was glued some dried up food
she cared not to examine
and as she wept she sat and dreamt
of the land of milk & salmon

Oh there's fresh catfish in a china dish
and the cream flows from a fountain
On the high plateau where the catnip grows
out in the catskill mountains

Out in the catskill mountains
fresh tuna just appears
and people beg you for the chance
to scratch behind your ears
A cat can lie flat on its back and never be ambitious
and the grass is sweet beneath your feet
and the houseplants are delicious

Out in the catskill mountains
the land of the big feedtrough
the couches are all comfortable and
no one kicks you off
the dogs are taught to
honor cats and beautiful and holy
and the birds are found right on the ground
and the mice run very slowly

(Hmmm I guess this can go under gratitude -- but also dreams because that to me sounds like what a cat would dream of)

sweet hitch-a-hiker

Maybe we can post it on Craigslist?

Sweet quiet girl offers companionship for transportation from Toronto to LA.

From the Toronto Wildlife Centre

Back Home

A surprise stowaway from California

On Jan. 5th, Toronto Wildlife Centre received a call about a shipment which had arrived at a company in Mississauga (just west of Toronto). It seems a surprise guest had made the trip to Canada from sunny southern California! Much to the shock of staff who were unloading the truck, a Striped Skunk had tentatively poked her nose out of some pvc piping which was part of the delivery from Torrance (south of Los Angeles). After some detective work, the story of what happened seemed clear… The pvc piping had been stored outside, in an area where skunks were frequently seen. The skunk must have gone into the piping, curled up and fell asleep for the day. But that day the piping was loaded onto a truck and taken to a company in Sante Fe Springs, California, where it was transferred to another truck inside a closed warehouse. That truck then left for Canada, a seven day journey during which the skunk went undetected. After traveling from Torrance to Sante Fe Springs, California, the skunk then went on to Port Huron, Michigan where the truck crossed the border and cleared customs with no trouble. Her voyage continued to Sarnia, Ontario, then on to the warehouse facility in Mississauga, where she was finally discovered. Once the skunk arrived at Toronto Wildlife Centre, she was assessed and determined to be dehydrated and a bit thin. There was some damage to the skin on the back of her neck, but it wasn’t very serious. She was in fairly good health, considering her ordeal. But now the little traveler must be returned to her home territory in California to be released. In addition to it being illegal for her to be let out into the wild so far away, she would be unlikely to survive it. Skunks are very territorial so if she were to be released here into suitable skunk habitat, there would already be skunks living there. They would not take to a stranger in their area very kindly and terrible fights would result. She needs to go back to the area where she belongs. We are appealing for help in getting her back to California. Airlines, which typically transport animals for us in these types of situations, are not able to help this time because of the risk that she may spray inside the closed aircraft. We are looking for a courier company, transport company, kindly individual making a road trip, etc., to give the skunk a lift home. Toronto Wildlife Centre would arrange the necessary permits, make arrangements for her care along the way, and organize her release in Torrance. Please call Toronto Wildlife Centre’s Wildlife Hotline at 416.631.0662 if you think you can help. Thank you!

I wonder if Univ. Toronto has a ride board???

more on dreamers and gratitude

Alto2 asked if my gratitude thread has come from watching Oprah or something.

Actually I haven't watched much TV of my own choosing in over a year. One day I figured that it would take me forever to catch up on my videotapes, so I gave it up. About the only TV I've seen lately is whatever someone else in the family happens to be watching, and I'm usually not paying much attention (the computer and TV are in the same room). (Basically I know about O'Reilly and Power Rangers).

I guess the idea of showing gratitude has always been one of those things I thought "yeah, I outta do that one of these days" and with a new year and relatively new blog, it seemed the time. I'm really impressed that I've done one for each day of the year to date, and we'll have to see if this becomes a habit. Some days I feel like I'm hit with a flash of inspiration (Dreamers), other days I'm just pushing to get something out. I think it's a good exercise for me, and if some people enjoy it GREAT and if a few people emulate me, not necessarily by gratitude blogs but just by calling a buddy and saying "thanks for the help," well then so much the better. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

I think having a public blog helps, because I know that the people that I mention will actually have a chance to read what I've said about them. For instance, M.B. who I mentioned in http://rambling-mom.blogspot.com/2007/01/today-mb-ndots.html was someone I always thought "I should send him a note of appreciation or something" but never got "a round tuit."

Today I was listening to the Joseph soundtrack. There is a part where the brothers get jealous of Joseph, they don't like what he has to say, and they sing "one thing we are sure about the dreamer has to go." I realized how many times in history that general feeling has been repeated.

Next time we're confronted with a great dreamer, instead of killing him (or her) why don't we just lock them up with some Elvis impersonators until we realize that "they're right all along."

Like they was sayin

Today I'm grateful for ........

quotation databases.

Dream a little dream

Today I'm grateful for

Dreamers.

Those that look at the world, not as it is, but as it could be. Sometimes they even manage to carry us along with them.

Some people get in trouble for their dreams ...

(Poor poor Joseph dreamed of a coat and was a victim of attempted fraticide.)

Some dreamers can only find one or two people to follow their dream ...

(Okay - but he was running after windmills. I've done that at times.)

Some that are not even human manage to get an entire company to join them in their dream.

But, so far we're talking fiction. (Okay - maybe a few bible literalists might say the entire story of Joseph is completely true - but face it they're not likely reading this blog).

Some people, very few people, can have powerful dreams and have millions dream along with them.

It's been a long time, and we've come a long way, but not quite far enough.

We need men who can dream of things that never were.

- John F. Kennedy

So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.

- Christopher Reeve

Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.

- L. Ron Hubbard, Science of Survival

There are those who look at things the way they are and ask why ... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not.

- Bobby Kennedy

What's your dream?? What's mine??