I will be glad when my subscription is over

I did call one guy who I was talking to on eharmony. It was really weird. Seeing someone's picture and the words is just not the same as meeting them or talking to them live.

I tried signing up for another service called Chemistry.com and I'll let you know, but I'm really not thinking I will like it any better. It just has a stranger matching system. [I know they all match you with a stranger, I'm just saying the questions you have to answer to get on are strange ;-)]

Quote: “True love is like a pair of socks: you gotta have two and they've gotta match.” - unknown

Beauty for Ashes

Part of Isaiah makes me think of Cinderella. She was meek and she sat among the ashes, grieving, brokenhearted and captive to her situation.

Then she was comforted and given joy and a wonderful garment.

I wonder if the person who wrote it stole some of the ideas from reading Isaiah.

Quote: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. - Isaiah 61:1-3

Name this plant

When I was camping we saw these really odd looking little trees with some kind of weird nut looking fruits on them. We picked some and I took them by my parents house to find out what they were.

The really odd thing that happened was that yesterday at work in a meeting the name came up and one lady had never heard of them. I said "I have some out in my truck" and I ran out and got one to show it to her. I bet she thinks that I am resourceful (or crazy) ;-)



Quote: “He who plants trees loves others beside himself”
- English Proverb (I am going to plant a tree)

Total Eclipse of the Moon ;-)

I'm not finished telling about my weekend, but I have to interrupt to let you know that there is supposed to be a total eclipse of the moon. I'm not sure if I will be able to make myself go out and see it , but maybe so, because I am in awe of some of the wonders of this world.

If I miss it, I'm going to try to see if anyone posted it on youtube. What did I ever do before I discovered youtube ;-)

Event Time	EDT	CDT	MDT	PDT	ADT
Partial Eclipse Begins:	04:51 am	03:51 am	02:51 am	01:51 am	12:51 am
Total Eclipse Begins:	05:52 am	04:52 am	03:52 am	02:52 am	01:52 am
Mid-Eclipse:	06:37 am	05:37 am	04:37 am	03:37 am	02:37 am
Total Eclipse Ends:	07:22 am	06:22 am	05:22 am	04:22 am	03:22 am
Partial Eclipse Ends:	08:24 am	07:24 am	06:24 am	05:24 am	04:24 am

Quote: “As the moon is bodily entering into the shadow of the Earth, it appears as if this shadow is creeping across the moon. However, during total eclipse, you get these beautiful colors.” - Brad Schaefer

I'm back

Thursday night after work, I drove up to my parents house by the lake, because I wanted to break up the long drive to the camping spot.

My Dad has this place where he hides a spare key, so I didn't worry too much about having my key with me.

I got there about 10:00 PM and felt around in the dark for the key. I finally gave up and slept in my truck.

It wasn't too bad, except for the seat belts and even though I'm short, I'm not short enough to stretch out in my truck.

I called my Dad the next day and it turns out that after leaving the key in it's spot for a year or two, he accidentally put it in his pocket and went home with it. So I started my camping a day early.

Quote: “Looks like you've lost the keys to the clue-mobile”
- Martin Poulter

Three Day Weekend - Sunday

Topic for the day:

If you
have a bunch
of odds and ends
and you
get rid of all
but just one,
what do you call it?

Three day weekend - Saturday

Topic for the day:

What should you do
when you see
an endangered
animal
that is eating
an endangered plant?

Three Day Weekend - Friday

I will have to fill in when I get back, I have lots to do to get ready.

I will not be near the Internet till late Sunday - until then - talk amongst yourselves ;-)



Quote: Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: Rhode Island is neither a road nor an island. - Linda Richmond (Saturday Night Live - Coffee Talk)

New System

We start UATing (which I think is User Acceptability Testing) a new system at work tomorrow. I don't usually talk about work, except for meetings and outings, but I want AL to know that I do work.

There is a lot of stuff I should have gotten done so I wouldn't have to be packing last minute. I'm taking a three day weekend and going camping. It's a 6 hour drive to the camp site, so that cuts into my camping time a little bit.

Quote: “Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence!” - Edsger Dijkstra

I'll be working late today ;-)

I know that Ali doesn't think that I really work, but I do.

I'm planning on having several meetings today before happy hour.

We are having a group building
happy hour after work today. We actually get to leave work early to go to it.



Quote: “Personally, I can't see why it would be any less romantic to find a husband in a nice four-color catalogue than in the average downtown bar at happy hour.” - Barbara Ehrenreich (humm I didn't know you could find a husband at a happy hour) Note added later: I didn't find one ;-)

Conflict Resolution Class

Our little work group is in a class all day on conflict resolution. It will be interesting to see how good the class is. We had people who work with us fill questions on how they think we handle conflict. The feedback will be interesting to see. One of the funniest questions to me was something about "do you roll your eyes" when someone is speaking ;-)

Quote: “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.”
- Jim Carrey

P.S. I cut my own hair and that's why it's a little uneven.

Shopping on Eharmony Update

You probably wondering how I'm coming along with eharmony.

I may have to become a Nun.

I don't think I have gotten over my fear of men.
(thanks to my X)

I do okay by myself and don't get me wrong I would love to have someone, but it's so iffy.

I have a few friends who have married after being single for a long time, so I know it can happen. One of them was from a blind date set up by a mutual friend, a couple met someone on-line and one just happened to know someone who became widowed. Some even met a church, but it may be that I only feel safe enough to really like someone if they are not interested in me ;-)

Quote: Sometimes you have to get to know someone really well to realize you're really strangers. - Mary Tyler Moore

Faith vs Fear

Do you ever have those days when it seems like fear has a grip on you. I know I have faith, but some days I can feel the fear a little stronger than others.

Maybe fear is sort of like Goliath and faith like one of those little stones David used to slay Goliath,or if faith is like a mustard seed, maybe we need to nurture it so it grows larger.

Quote: “No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere; I see Heaven's glories shine, And, Faith shines equal, arming me from Fear” - Emily Bronte

This can't be good

Not for my diet anyway. I went to the store and while I was there I started thinking how good some "Earl Campbell" hotlinks would be. So I didn't resist them and I have to say they are good.

I don't know if it counts for anything, but on the way to the store what I really wanted was ice cream and I didn't buy any.

Quote: Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell. - unknown

I don't think so

Eharmony matched me with a biker.

They think
I am someone
who would
like to ride
on the back
of a
motorcycle.


I'm not sure why I feel the way I do about motorcycles. They seem so dangerous. You would think it would something I would like, but it sounds scary to me, (maybe not as scary as the biker driving it ;-)

Quote: People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.
-Author Unknown

Casual Thursday

It's susposed to start raining today. So I guess I will not get to finish mowing. When will I learn to mow first instead of waiting till the last minute.

I get to wear jeans to work, because we are having a fund raiser. I had to pay to wear jeans, but it's for a good (hopefully) cause.

Quote: “The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence but you still have to mow it.” - author ?

It's going to be 103 today

I didn't go out to try to mow until really late. It wasn't so hot, but fire ants got me because I had to wear sandals since the back of my foot is still blistered ;-(

Tomorrow I'm going to try another photo shoot of the lady who writes music. I have an idea of how I want do paint her portrait now.

Quote: “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” - Oscar Wilde

Too Much Thinking

Today I have a headache, I guess I need to stop thinking so much. I've been thinking about a lot of things. I'm working on areas of my life and thinking about my parents and what will happen to them as they get older.

Would I really be able to take care of them?

It's not a responsibility that I want to have, but I can see that it may be my responsibility. I think it's better to plan ahead now, than to just be suddenly faced with it. At least If it does happen I can blog about it ;-)

Quote: “A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture.” - Abraham J. Heschel

Random Moggy Thoughts

I'm not saying this has anything to do with the Holy Spirit, I'm just thinking visually.

Think of being completely filled with light and or energy to sustain you.

Now think of someone hurting you (putting a chink in your armor) and that energy leaking out.



We can't stop people from hurting us, but we can stop the drain by forgiving them. It's the same thing when we hurt someone, we need to make amends to them if possible.

You can and probably should get God's help to do this.

Quote: Not forgiving and mending hurts is like turning yourself into your own voodoo doll - Moggy

Sunday Lesson

A guy on the radio said that when he hears people asking the Holy Spirit to come down, or to come to them, he thinks it's odd. He says that the Holy Spirit is already in us if we are Christians.

Some of my friends believe we Christians are still controlled by our sinful nature. This verse doesn't sound like that's true.

Quote: "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" (Romans 8:9).

Weight Loss Report

The Cat is down to 27 lbs ;-) It seems that lower calorie cat food is working better for him than the high protein.
I could never bring myself to feed him as little of it as I needed to.

He has been back in his window perch more. There is a little lizard that climbs on the window that he tries to catch.

I have a chair, then a laundry hamper and from there he can jump on the window perch I made for him. I need to come up with something that looks better, but this works for him. I wish I could let him roam freely outside, but I can't.

Wedding Shower

Today's big event is a Wedding Shower. It's for a friend who has been single for a really long time. She seems to be really happy and I'm happy for her. They met online.

When I say that I would like to get married again, I have some married friends who tell me "don't do it". They assume that being single offers more freedom than being married.

Even though I am trying out eharmony and I would like to have someone special in my life, it does scare me a little.

Quote: “Marriage is like the army. Everybody complains, but you'd be surprised at how many re-enlist.” - not sure who wrote this

Earth Shoe

I bought a pair of sandals at Walmart (I often regret when I end up going there) They say "Earth Shoe" and seemed to be pretty comfortable. There is a brand "Earth" Shoe (They do not have these at Walmart) that is supposed to be really good.

I got them to wear Salsa Dancing and ended up not going. I wore them to work and they rubbed a blister on the back of my foot. At the end of lunch time it was pretty bad, but I got a bandage and put on it. Good thing I didn't try to Salsa in them.

Quote: "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he'll be a mile away--and barefoot."
- Sarah Jackson

Too late for Salsa

By the time I ran by the store for milk and bread, got home and got ready, I was already late for Salsa.
I was really tired anyway, it's been a rough week at work and I have a lot to do. I need to work on my painting and I have a bridal shower to go to Saturday that I need to cook something for and buy a gift.

I think that's what I will do with my Salsa time.

Quote: “How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” - Dr. Seuss

I need a vacation

We have so many meetings that I think it's getting to me. I will be so happy when the project we are on gets completed. It is a really big project with a lot of details. I love details, but enough is enough. Okay, it may not be enough, but it's a LOT.

Quote: “If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings” - Dave Barry

I"m doing much better

When I was in a slump, I first misspelled the word in my cartoon, it was supposed to be slump, but I left off the "p" and ended up resting on slum instead. One of my friends corrected me. That reminds me... feel free to let me know if I have mistyped or misspelled something. It is probably not on purpose.



Quote: “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desire not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, we are like ignorant children who want to continue making mud pies in a slum because we cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a vacation at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” - C.S. Lewis

Monday blues

I was in a slump Saturday, got a lot done Sunday, then slump again. I need to work on that, it wastes a lot of my time.

I also joined eharmony again for three months (Oh yes slumps are the best time for making decisions) I'm sure that all the most wonderful men are attracted to ladies in slumps. ;-)

In my defense, I'm working through some things, so even though the work doesn't show around me, hopefully it will show eventually from the inside out.

Quote: “Slumps are like a soft bed. They're easy to get into and hard to get out of.” - Johnny Bench

It was a long day

I drove about 50 miles to my old Church and had lunch with friends. Then I worked on going through some things that I have in storage at my parents house.

It was too late when I got home to make it to my new Church, but I was able to catch them at a restaurant where they went afterward.

I came home and mowed the front yard, it was dark by the time I got the back and I saw fireflies. The grass get too high and I think that's what they like, but I love fireflies.

Quote: “What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.”
- Crowfoot quote

Dancing with God

Now this is one dance that I hope I am able to do. My cousin send me this in an email and I don't usually post something this long, but I love the way it's worded.

Dancing With God

--author unknown


When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing
God's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets
the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G: I thought of God,
followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing
to trust that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God
as God abides in you.
Dance together with God,
trusting God to lead and to guide you
through each season of your life.

...........................And I Hope You Dance!!!

I don't think I'm going to learn

I was worse this time than last time. The teacher will come by and correct me, but as soon as she goes away I lose my step again.

Maybe some people were not meant to dance. I'm going to give it a few more times, but I'm beginning to think I'm hopeless.

Quote: “What I say is if you've got a talent and God has given you a gift, I think it's kind of your responsibility to try it. Ya know, we can't all dance and sing and paint and have math in our heads. So, wherever you've got that gift I think you should explore it, but my attitude is there's no better time than when you're young.” - Dawn Wells
[at least I can paint ;-)]

I"m up early

I may not be awake good, but I'm going to try to go in to the gym this morning. I went in a few weeks ago to cancel my membership because I haven't been going. Nobody was at the desk, so I didn't get to quit.

Then I was going to cancel when I got back from that long walk, but after the bottom of my feet got burned; I thought I should walk indoors on a treadmill.

If I'm awake while I"m walking I'll work on my words to the 'Holy Pokey" song. Or I may practice my Salsa steps. Tonight is Salsa Dance class.

Quote: “The treadmill is a lot harder on your joints. It's kind of boring, too, unless there's a TV program you like.” - Violet Stark [Violet obviously wasn't practicing Salsa and writing Lyrics ;-)]

Song Parody

At our Church group they did my "holy pokey" song parody and I was embarrassed and wanted to hide under the table. Partly because there were not many ladies there that day and a lot of men.

I don't think the men enjoyed doing the "Holy Pokey" as much as the women and one of them said they will get me back for this ;-) The girls were leading the singing and they liked it so much they sang twice.

One good thing did come out of it, one of them men wants me to give him lyrics for his children's ministry.

I also love how Mark Lowery has the original artist as part of the song parodys.

Here is the original song "The Great Adventure" and the parody "The Date Adventure"

This is also worth watching if you haven't seen it "Baby,Baby" and the parody "Baby, Why Not Me?"