Halloween

I remember the time when Halloween didn't seem as negative as it is today. Anymore, it seems that those who do nasty mischief use it as an excuse to do things that aren't necessary -- anything from smashing stolen pumpkins on roads to throwing raw eggs at cars, houses, and other buildings. Some go even farther than that.

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Also, those involved in Wiccan and other things associated with witches, warlocks, and the dark side of things have capitalized on this time, adding to the negativity of the evening/night.

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Research tells us about Halloween, and it gives an understanding of the evening/night that is celebrated with more and more enthusiasm -- and money. I forget if it rates as #2 in holiday spending or #3, Christmas being #1.

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Halloween, or All-Hallows' Eve, has its roots in pagan Celtic traditions, Roman occupation, and the Catholic Church. The origin of Halloween is a controversial subject, but most scholars connect it to the night of Samhain, which was celebrated in Celtic pagan societies to mark the turn toward the dark part of the year.

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Samhain was connected to the harvest and to the belief that during this period, the doors between the spirit world and the world of the dead were ajar, allowing easier passage between the two.Celts believed that during this period, marauding spirits could cause mischief and damage crops, but also that the presence of spirits made acts of divination easier.

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Large sacred bonfires were built by druids, upon which crops and animals were sacrificed to Celtic dieties. Costumes were worn, and hearth fires, which had previously been extinguished, were rekindled from the sacred blaze. Fire was associated with holiness and purity, as well as, of course, warmth during the long, gloomy winter ahead.

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These traditional Celtic festivals were combined with the Roman holidays of Feralia, which commemorated the passing of the dead, and a celebration commemorating the goddess of fruit and tress, Pomona, whose symbol was the apple. (This may be the origin of the "bobbing for apples" tradition.)

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Later, the Catholic Church co-opted the holiday and set November 1st as All-Saints' Day. Eventually November 2nd would be made All-Souls' Day in 1000 A.D., and commemorated in a similar fashion, with bonfires and costumed parades. Together these three festivals were called "Hallowmass."

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It wasn't until the 19th century that Halloween came to the United States, following the waves of immigration from Ireland during the potato famine of the mid-19th century.

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Some who know some of how often the Catholic Church would try to mix a bit of the local pagan celebrations in with Christian celebrations can see how there comes to be such a mish-mash. In Central and South America one can see the mix of Indian (Aztec, Maya, Inca) celebration with Christian, dating back to when Spanish missionaries were attempting to Christianize them.

Questions to Ponder

Are there things about guys that puzzle you? My guess is that if you are a guy, you would say there is not reason for anyone to be puzzled; however, if you are a gal, you know exactly what I mean.

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No doubt you can add to this short list of puzzlements.

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1) Do men have more saliva than women? Don't you agree that it seems that guys are forever having to spit. (Although, I must say that I am not sure I see this problem with old men.)

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2) What's with the persistent tugging at the crotch? The guy may or may not be an athlete, but it seems that guys just need to adjust themselves, no matter who might be watching. (Watch a game sometime, especially baseball.)

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3) What's with the remote? In our house it seems that once my husband gets that remote in his hand, we will be flipping from channel to channel, not necessarily waiting until commercial time to do that.

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4) What's with wearing shorts/work pants so old that there have unsightly holes in them; thus the underwear shows?

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5) What's with wearing shorts, from years ago when the style was shorter, and having "boxer trim" around the legs?

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I see your minds working, ladies. You know exactly what I am talking about. I admit that sometimes I will come right out and ask these to my local male in my household. How about you? I can't say I am brave enough to ask these questions of men I work with. I might ask my brothers, but I am not too sure about asking my brothers-in-law . . . or my nephews.

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No doubt, if there is some male reading this, he is, at this moment, concocting his own list of puzzlements. I am not too sure how many "speciwomen" he has observed to draw up a list. I know that I have observed a lot of specimen to draw up mine.

Who Remembered?

If you turned your clocks back one hour Sunday morning thinking it was the annual move back to Standard Time, all you succeeded in doing was moving into a new time zone. The government changed the dates for when Daylight Saving Time (DST) kicks in and when it ends, and both last year and this year, things changed. So, I would wonder if anyone showed up early for something yesterday, thinking he or she was early (for a change) or wondering where everyone else was who was supposed to be at church or some other activity.

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I recall when I used to live near a church parking lot. I always liked to look out my window the Sunday clocks went back to regular time to see who showed up for church early. Occasionally, I would see a car drive in, circle the lot slowly, and then leave. My assumption is that at the moment of departure, it dawned on those in the car that DST was over. The Sunday DST ended was also the Sunday that I liked to see if the usual ones late to church were, for once, on time. Not too often did that happen.

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I assure you that next weekend, when DST ends, I will be noticing who is at church earlier than usual. As for us, I think we will be fine. I have the habit of changing our bedroom clocks for the start or end of DST on Saturday, when I get up in the morning. The reason I do that is that those are the first clocks we see. Whether or not I get to the other clocks before we go to bed doesn't seem quite as essential.

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Here is the question: Does Daylight Saving Time make sense? Claims are that we conserve about 1% on energy use by extending DST by about three or four weeks, starting earlier in March and ending in November rather than October. Next year DST will begin in the wee hours of Sunday, March 9. I think it will again end the first Sunday in November.

Sunday Thought Compliments of Maya Angelou

Christians
by Maya Angelou

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When I say. . . "I am a Christian, I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin'!''
I'm whispering "I was lost; Now I'm found and forgiven."

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When I say. . . "I am a Christian," I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

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When I say. . . "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

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When I say. . . "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

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When I say. . . "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect;
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

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When I say. . . "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain . . . .
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

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When I say. . . "I am a Christian," I'm not holier than thou;
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Halloween Humor

I decided that I may write some serious thoughts about Halloween next week. Since this is the Friday before Halloween, I thought I would pull up some jokes/riddles/puns for the time of year it is. No doubt some of these you will remember from years past; others may be new.

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Q: What do you get when you divide the circumference of a jack-o-lantern by its diameter?

A: Pumpkin Pi.
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Q: How do ghosts begin their letters?
A: "Tomb it may concern..."
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Q: What do you call a person who puts rat poison in a person's Corn Flakes?
A: A cereal killer
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Q: How do you mend a broken Jack-o-lantern?
A: With a pumpkin patch.
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Q: What is a ghost's favorite ride?
A: A roller ghoster.
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Q: Why are there fences around cemeteries?
A: Because people are dying to get in.
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Q: What do you get when you cross Dracula with Sleeping Beauty?
A: Tired blood.
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Q: Why was the mummy so tense?
A: He was all wound up.
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Q: What kind of street does a ghost like best?
A: A dead end.
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Q: How do you know if a ghost is lying?
A: You can see right through him.
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Q: Where do vampires live?
A: At the Vampire State Building.
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Q: Where do ghosts go on vacation?
A: Lake Erie.
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Q: How can you tell when a window is scared?
A: They get shudders.
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Q: Why didn't the skeleton dance at the Halloween party?
A: It had no body to dance with.
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Q: When does a skeleton laugh?
A: When something tickles his funny bone.
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Q: What tops off a ghost's sundae?
A: Whipped Scream
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Q: Why is a ghost such a messy eater?
A: Because he's always a goblin.
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Q: What happens when a ghost gets lost in a fog?
A: He's mist.
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Q: What sailor like to be chilled to the bone?
A: A skeleton crew.
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Q: Where does Count Dracula usually eat his lunch?
A: In the casketeria.
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Q: Where did the goblin throw the football?
A: Over the ghoul line.
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Q: What is a vampires favourite mode of transportation?
A: A blood vessel.
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Q: What kind of dog is owned by Dracula?
A: A blood hound.
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Q: Why did Dracula take cold medicine?
A: To stop his coffin
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The professor was removing organs from the deceased before his students, all the while saying, ". . . and this is the heart, and this is the liver, and this is the kidney, and this is . . ."

"What is the professor doing?" asked a student.

"Shh! He's giving an organ recital."

The LORD Is My Fortress

Psalm 91

(Contemporary English Version)

Live under the protection
of God Most High
and stay in the shadow
of God All-Powerful.

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Then you will say to the LORD,

"You are my fortress,

my place of safety;

you are my God,

and I trust you."
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The Lord will keep you safe

from secret traps

and deadly diseases.

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He will spread his wings

over you and keep you secure.

His faithfulness is like

a shield or a city wall.

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You won't need to worry

about dangers at night

or arrows during the day.

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And you won't fear diseases

that strike in the dark

or sudden disaster at noon.

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You will not be harmed,

though thousands fall

all around you.

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And with your own eyes

you will see

the punishment

of the wicked.

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The LORD Most High

is your fortress.

Run to him for safety,

and no terrible disasters

will strike you

or your home.
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God will command his angels

to protect you

wherever you go.
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They will carry you

in their arms,

and you won't hurt your feet

on the stones.

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You will overpower

the strongest lions

and the most deadly snakes.
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The Lord says,

"If you love me

and truly know who I am,

I will rescue you

and keep you safe.

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When you are in trouble,

call out to me.

I will answer and be there

to protect and honor you.
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You will live a long life

and see my saving power."

Sox or Rox?

Who will win?

Baseball fans, even if their teams aren't in the World Series, know that the 2007 Fall Classic begins this evening at Boston, weather permitting. The Boston Red Sox take on the Colorado Rockies. It seems almost like the "old" (BRS) being challenged by the "new" (CR). Sports pundits (sounds like an intelligent word to use, even for sports) seem to be favoring the Red Sox to prevail, even though they struggled a bit to surpass the Cleveland Indians, and the Colorado Rockies are riding high on a 20-game win streak.
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One Sports Illustrated writer breaks down comparisons by position, and in doing so, he shows why he believes Boston will win. The Red Sox have the edge at all positions except shortstop, centerfield, and the bullpen. The Rockies have the edge in playing defense, but the Red Sox have it when it comes to bringing in players off the bench and with managers. (Although I think that given time, the Rockies, who are a young team in so many ways, will continue to develop in these areas.)
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I think when it comes to attitude -- and this is my opinion -- I think the Rockies have it over the Red Sox. Why? No one expected them in the first round of play-offs. They weren't expected to win the second round either. They waltzed through both. The Rockies is a fairly new franchise, and they have many young players -- the kind that don't yet command big money to play. They are where they never expected to be and where no one else expected them to be -- AND THEY ARE PUMPED!!
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I am an American League fan, but I am not a Red Sox fan. This poses a dilemma for me when it comes to rooting for a team. My husband, on the other hand, is a National League fan, and so he does not have the same dilemma I do. However, I do think that we both will think it quite cool if the Rockies put it to the Red Sox. Maybe they might not win the World Series, but it would still be cool to see them pose a real challenge to the Red Sox. (I can't stand Manny Ramirez -- nor any other player who tends to stand around at home plate, admiring his hit before taking off for first base. That habit caught him the other night when he thought he had a homerun and only ended up at first base when he should have easily gotten to second base. He was standing there at home admiring his hit, which fell a little short!!)

Girls in My Circle

This was in an email I received today from a person who was my friend way before we became sister-in-law. It's not that we grew up together, as we were already adults, but I think that we were first friends when we were both still working on maturing and "finding" ourselves.

So, here is what she sent -- and I thought it was worth sharing. I made a few little changes to have it fit in this context rather than as an email to forward.

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When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend, and then I started to become a woman. It was then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, there would be many best friends.

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One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man. Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.

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Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

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One friend will say, "Let's cry together"; another, "Let's fight together"; another, "Let's walk away together."

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One friend will meet your spiritual need; another, your shoe fetish; another, your love for movies. Another will be with you in your season of confusion; another will be your clarifier; another, the wind beneath your wings.

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But whatever their assignment in your life, on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day, or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself . . . . those are your best friends.

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It may all be wrapped up in one woman, but for many, it's wrapped up in several.. one from 7th grade, one from high school, several from the college years, a couple from old jobs,
a few from church, on some days your mother, on some days your neighbor, on others, your sisters, and on some days, your daughters.

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So whether they've been your friend for 20 minutes or 20 years, let that woman/those women who have been placed in your life know that they have made, and perhaps still are making, a difference in your life.

Musings

Throughout the day, a lot of different ideas have run through my head as to what to type here. I decided to keep it simple.
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I look at the live video feeds and I read what my sister who lives in Southern California writes and I have to say that I am glad that I live in an area where natural disasters are rare.
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Do I live in an area where there are often nasty wildfires? No.
Do I live in an area that deals with earthquakes? No.
Do I live in an area that often is threatened by tornadoes? No.
How about hurricanes? No.
Do I live in a place where there are nasty blizzards? No.
How about major floods in the spring? No.
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While taxes are a nuisance and our governor, as someone recently wrote, is a moron, central New York is a fairly boring place to live, when it comes to nature's games. I know that I prefer that to what I am seeing today. The temperate weather of Southern California does not win me over.

Hands!

Hands!

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.
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A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $4.75 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.
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A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.
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A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea
It depends whose hands it's in.
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A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.
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Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.
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Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.

It depends whose hands it's in.
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As you see now, it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because . . .

It depends whose hands it's in.

Only $19.99 + S & H !!!

A little game I sometimes play, when no one else is around to listen, is guessing the prices of items sold on television. I do it because it seems that most of the time, items fall into these prices: $19.99 or $29.99, sometimes a nickel less. Always we have to add in shipping and handling. On occasion the price will surprise me and be $9.95 or $14.95. More expensive items tend to be any of the prices just listed, but they become monthly amounts, usually for three months.

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Sometimes the consumer can land a real deal when the vendor says, "Wait! There's more!" When that happens, you know that you may get two of the items for the price of only one -- plus additional shipping and handling. You may get additional items or accessories that go with your item for free -- plus shipping and handling. When it comes to cleaning products, you can get needed supplies for free -- plus shipping and handling -- if you call now to order!!!!

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I am sure that there are people who get right to the phone to call in their order. My thinking is that these are the people who just can't pass up a deal. They might not really need the item, but it is a deal!!! I have always thought that if I were to give in, call, and make a purchase of something I see advertised on television, I can always give it away if I don't like it. There are wedding showers, weddings, birthdays, Christmas, and other kinds of gift exchanges. There are even basic fund-raisers that solicit new and gently used items.

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However, I haven't given in -- not even when it looks like something I could use. I am having too much fun seeing if I can guess the price and if I can guess whether or not extras will be thrown in for free -- plus shipping and handling -- at the end.

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By the way, who is that guy who is on a lot of those commercials for cleaning products? My husband thinks all he does is holler, as if we can't hear him. I see him as just being overly enthusiastic.

Friday's Here Again!

I guess that those who work on weekends do not look forward to Fridays the same way that we who just work weekdays do -- unless Friday for them is also payday. I can't say that my job is stressful at all, but I still look forward to the weekend. That may be because I do not necessarily have to be watching the time for at least one day.

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I do receive funny things from time to time, and I save them in a folder for times like this. If you have ever taken a foreign language or used a foreign language, perhaps you can identify with these little anecdotes.

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Mistakes Make Great Memories

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Arbolito: While living in Madrid, getting my Master's degree, I went to the mercado, specifically to where they sold poultry. I very politely asked for "two pechos." I had learned that "pechos" was the word for breast. Little did I know that there was a different word for chicken breasts, pechuga. So there I was, asking the man for 2 human breasts!

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Apodemus: In a Spanish course in Salamanca, I met a Belgian girl. I asked her, in Spanish of course, whether she spoke Dutch or French. Her response was, "En la oficina, hablo holandés, pero en la cama hablo francés." Suddenly the whole room was looking at her, she went bright red and stuttered "¡En la casa, dije en la casa!"
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Spanish Guide: One that comes to mind happened many years ago during a trip to Mexico when I needed to buy a razor. Not knowing the word for razor, I went in a small store and asked for algo para aceitar and got only strange looks. Sign language came in handy, and I'm sure that they then figured out the word I meant. I had used the verb for "to oil" (aceitar) instead of the verb for "to shave" (afeitar). I didn't realize what I had said until later that evening.
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Donna B: We had cooked a turkey dinner for Mexican exchange student, and my son, who was learning Spanish, told him we were having polvo for dinner instead of pavo. Our exchange student gave him a horrified look and refused to come down for dinner. We later realized he had told the exchange student we were having dust for dinner instead of turkey for dinner.

Shoes

I have been having a problem with one of my feet for months. I attribute it to the fact that I spent a lot of time on my feet on tiled cement floors last year while I wore cheap, but comfortable shoes. One result is that I have made a real effort to pay for better shoes that aren't too ugly but are comfy. I will say that I have two pairs that fit that category and another pair that are comfy but look a lot like shoes one would wear in bad weather. I still want to find a pair of dress shoes that are comfy for Sundays and other dress-up occasions. The challenge to me is remembering that when I am near a respectable shoe store. Two around here that I recommend are these: Famous Footwear (a store chain) and Sarvay's, a locally-owned show store.

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With the shoe issue on my mind, I came across an interesting item recently. I am one who often will ask the question, "I wonder . . . .?" This answers one of those: How did pumps, stilettos, and sneakers get their names? So, here is a smidgen of shoe history.

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The term pump first popped up in 1550 in England, where male servants sported the style. It is said that the noise they made while wearing the loose-fitting shoes resembled the sound of a water pump. The word sneaker entered the language in the 1870s; the rubber soles made the shoes quiet and therefore "sneaky." The modern usage of stiletto, a Renaissance-era Italian word for an assassin's narrow-bladed knife, made its debut in 1953. The word turned out to be especially appropriate, because the shoes' pointy heels were murder on wooden floors.

Another Helpful Tip

How rare is this -- two tips in one week on making housework easier!?!?! Actually, this caught my attention because I was looking for a simple solution to this problem, but I wasn't finding any leads.

Our tub was draining water slowly. The advantage there was this: if you wanted to be able to have the softer nails you need to cut those toenails, this was a big help in having them immersed in water for several minutes. We preferred to have our water drain out normally. I think that my husband ended up bringing something home from his store to remedy it.

I am, though, going to keep this for future reference -- whether for the tub or for sinks. I am thinking that my kitchen sinks will get some attention this week or next . . .

Clogged Drain Prevention

Pour a mix of 1/4 c. ammonia and 1 qt. boiling water into your sink drains every few months to dissolve grease and loosen clumps before they become a problem.

Just a Quick Thought

As I have said before, my goal is to avoid getting too carried away with writing about things that are political. If you are like me, you have friends who send you a bazillion emails about this thing and that thing that deals either with the war in Iraq or with George Bush or with Hillary Clinton. For the most part, I know what I think about all three of these. Emails I receive about them will not change my mind at all. I am not an ignoramus who knows nothing about current events and issues. I am not an ostrich that buries her head in the sand either.

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With that said, this is my quick point . . .

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Do you realize that almost every time that Hillary Clinton opens her mouth, she is promising more and more programs that will cost more and more dollars. Cutting spending on Iraq will not cover the expense. Neither will not raising taxes . . . By the way, John Edwards is worse; not only does he want to spend, spend, spend, but he also wants to make some things mandatory.

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Don't you just love those Democrats! Too bad the real Democrats can't rise to the surface; afterall, all the ones we are seeing vying for the nomination really are quite shallow.

Housecleaning Tip

Not that I keep a sloppy-looking house, but I do not tend to spend an excessive amount of time cleaning house. Yes, I vacuum a few times a month. Yes, I dust -- about that often. Yes, I clean the bathrooms -- much more regularly. And the list goes on.

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Do I like to spend my days, especially Saturdays cleaning? No. So, when I came across a page of time-saving tips in a magazine, I made a copy to post on my bulletin board here. Since it is just lying here, waiting to be stabbed with a tack and posted, I thought it would be a good idea to share one item that really caught my attention, something I had never thought of before.

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Here's a slick way to ward off pesky soap scum and water spots on the shower door: Wipe down the glass or fiberglass with Rain-X Original Glass Treatment, which is used on car windshields to keep them clear.

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Wow! We have a door on our downstairs shower, which is why this caught my attention. I am sure we have Rain-X in the garage, although I was planning to use some on the car windshield before nasty, rainy fall weather really sets in. Maybe I will just have to add the item to my shopping list for when I head out of the valley later this week.

A Simple Thought

The religions of the world say, "Do and live."

The religion of the Bible says, "Live and do."

Today in History: October 13

American history is my favorite branch. Probably if it came to specialities, mine would be the presidents. For example, this morning, before I took off for a six-hour workshop, I was watching Fox News. The people there were discussing whom they believed were the most powerful wives of vice presidents in history. They believe that to be the current "Mrs. VP" -- Lynn Cheney. Knowing what I do about her background, including her accomplishments, I could see that. The three went on to rate Abigail Adams (eventual First Lady) as one other. The listed several good reasons for that.

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I think that because I had been thinking this morning about Abigail Adams -- and as I said, I do like American history -- my attention was drawn to that fact that today marks the 215th anniversary of the laying of the stone that marked the start of the building of the White House. The first residents there were John and Abigail Adams.

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Here is some of what the Library of Congress records have to say about the early history of the White House:

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The cornerstone of the White House was laid on October 13, 1792. President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved into the unfinished structure on November 1, 1800, keeping to the scheduled relocation of the capital from Philadelphia. Congress declared the city of Washington in the District of Columbia the permanent capital of the United States on July 16, 1790. President George Washington and Charles L'Enfant, the French planner of the federal city, chose the site for the residence. Congress selected a design by James Hoban, an Irish emigrant architect living in Charleston, South Carolina for the structure. Modeled after Leister House in Dublin, Ireland, Hoban's plan featured the Palladian style popular in Europe. It was chosen over several other proposals including one submitted by Thomas Jefferson.
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Constructed of white-grey sandstone that contrasted sharply with the red brick used in nearby buildings, the presidential mansion was called the White House as early as 1809. President Theodore Roosevelt officially adopted the term in 1902.
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Invading British troops burned the White House during the closing months of the War of 1812. Rebuilt and enlarged under the direction of Hoban, it was reoccupied by James Monroe in 1817.

The next major expansion of the executive mansion took place during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency when second-floor rooms were converted from offices into living quarters for the president's family. The West Wing was also built during this period to house the expanding presidential staff. For over six months in 1927, President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge lived in nearby Dupont Circle while the White House was renovated and the roof raised and replaced. During the Truman years, the structure of the building was reinforced with steel beams.

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If you recall, the fact that some of Truman's piano legs broke through the floor got the attention of the government that the White House needed some attention. While the work was being done, the Trumans moved over to Blaine House. It was while they were there that some radical Puerto Ricans tried to gun their way into the House to assassinate Truman. His Secret Service detail kept that from happening, but not without some cost of life.

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Years ago I did take the general White House tour several different times. Today it is something you have to get tickets to do rather than just show up and line up ahead of time. It is hard to believe the freedom that once existed for people to come and go at the White House.

Friday!

Fridays come quickly, it seems, when the work week is short -- mine was. Fridays come quickly, it seems, when I am busy -- I was.
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Here's a quick chuckle. I got this item from a relative of mine recently. .
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Replacement Windows

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Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive double-pane energy efficient kind.
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Today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and he still hadn't paid for them.
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Hello-o-o-o! Just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast-talking sales guy had told ME last year, namely, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves! Hello-o-o-o! It's been a year! (I told him.)
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There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up.... He never called back.
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Guess I won that stupid argument. I bet he felt like an idiot.

Beth

Life here has been a bit busier than usual. Sunday evening we welcomed Beth here to our house for a few days, as she was here in NY making contacts with churches to present her work in Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. She was to speak at our church last night. Her home, when in the USA, is in Michigan. She had set up speaking engagements in this area the first part of this month. It made no sense for her to go back to Michigan from Sunday evening until Wednesday evening. So, she stayed here, living the "high life" in our downstairs guest area.

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I met Beth in August 2006 when I joined her, and four others, for a few weeks of an outreach to a village in northwestern Romania. When I knew she would be in the USA for a few months in order to build her financial support and make new contacts, I talked to my pastor about having Beth come here, thinking that it would maybe work with a time she would need to be ending up at ABWE headquarters in Pennsylvania. She opted to come in October, when she could be a part of our missions conference. In our church, we do this on Wednesdays and Sundays in October.

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Of the group that was in Romania last summer, I was the only "unknown." I thought that this time Beth that could come here would give at least one person in the group an idea of what my home area and church were like. It adds to things we can shat about -- with some real sense -- should it work for me to re-join most of the group sometime in the future in Hungary or the surrounding area.

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Monday I had the day off work. I was able to show Beth around the town and the general area, which would be helpful to her the following days.

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Tuesday I had to work. Beth stopped down at the church/Christian school to know when to be there Wednesday to speak to the little kids and to the geography class. Then she ventured out to the surrounding area, making stops at several churches in the area. With her map program on her computer, which she could plug into the cigarette lighter in her car, she ventured hither and yon. I took her a little longer to get back here than she thought it might. No problem.

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Wednesday I had to work. Beth spent time at the church/school part of the day and then catching up on ABWE stuff. Last night she spoke at the church and was well received.

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This morning she headed out to return to Michigan. Later this month she returns to Budapest. Who knows . . . maybe we'll see each other over there or here again. Last time when I said good-bye to her -- and the others -- it was most unusual. It was the night we had had an eventful time in Budapest. She and the others (who weren't in the hospital) dropped me off in the wee hours of the morning at the place where I was staying. Parked out there in the middle of the small street, good-byes were made. They stayed there until they saw I was in the gate and the house, both locked. My hostess was at the hospital with Rebecca, and I didn't see her before I left for the USA the following day -- although we did speak by phone.

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Anyhow, our farewells today were more "normal," although quick because she had just gotten out of the shower when I needed to leave for work. I am sure that if she were in the area again, following up on contacts she made -- as she will be back from Hungary again later on to work on her support -- she would stop by, maybe even stay. That would be fine with both my husband and I.

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Beth's web site: www.reachingaregion.com

Sunday's Thought

I'm keeping it simple today.

The Two Ways of Man
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Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
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But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
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He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
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The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
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Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
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For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

.Psalm 1

Chicken & Biscuits . . . and What!?!

When you think of a chicken & biscuit dinner put on by a group as a fund-raiser, what do you think the menu will be? Let me tell you how it is here -- and not just when we are out and about, but also when we are at home.

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Chicken & biscuit dinners around here include chicken in a gravy, biscuits, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Sometimes the biscuits are broken up and put into the gravy, which most eat on top of mashed potatoes. That may happen at home; that may happen when we are out -- like here in about 45 minutes. When we are out, usually added to the menu is a salad for starters and homemade pie for dessert.

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Here is what I don't understand, though. Why do we have both biscuits and mashed potatoes? I like chicken and gravy, but I would just as soon have it either with the mashed potatoes or with the biscuits. When I am the one cooking that here at home, I don't always do both -- even though it is what my husband's family does.

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I really am curious as to whether other areas in the USA do the same thing as here -- do chicken & biscuit dinners include mashed potatoes? I will admit that if the biscuits come separate, which is what I do at home sometimes, I eat them as if they are the bread -- some butter and some honey or jam. But I really don't get it about breaking the biscuits into the chicken gravy and eating that on the mashed potatoes.

Here's an Easy Question

Which way is the bus pictured here traveling? To the left or to the right?

Can't make up your mind? Look carefully at the picture again. Still don't know?

Pre-schoolers all over the United States were shown this picture asked the same question. About 90% of the pre-schooler's gave this answer, "The bus is traveling to the left."

When asked, "Why do you think the bus is traveling to the left?" they answered: "Because you can't see the door to get on the bus."

How do you feel now ???

I know, me too.

Musings About End Times

Quite often I find myself thinking about End Times and have decided that throughout history, Christians' views as to what that might be have changed. I remember when the thinking was that the essential conflict would be the free world versus the communist world. Think about it -- the Soviet Union and its presence in Central and Eastern Europe, along with satellite countries throughout the world, and China and its HUGE population.

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My thinking has changed. One obvious reason is the fall of the Soviet Empire. Instead, I am prone to believe that the struggle will be the Muslim world versus the Christian/Jewish world. Think about it -- Ishmael and Isaac? Does that ring a bell? How about the promises made to their parents? How have the two branches played out in history?

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We'll see . . .

Planning Trips for Older Parents

Last week I found myself making final plans for plane trips for three people -- for my parents and for my mother-in-law. I got to thinking then about how strange it is to think that I have been called upon several times over the last few months to make travel plans for someone other than my husband and me. I had been thinking about whether or not my parents would go to a travel agent near where they live or would they just not bother, since they do not have a computer -- and if they did, they would have no idea where to begin.

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In making travel plans for older people, there are a number of things to take into consideration. What those things are -- and if they merit attention -- depends on the older people themselves. They don't all fit into one mold.

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Here are some things I take into consideration:

• I choose the airport nearer them. If I can't take them there or pick them up, it is easier for them to feel free to ask a friend near where they live.
• Since the airport only flies direct to NYC, I look for flights in which they change planes no more than once.
• Because of their ages, I try not to have them coming in late at night. They get up early, and so early departures aren't too hard on them. I also am keeping in mind that someone other than family is probably getting them to and from the airport on this end.
• I try to have a decent time gap between flights so that they do not feel rushed. When I am not too sure, though, I try to line up wheelchairs for them to get them to the right place quickly. I also like for them to have some "bathroom time."
• If I am not too confident about their finding their waaround large airports when they are traveling on their own, I try to line up a wheelchair for them. At their ages, it is good to keep their fretting at a minimum.
• If I get to choose the seats, I try to keep them away from the emergency exit doors, as that responsibility can fall to someone younger.
• If I get to choose seats, I try to have them sit where they can look out the window and see something other than a wing.
• If I get to choose seats, I set them where they have easy access to the aisle. If the plane has rows of 2s and 3s, I reserve them a row that just has 2s. If the plane is mammoth, I keep them to the rows of 3s, not the rows of 5s.

Because of needing to be choosy, I don't go with websites that don't reveal too much about the flight until after you give a credit card number. I do price shop. If I can, I check out senior rates.

I have done this enough times to know what credit card info is needed. So, if I have to call my parents to let them know I am about to make their purchase, I know what information I have to ask them to give me: how their name appears on their ID they will be using, what kind of credit card, the numbers, the expiration date, the name appearing on the credit card, AND the three little numbers you have to get off the back of the card, near where the authorizing signature is.

Last week I made plans for my parents to fly into Charleston, SC, and then fly out of Atlanta, GA. I made plans for my mother-in-law to fly in and out of Springfield, MO. (She was able to sit beside me as I went through my mental checklist, which is basically the list above. She took the pressure off me by being the one making the final decisions.)
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A few of my favorite travel sites are listed below:
http://www.kayak.com/
http://www.orbitz.com/
http://www.cheaptickets.com/
http://www.hotwire.com/

October!

Wow! It's October 1. Around here the leaves have barely begun to change. I think that maybe if we had some frosty nights that would help the process along. Somewhere I heard that when it is dry, as it has been here, the leaves are brighter. I hope so! Sunday or Monday, a friend of mine I worked with in Romania is coming for a few days, as she will be speaking next Wednesday in our church's missions conference. Although she lives most of the time in the suburbs of Budapest, Hungary, her roots are in Michigan. I think it is the flat part of Michigan, and so I am hoping to blow her away with the autumn sights around here.

Did you know that October is National ____ Month? Clergy Appreciation, Breast Cancer Awareness, Apple, Applejack, Caramel, Cookbook, Cookie, Dessert, Pasta, Pickled Peppers, Pizza, Popcorn Poppin’, Pork, Pretzel, Seafood

In the meantime, what strange days are there this month?

October 4 National Taco Day
October 5 National Apple Betty Day
October 6 National Noodle Day
October 8 Columbus Day celebrated (2nd Monday)
October 9 Leif Erikson Day
October 10 National Angel Food Cake Day
October 12 Columbus Day -- for real
October 13 National Pumpkin Festival
October 15 National Mushroom Day
October 17 National Pasta Day
October 18 National Chocolate Cupcake Day
October 22 National Nut Day
October 23 National Boston Cream Pie Day
October 24 National Bologna Day
October 28 National Chocolate Day
October 29 National Oatmeal Day
October 30 National Candy Corn Day
October 31 Halloween

No, my list is not at all exhaustive. Maybe you know of some others to add. In the meantime, I just might have tacos Thursday and Apple Betty on Friday.