The Visitation

We spent a nice week visiting with my parents. They stayed with us while my sister-in-law's family was in town. Lori was really happy to see them after a year apart. I know she'll miss them alot. We love you, Lori!

Well, after a week with mom and dad, I've come to realize certain things:

1. All my driving skills were inherited from my mother.

2. All my backseat driving skills were inherited from...my mother.

3. My Dad NEEDS Cable TV.

4. Once you hit 60, it takes 3 or 4 viewings to actually finish a movie. (Something about bright light emitted from a screen induces sleep.)

5. Brushing and flossing your teeth is extremely important or they will literally fall out of your mouth.

6. My mother can name every actor/actress to ever live but she can't find her way to the doctor's office.

7. My Dad has the largest vocabulary on the planet, but can't tell you the difference between the spellings of to, two, and too.

8. I inherited my tendency to trip, fall, and smash my body into hard objects from my mother.

The main thing I learned about myself was that I have the greatest mom and dad in the whole wide world.

Black Eyes and Birthdays

Sorry that I haven't blogged lately, but I've been busy, busy, busy!!!

Where to begin? Our visiting group from Mississippi had a good time. They were a nice bunch of young people and I really enjoyed having them here. I got a huge kick out of one young man. He kept on asking if he was going to see any New Mexican cows. I wasn't really sure if there were any cows in New Mexico. Finally, on our way to Santa Fe, he saw two rather scrawny cows in a field by the interstate. He was very excited!

Another thing that happened to me while they were here was I gave myself a black eye. Yes, a black eye! I opened the car door too quickly, lost my grip on the handle, and it smacked me in my right eye socket. It's almost well now. But, I had a pretty nice shiner there for about a week.

The day that the group left, my sister-in-law's family drove in from Mississippi. This meant that my mom and dad would be staying with me for the duration. I've enjoyed having them here with me. We've been doing geezerly things like watching Bob Newhart and Sherlock Holmes. Dad announced the other day that if he ever came to live with me, we would HAVE to get cable. (We cancelled it about three months ago.)

Oh yeah, Vaughn had his birthday last week. He turned....Ha! You thought I was going to tell you! No way, he's the same age as I am. Not gonna happen. Anyway,Vaughn had a very prolonged birthday celebration. I guess we will call it Vaughns birth"week". On his actual day, I made crawfish enchiladas. It was dee-licious. The next day, my mom made him a New York-style cheesecake. It was faaan-tastic. The next day, I gave him his present: a bag of golf goodies. My favorite was the "Caddyshack" gopher club cover. Too cute! He played golf with Jeff,my sister-in-law's nephew-in-law. The next day we went to a barbeque at our good friends' James and Linda's house. Ribs to die for! The next day, Sunday, we had a birthday cookout at our house with Lori's family. Vaughn had a carrot cake with candles and everything. It was funny cause I put candles on his cake, but I put the wrong age. So, he lost two years. At our age, that's a good thing, right? Today, we ain't doing nuttin! Party's over!

Tomorrow I have to register Lauren. She will officially be in High School. No way! It's too soon. I'm not ready! She's still my sweet baby. My six-foot-one fourteen year old princess. My little sunshine. Time flies, so enjoy every last second of every single day, folks.

I start back to work at the Mid-High on the 8th of August. Boo-hoo! It took me a month to get used to not working. I nearly went nuts with boredom. Then, I got used to it and started to like being home agian. Now, I've gotta go back and I don't want to. Life plays such cruel jokes on you, doesn't it?

Well, I know there's more, but I'm out of time. Have a good one!

Prayer for Gerri

For those of you who don't know, Gerri Hungate's father passed away. Please be praying for her and her family during their time of loss.

Vistitors

We had a group of young people come in on Thursday afternoon to visit our church. They are from Philadelphia, Mississippi, and the surrounding areas. Last night, they joined my boys at midnight to watch the premiere of "The Dark Knight". Everyone gave it two thumbs up. Today, they did a tour of ABQ and took the tram up to the top of the mountain. They seem to be having fun. The leader of this group, Phillip Prince, has been helping us finance the church plant here in Rio Rancho.

This morning, another group came into town from Mississippi: the Switzer family. Jeff Switzer is a pastor that we met while living down there in Philadelphia. He and his church have been helping to finance our church plant here as well. Be praying for him. While they were in Pagosa Springs, CO, Jeff's brother had to go to the hospital with an ongoing migraine. Unfortunately, he found out that he has a tumor in his right-frontal lobe. He is a new Christian and needs all the prayer that he can get at this dire time in his life. Be praying for Jeff as he supports his brother through this time as well.

Book Review-"Cross" by James Patterson

This book was very good. I'd say four out of five stars.



Alex Cross has been tortured for ten years by the murder of his wife. Several questions haunt him: "Was her death actually intended for him?" and "Was there something he could have done to prevent it?" As Alex attempts to crack a serial rape/murder case, he uncovers information that leads him to believe that the culprit is also responsible for the death of his wife, Maria.

The story is fluid. The plot builds up to the "I can't put it down" stage. The ending is satisfactory, especially the last sentence. This particular villain is particularly brutal and there is some bad language.

If you like thrillers, this is a good one. Warning: if you have never read a Patterson book starring Alex Cross, don't start with this one. Try to read them in order.

The Infernal Internet

Computers are the bane of my existence. I can't seem to conquer the hold that it has over me. I sit down and wiggle the mouse and nothing happens! I click some buttons. Nothing! I slam the side of the monitor with my fist. Still nothing! It's the most frustrating contraption ever invented,except for the VCR/DVD with remote. I can't even set the right time on my remote! Forget recording something. I can't even figure out how to get the stupid little trap door open to insert new batteries. AHHHGG!

This morning, I couldn't get online. I tried five times on the computer in my room and nothing. I screamed, "Vaughn....." He came running like an EMT at a wreck. I told him my dilema, which he didn't seem to understand. He sat down and tapped some buttons and he was online. "There's nothing wrong with your computer," he said. Great! He leaves and ten more minutes later, I'm still trying to get online. Finally, I leave my blasted computer and go downstairs to use the laptop. Same thing! I try to log on and it won't admit me. I scream, "Vaughn...." He comes running, less enthusiastically this time. I explain that I cannot log on to the itnernet. Something is wrong with the laptop. He sits down and taps a few buttons. BAM! He's online. "Nothing is wrong with the laptop," he says. AHHHHGG!

I'm not really sure I can prove it, but there is a conspiracy to drive me crazy. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that someone isn't really after you, right?

The Flea Market

Why, oh why, do they have to call it a FLEA market? It gives me visions of old junk with bugs imbedded into the nooks and crannys and folds. If you've ever had an encounter with actual fleas, you would know that these are not one of the CUTE bugs. They are annoying. They bite. They carry disease. They are ugly! When's the last time you heard of a "Flea Farm"? No, no one likes fleas, not even little kids. Why can't they call the market something more attractive; like the Ladybug Market or the Butterfly Market? That sounds so much more inviting. Anyway....

I went to the ABQ Flea Market yesterday with my mom and my friend, Linda Brower. It was really a fun day. I was surprised to find a few things of interest. I was actually too cheap to buy them, but I was interested.

The first thing I saw was a very cool plant stand. It had all sorts of potted plants that I'd never seen before. Not necesarily rare, just unusual. It reminded me of my childhood trips with my family to the Ewa Beach Flea Market. I'm not sure but they might have called it a Swap Meet. This was a very fun outing for me. I ALWAYS bought a plant, which might have been consisered odd for an eight year old. I remember collecting the plants and putting them in the window sill in my bedroom. I had a pretty nice garden in there before it was all said and done.

The second thing I saw was a box of old LP's (vinyl records). These inscluded Louis Armstrong, Patsy Cline, Gene Krupa, and quite a few others. I wanted them all! I nearly bought the Patsy Cline for Vaughn, who is a big fan, but allowed my cheapness to win out.

Linda found all sorts of cool stuff. Garden statuary & two paintings for ten dollars. My mom bought me a turqouise necklace and she found a dual deck cassette recorder for twenty bucks, which was awesome because they had been looking to buy a new one for over a hundred dollars. They both bought stuff from the vegetable & fruit vendors. Not me, I'm just too cheap.

Then, after we left the flea market, we went to ABQ Uptown. We went to a restaraunt with "Elephant" in the name. I can't remember the name of that place to save my life! I ate Macadamia-encrusted mahi-mahi with coleslaw and french fried sweet potatoes. It was good! If you're ever in the area, try out the restaraunt with "Elephant" in the name.

Anyhoo, I had a nice day. I hope that everyone enjoyed their weekend too.

Book Review- Step on a Crack

This was a very good book. At first, it was hard for me to get into the main character, Detective Matthews. I was having a hard time not comparing him to Alex Cross. In the end, the nice-guy detective with a dying wife and ten adopted kids grew on me.

The premise of the book is an overwrought detective dealing with a private as well as a very public crisis. Detective Matthews' wife is in the hospital dying of cancer. He is trying to deal with caring for his ten kids. Then, all of a sudden, he is called in two days before Christmas with a crisis at St. Patricks' Cathedral in Manhattan. The church is playing host to the funeral of a former First Lady when it is taken over by a band of criminals. The high profile celebrities and politicians that were attending the funeral are held hostage for an immense amount of ransom.

The book has an interesting plot and a very satisfying end. If you're looking for a good thriller, this one would do just fine.

The "Plan Man"

I got up this morning with an okay attitude. I went downstairs to make some coffee. This is a must for me to gain full consciousness. Then, I waited. Every morning without fail, Vaughn announces some sort of "project" for the day. Today was no different. "We are moving all the furniture into different rooms today," he finally announced. YEAH!!!!

The boys are home for this semester, so we are putting their furniture back into their original rooms. Lots of work! To make a long story short, I stayed in my bedroom writing in my book. They were more or less done when I finally checked on them. Hey! Don't give me that look! I made them lunch! Pasta with cheese sauce...homemade no less.

Anyway, yesterday we were talking with Andrew. He was a bit discouraged, so we gave him a pep talk. And, as usual, the final words out of Vaughn's mouth are..."Your life would be easier if you had a day-planner." That is when I gave him his new nickname, The Plan-Man.

I'll never use a day-timer. I barely recognize a calendar when I see it. I ask Vaughn to inform me of what is happening a day ahead so that I can prepare myself. It drives him nuts! But, I'm an artistic soul. I hate being put into the confines of a schedule. So, I just wing it.

This way of life doesn't always work out, but I have way more fun. Imagine the surprise when 25 guests show up hungry and I wasn't expecting it! Wow, now that's fun! Anyway, if you ever want to know anything "specific" about our family schedule or the church schedule, you might ought to ask Vaughn. Although, this might not work because certain times and dates come from me. So, anything goes, right?

So, my advise is to call The Plan Man. It will almost always be close to being correct.

They Ruined It!

Yesterday, I was rendered completely useless by a severe neck and head ache. I stayed home from church and slept. When I wasn't sleeping, I watched movies. (And, because of the pain, I think I was a bit on the grouchy side.)

Anyway, while one of the movies I watched yesterday was really good, the other left a little something to be desired. This fact got me to thinking about movies in general. For example, many of us loved the X-Men comics as kids. Storm was one of my favorite characters because she was so....powerful! Then, the movie comes along and this happens: THE SCENE: Storm finally gets the upper hand during a fight with fellow mutant Toad and she delivers the worst line in action hero history. THE LINE: ''You know what happens when a toad gets struck by lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else.'' Yeah...whatever!! My dog Dixie could've cme up with a better zinger than THAT!

For your enjoyment, here are some other stupid movie lines:

1. "I'm the king of the world!" - JACK DAWSON (Leonardo DiCaprio) with young ROSE DEWITT BUKATER (Kate Winslet) in Titanic (1997)
2. "Nobody puts Baby in the corner." - JOHNNY CASTLE (Patrick Swayze) about FRANCES "BABY" HOUSEMAN (Jennifer Grey) in Dirty Dancing (1987)
3. "Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed." - CARRIE (Andie MacDowell) to CHARLES (Hugh Grant) in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
4. "I love you." "Ditto." - MOLLY JENSEN (Demi Moore) and SAM WHEAT (Patrick Swayze) in Ghost (1990)
5. "You can be my wingman any time."- TOM KASANZKY (Val Kilmer) to LT. PETE MITCHELL (Tom Cruise) in Top Gun (1986)
6. "I'm just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her." - ANNA SCOTT (Julia Roberts) to WILLIAM THACKER (Hugh Grant) in Notting Hill (1999)
7. "Today we celebrate our Independence Day."- US President THOMAS J. WHITMORE (Bill Pullman) in Independence Day (1996)
8. "They make take our lives, but they will never take our freedom!"- WILLIAM WALLACE (Mel Gibson) in Braveheart (1995)
9. "You had me at hello."- DOROTHY BOYD (Renee Zellweger) to JERRY MAGUIRE (Tom Cruise) in Jerry Maguire (1996)
10. "You're a godsend, a saviour." "No, I'm a postman."- A BLIND WOMAN to the POSTMAN (Kevin Costner) in The Postman (1997)

Feel free to add your own in the comment column.

4th of July

We had a great party last night! Thanks to everyone who came. I hope that you enjoyed the food, fireworks, and performance by the boys.

The Gym

I've noticed a few funny things since going to the gym. People don't always follow a correct exercise regimen. The results of their body shape give them away every time.

For example, there are the "Storks". They work out their upper body until they have chests and arms like Arnold Schwartzenneger. But, their hips and legs look like matchsticks. A really heavy breeze comes by and those guys will topple over.

Then, there are the "Beachballs". They come in with muscular arms and legs, but their stomach is as big around as they are tall. I'm not really sure that their crunches are in equal ratio with their beer consumption.

Next, there are the "Matchsticks". They are the naturally skinny guys who come in just to work on their biceps. They have these two little lumps protruding from beneath their extremely pale skin and they do upwards of 1,000 biceps curls to show them off.

Then, there are the "Chameleons". These guys are unassuming and don't really seem to be super fit until they shimmy their shoulders under that enormous barbell with 2,000 pounds on it and squat it five or six times. Sheesh!

Also, there are the "Saddlebags". These guys have worked their legs out so hard and long that they look like they have shoved two pork roasts into the legs of their shorts. Their thighs are so enormous that they sway like 'John Wayne after a cattle drive' when they walk.

Finally, there are the "Neanderthals". These guys are benchpress junkies. They have worked out their chests without paying any attention to their backs. So, their muscles pull their shoulders forwards making them look like the missing link.

Not that I should boast of my figure, which I like to call "Aging Sharpei". But, hey, you notice stuff, right?

Scrabble

I am the world's best and worst Scrabble player. I would be the best if I could just stop myself from helping my opponents. I just can't stand to see people squirming around with their jumble of tiles. So, I look over and point out a way to make fifty points on a triple word score. I know, I'm totally lame!

Vaughn, David, Lauren (D's friend), and I played tonight. Vaughn won. He called himself the Scrabble Champ. I was like...whatever! I guess he forgot how I helped him get thrity-two points on a word. Really, I think he was just prodding me because I wouldn't let him use the non-existent word "iradical" on a double word space.

Ryan came in briefly to help Lauren. That was rich! He tried to get her to put the word reason down...only it was spelled "reizen". This led me to realize that I am a total failure as a home-school teacher! My kids can't spell and Ryan still has to use a digital clock to tell time. Andrew only recently memorized the months in order. It's like they were raised in the jungle or something. Oh wait...they were raised in the jungle!

Anyway, next time I play Scrabble, I'm playing to win...unless someone looks really pathetic.