Happy New Year to everyone!
We went to two parties, one at Bob and Susan Engels' and then a later party at Nic and Kathryn Nelson's. Even so, we were home by 11:15. I talked with Andrea who is in Kansas when she called to wish me Happy New Year. And now we are waiting for the last minutes before January 1st, 2006.
Here's hoping our neighbors don't shoot off anything but fireworks...
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Friday, December 30, 2005
flylady
This is an interesting essay. Flylady is not just for homemakers and women.
http://www.monologueaudition.com/flylady.html
http://www.monologueaudition.com/flylady.html
Thursday, December 29, 2005
This one's for Deb
Christmas has come and gone. All that stressing about everything and now no one is even talking about Christmas except, "What did you get?"
I got a gift certificate for Pier I from Mike. So I went last night and bought something and THEN realized I didn't have the cert with me.
I got a cd from Jeff and Deb which I've already listened to.
I got a gift card for Border's from Dan. I'm trying to decide what book I want to buy.
I got a potato masher from John. Now, before everyone asks why such a mundane gift from a spouse, let me state that I asked for it. I am tired of having just barely workable accessories and appliances in the kitchen and have started asking for "the world's best" so I will have quality items that won't break after a year. John is also going to let me choose my own Britta water filter so we can have tastier water.
The Feelys gave us a Taste of Tulare box with lots of yummies including very good Maverick's coffee which we enjoyed this morning. Feelys Sr gave us See's candy which is always a happy choice.
All in all, I was very pleased.
On another note, I have spent two days with Dan at his apartment helping him sort through his belongings to toss, give away, store and pack as he gets ready to go on active duty. Actually, I really don't mind doing the cleaning up and sorting and I am treasuring this time spent with my first born son, knowing that this time could be the last for a long time as he goes off and begins his career as an Army chaplain.
I got a gift certificate for Pier I from Mike. So I went last night and bought something and THEN realized I didn't have the cert with me.
I got a cd from Jeff and Deb which I've already listened to.
I got a gift card for Border's from Dan. I'm trying to decide what book I want to buy.
I got a potato masher from John. Now, before everyone asks why such a mundane gift from a spouse, let me state that I asked for it. I am tired of having just barely workable accessories and appliances in the kitchen and have started asking for "the world's best" so I will have quality items that won't break after a year. John is also going to let me choose my own Britta water filter so we can have tastier water.
The Feelys gave us a Taste of Tulare box with lots of yummies including very good Maverick's coffee which we enjoyed this morning. Feelys Sr gave us See's candy which is always a happy choice.
All in all, I was very pleased.
On another note, I have spent two days with Dan at his apartment helping him sort through his belongings to toss, give away, store and pack as he gets ready to go on active duty. Actually, I really don't mind doing the cleaning up and sorting and I am treasuring this time spent with my first born son, knowing that this time could be the last for a long time as he goes off and begins his career as an Army chaplain.
Friday, December 09, 2005
another survey
I got this one from Dan, too. I enjoyed reading his answers and it brought back my memories of the early years.
20 years ago I was: pregnant with Mary, living in Wheaton, IL and shivering with cold. My parents were visiting us for Christmas.
15 years ago I was: settling into life in the US, in Portland, getting ready for our first Christmas in the US in four years, wondering how God was going to provide work for John.
10 years ago I was: living in Hillsboro, OR, getting ready for Deb (from Biola) and Dan (from Army active duty) to come home for Christmas break.
5 years ago I was: still living in Hillsboro planning Christmas and waiting for Deb (from Talbot) and Mike (from Harvey Mudd) to come home.
1 year ago I was: working in homework club at Watts.
Yesterday I was: mad because someone forgot to tell me a meeting was canceled and I hung around for more than an hour waiting for the meeting; hosting the small group dinner and Bible study.
5 snacks I enjoy: Americanos, York mints, chocolate, potato chips, scones. And sixth--most kinds of fruit.
5 things I would do with a million dollars: pay off my kids' school bills, take a vacation in Europe with all of my family, buy John the car of his dreams, buy cars for me and all our kids, buy a house (oh wait, that would take all my money, buying a house in Southern CA).
5 places I would run away to: England, Italy, Papua, Portland, El Segundo.
5 things I would never wear: a bikini, gathered skirt, short shorts, stilletto heels, tacky Christmas sweater.
5 favorite tv programs: I don't watch much TV--I like Mystery Theatre on Sunday nights.
5 bad habits: wasting time on the computer, reading when I should be cleaning or working, stacking papers, correcting store employees' bad grammar on signs, eating too much chocolate.
5 biggest joys: Sunday mornings with my family at Starbuck's, walking along the beach, biking along the beach, traveling, hugs from my students, past and present.
5 favourite toys: my knitting needles, my spinning wheel, my bike, computer, scrapbook supplies.
5 fictional characters I would date: nobody. I'm happily married.
20 years ago I was: pregnant with Mary, living in Wheaton, IL and shivering with cold. My parents were visiting us for Christmas.
15 years ago I was: settling into life in the US, in Portland, getting ready for our first Christmas in the US in four years, wondering how God was going to provide work for John.
10 years ago I was: living in Hillsboro, OR, getting ready for Deb (from Biola) and Dan (from Army active duty) to come home for Christmas break.
5 years ago I was: still living in Hillsboro planning Christmas and waiting for Deb (from Talbot) and Mike (from Harvey Mudd) to come home.
1 year ago I was: working in homework club at Watts.
Yesterday I was: mad because someone forgot to tell me a meeting was canceled and I hung around for more than an hour waiting for the meeting; hosting the small group dinner and Bible study.
5 snacks I enjoy: Americanos, York mints, chocolate, potato chips, scones. And sixth--most kinds of fruit.
5 things I would do with a million dollars: pay off my kids' school bills, take a vacation in Europe with all of my family, buy John the car of his dreams, buy cars for me and all our kids, buy a house (oh wait, that would take all my money, buying a house in Southern CA).
5 places I would run away to: England, Italy, Papua, Portland, El Segundo.
5 things I would never wear: a bikini, gathered skirt, short shorts, stilletto heels, tacky Christmas sweater.
5 favorite tv programs: I don't watch much TV--I like Mystery Theatre on Sunday nights.
5 bad habits: wasting time on the computer, reading when I should be cleaning or working, stacking papers, correcting store employees' bad grammar on signs, eating too much chocolate.
5 biggest joys: Sunday mornings with my family at Starbuck's, walking along the beach, biking along the beach, traveling, hugs from my students, past and present.
5 favourite toys: my knitting needles, my spinning wheel, my bike, computer, scrapbook supplies.
5 fictional characters I would date: nobody. I'm happily married.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
update
Deb says I should write more often. True. I've been thinking about topics to write about but I don't always come up with the words.
Here in Los Angeles, the pending Williams execution is a hot topic. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, I'll just say that one of the self alleged founders of The Crips Gang is on death row and scheduled to be executed for 4 murders next Tuesday. The op pages of the LA Times are full of opinions. It seems that "Tookie" has written books on non violence and has decided that violence is not the route to go, twenty years too late. Now everyone including NAACP thinks the governor should commute his death sentence to life in prison.
What do I think? He murdered four people and bragged about it. But now he says he's innocent. He led the gang that terrorizes MY neighborhood.
I like what Ted Hayes said in the Sunday LA Times:
"I propose that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, rather than unequivocally deciding save Stanley Tookie Williams or send the convicted murderer to his death next week, instead conditionally postpone his execution.
The Governor should then immedicately convene a summit, including not only clergy, grass-roots leaders and elected representatives such as Maxine Waters and Diane Watson, but also current and former Bloods and Crips. The Deal: He will spare Willliams' life, but only as long as these leaders can keep young black men from killing each other. In other words, for every 30 days of peace, Tookie receives a stay of execution. Should there be any gang-related killings in LA, Tookie's fate will be sealed--not by the governor but by the young men who have been clamoring that Williams be spared and the leaders who say they are determined to save black lives. (And those leaders should be the ones to set the murder-acceptability levels--at zero tolerance or massacre levels; let it be up to them.) This is an opportunity to (1) empower young blacks to play a role in saving one of their own; (2) educate them on the role of nonviolent solutions to societal problems; (3) let African American leaders step up and do what they're always talking about--saving children and healing the brokenness in our community."
And if Williams is executed, what will happen on the streets of my neighborhood?
Here in Los Angeles, the pending Williams execution is a hot topic. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, I'll just say that one of the self alleged founders of The Crips Gang is on death row and scheduled to be executed for 4 murders next Tuesday. The op pages of the LA Times are full of opinions. It seems that "Tookie" has written books on non violence and has decided that violence is not the route to go, twenty years too late. Now everyone including NAACP thinks the governor should commute his death sentence to life in prison.
What do I think? He murdered four people and bragged about it. But now he says he's innocent. He led the gang that terrorizes MY neighborhood.
I like what Ted Hayes said in the Sunday LA Times:
"I propose that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, rather than unequivocally deciding save Stanley Tookie Williams or send the convicted murderer to his death next week, instead conditionally postpone his execution.
The Governor should then immedicately convene a summit, including not only clergy, grass-roots leaders and elected representatives such as Maxine Waters and Diane Watson, but also current and former Bloods and Crips. The Deal: He will spare Willliams' life, but only as long as these leaders can keep young black men from killing each other. In other words, for every 30 days of peace, Tookie receives a stay of execution. Should there be any gang-related killings in LA, Tookie's fate will be sealed--not by the governor but by the young men who have been clamoring that Williams be spared and the leaders who say they are determined to save black lives. (And those leaders should be the ones to set the murder-acceptability levels--at zero tolerance or massacre levels; let it be up to them.) This is an opportunity to (1) empower young blacks to play a role in saving one of their own; (2) educate them on the role of nonviolent solutions to societal problems; (3) let African American leaders step up and do what they're always talking about--saving children and healing the brokenness in our community."
And if Williams is executed, what will happen on the streets of my neighborhood?
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