Muttering with a Headache

Finally getting a chance to do some muttering.......spent the day at the Renaissance Faire. My brain hurts. I wonder if my muttering can show how bad of a headache I have? If my answers are nonsensical, I blame the headache!

1. Groceries :: Food
2. Deodorant :: Please wear it
3. Psychic :: powers
4. Cherries :: are sweet
5. Spooky :: ghost
6. Yogurt :: icky
7. Kitchen :: cabinets
8. Nothing personal :: but I am nosey and want some info!
9. Be nice :: so people will like you
10. Delivery :: special

Care to mutter nonsensically too?

McCain/Palin '08

I have decided to actively start campaigning for John McCain. I was a bit leery of him at first, but he has grown on me considerably. I started favoring him more and more after watching the Saddleback Forum. I think today he proved himself by picking Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Go here to read a bit more about her.

I watched most of the democratic convention on TV and frankly was quite frightened by what I heard. Although I do think Hillary gave an excellent speech, It was more about her than Obama. If I had been made to choose between those two, I would've picked Hillary over Obama. (Chilling thought that I might have had to pick between those two.) Obama scares the shit out of me quite frankly.

But since this is the USA, I have a better choice, John McCain. I was one of those waiting and wondering who he was going to pick as his VP. I was going with Romney because that is who I voted for in the primaries. I thought he would be the best choice amongst those the media were touting as on McCain's short list.

Imagine my shock and surprise when I heard his choice was Gov. Sarah Palin. At first I wasn't sure who she was. Then I realized I had heard her name before. I looked up a bit of info on her, then I waited for the official announcement and speech on TV this morning. I was pleased with what I saw.

I do hope everyone will seriously look at the issues and make a wise and sound decision about what truly is best for this country. And if you still want to vote for Obama after seriously looking at the issues, think about this:


10 Ways to be a good Democrat


1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.

2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Iranian Islamic fundamentalists and North Korean communists.

4. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

5. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.

6. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

7. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.

8. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

9. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

10. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.

(I did not write the above, not sure who did, but the points are valid).

Regardless of who you are voting for, please just remember TO VOTE! It is a privilege that few around the world are afforded.

Proverbs 31 Man?

If you are a Christian woman, I'm sure you have read Proverbs 31. Or have gone to a Bible study where they extolled the virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman. You know, the kind of Bible study where you went thinking you would be uplifted and came home only to feel even more inadequate.

In some Christian circles, the Proverbs 31 woman is a goal to be achieved. Women are told they must strive to be this woman. She is the supposed example of the "perfect" woman.

For those who don't know the verses, let me enlighten you:

The Wife of Noble Character
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

Feel guilty and inadequate yet?

During a discussion about this and other "virtues" that some people think women should strive for, an online friend posted this:

(Written by and thanks given to Julie G.)

I always wondered why there wasn't a section that described the perfect husband in scripture. If it was supposed to be an actual "how to"...they need the help as much as we do! :-D

The perfect husband, who can find?

His worth is far beyond his 401K.
The feminine heart of his wife delights in him and she never lacks for passion and romance.
He maintains the home and yard - creating beds of roses to delight her.
He builds furniture and raises exotic trees for wood.
He owns several businesses and money flows into their home -more than they need, with plenty to share.
He is always in a good mood - even when he's hungry or tired.
He styles his daughter's hair, and plays sports endlessly with his son.
He is an avid shopper, who delights in endless trips to the mall.
Kindness and complements are always on his tongue - his wife's beauty inspires sonnets and love poems.
He rises in the quiet hours of the night to comfort a sick or crying child, without regard for his own sleep.
Late in the evening, he can be found kneeling in prayer at the bedsides of his sleeping children.
He maintains the physique of a 20yo, but loves like a man who is wise about women.
He is active in the community, and is respected by all.
He always has time for others, and yet it never seems to impact the time he has for his family.
He rises while it is dark and makes breakfast for his family before his own power breakfast.
His business contacts know him for punctuality, impeccable integrity and perfect wisdom in the ways of the market.
His children rest well, knowing they can go to whatever college they want.
His wife is also secure - she never sees the bills, but knows that everything is taken care of.
Many men father a family, but you, my noble knight, surpass them all.

I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good blueprint for the Husband of Noble Character to me. Julie says her husband refers to her writing as the Proverbs 32 man. Think we can sneak it into the Bible?

Sunday Morning Muttering

It was an early night last night, so I am muttering back in the daylight hours.

1. Cry :: baby
2. Stretch :: like a cat
3. Efficient :: fast
4. Brunch :: eggs benedict
5. Afro :: poofy
6. Preheat :: oven
7. Delicious :: golden delicious apples
8. Global warming :: sick of hearing about it/hate al gore
9. Actions :: speak louder than words
10. Ride :: carnival

Want to mutter?

Chicago

Last week my girls and I went into Chicago to see Wicked. We had been to Chicago before, but never really walked around the city. We always had a destination: Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, American Girl Place, Navy Pier, etc. We would always hit our destination and then hop back in the car and head home.

This time, we had plenty of time after we parked our car to walk around the city a bit before the show. My girls loved it. It was a beautiful day to be out and walking around. We were in a pretty crowded area of town, so there were quite a few people out on the streets. While they both said they wouldn't want to live in a city, they enjoyed being there for the day.

The theater where our show was being held is situated a block or so away from our local ABC news station. They have a ground floor set with big glass windows so you can watch the news live from outside. Sometimes they pan the crowd outside and you can see yourself on TV. After the show, around 5:00pm, we knew the news was on. So we raced over to the the studio. The girls got to see up close the people we always watch on TV. I am kind of addicted to this news station. I watch them every night and also really like the weather man, Jerry Taft. And there they all were! Our favorite weather man even waved to the crowd. And the camera did pan and my girls were on TV for a few seconds. I knew I should have set the tivo before we left the house, darn it! I had intended to have the girls see the studio, I just didn't think we would be there during a news taping. Maybe next time.

We also went into a Border's bookstore while we there. It was the largest Border's I have ever been in, it was three stories tall and had escalators! Now before you think I live in hicksville, you need to know my girls have been on escalators before. Just not very often. So they had to go up and down the escalators a few times. My oldest is 13, and still thinks it is fun to ride an escalator, who knew? Of course what they really want to do is to someday have the opportunity to run up a down escalator. For some reason that is on both of their to do lists!

We saw a few other theaters, as we were in the theater district. We saw the El trains and tracks. We saw taxi cabs and policemen on horses. We saw swanky restaurants. And of course we got to see Wicked, which was the absolute highlight of the day. When it was over, my 13 year old wanted to go the Sbarro restaurant we saw while walking around. She just loves Sbarro and the closest one to us is in a mall about 30 mins away. So while we had a plethora of marvelous restaurants to choose from, we went to Sbarro! Hey, how much culture can a person have in a day?

Saturday Night Mutterings

Another late night mutter:

1. Signature: my name
2. Olympics :: Gold
3. 100% :: complete
4. Damn! :: Good!
5. Gold :: Fish
6. Fresh and natural :: Produce
7. Fraction :: Math
8. Hurry :: or you'll be late
9. Summer :: is almost over : (
10. 29th :: last day of Feb. in leap year

Care to mutter yourself? Unconscious Mutterings

Wicked Soundtrack

I made a new playlist (bottom of blog) with my favorite Wicked songs.

There are 21 songs in the musical, some are reprises. I listed my top 10, in the order they appear in the musical, not necessarily my order of preference.

I do think "Defying Gravity" is one of the best, as well as "No Good Deed".

The very first song, "No One Mourns the Wicked" starts the show, and lays a little groundwork to the story. It is also reprised at the end.

If you'd like to see the characters, I found a trailer for the show. Click and watch if you are interested.

WICKED!

My daughters and I went to see WICKED yesterday. We have been wanting to see this show for about 2 years now, and the opportunity came up for us to go with a group, for deeply discounted rates. I am glad we went.

The show was FANTASTIC! All the rave reviews have been well deserved. We were up in the balcony, about 7 rows from the absolute back of the theater, and we could still see fairly well and the sound was wonderful.

It's a girls show. Not that men wouldn't enjoy it, but the storyline involves the two main characters, Elphaba and Galinda (who later becomes Glinda). They meet in college, and the song they sing together tells us how they initially feel about each other, "What is This Feeling - Loathing". Then it unfolds how they become friends and how one goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West and the other Glinda the Good. (They never refer to Glinda as a witch.)

The story does take us all the way to the end of of the movie "The Wizard of Oz." From the ads one would think it only details up until Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch. I was pleasantly surprised when elements of the movie began to show up in this musical.

Besides the absolutely fantastic music and songs, there was quite a bit of humor in the show. The relationship between the two girls was quite funny at times. It really is a girlfriend musical. It showcases how two women relate as best friends, including the hurt as well as the joy.

My step-daughter met us at the theater and saw the show with us as well. She delighted the girls by telling them she had the Wicked Soundtrack. On the way home, we stopped by her apartment and she gave us a copy. We delighted in re-living the musical again all the way home. I loved that my girls wanted me to "blast" the music and they sang along with their favorite songs. The soundtrack was done by the original Broadway cast, and I must say, I think the leads in our Chicago cast were much better. Elphaba's voice was beyond fantastic. It was strong and clear and perfectly on. She did not make one mistake. It was just a marvelous performance and the entire house gave the two female leads a standing ovation at curtain call.

The best song in the entire show is "Defying Gravity". Some of the unforgettable lyrics:

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by

The rules of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes

And leap...

It's time to try defying gravity

I think I'll try defying gravity

And you can't pull me down

I'm through accepting limits

Cuz someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try I'll never know

Too long I've been afraid of

Losing love I guess I've lost

Well if that's love

It comes at much too high a cost

Powerful words and a very powerful song. Good lessons in there too.

If you can get to see one Musical this year, try to go and see Wicked. My girls and I are already plotting how we can get back to see it one more time before it leaves Chicago in January. It was just that good. We know we'll catch things the second time that we may have missed the first.

It was such a wonderful thing to be able to share this with my daughters. Their delight at being in the "city" (which I will write about in another post), their awe of the theater and the show itself, and just the joy and happiness they shared about finally being able to see the show we have only talked about for the last two years. I believe this is one of the things that will stick in their memories forever. Something they will be able to look back on as adults and remember the day they got to go to Chicago and see Wicked with their mom.

Blog Award

I was given this blog award by a dear online friend, Deanna.

The rules for this award are as follows:

1) The winner gets to put the logo on his/her blog.

2) Link to the person you received your award from.

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4) Put links to those blogs on yours.

5) Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

There are so many blogs I read, written by very good online friends, that were already nominated by others. So please don't feel slighted if you don't see you blog. It means someone else already recognized you : )

1 - Phoenix Hopes

2 - Full Bellies, Happy Kids

3 - Po Moyeu - In My Opinion

4 - Homeschool the Revolution

5 - Lovin' Life At Home

6 - Memoirs of an Unschooling Teacher

7 - Life As I know It

Late Night Muttering

I normally mutter unconsciously on Sunday mornings. The new list is emailed just after midnight on Saturday night, so I usually don't see the email until Sunday morning. Occasionally I am up late enough to see it Saturday night. Thus was the case tonight. Not sure when my brain is sharper.

1. Month to month :: My life ticks by
2. Adjusted :: not me
3. Prank :: trick
4. Mop :: I need to
5. Clarity :: I can see clearly now the rain is gone
6. Parenting :: I think I do it well
7. Glenn :: Campbell, (Like a Rhinestone Cowboy : )
8. Fingerprint :: greasy
9. Pineapple :: Hawaii
10. Attorney :: shyster

Want to mutter unconsciously?

Stoner Cats

I'm not sure if the following shows how smart my cat is, or what a goof ball he is. Judge for yourself.

My youngest daughter is growing catnip in containers this summer. Puffy, a stray we took in 2 years ago, has claimed it as his own. Here is the evidence:

His new favorite past time is to sit in the container, eat some nip and then fall asleep.

I do think we will still have plenty to harvest for the winter. That will make him and his fellow kitty family members quite happy.

The Poor Animals

God made all the creatures and gave them our love and our fear,To give sign, we and they are His children, one family here.

~Robert Browning~

I started a new volunteering job yesterday. I have worked with a local Humane organization, AOHS, for a few years now. I started out helping them with their annual dinner/fundraiser, and then my daughters and I volunteered to clean cages and socialize kitties that they keep at local Petsmart stores. (They are rotated in and out of the stores if they don't get adopted quickly, so they aren't in cages forever.) This organization does not have a shelter. Cats are kept in foster homes and brought to local pet stores for adoption events.

Anyway, after I had to deal with my leg issues last winter, I had to stop cleaning the cages for a while. Recently they posted that they needed someone to help answer calls for their relinquish line. This is the number people call if they have found cats or want to get rid of the ones they currently own. There's a woman who has done this by herself for quite a while, and she needed a few days off each week. So I agreed to answer the calls on Monday's and Tuesday's.

Basically all I have to do is call into the mailbox, listen to the messages, call the people back and try to offer them solutions and then log the call online. I just started this yesterday and I am already losing faith in mankind!

I have taken 14 calls in the last two days. There was a call from a woman who said her neighbor moved out 2 days ago and left their cats behind. An unfixed adult male and female, and a kitten. (Wonder why there was a kitten? (Hello, ever heard of spay and neuter?) She and some neighbors were feeding the cats, but didn't think they should be left outside. We were able to take the kitten and place it into one of our foster homes with another litter, the 2 adults will have to go to the local animal control where they may or may not get euthanized. Who moves and leaves their animals behind????? Too many people unfortunately.

Another woman had a 5 year old Purebred Angora cat. She'd had it for all it's life, but has just now decided that since it doesn't get along well with her other cats, she doesn't want it anymore. How can you just stop caring for an animal you've had for 5 years? It didn't have behavior problems, just didn't like the other cats in the house. I was able to pass her off to a breed rescue, but I feel sorry for that cat, who has to leave it's home, because the owner just grew tired of her.

There were several calls from people who were moving and didn't want to take their cats with them. Is it the cats fault that their owners had to move? I gave them suggestions of other shelters to call, suggested asking friends and relatives to take them, or even putting an ad in the paper. I begged them to not just leave their cats behind if they can't find them homes. Better to call the local animal control, then leave them defenseless and starving.

Another woman called to say she had found a cat, fixed and de-clawed, friendly, appeared to be a happy house cat. She had it in her garage. She had already called the police and other shelters to see if someone reported it missing. No one had. There was nothing wrong with this cat! Could this be another move and throw away?

I am saddened by what I learned in just the last 2 days. The other woman who answers the line did tell me this could be depressing. It isn't so much depressing as it is infuriating. Animals bond to us, they have feelings. I have taken in two strays and they are so much more appreciative of their lot than my two pampered purebreeds. It is as if they know they almost didn't have a chance and we gave them one. One of my strays was a fixed and de-clawed cat that was obviously someones at one point. I wonder if his owner moved away and decided to throw him to the wolves, so to speak. He was skin and bones when we found him, so we know he was out a while.

I want to take these people and kick them to the curb for a few days and see how they feel? Let them stay out in the rain and have to scrounge for food. How can you reach people who think animals are disposable? It's obviously not easy seeing as homeless animals are a huge problem for society. We have at least 4 shelter based rescues in our county, and our local animal control. All of them are full at this time. Hundreds of animals with no one to adopt them, and more out on the streets with no where to go. I hope I am doing my small part by helping take these calls. I did convince one woman to keep a kitten that was left behind when a man was evicted from his home. I spoke with another woman who was overwhelmed at the thought of moving to Florida and driving her cats down there. I told her how she could manage in the car, what she would have to do. I tried to persuade her to keep her cats. She at least said she'd think about it.
I'm only one person. but I'm doing my best. I'm not even hoping for everyone else to their best, but I wish they would at least agree to continue to care for the animals they brought into their homes.

If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.

~St. Francis of Assisi~

Just Mutterin'

1. Crankiness :: Me


2. Backpack :: Books


3. Clone :: zombie


4. High ground :: I take the


5. Dreams :: mine are weird


6. Lovingly :: treat people


7. Mistake :: People make them


8. Carson :: Johnny


9. Errand :: I run too many


10. Dozen :: 12

care to mutter unconsciously?

Vampires

If you have a teenage daughter, then you know that the latest Twilight series book came out Friday at midnight. Breaking Dawn is the fourth book in the series. I haven't read them, I just get to hear about them, ALL THE TIME.

My daughter Carley just had to be there at midnight to get the new book. Our local Border's was throwing a party before the midnight release. So I started my day Friday morning by stopping by our local Border's to pick up a wrist band for Carley. The wrist band determined the order in which one got to purchase their book. Her wrist band was #19. I got there at 9:05 and there were people there before me. Border's opens at 9:00 am.

My lovely daughter was supposed to get up Friday morning and come with me to get her wrist band. She promised me Thursday night she would get up. I had my doubts. So when I went to wake her Friday morning at 8:45, our conversation went something like this:

Me: "It's 8:45, get up, let's go get your wrist band."
Carley: (moan, moan moan) "Ugh".
Me: Are you going to get up?"
Carley: (whine) "Will you go?"
Me: "I knew you wouldn't get up! Yes, since I am already showered and ready to go, I will go....alone! You owe me one!"

I just knew I would end up going alone. She is not a morning person. I gave myself mom kudos for that.

My hubby originally agreed to take Carley to the event Friday night. He took her to the Harry Potter event last summer. I guess that was just too much for him, so he asked me if we could split the duty this time. So I took my daughter at 9:30 and my hubby said he would relieve me at 10:30.

It was quite interesting actually. As I expected, it was mostly tween/teenage girls. Some were dressed up, most weren't. But a lot of them had homemade Twilight themed t-shirts on. That was creative. The first event at 9:45 was a trivia contest. A large circle of girls, squealing girls, surrounded the poor Border's employees running the contest. A woman who looked to be in her 50's was asking the questions. She had to keep telling the girls to back up. They were swarming her. Basically, if you knew the answer to the question, you were supposed to just yell it out. First to yell gets a prize. Carley ended up with a button just for participating.

At this point I decided I would spend my next 45 mins in the cafe. I grabbed a People magazine off the rack and found a table. Looking around I realized the rest of the people in the cafe looked mostly like other parents waiting for the night to end. Every once in a while a girl or a gaggle of girls would come to a table and squeal to their parent(s). They were all screaming or squealing. It was quite loud for a bookstore. Carley came over at one point to ask for money. Seems they were serving a "blood" drink in honor of the Cullen clan (they are the vampire's). It was a strawberry/cherry smoothie type thing. Pretty red, not quite as thick as a smoothie. Could've passed for cold thick blood. I guess that was the point.

Around 10:15 I noticed some older teen boys enter the bookstore. I could tell immediately that they were dressed as vampires. Not regular vampires of course, Edward type vampires. There had been some other random boys walking around, but this was the first group that looked like they came for the party. They were cute boys. I wondered if they came because they knew this is where all the girls in town were.

Finally 10:30 arrived and hubby took over. I went home but waited up until Carley and her dad got home. That was at 12:10 am. We only live 5 mins from the bookstore, and since she was in the first group to buy the book, she was out of the store 5 mins after they went on sale. My daughter was quite hyper when she got home and then she regaled me with the events from the rest of the night. One of the things she told me was how she went up and asked a boy and his friend dressed as vampires if she could hug them. I guess Carley and some girls were talking about how they wanted to hug a vampire. They spied two vampire boys and Carley said she'd ask them if she could hug them. She asked, they said yes, she hugged them. Then the gaggle of girls went and hugged them too. I guess the guys thought it was funny that these young teen girls wanted to hug them. They were older teens, probably junior or seniors in high school. The girls were all Jr. high age. That was funny to me. My daughter can be quite bold when she wants to be, but asking a boy if she could hug him seems almost out of character. Must have been the fake blood she was drinking.

Here's a picture of the boys she hugged, and yes she hugged both of them. My daughter is the first girl on the left, you can just barely see her face. Sorry for the blurry picture, seems giddy girls don't know how to focus : )

So all in all, a pretty successful evening. Carley was very happy and it seemed she has some good memories. So I went to bed. Hubby didn't get to bed until 1:30am, and I guess Carley was still up reading. She told me this morning she wasn't sure exactly what time she fell asleep. Well, seeing as I didn't wake her until almost noon, I guess she told me this afternoon she didn't how late she stayed up. She has since spent most of the day reading her book. I do believe she will finish it today.