What Your Fridge Says About You

You like to be surrounded by things you love. You aren't exactly greedy, but you can be materialistic at times. You are a very thrifty person. You don't like to waste money... or food. You don't tend to be a very adventurous person, but you do surprise everyone now and then. You have a bit of a wild side. You try to be responsible, but you don't always succeed. Your heart is in the right place though. You are likely single - and a workaholic.

What Do the Contents of Your Refrigerator Say About You?

AMY'S NATURAL DISASTER MI-5

Amy says: The Santa Cruz mountains are burning - I live not far from them and the smoke yesterday was crazy thick in the morning. That is my inspiration for this weeks MI-5:

1. What is the worst natural disaster you have personally experienced?

Other than occasional power outages, I really haven't been affected by natural disasters. The Patriot's Day Storm of 2007 I guess was pretty bad, and I've lived through a couple of blizzards, but really nothing too terrible.

2. You were forced to evacuate your home. When you are finally allowed back your house sustained fire damage- but isn't a complete loss. What one room do you hope remained untouched by the fire and why?

The new computer room that Dwane built. All of my scrapbooks and pictures are there. My next choice would be my bedroom, where I have my jewelry and some other family heirlooms given to my by my grandmother.

3. The smoke was so thick yesterday morning until the wind shifted that the sun was shrouded and actually cast an eerie orangish glow over things. Tell us about something or an experience that gave you an eerie feeling.

The first thing that comes to mind is my first date with Jesse back in 1991. We had gone to a Talleys concert (Southern Gospel) in Bangor, and on the way home, the moon was blood red. As Jessie and I are both Christians, it started a coversation about end times, and it gave me goosebumps.

4. Lots of people are discending on the small town of Corrilitas CA to offer support. The small general store has become a makeshift command center where people gather for support and information. Does your community have a place that everyone would gather at? Where would it be?

My Aunt Ginny will probably kill me for my response, but I really have no idea. There is probably some sort of shelter around here, but I don't know where. I guess my church might be a place for gathering--several people gathered there for prayer right after 9/11.

5. I love to cook, but in my wake the kitchen looks like a tornado hit it! What is something you love to make and eat but only do it on certain occassions because preparation or clean-up is a hassle?

This one is easy!!! Definitely fried shrimp. I love it, but it's a pain to dredge all those tiny shrimp in flour, dunk 'em in the batter, and then fry them. And of course, there's the splattering oil, the greasy paper towels, and all the other mess. I have about 8 pounds shrimp in the freezer to fry, but keep putting it off because of the mess.

FRIDAY FILL IN

1. On my laziest day I like to NAP!
2. ALTHOUGH I DO LITTLE OF IT, HOUSEWORK makes me feel like I'm being productive.
3. I love little KISSES FROM MY KIDS and big HUGS FROM THEM, TOO.
4. This summer I want to SURVIVE! IT'S VERY BUSY--ESPECIALLY THE MONTH OF JULY.
5. THE MI-5 made me start my blog.
6. Red APPLES and orange ORANGES.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to HEADING TO PORTLAND (I THINK), tomorrow my plans include SOUL JAM AT FUNTOWN IN SACO and Sunday, I want to EAT PIZZA WHILE WATCHING THE COKE 600!

BAR HARBOR, ETC.

Well, I ended up going to Bar Harbor this weekend. The boys and I left on Friday at 3:00 from Tenants Harbor, and we got there at 5:30. We had to stop for road paving in Belfast for about 10 minutes (I actually shut the car off to save gas), and Eben needed a bathroom break in Searsport, but other than that, the drive was pretty smooth.

We had supper at the Trenton Lighthouse Restaurant. I would highly recommended it. We had an appetizer platter of chicken fingers, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks, Dwane and I split the seafood platter, Eben had a chicken burger, and Caleb had just French fries. The food was very good, and served very hot. The waitstaff was pleasant and kind. And--the best part--it cost us only $8! Since Dwane was there on business, he got to use the company card for the appetizer and the seafood platter. We spent the rest of the evening watching Indiana Jones on the big screen in the hotel room at the Bar Harbor Regency (Holiday Inn).

Dwane was up and out at 6:30 Saturday morning. Eben slept until 8:30, and Caleb slept until 9:00. The boys and I drove to the Bar Harbor Club, where the Dwane was running the AV for a group of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers. Dwane said he shed several tears over this one. I can imagine that it was gut-wrenching. The people were very, very happy with his job performance (said it was the best AV they had had in the 15 years they had been holding conferences), and they really wished they hadn't already booked their AV for their Memphis convention next year. They would have preferred to have Dwane there.

The boys and I then had about 2 hours to kill. It was raining, so mini-golf was out. We decided to just stroll Bar Harbor in the rain. We tried to stay under the awnings as much as we could, but we didn't spend too much time in the shops. Bar Harbor is definitely not handicapped accesible, and since I had Caleb in an umbrella stroller, it was pretty difficult getting in and out. And, once you got in, the stores were so crammed full of stuff that you couldn't really move around.

Dwane got done around 11:30. We finished packing up, and left for lunch at Friendly's in Ellsworth. The appetizers there were good, but the new burgers Friendly's was advertising were just so-so. They were too dry for my taste. (Maybe I need to learn to like mayo on my burgers.) We made a quick stop at Marden's, and then headed home.

We got back about 4:30, and fortunately, I had Sue's scrapbooking party stuff already set up, so I could spend the time unpacking. The party went well, and the cheeseball was gone in record time.

Dwane was not feeling well on Sunday, so he missed church. I'm convinced that because he was overtired, he caught a bug, but he insists he works that hard all the time, so I don't know. I also wonder if it's maybe the bronchitis from a couple of weeks coming up again. He did go to work today, as he had to take equipment back to Portland and get the company van inspected in NH. He will probably not get home until 7:00-7:30 tonight. (He's stopping at Popeye's Chicken in Kennebunk--one of his very favorite places.)

I guess that's it for my weekend wrap-up. I don't think I have anything planned this week, other than Bible Study tomorrow night, and I'm not sure what Dwane's schedule is yet for the week. I've got a couple of big paralegal projects that are "lurking"--I know that they'll be coming up, but I can't really do anything with them until A or B happens. Maybe I'll get some scrapbooking done. Or, maybe I can convince Beloved and Mrs. Cheeseball to sign up for online Cribbage so that I can finally play with someone!!

MELANIE'S MI-5

1. I read several blogs written by Pastor's around the U.S. sometimes their posts have nothing to do with the Christian walk but reflect on their own personal life. Like the one I read the other day by Tally Wilgis regarding the alignment of his coffee cup. He stated "I don't know what it is about me that demands this but I always have to make sure the logo on the Starbucks cup aligns with the logo on the sleeve. Additionally, I have to position the lip of the cup so that I drink in alignment with the logos below." Do you have any weird OCD issues?

I don't know that I really have OCD issues. I pretty much insist on making my own coffee, as the Splenda and the creamer must go into the cup before the coffee does. The only other thing I can think of is that, as a Close To My Heart consultant, I try very, very hard to make sure that I use ONLY CTMH stuff in my scrapbooks (excluding adhesive).

2. Some of you know that In April, 4 years ago I left my South Florida home of 23 years and drove with all my belongings to Maine to start a new life. The only thing Maine offered me was a job & it's incredible beauty. Friends and family would have to be acquired after I arrived.What major decision/change did you make in your life that surprised your family and friends & how did things work out?

I don't know that it really surprised anyone, but I only completed one semester of college. My best friend, Ronda, was my college roommate. She got married at the conclusion of the first semester so that she could go with her husband to Okinawa. (He was in the service.) I couldn't bear to go back to college without her. Everything turned out fine, though. While home at Christmas, I was offered two different positions as a legal secretary. I took one, was trained as a paralegal, and have been in the same profession since (that was 22 years ago!). I went to school to be a business teacher, and while I know long to be a substitute teacher (I don't have enough education to do that here in Maine), if I had become a business teacher, I might not have a job now--a lot of the traditional business classes have now been cut because of budgets.

3. We often learn certain behaviors by the folks we spend time with. An accent you pick up, words you add to your vocabulary, a certain way of washing your car, tying your shoes or folding your socks.What is something you picked up and who did you pick it up from?

Every once in a while I catch myself copying the mannerisms of my sister-in-law, Dawn. She lives in VA, has a Southern accent, is beautiful, and has a very friendly, outgoing personality. She's also hilarious and keeps me in stitches. When I have the privilege of being with her, I always end up wishing that I could be just like her. (Ok, now I'm crying!)

4. 2 years ago I was online looking up hiking trails and discovered the sport of Geocaching & found an instant addiction after the 1st time I played. What is something you discovered by accident but has enriched your life?

I can actually say that scrapbooking was actually quite accidental. I was watching QVC one day, almost 11 years ago, and saw them demonstrating a scrapbooking kit. The rest is history! Also, I kind of happened upon piano playing by accident. I was taking clarinet lessons at school, and somehow ended up playing the piano instead. While my Mom helped me out quite a bit, I've never had a "formal piano lesson". I often chuckle to myself while playing at church, wondering exactly how I am doing that. The damper pedal especially makes me grin. How do I know when to push it?? I have no idea!!

5. Often we are frustrated by the actions and attitudes of others.If you could influence a behavioral change in someone else, what would it be and how would you go about doing it?

There is someone close to me that does nothing but complain, complain, complain. There are changes that could be made to address the root of those complaints, but they would rather just complain and hope for some sympathy. I'm so tired of hearing the complaints! It's wearing me out. (Just so you know, I'm not talking about anyone related to me or anyone that reads my blog.)

FRIDAY FILL IN #72

1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to WEAR A BIKINI!
2. EBEN WEARING SHORTS TO SCHOOL reminds me that summer is almost here!
3. I cannot live without my 38-YEAR-OLD TEDDY BEAR.
4. BALLROOM DANCING and A CONTRA DANCE are two things I'd like to try.
5. When life hands you lemons PRAY MORE.
6. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT is my favorite childhood memory. I HAVE TOO MANY TO COUNT.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to MAYBE GOING TO BAR HARBOR, tomorrow my plans include SUE'S SCRAPBOOKING BIRTHDAY PARTY and Sunday, I want to TAKE A NAP!

HOW MANY OF ME?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 17 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

MOTHER'S DAY RECAP

I guess Mother's Day actually started for me on Saturday a little bit. I went with Ma, Aunt Ginny, Aunt Jo, Tina, Ronnie, and Sarah to Applebee's for lunch (with Dwane, Eben & Caleb, too). Aunt Jo, Tina, and Ronnie came over from NH, and Sarah came up from MA. Sarah is now 16 weeks pregnant with her first child, and she brought along sonogram pictures of her son to share. I cried as soon as I saw her. My head knows that she is now a woman, but in my heart, she's still the little 4-year-old girl that was the best cheerleading double anyone could ever wish for. For lunch (which was mid-afternoon by the time we finally got our food), I ordered my normal--let's say it together now--Petite Sirloin with the Garlic/Parmesan Shrimp, and double Mashed Potato instead of veggies. What else? I was disappointed to find out that Applebee's has stopped serving the garlic toast. While I certainly don't need the calories, I missed it.

I had a very nice Mother's Day. When I woke up, there was a pile of gifts for me on the couch: A new pillow, a dozen roses, and a bag of Lindt Milk Chocolate Truffles from Dwane; the Taylor Swift CD from Eben; and a pink heart locket with the "Mother and Child" emblem from Caleb. Caleb picked it out himself--"Because Mommy likes pink". Dwane fessed up and said he had to help him out a little, as his first pick was a piece of jewelry that was $300+!

Dwane and Billy Rhythm cooked a fantastic lunch for us after church: Steak, Vidalia Onions, Rice, and Mom's Homemade Bread. For dessert, Dwane picked up a Friendly's ice cream cake. I took a nap in the afternoon to try out my new pillow. The pillow was great, but I didn't get much of a nap. (Mom--I need a drink! Mom--Eben called me "Little Boy"! Mom--can you help me button my jeans! Oh well, that's what being a Mom is all about sometimes.) After church, we went to Burger King for supper, but I was quite disappointed in the Loaded Steakhouse Burger. It was burned all the way around the edges. Don't know if it was supposed to be that way, but it was much too done and too dry for me.

Last night I went to the service for my friend, Ronda's, brother-in-law, who passed away several days ago. It was packed! I mean, literally shoulder to shoulder. That speaks very well for the man that Jim was, and to his family. I had a chance to give Ronda a quick hug, but there were so many people there that I made a pretty quick exit. Ronda was going to be speaking during the service, and I said a prayer for strength for her. I know that she will do great. She's an awesome woman (those of you who know her already know that). Hopefully, we'll be able to get together soon.

Dwane leaves at noon today to go to Bar Harbor. He won't be home again until late Saturday afternoon. I may drive down with the kids on Friday night to spend the night, but we don't know for sure yet. Depends on the weather and if gas is $5 a gallon by then. I have Sue's scrapbook birthday party that night, and I'm looking forward to that. I'll be busy trying to clean up the house a bit while Dwane is gone. Other than playing some online cribbage (if I can find someone to play with!), it will probably be a pretty boring couple of days.

Boy! I've rambled on enough now! Basically, my intent was simply to let you know that I have updated the Flickr album with pictures of a Mama Raccoon (the story is under the pictures) and Mother's Day. This post has turned out way longer than I expected. I'm not even going to bother to proofread it. Now you'll know exactly how well (or how badly) a Maine State Typing Champion actually types!

TYPING TEST

I took an online typing test this morning. I ranked 4,072 out of 528,036. I guess that's not too bad.

113 words

Speed test