45 ODD THINGS (FROM AUNT SUSIE)

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? I've never tried it but I am convinced that I don't like it.

2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No.

3. Do you own a gun? No.

4. What's your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop? I've never been to Starbucks. I do like a Dunkin Donuts Mocha Coolatta (made with syrup instead of the "shot"--and no cream on top).

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not really. Although I have my first mammogram in June, and I'm sure I'll be nervous waiting for those results.

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Occasionally, I enjoy a Kirschner Natural Casing hot dog, or one of the ones from Kayem. I can't seem to get into the Nathan's, Ballpark, or Oscar Mayer stuff, no matter how often I try. I can get them down, but I can't say that I really enjoy them.

7. Favorite Christmas song? I love a lot of them. I really like Breath of Heaven and Mary Did You Know? O Holy Night is a favorite, too.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Hot chocolate is my favorite, but I drink coffee, simply for caloric reasons.

9. Can you do push ups? I think maybe a couple.

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Besides my wedding/engagement rings, I have two very sentimental pieces. One is an Amethyst ring that my Dad bought for my Aunt Ginny on her 13th birthday. She gave it to me on my 13th birday. The other is wdding ring/engagement ring set that my grandfather Yattaw gave to my grandmother on their 25th wedding anniversary. I also have a diamond necklace and a sapphire set (necklace, earrings, ring, & bracelet) from my parents that I also love.

11. Favorite hobby? Scrapbooking, what else?

12. Do you have A.D.D.? No

13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? I try to run the show too much.

14. Middle name? Marie

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. Dawn and Dwane are fighting again. I'm leaving soon to spend the away from home and I don't really want to go. I have got to get dressed.

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coffee. CF Diet Pepsi. Diet Cherry Pepsi.

17. Current worry right now? How to entertain Caleb for 4 hours at a ski lodge.

18. Current hate right now? Skiing.

19. Favorite place to be? Home

20. How did you bring in the New Year? Sleeping I think.

21. Do you like to travel? Yes, but don't often get to do it.

22. Name three people who will complete this? Amy, Billy Rhythm, Beloved.

23. Do you own slippers? Yes, but I don't know where they are.

24. What color shirt are you wearing? Red PJ top.

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No.

26. Can you whistle? Very little.

27. Favorite color? Pink.

28. Would you be a pirate? I don't think so.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Lately it's been "Because He Lives", "Christ the Lord is Risen Today", and "He Arose".

30. Favorite girl's names? Carina, Elizabeth, Maggie

31. Favorite boy's name? Eben & Caleb of course!

32. What's in your pocket right now? No pockets

33. Last thing that made you laugh? Dawn's story about trying to get to Freeport.

34. Best bed sheets as a child? I can't really remember. I did have a grey tiger kitty pillow case (I think it was "Chessie the Cheshire Cat" or something like that. I don't think I had the matching sheets, tough. Oh, and I always loved flannel sheets.

35. Worst injury you've ever had? Broken ankle thingie (epithysis or something like that).

36. Do you love where you live? I love the location, but would prefer not to have a double-wide mobile home.

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 6

38. Who is your loudest friend? Maybe my cousin Melissa? I'm pretty loud myself, and I tend to surround myself with loud or talkative people, too. It's amazing that any of us ever get a word in edgewise.

39. How many pets do you have? 7 (2 cats, 2 mice, 2 rabbits, and a guinea pig)

40. Does someone have a crush on you? I'll take my Aunt Susie's answer: "I guess they should let me know if they do."

41. What is your favorite book? I have many favorites, so I'll just tell you the one I'm reading now -- "Return" by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley. It's #3 in a series, and they've been awesome.

42. What is your favorite candy? Lindt Milk Chocolate Truffles

43. Favorite Sports Team? Petty Enterprises

44. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping

45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? What time is it?

NEW CD

I mentioned that I got a new CD last weekend. Here are the lyrics to some of the songs. Let's see if you can guess the album. An extra point if you know the name of the song. No cheating!

1. I'm gonna make my lovin twice as good as it was before. I'm gonna love you so good, you'll be begging and crying for more. ANSWER: DOUBLE LOVIN'

2. What are you doing tonight? You got no place to go. Gotta get out of the city.
Why don`t you come along with me? ANSWER: DOWN BY THE LAZY RIVER

3. What is the matter? Now what did you do? Did you go and lose her like the others too? Let me tell you something. Here`s the way it goes: There`s a way to treat 'em. Everybody knows. ANSWER: HOLD HER TIGHT

4. What a show, there they go smoking up the sky, yeah. ANSWER: CRAZY HORSES, GUESSED CORRECTLY BY BILLY RHYTHM.

5. I'll love you till the bluebells forget to bloom; I'll love you till the clover has lost its perfume. I'll love you till the poets run out of rhyme... ANSWER: THE TWELFTH OF NEVER

6. Girl when you hold me, how you control me. You bend and you fold me any way you please. ANSWER: LOVE ME FOR A REASON

7. For love's a rose that never grows without the kiss of the morning dew. And every Jack must have a Jill to know the thrill of a dream that comes true. ANSWER: MORNING SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

8. First I'm up, and then I'm down. Then my heart goes around and around. Well, I'll bet you five dollars I'm the only fool who'll climb up a string for you. ANSWER: YO YO

9. I could make you happy, baby, satisfy you, too. But how can I if you won't give me a chance to prove my love to you? Won't you just give me one chance? I'll give you my guarantee that you won't be hurt again. ANSWER: ONE BAD APPLE

10. Honey, you lied when you said you loved me, and I had no cause to doubt you.
But I'd rather go on hearing your lies than go on living without you. ANSWER: ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?

PADDY'S ALL ABOUT JOBS MI-5

Paddy says: Since this issue has been on my mind as of late, here is a 5 about jobs and careers (Billy wanted it to be about funk tunes, but this is cathartic, so bear with me):

1) Think back now. What was your first REAL job ... you know, one that you had a W-2 from at the end of the year. Tell us about it:

It was a job as a legal secretary for Attorney John L. Knight. I filled in for his secretary for three weeks while she was on vacation. This was the summer between my Junior and Senior years of high school. When school started, he offered me the opportunity to work there after school. When school got out for the day, I would walk to his office, work for about 90 minutes, and then go home. He was an older guy, and his secretary was older as well. He really liked computer gadgets and what not, and she would have nothing to do with them. He used to love the fact that I would put his schedule on the computer for him, and he often took me on a field trip to Radio Shack, his favorite shopping place.

2) Everybody has had a favorite job, perhaps one that they are still in. What was yours?

Unless being a Mom counts, I don't think I've had a favorite job yet. I'm still waiting for a "fun" job. I do love being a representative for Close to My Heart, and if there was some way to really expand that business, I'm sure that would be my favorite.

3) Remember that job that you thought would be great ... that wasn't?
Tell us about your biggest career-related error in judgment:

I often wonder if I was too quick to resign my position as a paralegal for Jim Brannan. At the time, it seemed like the only thing to do, but I still wonder.

4) What is more important to you in your career choice: Money or Satisfaction? Or both ... or something else? Explain:

I have to agree with my Aunt Ginny here. I'd love to have a job that truly gave me satisfaction, instead of dreading it, but those kinds of job don't pay the bills. I can't really turn away $20/hour as a paralegal for a "fun" job selling diamonds that may pay only minimum wage.

5) OK, it's dream job time. For the sake of this exercise, we'll assume that you can at least make a comfortable living wage from the work ... regardless of its nature. So, what is it that you would choose to do, day in, day out, to earn your daily bread?

My first choice would be to teach scrapbooking. There are certainly many gals out there that can make a living at it, but in this economy, people are more concerned with paying the light bill than making scrapbooks. Other choices would be in jewelry or wedding gown sales, substitute teacher, or maybe even a geologist.

FRIDAY FILL IN

1. Some relationships are meant to last forever.
2. Boyz II Men is the last concert I saw; it was the last one I saw (I think).
3. Spring should be here now.
4. Oh no! I forgot to make the bank deposit today!
5. I've recently started using anti-aging gunk on my face.
6. Caleb's giggle never fails to make me smile.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing who knows what (Dwane is taking the night off from taxi I think), tomorrow my plans include who knows what (my sister-in-law from Virginia is here) and Sunday, I want to watch Nascar (I've got withdrawal)!

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF

I haven't posted in a while, so I thought I would just post a run-down about what's been going on (which isn't really anything too exciting).

On Friday night, the boys and I decorated Easter eggs. Caleb used little roller brushes for his eggs, and Eben used some basketball stickers and overlays to decorate basketball-type eggs (what else?). I was going to give Amy a hard time about making Nascar eggs, and not making an egg for #43, but then I realized that we didn't make one either. While Eben still loves Nascar, I think he's really becoming a basketball addict.

On Saturday we took Dwane's car and Dwane's truck to get inspected. The truck runs out in March, and the car ran out back in January. Both vehicles failed. Nice! My van's sticker runs out in March, too. So, now in our driveway we have: a Ford Probe that does not belong to us; a Chrysler Town & Country Van that will have an expired sticker on Tuesday; a Subaru that needs tons of work done on it; a Ford Escort that has an expired sticker and needs work to pass; and a Pick-Up truck (don't even know what kind it is) that will be unstickered as of Tuesday, and which also needs work. All of those vehicles, and nothing to drive! What fun! In my next life, I'm going to own only new cars. I am so tired of vehicles with over 100,000 miles on them that you can't really truck. (At least I don't trust.)

Saturday night was my Scrapbook Embellishment Workshop. I think it went pretty well. Everyone seemed to have a good time. It was long (from 6:00 - 10:15 PM), but that's what a workshop is supposed to be: longer, and more in depth. I think I will be conducting a paper distressing workshop in May. (I'm so distressed about vehicles, I thought paper distressing would be just the thing!)

Sunday was Easter. We were up early to attend the Sunrise Service at 6:00 AM at the beach. It was FREEZING. Let me say that again. It was FREEZING! Services were very nice, and Easter dinner at Ma's was great (as usual). I think I took a nap in the afternoon. There wasn't a Nascar race that day, so I think I just slept. After evening church, we went to Amata's to get pazzo bread (a fairly new favorite of mine).

I had to go to the dentist on Monday. No cavities. Hardly any plague. Great gums. Had to have those awful digital x-rays, but she used the "numbing spray" right at the beginning, so I never even came close to gagging. A miracle. Picked up a take-and-bake pizza at Pik-Qwik to take to Mom's for lunch.

I'm not sure what I did on Tuesday. I know we didn't make it to Bible Study. Dwane was late getting home, and Caleb had a bit of a cold.

Yesterday was spent doing a lot of legal work. I didn't feel well in the morning, but I think I just ate something that disagreed with my stomach. It had worn off by the afternoon, and I feel ok today. Dwane's sister, Dawn, and her son, Colby, are visiting from VA, and they got here about 9:00 last night.

Guess that's it for now.

Oh--I was given a CD this weekend. I think I might do one of those "lyrics games" to see if you can guess which CD it was. Be watching for it--I know you'll want to play!

FRIDAY FILL IN

1. Nascar is so exciting!
2. Strawberry fields are always filled with bees.
3. Seafood Risotto sounds like it would taste delicious!
4. Why does having my feet scratched make me feel so good?!
5. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum is something I've always wanted to see.
6. It's sad when there is no cure for cancer.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to decorating Easter eggs, tomorrow my plans include teaching a scrapbook embellishment workshop and Sunday, I want to watch the men in my family play bolo in my grandmother's kitchen!

HOLY WEEK MI-5

Billy Rhythm says: This week is the week many Christians refer to as "Holy Week." Here are five questions inspired by the week. Well, inspired in a low-brow way!

1) Palm Sunday. On this day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt--one that had never been ridden before. What's the most unusual form of transport you've ever been on? Fighter jet? Submarine? Dog sled?

I don't think I've ever been transported on anything really weird. Subways in Montreal, Boston, and New York City. Roller Coasters? Do they count? Used to ride a bicycle built for two as a kid. And I could really get around on a pogo stick and on roller skates. I've been on a monorail at Magic Kingdom in Orlando. That's about it. Oh wait--I think I rode on an elephant at the Bronx Zoo. Or we could go motorcycles--I've been on both a Honda Goldwing and on one of those crotch-ripper things (which I will never get on again!).

2) Maundy Thursday. On Thursday of Holy Week, Christ and His disciples ate the Last Supper. What would you want to eat for your final meal?

Probably lobster. Steak. Scallops. Mashed potato from Bugaboo Creek or Applebee's.

3) Good Friday. Christ is crucified. What's the most excruciating physical pain you've endured? (And just so we can get some cool/interesting answers, ladies please eliminate child birth. We know that hurts wicked!)

Well, that takes out the obvious choice--child birth. I guess I would then have to pick the time that I broke my epithysis (spelling's probably wrong). It's a piece of cartilege in the ankle area that becomes bones as you mature. I was in 5th grade, and I broke it while pretending to be a horse and jumping over a block.

4) Holy Saturday. It's sometimes observed with silence. Can you think of something significant to share dealing with silence?

The first thought I have is "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all." I'm not really good at being silent. And for about the last year, I've really tried to hold my tongue when I really wanted to lash out.

5) Easter Sunday. The Lord is raised from the dead. Even many non-religious people celebrate Easter in some fashion. Do you have a family tradition on Easter? A dinner? An egg roll (the rolling of eggs on a lawn, not a noodle rolled around napa and bok choy!)? If you're Jewish and playing along, how about a Passover family tradition?

I don't think I have any Easter traditions that the average Christian American family wouldn't also have. Sunrise Service. Church. Ham Dinner at Ma's. I do like to decorate hard-boiled eggs with my boys on the Saturday before Easter. I insist on hiding foil-wrapped chocolate eggs, and actually I insist that Dwane hide them. I think that may be because my Dad did most of the hiding when we were kids, so I consider it to be a "Daddy" type of thing. My Dad used to always buy my Mom and me Orchid corsages for Easter, and I am trying to keep that tradition going by giving one to my Mom. (Someday, perhaps my husband will buy one for me, and I won't even have to "remind" him to do it.)

GUESS THE MOVIE

(Stolen from Amy's blog)

Behold, the rules:

* Pick fifteen of your favorite movies.
* Go to IMDB and find a quote from each movie.
* Post them on your blog for everyone to guess.
* Fill in the film title once it’s guessed.

This part is for the reader:

* No Googling or using IMDB search functions.
* Leave your answer(s) in the comments.

1. Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you. ANSWER: Baby in "Dirty Dancing". Guessed correctly by Amy.

2. Robert, please. You don't understand, no-one does. When a woman makes the choice to marry, to have children; in one way her life begins but in another way it stops. You build a life of details. You become a mother, a wife and you stop and stay steady so that your children can move. And when they leave they take your life of details with them. And then you're expected move again only you don't remember what moves you because no-one has asked in so long. Not even yourself. You never in your life think that love like this can happen to you. ANSWER: Francesca in "The Bridges of Madison County". Guessed correctly by Beloved.

3. How did you know? How did you know I'd respond to you the way I have? ANSWER: Elizabeth in "9 1/2 Weeks". Guessed correctly by Alice.

4. I'm gonna treat you so nice, you're never gonna let me go.

5. Pink is my signature color. ANSWER: Shelby in "Steel Magnolias". Guessed correctly by Beloved.

6. Ditto. ANSWER: Sam Wheat in "Ghost". Guessed correctly by Beloved.

7. For a smart girl, you do stupid well.

8. I'm gonna turn the backseat into a dressing room so I can change into a proper outfit for Madame, OK?

9. Brian, there is no "us." There's too many things about "us" that don't work. ANSWR: Jordan in "Cocktail". Guessed correctly by Billy Rhythm.

10. Daddy, did you get loved enough?

11. Dear Lord, we ask that you bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. And we ask forgiveness, Lord, for the fornication that Mr. Sprock and me committed this morning on this very table. ANSWER: Thelma "Sister" Husband in "Where the Heart Is". Guessed correctly by Beloved.

12. What kind of knight in shining armor would I be if the man I love needs rescuing and I just let him walk out my door?

13. Can I have one last first kiss? ANSWER: Lucy in "Fifty First Dates". Guessed correctly by Beloved.

14. After all... I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her. ANSWER: Anna Scott in "Notting Hill". Guessed correctly by Amy.

15. Buddy, I hate to break it to you, but in the real world... where I live... there're only two kinds of love stories. Boy loses girl and girl loses boy. That's all there is. Somebody always gets left behind. You try to avoid that, you'll end up an old man toastin' yourself with egg nog in the mirror on Christmas Eve. You'll end up dying in your own arms.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY? HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY?

This morning, I am rocking out to an earworm. "Happy Aniversary, Baby, Got you on my mind." I mean, I am really rocking it. What's up with that? I haven't heard that song in YEARS probably. I don't even know who sings it. But I'm dancing around the kitchen, buttering toast, and really getting into it.

On another note, since it's St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd tell you my little blond St. Patrick's Day story. It's no big whoop or anything, but it's the only St. Patrick's Day story I've got. A long, long, long time ago, I had a crush on a boy. I actually sent him a couple of green carnations with a note that said, "Someone with Irish eyes is thinking of you." I later found out that I am not the least bit Irish. (I'm more French, Welch and Scotch--I think.) And while I still remember the story, I'm sure the boy has long since forgotten.

I'm looking forward to corned beef and cabbage at Ma's tonight. Everyone in the family that likes boiled dinner will be there, and I really enjoy it.

Don't forget to wear green today!

FRIDAY FILL IN

1. Contact may cause feelings of emotion.
2. The parties hereto do mutually agree that the Testator has signed this instrument as his Last Will, and that he signed it willingly, and that each of them, in the presence and hearing of the Testator, sign this Will as witnesses to the Testator's signing, and that he is eighteen years of age or older, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.3. Disney parks are really expensive.
4. Bacon and eggs sounds really good right about now!
5. I positively adore my kids.
6. That stupid Tide Talking Stain commercial always makes me smile :-)
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to scrapbooking and/or playing cribbage online, tomorrow my plans include maybe going to the church's Family Fun Fest and Sunday, I want to see what Beloved and Billy Rhythm are cookin' up for lunch!

COMFORTS OF HOME MI-5

A benefactor wishes to set up a “get away” apartment for you. This is just a small place for you to escape to when the “going gets rough” and you just need some time away for yourself. He wants to know what things he can put in it that would really make it feel like “home” for you. He obviously cannot just go out and buy “people” or “sentimental” things (so don’t pick those kind of items, no matter how much you might want them), but he really wants to make the place special for you. What can he buy for you with relative ease?

1. Name one big ticket item: a piano--and not an electric one. A real one. I have never, ever heard an electric piano that sounds like a real piano.

2. Name two authors whose complete works you would like to see in the library: This is tough. How 'bout Karen Kingsbury and Beth Moore? (Laura Ingalls Wilder would be next.)

3. Name three musical artists whose complete works you would like to see loaded into the mp3 player: The Judds (because I know almost all of the words to all of their songs); I'll steal Aunt Ginny's answer and say The Gaither Homecoming Music; and while this might be cheating a little bit, I'd want all of the WOW Contemporary Christian compilation CDs.

4. Name four things you would like to see in the food pantry and/or refrigerator: Pop Secret Homestyle Popcorn; Chocolate Raspberry Creamer for my Coffee; Diet Cherry Pepsi; Lindt Chocolate Truffles.

5. Name five other things: A Playstation 2 with a bunch of DDR and Karaoke Revolution games; a comfortable rocking chair; a female cat; a basket of yarn, patterns, and crochet hooks; everything Close To My Heart sells so that I can scrapbook.

SONG LYRICS ANSWERS

I think that everyone that I thought would guess at these, has now guessed. If someone else wants to play--don't read any further on this post!!! There were only a couple of songs that no one guessed at. You did well!!

1. Kiss of an Angel, by Hinder (although I tend to listen to the Jack Ingram version)

2. Wonderwall, by Oasis

3. How Do I Live, performed by both Leann Rimes and Trisha Yearwood. If I remember correctly, the Leann Rimes' version was the more successful single, but it was Trisha Yearwood's version that won a Grammy.

4. Stupid Boy, by Keith Urban

5. Paradise by the Dashboard Light, by Meatloaf

6. Once In a Lifetime Love, by Keith Urban (again)

7. I'll Wait for You, by Joe Nichols. Joe Nichols actually performed this song at the memorial service in the Bahamas for Anna Nicole Smith.

8. I'm Already There, by Lonestar. I know something very, very interesting about this song, but if I told you, I'd have to kill you. It's a secret of a legal nature. Maybe I can tell you someday.

9. Lost In This Moment With You, by Big and Rich. These guys almost scare me in some sort of way. I'm not sure why, really. Maybe the dancing "Little Person". Maybe the amazing contrast in the two singers. I don't know. Something eerie about them. This is a really pretty song, though.

10. Lady In Red, by Chris DeBurgh.

11. Before He Cheats, by Carrie Underwood.

12. The Weekend, by Steve Wariner. This is a country song from the late eighties (I think).

13. Cry, by Faith Hill. I love to TRY to sing this song in the car, when I'm alone. I'll never come close to hitting all the notes.

14. You Can Leave Your Hat On, by Joe Cocker. This was in the movie 9 1/2 Weeks, which is how I first heard it.

15. Survivor, by Reba McIntire. This was the theme song to her sit-com. LOVE that show.

BONUS: Painted Desert Serenade, by Joshua Kadison, from one of my all-time favorite albums of the same name. I don't think this song was really ever released as a single, but I'm not sure. Joshua did the song "Jessie", which got quite a bit of radio time in 1994 and also "Beautiful In My Eyes". If you have never listened to Joshua's stuff, you've got to give this album a listen. Lots of "story songs". I can really conjure up a lot of images in my mind from the words that he sings.

GUESS THE SONG LYRICS

Lately, it seems to be "in" to put the lyrics of several songs on your blog, and see if anyone can guess the title. I thought I'd give it a shot. These songs are some favorites of mine, and a couple of them have been earworms for me lately. The first one, especially, has been driving me nuts all day. To make it a little easier, I've listed the first verse of the songs. Can you guess them? (If you listen to country, you'll probably do better--another hint.)

1. Honey why you calling me so late? It's kinda hard to talk right now. Honey why are you crying? Is everything okay? I gotta whisper 'cause I can't be too loud.

2. Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you. By now you should've somehow realized what you gotta do. I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now.

3. How do I, get through the night without you? If I had to live without you, what kind of life would that be? Oh, I, I need you in my arms, need you to hold,
You're my world, my heart, my soul. If you ever leave, Baby, you would take away everything good in my life. (EVERYONE ought to get this one!)

4. Well, she was precious like a flower. She grew wild, wild but innocent. A perfect prayer in a desperate hour. She was everything beautiful and different.

5. I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday. Parking by the lake and there was not another car in sight. And I never had a girl looking any better than you did. And all the kids at school they were wishing they were me that night.

6. I can see it in your eyes and feel it in your touch. I know that you're scared but you've never been this loved. It's a long shot, baby, I know it's true,
But if anyone can make it, I'm betting on me and you. Just keep on moving in to me,
I know you're going to see, the best is yet to come.

7. The snow in Montana was three feet high. The lady at the counter said: There ain't no flights. And so he called her on the telephone. He said: I'll rent a car and I'll drive home.

8. He called her on the road, from a lonely cold hotel room just to hear her say I love you one more time. But when he heard the sound of the kids laughing in the background, he had to wipe away a tear from his eye. A little voice came on the phone, said daddy when you coming home? He said the first thing that came to his mind.

9. See your mama and the candles and the tears and roses. I see your daddy walk his daughter down the aisle. And my knees start to tremble as I tell the preacher,
"Don't she look beautiful tonight?"

10. I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight. I've never seen you shine so bright. I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance. They're looking for a little romance, given half a chance. I have never seen that dress you're wearing, or the highlights in your head that catch your eyes I have been blind.

11. Right now he's probably slow dancing with a bleached-blond tramp, and she's probably getting frisky...right now, he's probably buying her some fruity little drink cause she can't shoot whiskey...Right now, he's probably up behind her with a pool-stick, showing her how to shoot a combo...And he don't know...

12. Couple of days isn't a very long time. Why can't I just walk away, I used to be good at goodbyes...Out on the water...under the stars...I let the moonlight play a trick on my heart.

13. If I had just one tear running down your cheek, maybe I could cope maybe I'd get some sleep. If I had just one moment at your expense, maybe all my misery would be well spent.

14. Baby take off your coat, real slow. Take off your shoes. I'll take off your shoes. Baby take off your dress. Yes, yes, yes. (Sorry Mom! Don't be embarassed. I just needed a little variety in the genre!)

15. My roots are planted in the past. Though my life is changing fast, who I am is who I want to be!

BONUS: He tells her, "I want to paint you naked on a big brass bed, with bright orange poppies all around your head." And she says, "Crazy old man, I'm not young anymore." "That's all right," he whispers, "I've never painted before."

FRIDAY FILL-IN

1. Ahhhh, it's so nice when the boys are not fighting.
2. One of my favorite things on my desk or bureau is a small, pink, very soft, stuffed kitten.
3. Japanese Cherry Blossom is a shower gel that I have, and I don't care for the scent so much.
4. As it's the only quiet time I get, the toilet (yikes!) is my favorite place to sit and read.
5. Surf and Turf is delicious!
6. I love to watch Julia Roberts in movies.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the finale of the disappointing Gone Country show, tomorrow my plans include cooking (preparing for Sunday family lunch), and Sunday, I want to go to Eben's basketball party!

AUNT GINNY'S RETIREMENT MI-5

Aunt Ginny says: In 25 days I will be retiring from the best job I ever had. Naturally, it is on my mind quite a bit! Even if you don't work for pay full time right now, What do you think it will be like?

1. At what age do you see yourself retiring?

Since my full-time job is a mother, I guess I will retire (at least somewhat) when Caleb is 18--13 years from now. That will make me about 53. Of course, I'll still be a mom, but the day-to-day making of grilled cheese sandwiches will end at that point (at least I hope). As far as the paralegal job goes, I hope I'll be "done" with that way before then. I'd really like to be a substitute teacher, but I need more education for that. That would be a good job for "retirement", too. Maybe the Lord will bless me with some extra income so that I can pursue some more schooling.

2. Are you actively planning for that now? How?

Not actively planning, but maybe dreaming a little. Wondering how I'll fill my "spare time". I'd like to enjoy coffee/hot chocolate every morning with my husband, reading the Bible together, sitting in a little breakfast nook, with a nice woodside view out the window--squirrels, bird feeders, that kind of thing. Maybe gazing over an abundant vegetable garden and beautiful flowers. I'm sure there will also be more scrapbooking, and perhaps some volunteering.

3. Do you think that you will "come out of retirement" at least once? To do what?

I won't be having any more kids at that age, so I won't be "coming out" to be a Mom again, that's for sure. Retirement is still quite a ways for me, so I'm not sure what I would come out of retirement for.

4. Will you have a career after retirement? Paid? volunteer?

I guess this goes along with #3 for me. I'm not really sure. I don't want to just sit around and do nothing all day. Volunteering would be nice--maybe at the school, or as a library mentor, or at Abri Crisis Pregnancy Center (which goes by a new name, but I can never remember it).

5. Will you just take one last look around, close the door behind you, and keep walking? Or, will it be a slower, more gradual, more thoughtful process?

Since I'm speaking of retirement in turns of "mothering", I definitely won't close the door behind me and keep walking. It will, in reality, go on forever. As far as my paralegal job goes, I hope I can close the door and move on. (Please, Lord!)