Cathy's Grace Notes

Friday Five - LIE Addition (well, she did lie)

Will smama writes:
Greetings friends! It's been awhile since I've contributed to the posts here at the revgalblogpals website, but I agreed to step into the Fifth Friday of the Month Friday Five slot.

So here I be.

As I zip around the webring it is quite clear that we are getting BUSY. "Tis the season" when clergy and laypeople alike walk the highwire from Fall programming to Christmas carrying their balancing pole with family/rest on the one side and turkey shelters/advent wreaths on the other.

And so I offer this Friday Five with 5 quick hit questions... and a bonus:

1) Your work day is done and the brain is fried, what do you do?

PLOP DOWN at home in the recliner and turn the laptop on, and close my eyes to rest them... and then I snooze.

2) Your work week is done and the brain is fried (for some Friday, others Sunday afternoon), what do you do?

Refer to #1 unless it is Sunday afternoon. I also watch "In Concert" and Diane Bish. I am such a dork.

3) Like most of us, I often keep myself busy even while programs are on the tv. I stop to watch The Office and 30 Rock on Thursday nights. Do you have 'stop everything' tv programming or books or events or projects that are totally 'for you' moments?

Dorkiness continues with Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and I really like to watch the LOCAL NEWS that I have watched since I was a child. However, other than that I am not much of a tv watcher, but if there IS something on there that I want US to watch, get out of my may and watch my nose get out of joint if it doesn't happen.

4) When was the last time you laughed, really laughed? What was so funny?
I was at a concert last week of Russian Balalaika players. I saw one of my students and went to say hello to him. He looked up at  me and had this LOOK. And then he said (and it was said as if it was one word... whaddayoudoinhere? ) HE KNEW I DId not BELONG ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN SCHOOL - HE KNOWS I LIVE, EAT, AND SLEEP at school. He isn't supposed to see me any other place. He really wanted me to go - I was out of place!

5) What is a fairly common item that some people are willing to go cheap on, but you are not.

SHOES. They cannot hurt my feet. Period.

Bonus: It's become trite but is also true that we often benefit the most when we give. Go ahead, toot your own horn. When was the last time you gave until it felt good?
I put 20 dollars in the collection plate because I said whatever I pull out of my wallet, I would give. The 20 dollar bill showed up.

Really and truly though, I do enjoy going on Tuesdays to help with the Backpack program where we fill up backpacks to distribute on Fridays to targeted students who we believe might benefit from extra food over the weekend. That feels REALLY GOOD. And I take all the materials which can be recycled back to our school to be recycled.
Ok, tooted horn..... Someone toot theirs in the comments please! When is the last time you tooted horn?

Let us know in the comments if you played and I'll come around and visit. The first 50 are entered into a drawing for a new car (sorry, that's a lie. We are immersed in political attack ads here in the US that lie and so I thought I would join in). Seriously, go ahead and let us know if you play. I will visit. And buy you a new house (lie). The last person to do the Friday Five is a socialist and hangs out with computer viruses (STOP!).

As always, comments and programming on this station do not necessarily represent the view and values of the revgalblogpals website or its associates. If you are an American citizen please vote by Tuesday or your computer will self destruct in 5 seconds...

Hectic Week!

A little crazy here in terms of a week.... however, today....

Work - adding two little girls - adding students to my room always makes it interesting. But the fact we had two girls is evening out the gender distribution.

Yesterday Mom went to the podiatrist. She has hammer toes. Today we go in for some in office surgery to correct one of them. She has more, but we aren't foolin' with them unless we need to.

Day before yesterday, Mom went to dentist. Let's just say that more dental work is in the works. Before that we need to get some antibiotics in her.

I am having problems with my power connection on my computer, so I may be sans computer if it has to go into the computer hospital. It looks like it is heading in that direction. I feel like I am always working on borrowed time.

So..... it's just plain been busy. Hopefully things will slow down...

Naked Women for Peace

Because I beat Jo(e) to this video, and I am too chicken to be as bold as her, I resorted to Youtube.  Wondering if this will impact my counter.

Spinning back in time and looking towards the future

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

I found it!

Ok, as soon as I get it in my hands, I'll share it with you, but I found something I have been looking for for some time, and I ordered it. I'm excited!

God Moments on Sunday

God moments of a quotidian nature, but nonetheless, sacred:

• Waking up to a cool, crisp morning
• hearing Abby, precious granddaughter of my friend Kit, praying with her grandmother in church.
• watching children receive blessings in church
• watching a ten year old and a two year old chow down on chicken noodle soup at lunch.
• listening to people sing from their heart, regardless of whether they can sing or not.

We sang this as our last hymn in church today. Knowing we sang with all of our hearts with those we love made it that much more meaningful.

What did you sing today in worship?

Friday Five - Coin Toss Edition

Well, Gals and Pals, this weekend we'll be rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and that has me thinking about coinage.

1) When was the last time you flipped a coin or even saw one flipped in person?

It has been some time since I have seen the flipping of a coin. Probably the most familiar to me is at a football game. Am I just out of the loop or do people use this anymore?

2) Do you have any foreign coins in your house? If so, where are they from?
If I do, I don't know about it!

3) A penny saved is a penny earned, they say. But let's get serious. Is there a special place in heaven for pennies, or do you think they'll find a special place in, well, the other place?

A penny is a penny - but many pennies add up. I can't imagine not having pennies around. I hope in heaven we don't have to worry about pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, or any amount of money!!

4) How much did you get from the tooth fairy when you were a child? and if you have children of your own, do they get coins, or paper money? (I hear there may be some inflation.)

Ten cents - one dime. I think my children got a dollar. I am sure they will respond to this post to either correct me or confirm this.

5) Did anyone in your household collect the state quarters? And did anyone in your household manage to sustain the interest required to stick with it?
My father did - but he was unable to complete this project since he passed away. He was collecting them for each of the grandchildren. Wondering where it is.....

What about you?? If you want to play, please do - either on your blog or in the comments!!!

Because I am three years old at heart and I love to sing

 We had book club tonight and my little 2 year old friend (who is almost 3) brought her book to book club, which was more interesting that what we read (ok, I am exaggerating because that would be comparing apples to oranges). However, her book was one that is a song  Baby Beluga (Raffi Songs to Read) and I couldn't remember the entire tune. I hate when that happens. So good ol' Youtube helped me - and I share it with you.

Friday Five - Business Trip?

Mother Laura from RGBP writes:
I spent a good bit of time today registering and making travel arrangements for the American Academy of Religion meeting in Chicago at the beginning of November. (Anyone up for a meetup? Shout out, okay?) I'm not presenting this year, so I'm busy sending out resumes and cover letters, but at least I'm not stressing about getting a paper written.

I'll see friends and teachers from grad school, try to resist temptation in the book hall, attend some presentations if time permits, and, God willing, have some preliminary interviews in the everlasting college-teaching-job-search process--prayers welcome, as always. And, thanks to my dear Mom who agreed to babysit and donated some frequent flyer miles, it will also be a busy-but-happy getaway with my sweetheart.

So for today's Friday Five, you're invited to share your experiences with the exciting, challenging world of business travel....

1. Does your job ever call for travel? Is this a joy or a burden?

Rarely - and usually it's because I have discovered a conference I would like to attend, and not one because I HAVE to. And... it doesn't look like much travel will be going on this year.

However, travel - there is an element of excitement on the anticipation of travel, especially as a school teacher it is so out of the norm for me. But there is a trade off of the work involved in preparation of leaving as well as the work waiting for me when I get back to school.

2. How about that of your spouse or partner?

Well, spouse usually travels once or twice a year for his work as a golf professional. He attends the annual PGA convention, and usually has to go to another in the state.

3. What was the best business trip you ever took?

I'm still waiting for it... :) - however, I enjoyed one I went to New Orleans for, but it's been a LONG time - I have pleasant memories of it.

4. ...and the worst, of course?

Well, this is getting to be a boring post with few details but I can't think of one because I have been on so few. Should I even be playing THIS Friday Five??? :)

5. What would make your next business trip perfect?

All plans made by someone else --- with every detail taken care ahead of time. And.. you see... I have no idea about the perfect business trip - since business trips are so foreign to me.

So... I'm a loser when it comes to thinking about business trips... but maybe that makes me a winner!

So... those of you who read this... what about business trips for you?

After the trip to the beach

After five days at the beach, some thoughts.....

• the price of staying at the beach is about the same, if you don't eat. If you eat, hold on to your hat.
• Fall is a much nicer time to visit the beach - less people and the temperatures are kinder.
• Simple pleasures.... a 10 cent kite entertaining a 2 year old (ok, it entertained us also)
• The angle of the sun during the fall makes things look and feel different.
• Knitting too much makes my hands hurt.
• Taking a nap after you get home from vacation feels good.

Glad to be home.