The Next Time my credit card people call...

A weird title for a joyful posting. But I never claimed to be unquirky.

I often ponder and pray and sing in my car. I like to think of it as my cathedral of one. I was thinking of blessings tonight. Bing Crosby suggest you should count your blessing instead of sheep. Now me, I like to be awake while blessing counting. I have a lot of people tell me to have a blessed day. I am quirky and I believe a bit naive. I see the world as good and I like to thank God often for all my blessings. And that got me thinking about all the blessings I take for granted.

Like being able to read. I don't even really think about it much. There are letters and numbers in front of my face all the time. But I know what they mean. And I am assuming you do too. But there is a lady who comes in twice a week to see a reading tutor at my branch. Just by listening to them as they sit quietly talking and reading aloud in the time that they have been coming to the library, the one learning has grown by leaps and bounds. She really seems to enjoy it now.

And health. We have someone who comes in regularly whose husband has cancer. Liver cancer, I think. It has been a hard battle for her and him. She is one I pray for a lot in my car. I tell her that every now and then if she asks me to pray for him. She feels like all the prayers is why he has been able to hold on for so long. I am blessed to be healthy and he is blessed to have so many praying for him.

That is just a few of my infinite blessing. They are riches beyond measure. Yes, Capital One probably won't take them in lieu of payment but I don't think I would even consider offering them up. They are priceless.

On a side note, someone told me today that I was an answer to a prayer. She was trying to find a seminary to attend but doesn't use the computer so well. I was able to find her one that she felt right for her along with phone number, address and directions on how to get to it. Little did I know that I would be a blessing for someone else : )

Good night and god bless : P

A weekend by the Numbers

124/78 last BP measurement

6:55 pm the time we got in from our drive. Just a short drive into the sunshine...

3:30ish the time we left for our short drive.

4 cats that rule the roost and for whom we brought another put together tower yesterday.

0 cats who are currently on the tower I put together

almost 30 days of having our tree up. I think we were going to take it down this weekend but in the midst of our quiet weekend, it just never got done. The family (cats and us) really like having it up.

5 times I have bemoaned the idea of being the PIC from my branch from now on. I love being a children's person. I stand being in charge and am very good at it but it takes some much away from being just children's which is my love.

2 credit reports for me and B. I try to remember to check them annually.

16.15 how much we spent at Angel's Diner in Palatka, FL It is reported to be the oldest diner in Florida. The food was quite good and the staff very friendly. We will definitely try them again some time : )

2 movies we saw this weekend. They were both about vampires. Twilight: New Moon and Daybreakers were both very good in their own way. I think that Daybreakers has the better visual effects with some slow motion work and interesting camera work.

Good day and tomorrow is another day.

Patti and Clint's Wedding In Reverse

Is for what is you hearing?

For a well read, well written person, I sometimes suck at communication. I know what I am trying to say but saying it sometimes comes out all wrong. I think that this is why I like email, facebook and such. When I write it down, I have a delete key. When I say it, no such luck...

I struggle with what I think a person is going to say in response to what I say. I am so sure that I am going to hear a negative that I won't say something at all. I won't say I really want to do something or I think this way or that. I am 100% certain that the replier will tell what a totally stupid thing to say or want to do. Or I feel like an oyster. Closed up tighter than tight and you are supposed to realize that something is wrong and pry it out of me.

Sometimes it sounds so clear to me but not to the person I am talking to. I struggle with that at work every now and then. I assume I know what I am saying so everyone else must to.

That is what is so lovely about life though. I may struggle but there is always tomorrow. I know it sounds very Gone with the Wind but it makes it no less true. Tomorrow is a day of endless possibilities.

(And chicken and dumplings dinner with J, J and T : P ) I know that each day is a day for the better. I am very much a follower of This is the day that the Lord has made...we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Good day and better tomorrow.

Devotional Repost

I wrote this last year. I was really happy with how it turned out. Thus I thought I might repost it. It was supposed to be a family devotional last year...

So here's what I had. I was going to have each person read a part. And then put the paper flipped over in the middle of the table. On the back, it would read Ch, ri, s, t, is, h, e, r, e

Mary: I was there, thoughtful and faithful. I went through things none had ever been through then or since. But I believed.

Joseph: I was there, supporting my wife. I believed her and God. We traveled far to come to the land of my birth. I would be there for his birth but his death would give all new life.

Shepherd: I was there, in awe and joyous. Everything that the angel told us came true. How could we stop from praising God for all the wondrous things we saw? And still see to this day.

Angel: I was there, praising and a messenger. Spreading the good news that this day would be born a savior. Even into this mortal flesh with all its pain and sorrow, how could one not but sing to his glory?

Star: I was there, shining a way to the Lord. Much like his Word still shines a way to him too.

Wise Men: I seek what all men seek. Salvation. Love. For all my gifts, his was greater still.

Ass: I was there. What was my burden of his mother to the burden for which he would carry even unto his death?

Innkeeper: I was there. How hectic a time was that? People stuck in every which how and place, only to find more on my doorstep looking for room. Imagine your house full to the gills. A man has to turn someone away. Yet how many more turn from him now?

Christ: I am here.

Christmas. Christ mass.

All those there for this one defining event. All those there to play a part. All crowded and around this singular person. Christ. Everything revolves around him. As it should now.

Then as now, there are so many things pulling away from Christ. Mothers, husbands, things to be gotten and given, messages to receive and get, seekers, burdens and hectic times.

But in the end, all that falls away and he is left. He is the pure grain when all the chaff is worn away. The Messiah. The Savior. That which all men seek and all may find. Amen.

Then as now, good night and find him...

Happy to be Born: P

A gift from Mom who remembers my love for Winnie the Pooh
An Autumn Windchime for my balcony

Lunch and talking with Dad : D

A scarecrow couple and their candle houses (okay so maybe it is their phobia house seeing as it contains fire : P )

My Jar of Moonlight from Beloved

All in all, it was a lovely day to be born. I got birthday wishes on my facebook page, lunch out with Dad where I got to share my cool news about B and I working on getting pregnant : D Not there yet but it is exciting to know we are trying. I got sung to by T and J and Beloved took me out to Orsay where we had the best meal ever. The cats even snagged his credit card and got me Hello Kitty gifts galore.

Lovely, lovely.

Good day and Happy Birthday (yesterday) to me !

The Day After

It is the day after the party. Things are quiet compared to yesterday. There were so many people here. Crowds everywhere. Old staff, current staff, old customers, adminstration, Friends of the Library people, kids, the daughter of the person who headed the community campaign to build this library. I mean crowds. We had a good time listening to stories, making Mr. Potato Heads and enjoying the branch. Everyone put a lot of hard work into the day and it was great.

But my, were we wiped by the end of the day. There was one very sad part to the day. My boss found out her last day which will be in mid January. They are moving her to another branch. I don't think that they will be replacing her. I am guessing I will be acting boss until ? Staffing here is like the tide. They flow in and they flow right back out again.

Does that make me the rock that it all flows around?

Good day and yay and bummer.

A new tradition

I come from a family with an abundance of Christmas traditions. He comes from one with none. So we added another to our family traditions. We made homemade gingerbread cookies. They were yummy, it was mess and it was a lot of fun to do with B. I made the pirate one : P He wanted cat cookie cutters but I have yet to find any. LOL You would think this might be the activity in which there is lights on the tree and some carols playing in the background. But not us... there were lights on the tree but it was a horror movie playing in the background.

That just us. Traditional with a quirk.

Good night and Chestnuts roasting on an open fire while manical chainsaw yielding person runs around : )

50 years

I am not 50. Thus far I have only made it to 33 and 4 days. In 18 more days, it will be 34 years on the earth. But my branch is turning 50 this year a couple of days before me.

We decided to throw a 1950s party. We are all dressing up in 1950s style clothes, playing with hula hoops, Frisbees, Barbie and Mr. Potato Head (with real potatos) and having staff who have worked here in the last 50 years come out to speak. We will be listening to Elvis and trying out our own American Bandstand style dancing.

Speaking of staff, we have a photo taken just the day before the opening here. It can be found at
http://jpl.coj.net/dlc/florida/photo/L18-001.html

We also decided to have a little trivia with the 1950s slang such as cat, bread, threads and tight.. better known as a cool person, money, clothes and best friends : )

Good day and you are just so keen : P

Wish List

Eve's Wish List

Big Skillet
Oven Thermometer/Kitchen Thermometer
Dance by Mucha (Poster)
Hello Kitty Luggage Tags
Shower Radio
1000+ piece puzzles
Money to Charity
Marble Rolling Pin
18 inch silver or white gold necklace
Now that's What I call Music 32
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
An original artwork (one that you paint, draw,etc)
A surprise visit
A letter telling me why I am loved or a special memory of me
A picture of you
A jar of moonlight (whatever that means to you)
A coupon for dinner at your house for a later date
Homemade cookies (chocolate chips are my favorite but whatever is good )
Fables #7 and 9
Y: The Last Man #3-10
Silicon Cooking sheets

I was going to send this out to my family but couldn't get it attached. Whomever gets me as their person this year should probably check with B.

It is a family tradition to write this after dinner on Thanksgiving. B. and I rebelled with ham though : ) This is a lot shorter than I normally do and it was super hard this year. We already have so much. I am thankful for that and for my family. They are just so cool and unbelievable kind and caring. I feel like they are not just family. They are my friends too.

I am thankful for B too. I am so incredibly lucky to have him in my life. I love him beyond words. He is my best friend and my love. How cool is that : )

Good night and thank you!

Things I learn at work

They are very big on training at my job. But sometimes the things I learn don't exactly fall under training per se. I learn about how some have come long distances and sacrificed much to come to this country. One of my coworkers is from Kenya. Her parents moved her and her siblings here to give them more opportunity. They gave up a lot to be here. I really like hearing her talk. To me, her accent sounds so cool. She is willing to talk about everything under the sun.

Another one of my coworkers has three kids. They are all around my age. She goes through trials, joys and the in-between with them. But through it all she wants the best for them. It is a good lesson to show someone who has not had the courage to have kids yet. With her, everyone who comes through the doors is a possible family member or friend. She fusses at and for them.

I am in awe of my library kids sometimes. They are so curious and so want to help. They are so smart too. They crowd around my station sometimes. Just wanting someone to listen. It is interesting to see the world like they see it.

I had the chance to talk to my coworker about being a parent, buying a house and Christmas. She told me about how her father would write handwritten notes to her and her siblings as from Santa and he would put Santa bootprints around the fireplace. She is somewhat in the same boat as me. Both newlyweds, both renting, both no kids. It is good to talk to someone so alike me and so different. She has been saving up for a house and the where to go from here. She is really helpful and a good example in customer service.

Good day and hi, ho, hi, ho, it's off to work I go.

Feeling Better

The last couple of days, I was feeling a bit off. Mainly just tired and a bit off. Today was better.

The worst part of it all was we had dance class on a day when I didn't feel good. I was determined to go though. But now, I can hardly remember the steps we learned. It is such a shame. We had begun on turns and spins. Not a day for a headache and being dizzy already.

But we head back again on Tuesday. We have talked it over and are thinking of continuing. We finally got to dance on the beat that day. It just felt so cool to dance with B.

Today I also got to make turkeys in storytime. They were oreo turkeys and they were super yummy! I made a couple for the staff too. I think we are going to use them in a craft program on Tuesday too.

I am taking Wednesday off to get supplies and get cooking. We aren't doing a big family thing but B and I will be having a Thanksgiving dinner together. There is so much to be thankful this year.

Good night and I sure hope I can remember the steps this time.

The food of the soul

I live for music, rhythm and dance. I sing and dance while I drive. I hear songs in my head and will usually sing at the drop of a hat.

I got a real thrill tonight though. B and I went to our first ballroom dance lesson. It was such fun. He was really nervous though. I can usually tell. He barely let my hand go as the owner told us about the lessons and setup. But he did great. The teacher was really patient with us.
We started on the basic steps and then moved onto a box step and then a basic foxtrot. We didn't do it for any particular reason. It was just something fun and active to do together. It reminds me of our marriage. We are having fun, not knowing all the steps but learning them together. Sometimes toes get stepped on or someone goes the wrong way but it is all about the dance.

Afterwards we went out to dinner at the other Country Cabin. They have beef stroganoff on Wednesdays only. It could easily become my favorite day of the week. Dance AND beef stroganoff...

Good night and may I have this dance?

October in A Nutshell

Earlier this month, B and I headed out to Kingsley Plantation on a very windy day.

I love driving with him. And we spend a lot of time talking and laughing on the drive.

Dad always likes to say that history is in every step you take. And I loved stepping here and imagining what it might have been like to live during that time.

Could have the mistress of this house stood on her lawn contemplating the water and sky just like me? Could she have loved the feel of the wind pushing her hair to and fro like I did?

In the middle/end of the month, B and I went to a Star Wars in Concert. We got to listen to a live symphony orchestra play the Star Wars score and watch a montage of the movies all together.

During intermission, I got a picture of Star Wars' bad guy and my good guy. I had tried to get the tickets as a surprise. But ended up telling him about it before the end of the night... it is so hard for me to hold onto surprises.

This is the fall book display towards the end of the month of October. I really love the season and holiday so I put a lot into it.

Including adding some of my own decorations from home (i.e. the black cat among others).

I am always surprised at what things I find in the back room. These were a tie dye type of banner of fall leaves we wrapped around the circulation desk. Everyone kept checking to see if we had finally put candy in the pumpkins. : P

I am a Florida pioneer woman (or cracker) for Halloween. I was able to use my grandmother's basket (she makes beautiful ones). It made me laugh as people tried to guess who I was. I got everything from Holly Hobby to Mother Goose.

Apparently because being a pioneer woman wasn't cool enough I decided to add shades to my ensemble. Well, not really. I had been to the eye doctor earlier and gotten the slip ons for my glasses due to my eyes being dialated.

This look got me called Granny for the rest of the afternoon.

All in all, a very good month was October. I wonder what November will bring...

Good night and good night.

What was waiting for me when I came home tonight...

I have been fighting a bad cold this last week. Last Friday I had no voice. And this weekend was no weekend. I spent it all in bed asleep. But tonight when I got home, I had the most lovely surprise waiting for me.

The card is a get well card entitled "Meee-Ouch!"

The note pad has this written above it:

When I Look at You...

I see a remarkable woman with a kind and caring heart who is beautiful in every sense of the word. You are everything wonderful and if I had just one wish it would be that you could see what I see when I look at you.

Thankfully I had tissues galore...

Good night and lucky me!