Monday, February 9, 2009

Cards

I love to play cards. I always have. When I was about Kyra's age I learned to play double solitaire with my aunts in New York. Actually, I think we played triple solitaire since there were two of them and one of me. It was a lot of fun and I went home with a double deck of Pegasus cards. My Aunt Maria worked for Mobile at the time and if you remember (or were even alive at that time!) the logo for Mobile (before it was ExxonMobile) was a Pegasus. Last year I took one of the jokers from each deck and sent them to my Aunt Yota in New York. I told her how I remembered playing with them and how much I enjoyed it. She was delighted that I still had the cards, had the memory, and thought of her. In the note I sent her I told her I would come pick up the jokers from her, thus making it clear that I intended to visit again. She's all alone now and I think of her looking at those cards and remembering her dear sweet sister Maria.

About that same time I really really wanted to learn how to shuffle cards. I can recall spending an entire summer trying to conquer the "bridge". I can't remember how old I was, but I know it was the age where The Price is Right was a fun show to watch. I'd get up in the morning, do whatever until Bob Barker begged me to "come on down", and sit on the floor of my living room trying endlessly to shuffle and bridge those dang cards. That was sometime before Junior High. I would have been the only one home since my mom was at work and my brother was either sleeping or at work as well. Me, my cards, and Bob. Awe, what a nerd!

Now I've taught Kyra how to play solitaire, double, and triple. It's been fun and she is pretty intense. She slams those cards up when she sees an opening and is pretty good. You can tell it has been a while since we've played because I believe that annoying is the word Bill and I used more often when describing what it is like to play with her. She's pretty intense. I think Bill is very grateful that I am over my double solitaire phase of life. He's getting more sleep now and does not dread the time when the kids are in bed and he hears the cards shuffling.

My current card game of choice is Wizard. It takes at least 3 people to play, but is really more enjoyable with 4-6 people. It has been fun teaching new couples to play and it is a game that Bill and I equally enjoy. Although it takes a bit of skill to know what to do, much of the game is about luck in what you are dealt. It plays a bit like Hearts, with a wizard twist. Fun, fun, fun. One of the funniest nights of Wizard was when Bill and I taught his friend Larry to play. When there are just 3 players the game seems to go on FOREVER!!! Or maybe it was just because it was late and we were all a little slaphappy. Good people, good game, you can't go wrong. Clearly, the couple we've played the most with is the Lee's. In fact, there have been a couple of times that going into the last hand we've all been within reach of the win. Crystal and Bill just really enjoy this game, Jared and I like to argue. Again, what's not fun about that?! I think we would enjoy playing every week if we could. Good people, good game, good fun.

Since it is not possible to gather 4-6 of your dearest friends together on just any given weeknight, I sometimes try to get a little Wizard practice in on my own. I've been told that there is a website that you can play on, but I'm not the kind that is going to sign up and be at the mercy of strangers around the world. I also hear that you can mock each other and I just don't think I can take that kind of a beating from some guy in Japan. So, I settle for the next best thing... Hearts. Heck, that game is loaded on my computer and I play the delightful "west, north, and east". West doesn't seem to be very good, but the other two can hold their own. Tonight I didn't do so well. I don't want to talk about it.

BUT, the real reason I started this post is to nark on Bill. Apparently you can change the names of your opponents to anything you want. He likes to play with some good looking ladies. He named his competitors: Angie Harmon, Julia Roberts, and Diane Lane. The first two were a given, but Diane is a new comer. I think Bill is growing up a little, I'm impressed. She's beautiful in her own way and was fabulous in Under the Tuscan Sun. I loved that movie. What is funnier than anything is that he set Angie up to be directly opposite him at the table so he can look directly at her the whole time. Is this funny, or what? I just love that man, and he's got good taste, see:






I am going to be in so much trouble tomorrow when he sees this but it will be well worth it. I'm sure we'll make up :) It's the retaliation that I fear most. It will probably have something to do with the fact that I would have a hard time narrowing down my Hearts game to just 3 hotties.

Stinky Garbage

Me: Babe, there is chicken in the garbage. It is going to stink tomorrow.
Bill: That's nice.
Me: That was a hint to take out the garbage.
Bill: You're better at telling me what to do.

the next day...

Me: Babe, there is more chicken in the garbage now. It is going to stink soon.
Bill: Didn't you say that last night?
Me: Funny.

The garbage remains. Enter my stinky kitchen at your own risk.

It's Not Fair

It's not fair that I can be up at all hours of the morning and not need any sleep while there are many a weary momma out there with sleepless babies and toddlers. Kids puking, nursing, and teething, all while I read, type, and pass the time until the sun comes up. I'm sorry, sweet friends, that I can't help you more. I'd send your children sleepy vibes or help you stay awake and calm. But the fact of the matter is, if I was in your shoes, I'd probably be exhausted too. I love you, and pray for you in this early morning hour. Hopefully you (and I) will get in a couple more hours sleep now and be refreshed for our day.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The Orange Harvest

The girls picked these:

And I did this:

I got this to compost:



And this to drink:


And I still have this:



And this:


So if you feel so inclinded... come on over and harvest some of your own.






Saturday, February 7, 2009

"I am Woman, Hear me Roar!"

The title to this post has a very long history to it and involves a dear friend that I love. She can roar baby, oh how I know she can roar! But then there are times she won't say a word. It is then that she hides in her house, probably in her bed, away from the world and even her family. Her husband that adores her tries to get in but she won't let him. Her children love her but won't bother her. They care for her enough to let her be. Only she can make the decision to come out and rejoin the world. Only she can save herself. Only she can make the difference in her life. We can love her and support her and point her in the right direction. Christ can take the burden, but she has to let Him. It is all easier said than done and we all probably know that. As women, we would love to take it all from her shoulders and would probably do it happily. We find it easier to take the troubles from our friends than we are able to release the pain from ourselves. If we could just step outside ourselves, punch ourselves in the face, and then get on with our own healing, then we could get on with our lives. Amen to that.

Stop speculating on who this might be, she doesn't even blog (although I may send her this link). And no, it's not me. Although Bill will tell you that I roar quite a bit, and probably bite too. In actuality, we have all probably been here... hence, the post.

I sent an email to this dear friend (because that is what I do, I email) and inadvertently told her to "roar". I told her we needed to beat Satan at his own game and stop letting him into our heads. I said we can't let him win. I told her to roar. She responded in jest by referring me to the Helen Reddy song, "I am Woman" from the 70's. There are many, many version of this song on YouTube. I'm going to include the links to several of them here:

This is the best one (Vanessa Amorosi sings it)

A Hermione Granger version (Helen Reddy singing with clips of Hermione from the Harry Potter movies)

A Political Poke at John Edwards (it's a guy singing with Edwards in several drag outfits, so rude!)

Three Degrees (the beginning is nice and jazzy with some horns going to town, then it gets too long when she goes into another song)

You can find our more about Helen Reddy here on wikipedia if you would like. It's got a good picture of her from 1974. I really didn't know anything about her until today. It turns out she is the lady from Pete's Dragon that sings "Candle in the Wind." She annoyed me in the show, but maybe it was the show and not her. I had to watch it something like 20 times in one week when Kyra was little and we borrowed it from the library.

Reddy joined the feminist movement and was looking for songs that reflected the images she felt. She was quoted by saying, "I realized that the song I was looking for didn't exist, and I was going to have to write it myself." Good for her, 'cause she is woman!!! I'm sure that Jaylee and her mom have some sort of good stories about this era and/or this song. I'm looking forward to it Jaylee, don't let me down.

My biggest problem right now is that I know this song was in a movie and I can't figure out which one. I was sure it was My Best Friend's Wedding because I can actually visualize Rupert Everett singing it and being quite obnoxious about it. I am wrong though because I checked the soundtrack and it is not there. So, dear Merrill girls, I am counting on you to clue me in. You probably have had the movie in your head since you read the title to the post.

But now, back to my original thought... ladies, ROAR!!! Repeat after me...

"I am STRONG!!! I am INVINCIBLE!!! I am WOMAN!!!"


Here are the song lyrics:
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to,
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul
CHORUS
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

Thursday, February 5, 2009

"I Guess he's Uncle Koko"

Tasha built a Mr. Potato Head this afternoon and couldn't get the hat to stay on his head.

Tasha: I guess he will just have to be Uncle Koko
Me: What?
Tasha: This potato head
Me: What are you talking about
Tasha: (showing me Mr. P.) I guess he's Uncle Koko
Me: (chuckling because I think I know the answer to this question) Oh yeah, why?
Tasha: Because Uncle Koko doesn't have any hair

Heh, heh. It's a good thing my brother doesn't read this blog. (In his defense, he shaves his head. In actuality, he doesn't have much to shave.) The funniest thing is that I tried to look online for a picture of Mr. Potato Head to post with this and could only find one that didn't have anything on it's head. It didn't look anything like my brother, and as I look at the one Tasha built... it kind of does look like Thomas. (Oh boy am I glad he doesn't read this blog!) I think it has something to do with the way he is kind of leaning forward like he's going to scream something at you, but he's really got his tongue sticking out in jest. That's my brother... he comes at you like he's angry but then he cracks a joke. Sometime the kids don't know what to do with that.

Speak of the Mr... could be just call him Mr. Head? Is Potato his first name?

"You Have Been Good"

(This one is a good reminder that He really has been good! No matter how hard things get, or how abandoned you might feel... He has been good and we should always remember that.)
If I never get to see another rainbow
Or share another laugh with a friend
If I never stand barefoot by the ocean
Or get to kiss my child goodnight again
If I never have another prayer that's answered
Or have another blessing come my way
If this is all I know of heaven's kindness
Father I would still have to say
You have been good
You have been good
And I am in wonder how could it be
You have been good
Yo've been so good
In so many ways you've been good to me
You have shown me mercy upon mercy
Grace upon grace time after time
And I know all to well what I'm deserving
Yet you are still so patient and kind
You have been god
You have been good
And I am in wonder how could it be
You have been good
You've been so good
In so many ways you've been good to me
If suddenly it all were ending
And your blessings disappeard
Looking back over a lifetime
The evidence is clear
You have been good
You have been good
And I am in wonder how could it e
You have been good
You've been so good
In so many ways you'be been good to me