Book Commercials & Misanthropic Observations

But, Mom, what if they don’t like me?

I decided to give it a rest and take it up again fresh in February 2007.

Which is why, in March, I thought maybe I should take it up again. I just dove in and decided on the Apple Valley Zoo, because it offered all of the above criteria, allowed people to show off their actual children instead of just photos as so often happens at reunions, and because it is in the day, allows the Party animals to make their own crazy little reunion any night that weekend.

I’m actually quite behind in my contact information; the original outlook database is gone. So I sent out the mass email looking for any bits of info – and then had a small anxiety attack, remembering the 6 or so unbelievably unkind alumni who tore me to shreds over the last reunion (1 before the event, 4 at the reunion, and 1 after) while offering no help or understanding. It was like I owed them something and I wasn’t coming through.

As my heart raced this time I told myself I would never please everyone and that I would have good boundaries and could just stop if this got out of hand and how much more it matters to give people the opportunity to connect, to feel assured that they belong to some community, any community, in this sometimes cold world, and scanned the house for alcohol as I waited for the first responses.

Here’s what I got: some wise responses on remembering to not list alumni who have died in the list of those I have no contact info for, a heads up on one who had died that I didn’t know about, a good bit of advice about utilizing “my space”, contact info for some that I didn’t have, 5 or 6 “thank yous”, a couple of “hellos”, and a friendly reminder that I must have contact info for this person, since I sent them an email in that mass email.

So very encouraging, Thanks, class of 91. I’ll keep slogging through.]]>

Happy Birthday, Anna Fuchs!

Here she is- the beautiful baby girl of our good friends, Greg and Nancy.

(she’s the little one, Greg’s the big one)

Greg and Nancy honored us by being in our wedding party, and now we get to be Anna’s Godparents! How very loved we feel. I’m already surfing the web for baby sewing projects.

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Well, I suppose

OK, it’s actually a year late now. it’ll be our 16 year reunion.
Things I learned last time:

• Don’t serve garlicky Greek food on a night when everyone is self-conscious anyway
• it’s better to let attenders “opt in” by buying admission or buying food on their own than charging for a ticket and have a few people wonder aloud just what it is you are charging for. (Paul and I spent hundreds of dollars last time to cover expenses and we still had people thinking we charged to much)
• A “sign up sheet” for the next organizing committee is well, a joke. -Not because people don’t mean well, but because we never know where we will be in life 5 years down the road. Better to just see who is interested in helping when it is time.
• It was really fun when all is said and done, and worth the work.

Here goes- this outta be great for blogging.

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Just normal life

I haven't blogged since Paulers got home cuz it's so much more fun to hang out with him than write about hanging out with him.

Life is back to normal. We went minature golfing on Saturday and Paul would want me to tell you all that he won. He even posted the score-card on the fridge. I am learning new tidbits about his trip daily as this reminds him of that.

Oh, and I am sewing today. I got a pattern for a dress from 1952. Paul asked if I would make him a matching shirt (the fabric is fabulous) so we could be that dorky couple. I'm going to take him up on it- we could go mini-golfing in our matching outfis

Come Home, Paulers, come home!

My Paulers comes home TOMORROW!
I think around 7:00 Pm. I'm not planning dinner yet cuz I want to wait and see what he wants- who knows what he may be craving after all that Indian food.
I'm gonna need to take a tylenol PM- I'll never get to sleep, I'm wide awake thinking about it.

The puppies are gonna be beside themselves. I'm not as much fun, I don't talk to them or play with them nearly as much. I have no idea if he'll be all exited to show pictures and video, and talk, or just be wiped out and need some rest.

Is it time yet? huh? Now? how bout now? COME HOME!

Dipping my toe in the green water

I am a skeptical environmentalist- I believe that the “green lobby” is as power grabbing as any other special interest group. I also believe that a lot of what passes for green is elitist.

Nobody is against the earth. Who besides Stewie from the Family Guy, or Ren & Stimpy would actually say “I’m out to destroy the earth”. It’s like inviting a few friends over to club some baby seals. It’s easy to become elitist when anyone who disagrees with you looks evil.

That said, I have been doing some thinking lately about how I personally can be a better steward of the part of the earth that God has graciously provided for me to. It boils down, for me, to pursuing Christ’s reign in ALL of life.

My theory on it is similar to the log/speck analogy. I’m not going to run around telling anyone else about the speck in their ecology, just gonna look for ways to quietly whittle down the log in mine.

My hope is that I can bring some compassion and kindness for human beings, (currently sometimes callously written off as parasites on the earth, rather than reflections of the the glory of God) to people who may grow to respect me a little when they see by my actions that I care about the earth too.

My Paulers is doing great!

I had one false alarm this morning, I lunged across the room to get the phone and it was a telemarketer.

The next call a few hours later was Paulers. He just took it in stride that I started crying at the sound of his voice. He sounded so great- he said he's had no sickness at all (that's been my biggest prayer- I wanted him to be able to soak in the experience without the distraction of diarrhea), just a jet lag that was finally adjusting about 1/2 way through the trip. We only got to talk for about 15 minutes. There were others behind him waiting to call home.

He told me about dedicating a new church, what an honor it was - I won't even do him justice if I try to relay depth of emotion here. Just let me say you will want to touch base with him when he gets back and hear all that God has shown him.

He said they are back at some hotel that he thought was not very nice before, but now seems a palace compared to other places they have stayed since, and laughed at his own changed perspective.

Please add a woman named Rosie to your prayers. She joined the trip not knowing anyone, having never met Terri or John before. She's a sweet little spitfire, reminds me of the Social Justice Nuns I've known, complete with pantyhose in the toeless sandals. Pray that she can feel at home and connected with her traveling companions, that she doesn't feel like an outsider on top of whatever other new experiences a trip like this would give anyone to digest. To be lonely in the midst of a group in a strange country would be heartbreaking.

auuugh! I missed the call!

I worked until 10:30 Pm tonight- I'm home on Thursdays by a little after 9:00, but I wanted to get it all done instead of coming in tomorrow. Paul called from India at 9:45- He even knew enough to wait until I was likely home from work. DARN! AAAAH! He sounded great; his voice wasn't sick or tired.

He said in the message he would call tomorrow- you can guarantee I will not be leaving the house AT ALL. I can't wait to talk to him.

Checklist

8 bags = 240 GALLONS of junk removed? Check
Floors, toilets, sinks, dishes done? check
vacuum- including newly visible closet carpet? check
dust? check
dogs nails clipped? check
fixed insurance question at clinic? check
took Jeep off policy? check
cancelled RV policy? check
took Beetle in for 5000 mi service? check
fridge cleaned out? check
junk drawers so clean they now open and close smoothly? check
silverware drawer organized? check
have super fun catch-up session with Martha? check
New dedicated “grilling tool man drawer” complete with new butane lighter and woodchips for smoking? (little gift for Paul when he gets home) check
follow puppy around and spray everywhere she stops to sniff carpet? check
deep clean carpet? that’s next.

It’s been a good vacation!]]>

O dear, is my resentment sticking out from under my skirt?

Lipstick really is one of the great consolation prizes for us women making $.78 on the dollar.