The Derby

If there's one big sports event I'd like to attend, it's the Kentucky Derby.

I want a hat.

I want a mint julep.

I want to see horsies that are not old at a state park.

Have you ever been?

Flashback Friday ~ The Prom

Linda is in the swing of spring over at Mocha with Linda's Flashback Friday meme. Here's the prompt:

Share your prom memories. Did your school have a junior prom or just a senior prom? What did you wear? Was there a party after the prom? Did you go with a date or with friends, and if it was a date, was it a one-time date or a boyfriend/girlfriend scenario? Did you go to more than one prom (like, being someone's date at another school or year.) Where was your senior prom held? Any particular songs come to mind when you think of prom? As always, pictures are great!

I brought a bunch of pics home from my mom's yesterday afternoon on a whim, came home, read the prompt and realized I have no prom pics in the bunch, so I had to scan one from the yearbook. But here's what I remember:

Sophomore year: Bought my first dress from a bridal store. I felt so grown up. Went to prom with Hatrick the boyfriend, who was a senior. I wore a buttery yellow dress with spaghetti straps. Do you see what was wrong with that choice for me? I'll tell you.

1. Yellow on someone with the coloring roughly the equivalent of buttermilk.
2. Spaghetti straps on someone built like an ironing board.

All night long, I stepped on the hem of my dress and yanked it up at the chest to keep from showing no chest at all. Ugh. Plus, he wanted to dance the entire night, and I hated dancing. He danced quite a bit with other people. I just wanted to go home. We both had acne. Not a good picture, so I'm glad I don't have it here to show you. Lucked out. The theme song was "I Like Dreamin'," but I just wanted to wake up from the nightmare. Seriously.

Junior year: Different boyfriend. White eyelet-like dress with ribbon spaghetti straps. Well, at least this dress fit better, but it was still a shade of white: White. What was wrong with me?? He wore a powder blue tux. Oh yes he did. I believe the song for the night was "Always and Forever."

In my junior year, I was a prom princess, on the court with other juniors, and a senior was the queen. I'm on the far right with my eyes half-closed, looking drunk, but I was not, I assure you. The beautiful girl to my left was my best friend, Kris, who was elected homecoming queen the next year.



Senior year: Same boyfriend. I went all crazy and chose a CREAM colored dress with tons of pleats in it. He wore a burgundy tux with cream shirt. Theme song: "Grand Illusion." That I chose that color of dress shows I had a "grand delusion" that my pale skin would actually look distinct from the dress itself.

End of story. But I did wear a black shirt with a silver metallic thread running through it afterward to go bowling in, which I thought was way cool.

Next weekend, my youngest daughter will be going to her high school prom. You can bet there will be pictures here!

Please go on over to Linda's and link up today; it's way more fun than dancing on your dress all night long and worrying about your frizzy hair and acne, I promise!

Wow. That is the lamest prom story ever. Just be glad you only read about it and didn't live it.

Facebook Update

Me = Me
* = Others' comments, just like here on the blog, only I removed names.

Linda Crow:

Just returned from visitng the 'rents, 89 and 84. Jorge mowed the lawn & I mowed Mom's eyebrows. Everything was nice and neat when we left & we managed to take my blood pressures three times while I was there plus work in good conversation. Love my sweet parents. Now it's off to Girls' Group.

*you're funny! Have a good time tonight:) ·

Me: It would be nice if I could spell: "Visiting" and "Pressure," singular. Darn these old eyes. I was a spelling bee champ, I tell ya! I was!

*sure sure!

Me: *facepalm*

*Wait until I tell my daughter you used the word 'rents' she will crack up and say that us old people shouldn't use teenage lang. LOL!! You mowed your mom's eyebrows, that sounds scarey!! LOL!!
·
*Linda, you never fail to get a laugh out of me. This was a gut buster. You may have missed your calling, you know. haha ·

*Say "hey" to those sweet gals in your GG for me. :)
·
*Hi to GG!!

*I saw my M&D this afternoon too. Dad (82) was mowing his lawn... yea for him.....my mom has always had to pencil in her eyebrows! As a kid I found this fascinating to watch.
·
*Did you use a push mower or a riding mower? (not jorge-- you.)

*Nothing says love like a daughter mowing her mom's eyebrows. I wonder what my daughter will do for ME when she comes up from Georgia this summer. When she was little she used to walk on her daddy's back for a massage....I could take that if she would tread real lightly!

Me: The eyebrows are of the utmost concern to her. The significance cannot be overstated. They frame the face, you know. She never says, "Come see me; I just want to sit and chat." She says, "My eyebrows are out of control. When are coming over?" I'm not joking.
·

Link Up & I'm Answering Today

1. Have you ever been so lost that you were really afraid?

I have trouble navigating the highway. Once I missed an exit and got so lost that I was sweating, praying and nearly crying. I had a baby in the back, and I was just sure we were going to end up in the Mojave Desert dehydrated to death. It was awful. I cannot tell you where I was going or how I got back; I have no memory of that. I just remember the sheer panic.

2. Have you ever been to an island?

I have been to Oahu and Anna Maria Island, FL. Loved Florida, Honolulu, not so much.

3. Are you more of a thinker or feeler?

Thinker. Very analytical.

4. Do you tend to see issues or situations in life as black and white or shades of gray?

Shades of gray, except for some things which I know are clearly biblically black/white. Usually, though, I am able to see both sides of any disagreement or issue.

5. If you were stuck on an island, what book would you hope to have with you (Let's pretend the Bible is already there, so you can't say that.)

An anthology containing classic literature and Dave Barry.

6. What are you most afraid of?

Having cancer. Losing my children.

7. Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?

I would give up the past to enjoy the present and future memories forever.

8. Pretend I'm looking at a scrapbook page about you. There are three spaces for you to drop in individual pictures. What are those pictures of, and why did you select them?

My church, because I both work and worship there (so many hours a week I am at church!) my computer, because I blog and FB (So many hours a week I am at the computer!) and me running, because I love it (so many ... minutes ... a week I am running!)

9. If you were re-doing your wedding, what would you do differently? (If you're single, tell me one thing you would do if you were planning a wedding OR huge party.)

It would be more intimate, more casual, more personalized. I was married in a Catholic church, and almost no decisions were personal. I had a book from which to choose awful organ music, for instance. I wore a great big poofy dress (1985--what else WOULD I wear??). I'd choose a more sophisticated dress now, completely personalize everything, maybe even do the beach thing, although it is cliche.

10. Tell me one thing you know/believe about forgiveness.

"Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person's throat." William P. Young (The Shack)

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” Mark Twain

"...Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us." Jesus

11. You're waiting in a doctor's office. What is your favorite way to pass that time?

Reading a magazine or blogging on the Netbook. Watching cute children play.

12. If there were a clone of you in a parallel universe what is one way you hope she/he would be the same as you and one way you hope she/he would be better?

I would hope that she still writes ... and writes better than I do. :)
I would hope she is also a believer and that she serves others better than I do.
I would hope that she has the ability to run like the wind!

I'd be LOST without the Random

Word to the playas: Don't take these questions too seriously. Some of you are saying that I'm making these too hard. I'm not trying to be profound or complex; I'm just trying to avoid rephrasing, "What is your favorite flower" week after week. That calls for me to get creative. Sometimes "creative" is read "hard!"

And please allow me a mini-post because there are rumblings about my not writing real posts and relying on the Random too much. So I shall co-mingle a post and the Random, but fear not if you do not watch LOST. The questions are applicable to everyone.



How many episodes are left?

5/04 (Tue.)
5/11 (Tue.)
5/18 (Tue.)
5/23 (Sun., 2 hours)

It's worse than when I finally got state fair tickets to see Donny Osmond in 1973. I wanted to go so badly, but every day drew me nearer to the end of the event of a lifetime. Yes, a 10-year lifetime. For "Donny love" was big love.

Those of us who have watched every season are in anticipatory agony, a place of limbo, like an emotional purgatory (that's Lostie joke). We want to see what's next and have years' worth of our questions answered, and yet, we don't want it to end because then we will just grow up and Donny will marry someone else.

Oops. Wrong conclusion. But you know what I mean.

Or maybe you don't. You cannot know this angst unless you're a devotee. Anyway, if you are not a fan but know one, please be patient with him/her--we must obsess together or die watch alone (another inside joke I can't resist.)

And now The Random prompt for this week:

1. Have you ever been so lost that you were really afraid?

2. Have you ever been to an island?

3. Are you more of a thinker or feeler?

4. Do you tend to see issues or situations in life as black and white or shades of gray?

5. If you were stuck on an island, what book would you hope to have with you (Let's pretend the Bible is already there, so you can't say that.)

6. What are you most afraid of?

7. Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?

8. Pretend I'm looking at a scrapbook page about you. There are three spaces for you to drop in individual pictures. What are those pictures of, and why did you select them?

9. If you were re-doing your wedding, what would you do differently? (If you're single, tell me one thing you would do if you were planning a wedding OR huge party.)

10. Tell me one thing you know/believe about forgiveness.

11. You're waiting in a doctor's office. What is your favorite way to pass that time?

12. If there were a clone of you in a parallel universe what is one way you hope she/he would be the same as you and one way you hope she/he would be better?


For co-devotees:

Please bring back the old haircut. Just sayin'.

Answers from the Random Mind (I Answer Last Week's Questions)

Before I answer last week's Random, I have to share this funny story.

So one night, when Diane's sister was sitting up with her in her hospital room, in the middle of the night with no conversation about friends or Girls' Group going on at all, Diane sits straight up in bed, crosses her wrists in front of herself and declares with much energy: "What happens in Girls' Group STAYS in Girls' Group!"

This is so funny because we have never made any kind of sign or symbol like this at all, and although we value confidentiality, we don't have a secret society pledge of death upon betrayal or anything like that. So this completely cracked us up.

After Diane's funeral dinner, we stepped into the hall of the chapel and made this picture in honor of Diane. And oh, how we mean it: "What happens in Girls' Group STAYS in Girls' Group!"

Thanks again for all of your loving comments and support. I am so deeply moved I could never express what you all have meant to me. God bless you. And now on the belated Random!

1.Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?"

Yes, yes I have. It's not that I regularly keep books past the due date, but there just always seems to be some kind of scuffle between the librarians and me, which always seems to result in their display of a certain false superiority over me. At least that's how I feel when I interact with them.

If I ask for help, they direct me to the self-help thing that never works for me. If I tell them the thingy did not work for me, they proceed to try it and find out for themselves that the thingy does not work on this particular object, but somehow, they still find it appropriate to look askance at me. If I purchase (yes, I must purchase because my house sits just across the street from the city/county line) a library card, they issue a duplicate instead of renewing and then I end up being in trouble for having two cards on file, one for Linda Crow, and the other for my evil twin "Linda A. Crow." They act as if I tried to pull a fast one. THEY are the ones who didn't see the 1st record. These are just two examples of my run-ins, but the list is longer.

Irony: I went through a time in college when I wanted to be a librarian. Maybe if I had followed that calling, I could've cleansed the blight from my local library.

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?

Sometimes I'd like to smack the person who writes these questions. I have a closet in which it's all supposed to go, but the closet looks like a squirrel on cocaine organized it. I need help. Seriously. So in spite of having the dedicated closet, I have to buy as I go. AARGH!

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster?

No. Yes. You should have seen the orange disaster my hair coloring was at one point in time. I refused to leave the salon until they fixed me or got me a job on Broadway as Annie. Other than that, no. Have come close to experiencing tornadoes, though. Tornadoes are as Hoosier as corn and ... corn.

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?

Ugh. Don't like them. However, there was one song called, "A Linda Song", which I thought was great in high school because it made my boyfriend sad, and he deserved to be sad. You KNOW which boyfriend I'm talkin' 'bout.

He never wrote a song for Linda
He wrote as though he lived alone
He wrote of dreams that end
And of sad brave men
Inventing worlds he'd never known

But he never wrote a song for Linda
And she was right there all along
Loved him back to life
When his luck ran low
But he never wrote a Linda song

Oh, the pathos.

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?

How about the Bearded Lady at Carnival Night at 180?



When I was a teenager, I went to a party as Charlie Chaplin, and I was always proud of that costume.

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

The thesaurus. You know ... that glossary, language reference book, lexicon, onomasticon, reference book, sourcebook, storehouse of words, terminology, treasury of words, vocabulary, word list. I use quite frequently. Often.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food?

The Panera egg sandwich (no meat, just egg and cheese) on ciabatta bread. If I can't have Panera, I cook my own two eggs every morning. Fills me up for the day, pretty much.



8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?

Yes, I purchased the original "The Firm" exercise videotapes. Loved that routine. "The Firm" kicked my, um, ciabatta.

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?

Yes. One year we built onto the back of our house, and I was in my jammmies in the framed-up addition with some baby chickens which we kept in a cardboard box in that unfinished room. After my visit was over, I was locked out of the house proper and had to crawl out the brand new window in "PJ's," which were not very modest. I ran to the front of the house and let myself in through the the garage.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?

I'm going to take flack for this answer, but yes, I really do.

11. How man pairs of jeans do you own?

I had to go count.There are 12, but that's misleading because only about half of those fit, and those are 3 of one kind and 3 of another. And each set of 3 may only be worn with certain shoes. I've intended to write a whole post about this, so I'm saving it for another day. But let me be clear, I need some miracle jeans.

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")

I can't believe how many of you said you haven't seen Ace of Cakes! That is a travesty! Don't you get the Food Network where you live?

OK, I guess my representative cake would be one of a running woman breathing so hard she is sucking in the blossoms off of the trees and tripping over her tiny Yorkshire Terrier on a leash with an envelope stuck to the bottom of one shoe. That incorporates running, Zoe and stuffing envelopes.

And here is "Ace of Cakes" for you underprivileged TV watchers. You don't have to watch all 6 mins to get a feel for the show.

Facebook Status Update Today

I hate when it rains on a funeral day. BUT, I'm focusing on the last song I heard Diane sing just a few days ago in the hospital: "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart," with her eyes closed, head bobbing and slight smile on her face.

Tribute

Tribute to Diane

Diane is such a cherished loved one and friend for so many reasons that it’s impossible to speak in one place or one time to every remarkable quality that she shared with the rest of us. That is why we will continue to remember and talk about her for the rest of our lives.

Today it is difficult to talk about her without tears flowing because we are going to miss her. Our tears honor what she has meant to us. Washington Irving said, “There is sacredness in tears … They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief … and unspeakable love.”

So while we can never fully convey what Diane meant to us, we can focus on some of her unique and lovely qualities that will touch us forever.

First of all, Diane was the essence of femininity, a self-described “girly girl.” She liked softness, pink, sparkle and flowers. She loved babies. She possessed a gorgeous smile set off by cheery dimples. A tall, beautiful blonde, she was so willowy in high school that the Centralette uniform she wore was extra eye-catching. Although her appearance was stunning, she was modest and humble. But when Diane entered a room in her naturally graceful way, everyone noticed; she was truly captivating.

That softness was balanced by a fierce and tenacious will, however, that saw her through many rough times. Diane embodied the essence of the phrase, “Steel Magnolia.” She was soft as a velvety peony petal on the outside, never hesitating to hug anyone, but she had a formidable inner strength, as well. She never wavered in her moral convictions, never gave up on important goals and handled life on her own terms, in the way she saw most appropriate. She had complete integrity and held herself to high standards. Her courage, especially in facing this disease head-on, left us astonished and inspired.

Diane was a respectful, devoted daughter. She shared recently: “I always knew I was loved by my parents. They would do anything for me.” Her parents were there for her in good and bad times, particularly as her father, Dean, vigilantly looked after her every need or desire during this illness. Surely Diane learned about devotion, service and concern for others from Mr. and Mrs. Gosnell. They raised a wonderful daughter who loved them very much.

She was both younger sister and older sister, speaking so often and with such pride of her siblings, nieces and nephews that her friends felt as if they knew them, too. Deanna, Darlene, and Doug, we know that you each have memories you will carry in your hearts forever. From your earliest years through the last weeks, your memories are ones only siblings can know and treasure.

As a student, Diane was serious and focused, but she was quick to point out that her good grades were achieved by a lot of hard work on her part: “I got good grades, yes, but they didn’t come easily. Let me tell you, I worked for them.” She earned every grade and honor she received, and her yearbook pictures and organizations prove there were many.

As a nurse in Ball Memorial Hospital’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, Diane poured herself into caring for fragile infants and emotionally distressed parents. Nursing was a great career choice for Diane because she was a giver, always interested in the well-being of others. Even from her hospital bed, she rejoiced to hear about a friend’s sister successfully battling cancer. She remembered details about friends’ lives and their children’s lives, asking specific questions about how things were going. She embraced a lovely tradition from her mother of sending cards in the mail to friends. Diane would rejoice with you or cry with you. Empathy made her a great nurse and friend.

Speaking of friendship, Diane knew how to share life with friends. She encouraged you when you were down and made you feel as though your feelings were legitimate and that you weren’t crazy. Diane had a great sense of humor and even joked with us girls when we had our weekly “Girls Group” around her hospital bed. Recently, while a nurse was administering medicine, Diane told her, “If I could tell you something useful to you at your young age, I would say, ‘Grab a hold of a faith-based group of friends. It makes life wonderful.’”

The most defining role for Diane, though, was motherhood. She was completely dedicated to her family. When her children were little, she was a firm and consistent disciplinarian. She was fierce in her protection of them and taught them to be well-mannered and considerate. Ann and Luke shared that she pioneered the idea of sneezing into your inner elbow rather than into your hands or the air. In fact, when one of them would begin to cough or sneeze, Diane would command: “ELBOW!” and they knew what to do!

Her conversation was full of what her children were up to and achieving. She simply adored her kids, and Ann reminded us that we have hundreds of photos to back up that assertion! Diane wanted to capture every moment in their lives. In fact, it’s a family joke that there are many pictures of Luke running away from her camera, as he did not exactly care to have his life documented in photos. Too bad, Luke!

Luke describes his mother as energetic and someone with good manners. She was a second mom to all of his friends, and many girls at prom time wanted to have their picture taken with Diane because she meant so much to them. She never stopped being a social butterfly.

Ann recalls how Diane did special things for them when they were younger, like create signs with fancy handwriting for their door announcing whatever was happening in their lives, whether it was a sports event or honors or birthdays. She will always cherish the memory of sharing ice cream together every day of every summer. And she has expressed her gratitude for Diane’s help and support during all of her wedding preparations. By the way, Diane claims that she “picked out” Andrew for Ann because she pointed him out to her once before they started dating. Ann and Andrew laugh at this, but anyone who knows the power behind Diane’s will might be inclined to believe her! Ann says she cherishes the honest but gentle way her mother communicated with her, exhibiting the character of Christ in her speech and actions.

Most importantly, Diane laid a great foundation for Ann and Luke in the Lord, and her greatest hope is that they will always walk with Him through this life and that she will see them in the next.

Diane’s resolute, unwavering faith in God throughout this illness has inspired us beyond what we can express. Occasionally, we hear of such quiet strength and endurance in the face of great physical and emotional challenges; now we have witnessed this first-hand. Diane has demonstrated to us how to face the most challenging circumstances without becoming bitter or hopeless.

Ann shared recently how Diane told her and Luke, "God never said life would be easy, but He did promise He would be there." Oswald Chambers wrote, “A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another … but it is a life of day-in and day-out consistency … a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test.” Diane’s faith has most certainly been tried and proven, and she leaves a legacy of genuine faith for us. Because of this, we know the Father has already spoken the words over her, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Diane Ross:
Full of grace, elegance, beauty
Soft and feminine, yet strong and resolute
Loving, devoted daughter
Beautiful wife
Caring servant
Loyal sister
Friend to many
Consummate mother
Abounding in moral strength and indescribable courage
Daughter of God, faithful follower of Christ

Diane, we know that you are waiting for us, and that while you may seem far away, you are near, and in a very short time, in just a breath, we will see you again. Until then, we will always cherish the sparkle in your eyes, your dimpled smile and enthusiasm for life. Thank you for sharing life with us. You made it wonderful.

Thank You and Happy Times

Well. I have read each and every one of your responses to my post about Diane, and my heart is deeply moved. Some of you are old friends, some new, but every message meant so much because A) you cared that I am hurting B) you took the time to stop and compose a thought or prayer for Diane's family and/or me.

I am so touched, so grateful. Thank you, thank you.

This 38 second (silent) video was taken surreptitiously by Jorge on October 4, 2008, my birthday. We were at Brown County State Park in Indiana with friends to see the colorful foliage and do some major shopping. We were setting up a camera to automatically take our pic, so we girls are waiting, but I didn't realize Jorge had our camera on at the side filming our shenanigans.

Diane is the tall one in the middle; Madelyn (Madwoman) is on the right. I have NO idea what we are talking about/doing with that "back-it-up" part. But the look on my face at the end and Diane laughing is priceless to me now.

Diane

January 6, 1958 ~ April 21, 2010

Our hearts feel empty; our hearts feel full. We were so blessed to know you and be loved by you. You left us on a Wednesday, our night. We will spend the evening looking at photos, toasting you, remembering your smile and every nuance. You live in our hearts as long as we're here; you live in eternity with the One who lovingly made you. We miss you already, but we'll see you soon, sweet friend.

Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Psalm 30:5b

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:11

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness.

Revelation 21:3-4

Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.

HALLELUJUAH!

It's the Great Link-Up You've Been Waiting For

Actually, it's the same as every week, but YOU try naming your meme posts something clever every week. Sheesh!

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?"

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster?

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

7. What's your favorite breakfast food?

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?

11. How man pairs of jeans do you own?

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")

RaNdOm FuN

Don't know if you caught NPR's 28-second story about George Washington's overdue library books on Monday morning, but it made me laugh. New York City's oldest library says George Washington is still on the hook for a pair of books — due Nov. 2, 1789.

Here is your writing prompt for this week. Come back tomorrow and link us to your published post. Have fun!

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?"

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster?

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

7. What's your favorite breakfast food?

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?

11. How man pairs of jeans do you own?

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")

Meet My-Shell, My "Anchor," My Friend Who's Going to Help Me Lose Weight

An·chor (ngkr)
n.
1. Nautical A heavy object attached to a vessel by a cable or rope and cast overboard to keep the vessel in place either by its weight or by its flukes, which grip the bottom.
2. A rigid point of support, as for securing a rope.
3. A source of security or stability.

************************

Sometimes, I start an eating plan and I hold fast to it. Until someone mentions "Hey, how about lunch at Puerto Vallarta?" --Or "Panera" or "Q Doba" or "Subway" or "Anywhere."

And then I forget who I am, where I live, what I weigh or what I want to weigh. Heck, I even forget I'm married and often find myself proposing to the nachos in front of me.

Or sometimes, I eat off-plan for emotional reasons, like feeling happy, sad, or conscious.

I decided last week that what I need is an "anchor," some tangible object to securely attach me to my goal, so to speak.

And so, to symbolize the goal of having a beach body ready by late June, I've started toting around a shell, which I have dubbed "Myshell" because that is cutesy.

So Myshell sits on my desk at work, on the breakfast bar at home or on the computer desk at home because those are the usual settings for my bouts of flagrant hedonism. And I carry it in my purse, yes I do.

Having an anchor invites questions and doubts.

Jorge saw it and said, "You're not seriously going to cart that thing around with you wherever you go, are you?"

Well, if I wasn't, I would most definitely be after that wet-blanket, doubt-casting remark.

Even my boss stopped by my desk the other day and asked "how the shell is working out." I know he thinks I'm nuts most of the time. He has learned to just go with the flow better than Jorge has.

And so my purse has been a little heavier the last few days. And sometimes my keys get stuck in Myshell or pieces of gum or receipts fall into the crevices.

But it's working so far. When I remember to LOOK at her. It's amazing how soon we adjust to our surroundings and overlook things we think we wouldn't.

There's a lesson in that, but I don't feel like pontificating today, so you connect the dots.

Anyway, that's the story of Myshell and how I'll probably end up on Oprah when I lose so much weight that the world can't believe it was all due to plain little seashell.

If you were going to utilize the anchor theory in your life right now, what object would you choose and why?

Friday's Fave Five & Flashback Friday

Facebook status updated at 8:21 am: Volcanic magma + glacial melt water + giant ash cloud bringing much of the world to a standstill = LOST. Is Charles Widmore behind this? Could Frank Lapidus fly through this? Is John Locke the ash cloud?



1. Hyacinths. I honestly didn't know how aromatic they are. They are also Diane's favorite flower. I took this picture. Proud of myself.


2. Jorge and I on the Greenway trail, riding bikes like we're young or something. Proud of myself.



3. Day 3 of "Wear a Skirt to Work All Week." I decided to tackle this goal because I was pretty sure I would succeed at wearing 5 skirts in a row if I really tried. I made it. This skirt is white eyelet. Proud of myself for not caving into capris or something.



4. Diane with a little visitor. She was a nurse in the neo-natal intensive care unit at this very hospital for years. I did not cry when I took these pics. Proud of me for holding it together. Diane has always been a sender of cards and loves to receive them. Her room is decorated with them. If you would like to send her a card, her address is:

Diane Ross
c/o Ball Memorial Hospital
2401 University Avenue Rm #5211
Muncie, IN 47303




5. Girls Group (GG) at the hospital. We've had some long hours with Diane there, precious, every one. Proud of these friends.


Even these two.





Linda asks us to reach back into the flashback files for memories of childhood activities, lessons, etc.

I took piano lessons for a couple of years when I was little, about 7 years old. I had a mean, sarcastic teacher, so I hated it. I did like to practice, however.

Flash forward to third child, a girl, who took to the piano. I made sure I found her a nice teacher, but she plays beautifully by ear, bringing me to tears often. Guess which child inherits the piano?

Please, Oh Please, Read my Random Answers

I don't know what happened yesterday, but there were apparently oodles of problems with Mr. Linky. I apologize. But neither rain or sleet nor snow nor hail nor aberrant Mr. Linkys will keep you die-hards from answering the Random, and I appreciate that. You are the best. MWAAA! Big Hollywood/left kidney of the US kiss. So here are my answers, if you are interested.



1. How do you feel about "Gladiator" sandals, also called "Roman" or "Jesus" sandals? A fashion yea or nay?

I asked this on Facebook and received at least 35 comments. Personally, I don't think they flatter many women. But it's difficult to find a feminine-looking strappy sandal now that doesn't show this influence. Unless you count those ones in Payless that you dye and wear in weddings. So, I'll probably buy a pair that look a little similar, but not over the top. For one thing, I'm 47. For another, I have thick ankles. I don't want people to confuse Linda Crow with Russell Crowe. And by the way, as a male fashion? It's a definite "NAY." "NEIN." "NEM." "NYET." Or, even better in Chinese Mandarin: "BU SHI ZHE YANG!"



2. What is your favorite pizza?

This answer will intersect with #4.

3. There are plans in the works to sell roughly 1,000 items from Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. This means you could buy Picard's chair for your family room. If not a Star Trek item, what prop, background, set, etc. from what TV or movie would you buy if you could?
[Ex: Hurley's "I Love my Shih tzu" shirt from LOST, the plantation home "Tara" from Gone With the Wind, or Tracy's tambourine from the Partridge Family.]

I'd love anything from LOST. I also love the gowns in Jane Austen movies, although I wouldn't wear them. I'd just like to look at them up close and them maybe donate them to a high school theatre department. I'd like Grace Kelly's sunglasses, and I'd wear them!



4. Name a local food or restaurant that your area is famous for.

There is an Indiana pizza chain called "Pizza King" that native Hoosiers love. In fact, ex-pats sometimes have it shipped to them, which is quite expensive, I understand.

Pizza King's long-time slogan is "Ring the King." I can't count how many "Royal Feasts" I've had after school and after games with friends over the years. It's a part of my heritage! I have heard, though, that it is an acquired taste, and if you don't grow up eating it, you might not love it right away. If we're introducing you to Pizza King and you have a less than enraptured reaction, we swiftly take you out and throw you onto a train and send you to Chicago or Cincinnati or just "somewhere else." More Pizza King for us!



5. What is your current favorite snack?

OK. This is really bad. Every night, I have a cup of decaf with whole cream. But that's not all. I shake the cream in the carton for about 30 seconds and then pour it in. The result is a foaminess that lasts quite a while! It's a like a barista came to my house and made something special for me. But ... that's not all. I then dip a biscotti cookie in this. OH.MY.GOSH. So good-too good! My favorite is "Decadence" by Noni. Now, there's an art to dipping biscotti into coffee because it's a very delicate treat ... but if it falls in, you can just spoon up the goodness and slurp it up!



6. Hypothetical: You are required to be a reality show contestant. Which show would you choose based on your probability of success? (You cannot choose "none.")

A. Dancing with the Stars
B. Biggest Loser
C. Survivor

I can't dance. I'd make Kate Gosselin look good. I'm not a camper. So that leaves Biggest Loser. Although I might not do so well at the challenges, I think I'd do well in a structured weight-loss regimen. Bring it!

7. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, how clean is your vehicle's interior?

Oh, what a sore spot! I just knew that when my kids got big, I'd have a perpetually neat car. Not so. I'm so embarrassed! I'll give myself a 4 or 5. (Blushes)

8. It doesn't feel like Spring until _________.

I smell cut grass!

9. Something that made you laugh really hard recently is ____.

looking at Carol Burnett skits on line.

10. Tell me about a goal you're working toward.

Losing my last two pounds. GRRRRRR. BISCOTTI, YOU ARE MY GUILTY PLEASURE!

11. Share a thought-provoking or inspiring quote this week.

When we get our spiritual house in order, we'll be dead. This goes on. You arrive at enough certainty to be able to make your way, but it is making it in darkness. Don't expect faith to clear things up for you. It is trust, not certainty.
-- Flannery O'Connor

12. Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you.

They all love to go to Starbucks, and the girls like to go shopping. They all like to eat out, too. They may look exactly like my husband, but they share my "likes!"

Link Up Here for the Random Dozen

1. How do you feel about "Gladiator" sandals, also called "Roman" or "Jesus" sandals? A fashion yea or nay?

2. What is your favorite pizza?

3. There are plans in the works to sell roughly 1,000 items from Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. This means you could buy Picard's chair for your family room. If not a Star Trek item, what prop, background, set, etc. from what TV or movie would you buy if you could?
[Ex: Hurley's "I Love my Shih tzu" shirt from LOST, the plantation home "Tara" from Gone With the Wind, or Tracy's tambourine from the Partridge Family.]

4. Name a local food or restaurant that your area is famous for.

5. What is your current favorite snack?

6. Hypothetical: You are required to be a reality show contestant. Which show would you choose based on your probability of success? (You cannot choose "none.")

A. Dancing with the Stars
B. Biggest Loser
C. Survivor

7. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, how clean is your vehicle's interior?

8. It doesn't feel like Spring until _________.

9. Something that made you laugh really hard recently is ____.

10. Tell me about a goal you're working toward.

11. Share a thought-provoking or inspiring quote this week.

12. Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you.

Really, Really Random!

Here's what my weekly lists of Random Dozen questions usually end up looking like. Frenzied, abbreviated writing with coffee stains. Would you expect anything less?

I'd like to revisit the procedure for the Random. Yes, it appears there is still some confusion about how to do this.

On Tuesdays, I post the questions as prompts. You then create a post wherein you answer the questions, but you do not publish it until Wednesday.

I set my posts to publish automatically at midnight. On Wednesday, you return here and link the title of your post in my Mr. Linky list. That way, people can go directly to your post and not just your blog in general. Also, I'd like for you to visit a couple of people and leave comments. Nice ones. Remember what Mama said, "If you can't say anything nice, your name must be Kathy Griffin." Or something like that. I'd also love for you to copy the code for the button and post that at the top of your post, but it's not required or anything.

OK--here we go!

This picture is a clarification for question 1:


1. How do you feel about "Gladiator" sandals, also called "Roman" or "Jesus" sandals? A fashion yea or nay?

2. What is your favorite pizza?

3. There are plans in the works to sell roughly 1,000 items from Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. This means you could buy Picard's chair for your family room. If not a Star Trek item, what prop, background, set, etc. from what TV or movie would you buy if you could?
[Ex: Hurley's "I Love my Shih tzu" shirt from LOST, the plantation home "Tara" from Gone With the Wind, or Tracy's tambourine from the Partridge Family.]

4. Name a local food or restaurant that your area is famous for.

5. What is your current favorite snack?

6. Hypothetical: You are required to be a reality show contestant. Which show would you choose based on your probability of success? (You cannot choose "none.")

A. Dancing with the Stars
B. Biggest Loser
C. Survivor

7. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, how clean is your vehicle's interior?

8. It doesn't feel like Spring until _________.

9. Something that made you laugh really hard recently is ____.

10. Tell me about a goal you're working toward.

11. Share a thought-provoking or inspiring quote this week.

12. Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you.

Happy writing!


I want that tambourine!

Goof

I just accidentally published Wednesday's post. It wouldn't be a big deal to just take it off here, except that some of you read me by email, and you can't tell I've revoked my post. But I did. I'm tired. T-A-R-D. I apologize. Come back tomorrow for the Random Dozen prompts.

Weekend Wrap Up

How was your weekend? It was beautiful here in my town. I started to make an anatomical reference to convey where my hometown lies on a map of the U.S., so I started to say, "here in America's bellybutton," but then I realized it's more like "here in America's left kidney," which doesn't sound as cute, so I'll just say, "here."








Sunday was particularly enjoyable. We went to church, where I heard a sermon that enlightened and challenged me, which isn't always the case since I've been in church weekly since I was 6 weeks old.

Then we went out on the church lawn for a sort of picnic, just like I did when I was little, except the women weren't all in floral dresses, white shoes and pantyhose, and the men weren't in pastel leisure suits with white shoes.

This is very similar to the way women looked in my church when I was growing up in the 1970s. Imagine how excited I was to leave childhood behind and join the herd.

But we went out there and "partook" (church word!) of a fabulous BBQ dinner as a fund-raiser for a summer delegation to a Central Asian country, which I will not name here, because they don't take kindly to churchy people in them there parts.

After we came home, Jorge and I changed clothes and hopped on our bikes for a long ride on a nice trail. Not "nice" as in "Colorado nice," but you know, "left kidney of America" nice.

Highlight of biking event: a deer ran across the path. I got so excited you'd think the Space Shuttle crossed in front of us.

I actually said to some people who were walking by us as the deer passed, "OHMYGOSH! Did you SEE that??? A DEER! A deer just crossed the path! At first I thought it was a giant dog, but NO! It was a DEER!!"

They just looked at me like a I was a tourist in NYC gawking at sky scrapers. Deer are fairly common around here. Except to me.

Here we are at a rock along the trail. No, that is not an epitaph on the rock. Notice how I cropped the picture to cut out white legs that look like they are created from Pillsbury biscuit dough.

What followed was an afternoon of minimal work for me and a couple of hours of reading "Heaven," by Randy Alcorn. Coincidentally, I worked on my preparatory tan for my anniversary trip in June while I read about eternity. Nothing like focusing on the metaphysical and physical at the same time. Wow, I am complex.

Then I went to my cell group (no, not prison) for dinner and then out to the hospital to visit Diane with the Girls from Girls Group.

So that was my weekend. What did you do? Did a deer play any part in your most exciting moment?

Sunday Dance, All the Way from Budapest

This video made me think of the lyrics "There is freedom within; there is freedom without ...." by Crowded House, 1987, in "Don't Dream It's Over"

Talk to the One

Don't ask me about her theology; don't tell me about her theology. Don't know, don't care. But I love this song. L-O-V-E it. I've been singing it for two or three days.

Sheryl Crow - Talk To The One

Happy Flashback to Me, Happy Flashback to Me ....

I have got to get pictures from my mom's house if I'm going to keep at this meme.

This week, Mocha With Linda asks: What were birthdays like when you were growing up? Were they a big deal or understated? Did you have parties? Get to choose what or where the family ate for dinner? Are there any particular birthday traditions that you remember? Is there any birthday that stands out (good OR bad!), either due to the events surrounding it or due to the particular present(s) you received?

Well, I grew up on the blue-collar side of town, so if I said we did my birthdays up big, you might get the wrong idea. It was big to me, and my mother certainly thinks we went over the top, but mainly it was just balloons, a few decorations and store bought cakes, which I thought were beautiful works of art. I could NOT wrap my mind around those icing roses. It seemed a sin to cut through them. Coming from my mother's background, this was a bit extravagant, but I was "spoiled," and she didn't like to bake, so what was she gonna do?

We didn't do special dinners or have traditions. I did have parties, but I don't remember a specific one. Usually we just invited the kids on my block, a motley crew to be sure, but that's how we rolled. (Yesterday, a few people described me as "down to earth" in comments after the post, and now you can see the genesis of that earthiness. It's south-side-of-town, blue collar, salt-of-the-earth earthiness.)

Here we are in our blue collaredness in my parent's living room November 6, 1962. I'll tell you in a minute why Donnie was trying to kill me.



Cue John Mellencamp's "Small Town."

Anyway, below is a pic of my brother, Donnie, and me in 1966. In living color! I am four, and he is 12. His birthday is October 5th. For eight years, he was the baby of the family. Then, in 1962, my mom had me on October 4th. He would never have a birthday celebration unto himself again until he married! I became his nemesis! He has never let me forget this!

Note how I am admiring the royal icing flowers of delight. I am laughing as I type this at my bruised, pale little knock-kneed legs and sagging anklets. I do not know why my mother started my bangs half-way back on my head. I was determined, when I became a mom, not to commit the helmet-bang travesty. I never did, but I'm sure my girls could pick apart their pics, too, and blame me for something. (Giant bows of the 80s, for instance.)



Here is a birthday party circa 1973. Everybody do the purple pants dance! Please note the white ceramic cat in the background to the right. That was as close to a real pet as I ever came in my young life. The cat still lives in my mom's living room, and that's a post I've been meaning to write for some time. Also note my little party guest sitting there having a grand old time watching me dance. Ho-hum.



I wish I could remember a single gift or my 13th or 16th or 18th or 21st birthday, but they are all merely misty water-colored memories. The best birthday I ever had was probably my 40th, though. My friends took me out to dinner and bought me gag gifts, and Jorge bought me the Camaro. I was in car heaven.



And then I had to learn how to drive a stick shift at 40 years old. But that's another story!

Thanks, Lid!