This feature and others can be found at The Simple Woman.
FOR TODAY August 18, 2008.
First of all, you're looking at the first blogger mom up there, Eloise Whittlewood, circa 1904. Her entry: "These kids today and their technology. Just this morning Esther was talking to Elizabeth through one of those new-fangled cans connected by a string thing about how worn and tattered Beatrice's petticoat was at church yesterday. I think I'll coin a new term for the likes of them, "Mean Girls," and make a movie about them in my flip pages."
OK, now back to the 21st Century where, thankfully, all teenagers are nice.
Outside My Window... A glorious sky, squirrels around our walnut tree, silent gravel that should instead be emitting sounds of being crushed beneath my running shoes, verdant summer air laced with bacon and Downy. My neighbors are industrious early birds.
I am thinking... Monday at work means staff meeting at 10:00. This is my 2nd "Down Day" (more to come on that tomorrow). Did I give Kristin her lunch money? Why is lunch $2.25 now?
I am thankful for... Hall's honey-lemon cough drops. My husband, who spent Saturday priming our kitchen walls, mowing my parents' yard, eating left-overs like it was just great stuff, taking our kids to Starbucks and Blockbuster, building them a fire, encouraging me in my slogging, riding his bike for exercise and looking like a movie star body. For real.
From the kitchen... bad vibes, man.
I am wearing... a t-shirt that says, "Angelina adopted me," and large green and white checkered pajama pants with a drawstring. I just realized that this terrible outfit is like a blasphemy against the beauty of Angelina, which makes it even better.
I am creating... a fabulous post right here, yes?
I am going... to work, and although I love my job (I really do), I also wish I could just go outside and tend the chickens. Or read a book to my three year-old son on my lap, but since he's actually 19 and outweighs me by 25~30 lbs., I'll just go to work and make copies. But my inner me is that woman in the drawing up there.
I am reading... the "Bible in a Year" Bible. I've been on track since April, which is an epic miracle of biblical proportions in and of itself. It's tedious at times, but that's OK; lots of things in life, like making copies and cleaning out the refrigerator, are tedious. So in the dry parts, I'm looking at it as a beneficial disciplinary exercise, like I'm an ascetic monk in a monastery for 15 minutes. Although why the stupid people never ever learned: "Asherah poles = BAD" is baffling.
I am hoping... that my kids have a great day and a great day in the Lord. That they are mindful of Him throughout the day. I am also hoping my copier doesn't break down and that my boss will still be wearing his funky Coke-bottlish glasses as he prepares for Lasik surgery this week because one has to find joy in the office where one can.
I am hearing... my dog chew her kibbles. 'Tis not as poetic as mourning doves. "Cruuuunch,crunch,crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch,cruuuuunch, crunch,crunch-crunch-crunch," etc., etc. Ironically, she has only eaten about 1/8 c. It just takes her like 15 minutes. Not irritating at all.
Around the house... evidence of teenagers plus one teenaged guest for a few days.
One of my favorite things... is when I walk in the door, or I'm just in the house going about normal business, and I look down and see my little dog rolled over on her back, silently trying to get noticed, hoping for attention in the form of a tummy rub or praise. When I come in from running, she does that, and it cracks me up because it's like she's saying, "Once again, your awesomeness slays me." Here's what it looks like.A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Well, I'll go to work, read my Bible, do "Believing God," check on my parents, check on my kids, submit my newspaper column, blog a little or a lot, cook at least one warm meal (I'm determined!) have 77 hot flashes, feel inadequate and guilty several times, slog along my neighborhood streets.
Here is picture thought I am sharing... I used to have chickens. I will again someday.
Tomorrow: I've started "The Alternate Day" Diet!
