The Right Amount

Searched high and low for a certain kind of handsoap that had a certain ingredient in it for a science project Christian will be doing in school tomorrow.

Can I just say?  I love (love, love, love, love) Target.  It was the last place I was willing to go before he would be sent to school empty-handed.  Thank you, Target.

I invited my friend and her son to dinner.  We had German spaghetti, veg and parmesan bread (veg and bread courtesy of my friend).  It is nice to sup with others.

I'm plating food in my cafe on FB (I know, it's so infantile and silly, but I do have some time to play there), surfing blogs, and going to do a load of laundry for Connor (who should have asked so much earlier today . . . but I'm mum and I haven't really any reason to say "no" now).

And, thank you NEX for having these cute shoes I picked up when we were looking for that aforementioned soap (ahem).

This day had just the right amount of everything.

Now I shall pray the rosary.  Hello, Mary.  I want to say I love you!  I want to give you a crown of roses.

Recovering

I only had two Mike's Hard Mango "beers" last night.  Yesterday I had a fruit smoothie from Jamba Juice, too.  Then, I had another fruit smoothie this morning . . . . and pasta for lunch (left over smoked salmon linguini).  I think it was overload.

I won Bunko last night (for those of you not on FB or friends on FB with me).  $35 smack-a-roos!  I bought my Jamba Juice plastic glasses (w/ lid and straws) and the ill-fated drink this AM with the money . . . I was on a waiting list for those tumblers.  Starbucks couldn't keep their tumblers in stock either.  We are thirsty people in HI and have to have our logo drink tumblers!

I've been sitting here reading FaceBook and blogging . . . getting tired.

I heard through the grapevine that Hawaii-Five-0 is being filmed outside my neighbourhood . . . actually can see all the trucks and the lunch tent (that's what I'm calling it) from Connor's bedroom window.  I have to dust off my binoculars.  Or take a few walks with Holly.  Maybe I'll have more on that later.  Who knows.

Time to pray and maybe sit in the sun for a bit.  It sounds restorative.

Drapes, Knights, and Nails

It truly is laughable the predicament I have paid good money to get myself into.  I take pride in my ability to type fast . . . I need to type fast or I'll simply forget what it was I was dying to tell you.  Trust me, there is nothing clever about having fake nails put on . . . it's only good for pulling bee stings and scratching backs, as far as I'm concerned.  But, dernit, they look nice!  (see last photo).

Here is one set of drapes up.  Chief has to fix the first bracket drill holes before he can attempt to hang the second.  I like his "perfectionist" approach to this second set of drapes . . . they may not get hung in a long time . . . and that is the widow that needs to block afternoon (blinding) sun.  My apologies to those of you still in the winter blues of the world. 

 

This is the Knight light that was in my boys room for years . . . . (yonks, LarryD), but then recently Christian said he no longer needed it nor did he ever use it.  I snatched it out of his hands as if he were offering (I hope he was offering it) a bar of gold.  I've wanted that by my bedside forever (another yonks).  Anyway, I am mostly sharing this for Fr. Daren, who probably can appreciate it as he has a fondness for these sorts of things (he has suits of armor . . . I hope to one day).

  

My new nails.  I was happy with the quality, considering most places I have gone to hurry the job and don't really clean up the edges and under them well (and, so, forcing me to immediately start picking at them and basically pulling them of in the first few days).  I'll try to keep these on, I swear it. 

 

Y'all know when I get rid off them 'cos I'm such a big mouth!

Friday Fun Times

I'm going out in the morning to get my nails done with my friend.  I haven't had a good manicure in yonks and yonks.  I'll try and post pictures later.

Next up:  my hair.  It's pathetic.

Reading, Reading, Reading

I finished that book on the Holocaust today.  Horror of horrors.  I prayed a lot!

Now I am proof-reading "Be A Man!" by Fr. Larry Richards before I give it to Connor.  Let's just say, I could give it to him straight up and I think it's fine to do so.  BUT, I love to read and I can't resist the smell of a new book . . .

. . . I'm caught up with Dwight Longenecker's book "The Gargoyle Code".  It is intended for Lenten reading so I caught up to date and will be reading it accordingly (to the schedule).  So far, I'm loving it!

Holy Cow, It's March 1st!

I am currently reading "The Gargoyle Code" by Dwight Longenecker. 
I'm also reading an Holocaust book by Filip Muller called "Eyewitness Auschwitz". 

I'm looking for God's Mercy . . . and I have faith I shall find Him (it). 

St. Patty's Day is coming . . . I shall drink Guinness.  It will be lovely.

Pictures soon of our curtain hanging experiment.  I think we'll use spring-rods for any other window we decide to "dress".  Poor Chief!  Drilling into metal walls/studs is not fun!  Got one up and the other one will get put up another day.  So far, it looks great.  One thing and one day . . . at a time.

Acts of the Apostasy: Mr. Spock Would Make A Great Catholic

Acts of the Apostasy: Mr. Spock Would Make A Great Catholic

All Clear

Unofficially, of course, until about 2pm.  But, folks are back out on the beaches on O'ahu (reported). 

Thanks for your prayers. 

Now, I'm going to clean house. 

Don't Worry

There's not evacuation for Ford Island, Honolulu, HI, yet.  I doubt there will be at this time.  The bridge will close from about 11am to near 4pm today.  So, we'll be stuck like Chuck on Ford Island unless otherwise told to leave.  Several folks have left for "higher" ground, but since we are so far inland, we may expect waves more than normal, but . . . many of us aren't too worried.

I have filled the fridge with as much water as I can.  I have a tub full of water for the terlits.  I have Holly moved up here with her food.  Medicines and First Aid is up here along with candles and matches. 

Honestly, I am not that worried.  We have taken all precautions we can with the time given us . . . which is a lot more than most folks get when natural disasters strike. 

Don't worry, be happy.  And, pray. 

Love to you all, my friends.

All Is Well

I'm recovering from a little naughty intestinal virus, and, when you mix that in with my body trying to adjust to the iron and vitamins . . . I got a mess (you didn't)!

I got a phone call from urology early this morning.  Could I bring Christian in at 3pm rather than on the 4th of March?  Yes!  Why, yes I could! 

I got a phone call shortly after that from the high school nurse.  Could I come get Connor?  He's got this bug.  Sure, why not.  Can't let him writhe all over the nurses couch . . . come home and let mama love ya!

All went well at the urology appointment.  His results point to one of two things, so we are going to do some "diary" or "data entry logging" for a week of his "particulars" in elimination and follow up back at the clinic on the 10th of March.  If it's what they think it is, he'll have some exercises to control flow.  Any more information on that and I think he'll slaughter me.  He's twelve after all.  If it's not that, then there is a whole new ball game of monitoring etc..

Answers are coming.  That's what is important.  More important than that:  none of this is life threatening!  THANKS BE TO GOD!


P.S.  do not, I repeat, do not think you are well enough to ingest burger king the first day you think you are better.  i'm just sayin'!

For My Sweet Friend Bev

I thought I had posted pictures of these on my Aloha Spirit blog, but I had not (as far as I could see when I quickly scrolled through it).  This blog is far too vast for me to look (I may have posted some here, but I've no time to bother).  So, Bev mentioned she was looking through pictures for a break and I mentioned that our plans are to walk the Makapu'u lighthouse trail this coming Saturday . . . I told her their were pics of it on my blog (albeit, very small ones as we did not venture close enough, nor did we realize we could) .  Alas, here are the ones we took (with the close up pic swiped from my friend Pam's FB page - she did get some great pictures!).  We hope to capture our own pics of the humpback whales when we go.  I did not take any of Pam's pics she got of that - so pray I don't have to!  *wink*

  

(Pam's lovely picture)

  

Turtle and Rabbit islands.

  

I wouldn't want to tumble down this - there's good railing, but I still freak out.

  

Can you belive I worried my boys would tumble over those? 

  

Rachel wondering about looking for little yellow flowers.

I hope that this weekend we are able to go and take some great pictures to share here.  I also hope we see some whales.  I've only ever seen a Killer Whale on my way to Victoria B.C. Canada when I was a kid - humbacks would be grand to see!

Tidbits

Connor got a trade-in at Game Stop and is happily playing games on his PS3.  Amen.

Christian is okay after a rather nasty fall off his bike.  He wasted the knee out of his new jeans and ripped his shirt in several places . . . his knee is terribly "road rashed" as are the palms of his hands and an elbow.  We are grateful nothing worse . . . He's okay, but it was pitiful to hear him cry-screaming when Chief was cleaning out the wounds. 

We went to see Percy Jackson and the Olympians "Lightning Thief" today.   I love going out as a family to the cinema.  We went to the Dole Cannery one.  What a weirdly, creepy place to go.  It was like being in a ghost town.  Seriously.

I'm going to go back to some reading.  Enjoy your night!

Disappointed!

SB is disappointed.  Can I just say SB is actually Connor (in real life)?  It's so much easier to call them (my kids) by their names.  I'm too old to remember all this stuff - "just the facts, ma'am!"  (smile).  Besides, many of you who know me in real life, via emails, snail mail, from the blog I had before this one, on Facebook . . . know my kids anyway.  There. Done.  Just for the record, though, Connor/SB is the oldest, Teenie is Rachel, Crickles is Christian.

Okay, why is Connor disappointed?  He spent money on a dud refurbished PS3.  It came with all the warranty and he bought the year extension warranty . . . he's covered.  He knows it will be alright and get fixed.

He's like me:  disappointed in a product that has now been TWICE guaranteed to work.  It's a bit of a let down.  It is more of  a let down when you've waited as long as he has waited to get this system.  And, trust me, we had to hear about it a long dern bloody time!  He was like that about everything he wanted from birth.  He took "no" just fine, but he would plug-in the product he wanted about a zillion times a day.  I would strangle him if I thought he was manipulative this way.  It's not manipulation on his part, but his personality.  He's terribly focused on certain things.  

He lived without Pokemon cards a very.long.time.  He did that phase and burned out . . . but it was a long phase.  He loved Legos a very long time as well.  He has only just recently let go of those (no longer buying them or playing with them - but they ain't going anywhere).  This is Connor's pattern.  He really is fine with us telling him "no".  We can easily reason with him.  However, in this case we never said "no".  We said "yes", but "wait".

He had to pick up his grades.  Check.  He has to maintain them.  That is not a box that can be checked, but only constantly maintained.  He wrote up rules for usage.  Check.  We want him to be mature about this.  It is his money being spent, but because other things come before gaming, he has to be mature about that.  As parents, we reserve the right to not allow him to play if his grades dip, he is irresponsible, and/or whatever.

Anyway, the fact that this machine isn't working is really a good thing.  I know as parents and/or adults we can enjoy the lesson he's learning in this first big purchase he has made for himself.

Sometimes things don't work when we buy them.  Don't lose your temper.  Don't be discouraged.

Aside from his complaint on FB (which was really rather mild), he's done very well with our telling him,"Son, we'll fix this tomorrow."  

And, we shall.

Pondering Lent

It has taken me some time to write this post, because I try and be particularly careful to not come across as judgemental.  I want to be helpful.  The toughest thing about Christianity is "walking the talk" authentically and honestly.  It's why I believe the 1st Corinthians reading about LOVE is so important just before we stepped into Lent this year.

If I cannot do these things (living, talking, walking, preaching, teaching, feeding, eating etc. - every day life things) with love, what I do amounts to zilch.

I used to share my Lenten plans openly with people.  Not to boast, but to share.  Some people can take sharing the wrong way.  I can't help that any more than the next guy.  Still, I decided last year that I would not tell anyone what I'm doing or not doing, giving up or not giving up, for Lent.  Why?  Because I have failed miserably (in my own reckoning - and therein lies the largest problem:  pride) when I have done so.  

So, now I see that maybe sharing isn't such a bad thing.  I'm about as pious as a loaf of bread.  Pumpernickle, if you wish.

The thing is:  I do not want to walk this Lenten journey alone.  I think Jesus wants us to share the journey - to encourage one another, for certain, but to help us in our resolve to live our lives as Christ would have us live them.

The first thing I must acknowledge is my own estimation of my own pride.  Then, my limitations.  My abilities.  What can I do?  What can I give up?  to be closer to Christ?  If my Lent is not Christ-centered, I'm not participating in Lent, but in something I've decided is better than what God planned.  Pride, again.  I may not do the same Lenten sacrifices as everyone else (there are plenty of good ideas out there as there are, in my humble opinion, bloody daft ones), but there's no rule out there that says I must.  Sometimes it is hard to admit that I'm not all that clever or that I'm not that good at committing to every minute to this Lenten journey.  I do not have a craft for my kids - not a single one!  I haven't ever done anything but take them to Mass and Stations of the Cross.  Is that enough?  Maybe.  But, at least it is authentic to our life.  You must do what is authentic to yours.  Together, we must pray for and encourage each other.  Lent is not a time to criticize.  It's a time to pray more than ever for the redemption of ourselves, others, and the world.


The second thing I must realize is that based on my abilities, how can I serve Christ?  Why not just trust Him to provide me with the grace to do for Him whatever it is that He sees fit?  Okay, I can do that.  I can live out my vocation better than I ever have if I quit complaining about everything that does or does not happen under the roof.  Y'all know I hate finding everybody's socks all over the house rather than their hampers.  That's just one thing I could stop loudly complaining about.  But, there are many many others.   I need to acknowledge His grace and my absolute need and dependence upon Him.

Therefore I am committed to try and not complain . . . and I strive to walk closer with Christ this Lent by a daily Stations of the Cross.  My legs will ache as a reminder  . . .  a sharp, constant reminder of what Jesus did for me.  For you.  For all who are called to love and serve Him in this life and in the next.

So, do what God calls you to do.  And, pray your way through it.  I've got your back, but God really HAS your back.  

Have a blessed Lent.

I Should Call SB "GameBoy"

He finally got to buy his PS3 system today and he's thrilled.  SB,that is.  After drafting rules himself about the proper usage of this game system, we agreed that as long as he keeps his grades up (and that means studying for and passing tests with a B or higher) he can play unhindered.  There are rules in place that says he is to go forth . . . outside and play with real people more than he can sit on his tush inside with cyberbots.  Period.

We got home and some of his friends came around . . . he went straight out to meet them, leaving the system in the bag.

I am truly pleased he chose living breathing people over the newness of the games he just bought.