How American Are You?

It's a filler day again. I'm taking another road trip to the building site today, so I won't have a chance to do a real post. Since I haven't posted for a few days, I figured I better give the few of you that might visit something to see. :-) So here it is. How American am I?

You Are 78% American

You're as American as red meat and shooting ranges. Tough and independent, you think big. You love everything about the US, wrong or right. And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you!

Sounds about right to me!

How American Are You?

The Geek Speaks

There's a new post over at the Dome Geeks, and this time it's not me writing. The Geek has finally spoken and he's got stuff to say - from why he wants to build a dome home to what "sets him all a-quiver," to what really matters to him at the end of the day. So whether you have been wondering about this mysterious man, or whether you're just curious what he might have to say, you don't want to miss this momentous event! And don't forget to comment. I'm sure he'd love some feedback.

Lovely Drive

As promised, I shot some photos on the road yesterday. I thought I'd show you what the Geek's daily commute will look like. This is an actual view he will see on his afternoon drive:

As opposed to this, which is a pretty accurate representation of what he sees now:

My drive will hopefully be short and sweet, wherever it may be to, since I am planning on getting a part-time job in the area when we get there. The really nice thing is, no matter where you go out there, it's all trees and beauty. Even the main highways are prettier than they are here in the city.

Aaahhh. I can't wait.

As long as I'm posting pictures today, here are a couple pictures of our lot. I don't think I ever posted these here. They were part of a post on our Dome Geeks blog a while ago.

Lovely isn't it?

Road Trip Today

Just a quick post since I haven't posted anything in a few days. It's crunch time! We went to the bank on Friday and I came home with a whole slew of homework. Short version: I need to get bids on every subcontractor that will work on our home in the next few months and on all the materials that will go into it. Many many many phone calls.

It reminds me of the good old days at my crummy customer service job. Actually it doesn't. Well maybe if you change the crabby person on the other end of the phone to a nice person who wants me to hire him and change the end results from a lousy paycheck to a beautiful home.

Yeah, I like this job much better. :)

Today I'm going to the site to meet with a potential sub and I'll be picking up a phone book and whatever other info I might be able to get at the Chamber of Commerce.

Road trip, baby! If I'm feeling generous, maybe I'll snap a couple photos and post them here soon.

Kevin and Kell

Something I haven't told about myself on this blog yet is that I read a list of online comics as part of my morning routine. Thanks to Daddy Warbucks, I have always enjoyed reading newspaper comics. Every Sunday morning he and I would wake up to Blondie, Peanuts, Hagar, and the rest of the Sunday funnies gang.

After getting married, my Geek and I continued the tradition. Sometime after getting online in about 1995 or so, we discovered that we could read our comics online. Over the years, a multitude of online-only comics has sprung up and, in fact, there are whole web communities of comic writers and readers.

We each (the Geek and I) have a list of comics we like to read each morning online. Some we share, some I read and he doesn't, and some vice versa. Kevin and Kell is one of the comics we both enjoy reading.

It's the ongoing story of a family of animals who co-habitate pleasantly (for the most part) in a tree. The family consists of Kell, an average wolf mom who holds down a corporate job at Herd Thinners Inc.; Kevin, a very large rabbit who recently revealed that he used to be a world famous wrestler; Lindesfarne, a hedgehog daughter adopted by Kevin and his first wife who is leaving for college this week; Rudy, Kell's son from her first marriage and a typical teenage wolf; and Coney, Kevin and Kell's young daughter who looks like a rabbit but eats like a carnivore. The cast of characters is rounded out by the family, friends, and neighbors of the core comic family.

It was revealed at the K&K website this morning that this is the 10th anniversary of the comic strip. As a way to promote the auspicious day, it has been suggested that each reader introduce one other person to the strip, so here I am, being an overachiever (which is NOT my norm) and inviting anyone who might read my blog to go see Kevin and Kell. If you really enjoy it, you can read the archives to get the back story.

This is a great comic with themes of everyday family life blended nicely with the nature of the animals involved. The Geek and I have been getting good laughs out of it for a few years now. I hope you will enjoy it too.

T.P. Misuse?

Ok, I'm sitting waiting for the person who is going to walk in make a huge offer on our house to show up to the open house. Since I'm just waiting, I decided to check out my Site Meter stats. I've never checked out the recent visitors by referring pages before, but I decided to try it just for fun. Most are coming from other bloggers pages - Blond Girl, Interrupted Wanderlust, Blog Blah Blah, Michele - and a couple I didn't know had blogrolled me until today - Intricate Art and Thumper. How fun is that?!

One referral of particular interest though, was from a search engine. I've seen other bloggers list some of the searches that bring people to their sites. It's fun and kind of crazy the things searchers look for that you would never dream would lead to your site. There was only one search in my top twenty referrals. What do you think they searched for?

toilet paper misuse

Yup, you read it right. I was 10th in line of the top results for a search on "toilet paper misuse". Now, there's something you must understand about me. I really don't like bathroom humor and I'm adamantly against public display of what should be private noises emerging from one's body. I would far rather someone found me by looking up "cute kitty cat" or "pretty purple living room". But no. I got "toilet paper misuse". I guess that's what I get for writing this post.

And I don't even want to know what that person was thinking who did this search. I just don't want to know.

Our House In the Middle of Our Street

As I've mentioned before, we are trying to sell our house so that we can build our dream home on the beautiful lot we purchased this summer. We are attempting to sell it ourselves rather than with a realtor. The Geek and I are uber do-it-yourselfers. Our motto is "Why pay someone else to do it if you can do it yourself for less or free?"

So, today and tomorrow we are holding an open house in hopes of drawing in people who will fall in love on the spot and pay us lots of money to live in this adorable home. It really is adorable. I mean, we have a purple living room with white trim for goodness sakes. How much cuter could you get?

They say (whoever "they" might be) that when you sell your home you should paint every room white. I hate to argue with the "experts", but.... Actually, that's not true. I like arguing with the experts. Half the time, I have to wonder who or what made them experts in the first place. Anyway, my point was going to be that I don't agree with that line of thought. Every person who walks into our house takes one look at our living room and smiles. It's like an auto response. Our living room is like a puppy. You can't possible see it without becoming a little more happy than you were a moment before.

We have purged, de-cluttered, cleaned, and (despite my feelings about "experts") staged the house - at least a little. There are flowers in a pot on the front doorstep and flowers in a vase in the kitchen. There's a bowl of brightly colored fruit on the table and the house smells like fresh baked banana bread. It's almost enough to make me want to stay. Maybe if we could move it to the country, add on a couple rooms, and make the basement livable. Nah. I'd rather live in a dome.

So if you think of us today, say a little prayer that we'll get a buyer soon, preferably today or tomorrow - someone who will pay at least our asking price if not more and who will be a great neighbor to our great neighbors and help towards the ultimate goal of making this neighborhood a beautiful place to live.

All About Pets

We have great neighbors. The ladies who live next door take care of all the stray cats that hang around the neighborhood - and there are a lot of them. Last year a sweet little calico cat started hanging out at their place for the free food. She's just a tiny little thing, and skinny like most strays.

Amazingly enough, she survived the winter, thanks entirely to the neighbor ladies generosity. About 7 weeks ago, she gave birth to 5 kittens. Now, granted I'm a cat lover - I do have 5 of the little critters living in my house - but even if you aren't, it is a rare person who's heart can't be captured, if only momentarily, by an angelic little kitten face. They would run around exploring their little world, which probably seemed gigantic to them, stumbling over each other and suddenly dropping for a nap.

A & K (the neighbor ladies) were immediately taken by them. They were their pets and I think they took at least as good care of them as the mama herself did. The kittens grew quickly, and were healthy and happy. "A" eventually started to feed them dry food. They took to that pretty quickly. Last week, A & K brought 3 of the 5 into their home. (The other 2 were a bit evasive.) They would let mama in now and then to see her babies, but for the most part mama and the 2 stayed outside and the 3 stayed inside.

And of course, A & K fell in love. The problem is, they are both terribly allergic to cats. They both knew that they would have to give them up eventually, and we were all looking for good homes for them, but no one answered the call. There was talk of taking them to a shelter. I suggested they find one of the no-kill shelters in the area, though kittens usually get adopted pretty quickly. It's the older ones who don't stand a chance.

Yesterday, I was cleaning out in the back porch when they exited their house with a mewing box in hand. "A" looked at me and said, "They're going". I replied, "They're going?" A lame response, since I knew at that moment her heart was breaking, but it was all I could think of to say. She sobbed, "They're going," and turned away.

How is it that we get so attached to our pets so quickly? Two of my cats are now about 10 years old. I know I've only got a few good years left with them - if we're lucky we might get to spend the next 10 years with them - but it breaks my heart to think of losing them. I haven't lost a pet since I was a teenager and I don't want to do it again...but it comes with the territory. We outlive our pets, and that's a good thing - so that they will always be well cared for.

I just hope our kitties live long healthy lives...very long. And as long as they are here, they are welcome to curl up in my lap anytime they want.

Am I That Nuts?

I loved the first Willie Wonka movie and though I haven't seen the second yet, I do plan to, probably on DVD. When I saw this at Fatty Pants' blog, I simply couldn't pass it up.

That said, the result scares me just a little.



You are Willy Wonka. You are a bit weird and you
shut your self off from the world and live in
your chocolate factory with your oompa loompas.

Which character are you from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
brought to you by Quizilla

Thesaurus.com Redux

Many thanks to Dave Diamond! He knew which episode of Friends I was referring to in my previous thesaurus.com post! It was episode 10.05, "The One Where Rachel's Sister Babysits". Here's the part I was thinking of...

Monica: It doesn't make any sense.
Joey: Of course it does. It's smart! I used a thesaurus!
Chandler: On every word?
Joey: Yep.
Monica: All right, what was this sentence, originally?
Joey: Oh. "They're warm, nice people with big hearts."
Chandler: And that became, "They're humid, pre-possessing homosapiens with full-sized aortic pumps?"

That is classic Friends if I ever saw it. A definite LOL moment.

And with that, I'm going to bed to see if I can catch up to those pesky, evasive zzz's.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Sorry, no post today. Today is almost over anyway. Here's something to take up space until I can post again - hopefully sometime on Thursday...during the day this time. :-)

You are pure, moral, and adaptable. You tend to blend into your surroundings. Shy on the outside, you're outspoken to your friends. You believe that you live a virtuous life... And you tend to judge others with a harsh eye. As a result, people tend to crave your approval.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Thesaurus.com Is My Friend

I'm about to reveal a deep, dark secret. It's the kind of secret that could change your opinion of me forever; the kind of secret that could turn the tide and compel you to adore me or despise me; the kind of secret that could shake the very foundation of the relationships I hold dear.

Well, maybe not that kind of secret.

I love thesaurus.com.

It has been a favorite site since I first discovered it years ago, along with dictionary.com. I have become even more enamoured with it since I started blogging. Why use a word like easy, when you could use any of a mulititude of fascinating words? Why not use effortless, elementary, evident, facile, inconsiderable, manageable, manifest, mere, obvious, painless, paltry, simple, slight, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, uninvolved, untroublesome, wieldy, or yielding instead?

When it comes to the English language, grammar and spelling are my forte. My vocabulary leaves something to be desired. Sometimes it's just that I can't think of the more suitable word at the moment. Thesaurus.com gives me the mental nudge that I need to recall that perfect word. This is one of the reasons why I love blogging so much. You can't pull a thesaurus out of your pocket everytime you are about to use a humdrum word in a verbal conversation. Blogging gives me the luxury of choosing my words carefully, and of having a window with my virtual thesaurus awaiting my beck and call.

You needn't worry though, that I might fall into the "thesaurus black hole". I promise never to write entire paragraphs or even sentences of thesaurus inspired words. (Wasn't there a Friends episode where Joey did that? I can't remember the details.) The day you read, "Salutations, object of my affections. I am domesticized. What's for the principal meal?" on my blog, you have my permission to send me a scathing comment. Or perhaps an online intervention of the blogging community would be more appropriate.

In the meantime, my secret is out, and I don't care! I'll proclaim to the world...

I'm a thesaurus user, and I'm proud of it!!

Or perhaps I should say...

I'm a lexicon addict, and I'm boastful of it!!

What Classic Movie Am I?

I picked this up from Shannon at Wind Scraps. She was lamenting the fact that she was the Godfather and of course, I can't pass up a personality quiz.

Apocalypse Now? I've never even seen the movie. It says I am a rogue wanderer. Maybe in a purely metaphysical sense, on the third Thursday of a purple month when the moon is full, that could be accurate. I don't know. I guess it's better than the Godfather.

Anyone out there who knows me have any thoughts? Blond Girl? Hot Rod Mama? Anyone?

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Cat Gack Logic and Renaissance Weddings - Things I Just Don't Get

Cat Gack Logic
Is there anything logical about it at all? If I were a cat and was prone to gacking one or more times a day, I would choose someplace where it was easy for my human to clean up. You know, a hard surface like tile or vinyl, as opposed to carpet or furniture. Or better yet, the toilet. That's what the humans do, right? I guess I'm just thoughtful like that.

My cats don't think that way. Nope, if they feel the need to gack, they do it wherever they happen to be at the moment. Wait, I take that back. If they are someplace with a nice hard floor with easy cleaning capabilities, they will run for the nearest carpet. But if they are on the couch or the bed, do they run looking for someplace more appropriate? Nope.

And just what defines appropriate in their little walnut-sized brains? Is it simply that the surface should have lots of fibers so the product of their gacking can sink in deep, becoming impossible to clean completely? Woolite's Oxy Deep has become one of those household items that I can't do without. I start to panic if I realize that the bottle is getting low. But even with that, I'm still convinced that there is nasty stuff embedded deep in the fibers, just hiding there mocking me every time I step on it unknowingly. Ick.

Of course, then there's Yoyo and his twisted and bizarre gacking habits. But I won't go there. If my stomach is turning at this point, I'm sure the rest of you must be running for the toilet right now.

Or you could just use the carpet.


Renaissance Weddings
Ok, it's not the renaissance wedding itself that bothers me. If you want to dress up as though it was 500 years ago and provide your attendants with similarly appropriate garb, well that is your prerogative. All I ask is that you don't force your guests to dress that way as well. Some can't afford to purchase an outfit they would never wear again just for your wedding. (I actually happen to have a renaissance dress - I am married to a geek afterall - but it's the principle of the thing, and the arrogance of telling your guests how they should dress to your wedding that I don't get.)

This rant was inspired by a bit I heard on talk radio Friday afternoon. I was on a short road trip up to Natural Spaces (the dome company) to pick up our house plans and budget. The Lori and Julia show was the "Julia and Kathy" show that day since Lori had the day off. Kathy, the guest host, was telling all about her brother's renaissance wedding, to which she had been invited.

This was not simply any old renaissance wedding. As his sister, she had been presented with a program of the day's events including instructions on her part in the ceremonies. The whole thing was just bizarre, every element becoming more so than the next, and by the time she was done talking, there was absolutely nothing - NOTHING - that could have surprised me about that wedding. If the grand finale had been a pig-flying ceremony, that would have been the least strange part of this wedding.

A few highlights:

All guests were required to attend in authentic renaissance garb. (Kathy was planning to wear a unicorn costume, assuming that she could get it on the airplane.)

The day-long ceremony was to take place at the commune where her brother and his fiance live, along with his ex-wife and her new wife and the child her brother and his ex-wife had before "new wife" came along. ?????

The sibling sing-along. All siblings of the bride and groom were to sing a song together to the happy couple. The song was given on CD along with lyrics ahead of time so they could learn it. Well, that was thoughtful, don't you think?

At some point after the vows, the happy couple was to escape to the woods to consummate the marriage. The day isn't over yet. They'll be coming back to join their guests. Apparently they can't wait until the guests go home. Nope, it's right there in the schedule. "Couple goes to woods to consummate marriage." Kathy's main concern was (and I don't blame her) that she didn't remember seeing any woods at the commune last time she visited. Yikes.

To complete the festivities, there was to be a blessing ceremony. Guests were invited (not required this time) to give a blessing to the couple. No material gifts allowed. The givers were to be divided into such categories as poets, prophets/seers, and champions to name just a few. Poets would read an original poem of blessing. Prophets/seers would give their blessing in the form of a prophecy of their future together. You like that? Well, get this. Champions were to show a feat of strength, and were to be knighted by the "queen" (bride) as her champions. These champions could then be called upon someday in a moment of "need" by the queen when her king was away. I'll leave you to figure out what that means since I'm too embarassed to explain any further.

If this were my brother, I would have sent back the following R.S.V.P.

"Thanks so much for the invitation. I'm sure your wedding day will be a beautiful one and I wish you and your lovely bride much happiness in the future. Unfortunately, as much as I would love to be there, I'm attending the "Ceremony of the Flying Pigs" that day and simply can't make it."


*Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.

Where'd Unky Go?

Does anyone know anything about Unkymoods? I noticed yesterday (or maybe the day before) that Blond Girl's Unkymood was gone. I checked mine and it was gone too.

This morning I decided to do a little investigation and checked out their website. Nothing. Are they revamping their website? Have they shut down? Anyone know what's up?

My Unkymood today is perplexed, but I don't have an Unkymood to show it!

Finally, We Exist!

We got it! In the words of Homer Simpson, "Woo Hoo!!!" This morning I was given our official address. Now I know what address our letters, and unfortunately our bills, will be addressed to in the near future. It's almost like being a bride-to-be, when you write your first name with his last name over and over to see what it looks like and perfect your signature. I think I'll just spend the day practicing writing my new address.

Tag! You're It!

Blond Girl tagged me for this blog-warming meme. It looks like it could be fun, so I'll play along. As my tagger, she get's to escape home-free from my list of taggees.

This is supposed to be a way to introduce your neighbors, so just as you would in real life, try to think of people I would like to meet. And the same goes for the next people down the line.

Choose people that the person who selected you would enjoy meeting/reading and that might enjoy each other as well. Just copy/paste this meme and post it to your blog changing the answers for the bolded questions.

First, pick 5 neighbors to introduce me to who will then introduce us all to 5 other neighbors: There are lots of neighbors whose blogs I enjoy reading, but I'm not sure that there are 5 neighbors who read my blog regularly. I also don't want to tag someone who might not want to be tagged, so here's my disclaimer:

If I tag you and you don't want to be, please don't feel obligated. I won't be upset in the least. If I tag you and you've already been, please accept my apologies. If I don't tag you and you DO want to be, please consider yourself tagged and join the fun!

That said, here are four who I hope might be interested, and whom I think Blond Girl, as well as the blogging neighborhood in general, will enjoy meeting. Kristi, MissMeliss, Buddah and PsychoKitty. Yes, the last two are cats, but their mom has visited me before, so Thumper, if you see this, and if the little furballs aren't too busy tearing each other apart or practicing their midnight vocal skills, please let them know they've been tagged.

Next, always leave TongueTyed on the list as a 6th neighbor (she wants to see how far this Meme goes).

Now tell me about yourself, neighbor!

When did you move to the neighborhood? I am a relative newbie. I first discovered the neighborhood when I crashed into PsychoKitty's blog by accident. I laughed so hard I cried, and once I started blog-surfing from his site, I was hooked. Of course, every lurker eventually has to become a blogger too, so I carved out my own little niche in this surreal little world on Friday, June 17th, 2005.

What region of the neighborhood are you from? I was born in South Dakota, raised in Minnesota, and soon I'm moving to Wisconsin. If I keep this up I'll end up spending my winter years in Massachusetts!

What is your favorite part of our neighborhood? Oh, there is so much to love. I love that I can meet people from hundreds, even thousands of miles away. I love that bonds are formed more by common interests than by location. I love that I can spill my thoughts onto a virtual page and my neighbors can choose to read or not, as they see fit. I love that I have the same option. I love that if they choose to read they can offer an encouraging word or helpful thought. I love that I have the same option. And whether or not comments are flying, I love that there is a place where I can lay my meditations to rest when they are plaguing me.

What is your favorite place to visit 'round these parts? My blogroll pretty much covers it, but here are a few highlights. Blond Girl is of course, always entertaining. I've known her for well over a decade now and she's at least as entertaining on the blogging screen as she is in real life. PsychoKitty provided my first glimpse into the blogging world and he and his pesky little brother, Buddah still crack me up. I discovered Shannon's corner of the neighborhood recently. She is an amazing writer and her posts are always inspiring. If you're up for a good debate, you must check out Evangelical Update. No matter which side you take, the discussion is invigorating. Last, but certainly not least, I have been loving Farmgirl's blog for her great farm stories, bread-baking tips, and heart-warming photos.

Since I just moved into a new house, I might want to take a short trip to a local place or area. Where would you suggest in your region? Shoppers of the world unite! at Mall of America. I challenge anyone to discover something that cannot be found there. For all you crafty people, Bead Monkey is a new favorite of mine. They are a local shop which happily feeds my new beading addiction. Though I haven't been inside yet, I've been told that the Basilica of St. Mary is stunningly beautiful. I hope to visit sometime soon, myself. While you're here, scenic Stillwater is just a quick 45 minute drive to the east and is well worth the trip. There are antique shops and antiquarian booksellers galore. There is a plethora of restaurants, most of which serve food that is to die for. My advice would be to spend a weekend there and stay in a local bed and breakfast. There are plenty to choose from, but I can personally recommend the Aurora Staples Inn. The service is pleasant and prompt, the owners are thoughtful and knowledgeable of their city's attractions, and you will never partake of a more enjoyable breakfast.

Don't forget, the purpose of this meme is to meet new neighbors, so be sure to check out the homes of some of the ones you are introduced to!

Crooning Kid

Warning: The kid sings, if you can call it that, so don't play this at work if you could get in trouble for your computer making sounds.

I've seen this before, but it was a long time ago and I'd forgotten all about it. It was the Daily Candy for today, and I'm so glad it was! You'll laugh so hard you cry. The kid has an impressive repertoire of songs, but his chances of getting a record deal anytime soon are questionable at best.

More Dome Geeks Updates!

Dome Update

I've posted an update at DomeGeeks. There's another coming soon with pictures of our landscaping plans!

Speaking of "Have You Evers"...

Have you ever had a situation in your life that left you wanting to ask God, "Why?"

You know you shouldn't ask why.

You know that there is a reason for everything that happens in our lives and that it will all work out for good even if it doesn't work out the way you might want it to.

You know that asking why won't solve the problem.

You know that the answer to why won't solve the problem.

You know that God in his infinite wisdom will work out the whys in his time and that they will probably be worked out sooner if you stop fighting and whining and asking silly questions like...

Why?

In fact, maybe the answer to why is simply that you need to find the answer, rather than having it handed to you on a silver platter.

Have you ever tried so hard not to ask why because you know all these things, but that single syllable question persists in your mind, desperately trying to break out of it's prison and become a prayer rather than just an inner personal question?

I can't be positive - resolutions are always so ambiguous in these metaphysical struggles - but this morning I may have found the answer to the question I dare not ask.

Why?

The answer doesn't solve the problem. It's not a grand spiritual revelation. It doesn't mean I get my way or don't. It simply means that I might (or might not) know...

Why.

Have You Ever...?

I stole this one from Sharon's site. As if my 100 Things and various personality tests haven't told you enough about me. Blogging really is the ultimate ego trip, isn't it?

( ) smoked a cigarette As far as I can remember, I've never even touched one.
( ) crashed a friend's car
( ) stolen a car
(X) been in love
(X) been dumped This one may come as a shock to those who think they know me, since I told them all that I've never dated anyone but my husband.

( ) been fired Laid off, yes. Fired, no.
( ) been in a fist fight I don't think it counts as a fight unless you hit back, right?
( ) snuck out of your parents' house
(X) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back Of course, it didn't help that I would rather have died than tell them about my feelings.
( ) been arrested

( ) gone on a blind date
(X) lied to a friend Rarely, and only in a moment of weakness to protect their feelings.
( ) skipped school Unless being sick counts. Then I skipped a lot.
( ) seen someone die
(X) gone sledding Has any child grown up in the Midwest and not been sledding?

(X) been to Canada Twice, I think. All I really remember is that the only channel that came in clearly on the hotel TV was Spanish soaps.
( ) been to Mexico
(X) been on a plane My first flight was a 25 minute flight to the next state when I was 25 years old. I've loved flying ever since. I dread the security checks, but I love flying.
( ) purposely set a part of yourself on fire
( ) eaten sushi Not particularly interested in the eating raw fish part. In fact, eating raw any kind of meat has never been high on my to do list.

(X) been skiing
( ) met someone from the internet
(X) been at a concert Life was not complete as a teenager if I didn't attend at least one or two a month.
( ) taken painkillers Only if ibuprofen, aspirin and Tylenol count.
(X) love someone or miss someone right now

(X) laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by One of my favorite memories of my Grandma involves this activity.
(X) made a snow angel I could never figure out how anyone does this without two boot prints at the hem of the angels robe.
(X) had a tea party Sweet Girl is my favorite tea party hostess.
(/) flown a kite Does a pitiful attempt count? How about 1/2 an X for this one.
(/) built a sand castle (See note above about kite flying.)

( ) gone puddle jumping
( ) played dress up
( ) jumped into a pile of leaves Yeesh. What did I do as a kid?
( ) cheated while playing a game
(X) been lonely

(X) fallen asleep at work/school Several of my jobs have been nothing more than 8 hour days of fighting to keep my eyes open.
( ) used a fake ID
( ) watched the sun set You'd think in 34 years I'd have done this, but I can't think of a time I ever did. This may be rectified soon as the deck off our master bedroom in the new house will face southwest.
( ) felt an earthquake
( ) slept beneath the stars Nope. Too many wild animals.

(X) been tickled
(X) been robbed I've had two cars broken into. One for a cheap stereo and one for an even cheaper pair of sunglasses.
(X) been misunderstood Probably more often than I am understood.
( ) petted a reindeer/goat/kangaroo
( ) won a contest

( ) run a red light/stop sign Twice. Neither one on purpose. Never got a ticket.
( ) been suspended from school
(X) been in a car crash
( ) had braces

(X) felt like an outcast/third person Regularly
( ) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(X) had deja vu
( ) danced in the moonlight
(X) liked the way you looked I looked pretty good on my wedding day.

(X) witnessed a crime
( ) been obsessed with post-it notes
( ) gone doorbell ditching I have a vague memory of some friends doing this, but I'm quite sure I would not have dared join them.
(X) believe in ghosts I don't think they are what some people think they are, but I do believe they exist.
(X) found a stray animal and kept it I got 4 of my 5 kittie cats that way.

(X) squished barefoot through the mud I loved doing this until I discovered worms.
(X) been lost
( ) been on the opposite side of the country I live in the middle. Is there an opposite side?
( ) swam in the ocean Too many sharks.
( ) felt like dying

(X) cried yourself to sleep
( ) played cops and robbers
(X) recently colored with crayons Sweet Girl recently helped me relive this former favorite pastime.
( ) sung karaoke I NEVER purposely allow anyone to hear me sing.
( ) paid for a meal with only coins

(X) done something you told yourself you wouldn't
( ) made prank phone calls. When I was 8, I had a friend who would sit and make prank phone calls whenever I came over. I never participated. I don't think that friendship lasted very long.
( ) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose No but I am morbidly curious.
(X) caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) danced in the rain No, but this has always been a fantasy of mine. In my daydream I dance in the rain in a big empty field. Problem: I've never been in a big empty field in the rain. Good thing: I now own a big empty field, so maybe I'll have a chance soon.

( ) written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) watched the sun rise with someone you care about No, but this sounds like something I need to add to my to do list.
(X) blown bubbles
( ) made a bonfire on the beach

( ) crashed a party
(/) gone rollerskating (See notes on kite flying and sand castle building.)
(X) had a wish come true
( ) jumped off a bridge
( ) ate dog/cat food Uh, no. Though I must admit, once when I hadn't eaten for a day the cat food smelled really good.

( ) told a complete stranger you loved them
( ) kissed a mirror
(X) sang in the shower Only when I'm alone. (See note about karaoke.)
( ) had a dream that you married someone.
( ) glued your hand to something No, but I used to make glue sheets on the palm of my hand.

( ) kissed a fish Two questions. 1)Is that possible? 2)Why? 3)Eewww.
( ) sat on a roof top
( ) screamed at the top of your lungs
( ) done a one-handed cartwheel I am far too uncoordinated. I could never even do a two-handed cartwheel. Heck, I couldn't even do a decent sommersault.
( ) talked on the phone for more than 5 hours

(X) stayed up all night A very, very, very long time ago. Before I became an old lady.
(X) picked and ate an apple right off the tree Mmmm. I can still taste it. Tangy.
(X) climbed a tree It took some coercing on my friends part, but I did it.
( ) had a tree house
(X) been scared to watch a scary movie alone I avoid scary movies at all costs - alone or otherwise.

( ) have more than 30 pairs of shoes In my lifetime...maybe.
(X) worn a really ugly outfit to school Every day of my life from ages 5-15. Then I got some fashion sense just in time to be homeschooled for the last 3 years.
( ) pushed into a pool/hot tub with all your clothes on
( ) gone streaking
( ) gone skinny dipping in a pool/hot tub

( ) told you're hot by a complete stranger Well, my husband is a little strange.
( ) broken a bone
(X) been easily amused I once was complimented by a member of my favorite band for this. Maybe it wasn't so much a compliment as the frightened plea of a stalking victim.
(X) caught a fish then ate it Someone else hooked the worm, cast the line, reeled in the fish, took the fish off the line, cleaned it and cooked it. But I was holding the pole when the fish bit and I ate it!
( ) caught a butterfly I like to keep far enough from butterflies so that I can't see that they are really just bugs. They are beautiful from a comfortable distance.

(X) laughed so hard you cried
( ) cried so hard you laughed
( ) cheated on a test
(X) forgotten someone's name
(X) french braided someone's hair My own. (See notes on kite flying, sand castle building, and rollerskating.)
(X) loved someone so much you would gladly die for them

It's Too Early to Have Been Awake This Long

It's 5:49 am and I've been awake for almost 2 hours already. Uggh. I see an afternoon nap in my future...maybe. As long as I'm up, I figure I might as well post, especially since I didn't yesterday. (My apologies to anyone who was looking for a post. And I apologize in advance for not posting a "real" post today. This may be all you get. I guess we'll see how the day goes.)

Last night, while my Geek played Psychonauts, I started working on a new design for my blog. I may as well use my certificate in web design for something useful. It certainly never made me any money. The Geek says an education is never a waste, even if it doesn't end up paying for itself. I sure would like to believe him.

I had one design I had worked up a while ago which I was planning on using, but it turned out to be impractical. Great design idea, not so great as an actual webpage. So I started another design idea. Fun and funky. I really like it (the Geek hates it - says it's too pink), but I'm not sure if it's going to translate well to a webpage either. Actually, I'm pretty sure it would but my design skills far surpass my coding skills. What I should be saying is that I don't know if I, with my limited coding skills, am able to pull it off.

All that to say this: If I can figure it out, and if I can continue to find the time to do so, you may see a new design here in the near future. Otherwise, not so much.

Today has the equal potential to be either a really busy day, or a completely lazy day. The Geek worked all last weekend and put in extra hours during the week too, so he's taking today off. He'll probably be playing games today or reading. There are a million things I could do around here, but I might just take the day off too. If so, I'll work on that design.

Or maybe I'll just enjoy a day with my Geek.

A Note and a Notable Link

Note: I posted some pictures of our lovely new lot at The Dome Geeks a couple days ago, but forgot to put the promised note here. So here it is. Pictures of or "Little House on the Prairie", sans the little house.


And because I can't post right now and don't know for sure if I will later either...

I found this link at Peace Of My Mind. Whether you love cats or don't love them so much, you will laugh! You must go see Stuff On My Cat.

A Treasure from Sweet Girl

I should be doing something else, like packing boxes, learning how to build a house, making phone calls, but this fell out of my Bible this morning and I had to share. I couldn't wait for another day because it's all about the cute today and this is about as cute as it gets. Yeah, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

A couple weeks ago, Sweet Girl came running up to me at church on Sunday morning as is our routine. I need Sweet Girl hugs as often as possible and she's quite generous with them. Mid-hug, she pulled back, looked me in the eyes and announced that she had a card for me in her car and gravely instructed me that I was not to leave without it!

After church, I obediently followed her family out to their car and gratefully received the card she had so carefully crafted just for me. What an honor to be godmother to such a precious girl. Treasures from Sweet Girl are some of the most valuable I have.

On the front of the card are Sweet Girl and myself. Her renderings are quite accurate, actually. The hair length is about right and I have a bit of meat on my bones. ;-) Of course, neither of us is quite this purple - well maybe in a Midwest February but not in July - but creative license is granted abundantly to 5 year old artists.

Inside the card she wrote a personal note on the left and on the right in pink (the perfect color for expressions of affection) she wrote "I LOVE YOU [GEEKWIF]". I'm pretty sure she did this on her own. She's a great little reader and not a bad writer either. She dictated the note on the left to Blond Girl as the following:
"Dear [Geekwif],
I love you and I will miss you when you move to a new house. And I love you when you spend time with me, Dear [Geekwif]."

She is so darn sweet I can hardly stand it. If she were any sweeter I'd be chugging water right now, but as it is I think she's just about perfect. Yup, Sweet Girl is definitely the epitome of cuteness.

Because it's all about the cuteness...

We're in the process of packing whatever we can live without for the next few months while we build. The bookshelves are slowly being emptied. Diva took advantage of a new little hiding spot.


Ah, a little fresh air, a warm sunbeam, and a windowsill in which to enjoy it. Does life get better than this?

Mozart
Because he's just so dang cute.

My Cute Kitchen

It's necessary. I can't not do this. The world needs to be exposed to my sickeningly cute kitchen. Blond Girl helped me paint the hydrangea border and she and Champs helped us lay the vinyl tile floor.

I'll be leaving this adorable kitchen behind when we move, but that's ok. I'll have something even better in the new place. I hope whoever buys the place adores this kitchen. It would be a cryin' shame if they don't. And if they paint over my hydrangeas, well I just can't be held responsible for anything that might happen to them if they did that.

A Wife of Noble Character - Part 2

"A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies."
Proverbs 31:10 (NIV)

noble
1. adj. illustrious by rank or birth || of high character, lofty ideals, etc., noble sentiments || magnanimous, generous, a noble gesture || impressive, splendid, grand in appearance, a noble mansion || having exceptional qualities, a noble horse || (of metals) resistant to oxidation or corrosion
2. n. a nobleman or noblewoman || (hist.) any of several English or Scottish gold or silver coins

The King James Version says it this way:

"Who can find a virtuous woman?
for her price is far above rubies."

virtue
n. a quality held to be of great moral value (cardinal virtues, theological virtues) || moral excellence, goodness

The Hebrew word used here is chayil. Strongs Concordance says this:

chayil, (khah-yil); prob. a force, whether of men, means or resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:--able, activity, army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war, worthy(-ily).

Of high character, lofty ideals, magnanimous, generous, impressive, splendid, having exceptional qualities, great moral value, moral excellence, goodness, virtue, valor, strength, able, activity, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, valour, virtuous, worthy

Wow. How do you live up to that? A wife of noble character mantains some very high standards. She exhibits characteristics of magnanimity, generosity, moral value and excellence, goodness, and strength. She is impressive - she makes an impression on those who observe her. Like a bright red lily in a field of white ones, she stands out in a crowd - not because of her stunning physical beauty or great fashion sense, but because she lives up to a standard that is not often achieved.

Personally, I could do without that standing out in a crowd bit. Thanks very much, but I'd rather blend in nicely if it's all the same to you. But to be different from the rest, well that's rather appealing. (Can a person be unique and yet blend in? Or is that too great a paradox to be realistic?)

I would like to stand out in my husband's eyes though. To be that rare jewel that he can't wait to come home to every night. To be worth "more than rubies." I know he thinks this way already. We would both rather be at home together than anyplace else apart. I know he's proud of me. He loves to brag to his friends when I've cooked a particularly tasty meal the night before and watch their jealous faces (excepting those who have wives who cook as well).

Despite his approval, I know I can do better. Sometimes I think I do deserve the praise he showers on me, but more often I think he sees my efforts through rose-colored glasses. When there are dirty dishes in the sink, the carpet needs vacuuming and the bed hasn't been made in days, I have to think twice about how I might improve my productivity in homemaking.

I know that as women we have a tendency to shortchange ourselves. I do have that tendency, but this goes beyond that. I am reaching toward a goal and setting a new standard for myself. I want to be a wife who is "worth far more than rubies," a wife of "noble character" at home and in our community. I want to see that look of pride on my husband's face, not because he has a trophy wife and not because he is one-upping someone else, but because God graced him with a Proverbs 31 wife.

A Wife of Noble Character - Part 1

Most Christian women are familiar with the passage of scripture found in Proverbs 31:10-31. We are taught from a young age what it means to be a "Proverbs 31 woman," and despite the flack this passage has taken in some circles, I want to make this a reality in my own life.

This passage of scripture describes an industrious woman who cares for her family, contributes in various ways toward creating a comfortable home for her husband and children, and is active in her community. Personally, I can't find anything wrong with that. Some have argued that it is antiquated and does not apply to our lives today. In our society today, it may not be practical to talk of spinning wool and flax or purchasing a vineyard (although hand-spun wool and a good glass of wine are delightful luxuries), but that does not invalidate the passage entirely. As in so many things, it is the heart of the matter that counts - the spirit of the Word, not the letter.

Nonetheless, this passage contains some pretty tall orders, and I know I have fallen short. I am not condemning or berating myself. There is no point in that. Instead, I am studying to apply it to my life, and by doing so I hope to improve my own attitude and our (referring to the Geek and myself) home environment. This seems to be a good time to do so. We are preparing to build a new home for ourselves. It feels like the beginning of a new stage in our lives and a great opportunity to reflect on such things.

Since the world of blogging has provided me with this outlet, I decided to post my cogitations here for my own benefit - to consider them later in retrospect - and for anyone else who might be interested. I'll be posting my thoughts here as I make my way through the passage, so this will be a sort of "mini-series" here at Geekwif. I don't think I would gain anything valuable by whipping through it in one post. I've read the passage 100 times if I've read it once. This time I want to really dig in. To meditate on it. To understand it and make it my own.

Why? Why would I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman? Do I feel some sort of slave-like obligation to my husband? Am I engaging in some kind of anti-feminist agenda? Is this the result of a personal guilt-fest?

No, no, and no. I want all I do in our home to be a labor of love, not slave labor; there is certainly no love lost between myself and the feminist movement, but that is not my purpose here; and while I do have a tendency to feel guilty at the drop of a hat, that is not the motivation behind this study.

So why?

Because I want to live in a well-organized home.
Because we all (wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, singles, marrieds, kids, adults) have responsiblities and standards we should live up to and I want to live up to mine.
Because I have the privilege of making my home my "career" and I want to do it well.
Because I love when my husband comes in, beams from ear to ear, gives me a big hug and tells me how grateful he is for all the work I do.
Because I want the man I love to have a comforting and inviting environment to come home to every day.
Because I enjoy having a beautiful home.
Because we both enjoy a healthy home-cooked meal.
Because God gave us a beautiful passage of scripture to model our day-to-day lives after and I don't want to miss out on that opportunity.

Here is the passage in it's entirety. I will be taking it one "chunk" (not necessarily verse by verse) at a time for however long it takes.


<sup>Proverbs 31:10-31 (NIV)

10</sup> A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

How Do You Live Your Life?

I picked this one up from Sharon. I love these personality-quiz-type-things, but they always makes me a little nervous - especially when they are accurate. I mean, how is it that some Joe Schmoe can ask a few random questions and have me all figured out? Something about that is just not right.

How You Live Your Life

You have a good sense of self control and hate to show weakness. You tend to avoid confrontation and stay away from sticky situations. You tend to have one best friend you hang with, as opposed to many aquaintences. You tend to always dream of things within reach - and you usually get them.

How Do You Live Your Life?