More Miscellany

If you could put off your work until later, you'd probably do it too. Maybe.

#1) I want to mention is how funny it is that two of my GFs are bickering and complaining about the other one not knowing the best way to recover properly from surgery [shakes head while snickering]The two of them are besties with each other, and both had major surgery within the same week of each other--hysterectomies, believe it or not. (I know. It was unbelievable to us as well). They are both complete opposites minus both being workaholics. They are both recovering in a completely opposite ways, but its working for each of them. So yah. I just have to shake my head, because of how they think the other one is doing it the wrong way. Baaahahaha! I'm proud of both of you!!!

#2) I'm so excited about this weekend. The bathroom is getting ripped out so it can be remodeled. WOOT WOOT!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!! Thank you Jesus!! (and husband especially). Presently, I have pink paisley duct tape holding the caved in shower tiles together. They've been this way since May, but it just couldn't have been done while we had so many more people at home. I'm not necessarily excited to have 7 people for the one and only remaining bathroom. But its way better than having eleven to one. We will be away visiting my parents and Anika next week for part of the reno work. So, Luke should be fine to use the one and only bathroom in the house while we are away. I wouldn't advise him to throw any parties during the construction, that's for sure.

#3) Nate is leaving for Costa Rica again. He loved it so much last year he decided to return. He has an undying love for boarding, whether it be snow, surf or skate. One of these daze I'll post a video from Luke and Nate's xtreme sports GoPro adventures. They are crazy!!

#4) Guess what I'm getting pulled back into... those Methodists! They just can't get enough of me. LOL. They are still looking for that permanent organist, which is so hard to find these daze. So after subbing for them on a few Sundays this year, as they had no one else to cover, they've now asked if I would at least commit to one or two Sundays a month. So, I'm going to do it.

They prefer me because I sing too. ;-) And because I'm so cute. hahaha

#5) Politics and its election campaigns are becoming soooo ridiculous. I just laugh and laugh, if I'm not getting worked up anyway. This one came my way this morning, and I simply couldn't resist creating a photo retort.
Here's the political ad. If its not working, click on the link.

Here's my retort:

Hilarious, I know!! I've been chuckling all day.

The World News... Aggghhh!

What the heck is going on across the world? Its crazy. Since when are Americans subject to Egyptian laws to where its being demanded that several Americans be tried in Egypt for a movie trailer--under Sharia Law???

This is ludicrous!!!

Our present day foreign policies are failing miserably. I don't believe Obama had any experience with foreign policy and he campaigned 4 years ago on the mere fact that he wasn't Bush. And right now he is way over his head. There's too much campaigning and not enough attention being given to the grave issues taking place against Americans. Apparently he doesn't have a real strategy regarding the attacks, anyway.

I hate election season.

Honestly, I believe that everything about our nation is being completely undermined, especially over the past 4-6 years, and we are in serious trouble. Our world is in serious trouble!! I don't blame Obama. I don't blame GWBush. I know that the things taking place are much larger and widespread than our government, our president, or our nation. But I tell you what, our financial system has been seriously attacked with its first major blow on the WTC, September 11, 2001. Our culture and society are now under major attack and being brought down a little at a time. Our "united" nation is growing weaker and more divided and almost completely unable to make decisions with any kind of compromises among each other.

I'm no expert on politics or government, but the stuff taking place right now is very unsettling, and to watch our people getting steered off on some of the most minuscule aspects, in which platforms are running, is just disgusting. Some of the issues, of course, are very important but others are merely being used to drive an emotional campaign. Meanwhile, it looks to me like the violence presently being performed, is about to be unleashed on a much broader scale.

So, whatever happens, I want to be sure my heart is right with God and that I continue to love people and reach out to those around me. Tragic things are going to happen in our world. Our nation may face serious trouble in the future. Our freedoms may remain or may be taken from us, but I choose to follow the Lord no matter what. These daze I find that the love part is a major challenge, like never before... but that's what I choose. Help me, Jesus. It doesn't mean I won't still have opinions about things or valid perspectives to be shared as much as the next person, but keeping eternity in view and a hope that purifies--that one day I will see the Lord face to face and I will be changed--must become my ultimate focus and goal. No matter what anyone says about Jesus, the one I worship--no matter what awful film trailer or anti-God artwork, or sentiments or hatred or insults--with the power of the Holy Spirit within me, I will still choose to love. Blowing other people up to make a political statement, rioting or killing those who disagree, or setting myself on fire or strapping explosives to myself to protest someone else's beliefs or religion isn't something that's a part of my faith. Love is!

I wonder what that will mean for me as things play out in our world and in our nation. Its a serious post and a bit of a downer...

Sorry.

Its been a difficult week.

Mixed Emotions

Last week, after the big college tour and awesome wedding with our dear friends, it was my turn to host the varsity volleyball team dinner. The night before every game someone from the team hosts a dinner for the girls. We had tacos and smores out around the fire pit. Jennah made me a little nervous by planning it for a month. It didn't require a lot of planning. I think she just wanted everyone to be impressed and happy with the dinner. I made sooo much food!!! It was fun, but very quick and a little awkward... only because these are all kids from Sag Harbor, who don't know me. I don't know them.

So why is Jennah playing with Sag Harbor, you may ask. Our school is very small and we have shared sports with two nearby schools. I think its great. It has its ups and downs, but I am happy to see the girls having friends from the other schools. The other part that was weird is that the JV team lost two of their girls, due to teenage stupidity and they asked Jennah and another 10th grader who had been moved up to varsity to come back to help the JV team out. So we were hosting a varsity team dinner and Jennah was going to be playing for the JV team the following day. She's a good sport, though.

Someone got ahold of my camera and Caleigh's pumpkin. 

I don't remember much more of last week, but the weekend (starting on Friday) was awesome!!! Terry had a meeting in the city on Friday and we decided to stay for the weekend. I was already planning to go in on Saturday to see Sohailah while she toured her group through, but Terry had BIGGER plans. 

 During his meeting I tooled around the area with my camera.

(Above is the Flatiron Building)

 The squirrels were cute and a little scarry.

 I thought one was going to climb right up my pants leg.

It was calling for showers and the clouds were rolling in. 

(That's the Empire State Building below, in case you didn't recognize it).

This must be Adam and Eve!

I loved this view from the street.

Below was our look from the hotel room window. Awesome.

(That's the Freedom Tower going up)

 We could see right into the whole work area of Ground Zero.

 We were also only one block from the Occupy Wall Street Protests.

 There were a lot of people with cameras and curiosity.

 The only semi-interesting thing happening in the light rain showers on a Friday evening
was a little drumming and dancing. They weren't very good. The people were pretty happy and even subdued. This, of course, never pleases the news reporters. They want something negative to happen.
Something big. ANYTHING!!! And when there's nothing, many times they'll embellish. Ridiculous!!

 I've still been trying to wrap my head around what this eclectic group of protesters will finally decide, about what they want to do... and say... and protest, because, for as much as some of my liberal friends want to say that the message is clear and its easy-- "We are the 99% so LET'S GO PROTEST" -- I don't find that its all that clear. And there are so many inaccuracies and rhetoric which I disagree with, and not that I'm trying to, but I just can't join in. I guess that puts me in the 1% somehow. I'm against corruption--absolutely!! But after that everything is murky. Half of the signs I saw didn't give a clear or common message. And many of the ideas people have for the protest have NOTHING to do with large corporations and corruption.

 This guy above is protesting "SILENT". Not Silence, but "SILENT". 

So Terry and I thought we'd protest PANTS! Why not?!

 The cops were decent and happy, at least when we were around.

 We didn't stay at the park long. We took a lovely walk.

The next morning Big T and I toured the 9/11 memorial with the reflective gardens and the Freedom Tower going up. Many other things are under construction, but you can't really see that stuff UNLESS YOU HAVE THE HOTEL ROOM WE HAD!!!

 It was a very gusty day.

We hung around lower Manhattan until we had to check out of that hotel.
Then we headed up to Times Square where we checked our bag into the next hotel, 

which was equally amazing.

This is a familiar sight in Times Square. I always snap a picture of it. I can't resist.

 We met up with Sohailah at Rockefeller Center where she was tour-guiding a group of about 30.

 It was a perfect day.

Below you can see that some lady was yelling at me for cutting
the picture line at the Top of the Rock!! I thought she was going to attack me.

(Don't worry folks, it was Sohailah! LOL. She loves making a scene.
Everyone was watching! heh heh)

 Below is the midtown skyline, Central Park, and upper Manhattan
viewed from the Top of the Rock. Beautiful day.

There's my honey.

OK. Below is the lobby view of our Times Square Hotel. Lobby was on the 8th floor.

 And below is the view from our room. Yes, that is the ball that drops on New Years Eve 

up at the top of the string of billboards. It's red. See it?

 This hotel was like 2012 or something. No wait. Like 2150. Dang. 

You can't even describe futuristic anymore, because we've reached those daze.

 Cool though. These are the hotel floors and the glass elevators.

 Guess what?! The protesters followed us up to Times Square on Saturday. Can you believe it?

I took this picture below for Turtle. I wanted her to know that there are zombie impersonators out there!!! [gasp] I mean com'mon!!! A zombie would never use a cell phone!!!

 Mitch tried to helps us win $27 lottery tickets for a show, 

but there were about 400 other people all vying for the same 25 tickets.

Most of us were losers!!! So we went to TKTS and get discount tickets for FOLLIES!!

 Mitch was trying to curb his enthusiasm, but his excitement was noticeable.

 We loved the show. Those older actors and actresses were still sooooo talented and look AMAZING!!! Bernadette Peters could still pass for a 35 year old at 63. How does that happen? The younger ones were so impressive as well.

So all in all, we had a great time with one another and with friends. Ate way too much food. Walked a lot. Took almost 200 pictures. Saw the protests, and a festival in the streets, and found ourselves in the middle of a 5K run/walk for breast cancer awareness, went to a show, toured the 9/11 memorial gardens... we did it all.

And this was the last peak at the bigs lights before going to bed and
heading home in the morning... to all kinds of OTHER STUFF!! >:-/

I have a love/hate relationship with October!!