For the month of November, I’m going to continue with my habit of posting things I am thankful for. Thankfulness is different from happiness, and I don’t want to conflate the two.
I’m so thankful for our little house that keeps me warm and dry. I’m also thankful for the maintenance people who keep everything in working order and for the grounds keepers who maintain the lawns and plantings. I LOVE Franke Tobey Jones.
I’m so thankful for our little house that keeps me warm and dry. I’m also thankful for the maintenance people who keep everything in working order and for the grounds keepers who maintain the lawns and plantings. I LOVE Franke Tobey Jones.
Today I’m thankful that I waked up to a beautiful sunrise. I’m even (especially) thankful that the clocks are turned back to “real” time. I prefer waking up to see the sunrise, rather than having the sun going to bed the same time I do. My personal circadian rhythms are much better suited to Standard Time, than to Daylight Savings Time.
Today I’m thankful that my beloved Oregon Ducks football team (and the whole PAC12) has finally started their season – with a win (35-14) over perennial nemesis – Stanford. #GoDucks
I’m struggling today to be thankful. I suppose I’m thankful that there are SOME cooler heads in response to the horrific terrorism in Paris, Beirut, and Bagdad. At the same time, I’m fearful that the drums of war are beating. God in your mercy…
I’m so thankful for our little house that keeps me warm and dry. I’m also thankful for the maintenance people who keep everything in working order and for the grounds keepers who maintain the lawns and plantings. I LOVE Franke Tobey Jones.
Today I’m thankful that my beloved Oregon Ducks football team has finally figured out how to win convincingly again. (I know, 1st world problem). The season is shot as far a national recognition goes, but, if they can get past Stanford next week, there’s the tiniest glimmer of hope for the PAC 12.
You will be happy to know, gentle readers, that I have decided to go to church rather than stay home and watch the Cowboys in Green Bay (although I “might” sneak a peek at the score from time to time on the ESPN app on my iPad or iPhone – I’ll keep the volume turned off). The mental image of God (and Mama) tsk, tsking, and shaking their heads at me was too much. I’m going.
I did get the daffodils in the ground, and none too soon, either. They were showing almost an inch of green sprouts. The ground was very hard in some places, so they may not be planted deep enough, but at this point they are going to have to take their chances.
I’m in a hurry, so this is a quick post (I have to shower and get dressed for CHURCH!), remember.
Today, I’m determined to get my daffodils planted. So, of course, I woke up and it was raining and 45 degrees. I’ve just about decided to just stick on the clothes I had on yesterday, eat breakfast, and go out and JUST DO IT! I’ll take my shower and warm up after I get the d*mned bulbs in the ground.
Yesterday, we went to the Mandolin Japanese Sushi and Steak House with the FTJ Lunch Bunch.
It was very tasty. The hibachi stir-frying was pretty typical, but entertaining. Big Al had the chicken and shrimp with vegetables, but I opted for a Beef Hot Stone Pot, which turned out to be a bed of rice covered with sautéed vegetables and topped with beef in a hot and spicy sauce – similar to a thick teriyaki, only not as sweet, and spicier. It was very tasty!
As soon as we got back, we scurried to the new writer’s class that JJ from Senior University is running. It’s just a writer’s roundtable – no real teacher – where we read our pieces and ask for criticism. Who knows how it will pan out, but it should be interesting. I’m probably going to be sharing what I write here on the blog. Some folks are interested in writing poetry, and that will be interesting, too. I’m much more visual, and need the crutch of a photo to pad out my prose. I really admire this blog. I don’t know who does it – pen name “seedbud” – but s/he inspires me daily with a photo and a haiku.
We were so full from lunch we didn’t even try to go to the monthly Duplex Social here at FTJ. I would have loved a glass of wine, but I don’t know where I would have put it. We did play bridge in the evening with our regular Friday evening bridge group.
The next three days will be filled with football and playoffs and much angst/rejoicing. We can’t escape Seahawk mania here in Tacoma, so I’ll give a nod to their game this afternoon.
Tomorrow, “da ‘Boys” will play in the frozen north at Green Bay. I’m devastated that it will be during Sunday School and Church. I’m really conflicted about where my tushy will be between 10:05 and 1:30 – Pacific Standard Time. Will it be in my favorite recliner in front of the TV? or will it be at Bethany Presbyterian Church in a pew? Stay tuned…
Then – on Monday evening – my beloved Ducks will play against Ohio State for the first College Football National Championship. GO DUCKS!!!
The biggest question is “What on earth am I going to think about after Monday night?”
As you may remember, my one word for the year is “Provide”.
It’s the Oregon Civil War this afternoon. The Ducks are #2 in the national poles and have already clinched the PAC-12 North Championship. If they can get past the Beavers today and Arizona in the PAC-12 Championship Game next week, they will be in the first College Football National Championship Playoff. I just hope they don’t look past Oregon State today. #GoDucks
My first-cousin-once-removed, Anna Carr, was in Seattle/Tacoma early in the month. Her visit PROVIDED us with a nice opportunity to visit Harbor Lights for lunch.
I’m still PROVIDING leadership at church on the Session and on the Committee on Ministry for the Presbytery.
One of the new projects for Bethany I’m trying to get started is a closer relationship with the college students at the University of Puget Sound. I was able to connect with their director, and we will be PROVIDING dinner for their gathering in March. I led a Centering Prayer session with them at a retreat one Saturday evening, and they were really great kids.
As I reported last month, Big Al and I have begun a new creative writing class (he has taken it for the past couple of years, but there hadn’t been space in the class for me, until now.) I wrote a couple of stories and this little poem that I posted here last week.
The rains have started, so I’ve moved my exercise into the Wellness Center. I’ll admit the scenery isn’t nearly as good inside as outside, but I press on. The diet is going well. I’m losing about half-a-pound a week (and for almost one year in, that’s pretty good.) I’m taking the month of December (actually from Thanksgiving through New Years Day) off from the strict diet. I am still working out and counting my steps with my FitBit, but I’ve reduced my target steps from 10,000 a day to 8,000 a day – and I’m not going to beat myself up if I don’t “get my buzz.”
I’m going to be posting from prompts from this list during Advent. Join me for a Bible verse, picture, and short reflection every day until Christmas.
I hope you enjoyed my “Gratitude” series during November, and that this will PROVIDE you with a short moment of respite during the hectic days leading up to Christmas.
An Aging Liberal Hippy from the Left Coast 