Home.
What a lovely word.
Once we arrived from Manteo about an hour ago, I carried a few things upstairs and then unexpectedly just collapsed into tears. Weariness, lots of change, living out of a suitcase, newness and oldness all melding and mixing--sometimes the things that Life piles on us can get a wee bit heavy.
I've also been dealing with some physical issues this week end, mainly muscle pain and weakness and extreme stiffness. When I barely made it up the stairs tonight with the small load I was carrying, it was sort of the end of the end of my tired and frazzled rope.
My original plan was to get home and toss my things hither and yon, fall into bed, and stay there as long as possible. However, when we walked in the door at 9 pm tonight, there was a message on the machine saying we have a house showing tomorrow morning at nine.
Now don't get me wrong; I am not complaining. House showings are a very good thing! (We're not sure if it's a second showing for the people from last week or new people altogether.) However, a house showing means everything needs to be completely unpacked tonight, everything has to be perfectly straight and I need to have myself somewhat presentable to the world by 9 am.
I wonder if the realtor would mind showing the house with me still in the bed? I could open one eye, wave, and snuggle back under the covers. That way, I could demonstrate to the potential buyers in a very realistic way how "well" the bedroom works for snoozing purposes.
It's a thought!
Not a very good one, but a thought, none-the-less.
Okay, I am now headed to bed. Much more later . . .
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Can I Hear An Amen?
I’m writing this from soggy Manteo which has gotten 10-12 inches of rain in the space of a couple days. One native of the area told us that this is the most rain he’s ever seen in that short amount of time.
Last night Steve and I went and paid a brief visit to one of our parishioners who had put huge pumps in his front yard in an attempt to deal with his extensive flooding. I must say, he was keeping a good attitude about it all.
I would have been crying. Or eating chocolate. Because either one works equally well in stressful situations. Can I hear an, “Amen?”
And speaking of amen, I remember a time once when Steve was preaching and instead of saying, “Can I hear an amen?” he inadvertently said, “Can I say an amen?”
And the audience was like, “Well sure, knock yourself out. Say an amen!”
This morning, Steve had a breakfast/board meeting at the church. Since he had to get a few things done ahead of time, he set the alarm on his phone for 5:15 before going to bed.
I was sleeping away soundly when I heard Snowy (MY alarm clock) go off. I stumbled around in our borrowed bedroom, introduced my shins and toes to a few pieces of unfamiliar furniture and finally dragged myself (bleeding and wounded) to the living room where Snowy’s kennel is.
As I let him outside, I saw that it was still raining, still cold, still yucky. I trudged back inside, wandered into the kitchen and saw on the microwave clock that it was 5:05. Stifling the world's largest yawn, I made the "wonderful mommy decision" to take Snowy to bed rather than put him back into his kennel. (I don't usually do that but he’s been so pitiful with Sarah gone this weekend that I thought I would be extra nice to him.)
Steve woke up when we came back into the bedroom and I told him it was about time for him to get up. He jumped out of bed, turned on the lamp, put on his clothes, stuck on his shoes and strapped on his watch.
And then he happened to look at his watch. And he noticed that it was not 5:10 after all, it was actually 4:10. As it turns out, the microwave clock had never been changed after daylight savings time ended.
So there we were.
One awake (fully dressed) pastor, one awake (fully pajama- clad) wife, and one awake (fully unclothed) dog--all hangin’ out in the wee hours of a miserable, rainy Roanoke Island morning.
Steve pondered the situation for a moment and then shrugged and said, “Well, I guess I’ll go back to bed!” And so the fully clothed fella and the pajama clad wife and the fully unclothed doggy all crawled back to bed until the real alarm rang at 5:15.
Steve got up (again) and took off for the church while Snowy and I snuggled back under the blankets. Because a miserable, rainy, Roanoke Island morning is the best time in the whole world for staying in bed.
Can I hear an amen?
Last night Steve and I went and paid a brief visit to one of our parishioners who had put huge pumps in his front yard in an attempt to deal with his extensive flooding. I must say, he was keeping a good attitude about it all.
I would have been crying. Or eating chocolate. Because either one works equally well in stressful situations. Can I hear an, “Amen?”
And speaking of amen, I remember a time once when Steve was preaching and instead of saying, “Can I hear an amen?” he inadvertently said, “Can I say an amen?”
And the audience was like, “Well sure, knock yourself out. Say an amen!”
This morning, Steve had a breakfast/board meeting at the church. Since he had to get a few things done ahead of time, he set the alarm on his phone for 5:15 before going to bed.
I was sleeping away soundly when I heard Snowy (MY alarm clock) go off. I stumbled around in our borrowed bedroom, introduced my shins and toes to a few pieces of unfamiliar furniture and finally dragged myself (bleeding and wounded) to the living room where Snowy’s kennel is.
As I let him outside, I saw that it was still raining, still cold, still yucky. I trudged back inside, wandered into the kitchen and saw on the microwave clock that it was 5:05. Stifling the world's largest yawn, I made the "wonderful mommy decision" to take Snowy to bed rather than put him back into his kennel. (I don't usually do that but he’s been so pitiful with Sarah gone this weekend that I thought I would be extra nice to him.)
Steve woke up when we came back into the bedroom and I told him it was about time for him to get up. He jumped out of bed, turned on the lamp, put on his clothes, stuck on his shoes and strapped on his watch.
And then he happened to look at his watch. And he noticed that it was not 5:10 after all, it was actually 4:10. As it turns out, the microwave clock had never been changed after daylight savings time ended.
So there we were.
One awake (fully dressed) pastor, one awake (fully pajama- clad) wife, and one awake (fully unclothed) dog--all hangin’ out in the wee hours of a miserable, rainy Roanoke Island morning.
Steve pondered the situation for a moment and then shrugged and said, “Well, I guess I’ll go back to bed!” And so the fully clothed fella and the pajama clad wife and the fully unclothed doggy all crawled back to bed until the real alarm rang at 5:15.
Steve got up (again) and took off for the church while Snowy and I snuggled back under the blankets. Because a miserable, rainy, Roanoke Island morning is the best time in the whole world for staying in bed.
Can I hear an amen?
Friday, November 13, 2009
Favorite House Of The Bunch!
Steve just got an e-mail from the realtor who showed our home yesterday. The peoples' comments were, "Beautifully laid out, well maintained and our favorite house of the bunch!"
Yahoo!
They have asked for a copy of the neighborhood covenant and some other papers and have "casually mentioned" a closing date of January 1.
HOWEVER. No offers have been made and nothing is definite. It's just encouraging, after almost a year, to finally have some positive news in this regard.
What's not to love?
To the people who have already responded to the y'all/ya'll/you-all debate:
Norma--Congratulations for finally being an official Smithellaneous poster. You win the washer and dryer combo selected especially for you!
I do have to say, though, that your entry concerning this discussion made me just a teensy bit sad because, while it is very proper and dictionary-esque and correct to say, "you-all," it's just not very much fun!
I mean, "You-all?" Really? Please write to the publishers of that dictionary immediately and tell them that Becky said they are so very, incredibly wrong. (smile)
And to Stephanie who says it's "yall" and Angie who says it's "y'all," I'll just have to let the two of you work out your differences on your own! Maybe you can take each other out for coffee and get it figured out and report back. Sound good?
Anyone else want to weigh in?
My opinion is that I refuse to say "you-all" because its really hard to slur "you-all" in good Southern speakin' style. And if you can't slur a word and leave out a letter or two, a word is just not worth saying! (I mean, "sayin.'")
________________________
I just found this "Southern dictionary" on the web. Be sure to read down to the very last line! Hmmm . . . the debate continues.
AIM TO- plan to do
AIRISH- cold
BIGGITY- vain and overbearing
BITTY BIT- a small amount
CARRY ON- to carry on foolishness
CLODHOPPER- heavy work shoes or large shoes
CHUNK- throw, toss
'COON- Raccoon.
COW LICK- hair standing out on one's head.
DIRECTLY- in a little while, or a couple of weeks
DIXIE- Southern States of the U.S.ADO-HICKY- substitute name. Like the terms whata-ma-call-it or thinga-ma-jig
FALLING OUT- disagreement
FEISTY- being frisky
FIXING TO- about to
HEY- hello
HOLD YOUR HORSES- (be patient)
HONEY- affectionate term
LAID UP- ill, hurt, unable to work
MESS-one who carries on, "He's a mess."
MUCH OBLIGED- thank you; hope to return the favor
PIDDLE- waste time, doing nothing
PLAYING POSSUM- playing dead
RECKON- think or supose so.
SHINDIG- dance or celebration
SMOKEHOUSE- Shed with a dirt floor where pork and other meats is cured, and then smoked.
SORRY- inferior quality, worthless, and lazy
SOUTHERN BELLE- Southern lady
SPRING CHICKEN- young thing
SWEET TALKING THING- has a good line
TIGHT- stingy with money
WAIT ON- serve or assist
WART-TAKER-one who removes warts by charms or incantations
WHITE LIGHTNING- moonshine whiskey
WORRY-WART- one who is annoying
YA'LL or Y'ALL (can be spelled both ways)-you all, two or more people
Yahoo!
They have asked for a copy of the neighborhood covenant and some other papers and have "casually mentioned" a closing date of January 1.
HOWEVER. No offers have been made and nothing is definite. It's just encouraging, after almost a year, to finally have some positive news in this regard.
What's not to love?
To the people who have already responded to the y'all/ya'll/you-all debate:
Norma--Congratulations for finally being an official Smithellaneous poster. You win the washer and dryer combo selected especially for you!
I do have to say, though, that your entry concerning this discussion made me just a teensy bit sad because, while it is very proper and dictionary-esque and correct to say, "you-all," it's just not very much fun!
I mean, "You-all?" Really? Please write to the publishers of that dictionary immediately and tell them that Becky said they are so very, incredibly wrong. (smile)
And to Stephanie who says it's "yall" and Angie who says it's "y'all," I'll just have to let the two of you work out your differences on your own! Maybe you can take each other out for coffee and get it figured out and report back. Sound good?
Anyone else want to weigh in?
My opinion is that I refuse to say "you-all" because its really hard to slur "you-all" in good Southern speakin' style. And if you can't slur a word and leave out a letter or two, a word is just not worth saying! (I mean, "sayin.'")
________________________
I just found this "Southern dictionary" on the web. Be sure to read down to the very last line! Hmmm . . . the debate continues.
AIM TO- plan to do
AIRISH- cold
BIGGITY- vain and overbearing
BITTY BIT- a small amount
CARRY ON- to carry on foolishness
CLODHOPPER- heavy work shoes or large shoes
CHUNK- throw, toss
'COON- Raccoon.
COW LICK- hair standing out on one's head.
DIRECTLY- in a little while, or a couple of weeks
DIXIE- Southern States of the U.S.ADO-HICKY- substitute name. Like the terms whata-ma-call-it or thinga-ma-jig
FALLING OUT- disagreement
FEISTY- being frisky
FIXING TO- about to
HEY- hello
HOLD YOUR HORSES- (be patient)
HONEY- affectionate term
LAID UP- ill, hurt, unable to work
MESS-one who carries on, "He's a mess."
MUCH OBLIGED- thank you; hope to return the favor
PIDDLE- waste time, doing nothing
PLAYING POSSUM- playing dead
RECKON- think or supose so.
SHINDIG- dance or celebration
SMOKEHOUSE- Shed with a dirt floor where pork and other meats is cured, and then smoked.
SORRY- inferior quality, worthless, and lazy
SOUTHERN BELLE- Southern lady
SPRING CHICKEN- young thing
SWEET TALKING THING- has a good line
TIGHT- stingy with money
WAIT ON- serve or assist
WART-TAKER-one who removes warts by charms or incantations
WHITE LIGHTNING- moonshine whiskey
WORRY-WART- one who is annoying
YA'LL or Y'ALL (can be spelled both ways)-you all, two or more people
Randomosity and Inspiration
Piles and piles of papers. They seem to sum up my life pretty well.
In the first two pictures I was working on a filing system for the songs we're putting together with our worship team in Manteo. And the third picture shows our home school stuff stacked on the kitchen table.
Um. Apart from that brief and illuminating explanation, I really had no good reason for showing you those pictures except for the fact that I took them and really hated for them to go to waste.
So thank you for being a part of the "Helping Pictures Not Go To Waste" Task Force Team. I just don't know how I'd get along without you all. (I mean, "Y'all.)
Speaking of "y'all," I just wondered how everyone spells that word. I had a friend on Facebook who says that everyone usually spells it "ya'll" but that was wrong. Actually, I am one of "those" people who has always spelled it "ya'll" and so I guess I've always been wrong. (That gives me a nice warm feeling. Always. Wrong.)
Anyway, does anyone have the gen-u-INE spelling for it?
Boy, this is certainly a random post. (You don't have to agree. Out loud.) Sometimes randomness is called for though, early in the morning, before I've had my first cup of coffee.
Except that I don't drink coffee. Except that I hate, loathe and despise coffee. Except that I also hate iced tea. Which in the South, makes you a highly suspicious person.
Which is really random. Which seems to be the theme of this whole entire post.
Have any of you guessed yet that I have nothing to say? And that I'm taking a long time to say it?
Yes? You have?
Okay then. Maybe I should just stop saying what I don't have to say and go and start packing something. Or re-arranging a stack of papers. Or organizing music for the weekend. Or correcting Sarah's math pages from yesterday. Or putting together my grocery items for our trip. Or eating the rest of the candy corn I bought on sale.
Y'all (ya'll?) have a good day now, hear?
_________________________________
P.S. Just because I feel really bad about the fact that you dropped by here today and got nothing but a large-ish dose of randomosity, I am including for your inspirational reading two quotes that I gave to Nathan quite a few years ago.
He taped them to the back of his bedroom door and they have hung there for a long, long time. In fact, the quote on the larger paper, which I gave him about seven years ago, even made the trip from our last house and got re-taped to the door in this house.
I gave him that one to encourage him to be faithful to practice the two things that have been the most important to him in his growing up years--basketball and drums.
(Quote is by Ed Macauley--former NBA player)
The second one I clipped out of a magazine and gave to him when he was discouraged about practicing and trying so very hard at basketball and still playing against guys who were better than him. I didn't ask him to tape it to his door but he did it anyway. Nice to have a son who actually thinks his mom gives him fairly okay advice.
This quote is certainly not just about basketball. It's a good quote of encouragement for all of us, whatever we might be doing.
The basketball playing, drum thumping, quotation reading son of my heart.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Martha Stewart and Miscellany
We have just returned from our foray into franticness which included two hours of frenzied cleaning, plus one hour of "being gone." Haven't heard anything from the realtor yet; usually it takes a couple hours for any sort of response.
The good news is that our house is really, really clean! If you all lived closer, I'd have you all over for a clean house party!
While we were away from the house, we grabbed a quick lunch and then went to Salvation Army. Sarah found several groovy pieces of teen clothes and I got a sweater and a lovely, dressy suit. Total bill was fourteen dollars. Not too bad!
Tomorrow, we'll pack our bags and head out for Manteo one more time.
(By the way, Saffyres asked how Manteo is pronounced. It just so happens that a blog reader, Buff, saw the question and just now signed the guest book to say that it's "Manny-o." I think someone people throw in the "t" a little bit, but I've heard it both ways. Thanks, Buff!)
Here is one of my extremely well organized boxes of staples for our "Manny-o Meals." (Martha Stewart is doubtlessly getting ready to feature this box on the cover of her magazine because of its incredibly pristine aura of awesome attractiveness.)
If you would like to view another of my Manteo Packing List Items, here is my official "beauty bag." (My whole family knows that if we are driving down the road and I should ever say, "Oh no! I forgot my beauty bag" Western Civilization as we know it could very well crumble. The bag is that important.)
It even has a little flap that folds up for more storage. And all of us ladies know that you can never have too much storage for beauty items!
Here is the aforementioned, vitally important, fully packed beauty bag, hanging on a hook. (Is this not such an exciting blog? I know you're going to want to run right out and tell all of your friends that Smithellaneous is a blog worth reading!)
The good thing about my beauty bag is that it stays packed all the time. I throw in my little cosmetic pouch and I am ready to go.
It's nice and simple. Simple and nice. Nice. Simple. (Well, you get the idea.)
The other thing that I must have on all overnight trips is my noise machine. (I would walk across the house and take a picture of it but I am far too tired from our cleaning spree.)
My noise machine produces constant white noise (or ocean waves, or spring rain) and I am completely incapable of sleeping through the night or even taking a nap, without it. In fact, I am so addicted to it that I probably need a Noise Machine Anonymous group. If you've never used one of these machines, I highly recommend them.
I'm all about passing my addictions along. Chocolate , books and noise machines--am I a wild woman, or what?
_________________
Pertaining to yesterday's "Sam Hill" entry, you all had some very interesting comments and insights. Thanks for jumping on board with your discussions!
Connie asked how best to explain to her daughter why "hell" is even considered a swear word and before I could even start thinking about it, Angie and Pam had jumped in and answered the question better than I ever could. (Nice to have such "full service" blog readers. They read! They comment! They give good advice!)
Before yesterday, I had no idea what the origin of Sam Hill was and I was very interested to find out. I am such a word lover/word investigator that those kinds of things are always fascinating for me.
_____________________
A little later in the day, I'll be posting a bit on Sarah's site about a sort of scary thing she's doing this weekend. In my humble and completely unbiased opinion, she is an amazing young lady.
The good news is that our house is really, really clean! If you all lived closer, I'd have you all over for a clean house party!
While we were away from the house, we grabbed a quick lunch and then went to Salvation Army. Sarah found several groovy pieces of teen clothes and I got a sweater and a lovely, dressy suit. Total bill was fourteen dollars. Not too bad!
Tomorrow, we'll pack our bags and head out for Manteo one more time.
(By the way, Saffyres asked how Manteo is pronounced. It just so happens that a blog reader, Buff, saw the question and just now signed the guest book to say that it's "Manny-o." I think someone people throw in the "t" a little bit, but I've heard it both ways. Thanks, Buff!)
Here is one of my extremely well organized boxes of staples for our "Manny-o Meals." (Martha Stewart is doubtlessly getting ready to feature this box on the cover of her magazine because of its incredibly pristine aura of awesome attractiveness.)
If you would like to view another of my Manteo Packing List Items, here is my official "beauty bag." (My whole family knows that if we are driving down the road and I should ever say, "Oh no! I forgot my beauty bag" Western Civilization as we know it could very well crumble. The bag is that important.)
It even has a little flap that folds up for more storage. And all of us ladies know that you can never have too much storage for beauty items!
Here is the aforementioned, vitally important, fully packed beauty bag, hanging on a hook. (Is this not such an exciting blog? I know you're going to want to run right out and tell all of your friends that Smithellaneous is a blog worth reading!)
The good thing about my beauty bag is that it stays packed all the time. I throw in my little cosmetic pouch and I am ready to go.
It's nice and simple. Simple and nice. Nice. Simple. (Well, you get the idea.)
The other thing that I must have on all overnight trips is my noise machine. (I would walk across the house and take a picture of it but I am far too tired from our cleaning spree.)
My noise machine produces constant white noise (or ocean waves, or spring rain) and I am completely incapable of sleeping through the night or even taking a nap, without it. In fact, I am so addicted to it that I probably need a Noise Machine Anonymous group. If you've never used one of these machines, I highly recommend them.
I'm all about passing my addictions along. Chocolate , books and noise machines--am I a wild woman, or what?
_________________
Pertaining to yesterday's "Sam Hill" entry, you all had some very interesting comments and insights. Thanks for jumping on board with your discussions!
Connie asked how best to explain to her daughter why "hell" is even considered a swear word and before I could even start thinking about it, Angie and Pam had jumped in and answered the question better than I ever could. (Nice to have such "full service" blog readers. They read! They comment! They give good advice!)
Before yesterday, I had no idea what the origin of Sam Hill was and I was very interested to find out. I am such a word lover/word investigator that those kinds of things are always fascinating for me.
_____________________
A little later in the day, I'll be posting a bit on Sarah's site about a sort of scary thing she's doing this weekend. In my humble and completely unbiased opinion, she is an amazing young lady.
House
Just got a call that someone is coming to look at the house today at 12:30.
Frantic cleaning, frantic praying, frantic hoping are all ensuing.
Frantic cleaning, frantic praying, frantic hoping are all ensuing.
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