Approaching Glory

Getting There From Who Knows Where

  There is only one satisfying way to boot a computer.  ~J.H. Goldfuss

Jbird and I decided to head out to Hobby Lobby to use the gift card I had gotten for Christmas.  However, that little voice was telling me to call my friend and see how she was doing.  Actually, to tell you the truth I decided to call her only once more and than wait until she called me - all my calls were going to Sockland (if you know what I mean).  This time I got through on her cell and she let me know that her MagicJack went down after she had attempted to download the new upload (or something to that effect).  She had called her daughter but they were battling sickness over there and didn't want to expose my friend so they couldn't come help her.  Her son lives down near to Atlanta and he hadn't gotten back to her yet.

I thought for a minute and then prayed silently to myself.  My techie knowledge is pretty limited and I don't like messing with other people's computers - other than sneaking pictures up on their desktops :)  So basically I said, "Lord, You know."  Now that's a pretty good thing to say about anything - cause He does.  And I know that J uses her computer extensively and it bugs the hound out of her when something doesn't work right (big grin).  So I tell her I'll come over.

Jbird and stop and get some doughnuts.  I figure even if I kill her computer she might still like me for bringing over doughnuts.

To make a long story short - the computer is fixed.  Bad stuff off, a couple of programs updated, - the MagicJack functional.  Of course she asked me how I did it.  Reality?  I don't really know.  I tried this and then I went there and looked up this and did that and voila!

Some people can hack it, others can't.  ~Author Unknown

Yes, I'm Still Knitting - Here's Meret!

I look terrible in hats - just not me!  But when the weather gets to freezing you have to do something.  I've tried lots of hats over the years and nothing ever looks right to me.

  Well - meet Meret by Wooly Wormhead.  Get the download for the free pattern here!  The pic to the right was taken before I wet the hat and stuck it on a plate to block.  I asked my niece to try it on and she wants one with more slouch.  So I tried it on and guess what?  I love it!  It is MINE!

• Pattern: Meret by Wooly Wormhead - used size medium
• Needles: 1 pair dpns and 1 circular size 7's
• Yarn:  Peace Fleece worsted weight in Volgasippi Blue

Mrs. Moose Is Still Married to Mr. Moose

Today is our 35th anniversary.  Somehow I can't believe it has been that long.  Rich got the nickname, Mr. Moose, many years ago due to his wonderful mimic of Mr. Moose (think Captain Kangergoo show) saying, "Ping pong balls!" And so I became to many, Mrs. Moose. 

We just got back from lunch.  Hubby won the anniversary give-a-way this morning from WDUN (hubby listens every morning to the Bill and Joel show). So off we went to the Divana Mediterranean Grill - and the food and service was excellent!  Jbird has heard nothing but rave reviews from his buds at Gainesville State College - so he begged to come along.  Jbird had to taste the baklava.  Oh my - I could definitely put on a bunch of pounds eating that.

Hope you all are having a wonderful day :)

Some Things Never Change

Some things really don't change all that much over time.  I'm not saying the system hasn't changed, or that our culture hasn't altered.  What I am saying is kids are still kids in school.  You have the leaders, the learners, the "pay-attention-to-me-ers", and the "I need to use the restroomers - cause anything has to be more interesting than what is going on in the classroom".  Oh - and that kid that tried to pull something behind your back "just cause" - still there.  Or maybe that child that just looks so endearing - there too.  Or the one you see and just want to pray that what you see won't happen in their future - there too.  Oh - and let's not forget the "Space Invaders" - you know - the kids that just can not keep their hands to themselves and they haven't a clue why someone doesn't want their space invaded.  (boundary challenged)  Let's not forget the kid that drives everyone nuts cause they can't stay still or remain quiet - sorry folks - I've got a special place in my heart for those kids.

What I think I thought alot about watching them yesterday was - they have their whole life in front of them.  So many pages to be written upon.  I did my student teaching in that school around twenty years ago.  Believe or not the teacher I did it with walked into the office the same time I did.  I asked her what she was doing there.  She is retired and doing some subbing now and then.  Well, I felt like I was right back where I started at.  I hope I brought a bit of wisdom with me this time :)

Does Language Matter?

":How can we appraise a proposal if the terms hurled at our ears can mean anything or nothing, and change their significance with the inflection of the voice? Welfare state, national socialism, radical, liberal, conservative, reactionary and a regiment of others ... these terms in today's usage, are generally compounds of confusion and prejudice. If our attitudes are muddled, our language is often to blame. A good tonic for clearer thinking is a dose of precise, legal definition." —Dwight D. Eisenhower.

I was recently in a conversation with some friends over a movie.  A movie (like many today) that had a good message but assumed that the f-bomb was a word used as a part of the common man's everyday life.  Both friends were of an older generation but they had different views on whether or not this capricious use of the word was offensive.  I recently started to watch another film and within the first three minutes of the film the characters had f-bombed repeatedly and used the Lord's name in vain three times.  Off went the movie.

I come from a generation and family in which the use of the f-bomb word guaranteed a punitive parental response.  We won't discuss my father chasing me around the table when I decided to mimic my cousin and used the Lord's name in vain!  In fact, I remember quite clearly the look of shock and horror on my mother's face when I asked what the word meant (I had discovered it written on the back of stop sign - rather appropriate - lol).

During the eighties I was chastised by my employer for taking offense at "foul language".  Afterall, words are just words and the people in question were just expressing themselves.  This was being said by someone who held a doctorate in education.  I had to wonder at his limited vocabulary after all those years in college.

After years of Hollywood continuing to assume we all talk like sailors, we have a generation to whom these words have little to no meaning.  And that is the point of this post. 

What started as a way to shock the audience and cause impact - now just rolls through our desensitized ears.  We often hear of the results of watching graphic violence and the effect it has on desensitizing our emotions, but do we think about our ears and language?  I wonder if our culture would change at all if instead of being able to drop the f-bomb someone had to graphically define the word each time it was used.  And how would our culture react to having a family member's name used as a swear word instead of the Lord's name taken in vain?

Words do have meaning - it is out of the abundance of our heart that we speak.  Be careful little ears.......

Extending The Tent Pegs

"Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense!" Isaiah 54:2

This year has been a new beginning for the blogging for me.

• Got Richard started on both Facebook and Typepad.  You can find his blog here.  If you are looking for some good Word study -he's a great teacher.  And you can buy his book, Jesus in the Psalms there too!
• I finally got my own url and after 6.5 years here it is nice to have my own address
• With Typepad's many new features I can now have the navigation bar and pages that I've wanted to link to some of my other interests and writings

With that in mind, I introduce to you the tab and page Inspire Me - just go to my top navigation bar and voila!  Inspirational writing that I've done throughout the years.  I firmly believe in exhorting, encouraging, and edifying each other in the Word.  If you are looking some way to study the Bible or just need a quick pick up - I hope you'll go my page Inspire Me.

I hope to develop some other pages in the future - but for now I'm really excited to be able to do this :)

New People, New Situations, and Redemption

I don't know about you, but I'm not the type of person who enjoys being put into a situation in which I have to meet new people (especially when it requires going to someone I don't know's house).  Every now and then God must get a charge out of watching me react/respond cause I get set-up to be such a scene.

Last night was one of those times.  Let me tell you - it was a precious time of fellowship with folks I had never met.  Are there really strangers in Him?  I think not.  We had a grand time worshipping the Lord and finding our unity in Him.  Loved it.

Now the redemption part - the knitting!  The ones I made to fit Hubby are going to ripped out - losers.  But the other ones work okay.  I still want to modify the cuff some.  As soon as my niece gets back with "our" camera I'll take a shot of them.

All the things I had planned today had to be shelved due to finding out they couldn't be accomplished until the next couple of days (boo hiss).  So I am doing dishes, floors, laundry, etc. whilst I listen to some music on Pandora.

Why I Typepad

 I've blogged here at Typepad for 6.5 years now.  That's kinda amazing to me.  I can remember when I first went into Barnes and Noble trying to find a book on the "new thing" I'd heard about - blogging.  I was quite pleased to find the young salesperson caught off-guard about a subject he had never heard about - made me feel like a techie - lol!

Before coming to Typepad I had a website named Approaching Glory.  I had inspirational writings on it and I did the html coding myself (okay - so without Pete Levelle I wouldn't have been able to do anything)  Anyhoo - lots of hours went into its creation and hopefully it ministered to some people.  It's the first time I ever got a picture of the size of the Net.  I heard from people all around the world.  However,  I got the notice this past fall that the host was taking the sites down - so I copied my files and figured I do something else with my writings sooner or later.  Still trying to decide what would be the best way to post them again.

But somewhere in the midst - I came to Typepad.  And somewhere in all of this, I've longed for the day when I would be able to have my own url. Today is that day.  I start this year with my very own address, with endless possibilities ahead, and some new directions for my blog.

And let me tell you - I can NOT say enough good things about the folks at Typepad.  They have been great hosts and super helpful.  If you ever want a blog - they get my five star stamp of approval :)

PS - if you ever get bored out of your gourd and you want to read the past 6.5 years of my life - take a look at the archives!

Laugh or Cry?

Okay sometimes it is back to the drawing board!  I sewed up one of the pairs of slipper things I've been working on and it is UGLY!  So - I'm either going to have to re-design or create an afghan (and the afghan is looking mighty tempting right now.  All those hours - ugh!

Off to Rockdale county to spend the day with family.  This is our time-delayed New Year's celebration.  Supposed to be down in the single digits here today - that means turn the light bulb on in the pump house so we don't have frozen pipes in the morning.

Hope you have a great one and be blessed.

And 2010 Begins

These are the last few days of rest that I have before the next semester begins.  Hubby goes back to work on Tuesday and the 2 J's (Jason and Jennifer) begin their classes on Wednesday.  Lots to do before they start.  Jen's dorm room cleaned and readied.  Laundry ready to go.  Books to be bought and one schedule change for Jbird.  He wants to take the Introduction to Media Studies.

Jennifer got a car!  Woo hoo!  That should help with transportation issues.  Would love to get Jbird one but that is going to have to wait for awhile.

I continue to put in applications all over for a job.  Believing I will be led to go where I need to and will be placed where it will give the Lord glory.

Hubby's book is doing well.  He's blessed with some of the comments that he has gotten on it.

And I have been knitting.  I'll post the latest stuff up tomorrow.  I can't believe I've almost finished five pairs of slipper booties.  I've modified the pattern quite a bit to make it what I like - I'll share that information also.

Watching SG-1 and am up to season eight.  Also have been watching Sherlock Holmes and The Commish.

Hope your first day of the year was great.

Help, Helpers, and Helping

Max has become my computer "helper".  Every once and awhile he wakes up and comes over for a kiss or two.  What he really wants is for me to hold him, but for some reason I can't seem to type and do that at the same time.

I woke up this morning for an early morning session with Jbird - because I wanted to "help" him study for a test today.  Let's just say that it was less than productive and I did well to hold my temper.

Jen has let me borrow her digital camera and I went to Best Buy where they were very good at "helping" me get the memory card reader I needed.  Another one of those moments when you feel old and out of step with current technology.  This unit is adaptable to the sd card that fits the camera as well as the one that I use in my cell phone.  Cool beans.

Then I went and spent a few hours visiting with my friend.  Nice day - relaxing.  Just what I need right now.

Meet Mini

Sorry about the quality of this one.  Jen is lending me her camera - I just have to get the cord that uploads to my computer.  Anyway - this is Mini.  So called cause - she's SO little. A very short haired tortoise kitty,  Mini likes to be held but she is not a talker or cuddler.  She loves to play and jump and attack Max (who has finer, softer fur and a big swishy tail).  Got to love a tiny female who isn't afraid to take on the big guys - lol!  However, you'll most often find them both wrapped around each other in their bed washing each other or snoozing away. (after I've spent a good part of my day chasing them around with a squirt bottle of water)

Meet Max

Finally found a way to get some recent pics up - still don't have a camera yet though.  This is our new male tabby cat - Max.  You can't tell in his pic, but he has huge paws and he's gonna be a big cat.  He's a talker and a lover.  Max enjoys cuddling.  This little kitty has let the dog know that he now rules the roost.  Poor Tango.

Rear-Ended

Son calls from college - hands are swelling and breaking out.  I'm kind of wondering how serious this is or if he is attempting to avoid classes.  So I tell him he needs to go see the doctor then he needs to make his own appointment.   And he did!  Wow - shocked me.  He comes home, I'm driving, and we get rear-ended.  The guy behind me almost hit me at three stops and then... he finally did.  Thankfully, no damage to the car - just my nerves.  Jbird is on meds for a histimine surge and a change with his other meds.

College,Teens, and Responsibility

I should have a t-shirt that says, "Be kind to me - I have two teens/college students who live with me."  The only place I really want to be today is in bed with the covers over my head.  Really - it is a beautiful fall day out and where I'd like to be is on a road trip.  However,  here I am with a bunch of stuff to attempt to get accomplished before next week comences.

BTW, Hubby woke up this morning fighting a fever, sore throat, sick stomach, and sneezing.  Right.  From J to me to Hubby.  Jbird is feeling cruddy and I feel weaker than yesterday.  Please don't let Jen be next.  Add in two kittens who rank up there with having toddlers - well - I'm a little testy today.

MY plan is to continue to try and go over the material that Jbird doesn't understand.  Remember - this is a disabilities student and he learns his own way (which is rarely the way things are taught).  So I am learning music theory (think circle of fifths, diminished and augmented chords).

But today's plan goes out the door because I find out that Jbird has an assignment that he hasn't even begun and it requires research down at the college.  Right.  It appears my son has adopted my procrastination.  But it is not JUST procrastination - it is truly that he has difficulty understanding directions - knowing what the assignment wants from him - and he is at the stage where "I want to do this by myself" and doesn't want to have to ask anyone for assistance (which includes the parents, the disability services, the campus counselor, or other support services they have in place)  This is definitely not a good thing considering all his other challenges.  Which includes a funky immune system that allows him to catch and recatch everything that comes down the pike.   And I must admit I lost it with him - which is also never a good thing because he can take an argument and turn it around real fast.

College is definitely different from when I attended.  If you had an assignment and you didn't get it in -you got a zero.  Get this:  an assignment that Jbird was given wasn't completed by over half the class (they didn't understand the assignment  - or so I was told by J) so the professor sends an email extending the deadline and the rest of the email sounds like something a teacher would say to elementary kids who need to get their rear in gear.  It appears the same lack of responsibility that my Hubby sees and I had begun to really see when I taught over ten years ago - goes up the chain.

And the child wonders why I've decided to attend a family support group at NAMI.  One of the ladies in my painting class has a child who came back from his service time with mental health issues (which our government acknowledges is their fault but won't tell the family what happened - thankfully the gov is taking full financial responsibility).  Anyway - she told me how much they have helped her.  I remember Jbird's pediatrician telling me years ago that when J reached this age it would be really difficult and that we all might need some counseling.  I guess he was right.

Well - if you've read this far - thanks for hanging in there.  When I get my stamina back I'll be in better shape to handle the daily challenges. :)

Returning to Home Base

Several things have happened around here.

1. 1.  I joined Facebook and I have spent some time getting accustomed to it.  I'm slowy but surely warming up to the idea - maybe - could be.
2. 2.  Still making adjustments to two teen's college schedules.  I'm definitely getting old - it is taking me quite awhile to figure this all out.
3. Jbird got the flu (thankfully not swine variety).  He then gave it to me (thank you very much) and we battled it for two weeks.  Jbird lost an entire week of college - not a good start to this semester.
4. Upon getting rid of said flu, I came down with a nasty case of sinusitus.  I am currently taking antibiotics and decongestants to kick this out.  I'm very weak and tired - but slowy returning to normal.
5. I missed my Typepad birthday.  Let's see now - my blog is now officially six years old!  Wow - that's awhile to write.
6. We are now the owners of two (yes count them) two kittens.  The Humane Society went up on their price per kitty (from $70 -$100).  On the day we were there they had a 2/1 special - at which my "that's a bargain" Hubby jumped.  Fine by me - I knew the kitties would keep each other company.  Max and Mini are now the rulers of our house and dog.
7. My digital camera died.  Somehow posting without pics doesn't really cut it with me.  Besides which, you need to see the kitties, my progress in knitting, and my new art work - right?
8. I am still looking for a job - nothing yet.  I am working very hard on not getting overtly sensitive about this - but it is barely working.
9. I am considering going to a college and begging for a scholarship. For me.
10. We have been inundated with water for over ten days now.  The tomato plants have drowned.
11. I have been bad and done something horrible and I will confess next week.  Maybe  Could Be  Hmmmm.....

I'm learning to like you Facebook - but there's NO place like home.

Goodbye Dear Friend

There are days when I hate being an adult.  This is one of them.  You know the times.... when someone has to make everyone face facts and make hard decisions.  Marmalade has been member of our family for fourteen years.  He has survived the longest of all our pets.  Over three months ago I noticed a big change in him.  He was always a huge cat and he was slower but surely losing alot of weight.  Then it got to where he was getting sick all the time.  We tried every remedy we could find.  He would get well for a few days and then begin getting sick again.  And he would cry because he wanted to eat.  To make a long story short - this is the day I finally got through to Jbird that Marmy was suffering and that he needed to go to the Vet to be put down.  As I type that is where they have gone.  I could not go.  I've been crying already.

In other news - please be praying tomorrow.  I will be taking my friend Judy to surgery at 5:15am for major surgery.  They are repairing a huge hernia that formed after her cancer surgery of last year and also removing her gallbladder.  She'll be in the hospital for four days and then come here for awhile to recooperate.  Yeah - I know - niece is moving in this weekend also.

I figure if God wants so much on my plate than it is up to Him to enlarge the plate to handle it all.  I do believe Tango will miss his buddy as well as the rest of us.

Oh My Goodness!

I absolutely have NO idea how people are affording the cost of tuition and books for their children.  Thankfully, Jbird is attending an in-state two year college where the tuition costs are relatively minor (around $1500 for 15+ credit hours per semester).  If he had attended a public high school the tuition wouldn't cost us anything due to the Hope scholarship program (must maintain a B average) - and we'd get $100 toward the cost of books.  However, because we homeschooled J, he has to maintain at least a 3.0 for his first year of college and then we will be reimbursed for the tuition money we've paid out.  Which is what we are hoping to achieve by the end of the fall semester - he currently has a 4.0.

However, the book costs are crazy.  Today I had to go pay the tuition and while there decided to get more of his books.  I'd already doled out close to $200 on two classes.  So I did not expect the cost of today's purchases - $400+.  Give me a break!  We still will have to adjust his schedule during drop/add and then buy more books.

I looked at the school I first started attending back in the 70's.  Tuition costs are now over $36,000 per year - not including books of course.  No wonder these kids are coming out with loans over $100,000.  Absolutely crazy.  I read about the girl who just graduated with over $70,000. in loans and is suing her college because she can't find a job.  I wonder if that would work retro-actively with me - now that I can't find a job in my profession?  Right - nope.

While They Are Sleeping

These past several days have been a fog of medicines and sleeping.  So now that I'm awake as a little snake - the guys are in bed sleeping away.  It's okay though - it gives me a little time to myself.  I won't have too much of that for too long.

Hubby, after spending all of last week in math workshops, (his last week which was supposed to be free) officially has to report to work tomorrow.  And then on Friday he will have to take his first furlough day (without pay).

SIL is totally moved into her new apartment.  I guess my niece will be arriving next weekend sometime since her school starts on Monday.  My goal this week is to get the downstairs totally clean and ready.

Tomorrow I get to drive down to the college and pay the tuition for this coming fall semester.  Also will need to get some more books.  I'm pleased to announce Jbird got an "A" in his summer class.  Now if we can get his class schedule sorted out - I'll be a happy camper.

Me?  Well - I'm feeling better but bummed that we didn't get a quarter of what I hoped we'd get down for this summer.  Looks like I'll be working on the projects slowly by myself.  I continue to look for a job but it is a dry market out there.

Hope you all have been doing well....

Uploads and Downloads

I had downloaded the Adobe Photoshop software to see how it works.  It does indeed have some great features.  However, my trial came to an end.  I then started to re-download the Roxio software to my computer and in the midst of it, I decided to go back and give Paint Shop Pro another try.  I used JASC for years and years and never had any problem with the program - except one.  I lost my registration number and when the computer crashed I lost the email info that had the replacement number in it.  Add to that - PSP was now several versions ahead of my old program.  So - I'm downloading their latest and will give it a test drive.  As you can tell from this post - I'm looking for a photo editing software program - perhaps with video capabilities.  I'm not at all happy with the Roxio stuff I bought last Christmas.

Meanwhile:

• Hubby continues to recover with hip issue
• SIL got moved to Rockdale County
• Jen found out that her AP test scores are going to give her six hours of college credit and she had to change her fall college due to new class exemptions - woo hoo
• still trying to get J's final fall schedule completed - ugh
• new vacuum should be in tomorrow
• Hubby found out that the state is going to demand three furlough days (without pay) for teachers before January (cute) and 5% more will have to be cut from the state's school budget for next year.  How stimulating.
• Hubby will have to take GRE in August and start his application to Georgia Southern to work on his EDS in January.

Kinda feeling left behind - again.