It seems like a long time

This is not xanga. I don't check it everyday and I don't write as often. I can wax nostalgic, but the truth is I am at a different place and probably wouldn't do those things in xanga either. One thing I can do, however, is still ramble randomly about my life.

For example...

Sammy the dog has allergies and has been afflicted with a couple of hot spots. Of course, these things never materialize during regular veterinarian's office hours. So minutes before the big snow hit this weekend, I ran to Petsmart for some spray and a cone collar. Sammy was humiliated to wear that thing and I'm sure it didn't help his ego any that we kept asking him if he could get HBO and trying to throw things in it from a distance. He had the poor puppy dog eyes going for HOURS. The spots are healing nicely and he has resigned himself to the collar. He is his old waggy self, even if he can't lick everything he wants and occasionally knocks into things.

I loved this snow we had. It rained all Saturday morning then turned to sleet and snow in the afternoon. It snowed until about 5 p.m. on Sunday and then promptly began to melt. We had about 8 inches at our house. Yesterday it was in the 60's and today nearly 70 so the snow is pretty much gone. Pretty, but short term. Nice.

Speaking of short term, Seth was home last week from college for his spring break. He brought a few friends with him. One couple went on up to Kansas City after the first weekend and Seth, his girlfriend, Lindsay, and his best friend, Chad, all stayed the rest of the week. It was so nice having them here. We had loads of fun and ate tons of food. In fact, we are just now getting to the last of the leftovers (thank you, Jesus!). We went up to the Titanic museum in Branson with our free tickets. [Did I ever tell you how I got free tickets? When Lindsay came at Christmas we went up there to go to the museum with free tickets I had won on the radio. They advertise they are only closed 2 holidays a year so no problem. We get there and they are closed for a week for renovations! I wrote them an email and pointed out that a note on their website would have saved us a trip and VOILA! more free tickets.] The week also included a gymnastics meet at the university, shopping, lunch with my parents and Lindsay and I got pedicures. That's a lot when you consider I only took 3 days off. What they amused themselves with while I worked, I don't know. Did I cry when they drove away this time? Buckets. I should just face it that I will always.

Incidentally, how typical is it that I would wear flip flops and get a pedicure the day BEFORE the biggest snowfall of the year??? Really.

Jay is sick. I don't know what he has, but I don't want it. I'm sleeping in Seth's room tonight. Although I miss Seth--it is sometimes handy to have an empty bedroom in the house. BTW, Seth is trying to decide whether or not to come home for the summer. I want him home because it will most likely be his last...he will need a job. Pray for one. Thanks.

SEE??? Told you rambling nothingness. If you're still with me--thanks for listening. Nighty night.

Signs of Spring

One sign of spring in Fayetteville is not the birds, the emergence of green stems or the weather...but of weirdos on the streets. That, and strolling musicians. I have seen two guys on separate days and in separate locations walking down the street playing guitars. I saw one guy sitting on a street corner jamming on a mandolin. Yes, jammin'.

Rockin' Robin...doo doo doo...

I told Jay I wasn't going to blog about this, but I can resist no longer. There are robins everywhere in our neighborhood. I'm not talking about a few here or there, but the fields we pass coming into the neighborhood will have hundreds--one every three or four feet. No other type of birds--just robins. It's weird, I tell you. Jay went for a walk the other day and I asked him if he saw the robins and he replied, "no, but I've heard about them." So I guess I've talked about it a lot at home. So--shoot me. It's weird. I've never seen so many in one spot.

Also regarding birds, the other day I drove to Little Rock and there were tons of dead chickens on the side of the road. I got to thinking about our unique road kill here in Arkansas and what people from out of state must be thinking. Whatever the case, I bet there was an unhappy truck driver that arrived at the processing plant--he had to have lost half his load--okay--I exaggerate, but a bunch of them.

I'm so proud of KK and Sajo and their wonderful "getcha coup on" thing. Someday in the not so far future, I'll be able to say, "I knew them when."

I went shopping with Sidney today. It was probably one of the most enjoyable shopping trips we've ever had together. Maybe it's because we weren't on a quest for something specific that we HAD to have. She bought a few items, mostly accessories and unmentionables. I got a new purse. And like my friend, VickiChickie, for once it isn't black or brown.

Dear Mr. Weatherman,
You lied. When I checked your weekly forecast this weekend, there was nothing but happy faced little sunshine icons all the way across the board. I haven't seen one day of happy sunshine. In fact, you failed to mention the smug faced snowflakes I drove through this morning. Why should I listen to you at all? Have you ever heard the story about the boy who cried wolf? Should I actually take shelter if you proclaim a tornado is coming? (sigh) Whatever is this world coming to? I guess I'll have to go back to that old weather forecasting tool with the rope on it. If the rope is wet, it's raining. If the rope is sideways, it's windy...etc.
Sincerely,
Praying for Spring

I am a people watcher. I love to watch the world outside my window. Today I saw a guy in full runner's apparel running down the street--with a carton of eggs. Shortly thereafter, I saw a woman walking near the same spot wearing an apron and carrying a cookie sheet. Is there a baking triathalon somewhere that I haven't heard about?

to the dogs

Last night Jay and I were eating pizza for supper. Sitting at our feet and giving us the "puppy dog eyes" (literally) was our dog, Sammy. He kept looking from one of us to the other and wagging his tail expectantly. Jay told him that it wouldn't be good for him to eat it and he would regret it later and therefore did not share his pizza. Good choice on his part. But the dog seriously had tears in his eyes.

It made me think though. I do that to God. I sit and beg him for something and I'm so disappointed that he doesn't give me what I want. But he knows it might not be good for me and will cause me to suffer.

I know. A simple concept. Why is it so hard for me to get it?

Come Rain or Come Shine

I am going to Little Rock to work for a few days. Usually I'm pretty psyched about having a hotel room to myself for 3 whole nights. But for some reason I can't get excited. Maybe it's because I know there is the possiblity of ice on Thursday and that casts a worry over traveling home. But why would I let that ruin my whole trip?

When I was a kid--who am I kidding?--my whole life, my mother has been a weather worrier. She had a little map of Oklahoma by her chair and when the tornado alerts would come on, she would track the storm. If I ever I was traveling she made sure to tell me what the weather would be doing and where/when to be extra careful. If it is raining, she and my dad won't venture far from home, and then only when absolutely necessary.
She instilled in me a healthy (or not so healthy) fear of tornados. I can remember being awakened in the night and sent to a closet for shelter. As I became an adult, I tried to resist the weather worry gene. As storm clouds gathered, I would pretend they weren't and I would do everything in my power to avoid turning on the television to see if there was a warning.

I have the gene. When we moved to Arkansas, I was appalled to learn my city was not equipped with a warning system. When we first moved, before the cable was installed, I asked a neighbor to call me if anything developed. How weird is that? No wonder they moved.

As I'm sitting at my desk, I can see snowflakes occasionally blowing past my window and I am dreading the drive to Little Rock against this gusty wind. I can almost hear my mother worrying about my drive and I should probably call her when I arrive safely to ease her mind.

I think every woman has a list of attributes she hopes she inherits from her mother and a list of things she prays she won't. At least I don't WATCH the weather channel.

The Vine Dresser

You know in the Bible when Jesus talks about the vineyards and the vine dresser? I pass two vineyards on my way to and from work every day.

One of them caught my attention this time last year because they were cleaning it--and again right now. They send in men who clip the vines by hand and remove the dead limbs. Then a big tractor comes in and cleans between the rows. In summer, I drive by and the vines are covered with plump purple grapes.

The other vineyard is harder to see. I only noticed it when I had to slow down for traffic one day. It is abandoned. It is all grown up and there are trees and weeds choking out the vines. When summer comes, I can hardly see any grapes at all. The bunches I can see are small and I'm sure not very tasty.

I thank God for these two vineyards. You see, I'm a visual learner. God had to provide me with both of the vineyards so I could get the full impact of his words. *See below.

If I do not abide in Him, I will produce no fruit or nasty fruit that is not good for anything. I want to be useful and must therefore accept the pruning as well as the sunlight, water and other things I perceive to be good. Pruning doesn't always feel good...but it is necessary for growth.

*John 15:1-8 (New International Version)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to be my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Hooray!

It feels good to be back in the world of blogging. I've really missed it.

I've named this little gem "Purrls of Wizdum" because my cat's name is Purrl and we can learn a lot of life lessons from watching cats--or I can anyway. Wizdum is spelled that way because I hate to claim that any of these lessons might be real wisdom--mostly musings. So--I'm sharing my "purrls."

Today our computer guys came up from Little Rock and one of them had previously agreed to look at Sidney's computer that had become ill. It had 878 infected files!! He said that was the most he had ever seen. He's cleaning it up now. But let that be a lesson to ye...don't click on everything you see.

The man/child and his beloved left this morning. I only cried for a couple of minutes this time(patting myself on the back). I don't know if I'll see his face in March or May. That's the hard part. Ok--I'll see his face on Skype, but it's not the same.

Sid and Jay are both working late tonight. I'm looking forward to my PJ's, leftover Moroccan food and Season 3 of The Office.