Things, They are a Changing

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

For some reason, fall reminds me of these verses in Ecclesiastes more than other seasons. I’ve always loved fall and after the summer we had this year, fall was more welcome than ever. Fall, for me, is a time of renewal and regeneration. It’s a time of cleaning out and planning for the future.

Since I went on a blogging hiatus earlier this year I’ve had trouble getting back into the swing of things. Thoughts of the blog and it’s direction still swirl in my head. For those dear readers who are still sticking with me, thank you. I will be back to a more regular schedule soon.

The Ecclesiastes verses have been wandering around my heart the last few months. I have a feeling  there are changes in the air, not only for the seasons and this blog, but in my life. The words community, intentionality, transparency are riding the waves of change. I don’t know exactly what that means. I can tell you that there is a bit of trepidation surrounding all this. Change and growth come with pain and well, I’m not so much a fan of pain. And I’ve been hiding from God on some of these issues the last few months for exactly that reason. In case you’re wondering, hiding from God is hard…He usually finds a girl. I do have a couple of posts that I’m working on relating to some of these things.

So, that’s a little bit of where I’ve been recently. My goal is to have a real post for you next week. In the meantime, enjoy a little pumpkin spice latte and the beautiful colors that come with the season!

St. Patty's Day is Coming

I am now four weeks into my shoulder pain and it has been an eye-opening experience. I'm usually pretty pain tolerant, but this has given me new perspective on what other people have to deal with on a regular basis.

I've had a hard time concentrating enough to actually write anything of substance.  But, today I did get motivated to make some shamrock garlands for my office mates. I saw this idea on Quiltish - Alisa Jacobs blog. The picture isn't great...I took it on my cell phone.

I Didn't Fall Off the Face of the Earth

I'm sorry I just disappeared last week. That was not intentional. I woke up last Saturday morning with a pain in my right shoulder under the shoulder blade. It got worse instead of better and by Tuesday last week I was in extreme pain. The pain has been pestering me all week and I spent most of the time sleeping.

Anyway, I don't have a post for today, but I will get back on track this week. I can tell you that God has worked things together in unusual ways (isn't that just like him!?! I wrote about the ways God works in this post.) and I've got a new project percolating in my brain. I hope to have a clearer vision of what all is involved in that in the coming weeks and I'm excited to share it with you.

In the meantime, I pray you all have an amazing week!

47 Random Facts, Part 2

25.   In the United States, 514 avalanche fatalities have been reported in 15 states from 1950 to 1997.

26.      Ground hogs whistle when they are alarmed and in the spring when they begin courting.

27.      Ground hogs are one of the few animals that actually hibernate.

      28.      The NFC has 24 super bowl wins over the AFC’s 21 wins.

29.      The New England Patriots have played in the super bowl 7 times and Sunday will make 8 times.

30.      The New York Giants first played football in October 1925.

31.      Ernest Hemingway published his first piece at 17 years old.

      32.      Stephen King met his wife, Tabitha, in the library at University of Maine at Orono. They married in January 1971.

33.      The Kings lived in Boulder, CO for less than a year in 1974 and 1975. King wrote The Shining while in Boulder.

34.  Tabitha King has published 8 novels of her own.

35.  Colorado is the 38^th state and became a state on August 1, 1876.

36.  The Battle of the Bulge occurred toward the end of World War II. The dates of the battle were 12/16/44 – 01/25/45.

37.  Primitive elevators are thought to first come into use in the 3^rd century BC and were powered by human, animal or water wheel.

38.  Trivial Pursuit was invented in 1979 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

39.  Benjamin Franklin was the 10^th son of a soap maker.

40.  President Gerald Ford signed legislation on October 7, 1975 allowing women to attend military academies.

41.  Women first attended the Air Force Academy in June 1976.

42.  The first Thunderbird team included twin brothers, Bill and Buck Patillo, who flew left and right wing.

43.  Koko, the gorilla, has a sign language vocabulary of over 1000 signs.

44.  A single Renaissance printing press could produce 3,600 pages a day.

45.  The 57 on Heinz Ketchup bottles represents the varieties of pickle the company once had.

46.  The most money ever paid for a cow in auction was $1.3 million.

47.  This week’s randomness has been brought to you by the number 47 and the letter R.

47 Random Facts - Part 1

Hi Readers! This week I am featuring 47 Random Facts on the blog because you never know when a random bit of trivia might come in handy! I have included links to where I found the information on the Internet. Today are facts 1 -24. Friday I will bring you facts 25 - 47.

1.      Tom Hanks is a distant relative of Nancy Hanks Lincoln who was the mother of Abraham Lincoln.

2.      The tallest wood frame roller coaster is the Colossus at Heide Park in Germany.

3.      The National Lacrosse League was incorporated in 1986 and played their first season in 1987.

4.      During an NLL lacrosse game if a “suffers a laceration or wound where “oozing or bleeding occurs” the official is required to suspend play at the earliest possible time.

5.      The custom of Christmas trees dates back to 15^th century Livonia and 16^th century Northern Germany.

6.      Notorious gangster Al Capone was born January 17, 1899. He was the 4^th child of Italian immigrant parents but the first one to be conceived and born in the United States.

7.      America the Beautiful was written by Katherine Lee Bates after being overwhelmed by the view from the top of Pikes Peak.  She was teaching at Colorado College that summer and had hiked to the top of the 14,000 foot peak with a group from the school.

8.      The 47^th state, New Mexico, was set to be inaugurated on January 1, 1912. However, President Taft didn’t sign the paperwork until January 6, so the official inauguration was January 15^th.

9.      The United States Air Force came into being just 3 ½ years after the Wright brothers made their first powered flight.

10.  Joseph Stalin was originally studying to be a priest before he got involved in Marxism.

11.  Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was the first female surgeon in the US Army.

12.  The first mid-air collision between two aircraft was recorded as having occurred on October 3, 1910 over Milan, Italy.

13.  Catgut which is used for stringed instruments is actually made from goat or sheep intestines.

14.  The first human lobotomies were done in the 1890s.

15.  Neptune gets its blue color from methane gas.

16.  Yul Brynner’s film debut in Port of New York was his only film with his natural head of hair.

17.  Ham was the first chimpanzee that America sent to space. His name is an acronym for the lab, Holloman Aerospace Medical center, which prepared him for his trip to space.

18.  Hawaiian women were once not allowed to coconuts of bananas.

19.  WC Fields was born William Claude Dukenfield.

20.  Bing Crosby died in Madrid in 1977 after playing a round of golf.

21.  Animal crackers come in packages with a string handle because they were originally meant to be hung on a Christmas tree.

22.  LL Cool J’s nickname stands for Ladies Love Cool James.

23.  Don Knotts once had a role in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow.

24.  Lake Erie is the 11^th largest lake in the world and is the warmest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes.

It's a Bloggy, Bloggy World

I've been in a blog fog lately. Late last year I became the moderator for the ACFW Colorado's Inkwell Blog. We just relaunched and I've been working on moving the blog, redesigning, and recruiting writers. It's been fun and I'm meeting some great people. You can check out the new blog here.

By the way, if you're a fiction writer, you should check out the American Christian Fiction Writers. They are a great group for writers.

Speaking of blogs, I am getting ready to move the mountain to WordPress. I'm getting it set up and will let you know when we get ready to move. I will be moving the URL to the new blog so that will be easy, but if you have subscribed to RSS feed you will need to redo that on the new site when I move.

Epic

Driving to work the other day a sign caught my attention….




EPIC SALE on CIGARETTES!



No kidding, it was epic and it was at the liquor store. I don’t know how epic it was because I don’t smoke cigarettes and the liquor store wasn’t open at 8am.

It got me to thinking, though, about how we use words. According to my Oxford American Dictionary epic is a long story or poem or something on a grand scale.

Was this cigarette sale really something that could be classified as grand!?! I doubt it. I mean it was just cigarettes after all.

As a culture we tend to do this. I know I do. We love things, we hate things. This was the worst day ever! Oh my gosh, I am starving to death right now.

Life can be so melodramatic sometimes, don’t you agree? Now, I really am starving to death so please excuse me while I go eat an epic dinner.

Turtle Girl has a Friend

Turtle Girl has a friend. Do you remember Turtle Girl? I wrote about her here.


Turtle Girl and Peacock Boy have become friends. One day Peacock Boy told Turtle Girl that he is no longer a peacock.

“See, TG, I have this wig. I’m now a lion! You can address me as King because I am the new king of this zoo.”

Turtle Girl asks, “Why, PB, why do you want to be a lion?”

“Because the lion is majestic. People flock to the zoo to see him. He prances around his cage and the people ‘oh’ and ‘ah’. I want people to do the same for me. I can be just as good a lion as Lion Dude can.”

With that Peacock Boy plops the fuzzy wig on his head and parades around the zoo.

Turtle Girl watches as he preens and struts. The visitors stop and stare and laugh, then move on. Peacock Boy drops the wig and runs away.

Turtle Girl searches high and low to find him. She worries about him. Finally she finds him in front of Lion Dude’s cage. She hears lion as she walks up behind the boys.

“But Peacock, I don’t understand why you want to be me? You’re free to wander the zoo while I can only pace my enclosure. People can come right up to you in the park and are okay with it. If I were to be loose in the park people would run and scream. You have it made.” Lion Dude shakes his furry mane at Peacock Boy.

“Well, I can go wherever I want.” Peacock Boy nods. “But, people want to be you for Halloween. When was the last time you saw anyone being a peacock for Halloween? You are handsome and people are awed by you.”

Lion Dude looks over at Turtle Girl and the crowd that is gathering behind her. “Tell you what, PB. You know all those fancy feathers you’re dragging on the ground? Puff them up like you do. Strut your stuff. Be who you were created to be. Go ahead, do it now.”

Reluctantly Peacock Boy raises his tail feathers and turns around. Seeing the smiles in the crowd he primps and then struts. He busts a move and the crowd goes wild. Light bulbs flash as the paparazzi strain to capture him in all his glory.

Peacock Boy looks over at Turtle Girl. “They don’t even realize that Lion Dude is back there. They’re taking pictures of me!”

She winks. “See, LD was right. You are amazing just as you are.”

“You both are right. We are different, but that doesn’t mean he’s better than me. I’m gonna be the best Peacock Boy I can be and let Lion Dude be the best he can be.”

“Good plan, man.” Lion Dude roared his approval and the crowd cheered for both the boys.

If you don't do you, you don't get done and creation is incomplete. ~ C. McNair Wilson

Dear Diary

Dear Diary, today I…




Recently one of my writing mentors has been publishing excerpts from a diary she kept as a young girl. It’s fun to walk down memory lane with her even though I didn’t know her back then.

Posting old diary excerpts is not something I would do. Well, better put, I can’t do because keeping a journal is not something I have ever done.

Gasp, I know! When people hear this some are shocked since I’m a writer and by nature many writers are also journal keepers. But, I’m not, never have been.

Several years ago another writing mentor suggested I keep a journal. He even recommended a very good book about the subject. I read the book and tried to journal. It just didn’t take.

I don’t know why I can’t journal. I’ve started many times but it always falls by the wayside eventually. In my closet I do have several mistrials that I go back and look at occasionally. And that’s about the extent of it.

I love journals. Actually I love all office supplies. I’m just a geek that way. I even wrote about my love of office supplies. Every time I go into a store I gravitate toward the journals and notebooks. And often I’ll buy one or three or four. Sadly, they languish half used in my closet because it just doesn’t seem to be in my genes.

So, there you have it, my sordid confession of being a non-journal keeping writer type.



What about you, are you a journaler? If you are, what kinds topics do you journal about?

Happy Fourth of July!

I am out grilling brats and enjoying the day. I wish you all a very Happy Independence Day! Don't forget to take some time to remember all those who have fought for the freedom we enjoy.

Paper Wreath

Do you remember the old movie Paper Moon? It came out in 1973 and starred Ryan and Tatum O'Neal. When I wrote this title I thought of that movie. I did see it once, but only have vague memories of it.

Anyway, this isn't about the movie. It's about the fun of being creative. I like to try my hand at arts and crafts every once in a while.

I've been looking for a piece of art for my dining room wall when I found this wreath on Mary Demuth's site. I knew I wanted to make one and my dining room wall was the perfect place for it. So I set out on a quest for just the right paper.

I might be biased, but I think it's beautiful. All it took was 6 sheets of paper, tape, staples,  ribbon, and a half hour of my time.

bin Laden is dead

I'm sure you've all heard the news by now that Osama bin Laden has been killed. Finding him has been a long sought after goal and it has finally come to an end.

I have no love for Osama and the hate that he lived and breathed. However, I was a little dismayed by some of the revelry that went on after the news broke.

Here are two quotes that sum up how I've been feeling this week....

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy, returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? 
~Ezekiel 18:23

Messengers

Photo Copyright Thomas H Fickas Jr, 2010

I first saw the deer in the cemetery shortly after my mother died. In those early days I would go to the cemetery often and just sit on her grave. As I sat there I one Saturday I realized that a deer had stopped across the way from me and was watching. He just stared for the longest time. I sat quietly talking to him as I've taken to doing with animals. I actually called one of the giraffes at the zoo baby one day while trying to persuade him to take a giraffe cracker. But that's a different post entirely.

The deer and his friends were just enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon. They didn't bother me and allowed me to take some poor photos on my cell phone.

Later when I posted on Facebook about my encounter I was told that some believe deer are messengers; that they bring messages from the great beyond. I can't sayI believe that, but I see deer in the cemetery a lot. The area is shaded and grassy. It's peaceful and beautiful. Can't say I blame them for wanting to hang out in such a peaceful place.

They, like ladybugs, make me think of my mom in heaven where she doesn't hurt anymore. She is clear of mind and the fog of dementia has lifted from her. I smile and think of her laughing and happy again. She had a beautiful smile and I can't help but remember that when I see the deer wandering through the cemetery.

What do you get when....

...you combine high heels, a chihuahua, singing and dancing, good friends, law school and a blonde? You get a totally delightful evening at the Broadway musical Legally Blonde. The only thing that would have made the night better was if we were actually able to see it on Broadway.


I have a group of friends who have been working hard to stop working so hard. Seriously, these women have demanding jobs that they love and pour their hearts into. However, when they realized that work was taking over their lives they determined they were going to reclaim their lives to achieve a more harmonious balance. Part of the plan was to purchase tickets to four Broadway shows that were making a visit in our city. So the four of us plunked down our money for a little bit of culture.

Legally Blonde was the third of the four shows. This book made into a movie made into a musical is the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl with a fashion degree who is about to lose the love of her life to law school. She decides to fight back and lands a coveted spot at Harvard Law. In her quest to restore the balance to her life by winning back her boyfriend she finds that there is more to life and to herself than she thought.

I love the Legally Blonde movies so I was thrilled to be able to see the musical. There’s just something about the singing and dancing that appeals to me. This night was a fun time with friends and I am eager to see the next show, which is another favorite of mine, Grease. That’s a jaunt right back to junior high school when the first movie came out. If you have the opportunity to see Broadway shows in your area, I do recommend them. Nothing like a little bit of culture wherever you live!

15 Years, 17 Million Adoptions: Rescuing a Bundle of Joy

Hey! Have you heard? Petfinder is 15 years old and they have assisted in 17 million adoptions in those years. That's a whole lot of furry, wiggly, tail-wagging love being brought into existence.

Three years ago I used Petfinder to be united with my sweet Wilson. You can read about bringing home kitty here.  You can also read Wilson's thoughts (as interpreted by his cat whisperer mommy - me!) in this post about the game of life. Wilson has been the joy of my life these last three years and I am so grateful for the role Petfinder played in helping me find him.

If you are thinking about adopting a pet you should check out Petfinder. They work with rescue organizations all over the country. All you have to do is visit the Petfinder web site and use their search feature. You choose the type of animal and breed, type in your zip code and it will bring up a list of pets in your area who are looking for forever homes.

Happy Birthday, Petfinder! Keep up the good work!

Dear Reader

Dear Reader,


I know you’re out there; I see the little blips on my stat counter that indicate someone’s joined me on the mountain. I love that you stop by and I hope you enjoy your time here.

It’s for you, you know. This blog and what I write as I share my search for myself, my God and my ability to use my words. As I sit at my computer and type away I think of you and what you will think. Will you appreciate what I write? Will it offer something to your life? I often wonder what you would like to read here in my little piece of blog land. It really is all about you. (okay, sometimes it is all about me, but I try to keep that to a minimum….that’s what texts to my sister are for!)

I hope that you are encouraged by the words I share. Or that they make you smile and yes, even laugh sometimes. I hope that your visits are worthwhile. I try to bring topics here that will be of interest to you.

Thank you for stopping by. Feel free to drop a comment. I would love to know your thoughts and get to know you.

Warmest Regards,

Your Friendly Blogger, Tamara

Merry Christmas

Hi Folks,

There won't be a new installment of Marley's story today. I am going to be taking a blogging break through the Christmas holiday. Marley, Vinnie and the rest of the gang you haven't met yet will be back.

In the meantime, I thought I might share some of the blogs I love to read.

Have you read Nat-the-Fat-Rat? I love Nat's blog. She takes her everyday life and presents in her very own, unique way that just captivates me. She recently had a baby; a much wanted and long awaited baby. Start with this post about holes and wholes and having and wanting and see if you don't fall in love with Nat as I have. But, don't stop there, make sure you read her previous posts to find out all about the Amazing Huck and how wonderful he is and of course, you don't want to miss out on hearing about the Holbshusband. So, go ahead; hop on over and check out Nat-the-Fat-Rat.

Until we meet again, happy reading and enjoy the season!

Everything I Need to Know about Life I Learned from a Tom Hanks Movie

It’s no secret that I am a Tom Hanks fan. I found this little list while cleaning my office and thought I would share it with you. It wasn't dated so I'm not sure when I wrote it, but I find its wisdom still applicable.

1. You can make a square peg fit in a round hole with plastic bags, duct tape and a gym sock.

2. Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.

3. There’s magic in those three little words…“You’ve Got Mail.”

4. When you’re sleepless in Seattle try calling Dr. Marsha.

5. Don’t wait for a brain cloud to start living your life.

6. Wearing one red shoe isn’t a fashion statement and can get you mixed up with the wrong crowd.

7. You don’t have always have to act like a grown-up to be a grown-up.

8. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t get it.”

9. You can’t judge your neighbors by their looks.

10. You’re never too old to follow your dreams; you just have to have the courage to step out and possibly fail. You can’t succeed if you never risk failure.


There you have it. It’s true folks, we Tom fans are in a league of our own!

Can you name the movies these come from!?!

An Open Letter to the Political Candidates

Dear Candidates:

I ask you today, what has our nation come to? Every November it's the same thing. You all get up on your little platforms and start spouting off about how bad the people you're running against are. It's like it's a race to see who can be the meanest, nastiest person around. Why do you think I would want to elect someone like that?

I'm tired of it all. I want a politician who can run on their own background. One who will tell me, "This is what I can do for the city/county/state/nation." I want people who have a record they are proud to talk about and proud to stand behind. That should be enough reason to vote for you. "This is me and I have done this and that." I want to know about you and your qualities.

Instead I get a stream of ads that take sound bites and quotes out of context. You twist your opponent's words to try and make yourself look good. You dig up dirt on each other and then gleefully lob it onto the airwaves. Negativity is the name of the game in the fight to win.

It's shameful, really. We've become a nation of haters and anything is fair in the game of politics. We need to move our country in a positive direction and that's not going to happen until you take the mudslinging out of elections.  It's up to me as a citizen of this country to stand up and say, "Enough." And it's up to you as a candidate to say, "Enough already. Let me tell you about me and what I stand for."

Sincerely,
Fed Up and Frustrated

Christmas Wish List

It’s that time of year again. I was reminded on Monday that it is exactly 2 months until Christmas. You would think with all the bells and carols that go along with Christmas it wouldn’t be able to sneak up on me like it does every year. Sigh….


Every year around this time the family members are asked to make a Christmas wish list to assist the person buying for them. I have a hard time with making a wish list but one given on my list is Tom Hanks movies. My family knows that’s a good standby if they are ever in need of ideas. So, as I pondered what to add to my list this year this is what I came up with….

This year for Christmas I would like:

• a shiny red sports car that goes zoom-zoom really fast
• peace on earth
• a pair of really cute boots that fit my weird feet and legs
• to climb to the highest point of the Eifel Tower at night and look out over the city of Paris all lit up like a lady dressed for a fancy dinner
• an amazing piece of artwork to serve as the theme for my bedroom décor
• to know why we have an appendix since it seems to serve no purpose
• a publishing contract for one of the books that is still in my head (I know, I know, I have to write it first, but this is a WISH list!)
• to end the suffering of the people of Haiti who are now dealing with cholera as they try to rebuild their shattered lives
• a new sofa and a great chair for my living room
• to jump out of a plane and feel the exhilaration of free falling and then once the chute opens glide gently to back to earth
• a secret super power so that my shiny red sports car would be invisible to the popo’s radar – speeding tickets are not on the wish list!

So, fess up, what’s on your wish list!?!