Off to Malibu...

Off to Pepperdine for the Annual Bible Lectureships!

I've not been to my alma mater in a long time -- at least 9 years... the year himself & I got married, I think.

I've not been to lectures since '92 or '93 -- so am looking forward to some rock-the-house awesome a cappella singing in Firestone Fieldhouse _ "Oh Lord Our Lord" here I come!!

For a webcam view of the campus and surrounding area...
http://www.pepperdine.edu/virtualtour/

So... no online time for me this week -- which will be weird. I hope Rascal survives with himself in charge...

Later Peeps!

Otter Love & Monty Python

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno

I saw something about the Otter's on yahoo's headlines... and found the YouTube video on someone's blog... definitely check it out -- VERY cute!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mej4RCMeogo

And for Spamalot Fun -- "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" - Trafalgar Square filled with folks with coconuts going for a World Record... kinda quirky.

13 Famous or Infamous People I share my birthday with

[1] Amy Grant (she's coming to Tucson for a fundraiser on Cinco de Mayo!)
[2] Christina Applegate
[3] Ben Stein (Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?)
[4] Ricardo Montalban
[5] Carrie Nation (same spelling even!) - American Temperance Advocate
[6] Andrew Carnegie (True Scottish pronunciation is car-NEH-gee)
[7] Joe DiMaggio
[8] Rudolph Hoess (blech)
[9] John Larroquette
[10] Percy Sledge
[11] John F. Kennedy Jr.
[12] Brooke Haven (porn star, apparently)
[13] Barbara & Jenna Bush

*sorry I've been so quiet lately folks, work is kicking my pa-tootie!!

Thursday Thirteen, late again

I was inspired by "A Gentleman's Domain" for this one. Thanks N.

Thirteen Firsts I remember (though a probably more interesting post would be 13 firsts I DON'T remember...)

[1] My first dog - being woken up Christmas morning by a fat little puppy licking my face. Oh the joy!!!!!

[2] My (our) First House - In Scotland - 4 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms, only 13 feet with WITH an attached garage (yes, really), a little patch of garden (aka yard), and nice and convenient to the chippy. I miss our house.

[3] The first time I had my toes ... 'nuff said

[4] My first date. Dinner, movie... with an 'older guy'... good memories.

[5] My first (and only) speeding ticket. 45 in a 25 or 30 zone... if I hadn't had a job I would have had my license taken away (I was 16)

[6] The first time I cried over a news story. The Rodney King verdict and how L.A. hit the fan... in light of this last week's tragedy, I am crying more and more over the news. Which is why I avoid it whenever possible.

[7] My first real 'make-out' session - high school. S.K. & me in the back room of the choir room (it saw a lot of action) - making out during Advanced Women singing "Hey Jude, don't be afraid... take a sad song - and song was always under pitch- and make it bet-ter-er-er...." completely embarrassed at how the whole thing worked, feeling awkward. After 45 minutes I was a pro.

[8] My first blind date. -the lack of detail should speak for itself!-

[9] My first quartet competition. In the UK - Southport, England, 2000. We sucked. But it was a fabulous feeling!

[10] My first best friend, "basically bannister" -- met at Montessori school when we weren't even 5 years old. We're still in touch, sort of... I know I could call her up and we'd be caught up in no time.

[11] My first "real" dinner - I forgot to take the baggie of innards out of the cornish game hen. Tasted great though.

[12] My first irate call when I worked at American Airlines. 1992. Mr G*nsh*w (not sure of the spelling) couldn't confirm his billing address for his american express card... started swearing and yelling and I held it together to transfer the call -- I knew where she was sitting to go talk to her after I got off the phone because I could her her saying, "This is a business conversation, Mr. G and ...." and he'd hung up on her. I was shaking I was so upset. Creep.

[13] My first really embarrassing moment. I'm not easily embarrassed... but breaking a diving board -- well -- it is hard to live down. Yeah, Yeah, the guy said it had a crack in it... but holy cow!!

Thanks to PJ

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Just For Fun -- I AM THE THUMB

You Are the Thumb

You're unique and flexible. And you defy any category. Mentally strong and agile, you do things your own way. And you do them well. You are a natural leader... but also truly a loner. You inspire many but connect with few.

I know I'm getting old

I just don't get myspace. And I'm an internet addict. (did anyone see the study trying to figure out if internet addiction is a real ailment? I think it is just another substitute for a hole in a life... but that is another post that will take more time than I want to put into it right now, maybe ever, really.)

I mean, I met my awesome adorable himself on aol in 1997 -- (Jack, if you're reading this, you would have been maybe 10 or 11...) -- I'm pretty hip for 39... in many many ways... and I'm not knocking it by any means... the whole friends thing -- it reminds me of a popularity contest -- people I don't know, don't have anything in common with... requesting to be friends... online networking I get -- but "Hot Layouts" is obviously something I don't have on myspace profile or page... so why advertise where your audience isn't going to be?

And a part of me doesn't give a flying _______ about it -- but a part of me wants to be sure to keep up with technology, trends etc... though I think letting go of that needing to be 'in the know' is losing its grasp on me.... which is a relief. But for whatever reason, myspace frustrates me.

This makes me sound like a huge loser, I think... oh well. Yay. I don't care. (It is a big step for me to not care what people I don't know think about me... really...)

Happy Friday the 13th

It's raining!! Usually I sleep with the door cracked open, and this morning it was closed because it was really windy last night and it creaking back and forth would've driven me nuts... anyway -- I heard what sounded like rain, and thought "No one -- not ONE radio person said there even MIGHT be rain... !" Not that I'm complaining about rain -- we love here in the desert!! And it wasn't driving rain... more like spitting -- refreshing.

I'm grumpy today -- trying hard to come out of it -- went to bed at 9:30 or 10:00 and meant to be in bed by 8pm... luckily I hadn't gone to sleep 'cuz my cell rang at 9:03 with a panicked musical director on the other end... but all is well.

I'm loving my new job, but don't have time to say much! Off to work!!

Edited for grammar.

Thursday Thirteen A Day Late

oops. Just a few days ago it was Monday and I had plenty of time!!

Thirteen Names I Reject as Possible Quartet Names

1. Dry Heat
2. Tons-O-Fun
3. Freedom Fire
4. Double Down
5. LOL
6. Spitfire
7. All-In-One
8. Vocal Deluxe
9. Desert Heat
10. Mixed Nuts
11. Ring-A-Lings
12. Cactus Flowers
13. BaRing It! (would be cute for a YWIH/Rising Star quartet!!)

In Honor of an anniversary

Yerdoingitwrong has an blog-a-versary April 4th. And today (April 6th) is our 9 year first wedding anniversary (The Scotland -Legal- ceremony in North Berwick, Scotland). So in honor of anniversaries:

1. What is your favorite kind of milkshake?

Oreo Cookie

2. What is your fantasy job?

Leading Lady in Musicals

3. Do you consider yourself a "neat freak" or can you handle a little mess?

Some things are a mess, other things are orderly. I prefer orderly (organized), but my priorities aren't in keeping things clean or put away -- life's too short. I hate routine, but there is a certain freedom in keeping good house habits... slowly but surely I'm getting better.

4. What are your thoughts about tattoos?

I believe a little tattoo goes a long way.

5. Where would you go on your fantasy vacation? Who would you want to be with you?

I'll have to get back to this one... have to get ready for work!

mileage

I just looked at the route I walked yesterday morning -- 1.5 miles! I thought an hour was a long time! Whoo-hoo! And this morning we did 3/4 mile. I am feeling the difference in my stamina with my back (YYYAAAAAAAAYYYYYY), and I think we're learning how to "good walk" -which means I'm not going for a pull... this morning was rather staid - a nice steady pace, but not a constant straining forward by Rascal :D

The job is going great - will write more when things have evened out a little bit. I was there 8am - 6pm yesterday -- and not thinking of food -- When I'm so busy and thinking about stuff that I don't think about when and what to eat, THAT is a VERY good thing!!

Proverbs 25:15 ~ sounds pretty close...

"Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone."

Thanks to pal L (tenor in new quartet) for her 'can't resist a challenge' personality :D :D

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - *
Just for the record: I was up BEFORE 5am... dressed, had chocolate milk, sent an email as proof I was up, dressed & functioning at 5:07 am -- and now at 6:32 am I've still not had any coffee! Walked Rascal - took him on a long walk this morning cuz he got gypped yesterday :-(.

It helped to go to bed at 9:15pm.

*pats self on back* :D :D

It's Thursday AGAIN?!

Dang, where DID the week go?!!

13 Things I can see from my desk/computer area:

[1] Quilt Calendar -- ever since doing "Quilters" in college, I have plans to actually BE a quilter... I consider scrapbooking kind of like quilting with paper. My mom does calendars every year with all family members birthdays - and this year's calendar is awesome, and it came complete with the quilting pictures patterns!

[2] Old Sticky notes {1} Acount number for something, a number I don't know what it is for, "scan photos of Dan" "Paper piece prickly pear" {2} 2/7/07 "Anti-procrastination Wednesday" Card Class- create 2 cards {3} Project Index - list project ideas - instructions, what pieces I have and where I stored them. well, I've just tossed 2 of them!

[3] Inspirational quotes related to consistency and persistence, such as "Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries." ~ James Michener. This paper is neon green and taped to my

[4] Cabinet himself attached to the wall - holds all sorts of fun stuff, not quite organized, but getting there. I can smell the Incense I keep in there mmmmmmm....

[5] paper clip holder

[6] "The Thing" a friend made for me when he took his pottery class in college. So funny because he thought it was going to be an easy A, and he had to do more for that class than most of his advanced business classes... I use it to hold pens and stuff I'm not quite sure what to do with.

[7] Avon 'Naturals' - Plumeria Body Lotion. Not wild about it, but ya know, it gets dry here in the desert!

[8] A Stack of Barbershop quartet CD's I need to burn onto my hard drive.

[9] My calendar, open to April -- already very full.

[10] Glass of water

[11] Magnet board with more out-of-date stuff on it - a Fringe Festival postcard from 2003, a Scottish train postcard... I think it is the train used in the Harry Potter movies... but I could be wrong... a magnetic calendar you get from realtors you don't know, still on January, a Scotland Flag magnet that has a temperature thingey, it looks like it reads 71 degrees, a weiner dog magnet - couldn't resist a bargain at Target, an Arizona clip magnet with I'm not sure what kind of old papers clipped to it -- looks like last summer's plans to go visit my pal in Calif., my old Fellowship Square nametag (it's magnetic), "It's good to be queen" magnet, a 10% off salon service -- a gal from chorus moved salons and drumming up a clientele.... and a list of albums and album projects I want to do -- woefully out of date.

[12] my back scratcher. I love, adore *delight in* having my back scratched. himself isn't all that interested and gets bored quickly -- he really hasn't bothered to learn how it can lead to more nooky... his loss. I have 2 backscratchers in the house... I've been known to scratch my back against a corner I've been so itchy. Scratching my back is an extreme pleasure. I also like have foot massages.

[13] The 4-packs of clear ornaments I bought at Michael's to decorate for Christmas gifts last year. They're unopened, undecorated... I seriously need to have that Christmas in July Craft Weekend -- get started on what kind of Christmas cards I want to do, what crafts I need to start working on... yikes.

ta da!

Funny 13 entry (parental guidance suggested)

ahhhhh... Coffee

Sometimes the first sip of coffee in the morning is just like sipping nectar of the Gods ~ this was one of those mornings... took Rascal for a walk... we're still mostly going for a 'pull' -- came back, heated up yesterday's coffee (it was even OLD coffee!) - milk, splenda -- unloaded the dishwasher while it heated up in the microwave. First sip -- just splendid :D !

I'm still yawning etc... I've worked both days I usually have off, and will be working the rest of this week -- love what I'm doing but the mornings have always been hard. So again, Thank the good Lord for giving us the intelligence to create Coffee!!

Go here to read a brilliant haiku on coffee (down the page a bit....)

Happy Hump-Day!

blog things

Found this on Kat's blog...

You're a Pack Rat in Training

You know those crazy old people with a ton of video tapes and cats? Well, you're training to be one. Time to do some spring cleaning. Even if it isn't spring!

Are You a Pack Rat?

More Changes

My Phoenix quartet is breaking up for certain. I was in fantasyland I guess, thinking that we'd re-register and wait out the time that the bass needed for her family. No one else had that thought, apparently. Reality strikes and I'm bummed.

I think I've already pissed off a someone in my new job...

Here's pictures of cute dogs at the 4th Avenue Street Fair a week ago Sunday:


5 dogs - seated in a row, with little hats the guy was selling... how cute are they?!!

Tucson Desert Harmony chorus won 3rd at Region 21 contest this past Saturday - 607 points - 6 points over last year's score (YAY!) - Scottsdale Chorus won with 724 points, San Diego came in 2nd place, and in the quartet contest One Voice quartet (with TDH's assistant director singing Bass) won the quartet contest with 609 points. If Hearts Afire had competed and not improved at all in our scores, we would have placed 10th.

I'm excited about the new local quartet that is forming -- different goals than the Phoenix quartet, and I have a different focus now, so that will make it different, too... we meet next week for the 2nd time.

ETA: I keep forgetting the little label thingey!

One of my most favorite quotes

When you follow your bliss... doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors, and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else.

Joseph Campbell

and a worthy runner up:
The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.

Joseph Campbell

Sunday Sense - Evidence that you can't believe everything on the internet!

"Be patient and you will finally win, for a soft tongue can break hard bones."
Proverbs 28:13 Quotations for Inspiration webpage (overcoming obstacles)
and Bible Quotes


My NIV version says:
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13

Two different websites have the same quote and reference -- I liked it, so went to double check the chapter and verse, and now I'm puzzled. Anyone got any ideas on the true place the first quote might be found?

The Message bible says:
"You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them."

I just googled "Proverbs 28:13" and came up with the correct verse. When I googled the entire quote, I got the 2nd incorrect site.

Sunday Sense is supposed to be my favorite quotes -- it morphed into fact finding... but hey, it made me open my Bible -- always a good thing :-)