On The Lighter Side

I've decided to indulge myself and participate in this Blog Party.  I still struggle with putting anything "me-centered" on a God-centered blog, but people really seem to want that sort of thing now and again. 

So please don't run away if you're looking for serious theological thinking.  Just look in the right margin for entry titles or topics that are of interest to you.

On the other hand, if you love the socializing, join in!  The Blog Party is being hosted by Lynette over at Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground.  She provides the following "Getting to know you" questions, but you don't have to use them if you'd rather not.  She asks:

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're blogging?

Chocolate chips.  Definitely.

2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?

C'mon, one thing?  Hey, it's my blog, so I can write more than one if I want to.  On the lighter side, I'd say Mountain Dew (yes, I'm still an addict), chocolate, and PEACE AND QUIET!  (I hate noise!)  Oh, and writing, and American Sign Language.  I can't even imagine life without those two.  <Shudder!>

But on a more serious side…it goes without saying that I need the Lord and His Word and His mercy and His grace…and of course my family.  I don't need to say that, right?  But in addition to that, I love the richness of my Christian friendships (both on and off the web).  And I rely heavily on my desktop and PDA Bible programs with commentaries and devotionals. 

Whew, aren't you glad she didn't ask for ten things?  I'd have given you a hundred!

3. Beach, Mountains or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?

Near the mountains, but not in them.  (And guess what, that IS where I live!)  The inclement weather gets pretty extreme in the mountain towns around here.  I love the milder weather where I am, and the ability to drive into the splendor in just an hour's time (not to mention enjoying its beauty from right here in town).  My second choice would be a farm, though I'm not up to the physical labor of farm life.  The beach just doesn't give me much of a thrill, except at sunset.  I lived the first 31 years of my life in Florida (all in the Tampa Bay area), and can probably count on two hands the number of times I drove to the beach as an adult.  For one thing, I sunburn WAY too easily.  And I don't like jellyfish.  (I was never stung, but my Mom was, and she said it was awful!)  And I'm not fond of sharks.  Or salt water.  Or crowds.  Or the discomfort of viewing nearly-naked people parading around. 

Nope.  Not a beach person.

4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?

The more physical work it requires, the less I like it.  Between my very bad back and my sedentary writing lifestyle, I just don't have much stamina.  But I guess, based on looking around at the messes that have lasted the longest, what I hate most is going through stacks of things which require decisions.  You know…papers that need to be sorted and filed or thrown away, and I'm not sure which to do with them…

5. Who do people say you remind them of?

Ummmm…nobody.  I don't know.  Do I remind you of anybody?

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying at home with the fam?

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool homebody.  I'm becoming much more social in my middle age, but I think I'd go nuts if I didn't have plenty of time just at home.  And I confess, I'm a hermit by nature.  I love to be alone.

7. What's your all time favorite movie?

Gotta be Pride and Prejudice (The Colin Firth version).  I also love The Sound of Music, and Emma (The Gwyneth Paltrow version).  I happen to think one of the most beautiful movies ever made was ruined by constant blasphemy.  It's called "Dear Frankie," and if it weren't for the blasphemy I would easily recommend it as perfect.  Superb acting, characters with richness and depth, flawless cinematography and musical score, a fascinating plot line…why oh why did they have to keep using my Lord's name that way?

8. Do you sleep in your make up or remove it like a good girl every night?

I avoid that dilemma altogether.  I don't wear makeup. 

I don't have anything against makeup.  I just got out of the habit of using it when my kids were smaller and I just didn't have the time or energy for applying it anymore.  Now I just can't be bothered.  There's not much that can be done with this mug anyway.

When I did wear it, I slept in it.  Tsk, tsk.

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn? What is it?

Not really.  Writing and using Sign Language pretty much fulfill my creative needs.  Writing is how my soul speaks.  Sign Language is how my soul dances.  I just wish I got to Sign with others more often!  I Sign to myself, but that just lacks something somehow…

10. What's one strange thing you're really good at?

Executing a three-point turn in only 6 points. 

When I was a kid, I used to be really good at picking things up off the floor with my toes.

(It's at this point in these "Getting to know you" entries that I start asking, "Is anybody REALLY going to be edified by this?")

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?

The way he put me up on a pedestal.  Hard to resist that, isn't it, ladies?

12. What is something you love to smell?

Gardenias, lilacs, and orange blossoms. Love 'em.  And vanilla, and bakery aromas, and Beef Stroganoff…all right, enough.  I'm starting to salivate.  Hey, I almost got something theological into this entry!  Salivation!

(If you don't get it, never mind.)

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.

Oh, there are so many!

When a group of people gets together to do something, I'm not good at just figuring out something that needs to be done, and then coordinating myself with other people.  It always looks magical to me, the way people just seem to know how to work together.  I've learned to say, "Tell me what to do, and I'll be happy to do it.  Just don't expect me to figure it out on my own."

I procrastinate terribly.

I suspect that people sometimes wish I didn't talk so much, especially about myself.  Like I'm doing right now.

I chronically lose too much time reading and writing on the computer.  Er...like I'm doing right now.

I'm scatterbrained.

I could go on and on, but that's one of the things that irritates people about me…

14. When you have extra money (HA!) what's the first thing you think to do with it?

I'm likely to either buy something for my electronic Bible program (a new commentary, etc), or something for my kitchen.  I do cook a lot.

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?

Can you picture a donkey braying?

My humor is very verbal in nature.  I'd rather go to the dentist than watch slapstick like The Three Stooges.  The biggest laugh I've had in the last day or so was when my 4- year-old great niece yelled at the dog:  "You are banished forever from my kingdom!  You have smelled the royal feet!"  That is hysterical on so many levels!

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?

Bed, Bath, and Beyond. 

17. What's one thing you'd do more often if you had more time?

Even more writing and Signing.  I'm pathological.  I know.

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?

Frugal.

19. Who is your favorite character of all time (from a movie or book)? (Can't be real)

Dan Jeffries from the book "Dying for Answers."  Gotta love him…I created him to my specs!  (One of the perks of being an author.  You can create the most wonderful people!)

Gerard Butler's character in "Dear Frankie" is way up there on my list, too.  And I really like Captain Picard from "Star Trek, The Next Generation." 

20. Would you want to be famous?

Not really.  I would like to be known and respected in Christian circles…but not like a Beth Moore with all of the traveling and public speaking.  I wouldn't mind the speaking, but all the hassle in airports and the butt-time on airplanes…ugh!

I confess, I do struggle with envy when people talk about getting hundreds of page hits per day on their blogs, while after a year and a half I still rarely see 40 hits in one day.  Partly it's pridefulness (pray for me about that, please), and partly it's a sincere desire to spread what I think is a vital element of God-centeredness in a me-centered world.  Which brings me back full circle and makes me almost feel like I should delete this post…

(You're reading this, so I guess I didn't delete it.  I hope it was worth the time, and I hope you'll take some more time to read other entries which are WAY more important than this one.  Here's a good one to start with.)

Thanks for dropping by!