The infamous event...

And the terror itself is an example of the world's uncontrollability.
Ulrich Beck

My fear of some things is completely irrational. Take for instance, would it be rational to be afraid of a mammal that is approximately 1100 times smaller than I? The answer is--no. Would it be rational to say that I'm about 1100 times smarter? Well, of course it would be. Then why in the world am I afraid of such an intruder into my life? The answer is totally irrational. The answer is--because. That's it--just because. These creatures are opportunists. They don't hunt--they steal. That's offensive enough. But, they will bring the whole family too, so that all can enjoy warmth and the food they steal. Oh, did I mention, they don't use the bathroom facilities. If they need to "go" it will be right where they are (how rude). They don't wipe their feet either and they harbor all sorts of diseases.

The rest of the story...
I baked some cookies for my honey. I took them out of the oven. He enjoyed few and then left the rest on the glass cook top. I then became hungry for cornbread. I made a good ole southern cornbread (w/o flour) with cheese and baked in an iron skillet. After it was baked, I immediately enjoyed a slice. It was so good, I went back for seconds. As I was eating, my Sweetie-pie entered the kitchen and said, "Well, I'll be damned--a mouse." I nearly choked and immediately became hysterical. I had to throw away the cookies and the cornbread. There was a MOUSE in my kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The nerve of that animal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was without a clue as to what to do. That type of behavior, for me, is very unusual. I can usually react appropriately to almost any emergency situation. In this situation, I was a complete buffoon. It was a true blonde moment. Ken went to the store and bought those sticky trap things but they didn't work. Can't say as I blame the mouse, I wouldn't eat that crap either.

So, I went about my business the next day with some trepidation. I began to prepare dinner and behind the control panel of the stove, I SAW HIS TAIL!!!!!! My immediate return to hysteria began. My knight in shining armor appeared and decided to set a mouse trap. He loaded it with cheese and in less than a minute the trap worked. Death to the intruder. My Hero slayed him!!!!!!!!!!! The babbling moron (me) began to return to normal. Though, the question still remains. After such moronic behavior, is normal possible for me?

Persistance.......

...if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
How many time have I begun a project and then grown tired of it and quit. I must confess; it is more than I would like to admit. So begins my resolution for the year. I will begin not another project until all of the ones I have begun are finished. Can you believe it? I am still not finished with the bathroom. Oh, cleverly, I have blamed it on the busy-ness of the holiday season but, no more excuses. Clearly, Paul, in the above scripture, is speaking of good works--continuing in them so as to reap a good harvest. But these wise word can be used everyday for the smallest of things. Mohammad Ali, the greatest boxer, wisely said, "The will must be stronger than the skill." Well, that's where I am today. My "New Year's resolution is to use my skills wisely and with persistance. I must bounce back or run the risk of "drying out and becomming brittle." Happy New Year....

Christmas is almost here........

Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

I'm having so much fun for the holidays. I really like to entertain. I like to cook.
This year our famiy has decided to do something diferent. We are only exchanging home-made gifts. What a relief!!!!!!!!!! Bought gifts are such a stressor. We must remember that we are celebrating the Gift of Jesus so as to open the gates of heaven to us. I have been baking incessantly goodies for gifts. I've especially been concentrating on recipies of my grandmothers. They were handed-down for a reason- they are delicious.
I really like to decorate the table. Homemade center piece, hand-made placemats(snowflakes), linen napkin folding, place cards, silver, hostess gifts, etc.
Our menu wil be Shrimp and Okra Gumbo, rice, potato salad, french bread and for dessert, my grandmother's lemon cake (it's to die for). I know we should eat to live, but this is the only acceptable exception.
Our Christmas Eve will be filed celebation of family and thanksgiving for the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

South of I-10

Then come the wild weather, come sleet or come snow, we will stand by each other, however it blow.
Simon Dach
Well, today was something of a holiday here. It snowed last night. I suppose it's been about 15-20 years since it snowed last because we live so far South.
When my husband woke up he said that there was snow outside. I didn't believe him because, he is a jokster of the first order.
However, my fellow teacher made an early morning phone call to me and said, "We're not having school today because of the snow!"
I jumped out of bed to look out of the window and, sure enough, white blanketed the ground and trees. It was beautiful. What a wonderful day to stay indoors and prepare for the holidays.
It was baking day. I baked 12 mini-cakes. They have to cure fore two weeks. Tommorow, I will bake about 100 cookies. This year, we are doing homemade gifts. It really makes it special. You cannot buy the time that is put into a homemade gift.
Great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation."

I know that this is not a direct quote from Our Lord, Jesus Christ but, if you think about it, it's certainly true. Too many of us have forgotten the reason that we celebrate Christmas. Today, it seems as though too many people are caught-up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, waiting in long lines to make purchases that perhaps are really not needed. A worker in a store was killed on the day after Thanksgiving as a mob of shoppers ran over him. He died and no one stopped to help him. This is a tragic situation, to be sure, and the opposite of Christ-like.
My family has all agreed that we will no longer be giving gifts to one another. Materialism is becomming entirely too important to too many people. It is the opposite of the meaning of Christ' life on Earth which was to open the Gates of Heaven to us who he loved so purely and completely.
"The happiest person is not the person with the most but the person who needs the least."
Anonymus

How fun......

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.

Erma Bombeck

I'm so excited. I'm getting ready for Thanksgiving. It has been a very long time since I have spent so much time planning for this occasion. I'm getting crafty. Tablecloth, making decorations, the menu! We will be having stuffed pork loin, rice dressing, potato salad, broccoli casserole, old fashioned pound cake...sounds good, huh. Napkin folding, place card design, table arrangment, I'm even making my own place mats. I'm so looking forward to the day.

About the bathroom, still not finished. The list of things to do just keeps growing. Hopefully, we'll be finished by Thanksgiving.

Gotta get back to it........