PCOS again

So, I am beginning this new diet for my PCOS. It involves a lot of turkey, chicken, seafood, and beans. I'm cool with all of that. The one drawback is the same thing I have been battling for years, BREADS.
I have quit smoking with no problems, just like that. I have had two back surgeries with accompanying mondo-pain killers and I did not have any hard times coming off of those. I have had my fair share of alcohol and feel no need to make it a regular part of my world. If I make it a point to not buy sweets or chocolate, I rarely miss sugary things. I can take or leave soda altogether. All in all, I would say I am free of most of the normal vices.
Bread, on the other hand is my immediate enemy. If I am at home and want a snack, I think, sandwich, crackers, cereal, etc. It all revolves around the carbs. The pastas, the breads, the "white stuff".
I recently have been buying Matthew and I only 100% whole grain sugar free bread, which I find I like just as well as the non-politically correct white bread. I just can't find such a replacement with crackers. The whole grain pasta is okay too.
At any rate, I am getting too old not to have a decent hold on this PCOS thing, considering I was diagnosed 5 years ago now.
So, my options are being fat, infertile, and eating what I want. Or I could always bite the bullet and change my eating to become less infertile.
Matthew is very supportive, and is going to try and help me stay on track. I have to ban "all things white except cauliflower(lol)". I have to cut down on oils, butter, and fatty things. I have to stop eating red meat. I have to increase my non-existent water drinking.
I might actually start regularly using that gym membership I get charged for every month.

Only a few more days until we leave town! I am so excited, and nervous, and excited! We even bought Matthew a UV-protecting swim shirt so he will reduce his chances of having to get more skin biopsies on his back, that was scary!

Yesterday was the 1 yr. anniversary of my 2nd back surgery. It seems like forever ago though, but I have had a poor perception of time recently. We have been "moved in" for just over a month now into the new house, and already I feel like all of that painting and carrying boxes around happened several months ago.
Maybe I will get back to normal soon.

Displeasing news from the kitchen...

On my odyssey of hand-washing dishes, I found these to be the most irritating things:
*Picking up the dish washing liquid only to have my squeeze produce a line of bubbles into the air. Luckily for me, I know exactly where they end up.. on the mirror and silver frame I have on the wall.
*Getting into a super-fast mode resulting from either a "in the zone" dish mania, or really having to pee... and having the water on too fast and watching a wave or water splash on my shirt from those darn spoons! Who designed spoons!?


I need a night off!

At Last!!! Some Pictures!!

Not I

nataliedee.com
Life is moving right along currently, still have way too much to get done before we can leave Friday afternoon, but at least I can tell people how much I just hate having to miss working this Saturday, especially since I will be in the HAPPIEST_PLACE_ON_EARTH and all.

Rebate Checks!!

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_12605_DAP_Tax+Stimulus?adCell=A1

Sears and K-Mart are doing a promotion so if you change over your entire stimulus rebate check into a giftcard, they will give you another gift card worth 10% of your rebate. They are the first to do this, but I suspect many retailers might jump on this also.
It could be worth it if you're like me and could definitely spend some money at Sears or K-Mart!.

Icky

Feeling rather icky this weekend. Woke up yesterday with a fever blister on my lip, which has mutated into an entire colony of ickies on my face. This is, as usual, a direct result in my allergies and having to blow my nose so much. You would think I would be used to it by now. In fact, it wouldn't be half as bad if I had been able to find the medicine I take Saturday morning before heading off to work.. but with all the medicine boxes, there was no such bottle. I must call tomorrow and get a new prescription called in.
Saturday after work Matthew and I went shoes shopping to find him something decent for the trip to Florida. He, as a basic opponent of all "athletic" shoes, had a hard time finding anything. I had a hard time understanding just what he was looking for and "why" he thought boots were appropriate footwear for Florida, but alas, he is indignant.
I went to Avenue and bought the cutest shorts for the trip, which being "bermuda" shorts,fit me more like a normal capri should, so I was happy my short legs found something to wear!
We picked up sunscreen, top, and beach hat for me at Target, and I was pleased.
This morning I woke up with the icky-ness and was in indescribably annoyed-itching-can't-do-anything-about-it-but-whine pain. My face just hurt. We went to yet another shoe store for the magic pair, when Matthew finally decided on the ugliest Merrel boot/shoes we saw. Arguing for the side of comfort, I just can't understand why someone thinks hiking boots are OK, but I digress. Hopefully he will one day embrace the "white-soled-athletic-running-type-shoe" that the rest of us 99.999% wear.
On a crazy note, I finally got summoned for jury duty! I have wanted to do this my entire life and now I had the chance... all except for that one little thing.. I just moved out of Hamilton County! DAMN.
Oh well. We spent the afternoon up at Mom's and helped Dylan clean and set up the aquarium we have left to him. It is such a looooong drive up there now!! HAHA.
We really miss them though and it was good to get up there before our trip.
OK, off to sleep.

Friday kinda lost it's hooplah

After taking the day off yesterday and staying home to nurse my sinuses back to health, I was ready to get back to a Friday!
Work is busy, people are funny, the usual.
I worked over today and we are also working 8 hrs. OT tomorrow, which will certainly make up for me being out sick Thursday, what a blessing!
Although I was sick and at home all day yesterday, I did not get much done as far as planning the trip, writing out bills, or surfing the net. I was basically an incoherent mucous zombie until 2 p.m.
I swung by the neighborhood BBQ joint one road from me, and it was a tiny little place, with disappointing food. Matthew and I could only say we would return just for a quart of cole slaw, but nothing else!
So, being off yesterday, working late today and having to go in tomorrow for a full day has gotten me a little work-lagged. Short weekend coming up with which to cram a lot of errands and Church.

This time next week I will be on the road. YaY

AmericanPapist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Exclusive: On day of PA primary, Hillary Clinton wears Madonna Bracelet!

AmericanPapist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Exclusive: On day of PA primary, Hillary Clinton wears Madonna Bracelet!

Looks can be deceiving!

It's always best to....

leave history and religion to the historians and theologians.
Case in point: Idiot. Click Here.

Round 2

My nose had just began to heal from When-Allergies-Attack, round 1. Now I am more miserable and even more yucky, and you just don't want to be around me at all.
:-(
On a good note....
CLICK HERE

What the World doesn't need now.. MORE NUTS!!

Sorry, Michael. She is a little nutzo. Click HERE.

Also, for those afraid to swim, one more reason to get all jelly-legged. Click HERE.

A BIG Thank You to the Doctors and Nurses!

Prayer for Doctors and Nurses
O merciful Father, who have wonderfully fashioned man in your own image, and have made his body to be a temple of the Holy Spirit, sanctify, we pray you, our doctors and nurses and all those whom you have called to study and practice the arts of healing the sick and the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them in body and soul, and bless their work, that they may give comfort to those for whose salvation your Son became Man, lived on this earth, healed the sick, and suffered and died on the Cross. Amen.

This prayer I found on this website (click here) is remarkable.
I am very thankful today for news that my Dad's procedure this morning found a lot of pre-cancerous polyps that were able to be removed! They told him and my Mom to be thankful the doctor ordered the test to be done, because another year would have meant a different scenario altogether. What a truly blessed day!
My nephew is also having a medical procedure on his foot this afternoon, so I think it must be "medical day" at the ranch.

Prayer for Healing
O God who are the only source of health and healing, the spirit of calm and the central peace of this universe, grant to me such a consciousness of your indwelling and surrounding presence that I may permit you to give me health and strength and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Upcoming Vacation

We are taking a short-vacation-long-weekend trip to Orlando coming up on May 2nd!
I am so excited to be able to do it, after scrimping and saving and holding a little extra back.
Matthew's B-Day is that Saturday, so we also have the excuse of birthday-extravaganza.
We are booked and will stay at the Coronado Springs for 2 nights. My first time staying at the mid-tier Disney resort, so it will be special.
We are taking our friend Michael who went with us back in December. This also helped trim our costs, since we will be sharing fuel and resort fees. I am constantly on AAA's website (click here) to get the fuel estimates.
We still have a day pass from our 2004 trip, so we have that covered. We will be hanging out at the resort pool, Downtown Disney, and going to Universal's CityWalk on Saturday, spending from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. (love those extra magic hours!) in the parks on Sunday, and checking out Monday morning and enjoying a nice drive home, stopping to sleep, and hitting Atlantic Station and Ikea in Atlanta Tuesday morning and afternoon. Basically other than driving, we will be leisurely and lazy, and poolside, and just one day in the parks with no expectations. I need to relax!
I am so ready to go!!

Change please...

All in the news.. unwed preggo celebs and the hoopla and media circus.. blah blah.
Why I'm not immediately excited about the publicity of unwed moms.. I am still a bit thrown back by the un-spoken message.
That message is... pro-life!
Halle Berry, Jamie Lynn Spears, Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, etc.etc. we could go on forever.
Well, my thoughts are at least these people are garnering attention for having these children that could have never made it.
And I don't mind that kind of mind-numbing tmz-perezhilton attention.
Just a shame none of these people have spoken out about why they chose LIFE.

Be glad for the small things in life, eh?
Oh, and Horton hears a Who is also Pro-Life.. though I can't remember reading it.. and haven't seen it... SHOCK!!!!!

What's going ON

Im old.
My high school reunion is in August.. making next month my 10 year anniversary. That is so profoundly old, to me anyway.
I am so old, that whilst cruising ticketmaster I notice that Radiohead will be in Tampa the day after I leave Orlando and I did not stop to rearrange my plans in order to see them again. There was a time when I would have done anything to see one of my favorite bands. Not anymore. I'm too darn old for such recklessness.
In fact, I remember one time I had Radiohead tickets in Boston. I was planning to fly up by myself, stay by myself, and return by myself. Now that alone should clue you in how silly I was. Fortunately I traded them to a guy in Atlanta so I could see them there at Stone Mtn. That was in 2000. When I wasn't so old.
Pearl Jam is performing at Bonaroo this year. I could go see them again for like the 10th time.. but I won't. Mainly because I can rent their concert DVD and it be "more comfortable" away from the muddy hippies.
I was also pained with knowing Eddie Izzard is doing a comedy tour stopping in both Nashville and Atlanta... but I won't go. I'll get the DVD when it comes out. Ugh.
I am so ashamed.
:-)

Wow!

Procession of Healing

Saturday, May 10
Line up in your car at Coliseum Parking Garage B
At 9:30 AM

The Procession of Healing is an event coordinated by several area pastors who understand the toll abortion has taken on our city and the pain and suffering it has caused to so many women and men. It is an opportunity for our community to come together and mourn for those we have lost--over 3100 children each year in Knoxville and to offer a chance for their families to mourn.

The Procession will be led by several hearses followed by hundreds of cars through the streets of downtown Knoxville. This will be a powerful event and a moving testimony to our community.

Please make plans to attend, and pass this information on to others who might be interested.

For more information go to
http://youtube.com/watch?v=85N7fD-9bhw
http://www.myspace.com/PROCESSIONOFHEALING





Tennessee Right to Life
Knox County Chapter
423-689-1339

Pope's Homily at Yankee Stadium..

Excerpts..
Real freedom, then, is God's gracious gift, the fruit of conversion to his truth, the truth which makes us free (cf. Jn 8:32). And this freedom in truth brings in its wake a new and liberating way of seeing reality. When we put on "the mind of Christ" (cf. Phil 2:5), new horizons open before us! In the light of faith, within the communion of the Church, we also find the inspiration and strength to become a leaven of the Gospel in the world. We become the light of the world, the salt of the earth (cf. Mt 5:13-14), entrusted with the "apostolate" of making our own lives, and the world in which we live, conform ever more fully to God's saving plan.
This magnificent vision of a world being transformed by the liberating truth of the Gospel is reflected in the description of the Church found in today's second reading. The Apostle tells us that Christ, risen from the dead, is the keystone of a great temple which is even now rising in the Spirit. And we, the members of his body, through Baptism have become "living stones" in that temple, sharing in the life of God by grace, blessed with the freedom of the sons of God, and empowered to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to him (cf. 1 Pet 2:5). And what is this offering which we are called to make, if not to direct our every thought, word and action to the truth of the Gospel and to harness all our energies in the service of God's Kingdom? Only in this way can we build with God, on the one foundation which is Christ (cf. 1 Cor 3:11). Only in this way can we build something that will truly endure. Only in this way can our lives find ultimate meaning and bear lasting fruit.
"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people he claims for his own, to proclaim his glorious works" (1 Pet 2:9). These words of the Apostle Peter do not simply remind us of the dignity which is ours by God's grace; they also challenge us to an ever greater fidelity to the glorious inheritance which we have received in Christ (cf. Eph 1:18). They challenge us to examine our consciences, to purify our hearts, to renew our baptismal commitment to reject Satan and all his empty promises. They challenge us to be a people of joy, heralds of the unfailing hope (cf. Rom 5:5) born of faith in God's word, and trust in his promises.
Each day, throughout this land, you and so many of your neighbors pray to the Father in the Lord's own words: "Thy Kingdom come". This prayer needs to shape the mind and heart of every Christian in this nation. It needs to bear fruit in the way you lead your lives and in the way you build up your families and your communities. It needs to create new "settings of hope" (cf. Spe Salvi, 32ff.) where God's Kingdom becomes present in all its saving power.
"Happy are you who believe!" (cf. 1 Pet 2:7). Let us turn to Jesus! He alone is the way that leads to eternal happiness, the truth who satisfies the deepest longings of every heart, and the life who brings ever new joy and hope, to us and to our world. Amen.
Entire Homily text is HERE.

The Anxiety

I bought Matthew a new PC game called The Ship. It was my original intention to play the game also, after Matthew got the hang of it and could teach me easily. Well, he has had this game for over a week and is now an expert. I watched him play it a few times and it is so scary! I thought it would be mildly suspenseful, but it really was frightening. I could handle playing a game as long as I know no one is coming after me. This game it seems everyone is trying to off everyone else. I could barely watch, but Matthew enjoys it a lot.
We are going to be finalizing plans tonight to take a long weekend getaway, more info on that after tonight.
I worked half a day yesterday and came home and took Matthew to get his driver's license. Now we are finally Ga. residents and drivers. Haha. I came home and took a huge nap, exhausted from "I don't know what" syndrome. After I woke up I cleaned up and watched this week's ER and the season finale of Eli Stone. We are enjoying living so close to a Bi-Lo that stays open until midnight, because we went at 10:30 last night and had the store almost to ourselves.
Life is Good.
Well, I've had breakfast and I am off to get ready for Mass.
Have a great Sunday!!

Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I got my Georgia driver's license. Matthew did not, he was not able to get ahold of his birth certificate easily Thursday, so I am all legal. Luckily, the DMV is open on Saturdays here, so he will go get his tomorrow.
Work was fun today. No one was there, and not too much going on. I was able to keep busy enough that the day zipped by.
I bought some crocs flip-flops yesterday. I wore them to work today. I need to get used to them, but they were comfy as long as I didn't think about them very long. Haha

Our meeting with Father Liam went so well yesterday! We spent over an hour and was given a nice welcome to the parish. The secretary is a nice woman who has alot of the same background as us. It also helped that Fr. has a cat who loves attention! We felt perfectly at home! This Sunday we will turn in our registration packet and be official St. Gerard Majella parishioners. If anyone needs to know who St. Gerard Majella is, click here.
After work today we went and picked up Matthew's birth certificate from his parents and spent some time with them. We then went and ate a most delicious quick-dinner at Ankar's and then to Home Depot. I wish I could tell you how many times I have been inside a Home Depot in the past month!! Matthew settled on a small weed whacker and 100' of cord, mainly because he was tired of looking at our weed-y ditch!

My Itunes for this week:
1. Somewhere over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
2. All I See - Kylie
3. Carolyna - Melanie C (I'm buying this entire CD!)

Wednesday

Finally feeling a whole heck of a lot better!!!
Nothing going on, last night we had a quiet evening at home, tomato soup dinner and it was yummy!
Tomorrow is our errands day... YaY.



toothpastefordinner.com

marriedtothesea.com

Oh how I wish this wouldn't freak me out

Hang these on your walls!

Funnies

When I get bored, I look at these War posters. I may get one or two.
::giggle::

The difference is HUGE

A Lesson in Love: Click Here
A Lesson in Hate: Click Here

If the Islamic religion began in the 7th century, well after Christ died and gave us his message of Love.. it seems like this could be the devil's response to Christianity. I am just tired of reading about hate.

...and Obama just scares the poop out of me.. Click Here.

Monday went OK, I am getting better and feeling much more energetic. We ran out and ate some Arby's for dinner and just had a lazy evening at home.
I am taking Thursday off from work to go and do the car tags/registrations/driver's licenses.
We also have an appointment with Fr. Liam at St. Gerard's so that we can officially become part of the parish.
By Friday I will be Georgia-ized.

The Pope is Coming!!

Taken from article on EWTN network website, an interview with Bush.

Q Do you think in your lifetime you might see a pro-choice Republican nominee for President?



THE PRESIDENT: I don't know. That's an interesting question. No telling what you'll see in my lifetime when it comes to American politics -- from both sides.



Q Do you think it's important, though, to have a pro-life President on the Republican ticket? What might be the ramifications?





THE PRESIDENT: I think it's important for people to understand that a culture of life is in our national interests and that -- it's also important to understand that the politics of abortion isn't going to change until people's hearts change, and fully understand the meaning of life and what it means for a society to value life in all forms -- whether it be the life of the unborn, or the life of the elderly; whether it be the life of the less fortunate among us, or the life of the rich guy. I mean, it's a moral touchstone, I think, that will speak to a healthy society in the long run.

And I don't know what's going to happen in American politics, I really don't. I do know that in order for a President to be effective he better bring a set of principles from which he will not deviate, and articulate them as clearly as he can -- or she can -- and then not worry about immediate popularity, because popularity comes and goes, but what doesn't change are solid principles. And I'm going to remind His Holy Father how important his voice is in making it easier for politicians like me to be able to kind of stand and defend our positions that are, I think, very important positions to take.



Q Mr. President, final question.



THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.



Q You said, famously, when you looked into Vladimir Putin's eyes you saw his soul.



THE PRESIDENT: Yes.



Q When you look into Benedict XVI's eyes what do you see?



THE PRESIDENT: God.

My Profoundly Nasty Weekend

I was horribly ill Friday, sinuses flaring, nose burning off my head, headache, etc. I ran a few errands and got home and did some housework. I had promised my Sister I would spend the night with her and help her at the flea market on Sat. morning.
She and my Dad came by and picked me up and I was just as sick and miserable there, too. Sat. morning I got up and helped my Sister and we got a little sunburned.. so now my face was dried out and itchy as well as runny and painful. My Dad drove me home soon after noon and helped Matthew move out the old stove. I was exhausted and ready to kick my feet up and wallow, when I noticed I had not seen Kira walking around.
She appeared to be sleeping in her favorite place underneath the buffet against the wall. I had watched TV and even fed the cats and she was still sleeping, which was odd. When Matthew came down the hall I looked closely and told him to check on her, she didn't look like she was breathing. From most vantage points all you could see was her belly and feet. Once I asked him to check on her, I sat up and noticed the paws of her feet were much too pale, hers were always bright pink. Matthew bent down and leaned over to touch her awake, but as soon as he touched her he immediately flinched and drew his arm back and then I totally lost it. She was dead, probably sometime that night in her sleep. Matthew hadn't noticed.
I was beside myself and very sad. She was our first cat we got together, and I picked her out from the Humane Society. We never knew how old she was. She was the Queen of at one time, 8 other cats in our family, but since the move, she was Queen of 4 other cats. Not sure now who will take over as the Queen, the one who gets to eat first, while the other cats wait. They will work it out, I'm sure.
So, we drove down to KMart and bought a shovel. Our yard was too rocky and Matthew could not get the hole deep enough. He put her in a bag and we drove to his parent's house where they already have a nice area for this specific thing. He and his Dad made her a nice grave and I just didn't want to look. I didn't want to watch Matthew pick her off the floor, but something made me look anyways. Strange. I did the picture slideshow as my previous entry, and although I know it wasn't very obvious we had lost her, it was all I could do that night. I just didn't want to go into it yet.
Anyhow, the rest of the evening was very somber and we got Chinese take out, came home to eat, and went to bed early.
I was still really sick the rest of the night and Sunday morning, because not only was my head all messed up and sick, but being a "woman" had also completely put me out of it. And on top of it all, my nose was breaking out in cold sores that hurt when I talked, chewed, swallowed, brushed my teeth, and don't even think about blowing your nose! I am always amazed at how many muscles in your head effect your nose, because it seems like everything I did was painful.
Sunday morning I vowed to stay home in my pajamas. I slept late and missed Mass. I ate cereal and camped out on the sofa in all of my misery. Matthew went to get a lawn mower from his parents and I dozed off (by myself! can you believe it!) in front of the TV.
When he came home I got dressed enough to make an appearance to the world as he wanted to go back down to KMart and get gas for the mower and have me see the latest and greatest in Weed Eaters. It is a wonder I got up and was able to go, but I knew I needed to get myself together and get ready for the week ahead.
The grass looks good mowed.

KIRA, A PART OF OUR FAMILY 2003-2008

Our Fickle Cats

We've been trying the Tidy Cats Breeze box/litter system since Sunday. My Mom got it for us and we were very skeptical. Would our cats even know what do do with these pellet thingamajigs? Initially, there were no takers. We had them spoiled on the Tidy Cats Small Spaces litter which they seem to be happy with.
Yesterday while home and feeling puny I thought I would check the urine-catching pad that rests under the clay pellets, and voila! A fully used pad needing changing! This was what I didn't like though, with little to no odor, you really have to check that pad drawer. The pad kinda resembles a diaper, same principle I suppose. It just made me feel a whole lot dirtier having to lift it out and manhandle it into a plastic trash bag, I suppose I am more of a scoop-n-go girl.
The second day we had noticed one of the cats had done #2 in the new box, but since the pellets are large and "track-free" they don't really adapt to being a good substance with which my cats cover their #2s. So, after that second day there has been no #2. Only pee.
So, in effect, we have two boxes side by side, but my experimental Breeze system only gets pee. In a small house you can't afford to have a uni-tasking litter box.. so I feel it must go away. I will try and clean it out and put it on craigslist, because it is an pricey system (not as much as those auto scoopers though) it just doesn't work for our cats.
Our cats like to cover their poo entirely, have a roof litter box with a lid (modesty, of course!), and also like to be able to get out of the litter box and walk into the kitchen before shaking their litter-laden paws out (instead of using the small rug I put directly in front of the catbox door!).
Alas, my cats are old school. No new litter for them, please.

Allergies!

I am home from work early today. My head just won't stop pounding.. and I can't keep from sneezing my head off.
On a good note, I went to pay my power bill from the old house today to finish it off, and they said I had paid a deposit way back when and I no longer had a balance. WooHoo! Even in my congested and cramping anguish I was so happy. I kept asking her to make sure, haha. It is a total blessing, seeing as how our cell bill is SCARY from all of the moving and having to call about everything. YaY!
Dinner at Mom's last night was very fun. Her birthday cake was excellent, even though I couldn't taste it.. I could sense it was fattening, so I was happy.
The Pope is coming!

Sinus Irritations

This morning I am safely at work, sneezing, and being congested to the max. I wish everything would just go ahead and bloom and get it all over with.
Today is Mom's birthday, and since I don't get to come up a lot anymore she is cooking MY favorite dinner! YaY.
Hopefully I will make it through work today and be able to actually taste the food!!

Sweet n' Sicky

I felt pretty crappy yesterday. Everything at work seemed to be 100 times more frustrating, and I had to work over. My sinuses are puffy and it's hard to fight sneezes.
I came home exhausted and too tired to think. Matthew was such a sweetheart. He took it upon himself to do all of my chores and his, taking care of dinner, and letting me go to bed early.
Today was better, but since I had overtime yesterday I cut out of work early today and came home to rest.
Mom and my aunt came to visit and take the "tour". That was fun :-)

New E-mail

samantha_smith80{at}comcast.net

This weekend flew past, we got a huge amount done on our family photo wall. YaY.

Our new parish, the 24 minute Mass

We went to Mass at St. Gerard's on Sunday morning. It is literally within spitting distance from the battlefield entrance, and only a few minutes from home. The priest (there is only one at this church :-P)is probably in his 40's and from Ireland. It is a much smaller church than St. Jude's and it was pretty much full by the time we had gotten to the readings. It ran over the usual hour and I was a little late getting my Nephew for the Zoo trip we had.
Last night we decided to go to Wednesday night Mass after picking up Matthew's prescription from CVS. We drove through the Battlefield and caught up on some sightseeing as we were waiting for 6:30 to roll around.
We thought the parking lot was a little bare when we decided to go on in around 6:20. Mass started on time and we soon found ourselves just two of only seven people! A couple of joggers from the battlefield came in a few minutes into it, and we were 9. By the Gospel reading we had another couple, and were 11. Matthew and I were by far the youngest. The time it takes for Mass is mostly dependent on one thing: attendance. How many people you have to line up for the Eucharist makes most Masses hit the one hour mark. Ours was 24 minutes last night.
We really enjoyed it being so small, and quiet, and more peaceful.
Glory to God in the Highest
And peace to His people on earth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Please pray for my co-worker who lost her brother today, and their family.
Into your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love;
deliver them now from every evil
and bid them enter eternal rest.

3 songs a week challenge

Now that we have decent internet service, I have begun to explore my Itunes library, making notes, and diversifying. I am going to get 3 new songs a week (new to me anyways) which I see as pretty fair and prudent. Of course, I could just steal the music for free, but that's not very civil, is it?
This week:

1. Pocketful of Sunshine: Natasha Bedingfield
admittedly, the lyrics are crap, but somehow this song is good to clean the house to.

2. Billie Jean: Chris Cornell
love this.

3. Cast No Shadow: Oasis
could not stop humming this the other day, and amazingly it was absent from my library. the world weeps.

Thinking Obama? THINK NOT!!!

Idiot. Pure Idiot. Click here... or here!

Obligatory Movie Review

Once again the planets have aligned and given me perspective. Earlier down this blog a couple of entries I was whining about the pitfalls of birth control.
Yesterday I left work early (because I could), went home and watched TV while I was cleaning and unpacking. I was channel surfing and found this old movie, 1950's Cheaper by the Dozen(click title for a wikipedia link). I was totally engrossed by just a few minutes and was on the couch, resigned to finish the movie without disruption by the 30 minute mark.
Matthew woke up from his sinus-medicated stupor for the last few minutes and watched it with me. I was so glad I had never seen the modern re-make (although I hear it had nothing to do with the family's story).
Anyway, here was this TRUE story of a couple and their 12 children (one died in childhood though) and it was amazing. Even though it had a tragic ending it was exactly what I needed to watch yesterday.
Like I said, my post a few days ago had me in a mood, and this movie completely validated my "funk" while making me laugh out loud. What an empowering movie for women, to have a family, work, and also be able to "fill-in" for your husband's career. I thought this movie was thoughtful and a testament to women's education. She was one smart woman. I particularly like the scene when she has a visit from the lady from Planned Parenthood (my arch nemesis, please click the link to read their stats!)
I was tickled this morning to find out they (children) had written several books about their lives. Maybe next I will post a book review.

Terribly exciting!

Work was work yesterday, nothing grand.
I left work and headed to the grocery store down the road from our house and decided to check out the Dollar General Market. I was very surprised that I got half of my list, including name brands! YaY.
Then I went across the street to the Bi-Lo and got a new bonus card and the rest of my grocery list. I prefer Bi-Lo now that they have the shopping list thingamajig on their website, sure makes finding the deals quick!
I came home and Matthew helped me carry in the groceries and I kicked back and did a few things around the house while he made a spaghetti dinner. It was soooo very good. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my leftovers to work for lunch today, but I am sure it will not go to waste!
We also had to continue Pumpkin's antibiotics, which is NOT FUN to administer, and took the time to trim every one's nails and put out a fresh catnip scratching board which they, of course, fought over.
:-)
Went to bed earlier than normal and caught up on beauty sleep. As if I needed it!
Haha