terrible traffic around Fort Knox!

time outs that work

If they were done this way ... maybe ...

don't try this at home

No. Actually. Don't try this anywhere.

I grabbed the wrong contact solution bottle this morning ... and squirted peroxide directly in my eye.

Not

Recommended

Ever!

progress on the old clock

Here's what we started with:

Here's what it looks like now:



Pretty big improvement!

She's been working on getting the works to function, and has bought a new face, which will need to be cut, and mounted. There's a new bezel and dial pan, which needs a hole drilled in it. I'm sure having a wonderful time watching it change!

a book-keeper for Christmas ...

The church treasurer came in yesterday and wanted to meet with me.

Gulp ... OK ... is this the "we can't afford to pay you this week" talk?

He said they were bringing on a part-time book-keeper to take over that aspect of my job.

woo hoo! This is me doing the happy dance!

I'd told them at my annual review that the workload had been getting heavier, and that eventually I would need help. I was just thinking of setting up a schedule for volunteers to handle receptionist tasks.

Instead ... they relieved me of my most-hated duty! The money stuff wasn't really part of my job as I started, but gradually got added in. Now I can pass it off to someone who's actually trained to do it properly, and loves it.

The lady who's taking it over is one who I've worked with before. She often subs for me when I'm out of town, and we work well together. She's organized, and LOVES money and numbers.

I'm just thrilled!

The poor treasurer ... he was trying to be SO careful not to hurt my feelings. I'm SO not hurt, that I can't even begin to express it. :) :)

see ... I think I COULD be in love ... if only ...

ordered my birthday present today ...

There were some news articles saying that there were a lot of folks out there buying guns, as they figure Obama will try and tax guns and ammo into oblivion when he gets in office.

So I went in to shop for my 40th birthday present a few weeks early. :) I'm glad I did, because they were sold out. It's on order. Hopefully it will be here in time for my birthday.

I'm still a bit puzzled at my interest in shooting. But I rented this same gun today and tried it out in the gun store's shooting range, and I still found myself really enjoying trying to perfect my aim.

language not often heard in church

There's a repairman doing battle with a stubborn elevator just outside my office.

He was here all day yesterday, and got here about 7:00 this morning to start again.

The frustration level is rising, and the language becoming louder and more ... well ... colorful.

I find myself stressed out, as though he's yelling at me!

Hoping that thing gets fixed quickly (preferably before any little old ladies wander into the building, as I think this might give them a stroke!)

good reminder this morning

I have a daily Bible reading sent to me from BibleGateway. (I find if I have a reminder sitting in my in-box, I remember to take a minute to read before I dive into my "to do" pile!

Todays's reading was 2 Timothy, chapter 2.

The first two verses caught my attention:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Am I praying for those in authority? I need to be. And I think it's particularly important since the upcoming president is one I didn't vote for. It would be easy to focus on the negative, instead of praying for God to use him.

It was good to note how God wants us to pray for our leaders ... we aren't to pray for economic prosperity, or for decisions to be made that we agree with. (though I'm inclined to do that occasionally!)

Rather we're to pray that government will, essentially, allow us to go about our business, living for God, without interruption.

Realistically, at least for the forseeable future, even a liberal government is very likely to do that! We're quite blessed in that regard here in the States.

But I do need to remember to pray for Obama. He's going to have an overwhelming job dumped on him very soon.

I also want to remember to pray for President Bush. In my opinion, he's been most unfairly maligned by the press. He's done a tremendous job under extremely difficult circumstances, and I'm sure he's looking forward to returning to a quiet life in Crawford!

Did I ever show you?

How the saddle turned out when I got it done, and hung up?

Can't remember ...

If not, here it is!

any male readers I have may want to skip this one ...

I just ordered this wonderful critter ... it SANDS the hair off your legs, so you don't have to shave.

It works great.

Consider this an unpaid endorsement!

thoughts on grocery store etiquette

I've once again been reminded why I avoid stores ... and particularly why I avoid stores on Saturdays.

Wouldn't it seem reasonable that, if a person wanted to chat with 5 or 6 friends, it would be pleasant to find a nice coffee shop somewhere? The appeal of gathering in a wagon-train-style circle, surrounded by grocery carts, blocking all traffic down supermarket aisles ... well ... it's one I just don't understand.

And I do hope that one day, I will have a life that is leisurely enough that I would be inclined to wander slowly through a store, casually looking over the merchandise in case something appeals to me. I can't fathom it ... but it sounds pleasant.

But if I do ... please let me remember to stay to one side or the other, so others who are trying to fit too much stuff in too small a time-frame have room to pass me, instead of clenching their jaw as they are forced into unwelcome-leisure as they dawdle behind me.

Anyhow ... yep ... I'm glad I can do most of my shopping online. :)

(and I'm sure anyone who would be stuck in the same environment with me is also very glad to NOT have me there!)

a local bank's new promotion

OK ... you tell me ... when you see this banner, what do you think?



It is hanging on the front of a local bank, and all I could think was ... "what a strange promotion they're having."

I read it as swipe (steal) this sign, and you get $500.

It's intended as a promo for their credit card ... swipe (use your credit card), sign the bill, and get $500.

Wondering how many of these signs will disappear if others read it the same way I did? :)

well, that was strange ...

Yesterday around 9:00 a.m., I was sitting at my desk, and a man came to the door.

We have an electronic locking system, so I buzz people in when I see them.

However, this fellow ran up to the door, yanked on it a couple times, and then yelled D_____ it! and ran around the side of the building, with a mustardy-yellow-jeep-thing driving right beside him. I had hit the button to open the door to let him in, but he was already storming off before he heard it open.

The music director heard this, and walked down to see what was going on. The jeepish-suv-ish thing picked the man up, and they drove back around the front of the building, saw music-guy standing in the door, and gave him the finger as they left.

This ... is ... very strange behavior.

I'm rather thankful that he didn't hear the door open!

I do get people coming into the building sometimes who are frustrated because they're lost, or who have to use the bathroom in a hurry, etc. But if it were something like that, I would have thought they would have stopped and come to the door again when they saw music-guy there.

Kind of makes me wonder if jeep-thing was a get-away car, and they had something illegal in mind!

weird!