the Blethering Spot

Oh, Jenny, I’m terribly sorry. I have tried to do the 7 Random Facts thing, but I got so nervous about the tagging bit that I just pretended to not see your post, and pretended to be away from the computer while I fretted about it. Here are my seven facts, but I can’t thing of anyone to tag. I don’t know why, I seem to have a big hang up about it. Anyway, here are seven random facts, and if I have any readers who feel a compulsion to do it too, may The Force be with you.

1. I dance around the house a lot. Not cool dancing or good dancing, just really stupid silly dancing to make my kids laugh. I particularly like doing old Vaudeville dances, with dumb tap-style stuff and those shaky hand things, with a huge stagey grin and raised eyebrows. My kids don’t really think it’s funny, they’re just embarrassed by it, which makes me do it even more. The last time I did it (yesterday) my eldest child didn’t even look up from her book.
2. When I was a kid, one of the local neighbourhood bullies put “chains” (made out of ropes) on the tires of his BMX to ride around in the snow. (Like, you know, chains on car tires.) I am proud to say I thought it was totally stupid at the time. His name was Roddy. When I think about Roddy now, I shake my head in total disbelief, but at the time, he was very intimidating. He had pimples and hockey hair, and he was a complete jerk. He once kicked my Scotties Little Softy stuffed toy up the whole street, while I cowered and whimpered and feared to confront him. Man. Roddy, if you are reading this, may your unmentionables shrivel up and fall off. You owe me a Scotties Little Softy, so I hope you’re able to access eBay from your prison cell, which is where I’m sure you’re living now.
3. I’ve never had a pedicure. I don’t plan to ever have one. My toes are gimpy.
4. I made the most unfortunate Pastry-Wrapped Raspberry Baked Brie for a little pah-tay at Jenny’s a while ago. I only had a little piece while I was there, and I thought privately, “Yech, that’s awful.” But then, the other night, I still had some puff pastry left, and a bit of Brie, and some lovely raspberries and some fresh rosemary. I thought, “Now, wouldn’t it be nice to have some Pastry-Wrapped Raspberry Baked Brie just now? Surely it was better than I remember. I’ll try it again.” So I made some more, and it was downright vile. Yes, vile, I say. I hate that, I hate it when a recipe sounds fab then turns out as a big bomb, all gross and greasy with congealy bits and soggy pastry. Urg.
5. I actually really like reading the Bible, especially the Old Testament. I’m not saying this because I want to sound pious. Have you read the Bible lately? It totally rocks, it’s full of political intrigue, and cool stories, and exciting happenings. (Plus that added bonus of being the inspired Word of God, which occupies its own place of coolness.) Here’s what I think: that Shechem dude was a total hottie, and Dinah was just a complete freak not to notice that. (Though I suppose that little defilement incident may have clouded her view.) But whenever I read that story, I think, “DING DONG! I’ll go off with you into the sunset, my young tasty Bedouin-type treat. Your heart can cleave to mine tonight over some Baked Raspberry Brie.” Mmm, mmm, mmm.
6. Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight is one of my favourite songs. Sometimes I put it on “repeat 1″ and just sit there and listen to it over and over. When he says, “I say, ‘My darling, you were wonderful tonight,’ ” I just get all emotional. Love it, love it.
7. I went through a billiards stage with my sister. She wrote a long comment about it, which you may view here, and which describes it better than I ever could. And if this comment doesn’t put you in awe, I despair of you.

*GETTING TO KNOW YOUR FRIENDS*

1. *What is your occupation?* nasty airline agent.

2. *What color are your socks right now?* black (still in uniform)

3. *What are you listening to right now?* Sarah McLachlan

4. *What was the last thing that you ate?* french bread and unsalted butter

5. *Can you drive a stick shift?* It’s one of my particular talents. I am Gwen, the Stealth Shifter.

6. *If you were a crayon, what color would you be?* grass green

7. *Last person you spoke to on the phone?* Michelle!

8. *How old are you today?* 31 and improving daily

9. *Favorite drink? –alcoholic or non-alcoholic????–* Red Wine

10. *What is your favorite sport to watch?* Hockey

11. *Have you ever dyed your hair?* I tried once, it didn’t work at all, except to burn off all the hair around my face. Guess my hair is resistant or something.

12. *Pets?* Still sad about our given-away Black Lab Lucy. Children own a guinea pig and a gerbil, which is a small consolation… I guess.

13. *Favorite food?* Turkey dinner

14. *What was the last movie you watched?* Stranger Than Fiction

15. *Favorite day of the year?* Christmas Eve

16. *What do you do to vent anger?* Joni’s answer made me snort with unladylike laughter: (Said with a sweet southern accent:) “Why, I hold it all in a sweet little napkin and carry it to the nearest garbage can and drop it right in!”

17. *What was your favorite toy as a child?* Barbies. (But that doesn’t have a thing to do with my twisted notion of feminine ideals, oh, no.)

18. *What is your favourite, fall or spring?* Fall

19. *Hugs or kisses?* Kisses. Super-close huggers give me the freaking willies, I’m sorry. Can’t stand it. Get out of my space!

20. *Cherries or Blueberry?* Cherries

21. *Jeans or Skirt?* I wear jeans daily, but I wish my answer was “skirt.” It’s because I have piano legs, sadly.

22. *Who is most likely to respond?* No idea. Perhaps my imaginary friend.

23. *Who is least likely to respond?* Mark

24. *Living arrangements?* Dad, Mom, two kids. Very predictable. But there is a standing invitation to the inlaws to move in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (yes, Mom, I mean you.)

25. *When was the last time you cried?* Yesterday. I was listening to “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and just started bawling my eyes out, big chest-heaving sobs. Not sure why. Good times.

26. *What is on the floor of your closet?* As Jenny said: “What isn’t on the floor in my closet…that’s why I have closet doors!!”

27. *Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending/tagging this to?* ?

28. *What did you do last night?* Hung around with a bunch of Home Group friends

29. *Favorite smells?* Indian Neroli. Seriously, I could walk around with a vial of this stuff taped to my upper lip, I so love it.

30. *What inspires you?* Ordinary people who have peace and joy in their lives

31. *What are you afraid of?* Rejection

33. *Favorite dog breed:* Golden Lab

34. *How many years at your current job?* 10 1/2 years

35. *Favorite day of the week?* Sundays

36. *How many cities or towns have you lived in?* Nanaimo, Ladysmith, CR, Victoria, Graz and here.

38. *Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery?* Sadly, no.

40. *Do you have a house phone that is NOT cordless?* One! Just got new phones tonight!

41. *10 inches of snow or 100 degree weather?* 10 inches of snow

42.*List the name of the person that sent this TAG to you…..* Nobody tags me, I’m just the loser who hangs around the fringes of the cool people and laughs at their jokes, hoping to be included. “Hi, guys!”

It’s not that I’ve forgotten about my de-cluttering mission. Not at all; in fact, I’ve been slowly decluttering un-postable bits of my home, such as underwear drawers. I actually do that really frequently, as it’s a fear of mine that one day I may be killed suddenly and someone else will go through my underwear drawer. I would hate someone to look at me in my casket and think, “Holey Moley, those were some nasty socks and undies she left behind. What a legacy.”

Anyhow, perhaps that was too much information?

Here’s the latest of the Shelves of Shame. This is the bookshelf in our schoolroom, which holds most of the pertinent supplies for our homeschool:

Hear! Hear! Three cheers for Gwen!!!

“Mobsey Twins.” Oh, Ron, I do love you so. Go Canucks!!!

(This is the exact picture on today’s Weather Network forecast.

I wanted to take more pictures to show you, but unfortunately I used my camera for a little movie and drained the batteries. Tant pis! Anyhow, here’s the outcome of this sad-turned-glad day:

• planted clematis (please, please live this year)
• replanted existing though dug-up-by-neighbourhood-dogs rosemary and oregano
• went for walk through “the forest” – ie/ the empty lot across the street. Admired fungi, new fern shoots and the sweetest little “moss houses” my children make frequently. It was altogether enjoyable.
• picked out good ladybug rocks
• painted said rocks
• made this lovely bulletin board, with cupcake-liner daffodil blooms:

(It’s difficult to read in the picture, but our bulletin board reads, “Five little daffodils were wearing golden crowns; they danced in the breeze in green satin gowns.” Lovely!)

Okay, I’ve finally decided to go private with my blog. I’ll keep it open for a couple days, so leave a comment or email me if you want to be put on the list!

edit: Have been thinking a lot about Adam’s comment, and think I will leave it open after all. I hadn’t thought of my blog in those terms before, and I think he’s right. I don’t want to be a person who insulates herself from the big bad world, effectively “hiding my light.” Thanks Adam!

• Recycle! For those of you that live in my town, there is free recycling available at the Canadian Tire parking lot TODAY, between 12:00 and 3:00. Gather up all your old cardboard, glass, plastic, etc., and take it there!
• FYI… also for those who live in my town: did you know that Save-On-Foods has a free recycling station in their store? There’s also a door-to-door pickup service available here, too. Don’t be too lazy to recycle. All your garbage goes into a landfill to release methane gasses if you don’t recycle…. just do it!
• Re-use plastic shopping bags, or (better yet) buy re-usable cloth bags and take them to the store with you.
• Take shorter showers to cut down on hot water consumption. Put a brick (in a plastic bag) inside the toilet tank, to reduce the amount of water used each time you flush.
• Switch to non-toxic cleaning supplies, and never, never use “anti-bacterial” products.
• Try to use products that don’t use much packaging.
• Don’t leave the TV on.
• Plant a tree or two!
• Get energy-efficient household appliances.
• If possible, bike, walk or use public transit. (Difficult to do up here, though!) If you have a big enough budget, get a hybrid car.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Switch to energy-efficient spiral bulbs.

Come on, everybody! If we all do our own part, we can make a huge difference to the sustainability of the planet. For those who think global warming is a political conspiracy, get your head out of the sand. Greenhouse gases are wreaking havoc with our environment, and it’s all due to human wastefulness and bad stewardship. God has created a perfect environment for us, and I wholeheartedly believe it’s our responsibility to treat it with respect. Don’t be a slacker… do your part!

I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then. (Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland)

Here are some re-evaluation questions I have been asking myself, ever since I read Char’s comment on one of my posts. She wrote that God’s yoke is easy, and His burden is light… so if I am staggering under a heavy burden, could it be that it isn’t God’s? These are the questions I have been asking myself over the last week or so:

1. What do I really believe?
2. Why am I doing what I do?
3. What drives me?
4. What really has brought satisfaction to my life?
5. What creates pressure in my life? What does God want me to do about it? Is it right?
6. What really is valuable in my life?
7. Does my schedule reflect my ultimate values?
8. How will my present lifestyle affect my family in 20 years?

I’ve realized many things ever since reading Char’s comment. Primarily, I have finally understood what my family has been telling me for the last five years: I cannot do anything to please God. God is overwhelmingly pleased with me already. (Why? Because He sees His own Son in me. To the Father, I am covered with Christ’s own redeeming blood, and that is more than enough to put me in right standing with Him!) I don’t need to work to gain God’s favour. Unless the things I do are done to glorify God, they’re wasted — even if they’re “good works.” When I am busting my butt doing good things out of a sense of obligation or duty, I’m not glorifying God. I’m working to please man!

So, like Paul on the famous Road To Damascus, I have seen the light! (Insert sound of cathedral choirs here.) I’m going to finally line up my activities with my priorities. I’m not going to fear saying “NO” to people. I’m not going to agree to do things, then get off the phone and rant and rave to my family. I’m going to take time to play with my kids, and take time to sit and enjoy life without feeling the burden of “I should be doing X,Y,Z right now.” I’m going to resist those guilt feelings for not DOING enough! I’m going to drink more wine! (well, perhaps not, as I drink quite enough wine already.) I’m going to play Monopoly! I’m going to dance! I’m going to sing along to Brooks & Dunn! I’m going to jump on the trampoline!

Three cheers for Char! Hip! Hip! HORRAY! Thanks, doll!