Fairly Fun Falderal

As you may or may not recall, Isabella calls me Booboo. As of today, I am her class Booboo! My friend, M, didn't think it was fair that Bells' class, which her son is in, didn't have a class parent so she volunteered. Well, where M goes g goes! I was so happy to be a part of their halloween party. (I guess the parent association didn't think kids with autism needed to have class parents. They never met M!)The Dread Pirate Bella

Personally, I don't like halloween. It's darkness disturbs my soul. People are always telling me to lighten up and get into the spirit of it. Problem is the "spirit" of it is not the spirit of God. If it is not the Spirit of God the only thing left is an ugly spirit; the spirit of darkness.

If anyone rings our bell I will hand out the bags of pretzels we bought and will be properly appreciative of the creativity involved in dressing the children up. I will not, however, get into the "spirit" of this day we call halloween.

Do you 'celebrate' halloween? See above.

Do you hand out treats? Last year and this year we decided to hand out bags of pretzels to be a little less sugary. Some years I was a grinch and didn't have anything but I realized I wasn't being a light to people.

Did you get the "Dread Pirate" reference I made? Have you ever seen Princess Bride? You would have to have to get the reference!

What is your favorite holiday? Any day I decide to have family over just because. I am not a big fan of "calendar" holidays. They stress us all out too much.

Anyone want to plan to not be around for the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) with me? We can make plans!

Here's hoping all is well with you. Let me know about customs where you are. g

Finally...

...a chance to breathe.

My trip to see my brother and his bride was great. Not only did I get to spend time with them and their wonder pup, Memphis Belle,

I also got to spend time with my cousin, his bride

and their daughter and her family.

As an extra treat, I got to spend time with Dana Texas Mammie who is a delight!

I also learned how to shoot a rifle - a special kind of rifle:

Locked and loaded!

All too soon the trip was over but I got to come home to a special little girl who owns my heart and my loving family. Life is good.

Of course I needed to sleep a lot to get over all the excitement. The great Atlantic northeast is perfect for a nap with its grey skies and rain. I think I just might take advantage of it.

blessings to all, g

Freaky Friday Falderal

Freaky Friday Falderal

Friday evening and, as I sit here typing this, the Yankee/Twins playoff game is on and I am scratching my head over the news of this day.

Firstly, I see that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. Huh? The candidates were chosen two weeks after he was sworn in. Why did he win this? Have his followers finally convinced enough people that he is the messiah? I am confused.

Then I read in the paper that my state is starting a registry for autistic people. It seems we already have registries for craniofacial problems, cardiac problems and others. It looks to me that we are being prepared for a healthcare holocaust! It is supposed to be anoymously reported by healthcare professionals. Anonymous. Right. I sense that this is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Beware when the government comes saying it is doing something to help you. Big Brother is watching.

Heard a specialist in infection and disease control say he wouldn't take or allow the swine flu vaccine to be given to his children. He said it has too many additives in it like a disinfectant that has been linked to causing autism in children with mitochondrial defects. Hellooooo! Let's use our sense, people.

My darling Isabella has a stomach something. Poor thing was crying in pain and asked me to put a band aid on her tummy. Is that too cute? Poor thing just wanted to go to sleep and woke up in pain and started throwing up. My poor baby.

Have you ever read George Orwell's 1984? Did/does it effect the way you think about government? Actually, I have never read it but know enough about the premise that it has affected my life for a long time. I don't even want EZ Pass in my car but Himself insists on it. Privacy is an illusion.

Did you or are you going to get a flu shot this year? How about the swine flu vaccine? I'm not prone to getting the flu but opted to get the shot because I need to be healthy to care for Bells. Swine flu? Not on your life! It's too new. See above.

What is your idea of an ideal Saturday off? Starting Friday night, staying up as late as I like. Saturday morning sleeping in as long as I like. Then, having a quiet house all to myself for the entire afternoon followed by a nice evening with our bcf's (best couple friends - the couple we hang out with the most).

Read any good books lately? Just finished Kathy*Reichs' latest, "206 Bones." That's how many we have in the human body. It was pretty good. I figured some of it out early on, though. Also, been reading Ecclesiastes in the Bible.

Have any trips coming up? Well, since you ask...I am going to visit my baby brother in Texas next week. I haven't seen him in two and a half years and am going to suck up my fear of flying to see him and his wonderful wife. Hopefully, Dana "Texas Mammie" and I are going to meet up for lunch.

Heard or seen any craziness in the news? Let's hear about it?

blessings, g

Fear I'm Failing Falderal

October 04
Fear I'm Failing Falderal

I hate not keeping up with the falderal. By the time Friday rolls around, I am beat. I'm trying!

Around here, life is rarely boring. We may not be the most active family but our lives are full. My calendar used to have a lot of empty spaces but they are filling up quickly these days.

We need to be careful, though, of busyness. We were reminded in this morning's sermon that busyness can keep us from the truly important things in life like spending time with God and reading his word.

Busyness takes form in many ways. Those with young families find themselves running the children to this, that and the other thing after having a full day working at home or on site. Watching a lot of tv, my vice, keeps me "busy" when there is much else I can be doing. Fantasy football keeps my son glued to the tv and his laptop all Sunday. Web browsing, texting, shopping; all ways to keep busy.

What's keeping you busy today? My busyness today in particular was taking a nap! I am here on my netbook and football is on.

Do you allow too much busyness in your life? Allow? When it comes to tv and the computer, yes. Taking care of Isabella as much as I do is a blessing but not something I "choose" to do. It would be nice to have some options.

Do you "get" fantasy football? I just explained what I think it is to my son and he said I was right. Yea me!

What would you like to be busier doing? Reading scripture and spending time with God; fruitful time with God. This has taken such a back seat to tv and the computer and it is time to get right again.

What can you give up or cut back on to reach the goal in the last question? I have a habit of turning on the tv shortly after I wake up to see what is going on in the world. That can wait.

How are you? I hope and pray that all is well with and yours. Drop me a comment and let me know, okay? g

Rerun Plus

A little something from a few years ago:

November 25, 2006
True Colors (Colours for my English Influenced Buds)
Recently, I learned that the colors leaves turn in autumn are the true colors of the leaves. Green is their camouflage for the summer because of a little thing called chlorophyll. (My dictionary is getting a good working out with this post!)

Autumn is my favorite season. The crisp air and the changing leaves. Maybe one of the reasons it is so beautiful is because we are seeing true colors instead of a facade (not to say that the green of summer isn't stunning).

Truth is, everyone wears a facade at least some of the time. Most people wear a mask to keep from getting hurt. Don't you agree? It is my experience that, when I am able to gain the trust of someone and their mask is down, I see such beautiful colors! True colors! When the true colors of a person are evil, I try to be loyal in praying that they will find the Savior so their colors will become vibrantly beautiful. God wishes that all would come to Him and be in communion with Him.

September 27, 2009
I love, love, love autumn; the sights and smells. I wish I could transport those of you who have never experienced this season here.
Himself and I went with friends to their shore house this weekend. It was too windy for the beach so we hung out on the balcony and inside and then went to a fab restaurant for dinner. It's always good to spend time with them.
Sorry for not posting a falderal last week. It completely slipped my mind. This Friday, okay?
Blessings for the week to come, g

Feeling Free Falderal

September 18

For the last two and a half years (three and a half if you count a false start), I have been working through the book Walls of My Heart by Dr. Bruce Thompson and Barbara Thompson. It is described as "Powerful Keys to Breaking Out and Being Free."

Since I was fifteen years old, I have been in and out of therapy. All those counselors, all those years prepared my for this journey through which I was led by, for the most part, my friend Am. I learned that I had built walls of sadness, insecurity, bitterness, anger and many more negatives around my heart. My experience taught me why I put them there, how to tear them down and how to build new walls which are healthy for me and pleasing to God.

There is so much I want to write but I am hoping that maybe some of you will take this journey. If you have no one here to guide you through it, I hope you will ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. I will be happy to answer questions via e-mails.

The weekend is upon us and it couldn't have come too soon! I'm beat. Isabella is my companion from seven am til school starts at nine and then I pick her up at two thirty. She is with us until six pm. I love her more than anything in this world - still, weekends are good!

Do you have anyone you can talk to about what's on your mind? I am blessed in that area. I have wise friends and a great mom.

Breakfast sausage or bacon? Neither! What are you trying to do, kill me? My cholesterol is high enough. Who thinks up these questions anyway. Besides, I hate the spicing in breakfast sausage.

Do you think about whether or not what you watch or read effects you spiritually? More than ever before. I have learned that a person's brain retains memories so well that, when having brain surgery in the memory portion of the brain, memories and the feelings that went along with them are relived when probed! I must be careful what I put in here.

You can be instantly transported anywhere in the world right now for three hours. Where would you go? As of this moment, I would go to be with my friend V in South Africa to take care of her because she is sick.

Once again, are you ready for some football??? Last Sunday, because we have the NFL channel, we also have a channel called Red Zone. It is five hours of non-commercial football switching from game to game when teams get close to the twenty yard line or further if the other teams are on commercial break. My son and his buddies had a hard time tearing themselves away for potty breaks! Himself and I went to a fair in town for an hour but I enjoyed the games with the guys while reading a book.

Let me know what you are up to, people. Sending blessings your way, g

First Amendment Freedom

September 11
I Won't Forget
It was a beautiful day much like today. Temperature was around 70 and school had just started again after a long summer break. I had just finished an exercise video and was about to start the treadmill when I turned on the tv. Instead of the regular programming the station was showing a view of the World Trade Center which was expelling billowing, dark gray smoke.

I called Himself at work to see what the buzz was there since he was in the travel industry. They thought it was a small plane gone astray just as one did at the Empire State Building many years ago. While we were talking, a second plane went into the other Tower and I screamed, "OhmyGod! OhmyGod! OhmyGod! It was then we knew we were being attacked.

After hanging up with Himself, I tried to go on the treadmill. Was it shock? A need for normalcy or routine in my world which had just been turned upside down? I can't tell you but I remember that I couldn't stay on that machine but, instead, sat riveted to the television.

I called my sister and gave her office the lowdown. I called my parents, brother, friends and told those who hadn't heard yet to put on their tv's. What channel, they asked. Any channel.

Thinking about bioterrorism, I went to the nearest supermarket and bought twenty-two gallons of water and two gallons of bleach for purifying water. I then filled up my gas tank and told the Arab attendant to be careful. Next was a stop at my dd's home. She was a mess but I knew that her friends were on their way so I went to The Boy's school.

The Boy was in the lunch room and I explained to him and his friends what was happening as calmly as possible. They didn't seem spooked so I asked my boy if he wanted to stay in school and be brave for his friends. He said yes. As I was leaving, I stopped in at the nurse's office. I told her I didn't know what was the right thing to do. She told me that, yes, I did know. I immediately went back to the lunch room and took my son home.

Himself was not permitted to leave work until three that afternoon. We had to turn off the television despite the fact that I didn't want to. It just wasn't good for our boy to watch this over and over again.

Living close to a very busy airport we are quite used to hearing planes going overhead at any time of the day. One of the most eerie parts of that day was the silence of commuter jet traffic and the roar of military jets and the pulsing of helicopter rotors which occasionally swept by.

We had no idea what was to come next. All we knew was that we were together, God was and is alive and well and that His eye was/is on us.

Truth be told, I don't remember much else about that day. I was helping to care for a friend who was dying of cancer and had to compartmentalize everything to be able to cope. In the following months, I became anorexic (not for the first time), my son graduated from sixth grade, my dear friend died and I went into an eating disorders facility for three weeks to keep from dying myself. However, on September 11, 2002, the trauma hit me big time. I kept expecting the same thing to happen. It didn't, thankfully, but the PTSD Alien Hunter speaks of was and, I believe, is still rampant in these here parts.

On this fifth anniversay, I sit here and wonder when the next attack will occur and if it will happen in the same places. Could my son cope with watching a site in NYC smoking and burning for two months again? I don't care what your political leanings are but I believe this administration has strengthened our security greatly. Our borders are still porous and that is a problem we need to deal with. Whether or not we belong in Iraq will not be discussed on this site and I will immediately delete any posts referring to it.

One of my greatest fears is that we, as a nation, have become complacent. Yes, we have to get on with our lives. However, there are people who complain about taking off their shoes before hopping on a plane and many who no longer fly their flags like we did five years ago. The taxis in NYC are honking their horns loudly again unlike the control they showed for what I believe was months after 9/11.

One good change has remained, though. We say, "I love you," much more freely than we did five years ago. We are much more aware of how fragile and finite our lives are. This is a very good thing.

Fly Old Glory proudly, my friends, and pray for our nation.