Airport Music

Soooooo...as I was making my final trip to the restroom prior to boarding a question popped into my mind to which I still can't figure out the answer.

[sidebar:  I have this absolutely scientific, ridiculously habitual, near superstitious ritual when I fly. Given the fact that I have a 45 minute bladder (sometimes I get WILD and push it to an hour and 10, but that just isn't pretty). Anywho, so as soon as they make the announcement that they are boarding first class citizens, I mean passengers, I head to the head. (is that a boat term or airplane term too? Hmmm, not sure). Anyway, I go...(did you see what I did there? I go?)]

Well, today on my journey to the John, I heard the Indigo Girls playing over the speakers. And I thought, mmmm, I love the Indigo Girls. (and no, it's not a requirement for all lesbians, because I know you went there!). And then my next thought..."Well, look at them, they've hit the big time. They are playing over the main speaker at an airport....or wait. Maybe that's like the kiss of has-beens. You've been around so long and you're so mellow that we can play you in the background and it doesn't bother even the little airport mice who clean up the place at night."

So that's my question..."if you're a musician, is it the big time or the has been when you're a regular on Muzak?

Meringue Fingers

When I was in college the NCAA required the student athletes to go through a series of courses called LifeSkills. One in particular, Table Manners and Business Dining, seemed a waste of my time, given that Mama C didn't tolerate much of a stray elbow, lip smack or open mouth chewing at the table. I'm pretty sure by the time I was seven I knew where to place the salad fork and which side the water glass belonged in a place setting. Yep, I was a graduate of Mama C's homeschoolin'.

Apparently, there are some people---professional people. Suit wearing, heal clomping, Coach briefcase slinging women in the world that weren't provided the same Mama C home rules, nor the illustrious NCAA Ms. Manners course.

Ok, so where am I going with this? Well, sit down people. Buckle up because I can't make this stuff up!

Last week at the conference I was attending, we were about half way through lunch when a hot mess of a woman, also attending the conference, plopped herself down at our table, took three large bites of potato salad and then, with her mouth still quite full, decided it was the right time to introduce herself.

AVERT YOUR EYES!!!! Look away!!!!! Convince your gag reflex that you're really not seeing mashed potatoes mixed with green beans in her mouth.

(Now if Sweet Sarah were to interject here, she would probably enter a lengthy sub-text about how table manners is probably my number one pet peeve. A smack? A crunch? The loud chewers???!!! Ugh!!!! Makes me lose my appetite.)

And oh. OH. OH. OH!!!!! It gets better....
Are you ready?

Well, after snarfing her way through two plates of buffet food in the time it took me to finish half of a salad, she jumped up to get dessert.

And what did she return with on her plate???

Oh yes, a cream pie. Yep.

In nearly three bites and a few more mouthfuls of conversation she was done. ALMOST.

But it couldn't be that painless. Nope.

You see, there was a little bit left on her plate. A little bit of cream and meringue, which seemed to be escaping her fork. So what did she do? Did she use her knife to gently guide that last little bite onto her fork, ala European style? Did she turn her fork on the side and give it the old scooping slide twist?

Nope.

Of course she didn't.

She used the two year old "use the fingers from your other hand to get it in your fork" method.

Oh yes she did. I can't make this stuff up people!

Oi vey!

Perhaps I should start offering consulting classes, "Professional Table Manners".  ....on second thought, maybe I'll leave that up to Mama C.

A list-composed from 12,000 feet in the air

1. When will they invent earbuds that don't hurt my ears? Seriously, am I the only one that has sore ears after 20 minutes?

2. I secretly have a desire to name car colors in my next life. Not a secret now, I guess. I'd be good too. "aunt millie's burned caramel corn", "1991 pegged jeans", "melted marshmallow",

3. Do you think they sell used airplane beverage carts? I think Sweet Sarah and I could rock one of those things out at The Drayer! I'd get an ice scoop and a holder though--totally not a fan of the scoop with the cup method.

4. I cut some flowers for Sweet Sarah today and left them on the counter. Life is better with cut flowers

5. I really need to get some books reviews done. But they're not as entertaining to me, as say, trying to decide between "melted milky way" and "dead battery black" for the black car outside.

6. Holy wow! I'm typing this in the back row of a tiny airplane and the woman across the aisle, who is holding her near 2 year old son, does NOT believe in a vanity blanket while nursing. Might I add she is also sitting next to the lavatory, where apparently they are doling out free mileage points or crack, given the frequency of visitors today. And.. AND the boy just sat up in her lap,yelled "food" and pulled her v-neck t-shirt down to reveal his source of sans Bali/Hanes Her Way supported "food". "I have seen it all to know I have seen to much."

And with that visual image I will end the list!
Cheerio friends!

A New Tenant at The Drayer

We put out spring door baskets on Monday evening. By Tuesday morning a little birdie had paid her deposit and signed her lease.

I only discovered it because the two watch dogs, I mean cats, were on to her immediately.

Now it's Thursday and her little abode is nearly finished.

Should make for an interesting spring!

Heard at The Drayer

We often cook dinner together.  Sweet Sarah has found that she really likes to cook.  I, on the other hand, am trying to learn to like following recipes.  (I don't.  The details are lost on me.  Sigh)

I digress.

Here's a snippet of our recent conversation:

Me:  Ok, you're good sauteing the onions?

Sweet Sarah:  Yep.  I cook them until they're clairvoyant, right?

Me:  Yes, that's right.  When they start talking back to you, they're done.

:) She's so cute!

A prayer for William

All of us.  Every.  single.  one. of. us.  Every single one of us have been affected by cancer.

Damn it.  

This is a link to the GoTeamGray site.  William Gray was a student of mine, while I was at Union University.

Watch this video.  It's amazingly moving.  

And then.

Then, say a prayer.  For William.  For the persons in your lives that have been affected by this horrible disease.

Oh Lord, who does not forget us.  
Comfort those who are dealing with things they had never planned.
For those who's dream are now far different than before they learned of their diagnosis.

And for those who give care, give them rest.
Give them patience and energy.
Amen



Nothing is lost on the breath of God,
nothing is lost for ever;
God's breath is love, and that love will remain,
holding the world for ever.
No feather too light, no hair too fine,
no flower too brief in its glory;
no drop in the ocean, no dust in the air,
but is counted and told in God's story.
 
Nothing is lost to the eyes of God,
nothing is lost for ever;
God sees with love and that love will remain,
holding the world for ever.
No journey too far, no distance too great,
no valley of darkness too blinding;
no creature too humble, no child too small
for God to be seeking, and finding.
 
Nothing is lost to the heart of God,
nothing is lost for ever;
God's heart is love, and that love will remain,
holding the world for ever.
No impulse of love, no office of care,
no moment of life in its fulness;
no beginning too late, no ending too soon,
but is gathered and known in God's goodness.
 -Colin Gibson

Sweet Sarah the nurse

Well this is way overdue, but I need to express how wonderfully blessed I am for Sweet Sarah.

Last week I had my gallbladder removed and she has been the most caring nurse, cook, caregiver and most patient, patient wife.

She's the BEST!

Over the past two months I have felt pretty darn puny. And in the process I've been poked, prodded, tested, pricked and re-tested. And Sweet Sarah, the woman who didn't go into medicine because she tends to pass out, has been right there every step of the way. 

Bless her, that sweet woman!

I included this one because I think it's hilarious of Teddy and Sweet Sarah chillin' together.

HO-LEY MAN-NAAAAAA FROM HEAVEN!!!!

OHMYLANTA!!!!

Have you had these yet?

Oh my goodness!!!!  If you LOVE the corner piece in the brownie pan.  Or even better!!!!  If your favorite part of the brownie is cleaning up the brownie debris in the pan when it's empty.....THIS is your game, right here people!!!!

We picked up a bag from Costco....WITHOUT a taste test, even.  Sweet Sarah's unfiltered comment, "well, clearly those are for you!"

Yep.  Yep, that's right.  Give me the corners, the over browned, the burned sugar cookies, the nearly ruined and hard to chew brownies.  This girl right here will be their Lady Liberty.

As my grandma would say (yes, the one that made me chocolate gravy) "Now go out to Brownie brittle and get you some!!!"

March Madness at The Drayer

Yep! Read 'em and weep Sweet Sarah!
Yes dear readers, you will find Sweet Sarah listed as SAN2506, a clear TWO spots below me.

Also note, we are competing against others....but at The Drayer, well we don't pay attention to that!