and turns it into art
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Sacrifice and Reward
One week to go, and then we can all get back to whatever it was we gave up (if we haven't already!). In our house, the kids who did really good with their Lenten Promise (sacrifice or added task) get a prize on Easter. I have not had a single pastry since Ash Wednesday, but I have not been very good about doing my situps - apparently I am OK with going without, but not good about adding to my list. Julie's history teacher noted at teacher conferences that her attitude seems to have changed and maybe she has adjusted to his teaching style - clueless that she gave up harrassing him for lent, and is apparently doing well with that sacrifice. Joe and Jamie probably don't even remember what their sacrifices were to be (grooming "Champ" daily, and reading the Bible daily - respectively) as they have not performed these added tasks since Ash "Thursday".
So, how have you done with your's? Do you get to reward yourself on Easter morning? I expect that on Easter morning I will have eclairs and a smaller (by 5lbs) but still out-of-shape stomach as the rewards for my efforts (although as Julie so eloquently proclaims "but ROUND is a shape!")
Happy almost Easter! Hang in there!
So, how have you done with your's? Do you get to reward yourself on Easter morning? I expect that on Easter morning I will have eclairs and a smaller (by 5lbs) but still out-of-shape stomach as the rewards for my efforts (although as Julie so eloquently proclaims "but ROUND is a shape!")
Happy almost Easter! Hang in there!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Hello, Muscatine Iowa!
Now if I only knew who frequently visits from the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency. The person always starts on Margo's blog, links onto Sue's, and then onto mine - in order.
Assuming it is probably somebody that Margo met through her Youth Ministry travels I asked, but she doesn't know off hand who it might be. Going to the MBAEA website, I find a very long list of employees - which means looking for a familiar name is probably not a wise use of time.
We are honored at having a faithful follower, and it is intriguing to think that somebody who probably doesn't particularly know us somehow found us and keeps coming back to read our stuff. I can only hope that this mystery reader one day posts a comment and leaves a hint as to his/her identity that my site meter is unable to do.
It's fun to wonder - who, where, and why?
Assuming it is probably somebody that Margo met through her Youth Ministry travels I asked, but she doesn't know off hand who it might be. Going to the MBAEA website, I find a very long list of employees - which means looking for a familiar name is probably not a wise use of time.
We are honored at having a faithful follower, and it is intriguing to think that somebody who probably doesn't particularly know us somehow found us and keeps coming back to read our stuff. I can only hope that this mystery reader one day posts a comment and leaves a hint as to his/her identity that my site meter is unable to do.
It's fun to wonder - who, where, and why?
HEY! IT WORKED!
within days after theorizing that if I actually offered my own interpretation of the meaning of the song "Helplessly Hoping" then these random viewers who land on my blog while looking for some insight to it might actually READ my blog, two people actually DID!
Talk about the power of suggestion! Strangely, I feel as if I accomplished something.
(Thankfully, nobody left comments about my interpretaion being stupid or anything)
Talk about the power of suggestion! Strangely, I feel as if I accomplished something.
(Thankfully, nobody left comments about my interpretaion being stupid or anything)
Friday, March 07, 2008
Little Joe’s Big Bad Bruins Adventure
Corey is now 18, living on campus in Boston, and feeling a bit grown up and independent. Well, maybe not completely independent. He did buy me a birthday present (maybe the first time ever in his life without his mother putting money in his hand and driving him to a store) – two tickets for a Bruins hockey game, but of course he assumed that with the second ticket I would invite him, drive, pay for parking, and food. Over the past several years he has developed a love of the sport and was eager to see a game live. The Thursday March 6th 7:00pm game versus Toronto was during his spring break week and wouldn’t interfere with any school priorities. Then he found out that as part of the NEU pep band, he got to go to Virginia to cheer on the NEU basketball team – and he had to back at campus to board the bus by 4:30pm (Thursday March 6th). Oops – so much for Corey’s Big Bad Bruins Adventure. 
Thinking quickly, he decided that having already spent the money for the second ticket he could claim it as an early birthday present to Joe (therefore not having to spend future money on him while still claiming to have been generous to him).
So Friday through Wednesday Corey filled Joe with stories of Zdano Chara et al – watched games on TV and viewed YouTube clippings of various hockey fights. Joe was ready!
Tim and Corey got Joe out of school early and drove to meet me at work. Corey, Joe and I continued on to the city, dropped off Corey on campus, and met up with Mary in Copley Square. She usually takes the subway to North Station and the train to Billerica, but she joined us for the ride and we killed a little time exploring around Causeway St. Then Joe wanted to look in the Pro Shop – he has his mind set a getting a “Chara” jersey. For $180 he could have gotten one that would have been big on ME, but none were to be found in anything even close to his small size. Bergeron, Kessel, Thomas, Savard – none of them interested him because he didn’t know who they were (apparently Corey didn’t do a very thorough job teaching Joe all about the B’s). Jackets – no. Sweatshirts – no. Hats, foam fingers, B’s pajama’s – no, no, and no. Mary offered to chip in for anything up to $60 – no. Chara or nothing was pretty much Joe’s mood. We did find a Chara poster for $6 that I said I would get for him after the game, which cheered him up slightly. After a McDonalds meal and seeing Mary off onto her train, we headed up into the stadium – Joe’s first ever major sporting event. I explained to Joe that the seats would be up in the “nose-bleed” section, the balcony. He was concerned that people really got nose-bleeds there. Being amongst the first fans to enter, we walked the whole upper concourse and then went to find our seat. Balcony, section 306, row 15 is as high up as you can get – top row, back against the stadium wall, very steep steps to get there and poor Joe worried that if his shoelace became undone and he tripped it was going to be a long and painful fall. Still over half an hour until game time, we acclimated to the view and then went back to the concourse – me for popcorn and Joe still hoping to find his prized Chara shirt. Thankfully, even at the !! 50% OFF ALL BRUINS MERCHANDISE !! kiosk there were none to be found. They did have a cute little yellow huggy monkee with the Velcro hands and a Bruins “B” on it for $6.50, which Joe attached around his neck for the entire game.
The game started well with the B’s scoring first, but people standing up blocked Joes. He also noted how lots of people use bad words, two big smelly guys kept going past us with beer, Toronto scored eight unanswered goals, the concession stands didn’t have Root Beer and Chara didn’t fight anybody. Joe commented how “it apparently isn’t the Bruins night tonight”. We called Corey half way through the second period (he was on the bus headed to Virginia) so Joe could let him know how it was going. Joe told him to “next time get us tickets to a better game”. Into the 3rd period as the score was getting more lopsided I told Joe that if he was tired or bored we could leave early and beat the rush, but he insisted that he was having fun and wanted to stay to the end. That meant he got to see a fight (not Chara) and the B’s final goal with 34 second left. As we were leaving he headed straight for the pro shop and grabbed his promised poster and started wondering where to hang it in his room. At 10:20pm (hours past his normal bedtime) Joe called Mom (who would be in the van on her way TO work) to tell her all about it.
“Ya, it was fun. Ya, I’m tired. No I didn’t get a shirt or a coat. Goodnight Mom.”
Two tickets to professional hockey game = free
Parking at North Station = $30
McDonalds for two at North Station = $11
Poster, monkee, popcorn, twizzlers and a coke = $25
Bringing a son to his first professional sporting event = priceless
Thinking quickly, he decided that having already spent the money for the second ticket he could claim it as an early birthday present to Joe (therefore not having to spend future money on him while still claiming to have been generous to him).
So Friday through Wednesday Corey filled Joe with stories of Zdano Chara et al – watched games on TV and viewed YouTube clippings of various hockey fights. Joe was ready!
Tim and Corey got Joe out of school early and drove to meet me at work. Corey, Joe and I continued on to the city, dropped off Corey on campus, and met up with Mary in Copley Square. She usually takes the subway to North Station and the train to Billerica, but she joined us for the ride and we killed a little time exploring around Causeway St. Then Joe wanted to look in the Pro Shop – he has his mind set a getting a “Chara” jersey. For $180 he could have gotten one that would have been big on ME, but none were to be found in anything even close to his small size. Bergeron, Kessel, Thomas, Savard – none of them interested him because he didn’t know who they were (apparently Corey didn’t do a very thorough job teaching Joe all about the B’s). Jackets – no. Sweatshirts – no. Hats, foam fingers, B’s pajama’s – no, no, and no. Mary offered to chip in for anything up to $60 – no. Chara or nothing was pretty much Joe’s mood. We did find a Chara poster for $6 that I said I would get for him after the game, which cheered him up slightly. After a McDonalds meal and seeing Mary off onto her train, we headed up into the stadium – Joe’s first ever major sporting event. I explained to Joe that the seats would be up in the “nose-bleed” section, the balcony. He was concerned that people really got nose-bleeds there. Being amongst the first fans to enter, we walked the whole upper concourse and then went to find our seat. Balcony, section 306, row 15 is as high up as you can get – top row, back against the stadium wall, very steep steps to get there and poor Joe worried that if his shoelace became undone and he tripped it was going to be a long and painful fall. Still over half an hour until game time, we acclimated to the view and then went back to the concourse – me for popcorn and Joe still hoping to find his prized Chara shirt. Thankfully, even at the !! 50% OFF ALL BRUINS MERCHANDISE !! kiosk there were none to be found. They did have a cute little yellow huggy monkee with the Velcro hands and a Bruins “B” on it for $6.50, which Joe attached around his neck for the entire game.
The game started well with the B’s scoring first, but people standing up blocked Joes. He also noted how lots of people use bad words, two big smelly guys kept going past us with beer, Toronto scored eight unanswered goals, the concession stands didn’t have Root Beer and Chara didn’t fight anybody. Joe commented how “it apparently isn’t the Bruins night tonight”. We called Corey half way through the second period (he was on the bus headed to Virginia) so Joe could let him know how it was going. Joe told him to “next time get us tickets to a better game”. Into the 3rd period as the score was getting more lopsided I told Joe that if he was tired or bored we could leave early and beat the rush, but he insisted that he was having fun and wanted to stay to the end. That meant he got to see a fight (not Chara) and the B’s final goal with 34 second left. As we were leaving he headed straight for the pro shop and grabbed his promised poster and started wondering where to hang it in his room. At 10:20pm (hours past his normal bedtime) Joe called Mom (who would be in the van on her way TO work) to tell her all about it.
“Ya, it was fun. Ya, I’m tired. No I didn’t get a shirt or a coat. Goodnight Mom.”
Two tickets to professional hockey game = free
Parking at North Station = $30
McDonalds for two at North Station = $11
Poster, monkee, popcorn, twizzlers and a coke = $25
Bringing a son to his first professional sporting event = priceless
Thursday, March 06, 2008
More Site Meter fun - or - Helplessly Hoping song meaning
Besides the "Dark Town" searches that direct 100's of people from around the world to my other blog, this blog receives many hits from people looking for song lyrics and meanings (I use lots of lyrics to supplement or set the mood for my thoughts.
Apparently many folks want to understand the meaning of the Stephan Stills / CSN song "Helplessly Hoping". So, along with finding the http://www.songmeanings.net/ site, they also find my blog near the top of the search results. Sadly, they only are "on" my blog for zero seconds and then leave. Maybe if I actually offer my theory regarding the meaning of these lyrics, they will stay and be impressed.
= = = = = = =
Helplessly hoping her harlequin (the guy) hovers nearby
Awaiting a word (some indication from her about their prospects together)
Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit (with wonder, he see’s her appealing qualities)
he runs, Wishing he could fly (spirit being typically viewed as an air-borne quality, maybe he could catch her if he could fly)
Only to trip at the sound of goodbye (which certainly takes the wind out of his sails)
Wordlessly watching he waits by the window (he can see her, is separated from her, and knows not how to express himself)
and wonders At the empty place inside (loneliness and yearning inside himself)
Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams (maybe if he could take her troubles away things would be different)
he worries Did he hear a good-bye? Or even hello? (now he doesn’t know if he missed a cue from her or not)
They are one person (they have the same dreams and fears – they are one & the same)
They are two alone (they are both separated from each other)
They are three together (if they were 2 people together in love, then God becomes present and therefore = 3)
They are for each other (at least in his mind - and a neat poetic way to complete the literary cycle)
Stand by the stairway you'll see something certain to tell you Confusion has its cost
Love isn't lying it's loose in a lady who lingers (he feels it, he can see it in her, and she hasn’t actually turned him away yet)
Saying she is lost (she is stalling, offering excuses)
And choking on hello (and can’t bring herself to risk it and say yes to him)
= = = = = =
Now I'm not saying that I actually know what was in Mr. Stills head as he wrote this song. Maybe he simply stumbled across a phrase that he liked, and proceeded to assemble as many alliterations as possible into a story - never giving any thought to it all having "a meaning". This is simply my own version of what the song says to me. In many ways, I AM "her harlequin". I have lived this song. I'm sure it speaks differently to other people. Maybe instead of people searching for the meaning, they should simply create their own.
Apparently many folks want to understand the meaning of the Stephan Stills / CSN song "Helplessly Hoping". So, along with finding the http://www.songmeanings.net/ site, they also find my blog near the top of the search results. Sadly, they only are "on" my blog for zero seconds and then leave. Maybe if I actually offer my theory regarding the meaning of these lyrics, they will stay and be impressed.
= = = = = = =
Helplessly hoping her harlequin (the guy) hovers nearby
Awaiting a word (some indication from her about their prospects together)
Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit (with wonder, he see’s her appealing qualities)
he runs, Wishing he could fly (spirit being typically viewed as an air-borne quality, maybe he could catch her if he could fly)
Only to trip at the sound of goodbye (which certainly takes the wind out of his sails)
Wordlessly watching he waits by the window (he can see her, is separated from her, and knows not how to express himself)
and wonders At the empty place inside (loneliness and yearning inside himself)
Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams (maybe if he could take her troubles away things would be different)
he worries Did he hear a good-bye? Or even hello? (now he doesn’t know if he missed a cue from her or not)
They are one person (they have the same dreams and fears – they are one & the same)
They are two alone (they are both separated from each other)
They are three together (if they were 2 people together in love, then God becomes present and therefore = 3)
They are for each other (at least in his mind - and a neat poetic way to complete the literary cycle)
Stand by the stairway you'll see something certain to tell you Confusion has its cost
Love isn't lying it's loose in a lady who lingers (he feels it, he can see it in her, and she hasn’t actually turned him away yet)
Saying she is lost (she is stalling, offering excuses)
And choking on hello (and can’t bring herself to risk it and say yes to him)
= = = = = =
Now I'm not saying that I actually know what was in Mr. Stills head as he wrote this song. Maybe he simply stumbled across a phrase that he liked, and proceeded to assemble as many alliterations as possible into a story - never giving any thought to it all having "a meaning". This is simply my own version of what the song says to me. In many ways, I AM "her harlequin". I have lived this song. I'm sure it speaks differently to other people. Maybe instead of people searching for the meaning, they should simply create their own.
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