saturday morning poetry

I went on an early morning bike ride today (and had my camera along). It was a beautiful, 'picture perfect' kind of day. In fact, it stirred my inner poet. However, the words don't quite seem to be falling into place...

Attempt #1:

Birdie, Birdie on the bench
Oblivious to the Longview stench...

(You see, Longview has mills so it's sometimes smelly here, but mentioning that probably doesn't help convey the right message.)

Attempt #2:

Geese and duckies by the lake
Waiting for our next earthquake...

(Yeah, we're kind of in an earthquake zone, but mentioning that sort of comes off negative, don't you think?)

Attempt #3:

Llama, llama, eating grass
You sure have a funny a$$...

Hmmm, falling short there too. Sigh. Let me get back to you on the poetry thing.

summer meme

That fun-lovin' Presbyterian Gal tagged me for a meme. So here I go!

1.) What first tells you that summer is here?
It's when my Tevas start to beg me: "Wear us to work! Wear us to work!"

2.) Name five of your favorite distinctively summer habits or customs.
* Wearing my Tevas to work (you knew that was coming)
* Backyard BBQ's
* Camping trips
* Summer concerts at the lake
* Making salads with lettuce, tomatoes, etc. from our garden

3.) What is your favorite smell of summer?
Freshly cut grass (since I have no allergies)

4.) What is your favorite taste of summer?
I enjoy eating hotdogs and drinking rootbeer floats over at Presbyterian Gal's. Yep, that tradition goes waaaaaay back:


5.) Favorite summer memory?
Any of our family summer vacations would qualify here!

6.) Extreme heat or extreme cold? Which would you choose and why?
If I had to pick one, I'd rather be cold than hot. (Because you can dress for the cold...)

7.) What books do you plan to read for the season?
Right now I'm reading Julie Andrews' Home: A Memoir of My Early Years which was a gift from Offsprings #1 & #2. After I finish that, I'm open to suggestions!

8.) How does the summer affect your faith? Is it a hindrance or an ally?
Hmmm... the only thing that comes to mind is that a rip-roaring good thunderstorm somehow seems to make me feel more 'connected'. I'm sure it's that whole nature/faith thing for me. (Unfortunately thunderstorms are rare here.)

I'll tag:
Ruth
Processing Counselor
Diane
Jiff
and
Dust Bunny

...if'n they want to play

The "Oddly Familiar" Meme

Both Jan and Ruth tagged me for this meme, so I guess I better put on my thinking cap and finally get to it!

Rules:
blah blah blah, I'm not posting them! :)

Ten years ago:
Hubby and I were working at the same clinic we're both at today (we know how to hang in there!) Offsprings #1 & 2 were ages 11 and 9 respectively. As it was nearing the end of May, I'm sure we were planning a summer vacation. (Hubby the historian would remember where we went 10 years ago, but he is taking a nap right now so it will have to remain a mystery.)

Five things on today's "to do" list:
Since the day is winding down, I'll make this about tomorrow.
* Meet Dust Bunny for toast and coffee at the Red Rooster Bakery before work
* Go to work; check many eyeballs
* Go on a bike ride after work
* Throw together some sort of dinner with whatever I find in the refrigerator
* Water the garden after dinner (unless it has rained, then I will simply admire the garden)

Things I'd do if I was a billionaire:
* Open a Dairy Queen in Artas, South Dakota because it would perk up the few residents who live there.
* Make generous donations to live theatre and live music programs because that would perk up Offsprings #1 and #2.
* Give Rev SS a really, really nice gift, even though she didn't give me one when she was a billionaire.
* Get help to figure out the best way to make a difference in the world with that kind of money (because obviously I'd need help if I'm opening DQ's in towns of 13 people.)

Three bad habits:
* Trying to please all of the people all of the time
* Buying too many books instead of using the library
* Letting the mail stack up on the kitchen counter (and unopened if it looks boring)

Five places I've lived:
Bad Kreuznach, Germany (for 6 weeks!)
Ashley, North Dakota
Helena, Montana
Forest Grove, Oregon
Loveland, Colorado

Five jobs I've had:
* Clerk at our family drug store (however, this was more play than work)
* Directory Assistance Operator (summer job during college)
* State of Montana Water Quality Lab technician (another summer job during college)
* State of Montana "Hydrologic Engineer" (yet another summer job during college)
* Optometrist

People I'm tagging:
YOU if you haven't played yet!

checking in from the road...

Hubby and I are in Bellingham this weekend visiting Offsprings #1&2. Hanging out with Offspring #2 this morning. Last night we saw Offspring #1 in Shakespeare's Macbeth. She was the Third Witch -- and darn spooky/scary I might add. The play was done in an outdoor courtyard, and the setting was "a post apocalyptic Scotland". It was an ambitious undertaking and the cast and crew did a great job. I wish I knew my Macbeth better -- I should have read the "No Fear Shakespeare" version before attending it. Oh well!

I was sneaky and took a (non-flash) picture of Offspring #1:



I could explain why she is positioned there, but gotta dash to brunch now...

another ride... another sign

I took my bike for a spin early this evening (it was gray, windy, and cold by the way!) and rode by a church with this sign:



Now I have a good idea of what to expect at the 8:30 traditional service. And I pretty much know what the 9:45 contemporary service would be like too. Of course the Korean Church is self-explanatory.

But the 11:15 "Next Generation" service? You got me there. My first thought was that it is for people like this:



Any other ideas?

as seen on today's bike ride...

It strikes me as a bit cheesy, but I guess somebody is trying to be eye-catching. I can't help but wonder if this might start a competition with church signs using the cell phone theme.

The Episcopal church might go with: God: Is He in Your MyFaves?

The sign on the Baptist church could read: Jesus: He'll Never Stop Working for You.

The Presbyterians (who love potlucks) might use: More Bars in More Places (and hope that people make the connection with dessert bars)

Hmm... On second thought, I think it will just stop with the Lutherans.

type two posts and call me in the morning...

Good news fellow bloggers -- blogging is good for your health! The June '08 issue of Scientific American has a short article about the therapeutic value of blogging/writing. Besides serving as a stress-coping mechanism (and who couldn't use that?!), research shows that it "improves memory and sleep, boosts immune cell activity...and even speeds healing after surgery." Whoa!

Now scientists are starting to explore the neurological basis for these positive effects by using tools such as brain-imaging techniques. (There are likely a cluster of neurological pathways, but since the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain govern speech, they would certainly have to figure into the picture.)

Of course one can go overboard with the writing/blogging, and there are people who do it compulsively. Hypergraphia is an uncontrollable urge to write. I don't have that... although I might have hyperphotoshoppia, the uncontrollable urge to photoshop Presbyterian Gal's face onto any possible picture.

The article ends by noting blogging's added benefit of "receptive readers in similar situations". One researcher writes: "Individuals are connecting to one another and witnessing each other's expressions--the basis for forming a community."

Good stuff! Now excuse me while I go work on another picture of presbygal...


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credits: shakespeare blogging picture found at 'emergingwriter.blogspot' via google