Another prize!

Today's mail brought me another prize from the "One Heart" bloggers' contest, an autographed copy of the blogger's new "Christian romance" novel, "The Price of Trust," by Amanda Stephan.   I am always happy to get a new book, and I'll be a good audience even though -- full disclosure here, go ahead and throw your rocks --  in spite of my master's degree in pastoral ministry and many years of church-related bereavement, liturgy and other volunteer work,  I am not a religious person.   I think I have an open mind, I like to think I am a seeker,  but the answers that seem to satisfy many others don't seem to satisfy me.     Still, I love romance as much as the next gal, and I love to read, so I am excited to win it!

addendum:  I am a couple of chapters into the book and the lead character reminds me a bit of myself at that age, very trusting, filled with faith, trying hard to do God's will in her life.   This will be lovely book for anyone who is in 'that place.'

The way to my heart

It's true, I really like my cooking, but this was exceptionally good.    I love my black bean soup and french bread so much that, if I weren't me, I'd want to marry me, for sure.

Math quiz

If my container of coconut ice cream says it hold 12 servings, and if I am the only eating it, why is it nearly gone after only 3 days?

Blue Sky

 

It might not seem like much to my southern friends, but the last few days of blue skies have been a very special thing here in Michigan!   Love it.    Now if the snow would just melt . . .

Exhale

A few minutes before midnight, I got a text message from my daughter.   She wanted me to know that she has a phone again.    She didn't answer any of my questions, and sounded (to the extent that one can "sound" in text) more than a bit manic.  I have tried to phone her and can't get through to either her or her voicemail, which is perpetually full.   But that text "sound" is as identifiable to me as a voice print, so there is no question that it was her.   For the moment, then, things are as normal in my life right now as they ever are.    That's a good thing.

Fun and not fun

I drove down to visit my Detroit peeps ---  started off with a great $1.99 breakfast at IKEA, had a very nice dinner with my brother and sister (I really like my brother and sister), and finished off with three $2 gin and tonics with my sister and her friend, Nancy.  

Of course, in between I also had another dramatic dinner with Dr. Cranky, who ate every scrap on his plate but felt the need to tell everyone in the restaurant that it was 'slop' and that it was too bad they couldn't do anything right.   

Fortunately, those gin and tonics did a dandy job of smoothing things out for me.  

Working on a roadmap

I have a long list of things that I wanted to do or have and are no longer possible: a satisfying relationship with my mother, more children, a walking trip across england, a golden anniversary -- but I am having trouble making a list of things I want to do in the future.