My Favorite Halloween Tradition

First you go to the farm market or pumpkin patch to pick out the proper size and shape of pumpkin. Then you bring it in the house to warm up to room temperature (this is important). You decide what design to carve. Cut off the top of the pumpkin (or bottom, or even side). Then the best part, reaching inside to scoop out the gooey, slimy guts of the pumpkin. (A pause to wash one's arms). Then the scraping, and more scraping if need be. (Another pause...). Draw or poke the design on the pumpkin, then carve. Put a candle inside and turn out the lights. Oooh and aaah, cause it looks so cool. Just before the trick or treaters come out put the jack-o-lanterns outside and take their picture. Enjoy a job well done.

I Will Be There

I WILL BE THERE ~ PHIL KEAGGY

I will be there when you cry,
I will be there when you need me,
I will be there when you fall,
I will be there all the time.

There's a road stretching out
And it leads to your desired haven.
Don't look back and don't you fear
Cause I'll be there.

I will be there when you cry,
I will be there when you need me,
I will be there when you fall,
I will be there all the time.

When you feel like giving up
And you fall on your knees in desperation
There's a strength beyond compare
Cause I'll be there.

You can believe it's true, cause I'll be there
I'll never leave or desert you
Through trials and temptations, oh I will be there,
I'll be there through the darkness, just call me.

Your every heartbeat, well I give to you
And every breath you breath I give to you
And when you're weary and you can't go on
Just look up anywhere
Cause I'll be there. I'll be there.

I will be there, I will be there
Every time you need me.
When you fall, when you fall, and I'll pick you up.

On that road stretching out
And it leads to your desired haven
Don't look back and don't you fear
Cause I'll be there.

I've been on this road a long long time ago,
And I lead you now to your desired haven.
Don't look back, but do draw near
Cause I'll be here, yes I'll be here,
You know I'll be here.

Saw Phil Keaggy in concert again last night. I forgot (I guess you do when you don't listen for a while) how comforting it can be to hear important words sung to you. Words that you want to believe, but don't always feel. This is a very peaceful song with reminders of the loving presence of God, especially through the people who love me. Maybe that's what I needed most to hear, and to keep hearing in the worrying times of my life.
And its what I want to promise those around me...just as a reminder that we all need each other.

What is this thing with refrigerators?

I was trying to tighten the lightbulb in the fridge the other day and it popped in my hand and blew out. So now the refrigerator is dark. (Which in itself is quite scary actually, I mean it was hard to find stuff in there before). But anyway, when I got home from work my husband said we needed a new refrigerator and I wondered what was going on. I thought perhaps that blowing the lightbulb shorted the thing out or something. But then I realized he was just finding an excuse to go fridge shopping. Its something I've noticed in the past 10 years or so, anytime we are in a store that sells appliances, Steve and Elizabeth are there checking out the fridges. "Ooh look, water and ice in the door." " Wow, freezer on the bottom." Cool! Split door opening." I don't know where this obsession comes from, but it is relatively harmless. I will know when he's really serious by the website comparison shopping he'll do. I will be shown all the features on the favorites list. But I did make him promise to wait until Elizabeth's home, because this is an opportunity she's waited for all her life. (Oh, man, we did buy this one before she was born...its old and I think we need a new one. Besides its almond and all the other appliances are black. I feel myself being converted.) Personally I am going to hold out for the self-cleaning model. :)

Rain, Rain go away

but now it is the rain
Possesses us entirely, the twilight and the rain.
~Alun Lewis

The rain is making people crazy. Everyone is gloomy and out of sorts. I think if the sun ever comes out again we should have to just take time off and bask in it. (But I'm sure if it does come out it will be when I am scheduled to work reference). Maybe we should just have a new attitude, like:

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. ~Roger Miller

But then we need it to be a warm rain don't we? ;)

I'm home alone

Ever notice how spooky it can be when its raining and dark and rather chilly and no one else is home to blame all the creaking noises on?
The bad thing is that I love being home alone to have some quiet time, and yet I'm not really enjoying it to the fullest. Maybe because I don't know when the boys will be home and I don't want them to catch me wasting time on the internet, as usual. *Guilty*

A Really Cool Internet site

I got an email yesterday with some very funny photographs, which I shared with my family. My son Matthew (if he were a book, he would be titled "The Internet Companion") immediately recognized them as from a website called Worth 1000. I would recommend that you do not visit until you have time to waste ...er... spend looking at the marvelous and funny things folks have done with photo editing. There are many topics to choose from including some of our favorites like penguins & pirates. The way it works is that they have contests, so all the crazy (I mean creative) photo people can submit fun images to be voted on. And you get to view the results. So thanks to Matthew for this knowledge (and all other things computer and internet), and to Terri for sending me the pictures that started it all.

Medical Aesthetics

I got a postcard today inviting me to schedule an "eyebrow lift" from a Medical Aesthetics office (?). I didn't even know there was such a thing. But it gave me a chance to have a liberating thought: I'm not vain enough about my appearance that I would pay for cosmetic procedures. I'm just comfortable with who I am.

Tendonitis

Well the report is official...the Doc says Josh has tendonitis in the right ankle. And rest is the only way for it to get better. That means, of course, no more soccer this season. There are 4 games left that he will miss. Its hard because he does enjoy playing, although the last few weeks were frustrating because of the pain. He also got a note from the doctor authorizing no gym class for 2 weeks; he was not as sad about that.
For my part I am mostly happy. Happy we have a simple, definite diagnosis. And happy that the chaos of soccer season is over sooner rather than later. I am feeling guilty for feeling happy. But nevertheless, that is where I am at. I do feel sad for my son though. Its hard to watch the frustration he is going through. And I admit to a little frustration myself knowing that this ankle issue will probably return to haunt him in the next soccer season as well. I guess I can only hope and pray for the best.

Fog & mist & moon

The fog comes on little cat feet. - Carl Sandburg

It was quite foggy over the bay today; with the fog creeping over the trees. It was settled on the water and oozing over the bridge. I think it looked inviting to disappear into, although I did not. Later the nearly full moon came peeking out of the clouds. Magical.

Wednesday morning in the Gazebo

I enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Children's Room from the Gazebo Reference Desk on my Wednesday morning shift:

• Little ones using the rocking chairs
• A toddler or 2 running to hug Curious George
• Babies sleeping peacefully amidst the chaos
• Jason playing guitar and singing in the story room
• Incredible block towers, and the stories that go with them
• Cries of "pencil" as they run for the desk (I gave out lots of scrap paper)
• Puppet shows to appreciative Moms
• Kids shimmying up the light post and climbing on the bridge railings
• Moms and tots dressed alike
• Generally happy hubbub
• Even an occasional reference question

Through some quirky twist of fortune I was away from the desk when some child threw up, and Marcia was there to clean it up. I did try out the "upchuck gel" though, to get rid of the smell.
And I still thought that the reference shift went well. So there.

Vacations should last longer...

...or at least the calming effects of getting away. I guess that coming home Monday night and then having a full work day Tuesday is less than ideal. I was calm and well rested from my time away. But somehow the moment I stepped foot in the door at home reality came rushing back. I'm sure its just attitude. Maybe I should work on having a West Virginia state of mind. I know that Anne always says the most sensible things so I guess I will have to make her my conscience instead of me. And then there's the knowledge that Adrienne and I shared so much while we were traveling that I know I have a kindred spirit I can turn to when I need a West Virginia moment.

Having a wonderful time...

I had a great trip. Who knew we could talk for 5 days straight and not run out of stuff to talk about? My husband said, "Poor Mike", but I think Mike only paid attention for the first 24 hours or so. :)
My traveling companion wrote postcards and letters and journal entries every night; proving she can write as well as talk (sometimes at the same time). Me, well, I'm not so good at the writing thing (although I got the pumpkin cookie recipe down). It was just great to be with people who really cared what I was saying, and truly responded with words of wit and wisdom. I am so glad I went with Adrienne to visit those "Mountain Mummas". I realize again how much I really have missed them this last 2 years. Maybe I will be a little better at keeping in touch now (at least for a little while).
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the boys ate lots of beef, went to a movie w/o me :( , and bought a new microwave which even now is being installed. I can't tell if they missed me very much, but there were no tears, so maybe I can think about doing this again some day.

West Virginia

Well, here I am in West Virginia. Its raining for the first time in months. (Not my fault...I don't think). Its great to be visiting with folks who I've known for years. Anne and Mike are just fun to be with. And its nice to get a new perspective on where I have "been" lately by telling it to someone else. Mostly we've talked about library stuff. But today I guess we'll talk more about what's happening here in WVa. Okay, we're off to adventures...albeit wet ones.

Road Trip

I am doing the forbidden thing and blogging from work, but I must admit its just because I'm too excited to focus on anything else right now. I am sitting at the gazebo desk smiling invitingly but there are no questions right now. (Actually a little boy came and told me that the faucet was broken in our bathroom. So I went to see and he was trying to turn it. I showed him the water comes on, and stays on for a few seconds, when you press the faucet handle down. That was my "Aha" reaction of the day.) Anyway, the minute I can leave this place I am running away with Adrienne and leaving it all behind for 5 whole days. Doesn't seem possible. It will be great fun though; I will make it so. We are stopping first in Reading to see Elizabeth, and stay overnight. It will be fun to be a college kid again, or at least to pretend. Then its on to West Virginia to visit Anne & Mike. I love to visit friends where you can just pick up where you left off last time you saw them. And it will be my first visit to their new home which is exciting as well. There is a nagging worry about leaving the boys alone, even though I know they are capable of taking care of themselves. Maybe that "letting go" will be the best part of the trip.

My daughter and I have the same friends

This is a weird thought I had, and I'm not sure what it means, but my daughter and I share the same friends. My coworkers whose company I enjoy enough to accompany them to ball games and lunches and dinners and even an occasional movie also invite my daughter along. Now this may be a case of the chicken and the egg (they invite me because of her, or her because of me...), but I think they genuinely like us both. And that's cool. I mean, I never shared my Mom's friends. Sure I'd talk to them and such...but they were not my friends. But I guess the bigger wonder is that my daughter likes hanging out with me. :) And I with her.

Looking forward to seeing you soon, E!

Serenity

You know I don't see a lot of movies. Usually figure it as a waste of money. But last night we went to see Serenity. It was violent, somewhat predictable, goofy jokes, sappy ending. In short, just the Firefly we've come to know and love. I enjoyed it. I liked that it wrapped things up (sorta) neatly, so if there are no miracles that bring the show back I can be somewhat satisfied that I wasn't left hanging. But it also left me wanting more. Obviously I'm not too intellectual in my tastes...But I did grow to love these characters, this version of "space opera". From what Matthew says it had a following at his engineering school. He says its a geek thing. But then he also followed Enterprise and Arrested Development, so I'm a little concerned. And then there's the fact that I followed DS-9 and watched everything I could find on DVD. But when you think about it, it was kind of a space western too; The small town, the constable, the saloon, the natives vs. the cowboys. Maybe I'm just a Bonanza kind of girl.