Saturday, April 25, 2009

Blow, blow, thou spring wind


I had such grandiose plans for my writing today! I was going to drive out to Couch Park, one of the most lovely spots in town, and plug my laptop into one of the pavilion outlets and spend the afternoon doing rewrites on my book in the shade of the many large oaks, amongst the chattering squirrels, and the chirping of the birds. But alas, the weather refused to cooperate with my wishes as the Oklahoma winds are blowing in a thunderstorm. I guess I'll have to stay inside to write.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Ten favorite movie characters

I found this meme on Willow's blog and thought it so clever that I had to play along!



Idgie
Tawanda!


Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Don't call me Lawrence.


Albert
Oh God, I pierced the toast!


Antonio Salieri
Can you recall no melody of mine?


Charlie Anderson
They don't belong to the state they belong to me! When they were babies I never saw the state comin' around here with a spare tit!


Lili von Schtupp
Let's face it fellas, everything from the waist down is kaput!


Sam
I want the Rootie-Tootie Fresh N' Fruity like at IHOP.


Elinor Dashwood
Marianne, can you play something else? Mamma has been weeping since breakfast. I meant something less mournful dearest.


Eliza Doolittle
...and what I say is, them as pinched it done her in


Mama Morton
In this town, murder's a form of entertainment.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

High School Meme


I found this on Steph's blog and decided to play along. I wish that I had one of my senior portraits to upload, but I don't, so I'll try and find a picture of my old school to post.




1. Did you date someone from your school senior year?

Yes. His name was Eddie Bundy and he graduated the year before I did.

2. Did you marry someone from your high school?

No.

3. Did you car pool to school?

My freshman and sophomore years I carpooled with the kids across the road, but starting my junior year, I had a car so I drove both my brother and me.


4. What kind of car did you drive?

I had a 1976 yellow Dodge Colt.

5. What kind of car do you have now?

I have a 1996 Nissan Quest.

6. It's Friday night... where were you (in high school)?

In the fall I was playing in the band at the football games. In the spring, I was usually performing with the Madrigal somewhere.

7. It is Friday night... where are you (now)?

At home with Steph.

8. What kind of job did you have in high school?

I worked in a tuxedo shop, as well as for my dad in his veterinary clinic.

9. What kind of job do you do now?

I am a secretary/receptionist at a local real estate office and I teach private voice and piano.

10. Were you a party animal?

By no means. I was a good little Southern Baptist girl. I was very serious.

11. Were you considered a flirt?

Not at all. I was all about music and friends.

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?

I played the baritone horn in marching band and the bassoon in the concert band as well as the orchestra. I also sang in the Concert Choir (2nd Soprano), as well as the Madrigal (2nd Soprano).

13. Were you a nerd?

I was considered a "music nerd".

14. Did you get suspended or expelled?

Never. I was a very good girl.

15. Can you sing the fight song?

Stillwater High united,
Working together,
We'll never, never fail you,
victory will be ours (Rah! Rah! Rah!)
Our school we will love forever,
True to the Bronze & Blue
March on you Pioneers for SHS!

16. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)?

Steve Maison-Concert Choir, Madrigal
Charles Chessmore-Honors English
Ted Waterfall-American History
Kim Domnick-Speech/Drama

17. Where did you sit during lunch?

I usually went off campus for lunch.

18. What was your school's full name?

Then it was C.E. Donart High School. It was offcially changed to Stillwater High School several years after I graduated.

19. When did you graduate?

1978.

20. What was your school mascot?

We were the Pioneers and our mascot was a covered wagon.

21. If you could go back and do it again, would you?

Some of it I would. I loved the years with the Concert Choir and the Madrigal. I also loved performing and having leads in the musicals. (We did "The King & I" my junior year and "Guys & Dolls" my senior year.)

22. Did you have fun at Prom?

I went to the prom every year and had a great time!

23. Do you still talk to your prom date?

My junior and senior years I went to the prom with Eddie. I haven't seen him in nearly 15 years--not since his mom's funeral. One of my prom dates is now married to one of my best friends from high school and we do email one another once in a blue moon.

24. Who was your best friend?

Debi Butler--the "Frick" to my "Frack".

25. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A Broadway star!

26. Any regrets?

I wish I'd listened to my heart and done what I wanted to do instead of trying to please everyone else.

27. Biggest fashion mistake?

Double knit anything! YUK!

28. Favorite fashion trend?

I loved the large-legged, high-waisted trousers with the pleated tuxedo shirts. I really got into the whole tailored menswear look for women.

29. Are you going to your next reunion?

I'd like to.

30. Who did you have a secret crush on?

No one really. I was very picky.

31. Did you go on spring break?

In 1976 I went with my church youth choir to Washington D.C. for the Bicentennial celebrations. That was a lot of fun!

Monday, April 20, 2009

The reunion


My best friend from high school, whom I have not seen in 20 years, came for a visit over the weekend. I can't even describe what a wonderful time we had. We didn't do anything but sit and talk, as we had so much to catch up. I didn't realize, until she came here this weekend, how much I have missed having her in my life. Thank goodness for places like Facebook. It brought Debi and me back together.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Pagan origins of Easter



The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. The Venerable Bede, (672-735 CE.) a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos. Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Similar Goddesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime. Some were:
Aphrodite from ancient Cyprus
Ashtoreth from ancient Israel
Astarté from ancient Greece
Demeter from Mycenae
Hathor from ancient Egypt
Ishtar from Assyria
Kali, from India
Ostara a Norse Goddess of fertility.

An alternative explanation has been suggested. The name given by the Frankish church to Jesus' resurrection festival included the Latin word "alba" which means "white." (This was a reference to the white robes that were worn during the festival.) "Alba" also has a second meaning: "sunrise." When the name of the festival was translated into German, the "sunrise" meaning was selected in error. This became "ostern" in German. Ostern has been proposed as the origin of the word "Easter".

From Religious Tolerance.org

Saturday, April 11, 2009

I have everything


The secret of abundance is to stop focusing on what you do not have, and shift your consciousness to an appreciation for all that you are and all that you do have. ~ Wayne Dyer

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Just Yuk!


I've awakened this morning to swollen, achy, joints, (everything is swollen for that matter), achy hands and feet, asthma lurking around the corner, waiting to pounce at the slightest provocation, and a nagging headache.


But I'm in good spirits--at least I can be thankful for that! Does anyone have any chocolate?

Wednesday, April 1, 2009