On Task Behavior

I hosted the March meeting of  our book club.  As I wrote in an earlier post (12/1/2010,  My Book Club Sisters) we sometimes actually discuss the selected novels.  This meeting was a milestone because we discussed Getting To Happy, by Terry McMillan.  Ms. McMillan is the author of the book that launched our book club over twenty years ago, Waiting To Exhale.  We even discussed  a second book.
I am so proud of us because we were so on task.  In fact, for one novel, we completed a chart detailing the  main characters, their struggles, and their successes.   Okay, so I pushed for the chart, but at least we can say we covered the book thoroughly.  As usual, our one member who rarely reads the books was long on conversation about the novel. Everybody else followed their typical roles.
Lively conversation, good food, good sister time!
Happy reading,
Sylvia

Life Scars

If you examine your body, you will most likely see some marks I call life scars.  Those are the bruises we get that never fully go away.  They leave some type of mark on your skin that stays with you for your entire life on this earth.  If you were a boisterous child, you'll most likely have several of these marks. 
On one of my fingers is the life scar from when I accidentally slammed the car door on my finger.  I was a preteen.  It healed of course, but the nail bed on that finger has been a little off on one side since that day.
One of my knees has a small raised bruise, scar tissue from when I fell off my bike, right into some broken glass.  I was in my twenties and riding down a hill too fast.  A sharp turn ended in a spill from the bike. I was old enough to know better.
My thumb has scar tissue from a cut  a while ago.  I was chopping collard greens too quickly. Again, I was old enough to know better.
It's interesting how we can look at our life scars and remember how we got them.  If we think hard enough, we can remember with some clarity the entire scene, including the pain.
I thank God for healing, even if some life scars remain.
Take care,
Sylvia

Dilated Pupils

How about this?  We go to the eye doctor in order to take care of our vision.  The eye doctor puts drops into our eyes that dilate our pupils, so the doctor can better observe what's going on inside our eyes.  Our dilated pupils let so much light in that we need special shades to see our way home.  Our pupils stay dilated for hours, so we have okay distance vision, but not great near vision.
Today,  I left the eye doctor's office wearing special dark plastic glasses over my regular glasses, and drove (squinting) to church for noon prayer service.  Once there, I could not read the Bible passages with my dilated pupils, so I listened as others read.  My pupils are now beginning to return to normal, so I am  able to type this.
In order to help me see better, I receive drops that temporarily hamper my seeing.  Ah, the marvels of modern medicine!
Smiles,
Sylvia

Delicious Temptations

Do you sometimes eat certain foods that you really enjoy, even though you know you'll pay for it later?  Younger readers probably don't know anything about this yet, but fellow Baby Boomers probably do.  "Pay for it later" doesn't refer to money, but to your body's reaction to the delicious food.  Sometimes the body pays you back with indigestion, sometimes with almost instant weight gain, sometimes with skin pimples, sometimes with thirst, sometimes with a headache, sometimes with a toothache, sometimes the desire to lean back and take a nice nap.
No matter.  Once you get the craving for that forbidden food and the opportunity to get it, you take a chance.  Just so you can feel the tastebud-tingling special sensation of that marvelous food.
Today, mine was my Mom's macaroni and cheese and meat loaf.  Ummm!
TTYL,
Sylvia

Teenage Drama

In the eyes of a teenager, life is full of drama.  The hurts hurt deeper.  The betrayals are devastating.  Does he like me?  Did they really break up?  Will she still be my friend if I go out with him?  Is she going to gossip about me?  Do I look alright?  Why, of all days,  is there a pimple on my face?  Is he telling me the truth?  Why are you in my space? I don't know why I feel the way I do!  Who am I?
How did we adults survive our teen years?
Smiles,
Sylvia

Holding Hands

While driving home today, I went past a school, where I saw a sweet sight.  A mother and her son were walking home from school.  She looked to be in her twenties, the little boy looked like a first grader.  He had his backpack on, and he was happily holding onto  his mother's  hand.  Their arms were swinging in rhythm.
I thought about how long it will be before he thinks it's "babyish" to hold his mom's hand while walking home from school.
Children and their developmental stages.  What they think is wonderful at one stage, they think is embarrassing at another.  You gotta love 'em!
Smiles,
Sylvia

Fried Bologna

Do you sometimes get a craving for one of your childhood favorite sandwiches?  They may not be properly nutritious, but the taste is marvelous.  I am in a bologna and cheese sandwich mode this week. Not cold bologna, but fried in a pan until the edges are crispy.  Forget sodium and fat content.  Forget how bologna is made.  Think about the tempting smell, the melted cheese, the toasted ciabatta roll.  Of course, a fried bologna sandwich must be accompanied by a crunchy potato chip, or 2, or 3...
What about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?  Peanut butter and Jiff sandwiches?
Thankfully, these cravings pass.  But when they show up, I usually oblige.
Take care,
Sylvia

Would You?

I watched a television show this weekend that staged situations and recorded what ordinary citizens would do if they were confronted with the situations like they were the real thing.  I think it was called  "What Would You Do?"
Actors portraying a mom and her two children did a scene in a clothing store.  The mom was openly encouraging to one child, but insulting to the other.  The other shoppers reacted in various ways- ignoring this and minding their own business, showing their disapproval with facial expressions, but not confronting the mother, complaining to the store clerk.  Some comforted the sad child and spoke to the mother about her behavior.   The reporter stepped in before things got too intense and explained what was going on.  Even though I knew it was staged, and no one on the screen could hear me, I talked at my tv screen to the mother and child.  Of course, I was on the child's side. 
I'd like to think I would intervene if I saw this situation in real life.  I would hope to do so in a peaceful and compassionate manner, even if the response was for me to mind my own business.
Take care,
Sylvia

Modern Language

I recently heard about messaging terms that parents should be aware of, and I saw some terms that were new to me.  Since I have a teen, and I also work with children, I try to stay on top of the way they communicate.  Did you know that?

143 means I love you.
182 means I hate you.
Free crib means my parents are not home.
AWT means at what time.
A3 means anywhere, anytime, anyplace.
These terms keep on coming.  Our children are resourceful.  We stay aware so we can keep them safe.
Enjoy your weekend!
Sylvia

Licking Envelopes

Some inventions are really cool as well as wise.  For example, do you still lick envelopes?  I remember the national scare we had about anthrax, and how we had to carefully check our mail because of it.  That was a tense time, and it made people think twice about putting their tongues on glue on an envelope.  Some people used a plastic tube with a sponge applicator.  You'd put water in the tube, squeeze it on the envelope glue to activate it, and you were ready to seal.  Some people wet a tissue or paper towel with water and spread this on the envelope.  I thought it was a little messy, but it was better than licking the glue.
Voila!  Along came the self-adhesive press-and-seal envelope!
Like I said, some inventions are really cool and wise.
Take care,
Sylvia
 

Walking With Dogs

I have a hard time understanding why some dog owners walk their dogs without a leash.  There is a lovely foot path not too far from my house, and I enjoy walking for exercise.  It's wonderful to walk and look at the trees.  However, many  times when  I take a walk, at least one dog owner is on the path with his dog walking ahead of him, and not on a leash.  The leash is in the owner's hand, but not connected to the dog's collar!  I have nothing against dogs, but if I don't know the animal, I would rather not have it run up to me, barking. 
I usually ask the owner to call his dog.  The owner often says, "Oh, the dog won't bite."  I insist, and the owner usually calls the dog and puts on its leash.
My theory is: any creatures with teeth will bite, if they feel like it.

Babies

It is amazing to me how fast children grow!  I look around the congregation and see little ones who were born not long ago.  Now they are making pre-talking sounds.  They are interested in the noises they can make, and repeat the noises for effect. Their little heads turn because they notice the activity around them.  Their eyes are focused. They recognize the familiar people who hold them, and seem to notice when a new person holds them. They swing their little arms and play with their pacifier- type toys.  They grab at and try to taste the necklaces and earrings  of the females who hold them. No longer are they always passive, they are beginning to assert themselves.  Pretty soon, they will be trying out their short legs in attempts at walking.  Pretty amazing.
I pray that God will continue to bless all of them.
Take care,
Sylvia

My Talented Sister Peggy

I have been meaning to mention this for the longest time, but what can I say?  This baby boomer brain has a lot of good thoughts but I must write stuff down in order to accomplish most tasks.
This is about my sister Peggy, a talented soprano, classically trained - with a unique voice that soars above the heads of people in a room. It's like her voice floats.  It is not simply a loud voice, that's not unique.  It is full, angelic without being whispery.  When you hear it, you know you've heard something special.  My brother and I collaborated with her on a CD some years ago.  It's entitled Good News, and it's available on http://www.cdbaby.com/. (By the way, my brother is a talented designer, but more about him in another entry.)
Anyway, check my sister out at http://www.peggyleebrown.net/ to hear some wonderful  notes!
Enjoy your weekend,
Sylvia

Positive Reviews

Sometimes encouragement comes from unexpected sources.  I finished my daily writing assignment last night, and checked my website (http://www.nikkimacproductions.com/) for any hits.  When I saw none for this week, I was a little discouraged, so I navigated around the site looking for ways to improve traffic.  After that, I Googled my name and got an encouraging surprise!  There were two positive reviews of my novel, Behind Church Doors.  The reviewer mentioned the main character, NikkiMac, and also wrote warmly about another character, Cletus.   What a boost!   (I posted the link http://www.momblognetwork.com/ on my FB page as well as my "Author Sylvia Brown-Roberts" FB page.)
Writers tend to be in a vacuum, constantly outputting and sometimes not getting much input.   Most writers know that all input will  not  be positive, and even some critical input can be helpful.  However, because we love the creative process of writing, we keep on writing.  I am thankful for the gift of writing.
Take care,
Sylvia

Homemade Ginger Root Tea

A couple or so years ago, one of my book club sisters introduced me to ginger root tea.  I tasted it at a book club meeting and now I enjoy it regularly.  You make it using ginger root, which is an odd -looking plant part.  You rinse the root and chop it into pieces about one inch long.  Then you put it in a large pot of water and let it boil.  I let mine boil for at least 2 hours, adding water when needed.  I let it sit for at least a day; it gets dark- a little lighter than coffee, but darker than a weak  tea.  After it sits, I strain it and store the tea in a container in the fridge.  When I want a cup, I pour it from the container and heat it.  Some folks use honey to sweeten it, but I like it with nothing added. It is soothing to the stomach and some think with lemon and honey added, it helps with a cold. 
Some stores have ginger root that looks old and wrinkled, so I was excited to see large healthy pieces of ginger root at the supermarket today!  So surprised that I complimented the ginger root on its appearance as I found the best big piece.  The young man who was stocking the produce chuckled pleasantly.  I wasn't embarrassed, I chuckled too.
Take care,
Sylvia 

Old Saying #3

This is an old saying I used to hear a lot from southern folks.

"You can't make  a silk purse from a sow's ear."

I know  a sow is an adult female pig.  I think a silk purse back in the day was valuable and classy. So I guess the saying means you can't make something or someone classy if you do not have the essential raw material  from the start.  Or, you cannot make something great out of just anything.
Close enough? Any ideas?
Enjoy your weekend!
Sylvia

The Sign Board People

Lately I have been noticing the signboard people. They wear large signs as advertisement that a sale is going on or that a store is closing for good.  They do this to draw customers to the store.  The signs kind of wrap around these men; their heads are out at the top, hands are out at the sides.  They stand at their posts all day, from early in the morning until it gets dark. There is a main business corridor around here where one usually sees the sign people.  I feel sorry for them when it is raining outside or when it is very cold.  They have on hats and coats, but they are still outside, often in challenging weather.  I wonder if they get bored.  I wonder if they get tired of standing up all day, close to the curb.  I wonder if it's safe to inhale all the car exhaust fumes while standing so near the traffic for long periods of time each day.  I wonder if they take breaks.  It looks like an easy job on the surface, but it might be too hard for some.  Well, at least the sign people are working for their money instead of illegally taking it from others.
TTYL,
Sylvia

Noon Prayer Notes

I am looking at my notes from yesterday's noon day prayer meeting.  Our minister made several helpful points and these three made it into my notebook.

"At baptism, we entered  the school of Jesus.  We graduate to glory and eternal life."

"As Christians, we are to have the one another concept."  We should love one another and look out for the good of one another. We should not just think of ourselves.

"You cannot break away from sin.  God looses you from sin."  We depend on Him.

These points don't just stay in a notebook. They have to be put into living.
Peace,
Sylvia

Thirty Minutes Off Task

I gave myself  thirty minutes to goof off this afternoon.  I ate kettle potato chips straight from the big  bag.  I am aware that I will have to put in time on the treadmill for this, but it was fun to take a break in a day filled with tasks.
While on  my break, I turned  the  tv on and watched a few minutes of a show about the messiest house in the country.  It's a contest, and the team comes in and cleans up/reorganizes the house chosen as the messiest house.  I am not usually messy, but I am not the world's neatest person.  My sister actually is, I think.  However, watching the footage of the houses was challenging.  It prompted me to get busy and tidy up my study. I stayed on task for the rest of the afternoon.  There's a lesson in this somewhere...
Take care,
Sylvia