So True

Facebook Follies

I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook!

Love - connecting with friends who I haven't seen in more than 30 years and finding out that they are living their dreams.

Hate -always checking what friends are doing.  It just sucks me in.

The ramblin' "hate" portion:
Why?  Is it is the need to be connnected with what is going on in other people's lives?  To see if they are having a more exciting day than I am?  What friends I may get when other people friend someone?  See photos of children's first day at school, vacations, surgeries?  WHY?

I've tried not to log on for days at a time, even took a "vacation" for one month (only lasted five days).  Just missed the "action", even if it is friends using their fingers sitting at home on their computers, at Starbucks with the smart phones.  That is what I call action!

What to do?  Make a phone call at 6:30 in the morning to say Happy Birthday to someone I had no actual conversation since high school graduation?  Why not?  I will probably tick them off waking them up, especially living in a different time zone.

I currently have 203 friends.  I had 204 the other day, and was wondering who knocked me off their friends list.  What did I do?  Did I not answer their post?  Not "like" something?  Had enough of Facebook and just dropped out?

The ramblin' "love" portion:
Why not?  Is it is the need to be connnected with what is going on in other people's lives?  There sure is!  Friends who have moved on to live their dreams, on the mission field, praying for them when times are hard and hearing their praise when times are great.  To see if they are having a more exciting day than I am?  Sure!  Maybe their day is not as exciting as mine!  What friends I may get when other people friend someone?  Sure! It could be a friend I have been trying to reconnect with.  See photos of children's first day at school, vacations, surgeries? Sure!  I love it when photos and videos are posted of their babies, children, dogs, cats, vacation, surgeries.  WHY NOT?

I've tried not to log on for days at a time, even took a "vacation" for one month (only lasted five days).  Just missed the action!

What to do?  I will definitely not make a phone call at 6:30 in the morning to say Happy Birthday to someone I had no actual conversation since high school graduation.  Getting a birthday greeting on Facebook from someone you have had no connection with in over 30 years is such a blessing, that they actually took time out of their day to wish you a happy birthday.

I currently have 203 friends.  I had 204 the other day, and was wondering who knocked me off their friends list.  It is not the number that counts, but the friendships you have a connection.  Old friends, current friends, future friends.

See you on Facebook.

Stinkin' Hot!

Hot!
Hot!
Hot!
Hot!
Hot!

Did I say hot?
36 days of over 100 degree temperatures!  No relief in sight!
We also need some rain!
So thankful for air conditioning!
How did people manage 100 years ago?

Viva Las Vegas!

My husband, Bill, goes to a conference every year for the software product that he is responsible for at work.  Depending on which city it is being held, I will travel with him.  This year it was held in Las Vegas and our fourth time to travel there!

Here is some advice about staying in the city:

1. Food is expensive!  We were overwhelmed with breakfast came to $25.00 for tea, pastry and fruit for the both of us and  the same for lunch.  Before heading out, go to Groupon.com and see if there are any restaurant deals.  This was helpful for dinner.  At the the Fashion Mall, there is a food court if you want fast food and Starbucks is always available.
2. Our airfare/hotel deal from AAA gave us a $100 credit for services at the hotel.  This covered our dinner expenses for two nights.  Check travel websites for any deals.
3. Taxis are expensive.  When going to dinner one night for a two mile drive, it was $20 each way.  The taxis actually charge for sitting at a traffic light!  Walk if you can or take public transportation.
4. Where good shoes.  One day I walked Las Vegas Boulevard (better known as the strip) and got a really bad blister and had go get another pair of shoes that were a wider width so I can walk! 
5. Bring a bottle of water.  Try not to buy these at the hotels and Starbucks ($4.25 a bottle).  Walgreens, CVS, ABC Stores are within walking distance and the price is much lower.
6. Go out in the mornings, rest in the afternoon and go out in the evening.  In the evening, Las Vegas come alive.  It will be hot, especially if you travel in July, but it is a dry heat!

Things to do in Las Vegas:

1. If you could rent a car, go to Red Rock Canyon.  It is a wonderful 13 mile drive around the outskirts of the Mojave Desert.  Beautiful rock formations, desert fauna and flora, and you may see a burrow or two.
2. Most of the hotels have exhibits.  Go to Mandalay Bay for the aquarium, Mirage for Siegfried and Roy's animal habitat, Luxor for the Titanic exhibition, Gondola rides at the Venetian.  There is always something to see.
3. See a show.  We have seen Wayne Newton, Jersey Boys and Phantom of the Opera.  Las Vegas has their own spin on the shows and are fun to watch.  We tried to get tickets to Le Reve, a Cirque de Solei show, but was not performing on the night we wanted to go.  There are 1/2 price ticket locations on the strip for most of the shows for that day's performance.
4. Go off the strip to see other hotels and other highlights of the city.  Rent a car if you can or take public transportation.  One highlight was seeing the World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop where the show "Pawn Stars" is filmed.  The guys were not there and their staff is very friendly.  There is Ethel M's candy factory tour where you can see chocolate being made.  And of course, Hoover Dam.  It you have a car, get there early before the tour buses arrive.  It is a sight to see!

Losing a "Friend"

I had a friend.
Its name was coffee.
We had such good times together.
Meeting in the morning.
Mid-morning.
Sometimes lunch.
Mid-afternoon.
Sometimes dinner.
Evenings.
Mostly hot.
Sometimes cold (with whipped cream).
We met everyday for nearly three decades.
Then one day.
It went away.
My choice.
No desire to see my friend anymore.
It has been six months.
Do I miss it?
Sometimes.
I have a new friend.
Its name is tea.
We don't see each other as much as coffee.
But we get along fine.

Practical Advice for Biblioholics

The Zipper

This is a true story...Benjie and the Zipper.
I remember hearing this from people at work, but only Dennis Swanberg can do it justice!

The Next (Fill in the Blank)

On Thursday at 6:37 am, I received the dreaded phone call from my sister, Heidi,  in New Jersey.  My mom was taken to the hospital.

My dad called my sister, Irene, to come over.  When she arrived, my mom was shaking and could not get out of bed - she immediately called the ambulance.  When mom arrived at the hospital, her fever was 103.  She was diagnosed with bad pneumonia, was malnourished and dehydrated and then admitted.  She is still in the hospital and will be there for a few days.

I spoke to my mom the day before all this happened.  Mom said that she had a small fever and blamed it on her sinuses.

Fortunately, I made airplane reservations to visit from May 13-23.  I was also asked by the conductor of Master Chorale to go to NYC from May 5-9  to watch his 3-month-old granddaughter on the day of the performance.  So I made plans to stay in New Jersey from May 5-23 to stay at my mom and dad's.

Hopefully by the time I arrive, mom will be out of the hospital.  If not, I will be there with my dad taking him to visit and taking care of both of them.

Major changes in life's events should not happen to you.  It should happen in other people's lives, not your own.  Parents are supposed to remain healthy, be as active as they were when you where younger, look the same as they were when they were in their 40s - not to be as old as they are now, the potential of getting really sick and other concerns with being a senior citizen.

So what is the next (fill in the blank)?  Is it called a phase, a challenge, chapter, stage of  life?  How are we to handle this when it happens to you?

I already know I will cry.

Royal Nerd

I have always been facinated with the British royal family.  It started with the investiture of Prince Charles receiving the title of Prince of Wales in 1969.  The carriage, the family, the formality - I was hooked.  After that, I memorized the royal lineage (which I need a refresher course) and read what I could find about them.

Got up early to watch the weddings of Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Diana, Prince Andrew and Sarah.  Was sad when the marriages ended.  The excitement when William and Harry were born and watching them grow up.  Cried the day when Princess Diana died and watching her funeral procession.

Now the excitement with the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.  I will continue the tradition of getting up early, bleary eyed with my cup of tea.  I can't wait!

Yes, I am a royal nerd.

The Price of Suffering

When checking my Amazon cart this morning, this was the first item on the list...

Please note that the price of Suffering has increased from $19.31 to $20.00 since you placed it in your Shopping Cart. Items in your cart will always reflect the most recent price displayed on their product detail pages.

The actual price of suffering happened on this day, when Jesus died for our sins.

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. - John 19:30.

Alone Together

This is a great article written by my husband!  All is true...

Alone together: Our very first smartphone argument.

Well, It Has Been Along Time....

It has been at least six months since my last posting.  I guess I'd better start updating again.  While typing this, we are watching the new Harry Potter dvd that came out yesterday. It is such a great movie!

More later..it is getting towards the end!