It's Thursday Night

It's Thursday night

J.Bird's making waffles for supper
Nat practices piano
Allison plays teacher
J.Bird grumbles because the house is a mess...
And me, I'm checking out my facebook.

What? They recorded my song?

When I was a little girl, I loved to make up songs. I'd sit on the swing while my mom put the cloths on the line and pump my legs so I'd go as high as I'd go. My songs were always about love, friends, and exciting travels.

Sometimes, I'd get out of control and mom would have to wag her finger at me and say "That song doesn't sound very nice..." I'd sing it some more and then I'd get a "Roberta Louise- STOP."

So, I was really surprised this morning when I was listening to the radio and heard this song. It sounded like something I would have made up on the swings.

Cringe

I really have to say Heather Armstrong got me reminiscing today as she wrote about "Cringe" today. Uggg... Have you ever taken out past written works... and then, just about died?

I know I can think of a particular person who wrote plays to be acted out by anyone interested to be in her "show."

I can think of a particular person who set up her garage to be a printing press for the" State Avenue News" - really interesting newspaper written by kids and their take on neighborhood gossip. For instance, did you know that the Smiths are having marital problems? Read it up.... we got the goods in "State Avenue News."

I don't have any copies of my writings from my youth. I don't have any writings from my half- hearted journals. I'm somewhat relieved and somewhat sad.

My friend Angie has all of her journals from at least 1986 and all through college. She has all the dirt... If we have any questions, we can just ask her. She can look it up for us. I don't think I want to remember.

However, the good news is that we grow. We no longer see those small things as important. Most of us us are not as emphatic as we were in high school and college. We are not as dramatic as we once were. Really, that's very good news.

My New Retainer.

Jason says that I talk like Sid the Sloth from Ice Age. Or a thirteen year old girl. He just can't make up his mind. In the mean time, I'm eating less. It's just a pain to be taking my retainer out for a quick bite to eat. I'm so lazy. I'd rather starve. It's about time.

Another reason I'm a Church Lady...

Yesterday, I spent the entire day at the church working at the Smorgasbord. What's a Smorgasbord? It's a Norwegian tradition at our church. Ya. Uff da ya!

Every second Saturday in October, we bring fancy cookies, deviled eggs, homemade pickles, homemade buns, mashed potatoes, Swedish Meatballs, Lutefisk, Lefse, rosettes, flat bread, and krumkaka. Don't forget the rommegrot, or Sot Soup.

This year, we served 350 people. Our crowd is getting smaller. Five years ago, we served 600.

I love this church dinner. I love to see the old ladies running around in their traditional garb. They really love the whole bossiness of the ordeal.

Every year, I make the potatoes for the lefse. Sometimes, I come and roll out the lefse. I enjoy the laughter as we work. We're always laughing at ourselves. Jason's sure I'll make it to heaven because I donate my lefse skills to the church.

Overheard at church.

Old lady: "Is that your second piece of cake?"

Me: "Yes."

Old lady: "I'd watch it if I were you."

That was a beautiful day out...

An afternoon out...

Yesterday, I went out with the seniors because I'm the yearbook adviser, I got to accompany them out to this cool old bridge. They took their picture on the train track... It'll look real cool.

I love Fall. All the great things happen in the Fall.

Why I Talk to my Husband

Have you ever visited with your friend and then, suddenly realized they don't talk to their husband? Mistakenly, I assume that everyone gets married because they have a connection with their spouse. I assume that they have found someone in life that they want to cheer on.

Perhaps, they have found a true soul mate who shares everything with them and they have a common mind. Sometimes, I find a couple and wonder if they only got married because they thought their genes would produce the new Arian race? Or perhaps, they found the perfect wedding dress? It bothers me when I know more about someone's spouse than they do.

If I figure someone doesn't talk to their husband or wife, I decide right then and there, I'm not going to be friends with them. O.K. I know it's harsh. It's just, I have to wonder about them? Don't they ever think? Don't they have pillow talk? Don't they wonder what's crossing the mind of the person living parallel to them? Do they ever pass the ball and ask "What do ya know?"

When you're married to a person, you should have similar personal legends. If you don't, life's gonna be hard. If one of you wants to be a parent and the other doesn't, you have to realize this before you are married. Ta da! Some people can let their dream of having children go by the wayside. No matter what, you can't have one parent wanting kids and another not. The decision has to be mutual. Children will need the both of you.

I admire Miss K. She was in a relationship. She loved him very much. One day, she woke up, and realized he wasn't cut from the same cloth. She loved adventure. She wanted to travel. He wanted to buy a farm and stay there for the rest of her life. She knew that she was willing to live on the farm, but he wasn't willing to try the adventure. She cut her losses and traveled to Egypt before signing on to teach in Korea for a year.

J. Bird has a brain. He talks a lot about his passions. I listen. When I listen to the news, I can tell you; "Uh oh. Jason isn't going to like this." I know I won't have to ask his best friend what he thinks. I am Jason's best friend.

Jason knows when I'm thinking about my students. He listens patiently as I read passages from Catch 22. He knows my secret dreams for our children. He knows my secret fears too.

When I realize I know more about someone's spouse than they do, I see a red flag. I wonder if that person is shallow. I wonder what sort of person would listen to me if they don't even listen to their spouse.

Budge Wilson

Budge Willson, an author in my seventh grade literature book is quoted to saying;

" A person who loves to write is never lonely; within his or her own head, a writer always has a safe and very interesting place to go."

I love that!