Togs or Undies?

Ha!  This made me laugh!  Are they togs (swimsuits) or are they underwear?  This video clip made me chuckle and I just had to share.

"Togs, togs, togs, undies!"  Haha!

Gotta go!

At 6:00 this morning I sat at my computer gazing out the window of our new home in Florida wondering what I could blog about when I noticed a car pull up and stop in front of the house that is under construction across the street. 


A young woman got out and walked to the building crew's port-a-potty that is sitting out front.  After a few minutes she emerged, got into her car and drove away.

Since we live on a back street and not in an area that lots of people "just happen to drive by" I contemplated the potential reasons for her stop.

• She just left home and realized she forgot to go.
• "Gotta go, gotta go" - She is part of a new commercial for Detrol and the film crew was around the corner out of site.  I am ruling this one out however as she didn't have an "urgency" dance as she headed for the door.
• Perhaps she is working on one of the new homes under construction nearby and thought she'd stop before she arrived at work.
• Maybe she lives in a van down by the river and needed the facility.  I do want to point out that she was driving a nice looking sporty car (not a van) and to the best of my knowledge there is not a river nearby.
• Maybe she is part of the government crew that goes around certifying portable johns, similar to the mattress police who I expect to show up any day now to make sure I haven't removed the tags from my mattresses.  
• She may have 12 siblings and couldn't wait for her number to be called for bathroom time at home.
• I think I've got it!  She's part of a Secret Shopper program and she's giving feedback on the experience of using their product.

One thing I do know for certain though is that one of my new neighbors (who I have yet to meet) is sitting at their computer blogging about why the goofy new neighbor from Wisconsin is outside taking a picture of a port-a-potty.  

Swashbuckling Prep School

"If they ever come up with a Swashbuckling School, I think one of the courses should be Laughing, Then Jumping Off Something"  - Jack Handy

Mason (my amazingly smart and absolutely adorable grandson) spent the day with me going through the rigors of preparation for Swashbuckling School.  It's a tough course and he wants to be ready!  He has the laughing part down pat and spent most of his time working on the jumping component.  

Bring on the daring adventures!

Simple Pleasures

 I had a relaxing lunch at Green Bay's Concert in the Park today sitting on a blanket under the trees with a nice breeze keeping me comfortable on an otherwise hot, muggy 90 degree day.  It was fun to watch the action around me like this young lady (see pictures) who was quite adept with her hula hoop - over the head, up and down the arms, a hop skip and it's next to her rather than encircling her body.  All her movements graceful, flowing and in beat with the music.  She made it look easy and I know for a fact that it's not.

 

As the band played a lively tune the church bells from the nearby Catholic steeple started gonging and ringing like crazy!   I imagined a small boy with a huge smile on his face at the base of the bell tower clinging to a rope, rising and falling, legs flailing, as he made the bells toll.  Just like in the movies.  

"I don't know.  I don't know.  I don't know where I'm a gonna go when the volcano blows."    Policemen, businessmen, grandmas and grandpas all tapped their toes to the familiar Jimmy Buffet tune and chatted while enjoying lunch.  A couple young men were kicking around a hacky sack, mothers unpacked chips and PBJ's from coolers as children chased run away balls and drew hop scotch games on the sidewalk.

I just sat and observed the activity, soaking in the ambiance and loving summer in Wisconsin.  Then I laid back, gazed at the sky for a while and pulled out my book.  

It's not icky.... it's "iki"

I made several trips to Lithuania between 1999 and 2003 to develop the partnership between First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, WI and Pilviskiai United Methodist Church in Pilviskiai, Lithuania.  It was a very small village with no public lodging, so we slept and ate in the homes of various people from the church and local community.  What a wonderful way to get to know people from another culture!  It was truly instrumental in getting beyond the simple greetings and smiles.

On my first visit, Wes Ebert, myself, and my son, Erich, were assigned to eat meals in Donna's home.  (Probably not the correct spelling as their language doesn't use double consonants.)  Three times a day we showed up at her door where she ushered us to the living room and a table adorned with fresh flowers and pretty dishes.  She served us a feast of absolutely delicious food and using the English/Lithuanian dictionary she repeatedly made sure we had our fill until we couldn't possibly eat another bite.

In our broken method of conversation we discovered that she had been a Veterinarian on a collective farm during the Soviet era, but there were currently no jobs for someone with her skills so she was not employed.  We knew from the missionaries and translators that the money earned by feeding us would make a nice contribution to their family budget.

After each meal as we left her home we said, "Icky!"  This comment, that in our culture is not viewed as a compliment, did not bode poorly on the meal or her hospitality you see, because in Lithuanian "iki pasimatymo" or "iki" for short means, "See you later!"

This still makes me chuckle when I think about it 13 years later.  

Holding It All Together

"Make new friends, but keep the old."  I can still hear the tune in my head every time I hear the words from a song I learned as a school girl in Ohio.

I have been very blessed over the years with wonderful friendships.  Some were centered around very specific interests...mission trips, running, working together on a community event or in the same industry.  Some friendships were not as specifically oriented and included football games, strolling the farmers market, long walks in deep conversation, a delicious meal, cup of coffee or glass of wine.

I am moving to Florida in a couple weeks and will miss my Wisconsin friends immensely.  I remember 30 years ago as I moved to Green Bay my father's words of wisdom as he suggested getting involved at church as he and my mother had always met good friends at church.  This certainly held true for me as well over the years having met many of my closest friends there.

When I think about my friendships they all include laughter.  In fact, as far back as I can remember having friends, I can remember laughing with them.  I ponder the thought that laughter is actually a form of glue.

Laughter among friends may be the glue that holds this world together.

Faces and Thoughts from Downtown

As I sit in the lounge of this lovely restaurant sipping a delightful glass of Merlot, my mind wanders to a very reflective place.  I truly enjoy sitting back, relaxing and letting my mind stroll around and visit several different topics and ideas.

The bartender here is a very friendly fellow who remembers me from a couple previous visits.  I ponder whether he remembers me because I'm that memorable or if it's because he has a great memory.

I wonder about the young couple at the nearby table.  Her face lit up like a Christmas tree when he walked into the room... are they dating?  Are they old friends from grade school?  Brother and sister?  Or perhaps cousins?  Upon closer observation I'm going with the dating theory.

A disheveled woman with long gray hair and the slow step of heavy bags and a long day walks past the window.  Is she headed to a comfy chair where she'll put her feet up, eating leftovers in front of a game show?  Or will her mood soar as she arrives at a grandchild's birthday celebration at Chuck E Cheese?

Tomorrow is a local dance performance at the theatre across the street.  I wish I was as graceful as a dancer.  Twirling, spinning, leaping.  All in rhythm, all in perfect time.  Not a smidge of clumsy awkwardness.

A couple that I know walk in and we greet each other with smiles and a friendly, "Hello!  How are you?"  Everyone is fine - life is good.

A runner passes by.  Is she training for the Bellin Run next week?  Does she enjoy it?  She looks like she does.  What motivates her to be out there on this cool day with clear skies?  Would she be there if it was 90 degrees and humid?

Small dancers are arriving at the theatre wearing lime green and pink tutus!  Oh my goodness!!  Oh, so cute!  Instant memory rewind to days of my daughters wearing leotards with glitter and little Winnie the Pooh costumes.  Thoughts shift to my soon-to-be step daughter and the importance dance played in her life.  Worn out ballerina shoes, trophies and pictures of a smiling teen as she danced her way into adulthood.

I enjoy observing the faces and letting my thoughts wander from downtown.  I'm moving to another town soon where I will have to find a new window to peer through.   

Grandma's Little Honey

My mother calls my nephew, Ethan, her "little honey".  One time she asked if he was her little sweetie and he shook his head no and said, "I'm your little honey!"  As I talk to Mason I keep finding myself calling him my little honey.  Grandma's little honey.  Hopefully he'll be as proud and happy of being Grandma's little honey as Ethan is.

To share my joy today .... here is Grandma's little honey.

Laundry Day

I listened to the birds singing outside as I felt the almost tickle feeling of my tears sliding slowly down my cheeks.  The tickle was not a laughing kind of tickle, but rather a sensation attached to the release I felt as the tears brimmed over my eyes.  I felt like something wasn't right this morning, but I had not yet pinpointed what was causing this feeling.  It was too soon to put it in words to anyone other than God, lest it be misunderstood.

Sometimes I find that chatting about these struggles with God and acknowledging them to myself is all it takes to feel better as I continue to sort out the situation in my mind.

I liken it to having God help with the laundry as we sit here together.  Sorting.  Folding.  And putting it away.

I had one of those moments

Today I had one of those moments that feels like the world is opening up like a flower on a spring day.  Like the lid is being lifted off of the box and letting the light in.  As though color has been splashed across a pencil drawing with broad loose strokes.

I was in a conversation and a whole new concept suddenly became apparent.  Grasping a new concept is different than gleaning factual information, which can be interesting however sometimes somewhat boring.   Concepts feel enlightening.  As if a field of sunflowers are simultaneously turning their smiling faces toward the brilliance of the sun.