Sick

Last week I felt a little icky. Seeing as how I had a Bridal Shower to host last Sunday I knew that I couldn't afford to be sick and fought it off...until Monday. Monday I awoke with a raw throat and knew that it was my turn to be sick. K had it a couple weeks ago, Jon-boy had it, Opinionated Friend had something similar, everyone around me seemed to have some variation of the cold.

I survived Monday but packed a bag from work Monday night with stuff to do at home in case I decided to stay home. Tuesday morning there was no option. I was sick. I was in bed all day. Tuesday night my chest started feeling really tight and I had a hard time getting a full breath. Chest congestion meds and a hot shower helped but it wasn't a pleasant night. Wednesday morning was worse but luckily I have the best mom in the world who fetched some lovely medicine and by Wednesday night I was breathing easier. But still coughing and stuffy but better.

Today I have pulled out my computer and am getting some work done but I'm not moving very fast or very far. Being sick is no fun but I'm certainly glad that there are people who can cover for me when I am...not to mention all those sick days I have stored up!

Favorite things from the weekend

This weekend listened to this CD over and over and over again. If you are into guitar driven, slightly country tinged music with amazing vocals and good rhythm, get this CD.



Friday Night was my bargain night. I had a coupon for 25% off of my total purchase at Cost Plus, which saved me money on favors for the Bridal Shower Tea I'm hosting next Sunday. I had a $15 Borders Reward which bought the above CD and a book. Then I went to the members only night at the friends of the library used book sale and bought a bunch of books for under $10. It was awesome! Though I didn't allow enough time...the people at that sale are really serious about their books!

And then there was the cake that I baked as a test for the Shower next Sunday. Sponge cake with a Meringue layer and Raspberries and Cream filling. Yep, it was good, good, good...though not so pretty. Got to work on that!

Friday Five--Funny Papers

Presbyterian Gal over at RevGalBlogPals brings today's Friday Five:

After an exhausting election here in the states it's time for some spirit lifting! Join me with a nice cup of tea or coffee or cocoa and let's sit back and read the Funny Papers!

1. What was your favorite comic strip as a child?--Peanuts, Dennis the Menace and Family Circle

2. Which comic strip today most consistently tickles your funny bone?--Adam at Home, Pickles or Baby Blues.

3. Which Peanuts character is closest to being you?--Good question. I'm thinking a combo of Marcie and Sally. The side kick but with a little more spunk. But then I relate to Woodstock too!

4. Some say that comic strips have replaced philosophy as a paying job, so to speak. Does this ring true with you?--It seems so. Comics so easily speak to our everyday lives that many times I find truth about life within them, with a little humor thrown in.

5. What do you think the appeal is for the really long running comic strips like Blondie, Family Circus, Dennis the Menace as some examples?--They are simple and easy to relate too. That's appealing to me!

Bonus Question: Which discontinued comic strip would you like to see back in print?

That's easy...Calvin and Hobbes.

Sad

Hurricane Katrina continues to claim lives. My heart is a little heavier today.

If you aren't so excited about the President Elect, don't read this post.

The last few years Papa Bear has become Mr. Political. Yo Momma and I have had to reign him more than once to keep the peace amongst Papa Bear and friends with differing opinions. He's been pretty passionate about this election and had a definite idea about who he wanted to see become the next President. We've had some lively conversations in the last few months but I was a little grateful that Papa Bear and Yo Momma weren't going to be home when the election results came in...just in case it didn't go his way. As it turns out they were in Washington D.C., last night, with Bad Duck and his lovely wife who have the same political views as Papa Bear.

I wouldn't have been home last night yet all day I was plauged by a migraine. That sneaky thing just wouldn't go away no matter what I did. So my Chiropracter (aka K) took me to task for being a martyr and made me call in replacements for last nights youth group. Which meant last night at 8pm PST I was home on the couch. Watching TV.

As most of you know the news stations called the election pretty quickly after 8pm PST. At 8:07pm PST my cellphone rang, followed within mere seconds by the home phone. I have caller ID on my cellphone picked it up knowing that it was Yo Momma's phone. Her jubilant voice came over the line and my reply was "Is Papa Bear calling me on the other line?" My question was quickly answered when his voice came booming over the machine "Get out of bed! Answer the phone!". For a few seconds I had both phones up to my ears and both parents laughing excitedly. Neither one of them knew that the other was calling me. I have crazy parents. Papa Bear won the phone contest and we talked until he started getting teary watching people on TV getting teary. Just a big ole softy. I love that guy.

Listening to President Elect Obama's acceptance speech last night I was really impressed with one line in particular. It resonated with me. "I will listen to you, especially when we disagree." I really, really hope that this President Elect lives up to that promise.

Sunday Morning Bloopers

There are some Sunday mornings when I am not a happy camper. In fact, that would be most Sunday mornings. I am not a morning person at.all. so getting up and being coherent and in a good mood tends to be a little difficult. This last Sunday, though, I was super happy. I'd gotten an extra hours sleep (I am such a fan of the fall back time change), the rain was a soothing sound in my ears all night, I had gotten myself together soon enough to get coffee before Worship Team warm-up and we were sounding pretty good as a team.

We had laughed with the couple who came in at 10 after 8 wondering where everyone was for the worship service and after being reminded of the time changed pronounced "But nobody told us!" We had laughed with the kids racing around the Sanctuary and my wonderful friend Norm had even found a moment to work on the huge knot that I call a shoulder.

Then the worship service started. Everything was going along swimmingly until the 2nd song One moment I'm playing the next minute I'm desperately trying to hold on to my guitar. At first I thought I had lost a string (which has happened before) and looked wide eyed at Meg standing next to me to see if it had whapped her but no, apparently the strap on my guitar decided that NOW would be the time come loose and just gave way. Being ever the professional that I am, I continued to play, albeit very quietly and sing through the rest of the song while holding the guitar, while standing up. Not an easy feat.

Of course we were supposed to go right into the next song and I knew that I wasn't going to be able to make that happen, so we spontaneously had a "meet and greet" session while I retied the strap to my guitar and prayed that it would hold!

It was as I was in the back of the sanctuary later double checking the strap and trying to figure out what had happened, that I realized my pick was missing. I then had to leave the sanctuary to go shake my guitar to get the pick out from the inside of the guitar. My happy morning had quickly disintegrated and yet it really wasn't that bad. In fact, it makes a for a good story and a gentle reminder that even on the best of mornings things can go wrong.

Post by the numbers

1 youth group member on Homecoming Court
+
1 football game
+
1.5 inches of rain
=
1 princess, 14-6 win for the home team and 3 very soaked youth leaders.

The memories...priceless.