Jan 24, 2012 |
Okay, not really.
I don’t have a solid post for today. I was busy all day running errands, doing paperwork, and job searching. So I didn’t think about this blog post until it was almost too late.
But it’s not – repeat: not – the end of the world.
But the title did get me thinking of those epic stories and movies.
So here’s a little compilation of my favorite “end of the world (or our little corner)” stories that I really like:
“The Poseidon Adventure”
“Volcano”
“2012”
“Armageddon”
“Left Behind”
“The Matrix”
“Independence Day”
and my favorite…
“The Day After Tomorrow”
But since there is a tomorrow (or so we hope), maybe in 24 hours I’ll write a short story about the end of the world as I’d see it. And maybe I’ll even share it with you.
What end-of-world scenarios do you fear?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 23, 2012 |
I still don’t have a day job. It’s been just over six months since my boss decided he couldn’t afford to keep me. And since I don’t publicly vent, that’s all you get on that subject.
I’ve been unemployed before. I’m a legal secretary. A licensed insurance agent. I’ve worked for large corporations and sole practitioners. I’m excellent at sales, customer service, administrative duties and, no surprise, communications.
But I can’t seem to find a job. So I’m praying for income. Which is not the same thing.
A job is something you do to earn a paycheck. Income is money you earn. A job typically requires you to put forth constant effort. Income can be residual funds after the effort has been completed.
I want to provide for my family through income. And I’d of course love for that income to come through writing and publishing. Of course, for me, that would be an ongoing effort. I could pick and choose which hours of the day to work. I could work Saturday at midnight or 6 a.m. on Tuesday. As one effort pays off, I could be working on the next. A regular office job doesn’t offer that flexibility. But it does offer stability (or so it should). I’m willing, and looking for, any kind of income/job that will accomplish my financial tasks.
I’d love to have a savings account again some day. I’d love to take a real vacation again this year. Those things don’t look too promising, right now. But I figure as long as each month I can take care of my mortgage, car payment, utilities, fuel, and groceries… anything else is a bonus.
I’ve been blessed to be able to use this time to head toward that goal. I’m working on the final drafts of the Unemployment Cookbook. Megan and I have ideas to grow our one story into at least a nine-book series. And my house gets cleaner and more organized every week.
I’ve spent this time learning: Learning discipline to sit and write. To cook better. To take care of myself and family better. To clean and not let things stockpile. Learning what works for me and my household, and what doesn’t. Learning to learn: researching recipes and writings and crafts and any- and every-thing that needs researching.
I’ve spent this time developing my drive: Driving around town to accomplish errands. Spending quality time with friends and volunteering my abilities to help when I can. Developing that inner drive that pushes me to accomplish goals instead of keeping them on the To-Do List.
And I’ve spent this time enjoying this time. Not having a paycheck is stressful, but it doesn’t mean my entire life is. I’ve enjoyed having coffee at Mom’s nearly every morning. I like the quiet time I have in the middle of the day with my Bible. I look forward to being creative with whatever foods are already in my pantry.
I may be unemployed; but I am certainly not out of work.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 22, 2012 |
Nippers is at it again.
Pretty soon, you’ll hear all about him, but for now, he thought it would be fun to tell you about his species.
Here’s some facts and myths about Frogs:
1. Touching frogs and toads does not give you warts.
2. Although they belong to the same animal group (anura), frogs and toads are different species.
3. The Frog Prince was made famous by the Brothers Grimm. Early tellings of this fairy tale have the frog turning into a Prince not with a kiss from the Princess, but initially because she was disgusted with the creature and threw it into a wall. Other early stories state that all the Frog had to do was spend the night on the Princess’s pillow as she dreamed.
4. There are over 3,500 species of anura in the world.
5. The smallest frog was discovered in Cuba. They’re only 8.5 millimeters long – that’s 1/3 of an inch!
6. The largest frog lives in West Africa and grows to nearly 12 inches (30 cm).
7. Japan considers Frog symbols to bring good luck.
8. Le Grenouille (“La Grahn-wee”) is French for “The Frog”. French are nicknamed “frogs”.
9. Frogs were the second plague that God used to punish Pharoah for not letting Moses and his people leave Egypt. [Exodus 7:25 – 8:11.]
10. Famous frogs include the Budweiser commercial frogs, Kermit the Frog created by Jim Henson, and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County written by Mark Twain.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 21, 2012 |
She’s a great writer.
She’s my Personal Barista.
She appreciates my quirkiness…
Which fades in comparison to her own.
And even my cat thinks she’s awesome.
Her name is Megan.
She’s my writing partner.
And we always come up with the same ideas at the same time.
She brings the dialogue. I bring the landscape.
She loves The Lord of the Rings as much as I love The Chronicles of Narnia.
She orders new drinks for me at Starbucks.
We both laugh and point at each other, not caring who else is watching.
We can each say, “Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!” and know exactly what the other one meant.
She sings “Whiiiite Guuurl” when I see her.
Which is why we will always work well together.
I’m really looking forward to brainstorming with her today.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 20, 2012 |
Recently, my mother was certain she saw a fox in her front yard. A fox! That may not be news for some of you, but this is the desert of Southern California. We’re used to things like tumbleweeds and roadrunners and Wile E. Coyote.
Every so often we get things in our little city that come down from the mountains. Creatures like black bears and mountain cats. Bobcats have certainly been making the rounds lately. But, again, a fox?! Are you sure?!
And she was. But she almost doubted herself. Why? Because. Society tells us if it isn’t normal then it just can’t be. The word “impossible” permeates our vocabulary and gets into our very subconscious, fighting against what we know is true and right.
My mom saw a fox. Even if no one else saw it but her. How do I know? She’s my mom. She could have just said “I saw a fox today” and that would have been enough for me. But she went beyond that. She offered me verbal evidence: she detailed its appearance, its mannerisms. And for several days we checked facts online: how do foxes live, sleep, eat, raise their young? We saw the den it tried to make. We saw the leaves where it slept. Everything pointed to the same conclusion: my mom was lucky enough to make eye contact with a beautiful fox in her own yard.
It got me thinking. Recently I went through a bit of a discussion with God. I keep telling Him I trust Him. But I certainly don’t act like it. When the funds are low, I pray, “Thank you God for getting us through this day,” and then I cry to myself in fear and anxiety.
I read the Bible, full of miracles and awe and wonder, and I claim that same God as my own. But when I’m faced with stepping off a ledge, do I really believe He will catch me?
I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve let the physics of this world interfere with my Faith in His. For whatever reason, God brought to mind a conversation I’d had many years ago with someone from my church. We were talking about finances and life and all things in between and my friend suggested a necessary expense I thought was unaffordable. “How?!” I remember crying out. “How am I supposed to do that?!” Back then I was fairly new in my faith. But not now. Now I’m firm. Cemented in the Foundation that God Is, Was, and Always Will Be. And I’m still crying out, “How?!”
I already trust my Mom completely. I need to trust my Daddy-God more. Not just say it. I’m not afraid to ask Him for favors; why am I afraid to trust He’ll actually provide them?
The moral of this little post is this: If God tells me there’s a fox in the yard, I’m gonna believe Him. Period. I don’t need to find the evidence. That’s just confirmation of what I already know: He’s trustworthy. Period.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
