Well Mannered Frivolity

We named her Jennyanydots (Jenny for short) because "Her coat is of the tabby kind, with tiger stripes and leopard spots." She spends her days in Katherine's blue "moon chair." Alas, we have no stair, steps or mat for her to sit upon. And undoubtably TS Eliot was not aquainted with the "moon chair." And "..when the day's hustle and bustle is done" she sleeps in my bed between Bill's knees. She's my second TS Eliot themed cat. The first was a dashing little male marmlade tabby named TS Eliot-Eli for short that I had in college.  Anyway, Jenny just sort of showed up at our back door last Thursday.  We were all settled in for our weekly popcorn and movie night.  Ironically enough we were about to watch That Darn Cat (the original) when we saw this pitiful litte face peering in.  We shut our cat Simon up in a room, and let the newcomer in.  She politely greeted all of us, and then went straight for Simon's food dish.  She ate three whole bowls full of food, used the litter box, and went to sleep.  We originally called her DC (for Darn Cat from the movie), but once we acertained that she was indeed female we gave her a real name. She and Simon get along pretty well, considering Simon is such a crotchedy old man.  He's certianly been more playful since the interloper arrived.  Actually, Simon really hasn't been himself since the twins arrival almost three years ago.

 Simon:

I haven't blogged in a few days because I was busy recovering from what I like to think of as the bubonic plague.  The plague didn't stop me.  The cough syrup did.  I was taking a codiene based cough syrup, and I was scared to commit my thoughts permanently to the computer while I was drugged.  I ramble bad enough in my normal  (and I'm using the word normal in it's loosest possible sense) state of mind.

Wendy 

You are interchangeable. Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every
eventuality covered and every opportunity
just has to be taken. Every fiber is
wonderful, and every day is a new beginning.
You are good at so many things, it's amazing,
but you can easily lose your place and forget
to show up. They have row counters for
people like you!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hat Tip to Jennyanydots @ The Common Room

I just love a good Quizilla quiz. My favorite knitting needles are my Denise Interchangable set, so this quiz was right on the money.

Wendy

Here is the most recent picture of all five kids. This was taken last Sunday. They are wearing clown noses. They are Mary Jane 7, Lila 5, James and Will almost 3, and Katherine 10. You may note that my family room has the look and feel of a Salvation Army show room. I wonder if that look will catch on. Those lumpy things on top or the book shelf by Mary Jane's head are my various knitting projects.

Here's all of them at Halloween. Apparently they won't all pose together unless they are wearing some sort of costume. I don't have a recent pic of Bill and me. Just imagine Colin Firth and Jessica Alba. Wasn't that a plesant thought? We look pretty much opposite of that.

Wendy

Hue and cry-1a: a loud outcry formerly used in the pursuit of one who is suspected of a crime 2: a clamor of protest
3:a hubbub.

That was the word of today on my "Word a Day Desk Calander" If only this phrase would have appeared in the 2003 edition I might have named the twins Hue and Cry instead of the more conventional Will and James. They have definately gotten "clamor of protest" down pat. And, I don't know why, but, hubbub is a very satisfying word to say. Go ahead, say it--hubbub.

As you can see in this picture that is Cry on the left and Hue on the right. Cry is clearly crying. Hue is working up a clamor of protest (he is slighty, just slightly the more reserved of the duo). And you can bet your bottom dollar that a hubbub ensued shortly after this pic was snaped. They are two year old boys. A hubbub breaks out roughly every 20 minutes or so.

This was their Halloween picture. I want everyone to know they are not normally mohawked. I buzz cut their hair so for Halloween I let it grow a little longer than usual, mohawked (is that even a word?) them, and buzzed the mohawk off a few days later. I left their hair that way for a few days just for a little shock value. Their father was none to pleased with me. In fact, the first time he saw their mohawks he exclaimed "What the hell did you do to their hair!?!" This from a man whose harshest word in his entire vocabulary is 'Jiminy Crickets!" Look at that beautiful background! Fall came late to Charleston this year so everything was still green and blooming at Halloween. In fact I recall getting rather sweaty trick or treating. BTW that is my parent's backyard in the picture. It looks like a park, don't you think. Our backyard has more of a, shall we say, lived in look about it.

Here is my best frugal homeschooling tip--On around January 3rd or so pick up a Word of the Day desk calander. By then it will have been reduced to about 75% off--so for around 4 bucks you have an entire year of vocabulary lessons. Then you too can have weird 5 year olds who throw around words such as gorgonize, hermetic and connive.

Aha--the word for tomorrow Feb 24th is waddy--

Waddy noun, Western US: a cowboy

Just ponder on that noun while you think about Brokeback Mountian. Kind of adds a whole new diminsion of repulsion.

Off to cleanse my thoughts,

Wendy

Last Wednesday I made a rather mean spirited post about a man I've never met. A commenter named Peter pointed it out to me. You are right, Peter. I've never met Dr Silverman, and it was wrong, and more importantly, decidedly unChristian of me to write about him the way I did. I hope everyone who reads this blog will accept my apologies and please forgive me for my poor representation of the Christian faith. I didn't mean to imply that Dr Silverman was a Communist. Sometimes people say Christians beat them over the head with the King James Bible in an attempt to convert them. I was just trying to think of a "godless book" to use in place of the Bible. The Communist Manifesto was the first thing that came to mind.  It was a poor choice. Perhaps something by Darwin would have been better--I think it's a safe assumption that a Secular Humanist isn't exactly an Intelligent Design kind of guy (just a little attempt to add some levity). I also didn't mean to imply he would try to convert me--I was just turning around a little Christian bashing. Again it was a poor desicison. The point I was trying to make was that Mr Silverman seems to be the lone voice of Atheism in the Charleston area. I guess the mean and thoughtless post I made about him is a big part of the reason why he seems to be the only Atheist/Secular Humanist (sorry I don't know which term is correct) brave enough to "go public" with his beliefs.

Peter-you asked what would Jesus do, and you are absolutely correct. Jesus never would have been as hateful as I was. I hope you come back and read my apology since I have no way to contact you. Thank you for pointing out my bad attitude to me. I deserved a kick in the pants.

Wendy

I thought I was merely taking the chisel chass, which is all about weight lifting. No, it was cardio chisel. This is a delightful hour and 15 minutes of exercise routines designed personally, thoughtfully and lovingly by the Marquis De Sade. 6 cardio routines broken up with weightlifting. Sometimes the instructor got a little crazy and we did cardio and weightlifting at the same time. Didn't Old Testament law prohibit the mixing of cardio and weights? Maybe I'm thinking about the prohibition on mixing fibers. And we can trace this whole aerobics thing back to Hanoi Jane--that pinko-commie freak...but I digress. The basic premise of the class is the instructor has you do cardio-a combo of step aerobics, lunges, and jumping rope--until you are on the verge of cardiac arrest. Next she tells you to "walk it out"-whatever the heck means--for me it means peel yourself off the floor. Then she has you lift weights-both hand and bar fun-fun-until you think your arms will fall off. After lifting weights you are then instructed to "shake it out." I personally translated shake it out as "put your head between your knees until the room stops spinning/throbbing." I was situated in the back row between a woman who could have easliy passed for a member of the Russian Womens Olympic swim team--I affectionately lthought of her as Helga. and on my other side was a cranked up soccer mom. She was like Aerobic Barbie on Speed (ABS). When we were told to kick, ABS was doing the can-can. When we were told to skip rope she was furiously jumping away in a manner that would put any boxer to shame. She was using a 22 POUND BAR for goodness sake! Our last cardio set was walking lunges for 2 minutes. Helga and ABS couldn't find it in themselves to go in the same direction, so no matter which way I went one of them was coming at me, and frankly, I was a little scared of both of them.  BTW walking lunges look as stupid as they sound.  I did indeed look like the Minister of Silly Walks (only with slightly less coordination.)  When it was time for ab work we got on the floor and started doing Pilates moves. Noooooooooooo.  I think I actually started barginning with God at that point---"Get me through this class and I will sell all my possessions and give the money to the Pygmies in New Guiena." (Yes I do watch Larry The Cable Guy)  I tell ya, if the Pretzel Girl had not been with me I would have  hung it up about 15 minutes in. Oh, I almost forgot about the music.  It was an 80s dance mix featuring sped up songs being sung by Mickey Mouse with a French accent.  Video Killed the Radio Star, cheerleading anthem Mickey, several Madonna songs, Urgent, your basic songs that should have been allowed to die a quiet death by, say,  1991.  If I don't blog tomorrow it's because I am unable to do such things as use my fingers or sit due to muscle fatigue.  Will I go back next Monday. You better believe it.  I will get healthy if it kills me (which it just might).

Here's to a fitter tomorrow,

Wendy 

I'm going to have to drop out of the Knitting Olympics. Everytime I pick up that #@%*^# Clapotis I mess it up. I'll get about 15 or so rows in and have to frog it. After a certian point frogging starts taking it's toll on your Very Expensive Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb yarn. So, like Michelle Kwan, (or is it Nancy--I know one of them is an Olympic figure skater and one used to peddle "Pearl Cream" on TV several years ago) I am stepping down. I'm making Ella instead

Unfortunately, due to my late start, I won't be finished in time for the end or the Olympics. Also due to this crazy weather --75 degrees one day, 40 degrees the next--the twins' asthma has been pretty bad. It's hard to knit with 2 wheezing, grouchy toddlers on your lap. Heck, it's hard to breathe with two wheezing, grouchy toddlers on your lap. Will and James seem to take it as a personal affront if I perform such selfish acts such as making meals or using the bathroom.

The Pretzel Girl has talked me into taking an omninously titled class called Chisel. All I know is it involves weighted bars and aerobic steps. I'm somewhat (very) uncordinated so lets hope I don't trip over my step and knock someone out with my bar.

Wendy 

First I would like to thank Laura for her comments on yesterday's post. I think we can safely assume that a woman wasn't considered unclean after childbirth for millions of years! The human race most certainly would have died out.

We went to a homeschool parkday today. It was a great success. So many of the activities we are involved in are academic in nature. It was wonderful for the kids to just get together and play. Of course they were all very polite, shared, took turns and phrases such as "are you familiar with the nature of this game" were bandied about. They are just not like "normal" kids, and I personally think that is a good thing. We all made some new friends and will certianly be going back next Thursday.

I woke up this morning thinking the apocalypse had come (it was just a jackhammer across the street). Of course, I also couldn't move due to my Joseph Mengele Pilates class. But I managed to crawl back to the Y for 2 more hours of torture. I received and email today about what Satan's Beatitudes would be if he wrote them. (stick with me here--it will all come together) I went to my Bible and reread the Beatitudes in Matthew and my Bible fell open to Matthew 15. My eyes fell on the verse (probably because it was high-lighted in neon yellow and underlined in red) Matthew 15:11--Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. Then -Do you not understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. Matthew 15:17-19 Whoa! Ecclesiatical wake-up call taking place. I know Jesus was speaking of eating with unclean hands. It made me think (convicted me you might say) about how I am dieting and counting every bite of food that passes through my lips, but I have no problem whatsoever gossiping and making fun of the other treadmill walkers while I'm exercising. Is there a woman who doesn't struggle with gossip? Thankfully God gives us "do-overs."

I have some really good news to share--my blood pressure has dropped from Stage 2 to Stage 1 hypertension--a 40 point drop. I go back on the 28th for another blood pressure check and more blood work. Let's hope there is even more good news. BTW my blood pressure dropped 40 points over a period of 2 days. I know the meds helped some, but I attribute most of it to the power of prayer. Say what you will about my small group, but they are PRAYER WARRIORS.

Amen and goodnight,

Wendy

Does your town have a resident expert on something? Our's does. His name is Herb Silverman. He's an atheist secular humanist. I believe he is a mathematics prof at the College of Charleston. While Charleston is known as the Holy City it's actually pretty "diverse." Whenever the Post and Courier (our local paper) needs a Christain, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Branch Davidian, Wiccan, Hari Krishna, Santaria, Voodoo, Baal worshiper, Goddess, Sikh, Jain, B'hai, or Jehovah's Witness opinion there is a veritable plethora of practictioners/followers to choose from. Whenever an atheist, pardon me, secular humanist viewpoint is needed it is always, always good old Herb. Is he the only one or are all the others afraid the villagers will chase them out of town with pitchforks and other pointy farm tools? His opinion is frequently in the letters to the editor page, too. I wonder how he would feel if he knew that I occasionally felt led to pray for him? I guess he would beat me over the head with, I don't know, The Communist Manifesto, maybe?

How can a person not believe in anything? How can anyone think "all this" just happened? My daughter Katherine and I were having a dicussion about evolution and how old the world is. She is very into things like weather and dinosaurs and astronomy. She asked me if I believed the world was formed in 6 days or 6 million years. I told her I believed that God formed the earth in 6 days just like it says in the Bible. We then went on to discuss how some people believe in a kind of hybrid of evolution and creationism...How the days were longer than our regular 24 hr ones, or that the 6 days should be seen figuratively not literally. I also told her we won't know for sure until we get to Heaven, but I decided to take it on faith that the Bible is literal and correct. She is also very into dragons, so from our conversation on creation she came to the conclusion that since nearly every civilization world-wide has dragon myths and dragons don't exist today the dinosaurs must have lived at the same time as people. She thinks maybe dinosaurs and dragons are one in the same. I am a little biased, but I thought that was pretty clever of her. Moments like that are what make homeschooling so great. I love it that our children have Bill and/or me to come to with their questions whenever they pop into their heads. "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

I guess people like Herb would think that we are raising up a tribe of backwards rubes. Well all I have to say to them is this: "PFFFFT!"

My regular readers (Hi mom and dad) know that Wednesday is Pilates day. I've decided that Joesph Pilates didn't just hate women. I think he must have been a Nazi. But my pants are getting looser, so I guess the torture is working. Now I just have the torture of waiting for the Billster to get home from work so we can watch Lost. He was supposed to be home by 9:00PM, but he just called and said it will be more like midnight. GRRRR. Tonight we are supposed to find out what happens if they don't enter the number sequence every 108 minutes. I've waited all week. I can't wait another, well, actually it's about another 108 minutes til he gets home. Weird, huh.

Since tonight was also Beth Moore night I'll end with her words (especially since I'm having trouble memorizing them)

1. God is who He says He is.

2. God can do what He says he can do.

3. I am who God says I am.

4. I can do all things through Christ.

5. God's word is alive and active in me.

I believe in God!

Wendy