Category Archives: Randomness

July 7, 2008 · 6:00 am

Turtle Trapping Update


If you’re anything like me, you’ve been sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to hear if Kris has succeeded in trapping any turtles yet.  Yesterday, my mind was put at ease.  No doubt, I’ll sleep better knowing how the story ends.  I’m sure you will, too.

Kris, along side his turtle trapping associate, Dennis, trolled out to the trap.  At first glance, they saw what looked to be little reptilian shells peeping through the water.

Once they pulled the trap out of the lake, they knew they had struck tortoise gold.

Their excitement and virility overload tapered when they looked at each other and said….

“Now what?”

So, they killed the turtles and made some stew. 

Not really.  They took them to a creek and dropped each of the 26 turtles – yep, 26 – into the stream.

Upon leaving the farm, we saw this little guy away from his snapping friends.  So, Kris and the kids blessed their little reptile friend….

And, sent him back to his new home.

The End.

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July 4, 2008 · 6:00 am

Freedom, I won’t let you down.


I promise not to continue titling my blog posts lyrics from random songs.  Well, I don’t promise.  But, I won’t make a habit out of it.  I don’t think.

My favorite July 4th memory was 5 years ago.  I ran the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta early in the a.m., hopped on the good ‘ol Beechcraft Duke with Kris and flew to Grand Lake.  Only to spend it with two of our closest friends on their completely awesome boat watching completely awesome fireworks and F-14’s fly over.  Life’s not bad.

– Thanks to freedom and the ability of free persons to pursue great things. 

Charles de Gaulle said, “History does not teach fatalism.  There are moments when the will of a handful of free men breaks through determinism and opens up new roads.”

Happy Fourth!

Do you have a favorite 4th memory?

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June 30, 2008 · 5:30 am

Monday Morning Madness


Catching an early AM flight to the ATL today, so……here goes some Monday thoughts:

·         My blogging friend, Scott Williams, celebrates the one-year anniversary of Big Is the New Small today.  All he wants for his birthday is a shout out and some link love.  So, Happy Birthday Big!

 

·         Speaking of link love, if you haven’t clicked on over to “mental hygiene”, you’re missing out on some mental breaths of fresh air.  Fun fact:  Michel, author of mental hygiene, is this guy’s daughter.

 

·         Kris and I saw Get Smart this weekend.  I laughed out loud.  I will probably always promote Steve Carell movies.  He’s a comedic genius. 

 

·         Anna has a new imaginary friend….actually, an imaginary cousin named Boris.  Still trying to figure this one out. 

 

·         I’ve been thinking about living beyond myself a little more.  More to come on that one later.

 

What are your Monday morning thoughts?

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June 20, 2008 · 7:00 am

The Friday Five

Five things you should try, buy, watch, read and enjoy this summer:

  1. Try Maurine’s Salsa.
    1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes
    1 tbs. jalapenos from a jar
    1 tbs. jalapeno liquid (or as much as you like)
    1 can green chiles
    8 green onions
    12-14 springs cilantro (adjust as you like)
    1 fresh tomato
    1 tsp. garlic salt (plus a little more)
    dash of white pepper     Put all ingredients in a food processor/blender.  Voila!
  2. Girls, buy these metallic flip flops from Old Navy.  I am wearing the gold version with everything this summer.  And, the best part?  They are only $5.  Sa-weet.

    Guys, buy Men’s Health magazine.  It appears to be the most comprehensive and informative magazine out there for men.  Unless, of course, you are like Kris – in which case if it doesn’t have propellers or a turbine-powered engine on the front, it is useless.  But, I do sneak one in the bathroom whenever possible.

  3. Watch Dan In Real Life.  No, you won’t find any spiritual significance or a heightened sense of self-awareness – or maybe you will.  But, I found it a well done film.
  4. Read Marley & Me: Life and Love with World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan if you haven’t already.  I was a late bloomer on this one.  I’m about to begin reading In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado.  I think it’s going to be a good one.  Of course, what doesn’t Lucado write well?
  5. Enjoy a summer sunset with friends or the sprinker with your kids (unless you are in Georgia and under the enforcement of a water ban.)  Take an opportunity to experience life with those you love.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. “  – John Lubbock

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June 11, 2008 · 7:00 am

The rewards of a college education.


My friend to Anna:  “Where is your daddy?”

Anna:  “He is flying er-planes.  He makes the money.”

Me:  “And, what do I do?”

Anna:  “Nuffing.”

Nice.

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June 3, 2008 · 7:00 am

It’s a blog eat blog world.


Okay.  So, the title of this post has little or nothing to do with the post itself.  I’ve just always wanted to use that one.  There ya go.

Now, as for the blog world, bloggers usually read a whole host of blogs daily.  If you’ve ever visited any links from my “Really Cool Blogs”, then you’ve been exposed to the ones I frequent and enjoy.

That being said, here is a recent post from this guy and a response from this girl that I cannot get out of my head.

Scott Williams, author of Big Is the New Small posted:
“God isn’t fair.”

Cindy Beall responded:
“I’m glad He isn’t.  I need His mercy.”

There have been a few circumstances in my life where I didn’t feel that God was fair.  But, I wonder how many times He has poured out His mercy on me when I deserved otherwise.  I bet a lot.

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June 2, 2008 · 7:00 am

Silver teeth and locusts.


I taught three and four year olds yesterday at church.  Anna, my new student, informed me, “You’re not a teacher, you are mom.”  I’m not sure how she’ll take it when she discovers that I actually once did teach young minds.  The day’s lesson was on John the Baptist and how he spent many a day in the desert, consumed his share of wild locusts, and talked to people about their sin.  Their edible craft consisted of a cracker, some peanut butter, a few pretzels and a few m&m’s.  It was pretty much craft heaven for the little sugar connoisseurs.  They were to assemble the “craft supplies” into a wild locust or as one kid pointed out, a “cricket”.

Before I let the kids devour their locust, I suddenly thought to ask them if any were allergic to peanuts.  I may as well had asked them to explain e=mc2.  However, one boy asked, loudly (either he thought I was hard of hearing or he had no volume control), “DOES IT HAVE SUGAR!?!?” 

“Yes.”  I explained.

“MY DENTIST SAYS I CAINT EAT SUGAR‘CUZ I GOT A SILVER TOOTH!”  He EXCLAIMED.

Hmmmm. 

And, when I later asked Anna what she learned at church that day, she was quick to tell me “about peanut butter and a cracker.”

I’m just so relieved that she is soaking up the Gospel.  And, I’m further relieved that the others are taking care of their silver teeth.

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May 29, 2008 · 7:00 am

Turtle Trapping.


Yesterday morning I woke up, had some coffee, and watched one of those popular morning shows.  One segment was on how many Americans are heading to food banks for the first time due to a deteriorating economy.  I was especially moved by one working, single mother of two children who was really feeling the effects of the current economic climate.  I immediately thought about how blessed I am to still get my food from the local grocer.

I tell Kris, “Let’s go buy groceries for someone struggling today!”

This is the part where you expect to read about the incredible day the Takle family had reaching out to people in need.  You know, feeding the poor, etc.

Kris, who is usually pretty responsive to giving to others, replied, “We’ve got to go check on the turtle trap.”

Do wha? 

You see, Kris loves his family’s farm in Georgia.  And here of late, he’s been ultra concerned about the turtles killing the lake’s bass and brim.  Well, who wouldn’t be?

Some of you are gonna be so jealous how I spent my day…..

First, Kris thought it best to replace the boat’s oars.

I say, why not use the tools from the land?  But Kris bought this handy trolling motor instead.

As it turned out, I was kind of glad he did.  Because, we trolled.

And we trolled.

All the way to check on this little gadget.

This, dear friends, is a turtle trap.  The excitement is just overwhelming.  Kris placed it in the lake the day after we arrived in Georgia.  Since that day, he hasn’t stopped asking, “I wonder how many turtles we’ve trapped!”  I know you are on the edge of your seats right now with suspense.

Much to his dismay, none.  And, much to my relief, I didn’t have to retrieve the little creatures.

Guess, we’ll feed the poor another day.  Or at least, take ‘em fishing.

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May 27, 2008 · 7:00 am

Road Trip Rewind – Part 2 of 2


On the road again.  After having to adjust Anna’s headset a gazillion times (which involves me unbuckling, turning around and placing it back on her head, because she won’t sit still), we had to come up with a resolution.  I couldn’t decide what was worse, the constant aggravation of the headset on my wiggle worm or having to listen to Disney and Pixar’s greatest flicks from the stereo speakers.  So, The Waterhorse, Enchanted, and Meet the Robinsons it was. 

By the time we reached Tennessee, I thought I’d show the kids how to make a truck driver blow his horn.  The first two truck drivers were glued to their cell phones.  The third looked at me like I was from another planet.  (At this point in the trip, I felt the same thing.)

In thinking how times had changed, I wondered if pulling the air horn still existed.   I took out my handy iPhone and googled….”international signal for getting truck drivers to toot their horn.”  I’m not EVEN making this up.  Yes, I googled “toot”…..and assumed it was “international.” 

Much to my surprise, and I’m sure yours, it turned up results that answered my inquiry.  Yep, pulling the air horn is still the signal.  And, truck driver #4 obliged.  As did #5, and #6 and #7. 

Kris threatened to drop me off at the Nashville airport if I solicited another horn-tootin’ truck driver.

I don’t know.  I suddenly found myself squirming every time I passed a truck driver.  But, I resisted my urge…although, getting dropped off at the nearest airport wouldn’t have been such a bad thing, I didn’t think.

So, I began to wonder in my delirium, “Is my life that void of adventure that I am filling it with air horns?”  I immediately reminisced back to my care-free days of moving real estate signs.  (Insert sigh.)

After hearing “are we there yet?”  the next 400 miles that remained, Anna’s squealing pleasant singing voice, and a whining dog, I decided on the following:

I am married to a pilot.  We have access to various aircraft.  Next time, we will fly.  I will tap the kids’ college funds or sell a kidney (Kris’, of course) to pay for it.  I am equally fine with both.

On a brighter note, it really wasn’t all that bad, I suppose.  I did get to finish off Anna’s M&M Blizzard from Dairy Queen, and I also got some good blog material.

The End.

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May 26, 2008 · 7:00 am

Road Trip Rewind – Part 1 of 2


There are days that Kris and I make the wisest of decisions for our family.  Then, there are days where we, I don’t know, decide to take a road trip with two kids and a dog. 

There are 900 miles between Oklahoma and Georgia.  And, in my husband’s infinite wisdom, he thought it best to knock every mile out in one day.  So, we did.

I prepared for our little family adventure with new movies for the kids, blankies, and plenty of snacks.  I did, however, forget the Jack Daniels – an omission that will not happen again.  Oh, I jest.  Ahem.

What I didn’t realize was that the kids’ infrared headsets were no longer operable.  And, the parental units were not about to endure Alvin and the Chipmunks for the long journey ahead.  So, with two stops, yes two, to a SuperWalmart, we purchased new ones. 

My ever so adventurous husband touted how awesome it would be to have “family time” together.  But, every time the kids uttered a word, he was the first to say, “Put your headsets on.”  In other words, he meant quiet family time. 

Eventually, we all loosened up a bit and listened to some of rock-n-roll’s finest.  John Henry sang aloud greats from The Gap Band like, “You Dropped A Bumblebee.”  Yes, yes.  Some of you think it says “…bomb on me.”  Not so.  Ask John Henry.

As previously mentioned, 900 miles of boo-tiful highway stretch between our two glorious states.  And, we stop for lunch at a Pizza Hut in Brinkley, Arkansas.  Not Little Rock.  Not the magnificent Eureka Springs.  Not Elvis’ own, Memphis.  Brinkley.

Unfortunately for us, we arrived just in time for the parade of Harley Davidsons and trikes.  Hallelujah.  Just what I had hoped.  Now, my  Harley ridin’ momma would have just thought she’d died and gone to Brinkley heaven.  Me?  Not so much. 

After watching bubbas America’s finest head out on their own adventure, we finally turned into Pizza Hut.  I took Anna straight to the potty in which she announced, “Wow!  That was a lot!” 

As soon as our delectable food arrived, Anna said, “I have to go potty.” 

“No, you don’t.  I just took you!”  I argued, figuring she was trying to get out of eating as she always does.

“I’ve got shoo-wee about to come out!”  My tasteful little girl broadcasted to all Brinkley, Arkansas residents.

I suddenly felt guilty for judging these nice motorcycle parading folks.  After all, we were seemingly fitting right in.

After the grub and bladder relief for all family members (including our four-legged pal), we set out again on our excruciating delightful family adventure.  To be continued….

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