Word Association Catch Up

I never did the Word Association for Sunday, did I?

Well, here we go then.

1. Stalker:: Danger
2. Outrageous:: Claim
3. Carrying:: Bucket
4. Spirited:: Debate
5. Oh!:: No!
6. Grid:: Lock
7. Country:: City
8. Karen:: Smith
9. Candles:: Flame
10. Relationship:: Dating

Thursday Threesome for December 15th

Brought to us this week by candy sellers and The Back Porch.

Onesome: Candy canes-- Treat of the Christmas season or something you just never got into? (Oh, and "traditional" or with green stripes for the aficionados out there ?)
Treat of the season we should have more often. And definitely just red and white (even though I love the color green just about anywhere else.)

Twosome: and Peppermint-- or cinnamon scented candles and such? Which do you prefer when you walk into a home or business this time of year? ...or maybe even fresh evergreen from a real tree?
Fresh evergreen from a real tree, even though I haven't had a real tree for several years now. Scented candles usually bother my allergies.

Threesome: sticks-- ..or schtick? ..or even maybe kitsch? Yeah, what is your most un-favorite piece of Christmastime memorabilia? That display at the hardware store? The "Simpsons Nativity"? That ornament you made in third grade that still ends up on the tree each year? Inquiring minds and all that...
I honestly don't know if I have anything I don't like. If I don't like it, I don't buy it and since I'm the only one who buys stuff for Christmas at my place, it's not that big a deal.

Absolutely Wonderful!

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is my favorite movie of the year, hands down. It is everything I hoped for in a movie version of the book.

Yes, the change details. Most of the time, it's minor stuff, but in the middle they make some major changes. But those changes help make it a good movie instead of a book. Either version stands up well by itself.

I absolutely can not wait to see it again. If you haven't seen it yet, what are you doing sitting here reading this post? Go, watch now! That is an order!!!!!!!!

After the movie, we came back to my condo for games and pumpkin pie. Joanne Fluke recipe, of course. We had a good time, although with Dawson there it was hard to concentrate on the game. Still, it was a wonderful day.

Other then that, not much else going on. When you go to work and do nothing at night, life is fairly easy with not much to report.

So I think I'll finally get around to doing this quiz I've seen on just about everyone's blog by now and haven't done yet.

You scored as Maximus. After his family was murdered by the evil emperor Commodus, the great Roman general Maximus went into hiding to avoid Commodus's assassins. He became a gladiator, hoping to dominate the colosseum in order to one day get the chance of killing Commodus. Maximus is valiant, courageous, and dedicated. He wants nothing more than the chance to avenge his family, but his temper often gets the better of him. Maximus 71% The Amazing Spider-Man 63% Batman, the Dark Knight 63% El Zorro 54% William Wallace 54% Captain Jack Sparrow 50% James Bond, Agent 007 46% The Terminator 46% Neo, the "One" 42% Lara Croft 38% Indiana Jones 33% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

So I'm a hero from a movie I hated. Interesting.

Of course, I think if I liked to climb and didn't mind tight fitting spandex, I could have bumped Spidy to the top.

Tomorrow Can't Come Fast Enough!

So, in case you've missed it, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe opens today. I absolutely can not wait to see it.

I've heard from a couple people who have seen it. One went to a special screening they did for Master's College folks last night (during Bible study or you can bet I would have been there). The other went to a midnight screening. But have raved about it, saying it is everything a fan of the books would want.

I am going to see it tomorrow with the game night crew. 24 hours from now I'll be in the theater watching. I so can not wait until then. It can not get here fast enough.

Can you tell I'm a little excited?

I'm so excited today has been pretty much a waste. I didn't have much to do, but I wanted to get it done. I gone none of it done. I guess that's what Monday will be for.

Youth group last night went well. Small turn out, but I guess there was sports stuff going on for the school. I led worship by myself for various reasons. We're caroling next week, so this will be our last worship time of the year. And after next week, we're taking three weeks off. Since I'll be gone two of them, works out well for me.

Thursday Threesome for December 8th

This week's entry is brought to us by retailers and The Back Porch.

Onesome: Seventeen Shopping-- Malls? ..or one Internet? Are you doing more online shopping this year? The polls say we are, but I'm curious about what the real people are doing.
So far, I've done all my shopping on-line. Mainly from Amazon. I'm sure the presents I have left I'll need to shop in stores for, however, as I won't have the time for shipping from internet places.

Twosome: Days-- ...or "Daze"? Are you finished with your shopping? Do you still a few things to go? What? Not even a game plan? ...or is there just one person you're having trouble finding something for?
It seems like every year there's someone that sneaks up on me, but I think I only need to buy presents for two more people. We'll see if I'm right or not in another week or so.

Threesome: Left!-- What's left to do at your place (or where you are going)? Is the tree up? ...or maybe you're just happy you found the Christmas coffee mug and are calling that good?
Actually, the mugs are the only thing I don't have out yet. Everything else went out Saturday. I love having me tree up!

Success

Yesterday, my new gas dryer was delivered. As I feared, they gave me a time of the middle of the afternoon. Fortunately, they arrived near the beginning of the two hour window so I could get back to work.

The new dryer is hooked up. I used it for a couple loads last night. I'll have to see if I can figure out how to dry things the first time through. I think if I go with a longer cycle I won't need to use the highest heat. But even with it on the second heat setting (I think there are like five), it still worked very well. Things were almost dry the first time around as apposed to be almost dry the second time around. And it's much quieter! I think the washer is a little louder, but the dryer is so quiet you can actually forget it's going when it is turned on. I think I'm going to like them both.

I haven't talked to Mom since Monday, but she was feeling better then. Feeling stronger and having more energy at the end of the day, which is a very good thing.

Monday night I went with Debbie to see the new Harry Potter movie. I liked it, but since I haven't read the books, I have nothing to compare it to. I can't wait for the next one!

If At First You Don't Succeed

I couldn't wait to get my new washer and dryer on Saturday. I was decorating my Christmas tree, which I have right up front, during the stated two hour window, so I was watching out the window while I worked. Then they arrived.

That was when I learned that I have a gas dryer, not an electric dryer like I thought all along. Oops. The two guys spoke enough English to get by, but they weren't easy to communicate with. Anyway, they kept telling me I had a gas dryer but had bought an electric. Several times. Finally, I figured out that they couldn't hook up the electric dryer because the connections weren't right. So I had to send the dryer back. The good news was they set up the washer then hooked my old dryer back up so I could do the load of towels I desperately needed to do.

Yesterday, I went back to Best Buy and got the refund for the electric dryer and bought the same dryer as a gas dryer. I got a good deal on it, too, because of some deals they had given me originally that they still honored. The new dryer should be delivered sometime tomorrow. Can't wait to do some laundry in my new units!

I haven't gotten an update on Mom today, but as I said yesterday, she is home but not super strong. Hopefully she will continue to heal. Naturally, this isn't fun for her at all.

Word Association for December 4th

But first, an update.

Mom is home from the hospital, but still not feeling 100%. Still, she's doing much better.

Now, the word assocation.

1. Amazing:: Spiderman
2. Delights:: Turkish
3. Inspired:: Story
4. Disgusted:: Upset
5. You:: Me
6. Vagina:: Woman
7. Palm:: Sweaty
8. Sweetheart:: Cold
9. Guilt:: by Association
10. More to come:: To be Continued

It All Adds Up to Nothing

What do you get when you have a basketball tournament, ladies craft night, and the youth pastor gone on the same night? Nothing.

Last night after work I raced home to work on getting some songs together for worship and the powerpoint done. Finished that up and got there a couple minutes late.

Then I learned what else was going on. The guys were playing in a basketball tournament the Christian school connected with my church was hosting. The ladies had planned their monthly craft night, so wouldn't be joining us. And Pastor Jon was at a convention. We kept changing what we were planning to do, but ended up doing nothing. I felt badly for the high school guys who were there, but since there were no jr. high guys and jr. high staff but only one high school staff, I didn't feel too guilty.

Paul moved in this week. I think things will work well, once I adjust to the change. You know me and change.

This afternoon, Dad called to tell me that Mom was in the hospital and would be there overnight. She passed out early this morning and was acting weird, so Dad called for an ambulance. They have determined that she has an ulcer that is bleeding internally. They've given her some stuff for it and all should be well now, but I must admit it's still shaken me up quite a bit.

Thursday Threesome and Word Association

Catch up time again.

We'll start with the easy one. I just have one word association to do.

1. Stuffed:: Turkey
2. Armstrong:: Redwoods
3. Bruise:: Fight
4. Content:: Objectionable
5. Musical:: Theater
6. Assistance:: Help
7. Scrambling:: to get ahead
8. Battle:: Scars
9. Extended:: Edition
10. Discount:: Sale

Now comes two weeks worth of Thursday Threesomes from The Back Porch.

Onesome: The-- Which is the Christmas movie for you? "It's a Wonderful Life"? "Frosty the Snowman"? "Miracle on 34th Street"? Do you have a favorite you just love to see each year?
I think I have three that top my list. "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the cartoon, not the live action version), and George C. Scotts version of "A Christmas Carol."

Twosome: Polar-- bears seem comfortable in the cold and snow; how about you? Is snow a welcome pause for you? ...an annoyance? ...or perhaps something for 'people living elsewhere'?
Most definitely something for people living elsewhere. I can't stand cold, so I don't think I'd do well in winter weather.

Threesome: Express-- Have you ever found yourself in the Express line at the store, but only realized that after you had loaded something like thirty items onto the belt, were paying by check and were planning on using coupons?
Here you can use checks and coupons in the fast lane. Drives me crazy. I have gotten into the express line with one or two extra items, but never with 30.

And this week's.

Onesome: Christmas-- "Christmas is coming; the goose is getting fat..." Nope, I'm not going there, not by a long shot! How about: Even though we just finished up the Thanksgiving meal, what dish are you looking forward to most at Christmas time? ...and yes, Christmas cookies count!
Pumpkin pie, which we didn't have at Thanksgiving. And stuffing. Let's not forget yams and apples. I think it's a good thing it's lunch time.

Twosome: Elf-- Who is your favorite Christmas Elf? Mom? Dad? Will Farrell? That guy who helps you at the tree place each year?
I really can't say I have a favorite Christmas elf. Unless you counted my job's policy of letting us off for at least a week every year so I have time to spend with family.

Threesome: Gifs-- How about your favorite bit of Christmas artwork? Is it a painting? ...a cartoon? ...your special ornament? ...the tree in the town square?
I have several great Christmas ornaments, including one of a nutcracker painted in Bavarian colors. Got it when we were in Germany and I just love it.