"The Full Life"

TCTC downtime

2009-01-10T14:53:00.003-05:00

sitting on the bed in a motor lodge, with the balcony door open, listening to Pandora on a borrowed laptop, and the sound of passing cars on wet pavement, and the occasional little cheepy sound from a bird out by the street. my group of teens is still wandering about town before coming back to my room to play spoons, so i'm taking a few minutes of downtime to sip a quiet cup of coffee and just be still. There are no lights on in the room; the only light is through the open window and balcony door, and even that is from a mostly overcast sky. it's not an unpleasant sort of dimness, though. on the contrary is vaguely familiar and and promotes a reflective, pondering sort of mood. i think i'll go ponder.

got some whack back

2009-01-03T07:34:00.002-05:00

Good Mornng!
I've been finding little bits of whack and stuffing them in my pocket, so things have been better. It is kind of funny all the places you can find whack. Friends with extra have been really good about sharing, and I found a little bit here and there about town (lying on the sidewalk, mixed in with grocery change, etc)

Speaking of groceries, Used Grocery has an enormous stock of canned artichoke hearts for .69. I got two cans yesterday to try it out, and made a yummy dish of chopped cucumber, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and artichoke, all tossed in an italian dressing. It was pretty freakin' tasty, and I got the idea from my pal Tara. We went to her house for NYE and played some great games with some of our favorite teenagers.

So... the standard topic and conversation starter these days seems to be resolutions. did you make any? Originally I'd planned something I felt would be acheivable and settled for becoming more cynical and drinking more alcohol. Eventually, though, I settled on the resolution of setting myself weekly goals, like not eating fast food, or washing the dishes, or remembering to take out the garbage.
Have any yourself?

got any spare whack?

2008-12-19T09:57:00.002-05:00

why does it go so quickly? my cousin ryan asked if i meant money, time, life, youth, cookies, or what, and i guess the answer is all that and the rest, too. i feel so overwhelmed and unmotivated, in both the large areas (kate is already planning for college) and the small (i didn't make a single gift for anyone for christmas, i cook about 3 meals a week, and i still haven't put away the laundry from 3 weeks ago.) it was like this last year and the year before and the year before, unto reverse perpetuity, but this year i feel so overwhelmed that i just have not one iota of motivation to do ANYthing. i don't want to do anything but be at home. no offense, friends, but i don't even want to hang out with you, and that is NOT LIKE ME. my favorite thing to do is hang out with you, and i don't even want to do that? wierd.

now, don't get me wrong - i am not feeling sorry for myself or ungrateful; to the contrary i don't think i've ever felt more grateful. i'm just... out of whack.

Your soul is an appalling dump heap

2008-12-02T07:18:00.005-05:00

So who watched the Grinch last night? Hands down, it's my favorite of all Christmas movies, followed closely by Rudolph and Charlie Brown. But let me just tell you - nay, let me count the ways that I despise Frosty the Snowman. He is a wuss. oooh, I don't like red thermometers...

psh. what a freakin wimp.
I hate that movie. But I digress...

Another REALLY good one that I highly reccommend is Nightmare Before Christmas. Maybe not for your toddlers, possibly for your tweens, but perfect for teens and adults. (clarification: adults who aren't entirely too serious all the time)

So what's your favorite? Or your least favorite? Let's argue some video tradition!!!

sloppy monday

2008-12-01T07:38:00.002-05:00

It's just one of those gross days. Shameful that December 1st should choose to be like this, but it is gray, dark, wet, cold, and gross. Perhaps I should send some advice to the person in charge of weather. That would help, I'm sure.

So have you gotten started on your shopping? I have a small start, and plan to finish by the 25th. I think that's reasonable.
Hey, I was skimming the radio the other day and heard Dr Dobson telling that of the 30 businesses that he approached about saying "Merry Christmas", 19 of them have chosen to at least add that back to their advertising along with "Happy Holidays". This is a big deal. I'm trying to find the list of stores for you, and also the ones who still won't. Of "Merry Christmas" group, I can only remember Target and BassPro, but of course there were 17 others. Unfortunately, Borders, Waldenbooks, and Barnes & Noble remained in the "Happy Holidays" only group.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T20:15:00.002-05:00

Hope you all had a good time and got to spend it with people you like, eating too much yummy food. Boy, I did.

This evening I'm on my couch watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. I think next year I'll makes toast, popcorn, and jelly beans for dinner. :-) I especially like the scene with Snoopy and Woodstock dressed as pilgrims. It reminds me of Doug and Paula!

So as tradition dictates, Kate is spending the night at Sarah's house, and they will be joining the throngs of shoppers at 4am, along with Maureen and James. I'll be at work tomorrow, so if you find yourself on Hurstbourne, swing by and visit me.

By the way, do any of you want to give someone a kitten for Christmas? Mippen has 7.

sausage balls

2008-11-26T10:28:00.002-05:00

This morning I slept in til 8:47 because I have Day Off Work (tm). You ever get one of those? Actually, my entire little pod is home today from their various jobs, schools, and activities, and we have planned a lovely day of putting things away, painting random objects for fun, and eating of Amanda's homemade sausage balls. Yum.

I love waking up in the morning and having my girls here. :-)

Shopping with Amanda

2008-11-24T22:01:00.002-05:00

Ever notice how she makes even StuffMart seem like more fun?
We had our first grocery shopping trip yesterday, and ended up making cookies tonight as a result. We also ate Klondike bars in the checkout line, and then Travis stalked us and found us and took us to dinner at La Rosita. A lovely first day of roommate-iness!

Oh, and then Grant brought a half dozen teenagers over to take our picture (!) and he also came over and brought us cookies!

The Morning After

2008-11-23T07:20:00.002-05:00

I have a new Roomie!!!
Yesterday we spent the day welcoming Amanda 1/2 into our little dolphin pod, and I just can't tell you how exciting it is to have her here with us! She has already added a new dynamic here on Market Street, and we're looking forward to encouraging one another and enjoying each other's company.

To celebrate, we are going to Sojourn with Amanda and Vanover this morning, and Vanover has promised to buy me a cup of coffee at Highland. How could I pass that up? I think (hope) that even Roebin would approve. ;-)
Travis was torn... he didn't know if he wanted to go with us and pretend we were as young as Kate and Amanda and Vanover, or sleep in a little and go to second service at GCC. It's a tough decision, and I don't envy him having to choose.

growing feathers

2008-11-22T20:35:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I'm back online, and figured I might as well post something as not, since I haven't been here since July somethingth. I don't have any profound wisdom to share with you, but I guess it's hoping for a lot that there is still anyone out there checking this blog! It would be really nice to get back into the swing of writing here again, though. See you later

Hatching Hurts.

2008-07-29T09:42:00.002-04:00

Did you know that in order for a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly, it has to go through a painful, difficult stage of hatching from a chrysalis? A chrysalis is very much like a cocoon, and the newborn butterfly has to struggle and fight to break open the shell, resting periodically, slowly working it's way out. It seems like a brutal way to enter the world, but apparently the extreme difficulty of the 'birth' is what gives the butterfly the strength to live.

I have to wonder; does the butterfly know that all this pain and struggle is actually good for it? Does the butterfly look back fondly on it's emergence and think, "ah, thank goodness for that. Without it, I would not have the strength of character that I now possess."? Ok, so realistically, the butterfly doesn't really think at all; it just operates on nervous impulses from it's primitive little bug brain. But metaphorically speaking, one has to wonder if the butterfly knows what's good for it, just as we have to wonder about people.

I want so very much to look at current situations and think that I can rest assured that it's all for my own good, pre-ordained by a loving God, and that this period of life will help develope the person He wants me to be. But does it really have to be like this? I mean, come on - I am a very good book-learner.

stolen quote

2008-04-04T07:01:00.002-04:00

"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."
-C.S. Lewis-

Perhaps it's time to hatch.

The Full Life will be in a brief hiatus. Not that it wasn't already, but this one will be intentional.

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

2008-03-30T06:57:00.002-04:00

Can you believe that it is time for my little buddy Jake's second birthday?!? It seems like it's gone so quickly, yet it seems he's always been part of our family of friends. It seems strange to think there was ever a time without Jake.

So buddy, I hope you have a great birthday, with paper to tear and maybe some cake to smash, and if you get icing on your fingers, I be Parker and Bear would help you clean it up. I thought of you first thing this morning when I 'cooked coffee'. Everyone here at Mippen's House is sending up birthday cheers for you!

sorry i'm late

2008-03-25T20:38:00.003-04:00

ok, first of all, I just want to tell you that today I baked bread for the first time in my life. It was tasty, too. But we ate it all before I remembered to take a picture. So just think of bread for a minute.

Ok.

So, we found out on Easter Sunday that a friend from a while back died in his sleep at my sister Paula's house. My grandma and I used to sit and talk about ways to die (it really wasn't as morbid as that sounds), and we agreed that it would be best to die in your sleep. So anyway, Paula called and said that Wes had died at her house, and she found him Sunday morning. Maureen and I went down to spend the day with her yesterday, and we had a really good visit. Paula told us that Wes had fallen asleep in the living room chair after they'd watched a movie and hung out for a while. She left him there, and in the morning he just never woke up. Can you imagine finding your friend like that? and in your own chair? yeah, lot o' wierd.

On the upside, his feet were warm, he'd had a great day working outside on his piece of land, he'd enjoyed a good meal and a nice evening in the house of a friend. What a way to go.

Shame he wasn't saved.

roadtrippin

2008-03-14T21:37:00.002-04:00

I love hotel rooms. Most of my friends say that they never rest well in a hotel; that they dread that part of any trip. I just love the hotel experience! To me, the hotel room is as much a part of the trip as the destination, and each one is a new adventure. First, I try out the beds, and see which one is mine. Then I play with the pillows. Tonight we're staying at a Hampton (one of my favorites) and the beds are equipped with 4 standard pillows, a lumbar pillow, a lap desk, and an overstuffed duvet. Now how can you not enjoy that??? After checking out the bedding, I explore the bathroom, which is where they usually have the coffeepot, and I make certain we've got the cute little shampoos and soaps, and plenty of fluffy towels. While I'm working on that, Kate investigates the drawers to be certain there is a Gideons Bible. Last, or sometimes first, depending, we set the thermostat. One of the best things about a hotel stay is you can set the thermostat for your room as warm or cool as you like; your electricity usage was included in the room price. ;-) Another thing to look forward to is the continental breakfast in the morning, and Hampton and Holiday seem to have the best ones, hands down.

Another great thing about a road trip is all the eating out you are 'forced' to do. This evening has to have been one of our all time greatest eating-out experiences ever. I had a gift card for TGIFriday's that a veryveryveryvery cool person gave me for my birthday last May, and I've been saving it for the right opportunity. This was it! In preparation for the trip, last week I went to Friday's website and located the restaurant nearest our hotel. While there, I learned that I could sign up for the eFriday club and get a coupon good for a free appetizer up to $8. there were several to choose from, and we chose to split a most delicious spinach dip with tortilla chips. We had a bit of humor when I gave the waitress my coupon, and explained to her that I had printed on the back of all my driving directions to save on paper. The manager very graciously made a copy of the directions for me, so that they would not be lost with the coupon! =) Within a few minutes of finishing off the spinach dip, our meals arrived. If we thought the dip was good, we were blown away by the entrees. I had the Peruvian Chicken with sweet potato fries (one of the new recipes, btw), Kate had the Portabello Melt with pepperpot soup, and Trav had the Jack Daniels chicken and shrimp platter. There was not a single thing on anyone's plate that was less than excellent, but we still forced ourselves to eat only half, so that we could still split a piece of Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with White Chocolate Mousse. Yes, you read that right. Yes, it was absolutely heaven. I mean, it was so good that if you told that we'd have it in heaven all we wanted, I would just go out there and lay down in front of a car right now. Ok, well not right now, but later, after I'm not so overstuffed.

Since we got back to the hotel around 830, and we've been just hanging out here in the room. I'm playing with the courtesy wireless, drinking courtesy hot tea, and chatting with you all. Kate is reading, and Trav is watching tv. It's quiet, warm, comfy, and just after 10 now. I think we'll all turn in for the night, and hopefully Kate can rest tonight and be fresh of brain in the morning.
That's all the news that's fit to print.

Thinking of spring

2008-03-12T18:26:00.002-04:00

I hope that each of you, all my tens of readers, got to spend some time outside on this amazing, beautiful day. This is the day that the Lord has made!!! (not that he didn't make the others, I'm just sayin')

As we speak, I am sitting outside at the picnic table, listening to the rush of the creek at the back of the 1/4 acre, the occasional interruption of a crow squawk, and crack and ping of wooden and aluminum bats at the park next door. Every now and then, there's a comment from some little birdie or another, but no sign of a robin yet. However, my chives are coming up and are a good 2 inches tall!

The sunlight has a special slant at this time of evening and this time of year. It's a perfectly golden glow that you only find between 6:30 and 7:30pm, at the beginning of spring or the beginning of fall. You probably know what I mean; when the light comes in at angle that creates the longest shadows, and the very air itself seems to shimmer with gold highlights.

When I was a kid and we lived on this property but in a different house, I remember playing in this very yard, and this very time of year. There were trees in different places, and the yard was bigger then (both in my mind because I was small, and because the creek has eroded about 10 feet of it). There were different dogs running with me, and different friends, but many of the early spring flowers that I watched for then are still coming up even now.
If I think back to 25 years ago, when I romped around on my imaginary horse, and consider how much it has changed, (and of course stayed the same), I can't help but wonder what will be different in another 25 years. Will I still be living here? Which trees will still be standing? What about the lilac bush that is almost 100 years old? And the daffodils that are at least that? Will there still be pieces of coal working up out of the ground, leftover from the days of coal cook stoves?

I'm certain, though, that the children who wade into the creek at the park, and follow it downstream just a bit will still discover the miniature waterfall, and of course they will each be the first to find it. Just like I was.

Just the news of the day

2008-03-11T20:59:00.002-04:00

So, I'm starting finally to slow down on the bookmaking binge, and hopefully some balance will come next. It's more of the 'creative seizure', really, and I'm glad to have them. But I'm always equally glad when the seizure passes and a routine can be established. Hopefully soon there will be billfolds, objects, etc rolling off the press in addition to the journals. And now that there's a name and logo in place, hopefully the website will be up and running soon.

I've found an excellent source of paper for the books, by the way, and it's been right under my nose all this time. Community Montessori has a recycling program, and I've been able to scavenge oodles and scads of excellent copy paper from the blue bins in each studio. Even the ladies at the front desk are keeping an eye out for good paper for me!

In other news, things are just not looking very good on the fundraising front. Kate is struggling to understand that just because Costa Rica and (especially) Peru are 'good' pursuits, they may not be the pursuits that God wants her to focus on this year. Maybe 'understand' is not the right word... she does understand it just fine... but dang, it sure is hard to like it. One of the hardest things about being a parent is to watch your child suffer disappointment. Oh, not like "But I wanted the blue one" type of disappointment. This is pretty big. It was for a purpose. I'm not trying to say that at this point God can't make it happen, but it's looking like maybe He will choose not to. We have to choose to be ok with that. It's hard for me; I can only try to imagine how hard it is for her. BUT.... we know that all things work together for good for those who love Him. She definitely loves Him. So if not CR and Peru, what might He have planned for her? Maybe he just wants her to take a break this summer. Lord know she could use that.

The King hath Bloggedth.

2008-03-11T20:53:00.002-04:00

Still a little short of a year, but he did it anyway! TWICE, even! Go here to see what he had to say.And it's true, every word.

live, on location... again!

2008-03-11T12:47:00.002-04:00

This message is brought to you courtesy of the wireless network at Community Montessori! (and the letter G)

I'm taking a break in the 'grown-up' room, and thought this would be a fun spot to jot a line. So, there it is.
__________________________________________

a line. =)

Results are in!

2008-03-10T06:30:00.000-04:00

According to the sweeping poll at the right, all 10 of my readers voted, and Mama Llama has come out the clear winner! Thanks to everyone who voted, left comments, and sent emails. You guys have been very encouraging!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2008-03-10T06:56:00.002-04:00

Laura,
I haven't been giving you much time and attention lately, but you always

forgive me for that. You deserve the best that a friend can give! You have often been a mentor and confidante, and you are the one I would most want to share a jail cell with! Thanks for loving coffee and yarn, and not trying to hide it when you have doubts and questions about 'life, the universe, and everything'.

Happy 36th Birthday!!! ;-)

thanks, brandon and saqib

2008-03-09T16:51:00.002-04:00

Since my last couple of posts focused on the fact that I am now wireless, I wanted to share a little experience I had in retail-land. It was a good one, by the way.

I went to Office Depot on State Street in search of a wireless card, without really knowing at all what I should get. All I knew was that this wonderful little card thingy would just pop into the side of the laptop and the internet would magically appear. Yes, that is pretty much how I imagined it.
When we arrived at the Depot, the lady at the counter directed us to the right department, and a young man named Brandon came back to assist me. We turned on the laptop, he did a quick investigation, and showed me right away what I needed. I thought he would show me the most expensive, grandiose thing possible, but he actually took to one that was on sale! We headed home with the card, and I quickly wnet to work installing it.
It didn't work.
Let me rephrase that -
It worked just find, but I had no idea how to answer some of it's questions. I researched and restarted and repulled my hair, but alas, I just did not know what to do. The only thing I could think of was to call the store and tell them what the software wanted and ask them what I should do. Lo and behold! dear Brandon answered the phone, remembered me, and after just a moment of trying to help over the phone, he suggested that since it was a slow day at the store, I could just bring it in and he'd take a look at it. (and this was not a service call, either)
We went back to the store, and in between customers, he and another employee name Saqib completely installed the card, found the reason for the bizarre questions it was asking, and showed me how to produce the magical, yet elusive internet! These guys were so helpful and courteous, far beyond what one might expect. How many office stores can you go into and get such personal, friendly help? Office Depot has won me over.

couch potato

2008-03-09T08:48:00.003-04:00

As if blogging from a coffee shop (albeit a closed coffee shop) wasn't cool enough, I think it's even cooler that i'm now blogging from my COUCH!!! TEE HEE!!!

Craig and Daryn, I am having a blast with this wonderful toy. I got it outfitted with a wireless card this weekend, and now i'm unstoppable! or unstable, you pick. Thanks again.

Laura says that perhaps this will inspire me to blog more, and i'm sure it will until the novelty wears off. I can post updates to you, my dear readers, from anywhere I can carry a laptop. and pick up a signal.

snow surfin'

2008-03-08T16:41:00.001-05:00

Reporting to you live fromjust outside Bean Street in Floyds Knobs...
Outside because everyfreakinthing is closed do to the snow...
But that is not the news!
The news is that I'm bringin it to you live, on location, from the spankin' awesome laptop which is sporting it's new WIRELESS CARD!!!!!

I'll be unstoppable.

sing with me!

2008-03-03T08:03:00.002-05:00

Oh what a beautiful morning...
Oh what a beautiful day....

Well, things might not necessarily be going all my way, but it's looking pretty good at the Frakeshire lately.

Yesterday was gloriously spring-like, for the second of March, and not only did we have a really encouraging and uplifting church encounter, but we topped it off by breaking bread with the Huntleys and Frenches. An after-dinner Goodwill spree produced another weeks worth of bookfodder, which is quite fortunate since I missed last Saturday's library book sale. That has proven to be my most economical source.

By the time we got home, it was nearly 70degrees, and the windows were thrown open wide. The cats LOVE it when the windows are open, maybe even more than the people. They sit in sill and just watch the world happen from a safe distance away. Artemis had his first open-window experience since he was big enough to remember, and really enjoyed sitting on the cedar chest in the bedroom and watching the world. However, he does NOT approve of his people being out there! Apparently it is very scary to see the people on the wrong side of the window, instead of in here in the safety where they belong.

The only down side to having the windows open here are that, if the trains weren't already loud enough, they are positively ear-splitting with the windows open. But waking up this morning and hearing all the little birdies more than made up for it.