Most people I know express a general dislike for meetings. I am not one of those people. Even if I am subjected to an unorganized, inefficient meeting (they drive me crazy), I get a kick out of evaluating it and identifying how it could have been shorter or more effective. Weird, I know. I love agendas, too. Now that you know, go ahead and snicker in my general direction (northeast for most people reading this).
I've been involved as a member of the board of directors for our neighborhood cooperative for a little over a year now. I get a strange thrill of directing an efficient, interactive meeting regardless of the topic. Tonight we discussed a marketing plan, a pet policy, a grant funding option and reviewed our vision, mission and values to guide our strategic planning. It was awesome!
The members of our board are phenomenal. They are intelligent, considerate people from India, China, Jordan, Tanzania, Brazil and the USA. I love the dynamics as we analyze the options, play devil's advocate and learn from different points of view as we try to create or revise good policy for our community.
Some people like movies; I like meetings. Go figure.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wicked
My sweet husband stayed home to put the baby to bed last night. I joined 21 friends in taking up the last center row in the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis to experience Wicked.
What a great show! Powerful music. Clever plot. Amazing costumes. Witty lines. So fun!
Someday I will be able to sing like that, just give me a couple millennia.
What a great show! Powerful music. Clever plot. Amazing costumes. Witty lines. So fun!
Someday I will be able to sing like that, just give me a couple millennia.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookies
I added frozen brownie chunks to my chocolate chip cookies. Two words: Super Yummy!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Kiss is to blame
I'd thought I'd prepared a great Sunbeam lesson complete with games, acting out stories from the scriptures, a craft and a snack. But, apparently my Sunbeams didn't care. Usually, they are lots of fun, but this Sunday, they weren't too interested in participating or listening. Maybe I just didn't have the same inspiration as I did last week with Tim McGraw. The band at the State Fair Saturday night was Kiss. The "music" blared through our closed windows (okay, I admit I sang along to the chorus of "I want to rock and roll all night"). I can blame a rough Sunbeam lesson on a loud, obnoxious band. That's fair, right?
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Tim McGraw - Live in concert - in my living room
Pedro and I are sitting on our couch preparing our primary lessons . . . while we listen to Tim McGraw sing "Live like you were dying" live in concert. How cool is that?!!!
No I'm serious! I'm listening to Tim McGraw live in concert. The sound quality could be a little better. Maybe I should open more windows or go outside. See, he is performing at the Minnesota State Fair which is practically in my back yard.
Anyone who says Tim McGraw isn't inspirational never prepared a primary lesson while listening to his song "Live like you were dying."
No I'm serious! I'm listening to Tim McGraw live in concert. The sound quality could be a little better. Maybe I should open more windows or go outside. See, he is performing at the Minnesota State Fair which is practically in my back yard.
Anyone who says Tim McGraw isn't inspirational never prepared a primary lesson while listening to his song "Live like you were dying."
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Estate Sale: 10-cent items tell your life story
My first time. So many little things for sale (everything 50% off), each one with a story, regardless if anyone remembers it. A price tag marked nearly everything but the electrical outlets in the cute little house on the corner of Idaho Ave. Strangers like us picking through all the things they ever owned that their kids didn't want.
This couple were active Christians. Refrigerator magnets (5 cents) quoted Romans. Titles of books (30 cents) on the shelf contained words like prayer and faith. On her sturdy sewing machine ($25), a wedding gift, she sewed beautiful lace curtains (no price tag) that brightened every window, especially on dark winter evenings. Sitting in a wooden rocking chair ($35) by the little heater ($20), she would sing to her baby or just hold him while they listened to the radio ($4.50) waiting for her husband to come home. When he did, he would take off his winter coat, the really thick, heavy one he got while in the Navy ($20), give her a kiss and welcome the hot tea from the shiny kettle ($5) whistling on the stove.
When their boy was a few years older, he and his dad played with puzzles (10 cents) after dinner. He could pop the states in their spot so fast on the wooden United States puzzle. He liked to finger his parent's pin collection (2 cents each) and remember the summer road trips. On one to Colorado, the boy bought his mom the beautiful painted coaster (10 cents) from his allowance money. Though it was just a coaster, she put it next to the other pretty little figurines (50 cents) he'd given her and would give her over the years for Mother's Day or Christmas.
On Saturdays, the tools ($1) on his workbench stayed busy, except on the days they all went sledding in Como Park, just down the street. He had made the kids' sleds ($5) and sharpened the runners himself. When they got older, he helped wax their cross-country skis ($10). After a day on the icy hills, he helped tuck the kids into bed under homemade blankets ($2) then opened the door to three of his buddies (friends since the second grade) for a few games of poker ($1) or billiards on the pool table ($150) they'd saved up years to buy.
Sundays were special. She wore her nicest pink dress ($8) to church, dawned clip-on earrings (50 cents) and a dab of perfume from the little 2 oz. bottle (30 cents). Before church she practiced on a small organ ($15) at home then later she accompanied the congregation. Sunday afternoons she respectfully set aside the hymn book ($3), opened the sheet music ($1) of her favorite classical work and turned to her beloved piano (no price tag). He would sit in his favorite comfy chair ($25) listening to her play, flipping through his pictures of ducks (10 cents) and dozing off now and then. When the kids were asleep and all was still, he would quietly put on a favorite record (25 cents), gently guide her away from the dishes (50 cents) and dance a few songs in the kitchen. As they circled, she would glance at the wall hangings ($1) - adages about seeing miracles in the ordinary, and she would smile (no price tag).
This couple were active Christians. Refrigerator magnets (5 cents) quoted Romans. Titles of books (30 cents) on the shelf contained words like prayer and faith. On her sturdy sewing machine ($25), a wedding gift, she sewed beautiful lace curtains (no price tag) that brightened every window, especially on dark winter evenings. Sitting in a wooden rocking chair ($35) by the little heater ($20), she would sing to her baby or just hold him while they listened to the radio ($4.50) waiting for her husband to come home. When he did, he would take off his winter coat, the really thick, heavy one he got while in the Navy ($20), give her a kiss and welcome the hot tea from the shiny kettle ($5) whistling on the stove.
When their boy was a few years older, he and his dad played with puzzles (10 cents) after dinner. He could pop the states in their spot so fast on the wooden United States puzzle. He liked to finger his parent's pin collection (2 cents each) and remember the summer road trips. On one to Colorado, the boy bought his mom the beautiful painted coaster (10 cents) from his allowance money. Though it was just a coaster, she put it next to the other pretty little figurines (50 cents) he'd given her and would give her over the years for Mother's Day or Christmas.
On Saturdays, the tools ($1) on his workbench stayed busy, except on the days they all went sledding in Como Park, just down the street. He had made the kids' sleds ($5) and sharpened the runners himself. When they got older, he helped wax their cross-country skis ($10). After a day on the icy hills, he helped tuck the kids into bed under homemade blankets ($2) then opened the door to three of his buddies (friends since the second grade) for a few games of poker ($1) or billiards on the pool table ($150) they'd saved up years to buy.
Sundays were special. She wore her nicest pink dress ($8) to church, dawned clip-on earrings (50 cents) and a dab of perfume from the little 2 oz. bottle (30 cents). Before church she practiced on a small organ ($15) at home then later she accompanied the congregation. Sunday afternoons she respectfully set aside the hymn book ($3), opened the sheet music ($1) of her favorite classical work and turned to her beloved piano (no price tag). He would sit in his favorite comfy chair ($25) listening to her play, flipping through his pictures of ducks (10 cents) and dozing off now and then. When the kids were asleep and all was still, he would quietly put on a favorite record (25 cents), gently guide her away from the dishes (50 cents) and dance a few songs in the kitchen. As they circled, she would glance at the wall hangings ($1) - adages about seeing miracles in the ordinary, and she would smile (no price tag).
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Playlist Sabotaged
My playlist said "How deep is your love?" by the Bee Gees, but the song I heard was a beautiful Latin aria - definitely not by the Bee Gees.
So, if, while perusing our blog, you hear a song with questionable lyrics or nonexistent melody, please understand - it was sabotage!
Hopefully, you'll luck out with a beautiful aria.
So, if, while perusing our blog, you hear a song with questionable lyrics or nonexistent melody, please understand - it was sabotage!
Hopefully, you'll luck out with a beautiful aria.
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