Recently Discovered Truth

So…

This week I have discovered one of the secrets to a happy life for a terminally late person (such as myself).  How to change a light from RED to GREEN!!!!  Hahaha *evil laughterJ*  There are 2 ways to accomplish this:

1. Try to put your wind-blown hair into a pig tail.

2. Attempt to plug your low battery cell phone into the charger

Tada! It’s that simple.  As soon as a driver does anything to take her hands (or eyes) off the road, the light will change.    Please note, that, these techniques are especially efficient the closer you are to the frustratingly red light.  Not sure why, but it’s true. 

Enjoy being on time (for a changeJ) this week! 

I had to laugh when I saw this comic.  It perfectly encompasses a running joke in my family.

Toto! ...um, I mean...Sophie!

Over the past several weeks, one of the local Christian music radio stations has been having a “Perfect Pet” contest.  600 people throughout VA submitted pictures and bios of their pets.  Since then, weekly votes have been cast, shrinking the ballot by 100s, 50s, and 10s. 

Finally *drum roll please* this week is the TOP 10!!  In this select group is a star of the Fredericksburg CYT (Christian Youth Theater) performance of “The Wizard of Oz.” Toto!  Toto (aka Sophie) is owned by our friend Marie Linne von Berg and her family. 

Toto (Sophie…yes “he” is a girl) spent countless hours rehearsing with the CYT students and was such a joy and delight for all the cast.  During each performance she was a comfort and friend to Dorothy, torn from Dorothy by a terrible mean lady, thrashed around by a wicked green witch, and almost thrown into a river by flying monkeys!  Then, after each of the 7 Wizard of Oz shows, Sophie would cheerfully submit to the petting (and hair-pulling by the younger fans) of adoring and fascinated audience members. 

The Linne von Burg family has submitted a video of Sophie with several clips of from the Wizard of Oz.  The audio of Hope Strayer (as Dorothy) singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”   Hope is the understudy for my sister Hannah.  You can help make this wonderful dog the “Perfect Pet” and watch the great video clip by going to  http://www.wper.org/html/pet_finalists10.html and voting for Sophie Linne von Berg (link at the bottom of the page).  *it may take a minute for the video to download, but believe me, it’s really, really, really worth it!!* 

VOTE FOR SOPHIE!!  (& all your wildest dreams will come trueJ) 

Even if you are a non-VA resident, you can still vote *hint, hint*

Thanks everyone!

Once you get to the website http://www.wper.org/html/pet_finalists10.html click on the video link=y'all should watch this...Hope is amazing! it will completely make your day.   Then scroll to the bottom to vote. 

-edit-  one more thing (sorry).  If you listen you can hear my wonderful sister Abigail on the harp (and myself on violin).

You know you’ve lived in the same town most of your life when:

You start recognizing random vanity license plates at stop lights.

* I’ve spotted my personal favorite several times on Route 3, the main (and often jammed) road in Fredericksburg* 

The plate: IH8RT3

Frustrating "friends"

     Over the past several months I have developed a relationship with 2 new “friends.”  These friends are not like the ones you would normally want to have.  All they do is criticize and point out my mistakes.  I can hardly ever play up to their expectations, and they refused to lower their standards.  Though I beg and long for freedom, an experienced teacher assures me that a relationship with these 2 will be rewarding in the end.  So I press on…realizing that on a good day, I spend more time struggling with these “friends” than I do with all my other (real) friends in a week. 

    Eventually I wanted to give them new names, thinking that might help make our times more pleasant.  A couple of days and ideas later it hit me.  Have you ever read the book Hind's Feet on High Places?  (it’s a good one, you should)  In it the Good Shepard gives a lame girl two helpers to assist her journey up a mountain to the Great City.  This girl is crushed to see her companions are Sorrow and Suffering.  “Oh can’t you give me two guides more comforting…like Joy and Peace?” (paraphrasedJ) However after going through many hard experiences together, in the triumphal ending the girl is amazed to see the other her companions transform into their true selves…Joy and Peace. 

   So my friends now have new names…and it has helped some.  As for today they remain Sorrow and Suffering.  Unrelenting and unyielding, yet somewhat patient and steady.  Hopefully someday though, they will become my Joy and Peace. 

                                                  Sorrow                                   Suffering