Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Hodgepodge: Flu, Fashion, and Fall

Wow, it's Wednesday again already. How'd that happen? Time for my favorite meme, the

Hodgepodge hosted by Joyce. Why not link up and let us know YOUR answers to these thought-provoking questions?

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year?

I usually don't realize I have a cold till it's full-blown. And then I whine and moan like I'm going go give birth to a pod of whales. I drink tea with honey, and invest in Puffs Plus with Lotion to really baby my nose like my mom used to. I always find myself mumbling "I want my mommy" when I'm sick, but I can't remember the last time I actually called her to baby me. I am 40-some-odd (er, some even) years old, after all. And really, if I had a cold, it would not be loving to call my aging mother to expose herself to me.

Will I will get the flu shot? I'm 99.4 % sure I would not. I had one in the hiney when I was in second grade, and that was not my choice. I had far less padding to absorb the sting back then, but I would rather take my chances at getting the flu naturally than offer up my flesh and blood willingly to this vaccine. Seems a lot of people have come down with flu within a week of getting the shot, so what good is that? Or maybe they got it from being in a doctor's waiting room crowded contageous-but-asymptomatic worried folks? They probably paid for something they could've gotten free by just shaking hands with a stranger and talking about the weather before the nurse called their names.




2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear?

I need to advise myself of this on a regular basis: "Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world." And "nothing can separate you from the love of God" (Rom 8:38-39). And simply when I have no ready scripture and am practically seized by fear, I call on Jesus. I just say, "Help me, Jesus, help me!' Every time He helps me. Every single time. He is faithful! If there's one thing I've come to "know that I know," it's that Jesus' Name is powerful. You don't have to diddly squat about how to conquer fear except one name: Jesus. Repeat it over and over when Satan taunts and tempts you, when you are gripped with anxiety, when demons harass you and torment you. Don't worry that you're weak. You ARE weak but HE is STRONG.

3. Share two good things about your life right now.

1. I am teaching art again, which I love.
2. I think I might actually be able to wear contact lenses again, which I've not tried in 20 years. Back in the day, my lenses were hard and didn't fit my astigmatic eyes well. Plus I had 3 kids under 4 and was dealing with pee, poop, breastmilk, messes, sibling rivalry, and incessant laundry. I barely had time to cough, let alone put in contacts or keep my eyes moist. I had to visit the eye doctor today; my glasses broke yesterday and I "fixed" them with Krazy Glue, but in so doing, got a glob of it on the right lens. Nothing could unstick the glue...nothing! And the glasses broke again this morning. I mean they are "dead in the water" broken. So I got an eye appointment and have been wearing trial lenses today. So far, so good. Tomorrow I hunt for a pair cheaper than I found today.

4. A hot fall fashion trend in 2011 is a return to sixties style...tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style?

Well, tunics look great on girls over 5'6" whose food doesn't stick to their derrieres. For me a tunic would look like a tarp over a 5'3" heap of pregnant marshmallows with curly hair. Ew, hair in your marshmallows?That's about as appealing as seeing a woman who is shaped like an electric pencil sharpener trying to wear a pencil skirt. Cinched waist ? Still trying to cinch it, which is NOT a cinch at all. Bold prints...you mean like huge orchids? I'm not a fan of big blooms on the backsides, which inevitably is where those florals tend to land on me. I might as well wear two signs back there: "Kick me, I'm fluffy." Oh, but, big prints are tres adorable on petite misses. (The only part of "petite" I qualify for is the "short" part of it.) High necklines? I don't have a neck, nor do I like to cover what stump of a thing I have that connects my head and shoulders unless I'm freezing. I like V-necks and open collars on myself. Short length skirts? If I had the legs of my younger days or thinner days, I would probably wear my skirts and shorts above the knee a couple inches.

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult?

I was a Campfire Girl for a few weeks. Too much powder-room politics to stick with it. I was into the uniform and don't remember a single campfire. Scouting as an adult? Not since I was scouting for a husband! I have issues with bugs, rain, sleeping in a confined space, and having no easy access to a real toilet when nature calls. At my age, it often calls when only nocturnal nasties are up and about. No thanks.

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin...your favorite fall flavor?

I thought you were going to say, "Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin...which shape are you?"

Well, I would say my favorite year-round flavor. is apple, but in the fall gotta have me some pumpkin pie, pumpkin butter, pumpkin fluff. Love pumpkin scented candles ,too. I once heard that there was a study done which concluded that pumpkin-scented candles are the favorite with men. I thought that was odd, but hey--my man is one of those who likes the scent--and he doesn't like very many.


7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher?

Love. If he or she is loving, the kids feel it and it "covers a multitude of sins" (both the teacher's and the students' sins!) . I think also patience, understanding, courage, and
a sense of humor go a long way. If you can't laugh, you might as well go home and suck lemons. Enthusiasm is a must, too. I used to attend a school where, every year, the principal would tell the students at Day 1 opening assembly, "Your teachers have zip, zap, and enthusiasm!" I liked that. Of course, some of them had mosquitoes in their underwear, too, and were just plain cranky. But I digress.

This would be a good place to tell you something really sweet my now-4th-grader said about his 2nd grade teacher.

Me: "Mrs. L really loved three things, but I can only remember two. She loved reading and doing crafts with the class. What was the third thing she loved? "
Him: She loved us.


8. Insert your own random thought here.

Our new next-door neighbors are so nice! They go to our church and have three young girls. Two of them have been in my Sunday school class. Joel would, of course, prefer they were boys, but today the girls were helping him catch a frog in the yard, tossing the football, and playing with Reilly, so I think he is excusing their gender. I am thanking God for this young couple and their kids. The dad even said he could use a tutor for them, so I piped up that I could tutor them. I would love to earn some much-needed tuition money for January without having to drive at all!

4 comments:

Joyce said...

So #4 is a no? : )

It's so great to have nice neighbors, isn't it? Enjoy your day!

Laurie said...

Ah! Teaching and love! (How well these two blend!!!)
New glasses and contacts! Yea! (I pray these two blend as well!)

LG said...

Nice to read some of your words. I too have astigmatism and wear contacts now for 20 years, soft ones, and they're pretty wonderful 'cos I'm really short sighted. Take care

LG

Amiee said...

Your answer about your son's teacher was so incredibly sweet! I am sure that he will remember her for the rest of his life.

You made me LOL with your description of the clothes. That's how I feel, and I am taller than you are ;)