Terrapin Station

Jonesing for it

I'm doing some research for work on the Millenial generation - they are, of course, my clientele. 

I always knew I wasn't a baby boomer (too young) but not sure what else there was.  Generation X?  I'm way too old for that. 

Well, it turns out that I'm part of Generation Jones! 

"We real children of the '60's have been jonesing a long time.  We're not late Boomers, we're late bloomers." 

Yeah!

My New Item

So, I was writing earlier about all the clearing out of sheets...that was because I needed to make room in my library for a new thing.  A big thing. 

Um, a Total Gym XL. 

Brinkley and Norris did NOT come with mine. 

We have been watching the infomercials for them for years, and I finally broke down and got one.  First I tried Ebay auctions, but kept getting skunked.  I wasn't willing to pay the full price.  So I found a place on the Total Gym Outlet that sells "scratch and dent" units at deep discounts. 

I hesitate to post this, because what if it just becomes another piece of unused junk?  To clutter up my decluttering room? 

But so far, I've used it every day since I got it, and I really like it.  It came with several videos to lead me thru the workouts.  The machine is easy to use and manipulate; the attachments are easy to change out.  It's not noisy like a Universal machine and not awkward to use like the ill-fated Soloflex we bought several years ago.  I am impressed with how well-made it is.  It is helping with strength and flexibility.

I intend to continue my Jazzercise workouts for cardio, but I hope this will give things a little extra kick in the pants.  I'll keep you posted! 

It's a Small World, After All...

After I moved to Denton 12 years ago, I met my spouse, online.  He lived in my city here. 

As we got to know one another, it turned out that his former wife, and the mother of our mutual son, went to my high school in Houston, one year ahead of me.  I knew her, slightly.  THAT was freaky.

Later on I met South Georgia Cathy through RevGals.  After a period of time, she realized from my posts that we had gone to the same childhood beach in North Florida, a small, private beach not well known.  We have since met there, and learned that her parents and my mother went to the same North Florida church for a while in the 60's (though did not know each other).

Recently, a girl I know from my high school graduating class (in Houston) friended me on Facebook.  We had some Wall exchanges.  Then Cathy remarked that she also knows that girl...her family lives in Cathy's town.  THAT was freaky.

Then it turned out that another guy who graduated from my high school lives in Cathy's town AND goes to her church.  He is a year older than me, so I really didn't know him.  THAT is freaky too!

I went to dig out my junior yearbook and look up this person who I didn't remember.  And oh, my goodness, THAT was the freakiest thing of all.  Somehow for the first time that yearbook looks WAY antique to me - the people in it so from another time, and so young and unformed.  (I don't look at it a lot!)

How bizarre that I am connecting with all these people that have this same thing in common.  And that if it weren't for technology, I wouldn't. 

That's all.  I need to go breathe now. 

Abundance

Over at RevGals they are discussing this month's book club read, Why Jesus Makes me Nervous:  Ten Alarming Words of Faith by Joy Jordan-Lake.   Songbird points out, from the chapter "Abundance," Jordan-Lake's comment: 

"It helps me to think of all money as Monopoly tender. As if it's play money, only mine for the course of the game, and not necessarily to be used for buying Park Place, then annihilating other players for daring to set their metal dog on what is mine. Very, VERY mine, as my three-year-old might say."

I actually can not, must not, think of money as Monopoly money, and here's why:  money ALREADY seems that way to me.  I need to take money more seriously, in order to be more responsible about it, and that has been a large point in my life over the last several years.  To the point that I try to operate on a cash basis whenever possible, because other forms of transaction seem rather unreal (checks, debit cards...I don't use credit cards any more). 

I've never had an ambition to be rich or famous, but I do want to be secure, and my job does that in many ways for me...largely in my health insurance coverage, and also of course my salary.  And this comes to a gigantic sticking point:  How can we turn loose and trust in Jesus and the same protection given to the lilies of the field, without insurance?  (Bad words! bad words!!!! for the necessity of health insurance in our country!) 

In the previously mentioned Sunday School class yesterday, I not only talked about my money and credit issues, but about my relationship with my STUFF - and that is far more insidious for me.  It's not things I shop for, but things I have acquired through family connections, and things I feel that I must keep because "What if I needed it one day?"  That's a Depression mentality, and I don't think I need a Depression mentality.  I was born in 1965, y'all! 

My biggest laugh during Sunday's talk came when I shared with the group something that happened after I had a house fire (before Ken and I married.)  Thanks be to God, I had renter's insurance, so a recovery company came and carted away all my soiled things and cleaned what was salvageable.  I was asked to go to their offices in a nearby town and identify which books I wanted to keep (even though they were smoke damaged). 

When I arrived at Dalworth and introduced myself to the technician, she did a big double take and said, "YOU'RE Mary Beth Butler?!"  I was a little taken aback.

"Um, yes, I am," I said.

"I can't believe YOU'RE Mary Beth Butler!"

"Well, why not?" 

"Well, you're so young!  But from your stuff we thought you must be an old, old lady!"

Yeah, we all end up cleaning out homes of deceased relatives and gleaning through the detritus of many lives, and most of you surely do not end up with the bizarre collection of stuff that I did because, (say it with me), "I might need it someday!" 

Just to give you an example...like an ironing sprinkler.  Everyone needs one of those!  Never mind that I rarely iron anything, and if I do I use a steam iron (which, incidentally, came from the same home as this vintage item).

And hey, I already culled my sheet collection once after we married; but this weekend I pulled out fourteen sheets (fitted and flat, double, single, and king) that I do not need, do not like, do not fit our beds...It was very difficult for me to get rid of them, because (you guessed it) I might need them at some point.  I could hear my Memamma fussing about me getting rid of those old cotton sheets.  ("You can't BUY cotton sheets anymore!")

But I could also realize that people need sheets, people in my community.  Friends of the Family and other agencies can get those sheets to people who do not have sheets for their beds.  How dare I hoard them on my junky closet shelves, knowing that? 

I think the point about Jesus' abundance is that the more we are able to open our hands and hearts and let go of the things that we are GRASPING, whether they be a Mercedes or a diamond bracelet or a bunch of old bedsheets...the more room there is for God. 

 

Today

A long day, beginning with a Sunday school presentation about how God and I have worked with my relationship to my money and my stuff (read clutter) over the years.  Was followed by a financial planner who talked about money and strategies for handling debt. 

I wonder whether my part of it was TMI (too much information)?  The point was to show other people that opening the door and letting God in can heal strange wounds.  I know there were some people for whom it resounded; but people who have not had struggles in those areas might now think I am a very strange person.  (Which I am, no doubt about it.)  I just feel a bit EXPOSED, as if I did a dance at the end of a plank in my bathing suit, and realized that some people came expecting a stately minuet instead. 

Then Eucharist and Parish Meeting.  Then a Vestry meeting with new members.  Home by 4 pm with a whopper headache.  And I wasn't even there since 6 am like some folks. 

The nap, it was good.  I am still tired.  Tomorrow comes soon.

This day

Oh, it's cold and grey out.  (Not as cold and grey as what a lot of you have!  but not 79 either, which it was yesterday.   Wacky weather.)

We were planning to spend the first part of the weekend at a campout with motorcycle friends, but the last time we did that and it was cold - it was COLD.  A fun time, made less so by being frozen.  We decided not to do it. 

Today I will be going to an extra Weight Watchers meeting (I feel the need of some reinforcement) and exercise class.  Then working on my talk for tomorrow's Sunday School class, and reorganizing my library room.  Tonight we might go to a movie!  This is a big deal for us. :) 

Exciting, no?  Sounds just right to me. 

Friday Five: Gloom Busters

Singing Owl posts at RevGals from the Frozen Arctic Tundra (really Wisconsin):

Here in snow country we are settled in to what is a very long stretch of potentially boring days. The holidays are over. It is a very long time till we will get outside on a regular basis. The snow that seemed so beautiful at first is now dirty and the snow banks are piling up. Our vehicles are all the same shade of brownish grey, but if we go to the car wash our doors will freeze shut. People get grumpy. Of course, not everyone lives in a cold climate, but even in warmer places the days till springtime can get long. Help! Please give us five suggestions for combating cabin fever and staying cheerful in our monochromatic world?

 

In North Texas we certainly don't have the same weather conditions described above, but still it's nice to get a little boost.  I like the following:

 

I have several sets of kitchen rugs and dish towels that are bright colors and some seasonal.  I try to change those out when things feel gloomy.  The other day I found some celery green ones with red accents at Target that made me smile!  

 

I enjoy tea or cocoa, a special blanket, and a new book/knitting project.  Make a production of it!  

Cleaning out closets...sometimes just one or two items removed or straightened up will give me a new lease on life.

Boil a pot of water on the stove with cinnamon, cloves, maybe some orange slices.  Good for humidifying dry air and makes things smell good, too.

Citrus fruit from the Rio Grande Valley - I am assuming it makes it up there to you all?  Ruby red grapefruit tastes just like spring! 

 

Mallory at the Inauguration Festivities!

Here's Mallory at a hot chocolate reception with a NASA Space Shuttle crew Tuesday morning, meeting astronaut Chris Ferguson: 

   

I love her hat, which (I do believe) does say OBAMA.  :) 

And she looks just beautiful in this photo, taken with a member of the US Coast Guard during a cruise of the Potomac:

Isn't he tuff!  :)  I can't wait for our upcoming weekend together so I can hear all about it and see her other pictures. 

Proud and Excited

The University has set up a bunch of big TV screens for Inauguration-watching parties, but I have student appointments and can't go at that time.

However, one of our offices will have a computer tuned to CNN and we will be able to watch there. 

Can't wait!  Smiling all over my face!

EDITED TO ADD:  Was able to watch from my computer via CNN/Facebook feed, while commenting with my friends.  Now that really rocked!!! 

I adore the tagline for this photo from CNN Live:  "Obama raises hand, lifts a nation."

The Prayer

The people (well, Christianity Today magazine) and their video cameras have spoken!

Hat tip to BAC, whom I found via Fran.