Category Archives: Travel

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 2, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 2, 2014

Outside my window… dark. We’ve gotten some storms coming through this weekend and are supposed to have more tomorrow. I’ve got at least 4 hours of driving to do so I’m hoping the roads stay safe.

I am thinking… about my trip to San Jose tomorrow.

I am thankful… for good interactions with parishioners in the last week.

In the kitchen… dishes though I did several sinkfulls today. (My kingdom for a dishwasher!)

I am wearing… beige v-neck and black capri sweats from Target which are super comfy.

I am praying for… traveling mercies as I head to San Jose tomorrow, discernment for people involved in my special intention, and for patience with regard to Daniel.

I am going… to $tarbux on my way out of town.

I am wondering… how tomorrow will go.

I am reading… This Our Exile by James Martin, S.J. which I highly recommend if you have any interest in Africa or missiology.

I am hoping… to sleep well tonight.

I am looking forward to… seeing my parents tomorrow though I wish it were happier circumstances. (Nobody died — I have to go deal with a family matter.)

I am hearing the Roomba trying to dock. It’s like having a Dalek moving around the darkened living room.

Around the house… cats are scattered haphazardly. (In other words, everything is normal.)

I am pondering… what to take with me tomorrow for the time that I’ll spend sitting: crocheting or just my NOOK?

A favorite quote for today… “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” — C.S. Lewis (How true this is right now!)

One of my favorite things… quiet.

A few plans for the rest of the week: trip to San Jose by myself tomorrow, Morning Prayer on Tuesday, Ash Wednesday stuff on Wednesday, meeting on Thursday morning, and Ladies’ Night Out that evening.

A peek into my day… Daniel and Cullen taking a nap together. When I was pregnant with Daniel, Cullen used to settle on my baby belleh and purr… only to be kicked by Daniel. My mom and I have been joking for almost 5 years now about them having a Calvin and Hobbes type of relationship someday. (Cullen is a gigantic scaredy cat so he’ll hang out with Daniel if Daniel is asleep or in my lap being sedate.) Maybe that day is coming soon?

Daniel and Cullen taking a nap together.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: February 9, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 9, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It’s only 6:45 p.m. instead of midnight like it usually is when I’m doing this. It was lovely and rainy today. I don’t know how much this will help us with the drought but it’s at least something.

I am thinking… that I need to go on Pinterest and find some stuff for Daniel to do tomorrow. He doesn’t have school and it’s too wet to go outside. He’s been acting out all day today because of boredom.

I am thankful… for the rain.

In the kitchen… dishes dishes dishes. My kingdom for a dishwasher!

I am wearing… my online debate team shirt and black leggings.

I am praying for… discernment related to my special intention.

I am going… too many places this week.

I am wondering… if Daniel will go to bed at a normal hour tonight.

I am reading… nothing at this moment. I just finished Tattoos on the Heart by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. last night and haven’t chosen the next book. It will probably be The Tao of Martha by Jen Lancaster though — my mother-in-law sent it to me and I need to start it.

I am hoping… for less drama in my life this week.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

I am hearing “Lord, I Need You” by Matt Maher.

Around the house… *puts fingers in ears* I can’t hear youuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!

I am pondering… the difficulty of being a saint.

A favorite quote for today… “I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun – not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else.” – C.S. Lewis

(This was my email signature for a long time.)

One of my favorite things… lamb gyros with onions, tomatoes, and extra tzatziki from the Kabob & Gyro Grill.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy for Daniel every afternoon this week, Morning Prayer and PTM on Tuesday morning, peds appointment on Wednesday morning, WIC on Thursday morning, date breakfast, massage, and heading to my parents’ house on Friday.

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Done with My Sabbatical But Still No Laptop

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Jon has offered his laptop to me until mine comes back from the repair facility. My mother-in-law lent me hers while I was down there so I’ve been able to read the guest posts during my sabbatical. My deepest thanks to Kym, Mandi, and Beth Anne for doing some guest posts while I was with family. I appreciate the three of you so much!

While I was gone…

-I read some good books: Mysteries of the Middle Ages And the Beginning of the Modern World by Thomas Cahill, Death’s Parallel by Oakley Jordan, and the first chapter of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, S.J. (the official chaplain of Colbert Nation).

-I spent some time with family and friends: December 25-28 in San Jose where I spent time with my parents, had coffee with my friend Rebecca, and took some walks with Daniel. December 28-January 2nd was spent in Claremont with my in-laws. I got to see my nephew Patrick (who at 7 months outweighs Daniel at 2 years old — he’s a chubby baby but I also have a seriously underweight child) and some of Jon’s extended family as well as get some rest while my mother-in-law took over Daniel care.

-I’ve been limited in my Facebook and Twitter time which isn’t a bad thing.

-I’ve escalated things with HP to the point where I now have my own case manager. I’m calling them daily to get updates on my laptop since nobody seems to know what’s going on. I think Kelly is right — this is customer service hell!

I uploaded all my text files onto my cloud before I sent in my laptop so I thankfully have everything necessary to participate in memes. Now, I think I’ll go hit up Target for some latches to replace the ones that Daniel has figured out. (Life with an autistic kid is not boring in the slightest.)

PSA for Tomorrow

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Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. Dean and I are planning a quiet night at home. Since neither of us drink (I’m a diabetic, he’s 17 years sober), the party scene just isn’t our gig. In fact, Dean calls NYE “amateur night.” But for the rest of the country, here’s an important PSA, and “Ricky don’t lose that number.”

NO excuses. Don??t drink and drive ??
and don??t ride with anybody who does.
Tipsy Tow, offered by AAA: You don??t
have to be a AAA member. From 6pm ?? 6am on
New Year??s Eve/Day they will take your
drunk self and your car home for FREE.
Save this number . . . 1-800-222-4357. Please
re-post this to help save lives.
It is NATIONWIDE and FREE!

-Kym

7 Quick Takes: A Relatively Boring Week

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Take that, Joel Osteen! I don’t remember who shared this during the week but I love it! It’s a series of /joel Osteen tweets with responses taken from some of Luther’s more *interesting* responses. As I despise Joel Osteen for many reasons, this made me proud to be Lutheran.

— 2 —

A useful tool. One of the parody accounts I follow mentioned Perfect Potluck. If my church wasn’t an older congregation, I would totally suggest this for the next gathering. I might even suggest it for the next family gathering.

— 3 —

Orphans. Do you see these two darling children?

L-R: Brett and Iris
BrettIris

Brett still needs a mama. Iris finally has a family committed to her and they are compiling their dossier to send to her country.

— 4 —

OMG NCIS!!!! I’ve loved the episodes of NCIS from the last two weeks. It was sad to see Ziva that dejected but I think it was a good way to wrap things up with her. I also love that the new NAVSEC is female. I forsee that this will be an interesting thing for story lines.

— 5 —

The Millers. I’m currently watching it and it’s interesting enough. The mom is kind of like an American version of Hyacinth Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances. The father is incompetent in a comic way. It’s not addicting like The Big Bang Theory is but it works for 30 minutes.

— 6 —

Respite. I’m headed to San Jose for the weekend for some respite. It’s been an insane week with some less than pleasant portions. My parents will be happy to see Daniel and I could use some TLC from my mom as well.

— 7 —

Bliss. Daniel’s latest “falling asleep” thing has been curling up in our laps while we’re watching TV and cuddling until he falls asleep. I know this isn’t a forever thing so I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 29, 2013

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 29, 2013

Outside my window… warm. We’re getting a chill at night though.

I am thinking… about the stray cat we dropped off at the emergency vet hospital after its legs ended up under my back wheels this morning. They thankfully have a Good Samaritan policy (we can relinquish strays and they will either treat or euthanize) and it’s making me feel mildly less horrible about the situation. At least if they have to euthanize him, he got some love and care in the last hour of his life.

I am thankful… for Jon being able to drive me to the emergency vet as I’m not in any shape to drive after not sleeping last night.

In the kitchen… I microwaved some chicken and cheese taquitos from the frozen food section. #healthyeatingfail

I am wearing… forest green v-neck shirt and running shorts.

I am creating… the last of the devotions for the book and starting on plans for NaNoWriMo this year (which pretty much consists of recycling my notes from last year).

I am going… to hope that I get sleep tonight.

I am reading… Sundays in America by Suzanne Strempek Shea. I need to just buckle down and finish it this week.

I am hoping… to get some walks in this week.

I am looking forward to… seeing my parents this weekend.

Around the house… working on laundry.

I am pondering… many things internally.

A favorite quote for today… ??If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.?? -C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Crystal Light Iced Peach Tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy for Daniel on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, audiologist appointment for Daniel on Tuesday, Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday, nail appointment on Friday morning, possibly a massage that afternoon, interview with PCOS researcher on Friday afternoon, and heading to San Jose for the weekend.

A peek into my day… a lapful last night. (Pardon my lovely double chin that only appears when my head is tilted down.)

A lapful.

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{Virtual} Coffee Date (vol. 3)

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{Virtual Coffee Date}

Karianna at Caffeinated Catholic Mama made this into a link-up. Woohoo! Once you’re done here, go visit her and the other coffee drinkers.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about my father-in-law having hip replacement surgery tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. PDT and how it’s a bit more dangerous because of the cancer. I’d also ask if you could pray for him/send positive energy/good thoughts. I had a

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about how much I appreciated my mother-in-law taking care of me this weekend by watching Daniel and letting him get filthy and covered with Greek yogurt. I appreciated that she took over Daniel duty so I could sleep, rest, and go shopping for Jon’s birthday presents. She also put on an incredible spread for a small family birthday gathering at a moment’s notice.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about the book I’m currently reading, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (a.k.a. The Bloggess) and how I feel like I’m totally going to hell for reading it because it is so incredibly wrong but so insanely funny. Let’s just say that it explains her fondness for taxidermied animals doing weird things and leave it at that.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’m kind of nervous for my endocrinologist appointment tomorrow because I haven’t been testing my sugars regularly, I haven’t lost a boatload of weight, and haven’t been obsessively tracking my food intake.

Thanks for having coffee (or tea) with me. I promise I’ll try to be less depressing next week.