ginosko

See? When it seems as if I'm spaced out, I'm really keenly examining the things around me.

This quiz on ordinary things is a fun way to start a Monday. How much do we really notice about the things we see or handle all the time? What may be more interesting than your final score are the types of things you get wrong.

Have fun with it, and let me know how you did?

So proclaimed Chad as he and Holly climbed my porch steps last night, both of them wearing huge smiles, with Holly waving a sparkly finger in front of her. After a very long three and a half years of dating, they are finally officially engaged.

It was Holly with whom I had coffee yesterday afternoon. The first time I met her, she was a charming, energetic third grader with long blond ponytails and an infectious laugh. She's grown into both a wonderful young woman and a good friend.

She can tell you all about how Chad proposed (that's a hint, sweetie - not everyone is on Facebook!), but after telling their parents and siblings, they stopped in here for a few minutes last night, which I took as a great honor.

Although, I think in part it was so Holly could admire her ring under my natural light spectrum lamp!

May God bless their marriage.

Time flies when you are having fun. This is a nice, quiet weekend, as well as one with perfect fall weather. While the tree colors are close to peak, the temps are unseasonably high: sixty-eight degrees right now, with a forecast of up to the mid-seventies tomorrow. People are out raking, preparing flower beds for winter, biking, running - enjoying all the outdoorsy things that won't be as pleasant to do in a month or so.

Me? Hmmm. Watched The Bucket List last night. There really wasn't much to the movie, though as with all Rob Reiner films, it was very well done. Loved the shots of Jack Nicholson's eyes through the weird glasses he used while in the hospital. Great way to start the weekend: contemplating death.

Out very early, coffee and a bagel at someplace different. Due to parking constraints and a few other things, I've not been able to go to the early Thursday morning Bible study since we restarted the week after Labor Day. I'll be able to return to it on the 23rd, so I needed to get caught up on the study. Actually, I was already almost to that point - it could have waited. Finished that, did some reading, some writing, then...

Came home and started laundry. Isn't life exciting? The pile of rummage sale leftovers is slowly being moved to the trunk of the car to be dropped off at Goodwill later this afternoon. The summer decorations are finally coming off the porch (the autumn decor is in the cedar chest on which the boxes of Goodwill-bound stuff is sitting - see the progression here?).

Meeting a friend for coffee after lunch, then back home to sew/putter. Little winterizing things are on the schedule, like put another coat of Rain-X on the windshield of the car, vacuum it out well, find the snow brush and scrapers and put them in the trunk. If I remember correctly, after last years' hundred thousand year snow, my brush is in tatters. I need a new snowbrush. And most likely new mittens. Oh - and new winter boots, the type real women wear when shoveling off the walks and walking in the snow, not the fancy-schmantzy ones women wear when their husbands drop them off at the door of the building.

Somewhere in there is time to sit down to write a couple of lists. One for a meal plan for October, one for projects for that week of vacation. There are a few things that can only be done during the day, or during the work week (like dropping cans of half-used paint at the city yard) that I'd like to finish up that week. As usual, I'll probably post the list here, to keep me on track, but primarily to keep me from losing the written list.

Sunday afternoon (I think - Elyssa, weren't you going to call?) I'm finally meeting a friend's boyfriend fiance. Except for a few Facebook updates (which is where I found out they are officially engaged - Elyssa, weren't you going to call?) I don't think I've seen her since they just after they started dating, almost a year ago.

Anyway, off to play in the nice warm, sunny weather. Or wash the streaks off the windows, since it's now bright enough to see them...

In the process of excavating the pile of mail on the dining room table I came across a squishy package I had been expecting for some time: a sample of Coffee 2.0 from Joffrey's.

A while back, via Carrie, I registered to get a free sample of a coffee that was being developed for and marketed to bloggers and computer geeks. It sounded like a very cute marketing concept (and I'm all about the free). But it had been so long since I registered that I figured the promotion had run out - or, in a fit of peri-menopausal fog I had mistyped my own address.

The coffee is very good, smooth and a little smoky, just as they claim. Take a look at their site, as they offer many other coffees as well.

As for the "increased focus power...faster, more efficient mental processing...amplified energy" that they claim the coffee inspires...well, if I'm still putting up posts at 2 a.m., you'll know that's true.

Have just over three inches trimmed from your hair. This trim was extremely overdue; I've been meaning to have this done since June. As it is, even with a substantial amount left on the salon floor, the back hangs down to lingerie level. The ends are much, much happier.

The good news is that I've known for some time exactly what style I'd like. The bad news is that I'm not quite sure where to have it done.

Maybe in another few months.

Update: Take a look over at the Llamas. They are having a hot babes battle featuring over 40 brunettes. It's nice to know someone appreciates this particular demographic (though I'm no competition for any of their choices!)

"Wait! Stop - You're going the wrong way!" A chorus of passenger voices rose above the freeway noise.

The bus lurched to a stop, three-quarters of the way onto the I-94 eastbound ramp. The driver, new to the modified route, had gone through the intersection at Eleventh and Wisconsin and bore left, onto the eastbound ramp, rather than right, down Eleventh onto the westbound ramp. We were headed for Chicago rather than the State Fair Park and Ride. Not exactly what we wanted on a Friday afternoon.

With a little input from the passengers, the driver got us off the freeway at the next exit, through a bit of the city and back to an alternate on ramp without further incident. The unexpected detour caused a great deal of embarrassment for the driver, but beyond a fifteen minute delay in the schedule, no permanent damage.

Would that the same thing could be said of all of life's detours. Some, like our bus ride, are minor inconveniences. Others, however, have life changing consequences. But when we find our lives taking an unanticipated turn, help is available.

We are encouraged in Scripture to seek the advice of others. King Solomon says in Proverbs 15:22 "Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed". Getting some outside input into our situation can help us find a better resolution than if we rely on ourselves alone. On our own, we may see only part of the picture; consulting with someone else helps us see things we would miss, alternatives we had not considered.

Like the passengers on the bus, there are others around us who can help us navigate back to the main highway, if we are willing to listen to them.

This afternoon I went to hear my new Chinese friend play Soviet, Yugoslav, British and American marches with the MU Symphonic Band. The program began with Shostakovich (Festive Overture, originally for orchestra, transcribed (obviously) for band) and ended with...circus music (Barnum and Bailey's Favorite, Karl King). There was much more - an amazing amount of work, considering the band has only had about five, maybe six weeks to rehearse. My ears are still ringing (112 member band playing in a theatre that is just wee bit too small for all that sound) and my fingers are still numb (the concert was moved indoors because it was so chilly outside; apparently no one told the custodian to turn off the a/c inside), but all in all, it was fun.

Jessie was absolutely thrilled to see me. With the hordes of band members, parents and friends in the lobby, I never did find her before the concert began. I know from personal experience the difference it makes when someone you know is in the audience; I had told her I would be there, but hadn't made definite arrangements to meet up.

As a violinist, however, I have to say to all my woodwind and brass playing friends (and how I ended up with so many of you, I don't know): Any instrument from which you have to clean the spit after playing - ewwww.

I love you all anyway.

Apparently, inhabitants of both New York and Los Angeles have spent time in Milwaukee this summer, and...enjoyed it.

It has to be the Johnny Depp effect; they must have read in the entertainment section that he made a movie in Milwaukee, and wanted to see for themselves if it existed. Why else would they deliberately travel to what they consider fly-over country?

The articles mention a number of the fun places in the city, but there really is much, much more. A great zoo, a world-class symphony, dozens of parks, summer festivals up the wazoo, easy transportation, mid-western prices, to name just a few. Give me a holler if you're ever in the area!

This weekend is almost as busy and crowded as that title. Fortunately, it is all music, fun, food and laughter.

Out tonight with a co-worker and our two Chinese international friendship program students. We are meeting one of the Finance VPs and his wife for dinner - at a Chinese restaurant. The VP has been to China close to a dozen times, loves the people and the culture; he swears this is one of the most authentic experiences in Milwaukee. The best part? He offered to pay.

Saturday morning is set aside for Bible study prep, writing and a few short errands. Then it's back home to make soup (Chicken with Wild Rice) to take to dinner with friends. They are supplying the home-made rolls, someone else is bringing the dessert, and we're all bringing the crazy.

Sunday a.m. I'm set to read in the service at church, but I need to scoot out before the service is completely over. Jessie (my Chinese student's chosen "American" name) plays flute in the MU band. They have a concert early Sunday afternoon, either on the plaza in front of the student union (if it doesn't rain, although temperatures are only supposed to be in the low sixties) or the Varsity Theatre (if it does indeed rain). The program is varied, but includes "a collection of the great marches from throughout history".

After that, it's back home to collapse. The house needs cleaning, the flamingos need quilting, and next week needs organizing. Or I could just curl up on the couch with some hot chocolate and read.

Actually, that sounds like a very good idea.

Your result for The Classic Dames Test...

Katharine Hepburn

You scored 14% grit, 33% wit, 38% flair, and 24% class!

Take The Classic Dames Test at HelloQuizzy