musings from the back of the church

 No way in God's great green earth would I have a wedding party of more than 40 people.

Why you say amulbunny, why is that? Do you have some special talent for this?

Thanks for asking. I was a wedding hostess/show runner for a long time and I did weddings that were tiny as well as huge. The more people, the more chances for problems. Especially with children. No matter how well behaved little girls and little boys seem, when they are together they get into trouble. I remember a wedding where the bride insisted that her 18 month old son walk down the aisle in his perfect little white tuxedo. How many 18 month old kids obey perfectly? My point exactly. A friend said having that having a lot of kids in a wedding would be like herding cats. And you know how well cats like to be herded?

More is not better. Perhaps after doing weddings for >15 years I am jaded but I think the best ones were the intimate ones. That way your attention is not drawn to the bridesmaid with the huge zit on her face, the groomsman who's got an itch or the junior bride who has to show off for everyone and takes the attention from the 2 people who's special day it is, the bride and groom. And you have to remember that it's their day and no one else's. 

Make sure your photographer et al realize you are in a church and not a hall.

I had a photographer once who jingled his hand in his pockets, with his keys and change the entire wedding when he wasn't taking pictures. It was annoying and disrespectful to the bride. And I've seen videographers literally straddle the communion rail during the service trying to get the best shots. By that time you can't go up there and drag them away and most likely you'll never see these people again so you can't ban them.

Drunks, stoners et al.

I did a wedding once upon a time where the entire wedding party came in a party RV. They were literally shit faced except for the bride who was in tears. When I asked her what possessed them to do this, she said her fiance promised her it would only be a couple of drinks. Yeah right. One of the bridesmaids was so smashed she did a wonderful impression of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 

There was a wedding where the groomsmen and groom were out behind the church all milled together snorting cocaine. Ah the joys of people who never ever shut up. 

There was a very lovely wedding one afternoon where I went into the brides room to check on things and the bride and her attendants were toasting each other with Cristal and having hors d'oeuvres. They were a fun group. 

Music, music, music

The bride came into the church on traditional music while the groom made his appearance to the theme from Indiana Jones. 

The bride's cousins played in a string quartet that never heard of tuning up before they played.

The organist had a drug problem and fell asleep falling face forward on the keyboard during the vows. 

He didn't do any weddings after that. 

Personally I hate the wedding march from Lohengrin. Detest it actually. I love the Purcell Trumpet Tunes, Canon in D, and any number of other musical pieces to enter a sanctuary in. I think there are so many recessionals that can be played loud and proud and truly not a whole lot of people care what the bridal party is exiting to. They want to get the pictures done and off to the reception. 

And lastly remember this:

It's one day that is special to you. The actual ceremony will be about 35 minutes. If you have communion during your service for the congregation, then add 30-45 minutes. And if you do that, ask for chairs for your attendants if you and your partner decide to participate and hand out the elements. 

You won't remember much of the ceremony, it's a blur. That one special moment when you are introduced is the best one. You aren't chattel property that is being transferred from one person to another, you are a living human being who is making a commitment to another living human being to honor, respect, and love them as good as you can for your lifetime. This transfer of authority thing is sick. 

Celebrate your togetherness with love.

And that's the rant for today.

Got the girls squeezed today

I dutifully went to my appt and 15 minutes later I was on my way to my haircut. The scans were okay, but until i get the letter from the radiology dept we will be cautious.

Fall's starting to creep in. I bought some organic pumpkin today, because I might get ambitious and make some pies from scratch, when I get the kitchen thrown out. Tonight I made oven fried potatos and hot wings only to find out my daughter isn't coming home. She could have told me.
Such is life. More for me.




I am getting 2 new books from Amazon. I still have 2 that I am reading but I may put them aside.

I'm not getting much inspiration here tonight and I can't type worth shit. I am however going to go and do something worthwhile. But I can't tell you what.

Later

There are a lot (aka Hey You Victorian Wannabes!)

of "Christian women" bloggers out there in the ether. They want to bring back the "glorious days" of Victorian England to America. A time when the landed aristocracy sat and drank tea and contemplated their lot while downstairs, poor women slaved and worked to cook their meals, clean their clothes and make sure the tea was hot.


One in particular got such a glossy view of the Victorian era if you were landed and had money and prestige. Her home is filled with frou frou pink cabbage roses and glitter. Her crafts are simplistic and childlike. She stresses lady hood, stay at home wives and the evils of higher education. One of her recent forays into crafts consisted of hanging sheets between some trees to make a tent and a floor made of an upside down flannel tablecloth. Something my kids might have concocted when they were little. She was truing to emulate a scene from a period movie.

My grandparents emigrated from Germany in the 1880's. They didn't have a life of Victorian simplicity, even though they lived in a town. My grandfather worked hard and my grandmother worked before they got married as a seamstress. EVen in the boonies of Central Wisconsin there were haves (lumber barons) and have nots.

My parents both worked. My father was a county sheriff, my mother a nurse. I never felt neglected nor did I feel cheated out of their time. I worked part and full time to help keep our income at a good level. I don't think my children felt neglected.

It aggravates the crap out of me when people try to bring back the good old days which weren't the good old days at all. People got diseases that now are cured with modern medicine. People can travel in comfort and not in a creaking wagon.

Wake up and smell the cabbage roses honey, if you didn't have the internet no one would be there to give you your props for your idiotic ideas.

Blah.

  da bunny  

So it's been a couple of weeks

I've been on the new meds and honestly I can't tell you if they are working or not. I am still having a lot of trouble sleeping at night, last night it was because my husband was / is an ass. I shined going in to have blood work. I'll go over to the lab on Monday morning and get the bloods drawn there.

Rained for 3 days and it was lovely. of course I don't go anywhere when it's raining so I got to sit in the living room, enjoy the fireplace and catch up on my dvr'ed shows.

Talked to the landlord today, he isn't making it. The payments and his fixed income aren't making it. He asked me if we wanted to take over the payments and take the house. I thought I'd talk to the husband first. We had a short conversation (husband) and he said he thought it was a good idea. So now we'll talk to our realtor friend and see what he says. We can afford it, and quite possibly with a refi we could have lower payments than our rent. We already pay the gas, water, trash, and other utilities. The question is can we qualify? Our credit is less than perfect and this house has lost a lot of value. 2 years ago it was valued at over 500K now it's less than 350K. Amazing since this house probably sold for 3500$ when it was new.

Got a pine cone thrown at me by a squirrel today. Damn thing sits up in the pine trees and eats the cones. Since we have a forest in back, it's a smorgasbord for him. He hasn't gotten to the pomegranate tree yet. I may have to pick a couple since i think they are ripe.

Peace all.

Last day of the month

Tomorrow my oldest child turns 23. If he's not shaved he looks 30, but if he shaves he has a baby face. Sometimes a baby attitude too. He's had a rough year. Lost his job, had to fight for his unemployment. But he's not doing too bad. He wants to go to Outback tonight. I hope we have a better experience than the last few times our relatives have been there.

I've had a rough week pain wise and I am trying to stay off the meds. Not exactly what they say to do but I have to deal with it. I came off the Ambien cold turkey and believe me that was/is/can be a bitch. I am going to tell the dr that he could have done a step down with me from the 10's to the 5's and then off rather than cold turkey. He's lucky I didn't have worse side effects that 5 days of 4 hour nights. Not nice at all.

Got a cooling fan for my laptop. elevates it a little and makes it a bit easier to use. I still type with 2 fingers on my right hand. Only 2 I can feel.

I'm trying to read the new book by Franzen. I don't know if it's me , or it's just hard to get into.

I can't think of much else to add.

Peace and Out.

Thursday Triumphs

I went to see the dermatologist today and we had a great political discussion. My skin is in good shape, but I have to take a real strong steroid for 2 weeks to see if it can heal a sore that won't go away. It's called Clobetasol Propionate. Can't use it on the face or under or around the lady bits. I just want this thing to go away. In late October I am having 2 things removed from my body, a mole that gets rubbed when I wear sleeveless tops ( Oh stop shouting you fundies out there...it's just my shoulder) and a nubbin that is a blocked pore on my right anterior leg. That one is the weird one, doc says it might have been a bug bite and the body just went and built a fort against it. I can feel a stem on it. But it's not cancerous and at this time I don't have any suspicious spots. Good! I am pretty good about putting on sun screen when I am out. Need to be more religious about it, just going out shopping and such.


Next up will be Ortho and then the squeeze o gram. Be good to the boobs. And now, I think, it's more important than ever because my friend who is 26 days older than I am, just lost one to cancer. Her mom died of cancer and it's just too close to home. I had 2 maternal aunts who died of cancer that came back after their breast cancer was "cured". Of course that was a long time ago. Doesn't make it any less significant.


I cleaned my desk off and it seems like it's gotten more cluttered since. Not a good thing. There is some paperwork that I need to deal with and I need to locate it.


Still haven't figured out how I am going to get the $450 needed for the fees. I will just figure that out as I go along like Indiana Jones.


So it's the afternoon and I think I'll go watch some of my DvR'ed House Hunters/International.  I wish I could go down to the tropics and plonk down $1.5M and buy my dream house with an ocean view and an infinity pool. Yeah. OK.


So it's time to head off. Peace. Be good to yourselves.

da bunny

I need to get this done

I need to budget this month $435 to pay off my old college so i can go to the new college. Where I am going to pull this $$ out of is still pending, but I will do it. then I'll send my $55 to the new college and I am pretty sure I am admitted to the MA program. Then it's back to the student loans, grants and what ever else I can scrape up. I want this MA. I want to be involved in something that will stimulate my brain and my life.

Changed my daily meds to an ER version and other than odd dreams, I'm doing okay with them. Depression is a hard row to hoe. And I've been in this garden for 40 some years. I know what works and what doesn't work.

Since our son isn't 26 we can add him back to our insurance as of 1 Jan. I have to contact HR and find out how to do it. He will be glad to have insurance again. And our daughter and I both need to have our flu shots. She also needs a whooping cough booster because she works with little babies.

I just heard the term teenage blues about kids leaving church. I have the middle age blues. I love the pastor but I hate the music and it means so much to me. I don't know. I've prayed and prayed and haven't gotten a clear answer, unlike other bloggers I don't have a hot line to God.

Well life goes on and things happen that we scratch our heads and it still goes on whether we effect a change.

Peace out.

All I am going to say is :::::::::::::

Thank you to the person who invented the MUTE button. 


That's all. Move along, these aren't the droids you're looking for, move along. 

Fire - burning houses or books?

I am sitting here watching the local news coverage of the explosion in San Bruno and the fires that are consuming several neighborhoods. Since it's dark we can't see the extent of the devastation but the morning news will be all over it. Prayers for the people affected.

I think the press should be spanked bare ass naked for all the PR they gave the idiot preacher in FL. He bold faced lied to the press about his "conversation with the Iman". Doesn't he know that Fred Phelps burned a Koran in NY several years ago and no one covered it? He gives me a really bad taste in my mouth. He looks like a carnival barker too. Gives a bad name to barkers.

The trainwreck is still out there. Making up stories and declaring her above average knowledge of how to home school her 4 year old handicapped son. Yeah a 4 yr old can stand 8 hours a day when he can't hear or speak properly.  I can't deal with her much longer.

The other blogger that I watched has flounced. Taken everything off line that had an inkling of who she was and did. And her rabbit faced husband too. All kinds of theories were floating around. It was like one minute she was there, the next she was gone. And as fast as someone would say on the message board oh here she is again, she had deleted it. Sounds rather strange.

I ordered a book from Amazon and it was supposed to be here the 7th. I looked at the shipping thing on where's my stuff and it says it's sitting in Santa Fe Springs since the 3rd. They are going to reship it to me. And a package that was supposed to be here the 3rd from NJ (shipped UPS the 30th) is hopefully going to be here tomorrow. It went from Farmingdale NY to Seacaucus NJ to San Antonio to Phoenix to Cerritos. Hopefully over today it has gotten from Cerritos to Gardena to be delivered. Kind of odd route for a ground shipment from UPS.

Got my eyes examined today. I am getting new glasses. Not cheap. But I want progressive lenses as well as transitions.

Oh yeah, this is the size of my new medication, next to a penny:

 It's going to be joy to have to take this every day. But if it does what it  is supposed to do, then it will be okay.

I am tired. Worn out from the pain which is never ending.

So peeps, Bless ya all and have a good Friday.

Why do I follow trainwrecks?

I've followed this particular person on Carepages and now on Facebook for a few years. She has 6 living children of whom only 2 are in her care. She was in Michigan, then New York, then Ohio, then Kentucky, back to NY and now to North Carolina. All since March of this year.

She has 2 FB pages. On one, she talks about her love for her dead husband, celebrating her anniversary, how much the kids look like him.  Both kids are developmentally delayed. One has severe hearing problems. She has de-friended me from the other page because I ask questions that she doesn't want to answer.She's hooked up with some bipolar guy, who's gone in on 5150's at least once this year, is supposed to be pregnant, though she's had her tubes tied. Has no visible source of income, though I think the kids may be getting social security or ssi. She's made huge pronouncements about home schooling, the oldest is 4, the youngest is 2. I think she's got some severe mental issues too and I worry about her kids.
Why I am following her is beyond me. She is also one of the most narcissistic people I have ever seen. She posts pictures of herself lying across tombstones, draped over stairs, and she's not attractive. Not that I am a fashion plate, but some of her stuff is stupid. The other day her daughter (who does not live with her and has been adopted) asked her on her FB who the guy was in her picture? They lived in the same town for most of her life.....the mother said, that's my dead husband, the father of your 2 littlest brothers. Yet you keep watching the train and waiting for the wreck to happen. Sad. The other page was just sad. She's all into this guy, yet she keeps the other page and talks incessantly about her dead husband. Talk about a split personality.

Okay I am done venting.

On other news,
the garage is getting cleaned
the pump is working on the spa, now if we'd get some warm weather to warm the pipes
I went to church
I got a new Bible
I am hanging in there

so later alligators

da bunny who can't post any pictures today

Already time for Christmas shopping

Got 3 holiday gifts ordered and paid for today. I'll put them in the usual place and then wrap them when it's time. Am also waiting for a shipment from Yankee Candle and another place which should come tomorrow. At least I hope so. Ah, I just checked the other place and UPS says shipment is delayed. I emailed the company and asked why?????? Nice to notify the recipient.

Also downloaded and printed some Betty Crocker coupons and Ralphs' coupons to compliment them, nice to be able to save some money somewhere. Tomorrow will be the shopping day. I'll gather up my bags and take them with me. Good things do come.

Took an online quiz and no I don't have Aspergers. But after reading it, I am pretty sure that my son and husband have it. Big time.

The new meds finally seem to be starting to work. I have to call the office and let them know so they can RX a new prescription for me. I take one in the morning and one at night. That way they seem to work better. If i take both at once, I am icky. More icky than usual.

Am calling the ortho office to see what the status of my w/c approval for an appt is. It's been 3 weeks. Might be nice to get an answer. In the meantime I sit and listen to the same music loop over and over. Blah. I guess this is supposed to be soothing music. If it goes on for over 5 minutes, I will call back tomorrow morning. Such good customer service.

Weather is not warm. Not cold, but nothing severe. It's much warmer inland but it's still cool here. the beach is overcast. Not even a glimpse of the sun there.

So what ever. I did order the Lutheran Study Bible. I am excited to get it. My Oxford is pretty worn out. And it's NRSV. I might even go back to Bible Study now.

So it's time to say adios peoples for today.

da bunny

Sunday Smithereens

Not a lot going on at the house today. The spousal unit is playing poker, I've been site cruising and the dog is sitting behind me sleeping.

I didn't get to church. I had an interaction of the meds I took last night. Need not to repeat that. Just horrible. My anti depressants don't get along with the other meds and I had 2 glasses of wine. As long as I don't take the pain pill things are okay.

More tomorrow.

Peace. Out.

Doctor's vsits and all those random blog things you just sigh over.

I get to go and have my hearing tested tomorrow. I don't think I've had that done since I applied for the god forsaken job at the agency I won't name. The doctor just wants to know why I hear crinkle sounds.

Crazy weather around the southland. Thunderstorms, downdrafts, flash floods, brush fires. Ah the joy of Southern CA summers. And we won't get a blessed drop of rain or thunder and lightning.

Had the annual poke and prod on Monday. Hopefully she got the cells she needed. I have a tipped cervix/uterus and it makes it really hard to get that instrument of torture in me. But if she got the cells and they are okay, then I don't have to have another test for 3 years!! I have the squeeze machine scheduled for the 30th. Then it's clear till the 23rd of September when I see the dermatologist for some spots on my ankle and my back. Hopefully that will take care of all the medical appointments for a while.

← This guy is what I feel like sometimes. I have changed anti depressant meds and it's taking a bit to get them in the system. But other than a mini panic attack because I couldn't find my bank card, I'm doing okay.

I finished Eat, Pray, Love and I thought it got a bit whiny in parts. I am waiting for the new Kathy Reichs book to get here. I'm wading through The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest and it's got so many characters. But I made it through the 1st two so I need to finish it. It's been a good summer for reading.

I am going to get that old college paid off starting this week and then I'll send another $55 to the other college with an app and hopefully be admitted to the other Masters Program. I'll need to contact the loan people and get some more money. But this time I will be able to teach in colleges when I finish. If I can get a PT job doing that, one of my dreams will have been reached.

Some of the blogs that I read about "Christian Homemaking" are venturing into craziness. Domestic Discipline, i.e. BDSM in the name of God. I mean hey, if you're into it and you like it, cool, but don't title it anything other than what it is. I'm not into spanking but what ever floats your boat as along as you are truthful about it.

And of course the never ending discussions of whether or not to cover your head. I joked that my husband brought me my very own covering, a pink hair net from a nut company that he worked at. LOL.

One of the saddest things that I read was a post on a discussion board from a woman who is covering, and was entering into nursing school and she got reamed by another woman who basically told her she was blaspheming the Lord by going to school/work because her job was to be a keeper at home for either her father or husband. I mean let's get real. If you are ill and need to be hospitalized (though the responding woman has 8 home birthed children and lives in less than 800 sq ft, can't put sox on her kids feet and feed her kids more than rice and beans) most likely your medical staff will be female. I about choked on that. I am not part of that group and won't be because I would be banned quite quickly. There is also a guy who comments on that primarily female group. I think he's shopping for a wife. He looks like he lives in his moms basement and makes pronouncements including things like casting pearls before swine when people disagree with him. I'd like to shake him by the gizzard. If my son made comments like that he'd get a swat in public. Asshole.

The husband has been busy. The daughter has been busy. The son is now playing Dungeons and Dragons a la the Star Wars version and looking slowly for work. I think once people go back to school he will get bored, though his friend was dropped from her college for her poor grades. She needs a semester off to get her act together.

So another day to thank God that I am here.

Peace. Out.

Children who Party

So the kid goes out tonight because a friend got a VIP at a local bar. She texts me from someone elses phone because she didn't charge her own. Come and get me at 2100. Um. I don't have a car. Your brother has the car. HE told her he wasn't going to pick her up. I told her to get a taxi home. She says she doesn't feel good. I am not driving to the beach bar district. Some times they need to figure things out. Sheesh.



Guess who is back on call? Yep for the 3rd week in a row. He told them he has to have Labor Day weekend off. The money is nice, but geez he needs some time to decompress.




I am going to buy some nice white wine tomorrow. I am craving some, with a nice baguette and some sliced cheese.

Peace.
Out.

Are ya ready for some football ???????

It's about time. I have gone all summer waiting for football. And now it's back. I feel like things are getting back to normal.




I kind of feel the beginning of one but I think I'll be in bed before it hits. Gonna be an early night tonight. Have been up late reading books.




Husband is coming off 15 days on call. He's glad to be able to come home and relax and have a drink and just play poker.



Night all.

Bye Bye Faithful 13 inch TV and other things.

Yeah and I know it probably doesn't warrant a post but this little guy has been so good for so long. It's been my friend when I've spent hours writing a paper and wondering what is going on in the world. It wasn't mine to start with, it was given to my daughter about 10 years ago. So it's stood the test of time. I guess we'll have to replace it with something fancy schmansy now so my husband can watch his poker and science shows.

The husband is in San Bernadino which is about 70 miles away. And he has to be at work early. He's one of the top producers in the office, but what good is that if he's exhausted?

Thursday I have my 4 hour functional ability test. Today has been a 2 pain pill day. Not a good thing.

One of my cousins children chastised me for supporting Proposition 8. He got all preachy on me. I told him that :::gasp:: I know people who aren't Christian, and some that don't believe in God at all. I also told him that I thought God had more important things on his mind than who someone falls in love with. With wars, famine, drought, floods, rains, earthquakes and all those other things, he probably had his hands full. I also told him that I attended a church that was inclusive and would welcome him. I think in his mind, GAY means homosexual men. What gets me about this crap, is that there are so many men out there who proclaim themselves to be good Christians, yet they get all hot and bothered watching 2 girls together in soft core and hard core. A little hypocritical isn't it?

And speaking of hypocrites, that blogger who is so self righteous about proclaiming her self the paragon of Christian virtue posted a picture on her sparks people page in workout clothes, bra less and holding 15# of weight. She also says that she does 20 reps of 200 each using these weights, has time to homeschool her 4 children and cook nourishing meals (while making side trips to Taco Bell for burritos and taco bell) and has the audacity to lie about it. Oh if I only had the intestinal fortitude to be so blatant. To keep in her 1200 calorie a day meal plan she has such wonderful things as 1/4 cup of black beans, 6 green beans and has a custard for breakfast. Oh such is the life.

Well I've got a cable box now in the bedroom so I think I'll go channel surf. Had an interesting dream about clubbing with Dr House last night. Why? I wish I knew. LOL.

Peace. Out.

On a new yellow brick road.

I still have my summer cold but it is better than it was before. I went to the doctor on Friday and he said keep using your Flonase because your eustachian tubes are blocked. The right ear is better. I don't feel like the cellophane is crinkling every time I swallow.

And we changed my anti depressant. To Effexor. Not the ER just the plain old generic kind. We'll see what happens. I have to take 1 pill for a week and then go to 2 pills and then call the doctor at the end of that time and get the script for 90 days at the new level.




My mom comes home from her vacation tonight. I really missed her. She's supposed to be in between 730 and 8PM so we'll head over to LAX and get her. She told me to bring my husband because her bag is heavy. No problem.




A woman that I have known for years on a message board is fighting the fight of her life. She was dx'ed with breast cancer that had invaded her lungs in March. She had been through one course of chemo and didn't have good results. She went for another CT scan a week ago and now has an inoperable tumor in her brain. She starts full brain radiation this week. She is 34 and has a 3 year old.

My best friend from high school had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago. She is 57. She'll start chemo and radiation too. Can I say I hate cancer?



And on another note:      FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!!





So night all. Peace. God Bless You.

ugh. ugh. ugh.

I have a summer cold. i do not like summer colds. It's not hot out but I am running a low temp and I feel like crap.

I am trying to read my books but I am just not in the mood. Odd because on some days I can sit and read an entire book. It's like my mind is racing and I can't slow it down. 

We need some rain. I'd love to have a real rocking thunderstorm. Could sit on the patio and watch the sky. And clear the air out some. 

So until later: Peace. Out.

Pain meds, muscle relaxers and telling the truth.

They say in vino veritas, and it applies to pain pills too.

Can't concentrate.

Love ya,

Home from Vegas

Tired as all get out. 325 miles took nearly 7 hours to drive. Can I just say I hate I-15 and driving. Hot and hotter and crappy traffic. If I have to go on a weekend, I'll fly the next time.

104+ the whole time.  Hotel wasn't as nice as Caesar's. They didn't even have a sundries shop. Ridiculous. Pool was nice, crowded but nice. Have to go to bank and take car back. Car didn't like hills. Rode well other wise.

It will take me a couple of days to recover from this trip.

Pictures maybe later.

Peace and out.

For Nancy