Archive for April, 2011

Muscles!

30/04/2011

So I walk into the gym after a long layoff. It’s bee months of inactivity. The last thing I’d want is for someone to observe me and then walk over and make comment…

Which is exactly what happened!

He stood there, obviously rippling with tone and good health, and started telling me where I was going wrong and how I could improve. Certainly he was a product of his time. And perhaps he was taking some muscle stimulation stuff which I was not aware of. But I almost felt intimidated. Almost. Instead it just made me hit the treadmill. So glad that I have the things to get me swimming and keep me afloat!

Flower Fest

28/04/2011

It never ceases to amaze me how creative come people can be!

Beautiful flowers tastefully arrange to catch our eye, causes us to linger a moment more.

An amazing pervading smell totally enveloping the large hall, makes us smile even though we might be preoccupied with other matters.

It is such a joy to have such delights! Reminds me of Cleveland florists which I was introduced to – excellent standard!

Is There Any Hope?

27/04/2011

I was given a list. It was entitled “Am I a Proud or Broken Person?”

There were checklists about attitudes. Attitudes to self, others, etc.

I found myself checking myself on the list.

And left wanting.

Take for instance

ATTITUDE about RECOGNITION

PROUD PEOPLE crave self-advancement.

BROKEN PEOPLE desire to promote others

PROUD PEOPLE have a drive to be recognised and appreciated for their efforts.

BROKEN PEOPLE have a sense of their own unworthiness; they are thrilled that God would use them at all.

PROUD PEOPLE get wounded when others are promoted and they are overlooked.

BROKEN PEOPLE are eager for others to get credit, and they rejoice when others are lifted up.

PROUD PEOPLE are elated by praise and deflated by criticism.

BROKEN PEOPLE know that any praise of their accomplishments belongs to the Lord and that criticism can help them grow into spiritual maturity

Even posting this seems a contrary thing to do.

And yet….

So I ask, “Is there any hope for one such as I?”

(For more, visit EADotCom and TheHinge)

Barbie

26/04/2011

No I don’t mean the toy.

I mean the food one! Yum!

Went for one with some friends at a nearby hill the other night.

It was fun.

It was breezy.

It was filling.

It was fruitful.

They had built a special place which overlooked the city. Then they created a makeshift barbeque pit. Amidst the sounds of the night, and amazing visitors (a full grown  rhinoceros beetle no less!) we sat and gorged ourselves with good food and excellent company. The only thing that needs improving, at least in my opinion, he should have a proper outdoor firepit instead of the rickety one he has!

Promoted!

25/04/2011

Today I went with some friends and their premature baby to have a checkup done for the baby. It was fun cuddling the little fella. He is such a gem! So are his parents. I had forgotten how light and small and cuddly they can be! Haha!

Things were going well despite needing to wait a little for medications to take effect. Then baby’s Mom and I went into the room to have the first test done with me holding baby to help Mom. There, the nurse and doctor got chatting with us.

It was then I got promoted – to be the little fella’s Grandma! Haha! That’s who the doctor and nurse thought I was!

When I thought about it, in a sense, I suppose I AM old enough – one of my staff has a two-year old and she calls me Aunty. I have been married for 29 years, though of course my eldest is still too young…..

On the other hand of course, I think perhaps I am overdue for a facial? Make it an overhaul or major renovation! Haha!

Permutation and Precision

20/04/2011

Pools or billiards fascinate me.

The permutation of how a ball will go after being hit by another is incredibly high. But good players can almost certainly direct the cue ball and the target ball to any place they want.

Of course for amateurs like us it is always nigh impossible.

So it is a case of practise made perfect.

It probably means getting personal pool sticks as the first step. I didn’t know that there are many grades. Still, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for….

Sistas

18/04/2011

I was sent this today

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother.

As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter. ‘Don’t forget your sisters,’ she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. ‘They’ll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.’

‘Remember that ‘sisters’ means ALL the women… your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. ‘You’ll need other women. Women always do.’

What a funny piece of advice!’ the young woman thought. Haven’t I just gotten married? Haven’t I just joined the couple-world? I’m now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!’

But she listened to her mother. She kept contact with her sisters and made more women friends each year.

As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her mother really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I’ve learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT………

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley’s end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you…..Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family: all bless our life! The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Any thoughts anyone?

Paying Close Attention

15/04/2011

I am convicted

“You say, “I know I am right with God”— yet the “high places” still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life He causes you to doubt? Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God.”

Reading from Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest today.

It’s Been THAT Sort of a Week

10/04/2011

First I had tooth trouble. I had to have it drained for a week.

Then I fell into a drain. Scratches on arms and legs, bruises here and there. I wonder if I cracked my left rib. Sigh.

To compound the pain, the tooth trouble hasn’t been resolved yet. I have a high pain threshold but this is rediculous.

Tablets galore. Never knew there would come a day when I would need so much analgesia and all. Phew!

Goooooooooold!

06/04/2011

After going on about something superbly valuable (read fooooood) now let me post about something truly valuable (read moneeeeeeeeeeeeeey)

Gold price is at an all time historic high. So much so that many of my friends are considering investing using gold. Some are even selling gold jewelry to cash in.

Hubby nearly got into this – He said that he was wondering if I had any sentimental reasons for holding on to some of my pieces! He suggests that I should sell them now, and he is certain that one day, the price will crash down and he would buy me better and finely designed gold jewelry.

Would you buy into that story?

I AM tempted a little to look for those ugly chunky gold pieces I was given…..!