Notes from Late June

The spiderbite is healing without professional medical attention. The Good Lord saw fit to lead me to some effective home remedies and over-the-counter treatments, and I am almost mended. I bathed the situation in prayer, peroxide rinses and activated charcoal poultices, among other things like baking soda, antibiotic cream and ingesting generic benadryl and vitamin C.

We are celebrating my Mother's birthday. A good time has been had by all. I was chided for choosing a nice vanilla rum cake. It was pretty good, but the icing - not so much.

The chiding got me thinking. Which made me google a little and I found this. It's an interesting and amusing post (that relates a little to the rum-cake thing) on an interesting blog. In some Christian circles (apparently mine) it's not acceptable to even use wine or liquor for cooking and baking. Most extracts like vanilla are infused in an alcohol base. Understandably one teaspoon of vanilla extract in an entire batch of cookies or a cake wouldn't impair anyone. And though rum cakes have a smidgen more, I'm fairly sure they won't either. I don't believe it's wise for anyone to drink alcohol, let alone a Christian. But I simply don't have a problem using it occasionally in food recipes. However, I will be careful now not to offend anyone unnecessarily.

So, I'm curious: How many of you are uncomfortable with, or opposed to using alcohol in cooking?

Also, thanks for your prayers over my bite.

Your Song?

Somebody recently asked, as a couple what is “your song?”

[Is your song Your Song? hehehe]

The song that reminds Big Daddy of us is "Heaven" by Bryan Adams.
The song that reminds me of him is "I Got You Babe" the version done by UB40 and Chrissie Hynde.

::sigh:::Twas nighteen-eighty-five, and we were so young, sweet, naive and hopeful! Those were good times.

Our joke song is "I Remember You" by Skid Row, because one time we were driving with it cranked up on the radio as a joke. We were never big Skid Row fans (though we couldn't help but appreciate Sebastian Bach's fabulous hair). In fact, we liked to mock the hair bands and much of metal that was on MTV's Headbanger's ball during that era, even though we liked our share of metal. Anyway, we were driving from Sarasota to Orlando one day and got a flat tire, while listening to that song and singing with faux-passion at the top of our lungs. So now that song just reminds us of that goofy day and now we kind of like the song. It has a nice acoustic guitar in the beginning and all...

We were/are such music fans there are so many songs that remind us of each other, I suppose. Sometimes Big Daddy walks around singing "Over The Hills And Far Away" to me, which is funny because he was never the Zeppelin fan, I was. He will sing “Lady, you got the love I need…” It’s sort of sweet, really, and makes me feel good when he sings it to me. I love the way the acoustic guitar trails off and the tiny bit of organ music at the end of that song too.

I can't presume to speak for Big Daddy but he has mentioned "Me and Honey," and "Home" and this one as fitting at various times in our life together. For me there are so many in addition to the ones mentioned above. A few more of mine: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Harvest Moon, Skyway and By Your Side.

There are a few songs that remind me immediatly of some of my friends because they were played at their weddings. It's sweet to think of those times.

So, what songs remind you of your spouse? Did you play them at your wedding? Do you still listen to them?

Honoring Dads

I am so grateful for my Dad.

"I had a dad
He was big and strong
I turned around
I found my daddy gone
He was the one
Made me what I am today
It's up to me now
My daddy has gone away*..."

I still miss him terribly!



I am blessed with a husband who is a great dad.
My husband's step-father, is a fine man, also a pastor,
and I couldn't ask for a better father-in-law.

This is an older photo - Adam is as tall as his Dad now.


May the Lord bless all you Dads out there, may you grow in His grace,
mercy and love. We are grateful for you.

*lyrics from 'Had A Dad' by Jane's Addiction

A Great Collection of Music

A few weeks ago, while ordering Big Daddy's Father's Day and anniversary present, I treated myself to a little something: The soundtrack from the movie version of the musical Godspell. I recall being in fourth grade, and our class doing one of the songs, Day By Day, as our musical performance. My Mom was fond of musicals and movies. She probably took took my brother and I to see Godspell when it was first released. I also recall seeing the movie various times while growing up. Godspell used to get played on TV during Easter season, but it has been a good 10-15 years since I have seen it on cable or network television. Draw you're own conclusions about that. I think it has less to do with the dated, quaint 'hippyiness' of the movie and more to do with our nation's current climate of being tolerant of everything but art and media that carries an such an overt Christian message. However, I could be mistaken.

Anyway, this soundtrack is a perennial favorite of mine, and having lost it during our various moves, I thought it was time to replace it. When I was a newcomer to Christianity as a young adult, this album was something I recalled from my childhood as being religious, good, and full of great folk-rock music. Since I was turning from my old ways and becoming new person in Christ, it was especially helpful. I missed good music, since I felt then the importance of giving up my old rock and roll (and punk, jazz, alternative, etc., music) collection. This fit the bill, along with an old Al Green album. Later on when I found Don Francisco and Rich Mullins I was ecstatic. DC Talk went on to cover Day By Day on their seminal Jesus Freak album.

The Godspell movie features a very young, thin Victor Garber in the Jesus roll. Having been a fairly keen Alias fan, I was delighted when I realized that the man who played Jack Bristow also played Jesus! It also features the late, great Lynn Thigpen. You'll recognize both Garber and Thigpen from the numerous TV and movie rolls they've acted in over the years. Thigpen will always be beloved by me as the radio station DJ from The Warriors, a classic running-the-gauntlet movie from the late 70's. Thigpin was also The Chief from Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and the voice of Luna from the Bear in the Big Blue House, both 90's era kid's programs. She and Garber can sing as well as they can act. Enjoy.

A Funny Thing to Read

Someone posted this on a messageboard somewhere,
it's called The story of Roger and Elaine by Dave Barry.

Spider Bait

I think I have been bitten by a spider. I have sensitive skin and mild allergic reactions to all types of bug bites, among other things -even some soaps. Anyway, I am treating it with home remedies, and it is not getting any worse. Some online sites have been most helpful in that, though some of the pictures make me cringe. One of the benefits of the internet is that such information is so readily available, but you do have to be careful while sifting through all the information that is out there.

When I was in my late teens I was bitten by a brown recluse spider and that was not fun, and took quite a while to heal, under a doctor's care. This spider bite (or whatever it is) does not seem to be as bad, though it does have some similar characteristics.

Adam has taken to calling me "Spider Bait." I have been humming "The Spiderbite Song" and though I'm uncomfortable, I am not worried. I posted another spider song above, for your amusement. The Toy Dolls are a fine old-school punk band, they are fun. Enjoy.


So, do spiders scare you silly and make you cringe? When I first see a spider, it startles me a little bit, but I am not particularly terrified of them. I think they are very useful animals, they kill many other bugs that are much bigger nuisances, and seem to stay away from us humans, for the most part. I must admit that I am not thrilled at the thought of one crawling on me, presumably as I slept, though I'm not exactly sure where and when it happened.

Notes from June

A coworker has turned me on to the above treat, found at our local Publix grocery store. Coconut just tastes so divine in the summer time. Try sprinkling the top with dark chocolate shavings. Not so decadent when you consider the health benefits of dark chocolate.

I thought this story was ironic when I came across it. *Sigh* A celebrity entertainer speaks of his disdain for reading while promoting his new book. Makes me want to shake my fist and say, this typifies what's wrong with the younger generation! Yes, indeed. Kan-yea shhmon-yea!

I am gearing up to work full time this summer and I am looking forward to all the field trips I will be chaperoning. I'd say, "Wish me luck," but I don't believe in luck. I believe in the Lord's blessings. It has been a long time since I worked full time, outside the home. I had a taste of it when I did my little retail stint the last few years, but only for about a month during each Christmas season. We will adjust and survive.

I know the above bumper sticker is snarky and sarcastic, but I think it's rather funny. You can find more at the Lark News site, they are a Christian humor and parody site. Laughter truly is good for the soul, and sometimes we, as Christians, just have to laugh at ourselves.