At work Friday

On Friday I overheard someone in a small group curse and it wasn't funny so I walked out of the main area and into my office and sat down to work at my computer to work.  I share my office with the boss, or should I say the boss shares his office with me.  He's the department manager.  Heh.

Then I heard someone whisper, She's a Christian.  Another person said, I don't care.

A few minutes later my boss came in and sat down.  He rolled his chair toward me and smiled and said he hoped they weren't making me uncomfortable out there.  I told, him not at all.  And it's true.  It doesn't make me uncomfortable.  I've heard it all.  Used to talk like a sailor myself. 

I wish I'd said more.  I wish I'd feigned innocence and said "Why do you say that?"  Might have been interesting to hear the answer!  But I'm not quick thinking on my feet.  Honestly, it doesn't matter what I think anyhow.

But if anyone uses the same of my savior, the saver of my life, as a curse, I'll go spiritual and reply with a joyful and loud exclamation... Amen, Praise the Lord, or Hallelujah!  Because the name Jesus Christ isn't a curse.  It's the sweetest name to my ears.

I just got my three month review a week ago and they're keeping me, so next time I need to say, Amen, Praise the Lord, or Hallelujah! both hands will go up too.   Although being a good employee comes first.  That's really one of the best ways to witness.

“A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program that contradicts fundamental contents of faith and morals,” Ricken said in the letter. “Some candidates and one party have even chosen some of these as their party’s or their personal political platform. To vote for someone in favor of these positions means that you could be morally ‘complicit’ with these choices which are intrinsically evil. This could put your own soul in jeopardy.”

From a letter written by Bishop David Ricken, the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, to his parishioners.

It's been three months and I still like my job.  A lot.

I had a conversation with my sister last night.  She's not far from a six figure yearly income and her job is stressful sometimes.  I know I couldn't take the stress she does.  Well, she started telling me about a job she was on and I had to interrupt her. 

So I said, Sis!  This is a boring story.  Your job is boring.  She said, wait, I'm getting to the funny part.  Actually, it was kinda funny at the end.

My husband overheard me saying her job was boring and turned to me and said, "Um, Lil, do you know you work in a stock room?  Talk about boring.  Hahahahaha!  Okey dokey.

My sis and her work group are gonna be on the front of a professional magazine for professional right-of-way people and I hope she sends me a copy.  I have some Zumba jingle bracelets and lip gloss to send her.  I just have to get an envelope.

We just had the last night of revival last night.  Man, I like the upbeat pentecostal attitude.  It was like being at the Johnny Carson Tonight Show only the speaker is preachin' the gospel.  Makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you scared, makes you wanna share the good news.

The last revival we went to was in February.  Since then we've come so far.  Mayela, Kathy, and I are taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the park on Fridays.  We make a giant pot of soup and give it away and give out tracts and pray with people and do some Zumba.  Free.  All free.

We've done it three weeks.  We've got mostly kids coming.  Only a few adults.  Got a group of youth that I'm purty darn sure are imbibing in a bit of illegal substances.  They've come for soup steady.  So we're adding to our plan for tomorrow.

Our concern is, we don't wanna be impotent women handing out food for nothing.  We're working for the kingdom.  So, mañana we're upping the ante.  We're handing out bibles.  A lady at work gave us about 20.  Gave.  Us.  Yeah!  So I'm going to ask anyone who wants one to come up and get one.  Come to me and get one.  I'm not walking to them, they walk to me.  And I'm going to tell them not to feel pressured.  If they don't want one it's perfectly okay, and it is.  Gonna tell them if they get one and then decide they don't want it, please bring it back.  Just don't want them to throw them away.

Then my plan is to give a brief rundown of biblical factoids.  For example, the bible is really 66 books, not just one.  Written over the course of 1600 years.  All pointing (except for a few like the Book of Esther) to Jesus.  Best selling book of all time.  Sells more than Playboy, Old Yeller, any cookbook, self-help book, or religious book that you can think of.  Shortest verse: Jesus wept.  Open to the middle and you're in Psalms.  Psalms means songs.

So then I'll tell them to read through any part at all and if they have questions, bring the questions next week.  We ain't experts but what we don't know we can find out.

That's the plan.

I had a flash of a vision.  I envision a huge circle, all of us holding hands, praying aloud.  We have a circle already, but it's only about 12 people or so.  I believe it's going to grow.

God is great and greatly to be praised! 

This is my third week and I still like my job.  I moved three carts of pretty heavy boxes today.  Then I set them down in stacks and as I turned to leave I realized the second from the bottom boxes had their labels turned to the wall.  That's.  Just.  Great.  So I had to rearrange them.

My husband's seasonal job will be over in September.  I will be so glad to have him home.  I hope we'll be okay without his extra money.  It sure spent fast.

I'm gonna have extra hours next week.  I'm sorta looking forward to it.

Today my husband had the day off so he followed me to work in the truck.  Then he got the car and drove it home, washed it, brought it back, and when I came out after work, voila!  Or, wallah, as my sister says, I had a clean, shiny car to drive home.

My sister is kickin' my behind at Words With Friends.  She also went to Hawaii and didn't tell me.  That's why she hasn't played for two days.  Well, I'm just not going back to play with her.  (And I won't tell her I've checked in two dozen times in the last two days.)

I took Monday and Tuesday off from Zumba.  My usual venue is closed because the city pulled out the floor and put in a new one.  It's gorgeous.  I'm scheduled to restart Zumba there on Thursday.  I tried teaching at a smaller place but after a week my back was killing me from the cement floor.  I even made sure not to jump at all, but still got a sore back.  One of my students got sore feet.  So I cancelled there and took a couple days off.  It's been kinda nice.

In September I'm taking Zumba Gold workshop.  The veteran's home is interested in chair Zumba for its seniors and I'm so looking forward to teaching there.  I volunteered and did a free Zumba class for some teeny bopper girls at the Boys and Girls Club.  They had fun and so did I.  Their sound system was broken though.  Sounded like the music came out of a tin can.  Young Pastor Jake busted the bass.  Haha!

I'm not enjoying being mother of a teenager.  He has said some really awful things and I don't know where it's coming from.  To use the words from an article I recently read, it looks like I gave birth to myself. 

My new boss rides a motorcycle.  How cool.

Some of the maintenance people have no class.  They burp and use bad language.  

I have some new routines memorized.  I can't wait to use them.

My period was two weeks late.  Hmmm.  That's not good.  Some girls at Mayela's work asked how old I am and she said they were surprised that I'm 53.  She might have said that just to be nice, but they said I had a good body and that was good to hear.  Gotta work it, baby!  Gotta work it.

I started my new job on Monday.  Today I spent my whole day in my new department.  I think I like the men I work for.  I think I got a purty good job.  I'm a stock order clerk.  I need first to get proficient using their software.  The whole system is automated. I need to learn where all the departments are located in the building where I make deliveries.  I like making deliveries.  I need to learn where things are in the stock room so I can find them.  I need to learn the order in which I do things.  I did a little filing today.  Greg helped me a lot.  I don't want any special situations to come up when I'm in there by myself.  I haven't been alone yet, and I don't wanna be. 

The A/C is broken so it's in the 90s inside the building.  I sweated a lot today.  I feel pretty tuff.  I've only had administrative jobs before this one.  I feel like a man!  I wear Levis and cowgirl boots to work.

I really, REALLY, wanted a glass of wine with dinner tonight. It would have tasted so good I think.  But then I thought of how it would ruin my witness.  Doggonit.  I really wanted a glass.

We went out for dinner and it was goooood.  I had a combination prime rib and Alaskan King crab plate.  The servings were on the small side, but very tasty.

I've just blogged about food.  About a meal.  Shoot me now and put me out of my misery if that's all I have to blog about.

Ohmygosh.  The Affordable, (I don't think it's affordable) Health Care Act has been deemed constitutional as a tax.  A tax!  Just what we do not need is more taxes.  It was struck down under the commerce clause, in other words, the federal government can't make us purchase something, but as a tax it is permitted.

President Obama and the democrats continually and consistently insisted it wasn't a tax, but then the administration's lawyers argued to the Supreme Court that it is a tax, not a penalty.  I guess the democrats were being misleading by not calling it a tax.  It's a tax.

Chief Justice Roberts said it's not the Supreme Court's job to protect people from the consequences of their political choices.  True, true.  It reminds me of the section in the bible in the book of Kings where the people ask for a king because they want to be like surrounding countries who all have kings.  God says, well, ifn's they want a king give them a king.  They got what they asked for and it did not turn out well.

Michelle Bachman called the court an activist court.  We have a lot of that going on especially in California but I really don't think the Supreme Court is an activist court.  All of this will go back into the political arena and the the parties will duke it out.

Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.

I want to see it repealed by Congress and redone with bipartisanship.

My brand new Zumba class last night was a smashing success.  Twenty-two people came!  That's 22 people who thought the class was good enough to pay for and to pay for in advance.  Oh I was sooo happy!  Thank you Jesus!  I was a little bit of a dork during one song.  My timing was early for 'Party Anthem' and in one section I just went arms and legs akimbo in every direction at once.  Haha!  Don't know what happened there.  And two ladies asked for Zumba twice a week already.  I said I'll take a vote next week and see if enough people want two nights a week.  If so, I can drop Monday here which runs about six to 11 people lately and open a class there.  Mayela complained she didn't want Mondays here to stop.  Well,  I think five days a week might be pushing my body.  I want to be sure not to pressure my bod too much so I'd have to make a....yikes...a decision.

And the thing I don't like about running a session of Zumba is now I have all this money but I have to work the next six weeks to earn it.  I don't feel like it's mine till the work is done.  That's why I like pay as you go better.  Get a little money every night and you worked for it already.

My new Zumba shoes killed my right foot and to throw a bit of salt on the wound Zumba had a flash sale yesterday, yes, yesterday, and they were thirty dollars cheaper than what I paid.    [Silent scream.]

I'm excited to hear the Supreme Court decision tomorrow morning.  I think they'll strike down the individual mandate as unconstitutional. They may be able to keep some other parts of Obama's Affordable Health Care Act.   Nancy Pelosi said, "But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it."  Hopefully that's not being taught in the public school system.

Tonight I'm starting a new Zumba class in a nearby town.  I hope it's a smashing success.  They seemed to really like the demo class.  You always get more peeps at the demo though because it's a freebie.  It was so much fun!

It was over 100 degrees yesterday and expect more of the same today.  Hot, hot, hot!

I bought a pair of shoes from Zumba.  They were $80 worth of junk.  I'm never buying shoes from them again.  Now the nerve in my back is bothering me down my leg.  Idiots.  There's no cushion in the shoe.  They're cute but worthless.

I got a new nightgown.  It's light yellow, long, diaphanous, tricot, feels wonderful on my skin.  I swished by my husband feeling very "Gone With The Wind" and he asked me if I was gonna haunt houses.

Hhhmph.

Told him he hurt my feelings saying that and he said, Well you have such a nice shape.  Why don't you buy something that shows your shape.  Men.  I guess I will go on another nightgown shopping hunt.  I want something long.  Pretty.  That feels nice.  And that my husband will like.  I had a nice one once but I spilled, or spilt as Jules in New Zealand would say, nail polish on it.  Tricot doesn't get along well with nail polish. It bunched up and wilted in a large circular area at the hemline and felt all scratchy there even after I washed it. 

Test flyer

There are three things I need to do.  Need a new photo for my Zumba.com profile.  Did it.

Two, I need to make a sign for the door where I teach Zumba.  I talked with a lady in Walmart and she said I ought to have a sign outside so they can see what time my classes are.  I hope the center doesn't complain about me putting one out.  Nobody else has a sign on the door.

Three, I need a business card.  A custom one.  A bright colored, cool one. An awesome one.  I want a high gloss one.  Maybe a slim one.  Should I do both sides too? 

And I need to make a regular flyer, so that makes four things I guess.  I might be getting a call tomorrow about the possibility of starting a new class in a nearby town.  I hope, hope, hope it works out. I need a flyer and even if I don't get to start that new class I need to make a new one because summer classes frequently drop in numbers - and mine has.  I've got pretty much just my core people coming.  I need a few more.  Juuuust a couple more to get me into that regular double digit number 10.  Please, please, please, please!

Here is the sign for the door I made.

And I had to create a new, improved Zumba profile image on account of we are getting a coconut load of new Zumba instructors in town.  I got an action shot!  Mayela took some test pics of me this week-end.  I pray I can maintain my class numbers, then increase, keep a fresh playlist with songs people like, and incorporate awesome moves that make people feel good.

Lately, there's really been a party atmosphere in my class.  I must have the most GREATEST people in my class of any Zumba class I've ever been to.  For reals.  I do.  Maybe Zumba is ruining my grammar too. Hahahahah!  Anyhoo, these photos were taken in town.  Got a few whistles while we were workin!

Taco Dream

Last night my husband dreamed that he told me not to eat my taco too fast.  He said in the dream I opened my eyes real wide and looked at him and stuffed the whole taco in at once.  I wondered why when I got in bed last night at 1am he said, "Don't eat all your taco" and went back to sleep.  What taco.  We had fried chicken for dinner.

It's exactly what I'd do in real life.

Looking forward to hearing the election results in Wisconsin tonight.  This year is the first year I've ever voted in a primary so am looking forward to hearing the result in our town too.  I voted for a county commissioner.

I want to start a Zumba class in a little town that's a half hour drive from here.  I applied yesterday at the elementary school to use space there and hope they'll exempt me from their policy that no income can be made on school property.  I charge a very low $5 per class and will need it at least to buy fuel to go back and forth.  They have a lot of women who are very active in sports and I think I can get a great class going there.  The floor in the cafeteria of the school is sort of a rubber mat kind of flooring - quite good for a Zumba class. 

My current class is small but bigger than at this time last year.  I'm mightily encouraged because there are about five active Zumba instructors in town now whereas last year there were only two - the gym and me.  Even more people have recently been licensed to teach Zumba here.  Quite exciting!

Today I feel overall crummy and would like to sit here all day long and do nothing.

I'm going to an art opening next Saturday.  Going to a City Council meeting on the 13th.  Gonna watch a girl being taught barrel racing tomorrow at 1pm at the rodeo arena.

And Coda finally had her baby.  Two days old.  She's a bundle of energy.  Runs around all the time.  Really friendly too.  The baby will come right up to you and let you scratch or pet her.

7.5" cut

Here's the photo of the hair my son cut off last week.  Definitely two inches needed to go.  The rest, I told him cut where he thought would look best.  I know, I need to take a length pic still.  I'm at 42" now which for me is comfortably classic.

I made my first paranda.  I'm crazy about them.  When I make the next one I'll take a profile shot too.  It gives me a big, gorgeous bun!  I tucked the tail in too far so I think the orange ends are sticking out in the middle of the bun.  I used olive oil before I braided to give it some extra shine.

I was thinking last night about the two thieves and the Titanic.  I said the captain of the Titanic said she sunk in one piece.  Only thing is, the captain went down with the ship.  I might have to fine tune that analogy.  Haha!

I had to tell my husband I accidentally ran over the power cord reel.  Twice.  And then I had a bad dream about it at night.

Something I really hate is a hoax about health.  Got a forward about graviola.  It's a fruit touted as the cure for cancer.  I say, stomp out cancer hoaxes.  It's just cruel that they're out there and they make me mad.

Yesterday someone said, "Don't ever cut your hair."  That was nice.

*****************************

I'm prepared for somebody to tell me there are contradictions in the Bible.  Now I just need my first guinea pig to test myself.  Hope someone brings it up before I forget everything.

There are no contradictions in the Bible. What it contains is more accurately called paradox.  Paradox is something that on the surface of it appears contradictory, but is nevertheless true.  In other words, there are differences to be found in the Bible, but a difference is not necessarily a contradiction.

Take for example the sign over the cross.  Matthew said it read, "The King of the Jews."  John said it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."  So which is right.  Eh, both are. It said, "Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews" and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.  That's as easy one though.  One I found more interesting is about the two thieves crucified with Christ.

In the book of Mark (Mark 15:32) it says both thieves reviled Christ, "And they that were crucified with him reviled him."  In Luke (Luke 23:43) it says one mocked and one defended.  So?  It's a contradiction, right?  Wrong.  We know that the one who defended was told by Christ, " Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

Something happened to change the mind of one thief.  What could it have been?  Could it have been knowing about all the miracles Christ performed while on earth?  Could it have been hearing him pray for the Romans, asking God to forgive them, His enemies, even while they were cruelly torturing Him? Could it be the darkness he saw come over the land (Matt 27:45)?

Whatever it was we know he was saved by his faith.  The other thief said, "If."  If you can save us...  "If" demonstrates lack of faith.  Course, he was mocking Jesus too.

Some insisted that the Titanic went down in one piece.  Other eyewitnesses say it broke in two.  It was found in three pieces at the bottom of the ocean.  Maybe the last break happened on the ocean floor somehow.  Who knows.  In any case, the Titanic definitely went down.  Argue in how many pieces as much as you like.  Same way with Scripture.  The Bible is a set of 66 books all inspired by God.  He doesn't make mistakes.  He's perfect.  "For now we see in a glass darkly" says the Bible.  In heaven, we will know God even as He knows us now.  How well does God know us?  Pretty dang well.

So I believe the Bible is true, accurate, infallible.  It's an instruction book for life.  I live my life by it.

I think this is the cutest.
Paper Mache

Paper Mache is gone.  I will never know why.  It's always sad when a blog you like inexplicably disappears.

This was the highlight of the Zumba night.  Tanya, on the left, with the shaved head, is my favorite.  I sat in my car for all but ten minutes of the concert because I couldn't stand the crowding.  Now I don't want to leave my house ever again.  But.  I had to.  I had to go to Walmart and I had to drop off my flash drive with church announcements at church, and I watered the horses, though technically Becca is a mule not a horse, and I kicked a bunch a weedlets up with the point of my cowgirl boots on my way back in the house. 

I went to a huge Zumba concert and I did not have a good time. 

Becca is afraid of cookies.  She's afraid of Angel The Cat.  And she jumps when we break a carrot in two to feed her a snack.

I don't like Blogger's change.  Are they trying to get rid of people?  I remember before Geocities went away they made it less and less user friendly until finally they closed down.