Jesus loves the little children - Mom however...

Before I resume I have to thank my good friend and college roommate, Patti for the great gift she got me for my recent landmark birthday. I appreciate the replacement of my 'fake shit' since its untimely loss at my sons' elementary school. See My Son Was Framed blog for details.

Now to the topic of the evening - church. Now WAIT. Don't you dare leave early from this blog or sit way in the back of the computer. No matter what your religion.

I realize if you are not Catholic this won't have exactly the same meaning - but be it synagogue, temple or shrine, all places of worship are challenging to the small child in us. Especially when we were small children. When it came to sitting for long periods of time and listening to mass said entirely in Latin (as it was for a while when I was small) you could say I was like a kid with A.D.D. on amphetamines. In other words, I wasn't exactly focused.

I tried, Lord knows I tried, but when I began attending church we couldn't eat anything before hand. The low blood sugar mixed with the youthful adrenalin did nothing for my devout demeanor. On at least one occasion I recall two nuns setting me down after carrying out my limp, unconscious body from the pew into the fresh air to revive me. I guess today that would be called "March of the Penguins." No harm intended Sister Helene.

When I wasn't attending mass at school, I was there on Sunday with my folks and my brother. I am sure whatever Father was saying was very interesting, but to me, not as interesting as the open purse of the lady in the pew in front of me. This time it was my mother dragging my very conscious body outside to give me a spanking with her hair brush. Not very Christian of her now that I think of it.

I am bringing up church because tomorrow is Sunday and I will need to go through the whole long process of forcing my boys out of bed and getting them to the church on time. Not an easy morning at my home. Over the years I have found my solace and renewal at mass and the ritual is important to my family. Although I don't do the hair brush thing, I have had my share of reigning in my youngest as his attention spans turns to something under the pew or how loud he can make the kneeler sound when it hits the ground.

The mass may no longer be in Latin, but small kids understand it just the same.

The NRA - National Rummage Addicts

One outing that I enjoyed recently was five hours of garage sale stalking with my friends Lisa, Mike and Kevin. We circled the location of our prey in the paper. We entered our destinations in the GPS. We salivated at the thought of what might be in someones musty old garage or strewn about their back yard and we started the engine, sporting a a full tank of gas. The hunt was on!

Whether it was a garage sale, yard sale, rummage sale or estate sale - we were up for the challenge. First up to bag their game was Lisa who found a lovely, blue, floor-length satin dress that would only fit a SIZE 4 like her. She even slipped it on OVER her clothes! The only thing I would dare try on in public is a purse.

I was up next, cornering a sturdy, wood television table in a light wood that matched my living room. I had been seeking just such a table for months to replace the leaning tower that was currently holding up our TV set. I even managed to get the price reduced. SCORE!

Mike was slow out of the gate but rallied quickly by corralling a fine set of saw horses. He then regretted letting the vice slip by him that he spotted earlier in the day. It would have gone well with the horses.

Kevin, the youngest of our team did the best. Hiding in the "Free Boxes" he nabbed a Timberwolves jersey and a set of walkie-talkies.

All in all our safari into the neighborhoods and their mysterious alley-ways was fun and exhausting. We are putting together another expedition in the near future. Let me know of any special treasures you've found on your travel through the junkyard jungle.

In tribute to the passing of a good man

A week ago I found myself crying for a man I never met...but feel I know very well. Professor Randy Pausch succumb to pancreatic cancer and died on July 25th. It was a sad loss, but he left us a real gift. If you have not taken the time to watch "The Last Lecture" I urge you to do so now. I have left a link to this amazing man's graceful and very human talk about life. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR and learn from Randy's wisdom. He has changed many people with his words. My prayers are with his family.

http://www.thelastlecture.com/