Brick House

The ghost party was great until the hostess got sick, fell asleep and had to go home. Poor little Dutchman. Her costume was so cute and her soulbag was the best!

We were listening to some spooky Halloween songs and then we put on Disco - which is all Bee Gee's and other great songs of disco. So, Hillary and I start bustin' a move. Finally, when Brick House came on, everyone, even Bree, reported to the dance floor. It was truly fun. I am very sore today, however. I do not think I've danced like that in years and Hillary even did a break dance.

My favorite costume, besides the Dutchman, was Juicifer - he was hilarious!

Taking Ellie to High School Musical tonight. We should have fun.

Hashing Slasher

I'm going to a Halloween party this weekend hosted by a 3-year-old. She assigned everyone their costumes as well. She assigned me "Hash Slinging Slasher". WHAT? What exactly is a hash slinging slasher? Well, I've learned since then that it's some sort of fish with a spatula.

So, I kind of thought I could just get away with wearing jeans and a t-shirt...but OH NO. All of the people coming are going all out which leaves me tomorrow to find a frickin' fish costume. I'm secretly excited though and think it will be fun. I hope we all get to dance to Thriller!

Have a spooky weekend - unless you don't celebrate Halloween and if you don't celebrate, stop reading my blog and be gone with you!

Tammy Update

Today I worked all day at Mosaic. Yes, I'm qualifying for sainthood within the catholic church and this is my miracle I'm trying to confirm. Anyhow, Tammy comes in this morning with the BIGGEST black eye I've ever seen. The entire left side of her face was bloody, swollen and bruised. I went over to her and asked her if she was o.k. - and then asked what happened? She said she was in an accident over the weekend. I asked her if it was in her car-and she said "I don't want to talk about it."

So, if I ever see her derelict boyfriend again I don't think I'll be able to hold it together. We called her social worker and it was kind of like "there's nothing we can really do" response...so now I do not know what my response should be. Feed her...let her hang out...what??

Not who you might think...

Click the title link above (or here: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/ongoing/select_a_candidate/poll.php?race_id=13) to take an interesting survey about the Presidential candidate you most match issues with.

Answer the questions honestly...you may be surprised at who your number one is! I was!

Reader discretion advised - Mosaic, I owe you a $1

I'm not a writer like fellow bloggers Jen & Lori...but I'm going to lay this out and hope you get what I'm trying to convey. If you don't just tell yourself "I must have had to be there..." and move on.

Last night at Mosaic Christa and I were working. Our resident schizo/homeless/mentally ill/daughter of Liz Taylor - Tammy - was there. She is usually there from when the doors open to when they close and eats all three meals there with some mochas and whip cream in between. She has a car or van or something that she parks in the Lutheran church lot where she sleeps. She doesn't smell very good and breaks out in tears often and has great stories floating in her mind that sometimes find their way out.

She was giddy last night because her male companion (friend/boyfriend/saboteur) was there and they left together at about 7:30 or so - at which time she turns to Christa and me and says "see you guys...love you!" A little while later he comes back in and asks for a cup of water. Then she comes back in and says "wow, that was fast!" I looked at Christa and just said "I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means."

Then she puts a dollar into the donation box. Her money she had earned...she put into our donation box. I lost it. I sobbed for about 10 minutes. Poor Christa - not quite sure what to do with me.

I took the dollar - I have it and will look at it and remember Tammy. She gave what she earned - however she earned it - to Mosaic. To us. To Jesus.

Free day

The power went out at work today about 10:15 or so - so we went home. I actually went down to the Kent View campus and hung out with my friend Diane and to see her mating frogs. It's very quiet as all the teachers and administrators are at an ACSI conference. It was very odd. I didn't get anything done, but it was fun.

Went to work out and now back home staring at a few hours of homework that I've slacked off on. Tomorrow, a usability study in downtown Seattle - I need the money -and then working at Mo. Pretty boring week mostly.

I'm hoping my power doesn't go out. I've lit a fire just in case.

'Tis a Glorious Church

This weekend was my church's 100th anniversary. It was full of pageantry and splendor...not really but close. The music was awesome and the speaker gets the Gospels - I even told him so after the service. I could not stop crying and it could very well be from the conviction in my evil hard heart.

I am going to share a conviction I had during today's service...which was AWESOME..can't say it enough. As I'm standing there, crying uncontrollably, the Lord proceeds to say to me "I brought you here to do a good work in you and for you...and you #*&% all over it by how you treat people?"

Now, mind you, that was not a direct quote. I doubt God says the "S" word...but I got the message loud and clear. He brought me there - through a series of events and I can't stop crying about the story He is telling since I've been there. The story of Lora and MO and he is crying out to do a good work for us and in us and I need to remember that. My heart was changed today. It won't be perfect...and I will continue to stumble and deal with my mistrust or dislike of others until HE is perfected in my heart.

Thank you for the 100 years and that I get to be a small piece of the next 100!

Football Friday

Yes friends, it's another football Friday. As we all bow our heads and get ready for non-stop football it's time for your favorite segment: Ask the Football Girl!

Dear FBG:
What exactly is the West Coast Offense?
Signed: Eastsider

Dear Eastsider,

The West Coast Offense (WCO) is really a misnomer. The explosive system originated in Cincinnati by the late Bill Walsh who brought it to the West Coast in the late 60's.

Basically, the WCO relies on passing first - then running. These passes are not your deep slot routes run by one guy all the way down the field. They are typically shorter passes (5-10 yards) and the routes can be run by a wide-receiver, tight end or running back. Therefore, instead of a single deep threat, an offense now has several shorter plays to run - and several offensive threats in the arsenal. It relies heavily on a quarterback who is accurate, but not necessarily strong.

Over the years, each team has developed their own version of Walsh's WCO, but any deviation from a typical slot receiver and two back offense may use pieces or parts of the WCO. It is fun to watch!

If you watch the Hawks this weekend, you'll see a lot of WCO - Hasselback uses his Tight Ends, RB's and short pass receivers very well in this plot. Watch for it this weekend.

Keep those questions coming! Game face on!

"What is...smarty pants?"

The answer: "Nickname for Heidi when she plays Kid Jeopardy."

I like to convince myself that I am somewhat intelligent most of the time. However, I never feel as smart as I do when I watch Kid Jeopardy! I rocked at this game tonight-it was amazing. I actually think I got all of them right; with one exception: I did not know that Queen Elizabeth's mother died in 2002.

Realizing, I was playing against 10-year-olds, I still kicked some major kid butt.

Please Pray this week

Sunday's are a tough night for me. It's really more my perception of how my friends and family view Sunday night - a real family time. A time when the week's preparations are made and just being together. I get really lonely, for some reason, on Sunday nights.

This week will be tough for my friends at SFC. Not tough in a bad way, but hard and stressful and tiring. It is the 100th anniversary celebration of the organization of this local parish. It's an exciting time as this place has been through many ups and downs and now, I feel, we're really on a journey together that can be life changing. It's an exciting time.

I'm also praying for my family. My folks especially. I'm praying also for some good opportunities for them monetarily. The Lord is so faithful, I know that for a fact. However, I also know that we need money in our checkbooks. I know he will provide a way for my parents - but praying for their needs and their blessing.

Thanks for joining me in this this week. If there is anything I can specifically pray for you - please feel free to share. This week I will pray for strength for Mark & Christa, money for my mom & dad and a good opportunity. I pray for myself as well. This desert is hard. NO NEW shoes for sure!! Pray for Phil and his safety and H&H and their return to Seattle after lounging in Florida for a week. Lucky.

Thanks for praying for me and those I love.

Ask the football girl

Yes friends, your favorite column is back...ask the football girl. I will answer any and all football questions, right here, right now. Unless there's a game on.

Let's get going!

Dear F.G.
What are the four ways a runner's progress can be stopped?
Signed, Rookie

Dear Rookie,
This is a great question - for a rookie. Just playin'. A runner's advancement down the field can be stopped in 4 ways;
1. His forward movement is stopped (by tackle)
2. He is down by rule (he has knee, leg, butt, any body part except hand or foot on the ground)
3. He steps out of bounds, and finally,
4. He fumbles the ball out of bounds.

Keep the questions coming kids. There's a lot of football to go!!

How do I get myself into these situations??

A conversation between me and my boss (the superintendent of schools)

Blair: Why are there pink M&M's in the M&M dispenser?
Heidi: October is breast cancer awareness month.
Blair: I don't know if I can work with pink M&M's in our dispenser.
Heidi: You must respect the ....
Blair: I think I know what you're about to say...
Heidi: breast!

Goodbye little Flower

After three years of watching Meerkat Manor, tonight's episode was very sad. Flower passed away. She was the matriarch of the Whisker's clan and raised several litters of pups, including Shakespeare (who died in Season 2), Mitch, Mozart & Izzy. She was an amazing leader and kept her family together despite difficult circumstances, wayward daughters and drought. Also in tonight's episode, she took in a little Zappa pup that had lost its way Normally, Flower would have killed a rival gangs pup, but in this case, she spared little Axel's life. It is a very interesting culture.

She died of a Cape Cobra snake bite. The cobra was lurking in the babysitting burrow threatening Flower's new born pups. The Meerkats use a technique called "mobbing" to try and scare the snake. However, since the snake was in their burrow, Flower had to go into the burrow, alone and try to find the snake. She went below, and was bitten in the head. Her head swelled up and she died rather quickly, laying in the front of her burrow.

Life is tough in the Kalahari.

You can get seasons one & two on Netflix or at Blockbuster and I encourage anyone to watch this excellent show. It's a great tribute to family and I think how God imagined a family to be-even in the animal kingdom.