Hello, Blogging World

Hello, Blogging World...or at least hello to the 2 readers that actually still read my blog since I have been quite behind in updating my blog.

The last couple of weeks have been busy (but that's pretty normal). I have been of the total VBS mindset for the last couple of weeks trying to knock out a good bit of work. Plus, I was able to make a quick trip to Dallas for a few days (woohoo!!!!).

Since there is not much new to share with you guys, I thought I would do a Top Ten list for you.

1. Favorite News Story: If you haven't heard about this story, you have to take a moment to read it. Essentially, 4 college-age, spanish guys working on a science project wanted to see what kind of pictures they could take with a $150 camera attached to a balloon. The specifics are much more complex, but the story is amazing. Here is a link to their blog detailing this project. There is a google translator on the page, so just set it to your language of choice. Also, the picture above is from their balloon camera.

2. Favorite New Late Night Show: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon...if you haven't seen it, you need to take a moment to watch it. Yes, I am a Fallon-Fan, but the show gets better every night, and it's a little more fun than the traditional late night show.

3. Favorite Radio Program: Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me...I am a bit of an NPR geek, and find this show hilariously funny. You can download free podcasts of it, too.

4. Favorite Television Show: The Office...Yes, I am an Office addict. Give me a quote, and I can tell you the episode it came from.

5. Favorite Book: Under the Overpass...Yes, I have told everyone I know about this book, and while it isn't a great piece of literature, it is a moving story that really makes you think.

6. Favorite Appliance: My Dyson Vacuum Cleaner...Was there any doubt about whether or not I would slip that in there? I vacuum everyday. Of course it is my favorite appliance.

7. Favorite Fast Food Discovery: That Sonic sells bananas...Sonic ice and a banana all in one trip. That is absolutely marvelous.

8. Favorite Game/Puzzle: Sudoku...it's the Rain Man in me that finds this puzzle so fascinating.

9. Favorite Article of Clothing: Shoes...I am a shoe-aholic, and the number of shoes in my closet proves it.

10. Favorite Time of the Year: March Madness...My bracket is doing well (except for the points I lost because of Wake Forest) and the weather is nice. What is not to like about March Madness?

Satiny Wonderment, Part 2

Okay, so today was satiny wonderment, part 2. It was just as satiny, but not quite so wonderment filled.

I headed to another Walmart today in search of some more costume satin. I called around first to make sure the Walmart I was headed to acutally had some of the fabric I needed. When I got there, I quickly found the fabric I was looking for. I grabbed up all the bolts that I saw of the blue satin and silver satin that I needed, and then I noticed they had more of a butter yellow and fuschia we are using for Queen Vashti's banquet room. So, I loaded those into my cart, too.

That's when the fun began.

After standing there for almost 15 minutes, I was fairly tempted to cut my own fabric, but finally a worker approached. I pulled out the first bolt and said, "I need all of the fabric on this one." To which he replied, "You need all of the fabric on this one?" After I convinced him that I was sure, he began to unwrap the fabric and measure.

turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...

Worker: There is 1 yard.
Me: Yes, I need all of the fabric on this bolt.

turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...

Worker: That is 2 yards.
Me: Yes, thank you. I still need all of it.

turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...

Worker: That is 3 yards.
Me: You're doing great! (I guess I thought my peppy compliment would convince him to move quicker. It didn't.)

turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...

Worker: Okay that is 3 yards and 20 inches...so 3 and 5/8ths.
Me: Actually, 20 inches does not make it to 5/8ths yet, so you are charging me for fabric that is not there. It should be 3 1/2 yards.
Worker: Look at my ruler. If you round up, it is 3 and 5/8ths.
Me: But you don't round up when dealing with fabric. It is kind of like me putting 6 apples in my cart and you trying to charge me for 10. You can't round up to 10 apples. You would be charging me for something I didn't buy.
Worker: (Huge sigh) Okay, 3 1/2 yards.

-Next Bolt gets placed up on the counter-

Me: I need all of the fabric on this one.
Workers: You need all of the fabric on this one?
Me: Yes (with heavy exasperation in my voice)

turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...
turn (ever so slowly)...

Worker: There is 1 yard.
Me: Yes, I need all of the fabric on this bolt.

...I kidd you not, this happened for 28 more yards of fabric. By the time he finished measuring and cutting my fabric, there was no kindness left in my body. Fortunately, after our first "rounding-up" exchange, he didn't try to do that again, and fortunately, I left the store with all the fabric I needed (and was desperate to find). However, I have had my Walmart fill for a very long time, and hope to not have to do that again anytime soon.

Satiny Wonderment

I have begun the VBS prep in the hopes of having thing taken care of in a timely manner rather than the madhouse that was the week before VBS last year.

So, I was strolling through Walmart today picking up some items, and I decided to stop in the fabric section to look at the pattern books because I need a jester costume and a king costume. I found the two patterns that were just what I was looking for. As I am pulling my cart out of the fabric section I lay eyes on something special.

It was a huge section of costume satin for $2.00 a yard. For those who have priced shiny fabrics for costumes or prom dresses, you know that $2.00 a yard is super-cheap. I immediately whipped out my cell phone and called my set designer. Between what she needed for palace drapery and what I needed to turn beige tunics into harem girl costumes, I bought out the place.

It took 3 ladies quite a while to measure, record, and cut out the fabric I needed, but after all was said and done, I left the store in satiny wonderment.

Now if only I can come up with a eunuch costumes I will be in business.

Embarrassment

So, my life is full of embarrassing moments. I am forever running into doorways, slipping and falling in my own puddle of spit (yes, that truly happened, and it will have to be a story for another time), etc. That is just how my life rolls, and I have learned to embrace it.

I did, however, have a new category of embarrassment the other day when I was at the grocery store--a processed cheese embarrassment.

I was asked to prepare food to bring up to the church for a funeral. The plan was for me to bring a dessert and a side dish. I didn't have a whole lot of extra time, and so I wanted to make something super-easy that I knew for sure without a doubt people would like. So, I planned to make a lemon bundt cake and broccoli rice casserole.

Someone on the East Texas side of my family used to make this all the time, and I had eaten it before, and it always tasted good. So, I looked at the ingredients, discovered I had all of them but two, and decided that would work.

So, Monday afternoon I stopped by the store for the two missing ingredients--white rice and cheese whiz...yes, cheese whiz. I walked up and down the aisles and just could not find it. It was then that I actually had to stop and ask a store worker where it was kept. Was it in the cold food section? Was it just on a shelf? There were so many possibilities.

As I was asking the store worker, I noticed that I was whispering. Yes, I apparently was embarrassed to admit that I was not only purchasing this processed cheese product with the unfortunate name, but also that I was actually going to cook with with. My face turned bright read as he yelled to his coworker, "Where's the cheese whiz? This lady needs a jar." (Let's be honest, folks, should cheese come in a jar?)

Anyway, he finally pointed me in the right direction. I secured the necessary amount, and I bolted out of the store. Even with my unnatural fascination with all things orange (e.g. cheese in a squirt can), I hit my embarrassment level with the cheese whiz purchase.

Can It Be Done?

So, I have begun an endeavor. Before I tell you what it is, I will admit that I am not entirely certain that I can actually do this.

I know you are brimming with anticipation at knowing exactly what I am talking about, but I have to forewarn you that it is not that interesting.

My goal is to use all the groceries in my pantry and freezer before I buy any more at the store. I know it is not a terribly exciting goal, but I have stockpiled a nice amount of groceries, and I need to use them up before I purchase more. Now, I can purchase things like milk, eggs, butter, etc. at the store (things that are perishble), but otherwise, I am trying to come up with meals using what I have.

For example, last night I pulled out a can of pumpkin puree that I had left over and made pumpkin pancakes. Tonight, wasn't as tasty. This evening, I ate "pizza" made with crescent roll dough, can of tomato sauce, and some frozen mozarella cheese and some frozen broccoli that I sliced into small pieces. Then, I pulled out a can of sliced peaches and ate a bowl of those. It wasn't a terribly exciting meal (plus, there were leftovers, so that will be lunch tomorrow), but I used up a little bit more.

I remember my parents doing this type of thing when I was young, but it was more of an end-of-the-month and the grocery money is used up for the month type thing. Invariably, it usually involved a can of Veg-all. I think that is why I have such an aversion to the product today. Although, I am not sure why we would purchase Veg-all to begin with.

Anyway, I will keep you updated on my pantry process. My next quest is to figure out how to use up cans of cream of mushroom soup.

How Often Can You Use an Adult-Size Parrot

So, I have begun work on my script for VBS this year. We are doing Esther. This is probably my favorite story in the Bible, and so I am super-excited that this is the one we are doing.

Last year, we did Jonah, and the break-out star was the adult-size parrot suspended over the baptistry. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out a way to work the parrot back into the show this year, but I haven't quite come up with an idea that really seems plausible.

Here are the possible scenarios so far...

1. The parrot gets loose in the palace of King Xerxes and flies back and forth on a trapeze wire throughout the scenes. The only thing that concerns me about this one is that their are brick walls on either side of the stage area, and I can just see the parrot crashing into the brick wall and dying right there on stage. It might scar a child.

2. Like in Aladdin (the Disney animated version), the parrot is the mascot of the bad guy. So, Haman would walk around with the adult-size parrot sitting on his shoulders making wisecracks. As with option 1, there is a downside to this one too. The person I am going to ask to play Haman is about 5'9", and the person who played the parrot is 6'4". It might look a tad strange.

3. Since there are a number of banquets mentioned in this story, the parrot could be the main course in one of the banquets. One of the guards could chase the parrot, catch him, skin him, and then cook him all right on stage, so that when the scripture says they "prepared a banquet table" the kids could really see that in action. My question with this one is where would I find a "chicken skin" costume so that once all of the parrot's feathers are plucked, we see the rubbery chicken-looking skin underneath. It has to look realistic.

Any thoughts from you guys? Is there a better way to incorporate the parrot?