Service temporarily interupted

It's official. I am turning into my mother - FOR REAL.
Last night at Wednesday night church, I sealed the deal. Our Wednesday night services are much more casual than our full out, high Sunday services, and I get this. We are a very liberal congregation to begin with and even on Sundays we get a range of attire that spans anywhere from t-shirt and jeans to three piece suits, but I digress.
The Weds. night ceremony is much more relaxed and many people enjoy this aspect of it. I am more of a Sunday service person, but my friends enjoy Weds. and several of our musically inclined pals are leaders in this very musically inspired service. So, I attend.
Relaxed is one thing, but down right disrespectful is another. I am not above an occasional whisper here and there, but full on conversations during the service strike me as a bit rude. One such conversation was taking place in the pew behind me DURING COMMUNION. Yes, four rather mouthy queens thought that while everyone else proceeded to the front of the sanctuary to receive the Holy Sacrament, they would proceed to rather loudly discuss totally inappropriate topics of conversation. At first, I tried to over look it. I thought they'd get it out of their system and stop. They didn't.
"I'm this close!" I said to My J. He pinched my leg and gave me a look.
The group behind me continued their conversation, adding laughter. People in the row ahead of me turned and looked. This was getting out of hand!
"Don't start," Jonathan whispered out of the side of his mouth.
About the time the noisy boys started talking about charging admission at the door and setting up a shoe shine booth, I had had enough. I turned around in the pew and said, "Ladies, REALLY! SSSSHHHHHHHH!"
They stopped. J. rolled his eyes. I was free to meditate on the things I would normally consider during the time of communion. I heard a couple more whispers (I can only imagine what I was being called - I'm certain is wasn't appropriate for church, either), but other than that, my worship remained uninterrupted.
After the service, several people stopped me to say thank you. Apparently I was not the only one to be bothered by the dis respectfulness of the gentlemen behind me. I was reminded of a time at the movie theater when my mother all but physically stopped a group of children from being rowdy during the feature presentation by turning in her seat and shushing them loudly. At that time I was mortified. After last nigh, however, I felt vindicated.

Terrill the Brave

My miniature dachshund Terrill knows no fear. I however, can not say the same about myself. Last night on our before bed walk, Terrill fearlessly cornered one BIG possum! It was twice his size and definitely not in the mood to "play possum." If it hadn't been for the retractable leash, I'm not sure what I would have done! I think that possums are quite possibly the ugliest creatures on earth and they have the ability to scare the bejeesus out of me! Thank goodnes my 8 pound dog was there to protect me.

(The pic is Terrill at 3 months - adorable, right?)

Nunu New Year

It's 2009. I know that I don't have to tell anyone that, but it helps me to see it in print as many times as possible. '08 is history and I have enjoyed seeing all the lists, resolutions, promises and good intentions of my fellow members of the human race now that a new year has arrived. I wish everyone the best of luck in fulfilling all their hopes and dreams of 2009.
On our first day back to work after a long holiday break, the staff was treated to an inspirational speaker. Now, I have seen my share of these so called "inspirerers" and some are great and some are mediocre and some just plain old miss the motivational mark. Thankfully, the gentleman addressing our staff lived up to his title. Among some of his more colorful phrases that I enjoyed:

• "Nobody rises to low expectations."
• "Fake it till you make it."
• "If you've never been on fire, you can't be burned out."

I know that there are some people who, no matter what they are told or who it is that tells them, will not be motivated to do much of anything, except for what they were doing, (or not doing) in the first place. These "doing nothings" (or "doons" for short) are the people I choose in the new year to completely disassociate myself with. Their only accomplishment, besides excessive complaining and copious long lunch & break taking, is to make more work for the rest of us in the form of slack that has to be picked up and responsibilities that will have to be met because they do not fulfill their duties. I know we all work with these people, or at least know some of them. So rather than complain about it, I am making it my goal to accept the fact that they exist and acknowledge that in having to make up for their shortcomings, I will probably make the world (or at least my work environment) a better place to be. I will waste no more time letting their incompetence be a source of aggravation. They suck. They will continue to suck. Giving them any sort of empowerment over me REALLY sucks, so I will remove their ability to tick me off and treat them as what they are. Suckers. And at the end of the day, even if my hand is the only one doing it, I will pat myself on the back for a job well done. Tasks will be completed and I will feel a sense of accomplishment. And the "doons"? I don't know what they will feel, except maybe fat and lazy because they went out to lunch again and gorged on fast food.