Haborfest 2010

Greetings,

Harry and I ventured over to the harbor for a parade of sails....

Norfolk Harborfest began more than a quarter century ago when the Norwegian Tall Ship Christian Radich came to call on Norfolk, a waterfront community that had no city-owned property on which to dock a ship.

The ship was docked three blocks from Town Point at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 13,000 people crossed her gangway in just one and a half days.

Thus creating the Harborfest

Today, tall ships from all over the world frequently call on the City of Norfolk and nearly half a million visitors gather on the downtown waterfront each year for this annual celebration of our region's rich nautical heritage.


Harry jumped aboard the Godspeed, 88'- 17TH CENTURY JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT REPLICA

The Godspeed is a re-creation of one of three ships that transported America's first permanent English colonists to Virginia in 1607.

Kalmar Nyckel, USA, 141' - Commissioned in 1998, Kalmar Nyckel is a replica of the Swedish-owned ship that brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley in 1638.

Today, she serves as Delaware's sea-going Ambassador of Good Will. The largest and most ornate of the first nine vessels to bring settlers to the New World, Kalmar Nyckel was the last to be reconstructed.

An authentic re-creation, modified only to conform to current safety standards, her keel and ribs are made of Central American hardwood, including Delaware holly.

And then there were these...

tree or vine thingy's...?

And they just walked around slowly extending their limbs or vines...

Good time... although the Norfolk humidity finally sent us home early. 


Blessings,

Zoysia???

Greetings,


No sightings yet....

Although, Harry swears a few little blades here and there are springing up...

He thinks.... a little fertilizer might help.

I think we need to buy the roll out  kind of sod. 



Blessings,

Critiques from the Church Critic

Greetings,


At this point ... I am afraid I am becoming a church critic. 

Today's church experience led me one step closer to becoming a real church critic

and one more church checked off the list of possibilities. 

I am sad to say.

Without further ado... let me explain our last encounter.  And in advance let me ask....please do not think badly of me ... I am not sure what got into me today.

So... we visited a church recommended to us by a friend...

After researching this church online... there are 2 services on Sunday morning 9am and 11:00 am.  Logic tells me 9 am is typically for the older more "mature" / traditional crowd.

The worship service online looked a little contemporary... so to be safe I decided ... maybe we should go at 9:25ish.

Just in time for Meet & Greet. 

Not my favorite time.  I feel it promotes germ exposure. 

And I am NOT a hugger!

Ever... not even during Meet & Greet.  So of course we are hugged by about 10 + people. 

I should explain our surroundings...

Older church converted into a new age rock concert.  It just seemed odd to see old traditional surrounding such as cross lighting, alter, traditional stage, pews, etc... turned a little rock.

By this I mean ... imagine a traditional Southern Baptist Church invaded by a rock band.  Concert equipment hanging from everywhere.  Poking out of every corner.

Okay... so traditional turned rock... Meet & Greet.  Then I notice... harry and I are OVER dressed.  We are the only ones in "church" attire. 

Harry was wearing black slacks, Banana Republic button up shirt.  No tie.  Not even an overcoat.

I am wearing a dress.  Not a fancy stuffy dress.  Not even a suit.  Just a simple Sunday morning dress.

While everyone else was wearing short, t-shirts, jeans... casual.  Very casual.

Not a problem... I just felt we stood out.

During Meet & Greet 2 people told us we looked beautiful.  Very nice folks... I should add, but I felt we were over dressed.

Okay... so we just missed the worship service... led by....

Get this!

The worship leader (who looked 16) was wearing distressed jeans...

flip flops...  

and a t-shirt...

with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on it...

Seriously.  I do not know why this should bother me... it just kinda cracked me up.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Worship Leader.

Don't all church es have this?

On to the rest of the service....

This particular service.... was Promote Small Group Sunday.

For those of you not familiar with small groups.. it's where church folks hold smaller more intimate groups at their houses during the week.  It fosters a more intimate closer fellowship within a like group setting.  This is in certain circumstance a very good thing.

I am not a big fan of this.  For a few reasons:  in most cases the group leader is not ordained, license, nor educated.  Kinda like a free agent teaching who knows what??

But HEAR ME NOW (a Harry saying) this is a good thing when there is accountability, leadership, training, and oversight.  It's the free agent thingy that scares me. 

So the entire sermon (if you could call it that) was about promoting their small groups. 

I felt like I was attending an Amway convention. 

A 7 step process how to start, recruit, and foster small groups.  Start a group.  Get an apprentice.  Eventually, one can have their own "community".  Step 6 was become a Pastor.  Step 7   Director.

No where within the graphs... yes there were graphs and charts to go with the sermon / Amway pitch... did they require education or ordination.

This frightens me!

So... for 30 minutes we listened to the pitch.  I took notes.

I kept thinking... why God can we not go to a normal church during a normal Sunday???

At the end of the service... the Pastor show a slide show of the various small groups available for the church.  After the slide show... he invites the Small Group Leaders to the front for introductions.

*** Here's where I ask ... please forgive me in advance!***

As the leaders come forward... the Pastor is "pitching" their group. 

He begins with the Married Peoples small group.  He promotes the leaders as seasoned marrieds.  Capable of teaching how to love each other the way love was intended.  How to get through the hard times.  Understanding the true meaning of love.  Through thick and thin. How to love each other through adversity.  How to grow a deeper kind of love that lasts a life time. 

Then he turns around and points them out.

They look loving into each other's eyes.  Grab each other's hands.

And smile. 


They look to be of the ripe old age of 20. 



I lost it. 

I snickered.  Out loud. 

Then I try to hold it in. 

And start shaking with internal laughter.

Harry starts because I am barely able to contain it.  He has to lean down on his knees and hide his face. 

I know people are looking at us.  But I cannot stop.  The more I try ....the harder it is.  I pray that I can contain myself. 

I am utterly embarrassed.

The Pastor continues down the line of Small group leaders. 

This church has 16 small groups. 

A few down the line from the "Married" group ... the Martial Arts Small Group. 

The Martial Arts group promotes healthy living through the mind, body, and soul. 

Then the pastor turns around and introduces the leader. 


I really LOSE it.  I have no idea what was wrong with me.

The Martial Arts leader, which promotes healthy living.... weighs about 300 pounds. 


I am a horrible person. 

I know this.

Luckily, the Pastor makes a joke about taking this guy on and the entire congregation laughs out loud... thus allowing me to release all that pent up laughter. 


Thankfully, the service was soon over.  The pitch had ended and now it was time to go outside into the foyer and sign up for the various groups at their tables / stations. 

Harry had to go to the bathroom... I refused.  I did not want to stand out front by myself so I made him hold it.  There was a McDonalds down the street.

As we bolt from the front doors.  We get a few feet from the safety of the car.... when the pastor runs us down to shake our hands and introduce himself.

It turns into a 15 minute conversation.... (really sincere, nice man)  in the sweltering parking lot heat.

All while Harry is holding the 5+ cups of coffee.


This is our life.

I am not sure how things like this happen to us all the time.

I am scared to go to church next week.


It might be safer to watch it online. 

 


Blessings,

They're Back..

Greetings,


Mosquitoes.

While working in the yard... I noticed the distinct feel of those pesky little buggers as they attached themselves to my extremities. 

A 10 minute weeding session turned into a 20+ bite scratching session.

And the crazy thing... Harry did not even have a single bite. 

Why do they ALWAYS bite me?



Urgh...
Time to bring out the Deet.

Blessings,

A dog and her bone

Greetings,


Some times it's just the small things in life that can make one sooo happy and content.

She's so silly!

I think she will be "working" on this bone for a few days!


Blessings,

The sky is Falling

Greetings,

Chicken Little would love it here...


Out comes the old dining room ceiling...

Kept the room a little cleaner this time...

On to the next room...

Hopefully, by this time next week.... all will be back to normal!


Blessings,

Smelly linens

Greetings,

Everything from Greece smells funky.

Like ... smelly.. smokey ... musty ... yucky ... cloth.

E V E R Y T H I N G is getting washed in a fresh Gain original scent before going into storage. 

Glad I noticed the cat before I scooped up this load of linens headed to the laundry.

Silly cat.


Blessings,

Manic Monday

Greetings,


1.  The house is a wreck.  Again.

2.  My family is coming this weekend.

3.  Must have the ceiling ripped out before my dad arrives.

4.  Must have kitchen floor sanded before he arrives.

5.  Still waiting to see if Harry's grass will take root.

6.  Met a few more neighbors this past weekend.  Yard work seems to draw the neighbors out.  A few have tidied up their own lawns too.

7. Debating about school.... return now or wait till Harry goes on deployment.


8. Speaking of deployment... we are gearing up for another "work up" or "out and back".

9.  Need / want a vacation.

10.  Vacation or dishwasher?  Vacation or dishwasher?



Blessings,

Letter to Vila

Dear Bob Vila,


I have searched and searched your website for Podcasts pertaining to iron tub wall mount faucet removal.

 This one is a tricky little bugger.

It seems the previous owners did not secure the water pipes to the wall... so every time I try to loosen the nut....

I am afraid I am going to break the water line.

And I do not want to break the water line on the other side of the shut off valve. 

Also, aren't you impressed with all the plumbing lingo I am using...


Please make a video addressing this matter.... it will be greatly appreciated!



Sincerely,

Colonial Parkway

Greetings,

We decided to get out of the house today. 

Do a little sight seeing in our own backyard.


Our historic journey begins with a leisurely ride down the Colonial Parkway, a scenic plantation route connecting all the historic sites in the Triangle: Historic Jamestowne, the original site itself; Jamestown Settlement, featuring a re-created fort and Powhatan Indian village with plenty of living history characters; and Yorktown, where the last battle of the Revolutionary War was fought.

The Colonial Parkway is a 23-mile scenic drive connecting the historic sites of Historic Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Yorktown Battlefield. Free of any modern commercial development, the parkway was designed to provide continuity to the visitor experience of motoring through nearly 400 years of American colonial history.

Traversing a diverse environment, the parkway provides visitors with dramatic open vistas of the James and York rivers and tidal estuaries as well as shady passageways through pine and hardwood forests.

Just another peaceful day in the South.  Leisurely drive through a wooded forest.  Cool milkshakes to satisfy your thirst (I am not a sweet tea drinker... I prefer milkshakes or Diet Mountain Dew).

We enjoyed ourselves.

It's nice to be home.


Blessings, 

And the rains came Down

Greetings,

Combine stormy weather...

torrential rains

soaked lawns

flooded streets

And what does all this

.... mean for Harry's newly planted seed?

... um...

 

We're not sure just yet?


We'll have to see in a few weeks...

but then again.... maybe not!


Blessings,

Arm and a Leg

Greetings,


So far this week... we have bought:


A garage door opener.

A garbage disposal.

Kitchen sink faucet.

Oven range hood.

Bathroom sink vanity.

Bathroom sink marble top.


Needless to say... we are anxiously waiting payday. 


So we can eat again. 


The phrase costing an arm and a leg comes to mind...


In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms.




Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are "limbs;" therefore painting them would cost the buyer more.




Hence the expression, "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."

MilWives... exactly how many more days til payday??


Blessings,

A foreign Language

Greetings,

So I have a few foreign languages under my belt. 

French throughout my 3rd - 6th grades.

Spanish 8th -12th grades. 

Spanish again in college for a year.

Italian 3 years in college.

Russian for a semester or 2 coupled with several months of the year staying in Ukraine helping with foreign missions.

Over 2 years living in Greece... although Greek was my least desirable and for some crazy reason ... I took NO formal classes, but of course picked up conversational Greek.  Self taught until verb conjugation... then I realized I needed a little professional help.



Now...

Living back stateside, I assumed ... language conversion would consist of normal English.

I was wrong.

I am learning a new language.

The language of construction and home builders.

They speak their own language.

I am trying to buy a new front door.

When I am asked what size door I have.... I reply, "a normal one?"  then I am asked the height, width, jamb (all words I recognize) but then these foreign words come out ... and I feel like I am in a foreign country trying to buy something, but not sure what the word is in that particular language.

FYI a 85 inch high door is NOT normal.  A 7.5 inch door jamb is NOT normal.  Custom they call it.  And custom is $$$er than a "normal" door.

I need a new bathtub faucet.

Off to that foreign land called Home Depot.

So I point and try to explain using the words I do know.

Like... "sir I need the drain thingy that goes behind the bathtub"

"What kind of bathtub do you have?" (easy question right)

"Well the above ground claw foot iron kind, but it does not have the claw feet....?..."

"What kind of faucet do you have?" the Home Depot guy asks.

"One that attaches to the tub"

"Single hole, 2 hole... what is the width of the holes?"

"Does it wall mount, top mount... do you need a shower component...?"


I am confused.... I do not know what he is talking about.  And this is just one encounter.... I have several of these a week.

Home Depot is like a foreign country.  I am fascinated by this new culture of people.  I want to learn their language.  I want to mingle with the locals.

I have my home work cut out for me.

I tried to buy a garage door opener... did you know there are numerous kinds and styles to choose from.  Chain, belt,  screw drive, or computer controlled?  How many hp's?   Speed?  Safety mechanisms?  Security devices?

  
These are just a few of the MANY examples I am having lately. 

I have extended my vocabulary immensely. 


Blessings,