Favorite music

Last night I was downloading all of my cd's to my computer. My hubby had already put them on his laptop, but my computer is much faster. Poor guy, he's ready for a new computer.

Anyway, there were a few that had a difficult time because of the scratches.

For example:

Tom Jones
Prince - all but Musicology
Gwen Stefani
Blackstreet
Mario Winans

Which cd's are so overplayed in your house that they would have a difficult time downloading?
If you don't use cd's at all - just tell us your fav. album downloads.

Throwback Thursday

Everytime I look at this pic I think the same thing "dang! That's some dirty water!"

My Mom always said it looked dirty from the rain water. Whatever Mom. I like to think we had spent the day making mudpies and memories. Only I know that's not true, because I can't remember.

Maybe Mom was right.

I'm hoping my brother Marty doesn't sue me for posting his pic w/ out asking. Jen - I'm asking you...after the fact.

If you'd like to participate in Throwback Thursday. Leave a comment w/ your link. Make sure you check out Scott's post & Kyle's post for a good chuckle.

It's here! It's here!

I've been checking my mail since Monday. No phone.

Then I find out that it's coming DHL. I got my camera ready

I got my camera ready to take a pic of the DHL carrier only it was raining when she came. She put it in the door, rang the bell & ran back to her truck.
So, I didn't get a good pic. I guess I've only got 2 days to figure it out. The pressure.

John McCain

I was forwarded this article about John McCain. Thought you might want an interesting read.

Blogger Small Group

I'm going to be honest and tell you all that I did not read this scripture until 10 minutes ago. Kyle "encouraged" me to follow through w/ the small group task.

Now let me be honest again. I quickly glanced it over and saw that I had a few things underlined. They were:

faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (v. 17)

and

You see that his faith and his actions were working together. (v. 22)

So of course, I was going to write about that because, heck at one time it was the thing I got most out of James 2 right? I started writing and forced myself to stop. I didn't READ it, I skimmed and then proceeded to write about something, just for the sake of having an entry for Mr. Linky.

So I'm stopping to read, really read, pray for a minute and I'll be back.

OK - I'm back. Here goes:

James 2: 2 says Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand here," or "sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges w/ evil thoughts?

Funny, but this is exactly where I'm at right now.

I moved out of a small town in OR where there were certain expectations of me. I grew up there. Everyone knew me & my family. I had lifetime friends. When I got saved I got some new friends. They weren't widely accepted by the old ones. I lost a few old ones.

Then I moved to IN. I can't tell you how excited I was to start over. New people, no pre-conceived notions. A new chance to grow in Christ.

We bought a 10 year old, very affordable (compared to OR) house in a good school district. I couldn't wait to meet my neighbors. Unfortunately no one stopped by for 2 weeks. Being the social person I am, I made about 15 loaves of pumpkin bread and went door to door. Most were receptive, some were not. After 2 years, most are not. I joked about the reason why earlier today. The real reason? Not sure. Last night I told my hubby that I think the people in my neighborhood are snobby. They think they have a lot of money, and I don't.

Honestly, how can you tell someone's financial record by looking? I don't have a nice car, but I don't have a car payment either. My house isn't new, but it'll be paid off in a very short amount of time. I don't have uber trendy clothes or kids, but I've got property that'll have me set for retirement.

But because of appearances, I'm on the outskirts in our neighborhood. 2 doors down they had a brand new Lexus, brand new, less than a year ago! I don't even know what they have now, something else new. Across the street there's a new BMW SUV. Behind us, 2 inground pools. Next door, they just got back from another vacation. In the cul de sac, their kids go to an exclusive private school. Down the road, new promotion, therefore brand new, big, home in EXCLUSIVE neighborhood.

But wait - aren't I being snobby, by saying THEY are snobby. Isn't that a type of reverse discrimination or reverse favortism? I, who has "less money" at my disposal, am discriminating against those who have it, or at least want to portray that they do? Who am I to judge how someone spends their discretionary income?

I'm going to stick to my guns and not fall back into the new car, new house, spendy clothes, spendy EVERYTHING lifestyle. I've been there, and it's not where I want to be. I'd rather have a 1/2 empty closet than a 1/2 empty bank account. That's just where I'M at in my life. That doesn't mean that everyone else (or ANYONE for that matter) has to agree or join in.

I've got to remember that God doesn't show favortism....I shouldn't either, or reverse favortism in my case. A difficult task for a pessimist.

It's Coco's fault.

I think I figured out why most of my neighbors aren't social with me.

I think it's my dog. Our neighborhood is filled w/ folks who have very large dogs...and jumpable fences. It's a good morning when I find a big steaming pile of dog doo in my front yard. Good because it actually made it to the grass instead of my sidewalk. Anway, these neighborhood dogs have "playdates." Seriously. One neighbor walks over to the other neighbor's yard and lets her dog in their fence so the dogs can "play".

Problem being, the dogs now have a partner in crime. They easily jump the fence and decide to come to my yard because...I have no fence (I prefer open rolling grass w/ no barriers. I'm open like that).

My dog goes out every few hours, steps only inches onto the grass, tinkles & comes back to the door. She doesn't wander, she doesn't raise a ruckus. Sweet, sweet Coco.

But, every once in awhile she goes out and there's another dog in our yard. They mistake her for a large chocolate bon-bon or a piece of tender steak and pounce. The neighbor's boxer pins her to the ground as she urinates all over his face (his face is as big as her whole body) out of fear. I try to break them up only to get growled at by the neighbor's polka dot dog.

The polka dot dog has been named such, well because I have girls and the dog has spots. Put those together you get a polka dot dog. This dog has chased my kid off of the bus, come in my back screen door while I'm cooking dinner to "help" me taste test, and, and, AND, takin' a dump on the walkway to my front door.

No, I haven't told the neighbor. She no longer likes me (I won't babysit her 3 kids often enough) (and possibly because I use paranthesis too often) and makes sure I know it by pointing out the faults in my yardwork, the chalk drawings on my sidewalk and my party decorations that are visible from the street (I secretly thinks she wants to be invited).

So, like me (and my dog) or not...I'm here to stay. And neighbor, if you're reading this. Lighten up. I really am nice and if you can teach your dog to hold his poop AND not eat my dog, maybe, just maybe he & Coco can be friends.