The Big Easy

I'm in New Orleans for a big work conference. My daughter and her husband drove over to join for a few days. We walked around Canal Street and Bourbon Street into the French Quarter last night. We lasted less than a minute in the French Quarter. Definitely not our kind of place. The Riverwalk here is pretty but the weather is dreary, lots of fog and mist. I took lots of photos but forgot my cord to post them. Next post. Tried chicken gumbo and jambalaya for dinner last night. The jambalaya was fantastic! But best of all, my girl and son-in-law are with me. Makes the evenings so much better than room service and TV!

Big Miracle

My lovely mother had a birthday this past week, so my brother and I took her to see Big Miracle. We also had a birthday breakfast party on her big day, as I had to go out of town for work and wouldn't be back in time for cake and dinner. (Which is a good thing, I'm down 18 pounds and don't want to blow it.) Big Miracle is the true story of 3 whales trapped up in Alaska. Not on the Pacific side, but around the top of Alaska. The movie did not disappoint. Super good and I highly recommend it.

One of Dan's work friends just returned from Maui. Right now is high whale season in Maui. Here is a link to the friend's whale video. The tour boats aren't allowed to go this close, but if the whales swim up to the boat, which they often do, they captain turns off the engine and waits for the whales to leave whenever they feel like it. So cool. Enjoy!

Dog Prayers

Praying dogs are so cute! Check out this link. I now want to teach my dogs to pray. My daughter is super good at teaching her dogs tricks. My grand dogs can crawl, twirl circles, high five, and play dead when she shoots her finger at them, plus the regular sit, stay come. I'm sure they would pick up praying as they aren't heathen dogs at all, but good Christian grand dogs.

Where for art thou blog update?

It's been weeks since I've posted. Not because of a lack of subjects, but due to a lack of time. On 1-20-12, I had planned a very romantic post about the 32nd anniversary of my first kiss with a 19 year old jock named Dan, who I married 33 months later. (Man, that boy was slow to put a ring on it.) Since the date has come and gone, I'll save the idea for next year. A couple other randoms post ideas will also be saved for later. If I have time. Why is time more of a challenge the older I get?

Here are my lack of blogging excuses:
1) I am swamped at work, it's super stressful and busy right now. I often feel mentally spent.
2) Lack of lunch time. I either go to Curves to workout at lunch or I work straight through because work is so busy. So no more blogging at lunch.
3) BOC time. This is the good thing. I've been doing lots of writing on my manuscripts and am excited about what God is helping me write.
4) Precepts homework. I absolutely love the things I'm learning about the book of Daniel. I should put more time into it.
5) Lots of house stuff. My poor husband's back has gone out on him several times in a row. He usually helps with unloading the dishwasher and vacuuming upstairs, dusting and garbage's. But he is so miserable that he can't help as much as usual. So I have a few more house tasks than normal. You sure don't know how much a person does for you until they can no longer do it. Dan's debilitating back pain has made me appreciate him even more than usual. Is that weird?
6) Our furnace has died. We've been using our wood stove every night for fires. A space heater warms the upstairs pretty well. The roaring fire keeps every thing nice and cozy. It's been kind of fun. Except for the many trips outside for firewood. That wood is about to run out and I don't know if I'm strong enough to chop logs small enough for our wood stove. Dusty will have to chop enough this weekend to last us until the new heat pump gets installed next week sometime. (Dusty leaves Wednesday for the Holy Lands—post to follow.)

I mentioned Dan's back above. It has gone out 3 times in 32 days, and he's yet to recover. He's been in a lot of pain and walking crooked. I feel so bad for him. He'll see a neurosurgeon soon. A lazer spine institute in another state has his records and are recommending a couple procedures. I ask for prayer. Dan is miserable and needs relief. But which procedure and which doctor is best? God is not the author of confusion, so we pray for clear direction. And speed. Forty days of hurt, unable to bend over, sleep well, live normally, etc. just wears on a person.

Well. that's the update from my house. Hopefully, I'll post again soon about Dusty's trip to Israel and back surgery for Dan.

Blessings.