Don't you just want to know the stories this old tow truck could tell? ... I do....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: The Truck
This truck has called to me for weeks.... one day the afternoon sun was perfectly setting and I could ignore the quiet beckoning of this piece of history no longer.
Don't you just want to know the stories this old tow truck could tell? ... I do....
Don't you just want to know the stories this old tow truck could tell? ... I do....
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Parade Day ~part two~
I may finish the Story of New York City 2010 sometime before the end of 2011. maybe.
I left you with a sister who was a wee bit ticked. ( I am trying to be kind here...) I didn't see it.... I heard it... We were leaving our wonderful location..... and something behind me crashed. LOUDLY. That's how I knew she wasn't happy. at all.
Anyway, anger management issues aside, we all head out to walk around an insanely large Trump Tower hotel.... and try to figure out a spot to land where we might actually get to SEE this parade. Those without a 3 year old in tow... took off up the street, and around corners, at a speed that barely let us see which way they turned. Eventually we found them, and a place to stand.
About this time. Jeremiah decided it was time for a nap. Who could blame the kid, he had been up since 4:30am............ So I hooked him into his Moby Wrap (seriously the absolute best baby gift to give EVER !) and proceeded to stand post till the parade started.
We were right behind a family who had clearly been there since we had found our first spot. Their claim had been staked by teens in snow pants and woolen mittens. Their plot marked by a bright blue tarp, and scattered with lawn chairs to ease the feet during what would be a 4 hour wait. The mom saw me hooking Jeremiah in... and offered a chair for me to sit on. With about 2 1/2 hours to wait till the start of the Parade... I was very grateful for the kindness of this stranger.
I think really this is where the lesson of the day lies. We had a plan..... and it was changed, suddenly and forcefully, thanks to a cranky NYPD officer with a screamin Jersey accent. Now we found ourselves at the mercy and kindness of some people we were standing behind. God wanted us to see he had a better place for us to be on this morning.
Since I was sitting in her chair, this woman and I started talking. Turns out she has been going to the parade for as long as she can remember. Her parents have attended the parade every year, snow or shine, for 50 years. Her children have been every year since they were born. Mom and Dad , as she referred to them would be coming along shortly, they come into the city later these days, and send the young kids to wait in the cold. Every year they find a spot near 64th and Central Park West.... when they unfurled the tarp this year.... it had confetti in it from years past.... She had driven down from Boston with her two kids (they were who we initially met when we stopped behind their tarp) just to do the parade. Eventually Mom and Dad... or Grandpa and Grandma depending on who you were listening to, made it to the tarp about 8 am. Grandpa was a hoot~n~a~half. He was a pharmacist. Retired. Former Army. Married his sweetheart and was sent by uncle Sam to a honeymoon in Germany, he said. He told me that since he came back he and his wife haven't missed a parade. He said, the parade is all about the kids. He told us to shove the kids up to the guard rail, he wanted to make sure they saw everything and could touch the clowns. He told me that this was the best corner to be on to see the parade....
I have to agree.... he was right it was the best corner to be on. People doing pyramids on the street....
There were strangers with $100 bills that accosted cotton candy vendors squeezing through the crowds and paid for cotton candy for all the little kids within throwing distance.
There were people standing on walls
When the parade started, this part of the crowd knew how to do a parade.
There was chanting..... there was "the wave".... they made the sanitation workers walking in the parade smile and wave with a chant of " SCOOP THAT POOP !! SCOOP THAT POOP !!"
If a band walked by with no song playing..... they would yell... " PLAY A SONG !!"
If a performer came by on stilts.... they would chant... " Man on Stilts... Man on Stilts" until the person would come over right in front of us and dance.
Those balloons the parade is famous for.....
Those were not exempt either..... They would ask the Kermit handlers to "SHAKE THAT LEG"
Or the little balloons they would ask them to do tricks.... all with the power of a half a blocks worth of bodies chanting in unison....
The best was the cop...... on his cell phone.
He was in the middle of the parade, riding his horse, and holding his phone to his ear.... chattin it up.
Our little sarcastic section of crowd couldn't let an opportunity to tease a cop pass by...
They started chanting.... "HANDS FREE, HANDS FREE !! "
And then......... for all the waiting........
it was over.......
I left you with a sister who was a wee bit ticked. ( I am trying to be kind here...) I didn't see it.... I heard it... We were leaving our wonderful location..... and something behind me crashed. LOUDLY. That's how I knew she wasn't happy. at all.
Anyway, anger management issues aside, we all head out to walk around an insanely large Trump Tower hotel.... and try to figure out a spot to land where we might actually get to SEE this parade. Those without a 3 year old in tow... took off up the street, and around corners, at a speed that barely let us see which way they turned. Eventually we found them, and a place to stand.
About this time. Jeremiah decided it was time for a nap. Who could blame the kid, he had been up since 4:30am............ So I hooked him into his Moby Wrap (seriously the absolute best baby gift to give EVER !) and proceeded to stand post till the parade started.
We were right behind a family who had clearly been there since we had found our first spot. Their claim had been staked by teens in snow pants and woolen mittens. Their plot marked by a bright blue tarp, and scattered with lawn chairs to ease the feet during what would be a 4 hour wait. The mom saw me hooking Jeremiah in... and offered a chair for me to sit on. With about 2 1/2 hours to wait till the start of the Parade... I was very grateful for the kindness of this stranger.
I think really this is where the lesson of the day lies. We had a plan..... and it was changed, suddenly and forcefully, thanks to a cranky NYPD officer with a screamin Jersey accent. Now we found ourselves at the mercy and kindness of some people we were standing behind. God wanted us to see he had a better place for us to be on this morning.
Since I was sitting in her chair, this woman and I started talking. Turns out she has been going to the parade for as long as she can remember. Her parents have attended the parade every year, snow or shine, for 50 years. Her children have been every year since they were born. Mom and Dad , as she referred to them would be coming along shortly, they come into the city later these days, and send the young kids to wait in the cold. Every year they find a spot near 64th and Central Park West.... when they unfurled the tarp this year.... it had confetti in it from years past.... She had driven down from Boston with her two kids (they were who we initially met when we stopped behind their tarp) just to do the parade. Eventually Mom and Dad... or Grandpa and Grandma depending on who you were listening to, made it to the tarp about 8 am. Grandpa was a hoot~n~a~half. He was a pharmacist. Retired. Former Army. Married his sweetheart and was sent by uncle Sam to a honeymoon in Germany, he said. He told me that since he came back he and his wife haven't missed a parade. He said, the parade is all about the kids. He told us to shove the kids up to the guard rail, he wanted to make sure they saw everything and could touch the clowns. He told me that this was the best corner to be on to see the parade....
I have to agree.... he was right it was the best corner to be on. People doing pyramids on the street....
There were strangers with $100 bills that accosted cotton candy vendors squeezing through the crowds and paid for cotton candy for all the little kids within throwing distance.
There were people standing on walls
When the parade started, this part of the crowd knew how to do a parade.
There was chanting..... there was "the wave".... they made the sanitation workers walking in the parade smile and wave with a chant of " SCOOP THAT POOP !! SCOOP THAT POOP !!"
If a band walked by with no song playing..... they would yell... " PLAY A SONG !!"
Those balloons the parade is famous for.....
Those were not exempt either..... They would ask the Kermit handlers to "SHAKE THAT LEG"
Or the little balloons they would ask them to do tricks.... all with the power of a half a blocks worth of bodies chanting in unison....
The best was the cop...... on his cell phone.
He was in the middle of the parade, riding his horse, and holding his phone to his ear.... chattin it up.
Our little sarcastic section of crowd couldn't let an opportunity to tease a cop pass by...
They started chanting.... "HANDS FREE, HANDS FREE !! "
I am not so sure the "offender" heard us... but is friends sure did. They thought it was hilarious!
They even razzed the celebrity's... here they are chanting " Good Eats... Good Eats" to Alton Brown
it was over.......
And we will only have the memory of a really fun parade to last us a life time.
remember, it is only 11 am now.......... there is still more day left and New York to see....
So now we are off to Central Park to go ice skating ...........
Monday, March 28, 2011
Miscellany Monday
{one} Meet new friends.
Always and ever in search of new bloggy friends.... I will endeavor to embark upon meeting a few. That means I actually have to do more than hop around and stalk other peoples blogs....... I have to WRITE something on my OWN..... novel concept I know.....
{two} The cup really makes a difference.
{three} Government Agencies are irritating.
I had to call one today to ask for an extension on a letter they gave me 3 days to answer. They are closed. They all have a day off as a "debt reduction day" ...... huh?
{four} On Eating.
I think 8 year olds eat more than 16 year olds. This last week Hunter ate a ton of food. I expect it from Evan, he is a growing teen boy.... but Hunter? On Saturday, he had dinner, then an additional bowl of soup, two heaping bowls of applesauce, an apple and a banana..... and I had to stop him from getting a third bowl of applesauce.
At this rate, I am going to have to triple my grocery budget soon.
{five} Young Marines.
Saturday we went to a Young Marines event. Our friends daughter participated in Boot Camp, and was promoted from Recruit to Private. She actually made PFC since she was an Honor Graduate. Hunter wants to do this........... real bad. It really is something that is right up his alley. Me?......... selfishly all I can think about is that it is another thing on my plate to shuttle someone to.........ugh. I am clearly going to need to pray about this one....
{six} Bible Study.
Sundays we have been going through a study on " One Another". We are learning what it means to love one another as Christ tells us to...... It is convicting and inspiring all in the same breath.
{seven} Accountability.
A few weeks ago I attended a seminar. The speaker stated that we should set some goals, find an accountability partner, and be honest with them on whether we were accomplishing those goals....
Out of the whole seminar....... there were two of us who wanted to have an accountability partner.
(everyone wave to Jen.....)
She has a website with a book she wrote........ A Wedding Without Tears....... Go and check it out.
{eight} Blog Hops
Here are some other Monday blog hops that I will be looking to meet new friends on.....stop by one of them, and meet some new friends too !
{nine} Buttons
I need to learn how to make blog buttons.......... sigh..... something else to add to my to do list..... sigh...
Friday, March 25, 2011
Got your Shot?
This isn't a shot in the dark........
.............some days we all need a shot of help and encouragement.........
And lets be frank, is there really anything so bad that a little peace and quiet and a shot of one of these can't fix?....
I didn't think so........
So go pour yourself a cup....... I'll wait...
As the cream swirls blissfully in your cup, I want you to think about how important it is that we wives and mommies stay spiritually and emotionally nourished. We can't teach our children what we don't know...
Eternal Encouragement, has come up with Super Shots for you. A monthly membership program that will deliver to you an encouraging and helpful
Quad Shot full of.....
E-books, Audio Downloads, Video Clips... for only $7.97
Some titles that are in the works are:
Words You Won't Have to Eat.....
(um.. yeah, re-eaten words taste bitter)
Avoiding Parenting Pits.....
(what? your not a perfect parent either?)
Freedom From Homeschool Frizzle.....
(it happens! why do you think PS teachers take sick days?)
Kids that Clean.....
(really! they will!)
So click on over to the brand new Eternal Encouragement website and contact them about this great new product Lorrie is offering. If you contact them about it before April 1st. (there will be a special surprise for those that do !)
**I received this product ( a Super Shot of Kids that Clean) for honest review from Eternal Encouragement Magazine as a part of The Gabby Moms blogging program. All opinions expressed are solely my own.**
P.P.S..... all this word play with the word "shot" I now have that Bon Jovi song stuck in my head....." Shot through the heart...... and your to blame........" oh how I digress!
Quad Shot full of.....
E-books, Audio Downloads, Video Clips... for only $7.97
Some titles that are in the works are:
Words You Won't Have to Eat.....
(um.. yeah, re-eaten words taste bitter)
Avoiding Parenting Pits.....
(what? your not a perfect parent either?)
Freedom From Homeschool Frizzle.....
(it happens! why do you think PS teachers take sick days?)
Kids that Clean.....
(really! they will!)
So click on over to the brand new Eternal Encouragement website and contact them about this great new product Lorrie is offering. If you contact them about it before April 1st. (there will be a special surprise for those that do !)
**I received this product ( a Super Shot of Kids that Clean) for honest review from Eternal Encouragement Magazine as a part of The Gabby Moms blogging program. All opinions expressed are solely my own.**
P.P.S..... all this word play with the word "shot" I now have that Bon Jovi song stuck in my head....." Shot through the heart...... and your to blame........" oh how I digress!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wordless Wednesday : Weather
A few Saturdays ago... we had a beautiful spring morning, warm and clear... followed by an early afternoon rain storm.... clearing in the evening and making for some amazing cloud shots
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
A Psalm 43 kind of day.....
My husband and I frequently communicate via chat during the day. It is easy leave each other messages to read when the other has time.
Today he left me a chat that mentioned he was having a Psalm 43 sort of a day, and he asked me to read it when I had the time. As I read it, I knew that not long ago, I was having a Psalm 43 sort of a day. (well ..month really, but no need to pour salt in the wound..) I remembered that I did NOT cry out to God as I should have.... Instead I moped and stressed, and held my own private pity party.
David, the author of this Psalm, is tempted to become discouraged and sad because of all the problems he was facing.... yet he didn't. He called out to God and sought Him... He went to the source of his joy. He chose praise instead of self pity.
Oh my Saviour.......... that I may learn to do the same.
Thank you God that my Husband wants to praise you in the middle of a really hard day.
Psalm 43 ( New King James Version )
VINDICATE me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 43 ( New Living Translation)
O God, take up my cause! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars. For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in darkness, oppressed by my enemies? Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God! Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Today he left me a chat that mentioned he was having a Psalm 43 sort of a day, and he asked me to read it when I had the time. As I read it, I knew that not long ago, I was having a Psalm 43 sort of a day. (well ..month really, but no need to pour salt in the wound..) I remembered that I did NOT cry out to God as I should have.... Instead I moped and stressed, and held my own private pity party.
David, the author of this Psalm, is tempted to become discouraged and sad because of all the problems he was facing.... yet he didn't. He called out to God and sought Him... He went to the source of his joy. He chose praise instead of self pity.
Oh my Saviour.......... that I may learn to do the same.
Thank you God that my Husband wants to praise you in the middle of a really hard day.
Psalm 43 ( New King James Version )
VINDICATE me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 43 ( New Living Translation)
O God, take up my cause! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars. For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in darkness, oppressed by my enemies? Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God! Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
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