Thirteen Thursday #10
1. Number 36 in my “100 Things About Me” says, “I read all the Hobbit books, The Narnia Chronicles, The Borrowers series, and most of The Mossflower books out loud to my sons when they were young.” Last Christmas holiday, we all went to see the final installment in “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.” This year, we saw “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” of The Narnia Chronicles. It’s been fun to see the stories my sons loved as children come to life on the screen with them.
2. Years ago, when I read “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” to my young sons, I didn’t realize that it was a Christian allegory about the crucifixion of Christ. I knew that sacrifice and heroism generated grace and believed it to be a natural law, not exclusive to Christianity.
3. Josh, my eldest son, likes to tell the story of when he was a teenager and he once called me “man,” in the same way a person might call another person “dude.” “I’m not a man, I’m your mother,” I replied at the time. More recently, he jokingly called me “dawg,” and I told him that was as bad as calling me man.
4. It’s warmed up a little. I no longer have to slide to the mailbox on a thick sheet of ice. It’s melted enough that now I only have to walk like a Geisha girl in small metered steps to keep my balance.
5. While, I don’t usually have to shovel snow in my yard or driveway because the snowfall we get in Virginia is usually light enough that it melts away in a couple of days, I do shovel my large outside trampoline. When it snows, the trampoline gets weighted down, and I worry that it will rip or cause the springs to snap. I think I must look pretty funny shoveling my trampoline in winter.
6. Last year my husband and I saw the “Night’s of Lights” in St. Augustine Florida at Christmastime. We rode a horse and buggy all through the lit up old city. This year we’re staying put.
7. My dad once made a snowman in our yard and put boobs on it. I guess it was a snowwoman. It was funny, but we were also embarrassed for our friends to see it. (I can’t believe the spell check just accepted the word “snowwoman.” It just doesn’t look right.)
8. We had another Spoken Word Open Mic Night on December 17th at The Café Del Sol. I read a tribute to my father who passed away in November. I got the best response when I read this line: My dad had the best definition of alcoholism that I’ve ever heard… You’re either thinking about drinking, thinking about not drinking, or you’re drinking. It’s actually serious, but the crowd recognized that my dad had nailed the definition in an original way. They liked it and laughed.
9. I love the tip jar at the Café Del Sol counter. It says “Don’t like change. Leave it here.”
10. We also had a December Memorial Contra Dance for Elliot, our poet friend and fellow contra dancer who died this past November. It took place at the Winter Sun, and the theme of the dance was “Dance one for Elliot.” Elliot had a collection of buttons that all the dancers pinned to their clothing, and bubbles were blown in his honor.
11. My husband’s birthday was in early December. Sadly, we buried my father on his birthday. It was odd to see Christmas cards mixed in with Birthday and Sympathy cards on our kitchen table.
12. My mother told me over the phone recently that she is getting a cat. She wants to have something living in the house since my father passed away and she’s alone.
13. My regular computer’s dial-up sounds like The Mexican Hat Dance. It’s back in the shop, and I’m using my lap top now. The dial-up on it sounds like the theme song from Mash with the helicopters coming in from behind.
Post Notes: The next Spoken Word Open Mic at Floyd’s Café Del Sol, front door pictured in the above photo, is January 21st at 7:00 PM. To learn more about Thirteen Thursday go visit the Thirteen Thursday Master of Ceremonies, Leanne at Artist by Nature.
December 29th, 2005 10:15 am
I love all the books too…
Happy Belated Birthday to your hubby…
We are getting rain here…
Wishing you a blessed New Year!
My 13
December 29th, 2005 10:25 am
My little boy occasionally calls me “dude.” It cracks me up everytime, because he usually says “Dude — I mean, MAMA.”
I’m playing today, too.
December 29th, 2005 11:07 am
Happy Thursday 13! Did you take a picture of the snowman with boobs? How did the boobs stay on and not fall off? LOL.
I also like the tip jar advice. “If you don’t like change leave it here.” LOL.
My 13 are up!
December 29th, 2005 11:30 am
Isn’t it aggravating when your computer is in the shop? we bought a brand new one, and had to take it back 3 times before they got it to running right. Thank goodness for laptops!
http://www.myprairierose.com/PrairieView
December 29th, 2005 11:46 am
A snow-woman with boobs!! Haha! My Grandfather used to do that every year and then ice the creature so the kids in the neighborhood couldn’t knock it down!
Happy New Year and best wishes to you and your loved ones.
I got my 13 up.
December 29th, 2005 12:23 pm
those spoken word nights sound special–i wish our little hamlet had something like that. may your new year be filled with blessings.
December 29th, 2005 12:30 pm
I’m so sorry about your father. And even though a cat could not possibly replace him, they are comforting to have around. Happy Thursday Thirteen.
December 29th, 2005 12:31 pm
My son calls me dude. And then finds it funny. But its when he calls me by my first name that i really get bothered.. ITS MOM NOT IVY!
I hope your computer is fixed soon!
My 13 are up!
December 29th, 2005 12:40 pm
My Thursday Thirteen: http://lilybleu.net/blog/?p=229
December 29th, 2005 1:13 pm
Beautiful list, as always. I love the extra effort you put into it with your images. I look forward to them every week!!
I knew the Chronicles were related to Christianity, it was a gripping movie and we loved it.
When I was a kid, I used to get in trouble for saying “Don’t have a cow, mom!”. She hated that saying! Now I tease my kids explaining how it’d be impossible to have a cow, you’d have to have a calf.
Happy Thursday, Colleen!!
xoxoxo
December 29th, 2005 1:49 pm
Colleen – The mix of greeting cards softens the blow.
Trying to Catch Up: Thursday Thirteen
December 29th, 2005 1:51 pm
I just took my kids to see Narnia yesterday! My Mom and Dad went with us. Kris (my 3 year old) LOVED it!!!!! He would get all tense and start to laugh. I enjoyed it too. When we came out, I told my Dad how lucky those kids were…to grow up and be able to come back as children again (having learned life’s lessons)..wouldn’t that be great!
My girls are picking up “slang” now. All I keep hearing is, “That’s awsome!”. They are 6 and 5.
December 29th, 2005 3:02 pm
Ma is naming the cat “Winslow” !!!
December 29th, 2005 3:21 pm
That’s the name of our brother Danny’s beloved cat who died on Dan’s birthday a month after Dan died. I love it.
December 29th, 2005 6:17 pm
I once told my mom not to have a “Cow”! BIG mistake. She whopped me with her Shillelagh!! (blushing)
December 29th, 2005 7:39 pm
This 13 thing is bringing me back around to my fav’s! I’ve been so bad lately about visiting…I’m making a New Year’s something or ‘nother to visit at least once a week!!! Hope you had a peaceful Christmas Colleen. I’ve been thinkin’ about you!
My 13 are up ;0)
December 29th, 2005 10:13 pm
Jeez Tommi, I already told her that. :giggles:
Fun having a sis in the blogosphere, eh Colleen? 😉
December 30th, 2005 3:59 am
Sharon Lundblad said:
A cat is a very special friend who comes into your life. When it comes it brings warmth, companionship, contentment and love. Whether it’s long-haired, short-haired, pedigreed or “heinz” makes no difference. A cat, though independent, has a way of letting you know that without you life just wouldn’t be worthwhile. If you’re lucky enough to own a cat consider yourself one of life’s winners because when you have a cat around you’ll never be lonely; the sound of its purr will give you comfort, and as you hold it and pet it, stress will slip away.
I’ve found this to be true over the years, especially with Rhett. He loves to sit next to you, on your lap or just touch your arm with his paw.
We will see Narnia next week.
December 30th, 2005 10:11 am
My aunt got a cat when my uncle died and I think it helped her through the difficult times better than anything else. The two of them have a very special bond… every year I buy a couple of Christmas presents for the cat in addition to whatever I get my aunt… he is as much a part of the family as any of the human relatives.
December 31st, 2005 12:31 pm
I love that picture Colleen! You are talented in so many ways. I’m so glad I ran into you this year. I wish you and your family and happy & healthy 2006. xoxox
December 31st, 2005 1:49 pm
You are right–it IS like walking like a Geisha in the cold.
I think dawg is worse than man. What about dude?
Have a wonderful new year!
January 1st, 2006 12:59 pm
The different cards do make things surreal — my father had died 2 days before Thanksgiving. I’m very glad your mother is getting a cat.
I photographed a snowlady with boobs years ago, in Cambridge, MA. Whoever made her did a wonderful job. She’s at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30268343@N00/51355963/
January 3rd, 2006 3:13 pm
I agree with you on #11…my Mom’s 83rd birthday was 12/9 and she passed away on 12/17. It was sadder sending cards to those people that lived far away and hadn’t heard the news of her passing. I sent out quite a few of those.