Now all the vault of heav'n resounds
In praise of love that still abounds
"Christ has triumphed! He is living!"
Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear!
Repeat their song of glory here:
"Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!"
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
("Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds," v.1)
In life no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave
What may I say?
Heav'n was His home
But mine the tomb
Wherein He lay.
("My Song Is Love Unknown," v.6)
O dearest Jesus what law hast thou broken
That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?
Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession
What dark transgression?
They crown Thy head with thorns
They smite, they scourge Thee
With cruel mockings to Thy cross they urge Thee
They give Thee gall to drink
They still decry Thee
They crucify Thee
Whence come these sorrows
Whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish
Yea, all the wrath, the woe Thou dost inherit
This I do merit
What punishment so strange is suffered yonder?
The shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander
The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him
Who would not know Him
The sinless Son of God must die in sadness
The sinful child of man may live in gladness
Man forfeited his life and is acquitted
God is committed
("O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken," v.1-5)
If my sins give me alarm
And my conscience grieve me
Let Your cross my fear disarm
Peace of conscience give me
Help me see forgiveness won
By Your holy passion
If for me He slays His Son
God must have compassion
Graciously my faith renew
Help me bear my crosses
Learning humbleness from You
Peace mid pain and losses
May I give You love for love!
Hear me, O my Savior
That I may in heav'n above
Sing Your praise forever.
("Jesus, I Will Ponder Now," v.5 & 6)
Grant that I Your passion view
With repentant grieving
Nor Thee crucify anew
By unholy living
How could I refuse to shun
Ev'ry sinful pleasure
Since for me God's only Son
Suffered without measure?
("Jesus, I Will Ponder Now," v.4)
Yet, O Lord, not thus alone
Make me see Your passion,
But its cause to me make known
And its termination
Ah! I also and my sin
Wrought Your deep affliction
This indeed the cause has been
Of Your crucifixion
("Jesus, I Will Ponder Now," v.3)
Make me see Your great distress,
Anguish and affliction
Bonds and stripes and wretchedness
And Your crucifixion
Make me see how scourge and rod,
Spear and nails did wound You
How for them You died, O God,
Who with thorns had crowned You
("Jesus, I Will Ponder Now," v.2)
A photo of me:
The least "scary" (you're welcome?) of the incision photos from 18 hours post-op.
1) Candle scents this month:
Red Berry & Cedar. Pumpkin Pie. Cinnamon Stick.
2) What I am reading this month:
American Wife (Curtis Sittenfeld). Baby Proof (Emily Giffin). About halfway through Firefly Lane (Kristin Hannah.
3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"What Do You Want From Me?" Jerrod Neimann. "Hello World," Lady Antebellum. "Come Away With Me," Norah Jones.
4) Movies I saw:
Juno. Social Network. The Book of Eli. Winter's Bone.
5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
"The Fragile Beast" (Harry's Law) really impacted me. I keep thinking about when she says "Men are fragile beasts, aren't they?" I think we forget sometimes... And I also officially got sucked into Mad Men (thank you, Nichole!) and managed to watch Seasons One and Two in under two weeks.
6) Something yummy I made:
I didn't make a heck of a lot of anything, but Nichole stuffed me full of homemade chocolate chip cookies and scones and strawberry shortcake and sweet potato chili.
7) Restaurants where I ate:
Golden Corral. Hillstone. The Firkin & Hound. Akamaru. Haven Gastropub.
8) Something I am thankful for:
A completely successful surgery with zero complications, minimal discomfort, an outstanding surgeon and lots of people who love me to take care of me while I recovered.
9) A goal I had for this month:
Oh, gee, waking up from surgery? ;-)
10) This month I looked forward to:
Getting my surgery behind me. And spending some time with my California "family."
11) Something I want to remember about this month:
My imagination is always far worse than reality.
12) A photo I took this month:
Beautiful flowers from my very thoughtful friend, Giuseppina!
Jesus, I will ponder now
On your holy passion
With Your Spirit me endow
For such meditation
Grant that I in love and faith
May the image cherish
Of Your suff'ring, pain and death
That I may not perish
("Jesus, I Will Ponder Now," v.1)
"Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?"
(Neltje Blanchan)
I may find myself fumbling for words in recent days, but the other afternoon, I managed to bring to life, for the first time, my most favorite scent on Earth, in a way that pleased me. I've struggled for the whole nine years I've lived in Florida to find words that would do justice to a scent so marvelously perfect, I have to believe it floats down straight from Heaven.
When someone has never breathed in of orange blossoms, the first thing I'm always asked is what they smell like. Equate them to something that can be grasped. Categorize them. I can't compare them to anything else, but in an effort to draw on what one might have experienced, I cast in the general direction of honeysuckle or jasmine. They are close...though not the same. An orange blossom's scent is sweet but in a very pure way. They are pungent but delicate. They are intoxicating but not overwhelming. The scent can carry for miles, reaching your nose with delight...or you can stand in the center of a grove in full blossom & catch just a hint. They are there...but not.
And then the words fell fluid from my tip-tapping fingers: They are Mother Nature instructing us on proper perfume application. Be subtle, yet unmistakable. Let just enough linger on the air to catch the attention...but the moment you seek out another sniff, it's danced away, almost as if you imagined it. It toys with you, leaves you wanting more, makes you want to breathe it into your memory. It is there...but not.
**********************************
Friday, after work, I made the trek to my hair appointment. Due to some nifty rescheduling maneuvers to accommodate my unusually tricky calendar this month, I found myself making the trip in the evening, rather than my typical early Saturday morning routine. The rural drive always appeals to me, but I look forward to my March appointments with increased anticipation. The winding back roads weave through and around no fewer than twenty orange groves in varying stages of life. Some with perfectly pruned trees in neat rows, stretching out of sight. Others with tall wild grasses filling the open spaces between the trees with branches, much like my hair, in desperate need of some attention. And then there are the aging groves, left totally unattended, some trees having gone bare & empty among the unruly chaos of their brethren, gnarled branches with sparse leaves and whatever withered fruits the wildlife left behind. One common thread, no matter the state of the grove: sweet white blossoms filling the air, waiting for a breeze to carry their perfume along. A handful of blossoms or thousands, it does not seem to matter. They make the Spring air magical. And for reasons I cannot nail down, though I speculate March after March, something about the gathering darkness heightens the scent, multiplies it without ever overdoing or becoming obnoxiously excessive.
It was bordering on chilly Friday evening. A brisk wind had been blowing all day & when the sun set, all trace of warmth was gone. Though I shivered, even with my jacket on, I drove the whole sixty miles home with my front windows down, the wind whipping through my car. My nose was like a bloodhound's hungrily sniffing at the air, waiting to catch it, unwilling to miss even a drop. And there it was again, and I am inhaling deeply, trying to breathe in as much of it as I can hold. These fragrant blossoms are instant happy for me.
My hands & cheeks were like ice by the time I pulled into my parking space at home, but it was worth every mile. They'll be gone again soon, for another year. And though I will try to engrave it indelibly into my sense of smell to call upon at will, I will fail yet again. So I'll wait for them eagerly each March in the years to come, this same scent that welcomed me to Florida on the day I first arrived. I was instantly enamored & like the glorious Autumns I lived for back in New England, now I feel myself coming to life each March, invigorated & joyful.
It's getting late, as the clock ticks forward to the eleventh hour. I should power down for the night & tuck myself into bed. But still I cannot bring myself to close the window, shutting out that olfactory delight. Not yet. They'll be gone again too soon...
It feels as if there are a million thoughts tumbling around in my head these days. So many words in a jumbled ball. Kind of like yarn. Each string is a different color, making it easy to see that each individual piece is woven in there, but they get tangled & knotted, difficult to separate into a neat pile. If you could just find the right string to pull, the whole mess would begin to loosen itself.
Too many words in my head means too few figure out how to escape.
Monday: Lasagna, garlic bread & salad.
Tuesday: Hamburger Helper & a salad.
Wednesday: BLTs.
Thursday: Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken & broccoli.
Friday: Scallops, grilled tilapia, a quick noodle side dish & a salad.
Saturday: Strawberry Festival!
Sunday: Pork chops & rice in the crock pot and Asparagus Parmesan Au Gratin.
Notes from last week's menu: I slacked with posting the menu the last two weeks, so a brief overview from last week included burgers on the grill, really yummy kabobs, barbecue chipped ham sandwiches, Crab Cakes, and Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
A photo of me:
I really should make a point to be better about this...
1) Candle scents this month:
Red Apple Wreath. Warm Apple Crisp. Autumn Fruit. Peppermint Swirls. Welcome Christmas. Frosty Air. Apple Pie. Christmas Wreath. White Christmas. Be Thankful. Gingerbread. Autumn Wreath. Holiday Bayberry. North Pole. Mistletoe. Autumn Leaves.
2) What I am reading this month:
I have a great list of books I want to read. I need to get to the library.
3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"Who Are You When I'm Not Looking," Blake Shelton. "Back to December," Taylor Swift. "A Little Bit Stronger," Sara Evans.
4) Movies I saw:
Tombstone. Coyote Ugly.
5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
No specific scenes, but I have been loving the heck out of Harry's Law, Parenthood, The Good Wife and Blue Bloods.
6) Something yummy I made:
I made some brownies that were exactly the right amount chewy-gooey.
7) Restaurants where I ate:
Ling's.
8) Something I am thankful for:
Knowing exactly how to reach my inner peace.
9) A goal I had for this month:
To get caught up on some of the shows that lived too long on the DVR. Lofty, huh? Almost caught up on two of the four!
10) This month I looked forward to:
The start of Spring Training. It always feels like an eternity between the Super Bowl and Pitchers & Catchers Reporting. (Yes, that does deserve to be capitalized. It should be a flipping holiday, it makes me so happy.)
11) Something I want to remember about this month:
Blink & it's gone. Good thing it's the only 28-day month.
12) A photo I took this month:
We keep Valentines Day simple in Dawnsworld. Our gift to each other is the Extra Innings cable package so we can see the Sox play all Summer long: money well spent on a gift that gives us six months of something we love & it's something we'll enjoy together. And a little bit of red to make the day special:
Monday: Ravioli with sausage, salad and garlic bread. And strawberry shortcake for dessert!
Tuesday: Grilled ham & cheese with tomato soup.
Wednesday: Sloppy Joes, salad and a side dish to be determined.
Thursday: Pizza night!
Friday: Tuna casserole.
Saturday: Clam Chowdah!
Sunday: Leftovers.
Notes from last week's menu: After the fish appeared to be of questionable quality, we opted for some Zaxby's chicken strips on Friday and got some fresh fish to make on Saturday.
The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!
Outside my window... it's sunny & a bit brisk. A perfect February day.
I am thinking... about Girl Scout Cookies. I am very much looking forward to when they go on sale in two weeks. I need to stash away my year's supply. I got 8 boxes last year & I just recently broke into my last box of Tagalongs this past week. I'm really good about rationing them to make them last.
I am thankful for... a guy that treats me well.
From the kitchen... there will be pork chops and Summer squash. I really love steamed squash with a little butter & a dash of salt.
I am wearing... jeans & a big comfy Red Sox tee.
I am creating... a list of things I need to address before my surgery next month.
I am going... to clean off my desk this afternoon. It has been far to cluttered for far too long.
I am reading... here & there but I am saving a small stack of books for while I am taking it easy & recovering.
I am hoping... to make some brownies this evening. Mmmmm... chewy gooey brownies...
I am hearing... the quiet sounds of nature. I love how even though nature has noises, it still feels like silence.
Around the house... I am seeing the effects of slowly tackling my To Do List.
One of my favorite things... are tulips. They make me happy.
I don't understand... all the obsessing over Valentines Day. It never bothered me when I was single. I've always had lots of people who make me feel loved, no matter what my relationship status has been or what day of the year it happens to be.
I wish... replacement ink cartridges for the printer weren't priced like they were made of gold.
A few plans for the rest of the week... a visit to Kohl's for some potential new sneakers for Troy, after-work walks in the beautiful weather, and tackling some more of the To Do List.
A picture to share... of some favorite Winter decorations.
Time to wrap it up. The 2010 season is officially in the books when the boys roll into Ft Myers. Truth be told, it seems like nearly half the team has found their way to the fort in advance of their mandatory report date. As if I'm not already crawling out of my skin for a baseball fix, just knowing that the boys are as hungry as I am pushes me right around the bend.
I am always excited for a new baseball season. I think the anticipation of the next season is even stronger when the one before it came with excessive challenges that ended in a degree of disappointment. I don't know if it's the new hope brought by a fresh slate or the curiosity to meet the new faces or just the glaring hole left in one's routine when the daily ritual of settling down to a game most evenings comes to a sudden halt. There's no way of knowing how this season will play out, if the positive projections will pan out or if we're heading down a road we all pretend, for the sake of sanity, isn't possible. It's that delicious unknown and all the promise of triumph that comes with the arrival of Spring Training.
What I *do* know is that I'm ready. It's time for 2011, Red Sox style.
Wishes on October 3, 2010
**To see this team, as constructed, play 2010 actually healthy.
**For the rotation to remain intact & see what they've *really* got because I have to believe that wasn't it.
**For Beltre & Victor to be back in 2011.
**One more contract for Papi. But not with a lot of years on it.
**Speedy & complete recoveries for Youk, Pedey, Scoot, JD, Ellsbury, Tek...and ummmm, yeah, how about just everyone.
**Jed Lowrie, Super Utility.
**A totally revamped bullpen, save for Bard, Wakey & Atch.
**Tek in a back-up role, with the opportunity to retire while he's still ours.
Hopes on February 10, 2011
**Health for the team & happiness for the fans.
**For the off-season wheelin' & dealin' to make Theo look like a rockstar genius.
**A less lukewarm start for Papi because I just can't take the drama another year. It starts my season on such a sour note.
**An auspicious start to the Adrian Gonzalez years in Boston. (And the discovery of a good nickname for him! He is not AGon--we already had one of those.)
**Jed Lowrie, Super Utility.
**Success from a reinvented bullpen.
**A real look at what Tek can do as a backup backstop.
**We've figured out how to slow down the running game of our opponents.
**Dice is less of an enigma.
**We get to see the realization of how awesome the 2011 team looks on paper.
I cannot remember the last time the Hot Stove sizzled like this in Boston. Sure, we've picked up new guys each off-season, but it seemed like every time I checked my sources, a new blockbuster-type deal was being revealed. Every big free agent name that hit the market had word of Theo sniffing around, kicking the tires, sending up question marks. The dust wouldn't even begin to settle around one name when another would hit the headlines.
There were a total of four big signings (some certainly bigger than others). I have feelings on each of them. You're shocked, I know.
Bobby Jenks: This may be my least favorite of the four. Not even so much because he slumped a bit in Chicago last season, but his attitude. He kind of reminds me of another Papelbon in personality and I feel like we've already exceeded our limit of that with the one we've already got in the house. Yes, I know Papelbon has his apologists fans, but he's grated my nerves one too many times, leaving me a bit gun shy--both when he opens his mouth and when he gets called in to close. I had been hoping that another year might bring some maturity, along with the "contract season" encouraging some immediate turnaround on Papelbon's performance, and now the presence of Jenks (and his God awful beard) has me a little worried the attitudes might just feed off one another. I hope I'm wrong.
Dan Wheeler: So, we've established that the Jenks signing leaves me casting a wary eye in its general direction. The Wheeler deal has me dancing a jig. This guy is a horse. He's competed in the AL East. He's a rather unassuming fellow (reminds me a bit of Wakey, in a way, maybe?)(remember I've seen a lot more of him, his old stomping grounds being in my local media coverage area). I feel like we made our bullpen considerably more solid by his addition...and I am even willing to tolerate The Bobble Glove (TM) as long as he remains as reliable as he has been.
Carl Crawford: Our second new former-Ray (funny how they picked up two former-Sox as well, though it appears Tampa is hoping for a time machine headed back to 2004 with their choices) created a huge stir in Red Sox Nation. I am of split mind on this. Yes, he's got some talent (though I don't necessarily subscribe to the local media's turning him into their Sunshine State version of Derek Jeter, complete with slobbering all over him, nor do I think I shall ever refer to him as The Fastest Man Alive). I am not disputing the talent. And I am relieved (borderline giddy) that he won't be stealing two and three bases at a clip off of our battery, because very little was as painful as watching him swipe bases like Danny Ocean stole millions from Terry Kennedy's casino vault. But heaven help my sanity when NESN sticks a microphone in front of him. My skin is already crawling at the recollection of his mumbling, which is a pet peeve of mine that runs deep to my core. Short of hiring a speech coach & learning to properly pronounce his words, he'll never fully grow on me because I cannot get past his (or anyone's) lack of enunciation.
Adrian Gonzalez: Ah, the crown jewel of the Winter! My defense-loving baseball heart is all a-flutter at the acquisition of a Gold Glove first baseman to pair with our Gold Glove former-first-returned-to-third-baseman. In fact, the whole Boston infield is about as defensively glorious as I could possibly dream up. (Scoot or Lowrie at short may not provide Alex Gonzalez-style defense but they are still a far cry better than some of the cardboard cutouts we've had playing there, so yes, I'm still happy about the state of the infield.) Add to that, the coaches all gush about a swing that is built for Fenway Park & the Monstah, and I just can't wait to see all the hype play out to the roar of a home crowd.
I'd be lying if I said I'm anything short of turning inside out to see Red Sox v.2011 take the field and show us what they've got.
Top Ten Must-See TV for Dawn
1. How I Met Your Mother
2. The Good Wife
3. Harry's Law
4. Parenthood
5. Blue Bloods
6. The Big Bang Theory
7. Grey's Anatomy
8. Private Practice
9. Fringe
10. Dexter
© Blogger templates The Professional Template by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP
