Friday Five: Sneaky, Sneaky!

How did you sneak in here?

Karla, Karla, Karla.  So, the deadline for putting up the Friday Five sneaked (snuck?) up on you. It's not like you've been away on a serious (enough) study leave. And then there's that blizzard that's bearing down on you. With all of that, you have still managed to put forth a wonderful Friday Five!  And, you have enticed me to play the RevGalBlogPals Friday Five again after far too long. Thank you for some really sneaky, and great, questions.  Here goes:

1) What is sneaking up on you, and what have you been thinking about?
What is really sneaking up on me is income tax time. I know today is only February 8, but that denial of "time flies" is what makes it so sneaky. But I'm not thinking about that at all! I'm thinking about Mardi Gras and what part(s) of that I get to go to this weekend.  Mardi Gras parade: probably.  Crawfish boil: definitely!

2) What will you have for lunch today?
Well, it's after 2:00 p.m. here, and I still don't know.  I'm seriously considering checking out the Thai place across the street. Sadly, there is no sushi bar on this boat.

3)  If you were to get snowed in for two days, and you need to hunker down, what essentials and treats would you store up?

HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa

OK, sorry. It's a balmy, short-sleeved 65 degrees and cloudy here in New Orleans . . . (ahem) . . .

This would be a serious question for me if I still lived in the house I still own in Pennsylvania, because I know the snow is coming. There. Not here.  For the Two-Day Snowed-In Hunker Down, treats and essentials are hard to tell apart:

• Enchiladas!
• a pot of Amy's turkey noodle soup or some chili
• coffee and half & half
• cocoa & mini-marshmallows
• movies, Netflix (if there is electricity) & books and crochet (my new hobby) 
• comforters & pillows & all kinds of flannel
• wind-up radio/flashlight
• candles and flameless light sources

4)  Tell me a story about one awesome thing you have experienced in the last couple of weeks:

Once upon a time, in the last couple of weeks, I took a 9 hour drive that took me from New Orleans to Jacksonville. My wonderful congregation sent me on a serious (enough) study leave.  So, I got on a great big boat and sailed away.  

I hugged dear friends and met new ones, now dear ones. Faces went with online names of women who had become celebrities to me, and I couldn't help being a starry-eyed fan. (I hope they understand.) 

 

We laughed. And laughed. We wrote and wrote. And wrote some more.  Sometimes we wrote less, as few as six words to tell a story of God's good news breaking through the fog.  

Alfredo flirted with us and danced for us.  

We told supper stories. And late night stories.  

And stories fueled by sushi circles, melting cake dinners, and mojito toasts.  

Then we laughed some more.  

Encouraged by sweet generosity, I picked up crochet again.  

I am still swaying to the music. I'm rolling with the waves. I'm looking for sushi.

And I'm thankful. 

So thankful.

5) What is your favorite office supply to splurge on? (now THAT is random, right?)

 Yes, that IS random, dear Karla!  Markers or pens, definitely!

My Serious (Enough) Continuing Education Week

I returned Saturday from RevGalBlogPals Big Event 6.0.  Rachel Hackenberg led us to to play -- and play some more -- with the Living Word "In Her [Our] Own Words."  I came back refreshed and inspired and blessed beyond measure!

Someone asked me to bring back a picture of me having fun on the trip.  Here ya go!

Alfredo's Fan Club: With Karla and Celeste (photo by Holly)

With Kelly at the southernmost point (Key West)

Coconut Flan (Key West)

Amazing women!

Roaming along the streets of Key West

Who could it be? (Not me!)

Friday Five: Summer Reruns

"The cousins" on the family cruise

Today's RevGalBlogPals Friday Five is an invitation by Songbird to be inspired by this season of summer TV reruns and list five things that are worth a repeat.  Coincidentally, today is also National Repeat Day!

1. Family vacations:  My extended family is spread all over the country from east coast to west coast to gulf coast and beyond.  We do attempt to gather for special occasions, the next one being my niece's wedding in September in Baton Rouge.  A few years ago, we took a family cruise -- my first cruise -- and all of us were there -- my mom, all of her children and their spouses, and all of their children and the newest family member at the time, my son-in-law.  We have also taken some beach vacations in Florida and met in Gatlinburg, TN one year.  We don't do it every year, but a family reunion-type gathering is always worth a repeat.

B.E. 4.0 new friends
at church together, sorta!

2.  A cruise:  Last year's RevGal B.E. 4.0 was my first repeat cruise after the family cruise.  I had an ever-lovin' blast!  B.E. is definitely an experience worth repeating, so I'm getting my application ready for next year's B.E. 5.0.  Since we sail from New Orleans, that week of Continuing Ed will definitely be combined with a vacation to the Louisiana relatives (see #1).

3.  Planting a garden:  I repeat the "dig in the dirt" ritual every year.  My main "crop" is herbs and this year's star is basil I grew from seed.  Some oregano apparently didn't make it from the plant, but did reseed itself.  The others are cilantro, parsley, sage, chives, mint, and dill.  I tucked in there somewhere an orange pepper plant.  I also sprinkled some extra color by planting few marigolds and impatiens among the perennials that are already looking great.  

GranGran and Daniel:
an "I love you" moment
between my mom and my grandson

4.  "I love you":  Always worth a repeat, as often as possible.  

5.  "Damages" TV show:  I had never heard of this show but ran across it on instant Netflix and was hooked on the reruns after watching the first episode.  Glenn Close stars as a lawyer, and it is dark and very suspenseful.  According to its Wikipedia entry: "The show is noted for its plot twists, nonlinear narrative, technical merit, season-long storylines and the acting ability of its cast."  I also have enjoyed reruns of "Deadliest Catch" and "Modern Family" and "Desperate Housewives."  I didn't get hooked on "Glee" or "Pushing Daisies," for what it's worth. 

Thanks, Songbird, for the rewind through some things worth rerunning!