tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68129622011-07-12T22:45:42.810-04:00"...all language about everything is analogical; we think in a series of metaphors. We can explain nothing in terms of itself, but only in terms of other things." (Dorothy Sayers, Mind of the Maker, 1941)Patnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-520397940762180352007-05-22T22:33:00.000-04:002007-05-22T22:47:24.132-04:00

I've been horribly absent for several months. Maybe horribly is a strong word. Maybe amazingly is better. I have cable modem because I value my computer time more than my television and telephone time. So you'd think I'd be more present. I guess my words just withered up.As late, my life has been consumed with my mother's cancer diagnosis. I've spent nearly every weekend for the past two months

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1167437673291147222006-12-29T19:13:00.000-05:002006-12-29T19:14:33.306-05:00

Your Linguistic Profile:55% General American English25% Upper Midwestern10% Yankee5% Midwestern0% DixieWhat Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1164801357385558252006-11-29T06:37:00.000-05:002006-11-29T07:00:36.806-05:00

It took me a little while to come up with these, because I'm generally oblivious of my wierdness. But once I thought of one, the quirks came flooding into my consciousness. Hats off to my friends for being my friends!1. When I finish using a paper napkin at dinner, I carefully fold it into a small square before throwing it away.2. I have a mutant nose hair that comes from somewhere deep in my

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1164108404021125672006-11-21T06:25:00.000-05:002006-11-21T06:26:44.060-05:00

Your Vocabulary Score: ACongratulations on your multifarious vocabulary!You must be quite an erudite person.How's Your Vocabulary?

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1163126480035384042006-11-09T21:40:00.000-05:002006-11-09T21:41:20.056-05:00

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1163123066519469102006-11-09T20:43:00.000-05:002006-11-09T20:44:26.543-05:00

You Are 12% RepublicanIf you have anything in common with the Republican party, it's by sheer chance.You're a staunch liberal, and nothing is going to change that!How Republican Are You?

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1163122567911053982006-11-09T20:34:00.000-05:002006-11-09T20:39:46.886-05:00

You Belong in FallIntelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times...You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall bringsWhether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for youWhat Season Are You?

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1156739703589130472006-08-27T23:39:00.000-04:002006-08-28T00:57:02.176-04:00

In mid July we had a heavy, driving rain that held me accountable for my procrastination over dealing with the roof of my house. Yep, I knew when I bought the house that the roof needed a facelift. I opted for the botox remedy of tar patching last fall, but it failed miserably. The rain made it from the south dormer of my attic through to my first floor kitchen counter with a stop in the second

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1156561518417644532006-08-25T23:04:00.000-04:002006-08-25T23:05:44.556-04:00

You Have A Type B+ PersonalityYou're a pro at going with the flowYou love to kick back and take in everything life has to offerA total joy to be around, people crave your stability.While you're totally laid back, you can have bouts of hyperactivity.Get into a project you love, and you won't stop until it's doneYou're passionate - just selective about your passionsDo You Have a Type A Personality?

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1154387965673540442006-07-31T19:18:00.000-04:002006-07-31T19:20:38.200-04:00

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Black ComedyIn your life, things are so twisted that you just have to laugh.You may end up insane, but you'll have fun on the way to the asylum.Your best movie matches: Being John Malkovich, The Royal Tenenbaums, American PsychoIf Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1151547484161315582006-06-28T21:27:00.001-04:002006-07-31T19:31:00.830-04:00

I look forward to this time every year. My sister is hosting our annual family reunion - my dad's siblings and their families. Dad's been gone for six years now, but the yearly reunion never missed a beat. I love traditions.My dad's sister and her husband are deaf. They raised six children together - all hearing. My aunt was the first deaf licenced beautician in the state of Michigan. I'm very

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1151116086426998532006-06-23T22:27:00.000-04:002006-06-23T23:38:05.526-04:00

I'm cleaning out my email box tonight (pause...this is huge because I'm a saver) because I'm getting ready to switch from dsl to cable and I don't know what that will do to my email account. I've been at it about three hours. Yes, three. I had about 2500 messages in my inbox and 1600 in my sent box. That's nothing. My archives at work are ten times the size.But I'm having fun because I'm finding

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1147579762738589842006-05-13T22:39:00.000-04:002006-07-31T19:35:39.863-04:00

Forty-four is a fun number. It's four times a prime number: eleven. It's the same backwards and forwards. If you divide by two, those numbers are also the same backwards and forwards. Same if you halve it again. Or if you double it.Forty-four will be my age tomorrow.I remember when JFK died. I was only one-and-a-half when it happened, but I remember the atmosphere and the images on the news. I

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1144034096983767072006-04-02T22:57:00.000-04:002006-07-31T19:44:28.000-04:00

I have seen my end. It is senseless and dark, and happens in the Meijer parking lot.I walk toward the store entrance. A BMW convertible illegally crosses three aisles of parking spaces at 30 miles an hour. The driver prats into her cell phone, clipping me, sending me flailing, flying helplessly into the cart coral. Oblivious of the world around her, completely focused on her important call, my

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1141299311664620022006-03-02T06:33:00.000-05:002006-03-02T06:35:11.666-05:00

I'm in love with a six pound guy.

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1141298726991537552006-03-02T06:20:00.001-05:002006-03-02T06:25:26.993-05:00

Your Five Factor Personality ProfileExtroversion:You have medium extroversion.You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party.Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences.But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time."Conscientiousness:You have high conscientiousness.Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life.Most things in your life

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1138551536405945752006-01-29T11:18:00.000-05:002006-01-30T19:09:28.306-05:00

A few weeks ago Captain Wow sent me a video clip of Gary Brolsma's Numa Numa Dance. I thought it was hilarious! I didn't realize how widespread the video had become, and that it's been around long enough to be parodied to the point of becoming an annoyance. I was procrastinating doing my homework Friday night and looked at one parody after the other (the best one in my opinion is the Napoleon

Patnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1136344753803511312006-01-03T21:13:00.000-05:002006-01-17T22:36:54.396-05:00

Last weekend was fabulous. My friends came as they always do to celebrate the eve of the new year in my home. My sister and her husband, and a beloved couple stayed the night. The next day friends filtered in to eat leftovers, talk, and play board games while some of us watched movies or slipped off into sweet sleep. My construction project is not done, but for the last four nights I have slept

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1135824674336369772005-12-28T21:50:00.000-05:002005-12-28T21:51:14.356-05:00

Your 2005 Song IsSince You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson"But since you've been goneI can breathe for the first timeI'm so moving on"In 2005, you moved on.What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1135768975426453922005-12-28T05:49:00.000-05:002006-01-15T07:16:22.656-05:00

Wow. The last few days have been action packed. I left town to see my family, came home on Christmas morning and worked to get the house ready for carpet. I'm a week behind in homework. My grades are going to pay for the holiday break and the house project, but I'm trying not to let that bother me.Some recent shots:SundayMondayTuesday I naively believed that the carpet would be finished on

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1134915954082950962005-12-18T09:25:00.000-05:002005-12-18T09:25:54.093-05:00

Too wierd!!You areWhat Rejected Crayon Are You?

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1134823854127233422005-12-17T07:42:00.000-05:002005-12-17T07:50:54.140-05:00

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the LordWe are one in the Spirit, we are one in the LordAnd we pray that all unity may one day be restoredAnd they'll know we are Christians by our loveWe will walk with each other, we will walk hand in handWe will walk with each other, we will walk hand in handAnd together we'll spread the news that God is in our landAnd they'll know we are Christians by

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1134388596764471622005-12-12T06:28:00.000-05:002005-12-12T07:01:37.280-05:00

This weekend I made a lot of headway. I started cutting my baseboard, which will go in the guest room, hallway, and half of my bedroom. The task was more difficult than I anticipated. You need the right tools. I have 7 1/2 inch baseboard and a compound mitre saw that isn't big enough to cut the whole piece. Never having been the whiz in geometry, I didn't get it that you can't just flip the board

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1134214153767473892005-12-10T06:13:00.000-05:002005-12-10T09:18:37.960-05:00

My niece Kara is an artist. I've known this since she was two years old. Funny how you just know some things about children when they're little. Then they grow up and surprise you with the direction they take their talents. Kara draws, paints, and is developing in interior design.This morning I heard Kara sing for the first time. It's so amazing because she's her own artist, but I can also hear

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1133737169327722312005-12-04T17:22:00.000-05:002005-12-04T17:59:29.363-05:00

I now have three windows - out of four - with panes in them!The panes for the first two windows were installed by a knowledgable friend. This one I did all by myself. I'm so dang proud.I had wonderful help prepping the window wells and priming the walls. This is the first time there has actually been color on my bedroom walls. They have always been white and the varying colors of stains and dirt

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1133221299558200642005-11-28T18:20:00.000-05:002005-11-28T18:41:39.596-05:00

I went up north for Thanksgiving on Wednesday. My sister in law told me to bring my knitting needles because she needed help figuring out a scarf pattern. I grabbed my knitting bag, and inside I found my long lost Bible. I mean my LONG LOST Bible. I missed it months ago. I looked in the coat rack area at church where a lot of forgotten items end up. I looked on shelves, in drawers, under beds,

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1132534827077132612005-11-20T19:41:00.000-05:002005-11-22T07:21:39.326-05:00

This weekend my long awaited art glass found its way to my upper sashes. I had a moment of panic halfway through the third pane...I wasn't sure which was the "right" side of the glass to have inside. I decided after a few drops of sweat that to settle for amazing beauty over astounding beauty was a good problem to have and I let it go. I'm almost done applying shellac to my doors. That's been fun

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1132273577001503002005-11-17T19:22:00.001-05:002005-11-17T19:26:17.003-05:00

Not completely true, but fun nonetheless!What Your Underwear Says About YouWhen you're bad, you're very bad. And when you're good, you're still trouble!You're comfortable in your own skin - and don't care to impress anyone.The Underwear Oracle

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1130192029131964232005-10-24T17:53:00.000-04:002005-10-24T19:08:52.226-04:00

This weekend was full of home repair wonders.Friday morning began with a leak in my kitchen ceiling. After investigation this weekend it turns out the toilet flange on the third floor broke, and water streamed down the outside of the pipe and into the space between my kitchen ceiling and my second floor. The plumber is coming tonight to fix it. Help me Jesus...In happier news, I learned how to

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1130120230907437372005-10-23T21:23:00.000-04:002005-10-23T22:17:11.023-04:00

Today I was texturing the walls of my bedroom while listening to Rich Mullins. I also listened to Steely Dan's Aja album, and the Dave Wilcox album Headless gave me. But oh yeah - back to Rich.I love that Rich set the Nicene Creed to music. The ancient basics of my Christian faith set to song - wow. As I splattered my walls and myself with joint compound, I thought about those simple tenets, how

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1129378857220725322005-10-15T07:51:00.000-04:002005-10-16T09:03:42.470-04:00

When I was a little girl, my father would sometimes sing to us on car trips. My favorite was an English song about a ship and crew. It was a funny song with great rhyme and meter and he would sing it very fast, which made it even more fun. I never could figure out all of the words, just a few and then hmm hmm hmm and then a few more. It was an extra special treat to hear it.My dad was not an

Patnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1129109684699354472005-10-12T05:02:00.000-04:002005-10-12T21:17:04.080-04:00

Here's my meme in response to Captain Wow, Headless, and Spooky Rach:Google the town I was born in:Google the town I live in now:Google my name:Google my grandmother's name:Google my favorite food:Google my favorite drink: Google my favorite smell:

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1128277185725059442005-10-02T14:12:00.000-04:002005-10-02T14:19:45.730-04:00

I stole this from Headless, who stole it from Reverend Mommy, who posted the Sloganizer link on her blog. Now I am a girl who truly has everything.Just Pat's SlogansThe Dirt says Hot, The Label says Just Pat.Happiness is Just Pat-Shaped.Whatever You're Into, Get Into Just Pat.Aaahh, Just Pat!No-One Does Chicken Like Just Pat.Break Me Off a Piece of That Just Pat.Don't Be Vague. Ask for Just

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1128210416585352222005-10-01T19:43:00.000-04:002005-10-01T19:51:00.106-04:00

I took this test after finding it on Stephanie's blog. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.What Classic Movie Are You?personality tests by similarminds.com

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1127844408825039392005-09-27T14:02:00.000-04:002005-09-27T14:06:48.836-04:00

What Famous Leader Are You?personality tests by similarminds.comDarned tests anyhow!! Headless - where do you find these??

Patnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1127618578505104282005-09-24T22:56:00.000-04:002005-09-24T23:35:08.180-04:00

Hmmm...I didn't realize when I started the Chronicles that I would have so many chapters.Well, today was like most every other Saturday - sand, fill, sand, sand. I didn't get to stain today, but I'll finish that tomorrow afternoon. I chemical stripped my door jambs, and attempted to strip the archway in the bedroom - I'll need the heat gun for that.Back to sanding. It's amazing to me how I can

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1127526877720366992005-09-23T21:28:00.000-04:002005-09-23T22:00:42.886-04:00

I have a frightened newcomer to my humble construction zone hiding in the foyer beneath a stool that Dick made. When I call his name - Kirby - he gets all wide eyed and vulnerable and walks toward me, assumes the petting posture, then hisses as I pet him. Poor boy. Change sucks. It's okay to hiss.Babette is doing fine, but I'm watching her. It's my intention to keep her queen of the Paris house

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1126662787429748002005-09-13T21:28:00.000-04:002005-09-13T21:53:07.436-04:00

I've been walking to work the last several days, now that the weather is getting cooler and yes, now that the price of gas is up.On the way home I kicked an acorn. It skittered in front of me, hit a big crack in the sidewalk and sailed off across the grass into the street. When I was little, probably eight or nine, I was fascinated with acorns. I would look at them for hours, lying in the grass

Patnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1126059902108410512005-09-06T22:21:00.000-04:002005-09-07T21:10:15.376-04:00

It's like the world ran into a fallen log in the road, and until the debris is cleared nothing is right.It sounds so dramatic coming out of me, but I feel this way. Katrina hit hundreds of miles from my home, far enough away it seems surreal. But the air isn't right, and my soul isn't still.We have a few folks who have made it to my town on their own, and we may get many more. Maybe not.

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1125455691574248852005-08-30T22:27:00.000-04:002005-08-30T22:36:52.826-04:00

As I pulled up to the corner of Leonard and Fuller, I couldn't help notice that the gas station to my right was eerily quiet for the 5:00 after work rush. No cars. Whatsoever. The price sign read:Regular 299.9Midgrade 309.9Premium 317.9Just below the gas prices:32 oz. Coffee, 99 centsWhich makes it $3.96 per gallon.Buck up, my friends. Although gas has reached $3.00 per gallon for the first time

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1123727808346165012005-08-10T22:00:00.000-04:002005-08-14T08:57:20.846-04:00

Will you forgive me if I continue to postpone the final pictures of the attic? It has been so hot here so consistently that I haven't done all the cleaning up there I want to do before I take pictures. But really, it's done. Yes, really. C'mon - it really is!In the mean time, I've set up shop outside in my garage and driveway. I've been filling, sanding, and staining all that trim that the

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1122257893087145042005-07-24T21:49:00.000-04:002005-07-24T22:27:46.506-04:00

There's something about the shellac I like better than the poly. It's the golden glow. I also like that once finished, you can keep it shiney or you can take fine steel wool to it to get a soft, satin finish. This was my first attempt at shellac, and I'm pretty excited about it. Now that shellac is no longer a mystery to me, the anxiety over the project is gone and I'm enjoying getting it

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1122173088913315452005-07-23T22:20:00.000-04:002005-07-23T22:44:48.920-04:00

They say a picture paints a thousand words. This is what I woke up to this morning. My bathroom counter bears testimony to my lifestyle, even more than the flecks of paint I can't get out of my hair.Clockwise, beginning left:Blow dryer with diffuser still attachedVictoria's Secret body spray - for that unexpected run to the hardware store in the middle of a projectIbuprofen - needs no

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1121252903618534312005-07-13T07:05:00.000-04:002005-07-13T07:08:23.623-04:00

I'm giving the Matrix a rest. It's served me well, but I think I've about sucked it dry for quotables. Of course, the right mood at the right time might dredge a few more from the movie. For now, I think Dorothy fits here better.

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1119836709624029812005-06-26T21:32:00.000-04:002005-06-26T21:45:09.630-04:00

Lord, do you ever wonder when the fixing will ever end?Do you ever pop yourself in the head and ask yourself, "What were they thinking?"Do you ever think you're finished, then come back to realize there are 157 more holes to fill?Do you remember the care in the original construction? The dreams? The gratitude? The distant gaze?Do you see me taking care to fix it properly, to remember the hands

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1118715853141282852005-06-13T22:05:00.000-04:002005-07-24T09:02:37.886-04:00

Or, "Snip, Snip, Snip"The latest and greatest at the JustPat zone has to do with the removal of excess. Like a mega hair cut. Don't worry friends - I wouldn't cut my hair without telling you first. That will be celebrated with bugles and confetti, I promise.First, the bolts that hold the toilet in place received the hack saw treatment so the obscure egg-like-bolt-cover-uppers could hide what was

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1117493408083509892005-05-30T18:24:00.000-04:002005-05-30T19:26:59.830-04:00

...Or leave a kiss between my toes, and I'll not look for pergo...It...brings...sniff...tears...to...my...sniff...eyes...It looks different. It feels different. It smells different.It is different.Now that the carpet is in, there's about one full day left of work to do before the attic is habitable. What the heck will I do with myself?Ah, yes. The second floor.Of necessity, I've already begun,

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1116806832191011172005-05-22T19:43:00.000-04:002005-05-22T20:51:49.576-04:00

Sidebar.My friends are the best. Have I told you my friends are the best? I mentioned I turned 43 on 5/14. Well, I was attacked by love last Thursday night by Captain Wow, Amazing Man, Headless, the PickleO's, St. Doppleganger and his bride, the Tree Climbing Dutch Girl from Minnesota, and other super secret underworld masterminds. Total surprise. As evidenced by my reaction, digitally captured:

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1116560319610209782005-05-19T23:38:00.000-04:002005-05-19T23:49:55.786-04:00

Why is it when we walk through the rain that we sometimes shudder and stomp and run and curse and flail, and other times we savor its touch on our skin and breathe deeply the scent of wet earth and gaze in wonder as the world turns green?

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1116195232432714392005-05-15T18:13:00.000-04:002005-05-15T18:37:52.766-04:00

This weekend was a painting extravaganza. I painted pretty trim and ugly wasn't-trim-but-is-trim-now trim. I poly'd the kitchen cabinets where they still needed it. I filled the nailholes in the baseboard and added the final coat. The most obvious project: the stairwell.It was an ugly stairwell. Even after the dangerous steps were replaced with reliable OSB, and the gappy wood planking on the

Patnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1115591456118442162005-05-08T18:30:00.000-04:002005-05-08T18:44:50.916-04:00

This weekend, more progress. The toilet flushes, AND the tank refills with water. The baseboard was routed, primed, filled, painted, and the installation began this morning.More painting of trim accomplished. It's altogether possible that by the end of the month, the apartment will be finished. I'm trying not to get my head set on that timeline as a goal, because stuff happens. But, it's possible

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1115431123944137542005-05-06T20:00:00.000-04:002005-05-07T07:45:52.960-04:00

I've been at a conference for the last three days. Most of the workshops I signed up for were on school security.Yesterday's afternoon sessions were led by a speaker that was at Beslan after the school siege in September 2004. He shared stories about the hours during the siege. His stories were filled with cruelty, murder, rape, and mental and physical torture inflicted on the hostages by the

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1115028743547340842005-05-02T06:12:00.000-04:002005-05-02T06:50:07.650-04:00

So much was done this weekend. The kitchen sink is now in the counter. And, the hole for the sink is NOT wider than the sink rim. The backsplash is on the wall behind the sink counter, and the cabinets are screwed to the wall. The baseboard corner pieces are primed. The bathroom floor took some more leveling cement and two more sheets of lauan, and is now solid.The toilet is in. It flushes. Most

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1114654630231007792005-04-27T22:17:00.000-04:002005-04-27T23:35:55.386-04:00

I was seventeen the first time I walked in. It was to see a movie about the "great tribulation" mentioned in the book of Revelation. My second time through the door was two years later.At nineteen, I was conflicted. The movie had frightened me, and I had prayed with the pastor to ask Jesus into my heart. There was something defining in that moment for me that was more than a reaction to a fear of

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1114511370525069592005-04-26T06:29:00.000-04:002005-04-26T06:41:47.980-04:00

April 24, AtticAlthough there's been a break in my reporting of the construction chronicles, the work has gone on. Over the last few weeks, the shower has gone in to the bathroom, the bathroom floor has been laid (however, a bit of drama continues which will have to be revisited), the kitchen cabinets have been painted, and more. Last weekend we put the countertops on the cabinets. I have

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1114392476072282042005-04-24T21:27:00.000-04:002005-04-24T21:52:22.506-04:00

I love the show Extreme Makeover Home Edition. And listen...I don't care if they're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Atheist, gay, straight, Barney or Teletubby viewers. I don't care if they're money grubbing whore-monging sinners or clandestine saints.There's something about that show that makes me cry every time I watch it. And folks, I don't cry over nothing.There's something in

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1113610498513333792005-04-15T20:14:00.000-04:002005-04-18T18:23:34.273-04:00

M-115I haven't been on this road for years. I feel that old numbness from the shock of a life suddenly changed, suddenly unfamiliar. My fractured self, reeling under the severe shift in my position, yet amazed that so much around me has dared to remain constant. So many prayers, so many tears and confessions and sighs, so many years ago. Driving to my sister; driving away from confusion. Stunned

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1113519681143063792005-04-14T18:56:00.000-04:002005-04-14T19:01:21.146-04:00

My nephew Corey thought it would be fun to profane my art by Dialectizing my blog. Look what Elmer Fudd has done to my Matrix Quotes!Matwix Qwotes I've Abused"It's the qwestion that dwives us, Neo""Okey dokey.. fwee my mind. Wight, no pwobwem, fwee my mind, fwee my mind, no pwobwem, wight...""I imagine that wight now you'we feewing a bit wike Awice, tumbwing down the wabbit howe.""Nevew send a

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1112581195641572742005-04-03T22:19:00.000-04:002005-04-03T22:21:06.636-04:00

You'll find him under my "Dead People" links. You'll hear a lot of commentary about him by turning on the television, so I won't expound here. I'll only say that I spent a lot of the day Saturday in tears over our loss.

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1111930123745688142005-03-27T08:28:00.000-05:002005-03-27T08:28:43.746-05:00

Women at the Tomb

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1111928610061665252005-03-27T07:25:00.000-05:002005-03-27T14:16:49.633-05:00

(Quotes are from A.W. Tozer, "The Pursuit of God")The sunrise this morning was gorgeous. I wonder what colors the sky gave to the visitors to Jesus' tomb so long ago. They probably never noticed. But, this morning in West Michigan, the sunrise declares itself the proud eye-witness to Jesus' resurrection. So I wonder.I'm thinking about Gethsemane this morning. I'm thinking of Jesus' intense

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1111629511724502712005-03-23T20:17:00.000-05:002005-03-23T20:58:31.726-05:00

I choose walking for exercise for a lot of reasons. Not that I need a lot of reasons. I have a hard time exercising at a gym or in my home. I tend to view it as a chore and not a pleasure. I have to have a purpose in what I'm doing other than the obvious benefit of fitness. Lifting a five pound weight over my head 30 times just doesn't give me that purposeful sense. I'll say it: I get bored. But

Patnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1111236742189640412005-03-19T06:46:00.000-05:002005-03-19T22:15:29.023-05:00

"Only the man who has had to face despair is really convinced that he needsmercy. Those who do not want mercy never seek it. It is better tofind God on the threshold of despair than to risk our lives in a complacencythat has never felt the need of forgiveness. A life that is withoutproblems may literally be more hopeless than one that always verges on despair."I made it through chapter two this

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1111061361889129462005-03-17T06:42:00.000-05:002005-03-17T07:09:21.893-05:00

I've been reading "No Man Is An Island" by Thomas Merton. I've been in the first chapter for the last month. Every sentence he wrote is a deep well.In this first chapter, he has a lot to say about love; what it is, what it isn't, how it survives and grows, how it is shackled. Most of it is very familiar to me, but Merton adds clarity and punctuation in all the right places.I read this line this

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1110763749977283352005-03-13T20:01:00.000-05:002005-03-13T20:40:13.786-05:00

I laughed hard twice in the last hour.The first hard laugh: I watched "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" for the first time. It was taboo when it played at the theater when I was a teen. So, not being a theater-goer movie-watcher type of gal, it took 30 years for me to decide to watch it. The magic happened when I thought it was near the end, and the music played as I stared at a blank screen

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1110539443408614142005-03-07T06:10:00.000-05:002005-03-11T06:18:49.540-05:00

Another rip-roarin' nail poundin' floor stompin weekend, and I'm sore but happy.We got the stair treads in, the bathroom subfloor down, more kitchen cabinets painted, and trim up around all the windows.And there were some lessons learned.• Always keep bandaids in every room of the house. At all times.• Make it a point not to try to drive nails through a window pane.• Don't expect to paint a door

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1109139630198881982005-02-23T01:20:00.000-05:002005-02-24T06:19:13.333-05:00

I haven't had anything I could put to words in the last few days. Work has been very intense, and nighttime has been a reaction to it all, for the most part. The house is always there, patiently waiting for whatever I can give it. This post is for my kitty, who unwittingly reminds me that life is more than task and product. Every day she lets me know when it's time to go to bed. She lets me know

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1108605004641415502005-02-16T20:39:00.000-05:002005-02-16T22:05:50.723-05:00

When I look back over my life, I have so many memories of things I've said and done that make me cringe and want to duck.I especially think of times that I tried to share my faith with others. Times when I was bold, but insensitive. Times I said things that may have been true, but did not heal or build up. Things I've confessed and professed. Ideas and advice I've shared. I get shivers just

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1108439612072265532005-02-14T22:53:00.000-05:002005-02-15T06:57:20.760-05:00

Now the kitchen floor is laid. Oh my. That was a chore. They tell you in the instructions that the floor needs to be level. But, they don't tell you why ("They" meaning the anti-do-it-yourselfer conspiracy out there somewhere). I'll tell you why. If you don't have a perfectly flat floor, it is very difficult - no, nigh impossible - to snap the pieces together. It took a lot of shimming and

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1107834986454873302005-02-07T22:56:00.000-05:002005-02-07T23:32:28.910-05:00

I'll say it again...I love, love to paint! I'm not normally a lover of yellow. It's cheerful, and I'm introspective... But, I love this yellow. Gerbera Daisy, Ralph Lauren color, Glidden paint, killer sale for a five gallon bucket. I still have half the primer and paint left over for the second floor hallway. Grace and I cut in, and Dick followed with the roller. We had a blast. When we

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1107743165863097302005-02-06T20:39:00.000-05:002005-02-07T06:41:52.910-05:00

Different town, different time...same station. When you work a lot on your house - when your house is your obsession - you frequent hardware stores. I confess that much of my business goes in the direction of Home Depot, Menards, and Lowes. I also frequent a nearby Ace Hardware, but for big stuff I go big store. I live less than one mile from a small True Value Hardware. I've driven past it

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1107317161578025182005-02-01T23:06:00.000-05:002005-02-02T19:46:04.366-05:00

A lot has happened since Part 6 of the chronicles. Pastor Paul finished the mudding, sanding, and texturing of the attic. It's amazing to stand up there and think that it was just rafters and OSB a few months ago. It's white and clean! Well, not really "clean." But it sure beats dirt and bird crap. I've got the kitchen cabinets - waiting for two that were back-ordered. Got the trim for around

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1094351231211723622005-01-17T18:10:00.000-05:002005-01-17T19:43:12.296-05:00

I sometimes find my self in situations acutely aware that I'm receiving information on several different levels. Kind of like a sound board operator, monitoring all the intake - the bass, the vocals, etc. Most of the time, I think I experience environment all at once. It's hard to distinguish thought from reaction from sight from perception from hearing from....whatever. It's all together,

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1105480062480878802005-01-11T16:39:00.000-05:002005-01-11T19:04:44.360-05:00

A gauntlet is a computer that crashes unexpectedly, leading to repair and interim shopping for new computer, which leads to attempted internet connection, which, when connection has failed, is followed by a call to SBC, which offers a diagnosis of need for upgraded dsl software, which precipates a five-business-day-wait (that is a quote), which is then followed by a customer complaint regarding

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1102465412339041162004-12-07T19:23:00.000-05:002004-12-07T20:00:23.200-05:00

Key of C: "Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul..." (bass echo: FILLED MY SOUL) A Tree of Heaven, that is (left of the big spruce). Yep, December 1 was high noon at the OK Corral for the scabby weed tree that was tipping my porch into my house with its incessant growth. I have a real estate picture of the house from 1994 in which there was no tree. No tree. The thing was several

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1102329799830526062004-12-06T05:43:00.000-05:002004-12-06T05:54:31.926-05:00

Babbette before her morning coffee. Taken over Thanksgiving at my sister's - a testimonial of the evils of digital delay. I post this for one reason and one only - to ward off Johnny Depp's pursuit.

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1101873604150710342004-11-30T22:33:00.000-05:002004-11-30T23:00:04.150-05:00

My friend and I went out tonight. We always have the greatest discussions when we get together. I'm a Christian, she's a Buddhist. I don't define our friendship by our differing religious views, but they're there, and they're interesting. She told me that she intimidates people. I told her she never intimidated me. She replied that the reason was that I was secure in my identity. It was a

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1101642561180516262004-11-28T06:49:00.000-05:002004-11-28T07:26:59.970-05:00

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for gypsum and mud. I came home to find my attic mostly drywalled, my plumbing half done, and my east window installed. I didn't sit on the floor and cry big tears of joy, because the floor's a mess. But, I stayed a while. It's so amazing to see the drywall over all the studs we placed, all the insulation we stapled, all the wiring we strung. It covers the

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1100752659901080082004-11-17T23:37:00.000-05:002004-11-18T00:08:09.786-05:00

Some people just can't stop talking about their kids. They go on and on and on. They're consumed. With me, it's my house. I've been remodeling almost non-stop since I bought it two years ago. It consumes me. Actually, I can carry on conversations without mentioning my house. But just ask me, "So, what are you doing this weekend?" The answer is always "(Blah blah blah) my house." I love my house

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1100347234790739532004-11-13T07:00:00.000-05:002004-11-28T22:34:54.260-05:00

And for my next performance, my shot to make it into David Letterman's "Top Ten" book: "10 Strange Things JustPat Does When She's Remodeling" 10. Enters a "Rescue My Home Contest." 9. Lays hammer in obscure place - wastes 2 minutes looking for it. 8. Moves scrap lumber around the room 8 times a day, for no apparent reason. 7. Runs downstairs, leaves phone in attic. 6. Starts laundry while

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1100222122920197652004-11-11T20:15:00.000-05:002004-11-11T20:38:22.110-05:00

I've got to get out of public health. There's no real do-re-me money in it. You know where it is? I just found out. (No, it's not me in the photo and not my plumber, but cool photo, right?) Oh. My. Gosh. I had no idea. None. And this plumber was going easy on me because he's a good guy (yes, really) and he knows my resources are limited. It's going to cost me more to run a drain pipe to the

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1100131078710310732004-11-10T18:14:00.000-05:002004-11-10T22:05:34.666-05:00

(Inspired by Captain Wow's metaphoric housekeeping) I'm waiting for the Amazing Grace Elephant Company (yes, that's really the name of the company) to come and pick up my trim for dip-stripping. It's been sitting in my foyer since October 9th. It'll take some adjusting after it's gone - it almost became a coat rack. It's really my house and its chronic state of incompletion that is at the

Patnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1100039767210402742004-11-09T17:36:00.000-05:002004-11-09T17:55:12.873-05:00

I'm spiralling downward into the abyss of introspection. Help!!!! But, while I'm careening, let's have fun with it. I looked around my bedroom as I was making my bed this morning. Starting from the door clockwise: 1. First, there is no door because I had them all stripped and haven't put them back on the jams. 2. A Michigan State Police tote bag containing notes from a conference on October

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1099524768847713432004-11-03T18:25:00.000-05:002004-11-03T19:38:45.110-05:00

A few days ago, I was killing time and thought I'd find one of those websites that gives you a test to determine if you're a left-brain or right-brain person. I took the test a few years ago, on a couple different occasions. My results back then were that I was dead center. I thought that was pretty fun. I jokingly fancied my self a balanced person that was constantly in conflict with herself.

Patnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1098804765828180642004-10-26T11:32:00.000-04:002004-10-26T11:58:21.106-04:00

"Pharisee and Publican," Christian Dare It's not about bringing the biggest gift, the shiniest of smiles, the most illustrious legacy. It's about showing up, honest and humble. "Christian soul, if you do not find within yourself the power to worship God in spirit and in truth, if your heart still feels no warmth and sweet satisfaction in mental and interior prayer, then bring to the sacrifice

Patnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1098487475163787992004-10-22T18:39:00.000-04:002004-10-22T19:43:59.673-04:00

Earth to me... Well folks, I didn't win the Rescue My Bathroom contest. No - please, I'll be okay. I knew my chances were slim, with "hundreds upon thousands upon millions of applicants" sending their essays and photos. Although, I did put off a couple of things I wanted to do to my bathroom, and checked the WZZM website 50 times a day - you know, just in case. Yes, I'll be fine. There's more

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1098138399003943992004-10-18T18:26:00.000-04:002004-10-18T19:03:23.146-04:00

I actually still have hits on my site every day, even though I haven't posted anything in over a week. Sorry if you came and found nothing. I've been busy. I was at a conference Tuesday through Thursday. Friday was very busy at work. Then Friday night was euchre. Then Saturday home improvement. Sunday morning lasted until almost 2:00 p.m. Then it was crash time for JustPat. My pastor talked

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1097465523415847512004-10-10T23:09:00.000-04:002004-10-10T23:32:03.416-04:00

I had a great weekend. Babbette is telling me it's time to go to bed, so this will be brief. Saturday several of my friends came to help me work on my house. When were done, I had mums in my flower pots, my door hinges stripped and ready to lacquer, and all the trim and windows removed from my bedroom. It was stuff I thought I'd do myself, but now I realize how proud and crazy that was. I'm

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1097032876424477352004-10-05T23:11:00.000-04:002004-10-06T21:36:10.070-04:00

When I was 12, I wanted to be a nun. I admired the nuns that taught me in grade school. I loved the stories of nuns who became saints. I was attracted to their devotion, and their simple lives. I dreamed about it every day for months. Sometimes I still do. If I were to tell you today, at 42, that I want to become a nun, how would you respond? What would be your first thoughts? Would I be

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1096832518479405092004-10-03T15:25:00.000-04:002004-10-06T21:49:27.096-04:00

"Don't recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" Matthew 6:7,8 I think I'm probably an incidental product of the Jesus People movement of the 60's and 70's. Getting down to what's real, sloughing off the trappings of traditional

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1096673149254482152004-10-01T19:25:00.000-04:002004-10-11T21:01:23.590-04:00

I wasn't a pure-bred Catholic. No, I was a mongrel. My mother was Catholic, and my father was raised Methodist. And, there were other issues; my father had been divorced. His first wife left him for a friend on his softball team. He met my mom after the divorce at a dance studio. Not that it has anything to do with my faith, but it's a fun bit of my history, I think. My mother married my father

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1096589243330209662004-09-30T19:56:00.000-04:002004-09-30T20:31:19.156-04:00

My dreams of flying buttresses, steeples, and stained glass just gave way to something more lovely - my family.

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1096330369554693492004-09-27T19:31:00.000-04:002004-09-27T21:09:12.226-04:00

"... there is a self-forgetfulness which is so complete that it really seems as though the soul no longer existed, because it is such that she has neither knowledge nor remembrance that there is either heaven or life or honor for her, so entirely is she employed in seeking the honor of God. It appears that the words which His Majesty addressed to her have produced their effect -- namely, that she

Patnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1096228937336922262004-09-26T16:02:00.000-04:002004-09-26T17:02:37.736-04:00

And in some of us, she's screaming to get out! I'm back on the church topic again. I've been in several conversations with a couple of friends in various settings this week that have driven me to the next couple of posts, in which I will once again ask myself, "What is the Church?" There is a little voice within me, a little Catholic girl that knows deep down that there was something to that

Patnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1095906253115320522004-09-22T21:55:00.000-04:002004-09-22T22:24:13.116-04:00

A friend said to me the other day that it took her a long while to realize certain persons sabotage situations, because she doesn't operate that way herself. That we tend to think that all people think and operate the way we do. I so admire that quality, and at the same time, I so don't know what to do with it in myself. "To the pure, all things are pure," I told her. I feel like I put it in a

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1095818127868899432004-09-21T21:55:00.000-04:002004-09-21T22:07:48.716-04:00

My 1000th visitor? From the IP address, it appears to be either Headless or Human Puzzle. I decided to take Captain Wow's advice and celebrate the millenium of my blog sitings with taffeta, Madeline Kahn style. Thanks Wow!

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1095645312763036072004-09-19T21:48:00.000-04:002004-09-19T21:57:26.773-04:00

According to my site meter, I am 15 visits away from hitting the 1000th visit to my site since it began in April 2004! Wooo Hooo!!!! What does one do to commemorate such a momentous event? Should there be cake? Raffle tickets? Good heavens, what should I wear? If any of you seasoned bloggers have any suggestions, please let me know. The most creativity I can muster at the moment is, if you are

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1095475073883574592004-09-17T22:37:00.000-04:002004-09-17T23:08:03.320-04:00

Yes, it's true. Bad Christian is getting tired and frustrated; tired of all the rhetoric and posturing. Good news! Just this week, the Weekly World News' headliner is "Nov. Election Cancelled!" Most of the nation's machines are made in Florida, and are not expected to work properly. It might be another whole year before the election can take place. John Ashcroft hasn't announced it officially,

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1095114757592559772004-09-13T18:22:00.000-04:002004-09-13T19:27:08.943-04:00

Hey, I came home from work today and found a crystal vase with miniature roses on my back porch. There was no card, no tire tracks and no DNA samples left behind. I don't know why I have roses. Oh my gosh, why do I have roses? Is it because I'm a friend? Because I'm working hard? Because I'm hot? Did someone get the wrong house? (Maybe I should quickly and quietly put them back on the porch...)

Patnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812962.post-1094852356885137222004-09-10T17:39:00.000-04:002004-09-10T18:02:19.856-04:00

The Deppster Well, I haven't been able to find an email address for Johnny. I guess it's not that easy to drop Mr. Depp a line to let him know, "By the way, my cat is your soul mate..." However, I did find more evidence that Johnny and Babbs are truly matched. Think Babb's, read Johnny: Johnny Depp Zone: Quote of the Week

Patnoreply@blogger.com0