I was running over to my sister-in-law’s house today to take her a sample dress.  She is doing some sewing for me and needed to see another dress that was already completed.  I realize that running isn’t highly recommended for people whose vision is 20/800 at best but I was doing it anyway.  However, the route to her house is across our grass runway which is open and flat as runways are supposed to be.  The biggest thing I have to think of tripping on is an ant hill.

    The problem started when I apparently angled west too quickly and found myself in the corn patch.  Now understand that there is a corn patch on the north AND south sides of our runway.  Well when I figured out that I had run into the corn patch I made an abrupt 90 degree turn thinking that I was in the patch on the south side of the runway and this was the quickest way for me to get back on the runway where I could …well…run of course!

    As I parted the stalks of corn that were as tall as I was I started wondering just how in the world I had run so far into the corn before noticing that I was in it.  I glanced around for the big white smear that I knew to be our hangar and the direction I should be heading to get out of this itchy mess.  For some reason there were just more and more rows of corn where I knew there should only be two or so to the edge of the field.  At this point I was totally disoriented so I just looked up and located the trusty sun and headed west, also at this point it finally sank into my foggy cranium that I had been in the north patch so I started crossing rows again this time to the south and was soon back on familiar ground.  Brushing the corn pollen out of my hair I jogged across the landing strip and began squinting at the treeline in order to catch the silhouette of the edge of my brother-in-law’s shop.  I lined myself up with the eastmost end and aimed for the light gap between those two big dark blotches(cedar trees).  I could hear the A/C compressor running at their house so I knew I was headed the right way.  As usual I ran smack into the little pine tree that is growing in the side yard, disentangled myself, backed up and tried a new heading of 10 degrees to the west and went about twenty more feet where I stepped carefully over the railroad tie I knew was there and then angled sharply to the southeast while looking up to find the peak of the roof against the sky.  I know if I get about straight in front of that peak I will feel the metal links of the mat for scraping Mississippi mud off one’s shoes and then I have only to go up the two steps and open the door.

    If you feel lost in the world today-just stop and look up to the Son!  He’ll help you out every time!

            Are y’all ready for some fun

?  As most of you regular visitors to my blog are aware—I can’t see that well.  I’m wondering if anyone would like to tell me about my newest nephew? I really don’t have to see him to know he’s adorable but I’d still like to hear your best description…

~Proud Auntie Sheila J

1.    Do you like bleu cheese?  Nope

2.    Do you have a tattoo? No, and I’ve never even considered one.  My feelings are synonymous with my friend BigToeshttp://www.xanga.com/bigtoepeople (from whose blog I copied this survey) it would be “defacing my body.”

3.    Do you own a gun? Yes.  I don’t hunt nor do I intend to use it to shoot anyone, it was a gift while I worked in a sporting goods store and Joel uses it to shoot snakes and muskrats in the catfish ponds now.

4.    What flavor of Kool-Aid is/was your favorite?  I’ve never really liked the stuff.  Mom didn’t fix it when we were little and I don’t buy it now.  I did drink and enjoy Tang when I was a toddler.

5.    Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No.

6.    What do you think of hot dogs? Uhm…I’m not extremely fond of them but very grateful that my husband likes them.  If I am in a dilemma about what to have for lunch he is just as thrilled with a hot dog as a steak and potatoes meal.

7.     What is your favorite Christmas movie?  I don’t have one.  I do, however; know which Christmas movie I DON’T like!  In the aforementioned sporting goods store where I worked we hadA Christmas Story playing non-stop next to our display of Red Ryder BB guns.  I grew sooo tired of that whiny child that I NEVER want to see it again.

8.    What do you prefer to drink in the morning?  Water or any fruit juice

9.    Can you do push ups?  Yes.  I hadn’t done any in so long that I had to quit typing and go over to the living room carpet and see if I could. J  I tried doing them from my toes like guys do and eeked out four.  Then I rested a little bit and did five from my knees a little more easily.

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?  I don’t wear jewelry.

11. Favorite hobby?  I love to read and also enjoy aviation related activities with my husband.  I used to ride bike a lot but haven’t had the opportunity to move my tandem here from Virginia since we got married so my biker muscles have atrophied.  (If anyone happens to know someone driving an empty pickup from VA to MS- let me know!).

12. Do you have ADD? No.

13. What are your favorite shoes?  Do flip-flops count?  I have a pair of New Balance ones that were a gift from my parents three birthdays ago, they are on my feet every day of the Mississippi summertime and are getting lots of mileage!

Middle name?  Marie

14. Name three thoughts at this exact moment.

*I really need to get that last load of clothes on the clothesline.

*…but I haven’t updated my xanga in sooo long my friends are probably thinking something terrible happened to me.

*Ah…that was a hummingbird that just flew by the kitchen window…I need to refill the feeder today.

16.  Name three drinks you regularly drink.  Iced mint tea, water, and fruit juice of any variety.

17.  Current worry?  One of my sisters and some of her life choices, the fear that my recent problem with fluid in my ears won’t go away and my hearing will be damaged.  Thankfully, I don’t have to carry these worries and fears alone.  Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you. II Peter 5:7

18.  Current hate right now?  My lack of motivation to keep up with my blog.  I have no good excuse-I haven’t joined Facebook and I’m not crazy busy or anything-I’m just not inspired to write lately.  It makes me feel guilty when I think of how much I enjoy reading the blogs of people who faithfully update on a regular basis and I am not contributing in kind.

19. Pepsi or Coke?  Dr. Pepper

20.  How did you bring in the new year?  A night of food and fellowship at Joel’s brother’s place with another couple from church.  (I had to think a while on this one—I’ve never been one to be overly excited by a date change.)

21.  Where would you like to go?  I’m all for heading almost anywhere that requires a passport stamping—as long as it doesn’t involve extreme cold.  Note: I think for each year of my life the definition of ‘extreme cold’ has risen at least 5 degrees.  The current temperature described as extreme cold is anything below about 50 degrees F.)

22.  Name three people who will complete this.  I hate this question.  I make it a motion to ban this question from any further surveys.

23.  Do you own slippers?  Yes.

24. What color shirt are you wearing right now?  Actually, I’m wearing a dress. (surprise, surprise!) It has a checked pattern on a white ground-the checks are made up of bright green, blue, lpink, and yellow if I remember correctly.

25.  Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?  I don’t know, it’s something I’ve never done.  I have a feeling that I wouldn’t find it very pleasant;I like breatheable fabric.

26.  Can you whistle? Uh huh  Just the ordinary sort—I’m trying to master that shrill one with the curled lip that is a very loud, get Wilma’s attention kind of whistle.

27.  Favorite color?  Yellow!  I also like white things like Wilma and the ducks;  when we had all eight ducklings here I kept losing the brown mallards but the once yellow and now white Pekings are pretty easy to find on a green lawn. J

28.  Would you be a pirate?  What kind of question is this???Captain Crunch maybe…

29.  What do you sing in the shower?  Usually hymns and some silly children’s songs.

30. Favorite girls name?  I can’t answer this.  If I ever am pregnant I’d rather not have my family knowing what I’m going to name him/her

31.  Favorite boys name?  see above.

33.  Last thing that made you laugh?  Bigtoe’s answer to the above question and the fact that I just noticed this survey is missing question number 32. J

34. Best bedsheets as a child?  I have absolutely no recollection of what my sheets looked like—they must have been pretty nondescript.

35. Worst injury you’ve ever had as a child?  I was racing my brother through a field of tall grass; we were going fishing and trying to see who could get to the pond first.  I was in the lead and first one to find the strand of barbed wire that was about thigh high in the neck high grass—at least that is where the scar is.  Although there were numerous bike wrecks etc.  I don’t think I broke a bone or even had stitches until I was in my teens.

36.  Do you love where you live?  Yes.  I moved here 2 ½ years ago when we married and now I do love it.  I miss some things about my birthplace but I truly can say I like it here.

37.  What did/do you want to be when you grew/grow up?  The medical field always fascinated me and when my eyesight began failing me sooner than I had expected I opted for being a certified massage therapist.

38.  Who is your loudest friend?  I guess I must not have any loud friends because no one is jumping to my mind.  Marti is one of my more talkative friends but she isn’t loud.  She is among the topmost self-sacrificing people I know and don’t misunderstand me when I labeled her as ‘talkative’.  This isn’t just a bubbly social butterfly kind of talkative; she is adept at giving a sincere word of encouragement and  can share cares and concerns on a heart level.  It isn’t surprising that many people are glad to call her friend.

39.  How many dogs do you have?  One.  As my xanga name proclaims her name is Wilma, a Great Pyrenees.  I think she is one of the most loved wedding gifts we received.

40. Does someone have a crush on you?  I certainly hope not; I’m quite taken.

41.  What is your favorite book?  Do I have to pick just one?  I really don’t think I can answer this question.

42.  What is your favorite candy?  This is almost as difficult as the previous question.  I love PayDay candy bars, Junior Mints, York peppermint patties, Reese’s Pieces, and *Sugar Babies. I also like Runts, Long Boys and **Sour Patch Kids. *Not to be confused with Sugar Daddies!!! I am scared of those.**I hate anything gummy except these.

43.  Favorite sports team?  None.

44. What song do you want played at your funeral?  They don’t ‘play’ songs at conservative Mennonite funerals. J  I like Joyfully, Joyfully.

   Play if you like and tag me if you do!