What if...

What if I woke up every day with this thought:

Every day that passes I am a day closer to being with Jesus which makes it the best day of my life.

How would things be different in my life? What would I accomplish? What things would be different?

How would things be different in your life?

Things I ponder as I transcribe an interview I did on Monday.

Listening to: Myself interview someone
Pending assignments: Still 1!

Twelve days of Christmas baking

Ok. You got it!

By popular demand I will be posting some of my favourite Christmas baking recipes right here at this very blog!

In order not to violate any copyright laws I will have to take some special precautions, though.

Copyright applies only to the instructions on a recipe - not the list of ingredients. So I will be posting the ingredients and creating my own version of how to do it.

In addition, I will happily allow anyone who wishes to gaze at the golden recipe book whenever they please... at my house. (wink, wink)

So stay tuned, some delicious additions to your cookie tray are just a few days away.

I am happy to share some of my favourite baking with you. I love baking. It's both ignites my creativity and reminds of the many, many afternoons I spent at my grandparents house on baking day. I loved the smell of bread baking as I walked in the door.

I often helped make cinnamon buns, apple coffee cake (or kuchen), and a family specialty bread stuffed with ground beef and sauerkraut.

My Grandmother is currently 93 years young. She doesn't bake as much as she used to. I am blessed to pass on her love of baking to my children and to share it with those I love and care about.

As a result some of you will get a taste of the recipes featured here when I hand out my Christmas cards.

Here's one to get you started:

Cream Cheese Candies
A wonderful, cool hit of mint after a big meal.

1-3 oz package cream cheese
3 cups icing sugar
1/4 tsp peppermint extract (or almond extract)
Decorator sugar (optional)

Beat cream cheese with 1-1/2 cups of icing sugar and peppermint extract until smooth. Stir/knead in 1-1/2 cups icing sugar. Roll into 1/2-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Roll in decorator sugar. Flatten with finger or glass or fork or whatever. Let harden for at least one hour. Store in the refrigerator.

(This recipe can be quite messy. Yesterday my mom called in the middle of making them and I nearly had my hand cemented to the phone by the time I hung up. But they are worth it! I've also stored these little gems in the freezer to last a bit longer.)

Listening to: 100.3 FM!
Pending assignments: 1

Woohoo!

I'm doing the snoopy happy dance...!

Eric Tillman has made his choice for head coach of the Roughriders and guess who he chose.

Yup. Kent Austin is returning to the club. As a quarter back, Austin helped to bring the Grey Cup to Saskatchewan in 1989.

He's on a mission to do the same again.

Check it out.

Grey Cup 2007: Here we come! Go Green!

Listening to: 100.3 at work! (for the first time!)
Assignments pending: 1

Baked

For years my mother and I have playfully argued over the rightful ownership of a cookbook.

Not just any cookbook either - a Pillsbury cookbook - only the best collection of baking recipes on the planet.

Years ago, when I lived in the same town as my mom, we shared a recipe subscription. We had a handsome three ring binder and every month we would get new recipe cards to put in it.

Eventually, I began to realize that I didn't like cookbook very much. The recipes sometimes used things I'd never heard of and more often than not didn't live up to expectations.

In the meantime, my mom bought this wonderful Pillsbury cookbook from a salesman that visited her shop from time to time selling books.

When we moved to Saskatoon, I took the binder with me, but it wasn't long before I negotiated a trade. The huge binder full of slightly useful recipes for the Pillsbury collection.

I've never regretted that decision for a day. In fact, it didn't take long before I told my mom the only way she'd get the recipe book back was if she pried it from my cold dead fingers.

As an aside, I have since tried in vain to track down this book, but it is out of print. I found it on ebay once, but it was expensive.

This Pillsbury cookbook is amazing. Every recipe I've ever tried far exceeds expectations. The recipes range from the traditional to more sophisticated offerings. Perfect for someone like me who loves to experiment and try new things. My Herbed Oatmeal Panbread and Ginger Cake with Raspberry-Pear Sauce are both recipes from this collection.

This year I will be giving friends and family the gift of my baking. We don't have much extra cash this year, but I really wanted to give my friends something that captured how much we treasured their friendship and support over the years.

So far I've frozen:
Lemon Butter cookies: Years ago I tried a lemon cookie recipe and swore I'd never try another. I had to tell people they were lemon cookies. They kept asking what the lemon zest was. Oi! Anyway, this year's attempt was declared "delicious" at first bite by my hubby.
Ginger cookies: These might not last til I give out my goodie plates, as these are hands down my family's favourite cookies. Even though it makes a huge batch I can never keep these things around for long. I may have to wrestle each cookie out of someone's hand to get it on a plate to give away!
Yuletide slices: This is a favourite receipe from my childhood that I rediscovered this year. Colourful marshmallows mixed with melted chocolate and rolled in coconut. Yum!
Berry fudge bars: One of the prettiest squares to ever grace a Christmas tray - white chocolate, dried cranberriess and silver dragees, all atop a chocolate-fudge base.
Blondies: Speckled with chocolate chips and Skor candy bits.

To be made this week or next:
Butter tarts: I made these as Richard's Christmas present one year. I'll be making some with coconut this year (because I hate raisins.)
Cream cheese candies: Just for Dave.
Chocolate Chip cookies: My daughter's favourite - soft, gooey and chocolately.
Butterhorns or other roll: This one hasn't been determined yet!

To be baked just before giving time:
Chocolate pixies: A little bite of chocolate fudge cake. For the chocolate lovers, it's a little bite of heaven.
Reindeer Cookies: On December 23 of last year I suddenly remembered I had forgotten to bake these whimsical cookies and I was so disappointed. Gingerbread cookies decorated to look like Reindeer with pretzels, chocolate chips and red smarties. These are often the cookies we leave out for Santa.
Split second shortbread: With a delightful strip of jam down the middle and a unique shape, these are both simple and yummy to make.

There. I probably just gave everyone a cavity!

Happy Christmas preparations!

If tomorrow never comes...

I look outside and see blustering, swirling snow and a sidewalk that needs shoveling - again.

And all I think is...

Didn't we do this day already? It's like the same day over and over. I feel like Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day.

"What if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't today!"

Snow, cold, wind. Then the next day... more snow, more cold, more wind.

It's like the energizer bunny - just keeps going and going.

At this rate the city might get to some of the side streets sometime... oh... about April.

As a result of the icky weather, dressing up in 15 layers just to take the kids to the bus and driving on streets that are so deeply groved with ice ruts it's like driving on train tracks... as a result of all this I'm feeling down today. That coupled with the pre-holiday slow down in writing jobs and the fact that several writing gigs have fallen through have me questioning why in the world I put myself through this.

I'm getting very discouraged with my writing. I've been at this six years and I still can't make a decent living with it. Frustration! Why does it seem like my dreams will never come true, while I watch everyone else in my life have their dreams accomplished? Is there something wrong with me?

Gloomy is a good word. I've even considered chucking it all and going to law school. Where's my personal butt-kicker when I need one?

All I wanted to shout to the world was: Wake me when it's spring!

So to cheer myself up I made myself a cup of apple cider and put in one of my new CDs - Sandy Foster's Marooned. (and seriously if you are a fan of jazz at all and haven't bought all of her CDs - what are you waiting for!? They are awesome - including her new Christmas album called Spruce It Up!)

Her beautiful voice and thoughtful lyrics are just what I needed today. Her Norah Jones-like jazz has transformed my gloomy day.

So here is a list of some of the things I wanted to thank God for today:
1. A loving husband who never ceases to amaze me.
2. Two beautiful sweet-natured kids who are such a joy to watch as they grow and change.
3. A job where I get to watch Jesus' love touch lives.
4. The beautiful, glittering snow outside. Despite shoveling it, it is very pretty you have to admit!
5. We get to put up the Christmas tree tomorrow.
6. 24 sleeps til Santa comes!
7. A car that runs. Yippee!
8. Friends who care about me.
9. I have half of my Christmas baking done.
10. I managed to get MOST of my laundry done yesterday without being interrupted by other people needing the laundry facilities. Praise God!
11. I plowed through the snow to the store to get groceries so we can eat for at least another week. ; )
12. The exercise I'm about to get as I shovel the sidewalk...

Assignments pending: 1
Listening to: Marooned by Sandy Foster

Roughriders

This arrived in my mailbox this morning…

Q. How many SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS does it take to win a GREY CUP?
A. Nobody knows and we may never find out!

Q. What do you call 47 people sitting around a TV watching the GREY CUP?
A. The SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Given my limited access to blogger right now, I’ve been missing out on commenting on my dear boys in green.

Yes, they lost to B.C. in the western final. Again.

Aside: B.C. fans appear to need a tutorial on the game of football. Your team wears orange and black. When they have the ball, cheer like mad. The rest of the time sit down and shut up until something exciting happens, k?

The loss pretty much sealed the fate of head coach Danny Barrett. I love the guy. I really do. He’s done incredible things for the ball club and for so many players. So my hat is off to you Mr. Barrett. It was a tough season - on and off the field. And you handled it with grace, dignity and more guts than most people know.

In the final analysis it was time for a fresh start. As sad as I am to see Barrett go, I agree with Tilman on this one.

Then… what is this I hear?

Tilman is in talks with others he has worked with in the past – including but not limited to – Kent Austin!

Holy crap, Batman! Kent Austin!?

For those of you who have no idea who Kent Austin is, never fear. I shall enlighten you.

But we must back up to the beginning. To the very beginning of how I became a Roughrider fan.

Had this incident not occurred, I probably would still be a fan – I mean it’s in the water here in the province – you can’t help but become a fan. But I wouldn’t be as “rabid” as they say. This incident quite possibly also helped me pass grade eight P.E.

Back in seventh grade (at least I think it was seventh grade), I found myself at a youth retreat at a Christian college in northern Saskatchewan. I admit I wasn’t exactly an eager participant.

But my ears perked up when they announced the name of the guest speaker that day – Kent Austin. Not being into Canadian football (yet!) I had no idea who he was. Of course, all the guys in the auditorium started drooling instantly.

Kent Austin, at that time, was quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He told his testimony about how Christ had come to be the centre of his life. And he served Christ by playing football.

I might not remember all he said, but I definitely decided I needed to keep up with who he was and find out more about these Roughrider characters. Somewhere at my mom's house, I'm sure I still have Austin's autograph.

The following year I was blessed (or punished) with a very football-crazy phys. ed. teacher. He had this belief that all God’s children should play football.

And that apparently included those of us under five feet (who at this point could literally walk UNDER the volleyball net without making it move – I kid you not!). Not only was I short, I wasn’t exactly linebacker material. I was pretty petite. Further, skills in playing sports of any kind seemed to be something missing on a DNA level.

Catching an underhand toss of a baseball was a major achievement for me.

I knew the games we played to the point that I made an excellent linesman or scorekeeper. A role I relished. But playing them...? Nope.

I was able to impress this wonderful (or demented) football teacher by my meagre knowledge of the game and the fact that I had personally met Kent Austin.

Now I don’t have too many fond memories of the zillions of scrimmages we played every gym period that fall, but I do remember one amazing moment of football.

Everyone else had their patterns – post, hook, whatever. Then my teacher (who always played quarterback) turned to me and said, “you’re going to get the ball”. I was stunned. I knew how to run all the patterns, but I’d never actually been selected to actually get the ball.

Apparently, this may have been what the teacher was counting on. While all my classmates were covered, I was wide open.

He made eye contact and then fired the ball right at me.

I caught it.

I actually caught it!

It didn’t bounce out of my arms. I didn’t fumble it or let it drop.

I caught it cleanly and beautifully.

Everyone on the field that morning was stunned. No one more than I.

I don’t remember if I was over the first down marker, to be honest. But that was one glorious moment of grade eight gym class. And believe me, golden moments in PE weren’t too plentiful when you’re five foot nuttin’!

Aside: During the volleyball season, the same PE teacher expected me to spike the ball OVER the volleyball net. This would be the same net I could WALK under. Yeah… that was happening. Maybe if I stood on a chair…

Anywho, that’s who Kent Austin is. One of the major reasons Roughrider games are marked out on my calendar every spring. They are appointment TV.

I’ve lost track of Austin once in a while over the years, but he always pops back up on the radar. Last I heard he was offensive coordinator for the Argos I believe. They fired him in August, right?

While I’m sad to see an era end at Mosaic field (Taylor field for the die-hards), I trust Danny can leave knowing the legacy he left will not be forgotten. And if we’re really lucky Kent Austin can continue the work.

Grey Cup 2007: Here we come! Go Green!

The final word on house hunting... for now

Several of you have commented on my tirade the other day about finding a house. I appreciate all of your concern and encouragement. I really do.

This time it’s official. It’s over. Completely, totally and officially over. Like notified-our-real-estate-agent-over. Over. Done. Ka-put.

The house hunt is over. The money we had saved to use as a deposit when we make an offer on a house will be used to buy our car a new gasket. Kind of an important deal. Choosing between the ability to drive and having a house is a tough call, I'll admit. But I think I'd rather not be walking everywhere. Especially in this weather.

I’m not as upset about it as I thought I would be. The mechanic's we visit had alerted us to the crack in the head gasket last winter. But because it was rather small, we were able to postpone it. As well, because during the summer the seals would expand from being warm, there was less leaking. Therefore we were able to put off this important work even longer.

But our car can no longer afford to have us ignore it. The problem needs to be addressed. The shocking dollar amount of the repairs, aside, I am grateful we will be able to do this. And while it might affect our Christmas spending a little, we are able to do this without any drastic effects on our finances.

It does mean buying a house right now is positively out of the question.

Thank you to everyone who prayed, who listened, and offered encouragement and advice. We really do appreciate it. And to all those who offered to help fix up any house we did get… you’ll have to wait a bit longer I'm afraid.

Light blogging

Sorry for the lack of posts.

Unfortunately, hubby has been tinkering with the router settings - blocking websites that have bad stuff on them. It's all well and good. With our kids on the computer from time to time, we need to have sites with X-rated content blocked.

However, it does mean once in a while my router thinks it should block a site that has nothing but benign content. An example? Google. Yes, my router thinks Google is a bad site. I have no idea what search term I may have put into it recently, but if my search brings up a website with bad content Google gets banned.

Then I have to go to hubby and get Google unbanned.

As I say, this is a useful feature. But once in a while useful features become a pain in the butt!

Anyway, right now my router thinks blogger beta is bad. Horrible. Rotten to the core. It must think this because I've been unable to log in for days.

And since you are reading this, I know it's not a blogger problem - because I'm posting this from work.

Anyway, there will be several posts in the next little bit.

Enjoy!

Househunting part 687

I came to the end today.

I no longer want to look at houses. I'm throwing in the towel, raising the white flag, and giving up.

The house Richard and I had talked about buying and fixing up - it needed lots of work, but had a nice lay out - officially sold today. Sigh.

So I hereby take my hat out of the ring.

Perhaps in a few years we'll be able to try again, but for now I'm done. The competition is way to fierce in our price range and we just don't have what it takes to compete.

I give up.

Website

Ok. I've been keeping it hush-hush for a while now, but I think it's time I let everyone have a peek at my new website.

I've been working on it for about a month now. I even managed to learn to speak a little HTML so I could code parts of it myself. Yay me!

It's not all there yet. But most of it is functional.

So...

... drumroll please ...

Here is my newly designed and improved website:

www.jacobysmith.ca

Pending assignments: 1
Houses looked at this week: 0

Rest - day two

This week is my week of rest. I had to turn down work to get it, too. Almost cried over that.

But here I am enjoying some well-desrved time off. A week to spend in reflection, relaxation and re-evaluation.

I have to admit it took until 11:30 of day two for me to get bored.

Maybe this is a good thing. I'm not sure. Truthfully, I don't know what to do. I rarely ever get bored.

...

So...

...

What does a person do when they're bored?

Well, I'm going to start with a bubble bath... or paint my toes... you know... girly things!

Winter blues

Here we are just a scrape into November and I'm already talking winter blues... That doesn't bode well, does it?

Winter hit hard here yesterday. One foot of snow all at once is not my idea of winter... more like Hades. Especially when it was preceded by a full day of the world being shellacked in ice.

In case anyone is wondering shovelling heavy wet sticky snow while dancing on an ice rink formed by the sidewalks definitely makes life more interesting or treacherous. At any rate, it's quite a workout!

I am happy to report, that aside from a few twinges, my badly sprained ankle from last year has performed very well despite all the ice. Of course, my entire front step is white... with salt. So maybe that helps, no?

Although the unprecedented precipitation (in both forms) has made driving in the city a take-life-in-your-hands kind of deal, it has drastically altered the shape of my weekend as well... leading to disappointment of mammoth proportions.

The kids will no longer be going to Wilkie. Today anyway.

I'm still holding out hope that some sanding crews and snowplow drivers will take pity on the stretch of highway between Biggar and Wilkie (which right now is one of the few roads labelled travel not recommended in the entire province - what's up with that?).

As sad as I am for myself who desperately needed a break from things - from everythings -there will be huge heartbreak when the kids come home. They were so looking forward to going to Grandma's.

Meanwhile, I'm checking out the price of flights to all places warm.

Sooner...

It was a short night for me. Dear son of mine was up at 3:30 sick. He's still sick and looking pale as a sheet. I've only dozed since that first early wake up call.

I do have a major article to finish this morning and my brain is fuzzy. God grant me the strength. I think I'm going to need a nap later just to make it through the day. I also work tonight at the centre from 5:30 to 9. Suddenly my mini-vacation seems so far away...

I could be all set for a pity party, if I really tried. I've got the streamers and everything.

Meanwhile, I purchased a Greg Sczebel CD last week and my two CDs from my friend Sandy Foster arrived on Thursday. So lots of great jazz music playing through my house these last few days.

Anyway, the words to one song by Greg Sczebel really hit me this morning for so many reasons. Possibly exhaustion being the main one.

So again, these are not my words, though I've prayed ones very similar a time or two...

Perhaps (not the entire song)

Have You ever hurt so bad before
You could not feel the floor beneath Your feet?
And have You ever cried so long
The tide swept You away like a song that was bittersweet?
Do You understand, do You think You can relate?
Maybe this reminds You of another time or place
Perhaps Gethsemane

I could have sworn, as I lay warm in my bed
I could hear Your heart break for me
And You did not hesitate to take this pain away
You throw Your arms around me like a robe
Hold me close to let me know I'm not alone anymore
And You tell it like it is, like it was yesterday
And I just can't believe my ears as I hear You say...

Do you think that I'd forget
The kiss of death that was left on My face?
Do you think I did not hear the people mock
The soldiers sneer on that day?
Do you think that I don't cry
When the very world for which I died
Just tries to wipe My name from history?
Child, it reminds Me of Gethsemane

Do you think that I'm immune
To the pain you put Me through
When you close your heart and walk away
And disregard the price I paid?
Do you think that I didn't cry all day?

You see you're not the only one
Who understands where you're coming from
I've been there all along.

Sleeps until vacation starts: 4!!
Pending assignments: 2
Houses looked at: 1
Listening to: Sandy Foster - Spruce It Up!

Soon

I need rest.

Soon.

I've been working far too hard. After a discussion with my counselor I was urged (she didn't quite give me marching orders! LOL!) to take some time off.

Soon.

I can't remember the last day off I had when I didn't have writing commitments to work on or responsibilities at the centre. My brain is suffering from fatigue.

I'm not exactly burned out yet, but I can see it from here.

So as a result I have booked myself a little holiday. I will be taking off the week of November 13 - 17.

Technically, due a very long weekend for my kiddos my week off starts next Friday. My kids go to Grandmas on Thursday night.

I've already made plans to go get my hair done on Friday and go shopping while Richard is at work. Then we have booked a hotel for a romantic escape - including dinner out at the Freehouse.

Our hotel is a package we won at a silent auction earlier this year and it included a Sunday brunch for two as well. Yippee!

I'm looking forward to this. The idea is to have nothing to do and to allow myself to get bored - oh the joys...!

My recent reading has included Robin McGraw's book Inside My Heart. One of her essential messages in the book spoke volumes to me. A mother that neglects herself is really neglecting her family. We moms need to take care of our needs or we won't be able to take care of the needs of our family.

So I'm taking care of myself. And I need a repreive.

In other news... we're looking at a couple of houses this weekend. Aren't you excited?

Pending assignments: 2 (only 2!)
Houses looked at this week: 0
Listening to: Sandy Foster's Marooned

Progress in Iraq

Here's a video you won't see on the National or CTV New tonight regarding the U.S. presence in Iraq.

Maybe we should ask them why...?

I heart my iPAQ

Have I mentioned recently (like oh say in the last five minutes) just how much I love my iPAQ?

Now I'm not too bright sometimes, so until Richard sinc-ed my Pocket PC with my computer the other night I didn't realize the machines learned from each other!

So if I enter in some appointment on my Pocket PC and then sinc it with my desktop, my desktop will then know about the appointment and remind me about it as well.

How cool is that?

What smart little machines. I love it!

So now my desktop computer is giving me the same reminders as my Pocket PC. Which could get tedious after a time, but on days when I'm at home (like today) it certainly keeps me on track.

Pending assignments: 4
Grooving to: Greg Sczebel (Here to Stay, You Got it, Satisfy)
Working on: Board meeting shtuff for tomorrow's board retreat

Techno-babble translator:
sinc: means putting the little Pocket PC into it's cradle that is plugged into my computer and then the computer and Pocket PC have a little conference about things. They swap notes and dates and pat each other on the bum!

Surrender

Lord I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out.
Lead me to peace that past understanding
Peace beyond all doubt.

--Newsboys, Lord I don't know, from the album Thrive

Surrender has such a negative meaning in our society. We associate it with capitulation or giving up. Sometimes we even think of cowardice.

I'm not sure surrender as a military strategy would make one very successful as a military commander, but I do think there is a need for surrender in our faith walks.

We don't know what lies ahead. Often we are faced with situations that never work. The answers, the solution, the remedy are left just out of our reach.

Sometimes, maybe even a lot of times, I don't know where I'm going. I stumble through my days, mindful of the questions buzzing around my brain. Sometimes my days are a haze of pain as I wander through my tasks, burdened by situations or conflicts I can not fix.

Surrender.

To me surrender means being able to walk the path anyway. Not demanding God do everything exactly as we want it. Not looking to him like some Cosmis Santa or Universal Waiter. God is not a lapdop to do our bidding as we see fit. That would put us on the throne. Not Him.

If He is on the throne then that means accepting those painful, unfun times. Submitting our will to His and allowing His plan to play out.

Wow. It's hard sometimes.

Happy week!

After a particularly trying and difficult time with my writing over the last year, I'm enjoying a very busy time right now. Busy and fulfilling, I would say.

In fact, I've had two editors contact me with assignments out of the blue this week. Editors I'd never worked with before. Top that off with other editors who have expressed a desire to work with me on a regular basis. This to a writer is the definition success - however fleeting it may turn out to be.

To make my week extra fabulous I had a client actually say to me today ...

and I quote...

"You are the writer I've been looking for for a very long time."

...

Wow.

...

Let's just file that away in big bold letters, shall we?

Pending assignments: 4 (possibly 5)
Pending queries: 3 (one is a tentative go if certain conditions are met)
Listening to: pre-release copy of Patricia Conroy's latest

Sick

I've been sick this week.

Bladder infection.

I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

To complicate matters, treating infections with me is quite an ordeal. There's so much that so many take for granted. You have a bladder infection. You go see your doctor. He gives you a prescription for some pills. You take the pills. In short order you feel better.

Not so in my little world.

No way. I have to be lots more complicated.

I am allergic to a couple of antibiotics. Correction: I was allergic to two. That was before a very kind, sympathetic doctor prescribed me cipro. Unfortunately, the drug made me break out in a rash.

Soooo... I called the doctor and he told to me quit taking the drugs. Which it wasn't like I was real eager to continue taking the stupid things.

As a result I have fought out the infection with lots of cranberry juice and water. I did spend one whole days resting, as well.

While I don't feel fabulous I do feel a smidge closer to normal.

Ha! Whatever normal is...

Techno-gizmos!

Zowee!

I've been bitten by the pocket PC bug. You know those annoying people who have to put everything into an electronic device they carry with them everywhere. And then if you get too boring at conversation, they play solitaire while you visit?

Yeah.

That's me! Well, maybe not the solitaire part.

It's a very long story... DH and I bought a cheap Cassio version back in the summer. I was just looking for a good basic unit. I didn't want anything fancy. I wasn't sure I would like it or even use it. Heaven only knows how many daytimers I went through in my life - trying to find something that worked. Or that I used.

Well, I was hooked. It kept everything I needed all in one spot. I can even put grocery lists in there!

The little chime that reminds me to do things or about upcoming events is priceless! It's a Godsend for those like me who get distracted easily. (I'm not forgetful, honest. I just have a lot to keep track of and once in a while my brain loses track of something!)

But...

About a year ago, DH had a brand new unit given to him by someone at his work. The person was not a techie and had dropped the unit - destroying the screen. The unit worked perfectly fine, just with a rather large black space on the screen. This person didn't care if it could be fixed, he just went out and bought a new one.

DH has looked for a way to replace the screen. Finally, he told his brother to just look on ebay for the same model. Price limit was $50 though.

Well, fast-forward to this weekend - when zowee! I have my new iPaq. It's not new new. It's just new to me. It's barely been used and would only be about a year or two old.

I love it. It's quite a bit bigger than my Cassio, but that's ok. It has tons more features. I've played with it a bit and I'm hooked. I don't know how I would ever manage without it. I've got dates, meetings, article deadlines, interviews, schedules, birthdays, task lists, contact lists, and Blue Tooth compatibility.

I'm not sure what that means precisely, but I'm sure it's techno-speak for really cool!

Pending assignments: 3
Houses looked at: one possibly later today, we hope! Say a prayer or two or ten...
Coolest lyrics heard this week: My best laid plans are in my other pants - Newsboys, Live in Stereo