Seven Quick Takes Friday
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I haven’t linked up with Jennifer at Conversion Diary for a while, but I thought today might be a good day to play “Seven Quick Takes.”
1
I’ve been following the Compassion bloggers as they travel to Calcutta, India this week. This post really spoke to me about what’s really important, and believe me, it ain’t the house or the cars or the life we live here.
2
I had the distinct privilege of giving away a lot of money this week. No, it wasn’t my money . . . it was PTA’s money, but still, it was fun. I’ve been the chairperson of our school district’s PTA scholarship committee for the past three years, and it’s been a great way to serve the broader community. From about 125 applications we select 12 of the best and brightest that our district has to offer. Students are chosen based on their academic achievement, extracurricular involvements, and service to the community and they also have to submit an essay.
Anyway, a larger committee of about 16 people chose the winners back in March, and we honored the kids with a luncheon on Wednesday of this week. Can I just say that I am so glad my kids go to school here?! The kids who won scholarships were bright, articulate representatives of the educational experience they’ve had here. And they were mostly humble . . . except for the kid who just HAD to mention that he had been accepted by 20 colleges and would like our vote when he runs for Senator one day. Right.
3
I’ve seen two movies in the past two weeks which, I think, must be some kind of record. I don’t think I’ve seen a movie since “Marley and Me” over Christmas break.
Two weeks ago I took Maggie and a friend to see “Hannah Montana” which entertained me WAY more than I thought it would. It had a sweet message about home and being true to yourself. And, of course, there was a cute boy in it for all the tweens to swoon over. All-in-all I enjoyed it.
Last weekend I took my older two to see “17 Again.” Now, this movie I liked a lot LESS than I thought I would. Why, you ask? Well, as you can imagine, it was formulaic. Totally predictable. But sweet. Matthew Perry has NOT aged well, ladies, so don’t go thinking he’d give you a glimpse into the “90210” days. Not at all. But now, that Zac Efron . . . a cutie who can actually act. The teenagers liked this one. . . . but me? I think I was a little bored with it.
What does this say about me, I wonder? I think it confirms, for the millionth time this month, that I’m getting old because I enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Tennessee in “Hannah Montana” (a G-rated movie, by the way) more than the “scenery” of Matthew and Zac. B would be so proud.
4
You knew I’d get around to it. Swine flu. What more can be said than has already been rehashed ad nauseam on the news? Well, here’s my take on it. Thirty four thousand people die every year from the regular flu; one hundred have died from the swine flu and of those, only one in the United States who was a baby from Mexico. So. Which flu should we fear?
And also this . . . in two weeks I am scheduled to fly to California with my mom and two sisters to celebrate my mom’s 70th birthday. No pig is going to keep me from this trip.
That is all.
5
Is Joe Biden a lunatic? Just wondering.
6
On Tuesday of this week, Amy and I took a driving tour through the city (Chicago, for those of you who don’t live here. We have this thing here where we don’t call it by name. It’s just “the city.”), and we had a blast! I’ll be putting up a full travel report here one of these days, but we had so much fun just roaming all over the different neighborhoods. Amy moved here 10 years ago and says that she still doesn’t know the city very well, so I decided to show her my favorite parts.
One highlight was lunch at the Julius Meinl Café, a Viennese coffeehouse on the north side. I had a cheese spaetzle (Kassespaetzle) for lunch, and Amy had a cheesy potato dish similar to Raclette. Oh my, it was like I was back in Switzerland again.
We are the princesses, Amy and me!
7
Tonight we’ll have a different sort of international eating experience. I’ve written here before about how we help with some missionary housing here. Well, every year the missionaries who have lived in our homes (18 in all) put on a very nice dinner for the board. They usually prepare something from the country where they serve and invite all the board members to experience a true international dinner.
While this is a wonderful idea in theory and a super experience for those who enjoy different types of food from exotic places, it can be a bit difficult for me. You see, I am curry-averse. And, of course, much (and I do mean MUCH) foreign food is seasoned with curry. Even the smell of it makes me nauseous. So, even though the event itself is lovely and the missionaries are so warm and giving, I usually head into this dinner with much fear and trepidation. Thank goodness they serve a lot of rice.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
I’ve been following the Compassion bloggers as they travel to Calcutta, India this week. This post really spoke to me about what’s really important, and believe me, it ain’t the house or the cars or the life we live here.
I had the distinct privilege of giving away a lot of money this week. No, it wasn’t my money . . . it was PTA’s money, but still, it was fun. I’ve been the chairperson of our school district’s PTA scholarship committee for the past three years, and it’s been a great way to serve the broader community. From about 125 applications we select 12 of the best and brightest that our district has to offer. Students are chosen based on their academic achievement, extracurricular involvements, and service to the community and they also have to submit an essay.
Anyway, a larger committee of about 16 people chose the winners back in March, and we honored the kids with a luncheon on Wednesday of this week. Can I just say that I am so glad my kids go to school here?! The kids who won scholarships were bright, articulate representatives of the educational experience they’ve had here. And they were mostly humble . . . except for the kid who just HAD to mention that he had been accepted by 20 colleges and would like our vote when he runs for Senator one day. Right.
I’ve seen two movies in the past two weeks which, I think, must be some kind of record. I don’t think I’ve seen a movie since “Marley and Me” over Christmas break.
Two weeks ago I took Maggie and a friend to see “Hannah Montana” which entertained me WAY more than I thought it would. It had a sweet message about home and being true to yourself. And, of course, there was a cute boy in it for all the tweens to swoon over. All-in-all I enjoyed it.
Last weekend I took my older two to see “17 Again.” Now, this movie I liked a lot LESS than I thought I would. Why, you ask? Well, as you can imagine, it was formulaic. Totally predictable. But sweet. Matthew Perry has NOT aged well, ladies, so don’t go thinking he’d give you a glimpse into the “90210” days. Not at all. But now, that Zac Efron . . . a cutie who can actually act. The teenagers liked this one. . . . but me? I think I was a little bored with it.
What does this say about me, I wonder? I think it confirms, for the millionth time this month, that I’m getting old because I enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Tennessee in “Hannah Montana” (a G-rated movie, by the way) more than the “scenery” of Matthew and Zac. B would be so proud.
You knew I’d get around to it. Swine flu. What more can be said than has already been rehashed ad nauseam on the news? Well, here’s my take on it. Thirty four thousand people die every year from the regular flu; one hundred have died from the swine flu and of those, only one in the United States who was a baby from Mexico. So. Which flu should we fear?
And also this . . . in two weeks I am scheduled to fly to California with my mom and two sisters to celebrate my mom’s 70th birthday. No pig is going to keep me from this trip.
That is all.
Is Joe Biden a lunatic? Just wondering.
On Tuesday of this week, Amy and I took a driving tour through the city (Chicago, for those of you who don’t live here. We have this thing here where we don’t call it by name. It’s just “the city.”), and we had a blast! I’ll be putting up a full travel report here one of these days, but we had so much fun just roaming all over the different neighborhoods. Amy moved here 10 years ago and says that she still doesn’t know the city very well, so I decided to show her my favorite parts.
One highlight was lunch at the Julius Meinl Café, a Viennese coffeehouse on the north side. I had a cheese spaetzle (Kassespaetzle) for lunch, and Amy had a cheesy potato dish similar to Raclette. Oh my, it was like I was back in Switzerland again.
We are the princesses, Amy and me!
Tonight we’ll have a different sort of international eating experience. I’ve written here before about how we help with some missionary housing here. Well, every year the missionaries who have lived in our homes (18 in all) put on a very nice dinner for the board. They usually prepare something from the country where they serve and invite all the board members to experience a true international dinner.
While this is a wonderful idea in theory and a super experience for those who enjoy different types of food from exotic places, it can be a bit difficult for me. You see, I am curry-averse. And, of course, much (and I do mean MUCH) foreign food is seasoned with curry. Even the smell of it makes me nauseous. So, even though the event itself is lovely and the missionaries are so warm and giving, I usually head into this dinner with much fear and trepidation. Thank goodness they serve a lot of rice.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
