by Alison

Haiku-a-Thon, Day Two


Here we go with the second day of the one-week Haiku-a-Thon. Since this is a special occasion, today’s offerings come in honor of our nation’s veterans and their families.

A grateful nation
offers feeble thanks for that

which remains priceless

Carefree children laugh
Melodious tributes to

higher sacrifice

Haiku du jour

Mornez mahaha.
–What? You’ve never heard “good morning” in Bridigian, the language of western Ireland? =) Oh, okay, I’ll admit that I’m not that smart– a previous job is where I learned that oh-so-useful phrase.

I hope that you are enjoying a good weekend. This upcoming week will be a liiiitle different here in Blogopolis. I’ve been challenged to post a haiku a day for the next week. The gauntlet has been thrown down. So…(sound of echoing bugle call) let the First Annual November Haiku-a-Thon begin! And if anyone cares to join in, we can even have a Haiku Off. (cue “West Side Story” music with snapping)

80s trivia
Makes me feel quite trivial

Newhart’s “dream bathroom”?

Sweet Justice


Just a quick note to let you know the results of the fall sports poll– hockey wins! And, no, I didn’t vote more than once despite popular opinion to the contrary (I simply pay off people well). If it makes you feel any better, football fans, football did make a courageous rush for the end zone, only to be met at the five yard line by fight-hungry hockey players. Well, at least most football players have all of their teeth.

This is an autographed picture of my favorite hockey player, former Dallas Stars goalie Ed (“The Eagle”) Belfour. He was a feisty one and helped the Stars win the Stanley Cup in 1999. Ah, those were the days.
Anyone else have some favorite sports memories?

Reese's Snickerbutter Cups

The poll about the best candy ended in heated debate (well, as heated as you can get in a simple blog poll). It came down to Reese’s and Snickers, with Reese’s winning by a cup–er, nose. Insider info tells me, though, that a certain person voted more than once for their favorite. I guess they may have been worried that my favorite, Almond Joy, would win out. Probably not. Ahhh, in today’s world isn’t it nice sometimes to take a break and talk about pointless things?

…Which leads me to a big change of subject. David and I have a friend named Joe who is a missionary many thousands of miles away. This morning David mentioned to me that Joe now has a U.S. phone number that calls his phone in his apartment. Amazing! We could be connected to our friend fairly instantly, the gap closed without international operators, etc. I have almost no reason not to keep in touch.
But I’ve never had a reason not to pray for Joe and the people God touches through him. Isn’t it so easy to forget to pray for our brothers and sisters across the world? And so many live in danger daily just for taking the name of Christ.
It’s encouraging to me to hear of their faith and bravery. And we can be an encouragement to them–even if their faces and names won’t be known to us until heaven. Each time we intercede for them in prayer, we instantly join God as He wraps His strengthening arms of love and comfort around each precious one.

(By the way, you can go to Joe’s web site here.)

"Costumes" o' the 70s

Well, I guess it’s that dress up day again. Most of us will see lots of little ones today, all dressed up and ready for goodies. While I’m the first to admit that I’m not Halloween’s biggest fan, I do have fond memories of costumes and the candy that came our way.

Another type of “costume” came through my e-mail this week. Originally it was from someone who came across a big ol’ 1977 JC Penney’s catalog, complete with the dapper, fashion-forward getups of the day. The pictures almost defied description. My sister and I were laughing through e-mail (that’s possible, isn’t it?) about what we used to wear back then, too. I think we can all use a chuckle, so I’m willing humble myself (sigh). In honor of “dressing up” this week, here’s a fashion parade from the 70s. Ah, childish, blissful ignorance…

Although grinning, little did I know that I had just been chosen as the spokesperson for Grey Poupon-colored eskimos everywhere.

My sister’s plaid coat with its jaunty collar, topped with the ample cap, speak of a quiet elegance.


Remember how thick those polyester shirts were? At night this one stood up on its own in the corner of the bedroom.

And remember wearing fairy outfits to school everyday? …What–that was just me? Okay, you got me. This was a favorite dress-up outfit,

complete with floppy fairy wings in the back. This one shows my shock that I was actually allowed in the picture by the cool big girls, what with the gauchos, Shaun Cassidy album, Laura Ingalls outfit, and all. Ask me another time about why I have a boy’s haircut. (sniff)

I saved the best for last…David and his twin brother, Daniel. What confidence. What haberdashery. I’m sure they were quite the pair with the ladies of their kindergarten class.

When seeing this do any outfits of yours from this decade come marching out of the fashion tombs you’ve locked them in? Do tell. If y’all like this, we may just have to do an 80s flashback sometime.