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Wordless Wednesday--Time Marches On

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:25:00 +0000

Hair

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:44:00 +0000

Zane is 8. And is obsessed with his peach fuzz.

Zane: I have one chest hair. Look

Me: Wow. That's great son.

Zane: I can see 4 dark spots when I look in the mirror on my lip right here (points to upper lip)

Me: Wow! So you're getting a mustache, huh?

Zane: (smiling big and proud, sticking out chest)

Me: That's something all right.

Zane: I have maybe a spot on my armpit too.

Me: You're just getting hair everywhere. That's great. (because he's obviously proud)

Zane: I have one more kind of hair.

Me: Stop. If it's anywhere near your privates I don't want to know.

Zane: Well, it is, but I wasn't going to tell you that.

Me: Stop talking. I don't need to know about that hair.

Zane: But I wasn't going to...

Me: Stop. Talk to your dad about that.

Zane: Well I have 4 kinds of hair now. (Walks away proud and laughing)

Faith in the Fog of War Volume II

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:19:00 +0000

Faith in the Fog of War Volume II is written as a mixture of devotional and journal.

Chris Plekenpol was commander of the Apache Armor Company and his men played a key role assisting the 1st Marine Division in taking Fallujah in November 2004.

Now he is a student at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he will graduate next year with a Th.M.

Plekenpol startled me with his writing. I get a lot of books to review, a lot of Christian books. Most of them are quite fluffy--even the deep ones are not raw like this one. And if I read, I want something that's able to be real, exposed, transparent, and...well, raw is the best word I can come up with.

I read the first entry, cheered Plekenpol on for including the harsh wording of his fellow soldiers (though presented with underscores, ie: f----d) and read with interest this man's view of Iraq and watched him deftly apply the balm of God's love to the emotional experiences of war.

I handed the book to my husband Phil, Army Veteran tank gunner in the 3d Armored Calvary Regiment, Ft. Bliss Texas. He said:

"It was impressive how he took everyday happenings from the military and applied God's Word and it's reassuring to know in the hardest times, with people dying and the ungodliness surrounding a battlefield that it's possible to keep your faith and still encourage others."

Which is exactly what I thought.

I tried to be in the military, but they didn't want my fat bum, they said I was three pounds overweight. I kid you not. So I missed my chance to head to the middle east with my National Guard Unit for the first Gulf War and moved on to other things even as my heart broke. The good news is I met Phil because of Uncle Sam's rejection. My dad's a Vietnam Vet, my husband's a Vet, I can sympathize with soldiers. It's a hard life. Especially during wartime. And this book doesn't pull any punches.

This isn't just a book for those serving in the military. I'd recommend it first to soldiers and Vets and family members of those serving, then people like me who mourn the lost opportunity to serve as well as anyone who can put themselves into another's shoes. Plekenpol draws you in.

JJ Heller Painted Red

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:55:00 +0000

My favorite song so far: Track 9 True Things

Tackle It Tuesday #117

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:31:00 +0000

Again with the dining room table. I swear I don't know how the stuff piles up like this.

See all of my tackles here.

Quetzalcoatl. Again.

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:03:00 +0000

I had a dream about Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god of intelligence, self-reflection, and creation July 1st.

On Twitter today, Donna Shepherd linked to a new crop circle found at Etchillhampton Hill and I read this:

Close parallels between Christian and Mayan symbolism

The new crop picture from Etchilhampton Hill shows clear Christian symbolism---"there will be signs on the Earth"---but also shows Mayan symbolism as well. Thus when Cortez and other Spanish invaders conquered central America around 1520 AD, they were shocked to find "crosses" in some of the native holy sites (see HERE or HERE). They also heard legends of the Flood, and saw rituals of child baptism. All of these seemed to originate from a visit to central America by white missionaries and teachers around 60 AD (see "In Search of Quetzalcoatl" by Pierre Honore, 1961). The new picture also matches closely in style an astronomical eclipse glyph that appeared at Furze Knoll on June 20, 2008, thereby suggesting that both were made by the same artist.

On top of that, I watched the DaVinci Code last night.

I can feel a story brewing. Not to mention the fact that I'm just a tad bit freaked out.

Photo credit.

Shadow Shot Sunday #13

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:42:00 +0000

Ghost Garden

You can see all of my Shadow Shot Sunday entries here.

Visit Hey Harriet for more!

Sky Watch Friday

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:27:00 +0000

Visit all of the Sky Watch Friday participants!

On our way to the Drive-in last weekend

Wordless Wednesday--For my Friend

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:46:00 +0000

You can click on the photo for more detail

I have never, ever, ever broken the Wordless Wednesday Rule.

And it probably won't happen again.

It's appropriate today only because I'm channeling Robin who, uhm, is never Wordless on Wordless Wednesdays. If she has been, I've missed it.

So really, it's not me breaking the rules, it's her. She's coming through my fingers and y'know with that one hacked off up there it's kinda easy to see--she found the portal.

Robin's having procedures and since I started praying in color I knew Robin needed one.

Now usually, my prayers are doodles. This is the second one that's come out as a picture. Why? I have no clue. I started what I thought would be a doodle, but then the palm tree came out and Psalm 46:10 came to mind. I opened the book of Psalms and a few other verses stood out and that was that. (and oh man am I glad that I didn't draw, like, a toilet or y'know, something gross and inappropriate.)

I emailed the picture to Robin and let her know I wanted to blog about it, but if she didn't want me to, I'd understand. She said okay, we joked about #2 and Mt. Dew (ooooh--poetic license material?) and said our goodnights.

I'll be praying some more for her all day Wednesday.

With or without words.

Tackle It Tuesday #116 Kitchen Drawer

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:00:00 +0000

How on earth could a soul find anything in this drawer?
Especially those of the male persuasion
who can't even find their own shoes?
Much better.
Except the boys still can't find anything
because I put it all away.

And what did I do with the bucket full of kiddie cup lids?
Why I hid them in the pantry so you can't see them.
They'll eventually show up on another Tackle.

See all of my tackles here.

Patches Pilfers the Homebaked Goods

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:38:00 +0000

Beautiful Homebaked Goodness

So good the puppy cannot resist.
Her people have forgotten what's it's like to have a puppy.

So her people move the bread.
She gets mad and retaliates by stealing the potholder.
And pouts.

Showing Tonight--Perseids Meteor Shower

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:53:00 +0000

Best viewing: middle of the night.

We tried to see Perseids Meteor shower last year. I woke Zane up, got in the car and drove to a cemetery out in the middle of nowhere. It was cloudy and rainy so we went home without even seeing a star.

Tonight, though, the forecast here is CLEAR!!!

We'll be up and driving down the road around 2am. I can't wait!

Here's an article in Science Daily for you.

Shadow Shot Sunday #12

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:25:00 +0000

You can see all of my Shadow Shot Sunday entries here.

Visit Hey Harriet for more!

Pushing Up Daisies

Summer Photo Contest

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:34:00 +0000

5 Minutes for Mom is having a "Summer Fun" photo contest.

There were three photos.

You voted.

Now only one remains.

Rainy Day Zane

Sky Watch Friday

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:38:00 +0000

I thought I'd try. This is in my north central Indiana back yard.
Visit all of the Sky Watch Friday participants!

Now--click on the picture to get the full effect!

More Quirks!

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:39:00 +0000

More Quirks. I don't think I'll ever run out.

Amber at Bringing Good Home tagged me.

1.) Strong mint or rich dark chocolate makes me sneeze.

2.) Raw vegetables give me the hiccups.

3.) I really, really like Kid Rock. Especially All Summer Long. I can listen to it over and over. And I really want to go to Indy this month to see him and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

4.) I also really, really like old country music.

5.) I love to be barefoot.

6.) I used to love the show BJ and the Bear.

So the rules are:

1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag six other blogger´s by linking to them.
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

Gin
Tor
Momstheword
Maddy
Sara
Jen

First Kiss

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:01:00 +0000

August 07, 1994.

Exactly-to the day-14 years ago.

The air conditioning in my pickup was broke and it was smoldering hot.

I had stayed the weekend in Indianapolis with my friend Jane oblivious to the fact that the Brickyard was witnessing it's largest crowd of NASCAR fans ever. Still today, there isn't a race that has had as many fans in attendance as the first Brickyard 400. Now the Allstate 400 because somebody has to pay to change the name of things near and dear to people like me. Just like Wrigley Field will always be Wrigley Field to me no matter who throws their money at it. Oh. Sorry. My'bad.

I don't follow NASCAR. I know some drivers. I'm friends with a mother and daughter who own a team. But I'm not a fanatic. (Waving to the die-hards, I know you're out there!) I know #3 and I get teary-eyed thinking of him and Dale Jr. and the whole story surrounding them. I'm not a Jeff Gordon fan (sorry) and I go to my brother's Daytona party and get in the pot to pick the winning driver every year. I could be a NASCAR fan. I really could.

I didn't know it was the Brickyard 400 weekend in 1994.

I'm SO glad I didn't know.

Afternoon. Sunday, August 7, 1994.

Exactly 14 years ago, Jane I and decided to drive home in my pickup with no air conditioning--but a working CB radio.

I've had CB radio's since I was a little girl listening to Teddy Bear on the radio and playing with my daddy's set up in the living room. Oh hell, I still cry when I listen to Teddy Bear. I'm listening to it now. Excuse me for a minute.

Then there's my own Convoy story complete with C.W. Macall singing one of my favorite songs. And Alabama singing Roll 'On. I cry when I hear that one too. Excuse me again I have to listen to that now.

When my fourth grade teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I told her "the first female truck driver."

"Wouldn't you rather be the first female president? You can be anything you want to be."

"Nope. I wanna be a truck driver."

I'm redneck to the core despite my northern upbringing.

God rectified his mistake of planting me outside of Chicago by uprooting me this fateful day.

Jane and I were on I-65 heading north for our 3 hour drive home. Except we weren't driving. We were stopped in traffic. A dead stop. With no air conditioning. On the hottest day of the year. So I turned on the CB. Because I'm like that.

"Break one-nine."

"Go ahead sweetheart."

"I wanna get home, I don't have a-c. Are we going to be in this mess forever? Should I just jump off and take the backroads?"

"The Brickyard was this weekend little lady, wherever you go you're gonna hit traffic. Might as well stay here. It clears up after a bit."

Jane decided to get in the driver's seat. I shucked my shoes and stuck my pretty little toes out the window. The CB chatter was annoying so we turned it off and sang to the radio. We moved a little and then got going good only to come to another dead stop. I turned on the CB again and this time listened to some trucker telling jokes. He was flirting with another girl, too. We moved up a little and I saw her talking into her CB and I hit Jane's arm."Look at her! Her hair looks like a Q-tip!"

"She's ug--uh--gly."

"Well, he's probably eight hundred pounds, buck-toothed--if he has teeth, and uglier than her. They probably belong together."

She got off that exit. I hope she didn't hear us. Her windows were rolled up. She probably didn't. I didn't think about that then. When I was sure she was out of range, I said, "Hawkeye, did you see that girl you were flirting with?"

"Aw hell, darlin, I don't need to see her. Ugly girls need love too."

I turned to Jane. "Hide the CB. Give me your purse. He's got to be butt-ugly to say that."

And I was one to know. I waitressed midnights at a truck stop. Told you I was redneck. You didn't believe me, did you? You're starting to now, though, huh?

Hawkeye told her what kind of truck he was driving. A maroon Prime, Inc truck with a "shiney hiney." As we came up on it I tried my best to look like I didn't have a CB and I wasn't Mickey. I looked up into his window.

"Holy Shit!" I said. His window was up. I know he didn't hear me. "Jane, look, it's the Marlboro Man!" (and no. I didn't steal that from Ree. But she got all popular and now it looks like I stole it. But you can ask Jane.)

And there he was. All decked out in his western shirt and his black cowboy hat. Dayum. Over the CB in my pickup I hear, "Holy Shit, huh? Well you're not too damn bad yourself."

I screamed. I swear I did. "He read my lips!! Oh.my.God. He read my lips!"

I composed myself for three seconds to answer him. And fake screamed to Jane. Who was leaning over in the seat to see him and telling me how cute he was. We talked for the next two or three hours, we were getting close to the exit for home and Hawkeye said, "Why don't you follow me to Chicago. I got a load to pick up there and we can talk a little more."

I looked over at Jane. Jane who always drove when I was too drunk. Jane who fished me out of potentially bad situations. Jane who was my only conscious at that time in my life. Jane said, "Sure. Y'never know. It might be fate."

Stop for a dramatic pause. And my heart coming out of my throat and butterflies tripping on acid in my stomach.

"Okay. But we're not getting out of this pickup," I said, all of a sudden developing some weird maternal instinct. "We'll stay in the truck and he can stand and talk to us. I don't want to meet with some serial rapist or something." Jane nodded in agreement. "But he is cute," I added in my dream-like trance.

We ended up staying in Chicago for five hours. Five hours! We didn't have cell phones or pagers and we didn't see a pay phone. Really, even if I saw a pay phone what would I say? "Mom, I'm in Chicago with a truck driver I met on the CB and he's really cute and..." Sure. I was twenty-two and old enough, but I did move back home after my divorce.

Oh, you really don't want to hear that story--Jane's fiance is still one of my ex-husband's best friends. Yep. If I hadn't have met and married and divorced Dingbat, Jane and I wouldn't have been in Indy that day because my ex and I set Jane and her fiance up. They're still married by the way. So for all the heartache Dingbat caused me, I thank him because I met my soulmate. Sorry. Did I get distracted again?

Sunset. Getting late August 7, 1994.

Jane had moved to the passenger seat and I was in the driver's seat of my pickup talking to Hawkeye.

For hours.

Jane was asleep, or so I thought.

She sat bolt upright out of the blue, scared the life right out of me, looked at Hawkeye and said, "Would you just kiss her and get it over with?"

Hawkeye took off his cowboy hat, put it on the top of my pickup, and looked at me. He leaned in, grabbed the back of my neck ever so gently with his right hand and cradled my cheek with his left and kissed me.

What a delicious kiss.

I remember thinking, "I wonder what it's like to live in Missouri?"

He backed up and stared at me again, "You're eyes changed colors. They were just hazel a minute ago, now they're green!"

Today. August 7, 2008

Some things never change. Jane and I are still as close as we've ever been. The air conditioning in the car I have now doesn't work. Jeff Gordon is still winning races. It's still hot in August. Hawkeye still drives a truck.

And my eyes still change color when I kiss my cowboy.

I love you baby.

This is my first entry ever for Scribbit's Write-Away Contest.

Wordless Wednesday--She Found the Mud. Again.

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:30:00 +0000

Tackle It Tuesday #115

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:21:00 +0000

I haven't tackled 115 weeks--I'm just titling it to match the main post. Click on the button below to find out more!

This week is my desk. Again. Does it ever stop? Notice the autumn wheat. The winter snowman. How in the world does time get away from me so?

After!
You can see all of my Tackle It Tuesday's here.

Marriage Monday--Camping Edition

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Want this button?

Just last week, I blogged a Praying In Color entry.

When I started praying, I had no clue it would end up to be a picture of a canoe camping trip, but subconsciously it must have been on my mind. I know that getting Phil to relax was weighing on me. I’d been trying not to nag him so I’d say, “I’m worried you’re not getting enough rest.”

“Got things to do.”

“They can wait, they’re not as important as your health and you need to rest.”

“When I’m done.”

“You’ll keep adding to your list.”

“What do you want me to do? Things got to get done around here.”

“I want you to at least take Sunday off.”

“How about Sunday afternoon?”

So I compromised for a few weeks. Phil works from seven in the morning until nine or ten at night five days a week. Then on the weekend, he’s out mowing the lawn, fixing the cars, and tending to all of the other mishaps that inevitably happen. We’re Murphy’s red-headed step children. Seriously. Ask people who have seen the chaos in action.

For the last few weeks, I haven’t had to beg Phil to relax, he’s taken to enjoying an entire Sunday off. Except cooking. But cooking is one of those activities that bond and solidify our relationship. I’m his perfect sous chef.

We took a two day float trip last summer on the Tippecanoe River. We camped at Tippecanoe State park. I don’t necessarily enjoy the work-out a canoe trip on a windy weekend gives me, but it melted my heart to see Phil truly relax, fish, and enjoy himself.

He doesn’t do well relaxing at home. I think all of the things to do dangle in front of him and taunt him. I know, they do that to me too, but mothers have the ability to tone out frequencies that are annoying. Sure dads tune out things, but typically if they’ve tuned one thing out they’ve tuned everything out. Moms can tune out the irritating stuff. Tell me I’m wrong!

So we go camping.

I love, love, love campfires. Cooking breakfast over a fire brings out the maternal in me. Who knows why. I don’t care why. I know I’m up at the crack of dawn wrapped up in a flannel shirt, throwing another log on the fire. I get the water boiling for the coffee and sip it while I add bacon to the cast iron skillet. Phil gets up, drinks my (by then) cold coffee and I make another steaming cup for myself. We take turns flipping the bacon and Zane yells from the tent, “I smell bacon!” and we sit by the fire waiting.

So I prayed for some extra money and for Phil’s boss to let him have a weekday off and I planned another float trip for our family. Next year, my goal is for more than one camping trip.

Help Me Decide (photo contest)

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:29:00 +0000

5 Minutes for Mom is having a "Summer Fun" photo contest.

I can't decide.

Which do you think I should enter?

Online Surveys & Market Research

Two in One Day?

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:40:00 +0000

Be still my heart (even if it is warped and worn out.) Two mentions in one day? Guess taking the Christmas Tree down at the end of July garnered some blessings. Even if you are still making fun of me.

Brenda at Queen of Good Intentions: Random musings of a procrastinating SAHM (that's Stay At Home Mom) listed my Tackle It Tuesday project as one of her favorite posts for the week. I'm guessing Brenda's going to have to hand over that crown of hers because as far as procrastination goes, I think I've got her beat.

And

Maddy over at Whitterer on Autism awarded me with comment of the week on her blog because I had to study my own post to figure out why I had "a telly in the fireplace." She doesn't know how much I love listening to that accent from over the pond.

Makes blogging my embarrassments more enjoyable. LOL

Thanks for the Shout Outs! Even if you are still making fun of me! ;)

Shadow Shot Sunday

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:35:00 +0000

You can see all of my Shadow Shot Sunday entries here.

Visit Hey Harriet for more!

This was taken at the haunted Woodcarver's Building in Converse, IN. The Indiana Horror Writers held our first annual Winter Retreat in the building. What a great place for horror writers to convene.

When The Bough Breaks

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:23:00 +0000

You can get my flash fiction piece When the Bough Breaks free in Heather Goodman's August Newsletter: Glimpses.

Sign up here!!

Quirky

mlpendergrass@gmail.com (~michelle pendergrass) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:59:00 +0000

Tagged by Kay over at Loop de Loops in LaLa Land because I seem pretty quirky to her. (She doesn't know the half of it, does she?)

1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag six other blogger´s by linking to them.
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

Now it says quirky yet boring, unspectacular details. Kay said she was joking about seeing dead people. I'm not. Number One: I do see dead people.

Number Two: I eat ketchup on my scrambled eggs (and the eggs have to be well done and I hate cooking eggs because they smell awful, unless I'm camping, then I love eggs.)

Number Three: I like to mix my blue cheese and French dressings together.

Number Four: I have two toe rings that never come off, they're custom fit.

Number Five: I can pick things up with my toes.

Number Six: I am allergic to MSG.

Toni
Alexis
Bunny-Trails (She has the coolest blog header!)
Heather Goodman
Jeanne
And Heather Ackmann