=P

Oh, goodness, I didn't realize it's been son long since I blogged! I'll try to catch you up with what's been going on with three things I've done since I last blogged:

1. I spent a week at my friends' house in Illinois working at VBS. I helped with the 4th-6th graders this year, which was a bit different from what I was used to. Firstly, up until this year, VBS always went from 9:00-12:00, but this time they chose to try 5:30-7:30. I don't think it worked as well. The kids were more tired, the workers were more tired, and having it in the evening made it feel like VBS took up the whole day. That doesn't make much sense, but it's like we spent the whole day waiting for VBS to come along, and then we did VBS, and then it was time to eat and go to bed! Okay, it wasn't that sudden, and we did stay up late, it was just different.
But still a lot of fun!! We made tye-dye shirts one day.
The offerings the kids brought were collected and given to my friend, Miranda (whose house I stayed at), for her trip to Honduras. (She went to Honduras yesterday, and she will be living with a missionary family there, helping them educate their son, and also helping them with their various ministries. Miranda will be back in the U.S. in November, then return to Honduras come December.) The first day, over $100 was raised, the second we had over $200, but, of course, I can't remember the total amount collected. But it was pretty high.

2. The week after I returned from VBS, I stayed overnight at a friend's house. My friend, Queen Lucy, was in Mongolia with her father on a short-term missions trip, and so I spent some time at her house, helping with her younger siblings. That was a fun time! I am a little ashamed to say that it's so much easier to get along with OTHER people's younger siblings than my own! I guess it helped that at least three out of the five of them were absolutely thrilled to have me there. =) [Not sure if the older two were "thrilled" or not, since their older and their boys and so they don't come sit with me or give me hugs....I think that'd just be a little weird...lol]
So I was glad to be able to go and help Lucy's mom and give her a bit of a break.

3. Play Practice!! We've had two practices for our Talent Night Play so far, and then we'll be doing another one tomorrow at 1:00. The actual show is tomorrow at 6:30, but I don't know what order the acts will be in. So far it's all going relatively smoothly, although the third practice is very needed. We haven't gone through the whole thing without a stop yet, which Really Needs to be Done, since we can't very well just stop and start over again in front of the audience!

So that's most of what I've been doing lately. That and driving myself places, applying for jobs here & there, and making play props. What three interesting things have you done in the past week or two?

~Kiwi~

This past Weekend

Last weekend was a lot of fun, but over waaay too quickly! I wish there was just one funny story to tell about, because an itinerary would just bore you guys. Hm....
As I mentioned in my last post, we had friends Miranda, Abbie, and Rachel over for the weekend. We biked along the bike trail Saturday afternoon, then over to the farm market for donuts. We also watched selections from the Talent Night, and all of the latest Pride and Prejudice movie.
Sunday we introduced them to some friends from church, but it was really empty that day. I don't know why. Because the girls had to leave by 4:00, we didn't go to volleyball, and just played Blitz and talked for a while after lunch.
Then we decided to take a walk. Dad suggested we walk past KK, SS, and Jumbo Shrimps' house to see if they were back from vacation. We strolled up to the corner and saw their van parked in the driveway with all the bikes on it. They were back! Then Sis and I hatched a mildly evil plan. That family had never met or seen pictures of Miranda, Abbie, or Rachel. What would be their reaction if three complete strangers walked up to them, greeted them by name, and asked how their vacation was?
We planned to find out.
So our friends went over to the driveway after I pointed out Kirsten, and said 'hey Kirsten!'
Kirsten's face was priceless.
Then Rachel asked how their vacation went, which, I'm afraid, kinda freaked poor Kirsten out. Sis and I appeared then, laughing. I'm glad Kirsten is a good sport! Some people, I'm sure, would not have found it funny. What I found particularly hilarious was that Short Stuff had been picking stuff up out of the car and just stayed in there until Sis and I walked up! :) So we stood talking for a few minutes before continuing on our stroll.

We also stopped by the park and made a video to say 'hi' to the people Sis and I know back in Illinois. It was a disaster. It turned out awful. Have you ever tried to say something coherent when there are four people picking on ever word you say, and making everything you say sound silly? And interrupting you every sentence?
Oh, it is hard. Impossible would describe it better. *shakes head sadly* I already am unhappy about the way I sound on camera, but when I'm fumbling for words, laughing, and being teased.........

Okay, on to something happier! ;D
We had a good weekend, and I can't wait to do something like that again! there were lots of pictures taken, and I'll post some of them on here or my photo blog once I get them on the computer.

I'll post again later this week, I promise! There will be some extra time Thursday and Friday that I plan to set aside for blogging.
And 5 "Good Friend" blogger points go to Zazzamarandabo, the only friend to comment on my last post. :) Thanks for the comments, Zazzy. (Can I call you Zazzy for short? Or just Big Z. No, not that. I'm still trying to break the habit of calling you Skittles. :)

Later, folks!
~Kiwi~

Sports/This Weekend

This was supposed to be posted day and day and day ago, but I kept getting interrupted *cough* by other people wanting on. *ahem*

Sports:

These past two weeks have been full of sports. Volleyball on Sunday afternoons and church softball Monday evenings. Plus Cubs games on TV. Volleyball has been entertaining the past two weeks. Last Monday it was hot and sticky, with barely a breath of wind when we started playing. Then, two games into the afternoon, it started to storm. There was lightning and thunder far in the distance, and it started to sprinkle. After a minute or two the rain started pouring down. Who in their right mind would leave the party?? We played in the rain for a good 20 minutes, and then slowly strolled to the shelter of the tree (smart people, huh? standing under a tree with thunder withing hearing distance....), then to our cars. I was drenched.

"When I walked out in the downpour with no raincoat
I got soaked down to the bone from head to toe

Without my raincoat

Anywhere I may go

I get wet somehow"

This past Sunday, volleyball was cool, too. It wasn't one of my better days, and I ate sand (and the ball) several times, but it was still okay. We usually play a few rounds of practice until enough people arrive to form teams. Once we had enough, this time, there was an extra person on my side of the net (left over from the practice). Surprisingly, the other team chose me to even things out! So my question is, did they specifically want me, because they 'know' I'm good (yeah right), or did they just call me over because they already had a really good team anyway? Hm....

The church softball games are over for the summer. Our C League team won two games, and the B League made it to the play-offs! Last Monday night was the deciding game: win this one, and 'we' were going to the Championships! The score was 2-2 in the second inning. Slowly but surely we gained run after run, until the final score was something like 5-2. We were going to the Championship!!
The Championship game started out slowly and badly, the score being 8-1 in the second inning...the other team had the 8.

"This is not what I want
This is not what I planned
And I just have to say
I do not understand!
Something is really
(Something's not right)
Really wrong,
And we've got to get things back where they belong!
We can do it!"

Then our team went off with a 'Bang!' with Alex's 3 run homer in the second. After that there was no stopping them! The final score was 17-9....We won! Hooray and all that! Rejoicing in the streets!
The sad thing is that the ball games are over for the year now. :( I do wish I could have gone to more.

This Weekend:

More rejoicing! Miranda, Abbie, and Rachel are coming up on Saturday morning! We're going to do some bike riding on Saturday afternoon, and then Sunday afternoon we might go to the gardens here in town. Volleyball would be fun, too, but they have to leave by 4:00, so we'd only get an hour's worth of playing in before rushing back here. And some of the people from church will be roofing, and that may cut down on the volleyball-ers considerably.
But anyway. I can't wait 'til day after tomorrow! It's been the greater part of a year since I last saw them!

And on that note, I leave thee. Farewell.
~Kiwi~
p.s. Grandma won the 20 points. Sorry Aunt B. :)

another boring title for an interesting post...

So far this week has been better than the last one. I called Miranda and talked to her on Sunday. In VBS, they averaged 18 kids per class (And considering that our record of 13 last year was a handful...), the songs were really good (no "Wiki-wiki" or pointless ones), and the theme was Australia. Of all the years I had to miss, the had to do an Aussie theme! How frustrating. I like Aussie stuff. It would give me a chance to talk in my (probably awful) Australian accent for an entire week!!! Rats! Apparently the skits were hilarious. Considering the actors Miranda told me were in it, I'm not surprised!
But there was a musical that came with the VBS stuff that the kids will be doing in August, and I think we might be invited down for that. :)

Sis and I signed up for the church's talent show this Saturday. We changed our minds on Monday, so our....project....is being put together in less than a week. But it's looking good! We'll film it on Saturday and I'll put it on here for those unfortunate folk who can't be there.
Short Stuff, KK, JS, Sis and I signed up for something without knowing what to do. And now we're stuck half-way through the week with a half-formed idea but only half the time needed to practice in! I can't tell you about that, either, just that if we can make it work, it'll be good. Real good. :D
The main problem is that Sis has a new job that requires her to work 2:00-8:00 pm, so she can mostly practice only in the mornings. SS, KK, and JS's brother, Pen Name, works from morning to late afternoon, so he can only practice in the evenings. See our problem? But we'll figure something out. We always do. And if we can't, we could just stand up there on stage. I'm sure that last-minute-panic would give us ideas. ;)

Monday night I went to the church softball games with JS and her family. They were okay. Our C league team didn't do too well, but they tried hard. Between games, three of Kristen's younger siblings hauled me off to play catch with them. (I think they probably had to have an 'adult' with them and I was the closest thing. :) Allow me to relate some of our conversation. (A. is an 8-yr. old girl, D. & E. are 6 & 7 [?] year old boys.)

Me: "throw me a higher one, please."
E: "Okay." (grunts as he throws the ball.)
(I hop a bit and catch it.)
A (slightly awed): "Whow!! You caught that!"
D: "Next year, you should be on the church softball team!"
Me: "But I'd be the only girl."
A: "That would make it even better!"

They're fun. :) It's nice to know that someone thinks I could make the softball team! They're all wrong, but that's still cool.

Tomorrow morning (I hope!) we're getting together with JS, KK, and SS to practice our stuff. I can't wait! And tomorrow evening maybe we can get together before Bible Study and practice with Pen Name. *crosses fingers*

Now a few quick pics before I go.

This is on my door. I think that it describes me to a 'T'. :)

What's this? The first person to guess it correctly gets 15 blogger points. Good luck!

'bye!
~Kiwi~

How do other people come up with interesting post titles???

Hello sadly neglected blog and blog readers. I'm sorry about neglecting you. :( I feel bad about that.
I finished the Feelin' Feminine Challenge last Sunday. I don't have pictures loaded on here yet, but I can tell you about it.
Thursday (Day 4) I wore a pale purple skirt with a peachy-orange shirt. Most of the day I wore my hair in ponytails, but, while preparing for Bible study, I discovered it is now long enough to braid again! Since then, I've worn my hair in braids 4 or 5 times! For accessories I wore a pair of home-made earrings.
Friday (Day 5) I wore a denim skirt and a pink shirt with a brown tank-top layered over it. I did my hair in braids (No, that's not repeating, because I only wore braids for two hours on Thursday) and wore a tan-and-pink Newsboy-style cap. :) I forgot earrings. I hate forgetting earrings. I need to start carrying some in my purse.
Saturday I wore that black skirt I had worn on Monday, a blue shirt, silver earrings, and my lovely black Eeyore hoodie. I had put my hair in braids on Friday, while it was wet, then left them overnight. In the morning my hair was all wavy, so I pulled some back in a clip, and left the rest curley.
Sunday morning I wore a skirt and a shirt. I don't remember which ones. Then, for volleyball, I wore that black skirt again with a green shirt, my hair in braids and a red bandanna.
I should have gotten more pictures, because just reading this wardrobe list is reeeelly boring.

This past week has been boring....nothing much happening. Rachel, you were absolutely correct. I was bored and gumpy and all that because last week was VBS at our old church. (check out last year's posts on it: pre-VBS, mid-week, post-VBS) Sis and I were invited again, but she has a new job and couldn't go. Supposedly, I was going to be busy, too, and I didn't know until Sunday that I would be bored-outta-my-gourd all week, and by then it was too late. >:( Miranda, Rachel, and Abbie, y'all need to convince your church event co-ordinators that it is imparative they do another session of VBS in August. Imperative! I had almost resigned myself to my VBS-less week because there was a Paul Colman concert that Sis and I were hoping to go to today. I mean, it's not VBS, but a concert would sorta make up for a boring week, right? It would, but on Sunday I found out that I'm not going. >:-( So that's why that post was so unhappy. *sigh* Kristen, Owan, Heather, and some others are going to the concert today. "You'd better enjoy it!!"

But the rest of the week wasn't too bad. I didn't do anything of importance. Monday I made something for Jordan. I'll tell y'all about that when I have pictures on here. *evil little snicker* >:D
Tuesday was rainy and slow and boring, which didn't help my mood.
Wednesday we had our first sweet corn of the season! We're within biking distance of a farm market, so I rode down there and bought a dozen of what must be the sweetest sweet corn ever, anywhere, at any time in the past, present, or future. I love good sweet corn. Oh, and to make it better, we watched a Cubs vs. Phillies game in which the Cubs won. :) That was fun.
Thusday was Bible study.
Friday we went to the Madison Re-store, and then to Paoli. Paoli is a small-ish town with quite a few interesting shops. There was an antiques store, card store, beaded-stuff store, an Upper Class Art Gallery (one chair there = $2,200, one little wooden shelf = $300, little-bitty wooden box = $78!!!! We are deffinately "Lower Class" people. Imagine paying twenty-two hundred for a chair! Wow. After that, I'd be scared to sit on it.), and a more interesting art gallery. I liked the second gallery better. It had more art work that, if I could afford it and had a place to put it, I would buy.
And then Short Stuff called, and it turns out that The Play that we were going to perform for the church talent night is most likely canceled. The other lead can't rehearse with the rest of us until Tuesday night, and Sis works until 8:00 or so, meaning she can't rehearse before next Saturday.....the day of the talent show. Rats. But we'll find something to do.

I have to go eat lunch now. I'm not per'tically hungry, but we're going out later, so I'd better eat. My appologies for any misspellings. The spell-check refuses to comply to my demands, and I don't want to read through the post again.
G'bai!
~Kiwi~

Stupid Election!! (:^P) *Raspberry to Obama*

Guess who won. >:-(
Hmph. I'm disappointed. And I'm not going to go into an excessive rant yet (I'll save that for election day), but I will say this. I don't want all his Change. Pulling out the troops sooner? Making it easier to kill babies? And if we aren't careful, it's going to get harder and harder to homeschool.
Ugh. This'll be a long four years. Let's just hope people will have learned their lessons by the time 2012 rolls around and they vote for some real Change.

This was my Grandpa M. in 1980-something. Grandpa was born on April 5th, 1923 in the middle of a freak blizzard in Northern Illinois. He passed away on November 2nd, 2008. He was 85 years old. My Grandpa grew up on a farm, then started one of his own when he and Grandma married. He raised milk cows and Chester White hogs, then started on Cheviot sheep when my uncle wanted some for 4-H.
Grandpa had a massive stroke two and a half weeks ago. Then, almost exactly two weeks after that, he died. The visitation was Tuesday, the funeral yesterday.
We're betting he's sitting up in Heaven with my Great Grandma on my Mom's side, who left in January, picking on and teasing each other! She came up to visit us years ago, and we went to Grandpa's farm, and she was so tickled to be able to hear sheep because her family had sheep when she was little. And also, the Cubbies are probably winning up there! :-D
Most of my cousins came to the visitation and funeral (sorry you couldn't be there, Pooky's Girl.), along with some friends of ours (hey Miranda and Rachel! Thank you for coming.). It's sad that we get to see so many people we haven't seen in years because of this. Our land-lords from six years ago saw the announcement in the paper and came!
So, yeah. That's what's happening. I'm really going to miss him. And his poems! He was quite the poet, don'tchaknow. I'll try to post some of his poems on here, once I can find them. There's one about Grandma, starting from the day they met, and continuing on through the Window Mishap. But that's "a whole 'nuther" story and the poem explains all of it.
We all heard stories that some people, even Dad, had never heard before, like how when he was a teenager, Grandpa and some of his friends traveled around the county singing and playing guitar. We never knew he played guitar! But I'm sort of glad that he didn't see the result of the election. He would not be happy about it.

And that's all I have to say now, except that I'm glad that my life will be returning to some-what normalcy again. I'll even be (rather) happy to start school again! We've had almost three weeks off, and need to start it again!!

~Kiwifruit

P.S. Be prepared to repeat Evil Scheme Number 355,653,548 for HMS Avalon, who has not posted in three weeks!!