Driving in Washington

In the south, for the most part, people travel at a slower speed. That is not to say that the speed limit is followed. People on I-5 in Washington drive much closer to the speed limit than anyone on I-40 has even dreamed of doing. (For the record, that is just because there are so many cops patrolling I-5.) The difference is in the style of driving when not on the interstate. The driving is more relaxed and friendlier. One example: My experience in the South is that many times a driver will allow another car to turn in front of them. If you are in a slow line of traffic, you might waive to another driver waiting to turn on the street and allow them to go ahead of you. Today I got honked at. I was going to turn right. The traffic light had just been red, so I was at a complete stop. When it turned green, a car on the opposite side of the road was waiting to turn right (going the same direction I was going). I allowed them to turn before I went and I was honked at. There wasn't much of a pause. There really wasn't much of a delay. The honk startled me. Then, I smiled and thought, “Ah, I love Washington.”

Conversation Piece #14

Conversation Piece #14:
Suppose we still lived in an age where kings and queens ruled the land. If you were crowned absolute monarch, what is the very first rule or law you would impose on your kingdom?

I had fun thinking about this question. Should I be serious and mandate something quite healthy or should I just have fun with it and do something that would be quite selfish for an absolute monarch? I decided it should be serious and selfish.
Imagine- I am the absolute monarch for our land in modern times. (Now, Washingtonian friends -this will seem totally absurd to you...but it will be easy enough to follow.)

The Rule: The third Friday in October is “Crimson Day.” Everyone that wears Crimson and says the Vols suck (or stink, depending on how polite you are), gets free gasoline.

Change - Tracy Chapman

Seth has been sharing (on his blog) the lyrics of some songs he enjoys.
I can't help but do the same.

Change - by Tracy Chapman
If you knew that you would die today,
Saw the face of God and love,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that love can break your heart
When you're down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?

If you knew that you would be alone,
Knowing right, being wrong,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings up pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?

Are you so upright you can't be bent?
If it comes to blows are you so sure you won't be crawling?
If not for the good, why risk falling?
Why risk falling?

If everything you think you know,
Makes your life unbearable,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you'd broken every rule and vow,
And hard times come to bring you down,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would die today,
If you saw the face of God and love,
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you saw the face of God and love
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?

Family Photo - From May

This picture was taken in May when Seth was visiting home. I just got it developed a couple of weeks ago! I have a couple more rolls waiting to be picked up. I believe at least one of them is from his visit, too. I am so behind! (Maybe I should share the April birthday pictures of the kids, too!! I suppose I should get my website working again for all of that.) Anyway, this is best picture of us from when Seth was home. It was taken after Jonathan's preschool graduation.

Coversation Piece Question #13

Conversation Piece #13: You’ve no doubt heard the expression “Wake up and smell the coffee!” If you could wake up every morning to the distinct smell of any one thing except coffee, what would you choose?

My first thought was, “my husband”…I miss him so much. Immediately after thinking that, I decided that isn’t true (no offense, honey…if I wanted to be offensive, I could go on about my husband’s smells but –hee hee- I won’t do that). Every morning? Before living in Washington, I might have said the smell of rain but now that I enjoy that all fall and winter, the smell of rain isn’t all I thought it was. I thought maybe I would enjoy the smell of the ocean everyday.
I have just given this some thought as I have been doing some housework. I am back to thought one. Despite the potential for odor at times (hee hee), I do think I would prefer to wake up to my husband’s scent every day.
(Maybe I should take a second look at this question in about 3 or 4 months!)

Let's Say Thanks

This looks to be Great mission by Xerox!

Description from the website: "The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you will send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women."

Check it out www.letssaythanks.com

Celebrating