Our Pal died suddenly Tuesday night. He was in the office with me and Lola, the cutie-patootie I found walking down the road last February, while I was writing. I heard a commotion on the floor and when I looked around, Pal had slid over to the sling back chair, stiff, as if having a seizure.
I jumped up to comfort him, and tried to figure out what was going on, what I could do to help. If it was a seizure, I figured he'd get through it in a minute or so.
Then he howled like he was in pain and was gone. I grabbed the phone to call Tony, and Pal sort of choked and gagged, and vibrated so I thought he was coming around. But it was just the last of his body quitting. In recalling the events, and talking it over with Tony, and my paramedic brother, Pete, I think Pal was gone by the time I turned around to see what was going on.
For those who knew and experienced Pal, he was an irritating dog, but we truly loved him. He was fun, loving, and loved to play. He took Lola under his "wing" when she joined the family. With all the rain of late, I'd been letting him splash through puddles on our walks and he loved it.
So, Jesus has a new dog in heaven. I told Pal to say hey to Jack (his dad,) Blue and our old family dog, Bonnie.
I sat on the floor with him, crying, stroking his still warm and soft head, telling him we loved him and he was a good dog. Funny, even if he was still alive, he wouldn't have really understood, but it comforted me.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Goodbye to you my trusted friend, Pal
Our Pal died suddenly Tuesday night. He was in the office with me and Lola, the cutie-patootie I found walking down the road last February, while I was writing. I heard a commotion on the floor and when I looked around, Pal had slid over to the sling back chair, stiff, as if having a seizure.
I jumped up to comfort him, and tried to figure out what was going on, what I could do to help. If it was a siezure, I figured he'd get through it in a minute or so.
Then he howled like he was in pain and was gone. I grabbed the phone to call Tony, and Pal sort of choked and gagged, and vibrated so I thought he was coming around. But it was just the last of his body quitting. In recalling the events, and talking it over with Tony, and my paramedic brother, Pete, I think Pal was gone by the time I turned around to see what was going on.
For those who knew and experienced Pal, he was an irritating dog, but we truly loved him. He was fun, loving, and loved to play. He took Lola under his "wing" when she joined the family. With all the rain of late, I'd been letting him splash through puddles on our walks and he loved it.
So, Jesus has a new dog in heaven. I told Pal to say hey to Jack (his dad,) Blue and our old family dog, Bonnie.
I sat on the floor with him, crying, strokiing his still warm and soft head, telling him we loved him and he was a good dog. Funny, even if he was still alive, he wouldn't have really understood, but it comforted me.
I jumped up to comfort him, and tried to figure out what was going on, what I could do to help. If it was a siezure, I figured he'd get through it in a minute or so.
Then he howled like he was in pain and was gone. I grabbed the phone to call Tony, and Pal sort of choked and gagged, and vibrated so I thought he was coming around. But it was just the last of his body quitting. In recalling the events, and talking it over with Tony, and my paramedic brother, Pete, I think Pal was gone by the time I turned around to see what was going on.
For those who knew and experienced Pal, he was an irritating dog, but we truly loved him. He was fun, loving, and loved to play. He took Lola under his "wing" when she joined the family. With all the rain of late, I'd been letting him splash through puddles on our walks and he loved it.
So, Jesus has a new dog in heaven. I told Pal to say hey to Jack (his dad,) Blue and our old family dog, Bonnie.
I sat on the floor with him, crying, strokiing his still warm and soft head, telling him we loved him and he was a good dog. Funny, even if he was still alive, he wouldn't have really understood, but it comforted me.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Hurricane Fay
It's a gloomy, Yankee day in central Florida. Hurricane Fay is moving across the state and expected to exit over our county.
There's rain with wind gusts, but I've seen worse. The power went out for a few hours. When I saw the FPL guy coming to fix the thingy-bob, I opened the window and cheered! He deserved to be celebrated for serving on a day like today.
I mean, the city closed, the schools... it's sort of ridiculous. But, if there's a lot of rain and expected flooding, it's better not to be on the roads.
Yet, we've gotten to be a people who over react, are too cautious. We're afraid of being accused. No one stand up for themselves.
We survived back to back hurricanes in '04. The state ran beautifully. People were helped as fast as possible. Truly, it was a minor annoyance.
But then Katrina hit New Orleans the game of blame ensued. Be sure, Katrina didn't destroy New Orleans. It was only a cat 3 storm when she went ashore. It was the broken, weak levies that damaged the city. it was the crime and the looting. Levies that should've been repaired by the city. Crime that should've been curtailed by the police.
Evacuation routes should've been used by the many school buses just sitting. The Times Picayune even reported on the state of emergency if a hurricane should hit the city, years before Katrina.
The problems with New Orleans was not FEMA, or George Bush, or the worst storm in human history, it was the local and state government. It was a welfare-state mentality. I saw a woman on the news crying, "You're supposed to take care of us."
But no one spoke out. Still, no one says the truth.
Tony and I have evacuated twice. We did not wait on the government or anyone to tell us what to do. We watched the news and said, "She doggy, let's get out of here."
Yet, for those in need, we must have compassion -- no matter whose fault it is. We should give of our time and resources to care for our neighbor. And we should get the picture that depending on the government to feed and shelter us is never good! Let's take care of ourselves, and help one another.
All I want my central government to do is protect our borders, guard our freedoms, and fight enemies both foreign and domestic. Perhaps help maintain fair labor laws without taxing the companies or the people to death.
At times, it seems like our government should be simple. But, I guess I'm wearing my rose colored glasses today. The more a presidential candidate says, "I'm going to do..." this and this, that and the other, the more I go, "Nope, not voting for you. Out of my knickers!"
Peace out.
There's rain with wind gusts, but I've seen worse. The power went out for a few hours. When I saw the FPL guy coming to fix the thingy-bob, I opened the window and cheered! He deserved to be celebrated for serving on a day like today.
I mean, the city closed, the schools... it's sort of ridiculous. But, if there's a lot of rain and expected flooding, it's better not to be on the roads.
Yet, we've gotten to be a people who over react, are too cautious. We're afraid of being accused. No one stand up for themselves.
We survived back to back hurricanes in '04. The state ran beautifully. People were helped as fast as possible. Truly, it was a minor annoyance.
But then Katrina hit New Orleans the game of blame ensued. Be sure, Katrina didn't destroy New Orleans. It was only a cat 3 storm when she went ashore. It was the broken, weak levies that damaged the city. it was the crime and the looting. Levies that should've been repaired by the city. Crime that should've been curtailed by the police.
Evacuation routes should've been used by the many school buses just sitting. The Times Picayune even reported on the state of emergency if a hurricane should hit the city, years before Katrina.
The problems with New Orleans was not FEMA, or George Bush, or the worst storm in human history, it was the local and state government. It was a welfare-state mentality. I saw a woman on the news crying, "You're supposed to take care of us."
But no one spoke out. Still, no one says the truth.
Tony and I have evacuated twice. We did not wait on the government or anyone to tell us what to do. We watched the news and said, "She doggy, let's get out of here."
Yet, for those in need, we must have compassion -- no matter whose fault it is. We should give of our time and resources to care for our neighbor. And we should get the picture that depending on the government to feed and shelter us is never good! Let's take care of ourselves, and help one another.
All I want my central government to do is protect our borders, guard our freedoms, and fight enemies both foreign and domestic. Perhaps help maintain fair labor laws without taxing the companies or the people to death.
At times, it seems like our government should be simple. But, I guess I'm wearing my rose colored glasses today. The more a presidential candidate says, "I'm going to do..." this and this, that and the other, the more I go, "Nope, not voting for you. Out of my knickers!"
Peace out.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
This is for you, Lisa
Lisa commented on my last post she's crunched to get her lesson plans ready for the school year, then asked, "How do you handle things when a deadline is staring you in the face, Rachel?"
Well, Lisa, I do what you do. Freak. Eat chocolate, drink Diet Coke, run out for a sandwich. Pray. A lot. I always start out calm, but some where along the line I'm overwhelmed with the details, or insecurities. "Who will want to read this book?" Or, "I'm letting my editor and publisher down."
I hate worrying, I hate losing sleep. I try to work steadily to meet my daily word count, but sometimes now matter how much I write and work, the story isn't coming out right. I've learned to trust the Lord, and my editors. My strength is rewriting, so having words on the page gives me something to work with, and helps my confidence.
I try to focus on Jesus, His light and love in and around me. I figure if I'm in Him, then the stories are in Him and He cares about the book and characters as much as I do, probably more.
After I turned in Love Starts With Elle my editor summarized her view of my work in her editorial letter and those enlightening and encouraging words still resonate in my heart. Writers, at least this writer, doubts their ability to write one more good book. "I did it once, but I can't do it again."
But the same Spirit that hovered over the deep and formed the earth lives in me. (Romans 8) So why can't I get better? Why not?
It's all about faith. Being confident I'm doing what God destined me to do and He'll see me through to the end! Isaiah 41:13.
Well, Lisa, I do what you do. Freak. Eat chocolate, drink Diet Coke, run out for a sandwich. Pray. A lot. I always start out calm, but some where along the line I'm overwhelmed with the details, or insecurities. "Who will want to read this book?" Or, "I'm letting my editor and publisher down."
I hate worrying, I hate losing sleep. I try to work steadily to meet my daily word count, but sometimes now matter how much I write and work, the story isn't coming out right. I've learned to trust the Lord, and my editors. My strength is rewriting, so having words on the page gives me something to work with, and helps my confidence.
I try to focus on Jesus, His light and love in and around me. I figure if I'm in Him, then the stories are in Him and He cares about the book and characters as much as I do, probably more.
After I turned in Love Starts With Elle my editor summarized her view of my work in her editorial letter and those enlightening and encouraging words still resonate in my heart. Writers, at least this writer, doubts their ability to write one more good book. "I did it once, but I can't do it again."
But the same Spirit that hovered over the deep and formed the earth lives in me. (Romans 8) So why can't I get better? Why not?
It's all about faith. Being confident I'm doing what God destined me to do and He'll see me through to the end! Isaiah 41:13.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Sweet Caroline strikes again
Found out Sweet Caroline hit the CBA Best seller list for September. This is different that the ECPA best seller list. Not sure how the numbers are calculated or pulled, but good for Caroline.
If you're curious, go back a year or so in my postings and you can read the behind the scenes of Sweet Caroline and how God blessed and provided.
If you're curious, go back a year or so in my postings and you can read the behind the scenes of Sweet Caroline and how God blessed and provided.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A man named Brett Bush
I was eighteen, out of high school having graduated six months early, and doing nothing much but working and hanging out. Riding horse.
(That confession rendered another hilarious Hubby-Rachel moment. A few weeks ago I said, "Yeah, I graduated, hung out, worked a lot, rode horses." "You rode horses." He arched one brow because he has that talent. "Yeah, couple of days a week." "Really? Cause I've ridden horses with you and--" "Oh stop." But I laughed!)
During those months, I worked at Publix and hung around with some fun north Florida rednecks. I met a guy named Brett Bush. He drove one of those itty-bitty Chevy Love trucks. Remember those? He'd been out of town for awhile, doing who-knows-what and where, but came home to find his girlfriend had moved on.
So, in effort to do the same, he asked me out. Okay. Not my type, but he was fun. He wanted to take me to his grandparents farm in Quincy or some place, so we're tooling along in his truck and he rants about his last encounter with his ex.
"So, I walk in and she say's nothing. Not so much as a by-your-leave or kiss my a$$."
His expression, inflection, hillbilly accent, phrasing had me laughing all the way to the farm. Then he decided to four-wheel it through a pond (no, Chevy Love trucks were not four wheel) and we sank, but that's another story.
Here's the thing about Brett Bush. Nearly 30 years after this afternoon together, and it was only an afternoon sans romantic feelings, his expressions show up in my writing.
I write, "without so much as" in each book. When I do, I think of Brett Bush.
A moment in my life, forever impressed on my soul.
How many people do we have like this touching us? Why do I remember a man's name I spent less than a few months socializing with, but can't remember a chum from college?
It's those impressions. Who have you and I impressed unaware? Is someone quoting me right now. Or reminiscing about Ohio State with, "Then Rachel Hayes said..."
We're paint brushes on the hearts and minds of everyone we come in contact with. Are we painting beauty or pain?
I want to be a Brett Bush to others. Lingering with them long after I've pass through their lives, leaving behind the fragrance of Jesus and the hope of His calling. If I reach some moderate success, I've honored Him who my soul loves.
(That confession rendered another hilarious Hubby-Rachel moment. A few weeks ago I said, "Yeah, I graduated, hung out, worked a lot, rode horses." "You rode horses." He arched one brow because he has that talent. "Yeah, couple of days a week." "Really? Cause I've ridden horses with you and--" "Oh stop." But I laughed!)
During those months, I worked at Publix and hung around with some fun north Florida rednecks. I met a guy named Brett Bush. He drove one of those itty-bitty Chevy Love trucks. Remember those? He'd been out of town for awhile, doing who-knows-what and where, but came home to find his girlfriend had moved on.
So, in effort to do the same, he asked me out. Okay. Not my type, but he was fun. He wanted to take me to his grandparents farm in Quincy or some place, so we're tooling along in his truck and he rants about his last encounter with his ex.
"So, I walk in and she say's nothing. Not so much as a by-your-leave or kiss my a$$."
His expression, inflection, hillbilly accent, phrasing had me laughing all the way to the farm. Then he decided to four-wheel it through a pond (no, Chevy Love trucks were not four wheel) and we sank, but that's another story.
Here's the thing about Brett Bush. Nearly 30 years after this afternoon together, and it was only an afternoon sans romantic feelings, his expressions show up in my writing.
I write, "without so much as" in each book. When I do, I think of Brett Bush.
A moment in my life, forever impressed on my soul.
How many people do we have like this touching us? Why do I remember a man's name I spent less than a few months socializing with, but can't remember a chum from college?
It's those impressions. Who have you and I impressed unaware? Is someone quoting me right now. Or reminiscing about Ohio State with, "Then Rachel Hayes said..."
We're paint brushes on the hearts and minds of everyone we come in contact with. Are we painting beauty or pain?
I want to be a Brett Bush to others. Lingering with them long after I've pass through their lives, leaving behind the fragrance of Jesus and the hope of His calling. If I reach some moderate success, I've honored Him who my soul loves.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Okay, just for fun, just for pretend
What else would you like to do in life? If you could do anything, and do it well, what would you do? I'm talking, you, right now, with all your same life experiences. Same family, so town, same friends, same journey. No, you're not suddenly daughter or son of Prince Charles. Or Bill Gates.
You're you. And if some how, in some wild and crazy way, you could do anything else in life you wanted along with knowledge and expertise, what would it be?
Here's mine.
I'd love to do something with Ohio State Football. I'd like to have enough knowledge to be like, you know, assistant wide receiver coach, or work with the defense, growl something like, "Let's play smash mouth football!" Grrrrr!
In a smaller scale, coach Pop Warner football with Tony. I just love the game. I love the strategy and drill, the challenge of winning. The thrill of offense, the determination of defense.
When we watch football in the fall, the best part is watching the plays unfold and how they are designed to defend, or to score and win. Though I've never played, and I don't think it's a sport of women on field, I'd love to help develop plays, and break down game film.
I'm really good at observing others, noticing unusual or odds things. I catch habits or routines. I have an intuition about people, and the why's of life. Not always, but a lot of times. I think I'd like the mental challenge of figuring out our opponent and beating them.
So, that's my if-you-could-go-through-a-worm-hole dream.
But in real life, I'm so amazingly lucky to do what I do. Write books. It's really, really a dream, a childhood desire and goal. I'm so blessed.
I have a great husband. I can't say enough about him. I come from wonderful, loving, God-loving parents. My brothers and sister are cool, loving siblings even though we don't get to see each other as much as we like. Yeah, I'm not discounting our humanity. We ain't perfect. But, when I gaze over my life, there's nothing I'd change.
Unlike the message being touted by people like Eckhart Tolle and Elizabeth Gilbert, i didn't just think my life into being. I didn't will myself into a good marriage or dream job.
I surrendered my way into it.
Coming out of college, I knew there are so many options in life, so many detours, ways to go right, ways to go wrong. I said, "Lord, I'll make the wrong decisions. At least I have a huge capacity for making the wrong decisions. You take my life. Use me how, when and where You want."
This I knew, God is love, God is good and if I'm in Him, I'll be content. That's what I wanted. One, to be completely surrendered to Him because at the end of my life, being surrendered to me isn't going to gain me a dern thing. And, I wanted to be content and happy, knowing during the good and bad, God was in control.
I do what I do because He gave me the desires of my heart and as I pursued Him, He fulfilled them. I'm confident that when I stand before Him at the end of the age, i pursued the things He asked of me. I'll have enough other things to answer for, I don't need my overall life unaccounted for!
If you don't know Jesus, you should. He's awesome. Real. Love. Amazing.
You're you. And if some how, in some wild and crazy way, you could do anything else in life you wanted along with knowledge and expertise, what would it be?
Here's mine.
I'd love to do something with Ohio State Football. I'd like to have enough knowledge to be like, you know, assistant wide receiver coach, or work with the defense, growl something like, "Let's play smash mouth football!" Grrrrr!
In a smaller scale, coach Pop Warner football with Tony. I just love the game. I love the strategy and drill, the challenge of winning. The thrill of offense, the determination of defense.
When we watch football in the fall, the best part is watching the plays unfold and how they are designed to defend, or to score and win. Though I've never played, and I don't think it's a sport of women on field, I'd love to help develop plays, and break down game film.
I'm really good at observing others, noticing unusual or odds things. I catch habits or routines. I have an intuition about people, and the why's of life. Not always, but a lot of times. I think I'd like the mental challenge of figuring out our opponent and beating them.
So, that's my if-you-could-go-through-a-worm-hole dream.
But in real life, I'm so amazingly lucky to do what I do. Write books. It's really, really a dream, a childhood desire and goal. I'm so blessed.
I have a great husband. I can't say enough about him. I come from wonderful, loving, God-loving parents. My brothers and sister are cool, loving siblings even though we don't get to see each other as much as we like. Yeah, I'm not discounting our humanity. We ain't perfect. But, when I gaze over my life, there's nothing I'd change.
Unlike the message being touted by people like Eckhart Tolle and Elizabeth Gilbert, i didn't just think my life into being. I didn't will myself into a good marriage or dream job.
I surrendered my way into it.
Coming out of college, I knew there are so many options in life, so many detours, ways to go right, ways to go wrong. I said, "Lord, I'll make the wrong decisions. At least I have a huge capacity for making the wrong decisions. You take my life. Use me how, when and where You want."
This I knew, God is love, God is good and if I'm in Him, I'll be content. That's what I wanted. One, to be completely surrendered to Him because at the end of my life, being surrendered to me isn't going to gain me a dern thing. And, I wanted to be content and happy, knowing during the good and bad, God was in control.
I do what I do because He gave me the desires of my heart and as I pursued Him, He fulfilled them. I'm confident that when I stand before Him at the end of the age, i pursued the things He asked of me. I'll have enough other things to answer for, I don't need my overall life unaccounted for!
If you don't know Jesus, you should. He's awesome. Real. Love. Amazing.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Oh what a fun wedding reception
Elizabeth, me, Carrie, Tony and Sheree.
Tony and me being clowning around.
Our good friend Javier, pastor and worship leader extraordinaire also moonlighting as DJ for the wedding. I dedicated Diva Nashvegas to him. He's married to gorgeous Brenda.
Friday, August 08, 2008
08.08.08
On 7.7.'77, I was sixteen, working at Publix in Cutler Ridge, FL.
One of the bag boys, Ronny Paul, said today is 7.7.'77 and noted how many years it would be before we had 8.8.'88, and 9.9.'99 and now it's 8.8.08.
What's in a number anyway?
Here's what I wrote in my diary on July 7, '77.
"Today is 7,7,'77 - cute uh? When I woke up I kind of felt the twangs of leaving but soon under control. Spent the day packing and etc. LR's car broke down at the house and Steve Emmens and friend came to tow it away. Work was OK. Blocked down most of the night. Not much else. Love, Rachel -n- Pete."
We were moving in a few weeks to Tallahassee from Homestead. It was a sad yet good thing in my life, the family's life. LR is my friend Lorena Rastrick Sikking. Pete was my boyfriend at the time.
Today my life is very different. I'm not sixteen, I'm not living with my parents or facing a major move. I don't have two years of high school left, nor the years ahead of college and training that comes with growing up and becoming an adult.
But I knew God had a plan for me. If anything in my life has ever been blessed, on the right track or redeemed, it's because God had a plan for me.
My life is charmed in many ways. We're not rich, nor famous (though I did meet a reader last night and she actually was awe-struck for about ten seconds. Even Tony and her granddaughter noticed.)
We have missed out on the blessing of children, but are so cocooned in the heart and will of God I literally have no complaints. I am as Paul admonishes, "content." Well, minus the political landscape of my country, and the cultural war, but that's for another time.
I'm writing on a really fabulous project with a co-author and it's going so great, so far. We had a call yesterday with Thomas Nelson and when I hung up, I just thought, "Thank you, Lord. You are too good to me. This is truly unmerited favor."
Tonight we have a wedding, two former youth marrying. It'll be fun and I'm really happy for them.
Well, off to work some before wedding festivities.
One of the bag boys, Ronny Paul, said today is 7.7.'77 and noted how many years it would be before we had 8.8.'88, and 9.9.'99 and now it's 8.8.08.
What's in a number anyway?
Here's what I wrote in my diary on July 7, '77.
"Today is 7,7,'77 - cute uh? When I woke up I kind of felt the twangs of leaving but soon under control. Spent the day packing and etc. LR's car broke down at the house and Steve Emmens and friend came to tow it away. Work was OK. Blocked down most of the night. Not much else. Love, Rachel -n- Pete."
We were moving in a few weeks to Tallahassee from Homestead. It was a sad yet good thing in my life, the family's life. LR is my friend Lorena Rastrick Sikking. Pete was my boyfriend at the time.
Today my life is very different. I'm not sixteen, I'm not living with my parents or facing a major move. I don't have two years of high school left, nor the years ahead of college and training that comes with growing up and becoming an adult.
But I knew God had a plan for me. If anything in my life has ever been blessed, on the right track or redeemed, it's because God had a plan for me.
My life is charmed in many ways. We're not rich, nor famous (though I did meet a reader last night and she actually was awe-struck for about ten seconds. Even Tony and her granddaughter noticed.)
We have missed out on the blessing of children, but are so cocooned in the heart and will of God I literally have no complaints. I am as Paul admonishes, "content." Well, minus the political landscape of my country, and the cultural war, but that's for another time.
I'm writing on a really fabulous project with a co-author and it's going so great, so far. We had a call yesterday with Thomas Nelson and when I hung up, I just thought, "Thank you, Lord. You are too good to me. This is truly unmerited favor."
Tonight we have a wedding, two former youth marrying. It'll be fun and I'm really happy for them.
Well, off to work some before wedding festivities.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Laughter part two
Hubby has always made me laugh. We were friends for several years before we were married, and while he is an introvert and claims to have the emotional range of a "cow," he's also very funny.
His humor is on the dry, slightly sarcastic side and comes from life observations.
When I was growing up, my brother Danny developed a "pet" voice. He talked for the animals, mostly the cats. If one of us was petting the cat, Danny would say in this modified voice, "I bite, and I bite hard." Or, "I'm gonna bite you."
It was pretty funny. So, after Tony and I were married, we acquired a few pets and this family tradition in my background surfaces. Pretty soon, we were both talking to the animals. We'd actually have 3 or 4 way conversations going on between us. Me and Tony talking to the cat and/or dog and then one of us answering for said animal.
We'd make up songs "from" them, play games. One time Hubby had the cat on the bed and pretended to pay hide and seek with our dog, Jack. He put Red's paws over his eyes and counted, "One, two, free... Ready or not, here I come."
At the precise moment Hubby removed the paws from Red's eyes, dog Jack walked past the bed and Red leaned over as if to say, "I found you."
Hubby said something like, "Stupid dog, can't even hide."
We laughed so hard. So hard. Some of the songs we made up were pretty funny, but I can't remember them.
One Christmas someone from church gave us a big box of chocolates. I only like the caramel filled kind, not the the coconut or raspberry or whatever. So, I pinched all the bottoms to find the ones I wanted. Hubby comes home to find all the chocolates slightly wreck. Of course he knows I did it, but he looked at me and said, "Hey, someone gave us defective chocolates."
Or something like that, but it was absolutely funny. Some times the smallest things are the funniest.
Back to the pets, my brother Joel lived with us for awhile, so he became a fifth voice in the house. One time he was sitting on the couch with Hubby. In between them was Red, the cat. Now, Red is staring at the ceiling. So, Joel looks up. Then looks at the cat. Cat looks up, Hubby looks up. Joel looks back to the cat, who is now looking at Hubby. Very quietly Joel says in his pet voice, "Ha, ha made you look."
We laughed for days, off and on.
One year Hubby did a dating and sex series for the youth that concluded with him demonstrating the need for boundaries with Barbie and Ken riding in a Barbie car. It was awesome, very funny, and to this day, a youth legend.
Hubby makes me laugh. I could sit here for days thinking of things and jotting them down. There was the time he wrapped a pair of sneakers he bought me for Christmas in separate boxes because I like to open a lot of gifts. That was clever and funny, however ruled insufficient for the present rule and therefore banned.
Anyway, laughter is good.
Now, I've also cracked myself up a bunch of times. While writing, while observing life, thinking of things, reading. Author Marian Keyes had me laughing so hard in one of her books I had too put it down.
One night I was reading Calvin and Hobbs before going to bed. Watterson had penned this bit about Christmas, the parents up all night putting together presents. Upstairs, Calvin and Hobbs are waiting anxiously for Santa. They hear a bump and a bang, terrified and excited, they conclude it's Santa bring all Calvin's loot. The last frame of the strip is the dad, holding his toe, hopping around uttering comic cuss words, "Sassin, frassin, ramalma ding dong."
I laughed so hard, it just felt so much like a real life scene, I woke up the next morning feeling the residuals of the laughter.
Ah, sweet laughter.
Oh, reading Paul Reiser's book "Couplehood" got me good, as did George Burns's and Jerry Seinfeld's.
Come on, today's a good day to laugh!
His humor is on the dry, slightly sarcastic side and comes from life observations.
When I was growing up, my brother Danny developed a "pet" voice. He talked for the animals, mostly the cats. If one of us was petting the cat, Danny would say in this modified voice, "I bite, and I bite hard." Or, "I'm gonna bite you."
It was pretty funny. So, after Tony and I were married, we acquired a few pets and this family tradition in my background surfaces. Pretty soon, we were both talking to the animals. We'd actually have 3 or 4 way conversations going on between us. Me and Tony talking to the cat and/or dog and then one of us answering for said animal.
We'd make up songs "from" them, play games. One time Hubby had the cat on the bed and pretended to pay hide and seek with our dog, Jack. He put Red's paws over his eyes and counted, "One, two, free... Ready or not, here I come."
At the precise moment Hubby removed the paws from Red's eyes, dog Jack walked past the bed and Red leaned over as if to say, "I found you."
Hubby said something like, "Stupid dog, can't even hide."
We laughed so hard. So hard. Some of the songs we made up were pretty funny, but I can't remember them.
One Christmas someone from church gave us a big box of chocolates. I only like the caramel filled kind, not the the coconut or raspberry or whatever. So, I pinched all the bottoms to find the ones I wanted. Hubby comes home to find all the chocolates slightly wreck. Of course he knows I did it, but he looked at me and said, "Hey, someone gave us defective chocolates."
Or something like that, but it was absolutely funny. Some times the smallest things are the funniest.
Back to the pets, my brother Joel lived with us for awhile, so he became a fifth voice in the house. One time he was sitting on the couch with Hubby. In between them was Red, the cat. Now, Red is staring at the ceiling. So, Joel looks up. Then looks at the cat. Cat looks up, Hubby looks up. Joel looks back to the cat, who is now looking at Hubby. Very quietly Joel says in his pet voice, "Ha, ha made you look."
We laughed for days, off and on.
One year Hubby did a dating and sex series for the youth that concluded with him demonstrating the need for boundaries with Barbie and Ken riding in a Barbie car. It was awesome, very funny, and to this day, a youth legend.
Hubby makes me laugh. I could sit here for days thinking of things and jotting them down. There was the time he wrapped a pair of sneakers he bought me for Christmas in separate boxes because I like to open a lot of gifts. That was clever and funny, however ruled insufficient for the present rule and therefore banned.
Anyway, laughter is good.
Now, I've also cracked myself up a bunch of times. While writing, while observing life, thinking of things, reading. Author Marian Keyes had me laughing so hard in one of her books I had too put it down.
One night I was reading Calvin and Hobbs before going to bed. Watterson had penned this bit about Christmas, the parents up all night putting together presents. Upstairs, Calvin and Hobbs are waiting anxiously for Santa. They hear a bump and a bang, terrified and excited, they conclude it's Santa bring all Calvin's loot. The last frame of the strip is the dad, holding his toe, hopping around uttering comic cuss words, "Sassin, frassin, ramalma ding dong."
I laughed so hard, it just felt so much like a real life scene, I woke up the next morning feeling the residuals of the laughter.
Ah, sweet laughter.
Oh, reading Paul Reiser's book "Couplehood" got me good, as did George Burns's and Jerry Seinfeld's.
Come on, today's a good day to laugh!
Friday, August 01, 2008
Drum roll please.... And now, Rachel Hauck....
... Bestselling author!
I'm stunned but the August EPCA Bestseller List came out today and Sweet Caroline hit #5 on the Fiction list and #17 on the overall list.
Thanks to everyone who purchased a copy of Sweet Caroline!
Also, check out Jill Eileen Smith's blog today. I'm her guest.
I'm stunned but the August EPCA Bestseller List came out today and Sweet Caroline hit #5 on the Fiction list and #17 on the overall list.
Thanks to everyone who purchased a copy of Sweet Caroline!
Also, check out Jill Eileen Smith's blog today. I'm her guest.