Tall People Smarter?

Well, according to this article, they are. Do you think there's anything to this?

Home Again

I got home late last night from New Hampshire, where I had nearly a week of good times with family and friends. I had fun with Jed, Chloe, and Tucker, who are some of the most adorable kids ever! I can't wait to see what the new little guy's going to be like. While I was there I played with the kids, shopped with Jill, watched movies, visited Grandma Sweet, played games with super fun people, went to Portsmouth and Strawbery Banke (some of the pictures are from there), went to the church picnic, and rested in between.
So now it's back to Washington, where I somehow managed to bring home NH's crummy weather. My mom said yesterday was gorgeous. Hmm. Well, it's definitely feeling more fallish and I'm feeling more ready for the cooler, cozy days and the holidays!

Fantasy Land

I couldn't resist posting some pictures from the Seattle "Street of Dreams"! This is an annual event featuring a street of houses (six in this case) that are brand new, furnished, and feature the latest in architecture, design, and decorating. These were multi-million dollar houses that were just jaw dropping. My parents and I went on Saturday, partly to get ideas for the building and designing my dad does (my mom's the decorator). Common features of these houses were a theater room (huge screen, special seats), wine cellars and racks, numerous bathrooms, pools, spas, bars, dens, fountains, outdoor firepits, outdoor cooking areas, huge kitchens, etc., etc. Check out the picture of the shower carved out of stone!
Looking at all these amazing houses did stir up some carnal responses in me, especially covetousness. I thought to myself, "I really need to marry a millionaire." Ah, but then the Holy Spirit's quiet voice reminded me of a few things: these things are all temporal. These are places that "moth and rust" and fire and water and time destroy. They represent the shallow values of this world. Meanwhile, my Father is preparing a mansion in heaven that's going to make these houses look like dog houses! Talk about true riches!
Thank you all for your kind comments to my last post. It's amazing to me how many people have "prophesied" that something good is going to happen since this door has closed. Alright, it had better be good! :-D It's been a bit tough, but God's grace is sufficient. Tomorrow night I leave for NH, where I'll spend nearly a week with Jill and fam. Maybe I'll see some other bloggers out there! I probably won't write again till I get back.

Will Work for Food

A man's heart deviseth [plans] his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Wow, I sure found this verse true this week! Not the first time, of course. Sometimes I think I've got everything all mapped out, then SLAM, a door closes.

On Tuesday morning I went in for a meeting with my boss at school. I assumed it would be like the meetings we have every August when we discuss the year and I sign a contract. On the way I told the Lord that I really wasn't feeling any enthusiasm over the year and asked Him to give me some vision and inspiration. Well, I got in there and we chatted a little bit. I don't remember how he led up to it, but somehow he very diplomatically informed me that they would not be renewing my contract this year. It took me a moment to grasp what he was saying. My heart started pumping harder as the truth sunk in: I was being fired. I don't like being shocked, especially in front of someone. He viewed it as a somewhat mutual decision, as I had expressed in June my difficulties with aspects of the job and the probability that this would be my last year. But I had determined not to be a quitter, and I didn't want to leave them in the lurch. I was going to be an overcomer and make this the best year ever and leave with them all missing me and loving me! This was nothing like I pictured it would be. I think they're also looking for a teacher who can do more than I can -- choir, orchestra, etc. Or there may be financial considerations. It's just disappointing to me to not be everything they want me to be.

The entire "meeting" lasted about 15 minutes. What could I say? He said he'd try to help me get more students if I wanted to. I knew my throat was feeling squeeky, so I didn't say much. As I walked down the familiar hallway, I saw so many little faces, I heard "Miss A----!" I felt little hugs gripping me around the waist. I got in the van and pulled out of the parking lot before I burst into tears and cried all the way home. I called my mom, who was sorry for me and perturbed at the school's late methods, but expressed what I felt in a small measure -- relief. She had said several times this summer that she wished I didn't have to go back. I didn't totally feel like going back, either. But God in His own way and His own time closed a door that He had once opened. Great is His faithfulness.

So it's taken the last few days to let it sink in that I'm jobless, but free! Well, I shouldn't say I'm jobless. I still have private music students and I get occasional performing gigs. I just don't have the same regular job or income I had. It's an adjustment, and I'm sad about not saying goodbye to people that have been part of my life for the past three years. But on the other hand, I'm excited to see what good things God has up His sleeve! I look forward to being home more, spending a lot fewer hours in traffic, fewer dollars on gas, enjoying freer evenings, and more time for other interests. If you think of it, please pray for me in this transition time, that the Lord will show the next steps and provide every need.

Birthday Report

I'm short on time right now, but I'm going to just say thank you for the "happy birthdays" and report that I did indeed have a happy birthday! It was kind of different from past ones, especially since I taught most of the afternoon, but that's part of "growing up" I suppose. The highlight of the day was going to the Cheesecake Factory with my parents and Lori. I love that restaurant! We had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated, but the awesome food was worth it. I opened presents there and Lori and I had a great time entertaining the parents with goofiness. Here are a few pictures to demonstrate that.

I used to think 27 was such a grown up, OLD age, but strangely, I don't feel old at all! Sometimes I feel quite juvenile and in appearance I could still pass for 22. :-)

My Cup of Tea

Yesterday my best friend Tina and I took Seattle by storm. We'd originally sort of planned to go to Victoria (one of our favorite haunts), but finances led us to strike on a "compromise" of Seattle, another favorite, but more local, haunt. We started with high tea at a swanky hotel. It was a beautiful room decked in elegance, and the tea and sweets were tasty, but the wee sandwiches left something to be desired. My head felt like it was full of helium after all the sugar I imbibed. It was fun, though. Next we went to an IMAX film on Greece at the Pacific Science Center. It was amazing! Of course we had to plot our sometime future tour of Greece. Much of the film was about the little island of Santorini, which I was excited to see because I recognized it as one I'd flown over on the way to Israel.
We wandered around the Seattle Center a bit, gazing at the Space Needle way up there. Next we decided to drive down to the waterfront and wonder about. We walked a little bit, but by then my blood sugar was so wacky and I was so hungry that we decided to get dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. We had a grand time eating wonderful food, sharing both laughs and deep discussions, and relaxing in good company. Since my birthday is tomorrow, Tina somehow told the waiter and they brought me a little ice cream dessert thing with a little candle on it. The poor guy made a rather miserable attempt at singing "Happy Birthday," but that's okay. The picture you see is a self-portrait gone bad -- I tried to take a picture of us, but cut out most of myself while still capturing the little piece of green lettuce in my front braces! Ha ha!
After that we wandered along the waterfront enjoying the shops and the gorgeous Puget Sound. I got home around 10:15, tired but happy. I think I should have birthdays more often. :-D

Be Careful What You're Thankful For!

My parents' car broke down on Saturday. Something to do with the alternator, and it cost them considerable time and inconvenience. Fortunately MY reliable van was around to rescue them and take us all to church on Sunday. I'm not sure I said anything, but I remember feeling grateful that my Chevy '02 van which I've had 2 and and a half years has not given me any problems beyond a cracked windshield which I'm ignoring.

So imagine my chagrin when, directly after church, I pressed the button to roll down the driver's window and nothing happened! Several teenage boys studied the matter intently, and my dad messed with it to no avail. Actually, we forced it down, then couldn't get it back up. So I drove home with the window most of the way down and my hair going all over the place.

Today my mom and I went out to run errands together to save on time and gas. In a burst of energy, the window actually went up at my pressing the button. That was a blessing for both hair and safety! We went to the Chevy dealership and waited nearly two hours to get a diagnosis. I was hoping it was just some little simple part, easy and cheap to replace. But no, it turns out it's this whole mechanism inside the door which controls several things, including the button, needs to be replaced. Bottom line, the part has to be ordered, there would be 3 hours of labor, and it would ultimately cost $750! All for a window! I blanched and said something about not doing it right now. I guess I'll have to put up with the inconvience for now.

I really don't like going into car places. It's like they see me coming and see $$ signs. I get my oil changed at Jiffy Lube and they always seem to find something absolutely necessary to change or fix. I say no to about half of them, trying to bluff them into thinking I actually know something about the beast. Some places are more honest than others.

I had one place check out some squeeky brakes I had once. They gave it some mysterious, horrible diagnosis which would cost $400 to fix. I didn't trust them, and my dad didn't know what they were talking about, so I took it into Les Schwab where the mechanics instantly impressed me. I didn't tell them what the other place said. Imagine my smug relief when the guy said there was nothing wrong with the brakes! Just something to do with metal wearing, weather, or brake dust. Ha!

For years I've wanted to marry a very wealthy chiropractor who could give me adjustments whenever I want, but maybe I should marry a mechanic who will give me honest diagnostics and not charge me an arm and a leg! Hmm...I wonder if there's a rich chiropractor mechanic out there who can also sing and play piano like an angel! :-D Silly me, I guess I'll have to stick with spinsterhood and corruption.

Snug as a Bug in a Rug

Cheeky's favorite spot is his little bed which is right next to my desk. When I'm at the computer or my desk, he loves to be all cozy next to me, trying to look as much like a squirrel as possible!

Here I Come!

I just bought a ticket this morning for New Hampshire! I'll be there from Aug. 22-28. I've been wanting to get back there sometime this summer, but slim finances and schedule made me wonder if it was really going to happen. But I looked again this morning and got a ticket for a much better price than I had been seeing. I do have an all-night flight, but hey, it's still better than 17 hours to Israel!

I'm excited about seeing Jill and Evan and those cute kiddos as well as my grandma. Oh, and we're planning to go to New York City for a day, which I'm really excited about because I've never been there! Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta, Memphis, Vancouver, Victoria, Chicago, London, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, but never NYC! It's just part of the American experience. Any of you veteran visitors have anything high on your recommendation list? Of course we want to see the usual tourist places, like Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Ground Zero, Broadway, etc. But we want to use our short time wisely, so any suggestions would be helpful!

I do also want to see local cousins and friends while I'm there, if possible. I'm very sad that Penny and Brad and family aren't close by anymore. :-(