debily

Archive for February, 2008

Last night we were back to old form: watching both nights of American Idol, laughing at contestants’ hair and clothing choices, and predicting what Randy, Paula, and Simon would say. (and stuffing our faces with yummy Taco D – thanks, Teresa!! – but that goes without saying)

So it was 70′s week. According to Randy, one of the greatest era’s in music EVER. Huh?? Are you kidding me? Wasn’t the 70′s the era of…umm….DISCO??! Well, I guess if you block that out, the 70′s were right up there. Along with the 50′s, 60′s, 80′s, and 90′s. That makes the 70′s in the top 5 at least.

But I digress. You didn’t come here to read a dissertation on musical styles. Actually, you’re probably beginning to wonder why you DID come here…But you ARE here and I thank you greatly for that. So, before I lose my audience, let’s get to predicting, shall we?

For the men:

It was a rough week for any man not named “David”. I predict that of the final 6 guys, a full 50% will be named “David” (that’s 3 for the arithmetically-challenged among us). Of the remaining spots, I predict Ja-koozie (Chekieze), Luke, and Daniel. So that means we say good-bye tonight to:

Jason Castro: I know it’s last week’s picture, but I couldn’t resist. Taking a Bee-Gee’s song and making it acoustic? What’s up with THAT? If he doesn’t make it on AI, I think this photo shows he could be up-and-coming as a Sesame Street songleader. Kids dig dredlocks.

Jason Yeager: So he made it to sing another week. He won’t last one more. I guarantee it. He may have white teeth and a decent voice, but the guy…well…he just can’t dance. Bless his heart, he tried. Bad song choice, bad hair, bad dancing…three strikes, dude. You’re out.

For the women:

It began well with Carly bringing her A-game. There weren’t as many strong performances – certainly no awe-inspiring David Archuleta’s among them – but those with “A” names make the “A” list: Asia’h, Alexandrea, and Amanda. The final 3? Brooke & Carly for sure, then a toss-up between Kristy, Syesha, and Ramiele. My guess is Ramiele.                                                               

Alaina Whitaker: I know it’s last week’s picture. But she should have been gone last week instead of Joanne, and so I’m in denial. I’m with Simon: she’s not as good as she thinks she is.

Kady Malloy: Bad song. Bad, bad song. Bad dress. Bad hair. Bad performance. Bad girl! Bye-bye.

Now, let’s see if I should take my bets to Vegas. Tune in tonight!

Several months ago, a fellow piano teacher shared a little of her struggles to compose a song in response to some trials her friends were facing.  She has now completed her song – with a slideshow to boot! – and shared a bit of her journey with the piano teacher’s group:

One weekend that was a few months ago, I watched two lifelong friends
of mine go thru some tough, personal losses. A week later, I heard a
sermon based on Romans 8. I sat at the piano, thinking of both my
friends and the scripture. Out came this song that God gifted to
me.

My intention is that it becomes a personal, reflective yet moving,
devotional for everyone….

the non-believer, new Christians, and
those that have known God their whole lives.
The beauty of the music, and the power of the message, is moving.  Listen…and reflect…and may you find hope for the trials you may be facing today.  After all, it IS Monday.  *wink*

This is the night of Blue & Gold. Read the rest of this entry »

This won’t be a long post, but it’s important (to me, at least).

Today would have been my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Though I’m saddened not to be able to share their Golden day with them, I am so grateful for the 39 years they had together, and for the 28 years of loving example they provided me.  I was blessed to have parents who took their commitment to one another and their vows before God so seriously. Hopefully, I can be that kind of example to my children.

Let the predictions begin!!

I didn’t get to watch all the guys perform, so I’m guessing blind this time.  We’ll see how I do.  I predict these two are gone:

Without the charisma and charm of “Old Blue Eyes”, his song was just…well…BLUE.

I admit, he’s a cutie.  And I love the 80′s rocker throwback hair.  I wanted MY hair to look like that in the 80′s for crying out loud.  But having seen NOTHING on this kid at auditions or Hollywood week, he’s awfully anonymous.  So I say he goes.

Alaina did a decent job – but not spectacular.  I’m not sure she has the “it” factor to go all the way.

And now for the no-brainer of the day:

The only way she would get through is if Vote for the Worst got a hold of her.  Then she’d bump off someone who really DOES deserve to go forward, and that would be sad.

Okay, that does it for me.  We’ll see how I do tonight!

If you don’t watch Lost, that title will be…well…completely LOST on you – no pun intended.

You see, tonight at Life Group we were watching a video dramatizing the book of John. We’re currently studying ch. 18, so that’s the portion of the video we watched. Our hearts were pounding with the thundering footsteps of the Roman soldiers as they followed Judas into the Garden to arrest Jesus. We sat, gripped in the drama of the moment, inwardly seething at the betrayal unfolding before us. And then, a voice calls from behind the disciples, “Who is it you are looking for?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” comes the snarling reply from Roman Soldier #1.

“I am he,” we hear the voice of the Son of God reply. In dramatic fashion, the crowd of disciples parts, and we get our first glimpse of our Lord…a tall, slender man with an angular face…and we watch him come forward to give Himself over to the Roman guards. The music swells. The tension is unbearable. And then we recognize our Savior…the Sacrificial Lamb of God…is none other than…DESMOND??

I can hear it now, “I’ve come to save the werld, brutha. Ye’ve just got to believe.” Oh, what that would do to Mac’s Lost forum!  Gives a whole new meaning to “See ye in anothur lifetime, brutha” don’t it?

For all you last-minute shoppers (or for those who wish to plan way ahead for next year because you’re tired of sleeping in the doghouse), I offer you a no-fail guide to a happy Valentine’s day.

HOW TO TREAT A WOMAN:
Wine her. Dine her. Call her. Hold her. Surprise her.
Compliment her. Smile at her. Listen to her.

Laugh with her. Cry with her.
Romance her. Encourage her. Believe in her.

Pray with her.  Pray for her. Cuddle with her.

Shop with her. Give her jewelry. Buy her
flowers. Hold her hand. Write love letters to her.

Go to the ends of
the earth and back again for her.

HOW TO TREAT A MAN:
Show up naked. Bring chicken wings. Don’t block the TV.

Ah, the old hymns. How comforting their melodies! How sweet their harmonies! How precious their words! And even though I, a dyed-in-the-wool Baptist/Bible Church girl, have never learned those heavenly songs of the Anglican church, I can appreciate anything that helps bring believers closer to God and deeper in their understanding of Him.

Something tells me, however, that this is not the song to do that.

If you are reading this, you’ve officially been tagged. I received this as an email, but decided to go ahead and put it on my blog instead. So, TAG. Now it’s your turn. After you read all about me first, that is.

1 What time is it
8:00 A.M.
2 What’s your full name
Deborah Elizabeth Edwards Speer
3 What are you most afraid of
something happening to my children. It borders on a phobia, really.
4 What is the most recent movie that you have seen in a Theater
Sad to say, but true: The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie. No, I don’t get out much.
5 Place of birth
Danvers, Massachusetts – whose claim to fame is that this is the ACTUAL Salem Village of the Salem Witch Trials fame.
6 Favorite food
Chocolate. Is there any other kind??
7 What’s your natural hair color
Skunk (Brown with a white stripe)
8 Ever been to Alaska
No
9 Ever been toilet paper rolling -
Yes – with a bunch of fellow teachers, believe it or not…all much older than I!!
10 Love someone so much it made you cry
absolutely
11 Been in a car accident
unfortunately, yes. Fortunately, none serious.
12 Croutons or bacon bits
Depends on who’s making the salad. Generally, neither.
13 Favorite day of the week
Monday
14 Favorite restaurant(s)
Mimi’s Cafe
15 Favorite Flower
Daisies or Sunflowers…I think they match my personality
16 Favorite sport to watch
Baseball, Basketball, or Football. NOT Hockey!
17 Favorite drink
Diet Coke
18 Favorite ice cream
Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food
19 Disney or Warner Brothers
Disney
20 Ever been on a ship
Yes
21 What color is your bedroom carpet
Khaki
22 How many times did you fail your driver’s test
Once – but hey! It wasn’t my car!
23 Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail
One of my Cub Scout moms
24 What do you do when you are bored
sit around and eat chocolate. So I choose not to be bored.
25 Bedtime
around 10:30.
26 Who will respond to this post the quickest
Jon
27 Who is the person you sent this to that least likely will respond?
who knows
28 Who is the person that you are most curious to see their responses
I know all my 5 readers so well
29 Favorite TV show

Lost, American Idol, Without a Trace
30 Last person you went to dinner with
Matt, Trey & Crisana
31 What are you doing right now besides being on the computer?
Supposed to be eating breakfast, finishing making Crisana’s lunch and getting her ready for preschool and getting me ready to go to the gym. See how that’s working for me?
32 What are your favorite colors
ROY G BIV
33 How many tattoos do you have
If I said one, would you believe me?
34 How many pets do you have
two
35 Which came first, the chicken or the egg
Chicken
36 What do you want to do before you die
Dance at my grandchildren’s weddings
37 Have you ever been to Hawaii
no
38 Have you been to countries outside the U.S.
Yes: England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Israel, Mexico, Canada
39 How many people are you sending this e-mail to
No one, I’m tagging them via my blog.
40 Time this survey ended
8:16 A.M.

Not really. To be truthful, it wasn’t even One Score ago. It was Three-Quarters of a Score ago. Fifteen years. It just feels like 87…no, that’s not right either.

Fifteen years ago. February 11, 1993. The day I was presented with a fortune cookie that changed my life. This cookie didn’t hold magic lottery numbers, or ancient Chinese wisdom, or cryptic astrological proverbs.

No, this cookie held a diamond ring and a simple question: “Will you marry me?”

It’s been fifteen years, and I still wouldn’t change my answer for all the tea in China. (Which is a good thing, because I don’t even like tea.) It was then, and will always be: “Yes!”

Happy (engagement) Anniversary, Matt!  Hungry for Chinese food, anyone?