lizardblog ( the blog of liz creech

January 28, 2004
My heart hurts

Alan posted something I have been feeling for a very long time. I am hurt, and my heart hurts for my husband and the things that a lot of us are going through. The unfair labeling and projection of ideas that I and my community are no where near. I will not accept old habits coming back. I don't want them and it is not fair that others are trying to push them back into my life. I want to holler, stamp my feet, scream "NOT FAIR!, NOT FAIR!". I do not try to make people believe like I do. I hope my life will show the true love of God the Father to those I have relationships with. I no longer want the labels, I no longer want people to assume what I do and do not believe, and I want my opinion to be valued because we are on the same journey. I want the relationships of life and love and friends. I want peace for myself, my family, my community and all who are on this journey of life.

posted by Liz at 10:46 AM - permalink - -

January 25, 2004
Looking and feeling rough

Relatively speaking last night sucked. I made more money on a slow Friday night than I did last night selling a lot more food. I think what amazes me most is the attitude people have about tipping. It is either feast of famine. And last night brought Moses and the Hebrews to mind. Run my butt off giving the best service I can, never an empty glass and always getting what they asked for. No cold food, even though that isn't my fault if it is, and all on time. Damn!

I hurt, my lower back all the way down to mid-calf. Then there is my feet and heels. I never realized there could be so much pain involved. I just wonder if I will regret doing this job in my latter years. What kind of permanent damage am I doing to myself? I got home and could have just fallen straight to sleep, but I had to do some computer "stuff" and then off to bed. Woke up to freezing rain hitting my bed room window and got out of bed at 11. That was yummy. Looking in the mirror this morning was a very scary activity. I braided my hair for work and slept with it that way and this morning it is all straggley and funky and I have swollen eyes with bags under them. I am lovely. It is going to be a 2 cups of coffee day.

Am I bitching? You're damn skippy I am. I need to every now and then because I am an imperfect human being. I love to serve people, whether at work or some other atmosphere. But, sometimes I get so tired of people not appreciating it. I could go into all the attitude of Jesus thing, but you all know I just need to vent, and that I know and practice that most of the time.

You know what I am going to do today? I am going to start painting my bathroom. We picked out this cool color called Brass Mesh. It is a warm dark yellow. It will go great with the red that we are eventually going to paint our room. Aaaaand...I am copying the bathrooms of Macaroni Grill by surrounding the mirror with wood molding and corner "medallions". Dark stain. I found the molding at a local discount builders supply. Cheap. I am pretty excited about it. It will be so warm and inviting and beautimous! Then I will need to tile the floor and I will be set, except for a remodel to put in a bigger tub that Alan and I both will fit in.

Ok I will shut up for now. Please tip your local servers well.

posted by Liz at 12:12 PM - permalink - -

January 18, 2004
"13"

My #2 daughter is 13 on the 22nd of this month. OH, MY GOODNESS!! I hardly can believe it. Two teenagers in my house. I have great kids and no problems despite the "teenage" thing, what ever that is supposed to be. So, right this minute there 8 girls in my guest room and there is the eminent arrival of 2 more. We, well they, are going to have pizza and then birthday cake and then off to see "School of Rock". I am going to cheat on my little no carb diet and have some damn cake and ice cream! I am willing to sacrafice to have some. YUM! Alan was/is planning on leaving the house for awhile to get away from all the estragen. HEE, HEE. I think I may be in for a long night. Knowing Meaghan though, it will all be over around midnight. (Please, God!?) Well, may you all be blessed. I know I am because I hold the future in my hands.

posted by Liz at 5:48 PM - permalink - -

January 14, 2004
A Day in the life

Alan is home sick today. Seems there is a stomach virus being passed around the house. I WILL NOT GET IT! I just refuse. Alan has sick days, I do not and therefore I do not get paid if I do not go to work. I don't mind it, most of the time. You all read me complaining here but I like my job. I like the money. I am amazed at how much money I made in 2003. May I be as blessed and make more. That would be nice.

This past weekend was amazing! Mayhem in Cincinnati was very good. Blossoming friendships flourished, older ones were added to and new ones began. I have to admit that I focused more on that than the talks by Brian McLaren, and the little I paid attention to was very good and poinient. I have finally gotten hold of the copy "More Ready Than You Realize" that has been going around our community. I started it yesterday but only got 4 or 5 pages in. It is good so far, it is just time working against me.

Meaghan had a horseshow on Sunday. It was the first time she cantered in competition, and we were both a bit nervous. She got first in her first class, even with a mess up, and then second in her second class. We were very proud of her. Not just because of the place she got but that she gave her all and did a good job. She just loves what she does. Here's a little Quicktime movie of Meaghan on her winning ride. It's about a megabyte, so be patient.

posted by Liz at 11:50 AM - permalink - -

January 08, 2004
I shouldn't be doing this.....

The Bishops are coming to our house today. I have a few things to do this morning and I was thinking and wanted to do this kind of quick.

What is the life expectancy of an artificial Christmas tree? We have had ours for at least 13 years. That is hard for me to imagine. And it wasn't looking it's best this year. Not one comment on how much like a real tree it looks. And it did. I think somebody walked up and felt it during the season, but nobody asked. I sure would hate to have to replace it. It is a very nice tree, and very nice trees are very expensive. Maybe I will find one at the end of next Christmas for half price. A memory of us going and buying a new artificial tree when I was a kid just popped in my head. Now this was back when there were only passenger cars and pick-up trucks. We only had one of those boat cars, and I think I remember us fitting it into the trunk and having to tie it closed. That was a long time ago.

And another thought as I am preparing to fly around to get the house ready. Well, the first one is that I want to take a nap :-), but that will have to wait. Mainly I am thinking about hospitality and what it actually takes to make someone feel at home in your home. I firmly believe that your house has to be "neat", not perfect, but clutter doesn't lend to a welcoming atmosphere. Another factor that makes your house welcoming is your own attitude. If you are comfortable than your guests will be too. If you have a general plan of what to fix for dinner and breakfast and if you have any activities that helps. Being prepared I guess is what I am trying to say, and not sweating the small stuff, like if you have a few kid handprints on the wall, or the baseboards are a bit dusty. Now, I have to say that this is a major attitude difference for me than a month ago. But then my house was in utter chaos. Now it is just minor chaos. Funny, Alan was supporting me this morning about being able to "get it all done". I love him. He is a good husband. He even helped me fold the mountain of clothes that were on the couch, and made a path in the garage to the Christmas tree box so that I could get it put away.

O.k. Enough time spent here. Looking forward to seeing a lot of you at Mayhem this weekend. Lot's of good stuff going on. Lot's of girl friends to hang out with and talk to. I think I might go into social overload and have to stay in the fetal position all day Monday. HA!

posted by Liz at 8:11 AM - permalink - -

January 06, 2004
Kripsy Kreme!!!!

I got up at 4:45 to go to the opening of the New and only Krispy Kreme in Lexington! And you know what is funny? I wasn't the crazy one. There was a group of guys that got there at 6a.m. YESTERDAY!! They camped there all night and were first in line this rediculously cold morning. I wonder how they figured out who would be first in the door, because they got free donuts for a year. I really don't think I would stay out in the cold for that long for free donuts for a year, well, I would like to think I wouldn't any way. But we did get free t-shirts and Matt was there too and he got pictures. He is the one who turned me on to fresh hot Krispy Kremes in the first place. And it should say a lot for fresh hot Krispy Kremes in that this is the second early morning visit to one in my life time. McKenzie and Conor went with me but Meaghan whimped out and we have been planing this all week. I think I need a nap, not enough sleep and too much sugar.

I just figured out how to do links on here and I wanted to point out that I have added Mollie Bean and Elaine Brenner to the blog roll to the right there. Good reads, good friends.

posted by Liz at 7:08 AM - permalink - -

January 02, 2004
Santa Claus

I think this was the 3rd story I was trying to remember in the previous post. I want to proceed it with the statement that I do not disagree or have a problem with Santa Claus, just the way some people go about it. So, here is the story.

One of my previous managers and his wife came to Macaroni Grill for carry out and I just happened to see them waiting and swung by to tell them the funny story about Meaghan. They told me this story about their 4 year old daughter, Kirsten. The night before Chirstmas Eve she went down the stairs into their basement that happened to have all the toys they had bought for her and put together in preperation for Christmas morning. She came running to her mom saying she was sorry. Her mom told her she had some explaing to do to the "elf" or that her dad would have to take all the toys back to Santa. The "elf" is this little wooden decoration that Dawn would move in different spots all over the house and had told Kirsten that it was watching her and reporting back to Santa about her behavior. The explanation about it being wooden was that it was magical and that it turned to wood whenever they were in the room but that it could still watch her. Well, she had to go and explain why she had gone in the basement and seen all her presents. Dawn had actually called Dave crying saying their 4 year old didn't believe in Santa anymore. I guess Kirsten did enough explaining because she got all her toys.

Now, what is wrong with that picture? I am amazed that parents would go to such great lengths and tell such huge lies to keep a fake perception in place. And how much damage did such a shock do to that 4 year old child? They could have explained that they were helping Santa out, still a lie, but easier. And maybe that she was going to have to pretend not to have seen the presents, or something like that. But to have her go crying to some wooden decoration and explaining why she had seen something when it had been an accident. I guess I forgot to tell you that she was being babysat by her Grandpa and he wasn't paying attention to her when she went somewhere she was technically allowed to go.

So, you see what I am saying? We have never done Santa, but my kids know the history of him. This year my 8 year old told Alan that he shouldn't have told them there wasn't such a thing as Santa. Funny. I like pretending there is. We went to a Chirstmas light show at a house in Louisville where they had a film reel or something running in a window. It looked like Santa was moving presents and packing his bag and he even walked up to the window and waved and then started HO, HO, HOing. It was really cute. I was hopping around hollering at McKenzie and Conor to look at Santa waving at us. I was so excited and they just rolled their eyes at me. But we all had fun.

I guess that is all. Peaches and grapes to everybody.

posted by Liz at 12:05 PM - permalink - -

spiritual

> vine & branches
> vineyard central

blogs

> Garden Escapades
> Trish Hiduk
> Maryann
> Alan Creech
> The Vine
> Little Houses
> Amber Bishop
> Jody Nixon
> Laura Ogle
> Debi Warford
> Jason & Brooke Evans
> Eric Keck
> Beth Keck
> Pete Matthews
> Trudi Matthews
> Brian Phillips
> Bryan Sherwood
> Malie
> Kim Johnson

Homeschool

> vegsource homeschool
> discovery school channel
> saxon math and phonics

general interest

> john rosemond's affermative parenting
> lisa welchel
> thunderstruck
> Homestar Runner

gardening

> Kids Gardening

books i like

Here are some books I suggests if you are looking to homeschool or just for information. I gleaned a lot from them. Our church gets credit if you buy through these links.

In their Own Way
by Thomas Armstrong

Seven Times Smarter
by Laurel Schmidt

How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Teen Proofing
by John Rosemond