lizardblog ( the blog of liz creech

November 30, 2005
Where have they gone?

What I am talking about is manners. Really, what has happened to our society that what should be a common "excuse me", is ignored? And another phenomenon I don't understand is when you "catch someone in the eye", you know actually look at each other, and you smile and they don't. I have actually served people who never look me in the eye or smile at me once. For those of you who don't know me, I hardly ever don't smile. I could go on and on about those "little things" that really mean a lot. How about fighting over stuff at the day after Thanksgiving sale? WHAT IS THAT? I just can't imagine anything so important that I would have to actually fight someone over it. Hell, my kid can damn do without before I would roll around on the Wal-Mart floor! Ha!!

Sometimes I just wonder what is going on with our society. Why do we feel the need to be first at any cost to someone else. I started to say something about being a Christian, but now days, they are just as bad as non-Christians. Seriously, bad tippers on Sunday after church, and mean and demanding. That is a big "WHAT?". I actually heard someone say to another server that "We give God 10%, and that should be good enough for you.". Ha.

I could go on, but I won't. That has been rolling around in me for awhile and I just wanted to put it out there. Whewww!!

posted by Liz at 8:25 AM - permalink - -

November 29, 2005
Blog Quiz

I don't normally do quizes but I thought this would be fun. I remember in High School taking some kind of test that said I should be a police officer. I actually went to college to get a degree in Police Administration and ended up changing it to Corrections and Juvenille services after a statement by my boyfriend at the time. Any way Debi took this quiz and I thought I would see what I would come up with and this is it:

You Should Get a MD (Doctor of Medicine)
You're both compassionate and brilliant - a rare combination.
You were born to be a doctor.

If you want to see what you should be go here.

Well just goes to show you they aren't all right - HA!! I did want to be a nurse after my son was born, actually started classes and applied for the program and then went and got pregnant with #4 - I am glad it happened that way.

posted by Liz at 8:32 AM - permalink - -

November 23, 2005
Coming together

I find it amazing how connections are made between people. People so different in so many different ways. When there is a connection, how nothing matters but the pursuit of God and His Kingdom - seeing the possibilities of that. Friendships that make no sense. I believe that is what love is - making that choice to pursue a friendship and staying around even when you disagree.

That is what this weekend in Cincinnati was all about. People from so many places and backgrounds with a common goal coming together. The solder welding us together is God and his love and all that implies.

posted by Liz at 8:52 AM - permalink - -

November 22, 2005
Feliz Navidad

That has become my youngest daughters favorite Christmas song. I like it too. Makes you want to jump and dance around.

We have both sides of our family coming in for Thanksgiving. I am really looking forward to that. We are going to bake a turkey and fry one as well, there is going to be so much food that someone might end up puking!! Ha!!

The Christmas tree went up last night with just the lights. Today the youngest two are adding some ornaments. Of course some have to be saved for the older two as well. We are just, in general, trying to get the house ready to have people in. Of course I want it "perfect" but I also know it isn't going to happen as I might like. Just to make it comfortable so people feel welcome and want to stay for a long time is the main goal. Of course there is still a lot to do, and with school being out tomorrow for the rest of the week, I will put all the kids to work - Ha!

May you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

posted by Liz at 9:11 AM - permalink - -

November 18, 2005
Awesome!!

Ok, well Harry Potter rocks. The new movie is great - I would highly recommend that you go see it on the big screen. I know we will again once it comes to the "dollar" movie theater. It is funny how my kids complained because they left things out that were in the book. Of course the older kids know why but I had to explain over and over to McKenzie that they couldn't include all the details or we would be in there for a full day. The books are so good though that I would sit there for that long to watch it.

We are off to Cincinnati later today to go hang with some awesome people. I am so looking forward to hanging out with some girls that I can hardly wait to get there. Wine, late nights and good conversation, what more could you ask for?

posted by Liz at 8:27 AM - permalink - -

November 17, 2005
Rubbing it in your face

My family and I are going to see a pre viewing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tonight!! I love the Harry Potter series and have passed the excitement on to all of my family. All the books have been read out loud to my kids for "school" purposes - Ha!! That is how we start our school day. We wait in great anticipation at the approach of a book release or movie and tonight our wait is over. Unfortunately that means an even longer wait until the next book - the final one. And the next movie. Wow, if only I had the talent and forethought to create such a thing.

posted by Liz at 8:24 AM - permalink - -

November 14, 2005
Just Thinking

I do that every now and then. Dangerous, I know. I think about "stuff", having "stuff", the desire for "stuff", the pursuit of "stuff" and in general our American obsession for "stuff". I think it is a bit ridiculous how we need to have things we really don't need. To have a house that looks a certain way in order to impress people and the pressure and stress that causes. The downfall of society due to kids being left alone so much so that mom and dad can work so they have enough money to buy more stuff. Then the clutter caused by all the stuff and the stress from that. Interesting. How and why did our society become like that?

I am not saying that having things is bad or evil, but sometimes it becomes so. When you are so obsessed with having new cars and "toys" that your finances are in a bad way. Is it really worth all that? The worry of having enough money just so you can have stuff?

And the pursuit of feeling good. What causes people to be so unhappy with their sober lives that they need to get drunk or high? What are triggers for that? How can being so sick that you throw up at work and feeling so bad be fun? Why is forgetting what you did the night before fun?

I am just on a tirade - I see people ruining their lives and futures just for the quick fix, feel good. I am all for having a drink and even the buzz you get after a drink but to drink so much that you are sick the next morning- no I don't think I will have that thank you. I guess I just don't see what the draw of that is.

I will get down off my soap box now.

posted by Liz at 10:16 AM - permalink - -

November 10, 2005
You are it!!

I got tagged for Five Things so here you go

Five Things

Ten years ago
1995 - UUUmmm that was a long time ago and I have a problem with last week. I had just had my 4th child and was working 3rd shift at U.k. hospital in the Material management department and had seen several people die in the Emergency Room during "Codes" (where someone either stops breathing or their heart stops). I really liked that job.

Five years ago
Once again that was a long time ago. Let's see. I had been living in my first house that was my very own for a year. I was working at Macaroni Grill for over a year and had probably just been made Developer Coordinator.

One year ago
I had a financial plan to pay off our credit card debt and start being able to actually live on what we made. Getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas and in general just living a normal life.

Five Yummy things
My husband
Pot roast with potatoes, carrots, gravy and yes, cottage cheese!
Almost anything from Macaroni Grill (seriously)
Wine
A nice hot bath after work

Five songs I know by heart
Old Time Rock and Roll - Bob Seager
What's your Fantasy - Ludacris
I Ran - Flock of Seagulls
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Orange Blossom Special - Johnny Cash

Five things I would do with a lot of money
Become Debt free and give my old house to someone
Buy my sister a car
Pay off all my family's debt
get Alan a lap top
Hand out money to just random people

Five places I would escape to
Wyoming
Vermont
Ireland
Some place with lots of horses and animals in general
Massachusetts

Five things I would never wear
Stripes and plaid together
lingerie type shirts
short skirts (legs not good enough)
belly shirts
low rise jeans

Five favorite TV shows
C.S.I. Miami
Trading Spaces
Designed to Sell
Cold Case
Las Vegas

All-time Favorites:
MacGyver
E.R.
C.S.I.
Captain Kangaroo
C.S.I. Miami

Five things I enjoy doing
GARDENING
Watching movies
Reading
Being outside
Organizing things

Favorite Toys
Tiller
Power tools
Gadgets
hand tools
gardening tools

Five people who get "tagged"
Alan - cause he didn't do it when Debi tagged him and that is all because I don't want to pester people too much.

posted by Liz at 9:33 AM - permalink - -

November 08, 2005
Happily Ever After

I will just finish up the story of me and Alan. We made it to May 28, 1988 and at around 2:50 p.m. we said I do and officially became married.

My mom wore blue, her least favorite color because her life has been "so blue". At one point she refused to come to my wedding, do my cake or my flowers, at which I responded "If you feel that way it is fine and I will do them myself". Once she came around to the figuring out that I WAS going to marry Alan she said "I will be there for your wedding and I will be there for your divorce". That seems to be common in my family and I was not going to be one of them. A lot happened in the 9 months and 8 days from the time we met til the day we married. I am glad that we stuck it out. Yes, I wish things could have been different in some ways but I am glad it actually happened.

So, guess what I am going to do today? The kids are off from school due to voting for local things and it is going to be beautiful. So, I am going to put up the outside Christmas decorations so that when it gets cold I won't be outside trying to make cold wires do what I want them to do. I sure hope I have enough stuff. I bought a lot at the end of the season last year with the old house in mind. Well, I will just improvise if I need to.

Merry Christmas!!

posted by Liz at 8:42 AM - permalink - -

November 03, 2005
What she told me

With much prodding I am continuing the story. Funny, I actually started this just to tell you how I met Alan, and it has turned into a bigger story.

What my mother told me what that my father was never really divorced from his first wife. Both being Catholic, his wife Grace was not going to agree to a divorce. Of course she and their 5 children were in Washington state so they really didn't know what was going on. I am still not clear on all that actually went on but I will tell you what I know.

My father seemed to have a fetish for women with handicaps. He wanted to be able to help them and such. They met at a club in Somerset Kentucky, I think. At a Dorcus Club meeting. This is a support club for people with Polio which is what my mom has had since she was 5. She knew through the grapevine that he was married and therefore wouldn't have much to do with him. She had been married and had my older sister and that relationship ended due to abuse, so needless to say she was actually being cautious. From what she tells me he courted her for 3 years. I think she got pregnant with me and that is what finally made her decide to marry him. And he did have "divorce" papers. Come to find out he had had someone in the Army, where he was a retired Sergeant Major, forge them. WOW!! My mom has never admitted to me being the reason they got married but she did tell me that I was a month early - People I weighed over 7 pounds - I don't think so.

If I am not mistaken they got married in October or November of 1967 and I was born May 1968. By this time my father was very sick with cancer and it was moving, that is what they called it back then. Not long before he passed away and he was in the hospital very sick my mom got a call from his brother who to this day lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They met in the parking lot of a White Castle and he told her about Grace and his children. I mean she knew about them but found out about the not being divorced part. Grace showed up at the hospital and confronted my mom and told her she was taking him back with her to Washington state so he could be cared for in a veterans hospital. My mom fought her, and after his death fought the insurance company, and the life insurance company and social security. I was 5 months old when he passed away, they had watched the cancer metastasize up his neck and into his brain.

When I went to college I continued to get Social Security benefits and I also got V.A. benefits. I was a wealthy college student due to those monthly checks. And I had gotten financial aid that covered everything else and I had money left over from that. The benefits for one of them would stop when I got married and my mom didn't want me to loose that money. What is really funny is that up until Katey was a year old, I made payments on a wood burning insert they had in their house. Because I "had the money to do it". Sometimes I wonder what my family was thinking.

posted by Liz at 8:17 AM - permalink - -

November 02, 2005
10 years ago today....

.....I woke up at 3:30 a.m. with pains in my stomach and 2 children in my bed. In order not to wake them in dealing with my pain I went and laid on the couch, dozing in between the waves that just kept coming.

At 6:30 I became concerned enough to call the doctor. Her advice was to go to the hospital. Believe me it takes a lot for me to even take an aspirin, but this day I took her advice. I woke Alan and told him he needed to take me to the hospital. Luckily my younger sister was living with us and could keep an eye on the kids until my older sister could come, since Deana had to go to work. All the way to the hospital I urged Alan to go as fast as he could. Once we got there at 7:30 I was admitted. Two hours and one minute later our youngest daughter came into the world.

So at the time of this posting Miss McKenzie Creech is 10.

posted by Liz at 9:31 AM - 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