Haven't written much lately. By the time I sit down in the chair, I'm too tired to write all the things that happen in my life. It's all good, though. The past week has been interesting: Taking a friend to the hospital for an appointment, fighting with her wheelchair wheel popped off in the middle of the parking lot, running into things because the wheelchair was due for the scrapyard, thinking I would write a letter to the editor about my experience, finally getting my friend up to her appointment, and then sitting in with her while she got an injection in her wrist. How far I have come, I thought. From a little girl who was afraid of the word "blood," to sitting and praying with my friend while she endured such pain. She's better now, and came to our house on Thursday night and told her story.

Thursday night there were so many people in our house that the living room walls seemed like they were swelling. Time for an addition, perhaps? And a special visitor -- Randy and Sandra's dog, Taylor, a german-shepherd-type dog. Max kept thinking she was a reindeer each time she walked by. To date at the Thursday night Bible study, we've had a shaved cat with hip dysplasia, Robin's dog, Sandra's dog. What's next? I said perhaps a goat would arrive next week. We probably should be having our meetings in a barn.

Friday I had big plans to do paperwork but after a visit with Mom in the morning and lunch, I decided to stay in the chair the rest of the day. Doug came home and we then had a "Heartland" marathon until it was time for bed. What better thing to do on a snowy winter day than watch green grass and horses?

This morning Doug got up early and scraped for about 15 minutes, then took off with the 4WD for Jon's sugar bush up near Centreville. I was supposed to go, too, but couldn't seem to make my body do it. So Afton called me and cheerfully asked, "Where are you?" and went on and on in her cute almost-7-year-old voice about Daddy getting stuck with his truck, etc. Made me want to go see them. Alicia said they were disappointed I wasn't coming. So, perhaps I am going to the sugarbush. I talked to Doug about an hour ago and they were still trying to get equipment up the icy road. They are trying to erect a new 'sugar shack' so we have more warmth while sugaring. I'll see how the roads are, or perhaps venture out and either venture up or venture back home. I think I need an adventure -- been in this house too much this week, I think.

Now for some French toast. Made myself some French Toast coffee in the Keurig this morning and got a brilliant idea (is it brilliant?) to make some real French toast in a cast iron frying pan. Yum. Now if I can find some maple syrup. Sugar shack here I come????

Happy Belated 1st Birthday, Beloved Granddaughter

Sarah Kathryn DuBois......love you...... Miss you and your brother, and your mommy and your daddy

Website

Check out my new website if you haven't already...debmacministries.com. Carolyn has been working hard on it. Also check out the Resource page on the site as well...

Names

For 16 years now I've been singing and playing the guitar in a band named "Sisters Act." Little did we know we'd be together this many years. How could women sing together so long and still be friends? We played at Maugerville Baptist Church, a little church just outside the city. A benefit concert for a family that lost their home in a fire just this week.

Anyway, I was gettin' into the music you know, and during a break in the evening, a woman came up to me to tell me she enjoyed our music, and said that my name is "Guitarzan." Never been called that before. A 'Tarzan' type guitar player? Was I swinging from a tree yelling? Or what? Then the pastor called us up to the stage again, and referred to me as "Stomp." What? Weird but true. I laughed and stomped up and continued stomping a bit through the songs that warranted stomping.

I kinda like my new names.

Computer Club

We had our first Claremont Computer Club this afternoon, after the early morning study on Romans with the Friday morning group of women, after Cousin Els' piano lesson on Baby Grand Manan piano. The 'girls' started arriving at 1 pm, setting up their laptops on the kitchen table. The training began. Carolyn arrived at 2:30 armed with binders filled with information. She gave an overview of computer terms and then we had them type up a document and learn how to 'file' it.

Then it was personal time on their computers, and Carolyn and I circulated around the table, trying to keep them all going. By the time the ladies left I think their heads were filled with so much information that they didn't even know who they were anymore. One woman remarked that she learned a lot, but didn't know what she learned. Did we succeed? Not so sure. Except for Verna, who was so excited about her computer and what she was learning that she forgot she had another appointment to go to, and flew out of the house.

What to do next? Order donairs from Greco, and then spend the rest of the evening on computers, updating this website and connecting printers to computers.

The 'baby' from Grand Manan arrived, but not without a bit of stress and tension. After it was delivered into the house and the music room, where it would live, it decided to fall from its 'on its side position' (would this be 'transverse' birth?).

We caught the 'baby' as it descended towards the window, smashing against the shelves on the wall that housed my stereo and CDs. Everything came crashing down, and the piano continued its descent towards my treasured MAC computer sitting on a corner desk that Doug built me the day before the baby's arrival (had to make room in the nursery, as it's a rather large baby, probably postmature).

I somehow managed to get the computer shut down while holding the piano. My friend was busy holding up his end, and we managed to get it upright again. A baby grand upright again...hmmm. We took a breather before starting again and analyzed the situation.

I took the computer out in the kitchen and began cleaning up the mess of CDs, shelves, stereo and speakers. We couldn't believe that this had happened. After that there were problems getting one leg on the baby and it snapped off. So we used a dolly for leverage and I helped the 'doctor' secure the leg. Was I a midwife? I think so.

Finally, after much stress, the baby was born and put into place in the corner, with the obstetrician crawling out from underneath this massive baby. We were both relieved that it was finally born into this house. The piano is absolutely beautiful and I feel like I'm in heaven when I play it. Now I'm deciding whether I'm its foster parent or adoptive parent. And is it a boy or a girl? Time will tell. It's mine 'indefinitely,' the doctor said -- to decide whether I'd like to raise this 'baby' or not and pay the delivery fee. So for now, I'm a foster parent of a baby grand.

All is well, but the stereo is kaput. Sometimes you have to sacrifice something for something else of greater value. Right? Thanks Doctor, for all your hard work. The baby is here. Come see or it or send shower gifts.

God in Ancient China

I stayed in a chair basically for the whole weekend, apart from a trip out or two for a meal or church. Watched four football games! I'm a football nut this time of year. Don't know why, just am. Love the rawness of football, watching them force through the enemy line, make a touchdown, fall all over the place and get right back up and play. Like life, isn't it?

Awaiting my first student of the week. Also awaiting the arrival of a new baby in my life -- a baby grand should arrive tomorrow -- an antique baby grand from Grand Manan. Now that's different, isn't it?

Lazy Hazy Day of Winter

I had big plans for today. But alas, just sitting around mostly -- in my LazyBoy chair with a blanket, my knitting needles, PBS, sniffing the roast cooking in the roaster. Watching the snow fall softly on pine trees outside. I think I'm resting. Doug is in the reorganizing and cleaning up. I don't have as much energy as he does. Well, back to my chair.

Farmers Tribute: So God Made A Farmer.

Had a great weekend at Greenhill Lake Camp with a few friends. A whole weekend just to eat together, talk, pray, share stories, study, play games, activities, and even do a 45 minute walking video where some of us walked 3 miles. Quite a work-out, for sure. it was a Winter Wonderland, with the snow softly falling as we lounged on couches in front of a fake fireplace (a very elegant fake fireplace, by the way). Now that I think about it, we were having a spa weekend in all ways -- physically, emotionally and spiritually. I think I'll plan one of these at least once a year -- want to come? Just let me know and I'll put you on the invite list!

I started teaching music again yesterday -- all the precious students are back for their piano and guitar lessons. Wasn't too hard to get back into the swing of things, but I'm a bit weary tonight. I also started back on the radio today, and went to the gym to work out for an hour. My resolution? One of them? To be fit. I remember in my 49th year how I was going to be 'Fit at 50', then found out I had cancer. That year was shot. So, it was 51 -- I was recuperating, and now I'm 52, going on 53. Reminds me of a song, except it's 'You are 16 going on 17.' Those days are long gone. Anyway, I must not give up -- I am fit, and feel great and love exercising and feeling the burn as you push yourself a little harder. I always gauge everything now by this standard: I survived cancer, so I can survive life; I can exercise; I won't get discouraged, I will go on. You know what I mean?

The more you exercise the more you want to be healthy, and you tend to watch what you're putting in your mouth (like the turtle I consumed today; not a real one, mind you). Exercise makes you feel good. Do it, Deborah -- lose 20 lbs -- you can do it.

Had a great weekend at Greenhill Lake Camp with a few friends. A whole weekend just to eat together, talk, pray, share stories, study, play games, activities, and even do a 45 minute walking video where some of us walked 3 miles. Quite a work-out, for sure. it was a Winter Wonderland, with the snow softly falling as we lounged on couches in front of a fake fireplace (a very elegant fake fireplace, by the way). Now that I think about it, we were having a spa weekend in all ways -- physically, emotionally and spiritually. I think I'll plan one of these at least once a year -- want to come? Just let me know and I'll put you on the invite list!

I started teaching music again yesterday -- all the precious students are back for their piano and guitar lessons. Wasn't too hard to get back into the swing of things, but I'm a bit weary tonight. I also started back on the radio today, and went to the gym to work out for an hour. My resolution? One of them? To be fit. I remember in my 49th year how I was going to be 'Fit at 50', then found out I had cancer. That year was shot. So, it was 51 -- I was recuperating, and now I'm 52, going on 53. Reminds me of a song, except it's 'You are 16 going on 17.' Those days are long gone. Anyway, I must not give up -- I am fit, and feel great and love exercising and feeling the burn as you push yourself a little harder. I always gauge everything now by this standard: I survived cancer, so I can survive life; I can exercise; I won't get discouraged, I will go on. You know what I mean?

The more you exercise the more you want to be healthy, and you tend to watch what you're putting in your mouth (like the turtle I consumed today; not a real one, mind you). Exercise makes you feel good. Do it, Deborah -- lose 20 lbs -- you can do it.

Happy New Year!

I just realized last evening that I had not posted on my blog for some time. Christmas Day...time sure does fly when you're having fun, or having a holiday with family and friends.

I am on week four of my self-imposed time-off. Can't believe how the time has flown by. Why does time do that, anyway? My Christmas tree has now been up since mid-November, and I am going to attempt to de-decorate it right now. It is so brittle that I touch it and the spills fall gently to the floor. I'm sure that when we take it out through the kitchen and out into the yard that it will fall completely apart, just like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. And I'll have to vacuum things for days. But that's OK -- it's worth it.

Nat, wish you were here to help me. You told me I would hate you when I try and take the lights off the tree. I think my idea of putting it on the lawn til the branches fall off, and THEN take the lights off is a good idea. I'll keep you posted.

Here goes.... the undecorating begins. Then I can go play