Time for a new Scrabble Dictionary...to be printed, that is.
Words found in the old King James should be included, in my opinion. Words found in any hymnal should also be included. And the new computer terms, like "email" and "blog".
Come on, Milton Bradley Company. It's been since 1995 and that is over thirteen years now. An online version would be nice, as we could use the computer for a reference most games.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Shout it from the Rooftops
Shout it from the rooftops. If you need bifocals, like I do, and have trouble reading small font, just press the control key (Ctrl) and the plus sign (+) key and keep pressing until it is the size you want. Wow. Thank you, thank you to the military blogger who had the tip in his sidebar !!! Now I can read anything !!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!!!!
Friday, March 7, 2008
The Senses
Genesis 8:21-22 And the LORD smelled the soothing aroma and the LORD said to Himself:
I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth, and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest and cold and heat and summer and winter, and day and not SHALL NOT CEASE.
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Our marching orders---and our hope. Be good stewards of the earth, God said, but even FILLED with people, we cannot hurt the climate. The recent attacks on people by the eco-terrorists is an attack on God and His plan. And even knowing that our hearts are evil, God blessed them and sent them forth. I'd love for Him to come back and set everything right, remove suffering, and save His special people, but God's timing is best. And I love the emphasis in this passage on God's senses---and the wonderful senses He gave us that reflect His own. For He created us in His image.
The sense of smell, touch, hearing, sight, tasting...and His sense of humor.
God's plan is so clear---you can eat anything, but not while it is alive. And don't eat blood. And no murder. Respect life. I wish the arabs understood that one.
I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth, and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest and cold and heat and summer and winter, and day and not SHALL NOT CEASE.
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Our marching orders---and our hope. Be good stewards of the earth, God said, but even FILLED with people, we cannot hurt the climate. The recent attacks on people by the eco-terrorists is an attack on God and His plan. And even knowing that our hearts are evil, God blessed them and sent them forth. I'd love for Him to come back and set everything right, remove suffering, and save His special people, but God's timing is best. And I love the emphasis in this passage on God's senses---and the wonderful senses He gave us that reflect His own. For He created us in His image.
The sense of smell, touch, hearing, sight, tasting...and His sense of humor.
God's plan is so clear---you can eat anything, but not while it is alive. And don't eat blood. And no murder. Respect life. I wish the arabs understood that one.
Monday, March 3, 2008
What are the Odds?? (update on the violets story)
What are the odds?? To be thinking about a dear lady that gave me the violets for our yard, transplants from her yard, and then to have her call after years and years?? What are the odds? When she called, I was able to say, I was just thinking about you this morning---when I wrote about the violets. So good to get caught up on her news. Being 82 is no picnic, but she is aging with grace and good cheer. What a fantastic attitude even though she cannot see nor read.
Over seventeen years ago, to be given the gift of some purple violet plants and the love and encouragement to keep them wet and how they loved shade, not to worry. Even with the expansion of the front patio, and addition of the brick walk (curved, by the way--on purpose, much to the chagrin of our young sons at the time). I usually take pictures of the blooms to send to my grandpa to encourage him that spring is on the way. And before that--to grandma, but now they are both gone, and I remembered this year that I would not need to take a picture of them.
Thank you, Sue for the gift of those violets. And for your friendship down through the years. We'd lost touch for a few years when her granddaughter moved in with her, and then she sold her house. I am so glad she is doing well. And now that I know she lives close by---I can't wait to visit and give her a hug. Such friends give me real hope that we can age gracefully. And persevere to the end with a keen mind and a great mental attitude.
I don't think odds had anything to do with it at all---I think it was GOD all along. Thank you, Dear Heavenly Father, for these nudges and broad hints, that You are in control of history, and on Your Throne. And for how much You love us and care for us with these gifts of friendship. What a wonderful taste of heaven where we will all catch up on each others' news, eh?
Over seventeen years ago, to be given the gift of some purple violet plants and the love and encouragement to keep them wet and how they loved shade, not to worry. Even with the expansion of the front patio, and addition of the brick walk (curved, by the way--on purpose, much to the chagrin of our young sons at the time). I usually take pictures of the blooms to send to my grandpa to encourage him that spring is on the way. And before that--to grandma, but now they are both gone, and I remembered this year that I would not need to take a picture of them.
Thank you, Sue for the gift of those violets. And for your friendship down through the years. We'd lost touch for a few years when her granddaughter moved in with her, and then she sold her house. I am so glad she is doing well. And now that I know she lives close by---I can't wait to visit and give her a hug. Such friends give me real hope that we can age gracefully. And persevere to the end with a keen mind and a great mental attitude.
I don't think odds had anything to do with it at all---I think it was GOD all along. Thank you, Dear Heavenly Father, for these nudges and broad hints, that You are in control of history, and on Your Throne. And for how much You love us and care for us with these gifts of friendship. What a wonderful taste of heaven where we will all catch up on each others' news, eh?
Scrabble
My husband loves to play Scrabble. I think the game was one of our first purchases as a newly married couple. I enjoy playing the game as long as I can make big words. And since my husband is so much better at it, he allows me to use more tiles so that I can give him some competition. We also use the Scrabble dictionary. And we trade out the blanks. I am not allowed to "bingo" but my husband usually bingoes at least once or twice a game. I recently had the opportunity to triple-triple: Laying an eight-letter word on the triple squares that are only found on the edge of the board.
I got stuck with the letter, Q early on in the game, and it took a while to draw the needed "U" or blank. Then the letters appeared where I could spell, "QUIXOTIC" but there are not many opportunities to add a "C" to join another word and build off it in order to play. That is when I noticed the word, "QUIXOTRY" in the Scrabble dictionary. And dear husband covered one opportunity on the right edge, but when I played a throw away hand to set up the bottom edge, he saw through my deviousness, but relented and did not block me again.
My husband was able to lay a triple-triple the next game with the word, "SECTIONED" using two blanks, and because he not only triple-tripled, but bingoed, he was one happy camper !
Since our kids are grown, it is safe to leave the game out on the coffee table for all to see, admire, and tempt for another game. When the youth pastor agreed to come home with our son a week ago for an impromptu supper, as I threw supper in the microwave, I asked Bob to make the bed, and scan the Scrabble board for naughty words.
I want to always remember how one time our son played the word, LINGERIE, and we did not even realize he could spell it, let along know what it means. We still laugh about that one.
QUIXOTRY gave me 252 points for that one play. I don't often play that much for a whole game. We have begun saving our score sheets, and have a years worth now. And although the weather was beautiful on Saturday, I think we played three games. And set a candle going in case we needed it during the storms yesterday as we played a few more.
Our Scrabble addiction has overflowed into other areas of our lives. When driving around, we amuse ourselves with word possibilities on Texas license plates.
I got stuck with the letter, Q early on in the game, and it took a while to draw the needed "U" or blank. Then the letters appeared where I could spell, "QUIXOTIC" but there are not many opportunities to add a "C" to join another word and build off it in order to play. That is when I noticed the word, "QUIXOTRY" in the Scrabble dictionary. And dear husband covered one opportunity on the right edge, but when I played a throw away hand to set up the bottom edge, he saw through my deviousness, but relented and did not block me again.
My husband was able to lay a triple-triple the next game with the word, "SECTIONED" using two blanks, and because he not only triple-tripled, but bingoed, he was one happy camper !
Since our kids are grown, it is safe to leave the game out on the coffee table for all to see, admire, and tempt for another game. When the youth pastor agreed to come home with our son a week ago for an impromptu supper, as I threw supper in the microwave, I asked Bob to make the bed, and scan the Scrabble board for naughty words.
I want to always remember how one time our son played the word, LINGERIE, and we did not even realize he could spell it, let along know what it means. We still laugh about that one.
QUIXOTRY gave me 252 points for that one play. I don't often play that much for a whole game. We have begun saving our score sheets, and have a years worth now. And although the weather was beautiful on Saturday, I think we played three games. And set a candle going in case we needed it during the storms yesterday as we played a few more.
Our Scrabble addiction has overflowed into other areas of our lives. When driving around, we amuse ourselves with word possibilities on Texas license plates.
Texas Independence Day 2008
I was born in Illinois. I learned the state song, and my favorite place in Illinois was my grandparents' farm. And while we were taught all about Lincoln and how Illinois was settled, there was not the sovereign statehood that is Texas.
When my family moved to Houston when I was in high school, we soon learned the pride, the size, the variety, and all that means Texas. Since Texas was its own country for ten years, and since Texas was violently wrenched and painfully purchased with the blood of patriots, Texas celebrates its independence each year on March 2nd with reverence and awe. The Alamo is mourned, and the Battle of San Jacinto celebrated.
I am one of those yankees who got here as fast as I could. And since I have married a Texan and given birth to three Texans, my heart is here. Texas is where I learned to drive. Texas is where I have been married for almost thirty years.
But, the transplanted Illinois state flowers---the purple wood violets in my yard decide to bloom in what is now our Texas spring. Over the years, the birds gave me the hardier white variety of the violets. And I baby the patch of violets by the front door by watering them and keeping them free of the oak leaves. In the independent irony that is Texas, the lone plants sprinkled throughout the yard that don't get babied are the ones that bloomed first. A white flower with a tinge of purple--in the rock walls precariously perched yet hardy as all get out. White blooms kissed with purple over by the tree. I wondered if the patch I baby were ever going to bloom. I think they were shamed into it.
Happy Birthday Texas. The Lone Star State. And by-thy-rivers-gently-flowing, Illinois, Illinois--soon your purple violets will be blooming. Spring is coming. The robins migrate through here and chose to stay up there. I think I saw one today.
When my family moved to Houston when I was in high school, we soon learned the pride, the size, the variety, and all that means Texas. Since Texas was its own country for ten years, and since Texas was violently wrenched and painfully purchased with the blood of patriots, Texas celebrates its independence each year on March 2nd with reverence and awe. The Alamo is mourned, and the Battle of San Jacinto celebrated.
I am one of those yankees who got here as fast as I could. And since I have married a Texan and given birth to three Texans, my heart is here. Texas is where I learned to drive. Texas is where I have been married for almost thirty years.
But, the transplanted Illinois state flowers---the purple wood violets in my yard decide to bloom in what is now our Texas spring. Over the years, the birds gave me the hardier white variety of the violets. And I baby the patch of violets by the front door by watering them and keeping them free of the oak leaves. In the independent irony that is Texas, the lone plants sprinkled throughout the yard that don't get babied are the ones that bloomed first. A white flower with a tinge of purple--in the rock walls precariously perched yet hardy as all get out. White blooms kissed with purple over by the tree. I wondered if the patch I baby were ever going to bloom. I think they were shamed into it.
Happy Birthday Texas. The Lone Star State. And by-thy-rivers-gently-flowing, Illinois, Illinois--soon your purple violets will be blooming. Spring is coming. The robins migrate through here and chose to stay up there. I think I saw one today.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Welcome to the World Ava
Yesterday, I got to hold a brand new baby girl. Her name is Ava. She is beautiful. She has this beautifully sculpted nose, (unlike my babies' pug noses) and she looks so peaceful and serene when she is sleeping. But, when a gas bubble dares to interrupt her dreams...storm clouds gather on her forehead. I had never seen anything like it. It was amazing. She is able to scrunch her little forehead into cumulus frownicus. But, the clouds pass quickly, and then all is serene again.
Woe unto our horrid health care system that makes a mom drive fifty miles from her home to the nearest doctor and hospital that accepts disabled veterans insurance.
Woe and curses on a hospital in Dallas that separates a new mom from her healthy baby in order to receive their extra funds in some bureaucratic nightmare.
Woe and curses heaped upon the head of a hospital and doctor who thinks more of getting their money than the bonding of a family.
I'd like to see some rich congresswoman who recently gave birth to go home without her new healthy baby girl, lactating and postpartum depression and screaming, three year old who did not understand why they did not get to take her new sister home from the hospital like all the adults in her life promised.
Let the world know that Renaissance Hospital at 2929 South Hampton Road in Dallas, Texas just defined the new meaning of CRUEL. I will bad mouth them to everyone I know. Sad, because they looked clean, and seemed friendly. But, what they did to Ava and her family is UNFORGIVABLE. They can not give Ava back that day of bonding with her family. They cannot take away the nightmares they caused to all concerned.
I am ashamed of how our veterans return having served honorably, and bearing permanent scars and pain, are treated. These men have a terrible time getting insurance coverage for their families. And when they try to work with the system, they are used and abused and lied to. Hospital policy my ***.
This is why we must elect a president that will honor our military. Send them on missions they can win with all the equipment and resources they need. And take care of their families back home. And when injured, provide medical care as good or better than the congressmen who send them into harms way.
Woe unto our horrid health care system that makes a mom drive fifty miles from her home to the nearest doctor and hospital that accepts disabled veterans insurance.
Woe and curses on a hospital in Dallas that separates a new mom from her healthy baby in order to receive their extra funds in some bureaucratic nightmare.
Woe and curses heaped upon the head of a hospital and doctor who thinks more of getting their money than the bonding of a family.
I'd like to see some rich congresswoman who recently gave birth to go home without her new healthy baby girl, lactating and postpartum depression and screaming, three year old who did not understand why they did not get to take her new sister home from the hospital like all the adults in her life promised.
Let the world know that Renaissance Hospital at 2929 South Hampton Road in Dallas, Texas just defined the new meaning of CRUEL. I will bad mouth them to everyone I know. Sad, because they looked clean, and seemed friendly. But, what they did to Ava and her family is UNFORGIVABLE. They can not give Ava back that day of bonding with her family. They cannot take away the nightmares they caused to all concerned.
I am ashamed of how our veterans return having served honorably, and bearing permanent scars and pain, are treated. These men have a terrible time getting insurance coverage for their families. And when they try to work with the system, they are used and abused and lied to. Hospital policy my ***.
This is why we must elect a president that will honor our military. Send them on missions they can win with all the equipment and resources they need. And take care of their families back home. And when injured, provide medical care as good or better than the congressmen who send them into harms way.
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