notinKansasanymore

Yes, RockyRaccocoRaccoon, the firkin may fly, but tell him to get there at least two hours early if it's an international flight, and to leave his little firkin pocketknife in his car. Where does the firkin need to go? I recognize that the little guy must be a bit timid, and somewhat afraid of flying, having not one, but three yellow stripes down his back . . ..

I remember that they had us go out and teach trees on one of the coldest mornings of the year, at some ridiculously early hour. I thought that I was a real smarty-pants, by going to the Auditorium and teaching the ficus tree at stage right. I even led the thing in song; it was more animated than some people I've known.

Practically had soy milk shooting out of my nose . . .. Thanks, Ex! I needed that.

You don't really need to read this; I just really needed to say it. I am not dancing today, because I am so sad that we are in this STUPID war. I'm not trying to change this into the "politics" thread; I can't even stand to read those. During the morning of 9/11, I was teaching a first year composition class at OU. I saw this coming, on that day. The students didn't understand why I was looking at them with tears in my eyes; I was seeing, in their faces, all of the boys with whom we went to high school, who went off to Vietnam all shiny and excited. Maybe I'll be dancing again soon; I just hate this.

So, this morning, I tried to teach the teenagers about memory pegs, using the grocery list in my head as an example; "one run," the horse was being ridden by a huge band-aid, etc. They rolled their eyes, snuggled into their Nora-Jones-playing-earphones, and said, "Geeez, why don't you just WRITE IT DOWN?" Why didn't we think of that in Top Floor Weirwille? Peace be with you, once you are freed from the revolving door (what's stuck in the door? OH, it's a COW, because I need MILK), the bees, and the monkeys in the zoo who are even now throwing out bags of cat food.

Oh, Shanta! Was this not the first name which fell from my lips? Eyes like that are hard to miss! Now, the question is which young lady accompanied Mr. Pappas on his ministerial ministrations. Lo, Shanta!

Ooooooooh. When you get in the spirit, Right Rev. Tuttle, you can preach the barn down right around our ears. I have left my wellstringed chair, yes I have, and have lifted my hands unto the blue-and-white-stripeytent, rejoicing in the spirit with you. Yani, i.e., what he said goes for me, too.

Oh, by the way - I don't mean to say anything weird about my sister; the plastic surgeon thing is just funny to me. She's a wonderful woman, great wife and mom. She's also a triathlete, and at the age of 45, specializes in blowing past much younger, extremely fit military types who shake their heads and ask "Where'd that lady come from? How'd she do that?"

Let's see. Dark, mysterious fellow with mesmerizing eyes. Jeff Pappas and Rob Campanella have dark hair, nice eyes - who else? Bill Nay, from our first year . . .. Dick DeNenno has dark hair; okay, Yani, am I warm, at all? As for the smiley girl with very large breasts, I think that I used to smile tolerably often, but as to that last part, nobody in my family has qualified for that in generations. Well, I take that back; my sister is in that category, but only thanks to a very proficient plastic surgeon . . .. Hangover's gone, by the way; we just got back from the natural history museum (largest apatosaur in the world; you can go up in one elevator to look at its head, and the other to look at its belly). We looked at an old Oklahoma log cabin, and I got a 107-year-old splinter. That's not something that happens every day, I suppose. If youse guys are ever in the Norman, Oklahoma area, I'll take you to see the wee beastie. To continue: Davis Crowell, Gene Slavit . . .

Fellowgardensitter, that sounds like a plan! Although I don't know how strong my drink will be; I am still such a lightweight that I am out of place in this college setting; last night, for instance, dancing around the kitchen, eating shark tacos that my better half tossed together (I can't cook like that), I had two drinks, spaced over about 4 hours; this morning, I have a hangover - it's really a joke around here. Speaking of the garden, a few asparagus peeked through a couple of weeks ago, but they thought better of the idea, and are now not in evidence. It's time to sift compost, though, so my time in Ohio should come in handy. I'm building a rotary compost sifter, because rubbing that stuff through a screen, just reminds me too much of sitting through all those hours of teaching in Top Floor Weirwille . . . For now, gotta toss some bran muffins in the oven, and drink water . . . they say that's the key. The following is an official announcement: this hangover will not in any way affect my propensity or ability to DANCE IN THE KITCHEN again. I just don't think I'll be twirling the four-year-old right now. Fellowsitter, I will keep the garden chairs warmed up, and the iced tea cooled down. Come on over! Just call first, to make sure we're not out doing compost; you'd hate to get roped in to that sort of activity. It gets in your gloves, and such.

Ahoy, there! I went on a wilderness walk for a time, and you folks went on for two pages! It's Friday afternoon; with my laughter, I greet you, with my gin & tonic, I salute you. Happy Tappas, everyone. Here, have a peanut, or a chip. After the band finishes getting set up, there will be dancing.

Excathy, If it's two days, or forty days in the wilderness, if you can't speak your mind among the brethren, wahl, then, it's been a disgrace for us to have been in this fellowship today! What is it, sister? Just watch out for that parrot.

So, the man says to the bartender, "Of coursh thish ish a shpecial parrot. He can balansh a whole jigger of drambuie on hish head and shing "Beautiful Ohio." "No way," sneers the bartender, thinking that he's heard it all now, and that he really needs to quit this part-time job at Adolph's, anyway. "Betcha ten bucksh," says the drunk.

Well, the whole Corps set of threads appeared to have disappeared, so I'm just making this post to see whether it will "appear" on the "general" page again. I just hate it when that happens. So, the man says to the bartender, "But thish ish a verrry shpecial Parrot."

Jain, Jain, Jain. What meanest thou to delete and break mine heart? For all are welcome at the keyboard of the Lord. Let us break bread together at the keys . . . Let us break bread together at the keys . . . If we all come together, we can storm any weather; Let us break bread together at the keys. One of the reasons our thread is so long is that you don't have to be in the club to post.

So, the bartender says to the guy, "Hey, you can't bring that parrot in here."

If you happened to spend the "winter" quarter of our last year in residence at HQ, then you may remember Vince Finnegan standing one of our married 9th Corps sisters up at a meal in the BRC and ripping her apart. Of course, he picked someone who was so intrisically courteous and sweet that she was too shocked and horrified to even respond to him. As tears began to trail down her cheeks, he continued to rail on her for some minutes, and we all watched, too frightened to do anything but sit there. If we'd said anything in her defense, we would have been next. Today, we are older, wiser, less intimidated by bullies, not brainwashed, and would have run him out of town. Who among us would have even listened to another word he said about spiritual matters? Of course, a predator would sense that, and wouldn't try that kind of attack in the first place. StillInThe WayLurkers: are there still predators like this in the Way? Do people still get stood up at mealtimes and ripped up? If not, then that's at least an improvement on "the old days." If so, then why are you still there? OH, sorry. I forgot - this is the fun thread. So, this guy walks into a bar with a parrot . . .

Yo, Simon. It's going solidly; how's it going on your side? I just looked at your profile; we are within one month of being the same exact age! Groooovy. In which state do you live? Regards, niKa

Ah, Tom . . . couldn't find any tickets at the last minute, eh? Oh, well. It was more like the bleating of Cougars . . . we had "a mighty truimph o'er the foes . . . we arose a victor from the flowery domain, and the trophy lives forever in our case to reign . . . It's a Rose, It's a Rose, Hallejulah, It's A Rose. Rockaroonie: Yes, a few of my former students were in the game; Antwone Savage, Quentin Griffin, and some who are on the roster but didn't play. One of the ladies who sat next to us has a son who was in my husband's class this past semester. Last year, I even had a graduating senior on the team whom I'd taught in Honors English, back when he was in 8th grade! That was fun. I didn't exactly teach them everything that they know, but Griffin sure taught me a few things about good character in collegiate athletes. That kid is the real deal. He was only 11 yards shy of the all-time OU record for single-season rushing, and our guys did a "gimme" to Washington for Wazzuu's 2nd touchdown so that Q could get back in the game and get his 11 yards. He wouldn't go in, though, simply for a record. He put on his Rosebowl champs ballcap backwards, stood on the sideline, and let the younger player have the downs. This is a kid who doesn't need record books to know who he is. Lordy, I just love meeting kids like that. It makes me feel good about the world.

RockyroccoccoRacoonRockeroonie: We had a four-year-old with a cold, so we watched the Rose Parade on Great-Grandma's living room floor, sitting on pillows, with bowls of cereal. We have worked on the Downey float in the past, however, because a Cousin lives in Downey and works on it every year. My Husband and I rode to the game with four relatives who are Wazzuu fans; we bought them pie after the game; they were charming and sweet about the whole Sooners-kicking-butt thing, and we didn't rub it in. Until we were alone in our van, on the way back to Grandma's - then, many high fives and war whoops. I'm glad that you got to do some LEAD-type stuff on the break; it seems that I remember some LEAD experiences with you. Love, niKa

I'm as happy as a submarine with a brand new screen door. We just got back from the Rose Bowl. There were little pompoms waiting on the stadium seats for us; we waved them and screamed, and the Sooners kicked some major rear end. It was domination, intimidation, and exhiliration. I screamed like a teenager. I screamed so hard that my lungs still hurt, today. Wow, that was fun. What did youse guys do over Christmas vacation? We drug four kids in a Van from here to there, and back again. Love, niKa

Simon, you're going to be in trouble if you were sitting next to ME! Honestly, though, I just tried to remember who used to be my rowmates at Corpsnight, and I can't even recall who those lucky believers were. I must have provided a fair amount of amusement, with my struggles to keep awake. I eventually learned that if I took off my nametag, and stuck myself with the pin, it would wake me up for about ten minutes or so. I also perfected the art of Corpsnight Chair Isometrics. I also drew pictures, wrote poems, and . . . well, what did YOU do to stay awake in meetings?

Speaking from experience gained as a 38-yr-old nevermarriedCorpsgradEx-way, and now looking back, as a 45-yr-old really, really happily married mother-of-two and stepmother-of-two: Nobody would disagree that there are many aspects to meeting and deciding upon a mate, and I acknowledge right up front that the aspect which I will address is ONLY ONE OF THEM. But, here goes: If you haven't yet, join a gym. Spend a little time pampering yourself by getting that ripped stomach, and those Madonna arms that you know are in there somewhere. If you're overweight, take care of that. Then, enjoy just being yourself. Your self-image will be very high, and you will naturally attract quality men without trying all that hard. This will only partly be because of your physical body. (Okay, if anybody out there wants to say, at this point, that the physical aspect is too shallow for quality, good-hearted men to care about, then I submit that such "anyones" are sweet, but misguided.) No, the real reason that you will attract men is that you will BE the best, physically, that you can be, and that kind of good health transposes itself into all aspects of one's personality and mindset. There really is something to all this physical fitness stuff. Try it, if you already haven't, and watch any problems meeting men just melt away. Another benefit to being healthy is increased longevity. The guys one meets in the gym are, statistically, likely to be longer-lived than the guys who never exercise. Assuming that you really like him, you're going to want him around for awhile.

Sorry; I don't know anything about John these days. I just wanted to go on record as saying that he had one of the best smiles, and biggest hearts, I ever saw. What a nice, nice guy. I hope that you find him.

My husband took me to see the movie xXx yesterday. If you like fast action and impossible stunts, you'll love this movie. I also think I'm beginning to understand the tattoo thing, now. It made me feel old, but I surely loved the ride.