Give your Blood

Do you feel the need to do something good for anyone, everyone, even total strangers? Please, feel free to give blood! I would love to give blood. In fact, I did once. I only did it once becasue after that, they wouldn't let me do it again. I'm not sure why they let me the first time.

The first time I gave blood, I walked into the blood drive being conducted at our high school. Well, I didn't just walk in, I was in charge of the student end of organizing it. I had all the sign-up schedules, let-me-out-class slips, permission slips, ads, and all the other yada yada stuff. Since I had access to all the stuff, and hadn't asked my parents Mom's and Dick's, I forged the signature on the permission slip. I knew they weren't going to either. Fifteen years ago, they never did.

Actually, I never bothered to ask my parents for a signature becasue Dad Dick was being I think bipolar angry, as was usual for the time. I never got a chance to ask my mom. She was busy with other stuff and I didn't see her much. So, I forged dad's Dick's signature onto the permission slip. I then proceeded to walk into the "blood center.

During the interrogation session, I even told them I have a heart murmur. Did that matter? Not that year! I proceeded to give my pint of live giving blood. Giving blood makes you hungry. Lunchtime!

Being the wonderful students we were in KEY Club that year, we proceeded to hand our check-in seats to other kids, and headed off for the all forbidden off-campus lunch. Probably fifteen minutes later, we walked back into school (lunches in hand) past all offices of anyone and everyone who could exert disciplinary action over us. Strode back to our blood drive table and dished out several orders we'd taken for other kids; in front of the one last person who held any possible disciplinary power over us.

A year later, I went to give blood, at the same annual blood drive. I got rejected for, believe it or not, having a heart murmur. This time, I had permission from dad Dick, and his actual signature.

If you choose to give blood before Valentine's Day, be sure to join MaNiC MoMMy's blood giving contest.

Dinner at home?

I've learned...

Masons eat food. They eat lots of food. Most of this food is eaten in group events, such as dinners, luncheons, breakfasts, and general excuses to eat food. If a Mason is not eating, he is either: 1. working and can't eat at the moment; or 2. in the lodge room where food and beverages are strictly prohibited.

Masons also drink coffee. They drink pots and Pots and POTS of coffee. If you see a Mason without a coffee cup in hand, he is: 1. working and can''t have coffee at the moment; or 2. in the lodge room where food and beverages are strictly prohibited.

Last night, we attended the All Masonic Family Night sponsored by the Bremerton Valley of the Scottish Rite. Of the sixty or so people there, I'd say about 45 were also at the Shrine Club dinner Tuesday night. Our good friend Chuck asked us last night: do we ever eat at home?

That is actually a good question. Of the last week, five days have been out at masonic events. Naturally, dinners have been at theses events. The good news is, looking at my calendar, we will be having dinner here at home tonight, tomorrow night, Saturday, and all next week. There's nothing like a relaxing dinner at home with the family.

Kitsap Peninsula Shrine Club, say "goodbye" to Tuesday nights!

Ahhhhh, the relaxation of knowing the Kitsap Peninsula Shrine Club held its last Tuesday night meeting brings wonder to my life. It was hard enough to not cry in December as the former Kitsap County Shrine Club went dark in preparation of a merger with Viking Shrine Club. With all the extra sentimental energy in the air, what else would I do? The energy last night when my friend Tom announced the closure of last nights meeting was something else entirely.

Until Tuesday night, I've never been to an Installation of Officers for a Shrine club. This was definitely fun. Getting there was harried no problem, but being there was the best part of it. As crazy filled as my days get, leaving late for anything is normal. I have no clue every reason why I was running late. I only had to pack the tux, my dress, and monsters kids into the car. Deliver monsters kids to the YMCA, explain to sensai why they wouldn't be in karate, and wait at traffic lights. I spent 15 minutes crossing from EastPark in Bremerton to the other side of East Bremerton; a whopping two miles.

I was supposed to be at the Elks Lodge at 4:30 to help with tickets. I made it in at the very early 4:45 and made a record breaking change of clothing. I've learned there's no difference between a genuine adrenaline rush and alcohol mixed with sugar. I was wired without wine or sugar. That rush took over two hours to wear off.

Those two hours were the best two hours for photos, dying phone batteries, and pestering visiting good friends.

Fortunately, by the time Installation began, I was somewhat calm. At least, I was clam enough to focus for the moment on what was said. Not that I could remember any of the Officer charges at this point. I wish the phone batteries hadn't died. Each of the presidents of the former Kitsap County and Viking Shrine Clubs were presented with the charters of their respective former clubs. I think I may have started to get teary.

Most touching of the night was none other than the remarks made by the Potentate of the Nile Shrine. His mission is unity and longevity. If we preserve our hearts and work in the image of God's will at the Temple level, we will have a philanthropic hospital system well sustained into the future. Working together as Masonic bodies, recognizing the qualities each has, and moving forward with God's plan will give our children, as a masonic community, a future for to carry on the missions we operate today. All of the parties, picnics, dinners, happy hours mean nothing if we don't put God's mission for the future of our hospitals first.

Now that makes me cry.

Thoughts upon becoming a blogger

Why?
Because I want to expand my writing skills. Expansion of writing skills develops skills in communication. This can lead to various income earning opportunities. Income is good. Income leads to paying off bills, potentially buying a desperately needed new car. Income also leads to a larger house. Try living in an 850 square-feet shack house with Bigfoot and Big Boy, one girl, and mom under one roof. I feel for those who have larger families in small houses.

Lessons learned in blogging:
Mozilla Firefox has spell check built into the program. You'll never see my spelling errors. You'll never really know I can't type without looking at the letters. I also cannot type with more than a few fingers. I'm trying typing lessons on the internet; still working on the home keys.

HTML code. I have to learn how to cut and paste html code for all of the add-ons I've put on here. Not like I'm a chip-head or anything. Someday I'll hire someone like a cool graphic designer to move everything where I want it. I have been able to learn cool code for going crazy editing certain things. Yes, strikeout lines are an html code. So are codes for making statements. Yes, html code is fun.

I've learned You can't hide broccoli in a glass of milk (From the book Live Learn and Pass It On). I just wish my kids have. All it does it turn the milk green. We moms have eyes in all parts of our bodies ADHD and know everything you do.

I've also learned Hot Wheels are clothing and belong in dresser drawers. Please explain where your clothing goes if pocket cars are filling your dresser. Creative answers only. Testosterone will be factored into your score.

Most importantly, I've learned you can laugh at life. This is fun. You should try it more often.

Back to Life

Well, now that we have finished a funeral, and a Grand Master's Reception all in the time span of twenty four hours, it's now time to get back to life. That means back to coffee drinking, Sunday Schooling, homeschooling, Lego building, bead working, phone calling, tuxedo preparing, dress washing, karate attending, Kitsap Peninsula Shrine Club dining, homeschooling, phone calling, Lego building, Scout meeting running, homeschooling, phone calling, Lego building, Masonic dinner attending, homeschooling, phone calling, Lego building, , homeschooling, phone calling, Lego building, WACHIP eventing, Splash and Jamming...

Did I mention coffee drinking homeschooling, phone calling, and Lego building? Well, that's this week.

As I was planning out my to-do busy list for the week,I noticed:

FRIDAY NIGHT IS FREE!

How did I do that?