MI-5 ... early

Lisa's "Five" for this week; Tomorrow, take five different books, and type in the first line of each book. You can pick a book you just read, a book you are reading, and a book you want to read. You can use fiction, non-fiction, poetry, textbooks, whatever. If you want to create your own similarities among the five books, you can. However, you can pick any random five books you want, whether you have read them or not. DO NOT post the name of the book, nor the author. Only list the first line.

#1 Once, long ago in a land far away, there lived four little characters who ran through a Maze looking for cheese to nourish them and make them happy.
Who Moved My Cheese; by Spencer Johnson, MD

#2 I sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee, thinking about my unfinished housework.
Codependent No More; by Melody Beattie

#3 I seemed to be standing in a bus queue by the side of a long, mean street.
The Great Divorce; by C.S. Lewis (no relations)

#4 Although this book is written to anyone who wants to better understand how we can really change, certain groups of people come to mind as I write.
Inside Out; by Dr. Larry Crabb

#5 Good is the enemy of great.
Good To Great; by Jim Collins

MI-5 ... very late

Billyrythm says this 'five' is inspired by a bowl of his wife’s Chinese Chicken Noodle soup. Bill, you are easily inspired.

1) Chicken. We Americans eat lots of chicken, yet we’ve bred them to have little flavor. What’s something you do in your life that you do even though it has little flavor? That is, what is something you continue to do, though you receive little fulfillment for it?
Go to bed early. I don't know why but, its always been that way for me. Even 'back in the day' when I was wild & free (sorta), I had no desire to stay up later than about 11 pm. I still don't.

2) Noodles. Who invented them, the Chinese or the Italians? Tell us about your cultural heritage. Of what decent are you?
I am German/Welsh. I don't know a thing about the Welsh side. However, my Great Grandfather (father's side) came to America from Germany. He settled in the farmlands of New York - not very far from the port where he disembarked.

3) Green onions. When I was a kid, I didn’t like onions. Now, I can’t get enough of them. What’s something you used to dislike, but now really like?
That would be peas. When I was young, I could not stand peas! My parents forced me/us to eat them - even though they made me GAG! (I know, "TMI"). At some point later in life, I realized that my mom always served canned peas and fresh peas tasted totally different. Now I love fresh peas ... especially garden-fresh.

4) Carrots. When I was a kid, I couldn’t eat carrots. Now, I can eat them, but I don’t really care for them too much. What’s something you never cared for as a child that you still don’t care for today? Brussel sprouts. YUK! I don't even care for the smell. They smell bad while cooking, and they smell REALLY bad after digestion (if you know what I mean).

5) Broth. Without broth, you don’t have soup. What’s the thing that, if you didn’t have it, would make you not be you?
I'm not preaching here, but my answer has to be Jesus. After 52 years of living, I can honestly say that my relationship with Christ put me on a totally different track than what I started out on. I was not a very happy person back then. Furthermore, I believe by now I would either be rotting in prison or dead without Jesus in my life. All I have to do is think about what happened to the people I hung out with B.C. and its plain to see. THANK GOD HE RESCUED ME!

Billy's Five

Bill sez, Tell us an interesting story about you and a playground.
I remember from my childhood a wonderful place called Pioneer Park. It was a cool little park/playground on a major waterway where my dad would eventually launch our motorboat and turn me loose every Saturday. I spent countless days there throughout my childhood. And the thing I remember most, was a HUGE swing-set. This was a swing where one could nearly work their way up into the clouds. I would swing until I was sick to my stomach.

What typical workplace benefit do you not have currently that you wish you did have?
I take the Fifth Amendment.

Relate to us something about an experience buying/selling/renting a home.
Now this is a question I can easily talk about. As God moved us from one end of the east coast to the other, we have moved nine times and owned five different homes in three states. The most memorable is an 80 year old farm house we bought in Graceville, Florida. This place was a 'real gem'. Obviously built by a farmer whom was more skilled at growing corn than building houses, there was not a true "right angle" anywhere in the place. That made for some real challenging carpentry work. But I loved the old place!

What’s your favorite radio station? What’s the genre? Why do you like it?
I like several stations, but I guess I listen to The Message on XM most often. The genre is Contemporary Christian with a flare for skilled musicianship. I like it because the tracks played are up-beat - or at least positive in lyric. And there is no advertising ... sorry Bill.

What’s your favorite dessert? Why?
That would have to be "magic bars". My wife makes these things with chocolate, coconut, walnuts, and who knows what. I can eat them until I feel sick! I don't know why I'm so 'wild' about them, maybe because I'm CRAZY about the girl that makes them for me.

MI-5

Sue sez, "Since it is the week before New Year's Day I thought we could do some reflecting on the past year."

1.What one unexpected joy did you discover?
This would have to be the 'joy' of becoming a grandparent. My oldest daughter gave birth this year to my grandson, Ethan. Its hard to explain how it made me so happy - especially because of some issues associated with the event. But there is just something "wonderful" about witnessing the family lineage continuing to the next generation. Its "joyful"!

2.What two things would you have done differently? Why?
a) I think I would have managed time a bit differently. I didn't accomplish some of the objectives I had for 2008.
b) I should have put forth more effort in developing friendships. Its hard moving into a new culture and place - where you don't know anybody.

3.What were the three most significant events?
I already named the birth of my grandson. Second would be purchasing our home in the village of South Thomaston. Most 'significant' may be positive changes I have seen in people around the church. A few people have stepped into the light and tapped into God's power for the first time. Others made great progress in a 'faith journey' begun some time ago.

4.What four things did you do that were the most fun?
#1 I took up snow skiing. That's something I had only experienced a few times previously, and didn't really get the hang of it until now (Thank you Dwane). #2 I went to California for the first time of my life ... something I had dreamed of for many years. #3 I went to Peterson Auto Museum and saw some of the cars I grew up watching (& admiring) on TV. #4 Also in California, Josey and I took a long motorcycle trip up the Pacific Coast Highway. All I can say about that is, SWEET !!!

5. What five things are you most grateful for?
Wow - I'm exausted. #1 My wife. We don't always agree on things, and that's why I am grateful for her. #2 I am blessed with children who as adults, still talk to me on a regular basis. #3 I am grateful for good health (for a 52 year old). #4 The natural beauty of Maine's Mid-coast. #5 A loving relationship with Almighty God.

This Ol' House

This Ol' House ... isn't that the title of a TV show? Yeh, it ought to be called, "My Nagging Pain".

I have been working on our "Ol' House" much of this week, and I find it SO time-consuming. I suppose tools and such were not so precise 150 years ago when she was built. And that makes it difficult to mate precisely machined lumber and hardware with the old materials.

I'm trying to trim out the inside of windows we recently had installed. Before I went to Lowes, I measured a window setback in order to purchase the right trim. Then I measured another - just to make sure all the windows were the same. I went and bought material.

I came home, got all the tools out to get started. First window went fine ... looks pretty good. Second window - THE TRIM DIDN'T FIT! Checked another, THE TRIM DIDN'T FIT IT EITHER! Come to find out, the two windows I measured were the only ones (out of six) with the same setback. It seemed like such a small job when I started ...

In referring to this new (old) house as "she", I think the place needs a name. How about 'THE BARN'?

MI-5

Questions for reflection; 
 
1. What book do you most want to read before years end?  
*I started a book by President, John F. Kennedy about a month ago. 
Its about "courage" - which I think is an awesome character quality. 
However, its about courage as it relates to politics. Though I have 
little interest in politics, I would REALLY like to finish the book.
 
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you would like to see happen
soon? 
*I would like to see my retirement fund stop going away. Its
the most depressing thing that's happened in a long time.
 
3. What's the most important trip you want to take yet this year? 
*I have already more than filled my quota for travel this year. My
answer a few weeks ago would have been to visit my mother in Florida.
However, I still would like to make a road-trip to Freeport, Maine. 
There is an classic car shop there I MUST visit. 
 
4. What habit would you most like to establish in 2009? 
*I have tried to journal a number of times during my life. I believe 
it can be very helpful on a few different levels. But I have never 
been consistent at it. Maybe in 2009!
 
5. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten
years? 
*Love my mother better. I'm sure I don't call her enough. She will
be 90 in January, and will not likely be with us in ten years. I 
don't want to have regrets at that point.

Billy's Five

Bill says, "This Five is not so much concerned with what kind of movies you like, but how you watch them!"

1) When you’re at the theater, how do you want your atmosphere? Do you prefer old theaters or megaplexes? Full houses or intimate seatings? Lots of kids, or none at all?

I just love the old style theaters - the ones with lots of drapery and sconces on the wall for light. I guess I'm thinking of a particular one that was near our home in Florida. I also like them large and somewhat crowded. But I must confess, I don't like sharing the arm rest with someone who refuses to give me half.

2) What’s your “home theater” like? High tech? VCR and TV? What?

We are still getting our home set up and don't yet have a "home theater". But at some point it will be a warm and cozy place to totally relax. For equipment we only have a TV and standard DVD player. The only "high tech" part would be that we recently got the latest satellite receiver (leased) from Direct TV which has recording capability. I DO run the audio through a home stereo ... WOO-HOO!

3) We’ve probably all got DVD and VCR players, but how about alternative movie watching gadgets? Have you got an Apple TV? Ever watch a movie over the Internet?

The folks we stayed with in Virginia last week watch all TV programs and movies over the Internet. They don't even have standard cable TV of satellite service. However, I tried it at home and it didn't work so well. I've been told the processor in our computer is not quite fast enough to handle streaming video. Someday ...

4) Do you belong to a subscription movie rental service, like NetFlix? If so, how many movies are you renting a month? Are you happy with the service?

We have no membership and we are not renting these days. We used to be 'regulars' at the local movie rental store, but that has changed. I don't miss it all that much, but my wife sure does. Its OK though, we find enough re-runs on TV to be entertained.

5) Share with us your ratio of buying movies to renting them. Do you rent more, or just outright buy your movies? Do you get DVDs, tapes, or movie downloads for your computer most frequently?

If we were renting or buying, the delivery system would definitely be digital. I finally 'chucked' the old VCR because I can no longer tolerate the picture quality of an image lifted from tape. I may OWN low tech equipment, but I really appreciate quality and changing technology. Would you say I'm spoiled? (: