Random Tuesday and Coffee Chat

Time to link up with Stacy for some randomness!

How was Thanksgiving?  Mine was quiet, just the way I like it.  I went to visit my mom.  We had Thanksgiving lunch at the community center in her town then went to see Love the Coopers.  I enjoyed spending time with Mom.

We also did a little bit of online shopping.  No more black Friday shopping for us.  We haven't gone in years.  It gets too crazy, and unless you need a big ticket item like a computer, game system, or large flat screen HDTV, the deals really aren't worth the hassle.  It seems like everyone is having sales now too, and I've gotten quite a few coupons in the mail to use in addition to the sales at Penneys, Kohls, Michaels, and Amazon.  I've still got plenty of shopping to do!

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I haven't put my tree up yet.  I always want to have it up on the weekend after Thanskgiving, but this year... I got sick.  You know I'm sick if I'm not in the mood to put Christmas decorations out.  Haha!  I finally went to the doctor yesterday - got a shot and several prescriptions.  I'll be good as new soon!

And now, Coffee Chat with Rory.

She asks, "Will you be participating in Giving Tuesday?"

What is GivingTuesday?

GivingTuesday is a global day of giving. After the sales of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday is a time to celebrate and encourage activities that support charities and non profits. Whether it’s making a donation, volunteering time, helping a neighbour or spreading the word, GivingTuesday is a movement for everyone who wants to give something back.

This is the first time I've heard of Giving Tuesday, but it makes perfect sense!  I don't plan to limit myself just to today, though.

Last night, I took a meal to a friend whose husband just had surgery and can't walk.  Yes, she can cook, but it gave her more time to be with her family instead of in the kitchen.

My school is doing a collection of new books and blankets for a local homeless shelter.

I have plans to purchase items for the Angel Tree at church.  The gifts go to children of prisoners.

There are many ways I can give, but it's not for my glory; it is for God's.

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As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:9

Giving to the poor, needy, widows, is a constant theme from Old Testament to New Testament of the Bible.  This verse puts it in a nutshell.  My translation is, "Give all that you can to the poor because it is the right thing to do."
Have a great week!

Thankful Thursday Thirteen

What better day than Thanksgiving to reflect on the simple, often overlooked, things for which we are thankful.

God

Family

Faith

Comfortable home

Stable job

Food

Fresh water

Entertainment (TV, computer, games)

Books

Transportation

Friends

Freedom

and...

My Cat!

Link up with Thursday Thirteen here and below.

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It's Just My Opinion

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Disappointing. I've read most of Grisham's books, and I am a huge fan, but I like this one the least. His latest books have taken longer to get into, but this one's plot is so choppy, it never reached the point where I really cared about the characters.

The main character is Sebastian Rudd, defense attorney. He represents the criminals no one else will. Everyone deserves a good defense, no matter their crime. He works out of his office, a bulletproof van equipped with a bar and WiFi (a la Lincoln Lawyer). Rudd occasionally has fatherly duties when his ex-wife and her new wife allow it. He doesn't seem fond of his own son or seem to take his parental job seriously.

The first half of the book reads like a series of short stories. There is no continuity, each chapter a different case. The second half of the book follows an actual plot line, albeit preposterous. The ending leaves the reader unsatisfied because, although the conflict is resolved for the secondary characters, the situation with the main character is in suspension, likely leaving things open for a sequel.

The cases are definitely interesting: an innocent man accused of murder; a cage fighter claiming insanity in an aggressive, senseless killing; a mob boss on death row whose appeals have run out. Grisham touches on topics such as kidnapping, prison escape, jury tampering, and sex trafficking. All of the elements of a good legal thriller are present, but they just don't integrate into the kind of novel for which Grisham is known.

View all my reviews

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Thankful Thursday Thirteen

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

 Life is not perfect; it never will be. But I realize that I have so much for which to be grateful.

 1. I'm thankful to live in the United States.
2. I'm thankful for entertainment: Movies, theater, music, television.
3. I'm thankful my mother is still alive to celebrate thanksgiving with me. She has been through three successful cancer surgeries, a knee replacement, a nasty broken wrist, and a hard fall on the concrete that damaged her teeth and mouth. All this within the last seven years. Thank you, God, for giving me such a strong woman with a fighting spirit.
4. I am thankful for church and the freedom to choose where (or if) I worship.
5. I'm thankful for the memories I have of my dad. I miss him so much.
6. I'm thankful for a week off from school.  Maybe I can go see the new Peanuts movie!

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7. I'm thankful for my children. They are turning out to be such awesome young adults!
8. I'm thankful for the Internet. Yes, it takes my time, but that is my choice, so...
9. I am thankful I can CHOOSE (lots of things, how to spend my time, what career I want, where to live, and so on.)
10. I'm thankful for friends who enjoy spending time together, socializing, having fun.
11. I am thankful for my cat.  All my fur-baby has to do is purr, and my spirits are instantly lifted.
12. I'm thankful I have a good job, a car, and a home.
13. Most of all, I am thankful that God loves me. I'm grateful to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That is the biggest blessing of all.

You can link up with Thursday Thirteen, too!

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Brought to you by the Letter S

Join ABC Wednesday here!

S is for Sacrifice.

sacrifice

noun sac·ri·fice \ˈsa-krə-ˌfīs, also -fəs or -ˌfīz\

: the act of giving up something that you want to keep especially in order to get or do something else or to help someone

A parent sacrifices so much for his/her child/ren.  What have you sacrificed?

Having more stuff?

A bigger house?

Better car?

Gourmet meals?

Your figure?

Time?

Comfort?

Money?

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The list probably goes on and on.  But what you realize is that you would sacrifice anything for your child.  So these things don't seem like sacrifices at all...

Especially when I remember that Jesus made the biggest sacrifice, his life, in order to redeem us of our sins.  I am humbled.

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Random Tuesday and Coffee Chat

Another random Tuesday is here!  Link up with Stacy!

I am so looking forward to Thanksgiving!  My district gives a whole week off, and I have so much to do at home, organizing my scrapbook stuff, cleaning out closets, and these are things I don't have time for during a regular school week or even on a weekend.  There's too much involved.  And, of course, I want to start decorating for Christmas, buying gifts, and wrapping gifts.

It will be a time to catch up on tv time!  But I am removing two new shows from my Tuesday lineup.  I gave them both a chance, and they are not living up to my expectations.  They aren't clever or unique; they are stale and predictable.  I'm talking about Grandfathered and The Grinder.

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I like the actors in Grandfathered.  I've watched John Stamos since he was Blackie on General Hospital (pictured above), long before Full House, Jake in Progress, or his stint on ER, another show I used to love.  I loved Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss on Criminal Minds.  My kids grew up watching Josh Peck on Drake and Josh.  So, I had high hopes, but alas, Hollywood still has a hard time writing a good comedy.

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I really liked Rob Lowe from The Grinder when he played Sodapop Curtis in the Outsiders and Billy Hicks in St. Elmo's Fire (pictured above).  Then he had that "little mishap" where he taped sex with two females, one of them only 16 years of age.  I didn't watch anything with him again until recently when he appeared on Parks and Recreation.  I love that show,   Not so much The Grinder, though.  And I'm not really fond of any of the other actors, so... it's got to go.  I'd love to see Parks and Rec revived!

And now, it's time for Coffee Chat.
Link up with Ink Interupted.

Question:  What do you hope to be remembered for?

Gosh!  It's not like I'm considering this happening any time soon, but when I'm gone, I hope people will remember me as kind and caring.  I hope they know that I am a child of God.  I'd like them to remember the small things I try to do to help others.
 And I hope some remember me fondly as their language arts teacher.  I believe people will remember me as a strong woman, a good mother, a good daughter, as someone who has a good sense of humor, and, of course, as Forgetfulone.

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Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen TV Shows I'm Digging

How to Get Away with Murder is my favorite!    Great legal drama.  Viola Davis is brilliant.

Once Upon a Time is so creative and imaginative.  Fractured Fairytales are fascinating.

Criminal Minds is a clever, psychological thriller.  Love it!

I've seen every episode of this cop and law show, L&O SVU, since the beginning.  One of my faves.

Code Black is one of the best new shows. I like watching medical dramas.  Remember ER?

The original cop and law show, Law & Order, keeps me entertained.

  I've also seen every episode of this one.

One of the VERY few comedies I watch.  Bang!

I quit watching this medical drama for a time due to some remarks one actor made,

 but I love the characters!

One of the few reality shows I watch.  I just love the beautiful dresses!

Another psychological crime show.  I 'm not as big a fan of this as I used to be, but it's still good.

Don't laugh!  I sometimes wish I could say the things that Judge Judy says!

They are no longer making Seinfeld anymore, but I still like to watch it in reruns.  It's clever!

I love watching Heidi design dresses!

Stop at Thursday Thirteen and play along!

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Brought to You by the Letter R

Join ABC Wednesday for some fun with words.

R is for Rankin, my maiden name.  Unfortunately, my sister and I, and a few female cousins are the last of the Rankins.  Our name will not be carried on to a new generation.  I had one male cousin with the last name Rankin, but he never married and has already passed on.

The name Rankin traces its roots back to medieval times from England, Scotland, and Ireland.  My ancestors came mostly from Ireland.

The name Rankin was a combination of the name Randolph (the Ran part of it) and the suffix kin.  Rankin settlers began arriving in the United States in 1650.  The first Rankins in the US settled in Virginia and New England.

I'm proud of my heritage and my maiden name.  I wish it could go on, but it just didn't work out that way.

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Random Tuesday and Coffee Talk

Link up with StacyUncorked for some random!

So I got a much-needed massage yesterday.  I had some weird thoughts as I lay there being pampered.  You know that face pillow thing you use when you're face down?  I wonder if anyone ever gets so relaxed that they drool on the floor?  Gross, huh?  Such is my mind.  And I wonder what would happen if that face pillow fell off.  Would our head pop down?  Would you pop your chin on the table?

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I wonder what the masseuse is thinking during my massage.  "Look at the blubber on this one! Hahaha!  Or is she thinking, "This girl has some stinky feet!"  Hahaha!  And speaking of feet, why do they do your feet before they do your head? And why do they get that greasy lotion all in your hair?  They should do the head first.

Do you ever feel uncomfortable when going from front to back?  Ever wonder if, even though they try to keep you covered, you give them a little flash? And I wonder why they can never get the pressure exactly right.  Too much or too little.  And what I don't want is just a simple back rub.

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Now, my husband offers to give me a massage sometimes, but he's expecting a happy ending,  He thinks there is only one reason why a female would let another female touch her.  He has a vivid imagination.

Have you ever had a couples massage?  There's really nothing romantic about it.  You're in the same room with the lights low and soothing music playing, but you're on separate tables at least 3 or 4 feet from each other.

So, what's your random today?

And the coffee chat topic at Ink Interrupted  is...

Do you volunteer?

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The year I got remarried (2005) and moved to a new suburb about 50 miles from where I was living,  I took off one year of teaching.  During that year, I volunteered at my children's school and at our church.  Best year of my life!  Even after I went back to work, I still managed to volunteer in the nursery at church, wrap presents for Angel Tree, teach Vacation Bible School, and participate in booster clubs for several of my children's organizations.  I also chaperoned during games and contests.  I wish I had more time to volunteer!  It's fun and fulfilling.

My husband volunteers at a soup kitchen about once a month.  He and some co-workers purchase food, prepare, and serve a meal at one of the shelters downtown.  I admire him for doing that.  Do you volunteer?

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