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breathegrace
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Name: Marnie
Country: Italy
Interests: The Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, old books, Bill, games, travel, girlfriends, Shirley Temples, my kids and my friends' kids, and much more that I'll add at a later date!
Expertise: My friend, Sarah, who is creating my site and writing this, thinks that I am an exceptionally kind, generous, and fun friend. She also believes me to love Jesus, and to breathe grace; thus, the name of my site!
Message: message me
Member Since:
11/3/2004
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| I started using a new writing program this school year called IEW. Writing is the area I feel least adequate to teach, but I believe this program is within my reach. I thought I'd do writing assignments with the girls with the assumption it would encourage them to see dear old mom in the trenches. However, as with so many other good intentions I bestow on these unpredicable girls, my trench work backfired. My writing intimidated them. No matter I'm thirty something...all they see is someone more proficient than them. "Awww mom (insert defeated, whiny voice here), how did you write so much already?" Undaunted by their comments, I will continue practicing my strong verbs and quality adjectives... | | |
| Bill, of all people asked me last night, "Isn't it about time for you to post something again?" I could tell you about his recent meeting with a sliding glass door when he attempted to peer around a curtain to look at two lovely girls sleeping. No, that might be embarrassing.
I could tell you about taking *** for a test drive in my van the other day. I wanted to see how her driver's permit skills were coming along. She's an excellent driver is what I would tell you if I were going to tell you. Before we left, she told me her napping parents were to be awakened at 3:00 so dad could go to work and mom and kids could go to the gym. Fine, but I told *** I would love to be the one to go in there and jump on the bed to wake them up (not until *** had peered in the door to be sure they were sleeping, of course!). *** informed me that it was not a very good idea since her dad slept in his underwear. I respected her VHO (very humble opinion) and allowed her to wake her parents. I have omitted names to protect the innocent.
Fortunately, Bill was not part of this escapade, so there will be no conflicting reports... | | |
| Bill speaking. It's my turn to tell the story of the tardy vacationing shopper lovingly known as my wife, Marnie. We had about 12 minutes before the ferry set sail (or, more accurately, powered up) for the return voyage to the mainland. Please bear in mind, gentle friends, that these ferry captains are rather prompt individuals and are not generally given to delaying departures and thereby throwing off the entire ferry schedule for the rest of the population of San Diego.
As soon as Marnie declared that she would be making a few "last minute" purchases (it was more like 'last second') before joining us on the ferry I knew deep in my heart, I was thoroughly convinced at that precise moment, that I would be frantically awaiting her return fearing that I would be sailing to the other side without her. More importantly, that I would be sailing to the other side alone with three children. Three children who would, undoubtedly, as soon as we started moving, become restless, agitated, irritable, grumpy, hungry, thirsty, bored, "I have to go to the bathroom," "when's mommy gonna get here," "Is she OK," "How is she going to get back," "How will she find us," "Daddy, can we...ride the trolly ...go to the gift shop ...get a milkshake..." ad infinitum, ad nauseum. And I would have precisely one hour to figure out what to do in a part of San Diego where there is NOTHING (or nearly so) to do. Granted, I'm perhaps exaggerating just a tad, but I really didn't want to have to wait an hour when our plan was to go back to the van and head home. We were already going to be rolling into town around 1:00 AM. Why make it 2:00 AM unnecessarily? I mean, really, just for a few starfish?
So I firmly, and with all the patience I could muster, emphasized that time was short, the Captain wouldn't wait, and I REALLY did NOT want to have to wait on the other side until she caught up.
Well, as the girls and I boarded the ferry, I inquired as to how much time was left. Approximately 3 minutes remained. I stood at the portal and strained to get a glimpse, just a glimpse of the green and white striped shirt she was wearing. Anything to give me some sense of hope that I would not have to stand there in utter frustration as the deck hands untied and pushed us off. Shortly, one of the crew stated that if she isn't here in one minute, we're leaving. The other was friendlier and gave me a ray, albeit a small ray, of hope.
I climbed the stairs to the upper deck to get a better view. As we were looking for her, the Captain inquired of the crew, "What are we waiting for?" I don't remember the exact words given in response, but they were to the effect that some tourist's wife was running late. "Yeah, that tourist over there with the 3 kids," he may as well have added to increase my embarrassment. It seemed as though everyone was looking at me and knew that I was the culprit whose spouse was keeping them from their lives on the other side.
Miraculously, the Captain refrained from the expected huff and retort of something like, "Too bad laddy, yer jest outta luck. Yer jest gonna hefter wait fer her on the other shore. Aaarrrggh!" Instead, he granted another moment.
Fortunately, at about that moment, I spotted the lovely green and white striped shirt as she hurriedly bobbed between passersby, awkwardly threw a leg over the bike, and haltingly began to peddle her way to the waiting vessel. My heart skipped a beat. "She's going to make it," I began to believe. She was loving every moment. I was just relieved to know I had escaped an hour of limbo. She said I didn't wave. I seem to remember waving, but it's all so distant and foggy now, I don't really know for sure. She rolled down the ramp, her face as red as a radish, but smiling from ear to ear and beaming with pride for having succeeded in accomplishing her mission with no more than a brief moment of mild embarrassment, clutching her precious treasures close to her side.
It's all history now. I'm able to laugh about it. It's a precious memory that will in our family history forever. I love her for it now, it was an ordeal at the time.
And that's the way it was.
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| ANOTHER SAN DIEGO HIGHLIGHT
One day we loaded our bikes up at the campground and headed downtown where we boarded a ferry bound for Coronado Island. We had a blast on a scenic bikeride to the other side of the island and played a little at the beach. When we got back to the ferry side, we stopped for ice cream and headed to the ferry. I spotted some shells and starfish for sale at a nearby shop. Wanting to do a little last minute shopping, I sent Bill with the girls to board the ferry and told him I'll be right there. He knows I live making deadlines "on the edge", so he firmly stated, "Don't be late."
I never intend on being late, there is just always a slow truck or a slow shopper in my way. So naturally, a credit card purchaser was ahead of me. Long story short, I head out of the store and the ferry is in sight with my family waving at me from the top level! To be honest, Bill wasn't waving! By my watch, it is departure time. I sail in front of the few remaining shops separating me from the ferry ramp and then break away from the crowd...then just like a scene in a movie, I pedal as swiftly as I can on the path leading to the ramp and then turn quickly down the ramp itself. A tattered wooden ramp mind you.
So, dear reader, imagine your beloved friend pedaling from a standing position for optimum speed and bouncing up and down in rapid succession as she crosses each plank. Her plastic bag filled with new treasures is on the handlebars flying in the wind and a huge smile covers her face. All the while, the passengers on the ferry are watching her arrival and probably now figuring that she's the one holding up the departure. For Bill, this is just another example of his wife adding fresh adventure to his life. As I glanced at the passengers watching me descend down the ramp, I thought briefly about being embarrassed, but no, it was too much fun racing against time...
By my watch, I was one minute late...it was an exhilerating minute!!! | | |
| EASY CROCKPOT RECEIPE
4-6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1-2 small cans tomato sauce
Italian seasoning
1. Layer in the order given
2. Set on low and call it a day (Mine is usually done in 3-4 hours)
3. Serve over any type of pasta
4. Top with mozerella cheese and serve | | |
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