One of Those Days

2008-09-21T17:01:30-06:00

Today has been one of those days.

After two consecutive weeks of very poor playing in the Higher Things Fantasy Football League, I benched my QB, Carson Palmer. Of course, today, he scores like he used to. And no one expected Ronnie Brown to come out like he did today. Least of all me. He was on my bench. Scored an amazing FORTY-FOUR points for my bench. Argh.

And then they say in youth ministry that numbers don't matter and sometimes things just don't work. It's true, and it happens. I had this brilliant idea that on the 3rd Sunday of each month, we'd go to a 3-o'clock showing of a movie in the theaters that has something interesting to say about faith and life, etc. and then we'd come back to my house (I know, me...entertain!) where we'd have supper (I KNOW! Me...cook!) and talk about it over dinner.

The Metrolux has slim pickings as far as PG-13 movies go right now, so I announced that we'd go to the 3:45 showing of The Women. I cleaned (which needed doing anyway) and made - from scratch, without use of any recipes - my family's secret recipes of Sloppy Joes and potato salad. Big batches even, for all the starving hordes of teenagers who would show up. I knew the movie choice was a risk, but we're at the mercy of the theater management on that. Next month should have better options.

No one showed. Not one person. One high school in town had homecoming this weekend, so some kids are tired. Others have to work. The guys weren't interested in a chick-flick - I knew I was pushing my luck there. Such is life.

I'm not letting it get me down. This is the way things go. I've learned a few lessons.

Pick a better movie, preferably something controversial or popular. (Pray that better movies are out and have the proper ratings!)
Promoting the event isn't enough, promote the movie selection as well.
Get a babysitter for Isaac.
Don't cook quite so much food, and prepare something more easily freezable.

So the sloppy joes are cooling in the crockpot. I'll just bag up the meat and freeze it until next month. I think my two ladies' Bible studies this week will be enjoying potato salad, and the youth group will have the opportunity to eat it with our pizza on Wednesday night. (Much to their surprise and delight, I'm sure!)

It could be worse. My house is clean (at least the common areas), I have plenty of homemade food to last for days, and now I get to take a nap. :)

And I get paid for this!

2008-03-20T23:29:33-06:00

YOUTH: hey can u summarize the story of the prodigal son for me real quick? its for a friend. lol

MADRE: hey dad, drop dead. i want my inheritance now./ouch. ok, here you go, don't spend it all in one place/(son burns thru it and ends up living off pig slop)

MADRE: (son thinks this stinks, at least i had food at dad's, maybe if i go back he won't kick my butt and i can work for him if he doesn't want me to be his son anymore)

MADRE: son sucks it up and goes home. dad has been waiting and watching for him to come back and is happy to see him, welcomes him with open arms and has a big bbq party.

MADRE: the end.

(Yes, that's even what my phone looks like. Isn't it cool??)

Madre's Missives

One of Those Days

And I get paid for this!