I'll be gone for several days, but I want to leave this behind as something to ponder and study on. This is Proverbs 31, from the NIV version.
What I'd point out in the first half is that there is a time for partying and drinking, but it's not for people who want to lead others or themselves. It's always good advice to take care of business first.
But by far I most want you to ponder the verses about caring for the poor and needy. It is possible to do so and still have more than plenty for ourselves. The Proverbs 31 woman is a strong woman; not only does she care for her household, but she invests in real estate and creates several businesses to earn the money to help with her family and to care for the poor and needy. She sees her circle of responsibility as extending beyond herself and her family.
This chapter also points out that there are great opportunities for creativity in work. Taking care of a household is not all about scrubbing floors and doing laundry, though we can find joy even in those tasks if we set our mind to find it.
Just look at all the things this woman does! It reminds me of some of the most successful business women I know today. Many interests, each of which fulfill a purpose not only of the household, but also to feed the spirit and soul.
What do you not see? Not drudgery. Not selfishness. Not being kept under her husband's thumb (or anyone else's.)
Sure, she works hard, but it's the work she chooses to do. And she has many ventures, all her own.
Good stuff.
Proverbs 31
Sayings of King Lemuel
1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle his mother taught him:
2 "O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
3 do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 "It is not for kings, O Lemuel—
not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;
7 let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Through different eyes
Tonight there were just two of us who met together for our weekly laity prayer group. We spend about a half hour each Tuesday praying for the ministries of the church and for the staff. Normally there are about 10 to 12 of us, but this week Cliff and I met alone.
He had been drawn to Isaiah 64 and shared it with me. His Bible was a version I had not seen before, one called The Message. This is a paraphrase version by Eugene Peterson. The language is considerably less formal and stiff than other versions which are translations rather than paraphrases.
Regardless of its pedigree, I found it speaking to me during our time together tonight. I especially liked "Since before time began no one has ever imagined, No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you;" and "We dry up like autumn leaves -- sin-dried, we're blown off by the wind."
Now, I'm not saying I believe that all the natural disasters the world is suffering are necessarily due to God's anger with mankind. Sometimes, the world just has earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and other phenomena. But I do think it's good for us to remember that instead of bringing His wrath to bear on us, He's given us the gift of forgiveness if we will but accept it. And while He doesn't promise that everything will go just right for us, He does promise He will never forsake us or leave us alone.
So take a look at this, then compare it to your usual Bible, and see what you think of the language found in The Message.
Isaiah 64 (from The Message)
Can We Be Saved?
1 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
make the mountains shudder at your presence--
2 As when a forest catches fire,
as when fire makes a pot to boil--
3 To shock your enemies into facing you,
make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
4 Since before time began
no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
who works for those who wait for him.
5 You meet those who happily do what is right,
who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you've been with us!
We've sinned and kept at it so long!
Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
6 We're all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
We dry up like autumn leaves--
sin-dried, we're blown off by the wind.
7 No one prays to you
or makes the effort to reach out to you
Because you've turned away from us,
left us to stew in our sins.
8 Still, GOD, you are our Father.
We're the clay and you're our potter:
All of us are what you made us.
9 Don't be too angry with us, O GOD.
Don't keep a permanent account of wrongdoing.
Keep in mind, please, we are your people--all of us.
10 Your holy cities are all ghost towns:
Zion's a ghost town,
Jerusalem's a field of weeds.
11 Our holy and beautiful Temple,
which our ancestors filled with your praises,
Was burned down by fire,
all our lovely parks and gardens in ruins.
12 In the face of all this,
are you going to sit there unmoved, GOD?
Aren't you going to say something?
Haven't you made us miserable long enough?
He had been drawn to Isaiah 64 and shared it with me. His Bible was a version I had not seen before, one called The Message. This is a paraphrase version by Eugene Peterson. The language is considerably less formal and stiff than other versions which are translations rather than paraphrases.
Regardless of its pedigree, I found it speaking to me during our time together tonight. I especially liked "Since before time began no one has ever imagined, No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you;" and "We dry up like autumn leaves -- sin-dried, we're blown off by the wind."
Now, I'm not saying I believe that all the natural disasters the world is suffering are necessarily due to God's anger with mankind. Sometimes, the world just has earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and other phenomena. But I do think it's good for us to remember that instead of bringing His wrath to bear on us, He's given us the gift of forgiveness if we will but accept it. And while He doesn't promise that everything will go just right for us, He does promise He will never forsake us or leave us alone.
So take a look at this, then compare it to your usual Bible, and see what you think of the language found in The Message.
Isaiah 64 (from The Message)
Can We Be Saved?
1 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
make the mountains shudder at your presence--
2 As when a forest catches fire,
as when fire makes a pot to boil--
3 To shock your enemies into facing you,
make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
4 Since before time began
no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
who works for those who wait for him.
5 You meet those who happily do what is right,
who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you've been with us!
We've sinned and kept at it so long!
Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
6 We're all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
We dry up like autumn leaves--
sin-dried, we're blown off by the wind.
7 No one prays to you
or makes the effort to reach out to you
Because you've turned away from us,
left us to stew in our sins.
8 Still, GOD, you are our Father.
We're the clay and you're our potter:
All of us are what you made us.
9 Don't be too angry with us, O GOD.
Don't keep a permanent account of wrongdoing.
Keep in mind, please, we are your people--all of us.
10 Your holy cities are all ghost towns:
Zion's a ghost town,
Jerusalem's a field of weeds.
11 Our holy and beautiful Temple,
which our ancestors filled with your praises,
Was burned down by fire,
all our lovely parks and gardens in ruins.
12 In the face of all this,
are you going to sit there unmoved, GOD?
Aren't you going to say something?
Haven't you made us miserable long enough?
Saturday, October 22, 2005
It's Saturday!!
Woot! I just finished the work I wish I had gotten finished yesterday (and I'm not alone in that...) But it is DONE now, I say gratefully. And it's not even noon Saturday yet.
So here are my options for the weekend:
Mistletoe Market! One of my favorite annual events at the State Fairgrounds (a scant mile or less from my home.) Lots of good shopping for gifts -- for others or myself. FUN FUN FUN... lots of unusual food items are among the goods for sale. Clothing, jewelry, household items are also available. Maybe I'll find a gift for my high school journalism teacher. A friend and I will be flying to Portland, Ore., next week to see her for the first time in 30+ years. MORE FUN!
Oklahoma City Woodcarvers' Show! Yeah! While I'm out at the fairgrounds anyway for Mistletoe Market, I'll stop by the Centennial Building to see the woodcarvers' show. I just did a story this week about one carver who has created a cougar out of a 600-pound elm tree trunk. The carving took him just about two weeks. I last saw it a couple of days before it had to be delivered to the show. He's since added the stains to the face, and I'd love to see the final product, as well as the work of other carvers. That's a hobby I've always thought about taking up. Apparently my mother had similar thoughts, as I found a set of carving knives after her death. I wish she had given it a try. I would have loved seeing her creative side.
Dog obedience trials! Yet another fairgrounds event! Maybe I'll peek in to see how the dogs are doing. I love dogs. I miss having a special dog of my own.
Tomorrow: Linwood Place Home Tour. I may go see all the houses on this tour. I love home tours and write about a LOT of them. Yes! It's always fun to see someone else's house. And I am ALWAYS amazed that people will open their doors and let me come in. Sometimes even when I just knock on their door to ask them a question -- this happened yesterday in another neighborhood. People can be very hospitable. I hope I just have a trustworthy face.
More work: I've got a couple of stories I'm working on for another editor. One is interesting, one is so-so. On the so-so story, the more interesting story is a character study of the people I talked to. Maybe someday I can post about that, when I don't run the risk of identifying them. Maybe they will be a part of my life during NaNoWriMo.
Lawn mowing: It has to happen at some point this weekend. Hopefully it will be the last mowing of the year! Also I have some pansies to plant that are starting to look a little bad around the edges.
What are you doing this weekend? Are you going to have fun?? I plan to!
So here are my options for the weekend:
Mistletoe Market! One of my favorite annual events at the State Fairgrounds (a scant mile or less from my home.) Lots of good shopping for gifts -- for others or myself. FUN FUN FUN... lots of unusual food items are among the goods for sale. Clothing, jewelry, household items are also available. Maybe I'll find a gift for my high school journalism teacher. A friend and I will be flying to Portland, Ore., next week to see her for the first time in 30+ years. MORE FUN!
Oklahoma City Woodcarvers' Show! Yeah! While I'm out at the fairgrounds anyway for Mistletoe Market, I'll stop by the Centennial Building to see the woodcarvers' show. I just did a story this week about one carver who has created a cougar out of a 600-pound elm tree trunk. The carving took him just about two weeks. I last saw it a couple of days before it had to be delivered to the show. He's since added the stains to the face, and I'd love to see the final product, as well as the work of other carvers. That's a hobby I've always thought about taking up. Apparently my mother had similar thoughts, as I found a set of carving knives after her death. I wish she had given it a try. I would have loved seeing her creative side.
Dog obedience trials! Yet another fairgrounds event! Maybe I'll peek in to see how the dogs are doing. I love dogs. I miss having a special dog of my own.
Tomorrow: Linwood Place Home Tour. I may go see all the houses on this tour. I love home tours and write about a LOT of them. Yes! It's always fun to see someone else's house. And I am ALWAYS amazed that people will open their doors and let me come in. Sometimes even when I just knock on their door to ask them a question -- this happened yesterday in another neighborhood. People can be very hospitable. I hope I just have a trustworthy face.
More work: I've got a couple of stories I'm working on for another editor. One is interesting, one is so-so. On the so-so story, the more interesting story is a character study of the people I talked to. Maybe someday I can post about that, when I don't run the risk of identifying them. Maybe they will be a part of my life during NaNoWriMo.
Lawn mowing: It has to happen at some point this weekend. Hopefully it will be the last mowing of the year! Also I have some pansies to plant that are starting to look a little bad around the edges.
What are you doing this weekend? Are you going to have fun?? I plan to!
Monday, October 17, 2005
Tech Tagged!
Ouch! I've been tagged by Tech for another meme! Oh, actually I guess it doesn't hurt, really. Especially since this meme is a search for joy!
Here's the meme:
THE SEARCH FOR JOY
Search your blog for the word "joy" used in the context of "happiness." If you cannot find the word in your weblog, you may use any of the select list of synonyms below.
joy — amusement, bliss, cheer, comfort, delectation, delight, ecstasy, elation, exaltation, exultation, exulting, felicity, gaiety, gladness, glee, good humor, gratification, happiness, hilarity, humor, jubilance, liveliness, merriment, mirth, pleasure, rapture, regalement, rejoicing, revelry, satisfaction, wonder
If your weblog does not include a built-in search engine, then you can use Google to search it only for the word you wish to find.
If you've found the word and it was not used facetiously or sarcastically, good for you. All you need to do is link to your earlier entry, and write a few words about that joyous moment. If, however, you have no joy (whole words only) in your weblog, you must dig deep in your soul and find something wonderful in your life right now. One little thing that fills you with warmth, that bubbles you over with quiet happiness, or tickles you with its good-hearted hilarity, or makes you glad you just took a breath, and are getting ready to take another. It doesn't have to be anything big. A smile someone gave you; your cat on your shoulder; the way the light angles through your window and casts rainbows on your floor. All it has to be is something genuine, something real, something that matters to you.
Because we all need joy in our lives, and need to take the time -- from time to time -- to recognize it. And sometimes, we need to pass it on.
Even if we're a big pain in the ass when we do.
When you've dealt with your own joy, pass the quest on to five other bloggers.
I have two posts that use the word "joy" but they come in response to Hurricane Katrina. Here are the links to those two posts:
Let us remember
Let us sing (all the verses)
And for comfort:
Today's Headlines!
I know I've had posts with a similar quality, but which apparently don't include these particular words. And aha! I have just discovered that the search feature does not always work! I did a search for the words "supper" "pumpkin" and "symbolism" on my blog, all of which I know are there, and nothing shows up!
And now, these five people are TAGGED:
Dr. E.R.
RebelAngel
Nikki
Miranda
Soupy
Here's the meme:
THE SEARCH FOR JOY
Search your blog for the word "joy" used in the context of "happiness." If you cannot find the word in your weblog, you may use any of the select list of synonyms below.
joy — amusement, bliss, cheer, comfort, delectation, delight, ecstasy, elation, exaltation, exultation, exulting, felicity, gaiety, gladness, glee, good humor, gratification, happiness, hilarity, humor, jubilance, liveliness, merriment, mirth, pleasure, rapture, regalement, rejoicing, revelry, satisfaction, wonder
If your weblog does not include a built-in search engine, then you can use Google to search it only for the word you wish to find.
If you've found the word and it was not used facetiously or sarcastically, good for you. All you need to do is link to your earlier entry, and write a few words about that joyous moment. If, however, you have no joy (whole words only) in your weblog, you must dig deep in your soul and find something wonderful in your life right now. One little thing that fills you with warmth, that bubbles you over with quiet happiness, or tickles you with its good-hearted hilarity, or makes you glad you just took a breath, and are getting ready to take another. It doesn't have to be anything big. A smile someone gave you; your cat on your shoulder; the way the light angles through your window and casts rainbows on your floor. All it has to be is something genuine, something real, something that matters to you.
Because we all need joy in our lives, and need to take the time -- from time to time -- to recognize it. And sometimes, we need to pass it on.
Even if we're a big pain in the ass when we do.
When you've dealt with your own joy, pass the quest on to five other bloggers.
I have two posts that use the word "joy" but they come in response to Hurricane Katrina. Here are the links to those two posts:
Let us remember
Let us sing (all the verses)
And for comfort:
Today's Headlines!
I know I've had posts with a similar quality, but which apparently don't include these particular words. And aha! I have just discovered that the search feature does not always work! I did a search for the words "supper" "pumpkin" and "symbolism" on my blog, all of which I know are there, and nothing shows up!
And now, these five people are TAGGED:
Dr. E.R.
RebelAngel
Nikki
Miranda
Soupy
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Tagged to Meme (and Born to Be Wild)
Frenzied Feline tagged me for a meme, but it's one I just did a couple of weeks ago, so I'm going to change the challenge slightly so I don't repeat myself.
You'll get to pick your resource, within these limits: Either a hymnal, if you have one handy, or failing that, the book which is closest to your left foot at this moment. (AHA! Those just HAPPEN to be the same thing in my case! How fortuitous!!)
Open whatever text you've chosen to whatever page happens to open and share what you've found there (No, I have not yet looked, so I too will be surprised at my selection.)
OK, here's mine:
How Can I Keep From Singing?
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth's lamentation.
I hear the real though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
(Refrain)
No storm can shake my in-most calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing;
It sounds and echoes in my soul;
How can I keep from singing?
(Repeat Refrain)
What though the tempest round me roar,
I hear the truth it liveth.
What though the darkness 'round me close
Songs in the night it giveth.
(Repeat Refrain)
When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,
And hear the death knells ringing;
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?
(Repeat Refrain)
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing.
All things are mine since I am his;
How can I keep from singing?
(Repeat Refrain)
(From Journeysongs, Second Edition, Oregon Catholic Press Publications, Portland, Ore.)
Tag! You're it!
You'll get to pick your resource, within these limits: Either a hymnal, if you have one handy, or failing that, the book which is closest to your left foot at this moment. (AHA! Those just HAPPEN to be the same thing in my case! How fortuitous!!)
Open whatever text you've chosen to whatever page happens to open and share what you've found there (No, I have not yet looked, so I too will be surprised at my selection.)
OK, here's mine:
How Can I Keep From Singing?
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth's lamentation.
I hear the real though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
(Refrain)
No storm can shake my in-most calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing;
It sounds and echoes in my soul;
How can I keep from singing?
(Repeat Refrain)
What though the tempest round me roar,
I hear the truth it liveth.
What though the darkness 'round me close
Songs in the night it giveth.
(Repeat Refrain)
When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,
And hear the death knells ringing;
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?
(Repeat Refrain)
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing.
All things are mine since I am his;
How can I keep from singing?
(Repeat Refrain)
(From Journeysongs, Second Edition, Oregon Catholic Press Publications, Portland, Ore.)
Tag! You're it!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Wednesday: Day Three
I'm starting to feel the physical effects of this cleaning blitz -- getting a bit of a stiff back, but man, did I sleep well last night! I think I am slowing down a bit as well. My bed is still covered with the latest bits of folded laundry. I'll have to rally enough energy to get those things put away before I can sleep tonight. See, that's where things tend to start collapsing on me -- instead of getting things off the bed and put away, there have been nights (in the past)when I've been so exhausted that I just clear the bed in one sweeping motion, and everything I've worked so hard to launder winds right back on the floor. I want to break that habit, and I don't want to replace it with the habit of stashing things on the guest room bed. No matter what room it's in, a bed is NOT a clothing storage device! Neither is the floor!
I would also like to vacuum the room before I sleep tonight, but I may opt not to push my luck.
One of my discoveries through this marathon of cleaning is that I like books. DUH. Especially certain books.... seems like there are certain books I have bought more than once. Um, like... I found three copies of Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon Summer 1956. Yeah, I like Garrison and all, but sheesh.
I've cleaned out all the books that were stacked on the floor and in the corners. Same with the magazines. Many of those will be going to the recycling bin. Yeah, who needs those three-year-old business magazines? I may flip through a few of the shelter magazines before I bid them farewell.
So... here's today's list of complete tasks:
Wednesday
• Made bed
• Dressed to shoes
• Touch-up dry black laundry and hung up
• Washed, dried load of T-shirts and underwear, folded and put away
• Polished glass night stand.
• Polished Beulah’s cedar chest
• Removed more clutter to donate
• Spot-Shot treated the carpet.
• Dusted books and magazines that were on floor – moved them out of the bedroom
• Washed and dried a load of lights
• Threw away clutter
• Hung cardinal painting.
• Showered and dressed
• Handbell and choir rehearsal
This list really doesn't look like much. It took me quite a while do declutter the night stand and cedar chest, and I used a creme polish on the cedar chest. It really makes the old wood look so much better.
Well, it's getting late. Sleep is calling soon, so I better wrap things up. But before I go, let me share this:
Why does getting organized feel so good?
It brings a sense of clarity, of renewal, of order and calm.
All of those things benefit people in their attempts to live clear and fulfilling lives.
I would also like to vacuum the room before I sleep tonight, but I may opt not to push my luck.
One of my discoveries through this marathon of cleaning is that I like books. DUH. Especially certain books.... seems like there are certain books I have bought more than once. Um, like... I found three copies of Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon Summer 1956. Yeah, I like Garrison and all, but sheesh.
I've cleaned out all the books that were stacked on the floor and in the corners. Same with the magazines. Many of those will be going to the recycling bin. Yeah, who needs those three-year-old business magazines? I may flip through a few of the shelter magazines before I bid them farewell.
So... here's today's list of complete tasks:
Wednesday
• Made bed
• Dressed to shoes
• Touch-up dry black laundry and hung up
• Washed, dried load of T-shirts and underwear, folded and put away
• Polished glass night stand.
• Polished Beulah’s cedar chest
• Removed more clutter to donate
• Spot-Shot treated the carpet.
• Dusted books and magazines that were on floor – moved them out of the bedroom
• Washed and dried a load of lights
• Threw away clutter
• Hung cardinal painting.
• Showered and dressed
• Handbell and choir rehearsal
This list really doesn't look like much. It took me quite a while do declutter the night stand and cedar chest, and I used a creme polish on the cedar chest. It really makes the old wood look so much better.
Well, it's getting late. Sleep is calling soon, so I better wrap things up. But before I go, let me share this:
Why does getting organized feel so good?
It brings a sense of clarity, of renewal, of order and calm.
All of those things benefit people in their attempts to live clear and fulfilling lives.
Why am I doing this blitz?
Einar has posted about my Great October House Cleaning Blitz, asking if it's fun and reminding me not to worry about what's left undone. So to speak to the points he's raising, please allow me to share why I'm doing this blitz.
First, in my opinion there is a great art to creating a place of serenity. I believe our environment not only reflects our overall wellbeing, but either contributes to it or detracts from it. Think about your own physical reaction to being in a posh, lovely hotel. The sense of relaxation, the opening of your own creative spirit, the feeling that everything is achievable and nothing is impossible. You've got the world on a string!
Contrast that with your physical reaction to being in a house of squalor -- unwashed dishes strewn about, rotting food, garbage everywhere, clothes piled on the floor, bags and bags of clutter mounted on what little furniture may be present. Compound that with the problems of untended animals to make the image really vivid ...
I personally would choose the calm, serene environment.
There are several people who have created empires based on the art of home keeping: Martha Stewart, Alexandra Stoddard, everyone affiliated with HGTV, countless other interior designers and decorators. It's something I've long had an interest in.
What are the roots of my interest? Well, quite simply it comes from having survived a physical environment which was not nuturing in any way. While I was growing up, my family always lived in rent houses on "the wrong side of the tracks." Of course I didn't know it at the time. To me, it was just home.
My bedroom was 8 feet by 9 feet, with two doors (one facing the water heater and back door, the other going into my parents' room) and four windows. I had no closet. My entire wardrobe (which consisted solely of hand-me-downs from cousins and family friends) hung on an ironing caddy in one corner. I had one drawer allotted to me in my parents' dresser in their bedroom, for underwear, socks and pajamas.
The furniture in my room consisted of a twin bed, a bookcase and desk. Needless to say, storage was something I knew nothing about. There was no place or system for organizing or putting things away.
Today, I aspire to better than that. I may never have a mansion with all the storage anyone's heart could desire. I have an old house (c. 1951) with inadequate closets, but at least I HAVE closets now. I have places to put my clothes. I have bookcases for my books.
So is my October Blitz fun? Not in a giddy, laugh-out-loud sort of way, not. But it is JOYFUL. There is enormous satisfaction in it. There is quiet contentment in cleaning a night stand and placing my collection of perfume bottles on it where they will catch the light streaming through the window.
There is a sense of abundance when I do my laundry -- load-after-load-after-load. I have far more than I need, and now I can see what I have and what I can share with others.
When I get to my dining room, I will smile with the memories of meals shared, laughter and games that have taken place there. Yes, that my friends, is fun.
In the living room, I'll fluff the pillows on the couch, dust the piano and think of Christmas time when we've gathered to sing carols.
The guest room will remind me of visits from my favorite aunt and the fun outings we've had during those visits.
And the den -- once it is reclaimed, I'll have my cave to hibernate in this winter. Two walls are floor-to-ceiling windows, so sunlight streams in and I can wallow on the couch and watch the birds and squirrels play.
Yeah, it's fun. It really, really is.
First, in my opinion there is a great art to creating a place of serenity. I believe our environment not only reflects our overall wellbeing, but either contributes to it or detracts from it. Think about your own physical reaction to being in a posh, lovely hotel. The sense of relaxation, the opening of your own creative spirit, the feeling that everything is achievable and nothing is impossible. You've got the world on a string!
Contrast that with your physical reaction to being in a house of squalor -- unwashed dishes strewn about, rotting food, garbage everywhere, clothes piled on the floor, bags and bags of clutter mounted on what little furniture may be present. Compound that with the problems of untended animals to make the image really vivid ...
I personally would choose the calm, serene environment.
There are several people who have created empires based on the art of home keeping: Martha Stewart, Alexandra Stoddard, everyone affiliated with HGTV, countless other interior designers and decorators. It's something I've long had an interest in.
What are the roots of my interest? Well, quite simply it comes from having survived a physical environment which was not nuturing in any way. While I was growing up, my family always lived in rent houses on "the wrong side of the tracks." Of course I didn't know it at the time. To me, it was just home.
My bedroom was 8 feet by 9 feet, with two doors (one facing the water heater and back door, the other going into my parents' room) and four windows. I had no closet. My entire wardrobe (which consisted solely of hand-me-downs from cousins and family friends) hung on an ironing caddy in one corner. I had one drawer allotted to me in my parents' dresser in their bedroom, for underwear, socks and pajamas.
The furniture in my room consisted of a twin bed, a bookcase and desk. Needless to say, storage was something I knew nothing about. There was no place or system for organizing or putting things away.
Today, I aspire to better than that. I may never have a mansion with all the storage anyone's heart could desire. I have an old house (c. 1951) with inadequate closets, but at least I HAVE closets now. I have places to put my clothes. I have bookcases for my books.
So is my October Blitz fun? Not in a giddy, laugh-out-loud sort of way, not. But it is JOYFUL. There is enormous satisfaction in it. There is quiet contentment in cleaning a night stand and placing my collection of perfume bottles on it where they will catch the light streaming through the window.
There is a sense of abundance when I do my laundry -- load-after-load-after-load. I have far more than I need, and now I can see what I have and what I can share with others.
When I get to my dining room, I will smile with the memories of meals shared, laughter and games that have taken place there. Yes, that my friends, is fun.
In the living room, I'll fluff the pillows on the couch, dust the piano and think of Christmas time when we've gathered to sing carols.
The guest room will remind me of visits from my favorite aunt and the fun outings we've had during those visits.
And the den -- once it is reclaimed, I'll have my cave to hibernate in this winter. Two walls are floor-to-ceiling windows, so sunlight streams in and I can wallow on the couch and watch the birds and squirrels play.
Yeah, it's fun. It really, really is.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Tuesday: Day Two
It's Day Two of the Great October House Keeping Blitz. Here's what I got done today:
Tuesday
• Made bed
• Dressed to shoes
• Took out trash
• Bank errand
• Breakfast out
• Changed both furnace filters and dusted grills. Nasty!
• Washed feather duster.
• Cleaned off glass night stand.
• Bright laundry washed, dried, hung up and put away
• Pink load washed, dried, put away
• Clothes on guest room bed sorted to wash
• Errand to get more wooden hangers and skirt hangers.
• Brown laundry washed, dried and hung
• (Showered, then gone for 2 hours for Divorce Care group)
• Navy/gray laundry washed, dried
• Started moving summer clothes to other closet
• Black laundry washed
Tuesday
• Made bed
• Dressed to shoes
• Took out trash
• Bank errand
• Breakfast out
• Changed both furnace filters and dusted grills. Nasty!
• Washed feather duster.
• Cleaned off glass night stand.
• Bright laundry washed, dried, hung up and put away
• Pink load washed, dried, put away
• Clothes on guest room bed sorted to wash
• Errand to get more wooden hangers and skirt hangers.
• Brown laundry washed, dried and hung
• (Showered, then gone for 2 hours for Divorce Care group)
• Navy/gray laundry washed, dried
• Started moving summer clothes to other closet
• Black laundry washed
Monday, October 10, 2005
Monday: Day One
Today was Day One of the Great October House Cleaning Blitz.
I don't really feel like I've gotten that much done. Maybe it's because I can see how much more there is to be accomplished. Anyway, I decided to keep a running list through the day. I want to see if I can make it through the whole house this week.
*NOTE: This approach is contrary to the system I usually use, but since I've kind of gotten behind the 8-ball, I am modifying that. This week I am employing a compressed version of my zones, combined with crisis cleaning. I'm not expecting any company, but of late I haven't had the time each day to stay caught up. Once I get over this hump, I'll go back to using the zone system, focusing on one zone a week with a regular small routine to maintain the house overall. (If this all sounds like Greek, check out Flylady.)
Today, my two points of focus were my bedroom and the laundry. The major goals were to get things OFF the floor and put away, and to reclaim my sanctuary as a clean, orderly, calm place. The results: Not too shabby! Not perfect yet, but definite improvement has been made!
Here's a list of what I've gotten done today. (Some of the laundry is still in progress.)
•Dishwasher loaded and run
•Blanket dried
•Bed made.
•Headboard and footboard dusted.
•Laundry sorted.
•Showered
•Trip to Walgreen’s to buy laundry soap.
•Underwear, socks and T-shirt load washed, dried, folded, put away.
•Red/pink load washed, dried, hung up.
•Quilt washed, dried, put on bed
•Cleaned off wooden night stand. Lit candle.
•Blue jeans load washed, dried, hung up.
•Closet floor cleaned out.
•Batteries changed on smoke detectors.
•Towels washed, dried, folded, put away.
•Blues washed, in dryer.
•More towels being washed
I think I'll change the furnace filters and take out the trash before I think about going to bed -- maybe I'll finish out the laundry that's in progress. Then we'll see what tomorrow brings!
I don't really feel like I've gotten that much done. Maybe it's because I can see how much more there is to be accomplished. Anyway, I decided to keep a running list through the day. I want to see if I can make it through the whole house this week.
*NOTE: This approach is contrary to the system I usually use, but since I've kind of gotten behind the 8-ball, I am modifying that. This week I am employing a compressed version of my zones, combined with crisis cleaning. I'm not expecting any company, but of late I haven't had the time each day to stay caught up. Once I get over this hump, I'll go back to using the zone system, focusing on one zone a week with a regular small routine to maintain the house overall. (If this all sounds like Greek, check out Flylady.)
Today, my two points of focus were my bedroom and the laundry. The major goals were to get things OFF the floor and put away, and to reclaim my sanctuary as a clean, orderly, calm place. The results: Not too shabby! Not perfect yet, but definite improvement has been made!
Here's a list of what I've gotten done today. (Some of the laundry is still in progress.)
•Dishwasher loaded and run
•Blanket dried
•Bed made.
•Headboard and footboard dusted.
•Laundry sorted.
•Showered
•Trip to Walgreen’s to buy laundry soap.
•Underwear, socks and T-shirt load washed, dried, folded, put away.
•Red/pink load washed, dried, hung up.
•Quilt washed, dried, put on bed
•Cleaned off wooden night stand. Lit candle.
•Blue jeans load washed, dried, hung up.
•Closet floor cleaned out.
•Batteries changed on smoke detectors.
•Towels washed, dried, folded, put away.
•Blues washed, in dryer.
•More towels being washed
I think I'll change the furnace filters and take out the trash before I think about going to bed -- maybe I'll finish out the laundry that's in progress. Then we'll see what tomorrow brings!
Can you tell?
I'm making up for lost time by posting a bunch of short little entries. Yeah, you know what that really means... I am trying to do housework this week since I have some "spare" time, and I am PROCRASTINATING. Not badly -- I have done quite a bit between posts. But I thought you'd rather read about novel writing or write a caption or take a quiz than to read updates on how many loads of laundry I've gotten done or whatnot.
Although... if you're really interested, I am keeping a list....
Off to get more Tide! Ta-ta!
Although... if you're really interested, I am keeping a list....
Off to get more Tide! Ta-ta!
NaNoWriMo is just around the corner!
It's that time again.
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) has officially opened for its seventh noveling season, and we'd love to have you for another raucous and productive November.
To take part, just head to NaNoWriMo.org and read more about it!
Basically, you sign up, create a profile, and then...
...begin your novel-planning procrastination by reading through all the great advice and funny stories in the forums. Post some stories and questions of your own. Get excited. Get nervous. Eat lots of chocolate and pamper yourself in preparation for the fiction-fueled escapade to come.
At midnight, local time on November 1, begin writing your novel. Your goal is to write a 50,000-word novel by midnight, local time, on November 30th.
This is not as scary as it sounds. It's only 1700 words a day (more or less). No interviews or phone calls, since it's fiction!
Anyone want to give this a try with me, for fun??
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) has officially opened for its seventh noveling season, and we'd love to have you for another raucous and productive November.
To take part, just head to NaNoWriMo.org and read more about it!
Basically, you sign up, create a profile, and then...
...begin your novel-planning procrastination by reading through all the great advice and funny stories in the forums. Post some stories and questions of your own. Get excited. Get nervous. Eat lots of chocolate and pamper yourself in preparation for the fiction-fueled escapade to come.
At midnight, local time on November 1, begin writing your novel. Your goal is to write a 50,000-word novel by midnight, local time, on November 30th.
This is not as scary as it sounds. It's only 1700 words a day (more or less). No interviews or phone calls, since it's fiction!
Anyone want to give this a try with me, for fun??
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Caption that photo!
Write a caption for this photo, and then, if you like, go here to read others and vote for your favorite caption.
(There are some GREAT captions there!)
Oh my gosh! While I was poking around I found this photo. This looks exactly like my Fefe did, and I can just IMAGINE her wanting to get dressed up like this. What a HOOT.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Anyone else love Prairie Home Companion?
I adore it -- the music and stories just really appeal to me. I wish I could say I've been a loyal fan and listener, but until recently I've really only managed to catch it sporadically while traveling and stumbling across a public radio station.
Right now, however, I'm listening to it online. KOSU offers live streaming webcasts of its broadcasts. This is great news for more than just Prairie Home Companion fans. Public radio has a lot to offer every day.
Prairie Home Companion is on from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sundays (I think that is correct. The schedule for Sunday is hard for me to read.) Here's a link to KOSU -- you can listen to it online from anywhere in the world. KOSU radio. Locally, KOSU broadcasts from Stillwater/Oklahoma City and Ketchum/Tulsa (91.7 FM in central Oklahoma.) (OK, it's hard for this Sooner girl to say nice things about OSU so take it while you can!)
Prairie Home Companion is a good dose of what's right about America. Yeah, it's funny and the stories are good, silly fiction, but it still makes you remember that gathering around the supper table is a wholesome thing, and making music together is downright holy.
Right now, however, I'm listening to it online. KOSU offers live streaming webcasts of its broadcasts. This is great news for more than just Prairie Home Companion fans. Public radio has a lot to offer every day.
Prairie Home Companion is on from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sundays (I think that is correct. The schedule for Sunday is hard for me to read.) Here's a link to KOSU -- you can listen to it online from anywhere in the world. KOSU radio. Locally, KOSU broadcasts from Stillwater/Oklahoma City and Ketchum/Tulsa (91.7 FM in central Oklahoma.) (OK, it's hard for this Sooner girl to say nice things about OSU so take it while you can!)
Prairie Home Companion is a good dose of what's right about America. Yeah, it's funny and the stories are good, silly fiction, but it still makes you remember that gathering around the supper table is a wholesome thing, and making music together is downright holy.
A sucker for symbolism
I just got back from running errands, one being a trip to Home Depot for furnace filters. For some reason, my particular filter size seems to be difficult to find. I have two filters, actually. One is easy to find, the other is a chore. I know it's time to go on the hunt when the ductwork starts whistling like someone with clogged sinuses.
Anyway, I digress. Home Depot is one of my favorite stores, right up there with Barnes and Noble. I get all gooshy about Home Depot the way some girly girls get about shoe shopping. Meh. Keep your Manolos, give me hardware!
Without fail, I find myself in a trance as I wander the aisles looking at and smelling plants, fertilizers, cleaners, paint and other goods. Like a magnet I am drawn to the area with sample kitchens, high-tech appliances and bathroom accoutrement.
Today, while mesmerized by the kitchen sinks, I realized what was happening! I, as an American consumer, am hypnotized by the symbolism of these items! I knew what it was when I saw the cabinetry and wanted to HUG someone. (It didn't much matter who, I just wanted to HUG someone and make 'em a cookie!)
You see, what they are selling, besides hardware, is a sense of nurturing. And that's right up my alley. I look at those beautiful ranges and I see Thanksgiving dinners.
Those fancy front-loading washers and dryers? Ha! Those are stacks of carefully folded clothes, going into family dressers. All the other clothes have been ironed crisply and hung in the closets, 1 inch apart, thanks to the closet organizers on Aisle 8B. (Right next to the shoe organizers which hold the perfect number of matched-up pairs.)
Never mind that I am a single woman without family. I NEED to fuss over someone anyway. I need to cook and clean and bring order and happiness out of the chaos of the world.
No, no, no. Friends, you need not contradict me just because you've seen my slovenly surroundings in real life. Pay no attention to that mess behind the door! I am driven by all things domestic! I don't need to take out the garbage -- I'm composting so I can have a beautiful flower bed!
Even outdoors, I can spend 15 minutes staring at the Rubbermaid garden storage units, visualizing hoes and rakes neatly hanging from hooks on the side walls, my Honda self-propelled lawn mower resting within after a good afternoon's mowing.
I tell you what... if Home Depot's marketing staff ever reads my blog, they will figure out they could triple sales in their store by setting up a central display of a dining room, with a table of gleaming wood set with homey china and silver. Add the turkey and a few candles, and you'll see clusters of families around the edges, trapped in the spell.
Don't forget, there's a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie in those sample ovens, just begging to come out before the big game!
Anyway, I digress. Home Depot is one of my favorite stores, right up there with Barnes and Noble. I get all gooshy about Home Depot the way some girly girls get about shoe shopping. Meh. Keep your Manolos, give me hardware!
Without fail, I find myself in a trance as I wander the aisles looking at and smelling plants, fertilizers, cleaners, paint and other goods. Like a magnet I am drawn to the area with sample kitchens, high-tech appliances and bathroom accoutrement.
Today, while mesmerized by the kitchen sinks, I realized what was happening! I, as an American consumer, am hypnotized by the symbolism of these items! I knew what it was when I saw the cabinetry and wanted to HUG someone. (It didn't much matter who, I just wanted to HUG someone and make 'em a cookie!)
You see, what they are selling, besides hardware, is a sense of nurturing. And that's right up my alley. I look at those beautiful ranges and I see Thanksgiving dinners.
Those fancy front-loading washers and dryers? Ha! Those are stacks of carefully folded clothes, going into family dressers. All the other clothes have been ironed crisply and hung in the closets, 1 inch apart, thanks to the closet organizers on Aisle 8B. (Right next to the shoe organizers which hold the perfect number of matched-up pairs.)
Never mind that I am a single woman without family. I NEED to fuss over someone anyway. I need to cook and clean and bring order and happiness out of the chaos of the world.
No, no, no. Friends, you need not contradict me just because you've seen my slovenly surroundings in real life. Pay no attention to that mess behind the door! I am driven by all things domestic! I don't need to take out the garbage -- I'm composting so I can have a beautiful flower bed!
Even outdoors, I can spend 15 minutes staring at the Rubbermaid garden storage units, visualizing hoes and rakes neatly hanging from hooks on the side walls, my Honda self-propelled lawn mower resting within after a good afternoon's mowing.
I tell you what... if Home Depot's marketing staff ever reads my blog, they will figure out they could triple sales in their store by setting up a central display of a dining room, with a table of gleaming wood set with homey china and silver. Add the turkey and a few candles, and you'll see clusters of families around the edges, trapped in the spell.
Don't forget, there's a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie in those sample ovens, just begging to come out before the big game!
Friday, October 07, 2005
A quick check-in
This is just to say hello and let you all know I'm still upright. This has been a painfully busy week because next week is a bit of a holiday/vacation. Today will be particularly tough-- I have 5 stories to write, and a bad case of the "doIhaftas." Yes, I hafta. Funny, isn't it, how multiplying tasks can diminish one's desire to do any of them? I mean, if I just had one story to write, no problem. Even two. Making it four is tough, but when you get to five, well! That's when it becomes just a plain ol' royal pain.
I won't get any sympathy from anyone and I'm not really looking for any. We all have crappy things that we have to do from time to time. It's just the way things are. But just allow me a moment to verbalize this: I am somewhat grouchy about basically working full time for something less than 25 percent of what I'd be paid (not mentioning benefits) if I were working as a fulltime employee. Again, for now, that's just the way it is. But it is inequitable. And I don't know how much longer I can maintain this imbalance.
OK. Enough. Back to the keyboard. See you later after I pound out my work.
I won't get any sympathy from anyone and I'm not really looking for any. We all have crappy things that we have to do from time to time. It's just the way things are. But just allow me a moment to verbalize this: I am somewhat grouchy about basically working full time for something less than 25 percent of what I'd be paid (not mentioning benefits) if I were working as a fulltime employee. Again, for now, that's just the way it is. But it is inequitable. And I don't know how much longer I can maintain this imbalance.
OK. Enough. Back to the keyboard. See you later after I pound out my work.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
It's Pumpkin Patch Time!
My church was supposed to get its shipment of pumpkins yesterday for our pumpkin patch, an annual fundraiser event we have. They were delayed until today. So, here is the story of how we set up for the pumpkin patch, in photos.
First, the truck arrived just before 2 p.m. today, right as expected. It's here! It's here!
He's opening the door...
The box says ... broccoli????
Oh no! It looks like we are going to have the broccoli patch! OH NO!!
Oh whew!! Big round, orange broccoli! Maybe people will be fooled into thinking they are PUMPKINS!!
Back at the truck ... what are those??
Strange, beautiful shy gourds. "We are not worthy!"
The small ones are easy to unload. Just remember to DUCK!
The big ones take teamwork!
We sort them out in different areas according to size, to make it easier to pick out just the ri-i-i-ght one.
Some of the carts were so full o'punkins that it took two strong men to move them.
I loved this sassy sweet little girl! She was our first customer and picked out some really good pumpkins.
SOLD! The first load, all going home with the sassy sweet little girl! She picked the BEST!
Three hours after the truck arrived, everything was unloaded, sorted and finished. This is one tired, dirty, worn-out punkin-toting crew here. But we all had a good time!
I hope you enjoyed the afternoon with us. Come buy a pumpkin or two or three, OK? We'll save you a good'un.
First, the truck arrived just before 2 p.m. today, right as expected. It's here! It's here!
He's opening the door...
The box says ... broccoli????
Oh no! It looks like we are going to have the broccoli patch! OH NO!!
Oh whew!! Big round, orange broccoli! Maybe people will be fooled into thinking they are PUMPKINS!!
Back at the truck ... what are those??
Strange, beautiful shy gourds. "We are not worthy!"
The small ones are easy to unload. Just remember to DUCK!
The big ones take teamwork!
We sort them out in different areas according to size, to make it easier to pick out just the ri-i-i-ght one.
Some of the carts were so full o'punkins that it took two strong men to move them.
I loved this sassy sweet little girl! She was our first customer and picked out some really good pumpkins.
SOLD! The first load, all going home with the sassy sweet little girl! She picked the BEST!
Three hours after the truck arrived, everything was unloaded, sorted and finished. This is one tired, dirty, worn-out punkin-toting crew here. But we all had a good time!
I hope you enjoyed the afternoon with us. Come buy a pumpkin or two or three, OK? We'll save you a good'un.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
It's OCTOBER!!
Wa-hooooo it's October!! October!! Hooray!! My favorite month of the year... it's HERE!! Yippeeeeeeee!!
OC-TO-BERRRRR!!!!
Let's wallow in it for the next 31 days, the most glorious month of the year!!
Join the harvest!!
OC-TO-BERRRRR!!!!
Let's wallow in it for the next 31 days, the most glorious month of the year!!
Join the harvest!!
Music meme
I found this meme while I was surfing for blogs that don't give me a headache. I thought this might be a fun one, since there's such a wide range of ages amongst my bloggy buddies.
So here you go...
1. Go to musicoutfitters.com.
2. Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year.
3. Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you hate and underline your favorite. (Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about.)
Here are the top 100 songs from 1973, the year I graduated.
1. Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree, Tony Orlando and Dawn
2. Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Jim Croce
3. Killing Me Softly With His Song, Roberta Flack
4. Let's Get It On, Marvin Gaye
5. My Love, Paul McCartney and Wings
6. Why Me, Kris Kristofferson
7. Crocodile Rock, Elton John
8. Will It Go Round In Circles, Billy Preston
9. You're So Vain, Carly Simon
10. Touch Me In The Morning, Diana Ross
11. The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia, Vicki Lawrence
12. Playground In My Mind, Clint Holmes
13. Brother Louie, Stories
14. Delta Dawn, Helen Reddy
15. Me And Mrs. Jones, Billy Paul
16. Frankenstein, Edgar Winter Group
17. Drift Away, Dobie Gray
18. Little Willy, Sweet
19. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Stevie Wonder
20. Half Breed, Cher
21. That Lady, Isley Bros.
22. Pillow Talk, Sylvia
23. We're An American Band, Grand Funk Railroad
24. Right Place, Wrong Time, Dr. John
25. Wildflower, Skylark
26. Superstition, Stevie Wonder
27. Loves Me Like A Rock, Paul Simon
28. The Morning After, Maureen McGovern
29. Rocky Mountain High, John Denver
30. Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel
31. Shambala, Three Dog Night
32. Love Train, O'Jays
33. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Barry White
34. Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose, Tony Orlando and Dawn
35. Keep On Truckin' (Pt. 1), Eddie Kendricks
36. Dancing In The Moonlight, King Harvest
37. Danny's Song, Anne Murray
38. Monster Mash, Bobby "Boris" Pickett and The Crypt Kickers
39. Natural High, Bloodstone
40. Diamond Girl, Seals and Crofts
41. Long Train Running, Doobie Brothers
42. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth), George Harrison
43. If You Want Me To Stay, Sly and The Family Stone
44. Daddy's Home, Jermaine Jackson
45. Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye), Gladys Knight and The Pips
46. I'm Doing Fine Now, New York City
47. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, Spinners
48. Daniel, Elton John
49. Midnight Train To Georgia, Gladys Knight and The Pips
50. Smoke On The Water, Deep Purple
51. The Cover Of Rolling Stone, Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show
52. Behind Closed Doors, Charlie Rich
53. Your Mama Don't Dance, Loggins and Messina
54. Feelin' Stronger Every Day, Chicago
55. The Cisco Kid, War
56. Live And Let Die, Wings
57. Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?, Hurricane Smith
58. I Believe In You, Johnnie Taylor
59. Sing, Carpenters
60. Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got), Four Tops
61. Dueling Banjos, Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel
62. Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder
63. Here I Am (Come And Take Me), Al Green
64. My Maria, B.W. Stevenson
65. Superfly, Curtis Mayfield
66. Get Down, Gilbert O'Sullivan
67. Last Song, Edward Bear
68. Reelin' In The Years, Steely Dan
69. Hocus Pocus, Focus
70. Yesterday Once More, Carpenters
71. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Bette Midler
72. Clair, Gilbert O'Sullivan
73. Do It Again, Steely Dan
74. Kodachrome, Paul Simon
75. Why Can't We Live Together, Timmy Thomas
76. So Very Hard To Go, Tower Of Power
77. Do You Want To Dance?, Bette Midler
78. Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu, Johnny Rivers
79. Ramblin' Man, Allman Brothers
80. Masterpiece, Temptations
81. Peaceful, Helen Reddy
82. One Of A Kind (Love Affair), Spinners
83. Funny Face, Donna Fargo
84. Funky Worm, Ohio Players
85. Angie, Rolling Stones
86. Jambalaya (On The Bayou), Blue Ridge Rangers
87. Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend, Lobo
88. Break Up To Make Up, Stylistics
89. Daisy A Day, Jud Strunk
90. Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001), Deodato
91. Stir It Up, Johnny Nash
92. Money, Pink Floyd
93. Gypsy Man, War
94. The World Is A Ghetto, War
95. Yes We Can Can, Pointer Sisters
96. Free Ride, Edgar Winter Group
97. Space Oddity, David Bowie
98. It Never Rains In Southern California, Albert Hammond
99. The Twelfth Of Never, Donny Osmond
100. Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Temptations
So here you go...
1. Go to musicoutfitters.com.
2. Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year.
3. Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you hate and underline your favorite. (Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about.)
Here are the top 100 songs from 1973, the year I graduated.
1. Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree, Tony Orlando and Dawn
2. Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Jim Croce
3. Killing Me Softly With His Song, Roberta Flack
5. My Love, Paul McCartney and Wings
6. Why Me, Kris Kristofferson
7. Crocodile Rock, Elton John
8. Will It Go Round In Circles, Billy Preston
9. You're So Vain, Carly Simon
10. Touch Me In The Morning, Diana Ross
12. Playground In My Mind, Clint Holmes
13. Brother Louie, Stories
14. Delta Dawn, Helen Reddy
16. Frankenstein, Edgar Winter Group
17. Drift Away, Dobie Gray
18. Little Willy, Sweet
19. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Stevie Wonder
21. That Lady, Isley Bros.
22. Pillow Talk, Sylvia
23. We're An American Band, Grand Funk Railroad
24. Right Place, Wrong Time, Dr. John
25. Wildflower, Skylark
26. Superstition, Stevie Wonder
27. Loves Me Like A Rock, Paul Simon
28. The Morning After, Maureen McGovern
29. Rocky Mountain High, John Denver
30. Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel
31. Shambala, Three Dog Night
32. Love Train, O'Jays
33. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Barry White
34. Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose, Tony Orlando and Dawn
35. Keep On Truckin' (Pt. 1), Eddie Kendricks
36. Dancing In The Moonlight, King Harvest
37. Danny's Song, Anne Murray
38. Monster Mash, Bobby "Boris" Pickett and The Crypt Kickers
39. Natural High, Bloodstone
40. Diamond Girl, Seals and Crofts
41. Long Train Running, Doobie Brothers
42. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth), George Harrison
43. If You Want Me To Stay, Sly and The Family Stone
44. Daddy's Home, Jermaine Jackson
45. Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye), Gladys Knight and The Pips
46. I'm Doing Fine Now, New York City
47. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, Spinners
48. Daniel, Elton John
49. Midnight Train To Georgia, Gladys Knight and The Pips
50. Smoke On The Water, Deep Purple
51. The Cover Of Rolling Stone, Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show
53. Your Mama Don't Dance, Loggins and Messina
54. Feelin' Stronger Every Day, Chicago
55. The Cisco Kid, War
56. Live And Let Die, Wings
57. Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?, Hurricane Smith
58. I Believe In You, Johnnie Taylor
59. Sing, Carpenters
60. Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got), Four Tops
61. Dueling Banjos, Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel
62. Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder
63. Here I Am (Come And Take Me), Al Green
64. My Maria, B.W. Stevenson
65. Superfly, Curtis Mayfield
66. Get Down, Gilbert O'Sullivan
67. Last Song, Edward Bear
68. Reelin' In The Years, Steely Dan
69. Hocus Pocus, Focus
70. Yesterday Once More, Carpenters
71. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Bette Midler
72. Clair, Gilbert O'Sullivan
73. Do It Again, Steely Dan
74. Kodachrome, Paul Simon
75. Why Can't We Live Together, Timmy Thomas
76. So Very Hard To Go, Tower Of Power
77. Do You Want To Dance?, Bette Midler
78. Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu, Johnny Rivers
79. Ramblin' Man, Allman Brothers
80. Masterpiece, Temptations
81. Peaceful, Helen Reddy
82. One Of A Kind (Love Affair), Spinners
83. Funny Face, Donna Fargo
84. Funky Worm, Ohio Players
85. Angie, Rolling Stones
86. Jambalaya (On The Bayou), Blue Ridge Rangers
87. Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend, Lobo
88. Break Up To Make Up, Stylistics
89. Daisy A Day, Jud Strunk
90. Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001), Deodato
91. Stir It Up, Johnny Nash
92. Money, Pink Floyd
93. Gypsy Man, War
94. The World Is A Ghetto, War
95. Yes We Can Can, Pointer Sisters
96. Free Ride, Edgar Winter Group
97. Space Oddity, David Bowie
98. It Never Rains In Southern California, Albert Hammond
99. The Twelfth Of Never, Donny Osmond
100. Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Temptations
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