I was perusing Facebook today when I saw a note that said a friend of mine had joined the “To Write Love on Her Arms” fan page. I remember another FB friend mentioning the “project” (for lack of a better term) several months ago. I was trying to figure out what it was all about. I was a little familiar with the group; I knew they were an anti self mutilation group, but I wanted to know a little more. What was the background story.

The TWLOHA web site, contains the story, but it’s hard to find. I finally found it published on someone else’s site. It wasn’t until later I found it on the TWLOHA site. But in looking for the story, I found this photo:

The actual shirt says “Love is the Movement.” I misread it, though. I thought it said “Love Moves Men.” In a way, I wish there was a “Love Moves Men” shirt. Because it does. Or it least, it should.

1. I’d like a way to import my Facebook entries to this blog. (I post much more on FB than I do here.)
2. One of my most favorite romantic memories is the weekend that I spend with Susan just a month or so ago.
3. Last night, I had a Big Mac for dinner. (It was left over from lunch; buy one Big Mac, get one for a penny.)
4. Sorry for the lack of posting over here. (See item #1!)
5. Can we go on vacation now?
6. One of my worst temptations is Susan; voluptuous curves are hard to resist!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to hanging out with my family at a Pampered Chef party, tomorrow my plans include work (it’s billing day!),  and Sunday, I want to make it through another Sunday School class on Exodus!

1. All you need is two eggs, a little milk or water, some shredded cheese, salt and pepper, a little butter, and a hot pan, and I can make you a killer omelet.
2.On occasion, listening to the comedy station on my XM radio fills me with laughter.
3. Each generation, as it grows up, wants to do better than their parents. I wonder if my kids will be able to do it, or will they spend to much time, effort, and money cleaning up our mess.
4. Children who are old enough to speak in full sentences but insist on speaking “baby talk” is something I have a hard time dealing with.
5. A trip to that special island with Susan is what I need.
6. When you see an elephant is about to poop on you, you cover your head and you get back.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to being home with my family, tomorrow my plans include a freebie gig to help seniors with heating bills, and Sunday, I want to sing with the church choir!

Not much happened Friday.

Saturday I was home with kids for the day. I played a gig on Saturday to a very responsive crowd. A very nice lady from Alabama told me twice I had beautiful eyes. I played a drum solo that was pretty decent and garnered applause. The end.

Now, let’s get to the magic!

Immediately after church, Susan and I and the kids packed up the van and headed to Somerville. You see, Susan’s parents live there, and they were going to be watching the kids for us. Why? So we could be alone for a romantic weekend! Oh yeah!

We left the kids, and headed for Freeport. I had booked us a room at a place called The James Place Inn. Freeport is a quick drive outside of Portland, and The James Place is one of the few places near Portland that offered an in-room two person hot tub! Oooh la-la!

Having settled into the room for a little while, we started on our way to Portland. The entire thrust of the outing was to see Casting Crowns and Kutless in concert at the Portland Civic Center. We were going to meet Jim and Jeanine for supper at some Mexicn place Jim likes. We weren’t too far away from Haddlock Field when I heard this really awful grinding/thumping  noise eminate from the front passenger side tire. It was a rhythmic sound that sped up and slowed down with the speed of the tire. It almost sounded like a flat, but the car was handling fine. I pulled over. No flat. I looked under the car. Nothing. I got back in, and started looking for a garage. Susan got Jim and Jeanine on the horn. Having stopped for directions, I was told of a Sullivan Tire not far from Haddlock Field. Jim and Jeanine would meet us there.

Not wanting to be detered on our romantic weekend, I threw the keys in a service envelope, and stuck them in the key drop. Jim and Jeanine offered to chauffer us for the remainder of the evening. The Mexican restaurant was closed/sold/out of business or otherwise not open. We opted for a Chinese restaurant with a buffet, as time was of the essence. It was ok. Then the concert…

We were told the concert started at 6:30pm. When we got there at about 6:20, Caleb was already on stage. Just him and his brother (I think), who was playing the cajon. They were pretty good. Kutless was next. I didn’t really know anything about them. I enjoyed them very much, and they know how to rock! The drummer was pounding! Big arm movements, way above his head. They played 1/2 dozen songs or so, maybe eight. I was really surprised their set was so short. Casting Crowns played two sets. They were good, as you would expect from the headliner. I would have preferred they played a little less, and let Kutless have some more stage time. The concert was done around 10:30pm. Jim and Jeanine dropped us off at the B&B. They took a quick tour of the place, and took their leave.

I was up Monday morning at 7am. Breakfast was from 8-9am, so I went, procured some coffee, said good morning to innkeeper Robin, and met his daughter Elise. Breakfast was innkeeper Tori’s delicious homemade granola and yogurt, raspberry oatmeal muffins, cinnamon French toast (homemade cinnamon bread!), bacon, and juice. While having breakfast, the garage called, and quoted repairs on the van. It wasn’t all outdoors expensive, though they did try to talk me into four new tires and an alignment. No thanks. The car was done around noon. Innkeeper Robin was gracious enough to give me a lift into Portland to pick up the van. Both Robin and Tori were wonderful hosts; I’d stay with them again in a hearbeat. I drove back to the inn and picked up Susan. (So not only did they give us a lift to Portland, the innkeepers also gave us a late checkout. Thanks!)

For the rest of the day, Susan and I drove north. We took Rt 1 to Brunswick, looking for antiques and shops. Not much going on on that stretch of road. We then took I-95 north to Gardiner. We walked up and down Mn St of Hallowell. Note: downtown Hallowell is mostly closed on Mondays. We drove into Augusta, and did some quick shopping at a couple of stores, nothing eventful. We had a nice “lunch” around 3pm at Longhorn. After that, we went to Bed, Bath and Beyond in Augusta, as Susan was looking for some new curtains. While there, I also found an “extra firm” pillow that seemed to suit me. There was a Christmas Tree Shop located right next door. Having never been into one myself, Susan talked me into going in and looking around.

We got back to Spruce Head around 7pm. It was nice to be home. I think we may have watched a little TV, but we didn’t stay up long. We went to bed, tired from what could have been a trying weekend, but instead we never let the little things get to us. We instead decided to have an awesome time.

Church was canceled today. We called it off last night. Pastor Dave thought “If it’s going to be this bad, why not call it off now? That way, people won’t spend time digging out in the morning, only to have us call and tell them it’s canceled.” So, we canceled the AM service.

This morning, Dougie came and plowed the driveway for me (thanks!). I was already out shoveling. The result? By 8:30, I was dug out. The sun came out, it got a little warmer, and the roads looked fine. So, I decided I’d go to church. And, since Harmony Bible Church wasn’t having services, I thought I’d visit Littlefield. JP and Jimmy T go to Littlefield, so I thought I’d go there. It would give me opportunity to see how a church with over 100 attendees (usually) does things, and to see if perhaps there were some ideas we could use at Harmony.

I had a very nice visit. While there, I had another thought, and one that I also had a couple of weeks ago. Today, I didn’t have any responsibilities but to go and worship.  No Sunday School to lead, to Sunday School class to facilitate. No ushering to do, no deacon responsibilities, no stairs to shovel. Instead, I could go and concentrate on the more spiritual aspects of a worship service, and not so much on the “work” involved in putting on a worship service. And I was reminded of that thought I had a few weeks ago, and which I posted of Facebook. Here it is:

Friends, there’s a lot involved in a worship service. People are “working” that you might go and have an experience with God. The next time you go and are spiritually fed at a church, thank all those people who were involved. Thank the preacher on the way out. Thank the musicians for their service. Thank the nursery worker who attended to those crying babies in the nursery. Thank the janitor or sexton for keeping the place plowed and shoveled. Thank the treasurer for staying after the service to count and deposit the offering. These people put in hours a week working, planning, providing, and helping, and most do it unthanked and unnoticed. How about showing them a little appreciation next week?