Friday Five: Recommendation Edition

I haven't played the RevGals Friday Five meme for a while, but I love reading recommendations, so in fairness I am contributing my own! Thanks to revljarla for today's questions:

1.   Recommend a favorite worship resource or devotional book. 

My favorite inspirational site is my friend Robin's blog, Metanoia. 

2.   Recommend a blog that you like to read that you think others might find enjoyable.

On the lighter side,  my RevGals will enjoy Bad Vestments.

3.   Recommend a fiction book that you think people might like.

That's easy: the subject of my latest book review, The Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay.

4.   Recommend a favorite recipe website.   O.k., if you aren't into cooking or food, then just recommend a random website that you find useful, hilarious, mind numbing or thought provoking. 

The Homesick Texan is a great food blog written by a Texan ex-pat in New York City, Lisa Fain. Babs and  I enjoy her cookbook, too!

5.  And for the last recommendation--it's bloggers' choice!  Make a recommendation for anything!

I'm looking forward to the second season of The Worst Cooks in America on the Food Network which starts February 12. Love me some Anne Burrell!

Friday Five: Books!

I haven't played the RevGals Friday Five in quite a while, but today's meme is about books, so here goes:

1. What books have you recently read? Tell us your opinion of them.

I just finished Ron Chernow's Washington, A Life. That one is over 900 pages long, but I read it on my IPad. It is well worth the time (a month) I put into it, too. My full review is here.

2. What books are awaiting your available time to be read?

Unprotected Texts by Jennifer Wright Kunst and The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson by Jerome Charyn are two books I have received as advance copies from publishers and committed to review as part of book blog tours in February. Right now I'm working on Unprotected Texts because that is scheduled February 1.

I just got the latest Matthew Shardlake mystery, Heartstone, and can't wait to get to it but must discipline myself to finish these other two first.

3. Have any books been recently recommended?

The two books mentioned above that I received from publishers for review.

4. What genre of books are your favorite, along with some titles and/or authors you like best?

For me, as a history buff, the most enjoyable recreational reading is historical fiction or medieval mysteries. My favorite series is the Matthew Shardlake mysteries set during the reign of Henry VIII. Fabulous! They should be read in order, so start with Dissolution which deals with the dissolution of the monastaries under Henry VIII.

5. What have you read lately that you have a strong urge to recommend? (or to condemn?)

Let's stick to the postive! Elizabeth's Women by Tracy Borman is a fascinating study of Queen Elizabeth I and her female relationships--a facet of her life usually neglected by historians.  America's Prophet by Bruce Feiler is an intriguing study of the influence of Moses on American history and culture.

Friday Five: We Who Sing Pray Twice

 The RevGals Friday Five is all about singing in worship--one of my favorite things!

1) Do you like to sing/listen to others sing? In worship, or on your own (or not at all?)

All of the above.

2) Did you grow up with music in worship, or come to it later in life? Tell us about it, and how that has changed in your experience.

I grew up with it. My grandmother was a church music director and my father an amateur organist. The church I grew up in was small but known for its emphasis on the great classical music of the church. All my life I've sung in church choirs--large and small. I'm on hiatus right now due to my session role, but find it hard not to be involved in the choir. The highlight of my "career", so to speak, was singing the soprano solos in Messiah with  two combined choirs and orchestra a few years ago. And of course, singing Ave Maria at my nephew's wedding in the New York City area.

3) Some people find worship incomplete without music; others would just as soon not have it. Where do you fall?

I think worship is incomplete without music. Hello? The Psalms??? 

4) Do you prefer traditional music in worship, or contemporary? That can mean many different things!

Traditional classical music and hymnody is what speaks to me in worship. I notice that there is little participation in the praise songs in our contemporary worship service UNLESS a contemporary arrangement of a traditional hymn and its familiar tune are included. Then everyone sings out with gusto! So I think that too often contemporary music in worship makes the congregation spectators rather than participants which is so wrong. 

5) What's your go-to music ... when you need solace or want to express joy? A video/recording will garner bonus points!

I've been told this is really a modern hymn rather than a contemporary praise song, so no wonder I love it!

Friday Five: Baby Showers!

Well, shut my mouth if Jan over at the RevGals didn't post a Friday Five meme all about Baby Showers since she is hosting one for her daughter-in-law.

As an expectant Granny-to-be, I must chime in!

1. What were baby showers like for you and your friends in the past?

Boy that seems like a long time ago! They were usually simple gatherings with Lady Food and the opening of presents for the baby.

2. Did you play games? What kinds?

I don't remember playing games at baby showers for me and my generation of friends. Guess we weren't so playful!!

3. In your job, especially if you are a pastor, do you get invited to a lot of baby showers? What do you do about them?

I'm not a pastor, so this one doesn't apply. I'm just invited to showers for the daughters of friends who I know well.

4. Are baby showers different for our daughters (or younger friends) than they were for us?

Yes and no. I think it depends on the hostess or hostesses. I've been to some showers where several games with prizes were organized, but most are like the showers back in my day.

5. Do you like hosting baby showers or do you avoid that responsibility?

I like doing it, but I'm not very creative about it so I usually recruit a friend who is to help co-host the event. That works well.

Bonus: Any silliness about baby showers you wish to contribute.

This isn't silliness--but Portia and I have been thinking that it would be great to have a Baby Book Shower where the only gifts requested would be books for the baby that she would choose and register with amazon.com and Barnes and Nobel or books that guests especially loved reading to their children or having read to them as a child. We loved reading together! I think it's a super idea myself. You???

Friday Five: Hot Fun in the Summertime?

Reverend Songbird of RevGals invites you to share five things you love or don't love about the summertime. So here is my contribution to Friday Five:

1. My favorite summer song--Summertime, Summertime by the Jamies.



2. Favorite summer fruit: Tuscan Cantalopes!!! (sorry, Pecos)














3. Favorite summer cocktail: Prosecco.














4. Favorite Summer Locale: Curancahua Bay.











5. And finally, the one thing I hate about summer: HURRICANE SEASON! Especially this year with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico still uncapped. Double trouble....

Friday Five: Fresh Starts and Covenants

Sally, a RevGal from Britain, posted today's Friday Five over at RevGals, so I'm doing my first Friday Five of 2010.

Sally asks:

1. What will you gladly leave behind in 2009?
The stress of selling our home, building a new one and moving! But it all turned out great, so we are very grateful.

2. What is the biggest challenge of 2010 for you?
That's easy--Mother of the Bride, Redux. Planning Bab's wedding
coming up just 4 months from now!

3. Is there anything that you simply need to hand to God and say "all will be well, for you are with me"?
I have a lot of trouble handing anything over to God because I seem to have this crazy idea that God really needs MY help--rather than vice versa--so I guess that is what I need to hand over.

4. If you could only achieve one thing in 2010 what would it be?

Focusing on what is within MY power to achieve (see answer to above question), that would be spending more time with God and less with the news.

5. Post a picture, poem or song that sums up your prayer for the year ahead....

I took this photo over Carancahua Bay, Texas, from the porch of our bay house there.

It speaks for itself.

Friday Five: Do Nothing Edition

Sally at RevGals asks us to list 5 things you will NOT be doing for Christmas.

This sure fits me this year, so here goes:

I will NOT be setting up a Christmas tree and decorating it.
I will NOT be planning and preparing a big Christmas meal for 20 or more.
I will NOT be trying to set up a lot of outdoor Christmas lights.
I will NOT be filling stockings.
I will NOT be buying presents for extended family members.

Here are 5 things I AM doing:

I am watching the snow fall, but not stick yet, in Sugar Land!!!
I made donations to Central Asia Institute on behalf of extended family members.
I am attending a Christmas concert the Diva is singing in tomorrow.
Babs, Portia and I are attending a Lessons and Carols service Sunday.
I am enjoying less stress, more Advent!

How about you? What are you NOT doing this year for Christmas?

Friday Five: Moving and Changing

I haven't played the RevGals Friday Five for a long time, but could not resist the one this week--Moving and Changing. Having just finished our move from a home of 22 years to a new house, here are my answers to this week's Friday Five meme:

1. A big move is looming, name one thing that you could not possibly part with, it must be packed ?

Two things: the family sampler and the family silver tea/coffee service.

2. Name one thing that you would gladly leave behind...

The "oh-so-eighties" bright brass fixtures!

3. How do you prepare for a move

a. practically?

Getting rid of everything I don't need to take with me.

b. spiritually/ emotionally?

My brother said it best: remember that your memories go with you to the new house, they won't be left behind at the old one.

4. What is the first thing you look for in a new place?

The kitchen.

5. Do you settle in easily, or does it take time for you to find your feet in a new location?

I settle in pretty easily, I think, although I haven't really changed locations since first moving to Houston in 1978.

The bonus for today; a new opportunity has come up for you to spend 5 years in a new area, where would you go and why?

I'm pretty happy where I am, but I guess my choice would be the Texas Hill Country around Fredricksburg.

Friday Five: HGTV Edition, Late Play

Will Smama brings us today's RevGals Friday Five which she labeled the HGTV edition.

I didn't watch HGTV until a few months ago when El Jefe and I got involved in building a new "downsize" home now that we are empty-nesters. Now I actually know who Candace Olson is (besides being a tall gal like me) and what My House Is Worth What? and House Hunters are. Not that I'm especially proud of that, but at least I'm not totally clueless.

Well, here we go:

1) If you could, what room in the place you are currently living would you redo first?

I would do more work on the kitchen. I updated it when Babs was a senior in college, but after watching HGTV realize it needs some more work.

2) What is the most hideous feature/color/decor item you have ever seen in a home?

The time my parents painted their living room (including Dad's reed organ with the fake pipes) Pepto-Bismol pink with gold accents had to take the prize. As soon as we were finished painting (any of us who were handy were pressed into service), my Dad declared it looked like a New Orleans bordello. He immediately bought some beige paint and we began all over again. Let me tell you, it takes several coats to cover that bright pink.

3) What feature do you most covet? Do you have it? If not, is it within reach?

An informal living area just off the kitchen. And I'll get that at the new house! I don't think it's possible to reconfigure the traditional floor plan in the current house to do that--but the next owner is welcome to try.

4) Your kitchen - love it or hate it? Why?

I've always liked it. It's a good size and includes an informal eating area. The original appliances are very good and still work just fine after 25 years.

5) Here is $10,000 and you HAVE to spend it on the place you are living now. What do you do?

Invite the people from HGTV's Design To Sell over. Refinish the hardwood floors downstairs. Install new stainless appliances in the kitchen.

Here's my own bonus question--Know anyone who wants to buy a nice, big two-story house in Sugar Land? Call me.

Friday Five: Countdown to Christmas Edition

Since I'm making a to-do-list this morning (and checking it twice!), I'll share it with today's RevGals Friday Five, brought to us by Rev. Songbird. I'm sharing the beautiful picture she put on the RGBP blog.

Here's the prompt:

There are only five full days before Christmas Day, and whether you use them for shopping, wrapping, preaching, worshiping, singing or traveling or even wishing the whole darn thing were over last Tuesday, there's a good chance they will be busy ones.

So let's make this easy, if we can: tell us five things you need to accomplish before Christmas Eve.

1. Get my upstairs ready for our out-of-town guests: four adults, two toddlers and one dog.

2. Trip to grocery store. Buy beef now or later? Juice boxes for the kids? Do they like goldfish? Cereal? Pancakes? Pondering these things.

3. Plan Christmas Day dinner for 22. Delegate side dishes to nieces, neighbors and SIL. Real plates or disposables? Cheese grits or potatoes? Cheese grits AND potatoes?

4. Find extra food dish for visiting dog. What does he eat? Can he sleep in Beatrice's large dog car bed? (He's a minature pinscher or "MinPin".)

5. Christmas Eve service at 4 (for kids), 6, 8 or 10? Who will decide?

What's on your list?

Friday Five: Mix and Stir

It's been quite a while since I played the RevGals Friday Five meme, but today I'm inspired by Songbird's Mix and Stir Friday Five.

She writes: "Next week, I'm hosting Thanksgiving. I need your help. Please answer the following kitchen-related questions:"

1) Do you have a food processor? Can you recommend it? Which is to say, do you actually use it?

I have two--regular and mini size. I use the mini size fairly often to chop onions, carrots etc. It does a better job with a small dice than the large one. Plus now that we're empty nesters I don't need to chop in big quantities very often. On the whole, I prefer a knife.

2) And if so, do you use the fancy things on it? (Mine came with a mini-blender (used a lot and long ago broken) and these scary disks you used to julienne things (used once).

Nah.

3) Do you use a standing mixer? Or one of the hand-held varieties?

(And isn't that color delightfully retro?)

Great color. Babs has one that is bright pink--a Breast Cancer Awareness one. Mine is dark blue. I use this a lot because it's great for baking and I like to bake.

4) How about a blender? Do you have one? Use it much?

We have one which is used almost exclusively for margarita or other cocktail making. And no, we don't use it much, particularly since the kids got me a Margarita Machine last Mother's Day! The MM is a very festive red color. Love it.

5) Finally, what old-fashioned, non-electric kitchen tool do you enjoy using the most?

The garlic press! Fab.

Bonus: Is there a kitchen appliance or utensil you ONLY use at Thanksgiving or some other holiday? If so, what is it?

The gravy-fat-separator thingie.

Friday Five: God Days of Summer

Presbyterian Gal brings us today's RevGals Friday Five and it's all about looking for the God Days of summer. She says:

"As I pass through this year’s dog days in my felon ridden neighborhood (OK, just two housefuls. But isn’t that enough?), I am trying to focus on the blessings apparent around me, past and present, that I might not notice, necessarily. In that spirit, this week’s Friday Five goes thusly:"

1. What is your sweetest summer memory from childhood? Did it involve watermelon or hand cranked ice cream? Or perhaps a teen summer romance. Which stands out for you?

On hot summer afternoons in San Antonio my mother took the four of us to the swimming pool. There was nothing better than swimming and diving in that cool water and then going home for dinner followed by trying to catch lightning bugs in the yard.

2. Describe your all time favorite piece of summer clothing. The one thing you could put on in the summer that would seem to insure a cooler, more excellent day.

My swimming suit!

3. What summer food fills your mouth with delight and whose flavor stays happily with you long after eaten?

Watermelon. Love it.

4. Tell us about the summer vacation or holiday that holds your dearest memory.

The summer of 1985, we were all together at a beach house in Galveston for a few days. Portia and Babs were four and two years old. Daddy left to go back to San Antonio a day or so before we went home. (My mother had not come with him.)

On our drive away from Galveston I burst into tears and told El Jefe that I had a strong feeling that Daddy would not come to Galveston again. This seemed crazy because he was in excellent health, but he died suddenly on New Year's Eve of that same year and in fact did not come to Galveston again. Sadly, El Jefe's mother was diagnosed with the cancer the following year and died also. So 1985 was the last summer all of our parents were still with us.

5. Have you had any experience(s) this summer that has drawn you closer to God or perhaps shown you His wonder in a new way?

See photo above of dawn breaking over the bay as seen from the porch of our place there. It's an amazing "Holy Holy Holy" moment every time.

Bonus question: When it is really hot, humid and uncomfortable, what do you do to refresh and renew body and spirit?

Go swimming and eat watermelon. And maybe have a frozen margarita instead of one on the rocks.

Thanks, Presbyterian Gal!

Friday Five: Gifts of the Spirit

Today's RevGals Friday Five is on the subject of the Gifts of the Spirit--an appropriate theme with Pentecost Sunday approaching. Host Presbyterian Gal asks several questions about dreams and visions, which upon reflection, I realized that I couldn't answer, not having any experience with those particular spiritual gifts.

It is fascinating to read the answers of those who have. But for me, the one response to the Friday Five that immediately came to mind is this verse from George Croly's wonderful hymn, Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart:

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Amen.

Post Thanksgiving Friday Five

Here's the post-Thanksgiving Friday Five meme from the RevGals. Think I'll play today.

1. Did you go elsewhere for the day, or did you have visitors at your place instead? How was it?

We had 13 for dinner chez QG, including one toddler and two puppies. It was great! DK and Babs made apple cake, apple streusel bars, pecan pie with chocolate chips and Heath bar chips, pumpkin pie and chocolate brownie pie. Can you say sugar overload?

2. Main course: If it was the turkey, the whole turkey, and nothing but the turkey, was it prepared in an unusual way? Or did you throw tradition to the winds and do something different?

We had TWO kinds of turkey: roast turkey slathered with butter and herbs d'provance and a heavenly-scented smoked turkey from Tyler, Texas. We also had TWO kinds of dressing: cornbread and traditional bread stuffing, and TWO kinds of potatoes: mashed with cheese and sweet potato casserole with coconut and pecans. Guess our Thanksgiving theme is TWO of everything!

3. Other than the meal, do you have any Thanksgiving customs that you observe every year?

Most importantly, we invite someone who might be alone to join us. This year our neighbors brought their nephew who is new in town. I also always use my great-grandmother's gold-rimmed plates that she brought over from Scotland on Thanksgiving.

4. The day after Thanksgiving is considered a major Christmas shopping day by most US retailers. Do you go out bargain hunting and shop ‘till you drop, or do you stay indoors with the blinds closed? Or something in between?

QG refuses to shop on Black Friday. In fact, QG is a dedicated online shopper who eagerly anticipates Cyber Monday. However, I've already done some online shopping in advance and am feeling very smug.

5. Let the HOLIDAY SEASON commence! When will your Christmas decorations go up?

Not until December. Give me a break!!! It's not even Advent yet. Stuffing my fingers in my ears now.

Friday 5: Meetings, Meetings

Today's Friday Five is brought by Reverendmother on the subject of meetings, inspired no doubt by the reality of life in the PCUSA.

1. What's your view of meetings? Choose one or more, or make up your own:
a) When they're good, they're good. I love the feeling of people working well together on a common goal.
b) I don't seek them out, but I recognize them as a necessary part of life.
c) The only good meeting is a canceled meeting.

Meetings are only as good as the preparation that preceded them. When the meeting leader distributes the agenda and written reports in advance and most of those attending the meeting have reviewed them, you can have an efficient and productive meeting and avoid needless conflicts.

Verily, verily I say unto you that failure to do this is the reason most people hate meetings.

Here's El Jefe's pithy advice: Never serve up a "jump ball" to the session. (A "jump ball" means that you introduce an issue for discussion without preparation or advance notice.)

2. Do you like some amount of community building or conversation, or are you all business?

It depends on the amount of business that must be addressed in the length of time people have set aside for the meeting. It just drives me crazy to have a meeting run over 30 minutes for a devotion, community building etc.. and then have people leave the meeting just as you are discussing and voting on the critical issue you gathered for. On the other hand, if the agenda permits, I think it is helpful to spend some time on community building. But if there is no reason for the committee to meet other than to receive written reports, I cancel the meeting and give everyone a day off because the purpose of the meeting is to do business.

3. How do you feel about leading meetings? Share any particular strengths or weaknesses you have in this area.

I'm very comfortable leading meetings. Obviously. Miss ENTJ here, remember? Have gavel, will travel. And I do practice what I preached in the above answer.

4. Have you ever participated in a virtual meeting? (conference call, IM, chat, etc.) What do you think of this format?

I've been in all these forms of virtual meeting. Conference callsare by far the most effective and efficient alternative to a face-to-face meeting. Chat can work but is tiring and time-consuming.

5. Share a story of a memorable meeting you attended.

The bad meetings I have attended shared the same characteristic--a jump ball was served up to the session or the committee and confusion, conflict, and chaos ensued.

Friday 5: Seasons Change

I've got time to play the Friday 5 this morning with Beatrice in my lap! The questions are brought to us from RevGalBlogPals by Reverendmother.

1. Share a highlight from this summer. (If you please, don't just say "our vacation to the Canadian Rockies." Give us a little detail or image. Help us live vicariously through you!)

Me, El Jefe and Babs in the Irish countryside. 'Nuff said.

2. Are you glad to see this summer end? Why or why not?

Summer never really ends in southeast Texas. We can have 90 degree weather any month of the year.

3. Name one or two things you're looking forward to this fall.

Resuming my attempts to learn to play golf (thwarted by incredible rains and repairs of the greens where I play) and leading a BSD group for the first time.

4. Do you have any special preparations or activities to mark the transition from one season to another? (Cleaning of house, putting away summer clothes, one last trip to the beach)

See answer to question 2. Since we don't really ever get rid of summer weather, we're always prepared with shorts, flip-flops, sunblock, hats and a/c. Frankly, there are only a few days a year you can't go to the beach.

5. I'll know that fall is really here when we get the first cool front of the season. We call them "blue northers." That means the temperature stays below 80 degrees for 24 hours. Woo-hoo! Break out the woolens!!

Friday 5: Floods and Drought

Today's RevGalBlogPals Friday 5 is brought to us by Sally, a UK blogger, who is weathering some flooding right now. I identify with her as we are enduring the rainiest July ever in southeast Texas.

1. Have you experienced living through an extreme weather event- what was it and how did you cope?

Hurricane Alicia passed directly over our home in Houston in 1983. We didn't try to evacuate, because it was a low level storm and we didn't live near enough to the Gulf of Mexico to worry about tidal flooding. Portia and Babs were 2 years and 6 months old, respectively. The winds had that eerie "howling" for about 18 hours before the storm hit land.

Afterwards there was a strange energy in the air. I remember how silent the neighborhood was since the freeway near our home was shut down and there was no traffic noise. El Jefe kept fielding phone calls from lawyers and bankers in New York City who didn't understand why the firm was closed. There was broken glass everywhere downtown and the police cordoned off the area until it could be cleared.

We had no power in sweltering heat for 3 days. Just as I was packing up the babies to go to my sister-in-law's home the lights came on. Glory Hallelujah! But our across-the-street neighbors had no power for 2 weeks. I kept my friend's perishables in my refrigerator for her.

2. How important is it that we wake up to issues such as global warming?

I think people are concerned about it. But we need much more thorough "hard science" to determine what is the best way to address the issue than we have at the moment.

3. The Christian message needs to include stewardship of the earths resources agree/ disagree?

Most denominations address this issue, as far as I know.

And because it is summer- on a brighter note....

4. What is your favourite season and why?

I love fall, but we don't get much of it here. It's wonderful to get that first cool front of the season in late September and know the unrelenting heat is about to break!

5. Describe your perfect vacation weather....
I loved the weather in Aruba--warm but not stifling, breezy and low humidity. Perfect for sipping margaritas and reading on the beach.

Friday Five, Er, One

Today's Friday Five from the RevGals is the Getaway Island Edition. With apologies to Cathy, today's poster, I am only going to answer the first question, which is: what book(s) will you bring to your fantasy getaway?

I've been planning to write a post encouraging everyone to read Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through The Five Books of Moses by Bruce Feiler for the RGBP book discussion that I'm hosting on the RGBP blog on June 25. So Cathy gave me the perfect opportunity to encourage my readers to join us. You can order a copy of the book through the RGBP Amazon bookstore by clicking on the link on the sidebar of the RGBP blog.

Walking the Bible is a great book to take along to your fantasy island. What could be better than accompanying journalist Feiler as explores the geographical source of his Jewish faith? You'll learn from his interviews with noted scholars and will be inspired when Feiler reads Bible stories in their natural surroundings. You'll have adventures and insights along the way and gain a better understanding of the Bible and the land out of which Judaism and Christianity emerged.

Bruce Feiler is a witty and engaging author with an inquisitive mind and sharp intellect. I promise that you'll enjoy a virtual trip to the Holy Lands from the safety of your fantasy island or even at home. Start reading now so you can join the book discussion June 25th! You don't have to be a RGBP blogger to join in. I'll cross post the discussion at QG that day as well.

Friday Five: Big Event Edition

Songbird brings us today's RGBP Friday Five which is all about planning The Big Meetup.

Did you know that the major purpose for forming a non-profit, RevGalBlogPals, Inc., was to be able to attract grant support for a large scale RevGalBlogPal meetup? My dream from the beginning has been attracting financial support that would allow as many of our bloggers to be together as possible. RGBP, Inc. now has a planning committee, and we are in the early stages of planning the RevGalBlogPal Big Event. What, When, Where and Who are all on the table at the moment. In that spirit, I bring you the Big Event Friday Five.

1. What would the meeting be like? (Continuing Ed? Retreat? Outside Speakers? Interest Groups? Workshops? Hot Stone Massages? Pedicures? Glorified Slumber Party?)

I'd like to see this first meetup be a retreat with emphasis on getting to know each other and building fellowship in the group. I don't know about you, but I'm workshopped and seminar-ed out! Interest groups could have their own meetings at the retreat and the hot stone massage/pedicure/pampering ideas would be really swell.

If we did have a workshop, I suggest it be something that improves our technical blogging skills, since we all blog. We have several RGBP members who could conduct workshops on html, creating different blog templates, importing sidebar goodies, and what to do when you get the blue screen of death. We could also have a workshop on blog content.

2. When in 2008 might you be able to attend? January? Shortly after Easter? Summer? Fall? Some other time?

Right now I'm pretty open except for presbytery meetings, which aren't all scheduled yet.

3. Where would your dream meeting location be? (Urban Hotel? Rural Retreat Center? New England Camp? Southwestern Fantasy Hotel? Far away from civilization? Nearby Outlets or Really Great Thrift Stores?)

A retreat center would be great, but the rural ones would be more expensive to get to. We probably should plan to meet in a major metro area. Personally, I'm a lot more flexible than most of the group so I'll go along with the consensus on this.

4. Who would make a great keynote speaker? (That's if #1 leads us in that direction.)

For this first gathering, I would prefer not to have a keynote speaker unless we need to do that to enable Continuing Ed credits or to get a grant. If we had a keynote speaker, I would not choose someone who is identified with one denomination or who is controversial for this first meeting. Someone like Diana Butler Bass (who is too expensive for our presbytery when we asked her last month but we have no money, remember) would be ideal.

5. Did I leave out something you want to suggest?

Come to Texas! We'll meet you with the TTOJ and my Texas Lexus of Justice. Margaritas, Mexican food, real BBQ and nice weather will greet you as long as we don't meet in the summer....

Friday Five: Potato Po-tah-to Edition

Today's Friday Five meme is brought to us by the inimitable Reverendmother, who says:

There are two types of people in the world, morning people and night owls. Or Red Sox fans and Yankees fans. Or boxers and briefs. Or people who divide the world into two types of people and those who don't. Let your preferences be known here. And if you're feeling verbose, defend your choice.

1. Mac? (woo-hoo!) or PC? (boo!)
Why yes, the Friday Five author reserves the right to editorialize!

Mac Mac Mac Mac!!!!! RM got that one right!!! Macs need no defense.

2. Pizza: Chicago style luscious hearty goodness, or New York floppy and flaccid?

A pox on both thine houses! By the time Portia and Babs were teens we were all SO over pizza. When it comes to cheesy-bready-edibles, give me quesadillas with beef fajita meat every time! Pass the guacamola, pico de gallo and the margaritas! Pizza? Bah.

3. Brownies/fudge containing nuts:
a) Good. I like the variation in texture.
b) An abomination unto the Lord. The nuts take up valuable chocolate space.
[or a response of your choosing]

A, but only if you leave the nutmeat whole. Thus saith the Lord, "thou shalt not split thine pecan or thine walnut or any other nut of the tree and bake them in thine brownies."

4. Do you hang your toilet paper so that the "tail" hangs flush with the wall, or over the top of the roll like normal people do?

Comin' after you, RM. Everyone knows that you hang it so the "tail" hangs flush with the wall so the TP tears evenly. Repent now.

5. Toothpaste: Do you squeeze the tube wantonly in the middle, or squeeze from the bottom and flatten as you go just like the tube instructs?

"Wantonly"? Somebody is wound a little tight, you think? Don't stress RM! Most of us in the 21st century are using the pump toothpaste container thingies so there's no issue with wanton squeezing! Just sayin'.