Our Worst Date Ever! (Writer's Workshop)

We found each other through Great Expectations and agreed to meet at a Pizza Hut for our first date. This one went very well and Gerard suggested that we go together to the party that Great Expectations had scheduled at a restaurant. I had a feeling it would be bad, but decided to go along and give it a try since he suggested it. I didn’t want to start off our relationship by shooting down his ideas right off the bat.

Snoozer

After Pizza Hut, we went to Marc's to find a toy to take to the Great Expectations party for a child.  Everyone was supposed to bring a toy to donate which we thought was a nice idea.  We bought a cute stuffed dog.  (I liked it so much that later on, Gerard bought me one too and I named it Snoozer.)

It was a cold, wintry night and neither of us normally would have gone anywhere in that kind of weather, much less dress up. Gerard wore a suit and I wore a green velvet dress and was COLD; Gerard told me I had nice legs! There was snow on the ground. We both had a terrible time, the food was okay but it was so loud, it was hard to hear each other. Neither of us are party people; neither of us drink alcohol; and we just felt very out of place there.

Going was definitely one of Gerard’s bad ideas. The good thing was, we both felt exactly the same way and just wanted to disappear! I don’t think we even stayed a whole hour. We ate quick and left. Our dates could only improve after that! They took a picture of everyone but even that didn’t come out very well as you can see. We laugh about this now, but it really wasn’t funny at the time.

When did you want to disappear?

This is in response to Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop prompt: “Write about a time when you wanted to disappear.”

Share this:

How To Shoot A Video People Will Watch

I think this is a good video by Steve Stockman that gives some great tips from his book, How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck.







I will definitely work at following these tips the next time I shoot video. It will save on my editing time, I'm sure.

1. Think in shots. Shoot for only 5 - 10 seconds at a time.

2. Treat the video camera like a still camera: move close, point, shoot (5-10 seconds), stop.

3. Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes. Get the expression of people's faces.

4. Refrain from using the zoom, move your feet closer.

5. Keep it short!

Thinking in shots and not shooting until seeing the white's of their eyes were new tips for me.  This is the first I've heard of these and am very curious as to what other tips are included in the book.  I just may have to get this one!

Now, go shoot a video using these tips and feel free to include the link in the comments so we can see how it turned out.  (I heard about this book in an email I got from Kodak.)   

Share this:

Feast Day by Spunky Doodle

Karen used to put food in my bowl twice a day that I could eat all day long. I must admit, I ate most of it all at once and then vomited it up. Gross, I know, but it’s just so good I can’t help myself! Then as some of you know, I got a Kong because I Karen saw me knocking over Abby’s and eating some of her food.

I could fit my whole head in!

My Kong is much, much smaller though and Karen only fills it twice for breakfast and twice for supper. But I was able to get a feast recently when the last bag of cat food my mom bought ripped down the side when she opened it! I watched and waited until she went to work. Then I found the bag and knocked it off the shelf, just like I do with my Kong.

See the small hole on the front of the bag halfway down?

When I went back the next day, there was a different bag without the big hole in it. I worked very hard and was able to chew a hole through the side of the new bag and what do you know? Some of that food fell out for me! I made a mistake though by not eating it all up. When Karen came home, she discovered it and now she put the bag in the closet so I can’t get to it through the day.

I hope she got the message though that I need more food! It’s no wonder I sometimes go for the dog’s food if I can find it. I know I was chunky, but not anymore. Now I’m hungry! Just call me Hungry Spunky and please, could you leave a comment telling her to give me more food. (I got the Kong when you told her to get one for me.)

Related Post:  Be Careful What You Wish For

Share this:

September Is For Taking New Classes

I am so excited to be starting a couple new Bible studies this fall.  

SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE FELLOWSHIP 9:30 A.M.

First of all, since I gave up my Sunday School class I can now attend a small group Bible study with other women at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. We are using the study guide, Instruments In The Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp which is Bible based. The goal of this study is that we will all be changed by God, ready to be his instruments of change wherever and with whomever he laces us. Some of the things that stood out to me the first week are as follows:

1. All of us are both people in need of help [because we are human] and people who have been positioned by God to provide his help to others.

2. The Bible teaches [Isaiah 55:1-13] that personal transformation takes place as our hearts are changed and our minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit. And the two instruments that the Holy Spirit uses are the Word of God and the people of God.

I am excited about this course because its focus is on developing a personal ministry which is something I've wanted to do for a very long time.  

WEDNESDAY FAMILY NIGHT 7 P.M.

Secondly, on Wednesday, I began a study on The Tangible Kingdom. This is going to be fun because we will actually be practicing the concept of serving people in the community as Jesus did. I can't wait to see what God teaches me through this class. Already, my view of evangelism (strictly sharing the Gospel of Christ verbally with others) is changing to just bringing people a step closer to having that personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ through serving.  

WOMEN OF WONDER--2ND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH 7 P.M.

Lastly, I attended our "Women of Wonder" meeting on Thursday. This one meets monthly and all women are welcome! It was fun! I look forward to actually

getting to know some other women on a deeper level and make some new friends here.

We have a dessert buffet, some discussion, time to chit chat and make a craft; first time I ever used a glue gun! This is the picture of the craft we made last week. It's a decorative frame with our monthly key verse displayed in it which is easily changed.

We listened to how women in the Bible influenced others and then shared at our tables the different roles we have and how we have influenced others. I was surprised at how many areas of influence I have when I actually took time to think about this. We certainly influence our family members, our co-workers, those we serve in a volunteer capacity and in the posts we write as bloggers.

What are you excited about this fall? Are you taking any new classes?  Who are you influencing? I invite you to visit Parma Heights Baptist Church are in the area. We are all about loving and following Jesus Christ.

[I tried posting this on my ALWAYS LOOKING UP blog at http://karen.pnn.com but it wouldn't work so here it is.  As of now, I've just about decided to stop posting over there altogether.] 


Share this:

6 Things We Learned This Week 36 of 2011 (Twitter, animals, words, jobs)

Twitter and Football

Gerard likes Twitter now because I showed him how to get the up-to-the-minute updates on his high school football team' games. I found Benefootball on there for him.  They got a new coach this year and have a quarterback with a good arm.  It's going to be a fun season!  They are off to a good start!

September is Happy Cat Month

This video gives ways to keep your cats happy and also gives a great reason for owning a cat. I liked seeing all the different cats as the lady was talking. Hope you will take the time to watch it.

Looks like Manny might be a Pixie Bob cat! I always thought he was a Tabby but I guess "Tabby" is not a breed, but refers to the pattern. I know he is a happy cat because he blinks at me a lot!

I learned that my cat, Spunky Doodle, can chew through the plastic Science Diet food bag so now have to keep it in a closet instead of just out on the shelf. More about this coming soon!

G-O-L-F

(UPDATED 9/9/11 at 8 p.m.) I just learned last night from a lady at church during our Women Of Wonder (WOW) meeting that the name of the sport of golf is an acronym for "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden." Did you know that? According to Scottish Golf History, this is a common misconception and not true. Thanks, Rebecca, for giving me this link in your comment! I do think the acronym is funny though.

 Roosters

Do not wake a sleeping rooster! One of my co-workers was moving her rooster to the indoor pen to protect it from the predators but didn't realize it was sleeping, I guess. It dug in its claws and scratched her up. The wound got infected and she had to go to the hospital. The first thing she says when telling people about this is that "It wasn't the rooster's fault." It thought she was a predator and was just trying to defend itself.

Job?

Congratulations to Jim Tressell (Former Ohio State football coach) on his new job with the Indianapolis Colts as "game day consultant." That certainly sounds like an easy job to me. I wonder what exactly he does. He won't actually start work until after the first six games because he's suspended. What a crazy situation! I think Gerard would be a good game day consultant. How does one get a job like this?

Bible Studies

I am beginning two classes at Parma Heights Baptist Church that I think will be very helpful and interesting and am very glad I signed up for them. They are "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands--How To Help Others Change" by Paul David Tripp on Sunday mornings with a small group of women and on Wednesday nights, "The Tangible Kingdom--an 8-week guide to Incarnational Community" taught by our minister of outreach. The goal of the second class is to become an apprentice of Christ and represent Him in our community.

Stop by Half-Past Kissin' Time for more Friday Fragments and link up yours!
Share this: