another three days . . .

Saturday: Not really sure what batty thing happened this day.  There was sermonating, bike riding, preaching while fireworks were being tested, sharing multiple funnel cakes with great neighbors and watching the local fireworks :)  I guess you could say that I debated the words for my sermon for quite some time...luckily the words finally came to me. 

Sunday: Made a to-do list way too long for the time that I had. 
But still managed to make it through 5 episodes of buffy...not really sure how that happened, but I did it.  The last episode I saw was the Halloween one in season 4.  The best part was the scene when bats descend upon the scooby gang in the haunted frat house :)

Monday: chocolate cake batter ice cream with mini marshmallows

Until next time . . .

battles & sabbath

Yesterday I battled the prickers in a wonderfully full black raspberry patch.  I spent over an hour and a half in this:

I could hear the sound of farm equipment in the distance, some rustling noises and some clucking:

In the midst of the brush and the thorns, I saw many daddy long legs, a praying mantis, tiny spiders, Japanese beetles, and was chased out once by a bumble bee.  Apparently I was in it's spot.  Later when I saw this, I kept my distance:

Everywhere I turned I was surrounded by berries. 

I had been invited by a member of my church to come and pick whatever I wanted.  Her husband already picked all that he wanted for jam and she and her daughters were eating all that they could, but there were so many....

This is what I gleaned whilst in the patch:

I shared some with neighbors and friends and enjoyed purple oatmeal this morning... :)

Today was a sabbath day.

I slept in.

Went for a run.

Ate some scrumptious oatmeal. 

Met up with a good friend for a bike ride around Harrisburg followed by tasty eats and cold beers.  

Now that I'm home I'm mustering up the energy to make a milkshake for my evening snack, but I'm beat.  That must be the sign of a busy few weeks followed by an actual day to just be me.  

There is laundry to be done, a sermon to write and a whole house to clean...but that can wait to be tackled tomorrow....today is a non-work day.  Is it too early to go to bed?

Until next time , , , 

Three days of catching up

Here's a brief recap of the last few days:

Monday: after cutting myself shaving...and covering the tiny wound with a BATman bandaid...I was off to the beach for a few days.  The weather was beautiful and with a a good group of senior high youth, we hit the boardwalk.  I loved all the food options :)  (Especially the fried ones)

That night I went with the BATter dipped deep fried pickles....very tasty. 

Tuesday, following some service projects around the church and Inn, we enjoyed some crazy waves at the beach...eventually the sun came out, so sunBAThing was definitely in order.  (With repeated applications of sunblock.)

We frolicked in the waves and the dolphins did as well :) 
 The snacks on the boardwalk that night were chocolate covered bacon and a funnel cake.

After riding back from the beach today, a great bubble BATh was just what I needed before a pre-marital meeting this evening.  It was great to just stop and breathe and be alone for a bit. 

The pleasant surprise, though, came at the end of the day.  I was at church after the meeting and the phone rang...and against my better judgment, I did answer the phone.  My next door neighbor was calling to see if my meeting was over, because they were hanging out in the pool on this warm evening. 

A fine end to the day.

Until tomorrow . . .

mmm.....bacon.

So yesterday I baked a batch of bacon chocolate chip cookies.

Today I shared that BATch with the cast and crew of Godspell.  Not surprisingly, they were a hit! 

Godspell was a great experience.  Great feedback from both the cast and the audience.  Everyone was surprised that this was my first show.  Granted I did a short play just after I graduated from college...but this was my first musical.  Apparently I can sing AND dance (at the same time!) 
It was fun to be on stage!  I am definitely interested in another production at some point. 

But for now, I'm trying to muster up the energy to get off the sofa and get some tasty smackerels. 

Until next time . . .

snack break!!

So after a great ride and some Chinese food, I enjoyed dessert.  I mean, why not?  I heart dessert! 

Believe it or not there is cake BATter ice cream under that mound of strawberries.  The strawberries were picked locally by a friend :) They are super delieicous...especially with a bit o ice cream. 

Until next time . . .

BAThing suit shopping: take one.

Okay, so maybe Target wasn't the best place to look for a bathing suit....or at least one that is appropriate for a church trip to the beach.  I tried on a few...but no go. 

I almost got a one piece from Dick's....but didn't want to spend an arm and a leg. 

The sad news is that I will have to do this again...the good news is because my old suit is loosey-goosey around the middle :) 

You take the bad with the good...

Until next time . . .

gone batty....

In the past week alone the following things have happened:

lost my cell phone case (Monday) ... (found at the end of the day)

lost (since Monday) my Godspell script (good thing I have my lines memorized)

left my cell phone at home (today)

completely lost my keys (today) well, when I say completely, I removed my car keys before going on an errand with a friend.  so those were safe and sound, locked in the house upon my return.

so, I'm hoping they fell out of the car during the errand....but I have yet to hear back from her. 

I bet there are other things I've forgotten, but you know how that goes I can't remember them. 
Oh well....

I'd like to blame the state of my desk...

But on my desk, I could actually find my keys when they were there....

aw, meatloaf again?

So...I restorted to googling bat things this evening.

It's well past my bed time...and I'm pooped. 

So here are some interesting things I found.
Urban Dictionary has some crazy entries....you may not want to read many of them....but my favorite definition was the following:
Bat Out of Hell: Much faster and more reckless than an average bat. Always in a hurry. 

While looking for clips from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, when Meatloaf comes in on his motorcycle, straight out the of the freezer like a bat outta hell.  I got distracted (shocking) and stumbled on the 30 second bunnies cartoons.  Many movies done in a minute or so, by bunnies.  (Hilarious) 
I've watched them before...but here's a link to the RHPS: 30 Second Bunnies on YouTube

Enjoy....

Until next time . . .

another meal...

Today was the second day in a row for staff lunches :)

Yesterday is was brought in by folks in the congregation. 
4 different quiches, salad, cake with fresh fruit topping and fresh watermelon! :)

Today we went out to lunch to a local eatery. 
I had a tasty little sammie on a ciaBATta bun :)  I forget the name of it, but it was grilled chicken, topped with roasted red peppers and artichokes, melted mozzarella, and a pesto mayo :)  Super delicious with a side of cucumber salad.  yummers.

In other news, I met the guy who works at the local beer store.  He's the one that does the ordering of the microbrews and had some great recommendations :)  He also recommended a small brewpub in the neighborhood I used to live in, with new ownership and great microbrews on tap.  I feel trip to Reading soon :)

Until next time . . .

gettin a buffy fix

It's a Buffy day!

Season 3, Episode 1: Anne.

Oz repeatedly uses a stake that he made out of a baseball bat.  It's a fine weapon. 

And I forgot how great the banter was between Willow and Oz.

Until tomorrow . . .

pow! biff! sock!

batman credits :)


Yup.

Super long day at church...a wonderful one...but I'm beat.

I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

bats, bats, everywhere!

You must, MUST see Bat Boy: The Musical.  It is hilarious!  Great music!  Clever writing!  You'll pretty much laugh through the whole thing.  The Genesius Theatre is a great venue that promotes community theater.  Such a great thing!  I went with my friend Deb, met her friends (parents of one of the characters) and just enjoyed a night out in the city.  So last night rolled into this morning.  We'll count the musical as yesterday's bat.  Not to mention the batusi in the performance, too! 
After the show, we headed out for snacks and beers with the cast.  Who could pass on a stromboli big enough to feed 8!  And, get this, the drink special for the evening was pitchers of Labatts for $7!!!
So, if the show counted for Friday, surly the Labatts and eating with the cast of BatBoy counts for early this morning!  :)

I'm pooped.  I'm glad the sermon is written....just needs a tweak, because now it's time for a few graduation open houses.  I will definitely sleep well tonight.

Until the next bat-venture.

daily chores

The good news, my bathroom is clean. 

The sad news, that was my bat for the day.

While I have a pretty sassy bathroom, I'll pass on posting a photo of it. 

I'm sure everyone has a toilet angled out of the corner, right? 

Looking forward to tomorrow evening's bat-venture . . . 

almost too full...

So there was a breakfast meeting: scrambled eggs, banana nut bread, some kind of potato casserole that probably allowed me to hit my daily cholesterol intake in a couple bites, and coffee. 

Then there was a cluster lunch: chopped salad, unsweetened iced tea, flat bread pizza with buffalo sauce, chicken, blue cheese & ranch. 

Just when I thought I was full, I remembered this:

I ended up getting the mini. 

Totally worth it.

Thanks DQ.

day 7 and the goofy purchases have begun.

I'm surprised at how much time I can spend in the grocery store looking for items that contain 'bat'.  Maybe that's a good thing?  I have at least one more option in the ice cream aisle, but struck out in the cereal AND candy aisles.  But, on my way to get milk, this caught my eye. 

Yup.  It's a bubble gum bat. 

Filled with little gumballs that look like baseballs. 

I'm sure it will make a great confirmation prize or some friend will receive it in a care package....who knows where it will end up?

It's certainly too much bubble gum for me.  :)

Until the next weird find . . .

red sox fan....living in pa.

The bat of the day:

Marley (my cat) liked this one better than the actual bat.  (geesh)

Until the next time . . .

mmm....beer (battered)

So I had lunch this afternoon with a small group of confirmand students.  It was a prize won by a group of 8th grade girls.  We enjoyed our walk to the restaurant, eating on the patio and just enjoying each others company...oh and eating a few packets of sugar ;)

You can imagine my joy when I saw this on the menu:

Yup, beer BATtered haddock sandwich on a ciaBATta bun!  (SOLD!) (and double the bats!)

And now it's nap time.  Today kicked my butt...and it was only a 1/2 day?!?! 
But two worship services, with a last Sunday School class in between.  Twins baptized, high school seniors recognized and blessed, bread broken, wine poured, songs sung, prayers prayed.  Lunch with shenanigans and Godspell rehearsal...now a nap...or some thank you notes....or a nap. 

Until the next bat . . .

the picture says it all.

Day four was quite enjoyable:

Cake BATter ice cream with Butterfingers blended in :)

This month has the danger of a) costing a pretty penny and b) putting on a few pounds....

Stay tuned...

Godspell.

I think, if I make it through this weekend...I should really get moving on that sermon....then Godspell will soon be consuming my life...at least until showtime! 

The song in my head all day (not the one with my solo that I should be singing all the time) was Bless the Lord.  A great tune and the young woman who sings it can nail the high note at the end with grace!  She rocks it.  The women and men in the chorus do a great little dance number as sweet back up singers. 

And for Day 3:
He will not always chide
He will with patience wait
His wrath is ever slow
To rise
Oh bless the Lord
And ready to aBATe
And ready to aBATe
Oh yeah!
Oh bless the lord
Bless the lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul!


Until the next bat-venture . . . 

a childhood crush :)

I enjoyed watching several episodes of Arrested Development. I tell ya, a childhood crush, that started while watching Silver Spoons, continues to this day.  And now, it's not Ricky Schroeder...although his racecar bed was pretty sweet.  But seriously, who doesn't like Jason Bateman?  Yeah, he's definitely a favorite of mine.  :)

I gave tribute to his sister, Justine, as well, by watching the episode of Arrested Development entitled Family Ties.

For the record, I forgot how hilarious this show was.  Here's hoping there is a movie in the future.

Day two: Jason BATeman and Justine BATeman.  ;)

Oh, for those who were following along last month...I weighed in yesterday at 163.  So, after a month of logging my intake and exercising regularly, I lost 4 pounds.  I'm keeping up with the food log as the summer goes on :)

30 days of . . .

So June showed up out of nowhere!  Okay, well, not out of nowhere, but it seemed to surprise me this morning. It's not the only think that surprised me, though. 

As I made a quick trip upstairs to grab my watch before work, I saw something flying in the bed room. 
It floated like a butterfly (i didn't want to find out if it stung like a bee!) Then I thought, well, maybe a bird.  But how am I going to get a bird out of the bedroom!? But alas, it was neither butterfly nor bird, but BAT!  Oh boy.  I've heard about bats in the belfry, but in the bedroom??  I think not.  But how to get rid of it? 

I squealed once when it was in mid air and flying in my direction...but I moved and it landed on a chair next to the window.  At that point I thought I'd just open that window and screen and then find something to scoop it out with...but no luck with the window open, bat moved to the floor.  Let me mention that at this point, Marley walked over to it, sniffed it, and walked away.  Little help she was.  I headed out to catch my breath and saw it flying again so I ran out of the bedroom closing the door behind me...let's keep this adventure contained in to the bedroom, shall we? 

When I walked back in, it was on my bed.  Luckily, not on my pillow, but on the end of the bedspread.  So I figured I would just wrap it in the bedspread and carry it outside.  Easier said than done.  A queen size bed spread is too much bedspread for a bat a little smaller than my fist.  But at least the bat was then on the floor.  I tried to scoop it up with a towel, but couldn't get it on to the towel.  At this point, the whole ordeal comes with the soundtrack of a squeaking bat.  (Marley at least feigned interest.)

So by scooping it with one bath towel, I put it on another bath towel and wrapped them both together to carry the bat downstairs and outside.  (Again, probably too much towel for a little bat, but not for me!)  I put the towels on the porch and uncovered the bat, he/she just squeaked some more.  I headed inside to wash up and when I came back out it was gone. 

I scoped out the eaves of the porch when I got home later, but have not seen it. 

So in honor of this morning's adventure, here's to 30 days of 'bat's.  Somehow, each day, I will come up with something to do with the word 'bat' in it.  Stay tuned, it should be an interesting month. 

Until the next post . . .