Something Neal wrote lead me to do exactly what you describe below, so it wasn't tedious at all.
I've likely done this before, and I needed just a few words to point me in the right direction. It's been incredibly frustrating to loose my computer and some months of my life's work.
When I look at computer screens that are different than they were before, I just can't seem to see what is right in front of me. Kind of like when you are looking for something and can't find it, and you ask someone else to look for you, and they find it right in front of you.
--Christina
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Call It Fiction 2
Chapter Two
March 17, 1998
Mary,
We have come to a final parting because I can no longer help you. My total commitment to and love of God separates the two of us. You cannot understand the tremendous power of prayer that has helped me through all of my difficulties and financial problems. Christina was born in County General Hospital (I had no money) and I almost died there because no one noticed how sick I was. When I finally tried to get out of bed (because it was time to leave the hospital), I collapsed. You can’t believe the attention I received then! For more than a year I was very sick, but I never gave up. The Gas Company didn’t want to hire me because I was so anemic. They turned me down, but I kept praying. The next day I went back anyway, and the same person who had refused me said I was hired but on probation because of my anemia. (All I needed was money for food and iron tablets.) Prayer helped me time and time again. I lived in 1-room apts, gave money for Christina every month, and save $30,000 in less than 8 years. I continued to work and to pray. Always I put God first and always He took care of me. This is why I say I am not your source of help. If God is my help and I help you—then God becomes your source. But as long as you don’t recognize God and send prayers of praise and thanksgiving to Him, then he can’t help you even through me.
I truly wish you well now that you are on your own.
Your Mother.
March 17, 1998
Mary,
We have come to a final parting because I can no longer help you. My total commitment to and love of God separates the two of us. You cannot understand the tremendous power of prayer that has helped me through all of my difficulties and financial problems. Christina was born in County General Hospital (I had no money) and I almost died there because no one noticed how sick I was. When I finally tried to get out of bed (because it was time to leave the hospital), I collapsed. You can’t believe the attention I received then! For more than a year I was very sick, but I never gave up. The Gas Company didn’t want to hire me because I was so anemic. They turned me down, but I kept praying. The next day I went back anyway, and the same person who had refused me said I was hired but on probation because of my anemia. (All I needed was money for food and iron tablets.) Prayer helped me time and time again. I lived in 1-room apts, gave money for Christina every month, and save $30,000 in less than 8 years. I continued to work and to pray. Always I put God first and always He took care of me. This is why I say I am not your source of help. If God is my help and I help you—then God becomes your source. But as long as you don’t recognize God and send prayers of praise and thanksgiving to Him, then he can’t help you even through me.
I truly wish you well now that you are on your own.
Your Mother.
Call It Fiction 1
Chapter One
Unnatural Causes
It was done. Ruth clasped her hands together in her lap. The Lord be with thee. May He also be with thee.
She sat in the courtroom, a beautific smile frozen to her pasty face. She turned to a young woman sitting nearby with a small child sitting in her lap.
“What a precious child you have,” Ruth said. “How old is she?”
The young woman answered moving a bit away form the woman wearing sunglasses.
Ruth said, “I have a daughter, too. She’s going to UCLA.”
The young woman relaxed the tension in her arms and legs. “Oh, how old is your daughter?”
“She’s twenty-two.”
The young woman with the child said, “You must be very proud of her.”
“Yes, yes,” Ruth said automatically and absently. She took a rosary from her purse and began to rub it, looking straight ahead, smiling as she did before, and paying no more attention to the woman with the child.
It was done for the glory of God. Praise Him. The money would go to Him when she died. Maybe some to Carl if he was a good boy. When she got home what would she do? She would be surprised. But, after all, it wasn’t a total surprise. He had been despondent . . .. She would act perfectly natural. If Michael thought he could disobey her, he had another think coming. But she made sure that Carl had taken care of him. She vaguely realized that Kenny, her attorney, had come back to her after speaking to the judge, such a nice looking man who would surely find everything in her favor, but now even that didn’t matter, she had outwitted them all.
“This is only a preliminary hearing, Ruth,” she heard Kenny saying to her. “We’ll have no problem getting a conservatorship.”
“Then I’ll control everything,” Ruth said, as if she didn’t already.
“You’ll control both your and your husband’s estate.”
“Good. I’m so worried about poor Michael. It’s for his own good.”
“Yes, of course it is,” her attorney said.
Carl was standing against the wall waiting for her to come out. He had panic written all over his taught face. It was a good thing that she was going to marry him. She’d make sure he wouldn’t get out of control or let anything slip. Kenny was talking to her, but she tuned him out. She was thinking again of what she had to do when she got home.
When they reached the place near where Carl was standing in the hall, they paused and he continued walking behind them, submissively, without a word.
She heard Kenny droning on. She thought, I’ll be surprised, I’ll call the police, I’ll be sad, I’ll say that Michael had been very depressed lately and often said that life wasn’t worth living—the truth, all the truth. Praise God. Glory be to God
Unnatural Causes
It was done. Ruth clasped her hands together in her lap. The Lord be with thee. May He also be with thee.
She sat in the courtroom, a beautific smile frozen to her pasty face. She turned to a young woman sitting nearby with a small child sitting in her lap.
“What a precious child you have,” Ruth said. “How old is she?”
The young woman answered moving a bit away form the woman wearing sunglasses.
Ruth said, “I have a daughter, too. She’s going to UCLA.”
The young woman relaxed the tension in her arms and legs. “Oh, how old is your daughter?”
“She’s twenty-two.”
The young woman with the child said, “You must be very proud of her.”
“Yes, yes,” Ruth said automatically and absently. She took a rosary from her purse and began to rub it, looking straight ahead, smiling as she did before, and paying no more attention to the woman with the child.
It was done for the glory of God. Praise Him. The money would go to Him when she died. Maybe some to Carl if he was a good boy. When she got home what would she do? She would be surprised. But, after all, it wasn’t a total surprise. He had been despondent . . .. She would act perfectly natural. If Michael thought he could disobey her, he had another think coming. But she made sure that Carl had taken care of him. She vaguely realized that Kenny, her attorney, had come back to her after speaking to the judge, such a nice looking man who would surely find everything in her favor, but now even that didn’t matter, she had outwitted them all.
“This is only a preliminary hearing, Ruth,” she heard Kenny saying to her. “We’ll have no problem getting a conservatorship.”
“Then I’ll control everything,” Ruth said, as if she didn’t already.
“You’ll control both your and your husband’s estate.”
“Good. I’m so worried about poor Michael. It’s for his own good.”
“Yes, of course it is,” her attorney said.
Carl was standing against the wall waiting for her to come out. He had panic written all over his taught face. It was a good thing that she was going to marry him. She’d make sure he wouldn’t get out of control or let anything slip. Kenny was talking to her, but she tuned him out. She was thinking again of what she had to do when she got home.
When they reached the place near where Carl was standing in the hall, they paused and he continued walking behind them, submissively, without a word.
She heard Kenny droning on. She thought, I’ll be surprised, I’ll call the police, I’ll be sad, I’ll say that Michael had been very depressed lately and often said that life wasn’t worth living—the truth, all the truth. Praise God. Glory be to God
Preface to Call It Fiction
None of the characters in the above are meant to represent real people either living or dead. The characters and story are mostly fictional.
Friday, August 24, 2007
The secret; the Gipsy Kings
It helped to sit where very few people were. I did note in the restroom of
the theater that someone had a crying child (a two-year-old) in tow, and I
wondered what they could be thinking to bring a child to such an event. But
I heard nothing once the music started. It's not the kind of music you'd
want a child sleeping on your lap for. You're expected to get up and dance
during the concert.
I'll definitely take earplugs next time. I do have several pairs at home.
Yes, the Secret does work.
Marian
On 8/24/07 4:54 PM, "pitcher" wrote:
> So, then, you would say the secret works?
> I'm glad to hear you had a good time. It sounds like it was very enjoyable.
> If you don't already, make sure you have earplugs with you when you go to a
> concert;)
>
>
>> Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:44:52 -0700
>> To: pitcher
>>
>> The Gipsy Kings concert was great. I was sitting just a few feet from the
>> lead singer. Could see laugh lines, wrinkles, crow's feet, sweat, smiles,
>> disappointment, sweat, anxiety. I was right in front of the speakers, so I
>> feel slammed today. But I was near a group of really good dancers and could
>> see Robert. He was chatting with the man next to him. We now know someone
>> who does kitchen cabinets and bookcases. Robert had a great time. It was
>> well worth it.
>>
>> Security people took their jobs really seriously. Sat in chairs in the
>> aisles in front, so moving about was minimized, as was overdrinking.
>>
>> Marian
>>
>
the theater that someone had a crying child (a two-year-old) in tow, and I
wondered what they could be thinking to bring a child to such an event. But
I heard nothing once the music started. It's not the kind of music you'd
want a child sleeping on your lap for. You're expected to get up and dance
during the concert.
I'll definitely take earplugs next time. I do have several pairs at home.
Yes, the Secret does work.
Marian
On 8/24/07 4:54 PM, "pitcher" wrote:
> So, then, you would say the secret works?
> I'm glad to hear you had a good time. It sounds like it was very enjoyable.
> If you don't already, make sure you have earplugs with you when you go to a
> concert;)
>
>
>> Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:44:52 -0700
>> To: pitcher
>>
>> The Gipsy Kings concert was great. I was sitting just a few feet from the
>> lead singer. Could see laugh lines, wrinkles, crow's feet, sweat, smiles,
>> disappointment, sweat, anxiety. I was right in front of the speakers, so I
>> feel slammed today. But I was near a group of really good dancers and could
>> see Robert. He was chatting with the man next to him. We now know someone
>> who does kitchen cabinets and bookcases. Robert had a great time. It was
>> well worth it.
>>
>> Security people took their jobs really seriously. Sat in chairs in the
>> aisles in front, so moving about was minimized, as was overdrinking.
>>
>> Marian
>>
>
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Landscaping
Christina,
Saturday, the 25th at 10 am it is. See you then-
Susan

From: pitcher
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 1:22 PM
To: Susan Verstegen
Subject: Re: Garden plans appointment
How about Aug. 25 (Sat.) at 10 am?
--Christina

From: Susan Verstegen
Reply-To:
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:04:26 -0700
To:
Subject: Garden plans appointment
Dear Christina,
We’re back from our brief vacation and are reasonably rested now. I got your e-mail regarding the substitution choice so I can now finish up the drawing. Anytime that you’d like to schedule an appointment is fine with me as long as it is after this weekend as we’ll be busy until then. Let me know at your earliest convenience.
Thanks,
Susan
Saturday, the 25th at 10 am it is. See you then-
Susan

From: pitcher
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 1:22 PM
To: Susan Verstegen
Subject: Re: Garden plans appointment
How about Aug. 25 (Sat.) at 10 am?
--Christina

From: Susan Verstegen
Reply-To:
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:04:26 -0700
To:
Subject: Garden plans appointment
Dear Christina,
We’re back from our brief vacation and are reasonably rested now. I got your e-mail regarding the substitution choice so I can now finish up the drawing. Anytime that you’d like to schedule an appointment is fine with me as long as it is after this weekend as we’ll be busy until then. Let me know at your earliest convenience.
Thanks,
Susan
The Holocaust and travels
I’ve never even been to the holocaust museum here. But I grew up learning all about the holocaust. All my schools had at least 50% Jews, so holocaust material was a big part of our curriculum. I’ve also known a hand full of survivors and heard stories from them and their children. And I’ve visited Israel many times (because my sister lives there), so I’ve seen the memorials and museums there, too. I’d like to concentrate on more positive aspects of life. About the past, I’d like to see the environs that inspired the authors whom I’ve long admired. You should definitely plan a trip to Prague. It is an amazing city. When I looked around, for the first time I felt “these are my people; these people look like me more than the people anywhere else I’ve been.”
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