Rebecca Homecca

American Idol has been a little boring this year, so I haven’t talked about it much.

When the got down to the top five it got exciting! Funny things happens in the top five. The front runners sometimes play it too safe or too much the same. Which happened this week. Adam (front runner for some unkown reason) and Kris (front runner for very good reasons) were both in the bottom 3.

Unfortunately, our local hero Matt was also in the bottom three and turned out to be the bottom one.

Adam is so over dramtic and belongs on broadway, not on the radio. They some how think his over the top antics are brilliant. They’re not. They are stupid. I think America finally figured that out, which is why he was in the bottom two.

Kris is always solid and always very Kris. Which he was this week, but the thing about the top five is that’s not enough. You need to bring it.

And that’s where Danny Gokey comes in. The guy is a good singer, and has been getting by on that. The problem has been that he is boring, has no stage presence. Until last night. Dude Brought it. Which is why he was not in the bottom three. I would so love to hear him sing some Third Day, but I know Simon would hate it. For some reason, I think Danny should do Christian Rock.

Next is Alison. She’s done her rock chick thing, and people go crazy. I don’t know, I just did dig it that much. Seemed like a lot yelling and crazy outfits. Last night, she totally mixed it up, slowed it down, and sang. That last part is the most important. She didn’t yell, she just sang. And it was good.

People were surprised to see Adam and Kris in the bottom three. Not me. Not after those two threw it down.

Well new to us anyway. We had a tiny dining room (well, room might be stretching it, area might be more appropriate) at the old house, so we had a tiny table. We have a big dining room here at the new house, so I wanted a new table. I found one on Craigslist (hence the new to us part).

We bought our old table from a neighbor. Hubs wondered if anyone ever buys new furniture. I figure someone must start the chain.

It was raining, so we were not able to put it in the trailer. We were going to pick up the chairs and come back for the table. Then she told us that the legs come off, so we got the table and all six chairs in the back of the Subaru. The old girl comes through again!

Here’s out new big table.

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We left the leaf out (it’s self storing-fancy!) because we have the room and did not want to have to find a home for 2 chairs. The leaf part is a little darker from being stored, but it doesn’t look too bad and will catch up eventually.

Here’s what the chairs look like. The fabric isn’t terrible, but I plan on changing it when I figure out what I am doing with curtains and stuff.

Marvin’s been busy smelling it and rubbing his cheeks on all the legs. He’s going to be quite busy with six chairs.

I’m super excited. I can’t wait to have dinner guest now that we have room for everyone to eat!

After waiting for weeks to Dewey The Small Town Libary Cat to come in. I finally got it, and read it in 2 days.

It was a very sweet book but I wasn’t expecting all the depressing stuff going on in the authors life.

Since I have a sweet kitty with tons of personality I could totally relate to Dewey’s story. There were things Dewey did that Marvin does all the time. Of course Marvin would not make a good library cat since he hates strangers.

When we first got Marvin, I said I was not going to be one of those people who talk about their cat all the time like they are your kid or something.

But I am. I can’t help it, he is so funny and follows me everywhere. When your kitty greets you at the door, and doesn’t leave your side until bedtime, you find things to talk about. He’s not an aloof cat that you hear stories about, he likes to be with his people (only his people, but all the time).

Even if you don’t have a goofy kitty like me, Dewey is still a good book about the effect animals have on people lives. People like to say “it’s just a cat”, but not when he’s your buddy.

Becky’s Totally Scientific Book Rating: 4

Here are my most recent items that I finished framing. This pair framed in blue actually started out as one painting. After staring at it for a while I determined it needed to be two.

It actually turned into 3, but I don’t have the little one all done yet.

This one was painted by my art friend Jeri. I liked it so much, she gave it to me! I love it and the colors go in my kitchen. It’s unframed, so I will have to get that done. We were trying out different mat colors in class and that red-orange color really made it pop.

There are several art shows coming up that I am going to enter. I haven’t had the best luck with these things, but it’s worth a try. I try and console myself by thinking that at least my entry fees go towards supporting the arts in my community.

sigh…

Things happen in threes. That’s what I hear anyway.

Something is happening, I’m not quite sure what, but it’s going to be good.

And I just got my third clue.

First thing that happened was I read the article about Hobby Lobby giving pay increases to their full time employees. It did not seem significant at the time, but I kept thinking about it for some reason. Maybe because it was a positive story in a sea of negative news. I thought what a great person the founder was for doing that and betting on the future.

Next thing that happened was Hubs and I went to Dave Ramsey’s Town Hall Meeting for Hope. This was significant only because I had gotten an email about it and ignored it. Then the night of the event Hubs casually asked what it was all about and next thing I knew we were going.

The event was about what I expected, I did not come away with any strong feelings. I was glad that someone with such a large audience had decided to step up on the side of hope and was trying to spread that message. It’s going to take a lot of work though to overcome the fear message we hear daily.

The last thing, again by itself, not significant. You all know I have been waiting for weeks for that Dewey book to come in. Well it finally arrived and I started reading it today.

When it got to the part about the farm crisis of the 1980’s, my intuition perked up. It went on to say how in a small way, this library cat was bringing small joy and hope to this little farming town that was struggling. It’s another message of hope in hard times.

It may just be because I am living in these “tough economic times” and like most people am searching for hopefull message (even if we don’t know it). But I feel like this is how it works, you hear a positive word, then another, then maybe you tell someone else about those things, and so on. Then hope is spreading and things are turning around.

I honestly believe that the bad news we hear everyday is spreading a message of fear, and that fear is hindering an economic turn around.

I also believe that a message of hope can be spread too. But we can’t count on the media for that. It’s not going to come from the government either, despite what we were told.

It’s got to be neighbor to neighbor.

If your friend needs help, help them.

If your hear good news, tell someone else.

If you get scared, pray about it. Because that’s where the good news really comes from.

I would have some more artwork to show you, but the battery was about dead when I took the pictures, so I’ll have to wait for it to recharge to download them.

So essentially, this could be really cool and exciting but it’s not.

In other news, I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of books I have on deck and I am currently in the middle of the longest book ever.

Well, maybe not ever, but the longest I have read since college.

Who am I kidding. I never “read” anything in college. I was more of a “skimmer”.

I got good grades though, so don’t judge it ’til you try it. It’s really handy when they give things like Bold or Italics. Then you can just read those parts.

One of the books I had been waiting on for weeks (Outliers) came in, and hubs got an email the other day that Dewey (the cat book) finally came in.

Not to mention the other two books I have on the table that I borrowed from friends.

All of a sudden there is all this pressure. I feel like I am in school again. Well, except for the fact that I am actually reading these books.

Well, I guess better get going so I can fast forward through last nights Idol. Go Matt!

It’s been a while since we had a top five things I’m loving right now…

5. Frozen Meals. Terrible, I know. I just haven’t had the time, energy, or creativity to put into a menu plan right now. There are some decent pre-packaged meals out there (I am fond of the Bertolli kind). They can be kind of expensive, so I try and buy on sale. But I figure even at regular price it’s still a lot cheaper than eating out.

4. Shiny Toy Guns. This is a band, I’m not into actual toy guns. I heard them on Hub’s satellite radio and when I was at the libary (see #1) one day I picked up their CD. At the time I didn’t even know if I liked them, I just recognized the name. Well, turns out hubs had one of their other CD’s and also turns out I LOVE THEM!! One of their songs is big on the radio right now. I’m hoping the get really popular so they keep making music.

3. Warm weather. It hasn’t been as warm as we would like, but after below zero windchills, I don’t want to get greedy. I’ll take 40, even if it’s raining.

2. Painting at my Studio. I had been in kind of a rut for a while. Recently, we have started doing some new things. We have introduced each other to new techniques and new artists. There is definately a re-newed energy up there and everyone is making amazing things!

1. The library. Have you all been there lately? I don’t know if you heard but everythings free! Which is important “in these tough economic times.” They have a ton of stuff too, not just books, CD’s, games, movies…  I have not even begun to explore all the fun. One of them by my work (I am about 10 minutes from 3 different ones) even has a lunch counter. Have not eaten there, but it smelled good. I’m trying to spread the word that the library is all the rage.

Feeling somewhat better today after (finally) getting a decent nights sleep, I tried to get a few things done.

It was really warm today, and I thought some fresh air and sunshine might do me some good.

And it may have, had the fresh air and sunshine not included raking leaves out of the flower beds.

Worst plan ever.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but when you are having sinus and respiratory issues, dirt, dust, and leaf mold are apparently not helpful.

Quite the opposite actually. Go figure.

I have now developed a wheezy sounding cough. Not enjoying that, but the flower beds do look better.

Stayed home sick from work today.

Why is it when you are sick you can’t sleep at night but then when the alarm goes off you ignore it and sleep like a baby until hubs taps you on the shoulder and says aren’t you supposed to be at work?

Just me then?

The rest of my day was spent sleeping in and out of episodes of Design on Dime and doing loads of laundry.

That’s like the one chore you can do when sick.

I had to gravitate out to the couch because our poor deprived cat is (supposedly) not allowed on the bed, and he made it known if I was to be home, there would be no sleeping for me in there.

Over at Ben & Jerry’s you can create your own flavor. Mine is Marvin’s Gone Nuts made with Dark Chocolate ice cream mixed with hazelnuts and hazelnut cookies topped off with swirl of caramel.