CRAZYTOWN - Population: 1 Less Than Last Week

Last week was CRAZY around the Goode household. Now, it is not unusual for us to have a busy week. In fact, we are kind of used to it at this point. But last week was NOT supposed to be one of those weeks.

Jim was out of town for his annual West Texas Turkey Hunt. It is one of two week long trips that he takes each year. He looks forward to it and counts down the days every time...and that is odd for him because he usually dreads leaving town.

With him out of the house for a solid week, I had envisioned a time of peaceful evenings spent reading and journaling and blogging. Easy meals for me, Bri and Will, maybe a few nights of take-out and time to catch up on the television shows I have on the DVR that I never get an opportunity to watch because the boys outnumber the girls most evenings.

The weekend started off as planned. Saturday I spent the WHOLE day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Stacy, Albert and I arrived a few minutes after 9 for a Buyers Breakfast. We then moved over to the arena for the Poultry Auction where we had so much fun!
See those smiling faces? That is all of us (except Robin, who was working) with two of the girls whose broilers we bought. Jenn and Paul had Liam with them...so taking pictures with him was fun! Every picture is better with a sweet baby face in it!

After we had spent all our money at the auction, Albert, Stacy and I headed over to Reliant Stadium to watch the Rodeo Finals. We were able to watch the top 16 in every event, and then the top 4 competed again for the Championship. Our boy from Waller, Clint Cannon, made it to the top 4 but unfortunately did not repeat the title. :-( Oh well, maybe next year!

During the Championship round Robin was able to join us and we all watched Brooks & Dunn as they performed their Last Rodeo Tour. It was probably the best show of theirs that I have ever attended. After the show we headed out to the carnival grounds, but it was so freakishly cold that we grabbed a Texas Twisted Tater and ran for our cars. I noticed the time as we climbed into the truck...it had been 12 hours since we arrived for breakfast. But it was a good day, nonetheless.

Sunday was spent sitting in Jim's recliner, watching the DVR, doing laundry and taking it easy.

And then the bottom fell out!

Monday was CRAZY at work. Jim was gone and the answers to every one's questions seemed to be locked up in his head. Everyone seemed to think that I knew what he knew, so I was bombarded with questions all day. He is my better half, but that doesn't mean he tells me much about work! We were unable to reach him most of the week...but thankfully after about Wednesday we had either found the answers or come up with our own and things quieted down a bit.

Tuesday was still a bit harried, we were busy, but it wasn't overwhelming. At least not until about 15 minutes before the end of the work day when I received an email from Amazon requesting more information on my shipment. Now, I order from Amazon all the time and though I had never seen an email like this one, the logo and everything in it seemed legit. That is UNTIL I clicked on the attachment. Chaos ensued! My Norton, which appeared to have scanned and okay'd the attachment suddenly started flashing red warnings everywhere. I lost protection almost immediately. I panicked and just shut off my computer...having to do so manually.

Wednesday morning I found out that yes I had downloaded a virus. And no, it was not going to be easy to get rid of. Three calls to the Geek Squad, a trip to Best Buy, $300 and three days later...I finally got my computer back with a new protection software installed. BEWARE THE AMAZON SHIPMENT INFORMATION EMAIL! You have been warned!

Thursday at work didn't go too badly. After all, I couldn't write checks, enter invoices, create invoices, work on payroll or much of anything else without my computer which houses the accounting software's administrator. So, I settled in to taking care of some personnel issues and such. While I was in a meeting with our Superintendent, Chris, I received a call on my cell from Bri. I didn't take the call, but called her back about a half hour later. Bad news - the dog was hit by the mailman.

She assured me that he was alright, but that she had brought him in the house just in case. I asked her to check on him to make sure that there were no abrasions. When she went into the bathroom where she was keeping him, she saw that he was bleeding from the nose. Wouldn't you know that every vet in Waller was closed on Thursday afternoon?

We called around and found the nearest open vet. I told her that I would meet her there. Hoss' hip had been completely dislocated. They were going to put him under in order to put it back in place because a 67 pound dog doesn't just stay still for all that. Plus they had been unable to complete his x-rays searching for internal damage because of his discomfort.

Two hours later they call and tell me that they want to keep him overnight so that they can check on him the next morning. (We had to leave to pick up Will from football) Thirty minutes later they call to tell me that he is having complications from the anesthesia and needs to go to an emergency clinic for overnight observation. Three hours after walking into the emergency clinic, I finally see the vet on duty and get to head home. It is nearly midnight, I have nearly an hour ride home and I have to pick him up at 7 AM the next morning!

Friday was even crazier than the rest of the week. Pick up the dog in Tomball and transport him to the vet's office in Cypress. Pick up Bri in Waller to put her car in the shop (which is near our house) and take her to work in Tomball. We got there too early so we stopped and bought a 146 gallon stock tank for the cows, picked up breakfast and then dropped her at work -when she realized her store keys were on the key ring in Waller. Thankfully we only had to wait about 15 minutes for someone else with keys to show up. Pick up my computer from Best Buy, meet a friend for lunch (the best part of the crazy day), work, pick up the dog, pick up Will from off-season football, pick up food, go home, visit with the boys, drive back to Tomball and pick up Bri from work at 8!

Thankfully, Jim came home on Saturday afternoon...and I proceeded to spend the rest of the weekend trying to catch up on 'Lost'! Well, I was really trying to catch up on my sanity!

This week has had stresses of it's own...but everything is better when you can share it with someone you love!

"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

A Classic Novel: Camille

A few months ago, as I was perusing the used book store Twice Told Tales, I found an undated copy of Camille. Knowing nothing about the book but that it looked like it needed a home, I purchased it. And earlier this month, I read it.

My copy not only has no date, but also has no end notes, no descriptions, nothing that would give me any indication as to whether or not I would like it. So I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book.

Camille is the English translation of the French novel, La Dame aux Camelias by Alexandre Dumas fils. It is the story of a French courtesan, Marguerite Gautier, and her lover, Armand Duval - the love story of a fallen woman and a naive young man.

The setting is Paris, 1847 and it is told from the point of view of a narrator. As I read the last few chapters, I couldn't help but think of O'Henry's short story; The Gift of the Magi. The willingness to sacrifice everything for the happiness of the other brought more than a few tears to my eyes. Unfortunately, this one did not have the happy ending all tied up with a bow.

Nevertheless, I couldn't put it down. Nor could I stop thinking about the grace of God extended to all sinners, myself especially. God has given me a heart for women. Even though I am not currently serving in Women's ministry, I still ache for the wounds of those that He brings into my path. The character of Marguerite struck a chord in my heart. In her, I see all the women who have been deceived by the lie that a man's favor would make her legitimate...yet all too often, have ended up betrayed by that very same man. (Not man-bashing here, just making an observation about our gender's vulnerability when we put too much stock in anything other than God. Been there, done that, got the battle scars!)

One of my favorite quotes comes near the beginning as the author answers the person who would put away the book for fear that he is condoning the lifestyle of Marguerite.

"Here is Christianity with its marvellous parable of the Prodigal Son to teach us indulgence and pardon. Jesus was full of love for souls wounded by the passions of men; he loved to bind up their wounds and to find in those very wounds the balm which should heal them...Why do we make ourselves more strict than Christ? Why, holding obstinately to the opinions of the world, which hardens itself in order that it may be thought strong, do we reject, as it rejects, souls bleeding at wounds by which, like a sick man's bad blood, the evil of their past may be healed, if only a friendly hand is stretched out to lave him and set them in the convalescence of the heart?"

Between this book and Beth Moore's So Long, Insecurity, I am beginning to realize the timelessness of our battle for 'dignity', 'honor' and security.

I decided to investigate this novel and it's author and found some interesting facts:

1. The author is the illegitimate son of Alexandre Dumas pere who wrote such classics as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.

2. The novel is believed to be based on his relationship with his mistress, Marie Duplessis.

3. Verdi's opera La Traviata is based on this novel.

4. Over 16 stage adaptations have been performed.

5. Over 13 films have been made ranging from 1907 - 1980.

How is it that I had no earthly idea what this book was about? I am thankful for having found it and will be keeping an eye out for the next time La Traviata is being performed at Houston Grand Opera.

What's On My Nightstand - March

It is time once again for "What's On Your Nightstand?" over at 5 Minutes for Books. A time to share what you have read, what you are reading and/or what you are planning to read.

I was going to say that the month has flown by, but then I realized that I have not participated since January. The fourth Tuesday of February found me so busy at work after our Grandmas Trip to Los Angeles that I didn't have time to post.

And, since I find myself once again busy at work...I will keep my update short and sweet so that I don't miss another month.

Read:
The Help: A Novel - Kathryn Stockett. Still stirring in my mind. I may comment on it in a few weeks for "I Read It"...if I can get some things tied down in my head. If you haven't read this one, I highly recommend it.

Camille (Las Dames Aux Camilias) - Alexandre Dumas fils. A classic. Once I got into it, I enjoyed it.

Godmother:The Secret Cinderella Story - Carolyn Turgeon. I shared my thoughts on this book for March's 'I Read It', you can read it here.

Reading:
I am not a multiple book reader. I just can't seem to keep up if I am going back and forth between books. However, because of my participation in an online book club and last Sunday's guest post about listening to books while commuting...I find myself "in" three books at once.

So Long, Insecurity: You've Been A Bad Friend To Us - Beth Moore. I mentioned this book discussion going on over at Living Proof Ministries earlier this month. And, quite honestly, a few chapters a week is about all I can read and 'do' at a time.

Creative Journal Writing: The Art and Heart of Reflection - Stephanie Dowrick. I try to read a chapter or two each night before journaling.

Bridge To Terabithia - Katherine Paterson (Read by Robert Sean Leonard) This is the audiobook that I am trying out. Since I have an hour and a half commute every day (if I am lucky enough not to encounter traffic or need to run errands), I figured I would give a juvenile fiction audiobook a try. I have listened to non-fiction books on CD before, but didn't really enjoy it. (I like marking up my non-fiction books or going back to re-read a paragraph.)

New Books Added To My Nightstand:
Love And War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed Of - John and Stasi Eldredge. I have loved several of their previous books, and am really looking forward to this one after watching an interview they gave.

66 Love Letters: A Conversation With God That Invites You Into His Story - Dr. Larry Crabb. I saw this one on several blog lists last month. I probably will not start it until later in April, after my current Bible study is wrapped up.

I still have several (read.between.the.lines - LOTS) of books still on my nightstand from January. And I have downloaded a sample for the Kindle app on iPhone, just not sure how I feel about reading a book on my phone. I already use it enough (make that, TOO MUCH) checking emails, blog comments and facebook!

How about you, what are you reading right now?