“These are a few of my favorite things”

So day seven is five things we can’t live without. Now, I could go all scientific and say “heart, brain, liver, lungs and oxygen” but that wouldn’t be much fun, plus if wouldn’t give you any insight into what makes me tick (except my heart, of course). It would tell you nothing about me, beside the fact that I am obviously human, which I’m pretty sure you’ve discovered on your  own. So I’ll chose five things, which I probably could live without, but don’t really want to.

1. babies!

I firmly believe that babies are just the best things ever!




I would just dry up and wither away without babies! I know I would! I just know it!


                                                              
2. Chocolate!!! This is a major!

I love chocolate… Any chocolate. The best is Godiva though. It’s pretty expensive, but its sooo good. I think I’ll die and go to heaven now, just the thought of eating all that chocolatey goodness! Oh…. **shivers**

3. Books and coffee. This counts as one, you cannot have one without the other… its like salt and pepper, cookies and milk, and Romeo and Juliet. They just aren’t themselves without the other, so this most certainly counts as one.

I will only say that if you can’t have coffee with your book, you can have hot chocolate or hot tea instead, or in the summer a glass of ice tea or lemonade. These are your only alternatives. Do not mix with soda! That messes with the whole order of things and simply will not be tolerated. EVER!

If coffee and books didn’t go together, would they put Starbucks in book stores? Hum, can you argue that one? Didn’t think so!





4. Chapstick, I think my lips would fall off my face without it.
And it would kind of stink if my lips fall off my face, so I’ll continue to use it. I try to use it as much at possible. I seem to have one issue though. My lips build up an immunity to chapstick. Is that even scientifically possible? I wear it for awhile and it works, then suddenly I have cracked and bleeding lips again. Is that right? Even though I put it on religiously? I don’t think so. 

5. M.A. Lemonade!!!!! No, this isn’t a brand of lemonade. It stands for:


Me (not me as in “me” but as in, the first letter in my name is M)

And it stands for:

 


Alyssa!!! Lys came up with it when we were about 6 or 7. Her family had met us at a museum near where we lived and we spent the day at the museum and library. Before we left, Lys hugged me and said “Oh, by the way we’re “M.A. Lemonade”, if that’s ok with you".  Somehow it stuck, even though that was the last time we saw each other for a while (I think). See her family had moved “far away” and being very young children we didn’t think to write. We saw each other a sprinkling of times over the years and kinda fell out of contact with each other, except the occasional email. The whole story of how we came to being so very close again is for another post. We were 14 when we really started talking to each other and 15 (correct me if I’m wrong Lys) when we saw each other again for the first time in 3-4 years (again, correct me). We were thrilled to death and have about a million pictures of that trip! (Man, we looked so young Lys! and you’re hair was long!)
So that’s the last, but not the least, thing on my list. Hope you had fun crawling into my head for a bit. I think whoever came up with these questions must have been a curious and pushy person. Curious because they ask so many questions, pushy because they demand you pick favorites!

Love always,
The M     in M.A. Lemonade!

“God gave us memories…

… That we may have roses in December.” ~J.M. BarrieNot my photo

I believe memories are like books, when we wish to relive a moment we can just pull one out of the shelves in our brain and open it to our favorite chapter. Sometimes those moments are foggy, like when the printing on a book starts to fade. Sometimes the memory is so cherished we pull it out over and over again, we re-read it so much that the pages are falling out and the words practically say themselves. I liken this to a memory that is so loved that it pops into my head without conscious thought.

The moment I would wish to relive a thousand time over and over has nothing to do with regretting my actions. I wish to relive this moment, because I know for certain I never can. Actually, there are two, both of which include my Grandfather who died a little under a year ago. I will only mention one.

We go to stay with my grandma a lot, several times a year usually. That’s not hard to do since she only lives about 45 minutes away. The last few times we went I walked with my grandpa around his neighborhood in the evening. He was working on losing weight and I took any opportunity to spend time with him. We talked about his work, about politics, about photography, sociology (he was a professor of sociology at a university), about t.v. shows we liked, about computers, people in general, about books, movies, foreign languages, about everything.

On the trip out that sticks in my mind the most, he and I saw a “Lost Pheasant” sign, stapled to a light post. We joked about this quite a bit. Actually, it was almost all we talked about for the remainder of our walk. When we had gotten back to the house, on our way up the walk to the screened in porch, Grandpa put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed tight. “You know I love you so much? Don’t ever forget that. I wont be around forever, so remember I love you,” he said and kissed the top of my head. I laughed and told him he was going to be around for a while, but that I loved him too. That was in the last week of October 2009, he died the 17th of March 2010 – about 5 months later. If I could go back I would. I would walk with him over and over again, I would joke about that lost pheasant until I ran out and then I’d start repeating myself. Although I would love to relive that moment, or at least have the opportunity to make new memories, I am extremely grateful for the ones I have. 

“A million words couldn’t bring you back, I know because I’ve tried. Neither could a million tears, I know because I’ve cried.”

Riah Chelle

"To be or not to be?"

I'm just kidding, that is not my answer. My favorite quote has nothing to do with Shakespeare... I never read Hamlet although I have read other Shakespeare plays (durn you Lit. class).
I don't think I have a favorite quote. I like a lot of them... Let me pick one. One second **elevator music plays** Ok, got it.

Although I like the letter that Sophie wrote to Claire and its one of my favorites I've already quoted it this month so I wont pick that one.

"No man can be friendless who has God and the companionship of good books." -Elizabeth Barret Browning

I like a lot more, but that is the one I picked today.

Riah Friah Me Oh Miah

P.S one of my all time fave quotes was written by Lys. Her main character is having it out with another character and it's hilarious. I couldn't get in contact with her this morning, so I don't know if I have permission to quote her or not. You know, in case some horrible person ignores the copyright and steals this wonderful scene from Lys, despite the fact that she could sue. Just know that I would quote Lys if I could...

Favorite show…

This would normally be easy… But I have four favorites… I’ll list all four, but as for my favorite I’ll have to go with… *play dramatic music*

White Collar! I love this show… 

The relationship between Neal and his boss Peter is great! Nothing better than an ex-criminal and an FBI agent having to work together. Actually, there is something better… One of the best ex-criminals ever having to work with an FBI agent who was responsible for putting the criminal behind bars… Yeah, it’s great.

And Mozzie! I can’t forget him, he is the best. I had a scare last season when I thought they might have killed him off. I was going to write to the producers and complain if he didn’t survive. 

 

 

Is it just me, or is this woman just beautiful? This is Peter’s wife Elizabeth on the show. Gorgeous! (My mom’s prettier though, I may be lil biased :)

 

My other favorites:

Doctor Who – the new series on BBC America.

Merlin – on SyFy.

Covert Affairs – on USA (sadly this show has a potential to go really bad if the writers aren’t careful).

Those are my four favorite… the last three aren’t listed in any particular order.

Day Three

I think this one is one of the hardest. A favorite book… I love so many books that I’m not even sure this is a fair question. I also love a lot of authors. Mary Connealy, Cathy Marie Hake, Ted Dekker, Tracie Peterson (haven’t liked as many of her newer ones though), Tamera Alexander, Jane Austen and so many more. I think I’ll list a few of my favorites instead. In no particular order, mind you.
This was on of the first books Lys and I read together. I love this book. It actually my favorite Charlotte Bronte book. Jane and Mr. Rochester are awesome! The best movie based off this book is the one made by Masterpiece Theater with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson. The Mr. Rochester is the best ever!

This is another favorite! Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer. Gideon Westcott and Adelaide are perfect, but my favorite parts of the story are actually the parts with Gideon’s adopted daughter Isabella. I love where Adelaide and Isabella are cleaning out the school room and where Isabella learns to pray after Gideon is hurt and then she sings to him. I think I have a soft spot for children!

Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake is absolutely HILARIOUS! I think it’s one of her best ever! I love Letter Perfect and Bittersweet too though! Sydney and Big Tim are great… I’m not sure if I like the book better before or after Big Tim realizes Sydney is a girl… I know my favorite part is when Big Tim finds out though!

First off, is this the best cover or what? I love Tamera’s book covers, woman in the foreground and man in the background. I’m slightly disappointed that her new one doesn’t look more like this. Oh, and can I have her hair and dress please? I do like more than the cover though. I like the book too! The story is good and I like the characters. Some one should have slapped around the main character’s brother… I certainly would have wanted to. Oh, I like the heroine’s name as well, McKenna Ashford, it’s such a  pretty name.

Ok, I have to admit that my favorite thing about this book is Dave Shepherd… He’s great! I think it’s just because he is the only person who’ll stand up to Lacy and tell her what’s-what and she seriously needs that. She acts like a spoiled child a lot.
I like so many more…. Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy, A Lady of Secret Devotion by Tracie Peterson, Blink and Kiss by Ted Dekker, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, The Wizard of Oz (The book is better than the movie) and many, many more!

Love, Riah

This is odd…

… but hey, it looks fun! Alright, there is a blogger challenge this month, involving – guess what – things you love!  Shocker, February is the Love Month. I found out about this on Bleah Briann’s blog “With Love and Kisses”. I am a day late starting, but if you read the previous post by Lys, you’ll know I wasn’t home most of yesterday. Oh, and its only odd because I’m not the most romantically minded person I know *coughs* ehhm… Lys 
Here is the list of things you have to answer:
Day 1: A favorite song.
Day 2: A favorite movie.
Day 3: A favorite book.
Day 4: A favorite television program.
Day 5: A favorite quote.
Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive.
Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without.
Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.
Day 9: A photo you took.
Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago.
Day 11: A photo of you taken recently.
Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding(or was played).
Day 13: A guilty pleasure.
Day 14: A vacation you would like to take.
Day 15: A person you admire.
Day 16: A song that makes you cry.
Day 17: An art piece.
Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive.
Day 19: A talent of yours.
Day 20: A hobby of yours.
Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people.
Day 22: A website.
Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered.
Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love.
Day 25: A recipe.
Day 26: A childhood memory.
Day 27: A physical feature you love.
Day 28: Hopes, Dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days

So, day one… a favorite song. I’m at a loss. I love so many songs. I really don’t know… I guess I’d have to go with “His Glory Appears” from the album Faith+Hope+Love by Hillsong 
I love this CD! I can’t chose a favorite Hillsong’s song though… I only chose “His Glory Appears” because I’ve listened to it the most recently. I love the piano in it… I wish I could get the piano music for it!






Now onto Day two: A favorite movie. This one is tough too. I love so many. Little Dorrit, North and South, Leap Year, The Prestige… My favorite before was The Wizard of Oz, but I’ve changed my mind. Now it’s Letters to Juliet.  SPOILER ALERT

This was the first movie Superman took me to see. I loved it! I love the scene where Sophie and Claire are trying to decide where Lorenzo is most likely at, Charlie is whining and Claire just shuts him up. Love it. I also like the scene where Claire makes Charlie apologize to Sophie for being mean in the grave yard.

Claire is the absolute best! So is Lorenzo. They loved each other so much, but it didn’t keep them from living their lives and marrying other people and it didn’t keep them from loving their spouses. I think it’s so sweet…

After that movie I couldn’t stand to hear the saying “win-win” anymore. Sophie’s fiancé used it to his advantage way too much. And he didn’t care about her writing, just about his restaurant. I kind of wonder why she stayed with him for as long as she did.

  Charlie is so much better, although he is a little stuffy at first. I like him anyway. Superman joked that I’m a bit like Charlie. Skeptical, slightly unromantically minded, but secretly - deep down - wants to believe in true love triumphing and happily ever after. Of course, I’m too practical to believe in happily ever after with out a lot of work put into it. And I would never climb up a vine to a balcony. I was secretly hoping he’d fall (ok, maybe not so secretly, because I whispered my hope to Superman)…  So basically I love the whole movie.


“Take him! Take him!”

Dear Claire, "What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if? I don't know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late. If it was true then, why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feels like - love to leave loved ones for, love to cross oceans for but I'd like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I will have the courage to seize it. And, Claire, if you didn't, I hope one day that you will. All my love, Juliet

Ri Came!

Riah, her mom, and T. Lynn came to my house yesterday morning on their way to the milk farm. It was awesome. We talked and talked. She helped me overcome writers block just like she said she would, and we talked more. Oh and we both had hot chocolate with hazelnut creamer in it. You should try it - it's the absolute best way to drink hot chocolate!
Today I am taking my car back to the Goodyear - they rotated my tires when we told them not to. it would have been fine only there is a problem in the front that is causing my two front tires to wear down. So they put my two good tires in the front and my bad ones in the back. SO that means my now front tires are going to get worn down if they don't swap them back. OYVEY! People need to listen!
I am off to finish getting ready to go.
Love,