First Day of School and the Random Dozen

Yesterday was the first day of school for my kids. For my boy, it's his last "first day" since he's a senior. Sigh. Monday I took them for our traditional IHOP back-to-school breakfast, and I realized that next year it will just be me and my girl. This year is going to be full of too many "lasts." I pulled out the picture of him standing in his kindergarten classroom and juxtaposed it with the picture of him and my girl that I took this morning. How can twelve years pass so quickly? My girl is a sophomore, and I can already see her last days barreling toward me. Hasn't somebody invented a Pause button for life yet?



1. What is your favorite Mexican dish?

Seriously?! Asking a Texan to pick a favorite Mexican dish is like saying which child is your favorite. Let's see, I love chicken flautas, cheese enchilada suizas (cheese enchiladas with a creamy sour cream sauce on top), tacos, queso and chips, fajitas, nachos, flaquitos. . .

I don't especially like tamales or burritos.

2. When you were a kid, did you get started on your homework right away after school, or did you procrastinate?

I generally did it pretty quickly. I procrastinated on projects until 7th grade when I was up past midnight finishing one. (That was extremely late for our house.) That cured me.

3. What is your favorite store for home furnishings?

Don't really have one; I'm not much of a decorator. I'll take whichever one has the best quality for the lowest price.

4. When you were young, did you like school lunches?

Well, I only got to buy lunch at school once a year for my birthday. I liked the idea of buying lunch, but I was underwhelmed by the reality.

5. Is religion a crutch?

Religion? Yes, especially when folks rely on "religion" to avoid an encounter with God.

Christianity? Yes - because we're all crippled without Christ.

6. In your region, what is the "big" (most popular in the community or state) high school sport?

Lid, you need to come visit Texas. Football is the national sport of Texas.

7. Do you consider yourself rich?

Not particularly. Except for blessings and family. And the fact I live in Texas! Of course, all of us are rich compared to poverty-engulfed third world countries. But comparing to others of my age and education around here, no.

8. Which of these would you have the best chance for success in administering:
A) CPR
B) Heimlich Maneuver
C) Changing a flat tire

This one's a no-brainer. CPR and the Heimlich - I can do both.

9. Which dance would you prefer to learn & why:
A) Salsa
B) Hip Hop
C) Waltz
D) Swing

I think waltzing is beautiful, graceful, and romantic!

10. What's the worst news you've ever delivered to someone?

Calling my missionary sister and telling her our dad had died. (It was very sudden.)

11. Name something you learned in college that had nothing to do with classes or academics.

I learned that I HATE anything called Shepherd's Pie.

12. New variation on an old question: If there's a song in your head that just won't get out, what is your favorite (or most repeated) line in that song?

Today, since it was the first day of school, while I was fixing dinner, the old School Days, School Days was driving me much. It was like I was in a never-ending loop with the lines, "You were my queen in calico, I was your bashful barefoot beau, You wrote on my slate, 'I love you so' when we were a couple of kids." Usually, though, a song will get in my head if I just hear part of it or only know part of it. So it keeps looping through incessantly trying to get resolved.


Serve yourself a helping of random over at 2nd Cup of Coffee