Miss Ann Says

Tag: randomness

• random use of imagination

  Posted at 6:13 pm by missannsays, on October 8, 2014

  As I headed into Manhattan yesterday, I heard on the radio the dreaded words “the President is in town”. Not something I wanted to hear when I was planning on quickly driving in, speaking to a school group, leading a tour for friends, having lunch and getting back in time to teach ballet at 4pm. All was going very well until after lunch. As I drove out of the parking garage, I realized there was an added police presence. I looked around to make sure if everything seemed okay. At first it wasn’t “clicking” but then oh, right! the president is in Tribeca. I could tell the NYPD were starting to get ready for the commander-in-chief to be moving around every intersection had police vehicles, uniformed officers and blue barricades.

  As I drove a little further north, the police were directing all south bound traffic off of West Street/12th Ave. They were definitely preparing for something. Then there were no more south bound traffic and motorcycles or random cars drove past me on the “other side going the same direction as me.” The police then started making every vehicle on my side turn right and off of West St/12th Ave but by the time I got to the front of the line they just made us stay where we were. The three blocks ahead of me were void of traffic and there were police vehicles across the road. The traffic lights kept cycling through green, yellow and red but we were not allowed to go. A few cars back, a few “clueless” people kept honking I wanted to jump out of my car and say “really”.

  The police “boss” person stationed officers on each corner because even with the barricades New Yorkers still squeezed through and crossed the street. I put my car in park, rolled down the windows and waited. I heard a helicopter overhead, saw a few more motorcycles, I glanced in my side mirror to catch a glimpse of the motorcade but nothing was coming.

  So, I started people watching. There was a person with what looked like a camp chair slung over his shoulder and suddenly I thought I hope that is really a chair as he started pulling out black pieces of piping. Looking in my rearview mirror, I realize there is a big white truck with three guys sitting in the front seat. As I am looking one guy jumps out. And then my imagination goes wild. I start thinking about recent headlines and the secret service not doing a perfect job but then I think don’t worry the NYPD will have it under control. I start thinking of every movie or television show where there has been an attempt on the President’s life. Now I am hyper vigilant and ready to throw myself under my dash-board if it goes bad. I am sure at any moment there are going to be explosions and gun fire. I am ready to put my hands up in the air and say I didn’t do anything. I am not even worried about being late to teach ballet. After about 5 minutes of a crazy imagined scene playing out in my head, the President’s motorcade finally goes wheezing by, little flags on front of the car waving, security people in vehicles looking scary but all is good and it was actually pretty cool.

  I told my daughter how I was getting all “nuts” and she commented “Mom, you watch too much Scandal!”

  Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged little things, randomness

• How was your weekend?

  Posted at 4:42 pm by missannsays, on October 6, 2014

  My intention on Saturday morning was to leave the house a little earlier than I needed so I could get cash at the bank and then get gas. My car usually has at least a half a tank of gasoline in it. Mostly because whenever I drive to or through NJ I fill up the tank. Fuel in NJ is cheaper than NY and “they” pump it which is a major selling point for me. I hadn’t driven to or through NJ in the last few days so my gas gauge was registering at less than a quarter tank. I definitely didn’t want to purchase gas in my little hometown. It is too expensive typically gas is at least 50 cents a gallon more than anywhere else. Anyway I left the house a little later than planned and my gas tank was a little emptier than original thought but I realized I had $40 in cash so I could get “some” gas. The part you need to know is unless I get gas in town there won’t be another gas station for at least 10 miles in any direction. Nervously watching the gas gauge and hoping the “you need fuel” idiot light won’t blink on I headed out. No worries, it will be fine! Please, please may that be true. I pulled into the first station in NJ I came upon on my journey. I said “$40 cash, fill it regular.” I hadn’t looked how much it was a gallon so I glanced at the sign and was pleasantly surprised to see it was $2.95/gallon. Wow, I hadn’t seen that price in a long time. Guess what? at that price my tank was filled. The funny thing as I drove rest of the way to my destination and then home every other station’s prices were over $3.03. It was like a secret little Saturday morning surprise for me. 🙂

  On Sunday I posted it on Facebook ”

  “Apple picking, pumpkin picking and fall foliage bring many people to my area this time of year. Plus the first Sunday in October in Warwick, NY is Applefest. If you don’t know what Applefest is, think Time Square meets lovely quaint village for just one day as the Thanksgiving Day Parade is also happening. I am at the iPray/iThrist booth this morning.”

  Applefest is a craft fair, farmer’s market, art show, music event that brings lots and lots of people to Warwick, NY. It is a little difficult to be excited about Applefest due to traffic being horrific mostly because the roads are not equipped to handle the volume of traffic that descent on the area. Actually the streets are wide enough for the number of people walking around. My local church sponsors a booth that has a two-fold purpose. It is called iPray where we take prayer requests and/or prayer with you and we also have iThrist where we sell bottled water for $1 to raise money for building clean water wells around the world. I volunteered to help set up and “man” the booth for a few hours. My goal was get in and out before it got too crazy in Warwick but really two people I met were worth all the traffic and all the crazy.

  As a woman was writing her prayer request I asked “is there something I could pray for right now?” She responded “yes” and proceeded to tell me her request and then she said “the only reason I come to Applefest is you are here to take my prayer requests and pray with me.” Wow!! A little later another woman came over and wrote her request and I asked if I could pray with her. She has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. I briefly shared with her my breast cancer story and in further conversation realized we have the same doctor. We hugged as she left and I will be praying for her. All that said to say I helped at Applefest yesterday and missed church or did I?

  How was your weekend? Mine was good! 🙂

  Posted in daily life, faith | 0 Comments | Tagged cancer, little things, prayer, randomness

• Moving towards the source

  Posted at 9:03 am by missannsays, on September 7, 2014

  Many times when I use my iPad while laying in bed the internet connection is lost. I used to move my iPad side to side or hold it over my head and wave it back and forth to try to reconnect. It was frustrating.

  Then one day I realized if I get up, walk a few steps towards the hallway it automatically reconnects. Why because I am heading closer to the router, closer to the source. So now when I realize the connection failed I walk towards the source of the power.

  So here’s my thought of the day – where else in my life instead of moving side to side or be tossed back and forth would moving closer to the “source” result in reconnection or does all of life result in connecting when you get closer to the source. 🙂

  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged randomness

• random job thoughts

  Posted at 7:46 pm by missannsays, on September 5, 2014

  

  Three years ago I retired from teaching dance. For 35 years I had owned a dancing school, I was very blessed to spend my “working” career doing something I loved and enjoyed. I also love and enjoy my retired life. On occasion as I watch people do their jobs I think I would like to try that not as a career but for a day or two. Does anyone besides me ever think that?

  Here is the list of jobs I would like to try for a day or two:

  flight attendant
  toll booth collector
  the person who directs the planes with the flashlights
  registrar of participants at a big event like the Olympics
  usher at a Broadway show
  fund-raiser for a non-profit
  assistant to a party/event planner
  TSA agent who checks passports not the one who looks at the x-ray screen
  work in an independent book store

  A few things I noticed about these jobs:
  1. no animals
  2. no manual labor
  3. inside jobs expect for the flashlight person
  4. no food service expect for flight attendant

  “If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, go out and sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures. Sweep streets like Handel and Beethoven composed music. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.”

  Martin Luther King, Jr.

  Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged random thoughts, randomness

• Japan 2014 – part 4

  Posted at 8:27 pm by missannsays, on September 3, 2014

  Three random stories from Japan – one is blooper reel worthy (if it had been filmed), one is amusing (at least chuckle worthy) and one is thought-provoking. 🙂

  1. On the seventh morning in Japan, my eyes lit up as I saw applesauce on the breakfast buffet. Breakfast buffets in Japan usually have a “western” section and a “traditional” section. This particular buffet was not divided that way. I wasn’t in the mood for eggs so I took some fruit, made two pieces of toast and took a separate bowl of applesauce. The dining room was crowded. We found a few seats here and there and sat down to eat. I put my tray on the table and went to get some coffee and butter and by the time I came back the table was “just our group”. I was really looking forward to the applesauce. I don’t know why but I was. I scooped up a small spoonful and the moment the applesauce touched my tongue I knew this isn’t applesauce. I knew I couldn’t  swallow it. Okay proper etiquette is however it goes in your mouth is how it should come out of your mouth. So as politely as possible I spit it back unto the spoon and slowly placed the spoon back in the bowl. I glanced around the table to see if anyone noticed. Thankfully, no. I took a quick drink of coffee and a deep breath to stop myself from bursting into laughter. I looked at one of my fellow travelers and said “it wasn’t applesauce” and proceeded to share the story. 🙂

  2. At one moment towards the end of our journey we all had to “pile” into one elevator. Luckily we didn’t have out luggage with us. We were definitely standing too close together. There wasn’t room to breath.I said “if this elevator gets stuck, I am going to need Dr Katz!” To which Dr Katz said “if this elevator gets stuck, Dr Katz is going to need Dr Katz!” Dr Katz is a psychiatrist.

  3. We had the opportunity to visit a high school. School wasn’t is session but some students came to share their 3/11 stories. They presented their stories in English and two of Tribute Center docents myself included shared our stories. When I finished sharing my prepared presentation, I said “I wanted to tell them something I had always said to my daughters September 11 does not define you.” I told them that “March 11 doesn’t define you. It will shape you but it doesn’t define you. You have done a great job today telling us your stories. Keep up the good work. I am proud of you.” Later on the bus one of the Mount Sinai medical students asked if he could ask me a question. “sure” “You told your daughters not to let 9/11 define you but everything you do is about 9/11. Wouldn’t it be easier to just not deal with it. To just move on.” I made a few comments and said “I have to think about what you said and will get back to you.”  I have actually thought about that idea before by doing tours and speaking about September 11, I am allowing it to define me.The next morning at breakfast I said “I have to tell you this right now. It will seem totally random but I am tired and if I don’t say it now I will forget. Remember yesterday and our conversation about all the things I do being allowing September 11 to define me, that is wrong. All I do defines September 11.”
  

   

  

  Posted in daily life, September 11, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Japan, little things, randomness, September 11, telling the next generation, travel

• Japan 2014 – part 3

  Posted at 9:27 pm by missannsays, on September 1, 2014

  After my trip to Japan last year I had said to people “even if you learned the language you would still need a guide to help you navigate the customs.”  And that held true on this trip as well, we had wonderful translators that not only translated words but explained proper etiquette and customs. Taking your shoes off and putting the slippers on, placing money on the little tray not on the counter or into the person’s hand, bowing and the handling of business cards were all things we needed to be aware of.

  There is a certain rhythm/pattern of speech you need to use when being translated. I found it fascinating that some times the translation would be 2 words to my 10 and other times one little thought seemed to be translated into a novel. I had absolute trust in our 3 official translators. I think because they had traveled with the group on the last trips they understood who we were and what we were trying to do – they got it.

  Nearly all of our lunch and dinner meals had assigned seating including someone who could translate which ensured that you could have conversation with everyone at your table. At some events there were name tags on the table and other times in was just a matter of rearranging until we got an arrangement that would work. There was one time in particular that I had to pause when something was said because I wasn’t sure if the person realized the implications of what they said. While having dinner with a delightful young Japanese medical student and his wife, I asked whether his wife was also a student or did she work? This was a very young cute couple and he spoke English very well. She didn’t speak any English. They had been married in March. His response to my question was “she is my housewife.” Having grown up in the USA, owned my own business, having hyphenated my maiden name with my husband’s name when I got married, I really had to just smile. I wasn’t sure if it was a term of endearment or what?

  There was one more experience that made me think “Toto, we aren’t in Kansas any more.” When we had our formal meeting with a rather high-ranking government official, a young woman came to escort us to his office. She handed each of us a seating chart (below). My name is listed as Ms. Hine. I do not think Clark-Van Hine is a common name in Japan. I hadn’t been to a meeting where you get a printed seating chart before. This was the big leagues. As we were walking to the office I realized our young escort  was wearing  shorts and high heels. Her look was polished but I thought maybe it is dress down Friday because I can’t believe you can work in a government office and dress like that.  Her manner was professional and polite but her outfit was confusing me. I made note of how everyone else was dressed as we walked down the halls. All the men were in suits and ties. I didn’t see any other women. I thought maybe I am over thinking this but a conversation later in the day with the Mount Sinai female medical student in our group made me think maybe I wasn’t. We have come “a long way baby” but that is not true for our sisters around the world.

   

  

  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Japan, little things, randomness, respect, travel

• what I read vs. what it said

  Posted at 8:27 pm by missannsays, on August 23, 2014

  The text I read last evening said “While we were cleaning there was a baby mouse/squirrel . We found him under the couch. Sorry two cleanings ago Meghan’s photo got broken. Let me know how much I owe you.” I am at the Barn (my weekend house), I am envisioning a baby squirrel running/flying/leaping/crawling around my house since Thursday. I am thinking how embarrassing my friend and cleaning person comes and there is a squirrel. How did it get in? Maybe when I left the door open to load the car, it ran in. The wheels of my mind are spinning – what, who, how, why!?! I send a text trying to appear calm and collected that said “Wow! Is he out of house now? Not sure how he got in. Don’t worry about the photo.” I immediately send a second text “I am at barn so haven’t been home.” I received the following text “lol no, no I’m sorry I should have mentioned that it is a stuffed animal =)” At which point I reread the original text. The exchange is below:

  

  I share this story to remind myself (and others) to read, truly read every single word, don’t glance or scan or skim or even assume you know what is written, read.

  This is the squirrel (I think it is actually a mouse) I had envisioned running/flying/leaping/crawling around my house. I truly hope it belongs to my daughter’s dog. I don’t remember it belonging to my dog and that would be truly embarrassing if it was Buster’s because he has been dead for years. 🙂

  

  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged little things, randomness

• summer randomness

  Posted at 10:06 pm by missannsays, on August 22, 2014

  

  I have had a very interesting and diverse summer. Since mid June, I have flown to Seattle for my daughter’s convocation and then flew directly to Minnesota to help Kari, my niece, care for her 4 children and her newborn while Jeremy, my nephew, was doing his two weeks active duty. Kari, the five kiddos and I drove to Kansas to meet up with Jeremy and spent time with Jeremy’s folks and more family. I flew home and five days later I directed Kids/Tween Camp. I had the “dream team” of staff, counselors and CIT’s. Directing camp is always a great week but it is also a difficult week. I was home from camp twelve days and went to Japan for twelve days. I plan on writing about Japan soon but first I want to share a couple of random quotes that even weeks later make me smile.

  “Jumping in the shower is dangerous. You might fall.” said by one of my great nieces after I had commented “I am going to go jump in the shower”.

  “You will not throw up!!!” said by me in my Miss Ann voice to my niece after a huge insect flew into the windshield while traveling to Kansas. Kari was driving, a bug went splat on windshield, blood was dripping down the windshield and she started to heave. Did I mention one of the grand nieces had already thrown up and she had done a super job of throwing up in a plastic bag but we had no more plastic bags and this was hours later. 🙂

  “He didn’t follow us” said by the three boys I found walking by themselves on the first morning of camp. I was driving to the dining hall when I saw three boys walking with no counselor. The following conversation ensued: Me “gentlemen, where are you going?”. Boys – blank stare. Me “where’s your counselor?” boys – “He is in the cabin. We left and he didn’t follow us.” Me – blank stare and then “Your counselor doesn’t ever follow you. You follow him.” There is some food for thought.

  One day at camp during lunch I suddenly heard banging on tables. I turned around expecting to see kids doing the cup game and instead saw 6 seven-year old boys banging their forks and knives on the table ala something you would see in a prison movie. I walked over and asked the participants what they were doing? They looked a little shocked to see me and were still holding their knives and forks in an upward fist clenched position. I promptly collected their knives and told them to put their forks on the table. Me -“would you do that in a restaurant?” boys – “no”, Me – “would you do that at home or school?” boys – “noooo”, Me – “so why do it at camp?” The usual finger-pointing started and I informed them they were each responsible for their own actions. This was obviously a teachable moment. I commented that they needed to apologize to the dining room manager for disrespecting his dining room. I walked over to the dining room manager and asked him to join me at the table. I told him I had some campers who wanted to apologize to him for disrespecting his dining room. He looked at me and said “I have been waiting all summer for this.” I introduced him to the boys and the boys to him and they apologized for “disrespecting his dining room.” He accepted their apology and then I said “Does anyone have anything else to say?”. A small hand went up and a little voice said “Can we still eat here?” I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry. 😦

  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged family, kid stuff, little things, randomness

• “writer’s blog hop “

  Posted at 6:51 pm by missannsays, on August 21, 2014

  My friend, Susan Panzica, invited me to be part of a “writer’s blog hop”. I panicked at the idea and told Susan to use me “only if she had to”. She “had to” so here I am in a blog hop. From what I understand the idea of a “writer’s blog hop” is I introduce what I am writing by answering 4 questions and then I introduce you to three of my “blogging friends”. Well, I only have two bloggers to introduce and I almost thought I can’t do this because I don’t have 3 and I don’t have any witty, smart answers to the questions. Then I realized there are probably no “blog hop” police or even “blog hop” penalties for doing it wrong. So here goes:

  1 – What am I writing or working on?
  I am writing a few pieces to submit to magazines and devotionals. My goal for the fall is to really start working on a manuscript for publication.
  
  2 – How does my work differ from others of its genre?
  I share stories from my everyday life and my goal is to show the intersection of the spiritual in all things.

  3 – Why do I write what I write?
  After September 11 I promised the Lord that whatever opportunities He gave me “to tell of His praiseworthy deeds” I would step up and speak of Him. I have had many opportunities to speak and for some time I have believed that I am also supposed to write.

  4 – How does my writing process work?
  I am trying to figure that out. 🙂 I need to be more disciplined about writing. Writing actually scares me to death. I don’t mind speaking in front of hundreds people but putting my thoughts on paper (or my computer) isn’t something I feel qualified to do.

  I meet the following two ladies at Mount Hermon Writers Conference in the Spring of 2013. Hannah and I actually meet at the airport. We were both “newbies” and I was so glad to have someone to learn the ropes with. Since I met Hannah she has released a beautiful Christmas CD which was one of my favorites last Christmas and will be for years to come. Jennifer was one of Hannah’s roommates at the conference and I was thrilled to make another friend. Jennifer has published a book since I met her. You go, girl!

  
  Hannah Frances DeVol Thomas is a writer, a singer, and a pilgrim. She is the Principal at By the Lion Arts—a fledgling enterprise dedicated to words and music of quality and substance. Her blog, At the Top of my Lungs, was launched to chronicle the release of her first album, In the Bleak Midwinter, in December of 2013, and has embarked from there on explorations of life, art, and other worthwhile things, including recent journeys to London, Oxford, and Paris. In the Bleak Midwinter is currently available from Amazon and iTunes

  
  Jennifer Edwards is a writer, blogger, speaker, and editor. She recently published her first book, God’s Radical Plan for Wives (with co-authors Gil & Dana Stieglitz), and a companion 9-week Bible study. Her blog, Truth Bites, is rapidly growing in readership. Women of all ages & stages enjoy her transparency, humor, and crazy life lessons as they gain new insights, perspectives, and clarity about many issues women face today. She also writes a monthly e-newsletter just for wives (The Radical Wife) sharing from her own married life, as well as the principles taught in her books. For more about Jennifer, visit http://www.jenniferedwards.net.

  Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged friendship, randomness, telling the next generation

• bucket list

  Posted at 10:34 pm by missannsays, on June 24, 2014

  We had been watching the World Cup soccer game between USA and Ghana in the bar where my son-in-law is a bartender. The added excitement was that members of the Reign soccer team were also in the bar. I enjoyed my tonic water with lime and watching my son-in-law interact with the customers. I am grateful that soccer is easy to understand, easy to watch and the USA won.

  As my daughter and I were leaving, I commented “that was the first time I ever watched a sporting event in a bar. It was really fun.” My daughter responded “you will have to check it off your bucket list.” I stated “I don’t have a bucket list but a lot of things I have done would be bucket list worthy”. She said “well start a bucket list of stuff you have already done and you can just check them off.”

  Tomorrow I am driving from MN to KS with my niece and her 5 small children. Well, it is actually my late husband’s nephew’s wife and children or my sister-in-law’s grandchildren and daughter-in-law. Anyway you say it, it is people who I count as family and love very much. And I am sure driving from MN to KS with a newborn, 2-year-old, 4-year-old, 5-year-old and almost 8-year-old would have never been on my bucket list but it is going to be adventure. You may ask why? My nephew is in the Army/National Guard Reserves and his annual active duty time is in Leavenworth, KS – his hometown. He will be finished on Friday so “we” are all driving to meet him at his folks, my sister-in-law’s house. I am pretty sure the stories from this journey will be bucket list worthy.

  Your prayers for safe travel, patience and keeping a sense of humor are greatly appreciated. 🙂

  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged family, randomness, travel