Bfth's Boring Blog

While not exactly obsessive compulsive (though I suppose it does depend on who you ask), I tend to have little rituals that I follow.  Not because I think anything bad will happen if I don't; so maybe it's just more of traditions rather than rituals.  For example, for the past 11 years I have worn the same shirt on my son's birthday and try to wear the same shorts, or at least the same color pants.  I always make a special frosty adult beverage after the late church service on Christmas Eve and consume in bed while watching "A Christmas Story." Yesterday would have been my brother's 44th birthday.  When he was alive I didn't have any special rituals for the day.  As a matter of fact, I didn't always see him on his birthday. Although, as best as I can remember, I did always try to call.  (For most of our lives, we lived in the same town.  The exception to that rule being when we went away to college.)  But now that he is no longer around, I have ...

A friend recently sent me this: As the picture correctly indicates, pumpkin spice should NOT magically appear until September.  Dunkin' Donuts recently announced its multitude of pumpkin spice products that would hit the stores before the end of August.  Hold on there!  Pumpkin spice is the flavor of fall.  While deploying it before the official start of autumn (September 22 this year) is permitted, pumpkin spice in August is a definite no no in Bfth's book.  I'm wondering if it's hypocritical for me to even discuss this subject in a blog before September!  Pumpkin spice (which has very little to do with pumpkin) and should only be available from September 1 - Thanksgiving  weekend.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE Pumpkin Spice.  But like many things in my slightly twisted mind, there are rules to be followed when it comes to this awesome flavor. As a unique and special flavor, not all things lends themselves prope...

Who doesn't love the beach?  Ok, I'm sure there is someone out there who doesn't. And thank goodness for that because if we all loved the beach it would be even a bigger mess than it is now. What we ALL need to do, whether you love the beach or not, is respect it, as well as respect those around you who are enjoying in.  In that spirit, I give you Bfth's Beach Rules and Regulations: No matter what size or shape you are, wear whatever you feel comfortable in, as long as it covers those parts of you that really shouldn't be seen in public. (Unless you are visiting a nude beach, in which case I say, go free, enjoy and don't forget extra suntan lotion).  Mankinis are not cool, nor is any kind of butt floss.  If you're a zillionaire and at your own private beach where no one else is going, then its ok.  Otherwise...please no.  With that said, I meant what I stated before...wear what you are comfortable in.  ...

Today is Andy's birthday.  It's an occasion worth celebrating not because of his age (none of my business), but because his birth is worth celebrating.  His existence is worth celebrating because he is one of those rare people that truly makes my world a better place just by being in it. I've known Andy all my life.  Or at least he's been around an in my life since I was born.  I only really got to know him within the past 20 years or so.  To the average person that might seem like a long time, but considering that Andy has been working at my church for over 50 years, that's just a drop in the bucket. Andy is our sexton.  Not a word in the common vocabulary.  It is often used interchangeably with custodian. Often defined as  an officer of a church, congregation, or synagogue charged with the maintenance of its buildings and/or the surrounding graveyard, what I found interesting is that the world sexton is derived from the medieval La...

I'm well aware that I'm getting old.  What do I mean getting?  Who I am kidding?  I'm past my prime. I'm OLD.  It hurts to write it, but it's true. Nowhere is that more apparent than in my musical tastes.  Now to be fair when it comes to music, my tastes have always been eclectic.  I enjoy just about every genre that is out there.  (Although I tend to skip over rap and opera.)  Just as my mood changes, so does my choice is music.  Technology has only expanded my horizons.  I became a subscriber to satellite radio back before my son was born.  I was sold the day that the NYC oldies station ceased to exist and became "Jack Radio" and long time, beloved, DJs were given the shaft.  (A trend that did not last, but they lost me that day.)Already I had seen the country and smooth jazz stations go away, so I turned to satellite where I could listen to anything I wanted whenever I wanted...in my car. Of course "now a days" ther...

Today marks the official end of transition at my church.  Although we found and voted for our new pastor before the summer began, Monday marks her first official day as pastor of our church.  Here during the hottest days of summer, new traditions and ideas will be formed. The search for a new minister is NOT an easy task.  I never thought it would be when I agreed to be on the committee to find a new one.  But I didn't think it would be so long and difficult.  Like parenthood, nothing actually prepares you for the ride.  And what a ride it has been.  What lessons I have learned.  What opportunities I have had. In the time between full time pastors (the end of June 2013 to August 15 2016), we were never a rudderless ship.  There was the pastoral consultant who did an incredible job especially when it came to administration.  But it was the people of the church who really kept things alive and going.  Of course church isn't rea...

Back in my college days I was part of 8 core friends.  That's not to say I didn't have any other friends or that I wasn't close to anyone other than these 8 women, but they were the people I thought would stay with me for the rest of my life.  I KNEW we would always be buddies.  We lived together for 3 years in the same dorm (2 of the 8 were a year behind us).  We usually ate together in the cafeteria. (Or after hours ordering pizza.  We ordered a LOT of pizza.)  We worked together (be it volunteer or work study program).  And, of course we played together.  (I can remember many late night charade type games...we are probably the only 8 women in the world who will remember and laugh at the phrase "puppy ducks.")  We were weird together. (Who wants to be normal?  Maybe in college we did, but we weren't.)  We were there for each other.  With 3+ years of that how could we NOT be best buddies for the rest of our lives?  Certa...

As we're about to go "under the (heat/humidity) dome" again this week, I'd like to remind everyone that the days are indeed starting to get shorter and though these are the dog days of summer, we've passed the mid-way mark of the season and are marching closer and closer to autumn. (September 22 this year).  Maybe it doesn't feel like it, but it is true. Nowhere is to more obvious than early in the morning.  Just before summer officially began, I could see daylight beginning to come before five in the morning.  Even starting a walk at 4:30 or so and light would be beginning to appear.  The world would be clear and visible by 5:15.  Now, just about two months later, the darkness does not start to fade until nearly 5:30.  And the evenings where the faint light would still be in the sky at 9:00 will now be a memory an hour earlier.  Yes, the days ARE getting shorter and summer is coming to an end.  School will be starting in my town in a lit...

Has it been nearly 2 months since we left Disney?  How the summer flies (and of course time flies when you are at Disney). Our last full day started out slow (again).  It is clear that my son is getting into full "teen" mode a little early.  He wants to sleep in.  I want to get going.  It's a fine balance.  Of course the fact that both hubby and I were a bit under the weather kept us slowed down a bit too.  We had breakfast (Again, I brought my son breakfast in bed to get things moving) and then headed to MK via monorail.  The park was PACKED.  (I think it was at level 8 out of 10 on the crowd scale.) First thing we did was take the train around the park because that's what the kid wanted to do.  Nothing wrong with that.  It's cool (or cooler) and relatively relaxing.  Gives you a nice view of the park too. What he really wanted to do was head over to Tom Sawyer Island.  He LOVES it.  I'm not a fan (nei...

My son turns 11 today.  For me August 4th is my own personal holiday.  It's the day when everything changed.  Changed for the better. (Although there are times when I question that:  when we had the tantrums, and now we're entering the obnoxious tween years...) These past 11 years have been amazing.  I've documented them through words and photos.  Today, I've decided to cut down on the words and up the photos to commemorate this important day: Day one; birthday zero.  How happy was I?  How exhausted?  How nervous?  It was the beginning of something great. Unknowingly, I also started an annual tradition... One year old and the annual photo tradition is born.  The one- sie   says King James.  And he certainly was.  King of his family and charmer of all those around him. Birthday number two.  This is AFTER ice cream cake, which is why he is wearing a gray sleeveless shirt and not the one...