Would you like to play Ten on Tuesday?
10 Bands/Artists That Remind Me of High School:
- The Beatles (when they were young!)
- The Moody Blues
- The Mamas and the Papas
- Carole King
- Peter, Paul, and Mary
- Simon and Garfunkel
- Joan Baez
- Joni Mitchell
- Glenn Campbell (Think “Gentle On My Mind”, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, and “Wichita Lineman”.)
- The Beach Boys
The prompt this week for Ten on Tuesday
is:
What are ten things that scare you/freak you out?
This is a really interesting prompt to me, because at one point in my life, I was very much a “scared-y cat.” As a child, I was afraid of:
- The monster that lived under my bed. I could jump into bed from quite a distance so it wouldn’t have opportunity to grab me by my ankles.
- The space creatures that could come in through shut windows to pull off my fingernails. A little school mate told me this story, and I believed her. I kept my curtains clothes pinned shut at night, thinking that if the malevolent creatures couldn’t see me, they would be less likely to bother me.
- Any smoke in the sky. My mom said that as a child I was terribly frightened by a TV show about a house fire. I can’t think of any other reason for this fear.
- Of course, I was afraid of the dark. I slept with a little light on in my room.
- Mysterious, unexplainable noises in the nighttime could really get my heart pounding.
- I sometimes had nightmares in which something unknown “tickled” me; I could feel this, and it really bothered me until I could wake up. Sometimes I feared going to sleep for dread of having this dream, or other bad dreams.
- I was (and still am) afraid of heights. I become dizzy and feel as if I’m going to fall over the edge.
- I was afraid of swimming in deep water, though I enjoy that now. I think that was connected with fear of heights. Fear of depths?
- I was afraid to go upside-down, such as occurs in doing a somersault. I eventually overcame this fear, but still retained the sensation of “falling up” into the sky when I would do somersaults.
- I was afraid of dying a bloody, violent death at the hands of a murderer. What a kid I was!
I am thankful to the Lord that He kept me safe throughout my fear-filled childhood, brought me to faith in Him when I was a young adult, and that He continues to care for me in this dangerous world. By His grace, my life is no longer ruled by fear. I rest in Him.
“Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” – Matthew 6:33,34.
The question this week at Ten on Tuesday
is: What are 10 simple things that make you happy?
- Fresh sheets on the bed, with a little spray of “Sleep” from Bath and Body Works. It is a relaxing vanilla/lavender scent.
- The first cup of coffee in the morning, strong and hot.
- Getting a really good dinner on the table that everyone enjoys.
- Playing board and card games with the children.
- Taking the old doggie for a daily walk.
- Our daily times of reading the Bible together as a family, and singing a psalm.
- Checking my email and Facebook.
- Doing a blog post.
- Baking bread.
- Going shopping with my daughters.
Will you play, too? What are the little blessings you treasure?
The prompt this week for Ten on Tuesday
is: Who are ten people you would like to meet? I am assuming this means people from any time in history. I am listing ten favorite authors I would like to meet. (I am also listing just one book by that author, after her/his name.):
- Robin McKinley; Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
- Elizabeth Peters; Crocodile on the Sandbank
- Georgette Heyer; The Reluctant Widow
- Jane Austen; Pride and Prejudice
- Genevieve Foster; World of Columbus and Sons
- Elisabeth Elliot; Let Me Be a Woman
- John Bunyan; Pilgrim’s Progress
- Eva Ibbotson; The Morning Gift
- Patricia C. Wrede; The Enchanted Forest Chronicles
- Marguerite De Angeli; The Door in the Wall
The writing prompt this week for Ten on Tuesday
is: List ten things you didn’t like about school. At first I thought I would just opt out of the game this week, because I was one of those kids who loved school. I was totally in my element when surrounded by books, school sports, and marching band. I also sincerely believe I was privileged to be the student of some of the most outstanding teachers who ever lived, with only a couple exceptions. I’ll play along, though, and hope that sometime we get to list ten things that we loved about school.
- I didn’t like the method employed to teach American history when I was a child. The lessons seemed so shallow and repetitive. It seemed to me that year after year I would hear about the same few events over and over and over, ad nauseam: Columbus, the Pilgrim fathers, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, a little bit about the Revolutionary War, and a little bit about the Civil War. Did any of you have a different, more positive experience?
- I cared too much about getting straight A’s, so wasn’t brave enough to persevere in taking classes in which I was interested if there was a possibility I wouldn’t earn an A. For example, I had difficulty memorizing musical scales, so didn’t continue taking band in high school, though I enjoyed it so much.
- There was not as much of a focus on preparing students for adult responsibility and life skills as there is today. At least, that was my perception. I felt at a loss to make a good decision about what to do after high school. I did go to an expensive liberal arts college for a while, but dropped out after one semester, guilty that so much money was being spent on behalf of a girl who had no idea what she really wanted to study.
Well, there you have the extent of my list: Three things I didn’t like about school. I’ll come check out the list of other participants, and see what you have to say!
For Ten on Tuesday
this week, Yano asks,
What Are Ten Events That Should Be In The Olympics?
Here is my list:
- Roller skating (figures)
- Roller skating ( freestyle)
- Roller skating (dance). My children did this for many years, and it is just as demanding and beautiful as ice skating.
- Capture the flag. I got this idea from Yano, who suggested an international game of hide-and-seek!
- Skateboarding
- Dirt biking (Motocross)
- Rugby. This is becoming popular in the U.S. even at the Middle School level. The U.S. should be able to rustle up a team.
- Cricket. All I know about cricket, I learned from the movie Lagaan. That means I am thoroughly confused, but it looks to be an interesting and LONG game.
Sorry! I couldn’t come up with ten. How about you? What events do you want to see included in the Olympics?
What are ten things to do when it’s too hot to go outside?
This is the prompt given by Yano this week for Ten on Tuesday.
In the 25+ years that we’ve lived in Northwest Washington State, we’ve had some hot days, even a really warm week, but it’s never been too hot to go outside.
For this one, I’ll have to remember back to my childhood in Phoenix, Arizona. Back when I was a child (I know this makes me sound ancient) it was often as hot inside the house as outside, the only relief being that one wasn’t in the direct sun, and possibly a fan would be blowing, but not to much effect. Few private residences had air conditioning. Instead we had evaporative, or “swamp” coolers which didn’t do much to make the house cooler. Here are some of the things we did when it was too hot to go outside:
- Go shopping at the mall (Ahh! Air conditioning!)
- Go to a movie (Again, air conditioning.)
- Play in the shade, preferably with a wash tub of water for a “pool” or the sprinkler spraying.
- Go swimming at the public pool.
- Go for a drive with all the car windows open.
- Go on a picnic to a cooler location. For us, this meant heading north towards Flagstaff.
- Go play billiards (Air conditioning, and a fun activity).
- Be as quiet as possible in the house, perhaps reading, playing checkers, or playing cards.
- Don’t cook. Eat a big salad, or go out to an air-conditioned pizza parlor for dinner.
- For those of you currently suffering from the heat, consider a vacation to the Pacific Northwest. You must especially see the Washington, Oregon, and Northern California coasts. Think of the cooling ocean breezes. It’s truly refreshing!
Yano at Ten on Tuesday
has asked us to list Ten Memorable Vacation Moments:
- When I was growing up we lived in Phoenix, Arizona. I loved traveling north to Flagstaff for picnics. My brothers and sister and I enjoyed trying to notice when the flora changed from cacti to evergreens. We never could tell, exactly; the changes were that gradual.
- The first time I saw the giant redwood trees and sequoias in California as a child was memorable. Our own children enjoy our drives through The Avenue of the Giants now.
- My first time going to Disneyland at the age of 12 was a memorable vacation as well. I only wished that the lines to the rides weren’t so long.
- When I was a freshman in high school, our marching band was invited to perform at – Disneyland! Afterwards came free rides. Yay!
- We love Inverness, California, where my in-laws live. We have visited there many times, and it still remains a favorite vacation destination.
- Our favorite way to travel to California from Washington is down Hwy. 101, along the Washington and Oregon coasts. We enjoy “camping” in a yurt (think: hybrid tent/cabin) on the Oregon coast. This is cheaper than a motel room, and much nicer (fresh air, beach access, shower facilities, outdoor barbecue pit cooking, etc.).
- I loved seeing Zion and Bryce National Parks (just over the Arizona border in Utah) as a child.
- Driving over the Canadian Rockies, from Washington to Alberta, was a wonderful experience, for the aqua rivers, peak after majestic peak, and all the wildlife, such as mountain goats strolling across the road.
- My first time going sailing, on our honeymoon, was memorable for romance, but also for pain. I hadn’t realized how sunburned a person can get out on the water, and I did get very uncomfortably red.
- I started with Arizona, and will end with it. Someday I hope our children will have the opportunity to appreciate the stark beauty of the desert. I particularly remember visits to the Grand Canyon, to the Painted Desert, Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater, Hoover Dam (all that WATER enchanted this desert child), and the Petrified Forest.
Yano at Ten on Tuesdays
asks, Who are your 10 favorite movie characters?
- Emma from the 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel of the same name, played by Gwenyth Paltrow.
- Mr. Darcy
from the 1996 production of Pride and Prejudice (another Jane Austen novel), played by Colin Firth.
- Miss Elizabeth Bennet
from the same Pride and Prejudice production, played by Jennifer Ehle.
- Colonel Christopher Brandon
from the 1995 production of Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen again), played by Alan Rickman.
- Severus Snape
of Harry Potter fame, played by Alan Rickman.
- Professor Albus Dumbledore, again of Harry Potter fame, played by the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.
- Sam Wise Gamgee
(Lord of the Rings trilogy) played by Sean Astin.
- Aragorn (Lord of the Rings trilogy) played by Viggo Mortensen.
- Jack Shepard/Captain Zoom (from the movie Zoom) played by Tim Allen.
- Jessie the yodeling cowgirl
in Toy Story 2, because of the song “When She Loved Me”, lyrics by Randy Newman, sung by Sarah McLachlan.
The prompt this week for Ten on Tuesday
is Ten Favorite Sports to Play or Watch.
I’ll start first with favorite sports to watch:
- Our family enjoys cheering on our minor league basketball team, The Bellingham Slam. They are currently the Western Conference champs!
- We enjoy going to our local high school basketball games. Both our boys’ and girls’ teams are fun to watch.
- High school track meets are right on. One daughter wants to learn to pole vault. I can’t wait to see that. The other daughter likes to sprint and run in relays.
- What about high school soccer? Two of our daughters are on the high school team, so those games are a must-see.
- Our son in middle school is going to be our first child to play football, so I guess I’ll have to learn to like that sport, after having avoided it like the plague.
- Some of the children have done figure and free style roller skating in prior years. That is one of my favorite things to watch.
Favorite sports in which to participate:
- Volleyball
- Basketball (in the day). Now I’ll shoot baskets with the kids occasionally.
- Table tennis
- Does hiking count as a sport? Backpacking was a favored activity, again, in the carefree days of youth.
