Back from Oblivion with a Party!

I'll blog later about where I've been (mostly trying to keep up with home, kid, spouse, and CPE assignments), but this Friday Five seemed like a great way to come back! See the end for a quick update on our lives.

Friday Five: It's My Party

From Songbird at RevGalBlogPals.

I hate to say it, but over the years I've been to too many parties where I, or the birthday child, has felt much like the chorus of Lesley Gore's old tune. I am therefore not the biggest fan of birthday parties.For this Friday (which happens to be my birthday), tell us these five things about parties, birthday or otherwise.

1) Would you rather be the host or the guest? Host, but no I'm not a control freak. Really I'm not!

2) When you are hosting, do you clean everything up the minute the guests go home? Will you accept help with the dishes? If it's really late, I'll rinse and stack and leave most of it for the morning. I will always take help.

3) If you had the wherewithal, and I guess I mean more than money, to throw a great theme party, what would the theme be? We'll be throwing a graduation party in a couple of weeks, so that's the theme I would pick for now. Graduation parties are bitter sweet celebrations of something accomplished, something ending, and in this case unknown new beginnings. I'm not big into themes. When we host a party, I want it to be about relaxing and enjoying other people's company. That's what I'm hoping for this party too. A chance to celebrate being together and to enjoy some good music (see #5).

4) What's the worst time you ever had at a party? That would be the party at which the Birthday Boy (aka manBoy) got into a fist fight with one of his guests. The worst time manBoy had at a party was when he broke his foot just hours before his dad's 40th birthday party (a few years ago).

5) And to end on a brighter note, what was the best? We have had guitar parties where one visitor was heard to say "I've never seen so many guitars in one room without price tags!" Most of these were in the era BC (before child), but we still gather smaller groups. In the original version, many young couples and singles would gather for a weekend bringing all sorts of musical instruments and their smiles. The music was awesome and everyone brought at least one song everyone else could learn. Food abounded around the center dish of Velveeta, Rotel, and Breakfast Sausage Queso. In the wee hours some returned to their own homes to sleep, but several crashed on beds and floors in our house. Then we'd start over again the next evening.

Quick Update:

Mid-life Rookie is nearing end of 3rd unit of CPE in large county hospital and enjoying it much more. This unit we are discussing cultural sensitivity which is fun since the majority of our group is from other cultures. Graduating from Hallowed Halls Seminary on May 19. (Okay they are holding my diploma till the end of CPE, but I'm walking and celebrating as if its over.) I will not be registered for classes this summer, so as far as I'm concerned my years there are done, which is a little sad. I attended the Sending Forth Worship Service yesterday. It was great to see friends and my professors (believe it or not). I'm still waiting to hear about an appointment in a church, but it's not looking too hopeful.

Gifted & Talented been employed since Feb. 28th. (Yipee!) This job requires a different skill set than he's used to using, so he is adjusting. We are grateful for paycheck and insurance. He still plays with the worship band at church and even had one of our out-of-town friends join them a couple of weeks ago.

manBoy ran Cross Country and Track and received a running award. It's getting easier to watch him run the hurdles. We had an incredible discussion this week when his science teacher assigned a paper on personal beliefs regarding creation and evolution. It is exciting to watch him come into his own understandings. He is finishing middle-school and definitely has short timer's disease. Today his class has gone to Giant Theme Park. I don't expect they will get much learning done after this.

Well if anyone actually comes back to read this after my long absence,
Blessings to All,
MLR