The Love Cook
by Ron Padgett
Let me cook you some dinner.
Sit down and take off your shoes
and socks and in fact the rest
of your clothes, have a daiquiri,
turn on some music and dance
around the house, inside and out,
it's night and the neighbors
are sleeping, those dolts, and
the stars are shining bright,
and I've got the burners lit
for you, you hungry thing.
In Garrison Keillor's "Good Poems for Hard Times"
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
Happy Valentines Day to everyone, especially to Chris Belvin, who will turn 12 tomorrow. We leave on Thursday to go to Macon to celebrate, his last year of not being a teenager. We'll be home on Sunday night. We had planned to come back on Monday, but they want to lay the floor in the kitchen on Monday and since I'm off on Monday, I thought it'd be nice to be home so that I'm satisfied with the job. I just did not know how much extra we wound have to spend to change the tickets. I was not upstairs when Gene changed the tickets. If I had been, I would have said that we'd have to postpone the floor being done, but oh well.
Glad to hear that Ed seems to be doing well after his surgery. Talk to all soon.
Margaret
Glad to hear that Ed seems to be doing well after his surgery. Talk to all soon.
Margaret
Valentine's Day
A Valentine’s Day Reminder
Guys, listen up. Valentine's Day is almost here, so this one's for you!
Some common fallacies about Valentine's Day:
• It's a scam
• It's just to get me to spend money
• It's for guys who aren't really strong men
• It's just something someone dreamed up to get me to be emotional
Valentine's Day represents the best of what you have to offer. Women need to be told they are loved, and occasionally, they need tangible reminders. Things are not as important to some women as they are to others, but anything you do to prove you care is an expression of how much she means to you.
Give of yourself. Here's an idea. Give her a small booklet of things you will do for her in the next three months. Here are some possibilities:
• I will clean out the garage
• I will wash your car
• I will give you a foot rub each week
• I will take you to dinner
The Element of Surprise
Surprises can be fun, but make sure she likes them. I used to give surprise birthday parties for my wife only to find out years later (she tried to hint) that she didn't like surprise parties!
Here are some alternatives:
• Give her your time.
• Offer to take her someplace she has always wanted to go.
• Give her a night that you promise to "sit and listen to her." Tell her you will take note of things she wants to share. (Remember to always avoid the words "you, always, and never.") Learn to communicate more!
Take Her Somewhere Nice
OK, so it's a little late for planning. Just remember this does not have to be done on February 14th—any day around that day will do.
You could take roses by the restaurant ahead of time. Think about giving her one rose or other flower for each year you are married. (Do you know her favorite flower?)
Take a card and a "small box" with you. OK guys…a small box means some kind of jewelry. Got it? My father-in-law was a jeweler, and I quickly learned the value of small boxes. This can be nice costume jewelry if you can't afford the hard stuff!
Tell her why you are giving her a special gift. Give her your undivided attention. Write it out and read it to her if that helps. Some guys have a hard time expressing how they feel, so if you need help call a sister or a friend.
The Bottom Line
Valentine's Day is just another day on the calendar.
Money may be tight at your house—so buy her a card and add your own special note as to why you love her. Tell her that you care, buy a single rose and go to an inexpensive restaurant. Remember you don't have to do anything that costs money to let your wife know that you love her unconditionally.
However you choose to mark the occasion, Valentine's Day should remind you of what you should be doing on a regular basis…loving her, showing her why you care, and doing it from the heart!
Go for it!
J.B. and Shugie
This is from an email I get from NC Baptist Convention called Marriage Matters.
Guys, listen up. Valentine's Day is almost here, so this one's for you!
Some common fallacies about Valentine's Day:
• It's a scam
• It's just to get me to spend money
• It's for guys who aren't really strong men
• It's just something someone dreamed up to get me to be emotional
Valentine's Day represents the best of what you have to offer. Women need to be told they are loved, and occasionally, they need tangible reminders. Things are not as important to some women as they are to others, but anything you do to prove you care is an expression of how much she means to you.
Give of yourself. Here's an idea. Give her a small booklet of things you will do for her in the next three months. Here are some possibilities:
• I will clean out the garage
• I will wash your car
• I will give you a foot rub each week
• I will take you to dinner
The Element of Surprise
Surprises can be fun, but make sure she likes them. I used to give surprise birthday parties for my wife only to find out years later (she tried to hint) that she didn't like surprise parties!
Here are some alternatives:
• Give her your time.
• Offer to take her someplace she has always wanted to go.
• Give her a night that you promise to "sit and listen to her." Tell her you will take note of things she wants to share. (Remember to always avoid the words "you, always, and never.") Learn to communicate more!
Take Her Somewhere Nice
OK, so it's a little late for planning. Just remember this does not have to be done on February 14th—any day around that day will do.
You could take roses by the restaurant ahead of time. Think about giving her one rose or other flower for each year you are married. (Do you know her favorite flower?)
Take a card and a "small box" with you. OK guys…a small box means some kind of jewelry. Got it? My father-in-law was a jeweler, and I quickly learned the value of small boxes. This can be nice costume jewelry if you can't afford the hard stuff!
Tell her why you are giving her a special gift. Give her your undivided attention. Write it out and read it to her if that helps. Some guys have a hard time expressing how they feel, so if you need help call a sister or a friend.
The Bottom Line
Valentine's Day is just another day on the calendar.
Money may be tight at your house—so buy her a card and add your own special note as to why you love her. Tell her that you care, buy a single rose and go to an inexpensive restaurant. Remember you don't have to do anything that costs money to let your wife know that you love her unconditionally.
However you choose to mark the occasion, Valentine's Day should remind you of what you should be doing on a regular basis…loving her, showing her why you care, and doing it from the heart!
Go for it!
J.B. and Shugie
This is from an email I get from NC Baptist Convention called Marriage Matters.
Good to hear!
Glad to hear everything went well with your surgery, Uncle Ed. Will be praying for a speedy recovery. Did everybody have snow this weekend? We had a really pretty snowfall.....for about 3 minutes!