Pop a la Mode

I officially love whitewater rafting. That was the most fun I’ve had in a really, really, really long time.

The drive up to the Ocoee River was about three hours, just north of Chattanooga. We were afraid TS Fay was going to make the day blah but the sun was shining once we arrived.

I am happy to report that I did not once get thrown in the river. I did receive face-fulls of icy water but that I can handle. The key, I learned, is all about wedging yourself in the raft with your inside foot. The better wedged you are, the better balance and brace position you have.

Favorite part of the day, hands down, was Riding the Bull. I did not ride the bull but the concept is that you sit on the front of the raft and hang on to the rope while going through the rapids. Robyn decided to try it out and the first rapid knocked her backwards. The whole rest of that area Robyn is lying flat on her back, legs straight up in the air with water pounding on her and all of us laughing so hard we can’t help.

Of course that was the spot on the river where they take your photo. All our photos are of us laughing like hyenas and Robyn partially obscured by waves of water except for her feet. Even our guide was laughing. You just couldn’t help it.

It was a fantastic, and tiring, day. I will happily go again anytime.

I’m headed up to the Ocoee River near Chattanooga, TN this morning to try my hand at whitewater rafting. This is not something I have done before or ever felt the need to do. I’m going because Robyn asked and because misery loves company evidently.

I’ve been doing some research and we will be rafting the middle Ocoee which are level three and four rapids. Highest level is number six which if we were doing those I’m smart enough not to go.

So say a little prayer and hopefully I’ll report back with fun stories.

This is a question I don’t ask very often but I uttered it this morning.

I had a meeting downtown and as we got off the highway and turned, I saw something from the corner of my eye. A man standing on the sidewalk, wearing tennis shoes and waving his hands. Only tennis shoes - nothing else but a smile and his glasses. He did have a t-shirt in his hand but was using it more as a flag.

My colleague and I hurriedly moved ourselves down the road while I tried to call the police to report the man. I never got through! How can the police not answer the phone? I mean thankfully I wasn’t being attacked or anything but still - a naked man! On the street!

Thankfully not something I see every day.

A LOST quiz for my fellow addicts out there:

As you can see, I did not so well.

Last night, she and I were discussing my schedule for the upcoming months - specifically at night after work.

Me: I’ll have chapel bells (youth handbells) at 6 on Monday, Colla Voce (a singing group I’m in) at 7 and they’re both at church. Then I’ll work out Tuesdays and Thursdays at the church rec center and then Wednesday of course is Master Ringers and choir. So pretty much if I’m not at work, I’ll be at church except for Fridays and Saturdays.

Mom: Well at least you’re not drunk and hanging out at bars.

Me: (After a moment of silence) You do realize I’m putting that on my blog?

Mom: I’m really going to have start biting my tongue.

Me: As if that’s going to happen.

Heavenly Father,

You are in charge of everything that will happen to me today -

the good and the bad,

the happy and the sad,

the positive and the negative.

Please help me to be thankful for everything that will happen to me today. For you have given me no more than I can bear and every opportunity that is placed in front of me.

Amen.