I GOT WAVED AT WITH ONLY ONE FINGER!

Has there been a new law passed on PEI? One that allows drivers who are in a rush to completely bypass all the usual laws? I was waiting at the lights at the new Peter Pan intersection to drive straight through. My light turned green and I cautiously started heading through the intersection. (If you live and drive on PEI you know what I mean - you never assume that you can drive through a green light!) As I was going through, several cars to my right kept trying to squeeze through and turn right on the red ahead of me. That was fine, but when I got to the other side of the intersection I just assumed that they were going to realize that I had the green light and would stop. I need to stop assuming when driving. There was one car left who REALLY wanted to get through before me. I, however, did not let him (since stopping in the middle of intersection when you have a green light to let someone else break the law is illegal...). I guess this guy was in a rush or having a bad day maybe, because he came up on my rear so close and fast I thought he was going to ram me. He then proceeded to tailgate me (like I drive slow or something!) until he had a free lane to pass me at a very high speed. It must be nice to be allowed to drive your DADDY'S car like that. Then he got stuck at the next red light turning left (ha ha!) and I pulled up beside him just as the light turned green. I smiled. He didn't. Instead he waved at me out his window. Awfully nice of him to wave, I thought, till I realized that he only had one finger sticking up... :)
Why are people like this? I mean, if I had cut him off and he was wronged in some way, I would half understand. I hate being cut off. But he was ticked off at me because I didn't let him break the law and blow through a red light. I know I am FAR from perfect when it comes to driving, but come on! This goes beyond road rage. This was pure stupidity! And buddy who gave me the finger, if you are reading this, I hope you are having an okay day and nothing bad has happened to make you act like this. But if that is the way you act towards people all the time, you need to chill out and learn to respect people and the laws of the land. Sheesh!

Quite the guy...

Here are a couple of pictures of the Superman bubble bath that I received for my birthday from Harley. Each week after Bible study I find him in a different position (the bubble bath - not Harley). Toilet paper... strung up by the blind. What'll be next? Stuffed into the toilet tank? Shoot, probably just gave him an idea...

Can Man Live Without Microwaves?

We lost a member of our family. For the past 10 years or so a small white microwave has sat in the corner of our kitchen, giving warmth and happiness to our household. But the other day it started going on the fritz. It was making a funny sound for a while, and then it just started making this huge "BWAAAA!!!" sound that sounded more like it was blending metal than nuking supper. Then we could smell this horrific odor like burning flesh and plastic. Needless to say we have not been using our beloved microwave. It's days of heating up frozen dinners and popping extra buttery microwave popcorn are over. Today we will go out to Wal-Mart to pick out a new (cheap) one, but the last couple of days have been hard. It's amazing how much we take for granted one little device in our kitchen. But when it stops working, all of a sudden there are all these problems. You have no idea how hard it is to heat up instant oatmeal on the stove! And leftovers just haven't been the same.
Do you ever take God for granted? Maybe you believe he's out there, somewhere, but you don't really give it much thought. You get up everyday, get ready, go to work or school, come home, watch TV for a bit, have a snack and go to bed. Everyday blends together. But there is no spark, no joy, no passion in your life. Sure you may have your hobbies and the things you like to do, but would you categorize them as joyful or passionate? Well God wants to be a part of your life and he wants you to have that joy in your life. His Son Jesus said the reason he came was to give us that spark. "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10b)
Things like microwaves may make our lives easier (and make good popcorn!), but they will never let us live life the way God wants us to. If you feel like you are missing out on that fullness, God wants to fill that hole. Pick up your Bible and start reading about the exciting new life in Christ that he offers. Trust me, it is way better than reheated leftovers.

Top Ten Highlights

I guess I really need to make a new post. Here are some updates in the McGonnell household:

1) Danielle had her second(of I'm sure many more) x-ray when she smashed her ankle at school. Nothing broken.
2) Simon took a chunk out of his chin after falling off his tractor (thanks Lisa and Dave...).
3) Hannah made a Wonder Woman costume out of a plastic tiara, her bathing suit, and pink socks.
4) I got a hair cut. Now nobody knows that I have gray hair. Riiiight...
5) Simon fell on Francine and his teeth cut her forehead and now she has a band-aid on it (real spazzy looking).
6) Simon had a day last week when he pooped like 8 times. NASTY!!
7) The girls are home on March Break and are being big helps with the house. They folded laundry today! Thanks girls.
8) I got a Palm organizer. I'll never forget anything again. Now where did I put it?
9) Francine made cream cheese muffins. I bought some extra milk to celebrate!
10) My Dad receive news that his latest CAT scan showed him to be cancer free. God is good!

Sick

Quite the site we are, eh? So far I am the only member of my family who has not been nailed by this blasted flu bug. (I'm knocking reeeeeeeally hard on a piece of wood right now!) Hannah is back on her feet. Simon is getting his energy back. But Francine and Danielle are toast. You watch...the minute they are better I will get this. Oh summer, where art thou?

The Day the Burger Died

I never thought I'd see the day. I ate at Sam's yesterday. Mmmmm...Sam's. You see, I LOVE Sam's. They have they absolutely best burger in the world - ever! No questions asked. It is always perfect. It is never overcooked or undercooked. The same - morning, noon or night. And the price is right. $5.25 for a platter that leaves you feeling happy. But yesterday I got the burger platter and do you want to know what happened to me? The burger was dry. Did you HEAR that?!?! THE BURGER WAS DRY!!! This has never happened to me before. I wanted to pinch myself and wake up from this terrible nightmare. But there I was, in reality, and my burger sat on my plate, dry and not very tasty. I guess everyone deserves to make a mistake now and then. I mean, I made one once. I think it was back in the late eighties when I had that mullet. (Shudder...) Will I still go to Sam's? You bet. Will I still get the burger? Duh. Will I ever forget this tragic day? It's burned into my long term memory forever. I will be sitting in my rocking chair in the old age home (in about 10 years or so) talking to my roomies about the day the burger died.

High Speed At Last!

Yes, after 5 long years of dial-up internet service here in beautiful Brackley Beach, I have switched over to a wireless company that supplies high speed internet to people who live out in the sticks like me. It's called Ruranet and if you too are suffering from cobwebs growing on you waiting to receive your emails, check out their website (www.ruranet.com) and see if they can hook you up. Hopefully I will update my blog more often now! Ah the freedom of not tieing up the phone line! Oh the joy of being able to talk on MSN longer than 5 minutes!

Parking Meters are for Sissies!

So Ben and I ran downtown today (actually we drove...he'd never be able to keep up with me) to go to the office supplies store where the church has an account to buy some stuff. I circled the block to find a parking spot and found one on Grafton Street. Now the moment I pulled into the spot, the car beside us backed out. Not wanting to pay for the few minutes we'd be inside, I quickly backed out of the spot and drove into that one to find 3 MINUTES still left on that meter. After Ben volunteering to put in a dime (the cheapskate) we noticed that the machine did not take dimes. So refusing to waste a quarter for 5 minutes I decided to make a run for it. We bolted inside (saying a quick "hi" to Lisa at the shoe store and asking her if they sold any shoes...), ran up to the store, picked up the supplies we needed, zoomed back out to the van and made it in time to not get a ticket! Bwa-ha-haaaa! I am amazing, aren't I? And incredibly humble too. I once won a humility award and was given a "Most Humble Person" button, but the committee took it away because I wore it. (I am so cheap...I love it...Toast is the best!)

There's Not Enough Trekkies in the World...

Well, I am sad to say that there was not one comment on my last Star Trek trivia question. (My sister did email me with the right answer, but sorry Moo, that doesn't count...) The answer (of course!) is "No First Name No Middle Initial" Data. Man, Ben could tell me how many hairs are growing out of Wayne "The Whiner" Gretzky's mole, but no one could answer a simple triva question pertaining to a beloved Next Generation character. What is the world coming to? Dunno, maybe a really easy one might help. True or False: Spock's ears were pointy. (Sigh...guess I'll be going to the next movie alone...well, except for Francine, but she asks dumb questions all the time so she doesn't count.)

Trivia Time Part 2

OK. We'll give Randy a chance to redeem himself - this time NO search engines allowed. Try this one: What do the initials NFN NMI stand for in Lt. Cmdr. Data's full name on his Starfleet record? Good luck contestants...(I'm now humming the theme to Jeopardy.)

Trivia Time

Ok, here's a trivia question. What does the "T" in William T. Riker's name stand for? Winner gets to come to the next Star Trek movie with me and share my popcorn.

Happy Birthday Simon

I can't believe my little buddy boy Simon turned one yesterday. Here's a few pictures from the big party. You gotta love the cake!

Hey Danny Murphy! Check This Out!!

If Danny Murphy is a blogger, I hope he gets to see this picture. Simon is for sure the son of Matt and Francine. This dude loves his coffee. Though he does prefer it like his Dad's - with cream and sugar. I think Mr. Murphy could use Simon in a Tim Hortons commercial. This is it. We're going to hit it big and I'll be able to retire by the time I'm 35! Okay, maybe I'm dreaming, but it doesn't hurt to be a visionary...

Need a Picture

This post is for the sole purpose of trying to post a picture of myself.

Off to School

This Tuesday marks a milestone in my family. My firstborn, Danielle, is heading off to school. I don't know how this is possible, it seems like she was just born. (She's 6 1/2 - when did THAT happen?!?) She will be attending Grace Christian School. Francine and I have wrestled since the day she was born about what to do about school. We were thinking about home schooling for quite a while, but we have been helped with the tuition at Grace, and for at least this year, Danielle will be going there. We appreciate the Christian environment she'll be in. 6 is too young to let a non-Christian become one of the dominant teachers in a kid's life. They even have a Bible class (though I'm going to have to work on the school - they use the King James Version - I don't even understand it...). I get to go on Tuesday to be given the grand tour and to meet all her classmates. (All the boys get to meet her Dad and see how huge he his in case they ever decide to pick on her!) I know she'll do great. Danielle is a wonderful girl with a soft heart (she gets that from her Mom). I still don't know how she got to be so old. Daddy loves you sweetie! (I don't know how I'm going to handle the wedding!)

Vote for Matt

Soooo...my Mom was looking through old pictures and found a couple of my old school ones. I can't believe she let me go out in public looking like this. Which picture do you think I'm more of a geek in? The spaz with poofy hair or the toothless nerd with the Mr. Spock haircut? Sheesh...Mom, what were you thinking?!?! It's hard to believe that I turned out to be so cool and handsome!

Superman Returns!

Do you think I'm a little excited!?!?! Who do you think would make a better Man of Steel?

He's In For It!

Poor Simon. He is going to have to bulk up pretty fast to defend himself from the wrath of his big sisters.

Big Tim Turns 40!!!

Wow. Tim Myers had a birthday on Tuesday this past week. It was number 40. Here's a few pictures from the big bash at Pizza Delight. (Rumor has it that Peggy Jo is already planning for his 50th, and this time she's going to pay for everyone!)

MCC Choir Tour

Hey everyone. Look for the Maritime Christian College Choir Tour coming your way soon. Here's some exciting sneak previews of what's to come.