So today we wait for the first real chance at snow. Ah snow. Yes, 1 to 2 inches possible. Really jacks up the toilet paper, bread, and milk sales.
My son who graduated last year and now has 3 jobs and college is really excited about the prospect. Unfortunately he hasn't thoroughly digested what snow does for working people.
Nothing.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Poke
Ah - it has started. You know how it goes, those wretched Christmas cards that come written in artificial ink from people who really don't care about you, demonstrated either actively in words and deeds or passively in silence and absence but have some strange need to one-up by sending a card with nothing but a signature under the preprinted greeting or something like "best wishes". The only words spoken for the year "best wishes". Whew. Some of them are asking for money, and, oh by the way, "happy holiday". Others are from an individual, checking off the list.
I got one from Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter. It's nice they thought of me.
So far I've gotten both kinds.
Don't get me wrong, this is different from those that are the careful reflection after a busy year or a "where did the time go" year where the friend writes "I wish we got to talk to each other" or something like that. Those are the real ones, they are ones looking for the promised peace on earth. The others are a way of giving reason for asking for money or satisfying inner looking, both stimulate the Walmart and Post Office economies.
I suppose all of that needs to be done. Tis the season.
I got one from Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter. It's nice they thought of me.
So far I've gotten both kinds.
Don't get me wrong, this is different from those that are the careful reflection after a busy year or a "where did the time go" year where the friend writes "I wish we got to talk to each other" or something like that. Those are the real ones, they are ones looking for the promised peace on earth. The others are a way of giving reason for asking for money or satisfying inner looking, both stimulate the Walmart and Post Office economies.
I suppose all of that needs to be done. Tis the season.
Monday, December 8, 2008
The warm earth
We installed a geothermal heatpump this year to replace 2 16 year old and 1 5 year old traditional heatpumps. I took on the task of doing the installation mostly because I'm cheap and a little because I wanted to see if I could make it work. It turned out to be a vastly more complex task than I anticipated.
The problem solving I had to go through to make the system work was, in fact, just the education I needed to know what I am dealing with. It's a monstrous beast, extending 4200 feet of pipe into the yard 6 feet underground, piping refrigerant from the attic to the basement and into the garage, followed by wiring for thermostats, power, backup heat, and the unit itself. I still have to hook up the hot water, whereby my water supply for the hot water heater will be pre-heated to around 100 degrees by my new system.
I still marvel at the technology. During these past few days of 20-30 degree weather, my new system is faithfully sucking 55 degree water from the ground, stealing its heat, and returning it to the ground to be rewarmed by the earth. I fell a little better about mowing this patch of ground now, knowing that the soft green grass is actually a cover for an engine that warms the bedrooms of my home.
The problem solving I had to go through to make the system work was, in fact, just the education I needed to know what I am dealing with. It's a monstrous beast, extending 4200 feet of pipe into the yard 6 feet underground, piping refrigerant from the attic to the basement and into the garage, followed by wiring for thermostats, power, backup heat, and the unit itself. I still have to hook up the hot water, whereby my water supply for the hot water heater will be pre-heated to around 100 degrees by my new system.
I still marvel at the technology. During these past few days of 20-30 degree weather, my new system is faithfully sucking 55 degree water from the ground, stealing its heat, and returning it to the ground to be rewarmed by the earth. I fell a little better about mowing this patch of ground now, knowing that the soft green grass is actually a cover for an engine that warms the bedrooms of my home.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Dad said I could.
We sat in church this morning listening to the pastor preach on words. He has talked about the subject for a couple of weeks. Today's were words of confession. I must confess, it was moving. OK, not so funny.
It is true, though... I must confess.
Confession is first realized by submitting myself to Him, the Lord, so there is a standard by which I cannot justify myself. regardless of my story, my position, my reason, in the light of the omniscient Father I am not worthy of Him. I fail Him constantly...and the gift of grace He gives is because of His quality, not of my deserving it.
It is good to move into that light.
It is true, though... I must confess.
Confession is first realized by submitting myself to Him, the Lord, so there is a standard by which I cannot justify myself. regardless of my story, my position, my reason, in the light of the omniscient Father I am not worthy of Him. I fail Him constantly...and the gift of grace He gives is because of His quality, not of my deserving it.
It is good to move into that light.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
That would be too easy.
I heard a good suggestion for the bailout of the big 3 auto makers - the oil companies ought to loan them the money. It makes a certain amount of sense. What do you think?
Monday, December 1, 2008
Will that be new or retread?
Good to see the change in Washington, eh? Changing back to the good ole days of the Clinton administration. It's like old cars - I saw a '73 Ford Maverick the other day - one of the kids said "cool car"...wait a minute - a Maverick? Not cool, no matter how old it is.
If we do the same old things the same old way we'll get the same old things. Looks like we're going to get it again. Too bad.
If we do the same old things the same old way we'll get the same old things. Looks like we're going to get it again. Too bad.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Over the hills we go.
We are getting ready to take my daughter to the airport so she can return home from her holiday stay with us. It was good to have her here, along with our lovely granddaughter. We didn't get to see our grandson - he went to be with other grandparents. Actually, we are taking her to our daughter's home that is near the airport, she will spend the night and leave very early in the morning. She will get to visit with another granddaughter and our brand new grandson.
It was a fun holiday. I got to talk to my brother, my aunt and my cousin. We had 4 generations of our family around the family. Lots of laughs and smiles, lots of food and stories, rooms full of love and warmth. That's the way real family is, and that is what the holidays bring. What a great time of year!
It was a fun holiday. I got to talk to my brother, my aunt and my cousin. We had 4 generations of our family around the family. Lots of laughs and smiles, lots of food and stories, rooms full of love and warmth. That's the way real family is, and that is what the holidays bring. What a great time of year!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Whats in a word?
With every new child we face a new opportunity to teach. Very often the first lessons revolve around language.
"Ah ain't never seen nothin like that."
"It's 'I haven't ever seen anything like that'"
"You ain't either?"
"No, I mean ain't is not a word."
"It ain't?"
"It isn't"
"I never know'd that"
"Never knew that."
"You ain't?"
"I didn't"
"Me neither"
And life goes on.
"Ah ain't never seen nothin like that."
"It's 'I haven't ever seen anything like that'"
"You ain't either?"
"No, I mean ain't is not a word."
"It ain't?"
"It isn't"
"I never know'd that"
"Never knew that."
"You ain't?"
"I didn't"
"Me neither"
And life goes on.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
In combat we called them "John Wayne Bars"
I made "Roman Army Flat Bread" for a snack during tomorrow's "eat-a-thon". You eat it with goat cheese and roasted red peppers. Instead of the oven, you cook it on the grill. It's made of spelt, a grain I ground into flour. You have to knead it by hand, it's so stiff it's easy to figure out why the Roman Army ate it...you need the arms of a centurion to move the stuff around. All in all, it came out pretty good...we'll see how it goes with American turkey tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Would it be "ole turkey eye"?
There is a legend that Benjamin Franklin wanted our national bird to be the turkey. I don't know if there is any truth to it, but it seems that the turkey is a very smart bird and would represent us well.
OK. I wonder. Ever look into the face of a turkey? Would that be the look we want with the waving flag in the background? I dunno.
Also, if that HAD been the case, would we protect turkeys and instead eat eagles on Thanksiving? Would we say *when describing someone of questionable sensibility) "that guy is a real 'eagle'"....or, have a famous rock song "Fly like a turkey". Or, would we substitute eagle for beef in hot dogs when we wanted to eat healthy?
It's mind boggling. The list of possiblities is a real eagle shoot.
OK. I wonder. Ever look into the face of a turkey? Would that be the look we want with the waving flag in the background? I dunno.
Also, if that HAD been the case, would we protect turkeys and instead eat eagles on Thanksiving? Would we say *when describing someone of questionable sensibility) "that guy is a real 'eagle'"....or, have a famous rock song "Fly like a turkey". Or, would we substitute eagle for beef in hot dogs when we wanted to eat healthy?
It's mind boggling. The list of possiblities is a real eagle shoot.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Pecking for dinner
I am sitting in a seat that overlooks our bird feeders. I have an assortment of feeders, designed to provide a variety of feeding methods and food. Its fun watching the birds arrive, as though they are waiting in the nearby trees for me to put out the food.
We have pretty regular visits from a couple of woodpecker varieties along with finches, wrens, and chickadees. Cardinals show up along with blue jays.
The woodpeckers own the suet. Sometimes a chickadee will have the audacity to peck away at it, but when the downy woodpecker show up, he jsut has to fly near the hanging package for the chickadee to move off.
It's hard to imagine life out there, 18 degrees at night. They don't have to worry about the market, the heat bill, or even the next grocery day. All they have to do is hope I see the feeder is getting low. And even if I do, somehow they find other sustinence until the next time I refill. Pretty amazing. A good thing to notice for this week of thanksgiving.
We have pretty regular visits from a couple of woodpecker varieties along with finches, wrens, and chickadees. Cardinals show up along with blue jays.
The woodpeckers own the suet. Sometimes a chickadee will have the audacity to peck away at it, but when the downy woodpecker show up, he jsut has to fly near the hanging package for the chickadee to move off.
It's hard to imagine life out there, 18 degrees at night. They don't have to worry about the market, the heat bill, or even the next grocery day. All they have to do is hope I see the feeder is getting low. And even if I do, somehow they find other sustinence until the next time I refill. Pretty amazing. A good thing to notice for this week of thanksgiving.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
43 to 44
As our peaceful transition of government proceeds I stand in awe of how we do it. Even with the rancor and the blogs of insults, our leaders respect each others' roles in the process and do things in order. Each has their place, and the competition is what takes the sharp edges off the difficult task of governing this nation.
It isn't about democrats or republicans. It is about America. America the Beautiful. We always have a difficult task, we always have the seems-to-be-insurmountable problem at our feet. Whether the invasion of the British in our early days, the division of our nation in the middle, the imminent death of us all from the 50s to the 90s, we've faced the future with the sure knowledge that every 2 years at least part of our federal leadership must face their real employers - the voters - and nothing is a sure thing. And when they face the result, they take a quiet walk back home, no showdowns, no coups, it is about America.
Let us all look up to our flag and have that stir in our hearts. America the Beautiful, from sea to shining sea.
It isn't about democrats or republicans. It is about America. America the Beautiful. We always have a difficult task, we always have the seems-to-be-insurmountable problem at our feet. Whether the invasion of the British in our early days, the division of our nation in the middle, the imminent death of us all from the 50s to the 90s, we've faced the future with the sure knowledge that every 2 years at least part of our federal leadership must face their real employers - the voters - and nothing is a sure thing. And when they face the result, they take a quiet walk back home, no showdowns, no coups, it is about America.
Let us all look up to our flag and have that stir in our hearts. America the Beautiful, from sea to shining sea.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Are we really OK?
CNN has a story today about the "pregnant man". The headline of the story quotes his wife as saying "We are a normal couple". It reflects a Larry King interview where they described the pregnanacy and the process, etc.
So, here's the question. What is "normal"? The husband was born a female and has had alterations that include chest reconstruction and hormones. It has not included surgery "down there". The wife injected the male contribution (they had shipped to their house) into the female part of the husband, making conception possible. Wait a minute. The female part of the husband?
He is listed on the birth certificate first as father, then changed to mother, then back to father. Makes sense...because whatever he is she isn't and whatever he isn't she is. Normally.
In the end, they are listed as "parents". That's fair. It is too hard to decide, because the father is normally not the one giving birth nor is a female. So, in this case, neither fit the "normal" or "standard" definition.
What is normal? What differentiates a man from a woman?
Seems kind of basic, and a little obvious, that one of the distinguishing features of a woman over a man is the biological construction enabling childbirth.
And if we choose to make those changes to live the way we want, we are free to do so. But,
What is normal? Who decides?
So, here's the question. What is "normal"? The husband was born a female and has had alterations that include chest reconstruction and hormones. It has not included surgery "down there". The wife injected the male contribution (they had shipped to their house) into the female part of the husband, making conception possible. Wait a minute. The female part of the husband?
He is listed on the birth certificate first as father, then changed to mother, then back to father. Makes sense...because whatever he is she isn't and whatever he isn't she is. Normally.
In the end, they are listed as "parents". That's fair. It is too hard to decide, because the father is normally not the one giving birth nor is a female. So, in this case, neither fit the "normal" or "standard" definition.
What is normal? What differentiates a man from a woman?
Seems kind of basic, and a little obvious, that one of the distinguishing features of a woman over a man is the biological construction enabling childbirth.
And if we choose to make those changes to live the way we want, we are free to do so. But,
What is normal? Who decides?
Friday, November 14, 2008
Close is only for nuclear weapons.
Being the father of boys is very different than being the father of girls. I knew that, I've done it before. Still it really doesn't hit you until if actually....well....Because of the way we as foster parents aquire children the demarkation is very abrupt. This is very true of the three amigos that just began to transform our home last weekend.
For example, after resurrecting our bike pile last weekend I realized I needed a place for the bikes to land at the end of the day. The place has to be well defined, with definite parameters. I found a spot outside of the garage side door, took my oldest son in the pickup to Home Depot where we bought 10 bags of gravel, brought them home, spread them in a large area, and declared the new rule..."The bikes get put on the gravel at the end of the day".
Easy?
Right.
So I was out of town for a couple of days for business. I came back and proceeded to inspect the place for rule compliance...what do I find? A moderate effort...the bikes were NEAR the gravel. Moving them the 18 inches to be ON the gravel was too much I guess.
So, we had a remedial bike-putting-away class and now the bikes rest comfortably....ON THE GRAVEL.
For example, after resurrecting our bike pile last weekend I realized I needed a place for the bikes to land at the end of the day. The place has to be well defined, with definite parameters. I found a spot outside of the garage side door, took my oldest son in the pickup to Home Depot where we bought 10 bags of gravel, brought them home, spread them in a large area, and declared the new rule..."The bikes get put on the gravel at the end of the day".
Easy?
Right.
So I was out of town for a couple of days for business. I came back and proceeded to inspect the place for rule compliance...what do I find? A moderate effort...the bikes were NEAR the gravel. Moving them the 18 inches to be ON the gravel was too much I guess.
So, we had a remedial bike-putting-away class and now the bikes rest comfortably....ON THE GRAVEL.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Dad
The other day my Dad and I got to spend some time together. We live a little apart from each other, so we don't get to see each other as often as I'd like. When we get together we have some laughs, we solve most of the world's political problems the world faces (no, we're not running for office), and we eat somewhere my Dad picks. We're usually the last of the lunch crowd at the restaurant, our conversations and laughs just go on and on.
They are good times. We haven't had much time together for most of the last 30 or 40 years, so these visits are pretty special. The Father God has given us the image of a father relationship for us to understand him better with - I get the privilege of these times to appreciate how deep and wide that can really be.
Thanks Dad.
They are good times. We haven't had much time together for most of the last 30 or 40 years, so these visits are pretty special. The Father God has given us the image of a father relationship for us to understand him better with - I get the privilege of these times to appreciate how deep and wide that can really be.
Thanks Dad.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
I'm up, I'm down...no, I'm up...
It's a little hysterical right now how even the 24/7 news can't keep ahead of the stock market. They start the day with "stock futures point to bug selloff" and the market opens around 80 points down. By midmorning it's up around 30, but the headlines read "profit taking causes stocks to stumble". That's because there WAS a profit snatch, but it lasted one hour, making the index to drop more than 200 and then swing back up.
It's a littl elike the weather forecast is for rain, precipitation chances 100%, and out the window you see sunshine. Seems there are some things we can't control or predict.
It's a littl elike the weather forecast is for rain, precipitation chances 100%, and out the window you see sunshine. Seems there are some things we can't control or predict.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Are you Granma Kate's Poppa?
I love being a grandfather.
I need to love it, as it has become a rapidly growing status as the population of those who refer to me as such grows. The latest 2 are a grandson and granddaughter born within about 9 weeks of each other. Funny, 9 week old Ensley, the grandson, looks HUGE compared to the new liddle darling Lauren (born last Thursday). Funny too, as he looks at her with a knowing stare "I remember back when I was like that...."
There are many good parts of it. One of them is getting congratulated. Oh yes, like I did anything?! I give the knowing smile in thanks, as though there was an ounce of effort. I just held the little dickens and made funny noises.
Another thing is the whole diaper thing. When the bottom vibrates, you look for a mom and "presto" - you are out of it. Nothing like being a grandfather.
But, best of all are the children who have grown and blessed me with this privileged title. My girls have all made me very proud to be the grandfather of their children. (Still waiting on the sons to reproduce...with some trepidation). They come from far and near to show them off and let me play with them. I teach them things (I haven't once succombed to the threat to teach them bad words), and I explain such unknowable things as "Poppa, what happened to you hair?".
Ah the imponderable.
I need to love it, as it has become a rapidly growing status as the population of those who refer to me as such grows. The latest 2 are a grandson and granddaughter born within about 9 weeks of each other. Funny, 9 week old Ensley, the grandson, looks HUGE compared to the new liddle darling Lauren (born last Thursday). Funny too, as he looks at her with a knowing stare "I remember back when I was like that...."
There are many good parts of it. One of them is getting congratulated. Oh yes, like I did anything?! I give the knowing smile in thanks, as though there was an ounce of effort. I just held the little dickens and made funny noises.
Another thing is the whole diaper thing. When the bottom vibrates, you look for a mom and "presto" - you are out of it. Nothing like being a grandfather.
But, best of all are the children who have grown and blessed me with this privileged title. My girls have all made me very proud to be the grandfather of their children. (Still waiting on the sons to reproduce...with some trepidation). They come from far and near to show them off and let me play with them. I teach them things (I haven't once succombed to the threat to teach them bad words), and I explain such unknowable things as "Poppa, what happened to you hair?".
Ah the imponderable.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Broke the code
I did figure it out - that Weight Watchers thing. The points are a simple way of controlling your eating behavior. Problem is, for Americans it goes against our grain to imagine that if the number is smaller it is a good thing. Like golf, I guess. The lower the score the better you are. Why couldn't that apply to bowling, in which case I'd be a candidate for Olympic golfing?
Anyway, the points measure the taste of a food. Foods that are universally recognized as tasting good, like you find in restaurants, have high point values. Foods that are healthy (therefore DON'T taste good) have low point values. Foods that NOBODY would recognize as satisfying OR tasting good have zero points. For example, who would sit down with a nice chunk of cauliflower to munch on instead of a couple of slices of the cold pizza in the fridge from the night before? Only someone doing the WeightWatchers thing. (I actually did that, and actually had that choice to make...)
Makes me long for the days when I enjoyed the fine taste of a good fat-free cigarette. Do they have points?
Anyway, the points measure the taste of a food. Foods that are universally recognized as tasting good, like you find in restaurants, have high point values. Foods that are healthy (therefore DON'T taste good) have low point values. Foods that NOBODY would recognize as satisfying OR tasting good have zero points. For example, who would sit down with a nice chunk of cauliflower to munch on instead of a couple of slices of the cold pizza in the fridge from the night before? Only someone doing the WeightWatchers thing. (I actually did that, and actually had that choice to make...)
Makes me long for the days when I enjoyed the fine taste of a good fat-free cigarette. Do they have points?
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Watch this!
This weight watchers thing is kind of depressing. I thought I was doing good having a blackened tilapia sandwich today at Ruby Tuesday for lunch. I mean, it's fish. How much could it cost me?
20 points.
I get 30 a day.
Dang.
20 points.
I get 30 a day.
Dang.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The madness
My dislike for sports is the basis for what I think is my dislike for some of the drivel we hear in the "24/7" news world.
People who follow sports spend an inordinate amount of energy predicting what will happen when it is in the midst of happening. They get excited about the game and the team, hoping and guessing. It seems kind wasteful to me - if you wait for a couple of hours you find out the answer in real life. Think of all the emotion, energy, potato chips, and beer that gets saved!
Elections are kind of the same. We citizens are presented the options, and we have a decision to make. Who might or might not win shouldn't really matter to the choice - we choose who we want the most and our part is done - vote and wait for the outcome. It is what it is.
Who cares what others think? They will vote the way they choose. Who cares what the polls predict? Does that change the choice the individual has? The press and the machine is spending it's resources trying to tell us why our choice is bad and why they are smarter. Make the choice, cast the vote, go to bed, and see the outcome.
I would like it much better if everyone got a mailing from the candidates that explains their position and that ended it. We make our choice and move on. Drop the hype and drivel; cut the news back to 2 one hour shows a day; take the money that is wasted on ads and stickers...maybe spend that on something that actually produces something...maybe then we'd get regular people with comon sense in office...
People who follow sports spend an inordinate amount of energy predicting what will happen when it is in the midst of happening. They get excited about the game and the team, hoping and guessing. It seems kind wasteful to me - if you wait for a couple of hours you find out the answer in real life. Think of all the emotion, energy, potato chips, and beer that gets saved!
Elections are kind of the same. We citizens are presented the options, and we have a decision to make. Who might or might not win shouldn't really matter to the choice - we choose who we want the most and our part is done - vote and wait for the outcome. It is what it is.
Who cares what others think? They will vote the way they choose. Who cares what the polls predict? Does that change the choice the individual has? The press and the machine is spending it's resources trying to tell us why our choice is bad and why they are smarter. Make the choice, cast the vote, go to bed, and see the outcome.
I would like it much better if everyone got a mailing from the candidates that explains their position and that ended it. We make our choice and move on. Drop the hype and drivel; cut the news back to 2 one hour shows a day; take the money that is wasted on ads and stickers...maybe spend that on something that actually produces something...maybe then we'd get regular people with comon sense in office...
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Don't be fooled.
Don't let these nice breezes and mower-free weekends fool you, winter is approaching! It is sneaky, it comes just when you think you want a break from the heat. My kids were walking past the pool yesterday exclaiming "I love winter" "I can't wait for winter" and other such foolishness.
If everyone was so danged excited about winter then why don't people flock to places like Alaska and Iceland, building houses in the middle of snow drifts, renting houses buried in snow in zero degree weather for more money that they spend in 2 months on their mortgage? Oh, that's right, that's what they do at the beach - in the hot weather - BECAUSE SUMMER IS GOOD AND WINTER IS NOT!
Don't be fooled. Winter is sneaking up and we'll all be huddled around our heaters wishing for those endless days of balmy sun. We'll wonder how we could have ever been so foolish when it's zero degrees and DARK at 5:30 PM.
If everyone was so danged excited about winter then why don't people flock to places like Alaska and Iceland, building houses in the middle of snow drifts, renting houses buried in snow in zero degree weather for more money that they spend in 2 months on their mortgage? Oh, that's right, that's what they do at the beach - in the hot weather - BECAUSE SUMMER IS GOOD AND WINTER IS NOT!
Don't be fooled. Winter is sneaking up and we'll all be huddled around our heaters wishing for those endless days of balmy sun. We'll wonder how we could have ever been so foolish when it's zero degrees and DARK at 5:30 PM.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Skinny me
So I'm participating in WeightWatchers online. It's a pretty good thing, easy to use, and full of promise. Till now my weightwatching has been by looking down and - voila - there is my weight. Which is why the new leaf is turning over.
The program is simple. You count points. It is a lot like counting calories except the numbers are smaller. Very simple numbers. I get 30 a day. A caramel apple is 9 points. A 4 pound tomato is zero points. So the deal is - the better something tastes the more points it has. Buttered popcorn (about a thimblefull) - 3 points. Popcorn with nothing added to make it edible (about a bucketful) - 1 point.
It is worth it, though. It promises that I will regain my youthful good looks. At least my youthful weight. (Part of the regaining of the good looks would require either a weave, transplants, or magic hairgrowing salve).
When I look down I won't have to look past my weight to see how light I am.
Did you know if you rock back a little on the scale you are actually a little lighter?
The program is simple. You count points. It is a lot like counting calories except the numbers are smaller. Very simple numbers. I get 30 a day. A caramel apple is 9 points. A 4 pound tomato is zero points. So the deal is - the better something tastes the more points it has. Buttered popcorn (about a thimblefull) - 3 points. Popcorn with nothing added to make it edible (about a bucketful) - 1 point.
It is worth it, though. It promises that I will regain my youthful good looks. At least my youthful weight. (Part of the regaining of the good looks would require either a weave, transplants, or magic hairgrowing salve).
When I look down I won't have to look past my weight to see how light I am.
Did you know if you rock back a little on the scale you are actually a little lighter?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Listen carefully
It's pretty sad that our country is now listening to a large voice which says "suspect a political candidate who looks to God for guidance, one who prays to God that what we are doing pleases Him, who asks for His will versus our will."
I wonder who's voice that really is.
I wonder who's voice that really is.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
The narrow mind of Christ
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life; No one comes to the Father except through me."
This quote of Jesus from John 14:6 is a pretty narrow definition.
Not much wiggle room.
"No one".
I pondered that in church this morning. The preacher talked some about how, no matter what we as humans try, we can't fix the world with government, with taxes, with policy. The real fix is through our Creator.
Seems to me that means none of us can claim an exemption. I can't. He said "no one". I can't reason "I don't believe that". If I don't believe, does it change any facts?
I can only choose to accept the fact or reject it.
And live with the result. (or die)
Seems it makes sense to make a decision like that fully informed.
This quote of Jesus from John 14:6 is a pretty narrow definition.
Not much wiggle room.
"No one".
I pondered that in church this morning. The preacher talked some about how, no matter what we as humans try, we can't fix the world with government, with taxes, with policy. The real fix is through our Creator.
Seems to me that means none of us can claim an exemption. I can't. He said "no one". I can't reason "I don't believe that". If I don't believe, does it change any facts?
I can only choose to accept the fact or reject it.
And live with the result. (or die)
Seems it makes sense to make a decision like that fully informed.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
What's behind that smile?
It is true that the ultimate leadership starts when the alarm goes off at 6AM. It goes off then so that she'll have time to read and pray before the little rascals wake and the endless routine starts over. Her head hurts, she was awoken 3 times during the night, and she already knows what the morning will be like. Her 3AM call was a blood curdling scream of dream terror, not as easy as a head of state.
She gets up anyway.
When the first one toddles down she looks like she was waiting up for her. She holds her arms out, and the tired, soft, warm little one moves in slow motion into her arms, resting head on shoulder and comfortable knowing that mommy has her.
Fact is, her head still hurts, the excedrin migraine hasn't kicked in yet and there are more feet pitter pattering. She never got to finish the Bible verse. But, the prayer list has been the same for a long time so she can scan that with the eyes inside her head and the Lord knows - He's been listening for as long as she's had the list.
On it goes through the day. At around 8PM, the last one is tucked away, she can put her feet up and sigh. Waiting for the alarm to go off at 6. She'll get on her own pillow about 11.
A new generation will get launched by that leadership. One little one at a time there will be a generation who learns that there is no red or blue. Instead, the most real thing is the love that starts that first day when the strip says "Yes you are" and the delicate little one first attaches itself inside her That sacrifice is true leadership.
It takes 20-30 years for the excedrin to really kick in.
For the best, it probably never will.
She gets up anyway.
When the first one toddles down she looks like she was waiting up for her. She holds her arms out, and the tired, soft, warm little one moves in slow motion into her arms, resting head on shoulder and comfortable knowing that mommy has her.
Fact is, her head still hurts, the excedrin migraine hasn't kicked in yet and there are more feet pitter pattering. She never got to finish the Bible verse. But, the prayer list has been the same for a long time so she can scan that with the eyes inside her head and the Lord knows - He's been listening for as long as she's had the list.
On it goes through the day. At around 8PM, the last one is tucked away, she can put her feet up and sigh. Waiting for the alarm to go off at 6. She'll get on her own pillow about 11.
A new generation will get launched by that leadership. One little one at a time there will be a generation who learns that there is no red or blue. Instead, the most real thing is the love that starts that first day when the strip says "Yes you are" and the delicate little one first attaches itself inside her That sacrifice is true leadership.
It takes 20-30 years for the excedrin to really kick in.
For the best, it probably never will.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
September. The unremarkable month.
Tomorrow officially ends August, and so the slide to winter begins. The grass is cooperating, only growing enough for a weekly to 10 day mowing...my bees are clustering in the cool evenings...we have tomatoes still coming...there was a dry spell that drove some leaves off the trees enough to remind us of whats coming...my apples are turning red.
Of course, I still have enough summer projects to carry me for another 4 or 5 summers. Seems ambition isn't enough. Nothing takes the amount of time that is scheduled. And, nothing starts on schedule. That's why we have 30 year mortgages.
They say we'll have a cold winter without a lot of snow. How do "they" know? Wooley Caterpillars. They know. The only good thing about the onslaught of winte ris that it leads to spring.
Of course, I still have enough summer projects to carry me for another 4 or 5 summers. Seems ambition isn't enough. Nothing takes the amount of time that is scheduled. And, nothing starts on schedule. That's why we have 30 year mortgages.
They say we'll have a cold winter without a lot of snow. How do "they" know? Wooley Caterpillars. They know. The only good thing about the onslaught of winte ris that it leads to spring.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Prime time is all the time
Where's the headline?
A few days ago the headline was "Dow slides 241 points" on a particularly bad day. Then, right afterward, it climbed around 25 points, then 89 points, then today up 212 points. No headlines for the good news, we wouldn't want anyone to have the impression there's anything GOOD going on, now would we? If them news guys say we are suffering economically, we must be. I mean, look at those cars at the gas pumps....they are filling up for $75 dollars twice a week and are darned mad about it...and the danged lines at the Ruby Tuesday...you'd think you wouldn't have to stand in the danged line so long to spend your $37 on them big hamburgers...and if my 5th grader complains onemoretime about that old fashioned 6 month old cell phone I gave her, I'll take the $40 dollars a month and buy something for me with it.....
Yep. Times is hard.
We did get the good news of the 8 gold medals by the American swimmer. We also got the good news the Hillary would let her people vote for Barack. That was nice. And that they were so generous they decided not to vote for Barack, let's just all yell "hurrah" and call it a day - who needs those time consuming voting things anyway? Hurrah for the great leader. Yeah. Caught up in the moment...
Why do we have these conventions anyway, since everything is already decided? So there is a forum for all Americans to hear the list of impossible promises and pandering, and to be convinced that though there are no values discussed and that lying is OK if they are white lies and don't really hurt anyone anyway and if I say sorry..we can all feel GOOD about ourselves and ...whoops...what's that sound...? Sounds like flushing water....or is that rushing water....? If I don't believe it maybe it won't be real!?
Can you tell me what I want to hear one more time? C'mon, tell me a liddle lie...
A few days ago the headline was "Dow slides 241 points" on a particularly bad day. Then, right afterward, it climbed around 25 points, then 89 points, then today up 212 points. No headlines for the good news, we wouldn't want anyone to have the impression there's anything GOOD going on, now would we? If them news guys say we are suffering economically, we must be. I mean, look at those cars at the gas pumps....they are filling up for $75 dollars twice a week and are darned mad about it...and the danged lines at the Ruby Tuesday...you'd think you wouldn't have to stand in the danged line so long to spend your $37 on them big hamburgers...and if my 5th grader complains onemoretime about that old fashioned 6 month old cell phone I gave her, I'll take the $40 dollars a month and buy something for me with it.....
Yep. Times is hard.
We did get the good news of the 8 gold medals by the American swimmer. We also got the good news the Hillary would let her people vote for Barack. That was nice. And that they were so generous they decided not to vote for Barack, let's just all yell "hurrah" and call it a day - who needs those time consuming voting things anyway? Hurrah for the great leader. Yeah. Caught up in the moment...
Why do we have these conventions anyway, since everything is already decided? So there is a forum for all Americans to hear the list of impossible promises and pandering, and to be convinced that though there are no values discussed and that lying is OK if they are white lies and don't really hurt anyone anyway and if I say sorry..we can all feel GOOD about ourselves and ...whoops...what's that sound...? Sounds like flushing water....or is that rushing water....? If I don't believe it maybe it won't be real!?
Can you tell me what I want to hear one more time? C'mon, tell me a liddle lie...
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
To bee an assassin
I'm having the first year in my bee yard where I feel like I have a clue. Only a clue, but it's better than nothing.
I started the season with 4 hives, all 4 had survived the winter. I divided the strongest ones early, making 6 out of the 4. I have pulled off what will turn into around 20-25gallons of honey as soon as I go through the arduous task of extracting it from the comb.
Last week I dethroned 2 queens who weren't performing up-to-snuff, replacing them with a pair I bought from a local breeder. (that idea lends itself well to all kinds of child-rearing applications, doesn't it?) The idea is to go into the upcoming winter with a queen who is producing a lot of eggs so the population that has to go through the winter is as large as possible.
The guy I bought the queens from showed me his operation - very interesting. He is selectively breeding queens for their gentleness (always good for bees), their parasite resistance, and their ability to survive our winters. Amazing, because he and his wife control the entire gene pool by not only selecting the queens from the colony, but they also artificially inseminate the queen from males in known colonies. Yes. Artificially inseminate. I was pretty amazed that you could do this with the tiny little queen, but even more, that you could to the "removal" from the little tiny male.
Think about it.
Anyway, one of the beekeeper tasks is to know the environmental threats to the bees and control them as much as you can. The other day I was out in my beeyard and I spotted an amazing creature...a threat to bees but not really a problem for a beekeeper. He is called an assassin bug. This guy is about an inch long, and appears to be armor plated. He has hexagon shaped plates covering him, and a large, curved proboscis that reminds you of a Samari sword. He was holding one of my unfortunate honeybees in his front hands like we hold corn-on-the-cob, turning and nibbling. Very impressive.
The good thing, my colonies are very full and each have about 50-60 thousand bees in them. There's plenty of food for Mr Assassin Bug and plenty left to get my colonies through the winter. Cooperating with the natural world, I let him keep nibbling.
Poor, unfortunate bee.
I started the season with 4 hives, all 4 had survived the winter. I divided the strongest ones early, making 6 out of the 4. I have pulled off what will turn into around 20-25gallons of honey as soon as I go through the arduous task of extracting it from the comb.
Last week I dethroned 2 queens who weren't performing up-to-snuff, replacing them with a pair I bought from a local breeder. (that idea lends itself well to all kinds of child-rearing applications, doesn't it?) The idea is to go into the upcoming winter with a queen who is producing a lot of eggs so the population that has to go through the winter is as large as possible.
The guy I bought the queens from showed me his operation - very interesting. He is selectively breeding queens for their gentleness (always good for bees), their parasite resistance, and their ability to survive our winters. Amazing, because he and his wife control the entire gene pool by not only selecting the queens from the colony, but they also artificially inseminate the queen from males in known colonies. Yes. Artificially inseminate. I was pretty amazed that you could do this with the tiny little queen, but even more, that you could to the "removal" from the little tiny male.
Think about it.
Anyway, one of the beekeeper tasks is to know the environmental threats to the bees and control them as much as you can. The other day I was out in my beeyard and I spotted an amazing creature...a threat to bees but not really a problem for a beekeeper. He is called an assassin bug. This guy is about an inch long, and appears to be armor plated. He has hexagon shaped plates covering him, and a large, curved proboscis that reminds you of a Samari sword. He was holding one of my unfortunate honeybees in his front hands like we hold corn-on-the-cob, turning and nibbling. Very impressive.
The good thing, my colonies are very full and each have about 50-60 thousand bees in them. There's plenty of food for Mr Assassin Bug and plenty left to get my colonies through the winter. Cooperating with the natural world, I let him keep nibbling.
Poor, unfortunate bee.
Welcome to Napless Valley
So I think I mentioned before how we got these 3 new kids in our home..a 2,3, and 4 year old. They are basically good kids, except that they are 2, 3, and 4. That many of them in one house makes for some real vintage whine.
In addition, someone trained them that the way you tell someone you need or want something is you stand in the middle of any group of adults and cry loudly and unreasonably. I knew some guys in boot camp that tried something like that.
Once.
These kids know you don't need tears, you just need the sound. As all of us know, any adult with more than 15% hearing will respond by offering everything possible until the right thing hits.
Not good.
The 2 year old and I have a routine now where I stand there and mock him in response to his crying. It annoys even me, but he seems to understand how stupid it is....he sometimes just stops and stares at me. Of course, nobody offers me anything to make me stop, they just hope it'll work so I'll stop. Being annoying to get what you want isn't restricted to kids.
We are getting some progress, as the 4 year old almost never cries, and the 2 year old can turn it off with the right prompting.
The 3 year old, however, hasn't moved very far from her first day. She cries for no apparent reason sometimes. Often, the only option is isolation until there is quiet...a technique that often makes things worse (decibally speaking) before they get better. She doesn't buy the "Poppa's crying too" routine...I think she sees it as validation rather than redirection. Sometimes the "cry accelerator" gets stuck, and she just wails and pants and screams. She'll get it sooner or later, we're hoping sooner.
Our institutional system for providing parents for children who need new ones them has a fatal flaw. It assumes that children can be moved until there is a good fit. These newest little guys we have point to the fact that a child, especially a very young child, is a different person almost week by week as their brains wire to fit the environment they are in. They sometimes lose opportunities to learn when that enviroment is jerked away or undergoes a radical change without warning. They leave with neurons left hanging. Like my new 3 year old demonstrates, they are stuck in a rut of an age-inappropriate behavior set that requires remedial teaching to overcome. The problem is - then they lose out on what is appropriate, what might have happened if they weren't occupied with recovering. The more times this happens the more the deficits build on each other.
I suppose there is an economy stimulation effect though. It does create employment for counselors and analysts as these people reach their early 30's...
I hope my new little girl has the crying worked out before then.
In addition, someone trained them that the way you tell someone you need or want something is you stand in the middle of any group of adults and cry loudly and unreasonably. I knew some guys in boot camp that tried something like that.
Once.
These kids know you don't need tears, you just need the sound. As all of us know, any adult with more than 15% hearing will respond by offering everything possible until the right thing hits.
Not good.
The 2 year old and I have a routine now where I stand there and mock him in response to his crying. It annoys even me, but he seems to understand how stupid it is....he sometimes just stops and stares at me. Of course, nobody offers me anything to make me stop, they just hope it'll work so I'll stop. Being annoying to get what you want isn't restricted to kids.
We are getting some progress, as the 4 year old almost never cries, and the 2 year old can turn it off with the right prompting.
The 3 year old, however, hasn't moved very far from her first day. She cries for no apparent reason sometimes. Often, the only option is isolation until there is quiet...a technique that often makes things worse (decibally speaking) before they get better. She doesn't buy the "Poppa's crying too" routine...I think she sees it as validation rather than redirection. Sometimes the "cry accelerator" gets stuck, and she just wails and pants and screams. She'll get it sooner or later, we're hoping sooner.
Our institutional system for providing parents for children who need new ones them has a fatal flaw. It assumes that children can be moved until there is a good fit. These newest little guys we have point to the fact that a child, especially a very young child, is a different person almost week by week as their brains wire to fit the environment they are in. They sometimes lose opportunities to learn when that enviroment is jerked away or undergoes a radical change without warning. They leave with neurons left hanging. Like my new 3 year old demonstrates, they are stuck in a rut of an age-inappropriate behavior set that requires remedial teaching to overcome. The problem is - then they lose out on what is appropriate, what might have happened if they weren't occupied with recovering. The more times this happens the more the deficits build on each other.
I suppose there is an economy stimulation effect though. It does create employment for counselors and analysts as these people reach their early 30's...
I hope my new little girl has the crying worked out before then.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The baby wins!
Little Ensley was born around 5:30 this morning. He was between 5 and 10 pounds, somewhere between 15 and 25 inches long. He has a healthy voice, 10 fingers and 10 toes. I'm sure the other, more precise stats will be published as soon as they are verified by our analysts.
As things like this go, he decided he'd rather take the short vertical road versus the long 1 foot trip we thought he'd take. The medical advice was that it needed to happen yesterday, so all means were on the table, so to speak.
Mother and baby are resting comfortably now, recovered and ready for the next 100 years or so.
As things like this go, he decided he'd rather take the short vertical road versus the long 1 foot trip we thought he'd take. The medical advice was that it needed to happen yesterday, so all means were on the table, so to speak.
Mother and baby are resting comfortably now, recovered and ready for the next 100 years or so.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Off the charts!
As it turns out, this waiting game is good for my readership. My readership is up about 300%. I even had a second comment! I haven't had that kind of attention since last summer when I talked about you know what and you know who lambasted me on the air...(by the way, that's going to come back on me if I run for public office..)
That's the thing about dadhood. I get to deliver information and take messages. I am known because I am Kate's husband. I am also known because of who my children are, a fact that can enhance and, let's say, not enhance me in the eyes of the beholder.
So, for all you fans in my new 2 digit readership, she hasn't had the baby yet. There is likely to be some medical help in the way of a contraction-horsepower-booster. She's in the hospital now, everyone insists it'll be tonight.
Little Ensley hasn't voted yet.
That's the thing about dadhood. I get to deliver information and take messages. I am known because I am Kate's husband. I am also known because of who my children are, a fact that can enhance and, let's say, not enhance me in the eyes of the beholder.
So, for all you fans in my new 2 digit readership, she hasn't had the baby yet. There is likely to be some medical help in the way of a contraction-horsepower-booster. She's in the hospital now, everyone insists it'll be tonight.
Little Ensley hasn't voted yet.
Are we going for a record or what?
So I sit here at the early morning table still waiting word that Ensley has made his appearance. Both my wife and my daughter's mother in law have joined her and her husband, trying all the old tricks to get that baby to make the trip. As we all know, in the end a baby will do what it wants when it wants to.
ALl the signs are there, labor proceeding with big, strong contractions at about 8 minute intervals. They have walked every street walkable in the neighborhood, of course, 8 minutes of walking, stop, breathe and stare, then walk some more.
Of course, those Martian Rovers have lived over 3 years beyond their original intent of a 90 days mission...
I await word. Prayer and patience for now...
ALl the signs are there, labor proceeding with big, strong contractions at about 8 minute intervals. They have walked every street walkable in the neighborhood, of course, 8 minutes of walking, stop, breathe and stare, then walk some more.
Of course, those Martian Rovers have lived over 3 years beyond their original intent of a 90 days mission...
I await word. Prayer and patience for now...
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The longest foot
I like to track the progress of the Mars Rovers. These amazing machines are crawling around Mars at the command of joy-stick-holding scientists here on Earth. Each command takes a few minutes to be recieved on Mars, and then another few minutes to be acknowledged back on Earth. A long trip is 4 feet with a response time like that. Amazing remote control to the extreme.
Well, that is nothing.
My brand new grandson, Ensley Smith, is about to traverse the most dangerous, the most arduous, and the most mysterious 1 foot road he will ever see. My daughter called from her home about 1 1/2 hours away to say that the new baby signaled very clearly that the trip was starting. he was positioned for the launch and the countdown was starting. My wife got her prepacked bag, hopped in the car, and began her 65 mile drive to attend the occassion. The thing is, she'll make that 65 mile trip in about 1 1/2 hours, and Ensley will undoubtedly take most of the night traveling the 1 foot he has ahead of him.
It's the shortest and hardest road, fraught with danger, shock, and surprise. And at the end of it he will never be the same, emerging from his warm dark home with the muffled sounds and endless feeding to the cold, lighted world he'll spend his next 80-100 years in.
This is some of God's greatest work. He blesses my wife and I with the joy we see in our own child and her husband. They, his parents, are blessed as they see their marriage manifested in this greatest gift, this timeless memorial to love, this promise of a new start that illustrates the birth the Christ makes possible for all of us. He, little Ensley, is blessed with new life in this world, an exciting life that may even extend to the 22nd century. Whew!
A joyful night is happening.
Well, that is nothing.
My brand new grandson, Ensley Smith, is about to traverse the most dangerous, the most arduous, and the most mysterious 1 foot road he will ever see. My daughter called from her home about 1 1/2 hours away to say that the new baby signaled very clearly that the trip was starting. he was positioned for the launch and the countdown was starting. My wife got her prepacked bag, hopped in the car, and began her 65 mile drive to attend the occassion. The thing is, she'll make that 65 mile trip in about 1 1/2 hours, and Ensley will undoubtedly take most of the night traveling the 1 foot he has ahead of him.
It's the shortest and hardest road, fraught with danger, shock, and surprise. And at the end of it he will never be the same, emerging from his warm dark home with the muffled sounds and endless feeding to the cold, lighted world he'll spend his next 80-100 years in.
This is some of God's greatest work. He blesses my wife and I with the joy we see in our own child and her husband. They, his parents, are blessed as they see their marriage manifested in this greatest gift, this timeless memorial to love, this promise of a new start that illustrates the birth the Christ makes possible for all of us. He, little Ensley, is blessed with new life in this world, an exciting life that may even extend to the 22nd century. Whew!
A joyful night is happening.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
A place of your own.
It's happened about 40 or 50 times over the last 20 years.
We had our 3 and 5 year old foster children returned to their mother recently. That doesn't happen often. (getting back with the mom) What happened next does.
We had a rest from the sights and sounds of toddlers, thinking we'd not have to do that for a while...maybe no more. After all, while we look pretty darned good, we've been parenting for a long time...and little ones are....so....well....little. You know.
But then, we got the call.
"we have a small family of children that just need a place temporarily - a short time - just till we get a permanent situation arranged...so can you take them?"
"yes"
Then it begins. There is a room shuffle. The oldest son is now in the large bedroom. He's got a double bed and the distinction of the "big room". Of course, looking in the room brings to mind the chorus to the Elvis song - you know the one - "...in the ghettttoooh..."
He gets ejected to a smaller room so the 3 and 4 year old new kids can have a room together. The new 2 year old is going in the smallest bedroom that was recently vacated by our former 3 year old. Yes, I did say we just got a 2, 3, and 4 year old.
My wife and one of our grown daughters sized up the room situation. They took beds from 4 bedrooms as well as the attic, remixed them, re matched dressers, toys, trinkets, curtains, blankets, and everything that makes a kids room the kid's room, and worked for about a couple of hours.
When the dust had settled (I was there for the heavy lifting and then went away), I quietly walked through the new arrangements, particularly the room for the new kids (due to arrive in an hour or so at that point). There was play china on the little table, and little dolls and stuffed animals strategically placed in what had been the ghetttoooh a couple of hours before. I imagined these little ones displaced and torn from their family walking in to their new place...their new Mommy, temporary or not, had made it just so.... like she has for these many years...a special place...one where you can sleep peacefully.
The Lord watches over these little lambs.
But He likes them to be quiet at bed time.
We had our 3 and 5 year old foster children returned to their mother recently. That doesn't happen often. (getting back with the mom) What happened next does.
We had a rest from the sights and sounds of toddlers, thinking we'd not have to do that for a while...maybe no more. After all, while we look pretty darned good, we've been parenting for a long time...and little ones are....so....well....little. You know.
But then, we got the call.
"we have a small family of children that just need a place temporarily - a short time - just till we get a permanent situation arranged...so can you take them?"
"yes"
Then it begins. There is a room shuffle. The oldest son is now in the large bedroom. He's got a double bed and the distinction of the "big room". Of course, looking in the room brings to mind the chorus to the Elvis song - you know the one - "...in the ghettttoooh..."
He gets ejected to a smaller room so the 3 and 4 year old new kids can have a room together. The new 2 year old is going in the smallest bedroom that was recently vacated by our former 3 year old. Yes, I did say we just got a 2, 3, and 4 year old.
My wife and one of our grown daughters sized up the room situation. They took beds from 4 bedrooms as well as the attic, remixed them, re matched dressers, toys, trinkets, curtains, blankets, and everything that makes a kids room the kid's room, and worked for about a couple of hours.
When the dust had settled (I was there for the heavy lifting and then went away), I quietly walked through the new arrangements, particularly the room for the new kids (due to arrive in an hour or so at that point). There was play china on the little table, and little dolls and stuffed animals strategically placed in what had been the ghetttoooh a couple of hours before. I imagined these little ones displaced and torn from their family walking in to their new place...their new Mommy, temporary or not, had made it just so.... like she has for these many years...a special place...one where you can sleep peacefully.
The Lord watches over these little lambs.
But He likes them to be quiet at bed time.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Unauthorized photography prohibited
There was a bad accident on the road leading to our development about a month ago. It was bad enough that the county put up some new signs "Do Not Pass" along the road to try to avoid a repeat.
When you think about it, that's kind of a dumb sign. When I was a kid, I wondered why they had a road after a sign like that? Why would they build a road past a sign they didn't want you to go past?
Of course, we had a sign in my neighborhood where I was growing up that said "Slow Children". I objected to the implication, until, being bright like I was, I realized it must be referring to my sister.
But the one that was most heinous was the sign indicating the exit to the town we lived in. We lived in a town named "North Reading". The sign said "No Reading". Now you tell me, I thought, why would they put a sign up instructing you not to read it?
Sheesh.
When you think about it, that's kind of a dumb sign. When I was a kid, I wondered why they had a road after a sign like that? Why would they build a road past a sign they didn't want you to go past?
Of course, we had a sign in my neighborhood where I was growing up that said "Slow Children". I objected to the implication, until, being bright like I was, I realized it must be referring to my sister.
But the one that was most heinous was the sign indicating the exit to the town we lived in. We lived in a town named "North Reading". The sign said "No Reading". Now you tell me, I thought, why would they put a sign up instructing you not to read it?
Sheesh.
Monday, July 7, 2008
You can be the special one
I am blessed to be a grandfather. It's "grand" in the sense of "big" (which is age-driven, physical and status). The status part of the "big" means I've been a father for a very long time and that I am this for a pretty "grand" (large) group.
I have grandchildren by a couple of different paths. I have 7 and one on the way the old fashioned way. I have 7 others and one additional one on the way through other means. In all cases, these kids call me "Poppa", slip occasionally and call me "grandpop", "poppy", "pops", and other such traditional titles. Whatever it is, the title is their recognition of what I am in their life, a privileged insider to them who fits a special seat. For them, they get to climb on me, to look under my mustache, to puzzle over why I have no hair on top but do have hair on my face, to ask about when their mom was my little girl...
I remember the special place my grandfather had in my life. He held the keys to a lot of mystery. One of them, the one who I remember only as as a very young boy, was a "tickler". All I really have left of memories of him is a good feeling, a special affection that I have when I think of him. My other one, who was alive into my adulthood, was someone who I always counted on to validate what I did - if he approved it must be right. He tickled also.
It is a special honor indeed. They are spread from Africa to South Dakota, and when I get to see each of them, some once a week and others once every couple of years, I am reminded of the importance of this job. I see their smile, hear their laugh, tickle them, and let each of them know how they can be the special one.
I have grandchildren by a couple of different paths. I have 7 and one on the way the old fashioned way. I have 7 others and one additional one on the way through other means. In all cases, these kids call me "Poppa", slip occasionally and call me "grandpop", "poppy", "pops", and other such traditional titles. Whatever it is, the title is their recognition of what I am in their life, a privileged insider to them who fits a special seat. For them, they get to climb on me, to look under my mustache, to puzzle over why I have no hair on top but do have hair on my face, to ask about when their mom was my little girl...
I remember the special place my grandfather had in my life. He held the keys to a lot of mystery. One of them, the one who I remember only as as a very young boy, was a "tickler". All I really have left of memories of him is a good feeling, a special affection that I have when I think of him. My other one, who was alive into my adulthood, was someone who I always counted on to validate what I did - if he approved it must be right. He tickled also.
It is a special honor indeed. They are spread from Africa to South Dakota, and when I get to see each of them, some once a week and others once every couple of years, I am reminded of the importance of this job. I see their smile, hear their laugh, tickle them, and let each of them know how they can be the special one.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The moment is coming soon
So, the Phoenix lander took a picture of the base of Martian soil it is sitting on, and a smooth spot appears right under one of the thrusters. It looks as though the thruster blast blew off the first layer of soil, and right below the surface there is something that is either rock or ice. Wow. Ice. This could be a very huge discovery. What will they say if everything is there for life except for life? Where might life have come from if not spontaneous chemical production followed by evolution?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
It must be lonely up there
Seems things are going pretty well in Iraq. Notice how little is written about that - most of the news is on the second and third pages. As our nation has taken this bold step and stood its ground, as our President has withstood the disrespect and armchair quarterbacks, as our soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors have stood their watches, the mission has progressed and the nation is settling down. Those who criticize and change their minds with the wind must be chagrined at the success. There was no room in their insults for the President to be right. They only want him to be a caricature they can imagine wrong....they are sold by the press.
Who will cheer when the final sweep is made?
The people freed from the despot, another tyranny removed.
And we will persist as the beacon of freedom.
Who will cheer when the final sweep is made?
The people freed from the despot, another tyranny removed.
And we will persist as the beacon of freedom.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Duh
So we did it! On Sunday night our NASA lander made it to the surface of Mars, this time to stand still and analyze soil in a location sure to have actual water present. We have spectacular photos this time, taken from a separate orbiter, of the lander descending to the surface with it's parachute filled. Absolutely fantastic.
One of the science commentators made an interesting remark. He said (paraphrasing) that while the equatorial rovers we've had up there for the last 4 years have found significant evidence of the historic presence of water, even a salty sea, they have found no evidence of life itself...just elements that make life possible. This new polar mission will actually touch Martian water. He explained that if they find what they expect, they will have all of the elements of life present, and that should reveal evidence (like the presence of organic chemicals) of life either existing or having once existed. He said that life isn't unique to our planet (doesn't that make me feel cheap) in that as they understand it, life exists when certain conditions and elements are present. (Of course, that is what we observe on Earth, to date, only on Earth). We have a lander on Mars that, as the explorers postulate, will witness those conditions that, if on Earth, will cause life to exist....
Wow. won't that be something?
The thing that he said next was what is startling and worth our thought. He said, (again, I'm paraphrasing), if we find all of the elements of life present, that life should have/would have evolved in the presence of, and there is no life or never was life, then we must conclude that life is certainly more special than we thought.
Is it sad, or what, that science is at the point that it will be surprised to find out life is special...unique...
What do you think the answer will be?
One of the science commentators made an interesting remark. He said (paraphrasing) that while the equatorial rovers we've had up there for the last 4 years have found significant evidence of the historic presence of water, even a salty sea, they have found no evidence of life itself...just elements that make life possible. This new polar mission will actually touch Martian water. He explained that if they find what they expect, they will have all of the elements of life present, and that should reveal evidence (like the presence of organic chemicals) of life either existing or having once existed. He said that life isn't unique to our planet (doesn't that make me feel cheap) in that as they understand it, life exists when certain conditions and elements are present. (Of course, that is what we observe on Earth, to date, only on Earth). We have a lander on Mars that, as the explorers postulate, will witness those conditions that, if on Earth, will cause life to exist....
Wow. won't that be something?
The thing that he said next was what is startling and worth our thought. He said, (again, I'm paraphrasing), if we find all of the elements of life present, that life should have/would have evolved in the presence of, and there is no life or never was life, then we must conclude that life is certainly more special than we thought.
Is it sad, or what, that science is at the point that it will be surprised to find out life is special...unique...
What do you think the answer will be?
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Where is the hope?
In China and in Myanmar over the last week and a half, 74000 people have died in one storm and one earthquake. Additionally, 18,000 are buried in rubble, and over a million are not accounted for. How sad. How tragic.
One town in China was buried as mountains on either side of the town collapsed on it. Nothing left. Well, no ones knows what is left, it is all now under the mountains. Makes it seem that the things we spend our weekends racing through are small. We can't stop a mountain falling on us...or a wind blowing things down on us.
It does point to that question we might all have, what is our real purpose? Is what we are doing making a real difference?
This has always been the problem...trying to figure out our meaning. In ancient times it was often expressed in choices of gods...
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (from the Book of Joshua)
The ancient prophet Joshua faced the same choice as we do today. I don't like mountains that much. So, as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
One town in China was buried as mountains on either side of the town collapsed on it. Nothing left. Well, no ones knows what is left, it is all now under the mountains. Makes it seem that the things we spend our weekends racing through are small. We can't stop a mountain falling on us...or a wind blowing things down on us.
It does point to that question we might all have, what is our real purpose? Is what we are doing making a real difference?
This has always been the problem...trying to figure out our meaning. In ancient times it was often expressed in choices of gods...
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (from the Book of Joshua)
The ancient prophet Joshua faced the same choice as we do today. I don't like mountains that much. So, as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Nah-nee-Nah-nee-Boo-Boo....
We are "locked" into the "drama" of the Democratic primary campaign. We see the "struggle" and wonder what the outcome will be. The contenders stand, as though in corners of the ring, hands on hips, eyes boring down on each other.... sticking their tongues out at each other.
I follow this "drama" pretty closely, for me, looking for the real passion, the solutions, the excitement of new policy and debates...but...alas...The dialogue is so petty at times it seems it would be more meaningful if they actually did stand there sticking their tongues out at each other.
The good news is this - we will transfer power next January in a civilized and peaceful way. We know the truth that "sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me". We can look today at the junta ruling in the disaster of Myanmar, the violence in Lebanon as the political parties actually do kill each other, the upcoming incompetence-driven famine in North Korea, even the threat of violent rebellion in Chad where there is no forum or even method for political debate and dialogue - no method of peaceful transfer of power. We can see the alternative to the "endless" campaign of 2008.
So, stick out those tongues, wag those fingers. We, the People of the United States of America continue to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Traquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, anad secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity...
I follow this "drama" pretty closely, for me, looking for the real passion, the solutions, the excitement of new policy and debates...but...alas...The dialogue is so petty at times it seems it would be more meaningful if they actually did stand there sticking their tongues out at each other.
The good news is this - we will transfer power next January in a civilized and peaceful way. We know the truth that "sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me". We can look today at the junta ruling in the disaster of Myanmar, the violence in Lebanon as the political parties actually do kill each other, the upcoming incompetence-driven famine in North Korea, even the threat of violent rebellion in Chad where there is no forum or even method for political debate and dialogue - no method of peaceful transfer of power. We can see the alternative to the "endless" campaign of 2008.
So, stick out those tongues, wag those fingers. We, the People of the United States of America continue to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Traquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, anad secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity...
Friday, March 21, 2008
Happy Birthday Kara
This is the first time I've posted the same thing to both blogs. It's because today is a special day that I need to make sure gets noticed.
Today is the 29th birthday of our second daughter. She was our spring baby, and has been that all of her life. She grew up in the pink fluff of a princess, often seen donning a tiara while playing in the sandbox. As though to memorialize the maturity of her "pinkness", she named her first daughter Scarlett, a color that must start out as pink before it deepens with age.
Kara has a smile that shows her gums. She is still a little apprehensive about going to the MacDonald's counter by herself. If any male dares suggest a car repair, she is under the hood in a flash proving there is nothing under there that a girl can't fix. Her baby Scarlett enjoys the best researched diet on the planet, and her husband Nate is the only person that laughs as much and enjoys the same quirky brand of music as much.
Our father God showed Kate and I his love by blessing us with Kara.
See you tonight at the party!
Today is the 29th birthday of our second daughter. She was our spring baby, and has been that all of her life. She grew up in the pink fluff of a princess, often seen donning a tiara while playing in the sandbox. As though to memorialize the maturity of her "pinkness", she named her first daughter Scarlett, a color that must start out as pink before it deepens with age.
Kara has a smile that shows her gums. She is still a little apprehensive about going to the MacDonald's counter by herself. If any male dares suggest a car repair, she is under the hood in a flash proving there is nothing under there that a girl can't fix. Her baby Scarlett enjoys the best researched diet on the planet, and her husband Nate is the only person that laughs as much and enjoys the same quirky brand of music as much.
Our father God showed Kate and I his love by blessing us with Kara.
See you tonight at the party!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Shame on us
It's a bad time for eggs and small chickens. I really don't hear anyone expressing their outrage at the way we exploit these innocent little creatures and their tiny unfertilized precursors. I wonder if there's a Democrat or Republican position on the outrageous practice of parading the little chickens around like they were just meat or something?
Oh.
They are just meat?
Oh.
Never mind.
Oh.
They are just meat?
Oh.
Never mind.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
God doesn't believe in atheists
I listened to an intellectual who identifies himself as an atheist evolutionary biologist. Interesting choice for a scientist’s title, he includes what he chooses not to believe in describing his science, as though he is threatened by the thought that God will not agree with his view of science.
The talk was an arrogant rant by someone who is as much as daring God. He said that in order for an intelligent being to have created the earth, the intelligent being would have to have evolved over along period of time. That’s a good one. I guess it’s too deep for him to understand that God has always been, he can’t grasp that because he is trapped in his evolutionary construct.
I remember a time when I was very young, pondering how you must get bigger and bigger the older you get. At age 5 or so, when I thought this, I saw the world through the eyes of someone who grew constantly. Nobody told me that the rate changed and that at a time you stopped growing. I suppose if I’d been a scientist, I’d have calculated that someone living to 100 years old would have to be something like 10 feet tall.
Much the same, the vehemence evolutionists feel for people who believe in the Bible’s creation story is masked in a superior pseudo intellectual view that assumes that things must be very old because for the things they think happened to happen at the rate they observe - a vast number of years – billions – is required.
They reject the notion that the earth is only thousands versus billions of years old, not because they can prove it, but because if they believed it their theories would be set aside. So, instead, they ridicule those who believe the God who made us, because they believe they are superior to that belief and that they have discovered a truth greater than God.
Whew.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Cutting up
It's getting ready to be mowing season again. The grass is getting a little fuzzy as the more fertile parts of the yard speed things up...thanks to our neighborhood yard fertilizer (a large chocolate lab named "Moose"). There are myriad things hanging around the yard that will soon be mulch...sticks, leaves, maybe a small toy or 2...
I love the smell of mown grass, especially the first one of the season. The grass looks so grateful to be trimmed, and the yard is so much less a wasteland. I love surveying the yard as I go, seeing what has grown over the winter, where the critters have found a home. I hate finding where my son left a tool, that shoe that went missing months ago, or a rock that somehow grew in the middle of the grass.
My mower came back from the shop where it got it's winter service. A branch new oil filter, a brand new set of blades. We are ready. C'mon spring...
I love the smell of mown grass, especially the first one of the season. The grass looks so grateful to be trimmed, and the yard is so much less a wasteland. I love surveying the yard as I go, seeing what has grown over the winter, where the critters have found a home. I hate finding where my son left a tool, that shoe that went missing months ago, or a rock that somehow grew in the middle of the grass.
My mower came back from the shop where it got it's winter service. A branch new oil filter, a brand new set of blades. We are ready. C'mon spring...
Friday, March 14, 2008
The "BEB-IN-ATOR"
This is a great time of year. As spring springs, I love seeing the new life coming out of the old dead, gray stuff of last year. I love the metaphor of God's love, how He made the sweet, tender, green appear out of the old gray of my life.
There is, however, a problem with spring. Right now there are insects who are appearing from their winter languishing to move out another generation, to keep the species going. As they do, especially right now with a dearth of new plant growth to feed on, they are often left to hang out in large numbers waiting for the succulents to appear.
Such is the lowly Box Elder Bug (BEB). They love to feed on the juices of soft white wood roots from trees like hollys, soft maples, and, yes, box elders. They spend their winters as adults hiding out, and on the first hint of warmth from the sun, they appear in the millions on the warm siding of houses or the bark of the trees they love, hoping the juices will start flowing.
Of course,the gentle BEB is harmless. They really don't bite or chew or destroy. They do leave little poop stains on the surfaces, but it washes off. I think the most harm they do is appear in large wriggling masses on your house, their little almond shaped red-and-brown bodies writhing about as if in some kind of bud orgy, making you explain to all visitors that the mass of bugs that is making them want to puke is harmless....
Eeww.
Being a beekeeper, I am sensitive to using any kind of persistent insecticide. Additionally, we have a daughter who is a cancer survivor, so deadly chemicals are not a big favorite. Hence, the problems...how do we eliminate the BEBs?
I figured it out today. In my garage I have a manly-garage vacuum on the wall. It boasts a 30 foot hose and enough sucking power that you have to make sure there are no small children in the area when you crank that baby up. Once I sucked the paint right off a fender. Not really.
Anyway, I had a flash of brilliance today. I fired up the garage vac - took the hose outside where the BEBs were basking and wwwhhhheeeeaaawwwhh (that's a loud sucking sound) - down the hose they went - by the millions. You could hear them crashing into the hose wall. If you listened carfeully, I'm sure you could hear their surprised little shrieks. (not really)
You need to understand - they were crawling all over the front side of our 2 car garage. Now they are enjoying whatever the BEBs enjoy in the cozy quarters of our garage vac steel tank.
And for good measure I sprayed in some bug spray to make their rest final.
So now, we wait. Will they find their way out? (that would be bad). Will I forget to empty the container after they die and their bio-mass creates a massive stink? Or, have I discovered an earth friendly way to finally rid the house of this awful scourge?
Stay tuned for the next episode of "The BEB-In-ATOR"
Later.
There is, however, a problem with spring. Right now there are insects who are appearing from their winter languishing to move out another generation, to keep the species going. As they do, especially right now with a dearth of new plant growth to feed on, they are often left to hang out in large numbers waiting for the succulents to appear.
Such is the lowly Box Elder Bug (BEB). They love to feed on the juices of soft white wood roots from trees like hollys, soft maples, and, yes, box elders. They spend their winters as adults hiding out, and on the first hint of warmth from the sun, they appear in the millions on the warm siding of houses or the bark of the trees they love, hoping the juices will start flowing.
Of course,the gentle BEB is harmless. They really don't bite or chew or destroy. They do leave little poop stains on the surfaces, but it washes off. I think the most harm they do is appear in large wriggling masses on your house, their little almond shaped red-and-brown bodies writhing about as if in some kind of bud orgy, making you explain to all visitors that the mass of bugs that is making them want to puke is harmless....
Eeww.
Being a beekeeper, I am sensitive to using any kind of persistent insecticide. Additionally, we have a daughter who is a cancer survivor, so deadly chemicals are not a big favorite. Hence, the problems...how do we eliminate the BEBs?
I figured it out today. In my garage I have a manly-garage vacuum on the wall. It boasts a 30 foot hose and enough sucking power that you have to make sure there are no small children in the area when you crank that baby up. Once I sucked the paint right off a fender. Not really.
Anyway, I had a flash of brilliance today. I fired up the garage vac - took the hose outside where the BEBs were basking and wwwhhhheeeeaaawwwhh (that's a loud sucking sound) - down the hose they went - by the millions. You could hear them crashing into the hose wall. If you listened carfeully, I'm sure you could hear their surprised little shrieks. (not really)
You need to understand - they were crawling all over the front side of our 2 car garage. Now they are enjoying whatever the BEBs enjoy in the cozy quarters of our garage vac steel tank.
And for good measure I sprayed in some bug spray to make their rest final.
So now, we wait. Will they find their way out? (that would be bad). Will I forget to empty the container after they die and their bio-mass creates a massive stink? Or, have I discovered an earth friendly way to finally rid the house of this awful scourge?
Stay tuned for the next episode of "The BEB-In-ATOR"
Later.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
What's a father (smart alek) to say?
So my wife tells me that one of the unnamed teenage daughters was using the wrong cleaning product on a wood table, causing the finish to dull. She explained that the product choice is important to maintain the finish.
"Well, then, what do I do, it it hard to get the 'glunk' off the table sometimes".
"Sometimes you just have to use elbow grease".
Puzzled look. Rifle through the cabinet. More puzzled look.
"Where is the elbow grease?"
Priceless.
"Well, then, what do I do, it it hard to get the 'glunk' off the table sometimes".
"Sometimes you just have to use elbow grease".
Puzzled look. Rifle through the cabinet. More puzzled look.
"Where is the elbow grease?"
Priceless.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
What are we doing?
Last night's bee class revealed yet another factoid of interest - one cell of honey is the life's work of 60 bees.
One cell of honey takes up a little more space than a brand new eraser on a wooden pencil.
Whew.
As those 60 bees fly for about 6 weeks making that happen, I'll bet it would seem to them something very important is happening.
As I got my mower back from the shop today from it's winter maintenance I imagined how important the work I will do this summer grooming my lawn will bee...
One cell of honey takes up a little more space than a brand new eraser on a wooden pencil.
Whew.
As those 60 bees fly for about 6 weeks making that happen, I'll bet it would seem to them something very important is happening.
As I got my mower back from the shop today from it's winter maintenance I imagined how important the work I will do this summer grooming my lawn will bee...
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Say What?
My 3 year old is pretty handicapped with autism and some other problems. He came to us as a foster child and has progressed to have some communication from his previous position of no communication. That's the good news.
The bad news is that what a 3 year old has to say isn't usually something you want to hear. Now that he has learned he can have some control over his environment, especially over those big people who order him around, he has been working us over like a normal, healthy 3 year old. He continually reminds us that the "terrible 2's" are actually a prelude to 3. (Which hibernates and reemerges as 14).
He knows he isn't allowed to throw toys. So, he does, and he gives a defiant look that says "whatareyougoingtodoabotuthat?" He goes to the time-out, where he very clearly signs "all done" and "I want to get down".
I guess we can be thankful. And watchful....
The bad news is that what a 3 year old has to say isn't usually something you want to hear. Now that he has learned he can have some control over his environment, especially over those big people who order him around, he has been working us over like a normal, healthy 3 year old. He continually reminds us that the "terrible 2's" are actually a prelude to 3. (Which hibernates and reemerges as 14).
He knows he isn't allowed to throw toys. So, he does, and he gives a defiant look that says "whatareyougoingtodoabotuthat?" He goes to the time-out, where he very clearly signs "all done" and "I want to get down".
I guess we can be thankful. And watchful....
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Was that camelot?
My Dad and I were talking recently about the direction of our country. It does, in fact, seem a shame that our public is more interested in what they can get for themselves rather than what they can do for the country.
Sound familiar? Those of us who were around in the sixties remember it.
We have a republic whose cry in history is "of the people, by the people and for the people". It is a noble thing to say, and it seems a shame we don't say it more today.
As we approach this election season our focus might better be the "of the people and by the people" part. This government is that, in fact. Each of us must look at the part we are playing, and the result will be a better "for the people". We, the people, are the governing, not the governed. It is a unique place to be, a rich thought for us to live under.
Look around. Are there any weak, any poor, and sick? Are there any who you can defend? Are there any you can feed? Is there someone who needs to be led? Or served? That indeed is government of the people and by the people. We don't really need to be reminded about the "for the people" part. We have that one down pretty well.
A good time to review and debate, but also a good time to reset. Thanks for the reminder Dad.
Sound familiar? Those of us who were around in the sixties remember it.
We have a republic whose cry in history is "of the people, by the people and for the people". It is a noble thing to say, and it seems a shame we don't say it more today.
As we approach this election season our focus might better be the "of the people and by the people" part. This government is that, in fact. Each of us must look at the part we are playing, and the result will be a better "for the people". We, the people, are the governing, not the governed. It is a unique place to be, a rich thought for us to live under.
Look around. Are there any weak, any poor, and sick? Are there any who you can defend? Are there any you can feed? Is there someone who needs to be led? Or served? That indeed is government of the people and by the people. We don't really need to be reminded about the "for the people" part. We have that one down pretty well.
A good time to review and debate, but also a good time to reset. Thanks for the reminder Dad.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Are we there yet?
Funny that the candidates are so quiet on the war issue.
Lauding a winning strategy isn't in the conversation of either the candidates or the press. Yet, there are devoted service men and women who wake up in the morning away from their loved ones, who live a deprived life fraught with danger, and who follow orders because they are sworn to. The cumulative impact of each of their obeyed orders is a world different that it was on Sept 10, 2001, different for us and different for the bad guys. The story is leaking out despite the failure of those who control the information.
We can go to sleep tonight grateful for all of them, from the Privates to the Generals, and the voluntary sacrifice they make.
And, despite the politics of any of it, we can thank a leader with the heart for standing by his convictions despite the opposition, who stands by a principle tall and straight, and has not only not failed us, he is leading us to (dare we say) winning.
Which candidate is strong enough to do the same, to say the same? Let's look and vote for that person.
Lauding a winning strategy isn't in the conversation of either the candidates or the press. Yet, there are devoted service men and women who wake up in the morning away from their loved ones, who live a deprived life fraught with danger, and who follow orders because they are sworn to. The cumulative impact of each of their obeyed orders is a world different that it was on Sept 10, 2001, different for us and different for the bad guys. The story is leaking out despite the failure of those who control the information.
We can go to sleep tonight grateful for all of them, from the Privates to the Generals, and the voluntary sacrifice they make.
And, despite the politics of any of it, we can thank a leader with the heart for standing by his convictions despite the opposition, who stands by a principle tall and straight, and has not only not failed us, he is leading us to (dare we say) winning.
Which candidate is strong enough to do the same, to say the same? Let's look and vote for that person.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Life reduced to the basics
About a year ago a student of mine (I was a high school teacher then...I since have quit) suffered a brain injury in an auto accident that essentially left him with no apparent awareness of the world around him. For quite some time he appeared unconscious and immobile, and it was hard to think that he'd ever come out of it. It was very sad to see this young man in his senior year cut down and trapped in a body that doesn't work anymore.
I visit him once a week to read to him. The theory is that if he has some continuity in his life he might maintain (or redevelop) some connectivity and awareness. He hears my voice. I tell him each time I visit it is me, and what I am going to read. He has recently begun some responses. He can squeeze your hand if you ask a question and indicate the response a squeeze is (like squeeze if you want me to continue to read). He does a "thumbs up". His eyes do some weird things, 2 different size pupils and some twitching and scanning...but if he shuts his eyes while I'm reading I remind him that I'm his teacher and he's not allowed to sleep while I'm reading, booiinng! His eyes pop open just like they did when I had him in class!
It is truly a miracle to watch this slow progress...slow but definite. It is also a miracle that we pray together, that I can talk to him about the Lord. This student who was "into" so much before can't be into much now. The irony is that before I had to be careful that I didn't allow "religion" to be a subject of my teaching in public school, but now his mother yearns for someone to come to pray with her son.
One day he might get on his feet, one day he might be able to talk, or sit up, or swallow on his own. His wants are reduced pretty low now, but, the fact is, the miracles in his life now are very clear, very easy to see.
I visit him once a week to read to him. The theory is that if he has some continuity in his life he might maintain (or redevelop) some connectivity and awareness. He hears my voice. I tell him each time I visit it is me, and what I am going to read. He has recently begun some responses. He can squeeze your hand if you ask a question and indicate the response a squeeze is (like squeeze if you want me to continue to read). He does a "thumbs up". His eyes do some weird things, 2 different size pupils and some twitching and scanning...but if he shuts his eyes while I'm reading I remind him that I'm his teacher and he's not allowed to sleep while I'm reading, booiinng! His eyes pop open just like they did when I had him in class!
It is truly a miracle to watch this slow progress...slow but definite. It is also a miracle that we pray together, that I can talk to him about the Lord. This student who was "into" so much before can't be into much now. The irony is that before I had to be careful that I didn't allow "religion" to be a subject of my teaching in public school, but now his mother yearns for someone to come to pray with her son.
One day he might get on his feet, one day he might be able to talk, or sit up, or swallow on his own. His wants are reduced pretty low now, but, the fact is, the miracles in his life now are very clear, very easy to see.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Would all of the percentages please stand up!?
| Republican Candidate | Vote | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Huckabee | 40,841 | 34.4% |
| Mitt Romney | 29,949 | 25.2% |
| Fred D. Thompson | 15,904 | 13.4% |
| John McCain | 15,559 | 13.1% |
| Ron Paul | 11,817 | 10.0% |
| Rudolph W. Giuliani | 4,097 | 3.5% |
| Duncan Hunter | 524 | 0.4% |
| Tom Tancredo | 5 | 0.0% |
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Don't try to paper over the crime...
One of the very complex parts of our very complex household is the toilet paper. We have 6 bathrooms, some used more than others. One of the most aggravating things I can imagine is sitting down for the obvious purposes, getting comfortable and awaiting the impending relief when - voila! - there is no paper on the roll. ERRRRGGHH!
Like so much in our household, the act of taking the last square without replacing the roll is a crime never admitted - usually committed by our most frequent actor; a child named "Not Me".
Recently, there has been a small amount of progress. I noticed a clandestine effort to make sure they NEVER take the LAST square. You know the trick don't you? They leave the last bit of paper that goes around the cardboard - so little you can actually see the color of the cardboard under the paper; and, of course, you cannot use that amount to wipe more than a drop of water. With that little trick they can legitimately claim "I didn't take the last paper!" There, they got me. ERRRRGGHH!
My dad always knew the value of toilet paper - what brand was on sale and how much the cost-per-sheet was to determine the best buy. I haven't had that luxury - the value I preach is more fundamental - make sure there is SOME on the roll!
If we ever get this down maybe we can move to the next level of toilet paper sophistication - putting the roll on so the end comes over the top versus hanging from the bottom. That's one of my wife's issues. Wonder if I'll ever get there!?!?
How in the world did my dad ever get all the way to determiing the best buy...?
Like so much in our household, the act of taking the last square without replacing the roll is a crime never admitted - usually committed by our most frequent actor; a child named "Not Me".
Recently, there has been a small amount of progress. I noticed a clandestine effort to make sure they NEVER take the LAST square. You know the trick don't you? They leave the last bit of paper that goes around the cardboard - so little you can actually see the color of the cardboard under the paper; and, of course, you cannot use that amount to wipe more than a drop of water. With that little trick they can legitimately claim "I didn't take the last paper!" There, they got me. ERRRRGGHH!
My dad always knew the value of toilet paper - what brand was on sale and how much the cost-per-sheet was to determine the best buy. I haven't had that luxury - the value I preach is more fundamental - make sure there is SOME on the roll!
If we ever get this down maybe we can move to the next level of toilet paper sophistication - putting the roll on so the end comes over the top versus hanging from the bottom. That's one of my wife's issues. Wonder if I'll ever get there!?!?
How in the world did my dad ever get all the way to determiing the best buy...?
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
So, what's new?
So with all of the hoopla and the new year and all, what will really be new at all? The election? The candidates? Policy?
Reality?
What will history say?
Reality?
What will history say?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
