pro mea parte

Fall!

2009-10-12T11:29:00.001-05:00

It seems to be impossible to turn around without running into someone expressing their glee that autumn has arrived. Tweets, Facebook statuses, hay bales displaying pumpkins on porches, and to top it off just about every greeting starts off with "don't you just love this cooler weather?"*

Well, guess what? Not everyone is enamored with fall. Some people don't like being cold and aren't particularly fond of pumpkins (in the yard or in the pie). Others end up with severe headaches from all of the pumpkin spice candles that are burning everywhere. Cold weather brings on static electricity in hair and shocks when touching the shelves at the grocery store. Zillions of layers of clothes add to the laundry that must be done and feet as well as noses are going to be cold for the duration of the chilly weather. It even brings out the grumpy in die hard summerites. (Can you tell?)

Since politeness seems to dictate that a "Ugh, no! I hate cooler weather" is not an appropriate response to the greeting mentioned earlier, I'm shouting it to the blogosphere:

I don't like fall!

*[Incidentally. I really don't mind that some people like this time of year. I just don't like them assuming that I do, too. I'm thinking of responding to "Don't you love this cooler weather?" with "Well, it's not really my favorite but I'm glad you're enjoying it." Do you think that fits within the parameters of polite? Or should I just keep it to myself?]

Social Networking

2009-09-28T22:42:00.000-05:00

Facebook and Twitter are my two main social networking addictions. All around the interwebs this is being heralded by many as the beginning of the end of my social interaction skills. Sadly, it seems to be very popular right now to decry the use of the internet to keep up with each other. Not many people are willing to admit that there are some benefits to social networking. Or if they do, it's a one line sentence in a diatribe against the whole idea.

My voice wants to join the few that find benefit in online interaction. As with anything, too much can be detrimental, however, it seems to me that the "you'll never catch me on Facebook or Twitter" crowd are missing out on a great opportunity.

I love that I can keep up with family and friends that live far away. We've moved a lot and FB has been a fantastic way to stay in touch with and even in most cases learn things I didn't know about my acquaintances. It has also helped me to interact better with the younger generation, as well as with people I don't know very well. (I'm not great at starting up conversations with people I don't know, and having seen some interesting tidbit about them on FB or their Twitter feed gives me something to break the ice with.) It's fantastic to see pictures that people are posting while they're on holiday or just of their daily life. I also think it makes me a bit more relevant to the young people I know. They see me as being interested in them (which I am). They also get to see that I am just a regular person -- not some old lady that condemns the way they communicate but rather meets them where they are. And, it's fun. :-)

Cash for Clunkers

2009-09-25T16:34:00.001-05:00

In hindsight, perhaps the Cash for Clunkers program wasn't such a good thing for our government to undertake. I'm not sure. Like most things, it's most likely that it had some good results and some not so good. That said:

We traded in our old 1993 VW Eurovan with the program. Our rapidly emptying nest did not need two vans. And though it still ran, it needed a lot of work. "Kronk" (thus named by the kids many years ago) had been parked in the garage for months, slowly filling up with storage items that wouldn't fit elsewhere. So, after much agonizing, we decided to let it go.

Kronk had been a part of our family identity for many years. We drove that thing to 47 of the 50 states as well as into Canada. Over 190,000 miles in sixteen years. Bumper stickers from our many stops adorned the rear windows. If you know us, chances are that we parked Kronk in your driveway at one time or another. Or you sat in the back wondering why you thought you wanted to ride backwards. Over the years all that traveling bestowed upon our family lots of wonderful memories, but took it's toll on the car. The wear and tear was pretty obvious. A trip to Florida gave us memories of camping on the beach in Pensacola, and a fantastic used book store in Jacksonville, but had it sporting a dent in the back and reconstructed fiberglass bumper. Time in Michigan endowed us with a taste of living up north but blessed Kronk with rust spots along the side that were sanded down and covered with whatever paint semi-matched. The Texas heat melted the grease right out of the door hinges as we were driving to visit friends and family. Years of sandwich crumbs and spilled drinks contributed to the gook in the cracks and crevices while we saved money on eating out. Time went by and as we drove around enjoying visits, monuments and national parks, some foam part inside the a/c vents disintegrated and would blow bits out all over whoever was sitting up front. The interior molded parts began to break down and became sticky to the touch. It was time to retire.

It's interesting though, how difficult it can be at times to get rid of things that are falling apart. While looking at news stories about the Cash for Clunkers program, the proliferation of submissions to the "tell us about your clunker" articles made it obvious to me that many others were having the same struggle. So, this is my clunker story, and an admission that though I am the de-cluttering type, letting go of this vehicle was not the easiest thing for me either. As a result, we all spent a happy time remembering our trips as we cleared the van out, then completed our farewell to Kronk with one last picture of all of us. Goodbye to a most excellent van that journeyed far and wide over the years with us.

Epic Fail

2009-09-24T11:13:00.004-05:00

Do you have any teenagers or early twenty year olds in your family? Do you interact with young adults in this age range? If you do, chances are pretty good that you've heard the phrase "epic fail". In my youth the phrase of choice would have been something along the lines of "I blew it!" and earlier generations all certainly had their way of saying the same thing. There is no doubt in my mind that some way of expressing this sentiment has evolved over the years from whatever it was Adam and Eve uttered to themselves when they thought back on that fateful day in the garden of Eden.

So, considering that it has been two and a half years since I posted here, you may pick your exclamation of choice and apply it to me here today. I choose "epic fail". It seems to fit the best.

I'll be in the loo!

2007-03-21T12:59:00.000-05:00

The other day I was hanging out with some friends, and one happened to comment on how she always tells her husband when she goes to the bathroom. We all laughed, especially when she described how he always looks at her like she's nuts for telling him. Later on, it occurred to me that I do the same thing, with both my husband and kids. I've figured out though that it's actually more of a defense mechanism than a desire to keep my family updated on my waste elimination processes.

When my kids were little, they always used to want me for something every time I went into the bathroom. Over time I've taught them to leave me alone when I'm in there unless it is an emergency. The thing is though, if you don't tell them where you're going, they'll be running around the house yelling for you the minute you pull out your reading material.

So, Sandy, we may have laughed when you admitted to this habit, but truth is, I do it too, and it's a good self-preservation practice. Anyone else out there with the same habit?

On the Internet: Insights from C. S. Lewis' Life

2007-03-14T22:18:00.000-05:00

What we see in Lewis
is the steady place of his parish church;
the quiet regularity of his Bible-reading and prayers;
the natural large place for his main work of study and writing;
the large blocks of time for leisurely conversations with special friends;
and the importance of letter writing,
especially with those who sought his help
in the matter of Christian pilgrimage

For all of his immense output of literary work,
his life is marked by a spacious,
un-frantic rhythm
of
worship,
work,
conversation,
availability,
and intimacy.

Read the rest of the article:
Dick Staub: Staublog - CS Lewis: On the unfrantic life

Peter's Tree

2007-03-09T10:53:00.000-06:00

My Dad sent me a picture of our son Peter's tree today. It's planted on the grounds of the Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin, TX, put there by our friends and the kids bible class. It's been there since 1993, planted during the year after his death. As far as we know this is only the second time in all those years that it has bloomed.

I'm too practical to think that there is anything miraculous about the tree not blooming. It's probably the soil or something. But, still.

Comparing weather

2007-03-07T09:54:00.000-06:00

So, here's the weather in Texas and Michigan today. The screen shot was taken originally because the snow from the MI weather widget was covering part of the TX widget, and I thought it looked neat. Then I thought I'd add it here. I'm pleased to be out of the snow, though I do miss it a bit. Come August I'll post another comparison and then undoubtedly be wishing for the cooler climate of Michigan.

Movie: Wild Hogs

2007-03-03T21:00:00.000-06:00

We saw the preview for this movie when we went to see Music & Lyrics, and my son decided it was a movie he wanted to see. The rest of us were not unwilling, either.

It was certainly funny. Side-splitting funny. Along with that there was some beautiful scenery, and even a few truths to ponder on. I liked how the four men were friends and stuck with each other, despite being very different people. And, the old biker dude had some good words of wisdom for the young ones who had gotten off track. Be sure to stay for the credits. You'll walk out laughing. And seriously contemplating getting that motorcycle out of the garage.

Just out of curiosity...

2007-03-01T08:02:00.000-06:00

I stumbled across a web site called Great FireWall of China that will tell you if a site is blocked in China. So, I plugged in my two blogs to see if they were blocked or not. My reading list, bibliophilist is blocked, and this one is not.

Reusable Grocery Bags

2007-02-28T12:25:00.000-06:00

I recently saw a gal with a t-shirt on that said, using a very cute play on words, Plastic Bags Blow. As well as giving me a good laugh, it gave me a topic for a blog post.

As I've mentioned before, I enjoy collecting bags. Using them to carry my grocery shopping home is one of the main uses they get. They are kept in the van, ready to go in whenever I go shopping. The baggers are always willing to load the groceries into my bags (even though I'm sure it's not quite as easy as using the plastic ones). Then my groceries are packed in bags that will not tear and I do not end up with piles of plastic bags that I can not use.

If you think you might like to try using your own reusable bags, let me encourage you to do so. It's a small thing to do that can help cut down on the trash in landfills or blowing around on the side of the road. Many grocery stores offer cloth bags for sale, especially health food stores. If you can't find them locally, you can purchase them online from reusablebags.com.

Music and Lyrics

2007-02-19T09:53:00.000-06:00

Last night we went to see Music and Lyrics that stars Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. I was not in the mood for any gunfights or chase scenes, and this movie fit the ticket. My main objection to the film is the "diva" who was unfortunately portrayed as acting just like young divas do these days. Yuck. (Not too many clothes and very suggestive dancing.) Other than that (and the obligatory sex scene which wasn't graphic at all) it was a cute romantic comedy. Even my teens did a lot of laughing and they were very captivated by the 80's music. We all enjoyed it.

The romantic comedy Music & Lyrics By follows Alex Fletcher (HUGH GRANT), a washed-up 80s pop star whos been reduced to working the nostalgia circuit at county fairs and amusement parks. The charismatic and talented musician gets a chance at a comeback when reigning diva Cora Corman invites him to write and record a duet with her.

Watch the Preview

2007-02-14T09:25:00.000-06:00

Well, if I wait one more day it can be a month since I posted anything here. I know most bloggers out there will understand that sometimes it just isn't the right time to be blogging. It just hasn't been, and probably still isn't.

Really I just wanted to say something to anyone who might be finding Valentine's Day difficult. As I've mentioned before, we don't do "Hallmark Holidays" around here, but reading all the posts about love today got me to thinking about those who might be feeling depressed by Valentine's Day. I haven't got anything profound to say, I just felt like to acknowledging that holidays like today are not always easy for everyone.

God bless your day today, whether you've got a Valentine or not.

2007-01-15T11:29:00.000-06:00

I don't understand why people who come into your home to repair or install can not clean up after themselves. How difficult is it to pick up the wire clippings or sweep up the wall bits? I will admit that there have been one or two who have cleaned up their mess, but the number who do not far outweigh the ones that do. It's a mystery to me.

Movie:Scoop

2006-12-29T18:59:00.000-06:00

We watched Scoop this week. I was not sure I would like it. I'm not sure I've ever enjoyed a Woody Allen movie before. I definitely enjoyed this one, though. Maybe my sense of humor has changed or perhaps this is not a typical Woody Allen film. Either way, we all laughed out loud and thought this was certainly an enjoyable way to spend the evening. (Those of us watching ranged from teenagers to grandparents.)

Linkage: rexeffect on Jesus and Walmart

2006-11-17T08:45:00.000-06:00

rexeffect: Jesus Is Good for Business

Computers: Me Quiz

2006-11-13T12:32:00.000-06:00

If you're bored, you can give this a try:

Create your own friendquiz here

Computers: Facebook

2006-11-08T12:38:00.000-06:00

I've been playing with Facebook. I know I'm a little late coming to the party, but I'm here now and am having fun. I'm pretty low in the friends department, so if you'd like to be my Facebook friend, here is where to find me:

Linkage: Top Halloween Costumes

2006-11-01T15:17:00.000-06:00

I saw something recently that said that Halloween should be called "Slut-o-ween" based on the way many women costume themselves for this holiday. If the young women I saw yesterday were any indication of a trend, then I would have to say that I agree. I haven't seen that many short skirts and fishnet stockings in a long time.

Here's a survey done by the National Retail Foundation of the costumes people intended to wear this year:

Top Children's Costumes 2006

1. Princess (generic) 11.5%
2. Pirate 5.0%
3. Witch 4.8%
4. Spider-Man 4.4%
5. Superman 3.7%
6. Princess (Disney) 3.1%
7. Power Ranger 2.9%
8. Pumpkin/Jack o'Lantern 2.2%
9. Cat 2.0%
10. Vampire (generic) 1.5%
11. Angel 1.4%
12. Fairy 1.4%
13. Ninja 1.4%
14. SpongeBob SquarePants 1.4%
15. Batman 1.3%
16. Cheerleader 1.3%
17. Football Player 1.3%
18. Tinker Bell 1.3%
19. Monster (generic) 1.2%
20. Star Wars character 1.2%

Top Adults' Costumes 2006

1. Witch 17.5%
2. Pirate 3.7%
3. Vampire (generic) 3.7%
4. Cat 2.6%
5. Clown 1.8%
6. Fairy 1.6%
7. Gypsy 1.6%
8. Superhero 1.6%
9. Ghost 1.4%
10. Dracula 1.3%
11. Devil 1.2%
12. Hooker 1.1%
13. Nurse 1.1%
14. Pumpkin/Jack o'Lantern 1.1%
15. Athlete 1.0%
16. Princess 1.0%
17. Zombie 1.0%
18. Angel 0.8%
19. French Maid 0.8%
20. Cowboy/Cowgirl 0.7%

From: Urban Legends Reference Pages: Top Halloween Costumes 2006

See also:
Katie Couric speaks her mind on modesty

Linkage: New Moleskine

2006-10-26T14:49:00.000-05:00

Okay. The traveller in me thinks these are just cool! Click on the graphic to get a complete description.

Linkage: Dove Commercial

2006-10-24T20:08:00.000-05:00

Here is a commercial for Dove. Don't watch it for the commercial bit though, watch it to see the progression this model makes from walking in to the photo shoot to being enhanced via the computer. Very interesting.

(Oh, in theory I should have been able to upload the video directly to blogger, but I tried several times and it kept not connecting. So, you've got to follow the link to see it. Sorry.)

Travel with Me: Peru

2006-10-23T17:20:00.000-05:00

Well, darn. I can't remember where this is (other than it is in Peru). I remember there is a story about my husband Steve and his brother hiking around this peninsula, but for the life of me I don't recall the name. Perhaps he'll have mercy on me when he sees this post and remind me where this is. Until then, this is one of my favorite shots from my first visit to Peru last November.

Health: Skin Cancer

2006-10-18T12:52:00.000-05:00

This morning found me sitting once again in my doctors office having a lesion removed. If the lab comes back and says "yes" on the skin cancer, this will be the third one I've had to be rid of in about eight years.

When I was a child my mom was very diligent in applying sunscreen to my fair, freckle-dy skin. A move to Texas during my teen years increased my sun exposure while I in my teenaged wisdom decided to decrease my sunscreen use. So, now I pay the price.

Are you familiar with the signs of skin cancer? The Skin Care Foundation has a nice web site with a lot of information on recognizing and preventing skin cancers. Check it out, especially if you are a fair skinned Irish lass such as myself (or lad).

UPDATE 24 OCT 06:

The biopsy came back normal, which really surprises me. (You can pray for me any time you want, Scott!)

Travel with Me: Lyme Park

2006-10-14T18:25:00.000-05:00

This is Lyme Park in England. One of many, many houses available to tour thanks to The National Trust. During our time in the UK we went through lots and lots of wonderful old houses. This one gets the honor of being pictured here thanks to Jane Austen and A & E. This is the house that was used as the exterior of Pemberly in the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.

Need I say more?

Linkage: Texas No. 1 in Sales

2006-10-13T13:36:00.000-05:00

When we first moved to Michigan seven years ago, if I saw someone with a Longhorn t-shirt on, I could flash the "Hook 'em Horns" and get one in response. Lately however, I've noticed a huge rise in the number of Texas logo-ed garments wandering around West Michigan. I've quit trying to acknowledge them in any way though, because many of the people wearing the logo seem to have no idea what a Hook 'em Horns hand signal means and if asked have often never even been to Texas. I mentioned this to my folks when they were visiting, and my dad sent along this link:

Texas No. 1 in Sales

That at the least explains that. I was worried for a while that Texas folk had forgotten how to be proper UT fans!

Michigan in the Fall

2006-10-12T07:21:00.000-05:00

Here's the view out our back windows this morning:

Now where did I put those snow boots?

Groan: Christmas Already?

2006-10-11T20:59:00.000-05:00

It's barely October, yet there are several aisles full of Christmas stuff at almost every store I go into these days. I know I should be used to it by now, but it still appalls me and frankly, I just don't understand it. Do people really buy Christmas stuff in October? What on earth is compelling these stores to put out things for sale for a holiday that is more than two months away? It's got to be that people are buying it - why else would they take up good space on the showroom floor?

So, I think I'd like to organize a boycott of Christmas stuff. Let's all agree to not buy Christmas decor until at least a month in advance of Christmas and if anyone is interested in possibly picketing a few stores, let me know. And, while we are at it, perhaps we can get them to start carrying summer clothes in the summer and winter clothes in the winter.

Okay. I know. But a girl can dream, right?

Michigan in the Fall

2006-10-10T14:19:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to get out with my camera and get some photos of the leaves as they change this year. I spent a few minutes today in my neighborhood hoping to catch some of the vibrant colors before they all fall to the ground. Turned out that the best photo I got was of some leaves that had already fallen. Guess I could have waited!

One thing that has surprised me is that leaf watchers can get information about where to find the best displays of changing leaves online. They've got maps of driving routes for viewing the changing leaves. There is even a phone number to call for a recording of Michigan's current color conditions (1-800-MI-4-FALL). We've always just enjoyed the leaves as we encountered them, yet I can see why someone might want to make a concerted effort to find them.

Years ago when we were living in Connecticut, one October day I flew through Detroit on my way to California. I remember looking out the window as we descended into Detroit and being amazed at how gorgeous the trees were from the air. Looking at the changing leaves makes me feel thankful. I just need to remember to hold on to that thankfulness when it comes time to rake them all up!

Linkage: Brave heroes hounded out

2006-10-07T10:02:00.000-05:00

The Sun Online - News: Brave heroes hounded out

This just took place in the village we lived in during our stay in the UK. I'm not 100% sure, but it looks like a house just a few home down from where we lived. Mercy.

Oh, and for your vocabulary building for today:

yob – n. British Slang.
a teenage lout or hooligan.
[Origin: 1855–60; a consciously reversed form of boy]

Food: Panera Bread

2006-10-05T08:51:00.000-05:00

I just watched a man hand his cell phone to a cashier so the person on the other end of the line could place an order. Strange.

I'm at Panera Bread, having a little breakfast and waiting for new tires to be put on at a shop across the street. I knew Panera had a bakery, but had no idea the amount of business they do in the mornings. They've got six people working behind the counter and the queue has wavered back and forth from 15 people deep to four at the moment. I don't think the counter staff has had a break since before I arrived. I suppose some of the custom is just because Panera is trendy, but I can see why someone interested in a coffee and some fresh baked treat would come in here. The bakery selection beats Starbucks by a mile. I think I'd give Starbucks the prize for hot drink selection, though. So, I suppose it depends on what you are interested in. This morning I'm hanging out with the bakery crowd!

Computers: Overflowing Mailbox

2006-10-03T23:14:00.000-05:00

I was just checking my e-mail and noticed I've to 1390 messages stored there. And that does not include the ones that are automatically sorted into different folders. Most things I can keep in fairly decent order, but I have an awful time remembering to sort and delete e-mails after I'm done with them.

How many messages are stored on your mail program?

Movie: Little Miss Sunshine

2006-10-02T16:55:00.000-05:00

Saturday I went on a bus trip with some ladies from church. We went to Canton, MI to the new IKEA store there. After several hours there, we went to a mall for more shopping. Well, IKEA I can do for hours, but not the mall. So, since I was feeling under the weather and was exhausted from four hours at IKEA, I opted to go to a movie rather than shop more. This is, I know, a somewhat circuitous route to the title of this post, but explains a bit why I went to see a movie that I knew basically nothing about.

I'll start by saying the movie certainly deserves it's R rating. Then I'll move right into how much I enjoyed it. (No comments please about what this may or may not say about me.) It was laugh out loud funny (especially to someone who has previously owned a VW Bus). Watching the characters work through things, yelling and fussing, then ultimately keep going for Olive's sake was heart-warming. I thought Olive's dance routine at the Little Miss Sunshine pageant was an excellent commentary on the whole beauty pageant scene. I'd certainly recommend this movie if you aren't squeamish about the R rating (for a description go to: Kids-In-Mind).

Computers: Explorer

2006-09-25T08:21:00.000-05:00

What is it with Internet Explorer anyway? I like to occasionally look at my blog in other browsers to see how it looks. Internet Explorer consistently renders it differently that the other browsers I use (Firefox and Safari).

It seems to be taking the navigation bar and centering it in an attempt to avoid the "Make Poverty History" banner that I have in the upper right corner. In doing so it comes down into the title section of the blog.

I quit using Explorer a while back, so I hope most of you who might stop by here are not using it, either. If so, I apologize for the poorly rendered page. I don't know what to do about it, though, because I do not want to get rid of either the Make Poverty History banner, or the navigation bar.

Movie: Cinderella Man

2006-09-23T10:35:00.000-05:00

We watched Cinderella Man for the first time last night (at bit behind the rest of the world, I know).

To start, I'll have to admit that I just do not understand boxing, or why anyone would want to box. It amounts to senseless violence in my mind. So, obviously, I spent a good part of this movie with my eyes covered. It is a good story though, and I appreciated the integrity with which James Braddock conducted his life outside of the ring.

Food: Make mine a pint of lager shandy

2006-09-22T10:36:00.000-05:00

While living in the UK, I was delighted to discover the lager shandy. This is a combination of lemonade (British lemonade is like sprite only not as sweet) and lager (beer). I've always liked beer well enough, but really enjoy a shandy more. Recently I discovered Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat lager. It makes a very nice shandy. If you'd like to try it for yourself, you can ask a bartender to make you one, though they almost always make a face. To try it at home, combine a 8 ounce can of Sprite with a 12 ounce bottle of beer. (Besides the Cherry Wheat, Harp, made by Guiness works nicely, too.) Sprite first, then the beer. It will be a little bit sweeter than a British shandy, but very nice. Enjoy!

Quote: Religious Discomfort

2006-09-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

One popular definition of religion has been as an opiate, that its purpose was to make people comfortable in the world ... but any of the major religions, seriously understood, clearly makes you uncomfortable in the world.

-- Marilynne Robinson, author of Gilead, in Sojourners, June 2006

Groan: Sappy Poems

2006-09-18T08:51:00.000-05:00

The kids and I are going to be volunteering again this year with a local kindergarten class. The start up meeting was last week, after which we were given a copy of this poem:

Being a Vounteer
It's not for money, It's not for fame,
It's not for any personal gain.
It's just for love of fellow man,
It's just to lend a helping hand.
It's just to give a tithe of self,
That's something you can't buy with wealth.
It's not for medals won with pride,
It's for that feeling deep inside.
It's that reward down in your heart,
It's that feeling that you've been a part
Of helping others far and near
That makes you be a volunteer!
---(Author Unknown)

I'm afraid I just can not get myself to like poems like this. Not only does it rub me wrong, it contradicts itself -- after saying it's not for personal gain, it then says that it is (I'm pretty sure doing something for a feeling deep inside is personal gain; just not the monetary type).

If I were to write a poem about volunteering (don't panic, I won't) it would say something along the lines of:
1) it's our responsibility to try to help others
2) my kids need to learn to do it
3) getting up early enough to go stinks
4) little kids wear me out (I need to learn from Bev who seems to have mountains of patience)
5) getting along with the other volunteers can be difficult at times
6) a lot of times it would be easier just to not do it

Linkage: Models

2006-09-17T07:32:00.000-05:00

London fashion should ban thin models - minister - Yahoo! News UK

Now that's good news.

Words: ganosis

2006-09-14T08:40:00.000-05:00

We were playing Balderdash the other day and the word ganoisis came up. I have to admit that I did not believe it was a real word. I'm still not sure that I do. Here's the definition:

ganosis n. - reducing shine of marble, especially on naked parts of statue.

It's not in any of my dictionaries, and Dictionary.com doesn't have an entry for it. Merriam Webster acts like they have one, but it's in the pay section, so I can't confirm that they do. All the entries I've seen for it look exactly like the Balderdash card. I'd like to see some etymology and find it someplace besides Luciferous Logolepsy before I'm convinced that it is a word.

I suppose that is one of the nice things about just playing this game with a dictionary. At least you know the word really is an actual word and can prove it to disbelieving participants!

Life: Or the Lack of It

2006-09-13T10:10:00.000-05:00

Today my little brother would have been 41 years old. It's hard to know what to do when it is the birthday of someone who has died, so I muddle along and do my best. I will send my folks an e-mail, and remind my family that it is his birthday. I'll put this link to my blog entry of his obituary. And, I'll spend some time remembering.

Here's to you, Ed. We miss you.

Movie: A Walk to Remember

2006-09-12T19:41:00.000-05:00

This movie is based on the book of the same name by Nicolas Sparks. I read the book a long time ago so was interested in seeing the movie. If I'm remembering correctly, they've changed the ending from the book to the movie. (I like the book ending better.)

I was impressed with the positive light in which the main character's faith was portrayed. She made me want to be a better person, which is amazing considering it was Mandy Moore acting out the part!

This is definitely a chick flick, and you'll certainly need some tissues unless your heart is made out of ice.

Linkage: In the News

2006-09-04T08:12:00.000-05:00

'Potential' home buyer accused of robbery

This is not what you want to hear about as you are preparing to sell your home.

The Crocodile Hunter dies

And, that's a sad thing.

Movie: The Thing About My Folks

2006-09-02T18:46:00.000-05:00

A while back I saw an interview with Paul Reiser about this movie, and when I saw it at the library the other day I thought it might be enjoyable to watch. The movie stars Peter Falk, Paul Reiser, Olympia Dukakis, and Elizabeth Perkins, and is essentially the story of a father and son. They are on a spur of the moment road trip and are hashing out together the reasons why the mother has just left the father. At the same time they are doing some of the father/son things they never did when the son was young. It's not a fast paced movie, but it is very funny and thought provoking, too. Worth watching, I think.

Summer in Michigan: Over?

2006-08-31T09:45:00.000-05:00

Looks like summer has run it's course. The forecast for this next week has highs in the mid-70's and lows in the mid-50's.

Linkage: The Evolution of Dance

2006-08-29T09:15:00.000-05:00

Perhaps you've seen this before, but if not, check it out. Very funny!

2006-08-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

You Are 75% Indie

You're a very indie person, and admit it, you look down a little on people who strive to be normal.

You'll indulge in a little mainstream pop culture every now and then. But for you, anything not indie is a guilty pleasure!

How Indie Are You?

Life: On Comfortable Feet

2006-08-25T10:37:00.000-05:00

My first pair of Birkenstocks were purchased fifteen years ago when I was pregnant with baby number five and living in a house with no padding under the carpets. So, my path towards happy feet actually started because of aching knees. Very soon thereafter, my knees stopped hurting, my back felt better and my feet no longer throbbed at the end of the day. I was on to something. Well, on to comfortable shoes.

Birkenstocks have had the misfortune of being disdained by many people, who undoubtedly have their feet shoved into shoes that are too tight. My goal is to have comfortable feet. Some say comfortable shoes are ugly. Well, it all depends on your point of view. And my point of view says that I look a lot nicer all over when my feet are not in pain.

Other brands of shoes that I have found to be comfortable are Dansko and Josef Seibel. To tell you the truth though, I like bare feet best of all!

Family: Drama

2006-08-24T10:04:00.000-05:00

This week my youngest kiddo auditioned for parts in two of HPA's upcoming productions. This morning we got word that she was cast in both plays! Congratulations to Cara!

Latest Read: Together Again

2006-08-22T07:23:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: Together Again by Rick Atchley and Bob Russell

From the book:

We believe (our practices) can be taught and practiced in a way that holds high the cross of Christ, exalting his atoning work as the Good News and the only hope of salvation.

Latest Read: How to Win the Culture War

2006-08-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: How to Win the Culture War by Peter Kreeft

From the book:

If God still loves his church in America, he will soon make it small and poor and persecuted, just as he did to ancient Isreal, so that he can keep it alive, pruning it. If he loves us, he will cut the deadwood away and we will bleed.

Movie: The Constant Gardener

2006-08-17T15:36:00.000-05:00

My folks and I watched The Constant Gardener last night. My parents had listened to the audiobook, and thought they'd like to see the movie. I did not know anything about the movie, but was willing to give it a go. At the end of the film, which is just a little over two hours long, I felt rather disconcerted and a little sick to my stomach. I don't know if the premise of the movie is true or not, but there is something about the whole idea of big business walking all over the little guy that feels like it could be true.

I do know that contemplating that things like that could be happening in our world is very sobering. It's the kind of thing that makes me wonder what I should be doing to make a difference, yet also makes me wonder how on earth anything I could do would make any difference. Small wonder I don't like to watch movies like this one. I'm going to go and stick my head back in the sand, I think.

In the News: Googling

2006-08-14T19:44:00.000-05:00

Stop Googling things, says Google - Computing

I can't decide if this is a joke or not. If it isn't a joke, Google has lost their collective minds.

Latest Read: Velvet Elvis

2006-08-13T22:03:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

From the book:

Doctrine makes a great servant, but a lousy master.

(That is a very profound truth in my experience.)

Family: Paintball Welts

2006-08-12T22:49:00.000-05:00

Mayhem Sportz was their destination last Friday night. My two boys, aged 18 and 16 went and played paintball overnight with a bunch of guys from their youth group. (Well, technically it was reballing which is like paintballing without the paint.) They had a good time, though they decided that overnight wasn't the optimum way to experience paintballing - a bunch of tired and cranky (or wired and hyper) teenagers with guns can be a bit harrowing. Even if they are just paintball guns.

But really I wanted to tell you about their welts. They love to come home and show them to us. The ones where they have been "bunkered" at close range are the ones of which they are especially proud. This part of the boys is frankly a mystery to me - as is wanting to go somewhere with your friends and inflict harm on them as a way to have fun. But they sure do enjoy it.

Family: Parents

2006-08-10T13:39:00.000-05:00

My folks are visiting. Well, they came up to help with projects around the house. My Dad is putting a tile floor in our master bathroom and my Mom is helping out with a variety of cleaning and fixing jobs. They sure are good to us.

I Wonder: Ticket Kiosks

2006-08-04T15:25:00.000-05:00

This is something I really don't understand: why do people stand in long lines at the movie theatre when they can just walk up to a ticket kiosk, pick their movie, swipe their credit card (or insert cash) and head in to their movie? In England, California, Texas, Michigan; over and over again we've been able to buy our movie tickets quickly because next to no one is bothering to use the self-serve ticket machines. This is very nice for us, as the disuse by others makes our journey to an evening of movie entertainment much more enjoyable. But, I just don't understand why many others seem to be oblivious about this way of buying tickets. Do you use movie ticket kiosks? If not, why? I need some insights.

Travel: More on Overweight Travelers

2006-08-03T11:06:00.000-05:00

I had the joy of sitting in the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport for about four hours last Saturday. While the rest of my family sprawled about me napping, I watched CNN (and froze). There was a news story about how oil prices were affecting the airlines that talked about the steps many airlines were taking to reduce the weight of the plane and thus reduce fuel consumption. The story ended by talking about the one thing that airlines could not reduce, and that is the weight of the passengers. The story said that airlines are having to spend $275 million more per year on fuel because of overweight travlers.

Here's more on the story from USA Today.

Family: The Woes of Skinny Men

2006-08-02T16:17:00.000-05:00

Today my son and I went out to buy jeans. Do you have any idea how ridiculously difficult it is to find jeans to fit a 6'1", 117 lb teen? 30x34 is what we were after. That doesn't sound so bad, does it? I don't think there is much of a market for jeans for skinny blokes, because it was nigh on impossible to find him any that fit. We finally found some Rustlers at Wal-Mart. But, had to settle for 30x32 that are almost too short. Fortunately (?) he really needs about 29 1/2" waist, so they sag down and make up for the fact that they are a bit too short. None of the stores that we went to had 30x34. I'm not really sure why I am surprised, I've struggled with the same problem trying to buy jeans for his daddy for years and years, and with the rapidly rising average weight it was bound to happen that the smaller sizes would be less in demand and thus less available.

Family: Camp Tanda

2006-07-30T20:27:00.000-05:00

Last week my husband's family held a reunion at Camp Tanda in Lake Big Bear, California. This was a reunion of just his immediate family. All together there were around 60 people in attendance - his mom, seven siblings and their spouses, their kids their spouses (when applicable), and grandkids (also when applicable).

The last time all his siblings were together was nine years ago, so it was a sweet gathering. They see each other en mass so seldom that they really cut right through all the superficial and head straight for heart matters. We spent a good part of the week hearing what was on each persons heart and in their plans and then praying for them.

There was time for some playing between the praying and it was a joy to see the cousins all running around playing soccer, the uncles competing at horseshoes and the aunts visiting over cups of coffee. Lots of good catching up.

One of my nieces was telling about her husband's family reunions that often end in fisticuffs (the last time it was two aunts) and I realize that it really is a blessing to be able to get that many people together and there not be any major conflicts.

SIDE NOTE: I did not supply the link to Camp Tanda earlier because I refuse to do so without a warning. Click if you want, but be forwarned that the site supplies very little information and plays some relatively obnoxious music that can't be stopped.

Latest Read: Blue Like Jazz

2006-07-22T06:54:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

From the book:

Too much of our time is spent trying to chart God on a grid, and too little is spent allowing our hearts to feel awe. By reducing Christian spirituality to formula, we deprive our hearts of wonder.

Travel: On Airline Seating

2006-07-20T14:59:00.000-05:00

Allentown to Cleveland. Seat 6B. That was me. Well, me and a good part of the fellow in 6C. Trying to get comfortable in an airline seat is hard enough without having to give up part of your seat to someone who cannot fit into their own. There was no fighting over who would get the armrest, or even any amiable sharing of it. His waistline was resting comfortably there. Well, probably not very comfortably. I think he was wedged as close to the window as he could get but that did not keep him from spilling over into my seat. I have a crick in my neck from leaning over to the side so as to avoid being plastered up against him. Good thing it was a short flight.

I'm not unsympathetic to the plight of heavy people and airline seats. The size of the seats is ridiculous even for slim people. But, you get so little for your money in an economy seat - it seems like there should be some sort of compensation for people who end up having their seat hijacked by the person in the seat next to them.

Travel: On Finding an Internet Connection

2006-07-20T14:47:00.000-05:00

Here's what I've noticed about airports and internet connections: large airports make you pay for an internet connection, small airports do not. Grand Rapids has a free internet connection. So does Allentown, PA. I'm in Cleveland, waiting for a connecting flight and had to pay to connect to the internet. Granted, here it was only $3.95 for two hours, which is not too bad comparatively. (Cleveland isn't as big as say Dallas or LAX, so I guess they charge accordingly.) It seems to defy logic for small airports to offer free wireless while the larger ones charge. Same sort of deal seems to apply to hotels, too. The more expensive the hotel, the less likely they are to have free internet.

So, here's the current theory we have floating around our house, courtesy of my husband. Large airports and fancy hotels added internet access years ago when it was very expensive to do so. So, they have to charge to recoup their investment. Small hotels and airports can hire a teenager to set them up with wireless and it costs them relatively little to do so. So, they can offer it free as a perk because they did not have the initial outlay that those that got into the technology early had to put out.

So, I'm glad I tend to stay in cheaper hotels. Now, if it was just as easy to avoid big airports, I'd be set.

Linkage: On Entertainment

2006-07-19T09:25:00.000-05:00

Culture Watch: Thoughts of a Constructive Curmudgeon: A. W. Tozer on Our Idol: Entertainment [1955]

This is a long quote from A. W. Tozer's book, Root of the Righteous. It's worth taking the time to read and ponder, I think.

Latest Read: Pilgrim Heart

2006-07-18T14:46:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: Pilgrim Heart by Darryl Tippens

From the book:
On spiritual discernment:

There is always a danger lurking that our personal preferences and prejudices will turn out -- coincidentally -- to look exactly like the will of God. I see a growing temptation among some Christians today to call whatever happens "God's will", so long as it is personally favorable to them. Is every good outcome (at least what appears to be a good outcome) necessarily a "God thing"? If so, what do we call the bad things that happen to us or others? Person A puts his house on the market, and "miraculously" it sells in three days. Person B puts his house on the markets, and it lingers there untouched for twelve months. Person A, if he is pious, may very well declare his success God's will. But we have to ask: What if Person B is equally devoted and pious, but his house doesn't sell? What then? Is his bad luck also God's will? Whose will is it when things go very badly despite our most fervent prayers and wishes? How, we might ask, do we avoid the self-serving distortion in which we baptize our own preferences and declare them "the will of God"?

The answer is spiritual discernment, which is both a skill to be developed and the product of spiritual transformation.

Michigan in the Summer: Camp

2006-07-17T09:06:00.000-05:00

After our ill-fated trip to Tennessee, it was time to head to church camp. Here in West Michigan, several of the Churches of Christ co-operate together to run a small camp called Beechwood Hills. Last week the kids and I did our volunteer time at camp. I spent the week organizing paperwork (it really did take me all week to get it in order), my oldest son worked in the kitchen as a cook and the two younger kids were engineers (that means they did dishes, cleaned toilets, helped with activities, and generally worked themselves silly).

I went to summer camp once when I was a kid - and never wanted to go again. Most people I know are appalled that I did not like camp, for the most part they all seem to have loved it. How about you?

Groan

2006-07-10T13:40:00.000-05:00

We started off our busy month of July with a bang. Without sharing the gory details, suffice it to say that very contagious stomach viruses, travel and family reunions are not a good combination. They may not invite us back next time.

Michigan in the Summer: VBS

2006-07-03T17:49:00.000-05:00

On the right is my youngest daughter, playing David in one of our Vacation Bible School skits. We had a relatively low turn out for VBS this year. In part because every other church in the area seemed to be having their VBS at the same time. Those who were there had a good time though.

Latest Read: Simply Christian

2006-07-01T17:58:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: Simply Christian by N. T. Wright

From the book
On the Bible:

The Bible is there to enable God's people to be equipped to do God's work in God's world, not to give them an excuse to sit back smugly, knowing they possess all God's truth.

Travel with Me: Vatican City

2006-06-30T12:39:00.000-05:00

We were at the Vatican during the time between when Pope John Paul died, and when Cardinal Ratzinger was chosen as the new pope. We did not spend a lot of time there, only touring St. Peter's Basilica. It was cram packed with people. It's truly an ostentatious place. It felt like such a self-important place - which was confirmed to me by the behavior of some of the ordained people I saw while we were there. One fellow in a fancy robe and headdress walked through the crowd moving his hand in front of him so the crowd would part and let him through. There was no compassion on his face, only self importance.

In some ways it was beautiful, but so very overdone. I didn't really see an accurate reflection of Jesus there. But, it was interesting.

We had fun rummaging around in the little shops that circle the vatican.

Michigan in the Summer: Roadworks

2006-06-29T12:20:00.000-05:00

This is on I-196. Just on the route we take to church, there are three different construction areas. It's summer in Michigan!

The Garage

2006-06-28T14:47:00.000-05:00

I spent a little bit of time cleaning the garage today. I was able to get half of it cleaned up pretty quickly. Here's how it looks:

Now, I need to clean the other side:

Honestly, I don't know where to begin.
I think I need a big dumpster!

Travel with Me: Venice

2006-06-27T11:34:00.000-05:00

It used to be if I wanted to look through old pictures, I got out a photo album, or more likely a box full of pictures, and flipped through them. Digital cameras have changed how I peruse old pictures. Now, I point and click.

So, this morning I was pointing and clicking my way through some of our pictures from our three weeks in Europe in 2005. I'm itchy to take another trip, especially an overseas one. Since there is nothing on my traveling horizon beyond runs around the US, I thought I might post some of my favorite photos from the Europe trip.

This picture is in Venice, Italy. It rained on us the whole time we were there. My main memories of Venice are first, the conflicting sensory stimulations: visually it is stunning; nasally it's not so good, and secondly, being completely lost most of the time! We did not see all the touristy things one is supposed to see in Venice, but we had a good time wandering around and happening on a few of them.

We were lost as can be when this picture was taken. But isn't it a beautifully charming road?

Mars Hill

2006-06-25T12:24:00.000-05:00

This morning the kids and I attended Mars Hill church. As much good stuff as I've been hearing about Rob Bell and the work that Mars Hill is doing, I figured I'd kick myself if I didn't go and visit at least once before we vacate the area.

As we got off of the freeway and into the long line of traffic headed for the parking lot, I knew this was going to be different than our normal Sunday morning routine just by virtue of the fact that there were a lot of people. Once we got inside the building, which used to be a mall, we found our way to the auditorium. (I suppose it was probably the anchor store at some point in history.) At the door we were offered an outline of the sermon and a copy of the bible if we needed it. (A TNIV bible.) The stage is a square in the middle of the room, with chairs on all four side facing towards it. We worked our way in and found a place to sit. They have a band, and it was playing as people were coming in and finding seats. The service started with about 30 minutes of singing. It didn't feel like 30 minutes of singing, though. (No repeating the same lines over and over, thankfully.) And, they sang one of my favorite Fernando Ortega songs! There was a short introduction to the church and it's set up for first time visitors, then Rob Bell spoke. Well, he tag team spoke with another fellow, Don Golden. They did a great job together and the 45 minutes of speaking went by very quickly and there was good food for thought. Rob Bell is getting ready to go on the road this summer and they ended the service by laying hands on him and praying for his ministry and for safety as he and his family travel around.

It's seems like a pretty incredible church. Recordings of the sermons are available online, if you are interested.

Latest Read: Crunchy Cons

2006-06-24T20:32:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: Crunch Cons by Rod Dreher

From the book
On Religion:
It needs to be said that even those in the conservative movement who call themselves religious conservatives often do not fully live out the logic of their beliefs. Almost all on the religious right are Christians .... but it's odd how we limit our political concerns to sexual issues. Jesus had as much or more to say about greed as he did about lust. But you will not find most American religious conservatives worrying overmuch about greed.

Gaming Buddies

2006-06-24T18:59:00.000-05:00

Teenaged sons number two and three enjoy online gaming. They are part of a clan and play Enemy Territory with the same bunch of people on a regular basis. Today they went to hang out for a couple of hours with two gaming friends who are visiting in the area - one from Chicago, the other from Taiwan.

The internet has added an interesting new dimension to parenting - that of going along with kids who are meeting internet friends for the first time. Because we travel a lot, we often end up near the kid's online friends. Besides today's meeting, we've met an online friend of my son's in Akron, Ohio and one just a little less than an hour down the road in Kalamazoo. We've met up with one in Austin, Texas. And on our last trip to the UK, the boys got to meet up with three gaming friends.

Now, you can call me overprotective if you want, but we don't just drop the kids off to meet their friends. We tag along. Not surprisingly, the parents of the internet friends are also along. Which is good. But, it usually leaves us sitting somewhere with a set of people that we don't know trying to make polite chit chat -- thankfully we can always start with how strange it is to be taking the kids to meet their internet friends.

World Cup

2006-06-23T08:20:00.000-05:00

Well, America has said good-bye to their chance to advance in the World Cup. I'm routing for England, anyway. That's where I learned to like football (soccer in US speak). In any case, with as few people as care about soccer here in the US it would be a shame for America to win the World Cup.

Sunshine and Gardens

2006-06-22T20:31:00.000-05:00

It's been a bit of a weather ride these last few days. We've gone from thunderstorms to sunshine and back again several times. My son has been very pleased because it has allowed him to put off mowing the lawn. I've been feeling very pleased because during a sunny spell today I was able to spend a little while reading on the back deck. The sun was shining and the temperature was about 80F. I had a glass of iced tea, a good book, and a view of my newly planted container garden. Very nice.

"Bellini" Iced Tea

2006-06-21T14:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of having lunch at the Olive Garden restaurant with several of my friends from church. Along with the good company and conversation, I had soup, salad and breadsticks, with OG's Bellini Raspberry Peach Iced Tea.

I have a thing for flavored iced teas, and having had good luck previously hunting down Paradise Tea after enjoying it in a CA restaurant, I decided to see what info I could find on the Bellini Raspberry Peach Iced Tea. So, with the help of Google, I was able to locate a web site called Tea Chat where there was a discussion going on about Bellini Iced Tea. Based on the info on the site, Bellini is not a name brand but a type of drink, champagne and peach juice (or possibly schnapps), from Italy (apparently a favorite of Hemingway). OG just uses that name for a mixture of tea, raspberry and peach syrup that they concoct.

So, I've ordered some raspberry and peach syrup and will be trying to make my own Raspberry Peach Iced Tea. Come to think of it, the Bellini favored by Hemingway sounds tempting, too.

I Hate Michigan Lefts

2006-06-19T10:28:00.000-05:00

That's not a political statement, by the way. That is a statement about driving.

Driving in America, when one comes to an intersection and wants to turn left, one does so. Usually there are different options for the turn - including turn lanes, flashing lights and so on - but you are allowed to do so. Here in Michigan, the land of the traffic engineer from Hell, we have Michigan lefts. Forget just waiting for your green or a break in traffic. Depending on the intersection you must either go straight through the light, do a U turn in the special U turn lane, cut across all the lanes of traffic then make a right turn at the light from the other side of the intersection you started at or turn right and do basically the same thing. So, rather than having to go through one light you go through two (sometimes three) lights just to make a left. In an effort to be fair, I will stipulate that not every left turn has to be done in this way, but there are enough of them to make a person spend time re-plotting driving routes just to avoid them. Now, if they could put in roundabouts, I'd be a happy camper.

Movie: 84 Charing Cross Road

2006-06-16T10:28:00.000-05:00

This is a movie that I enjoy. It's not a fast paced thriller or even a romantic love story. Though books feature prominently in the story, I think it's really a story about friendship. Be warned though, the movie is like a lazy afternoon. It's very slow paced.

From the back cover:
A story about love and the love of books, 84 Charing Cross Road features Academy Award winners Ann Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins in stellar performances. Helen Hanff (Bancroft), a feisty New York writer, mails a letter to a small London bookshop requesting some rare English classics. Frank Doel (Hopkins), the reserved English bookseller, answers her request, beginning a touching and humorous correspondence that spans two continents and two decades. Hanff's acerbic wit starkly contrasts Doel's aloof British demeanor, but their mutual love of books forms a bond that deepens with each passing year. Their intimate, richly detailed letters draw us into their lives as Helen and Frank share their dreams, hopes, sorrows and joys -- and in doing so develop a lasting and extraordinary relationship.

How Long Ago?

2006-06-15T01:23:00.000-05:00

I can't sleep. The computer isn't really helping, either. Clicking through blogs and web sites is about as bad as flipping channels. Sigh.

So, since I'm busy not sleeping I'll ask: how old is your profile photo? I guess mine is three years old now (and photoshopped come to think of it). How often must it be updated to be, for lack of a better word, honest?

Recently we did a pictorial directory for our church. One of the members took photos and we put them together in a directory. One couple had their photo made, but decided that they'd rather have us put in a picture that was taken when they went to Hawaii a couple of years ago. That seemed a bit dishonest to me. So, then maybe my three year old profile picture is "dishonest", too?

From the Bookshelf:

2006-06-14T12:04:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: From the Bookshelf: Latin for the Illiterati by Jon R. Stone

From the book -

"...I began keeping lists of the Latin words I continually encountered in my reading. These lists began to grow over my several years of graduate study to the point that they filled a section of the weather-worn notebook I had used during my college days. It was at that point that I decided to type these lists into a handy reference book, not simply for my use but for the use of others likewise haunted."
--Jon R. Stone in the introduction

Peter at 20

2006-06-11T12:49:00.000-05:00

Today, our son Peter would have turned 20. For the first few years after he died, I didn't really have much trouble imagining who he would be then - after all, the changes are only slight during the younger years. But, as time passed and birthdays came and went, it became harder and harder to imagine what type of person he would have been or how he would have looked. I'll have to admit that I really have no idea what he would look like now. Many changes take place in the years between six years old and 20. Who would he be? How would he like spending his time? It's amazing how little things can yank the grief right back up to the surface.

There is so much I could say about this darling kiddo of ours who we miss very much. But, I'll save that for another day. For now, Happy Birthday Pete.

Words: inveigle

2006-06-10T13:28:00.000-05:00

inveigle: transitive verb

1 : to win over by wiles : ENTICE
2 : to acquire by ingenuity or flattery

Etymology: Anglo-French enveegler, alteration of Middle French aveugler to blind, hoodwink, from Old French avogler, from avogle blind, from Medieval Latin ab oculis, literally, lacking eyes

Inveigle showed up in my son's spelling list the other day. The words in his spelling list are usually words that I recognize and know how to pronounce. This one took me by surprise. Does anyone actually use this word anymore?

I like it, though.

Dr. Pepper

2006-06-09T09:19:00.000-05:00

Dr. Pepper, is, of course, the breakfast of champions. I learned to like DP in Texas, and have always been thrilled to find it in other parts of the US, though it has not always been easy. Lately, Dr. Pepper has been growing in popularity, and is showing up in many restaurants here in Michigan where it was previously no where to be found. This is a good thing.

Strangely, however, many folks around here seem to think Dr. Pepper is like root beer. If I ask for DP and they don't have it, they'll often say "but we have root beer" like that is some sort of acceptable substitution. I don't even like root beer and don't think it tastes anything like DP. I will say that lately my DP has been tasting like root beer, though. I think many of the fast food places now offering DP are serving it through the fountain that used to do dispense the root beer. That's something they need to work on around here. Because those two drinks do not go together well at all.

I may need to start a campaign called Dr. Pepper Fans for Purity!

Latest Read:

2006-06-06T12:01:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

From the book
On the ministry of "Holding One's Tongue":

"I can never know beforehand how God's image should appear in others."

[meme] Ten Things I Have Done That You Probably Haven't

2006-06-05T08:08:00.000-05:00

Now this is a tough one. I can't imagine that I've done that many things that others have not (other than things like marry my husband or give birth to my children, which isn't really the point of the exercise) but I'll give it a try.

1.) Lived on three different continents by the time I was 13. (Australia counts as a continent, right? I never can remember.)

2.) Been to 48 of the 50 states, most of them in the same car. (Still need Alaska and North Dakota.)

3.) Was born in the Harvard Medical School Hospital.

4.) All our kiddos were born at home, the fourth one assisted only by my husband. Been chewed out by a doctor for having a baby at home with no medical assistance.

5.) Helped one of my kids battle cancer for two years only to lose the fight when he was six years old. (I hope you never have to do this one.)

6.) Went to Stonehenge as a child before they put the barriers up around the stones. (I also went to Stonehenge seven times during our time in England.)

7.) Didn't get mad at my husband when he took a weekend backpacking trip that ended up costing over $1300.

8.) Lived on the East Coast, West Coast, in the Midwest and in the South of the USA.

9.) Watched the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice so many times I finally remember how to spell "prejudice" now.

10.) Had my artwork in a Dutch newspaper when I was seven years old.

Just for the Record....

2006-06-04T21:35:00.000-05:00

I really don't like house-hunting.

Latest Read:

2006-06-02T12:43:00.000-05:00

a bibliophilist's reading list: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

From the book:

"...doctrine is not belief, it is only one way of talking about belief." (p 239)

Irresistible?

2006-05-31T21:33:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's just a girl thing, but maybe not. There are some things that I have a hard time resisting if I happen upon them in a store. It's almost like a compulsion -- "Must Have!!". It doesn't matter that I've already got plenty. I need another one. It really is rather nuts. Even more so since I happen to be smitten by tote bags. Not any old tote bags, but ones with logos on them. I have tote bags from Harrods, Half-Price Books, Borders, REI, Siemens, The Body Shop, Windsor Castle, Ottakar's, Waldenbooks, Whole Foods, Randall's, HEB, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, The British Museum, Heifer, Blackwell's, Forest Hills Foods and Friends of the Cascade Library.

Anyone else got a tote bag weakness? Or another kind? What calls to you from the shelves of your local shops?

2006-05-31T08:12:00.000-05:00

If you are a Star Wars fan, and can ignore (or don't mind) a little bit of language and vulgarity, you might enjoy this clip:

(Out of curiosity, does this show up in your browser? For me it shows and plays in Safari, but not in Firefox. If it's not showing up for you here's the link: You Tube)

2006-05-30T08:05:00.000-05:00

My Linguistic Profile:

50% General American English

20% Dixie

15% Yankee

10% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

X-Men: The Last Stand

2006-05-29T17:15:00.000-05:00

We went last night to see the latest X-Men movie. I liked it. Of course, I've not really read the comic books faithfully, so I don't have any reason to get upset if they veer from the plot lines of the original stories.

What absolutely amazed me was watching the credits roll and seeing the name Kelsey Grammar. Frasier, in an X-Men movie? Amazing. But, he did a great job as Dr. Henry "Hank" McCoy (Beast).

Would you....

2006-05-26T07:39:00.000-05:00

.... go to live for a year in China if given the opportunity?

How Many?

2006-05-25T11:35:00.000-05:00

I blog rolled my way to Joyful Transformation today and found another book lover (and gleaned a couple of book ideas).

So, following in her footsteps - by my favorite chair, there are:

8 library books
24 books in my to read pile
(A small bookshelf because of said pile)
My laptop (sits on the ottoman)
A candle
A rosary
A coaster (usually with a glass of DP sitting on it)
Prayer Journal
Regular Journal
iPod and it's accoutrements
Book lists Journal
3 movies
lip stuff
pen holder
flask

Nanny McPhee

2006-05-23T07:38:00.000-05:00

Nanny McPhee has just recently become available on DVD. I don't think that many people bothered to see the film when it was out in theaters. We did though, and really enjoyed it. I bought myself a copy just a couple of days ago and we sat down that same evening and watched it again.

I am, naturally, inclined to like almost any movie with Colin Firth in it. But, add in Emma Thompson and I'm hooked! (Same story with Love Actually, but I digress.) The story is charming, and I am always thrilled by the corresponding transformation of the children and Nanny McPhee. There are plenty of laughs, enough that even my teenaged boys watched without being prodded.

2006-05-20T16:45:00.000-05:00

Four jobs I've had

1. Burger Flipper at Wendy's
2. Secretary at a Dermatologists Office
3. Fill in Church Secretary
4. Put together personal tape players

Four movies I could watch over and over (in no particular order):

1. BBC's Pride and Prejudice
2. Mulan
3. The Importance of Being Earnest
4. The Fifth Element

Four places I've lived:

1. Australia
2. The Netherlands
3. England
4. Guam

Four favorite TV shows

1. I can't really do this one.
2. Nothing comes to mind.
3. I do like detective shows, though...
4. and BBC miniseries

Four Vacations I've been on:

1. Hawaii, for six weeks! Heaven.
2. Grand Canyon, in the rain. Still beautiful
3. Amsterdam, an anniversary trip.
4. Spain, Italy, France via train.

Four websites I visit often:

1. woodtv.com
2. preachermike.com
3. bloglines.com
4. amazon.com

Four favorite foods:

1. scrambled eggs and hashbrowns
2. roast beef and mashed potatoes
3. chicken fried steak with gravy
4. fresh strawberries

Four places you'd rather be:

1. heaven
2. in any bookstore
3. on the beach
4. on vacation

Four people to tag:

I won't do this since I don't really know who might like to participate. But, if you stop by and see it and would like to fill one out yourself, consider yourself tagged. If you do fill it out, leave a comment with a link.
Cheers!

2006-05-19T08:34:00.000-05:00

Which Princess Bride Character are You?

2006-05-18T07:16:00.000-05:00

"What, if you lost it, would make you question God's goodness?"

-- Patrick Mead: Seven Ways to Die; Part One - "Pride" 22 March 2006
(available via Rochester Hills C of C podcast on iTunes)

When I heard this question I had to run and write it down. What an interesting query to ponder. I've certainly seen evidence of loss causing people to doubt God even exists - if they can't see God as loving then he can't actually be there. (Ted Turner comes to mind.) Yet there are people who have had losses and still believe God loves them and is good, even when things aren't going well for them. I suppose in some ways it has to do with how you define goodness. One way to define it could be God making everything hum along smoothly all the time so all his people are happy. Just a little bit of bible reading will show that to be a faulty premise. So, what exactly is God's goodness anyway? Inherent goodness comes to mind, but that doesn't really help. I suppose I'm wondering how God's goodness manifests itself if we are not describing it as making everything go our way. I have a couple of ideas, but would like to hear what others think.

Funny Pages

2006-05-17T09:53:00.000-05:00

When I was a child, my Pop Scott would sit me on his knee and read to me from the funny pages. "And then Popeye says..." I loved it when he read me the funnies. It also usually involved a little bit of rib counting and liberal hugs. I only got the pleasure of having Pop read me the funnies during our yearly visits, as we lived in Illinois, and Pop and Mommie lived in Old Hickory, Tennessee. But, I still remember it many, many years later with fondness.

Now we don't get a newspaper. I read my comics online. I don't miss the black fingerprints from the newsprint at all, but I do miss the funnies page. Maybe that is why we have such a huge pile of comic collection books. My kids love to sit at the table at lunch time and read Foxtrot or Calvin and Hobbes while they are eating. Okay. I love to do it, too. It doesn't really matter that we have read them all before. Here are some of our favorites:

Foxtrot
Calvin and Hobbes
Dilbert
Zits!

It's a happy day for us when we are in a town with a Half-Price Books and find the comic collections aisle. Are there any comic strips that you like enough to buy the collections and re-read them?