new entry-way

My sister-in-law wanted to see a picture of how my new entry-way arrangement turned out. I found the little cabinet at a flea market while I was there visiting them, and the pretty mirror at Goodwill for $5. I added the brass hooks to the bottom to hold keys.

 

Oh PLEASE

Grand Rapids is discussing making bicycle helmets mandatory.

I suppose next we'll have to wear knee pads and elbow pads when we shower? Or a neck brace for walking up and down stairs?

I wear a helmet when I ride on busy streets. But I think I'm able to determine for myself that it's safe to ride in a quiet park without bubble wrap.

Dumb!

persistent little bird

This little goldfinch has been regularly coming to attack himself in the mirror on my porch. I have to admire his persistence, if not his brains. :) See him? He's in silhouette on the vine in front of the mirror. I'm becoming fond of the foolish little guy.

United Breaks Guitars

This guy had his guitar broken on a United flight, and they wouldn't replace it. So he wrote a song about it. So funny!

safely in Kentucky

Had a good trip down to my brother & sister-in-law's yesterday, and have been enjoying time with them and my nieces.

Got credit for "making lasagna" yesterday (I took it out of the freezer and put it in the oven). Gotta love people who define "cooking" that way.

Please keep praying for oldest niece. She had a miserable day (as did her parents) at the doctor's yesterday.

See their blog for the scoop. :(

Are you Bad Enough to be a Christian?

Some friends in Missouri sent me this video, and I thought it was quite well done (except for the music, which seems fuzzy to me).

the tidiest roofers you've ever seen

We're having a new roof put on my condo building right now.

The company that's doing it is AMAZING. They aren't getting in the way of all the in-and-out that happens in a big building like this. And their neatness is just out of this world.

They're using a big hi-lo with a bucket to take all the debris down from the roof, and dumping it into a dumpster beside the building. There are literally NO shingles, nails ... nothing ... laying around. If it weren't for the equipment, and the activity on top of the roof, you wouldn't even know it's going on.

I'm SO impressed. I love orderliness. :)

Also, an update on adorable nice #1. Other than being disappointed in having to forgo swimming, and such, she seems to be doing really well. I'm so thankful! For as awful as the incident was, God has really protected her, and blessed them through this.

Feeling so bad for my brother's family

See this sweet little border collie playing with youngest niece?


He attacked oldest niece Monday evening, and hurt her pretty badly. The story is on my sister-in-law's blog.

Would appreciate your prayers for them.

Happy violet

 

 

Fascination with Celebrities

I was recently listening to a Mars Hill Audio Magazine, and one of the topics had to do with America's over-focus on celebrities.

It made a few really good points ... wish I'd taken notes!

We find "meaning" in following the lives of these people in order to fill a void of meaning in our own lives.

The celebrities have taken the roll of a religious idol in our culture. It gives a common language and set of stories. They worship a common "god" and have a shared mythology around these Entertainment Tonight figures.

The writer interviewed a number of junior high girls, and asked them their preference of careers when they grew up

congress woman
CEO
assistant to a famous person
(maybe some others)

Something like 80% chose to be an ASSISTANT to a famous person, rather than pursue a career that actually contributed something to society. Fame was that important to them, that they'd dedicate their whole lives to just being NEAR it.

The mourning for the famous puzzles me, and this article answered a lot of my questions. Obviously it's a tragedy any time someone dies, particularly someone who isn't sure where their eternal destiny lies ... but this over-the-top mourning for (essentially) complete strangers is a puzzle ...

Ideas?

Link to a summary of the article (unfortunately no transcript posted).

things we're not good at

I was thinking about music today.

Whatever the music gene is, I missed out on it. I don't hear the intricacies that other people hear, or the relationships.

I tried combating this problem with education (as I try to combat MOST problems!) I took piano lessons and voice lessons. I bought a guitar and tutorial material. I read beginner theory books. I actually know a good deal about music, except for the fundamental "something" that most people seem born with.

When I explained this to a musical person, he took it to mean "Trinka doesn't like music."

Actually I do like it. Sometimes I think I enjoy it MORE than musical folks, or at least in a different way, because many imperfections just don't register with me.

I remember reading an article once that said Americans don't dabble well. We either excel at something, or (more commonly), we sit on the couch like a lump. I'm quite good at the lumpish-sitting actually, so I might qualify at excellence with that, but that's not the point.

Just thinking tonight about how thankful I am for the opportunity to TRY things, to be bad at them, and enjoy them anyway.

Not sure I've captured this thought, but ... it's worth what you paid for it, I suppose. :) (another thing done badly ... but at least done!)

This is why I hate home-improvement projects

subtitled: how I missed prayer meeting tonight

Original cost estimate of project: $3
Original time estimate of project: 10 minutes

Actual cost of project $34
Actual time of project: 1 1/2 hours

All I wanted to do was put a blind up on the outside edge of my balcony. I've had one there every year. I end up having to replace them every couple years or so, because the weather is hard on them.

Last year's got thrown out, so when I saw one at a garage sale, I was delighted.

Bought it - $3

Got it home, went to put it up, and discovered the cord was unstrung from the innards, and the hanging hooks had pulled off. Set it aside in hopes of re-stringing it. (15 minutes)

Bought new blind, and discovered they had some (more expensive) for outdoor use. ($21, 20 minutes)

Went to put blind up, and discovered that I couldn't hold it up, while maneuvering the fasteners into place, while standing on tiptoes on step stool. (5 minutes)

go inside ... make dinner ... think ....

Pry open eyehooks wider, fasten them to the blind on the ground, lift blind into place ... discover that none of the FIVE already-installed rings are spaced properly to attach the 3 blind fasteners. Take blind down again. (10 minutes)

go inside ... think ...

Decide that I'm not interested in drilling more holes and putting in still more rings. There HAS to be a way to fasten it to the existing rings, yes? (10 minutes)

sit ... think ...

Go to hardware store, and buy a length of chain and carabiners. ($11, 15 minutes)

Use carabiners to hang chain from existing rings, then another set of carabiners to hang blind from chain. (10 minutes)

Result:

Expensive and ugly ... but at least it will shade my balcony until I can figure out how to fix it. (which, no doubt, will consume enormous amounts MORE time and money!)

rhymes that set your teeth on edge

Does anyone else have them?

There are some words that seem to always be rhymed in songs and poetry, and when I hear them, it makes me cringe.


sorrow & tomorrow (the worst one, by virtue of just how OFTEN it's used)

angels or choirs singing & bells ringing

one notable, not by how common it is, but rather how UNcommon, and yet how annoying
amnesia and anesthesia (an otherwise pleasant song, ruined when that rhyme pops up and assaults the listener)

There are others too ... where you hear the first word, and you can almost write the next line, because you just KNOW what they're going to rhyme with it.

I was in a store yesterday, and heard the "angels singing" blah blah blah "bells ringing" one, and it got me thinking of just how distracting it is from the actual song or poem ... all you hear is that repetitive combination.

Anyhow ... these English comp. musings brought to you by "boring her readers to death" Trinka

moon
june
croon
tune

yikes!

the post where my tendancy to obsess becomes obvious

First, the picture:



"Why" you may ask," does a piece of contact paper indicate obsession?"

(or, even if you don't ask ... you're going to hear the answer anyway ... unless you're bored, and drift away to read about John Deere tractors, or check the weather, or look for posts on your Facebook page.)

ANYWAY

The reason the contact paper is significant is because, you may note, it comes very close to matching the fabric on my sofa.

I found this contact paper in a sale bin at Meijers. There were 3 rolls left, and I bought all they had.

I've gotten my kitchen cupboards almost lined, and still have the bathroom to go.

I went back to buy more of the magical-matching paper, and there was none there.

I visited all other Meijers in the area ... no luck.

I tried Walmart and Target.

Nothing.

Most people would have given up at this point, and settled for another paper. This WOULD be the reasonable response.

However this, for some reason, hit my "unreasonable" button.

So I started searching online. No luck.

Those who DIDN'T give up earlier would certainly have given up by now.

But my Grandpa-Smith-obsession-gene had been activated.

I actually wrote to Kittrich (the company that makes contact paper). They said the only store that carries this particular pattern is "Jensen". I've never heard of them, nor do I know where they are. Couldn't find them on the web either.

Yes, we're in high obsession mode now, aren't we?

Kittrich said they could sell me the magical-matching paper, but I'd have to buy a case.

A case. 12 rolls.

I agreed.

I'm going to have more things covered with this stuff than you could possibly imagine. :) (fortunately, buying it wholesale, it's MUCH cheaper - I'm getting a dozen rolls for what I would have spent on just enough to finish my project.)

So ... Grandpa Smith lives on in me. We used to tease that when he would get an idea in his head, he held onto it like a bulldog with a bone. Apparently I have similar characteristics at times. :)

my birthday present finally arrived

I got a call Wednesday that the gun I ordered back in November was here. I went and picked it up today, and spent some time on the range.

I'm inordinately proud of how I did. :) The first target is at 7.5 yards, the second at 10, and the last at 15. (I'm choosing to pretend that I INTENDED to shoot a picture of the big dipper on the last piece of paper.)

My two goals:

1. Gain enough strength that my arm and wrist don't feel like over-stretched rubber bands when I'm done.

2. Learn NOT to close my eyes tight shut when I'm pulling the trigger. I'm just sure this is not proper procedure. :)

By the way, just a plug for Silver Bullet Firearms on South Division. It's the place where I've taken my classes, and also where I ordered this gun. They have been very helpful, and today the fellow I spoke with took over an hour with me, teaching me how to clean the gun, looking at holsters, etc. Great folks!

notes from the land of dubious sanity ...

Vacation Bible School is happening.

In what I think was a kind attempt to keep me sane, the committee is trying not to use the door in front of my office.

This means that they've left it locked.

So ... every person who wants to get in that door, stands there and rattles it.

I'm ignoring the rattling, figuring that if the VBS folks don't want them using the door, then I won't go out of my way to circumvent the plan. But the rattling is driving me even more around the bend than the in-and-out would!

UGH!

a delightful day

I am in Kentucky for my oldest niece's birthday party. The funny story I have to share is of the adults playing with the birthday present I brought for my niece.

It's an "eyeclops" ... essentially a microscope on a stick, that hooks up to a TV or computer. You can hold it up to whatever, and watch the display.

We started looking at skin ... and moles ... and hair follicles.

When have you ever had a group of adults calling out ... "warts ... who has a wart?"

I'm thinking we're all going to be lining up for dermatologist appointments next week. :)

a delightful video

This old couple were at the Mayo Clinic for check-ups, and there was a piano in the atrium inviting people to play it. Have a look at their little "concert"!

out by the mailbox this morning

was this sweet little killdeer chick. His poor mama was doing her "bird with a broken wing!" dance, but I had to pick him up and look at him. Seeing those beautiful markings in miniature was just amazing. :)

My Father's Secret War

I'm reading My Father's Secret War (or rather, listening to it in the car).

It's written by a lady who discovered that her dad was a spy in World War II, and it tells not only about his experiences during the war, but also how she got him to talk about it.

His stories are fascinating. But I can't get over the irritation that she's badgering this old man to reveal things he's promised to keep secret. She seems to take such pride in tricking him into talking about this stuff. I keep wanting to slap her!

I'm going to finish it (hopefully this weekend, before the library police come after me), because I am enjoying hearing about him. But she and I? We would NOT get along well.

Every time she asks him about it (and she does it a LOT), he tells her he promised not to talk about it. Then she begins to badger, wheedle and trick. It's happened several times per chapter. (When she's not snooping through his stuff.)

I'm as curious as anybody (and probably a lot more than most), but there's something to be said for honoring and supporting others' commitments.

My sister-in-law posted the most precious account of my nieces' thoughts on memorial day. Have a look - it was a blessing.

the spring purge ...

Our teenagers at church have been having a garage sale every year to raise money for a mission trip they go on over the summer.

I use it as an opportunity to go through my house, and clean out all the extraneous stuff that's accumulated over the year.

It's amazing how much STUFF creeps into my house. It feels so good to send it on its way.

I've gone through my office and living room tonight. Hope to finish up this weekend, and this year, not allow so much stuff back in!

One of those fun get-to-know others emails

Please leave your answers in the comments!

First Job:
Cleaning the church when the regular janitor went on vacation

First Real Job:
Pet-store pooper-scooper ... also, coincidentally, a very early-morning job. I guess that preference started early!

First Favorite Politician:
I remember liking Jimmy Carter's smile ... he seemed friendly. Obviously I wasn't very sensitive to political issues yet!

First Car:
1984 (I think) Ford Escort. It burned up in my driveway less than a year after I bought it. Oddly enough, while in flames, it started itself and drove into the side of the house. That was a very exciting evening.

First Record/CD:
My dad sent me two records that were my first - A collection of Irish Rovers' childrens' songs, and music from Carousel

First Sport Played:
ALMA (Athens Little Miss America) Softball. It was quickly determined that I had no aptitude for athletics. :)

First Concert:
Petra in the early 80's

First Foreign Country Visited:
Israel

First Favorite TV Show:
Waltons

First Favorite Actor:
Greg Evigan (or however you spell it) on BJ & the Bear (my, but the late 70's had a lot of embarrassing television!)

First Favorite Actress:
Kate Somebody on Charlie's Angels (see comment above about embarrassing tv shows!)

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend:
Still looking for one!

First Encounter with a Famous Person:
Still waiting for this one too ... though not really concerned about seeing it happen. :)

First Brush With Death:
Not really a direct answer to the question, because my worrying-mother would read it and freak out ... but here's my first brush with not worrying about brushes with death: Mom always used to warn us, when we were going over to our grandparents', "stay away from the power take-off on tractors." We would dutifully nod, and assure her that we would. Neither one of us knew what a power take-off was, nor did we ask. :)

First House/Condo Owned:
The one I'm in now - moved in 6 years ago in July.

First Film Seen:
Charlotte's Web, at the theater in Bronson

First Favorite Recording Artist:
Shawn Cassidy (there's that 70's embarrassment again)

First Favorite Radio Station:
Christian station from Elkhart we could get if the wind was blowing just right.

First Book I Remember Reading:
The Black Stallion series. I scoured every available library for them.

Well, THAT was an invitation to greater self-discipline

Just woke up from the most horrid dream ...

I dreamed my life had fallen apart, and I was waking up after a drunken binge, lying on a stranger's kitchen floor.

Well ... time to get some work done around this place ... now that I've seen where slothfulness can lead! Yikes!!!!

Had a really interesting evening last night (before the drunken-binge-dream). Some missionaries from our church who serve in Thailand gave a presentation on how Buddhism affects the Thai culture and thinking. It was fascinating, and sad too in some ways. For instance, Buddha forbids people to think about three areas: Where they came from, what happens after death, and one more I can't remember. These are the big questions of life, and the thought of people being forbidden to ponder them saddens me. There was a ton more, but I'd better get busy developing self-discipline now ... lest bad things happen. :)

Do you think this is clear? :)

so SO tempted to be passive-agressive about this ...

Last night, someone in my building was up after midnight yelling about something.

And it wasn't constant yelling ... it was every 20 minutes or so ... just as you'd had a chance to ALMOST get to sleep ... and he'd holler again. Maybe some kind of sports-thing on Tv? Who knows.

So I couldn't really call the police, because who knows if they'd hear the guy.
I was so, SO tempted to go down and lean on his doorbell at 4:30 this morning when I got up.

I know I was sure having trouble waking up after four hours sleep, so I was thinking maybe he would need a little help also?

What SHOULD stop me is a mature, righteous thought like, "this kind of behavior doesn't solve anything, and only escalates the situation." But in reality the only thing that stopped me was that I wasn't 100% sure I was suspecting the right apartment.

May 11

My chicks have flown the coop. They were in the nest this morning, and gone this evening. The adults are still trying to feed chicks that aren't there. They obviously haven't figured out the babies are gone yet. Very small brains. :)

May 10 Robins

The Lighting Corner in Grandville

This is why I do business on the internet ...

I was looking for a lampshade for an oddly-sized lamp, and having no luck finding one.

So I went into a local lighting store. I knew I'd be paying a lot for a shade, but I had hopes of finding one the right size.

The salesman did help me find one, though it had to be ordered.

I paid ... well I'm embarrassed to say what I paid. Let's just say, it was more than the lamp itself, and about ten times what a lampshade should cost.

At the time I ordered it, the salesman said, "if it doesn't sit right, just bring in your harp, and we'll swap it out" and gestured to a bunch of out-of-package harps hanging on the wall by the shades.

"well," think I, "there is the advantage to dealing with a local business instead of buying online."

So, after waiting six weeks, I picked up ridiculously-expensive-lampshade last Friday, and it doesn't sit quite right on the lamp.

Today, I go in, and ask for a smaller harp.

The same salesman has absolutely no memory of the previous conversation. Nope ... he never would have done that. Couldn't happen.

I chose NOT to buy the smaller harp from them. In fact, I think I will choose to never buy anything from them.

I am miffed.

A few more baby robin pictures

A couple from today -- looking a little cramped in there!





May 7 - daddy robin perches just a little bit away, expressing his displeasure :)




May 7



May 4



May 3

Since yesterday was military-spouse appreciation day

I thought I'd post this for my favorite Army guy & Army guy's wife.

posterous - trying to post to facebook and blogger

We are exploring different options to communicate church information ... I'm specifically looking for something that's a nice fill-in the gap between email and the website ... not as permanent as the web, and not as temporary as email.

Todd recommended posterous - you can post to a blog, facebook and twitter all at once.  I'm trying it out to see what it looks like! 

Feedback is welcome and appreciated!

Posted via email from Trinka's posterous

some baby bird pictures

I've been a little lax in updating the chicks' progress. Here are some from this week.

May 2 - baby robins apparently sleeping late on a Saturday morning


April 28 - Daddy trying to feed the babies, if only I would GET OFF THE PORCH



April 28 - baby robins waiting for dinner

why I'm glad I'm not a nurse

List of office equipment that has died in my presence in the last two weeks:

Imac (twice)
folding machine
digital duplicator

Now, none of these died at my hand, but if I were a nurse, and these were people, circumstantial evidence would necessitate a police investigation, I'm afraid.

Imac is up and running again.

Folding machine and duplicator both currently dead.

Copy machine still running, but who knows ...

On another note, yesterday I was witness to one of the most vicious cases of spite I have seen in a long time.

A (currently mentally ill) husband rented a dumpster, and threw out all of his wife's most loved possessions. They sat out in the rain all day. The dumpster-company-owner kindly us help her retrieve them last night, behind a warehouse, where they were sitting, soaked, in the mud.

Welcoming, isn't it?

Please note - this is NOT from my church, or any other you're likely to enter unawares!

Thoughts on Restoration

OK ... not in the spiritual sense ...

Working on my laptop, while watching Carbonite restore the Mac. It has 48,531 files to go, and has 73,606 done.

I'll feel SO good once everything is back to normal again!

The last two weeks have been SO stressful. Looking forward to a visit to some friends in Missouri in a few weeks ... a get-away will feel very good.

baby chicks

The robins' eggs have hatched. Here they are on day 1. As last year ... SO ugly! :)

Computer/electronics nightmares continue at work. Yesterday the internet went down, and we have had no success in restoring it. Still no word on repairs to the office Mac.

Thinking of buying an abacus and a typewriter ...

this year's robin's nest

I have a mama robin sitting on the nest on my porch. Here are a couple pictures. One of the eggs appears to be cracked, though maybe it's just the way some straw is positioned. It's too early for them to be starting to hatch, I think, since the mama's only been sitting there less than a week.




It has been a truly rotten week. I am really looking forward to a solitary three day weekend to get my feet back underneath me again!

Tentatively Hopeful

I've been through a nightmare computer-week, which culminated yesterday with the knowledge that I had definitely lost a week's worth of work.

After a good cry (the preliminary step to any massive recovery project), God gave me an idea for how to retrieve some of the information from paper records. Then, as the plan began to take shape, He gave a strategy to verify the accuracy of the information when I was done.

It will be a long, dull day ... but I have hope that by 5:00, I'll have regained some ground.

(and be really, REALLY ready for the far-off weekend)

What on earth is Burger King thinking?

My sister-in-law told me about BK's most recent advertisement. I had a hard time believing I was understanding her correctly.

Then I saw it last night.

Ick.

Tell me how scantily dressed women with square backsides, and a music star talking about women's bodes, tie in to fast food? Particularly how do they tie in with a promotion for Sponge Bob at a fast food place?

Wouldn't a cartoon character promotion be aimed at children?

So ... we're targeting children with ads that feature disgusting lyrics, misogynistic performers, and dancers dressed like prostitutes?

I. Don't. Get. It.

From this morning's conversation with the adorable nieces ...

Oldest: "Daddy gets to play at work."

Me: "What does he play?"

Oldest: "He has a big playground with monkey bars and ropes and ..."

Youngest: "But we weren't allowed

(He is in the Army.) :)

the Adorable Nieces' auction purchase

I went with my brother, sister-in-law, mom & nieces to an auction today, and the youngest fell in love with this little tykes vanity. She bid on it (with a little help), and sold it. Everyone seems to have had a pretty good time watching them too! Here's a picture of them tonight enjoying their purchase.

Carbonite saves me yet again

The Mac here at work just froze up. I re-booted, and the most recent files were those I had saved on April 3.

YIKES!!!!!!


I'm restoring from Carbonite as I speak.

This is twice now that thing has saved me - once at home and once here at work.

LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

Flirting with Strangers' Babies

In the post office this morning, there was a little guy in a stroller waiting for his mom to finish her business at the counter.

He was shrieking ... you know the shriek ... it feels like someone is using a rasp to re-shape your brain stem?

It entered my mind to go up to the front and flirt with the little guy. The shrieking diminished considerably, and nobody arrested me for kidnapping. (I'm always concerned if I show interest in someone's child, that they'll expect me to run out the door with him/her).

Flirting with strangers' babies ... I think this is going to be my new approach to the shrieking. (Someone please come and bail me out, if I end up imprisoned.)

Looking forward to a weekend with the adorable nieces (and their parents). Yippeee!

Video of the Social Secretaries' Talk I went to

L. found this video of the lecture I went to last week Tuesday:

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent

Have a look at her video.

LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Another video to smile at

Dancing happens at the Antwerp train station. :)

Take time for a tea party

I know conservatives aren't really known for protesting ... we pretty much just grit our teeth, and make the best of things.

But there are a couple of tea parties being held locally to protest Obama's taxes ... if you get a chance, do try to attend one tomorrow!

# Hudsonville - Gemmens parking lot at Noon
# Grand Rapids - Ah-Nab-Awen Park at 5:00pm

If you're not from around here, just google "tea party" for your area -- they're being held all over the place tomorrow.

Here's an article from Fox News that tells a bit about them.

Trinka

He is risen!

Wishing everyone a blessed day today as we remember that Christ rose from the dead, and in Him, we will also rise.

In a less spiritual note ...

I'm beta testing some software I've been eagerly awaiting ever since I started acquiring multiple email accounts.

Trillian Astra combines instant messaging from Yahoo, ICQ, Hotmail, AOL, Gmail, as well as info from Facebook and Skype.

So you've got one small window, that hosts all those goodies.

I'd gotten so I just used Gmail for my instant messaging, but I still had a lot of people who looked for me under the old names. Now they're all available, as well as lots of other gadgets.

So far ... I'm most impressed!

If you're interested in giving it a try, I've got some invitations to send out. Just let me know, and I'll ship one your way!

Off to enjoy the smell of the bread baking, which I'll be taking to Pastor & Bonnie's for dinner in an hour or two.

An Insider's Look at the White House

Last night, the Gerald Ford Museum here in Grand Rapids had a program where 3 different ladies who had served as social secretaries in 3 different presidential administrations (Bush Sr., Johnson & Ford) came and spoke.

It was delightful to hear their stories of different things that had happened when they worked at the White House. Such a neat opportunity!

It was marred, however, by the rudest behavior by a couple of women in the back row.

One of the speakers had a very quiet voice. You had to concentrate while she was speaking to be able to hear her. However, it was a small auditorium, and was very possible to understand her. You just had to pay attention.

When she began to speak, a rude woman in the back row called out "Can't Hear!" very loudly. (note that she chose to sit in the BACK ROW ... where it would naturally be hardest to hear.)

The lady gamely tried to carry on speaking, and then the woman, and another sitting next to her, did it AGAIN.

Um ... if you can't hear ... maybe if you would BE QUIET, you would find it easier.

They brought out a different microphone for the lady who was speaking, and it did make her somewhat louder, but every time she forgot to speak directly into the mic, I was afraid rude-women would yell at her again! Certainly gave a really bad impression.

It's not like they had paid a fortune for tickets, and weren't getting their money's worth -- the lecture was free. And it WAS possible to hear ... if a person shut up and concentrated.

It was such trashy behavior, and I'm still irked!

I've noticed this at other gatherings also. Those who don't hear well will almost always sit at the back, and then, if (when) they have trouble hearing, start talking to each other about the fact they can't hear ... thereby guaranteeing they won't EVER be able to hear, nor will anyone else.

I know, I'm not doing much writing lately

But I DO keep finding these cool videos.

This person has trained a fish. Watch!

The real purpose of the internet

Is to allow one to share adorable video of piglets with one's friends and family ...



Kingsford Goes to the Beach - video powered by Metacafe

I'm the only one of my kind ...

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 1 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

isn't this sweet?

A baby elephant at the Columbus Zoo just getting his feet underneath himself for the first time. (no sound)

Cecile Woodruff

I was getting rid of some old Bibles, and this picture fell out. I have no idea who she is, or even where the Bible came from. (People know I love books, and so I will often get boxes given to me to look through.) The Bible had belonged to the Hollister family.

Anyhow, Cecile looked like such a pleasant lady, that I thought I'd give some random googler a chance to find her, if she happened to be a relation of theirs.

Some faces just intrigue me, and hers does.

So ... descendant of Cecile Woodruff, if you happen to pass this way, here is what she looked like one winter day long ago. :) Leave a comment, and I'll be happy to send you the picture.

Some thoughts on Psalm 139 from this weekend

I'm finally feeling better. Life is good! :) (You never realize how good you feel until you feel really BAD for a while.)

The speaker at last weekend's retreat gave us a lot of time alone with God, with suggestions for study. I really enjoyed it.

The first suggestion she had was to meditate on Psalm 139. This is one I'd memorized years ago, and I haven't spent much time with it since. Thinking about it was such a treat. I'll share some of what I came up with for the first five verses, and I'd love to hear your thoughts also.


1. O LORD, You have searched me and known {me.}

There is SO much in me (and in anyone) that would offend God, at the very core of His being. He is perfect, and we human beings are far from it. I know myself, and know that I am far from it.

Yet He makes a deliberate choice to go there. He is all-knowing. He already knows everything. Yet to "search" seems to imply some attention above and beyond that. He somehow directed the process, focused it more precisely, when it comes to knowing His people.

Now my first (negative) thought is that He's looking for hidden sins and yuckiness that needs to go away. Yet later, in verse 23, David ASKS God to search him for hidden sins. So this initial searching must be something different, yes? Maybe a desire to become more intimately acquainted with one who's loved? Maybe gazing on the reflection of the Lord Jesus, that's present (even in small scraps) in the hearts of those who have trusted him?

The word "me" is in brackets, which means it isn't in the original text, but is strongly implied. It's interesting to read it without that word. "You have searched me and known." There's something all-encompassing when you read it that way. The open-endedness (new word ... made it up myself) is comforting. He has searched, and He knows it ALL ... the motivations, the secrets, fears, triumphs. He just ... KNOWS.

2. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.


He cares about all the little details of our day -- the things that would be SO tedious to all but those who really care ... "When did you get up this morning?" "Did you sit and watch the sunrise?" "Was your headache any better today?" These things are fascinating when they involve someone you love.

The end is amazing. "You understand my thought afar off." I have friends whom I love dearly, and whom I can truly say I "know." Yet, the way they think is so different fro the way I think that there is a continual mystery in understanding their motives and choices. Yet God is afar off ... profoundly different in every way. Nevertheless, somehow, He not only CAN, but chooses to, understand my thoughts. So often I don't understand them myself!

3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

He "scrutinizes" or "winnows" my path. This sounds fearful, too, doesn't it? But only because I don't know HIM as well as He knows ME!

The use of "winnow" is interesting. Picking out the bad bits and blowing them away. Fortunately he adds in some good bits, so there's something left! It seems like a violent process, but it's a process with a POINT. There are times when violence is required in order to accomplish good ends. Surgery, or setting a bone, a soldier's boot camp or disciplining a child ... these would all seem violent to an observer who didn't understand the situation. Yet their end is healing, and maturity and strength.

"Path" or "journeying" makes me think of life and "lying down" of death as well as the day to day awake and sleep, or moving forward in our growth with God and times of stagnation. All of this, He knows intimately.

What a beautiful summary statement. "intimately acquainted with all my ways."

There's a story told, and I wish I could find the source. (help? anyone?) about a practical joker who sent anonymous notes to many people in his town. They all said the same thing: "all is discovered, flee now." And they did. Every one of them had a secret that, if it were known, would be so deeply shameful that they ran. We all do, don't we? If not something we've done, then something we've thought, or something we just ARE. But in God's case, all IS known, and there IS nowhere to flee. But there's also no need to flee.

4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.

Again, there's so much to know here that's abhorrent to me. There are things I've said that just make me flinch when the memory sneaks in unbidden. In James 3, it says "the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity."

In those times of verbal idiocy, I often don't even known my words before they slip out. Yet God DOES. If tongue control is going to happen, I need to ask Him to do it!


5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

I can tend to be claustrophobic in certain situations ... crowded rooms full of people, amidst clutter, when I can't see outside, etc. But this is a good type of enclosure, not like a cow in a loading cute!

I was thinking about reasons why we enclose things:


Because they might get lost
livestock, children, earrings

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, Lord,
Take and seal it.
Seal it for thy courts above.

Because there is danger to be avoided

There are hidden pits, evil people and treacherous pathways, and we'll wander into them chasing butterflies.

To set it apart for ourselves


My yard, my field, my last piece of chocolate cake ... we enclose it to show ownership.

Because it's valuable, and someone might snatch it away

Passports, cars, and beloved disciples who might listen to false teachers who would lead them into falsehood

Because we want to assign it value

If you're trying to sell something, putting it in a glass case automatically gives it a perceived value. If you have something that might appear ordinary, and you want to display it in your home, you set it apart, and it draws the eye, and curiosity. There's an allure to the apparently-every-day that is, for some reason, different.

Because it's fragile, delicate

Oh to remember this about other believers! It's so easy to be quick with advice, or criticism, or just un-useful words. We are all far more fragile than we let on. God wants us to deal gently with one another.

“Being perplexed, I say,
‘Lord, make it right!
Night is as day to Thee,
Darkness as light.
I am afraid to touch
Things that involve so much;
My trembling hand may shake,
My skilless hand may break;
Thine can make no mistake.’

“Being in doubt I say,
‘Lord, make it plain;
Which is the true, safe way?
Which would be gain?
I am not wise to know,
Nor sure of foot to go;
What is so clear to Thee,
Lord, make it clear to me!’”
-- Streams in the Desert

**************

So, there's what I've come up with. I'd love to hear your gleanings!

On another note, my robins are back, and building a nest on the balcony again this year. I shredded some rags last night, and put them out, to contribute something to the construction process.

quite possibly the least productive day ever

I was at our church's ladies' retreat Friday night and Saturday, and it was such a blessing. I have some gleanings I'd like to post on Psalm 139, but not tonight, I don't think.

Came home sick, and I've been sleeping ever since ... I mean for the last 24 hours, I've been awake about 5. And now, that I've gotten up, checked my mail, and typed this, I'm considering going back to sleep again.

Sure hope this passes before I need to be at work Tuesday morning (and I also hope no one ELSE came home with it.)

no one accuses the EPA of being anti-science

I am listening to the Mars Hill Audio Journal right now. It's an audio publication our pastor subscribes to that examines different aspects of culture, theology, etc.

It really is fascinating. The one that's playing now is about stem cell research, and the line in the subject really jumped out at me.

Those who are against embryonic stem cell research are portrayed as being anti-science. Which is, I suppose, true in a limited sense ... they believe that there are limits to where research should go. (i.e. - Joseph Mengele ... or however his name was spelled ... don't want to look it up, because I don't want to know any more about him than I already do!).

However, those who want to protect the environment would ALSO believe in restrictions on scientific research ... animal experimentation, biological weapons, things that would harm the environment, etc. However, I've never heard anyone claim that those folks are "anti-science."

It's all a matter of your world view, isn't it? This is a fascinating magazine - I'd encourage you to have a listen! They have a free podcast with little samples from the different articles, which is what I'm listening to right now.

things change

I was reading in Acts 21 this morning, and thinking about how different things were in the early church than they are now.

In college, I used to attend a church that thought it was very important that we follow the pattern of the early Christians.

Yet, there are SO many things that happen in Acts that are VERY different from how God has the church structured now.

This particular chapter, I was noticing how OFTEN people were hearing from the Holy Spirit, not just about their own lives, but also about others. Paul was getting all KINDS of communication through other people from the Holy Spirit.

But today, the Spirit communicates to the individual believer about their own life, but (in my opinion) doesn't go meddling with others. He will talk to me about ME, and He will talk to you about YOU. He doesn't need to use me to give you orders!

It made me think of how, when a baby is newborn, SO many things change ... the hole in their heart closes up, the soft spot in their heads firms up, their neck gets stronger, they gain weight, vision improves, etc. And it's SO SO FAST.

And it's the only time in life (except maybe adolescence) that everything is in such a state of rapid change.

Acts is kind of like a newborn. All kinds of things are happening to prepare the church for maturity and stability in the future. And while we learn a TON from it, I'm becoming less and less convinced that it's intended to be a pattern for how the church should function today.

In fact, it's amazing how LITTLE pattern God actually gives us for the church's function. We are told some about how the leadership should be, and some about how we should treat one another, but as far as details about when we meet, how long, what the music's like, what the building's like, what we should wear, etc. etc. ... God doesn't say a whole lot.

When you look at the intricate details He gave for old testament temple worship, that's really amazing, isn't it? They had specifications for EVERY THING having to do with worshiping God.

Yet for the new testament church ... there's all this liberty left.

I think it's a neat picture of how God is now focused on the internal condition of our hearts, rather than the externals of buildings and dress and music and blah blah blah. He wants us to worship Him in community with a local church, but how that's done? We're pretty free.

And how adaptable this makes Christianity. It's not a belief that only "works" in Israel in 50 A.D. or in America in 2009. It belongs to every culture who opens to it, and any time. The Dutch here who prefer music without any drums, or such-like (and kind of like their food without spice also ... I wonder if there's a connection?) can HAVE their plain way of worship. And those who like drums and dancing can have that too. It's all freedom and liberty. I like that!

Grey areas are very VERY nice in so many things!

Rambling post today ... if anyone read this far, I'm impressed. :)

Obama's latest

He's suggesting we charge military personnel for treatment of service-related injuries.

I am SO not kidding.

(He says "charge their private insurance" ... but, that means their insurance rates will rise dramatically, or they'll be dropped entirely ... when you charge an insurance company, you charge the people who buy the insurance.)

Read it! And write letters. Many, many letters.

Trinka

don't you just have days like this?

My oldest niece was having a bad day. Everyone was, apparently, out to get her.

She wrote the following missive. (Note the use of all-caps on the word "BAD"). :)



I've had days like this. Everyone in the world is just BAD. I'm buying an island and moving. :)

Often, I find that coffee helps!

we interrupt this blog

For a non-commercial announcement.

There is a free add-on, discussed in this LifeHacker article, which, when installed, will give you a tab on your Office '97 programs called "menu".


Upon clicking on this tab of wonder, you will get ... can you believe it? ... the Office 2003 menus!



You're welcome.




(I'm slowly learning the Office 2007 menus, but, when I'm in a rush, it's VERY nice to be able to just go to what's familiar, and grab what I need!)

Today's Dilbert

Love it!!! (If you only see two panels, click on it to go to the site, and see the third.)

It's good to be a girl ...

My insurance company recently sent a document to me that indicated they thought I was male.

The funny thing is ... this is NOT the first time this has happened, or even the second!

I'm quite a girly-girl, so at least it's not an indictment of my appearance.

But I DO have a strange first name, and my last name is a commonly-used man's first name.

So, often data-entry types will see my name, assume it's reversed, and assign me the wrong gender. One college I applied to made this mistake. I would have had a very interesting time in the dorms, if I'd ended up going THERE!

I think I've gotten insurance-company straightened out.

Which is good, since I'm wearing a skirt today, and I'd hate to have to go home and change. :)

Everything is Amazing ... Nobody's Happy

so many bad choices start with these words ...

"I'm afraid of ending up alone."

Good grief folks. There are WAY worse things.

Pull up your big-girl panties, learn to operate power tools, replace air filters and see the occasional movie by yourself.

Really ... it's not a bad way to live.

Relationships are great.

Relationships born out of desperation ... not so much so.

Bittersweet Facebook bios

I've been on Facebook for quite a long time, but used it infrequently - mostly to see the pictures posted by a few friends.

But recently, I've run into a large group of folks I knew about 20 years ago.

It's fascinating to get these little snapshots of their lives. Most have been the predictable "went to college, got married, had kids."

Then there are a few that were stories of great sadness and victory.

One fellow who was always a thinker has some books he's written.

Another who had the best sense of humor of anyone I've ever met has become a doctor. (Can you imagine how much more at ease you'd be with a doc who didn't take himself, or life, too seriously?) In the midst of rejoicing at seeing him have that success, I noticed that he's gone through a divorce, and some custody strangeness with his kids. So, you get 20 years of history, condensed into one 10 minute Facebook reunion. And you wonder ... do I send condolences, congratulations, what?

A lot, apparently, can get squeezed into 20 years. I, on the other hand, am still wearing some of the same clothes, and reading the same books. Some of us just don't DO change.

Letter from a Grand-dad

A very cute email forward. :)


Guess you heard that 68% of the youth vote went to Obama. My 20 yr old granddaughter called this morning to tell me she was one of them. I replied with this e-mail:

My Dear Susan,

The election of Obama comes down to this. Your grandmother and I, your mother, and other productive, wage-earning tax payers will have their taxes increased and that means less income left over. Less income means we will have to cut back on basic purchases, gifts and handouts. That includes firing the Hispanic lady who cleans our house twice a month. She just lost her job. We can't afford her anymore.

What is the economic effect of Obama's election on you personally? Over the years, your grandmother and I have given you thousands of dollars in food, housing, cash, clothing, gifts, etc. By your vote, you have chosen another family over ours for help.

So in the future, if you need assistance with your rent, money for gas, tires for your car, someone to bring you lunch, etc. ... Call 202-456-1111.
That's the telephone number for the Office of the President of the United States . I'm sure Mr. Obama will be happy to send a check from his personal or business accounts, as we have, or leave cash in an envelope taped to his front door for you, as we have.

It's like this. Those who vote for the President of the United States should consider what the impact of an election will be on the nation as a whole and not just be concerned with what they can get for themselves (welfare, stimulus checks, etc.). What Obama voters don't seem to realize is that the government's money comes from taxes collected from tax paying families. Raising taxes on productive people means they will have less money to spend on their families.

Congratulations on your choice. For future reference, you might attempt to add up all you've received from us, your mom, Mike's parents and others and compare it to what you expect to get over the next four years from Mr. Obama.

To congratulate Mr. Obama and to make sure you're on the list for handouts, write to:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington , DC 20500

Love you Susan, but call the number listed above when you need help.

Take Care!

Love,
Granddad

Dad's foundry burning

My father found this video last night that was taken when his foundry burned in 1991.

I had absolutely no idea the size of the fire. And the place was a 100-year-old building, located in an old area of Reading, with other buildings right on top of it - it's a miracle that nobody was killed, and the fire dept. was able to contain it before it spread.

I admit it ... I watch Survivor

My sister-in-law and I occasionally watch it "together." (meaning, we text message each other during the show.

It always takes a while to learn who's who, and their personalities. But for the initial few episodes, I'm always just hoping for people to get voted out who have brought inadequate swimwear. I live ALONE and I'm embarrassed.

Clothes ladies ... clothes are good.

They know they're going to play a game that's athletic, and long-lasting. Maybe a swimsuit that actually is ... you know ... designed to stay ON when you breathe?

And there is always complaining about being cold at night.

Again ... clothes ... maybe bring clothes containing actual fabric?

Instead of strategically-placed rubber bands?

critters at work

Today I shopped at a local trophy shop to pick up some name tags we had ordered for work.

I love going to this place.

"Why?" you may ask, "do you like visiting a store that's so obviously selling merchandise that doesn't interest you?"

It's because they have a dog. There's a sweet little poodle that greets me at the door whenever I go there.

There's something so warm about a business that has a pet. (Those with allergies would probably disagree.)

Bookstores so often have a resident cat. It changes it from a commercial enterprise to a giant cozy reading room when you see that fuzzy fellow looking down at you from the top of a shelf.

One of my few memories from when I was really little was going to my dad's foundry in the evening when nothing was happening, and there was a big German Shepherd dog wandering around. (Dad just sent an email and said his name was "Lance")

When I was a kid, my brother and I always wanted to go to one certain hardware store, because they had a Macaw. His name was Rascal, and he was a fun bird.

Then there was the time in high school when I actually worked at a pet store. The two favorites there were a green parrot and a white cockatoo that were chained to an open perch in the middle of the store. They were great fun, and SO smart. They learned to open the ages, and, if you weren't careful, would let the small birds out at night when nobody was watching.

Critters ... I'm in favor of critters. (at least the ones that don't have long, naked tails ... mice, gerbils, snakes ... nothing like that!) Fellow came in one day with his pet rat. No thanks. That's not a pet. That's vermin.

if I get attacked by a plate of Mongolian beef, I'm ready to defend myself

I've recently discovered a site for people trying to grow their hair long. It has some wonderful tips & tricks. (I'm now sleeping with my hair in braids laced with coconut oil ... and whether it protects it or not, I don't know ... but it smells WONDERFUL).

On this site is a section with all kinds of instructions for different ways of putting up your hair. The one I tried today weaves it around a pair of chopsticks. I love the way it looks, but I keep picturing myself pulling them out and tackling a plate of fried rice. :)

Kristen asked for a picture -- here's the best I could do with my cell phone camera over my head. :) It's not as smooth as it could be, because I did it with dry hair.

Define "Impertinent"

No ... really. I mean it. Think about it, and tuck the definition away in your mind behind your right ear.

Did you do it?

No?

I'm waiting ...


No. Don't look it up ... I want the definition from inside your own head.


Waiting ....


OK.


The word really has two definitions:

1. synonymous with impudent or cheeky (this is how I defined it.)

or

2. synonymous with irrelevant

The interesting thing is, if you ask a group of people what the word means, almost everyone will come up with one or the other, and will vehemently defend their position.

It almost always breaks down thusly:

Math/Science types will insist on definition #2. (irrelevant)

Literature types will insist on definition #1. (impudent)

And so far, NOBODY has said that it has two meanings.

So ... next time you're sitting around a table, and the seven-minute-conversation-lull hits, take a little survey, and feel free to let me know the results!

a sweet surprise

A group of kids and teens from church just brought me a rose, some cards and cookies for valentines' day. If that wasn't just such a neat surprise.

I'd just been griping about valentine's day being the depressing highlight of a depressing month ... and those sweet faces show up to brighten my day. It was a treat!

I want to vote for someone in four years ...

I've been thinking about the bleakness of the quality of politicians for whom we have opportunity to vote.

Other than Sarah Palin, there hasn't been anyone I'd vote FOR in this last election, other than Fred Thompson, who got out too early in the primaries. By the time it got to the election, it was "which is the least objectionable."

It seems that everyone is trying to be so moderate, that they aren't standing for anything. I want a fire-breathing, small-government, tax-cutting, pork-deleting, non-compromising dragon. I do not want a moderate.

Conservatives are becoming so moderate, that the liberals are turning us into another European country. (To those who only know what they see on the evening news ... this is NOT a good thing.)

I just wonder, if a third party sprang up NOW, and committed themselves to being conservatives ... real conservatives ... if in the next 4 years, they could give both the republicans and democrats a run for their money.

I'm almost tempted by the libertarians, if it weren't for the goofy drug-legalization aspect. (And don't they have some kind of thing going on where they don't want laws barring sex with minors? Not sure about this one ...)

The libertarians don't seem to take into account that mankind is basically evil. We NEED laws regulating behavior, or else we will have Lord of the Flies, lived out in front of us.

But we DON'T need socialism.

So how do you find someone to vote for, and a party to join, that understands, and is willing to stand on, that broad platform that lies between socialism and anarchy? It exists. Lots of folks in the past stood on it, but it's deserted now.

If someone steps up, and occupies that space, I think (I hope!) a great many Americans would be delighted to follow him or her in four years.

love it!

Questions that puzzle secretaries ...

When told that the person they are calling has left for the day ...

"Did he go home? Can I find him there?"

Gee ... he neglected to tell me his plans for the evening. Imagine!

When told that someone is not available to the phone.

When can I call back and reach them?

OK ... if you're not willing to leave a message and have him call you back when it's convenient, then you, sir, are a phone salesman or another form of annoying caller, and nobody will want to talk to you, no matter WHEN you call.

Distribution of your surname in the U.S.

Isn't this cool?

Distribution of the surname Jeffery

Where does your name come from?

I am sick to death of moderation

I was reading about the new RNC chair, and how he is a "moderate" ... how the Republican party desperately needs "moderates."

Can't anyone out there see that moderation is the LAST thing we need?

Good grief people ... stand for SOMETHING.

Thanks for listening ... I'm not feeling any better ... but at least I vented a bit.

If you want your computer keyboard REALLY clean ...

I'm working on a project for which I'm using pried-off keys from a LOT of broken computer keyboards. (speaking of such ... if you have any that are headed for the trash .... please send them my way).

Anyway ...

I had the idea of running them through the dishwasher.

Those keys are SPOTLESS.

Though, I suppose if it were a keyboard you actually wanted to USE again ... not such a good idea. :)

Army is closed

My brother's Army base is closed because it's icy.

Yep ... hope nobody attacks Kentucky today 'cause there ain't nobody protecting it.

Tanks, helicopters, big guns, all kinds of cool toys ... but they close for ice. :)

Israel

An excellent portrayal of the facts on the Middle East conflict, that the media can't be bothered to report:

http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened/

(probably not a video I'd watch with children around, just FYI).

Life Lesson for Today

No matter HOW sunny it is on one's lunch hour, it is still inadvisable to leave the car's sun-roof open when going back in to work after lunch, in Michigan, in January.

In other news ... we had a bat in the building this morning. My, but that was exciting. :)

Here's some kids getting a good foundation!

What software would YOU use, if you were me?

I am a church secretary, and a big part of my job is writing announcements for different events.

I'm trying to decide what software would be best to start saving these announcements, so I could re-use and reference them.

We're talking about 3-5 sentences of text, which would need to be cross-referenced in multiple ways ... by date, by the group having the event, by the room it met in, etc.

I'd thought about a database, but that isn't really exactly what I'm after, because it would need to be linked in so many different ways.

Suggestions? Anyone?

clock is done!

We ended up taking the clock to the folks at Eastern Avenue Clock Shop, as the works needed some work. I picked it up today, and am just loving it!

Adorable!

Now THIS is the proper use of the internet ... videos of hedgehogs eating carrots. :)

that's not funny!

OK ... actually ... it's ME that's not funny.

I have friends who are, naturally, funny.

D. comes from a family of story-tellers, and she can tell the simplest thing, and have a group rolling. T. has a naturally quick mind, and will come out with something hilarious before most of us have had time to process the situation she's referring to.

About the only naturally humorous gift I have is to tell "I did something dumb" stories. Fortunately I provide myself with a ready supply.

Why is she bringing this up? you may wonder.

Well, I'm having lunch with R. today.

She is one of the rare exceptions to the "Trinka's not funny" rule.

For some oddball reason, I am a regular comedian when I'm with her. She draws forth smart alec, goofy remarks, one after the other.

No idea why.

I have a few folks like this, and being with them is always a strange, yet wonderful experience. I come away thinking ... "this is what it must be like to be T." My handful of jollity-producing friends are as follows: two sisters I used to visit in Kirksville, Missouri, the nurse-practitioner in my doctor's office, and R--My handful of jollity-producing friends. So ... all of you with whom I laugh until my face hurts ... thanks! It's certainly a delight.

I suppose this is what "bringing out the best (or possibly worst) in me" means ... who can tell? :)

all hope of productivity is lost from henceforeth

I set up a Facebook account a couple years ago, but never really used it.

Until ... Friday ...

When I discovered it has these word games.

Word games you can play for hours and hours and hours.

Word games which might, if some kind of intervention is not planned, cause me to spend every free moment in front of my computer from now on. (No. I mean MORE than I already do!)

Pathwords and Scramble ... give them a try. REALLY addictive. Come, join me in the land of unproductivity ...

spring in my kitchen

While the snow falls outside, and they are predicting high temps in the single digits for the next several days, I'm encouraged to watch this little fellow.

R. gave me this bulb vase last year, with a hyacinth bulb to go in it. This year for my birthday, she gave me another bulb (of unknown type). It's been growing a little over a week now, and it's happening so fast that I could swear I see a difference every time I walk through the kitchen!

Trinka, the passive-agressive note writer ...

I have called my upstairs neighbor a few times to remind him of the quiet hours, and ask him to turn things down. (Christmas night at 11:15, and last night at 10:15.)

I thought that the quiet hours began at 10:00, but this morning, he had taped a copy of the bylaws to my door, and it says they begin at 10:30. (which he circled.)

OK. Fair enough.

But I also noticed that they START at 8:00 a.m. I had thought it was 9:00.

I left a note on HIS door this morning (since it seems he'd rather communicate through passive agressive notes, than picking up his phone).

I told him that, thanks to his kind information, I now realized it was 10:30. I also mentioned that I'd discovered my error about the morning hours ... how delighted I was to see that it was actually 8:00 a.m. I said that I was taking note of both times, and I thanked him for letting me know.