I want to know his NAME

A bit of news from the town where I grew up ...

A good idea takes on speed

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A Paw Paw, Mich., man's idea to free his car mired in mud went slightly awry when the driverless vehicle careened across a field at 100 mph.

Calhoun County Sheriff's Lt. James McDonagh told WWMT-TV, Kalamazoo, the 29-year-old man tried to push his car out of the mud Wednesday but found it impossible without someone in the vehicle to pus the gas pedal.

So, he grabbed a toolbox from his trunk and put it on the gas pedal of his rear-wheel drive car. A couple of pushes later, the car popped out and sped off across a muddy field at speeds reaching 100 mph, McDonagh said.

The car even became airborne a couple times until it hit a tree.

The embarrassed driver was not ticketed.

the best wine

I was reading in John 2 this morning, where the Lord turned the water into wine -- His first miracle.

Wine is often a picture of joy in the Bible ... and aren't there times in OUR lives where the wine runs out, just like it did at this wedding in Cana? Sometimes even when there is every reason for joy (as there was at the wedding), our joy will still run dry.

If we offer Him whatever's left ... the water in the wash-pots, He can make it joyous. And His joy comes in unexpected ways, overwhelming quantities, and quality that excells what we can get on our own. It also comes at the end of things ... sometimes there's a bit of lean-ness to go through first.

Exercise-wise, I got to the gym last night for a good, long while.

Trinka

exercise accountability

I missed 3 days last week - (not consecutive, but still not good). But I am headed to the gym right after work!

For Christmas a friend is giving me a year's subscription to cable internet ... after a 3-year hiatus, I'll have access at home again. I have missed it!

Trinka

a bit of politics ...

I just couldn't resist this one. :)

• Ways to be a Good Democrat
  
  You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
  
  You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
  
  You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.
  
  You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
  
  You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.
  
  You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
  
  You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but urban activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.
  
  You have to believe that having self-esteem is more important than self-respect or actually doing something to earn it.
  
  You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it attacks certain parts of the Constitution.
  
  You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
  
  You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Gen. Robert E. Lee, and Thomas Edison.
  
  You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
  
  You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
  
  You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese government is somehow in the best interest of the United States. But, complain, that all of our jobs are going out of America to China .
  
  You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.

Merry Christmas

I hope you all have a blessed day today. :)

Who is this fellow? You know ... the one whose birth started this whole Christmas thing?

He claimed to be God.
(Not "a" god. "THE" God).

He claimed to be the only way to heaven ... "THE way, THE truth, THE life"
(very intolerant fellow, really.)

What do you think of Him?

Off to our 8:30 service and then to my mom's for dinner. :)

Trinka

acini di pepe

Whew knew there WAS such a thing? It's a little tiny pasta, that I had in a WONDERFUL salad recently. I got the recipe, and plan to make it for Christmas. So last night, I went to the store, and bought all the ingreidents. Except I forgot the pasta. How's that for strange ... buy the pasta salad ingredients, and forget the pasta. :)

Went BACK to the store this morning, and discovered that acini di pepe pasta isn't quite as easy to find as one might hope. :) More shopping to follow at lunch today! (I'll copy the recipe at the end ... it's one of the few pasta salads I've found that contains vinegar that doesn't taste overwhelmingly of the stuff).

Got to the fancy, expensive gym on my free-week coupon last night, and discovered it's not NEARLY as nice as the $60/year university gym. The equipment is less stable; there are fewer options in weight machines, and the weights listed on the side of the machines don't seem to be "true" to how heavy they feel (assuming the ones I'm used to are standard). I usually lift 72 pounds with my arms, and 84 with my legs ... yet on these machines last night, there were times I could barely budge 70 pounds, and other times it felt way too light. I'm realizing how thankful I am for my alumni benefits at the college! I used the eliptical machine for a while, and definately am a fan - they're easy to use, not too hard on the knees, and less "bouncy" so you can read while you're on them.

Looking forward to Christmas - may your day bring to mind He whose birth it celebrates!

Trinka


Acini di Pepe Salad

1 1/2 cups acini di pepe pasta, or any small pasta such as orzo
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup red grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup yellow grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 cup finely sliced radicchio
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
1 1/2 cups basil leaves, torn into large pieces
1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook the pasta for about 6 minutes or until tender.
Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Toss the pasta with the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and salt.
Fold in the tomatoes, pine nuts, radicchio, onion, and basil.
Sprinkle with the feta cheese.
Serve at room temperature.

what're you hungry for?

I was reading in Luke 1 this morning, specifically in Mary's song after she saw Elizabeth, and was thinking about the coming Messiah she was carrying.

v. 53 says, "He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away."

If we bring our hungers to Him ... He's ready to fill us with good things. But if we're too "rich" to need Him ... if we're satisfied with our own answers ... we'll go away empty.


GK Chesterton wrote, "Even when men knock on the door of a brothel they’re looking for God."

I want to remember that, whatever I'm hungry for -- He has the real answers!

Got to the gym Monday night. (And a man thought I was staff and asked me what time they closed ... how 'bout THEM apples? I actually looked like I belonged there. Still pondering on the amazing nature of THAT). :)

Last night no exercise happened because of prayer meeting.

Tonight, the university gym is closed for Christmas. But I'm using a "free week" coupon at the fitness center that just opened up around the corner.

This is the "you've got to sign your life away to join" gym ... (quote from a lawyer-friend who saw the contract sitting on my desk ... "of course, you don't intend to sign this, right?") so I'm not interested in becoming a member. But I'll certainly take advantage of the free week until the university opens again. :)

Trinka

I tried to do the right thing!

Got up at 6:30 this morning (on my day off, thank you) and drove to the gym ... and it has weird holiday hours - doesn't open until 8:00. Like ... the day's half over by then! :)

Drove home again, and started in on my day. I hope to at least get in a walk later.

Also got to the library around 9:00, and they don't open 'till 10:00.

Whoever establishes business hours is obviously NOT a morning person. :)

Had the interesting cultural experience of watching the Today show this morning while drinking my coffee.

It's fascinating to get a glimpse of pop culture every now and then (from a safe distance). There were dozens of people who appeared to spend their whole morning standing outside the tv studio trying to get their pictures on television. Can you imagine? What would cause a person to wake up one morning, and say, "what I'd like to do today is stand around outside, wearing a funny hat, shrieking every time a camera is turned on."

Then, what was actually ON the program was also enlightening. There was a singer interviewed, and they made quite a big deal over him. Somebody-or-other Fox. He had a lovely voice, but the lyrics to this "wonderful song he wrote for the ladies" were ... well ... filthy.

All in all, my few minutes with the Today show this morning convinced me that I'm definately not missing anything by not watching it.

FOUR whole days off ...

In 55 minutes, I'm fixin' to shut down this computer, and not turn it on until Tuesday.

It's been a VERY hectic season, with a lot of social commitments in the evenings.

I'm SO looking forward to a bit of at-home time.

I love being in my house. Quiet. With books, and house-work, and odd jobs to do.

(all the social-types are reading this and saying, "she's taking time off to stay HOME?")

Yep. Do it all the time. :)

highly collectible

Tell me ... do you find this phrase appealing?

Would you want to purchase something that was "highly collectible"?

I'm seeing it a LOT lately, and it brings to mind tribbles ... remember them from the old Star Trek series? Get one, and you end up with hundreds ... spilling out of doors, hiding in your shoes, etc.

So whenever I see the phrase, I just want to run away, before the "highly collectible" stuff attaches itself to me, and starts multiplying in corners of my house.

Clutter = "bad thing"

Trinka

Christmas busy-ness

I've decided to give myself the year off ... I'm not hauling out the Christmas decorations, and sending only the bare minimum of Christmas cards. It's a relief, both in terms of time and money.

I might look for a clearance, easy-to-assemble fake tree after Christmas this year - mine is ratty, and hard to put together. Maybe that will make it seem like less of an ordeal to face next year.

Friday I fell on the ice, and ended up with a pulled muscle that's making exercise challenging, but I did get to the gym. Every evening is filled up through Monday the 19th, so I don't have much chance for consistency until then. I'm hoping to eat like a bird, in hopes the sabbatical won't do too much damage.

Trinka

the little mysteries of life

Yesterday I received a hand-addressed envelope with the "information you requested about our museum."

That would be an antique aircraft museum, in Georgia.

It's been 10 years, and 3 address changes since I last drove through Georgia. I don't know anyone in Georgia. I haven't visited any antique aircraft-related web sites.

So, my curiosity is quite active, wondering, "how did I request this information?" :)

If it had been a data-base printed mass-mailing label, I'd assume my name was on a history-lovers list. But the hand-written envelope creates the puzzle. (Though Georgia sounds VERY nice right now!)

One responsibility ended last night. (Though I was told yesterday that I'll be on the condo board whether I'm elected or not, as someone plans to resign at the end of January, and whoever doesn't get elected will be appointed to replace her.

Had a delightful day off yesterday. I had saved some vacation time for a proposed trip to China that didn't happen, and they asked me to use some of it up, rather than carry it all into 2006. I got to the gym early in the morning when it wasn't busy (love that!), got a few things done around the house, and made an African groundnut (peanut) stew ... which I didn't try yet, but is waiting to be heated up for my lunch today.

A good friend suggested the idea of reading through the Psalms & New Testament with a hurting friend in mind, and praying for them when various verses brought them to mind, highlighting the verses, and then giving them the Bible when you're finished. I've been doing this for the friends who lost their daughter in a car accident a couple months back, and it's been such a blessing. I'm near the end of Psalms and ready to start on the New Testament. It's been especially interesting to notice how often the sea is mentioned in Psalms. The sea can be seen sometimes as a metaphor for the idea of separation ... which for somone who has lost a family member, is definately relevant.

Here's just a little sample:

Ps 72:8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

Ps 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

God rules even in this situation! While death was not in His original plan for this earth, He isn't defeated by it.

Ps 78:13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

Ps 78:53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

The Lord will bring His people through this ... sometimes in ways that will be totally baffling to a watching world! Without Him, the separation can be totally overwhelming.

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

N. got so much done for me yesterday - it's just a delight to come to work when she's been here. However, she told me that she's taken a part-time job, so won't be available as much from now on. While I'm happy for her, I'm selfishly feeling a bit sorry for myself!

Better get some things done around here myself! :)

Trinka

one more week

and my schedule will lighten up some ... just one more week!

I've not gotten in exercise every day, just due to the schedule craziness. And reading/studying is not where it should be either. I'm just holding my breath, in anticipation. A lighter workload, coming soon to a Trinka near you. :)

I am in the process of reading through Psalms and the N.T. with a family in mind who's grieving, highlighting different passages that make me think of them. I thought it might be an encouragement to them - I know it has been to me!

now THAT's the way to promote education!

An anonymous person has just donated college scholarships to every graduate of the Kalamazoo (Michigan) public schools.

It is so neat to see someone being generous like this, with no public recognition ... and the thought of how many lives will be changed as a result is just glorious!

In contrast, a lady whose blog I read is recommending that we do this:

This week, Congress will decide how much America will contribute toward an
important international effort called the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and
Malaria.Let’s keep up the positive pressure: Please email Congress today and ask
their support for $100 million in the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill for the
Global Fund-- an effort that fights back against three killer diseases and
encourages other countries to do their share. "

Now ... if each person who e-mails their congressperson with this request would, instead, contribute money to meeting these needs ... think how much more productive they would be!

It's easier to demand that the government confiscate funds and channel them ... but the amount of beauracracy waste getting the money there, and the lack of accountability from those receiving the money is staggering.

Rather than having the government confiscate $1 of my money, and getting .10 to the needed area ... which will then be squandered by corrupt management. Why not let me give the whole $1 to an organization I've researched and trust that's meeting a need about which I'm passionate?

"Rich people won't do that ... they want to keep their money" the cynics say. OK. Then what's this going on in Kalamazoo, I ask?

In other news ... when home for Thanksgiving, my mom showed me her snazzy new handgun. Yep. Handgun. She's going to classes for a concealed-carry permit. "Calm in crises situations" is not exactly a phrase that comes to mind when I think of my mother ... but maybe a bit of firepower will encourage it. Find it all very hard to picture.

I did, however, request some handling-guns-safely, how-to-shoot-the-thing lessons from my step-dad this summer - I'm ignorant about guns, and I dislike having broad areas of ignorance (except of course ignorance of professional sports, which I actively cultivate.) :)

Cozied up house-sitting at T's house watching her cat, and soaking up the free internet today.

Trinka

the joys of delegating

Since we have this day tomorrow set aside to think about what we're thankful for, I am prompted to mention some folks who don't often get noticed.

I am so thankful for the volunteers who are willing to show up whenever I have a big project here at work. The last two weeks' productivity is almost exclusively due to these dear folks who shelved books, stuffed envelopes, collated paperwork, etc.

It's such an enormous benefit to the office, and to me personally. When people compliment my efficiency, really, it's these folks' efforts they're noticing.

While those on the outside of the situation probably never realize all that they do, I'm so thankful that God DOES realize it, and they'll hear "well done" from Him one day.

Just in the last two weeks, these folks have spent HOURS here, while I tapped away at the computer, working on the NEXT project ... which they then came and spent HOURS on, while I worked on the next project ... you get the idea!

And I am thankful!

Joyce W., Sue M., Lori S., Joyce B., Ray B., Sylvia E., Karen J. ... and others too!

this Access problem I'm wrestling with ...

Anyone out there know Access?

I'm working on our church directory, and all I want to do is turn off the labels of fields that contain no information.

Doesn't this seem like it ought to be a simple property listed somewhere?

Nope. Doesn't appear to be!

Here's a picture of my report design ... if anyone has any suggestions for how to get the "E-mail" and "Birthday" labels to shut off (in instances where there's no information in the field), I'd be MOST thankful for the help. I might even buy dinner, if you're not an ax murderer or an Amway sales rep!

0-5 in 24 hours

Still getting to the gym ... still reading (enjoying 1 Peter 4 this morning).

However, not much ELSE is getting done! This time of year is always like this, and I need to remember that.

Every year, the directories get done.
Every year, the tax receipts get done.
Every year, the annual reports get done.

It always feels like they won't. But they always do. Keeping that in mind is helpful!

Total snow this season in Michigan as of yesterday morning at 8:25:
0 inches

Total snow this season in Michigan as of this morning at 8:25:
5 inches (and still coming down)

I was sitting outside Saturday night, after dark, with no coat talking on the phone ... and now this!

Trinka

2 years ... that's amazing

I realized last night that I've been exercising consistently for two years. (other than times when I've been too sick to get moving).

This is amazing considering my schedule and general dislike for anything that can't be described with the adjective "cozy". I'm expecting a certificate of recognition any day now. :) (guess I'd better get busy creating one!)

about these "youths" rioting in France.

"Muslim" youths. Muslim. They're leaving that important word out in nearly every report. The media doesn't seem to feel it's significant.

It's not about poverty. It's about ideology.

Trinka (who doesn't recall the fire-bombings from what I've read about the great depression ... hmmm ... there was a LOT of poverty then)

where HAVE you been?

Well ... I'm right in the midst of my busiest season here at work ... Mid October-January is pretty crammed. On top of that, our new pastor is here, starting his first week. He's fitting in well, and we're all enjoying working together. BUT on top of an already-busy season, he's trying to find his way around town, get settled in his office, etc. And that requires my time as well.

Then in outside-work life, I've accepted a few more responsibilities than I should. Those should be letting up in mid December.

But until then, I'm grabbing shreds of time with my fingernails trying to stay on top of it all! :)

Exercise has been happening, though not as faithfully as before, simply because of all the above mentioned commitments. I actually took a couple hours vacation time yesterday afternoon just to get a walk in. It was one of those late-autumn days that just calls you to be outside.

Did get gas this morning for $2.09. This situation is definately looking up.

I'll make up for my blogging negligence with a delightful collection of plays on words that appeared in my in-box this morning:

For All You Lexiphiles (Lovers of Words)

1. A bicycle can't stand alone because it is two-tired.

2. What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead giveaway).

3. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

4. A backward poet writes inverse.

5. In democracy it's your vote that counts; In feudalism, it's your count that votes.

7. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

8. If you don't pay your exorcist you get repossessed.

9. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

10. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat minor.

11. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

12. The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

13. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

14. You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

15. Local Area Network! in Australia: the LAN down under.

16. He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

17. Every calendar's days are numbered.

18. A lot of money is tainted. 'Taint yours and 'taint mine.

19. A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

20. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

21. A plateau is a high form of flattery.

22. The short fortuneteller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

23. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

24. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.

25. Those who jump off a Paris bridge are in Seine.

26. When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair she thought she'd dye.

27. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

28. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

29. Acupuncture is a jab well done.

30. Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat

Bill Clinton is Forrest Gump

Now, I saw this movie years ago, but don't really remember much about it ... other than that the main character seemed to find himself in the middle of every great historical event of his lifetime.

Yesterday at Rosa Parks funeral, Clinton, instead of just talking about her life and contribution, felt the need to mention that he and a friend took her actions as a permission to sit in the back of the bus ... fulfilling a life-long dream (or some-such).

Oh. Brother. Give. Me. A. Break.

He was 8 years old.

Why must everything out of that man's mouth be a lie? And why must the media insist on repeating those lies, trying to make him look like a paragon of virtue?

Just let him drift into history quietly. Please. He is a shame to our country, and if the democrats ever want to be taken seriously, they've got to divorce themselves from him! I would be willing to at least listen to their arguments, if their chief spokesperson weren't such a caricature.

Exercise ... I got to the gym Sunday, pilates Monday, dance dance revolution Tuesday (I do love that thing!) and a walk last night. Not as much as I'd LIKE to have done, but at least it was consistent.

I've been reading in 1 Peter 2 and 3, and just marveling at how different God's standard is from our own ... when people are unreasonable, or circumstances unpleasant, the Christian can take it as from HIS hand, and trust Him in it. He wants to create in us an un-natural reaction to bad circumstances ... one that will draw others to want what we've got.

Trinka