Reckless Abandon

Blog move

2009-07-08T21:50:00.003-04:00

So, after all my hard work to get this site lookin' pretty, I was swept away by wordpress. Mostly by it's better ability to showcase pictures, which I find rather useful since I plan to be posting a lot. If anyone has me linked (riiiight), or bookmarked (riiiight), please take a moment to update using this: http://subtitledlife.wordpress.com/.

Or, if you just want to view it, click here.

It's new, it's improved

2009-07-08T20:15:00.002-04:00

it's... old fashioned?

Indeed, this is our new lawn mower.

I stole

2009-07-07T17:25:00.002-04:00

These belong to Gabe, but I liked them so much I stole them from him. He doesn't use them anyway - his glasses are the type that transition.

Here I was thinking...

2009-07-06T23:54:00.000-04:00

...that she was completely black.

I guess not.

My view

2009-07-05T23:27:00.002-04:00

Just a sliver of the scenery around here.

While I'm at it

2009-07-04T17:48:00.002-04:00

I thought I'd show you the back yard, too. And Patch. With Easter doing what she does best - chasing her.

Poinsettia

2009-07-03T21:53:00.005-04:00

These past couple days Gabe and I have spent at his parent's home. This picture is of part of their front garden, including some poinsettia plants - the tallest of which must be at least 6 feet in height. It wouldn't be surprising if they doubled their height eventually. And here most of us thought they were supposed to be small house plants!

Plans

2009-07-02T15:53:00.003-04:00

To help force myself to develop what little skills I have with the camera, I've decided to try posting a picture a day for an undetermined length of time.

Here is today's. While actually taken over a week ago, at least people will know how much of a cheat I am from the start, so they will not be under any false assumptions.

I met this little guy after he had climbed through an open window into our house. He then proceeded to climb up me, seeing as how I'm apparently so tree-like.

Playing games

2009-06-26T21:08:00.006-04:00

Since Gabe has been off in another city for going on a week now, we decided to spend some time "together" by playing a game of photo scavenger hunt. I made up a list of pictures we were supposed to find, and away we went, keeping touch once in a while during the day to see how the other was fairing. It was so much fun!

Here are my results.

Here are Gabe's results.

By the way, Gabe won. He got all the pictures first. I took too long trying to be artistic.

Contact

2009-06-26T00:53:00.002-04:00

Today, as I was out walking Easter, Enrique, the man who is often out running at the same time stopped, and said to me with his small English: "Did you hear ... Michael Jackson died?"

"Oh," I thought to myself, "Michael Jackson - he's uh, that guy who... no he didn't play basketball, that was someone else. Oh, THAT Michael Jackson!"

Returning my complete attention to Enrique, I thanked him for telling me and applied a sad look to my face in hopes that it'd convey... something. It was apparent to me that Enrique did in fact, like MJ. I just didn't have the Spanish words to convey much of anything that I was truly thinking. So after the consolatory facial expression by me, and a smile from him, we went our separate ways.

A few flickers

2009-06-16T21:02:00.003-04:00

So, I messed with my blog and came out with this. I like it. For now.

I hope to start blogging again sometime soonish, but knowing myself, that may end up being six months from now. Kind of like my wedding Thank You cards... they're coming, honest! I even have some written; now I just have to find a way to get postal stamps and discover how one mails things when one doesn't have a mail box with it's exciting little red flag which signals to the mail carrier.

I don't like Facebook, it took so many people away from blogging. But so far I haven't mustered up enough moral fortitude to return to the "Oh no, it's going to make me think more" world of blogging. Pray hard. Miracles do happen.

Bejeweled

2008-10-22T13:18:00.002-04:00

Wedding Prep

2008-10-18T19:44:00.004-04:00

As yet untitled

2008-06-19T23:35:00.000-04:00

you don't need me to set you free
i'm not here to hold you back.
let me watch you fly away - see?
there's nothing but wind surrounding
your outspread wings.
glide, soar - take the world as your own
and become one
with what you dreamed last night.
i saw the smile on your face as you slept;
that slight upturn of your lips
that i love.
don't wait around for me - just fly,
i'll be here when you wake.

What's been going on

2008-05-17T22:47:00.002-04:00

Dear friends,

I'd like to introduce someone to you. His name is Gabe. We met some months ago and found so many things in common that we decided ('we' being Gabe, myself, my parents, and God and His providences and leading; not necessarily in that order :) that a continued relationship was a good idea. Gabe and I have been courting for a few weeks now and would like to pass the knowledge on to others, because shared happiness is oh so much better, I believe. So is shared faith! We'd love to have you trust God along with us, as we seek His will for our futures.

The Perfectly Awful Poem

2007-12-28T16:02:00.001-05:00

There are many brands of poets in this world,
Few of which ever produce anything worth reading.
But, before I raise a general outcry, let me explain.
There are the quivering, cowering types
Who are terrified of their own writing and
Secret it away in some darksome corner
To be found decades later by poor, unsuspecting relatives.
Then we have the normal, everyday type
Who writes passably well and is relatively sane
(Or as sane as a poet can be)
He shares a few succulent selections
With his friends once every year,
March 4th, 2:30PM to be exact. Rain or shine.
However, this world never was perfect and
Sad to say there is also the Conceited Poet.
Brassy and bold, he pours his creations upon the
Poor unprotected public with little regard
For the continuance of their mental health.
With a forceful "Read this!" he waves It under their noses.
And so they do; their toes curl and the hair
On their heads stands at attention.
Tiny rivulets of sweat trace delicate patterns down
Troubled brow, and they hand the offending article back,
Held gingerly between two fingers.
With a perfectly awful grin he retrieves his disgusting spawn.
And then the shaken reader,
With quavering steps makes his way home.
And with eyes rolling and hair wild he
Regales his friends with a recount of
The Perfectly Awful Poem.

2007-12-21T05:09:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone. Here's a little Christmas music to make you chuckle.

Sweeeeet

2007-12-01T18:34:00.000-05:00

I finally did it, people. I finally missed posting at least once a month so now my archives list is forever marred.

Woohoo! I love this feeling of freedom. :-D

Here's hoping you all find the needed freedom from blog bondage (if it exists for you, of course).

I feel positively giddy...

ok, maybe not giddy...

hmmm...

God must be beautiful...

2007-10-31T21:38:00.000-04:00

Last night

2007-09-13T19:02:00.000-04:00

Last night I went to bed wearing a pair of cozy socks.

This morning I woke up and they were laying on my bed next to my head, folded together very neatly.

I don't remember a thing about doing it.

Hmmm...

Claire... I think you might like this one

2007-08-31T22:34:00.000-04:00

I just had to share this. It was too funny.

Buzz off, I'm happy here

2007-08-27T14:19:00.000-04:00

"To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation." - Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430AD) Numidian-born Theologian

Is it our place to wait around to be taught, or should we be stepping out to grasp knowledge and experience for ourselves? Possibly a mixture of the two? There seems to be a tendency to set ourselves in a patterned daily lifestyle and expect those over us to endow us with wisdom. We, like sponges, absorb only what they work to produce, to one extent or another. There must be a difference between living our lives in a manner better than the majority of the mob and opening ourselves to something more. To excel. There is a need for a mind set of reaching out and taking hold.

Note the quote at the beginning of this post. The general mass wishes to stay comfortably within the total abstinence area, it's simpler, safer and, may I suggest, lazier? Fear based? I haven't yet searched out every reason for this. It takes a quantity of effort to seek out the perfect balance that overreaches that exuded by a "better" lifestyle. Truthfully, it just takes too much energy to allow ourselves to be brought into a place of openness with God that equips us with the ability to sense where His balanced pathway may be.

Relax, I'm not implying the idea of mediocrity, wishy-washiness or fence-stitting. To have a high standard is a part of the "excelling" lifestyle. But then one may take it to the extreme only because it places you in a highly comfortable position; a position not based on knowledge or understanding, but merely an easy following of tradition. Tradition, too, is never to be tossed aside on a whim, however, when a sharp-edged relationship with God is sacrificed on the altar of mindless tradition following, what then can we expect? A mass of robots, possibly.

So, ask yourself why. Why do we do this? Why don't we do that? Why should I resist mediocrity and stand for something far beyond a "better" life? Why should I not wait around to be fed like a baby bird? Why must I seek something that will most likely be uncomfortable? Don't be a mindless being... "Seek not to follow in the footsteps of the men of old, but seek the things they sought."

Seek; don't float down the current of life. Swim away from the falls of the "better." Climb up the banks of the Best and excel.

Sounds good? Well...

"My" grapevine

2007-07-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

Mt. Monadnock

2007-06-08T20:31:00.000-04:00

We left Fairwood, walked there (about a mile) and started to climb the mountain around 9pm. It was understandably slow going, but that was fine because we had no pressing appointments other than finding our beds again sometime before the sun started to rise.

It was really dark. When Vanlora turned off her head lamp and I my flashlight, all objects instantly vanished from sight. However, we only did that when we stopped to take a breather. It was for the conservation of battery power, you know. I think I might have been permanently damaged if our batteries HAD died and we were stuck out there, deep in the woods on the side of the mountain. The night was moonless, so keeping to the trail would have been more than difficult. "Nearly impossible" sounds about right.

We kept up a pretty steady stream of conversation which served us well when it came to encouraging all the large, hairy, long-clawed, and big-toothed animals to keep their distance. What could be more terrifying than a couple girls talkingandtalkingandtalking? I don't know about you, but it sure scares me at times. Thankfully I'm not large, hairy, long-clawed and big-toothed (no smart comments here :), so I stuck around to keep Vanlora company.

We had agreed together if one of us broke a leg or something that: 1) "If you do, I'm not going to carry you" and 2) that we wouldn't leave one of us behind to go get help. The first was sure to result in the uninjured one getting injured and the second would have put whoever was left behind through a long and terrifying wait. Just imagine being deep in the pitch dark woods all alone, listening to every tiny sound and hoping it wasn't a hungry bear or a huge angry bull moose about to find you. In any case, we had brought a cell phone with us, so it was all good.

Actually, I wasn't afraid at all. Ok, maybe a couple times near then end of the hike when I was getting tired and the crunching sounds from the woods got a little too loud... but other than that, I was fine.

The only wildlife we saw in the beam of our lights was one fuzzy bunnie rabbit and one very small and swift rodent. The view from the top was fabulous; for living out in the boonies, there still manages to be a lot of lights trailing to the horizon. I would have brought my camera to prove that we'd done this, but it's not at it's best in the dark, so I left it behind. Too bad.

Vanlora and I made it back to the bottom of the mountain around 12am and walked the mile back, arriving at Fairwood a bit before 1am. We'd been meandering, that's why it took so long. I wouldn't want you all to think we were so terribly out of shape that it took us 3 hours to climb a mountain that should only take around 2, or anything. :-D

It was fun, you guys should do it sometime!

100 things about me (yeah, I know, it's a cop out)

2007-06-06T13:35:00.000-04:00

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
A series of 3 half inch scars in a row on the side of my heel. When I was just born, the doctor wasn't able to draw blood with the conventional means, so he switched to plan B

2. WHAT DOES YOUR CELL PHONE LOOK LIKE?
I'm rarely out of reach of a land line, so why get a cell phone?

3. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO?
No heavy metal, pop or someone taking classical and sacred and blending them together

4. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
Sometime early in the morning

5. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
To be in heaven (don't worry, I'm not prone to suicidal tenancies)

6. WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Now there's a broad question. One would have to be being allowed to drive

7. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?
A prized possession would be my black hoodie

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SMELL?
Rubbing alcohol, sun-dried sheets, and the air right after a rain

9. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?
No. It's all about mind-control

10. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
No, except I do get a little nervous walking down a moonless pitch dark country road, but once one applies the answer to the previous question, one realizes the chances of being attacked by a grouchy bear are very thin. Tripping over a porcupine is far more likely. After I do that, I then get distracted by trying to avoid veering off the road and walking face-on into a tree.

11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME TO WEAR?
Too much perfume gives me a headache, so why attach it to myself?

12. WHAT KIND OF HAIR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
At least three strands, blue-black (so black it looks almost really dark blue... hard to explain) or blond. Oh, and mullets give me the willies

13. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING PROPOSED TO AT?
Bad grammar. It should be more like At which place can you see yourself being proposed to?

14. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?
Surprisingly enough, I've never had an energy drink, so I'll have to get back to you on that

15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?
Everything. Olives and feta cheese especially

16. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I have no appetite, so nothing sounds good at the moment

17. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?
Other than myself... ?

18. DO YOU SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE?
I've heard that men sometimes believe women speak a different one than themselves

19. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU (OF THE OPPOSITE SEX)?
First?? Most likely it was my dad and I would have been faaaaaaaaaar too young to recall what it was. In relatively recent memory (the last 5 years or something)... a red rose.

20. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Uh... define 'falling in love' and 'leaving'

21. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
The best would be face-to-face, however, it's also potentially the most awkward way

22. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED.
From one to a hundred? Don't you mean between? I've always liked 22

23. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?
Yes

24. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN?
Home, then either Katie's cell, or my parent's cell

25. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
Having to trim my fingernails

26. HAS ANYONE EVER SPIT ON YOU?
Does spit up count? In which case that would have been Joseph

27. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
I am proud to announce I have none. Just read my book Humility, and How I Conquered It and you will come to agree with me

28. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Might have been constructing Math-U-See block sets, if that counts

29. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
Just the other day I came close to convincing Katie that I was some stranger calling about the canoe they'd advertised for their yard sale. Only there wasn't a canoe, so she was trying to politely tell me I was mistaken. That's about as far as I got before she was sure enough it was me to start laughing

30. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS SURVEY?
Training my attack goldfish to bark on command

31. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I'd rather use that money on something else... say, brain surgery or skydiving lessons

32. WHY DID YOU FILL OUT THIS SURVEY?
Because it's perfect for a blog post, at least for lazy people like myself

33. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
Maybe my ability to listen? I don't know

34. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?
Quickly build a stil deep in the woods at the base of Mt. Monadnock so I could get a corner on the black market

35. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
My two front teeth

36. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
Between three and five

37. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My mom, Sue

38. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?
Uh, no

39. WHICH FINGER[S] IS YOUR FAVORITE?
Thumb and pointer finger on my right hand. Couldn't do without 'em

40. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
This isn't a fair question to ask a woman

41. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Nope

42. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Sliced turkey, I suppose

43. ANY BAD HABITS?
Talking too much about myself in conversations where I'm nervous or uncomfortable. Familiar territory seems safer, you know

44. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD YOU OWN?
I don't feel embarrassed by any of them

45. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Hmm, sure. I'm open to friendships with almost anyone, no matter how distasteful they may be

46. DO LOOKS MATTER?
Down deep, no. Socially, yeah, sometimes

47. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
Release anger, what's that?

48. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?
Well, one has to have a first home, first. If I did have a first home, then the Demme's was my second

49. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
To some extent, yes. But I often hold some in reserve

50. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
My teddy bear that I lost... I still miss it. **sniff**

51. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
HA! No never, what an utterly ridiculous question!

52. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT?
Ew?

53. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
All I want is to be able to look up at him

54. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
Rach, Fran, Rachabelle, Druggy, Gabby

55. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
I wear shoes with laces so infrequently that I had to go look in my closet. What did I find? One pair was tied, the other untied. Hmmm

56. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
One favorite is Edys strawberry

57. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?
Purple

58. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE?
I only had two in the first place, but they are gone now

59. WHO/WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST RIGHT NOW?
Depends. Currently: being allowed to drive

60. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
That wasn't my point in posting this

61. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Take Me Home Country Road

62. LAST THING YOU ATE?
A handful of dry roasted sunflower seeds

63. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
John L. He wanted to talk to Brandon. (I answer Fairwood's phone)

64. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Whether they are breathing or not

65. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Francisco, CA

66. SCARIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
Being in the Tel Aviv airport when there was a bomb scare and joining the crowd of people running away from the suspected area. Or, on a solo trip to Israel, almost getting lost in the Paris airport because of all the really confusing construction and the fact that when I asked for directions, even though they spoke English, it still sounded like French because their accent was so thick. I could just imagine myself wandering around the place for hours, then missing my plane and getting stuck there for who knows how long

67. FAVORITE DRINK?
For comfort; hot milk with vanilla, sugar and whipped cream on the top. For everyday; ice cold water lightly flavored with lemon and sweetened with a lil sugar

68. FAVORITE JOKE?
Don't really have one

69. FAVORITE SPORT?
Watching friends watch sports

70. YOUR HAIR COLOR?
Dark brown

71. YOUR EYE COLOR?
Dark brown, except in direct sunlight, then they go tawny

72. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES?
Used to, but no more, thankfully

73. SIBLINGS?
Too many. JUST KIDDING! Seven

74. FAVORITE MONTH?
Whichever of them are warm

75. YOU LIKE SUSHI?
No like sushi. Actually, I only had it once, so maybe I could have my mind changed

76. LAST THING YOU WATCHED?
Lady in the Water

77. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Whichever is the one right after I finish my taxes

78. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
I'm getting braver every day ;-P

79. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer all the way

80. IF THERE WAS A QUESTION HERE YOU DIDN'T APPROVE OF, WOULD YOU CHANGE IT?
I already did, #13. It had a problem with incorrect grammar

81. WHO DO YOU SECRETLY LOVE?
If I told you, it wouldn't be secret anymore, now would it?

82. FAVORITE SONG AT THE MOMENT?
Nickel Creek, The Hand Song

83. LAKE OR OCEAN?
Ocean

84. BIGGEST TURNOFF?
Bad breath

85. LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIEND
What, I can only have one?

86. LAST KISS:
Hmm... maybe when I was a baby?

87. LAST TEXT YOU RECEIVED:
Closest to a text would be the text in an e-mail from my sister and it's far too long to reproduce here

88. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?
I never was the crush type

89. DO YOU WISH YOU CAN SEE ANYONE PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW?
Do they have to be alive? Cause I'd like to meet my grandpa Adams

90. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NAME?
Mahershallalhashbaz

91. HIGH SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED/ ARE ATTENDING:
Living Waters Academy, Good Shephard Academy and Open Door Academy

92. WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
In the living room of my (!) apartment

93. ARE YOU SMILING?
No, my face is currently in screen saver mode

94. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?
A stone washed cranberry/pinkish Life is Good t-shirt, a short jean skirt and my black hoodie

96. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Hmmm... maybe Gladiator (don't take this as a recommendation, though)

97. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG?
I'm sure I have one, I just can't remember the title right now :)

98. WHEN WAS YOUR LAST RELATIONSHIP?
Still have all my relationships, why would I get rid of them?? I love my friends and family

99. EVER BEEN DRUNK?
I plead the fifth... just kidding... no

100. PLAN ON GETTING DRUNK SOON?
Naaa, I already have trouble with a hazy brain, why add to it?

Credit card (b)ills

2007-05-27T14:35:00.001-04:00

A word to the wise (actually, to the ones who wish to become wise).

Don't overspend your credit card limit and then forget to pay the bill. It's, like, the epitome of idiocy. When one has a terrible problem with compulsory purchasing, this sad scenario can, and will, repeat itself over and over until your bad dreams about being chased down by a bounty hunter out to get you to pay your bills becomes an adventure in real life. So, the next time you enter a store and consider leaving it with a cart full of "stuff", remember to picture yourself on foot, running with all that is in you, screaming your head off, while your worst nightmare (scary bounty hunter) gains on you relentlessly.

So, to reiterate. Compulsory purchasing = overspent credit card limit + forgetting to pay the bills = really sore muscles.

Ah, the joys of literary anomalies.

Thanks to DJ for this post subject.

Oh yeahhh

2007-05-25T17:41:00.000-04:00

So Megan and I just splurged...

I couldn't decide which picture to post, so, hey, why not both?

Dryer time

2007-05-23T17:03:00.000-04:00

What better place to go when you're cold?

Got lint?

I can't imagine anything more exciting than a huge pile of lint. Can you?
:)

Tonighttt, tooonightttt...

2007-04-18T23:03:00.000-04:00

Well, tonight was fun. Three friends and I went out to dinner and were going to go bowling afterwards, but when we arrived at the alley, we discovered it was a league night. Lots Of People. Oy. So we decided to go kill time for about an hour. Not being sure what to do, we puttered into the middle of town... then I came up with a fabulous idea! How about we go to our local eatery which has an internet connection and hang out in there for a while. We could sit ourselves down and act like we had computers--typing away on the tabletop and pointing out items of interest on the nonexistent screen. Sweeeet. So we did. I can't believe how much fun it was! We got some pretty funny looks. It was later in the evening, so there weren't that many people there, but I think we may have given those who where something to go home and blog about (hehe). Once an employee came over and asked us if we wanted anything to eat (to which we replied in the negative) and they did their best to act as though nothing was out of the ordinary. I mean, the customer is always right, right? No matter how much they look like a mental hospital escapee. Hahaha... there was a lot of stifled laughter from us when they went away.

Then, after we had killed enough time and after we had packed up our invisible computers in their invisible cases, carefully folding up the invisible cords and tucking them away, we blew the joint and went off to the bowl-ery. Lots of people had left by then and we had a lane to ourselves. Fun was had by all.

Cryptic, yes.

2007-04-15T16:31:00.000-04:00

I was talking to a friend yesterday about a situation I was freaking out about; something that I've been chasing in fruitless circles around my mind for a long time and have always ended up with the same uncomfortable conclusion. However, in the middle of our conversation, she said one of those "duh, I should have realized that all by myself" things to me and I sat there going, well, duh (of course). Then all my distressed-out feels started to fall away and even though nothing about the situation has changed, God stepped in and helped me to realize that what I was feeling wasn't just me feeling unable to deal with the situation, but it was that I was fearful. I don't think I've ever been so happy to find out that I was afraid of something. It's like having lots of strange physical symptoms for a long time and then finally getting a diagnosis. "Oh, it's Fear!" The problem is still there, it still needs to be medicated, but it sure helps to know what it's called.

Of course God didn't just leave me sitting there thinking "Woohoo! I'm afraid!". I walked away from that conversation into the dining hall just in time to catch the tail end of a meeting (there's been a Ladies' weekend going on here). Just as I walked in the door, Andrea started singing that song titled "Be Not Afraid". The words are from Isaiah 43 and go something like this:

"Be not afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned... For I am Jehovah your God... you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you." Be not afraid.

Hmm, I believe can handle that. :)

EDIT/

I forgot to mention that once I started to be happy about being afraid, all the fear went away. Cool....

I am not a terrorist

2007-03-25T14:56:00.000-04:00

Well, in keeping with my recent habit, I am now writing my monthly post. My reasoning, other than the obvious "I want to keep my 'adoring fans' from giving up on me in (and with) disgust", is that I also want to make sure my "Archives" list does not loose it's fascinating pattern which only comes with at least one post a month.

Pathetic, I know.

Another reason for my posting is to share some pictures of an evening stroll I took last night. As I stepped outside on my way to my grandma's, I discovered a fairyland. "Ah me," I thought," what a perfect chance to take some pictures." So I dashed back inside to grab my camera, and dusted it off as I clipped a doorway on my way back out of the pitch dark house. Ow. I then commenced wandering around the grounds, taking pictures as I went.

You are now blessed to view a few.

And that's all I have to say. :)

Sadness and woe

2007-02-12T15:52:00.000-05:00

I made this to use in TOR with Penny's article (if you get TOR, you'll understand) , but there just wasn't enough space. :-( So I figured I'd just post it here because it was toooo sad to waste all my efforts.

:-D

She lives and breathes

2007-02-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

Wow, a whole month since I last posted.

I am awesome.

*rolls eyes*

Ooops, I missed one

2007-01-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

Amusing

2007-01-05T18:17:00.000-05:00

2006-12-16T21:21:00.000-05:00

"Oohhhh... the very thought of coming up with a new post makes my head huuurt."

Warning: blog-worthy but a bit bloody

2006-11-28T18:20:00.001-05:00

Don't attempt to think up a post for your blog while you're making lunch. One of your ideas may just come true and/or revisit you.

One of my trains of thought was about a certain sister who, without premeditated malice, was the catalyst on two separate occasions for my receiving two substantial wounds. One happened when we lived in a random town in New Hampshire (ask another family member where it was, I don't remember, heh). She asked me to go to the basement to get something for her because, as she later admitted, she didn't want to do it herself. So I, like a good sister, started to make my way down the stairs. Part way down there was a landing on which were a couple bags of trash waiting to be taken to the can outside. In my hurry, I stepped on the corner of one of those bags and met up with a tin can which had been improperly opened (I think she said she was the one who did it... or was it me? I don't remember, but I'll say it was her because it makes for a better story), leaving the top edge perfectly suited for making crecent-shaped cuts on the bottom of bare feet. Weeee!

I remember sitting in the back of the van as my mum drove me to the doctor to get stitched up, with a towel wrapped around my foot. Then in the waiting room... then laying on the doctor's table while he took a needle and stuck it into the wound to numb it before he stitched it up. I wanted to watch, because I thought it was cool. My mum sat in the corner on a chair and felt a little green while she watched someone stick sharp objects in my foot. After I was all put back together, I was sent home with a pair of crutches. I was thrilled! What could be more fun than having to use crutches? Besides, I got more attention that way. I was a weird little kid. I still have the scar, too.

The second event was far less riveting. The previously mentioned sister had broken a mirror by accident. She'd cleaned up the mess and put it in the trash can (what is it with me, trash and sharp objects?). Later that day I stepped up next to the can on my way to do something else and my calf came down on a large shard of mirror that was protruding from the top of the can. Slice. Blood. And a laughing recount of aforementioned story. The end.

So, as I was making lunch for the Bible School students today, I considered this pair of stories as blog fodder, but rejected them as not interesting enough on their own and also because I didn't really want to shed a shadow on any of my sister's reputations. But then something happened to change my mind (sorry, Sister! *grins*).

I was running a little behind in time, so I hurried from the cooler with a two quart jar of apple sauce, shaking it back and forth to mix the thinner sauce at the bottom of the jar with the thicker at the top. I headed around the counter on my way to grab a bowl when it happened. The jar slipped from my grasp and shattered as it hit the edge of the counter. Apple sauce and glass everywhere! Including a fair portion on my *blush* not-wearing-shoes-in-the-kitchen!-stockinged foot and down the front of my skirt. There was a shocked silence (which wasn't surprising, seeing as how I was the only person in the kitchen at the time), and then I let the residual shards of glass left in my hands drop onto the counter. If that jar had been about two inches to the left, I would have included the noun 'blood' in with the "Apple sauce and glass... !"

But, thank God, all I had to clean up was two quarts of apple sauce, mixed with hidden shards of glass, from the counter, down the front of the cupboard and dribbled into a cold, gooey puddle on the floor. Yum.

So, like I said at the beginning, don't dream up blogs while you cook lunch. Your chances of getting a vital appendage cut off increase sharply.

Birthday greetings

2006-11-14T15:31:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday, Lisa!

Now, tell me that isn't cool?

This is something

2006-11-14T14:30:00.000-05:00

For lack of anything to post, I came up with something else to amuse my masses of admiring readers.

I will open my pictures file, avert my gaze and start clicking. The first picture I come up with I will upload onto my blog. Dangerous, I know.

**commences clicking**

Ok, here we have a coffee maker (obviously). I took this picture while in Israel. It contains some of the strongest coffee known to man. Just add twice as much grounds called for to begin with, then half way through percolation, remove coffee pot and pour coffee back through the grounds. Once it is totally finished, drink. However, if your stomach is not made of iron, you may need to look for something to calm its inevitable ragings.

That was fun... **starts clicking again**

Well, you already know what is wrong with me in this picture.

**more clicking**

This is a donkey. It lives in Nazereth.

**clicks again**

Aaahahahaha! I did this one really small because... well... you understand. Mel, remember? You told me I could post them?? Yes? You do remember, you must!

Eeeh heh heh heh.... I think I better stop while I'm ahead.

There you have it. Your entertainment for the day.

Not much, but at least it's something

2006-11-12T19:59:00.000-05:00

Friday, Gerry let me drive the backhoe. Well, not drive it, but mess about digging in a hole. There are four levers to control the movements of the arm (it's an old machine), but it's like trying to braid four strands of spaghetti.

I was bad at it.

But it was fun, so it didn't really matter how bad I was. I guess.

Harvest party

2006-10-30T18:32:00.000-05:00

I think I look like a cross between Zorro and a FBI wannabe. Maybe something else. Any ideas?

I am so aweesome.

2006-10-23T14:47:00.000-04:00

Just to share my humiliation, I have to let everyone know what world I have been living in recently.

I was pushing hard to get TOR done in time to send it out before November rolls around, so last week I was in high gear because I had to have it done by Friday so I could mail it Monday (today). This Monday... because this Monday was the 29th of October. Okaaaay.

It continued. Yesterday, of course, was supposed to be when Daylight Saving Time ended. If today was the 29th, yesterday was the 28th, OBVIOUSLY. Sunday. I slowly got ready for church. I was ready to go with at least an hour and a half extra time, so when I looked out the window about 9:15am and saw Diane walking towards the church I thought to myself, "Oops, I guess she forgot about the time change." A few minutes later, there goes Shawn and sons. "Hmm..." I began to question myself, so I popped online to check to make sure that it actually was the ending of DST. It confirmed that the 28th was indeed correct. A few more minutes, and someone drove up the driveway towards the church. I checked online again, maybe I saw it wrong. Nope, it still marked the 28th. I even changed my clock...

**holds head in hands** gaaahh

So I finally went to my grandma's apartment. She wasn't there. Off to the church I went to scout out the situation. I was still pretty sure I had the date right and was wondering if last Sunday (I wasn't there) they announced church would be at 9:30 this week instead of 10:30... um... I'm not going to go into why I thought that.

I finally made it into church about 12 minutes late. The service had started at 10:30 just like normal, it wasn't waiting for silly me.

Can I blame it on my meds?

Gaaaaaaaaahhhh. I think I'm going to go hide behind the couch. Someone let me know when it's time to eat.

Oh, look, it's Fall!

2006-10-18T21:24:00.000-04:00

I made pea soup again today and it came out GREAT. Thank God for crockpots.

Advice for the day

2006-10-15T12:34:00.000-04:00

Don't try to sing in a choir when you have a bad head cold and are feeling very miserable.

First of all, some people might think you look like you're going to keel over when you walk into the room. Secondly, others may say you looked fine up front... when you smiled. I'm not sure I want to know what I looked like when I wasn't smiling. And it's not like it's easy to smile while singing anyway. THEN, after all that, when you open your mouth to sing, one tends to "warble". I really hope I wasn't too close the the mic...

warble... good grief. I think I'm going to go into another profession.

To sum it up: When you have a bad head cold, go to bed and stay there for pete's sake! The world will keep spinning without your help.

How not to make pea soup:

2006-10-12T20:51:00.000-04:00

follow the recipe.

I was so pleased with myself. There I was at Fairview for the day; I had to make supper for the seniors... how about something easy that I could start earlier? Pea soup, perfect! I could add kielbasa and some other delectable flavors which I would have chosen later.

So, I pulled out a package of dried split peas and rinsed them off (just like the directions said). I then dumped them into the correct sized pot. I measured the water carefully--8 cups. Eight cups to one pound of dried peas. I read it. More than once. Ok, so it (the evil recipe) told me to bring it to a boil for two minutes, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to soak for one hour. Did that.

One hour later: I turned the heat on once again, checked the directions again (just to be careful, I only wanted the meal to come out nice, is that too much to ask for??) and turned the pot on a low heat, just enough so the blasted thing would simmer. It did. Everything was fine, just as it should be. I KNEW it was.

It was then, part way into the three hours it was to simmer, that the Evil Destroyer of Dinners struck. Off sitting in the living room, feeling relaxed and pleased with myself for coming up with such an easy dinner to make, one that the seniors would enjoy, my nose slowly started to pick up a Very Interesting Odor. **sniff**sniff**

ARRRRRRRGH! Nooooo!

I arrived in the kitchen, hair streaming behind me, slid to a stop and lifted the pot's lid. Definitely no water to be seen anywhere. The smell was terrible. After setting the pot in the sink and turning on the stove fan, I dashed about opening windows. Too bad it was cold outside....

I was crushed (or maybe it was the smell that was making me feel so bad, not the fact that my nice dinner had just been destroyed). By this time it was about 4 pm and supper was supposed to be at 5:15. I had to make something out of a box. How anticlimatic.

The veggie platter looked nice, though... heh.

After our inferior supper was eaten and put away, I went to do my duty and clean out the pot. Rachel removed the lid. Rachel passed out on the floor from the horrifying odor. Have you ever smelled burnt on food? It's naaaaaasty, and I think this took first prize in the Ghastly Smell olympics. And you all know (I hope) that I'm not a weak-kneed lass. I can handle things. I'm tough.

Ok, ok, so I handled it. Digging out the first layer of half cooked peas went fine. I then reached the second layer. Charred peas. Half an inch deep, at the very least.

The pot took a long time to get clean.

I DO know how to make pea soup!!!

Pathetic. So pathetic.

Festivities

2006-10-09T09:07:00.000-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all you Canadians out there! :-D

Not to worry...

2006-09-28T17:26:00.000-04:00

it's a work in progress. I was just getting tired of the pink. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Beware

2006-09-18T20:54:00.000-04:00

I'm looking to update my blog template. Please pardon my mess.

:-)

Assorted pictures

2006-09-12T14:49:00.001-04:00

Amy for state representative. Yay Amy!
(Well... part of the state anyway.)

Feel small?

And you think YOUR job is hard...
(Do click for larger image, it's way better)

Wisdom for the day

2006-09-05T16:17:00.000-04:00

While perusing Boundless Webzine today, I ran upon an excellent and thought-provoking article titled Blogging to Worship by Bob Kauflin. It concerns how we Christians ought to use our blogs. It takes a bit of time to read, and some areas may not apply to you, but it is very much worth the time in my opinion.

Hello, this is the real Rachel

2006-08-31T20:10:00.000-04:00

What does one do when one isn't very good at face-to-face interaction with others? You end up feeling like the real "you" isn't visable, and if one wants to learn how to become more real with others, it is ANNOYING.

Of dubious worth

2006-08-24T11:32:00.001-04:00

Gentle readers,

I was talking to W.C. the other day and upon agreeing that we were both kettles, we proceeded to call each other black (check out the comments on his post titled At Long Last).

Words, of course, did nothing to remedy the sad state of matters. So I must admit when he just yesterday produced a good dose of steel wool for his kettle (*sigh*), my pride and I were consequentially left scrambling about under the sink looking for our own bit of steel wool. After bumping our heads a couple times on the ceiling of the cupboard, all we came out with was a pathetic excuse for steel wool. A blooming wad of rejected plastic shreds.* Grrr.

Ah me. I suppose I wouldn't want to take away from someone else's chance to shine, so I shall make do with what I have.

*scrubs*

There's got to be a few great, moral, and life-changing lessons in this. So...

It's healthy to admit you have a problem.
It's even better when you do something beyond talking about it.
Even if the remedy comes in the terribly painful form of steel wool, believe me, it's worth it. And...
You never know who else you might inspire to follow your lead.
All you have to do now is pray that that unfortunate who followed your lead finds a remedy that works just as well as yours did, and not something that seems as good, but the results produced are only half as good. (plastic vs steel)

So there you have it.

*a plastic pot scrubber

Well, how about that

2006-08-11T13:37:00.000-04:00

Ok people. If you recall my recent post titled "Why?", I'd like to add an update.

I got excited about something!

The mattress on my bed is very... firm. It is usable, but I'm not thrilled about waking up a little sore in the morning. :-P So, this past Wednesday, Katie and I were out on the town (out to town? in town? at town?) and we stopped at Mart of the Wal type. As I dashed about the store, I remembered the attitude of my mattress (bad). So I bought myself a cushy mattress pad!

As we drove home, I sat in the car thinking about how comfortable my bed was going to be. I turned to Katie and said: "I'm so excited about using this!"

Eureka!

So there you have it, the breaking news today is that Rachel got excited.

How exciting.

Haw haw.

:-)

Lending a hand

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

WARNING: Squeamish people need not apply here.

I have a tale I must tell. It came to pass while I was in Israel. (sorry, I just had to do that)

The day was hot, the sun was strong, and people wilted under its gaze. There was no shade to be had, except for this, where you see the shadow ending across my forearms:

One reason for choosing such self-inflicted torture was Dr. Pfann (pronounced faun like the baby deer), the esteemed professor of the University of the Holy Land, a post-graduate school. He was leading a class of students out on a field trip, and I, and my friend Sarah, chose to tag along. The story opens on this scene:
(This one is worth clicking for a larger view.)

Qumran, an area within sight of the Dead Sea, is overwhelmed by heat and rocks and high, high cliffs. And, here and there, a few noted caves. If you recall the Dead Sea scrolls, this is where they were discovered. These caves and a few nearby ruins were our destination.

Before I continue, however, I must note that in the midst of this seemingly barren desert, there are sometimes bits of life, clinging to life. This was about the size of my fingertip:

As the students made their way up that previously pictured cliff, Sarah and I sat at the base, waiting for their return. Yes, ... I mean, no, we were not being lazy. We both had very good reasons for not climbing. I digress.

One thing that catches your attention soon after entering this wilderness are the bones. Many bones. Large bones. Mostly camel bones. And a few other unidentified types mixed in to add variety. All animal bones, of course.

So, when a student, while high up that cliff, spotted a few small bones, no one was surprised. At first. But then, these were slightly different than the rest of the other bones. Four small bones together, about the length of, say, your palm. Aye, palm-sized. Yes, it WAS a palm! Human. No fingers, just the palm bones held together with, um... are the squeamish people still reading?... with the dried tissue and ligaments.

Understandably enough, the responses among the students were mixed. But, much to their relief, or to some, their dismay, there was no sign of the rest of the body. Just a palm, all by itself, high on a barren, baked cliff.

Conveniently, one of the students was also a forensic scientist. He told us that it was most likely a year or so old. Interesting, I didn't know it took so long for the tissues to, er... go the way of all things. Discussion ensued as to its origin. A murder? Maybe a grave exhumed by marauding jackels, and the hand carried off for later... as a snack? Others wondered about a tradition among the Bedouin tribes of a hand being cut off as punishment for theivery.

Someone pulled out a zip-lock baggie, and the palm was put away for the time being. You can't exactly leave it behind...

Later, once we had returned home, it was pulled out and I got a close-up look. Fascinating. Quite. But weeeird at the same time.

Before you being to think we were treating it carelessly, because it was part of somebody once, we kept it carefully tucked away until someone delivered it to the police the following day. I never heard what, if anything, happened about it after that.

And that is the end of my tale.

Opinion of the day

2006-08-03T23:09:00.000-04:00

I don't like chocolate covered cherries.

It's because the cherries have got to be something other than a fruit. I can't see how those identically red and sickly sweet orbs could possibly be anything but plastic.

They ruin the chocolate.

The end.

TOR

2006-07-31T22:01:00.000-04:00

Just so everyone knows, doing layout for Times of Restoration is a LOT of fun.

Also, if you find any mistakes in the next issue (September/October), it'll probably be my fault.

:-)

Why?

2006-07-26T09:59:00.000-04:00

There is something I wish to understand. How is it that many of you are able to write about your normal, everyday lives and have it come out in a scintillating manner? Is it because your lives are (very possibly) more interesting than mine? Or is it because I lack the ability to engage in a fascinating soliloquy about what I had for breakfast, or the person I so inelegantly ran into while tripping over my own feet? (I've never done that...)

"Well, Rachel, maybe it's because you don't talk much in the first place."

Uhm, true, I suppose, ...but no. Maybe it's because I find so few things in daily life that interest me that I unconsciously decide they are not worth writing about. This could be why! My point of view. Hmm.

So, a new view...

Today I woke up and groaned as I immediately rolled over and turned my back on my clock. (Speaking of inelegant, that was an inelegant sentence.) Why can I not wake as a bird does: singing? Can you imagine? Somehow I don't think my trills would carry any clear, shining tones. Grate, screech, groan... cough. Bleh. Next subject.

It rained the other day. I love rain. In fact, I love rain so much that I am now going to make a stunningly selfish comment about that rain. It was all for me. Every drop. MY rain. Buckets of rain. Enough rain to make a miniature Grand Canyon at the edge of the driveway between Fairwood and Fairview. God likes me so much that He caused a butterfly in Africa to flap it's wings which in turn changed a breeze from one direction, to another. Then that breeze changed a wind pattern. That wind stirred the waves of the ocean. The waves of the ocean created a new breeze over on our fair shores. The new breeze... etc. You get the point. And it was all for MEEEEEEEEE! Aha haha! Heh... er... anyway. Sorry about that.

[Whether or not our rain storms originate in darkest Africa is not my point. Thus, if I have my facts wrong, please understand I'm not a complete idiot, I'm just too lazy to commence a long and involved research project on the subject.]

So far I have managed to apologize for most of what I have written. Rats. Let me try again; this time with my new point of view and no apologies.

It came to me the other day that one reason I rarely, if ever, get excited about anything or even enjoy life that much may be because I have a terrible case of Fence-sitting. I have my little perch in life where I am going to stay, thank you very much. To use energy to get excited takes away from my reserves which are labeled for staying with my tipsy seat atop the fence. Sounds utterly depressing, and it is.

The view from atop is actually quite nice, though, with green pastures on one side and greener on the other. You can see a long crystal stretch of a cool, peaceful brook. Great green trees and shade, beautiful shade. The carnival on the other side of the fence looks like loads of fun, too.

It's all good to look at.

But I sure wouldn't mind drinking some of that cool water. Sitting in the shade, on the grass. Relaxing a little. And then maybe getting a little excited about something, or whatever. Boy, that sounds great.

I spend a lot of my life on a fence, I want something different.

How does one do that?

2006-07-20T17:19:00.000-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!

I LOVE YOU. :-)

This is not good

2006-07-13T22:53:00.000-04:00

Humans frequently insist on deliberately doing things to themselves that are painful. This brings up a question:

Am I human?

The answer must be yes, thus:

Why am I making myself run?

My aunt challenged me to enter a three mile race with her in eight week's time. I've hardly exercised in a year.

Waaaaaaaah.

The end of June

2006-06-24T23:35:00.000-04:00

Well people, I'm moving. I don't suppose that's too terribly surprising, considering I'm an Ad____'s.

So. I'm off to the wilds of New Hampshire. Fairview calls, and who knows what else will come up.

I'm so HAPPY! I will be closer to some more of my peers, all of whom I love and respect. I've felt a bit like a wilty plant for lack of fellowship. Though there are a few down here who have been like cool water to me. These I wil miss. :) Grr, this is all so inconvenient, why can't we all live in the same state at least? Hee hee. I jest. But heaven will sure do the job well...

Boy, that all sounds a bit flowery and sentimental. Oh well, it's the truth and I'm sticking to it.

In any case, I've contracted a case of succinctness and must heed it's call.

Laus Deo!

A tale

2006-06-17T23:10:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time there was a... oh forget the traditional opening sentence for a story! How about: The thunder crashed! The waves, like dancing elephants, dwarfed the vertically challenged vessel (now that's as PC as it can get...) as it was flung about like a racket ball in a heated game (and that is a poor attempt at an idiom). Its occupants (we are still talking about the vessel here) were terrified (no duh) and burrowed deeper beneath the tarp under which they were hiding. Their cries for help were lost amidst the roaring of the wind and the crashing of the mighty waves. And why were they going unheard? Because the vessel was lost to the grip of a force 9 hurricane in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. One wonders why they even bothered to waste their strength making noise.

Try and place yourself within this story. Smell the salt of the sea, the wood of the vessel, the scent of fear. Feel the icy water and the furious gale on your face, whipping your hair into un-imagined styles. See the foam at the crest of the towering waves and watch as they pour down into the vessel, threatening to bury it forever. See the spray, which for a moment turns into glistening diamonds in the staccato flashes of lightning. Taste fear, salt, the skin of the one next to you because you are waaaaaay too squashed together... (Did I get all the senses? Let me see... smell, touch, sight, taste... that's four, what's the missing one? Oh! Hearing.) Hear the roar of the waves and the cries for help. Tune your ears to the screaming of the wind and the anger of the waves. (Hmm, that last parentheses really shattered my attempt to pull your senses into my story. Rats. And this one totally ruined it. Guess I'll just abandon the tale.)

It's ok if I do quit, however. Because it was only a couple of rats in a discarded barrel.

About pictures and, um, me I guess

2006-06-14T22:54:00.000-04:00

Well, I was going to post more FL pictures, but when I started to rummage about in my stash, I realized I didn't have that many, except a few Melissa took of herself (evil laugh). Saddness and WOE! Why don't I have more? I mean, I DID have a camera the whole time!

Why? Because I was BUSY! Busy busy busy.

Oh, and while we are on the subject (whatever the subject is...), I haven't forgotten my blog, honest. I've just been... experiencing life. So please don't give up on me yet.

Woohoo, I love my friends

2006-06-02T22:38:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the glare
(sorry AFM, heh :-)
The happy couple

Daily wisdom #3

2006-05-14T22:22:00.000-04:00

Are you sure it's for the right reasons?

Daily wisdom #2

2006-05-09T11:56:00.000-04:00

Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Farewell

2006-05-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm flying off home today... er... Wednesday morning @ about 8:15 am.

See you all on the flip side!

You call it "The last hurrah"

2006-05-02T08:21:00.000-04:00

Fun in the sun.

The great blue Mediterranean

Just a step away

Aaaaah! Scary hollyhocks!

This is a rose. At least I think it is...

That's all, folks

Words that don't exist, but really should

2006-05-01T16:45:00.000-04:00

1. AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks' trus) adj. Possessing the ability to
turn the bathroom faucet on and off with your toes.

2. CARPERPETUATION (kar' pur pet u a shun) n. The act, when
vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a
dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then
putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.

3. DISCONFECT (dis kon fekt') v. To sterilize the piece of candy you
dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow
'remove' all the germs.

4. ELBONICS (el bon' iks) n. The actions of two people manoeuvring
for one armrest in a movie theater or airplane.

5. FRUST (frust) n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept
onto the dust pan and keep backing a person across the room until he
finally decides to give up and sweep it under the rug.

6. LACTOMANGULATION (lak' to man guy lay' shun) n Manhandling the
"open here" spout on a milk container so badly that one has to resort
to the 'illegal' side.

7. PEPPIER (pehp ee ay') n. The waiter at a fancy restaurant whose
sole purpose seems to be walking around asking diners if they want
ground pepper.

8 PHONESIA (fo nee' zhuh) n. The affliction of dialing a phone number
and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.

9. PUPKUS (pup'kus) n. The moist residue left on a window after a dog
presses its nose to it.

10.TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin ay' shun) n. The act of always
letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even
when you're only six inches away.

Daily wisdom #1

2006-04-29T08:13:00.000-04:00

Don't poke yourself in your eye, it hurts.

Once upon a place called Caesarea

2006-04-26T17:19:00.000-04:00

This, students, is a foot. Can you say foot?
Foooooot.
Very good!!

Checking my e-mail...

2006-04-20T15:27:00.000-04:00

Oy vah voy, can it be...!?
It is!
Lisa, they found my false teeth!!

Two views from Mount Gerizim

2006-04-13T16:48:00.000-04:00

looking down...
looking up

Better late than never, I say

2006-04-10T02:15:00.001-04:00

It was Palm Sunday yesterday. This says it all. :-)

Happy Sabbath

2006-04-07T18:12:00.000-04:00

you're going to have to (s)quint to read the sign... yeah...
sorry it's another flower...

A fairly stupid tale

2006-04-04T17:02:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time there was a little girl and this little girl had a curl right in the middle of her... chinny chin chin (which is really gross, so let me hurry on...). One day, this little girl - let's call her Ash - skipped off into the woods on her way to visit her poor, sick... chicken (he had a big problem with paranoia, you know, the sky is falling type). As little Ash skipped on through the woods, she sprinkled crumbs on the trail behind herself as a precaution against losing her way when she trotted homeward. What she didn't know however, was that a ways back down the trail followed... the seven dwarves. They had taken the day off from their mine work to carry out the weekly forest parole because, despite their energetic tunneling in the mines, they were actually rabid tree huggers. So today they carried little black trash bags over their shoulders in which they placed bits of trash they discovered here and there. Which of course included Ash's crumbs, poor lass.

After a while, Ash tired from her skipping, so she seated herself upon a convenient mossy log and pulled out her handy dandy insulated lunch bag with sparkley racing stripes across the lid. From it she removed a big beautiful red... apple (which was poisoned, only she didn't know that. Yet). She held the apple up into the light of the sun and laughed (I'm still not sure why..). Just as she was about to take a bite, a knight on his shining charger - complete with rippling muscles (I'm talking about the horse, not the knight)- thundered by and... knocked her over. Which was a good thing in a strange way, because it kept her from eating the poisoned apple, but not in other ways because it gave her some wicked bruises.

In pain, she stumbled further down the trail until she came to a cute little cottage with large ugly fake gumdrops attached to the outer walls and roof. After knocking on the door and getting no answer, she timidly stepped into the house. On the table were... bowls of porridge. (And if you went throughout the house, you'd find three of most things, all of which she either ate or sat on.) After completing her tour of destruction, she fell asleep with her face in one of the porridge bowls. While you where sleeping - I mean - while she was sleeping, the three... blind mice (aka three myopic rodents) came home. Upon sensing her presence, the papa mouse thundered as only a mouse can: "Fee fi fo fum, I smell the... shampoo on someone's hair and it's not any of ours because we don't use shampoo!"

But Ash did not awake because as any smart person would know, mice, no matter how loud they thunder, just aren't loud. At all. So Ash, poor lass, was carried out the door, down the dale and across the stream to... somewhere that was definitely not grandmother's house. Whatever the place was, it doesn't matter because they left her there and she kept sleeping for a really long time and it was so long that there's not enough room on this blog for the end of the story to fit, which is sad because it was going to be really cool and now you will never know, which means you're going to be left hanging, waiting, weeping, for the conclusion that you're never going to get! Hahahahaaha!

The End

MORE pictures, bwahaha!

2006-03-30T16:21:00.000-05:00

Remember the British Cemetery?

The eclipse on Tuesday (!)

My birthday bouquet

2006-03-26T07:37:00.000-05:00

101 ways to keep from loosing your readership

2006-03-24T04:20:00.000-05:00

POST
post
POST
poooooooooooost.
Write something, say something to stave off the downward tide.
Ok, that wasn't 101 ways, but I think four will do the job. Yes?

So, how about this. The other day we were searching through our rather bare cupboards for something to make for supper (the cupboards were somewhat bare because we don't like grocery shopping, can you believe that??). We had several partial meals; beans, but no ground beef to make chili; potatoes, but no cheese or sour cream to make yummy baked potatoes. We also had chicken breast, but nothing to eat it with. We were in a pretty dismal predicament. Lisa, Sarah and I may have been able to scrounge about and find some strange combination to stave off hunger, but we also cook for The Boss, or Steve-the-forensic-scientist. Anyway, as I was saying it really wouldn't be nice for him if we tossed him out to the wolves, so on we searched. If only we had some rice... then we could make a delicious stir-fry, but no...... But wait! We looked at each other with wild surmise! ...No... we shouldn't, no way, baaad idea... but we need rice... One of us had recently put some rice into a CLEAN sock to use as a heating pad (microwave it) to keep oneself warm in the chill of the evening. A lot of rice. ...Oooh boy, the temptation grew. We didn't mind that it had been in a sock, but what about the Boss?? Would he understand? Would he care? Would he be grossed out by rice from a sooock??

We needed rice for supper, so we used the rice for supper. The rice for supper did not kill us. And we "forgot" to mention to the Boss from where the rice for supper had originated. Now the question is: Will we go to hell because we didn't tell him?

Hmmm...

Stepping heavenward

2006-03-18T15:10:00.000-05:00

A real post, whatever that is

2006-03-13T14:14:00.000-05:00

Who here likes mosquitos? .....I didn't think so. Thus I am sure you'll all be happy to know I just killed one. Which means, hopefully, that I have kept between 100-300 new beasties from hatching. Isn't that exciting!?

Let's see... what else did I do today? Ah yes, with great vim and vigor I mopped our kitchen-hallway-living-room floor, the outside entryway to our apartment and on down the stairs to the walkway. The water which I poured on the floor in the house I squeegeed (I love that word!) around and out the door which has no threshold, across the entryway and then I chased the miniature waterfall down the smooth stone/marble stairs. Hey, it was great fun. Especially since I did not slip on the wet stone and fall head over teakettle down the stairs. Aaaaaaaah! However, if you like running and hydroplaning down a slick hallway, then all this is right up your alley (yes, yes, pun intended, couldn't help it, didn't want to help it).

And now I don't know what to write. I fear that now I have access to a camera my conversational abilities, which were never well developed, may begin to atrophy. I love to draw pictures with my words because I think in pictures, which is made possible because I often look at the world as through a viewfinder... what do I do? Posting a picture (picture=1,000 words) is way easier than writing something... *shrugs*

Have camera, will be lazy.

Maybe a real post after this picture, what'd ya say?

2006-03-10T05:16:00.000-05:00

Where was I?

2006-03-07T16:42:00.000-05:00

"Here there be giants"

2006-03-01T01:54:00.000-05:00

I think they need to cut the grass along the walls of the Old City.

Or maybe it's just that I have suddenly contracted a raging case of osteoporosis.

Ow.

If anyone is bored, I have just the thing for you!

2006-02-26T02:48:00.000-05:00

Just go here.

Come on, you know you want to...

Sadness and woe

2006-02-25T17:31:00.000-05:00

Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, I think for some reason my blog isn't saving comments on my two latest posts. At least I think it's not. Unless of course no one did comment on them. In any case, if there was some way that I could know if anyone tried to comment or not, it would be lovely. I think a lot of you have my e-mail address; so maybe a lil e-mail just to say yea or nay wouldn't hurt. :-D

Here, you tell me

2006-02-22T11:24:00.000-05:00

You see, for a jet-lagged brain, wouldn't you have had trouble picking the right one? Especially if you only had one in front of you.

A word to the confused

2006-02-19T04:48:00.000-05:00

Ok, that was weird.

This morning, after I'd dragged myself from my bed at a scary 1 AM according to my befuddled body clock, I slowly made my way down stairs to find something for breakfast. I really didn't want to eat much, so I grabbed a tangerine from the basket on the counter. My fingers sank into its flesh; it was rotten at the top. Oh yuck! Off to the trash it sailed as I turned quickly to wash the grossness from my fingertips. After drying my hands, I carefully chose a firm tangerine. With that in hand, I opened the fridge and bent down a little to peer in. Hhhm, I think we need to go shopping... aha! Yogurt.. yum.

The container had only Hebrew and Arabic on its sides, which is not unusual, so when I realized it was yellow instead of light blue, I called over my shoulder to ask Sarah if she knew what flavor it was. "Is it banana?" Anyone who knows me well will remember how I abhor bananas. Sarah didn't think it was, so I figured it was another strange Israeli flavor like butterscotch or raisins and brandy. So, I decided to be brave and opened the container. It seemed a little bit creamier than usual, but then who was I to question it? Yogurt in Israel is always thicker and fattier than in the US. I stirred it and took a small preparatory taste. Huh, usually plain yogurt doesn't have this much tang. But plain yogurt in Israel is a little sweeter than in the US. So maybe it's ...sugarless? Oh well. I also figured it might taste sharper than usual because I'd just brushed my teeth.

I shrugged and carried it upstairs to eat while sitting on my bed, computer on lap, checking my e-mail and a few blogs. I ate the yogurt slowly with small bites because it still seemed a lil bit thicker and tangier than usual. I finally set it aside to ask Lisa to read the Hebrew for me once I'd finished my current task. My stomach was complaining a little, but I figured it was merely an offshoot of jet lag/stomach shock. E-mails checked and blogs visited, I walked to Lisa's door and with a plaintive tone I asked her to tell me what flavor the blooming stuff was. One glance at the container sent her into a burst of laughter.

"Ha hahaha, Rachel, that's sour cream!"

Oh.

How on earth was I supposed to know? It didn't taste like US sour cream. The containers even look practically the same. Sigh.

I carried it down stairs again, feeling a bit silly. I told Sarah about my mistake and we both started laughing. Ha hahaha!

Thank you, thank you... it is my distinct pleasure to bring a ray of sunshine and laughter to an otherwise cold and gloomy morning (even though my stomach still isn't very happy with me...)

I love us.

A new view

2006-02-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

Today I ate a chocolate. It was really good. Then I ate another and that one was really good, too. Isn't amazing how some things never change? Then, of course, there is another side. The side where some things do change. Or at least aren't the same all the time (I wonder is there's a difference between the two?). In any case, there is something I wish would change. *looks pitiful* It's cooooold, and the stone floors are cold, and the plaster walls are cold and the air is cold, and my feet are cold, and my fingers are cold, and the heat is controlled by the people living beneath us, and they only put it on for a bit in the evenings. Boo. Hoo. And you thought Israel was always a land of sun and sand and the warm, blue Mediterranean sea dancing along the white sands of the beach. Wrong. Think again. Now I understand why tickets to Israel in the winter/early spring months are so much cheaper. No one in their right mind would want to spend much time in this bone chilling wet cold.
But, you know, who in their right mind would even go to Israel anyway? Dunno...
Anyone want a chocolate?

Mildly intelligent

2006-02-15T02:42:00.000-05:00

I'm here (in Israel) all in one piece, though not with all my smarts as yet... I know I just set myself up for some teasing. The trip was uneventful except when we flew over the Eiffel Tower as we left the Charles DeGaulle airport. Twas interesting. Probably the only time I'll see it. :-) Thank you everyone for all your prayers, it's obvious they were heard.

Ugh, I just ate breakfast and it was 1:30 or 2 AM your time. My stomach doesn't like me anymore.

Have a grand day you all!

I apologise for this...

2006-02-05T23:02:00.000-05:00

Jane, your riddle.

A pink hairless tethered-to-keep-from-escaping, frightened-for-its-life-cousin-to-a-blowfish (because of the spikes :)

[The spikes belong to the blowfish, btw; not the pink hairless thing.]

(I think I'm going nuts)

Eleven days and counting

2006-02-01T23:11:00.000-05:00

Eleven days until I leave. For Israel, that is. I thought I ought to mention it. :-)

I'm really sorry about the major lack of posts on my part. I have all kinds of great excuses, but I will not bother you with any. I miss blogging, so hopefully once I arrive in Israel and get myself settled in, I'll try my hand at it again in a more frequent manner. I humbly, on my knees, ask my readership to hang in there and not write me off.

As you wish.

P.S. Jane, a riddle coming soon. :)

Charlie

2006-01-22T23:30:00.000-05:00

Bend, grasp, yank, toss. Bend, grasp, yank, toss. WHOMPH. Charlie's breath was knocked askew as he made unprepared contact with the Warden's bulbous knee. "Whadd'ya doing, boy?" the Warden challenged, his high-piched voice cracking with effort in an attempt to sound tough. Excuuuse knee, thought Charlie. Glaring, the Warden grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him towards The Cage. "Get your tail away from those flowers. You know you ain't supposed to be foolin' with 'em!" Charlie rolled his eyes in an attempt to look pathetic, maybe gain a little sympathy from the pseudo tough guy. But, no such luck. Off to The Cage it is again. Again. One would think the Warden didn't like him, or something.

Charlie sighed as the door crashed shut with finality. Depressed, he turned, walked to the corner and sat, leaning back against the wall. Was he ever going to get out of this place? It was either in The Cage, out side in a tiny yard, or, worst of all, in a small room where they poked and prodded, brandishing long shiny needles. He still couldn't understand why his family had left him here. Feeling sorry for himself, he lay down and idly studied The Cage's door. Soon, sheer boredom set in and he fell asleep, trapped by its warm, smothering arms.

Hours ticked away and still he slept. Just as he'd started to drift back into consciousness, loud voices jerked him totally awake. A rumbly deep male voice asked, "How is he doing?" "Oh, much better," shrilled the Warden. Then, a small child's voice joined in with an excited, "Can he come home now?!" "Please! Take him away... I mean, yes, he's ready, heh..." The Warden quickly corrected himself, but muttered under his breath "...and good riddance."

Friendly faces came around the corner; the Warden pulled out his key with a great show, and with much rattling and banging unlocked The Cage door. Charlie ran through the open portal and into the waiting arms of his family. He was going home! He was free! He was so happy and excited that he couldn't help but run in circles, tongue out, tail wagging and barking gleefully.

Today...

2006-01-11T18:41:00.000-05:00

I think the world has been made a better place, just because some genius created this site. (Not my blog, silly. That's a link to another site)

Ok, beyond that.

I've found a new way to bring excitement to a bleary existence. Write blogs! Thus, considering the distinct lack of posts on my part, I must be leading a stunning and fabulously astounding life. "Please define your term". What is a stunning, fabu' and astounding life? You tell me. There are many ways to look at it. All of which I am going to leave to your imagination.

Swiss chard is sooooo good. It's somewhat like spinach, only not quite as slimy when steamed. It has the most divine smell as it cooks... I haven't had it in ages, however, my mom bought some today and fair memories have flooded my senses. If you haven't had the privilege of consuming some, dash to the store immediately!

Today I spent a Very Long Time in a Huge and fascinating antique store. Penny and Melissa oooed and ahhed along with me. It was a dandy way to spend part of an afternoon. I didn't buy anything, but as I was looking through a book titled Greems Dictionary for Shorthand which was published some time in the late 1800s, I discovered a poem written in the front cover (in longhand :). Because I liked it so much, and didn't want to buy the book for $30 just to get the poem, I read it aloud as Melissa copied it onto a tidbit of paper she'd had in her purse. So, if you get bored in the middle, you hereby have my permission to skip the remaining stanzas.

No time for God?

What fools we are to clutter up
Our lives with common things,
And leave without heart's gate
The Lord of life and Life itself--
Our God.

No time for God?
As soon to say no time
To eat or sleep or love or die.
Take time for God
Or you shall dwarf your soul.
And when the angel Death
Comes knocking at your door,
A poor misshapen thing you'll be
To step into eternity.

No time for God?
That day when sickness comes
Or troubles find you out,
And you cry out for God,
Will He have time for you?

No time for God?
Some day you'll lay aside
This mortal self,
And make your way unknown,
And when you meet Him face to face,
Will He, should He, have time for you?

There was no author noted, so I'm wondering if it was an original to the long ago owner of the book.

And this is the end of what I had to say. Please hold your applause. :-P

Dancing

2006-01-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

There is a melody I long to hear,
the song of peace.
I wish for it to shine from my eyes,
to flow from my lips,
to envelope me within its living folds.
So, when my being cries out for peace,
peace meets me,
and together we laugh with joy
and with tears
as we dance in the rain.

Oh...

2005-12-29T23:14:00.000-05:00

Wow, what is this place? I'd almost forgotten I even had a blog. Of course, don't let this post get your hopes up; I don't want to be 're-bound' to its upkeep. I'm not sure I even know how to write anymore... maybe it's because this Christmas someone forgot to give me my yearly allowance of brains for the new year. Rats. This is going to be highly inconvenient. Ah, well. Everyone, I am not particularly pleased to introduce to you (though I must) Rachel's third personality: Imbecile. Say hi to the nice people, Imby. There's a good girl.

Well, I need to go put dear Imby to bed, so I may see y'all later. It was nice to say hey again. Goodbye, see you all later and all that rot. :-)

Of what do this make you think?

2005-12-22T21:53:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'm back... kind of

2005-12-10T19:12:00.000-05:00

Welcome home, Florida Rachel. Georgia Rachel missed you. It's nice to get together once again. Unfortunately (or fortunately some may feel) FLR was unable to contract a case of assiduous logorrhea for us while in the balmy south-er-than-GA. For translation of previous unusual words, please see the 'comments' section. I fear that we--though for no lack of trying--may never be blessed by this disease. It comes hard for those not born with it. It's in the genes, I'm sure.

You know, it sometimes comes in handy to have a split personality. You can blame something you did on the other half of you. Very handy, I say. Of course, the downside is that we tend to get confused by each other. Who is who, and all that rot. Can you imagine the row that would come to pass if one side continued to forget to tell the other important bits of information which applied to the both of them? *Shakes head* I guess it's not worth it after all.

ANYway.

Since I was an evil slacker Thanksgiving day, I figure I'll now save myself from a ticket to hell in a hand basket by listing a few things for which I am thankful. However, it's going to be "liberated" list in that it may end up becoming a list of things I like... or whatever...

1. my friendssssss (awwwww)
2. dried figs (yum)
3. the smell of leather (aaaah)
4. MY paint brush (I'm very possessive, if you couldn't tell)
5. my new soft, fuzzy, warm, cozy, purple socks (guys, you can roll your eyes all you wish, but just be aware that you're SO missing out on a gift from heaven)
6. speaking of guys, I'm really thankful for all of you; your godliness, faithfulness and perseverance in the way of Truth, how you treat us girls with a careful respect (NOT as in "The girls Rule, guys drool" point of view), and, because I know you're not just 'pious', I appreciate your humor and love for life (there, now I feel better)
7. all my girl friends! (you already know what I think of you)
8. coupon from friend for wooooooonderful thing *snickers* (it's an inside joke thing)
9. trees (yep)
10. causing people to laugh (because I like to know what it sounds like)
11. snail mail (though e-mail is a wonderful invention, nothing truly surpasses a letter in the mailbox with ones name on it)
12. dried dates with cream cheese (oh ah ooo yumm)
13. winter pansies (I'm in Georgia, remember)
14. all the people I know who just decided to move to GA because we have flowers IN THE WINTER
15. blogs (I'm loving learning more about you all and more about my own self, even, oddly enough, haha)
16. New York city (now that was random)
17. the Sabbath (what would life be like without it?)
18. health (rejoice in it, everyone, rejoice)
19. the patterns a vacuum makes on a rug (now you all KNOW I'm nuts, if you hadn't before)
20. oooh, nuts... fresh pecans! (and the way bits of shell fly about the room while one cracks the lil things)

The End

Ta ta

2005-11-30T23:15:00.000-05:00

Bye people, I'm off for about a week down in the deep south (Florida). My internet connection will be minimal or nonexistant. *sniff*

Here's a parting gift:

In the morning I was glorious; at noon, the same; by evening it was as if I'd never been.

Unvarnished truth

2005-11-27T22:28:00.000-05:00

The other day I met a man. I was making my way through the Mart of the Wal type, wandering about while waiting for my daaahling sister. I'd made it through the men's section and was just about to skitter into the women's when I was suddenly accosted by a tallish, thinnish, nice looking older guy. As he approached, he said quietly, "Excuse me, ma'am," and laid his hand on my arm.

Outwardly, I kept calm, but inwardly my mind was running the 100 yard dash in about three seconds flat. I thought: "Oh no! I've heard about this. Seemingly innocent looking older people who catch you off guard by acting nice and sweet, but then when they get close, they hit you over the head and make their escape with your pocket book!" And: "Arg, no! What do I do?? No one would understand if I pushed this guy over violently and dashed away yelling and waving my arms."

I swallowed and answered: "H-hello." He looked me straight in the eyes and with a twinkle in his asked me this question. "Do you know what the right eye said to the left eye?"

What on earth is he DOING? "Er... no, I don't know."

He twinkled again and answered his question: "There's something between us and it smells!"

Heh heh... hah..

Apparently that was the end of his mission, because he smiled brightly and with a cheery "Have a nice day!" walked away, leaving me standing there looking a bit stunned.

I'm still not sure why he picked me; maybe it was my face, which was quite serious, maybe even a bit gloomy. Who knows. But one thing I do know is he accomplished his mission and I spent the rest of my time in that store grinning and chuckling to myself.

Yay for nice old men who scare you silly and then proceed to make you laugh for the next half hour. :-)

That fawn, remember him?

2005-11-26T13:44:00.000-05:00

I feel the need to make sure something is very clear. If you recall the post a while ago about the fawn; it was all true. There was only a small bit of poetic licence taken. I was finding it difficult to know for sure or not if everyone realized the post wasn't a joke. If anyone feels betrayed, please e-mail me and I'll do my best to make sure any damage done is taken care of. :)