Last night I turned on Charlie Rose and observed that he was doing a retrospective of William F. Buckley interviews. Uh Oh, I thought, he must have died. I sent the Sixteen-Year-Old to google it for me and sure enough.
I will miss him. I loved to watch him talk. Honestly most of what he said sailed right over my head but watching him speak: his mannerisms, his inflections, his insanely brilliant vocabulary, fascinated me. So here's to a bastion of conservatism in a time when significant change seems afoot. We've lost a thoughtful speaker, writer and conversationalist and are left in a world where feeling now trumps everything and entertainment is what passes for news. Sigh. I think I'll make a trip to the library for one of his books before I start to forget.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Happy Holidays
In my efforts to shed my house of unwanted pounds we are tackling the Four-Year-Old's room today. So guess what? It's like Christmas all over again. Heaven forbid that anything land in the give away pile. Doing so immediately bestows favorite toy status upon the previously forgotten plaything. I'm going to employ some video game distraction maneuvers. Hey, don't judge, it's all for the greater good.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Some More About Belief
Can a person really believe without facing challenges to that belief? I understand childlike faith but can it be maintained if no one or no thing ever challenges it?
It is my greatest hope that my children's faith will become their own but my greatest fear is the opposition that they may face. How can I reconcile this? Maybe I can't. Maybe I just have to have faith.
It is my greatest hope that my children's faith will become their own but my greatest fear is the opposition that they may face. How can I reconcile this? Maybe I can't. Maybe I just have to have faith.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Belief
Recently I discovered that someone I had assumed was a believer, was, in fact, not. By believer, I mean believer in God. I was shocked by this revelation because this person is very, very active in church. I asked myself, "What is my responsibility here?" And I had no answer for myself. I think about it a lot because my family runs the gamut of belief from hellfire and brimstone to agnostic, but I have never had much success influencing anyone one way or another. If anyone has an answer feel free to enlighten me.
The fact that a person can turn from one belief to another fascinates and moves me. My own story is very anti-climatic. I always believed in God, which I attribute to my mom. My relationship with Jesus began at a later time but it was basically a move from a belief to a relationship. One of my brothers, on the other hand, had a very dramatic conversion. I once witnessed a guy become a believer while watching the northern lights. He may or may not have been drinking though, and I was only acquainted with him for that one summer so I'm not sure if that one stuck. It would have been nice if I'd been in a position to point him in a direction that would strengthen his faith, but I was seeking the very thing at that time. Now that I am in a position to do so I am very nearly as clueless as I was back then. I have ideas, but again, few results. So what is it that moves a person from non-belief to belief? I mean, I know it is the conviction of the Holy Spirit but I would love to know from people, what or who convinced them to listen. And what did that look like?
The fact that a person can turn from one belief to another fascinates and moves me. My own story is very anti-climatic. I always believed in God, which I attribute to my mom. My relationship with Jesus began at a later time but it was basically a move from a belief to a relationship. One of my brothers, on the other hand, had a very dramatic conversion. I once witnessed a guy become a believer while watching the northern lights. He may or may not have been drinking though, and I was only acquainted with him for that one summer so I'm not sure if that one stuck. It would have been nice if I'd been in a position to point him in a direction that would strengthen his faith, but I was seeking the very thing at that time. Now that I am in a position to do so I am very nearly as clueless as I was back then. I have ideas, but again, few results. So what is it that moves a person from non-belief to belief? I mean, I know it is the conviction of the Holy Spirit but I would love to know from people, what or who convinced them to listen. And what did that look like?
Monday, February 18, 2008
PMS and Presidents
Happy Presidents Day!
Apparently my entire family is suffering from PMS. During a uncontrollable craving for chocolate I made a pan of fudge and sat at the table while one by one the rest of my family came in and made it disappear. Granted it was only half a recipe, but still. Still. I guess I should thank them because it saved me the trouble of eating it all myself.
It being President's Day and all I'll share with you a dream I had. It's relevant, I promise. In my dream President Clinton came to my house to try and talk us in to voting for Hilary. My house was a mess, as usual, but I didn't care. Neither did President Clinton. I liked him for that. Dream Clinton was a pretty nice guy. I don't think I'll be voting for Hilary though, or changing my political affiliations for that matter, but you never know. Crazier things have happened.
Apparently my entire family is suffering from PMS. During a uncontrollable craving for chocolate I made a pan of fudge and sat at the table while one by one the rest of my family came in and made it disappear. Granted it was only half a recipe, but still. Still. I guess I should thank them because it saved me the trouble of eating it all myself.
It being President's Day and all I'll share with you a dream I had. It's relevant, I promise. In my dream President Clinton came to my house to try and talk us in to voting for Hilary. My house was a mess, as usual, but I didn't care. Neither did President Clinton. I liked him for that. Dream Clinton was a pretty nice guy. I don't think I'll be voting for Hilary though, or changing my political affiliations for that matter, but you never know. Crazier things have happened.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Time Has Come
I need to lose some weight. I think about 500 pounds is a realistic goal. No not that kind of weight. I need to get rid of some of the crap weighing down my life. My "Stuff". George Carlin had a good bit about it wherein he called it something equally appropriate, but I intend to remain family friendly.
Seriously I think 500 pounds ought to make a pretty good start, but I really have no idea how much 500 pounds is. In an effort to make a start I let my daughter go through my mountainous stack of clean clothes and take out the things she thought I shouldn't wear anymore. When added up it came to 4.84 lbs. One hundred more stacks or so of the same size and I'm golden. I'm just so sad to give up my holey (Not holy) jammie pants.
Seriously I think 500 pounds ought to make a pretty good start, but I really have no idea how much 500 pounds is. In an effort to make a start I let my daughter go through my mountainous stack of clean clothes and take out the things she thought I shouldn't wear anymore. When added up it came to 4.84 lbs. One hundred more stacks or so of the same size and I'm golden. I'm just so sad to give up my holey (Not holy) jammie pants.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Stupid Germs
They heard me.
I discovered a thing or two in my achy fevered state, though. The best thing is how I managed to avoid the nasty cough and congestion that has derailed every other member of my family. I'm pretty sure I owe it all to this fancy gadget. Disgusting, yes, but very effective.
I discovered a thing or two in my achy fevered state, though. The best thing is how I managed to avoid the nasty cough and congestion that has derailed every other member of my family. I'm pretty sure I owe it all to this fancy gadget. Disgusting, yes, but very effective.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
For My Kids
who cannot believe they had to go to school this morning.
I know parents have been doing this since the beginning of time but I've got to get this off my chest before my brain explodes. Doing it online ensures that I will not have to endure the eye rolling and whispered incredulity that tends to accompany my blasts from the past.
When I was your age.....
The time, January 21, 1982, the place, Minneapolis. I was attending the Minneapolis College of Art and Design at the age of eighteen, living in an apartment just south of downtown Minneapolis. Two days after a record breaking seventeen inches of snow in twenty four hours, on top of roughly eight inches of snow already on the ground, we experienced a second record breaking snow of twenty inches in twenty four hours with drifting up to ten feet. Add to that lows of negative twenty degrees or less. Real degrees, not wind chill. Awesome doesn't begin to describe it. My roommate, her boyfriend and I built a snow fort about the size of a city block. But, did they cancel classes? N. O. Not only that, but I didn't have a car so I was, indeed, walking to school in ten feet of snow.
I wasn't barefoot though. I'll give you that.
I know parents have been doing this since the beginning of time but I've got to get this off my chest before my brain explodes. Doing it online ensures that I will not have to endure the eye rolling and whispered incredulity that tends to accompany my blasts from the past.
When I was your age.....
The time, January 21, 1982, the place, Minneapolis. I was attending the Minneapolis College of Art and Design at the age of eighteen, living in an apartment just south of downtown Minneapolis. Two days after a record breaking seventeen inches of snow in twenty four hours, on top of roughly eight inches of snow already on the ground, we experienced a second record breaking snow of twenty inches in twenty four hours with drifting up to ten feet. Add to that lows of negative twenty degrees or less. Real degrees, not wind chill. Awesome doesn't begin to describe it. My roommate, her boyfriend and I built a snow fort about the size of a city block. But, did they cancel classes? N. O. Not only that, but I didn't have a car so I was, indeed, walking to school in ten feet of snow.
I wasn't barefoot though. I'll give you that.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
My Husband is Hot!
103 degrees to be exact.
I don't mean to be flippant. Well, yes I do. See, in a strange, inexplicable turn of events it turns out that this time, he's the one to fall victim to the kid germs. I guess I've finally built up some immunity. Now I better shut up before the germs hear me.
Seriously, stay away from here. I'm throwing up the quarantine sign.
I don't mean to be flippant. Well, yes I do. See, in a strange, inexplicable turn of events it turns out that this time, he's the one to fall victim to the kid germs. I guess I've finally built up some immunity. Now I better shut up before the germs hear me.
Seriously, stay away from here. I'm throwing up the quarantine sign.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Happy Super Fat Tuesday
Still on fever patrol. Fortunately it gives me the excuse I need to park myself in front of the television to watch primary/caucus coverage. When I can talk the Four-year-old out of Spongebob, that is. The only way it could be better is if I could be out there primary-ing or caucusing myself. Sadly, on this side of the state line it's Democrats only today. Now for the important question. What the heck is a caucus anyway?
Monday, February 4, 2008
About the Weather
It's February fourth. It's 67 degrees outside. While the rest of my family battles real fevers of, I am fighting my own battle with Spring Fever. And I'm barely conscious.
Caring for a sick Four-Year-Old is not for the faint of heart. Last night was a brand new experience for me. Night Terrors. I don't think they were authentic night terrors, though, because he did come out of it eventually. They were more like fever dreams. After a half an hour of staring at me and screaming out in fear and yelling out nonsense he managed to calm down and I spent the rest of the night with him in the recliner listening to his feverish non-sequiturs.
Which brings me to the present. I just sneaked out of the house leaving the Four-Year-Old with the also ailing Eighteen-Year-Old so I could purchase some much needed Motrin. It hit me as soon as I walked out the door. The warm breeze. The feeling of heat radiating off the concrete. The smell of the soil awakening from the deep freeze. BAM. Spring fever. Now the weatherpeople are calling for another round of snow and freezing rain tomorrow. Unfortunately there is no going back for me. I've got it bad and I won't be satisfied till the hyacinths bloom.
I blame the groundhog.
Caring for a sick Four-Year-Old is not for the faint of heart. Last night was a brand new experience for me. Night Terrors. I don't think they were authentic night terrors, though, because he did come out of it eventually. They were more like fever dreams. After a half an hour of staring at me and screaming out in fear and yelling out nonsense he managed to calm down and I spent the rest of the night with him in the recliner listening to his feverish non-sequiturs.
Which brings me to the present. I just sneaked out of the house leaving the Four-Year-Old with the also ailing Eighteen-Year-Old so I could purchase some much needed Motrin. It hit me as soon as I walked out the door. The warm breeze. The feeling of heat radiating off the concrete. The smell of the soil awakening from the deep freeze. BAM. Spring fever. Now the weatherpeople are calling for another round of snow and freezing rain tomorrow. Unfortunately there is no going back for me. I've got it bad and I won't be satisfied till the hyacinths bloom.
I blame the groundhog.
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