Transplanted Buckeye

Eulogy

2008-02-28T03:13:00.003-06:00

Dad's ashes were put to rest last Friday, and on Saturday there was a lovely memorial service. Interim Pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Jody LeFort, did a wonderful job with words of comfort and healing. We appreciated her care for my father, and for my mother.

Here is the eulogy I prepared for the service.
__________________________________

My son, Thomas, has on occasion asked me why I tease him so much. After some reflection, I was able to answer the question. I learned from the master.

Many here knew my father as a kind, compassionate, creative person. All these things are true. But it is also true that my father had a wonderful sense of humor, an odd sense of humor. When I think of my father, this is the first thing I think of.

My earliest memory of Dad and his sense of humor was when Lora, Chuckie and I were very young–probably before we started school. My mother recited the old poem about “Wee Willie Winkie” to try to get us kids settled into bed quickly.

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
"Are the children in their bed, for it's now ten o'clock?"

"Hey, Willie Winkie, are you coming in?
The cat is singing purring sounds to the sleeping hen,
The dog's spread out on the floor, and doesn't give a cheep,
But here's a wakeful little boy who will not fall asleep!"

Anything but sleep, you rogue! glowering like the moon,
Rattling in an iron jug with an iron spoon,
Rumbling, tumbling round about, crowing like a cock,
Shrieking like I don't know what, waking sleeping folk.

"Hey, Willie Winkie - the child's in a creel!
Wriggling from everyone's knee like an eel,
Tugging at the cat's ear, and confusing all her thrums
Hey, Willie Winkie - see, there he comes!"

Weary is the mother who has a dusty child,
A small short little child, who can't run on his own,
Who always has a battle with sleep before he'll close an eye
But a kiss from his rosy lips gives strength anew to me.

I remember hearing that poem, and then hearing a “rap rap rap” on the window. Surely Wee Willie Winkie wasn’t visiting us! It scared me a little, but when I found out it was just Dad, it became funny. Often when I tuck Thomas into bed, I think of that poem, and that time that Dad became Wee Willie Winkie.

I understand that Dad engaged in this kind of play with others as well. One of my favorite stories is from when he was much younger, and living at home with his parents on the West Side of Cleveland. There was a man who moved into the neighborhood, and this man had long hair. No big deal today, but in the 50's it wasn’t all too common. His sister Sandy asked him why that man had long hair. My father told her that it was because he was posing for Jesus pictures.

I recall there was a time period where my father teased my son by calling him “Skeeter.” No matter how many times Thomas corrected Dad by saying, “But I’m not Skeeter! I’m Thomas!”, he would continue calling him “Skeeter.”

Once we were traveling through Montana. Dad got pulled over for speeding. Never having witnessed law enforcement officials ever dealing with my father over any kind of incident, I was worried. I didn’t know what was happening. When my dad got back into the car after his conversation with the State Troopers, he told me he was going to be arrested–but quickly changed the story when he saw how upset I was.

It wasn’t until I was a teenager that Dad perfected his teasing ways. We were in Virginia, visiting Aunt Sandy, when we went to do some shopping. Much to my dismay, Dad was wearing a shirt which kind of looked like an Ohio State jersey, plaid shorts, and worst of all, he was wearing tube socks with big red stripes and tennis shoes. This ensemble was unacceptable to me, and I was really, really embarrassed to go out into public with him dressed this way. I expressed this in my own teenage angst kind of way, and made some comment about being embarrassed. My father’s response was not to tone down the tourist outfit, but to stop in the sidewalk and do an equally embarrassing little dance that the whole world could see. And he made sure that everyone there knew who he was with, too.

There are many other tales–including practical jokes which I won’t repeat here today.

Dad's sense of humor wasn't just teasing, though. He was also a master of using humor to lighten a situation, or to make someone feel better. When I was in kindergarten or first grade, I was diagnosed with a lazy eye. I would have to wear glasses and have a patch over one of my eyes. Dad drew an eye on the patch I would wear. A few weeks ago, when Thomas and I were visiting him in the hospital, we returned that favor, drawing a cat's mouth and nose and whiskers on the masks we had to wear while visiting him.

Mom and Dad had a wonderful marriage, which had a lot of laughter and adventure. Together, they modeled for us kids how to make it through the perils of the world, how to hold things together even when things got rough.

And for Mom and Dad both, things would get rough. Both had their bouts with cancer, one right after the other. They lost their daughter, Lora, far too soon. But together, they weathered those storms, and displayed a strength I will always admire.

So here's to my dad—a man who knew how to love and to laugh, how to make others laugh, and who knew how to face peril with courage and humor.

Dad

2008-02-16T16:22:00.003-06:00

Dad died Thursday morning.

Wonderful husband. Wonderful Dad. Talented artist. Empowering teacher. Devoted brother. Loyal friend. Unwavering fan of OSU and the Cleveland Indians. Sort of liked the Browns. Not interested in NBA all too much.

I loved him, and I will miss him.

My Song of the Day

2008-02-11T14:46:00.000-06:00

Home Again

2008-02-03T20:33:00.001-06:00

I've been in Cleveland visiting my parents. Dad had heart valve replacement surgery--but also is recovering from pneumonia, a stapf infection, and an ulcer. He's got a long way to go. If you think of it, please pray for him.

Superwhat? I Chose Supermovie!

2008-02-03T20:33:00.000-06:00

I'm a Browns fan. So whatever is going on at some stadium somewhere tonight matters not to me.

For reasons I will explain in another post, I spent this past week in bee-yoo-teh-full Cleveland, Ohio. My son and I flew back Saturday, and James came to pick us up Sunday morning. I knew the Superwhatever was today, but was in no mood to see the Pats and the Giants. What I was in the mood for was U2.

God has used U2 in my life for 23 years. When I heard that there was going to be a 3D movie of a U2 concert, I was thrilled. I had the opportunity, thanks to my husband and son, to go and see it at an Imax theater today in Dallas. It was money and time well spent.

I've never been able to see U2 live--now I feel as though I have. Fabulous! If you are near a theater showing the film, you must go. Must. From the opening "Vertigo," to the finale "Yahweh," I was captivated, and even moved to tears in places.

It is coming to Wichita Falls in a couple of weeks, and our church is taking a group. Did I mention that our church is awesome like that? You can check to see where it is playing near you here.

Another Friday Five

2007-05-11T02:40:00.000-05:00

From RevGalblogpals:

There are two types of people in the world, morning people and night owls. Or Red Sox fans and Yankees fans. Or boxers and briefs. Or people who divide the world into two types of people and those who don't. Let your preferences be known here. And if you're feeling verbose, defend your choices!

1. Mac? or PC?

I own a PC, but prefer Macs. They are just more expensive, that's all. And, I married a fabulous PC dude.

2. Pizza: Chicago style luscious hearty goodness, or New York floppy and flaccid?
You know, I like both. But I love New York, so I'll take that slice.

3. Brownies/fudge containing nuts:a) Good. I like the variation in texture.b) An abomination unto the Lord. The nuts take up valuable chocolate space.[or a response of your choosing]

Neither. A lady in my church makes an awesome brownie. She mixes the brownies together, tops it with chocolate chip cookie dough, then frosts them. Yum!

4. Do you hang your toilet paper so that the "tail" hangs flush with the wall, or over the top of the roll like normal people do?

I'm no conformist. I hang it with the tail flush to the wall. I have a friend who had an ongoing battle with his roommate over this issue. He would make it flush to the wall whenever in the restroom, but the roomie would change it back. They never spoke of it to each other.

5. Toothpaste: Do you squeeze the tube wantonly in the middle, or squeeze from the bottom and flatten as you go just like the tube instructs?

I wantonly squeeze the middle, until I am running low. Then, I have to roll it up and flatten it.

Bonus: Share your favorite either/or.
Greek or Hebrew? I like Greek.

Friday Five--It's My Party

2007-05-04T09:22:00.000-05:00

Tell us these five things about parties, birthday or otherwise.

1) Would you rather be the host or the guest?
The guest. I get a bit frazzled trying to get everything ready, and can't enjoy myself. I guess I'm a Martha.

2) When you are hosting, do you clean everything up the minute the guests go home?
No. No. No.
Will you accept help with the dishes?
Yes!

3) If you had the wherewithal, and I guess I mean more than money, to throw a great theme party, what would the theme be?
I just shared a really amusing book with my son about John Hancock, Paul Revere, Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. So I think I'd like to have a Revolution Party, where everyone had to dress up like people from that era. Powdered wigs and all.

4) What's the worst time you ever had at a party?
Probably in Junior High School. Oh, the drama!

5) And to end on a brighter note, what was the best?
My wedding reception. To be surrounded by all those people that love and support me, and that we love too.

A New Daily Addition to the Blog

2007-05-04T04:00:00.000-05:00

Over on the left you'll notice a comic strip called "Day By Day." A friend introduced this to me the other day, and I got a kick out of it. Hope you enjoy it, too. You can check out the archives of "Day By Day" here.

My Favorite News Story of the Week

2007-04-29T13:54:00.001-05:00

There was a Poodle scam in Japan, involving sheep. This story has made me laugh for several days now. Hat tip to Ace of Spades. Read the article here.

Friday Five

2007-04-29T13:54:00.000-05:00

What are you...

1. Wearing
A knee length linen khaki dress, hose, and flats.

2. Pondering
My cluttered desk.

3. Reading
The Order of the Phoenix, in preparation for the movie this summer.

4. Dreaming
Vacation, vacation, vacation. We need one.

5. Eating
Chicken Fried Rice

Return to the Blogosphere with Rev Gal's Friday Five

2007-04-20T13:49:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe how long it has been since I've posted. I doubt anyone really checks anymore. So I am attempting re-entry into the blogosphere with this weeks Rev Gals Friday Five.

Tell us about five people, places, or things that have brought surprising, healing joy into your life.

The keyword above is "surprising." No offense to my family and friends, but the joy you bring into my life is not surprising. You all live and breathe joy into my life, and the only surprise about that is that God cares about me enough to send you my way. So I'm focusing on the truly surprising sources of joy--geographic locations that have stirred my soul.

1. The Gorgeous Texas Plains

I never saw a sunset like the ones we have here in Texas. There is nothing like driving westbound on a flat plain and seeing that red sky go on forever. The breathtaking beauty I get to soak in is a source of joy.

2. The Teton Mountain Range

The jagged edges of these mountains, the wildlife, the fresh air, the wildflowers, the sounds of birds. I tremble.

3. Crossing the Mississippi River

I've done it many times, and in many places. Each time I do, I'm reminded of how, in a relatively short amount of time, people settled throughout our country. I am in awe of the ingenuity and persistance of those settlers long ago, and feel a deep sense of gratitude that I can enjoy moving about this country freely.

4. New Year's Eve in Times Square

I am an introvert. The last place you would predict for me to be is at Times Square on New Year's Eve. But when our friends David and Laurie got married, that is where the church was, and that is the date they picked. I so enjoyed being there. People on the street were not nearly as drunk as I thought they would be, and everyone was so optimistic and joyful--it was contagious.

5. Holmes County, Ohio

The largest concentration of Amish people live in Holmes County. It was a joy to be near them, to enjoy their handiworks, their good food, and their gentle nature.

Clergy Burnout

2006-11-24T12:05:00.000-06:00

Here is a very important article on clergy burnout. Honk if anything in it sounds familiar to you.

From First Things

2006-11-22T22:35:00.001-06:00

From page 14 of the November, 2006 issue of "First Things."

The Dead Are With Us
by Gwen Hart

The dead are with us when they sing.
Though we can't see them anymore,
they sing in very little things.

They sing in clinking wedding rings,
in zippers of the clothes they wore.
The dead are with us. When they sing,

we hear their teaspoons jangling
in the corners of our kitchen drawers.
They sing in all the little things.

Their voices are not sparkling,
not melodious or pure,
but they are with us when they sing,

and we prefer that--anything!--
to silence, to the words no more.
We look for every little thing,

each pocket, box we can explore.
We feel them with us when they sing,
and that is not a little thing.

I Am...

2006-11-16T19:07:00.000-06:00

Which South Park kid are you most like?

Stan

You're pretty normal. Infact you're usually the sane voice of reason when everyone else is going crazy.

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Go See This!

2006-11-11T11:43:00.000-06:00

The children's movies of late all seem to be the same thing over and over again. I know this isn't just my opinion. Many parents I talk to feel the same way.

Last night, we took our son and several of his friends to see "Flushed Away" in honor of my son's ninth birthday. You must see this film, especially if you like British humor.

It's been a long time since I've really laughed and laughed at a children's movie. Yes, there are always jokes meant for adults which make one chuckle. But this movie was full of delightful little details that kept me on my toes. I want to see it again just to scan the background for things I missed.

The plot was a whole lot different, but a whole lot the same. What was the same as the others? Animal gets thrown into an environment not his own, and learns to live and love in a different world, learns how to work with others, etc., etc. Valuable lessons to be sure.

What was different? It didn't feel preachy. Ever.

Go see this.

RevGals Friday Five

2006-11-10T09:53:00.002-06:00

1. Favorite red food.
Red M & Ms.

2. Tell us about the bluest body of water you've ever seen in person.
To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen a "blue blue" water ever in my life. Maybe in Florida, but it looked more green to me.

3. It's movie rental time: Blue Planet, The Color Purple, or Crimson Tide?
How about Red Dawn?

4. What has you seeing red these days?
My messy house.

5. What or who picks you up when you're feeling blue?
My husband and my son.

Preach It, Peggy!

2006-11-10T09:53:00.001-06:00

I've boo hooed the election. I've lamented. Yes, I am a Republican, probably one of the few in my family. Probably one of the few Republican female clergy. It's a pro-life thing for me, and a 9/11 thing for me, for the most part. (Please don't make any comments here about the Republicans being pro-life until birth--that kind of talk is very unhelpful.)

I was a Democrat up until 1996. Voted straight ticket. Said I'd never vote Republican. Then again, I said I'd never move to Texas.

Thanks to Peggy Noonan, I'm feeling a whole lot better today.

Remember when there was a Democrat in the White House, and a Democratic House and Senate? There wasn't much accomplished. The best thing to happen to Bill Clinton was the revolution of 1994 (as much as I hated it at the time).

I'm sure some things are going to happen which I won't like. John Bolton might not be confirmed, even though moderate Republican George Voinovich has changed his mind, and Bolton has proven not to be the maniac some in the Democratic leadership would have him to be. Judges will be more difficult to confirm.

I really hope that there is bipartisan effort for the next couple of years, and not just a bunch of showboating and stalling. I hope the newly elected representatives and senators behave. I hope they, as Peggy Noonan says, "Take responsibility, and love America."

Just Wasting Time on a Friday

2006-11-10T09:53:00.000-06:00

School Smart

You're more of a 'school smarts' kind of person. You are best with the theoretical things, and your intelligence is both natural and learned - a blend of personal, experiential knowledge and book learnin'.

60% theoretical intelligence
20% natural intelligence

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

2006-11-08T10:02:00.000-06:00

Katsaris plays Chopin Funeral March from Sonata No.2

In Memoriam. 1994-2006

Not Much To Say...

2006-11-08T09:53:00.000-06:00

...except for the GOP got fat and lazy and deserved to lose. Just like the fat and lazy Democrats of 1994.

The analysis that I've like best so far is here.

2006-11-02T11:15:00.000-06:00

I Don't Live in Missouri, But...

Here's an ad anyway.

Worth A Thousand Words

2006-11-01T16:57:00.000-06:00

Hey Ya

2006-10-28T02:30:00.000-05:00

Hey Ya! Charlie Brown Style

This is a lot of fun. Hat tip to Dave at Atomic Dave.

Friday Five: Word Association

2006-10-22T00:19:00.000-05:00

Due to a Presbytery Meeting, the Friday Five has become an "Early Sunday Morning Five" here at Transplanted Buckeye. The RevGals are doing word association this week. A word is given, and we are to respond with either a word, a phrase, a story, whatever comes to mind. So here we go! BTW--all the words are from Job.

Whirlwind: A friend of mine once read this blog and called me a whirlwind. I still don't know whether to take that as a word of caution or as a compliment.

Foundation: The Church's One is Jesus Christ, her Lord.

Lightning: Thunderbolts and lightning, very, very frightening me! Galileo! Galileo!

Den: Den meetings can try my husband's patience, and mine as well.

Prey: What my cat leaves at the back door as a token of love.

The Man Who Made Me A News Junkie

2006-10-17T22:19:00.000-05:00

Has died. Christopher Glenn, who was the voice of the "In the News" news snippets every Saturday morning on CBS, passed away at 68 years old. I remember watching cartoons, and then waiting with anticipation for Glenn's snippet to come on. He made news cool for my generation the way Schoolhouse Rock made math, science, grammar and American history cool.

RevGals Friday Five: Creature Comforts

2006-10-13T21:27:00.000-05:00

This weeks Friday Five from the Rev. Gals webring is to describe the creature comforts we like best in the following five categories.

1. Comfort Beverage:

Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. I do not discriminate against either.

2. Comfort Chair:

Chair? Bed.

3. Comfort Read:

OK, I have a few of these. The first is a very odd one. Sal Fisher, Brownie Scout. I've been reading this book over and over since I was about seven years old. I couldn't find an image to post here. And yes, I was a Girl Scout up until I was a Senior in High School.

The second one would be any of the Harry Potter books. Love them. Have read them over and over. Have taught lessons from them to the youth.

The third is obvious. This is the version I have used since 10th grade. I've worn out the first, and am on my second. The new one is cool and leatherbound. I also like the New American Standard version, but my Student Bible is NIV.

Fourth, anything by Miss Flannery O' Connor.

4. Comfort Television/DVD/CD

TV: What kind of girl who grew up in the seventies and eighties would I be if I didn't say "Little House on the Prairie."

DVD: Muriel's Wedding

CD: Too many to mention. Way to many. Way, way too many. I go in phases.

5. Comfort Companion

Husband, son, cats, and friends.

2006-10-13T21:24:00.000-05:00

John Piper is Bad - the video

Any true Calvinist will appreciate this.

2006-10-13T08:16:00.000-05:00

Wierd Al - White and Nerdy

More Wierd Al fun for a Friday.

Something For the Wish List

2006-10-12T20:53:00.000-05:00

Here's something really cool I found on the Geeks are Sexy tech news website. It's a turntable with a USB connection so you can finally put your vinyl onto CDs! Hey, Santa! Are you listening? Here's a link to it at Amazon. Only $130!

Blogged with Flock

In Memory Part II

2006-10-12T20:00:00.000-05:00

Here is part of my family at Hilton Head Island. Front row: nephew Tyler, son Thomas, brother Chuckie, my mom. Back row: sister Lora, my dad, sister-in-law Vicky.

This particular picture was taken on the next to last day I saw my sister. I wonder how that vacation would have been different had we all known what would happen five months later.

Lora loved Hilton Head. She organized this vacation for my family, and we were blessed to spend so much time together that week.

Among other things, Lora loved being with family. She was painfully shy growing up. I remember her not even being able to call for a pizza. She became more bold in college, as the shy often do.

Lora was near the top of her high school class. She was bright and diligent when it came to schoolwork. She was always a favorite of teachers because she always did her work, and she never caused any problems in class.

As a wife and mother, she was wonderful. During those years of pain from scleroderma and lupus, I never heard her whine or complain about it. Her joints ached so badly in her last year that her son had to turn the key on the ignition for her. She volunteered as room mother at Tyler's school, and was supportive of her husband in every way.

A word about her husband, my brother-in-law. He was an excellent husband to my sister. He took care of her in every circumstance. They met in college, during their Freshman year. Lora was the Sweetheart of Dan's fraternity, and was chosen to ride in the homecoming parade her senior year.

Oh, my relationship with Lora was not without problems. We fought a lot growing up, as sisters do. But time healed much of that, and we were very close when she passed away. She gave child-rearing advice to me, and loved my son as her own.

Marking her birthday this year was easier than other years. I knew more how I would feel. I've become more open with more people about my grief, which continues. October 11th will always hurt. Yet I cannot help but be thankful that God blessed me with such a sister.

Lora's Obituary

2006-10-12T19:55:00.000-05:00

My Civic Duty: RevGals Friday Five

2006-10-06T10:06:00.000-05:00

1) How old were you when you voted for the first time?

18. And I was very geeky about it, too. I wanted to vote something awful. A political junkie from elementary school (one of my earliest memories is the resignation of President Nixon), I thought it was unfair that I couldn't vote prior to then. I was informed, for goodness sakes! I was bummed that it wasn't a Presidential election year.

2) What was the contest at the top of the ballot?

U.S. Senator for the state of Ohio. John Glenn. He won easily. The biggest complaint his opponent had was that he hadn't fully repaid his debts following his failed Presidential run in 1984.

3) Can you walk to your polling place?

Nope.

4) Have you ever run for public office?

No way! I have campaigned for candidates. I have contributed to candidates. I will never run for a position.

My grandfather, however, was a long-serving elected Clerk of Courts. Prior to that, he was a councilman. I think my pride in him was responsible for the political bug biting me.

5) Have you run for office in a club or school or on a board?

Never voluntarily. I was rush chair in my sorority. I was elected to that. Oh, I was elected Vice-Moderator of my previous presbytery, but received a call before I was "promoted" to Moderator (for non-Presbyterians out there, that's kind of like being President). I try to avoid elected office if I can. At least until my son grows up a little more.

2006-10-06T08:33:00.000-05:00

This Song Preaches

This is my favorite Pete Townshend song. I've even used it in sermons. Enjoy.

2006-10-06T08:31:00.000-05:00

Lord of the Rings by George Lucas

George Lucas is skewered in this funny video.

In Memory...

2006-10-04T22:20:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful to Counseling Kevin for posting a link to one of his friend's blogs concerning October being Lupus Awareness Month.

My sister, Lora, had this disease (in addition to scleroderma). When she was diagnosed with the disease, I knew little about it, and I wasn't aware of anyone suffering from it.

As many of you know, Lora is gone now. Her birthday is coming up October 11. Please say a prayer for her widower, her son, my mom and dad, my brother, myself, and our families. We still grieve.

I'm hoping next week to share some stories and photographs as blogtherapy.

Punk Theology

2006-09-30T17:58:00.000-05:00

Andrew over at Bloggedy Blog is working on a book titled Never Mind the Bibles, which he is publishing via a blog right here. It is an exploration of the theology of punk. I am intrigued with the opening portion of the book, and cannot wait to see it revealed to us over time. Read and enjoy!

My Brain is Feeling Dull

2006-09-28T16:55:00.000-05:00

I can't think of anything coherent to write about. So I took another one of those quiz do-dads just to update my blog.

You Are Impressionism

You think the world is quite beautiful, especially if you look at it in new and interesting ways.
You tend to focus on color and movement in art.
For you, seeing the big picture is much more important than recording every little detail.
You can find inspiration anywhere... especially from nature.

What Art Movement Are You?

Overheard at My House This Morning

2006-09-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

Thomas has his friend, Derrick, over. Overheard just now, in a complaining voice, "Thomas is using the force on me!"

I wish my son would be more careful when he uses The Force.

Religion Reporting Today

2006-09-23T11:20:00.000-05:00

Denis Boyles has an excellent piece on the difficulties British reporters have when covering stories of a religious nature. Though the reporters may know how to write well, but when covering something complicated, such as the Pope's address to the Representatives of Science at the University of Regensburg, they report quite inaccurately.

We all know by now that Benedict quoted a 14th century emperor stating that Islam's violence is unreasonable. What we may not all understand is that Benedict's address was not necessarily about Islam, but about faith and reason. It was about the marriage between Hellenstic thought and Christianity, how this marriage has encountered difficulties over the years, and how Benedict believes that this marriage is the root of Europe.

The reporters, instead of covering what Benedict was really saying, chose to lift a little piece of a speech in which Benedict was quoting someone else. They then acted as ventriloquists for Benedict, attributing the 14th century emperor's words as Benedict's words.

As a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I can certainly sympathize with the frustration the Vatican must be feeling. Each time our General Assembly meets and passes a report, makes a statement, or proposes a change to the Book of Order, the American press butchers what has actually happened.

My question is this: Why can't reporters report accurately about religion? If a reporter is unfamiliar with Presbyterian polity, for example, why can't they find someone who is an expert to interview? It would take little effort for one to be found at a General Assembly meeting. Are reporters so hell-bent on getting a story out first, or on meeting a deadline that they neglect the responsibility to check their facts?

It really makes me wonder--if they don't report accurately in my area of expertise, are they also reporting inaccurately in areas in which I am not an expert? Why should I trust what the press says about anything?

Boo Boo Alert Friday Five

2006-09-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

Boo Boo Bear joins us for this week's Friday five focusing on injuries.

1) Are you a baby about small injuries? Indeed! I do not tolerate pain very well. I weep when I stub my toe.

2) What's the silliest way you have ever hurt yourself? Well, it's not exactly about an injury, but here is a funny example of my pain tolerance. I'm sitting in an oral surgeon's chair, ready to have a tooth pulled. I am about 12 years old. I tell them that I would much prefer the gas to put me asleep to the I.V. They didn't listen, and gave me the I.V. I ripped it out of my arm. They put the needle back in. I ripped it out. They put it back in. I ripped it out. They put it back in. I ripped it out. They gave me the gas. The surgeon says that at that point, I smiled.

Another example. I was in labor. I was in labor for more than 24 hours. When I came in, they took a blood sample. Fine. I was used to being poked and prodded throughout the pregnancy. Then, after 24 hours, apparently they wanted another sample. The meek nurses aide came in to take the sample. I screamed at her, "Haven't you taken enough blood from me!" She slinked out of the room. I later apologized.

3) Who took care of your boo-boos when you were a child? My mommy, with a kiss, bacteine, and a band aid.

4) Are you a good nurse when others have boo-boos? I try, but I hate blood. Being a Mom has helped in that regard. Isn't it funny how a band-aid will make a child stop crying?

5) What's the worst accidental injury you've suffered? Did it require a trip to the Emergency Room? My dad was swinging me around in the back yard. He was swinging me around with my feet in the air, holding onto my arms. Something popped out of socket--I can't remember what. That's the worst of it! I've been pretty fortunate.

Rev. Gals' Friday Five: Brushes with Greatness

2006-09-15T17:08:00.000-05:00

Here is my response to the RevGalBlogPals Friday Five, for which I am grateful when I can't focus on what I need to write about.

David Letterman used to have a feature on his show called "Brushes with Greatness." Members of the audience would share stories of encounters with famous people. And so...

1. Tell us about a time you met someone famous.

When I attended Ashland University, I was an Ashbrook Scholar, which meant that I've met many politicians, policy makers, and other famous people who run in conservative circles--from Dan Quayle to Pat Sajak.

Having said that, I have met at least two people before they were famous.

I was a Girl Scout with Stefanie Eulinberg, and attended junior and senior high school with her--she graduated with my sister two years ahead of me. Stefanie is the drummer for Kid Rock. Interestingly, she did not play percussion in our high school marching band--she played trumpet. She was (and is) an awesome musician, and a very funny person. Everybody loved her.

I also went to junior and senior high school with Rebecca Pitcher, who currently plays Christine in "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway. I didn't know her very well, but knew she came from a very musical family.

Oh, also--Jim Tressel grew up in my hometown. His brother taught at my high school. And, I have a dresser from his house that my mom bought at a garage sale.

2. Tell us about a celebrity you'd like to meet.

Stephen Colbert. The President. Bono.

3. Tell us about someone great who's *not* famous that you think everyone oughta have a chance to meet.

David Wallace is not famous--yet. He was my husband's college roomate, and one of the deepest Christians I know. He is a professional viola player. His Julliard dissertation was about Texas Fiddle Music. He has a band called "The Doc Wallace Trio." Here is a link to some of his music.

4. Do you have any autographs of famous people?

In my possession, I have my son's autograph book from Disney World. We got most of the characters' autographs.

5. If you were to become famous, what would you want to become famous for?

My wit and charm.

Bonus: Whose 15 minutes of fame was up long, long ago? Kato Kalin

Remembering Kenneth W. White

2006-09-11T08:46:00.000-05:00

I learned through the Wide Awake Cafe that bloggers are posting tributes to the victims of 9/11. The 2,996 Project is enlisting bloggers to remember a victim on their blog.

On behalf of this project, I am honoring the memory of Kenneth W. White, who died at the age of 50 in the World Trade Center. Kenny was a telephone technician working for the IPC Kleinknect Electric Company. This site includes remembrances from family and friends, who speak of his smiles, his jokes, and his loyalty as a friend, uncle, and father.

Here is what his New York Times profile says about him:

Whenever Ken White had a spare minute last summer, he was likely to head for his sailboat at the Richmond County Yacht Club in Staten Island. He had not had the boat long, and sometimes he and his wife, Catherine, would just sit on it at the mooring and talk and gaze at the Manhattan skyline.Mr. White, 50, was a telephone technician at Cantor Fitzgerald. When his four children were growing up, he coached Little League and soccer. He went to his daughter Kristen's dance recitals and cheered his daughter Allison at gymnastics.Mr. White met his wife at the United States Air Force base in Wiesbaden, Germany. She was a secretary, he a sergeant. They were married in her hometown in Ireland in 1973 and lived there for more than a year before settling in Staten Island. There were woods near their house in New York and he used to go in and gather wildflowers for her."Kennie was a hard-working guy," said Mike Campbell, his childhood friend and grown-up horseshoe league partner. "He was always competing with himself. He always liked to do better, whatever he was doing."

2006-09-11T08:40:00.000-05:00

Psalms 91:1

Am I Happy?

2006-09-09T23:05:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am. 24-7. In Austin. Go Bucks!

First Win of the Year!!!

2006-09-02T19:30:00.000-05:00

35-12 over Northern Illinois University. Next week, it's the Longhorns. I'm going to put up my flag this week. I hope it doesn't curse the game.

Score One for the Hedgehogs

2006-09-02T19:21:00.000-05:00

McFlurry containers were responsible for the deaths of many a hedgehog in the U.K. McDonald's has changed the lid so that hedgehogs can live free from the threat of starvation. This is OK with me, because I think hedgehogs look pretty cool.

They Found It!

2006-09-01T12:42:00.000-05:00

One of the stolen Scream paintings has been found.

2006-09-01T09:23:00.000-05:00

On The Road Again

A funny and fitting musical tribute to this week's Friday Five.

Life in the Fast Lane Friday Five

2006-09-01T08:55:00.000-05:00

Here's this week's RevGal Friday Five.

1. Driving: an enjoyable way to clear the mind? a means to an end? a chance to be quiet with one's thoughts? a necessary evil? the downfall of our planet and its fossil fuels? Discuss.

If I ever get kicked out of the pulpit, or decide to leave the pulpit, I would want to drive for a living. Turn on some music, or an engaging and humorous talk program, put your foot on the pedal, and go. I always take the long way, because I love to drive. When I'm driving alone, I can easily clear my head, enjoy the scenery (whether it is urban, suburban, or rural), and calm down.

About 15 miles or so outside of town, there is a strip of 2-lane highway that is being renovated. Only one lane is open. As a result, all day and all night, there is a guy they call the pilot driver. His or her job is to lead cars and trucks through the open lane. That would be a job for me--driving back and forth, leading others to safety. Hey, that's kind of a cool analogy for pastoral work, isn't it? We are kind of like pilot drivers when we are at our best.

2. Do you drive the speed limit? A little faster? Slower? Have you ever gotten a ticket?

Ever since I've gotten cruise control, I drive just a little faster than the speed limit.

Just after college I received two speeding tickets. One for going 40 in a 35 zone (last day of the month ticket), and one for going 80 in a 55 zone (I was REALLY late to sign on the radio station).

Also, just after college, I got a car. I crashed it the first day I had it. That was the first ticket I ever got, and the worst one I ever got, too. Failure to yield.

I have not received any tickets since. Not telling how many hubby has gotten.

3. Do you take public transportation? When? What's your opinion of the experience?

Public transportation doesn't really exist here. When we visit east coast areas, we use public transportation. We loved using the train to get from Trenton to NYC this past New Year holiday, and my son and I loved the Subways in New York. Atlanta's MARTA is great. A great way to people watch.

4. Complete this sentence: _____________ has the worst drivers I've ever experienced.

Everywhere has the worst drivers I've ever experienced. I noticed that in our cross country drive this summer. No city is immune to poor driving.

Having said that, Dallas does have terrible drivers. The scary thing is that I've learned to drive just like them. My husband commented that I now drive like a Texan as I whipped through traffic on a Cleveland interstate this summer.

5. According to the Census Bureau, reverendmother's fair city has the 6th longest average commute in the United States at 29 minutes each way. How does your personal commute rate?

My commute is zero. The longest drive I make on a daily basis is to my son's school, which takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. The church takes about two minutes if the light is green.

Bonus for the brutally honest: It has been said, and the MythBusters have confirmed, that cell phones can impede driving ability almost as much as drinking. Do you talk on a cell phone while driving?

Yes.

Stephen Colbert Rocks

2006-08-31T17:04:00.000-05:00

A lot of blogs I read have been talking about Stephen Colbert. I love his show, "The Colbert Report."

I also love that Colbert is a practicing Catholic.

I tend to prefer Colbert to Jon Stewart. He really seems to know what he is talking about, and he is much more even-handed in his satirical criticism.

See the below clips, and enjoy!

2006-08-31T16:59:00.000-05:00

colbert clip 3

2006-08-31T16:58:00.000-05:00

Colbert Clip 2

2006-08-31T16:57:00.000-05:00

Colbert Clip 1

My On Notice Board for the Week

2006-08-31T16:50:00.000-05:00

More on the Forced Conversion Tape

2006-08-28T17:51:00.000-05:00

After watching this video, hubby just asked me would I be able to say this under this same circumstance? I don't think I could.

But then again, Peter thought he couldn't either.

On Islam and Christianity

2006-08-28T17:09:00.000-05:00

Sherry on Bittersweet linked to this article by Mark Steyn which has given me a great deal of food for thought today.

Steyn uses Steve Centanni's forced conversion to Islam as a springboard to write about the concept of forced conversion in the religion of Islam. He compares the last words of Mohammad to the last words of Christ.

"Christians and Muslims are both 'people of the book.' But there’s a difference: Christianity started out as a religion of the weak, held by the lowliest in society and advanced by conversion and example, independent of the state. A distinction between religion and temporal power is embedded in its founding narratives.

"Compare the final words of Jesus to his disciples, on the day of his ascension … “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

… with the final words of Mohammed to his disciples: “I was ordered to fight all men until they say, ‘There is no god but Allah.’”

I found it ironic that Centanni and Wiig were forced to convert by gunpoint, and at the same time forced by gunpoint to say that there is no facism evident in the Islamic faith.

I struggle. I have respect for people of most every faith. I am not a strong-armed proselytizer. I don't mock other faiths, if for no other reason than because I so often fail at living my faith out.

Yet, I tend to agree with Steyn that if one of the key components of the Islamic faith is to "fight all men until they say, 'There is no god but Allah,'" then Islam is a weak faith. There is an "Achilles Heel" that is leading a good portion of the Islamic world to believe in a true theocracy--not the so-called theocracy that many on the left claim that Christians in this country want. If forcing people to convert under coercion is part of the battle cry, then are the converts ever truly converted?

Will there ever come a day when one of these rogue nations gets ahold of a nuclear warhead, aims it at our country, and threatens to annhilate one of our major cities unless our leaders "convert" to Islam? I am not an alarmist. I am not a conspiracy theorist. But I do think that it is possible. Especially when you remember that something Osama said following 9/11 was “I was ordered to fight the people until they say there is no god but Allah, and his prophet Mohammed.”

How, then, as Christians, do we respond to people of the Islamic faith? I am open to suggestions, and as the gears turn in my mind, will post more on the topic.

What I've Been Thinking About Today

2006-08-28T17:08:00.000-05:00

When I heard about this early Sunday morning, I knew this was a forced conversion...

While I Ponder Deeper Things to Blog...

2006-08-28T16:51:00.000-05:00

Your 2005 Song Is

Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz "Love forever love is free.Let's turn forever you and me."
In 2005, you were loving life and feeling no pain.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Weekend of 24 Fun

2006-08-28T11:42:00.000-05:00

OK, so it wasn't 24 for me all weekend, but there were two 24 experiences I had over the weekend.

First, C Span aired a fun program on American Perspectives called "'24' and America's Image in Fighting Terrorism.'" The Heritage Foundation hosted this event which was emceed by Rush Limbaugh, and included the producers, writers, and some cast members of 24 and some homeland security experts. You can watch this almost two hour panel discussion here. Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife were in the crowd.

Second, 24 rocked the emmys. Woohoo! Not that I care if Hollywood validates my television choices. I was actually shocked it won. It's themes are not very PC.

Friday Five--A Day Late

2006-08-26T20:29:00.000-05:00

I'm a procrastinator by nature. Lord have mercy upon me. I am a day late, but decided to play the RevGal Friday five anyway.

1. What is your earliest memory of school?
My earliest memory of school is being drawn to the bookshelf. All those wonderful toys Mrs. Krukmeyer had in her room, and I chose to read books.

2. Who was a favorite teacher in your early education?
I loved all my teachers. Mrs. Krukmeyer, my kindergarten teacher, encouraged my reading. Mrs. Dolan encouraged my creativity. Mrs. Short was kind and gentle. Mrs. Eaton was another one to really encourage my reading. And Mrs. Vitez remains someone I see from time to time. She even came to visit my first parish!

3. What do you remember about school “back then” that is different from what you know about schools now?
I think my son had earlier reading requirements than we did. Although I was already a reader by kindergarten, others did not have to be able to read as much as Thomas was required to read by the end of kindergarten. I also think they started math earlier. Now that I think of it, they also had full-day kindergarten, whereas we only had a partial day.

4. Did you have to memorize in school? If so, share a poem or song you learned.
"We hold these thruths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." I know that's not the whole thing, but that's the part I had to memorize for a play. Turns out those words help to form my love for our country.

5. Did you ever get in trouble at school? Were there any embarrassing moments you can share?
Of course! I got in trouble tons.

Once we were passing around a Pringles can with an object in it. We were only supposed to feel it and guess what it was. I pulled it out, and exclaimed triumphantly, "It's an orange!" I ruined the whole lesson.

Mostly, I got in trouble for yakking. No shock there. My son has the same issue.

2006-08-25T09:07:00.000-05:00

Harry Enfield & Chums - Women! Know Your Limits

This is from a comedy sketch show. Quite amusing. Hat tip to The Corner at National Review Online.

Cradle of Christianity: Maltz Museum

2006-08-05T02:35:00.000-05:00

On our recent trip to Ohio, we visited a brand new Jewish museum called the Maltz Museum. They had a special exhibit, which included some fascinating artifacts, titled "The Cradle of Christianity." This is the first time the Jerusalem Museum has lent these objects to a museum in the United States, I believe. Here is some of what we saw.

Some ossuaries, the one on the left is believed to be the ossuary of Caiaphas.

A sign from a temple post.

A Dead Sea Scroll fragment.

The miracle of water turning into wine, which Jesus performed at the Wedding at Cana, would have taken place in jars like this.

Broadway Friday Five

2006-08-04T08:39:00.000-05:00

1. Describe the last play or musical you saw. (At least provide the what, when, where, and why). What was your opinion of it?

The last play we went to see was called Physics for Poets. It was about a college professor, who is working on a Ph.D. proposal on William Blake, and finds herself struggling with questions about her life. It was a reading in Quanah, Texas. We saw it because a friend was reading the lead role, and because I love William Blake. It was enjoyable--and quite the accurate look inside the world of academia.

The last musical we saw was Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (her farewell tour). We saw it in Dallas as part of the Dallas Summer Musicals. It was, of course, as wonderful as could be. A great first exposure to musical theater for my son.

2. All time favorite play? Musical?

All time favorite play: You Can't Take it With You I love the lunacy.

All time favorite musical: It's a toss-up between The Music Man and Oklahoma.

3. “The Producers,” “The Philadelphia Story,” “Hairspray,” “The Wedding Singer”…all were movies before they were musicals (okay “The Philadelphia Story” was a play and then a movie, and they changed its name when it became a musical, but whatever). What non-musical movie do you think should next get the musical treatment?

Ohhhhh, don't forget Spamalot! A few years ago, I would have chosen The Holy Grail, but they did that. How about The Godfather? It has potential. But it could also turn out really poorly.

4. Favorite song from a musical? Why?
This one is a little obscure. One Night in Bangkok from Chess. It has a good beat, and I like to dance to it.

5. The most recent trend in Broadway musical revues is to construct a show around the oeuvre of a particular super-group or composer, where existing songs are woven together with some kind of through story. The most successful of these (“Jersey Boys” (The Four Seasons), “Mamma Mia” (ABBA), “Movin’ Out” (Billy Joel)) have made a mint, but many (“All Shook Up” (Elvis), “Hot Feet” (Earth, Wind and Fire)) have bombed. What great pop/rock singer/composer or super-group should be the next to be featured, and what might the story-line be for such a show?

Meatloaf would be perfect. His songs are already overdramatic, and there is a lot of storyline built in. High School romance could be a plot line. Maybe have the principle characters grow up, come back to their reunion for some of the newer stuff. It would probably be one of the worst productions ever.

Bonus question for singer/actors. Favorite part you’ve ever played/sung.
My favorite role was the most recent. This was not in a well-known play, but a quick dinner-theater production the community players we are a part of did last fall in our town. I played Trixie LaRue, a call girl with a heart of gold, in a play called Don't Print That. It was set in the late 1800's, and I had a horrible costume--a purple and black number that looks like the dancing girl outfits you can wear when you get an "old west" picture taken at tourist traps. It was fun for me to play, and I think fun for the congregation to see me in this role. Got called "Trixie" for a while after that.

On the Road Again...

2006-08-04T01:49:00.000-05:00

Updating on the road is difficult, so I am several days behind, here.

Yes, we are on the road again, this time driving from the Lone Star State to the Buckeye State.

Our first big adventure occurred in Oklahoma when we blew the rear passenger tire. Fortunately, we were just about 12 miles away from civilization. After hubby put the spare on, we drove to a Sam's Club and were able to purchase a new tire. Still, it put us behind about a half a day. We drove on through Oklahoma, enjoying lunch in Tulsa, and finally coming to a halt in Springfield, Missouri.

In Springfield, we discovered a restaurant that couldn't be healthy. Culver's makes something called "butterburgers," and also fresh custard. I indulged in both, and thought about flogging myself for said indulgence. Delicious!

More tomorrow on traveling through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Rev Gals Hot Five

2006-07-28T14:47:00.000-05:00

Here's the answer to the five RevGals questions for this week.

1. What's the high temperature where you are today?
It's 101 degrees right now, but will surely reach 105.

2. Favorite way to beat the heat:
Drink fluids and enjoy the airconditioning.

3. Evaluate this statement: "It's not the head, it's the humidity."
Absolutely true. 105 and dry is better than 80 degrees and 95% humidity. I've lived in both. The major difference is that the dry heat makes you fatigued if you stay out in it too long, while the humidity just makes you sticky.

4. Discuss one or more of the following: sauna, hot tub, sweat lodge, warm-stone massage.
I will hot tub anytime, anywhere. I'd really like to try a natural hot spring sometime, though.

Saunas are great in the wintertime. I recently read that in order to get some of his quirky moves to play Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp locked himself into a sauna at 250 degrees. Talk about dedication to a role!

5. Hottest you've ever been in your life.
112 degrees, here in Texas, summer of 2003.

Non-temperature related bonus: In your opinion... who's hot?
Keifer Sutherland is hot. And I've always thought Bob Dylan was hot.

Comics Curmudgeon

2006-07-27T12:20:00.000-05:00

Comics Curmudgeon is a site my husband and I have both enjoyed for some time. Ever read the comics and say, "Huh?" This is the site for you.

Counseling Kevin: Identity Theft and Security Breaches: A Different Approach

2006-07-27T12:04:00.000-05:00

Counseling Kevin has an interesting post on identity theft and security measures. The problem is more complex than hoodlums stealing an individual's identity through stealing checking account numbers and credit card numbers. He asks how willing consumers are to endure identity verification measures when banking online, for example. I, for one, am willing. But I'm the kind of girl who is willing to show my I.D. at the grocery store when I buy a bottle of wine. I don't mind proving who I am.

In High School...

2006-07-27T03:49:00.001-05:00

Arty Kid

Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique.

You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!

Who Were You In High School?

What Will My Famous Last Words Be?

2006-07-27T03:49:00.000-05:00

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"What we know is not much. What we don't know is enormous."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Oh Bliss!

2006-07-27T00:33:00.000-05:00

This story says that Kiefer Sutherland, whom I adore as Jack Bauer, is guest voicing on the Simpsons this coming season. He'll play an Army Colonel. As Homer would say, "Woo hoo!"

For those who can't bear waiting, the article also lists other luminaries scheduled to guest voice.

OK, Just One More

2006-07-26T13:12:00.000-05:00

OK, Just One More

Here's my favorite Weird Al song.

And One More...

2006-07-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

And One More...

Here's a merge between Star Wars and The Holy Grail.

2006-07-26T13:02:00.000-05:00

The Lego Version of Camelot

Here's the Lego version of Camelot.

Eugenics in the New Millenium

2006-07-26T12:41:00.000-05:00

From National Review Online, I linked to this article from Business Week concerning the testing of embryos. In a nutshell, preimplantation genetic halotyping can screen embryos for 6000 inherited or genetic diseases, thus giving the parents the choice of whether or not to carry a child to term. The article is written by Elizabeth Schiltz, a law professor at St. Thomas School of Law. She shares her outrage that many in the medical and scientific community have labeled her a 'sinner' for being the type of person who would 'choose' to have a child with Down's Syndrome in spite of having prior knowledge of the condition.

Schiltz does not demonize the scientific community. She recognizes that the intentions are to alleviate pain and suffering. But she is right in saying that this type of activity sends a message to those who are disabled.

In Vacation Bible School this summer I had two disabled participants. In the frustration of dealing with the usual hijinks of kids poking each other and kids complaining about the snacks offered, these two brought me the gift of God's grace. One was an elderly adult, who with childlike joy embraced all the activities as if he were already in the Kingdom of Heaven. The other was a child who spent his time snuggling up to me, hugging me, and laughing with me. I just don't understand how anyone would want to treat these human beings as if they are a file on a computer to be deleted.

Schiltz points out that the people who have disabilities rank their lives as being happy, while those on the outside say that they cannot possibly be happy. Who are we to make the decision to take precious lives and destroy them? Who are we to say that the 70 year old man who will never advance mentally beyond 6 years old cannot live a complete and full life? We USAmericans are so hung up on perfection. Perfect looks. Perfect house. Perfect car. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Fun Music Site

2006-07-26T02:20:00.000-05:00

I love the Pandora radio website. Here you can customize a radio station, just as you can at Yahoo Launch, but I think this plays more ecclectic music. You can also build more than one station, and post your station for listening on your blog (which I will, once I perfect the station).

2006-07-26T02:01:00.000-05:00

Knights of the Trek Table

Where do Monty Python fans and Star Trek fans merge? At Camelot, of course. Hat tip to Ace of Spades.

Lady in the Water

2006-07-25T15:23:00.000-05:00

Lady in the Water has been getting some pretty stinky reviews. But from the moment I saw the preview, I knew I wanted to see it. Now that so many are saying, "Ugh, it's horrible," I can't find anyone to see it with me. I'm resigned to seeing it by myself, which is O.K. too.

Hollywood Jesus has a review of the film by Rick Bonn. He calls it M. Night Shylamen's deepest, funniest, and warmest work. Shylamen birthed the script from a fairy tale he made up for his own children. It seems to have been quite the labor of love for him.

Bonn believes this movie to be of great spiritual significance. He writes, "For this viewer, the movie was a holy prayer, a poem of peace, a transcendent fairy tale, and an intrusion of the ancient-saving-other into my perilous, rational, violent times. It is one of the great spiritual films of our new millennium and the viewing of it was miracle for me—that rare experience of being transformed in a darkened theater. "

In these days when we watch the news and see the painful events in the Middle East, how important it is to remember the ancient-saving-other who entered our world to bring salvation.

School Starting Soon

2006-07-24T10:29:00.000-05:00

A little over a year ago, the Texas legislature passed a law requiring schools to start after Labor Day, unless they had an exemption approved allowing them to start earlier. I heard that all school districts but one applied and recieved the exemption. So this year they said, "No, we really mean it. We're going to be tough on exemptions."

Guess what? It's July 24th, and school starts here in three weeks. I'm just wondering how many school districts didn't receive the exemption!

Draw A House

2006-07-21T18:36:00.000-05:00

Draw a house, get a free psychological profile! What a great way to waste some time. Draw your house and add it to my street here . See my ugly castle here .

UPDATE: (7/26/2006) Apparently, the link to my ugly castle and my street no longer work. But you can access draw a house here.

Lone Star Politics

2006-07-15T08:32:00.000-05:00

One of the things I looked forward to most in moving to Texas was enjoying the colorful political scene. The local politics is not unlike anything I experienced in Ohio. But the state politics has not yet disappointed me.

Shortly after we moved here, there was a dispute over the reorganization of congressional districts. As much as the media made it out to be all Tom Delay's fault, the dispute was the same as in any state where the party in power redistricts to ensure their party would be in the majority at the next election. The dispute was just more ornery.

The House of Representative Democrats protested by leaving the legislative session and holing up in a Holiday Inn in Ardmore, Oklahoma, screwing up the quorum and putting everything on hold. The Senate Democrats, about a month later, did the same thing, except they went to a luxury hotel in New Mexico. The comments I remember from the time went along the lines of, "Gee, the House members did try to sacrifice at least. They only went to Ardmore--not much to do there. But the Senate members, not much of a protest at a resort, is it?"

Now we are having a governor's race.

The current governor is Rick Perry. He is the man who succeeded W. as governor. I've asked some Republicans here what they think of him, and the response seems to generally lay along the lines of "underwhelmed." Some even say that he is too dull. They like a little spice in the governor's office down here.

The Democratic Candidate is Chris Bell. You can already see that his schtick is that he's a husband, father, public servant, and a Texan (not necessarily in that order). His web site claims that he was a victim of redistricting, as he lost his U.S. Congress seat in the last election. The latest thing I heard from Bell was that the Governor spends too much on air conditioning at the governor's mansion. Wow, Chris! That certainly tells me about the bold changes you'll make when you become governor!

And then there's Kinky Friedman, whom I am seriously considering voting for. He's promised to make Willie Nelson in charge of promoting biodiesel fuel. And I tell you what, he's working hard for the votes. He may be a bit vulgar, but there is no chance that his term in office would be dull.
Carole Keeton Strayhorn is a Republican running as an independent. She's very conservative, and recently made a fuss over not being allowed to be called "Grandma" on the November ballot. She would also be more interesting than Rick Perry. She's former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's mother. She's disgusted with the ineffectiveness of the Perry administration, and feels that too many special interests are holding him hostage.

I am still quite the novice when it comes to Lone Star Politics. I am trying hard, as I hate to be an uninformed voter. However, I can be reassured that things will be very interesting this fall as long as Kinky and Carole are in the race.

Lightning and Rainbow

2006-07-13T15:37:00.000-05:00

Here are some cool AP pictures from Fort Smith, Arkansas. It's the rare combination of lightning and rainbow.

How About That Weather?

2006-07-13T15:23:00.000-05:00

When we announced we were moving here to Vernon, many people asked where, exactly, Vernon is located in Texas. My favorite line was to tell them to turn on the Weather Channel and look for the red box over Texas.

I do live in tornado alley, and I really don't mind.

The wind here is powerful most of the time. I love it. James and I honeymooned in Wichita, Kansas, and one of the things I loved about Wichita was the wind. Even on a day like today, when the thermometer is above 100 degrees, I love the wind. It kicks dust around, blows trash into the yard, but it is so powerful and strangly beautiful.

At night, I will stand outside and enjoy the wind for a bit. In the morning, I open my bedroom window briefly to allow the wind to blow in (closing it soon afterwards due to the dust).

I love the wind. But there is something I enjoy even more. A good, strong thunderstorm. The wind is powerful and beautiful--but there is something about a good thunderstorm that is absolutely gorgeous.

I get excited when I see them coming in the distance. Because here in Texas you can see for miles, I see the lightning when it is still far away. God's fireworks. I never saw a really good electrical storm until I moved here. Now, almost every storm is electrical. And I never grow tired of it.

We have a carport, so the cars are safe from the hail. When the rain comes, it falls hard. The hail is usually pea to nickel sized. In this dry corner of the world, the rain is manna.

They take tornados here very seriously. Nearly 30 years ago, they had a massive one that killed a few people and destroyed a lot of property. People who lived here then remember that time with sorrow. I have been in a Wal-Mart in Wichita Falls when funnel clouds were spotted, and was told to take shelter. We had a fairly recent brush with a funnel cloud, and we all hid under cover in the bedroom. We had to pull off the road once between here and Dallas because of an approaching tornado (it touched down about 4-5 miles away).

Weather is cool. My fantasy vacation? Storm chasing. My fantasy volunteer work? Getting certified as a storm watcher for the National Weather Service (Norman, Oklahoma is our home office!).

Viva Italia!

2006-07-09T18:42:00.000-05:00

It's not so much that Italy won (although that is pretty awesome, too). It's that France lost!

David Guidice Presents...

2006-07-07T23:59:00.000-05:00

James and I went to hear a jazz musician named David Guidice tonight. He didn't perform jazz. He performed a tribute to Billy Joel. I've seen Billy Joel twice, and was astounded by David's performance. He pounded the piano, sang his guts out, and if I shut my eyes I could swear that he was, in fact, Billy Joel. Fantastic.

Guidice also has a Frank Sinatra tribute. His trio has a gig at Tavern on the Green each Sunday. If you are ever fortunate enough to be in the Big Apple some Sunday, you'll do well to go and hear him.

Way to Go, 24!

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

Leading the Emmy nominations!

Radio and Records: About to Bite the Dust?

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

It looks like Billboard Mag is about to buy Radio and Records. That's unfortunate.

As far as radio content goes, Radio and Records was my favorite trade magazine. They had better charts, better help-wanted ads, and better articles to educate radioheads like me. I truly hope that Billboard will keep R&R the way it is, rather than allow it to wither on the vine.

What Kind of Pirate Are You?

2006-07-06T06:16:00.000-05:00

The History Channel is about to do a series on Pirates. In celebration, they've got a cute little quiz you can take to find out what kind of pirate you are.

I guess I'm Blackbeard.

Math in the Simpsons

2006-07-05T22:13:00.003-05:00

This one's for the math-lovers out there. John Derbyshire on National Review Online had this link to an article about the mathematical references on the Simpsons. I've used the Simpsons with my youth as a teaching tool in a spiritual sense. Now, even math teachers and professors can use the Simpsons in their classrooms.

Cedar Point Rocks

2006-07-05T22:13:00.002-05:00

This story does not shock me. Cedar Point is a place where many of my happy memories, both childhood and adult, were formed. I had a pretty bad roller coaster addiction in my youth, and Cedar Point's coasters have always been rated the best by the different roller coaster enthusiast organizations.

Cedar Point is a clean park, not like Six Flags Over Anywhere. They tend to keep all of their rides open, too, also unlike Six Flags Over Anywhere.

Some cool Cedar Point links:

PointBuzz
The Point Online
A History of Cedar Point's coasters at coasters.net
Cedar Point Wiki

I Love Jack Black

2006-07-05T22:13:00.001-05:00

Thomas and I went to see Nacho Libre today. He and I saw the trailer for the first time back in January, and we were both excited about going. I don't know what was the appeal for him--I think simply because Nickleodeon was advertising it. But for me it came down to the fact that Jack Black was the leading man.

We have a friend in Louisville, Kentucky named Dan. He lived with us for a while when he was out of a job. I was pregnant at the time, and Dan kept me entertained while my husband was at work (being a manager in food service is a tough job). We used to go see all the movies that my husband did not want to see. Dan is a lot like Jack Black. The same sense of humor, the same good taste in music. I think part of my Jack Black admiration is that he reminds me of our old friend.

I think the first movie I ever saw Jack Black in was High Fidelity. I loved his character, Barry, who was the ultimate music snob. A favorite scene is when he berated a customer who came in to purchase Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" for his daughter's birthday. Great performance, and great physical comedy for a movie which relied a lot on dialogue.

I enjoyed him in School of Rock, where he starred as a slacker musician who ends up substituting in a tony private school. Instead of teaching the kids reading, writing, and 'rithmetic, he seizes the opportunity to teach them all about rock music, and turns them into a band.

Thomas puts up with my music an awful lot. I give him a lot of rock appreciation lessons. How often does a child have to tell the parent to turn that music down? In our house, every day. Poor kid.

In preparation for Nacho Libre, Thomas and I watched School of Rock. It seems that if a song appears in a movie, my son will like it. So now, my son likes Led Zeppelin. It's about time. Another reason to love Jack Black.

Then there's Black's band with Kyle Gass, Tenacious D. Spinal Tap type stuff for my generation.

As for Nacho Libre, I loved it. It was directed by Jared Hess, who also directed Napoleon Dynamite. Very quirky and fun. There are a lot of professional wrestling moves, and a little bit of bathroom humor. Black plays a Friar in Mexico, who is a cook at an orphanage. His lifelong dream is to be a professional wrestler. During childhood, he was punished for wanting to be a wrestler. As a grown man, he now enters the world of Mexican professional wrestling as a means to purchase better food for the kids in his care. I, of course, enjoyed the underdog theme. The music was awesome, but there is no soundtrack available.

A visit to the Internet Movie Database reveals that there are six movies to come from Black in the next year or so. One I am particularly interested in is called Be Kind Rewind. Apparently, it's about a man who is magnetized and accidentally erases every VHS tape in a video store. The IMDB says, "In order to satisfy the store's most loyal renter, an aging woman with signs of dementia, the two men set out to remake the lost films, which include Back to the Future, The Lion King, and Robocop." I can't wait.

10 Years Ago...

2006-07-05T22:13:00.000-05:00

I got married to James. July 6th, 1996. Just one week earlier, the church I was pastoring was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Amazing how much has happened during those 10 years.

Here's some pictures from that day. I'm older, have had to dye my hair to cover up a few stray grays, have given childbirth, and have moved four times since then. A lot has happened. Our marital adventures continue!

This is James (to the left), me (middle), and Bob Fish, my pastor at the time, and a dear friend. Bob is no longer a Presbyterian minister, having converted to the Orthodox church.

Daddy's girl gets a kiss on the cheek.

Mommy and me.

At the communion table (we Presbyterians don't have altars).

My beloved sister and I.

North Korea Trying to Ruin Our Party

2006-07-05T10:18:00.000-05:00

Gee, do you think North Korea did what they did yesterday to try and ruin our fireworks? How lame.

Here is a hilarious post from GOP Vixen on the sitch.

Marvel Vs. DC

2006-07-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

Growing up, I was never much of a comic book reader. I read "Archie," but not much else. But with the advent of the Spiderman movies, I've become more interested in the concept of the Superhero.

Watching the first Spiderman movie, I was so pleased to find a hero who struggled with his real life situation while trying to also struggle with evil in the world. It was so human. I empathized with Peter Parker's struggle, and was even able to come up with a few great youth meetings using that movie.

Having said that, through National Review Online, I found an excellent article on the difference between Marvel Comics and DC comics. I hope you find time to read it and enjoy it.

Hey, Are They Making Fun of Us?

2006-06-28T03:40:00.000-05:00

Wow! Seems the Tulsa newspaper saw fit to print this cartoon. I'll even admit that I laughed. Especially when Rock, Paper, Scissors is added to the mix.

Georgia on My Mind

2006-06-21T09:33:00.000-05:00

Cordele is a bigger town than I thought it would be. It is in the midst of a month-long watermelon festival. Of course, it is nice to see Mom and Dad Hodsden again, and they are always such nice hosts. We arrived, and soon left for Lake Blackshear, where we cruised on a pontoon most of the day. I really needed to decompress, and this was a great agent for that. I read, relaxed, enjoyed the breeze on the lake, saw turtles on a log, watched fish jump out of the water, and watched my son captain a boat for the first time ever. I even got a little cat nap.
Heading home to Vernon on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Day of Frustration and Grace

2006-06-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

We made it to the complimentary breakfast on Tuesday morning. We had to pack up and check out, as we were traveling to Cordele later that day. We caught the shuttle to the convention center and picked up where we left off at the exhibition hall. Got a videotape about the DaVinci code that we can share with a Sunday School class.

I was able to connect with my college friend, Jeff, who was my “weather iguana” on college radio. He is a part of the production team hired by our denomination.

We watched the debate on the Peace, Unity and Purity Report.

Again, don’t believe what you read in the paper. Ask me, not the AP.

My problem with the PUP report is that it wants to take our system and governance, which is connectional on a national level, and make it more congregational--or make local governing bodies more autonomous. I would have joined the UCC if I wanted that! It passed. Of course it passed!

That was the frustration. The grace came from a friend from my presbytery, who hugged me and told me it was going to be OK. Joan is as appalled as I am, but she was able to see beyond what I could see, and I am thankful for that.

Feeling slightly dejected, James and I headed out of Birmingham, but were so physically and emotionally tired we only made it as far as Macon. We stayed there for the night before heading to Mom and Dad Hodsden’s for a break from GA.

GA: It's Not Just for Commissioners Anymore

2006-06-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

Got a late start Monday morning. Missed the free breakfast, and hopped a shuttle to the convention center. Our denomination is meeting at the same time and location of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, so we’re mingling with a sister church. We’re sharing some convention space, and sharing the exhibit hall.

We registered, got our badges saying that we could watch anything open to the public, and entered into the plenary session. We got there just in time to observe the discussion on the Trinity Paper. James is less interested than I in the floor debates, but I made him sit with me anyway. He helps me translate some of what is happening. I’m the polity wonk, and although I do pretty well with theology, James grasps things a little more quickly than I do.

You’ve probably read about the Trinity Paper in the local newspaper.

OK, side rant here. I hate when the secular press reports on what’s going on at GA, because they don’t really understand our denomination. We are a representative system. We don’t have bishops making decisions for us. We, the collective governing bodies, are the Bishop. So when you read something about the PCUSA in the newspaper, write to me and ask me if this or that is true.

I am often shocked at the level of debate on the General Assembly floor. In my dreams, there would be great struggles over the significance of this word or that word. There would be nitpicking in order to make sure whatever is passed is theologically correct. And there is some of that. But there is also a lot of emotional pleading, a lot of gee-the-committee-worked-so-hard-on-that-paper-we-don’t-want-to-hurt-their-feelings-by-not-passing-it type of comments.

The problem with the paper is not necessarily the metaphors. Some of them are biblical, some of them are images collected and thrown together from different places in the Bible. The problem with the paper is that it takes the classic formula, which is NOT metaphorical, “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, and calls it metaphorical. You could even argue that the paper itself elevates new sometimes biblical sometimes not metaphors to the level of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” To some, that analysis is picking nits. To me, great human beings went to their martyrdom defending the formula of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” and we ought not to throw it away as mere metaphor.

Most churches accept Presbyterian baptism because we baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One pastor on the floor shared the story of a Presbyterian who joined another denomination and had to be re-baptized, because the pastor of that congregation said that he wasn’t sure that the Presbyterians used the classical formula all the time. That is something I fear is going to happen more often.

After the Trinity debate, we walked around the exhibition hall. Because James and I are both very chatty, we took about 2 hours to hit just one half of the booths. Some cool things that happened in the hall.

1. I met a really cool pastor who serves the church, specifically in Appalachia, by providing public service announcements to radio stations. They are looking to move beyond Appalachia, and here I come, with my radio experience. We spoke for a bit about how I could be involved in that ministry. We traded email addresses, and I really hope something comes of that.

2. James and I spoke with the admissions director at Memphis Seminary. They have a Doctor of Ministry program. They are starting a new track in January, 2008, focusing on faith and the arts. James suggested to them that we might come if they do a two-for-one-deal, and they suggested that they would do what they can. D.Min.s are expensive, so any little bit helps. Then, I mentioned my interest in studying faith in the works of Flannery O’Connor, and he actually got excited.

3. We saw Don Dawson, the man who made it possible for James to go to Senegal four years ago. He shared with us the exciting growth taking place in the World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

4. I was able to reconnect with my old friend Tom Sawyer. We later went to dinner with him, another pastor I’m acquainted with named John Erthein, and two of Tom’s parishioner. We had a fine time eating barbeque, laughing and talking.

Outside of the exhibit hall, we hopped on a loop bus and saw a bit of Birmingham. We went to the Episcopalian bookstore, which had some really cool stuff for the Anglicanophile in me (I know Anglicanophile is not a real word, but it is an accurate description).
Got back to the hotel, relaxed some, and went to bed too late.

In Birmingham They Love the Guv'nah

2006-06-19T09:26:00.000-05:00

We pulled into Birmingham and met James’ parents at the hotel they were staying at. Great to see them again. I last saw them in Myrtle Beach in October, during the days of Hurricane Ophelia (my first hurricane).

Shortly after, James and I headed for the Alta Vista Hotel, one of the hotels recommended by our denomination. When we pulled in, I saw our Executive Presbyter, so we said “Howdy!” I think he was shocked to see us.

The Alta Vista is a hotel that probably had its heyday 20 to 25 years ago. It is built high on a hill, and we have a great, high view (thus an alta vista) of the city of Birmingham. Absolutely gorgeous sight in the night. The city lights look like stars. Saw some familiar faces in the lobby. We ordered some buffalo wings for dinner, and watched Glenn Beck. I took the chance to hop online and look up the next day’s events at the General Assembly. Looked like an interesting day ahead. Then I goofed around for a bit. Went outside to enjoy the beautiful view--love to go outside at night. It was quite late when I hit the hay.

To Birmingham

2006-06-18T12:22:00.000-05:00

We left Minden after a delightful lunch with Gary and his wife, Terri. We traveled through the rest of Louisiana, and I saw my first bayou. Then we entered Mississippi at Vicksburg. They have a wonderful welcome center along I-20 as you enter the state. It overlooks the Mississippi River. Vicksburg is a place I’d like to vacation sometime. Besides the important history that took place in Vicksburg, there are some neat looking little shops, and a lot of southern hospitality.

We saw two things we never see in our part Texas--water and trees.

A funny thing happened in a Wendy’s somewhere in Mississippi. James and I have a theory that if the service at fast food restaurants is bad, then the economy must be pretty good in that area (all the good workers have jobs). We ordered some food. I got a value menu burger with cheese. The conversation with the counter waiter went something like this:

James: I’d like the .99 burger with cheese.
Countergirl: It comes with cheese.
James: I know, I’m just saying what is on the menu.
Countergirl: It comes with cheese.
James: No mayonnaise please.

When the cheeseburger comes back, it has mayo and no cheese.

Meanwhile, a lady comes walking into Wendy’s and the following conversation takes place:

Lady: I’m back because I didn’t get my baked potato.
Countergirl: Yeah, I can’t believe you left without that.
Lady: Well, it was my husband, and he didn’t check the bag before he left.
Countergirl: (Yelling to fellow slacker) Hey, can you make a baked potato?
Slacker in Back: Uh, I’m already making one, so no.

The economy must be great in that part of Mississippi.

Shreveport/Minden

2006-06-18T09:20:00.000-05:00

I’ve experienced Louisiana for the first time in my life. We left Vernon, went through Dallas/Fort Worth, and traveled along the freeway through a part of Texas I had not seen yet. We stopped for gas shortly before crossing the Texas-Louisiana border, and I could not understand what the people at the gas station were saying. It was a cajunesque drawl. Very interesting to listen to.
We made it to Shreveport fairly late. I was surprised to find Shreveport as a city that never sleeps. It was at least 1:30 when we pulled in, and the neon lights of the casinos were brightly burning. I noted that there were an awful lot of motorcycles. Shreveport is like Vegas for bikers. As I went down to the car after checking in to the hotel, people were still pulling in from the casinos, and leaving for the casinos.
A word about gambling. People are free to do whatever they want with their money. States are free to make casinos legal if they want to. They can also organize lotteries if they wish. However, I think all these things are unwise, especially in states suffering with poverty. Does the extra revenue really outweigh the dangers of the poor gambling away their last cent? How many kids are left outside casinos while mom or dad or grandma or grandpa spends the rent on slot machines, roulette wheels, and blackjack? It’s a dangerous thing. I was pleased to see billboards with phone numbers for gambling addicts, but are any of those who need to call going to call?
OK, enough of that.
The next morning, we decided to attend the Presbyterian Church in Minden, which is where one of my dear friendss in ministry moved from Ohio a few years ago. He was absolutely shocked to see us in the pews and asked me to do the benediction.
Gary is one of my favorite preachers to listen to, and he did not disappoint that Sunday morning. Hearing him preach is like going for a walk with him. He unpacks everything he can in the text. He meanders through, sharing incredible insights and interesting observations. He is at the same time gentle and admonishing. Fortunately for us, we’re going to hear him preach again this Sunday morning.
Gary never knew he was a mentor of mine. I’ve never told him. But his writing, conversations we have had, sermons I have listened to, all helped to shape my theological thinking and pastoring style. So Gary, if you are reading this, thanks. And thanks to you and Terri for the wonderful hospitality.