Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday, dear (Starry-eyes),
Happy birthday to you!

Actually, her birthday was yesterday. She's 15 now, and I'm not sure I believe it.

(Sarah, you are not supposed to read this, or she'll kill me. Figuratively.)

I'm sitting here at school in a bright neon blue leopard print fuzzy skirt, with overdone blue eyeshadow, black boots & top, and wayyyy too much golden gilding. Why? I'm gonna crash her party.

Don't worry, I cleared it with her; we plan to astonish her guests.

I am Katrine Schneitzel, Annette Karewis' Aunt Agatha's daughter. Don't worry, I can't keep it straight either. I'm secretly a smuggler, on the look out to wangle an introduction to the royalty and heiresses among her guests. I'm especially interested in the Princess of Austria and the heir to the Cotter fortune. Wow, I remembered two names! Maybe this won't be a fiasco.

Katrine's my name, obnoxious is my game. I can do obnoxious.

So, Happy Birthday, dear!

Heidi

P.S. I'll try to get her to take some pictures that I can post.

Cruelty?

I suppose it's cruel to leave everyone (are you out there in the ether?) hanging.

We're still waiting for adoption news, so I can't tell you anything else about that.

I've had laryngitis and not enough sleep lately, so I'm a bit spacey. We went to watch 'March of the Penguins' on Sunday. It's pretty good. The parts where the penguins find their true love is a bit graphic... Really, it's the music and the way they pan the camera up and down their necks, like a sex scene in a pg13 movie. I thought that part went a little long. But those babies are so cute! There was some terrific photography, as far as I could tell. I don't take many pictures.

Just been hanging out for the most part; I should be getting ready for Starry-eyes' b-day party, but I've been putting that off. I'm supposed to have a bright blue leopard print fur skirt sewn by Friday morning. No problem, right? Okay, maybe I ought to at least cut it out before Thursday night, especially considering I do need my sleep unless I want a remix of the last week's sniffles.

If only I actually liked to drink tea...or hot chocolate...or very much of any warm drink except coffee! Even my coffee is fake -- gimme chocolate milk, a dash of espresso and some coconut syrup. Mmmmm. Expensive.

Maybe you can tell that I'm having trouble thinking of anything much to say...

'Bye, all!

Heidi

News

I was going to title this post 'bad news'; then I figured, why be depressing right off? Give the reader some time to work into it...

If you're already having a bad day, read this tomorrow. On second thought, maybe it's not that bad and you should just get everything over with today, instead of spreading it out over a perfectly good week-end.

Many, some, most -- okay, I don't know how many -- of you may know that we've been trying to adopt two little boys from Zambia. We had run into a bit of a brick wall communication-wise over the past few weeks. My last update was that we had heard a 'yes' from one family, and no answer from the second. We were waiting for the social worker to track them down and ask them for us.

Yesterday my mom got a letter from the orphanage director saying that the adoption was off. The first family had really said 'no' and the intake officer had just recorded it wrong. The second family had still not shown up, and I guess if they don't show up that's the same as a no.

It's hard to believe, because these families have had no contact with these children for about four years. Why would they care now? Did we just suddenly remind them, 'Oh, yeah, I've got this cousin. I should visit him sometime, now that he's almost 5 years old.'

Anyway, we're going to make a few calls and see what's going on and if there's any hope at all.

I'll keep you posted as allowed by discretion. :-)

Heidi

Poem

This one's going out to you, Liz.
My mom didn't know if you'd seen this poem she wrote for me.


Heidi's Game

Heidi plays a game with me
With calculated subtlety
I supervise and organize
She tests her wit and really tries
To comment unexpectedly
And gain an honest laugh from me
Polite and gracious humorist
To common things she adds a twist
On cheerful help you can rely
When Heidi's home and standing by

by Laura 10-04-03

I'm sure I'll have to post more of my mom's poems sooner or later.


I've had laryngitis for the last two days; I think it's the same bug that laid my mom out for a week, so I should be over it pretty quickly.

I finally passed my qwerty-keyboard typing tests at school -- we only had to be 50wpm, but I was afraid it would be hard for me to do. I seem to have gained speed inexplicably, and passed with flying colors. I have my suspicions, though. They may be counting syllables instead of words...but my teacher is adamant that they counted the words, so who knows! I'm just glad I passed.

That means that I only have one more test at school -- 5 minutes at 225 wpm. Then I graduate! That would be nice, but don't forget about that certification/licensing test I still have to pass in November. Of course, if I don't get that I can take it again in March...then again in November...then again in March...let's not go there.

Yo, G'pa! What's up? How was Starry-eye's soccer game? You can comment on my blogs by clicking the button at the bottom that says '# comments.' Yes, I know, it's an extremely small font. Toodles!

G'night, all!

No Laughing Allowed (But You Can Chortle A Bit)

I said this before, and I'll say it again: I am not the most physical in my family. (Cue Liz's smile.)

However, I am very pleased with my progress lately! I hate running, and always have, but I'm willing to put up with it for the benefits -- not to mention the runner's high I get. I ran my mile this morning in nine minutes and twenty-three seconds. That's four seconds faster than Friday, fourteen faster than last Wednesday, and thirty-nine faster than last Tuesday. YES!

(I can so hear you laughing at me...)

Of course, my mom's loving and supportive response to my boasting and hopes of progess was to quip that I might be able to run two miles at a time eventually.

Napples and Noranges

I was telling my family about the APS post concerning a/an and the variations that have resulted from misuse of them. My mother was adamant that there was never a norange or a napron; my dad just was curious to know what else could have changed if it were all true. We did look them up on the OED, but 'norange' seems to have been French, so my mom's still not convinced.

My dad is quite the comedian -- he loves to twist your logic against you. My mom has bee sick these last few days and lost her voice, so she's rather helpless against him (not that she can do much in the normal run of events!). He's been in fine form today, and we came up with a few other variations.

napricot: it will put you to sleep.
nbanana: found in Namibia, and liked by those African tribes whose names we can never pronounce.
napples: What a certain city in Italy is named for.

My parents were in the living room while my sister and I were in the kitchen. My dad said something, but I couldn't hear, so I went into the living room to ask him what he said. "Did you say something?"
"Yes!" my mother triumphantly whispered. "Can someone get me a cookie?"

I wish I could better illustrate the way we interact. We have had so much fun deliberately misunderstanding each other today, we had tears in our eyes from laughing!


I spent about 5 hours of Saturday evening watching three children and a 5-week-old purebred (expensive!) Golden Labrador at a black-tie dinner and auction. The dog had to go to the bathroom and the kids were bored, hungry, and filled with the wanderlust. Fun fun fun!

The Prophet Expounds - 9-18-05

An informal, unprepared, family study time discussion.

Prophecy:
Though much of OT prophecy was purely predicative, see Micah 5:2, e.g., and cf John 11:51, prophecy is not necessarily, nor even primarily, fore-telling. It is the declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means, Matt. 26:69, it is the forth-telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, the present, of the future, see Gen. 20:7; Deut. 18:18; Rev. 10:11; 11:3... .
From Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, by W.E.Vine, M.A. Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., (c)1985 ISBN 0-8407-7559-8


The text for today is I Corinthians 13

Out of the NKJV:

1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5. does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6. does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In verse 6 we see that love 'does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.' What is true is real. If something is not true, it is fiction, falsity, a lie. Without truth, what is left? So, if you are not loving, are you rejoicing in a lie? Are you believing a lie? Are you denying the truth?

In verse 7 love 'bears,' 'believes,' 'hopes,' and 'endures.' Now, wouldn't you think that bearing and enduring were almost the same thing? Do you see an emphasis there?

Audience member: Well, if you endure something, don't you get to live through it?
(laughter)

If you can bear all things, endure all things, through love, that's pretty amazing, isn't it?
Think about knowledge. It's easier to have knowledge than to endure something painful, whether it's mental or physical. What about faith? Is it easy to have faith in something when you don't have to endure? But if you have love, then you endure. It says that love is greater than knowledge, faith, understanding, martyrdom, and even a good singing voice! What if you have all these but not love? It profits you nothing.

Love causes us to endure, be humble, be kind, and allows us to enjoy the benefits of the other gifts we may have, such as knowledge, faith, martyrdom and prophecy.

How much better can we serve God when we do everything with love?

Obedience, with love.
Teaching, with love. Don't you think you might get a better response?
Ministry, prophecy, faith, giving, and the list goes on!
Suffering, with love!

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Isn't it strange to think of something greater than faith? Having more effect on a person than hope? Without love, anything else you do is worthless. Love is needed no matter what you are doing.



Now, looking at a note in my Bible here; let me quote it. This is not the Bible, just some dude who was around when they were translating it.

(14:1) The subject is still the pneumatika. Chapter 12 describes the gifts and the body, the Church; ch. 13 depicts the love which alone gives ministry of gifts any value; ch. 14 regulates the ministry of gifts in the primitive, apostolic assembly of believers in Christ. (1) The important gift is that of prophecy (v.1). The NT prophet was not merely a preacher, but an inspired preacher through whom, until the NT was written, new revelations suited to the new dispensation were given (14:29-30). (2) Tongues and the sign gifts are to cease; meanwhile they must be used with restraint, and only if an interpreter is present (vv.1-19, 27-28). (3) In the primitive Church there was liberty for the ministery of all the gifts which might be present, but for prophecy more especially (vv.23-26, 31,39). And (4) these injunctions are declared to be "the commandments of the Lord" (vv.36-37).

Chapter 14 does say that tongues and prophecy are to be used logically, within guidelines to edify the entire church. However, does it really say that tongues and other gifts will cease? What does he mean when he says the 'primitive' church? Do you consider that the church in the time of the apostles was more or less likely to concur with the desires of God? Is there room for that kind of comparison? In chapter 13 we read "...when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." Has 'that which is perfect' come, by any stretch of the imagination? Surely not! When perfection is come, when God creates a new heaven and a new earth, we will no longer have any need for anything 'which is in part.' When we have the whole, we won't need the orphaned pieces.

But for today, for the Church now, do you believe that tongues and signs are still applicable? They seem to be.

So, Why Don't You Tell Us a Little About Yourself?

Well, basically I live in a valley in the Rocky Mountains. It's a big valley, with a sort of outlet to Wyoming and the plains near Yellowstone. As for the weather, we've got the same joke as many other people who live near mountain ranges: If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes. It's been sunny, windy, chilly, and rainy just today. We're cooling off for summer; I think we only got up to about 70 F today. I never can remember how to transpose to Celsius, so I'll just say that that's comfortable t-shirt weather, but you'll need a sweater in the mornings and evenings if you're not moving much. The temperature reached over 100 F several times this summer, so this is all very nice and comfortable.

We're down below the usual pine tree level; I'm not sure of our elevation. We're about two days by car away from the ocean, and one day away from Salt Lake. There are mountains every direction you look, and the ground is pretty hilly. When I flew to Pennsylvania with my grandparents a few years ago, I couldn't believe that those little hilly things were the Appalachians! It seems a bit trite to talk about 'those bumps they call mountains,' but I really didn't appreciate how flat other places can be -- I don't think I do yet, since I've never been to either Dakota.

We live in a little neighborhood; we have a little more than an acre. We've got a barn, goats, chickens, rabbits, more than enough cats at present (kittens!), and a dog. Oh, and two lizards and various goldfish. We keep the goldfish in the old bathtub that we use for a goat-watering trough, to eat the algae that grows there every summer. The bathtub is pink.

We have a medium sized house, 5 bed/3 bath. I think I mentioned that I am the oldest of 7 children. My sister died of leukemia, and we are adopting 2 little boys from Zambia, so there will soon be 8 children around the house -- more or less. My brother just went away to college, but I am living out of my parents' home while I go to school locally.

Hmm, what else... Well, I share a bedroom with my sister who is soon to be 15, and I usually post from school or late at night in the kitchen where our internet hook-up is located. My mom has been on me lately to pay my rent (chores); she still feeds me, so I want to keep her happy!

I don't really know too much about the usual social scene in Idaho. We're a naturally retiring family (we get a lot of company from each other, as you can imagine!) and I was taught at home, so most of my friends are Bible study partners or friends my family has had for a long time. I have many acquaintances in school, but a court reporting/stenography school is not really a hopping place. Most of the people there are women with families they either have to support or go home and feed every evening, and there are not many males attracted to a 'secretarial' type of school. We're trying to recruit a few more, but this profession is steadily leaning towards women.

We've got quite a few trees; my dad likes big trees and my mom likes fruit trees. We've got a few big pines, a willow, a few locusts, a sycamore, a crabapple, pear, peach, several apple, plum, and an almond tree. The neighbors' elms are 'bent on world domination,' as I read in one gardening book, so we are constantly pulling their seedlings. Any of you know how long a baby elm's roots are? Long.

My mom enjoys gardening, so as much of the yard as she could wangle from my dad and sports-loving siblings is in raised beds for vegetables, a strip all the way around the house is in flowers, and she has a dry streambed rose garden begun. We've got grapes, too. I don't really like to garden, but I help out. I like fresh tomatoes and peas, especially.

My brother inherited most of the green thumb -- He's getting a degree in landscape architecture in college. My siblings are all very good at drawing, music, and math. I usually stick to English/literature related things, but I also play the flute and piano.

My family is rather sports oriented, mostly towards soccer, although my father used to run quite a bit and my brother still does. My dad has a bit of a back/hip problem, so he can't run like he used to. He once won second place in the Idaho Potato Marathon. (Idaho is famous for potatoes. Iowa, I think has corn. Ohio, I have no clue. Many people confuse us, though.) I don't really enjoy sports unless it's just a for fun event with friends. Put me on a team, on a field, and I end up coaching. I'm just good at telling people what to do. I can always see what they should do, why can't they?!

I've been running a bit lately, though, because I need to lose some weight and do some regular activity. I know spelling bees and reading don't count, but I wish they did. Eventually they'll probably invent some kind of machine that lets you watch a movie about superheroes and end up looking as good as they do -- until then, I'll run, I guess...

I've actually been improving. Don't laugh, but I ran a mile today 35 seconds faster than I ran it on Tuesday. Now, if I can just keep that improvement ratio maintained, I could be running in negative time very soon! Couldn't I?

I do tend to ramble a bit. Must be the late night. I'll have to remember: if I have a secret, don't post after 9pm. Got it.

Heidi

My Turn!

I really don't do these very often, so here's my opportunity to have some fun.


10 Favorites...

1. Favourite Colours: Hmm, so many to choose from; I'd like a smoky blue, a rich brown, a glossy black, and a deep green.

2. Favourite Food: Sorry to join the crowd, but CHOCOLATE! Actually, if we're talking entrees here, I'd have to go with corned beef & cabbage. Go ahead, you can call me German.

3. Favourite Band/Singer: Just now I'm really appreciating Watermark.

4. Favourite Song: Ooh, a hard one. Say, 'Holy Roar' by Watermark. It'll probably change by this evening. I'll snap my fingers, "That's the one I wanted to mention!"

5. Favourite Movie: Master and Commander. All those ocean waves...

6. Favorite Sport: Spelling bee? Oh, you mean something physical! I suppose volleyball would be the best answer just now. Frankly, I'll do anything that other people are doing but I won't do anything alone just for fun. I might start something with a group, but it's not likely. I do exercise, it's just not exactly my idea of fun. (Okay, okay, I already knew I wasn't the most physical in our family. I'm probably the least.)

7. Favorite Season: Autumn. I love the colors, and I like to wear sweaters.

8. Favorite Day Of the Week: Thursday.

9. Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Vanilla with little chunks of any kind of candy or chocolate or cookie or those little swirls of caramel oh stop it you're making me hungry.

10. Favorite Time of Day: About 8pm in the evening. I can justify climbing into bed with a book for a bit before I have to go to sleep. If that sounds early, it's because I get up at 5:30am to go running in the mornings. Ugh, but I still do it... It comes of eating all that corned beef & cabbage and ice cream.


9 Currents...

1. Current Mood: I'm a little spastic just now. Why? It's a secret... Probably because I've been sitting down most of the day and I'm ready to go home now. Please?

2. Current Taste: You mean what I've eaten? Mongolian Barbecue. Mmmm.

3. Current Desktop Picture: I'm at school, so it's that boring blue screen. I've got a blue sunburst on my laptop, and fishies on another school computer.

4. Current Toenail Color: Bronze.

5. Current Time: 3:31:58pm DST Mountain Time

6. Current Surroundings: Many many blank computer screens, a bookshelf, a window looking out on a construction lot, and windows into the hallway (don't ask me why!) and another classroom.

7. Current Annoyance(s): This stupid desk and chair are painful to sit at too long. I have to brace my feet on the floor, which makes my feet hurt, or sit like a ramrod, which makes my back hurt. I alternate.

8. Current Thought: I wonder why I'm taking this test/survey/questionaire -- come to think of it, what is this, exactly? A way to put as much psuedo-personal information in one place a quickly as possible? You know, I think that's it. It's a psuedo-personal-information-catch-all. Ha!

9. Current economic situation: I think I might have $30 in my purse, but I'm going to deposit all of in the bank this afternoon against my growing credit card bill for gas. It's still way up at $2.95. Help!


8 Firsts...

1. First Best Friend: Shari. At least, that's the first I can remember. I haven't used that term since, but I've had other good friends.

2. First Kiss: Never Been Kissed.

3. First nickname: Heidi Cakes. Or was it Heidi-Ho?

4. First Pet: Ivanhoe, a medium sized (humonguous to me!) fluffy dog when I was about 5. I don't remember if I ever knew what kind he was.

5. First Piercing: Ears, when I was 14.

6. First Crush: Now, that would be telling! Besides I think I started getting crushes when I was six. I think I had a crush on one of my Sunday School helpers, who must have been close to 20 at the time. I always wanted to marry young, but I never got any offers... I started reconsidering when I was about 18...

7. First Music You Remember Hearing: I don't remember. Probably my mom singing, which she does quite well and frequently.

8. First Car: I think it was a Honda Accord, automatic. Kind of a brownish color. I had it for about 2 months, then I rearended someone and totaled it. Rats.


7 Lasts...

1. Last Cigarette: Never had a first.

2. Last Drink: Probably the couple tablespoons or so of beer I tried to drink a few months ago. I decided I don't like it. I might be able to drink wine, but the opportunity hasn't really come around recently...

3. Last Car Ride: I drove myself back to school from lunch. Just a couple of minutes.

4. Last Kiss: Never Been Kissed.

5. Last Movie Watched: An Answers in Genesis presentation about UFOs and the Bible. I didn't finish it yet. Purely entertainment movie? I think it was 'The Forgotten.' It had aliens too.

6. Last CD Played: I've been listening to one of Jaci Velasquez's Spanish-only CDs in my car. I always sing along.

7. Last Book Read: Well, I forget. I'm in the middle of three right now:
Dr. Zhivago,
The Red House Mystery (soon to be featured on Aardvark Books),
and The Excalibur Alternative (Science fiction).


6 "Have You Evers"....

1. Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Friends?: I don't think I have. I'm not sure what can count as a date. Have I ever been on a date in the first place, or haven't I?

2. Have You Ever Broken the Law?: Yes. The rearending was cited as a misdemeanor. Now, I have to note it on almost every form I ever fill out. Argh!

3. Have You Ever Been Arrested?: Nope.

4. Have You Ever Skinny Dipped?: Nope.

5. Have You Ever Been on TV?: Yep. I'm in a commercial for the vocational school I'm attending. They warned us the day before, and I signed a waiver form; then, when the camera crew showed up I realized I had forgotten and worn the most atrocious neon green t-shirt! I'm in the background of the commercial in a couple of places -- I don't think I was particularly photogenic that day. Not that I ever am, more's the pity.

6. Have You Ever Been Drunk?: Nope.


5 Things You're Wearing...

1. Glasses
2. Earrings
3. Sandals
4. Necklace
5. Necklace as a Bracelet


Places You've Been...

1. Mexico
2. Oregon coast
3. Pennsylvania
4. Hawaii

3 Things You Can't Live Without...

1. Jesus
2. Water
3. Food


2 Choices...

1. Black or White: Black. Ebony, if possible.
2. Hot or Cold: Hot. You know, like towels when you take them out of the dryer right after the buzzer goes off?


1 Thing You Want to Do Before you die...
Graduate! Please! Oh, and get married. And own a bookstore. (I'd even be satisfied with a library. Only it has to be extensive!)

Word of the Day: Vermiculous

vermiculous
Vermiculose \Ver*mic"u*lose`\, Vermiculous \Ver*mic"u*lous\, a. [L. vermiculosus. See Vermicule.] Containing, or full of, worms; resembling worms.

From: Dictionary.com

I opened a vermiculous can with my questions.

Word of the Day: 'merlon'

merlon: A solid portion between two crenels in a battlement or crenelated wall. He ducked behind the merlon.

crenelated (or crenellated): 1. Having battlements. 2. Indented; notched: The castle had a crenelated wall.
From Dictionary.com

merlon
"solid part of a battlement," 1704, from Fr. merlon, from It. merlone, aug. of merlo "battlement," perhaps a contraction of mergola, dim. of L. mergae "two-pronged pitchfork."

From the Online Etymology Dictionary
(OED) ©November 2001

If I Don't Know What I'm Going to Say, How Can I Decide What to Call it?

I finally got my computer back after it was monopolized by first my mother and then my sister and brother chatting with Tan-man. He seems to be fine. He's playing ping-pong and ultimate frisbee, and probably thrashing everyone while he's at it.

My dad took the smaller two girls fishing today; he had promised to take them this summer, but he missed it, so he took them today. We've been trying to keep ourselves occupied. I made peanut-butter cookies, Starry-eyes made toffee, and Buddy helped me. My mom made me a skirt out of some of the printed fabric she brought back from Africa when she went earlier this year -- it's pretty bright prints sometimes, but she let us choose our favorites.

I'm trying to get ready for Starry-eyes' birthday, which is coming up on the 29th. She'll be 15. Yikes! That makes me feel old. er. (giggle) She's having a role-playing party, and I'm the surprise guest. Don't tell anyone! I've got to work out my lines and costume. So much fun!

I've been re-reading "The Red House Mystery" by A.A.Milne. Yes, he did write more than Winnie-the-Pooh stories, and, yes, I will write a review. I just wanted to have it fresh in my mind. Anyone else been reading anything interesting?

My group Bible study is supposed to be picking up again tomorrow. I wonder who will come... I'm interested to see how they respond to what Amber has picked for our study material. I have the hardest time getting anyone to agree with me that we should read a few chapters of the Bible and discuss them each week. They all want to use a book or some type of study guide.

I'm thinking about trying to lead after this particular study is over. I would like to pick a book of the Bible and study that; I also have a great book on apologetics that may satisfy some people who are a bit apprehensive about delving into the Bible without 'guidance.' Half the time, I think 'guidance' and 'study books' are to blame for people who don't study the Bible to learn what it actually says, and end up being people who merely use cute sayings and sermons and don't have a real relationship with Jesus.

I know, I could certainly do more Bible reading myself. God's so great, you're never done learning, or as dedicated as you could be, or as near to Him as you'd like to be (or as He'd like you to be!).

I'm reading Esther right now with my friend -- did I say that already? I hate it when I can't remember what I've said/haven't said, and I refuse to go back and read every single post whenever I want to talk. You'll just have to skip over anything you already know. ;-)

I'm at a complete standstill with the book I'm writing. I finally have a plot, I already had a setting and main characters, but I can't figure out how to pull it all together. I think I'll just have to sit down and start writing and see what happens. It seems to work for this website!

Buddy and Starry-eyes and I spent a few hours outside this afternoon playing baseball with the dog. Sombra loves it when we do this: One person is the pitcher, one is the batter, and anyone else kind of hangs around uselessly. Sombra is the only catcher we need. Sombra loves her tennis ball better than anything else in the world. If you hit it she'll fetch it back to the pitcher. If you don't hit it, she'll get it from behind the batter and give it to anyone who promises to throw it for her. She's very entertaining, and I love not having to run for the ball myself! Sombra will run until she falls down - if you throw the ball she simply must fetch it. Buddy was concerned she would kill herself, so we finally tied her up and continued to play ourselves. We don't hit the ball very often...


I was bored, so I made cookies, but now I don't want to eat any...Should I make something else? I really shouldn't eat any more goodies this weekend, so I guess I'll just have to be bored.

I thought I had some interning lined up for next week, but I still am not getting calls back from anyone. What am I doing wrong?! I guess I'll have to make a few cold-calls...ugh. I hate talking to people when I can't see them, don't know them, amn't sure of my reception, am asking a favor, or any of the above! Grrr.

We're still waiting to hear about the last little boy we're attempting to adopt. One's relatives have signed all their rights away, but we haven't been in contact with the social worker in Zambia lately. My parents keep hoping to get a call to get on a airplane and go get them ASAP.

I picked a lot of produce out of the backyard yesterday. I needed to work for my parents for gas money and I wanted to be outside, so I picked tomatoes, corn, almonds, the very last peach, some apples and pears off the ground, and I can't remember anything else. My mother is an avid gardener, but she's had allergies and a bit of a cold and multiple soccer activities, so she hasn't been out lately. I'm not a gardener. I think I mentioned that earlier; I don't know what came over me. Maybe I should take my temperature...

We watched the movie 'Primer' last night; I'm not afraid to say that I did not understand the ending. We were perfectly happy, figuring out that they had time travel, and then Boom! There were several copies of each of the main characters running around in circles and we lost track of the action. I think something bad happened, but I really don't know. I think it was well received at the Sundance Film Festival -- I'm not surprised, because I think they like incomprehensible movies. I like science fiction, I like time travel, I like puzzles -- I also like to know what's going on! I would rather the character was in the dark about something than me; failing that, I want it explained at the end! Life just isn't fair. (Yeah, tell me something I don't know!)

Well, I have to go and -- what was it I needed to do, again? Oh, well, I'll figure it out. Au revoir, as Tan-man says.

Accomplishments...?

How often is it that you have this feeling that you didn't get anything done today? I think I have it way too often -- maybe I need to consider that a warning sign, and get busy!

I was driving down the freeway this afternoon on my way home, and I didn't hit a dove. The car behind me did. I saw it starting to cross near the car right ahead of me, so, I carefully slowed down and scooched over to the edge of the lane. I looking in my rearview mirror -- good, I didn't hit -- poof! I dunno, they probably couldn't have avoided it. A dove, just absentmindedly walking across the freeway during rush hour... .

I hope all of you are paying close attention as you walk around, whether you're in Dunedin or elsewhere. It's a dangerous world out there.

I was talking to my grandparents on Sunday. We had chicken for dinner, and my G'ma was mentioning how she cooked it in tin (aluminum) foil so that it wouldn't pick up any carcinogens from the barbecue. Maybe we should cook everything in tin foil, all the time? But, wait a minute, are there any side effects from tin foil? Oh, yes, I remember! Too much aluminum in the brain causes Alzheimer's disease. So, my grandparents are constantly watching each other for signs of Alzheimer's -- when they remember.

I gave them a particularly sassy grin, but they love me anyway.

I think I'll try to get a sibling to read to me out of a book for some extra practice this evening. My mom reads to my sibs during their lunch time out of several books, and they also have a Bible study time during which they occasionally add an apologetics-type book. Note, the book does not replace their actual Bible reading! They are currently reading 'Many Infallible Proofs - Evidences for the Christian Faith' by Henry M. Morris & Henry M. Morris III. Hmm, grandpa and grandson? That's interesting.

We've got soccer coming out of our ears right now.

See - no, wait - blog you later!

The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd

Those podcasts I was talking about? This is a hilarious, kid-safe parody of -- well, I'm not sure what it's a parody of. It's beautiful, though. I've continued to browse the podcasts in the iTunes music store. I'm referencing this one because I don't think you have to listen to it through an ipod. I think you can just download the files off of their website -- there's a link in the title of this posting (aren't those links cool?). Each episode is only about 5 minutes long, but there are 38 episodes so far, and I'm pretty sure they make a new one every week or so. Once you're caught up, it's a pain to have to wait for the next one... . Maybe I should work on patience this week.

I've been floating mindlessly through the last few days, sleeping in on Sunday now that we're not attending a congregation, sleeping in on the holiday, and lazing around.

We decided that when people say they go to this or that church, what they really mean is 'congregation.' The whole body of Christ is the church, not just my church or your church. The word's been a bit corrupted.

So, we're still not attending anywhere. We've had 'services' at home before, and we're doing that again. The Bible talks about fellowship with brothers and sisters; I've got enough to go around! (giggle) We'll probably get together with some other families or do some church hopping. We've still got Christian friends.

I spent Sunday at my grandparents' house. We went for a nice 3-mile walk. I'm not used to long walks anymore, but it was very enjoyable. I haven't been spending a lot of time with them; now that they've moved back down from Lewiston I've been too grown up to go and spend the night. I remedied that this weekend. We watched a movie together (The Four Feathers, the new one with Heath Ledger) and helped my aunt and uncle unpack.

They are also moving back into the Treasure Valley after living in Spokane for about 4 years while my uncle went to Gonzaga to learn to be a lawyer. Now my cousins are all growing up! They have 3 kids. The oldest is a boy who is 13, the girls are about 12 and 9. They were much younger when they moved away... . My uncle is also at the interning stage in his chosen field.

I have three sets of aunts and uncles. One uncle is a shed-builder, the other is an Idaho State Trooper, and the last is the one interning to be a lawyer. The wife of the prospective lawyer is a doctor -- they have just moved into an absolutely huge house, 3400 square feet. I was looking it over on Sunday, and it's very nice.

After we helped them empty the trailers they filled on Friday and Saturday while I was house sitting (Okay, does that have a hyphen or not? House-sitting? This is driving me crazy!), we ended up going to drop my family's trailer off at my house -- it's a funny feeling to visit your own house, drop something off, chat, and leave again. If I'd realized we were going to my house I might have moved home that night, but I didn't. So, I spent that night at my grandparents' house as well. I went home rather early in the morning; I dropped my grandfather off at yet another aunt and uncle's house and picked up my purse that I had accidentally left there overnight. You can tell that I'm very good at keeping track of my things.

Actually, I was a little more nervous about it than I needed to be -- I had a wallet stolen from school last October, and a purse and bag stolen out of my car last February (they bashed the window, too!), so I figure if I get careless I'm just about due for another hit. I'm tired of having to renew my driver's license.

I've been feeling rather broke lately anyway; I had to spend $25 to fill up the gas tank on my car this morning. You may not be impressed by that until I tell you that last summer I only spent an average of $13 to fill the same tank. I think it's a result of the flooded refineries in New Orleans, but I've also heard on the radio that there's not really a shortage, so prices should come back down soon. Not soon enough for me!

I don't have a job right now; my dad thought I might finish more quickly if I spent the time I had spent working in school. Of course, I have no idea if that's been true or not. If it is, then it's a good thing I stopped working when I did -- I've been in school too long! I can earn money by house-sitting and such, but I'm afraid that it's not enough...especially with the current gas prices. I have to fill that tank about 3 times every 2 weeks. I have a 40 minute commute to school every morning; you can imagine that I'm always looking at new music! Can't afford CDs either, though.

I've been trying to get some more interning done lately. Two working reporters, a deposition reporter and a court official came to school today. They're pretty good about coming in every month or so. I was all set to go out and intern about 3 weeks ago, and no-one was available! I think they were all on vacation. I forget about summer vacations sometimes -- my school is year-round and my brothers and sisters are homeschooled. Not that homeschoolers never take breaks, but we can schedule things around to how we like them without regard for public school schedules.

Oh, I promised to talk about that soccer thing, didn't I. Well, here's how it is. My sister who is 14 wanted to be on a high-school soccer team. There are not very many, if any, opportunities for a high-school-aged sports player aside from the school teams. They have a definite monopoly. There was just last year a new law put into effect in Idaho pertaining to 'dual enrollment.' This describes the students whose main schooling occurs elsewhere, but who want to take various supplementary classes in the public school system. Strangely, the sports program is included in this. Basically, what the law says is that 'fully-enrolled' students have preference over 'dually-enrolled' students. So, regardless of ability or age or anything else, if enough fully-enrolled public school students try out for soccer to fill the team, no one else can even be considered.

My poor sister went to the try-outs (and she's a good player), but didn't get to be considered. My mother has been writing letters to everyone she can think of, but the school feels it is safe behind this law. I suppose it is. My mom wants to get the law changed. I don't know how this will play out. I think my mom has a point: We pay taxes for the public school just like everyone else, and we certainly don't get as much back.

My mom used an analogy with the post office: If you are not a frequent post office-user, and you want to deliver a letter, you don't have to get in a special line and wait until everyone who is there regularly is taken care of before they will even notice you. You get the same benefits, the same lines, the same parking as anyone else who is paying for this government service. So, what's the difference? Hmmmm...

Well, I think I've done my duty by the blog -- besides, my fingers are starting to ache. Come on, I already spent several hours today practicing my stenography! I need a break!

Wow, looking back I have certainly written a lot this evening. Shows what you can do when you tell yourself to sit down and think back over the past few days.

I was going to stop, but I have to mention the project I just finished. When I was up at my grandparents' house earlier this year (it was still very cold -- must have been March or so) I wanted to do a metal-working project that could be a way to mount some of my earrings and other jewelry that has been littering the top of my dresser forever. So we made a watchamacallit spring-hoop, kind of similar to one of those wooden embroidery hoops. It'd been sitting on my bedroom floor for months. Yesterday I finally spray-painted it black and stretched a bit of burlap on it and hung it on the wall. The burlap has the perfect sized holes to push earring studs through, and I wove some cording along the bottom rim to dangle necklaces from. I'm so proud of it! It actually looks kinda artsy. As an added plus, it's in neutral colors so I can keep it out when I finally paint my room -- or move out, whichever comes first!

Okay, I really have to be done. My brother will be disappointed in me if I don't write another chapter in my book and email it to him this evening. What, you didn't know I was writing a book? Isn't everybody?

phooey

I can't decide what to talk about. Just when I wanted to discuss wry humor, I get a song that sends me into a contemplative mood.

I just found out about podcasts for my ipod, and I've been busily looking around and seeing if there are any to interest me. There are a few; I've looked at comedy, and I'm listening to a music one right now. I'll have to see if there is anyone out there who shares my admittedly varied tastes.

Of course, it might be hard to find that, considering my genre tastes vary as often as my moods -- and that's pretty often! I suppose it would be too much to ask to find someone whose moods varied at the same time...

I'm sitting up late because I don't want to go to sleep; and because I'm waiting for my brother to instant message me. Since he's in college we've talked a few times, mostly extremely late at night for me, since we're in different time zones.

Hmm, this is going to be a short one. My grandparents returned early, so the house is shutting down for bed. So much for a weekend alone -- but a weekend at Grandma's is just about as good, if not better. I won't have to cook so much! (giggle)

Well, that's it for now. Maybe later I'll be in a mood for more...

Sit Back and Relax

Ahhh...

This is the life. I'm sitting all alone in someone else's kitchen, eating someone else's cold cereal. Only two kitties to worry about, and they stay outside all the time. The Great Black Hunter and the Great Calico Huntress do not get upset, or relieve themselves on the floor, or lick my armpits while I'm trying to catch a minimum of sleep before being awakened to let them out.

I suppose part of my enjoyment is that it's Saturday morning, and I didn't have to get up early to go to school. I will have to journey home to mow the lawn this morning, but I'm not on a schedule.

I finally signed up for the next big test. It will be on the first Saturday in November, I believe. Time to buckle down and study!

KP-PB/AT/HRAOE*S/THAT/PF*S/WAUT/KWR-PL/R-R/SPOEZ/-D/TAO/DAO/FPLT

I'll get busy. At school, this is about when they begin to play past tests for warm-up. I need to pass that last 225 Q&A, and I also have a typing test at 50wpm. I think the real typing scares me more. It's been so long since I've timed myself, I have no idea where I might fall.

It's that Bible study time of the year again, around here. I'd been attending one over the summer, but now that the people have all headed back to college, that's out. The other one is called the Sandwich Group, referring to the fact that we are all in-between things in life. Most of the people who are involved are single, finished with college, and working or taking grad school classes.

I joined up to try to find some young people who actually think. I have found, over the years, that most of the people I can actually talk to are a bit older than I. This group has been good for me -- we worked through the book of James, and the guy who was leading really knew what he was talking about. It keeps me humble when I don't know all the answers before the class.

I hope this group keeps it up. It is connected with the congregation we just discontinued associations with, so I'm hoping I can keep these friendships...

I'm also in a one-on-one Bible study with a very sweet grandmother. She also attends that church -- you can see we were a little bit involved. I hope to retain this friendship, also.

You know, I tend to complain that I don't know anyone. Then, suddenly, when my friendships are threatened, I'm concerned. I still don't think I have anyone to talk to like I want to; but I'm not sure that that's possible in a human being. I don't know if I could ever acknowledge all my faults, dreams, and desires to one person. Maybe a husband? Ah, well, for now I'll just keep it spread around with a few people. If they ever get together and talk...Let's not think about that, shall we?

I'm trying to decide whether I want to attend a dance/dance class that is held in downtown Boise. I think it's free, and it sounds like fun, but I wouldn't know anyone. That's a leetle scary, especially considering my absolute unfamiliarity with any kind of a Saturday-night scene.

I'm listening to Jars of Clay: dig right now. I like their music, but I have to be in the right mood. I've been playing around with my ipod -- there are these things called 'podcasts,' like radio shows that are downloaded, and then you listen when you feel like it. Hmmm, I could like this...

I just found a really interesting website through another blog: The Sacred Sandwich. My mother loves it, I love it, and I'm sure my brother will love it (whenever he gets around to actually reading it...) The link is in the title of this post. Ecstatic Reading to You All!

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