nothing really to report, I really need to put some thought into another post. Currently reading Joel Rosenberg. Looking forward to reading the new Dan Brown, maybe in a couple weeks. Taking a couple classes, this week I learned that "the entry in journal is called the journal entry."
And I paid nearly $200 for that text book. Today is the first day of Kids Club for kids in 2nd to 4th grade. I'm going to help out and I'm in charge of pictures. Thought I might try to create a new blog for club, post pics to it and maybe let the kids make a post or two. We'll see.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Long Time No Blog
Wow, been a while since I updated. Went on vacation, family reunion in MN then Door County WI, and haven't figured out a good post for that yet. That's what the pics are from - haven't quite figured out how to do those well.
Gardening is still going, but the weeds seem to be my best crop. Had a couple dozen ears of corn, the first batch I picked too early, the second batch was much better. I think we'll do more next year. Dug up the potatoes a while ago, lot of work. Onions aren't all that impressive, but they were in some of the worst ground and were overtaken by crab grass. Lots and lots of carrots that are getting harvested now. Have a half dozen pumpkins still growing. A couple spaghetti squash (I've never had this, hopefully we'll like it). And my cucumbers have started to produce very weakly. I'm sure it would be better if I weeded more often and watered better.
Now we're starting a kids club after school on Wednesdays. I'm going to be helping out with that. Joint with the UCC and Methodist churches, and I think at least 1 member of Salem church is helping out.
Alex started school last Wednesday - and I, being the bad mom I am, forgot to take his picture. It just doesn't seem like as big of a deal when it's just waiting for the bus. Third grade seems to be going well so far. Has to go to Reinbeck now. There's 24 kids in his class and there's a 2nd class his age.
I start classes at the community college on Monday. There's an orientation on-line about using their internet interface. It's a great interface, but first it mentioned "uzing" winzip to create .zip files. Then in the section about net etiquette, right after the bullet point about being sure to proofread your electronic correspondence, it said "a oral" instead of "an oral." Should I be worried?
So I think that's the sum of life for the last month. I know it's full of amazement. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Miracles, Science, Religion, and Dan Brown
This last week I've read The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. Got me thinking about a couple things.
First, there just doesn't seem to be a lot of spiritualism now. Instead of contemplating the wonders of God's creation we (and by we, I mean me) seem to spend more time in front of the TV, playing video games, and coming up with new ways to stay busy with more earthly diversions. I thought I'd share a couple things. Miracles happen - when I was in grade school, I would get horrid migraine headaches. One hit on a Sunday morning on the way to church. I felt lousy but still took communion. As soon as I sat back down in my seat, my headache was gone. Granted, it's not walking water or raising the dead, but having one happen to you, even a small one is far more potent. In spite of this, I struggled with my faith for many years before deciding to go back to church. When I did the pastor gave a sermon that seemed written just for me. He talked about Jacob's Ladder and the dream Jacob had where he wrestled the angel. After that, Jacob was known as Israel, which literally means to struggle with God. Now, if the father of 3 major world religions can struggle with God, surely it's ok for me to struggle as well. What really got me thinking about this again was the carmenlengo (sorry about the spelling) from Angels and Demons quoting the rock on which the church is built. Peter was described in Angels and Demons as the most devoted of the Disciples. Yet he denied Jesus 3 times. Again, if Peter could be afraid and ashamed and still be a devoted Disciple, surely I can too. This message is the one I want to shout from the rooftops and be sure that every child grows up knowing. I hear so much from the moral majority types that you have to be so righteous and good all the time that it's hard to remember that God still loves me even when I falter. I'm sure others have the same problem, and some might not have heard and even if they had it might not stick.
So now to the science part - when Isaac Newton was alive the science of physics was called Natural Philosophy. The point was not to remove God from the equation but to gain a better understanding of God by better understanding the world around us. After studying physics at the college level for a couple years (no, I did not graduate, I was studying PHYSICS) I had not met a single person who was openly an atheist. I did meet several people who were Christians and considered science another way to learn about God's creation. I find it hard to believe that most of a renowned scientific institution would be atheist.
Also, I had to suspend belief a little bit about Robert Langdon. Only getting as far as my junior year in college as a physicist, not only did I hear about CERN I knew sangreal could mean holy blood, of the Illumanatti, a decent bit of Greek mythology, literature, history etc and I got out of as many of those classes as I could. I'm supposed to believe some one with a PhD and professor at a prestigeous ivy league school would know so little about science? But then again, being "well-rounded" always seemed to mean more about humanities and arts than it did science.
Overall though, I've enjoyed reading Dan Brown's books. The pace is very fast, hardly a dull moment. I'm going to borrow another one from the library tomorrow. I won't have seen a movie for the other 2 they have, so we'll see if I can make it through without reading the last chapter.
I think that's about it for today. I did take pictures of my garden, so hopefully I'll put some pics of that up. Had fresh green beans for supper tonight!
First, there just doesn't seem to be a lot of spiritualism now. Instead of contemplating the wonders of God's creation we (and by we, I mean me) seem to spend more time in front of the TV, playing video games, and coming up with new ways to stay busy with more earthly diversions. I thought I'd share a couple things. Miracles happen - when I was in grade school, I would get horrid migraine headaches. One hit on a Sunday morning on the way to church. I felt lousy but still took communion. As soon as I sat back down in my seat, my headache was gone. Granted, it's not walking water or raising the dead, but having one happen to you, even a small one is far more potent. In spite of this, I struggled with my faith for many years before deciding to go back to church. When I did the pastor gave a sermon that seemed written just for me. He talked about Jacob's Ladder and the dream Jacob had where he wrestled the angel. After that, Jacob was known as Israel, which literally means to struggle with God. Now, if the father of 3 major world religions can struggle with God, surely it's ok for me to struggle as well. What really got me thinking about this again was the carmenlengo (sorry about the spelling) from Angels and Demons quoting the rock on which the church is built. Peter was described in Angels and Demons as the most devoted of the Disciples. Yet he denied Jesus 3 times. Again, if Peter could be afraid and ashamed and still be a devoted Disciple, surely I can too. This message is the one I want to shout from the rooftops and be sure that every child grows up knowing. I hear so much from the moral majority types that you have to be so righteous and good all the time that it's hard to remember that God still loves me even when I falter. I'm sure others have the same problem, and some might not have heard and even if they had it might not stick.
So now to the science part - when Isaac Newton was alive the science of physics was called Natural Philosophy. The point was not to remove God from the equation but to gain a better understanding of God by better understanding the world around us. After studying physics at the college level for a couple years (no, I did not graduate, I was studying PHYSICS) I had not met a single person who was openly an atheist. I did meet several people who were Christians and considered science another way to learn about God's creation. I find it hard to believe that most of a renowned scientific institution would be atheist.
Also, I had to suspend belief a little bit about Robert Langdon. Only getting as far as my junior year in college as a physicist, not only did I hear about CERN I knew sangreal could mean holy blood, of the Illumanatti, a decent bit of Greek mythology, literature, history etc and I got out of as many of those classes as I could. I'm supposed to believe some one with a PhD and professor at a prestigeous ivy league school would know so little about science? But then again, being "well-rounded" always seemed to mean more about humanities and arts than it did science.
Overall though, I've enjoyed reading Dan Brown's books. The pace is very fast, hardly a dull moment. I'm going to borrow another one from the library tomorrow. I won't have seen a movie for the other 2 they have, so we'll see if I can make it through without reading the last chapter.
I think that's about it for today. I did take pictures of my garden, so hopefully I'll put some pics of that up. Had fresh green beans for supper tonight!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Book Review: Sue Grafton's S is for Silence
Ok, I tried to comment, but it didn't work. I'm going to make the SPOILERS readable. If you have not read S is for Silence by Sue Grafton, do not read the purple text below.
I finished this a couple days ago and just didn't feel satisfied with the ending. Wanted to share a few of my observations. This will contain SPOILERS. I'm going to try the trick of turning the font color the same as the background color so if you want to read this, you'll have to highlight the text after the next paragraph.
I enjoyed the style of the book. The reader gets a bit more insight than Kinsey does. It was interesting to read what happened to several of the characters then see what they told Kinsey. Which led me to feel the end was rushed and that as a reader I was denied some critical information. So, writing this, I've gone back and double checked dates and things. I think I have a few things worked out.
Wed, July 1st Violet started her affair with Chet to get the car she wants. That evening she hooks up with Jake for what sounds like the first time. Tom's at the bar thinking about a counseling session he had with his wife back in april. Violet and Tom talk about how a woman should help a husband. Tom says he's not trying to get in her pants, because she'll leave him for some one else. Earlier, it was implied that he had a relationship with her before.
Thurs, July 2nd Chet told Violet he'd help her get the car. We found out Jake had been with Violet before - and at one point says he had not seen her since Sunday, was he so drunk Wed he did not remember? He dumps Violet stating she'd been pulling away for weeks. She's pissed. Tom discovers a bank account that belongs to his wife's deceased first husband that the wife doesn't know about. He also thinks he needs an additional quick influx of cash to make a bank payment Monday.
Fri, July 3rd Foley bought the car in the AM, then Violet dumped Chet that afternoon. When Jake got to the hospital that afternoon, his father-in-law was clutching a Bible and a pink sheet of notebook paper accusing him of having an affair with Violet. (on wed we learned Chet's daughter Kathy kept pink stationary that she saved for special occasion - was it really Kathy who tattled, did Violet steal some of the stationary when she was at the dealership, or did Violet also happen to have pink stationary?).
So at the end of the book we find out Tom bought the dog for Violet, and asked the lady to call if anyone should come asking about it. When did he ask her to call? when he bought the dog? Was he really planning something that far out?
So here's what I think: I don't think Tom and Violet had been lovers. When BW said to ask Tom what happens if you drive her home, I think Tom really drove her home and either tongues started wagging or Foley believed it meant they were lovers. I think Jake was way depressed and drunk Wednesday night and didn't remember it the next day and some one saw them and ratted out. Everyone heard about Violet's money. I think Tom wanted it, but wasn't sure how to get it, but cultivated a friendship with her to get in her head and learn how to work her. He bought the dog, again as a friend. By being Violet's friend instead of trying to get in her pants she trusted in him in way she hadn't trusted anyone before. When he received news of the bank account he became liberated from his need for his wife. A quiet conversation with Violet - you take your money and I have my own now, we can take off together, we don't need our spouses anymore... I think that could have lured her out, especially since Jake dropped her - she didn't have any ties.
So, after a couple hours of re-reading and taking careful time line notes, I've been able to construct a plausible motive and means for the murder of Violet. I don't like working this hard to read a book. I think a chapter at the end from either Tom's or Violet's point of view tying up loose ends would have made this a better read.
Ok, that's the end of my babbling about this book. I shall do my best to put it out of my mind.
I finished this a couple days ago and just didn't feel satisfied with the ending. Wanted to share a few of my observations. This will contain SPOILERS. I'm going to try the trick of turning the font color the same as the background color so if you want to read this, you'll have to highlight the text after the next paragraph.
I enjoyed the style of the book. The reader gets a bit more insight than Kinsey does. It was interesting to read what happened to several of the characters then see what they told Kinsey. Which led me to feel the end was rushed and that as a reader I was denied some critical information. So, writing this, I've gone back and double checked dates and things. I think I have a few things worked out.
Wed, July 1st Violet started her affair with Chet to get the car she wants. That evening she hooks up with Jake for what sounds like the first time. Tom's at the bar thinking about a counseling session he had with his wife back in april. Violet and Tom talk about how a woman should help a husband. Tom says he's not trying to get in her pants, because she'll leave him for some one else. Earlier, it was implied that he had a relationship with her before.
Thurs, July 2nd Chet told Violet he'd help her get the car. We found out Jake had been with Violet before - and at one point says he had not seen her since Sunday, was he so drunk Wed he did not remember? He dumps Violet stating she'd been pulling away for weeks. She's pissed. Tom discovers a bank account that belongs to his wife's deceased first husband that the wife doesn't know about. He also thinks he needs an additional quick influx of cash to make a bank payment Monday.
Fri, July 3rd Foley bought the car in the AM, then Violet dumped Chet that afternoon. When Jake got to the hospital that afternoon, his father-in-law was clutching a Bible and a pink sheet of notebook paper accusing him of having an affair with Violet. (on wed we learned Chet's daughter Kathy kept pink stationary that she saved for special occasion - was it really Kathy who tattled, did Violet steal some of the stationary when she was at the dealership, or did Violet also happen to have pink stationary?).
So at the end of the book we find out Tom bought the dog for Violet, and asked the lady to call if anyone should come asking about it. When did he ask her to call? when he bought the dog? Was he really planning something that far out?
So here's what I think: I don't think Tom and Violet had been lovers. When BW said to ask Tom what happens if you drive her home, I think Tom really drove her home and either tongues started wagging or Foley believed it meant they were lovers. I think Jake was way depressed and drunk Wednesday night and didn't remember it the next day and some one saw them and ratted out. Everyone heard about Violet's money. I think Tom wanted it, but wasn't sure how to get it, but cultivated a friendship with her to get in her head and learn how to work her. He bought the dog, again as a friend. By being Violet's friend instead of trying to get in her pants she trusted in him in way she hadn't trusted anyone before. When he received news of the bank account he became liberated from his need for his wife. A quiet conversation with Violet - you take your money and I have my own now, we can take off together, we don't need our spouses anymore... I think that could have lured her out, especially since Jake dropped her - she didn't have any ties.
So, after a couple hours of re-reading and taking careful time line notes, I've been able to construct a plausible motive and means for the murder of Violet. I don't like working this hard to read a book. I think a chapter at the end from either Tom's or Violet's point of view tying up loose ends would have made this a better read.
Ok, that's the end of my babbling about this book. I shall do my best to put it out of my mind.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
CORN CARNIVAL
What is a Corn Carnival you might be asking - it's the big festival weekend in Gladbrook, IA. This year's was from June 25-June 28. With my new job at the theater/Matchstick Marvels I was more involved than ever. So Alex got to be more involved too. He got to display his Lego Star Wars collection at the collectors fair on Thursday and for the first time he got a ride wristband and was allowed to go out of my sight so he could ride while I was at work. It was nearly 10:30 when we got home that night and he was exhausted, but he had a lot of fun. Friday we went to the early matinee of Imagine That at the theater, but then Alex took the rest of the day off. Saturday we all (Brian, Alex, Johanna, and I) worked in the foodstand from 3-6. Then, we had supper and I went to work, Alex had another wristband, and Brian took the very sleepy Johanna home. I was able to leave work a little early so Alex and I rode the Ferris Wheel together and I got some pics of Gladbrook and the Corn Carnival from a unique perspective. Sunday morning we had a community church service, then free porkburgers at the foodstand. And that was it for Corn Carnival, except for the picking up.
IPTV at Matchstick Marvels
This actually took place Wednesday the 24th, but we've been so busy, this is the first I've had to post it. Iowa Public Television is working on a new show about Iowa and Simple Pleasures. One attraction they are highlighting is Matchstick Marvels! For those who haven't been keeping track, I was recently hired on as the Assistant Manager of Matchstick Marvels and Gladbrook Theater. So as a huge fan of Best of the Midwest and Parklands of the Midwest, I was starstruck when Dan Kaercher, Andrea, and Steve showed up to film a segment at Matchsticks. I learned that Dan's job involves a lot of standing around and waiting, but I think that's still want I want to do when I grow up. Silly me, I did not have my camera with me, but I did have a cell phone, so I actually posted a picture!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
wow
So, VBS went well I think. Got to know some great kids. I hope they liked it too.
My cousin got married last weekend. Outdoor wedding, a little warm, but tolerable. The baby refused to sleep from about 1PM until nearly 11. The tuxes had camoflauge vests, ties, and sunglasses. We got to meet Charlie, the newest addition to our extended family. The baby loved chasing the lights on the dance floor. All in all, a good time.
I've been thinking perhaps this blog should concentrate on life in small town Iowa. The differences are astounding. The big difference highlighted by the wedding, I now plan to arrive at events at least 30 minutes early for the chance to chat. Fashionably late isn't much of a consideration here.
Keep checking back - I hope to update more often, and really, I will get some pics up. Future planned posts include: Corn Carnival (this weekend!), Matchsticks Marvels, nights, and whatever else trips my trigger.
Thanks for reading!
My cousin got married last weekend. Outdoor wedding, a little warm, but tolerable. The baby refused to sleep from about 1PM until nearly 11. The tuxes had camoflauge vests, ties, and sunglasses. We got to meet Charlie, the newest addition to our extended family. The baby loved chasing the lights on the dance floor. All in all, a good time.
I've been thinking perhaps this blog should concentrate on life in small town Iowa. The differences are astounding. The big difference highlighted by the wedding, I now plan to arrive at events at least 30 minutes early for the chance to chat. Fashionably late isn't much of a consideration here.
Keep checking back - I hope to update more often, and really, I will get some pics up. Future planned posts include: Corn Carnival (this weekend!), Matchsticks Marvels, nights, and whatever else trips my trigger.
Thanks for reading!
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