Now is the time when everyone gets sappy regarding the end of the current year and the beginning of the new one. It would be best to spare myself (and you, dear reader) the pain of such disjointed musings. What would be nice instead is a lovely mug of Earl Grey and a day on the couch reading.
I will say that in the past year, some of my thinking has been challenged and to a certain extent remodeled. An anti-abortion, pro-war, pro-death penalty mantra as exercised by mainstream evangelical America is conflicting at best. Who really deserves to die?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Re: Current Events
Habakkuk 2:4-14
4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.[b] 5 Wealth[c] is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave,[d] and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.
6 “But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying, ‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve! You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’ 7 Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless. 8 Because you have plundered many nations; now all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence.
9 “What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger. 10 But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives. 11 The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.
12 “What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption! 13 Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain! 14 For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.
4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.[b] 5 Wealth[c] is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave,[d] and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.
6 “But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying, ‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve! You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’ 7 Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless. 8 Because you have plundered many nations; now all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence.
9 “What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger. 10 But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives. 11 The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.
12 “What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption! 13 Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain! 14 For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Stages of Incompletion
Since Gene posted a photo of the very much incomplete version of my most recent painting, I thought I could provide an update of my progress...
I'm not sure if I should yet call it finished or not. Perfectionist that I am, I struggle quite a bit with actually deciding something is finished. So, here I am asking for some feedback. If anyone looks at this and thinks something doesn't look quite right, I am open to suggestions. Since this is probably only about the fourth painting I've taken this far, my inexperience is a great liability.
Gene just financed the purchase of a real easel for me. Previously, I had been working on a card table that was barely larger than the canvas itself and the whole affair was generally inconvenient. Now, I can paint like a "professional". I took for granted how much difference working on an easel would make. I'm not sure what I'll do after I'm satisfied with my Tuscan villa. Gene wants me to do a still life a a wine glass with some red wine and grapes to keep with the Italian theme, part of me wants to try another beach scene. We'll see...
I'm not sure if I should yet call it finished or not. Perfectionist that I am, I struggle quite a bit with actually deciding something is finished. So, here I am asking for some feedback. If anyone looks at this and thinks something doesn't look quite right, I am open to suggestions. Since this is probably only about the fourth painting I've taken this far, my inexperience is a great liability.Gene just financed the purchase of a real easel for me. Previously, I had been working on a card table that was barely larger than the canvas itself and the whole affair was generally inconvenient. Now, I can paint like a "professional". I took for granted how much difference working on an easel would make. I'm not sure what I'll do after I'm satisfied with my Tuscan villa. Gene wants me to do a still life a a wine glass with some red wine and grapes to keep with the Italian theme, part of me wants to try another beach scene. We'll see...
Monday, October 27, 2008
We Have Seen The Enemy, And He Is Us
In light of the recent and ongoing debacle afflicting Wall Street, our current political condition, and the probability that this point in our history will be analyzed for generations to come, I have tried my best to remain current. After a few weeks of reading the opinion of our nation’s über educated, I thought I could add a few of my own thoughts to the cacophony.
As we stand at what may very well be a great precipice, we have come upon our own undoing. And if I may be so forthright, it is the result of our own hubris. Ultimately, the only solution is to humble ourselves, lest we tumble over the edge like so many Gollums grasping in misplaced love and horror at the thing which has betrayed us. In the face of a slowing economy we clench our fists and stomp our feet in defiance that we can no longer afford two hundred dollar handbags and thirty-three percent of us believe we have already entered a depression. I know this is over simplifying the matter, but rightly so. I am in no way trivializing the plight of thousands who have lost their jobs in various industries and have thus become the collateral damage of events far beyond their control. Yet, I am appalled to find in a recent USA Today the story of a family who has made what the journalist presents as “difficult choices” to cope with the economic slowdown. Their hardship: forgoing tickets to attend a major league sporting event in exchange for viewing the game from their big screen. No, the sarcasm is not unintentional. Our nation has come to enjoy arguably the highest standard of living ever known. We consume far more than our fair share of the planet’s resources and have ravaged the environment in our tireless pursuit for more, all while millions around the world subsist on $3 a day or less. There is nothing inherent in our nature that we should feel somehow entitled to the blessings we have. We should be gravely humbled.
I am surely no economic scholar, and I barely understand the laws of supply and demand, yet I see what is happening in our greater economy as a correction that has long been due. As markets everywhere violently revert themselves to their condition over a decade ago, it strikes me that the wealth that is being “lost” on the stock exchange was never ours to begin with and furthermore, never existed. The public outcry to our leaders is clear: fix the mess and punish those who are responsible for it. And shame on the finance industry for glibly lending us money that we couldn’t afford to pay back. Yet banks across the country would never have offered exotic and often foolish financing en masse were there no market for it. Credit flowed like liquor at a college frat party and the nation became drunk on it. We have funded our gluttony with borrowed money and, collectively, the bill is coming due and our pockets are empty. We have no one to blame but ourselves, and precious few are entirely innocent.
As we stand at what may very well be a great precipice, we have come upon our own undoing. And if I may be so forthright, it is the result of our own hubris. Ultimately, the only solution is to humble ourselves, lest we tumble over the edge like so many Gollums grasping in misplaced love and horror at the thing which has betrayed us. In the face of a slowing economy we clench our fists and stomp our feet in defiance that we can no longer afford two hundred dollar handbags and thirty-three percent of us believe we have already entered a depression. I know this is over simplifying the matter, but rightly so. I am in no way trivializing the plight of thousands who have lost their jobs in various industries and have thus become the collateral damage of events far beyond their control. Yet, I am appalled to find in a recent USA Today the story of a family who has made what the journalist presents as “difficult choices” to cope with the economic slowdown. Their hardship: forgoing tickets to attend a major league sporting event in exchange for viewing the game from their big screen. No, the sarcasm is not unintentional. Our nation has come to enjoy arguably the highest standard of living ever known. We consume far more than our fair share of the planet’s resources and have ravaged the environment in our tireless pursuit for more, all while millions around the world subsist on $3 a day or less. There is nothing inherent in our nature that we should feel somehow entitled to the blessings we have. We should be gravely humbled.
I am surely no economic scholar, and I barely understand the laws of supply and demand, yet I see what is happening in our greater economy as a correction that has long been due. As markets everywhere violently revert themselves to their condition over a decade ago, it strikes me that the wealth that is being “lost” on the stock exchange was never ours to begin with and furthermore, never existed. The public outcry to our leaders is clear: fix the mess and punish those who are responsible for it. And shame on the finance industry for glibly lending us money that we couldn’t afford to pay back. Yet banks across the country would never have offered exotic and often foolish financing en masse were there no market for it. Credit flowed like liquor at a college frat party and the nation became drunk on it. We have funded our gluttony with borrowed money and, collectively, the bill is coming due and our pockets are empty. We have no one to blame but ourselves, and precious few are entirely innocent.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Go Fasting
Dale, Marcus, Austin, Dallas, and I attend a car show last Saturday at Pocono Raceway. It was... wet. It rained the whole way there, and drizzled all morning, but dried off in the afternoon. We really had a good time. The boys took part in a coloring contest and a few other things; they said it was a good time and that they are going back next year. The highlight of the day was making laps on the track.
We're fighting colds.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sharbat Gula
Sweetwater flower girl
It's not a perfect likeness by far, but I guess none of my portraits ever are. First of all, the subject in the drawing is a thirteen year old Afghan girl whose portrait was photographed by Steve McCurry in 1984. She was a refugee of the border conflict between the Soviets and Afghanistan in the early eighties and shortly before the photo which was used as reference for this drawing had been taken, she witnessed the destruction of her village and the death of both her parents. The human eye has for quite some time been my favorite subject to draw, so it seemed fitting to draw a portrait of someone bearing such a striking gaze. There it is, for all it's worth, now I must retire to bed.
It's not a perfect likeness by far, but I guess none of my portraits ever are. First of all, the subject in the drawing is a thirteen year old Afghan girl whose portrait was photographed by Steve McCurry in 1984. She was a refugee of the border conflict between the Soviets and Afghanistan in the early eighties and shortly before the photo which was used as reference for this drawing had been taken, she witnessed the destruction of her village and the death of both her parents. The human eye has for quite some time been my favorite subject to draw, so it seemed fitting to draw a portrait of someone bearing such a striking gaze. There it is, for all it's worth, now I must retire to bed.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
West and Wewaxation
Wednesday-- slept late, mowed the yard, packed, attended a viewing for a co-worker's brother, drove to the cabin, read, ate, slept
Thursday-- slept late, ate, read, slept, read, ate, slept, read
Friday-- ate & read. Watched it rain all day. No sleeping.
Saturday-- ate, drove to State College, found several art galleries and a musuem. Looked at $3500 prints and $10,000 originals for sale. Laughed. Ate. Slept.
Sunday-- ate, read, slept, cleaned, came home.
I have two more days off until my fall vacation is over. I have big plans.
Thursday-- slept late, ate, read, slept, read, ate, slept, read
Friday-- ate & read. Watched it rain all day. No sleeping.
Saturday-- ate, drove to State College, found several art galleries and a musuem. Looked at $3500 prints and $10,000 originals for sale. Laughed. Ate. Slept.
Sunday-- ate, read, slept, cleaned, came home.
I have two more days off until my fall vacation is over. I have big plans.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
So it goes
Said shriek of shock was not of fear, as my dear mother would so dependably render, but of anger and a thirst for blood. I was a bit shocked by the tenacity of the pursuit. The fury was unquenched until the creature was caught; at that point, cooing and "aawww"-ing started. "Look at him! He's cute. I can't possibly kill him! I think he can just be let go in the woods."
We nearly got two kittens today. Amy's boss opened the shop this morning to find some abandoned at his doorstep. Thankfully, the neighbor girl agreed to adopt them, letting my .22 and/or the fan of my truck off the hook.
Tonight the prospect of any pencil on paper potrait project was abandoned by the household artist. The oil and canvas was attacked, with much success in my opinion. It is with much eagerness that I look forward to this completed image hanging in my dining room.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Musings and such
Well, it seems that now would be an appropriate time for the female element of this outfit to contribute her own two cents. Our lives have recently been what I would call fairly adventurous as of late, at least for the poor souls blessed to live in cow country, usa. Sunday found us at a Missions Aviation Festival in Lancaster, where I had the delight of flying in a bush plane which serves tribal missionaries during its day job. For one as easily amazed as myself, this was an awesome experience (and I mean truely awesome, not simply just the colloquial use of that word). In all my wonder and picture snapping excitement I recall turning back to my dear husband (I was in the co-pilot's seat :) with a look that surely did not belie my excitement, only to receive a modest shrug in return. I suspect he was more entertained watching my reaction to the trip than the trip itself. Such is the story of our lives.
I'm still plugging away at my artwork, though I'm prepared to break the most recent vow I made to myself. Somehow, I often manage to lose my dedication to completing one peice before I move onto another, as a result I have a myrid canvases lying about in various stages of incompletion. A strikingly bare wall in our dining area had me previously commited to finishing a painting so that our space might have a little more decoration. And though I feel the future for this particular canvas is far more promising than most, I find myself once again tempted to set it aside in favor of my newest diversion.
Our trip to the Missions Festival has again renewed my awareness of the human condition around the world. It is so easy to become detached from the reality that billions no different than myself do not live the life of the quintessential American. That coupled with a trip to the bookstore where I spent many happy minutes staring into the eyes of protraits taken by Steve McCurry and I feel very motivated to produce another portrait in pencil. I've spent so much time trying to teach myself even just the fundamentals of oil paint that it has been years since I've sketched the likeness of another. Like many others, I have long been struck by the image of Sharbat Gula, known the world over simply as the "Afghan Girl". She has a beautifully haunting gaze and since the eyes of my portraits are generally accepted as my forte, this picture seems a fitting reference. Although this is a copywrited photo, I have no intention of selling any finished product, so I don't expect that appropriating the image for my purposes should be a problem.
Oh, and I nearly forgot the other bit of excitement we've had, and on the same day as our flight nonetheless! We had an unwelcome visitor of the rodent persausion in our home on Sunday night. While sitting at the computer, I was startled to see a furry grey blob scurry across the floor. As it franticly made it's way to the perceived safety beneath the refridgerator I quickly announced to Gene with a shriek of shock and indignation that there was a mouse in our kitchen. It turned out that I was incorrect in my assignment of "mouse" to this fuzzball, it was more accurately a vole. To make a long story short we pursued the poor thing for a healthy ten minutes before we secured it in a tupperwear bowel. Only after having displaced much of the furniture in our living room, rooting through our hall closet and mcuh banging around underneath the fridge, oven, dishwasher, and desk did we finally succeed. The vole chittered vehemently at one point at it raced across our floor with the bumbling humans in hot pursuit and I couldn't quite tell if it the was sound of fear or of laughter. However, my murderous intent quickly vanished by the time we had it captured and I was able to perform a closer inspection of the critter. It was just a little guy and my appreciation for its healthy will to live (to whatever limited extent a rodent is aware of the precariousness of its life is an entirely different discussion altogether) found me tossing it into the woods accross the street with an adament charge to never return. I guess at the heart of it all, I'm still just a girl.
I'm still plugging away at my artwork, though I'm prepared to break the most recent vow I made to myself. Somehow, I often manage to lose my dedication to completing one peice before I move onto another, as a result I have a myrid canvases lying about in various stages of incompletion. A strikingly bare wall in our dining area had me previously commited to finishing a painting so that our space might have a little more decoration. And though I feel the future for this particular canvas is far more promising than most, I find myself once again tempted to set it aside in favor of my newest diversion.
Our trip to the Missions Festival has again renewed my awareness of the human condition around the world. It is so easy to become detached from the reality that billions no different than myself do not live the life of the quintessential American. That coupled with a trip to the bookstore where I spent many happy minutes staring into the eyes of protraits taken by Steve McCurry and I feel very motivated to produce another portrait in pencil. I've spent so much time trying to teach myself even just the fundamentals of oil paint that it has been years since I've sketched the likeness of another. Like many others, I have long been struck by the image of Sharbat Gula, known the world over simply as the "Afghan Girl". She has a beautifully haunting gaze and since the eyes of my portraits are generally accepted as my forte, this picture seems a fitting reference. Although this is a copywrited photo, I have no intention of selling any finished product, so I don't expect that appropriating the image for my purposes should be a problem.
Oh, and I nearly forgot the other bit of excitement we've had, and on the same day as our flight nonetheless! We had an unwelcome visitor of the rodent persausion in our home on Sunday night. While sitting at the computer, I was startled to see a furry grey blob scurry across the floor. As it franticly made it's way to the perceived safety beneath the refridgerator I quickly announced to Gene with a shriek of shock and indignation that there was a mouse in our kitchen. It turned out that I was incorrect in my assignment of "mouse" to this fuzzball, it was more accurately a vole. To make a long story short we pursued the poor thing for a healthy ten minutes before we secured it in a tupperwear bowel. Only after having displaced much of the furniture in our living room, rooting through our hall closet and mcuh banging around underneath the fridge, oven, dishwasher, and desk did we finally succeed. The vole chittered vehemently at one point at it raced across our floor with the bumbling humans in hot pursuit and I couldn't quite tell if it the was sound of fear or of laughter. However, my murderous intent quickly vanished by the time we had it captured and I was able to perform a closer inspection of the critter. It was just a little guy and my appreciation for its healthy will to live (to whatever limited extent a rodent is aware of the precariousness of its life is an entirely different discussion altogether) found me tossing it into the woods accross the street with an adament charge to never return. I guess at the heart of it all, I'm still just a girl.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Summer of '08
Time has a way of passing by much too quickly. Tomorrow is the last day of July, already. Ironically, the pressure to enjoy life becomes urgent as time passes more and more swiftly. The more we enjoy life, the quicker it slips away. The quicker it slips away, the more alarmed we become at its passing.
Amy's tiramisu is forming one layer at a time as I type. Tomorrow it will be plundered and be gone (if I have any say in the matter, anyway). So is life...
This summer has been fairly wet. Things seem greener than other years. It could be my much brighter outlook; I am more content now than I have ever been. Either way, the grass and trees are growing nicely.
August is almost fully planned, already. This Saturday we are having a party at our house; the following weekend is our family cabin weekend; the next is Rough & Tumble (nobody should miss the smoke and sweat of that event); then there is weddings and birthdays to contend with. January will be here until we can catch our breath. We are doing a Christmas show again this year, and rehearsal starts in September, along with small groups and the busy season at work.
All this makes me feel a little Powwaqatsi-ish.
Amy's tiramisu is forming one layer at a time as I type. Tomorrow it will be plundered and be gone (if I have any say in the matter, anyway). So is life...
This summer has been fairly wet. Things seem greener than other years. It could be my much brighter outlook; I am more content now than I have ever been. Either way, the grass and trees are growing nicely.
August is almost fully planned, already. This Saturday we are having a party at our house; the following weekend is our family cabin weekend; the next is Rough & Tumble (nobody should miss the smoke and sweat of that event); then there is weddings and birthdays to contend with. January will be here until we can catch our breath. We are doing a Christmas show again this year, and rehearsal starts in September, along with small groups and the busy season at work.
All this makes me feel a little Powwaqatsi-ish.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
We are giving up
Alas! We have lost the company of yet another kitty. It met instant death this morning in the fan of the work truck. You would think that a cat that had one encounter of the cooling kind would steer clear of vehicles known first-paw to hurt and maim. But no, our cat was not very intelligent, and kept on climbing up in there for the night. It was just a matter of time. We have buried the poor dumb thing; that made me late for work... again. Sorry, no pix.
Should we try again? I'm thinking not-- I hate being late for work. 'Course, maybe a smart cat would stay out of there; our first one did.
Keep my secretary and her husband in your prayers, please. He had a quadruple bypass today. He had a number of stents (spelling?) put in just a few months ago. I'm going to see them tomorrow after lunch.
We are looking forward to the weekend. We'll be busy. We're meeting Darren and Jen in Brooklyn for a concert Friday evening, going to the Musuem of Natural History, going to another concert Saturday evening, picking up a free hydraulic press from a friend in NJ, making it to our church Sunday morning, and going to a picnic in Hamburg Sunday afternoon.
Should we try again? I'm thinking not-- I hate being late for work. 'Course, maybe a smart cat would stay out of there; our first one did.
Keep my secretary and her husband in your prayers, please. He had a quadruple bypass today. He had a number of stents (spelling?) put in just a few months ago. I'm going to see them tomorrow after lunch.
We are looking forward to the weekend. We'll be busy. We're meeting Darren and Jen in Brooklyn for a concert Friday evening, going to the Musuem of Natural History, going to another concert Saturday evening, picking up a free hydraulic press from a friend in NJ, making it to our church Sunday morning, and going to a picnic in Hamburg Sunday afternoon.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Couple's Cabin Trip
We spent the weekend hiding in a cabin near Port Royal, PA. There were five couples, plus a couple that stopped in just for a few hours, and a couple that came to do some teaching.
This is my favorite pic from the weekend-- its the view from the easy-chair.
This is my favorite pic from the weekend-- its the view from the easy-chair.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Life and stuff
We have been biking more again. I think it was the 90-100 degree weather that kept us indoors for several weeks. Rode twice this week.
This weekend our young married group from church is going to a cabin near Port Royal, PA. We are leaving Friday evening and coming home Sunday. We have a speaker coming Saturday evening, and there is to be an abundance of food. Mountain pies, hooray!
Amy has a new hobby: sewing. Husband Claus got her a sewing machine for her birthday! So far the house has received curtains in the kitchen (sorry, no paintings yet, that is still to come) and Amy has received a new dress. Said dress has yet to be worn in public.
Last Saturday we had the privilege of going to a GM show at Carlisle. We went with some new friends from the neighborhood. They are a young couple about our age that moved in from Long Island, and they build high-end hot rods and show cars for rich people. We were both interested in stuff like this:
This weekend our young married group from church is going to a cabin near Port Royal, PA. We are leaving Friday evening and coming home Sunday. We have a speaker coming Saturday evening, and there is to be an abundance of food. Mountain pies, hooray!
Amy has a new hobby: sewing. Husband Claus got her a sewing machine for her birthday! So far the house has received curtains in the kitchen (sorry, no paintings yet, that is still to come) and Amy has received a new dress. Said dress has yet to be worn in public.
Last Saturday we had the privilege of going to a GM show at Carlisle. We went with some new friends from the neighborhood. They are a young couple about our age that moved in from Long Island, and they build high-end hot rods and show cars for rich people. We were both interested in stuff like this:
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Uhh... not so committed anymore
And the last time I rode my bike was Memorial Day. Go figure. Not from lack of desire, mind you. Been distracted lately. That red Malibu in the garage has been getting the bulk of my attention. Its all ready to go back together, as of tonight. All parts are degreased and repainted.
We got a new kitty. Our succession of cats have all had Biblical names; this one is all white, so I thought he should have the name of an angel. I picked Gideon, then realized that Gideon wasn't an angel. But the name stuck. Unfortunately, he only seems to answer to "Hey CAT!!"
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend
I'm happy to report that our committment to getting in shape is intact. We have been riding our bikes at least three times a week. Yesterday (Memorial Day) we went to Reber's Bridge and rode the trail into Reading. That is about 8 miles round trip. It is a nice ride, do it sometime. It is the old Union Canal tow path along the Schuylkill River. There's a bunch of old museum-type buildings you can go in, including the Gruber wagon works.
Perhaps I should start at the beginning of the weekend. Friday was Amy's b-day (she's 24, and feeling old) so I took her to Shady Maple, where she had never been. Saturday morning I traded cars with a friend of mine, his needs some work done. Did the recycling, then mowed the yard.
In the evening we went to the parents of Amy's friend's fiance for a rehearsal dinner. They had some of the best ribs there I ever tasted. Sunday I skedaddled from the house ASAP, cuz all the bridesmaids for the wedding were preparing themselves for presentation at our house. I went to first service to hide from them. There were two more that are not in the pic, plus a couple of the cutest little flower girls.
After the ladies left for pix, Amy and I bummed around the house until it was time for the wedding. It was a wonderful wedding. The bride comes from a situation that was not so good, and it made her into a very strong, committed, honorable person. You can really see Christ in her life. She's 21, and the groom turned 19 yesterday. He is the most mature 18 year old I have ever met. They are made for each other, and the wedding was one of the happiest things I have ever experienced. After the sniffling and giggling stopped, we came home to relax. Monday I worked on my friend's car, then we went to the bike trail, then went to another friend's house for a Memorial Day party. There was smoke from the grill and smoke from the tires of said friend's Camaro. A good time was had by all.
Took Pop & Mom and Marvin's to Newark today to catch their flight to Israel. Back to work tomorrow.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Commuting
Now that we have bikes, we will be in shape soon. There has been some talk of riding them to work, since the new job is only 3 miles away. Of course, this evening it is too cold and wet to go out riding, so here we sit at home as always. It supposed to be nicer weather tomorrow... we'll get in shape then.
They had me singing at church again on Sunday. It really is quite enjoyable. Something about Thursday night practices makes me full of energy and ready to go. Sunday mornings are that way too, but not as much.
We are getting busier at work again. It is quite welcome, as there was a bit of worry around the shop as to how slow things had been. It seems the housing market in our area is not hit as hard as some places. We have been doing a lot of commercial jobs, and we also are selling a tremendous amount of replacement doors. It used to be that our sales were 95% or greater new construction; now, more than 50% is replacement doors. Many people are simply getting nicer looking doors, so if you want a good used door now is the time to call Pop.
Our grass is growing nicely. Our soil is very poor, and in some areas we have almost no topsoil. With all the rain we have been blessed with lately, the grass is really shooting up, albeit some places much better than others. I mowed on Saturday for the first time this year, while Amy went to Longwood Gardens with her sister.
They had me singing at church again on Sunday. It really is quite enjoyable. Something about Thursday night practices makes me full of energy and ready to go. Sunday mornings are that way too, but not as much.
We are getting busier at work again. It is quite welcome, as there was a bit of worry around the shop as to how slow things had been. It seems the housing market in our area is not hit as hard as some places. We have been doing a lot of commercial jobs, and we also are selling a tremendous amount of replacement doors. It used to be that our sales were 95% or greater new construction; now, more than 50% is replacement doors. Many people are simply getting nicer looking doors, so if you want a good used door now is the time to call Pop.
Our grass is growing nicely. Our soil is very poor, and in some areas we have almost no topsoil. With all the rain we have been blessed with lately, the grass is really shooting up, albeit some places much better than others. I mowed on Saturday for the first time this year, while Amy went to Longwood Gardens with her sister.
Monday, May 5, 2008
New York again
Friday night our young married group was together again. We had a campfire and got all smoky under the trees.
Saturday morning we drove up to Manhattan to my cousin's apartment. We met them for lunch, then took the train over to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden for Sakura Matsuri, the cherry blossom festival. It was very nice. They have Kwanzan cherry trees in a couple of rows that make a pink tunnel/arbor kind of thing under the trees. There were Japanese artists there making music and other demonstrations. We got there late for most of the events, but we did take in some absolutely beautiful Japanese flutes. We also briefly strolled around the Brooklyn art museum after eating some Jamaican grub, but we were all a bit weary and went back to the apartment.
Sunday Jen took us through a local park, and we stood at the place where legend has it the Europeans purchased Manhattan island from the native Americans for trinkets worth abut $24. What a ripoff. It reminded me again of how unfair some of the European politics were. For the afternoon we went down to 32nd St to a Korean restaurant. Amy had some kind of fish dish, and I had a taste of octupus. Very interesting. We got home about 7:00, in time to watch part of Amazing Grace, which as a movie I highly recommend. Its about William Wilberforce's efforts in England in 1780-1800 or so to abolish slavery.
Saturday morning we drove up to Manhattan to my cousin's apartment. We met them for lunch, then took the train over to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden for Sakura Matsuri, the cherry blossom festival. It was very nice. They have Kwanzan cherry trees in a couple of rows that make a pink tunnel/arbor kind of thing under the trees. There were Japanese artists there making music and other demonstrations. We got there late for most of the events, but we did take in some absolutely beautiful Japanese flutes. We also briefly strolled around the Brooklyn art museum after eating some Jamaican grub, but we were all a bit weary and went back to the apartment.
Sunday Jen took us through a local park, and we stood at the place where legend has it the Europeans purchased Manhattan island from the native Americans for trinkets worth abut $24. What a ripoff. It reminded me again of how unfair some of the European politics were. For the afternoon we went down to 32nd St to a Korean restaurant. Amy had some kind of fish dish, and I had a taste of octupus. Very interesting. We got home about 7:00, in time to watch part of Amazing Grace, which as a movie I highly recommend. Its about William Wilberforce's efforts in England in 1780-1800 or so to abolish slavery.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Musings
I've had a moment of sheer serendipity that I simply must share. I've been agonizing for several months over the drab state of the dining area in our kitchen. When the house was brand new, it was fairly refreshing for everything to remain pristine; now however, the empty walls are starting to chew at my patience. Much to my chagrin I have a supportive husband, who has encouraged me several times to fill the place with my own work, rather than purchasing mass produced art at a department store. Therein lies my dilema. Aside from pencil sketching an image of his car, I've had a general creative hiatus for the last few years. There has always been some excuse, but generally my grandiose ideas have been squelched by my lack of talent and available time. Now, having been abandoned by my husband for the evening (he went dirt track racing with a friend), I found myself with nearly a whole day to occupy and nothing pressing on my agenda.
I've recently becoming fascinated by the Toscana region of Italy with all its trappings of culture and art and have been eagerly trying to imbue my kitchen with a touch of Mediterranean flair. That sparked off a desperate search using our feeble excuse for an internet connection to find some sort of subject. Since I plan to work with oil paint with which I have little experience and am fairly new to mixing color, I was hoping to find a photo that wouldn't require too much of my own invention to get the right ambiance. Unfortunately, people don't often consider proper composition when they are sightseeing with their point-and-shoot cameras and needless to say it has been a very fruitless, very exasperating search.
Now for the whole point of this rambling, I've finally stumbled upon just what I was looking for: an image of a villa on a hill overlooking rolling vinyards lined by cypress trees. It's so simple, I still can't believe it's taken me so long to settle on a reference. I just completed the underpainting and my brushes are happily soaking in turpenoid. With any luck, I'll be able to see this project through to completion.
I've recently becoming fascinated by the Toscana region of Italy with all its trappings of culture and art and have been eagerly trying to imbue my kitchen with a touch of Mediterranean flair. That sparked off a desperate search using our feeble excuse for an internet connection to find some sort of subject. Since I plan to work with oil paint with which I have little experience and am fairly new to mixing color, I was hoping to find a photo that wouldn't require too much of my own invention to get the right ambiance. Unfortunately, people don't often consider proper composition when they are sightseeing with their point-and-shoot cameras and needless to say it has been a very fruitless, very exasperating search.
Now for the whole point of this rambling, I've finally stumbled upon just what I was looking for: an image of a villa on a hill overlooking rolling vinyards lined by cypress trees. It's so simple, I still can't believe it's taken me so long to settle on a reference. I just completed the underpainting and my brushes are happily soaking in turpenoid. With any luck, I'll be able to see this project through to completion.
Monday, April 7, 2008
I am a Piker
Undeniably so. It flows red in my veins, just as pure and sure as Stauffer, Wenger, Burkholder, and Martin. With no misgivings or second thoughts, I built this for myself. While you laugh, I'll be hauling water for my trees with this contraption. Possibly under the cover of darkness.
Darren, you were startled to become your father. Try this.
Yah well, it was cheap. (More proof of the Piker within.)
Monday, March 31, 2008
March Madness
March is supposed to be the beginning of warmer temperatures. And it is. So why would a sane person head north when things are just starting to warm up?
That's what we found ourselves doing this past weekend. We left home Friday morning about 4:30 and drove up to Old Forge, NY. A guy wanted a garage door put on his boathouse at his vacation home, and offered to let us stay the weekend if we drove up and installed the door.
Normally a door with an electric operator can be installed in about three hours. It took me nine. See, The Door got installed on this enclosed dock thing, and the bottom of the door was 4-5 feet off the ground. Yes, ground. They lower the lake in the winter. (Whoever "they" is, they sure get a lot done; ever think about that?) So, with a lot of creative ladder propping, shivering (it was 12 degrees and very windy), and cheering from my personal fan club (of which there is only one member), the door got installed.
Then we had the rest of the weekend to vegetate in the cabin. That was the better part of the trip.
Came home to find some new trees on our doorstep from Arbor Day. And a dead apple tree on our windowsill that we forgot to have someone water in our absence. It was growing so nicely, too...
Friday, March 21, 2008
Yeast and Wine
We took part in Communion tonight. The breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup is always a reminder of Christ's sacrifice; sometimes the reminder is much more powerful. Tonight with the pastor painting a word picture of what Christ's words meant to the disciples in context of the culture at that time I was reminded that giving myself to God is not so much a privilege for Him, but rather an awesome opportunity with a lot of responsibility for me. When Christ gave the cup to the disciples, he was literally (essentially) proposing marriage. Awkward. I am offered that same cup today; will I accept, and drink the cup and become his bride like a maiden of Israel may have done in those days? If I do, I am obligated to all the responsibilities that come with that. If not, I will never get to take part in the tremendous relationship with Him that is only known by believers and never understood by non-believers. Any husband and wife in a good marriage knows that the sacrifice one makes in getting married is more than worth it; it really is not a sacrifice at all, but rather an improvement in life. So it is with accepting Christ's cup, His "marriage proposal": the things we give up to follow Him are not sacrifices, for we are not losing anything when we gain the security of our souls for eternity. By not giving those things up, we lose our souls for eternity in exchange for an earthly lifetime of pleasures that really do not satisfy anyway.
What an awesome opportunity: the choice between a lifetime of disappointment, or an eternity of full satisfaction. How much more simple of a choice could one have to make? And yet, so many of us choose the former, convinced that we will not be disappointed by the things that life and the world offer. It is strange that even though I know what is permanent and what is only earthly, I still regularly attempt to satisfy myself, only to be disappointed yet again when the day is over.
Only God in His wisdom had the foresight to see that we would never be capable of redeeming ourselves; only God in His grace would give us the opportunity to redeem ourselves, to "cash ourselves in." What we get in return for giving ourselves over to God is more than just an exchange, or a good deal. It is beyond the opportunity of a lifetime. Accepting His cup, His "marriage proposal" is a simple choice, yet an unbelievable gift, for He is truly the Model Groom.
What an awesome opportunity: the choice between a lifetime of disappointment, or an eternity of full satisfaction. How much more simple of a choice could one have to make? And yet, so many of us choose the former, convinced that we will not be disappointed by the things that life and the world offer. It is strange that even though I know what is permanent and what is only earthly, I still regularly attempt to satisfy myself, only to be disappointed yet again when the day is over.
Only God in His wisdom had the foresight to see that we would never be capable of redeeming ourselves; only God in His grace would give us the opportunity to redeem ourselves, to "cash ourselves in." What we get in return for giving ourselves over to God is more than just an exchange, or a good deal. It is beyond the opportunity of a lifetime. Accepting His cup, His "marriage proposal" is a simple choice, yet an unbelievable gift, for He is truly the Model Groom.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Saturdays
Weekends with not many things that have to be done are usually fun. Like today. Mix two of my brothers and myself, and there is usually a fair amount of boyish behaviour. We shot our guns, cut down trees with our chainsaws, and made a lot of noise. We also did this:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Veteran's Day
Today marks 35 years that my dad has been at Shank Door. We celebrated in the lunchroom with sloppy joe's and a vegetable tray. Congrats, Pop!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Cabin
This weekend I (Gene) am being whisked away... by my buddies. They called and informed me that they are meeting at my place at 3:00 this afternoon and we are going to the cabin for the weekend. Should be fun, there's usually a lot of sleeping and other manly activities that take place. This is the cabin of the infamous bear taunting episode.
Yes, I am leaving Amy at home to fend for herself. I'm already feeling lonely. Last night I dreamt that one of the other guys was only allowed to go if his wife went along. I guess she decided she would rather spend a weekend with her husband in a cabin with a bunch of smelly guys than be alone all weekend. Definitely a dream.
Yes, I am leaving Amy at home to fend for herself. I'm already feeling lonely. Last night I dreamt that one of the other guys was only allowed to go if his wife went along. I guess she decided she would rather spend a weekend with her husband in a cabin with a bunch of smelly guys than be alone all weekend. Definitely a dream.
Monday, February 25, 2008
New York City & The MET
Needless to say, the prior post was a complete farce. Our church did have a program last Saturday night, however we did not attend as our post from Feb 21st would lead one to believe. I had every intention of being home all weekend, however my darling husband had other plans. Gene had been taunting me for several months now of a planned trip to visit his cousin and her husband in New York City, yet for all this time had successfully managed to keep the exact date under wraps. I came home Friday night to find dinner on the table and his bags already packed. The drive north to New York was somewhat "white-knuckled" with the questionable weather, but we arrived without incident and with the help of a friend's GPS. While coming off the George Washington bridge into Manhattan I was further reminded of how much of a country girl I truly am. I found myself gazing out the sunroof with what I'm sure is the characteristic awestruck gaze of a tourist. I've been to NYC several times now, yet I'm far from acclimated to the environment. Gene is fairly adept at blending in, charging ahead with his head lowered and eyes averted like the best of New Yorkers; yet I still struggle with tripping over myself whilst trying to take in everything and anything around me. It seems to me that the city has a life of itself, completely independant of it's inhabitants. One could exist in relative annonimity while the city looks on with a quiet sentience, detached from the human drama that plays out on its streets. There was a moment when I likened the subway system to the vascular network of some great organism, but I'll leave my biological ramblings for another post.
We were graciously provided with a bed for Friday night and treated to a personal tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for most of Saturday. I had not put too much thought into what we might see at the museum prior to our trip and I was delightfully surprised to find exhibits of much more than just the Renaissance masters. The most impressive of which was their collection from Egyptian antiquity. Far more than the traditional model of "art", we saw everything from ancient sarcophagi to amazingly detailed models of everyday life along the Nile. I've come to realize that despite the many articles I've read and documentaries I've seen, I had grossly underestimated the sophistaction of of the Egyptian civilization. Though I haven't seen the pyramids nor likely ever will, far more impressive to me were the many peices of fine jewely. Stone and gold formed so elegantly and with such fine detail one would expect to find no better at the nearest jeweler. Their culture was a rich and complex as ours today, and their technology limited it seemed only by their lack of electricity. I did manage to get chastised by one of the guards while in the display. A massive granit sarcophagus stood all by its lonesome imploring me to touch. Without putting too much thought into the obvious sacrilege I would be commiting in the eyes of the museum, I walked around it while tracing the outline of millennia old hieroglyphs. Needless to say, my thoughts were quickly interrupted by the gaurd informing me in no uncertain terms that touching was strictly forbidden.
Thank goodness for my wonderful husband, who before I came along would probably have never willingly set foot in an art museum. Gene made it through most of the day despite his aching feet and reserved only a few snide remarks for the modern art exhibit. He gives me yet another reason to do my best at remaining supportive even after we've wandered past the hundreth car in a sweltering parking lot filled with much of the same one after another. Thanks honey...
We were graciously provided with a bed for Friday night and treated to a personal tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for most of Saturday. I had not put too much thought into what we might see at the museum prior to our trip and I was delightfully surprised to find exhibits of much more than just the Renaissance masters. The most impressive of which was their collection from Egyptian antiquity. Far more than the traditional model of "art", we saw everything from ancient sarcophagi to amazingly detailed models of everyday life along the Nile. I've come to realize that despite the many articles I've read and documentaries I've seen, I had grossly underestimated the sophistaction of of the Egyptian civilization. Though I haven't seen the pyramids nor likely ever will, far more impressive to me were the many peices of fine jewely. Stone and gold formed so elegantly and with such fine detail one would expect to find no better at the nearest jeweler. Their culture was a rich and complex as ours today, and their technology limited it seemed only by their lack of electricity. I did manage to get chastised by one of the guards while in the display. A massive granit sarcophagus stood all by its lonesome imploring me to touch. Without putting too much thought into the obvious sacrilege I would be commiting in the eyes of the museum, I walked around it while tracing the outline of millennia old hieroglyphs. Needless to say, my thoughts were quickly interrupted by the gaurd informing me in no uncertain terms that touching was strictly forbidden.
Thank goodness for my wonderful husband, who before I came along would probably have never willingly set foot in an art museum. Gene made it through most of the day despite his aching feet and reserved only a few snide remarks for the modern art exhibit. He gives me yet another reason to do my best at remaining supportive even after we've wandered past the hundreth car in a sweltering parking lot filled with much of the same one after another. Thanks honey...
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Jury Duty
I was supposed to go to the courthouse today for jury duty, but last night they said I didn't have to report. So I took the day off anyway. I had a lovely day rolling around under the Chevelle putting the transmission back in and getting nice and greasy. Right now I have supper in the oven, so we'll eat when Amy gets home from work, then its off to church for Praise Team. We are having a special worship service Saturday night and have to sing about 15 songs.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Snoozing
I am a chronic snooze junkie. When I was like 14, I decided that people who used the snooze button were of a very weak self-discipline. I never once used the snooze. I started having trouble getting myself out of bed, but still refused to use the snooze. I would turn the alarm off and go back to sleep, then be late, thinking that was somehow better than using the snooze. I started putting the clock under the bed, which worked until one morning I woke up under the bed. At that point I started putting it across the room. I gave up when I started running across the room, turning it off, then leaping back into bed. Now I use the snooze, but I'm embarrassed to say how long I hit it in the morning. Here's one possible remedy:
http://www.art-and-home.net/servlet/the-4696/Flying-Helicopter-Alarm-Clock/Detail
And another:
http://www.nandahome.com/products/clocky/index.php?color=raspberry
I kinda wanna get one of these just for the geek factor.
http://www.art-and-home.net/servlet/the-4696/Flying-Helicopter-Alarm-Clock/Detail
And another:
http://www.nandahome.com/products/clocky/index.php?color=raspberry
I kinda wanna get one of these just for the geek factor.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
For Eyes
If Mom had made me get these 15 years ago, I would have freaked.
Dallas & Elaine, your new frames are sweet.
Oh Yeah. Amy's best friend from high school took the plunge on Saturday. We were there to witness it. Amy played the piano quite well for the processional, then quick went truckin' over and got in line so she could be a bridesmaid, too. Then there was lots of pix and food. Here's some of the pix (sorry, the food is long gone).
Sunday, January 27, 2008
This week
Didn't do too much out of the ordinary. Just our regular schedules. Amy works Monday 9:00-7:00, has Tuesdays off (that's the day she uses to shop and clean), and works Wed-Fri 9:00-5:00. I work every day app 7:00-5:00, though I set my own hours and sometimes go in early and often stay late. Neither of us work Saturday, but I go in a couple times a year when I have had a particularly busy week. So anyway, that's our typical weekly schedule. Thursday night is praise team at church for me, that is from 6:30-9:30. When I came home Thurday night from that, there was a bride standing in our house. She's a friend of Amy's who is getting married in the spring, and came over to try her dress on. Amy seems to have become the official bride advisor here lately.
Forgot to mention, last Saturday Dale and I took down a tree close to where Carol used to live. A guy at work lives on Bleeker St, and had a pretty good-sized maple in his front yard. He had to have it taken down cuz it was dropping branches on people's cars. You can't just cut a tree down and let it fall in the street, so we took it down from the top. I got a scissors lift at work that took us up about 25 feet (a scissors lift is a buggy with a platform that a couple of guys can go up in the air and do work safely and comfortably, and drive around up in the air), but there was still branches 20 feet above that yet. It was a lot of work, a lot more than I bargained for anyway. I will hesitate to volunteer for that again. Dale got a month's worth of heat from it, and it saved my buddy about $1800. That job took all day, I got home about 8:00.
Yesterday I went back to CMTS in Bernville. They are an organization that provides technical support to mission organizations. They take cars and furniture and clothing and just about anything you can imagine and give it to a mission or missionary who requests it. A couple times a year, they pack up some school buses with stuff and drive them nonstop to Mexico. They have a huge house that missionaries who are home for a short time can stay in, a large shop to work on the cars, and a couple of smaller houses for VS'ers to stay in. ANyway, I went back to do some door work for them on some box trucks that they have.
Forgot to mention, last Saturday Dale and I took down a tree close to where Carol used to live. A guy at work lives on Bleeker St, and had a pretty good-sized maple in his front yard. He had to have it taken down cuz it was dropping branches on people's cars. You can't just cut a tree down and let it fall in the street, so we took it down from the top. I got a scissors lift at work that took us up about 25 feet (a scissors lift is a buggy with a platform that a couple of guys can go up in the air and do work safely and comfortably, and drive around up in the air), but there was still branches 20 feet above that yet. It was a lot of work, a lot more than I bargained for anyway. I will hesitate to volunteer for that again. Dale got a month's worth of heat from it, and it saved my buddy about $1800. That job took all day, I got home about 8:00.
Yesterday I went back to CMTS in Bernville. They are an organization that provides technical support to mission organizations. They take cars and furniture and clothing and just about anything you can imagine and give it to a mission or missionary who requests it. A couple times a year, they pack up some school buses with stuff and drive them nonstop to Mexico. They have a huge house that missionaries who are home for a short time can stay in, a large shop to work on the cars, and a couple of smaller houses for VS'ers to stay in. ANyway, I went back to do some door work for them on some box trucks that they have.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Jet propulsion
The last day or two I have been fascinated by jet propulsion. Too bad I don't have an engineering degree, 'cuz I would pursue some of these projects if I did.
http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ZSartell/HLonGoKart1.gif&imgrefurl=http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ZSartell/jetkart.htm&h=375&w=500&sz=164&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=QiXY3RDxMhO5GM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djet%2Bgo%2Bkart%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff
Enjoy!
http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ZSartell/HLonGoKart1.gif&imgrefurl=http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ZSartell/jetkart.htm&h=375&w=500&sz=164&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=QiXY3RDxMhO5GM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djet%2Bgo%2Bkart%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff
Enjoy!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
This week
This week went by much too quickly. Wednesday afternoon felt like Monday, and Friday felt like Tuesday. Made an engine stand this week from 1" square box tube. Now there's a stand to set a complete engine on and roll it around the garage, and even fire it up if necessary (which it will be) without it tipping over. A fella from church gave me a bunch of used engine parts for cheap, so there should be a motor in the works soon here.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
Praise Team
I (Gene) have been asked to join the praise team at church. That is the group that stands up front and leads the singing on Sunday morning. They had a practice last night; they talked about how they want to do things in 2008 now that the play is over and done. They have not had any new people for a couple of years and really needed some more help.
Amy has been selected for jury duty. The trial is in February and will last four days. Her boss (again, a great guy) graciously is paying her anyway.
Amy has been selected for jury duty. The trial is in February and will last four days. Her boss (again, a great guy) graciously is paying her anyway.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New Year's Day 2008
Monday night we laid around & watched a movie. We got Evan Almighty, a story about a guy who God tells to build an ark cuz its gonna flood. In the end, a dam breaks, and they are all swept away (on the ark) with the reporters and neighbors who were making fun of them.
We slept until after 8:00, then Amy cleaned and did laundry (all day) while Gene got the snow plow for the tractor working and messed around in the garage.
Still feeling sick. . .
We slept until after 8:00, then Amy cleaned and did laundry (all day) while Gene got the snow plow for the tractor working and messed around in the garage.
Still feeling sick. . .
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