Pillow Astronaut is a new blog I found. I have to say it will be very interesting reading about her. I found her blog through FoxNews this morning. Apparently NASA wants people to stay in bed for 3 months.
I always thought that would be the ideal job. Getting paid to do nothing but lay around all day. From her blog, however, it's not all it's cracked up to be. There's pain involved. They're given Tylenol and that wouldn't be good for me. To me it's like taking candy, only not nearly as tasty. They're allowed to use their computers, watch DVDs, etc. They're not expected to be totally bored. But I just never imagined there would be such discomfort involved. I mean, I guess I should. On there rare occasions that I get to sleep in I usually get up because I'm getting sore and achy. I can't imagine lying down for 3 months.
I'm looking forward to keeping up with Pillownaut and her friends.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Birthday Party
Today was the birthday party. I was starting to be worried early this morning that it would have to be postponed. Late yesterday afternoon the twins came down with a fever. It started with the Diva becoming fussy and wanting to sleep on the loveseat with me while I was online. I was making myself busy in the living room due to a bunch of kids over to play PS2 with the Boss. I asked her if she wanted to go sleep in my bed and she said yes. She didn't even make it that far. She crawled into her old Pack N Play.
After she woke up I gave her a Tylenol suppository. Usually when her fever is so high that's what it takes to get medicine into her so she doesn't throw it back up. Then, after she had slept a while I noticed that the Little Prince was feeling warm as well. So I gave him one too. I pretty much kept giving it to them all night long.
This morning the Prince starting crying hard and I got medicine into him orally. I'd used the last of the suppository so switched to a bright red Profinal (ibuprofin) that stayed down. The Diva woke up early (typical for her) and went to watch Kangaroo Jack with the Boss. Then she came back in and went back to sleep. We ended up sleeping until 10:00! Whoohoo! I don't know the last time I slept in that late.
I hurried to the pharmacy before it closed and got more Tylenol and Profinal and then headed to the market to get a few last minute things. After lunch we started the pizza appetizer and baked spaghetti. I was ready to head out to pick up FIL when I called him to tell him I was on his way. He said not to come because he was riding with Baba's cousin. Yippee!
So not only did they come, they came an hour and a half early. So I hurried and locked myself in the bedroom and got ready. Then another cousin came with her kids and it was nice to visit before more showed up.
Most of the people invited showed up and the kids played and the grown-ups talked and we enjoyed the food and the cake. The grown-up guests from Beirut were enjoying the warmth of the living room while those from up here where it's cooler enjoyed the outside...except for FIL. He's about to melt back home and was enjoying the terrace...and the ability to smoke out there all he wanted.
The twins' fevers came back up about the time people were leaving so they enjoyed most of the party. Then it was time for pjs and more medicine. They're asleep now in my bed and the Boss is enjoying his new stash of PS2 games while I'm blogging.
Tomorrow starts another week. This doctor of ours is going to be sick of us soon...and I haven't even scheduled their check-ups yet.
Interesting theory
I got this in an e-mail from a friend from school. I thought I'd share it with you.
Subject: Will this control Inflation
Nice Logic - It May Work !!
A man eats two eggs each morning for breakfast. When he goes to the Kiranastore he pays Rs. 12 a dozen. Since a dozen eggs won't last a week henormally buys two dozens at a time. One day while buying eggs he noticesthat the price has risen to Rs. 16. The next time he buys groceries, eggsare Rs. 22 a dozen.
When asked to explain the price of eggs the store owner says, 'The pricehas gone up and I have to raise my price accordingly'. This store buys 100dozen eggs a day. He checked around for a better price and all thedistributors have raised their prices. The distributors have begun to buyfrom the huge egg farms. The small egg farms have been driven out ofbusiness. The huge egg farms sell 100,000 dozen eggs a day todistributors. With no competition, they can set the price as they see fit.The distributors then have to raise their prices to the grocery stores. And on and on and on.
As the man kept buying eggs the price kept going up. He saw the big eggtrucks delivering 100 dozen eggs each day. Nothing changed there. Hechecked out the huge egg farms and found they were selling 100,000 dozeneggs to the distributors daily. Nothing had changed but the price of eggs.
Then week before Diwali the price of eggs shot up to Rs. 40 a dozen. Againhe asked the grocery owner why and was told, 'Cakes and baking for theholiday'. The huge egg farmers know there will be a lot of baking going onand more eggs will be used. Hence, the price of eggs goes up. Expect thesame thing at Christmas and other times when family cooking, baking, etc.happen.
This pattern continues until the price of eggs is Rs. 60 a dozen. The mansays, ' There must be something we can do about the price of eggs'.
He starts talking to all the people in his town and they decide to stopbuying eggs. This didn't work because everyone needed eggs.
Finally, the man suggested only buying what you need. He ate 2 eggs a day.On the way home from work he would stop at the grocery and buy two eggs.Everyone in town started buying 2 or 3 eggs a day.The grocery store owner began complaining that he had too many eggs in hiscooler. He told the distributor that he didn't need any eggs.Maybe wouldn't need any all week.
The distributor had eggs piling up at his warehouse. He told the huge eggfarms that he didn't have any room for eggs would not need any for at leasttwo weeks.
At the egg farm, the chickens just kept on laying eggs. To relieve thepressure, the huge egg farm told the distributor that they could buy theeggs at a lower price.
The distributor said, ' I don't have the room for the %$&^*&% eggs even ifthey were free'. The distributor told the grocery store owner that he would lower the price of the eggs if the store would start buying again.
The grocery store owner said, 'I don't have room for more eggs. Thecustomers are only buying 2 or 3 eggs at a time. Now if you were to dropthe price of eggs back down to the original price, the customerswould start buying by the dozen again'.
The distributors sent that proposal to the huge egg farmers but the egg farmers liked the price they were getting for their eggs but, thosechickens just kept on laying. Finally, the egg farmers lowered theprice of their eggs. But only a few paisa.
The customers still bought 2 or 3 eggs at a time. They said, 'when theprice of eggs gets down to where it was before, we will start buying bythe dozen.'
Slowly the price of eggs started dropping. The distributors had to slashtheir prices to make room for the eggs coming from the egg farmers.
The egg farmers cut their prices because the distributors wouldn't buy at a higher price than they were selling eggs for. Anyway, they had fullwarehouses and wouldn't need eggs for quite a while.
And those chickens kept on laying.
Eventually, the egg farmers cut their prices because they were throwingaway eggs they couldn't sell.
The distributors started buying again because the eggs were priced to wherethe stores could afford to sell them at the lower price.
And the customers starting buying by the dozen again.
Now, transpose this analogy to the gasoline industry.
What if everyone only bought Rs 200.00 worth of Petrol each time theypulled to the pump? The dealer's tanks would stay semi full all the time.The dealers wouldn't have room for the gas coming from the huge tanks. Thetank farms wouldn't have room for the petrol coming from the refiningplants. And the refining plants wouldn't have room for the oil being offloaded from the huge tankers coming from the oil fiends.
Just Rs 200.00 each time you buy gas. Don't fill up the tank of your car.You may have to stop for gas twice a week, but the price should come down.
Think about it.
Also, don't buy anything else at the fuel station; don't give them any moreof your hard earned money than what you spend on gas, until the prices comedown...'
...just think of this concept for a while.
..................please pass this concept around....reaching out to the masses ...the world .....
Best Regards
Anwar
Subject: Will this control Inflation
Nice Logic - It May Work !!
A man eats two eggs each morning for breakfast. When he goes to the Kiranastore he pays Rs. 12 a dozen. Since a dozen eggs won't last a week henormally buys two dozens at a time. One day while buying eggs he noticesthat the price has risen to Rs. 16. The next time he buys groceries, eggsare Rs. 22 a dozen.
When asked to explain the price of eggs the store owner says, 'The pricehas gone up and I have to raise my price accordingly'. This store buys 100dozen eggs a day. He checked around for a better price and all thedistributors have raised their prices. The distributors have begun to buyfrom the huge egg farms. The small egg farms have been driven out ofbusiness. The huge egg farms sell 100,000 dozen eggs a day todistributors. With no competition, they can set the price as they see fit.The distributors then have to raise their prices to the grocery stores. And on and on and on.
As the man kept buying eggs the price kept going up. He saw the big eggtrucks delivering 100 dozen eggs each day. Nothing changed there. Hechecked out the huge egg farms and found they were selling 100,000 dozeneggs to the distributors daily. Nothing had changed but the price of eggs.
Then week before Diwali the price of eggs shot up to Rs. 40 a dozen. Againhe asked the grocery owner why and was told, 'Cakes and baking for theholiday'. The huge egg farmers know there will be a lot of baking going onand more eggs will be used. Hence, the price of eggs goes up. Expect thesame thing at Christmas and other times when family cooking, baking, etc.happen.
This pattern continues until the price of eggs is Rs. 60 a dozen. The mansays, ' There must be something we can do about the price of eggs'.
He starts talking to all the people in his town and they decide to stopbuying eggs. This didn't work because everyone needed eggs.
Finally, the man suggested only buying what you need. He ate 2 eggs a day.On the way home from work he would stop at the grocery and buy two eggs.Everyone in town started buying 2 or 3 eggs a day.The grocery store owner began complaining that he had too many eggs in hiscooler. He told the distributor that he didn't need any eggs.Maybe wouldn't need any all week.
The distributor had eggs piling up at his warehouse. He told the huge eggfarms that he didn't have any room for eggs would not need any for at leasttwo weeks.
At the egg farm, the chickens just kept on laying eggs. To relieve thepressure, the huge egg farm told the distributor that they could buy theeggs at a lower price.
The distributor said, ' I don't have the room for the %$&^*&% eggs even ifthey were free'. The distributor told the grocery store owner that he would lower the price of the eggs if the store would start buying again.
The grocery store owner said, 'I don't have room for more eggs. Thecustomers are only buying 2 or 3 eggs at a time. Now if you were to dropthe price of eggs back down to the original price, the customerswould start buying by the dozen again'.
The distributors sent that proposal to the huge egg farmers but the egg farmers liked the price they were getting for their eggs but, thosechickens just kept on laying. Finally, the egg farmers lowered theprice of their eggs. But only a few paisa.
The customers still bought 2 or 3 eggs at a time. They said, 'when theprice of eggs gets down to where it was before, we will start buying bythe dozen.'
Slowly the price of eggs started dropping. The distributors had to slashtheir prices to make room for the eggs coming from the egg farmers.
The egg farmers cut their prices because the distributors wouldn't buy at a higher price than they were selling eggs for. Anyway, they had fullwarehouses and wouldn't need eggs for quite a while.
And those chickens kept on laying.
Eventually, the egg farmers cut their prices because they were throwingaway eggs they couldn't sell.
The distributors started buying again because the eggs were priced to wherethe stores could afford to sell them at the lower price.
And the customers starting buying by the dozen again.
Now, transpose this analogy to the gasoline industry.
What if everyone only bought Rs 200.00 worth of Petrol each time theypulled to the pump? The dealer's tanks would stay semi full all the time.The dealers wouldn't have room for the gas coming from the huge tanks. Thetank farms wouldn't have room for the petrol coming from the refiningplants. And the refining plants wouldn't have room for the oil being offloaded from the huge tankers coming from the oil fiends.
Just Rs 200.00 each time you buy gas. Don't fill up the tank of your car.You may have to stop for gas twice a week, but the price should come down.
Think about it.
Also, don't buy anything else at the fuel station; don't give them any moreof your hard earned money than what you spend on gas, until the prices comedown...'
...just think of this concept for a while.
..................please pass this concept around....reaching out to the masses ...the world .....
Best Regards
Anwar
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Busy week
This week has flown by. Sunday we missed church due to the Boss not feeling well. Monday he was coughing pretty badly so after I dropped the twins off at camp we went to see their pediatrician. He examined him and prescribed a good expectorant for him. This was done in time to get to my stretching class. So he hung around and watched us. (I'm sure that was the high point of the week for him!)
Ahead to Thursday. The Boss is all better and heading to the water park for the camp's field trip. The Diva is going as well but the Little Prince was just adamant that he didn't want to go. He wanted to stay at camp. I took along a bag with his towel and trunks if he changed his mind but he didn't. So I picked him up at 2 and almost had to drag him away. He was having a blast. We went to pick up Jiddo (at the bottom of the mountain) and brought him back up with us for a visit. The plan was for him to go with the Boss and me to taekwondo so he could watch him.
I pick up the Boss and the Diva but things aren't going quite to plan. The Boss is in pain. He'd gotten a bunch of water in his ear and it's hurting. It doesn't help that he'd spent the night before with his friend and got little sleep. So, after napping for an hour (with a dose of Panadol), he still didn't fill like going anywhere. So no taekwondo. I take Jiddo home after he chats with Baba online. Then I call the doctor (who I'm getting to know pretty well by this time) and get the name of the ear drops to give him.
The next day his ear is still hurting him so again no camp. It doesn't help matters any that it's his birthday. {sigh} So after I drop off the twins I call the doctor and we head there again. He examines him, it's nothing serious, so he says to continue the drops and add Profinal (ibuprofin) for the pain. When I went to pay him he told me not to bother. It was our second trip in a week and he didn't really have anything wrong with him. (Did I mention that I REALLY love this doctor?!)
BTW, did I also mention that someone threw away his tennis shoes the day before? I didn't? Well, let me explain. He'd left them at camp (!) the day before while he was at the water park and the cleaners threw them away. {sigh} So after going to the pharmacy to get the Profinal and giving him his first dose, we head in the opposite direction from our house than where we'd been to find shoe stores. Not that there aren't any in Broumana...just none that were open yet. So off we head to Bikfaya. On the way we see what seems to be a new store called American Shoes. What was it that attracted me to this place. The word "American"? No, sorry. 'Fraid not. It was the fact that it was open! Whoohoo! Or so we thought.
We turned around and parked and went up to the door. Turns out the customers I saw were waiting for the owner to come and open it. A guy comes with the key and we go in to shop. I ask him a question and he tells me he doesn't work there. He'd just gone to get the key so we could go in. (Remember, I'm not actually IN America. Just in a store called "American Shoes".) After a few minutes the woman comes with her two boys and starts waiting on us.
The Boss finds a pair of shoes he likes and after I stop choking on the price ($40 for a pair of Nikes-remember I'm used to dirt cheap shoes of quality similar to the price) I tell him to try them on. After all, today's his birthday and I hadn't gotten him anything yet. (I know...Bad mom, no cookie!) Besides, I'm used to buying cheap shoes so they tend to fall apart quick. These *should* hold up better, right? So while we're looking at the different shoes and getting the prices the lady tells him she'll knock off 10,000 LL for the shoes for him. Whoohoo! That makes them the same price that the free doctor's visit would have been! Needless to say, he got the shoes he wanted. (And I saw some really cute ones that I'm so tempted to go back for.)
We went home, cooled off a bit, and then headed to Crepaway for lunch. We were hoping for the servers to sing some silly song to the birthday boy but apparently they don't do that. So we just enjoyed our sandwiches and then headed to camp to pick up the twins.
Oh, and the best thing of all?! The Little Prince finally cooperated and did taekwondo last night. The whole time! So he finally got the truck with a helicopter he'd been wanting for weeks. He was getting a bit burned out on taekwondo back in Kuwait so he was being stubborn over here. But after last night's training, he decided he likes it better here. Could have something to do with the fact that the lady coach here is much prettier than the tall, bald captain back there. LOL
Tomorrow's the birthday party for the Boss so I'm off to grocery shop. I've ordered the cake from our favorite patisserie (owned by our neighbor) along with a few other goodies. I'm making the rest. I'd better get busy. My guest list has started running away from me.
Ahead to Thursday. The Boss is all better and heading to the water park for the camp's field trip. The Diva is going as well but the Little Prince was just adamant that he didn't want to go. He wanted to stay at camp. I took along a bag with his towel and trunks if he changed his mind but he didn't. So I picked him up at 2 and almost had to drag him away. He was having a blast. We went to pick up Jiddo (at the bottom of the mountain) and brought him back up with us for a visit. The plan was for him to go with the Boss and me to taekwondo so he could watch him.
I pick up the Boss and the Diva but things aren't going quite to plan. The Boss is in pain. He'd gotten a bunch of water in his ear and it's hurting. It doesn't help that he'd spent the night before with his friend and got little sleep. So, after napping for an hour (with a dose of Panadol), he still didn't fill like going anywhere. So no taekwondo. I take Jiddo home after he chats with Baba online. Then I call the doctor (who I'm getting to know pretty well by this time) and get the name of the ear drops to give him.
The next day his ear is still hurting him so again no camp. It doesn't help matters any that it's his birthday. {sigh} So after I drop off the twins I call the doctor and we head there again. He examines him, it's nothing serious, so he says to continue the drops and add Profinal (ibuprofin) for the pain. When I went to pay him he told me not to bother. It was our second trip in a week and he didn't really have anything wrong with him. (Did I mention that I REALLY love this doctor?!)
BTW, did I also mention that someone threw away his tennis shoes the day before? I didn't? Well, let me explain. He'd left them at camp (!) the day before while he was at the water park and the cleaners threw them away. {sigh} So after going to the pharmacy to get the Profinal and giving him his first dose, we head in the opposite direction from our house than where we'd been to find shoe stores. Not that there aren't any in Broumana...just none that were open yet. So off we head to Bikfaya. On the way we see what seems to be a new store called American Shoes. What was it that attracted me to this place. The word "American"? No, sorry. 'Fraid not. It was the fact that it was open! Whoohoo! Or so we thought.
We turned around and parked and went up to the door. Turns out the customers I saw were waiting for the owner to come and open it. A guy comes with the key and we go in to shop. I ask him a question and he tells me he doesn't work there. He'd just gone to get the key so we could go in. (Remember, I'm not actually IN America. Just in a store called "American Shoes".) After a few minutes the woman comes with her two boys and starts waiting on us.
The Boss finds a pair of shoes he likes and after I stop choking on the price ($40 for a pair of Nikes-remember I'm used to dirt cheap shoes of quality similar to the price) I tell him to try them on. After all, today's his birthday and I hadn't gotten him anything yet. (I know...Bad mom, no cookie!) Besides, I'm used to buying cheap shoes so they tend to fall apart quick. These *should* hold up better, right? So while we're looking at the different shoes and getting the prices the lady tells him she'll knock off 10,000 LL for the shoes for him. Whoohoo! That makes them the same price that the free doctor's visit would have been! Needless to say, he got the shoes he wanted. (And I saw some really cute ones that I'm so tempted to go back for.)
We went home, cooled off a bit, and then headed to Crepaway for lunch. We were hoping for the servers to sing some silly song to the birthday boy but apparently they don't do that. So we just enjoyed our sandwiches and then headed to camp to pick up the twins.
Oh, and the best thing of all?! The Little Prince finally cooperated and did taekwondo last night. The whole time! So he finally got the truck with a helicopter he'd been wanting for weeks. He was getting a bit burned out on taekwondo back in Kuwait so he was being stubborn over here. But after last night's training, he decided he likes it better here. Could have something to do with the fact that the lady coach here is much prettier than the tall, bald captain back there. LOL
Tomorrow's the birthday party for the Boss so I'm off to grocery shop. I've ordered the cake from our favorite patisserie (owned by our neighbor) along with a few other goodies. I'm making the rest. I'd better get busy. My guest list has started running away from me.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Lebanese Joke
A Lebanese gentleman living in Dubai parked his brand-new BMW in front of his office, ready to show it off to his colleagues.
As he got out, a truck passed too close and completely tore off the door on the driver's side.
The Lebanese immediately grabbed his cell phone, dialed the police, and within minutes a policeman pulled up.
Before the policeman had a chance to ask any questions, the Lebanese started screaming hysterically as some of his office colleagues reached the scene too. His BMW, which he had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined and would never be the same, no matter what the body shop did to it.
When the Lebanese finally wound down from his ranting and raving, the policeman shook his head in disgust and disbelief... 'I can't believe how materialistic you Lebanese are,' he said. 'You are so focused on your possessions that you don't notice anything else.
'How can you say such a thing?' asked the Lebanese.
The policeman replied, 'Don't you know that your left arm is missing from the elbow down? It must have been torn off when the truck hit you.'
'Oh My God!' screamed the Lebanese. 'Where's my Rolex?
Monday, July 21, 2008
A great time was had by all!
Saturday night, Aunt and I went to a wedding. He's Baba's grandmother's sister's grandson. (Did you get all that?) The ceremony was in a beautiful Catholic church not far from where the kids take taekwondo. The reception was at a country club not far from there, but it involved driving down a curving road on the side of the mountain. {gulp}
The setting was outside in the pool area. We found our table and waited for the festivities to begin by munching on hummus, baba ghanouj, stuffed grape leaves, and other yummy meza items.
Then we heard this loud music. Dancers dressed in the traditional Phoenician way came out. Some danced, some breathed fire. A group of men escorted the groom down the stairs from the building to the dance floor.
One thing I love about Middle Eastern music is that people of all ages love it and dance to it. The girl in the white dress is 15...the man to the left, swinging the cane, is probably in his 70's or 80's. How often do you see THAT?
The setting was outside in the pool area. We found our table and waited for the festivities to begin by munching on hummus, baba ghanouj, stuffed grape leaves, and other yummy meza items.
Then we heard this loud music. Dancers dressed in the traditional Phoenician way came out. Some danced, some breathed fire. A group of men escorted the groom down the stairs from the building to the dance floor.
Then giant sparklers went off by the steps in the garden. The bride was escorted in by the women in the dance troupe. They led her to the groom on the dance floor.
One thing I love about Middle Eastern music is that people of all ages love it and dance to it. The girl in the white dress is 15...the man to the left, swinging the cane, is probably in his 70's or 80's. How often do you see THAT?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Star King #8 - Five Year Old Blind Genius Pianist (en)
Baba warned me I'd need tissues. I didn't listen.
Lost in translation?
The Perils of a Foreign Language
I used to teach Spanish and French back in the States. I really enjoyed it, most of the time. It was usually pretty easy to tell when they were taking the easy way out in finding their answers. When I taught in St. Louis I had a group of students that got caught cheating on the worksheet packet I'd given them. On one page they were to answer personal questions, such as "Qu'est-ce que tu t'appelles?" (What is your name?) Because these were personal questions the answers should have varied from student to student. So it was pretty easy to guess what they were up to when they all had the same answer for all the questions on that page. Since I gave them all French names I didn't double up. So even if I had more than one student with the same real name, they didn't share a name with anyone else in the class. So when all 4 students, including a boy, told me their names were Antoinette, it didn't take a degree in rocket science to figure it out.
A few years later I was teaching in Sparta. While the internet was being used and students could use the computers to get online to look up things at the school in St. Louis, I didn't have students using online translators for their work. But they were 8th graders and their homework mainly consisted of word puzzles that they wouldn't need much help on. But in Sparta, while I continued to teach middle school, I was also teaching the high school Spanish and French classes. Their homework consisted of exercises that corresponded to the exercises we were doing in the textbook. I was expecting them to actually use the language to form sentences, etc. But I could always tell the ones who were using the translators. Their sentences were usually translated wrong. Instead of using the vocabulary we were actually learning and working with in class, they would use whatever popped up on the screen when they typed in English the sentence they wanted to write. And no matter how many times I pointed out to them that it wasn't giving them the correct word and deducted points for it, they'd still do it. Didn't someone once say that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results? {sigh}
Now we're living in Kuwait. Now, in Lebanon you'll find signs printed in different language. Arabic, the native language, French, which is the 2nd language of most Lebanese, and English. Depending upon where you are you'll also see them in Armenian. For example, where Aunt and her husband, who's Armenian, live. They tend to do a fairly good job with spelling words correctly. They'll even misspell something intentionally for the rhyme, humor, whatever. But in Kuwait, it's just so sad. I've made the comment many times that for a dry country Kuwait sure has a lot of saloons. The saloons for men are on ground level with big windows and lights. The saloons for women are upstairs behind curtains so they can be uncovered and have their hair done without anyone of the opposite sex seeing them. Saloons, get it? I think I've seen all of 2 signs there with the word spelled correctly. {sigh}
So, please, those of you who are reading this, if you ever have to translate something into a foreign language, follow the advice given to me by a former Spanish professor in college. After you look up the English word, look up the words again from the other side to be sure that they mean what you want them to. (And if you're using an online translator, maybe have a native speaker proof it for you, OK?)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
6 Quirky Things
Jungle Mom has tagged me!
Here are the rules of this meme:
1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell 6 quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them.
5) Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged.
OK, Jungle Mom, you asked for it!
1) I used to live and breath Star Trek. Yet another reason I've wondered if JM and I are twins separated by distance, birth, genes... I used to have a bunch of ST novels as well. My favorite was one I've forgotten the title of but it was with the crew of the first series. They were on a planet of cat people and they had these nuts they ate called "tail kinkers". The first time Chekov tasted one his reaction had Spock thinking he'd been poisoned. I used to tape every episode of ST: NG and watch them later. Oh, and I got to see Michael Dorn in person when he came to a convention in Springfield! A few years later I got to see Robin Curtis and Mark Lenard too.
2) My uncle was my professor for several classes in college. But don't think it helped me much. As one of my classmates (a missionary) said once, "You get your paper back and it looks like he's opened his wrist over it. Then you turn it over and ... A." Also his tests were like trivial pursuit. While it covered the material we covered in class it also could include anything from any tangent we went off on during class. So basically if it was mentioned one time and my uncle remembered it, it was a test question. Also, I could never call him Dr. H. So I would just raise my hand and hope he saw it. If he was answering a question for a classmate and off on a tangent that could take forever, I'd sometimes get impatient and say, "Tio Bill!"
3) I love dragons! We rented "Eragon" the other day and it's reminded me how much I like the critters. A couple of things got that started. One, I was at a convention that my boyfriend at the time was helping put together. One of the vendors was selling incense burners. One of them was a baby dragon who was holding his tail like a blankie and sucking his thumb. I had to have it. He's just so darn cute! The other was a book a friend of my boyfriend's loaned me. I wish I remembered the name but there was a dragon in it named Stegoman. He had had his wings singed off by his fellow dragons. Apparently he was afraid of flying. Everytime he needed to fly he had to basically get high on the gas he used to breath flame. When he did this not only did he lose his fear of flying but he tended to set things on fire. So as punishment the other dragons burned his wings. (He eventually got his wings back and over his fear of flying.) I really liked that dragon. If I could, I would have two...one just like Stegoman and the other just like Saphira. LOL
4) I love to knit and cross stitch...any excuse to sit on my rear in front of the TV. Grandma C. taught me how to knit years ago. I've made afghans and sweaters and scarves for most of my family. It gave me plenty to do when I didn't have a car for the year we spent here in Lebanon. I finished the afghan I'd started for the Boss before leaving the States and made one each for the twins and one for Aunt. I had to leave the one for Baba behind when we evacuated and that got me back into cross stitch. When I came back to Lebanon for a couple of days the following April I got the afghan and finished it. Then I made a sundress for the Diva and a tank top for the Little Prince and face cloths with the leftover yarn. In Kuwait I cross stitched the Ten Commandments and right now I'm working on The Last Supper.
5) I have to have at least one book in progress at all times. Usually I'm just reading one but I can switch back and forth between 2 if one's fiction and the other is non. Right now I'm reading "Every Woman's Marriage" by Greg and Shannon Ethridge and "Northern Lights" by Nora Roberts. I also need to grab my paperbacks out of the closet that I bought when we lived here. I have a summer habit of rereading them while I'm here. Saves me from buying all new books everytime I want to read. When I was pregnant with the twins I had a terrible time sleeping at night. I could get to sleep fine, sleep a few hours, and then lay awake most of the rest of the night. I kept the library busy those weeks. I don't know how many books I read!
6) I always wanted to marry a Spanish speaker. I majored in Spanish in college and minored in French (a French-speaker would have been second choice). I always pictured myself living in Mexico or Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country. So I married an Arabic-speaker and live in the Middle East. Oh, well! At least he's French educated and my French gets a lot of use in Lebanon. LOL Now if I could just master some of those strange sounds...like the one that starts my last name.
OK, now for the 6 I'm tagging...
Donna
Karyn
Ann
BigM
Tori
Kisha
Here are the rules of this meme:
1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell 6 quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them.
5) Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged.
OK, Jungle Mom, you asked for it!
1) I used to live and breath Star Trek. Yet another reason I've wondered if JM and I are twins separated by distance, birth, genes... I used to have a bunch of ST novels as well. My favorite was one I've forgotten the title of but it was with the crew of the first series. They were on a planet of cat people and they had these nuts they ate called "tail kinkers". The first time Chekov tasted one his reaction had Spock thinking he'd been poisoned. I used to tape every episode of ST: NG and watch them later. Oh, and I got to see Michael Dorn in person when he came to a convention in Springfield! A few years later I got to see Robin Curtis and Mark Lenard too.
2) My uncle was my professor for several classes in college. But don't think it helped me much. As one of my classmates (a missionary) said once, "You get your paper back and it looks like he's opened his wrist over it. Then you turn it over and ... A." Also his tests were like trivial pursuit. While it covered the material we covered in class it also could include anything from any tangent we went off on during class. So basically if it was mentioned one time and my uncle remembered it, it was a test question. Also, I could never call him Dr. H. So I would just raise my hand and hope he saw it. If he was answering a question for a classmate and off on a tangent that could take forever, I'd sometimes get impatient and say, "Tio Bill!"
3) I love dragons! We rented "Eragon" the other day and it's reminded me how much I like the critters. A couple of things got that started. One, I was at a convention that my boyfriend at the time was helping put together. One of the vendors was selling incense burners. One of them was a baby dragon who was holding his tail like a blankie and sucking his thumb. I had to have it. He's just so darn cute! The other was a book a friend of my boyfriend's loaned me. I wish I remembered the name but there was a dragon in it named Stegoman. He had had his wings singed off by his fellow dragons. Apparently he was afraid of flying. Everytime he needed to fly he had to basically get high on the gas he used to breath flame. When he did this not only did he lose his fear of flying but he tended to set things on fire. So as punishment the other dragons burned his wings. (He eventually got his wings back and over his fear of flying.) I really liked that dragon. If I could, I would have two...one just like Stegoman and the other just like Saphira. LOL
4) I love to knit and cross stitch...any excuse to sit on my rear in front of the TV. Grandma C. taught me how to knit years ago. I've made afghans and sweaters and scarves for most of my family. It gave me plenty to do when I didn't have a car for the year we spent here in Lebanon. I finished the afghan I'd started for the Boss before leaving the States and made one each for the twins and one for Aunt. I had to leave the one for Baba behind when we evacuated and that got me back into cross stitch. When I came back to Lebanon for a couple of days the following April I got the afghan and finished it. Then I made a sundress for the Diva and a tank top for the Little Prince and face cloths with the leftover yarn. In Kuwait I cross stitched the Ten Commandments and right now I'm working on The Last Supper.
5) I have to have at least one book in progress at all times. Usually I'm just reading one but I can switch back and forth between 2 if one's fiction and the other is non. Right now I'm reading "Every Woman's Marriage" by Greg and Shannon Ethridge and "Northern Lights" by Nora Roberts. I also need to grab my paperbacks out of the closet that I bought when we lived here. I have a summer habit of rereading them while I'm here. Saves me from buying all new books everytime I want to read. When I was pregnant with the twins I had a terrible time sleeping at night. I could get to sleep fine, sleep a few hours, and then lay awake most of the rest of the night. I kept the library busy those weeks. I don't know how many books I read!
6) I always wanted to marry a Spanish speaker. I majored in Spanish in college and minored in French (a French-speaker would have been second choice). I always pictured myself living in Mexico or Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country. So I married an Arabic-speaker and live in the Middle East. Oh, well! At least he's French educated and my French gets a lot of use in Lebanon. LOL Now if I could just master some of those strange sounds...like the one that starts my last name.
OK, now for the 6 I'm tagging...
Donna
Karyn
Ann
BigM
Tori
Kisha
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Out of the mouth of babes...and 10 year-olds
I'm still trying to figure out the alarm on the Range Rover. It doesn't help when you have 4 year-olds who like to mess with things they shouldn't.
Tonight on the way home from taekwondo I had to stop at the store. While down in the city today I forget one thing and didn't like my choices of the other two things I didn't get so planned this little stop for tonight. I didn't want it to take long so the kids stayed in the car. (Lebanon is still a country where you can do that.) I parked, left the windows open, and locked the car, which activates the alarm.
While I was shopping I heard the most horrendous alarm going off outside. I recognized it as my alarm. {sigh} I got lucky and found a cashier ready for me when I walked up. I paid and hurried out. The poor Boss was sticking his head out the window of a Range Rover with lights flashing. I started laughing and he yelled, "It's not funny!"
Apparently while I was in the store The Little Prince had tried to open one of the doors. Even though it has a child lock on it, it still managed to set off the alarm. "Everyone was looking weirdly at us," complained the Boss. I told him that being totally embarrassed occasionally is good for us. "It keeps us humble," I said. His response?
"I don't want to be humble!"
Tonight on the way home from taekwondo I had to stop at the store. While down in the city today I forget one thing and didn't like my choices of the other two things I didn't get so planned this little stop for tonight. I didn't want it to take long so the kids stayed in the car. (Lebanon is still a country where you can do that.) I parked, left the windows open, and locked the car, which activates the alarm.
While I was shopping I heard the most horrendous alarm going off outside. I recognized it as my alarm. {sigh} I got lucky and found a cashier ready for me when I walked up. I paid and hurried out. The poor Boss was sticking his head out the window of a Range Rover with lights flashing. I started laughing and he yelled, "It's not funny!"
Apparently while I was in the store The Little Prince had tried to open one of the doors. Even though it has a child lock on it, it still managed to set off the alarm. "Everyone was looking weirdly at us," complained the Boss. I told him that being totally embarrassed occasionally is good for us. "It keeps us humble," I said. His response?
"I don't want to be humble!"
I loved this post!
Molly,over at Adventures in Mercy had a terrific post today. Well, actually, yesterday, but it wasn't up yet when I went to bed last night. I don't think. Or maybe I last visited there in the afternoon. Anyway, it's terrific. This was my favorite part:
Cleaning toothpaste globs out of sinks despite the fact that you know they’ll grow back in two days or less, hugging tired cranky little boys instead of whopping them, choosing paint colors with your husband without succumbing to the desire to start screaming and throwing paint brushes at eachother—these are all ways that we make the every day moments sacred. Though there are hallowed moments where we fully direct our thoughts onto God, at the same time there are no moments that are not hallowed. For the follower of Christ, every moment is sacred, every act is sacred, every situation a place to be a tangible gift to others of His smile, His warm embrace, His nail-pierced hand.
Even when that Hand is in mine, scrubbing out blobs of toothpaste, picking up a pile of scattered hair clips, and wiping away runny dried up lines of pee going down the side of a toilet, deposited inadvertantly by a young boy who really wants to stand like his big brothers.
Oh, God. I really love Your Hands
Yes!
BTW, I just found another really good post to share with you so I'm adding it here. Check out Just About Anything for yet another good reason to practice that fruit of self-control.
Cleaning toothpaste globs out of sinks despite the fact that you know they’ll grow back in two days or less, hugging tired cranky little boys instead of whopping them, choosing paint colors with your husband without succumbing to the desire to start screaming and throwing paint brushes at eachother—these are all ways that we make the every day moments sacred. Though there are hallowed moments where we fully direct our thoughts onto God, at the same time there are no moments that are not hallowed. For the follower of Christ, every moment is sacred, every act is sacred, every situation a place to be a tangible gift to others of His smile, His warm embrace, His nail-pierced hand.
Even when that Hand is in mine, scrubbing out blobs of toothpaste, picking up a pile of scattered hair clips, and wiping away runny dried up lines of pee going down the side of a toilet, deposited inadvertantly by a young boy who really wants to stand like his big brothers.
Oh, God. I really love Your Hands
Yes!
BTW, I just found another really good post to share with you so I'm adding it here. Check out Just About Anything for yet another good reason to practice that fruit of self-control.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Another fun day
During my stretching class (which I was amazed to survive considering the pain I was in from my sunburn) I received a call from L, a friend of SIL's, saying that she and FIL were wanting to head up to visit us and see what time we'd be home. They came up for a visit and the kids had fun. While they were there Aunt arrived with Baba's cousin, his uncle's son, who is 15. That's when the fun really started.
E has been a family favorite for years. When we first visited Lebanon 10 years ago, E was only 5 years old. He was crazy about the Boss from the start. I'll never forget visiting his parents home. He and his older sister had a blast playing with the Boss. When it was time for the Boss to go to sleep we put him on E's bed. But E wasn't ready to say goodnight just yet. He and his sister went out on the balcony, which winds around, and watched him sleep from the open window.
When we first visited Lebanon with the twins for their baptism, he spent a few days with us in our rented apartment. The boys had a blast. We rode the teleferique (that our friend renamed the teleferique-me-out) up to Our Lady of Lebanon.
It's funny, but I really don't remember giving E permission to grow up. I certainly didn't give him permission to turn 15. So if he's this grown up, what's his sister like? Oh, my!
Everywoman - Women on the frontline - 27 Jun 08 - Part 2
This is a very good video that I found today. The second story is the one I'm wanting to post, about Israelis and Palestinians working together, but the first story is terrific as well. Woman being strong and doing what needs to be done. Is there any other way?
Enjoy!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
How I spent my Sunday
We made it to church! Whoohoo! We got ready, headed to the car, and the first thing I did was check that none of the tires were flat! LOL They weren't so we got in. Then the car started. No problems, so we headed out. I remembered the other way to get to the school so I had to throw it into 1st gear once. Even better!
While I was taking the Diva to the bathroom (I think the first trip) the Boss came downstairs with my phone. I was so embarrassed. Not only did my phone ring but I'd forgotten to turn it down from the loudest setting. The ring tone is the Hat Dance. Oy vey! Anyway, it was Aunt letting me know she was coming up to visit with a friend. I told her that I'd call as we were ready to leave church so she wouldn't have to wait for us in the street.
She and her friend came with broasted chicken. Yum! The Little Prince even liked it and he doesn't like chicken (unless it's nuggets). He just covered it with garlic sauce. Like Baba like son. She also had tabacco and coals in her purse for use in the arguile she bought me a few years ago. After lunch and coffee she readied the arguile and we smoked out on the terrace. Unfortunately it was mid-afternoon on the west side of the building. So it was a bit warm...especially on my sunburn. So we ended up moving inside after her friend finished her cigarette. The tobacco she brought was Two Apples...delicious! I'm not a smoker. I can't stand cigarettes around me. But give me an arguile and I'm happy. My in-laws shake their heads at my dislike of coffee and cigarettes and love of arguile. If I ever figure myself out, I might try to explain me.
I hope all of you have had a nice Sunday. We sure did.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
What fun!
Today we went to Splash Mountain. It's in the same park as Putt-Putt. Usually we'd have gone to the beach but I really didn't want to drive all the to Jounieh to sit by a pool. I'm not familiar enought with particular beaches to just go to one with the kids. Some are cleaner than others. The one that I'd feel comfortable with doesn't allow people to bring their maids and I didn't want to take the kids to the beach and leave A home by herself so that's out of the question. The other beaches have beach access but you sit around a pool. The drive there isn't so bad, just long, but the trip back is horrible due to construction that's been going on on the highway forever. If I'm going to sit at a pool I don't want to have to drive that far. So we went to Splash Mountain.
No sooner had the kids gotten in the pool and I'd grabbed the camera but a voice with a familiar accent asked me where I was from. I said, "Missouri" and she said, "Michigan". She's also married to a Lebanese and they've lived here for 8 years. She's a teacher at a school near the park. So the Boss and her kids hooked up pretty quick and we traded phone numbers.
The buildings in the background are across the road the street from the park. That's the road we take up the mountain to head back home. It's a nice, curvy road that at times isn't quite as wide as I'd care for but it's a gorgeous view.
Tomorrow, if we have no flat tire or other car issues we'll head to church again. Then I'm thinking we'll be due for some serious naps. Oh, who am I kidding? I'll probably be online. LOL
Friday, July 11, 2008
What was I doing 10 years ago? Hmmm...
Ten years ago I was...in Lebanon! LOL The Boss was almost a year old and we were paying our first visit to Baba's homeland. We were driving all over the country, visiting Baalbeck, Tyre, Sidon, Moussa's Castle, Beiteddine, the Cedars, Gibran Museum...What fun!
5 Things on my to-do list:
1) Take twins to taekwondo (in the a.m.) and listen to iPod while I walk.
2) Take the Boss to takekwondo (in the p.m.)
3) Maybe head to a water park in between. Or hang out and watch movies if we wait until Sunday.
(Hey! I'm vacation! I don't want to do 5 things tomorrow. LOL)
Snacks I enjoy:
Schwarma; falafel; popcorn; this one sandwich that has falafel and eggplant...I always forget the name; halloum cheese (but in small portions-it's salty)
What would I do if I were a billionaire?
Hmm, I'm a billionaire. I don't have to do anything. {grin}
But, I guess I'd put put aside money for kids' tuitions, donate to my favorite charities, buy a home for my brother and his family (or pay it off if they had a mortgage), buy home for FIL/SIL, build our dream house.
Places I have lived:
Springfield, MO (my hometown)
Columbus, OH (when I was a baby)
Lee's Summit, MO (when I was very little)
Forsyth, MO (first year teaching)
Camdenton, MO (next two years teaching)
Florissant, MO (for 3 years)
Strafford, MO (where our farm is)
Baabdath, Lebanon
Mahboula, Kuwait
Jobs I've Had:
Sales clerk at Sears, then Dillard's.
Teacher
For a few weeks I was a server at Taquito's (then I realized I'd be moving back to Springfield)
Night shift at the front desk of the luxery retirement apartments where Nana lived.
Teacher
Sales clerk at Mardel's (I loved that job-working in a bookstore...heaven!)
Currently I'm a teacher (again) at a bilingual school
6 people I'm tagging:
Nicole at For the Love of Photography
Pam at Midnight Musings
Anne at Just About Anything
Anita at Ask A Lutheran
Quasimodo at The Random Account of Quasimodo
Michelle at My Life and Ponderings
Thanks, Jungle Mom! ;)
5 Things on my to-do list:
1) Take twins to taekwondo (in the a.m.) and listen to iPod while I walk.
2) Take the Boss to takekwondo (in the p.m.)
3) Maybe head to a water park in between. Or hang out and watch movies if we wait until Sunday.
(Hey! I'm vacation! I don't want to do 5 things tomorrow. LOL)
Snacks I enjoy:
Schwarma; falafel; popcorn; this one sandwich that has falafel and eggplant...I always forget the name; halloum cheese (but in small portions-it's salty)
What would I do if I were a billionaire?
Hmm, I'm a billionaire. I don't have to do anything. {grin}
But, I guess I'd put put aside money for kids' tuitions, donate to my favorite charities, buy a home for my brother and his family (or pay it off if they had a mortgage), buy home for FIL/SIL, build our dream house.
Places I have lived:
Springfield, MO (my hometown)
Columbus, OH (when I was a baby)
Lee's Summit, MO (when I was very little)
Forsyth, MO (first year teaching)
Camdenton, MO (next two years teaching)
Florissant, MO (for 3 years)
Strafford, MO (where our farm is)
Baabdath, Lebanon
Mahboula, Kuwait
Jobs I've Had:
Sales clerk at Sears, then Dillard's.
Teacher
For a few weeks I was a server at Taquito's (then I realized I'd be moving back to Springfield)
Night shift at the front desk of the luxery retirement apartments where Nana lived.
Teacher
Sales clerk at Mardel's (I loved that job-working in a bookstore...heaven!)
Currently I'm a teacher (again) at a bilingual school
6 people I'm tagging:
Nicole at For the Love of Photography
Pam at Midnight Musings
Anne at Just About Anything
Anita at Ask A Lutheran
Quasimodo at The Random Account of Quasimodo
Michelle at My Life and Ponderings
Thanks, Jungle Mom! ;)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
A tour of our house
Michelle, at My Life and Ponderings, wanted to see pics of our home here in Lebanon. When we moved here 3 years ago, the main purpose of spending money on the house was to furnish it. However, that didn't leave me with much time or inclination to do anything much with decorating. But with 2 year-old twins, that was fine. Anything I wouldn't be dusting I'd be trying to keep of little hands. When we're finished with Kuwait, I'll put more energy and money into decorating this place. Until then, it satisfies.
Here's the living room. Typically Lebanese homes have huge rugs that are rolled up in the summer and used only during the winter to keep you warm. However, I preferred being able to sweep and mop rather than having to vacuum a lot. The smaller rugs I bought were easier to vacuum and I like them so much I leave them down all year. Besides to use the huge rugs you have to move heavy furniture. Yuck!
Here's the dining area. I had a gorgeous table and buffet picked out 3 years ago. Beautiful wood with marble tops. But FIL didn't like it so DH figured we it wouldn't work. Go figure! That's the last time I'm taking my FIL along on a shopping trip. So now we have a white plastic table with matching chairs. So much better, isn't it?
Here's the kitchen. That open counter was very handy when the twins were small and I needed to be able to watch them watching Dora while I was fixing supper. Now it's kind of a pain. When they're being naughty and stubborn and getting into something they shouldn't and I lock the kitchen door...they just climb over the counter. {sigh} The blue light to the left is the light that comes on when the power goes out. Very handy at night.
Master bedroom. The mattress lifts up to storage besides the 2 drawers at the foot. The door opens out to the garden. I generally close it at night even though there's a screen on the bars. A little lizard or other unwelcome things can still squeeze under it. {faint}
Here's my rather ugly garden. Since we're rarely here anymore, except during the summer, it's rather pointless to do much with it. We just make sure it's cleaned out in time for our summer visits so it's safe for the kids to play. Also, no watering. :)
Here is a pic of the Boss's room. He used to switch between the two bunks. Now that the twins have outgrown their Pack N Plays they sleep on the bottom, wider bunk (and occasionally the trundle that pulls out) and he sleeps on top.
Here's the twins' room. Right now it's pretty much a playroom for them. We're waiting to furnish it until we're finished with Kuwait. By then we'll know if it'll continue to be the twins' room or the Diva's room while the Little Prince shares with the Boss. Don't worry...it doesn't always look like this. This was taken after they rediscovered their toys when we arrived. It was like Christmas for them. They're actually doing a pretty good job of putting their toys away after playing with them. {You'll just have to take my word for it.}
Hope you enjoyed the tour!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Lunch at Aunt's-Yum!
We went to Aunt's house for lunch today. Of course, by the time I picked up the kids from camp, drove to Jiddo's house to pick him up, and then drove in the other direction to Aunt's house, and finally found a parking place, it was closer to 4 than noon. But it was worth the wait. And I only drank about a whole bottle of water. We had to drive from Jiddo's to Aunt's without the A/C on. Apparently the route I took wasn't good on the brakes and so I had to turn off the A/C if I wanted them to work by the time we got down the mountain to the city. I'm slowly figuring out this car.
We had a good time though. After lunch I crashed while the twins played with Jiddo and Ammo, and the Boss went with Aunt to visit one of Baba's cousins who's maybe a teenager by now. They didn't get back until after 7 and then we drove Jiddo home before heading back up the mountain.
It's funny. You don't normally find traffic lights over here. The few they have tend to be ignored. However since our last summer here they've installed several. But people don't quite know how to use them. They'll pull up almost into the intersection before they see the other traffic coming towards them and they decide to stop. They'll pull into the left turn lane and then honk and cut in front of people to get in the lane to go straight. Lanes aren't something they're real familiar with either. Typically those white broken lines are what you drive on to squeeze between two cars you want to pass. {sigh}
Tomorrow the Boss has taekwondo for two hours. That means 2 hours outside, in the "woods" so to speak, listening to my favorite podcasts. And there's a nice statue there. The twins like it too. The Diva gets all excited to go see Jesus. LOL
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
What makes a Christian country?
I found the above article yesterday. My initial reaction was to want to post another rant. I mean, how dare he? How dare he presume to tell Americans that the USA isn't a Christian country? Where does he get off doing that? Would I ever dare to do the same where I live? The nerve!
Fortunately, I decided to go to bed instead. This morning I got up to download yesterday's Issues, Etc. I had difficulty with my internet and decided to listen to Friday's episode while I worked on my cross stitch. It's a good thing I did. Dr. John Warwick Montgomery was the guest Friday. I enjoyed listening to him earlier in the week when he was speaking on Islam. He was asked if America is a Christian country. His answer? No, it's not.
Now before anyone reading this gets into a dither like the one I almost had after reading the article I linked to above, stop and think a minute. We are not a Christian country. The Constitution does not allow for an official religion. If we were a Christian country, we would have Christianity as an official religion. That is something the Founding Fathers would never accept. Our country was founded on the principal of freedom of religion. The thing they were most trying to avoid was any interference on the part of the government in their freedom to worship how they pleased. Yes, we've had our moments throughout our history where we've been less than willing to allow others to worship freely. But we generally accept the notion that everyone has the right to practice whatever religion they wish...or even no religion.
When I'm not summering somewhere, I live in a Muslim country. The laws of that country are mostly determined by the teachings of the Qur'an, Sharia, etc. We're not talking about a passing influence. Laws passed have to pass muster with the religious community. Everyone serving in government must be Muslim. There is a certain amount of freedom of religion there. There are churches permitted. There are temples for Hindus. As long as it's an established world religion, not some weird type of cult, you'll probably find it permitted. However, evangelizing is not permitted.
If the USA were a Christian country, in the sense that countries in the Gulf are Muslim countries, only Christians would be permitted to serve in government. Laws would have to pass muster with religious community. Even if there were a certain amount of religious freedom, there would still be control of what kind and how much.
I'm a Christian. I don't want to live in a Christian country. Why? What on earth is wrong with me? Absolutely nothing...that's not wrong with every other Christian, anyway. ;)
I'm a Lutheran. My beliefs are in keeping with the Scriptures and the doctrine of the Lutheran church. If the USA were a Christian country, how specific would it be? What kinds of Christians would be the "official" ones? Recognized mainstream churches? Would it just mean anyone claiming the name "Christian"? That would include Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. What would be the official, government-approved religious teaching? Sound doctrine from one particular church (Lutheran, of course-LOL), or some watered-down drivel meant to try to satisfy all flavors of Christians (yeah, like that would ever actually work)?
Just as I don't want my children sitting through a religion class where they would be taught to pray to Allah and recognize Mohammad as the best thing since the invention of the wheel, I also don't want my children taught something that isn't agreement with what we believe disguised as "Christian". There are churches today that are actually blessing same-sex unions and ordaining openly gay and lesbian "clergy". Blech! They're twisting and abusing scripture all over the place to justify their vile positions. Do I want my children being taught government-sponsored propaganda under the guise of religious instruction in public schools? Even if they somehow managed to keep propaganda out of the religion classroom (like I believe that would ever happen), again what kind of tolerant drivel would it be? Would they have to be accepting of the Book of Mormon? They were baptized as infants. Would that be considered "good enough" or would they be required to be "rebaptized"? Would those who believe in "believer's baptism" be accepted or would they have to be baptized before they started kindergarten along with knowing the alphabet and counting to 10?
Now, having said all that, America is a Christian country in spirit. Christians are in the majority. When Christians (of any flavor) go to the polls, we vote based upon our morals and values. Where do we get those morals and values? Some get them from divorcing their faith from their political philosophies. So be it. Others get them from their faith. From reading the Scriptures and prayerfully considering their options at the polls. As long as that's the case, America will be a Christian country.
If you'd like to listen to Dr. Montgomery's interviews, follow the link below. Thursday the 3rd was the interview on Islam. Friday's is the one on "Is America A Christian Nation?" They're excellent.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Taekwondo and other stuff
This is where the kids do taekwondo. Although right now, it's just the Boss. The twins just go and watch. {sigh} They do great with taekwondo when it's free! Well, they do have to adjust to new surroundings and instructor and they're a bit shy until they warm up. I'm doing a stretching class there. It's similar to pilates. The instructor is a hunk but don't let those good looks and nice disposition fool you. I think he wants to kill me. My muscles are sure of it. This building used to be a hotel and then a school. It's still owned by the church/retreat-like center next door. This is now the sports club.
We missed church today. We were all dressed and ready to go. I'd painted the Diva's toenails after she saw me paint mine and wanted hers done too. We'd had our breakfast and were all ready to head out. Then, as I was starting the car a man came up and spoke to me rather urgently in Arabic and was pointing at the car. Specifically, at the front of my car...a little down. I got out to look and, you've probably guessed it, I had a flat tire. So, back down we went. The Boss and A went to our friend's garage to see if he was there. He's usually closed on a Sunday but I figured it wouldn't hurt to check in case he had some kind of emergency to work on. He wasn't. So after starting the new Dora DVD so the twins wouldn't be trying to head out with us, the Boss and I walked to the Total station. The manager said the owner wasn't there but to call back in an hour. I got his number and we headed home.
My husband taught me how to change a tire when we were first married. But that was 12 years ago on a Chevy Corsica and I haven't had to do it since. Plus, I'm driving a Range Rover here. It's just so...heavy! Literally! It weighs more than the average SUV.
So I called the owner and he said he'd bring someone over to change it. They're both very nice and the owner knew my neighbors who were just getting back from church. When they were finished I asked how much I owed him and he said to just give the guy who worked for him a tip. The guy who fixes tires isn't there today since it's Sunday so until tomorrow I have no spare tire. I plan to head there before heading down the mountain to check the tire pressure in all the tires to (hopefully) prevent any problems that would require a spare spare. LOL
We're heading to Burger King. It's been almost 2 weeks since I've had fast food. I've lost no weight but that's because I've only had 2 of those classes so far. But you'd think those hills on my walks would count for something. I'll just make sure I eat salad tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day...
Summer camp starts Tuesday. The kids will be there from 9-2 everyday, M-F. They really enjoy it. The twins used to cry every morning last summer but by the time I got to the car they'd stopped. When it was time to pick them up, they were glad to see me but in no hurry to head home. They remember swimming and going to the water parks on the field trips. The Boss is eager to meet up with his old friends. Some just from camp and some from when he went to 2nd grade there.
Last summer we picked up a brochure and the Boss was in one of the pictures. This year I picked up one and there's another one. The Little Prince is in one and we couldn't find the Diva. We looked extra hard and we decided the top of a head we barely see behind another kid's head must be hers. It's the same pic that her twin is in and we figured she would have been fairly close to him for circle time. At least, that's what we're telling her anyway.
http://www.bhs.edu.lb/
BTW, I'm back from the birthday party now and I didn't eat there. (Except the birthday cake but I'm not sure I'll count that-LOL.) I'm feeling a little proud of myself. :)
Great posts!
http://fatherhollywood.blogspot.com/2008/07/follow-up-visits-are-scam.html
http://rebelliouspastorswife.blogspot.com/2008/07/yet-your-desire-will-be-for-your.html
These are posts of two of my favorite blogs. I was laughing my head off at Father Hollywood's and as usual, nodding my head and thinking "amen" to The Rebellious Pastor's Wife's. I hope you enjoy them.
http://rebelliouspastorswife.blogspot.com/2008/07/yet-your-desire-will-be-for-your.html
These are posts of two of my favorite blogs. I was laughing my head off at Father Hollywood's and as usual, nodding my head and thinking "amen" to The Rebellious Pastor's Wife's. I hope you enjoy them.
Didn't I say enough already?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031784/Schoolboys-punished-detention-refusing-kneel-pray-Allah.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1032449/Police-sniffer-dogs-wear-bootees-house-searches-avoid-offending-Muslims.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1029887/Muslims-searched-sniffer-dogs-despite-religious-objections-say-police.html
Why is it so impossible for people to expect the same treatment as everyone else? When you choose to live in a country, you abide by its laws. Simple. You, of course, have every right to retain your religion and culture. That's a given and I'd argue to the death with anyone who wanted to force Muslims (or anyone else) to give up their faith or their culture just so they could live overseas. Asking someone to do that is just plain silly.
I live in the Middle East. I send my son (and soon 2 sons and 1 daughter) to school there. They do not participate in religious instruction classes. Why? Because we're not Muslim. I have no problem with them learning what Muslims believe, I find it rather interesting myself, even if outright wrong. But I'm not raising them to practice that religion so I don't want them in the classes. However, the Boss does have friends who are Muslim. He also has a couple who are Hindu. I don't tell my son he can't play with kids who are of another religion. Just because someone claims to be Christian doesn't mean s/he is or that, even if a believer, will have the same principals we do. I much prefer he play with someone I know he's safe with. He has a very good friend who's Muslim. His parents are like mirror images of my husband and myself. They don't permit their children to run loose on the streets. They supervise who their friends are. They even use seatbelts! (If you've ever been in the Middle East you know how unusual that notion is over here.) I absolutely trust these people with my child. Not only is he physically safe with them (in their home, their car, etc.) but while they are devout Muslims, they don't try to teach him things that they know I wouldn't want them to. They also trust us to do the same. That's not to say that I wouldn't want them to answer the Boss's questions honestly about their faith if he asked them. I would do the same for their son. Not with the intention of trying to convert him, but with giving him honest answers to honest questions.
I live in the Middle East. It's a completely different government, culture, etc. from my own. Would I ever dream of trying to impose my values or mores on them? Of course not! Granted I'm a school teacher. I do try to teach my students the basics of right and wrong in how to treat others. That isn't difficult to do since they're Muslim and I'm Christian. Islam has a lot to say in how you treat people that Christians would agree with (or at least not disagree with). But aside from that, I'm not out there trying to get everyone to think the way I do (although life would be so much easier if people just would!)
So why is it that in order to spread cultural and religious awareness in other countries that aren't Muslim, where there's a large Muslim population, it's necessary to force students to practice the religion? (If you're forcing someone to pray to Allah (or any other god), you're forcing him/her to practice the religion. Don't try to call it something else.)Why is it necessary to try to prevent law enforcement officials from doing their job properly? Put booties on police dogs? Don't you have a vacuum? Wouldn't that be more sensible? Besides, how do booties prevent the saliva from getting into the house? And if it's against Islam for Muslims to have dogs, why do so many have them? If the police are there to search your home, there's a reason. You (or someone in your home) has done something illegal. Or at least has been suspected of doing something illegal. If that's the case, you know how to prevent someone from bringing police dogs to your home. Don't do it! If they're there to harass you because just because of you religion or race, protest the right thing. You know, discrimination?
At least after those first two articles there's someone who's willing to say what needs to be said. Dogs will do their jobs no matter who objects. So there are those who want to avoid stations with sniffer dogs. Good for them. That's called choice. It's what each of us has a right to make. If I don't want to give up consuming alcohol because I live in Muslim country that forbids it, I can just live somewhere else. (Bahrain isn't too far away and alcohol is legal, as well as pork.) I can also choose to make my own or smuggle some in. If I do, and I get caught, I have nothing to complain about. I've made a choice and it's up to me to accept the consequences. If you don't want the dogs sniffing you too closely, don't wear or carry anything that will attract them to you. If you have drugs (which are also forbidden by Islam and I believe the penalty is greater than for owning a pet), then you deserve the consequences that you asked for. If you are searched or sniffed for what you believe are the wrong reasons, protest the search and the reason behind it. Don't pitch a fit over a pooch!
Now, if you're a Muslim who's stumbled across this rant, please don't feel discriminated against. I'm just as easily infuriated by Christians who want to force everyone else to live by their values. Some Christians are much more liberal than I care for. Some are much more conservative than I care for. I'm not middle of the road so much as a practitioner of common sense. I'm not trying to hold you to any different standard than I am my fellow believers. ;)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1032449/Police-sniffer-dogs-wear-bootees-house-searches-avoid-offending-Muslims.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1029887/Muslims-searched-sniffer-dogs-despite-religious-objections-say-police.html
Why is it so impossible for people to expect the same treatment as everyone else? When you choose to live in a country, you abide by its laws. Simple. You, of course, have every right to retain your religion and culture. That's a given and I'd argue to the death with anyone who wanted to force Muslims (or anyone else) to give up their faith or their culture just so they could live overseas. Asking someone to do that is just plain silly.
I live in the Middle East. I send my son (and soon 2 sons and 1 daughter) to school there. They do not participate in religious instruction classes. Why? Because we're not Muslim. I have no problem with them learning what Muslims believe, I find it rather interesting myself, even if outright wrong. But I'm not raising them to practice that religion so I don't want them in the classes. However, the Boss does have friends who are Muslim. He also has a couple who are Hindu. I don't tell my son he can't play with kids who are of another religion. Just because someone claims to be Christian doesn't mean s/he is or that, even if a believer, will have the same principals we do. I much prefer he play with someone I know he's safe with. He has a very good friend who's Muslim. His parents are like mirror images of my husband and myself. They don't permit their children to run loose on the streets. They supervise who their friends are. They even use seatbelts! (If you've ever been in the Middle East you know how unusual that notion is over here.) I absolutely trust these people with my child. Not only is he physically safe with them (in their home, their car, etc.) but while they are devout Muslims, they don't try to teach him things that they know I wouldn't want them to. They also trust us to do the same. That's not to say that I wouldn't want them to answer the Boss's questions honestly about their faith if he asked them. I would do the same for their son. Not with the intention of trying to convert him, but with giving him honest answers to honest questions.
I live in the Middle East. It's a completely different government, culture, etc. from my own. Would I ever dream of trying to impose my values or mores on them? Of course not! Granted I'm a school teacher. I do try to teach my students the basics of right and wrong in how to treat others. That isn't difficult to do since they're Muslim and I'm Christian. Islam has a lot to say in how you treat people that Christians would agree with (or at least not disagree with). But aside from that, I'm not out there trying to get everyone to think the way I do (although life would be so much easier if people just would!)
So why is it that in order to spread cultural and religious awareness in other countries that aren't Muslim, where there's a large Muslim population, it's necessary to force students to practice the religion? (If you're forcing someone to pray to Allah (or any other god), you're forcing him/her to practice the religion. Don't try to call it something else.)Why is it necessary to try to prevent law enforcement officials from doing their job properly? Put booties on police dogs? Don't you have a vacuum? Wouldn't that be more sensible? Besides, how do booties prevent the saliva from getting into the house? And if it's against Islam for Muslims to have dogs, why do so many have them? If the police are there to search your home, there's a reason. You (or someone in your home) has done something illegal. Or at least has been suspected of doing something illegal. If that's the case, you know how to prevent someone from bringing police dogs to your home. Don't do it! If they're there to harass you because just because of you religion or race, protest the right thing. You know, discrimination?
At least after those first two articles there's someone who's willing to say what needs to be said. Dogs will do their jobs no matter who objects. So there are those who want to avoid stations with sniffer dogs. Good for them. That's called choice. It's what each of us has a right to make. If I don't want to give up consuming alcohol because I live in Muslim country that forbids it, I can just live somewhere else. (Bahrain isn't too far away and alcohol is legal, as well as pork.) I can also choose to make my own or smuggle some in. If I do, and I get caught, I have nothing to complain about. I've made a choice and it's up to me to accept the consequences. If you don't want the dogs sniffing you too closely, don't wear or carry anything that will attract them to you. If you have drugs (which are also forbidden by Islam and I believe the penalty is greater than for owning a pet), then you deserve the consequences that you asked for. If you are searched or sniffed for what you believe are the wrong reasons, protest the search and the reason behind it. Don't pitch a fit over a pooch!
Now, if you're a Muslim who's stumbled across this rant, please don't feel discriminated against. I'm just as easily infuriated by Christians who want to force everyone else to live by their values. Some Christians are much more liberal than I care for. Some are much more conservative than I care for. I'm not middle of the road so much as a practitioner of common sense. I'm not trying to hold you to any different standard than I am my fellow believers. ;)
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Recent Musings
I'm a Bible-believing Christian. What does that mean?
It means that I believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. Using various men throughout the history of the world He has preserved for us His Law and His Gospel. The Good News of Christ (God Incarnate) coming to Earth to bear all our sins, be crucified, and rise from the dead (and no, He didn't pass out on the cross and wake up 3 days later, and He most certainly wasn't replaced on the cross like our Muslim friends would have us believe).
I believe the words of the Apostle's, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds. I believe in sound doctrine. Without doctrine, how do we know what we believe? If we don't know what we believe then how can we share our beliefs with others?
Romans 6:17 - But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 16:17 - Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
1 Timothy 4:6 - If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1 Timothy 4:16 - Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2 Timothy 4:3 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Without doctrine, how do we know that which is sound? Some would say we only need the Bible. They're not wrong…totally. Absolutely the Holy Bible is THE source of all we need to know to be followers of Christ. But…how many "churches" out there have resulted from someone reading the Bible and corrupting it with their own interpretations and even, in some cases, changing the Bible to suit their needs or adding "new" testaments to it?
While reading in Todd Wilken's journal today (from Issues, Etc. website) I found this wonderful tidbit.
http://004f597.netsolhost.com/Playing%20the%20Pharisee%20Card%202008.pdf
How many of today's church growing programs are based upon false teachings and the word of man rather than God's Word? If they're not preaching the Gospel every Sunday, instead teaching on so-called Christian living, they're preaching the word of man. If their doctrine isn't centered on Christ and His gospel, run for the hills! If they're sharing testimonies instead of the Gospel, run!
It means that I believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. Using various men throughout the history of the world He has preserved for us His Law and His Gospel. The Good News of Christ (God Incarnate) coming to Earth to bear all our sins, be crucified, and rise from the dead (and no, He didn't pass out on the cross and wake up 3 days later, and He most certainly wasn't replaced on the cross like our Muslim friends would have us believe).
I believe the words of the Apostle's, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds. I believe in sound doctrine. Without doctrine, how do we know what we believe? If we don't know what we believe then how can we share our beliefs with others?
Romans 6:17 - But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 16:17 - Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
1 Timothy 4:6 - If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1 Timothy 4:16 - Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2 Timothy 4:3 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Without doctrine, how do we know that which is sound? Some would say we only need the Bible. They're not wrong…totally. Absolutely the Holy Bible is THE source of all we need to know to be followers of Christ. But…how many "churches" out there have resulted from someone reading the Bible and corrupting it with their own interpretations and even, in some cases, changing the Bible to suit their needs or adding "new" testaments to it?
While reading in Todd Wilken's journal today (from Issues, Etc. website) I found this wonderful tidbit.
"The only problem is, Jesus never faulted the Pharisees for being
doctrinal
purists. He faulted them for being false teachers who abandoned the
truth of God's
Word in favor of the erroneous word of man (Matthew 16:11-12;
15:1-9; Mark 7:6-
13).
Jesus called Christians who demanded doctrinal
purity disciples, not
Pharisees.. .If you abide in My word, then you are
truly disciples of Mine; and you
shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free..(John 8:31-32) In fact,
Christians who demand doctrinal purity
are really following the example of Jesus, of
Paul and of the other Apostles
(Matthew 7:15; see also 24:10-11; Mark 9:42; 2
Corinthians 13:5; 1
Thessalonians 5:21; 1 Timothy 4:16; 6:3-4; Titus 1:7-9; 2:1, 7-
8; 1 John
4:1; 2 Peter 3:17)."
http://004f597.netsolhost.com/Playing%20the%20Pharisee%20Card%202008.pdf
How many of today's church growing programs are based upon false teachings and the word of man rather than God's Word? If they're not preaching the Gospel every Sunday, instead teaching on so-called Christian living, they're preaching the word of man. If their doctrine isn't centered on Christ and His gospel, run for the hills! If they're sharing testimonies instead of the Gospel, run!
Friday, July 4, 2008
I love it!
I first heard of this program after it was cancelled. Since then I've read different things about how wonderful this show is and how upset people were with what happened. It's back on the air now and I've subscribed to the podcast. I've listned to a couple of episodes and I love it!
If you like good Christian talk radio, this is it. You can go to the website and listen online or you can subscribe to the broadcast if you can't find it on a station near you (like if you live in the Middle East, for example-LOL).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)