Day 15 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 15

This is Mo, sitting on my shoulder while I work on the computer. She does this all the time. Sorry I cut off her head, but now she's gone and I can't try to retake the pic. Hey, at least it isn't a snow photo!

Thankful for:
-- Days off

-- The fact that God is in control of all things. I always hope to fix things for myself and others who are hurting. But what I really need to do is turn over my plans or ideas to God and let Him massage them, and me, and take care of the situation. This is so hard for a control freak like me!

-- Messages in scripture. This is what I read tonight, in light of the thoughts above:

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever... But as for me, it is good to be near God." Psalm 73: 26, 28 NIV

Day 14 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 14

I hate to make this all about the snow, but that's pretty much what is going on here these days. This is my hanging flower basket that never got put away...

-- I'm thankful for the characteristic of caring, which seems to be universal. Today, my cat Mimi was coughing, and my other cat Mo was so worried! Her eyes got really big and she ran over to Mimi and licked her. It was so cute.

Day 13 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 13

This is my favorite coffee shop in town: The Ryder's Cup. Like Wegmans, it is very visually pleasing inside with its blue walls and displays of work by local artists. The staff is very friendly, and they make the best hazlenut steamers... much better than Starbucks (otherwise known as Fourbucks). They also have a vehicle with awesome graphics that drives around town to advertise the place. Someday I'll take a pic of it. Today it was covered in snow in the parking lot. Notice the snow falling in this pic?

I attended the JAYWOK meeting today: Jamestown Area Youth Workers. This is a group of area youth pastors who meet regularly for encouragement and prayer. It was my first meeting and it was great. They are mostly younger than me and are salt-of-the-earth folk who are working hard to do ministry in these crazy times. We had a great talk about issues like:

• How do we get church members away from the consumer mentality?
• Whose responsibility is it to care for others -- the pastor or us?
• How do we motivate youth to be good leaders when they are surrounded by apathy in the church?

I won't pretend that we came up with all the answers but it was encouraging to share with like-minded people.

-- I'm always thankful for good conversation about ministry and faith issues.

-- I'm thankful for good talks in general. Today I had lunch down the road at Rich & Margaret's, our local diner. I sat near an older couple who came in after me and never said ONE WORD to each other the whole time they were there. They talked to other patrons, but not to each other. I thought it was so sad. Please, Lord, may this never be the case for me.

Day 12 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 12

This is a picture from the cafe at Wegmans, my favorite grocery store. It is a great place that makes for a very pleasant shopping experience. The prices are right, the selection is very decent. And the visual merchandising and ambience is outstanding. I had a wrap for dinner before doing my shopping and I was enjoying the colorful walls and the artwork. This picture doesn't do it justice, but take my word for it: this is a great place.

-- I'm thankful for convenience and variety. It does spice up our lives!

Day 11 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 11

Mimi and I checking our email.

-- Today I'm thankful for friends who love you with that fierce love that is rare... those who care about what really matters in life and about what makes you who you are... those who want what's best for you, not what's best for them. I'm very blessed. Thanks M & D!

Day 10 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 10

Here I am cutting boards in the shop at camp. We are renovating our dorm and I've been helping cut the pieces for the new bunk beds. I enjoy this kind of work so am glad I can help.

Today I was thinking about the Amish -- started with a conversation last night over dinner. They would do by hand the hundreds of boards I've cut the past two weekends on the radial arm saw. Their ability to maintain a simple life in today's world amazes me. They accomplish a lot with little more than human energy. Think about a barn raising!

-- I'm thankful for electricity.

Day 9 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 9

This photo is legit, folks. No digital doctoring.

-- Today I'm thankful for rest.

Day 8 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 8

Someone turned on the lake-effect snow machine today. Here is my abode shrouded in white stuff. I am not thankful for snow.

Yesterday I had a good laugh at newpaper columnist Mark Shields talking about how, "... my 401k has shrunk to a 201f...".

Today I am thankful for:

-- Snow shovels

-- People who pray -- for those who pray for me, and for those who are just good pray-ers in general.

Day 7 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 7

This is a picture of footprints -- coming and going. First they were in the slush, and then they became frozen in place.

I suppose I am thankful for comings and goings. I use these terms in the context of relationships which is what first came to mind. When a new relationship comes into your life, it is exciting: someone who you click with, who shares your views and interests. It is fun exploring who they are and how you gel with them. But then sometimes there is a going of a relationship. This is tough. I'm one who clings as long as possible. I don't like to give up on relationships. But sometimes it is necessary. A particular relationship can become hurtful or unhealthy. In the last year I had to let go of a long-time relationship... like over 25 years long. As much as I tried to fix what was going wrong, a good friend reminded me that I had not been the one to break the relationship. So I needn't feel guilty when my fixing didn't work. I had to let go. And I did. And it hurt. But I think I'm OK now. Most of the time.

Other things I'm thankful for today:
-- Mail
-- Heat

Day 6 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 6

Day 6 dawned with a new haircut, color and highlights. Good to go for another month!

Things I'm thankful for today:

-- God's presence.

-- Places to walk in the winter. The Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena is great!

-- Naps

-- Safety

Day 5 of 365 Day Experiment -- January 5

Day 5 concluded with an after-holiday dinner with staff and board members. It's so nice to share a meal and conversation with folk!

Things I'm thankful for today:

-- Mundane tasks. There is something very satisfying about a repetitive task. It always has a beginning and an end, and you can see your progress along the way. I did a mailing today and it fits the bill.

-- String cheese

-- Friends who are transparent. Thanks Bill!

Days 1-4 of 365 Day Experiment

Here's what I look like on Day 1 of my 365 Day Experiment -- 2009.

Day 2 and I am working on my Christmas/New Years cards. Better late than never! If you are on the list, it will be arriving in your mailbox soon.

Day 3 and I am filling up my birdfeeders. Need to take care of the little guys. Otherwise, the cats will lose their eye candy.

Day 4 and I'm getting serious about journaling. This practice for me has been sporadic and I'm resolving to work on putting thoughts to paper. Some might even appear here! At a minimum I'll be recording what I'm thankful for each day. So far, my list includes the following things (in no order of importance so don't get offended):

My cats

Internet

Friends

Birds

Bleach

Mouse traps

See you soon!

365 Days: An Experiment

I’ve always been intrigued by folks who do a 365 photo experiment; that is, they take a photo of themselves each day for a year. My friends Jim and Suzi have done this. My friend Carol spent 2008 writing down things each day that she didn’t want to take for granted. I’ve been inspired by these two concepts to do my own version of a 365 Day Experiment. I will be taking a photo each day, not necessarily with myself in it (frankly, I’m finding it hard to imagine 365 consecutive photos of myself!). I am also going to journal each day, focusing on things for which I’m thankful . I will be journaling the old fashioned way, with pen to paper, and plan to share some of it. Here’s my reasoning for this project:

1. I want to slow down and appreciate the here and now. No more days flying by with no recollection of anything significant that happened. We’ve been given so many gifts… how many of them do we miss?
2. I want to challenge my creative juices. I’m a very amateur photographer but I have aspirations of being better. I also like to write and this will force me to do it daily.
3. It will be fun!

So if you are interested in a day in the life of Barb ongoing, check it out! No promises on it being updated every 24 hours….

A Most Selfless Act

One of my favorite newspaper columnists is Mitch Album. (By the way, he is also the author of “Tuesdays With Morrie,” one of my favorite books.) He told the greatest story in a recent column. It is about a Texas woman named Marilyn who went to a foreclosure auction to watch her son bid on a house. While there, Marilyn encountered an upset woman and after talking to her, Marilyn discovered that this woman’s house was one to be going on the auction block that day. Marilyn was moved to help; she ended up bidding on, and winning, the woman’s house and giving it back to her with easy repayment terms.

What an amazing story! Marilyn’s son was quoted as saying, “She’s always done good things, for me and everybody else. It’s a body of work, to be honest.” Here’s what Mitch says, which is so excellent:

“A body of work. Of good deeds and selfless acts. I can think of no better election story than this one, because if America is to survive the next few months and years, it won’t hinge on which man sits in the White House. It will hinge on whether we are willing to think as much about others as Marilyn did, to actually help someone simply because they need it, not whether we think they deserve it. It will hinge on our belief in the innate goodness of fellow citizens, rather than assumptions that they are bad because they are not like us.”

Wow. Well said, Mitch. Are we up for it, America? Let’s do it!

Best Books of ‘08

In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, regular columnist and author Stephen King offers his picks on the top 10 books of the year. I’m not a big fan of his fiction genre (with the exceptions of Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile) but I rather enjoy his writing in the magazine. He advocates reading over going to the movies because it is a better bang for your buck. Following is his list, including his pertinent comments in quotes. I haven’t read any of these but offer up the list in case you are looking for some new mysteries to check out.

1. The novels of Robert Goddard: a British mystery/suspense novelist. He has written 15 novels full of “more twists than a box of macaroni.”

2. “The Garden of Last Days” by Andre Dubus III. “Terrifying, unputdownable, and the best novel so far about 9/11."

3. When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson. Third novel featuring private eye Jackson Brodie. “You can’t believe all the tangled threads are going to come together, but they do.”

4. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney. “If you liked Life of Pi and The Secret Life of Bees, this is for you.”

5. Nixonland by Rick Perlstein. Nonfiction… “It’s the best history of the turbulent ‘60s I’ve ever read.”

6. Heartsick/Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain. “We’ve been down Hannibal Lecter Avenue many times, and these two books shouldn’t work… but they do.”

7. Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh. Sequel to Hollywood Station. “A fine, funky read with an all too believable murder plot.”

8. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Mystery about a decades-old crime. “The good news is that Larsson delivered two more novels with this one. The bad news is that he died of a heart attack shortly after doing so.”

9. Old Flames by Jack Ketchum. “Remember Glenn Close… in Fatal Attraction? Raise that to the 10th power and you get Dora Welles, the crazy ex-girlfriend in this short chiller.”

10. The Good Guy by Dean Koontz. “This is Koontz at his Hitchcockiest: nice guy is mistaken for contract killer, mayhem ensues.”

Happy reading!

An Historic Day

No matter what your preference was in the voting booth, the decision has been made about our next leader and our country now moves forward. Some are fearful and some hopeful; all feelings are valid.

I know that I cannot fully appreciate the euphoria of the African American community in the election of a black president. I was moved by the reflections of the elderly black senators and news commentators, who have gone from participation in the civil rights movement as young men to seeing a biracial man be elected president of the United States in their senior years. I’ll never be able to totally feel what they feel because I am a white person, but I want to value the reality as much as possible. I know we have just entered an unprecedented era… may I take it all in as much as I can.

Quilter 101

I took up quilting a year ago. The interest started a year before that through witnessing massive creativity at a quilt show. Then I observed artisans in action at a quilt retreat and decided I wanted to give it a whirl. I've been slowly working on a project that is taking forever, so I took a break from it and tried something different. What a trill to go from this...

... to THIS! I'm so excited. Still need a border and backing, but I'm on my way.

Back To It

My blogging goes in fits and starts. Here's another start. I've been inspired to get back to it because I have friends with such nice blogs, especiall Sarah. I want to keep sharing, so here you go!

Book Review: “Pay Dirt” by Rita Mae Brown

Plot
Mary Minor Haristeen (Harry) is the small-town postmistress of Crozet, VA. She, along with her cat, Mrs. Murphy, and corgi, Tucker, find themselves at the center of frequent mysterious activities that have been the subjects of a long series of books. Her animals, and others in the town, talk to each other outside the understanding of the humans, which gives readers access to hilarious, and often sage, dialogue.

In this story, the appearance of a black leather-clad biker in their small Southern town marks the beginning of a series of unfortunate events. He claims to be looking for his long-lost girlfriend but ends up being murdered. His untimely death added more fodder to the town’s rumor mill, already ripe with the implications of a computer virus that would reportedly target the local businesses on a future date. When a bank audit reveals missing money, and a local love triangle involves one of the bank’s officials, tongues wag about whether the events are all connected. After several more murders, the town is reeling and would never guess who is the cause of it all.

My Thoughts
This series is good light reading. Predictably entertaining but not a real mind stretcher. Probably wouldn’t be pleasing to lovers of literary classics. It falls into the category of “animal mysteries,” not unlike the books of Lillian Jackson Braun.

Favorite Lines
1. Dog to cat when seeing the male subject of the love triangle after a particularly ugly spat: “He looks like Death eating a cracker.”

2. Dog and cat discussing Harry, who is being taken out to dinner by two likable suitors:
Dog: “How do you like that?” He watched the red taillights disappear.
Cat: “I like it a lot… I want someone in mom’s life who makes her life easier. Love shouldn’t feel like a job.”

Automation Nation

I would like to know who decided that humans are completely lazy and don't need human contact. I recently returned from some traveling and am stunned at the automation that is now forced upon us everywhere we turn. As you drive to your destination, you can zoom through toll booths if you have the EZ Pass or something similar. When you arrive at the airport, you swipe your credit card to receive your boarding pass. An agent only helps if you are too dumb to know how to do this. If you have personal needs to attend to, you head for the airport bathroom. Of course, you don't have to exert any energy because you can take a moving walkway right up to the door. After you lock your stall, you can push a button and the "sani-seal" will encircle your toilet seat. If you flinch, or stand to pull up your britches, the toilet will automatically flush. (Very startling indeed if it happens while you are still seated.) When you go to wash your hands, you wave your hand under a spout for soap. Then you wave your hand under another spout for water, which is exactly the right temperature and runs for the appropriate amount of time. Then you wave your hand under a paper towel dispenser and the proper amount of absorbent material pops out. You do have to throw it away on your own. (Hotels also have these fully automated bathrooms available to the public.) If you are lucky, you won't have to open many doors on your own because the good old electronic eye anticipates you coming and wallah! The door slides open. If you need any items at a big-box store, you can go through the self-checkout aisles and avoid the bag boys. There are vending machines now for everything imaginable -- even IPods! Be careful, people, or we're going to turn into a species of idiots.

PS -- For those of you in my era, you'll recognize the picture of Rosie from the Jetsons.