2002 Year in Review
This blog is almost (by one week) a year old! That means that I've been doing this for almost an entire year. What have I done??? Well, a brief, but not all-inclusive, recap is in order:
Tuesday, December 31, 2002
Earthcam New Year's 2003
"EarthCam's New Year's 2003 presents live coverage from dozens of countries around the world. Of special interest, check out the live views from our eight cameras that will observe the New Year's celebrations in Times Square, New York City!"
Andrew Sullivan | A Blogger Manifesto - Why online weblogs are one future for journalism.
"...One thing we've learned from web journalism is that predictions of sudden change have tended to evaporate as months and years have gone by. But it's still true that bloggers are perhaps among the first writers to have the medium direct them rather than the other way round..."
I liked this article so much that I had to link to it, so that I could revisit often.
The Pleiades
"Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades?" - God, to Job in Job 38:31 (emphasis added)
Check out this Astronomy Picture of the Day for the Pleiades.
The Creative Anniversary Calculator
As of the time of this post, I am 392.50 months old! In (Earth) years, that would be 32.71 years old. Find out when your next 'anniversary' will be!
Re-date.com | The Creative Anniversary Calculator
Monday, December 30, 2002
God is not a neurotic parent
Amen to that! IreneQ's post reminds me that I need to pull out my copy of David Seamand's "Healing For Damaged Emotions" and read it.
Better Homes & Gardens | New Year's Eve Traditions
Get set for the best New Year ever with timely toasts, tips, and trivia. go there...
On Zeitgeists and Such - 2002
"Zeitgeist", the good folks at Google.com state, "is defined in English by Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary as 'the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era.'" So here, in the spirit of zeitgeists and such, are some more "Top" lists from 2002, in no particular order (note that all links open in new windows):
Sunday, December 29, 2002
Some thoughts...
- Glenn at LoveSettlement was here earlier.
- Through my own "Journey Inside My Mind", I'm learning more about self-injury/self-mutilation/self-harm... you know, this kind of thing. Two words to describe it, at least as it pertains to me: Inner Rage.
Saturday, December 28, 2002
Self-Injury No Longer Rare Among Teens
Jennifer Warner, from WebMD Medical News, reports that self-injury is becoming a more common means of self-expression among teenagers. Read more...
Space.com | Top 10 Space Science Images of 2002
"In several ways, 2002 was a year in which space came down to Earth..." Read more...
Friday, December 27, 2002
Puzzling E-mail
I received an email from someone I know but whom I rarely receive any email. It stated:
This is a very nice gameAnyone ever seen or heard of this before?
This game is my first work.
You're the first player.
I wish you would enjoy it.
Tuesday, December 24, 2002
Template Help Wanted
DAYTON, Ohio -- Typical of the times, I want to change the template to something 'non-Christmasy' soon. Sure I can use one of the Blogger templates out there, but I wonder what you, gentle readers, would like. I don't want to 'necessarily' copy someone else's work (That might make a good spoofing idea... Imagine showing up to my blog from yours only to see the same design!!!). Please email me by 12/31/2002.
THANKS!
2005 Update: Obviously the template has been updated. I still think spoofing someone else's blog is an interesting idea.
1000 Words, 2002
Courtesy of the folks at Newsweek, we have pictures from the Top Ten stories from 2002...
2005 Update: To access these photos now, you need to register
Monday, December 23, 2002
North Pole Trivia
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1,570 people live in North Pole, Alaska. No information was available as to the number of elves.
via Encarta | Stat Bites
Blogs Make the Headlines
"... bloggers' individualistic perspectives have allowed them to burrow deep into issues the mainstream press wouldn't ordinarily touch..." read more...
via Wired News | Blogs Make the Headlines
the ageless project
Welcome to all visiting from the ageless project! For those that have no idea what I'm talking about, at the ageless project:We're sending the message that the personal, creative side of the web is diverse and ageless and if each of you personal website builders out there will openly share your date of birth with us, we'll be on our way to proving it!
I submitted this blog last week, and I'm already listed. To find the listing for my site, go to the ageless homepage and do a search for 1970, the year I was born. I'm currently on the second page of the search results.
Saturday, December 21, 2002
Remembering High School
I received word recently that the mother of one of my close classmates from high school had passed away. It prompted me to spend some time last night looking through my high school yearbook. I saw a lot of people that are fresh in my memory, but then there were a lot of people whom I used to know, but now I barely remember them.
It was a little emotional, seeing the faces of everyone again. I remember the kind of person I was back then. I'm glad I've grown up somewhat. Wow. Has it really been almost 15 years?
Cleaning Tip
Did Your Holiday Party Leave Stains on Your Carpet?
Then try this cleaning tip:
Some greasy stains can be removed with baking soda, cornstarch, cornmeal, or talcum powder. Leave on 6 to 8 hours, then vacuum. Coat less stubborn greasy stains with aerosol shaving cream or carbonated water. Use a hair dryer to speed dry. Then vacuum.
Friday, December 20, 2002
Prepare for a career in writing
In today's information age, work for the nation's 340,000 writers and editors abounds. And, whether to fulfill old dreams or to satisfy practical needs, many Americans are moving into editorial roles... The outlook for writers is good. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that by 2008, editorial opportunities will have increased 21 to 35 percent over 1998, assuming moderate economic growth. Many of the available jobs will be in high-technology and electronics fields and in journalistic outlets in small markets.From Encarta eLearning Center | Prepare for a career in writing (original link removed because it's no longer valid)
Faking Your Child's Illness - An Extreme Case
So, She Didn't Have Cancer!
Is it just me, or is the Miami Valley getting a lot more national news coverage lately? Here's what I mean:Urbana, Ohio - Police say a mother tried to trick her daughter and the rest of the community into believing that her daughter had leukemia, even to the point of shaving her child's head, giving her sleeping pills, and putting her into counseling to prepare to die. Members of the community had donated money. The child has now been taken from her mother and placed into custody with other relatives.
This situation reminds me of what happened in "The Sixth Sense". The one mother always added PineSol or other household cleaner to her daughter's soup. Could this be another case of Munchausen by Proxy?
from an MSNBC report (link no longer exists)
Celebrity Trivia, Part Deux
It took 19 nominations for this Queen of Daytime Television to be crowned with an Emmy. Who is she?
Thursday, December 19, 2002
Is That Being Narcissitic?
I'd have to say that I am probably the biggest fan of all my blogs. I probably generate the most traffic to them myself. I don't think that's conceited.
More Trent Lott Stuff
When I found this quote some time ago, I never realized how true it could become.
Competition for the Lamest Post
Believe me, your blog will seem more interesting!
From reading the comments, some of which are my own, I feel that there is a competition going for who can have the lamest post, "the dullest blog", or anyone else who comes to visit it. It also reminds me of a bit I've heard on the Bob and Tom Morning Show called "Mr. Obvious".
Here are some of my own personal offerings:
Spam Fighters Plan Conference
Mitch Wagner reports:
Spam fighters plan a conference in the Boston area in January to compare notes on means of fighting the scourge.Don't you find it a little funny that they mentioned that they'll be having Chinese food? As opposed to what... Spam? MUWAHAHAHAHA!!!!
"Arrangements will be very informal: no fees, sponsorships, proceedings, luncheons, contests, etc.," according to the announcement on http://www.spamconference.org. "Just a series of quick, concentrated talks, and then we all go off and get Chinese food."
2005 Update: Fight Spam! Click Here!
WebWasher
I used to have WebWasher installed on the home PC. I first learned about it from an HTML trainer. I can't remember why I got rid of it. Oh well, here's an article about the new release of the software, which is, for home users, still free.
Obnoxious Automobile Ads on the Radio Rant
I find it so easy to get irritated by those obnoxious ads I hear on the radio from car dealers. In their desperation to get someone... anyone... to show up at their dealership... they resort to YELLING! LOUD MUSIC! OBNOXIOUS SOUND EFFECTS - LIKE A HAMMER, LIKE EXPLOSIONS -- I SURE FEEL LIKE GOING TO THEIR DEALERSHIP BUT NOT FOR LOOKING AT A CAR! RATHER, TO BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF THE PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE AND STAR IN THOSE ADS!! AAAAAAAGGGHHH!
A snippet of some I've heard over the past year... "A BIKE FOR CHRIS --- PAID FOR!!! A DOLLY FOR SUSIE --- PAID FOR!!! THAT NEW DIAMOND RING --- PAID FOR!!! (loud music begins, some explosions) GET A MINIMUM OF $2000 FOR ANY TRADE... ANY TRADE!!! ANY TRADE!!!!!"
"THAT'S RIGHT... PUSH IT IN... PULL IT IN... DRAG IT IN!!!!"
Oh yeah, there was that miserable spoof of the "12 Days of Christmas" in which they sang about all the people who were approved for a new car loan: "... TWO FIRST-TIME BUYERS, AND A MAN WITH A BANCRUPTCY!!!"
A few years ago I heard the following: "PLANET FORD WILL TAKE OVER YOUR PAYMENTS!" Now I know they said payments because I heard the ad over and over and over again, but the first few times I thought they were saying a certain part of a man's anatomy. Combine THAT with "PUSH IT IN... PULL IT IN..." and we're about ready to call the FCC.
Okay, enough. I feel better now that I got that off my chest.
What to do with your Cincinnati Bengals Tickets
AP Sports Writer Joe Kay reports that Cincinnati councilman Chris Monzel is trying to get more fans into Paul Brown Stadium for the final Bengals game by collecting tickets that would otherwise go unused. Ticket holders can donate them to the city, and the city will distribute them at local recreation centers.
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
The Dullest Blog in the World
I may have found the "The dullest blog in the world." But it does remind me... I'm wearing a pair of socks that are two different colors: one is black and the other one is white. I have another pair just like them back home.
Measuring Success
With New Years Day only two weeks away, here's something to consider when you think of New Years resolutions:Yahoo! DailyTips: Measuring Success
Not every goal is measurable. For example, if your goal is 'I want to organize my home,' you can't specifically measure how organized your home has become, although you may sense that things are easier to find. Writing some specific, smaller steps that move you toward your larger goals can help you track where you are in pursuing that goal. For organizing your home, for example, you can set up steps such as the following:At the end of the week, give yourself a checkup to determine whether you've completed each particular step. If you successfully reach your mini-goals for several weeks, you will see measurable progress toward your larger goal (an organized home). Even though you can't measure all goals, you can measure the progress you have made toward them -- and celebrate!
- Every night before I go to bed, I will do the dishes, put them away, and lay out my breakfast setting.
- I will sort mail or paperwork immediately as it enters my home into three piles: Take Action, File, or Trash. Nothing will stay in the Take Action pile more than a week. The File pile will be filed every two weeks. The Trash will be thrown out on the spot.
- This week I will clean out the medicine cabinet.
Organize for success: Resolve to read Success For Dummies, by Zig Ziglar.
Strange News - AP | City May Require Free Air at Gas Stations
It made more sense to me once I looked at the story.
The Melancholy Body
From Top Stories from U.S. News & World Report | The Melancholy Body:
Increasingly, it appears that what we call depression is not strictly psychological but is, instead, a condition that occupies the whole body. "Depression is really the only systemic disease that affects--and complicates--almost all other diseases," says Philip Gold, the chief of clinical neuroendocrinology at the National Institute of Mental Health. In fact, depression not only affects and complicates existing disorders like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, even osteoporosis; it might also trigger them.2005 Update: I removed the link to USN&WR because it was no longer valid.
Wacky Technology Word of the Day
Buffer Underrun: A buffer underrun error occurs when data (such as MP3s, PC files, digital images, and so on) is being recorded onto a CD and the data-input stream falls behind the laser that is burning the CD. Usually, buffer underrun results from poor CD recording software, a slow computer, or a CD-R drive with insufficient buffer memory.
Now, let's see you use this new word as you go about your day.
If you dare to go beyond this word, then check out The Complete CNET Tech Glossary. This site is especially good if all your Net-savvy friends laugh at you every time you open your mouth. By the way, it's not because you have a food particle stuck in your teeth.
2005 Update: The CNET link no longer works. Well, we had fun while we could!
Remembering the Wright Brothers
The Dayton Daily News reported yesterday that
Federal officials and Air Force generals helped Dayton celebrate its aviation heritage today by dedicating a new National Park Service interpretive center close to where the Wright brothers learned to fly almost a century ago. The interpretive center dedication took place on the 99th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first powered flights and coincided with the Wright family's annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Wright Brothers Memorial in a hilltop park that overlooks the flying field...
Orville made the world's first sustained, controlled flight in a powered airplane near Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903. He and Wilbur continued their flying experiments on Huffman Prairie in 1904 and 1905. The patch where they flew is now a part of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and one of four sites that make up the national park.
A Santa Claus Story
from my friend Laura H. from high school:
I remember my first Christmas party with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second cinnamon bun.
"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old.
I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of
everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobbie Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.
Bobbie Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobbie Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobbie Decker a coat. I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm and he would like that.
"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.
"Yes," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobbie." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and write, "To Bobbie, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobbie Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and few back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobbie.
Forty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous.
Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Home Networking Gets Easy
Ever wondered how to set up a home network? TechTV | Call for help has the answer.
ABC Kills Off 'Dinotopia'
Good riddance!
Reuters/Variety TV reports that ABC's 'Dinotopia' has gone extinct. It's last showing will be on December 26th. Frankly, I'd rather watch a repeat of CBS's CSI before I'd watch 'Dinotopia'. What a waste! I never liked the mini-series, and I could not understand why they decided to make it a regular series.
I guess it's back to the drawing board.
The Cure for Blogger's Block - The Topics Blog
Make up a story using the titles of the top 10 movies of 2002. Or, you could use your personal top 10 list.
Running Out of Time - Creativity in Action
From the "It Could Happen" / Creativity-in-Action Department
Allow me to shamelessly plug "Running Out of Time".
Pearly Gates - JOKE ALERT!
A man appears before the pearly gates. "Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asks.
"Well, I can think of one thing," the man offers. "Once I came upon a gang of high-testosterone bikers who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen. So I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker. I smacked him on the head, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring and threw it on the ground, and told him, 'Leave her alone now or you'll answer to me.'"
St. Peter was impressed. "When did this happen?"
"A couple of minutes ago."
again, from Jeff I.'s email
Family Car - JOKE ALERT!
A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss his use of the family car. His father took him into his study and said, "I'll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study the Bible a little, get your hair cut and then we'll talk about it."
After about a month, the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss his use of the car. They again went into the father's study where the father said,
"Son, I've been very proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you've studied the Bible diligently, but you didn't get your hair cut.
The young man waited a moment and then replied, "You know Dad, I've been thinking about the fact that Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and Jesus had long hair.
His Father said, "Yes, and everywhere they went, they walked.
from Jeff I.'s email
Monday, December 16, 2002
Burningbird and the Chamber of Secrets?
Over the weekend Jennie and I saw Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. When I took a look at the post at Burningbird: Practical RDF Book Cover. Maybe it's because the movie is still fresh in my mind, but when I saw the name of the site, I thought of a Phoenix, namely the one named Fawkes, who was in the movie. The picture on the O'Reilly book cover resembles the Phoenix from Harry Potter. In one scene of the movie, the Phoenix dies and burns itself up. Then it regenerates itself from the ashes. It also did a number on the big snake during the climactic scene in the Chamber of Secrets, tearing its eyes out, rendering it blind.
Could this be more than a coincidence?
P.S. I KNEW I'd seen that face before!!! Jason Isaacs, the actor who portrays Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, played Colonel William Tavington in The Patriot.
Lipsum Generator - Dummy Text
Zeldman points to the website that claims to be “the first true Lipsum generator on the Internet.”
And now you know. You will never, ever, be the same, won't you?
Recommended Reading
Eliot Gelwan found out that when you input the URL of your webpage, Mark Pilgrim's utility will return a list of blogs for you to read. The links below are recommended reading for my blogs:
- Journey Inside My Mind
- Letters to God
- QuotesBlog
- Get That Job!
- Streams of Consciousness
12/29/2004 Update: Mark has eliminated his utility, so I removed the links.
Keeping Christ in Christmas
Christmas. A time filled with traditions and symbols, found in decorations, singing of carols, gift-giving, and so forth. It can seem challenging to keep the "Christ" in Christmas, but a look at the history of Christmas and the symbolism can help us to keep the proper perspective:
Have your ever wondered about the "12 Days of Christmas"? That carol, with the partridge in a pear tree, two turtledoves... well, I won't labor you with the entire list, but hopefully you remember. Anyhow... the Catholic Information Network describes the carol as "An Underground Catechism".
(12/29/2004 Update to the above: Snopes.com reports that as an urban legend. Shucks.)
Also, more comprehensive sites delve into the Symbols, Customs, and Traditions of Christmas. At that site there is even a link to take the Christmas Quiz to find out how much you learned. Finally, someone has prepared a Christmas Symbols Unit Study that can not only be used to instruct children but anyone who is interested in the symbolism of Christmas.
Whether the intent of the various symbols was to point back to the true meaning or not, we are not without reason to keep Christ in Christmas.
Update: Jen has some ideas on the True Meaning of Christmas. I couldn't find a permalink, so you'll have to find it yourself. It's her 12/18/2002 11:06 AM post.
History Channel | History of the Holidays
The History Channel has some interesting details about the history of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Definitely worth a read.
Friday, December 13, 2002
The Brewery - JOKE ALERT!
courtesy of Jeff I. via email
Brenda O'Malley is home making dinner, as usual, when Tim Finnegan arrives at her door. "Brenda, may I come in?" he asks. "I've somethin' to tell ya."
"Of course you can come in, you're always welcome, Tim. But where's my husband?"
"That's what I'm here to be tellin' ya, Brenda. There was an accident down at the brewery."
"Oh, God no!" cries Brenda. "Please don't tell me ..."
"I must, Brenda. Your husband Seamus is dead and gone. I'm sorry."
Finally, she looked up at him. "How did it happen, Tim?"
"It was terrible, Brenda. He fell into a vat of Guiness Stout and drowned."
"Oh my Dear Jesus! But you must tell me true, Tim. Did he at least go quickly?"
"Well, no Brenda... no."
"No?"
"No. Fact is, he got out three times to pee."
Never Say Never Again
I remember several years back Don Henley was asked when the Eagles were going to get back together. He replied, "When hell freezes over." The Eagles did get back together and released an album entitled "Hell Freezes Over". I like that album.
I bring this up because that memory flashed into my mind when I read this post over at Bene Dicton Blogs On. When you go there, you'll understand why.
2005 Update: The blogs4God link takes you to the main page, for some reason.
Mike Peters' Editorial Cartoons
Mike Peters is the editorial cartoonist for the Dayton Daily News. He also writes the comic strip "Mother Goose and Grimm". I was just browsing through some of his latest cartoons:
- 11/29/2002: UN Inspectors Go To Columbus, Ohio
- 12/5/2002: Captain Hook Comments on Disney Cruises
- 12/8/2002: Paul O'Neill tours with U2
Dayton Ranked as a Dangerous City
I agree with Tim Apolito, a University of Dayton instructor who teaches courses on criminal justice and U.S. policing: "When you look at any statistic you have to look at what that statistic really means." Statistics alone don't tell the entire story. Nevertheless, here they are:
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Happy Holidays Template
By now you probably have noticed the red and green. I've changed the blogger template for this blog for the holidays. I still don't have the 'bottom' tag anchored properly. That's for another time.
2005 Update: I've obviously changed the template.
Celebrity Trivia
This self-proclaimed wild and crazy guy was at one time a serious student of philosophy. Who is he?
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
Turkey Consumption
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the typical American consumes 14 pounds of turkey a year. That's a lot of gobbling!!!
I AM Mental
from QuotesBlog:
As I journey inside my mind, I try to understand some of my neurotic behavior. For example:
Since I was about seven years old, I have had a habit of picking at scabs. I am currently taking some medicine and going to therapy about this and other obsessive-compulsive behavior. I ask that you who read this remember me and pray for me and my family for God to continue to use me and this situation for the best. I often don't see how this can be good.
I did a Yahoo! Search for "self injury", and I found this site that you may want to look at to get a better understanding of this behavior.
Here are some links to specific community message boards, via WebMD:
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Pets are Family, Too
Some companies such as Miller Brewing, Blockbuster, eBay, and ICI Americas, according to an article at NorthJersey.com, are beginning to offer pet insurance as part of their employees benefit packages. "Maintaining a strong workforce, especially at no cost to a company, is the primary reason some employers say they're adding plans for Spot and Fluffy to their benefit offerings."
'Da Beard'
That was a nickname I got the first time I ever tried to grow a beard. Two of my coworkers noticed how obsessive-compulsive I was about it. The last time I grew a beard, it wound up on my personal website, albeit in poor resolution. I've since changed the picture, by the way.
I just found out that I'm not alone: you can watch this guy grow his beard. found via Evhead.
2005 Update: the pictures are gone, but the placeholders are still there. The blog has since been abandoned. Archives are still present, however.
On Being Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Our five-year old daughter Keisha is hearing-impaired and has to wear hearing aids
Seeing those words I just typed cuts my heart still. It's been almost two years since we found out that she had hearing loss. It was determined that her cochleas, the spiral-shaped part of the inner ear, were never fully developed (see this image of the inner ear from Center for Advanced Computing Research, Caltech, Pasadena, California USA). I bring this up because within the last couple of days we've been reminded of it, and, while we've grown to accept it, it still hurts in our hearts. We realize even more how fragile we human beings are, and how much more we need God:
This past Sunday we spent some time with some friends from church. They have two daughters: one who is eight and one who is eleven months. Rachel, the eight year old, asked me, "When is Keisha not going to have to wear her hearing aids anymore?"
I replied, "Never. She will most probably always have to wear hearing aids for the rest of her life." The finality of that statement struck an emotional chord that hadn't been touched in awhile.
Then, yesterday evening, as my wife was tucking Keisha into her bed, she observed something else. Keisha has to take her hearing aids off before she goes to sleep, and as Jennie was tucking her in, Keisha brought out a stuffed bear. This bear, when you squeeze its hand, sings "Jesus Loves Me" and says the "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" prayer. She received it from her aunt a couple years ago.
Keisha squeezed the bear, and it started playing "Jesus Loves Me". Jennie, my wife, noticed that Keisha had put the speaker part of the bear, from which the music issued, against her ear just so that she could hear it. At first Jennie thought that the batteries might need to be replaced, but when Keisha had it play "Jesus Loves Me" again, Jennie could tell that the batteries were okay. It was just that Keisha needed to have the speaker up to her ear so that she could hear it better. Then she put it up to Jennie's ear as though that was the only way that Jennie could hear it, too.
The doctors have said that Keisha's hearing loss can get progressively worse. This is one of the reasons why we're all learning sign language, even Nana, who has come to live with us recently. I also think that it is great that Keisha herself sees the benefit of having the hearing aids, or "magic ears", as we like to call them. I think she is aware of how special she is, and that she definitely feels everyone's love. We all understand that Keisha is exactly how God wanted her.
Everyone in our household, except for the dog, ails with something. For Keisha, it's her hearing loss. For my Mom and me, it's our mental illnesses. For Jennie, it's probably a hormonal imbalance of some kind. It's very humbling. Not only that, but it's also encouraging as we continue to remind ourselves that, ailments and all, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-14). Seeing myself - ourselves - in this light is definitely a good thing.
World's Best Bathrooms
Just when you thought the conditions of public restrooms were going down the toilet, here comes this nice story:It's no great secret — everyone has to do his or her business, and historically, the public potty was not the preferred place to do it. Once considered a nasty nuisance, today's public restrooms are starting a trend toward the terrific.
via Discovery Channel | World's Best Bathrooms
Monday, December 09, 2002
Listen to My Online Radio Station
Yes, indeed. I have my own LAUNCHcast online radio station. Take a listen if you'd like to see what's playing. Then let me know what you think. Okay, then. Have at it!
Children Who Are Givers
Just in time for the holidays, here is a snippet from KenPierpoint.com, entitled "Children Who Are Givers":No one loves Christmastime more than I do. But when you are the head of the household it has its attendant frustrations. One of them is finding the money to cover regular expenses and the additional expectations of Christmas gifts and celebrations and trips.
What's a 'Guidepost'?
You may have wondered why the term 'guidepost' exists in the comments section of my posts for 'Journey Inside My Mind'. You may have even wondered what a guidepost is. Here is a definition that I came up with:Guidepost n. 1. A post with a sign giving directions for travelers, usually placed at a crossroad. 2. Something that serves as a guide or an example; a guideline. 3. Any thoughts/advice/critcisms/wittisms/tips you have.
So, fellow travelers on the 'Journey Inside My Mind', feel free to leave any guideposts here, next to the blog entries. It's way easier than scrawling on the monitor, by the way...
Thanks for Linking!
I just went to Blogrolling.com and did some searches for my weblog URLs to see who else - other than I - has them in their blogrolls. Well, I have yet to visit them, but the following Blogrolling.com users like QuotesBlog enough to link back to it:
- http://neophytepundit.blogspot.com/
- http://sangalog.blogspot.com/
- http://sainteros.blogspot.com
- http://blog.alkisah.com
Also the owner of thisentity.blogspot.com appears to like this blog and Letters to God.
Thanks for visiting, and keep in touch!
P.S. Speaking of Blogrolling.com, you may want to check out their list of Recently Updated Links.
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Philosophizing the Dog
I don't understand dog behavior.
Today it snowed, and, as usual, when I let our 8-month old puppy out, he started running around the yard. No particular reason why this happened, I guess. He just sprinted to one end of our yard to other. And again. And again. He'd stop for a moment to see if I was looking at him. Then he'd dash off again. And again. Funny animal, he.
Sometimes I would make like I was going to chase him, and he'd run some more. And what is this thing with socks, handkerchiefs, and whatnot, that he has to thrash it while he has it in his mouth? I don't get it.
I don't understand dog behavior, and maybe not for a long time. Maybe never.
Wednesday, December 04, 2002
E-mail Dilemma
Let's say you found mail/e-mail -- something meant for someone else to read and that was never meant for you to read, and you read it. Now you know something very personal about that person that they don't know you know. How do you respond?
Recent Jim Borgman Cartoons
Jim Borgman is a Pulitzer prize winning editorial cartoonist for the Cincinnati Enquirer. He's had some real good ones lately:
- 21
st Century Santa (It's funny how Jim Borgman's Santa looks like himself.) - School Spirit -- Riots in Columbus after Ohio State's Victory over Michigan
- 'Can You Hear Me Now?' -- Democrats' voice in Congress
Blogging the Christian Internet
Neat!
The latest Internet for Christians newsletter has a section about Christian blogging. Blogs4God.com is mentioned. My weblogs
Monday, December 02, 2002
Alias Season 2 Episode 8 - "Passage Part 1"
I watched 'Alias' last night. It was nice to see Sydney's mom out of her cell, but I am even more intrigued by the preview I saw of next week's episode. By the way, I also think that Sloane and Sark should be taken out and have the same things done to them that they have done themselves. Indeed, I was almost disappointed to find out that Sloane survived the attempted assassination.
I also think that Will Tippin should be recruited into the CIA so that his investigative reporting skills could be put to better use.
There. I've done it. Hopefully I haven't spoiled it that much for those who haven't seen the episode yet.
Okay, all you Alias fans -- what do you think?
Wednesday, November 27, 2002
Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation
The website includes definition, newsletter, services, and more, with links organized in the following categories:
- About OCD
- SIGs(Special Interest Groups), with a link to 'Organized Chaos' webzine, just for teens and young adults with OCD
- OCF Resources
- More Info & Resources
XML to Become Word and Excel File Formats
Infoworld | XML to Become Word and Excel File Formats
(excerpt from article):
The first public beta of Microsoft Office 11 demonstrates, as promised, that XML has become a native Office file format. What's more, Word 11 and Excel 11 can associate documents with data definitions written in XML Schema, and they can interactively validate documents against schemas. These are transforming achievements. Previous Office upgrades have been yawners, but version 11 should rivet the attention of IT planners.
Monday, November 25, 2002
Abe Lincoln Haiku
More awkward than most
He wasn't much for parties
But boy could he talk
from p r e s i d e n t i a l h a i k u
Thursday, November 21, 2002
Getting To Know Your Friends
This is a variation of an email that I received from Dana B. I decided to post it here instead. My answers are in italics:
About a half hour after the alarm clock rings or when my wife wakes me up (usually about 6:30am). On Saturday, I try to wake up on my own, especially since I'm taking this medicine that makes me sleepy.
Jesus Christ, just to preview what life in heaven will be like.
gold
with kids - Ice Age
without kids - Spiderman
Alias, CSI, Without a Trace
when I'm responsible for it - cereal, donuts, or whatever I can find that's already made
when someone else makes it - eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, etc.
a huge gorilla that is looking for someone to mate with him
Yes, and more! I can roll my tongue up on the sides and down on the sides (wow! what talent!)
the Bible, my wife, my daughter, other family, "character transformation"-type movies, genuine encouragement
Allen
city
Summer
mint chocolate chip
naptime
1997 Honda Civic LX - the one I currently drive
philly cheese steak
mercilessness, snobbery
marigold, we have a lot of them in our front yard
After I'd confirmed it, I probably would tell friends and family the next time I spoke with them. I'd probably wind up with a lot more 'friends and family'.
big cup of still water - must be cold, though
pink and white
6 keys- 3 keys to 3 cars that do not work, two house keys, and my office shelf key
dayton, ohio - where I live right now
Yeah, sort of. I can also juggle in my mind, too. Oops! Dropped one!
Saturday
red
Went to Max & Erma's with my wife, my daughter, friend Tasha and her son. Also, we had a party at our house the previous Sunday and folks shared about Tasha and me (her birthday is the day after mine). People were still hanging around when 'Alias' came on, so my wife and I let everyone else do what they wanted to so that we could watch it.
Yes, it's on my driver's license
mostly everyone
I have no idea
I really don't have it all together
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
To anyone who has seen the movie, what do you think? I am presently in my second round of reading the book.
Monday, November 18, 2002
Wednesday, November 13, 2002
Monday, November 11, 2002
Journey Inside My Mind: Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
One of the main reasons I started this weblog was to be able to document the so-called "journey inside my mind". I tend to be rather neurotic, and I've often not been able to understand why my world seems to be in a whirlwind and out of control (see related posts: "Mind on Fire" "Whirlwind - A Poem").
Since undergoing therapy, I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (aka manic depression), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Throughout a lot of this journey, I've tried to learn as much about the mental illnesses as possible to see how and where I fit in. The idea is to glean from others' knowledge so that I can get well:
I'm currently being seen by a psychiatrist and a counselor, and the current diagnosis is what the doc referred to as "process OCD", which I'm understanding as Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). It is true that I have some of the "content OCD" symptoms: I pick at scabs, touch my face or hands excessively, etc. But the big thing is that my "process" of doing things is so rigid.
So I'm journeying to discover more about this OCPD, and, thanks to the folks at Yahoo!, I was able to find a web site that defines OCPD. I link to it here more for my benefit, but if you also benefit, then that's a bonus.
Veteran's Day 2002
from email (thanks to Jeff I.)
What is a Vet?- He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
- He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
- She (or he) is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
- He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.
- He is the Parris Island drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
- He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
- He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
- He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
- He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
- He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
- He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
Two little words that mean a lot: "THANK YOU."
It's the soldier, not the reporter, who gave us our freedom of the press.Prayer for our Servicemen
It's the soldier, not the poet, who gave us our freedom of speech.
It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gave us our freedom to demonstrate.
It's the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves others with respect for the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Lord, hold our troops in Your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Closing Remarks
When you've read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our service men and women stationed all over the world.
There is nothing attached...Of all the gifts you could give a US serviceman, prayer is the very best one.
Thursday, November 07, 2002
Collapse!
I just played this game at the public library's computer. It, like so many others, can be so addicting. I found it through http://games.yahoo.com.
Chimneys and Fireplaces
We've had our house for over a year, but we've never used the upstairs or downstairs fireplace. We had them inspected prior to buying the house and were told that they needed $1500 worth of work. I have no idea how they operate and what kinds of things need to be considered when using them, but I found a site that may help me: About.com's Fireplace Guide.
Wednesday, November 06, 2002
Two Frogs - Lesson in the Power of Words
A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the unfortunate frogs they would never get out.
The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and simply gave up. He fell down and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and suffering and just die. He jumped even harder, and finally, he made it out.
When he got out, the other frogs asked him, "Why did you continue jumping? Didn't you hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.
This story teaches two lessons:
The power of words ... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another. That's what I'm doing here.
Cheers!
FBI as an Example of Useful Government - JOKE ALERT!
via e-mail from Steve
The phone rings at FBI headquarters:
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this the FBI?"
"Yes. What do you want?"
"I'm calling to report my neighbor Adrian Thibodeaux! He is hiding marijuana inside his firewood."
"Thank you very much for the call, sir."
The next day, the FBI agents descend on Thibodeaux's house. They search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust open every piece of wood, but find no marijuana. They swear at Thibodeaux and leave.
The phone rings at Thibodeaux's house.
"Hey, Adrian! Did the FBI come?"
"Yeah!"
"Did they chop your firewood?"
"Yep."
"Great, call the FBI back and tell them that there is cocaine in my garden. It needs to be plowed."
Monday, November 04, 2002
Saturday, November 02, 2002
See These Pics
subtitled, "I didn't know you could do that with a blog!"
crazy white girl with a camera is a new blog with Kelly's pictures. Thanks to Mike for the link.
Monday, October 28, 2002
While at the library tonight...
... Keisha, my mom, and I found this game on the PBS Kids website:
Animal Alphabet.
Try it out when you get a chance!
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Daylight Saving Time...
... ends at 2 AM Sunday, October 27, 2002. Except for Josh and other Hoosiers, Arizonans, and folks in Hawaii. Find out more...
Saturday, October 19, 2002
Legendary Photo
Folks with heart conditions, please disregard. Thanks.
This is pretty neat. Apparently the owners of this house had been seeing images and hearing voices for quite a while:
They did some research and found out that a lady who lost her husband during the civil war once lived in the house. Legend says that she used to sit at the table and look across the fields in anticipation of her loved one returning home. He never came. So, they say she still waits.
They caught this photo of what they claim to be her. This one was wild and a little spooky once you find the ghost in the picture. It took me a few seconds to find it, but when you do it just stands out. Like one of those optical illusions.
To save you some time, concentrate around the table. Best not to focus too much on one spot. Look around the table and toward the window. Best to enlarge.
For an added touch turn up the volume, it's faint but you can hear the ghost talking sometimes in a low murmur.
Just stare on that picture, and she will show up....
Friday, October 18, 2002
Thursday, October 17, 2002
Toddler Cocaine Update
MSNBC.com | Toddler Cocaine Update
"TODDLER COCAINE": Those are two words you don't normally see together. Jeez.
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Speaking of Stinky Smells
In the past month, I've talked about some stinky stuff. I just found out that Renuzit, the air freshener people, have tallied all the results of a recent nationwide survey on the Stinkiest Smell in America. The result? Skunk.
By the way, if your stomach is strong enough, why not check out my comments on the Dog Days of Summer?
Halloween Costume Ideas
The October 14, 2002 edition of the Dayton Business Journal has a great editorial that contains some ideas for Halloween costumes this year. Here's an excerpt:It seems every week brings news of executives tricking and treating themselves to gobs of money while shareholders watch their goody bags dry up. As a result, many people will have less money to spend this winter on holiday gifts and Thanksgiving feasts.
For some other Halloween ideas, please check out John Ludwig's Halloween blog.
But let's not allow them to ruin Halloween. If nothing else, the corporate and political scandals segway right into a holiday that celebrates gluttony and greed. So this year, forget about dressing little Johnny as a wolfman or little Suzie as a witch, and try something in keeping with the times.
Monday, October 14, 2002
Sunday, October 13, 2002
Playing Golf - JOKE ALERT!
A married man was having an affair with his secretary. One day, their passions overcame them and they took off for her house. Exhausted from the afternoon's activities, they fell asleep and awoke at around 8 p.m.:
As the man threw on his clothes, he told the woman to take his shoes outside and rub them through the grass and dirt. Mystified, she nonetheless complied and he slipped into his shoes and drove home.
"Where have you been?" demanded his wife when he entered the house.
"Darling," replied the man, "I can't lie to you. I've been having an affair with my secretary. I fell asleep in her bed and didn't wake up until eight o'clock."
The wife glanced down at his shoes and said, "You liar! You've been playing golf!"
Clue Into Safety
From Ford Motor Company and Nick, Jr.: "Choose a game by moving your mouse to a place in the neighborhood. Or click a picture above the Safety Blue's Neighborhood banner."
Cincinnati Bungles
Hey the Steelers won one! But, against the Bengals? Does that count? What happened to the spirit of optimism?
Friday, October 11, 2002
YesterdayLand | Your Childhood is Here
From the Founder's Forum:
"Why Yesterdayland? The way we see it…it needed to be done. Someone had to take all of the things that that made life worth living, and put them all in one place. TV, movies, toys, food, fashion, and music …And more importantly, the memories...Yesterdayland is the next best thing to time travel..."
Monday, October 07, 2002
Dirty Jobs, The Sequel
also posted to 100words.net, October batch
"What an wonderful smell you've discovered!" -- Han Solo, to Princess Leia, in Star Wars: A New Hope
The saga continues…
Today Roto-Rooter Man is visiting our house. Our main sewer line is backed up with who-knows-what, and, needless to say, it’s affected out lifestyle.
It takes a special person to be a Roto-Rooter man. It must. You have to clean up other peoples’ crap. What drives someone like that, I wonder? Where do they get their passion? How many times do they vomit before they start to get used to the smell?
These questions and more run through my brain as our hero, Roto-Rooter Man makes the world, or at least, our house, safe for democracy again.
Sunday, October 06, 2002
Foul Mouth or a Pain in the Neck
Since last Thursday, my mouth has been so sore:
I think I may have scraped too hard against my gum with my toothbrush. Anyhow, it's in the lower part of the right side of my jaw, very close to where the wisdom tooth used to be. The pain extends from where the lymph node is in my neck all the way up to my right ear so that it feels like I have a slight earache.
So, I have a pain in my neck. Literally.
Since the end of July I haven't had any insurance, so I've been reluctant to go see someone because I'm also unable to pay for it right now. It is presently 11:46 PM on Sunday, October 6, 2002, and the only place that would be able to see me right now is the hospital emergency room. So I'm going to see if I can withstand this for a little while longer before I break down and head to the ER. I'm not that willing to incur the exorbitant medical bills.
Thursday, October 03, 2002
UK Scientists Pick Funniest Joke
"Scientists in Britain unveiled the world's funniest joke Thursday at the end of the largest study of humor ever..."
found on Discovery Channel | U.K. Scientists Pick Funniest Joke
Dirty Jobs - The Puppy
On arriving back home this morning after dropping Jennie off at work and Keisha off at school, I found out that the puppy has diarrhea. Fortunately, he was confined to his cage. I vomited three times trying to get the cage outside to clean it. Thank God for dish soap, bleach, the garden hose, and the sewer located so close to our driveway.
Poor puppy. After I had cleaned his cage, I gave him a bath - outside, of course. Then, since I had to run an errand, I put him out in the back yard under the shade with a fresh bowl of water and just a little bit of food.
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
Bob Evans' Has Kooties
And you can 'catch' them from other people, too!
Dayton Business Journal | Bob Evans' Has Kooties
100words.net - Update
crossposted from Streams of Consciousness
You may or may not have been aware that I began contributing to 100words.net last month. The way it works is that each day I write 100 words - typos and all - and submit them to the site.
Good news! Last month's entries are now available for you to view. Almost all of the time, the entries are random, with no connected meaning to each other. However, toward the end of last month, I started a little bit of a story line. It's been interesting, to say the least, adding only 100 words at a time.
Blog HOT or NOT Test
This is a test. Blog HOT or NOT seems to be affecting this blog in that as soon as I try to load it, it tries to go there immediately, without any user interaction. So I deleted the former post about it.
I may have to delete or at least comment out the code for Blog HOT or NOT.
BTW, I'm currently at the public library, using Netscape (oh, joy!).
Tuesday, October 01, 2002
MSN Women - Family Guide
Alright. This post is for all my friends and family -- whomever, really -- has had or will have a baby. I found the link to this area on MSN, and when I clicked it, I noticed that some freebies were available. Recalling from five years ago, freebies for a newborn and the newborn's parents, freebies are still great.
Not only do you have the article about the top baby names from 1880-2001, but you can sign up for some free newsletters, including one called "Baby's Ages and Stages," which I thought many soon-to-be or new parents would love.
So check it out, and if you find anything interesting, let me know. We're still working on baby #2.
originally entitled: MSN WomenCentral | Baby and Pregnancy
Doctors Grow Pig Teeth in Rat Intestines
Now That's Just Disgusting!
Yahoo! News | Doctors Grow Pig Teeth in Rat Intestines: "BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. doctors have managed to grow pig teeth in rat intestines, a feat of bioengineering they said could spark a dental revolution."
Who says those laboratory rats are worth nothing? I wonder how they get the teeth out: by natural means or by some other way? Kinda makes me want to floss so that I can keep my own teeth awhile longer...
Sunday Evening Season Premieres
Mike and others (including myself) weigh in on the season premiere of 'Alias'.
I taped the episode for my wife, who was at work. I edited out the commercials, too. Then I taped the season premiere of 'The Practice', which we also like to watch. Some good writing on both shows. I love the plot reversals that create and increase the tension. That's what makes me want to continue to watch.
Monday, September 30, 2002
When Should Your Child Stay Home?
The nurses at Keisha's preschool gave us this information at the Open House. Some of it is self-explanatory, but some of it might not be.If your child has any of the following symptoms he/she should be kept at home and the teacher notified of the reason for the absence.
If your child is not interested in playing and eating and wants to lie down, he/she should be watched and the child's temperature checked. Do not send the child to school if you give a fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol.
Question for you, gentle reader: what is it about the symptoms above that makes them important enough to warrant keeping a child home from school?
Earn Free Stuff For Your School
Campbell's Labels for Education - Earn Free Stuff For Your School
Help your child's school earn educational equipment this year simply by saving the labels from any of hundreds of varieties of Campbell product and sending them to school with your child. Some of the products eligible for redemption in the program include
For a complete listing of participating Campbell products, visit the Labels for Education website.
Contact your school's program coordinator if you have any questions or would like to take an active role in this year's Labels for Education collection drive.
Saturday, September 28, 2002
Stay-at-Home Dad
Since Jennie has been working during the day for the past four weeks and recently picked up another job in the evenings, I've become somewhat of a stay-at-home Dad. It's different in a good way: The Singable Songs Collection 1996
I get to take Keisha to her weekly speech therapy appointments. We get to hang out together and do fun stuff like go to the library, stop by the UDF (United Dairy Farmers) near the University of Dayton for a soda. We did all three yesterday (Friday).
At 8:30 AM we dropped Jennie off at work and then stopped by the UDF on Brown Street because we were thirsty. We noticed that they had 3 Krispy Kreme donuts for $1.79, so we bought some. After we sat down, Keisha and I began eating our donuts, and I brought out my Bible and told Keisha that we were going to read something from it together. I found the Parable of the Lost Sheep. Then we did our memory verse from this past Tuesday night's Family Devotional, Psalm 37:4.
After this we drove to the clinic to see if my medicine was available for me to pick up. No dice. Then we drove to Children's Medical Center, where Keisha has her speech therapy. She did really well - picking up a lot of vocabulary.
Then we drove to the Dayton and Montgomery County Public Library to check out some videos and some CDs. We also got some books for Keisha to read. They have an entire shelf in the Children's book area devoted to new readers. Cool! We checked out Raffi's Singable Songs Collection, which we all love! She's actually been listening to Raffi since she was a couple months old and I'd sing her the songs from the Singable Songs for the Very Young album.
20th Anniversary Special Edition
3 Albums: Singable Songs for the Very Young, More Singable Songs for the Very Young and Corner Grocery Store
Singable Songs for the Very Young
1976
Friday, September 27, 2002
Myers-Briggs Type Prayers
Bene Diction Blogs On: Myers-Briggs Type Prayers
A couple of these fit me:
- ENFJ: God, help me to do only what I can and trust you for the rest. Do you mind putting that in writing?
- ENFP: God, help me to keep my mind on one th - Look a bird! - at a time.
MSNBC | Weblog Central - Blogspotting
MSNBC | Weblog Central - Blogspotting
From the September 26, 2002 2:40 ET post:
Once upon a time, before the Internet revolutionized public discourse, there was only one sure way for a person to become a pundit: get a job as a journalist and hold forth from the pages of a newspaper, magazine or a broadcast organization.
But now, with the explosion of personal online journals known as Weblogs, anyone with something to say and access to the right software can be a publisher, a pundit and observer of events great and small.
Weblogs — personal online journals, saturated with attitude and rich with links to Internet resources — have transformed and democratized the media landscape. What had once quietly flourished in the grassroots of cyberspace has now burst into the mainstream, transforming the way Internet news and communities are perceived.
That’s why MSNBC is launching Weblog Central, your gateway to the world of personal news.
This page will serve as a perch from which you can observe and participate in the brave new world of personal news. We hope you’ll make it a daily destination.
Morpheus in a Matrimonial Matrix with Alias's Anna Espinosa
Yahoo! News - E! Online | Morpheus in a Matrimonial Matrix with Alias's Anna Espinosa
Lawrence Fishburne and actress Gina Torres were married last weekend "at the Cloisters museum in New York, Fisburne's publicist, Alan Nierob, confirmed today."
Fishburne is most recently known for being Neo's (played by Keaunu Reeves) mentor in the Matrix sequels. (By the way, both sequels will be released next year; The Matrix: Reloaded in May and The Matrix: Revolutions in November.) Torres, who will also appear in both sequels, is better known to Alias fans as Jennifer Garner's nemesis, Anna Espinosa.
