We still don't know what this means, but we love it when Lucy does it just the same.
Lucy wearing her shoes for the first time.
"Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction." -Anne Sullivan
Monday, September 22, 2008
Vacation - Part I
For all my rage against commercialism, I am a sucker for Disney World. I love it! So when Alan said he absolutely had to visit a school down in Florida I thought "What the heck, we can go to Disney too."
Our first official family vacation is only 10 days away from commencing. A car trip, seeing a theme park, hitting the beach... it will be a mish mosh of all my favorite ways to spend a getaway.
It is not as though Alan and I are dying for a break-- we are not nobly rolling out of bed each day to work demanding or demeaning jobs. Our life is filled with plenty of leisure. But it will still be nice to have a change of pace, a chance to live it up for a week with palm trees, sand, and sun.
Will post pictures upon our return.
Our first official family vacation is only 10 days away from commencing. A car trip, seeing a theme park, hitting the beach... it will be a mish mosh of all my favorite ways to spend a getaway.
It is not as though Alan and I are dying for a break-- we are not nobly rolling out of bed each day to work demanding or demeaning jobs. Our life is filled with plenty of leisure. But it will still be nice to have a change of pace, a chance to live it up for a week with palm trees, sand, and sun.
Will post pictures upon our return.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Sick
Sometimes I'm a trooper when I'm sick. I sat through numerous rounds of Rummy Royale with a kidney stone and even won a few hands; I studied for and took a 2 hour midterm, essay style, with the flu and passed with flying colors. Other times, I'm quite the baby when I'm sick.
Last night my temperature spiked suddenly. After a day of feeling achey and sore throaty, this was the final straw. After Lucy went to sleep I laid on the couch, whining. I whined for a glass of water, a straw for the water, for Alan to move the water closer to me, for some soup, to watching something other than PBS, to turn up the volume so I could sing along to the karaoke show with Wayne Brady.
After my fever kept climbing I thought "I should take something" only to find we were out of every pain reliever. Once I talked myself out of downing an entire bottle of baby Tylenol, I found one little generic acetaminophen tablet rattling around in the medicine cabinet. I took it with thanks and was comforted when a few hours later my headache subsided enough for me to sleep.
So today the fever is gone but I still feel pretty rotten. But I'm back to being a trooper about being sick, will push through my responsibilities and get my work done complaint-free. Thanks to Alan for letting me whine it all out last night :)
"Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves."
- Queen Victoria
Last night my temperature spiked suddenly. After a day of feeling achey and sore throaty, this was the final straw. After Lucy went to sleep I laid on the couch, whining. I whined for a glass of water, a straw for the water, for Alan to move the water closer to me, for some soup, to watching something other than PBS, to turn up the volume so I could sing along to the karaoke show with Wayne Brady.
After my fever kept climbing I thought "I should take something" only to find we were out of every pain reliever. Once I talked myself out of downing an entire bottle of baby Tylenol, I found one little generic acetaminophen tablet rattling around in the medicine cabinet. I took it with thanks and was comforted when a few hours later my headache subsided enough for me to sleep.
So today the fever is gone but I still feel pretty rotten. But I'm back to being a trooper about being sick, will push through my responsibilities and get my work done complaint-free. Thanks to Alan for letting me whine it all out last night :)
"Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves."
- Queen Victoria
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Your Prayers, Please
Please keep Alan's friend Ben Scott in your prayers. His younger brother, Junior, was found dead yesterday. He was only 25 years old. There is some suspicion as to how he died. Please remember Ben, his siblings, and their parents in your prayers, asking that they will find some comfort in God and the presence of one another. We can only hope that if other people were involved they are brought to swift justice.
We also can't help but think of Alan's classmate, Yi Jien Hwa, who never came back from his hike in August as well as a long time family friend who went missing this summer, was found in a coma, and passed away. Death is never easy-- Alan lost his Aunt Judy and Grandpa in the past few years. A few days, even a year of illness never seems like enough time when you are robbed of a loved one. Yet these deaths that are so sudden and tragic, and surrounded in mystery, leave your heart wishing you had at least one last minute to say goodbye.
We also can't help but think of Alan's classmate, Yi Jien Hwa, who never came back from his hike in August as well as a long time family friend who went missing this summer, was found in a coma, and passed away. Death is never easy-- Alan lost his Aunt Judy and Grandpa in the past few years. A few days, even a year of illness never seems like enough time when you are robbed of a loved one. Yet these deaths that are so sudden and tragic, and surrounded in mystery, leave your heart wishing you had at least one last minute to say goodbye.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Caught
I think I'm caught between a whole bunch of things, between many hard places and any number of rocks, if you will.
Reading a book called "The High Cost of Low Prices" that is about the violence of globalization. After going through a few chapters, several thoughts heavy on my mind, I decided I needed a jog to sort through my ideas.
But I began to ponder the great expense of something like jogging, especially when a breeze cooled me down and I realized I'd need clothes to run in this winter. Clothes most likely made by poor people from other countries. So I wondered, should I not be jogging?
Something like exercise always puzzles me at a deep level. I don't want to be like those little indie sh*ts who act like exercising is so middle class and pointless. Maybe it is passe, but I unfortunately am not in a profession or lifestyle that demands rigorous physical activity. And it is important to be active, so I jog and promise to find accesories that do not further the victimization of the oppressed. Still, I'm caught between needing exercise and not wanting to be yet another ignorant white girl trying to keep off extra pounds while most of the world starves; I'm caught between being cynical about how we view fitness and not wanting to be another ass who can only see meaning in music and movies.
Alan always teases me about how I always think I'm keepin' it real. And I often do get an attitude about how I think I'm so down to earth. I really do want to be in touch with the realities of the world, to live in solidarity with the poor, but don't know how. I don't want to be another bohemian brat who's in love with herself and her tastes and preferences. I hope someday soon God reaches down and plucks me out from these things I'm caught between.
Reading a book called "The High Cost of Low Prices" that is about the violence of globalization. After going through a few chapters, several thoughts heavy on my mind, I decided I needed a jog to sort through my ideas.
But I began to ponder the great expense of something like jogging, especially when a breeze cooled me down and I realized I'd need clothes to run in this winter. Clothes most likely made by poor people from other countries. So I wondered, should I not be jogging?
Something like exercise always puzzles me at a deep level. I don't want to be like those little indie sh*ts who act like exercising is so middle class and pointless. Maybe it is passe, but I unfortunately am not in a profession or lifestyle that demands rigorous physical activity. And it is important to be active, so I jog and promise to find accesories that do not further the victimization of the oppressed. Still, I'm caught between needing exercise and not wanting to be yet another ignorant white girl trying to keep off extra pounds while most of the world starves; I'm caught between being cynical about how we view fitness and not wanting to be another ass who can only see meaning in music and movies.
Alan always teases me about how I always think I'm keepin' it real. And I often do get an attitude about how I think I'm so down to earth. I really do want to be in touch with the realities of the world, to live in solidarity with the poor, but don't know how. I don't want to be another bohemian brat who's in love with herself and her tastes and preferences. I hope someday soon God reaches down and plucks me out from these things I'm caught between.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Even though we ain't got money
One of Alan's favorite movies is Wet Hot American Summer-- a very silly movie that is also rather funny. Alan's favorite scene in Wet Hot involves the song "Danny's Song." You may have heard it; the chorus goes "Even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with you honey..." Because of the movie we sing it to each other all the time, fondly reflecting on how even in times of financial straights our love carries us through.
But our situation with money is never so grim that we are really just living on love. We always eat, always have enough to cover the bills (even if its a stretch sometimes). What has brought this home recently is the situation in Zimbabwe.
A former classmate of mine lives in Zimbabwe, his home country, with his wife and young child. He is a pastor of several churches there and is suffering from the terrible inflation taking place. A bunch of our friends from college are chipping in each month to help him, his family, his churches get by. I wanted to know how far our money would go. I calculated the price of bread in Zimbabwe at this time and it is equal to over 2,000 US dollars. I can't imagine how what we are doing is bringing any relief.
So Alan and I can joke about how we are just getting by on love, but it helps to remember those who truly are surviving only by the grace of God and can only find their peace in their love for God and each other. Please pray that the situation in Zimbabwe comes to a quick and non-violent resolution.
But our situation with money is never so grim that we are really just living on love. We always eat, always have enough to cover the bills (even if its a stretch sometimes). What has brought this home recently is the situation in Zimbabwe.
A former classmate of mine lives in Zimbabwe, his home country, with his wife and young child. He is a pastor of several churches there and is suffering from the terrible inflation taking place. A bunch of our friends from college are chipping in each month to help him, his family, his churches get by. I wanted to know how far our money would go. I calculated the price of bread in Zimbabwe at this time and it is equal to over 2,000 US dollars. I can't imagine how what we are doing is bringing any relief.
So Alan and I can joke about how we are just getting by on love, but it helps to remember those who truly are surviving only by the grace of God and can only find their peace in their love for God and each other. Please pray that the situation in Zimbabwe comes to a quick and non-violent resolution.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Major Dude and Early Mornings
Last night I found a great song by Steely Dan. I love Steely Dan as it is, and anyone who knows my musical tastes knows I'm a sucker for encouraging lyrics. If you can brave the oddness, go listen to the song. Here is the chorus:
Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you my friend
Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again
When the demon is at your door
In the morning it wont be there no more
Any major dude will tell you
Yes, Wilco fans, their version of Any Major Dude is a cover (surprise surprise). But I won't open up that can of worms.
So we had an early morning. Alan has taken to running first thing (and I mean in the wee hours, 6ish). It isn't even 11am and I feel like most of my day is behind me. It was nice to walk downtown while the air was still breathable; these Kentucky Septembers are brutal at times.
I'm trying to take Steely Dan's advice, seeing my world as a minor world that-- despite all the little breaks-- will eventually fall together again.
Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you my friend
Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again
When the demon is at your door
In the morning it wont be there no more
Any major dude will tell you
Yes, Wilco fans, their version of Any Major Dude is a cover (surprise surprise). But I won't open up that can of worms.
So we had an early morning. Alan has taken to running first thing (and I mean in the wee hours, 6ish). It isn't even 11am and I feel like most of my day is behind me. It was nice to walk downtown while the air was still breathable; these Kentucky Septembers are brutal at times.
I'm trying to take Steely Dan's advice, seeing my world as a minor world that-- despite all the little breaks-- will eventually fall together again.
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