Does anyone here use Facebook?

Maybe I'm getting too old. I had no trouble understanding the concept of and uses for email. I didn't start chatting right away but had no difficulty with it. Blogs make sense--both the evolved form as part newsletter, part personal soapbox, and the original form as a web log. When I came to Multiply, it took something like 24 hours to see the advantages of this system and transfer all my old posts.

But I don't quite "get" Facebook. I'm on it at the invitation of a friend. I know how to use it. But I'm not really sure why I would use it. Am I missing something? When I'm there, I definitely miss blog posts and being able to browse the pages of people who aren't my contacts. But, it's such a hit with all the young people in this area.

Can someone explain this for me?

Laughing

Ok, I have to confess that I use LOL too much. I use it when I'm not actually laughing--out loud, that is. The problem I have is that when chatting online I can't use facial expressions to respond to comments. =), :P, and ;) just don't express the right emotion. If I had a rolling eyes emoticon, it might help. For now, I will use the following, more honest declaration of my reaction:

(chck)

It stands for "chuckling on the inside." At least I won't be lying anymore. :P

Geek status

My sister says I'm barely below geek level. This is supposed to be a compliment. Actually, geek status was the desirable level, and she was consoling me that I'm almost there (in her mind, at least).

I guess I can't succeed in everything.

The Whole Shebang

I know this is long. Often only the first and last verse is given, but I tend to like "unabridged" versions.

When I Read the Bible Through

By Amos R. Wells

I supposed I knew my Bible
Reading piecemeal, hit and miss,

Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,

Certain chapters of Isaiah
Certain Psalms (the twenty-third);

Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs
Yes, I thought I knew the Word;

But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,

And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through

Oh the massive, mighty volume!
Oh, the treasures manifold!

Oh, the beauty of the wisdom
And the grace it proved to hold!

As the story of the Hebrews
Swept in majesty along,

As it leaped in waves prophetic,
As it burst to sacred song,

As it gleamed with Christly omens,
The Old Testament was new,

Strong with cumulative power,
When I read the Bible through.

Ah! Imperial Jeremiah,
With his keen coruscant mind;

And the blunt old Nehemiah,
And Ezekiel refined!

Newly came the minor prophets,
Each with his distinctive robe

Newly came the song idyllic,
And the tragedy of Job;

Deuteronomy, the regal,
To a towering mountain grew,

With its comrade peaks around it
When I read the Bible through.

What a radiant procession
As the pages rise and fall,

James the sturdy, John the tender
Oh the myriad-minded Paul!

Vast apocalyptic glories
Wheel and thunder, flash and flame,

While the church triumphant raises
One incomparable name.

Ah, the story of the Saviour
Never glows supremely true

Till you read it whole and swiftly,
Till you read the Bible through.

You who like to play at Bible,
Dib and dabble, here and there,

Just before you kneel, aweary,
And yawn thro’ a hurried prayer;

You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book

Just a paragraph disjointed,
Just a crude, impatient look

Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view;

You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through.

How we walked

I was talking with a man today about his children (now in their 20s). He mentioned how the personality of his eldest showed even when he was learning to walk. He never fell. He walked early enough but was so careful that he never fell. The next child, however, walked later and fell often. Apparently, she is like that to this day.

I remember hearing that my mom would never fall either. If she felt the least bit unstable, she would sit down. She has always been the cautious type. The only thing that would get her out of her comfort zone is the conviction that God wants her to do something.

I asked her about my early mobility habits. I am more of a risk taker--but not flippant about danger. She said I definitely wasn't afraid to run. I figured out there was someplace to go and I wanted to get there. Yeah, sounds like me. My sisters, on the other hand, crawled. They crawled fast. It was almost a race. But it didn't seem to occur to them to get up and go on two feet. Strange? Not if you know them. How many times have I suggested a better way to do something only to get the response, "This is working fine for me."

I wonder if anyone has ever done a study to predict an individual's personality based on early walking habits. Sounds like a good way to waste some tax money, don't you think?

Signing off for now...

So many things I want to say and--I need to go to bed instead. I thought of a really stupid rhyme to put in here announcing my temporary departure, but I forgot it already. I wonder what else I've forgotten.

Tomorrow I leave for a Bible conference in Indiana. I will not have internet access so I'm looking forward to returning and reading all the interesting things posted in my absence. By the way, here are the blogs I haven't posted, being too busy getting ready for afore-mentioned conference:

• Piano playing and thoughts on service
• Why victory over sin is like dieting (in other words, "Chickens, not horses")
• Elijah (I'm trying to remember what this one was about...)
• I'm a Bibler
• Cell phone
• Great Expectations
• The Prophet (hmm... I wonder if this was related to Elijah. I don't think so.)
• Colors
• Limbo

I wonder if there were some great thoughts in those that now I've forgotten. I may never know.

Is this what parenting is like?

I just did something I've never done before. I sent my mother off to camp. Well, a writer's conference (grown-up camp). We realized last night that she has left to spend a night or two when my grandpa had cancer or other family emergencies. But she has never gone off for this long. Really weird!

Exciting, too. This is not just a learning conference. Everyone goes with projects and plans. Publishers come and those attending get to try to sell their work. Emphasis on the word try. It's best not to expect huge things. But I still hope. Mom does have a couple nice pieces in her portfolio.

And we finally have cell phones so she can keep us up to date. She has instructions to check in regularly. She even took copies of our schedules so she'll know when to call. We were also checking her packing list up to the last minute. If I ever have kids, they're going to think I'm the most over-protective parent in the world!

Now that's clean!

Just got home from the dentist. (Ok, I checked two email accounts, two forums, and posted two replies before this.) It was my six-month so I only saw the hygienist. There's nothing quite like paying $67 and spending an hour of my day to let someone else brush my teeth.

El grupo de español

Anoche asistió un grupo de conversación española. Es un grupo nuevo de personas que estudian español. Era la cuarta reunión de este grupo pero era la segunda vez que podía asistirlo. Cuando era la hora de salir, yo no quería ir. Sin embargo, sabía que debía ir. Ahora me alegro que asistió.

Había siete personas. Había dos hombres que están jubilados. El uno enseña inglés a los mexicanos. Trabaja con la organización "Literacy Volunteers of America." El otro ha matriculado en la universidad para estudiar español. Desea viajar a españa y a los países latinoamericanos.

También había un hombre más joven que recentemente se graduó de la universidad. Enseña las lecciones de piano como yo. Ha viajado a Ecuador. Quiere viajar a Brasil para trabajar con los niños del calle en Rio de Janeiro, pero no habla portugués. Tengo amigos (misioneros) en Brasil así que ha querido aprender portugués. Tengo un amigo aquí que sabe portugués y español. ¡Ah! ¡Hay tantas cosas de aprender!

Las mujeres incluye la una que organizó el grupo, una que ha vivido en México (si yo recuerdo correctamente), y una que asistió la universidad al mismo tiempo que yo la asistió. Es muy interesante llegar a conocerlos. También este grupo me anima a estudiar más.

Tengo la intención de asistir la semana que viene.

The mystery is solved

Scene: The kitchen drawer
Victim: The plastic wrap
Suspects: The usual--all family members

Notes:

It is only natural, after removing a segment of this useful material, to replace the box in the same direction one is holding it. This allows for easier removal of future pieces since the box will open toward the right allowing one to grab the wrap and pull out the desired amount. On finding the box frequently facing the other direction, I felt investigation was necessary.

First, I question Mom. It was entirely possible that she had some reason for placing it a different direction. Indeed it was certain that she would have a reason, and the kitchen is her domain. If she wants the plastic wrap backwards, then so be it. She, however, agreed with my original assessment. Further questioning revealed no clues to the culprit.

Then Dad questioned me. Having overheard our discussion, he wanted to know what the "right" way was. We quickly determined that he was not guilty either.

I let the matter rest for some time. Then I caught her in the act. Jennifer was removing plastic wrap with her left hand! Of course. I should have known. My sisters are twins and I have long theorized that they are mirror-image (evidence includes earlobes and cowlicks). In my thinking , they should have opposite handedness. I, therefore, nominated Jennifer to be the leftie.

We laughed at this new validation of my theory and continued to chat as she reached for the microwave with her left hand. A minute later she removed the wrap from her heated plate with her left hand. Faced with testimony of such impeachable witnesses (Terry was present as well), she has confessed to other deeds such as locking the door left-handed.

There is some satisfaction in being proven right although I rather suspect I will have to continue to turn the box around in order to get at the plastic wrap since I am (unfortunately) not left-handed.

Mi testimonio

I would like to be able to run two blogs--one for English and one for Spanish. But until I figure out how to do that on one page, I guess I'll just randomly add Spanish entries.

Puedo ver el futuro. Pues no sé por cierto lo que ocurrirá mañana. No puedo predecir las bodas ni los cambios del empleo. Pero ya puedo ver el futuro.

Veo que viviré mi vida. Trabajaré mucho y haceré y aprenderé mucho. Llegaré a ser una maestra buena y produciré la música bella. En sequida, moriré.

Debo tener una razón para la vida. Trataré de influir en mis estudiantes para que hagan lo bueno y amen la verdad. Les enseñaré mucho. Cuando he muerto, ellos ya están vivos... pero enseguida, ellos también moriráan.

Todo esto me deprime. Todo es vano.

Luego miro la eternidad. ¿Qué puedo hacer que vaya a continuar por siempre? Guardaré la verdad que nunca se destruye. Adoraré a Dios que vive de la eternidad hasta la eternidad.

Haceré el trabajo de Dios porque me ha comprometido que me recompensará. Y Él es fiel de completar la obra.

One more try...

It must be something about March. I blog in March. And March is almost over so I'd better get busy.

Actually, I'm going to make an effort to renew this blog. Hannah, you can keep me at it. Bug me if I don't write often enough, ok?

As for direction, it's hard to say where the blog will go. The title still fits. =)

Heart and Mind

I've been reading some in Ecclesiastes. Quite depressing, actually. Definitely Solomon was depressed. All that wisdom, all that knowledge, and his conclusion? "Vanity, vanity. All is vanity."

I totally understand his reasoning. We work hard and save and--die. We build a life and then leave it. What use is all the effort? Why not "eat, drink, and be merry"?

His father David contemplated some of the same topics. He also struggled with how the wicked so often prosper from their evil-doing. But in nearly every case, he reached the point of despair and took one more step: the step into the eternal. What Solomon could not reason out, David experienced. What the son could not learn, the father knew. With the confidence of one who "will dwell in the house of the Lord forever," he states his desire and expectation: "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."

God gave to Solomon understanding and riches and power. David was called "a man after God's own heart." Though "[w]isdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom," I would choose the heart of God.

Whose assessment?

Who determines the worth of a thing? Would the world be as pretty if even one color were missing?

Is the brightest star the greatest? Is the mystery of a thousand distant points of light a stronger force? Or does it make a difference from which planet you view them?

Is the performance before an audience of a thousand greater music than the song realized in a child's lesson?

Can I measure my day in tasks accomplished? Or are my moments like notes that die to the hearing but not the heart?

Rests

The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes - ah, that is where the art resides! ~Artur Schnabel

It has baffled me. In music, rests should be the easiest to perform. You don't do anything. You just wait. You count beats. You have plenty of time to prepare for the next note. But so often my students don't even see the rests. They catch the notes (or at least guess at them) and sometimes count, but the rests are either invisible or are mistaken for ink blots on the page.

I queried a couple of the guilty on Thursday regarding this phenomenon. A high schooler blamed the problem on the fact that you do nothing in rests. The third grade version of the answer: "They're boring."

Apparently, we humans can't stand to let go. We don't like being out of control. We can play notes--loud and fast or soft and legato--but rests are "hands off." We do nothing.

Still, in that nothing is the power of the music. As we progress we learn to acknowledge the rests. We give them their proper time and even start to use them to our advantage. To use them--as though we could somehow control them. We flatter ourselves that we choose the moment the rest begins and dictate its end, but in reality we cannot do even that. If we hold out too long, the music grinds to a halt. If we rush on, we lose the emotion.

No, the music is in control. The rest itself tells us when it is done. And we can only listen... and wait, hands off.

And find the magic between the notes.

The Lifeboat Exercise

I find it interesting what reading the Bible in a different language can cause me to see. Not that there's something new there, or that I understand it better--I understand more in English, of course. But reading in Spanish makes me step back, I think, and look at a story I've always known differently.

Today I was reading Jonah. As the men were trying to save their ship and their own lives, it brought to mind the old classic "Lifeboat Exercise." You know, the one where you have to decide who gets thrown overboard and who gets to survive. Although it has been long decried by conservatives for promoting situation ethics, I don't believe I've ever heard it discussed in light of this story.

Here we have a boatload of sailors, all pagan in the traditional sense of the word (each cries to his own god), and complete with the well-known morality of seamen. Yet even when they know Jonah is the cause of their trouble, even when he himself tells them to throw him overboard, they resist. Fearing God, they tried with all their might to get to land. Finally, when no other options existed, they first prayed and begged God not to judge them. Not to judge them? Didn't He send the storm? Didn't He show Jonah that they should throw him overboard? Yet they knew the value the Lord placed on human life. And they feared Him enough to be afraid to obey. Wow!


For another interesting note on this (hideous) group activity, see this link.

What to do in a boring lecture

I was cleaning out old class notes looking for some Spanish stuff. I discovered some interesting "side notes." I mean that literally--all the things I did on the side of the page when the class was too boring. Thought I'd share this one with you:

I like Thanksgiving break
Because it's just so great.
I eat lots of turkey.
I prefer it over jerky.
And then I go to bed and get up late.

I won't reveal which teacher inspired that lovely work of literature, but I will say that I tossed most of those notes.

One thing at a time

Well, I've been reminded by several people that I needed to write more here. I keep thinking of things I want to say...then don't write because there's too much to say and I'd rather sit up in the living room.

Two things are going to fix that problem: #1 My Mom now has a laptop that is wireless-ly networked to our desktop. In other words, I'm sitting in the living room right now while changing and posting to my blog. #2 I'm going to give up on the long list of things I want to say. I'll write one thing at a time.

So tonight I'll explain the change in the my blog's title. I read a book some time ago about teaching children to think. (Is your bed still there when you close the door? by Jane M. Healy) The author's point was that thinking is learned by conversation and discussion. She suggested planned conversations with rules that promoted free discussion.

As an example she told about a family addressing the question "What if money grew on trees?" The children involved addressed a number of topics including the probability that trees would be stripped, and the ecologic results of that.

I realized, as I pondered this, that I do something of this sort when I think. I get an idea and start chasing it around to see where it goes. That's how I find myself outlining my "ideal" high school curriculum or the best order of topics in teaching Spanish. It's odd where the thoughts lead at times. To issues of culture, analysis of thought processes, or a great premise for the novel I might actually write someday.

So, for the time being, this will be my place to chase thoughts around. And if you like, you can join the hunt.

I'm back

I guess some of my excuse for neglecting this blog is that I really have been very sick. I just didn't realize it until a week and a half ago.
 
A quick run-down for any of you who haven't heard: I was struggling with chest pain over the last two months. After one ER visit to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack, it was determined I should basically wait it out. The pain got better, then worse. Finally, a week ago Thursday, it hurt so bad I couldn't breathe. I went to see the doctor, and he sent me straight to the ER again.
 
There we found out that I had fluid built up around both lungs and my heart. In fact, part of my left lung had collapsed due to the pressure. No wonder I couldn't breathe! After a week of tests to try to determine the cause, I'm finally on prednisone and doing much better. Let me recount some of my triumphs over the last five days of medication:
 

• I can walk up the half flight of stairs to the kitchen without having to immediately sit down and wait five minutes for the wheazing to stop.
• I can sleep in my bed again (instead of a recliner).
• I left the house for something other than a doctor's visit.
• I actually blew into my flute. (A major accomplishment since a week ago I couldn't get out a whole sentense at a time.)

All in all, I think I'm doing quite well. Now I just get to wait to see the bills. Still, I'm not complaining. I live in a country where we have access to the best medicine in the world. When the doctor wanted me to have a CT scan, he sent me down the hall. Thirty minutes later it was being sent to the radiologist for reading. When a friend in Canada had a serious, undiagnosed illness and needed either an EKG or an MRI, he had to wait months. So while it may cost a lot, we do get what we pay for.

And I'm thankful for family. And thankful that I live with them. Otherwise, best case scenario, I would have ended up in the hospital for a week. This way I could be at home (much more comfortable) with people who love and care for me. They also kept an eye on me 24/7--quite reassuring when you're having trouble breathing. Mom and Jen really pitched in and took care of my chores, etc., so that now that I'm better I'm not starting out behind in everything. And it's just nicer to be with family at a time like this.

So I'll write more later about some of the interesting things I discovered while unable to move. Right now, though, I think I'll get some lunch.

    
 

When did the Gecko start working for Geico?

Ok, I'm going to prove that I do indeed watch TV (mostly very old reruns), but I've been wondering this for some time. There were all the commercials where the Gecko was trying to get people to stop calling him when they wanted Geico auto insurance. Then, suddenly, he got the employee of the month award and has been with them ever since. He seems quite a bit happier this way, but I'm confused!