On Saturday I begged Kevin to take me to the annual air show in S.F. A group of kids from our church were going and needed “chaperones,” but, secretly, I wanted to go ‘cuz it sounded like fun. As we drove across the Bay Bridge into the City, we spotted a plane taking a spinning nosedive toward the Bay. This made me recollect the time that my sister Betsy, a pilot, took Kevin and me up in a little Cessna. I was somewhat nervous going up with her because I know first-hand how she drives automobiles. (I was relieved, however, to discover that she’s an excellent pilot.) As we were in the air, just over the Pacific Ocean, Betsy started talking about all these emergency maneuvers she knows in case the engine dies in mid-air. Then, she suddenly (to illustrate her skill?) dropped the plane a hundred feet. I’ve never screamed so much in all my life. (I mean, I absolutely love things like roller coasters, but airplanes aren’t on a track, you know!) Next, she proceeded to turn the plane upside down, and around again. Although Kevin seemed to enjoy these little tricks, by the time our ride was over my voice was gone and my knuckles were white and purple from clinging to the edge of my seat.
Incidentally, Betsy has her final interview with Continental Airlines today. I hope she gets the job because siblings fly free. And, like my sister Christy said, it would be so wonderful to be able to say, “Gee, I think I’ll go to Kenya today,” and not have to pay for it.
The sad part about Saturday was that we missed most of the air show. We got to Fisherman’s Wharf late because one of the kids had to take his SAT test that morning. Another sad part was that the Blue Angles ended up not being able to make it. BUT . . . aside from the disappointments, what we saw of it truly was incredible. I was really impressed with the Canadian airplanes (I forget their name?), performing stunts and flying in cool formations.
After catching the last bit of the air show, we walked to Union Square. Kevin told me later that: “I will never again let you tell people that ‘Oh, it’s not that far!’ to walk to Union Square from the Wharf.” Kevin says that I do this all the time when we go to S.F. with people who aren’t familiar with the City. Kevin thinks it’s too long to drag people because of the distance, and the fact that it’s mostly uphill, and (strangely enough) people always seem to be hungry about half-way there. Sigh . . . but I really love walking in S.F. It’s just so much fun! Too bad others don’t share my joy. [sob]
At church on Sunday, Angela told me (in front of her mom) that we were great chaperones and the kids loved us because we let them do whatever they wanted. I could see the mother’s eyes widen at this comment. WRONG thing to say in front of the mother, Angela! ;-)
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Presumptions
Bible study has resumed for the new season. We missed the first few weeks because we’ve been sick, busy, exhausted, etc. But last night we finally made it. We had some good discussion on 1 John. Afterwards, we talked about the neighborhood we now live in. Everyone wanted to know “what public school our kids will attend.” They are ALL public school teachers, every last one of them, so that is the most natural question for them to ask.
Kevin and I are definitely the oddballs in the group. Not only are we the only people who are not public school teachers, we are two of only four people in the study who actually grew up in Christian homes, where our parents encouraged us spiritually. We try not to come on too strong, all at once, especially since we’re still fairly new to the group. But, finally, last night, (since it was like the fifth time we’ve been asked about this!) I reminded our friends that we were homeschooled as kids and it might be a logical possibility that we would want to homeschool our future, hypothetical children as well.
After a minute of silence, Kristi spoke up: “Well, obviously, that’s what you’re comfortable with, since it’s what you ‘know’”
This sparked a little more discussion on the topic. We didn’t say anything that I think could be considered as judgmental because, honestly, my belief is that parents need to decide what is best for their own children, with a clear conscience before God.
Kristi said something about how, being public school teachers, it would be hypocritical for them to homeschool their kids. “And, we all went to public school, and we turned out okay.”
Kevin’s response was that God can use any set of circumstances for His good, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always the best thing. “The reason we’ll homeschool our kids is because we feel like we have a duty to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord and that sending them to public school, where they’ll be taught things polar opposite to our belief system, is not supportive of that goal.”
I told them (and Kevin agrees) that I really admire them for being Christian teachers in the public school system. I think they are making a difference in the lives of many children - for good. In my experience (with my current job), I've seen a lot of educators who ALSO want to make a difference in public school childrens' lives - but they are very scary people (frankly!) who have no reverence for God or respect for parental convictions.
So, in the end, I think everyone was a little stunned. But they’ll get over it – because they know, deep down inside, that despite how completely RADICAL we are, we love them all.
Kevin and I are definitely the oddballs in the group. Not only are we the only people who are not public school teachers, we are two of only four people in the study who actually grew up in Christian homes, where our parents encouraged us spiritually. We try not to come on too strong, all at once, especially since we’re still fairly new to the group. But, finally, last night, (since it was like the fifth time we’ve been asked about this!) I reminded our friends that we were homeschooled as kids and it might be a logical possibility that we would want to homeschool our future, hypothetical children as well.
After a minute of silence, Kristi spoke up: “Well, obviously, that’s what you’re comfortable with, since it’s what you ‘know’”
This sparked a little more discussion on the topic. We didn’t say anything that I think could be considered as judgmental because, honestly, my belief is that parents need to decide what is best for their own children, with a clear conscience before God.
Kristi said something about how, being public school teachers, it would be hypocritical for them to homeschool their kids. “And, we all went to public school, and we turned out okay.”
Kevin’s response was that God can use any set of circumstances for His good, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always the best thing. “The reason we’ll homeschool our kids is because we feel like we have a duty to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord and that sending them to public school, where they’ll be taught things polar opposite to our belief system, is not supportive of that goal.”
I told them (and Kevin agrees) that I really admire them for being Christian teachers in the public school system. I think they are making a difference in the lives of many children - for good. In my experience (with my current job), I've seen a lot of educators who ALSO want to make a difference in public school childrens' lives - but they are very scary people (frankly!) who have no reverence for God or respect for parental convictions.
So, in the end, I think everyone was a little stunned. But they’ll get over it – because they know, deep down inside, that despite how completely RADICAL we are, we love them all.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Very random succession of thoughts . . .
This morning I was observing a little old lady safely guard children as they walked across the street in my neighborhood. It made me wonder what it’d be like to have that job. The advantages would be a) fulfillment in knowing you’re looking over the children, b) making friendships, c) getting a good tan, etc. The worst parts would be a) having to get up so early, b) being bored when no kids come for hours, and c) the incredible lack of salary. But, anyway, I found an opening for a cross guard in Elyria, Ohio, if anyone is interested. :-)
So . . . today is the big day for Martha. She enters her jail cell. I wonder if they’ll let her bring anything with her to entertain herself or decorate. From the way the newscasters talk, things won’t be so bad for her. They make it sound like she’ll be spending the next five months in a grey-colored resort. I heard this morning that today she’ll have to endure a strip search – and most of the guards at this facility are male. Okay, um, that would be really embarrassing. I feel for Martha. I really do.
We are wondering what’s “up” because we still haven’t gotten our first mortgage bill and it’s been almost two months since we’ve moved into our house. Not that we mind, or anything. Maybe our house is FREE.
Okay, time to wake up and enter the real world.
So . . . today is the big day for Martha. She enters her jail cell. I wonder if they’ll let her bring anything with her to entertain herself or decorate. From the way the newscasters talk, things won’t be so bad for her. They make it sound like she’ll be spending the next five months in a grey-colored resort. I heard this morning that today she’ll have to endure a strip search – and most of the guards at this facility are male. Okay, um, that would be really embarrassing. I feel for Martha. I really do.
We are wondering what’s “up” because we still haven’t gotten our first mortgage bill and it’s been almost two months since we’ve moved into our house. Not that we mind, or anything. Maybe our house is FREE.
Okay, time to wake up and enter the real world.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Absentminded
Yesterday was the second time in a week that I’ve left my purse somewhere while running errands with Kevin. I’ve blamed it on the fact that usually I don’t bother to bring my purse when I'm with him ‘cuz he’s carrying his wallet and I don’t need it. After last night, Kevin said that I should start carrying it with me all the time again so I get used to it and won’t leave it places.
A: “But that’s the reason I married you – so I wouldn’t have to carry a purse anymore.”
K: “And the reason I married YOU was so I could put things in your purse when we go out."
Hmmm . . . it's a classic lose-lose scenario.
A: “But that’s the reason I married you – so I wouldn’t have to carry a purse anymore.”
K: “And the reason I married YOU was so I could put things in your purse when we go out."
Hmmm . . . it's a classic lose-lose scenario.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Frustrated
Ever had that feeling of being so frustrated, yet so helpless? Right now something is happening to someone I care about that is so unfair. As much as I want to make everything all better and erase all of the injustice, I can’t. My hands are tied.
It’s good in times like these for me to stop and realize God is in control. You know, it’s really easy to say “God is in control.” It’s harder to believe it. And, although the expression is trite, I do believe with ever fiber in my being that God is in control. Nothing happens outside of His will. He sees. He knows. In the end, He will right all of the wrongs in this world. It’s the only thing that keeps me hopeful sometimes.
It’s good in times like these for me to stop and realize God is in control. You know, it’s really easy to say “God is in control.” It’s harder to believe it. And, although the expression is trite, I do believe with ever fiber in my being that God is in control. Nothing happens outside of His will. He sees. He knows. In the end, He will right all of the wrongs in this world. It’s the only thing that keeps me hopeful sometimes.
My Advice: Be Careful Not to Sneeze On a Crime Scene
The last few weeks I’ve been busy researching California’s ballot initiatives for this November’s election. It’s my job to prepare an analysis and recommendation on these initiatives for CRI’s board. Since (for better or worse) I tend to quickly have strong opinions on policy issues, I haven’t had much difficulty figuring out whether the various initiatives should be opposed or supported. But there’s one exception: Prop 69. If you are really bored and want to give your opinion, I’d love to hear it. (Of course, I’m sure I can already guess Mark’s opinion.) ;-)
Current law in California requires DNA samples to be taken from anyone convicted of a serious felony. The DNA is then stored in a database and used to help solve future crimes. Prop 69 would mandate the collection of DNA samples from anyone who is arrested for any felony. My immediate reaction was that this seems like a complete invasion of privacy. What’s more “private” than a person’s DNA? And I don’t like the idea that innocent people’s DNA would be sitting in a master database along with the DNA of convicted murderers and rapists. Apparently there are 50,000 people arrested every year in California who are never charged with a crime. Prop 69 could also require your DNA to be placed in the master database even if all you did was write a bad check or trespass (technically considered a felonies). The worst part about Prop 69 is that a person who is not convicted (either because charges were dropped or they were proved innocent at trial) cannot appeal a decision that refuses to remove their DNA from the database. The decision of the lower court is final.
Arguments in favor of Prop 69: 31 other states, including Virginia, already have similar databases. Although Virginia has a population 1/3 the size of California, it has more than doubled California’s record in solving crimes through DNA technology. Probably the strongest and best argument in favor of Prop 69 is that the DNA samples collected will provide only non-genetic identification markers (i.e., the DNA collected won’t give genetic or other personal data and will only be used to identify someone). Because of this, the DNA samples collected would be virtually identical to the old-fashioned fingerprints that have been required at criminal bookings for nearly 100 years and used to confirm a person’s identity. The only difference is that the DNA is 100% more accurate and is easily digitized. Under Prop 69, DNA would be collected in a non-invasive manner using a simple mouth-swab.
I think that privacy rights are very important. I also think that it’s essential to support law enforcement and help prevent crime. When these two convictions clash, the question becomes which is more important. Any thoughts?
Current law in California requires DNA samples to be taken from anyone convicted of a serious felony. The DNA is then stored in a database and used to help solve future crimes. Prop 69 would mandate the collection of DNA samples from anyone who is arrested for any felony. My immediate reaction was that this seems like a complete invasion of privacy. What’s more “private” than a person’s DNA? And I don’t like the idea that innocent people’s DNA would be sitting in a master database along with the DNA of convicted murderers and rapists. Apparently there are 50,000 people arrested every year in California who are never charged with a crime. Prop 69 could also require your DNA to be placed in the master database even if all you did was write a bad check or trespass (technically considered a felonies). The worst part about Prop 69 is that a person who is not convicted (either because charges were dropped or they were proved innocent at trial) cannot appeal a decision that refuses to remove their DNA from the database. The decision of the lower court is final.
Arguments in favor of Prop 69: 31 other states, including Virginia, already have similar databases. Although Virginia has a population 1/3 the size of California, it has more than doubled California’s record in solving crimes through DNA technology. Probably the strongest and best argument in favor of Prop 69 is that the DNA samples collected will provide only non-genetic identification markers (i.e., the DNA collected won’t give genetic or other personal data and will only be used to identify someone). Because of this, the DNA samples collected would be virtually identical to the old-fashioned fingerprints that have been required at criminal bookings for nearly 100 years and used to confirm a person’s identity. The only difference is that the DNA is 100% more accurate and is easily digitized. Under Prop 69, DNA would be collected in a non-invasive manner using a simple mouth-swab.
I think that privacy rights are very important. I also think that it’s essential to support law enforcement and help prevent crime. When these two convictions clash, the question becomes which is more important. Any thoughts?
Monday, October 04, 2004
Slumber Parties
Since Kevin is AWOL preparing for his trial, which starts today, I was very happy to hear that Angela and Theresa could come spend the night with me on Saturday. We watched a chick flick and then talked about hair. After an hour of hair-talk, we spent the rest of the time talking about boys. At approximately 1 a.m., we decided that we have the male-species completely figured out. With all of the world’s most serious problems solved, we called it a night.
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I’ve decided I don’t like Kevin gone. It makes me sad. I had to sit all by myself in church yesterday. Typically Kevin will write the tithe check and then let me put it in the plate. The reason he does this is because my dad used to always give me a quarter to put in the offering plate when I was a little girl. One day I told Kevin what a good memory this was of my childhood. From then on, he started giving me the tithe check just before the plate was passed so I could put it in. It totally makes me laugh. Yesterday he wasn’t there to give it to me and I had to reach in my purse for it. My quality of life has completely deteriorated with him gone. Trials are stupid. That’s what I’ve decided.
__________________________________
I’ve decided I don’t like Kevin gone. It makes me sad. I had to sit all by myself in church yesterday. Typically Kevin will write the tithe check and then let me put it in the plate. The reason he does this is because my dad used to always give me a quarter to put in the offering plate when I was a little girl. One day I told Kevin what a good memory this was of my childhood. From then on, he started giving me the tithe check just before the plate was passed so I could put it in. It totally makes me laugh. Yesterday he wasn’t there to give it to me and I had to reach in my purse for it. My quality of life has completely deteriorated with him gone. Trials are stupid. That’s what I’ve decided.
Friday, October 01, 2004
The Prince and the Pea
Kevin is very partial about his pillow. Shortly after our marriage we took some gift money and bought two pillows. Each of us picked out our own. Since I always sleep like a baby, regardless of what’s under my head, I wasn’t that particular about what pillow I got. Kevin, on the other hand, took quite a while to decide. Because he’s so funny about his pillow, I always tease him about it. (It’s the type of thing where, if he didn’t make such a big deal about it, I would totally leave him alone. But because it’s a real “issue” for him, I harass him about it constantly.) I always argue with him about which is his pillow and which is mine. Of course, in his mind, his pillow (which, incidentally cost twice what mine did) is far superior to mine. Sometimes I’ll swap pillows to see if he’ll notice. When he does, he demands (nicely) for it to be returned. Then I’ll sigh and say “Okay, you can use my pillow tonight.” Then I get this huge reaction: “It’s MY pillow!!!”
Last night Kevin changed the sheets on our bed. He specifically picked out two different pillowcases – so I would be sure to distinguish clearly which was his pillow and which was mine. “Yours is the solid one and mine is the striped one,” he said. Then he repeated this several times to make sure I remembered it. Later on in the evening, I switched the pillowcases when he wasn’t watching.
Last night, as the lights were turned out, I was holding my breath to see if he would notice. (Silently I was wondering how many days it would take before he’d discover the mix-up.) Within seconds Kevin shrieked, “Amy, what did you DO?!! You are such a brat!!!” I quickly turned on the light so I could see his face. The reaction was priceless. It’s interesting to me that he could tell I’d switched the pillows before he even laid his head on it. All he had to do was touch it with his hand! “Kevin,” I told him, recalling the story of the Princess and the Pea, “You truly are a prince.”
Last night Kevin changed the sheets on our bed. He specifically picked out two different pillowcases – so I would be sure to distinguish clearly which was his pillow and which was mine. “Yours is the solid one and mine is the striped one,” he said. Then he repeated this several times to make sure I remembered it. Later on in the evening, I switched the pillowcases when he wasn’t watching.
Last night, as the lights were turned out, I was holding my breath to see if he would notice. (Silently I was wondering how many days it would take before he’d discover the mix-up.) Within seconds Kevin shrieked, “Amy, what did you DO?!! You are such a brat!!!” I quickly turned on the light so I could see his face. The reaction was priceless. It’s interesting to me that he could tell I’d switched the pillows before he even laid his head on it. All he had to do was touch it with his hand! “Kevin,” I told him, recalling the story of the Princess and the Pea, “You truly are a prince.”
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Amy, The Blog Nazi, Finally Succumbs
Call me a control freak, if you want to, but I’ve always liked the fact that I am the master of my own blog. The most compelling reason for me not to have comments on my blog has been the fact that I’ve seen several blogs get hijacked by total idiots who rant and rave about the most unintelligible subject matter (oh my gosh, just look what happened to poor Queen of Carrots). Because sometimes I like to talk about controversial things (and because I’ve been e-mailed by several people who’ve found my blog on a Google search, one guy wanting to argue about in-depth Mormon theology, which I would love to discuss but, frankly, hardly have time to put dinner on the table every night), I’ve hemmed and hawed at giving these freaks a forum. Recently, however, Kevin told me, “You know, Amy, you can just delete comments if you don’t like them.” (i.e., I won’t lose my precious control.) Armed with that useful bit of information, and because I’ve gotten several requests to put a comment feature on my blog, and because all of my friends are very intelligent and thoughtful people and I’m just DYING to hear what y’all are going to say to me in the months ahead, I’ve decided to take the plunge. Here goes nothing.
P.S. Do take a look at the link I posted earlier today on the man-shaped pillow. I think it’s the funniest thing ever and can’t believe people are actually taking it seriously. Wow. It’s going to be fun teasing Kevin that I can replace him, at any time, with a pillow. Ha! It’s just so much fun living in such a progressive era.
P.S. Do take a look at the link I posted earlier today on the man-shaped pillow. I think it’s the funniest thing ever and can’t believe people are actually taking it seriously. Wow. It’s going to be fun teasing Kevin that I can replace him, at any time, with a pillow. Ha! It’s just so much fun living in such a progressive era.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
On the Cusp of a New Season
People-watching is a great pastime. Especially in the fall, when I’m in the mood to reflect. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about the world. As I observe the people whizzing past me downtown each day, it’s rather interesting, this time of the year, to notice the clothing. Especially the women’s clothing. Quite a few people are firmly, absolutely ready for fall. They are wearing long pants, sweaters, and boots. Some hard-core optimists have even pulled out their scarves. Many of these fall hopefuls are wearing rusty autumn colors, no doubt trying to help the new season along. A large contingent, however, is obviously hoping that the warm summer season will linger a little longer. (It’s a good thing they live in Sacramento, because it no doubt will.) They are still wearing flip-flops, sleeveless tops, and bright, flowery summer colors. It’s been quite entertaining to marvel at the clashing attitudes, revealed by women’s clothing, as the world is caught between the seasons.
The days are getting shorter. I have mixed feelings about the darkness. I hate it because it’s gloomy. But, on the other hand, I love it because it helps bring on that wonderful fall feeling. It just wouldn’t be fall without shorter days.
The days are getting shorter. I have mixed feelings about the darkness. I hate it because it’s gloomy. But, on the other hand, I love it because it helps bring on that wonderful fall feeling. It just wouldn’t be fall without shorter days.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Tremors
No, we did not feel the earthquake today. Kevin is really bummed. He says, “As long as I have to live in California, I should be able to experience an earthquake.”
It’s all a hazy blur . . . if there’s such a thing as a hazy blur.
Whatever bug I had, I gave it to Kevin. We knew it was practically inevitable. But I still feel sorry for the poor guy. He has his first trial on Monday and will have to prepare for it this coming weekend. It’s really bad timing for him to get sick.
This past weekend was a blur of activity. Highlights include attending a gala for Pacific Justice Institute. The invitation said “black tie optional.” Although Kevin tried to wig-out on me, I was successful in getting him to wear his tux. (In California, “black tie” often means “don’t wear a polo, please.” There were only a handful of people, besides the speakers who wore tuxes. And, believe it or not, one guy actually did wear a polo.) We had a great time – it was interesting to discover how many people we know in Sacramento (from all sorts of different circles) even though we’ve only lived here a year. God has been good to provide us with many friends and acquaintances here.
On Sunday night we met with old family friends of Kevin’s. (He hadn’t seen them since he was five years old, actually.) Their daughter, Morgan, will be attending U.C. Davis this year. We ate at a German restaurant, bustling with activity because Oktoberfest is in full swing. We had a great visit with them and look forward to hanging out with Morgan this school year. If she’s not too busy for us old fogeys, that is. ;-)
Yesterday I went with Karen to do a class for about 500 homeschool kids on how the presidential election works. (The kids instantly liked Karen when she told them about how she went sky diving last Saturday.) Karen is amazing – she was able to keep the attention of pretty much all the kids for a very long period of time. Honestly, the electoral college process is really hard to explain. (You try it sometime!) It’s also fairly hard to understand – even if you have a law degree! I was impressed that she was able to explain all this to the kids. I played “Vanna White” by being the lady standing behind Karen writing notes on the marker board. It was fun. I love homeschoolers.
This past weekend was a blur of activity. Highlights include attending a gala for Pacific Justice Institute. The invitation said “black tie optional.” Although Kevin tried to wig-out on me, I was successful in getting him to wear his tux. (In California, “black tie” often means “don’t wear a polo, please.” There were only a handful of people, besides the speakers who wore tuxes. And, believe it or not, one guy actually did wear a polo.) We had a great time – it was interesting to discover how many people we know in Sacramento (from all sorts of different circles) even though we’ve only lived here a year. God has been good to provide us with many friends and acquaintances here.
On Sunday night we met with old family friends of Kevin’s. (He hadn’t seen them since he was five years old, actually.) Their daughter, Morgan, will be attending U.C. Davis this year. We ate at a German restaurant, bustling with activity because Oktoberfest is in full swing. We had a great visit with them and look forward to hanging out with Morgan this school year. If she’s not too busy for us old fogeys, that is. ;-)
Yesterday I went with Karen to do a class for about 500 homeschool kids on how the presidential election works. (The kids instantly liked Karen when she told them about how she went sky diving last Saturday.) Karen is amazing – she was able to keep the attention of pretty much all the kids for a very long period of time. Honestly, the electoral college process is really hard to explain. (You try it sometime!) It’s also fairly hard to understand – even if you have a law degree! I was impressed that she was able to explain all this to the kids. I played “Vanna White” by being the lady standing behind Karen writing notes on the marker board. It was fun. I love homeschoolers.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
"Sniff, Sniff"
Yesterday I woke up with a sore throat, ignored it all day long, and would you know it, today it’s worse. Last night Kevin insisted I take something for it (he’s my in-house medical advisor) so he went out and bought me Cold-Eeze. (They’re nasty but they work. Although, my sister Christy says she’d rather get the worst cold imaginable and deal with all the symptoms than suck on a Cold-Eeze for even one second. She was rather passionate about this too.) Kevin also bought me fresh flowers, to help lift my spirits. We’ve decided that we’ll have to make fresh flowers a part of our weekly grocery budget. They’re so lovely to have sitting around the house.
Morning Interruption
A few minutes ago Lance came walking into my office to ask if I heard the fire alarm ringing in the hallway. To be truthful, I was focused in on my work project and, although I heard a buzzing in the background, I thought it was a power drill or a vacuum and didn’t pay any attention to it. Later I told Lance, “Thank you for potentially saving my life.” Can’t you just see me, being the Space Cadet that I am, sitting at my desk with flames engulfing the building around me, totally unaware of it all? Scary, eh?
Soon we were descending the staircase, along with all the other building occupants, unsure if the ringing in our ears was the result of a drill or the real thing.
Most of the people who work in my building are part of the radical left-wing conspiracy. As I stood on the sidewalk outside our building, I instantly identified the Sierra Club folks. It wasn’t hard. All I had to do was look for the Birkenstocks. (Would a serious environmentalist dare wear anything else?) One of them had a green shirt with a peace symbol. Another guy had a tan shirt with a forest of chopped-down trees that said, “Once you’ve killed them, they’ll never live again.” Very astute observation, I thought to myself. Typically when you kill something, it never comes back to life. Astounding logic. Very deep, too.
Soon the entire Sacramento County fire department showed up (or so it seemed). We were all rather impressed at their speedy service. At this point we still thought all of the hullabaloo was a routine drill. Later we found out that, actually, it was a false alarm.
Fortunately, during the wait, Lance kept us all entertained with his jokes and witticisms. He relayed some interesting facts about the great Chicago Fire and how Chicago’s state-of-the-art water pump (used expressly to combat fires) was, if you can believe it, made out of flammable materials and burned down instantly! Hmmm . . .
Soon we were descending the staircase, along with all the other building occupants, unsure if the ringing in our ears was the result of a drill or the real thing.
Most of the people who work in my building are part of the radical left-wing conspiracy. As I stood on the sidewalk outside our building, I instantly identified the Sierra Club folks. It wasn’t hard. All I had to do was look for the Birkenstocks. (Would a serious environmentalist dare wear anything else?) One of them had a green shirt with a peace symbol. Another guy had a tan shirt with a forest of chopped-down trees that said, “Once you’ve killed them, they’ll never live again.” Very astute observation, I thought to myself. Typically when you kill something, it never comes back to life. Astounding logic. Very deep, too.
Soon the entire Sacramento County fire department showed up (or so it seemed). We were all rather impressed at their speedy service. At this point we still thought all of the hullabaloo was a routine drill. Later we found out that, actually, it was a false alarm.
Fortunately, during the wait, Lance kept us all entertained with his jokes and witticisms. He relayed some interesting facts about the great Chicago Fire and how Chicago’s state-of-the-art water pump (used expressly to combat fires) was, if you can believe it, made out of flammable materials and burned down instantly! Hmmm . . .
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Night at the Opera
Okay, it was better than I anticipated. It’s definitely not the type of thing I’d want to do every Friday night but, in another couple of years, I might even want to go to another one. I’m all about being a well-rounded person, capable of enjoying numerous things. So, let me just say that opera is a nice thing to throw in the mix every once in a while. The entire night was definitely worth it when Leporello sang “Madamina.” (The song Kevin sings.)
We went to the opera with Justin and Michelle. Kevin knows Justin from the choral society. He and Kevin hit it off when they started talking about landscaping projects a few weeks ago. Justin then invited Kevin to come see Don Giovanni. Kevin told me that he thought about my mantra (accepting the precious “gift of friendship” when someone offers it to you) and decided it would be cool to develop a friendship with Justin.
I hadn’t met Justin until last night. Neither of us had met Michelle. In fact, Justin had just met Michelle on Sunday and this was their first date together. We met at Justin’s house before the show and carpooled together. Both of them are very nice. Justin is the 7th of 10 kids. We didn’t get a chance to ask much about his family but hopefully we’ll get a chance in the future. We don’t know if either of them are Christians. It was a little bit weird to be part of their first date. Especially since neither of us played the dating game; we were good friends before we became “an item.” Before we left Justin’s house, he took the four of us’ picture together, with his camera on a timer. Later we joked, “He probably just wanted Michelle’s picture and we were there to make it convenient.” ;-) In the car, on the way home, we both agreed that it’s nice that we’ve moved beyond that “best foot forward; trying-to-impress-you” stage. We couldn’t help but contrast our four-year relationship (marked by a myriad of trials and joys) with Justin and Michelle’s three-day relationship. This made me contemplate what it will be like after decades together. My dad tells me that your thought processes begin to meld and decision-making gets easier. I’m sure that’s not always true in relationships, but if that’s what generally happens, it's awesome to think about. The best is yet to come.
We went to the opera with Justin and Michelle. Kevin knows Justin from the choral society. He and Kevin hit it off when they started talking about landscaping projects a few weeks ago. Justin then invited Kevin to come see Don Giovanni. Kevin told me that he thought about my mantra (accepting the precious “gift of friendship” when someone offers it to you) and decided it would be cool to develop a friendship with Justin.
I hadn’t met Justin until last night. Neither of us had met Michelle. In fact, Justin had just met Michelle on Sunday and this was their first date together. We met at Justin’s house before the show and carpooled together. Both of them are very nice. Justin is the 7th of 10 kids. We didn’t get a chance to ask much about his family but hopefully we’ll get a chance in the future. We don’t know if either of them are Christians. It was a little bit weird to be part of their first date. Especially since neither of us played the dating game; we were good friends before we became “an item.” Before we left Justin’s house, he took the four of us’ picture together, with his camera on a timer. Later we joked, “He probably just wanted Michelle’s picture and we were there to make it convenient.” ;-) In the car, on the way home, we both agreed that it’s nice that we’ve moved beyond that “best foot forward; trying-to-impress-you” stage. We couldn’t help but contrast our four-year relationship (marked by a myriad of trials and joys) with Justin and Michelle’s three-day relationship. This made me contemplate what it will be like after decades together. My dad tells me that your thought processes begin to meld and decision-making gets easier. I’m sure that’s not always true in relationships, but if that’s what generally happens, it's awesome to think about. The best is yet to come.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
What is opera?
“Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings.” -Ed Gardner
Tonight we’re going to the opera. Kevin has been trying to immerse me in this type of culture for a long time. Until today, I’ve successfully resisted. I only agreed to go when I discovered that there will be subtitles so I can actually understand what all the fuss is about. The only thing that concerns me is that I will actually enjoy myself. If that happens, it will be more difficult to poke fun at it in the future. And that would be a bummer.
Tonight we will see Don Giovanni. I already have one of the songs memorized – in Italian – because Kevin sings it constantly. Should be interesting . . .
Tonight we’re going to the opera. Kevin has been trying to immerse me in this type of culture for a long time. Until today, I’ve successfully resisted. I only agreed to go when I discovered that there will be subtitles so I can actually understand what all the fuss is about. The only thing that concerns me is that I will actually enjoy myself. If that happens, it will be more difficult to poke fun at it in the future. And that would be a bummer.
Tonight we will see Don Giovanni. I already have one of the songs memorized – in Italian – because Kevin sings it constantly. Should be interesting . . .
Monday, September 20, 2004
Yet another reason to smile . . .
I’ve been smiling all day because yesterday I got out my fall clothes and today the weather permits me to wear a sweater all day long. I love sweaters because they are beautiful, comfortable, cozy, warm, and best of all they are wrinkle-free. Today Kevin told me “Don’t stay in the ‘fall mood’ because it’s supposed to heat up later this week.” All I can say is . . . I’m sure going to enjoy it while it lasts.
Yesterday we had a terrific thunder and lightning storm, including tons of hail. It all happened very suddenly. Kevin was overjoyed when the clouds rolled in. He says he’s not sure he likes the 200 days of consecutive sunshine in California every year. To put it in his own words, “They can’t expect me to be that happy so many days straight in a row.”
I had to drop Kevin off at the state university for his chorale rehearsal after church yesterday. When I went to pick him up, all the roads were blocked off because of the flooding. It was incredible to me how much rain we got so quickly. Basically, it hasn’t rained a single drop since April and then it rained dogs and cats in a period of about an hour. Craziness!
Although I love each part of the process, I love the aftermath of rain most of all. The air is so clean. The cloudy sky, with the sun poking through, is gorgeous. The grass seems greener (even if it’s not). And the street glistens with the dampness. It’s all so very enchanting.
Yesterday we had a terrific thunder and lightning storm, including tons of hail. It all happened very suddenly. Kevin was overjoyed when the clouds rolled in. He says he’s not sure he likes the 200 days of consecutive sunshine in California every year. To put it in his own words, “They can’t expect me to be that happy so many days straight in a row.”
I had to drop Kevin off at the state university for his chorale rehearsal after church yesterday. When I went to pick him up, all the roads were blocked off because of the flooding. It was incredible to me how much rain we got so quickly. Basically, it hasn’t rained a single drop since April and then it rained dogs and cats in a period of about an hour. Craziness!
Although I love each part of the process, I love the aftermath of rain most of all. The air is so clean. The cloudy sky, with the sun poking through, is gorgeous. The grass seems greener (even if it’s not). And the street glistens with the dampness. It’s all so very enchanting.
When Dreams Become Reality
On Saturday we met with about 25 of our old law school friends at the Hilton in Sacramento to start a new alumni association. We are very excited about the prospects of this endeavor. Kevin was elected president and eight other dedicated alumni were also selected to be on the board. Those who desire to help get this thing off the ground and promote its goals have our work cut out for us. It’s encouraging to see the interest and wholehearted commitment of so many people to make this happen.
In addition to the excitement of starting a new venture, it was fantastic to see so many old friends this weekend. Several of them flew in from out of state. We were able to host a Friday night mixer and a barbecue on Saturday at our house. It was so much fun to have people over. Although, I must confess, there were several times when I wanted to pull out my hair while getting ready for it. And, I bought way too much food. We’re going to be eating pasta salad for months! (To make matters worse, Kevin just told me he doesn’t really like pasta salad to begin with. I wish I’d known that when I planned the menu. But oh well. We’re going to have to throw another party to get rid of all this food!)
It’s amazing how tight-knit the Oak Brook students are, despite the fact that the school is primarily a distance-learning program. I think it just goes to show that when people who are likeminded meet each other and go through a rigorous time of life together, they are friends for life.
In addition to the excitement of starting a new venture, it was fantastic to see so many old friends this weekend. Several of them flew in from out of state. We were able to host a Friday night mixer and a barbecue on Saturday at our house. It was so much fun to have people over. Although, I must confess, there were several times when I wanted to pull out my hair while getting ready for it. And, I bought way too much food. We’re going to be eating pasta salad for months! (To make matters worse, Kevin just told me he doesn’t really like pasta salad to begin with. I wish I’d known that when I planned the menu. But oh well. We’re going to have to throw another party to get rid of all this food!)
It’s amazing how tight-knit the Oak Brook students are, despite the fact that the school is primarily a distance-learning program. I think it just goes to show that when people who are likeminded meet each other and go through a rigorous time of life together, they are friends for life.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Strawberry Strife
I just got back from buying approximately 10 million strawberries for this weekend at the farmer’s market. I had a tough time finding a parking spot at the crowded downtown plaza. Finally I found one but then discovered I didn’t have any quarters. I located the nearest vendor to my car, raced to her stand, grabbed the nearest piece of fruit I could find (a peach for forty cents) and then raced back to my car with the two precious quarters. I barely made it before a parking-policeman drove by. Whew – that was a close one. (The parking enforcement is brutal in Sacramento.) After I deposited my quarters in the parking meter, I noticed a sign that read “No parking Wednesdays 6 AM to 3 PM without a permit.” This just isn’t my lucky day, I suppose. (You’d think I’d read all of the obvious signs before parking somewhere, wouldn’t you? Leave it to me . . . ) After a few moments wondering what to do, I decided I would just risk a ticket (after all, the parking-policeman had just passed and probably wouldn’t be back for at least five minutes). I rushed to the opposite end of the plaza to find the strawberry stand, loaded up (don’t ask me how on earth I made it back to my car so quickly with that heavy load) and was soon on my merry way. To my utter jubilation, my windshield was ticket-free. Praise the Lord. Sigh . . . life can be so complicated at times.
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Last night we (finally) bought a lawnmower at Lowe's. Kevin was thinking seriously about getting one of those little push mowers. I thought that was funny, for some reason. But he didn't understand why. I had a grand time testing out those huge riding lawnmowers while he was looking at all the other mowers. "Kevin," I suggested, "Why don't we just break down and buy one of these? That way it will only take us two or three seconds to mow our lawn." Kevin didn't say anything to that. He just rolled his eyes. (Do you think that's an indication he thinks I'm crazy? Probably.) Later on I told Kevin that maybe we shouldn't get a riding lawnmower after all. "Our neighbors would think we're freaks." But I still think it'd be FUN.
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Last night we (finally) bought a lawnmower at Lowe's. Kevin was thinking seriously about getting one of those little push mowers. I thought that was funny, for some reason. But he didn't understand why. I had a grand time testing out those huge riding lawnmowers while he was looking at all the other mowers. "Kevin," I suggested, "Why don't we just break down and buy one of these? That way it will only take us two or three seconds to mow our lawn." Kevin didn't say anything to that. He just rolled his eyes. (Do you think that's an indication he thinks I'm crazy? Probably.) Later on I told Kevin that maybe we shouldn't get a riding lawnmower after all. "Our neighbors would think we're freaks." But I still think it'd be FUN.
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