Archive

Archive for September, 2005

Car Wash

The performing arts department of Lincoln High School is having a car wash tomorrow. If you have a dirty car and are in the area you could drop by! Unfortunately Jameson didn’t manage to get any pledges, but oh well! (The car wash is, as far as I know, free, and the kids will earn money by collecting their pledges.)
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Is It Really True?

I just find it so hard to believe that anyone could say something so stupid and wrong. But I just read these words:

“If you wanted to reduce crime, you could — if that were your sole purpose — you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down.

“That would be an impossibly ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down,” he said.

Say what?! Where was this man’s brain? This is the (gambling and apparently racist) writer of The Book Of Virtues. I see nothing virtuous about this. Sigh.
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Getting Better!

My hands seem to be improving. I’m relieved! I’m not using the computer as frequently, and I’m sure that’s helping.

BUT … there’s always something, right? … my “acid reflux esophagus”, which I thought was improving last week, is bad again. Sigh. Maybe I just HAVE to cut out all coffee and chocolate. I was using … um … the “think method”. Yep. That’s how I behave sometimes. I was thinking I didn’t have to do quite as much as they suggested. I was thinking the benefits of coffee (before opera and teaching only) and chocolate were more important than the problems with them. So I suppose I’ll behave better for a couple of weeks and see if that does the trick.

And now it’s nap time. How I can I be so weary just from teaching and opera? Hmmm. I wonder. But teaching is pretty darn draining sometimes. So I surrender to the pillow and couch.
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Back Home

So … opera went well tonight. After my whining about wishing we didn’t have opera I was pleased with my reed, played well … AND I saw a friend at the opera, too! Cool!
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I Am So Ready

… for opera to be over. I wish, in fact, that it was over already. There’s something about this final week — I think it’s because we haven’t had anything since last Sunday and it felt over. Sigh.

Of course it doesn’t help that I broke my favorite reed AND I just want to sit at home and relax instead of fret over my playing.

Oh well. That’s the music biz. And life.
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And They’re Off!

Brandon had a very quick trip down here. He flew home yesterday afternoon and he, Dan and I loaded up a truck today. At about 5:00 he and Dan drove away. (Sadly I was teaching then so I could only say a quick goodbye.)

He has an apartment in Seattle now. The timing was perfect for him to land the place (someone was moving out and needed a person who could move in immediately), and it sounds just right for him. He has another film in December and will find work to tide him over before that begins (one possibility is already lurking). I believe his lease goes through February (he took someone’s over) and after that who knows what’ll happen.

“His” room here is nearly empty. It’s odd to see. I’ll miss him a lot, but I’m glad things are going well for him!

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Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Names

If the Atlantic region reaches the letter P in 2006, the name Patty will be used. In 2009 the Eastern North Pacific will use Patricia. (Six lists are used in rotation for both the Eastern North Pacific and Atlantic regions, so I guess those names could appear every six years.) I don’t recall hearing Patty or Patricia before, so maybe we haven’t reached those letters in years that they would have been used.

You can see all the names here.

It’s just sort of weird that my name could be used for a catastrophic event.
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Poor 49ers

Sad game. Rotten score. I hope last week wasn’t a fluke. This is really embarrassing. It’s the “most lopsided victory since 11/8/81) Ouch. It’s now 42/3, in favor of the Eagles. Double ouch.

I do hope the Giants fare better. MUCH better. Game begins in about 15 minutes, so I’ll manage to catch some of it prior to opera.
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Why Does This Make Me Cringe?

In the competitive world of stand-up comedians, Mr. Stine, 45, has found a niche as a conservative Christian, riffing on topics like gay marriage, judicial activism and judges who cite precedents from foreign courts.

You can read more here if you really want to.

I just don’t think that what this guy is doing is funny. Nor is it admirable. And I think Christians are called to act with humility and grace … and, well, I think this verse is a good one to stick to:

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Hmmm. I wonder if some Christians seem so far from being at peace is due to their not taking these verses to heart. Maybe the God of peace isn’t with them. I wonder.

Just a thought.
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I Finally Admitted It

Yep. It’s been years and I just haven’t been able to admit it, but I did so today.

I can no longer do needlework. Period.

I actually haven’t been able to do needlework for years, but I was hoping things might change.

I occasionally get nostalgic about the things I used to do and I enjoyed working on projects quite a bit. I do love some of my finished work, much of which, sadly, sits in a large folder and may never see the light of day (or a wall). I did so many pictures and many of them are on other people’s walls which makes me happy. But it’s time to acknowledge that I cannot do these things any more.

I’ve had hand problems again recently, but even before these major hand woes I pulled out one project thinking my hands were finally going to cooperate. Alas, they did not. Even when they don’t hurt they don’t like holding the needle and don’t like the small handwork. Ah well.

So today was the day. Finally.

I packaged up all the kits I had waiting for me, and sent them off to a friend. (There were a lot of kits … 10 or so, I think.) I’m hoping she’ll find some willing hands that will enjoy them. Some of the pictures were so beautiful and I’m sorry I can’t do them, but oh well. Life goes on, and I have to save my hands for oboe.

Something Funny

While I was at the post office, sending off the kits, a woman ahead of me handed the postal worker her credit card. He mentioned to her that she hadn’t signed it. She said “I never sign my cards. In case they get lost or stolen.”

Um. Okay. So you don’t want anyone to forge your signature? You are sure making it easier for him or her … someone can use his or her own signature on the back of your card.

Silly lady.

But I wasn’t all that surprised. I had a man say that to me eons ago when I worked at Books Inc.. I tried to explain to him that not signing didn’t do him any favors, but he didn’t understand.

Silly man.

Aw heck. Let’s face it. We are all silly in one way or another.

Quiet Life

I’m home alone. Again. Dan is on a little mini-vacation up in them thar hills (we’ll be seeing some more fantastic photos, I’m sure) and Jameson is at El Burro with some friends. So it was a “TV dinner” (do they still call them that) from the organic health food section of Safeway. (I’m trying to fool myself into thinking I’m being healthy!) It was actually pretty good.

But The Giants are playing the Dodgers so I’ll try and enjoy myself. (Considering the sad losses recently I can’t say for sure if I’ll enjoy myself or not — time will tell.)

Still, the first Giants batter, Winn, just hit a home run. Cool!

WOO HOO! NOW BARRY HIT A HOME RUN!! This is his first since … gee … since a long time ago. They’re saying it’s 10 days shy of 12 months ago since his last. This is very cool. We saw him hit a near home run on Monday night but, due to fan interference, the hit was ruled a double. Anyway, this is so great!

GO GIANTS!
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