"Do you still want me to write my name?" Patient
"Yes, please, even though I know who you are." Me
"All right." ::writes her name on a sticker:: "And so do I!" Patient
"And if you didn't, it would be even more amazing you got here!" Amelia
Monday, March 31, 2008
Beautiful
They recently found some new sermons from St. Augustine in a codex anthology thing. :-) Pictures of the pages can be found here, but regrettably the site is in German. But still, if you remember enough Latin, you can puzzle out a good bit of them. It's so cool. :-)
Hat tip: Unlocked Wordhoard.
Hat tip: Unlocked Wordhoard.
Travel is hard on the critters
Amelia: "Ethan left yesterday to go to Mexico, and D'Artagnan has been frantic because he will never get fed again. Because of course, if Ethan is gone, he will never come back, and of course nobody else could possibly feed him. This morning he was missing Ethan--he looked up at his bed very pitifully. But then he forgot what he was supposed to be doing and wandered off to play with his ball. That's dogs for you."
As for my pretty little Lilly-cat, she came home yesterday too, with my parents. Yay! They'd left her with Grandad while we were all gone, as she would have hated being home alone. Grandad took good care of her, but it wasn't the same, and Lilly was just about frantic with joy at coming back. She flopped herself down smack in the middle of the living room and reveled at being in her place. But then, every once in a while, we'd hear her set up a yowling somewhere in the depths of the house when she couldn't find us.
So we'd go retrieve her, and set her on somebody's lap, and she'd calm right down.
This was very endearing until she needed attention at four a.m. I'm sure it's good practice for being a mommy, but I'm not very awake this morning. I think my coffeepot just finished brewing...
As for my pretty little Lilly-cat, she came home yesterday too, with my parents. Yay! They'd left her with Grandad while we were all gone, as she would have hated being home alone. Grandad took good care of her, but it wasn't the same, and Lilly was just about frantic with joy at coming back. She flopped herself down smack in the middle of the living room and reveled at being in her place. But then, every once in a while, we'd hear her set up a yowling somewhere in the depths of the house when she couldn't find us.
So we'd go retrieve her, and set her on somebody's lap, and she'd calm right down.
This was very endearing until she needed attention at four a.m. I'm sure it's good practice for being a mommy, but I'm not very awake this morning. I think my coffeepot just finished brewing...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
More on Aquinas and just laws
This is a good essay by Dr. Esolen. I am confirmed in my suspicion that I oversimplified the purpose of law last Wednesday.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Worldview in our world
I was rather pleased to read this post by Gene Edward Veith because next week in Awana, we're going to be talking about politics in the six worldviews (Christianity, Islam, Marxism, secular humanism, new age, and postmodernism). I'm looking forward to it, but I'm generally in over my head. There's nothing like describing six views of biology in fifteen minutes.
For the last two times, we were discussing law. I didn't quite like the book's presentation of Christian law, so instead we talked about Aquinas' four principles for a just law. They are that it's a result ("ordinance") of reason, for the common good, by a proper authority, and published so everyone knows about the law.
On the one hand, I feel terribly awkward discussing Aquinas with my Protestant third through sixth graders, not to mention out of my depth; but on the other hand, that much is pretty straightforward and even if you disagree with him, he's a respectable source. It won't hurt them to at least be familiar with one thread of Christian thought. And now they've heard about Aquinas and can pronounce his name. :-)
I also found it helpful when we got to postmodernism, because we were able to do a neat little compare-and-contrast chart. Postmodernism pretty much denies all four of those criteria. I summed up that view as law being a result of power, for the subjection of minorities, by whoever can get the power, and communication of the law will be spotty at best. All of this, of course, is simplified and probably gruesomely oversimplified; I know it's a very slippery worldview, and of course no two postmodernists will agree entirely on anything. But I think it's worth teaching.
For the last two times, we were discussing law. I didn't quite like the book's presentation of Christian law, so instead we talked about Aquinas' four principles for a just law. They are that it's a result ("ordinance") of reason, for the common good, by a proper authority, and published so everyone knows about the law.
On the one hand, I feel terribly awkward discussing Aquinas with my Protestant third through sixth graders, not to mention out of my depth; but on the other hand, that much is pretty straightforward and even if you disagree with him, he's a respectable source. It won't hurt them to at least be familiar with one thread of Christian thought. And now they've heard about Aquinas and can pronounce his name. :-)
I also found it helpful when we got to postmodernism, because we were able to do a neat little compare-and-contrast chart. Postmodernism pretty much denies all four of those criteria. I summed up that view as law being a result of power, for the subjection of minorities, by whoever can get the power, and communication of the law will be spotty at best. All of this, of course, is simplified and probably gruesomely oversimplified; I know it's a very slippery worldview, and of course no two postmodernists will agree entirely on anything. But I think it's worth teaching.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A boy named Sue
I enjoyed this from the NY Times. And yes, it does talk about the Johnny Cash song...as well as a few other things.
The list of names I'm grateful not to possess just got a lot longer.
(P.S. It is my life's goal--or one of them at least--not to inflict awful names on my offspring. Just so you know.)
The list of names I'm grateful not to possess just got a lot longer.
(P.S. It is my life's goal--or one of them at least--not to inflict awful names on my offspring. Just so you know.)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Corned beef and a bobtism and a philly cheesesteak
Having just made it back from the east coast, it seemed only right and proper to blog about it. I didn't exactly have internet access while I was gone: that's the reason for my long silence. I didn't really ignore you, I promise.
Saturday, March 15: Becca and I flew out. The layover in Dallas was long and slightly traumatic: I couldn't see my flight on the computer screens, and when I finally tracked down my carrier, the lady was rescheduling everyone in line in front of me. I got up to the counter and timidly poked my itinerary at her: "We don't go there!" "But-- but--" "We work through United for that destination. Gate B-30." Phew. I was on the phone with Rebecca once she found her gate, and hung up with, "Lord willing, I'll see you at Dulles." A man nearby said, in a soft Texas drawl, "Sweetheart, you're in Dallas." :-) Em and Jonathan picked us up at Dulles without any problems, and we picked up Kay for some midnight McDonald's.
Sunday, March 16: Becca and I went to church with Jonathan, lost abominably at a quick round of Risk, and then headed back to Kay's for a nap before the wedding shower. I was well and truly showered with nice things, including a few scandalous ones. My friends must love me. ;-)
Monday, March 17: I dropped off Kay so she could fly to London, and picked up some scones before Becca and I ventured out to shop in Leesburg. We really wanted a purse for me, but somehow each wound up with a pair of shoes. These things happen. ::shrug:: From there we went back to campus, picked up Jonathan, picked up butter and buttermilk for the St. Patrick's party, and made Irish soda bread to go with Ben and Lisa's corned beef and cabbage. We even found Kanary's place, which is rather remarkable, as I hadn't been there in months and when I did go, it was always as a passenger, and Jonathan chiefly goes there at night, again always as a passenger. So we were navigating entirely by subliminal memories and group-think. (Do we turn here? Yes. No. I don't remember the road being paved. It wasn't paved. But it must be that road because I definitely don't remember this hill...) The party was delightful--lots of nice people there, culminating with the St. Patrick flannelgraph from VeggieTales and The Quiet Man. Lisa navigated us back, so we didn't get nearly as lost returning.
Tuesday, March 18: Becca and I went and had coffee with Lisa at her house and talked wedding-stuff until we were all just about blue in the face. Life is good. :-) After that we wandered over to campus, socialized for a bit, and Jonathan and I darted away for a bit of a dinner-date before a Macbeth reunion (thank you, Maggie!), candlelight ceremony (thank you, Emily-Rose), and bobtism (thank you, Turner, I think). At this point Jonathan and I took a deep breath and a long walk under the stars.
Wednesday, March 19: Jonathan's parents came and picked up Becca and me. We dropped off Becca with her friends in the area, and headed up to Jersey, where they live. The traffic on the Beltway was excessive, in my opinion, and it was a gloriously rainy foggy afternoon. But we got up into areas I'd bever been before, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drive. At their house I met David (Jonathan's brother), Lucy (the older dog), and Bowser (the younger dog).
Thursday, March 20: I think this is the day Jonathan and I met with his pastor for the pre-marital counseling. He was very nice, and I was glad to get to do it in person. We've been managing with 3-way calls (yay Verizon!).
Friday, March 21: Mrs. B took me out to lunch with five of her friends, chiefly church ladies. We got along splendidly. :-) We also got a good way through the invitations. They had to be measured, sliced, hole-punched, punched with the fancy hole-punch, and then stitched together. The Bs helped a lot--I'd never have been able to get them all done myself.
Saturday, March 22: Jonathan and I went to Philly with his friend and friend's new wife. We did all the touristy stuff I'd never done, not having visited there before: the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin's house and post office and press; and we also stood in line for 35 minutes for the best philly cheesesteak in town. (Jim's.) It snowed on us while we were there, and I was slightly bitter. We came home and worked on invitations again.
Sunday, March 23: Easter Sunday! For Jesus is risen! :-) We went to church--so fun! They had a little orchestra and a choir, and they sang good songs, and the pastor preached the resurrection, and the whole place was full of toddlers and teenagers and parents and Jonathan's friends and people who generally looked happy to be there. And as I was leaving someone gave me a helium balloon. I don't know why, but I didn't argue. :-) After church we put on Return of the Jedi and finished the invitations. When you get yours, do you know that those are real invitations, nothing pre-made about them.
Monday, March 24: Home! Albuquerque looked so good with the trees coming out, and it was warm, and Rebecca kindly picked me up and even recommended buying groceries on the way back so I'd have something to eat. :-)
Today: Back to work!
Saturday, March 15: Becca and I flew out. The layover in Dallas was long and slightly traumatic: I couldn't see my flight on the computer screens, and when I finally tracked down my carrier, the lady was rescheduling everyone in line in front of me. I got up to the counter and timidly poked my itinerary at her: "We don't go there!" "But-- but--" "We work through United for that destination. Gate B-30." Phew. I was on the phone with Rebecca once she found her gate, and hung up with, "Lord willing, I'll see you at Dulles." A man nearby said, in a soft Texas drawl, "Sweetheart, you're in Dallas." :-) Em and Jonathan picked us up at Dulles without any problems, and we picked up Kay for some midnight McDonald's.
Sunday, March 16: Becca and I went to church with Jonathan, lost abominably at a quick round of Risk, and then headed back to Kay's for a nap before the wedding shower. I was well and truly showered with nice things, including a few scandalous ones. My friends must love me. ;-)
Monday, March 17: I dropped off Kay so she could fly to London, and picked up some scones before Becca and I ventured out to shop in Leesburg. We really wanted a purse for me, but somehow each wound up with a pair of shoes. These things happen. ::shrug:: From there we went back to campus, picked up Jonathan, picked up butter and buttermilk for the St. Patrick's party, and made Irish soda bread to go with Ben and Lisa's corned beef and cabbage. We even found Kanary's place, which is rather remarkable, as I hadn't been there in months and when I did go, it was always as a passenger, and Jonathan chiefly goes there at night, again always as a passenger. So we were navigating entirely by subliminal memories and group-think. (Do we turn here? Yes. No. I don't remember the road being paved. It wasn't paved. But it must be that road because I definitely don't remember this hill...) The party was delightful--lots of nice people there, culminating with the St. Patrick flannelgraph from VeggieTales and The Quiet Man. Lisa navigated us back, so we didn't get nearly as lost returning.
Tuesday, March 18: Becca and I went and had coffee with Lisa at her house and talked wedding-stuff until we were all just about blue in the face. Life is good. :-) After that we wandered over to campus, socialized for a bit, and Jonathan and I darted away for a bit of a dinner-date before a Macbeth reunion (thank you, Maggie!), candlelight ceremony (thank you, Emily-Rose), and bobtism (thank you, Turner, I think). At this point Jonathan and I took a deep breath and a long walk under the stars.
Wednesday, March 19: Jonathan's parents came and picked up Becca and me. We dropped off Becca with her friends in the area, and headed up to Jersey, where they live. The traffic on the Beltway was excessive, in my opinion, and it was a gloriously rainy foggy afternoon. But we got up into areas I'd bever been before, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drive. At their house I met David (Jonathan's brother), Lucy (the older dog), and Bowser (the younger dog).
Thursday, March 20: I think this is the day Jonathan and I met with his pastor for the pre-marital counseling. He was very nice, and I was glad to get to do it in person. We've been managing with 3-way calls (yay Verizon!).
Friday, March 21: Mrs. B took me out to lunch with five of her friends, chiefly church ladies. We got along splendidly. :-) We also got a good way through the invitations. They had to be measured, sliced, hole-punched, punched with the fancy hole-punch, and then stitched together. The Bs helped a lot--I'd never have been able to get them all done myself.
Saturday, March 22: Jonathan and I went to Philly with his friend and friend's new wife. We did all the touristy stuff I'd never done, not having visited there before: the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin's house and post office and press; and we also stood in line for 35 minutes for the best philly cheesesteak in town. (Jim's.) It snowed on us while we were there, and I was slightly bitter. We came home and worked on invitations again.
Sunday, March 23: Easter Sunday! For Jesus is risen! :-) We went to church--so fun! They had a little orchestra and a choir, and they sang good songs, and the pastor preached the resurrection, and the whole place was full of toddlers and teenagers and parents and Jonathan's friends and people who generally looked happy to be there. And as I was leaving someone gave me a helium balloon. I don't know why, but I didn't argue. :-) After church we put on Return of the Jedi and finished the invitations. When you get yours, do you know that those are real invitations, nothing pre-made about them.
Monday, March 24: Home! Albuquerque looked so good with the trees coming out, and it was warm, and Rebecca kindly picked me up and even recommended buying groceries on the way back so I'd have something to eat. :-)
Today: Back to work!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Farsi of the day
Today's Farsi is "pepper," which is just "felfel." I liked it because it sounded like pepper. :-)
Yesterday's Farsi of the Day
Yesterday's Farsi of the Day is "Harry Potter." It's pronounced "Ha-ree Pa-ter."
I learned this happy fact while skimming the BBC-Farsi news yesterday. I do this, despite the fact I don't actually have much clue what any of it says (I can find the sections that say "Iran" and "Jehan" (world) and "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad." But I digress). Anyway, I was rather excited to come across this article, because it's about Harry Potter. And I know Harry Potter. :-)
If I ever manage to translate enough of it to find out what it says, I'll let you know...
Beautiful
Galilee AE has some beautiful new pictures up. :-)
McClay over at Provocations discusses education, Philippians 4:8 and Aristotle.
McClay over at Provocations discusses education, Philippians 4:8 and Aristotle.
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