hmmm...

If you're having trouble accessing this blog, let me know. I've been receiving varied reports.

Sorry, no posting tonight. Time to improve on last night's 1.5 hours. Good night.

Housekeeping

Tonight I made the switch from Public to Private. My brothers and sisters read this blog, and I'd rather not increase their vocabulary with words I've never even heard myself... even if that exposure comes very indirectly and unintentionally. This weblog began as a private venture (originally just to comment on my mom's blog) and it will remain private, especially so I can keep in touch with my beloved family while I'm overseas next year.

By the way... if your blog is linked on the sidebar, and you want me to remove it, let me know, and I will be happy to do so. Not happy to take you off, but happy to respect your wishes in any way.

If your blog isn't linked on the sidebar, and you would like me to add it, let me know, and I will be happy to consider that.

A prayer for the day

I am not sure I know which Collect this is. But its words are good to ponder, as we all have work to do.

Guide us, O Lord, amidst the trials and conflicts of our daily life, and fill our hours of occupation with thy presence; that daily work may become to us a high vocation, and that we may learn the dignity of labour, and make it a freewill offering to thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Now publishing

Whoops! There went the week!

As Mommy mentioned, Daddy was working on the plumbing last week. The most exciting day was Tuesday, when Kendra and I had a Bible study at 7:00 p.m. Somehow this was not communicated to Daddy. He started his work around 4:30, and I stopped my work around 6:00 to take a shower and wash the vegetables we were bringing. (It was Taco Salad night.)

Whoops! No water!

Daddy worked quickly and eventually had the cold water up for us. So we washed and chopped the tomatoes and lettuce. Then he glued the hot water pipes... unfortunately, the glue didn't plan to hold. So he held the pipes together for us while we finished showering (unbeknownst to us, although we were already speeding, since it was well after 7:00). Fortunately we live only five minutes away from our church friends, and thankfully we have a wonderful father!

In other news, I ended up with three nearly-cold showers during the last week. This had nothing to do with the plumbing, and everything to do with the washer and the dishwasher and certain persons who like to steam off well in the shower. It's amazing how fast one can shower when the hot water is disappearing! So, I was doubly blessed with extra time and extra thankfulness that we have showers at all.

This week was also the one we (Jason, Kendra, and myself) settled on for our summer viewing of the Lord of the Rings films. Of course, we had to watch them at night, for two reasons...

1) The younger kids aren't allowed to see them yet.
2) How can anyone watch them in the daylight?

We also had to time the last one (nearly 4.5 hours) to fall on a Friday night, so we could all sleep in... theoretically.

It was fun. :)

I was willing to sacrifice a little sleep for such a good cause, especially so I could work during the day. It would be ridiculous to take time off work just for movies. For some undoubtedly unrelated reason, a cold finally grabbed hold of me, but I should have it kicked off by tomorrow.

After work and sleep and language study, there isn't much time left for posting, especially when our wireless connection keeps cutting out. But I'll try not to let a whole week go by this time.

Into the midst of such busyness come those little bright spots, such as this lovely bag, designed by my lovely friend and embroidered by her lovely mother. I thought you'd like to see it!
(Of course, she put some chocolate inside...!)

Dark is good

The job description for this blog requires its writer to inform said writer's audience on the latest medical updates.

Today's article (via the New York Times) brings that long-awaited success story: How to experience a "clinically meaningful decline" in your blood pressure!

Any debate over the previously linked article is welcomed by the blog writer at some risk to the writer's reputation with The Hierarchy.

Ridiculous to sublime

Last night we had our biannual viewing of Pirates of the Caribbean. (I had to get out the dictionary again just now, because I always get biannual and biennial mixed up; every time I reformulate some way to use the a and e to distinguish them, and every time I forget it.) Jason decided it would be biannual. However, this was about my seventh time - more or less - and I almost fell asleep. The movie has become less frightening and more funny.

This afternoon Kendra and I went out for a movie and ice cream to celebrate her sixteenth birthday. Turning sixteen definitely merits some celebration! Happy birthday, Kendra.

We saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was different and the same. Same story with a different feel.


My mind is running in German just now, so I thought I would share The Lord's Prayer with you. It is very beautiful... I'm sorry you can't hear it.

Vater unser im Himmel,
Geheiligt werde dein Name.
Dein Reich komme.
Dein Wille geschehe,
wie im Himmel so auf Erden.
Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute.
Und vergib uns unsre Schuld
wie auch wir vergeben unseren Schuldigern.
Und führe uns nicht in Versuchung,
sondern erlöse uns von dem Bösen.
Denn dein ist das Reich
und die Kraft
und die Herrlichkeit
in Ewigkeit.

Amen.

Out of Context, June / July edition

Some of these do need context.

Family

Nolan (regarding his coleslaw): "I wish I could have hotslaw."

Coming back from Texas, Ardith attempting to follow Daddy...
Ardith: "See, this is the problem with Daddy. He can't turn around!"

When the dishwasher pipes were going in...
Nolan: "Pipe cement is very bad for you."
Daddy (snorts): "Just breathing it can make you sick!"
Nolan: "Then you have to have a cough drop."

Derek and Carolyn playing Romans, Ethan playing their slave...
Derek: "Please? Carolyn, you're saying please? You don't say please to a slave."

Looking out for Uncle Stan's in Georgia...
Trevor: "Is it a white house?"
Nolan: "Umm, yes, I think."
Trevor: "Is it a white house, Mommy?"
Mommy: "I don't remember."
Nolan: "Or maybe it's painted - blue! Or - red!"
Trevor: "Yes, it's not a white house, it's a blue house!"
Nolan: "Or maybe it's green."
Trevor: "Yes, it's a green house! It's a green house, Mommy."

Mommy: "Trevor, do you have to talk all the time?"
Trevor: "Yes, Mommy, I have to talk all the time."


Heard on the radio

"Spend less on hotels and more on power tools!"

"The carnage will be devastating. AND YOU'LL BE THERE!"

Sudden existence!

Sorry it has taken me so long to put up links for weblogs of friends. Originally I'd wanted to ask everyone personally... finally decided that the courtesy was becoming less than courteous, as I never got around to it.

The married persons have a proper title before their name. Nope, this is not to divide everyone into "single" and "married" status. This is because I still don't feel comfortable using first names where I've used the title so long. So I extended the rule to all married persons.

This is another reason I like Blogger. My friends can have real names and not just screen names.

A mother's third eye

Today my junk mail inbox announced, "Peace of Mind is only $75 at Geeks.com."

Mommy, this is what you should have had, especially to strap on to the kid in question. Then again, maybe it's not too late! (Actually, they need to create one that reads the child's mind.)

You know, everybody, Mommy's birthday is coming up... in a couple months...

Ouch!

If this red hurts your eyes, don't look at me. Jason hacked into my blog.

A little story of a movie

(This was due for publication last night, but the Internet was a little crowded)

While down at the Hoyt reunion in Georgia, some of us (some of us between the ages of 16 and 28) saw The Village. This won't be a critique, just my impressions. But if you haven't seen it yet and don't want any spoiler, you can stop reading now.

We really had the perfect setting for this movie: we were in a little cabin-style home stuck away off a dirt road in the Georgia woods. It was after 1 A.M., and our seating - couch, chairs, and floor - had its back to the door to the deck and windows overlooking the deck. Of course, someone was kind enough to turn off all the lights. My cousin Laura and I were on the floor, a good strategic move since it put the couch between us and the windows.

The first scenes left two distinct impressions. One was a man crying over his son's coffin, so I immediately concluded that the movie would be sad and frightening. The second could have been a scene from an early Thanksgiving feast: a long row of tables and everyone dressed rather old-fashioned. Being pretty dense, I immediately rewinded my mind a few centuries. It all seemed a little Puritan, kind of somber, no red allowed, too gaudy, or too... something. Everyone spoke oddly, too well and almost archaically. And there was a village council. Make that a progressive Puritan village where women sat on the council and talked at least as much as the men. Oh yes, they were religious too, down to the priests in yellow cloaks tossing the devoted meat onto a huge flat altar - ah, rock... stone. But this was a religion driven by fear.

I suppose I should have figured out that They weren't really monsters... finally one of Them actually appeared, could have been a person dressed up. But it had to be an Outside person hostile to the village. Truth didn't strike me till Walker told Ivy, and that was an immense relief... very welcome relief, because the sound technicians kept blasting bursts of bass at us, especially at the frequent startling moments. Laura must have jumped a little higher than I did, since the others teased her and not me. I was glad to have someone else share my reactions, and occasionally voice them, which I didn't dare to do in the face of such manipulative genius. The writer obviously wanted to overpower me, so like a good little villager I'd sit there and let him do it.

Kitty's nearly hysterical declaration of love to Lucius made us all laugh... as did Ivy's asking Lucius when they would marry, and his response, "Why don't you let me lead for once!" Short reprieve, more shocks were to come. When the camera staggered with Noah right up to Lucius, something had to be wrong... when Ivy gasped for breath behind a tree, the camera would pan out, of course, to show It right behind the tree. Now that was really cruel, especially to Ivy, when she knew there should be no more of Them!

When Ivy stumbled out onto the road, I think I was the last one to realize it was a modern-day vehicle driving up, and of course I completely missed the Walker on the side. That's why I like watching movies with Hoyt cousins who sit around and discuss anything afterwards, no matter how late it is.

Now which is worse... an outside group terrorizing the village, as I first thought... or the council members terrorizing their own village? How absurd to use fear to protect their people. And their own children. In the end, that's what I can't understand. I suppose it's a choice everyone has to make: hole up and let your children grow up believing the evil comes from monsters, or live in the real world and let them realize the evil is in everyone, and they must deal with it. They couldn't escape the evil; it came from one of their own, when Noah stabbed Lucius. (now that really was not pleasant)

There should be more movies like this, movies you have to figure out - or find out - as you go.

I think we all slept that night, but there were Red jokes making the rounds for a while.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if you've seen The Village. By the way, I didn't title this weblog Sharon's Soliloquy for a reason. (besides the obvious ones) Comments are always welcome!

Death or estate, that's the question

Why don't you read "Double Trouble Speak"? Good article. Almost makes me want to start an Old English revival.

...after twelve days of blogging sabbatical...

It was a lovely trip!

But, since I used my expendable Internet time to catch up on blogs of friends - which mostly was a quick skim of everybody's latest post - and since today was a day for sleep and business and German, there is no time for a real post. I'm still trying to think of how to tell you all the highlights of the trip. Maybe I will spend one of my eight hours on the ladder tomorrow thinking about it.

Anyway, tomorrow is Friday night. Tomorrow night I will have plenty of time. Tomorrow night, once it comes, I probably won't have time, what with a birthday party and a movie. But tomorrow night I will try to defy the weekend time wormholes and post.

Bye

H-Hour is 0700 Saturday 25 June 2005.

Tomorrow morning we leave on our big long summer trip. Georgia for the Hoyt reunion, Indiana for a Baker get-together. This will be so much fun. :)

Auf Wiedersehen, Adiós, Au revoir!

Several thousand words

One day, when most everybody is outside....

Nolan proudly shows the cameragirl a worm from his worm collection.

Derek instructs Trevor in the fine art of dirt-clod chopping.

Carolyn happily weeds her radishes.

Kendra and Carolyn marshal their radish ranks for a French Breakfast vs. German Giant war.

Jason mows in fine form.

Ethan pauses as the crafty cameragirl asks him a question so she can snap him.

Someone's missing. It must be Melinda!

Your Spanish for today

Can't promise when the next "today" will be, but don't worry... one will pop up somewhere. I have two months till returning to school and taking the Spanish and German finals, so I'm back to regular language study. Which means that you, my beloved reader, will get more of those much-missed language posts!

It's always a good idea to try translating that phrase literally - you know they're hiding something if they lump a bunch of words together under one English meaning.

ponerse boca abajo (arriba) - to be face up (down)

Literally, the Spanish reads "to put one's mouth up (or down)".

Now, I find that very interesting. Don't you? Should we draw any politically incorrect and linguistically discriminating conclusions, or just laugh?

Since I will be studying abroad for Spanish in Argentina, I was hunting around for some good (and interesting) information on the country. This looks like it may keep me busy for a while.
Todo lo que quiera saber sobre Argentina, proclaims the site - Everything you wanted to know about Argentina. Even if you want to listen to all of Argentina's historically significant state speeches!

Senses

Watching Master and Commander last Friday made me think about sound, because it was full of sound... waves slapping, canvas snapping, men's voices shouting, but also more subtle sounds, especially the inflections of voices.

I realized that I wasn't just hearing the sound, but feeling it. On thinking about it, two kinds of feeling: one, hearing the sounds of something being done 'on screen' made me feel that same thing being done where I was; two, sounds skipping directly to my nervous system or something inside that could feel.

Have you ever been lying on a couch and listening to other people talk, and as you get sleepier and sleepier, the voices are different, almost as if they've changed pitch, or as if the sound waves reaching your ears are slowing down?

I wonder if we can 'feel' sound because of its nature - soundwaves produced by vibrations, reaching our ears and passing the vibrations on to our eardrums and eventually to the brain. Those vibrations must be going down the spinal cord as well as up it, because I can feel them inside, almost as if the sound bypasses skin and physical touch to pluck some internal strings.

If hearing is like a multiple sense, it isn't unique that way... smell and taste aren't just related, they actually affect each other. It makes me wonder what those lightwaves are up to.

Maybe all this is extremely obvious to everyone else. Or just extremely stupid. Anyway, it intrigues me.

Check off that one

There, I finally finished The Case for Democracy. Only 279 pages, but when my reading gets limited to about fifteen minutes a night, I fall back on weekends for catch-up.

This was a fairly easy and interesting read. Sharansky makes his case not from abstract theoretical arguments but rather from his experiences as a Soviet Jewish dissident in the USSR and as a statesman in Israeli politics.

I could quote a few sentences that very nicely sum up the book's thesis, which is just why I won't do it. Go read it yourself. However, the following caught my attention:

When some questioned why Israel was not using information [Peace Watch papers keeping tabs on Palestinian compliance] that could be very helpful in exerting diplomatic pressure on the Palestinian Authority to comply with its agreements, Israeli officials scoffed that it was the government's role to determine whether the Palestinians were fulfilling their commitments. (pg. 158)

So where does the informed citizenry of a democracy come in? Where government bureaucracy leaves off, I suppose... which would seem to be wherever the informed citizenry doesn't come in.

I do not believe in an end of history. The diversity of the world ensures that there will always be argument and conflict. (pg. 278)

Not sure that I would define history as "argument and conflict." And I do believe in an end to history; at least, an end to recorded time. Then again, who really knows?

But as "the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is [definitely] wearying to the body" (Ecclesiastes 12:12), I am off to bed. Goodnight.

To whom it may interest

I added a few sidebar links a while back.

People who are serious about chocolate don't just love eating good chocolate (read: good-quality dark chocolate) - they love reading scientific studies of chocolate (read: studies revealing the health benefits of eating moderate amounts of good-quality dark chocolate). So here's what I like to call The Chocolate List, for the serious chocolate lovers out there. Please notice that I didn't say "chocoholics".

Online dictionaries seem to lack etymologies, which is too bad, since the story behind the word is the most interesting part. So I added Etymonline.

Oh, let's see, I think I also added U. S. News & World Report at the same time. And Al-Jazeera.

It's Friday again

This is so unfair. My right arm is getting all the hammer exercise, which means my left arm and the right side of my brain must be suffering.

Maybe I'll start using my left hand for less important things, like eating and writing.

This is so annoying. Ardith's AIM away message won't get off my screen.

... never mind, there it goes...

This is so inexplicable. Why does it take me all morning and afternoon to get past tiredness and starvation, only to really feel like working at about 5 o'clock?

I think I'll blame it on the heat.

That was so delicious - chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream for Nolan's 6th birthday.

Happy birthday, dear little brother Nolan!

This is so great... being lazy on Friday night.

Jason and I are going to watch Master and Commander, for only the second time.

Have a wonderful weekend!