Carolyn's Thoughts: 2005

Your Hidden Talent

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Roberts v. the Future - New York Times

Roberts v. the Future - New York Times

"It seems unlikely that John Roberts's confirmation hearings will result in the nominee speaking unguardedly and at length on abortion and other controversies of the moment, or in the Democrats thwarting his confirmation. (Roberts is a conservative; he is also intelligent, able and possesses, by all accounts, a judicious temperament.) What, then, would be the most productive use of his confirmation hearings? It would be illuminating for the senators to ask the man who will be, if confirmed, the first new justice of the 21st century some probing questions about the Supreme Court of the future -- including how, in the broadest sense, it should prepare to handle cases arising from the technological and social changes of the coming decades."

Interesting article suggesting that, in their confirmation hearings for John Roberts, the Senate focus on asking him questions that will reflect how he might decide to vote on issues of the future.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Why I am Not a Conservative

Why I am Not a Conservative

An interesting essay by Nobel Laurete Friedriech Hayek

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Martha's Vineyard - New York Times

Want to go to Martha's Vineyard? Here's a good itinerary to beat the tourists.
Martha's Vineyard - New York Times

Scientists Speak Up on Mix of God and Science - New York Times

Is it possible to reconcile the existence of God with Darwinism? I think so...and so do a number of leading scientists.
Scientists Speak Up on Mix of God and Science - New York Times

In Explaining Life's Complexity, Darwinists and Doubters Clash - New York Times

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Be a rock

The lyrics to a kids' song that was one of my earliest influences for what I wanted to become:

Be A Rock (Audrey and Alex)

(chorus)
Be a rock, yeah, be a winner
If you get your highs from life, you can't go wrong
You've got a mind and it's all your own
So use it well- you gotta stand strong

Hey kids, in the night, don't you see the dangers?
Sometimes your friends can be worse than strangers
You've got a mind of your own (you've got a mind of your own)
You'll have to stand alone
So if you feel that it's wrong, don't be pulled by the crowd

(chorus)

Out on the street, everyone's the prey
Stick to your guns and you'll lead the way
Shadows lurk in the night (shadows lurk in the night)
You've gotta find the light
Hold onto your dreams- they can pull you through

Be a rock- yeah, be a winner
If you get your highs from life, you can't go wrong
You've got a mind and it's all your own
So use it well- you gotta stand strong
Use it well-you gotta stand strong
Be a rock, and stand on your own

Sometimes childrens' songs have the best messages in the most basic form. Not a bad idea, going back to basics every now and then.

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." -Thomas Jefferson

Shall we gather?

GATHER AT THE RIVER (Point of Grace)

Sometimes we don’t see eye to eye
We don’t agree, we don’t know why
But Jesus prayed that we’d be one
So for the sake of God’s own son
Can we put away our differences
Lay down our pride
I think it’s time we start turning the tide

(chorus)
Shall we gather at the river of forgiveness
Come together at the waters of love
Flowing like a fountain from the mercy giver
Shall we gather at the river

We have all made enemies of
The ones we’re called by Christ to love
But there’s redemption at the riverside
The water’s deep, the water’s wide
It can wash away our bitterness
The current is strong
I think we’ve been out in the desert too long

(repeat chorus)

We can wade into the middle
Where the healing waters flow
It only takes a little
To heal a wounded soul
It will only bring us closer
Than we’ve ever been before
This is just what Jesus was praying for

Lessons for an Exit Strategy

An article in the Washington Post by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger analyzing the current situation in Iraq.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/11/AR2005081101756.html

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Left Behind - New York Times

An Op-Ed article from a man remarkably like President Bush, but who greatly differs from him in the most important ways. Talks about basically how the presidency is not a 9-to-5 job that you can leave on vacation.
Left Behind - New York Times

Biking Toward Nowhere - New York Times

OK, so to be completely honest, Bush is really starting to annoy me. Here's another editorial in the NY Times on the subject.
Biking Toward Nowhere - New York Times

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

A Tale of Two Cities

Pictures from my April trip to Paris and Madrid
taleoftwocities

Show Me the Way

Show Me the Way (Dennis DeYoung)

Every night I say a prayer in the hope that there's a heaven
And every day I'm more confused as the saints turn into sinners
All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay
And I feel this empty place inside so afraid that I've lost my faith

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Show me the way

And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there's peace in a world so filled with hatred
That I wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we've so far to go
And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that I just won't know

Show me the way, Show me the way
Take me tonight to the mountain
And wash my confusion away

And if I feel light, should I believe
Tell me how will I know

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Show me the way, show me the way
Give me the strength and the courage
To believe that I'll get there someday
Show me the way

Every night I say a prayer
In the hope that there's a heaven...

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Ecclesiastes

"For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone? A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death bettter than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart."
Ecclesiastes 6:12- 7: 3
RIP Mr. McKeon
7-28-05

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die
A time to plant and a time to uproot
A time to kill and a time to heal
A time to tear down and a time to build
A time to weep and a time to laugh
A time to mourn and a time to dance
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them in
A time to embrace and a time to refrain
A time to search and a time to give up
A time to keep and a time to throw away
A time to tear and a time to mend
A time to be silent and a time to speak
A time to love and a time to hate
A time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning."
Ecclesiastes 4: 13

Someone Tell the President the War Is Over - New York Times

Someone Tell the President the War Is Over - New York Times

Great Op-Ed article from the NY Times about how Bush is handling- or, perhaps, not handling- the war effort.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Washington, DC pictures

Here are all my pictures from my trip to Washington, D.C. last June. Enjoy!
2005_06_Washington_DC

Friday, July 22, 2005

Life Is

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Roberts Nomination

In Pursuit of Conservative Stamp, President Nominates Roberts - New York Times

With the resignation of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and President Bush's nomination of Judge John G. Roberts, the country is now in for at least several weeks of politicized debate over his qualifications and- seemingly more important- his personal politics.

I don't think there is any question that Judge Roberts is qualified for the position of Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. Graduated summa cum laude from Harvard, magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. Clerked for Judge Henry Friendly and for then-Associate Justice William H. Rehnquist. Worked at a respected Washington law firm for many years, served as Principal Deputy Solicitor General under George H.W. Bush. Presently a judge on the D.C. Court of Appeals. By all accounts, a kind, funny, and intelligent man. If qualifications were all that counted, Judge Roberts would probably already have been confirmed.

But in Washington, your politics are everything. The appointment of Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court would very probably shift the balance of the Court for the next thirty or so years- and it would, most likely, shift it right, because Judge Roberts is most definitely a conservative. Republican senators are applauding President Bush's choice of Roberts. Democrats are being very cautious, although he has not met with any serious opposition in the Senate yet. They seem to be reserving judgement until after he has been questioned more solidly. Democratic senators are saying that he will probably not meet with a filibuster, because he is not as extremist as some feared the nominee would be.

For the time being, I personally feel that, although I wish President Bush had picked a more defined moderate to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, Judge Roberts was not a bad choice. I like the fact that he believes that judges and justices should keep politics off the bench, and I like how he plays by the law. He seems highly qualified for the post. I know that I may change my opinion as Judge Roberts goes through the process of confirmation, but I think- I hope- I pray that the Senate will give him a fair trial- that the Democrats will continue to be objective until they have examined the evidence, and that the Republicans will not give him a free pass to a lifetime seat on the Court. May the democratic process prevail.

Saturday, July 09, 2005

Both Sides Now

Neil Diamond - Both Sides Now

Rolls and flows of angel hair,
Ice cream castles in the air,
Feather canyons everywhere,
I've looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun.
They rain, they snow on everyone.
So many things I would've done
But clouds got in my way.
I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down and still somehow
It's clouds' illusions I recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels,
The dizzy, dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real.
I've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show.
Leave 'em laughin' when you go.
But if you care, don't let em' know
Don't give yourself away.
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall.
I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud,
Say "I love you" right out loud.
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange.
They shake their heads and say I've changed.
But something's lost when somethings gained
Living everyday.
I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall.
I really don't know life at all.

Friday, June 24, 2005

A Man For All Seasons

From the movie "Johnny English" starring Rowan Atkinson...one of my fave comedy movies of all time

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
Robbie Williams

One eye on the shadows protecting his fellows
From sun up to the moon on his back
Sending villains to Hades
A hit with the ladies
A stallion in the sack

You can’t get your life back when right follows left, Jack
The more you see the less you know
When others would leak it his service is secret
Plays God when it’s your time to go

Queen and country safe and sound with villains six feet under ground
And no one knows ‘cause no one’s found any trace of a man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
And you and I wouldn't have a clue
Who’s doing what, why, when and who
Up the creek with no canoeWatch out for the man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
But safe at home

From the House of Lords saving Norfolk broads
Commoners and landed gentry
His word is Bond with a brunette or blonde
Baby, it’s so elementary
For the man never ends, stop your life with one stare,
See the film, you'll know how it goes
This ain’t no fiction, just check the diction, quid pro quo, a pro's pro.
Hey fellas, don't be jealous
When they made him they broke the mould
So charismatic with an automatic,
Never prematurely shooting his load.

Queen and country safe and sound with villains six feet under ground
And no one knows ‘cause no one’s found any trace of a man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
And you and I wouldn't have a clue
Who’s doing what, why, when and who
Up the creek with no canoe
Watch out for the man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
But safe at home (7x)

Queen and country safe and sound with villains six feet under ground
And no one knows ‘cause no one’s found any trace of a man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
And you and I wouldn't have a clue
Who’s doing what, why, when and who
Up the creek with no canoe
Watch out for the man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
But safe at home (repeat and fade)

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Psalm 31

Excerpts from Psalm 31:

"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me....I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.....My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak...I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.....But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love....Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city....Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

Psalm 31: 3, 7, 10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23-24

Boogie Through Life

Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened.
~*~
Pain and Suffering is inevitable, but Misery is optional.
~*~
Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift. That's why it's called: The Present.
~*~
A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up.
~*~
Life is what you make of it...kinda like Play-Doh.
~*~
The bubbling brook would lose its song if you removed the rocks.
~*~
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
~*~
Everything is always okay in the end- if it's not, then it's not the end.
~*~
If all my friends jumped off a cliff, I wouldn't jump with them. I would be at the bottom to catch them.
~*~
A girl on the street is pointing up at the sky. 'Look, an Angel!' she yells. Passerby laugh, 'You fool, that is only a cloud.' How wonderful it would be to see Angels where there are only clouds. How sad it would be to see clouds where there are Angels.
~*~
Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't.
~*~
So be happy! Don't let anything burst your balloon! Boogie through life!

Memories

The 2004-2005 school year is officially over. School is done. These are my memories from the year. What a great one it was!

2004-2005:
Granite State Challenge: 4, Smith, Reagan's alive, Duracell bunny, Space Ball, Lawrence of Arabia used elephants, A-Rod impersonation, Mike Eisenhower, dirty Canadian vs. dirty Yank, non-astronaut people, Henry VIII, "Call me Kevin W..."
Dr. Gamble's class-polar bear salutes, habeas grabbus, British soldiers in bright red coats, white shoot-me belts, and gold aiming points, Caity the one and Katii the other.
Drama class: The Rabbit and the Turtle is a Bible verse, picking on midgets, Steve pantomiming unsuccessfully hanging himself, Beauty and the Beast=RC and Steve, "He's having a seizure!", "I'm Steve B...", "Sir, that polar bear is stuffed.".
"Our Town": aya, just about, right smart farm, late-night Uno's, "Kevin, buddy, you missed our exit" "No, I didn't" "Yeah, you did" "Yeah, I did", Kevin & Ryan's improv pantomime, Emily tripping over the step, Jacqueline’s name issues
John- dirty Russian, my dear little brother, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy rules!
Emily- tall gentlemen should rule the world, next to us!
Coffee House: "smart" card games with Erik (AKA War and Three Kings), we are soo sociable!
Study hall: Scattergories and Scrabble with Erik and Alissa.
Katii- I am going to be eaten by a Japanese penguin, which will be eaten by a French polar bear, which will be eaten by a Jewish baby dingo from Australia. After that, you will all say the Kaddish over me. And I am NOT the deranged Canadian who fired the first shot at Fort Sumter- you are.
Christine and Betsy: hyper and hyperer, tired and tireder.
Betsy- spraying me with water in Biology, you will become Stacy on "What Not To Wear" if what you did to me this year is any indication.
The World According to Student Bloopers in study hall and on the Eaglet: “The Egyptians built the Pyramids in the shape of a huge triangular cube…One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, gave refuse to the Israelites. Pharaoh forced the Hebrew slaves to make bread without straw. Moses led them to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Commandments…A myth is a female moth…Nero was a cruel tyranny who would torture his poor subjects by playing the fiddle to them…One of the causes of the Revolutionary Wars was the English put tacks in their tea…George Washington married Martha Curtis and in due time became the Father of our Country…Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this…Queen Victoria was the longest queen. She sat on a thorn for 63 years. Her reclining years and finally the end of her life were exemplary of a great personality. Her death was the final event, which ended her reign…Karl Marx became one of the Marx Brothers.”
"They're Canadian M & Ms." "They are NOT M & Ms!!!!"
Quiz Bowl: BQ Burger Queen, "Let's break for a spot of tea" "Boys, Carolyn, and freshman", "If you learn to drive the Eaglet I am learning to hitchhike", "We're going bowling!", Canadian intelligence pills (contraband of course), wearing togas on your head, Ricky's crazy mixed-up questions ("No, I'm sorry, the answer is..."), Erik and I hate Wisconsin, Poland, and Booker T. Washington, going 40 over the speed bumps with Mr. J, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (he doesn't just wear any sweater, he wears a diamond-studded emerald green cashmere sweater), Prodigy, Carlos the Bomber, starlight frequency, and "Meen Kampf", "Oh my gosh, there's a bug on your collar!", Erik the T... and Ricky the S..., School of Rock "You're not hardcore..." Kevin: be proud of your heritage vs. Erik, Devon, and John: stupid Canadians, Steve: Mountain Dew + Salt and Vinegar chips + three foot subs= heaven on earth, Winston Smith, beating Pat and meeting Moses, Josh's "miracle minute math", Ida-hoe-down, Margaret Thatcher.
Honors New Testament: de-Jew, hyper British guy- no movie is complete without one (Erik-you stole my line!), Computer-Typewriter-PDA-iPod of Life- what's your song?, "You foolish Germans!", Emily and Brian's "abnormally large" women, dressing Alissa up in the “full armor of God.” AKA a bike helmet, tae kwon do chest protector, belt, sneakers, plastic sword, and the wooden “Shield of Jesus/Faith”
Scrabble: hick, bro, beaners, nudist, gin, penny bets, squandering triple word scores.
Chocolate therapy in the library and my Easter Bunny!
Softball: "I'm not adorable, I play softball! Grrrrr!" LOL nice, Britt! Post-loss hyperactivity, singing on the bus (when the guys aren't there), getting "Shall We Dance" stuck in Hannah's head, wobbles, the West Side Turkeys, Ben and Jerry's and Disney songs on the bus home from Sunapee (Andrea eating a whole pint by herself!), Tumbleweed, WE WON ONE!!!
Paris and Madrid: Icing Alex, killing my knee coming down Notre Dame, puns, puns, more puns, Mr. Bonneville's stories and encouragement, losing Madame and Mrs. Chaudoin, Steve's book, The Room, my human crutches (Erik and Mr. Bonneville), Madame and her boyfriends, the Brazilian acrobat and the French guy in Parque del Retiro, Patito!, Telephone at the tapas restaurant, drinking songs, wheelies with Laura, the flamenco show, teaching Cathy Spanish, Toledo is the best city in the world, finding Meghan’s sword.
My away message: "Spending a quiet evening with the two dates of the dateless, Ben and Jerry" Betsy's response: "Ben and Jerry better be ice cream because if they are real boys where has my Carolyn gone?"
"Every girl's got a knight in shining armor...mine fell off his white horse, got lost, and was too stubborn to ask directions."
Suffering through Honors Geometry with Emma and Katy. Emma- we will laugh later on, I promise! There's got to be something!
Katii and Jeff: having marker fights & watching Mr. Connell's class playing softball after finals.
Ross: Betsy is going to make you her new project, so I recommend either getting a good psychotherapist or leaving the country. Also, I am so not smarter than you in science or math!

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Anne Robertson: "The New Math"

A wonderful sermon that connects with all Christian mathphobes like me.

Anne Robertson ~ "The New Math"

Good Advice

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

Monday, June 06, 2005

English is crazy

From an email I got a short time ago, for all you language lovers out there...

Can you read these correctly ... the first time?
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The landfill was so full; they had to refuse more refuse.
4) Please polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could be in the lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier chose to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, it is time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does strange antics when does are around.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong for us to wind the sail.
18) I shed a tear upon seeing the tear in the painting.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) I need to intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, no ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England, nor French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Is it not crazy that you can make amends, but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think the first 'teachers of the language' should have been committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. How is it that people recite a play and play at a recital; ship by truck and send cargo by ship; have noses that run and feet that smell?? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down; you fill in a form by filling it out and an alarm goes off by going on. English was invented by people, not computers, and reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. This is why when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

Sunday, June 05, 2005

Training Maxims

Just home from vacation in Italy with my family...had a great time...but am gearing up for final exams. So I found these karate training maxims from my old dojo. Hohan Soken was the grandmaster before the current one, and he wrote these for his students. They are really applicable to anything that requires work, not just karate.

HANSHI HOHAN SOKEN'S TRAINING MAXIMS
1. Always act in a courteous manner.

2. During training, concentrate to the limit of your mental endurance. Give your all mentally and physically as training without concentration prevents advancement.

3. The physical and mental training of Karate should be combined as one. The heart, mind, and body should be in unison at all times.

4. Heed the advice of your teacher and of more advanced students of other schools' listen to and never forget their advice.

5. Listening and watching are key points to advancement.

6. In order to advance, on must strive to obtain the true spirit of Karate.

7. Training is on a continuous basis, and one learns a little at a time. Do not take breaks in training as it will result in a step backwards.

8. Always strive for advancement and when advanced, one must not brag or boast.

9. Self-praise and over-confidence is a sickness that corrupts training.

10. Refrain from over-eating, drinking, and smoking, for these bad habits hinder the effectiveness of your training.

11. Karate training has no limits. Step by step, study by study, and one day in the future you will undoubtedly enter the temple of the Shaolin.

Hohan Soken (1889-1982)

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Natural Highs

I've been keeping this list for a while...I promised myself that when I passed 100 I would post it.
I got an email a while ago that listed all sorts of "natural highs" in life...so I copied some and then started adding my own. The first 40 are from that list...the rest are my own.

1. Falling in love
2. Laughing so hard your stomach hurts
3. A hot shower on a cold morning
4. No lines at the store
5. A special glance
6. Getting mail
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio
9. Listening to the rain
10. Chocolate milkshakes
11. Giggling
12. A good conversation
13. The beach
14. Finding money in an unexpected place
15. Laughing at yourself
16. Phone calls from old friends that last for hours
17. Running through sprinklers
18. Laughing for no reason at all
19. Having someone tell you you're beautiful
20. Laughing at an inside joke
21. Friends
22. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you
23. Sleeping as long as you want
24. Making new friends
25. Spending time with old friends
26. Playing with a puppy
27. Sweet dreams
28. Hot chocolate on a cold day
29. Road trips with friends and/or family
30. Swinging on swings
31. Chocolate chip cookies warm from the oven
32. Holding hands with someone you care about
33. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things never change
34. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you
35. Watching a sunrise
36. Watching a sunset
37. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day
38. Knowing that somebody misses you
39. Getting a hug from somebody you care about deeply
40. Knowing that you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think
41. Macaroni and cheese
42. Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups
43. Chocolate anything (especially on a bad day)
44. Seeing the look on a friend's face when you buy her a soda on a bad day
45. Getting "get well soon" cards after an injury, sickness, or surgery
46. Getting a hug from a small child
47. Having a baby fall asleep on your shoulder
48. Getting surrounded by love and support after getting injured on a school trip overseas
49. Having a guy open doors or pull out chairs for you
50. Playing board games with friends
51. Making your parents cry when you sing
52. Sitting in the sun
53. Dancing
54. Getting asked to dance during a slow song
55. Watching a movie with friends and/or family
56. Seeing a cardinal on a rainy day
57. Winning a game after a streak of losing
58. Playing duets and trios (and quartets and...)
59. Reading the Sunday comics
60. Getting a funny email
61. Travel during sunny weather
62. Sunny, warm days
63. Eating lunch outside on the grass
64. Winning a contest
65. Praising and worshipping God
66. Mastering a tough new song
67. Hugging a stuffed animal
68. Getting flowers and chocolate...anytime!
69. Ice cream
70. Granite State Challenge
71. Quiz Bowl
72. Getting home after being away for a long time
73. Remembering good times
74. Getting a friendly "Hello" and a smile in passing in the halls
75. Curling up with a good book
76. Getting an "A" in a hard class
77. Opting out of final exams or midterms
78. Birthdays
79. Holding newborn babies for the first time
80. Listening to little kids sing praise songs
81. A good performance of a play after a stressful tech week
82. Singing on bus rides
83. Singing Disney songs and showtunes with friends
84. Pranking and joking with friends
85. Puns
86. Wheelies
87. Long walks with someone you care about
88. The Red Sox winning the World Series after 86 years
89. An affectionate nickname
90. Finding mementos of good times
91. Catching a fly ball or line drive
92. Drawing
93. Knowing you've tried your best even when you lose
94. An unexpected compliment
95. Mastering something new
96. Smelling flowers
97. White-water rafting with an old friend on his seventeenth birthday
98. A good quotation that sticks in your mind
99. Walking (and singing) in the rain
100. Accepting Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour
101. Playing in the dirt/mud
102. Seeing the first flowers of spring
103. Watching the morning star fade away
104. Seeing robins after a long, cold winter
105. Stargazing
106. Sledding
107. Skating
108. Swimming
109. Having a prayer answered
110. Green lights all the way to your final destination
111. Holidays
112. Knowing that you're never alone

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Home

This is just to let everyone know that I am back from Paris and Madrid, mostly in one piece. I damaged my knee coming down Notre Dame, though. Had to lean on everyone else the rest of the week. But I had an awesome time, made some great friends, and saw amazing things that I'll never forget. As I figure out how, I'll post the pictures I took there, and hopefully write in more detail about the trip also.
Be well, do good works, and keep in touch.
Carolyn

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Discussions

Most of my discussions with my friends center around the latest happenings at school and in our "other" lives, like at home or at church or wherever. However, occasionally we get into discussions of politics or theology- more serious issues. I tend to mostly just listen during these discussions, occasionally interjecting my own thoughts. These primarily lead me to think about where I myself stand. Being a teenager, I don't feel that I should have fully set opinions- I think I should be open to new ideas. That's a policy I've been trying to follow for several years. But at the moment, here's where I think I stand.
My opinions on political, theological, and moral matters seem to reflect my mixed influences. For instance, my church and my family are both leaning toward the liberal end of the spectrum. However, my school and most of my friends take a more conservative standpoint on many issues. So I find myself sitting here, more liberal than most conservatives and more conservative than most liberals. I guess you'd call me either an Independent or a moderate?
I won't put down a lot of examples, but here are a few.
I believe that abortion is murder- science proves it, as well as morals. I don't really think the war in Iraq was fully justifiable by the Five Principles of a Just War. (See Jimmy Carter's article on the subject at http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0309-02.htm) I respect President Bush, and I think that he has done some good things, although there are certain decisions that I don't agree with and/or think he could improve in. I believe in the New Testament doctrine of "Love your neighbor" and "turn the other cheek", not the Old Testament "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". Above all- and this is the policy I will NOT be shaken in- I believe that GOD IS LOVE, as it says in 1 John 4:8. (This is beside the core beliefs of Christianity- that Christ died for us and was raised from the dead, that He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us and guideus always.) Therefore, all opinions I have in future will- I hope- be based on that policy of love. (See 1 Corinthians 13)

Friday, April 08, 2005

Softball, travel, and other things

Okay, so it's been a really long time, but I'm back....at least for now! I imagine that now I will be posting very sporadically until life calms down.
So what's been happening?
Well, to start off with, I've been managing softball for my school's team. I posted about it a while ago. We were just able to move outside this week, and we have been practicing intensely for our first game, which is Monday. Can't wait- I think we'll do okay, in spite of this being a historically superior team to us. I'll try to tell you the results later.
Aside from that, I'm now in two leadership-type positions. The first is that I'm leading a small discussion group for Spiritual Emphasis Week next week. Basically I just have to coordinate discussions. Not too bad...except that two girls in my group don't get along that well, as a result of a boy.........'Nough said. The other is that I am one of the leaders of an "advertising agency" for a Lit project. We have to persuade a "manufacturer"- the teacher- that our agency should get the job advertising Aqua Clara, a water. My group, up to yesterday, was not doing well, but today things started to get better....which is very, very good.
Two of my best friends' birthdays are next week so I got them a couple of birthday presents via my mom. Cathy is turning 16 on Monday, and Erik is turning 17 on Thursday. Happy Birthday to you two! Thanks for being such awesome friends!
And now for the biggest news of all. You knew, I think, that I was going to Paris and Madrid over April vacation (getting very close....) and to Italy in May? Well, now I am going to Washington, D.C. in June--all expenses paid! There is a Congressional seminar in Washington called, appropriately, the Washington Workshops. It's very expensive, but the Colonial Dames of America offer a full scholarship to a group of winners of an essay contest. My history teacher asked me to do it, I wrote the essay, and I won! It was SO COOL!!!!!
My friend Bob is off playing ice hockey in Sweden...hope he's doing well...
The class officers (of which I am one) are selling smoothies next week during SAT's.
So yeah, I think that's all the news here...hopefully I'll get on again soon...but in the meantime....
Be well, do good works, and keep in touch.

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Happy Easter!

HE LIVES!!!!!

Christ looked death in the eye and said, "NO!"

As He had said to Jairus when his daughter was sick and everyone thought she had died, "She isn't dead. She's sleeping."

As Ashley Smith said to Brian Nichols, "You are not dead."

As the angel said at Jesus' tomb, "He is not here; He has risen, and has gone on ahead of you into Galilee."

"He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart."

Happy Easter!

Friday, March 25, 2005

Good Friday prayer and further thoughts

For the longest time I wondered why they call this "Good" Friday. Jesus died today- how could it be good? Man killed the Son of God- who was completely innocent! There is no justice in there, and apparently no mercy and love from a parent.

But then I figured something out, with the guidance of some of the people in my life. There IS justice there, and there IS love and mercy. It's simply different than what we would expect. The justice, love, and mercy benefit US. Jesus had to die to make them happen. The justice of God would have meant that man, who had sinned, must die. But God's mercy and love denied it. So He sent Jesus to take the world's sins upon Himself. We get all the benefits of Jesus' death. All we have to do is believe.

Simply put- on Good Friday, man did his worst work in the history of the world. He killed the innocent Son of God. But also on Good Friday, God did His best work. He saved mankind.

Thank You, Lord Jesus.
You suffered on the cross for our redemption; help us, if we are called to suffer, to be like You: to forgive and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit. Help us to forgive as You have forgiven us. Help us to trust You, even when hope is failing. Help us, if we are called to suffer, to take up our cross and to follow You in Your redeeming work. We remember now that every day, each path we wander, each road we travel, we journey not alone. You have already walked the road of life, and walk it again with us now. We thank You for that. We thank You for Your sacrifice for the good of all. You are our king, and we rejoice to honor you.
Amen.

Good Friday

Some thoughts from the services I went to today at my school and at my church. Plus a few of my own in there. Remember Christ today.

"Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine, which the Lord brought on me in the day of his fierce anger."
-Lamentations 1:12

Today, 2000 years ago, Jesus, the Son of God was nailed to a cross so that the sins of the whole world could be atoned for and forgiven by His Father, God. And the world walked by, not knowing what He was suffering for them. Crucifixion was designed by the Romans to be the most painful death possible. The strongest adjective in the English language to describe pain is the word "excruciating". Notice most of the word "crucify" in there.

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
-Isaiah 53: 3-6

God became man. Man rejected God, as man has done since the beginning of time. God hung on the cross so that man could find forgiveness if they believed. Man walked on by, ignoring God.

At every bend in the river, at every fork in the road, Jesus waits. At every surprising turn and in every corkscrew twist, Jesus lingers. At every T-junction and in every wrinkle of time, Jesus tarries.

Waiting for us to notice Him hanging there on that cross. And when we notice Him, we have to say to ourselves, "How could I have missed that?"

Man messed up. In Genesis 3, sin entered the world. And, as Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And, as Romans 6:23a says, "the wages of sin is death." We'd be condemned, cursed, for all of time. God's justice demands it.

But God's mercy and love denies it. So God solved the problem. He sent the only one who could take the sins of man away to live among sinners and die among sinners. His Son. If there are any parents reading this, I don't need to elaborate on how hard it would have been to see your only child die, and to turn your face away and abandon them. I mean, I'm not a parent yet, but I don't know if I could have the strength to do that. But God saved the world by letting man kill His Son.

"Amazing love, how can it be, that you, my king, would die for me?"

Christ died a cruel and horrible death that He didn't deserve. And to the last He said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing."

"But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23b. The promise of Christ's death. Everlasting life, everlasting joy, everlasting peace, everlasting hope. A gift indeed. Christ died so that we could live. And then He beat death by rising from the dead.

"I'm forgiven because You were forsaken. I'm accepted, You were condemned. I'm alive and well, Your spirit lives within me because You died and rose again."

Amazing love. Indeed it is.

Christ died so that we could live.

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

God is waiting for your answer.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Let's Play Ball!

It's official!

Softball/baseball season has begun at my school!

Now, I love softball and baseball both. I used to play softball in fifth grade or so. But then I stopped, and have scarcely picked up a glove since then. But this year- having heard that I need to get an athletic credit in order to graduate- I decided I had better do something. So I decided to manage our softball team, having kind of a flaky knee and much preferring management anyway. It started on Monday, and I love it! My responsibilities at the moment aren't that substantial. Basically, I do whatever the coach asks me to do, and I'm a gopher. I "go fer" bats, I "go fer" balls, etc. I do conditioning with the team and fill in when we're doing something with a partner and there is an odd number of actual players.

Now, what is conditioning, you may ask? It's a series of exercises designed to whip us all back into shape in the space of about three weeks. It's a pain- literally. I've been hurting very badly all week. To further describe it, we run for seven minutes around the gym, then stretch. Then we do lunges- 30 of them. Then we do a couple of different varieties of squats. Then we do pushups- first with our hands more than shoulder width apart, then with the hands turned in, then with hands shoulder width apart. And then we do my least favorite- crunches. 75 of them. It HURTS! But I'm sure starting to get back in shape for the first time in ages. Anyway, then we practice throwing, then usually do some pop flys and grounders, then practice hitting. Then we typically split off into groups- pitchers, catchers, and fielders and practice the respective techniques there. Then we finish off with either suicides or relays, or both. Suicides are when you run from one end of the basketball court to midcourt, then back again, then down to the other end, jump as high as you can five times, and then sprint back to the other end.

So that's our usual softball routine. I can't wait to get outside when the snow melts and the field dries off. There's something very different between practicing in a gym and practicing on the field. And I'm especially happy because a few of my friends are playing softball, and the other girls that I didn't know as well seem really nice. There's a lot of talent on the team. And a bunch of my guy friends are on the baseball team, which is nice since we may well be traveling together to some of our away games that are farther away.

That's the major occurence around here right now. We just finished up with our mink dissection in Bio, did a mock trial for a book we read in Lit, I rented one of my friends for Rent-A-Senior Day on April 1st, tomorrow is the Good Friday Five-Mile Walk, and Saturday is the last Quiz Bowl meet before the State Tournament. I'll write more about all of those as I get the time.

If I don't get back on Blogger before Sunday, everybody have an awesome Easter, and may God bless you all!

So- be well, do good works, and keep in touch.

Carolyn

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

The Man Who Counted

Well, I'm not much of a math person, but I liked this....math riddle, if you will. Try it out:

A man was on his way to Arabia on his camel. While traveling, he met a man who was pointing at a tree and shouting "6,567! 6,567!" The man on the camel stopped. "What are you doing?" he asked. "What are you shouting about!" "The leaves on that tree," said the man. "There are 6,567 of them!" The man on the camel was astounded. "You know that?" he said. "Yes," said the man. "And there are 12,954,694 blades of grass in that field over there." The man on the camel was even more amazed. "Well," he said, "if you can count like that, you can make a lot of money. You shouldn't be just out here counting leaves and blades of grass. Come with me to Arabia."
So the man who counted joined the man on the camel and together they rode on. Soon they came to three men who were obviously in a heated argument. The two men on the camel stopped. "What is going on here?" they asked. "Why are you arguing so?" One of the arguing men came to explain.
"We are all brothers, the sons of one man, and our father has died. He left us an inheritance of those camels under that tree, but we cannot settle the issue amongst ourselves."
"Why not?" asked the man who counted, "Were your father's wishes unclear?"
"Oh no," said the son. "They were quite explicit. That is, in fact, the problem. You see, our father had 35 camels. He has left half of them to one of us, a third of them to another, and one ninth of them to the third." The first man on the camel puzzled aloud. "Well, you will have to slaughter and divide the beasts amongst you."
"And that is why we argue," said the son. "None of us wants half of a dead camel. We must divide them differently. But my brothers will not go against our father's wishes."
"Then the man who counted spoke up. I can solve your problem," he said.

Okay...you have until the end of this day's blog to figure out how to solve the problem to everyone's satisfaction. You may not kill a camel. Now for other news of the day.

Let's see....today was, of course, Wednesday, and that does not always mean a good day for me. Let me explain: at my school, Tuesday and Wednesday are block days. That means we have half the classes we usually do for double the amount of time. Tuesdays we have periods one through four, and Wednesdays we have periods five through eight. Now here is my schedule:

Period 1: Honors New Testament
Period 2: Early U.S. History
Period 3: Analyzing Writing
Period 4: Study Hall
Period 5: Spanish II
Period 6: Honors Geometry
Period 7: Biology
Period 8: Drama

I love my period 1-4 classes, which makes Tuesday an awesome day. Study hall is especially fun, as my friend Erik and I have a tradition of playing Scrabble or Scattergories during that time frame (an hour and a half). He always wins, but that's okay. I'm resigned to it...and it makes the occasional win all the sweeter! But Wednesday is a a toss-up. I mean, I love Spanish class, but it gets rather boring because my class does not progress very quickly, and I would love to go a little faster. Honors Geometry is very boring because, as I mentioned, I do NOT like math at all! Biology is fun sometimes, especially when we do a lab. But Drama is always fun...we've got a crazy class, and so it is not always like an actual class...we don't do much in the way of notes, for instance. We're allowed to sit on the desks instead of in them...it's much looser. Then, after school, I have Chapel Team practice. Just sitting around singing awesome praise songs for an hour is definitely to be recommended to improve your mood, I'll tell you that!
Anyway, today was a good Wednesday all in all. In Spanish we did a cultural impact story, which was fascinating (at least to me), and Senor was in a really good mood. Often the tone of the class reflects the mood of the teacher, so class today was rather fun. Honors Geometry...well, we were taking a test, which wasn't exactly fun, but at least I wasn't falling asleep. Besides, once I finished I didn't have to do anything else. Biology...we've been dissecting minks, which is a smelly task due to the massive amounts of formaldehyde that they are soaked in, but it's interesting all the same. My partner and I named ours "Big Papi" after David Ortiz...partly because we both love the Red Sox, and partly because he's big and...ahem...fat, like the real Big Papi. Finally, Drama. We did some group improvs, which is always funny because you never know what is going to happen! All we get is a scenario and maybe a rough idea of what should be happening, but other than that, it's totally up in the air. Today's was funny because we had the most staid person in class become a hysterical passenger in a spaceship that was about to crash into the sun! The idea was that we should come up with a scenario in which the people all reacted very differently. So Nate was hysterical, Greg was sad that he hadn't gotten to do everything he wanted to do in life, and Jacqueline was a scientist who was fascinated by the idea of flying into the sun. Oh, and I was the captain, who was terribly bored about the whole thing. :-)

Now for the answer to the math riddle above:

Remember that the man who counted and his companion are riding on a camel. The answer is for them to give the sons their camel. That makes 36 camels. One son then gets half...18. Another son gets a third...12. The last son gets a ninth...4. So all three sons have what they were promised and there are now two camels left over. The first man gets his camel back and there is an extra one for the man who counted.

Friday, March 11, 2005

Thought-provoking poems

God, give us men!

GOD, give us men! A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty, and in private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.

-Josiah Gilbert Holland

If

IF you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!

-Rudyard Kipling

Which are You?

THERE are two kinds of people on earth today;
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.

Not the sinner and saint, for it's well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth,
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go, you will find the earth's masses,
Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween,
There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you? Are you easing the load,
Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner, who lets others share
Your portion of labor, and worry and care?

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Randumb Message from Chris

Chris, the author of most of the randumb thoughts on this site, asked me to post a message, which he says will cause world hysteria. Here it is:

ALIENS ARE INVADING FROM ANOTHER PLANET!

These would, of course, be the aliens who invade his bedroom every night and morph into vegetables, like Tony the Tomato and Corey the Carrot.

Then there is Freddy the Troublemaker, who got a little too trigger happy with his laser gun and scorched the hair off Chris' head.

And there is Frankie the Cheese, who Chris ate when he got hungry one night. Poor Frankie.

Chris, how do you come up with this stuff?

Poems

I'm back! Sorry to be incommunicado for the last week or so, but life got, shall we say, hectic. No excuse specifically. Just life. Quiz Bowl, homework, drama, homework, violin, homework, planning for upcoming spring sports, homework. The usual...drama....that goes on in a high schooler's life. Perhaps some of you remember those days...if you do, post me a story about it!
Not quite sure what to post about now, so I'll just put up a couple of poems that I wrote at the beginning of the year:

“The Infant”

She lies on the ground, smiling, and gurgling at me.
Just at me.
Our eyes meet, the eldest cousin and the youngest,
And for a moment there is perfect peace in the world.

A few minutes later,
She tires of lying on the ground
And starts to cry.

She wails, and I lift her into my arms
And we walk.
All around the ground floor of the house,
Outside, we smell the fragrance of the summer flowers
Mixing with the chlorine smell of the pool water.

Back inside we go.
She’s settled comfortably on my shoulder now,
Completely relaxed, completely trusting.
I start to hum an old lullaby
That my mother sang to me,
And her eyes drift slowly closed.

Like a little rag doll in my arms,
She flops and slumbers,
And my heart fills up and overflows
With love for this infant
Who has come to trust me enough
That she will sleep in my arms.

My arms soon become exhausted,
But I am reluctant to let her go.
So I settle down in a chair,
Talk to her brother,
Talk to her parents,
And let her rest.

"Outsider"

In the corner
Like a black cat at midnight
Stands the outsider.
Unnoticed by most, she quietly listens to the roar of conversation around her.
Then turns her attention back to her book.

Not a cheerleader, not an athlete.
Not a genius, but not dumb either.
She is just there.
Another warm body in the mass of people in school.

You ask the other kids if they know her.
They say, “Who?
Oh, that tall, dark-haired kid.
What’s her name again?”

She pretends not to care.
But she really does.
She is not a block of wood.
She is merely a pigeon among peacocks.
An outsider.

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Saturday, February 26, 2005

Rod Stewart: Forever Young

Great song, beautiful lyrics...a blessing of sorts, I think.

FOREVER YOUNG (R. Stewart/J.Cregan/K.Savigar)

May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you're far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you'd have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young

May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond
And may you never love in vain and in my heart you will remain
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young

And when you finally fly away
I'll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell
But whatever road you choose
I'm right behind you, win or lose

Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young ,Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
For, Forever Young, Forever Young

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Two neat stories

Got these on email a couple of days ago...very interesting reading...

STORY NUMBER ONE:
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the "Windy City" in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago city block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything: clothes, cars and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he would ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read:
The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time.
For the clock may soon be still.

STORY NUMBER TWO
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold, a squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.
Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had in fact destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
So the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.

CBC Sports: Governor General wants women to compete for Cup

CBC Sports: Governor General wants women to compete for Cup:

"Clarkson believes if the NHL isn't going to use the trophy this season, it should be freed from the league's clutches and contested in a showdown between the world's best women's hockey teams- the Canadian and U.S. national squads. "

As the NHL is basically out of commission right now, Canadian Governor General Adrienne Clarkson wants the women's hockey teams to compete for the Stanley Cup....sounds like a good idea to me! Very gutsy of Gov. Gen. Clarkson to suggest it, too!

Monday, February 21, 2005

Funny story from Quiz Bowl last Saturday

Okay, so we're on the bus on the way back from the meet, and we decide to stop at Burger King. We go in, get our food, eat, and come back out and get on the bus. Then Kevin for some reason wants to get everyone's attention, so he goes, "Boys!" Then he realizes that I'm there (the only girl along on that particular day) and he amends his statement to, "Boys and Carolyn!" Then John, the only freshman along, and also a friend of mine, says, "Oh, you can just leave it at 'boys'." (John and I have kind of a teasing friendship/rivalry/whatever you want to call it.) I said, "Can I deck him for that?" and Steve said, "You HAVE to deck him for that!" And Kevin (still trying to get our attention) gave John the verbal beatdown, saying, "Boys, Carolyn, and freshman!"

(ANTICLIMAX WARNING)
I don't think Kevin ever got the chance to say what it was he wanted to say. And if he did, I was laughing so hard I can't remember what it was.

Current Reading List

Some re-reads...some "I've started them but never finished and now I really want to"...some first-reads...here's what is on my list right now:

Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom by James MacGregor Burns
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Lirael by Garth Nix
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
The Transall Saga by Gary Paulson
New Found Land by Allan Wolf
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
Major in Success by Patrick Combs
The Backstage Guide to Stage Management by Thomas A. Kelly
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
An American Life by Ronald Reagan
Memoirs by Pierre Elliot Trudeau
Folklore of Canada
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Uncommon Heroes series by Dee Henderson
Twilight by Kristen Heitzmann
Ice Bound by Dr. Jerri Nielson
Night Song by Tricia Goyer
Christy by Catherine Marshall
The Austen series by Debra White Smith
The Canadian West series by Janette Oke
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of James A. Garfield by Kenneth D. Ackerman
Light Force by Brother Andrew

Red Sox vs. Yankees (as usual)

An article from today's USA TODAY about the baseball spring training verbal attacks between the Red Sox and the Yankees.

Yankees, Red Sox give their sound bites a workout
By Mike Lopresti (USA TODAY)

In the stormy relationship of the Yankees and Red Sox - a thousand pardons, the current order of merit should read Red Sox and Yankees - there is no off-season. They are either engaged in the hot war of a pennant race or the cold war of free agency, or the manly art of bulletin board fodder. The Israelis and Palestinians talk of peace, but Boston and the Bronx do not.
And so, on this day in February, now that the Red Sox have apparently taken numbers to stand in line to take swipes at poor old Alex Rodriguez, there is only one question.
Whose turn is it today?
Depends, probably, on which locker stall the notebooks, tape recorders and minicams surround. They have returned to training camp, like the swallows to baseball's Capistrano - the Big Two and their media hordes - and what better way to get the season's feet wet than provoke a little Boston-New York trash talk? Mud travels between those two cities much faster than the airlines or Amtrak.
The rest of the baseball world can only stand aside as the superpowers bicker. This must have been what it was like for say, Belgium, watching the U.S. and Soviet Union squabble.
The Red Sox have spent a lively winter as kings of the universe. Waving goodbye to Pedro Martinez, arguing over the fate of the last ball of the World Series, sending Curt Schilling's bloody sock off to Cooperstown.
As for the Yankees, either it's new arrival Randy Johnson apologizing for belligerence against photographers, or Jason Giambi saying he's sorry - sort of - for getting mixed up in the steroid scandal.
But both sides seem most at home when they are assailing each other.
Poor old Alex Rodriguez is currently the flashpoint, having annoyed the Red Sox by practicing tae kwon do on pitcher Bronson Arroyo in Game 6 last October, slapping the ball out of his glove as he ran past.
And last month came comments stressing his rigorous morning workout regimen while others - nee, Red Sox?-were taking their kids to school.
The Red Sox have responded with a fusillade of brickbats, implying that poor old Alex Rodriguez is not a genuine pinstriper, no matter what his salary says. Some men are damned by their personality, others by their paycheck.
There is some basis of fact in this, of course. Real Yankees wear World Series championship rings, and poor old Alex Rodriguez has none.
He arrived at camp over the past weekend amid expectations of a counter-attack, but instead came across with a verbal shrug, saying real Yankees don't indulge in backbiting. Except he referred to Arroyo as Brandon instead of Bronson, which ought to keep the talk shows busy another day.
How much of the current crossfire has been produced by hyperactive media is hard to say. But clearly, there is some burden now on poor old Alex Rodriguez. His first New York season had relatively modest numbers, ending with an unbecoming 2-for-17 during the immortal four-loss collapse against Boston.
Much more of that, and anything Trot Nixon or Schilling says will pale beside the platitudes coming from Yankee Stadium grandstands.
He has become a central part of this eternal tale of two teams, which sometimes burns so brightly, that the rest of baseball serves as a stage setting, to be seen but not heard. All we know, all we always know, is the big spending Red Sox are not supposed to like the bigger spending Yankees. And the old champion Yankees are not supposed to like the new champion Red Sox.
The American League might not be big enough for the both of them. But the headlines always are.

If you were stranded on a desert island...

If you knew you were going to be stranded on a desert island for six months, what would you take with you? (An adequate food supply, water purifiers, a basic first aid kit, shelter, and other basics being set aside for the moment)

A lot of people my age would say their Game Boy or their computer. Now, I sure wouldn't mind having my computer along, but where would I plug it in? My battery is broken so I have to keep it plugged in or it won't work. So, as that is out of the running, I'd bring a battery powered CD player and tons of batteries, and all my CDs. I can't stand not having any music floating across the airwaves. Then, I'd bring a couple of notebooks, pencils, and pens- writing and drawing are good ways to pass time. And, of course, I'd bring books. Lots of books. Reading for me is like breathing. I have to do it, and I love to do it! (Then why do I spend so much time blogging??)
But suppose the amount of books I could bring was limited to...say....five. Which ones would I bring?

First and foremost, my Bible. For one thing, it's sixty-six books in one. For another, those sixty-six books cover every genre there is, pretty much. Biography and history, of course. Poetry. Self-help. Romance. Adventure. Lots of good guys versus evil guys. Lots of military stuff. How could you not like it? Plus, it has the distinction of being the only book written by a perfect Author. You can't go wrong!
Then I guess I'd bring Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Omnibus edition. It has all five of his books in one. They're always hilarious reading, and make you think about some rather interesting subjects along the way.
Then probably Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind. A long book, so even a speed-reader like me has to take a while to get through it all. And it's exciting and complicated enough to re-read a couple of times.
Then Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World. Another long, complex book. It combines a history of philosophy with a mystery, so it's cool reading as well.
Finally, I'd bring along In His Steps by Charles Sheldon, or Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman- not sure which at the moment- but I love them both, because they are sweet, powerful stories that one could never get tired of reading.

If I had more books that I could bring, I would take J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, or Dee Henderson's O'Malley series, or Brother Andrew's biography, God's Smuggler, or Tamora Pierce's various Tortall books...argh! So many books, so little time!

Philippians 1:1-11

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God."
-Philippians 1: 1-11

Interesting quotes

"Try this thought experiment: Pretend you're a tyrant. Among your many liberty-destroying objectives are extermination of blacks, Jews and Catholics. Which would you prefer, a United States with political power centralized in Washington, powerful government agencies with detailed information on Americans and compliant states or power widely dispersed over 50 states, thousands of local jurisdictions and a limited federal government?"
-- Walter E. Williams

"“A two-party democracy is only one party away from totalitarianism.”
--Unknown

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Quote du jour: John Homer Miller

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."
John Homer Miller

Psalm 1

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
Or stand in the way of sinners
Or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish."

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Quiz Bowl

Had a Quiz Bowl meet again today in Tilton....I know, I don't think I've posted about them before, but there have been two before this one.
Anyway, Quiz Bowl is a trivia competition in which students travel to a school in a host region of the state and compete in a Round Robin tournament. Ten games of ten minutes each. Only a school from that region can actually win the tournament, but the other schools compete for one of three at-large (or wild card) spots in the state tournament. At the moment, my school is in a position to get the second of those three wild card spots- which is very exciting! It's a great time to spend together.
The guys (and the other girl) on the team are the best. They are some of the nicest and smartest people that our school has. Most of them were on Granite State Challenge as well, but some other people joined that weren't a part of GSC. It's a special relationship and a strong friendship that has developed between most of us...and, of course, continues to develop.
I think some of the lines in the song "Welcome" by Phil Collins best describe our relationship and the time we spend together in Quiz Bowl:

"There’s nothing complicated about the way we live. We’re all here for each other, happy to give. Proud of who we are..."
"All we have, we share, and all of us, we care."
"Welcome to our family time... We’re happy giving and taking. To the friends we’re making- there’s nothing we won’t do...Welcome to our happy-to-be time. This is our festival, you know, and best of all, we’re here to share it all."
"There’s a bond between us nobody can explain. It’s a celebration of life and seeing friends again. I’d be there for you- I know you’d be there for me too."
"Telling stories and laughing with friends- precious moments you never forget."
"When I think how far I’ve come, I can’t believe it…and yet I see it. In them I see family..."

Friday, February 18, 2005

Good morning

A very nice email to get first thing in the morning...

Remember…

God’s love is our morning light.

God’s luminous energy will always find a way to touch us.

God blesses each season of our lives with a beauty all its own.

Those who place today in God’s hands need never worry about tomorrow.

God speaks to us in the gentle radiance of dawn.

Every good thing we bring to the world praises His name like a silent prayer.

God’s love illuminates our lives.

In the small blessings in each day, His glory is revealed to us.

Acts of tenderness soothe the world one soul at a time.

Each new day is a gift from God.

God’s miracles are everywhere.

Live in peace and peace will live in you.

Live, love, laugh, and be happy!

Dream with your heart.

Smile often, just for the fun of it!

Sing your own song in your own special way.

Keep growing, keep dreaming.

Dance to your own special music!

Laugh some every day.

God smiles in flowers.

God is love.

Believe in miracles!

God’s love forever shines.

After the rain comes the rainbow.

God listens.

Relax, renew, rejoice.

Rejoice in this day.

Have a heavenly day!

Thursday, February 17, 2005

The Alamo

I watched the movie The Alamo in history class last week, and I have to say, it was awesome. Not too gory, just an appropriate amount for a PG-13 movie. And although the whole thing was quite good, my favorite scene was did not involve fighting or gore or anything like that. It was a scene when the Mexican army was out playing their "death march" right before bombing the Alamo. When they started playing, Billy Bob Thornton, who plays Davy Crockett, got up on the walls with his fiddle and started playing harmony for the piece, right back at the Mexicans. They played together for a while, and when the song finished, instead of firing the cannons, the Mexican army marched away. And Davy Crockett said, "It's amazing what a little harmony can do."

Wouldn't it be nice if the world could learn to play in harmony, too? Just one note at a time- one person at a time- would be a lovely change, even.

If only.

One of those days....

....when you absolutely feel like quoting Arthur Dent (from Douglas Adams' book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) as a way of summing up your day.
The quote I mean is:

"This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays."

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Christian Cowboy (2)

At my church, my parents and I lead a special Chapel Time for the younger children. One of the songs we sing is called "Christian Cowboy". It's a fun song, especially because wherever it says "cowboy" or "boy" all the girls yell out "cowGIRL" or "GIRL". :-)
Anyway, I really like the lyrics, so I'll put them up here in their original form.

Christian Cowboy

I'm just a little fellow but I always liked to be
A cowboy sitting close to the man from Galilee.
I wanna have a round-up and the Gospel story tell
And get a lot of people in the Holy Ghost corral.

(Chorus)
I'll be a cowboy, a Christian cowboy,
I'll work for Jesus all my days.
And on the prairie or in the city
I'll help him round up all the strays.

I haven't got much talent and I ain't too smart, you see.
But I can still love Jesus and he can still love me.
I find that all I wanna do is satisfy my boss
And be the bestest Christian boy that ever rode a horse.
(chorus)

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Christian Cowboy

One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out Bible. The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories. As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it. The preacher gave a long sermon about hellfire and brimstone and a stern lecture on how much money the church needed to do God's work. As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. "Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks would be appropriate attire for worship." The old cowboy assured the preacher he would. The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored. The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church." "I did," replied the old cowboy. "If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?" asked the preacher. "Well, sir, God told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear. He said He'd never been in this church before."

Feline Heaven

Feline Heaven

A cat dies and goes to Heaven. God meets him at the gate and says, "You have been a good cat all of these years. Anything you desire is yours, all you have to do is ask." The cats says, "Well, I lived all my life with a poor family on a farm and had to sleep on hardwood floors." God says, "Say no more." And instantly, a fluffy pillow appears.

A few days later, 6 mice are killed in a tragic accident and they go to Heaven. God meets them at the gate with the same offer that He made the cat. The mice said, "All our lives we've had to run. Cats, dogs and even women with brooms have chased us. If we could only have a pair of roller skates, we wouldn't have to run anymore." God says, "Say no more." And instantly, each mouse is fitted with a beautiful pair of tiny roller skates.

About a week later, God decides to check and see how the cat is doing. The cat is sound asleep on his new pillow. God gently wakes him and asks, "How are you doing? Are you happy here?" The cat yawns and stretches and says, "Oh, I've never been happier in my life. And those Meals on Wheels you've been sending over are the best!"

"Do We Need to Know..." from Danny Sims

From The Danny Sims Blog- his response when one of his student would ask him if they had to know a certain thing for the test.

"The test will actually be a survey of what you know. So to suggest that there is any one piece of knowledge that you need to know, more than any other tidbit of knowledge is, for the test itself, rather pointless. There is actually nothing you need to know for the test. Your knowledge is for you, for your life, for your matriculation and maturation through college and points beyond. So don't look at this as knowledge you need to know for this or any other test. The test will simply provide you an opportunity to express your knowledge as a student and for me to assess what you do (or do not) know as your instructor. You do not have to know anything, at any time, especially for this or any test."

Monday, February 14, 2005

Change of scene

Decided it was time for a new look....what do you think of the new backdrop? Leave comments and let me know.

It's good to have a change of scenery now and then, I've decided. Keeps things interesting. I remember that when I had knee surgery in October 2003 I was stuck in the house for a week and I didn't particularly enjoy it after the first couple of days. I got so claustrophobic!
I'm looking forward to my first overseas journey in April. I am going to Paris and Madrid for ten days with some other Spanish and French students at my school. It will be an incredible experience...I can't wait!!!
Then, in May, I'm going to Italy with my family, as some friends of ours are getting married in Tuscany. Again, I can't wait!!

The teenage years are a good time to start to travel, I think. You've been able to mature a little bit, and can now appreciate the different cultures more. It's a time to expand your horizons (metaphorically and literally).

Have I mentioned-- I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

1 Corinthians 13

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. "

1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

Have a blessed Valentine's Day! Spread love wherever you go! It makes a difference!

Sunday, February 13, 2005

The Prayer of Jabez

The now very famous Prayer of Jabez...

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, that I may not cause pain!"
1 Chronicles 4:10

Amen.

Bible Jokes

Some Bible jokes for you, from a trivia book that I got from the library...

Q: How is a lawyer like a rabbi?
A: They both study the Law and the Prophets (profits).

Q: Why couldn't they play cards on Noah's ark?
A: Because Noah sat on the deck.

Q: Who introduced salt meat into the navy?
A: Noah, when he brought Ham on board.

Q: Why couldn't Cain please God with his offering?
A: He just wasn't Abel.

Lawrence of Arabia quote

"You wonder what I am doing? Well, so do I, in truth. Days seem to dawn, suns to shine, evenings to follow, and then I sleep. What I have done, what I am doing, what I am going to do, puzzle and bewilder me. Have you ever been a leaf and fallen from your tree in autumn and been really puzzled about it? That's the feeling."

--Thomas Edward Lawrence (AKA Lawrence of Arabia)
From a letter to Eric Kennington

Friday, February 11, 2005

Beauty

The annual semiformal dance is coming up very soon, and this verse is one that I try to remember when I am getting a beautiful dress, fixing my hair, and doing my makeup.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
1 Peter 3: 3-4

Let him pray

James 5: 13-16:

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Which Famous Leader Are You? Test Results

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Cool, I could think of worse people to be like.

Friday, February 04, 2005

The World According to Student Bloopers

When I read these I laughed so hard that I turned red, my stomach hurt, and tears rolled down my cheeks. Then everybody looked at me like I was crazy. But it was so worth it!

The World According to Student Bloopers
Richard Lederer, St. Paul's School

One of the fringe benefits of being an English or History teacher is receiving the occasional jewel of a student blooper in an essay. I have pasted together the following "history" of the world from certifiably genuine student bloopers collected by teachers throughout the United States, from eighth grade through college level. Read carefully, and you will learn a lot.

The inhabitants of Egypt were called mummies. They lived in the Sarah Dessert and traveled by Camelot. The climate of the Sarah is such that the inhabitants have to live elsewhere, so certain areas of the dessert are cultivated by irritation. The Egyptians built the Pyramids in the shape of a huge triangular cube. The Pramids are a range of mountains between France and Spain.

The Bible is full of interesting caricatures. In the first book of the Bible, Guinesses, Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. One of their children, Cain, asked, "Am I my brother's son?" God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Montezuma. Jacob, son of Isaac, stole his brother's birthmark. Jacob was a partiarch who brought up his twelve sons to be partiarchs, but they did not take to it. One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, gave refuse to the Israelites. Pharaoh forced the Hebrew slaves to make bread without straw. Moses led them to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Commandments. David was a Hebrew king skilled at playing the liar. He fought with the Philatelists, a race of people who lived in Biblical times. Solomon, one of David's sons, had 500 wives and 500 porcupines.

Without the Greeks, we wouldn't have history. The Greeks invented three kinds of columns - Corinthian, Doric and Ironic. They also had myths. A myth is a female moth. One myth says that the mother of Achilles dipped him in the River Stynx until he became intolerable. Achilles appears in "The Iliad", by Homer. Homer also wrote the "Oddity", in which Penelope was the last hardship that Ulysses endured on his journey. Actually, Homer was not written by Homer but by another man of that name. Socrates was a famous Greek teacher who went around giving people advice. They killed him. Socrates died from an overdose of wedlock. In the Olympic games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled the biscuits, and threw the java. The reward to the victor was a coral wreath. The government of Athens was democratic because the people took the law into their own hands. There were no wars in Greece, as the mountains were so high that they couldn't climb over to see what their neighbors were doing. When they fought the Parisians, the Greeks were outnumbered because the Persians had more men.

Eventually, the Romans conquered the Geeks. History call people Romans because they never stayed in one place for very long. At Roman banquets, the guests wore garlic in their hair. Julius Caesar extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The Ides of March killed him because they thought he was going to be made king. Nero was a cruel tyranny who would torture his poor subjects by playing the fiddle to them.
Then came the Middle Ages. King Alfred conquered the Dames, King Arthur lived in the Age of Shivery, King Harlod mustarded his troops before the Battle of Hastings, Joan of Arc was cannonized by George Bernard Shaw, and the victims of the Black Death grew bulbs on their necks. Finally, the Magna Carta provided that no free man should be hanged twice for the same offense. In midevil times most of the people were alliterate. The greatest writer of the time was Chaucer, who wrote many poems and verse and also wrote literature. Another tale tells of William Tell, who shot an arrow through an apple while standing on his son's head.

The Renaissance was an age in which more individuals felt the value of their human being. Martin Luther was nailed to the church door at Wittenberg for selling papal indulgences. He died a horrible death, being excommunicated by a bull. The Renaissance was an age of great inventions and discoveries. Gutenberg invented the Bible. Sir Walter Raleigh is a historical figure because he invented cigarette. Another important invention was the circulation of blood.

The government of England was a limited mockery. Henry VIII found walking difficult because he had an abbess on his knee. Queen Elizabeth’s navy went out and defeated the Spanish Armadillo.

The greatest writer of the Renaissance was William Shakespear. Shakespear never made much money and is famous only because of his plays. He lived in Windsor with his merry wives, writing tragedies, comedies and errors. In one of Shakespear's famous plays, Hamlet rations out his situation by relieving himself in a long soliloquy. In another, Lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth to kill the King by attacking his manhood. Romeo and Juliet are an example of a heroic couplet. Writing at the same time as Shakespear was Miquel Cervantes. He wrote "Donkey Hote". The next great author was John Milton. Milton wrote "Paradise Lost." Then his wife dies and he wrote "Paradise Regained."

During the Renaissance America began. Christopher Columbus was a great navigator who discovered American while cursing about the Atlantic. His ships were called the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Fe. later the Pilgrims crossed the Ocean, and the was called the Pilgrim's Progress. When they landed at Plymouth Rock, they were greeted by Indians, who came down the hill rolling their was hoops before them. The Indian squabs carried porpoises on their back. Many of the Indian heroes were killed, along with their cabooses, which proved very fatal to them. The winter of 1620 was a hard one for the settlers. Many people died and many babies were born. Captain John Smith was responsible for all this.

One of the causes of the Revolutionary Wars was the English put tacks in their tea. Also, the colonists would send their parcels through the post without stamps. During the War, Red Coats and Paul Revere was throwing balls over stone walls. The dogs were barking and the peacocks crowing. Finally, the colonists won the War and no longer paid for taxis.

Delegates from the original thirteen states formed the Contented Congress. Thomas Jefferson, A Virgin, and Benjamin Franklin were two singers of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin had gone to Boston carrying all his clothes in his pocket and a loaf of bread under each arm. He invented electricity by rubbing cats backwards and declared, "a horse divided against itself cannot stand." Franklin died in 1790 and is still dead.
George Washington married Martha Curtis and in due time became the Father of our Country. Then the Constitution of the United States was adopted to secure domestic hostility. Under the Constitution the people enjoyed the right to keep bare arms.

Abraham Lincoln became America's greatest Precedent. Lincoln's mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin, which he built with his own hands. When Lincoln was President, he wore only a tall silk hat. He said, "In onion there is strength." Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg address while traveling from Washington to Gettysburg on the back of an envelope. He also signed the Emasculation Proclamation, and the Fourteenth Amendment gave the ex-Negroes citizenship. But the Clue Clux Clan would torcher and lynch the ex-Negroes and other innocent victims. On the night of April 14, 1865, Lincoln went to the theater and got shot in his seat by one of the actors in a moving picture show. The believed assinator was John Wilkes Booth, a supposedly insane actor. This ruined Booth's career.

Meanwhile in Europe, the enlightenment was a reasonable time. Voltare invented electricity and also wrote a book called "Candy". Gravity was invented by Isaac Walton. It is chiefly noticeable in the autumn, when the apples are falling off the trees. Bach was the most famous composer in the world, and so was Handel. Handel was half German, half Italian and half English. He was very large. Bach died from 1750 to the present. Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf he wrote loud music. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this.

France was in a very serious state. The French Revolution was accomplished before it happened. The Marseillaise was the theme song of the French Revolution, and it catapulted into Napoleon. During the Napoleonic Wars, the crowned heads of Europe were trembling in their shoes. Then the Spanish gorillas came down from the hills and nipped at Napoleon's flanks. Napoleon became ill with bladder problems and was very tense and unrestrained. He wanted an heir to inherit his power, but since Josephine was a baroness, she couldn't bear him any children.

The sun never set on the British Empire because the British Empire is in the East and the sun sets in the West. Queen Victoria was the longest queen. She sat on a thorn for 63 years. Her reclining years and finally the end of her life were exemplary of a great personality. Her death was the final event, which ended her reign.

The nineteenth century was a time of many great inventions and thoughts. The invention of the steamboat caused a network of rivers to spring up. Cyrus McCormick invented the McCormick Paper, which did the work of a hundred men. Samuel Morse invented a code for telepathy. Louis Pasteur discovered a cure for rabbis. Charles Darwin was a naturalist who wrote the "Organ of the Species". Madman Curie discovered Radium. And Karl Marx became one of the Marx Brothers.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Sunday, September 04, 2005