The vote

I don't know what to do. I guess I really don't even want to vote this year. I haven't felt this way since 1988 when it was between the good Bush and Dukakis. I wound up voting for Bush and that came out ok. Even though now that I look back Dan Quayle should have really scared me. Of the candidates and their running mates I guess the only one I could force myself to vote for would be Beiden, but he scares me too. I don't even want to talk about Palin, I so wanted to get on board with her. I would have definitely voted for Hilary even though I am not certain I am completely ready for a female president. I guess I could always vote for Chuck Baldwin, but I can't really see a "Chuck" in office either. And of course, he's just as scary as the other two. But in all honesty I don't think any of them are presidential material any more than I am. Where have all the good men gone? I married one of them, but where are the rest of them?

While I wasn't paying attention

I was thinking today about all the little things that go on around us that we don't notice. I am pretty tech savvy and computer literate so I make use of all the modern conveniences that are available online. I pay bills, shop, correspond, surf ... all those wonderful things that are available to me 24-7 - at my fingertips. I am all about convenience and the new age of computers really satisfies that need for me. So while I wasn't looking something strange started happening. Big blue USPS mailboxes started disappearing. I live in a condo and so I have a centrally located mailbox and in that complex of boxes there is an outgoing slot, but it is only a slot. You can only put 1 or 2 pieces in at a time. Now that I have my little "work at home" job I need to mail out invoices and sometimes there is a big stack so that little slot just doesn't do the trick. Of course there is not a post office convenient to get to so I began looking for my neighborhood mailbox. Let me tell ya, it ain't there anymore. So being the surfer that I am I started looking online. All across the country these mailboxes are being removed for lack of use! I suddenly realized IT'S MY FAULT! I don't have a neighborhood mailbox anymore cause I stopped using it. How very strange. I went on the USPS website to see what they have to say about it and I can't even easily find any information! Very interesting! I did find a website totally unrelated to the USPS that will allow you to put in your zip code so that you can find the mailbox nearest you, but it is actually designed to help you find a payphone - which by the way are also missing. Here is the link to the website: http://www.payphone-project.com/mailboxes/53406-0010.html
Wow, I feel really bad. I took them for granted. I do have fond memories as a teenage girl walking to the corner mailbox to mail a letter to my boyfriend. So romantic. It seems sad there is a whole host of generation that will never have that opportunity - course they may not want to, but even if they did, now they can't. Sad. All this happened while I wasn't paying attention. What else have I missed?

New look at old Alma Mata

I finished my high school years at C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. Our mascot was the "yellow jacket". I didn't think much of it. I have always been afraid of them and will run screaming like a little kid when they are around.. bees, wasps hornets, yellow jackets, dirt dobber, fly - whatever is flying fast around me gets my attention and I start trying to get away. I did get stung on the tongue while eating an apple on the playground in first grade - which scared everyone and earned me a trip to the ER, and I know I stepped on a bee while walking barefoot as a young child, but I don't remember much about it except to be afraid.

Now I know what the deal is! On Monday (Labor Day) I got nailed on the ring finger of my left hand. Unprovoked, unexpected, and certainly undeserved! I never saw it coming. It was a yellow jacket! It hurt like the DEVIL! I'd say a pain level of 8 on a scale of 10 for about 12 to 14 hours and then mild pain after. Swelling was bad. Nothing eased the pain. It is now Thursday - 3 days later and all the pain has finally subsided and the insane itching has commenced. This pain was probably worse than when I broke my finger. I am amazed how bad it really hurt. No wonder I am so afraid. Of course now I've learned all about them and my fear actually attracts them. But that doesn't mean I will be able to act differently in their presence. Especially since my current plan is to stay in the house until the cold weather rids them!

They are described as "predatory" and "angry" and they can send off a signal to all their friends to come and attack you! I guess that might be ok, but for high school sports? Unprovoked? I don't think so. Here's a picture of these mean little buggers. You can read about them here.

I guess I should say don't run screaming from them, but if you hear or see someone running and screaming, get out of the way! it might be me.

The Shack

My friend Kathy gave me a book to read this past weekend. She and I often exchange books - we both have a love of suspense novels. So I assumed from her description of this book that was sort of what I would be getting. She told me it is the story of a guy who lost one of his children to a serial killer and years later he gets a note in his mailbox from a mystery person to meet him over the weekend at the place where his young daughter was killed - "The Shack".

While her description was spot on, it was sorely lacking. This is a very thought-provoking and absolutely controversial book. Most Christians I know would be having a field day heckling this book. It's all about this man that lost his daughter reconciling his relationship with God. It's all about forgiveness and choosing to lay down your pain and burdens.

At the end of the book there appeared to be an advertisement but upon closer inspection was a very clever way of promoting the book and it's website www.theshackbook.com. It suggested that you write in your blog about the book, which I initially rejected and though of as free publicity and promotion (which it is), however, the passage (below) I quote from the book touched me so tangibly I let that drive this blog.

I think the way the Holy Trinity is portrayed is on the kooky side - very "Unitarian Church". The images of Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit the author chooses to portray are way on the far side of "feel good" and not to my liking - nor did they feel very imaginative to me, but who am I to judge someones perspective on their relationship with God? My pastor tells me that most theologians have blasted this portrayal of the Holy Trinity as neither sound or correct. But there is goodness in this book. A wonderful message. It's a great read and I will read it again someday. One particular passage struck me very deeply and I will hold it very close.

Here is the direct quote from the last paragraph on page 185: God is speaking to Mack - the character in the book and he says: "Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."

"Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist ...". I needed to hear that. I needed that application in this story and in life. What a concept. I guess I knew it, but I needed it defined very simply like that. It's something I can really hold on to.

Thanks to William P. Young for writing "The Shack". Everyone should read it. with an open mind!

My first earthquake

Can I just say W O W! I've visited California several times and never experienced an earthquake. But I moved to Wisconsin and here I get to experience all kinds of new weather. Is an earthquake in the weather category? I really have no idea. But I could feel the Illinois earthquake that happened yesterday here at my home in Sturtevant, Wisconsin.

Here's how it happened at my house: it was the wee hours of the morning Friday and as usual I was disgusted with Mike and his snoring when he took it to an all new level. At 3:49 am I had enough and finally went to the other bedroom. I struggled with falling asleep for the thirty minutes or so and then blissfully began intermittently dozing and dreaming. Sometime after 4:30 am I woke to my bed just barely shaking - I thought it was Mike checking to see if I was awake and I tried to ignore him, but finally I said aloud - to nobody - "stop it!". Then I raised my head and realized there was nobody there. So I got up and went into my bedroom and there was Mike snoring away. I went back to bed wondering if I had a case of vertigo or what, but soon fell back to sleep. Later Friday morning - around 10 am I was driving to a friends house and was listening to the radio in my car and they were interviewing people about the earthquake, but I didn't catch where or when. Only when I got to my friend's house did I learn there was an actual earthquake in Illinois that registered a magnitude of 5.2 and could be felt hundreds of miles away. I don't know why I think this is cool, but I did feel it - it wasn't vertigo and it wasn't a dream and it wasn't Mike shakin my world.

Whats in a name?

I am singing in a new mixed quartet. Reed, Erin Dan and I. We've been at it a couple of months now. We're tying to come up with a name. Once you choose one you are stuck with it, so you want to choose wisely. I would like it to be clever. I prefer short, easily identified, easy to spell and pronounce. Lacking in "hokiness" is important to me too. When we rehearse I write in on my calender as "REDD" - Reed, Erin, Dan & Dianne. Nobody is going for that one. But we have to call ourselves something, right?

Some of the ones we have come up with that I like are: Beyond Words; Pass Me Not; Lost and Found; Follow the Leader; Off the Page; No Other Name; Testament; and so many more.

But as yet we haven't agreed on one.

Whats in a name? Got any suggestions?

Accentuate the positive

The preacher at my church challenged us to everyday name 100 ways the Lord blessed us. What a novel idea. It sure would accentuate the positive. So I though I would start trying. Here goes...

1. I am loved, even though sometimes I am clearly unloveable.
2. I have all that I need and then some.
3. I am healthy and whole.
4. My children are healthy and whole.
5. My husband is good natured.
6. I can rest on God's promises.
7. I have been through tough times and I'm still here.
8. I have been enjoying a respite from hard times.
9. I love my home and am happy to be there.
10. My husband is my home.
11. I am hard headed but I can learn.
12. I have many friends I love and feel the love returned.
13. I get to play piano and get paid.
14. I do not have to go without.
15. I live in a free country.
16. I do not live in fear.
17. I know where I am going when I die.
18. I know better than to take things for granted.
19. I am blessed with good friends.