Have you seen the video of one very brave rabbit? We got it yesterday and I just love it. It begins with a very large snake laying (do snakes lie or lay - lay I think) in the grass. Along comes Texas Bunny she hops over to check out said snake. Mr. Snake rears up and tries to strike. TB jumps up, a spectacular gymnastic hop - this happens about three times.
TB then realizes it might be wise to go to the other end and check things out. So, she hops over to Mr. Snake's tail and gives a few nips. Mr. Snake isn't wild about this, so he starts wriggling off across the grass. TB thinks, hey. I can get rid of this guy so she follows nipping all the way.
Mr. Snake wriggles faster and faster toward a large pine tree and tries to go up into its branches, but TB has other plans. She races over and continues to bite and pull at Mr. Snake. He struggles hard and finally makes his way up into the branches. TB, her work done, hops happily away. How do I know that TB is a female - only a female would have the tenacity and perserverance to work on that snake until she got him where she wanted him.
Lying in bed last night (yes, I am pretty sure we lie) I got thinking about Flower - the resilent, brave leader of the Whiskers group of Meerkats on Meerkat Manor (the TV series). She lead her little (and then quite big) group of Meerkats through all kinds of troubles. She was strong, fearless, committed and loyal (yes, I know she did cheat on Aphod - hope I got his name right - at least once, but....). The episode when she was killed by that snake, after going into the burrow to make it safe for her pups and the others, was heartbreaking. I was sobbing. I don't read People magazine very often, but I did see they put in her obituary (well done), she deserved it. We need leaders like Flower - she knew what needed to be done and she did it. Am I a leader like Flower? Do I stick by my convictions? Am I willing to go into the burrow when there is danger there? Maybe sometimes, and then other times, not so much. I need to look to Flower. And, look to the Bunny!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
This blogging thing
I am new to blogging, but I am really liking it. I am really liking reading other people's blogs - it is getting bad. I am getting addicted. I check in every day and I haven't written on my own blog because of it. I think it is easier to read other blogs than write my own - want to do better in that department. The first blog I check everyday is my daughter's (the most important blog), then I am off and running. I am rather a lurker, because I don't comment much. I am just getting my feet wet.
I have quite few blogs with which I am trying to keep up. Some of them don't write everyday, so that helps with my computer time. But, the other day I discovered a young woman's blog that has me reading every day and each day I am also reading a months worth of previous blogs - so I can get caught up on her life and how things happened in the painful journey she is on.
I am drawn to her, because first she is a good writer and I like her style (in writing and in life) and she is going through a separation and a divorce. It is happening very publicly for her - she is a pastor and her husband has left her for another woman. He also had an emotional affair with a woman of her congregation - how sucky is that?
She is much younger than me and she has a small child, but I went through something similar (public, in a religious setting, but on a smaller scale). Mine painful time/divorce happened after 32 years of marriage (over five years ago). But, how she writes about it speaks to me and touches me. And, I admire her spunk in the face of it all. On top of all the reading I am doing of her blog I am also reading a lot of the comments - so, you can see why it is taking up quite a bit of time. I love how supportive her blogger friends are - they are pretty spunky too! The support and strength from blogging friends is awesome.
I think I am going to have to stop looking for new blogs to read - it could take up my whole day, and here I was wondering why I had a headache last night - duh! The thing is though, I had hoped to find some women about my age, but I am reading women pastors' blogs and I am a laywoman - not that I think they would have a problem with that and my daughter is a UMC pastor (and I am a PK). But, this group is just too interesting to change over to another....
Things to do:
1. Write in my blog more
2. Stop lurking around quite so much
3. Comment more - maybe make a new friend
4. Housework......nah!!
I have quite few blogs with which I am trying to keep up. Some of them don't write everyday, so that helps with my computer time. But, the other day I discovered a young woman's blog that has me reading every day and each day I am also reading a months worth of previous blogs - so I can get caught up on her life and how things happened in the painful journey she is on.
I am drawn to her, because first she is a good writer and I like her style (in writing and in life) and she is going through a separation and a divorce. It is happening very publicly for her - she is a pastor and her husband has left her for another woman. He also had an emotional affair with a woman of her congregation - how sucky is that?
She is much younger than me and she has a small child, but I went through something similar (public, in a religious setting, but on a smaller scale). Mine painful time/divorce happened after 32 years of marriage (over five years ago). But, how she writes about it speaks to me and touches me. And, I admire her spunk in the face of it all. On top of all the reading I am doing of her blog I am also reading a lot of the comments - so, you can see why it is taking up quite a bit of time. I love how supportive her blogger friends are - they are pretty spunky too! The support and strength from blogging friends is awesome.
I think I am going to have to stop looking for new blogs to read - it could take up my whole day, and here I was wondering why I had a headache last night - duh! The thing is though, I had hoped to find some women about my age, but I am reading women pastors' blogs and I am a laywoman - not that I think they would have a problem with that and my daughter is a UMC pastor (and I am a PK). But, this group is just too interesting to change over to another....
Things to do:
1. Write in my blog more
2. Stop lurking around quite so much
3. Comment more - maybe make a new friend
4. Housework......nah!!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
"For the Bible Tells Me So"
On Saturday I went to see the movie "For the Bible Tells Me So". I knew it was going to be good. I had read the reviews and knew that I agreed with what the makers of the movie were saying.
It was great to go and see so many people there. I have been to that movie theater a few times (they play movies that are different, quirky or that other theaters will not play) and most of the time there have been few people in the seats. This time they had to get out extra chairs and check to see where there were any empty seats. There was a discussion planned for after the movie.
It was riveting from the beginning to the end. I wish I had taken notes, so I could recount the movie, but I just sat back and let it wash over me. It told the stories of families and how they reacted to the news that their son or daughter was gay or lesbian. It also took on the different passages in the Bible that are brought up over and over to support why being gay is a sin.....
The families' stories were heartbreaking, uplifting, thought-provoking, wonderful, awful - I was in tears over and over. There was a family who embraced their child with love and acceptance, there was a family whose shock was so much that it took time after which the parents became activists, there was a family whose clinging to those Bible verses caused a rift too deep and ended with suicide and a family who loves the sinner, but still hates the sin (their way of looking at it, not mine).
Theologians took on the Biblical passages. I have never been a literalist (which from the movie I learned is a recent way of looking at the Bible), so those passages never said much to me, except laws that are obsolete and mean nothing in today's world.
One of the families in the movie was Bishop Gene Robinson's. It was touching to hear his elderly parents talk about his coming out and how they dealt with it. And it was inspiring to watch the people cheer and celebrate when he was accepted as an Episcopal Bishop - even in the presence of lots of opposition. The pageantry of his installation is a bit over the top, but watching it made me cry. And, knowing he had to wear a bullet-proof vest, because of death threats, that makes me cry too.
One of our local reviewers wrote a positive and well written review of the movie. At the end he said something that haunts me - that the people who are going to this movie are, for the most part, not the people who need to see it. I wish there was a way to get those who should see it into the theater. If only they could see those people, hear their stories, it could make a real difference. Because, it is through knowing people and hearing their stories that people can be touched to open and think about change.
It was great to go and see so many people there. I have been to that movie theater a few times (they play movies that are different, quirky or that other theaters will not play) and most of the time there have been few people in the seats. This time they had to get out extra chairs and check to see where there were any empty seats. There was a discussion planned for after the movie.
It was riveting from the beginning to the end. I wish I had taken notes, so I could recount the movie, but I just sat back and let it wash over me. It told the stories of families and how they reacted to the news that their son or daughter was gay or lesbian. It also took on the different passages in the Bible that are brought up over and over to support why being gay is a sin.....
The families' stories were heartbreaking, uplifting, thought-provoking, wonderful, awful - I was in tears over and over. There was a family who embraced their child with love and acceptance, there was a family whose shock was so much that it took time after which the parents became activists, there was a family whose clinging to those Bible verses caused a rift too deep and ended with suicide and a family who loves the sinner, but still hates the sin (their way of looking at it, not mine).
Theologians took on the Biblical passages. I have never been a literalist (which from the movie I learned is a recent way of looking at the Bible), so those passages never said much to me, except laws that are obsolete and mean nothing in today's world.
One of the families in the movie was Bishop Gene Robinson's. It was touching to hear his elderly parents talk about his coming out and how they dealt with it. And it was inspiring to watch the people cheer and celebrate when he was accepted as an Episcopal Bishop - even in the presence of lots of opposition. The pageantry of his installation is a bit over the top, but watching it made me cry. And, knowing he had to wear a bullet-proof vest, because of death threats, that makes me cry too.
One of our local reviewers wrote a positive and well written review of the movie. At the end he said something that haunts me - that the people who are going to this movie are, for the most part, not the people who need to see it. I wish there was a way to get those who should see it into the theater. If only they could see those people, hear their stories, it could make a real difference. Because, it is through knowing people and hearing their stories that people can be touched to open and think about change.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Chipped Blue
Making a cup of tea the other day I chipped my lovely blue tea caddy. It is a rich dark blue with lighter blue swirled through. I am inordinately partial to blue dishes. I bought it at Pier 1 and they don't sell them anymore.
I was angry with myself, but found the little blue chip that had left a white spot where the blue should be. I got out the Elmer's glue and was able to adhere the piece, so it didn't look too bad. My first thought, though, was that I should not have been using it every day. I should have had it up in the cupboard where this couldn't have happened.
I am apt to think like that, to not want to use nice things - to keep them put away safe, unused. I am trying hard not to be like that anymore. I have many nice things and I am trying to use them - not save them. You hear all the time about people who die and when the families go through their belongings they find all kinds of nice things packed away - with the tags still attached.
I remember years ago I bought a beautiful Icelandic sweater jacket that I bought at LL Beans. I loved that sweater and paid quite a bit for it. I wore it to a school function and got several compliments. I never wore it again - saving it for something special. A number of years later I decided I needed to get that out and start wearing it (it was old now, so okay to wear every day). I got it out and when I looked closely I saw many many little holes. The moths had gotten to it before me! I wish I could say "lesson learned", but I still have to fight that way of thinking.
After I chipped my lovely blue tea caddy I felt it was spoiled, not the same anymore. But, it is still beautiful, the blue is still rich and dark, it still feels smooth in my hands when I open it to get out the tea. I guess it is like me, a little worse for wear, but it is out there and being used and enjoyed. Got to remember that....
I was angry with myself, but found the little blue chip that had left a white spot where the blue should be. I got out the Elmer's glue and was able to adhere the piece, so it didn't look too bad. My first thought, though, was that I should not have been using it every day. I should have had it up in the cupboard where this couldn't have happened.
I am apt to think like that, to not want to use nice things - to keep them put away safe, unused. I am trying hard not to be like that anymore. I have many nice things and I am trying to use them - not save them. You hear all the time about people who die and when the families go through their belongings they find all kinds of nice things packed away - with the tags still attached.
I remember years ago I bought a beautiful Icelandic sweater jacket that I bought at LL Beans. I loved that sweater and paid quite a bit for it. I wore it to a school function and got several compliments. I never wore it again - saving it for something special. A number of years later I decided I needed to get that out and start wearing it (it was old now, so okay to wear every day). I got it out and when I looked closely I saw many many little holes. The moths had gotten to it before me! I wish I could say "lesson learned", but I still have to fight that way of thinking.
After I chipped my lovely blue tea caddy I felt it was spoiled, not the same anymore. But, it is still beautiful, the blue is still rich and dark, it still feels smooth in my hands when I open it to get out the tea. I guess it is like me, a little worse for wear, but it is out there and being used and enjoyed. Got to remember that....
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
A Backyard Story
Can you find him??
This lower picture isn't part of my story - just wanted to try putting in images. This is a sunset pic taken in Iowa at the Amana Colonies. It was so beautiful.Now to my story. When I lived in Maine I lived in the woods amongst big pine trees. We had living creatures all around - birds, squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, raccoons, porcupines, deer, moose, coyotes (and/or coy dogs) - you name it. We had them outside the house and inside the house - especially mice, squirrels and once a bat....oh no! I enjoyed living in the country. I liked the smell of the woods and the sap of the pines, but not on my car or the seat of my pants (which happened more often than you would think - who knew sitting at a picnic table.....).
Now I live in the city and a fairly big one at that. It is different, but I like it. I like it a lot. We live in a neighborhood on the eastern edge of the city, not so far away from cornfields and Kohl's - not bad. We have a nice backyard that backs up to a bike path, which used to be a railroad bed.
One would think that living in the city I wouldn't get a daily fix of nature or wildlife, but that is not the case. On our little patch, on any given day. I can see: squirrels running across the fence next door, many birds (my favorites, cardinals and chickadees - the Maine state bird), opossums (especially if we leave out the next door friendly kitty's bowl - who we leave snacks for) and little cottontail bunnies hopping all around. Once Larry even saw two deer right up the street on his way home from work in the early morning. And, this is something I hope I never see, but in a nearby city they have even seen a mountain lion. Wouldn't that be a sight walking down the bike path?
A few weeks ago Larry hollered to me - "come quick!" I didn't know what was up, so I rushed out worried. "There, there!" he pointed out in the backyard. "It's an owl!" He had seen a barn owl out there once and thought is was another one. On closer inspection from inside the sliding glass doors we decided it was a big hawk. He was sitting on a branch all puffed up like birds do when it is cold. He was a magnificent creature - very regal. We wanted to get a closer look, but didn't dare to open the sliding door, so we got out the camera, zoomed in and took pictures through the glass. He stayed there a long time and we enjoyed watching him and checking to see if he was still there.
I think about the animals and birds and know that we are slowly inexorably encroaching on their territory. It is sad that we are taking their space away. If I think about it too much it makes me cry - the rain forests and even the squirrel's nest that the bike path workers ruined when they took down that tree near our little patch (not a happy squirrel and here it is the dead of winter). It makes me think about being more careful and using resources wisely - going as green as we can.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
A Brownie Story - with a strange ending
Sunday afternoon I decided I would make some brownies. My husband, Larry, loves anything I make (even canned soup), but I thought I would make him a nice treat (and me too). I did use a mix, but I doctored it up to make it more fancy and yummy. I put in chocolate bits (always a good choice) and made a cream cheese mixture to make them into special cream cheese brownies. I used to make these all the time when I worked in a gourmet cooking store where we sold them individually, but I digress.
They smelled great in the oven cooking. Larry was doing his Sunday afternoon Suduko puzzle, so after they were done and had cooled some I asked him if he would like a small piece. Stupid question - so we both had one. I noticed my piece tasted kind of funny, but I didn't say anything and thought, maybe it is because they are still pretty warm..... Larry scoffed his down and went back to his puzzle.
After dinner that night I again said - want a brownie? I had put them in the refrigerator since they had the cream cheese on them. I got them out and gave us both generous pieces. Larry ate his down and I slowly took a bite and then asked - "do you think the brownies taste okay??" Larry hesitated (as I said, he loves everything I cook him) and then said - "well they kind of taste like fish!" It took me two seconds to spit out my piece rush to the refrigerator and throw the contents of the pan in the trash. Larry hollered - "no, don't, I'll eat them...." To which I responded - "you are not going to eat brownies that taste like fish!" Yuck.
I cannot for the life of me figure out why, why....? I used a Pillsbury mix (milk chocolate) and all my ingredients were fresh and I went back and smelled everything. The oven had not been used to cook fish for months and the pan I used had never been used for fish. I can't imagine that it was the mix.....There is no explanation.
I talked to my sister, Diana, today and she made clam chowder on Sunday (the same day as brownie day). She used all fresh good ingredients and canned clams, but when Roger took one taste he said - "if we eat any more of this we will get very sick." The clams had a very strong bitter taste. I guess it wasn't the day to cook for me or my sister. Tonight Larry and I had Keebler (elf) cookies for dessert - safer that way, I think.
They smelled great in the oven cooking. Larry was doing his Sunday afternoon Suduko puzzle, so after they were done and had cooled some I asked him if he would like a small piece. Stupid question - so we both had one. I noticed my piece tasted kind of funny, but I didn't say anything and thought, maybe it is because they are still pretty warm..... Larry scoffed his down and went back to his puzzle.
After dinner that night I again said - want a brownie? I had put them in the refrigerator since they had the cream cheese on them. I got them out and gave us both generous pieces. Larry ate his down and I slowly took a bite and then asked - "do you think the brownies taste okay??" Larry hesitated (as I said, he loves everything I cook him) and then said - "well they kind of taste like fish!" It took me two seconds to spit out my piece rush to the refrigerator and throw the contents of the pan in the trash. Larry hollered - "no, don't, I'll eat them...." To which I responded - "you are not going to eat brownies that taste like fish!" Yuck.
I cannot for the life of me figure out why, why....? I used a Pillsbury mix (milk chocolate) and all my ingredients were fresh and I went back and smelled everything. The oven had not been used to cook fish for months and the pan I used had never been used for fish. I can't imagine that it was the mix.....There is no explanation.
I talked to my sister, Diana, today and she made clam chowder on Sunday (the same day as brownie day). She used all fresh good ingredients and canned clams, but when Roger took one taste he said - "if we eat any more of this we will get very sick." The clams had a very strong bitter taste. I guess it wasn't the day to cook for me or my sister. Tonight Larry and I had Keebler (elf) cookies for dessert - safer that way, I think.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Movie and book thoughts - here and there
One resolution was to blog more often, but...well, I do a lot of thinking about it, but not much doing it. And, I can't believe that Christmas is over. I was going to write a Christmas blog, but that didn't happen.
One thing I wanted to do at Christmas time was to watch the movie "Christmas in Connecticut" and I did do that. I wanted to watch it, because my daughter lives in Connecticut and I also thought it was the movie where Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas". I remember watching that movie (the Bing one) one Christmas day when my daughter was young and we were playing with her Barbie dolls - just playing and watching. Anyway, I was wrong on that one - "Christmas in Connecticut" is a different movie starring Barbara Stanwyck. I guess I don't know my 1930's Christmas movies very well.
Speaking of movies I have seen two in the last week that I want to share with you. One is "The Station Agent" about a trio of unlikely friends and trains - sounds strange, but is a very good movie. I had seen it with my movie girl friends a couple years ago, but watched again with Larry , my husband. He liked it too - a funky movie, worth netflixing. The other movie is "The Wedding Banquet" co-written and directed by Ang Lee (or Lee Ang....). It is really good about a Chinese family with a gay son and his American partner. It took me a while to figure out I need to put on the English subtitles, since there is some English spoken, but most of it is in Chinese. Reminded me of the time I was in Holland watching an English speaking movie with Dutch subtitles.... "The Wedding Banquet" is well worth watching and another netflix suggestion.
One last thing. I recently read a good book by Barbara Pym (English author) "Quartet in Autumn". It is a book about four co-workers in their late fifties or early sixties - two men and two women (set in the 1970's). The writing style is spare, but gives insights and feelings of what it is like to be at the end of one's working life. These people are all pretty inhibited and it is not an upper to read this book, but I loved the quirkiness of it the little impressions of these people.
Just a quick story of getting this book. I love Barbara Pym and went online to find out how many books she had written (she is no longer living). I then went on Alibris and there were all her books for $1.99 apiece. I got all excited - only to discover the shipping was a lot more than $1.99, my big bargain wasn't so much of a bargain, but at least they were available and I could get them.
One thing I wanted to do at Christmas time was to watch the movie "Christmas in Connecticut" and I did do that. I wanted to watch it, because my daughter lives in Connecticut and I also thought it was the movie where Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas". I remember watching that movie (the Bing one) one Christmas day when my daughter was young and we were playing with her Barbie dolls - just playing and watching. Anyway, I was wrong on that one - "Christmas in Connecticut" is a different movie starring Barbara Stanwyck. I guess I don't know my 1930's Christmas movies very well.
Speaking of movies I have seen two in the last week that I want to share with you. One is "The Station Agent" about a trio of unlikely friends and trains - sounds strange, but is a very good movie. I had seen it with my movie girl friends a couple years ago, but watched again with Larry , my husband. He liked it too - a funky movie, worth netflixing. The other movie is "The Wedding Banquet" co-written and directed by Ang Lee (or Lee Ang....). It is really good about a Chinese family with a gay son and his American partner. It took me a while to figure out I need to put on the English subtitles, since there is some English spoken, but most of it is in Chinese. Reminded me of the time I was in Holland watching an English speaking movie with Dutch subtitles.... "The Wedding Banquet" is well worth watching and another netflix suggestion.
One last thing. I recently read a good book by Barbara Pym (English author) "Quartet in Autumn". It is a book about four co-workers in their late fifties or early sixties - two men and two women (set in the 1970's). The writing style is spare, but gives insights and feelings of what it is like to be at the end of one's working life. These people are all pretty inhibited and it is not an upper to read this book, but I loved the quirkiness of it the little impressions of these people.
Just a quick story of getting this book. I love Barbara Pym and went online to find out how many books she had written (she is no longer living). I then went on Alibris and there were all her books for $1.99 apiece. I got all excited - only to discover the shipping was a lot more than $1.99, my big bargain wasn't so much of a bargain, but at least they were available and I could get them.
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