What a way to go...

Lava lamp left on stove explodes, kills U.S. man

 SEATTLE, Nov 30 (Reuters) - A Washington state man who placed a lava lamp on a hot stove died when the lamp exploded and a glass shard pierced his heart, police said on Tuesday.

Phillip Quinn, 24, was found dead in his trailer home on Sunday night in Kent, about 15 miles (24 km) south of Seattle.

"There appeared to have been an explosion that was centered on the stove top. There were glass fragments all over, embedded in the walls," said Paul Petersen, a Kent police spokesman.

A lava lamp features blobs of wax in liquid that rise and fall in a container when heated by a bulb at the base of the lamp.

Quinn was probably standing in front of the lamp when it exploded, then stumbled into his bedroom and died, Petersen said, citing a medical examiner's report.

Let this be a lesson to all you hippy throwbacks... let GO of your lava lamps. Besides, they're obviously a major hazard which the public should be protected from. I foresee legislation to remedy this... recall notices... public service announcements on late-night TV... at least a special sticker on all lava lamps reading DO NOT PLACE ON STOVE.

Oy.

Unbelievable Chocolate Cake

You won't believe how good this is... or how easy. I'm not a huge fan of cake, per se, but I love this cake. It doesn't have a frosting or icing, but you could probably use a ganache (for you ambitious types) or even just a light powdered-sugar-and-water glaze. Be adventurous. Be whatever. Just TRY THIS CAKE.

1 yellow cake mix, butter recipe
1 small box chocolate pudding mix
4 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. water
8 oz. sour cream
6 oz. milk chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together except for the chips, then add in the chips after the batter is blended. Pour mixture into a greased, floured bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean -- usually around an hour.

I'm going to make this tonight to take with me tomorrow to my first small-group meeting (my new church encourages members & attenders to join a small group that meets sometime during the week, so I chose one that meets at the same time that the kids are in their Wednesday night Awana Club meeting at the church). I offered to bring treats to the first meeting. I think I will also make a batch of my home-made guacamole, too. I'll post THAT recipe sometime soon... probably closer to Super Bowl time.

Gripe, to no-one in particular

Why is it that I find out about mandatory meetings AFTER THE FACT? I arrive at school this morning and one of the teachers asked why I wasn't at the meeting last night. Meeting? I got NO NOTICE of a meeting. Believe me, I keep track of these things, because I'm a first-year teacher in this district and I'm trying to make sure I look good to the higher-ups.

The one complaint I have about working in this district is the predominance of the unannounced meeting. Usually I find out about it THAT DAY, precipitating a desperate flurry of phone calls to arrange for some kind of child care. Yesterday, apparently I didn't even hear about it at all, because I obviously didn't show up. But it seems to be a distinct pattern here. A pattern that I'm tired of and which does not make me a happy employee.

Okay, while I'm griping -- because griping isn't a habit I'm in -- the rise of hip hop and rap have caused this uncontrollable urge in teenage boys to beat rhythms on the tables and desks in every classroom. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some of that genre, but I could really live without the requisite desk pounding.

Another batch done

Just finished up another batch of hand-painted Christmas cards. I need to get them done this week so I can get them in the mail next week. I ended up doing several similar ones this time, with a poinsettia theme. I don't want to do them all the same because I would get totally bored before I even got them done, but sometimes I explore a theme several times over before moving on past it.

My five-year-old son Isaac and his note-writing are in the news again... he's been writing "checks" to people on his Post-It notes. I received a note tonight that read: "1000000 Bux" on it. A little later he gave me another one: "6400000 Bux". I'm thinking of holding onto them for, oh, say, twenty or thirty years, and then cashing them in with interest.

I spoke to FCC's worship leader via e-mail this morning to remind him that one of the lower keys on the keyboard was sticking and needed to be repaired. He said something to the effect of "Way to go; we've never had a broken keyboard before"... jokingly, of course. This weekend, I'm not scheduled to play for worship services, but I was asked to play Christmasey stuff for the Ladies Tea. Woo woo woo. I'm so not into ladies' teas, as far as just attending them, but it's hard for me to turn down a gig!

It's way past my bed-time... g'night, peeps.

The latest in hot new trends...

Eyebrow shaving! Among Japanese teenage boys, anyway...

High school baseball players told to stop shaving eyebrows

The Japan High School Baseball Federation has taken the unusual step of telling schools to tighten up against players who have had their eyebrows shaved or those wearing shabby clothes.

The latest trend among schoolboys to shave their eyebrows has already created a stir among education officials who are outraged over the fashion.

Officials of the high school baseball federation on Friday decided to warn member schools to take action against student players with shaved eyebrows or those wearing clothes considered too rough.

"This is probably the first time for us to give instructions over the appearance of student players," one of the officials said.

Some high schools have already banned their students from shaving their eyebrows.

The federation's warning says that student players must realize that they represent their schools as baseball club members. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Nov. 28, 2004)

Maybe it will catch on over here. My ten-year-old daughter, who has trichotillomania, would be right in style.

Liar, liar

From WebMD comes the following article about how lying changes the brain's activity when viewed by magnetic resonance imaging:MRI Brain Images May Catch Liars in the Act

MRI Brain Images May Catch Liars in the Act
Monday, November 29, 2004
By Miranda Hitti


Separating a lie from the truth may get easier, thanks to magnetic resonance imaging.

Just ask Scott Faro, MD, director of Temple University's Functional Brain Imaging Center and Clinical MRI. Faro and colleagues recently tested brain imaging when test participants were lying.

They recruited 10 volunteers, asking half to shoot a toy gun and lie about it. The nonshooters were told to tell the truth about the situation.

Here's the catch: Participants were questioned about their tales - false or true - during brain imaging.

But that's not all. During the brain imaging studies, a polygraph or lie detector test was also done.

If you watch crime movies and TV shows, you've probably seen polygraph tests. They track body functions, such as breathing, blood pressure, and the skin's ability to conduct electricity, which rises when people sweat. Those physical signs can indicate lying.

But the polygraph test isn't perfect. Some smooth talkers can flim-flam their way through it by controlling their body's reactions. Brain imaging might be a more revealing lie detector.

In the study, the images showed that different brain areas worked during lying and truth telling. The liars had three specific brain regions activated that were not active in individuals who told the truth. Those differences could reveal liars.

In the study, brain imaging was equally good at detecting lies as polygraph tests. It’s too early to know if brain imaging can be fooled in the same manner as polygraph tests, but Faro hopes to find out.

"We have just begun to understand the potential of MRI [brain imaging] in studying deceptive behavior," he says, in a news release.

Faro's team presented the findings in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

By Miranda Hitti, reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

SOURCES: Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, Nov. 28-Dec. 3, 2004. News release, Radiological Society of North America.

So when do we get to fit our kids with little home-use MRI models? It's the wave of the future, I tell you. "Hold still, sweetie, while I turn on this really loud, banging tube. Now tell me that again -- you ran out of gas where?"

Nice day for a fire drill, eh?

It's always such a lovely thing to have fire drills. Why MUST they choose a day when it's pouring snow? [growling]

Back to the grindstone

So how was your holiday?

My pork roast turned out yummy, as did the pumpkin pie. I improved the pumpkin pie recipe just a smidge by mixing in some softened cream cheese to the filling stuff.

Yesterday's church service was fun, as usual. Generally they have two or three people singing backup vocals along with the worship leader; yesterday, the lady who was scheduled to sing soprano overslept and didn't make it in. They decided at the last minute to mic me for the soprano part, and this time instead of using a boom mic, they fitted me with one of the ultra-cool wireless headset mics. They're the cool, almost invisible kind, not the big poofy kind that stick out. It was kinda spiffy to walk around with one of those little battery packs in my pocket and a little wire running behind my head to my ear, like I was important or something. Just always remember to turn the thing OFF when you walk offstage... particularly if you're headed for the, um, restroom. I didn't slip up, but I kept checking it while I was offstage, just to be certain. heh --Oh, yeah, I wanted to give you guys a link to this church's web site, in case you're interested in knowing anything more about it: FCC It's refreshing to actually want to go to church again; it's been a very, very long time -- if ever, really -- since that's been the case. It's always been a duty or a job, since Rick has always been on staff at a church since we've been married. I've always just made the best of the situation, but God's been very kind to me in giving me the opportunity to go to a church like FCC. I know it's not perfect... if I were ever to join the perfect church, it'd stop being perfect the moment I joined... but it's going places, and I'd like to go along.

Des Moines finally got snow last night. We usually get it a few weeks earlier than this, but thankfully got a stay-of-execution for a while. I was grateful that it wasn't frozen to my windshield while I was cleaning the car off; it just brushed off soggily. It's supposed to snow all day today, which means I'll get to clean the car off AGAIN when I get off work. I'm glad I have all these cool tropical posters in my classroom, because today I need to forget that I live here, for just a little while anyway.

Time Waster

Wanna make yourself crazy? Try this game, which reverses the direction of your cursor while you're trying to navigate a maze. It's hard, but very cool.

Of course, you could just turn your mouse upside-down and use it like a trackball... but that would be cheating.

Like the new look?

My pal Kevin gets the credit. He took some scans of my own little creative endeavors and turned them into this beautiful new home for my blog.

Welcome to Anywhere But Here, my little corner of the blogosphere. Hope you'll stay a while and visit often... and leave comments, too.

Kevin is the bomb! Even if he DID make a hilarious spoof site of my dear blogmom, SarahK of mountaineer musings.

Happy dancing for everyone!

Ketchup, yet again

Once again, ketchup has shown up as an accomplice to a crime.

Ketchup 'hero' dismissed

An Indian soldier who used tomato ketchup to fake his claim for a bravery medal has been dismissed from service.

Colonel H.S. Kohli, who commanded an artillery regiment in Assam, tried to present photographs of civilians splashed with ketchup as 'enemy casualties'.

But the fraud came to light while authorities were processing his claims for an award

The army officer was tried and found guilty in a court martial while a major who connived with him in the fake encounter, faces a five-year suspension.

An army spokesman told the Indo Asian News Service: "It was indeed weird and bizarre to find him claiming a bravery award for the kills, which in fact did not take place at all."

Has anyone questioned Tuh-Ray-Zuh about this? I'm sure she'd have some pithy, cranky statement to make. "Let 'em eat French Fries" is a possibility. Or perhaps, "I didn't know we had artillery regiments on reservations."

You, too, can be a Math Whiz

According to Derb in National Review Online's blog The Corner, that is:

Mental Arithmetic

MENTAL ARITHMETIC [John Derbyshire]
Several readers have e-mailed in with the story of the German math whiz who has set a record by calculating the 13th root of a 100-digit number in his head. The story can be read here.

Without wishing to detract at all from Herr Mittring's achievement, I note that this kind of thing isn't so astounding as it at first seems, and in fact is probably within the range of things anyone could do if he set out doggedly to do it.

Look: The average 100-digit number -- that would be around 5,000 trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion, of course -- has a base-10 logarithm of 99.69897, so its 13th root has a log of 7.66915. That root is therefore around 47 million. So you only have to figure out 8 digits.

Memorized tables will get you 3 or 4 digits instantly. E.g. you can divide up all the 100-digit numbers to get the first 2 digits of their 13th roots:

Numbers beginning 10000000 thru 12654373 have 13th roots beginning with 41. Numbers beginning 12654377 thru 17182636 have 13th roots beginning with 42. Numbers beginning 17182641 thru 23167793 have 13th roots beginning with 43. ... etc., thru to Numbers beginning 93874803 thru 99999965 have 13th roots beginning with 49.

This is of the order of things that you can quite easily memorize. With a bit of serious effort you -- or me, or anyone -- could memorize the 3-digit equivalent, a list of 81 items. (I.e. for 13th roots beginning 412 to 492. The smallest number whose 13th power has 100 digits is 41,246,264; the biggest is 49,238,825.)

You can also very easily memorize the right-most digits of 13th powers. For numbers ending in 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 they are, believe it or not: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. For example, the 13th power of 247 is 12,736,801,848,653,359,358,345,383,963,927. Again, you could extend this to two or more digits (though it gets tricky very quickly).

Once you have a good stock of memorized base points like this, a bit of fast trial & error will get you there.

(I've assumed here that the 13th root is a whole number. In this kind of competition, they invariably are.)

Ummm. Okay. Sure, Derb. Whatever you say.

VERY cool movie!!

I just got back from seeing National Treasure and I think it was just way cool. The only thing I cringed at was that when they were considering divvying up the treasures, they mentioned the Louvre as one of the recipients. "Don't give any of that to the French!" I hissed, to no-one in particular. "Not the Louvre!" whispered one of my companions. We were obviously on the same wavelength, for sure!

Other than that one little slipup, it was a fun ride. Suspend your disbelief for a couple of hours and enjoy yourself. It's FUN.

Now playing...

Better Is One Day by the Passion project

It's an oldie, for sure, but it's good. Actually, I'm listening to it because there are several songs on it that the church band is doing this Sunday and I wanted to listen closely to the songs to get some inspiration for my playing.

Another one that's been playing this evening, for the same reason: Wash Over Me by Jami Smith. She's got a Melissa Etheridge-type voice, edgy and straight-up. We're doing a few of her songs over the next few weeks as well.

My Son, the Journalist

My son Isaac is five and has recently discovered reading (see this post from October 30). Just as suddenly, he has discovered his ability to communicate via writing. He's doing his own form of blogging, now. He found an old spiral notebook and has titled it "Things Happening Book". In it he records things that happen. Among the things he has written today: "Wer wchen Jime Notron on TV Dad is aslep and Mom is watching tv to"... or this one: "Mom is paen on the kpyodr dad and me and mrthu r wochen tv".

He also carries around a pad of Post-It notes, and gives us all messages. At snack time earlier this afternoon, Martha (my oldest, age 10) only gave him four cookies while giving herself five. He wrote this note to her: "I hat U mrthu". Later, to encourage me to get crackin' on the Christmas decorations: "Pot up the Kresms tre".

We did, of course. The tree is UP, and now they're hassling me about presents. Sheesh.

Carnival of the Recipes!!

It's time for the Carnival of the Recipes again! This time it's being hosted by Marybeth of Random Thoughts. My pork roast and other yummies made it in... and I can assure you that it all turned out beautifully when I cooked it yesterday for Thanksgiving, but it doesn't have to be relegated to Thanksgiving-only status.

Carnival of the Recipes, #15

Get cookin', people! These recipes don't come from recipe blogs, per se, just blogs of all different stripes who happen to also have authors who cook.

I've talked to the originator of the Carnival, Beth Donovan of She Who Will Be Obeyed, and she has said I could host the Carnival myself sometime soon... yay!

P. F. Chang's China Bistro

My current favorite restaurant: P.F. Chang's China Bistro

I probably wouldn't have tried it right away except that Cindy works there as a hostess. I absolutely LOVE their food, and the atmosphere is cool, too. Today for lunch I brought home:

Traditional Spare Ribs (I'm actually fonder of their Northern Spare Ribs, but these are yummy too)
Warm Duck Spinach Salad
Sichuan Pork (for Rick)

It's a nice contrast to yesterday's heavy Thanksgiving-ish fare.

SHOPPING TIME!!!

I was at the mall a little late this morning... 7:30 AM... they opened at 6 AM and I would've been there then except Cindy didn't really want to be up *that* early. I'm okay with that. Obviously, I could've gotten up and gone out myself, but where's the fun if you don't find bargains together?

I've actually already bought for my kids. Today was reserved for three kids at the Friendship Center, the inner-city mission I volunteer at... the directors let us "adopt" some of the regulars in the neighborhood, and they gathered up everyone's Christmas lists. I probably should've only picked ONE, but I couldn't just stop there. Besides, I'm pretty attached to several of them, so I decided to do three instead, that are the same ages as my own kids. My kids play with all of them anyway and are good friends with them, so it just seemed natural.

It's fun to buy for them, too. : )

Okay, this is just freaky

God made some amazing people. Here's one of them:

Math Whiz Sets Record for Mental Calculation

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German computer scientist has broken the world record in mental calculation, needing just 11.80 seconds to work out the 13th root of a 100-digit number, a German mathematics museum said Wednesday.

Gert Mittring, a 38-year old computer scientist, was faster working out the answer than several onlookers using calculators at an event in the western town of Giessen sponsored by the Museum of Mathematics.

A spokesman for the museum said Mittring's time broke a record set in 1988 by Alexis Lemaire of France, who completed a similar calculation.

I'm speechless on this one, really.

The twits at Heinz are at it again

Do they still sell that "W" brand ketchup on the internet anywhere? I've begun to think that the idiocy at Heinz runs all the way through the company, and isn't strictly limited to its heiress owner Tuh-Ray-Zuh. Of course, this one's being run in the UK, so the only way anyone here will know about it is if they visit the Sky News web site.

Ketchup Ad Outrage

 A TV commercial showing a guinea pig drinking tomato ketchup has been slammed by the RSPCA.     

As the animal guzzles Heinz Ketchup in its cage where its water bottle would normally be, the heading reads: "You can't eat without it."

The advert appears during breaks for ITV1's Emmerdale, which Heinz sponsors.     

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: "Water is an essential part of a guinea pig's diet and we wouldn't recommend replacing it with ketchup.     

"A small amount of ketchup as a treat now and again shouldn't do any harm as long as there is plenty of water available."     

She added that guinea pigs should be fed hay, grass and good quality cereal mix.     

A Heinz spokesman said: "The advert is about exaggerating the fact that all food tastes better with Heinz Tomato Ketchup and in no way is Heinz encouraging families to copy adverts."

I wasn't aware that ANY amount of ketchup was okay for guinea pigs, but obviously now I do. [filing that factoid away in my brain for future reference... filing it waaaaay back in the back along with the other useless stuff like my telephone number from when I was in kindergarten... yes, Mom, I remember it]

I like the way these people think...

I rarely agree with anything that comes out of the Guardian. However, this one's a keeper in MY book:

Chocolate as cough remedy

It tastes better than cough medicine, and now researchers think it may be better at relieving coughs, too.

Dark chocolate may have health benefits to weigh against fears of tooth decay or putting on weight.

A chemical compound, theobromine, which is found in cocoa, has proved more effective at stopping persistent coughing than codeine.

Tests have so far involved only 10 people and larger studies are needed, according to a team from Imperial College and the Royal Brompton and St Bartholomew's hospitals in London and a Hungarian company. They described their work in an online journal published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Doses used in the tests were equivalent to a 50g bar of dark chocolate, but the researchers said bigger doses might be more effective.

Yes! Yes! Bigger doses!

Pork roast

Here's how I like to do a pork roast:

I use just a big picnic shoulder butt... it's fairly cheap and has fat in it, but that gives it good flavor. I sear the outside in a skillet, then put it into a crockpot with a bottle of wine (doesn't matter what color or variety), salt & pepper, sliced onions, and some dijon mustard. Then I cook it low and slow for about eight hours. It usually falls apart beautifully after that, and the juice gravy stuff is simply yummy.

This is usually good with mashed potatoes as well. I prefer Yukon Golds (I know, there's probably a million Potato Police who would beg to differ, but hey -- this is MY blog, and I get to say what I like), which I clean and boil with the peels on. After they're done, I let them cool for a while so I can handle them. The peels slide right off in my hands. Then I put them in the Kitchen Aid mixer with some real butter, real cream, and sometimes shredded colby-jack cheese... plus salt & pepper, of course... and mix it together carefully (not doing it for too long so they don't get sticky).

My mom sent me a recipe for a new kind of Pumpkin Pie:

PUMPKIN PIE CAKE

l (1 lb. 13 oz) can or
2 (15 oz) cans of pumpkin
1 (13 oz) can evaporated milk
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped nuts
1 stick butter or margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend together all
ingredients except last 3. Pour into a greased and
floured 9 X 13-inch pan. Sprinkle evenly with dry
cake mix, chopped nuts, and drizzle with melted
butter(in that order). Bake for 50-60 minutes. Cool
and cut into squares. This looks great cut into
squares and put on a platter.

*Be sure you grease and flour the bottom of the pan
very well. You may have to cook this longer if the
cake mix looks liquidy in the middle of the pan.
=========================================

I was thinking this should be pretty good-tasting stuff, welcomed by the throngs who will show up for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.

Pno Pneumonia Ptoday

Rick took our son Isaac to the doctor today to be tested for bacterial pneumonia. My best friend's oldest son was diagnosed with it, and both of them have a terrible cough, so we thought it best to get him checked. PTL his lungs were clear, but he does have an upper-respiratory infection, so he gets seven days of antibiotics. He's not terribly excited about it, because he HATES taking medicine of any kind.

Hooray for Wednesday! In about three minutes, the bell is going to ring, and we are OUT FOR HOLIDAY. Wahoo!

The Day The Squirrel Went Berserk

Okay, let's just dispense with the niceties, okay? I despise squirrels. They're basically just rats with a dose of cute. I have a friend who immigrated here from west Africa and he was amazed that there were so many, just freely running around without a care in the world -- such an untapped food source. I wanted to puke. Vile beasts, squirrels. And they are literally everywhere in my city. They seem to have no real predators except cars.

Two of them decided to take up residence in the stairwell to our basement this fall. I would sit at the computer, on the other side of the wall from them, and hear them scritch-scratching quite often. They were making a mess of the insulation and chewing the two-by-fours. We could never quite catch them at it, however.

When I got home yesterday afternoon after school, my husband proudly said that he had managed to do away with one of them by trapping it in a wire basket, then grabbing it with a gloved hand. He didn't say how he snuffed out the varmint, but I'm sure it was gruesome enough. Hooray, I thought... the other one will have been scared away and we won't have any more trouble.

Wrong.

I sat down at the computer desk to read some snail-mail, and behold... the telltale scritchy-scratch. Squirrels really don't have a lot of brains going for them. I set my jaw and went for my varmint gun, a trusty Daisy BB/pellet shooter (since I was still in the house, y'know, and since I live in the big city where they frown on people blasting real guns inside their houses). I loaded it and pumped it up, and headed around the corner to the basement steps.

When I opened the door, the squirrel (up on a shelf) panicked and leaped out toward me into the kitchen behind me. He bounced off a cabinet and unceremoniously landed on the floor, where, sprawling and scrambling, he began to run back toward the door to the basement. I'm not the kind of person who gets freaked out by this sort of nonsense, however -- I just lifted my foot (clad in a nice heavy shoe) and brought it down on top of him before he could reach the doorway. No way was that thing getting away from me... I took the Daisy off safety and did away with him on the kitchen floor, under my foot.

I had made the children stay in the other room; this was something I didn't want them to have to watch... but they insisted on seeing the carcass, so I hoisted it up and showed them before dropping it into several plastic shopping sacks, tying it up, and disposing of it in the outside garbage.

Hear me roar, squirreldom! Stay out of my house!

I dig...

I dig this guy's work: Alfred Gockel

Geraghty gets it

On National Review Online, Jim Geraghty nails the whole issue encompassing the NBA brawl. A quote:

America doesn’t ask a lot of its citizens. We don’t have a draft, we have comparatively low taxes, we don’t have compulsory voting. But we do have certain rules that you have to follow as a citizen, certain expectations of behavior — and one’s passion for a sports team doesn’t waive those expectations.

Geraghty is hoping that political figures will weigh in on this issue. I agree with him; I'd like to see some serious stand-taking going on, because this downward spiral has got to stop. Now. I don't think that political people have the power to make it stop, but I do think that they help create a general atmosphere of either tolerance or intolerance for atrocious behavior.

Fun project

Since this is a short week and we're about to get out for Thanksgiving, I decided to throw in a hands-on "fun" project for my guys to do. I usually push academics pretty hard, particularly reading fluency and comprehension, but once in a while I think these guys like to do something with a different part of their brain. So today we're weaving a miniature Indian blanket. I made cardboard looms for everyone, and bought some yarn, and hoped they'd like it. Well, it passed the ultimate test of Sam -- he's my most belligerent and uncooperative student -- and he actually sat down and worked on that weaving project without complaining! The others did, too.

Now it's the next block, and these guys are totally getting into their weaving project, too. I love it when I pick something that works.

Now Playing...

Currently in my CD player:

Infinite Blue by the Poozies.

Substitution, please

Looks like FOXNews has subbed John Kasich for Bill O'Reilly tonight. In an e-mail to my blogmom SarahK just now, I confessed to her that I do not care for Mr. BillO. He's way too much of a loose cannon, in my opinion. His core seems to shift depending on what's convenient for him. I like his hard-hitting style, but it's too mercurial to be truly effective. Of course, that's probably also why he's so incredibly popular... it's like watching a show where you know there's going to be a massive train wreck somewhere, but you're not entirely sure when or how.

UPDATE: Looks like he's got good ole war-horse Lanny Davis on to argue the lib side. Do these people EVER just go away with their tails tucked snugly between their hind legs? Or do they ever find NEW people? It always seems to be the same tired faces.

I got the call!!!

The telephone call I was hoping for... was a call from the worship leader of my new church, letting me know that he was going to need me to play keys next Sunday again. [happy dancing] [no, there will be no video of me performing said dancing] [I'm still waiting for FrankJ's promised video, however]

He had called the person scheduled, and they weren't going to be available this Sunday. Could I come tomorrow night to practice, and would I be able to come on Sunday?

Could I ever? Chain me down and see if I won't!!!

Monday morning referee

Did you see that awful NBA brawl last Friday night? Good grief. This morning on Fox & Friends, they interviewed a fellow who had written a book a couple of years ago about the criminal culture of the NBA. He said that 40% of NBA players had a record of some serious criminal offense (felony, drugs, sexual assault, weapons). How pathetic have they allowed the league to become?

Then, of course, there's the lovely occurrence at the recent Vibe awards, in which "Dr. Dre" was attacked and stabbed on the way to the stage by another group of entertainers and show-biz folks.

My students (of pretty evenly distributed ethnic origins) are steeped in this sort of lifestyle as it is. I'm disappointed and disheartened when overpaid gangsters are coddled and allowed to be superstars... it just encourages my kids to continue living the life they're already living, because it doesn't matter how you behave -- you can still have everything you really want in life, like expensive cars and clothes and jewelry and people working for you who you can whup up on whenever they don't satisfy you (i.e. Naomi Campbell).

One of my students regularly checks the internet sites of local prisons to see which of her relatives are locked up at any one time. She is a beautiful girl; very classy-looking and with reasonable potential to be a decent adult. She meets your gaze (something I notice about people) and although her clothes are modest, she's well-kept and tidy. All this belies the fact that her entire family are so steeped in illegal drugs and crime that she barely knows anything else. When I asked the class several weeks ago to write down everything they knew about both candidates for President, this is what she wrote:

Bush is a republican. Bush also start the war by trying to finish what his dad started. I also think he blew up the world trade.

Kerry is a democrat. Kerry was also in the army and he got the purple heart for getting shot. He also is going to try to bring the troops back.

Now please realize that I am teaching students who are in special ed. for learning disabilities and behavior disorders. So their work is not going to be particularly representative of the best that high school has to offer. But mechanics aside, this is what she KNEW.

I feel like I'm swimming upstream in a hard rapids.

Another happy Sunday

Okay, so you're probably going to be bored with my rantings about playing with the band at the new church, but I did both the morning AND the evening sets and had an absolute total blast. Actually, this morning, I was a fill-in soprano instead of playing in the band, and then this evening I had a mic AND played keys. The musicians are just so talented... it makes me incredibly happy that they LET ME be there with them.

It is FREEZING here. Yes, yes, I know. What do I expect, living in Iowa? And you'd be right to point that out to me. Nonetheless, it doesn't make it any easier to bear. In fact, having lived here for nearly nine years now, it's even harder because I know all too well just how long winter really is. Seven, eight months of cold... dead brown and gray landscape... bitter wind and piles of snow (thank you GOD that that hasn't begun yet)... my feet are NOT looking forward to being cold all the time. Generally I can tell how cold it's gotten outside, even when our thermostat is set the same as always, because my feet have some kind of invisible thermo-link to the outdoor temperature. Right now my feet are FREEZING and just don't seem to want to get warm, which tells me that the mercury has dropped a good bit. I have them bundled up in my house-slippers that were crocheted by my Grandmother, but they're stubbornly refusing to warm up. I keep a little electric heater under the computer desk; I guess it's time to crank it back up. Sometimes I can put my feet right on the thing and they still don't want to get warm. Rick thinks there's something wrong with me and that no-one who's actually ALIVE could have feet that cold. If anyone's actually reading my blather and has a suggestion, I'm willing to entertain suggestions for a solution.

This morning's sunrise was simply outstanding, I do have to say. The sky was shot through with brilliant neon pink, pale blues and purples, and spatters of orange. I have always thought that Oklahoma sunSETS were pretty much unequalled, and I still think so, but Iowa sunRISES are a wonder to behold. Absolutely beautiful. I haven't really had the opportunity to enjoy many sunrises over the years, being more of a night owl, but because of my teaching schedule and then the Sunday morning gigs, I've been forced into the early-riser niche. It's not bad; it's quiet then, and it gives me a little face time with God. Definitely precipitates the need for an afternoon nap, however... and an early bed-time... bleah

And on that note, nitey-nite.

Road Trip Redux

We had a terrific time. TobyMac is always a really great show. Third Day was actually the headline act, but let's just say that I'm not a big Third Day fan. The show was at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri, which is just west of St. Louis. Yes, that's quite a drive from Des Moines, but since when has a little driving gotten in our way when we want to do something? Shoot, six hours to St. Louis is nothing -- we drove ten hours to Nashville all night last spring to see Kevin Max at 12th & Porter, and then turned around and drove all night back home. WITH all six of our kids. We did briefly visit my cousin in Murfreesboro, which was nice -- my cuz is a very cool person. She let all eight of us crash at her apartment and get a little sleep... now THAT was an adventure in itself because she has a husband and four little kids, herself. It was a merry crowd, for sure. heh

Anyway, all that to say, when there's a show that Cindy & I want to see, we will stop at almost nothing to see it.

I wore an old black dcTalk shirt and some jeans and a black jacket. We had purchased tickets for the floor, and weren't sorry that we'd done that. I do have to interject here, however, that the floor at Family Arena was WEIRD. I'm guessing it's one of those removable kinds of things, but it was wiggly and made it difficult to do the usual jumping around and dancing that we "floor people" do at concerts.

The first act was a band I'd never heard of -- Hyper Static Union -- but we dutifully listened and they weren't too bad. The lead singer wasn't much to look at, but he could sing rather nicely and distantly reminded me of Kevin Max, though not quite as flexible and exotic. Anyway, they weren't bad at all, and very talented. Their final song was a decent cover of Stevie Wonder's Superstition, which was fun. Soon after they wrapped it up, TMac came bouncing out and the party started. His peeps are a rather energetic bunch, doing backflips and body slams and all kinds of hijinks during the music. I'm sure all the grannies out in the seats who'd come to see Third Day were a bit blown away, but that's okay. Heh.

When he got done, we squirmed our way off the floor and out the door. We bought some merch and stood in line to have TMac himself sign it... then we took off. The exit we left through was guarded by a kindly-looking gentleman who looked at us quizzically and said, "Are you leaving?", in a sort-of "The show's not over" kind of voice. We grinned and said, "Yep." For us, the show WAS over and we were very happy.

We didn't have a lot of $$ to drop for supper, but we were both starved, so we landed at an IHOP in hopes of something decent. It wasn't. Oh, the food wasn't too bad, but the atmosphere and the service were rather dismal. Our server was unremarkable, but there was another server who was downright obnoxious. If looks could kill, this woman was spitting ninja-stars out her eyeballs. For our evening entertainment, the older couple who sat on the other side of our booth were seated a couple of minutes after us and promptly began to discuss the pros and cons of corn vs. California blend veggies. All the while the woman was dutifully tucking her napkin into her collar. They carefully arranged who would trade what, while the obnoxious server stood there beside them, looking obnoxious. Finally they ordered, and Ms. Obnoxious headed for the kitchen, bellowing, "DROP A CHICKEN BREAST!!" and I thought I would fall out of my seat laughing. I guess that was waitress lingo? At least it's better than the lingo we heard from a guy at a Taco Bell somewhere in Kentucky a few weeks ago, who loudly declared that he was "humping" when he was hurrying to get someone's order out. That place freaked us out, because not only was it jammed to the gills with people sporting NASCAR clothing, there was a horrid abstract painting on the wall next to us that looked like nothing so much as an enormous stylized vagina. No, we won't be stopping anywhere in that town anymore -- too many icky memories.

The drive home was uneventful, thankfully... or rather, I suppose it was, since I slept most of the way. I wasn't the one who really needed to sleep, since I didn't have to work all day Saturday, but Cindy doesn't sleep well in a moving vehicle, so she kept on driving. I stirred every so often and offered to drive, but she declined. I haven't talked to her at all today; I hope she's surviving. When we got to my house at 3:30 AM, I asked her again if it was worth it, and she grinned hugely and nodded.

I'm happy. : ) Maybe it's a little weird for a couple of thirty-something moms to chase bands all over the country, but we both have to carve out our "fun" times and use the little free time we have wisely. Plus, it gives me lots of blog fodder.

FRIDAY!!!

My desk is a mess... but grades are turned in, and I'm feelin' fine. Now I just need to make sure I've got next week's lessons all done, and I'm cookin' with gas! I only have to plan a couple of things next week because it's THANKSGIVING WEEK and I'm going to get a little time off. Wahoo!

I'm getting together with my pal Cindy, who's being tormented by her soon-to-be-ex in-laws, who just can't seem to catch a clue that right now might not be the best time to drop in for a visit. So I'm going to try to spend as much time there as I possibly can, hopefully to defuse tensions, but mostly just to hang with my pal. She's doing the turkey, I'm making my famous potato salad. Other stuff hasn't been divvied up yet. Somebody's got to do the cranberry stuff, right?

ROAD TRIP!!!!

I'm takin' a road trip tomorrow... woo hoo!!

Tomorrow afternoon my pal Cindy and I are headed to St. Louis to see TobyMac in concert. He's actually one of the openers for Third Day, but I don't care for their music much, so we will probably be leaving the concert after Toby gets done.

Cindy was asking me what I was planning to wear. I dunno... prolly jeans & a t-shirt, since that's what's most comfy. But which t-shirt? Decisions, decisions...

Interesting parallels

VDH has an interesting essay on his site, by Joseph D'Hippolito, entitled In Their Own Words:
Comparing the Rhetoric of Jihadism and Nazism. Definitely worth your time. An excerpt:

In the twentieth century, genocidal, imperialist totalitarians wore swastika armbands, herded members of supposedly inferior races into concentration camps and shouted, "Heil Hitler!" In the twenty-first century, they wear black coveralls and hoods, decapitate civilian contractors, shoot children in the back, plow hijacked airplanes into buildings and shout, "Allahu Akbar!"

Jihadism is this century's equivalent of Nazism in more than just barbarity. The Osama bin Ladens and Abu Musab al-Zarqawis are the violent face of a coherent, ruthless ideology that imitates the Nazi method of winning popular support. Jihadists—whether terrorists, imams or intellectuals—exploit collective frustration by converting it into a pervasive sense of victimization, then offer the solution: embrace an inherent superiority, seize entitled power and destroy all opponents.

Just as the Nazis described Germans as victimized by a decadent West — as represented by democracy, jazz, "degenerate art" and the Versailles treaty — so do jihadist intellectuals describe Muslims. Consider the words of Mohammed al-Asi, a fellow at the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought, an advisor to the Islamic Human Rights Commission and the imam of the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C.:

Muslims are living in a kafir (unbelievers') domain; they are virtually adrift and homeless. The inherent condition of today's Muslims who have lost sight of a Prophet as commander is a religious community of people who are beholden to the forces and powers of kufr (apostasy): secular kufr and religious kufr, mental kufr and military kufr, as well as kufr by choice and kufr by force.

Or consider this editorial in Crescent International magazine published immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon:

We know from past experience that people who feel themselves and their peoples to be under sustained and unrelenting attack can react in the most unbelievable ways.

The problem is that none of these [Americans] seem to realize that America has long been at war with numerous peoples all over the world. This is not the opening salvo of a new war; it is probably likely a stunningly successful attempt by one of America's many victims to hit back—very, very hard.

[The] argument is that democracy, freedom and civilization are under attack and must be forcefully defended; such words ring hollow from Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon, Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush, Colin Powell and Tony Blair, each of whom has been responsible for far, far more death and suffering than seen in the US yesterday.

These excerpts explain that Muslims, victimized by the West, have an inherent right to avenge themselves by obliterating non-combatants.

I have read this comparison before, and I find it compelling. Somehow Nazism and its permutations weren't eradicated in WWII... not that it really ever could have, because people are naturally bent toward corruption and villainy apart from Christ. But trying to step back and see this on a global, historical scale is an interesting exercise. It has "end times" written all over it, and I'm not one of those Hal Lindsey scare-mongering Revelation preachers. I'm more interested in Now, Today, and what God is doing in my tiny segment of the tapestry He's weaving. But occasionally one gets a wee clouded glimpse of what's to come. I, for one, won't spend much time pontificating on what I think it all means. I don't know. But I do find it interesting.

And I do know who wins in the end.

The Four Human Tools... huh?

The "Seminar" curriculum today was a Right vs. Wrong, Choices Have Consequences sort of lesson. I've been curious to know how a completely secularized institution approaches this subject.

First thing was a rectangle divided up into sixteen separate smaller rectangles. Students were given two minutes to observe and then write down just how many rectangles they could see.

Then discussion questions: How many rectangles did you see immediately? How many did you see after you observed for a while? Why did you keep discovering more?

Then: Describe some situations where you would have to make a decision. List all the alternatives and the consequences for these choices. Are consequences always bad? What happens when we do not look at all the consequences? Who should have the final decision as to which alternative we choose? Why? Who is responsible for the decisions that you make? What comes first, a decision or an action? What impact could this have on the decisions we make and the actions we take?

Then students read a fictional story about some students who made poor decisions on a test day. The ensuing discussion was about cheating, and was there anything wrong with it.

I just thought it was fascinating; they really don't get to the nitty-gritty of where right and wrong come from and who gets to determine right from wrong, it's just assumed that everybody knows it.

The curriculum describes "Four Human Tools" that we each can utilize in our decision-making processes. They are:

1. Self-awareness -- I can stand apart from myself and observe my thought and action.
2. Conscience -- I can listen to my inner voice and know right from wrong. Each one of us has a conscience. It can either grow or shrink depending on whether or not we follow its prompting.
3. Imagination -- I can envision new possibilities, allowing us to escape our present circumstances and create new possibilities in our heads.
4. Willpower -- I have the power to choose, the power to act, to control our emotions and to overcome our habits and instincts.

So really, our CONSCIENCE is the one that determines right from wrong, that it's within all of us... and that each of us has the power to just decide we're going to overcome some habit or other, if we just exercise it.

I can see this as a lovely exercise in long-term disappointment for anyone who takes it seriously. Pure humanism... we have within ourselves the power to do it all. Blah blah blah. So what happens when we experience failure to overcome our bad habits? We suck as people, right? Those who DO overcome their bad habits, well, they get to be smug and look down on the rest of us. And what's to determine what a bad habit is? What if the thing you consider to be a bad habit ends up controlling me to the point that I am unable to overcome it?

Yes, I completely believe that we are responsible for our own stupidity and should suffer consequences for our choices. If I choose to smoke a pack of Luckys every day for fifty years, it should be no surprise to me when I develop emphysema, and I shouldn't then be able to turn around and blame the people who make ciggies. Everything we DO has possible negative ramifications, and it's just the way it is. We can't expect to be protected from all harm, and still lead fulfilling lives.

Anyway -- but because I failed to be able to quit smoking Luckys, that somehow makes me an inferior being... because we all have willpower, right?

Just wondering where this all leads. What happens in a situation where I really don't know what's right or wrong? Or whether both choices seem wrong? How do I call upon my conscience in a moment like that? The ultimate end would be that I would choose what seemed easiest at the time -- what seemed less painful for the moment. Right vs. Wrong then degenerates into What Makes Me The Least Uncomfortable.

I did the activity with the students, because it actually stays pretty generic and surface. However, if they'd've started taking them further down the road, I don't know if I would be able to teach that level of humanism... since it isn't true.

Okay, what would I REALLY do with a million bucks?

Now for the truth...

As a musician, I'd buy a state-of-the-art keyboard with a sequencer, plus a new amp, a wireless mic, and all the equipment accompanying these items. Then I'd play gigs until the money ran out.

The Globe, again

That really nice globe that I mentioned in a post yesterday? It's coming in handy today. Two students have used it to finish a World History project. Right now, a girl who has finally returned to my class (the one I wrote about earlier) has taken the globe out of its metal cradle to look closer at it. I think they're all labeling a map of the Fertile Crescent or something. I helped one girl with it, early this morning during my planning block. When I bought this one, I had never seen a globe you could actually take out, like a ball, and look it all the way over. Very cool.

I need to go help at the Friendship Center this afternoon (it's an inner-city ministry near here that I help out with sometimes) with the kids, but I'm so sleepy I may just try to go home and go to bed. I should be ashamed of myself!!!

Happiness is...

Happiness for me is being surrounded by serious musicians making some serious noise, in serious praise of God. That's what I was doing last night, and it was indescribably cool for me.

I know that most of these guys have been doing this for a while and it's old to them, but not to me. I've gotten occasional tastes of it in a few places, and it has actually kept me going because it has shown me that there IS more out there if I just hang in there. I never expected to be doing what I'm doing now, though. When I visited this church, I was so impressed by their worship band, and my assumption was that there would be a pretty careful process by which people could join up with it. However, I introduced myself to the worship leader, and BOOM! I'm invited to come to practice, then I'm put onto the schedule. This Sunday, he asked me to play keys for the night service. So I went last night to practice, and their vocal team's soprano wasn't able to come, so now I'm SINGING during both morning services and PLAYING for the evening service. Holy cow.

Rick sort-of got onto me about it last night, because he didn't want me to start over-committing myself and making myself indispensable. I agree with him, and I am aware that it's a bit of a balancing act right now. But I really want to get to know this group of musicians better, to know how God is using them and where I might fit into that plan. It's not just a volunteer position. God is at work at that church, in tangible ways, and I'd like to know more about it. Eventually things will settle out and there will be an equilibrium reached. Until then, I feel compelled to do whatever I can do to be a part of this. I love it... it's energizing.

So what would YOU do with a million bucks?

Some students yesterday were having to write a short piece for another teacher, and the topic was, "What would you do with a million dollars?" So... what would you do with that amount of money?

Well, what the other teacher didn't get into was the notion that well over half that would go right back into the government's coffers, for starters. I'm sure that would've surprised and irritated them.

Me? I'd buy a parcel of land, probably just a bit south of the city, with some decent trees, and build a house on it. Not an elaborate house, just one that has enough space to live and breathe in. Then I'd buy a couple of new vehicles; maybe a couple of Toyota Landcruisers. That would probably take up just about all of it. I'd probably send the rest to missionary friends in different places around the world.

With unlimited funds? Hah! I guess I'd like to take my students on some trips to see other places in the world. I'm quite certain that Christie, here, hasn't been anywhere but here. Her world consists of checking on all her relatives in prison. I would so like for her to see that there's more to life that what she knows about. She is decently bright, attractive, and might have a chance -- IF she doesn't get locked into the mindset.

Yesterday I sat in a morning meeting about one of my students who was just coming back from a ten-day expulsion for fighting. Until this year, she had no history of physical aggression at all, but she has bought into the gang mindset somewhere along the way, and she has become intensely loyal to her friends. When one of her friends is attacked, she joins in the defense and gets herself into trouble. I hope she shows up to my class this afternoon (she doesn't often come), because I'm hoping to get a chance to talk to her about maybe changing what she thinks is important. I doubt I can do much to turn her around, but I'd at least like to give her some guidance. I care about her very much. I care about all my guys, to tell you the truth. Many of them run with extremely rough people, and a few of them actually are rough people themselves. But I'm not intimidated by that facade; I see them as people with potential.

Mewzik

Well, the evening won't be a total loss. After the meeting, I'm going to go to the new church and practice with the band again. This time, they want me to play for Sunday night, since they already have someone playing for the morning services.

Music is tightly interwoven into my DNA, I think. There is music playing in my head all the time... sometimes something familiar, other times just random music. Certain tones or musical pitches actually have a sensation, a smell, and a color that go along with them -- I know that sounds really wack, but I read somewhere recently that it's a real phenomenon called "synesthesia". I can't put words to any of it, really... if you asked me what the scent of an "F" is, I couldn't describe it to you. But I know how it feels. That's why I have perfect pitch. The only use I've found for perfect pitch is during accompaniment when the singer switches keys on me -- and I can hear what they're doing and change along with them. That has only happened a few times to me.

At any rate, today I've had some really nice, unidentifiable piano riffs running through my head, so I'm hoping that tonight at church I'll have the chance to put them in somewhere.

Another meeting...

I am so TIRED of meetings!!! I know, I know: Why are you a teacher if you hate meetings? Isn't that what teachers DO?

Well, yes, it certainly seems like it. But no -- I actually like to TEACH. I despise having my time wasted. I'm good enough at wasting my time all by myself; I don't need anyone else to do it for me.

This afternoon I have a -- get this -- MAKE-UP MEETING for one that I missed at the beginning of the year because no-one told me to go to it! Actually, I did show up at the meeting place and they told me that my name wasn't on the list so I didn't have to be there. How'd'ya like that? Can't I just take an unexcused absence on this one? Nope, 'fraid not. [insert eye roll here]

Strange sensation

The globe in my classroom is a little unusual. Most globes are fixed with a C-shaped bar along the side, and they spin. My globe is actually a ball that sits in a metal "cradle". I bought it back when I was home-schooling and found a bargain on it at a curriculum fair. It's quite a nice one, really.

I looked over at it just now and it's sitting with Antarctica facing upwards... and it was like seeing someone lifting their skirt to show their undies or something. Very un-chaste. I'm going to fix that immediately; the next class is full of rowdy boys.

Problem Child Makes Good

Loved this piece in the Des Moines Register last week:

Iowan given medal for actions in Iraq

With bullets and rocket-propelled grenades zinging around him, Patrick Jordan, 24, helped rescue 20 soldiers pinned down in a Baghdad alley last spring and then, by thinking fast, saved six soldiers after their Humvee broke down under heavy fire.

Six years earlier, both Valley High School and North High School had kicked Jordan out of school for having "no personal drive," he said. He got his diploma from Walnut Creek alternative high school in 1998 and joined the Army 17 days later "to try to do something with my life."

Last month, the Army awarded Jordan the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest wartime award.

"It's rare," said an Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Kevin Arata, adding that only 160 soldiers received the medal between Sept. 11, 2001, and this summer. "It's something that says a lot about an individual."

After 15 months in Iraq, Jordan is home in Iowa today. He and his wife, Tanja, and daughter, Jennifer, 2, are visiting his mother, Star Brown of Altoona, and his father, Rick Jordan of Williams, before flying back Sunday to Friedberg, Germany, where Jordan's unit, C Company of the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, is based.

Wednesday, Jordan recounted what happened on April 4, the day Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his al-Mahdi militia launched an uprising in Sadr City, a Baghdad slum, trapping 20 U.S. soldiers.

Three rescue attempts failed. Just as Jordan's unit set out, the radio system in his M1 Abrams battle tank failed. His commander climbed into another tank with a working radio, leaving Jordan in charge.

Sadr City, peaceful when Jordan drove through that morning, was ablaze with explosions and flaming roadblocks.

"It was just off the wall," he said. "I was trying to process what was going on and the tank next to me starting shooting. I was just like, 'Wow.' "

Until that day, Jordan had fired nothing but warning shots. His mission was peacekeeping - enforcing curfew, searching for weapons caches, rebuilding schools and roads.

He aimed his gun at a person for the first time when three insurgents darted into the street, shooting at him.

During the four-hour journey, Jordan stuck his head out the tank hatch, firing more than 400 rounds, hitting 20 to 30 rebels. He doesn't remember feeling fear, even when his tank was hit six times by rocket-propelled grenades.

"You get mad and you get frustrated and you turn around and make sure the guy next to you is OK. I was more worried about making a mistake and putting my tank in the wrong position."

After finding the trapped soldiers - one was dead, four were wounded, the Chicago Tribune reported - Jordan's tank brought up the rear as they convoyed out.

When the Humvee in front of him quit running, Jordan had no radio to call for the other five tanks to stop.

He had no room left inside his own tank, so he yelled for the soldiers to climb on top. But when the rebels barraged them, Jordan lobbed a couple of grenades and ordered the soldiers to stay put.

He decided to push the Humvee, even though he didn't know whether that was possible.

"I was just hoping I wasn't going to run it over," he said. "I told my driver to go slow."

They made it the 1,000 meters to the checkpoint that isolated Sadr City from the rest of Baghdad. His unit refueled, restocked ammunition and drove back into the embattled neighborhood to protect police stations, government buildings and hospitals until the uprising died down four days later.

"I might've got the Silver Star, but we're all heroes," said Jordan, who has since been promoted to staff sergeant.

"Everyone who served. They're all heroes. No matter what war they fought in or if it was peacetime. They took time out of their lives to serve. Not everybody does that."

I cut this article out of the paper last week, photocopied it, made a vocabulary list and some questions out of it, and assigned it to my students. He was actually tossed out of THIS SCHOOL a decade ago! I know that a number of my guys are like Patrick Jordan, and I want to encourage them that they're not hopeless or worthless. I am proud of this guy and ALL of our brave men & women standing in harm's way for me.

Grades, etc.

Grades for the second six-weeks period are due on Thursday. I can turn them in anytime after tomorrow morning, though, so I will probably send them then (just to have them overwith). It's SUCH a nice thing to have a computer program that just calculates averages automatically AND sends them automatically to the server. Unbelievably cool. Okay, old-hat for most current educators... but remember, when I was in college, there WAS NO INTERNET and computer programs were simplistic and general. Things have completely changed, just in the past ten years since I taught before. I'm thrilled with the way all the computers in the school (including two in my classroom -- zowie) are linked to a main server, and I can have access to all sorts of stuff. I can log onto the internet anytime I need to, and it has been an invaluable help in locating information for my students. We never had this much cool stuff at our fingertips when I was in school... I wonder how my life would've been different had I had access to all this? Not that I'm not happy -- I have it pretty good, really.

This morning, my first block was my planning time, but I got a call from the main office asking me if I was able to cover for a teacher who had to call in sick at the last minute and the sub wasn't here yet. This class is the "Transition Room", where they put kids who need to be completely self-contained all day long because of their behavior disorders. I know all these guys already because their teacher and I are good friends, so they are accustomed to me. Otherwise, they are known for terrorizing substitutes! I didn't have to stay long; only about half an hour or so, and then their sub actually came. I was rather glad, really, because I did have a few things I'd wanted to accomplish. But the guys were fine for me; they know I won't put up with their crap any more than their regular teacher will, and I'm not afraid of them (the way so many other teachers are). Takes a lot to scare me, and I ain't seen anyone here yet who does.

Now Playing...

Currently in my CD player:

Kate Rusby

It's quite lovely. I can recommend it.

A very happy day

Yesterday was my thirty-eighth birthday. I distinctly remember the day I turned nineteen, exactly half my current age. I sat in my dorm room and cried because I was getting old. "Nineteen" seemed so hopelessly grown-up to me, then. As it is, I'm quite happy to be thirty-eight. I've got nothing to complain about, and a lot to be thankful for.

I made it through my first (hopefully not only) time playing keyboard with the band at the new church I've been visiting. I felt good about it, although I'm terribly rusty from disuse. I spoke to the worship leader afterwards; he asked me how I felt about it, and I told him that at the risk of sounding desperate, I'm available whenever and wherever they need me. It just felt so good to be back playing with a band again. These guys are all quite talented, yet all team players, which makes for a very rewarding experience.

Usually I get a chance to get some much-needed sleep catch-up on the weekends; unfortunately, this was not that kind of weekend. I did have a great time, but even though I went to bed at a decent-ish hour last night, I'm still not caught up and I'm going to have to get some sleep tonight. I am so sleepy!

Cue the Beatles

"They say it's your birthday!"

Yep, tomorrow's my big day. I'm happy because I'll get to play keyboard in church again tomorrow morning... and Cindy is going to take me out to eat tomorrow evening to the Cheesecake Factory, where we'll have our very favorite thing -- avocado spring rolls. MMMMMMM I can't think of anything else I'd rather do. I don't actually care; dates are not a big thing to me, nor are special celebrations. I don't know why, because my mom always has made a fuss for birthdays and holidays, and I try to do it for my kids, too, because I know they enjoy it. But just for me personally, it wouldn't bother me in the least if I didn't get a party or surprises or gifts. Just my personality, I suppose. I'm just glad to have friends and a nice family and a warm house and a good job that I love... and W in the White House for four more years and Tom Daschle out of Congress. Who could ask for anything more?

Time for Christmas Cards

This year I'm doing handpainted watercolor Christmas cards. Usually I do this really nice family letter, complete with color pictures and a detailed update of each family member... and maybe I'll also have time to do that and just insert it inside. I've already started on them, but they're not all the same. They can't all be the same because I'd get too bored. I'll do them ten at a time because that's how many I can put on my watercolor board at the same time.

I usually do my Christmas cards around Thanksgiving, so I'm starting the painting now so I'll be ready to do them on the weekend following Thanksgiving. We're staying put for Thanksgiving, but we'll head to my folks' in Texas for Christmas. My mom recently had a heart transplant, so we're all a little nervous about giving her any germs. My kids want to go SO badly, but every time one of them gets a sniffle they get really afraid they won't be able to go. I keep reminding them that it's still more than a month away, but they have no concept of time.

I've done lots and lots of handpainted watercolor cards just for generic use, but this will be my first time to do them as Christmas cards. Rick glared at me when I began to do them, because in the past I've been known for starting projects and not finishing them. At this point I just have to ignore him rather than argue about it, because he is right -- I haven't always been good at following through. But we'll see.

Another Friday night...

...and here I sit, at home again. Y'know what, though? It's a bit of a relief. There actually was a kids' something-or-other at the church, but I have absolutely hit the wall. Seems like anymore, when Friday rolls around, I'm completely exhausted.

It's probably the fact that I feel compelled to be one of the first people in the school building every morning. I am NOT a morning person. Getting up at 5 AM is absolutely NOT natural or comfortable for me. But I have found that early mornings are the quietest and most productive hours of the day... before kids have come through... before anything good or bad has happened to color the day. I cannot stay after school because of Rick's schedule, as well. Contractually, I'm only obligated to be on duty between 7:20 AM and 3:10 PM. But I also have to say that if those were the only hours I spent at school, I'd never have anything done. So the extra time has to be built onto the front end. I was hired to do a job, and I want to do it WELL. I want to be an asset, not a liability. I want them to be glad they hired me. I don't care if anyone ever notices me for Teacher Of The Year; that's not important. I just want to be a solid, trustworthy, good teacher.

We have two vehicles: a '93 Mercury Villager mini-van with about 160K miles and a big dent in the sliding door, and an '89 Acura Integra with multiple rust spots and a non-working stereo. They've both served us well, although the Acura isn't convenient for kid transportation because not all the back seatbelts work. It also has begun to have electrical issues; this afternoon it died on the road while Rick was trying to get to work. He ended up having to call a tow truck, and one of his co-workers came to pick him up. I'm going to have to stay awake until 11:30 so I can leave and go get him.

Stargate SG-1 is on tonight. I dearly love that show... okay, yes, I'm a sci-fi geek. I admit it freely. Tonight's episode is a little soapier than I like, though. I like the really spacey ones, with techno-jargon and edge-of-the-seat action. Also, tonight's episode has Jolene Blalock playing a Jaffa... Jolene Blalock who also plays T'pol, the Vulcan crewmember on Enterprise. Her makeup and hair are completely different, causing her to be almost unrecognizeable. Rick didn't notice it at all, but I catch nuances in voice and mouth and eyes that he doesn't notice. I actually notice lots and lots of actors doing double-duty among the various sci-fi shows, in differing makeup and costumes of course. It's fun to say, "Hey Rick, do you recognize that dude?" and Rick will look hard and ponder, then say, "Yeah, but I have no clue from where." and then I can say, "That's the Cardassian tailor from Deep Space Nine!" and he says, "You are RIGHT! That's him! How in the world do you remember stuff like that?"

It's just the trivial brain. It's an inherited condition, and it appears to be incurable. My head is crammed full of useless factoids, most of which I have no idea where or why until one day something just comes up.

Disturbing trend...

I'm a huge fan of Iowahawk's satire, and this one's outrageously funny.

Blue State Blues as Coastal Parents Battle Invasion of Dollywood Values

Just a snippet, for your amusement:

"I guess you might could say we're rebels," says Rachel 'Tyffanie' Stern, 17, lighting a Merit Menthol 100.  Once destined for Vassar, Stern is now living with friends after her parents kicked her out of the house for spending her bat mitzvah money on a bass boat. Last month she became the youngest Jewish female to win an event on the Bassmasters Pro Tour.

Vilsack for DNC Head!! Run, Tom, Run!!

At school I receive a copy of the Des Moines Register each weekday. I get it through the special-ed department and I use it to create reading comprehension activities for my students. In today's paper I noticed an article that our beloved Governor Vilsack is bucking for a promotion of sorts: Party chairmanship interests governor

Gov. Tom Vilsack confirmed Wednesday that he's interested in the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee - a top political spot for which he's been mentioned as a leading candidate.

"If there is a role that the governor can serve that preserves the first-in-the-nation status of the Iowa caucuses and provides a stronger message for the Democratic National Committee, he would be happy to explore such a capacity," said Matt Paul, the governor's spokesman.

Democrats are searching for new leadership following a failed bid for the White House. Vilsack, who's chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, was also a finalist to be John Kerry's running mate earlier this year.

"Governor Vilsack has done a terrific job in serving as the spokesperson for governors nationally," said Nicole Harburger, spokeswoman for the Democratic Governors Association. "I think because of that, a lot of people on the national stage have noticed and been very impressed."

As chairman, Vilsack would be in a position to protect the Iowa caucuses, whose first-in-the-nation status probably will be challenged for 2008. The caucuses were widely credited with launching Kerry's bid for the Democratic nomination - so Iowa may get a share of the blame for the Democrats' failure to win the White House.

Vilsack was on a trade mission in Germany this week as speculation began about who will replace DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, who has said he will not seek re-election. The new chairman will be elected in early February by a majority of the group's 240 members.

Other names floated include Donna Brazile, who ran Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign; former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean; Sen. Hillary Clinton; Sen. John Edwards, who was Kerry's running mate; former Bill Clinton aide Harold Ickes; former California House Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa; former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen; Virginia Gov. Mark Warner; former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes; South Carolina Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum; and New Democratic Network President Simon Rosenberg.

If Vilsack is selected, he could become chairman of the group without stepping down as governor.

"I think they're going to be looking for a consensus builder . . . which will be a strength for Tom Vilsack," said former Iowa Democratic Chairman Rob Tully, a Des Moines lawyer and member of the group for more than four years.
Republicans were quick to criticize the possible political move by Iowa's governor.

"Once again, Governor Vilsack has his own political career at front and center instead of doing what's best for Iowa," said Kristin Scuderi, Republican Party of Iowa spokeswoman. "First he was auditioning to be Kerry's running mate, and now he's trying to get his name back on the national political scene."

Democrats cite Vilsack's ability to be a centrist, his communication and fund-raising skills, and his ability to win over rural voters as traits that would make him a good chairman. The position would give Vilsack a more prominent role than he already has as a senior Democratic governor.

"You'd feel like you can make a difference and move the national dialog along," said Gordon Fischer, Iowa Democratic Party chairman.

Vilsack would not be the first Democratic National Committee chairman from Iowa. Charles Manatt, an Audubon native and founder of a Washington, D.C., law firm, also held the position.

I can't say that I'd mind him doing double-duty; it might keep him busy elsewhere so he'll leave us Iowans alone. One thing I can say in his favor -- he figured out early on in his governorship that the best way to keep his job was to keep quiet. However, gay rights is apparently his signature cause celebre. His very first act as Iowa governor, immediately following taking the oath of office, was to issue an executive order extending non-discrimination rights in civil service positions to include gays, lesbians and transsexuals. Not that I was particularly surprised, but it seemed odd that it was the very first thing he did, securing it as part of his legacy. After that, he was rather mum about the issue, since it stirred up a lot of controversy and actually got struck down by the Iowa courts as an over-extension of executive powers.

However, he didn't let it die, and didn't forget his pals in the GLBT community. Here's an article from the Register via the Human Rights Campaign, a GLBT lobbyist group whose mission is to ensure workplace rights: Vilsack Takes Oath, Calls for Tolerance

Gov. Tom Vilsack called for Iowans to take risks, embrace change and "be one harmonious people" during his inaugural address today to a crowd of about 2,000 at the Knapp Center in Des Moines.

Iowa's first Democratic governor in 32 years was sworn into his second term in office, then gave a 20-minute speech that veered from his prepared text when he called for greater tolerance among Iowans.

"We can soften our hearts and be open to ideas," he said.

The governor offered a compromise. He said while Republican lawmakers want faith-based groups to get more involved in delivering social services, he'd like to extend civil rights protections to gays and lesbians.

"Perhaps we can find a middle ground to do both," Vilsack said.

Those attending the swearing-in ceremony like Shaine Rasmussen, 39, a member of The Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus, said he appreciated the message. The chorus performed at the ceremony.

"I thought it was an excellent speech, especially before the Gay Men's Chorus, talking about equal protection and anti-discrimination," Rasmussen said. "That was a very nice message. It sent a very clear message to the state of Iowa."

Until now, gay civil rights has been a point of contention between the Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

In 1999, Vilsack issued an executive order forbidding discrimination against gays, lesbians and transsexuals in state government employment.

A Polk County judge said in December 2000 that Vilsack exceeded his authority in issuing the order. In March 2001, Vilsack issued another executive order, pledging his commitment against discrimination of state employees.

So for his second inauguration, he invites the Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus to sing.

Yep, I think he's the perfect consensus-builder for the DNC.

What? Marxists on college campuses? Naaah...

Mark Bauerlein in The Chronicle of Higher Education has written a solid piece about why the Left has such a stranglehold on academia. Stanley Kurtz, writing in National Review Online's blog, The Corner, brought this to my attention. From Bauerlein's piece:

Liberal orthodoxy is not just a political outlook; it's a professional one. Rarely is its content discussed. The ordinary evolution of opinion -- expounding your beliefs in conversation, testing them in debate, reading books that confirm or refute them -- is lacking, and what should remain arguable settles into surety. With so many in harmony, and with those who agree joined also in a guild membership, liberal beliefs become academic manners. It's social life in a professional world, and its patterns are worth describing.

I'm experiencing this (albeit on a smaller scale and in a less career-jeopardizing manner) with my recent re-entry into the public education scene. Last Thursday I was standing in my mentor teacher's classroom, having an informal discussion with her and another teacher. The other teacher quipped that it was a gloomy day after so many people voted so stupidly, and my mentor teacher sighed and moaned something about what a pity, but what could you do, etc. I kept silent, hoping the topic would pass quickly without them noticing my non-participation in their depression. Thankfully I'm already known as a rather cheerful person in general, so hopefully they didn't catch it. The thing is, I have a TON of respect for both these ladies as educators. I just got the incredibly distinct impression that if they (or anyone else) knew I was a conservative who voted for GWB, everyone's opinion of me would suddenly plummet and I'd be put into that marginalized category with the one or two other oddball, narrowminded teachers. At this stage in the game, being at the mercy of subjective evaluations, I can't afford to appear political AT ALL. I'm just trying to remain outside that sphere altogether. But it's a shame that it's so assumed, you know? One of my fellow teachers proudly sported her Kerry-Edwards dog-tag necklace for the entire month prior to the election. I can't help but think that if I did the same thing with a Bush-Cheney one, I'd be treated like I had a communicable disease.

Sauron Blinks

Douglas Kern at TechCentralStation fisks Eric Engberg today: The Big Eye Blinks.

On election night, those experts provided detailed discussions of the flaws in exit polling. Strangely enough, both bloggers [Jay Cost at The Horserace Blog (jaycost.blogger.com) and the Mystery Pollster (mysterypollster.typepad.com] trusted me with the ability to understand their critiques, and to interpret the exit polling data accordingly. Gosh -- clarifying complicated ideas and then expecting your audience to handle sensitive news in light of those ideas. What will those crazy pajama-clad bloggers think of next?

These Old Media types are so unbelievably full of themselves. As if they alone are the arbiters of truth, solely qualified to transmit information, the solitary bastion of legitimate wordsmiths. They deserve to be deposed from the thrones they've built for themselves... and I think it's fitting and so very American that it's coming from rank-and-file folks with brains and gumption. It's the modern-day equivalent of the pamphleteers during the Revolutionary War. And it's a beautiful sight to behold.

Back in the saddle...

I went to the band practice last night, expecting to sit and watch and listen and observe. Instead, the keyboard was set up and they handed me some chord charts. (!!!) After a brief introduction, they jumped right into the first song. I only knew one of the songs they handed me, but I listened for the "feel" and took off from there. I think they liked my contribution; during one song I started off on a Hornsby riff and the leader hollered up to the sound booth: "Turn that keyboard up right there!" and I smothered a smile. Oh, I take back my earlier statement -- I knew two of the songs. One was an old hymn (Holy, Holy, Holy) and it was just a chord chart. Without so much as a "would you like?", he just told me to take the transition and segue into it all by myself. I shrugged and took off, giving it a Wyndham-Hill twist, and he loved it. Get this: I AM PLAYING ON SUNDAY. Both services. I'm freakin' out!!! Now I need to spend some time practicing... which means I have to go over to Cindy's, because I don't have anything at home to practice on.

But I am happy-dancing! Three months ago I could not have predicted any of this... two months ago I never wanted to play in a band again... one month ago I never wanted to go to church again... but I visited this place and felt energized again, something I don't think I have ever really experienced other than the times that I have visited the African-American church up in Waterloo. Even after I visited, I never dreamed that I'd be invited to play with the band -- I had pretty much told God that I'd give up playing, since it kept seeming to get in the way of my relationship with him. Plus, the band was really GOOD and I assumed that there was a pretty lengthy process involved before they'd consider letting me in (becoming a member, for starters, which I can't do yet because of my contractual obligations with the publishing arm of my denomination).

Okay, I will stop raving and frothing.

God bless the USMC -- it's their birthday today! SEMPER FI!

Ms. Pelosi, do you have a soul?

Nancy Pelosi's slip is showing... or, rather, her focus-group exit-poll talking-points mentality is glaringly obvious. Note this, from her appearance on Lou Dobbs last night:

PELOSI: And we have to define what values are. Values are, of course, being persons of faith and family and love of country. They also are about ministering to the needs, as it says in the Gospel of Matthew, of the least of our brethren.

So we have to grow the middle class and expand it. We have to protect the environment, which is God's creation. We have to meet the needs of the American people. We have to reach to a higher purpose, and I believe we have that opportunity now.

DOBBS: Minority Leader, I'm just -- I'm just a simple fellow, secular as I can be. Are we going to hear every politician now, because of exit polls, start couching every issue in moral or religious terms? [can you not envision him rolling his eyes in disbelief at what she just said? --ed.]

PELOSI: I believe that you will see more of that, but I quite agree with you, that we have to get to the issues that are the role of government. I think on the values side, the so-called religious issues side, we have to enlarge that issue, because what we're in danger now in our country is the blurring of the issue of church and state. But I as a devout Catholic was concerned when bishops -- some bishops, not all bishops said that it was a sin to vote for John Kerry. That's absolutely wrong. And that -- our own Constitution is at stake if they think that they can blur the issue of church and state.

So I think that, as President Kennedy said when he ran in 1960, imagine then, they didn't want religion to have a strong role. At that time, he said, "The issue is not what church I believe in, the issue is what America I believe in." And that's where we have to take this issue.

She is blatantly adopting the lingo of people and things she knows NOTHING about. She is no different than John Kerry in this -- the sense I always got from watching and listening to him is that literally *everything* he said or did stemmed from a poll or a focus group... that there is no actual person behind the eyes, that there is no SOUL or conscience or set of core beliefs. Nancy, if you really believed what you were saying, you'd have already been saying it. Faith is not something you can just put on and take off like a jacket... it either IS or it ISN'T.

I'll leave it to my readers to decide where she stands.

Tropicana

No, I don't mean a brand of orange juice... I mean articles and ephemera having to do with the tropics. I got my tropical posters laminated at Kinko's yesterday (and dadGUM they were expensive... the posters themselves weren't cheap to begin with, and while Kinko's lamination is nice and thick and sturdy, it don't come cheap either) and now I have put them up in my classroom. WOW does it look great in here now! I'm certain that the students will like it, too. Just blew my personal budget, though.

Looking forward to tonight... it'll be the first time in a while that I've played with a band. The worship pastor at the church I visited has invited me to come hang with the instrumentalists during their practice tonight. I don't know if I'll get to play much or not, but it will be fun to hang with them anyway. I just feel SO at home with other musicians and artists.

Tamale Lamentations

Alas, since moving north nine years ago, I have been unable to locate a source of truly authentic and wonderful tamales. I don't mean the restaurant kind... I mean the kind that Abuela makes at home and wraps in tinfoil and brings to you as a gift. When I taught school in Paradise, Texas (near Decatur, a little north of Fort Worth), I taught a great many children whose parents were migrant workers who spoke no English at all. I was the only teacher who could talk to them, so I ended up spending a lot of time with them, and in return I got to participate in lots of very cool family stuff. I even got to sit at a place of honor at their daughter's Quinceañeras (fifteenth birthday party) and shared in the cabrito (goat) that they had cooked in a hole in the yard. They showed me how to make flour tortillas by hand, as well as frijoles and arroz. And they often brought me gifts of yummy food at school.

Even after I wasn't teaching anymore, we still had connections that could get us some homemade tamales whenever we wanted some.

Now I have some Hispanic students again. I think I'll ask around and see if anyone's got a good source for them. Thing is, up here the immigrants are not just Mexicans. There's a pretty significant percentage of Guatemalans and Salvadorans as well, and they have their own unique kinds of dishes. I like them fine, but there's something comforting about unwrapping some lovely warm tamales.

New babysitter

Today I asked one of my students to come babysit for me tomorrow. I remembered this morning that not only do I have that band practice at the new church tomorrow night, but I also have a teacher's meeting from 4-6. So I'm actually going to be gone all afternoon. Yikes. But the girl I asked to come babysit is a really level-headed sort of gal. She's a leader in our school's ROTC, which is a major point in her favor. We'll see if she's able to corral my guys... but I'll bet she can. I need to come up with some things for them to do so she won't have trouble with them.

OW!!

This one's gotta hurt.

Moore means less
(Filed: November 6, 2004)

Not since Moby Dick has a great white whale been so bloodily harpooned. It took a shocked Michael Moore, director of Fahrenheit 9/11, until yesterday to comment on the US election result. When he did, he made a lame joke, offering "reasons not to slit your own throat". But if John Kerry's strategists feel like slitting anyone's throat right now, it is Mr Moore's.

This was supposed to be the victory that the podgy sage of Flint, Michigan, delivered for the Democrats by winding up students into paroxysms of anti-Bush rage and propelling them into the polling booths. In the event, he achieved the first but not the second objective. The proportion of young voters did not increase on Tuesday. In the gleeful words of one anti-Moore website, "pot-smoking slackers are still pot-smoking slackers": they meant to vote Kerry but, like, couldn't get out of bed in time.

In 2000, Mr Moore's support for Ralph Nader helped lose Florida for Al Gore. This time, he boosted President Bush by outraging Middle America. Take a bow, Mike: you've done it again.

Sunday evening at Starbuck's

I actually *like* the church I visited this morning. The kids *really* liked it, which is even better. It's bigger than the typical Iowa (non-liturgical) church; I'm thinking there are maybe four or five hundred members. Anyway, I think I'll go back. I've been once before, without the kids, and I really enjoyed the music & worship (which is my thang). And I didn't feel like going to sleep when the pastor spoke. Now THAT is a major accomplishment. I generally don't have a lot of use for sermons... partially because of what I've written before, being that there just hasn't been a lot of fresh insight floating around and I get sick of hearing the same thing over and over... and partially because I have ADD (not the hyperactive kind, just the daydreamer - space cadet kind) and it's just nigh on impossible for me to pay attention to words people say. Give me a visual, or something to touch and do, and I'm so there. Talk to me, and five minutes from now I may or may not remember what you said. I've often wished it were different; my best friend Cindy can remember DETAILS about conversations that I barely even realized occurred. But I can't change my spots, so I might as well enjoy them.

I introduced myself to the worship leader, and for some reason (I did not intend to say anything about myself yet) I told him I was a keyboard player and a former worship leader as well -- I think it was because I was trying to encourage him by telling him that I appreciated what he was doing and that I was in a position to know quality when I see it... so to speak. Anyway, he brightened up in a way that almost startled me and asked me if I was interested in getting back into it. I was equally startled to hear myself saying, "Yes." He then said that he had been praying for a year for a good keyboard player; they had a few people who played a little, but only as a fill-in kind of playing, not a headliner. He then turned to his electric guitar player (who totally TOTALLY T.O.T.A.L.L.Y rocked the house both times I've been there) and said, "We have a keyboard player here," and the guy looked rather pleased. They invited me to their Tuesday evening practice; I told them I would love to come. Now I just have to find someone to watch the kids. But I feel actually ELATED about it and I can't WAIT until then... which is a feeling I haven't had in a while. Watching them jamming up there, I simply ached to be jamming along with them. Now maybe I'll get to!

Tonight, after the kids went to bed, Cindy and I went out to Starbuck's just to hang for a while. I don't often get to hang out with her like I used to... her personal circumstances are incredibly difficult. I won't go into them at all, because I love her so very much and I don't want to air her issues... but if I could give you, dear reader, a word of advice -- never NEVER N.E.V.E.R. marry someone you don't love. K? Good. Now that we have that settled...

One VERY encouraging thing that I saw while I was there, having my latte'... because it always seems like the people who hang out in coffee shops are uber-lib tree-huggers... a girl was there, studying, and on her bookbag next to her chair was a "Bush-Cheney '04" sticker. It made me very, very happy. Urban Iowa is just chock-full of airheaded social-consciousness, and I often feel rather alone because I tend to run in their circles. I can't stand the denim-jumper sailor-dress Republican mom crowd because that is NOT ME. I really did try to be that for a long time, but just couldn't. No, I'm a little more edgy, alternative, black leather, artist-musician, body-piercing... certainly not the typical minister's wife, eh? Anyway, my cohorts in that crowd don't tend toward conservative politics! So I usually feel kind-of lonely.

All that, over a sticker on a girl's bookbag. Oy... I should go to bed and quit thinking. Nitey nite.