I'm still getting used to the fact that I am a grandpa. Laura and Kyle brought the beautiful blue-eyed baby, Abigail, into the family last December 12th. I've been able to hold her about a dozen times, all during their whirlwind trip home over the Christmas holidays. They keep us up to date with nearly daily updates to their blog and frequent pictures of Abby doing something intelligent and cute.
Today we received a short video of Abby turning over from back to front. Holding her head up and everything. The video was with sound so we heard her cry as she turned over. It occured to me that we may not see her until Christmas this year, and I was struck with the sudden thought: "What if she doesn't like us? She will have had a year of very formative growth without hearing or seeing us." It wasn't a pleasant thought. Rather, it was a thought that brought up feelings of vulnurability. Maybe we should start sending her pictures of us. And videos. Hmmmm. I wonder what would be interesting to a child her age?
Linda and I are proud of all our children, and very happy to be grandparents. We want to get to know her...and for her to get to know us, too. Perhaps we can find a way to go for a short visit in the summertime. We'll see.
In the meantime, we hope to keep receiving the notes, pictures, and videos. Each one brings a dose of satisfaction and pride that we would otherwise miss. We love you, Abby!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Pet Peeve #3
I have several things that I could call pet peeves, i.e., things, actions, attitudes that disturb me more than most. You probably do as well. People that park in the lanes at Wal-Mart stalking folks who are about to open up a parking space is one. Churches that claim to be "friendly" but whose hospitality skills are on the early side of a tall learning curve is another. The poor use of the English language is probably up there among the top three or so for me...a product of my upbringing and a credit to my Senior High English Teacher, Miss Susie West.
Chief among these is the misuse of the terms "fewer" and "less." In recent years they have become interchangeable in useage. That doesn't make it right. To my way of understanding, "fewer" has to do with numbers you can count individuallyas in, "There are fewer people here today" or "Fewer votes were cast in this election." "Less" has a different attribute: it has to do with quantity of volume or mass, as in "There is less water in the glass now," or "There was less snow on the ground after the heat wave."
The mixup happens because both "fewer" and "less" mean the opposite of "more." It happens so often that when I actually hear someone using the terms correctly I want stop and congratulate them. I know. I don't. But I want to.
Wal-Mart and other stores have signs at some of their check-out stands (the ones for quick service) reading "20 items or less." It makes my skin crawl.
When someone refers to there being "less people in church than usual" I have the mental image of midgets and dwarfs populating the pews...or of legless torsos floating down the aisles.
It's a small thing to most people, and I probably should just let it go. But if we let every little thing that isn't just right continue without objection, a lot more things will be messed up before long. So I've had my little rant. Thanks for listening I feel better. More or less.
Chief among these is the misuse of the terms "fewer" and "less." In recent years they have become interchangeable in useage. That doesn't make it right. To my way of understanding, "fewer" has to do with numbers you can count individuallyas in, "There are fewer people here today" or "Fewer votes were cast in this election." "Less" has a different attribute: it has to do with quantity of volume or mass, as in "There is less water in the glass now," or "There was less snow on the ground after the heat wave."
The mixup happens because both "fewer" and "less" mean the opposite of "more." It happens so often that when I actually hear someone using the terms correctly I want stop and congratulate them. I know. I don't. But I want to.
Wal-Mart and other stores have signs at some of their check-out stands (the ones for quick service) reading "20 items or less." It makes my skin crawl.
When someone refers to there being "less people in church than usual" I have the mental image of midgets and dwarfs populating the pews...or of legless torsos floating down the aisles.
It's a small thing to most people, and I probably should just let it go. But if we let every little thing that isn't just right continue without objection, a lot more things will be messed up before long. So I've had my little rant. Thanks for listening I feel better. More or less.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Angel Food and Humble Pie
Today Linda and I got up and drove into town to the county fairgrounds where the Angel Food distribution was located. We got up early (for us) and were down there shortly after 9:00. People were already there. This was our first time to participate, so we didn't really know what to expect. As we were leaning against the wind heading for the door a church member friend of ours also arrived and showed us what to do.
Previously we had paid for boxes of several types: "Regular," "Meat," "Vegetable/Fruit," and two "Senior" boxes. We were greeted at a table by another church member volunteer who gave us a coded slip of paper and introduced us to the supervisor. "Bill" led us to a long table where we pushed a box along and volunteers placed items in as we passed. This was the "Regular" and included pasta, canned veggies, two rib-eye steaks, a dozen eggs, a package of cookies, fresh carrots all cubed up, cubed ham chunks, dried beans, etc. It was a good box of food. T
hen we were given the "Vegetable/Fruit" box which was one of those heavy-duty waxed boxes with handholds in the sides. It contained a beautiful head of cabbage, 2 pounds of fresh carrots, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, a sack of oranges, a sack of red Delicious apples, four Granny Smith apples, a sack of yellow onions, and three or four mangoes, an unexpected treat.
The "Meat" box contained flash frozen meats: Four sirloin strips, four giant porkchops, two packages of brats, pounds of hamburger, and bacon.
Next we received two "Senior" boxes, each containing ten ready-t0-microwave meals and ten chocolate moon pies. Yep. Moon pies. Desserts. We were glad that we got two boxes, because we can each have the same type of meal together. (Not to speak of the 20 moon pies--so good for people trying to loose or manage their weight!)
"Bill" brought us a truck dolly and even pushed it to our car for us. We drove home and unloaded into the freezer and refrigerator inside, as far as we could, then took the rest to the big chest freezer in the barn. With the exceptions of milk and bread, we should be good for about two weeks of food, maybe more, since our church eats together so much.
We each had one of the microwave meals for lunch...Salsbury steak, green beans, and mashed potatoes. It was good and filling. Later on we took a nap, then I went to the church to help the men cook for the monthly "Hoedown" supper and concert. The Hoedowns are a long-standing local traditions of and a certain type of people show up each month to enjoy the meal and listen to about 90 minutes of live Gospel Music. Tonight's menu was (guess what?) hamburger steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans, french garlic bread and tea. Desserts were NOT moon pies, but a delightful array of homemade cakes, pies, and cobblers from our church ladies.
The usual emcee was on a trip with his own quartet so I was asked to take over the duties of hosting, introducing, etc. Which I did. The folks in the visiting quartet refered to me as "pastor," as in, "We'll be turning this over to Pastor after this next song." Any kind of music can be appreciated if it is done well. These folks did a good job with their music. We had a good number in the audience as well.
After the program, we braved the cold wind and made our way to the car and then the few blocks to the house.
When I checked in online I found a post from my friend Judith who, quite correctly, and gently, let me know that I had misspelled the word "Curmudgeon" in the title of my blog. Me! (blush)
However, I have learned to accept the kindness of friends (and strangers) along life's way. I corrected the mistake in spelling. I don't know what that does with the url. Whether I should actually have selected that particular word is still a matter of some conversation. For now it will stay. It gives me permission to get into an actual rant or two if I wish.
Tomorrow is Sunday, always a busy day for us. We have only one worship service tomorrow, since it is the 5th Sunday and we have a union service with our two worship services combined. Of course, there is a dinner afterward. I checked. Chicken and Dressing. I was glad it wasn't hamburger steak again.
Tomorrow: Pet Peeves.
Previously we had paid for boxes of several types: "Regular," "Meat," "Vegetable/Fruit," and two "Senior" boxes. We were greeted at a table by another church member volunteer who gave us a coded slip of paper and introduced us to the supervisor. "Bill" led us to a long table where we pushed a box along and volunteers placed items in as we passed. This was the "Regular" and included pasta, canned veggies, two rib-eye steaks, a dozen eggs, a package of cookies, fresh carrots all cubed up, cubed ham chunks, dried beans, etc. It was a good box of food. T
hen we were given the "Vegetable/Fruit" box which was one of those heavy-duty waxed boxes with handholds in the sides. It contained a beautiful head of cabbage, 2 pounds of fresh carrots, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, a sack of oranges, a sack of red Delicious apples, four Granny Smith apples, a sack of yellow onions, and three or four mangoes, an unexpected treat.
The "Meat" box contained flash frozen meats: Four sirloin strips, four giant porkchops, two packages of brats, pounds of hamburger, and bacon.
Next we received two "Senior" boxes, each containing ten ready-t0-microwave meals and ten chocolate moon pies. Yep. Moon pies. Desserts. We were glad that we got two boxes, because we can each have the same type of meal together. (Not to speak of the 20 moon pies--so good for people trying to loose or manage their weight!)
"Bill" brought us a truck dolly and even pushed it to our car for us. We drove home and unloaded into the freezer and refrigerator inside, as far as we could, then took the rest to the big chest freezer in the barn. With the exceptions of milk and bread, we should be good for about two weeks of food, maybe more, since our church eats together so much.
We each had one of the microwave meals for lunch...Salsbury steak, green beans, and mashed potatoes. It was good and filling. Later on we took a nap, then I went to the church to help the men cook for the monthly "Hoedown" supper and concert. The Hoedowns are a long-standing local traditions of and a certain type of people show up each month to enjoy the meal and listen to about 90 minutes of live Gospel Music. Tonight's menu was (guess what?) hamburger steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans, french garlic bread and tea. Desserts were NOT moon pies, but a delightful array of homemade cakes, pies, and cobblers from our church ladies.
The usual emcee was on a trip with his own quartet so I was asked to take over the duties of hosting, introducing, etc. Which I did. The folks in the visiting quartet refered to me as "pastor," as in, "We'll be turning this over to Pastor after this next song." Any kind of music can be appreciated if it is done well. These folks did a good job with their music. We had a good number in the audience as well.
After the program, we braved the cold wind and made our way to the car and then the few blocks to the house.
When I checked in online I found a post from my friend Judith who, quite correctly, and gently, let me know that I had misspelled the word "Curmudgeon" in the title of my blog. Me! (blush)
However, I have learned to accept the kindness of friends (and strangers) along life's way. I corrected the mistake in spelling. I don't know what that does with the url. Whether I should actually have selected that particular word is still a matter of some conversation. For now it will stay. It gives me permission to get into an actual rant or two if I wish.
Tomorrow is Sunday, always a busy day for us. We have only one worship service tomorrow, since it is the 5th Sunday and we have a union service with our two worship services combined. Of course, there is a dinner afterward. I checked. Chicken and Dressing. I was glad it wasn't hamburger steak again.
Tomorrow: Pet Peeves.
Friday, March 27, 2009
TESTING
This is a test post. It is only a test. If this were an actual post, there would be more to it and you would feel that you needed to read on. However, this is a test, only a test. Should this eventually become an actual posting, you will be told to read on. Thank you.
Jumping Right In
Welcome and read on.
Someone said that the best way to start writing was just to do it. So. After much procrastination I am taking the leap and jumping right into the mix of bloggers and prognosticators who have fed me from their plates for so long. I'm not quite sure where to start, other than to say I have been thinking about a long list of topics, each of which is worthy of a bit of an eventual mention here. I do want to say thanks to my daughters, Jennifer and Laura, and my son Michael, whose blogs and encouragement have inspired me to take this plunge. They always have something to say and do it so well!
To make things more interesting, my laptop has developed an affinity for random generation and placement of letters on the page. If I am not careful my words will be interspersed throughout the previous text in such a way as to encript it beyoned decipherization. I am told it is nothing I can fix, short of replacing the entire keyboard. I'll try to watch it...but beware the random missing or extra word!
I suspect I will be posting at least daily, to start, if not more often. Some of that resolve will be tempered with the reality and pressures of time that I don't have, but I intend to be fairly regular...for my own benefit.
So much for now.
Someone said that the best way to start writing was just to do it. So. After much procrastination I am taking the leap and jumping right into the mix of bloggers and prognosticators who have fed me from their plates for so long. I'm not quite sure where to start, other than to say I have been thinking about a long list of topics, each of which is worthy of a bit of an eventual mention here. I do want to say thanks to my daughters, Jennifer and Laura, and my son Michael, whose blogs and encouragement have inspired me to take this plunge. They always have something to say and do it so well!
To make things more interesting, my laptop has developed an affinity for random generation and placement of letters on the page. If I am not careful my words will be interspersed throughout the previous text in such a way as to encript it beyoned decipherization. I am told it is nothing I can fix, short of replacing the entire keyboard. I'll try to watch it...but beware the random missing or extra word!
I suspect I will be posting at least daily, to start, if not more often. Some of that resolve will be tempered with the reality and pressures of time that I don't have, but I intend to be fairly regular...for my own benefit.
So much for now.
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