Christopher Questions...

…but I took too long writing up my answers to get them posted tonight. Expect 'em up sometime tomorrow.

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My mind is blank right now. I sat down with some ideas to post and they vanished. Oh well.

I did realize something tonight. I can now say that I am now just two months away from completing my first pass through my One Year Bible. Assuming I stay on track, that will mean I'm just about four months behind (or eight months ahead). I really like the One Year Bible. While I've tried other reading plans, the fact that I can just flip it open and have that day's reading organized right there in front of me, rather than having to look at a schedule and then flip to the passages. Despite being behind, all I need to do is use a bookmark and I can easily keep track of what the next reading should be.

Now, just to stay on track for the next two months.

Shedding the Last Shred of Anonymity?

My face has never appeared on the Internet. Or, actually, it did once when I wrote for an online trade publication, but only in the members area. For an article I wrote awhile back in a print publication, I had to submit a head shot to the editor. I sent it via e-mail and I have the file now sitting on my desktop.

Tonight it dawned on me that maybe it is time I add a face to this text. Or maybe it is more amusing to stay behind the cloak of the asisaid and OfB logos. Decisions, decisions. Maybe I should make something in the photo a Challenge question and “appear” on the Internet for the first time if someone can answer the question. Ah, the possibilities!

Pet Peeve

Why do people go to church when they are in the middle of a terrible, uncontrollable coughing and sneezing virus? Two weeks ago, I was at church and totally surrounded. There was so much coughing and sneezing, I had a hard time concentrating on the sermon. After hearing reports of even more people being sick over that week, I decided not to go this past Sunday, not wanting to catch the stuff. But, apparently, all the under-the-weather folks did go, because now I'm aware of even more people sick with the same bug in the congregation. So I either go and let the semi-hypochondriac in me take over and imagine the viruses going into my system as I get “surround sound sneezing” (and likely get more than an imaginary dose of the virus, for that matter) or I don't go and miss church again.

I was there (obviously) on Wednesday, albeit up in the balcony running the projector, and it sounded horrible down below. If the few people who initially had something had stayed home, maybe there would be less people coming down with the whatever this bug is. Every winter I watch a few people appear at church with some kind of virus and by the end of the month, it seems like it has made the rounds among everyone; maybe some get it elsewhere, but I know that often does not seem to be the case. Since everyone shakes hands right after the opening hymn, germs spread like wildfire, and even without that, the close quarters don't help.

Anyway, that's my pet peeve for the day. I'm not usually for keeping people out of a church, but I think we should do like hospitals. At least the ones I've visited this winter have signs up asking people with flu or cold like symptoms to please not enter the facility. That makes sense in the long run for everyone.

Anticipation

For the last week, I've had a sense of anticipation. While I have reasons to feel that way, I've surprised myself — none of the things I am anticipating seem that likely to occur this week. But, who knows, it would be a pleasant surprise if they did.

In other news, I ran the projector for our pre-service Ash Wednesday prayer time tonight. It was the first time we tried a pre-service prayer time (it was 30 minutes before the beginning of the service), and I'd say it went pretty well. The projector needs some adjustments — it's color seems to be getting worse — but it was still legible. I setup the slides to loop through twice, that way people coming in after 7:00 PM would get a second chance to see see the slides ten minutes later.

I was hoping to drive the projector directly from my PowerBook, and therefore take advantage of the nicer look of PowerPoint:mac 2004, but couldn't get the video feed switch to take a guest computer input for some reason. So, I loaded it up on PowerPoint 2002 on the projector's PC and it still looked OK. What a relief. At 7:26, the prelude started and the screen went up so as to not upset those who aren't fond of the screen blocking the stained glass windows.

I love the Lenten season vesper services. I'm curious, my readers, do your churches have Lenten services?

Dad Update

I'm off to bed and I haven't even read the comments here yet, but I wanted to mention that Dad had his gallbladder surgery today and it went very well. There were a number of potential major issues, so it is really a blessing that everything went so well.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Sunday Brunch: Singing in the Shower

Here is this week's brunch. Have yours in the comments.

1) Do you take baths or showers?
Baths with a quick rinse off afterwards.

2) Do you like the water super hot or just tepid?
Tepid is probably best, or if it is really chilly out side, perhaps a bit of a warm tepid. Super hot bath water just makes me feel like I'm being roasted rather than cleansed.

3) Do you use bath gel, bath crystals, bubble bath, or other scented stuff?
No.

4) What do you like to do when you take a bath shower?
Like Christopher, “lather, rinse, repeat.” Unlike Christopher, I don't “occasionally […] take a nap.” How does one take a nap in the shower?

5) What is your one item essential to a great bath?
Warm water.

Turmoil

I feel like I've been in between decisions for months now. This week, I've started to try to clean things up and push toward tying up loose ends, but I still have way too many things up in the air. I know God is leading me somewhere, but I am just too dense to know where. Part of me thinks I just need to sit back and enjoy the ride for awhile, part of me think that His leading is to start being more proactive. What I fear is that I am too comfortable with the status quo and maybe that is part of the problem.

And By a Sleep to Say We End

Tonight has been rough. My one cat, a calico of just under thirteen years, died. She was struggling to breath this evening, and after being examined at the emergency animal clinic it was clear that something was pushing into the space of her lungs (perhaps fluids from congestive heart failure) and her one kidney was massively oversized. There was nothing to do other than to have her put to sleep (other than have her slowly suffocate over the next few hours).

She was never a real “people cat,” but after such a long time it is still odd to think that she won't be around any longer. Never running across the floor to the food bowl or laying peacefully under the table. While odd for me, I am sure it will be even more difficult for my other cat (just under 5 y/o), who will have to get use to spending his days alone without his “sister.” I'm not sure how he'll take it.

It isn't the worst tragedy in the world, but it still was painful. Cats quietly share a lot of one's life with a person. Now thirteen years worth of sharing is gone.

As a side note, I noticed that y'all responded to my Topics and Evanescence posts, but I haven't had a chance to look at the comments yet and I'm exhausted at the moment, but felt the need to post an entry before heading off to bed. I'll read and respond tomorrow.

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My mind is blank at the moment. I can't think of anything good to say and the inspiration mentioned yesterday is certainly elsewhere today (although now that I know what I am doing on SAFARI, I don't need much more inspiration on that, I can use it in other areas!). I am aiming to get a lot done in the next week, maybe that is part of the problem.