Buy. This. Game. NOW! Please?

At the beginning of this year I mentioned that my son-in-law has a new game in production. (See here if you wish to read the announcement from a mother-in-law's point of view.)

Well, he needs your help getting it produced. Unlike his other games, this one is a family style game. (His others are popular with serious gamers.)

So go on over here to read about the kickstarter. Then follow his links and help get this game into production. I REALLY want to play this one.

And thank you very much!  :)

Being Left-handed is Dangerous to My Health?

Do you want to know one of the reasons I home-school?  It's because I wanted my children to avoid labeling as much as possible.  God only knows how much labeling I endured (and that isn't meant as an oath, just a fact that there is only one Person who could keep track) as a child.  And it wasn't just adults that did it.  Peers were just as apt to assign invisible Post-It notes.  It's the way our society keeps track of its own:  into what mental file folders do you fit?

• She's a Christian? Check
• She's an only child? Check
• She's shy? Check
• She's left-handed? Check

All fodder for the friendship mill or conversations among teachers, and we all know how teachers talk among themselves.  Hey!  I was one!

Okay, except for the shyness thing, and sometimes the Christianity label, I really saw no reason to panic as a child  - and still don't - as an adult.  And then I read this piece in the Wall Street Journal and it is brought to my attention that I survived childhood as a left-hander (actually, I'm more likely the "mixed-brain" type ominously portrayed in the article) only to be stunned by brain dominance research in my mid-adult years.

Personally, I don't know why they bother with these type of studies.  It isn't like there's some sort of cure for left-handedness.  To me, it seems like someone is trying to assign a birth defect where none exists.  I find this insulting, and more importantly, alarming! Are they going to start doing prenatal testing for left-handedness like they do for other types of so-called disorders (which I am also against testing for, by the way)?

Oh, please!  I'm 52 years old and have lived a very nice life so far thankyouverymuch. No schizophrenia, no ADHD, or no other negative labels that they claim have been associated with my handedness.  I also have two left-handed grandchildren who seem to have avoided the ominous labeling so far (they're home-schooled).

Normally I would be making some snide tongue-in-cheek remarks about this anomaly of left-handedness but this is serious business.  If all of the recent debates over sex-selection abortions, which is another one of those "in utero" conditions over which the baby has no control, teaches us anything it is that someday in the not-too-distant future medical science will find a way to test fetal brainwaves for signs of brain dominance.  This will then be used to talk to expectant parents about conditions that their child might develop due to predominantly left-handed or mixed-brain tendencies. 

It all sounds like some horrible B-rated science fiction movie but recent genetic news suggests otherwise.  Google the words "designer babies" and I guarantee that the top results will not be for clothing store websites.

You might think I'm being facetious, but mark my words!  Someday being left-handed could be another one of those quality of life issues.

Did You Miss Me?

Or did you even notice I was gone?

Matters of life and death have kept me away from you recently.

The "life" matters have been a whole lot more fun.

• Three of our children had birthdays in May. (Oh, yeah. I blogged briefly about those.)
• One of our children and her husband graduated from college in May. (Oh, yeah. I blogged about that also.)
• I didn't tell you that I orchestrated a major church banquet for both men and women in honor of Mother's Day and the upcoming Father's Day.  And then I panicked when my planned guest speakers (a husband and wife team) cancelled 3 days before the event. :( Not to worry! The Lord worked everything out because He obviously had other plans. And His plans turned out very well indeed.
• Well, okay, then. Did I tell you that my father-in-law, son-in-law, and grandson have birthdays on three consecutive days in June? And did I mention those were last week? I thought not. We celebrated Fen's second birthday yesterday (and his other grandma hosted a fine shindig for him!) and we celebrated Fen's daddy's birthday today. Whew!
• Did I also mention our church had Vacation Bible School last week? No? We did. I taught a class of kindergarten age kids. I'm still recovering. :)
• I won't tell you about the Mother's Day lunch menu that . . ., well, I'll stop there. Let's just say that all of the guests were fed anyway. :)
• It wouldn't be right not to tell you that many hours during the month of May were spent downstairs because of tornados and major storms. You have no idea what it is like to be in such close quarters with a scaredy-cat dog in such moments!I'm not sure all the bruises have healed yet.
• Then we had a major, MAJOR rainfall of about 4 inches within a couple of hours this past Friday that turned just about every street within a 5 mile radius of home into raging rivers. I watched 2 or 3 cars sliding off "the hill" on loose gravel that had washed down from somewhere and onto the road. I headed my car in the opposite direction only to lose visibility within minutes due to bucket loads of water hitting the windshield. What I did see was a lightening strike to a nearby telephone/electricity pole. I didn't stick around long enough to see the fire department respond.
• My family and I participated in an event last week called "Cross the Bridge for Life" to benefit our local crisis pregnancy centers.

Yes, "life" has been busy. We had something going on every Sunday in May and most of the other days as well. Both June Sundays have similarly been busy, as have the weekdays.

But that "death" part was what really threw us into a tailspin. The departure of souls into eternity added actions that cannot be comprehended as mere dates on a calendar.

• Since Easter (which was 7 weeks ago: today is the recognition of the Day of Pentecost) Pastor Dad has preached 8 funerals. Not all of the dearly departed were members of our church, but all were somehow connected to it. Pastor Dad takes that "pastor" part very seriously and visits not only his flock but their loved ones as well, consequently he gets asked to participate in many funerals. These last few weeks have been very grievous one.
• I sang at a funeral for the first time. It wasn't my singing debut but it was my funeral solo premier. Oh, my! I thought singing solo in public in general was stressful, but it's nothing compared to that of singing at a funeral! And I'm aware that it isn't "about me." But I was acutely aware that it would not be a good time for a major mess up or melt down.

As you can see, a manic May is quickly becoming a jump-to-it June. I've been here, but I've just not been here much of late.

Things I've Learned from This Year's Travels

It has been a great year of seeing the USA. I don't think I traveled much in 2009 but 2010 was not lacking in suitcase packing! Here are some things I learned from my many travels.

• Jack Frost also takes his winter vacation in Florida.(Click here for that post.)
• Someone figured out that there was money to be made at the Texas Book Depository in Dallas. When Pastor Dad and I visited in 1979 a janitor let us inside to see "the window." Thirty-one years later it cost about $13 per person for the same privilege. (Click here for that post.)
• Elvis is dead. And there really is a Jungle Room. I held out hope that neither was true. (Click here for that post.)
• The Civil War -er- War of Northern Aggression is not over in some places. (No separate post for this fact. You'll just need to take my word for it.)
• Apparently every regiment from the state of Ohio that fought at Vickburg raised their own battlefield monument as opposed to erecting one to represent the whole state. (There was a brief post, but no pictures of the many monuments.)
• When someone in Texas tells you they're packing, they don't mean their suitcase! (I learned this on our second visit of the year to this state.)
• Evidently elected officials don't constitute the whole of the vermin problem in our nation's Capitol. (Click here for that post.)
• When Cincinnati Reds fans meet St. Louis Cardinal fans in a water taxi in Baltimore they will talk about how the Orioles are doing but will not discuss the pennant race that their own teams are experiencing if there is a storm perchance the boat capsizes and they need to be friendly enough to pull each other out of the waves. (No pictures or post, but it was scary. And I mean the water taxi in the storm, not the pennant race which we - the Cincinnati Reds and fans - ultimately won.)
• They don't turn the lights off and roll up the sidewalks at 8 p.m. in all small Kentucky towns, but in some the visitors can be identified as the ones who are still awake after that time. (Much to The Bear's chagrin and boredom.)
• Well, Pilgrim, this year Indian Summer showed up in Detroit during Thanksgiving week. (When we arrived there on Monday evening of that week the temperatures were well in the 70s. It was a most unseasonably warm day! And much enjoyed, too.)
• New TSA regulations mean that any passenger's anatomy can be viewed as scantily clad as a Las Vegas showgirl's except the passenger buys the ticket for the show instead of the viewer doing so. Doesn't seem fair somehow. (More on my trip to visit my daughter later. I'm still unpacking. And going to basketball games. And doing laundry. And generally resuming my normal life.)

I suspect my travels for 2010 are done. It has been so much fun to ride planes, trains, and automobiles as I've crisscrossed this wonderful nation of ours from east to west and north to south. I look forward to seeing where the Lord and Pastor Dad take me in 2011,  Hint! Hint!

A Busy June Monday

Not only was June busy, but July has been as well. Pastor Dad's birthday ushered in the month, followed closely by Independence Day which we celebrated on the 5th, and then a week getting ready for our church's Teen Week at camp. Camp is where I am now and is why I didn't continue my DC trip run-down. I haven't had much time to sneak to the computer.

Anyway, to return to events that took place almost a month ago. . .



Pastor Dad and I woke up Monday morning a bit sore from walking more than usual the night before, but we were prepared to resume our exploration of the city. But first, there were still more clothes to be purchased for the Bear.

We received a message asking for certain clothing items. I'll admit that I am partly to blame for this mishap. In my quest to make sure that he had all the required business clothes for his week at Leadership Training Institute of America, I forgot to put casual clothes on his packing list.

Well, duh!

I take back what I said about Santa having nothing on mothers. I should've made my lists and checked them thrice. A quick run to K-Mart remedied the situation and for a lot less money than the cost of the dressy wardrobe!

After dropping the purchases off at the dorm in Arlington we made our way into DC. The Daughters of the American Revolution website tells how to get to Continental Hall from two different stops on the Metro. Neither is extremely close to the building but we were not adverse to more walking. So that's how this Daughter found herself posing for this picture:


I spent a couple of hours inside doing genealogical research (some hints and how-to's coming in a future post!) while Pastor Dad graciously toured the museum and the period rooms furnished by various state organizations. He showed me around once I had finished in the research room.

Continental Congress convened a few weeks after our visit. I've never participated in one of our Congresses but hope to have that opportunity one day.

For my fellow-Ohio Daughters (Is it correct to call you "fellow" Daughters?) here is a picture of the Ohio room. Ohio Daughters might host a tea while "at home" in the room:

When we departed the DAR we wandered toward the White House. My, but things have changed since I was a kid and 9-11 (two events which were not contemporary with each other, obviously) because the views of the White House that I remember as we drove by are now seen by foot if seen at all.

Perhaps we missed an opportunity to party at the White House! We saw that there was a catering van in the drive:

When it comes to Presidential parties, I wasn't in the mood to discover personally if the staff is any better at "making a list, checking it twice" than I am so we continued our walk. We circled around to see the other side:

After leaving the White House district we made our way back toward the Metro. I was startled when I met a mouse on the street! We also saw the gigantic rat used for the strike at the American Red Cross headquarters, but what I narrowly missed touching was not a rodent full of hot air. It was an actual, live mouse that passed me on the sidewalk! As circumstances would have it, it was not the last mouse I would encounter face-to-face on my visit to our nation's capital!

Take Ten In '10, Week 10

In my opinion, the Book of Numbers is interesting. It begins with a census of the families who left Egypt for a journey to the Promised Land. This is a census year in America and the every-ten-year event is one that someone with my interests finds, well, interesting. I'm a genealogist and the information found can be illuminating. By studying the answers our ancestors gave we can learn so much about them. Remember that as you fill out your forms this summer. Your descendants will one day be poring over them searching for clues about you.

We find a numerical census in Numbers that helps us understand just what a large slave workforce had departed from Egypt. No wonder Pharoah was loathe to let them leave! We also see how much that Jacob's family had been blessed in the intervening 400+ years. Do you find it hard to believe the numbers? One might think them unbelievable unless compared to more modern-day folk. See the number of known descendants of the Pilgrims, John Alden and Priscilla Mullens, here if you need some convincing. And remember that these are only the known ones. It can be seen that after approximately 400 years this couple's offspring are numerous even with so many unknowns and the modern limitations of family planning.

On a more spiritual note, I'd like to point out something I noticed as a passage in Luke was juxtaposed with one from Numbers. In Luke 6 Jesus explained that anyone who obeys His words is like a man who builds his house upon the rock so that it will stand when faced with adversity, but the person who doesn't obey is like the person who builds a house on a sandy foundation that will give way at the first sign of trouble.

Right after this I read Numbers 13. This is the passage about the 12 spies that returned with a report about the land God had promised them. Two spies (Joshua and Caleb) knew that the battle was God's to fight so they suggested proceeding immediately. They were building their houses upon The Rock. But the other ten spies were discouraged because they knew that the enemy was stronger than they and could not be defeated in their own power. They were building their houses upon the sands of frail humanity. Do you find it ironic that God left them all to die in the sands of the wilderness as punishment? I don't think that's just a coincidence.

Make sure you believe God because He will deliver on His promises! He expects obedience so that you can take possession of them. He already fought the battle. And won!

I pray you have a blessed week with the Lord as you study His word.

Schedule for March 8-14, 2010

Monday, March 8th

Numbers 20, 21

Luke 11

Tuesday, March 9th

Numbers 22, 23

Luke 12

Wednesday, March 10th

Numbers 24-26

Luke 13, 14

Thursday, March 11th

Numbers 27-29

Luke 15, 16

Friday, March 12th

Numbers 30, 31

Luke 17

Saturday, March 13th

Numbers 32-34

Luke 18, 19

Sunday, March 14th

No reading today. Finish any that have not been completed.

Since When Are These In Such High Demand?

I was reading an article about the snow that is blanketing the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. And, yes, I know that this is a serious situation. I'm currently smack-dab in the middle of it, so I'm aware. However, something I read struck my funny bone.

The wallop of back-to-back storms is causing certain items to disappear from grocery shelves. According to the article one of those items is Brussels sprouts.

O-o-k-a-a-y.

I happen to like Brussels sprouts. Really. But if my family is a fair representation then it is safe to say that most people do not.

I know that there were other events recently besides snowstorms that precipitated (pun intended) a raid on the stores, but since when are Brussels sprouts an hors d'oeuvre served while watching the Super Bowl?

If you have such a recipe, please share. I obviously need to find a new way to present them since what I'm doing now isn't working!

The Marvels of Modern Medicine

Isn't modern medicine wonderful? I'm rarely sick enough to warrant a visit to my primary care physician but when I go I am amazed with the latest tools at his disposal and drugs in his arsenal.

Such was the case Friday. I desperately needed help serving eviction papers to the elephant sitting on my chest. My body temperatures were steadily holding in the tropical range no matter what I did and the elephant obviously was a fan of warmer climes.

My last fever-free day was Wednesday. The one from the night before had broken and the elephant must've been out running an errand because I was breathing well and feeling better except for a slight headache. I decided to go on to church. Since a headache can quickly escalate, I sat on the back row in case I needed to make a hasty exit. This caught the attention of a few church members. I guess I looked a little under-the-weather because one asked if I had Swine Flu.

• What I wanted to reply was, "Of course I think I have Swine Flu! That's why I came to church on the first night of our mid-week ministries just so that I'd have a packed building in which to share the germ."
• What I replied was, "No, I don't have the Swine Flu. Right now it is just a slight headache," as I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

My physician verified my claim by taking a swab. We discussed how quickly a diagnosis for things like strep and flu can be made these days. The swab would not tell if I had Swine Flu but if it came back positive it would assumed to be of that variety. He knew I didn't have it, and I knew I didn't have it, but given recent hysteria (and the fact that the person in the next examination room had just tested positive and was receiving an anti-agent) he decided to test me. Our conversation leading up to the swab went something like this:

Dr.: Do you have any flu symptoms?

Me: Every time I get a fever I experience some of the symptoms.

Dr.: Any muscle aches?

Me: I went canoeing last Saturday. Every muscle in my body ached before I got sick.

Dr.: Been around any college students from (named a couple of local schools) recently?

Me: Actually, we invited a visitor to Sunday dinner recently who attends one of them. He seemed fine at the time.

Dr.: Have you been in contact with crowds or sick people lately?

Me: Well, yes, and yes. I'm a pastor's wife who stands at the exit every Sunday shaking hands with all the adults and children (whom I'm sure don't always wash their hands properly after such unsavory activities as nose-picking, etc. - meaning the children). I think shaking hands with everyone could literally be considered "contact" with crowds.

Dr.: Nurse! Get a swab!

Ten minutes later I was certified flu-free with the diagnosis of an elephant named Bronchitis. I already knew this as the elephant was a frequent visitor when I was a child.

Further proof of how far medicine has progressed is that the 2-week rounds of antibiotics that I used to take have now been replaced with 3 mega doses. I like that so much better! It means less chance of forgetting to take a dose, or wondering if I've already taken a dose ("senior moments" makes this pretty important), or wondering if symptoms are caused by illness or side effects. But most of all, it means the elephant will be packing his trunk quicker than ever.

It also means fewer lost school days, but some people might not appreciate that. Good thing these advances in medical science came when I was an adult instead of when I was a child.

School reconvenes Tuesday. Holiday weekend, you know. :)

Gasp! Not Peanut butter!

What's up with all these salmonella food recalls in recent years? First it was certain brands of dog food that some owners fed them thereby unintentionally shortening the lives of their beloved pets.

Then it was spinach. The ten people who bought it had to return their bags to the store. :) Actually I like spinach but let's keep that our little secret, shall we? I hadn't bought any at the time of the outbreak so our household wasn't effected. Well, our household would not have been effected anyway. Only I would've been. But I usually eat mine out of a can like my hero, Popeye.

Then there was the tomato and jalapeno pepper problems of last summer which did effect us tremendously. The Bear and I practically live off of salsa and tortilla chips in the summer. We especially like to eat it after I've made it fresh. That obviously didn't happen. It also put a real cramp in eating blt sandwiches. B and l just aren't the same without their comrade t.

This latest salmonella outbreak is in another class entirely. Peanut butter is something that I eat a little of almost every day. If they sold peanut butter in a gallon jar I would probably buy it as I am not the only person living here who eats it.

I just happen to be very creative with my peanut butter consumption. Got a clean spoon handy? No other equipment or preparation required.

Is there a lonely banana looking for a soul mate? Have I ever got a peanut butter marriage in mind!

My favorite way to eat it is as a peanut butter sandwich. Ho-hum you say? Then it is obvious you've never indulged in one of my sandwiches. Mine has more pizazz than your run-of-the mill pb&j. I make it with peanut butter sandwiched between two halves of a Hershey's chocolate bar. Bread is so yesterday's news! I'm not sure there's any more sugar in this concoction than one made with bread and jelly. I also manage to cover both lunch and dessert in one serving.

I still make the Bear eat the ho-hum type with bread as the bookends. It isn't that I'm concerned so much with his junk food intake or anything like that. It is just that to do otherwise would mean sharing part of my Hershey bar stash with him. And that ain't happenin'!

The recent problem may never be of any consequence to us personally. The things under suspicion now - like peanut butter crackers - usually are not in the house. The only time I see them is when Pastor Dad, the Bear, and my dad go golfing and only then because my dad takes them along to stave off hunger on the course. Since there isn't any family golf going on at this time of the year a problem isn't likely to occur. I'm sure the pb cracker shortage will be history by the time my guys hit the course in the springtime.

After we heard of the recall Pastor Dad asked me if the peanut butter we have on the shelf might be a part. Well, if it is I'd be a goner by now. See half-empty jar for verification.

All joking aside, if you suspect a problem, take the product back to the store or throw it away. Stay on top of the names of the products being recalled. We can joke about my peculiar food preferences but salmonella poisoning and a contaminated food source is not humorous. If you think you've ingested contaminated food get help immediately. I want you to be hanging around on my hill for a long time to come.