Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Star's Arrival!
Friday, December 01, 2006
Across Country
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Colt Update
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Still Going!
Well, the saga of the colt goes on! We took the colt to UPS only to discover it was too large to ship. So, it came back home to be repacked.
We measured, and calculated, and measured and calculated again. We checked freight rates and decided that was a last resort. We considered a quick trip to California over Thanksgiving, but didn't think we would make it back to work in time. Finally, we decided we could do it UPS, but there is not even a quarter inch to spare.
After taking the colt off his base, drilling holes to sink bolts in his feet into the bottom of the box and raising the one end of the box 3/4 inch over his ears, and cutting holes for the points of his ears, we finally got a box constructed. He is totally wrapped in bubblewrap and covered with a lauan box that is screwed together.
UPS says 165 dimensional inches. We have the box 39" L x 43" H x 20" W. That is exactly a total of 165 dimensional inches. We will try again on Monday. We hope this time it actually begins its journey!
The new box is significantly smaller than the original one. We spent an evening and all day Saturday repacking. We earned anything we get out of the deal. Clair was rather generous in arranging the deal, but it certainly hasn't been easy money.
Before we sell another horse on ebay, we will be wiser in stating shipping fees. I think it will be "buyer arranges for shipping" or "local pick up only."
Sunday, November 19, 2006
The Colt is Going, Going, Gone!
More than a year ago Mary's brother-in-law had a colt that died several days after it was born. He had a full-body mount made of the colt. The colt made its rounds from living room, to feed mill, to basement.
Now, a year after he has it back from the taxidermist, he was ready to sell it and get it out of the way. A family with ten children needs all the room in the house without having a colt take up a few cubic feet. We listed it on ebay for him and it actually sold for more than he said he wanted out of it.
Saturday Mary took a big box and packing supplies to their house and packed the colt for shipping. The children said goodbye to the horse and then helped her pack him up. One of the little boys said, "I will never forget this horse!"
Now, the colt is packed and ready to be shipped. Monday it will begin its journey to California.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
The Pursuit
Oh, the interesting things one sees along the road! Last week a local farmer was selling pumpkins. They attracted a lot of attention with their sign. Was it intentional? Did a child paint the sign? Or, was it a very dutchified adult who did it ignorantly?
Sometimes I need to restrain myself from correcting people's errors. In the last week we received two invitations that said, "YOUR INVITED." Now, I would like to know what an "invited" is. The possessive pronoun implies that I own one--whatever it is. Is it something I can carry with me or is it something that I will need my trailer to haul? Is it something that will last for years or is it perishable? Just what is an "invited?" This morning at church, the superintendent was having devotions and several times in 15 minutes used grammatical errors such as yous can . . . .
I failed. OK. Maybe I didn't have an opportunity to teach the farmer who is selling pumpkins jeap. And maybe I didn't have an opportunity to teach the one person who told me I have an invited. But the other one was from a former student who should know better. She passed all of my classes and, if I remember correctly, was on the honor roll at school. This is a person I would like to correct, but that may be the end of the existence of my "invited." The superintendent is also a former student. He is another person I would like to correct. But I certainly cannot go through life correcting all of my former students' writings and speech for incorrect grammar. I failed in teaching them to correct their own grammar. So, what can I do to change that in the future? I suppose that will be my pursuit until I retire.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
To Camp or Not to Camp?
I want to bed last night in 30 something degree weather inside a tent inside a sleeping bag with a second sleeping bag for added warmth. It was a bit breezy. I was chilly. I didn't sleep very well. Every time my nose peeked out from the pile of covers and got cold, I was awake again.
Who gets crazy ideas to camp the end of October? We were with the Motley Crew this time. It was warm when we planned the camping trip. We tried to live in denial that it was going to get cold; but when it came time for packing, we loaded a pile of covers and braved the cold. This morning it was about 32 degrees and we didn't mess around long getting a fire going again.
To camp or not to camp? Camp--but pick a slightly warmer weekend!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Admitting Defeat
This week we have admitted defeat and hired a cleaning lady. She is only coming once a month and cleaning the upstairs and the office area in the basement. We PLAN to clean the rest of the basement and the whole house the weeks she isn't coming, but at least we know our house will be cleaned once a month by someone who enjoys cleaning. That is improvement.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
An Evening to Sit and Relax
That started my mind wondering what it is like to be able to sit and relax for an evening. I was trying to determine HOW a person sits and relaxes for an evening. I wondered, "What does a person do when he sits and relaxes?" But, then I had the startling thought that maybe he doesn't do anything. Is that possible? Maybe he reads? But when was the last time I read anything just for the pure pleasure of reading? I suppose people do that sometimes.
Maybe what I need is to hire a fulltime housekeeper to keep the house clean, have a nice hot meal on the table when I come home from work, do the laundry and return the clean things to my bedroom. If I were really fortunate, maybe she would even mow that lawn and keep the flowerbeds and garden weeded. Maybe then I would have the time to sit and relax for an evening.
I can only guess that is why my coteacher married a wife.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
No Man is an Island
This whole experience is a better object lesson on the consequences of our choices than I could ever imagine. Regardless of whether they approved of Floyd's choices or not, the Landis family has to deal with the consequences of his choices. Whether it is fame or shame, they have to deal with the reporters. They did not choose to be on the front page of the local newspaper almost every day this week--but that is where they were. They did not choose to be interviewed on national television--but as a result of Floyd's choices, they were interviewed every day. Whether Floyd is guilty or innocent, is not the topic of discussion here. Whether we like the consequences or not does not make any difference. The choices others make have an impact on our lives. The choices we make have an impact on others lives.
As John Donne stated in Meditation XVII, "no man is an island."
Friday, July 21, 2006
Thoughts on the Tour de France
I was trying to decide if I should write this before the end of the race or wait until I know who is wearing the yellow jersey in Paris. I opted for before.
Floyd Landis has made his bid on the yellow jersey. He went to France to win the race, and he has put forth his best effort. Whether he wins the Tour de France or not, is not the most important thing.
What has Floyd gained by becoming the American favorite to win the Tour? He certainly has more money than I will ever have. He has more fame than I will ever have. He's been on more magazine covers than I would ever want. He has seen more of Europe than I will probably ever see. He is certainly more physically fit than I am. He has an outstanding determination. He doesn't let pain get in the way of meeting his goals. I respect Floyd for his determination and perserverance.
But what has Floyd traded for all of this? He doesn't see many of his longtime friends or family very often--maybe once or twice a year. His hobby has become a job. After retirement from cycling, what skills does he have to take up another occupation? Most importantly, his relationship with God is something he doesn't discuss. He avoids the issue. He laughs and changes the subject. The Tour de France is going well for him at this point and he may win, but will he win the race that is much more important than the Tour de France?
There is a group of people not unlike the riders in the Tour. They have determination to reach the lost of the world in city, village, or country. They perservere through years with very little evidence of the work they are doing, but they are planting seeds. They give their lives to meet a goal. Few know who they are. They may not know each other. They own very little. They will be forgotten in the eyes of the world, but the contribution they make in reaching the lost will have rewards that will last much longer than a yellow jersey.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Dissertation Milestone
Sometimes I wonder why I ever started this ordeal, but I am sure I will be glad to have accomplished it when the misery fades into the background.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Odd Lots & Motley Crews
Who would ever name a group of friends either the Odd Lot or the Motley Crew? Does the name indicate a low self-image? Possibly. I think that when I hear one of the ladies say she used to beg God to just make her normal. But what is normal? Does the name indicate a feeling of not being accepted? Possibly. I think that when they ask if we really want to hang out with the Motley Crew.
Are these friends lacking in value? Certainly not! Are they unaccepted? Again, certainly not! Each of their lives and personalities have value. I hope I can encourage each of them to be all God created them to be. They are, indeed, unique--just like everybody else.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
One week post school year
So what does a teacher do over the summer?
Beginning last Thursday I set to writing the last chapter of my dissertation. Problem #1 -- How do you finish something like that? I wanted to write FINIS at the end, but I didn't think my committee would allow something like that. Tuesday afternoon I was ready to print the thing out once again. Problem #2 arose -- the printer kept printing garbage in the middle of a page and sending the rest of the page onto another page. Finally I went to school and used the printer there to print out 820 pages (four copies of 205 pages). The next stop was the post office. Do you know how much it costs to send 8lbs and 14 oz. of paper express mail? Too much! And I still have a bill from the school for using the printer there.
Yesterday I was back at school beginning the process of getting ready for another year. I have extra to do because I am getting all new textbooks next year. Today I am supposed to be housecleaning my bedroom. Actually it was on my agenda for January and I am only now getting it done.
So what does a teacher do in the summer? All the things there was no time for during school.