The Bravest Thing of All Is To Hope

"And in the dark we climb this slope
'cause the bravest thing is always hope."
Binary from The Light of Things Hoped For by Brave Saint Saturn

"Deepest oceans of despair
This vast and somber
Charcoal night of space
Have you given up yet?
What hope lingers in the crevasses and corners of your soul?
I know you
You haven't given up yet
You are brave in this darkness, Saint Saturn
Sometimes the bravest thing of all is to hope"
Atropos from The Light of Things Hoped For by Brave Saint Saturn

No profound thoughts to go with it. I'm just enjoying their music right now. I'm also enjoying having BonnieJean, Chera, Ethan, and Naomi all home and in the same room.

The headache and stupid feeling from yesterday is gone, praise God! I just have zip energy but I can handle that, kind of.

I'm rereading Jane Austen's Emma. I had forgotten how funny Mr. Woodhouse is. "Poor Isabella..."

I'm also finally reading Rodney Stark's Victory of Reason. It's been recommended to me for forever. I'm only in the first chapter but it's good so far. It's a deep enough book that you have to take it pretty slow.

I got some wrapping of Christmas gifts done today. I love wrapping paper and pretty bows, but I am so bad at it. In fact, right now I can see the lovely gold ribbon that matched BonnieJean's black gift bag so perfectly lying on the floor next to said classy black bag. *sigh*

I have an itch to go Christmas ornament shopping. I'm noticing some terrible holes on the tree right now. I want to get some pearlescent (sp?) gold balls and maybe some more red ones, too.

I've decided to quit the praise band. Sunday was the third or 4th time I've shown up for rehearsal and had no music stand, music, or microphone. So, I'm taking the hint. I'm trying to extricate myself quietly. I just have to come up with an innocent but honest answer for when everyone starts to ask me why I'm not playing anymore. BonnieJean and Dad both suggested finding another group to play with because it is something I have really enjoyed. Something to think and pray about.

I'm Back!

Hermione's power cord broke and I realized that I have forgotten how to share a computer. Instead of relearning I just stayed off the computer, almost entirely. After throwing up in front of the $80 power cord at Office Depot, I found one on E-bay for $14 and got it today. Sing with me--"I got it on E-Bay!"

I've been doing a lot of reading. I re-read "A Voice On the Wind" and "An Echo In the Darkness" and finally read "As Sure As the Dawn". I'm also reading "The Victory of Reason".

I did a deep cleaning of my desk--rearranged, filed, dusted, and threw a lot of stuff out. Now to maintain it.

Mama and Naomi had a joint, 68th birthday party Friday evening at the Pizza Hut. Lots of wonderful people came and we had a lot of fun. I'm glad we did a party. We don't often but we sure have fun when we do.

I have a lot more peace about my job hunt since the sermon mentioned in my last post. I haven't been very productive in my job hunt since but I don't think it's related. I think I've been under the weather, busy with other stuff (said birthday party and cleaning), and am now suffering doubly from menstrual cramps and a swollen throat. When it rains it pours. Despite that, I did do some networking tonight both for my job hunt and the county party--reception for a Ryan Leonard who is running for state attorney general.

I'm very excited about Christmas shopping. I sure hope everyone likes what they're getting! And I'm even more excited about Jen being here for our week-late celebration!

Ken Ham was at FBC of BA this weekend. I made it to 2 different talks. I'm pretty familiar with his materials (but's it's always good to hear again!), so the only new thing I heard about was a research study he and a behavioral science research group did on the people in their tweens who went to conservative churches through high school and then stopped going in their 20s. I went out on a limb and bought the book summarizing the study without asking Mama with her money. She's ok with it now though.

I got a henna tattoo at the State Fair Saturday when I went with Naomi and Caleb. It's a star of David with a cross in the middle on the inside of my arm just below the elbow. I wanted it up on my forearm, but it was so cold that the lady wouldn't let me take my jacket off, so I had to pick a spot reached by rolling up my sleeves.

I started Hebrew classes Monday night at the Tulsa Jewish Community Center. I was disappointed to find out that the beginner class works only reading and writing Hebrew, no speaking. But, I liked the teacher and the attitude of all the other students. I caught onto this first lesson really fast, but I think that's because I'm already familiar with a vowel-point system from Arabic lessons with Amani.

I need to get somethings printed and ready to mail in the morning, so I'd better wrap this up. I still had 2 other big things to write about, so I shall just have to continue this later.

Bavido Banditos

Bavido Banditos
Originally uploaded by Purple Palindrome

Here ya go, JC! I apologize for taking approx. forever and a day to get this to you!

We took this on August 22nd, right before Dad left.

Back to front, left to right: Samuel, Caleb, BonnieJean, Isaac, Joshua, Naomi, Anna, Mama, Dad, and Ethan.

Random Thoughts from State Committee Meeting

This is what you get when I have internet access and am sitting in a session about Facebook that's not telling me anything new.

Tweet is one of the funniest words ever.

I wish the American Majority and Republican stuff would emphasize getting content in social networks instead of just connections and quantity. I think we're ending up with people generating a lot of fluff or worst just empty accounts that don't do anything. We need to use new media for meaningful connections and discussions--not just numbers. Perhaps I'm just a step ahead. maybe we need to get people on before we can train them for significance. I'm just concerned that I'm not seeing any move towards that. We need to be training people on how to write blogs, feed blogs into Twitter and Facebook, use Facebook to notify them of a meaningful politcal email, etc.. Right now I just feel like they're just chanting "Use Facebook! Use Twitter!"

I love hot rolls.

Naomi was so sweet to come with me today. I've been fighting a migraine for a couple of days now, so she came in case I get bad enough that I can't drive.

I wonder how long until the FCC starts regulating Facebook ads.

A bulletin from the couch

where I have pretty much taken up permanent residence. :)

Everyone but Dad and BonnieJean went down to the Bowie tournament over the weekend.  Samuel placed third in black belt weapons after deciding on the spur of the moment to compete.  Dillian Ramey and Crista Bailey took first and second, respectively, so he's hanging with the big dogs, for sure.  He also placed third in the super fight, coming in behind Greg Partridge and Luke Rosebure.  Ethan didn't fight because it was only a week from his black belt test, but he placed first in adult underbelt weapons and adult brown kata.  He got a nine from Mr. Holzbauer on his weapons kata!  Naomi came to help coach and decided suddenly to compete in kata!  She didn't place, but I'm so proud of her!  And after we all saw the flying pigs, she decided to do fight a 13 year old who didn't have anyone else in her division to fight.  Naomi won!  Joshua placed third in kata and second in fighting.  Isaac placed second in kata.  He lost his first fight by one point to the boy who went on to win the whole division.  Irony.  At the last tournament, Caleb forgot his kata and had to make it up.  This time he remembered it perfectly!

  Before the tournament, Scott and Theresa tested for fourth degree and passed.  I'm so excited for them!  I'm kinda disappointed they didn't do any board breaking, but that's just because I so enjoy watching them do it so well!  I can't believe they managed to test and run a tournament in the same day.

  After the tournament, little Alexis hit my right foot while I was standing in the hallway.  When I unwrapped my foot to take a shower Sunday night it was swollen really bad and black all down the right side and top of it with pooled blood under the skin.  It totally freaked me out.  Dad prayed over it right then and we called Orjala first thing Monday morning.  I didn't go to work or karate.  We unwrapped it Monday afternoon out of pure curiousity and it looked tons better.  I don't think a bruise on a normal, active person would go down that quickly.  It was just an answer to prayer!

  While I was home resting Monday night, Caleb passed his yellow belt test, Dad passed his orange belt test, and Isaac did all of his blue belt test with the exception of fighting and board breaking.  He'll do those Monday night.  I'm so excited for all of them!

  In other fantastic-answers-to-prayer news, I found out today that I passed the Comp II test out!  This means I get to graduate this May!  I am so wildly excited!

Overheard this evening

Naomi:  "She's my in-ter-per-tater."

BonnieJean:  "She means interpreter."

Back to the salt mines

  I'm feeling much better, but not quite 100%.

  Happy Birthday, Naomi!  17 and insane, baby!

  We celebrated Mama and Naomi's birthdays today.  The carrot cake with cream cheese icing was so luscious.

  I don't know if it's on youtube, but y'all should try to get a hold of the UFC fight between Chuck Liddel and Rashid Evans.  Awesome knockout.

  I need to write a paper for Campaigns class tomorrow.  I think I'll move into my room, find some headphones for my really loud rock music, and git 'er done!