Against the Wind

Ahh, the life of a social butterfly. I opted out long ago of the invitation to go to Metairie to a hang at the party of a friend from my Writer’s group. So yesterday J– called and needed a fill in because J— was too ill to come play bridge at their end of year bash. So I got called in as a last minute substitute. I’ll play with B—-, whom I’ve not played for years and years. She’s a good solid player, though she worries as much as I used to. I’ve finally learned to play the game and not get much bent one way or the other over the outcome. I just try to do my best and help partner do the same. Fun filled evening at the bridge table. The brownies are cooked and ready for finger food offering.

Today’s project was to find and embed a slide show viewer for the photos of Gail’s quilt top. This one is adequate in most respects but I never did see how I could drag and drop to reorder the photos to my wishes. I started with a cropped photo of the center, and since photo shop allows you to color match, I matched the colors of the remaining photos of the progression. Unfortunately when it came to the light yellow big border I added, the color settings are too far to blue, and the yellow is pretty muddy. The acutal fabric is not that color. So I included a couple photos that have been in the blog before, uncolor matched.

Tell me what you think of the viewer and the slide show. Two more quilts to give this treatment to, and I know I’ll shop for a different viewer for the next one.

The only link is to a blog post of editorial cartoons on the fun in Gaza. From a blog of photos that aren’t mostly to my taste, but decent photography nonetheless.

Marianne just got home from Trinidad, and she says they celebrate “old year’s night” instead of New Year’s Eve. So in the retrospective sort of mood that Old Year’s Night should bring, I was trying to decide if there was anyone/anything particularly admirable or notable in the old year. Resolutions are soooo tomorrow.

As far as events, the big family event was the wedding, as most of you know. On a personal level, in preparation for the wedding I began fretting a bit about needing a cash transfusion. I really decided that what I wanted was to teach in a gifted high school sort of setting.

I could go find the place that I journaled about wanting exactly that. And amazingly, a prayer was answered. That may not be the way most would like to describe it. We’re so hung up on not being ‘religious’ that it’s fearsome to say that a prayer was answered. Makes one tend to be labeled some sort of kook. I gotten a chance to earn some income teaching in a high school setting with some very talented young people. I will continue with the gig in the spring.

It’s rather unsettling having a prayer answered. A very specific prayer answered in a very specific opportunity. I certainly don’t think of God as some sort of Santa for adults, but I believe there is some mysterious force that we can work to align ourselves with. Some call it sychronicity, others call it God, to paraphrase a poem.

It all started with the writing, and trying to write in a journal as a form of prayer. From there I’ve allowed it to take its own path through my life, and something has been growing in response to a budding prayer life.

Less impressive was the interest in joining WW but I rather resisted. But with a wedding coming up, my two younger daughters expressed an interest and I jumped at it. I’m down 20 some lbs and still at it. That’s the big stuff in my old year. NYT has been asking people

What professional project do you plan to complete in 2009? What personal resolution do you finally hope to keep next year? And what problem should your industry or professional community tackle more effectively?

So that’s a reasonable jumping off place for thinking about 2009. But maybe not what professional project, but what personal project? How are you going to go about being as close as you can be to the person ‘God intended you to be?’ What problem or project should your church, your family or your quilt guild tackle more effectively? How can you be a catalyst for that?

I’ve a collection of links, but I think I’ll leave it down to one. I can’t embed this one, so you have to click through, but it’s Monty Python, six minutes, and should leave you smiling. Pete sent this recommendation.

Pete also finds the most appalling videos of Islamic justice and horrors. The one I saw a bit of today has no link anyway, but perfectly dreadful. He has some driving need to expose the horrendous applications of sharia law. I can’t imagine filming tongue cuttings, hand choppings and the like, and cannot seem to watch the horrendous footage. But it’s available to be seen. He’s like a Jeremiah wanting to let people know… says it’s closer to us than we know.

Ok, a bit of Wisdom to lighten up…

Proverbs 8:10 - 11 (Wisdom still calling)

Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

This always reminds me of my students in Uganda saying, they wanted an education, as no one could take that from them. Seek wisdom. Not affected by market crashes.

And a couple of photos…. shifting gears. The wedding photos are now finished. I was busy being m- o- b, not photographer for the event itself.

The day after we went to the Frenchman and delivered some shoes to Tania. Here’s Carlo on the stoop of the Frenchman.

And then shifting completely away from wedding stuff, a picture of Sisters of the Cloth, on the way out to dinner.

One more link… This is over long, but the trend to making obesity a disease, and overeating a sickness of some sort is well SICK! I’m a fatty boobalatty, and I’m fighting the battle of the bulge, but I am not sick because I’m fat. I’m damn healthy. My metabolism would be the pride of a nation in times of famine. Luckily we’ve not seen famine in my lifetime. Obesity is the product of genetic tendencies and choices about what to eat. Nothing more. It does not ask for a tax on soft drinks or a special class of people who deserve some sort of phony sympathy. Keep your platitudes and let me deal with my own problems, thank you.

As respects the fusalage in Gaza, Linda’s remark is in the vein of “same ol’, same ol’.” True, but guess I’m crazy. I’d like to see the war fought till there was a clear winner and loser and we could go on to other battles.

The wedding photo of the day… here I have one that is almost as good as the photographer’s photos. Tara and Marianne attend to the last details of getting the dress in order.

Proverbs 8:8 - 9 (More words from Wisdom, crying at the gates)

All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.

Reading weekend type reading I ran into an old (2006) Jonah Goldberg article which says a lot about the other side of the political gulf. I’m sure I couldn’t say it better, but the nuts and bolts of his argument are almost like my plaint as I passed through the rebirth of jumping the abyss. My cry was, “how do you know what you know?” His is “are you certain about that?” Worth a read if you’re in a philosophical mood.

If you’re more interested in action, there’s some twitter chatter about the bomb throwing going on in Gaza. Johan Goldberg on certainty/uncertainty.

I always have trouble keeping my emotions on an even keel here at the end of the year. But the worlds wobbles on, with me or without me.

I managed with two days on the road and Christmas last week to neither gain nor lose weight. That’s a good thing, I suspect. I’ll have more trouble through the New Year’s festivities, but with a bit of luck and a glass of champagne I’ll get past this too.

Here’s ten too long minutes of a video found on the internet. What do you see here? My suggestion is to watch a couple minutes and let it go. What do you notice? I saw so many things that seem quirky.

A brief “magic of Christmas” moment. I slept on Tara’s sofa Christmas Eve, so the boys could open their gifts at home and then head over to their other Grandmother’s for a Christmas celebration there. I woke up with Tootie at my feet, Cameron’s little hiney near my face, and Quentin by my tummy. Their eyes were alight with anticipation in the pale morning light. I wanted to take a photo so badly, I ran for my camera and, “Oh crud…” one of the few things I took out of the car after the 12 hours of driving Christmas Eve. “Don’t wake up your Dad boys, let me go get the camera.” Ok, a Grandma can dream. But that look of anticipation, of delight thinking of the things that might be in those packages, it’s a lovely sight to behold.

Here comes a photo…

Tania wanted her Grandmother to come to the wedding. But it was a no go. So we made a sign and she presided over the festivities.

Quilting continues a bit now a bit later. I’ve made two 3.5 inch strips to add like racing stripes to the back of last year’s round robin quilt. Lots of dark fabrics. Now if I can figure out how to sew that on so that it’s reasonably straight with the quilt already half pinned. Do I have to unpin and work with the backing alone? I suspect that’s the right answer, but I don’t like it a bit.

So, fighting the midwinter grims, praying does seem to help. A bit more from the Proverbs…

Wisdom is still calling to man
Proverbs 8: 6 - 7

Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Praying for wisdom seems appropriate!

In the time after the gifts get opened and life moves on to it’s next little phase, let me recommend one of the gifts that moved into that particular moment for me. Tara bought me a book of essays by Lisa Boyer. Who says quilting can’t be just laugh out loud funny! I think I have a new favorite author.

The title says it all. But Dresner, Drezner (or something like that) says post early and often… and take lessons from pros! So here you go. You too can blog into the New Year.

I had hoped to get Mother out of the Ok Methodist Manor and onto the street. She’s not really able, and the day was less than ideal outside weather. Overcast and cold…so while she was napping after lunch with her feet up for her swollen ankles, I did go do some shopping for her. I think I bought everything she required but the Elmer’s glue. Dana’s doing something here with Mylar and scissors… no idea what he’s up to. Is it too close to Christmas to be asking about these strange activities?

As for turning into your parents… I’m hoping there’s something of the old saw about if you can’t be a good example, at least be a horrible warning. I can just see me at 85 trying to complete some tasks that are totally beyond my strength, and therefore demanding that the offspring come to my aid. I guess perspective changes completely when it’s your weakness and your needs… as opposed to the one upon whom demands are being made. Meanwhile, if there’s any validity to the concept of “who God intends you to be,” I suspect that person is NOT someone formed as a copy of or a reaction to who your parents are. Somehow the strength has to be found to fight beyond the problems of the day and facing them in a manner learned in a previous existence.

Just as an odd note, while I was at lunch, Dr. Marlsbury called and said there was a reading he wanted me to do during the service for Christmas Eve. That was very flattering, but of course, I’ll be on the road all day tomorrow, and if I don’t get out really early I’ll head to the Christmas Eve service still with road stink on me. Dana’s been nice enough to put me up, but I haven’t managed to figure out how to get his water to warm up enough to encourage me to take a bath. Think I’ll try to be on the road at 5 and have time to shower before I go to the service?

Nough rattling. I’m hoping all you can spend Christmas in the warmth of a welcoming hearth, with loving family, and in mind of the miracle of God’s love for his people, so excessive that he showed up as word incarnate. Wonder of wonders! Perhaps next year I can put into motion the notion I’ve had for several years now of constructing a Moldavian star.

Merry Christmas!

Random thoughts while Quilting

I’ve decided the main reason for buying someone’s pattern is to let someone else figure out which way to press the seams!

Looking at the colors in the shop hop quilt from Houston, I’m reminded of the fancy dresses I colored as a kid by taking three random colors out of the crayon box. The colors in this thing would never in a million years have been my choice, but I sew each block and just admire the way the thing looks. It does stretch your color sense.

Truly odd batiks in this thing. So six of the blocks done, and I’ve turned off the iron, turned off the sewing machine, and I’m off to Tulsa. Back for Christmas weather permitting. I’ll get back to my revolving pattern of working a bit on this and a bit on that. I’m not very enthused about any of them at this moment, but four days away from the sewing machine will have me chomping at the bit again. And very soon I’ll have the first round robin project to work on.

Pictures saved for this blog

The first photo is the bridal bouquet.

Tania’s flowers were spectacular. Originally it was the plan to order bulk and make the corsages, the bridal bouquet and all the table decorations. Tania wisely decided that maybe we weren’t florist enough to do the corsages, so she ordered those as well as the bridal bouquet. I just loved the bright non traditional colors. But all the arrangements that went on the tables were done from a delivery of fresh roses. Dozens and dozens of roses. Delightful.

Proverbs 8:5 - 7 Wisdom Calling

“..O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart.
Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things;
For my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips…”

Wisdom doesn’t call to those of us who are too smart for our britches. Oh you simple ones and fools. Yup, it’s the straightforward understanding of right things, not the subtle and over rationalized, nuanced facts and ideas of the universities to whom truth calls out. The fools and the simple ones have a chance to hear the excellent things, the right things. It doesn’t seem to make sense that a religion that calls men to seek truth would call for the simple and the fools. But there it is. My we all be simple and fools.

So, now for the too smart for the britches stuff…
My sense is that if you have time to read this blog in this season you’re just looking for time wasters. I’m here to help! Here is about a 20 minute video clib of a talk to some group (Reason magazine?) or other about the cause of the housing bubble and the ensuing market crash. I imagine I’ve linked something similar before, but this just makes sense to me. But what doesn’t make sense at all is the price of gasoline. Deb may have some insight into that one as she worked in the industry for a great while. Linda asked in the comments why gasoline that cost $4 a gallon last summer is now $1.50. I personally hate to ask, because I figure it’s like pointing out a teachers grading error in my favor. If I bring it up, I’m gonna lose something for it! But honestly, what caused the run up in gas prices and what on earth dropped it back to prices we thought we might never see again? No complaints mind you. I’ll drive back and forth to Tulsa on $60 of gasoline instead of $150 which is where we were not too long ago.

And in case you hadn’t figure out that I’m now a card carrying raving conservative, something truly odd happened while I was driving to Chalmette to turn in my grades. I tuned in some “Rush radio,” and instead of flipping the dial away like it was poison, which is the way I always treated Rush and all the Christian broadcasts, anything that sounded like rap, and various other types of fare, I left it to run, and ENJOYED it! Yup, it’s official. I’m sick. I still found him rather pompous and annoying on a lot of points but he got going on the calls by Colin Powell for him to let the Republican party move to the center, and he really got wound up. But the issue among Republicans of how to deal with this time in the wilderness, and how to regroup into a viable party is an interesting conversation.

It’s a shame my father didn’t live to see this. I used to mock him and all the time he’d spend listening to Rush (as he was going senile…hmmm) Next thing you know, I’ll believe McDonalds is find dining. We do turn into our parents as we get older??? Surely it’s not required.

Who knows what if any blogging from the road. Merry Christmas to yas! Let’s have 2009 be a healthy year of zestful living. I’m 25 lbs. lighter than I began the year. I’ll be aiming to knock off the next 25 this next year.

The photo project runs apace. I’m a good two months behind, and there are only two or maybe one photo left on my camera. I’m hoping to head to Tulsa on Monday or maybe Sunday after church. I can’t imagine going without a memory chip, so I’ll have to dump the memory of the big chip, burn some CD’s and go on with it.

A couple of wedding day photos…While Tania was up in the bridal suite, a master bedroom and bath appointed very nicely for bridal preps, downstairs Phylanne, the wedding coordinator was busy finishing up the decorating. She earned her fee that day keeping everything running smoothly.

Going to Tulsa means I have to get the rest of my Christmas Shopping done. That would be Barry, and Quentin and Cameron. I could stick to my resolve that pseudo son in laws aren’t obligations, but that’s really silly. No, it’s plain short sighted. No point in pissing them off. They’ll probably have to foot the bill for my care when I need more care than I can manage myself.

Gail, one of my faithful readers, is off wandering on the East Coast, so it may be Linda and Deb, and Beth when she goes to work…anyway, Gail won’t be reminding me to put something on the blog for a while, as she’s a bit too busy herself!

Back to Proverbs and the praise of Wisdom.

Proverbs 8: 3 - 4

She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
“ To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men…”
(The quote passage ends in v. 36.)

She cries at the entry of the city. The city is the hive of humankind. The commerce of all sorts is to be found in the city. So there she is, where we enter into our human activities, calling to the “sons of men.” Not the sons of gods or the sons of priests, nor the sons of women. Would those be the girly men? But sons of men have a tough piece of work, becoming fully human, and hearing the voice of wisdom is a good way to go.

I don’t pretend to understand biblical writing, but it does settle into the deep places and take root somehow, and usually in ways that are not accessible to ordinary language.