A random pet peeve

I'm at Kroger, using the self checkout. I set something down and the computer tells me to remove, "all objects or items," from the scale. Someday, I'm going to refuse to move until someone can tell me the difference.

Peer Pressure

Pretty much everybody I know gardens. Small gardens, huge gardens, mainly vegetables, mostly flowers, whatever. I sometimes plant some things, but I don't garden. Now, my resistance is finally wearing down
I currently have stacks of books from the library about gardening and canning. I plan to read them and try to learn from them, and I fully intend to put what I learn to use. I also have been watching videos and reading articles online.
Because I don't really know anything much about gardening, and in fact, I haven't learned much about it because I hate gardening. I hate the bugs, I hate being out in the heat, and I am talking hate here. However, I am going to attempt to change this.



In addition to the aforementioned sources of information, I plan to devote the coming winter to visualizing a prolific garden, and to convincing myself that dirt on my hands doesn't make my skin crawl. By spring, I will be fully converted. That's the plan, anyway.

More video mayhem

It wasn't exactly national alpaca weekend, but we had fun

It's been ages and ages, so I thought I'd do an actual entry, something besides a video. I mean, okay, I was really proud of working out the video thing, but it's time to move on. So this is what I did this weekend.

Saturday, I took Kat, Franklin and Gregory to the All American Quarter Horse Congress at the state fair grounds. No, that's not really accurate. I took Kat, and dragged the two boys along. Or maybe Kat dragged me and the two boys. (But I digress) (as always.) We saw lots of horses, and lots of mud. And paid waaay too much for a cup of horribly greasy, really delicious french fries. And we spent more time than I would have thought possible looking at horse trailers, and combination horse trailer/RVs. My sons, who will act like they are being actively tortured if you try to get them to shop for shoes or jeans, had to look at every trailer we passed, inside and out. They debated the merits of different models. We don't own a horse, can't really imagine that we ever will, but if we ever do, the kids will know what kind of trailer they want.

Today we had a hay ride/bon fire/Taize at our church's retreat center. I'd never been there before and wasn't at all enthusiastic about going today, but I sort of felt stuck. And I had a great time, and it was a beautiful day, and now I'm trying to think of other events we might hold out there. And no, this probably won't result in my being more open about doing things I don't want to do, will have no effect whatsoever on the amount if whining I do, 'cause I'm that much of a brat. But today was really fun.

John Cleese on the new Palin

I'm sooo glad I finally got the video thing figured out, because I'd hate it if I couldn't show you this---

One more try

Okay, so here's a video







Did it work?

Communing with Gregory

Yesterday was the first time Gregory and Franklin took Communion, probably the first time they had even been present during Communion. We're Presbyterian, so it's hardly the big deal First Communion is for Catholics, but Gregory had some concerns, nevertheless.
During the children's sermon, the kids were told about Communion and shown the table at the front of the Sanctuary. When Gregory returned to his seat he was quiet for about thirty seconds, then asked, "Is it time for the bread yet?"
Joan-"No."
Gregory- "When?"
J- "Soon. Shh."
G- "When?"
J- "After the sermon."
G-"Is that soon?"
J- "Yes. Shh."

Another thirty to forty seconds of silence.

G- "I don't think they have enough bread."
J- "I'm sure it will be fine."
G- "There's only a little bread on the table."
J- "There's plenty more in the plates stacked on the end of the table."
G- "What if there's not enough?"
J- "There will be. Shh."

Thinking, thinking, thinking.

G- "What if they forget to bring some up to the balcony?"
J- "They won't."
G- "How do you know?"
J- "They never have before."
G- "But what if they do?"
J- "Shh."

Very brief silence.

G- "What if they don't have enough bread for the balcony?"
J- "They do. Hush"

Very, very brief silence.

G- "Is there enough juice?"
J- "I promise I will answer all questions after the service. For now, you'll have to wait and see."

Maybe two minutes of silence.

G, poking my arm- "Are you asleep?"
J- "No."
G-"You look like you're asleep."
J- "I'm trying to concentrate. I'd like to hear the sermon."
G- "Why are your eyes closed?"
J- "Later."

Sermon ends.

G- "Now?"
J- "After the hymn."
G- "You said after the sermon."
J- "Next, I promise. Shh."

Communion goes along without a hitch, and the service ends. Instead of leaving, I sit back down, look Greg in the eye, and ask, "Now, what would you like to ask?"
G, baffled- "Nothing, why? Can we go now?"

For the record, Franklin was spectacularly unimpressed with the experience, in the way that only a ten year old can be.

With apologies to Coach Tressel

I wore an OSU tee shirt to work today. During the football season we are able, for a small donation to United Way, to buy ourselves the right to wear jeans and/or a college tee shirt to work on the weekend.
One co-worker asked if I had enjoyed the game last night, and was a bit baffled to learn that I hadn't watched it, and wasn't spectacularly excited that OSU had won. "So," she asked, "Why the OSU shirt?"
I was wearing the shirt today because I could, and I'd rather wear a tee than anything else. I own the shirt to begin with not because I am a Buckeye fan, but because I am a Buckeye. This is my cultural heritage. It is not seasonal, and it is unaffected by win/loss records and coach's polls. It is just a fact. Of course, all things being equal, I'd prefer the Buckeyes would win -- all the time, in every sport. But whatever happens, I will wear OSU shirts, hang an OSU ornament on my Christmas tree, and drink occasionally from an OSU mug, 'cause I'm just that much of a dork. A Buckeye dork.

?????????????????????

"I'm not one to attribute every man -- activity of man to the changes in the climate. There is something to be said also for man's activities, but also for the cyclical temperature changes on our planet.

"But there are real changes going on in our climate. And I don't want to argue about the causes. What I want to argue about is, how are we going to get there to positively affect the impacts? "

A quote from, who else, Sarah (I see Russian People) Palin

"...positively affect the impacts?" WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? You can barely begin to dissect the logical flaws when the individual sentences say NOTHING!!!!

Friday night

Jeff and the kids went over to Dee and Kevin's for a neighborhood cider pressing event. I had to work. They seem to have had fun. I sliced lunch meat. I won "rock, paper, scissors," and Daniel had to wait on Unpleasant Friday Evening Couple, a victory tainted by said couple's being somewhat less unpleasant than usual.
Now I'm sitting here enjoying some freshly pressed cider, watching the kittens try to get their paws on the newly hung Halloween decorations, and trying to figure out what to say about last night's debate. Unfortunately, whenever I think about Palin all I can see is Tina Fey, and I have trouble sorting out what is real and what is parody.
I wish we could just cut out the middle man and elect Tina Fey.