Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Oh Deer!


This deer was so close to me that if there hadn't been glass in the window I could have touched him. He seemed not to care that I was there taking pictures. After I moved fast, he fled, but came back fairly soon. I hope he shows up while my grandsons are here this week.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Finger Freeze and Wages

I was going to name this post Brain Freeze, but that wouldn't be accurate. My brain has been working just fine, and my emotions have been engaged. I've actually contemplated several topics to write about over the past couple of months that have caused me to have deep emotions. But for some reason, I can't get the thoughts organized enough to come out through my fingers. I've been having a problem with thinking that perhaps my emotional reactions to certain situations just aren't based on enough facts. That doesn't seem to inhibit certain TV personalities, though, does it? That is a negative editorial about many of the commentators on so called "new channels."

I'll state one of these topics as questions and see if I get any responses. How is it that some people (legislators, business executives, bosses, other politicians, commentators, etc.) can dare to suggest that other people earn too much money, when the ones doing the talking earns far more than the worker/laborer? Would those speakers like to help out the current economy by voluntarily reducing their own wages to that of the lowly worker?

I've even wondered if cyclical economic downturns are calculated to keep a certain class of workers at low wages because they have to be thankful for any job that they have. I'm not usually a conspiracy person. This downturn seems to have gotten away from the economic thinkers, hasn't it?

In contrast to what happens in many companies, my first job and boss had a different policy on pay of the worker. I worked in a take-out pizza place back in the day when minimum wage was about $1.30, unless one was a waitress who was paid about $1.10 + tips. I and the other part time workers in this restaurant earned $2.00/hour. The two full time workers earned $4.00/hour. This boss honored the work and commitment of his workers. He didn't take his new found success and move out to a large new house in the suburbs. I still marvel at his economic practice! In contrast, my son was able to get a job based on his college degree in a very large company with a very rich owner. He is considered one of the managers at his location. He earns less per hour than cleaning people make around here (my rural area.) The average worker that would be seen by the public makes half of what a cleaning person makes. Right now, I'm sure, everybody is glad to have a job.

Well, I guess my fingers have thawed.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

New bodies (in heaven) needed!

I'm glad the sun is shining because I'm reflecting on some things that suck, as a friend said to me this morning. Her situation is that she has a mysterious cognitive deficit that made it impossible for her to continue working and driving. She converses almost normally, but there is something that isn't right; she isn't able to accomplish normal household tasks. I try to help her follow the music in church, but this morning we each had different copies of the same piece of music and I just couldn't keep my place and help get her on the same line at the same time. She broke down, and after I hugged her, she said, "It sucks." Now she says she may just stay home.

I met a woman this week who smiled at me and made some hand gestures. It was obvious she couldn't talk. I learned later that she has a dreaded progressive disease which has taken away her ability to talk. It is starting to attack other muscles as well. She lives alone.

A relative has had a progressive disease for a number of years. At this time, she has lost the use of her legs and her arms are quite weak.

A friend had few symptoms, but when she finally did have some reason to get a checkup, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She has a remarkable attitude. She has to have more surgery this week, two days after her sister will have surgery for cancer.

My mom is now barely able to walk. She can feed herself, but almost everything else has to be done for her. That is now what is called "assisted living." Most people would say she should be in a nursing home. We can't figure out how much of her situation is some physical/cognitive deterioration and how much might be emotional, ie some depression. I think she is just fading away.

A long time ago I realized it is good that we don't/can't know the future. Live for now and Live for Christ now.

Monday, January 19, 2009

One Good Reason to say Thank You to Mr. Bush

With all the commentary on television criticizing the presidency of George Bush, you'd think there was nothing at all good about his leadership in Washington. I'd like to refer you to one often overlooked aspect of Mr. Bush and American leadership and generosity, as written by an American living in Nigeria.

I had linked to Mary Beth's blog in the past, when Jos, Nigeria was in turmoil. She has written several other posts about the aftermath of that turmoil. Just look for the blog posts after November, 2008. Also see the Mashiah foundation link in the sidebar. I hope to see her when she visits her parents in the spring.

President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Thinking warm, thinking spring


I like to keep one of my photos as my computer "desktop." I had one that was of wild plum blossoms, which are mostly white, with a hint of pink. I started thinking that looking at the white flowers felt as cold as looking at the white snow. Brrrrr. I wanted to change the picture to something that would make me think of spring, warmth, and which had a color with some warmth. Here is my new desktop picture. This was taken May 24, 2008 in the nortwest corner of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Yeah Spring!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Got you beat!


Forty Below Zero. That's 40 below Zero Fahrenheit. Minus Forty Degrees Fahrenheit.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Still below ZERO

That is ZERO Fahrenheit. This little cheap thermometer isn't accurate, you can get the picture.

We have 7:30 pm yesterday.

10:00 pm yesterday. ( I didn't have to leave the house.)

6:45 am today. No red even showing. But it isn't really forty below. The alcohol thermometer, which is supposed to be more accurate says only 38 below zero Fahrenheit.

Our windows are designed to capture the full winter sun, but none of the summer sun. This is due to the amount of overhang we have on the south side of the house. We pull down the insulated curtains when it is dark out and raise them when the sun is finally out in the morning. When we first raise the curtains, some cold air falls to the floor from behind the curtains, but after about 10:00 am, we will actually gain some heat from the sun, so it will get up to about 75 degrees. But meanwhile, we have both the wood stove going and the electric heat on.

I'm not going to start jogging today. Good thing that this has never been one of my New Year's resolutions.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

110 hours below zero


We are predicted to get about 110 hours of below zero temperatures in this current cold spell. We have about 90 hours left to go. I can tell you that the sun helps, due to our house having windows designed for passive solar collection, but the sun just isn't out long enough this time of year. Time to feed the wood in the wood stove.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Ordination and wind

My daughter will be ordained at our home church on Feb. 1, 2009, at 1:00 pm. Friends, family, pastors and AIMS, as well as our church family, are invited to this communion service.

What is the job of the mother of the candidate? What do I do, besides pray? I've been told that this is sort of like planning a wedding except one has only a month to plan it. Plus, the bishops are in the Middle East, so they aren't available for consultation.

Given the weather this winter, what happens if the bishop doesn't get here?

More later, I'm sure! (Red for the color of the day.)

Speaking of weather, here is part of what was in my email in box just now: (Blue for the frigid wind.)

VERY COLD ARCTIC AIR ALONG WITH BRISK NORTHERLY WINDS WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS WIND CHILL VALUES OF 40 TO 55 BELOW ZERO LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING ACROSS NORTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND 35 TO 45 BELOW ZERO ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS A COMBINATION OF BITTERLY COLD ARCTIC AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY COLD AND LIFE- THREATENING WIND CHILL VALUES. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS...BE SURE TO COVER ALL EXPOSED FLESH AS ANY EXPOSED FLESH CAN FREEZE IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS WITH WIND CHILL VALUES COLDER THAN 40 BELOW. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND MAY RESULT IN HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. REMEMBER THAT PETS ARE ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO COLD TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

The Year

The church may view the year as starting with the beginning of Advent, but I view my personal year as starting with Epiphany. That is because Epiphany is when the Light shines forth. But it is also just after my birthday and it is the last day of the Christmas season, so the lights and colors are put away.

I'm not much of a goal setter because I've found that I can spend more time setting and refining the goals than I do in trying to attain them. But I have found that some review is helpful. I find that when I think "I got nothing done" I have actually accomplished something. That "something" might be intangible, such as developing a friendship or helping a loved one, but it needs to be acknowledged by me, or I find I fall into the culture's definition of success, acquiring things and ticking off accomplishments on a list. I need also to include family events that I had a part in.
So for the past year:

Family: Mom's 90th birthday
Grandson's baptism
Daughter's college graduation
Employment of all my children!
First Christmas without kids at home in 30 years.

Physical: Eyes: 6 eye doctor appointments, due to severe reaction to bright lights and later,
black spots in one eye's sight. Happy to report that the infection cleared up and the
detachment resolved. But I'm allergic to all eye drops I've tried.

Knee arthritis: My legs are still weak, but my right knee now bends quite a bit more than
it has for three years. Inexplicable but welcomed. I tried riding a bike again. I might trycross country skiing again.

Politics: I spent more time following politics this past year than the rest of my life
put together, but this really had nothing to do with Obama. I've become more political in
thought processes, more supportive of the needs of working people.I've remained in favor of more just societies world wide.

Religion and Faith: Continued to be active in my church, including choir, Bible Study, stewardship,
youth group helper, and giving a presentation during Lent.
Read lots of faith related blogs.
Wrote some faith related blog articles.
Remained upset over the lack of intellectual and logical rigor of some faith-related bloggers.

Personal accomplishments or activities:

Drove a lot across Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Developed deeper friendships with three wonderful women.

Enjoyed short trips through West Central Minnesota and also SW Wisconsin.
Developed and gave a power point presentation on Habitat for Humanity and the God's
Child Project.
Made three liturgical stoles.
Used my photography in my fabric work.
Gave a presentation of photos on fabric.
Worked in a series. (Artists know what this means.)
Had my work in two art shows. Felt like a real artist for the first time.
Gave up on perfectionism, so now I will really finish a project a long time in the making.
Learned to like squash. Now my husband loves me more.
Corresponded by email with people in Korea, Poland, Uganda, Nigeria, and all over the US.
Baked a lot of bread.

I didn't: Fly this last year for the first time in a long time.
Didn't paint the laundry room, again.
Didn't convert to vegetarianism.
Didn't write the essays I promised people about my trip to Uganda.
Didn't "melt and fuse." [long story.]
Didn't buy any new or used vehicles. Our newest car is 8 years old.
Didn't buy any new coats or jackets. Only one pair of shoes.
Didn't lose weight or exercise regularly, although I do attend a class, sometimes.

And I still Hate Cleaning! And I do it as little as possible.