7 Quick Takes: The State of My Hand, Basketball, and Me Being Opinionated

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Advocating for Brett and Kaia. We have a new Facebook group for Brett as well as one for Kaia. Click on their pictures for more information.

Brett Miss Kaia

— 2 —

O.M.G. NCIS!!!! It was an emotional episode this week and of course, it’s a two-parter so I have to wait until next week to get some resolution. Argh… **SPOILER ALERT** It was almost tear-jerking to see Ziva holding her father’s dead body and to see Vance when he found out his wife was dead. I’m sure this will cause an international incident of some nature and I can’t wait to find out what the two sides are.

— 3 —

I want to be Rachel Held Evans when I grow up. I finished A Year of Biblical Womanhood on the drive to Claremont as well as reading Evolving in Monkey Town. I’m currently re-reading the Biblical Womanhood book for the simple reason that she manages to strike a balance between being faithful to Scripture and decrying practices that are wrong. She also takes Debi Pearl to task which makes my heart sing because Michael and Debi Pearl are sick people whose books have caused deaths from child abuse and domestic violence.

— 4 —

Holy basketball franchise, Batman! The Sacramento Kings might be moving to Seattle so the news tonight (Wednesday — I write my Quick Takes over the period of Tuesday to Thursday) is pretty much all focused on the fact that it might happen. Their owners are a bit of a joke here so I think it’s 50/50 in terms of how people feel about this. I think it would be a bummer for Sacramento to lose the Kings but I’ve also never been tempted to go to a game so it’s one of those things that I wouldn’t miss.

— 5 —

The People’s Choice Awards. I missed the People’s Choice Awards tonight because I was at Ladies’ Night Out for church so I went online to see who won. I thought it was kind of a mixed bag. I’m glad that “The Big Bang Theory”, Steve Harvey, Nathan Fillion, Emma Watson, and the Hunger Games won. However, Twihards winning? Gag me! I also think that the Potterheads, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Emily Deschanel, CSI, and NCIS were shortchanged. Oh well… it’s viewers voting and there’s no accounting for taste.

— 6 —

The state of Jen’s hand. I really should have bitten the bullet and headed to the ER on Thursday because my hand was locked up and throbbing by the time I got into see my nice LCMS PA on Friday. She gave me antibiotics and a tetanus shot. I like her but her medical assistant is a wench. It’s like she hates patients because she was incredibly testy with me when she found out that I hadn’t filed an incident report about the bite. (I’ve been bitten 15 million times by my cats.) Miss Congeniality also had to give me my tetanus shot and while it didn’t hurt, I had to lie down to do it (upper arm) and I have a knot in the spot where she gave me the shot. When I asked her about pain, she dismissively told me to take Tylenol or Advil. Given that they gave me Darvocet the last time I had one of these (which also included a 102F fever for a week), I was not feeling happy about that and sent her to ask the PA. She acted like I was giving her an impossible task and I told her sweetly that I was going to occupy her waiting room until I got a satisfactory answer. (I know how to be a condescending wench when it suits my purposes.) After 5 minutes, she grudgingly came out and told me what my PA had said about the dosing (which is what I expected — 600 mg ibuprofen 4 times a day). The antibiotics and shot helped to unlock the joints in my hand and helped with most of the pain. Driving is still horrific and I’m still having pain in my fingers. Thankfully, this shall pass.

— 7 —

A Compelling Question. One of my Facebook friends posted an article from the New York Times that posits the question of whether forgiveness can play a role in criminal justice. I highly recommend the article as it asks a question that effectively turns the justice system upside down, especially when it comes to capital cases. The defendant still ended up serving a large chunk of time but the victim’s parents got closure and forgiveness. It was fascinating and I recommend it as reading material.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 7, 2013

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 7, 2013

Outside my window… dark. It’s almost 2 a.m.

I am thinking… that the antibiotics might be working — I’m not in half as much pain as I’ve been in this week. (Stupid cat bite infection!)

I am thankful… for my awesome LCMS PA who saw me on Friday and gave me antibiotics. Apparently, all the stuff I was dealing with in December was in my chart or the providers talk amongst themselves because she knew all about Daniel’s illness last month. It was nice that she asked.

In the kitchen… dishes to do.

I am wearing… blue shirt and black sweat capris.

I am creating… squares for an afghan when my hand isn’t throbbing.

I am going… to hope I can get to sleep tonight.

I am wondering… about the true use of the word “engage” in theological practice and discussion.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans — re-reading it after my long drive back from southern California. I tried reading Montana by Debbie Macomber and threw it in the back seat after 30 pages because it was crap. I lived in Montana for 4 1/2 years and I can’t say that I knew of any militias while I lived here, especially in Sweetgrass proper or the Sweet Grass Hills. I used to *work* in Sweetgrass — there’s nothing up there except a bunch of import brokerages, ICE, and Border Patrol. It would be the stupidest place to have a militia with that much government around.

I am hoping… that my citrus-colored tabby decides to come and hang out with me after I get this done.

I am looking forward to… NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles on Tuesday as well as Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday.

I am learning patience and self-care. (I’m craptastic at both.)

Around the house… toys and Christmas stuff.

I am pondering… way too many things which is why I’m up blogging.

A favorite quote for today… ??Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.??
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

One of my favorite things… a half steak/half chicken burrito bowl from Chipotle

A few plans for the rest of the week: home with Daniel today (tomorrow), Morning Prayer on Tuesday, Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday, and copy-editing the rest of the week while the bear child is at school or sleeping.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 1, 2013

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… dark — it’s almost midnight and I’m the only one awake except for possibly my in-laws’ rotund orange tabby patch female.

I am thinking… that I really need that massage scheduled on Friday — lots of lower back and neck pain.

I am thankful… for a good road trip to see family this Christmas.

In the kitchen… not home yet but probably fast food tomorrow night when we get back.

I am wearing… blue shirt and blue striped flannel pajama bottoms.

I am creating… squares for a stained glass blanket.

I am going… HOME!!!

I am wondering… what is causing the lower back pain.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans. I actually finished it on the way down to southern California and read her other book Evolving in Monkey Town but it was good enough that I’m re-reading it and I want to be her when I grow up.

I am hoping… the citrus-colored mancat on my foot is amenable to moving shortly.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

Around the house… quiet other than the citrus-colored cat purring like a jet engine and the whalebone tabby snoring beside him.

A favorite quote for today… this, the first two lines of which were quoted by my mother-in-law a day or two ago in the car while on errands to Michael’s to get yarn..

“For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings;
How some have been deposed; some slain in war,
Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed;
Some poison’d by their wives: some sleeping kill’d;
All murder’d: for within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king
Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits,
Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp,
Allowing him a breath, a little scene,
To monarchize, be fear’d and kill with looks,
Infusing him with self and vain conceit,
As if this flesh which walls about our life,
Were brass impregnable, and humour’d thus
Comes at the last and with a little pin–
Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king!”
— William Shakespeare, Richard II

One of my favorite things… citrus-colored cats and whalebone tabbies.

A few plans for the rest of the week: driving home tomorrow, massage on Friday (and possibly a doctor’s appointment).

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 24, 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 24, 2012

Outside my window… sunny after a few days of apocalyptic rainstorms beating down.

I am thinking… that I really should clean the kitchen and pack but I’m so tired!

I am thankful… that Daniel’s illness didn’t result in a hospital admission.

In the kitchen… dishes to be done.

I am wearing… burgundy shirt and jeans.

I am creating… crocheted squares and snowflakes.

I am going… to try and get everything done tonight before I go to bed.

I am wondering… if Daniel is planning to nap.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans.

I am hoping… everything gets done.

I am looking forward to… getting out of Dodge for a few days.

Around the house… *ignores the question*

I am pondering… everything I have to get done.

A favorite quote for today… ??The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God. What we try to keep for ourselves is just what we are sure to lose.?? ? C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

One of my favorite things… the quiet when Daniel naps.

A few plans for the rest of the week: cleaning and packing today, worship and heading to be with family tomorrow.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 10, 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 10, 2012

Outside my window… dark. It was decent today though I was indoors for most of it being sick and taking care of a sick bear.

I am thinking… nasal congestion is the pits.

I am thankful… Jon stayed home today so I could sleep.

In the kitchen… apples and peanut butter.

I am wearing… white v-neck and plaid shorts. (I’m doing laundry, OK?)

I am creating… snowflakes and Christmas shopping.

I am going… to try and take care of errands tomorrow.

I am wondering… if I will ever be able to eat normally again.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband “Master” by Rachel Held Evans.

I am hoping… my face decongests.

I am looking forward to… working on stockings tonight.

I am learning that I can actually read crochet patterns.

Around the house… *sticks fingers in ears* I can’t hear youuuuuuu!!!!

A favorite quote for today… ??Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning…?? ? C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Coke — it’s so bad for me but it’s my comfort substance.

A few plans for the rest of the week: finishing stockings, WIC tomorrow, and hopefully not much else.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 4, 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 4th, 2012

Outside my window… dark. It’s just past midnight here.

I am thinking… about what I need to get done tomorrow. It totally makes sense that I’m up crocheting and blogging, right?

I am thankful… that I finished ornaments yesterday. I just need to starch them tomorrow. Also, I’m immensely thankful that Brett’s parents prevailed when court was held yesterday and he is now officially theirs.

In the kitchen… dishes to do.

I am wearing… Old Navy shirt and fleece pajama bottoms.

I am creating… stockings for two adorable kids.

I am going… nowhere if I can help it.

I am wondering… which kid to take on as a Guardian Angel once Brett is home. Possibly Kaia?

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband “Master” by Rachel Held Evans. I’ve gotten through the introduction and first chapter and I’m loving it.

I am hoping… tomorrow goes well.

I am learning how to starch my snowflakes.

Around the house… *places fingers in ears* I can’t hear you!!!!

I am pondering… too many things to list.

A favorite quote for today… ??The first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb, when it comes, find us doing sensible and human things — praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts — not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs.?? ? C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… simple double crochet.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 26, 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 26, 2012

Outside my window… dark. It was in the 60’s today though.

I am thinking… one of my library books should be available soon.

I am thankful… for the weekend with my family and that it did not include a hospital stay for Daniel like it did last year.

In the kitchen… leftover fungus risotto.

I am wearing… faded charcoal shirt and fleece pajama bottoms.

I am creating… crocheted snowflakes and Christmas stockings.

I am going… to get my massage tomorrow.

I am wondering… when the Advent calendar I ordered for Daniel will arrive.

I am reading… nothing — just finished The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling over the long weekend.

I am hoping… Brett’s family is able to do well with all the adoption-related stuff this week and that they’re able to come home soon.

I am looking forward to… my massage.

Around the house… lots to do.

I am pondering… Christmas crocheting.

A favorite quote for today… ??To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.?? — C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

One of my favorite things… Coca-Cola even though I know it’s bad for me.

A few plans for the rest of the week: blood work and massage tomorrow, Morning Prayer on Wednesday, and Christmas crocheting throughout.

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