Category Archives: Personal Issues

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 17, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 17, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It’s almost midnight and as usual, I’m doing this late at night while everyone else sleeps.

I am thinking… about Edda and wondering where she is. (For those not in the know, my black cat Edda disappeared last Wednesday night.)

I am thankful… for my mother-in-law getting Daniel off the bus so I could pull the covers over my head and hide from life for a few hours.

In the kitchen… clean now but various things were made today.

I am wearing… green shirt and black sweats.

I am praying for… Edda to come home or for the grace to come to terms with her being gone, for a call for Jon, and for a number of other intentions.

I am going… to do some more flyering tomorrow to see if we can’t get some information on where Edda is.

I am wondering… what happened to her. (Do you see a theme here?)

I am reading… A Deadly Yarn by Maggie Sefton. I’ve gotten into her murder mysteries big time. I also read and finished my Miss Julia book by Ann B. Ross last week.

I am hoping… Edda does eventually come home.

I am looking forward to… maybe getting a pedicure this week. I need one pretty badly given how cracked and dried out my feet are these days.

I am hearing… Jon snore and Arthur (my in-laws’ citrus cat who is snuggled up at my feet) purring like a Harley Davidson.

Around the house… silence except for Jon and Arthur.

A favorite quote for today… “It is as if a sort of communal personality came into existence. Of course, it is not a real person: it is only rather like a person. But that is just one of the differences between God and us. What grows out of the joint life of the Father and Son is a real Person, is in fact the Third of the three Persons who are God.

This third Person is called, in technical language, the Holy Ghost or the “spirit” of God. Do not be worried or surprised if you find it (or Him) rather vaguer or more shadowy in your mind than the other two. I think there is a reason why that must be so. In the Christian life you are not usually looking at Him: He is always acting through you. If you think of the Father as something “out there,” in front of you, and of the Son as someone standing at your side, helping you to pray, trying to turn you into another son, then you have to think of the third Person as something inside you, or behind you. Perhaps some people might find it easier to begin with the third Person and work backwards. God is love, and that love works through men – especially through the whole community of Christians. But this spirit of love is, from all eternity, a love going on between the Father and Son.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… playing a good word in Words with Friends on Facebook.

A few plans for the rest of the week: flyering the neighborhood, choir practice on Wednesday, and Date Night at some point. Oh yes… also trying to get the Christmas cards ordered.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

Five Favorites: Miscellanea (XXIV)

Posted on by

Five Favorites

One

My mother-in-law. In the last 24 hours alone, she has watched Daniel for me, made me some gingerbread to help with my nausea, and made me some comfort food for my lunch. It’s those little things that make her so awesome.

Two

The cooler weather. I hate heat which is why it makes no logical sense that I live in a desert. (Then again, I really didn’t have a choice in the matter and nothing in my life has ever made logical sense.) It’s been chilly in the mornings and it’s supposed to be in the low 70’s for the next 10 days. I am positively giddy.

Three

Sleep. I’ve been having to go back to bed while Daniel is in school this week due to my mutant death cold. I’m not sleeping well at night because I will start coughing if I’m flat on my back. Eventually, I’ll catch up, right?

Four

Reading. I’ve discovered a new series that takes place in a fictional town in Colorado and involves a yarn shop. I believe the author is Maggie Sefton?

Five

The hoodie my mom found for me at Costco. It has polyester fur on the inside and keeps me nice and toasty when I’m helping Daniel put out books in the morning or waiting for the bus to pick him up.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 10, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 10, 2014

Outside my window… dark. I’m writing late at night as usual

I am thinking… about who the protagonist in the Miss Julia books reminds me of in my life.

I am thankful… for the life of my former co-worker Karen. One of my favorite memories of her took place in the fall of 2009 when we were sitting and eating lunch with a few other people. The other young 20something woman at the table and I were discussing pregnancy and breastfeeding and I mentioned the things we’d be doing with my next baby. Karen, who had watched my horrific pregnancy with Daniel, interrupted me and exclaimed, “You mean they’re letting you get pregnant again?!?!?!?!?” Believe me, nobody laughed harder than I did because she had a way of speaking whatever was on her mind and doing it in a humorous way.

In the kitchen… my mother-in-law made some fabulous pizza.

I am wearing… green shirt and running shorts.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, healing from cancer for one of my brother’s Boy Scout friends, safety for some friends in Israel right now, and some other special intentions.

I am going… to have to find things to do with Daniel tomorrow which should be interesting because my mother-in-law is probably going to veto him leaving the house after the pukesplosion he had tonight.

I am reading… Miss Julia’s Marvelous Makeover by Ann B. Ross. I finished the latest Jan Karon book this past weekend.

I am hoping… for decent sleep tonight.

I am looking forward to… choir practice on Wednesday.

I am hearing… Jon in the kitchen eating dinner.

Around the house… quiet other than the sounds from the kitchen.

One of my favorite things… ice. It’s horrible for my teeth to chew it but it’s helping with my water intake.

A few plans for the rest of the week: choir practice and whatever comes up otherwise.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Can Jen Avoid Discussing Politics??? Yes, She Can!

Posted on by

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

You mean you’re still posting baseball takes?!?!?!?!? Yep. I finally watched the coverage of the Giants’ Halloween victory parade this past Tuesday night. I’m also amused by the various bets placed on the World Series.

This will probably be my last baseball-related Quick Take until March unless the team doesn’t re-sign Pablo Sandoval.

— 2 —

For those expecting me to be a perfect pastor’s wife. One of Jon’s higher ups posted this on his Facebook and I find it to be pretty accurate. One of my pet peeves is when parishioners put me on a pedestal and expect me to be so much more spiritual/holy/whatever. It really doesn’t work that way. It also seriously shocks people when they find out that I’m a convert to Christianity. Apparently, I’m too well-read to be a convert?

— 3 —

Yet another link on how to keep kids in the faith. This one from HuffPo is interesting but the parents being committed to the faith only goes so far. You can usually control your kids when they’re living under your roof but your ability to micromanage their life and thoughts disappears when they leave home for college and/or adulthood. So how do you keep your kids in the faith? You encourage them to own their faith so that it isn’t just “the faith of [their] parents”. Nothing pisses me off more than teaching Confirmation to kids who are doing it because their parents have promised that they can stop attending church when they are confirmed. It’s a waste of my time and a waste of theirs. Another important way to keep them in the faith: give them an adult role (ushering, cantoring, lectoring, etc.) after Confirmation so that they’re integrated into the life of the church by the time they hit actual adulthood.

— 4 —

I am Father James Martin, S.J.’s Lutheran fan girl. Seriously, the guy makes me happy to be Christian when he writes stuff like this. His book on Jesus (from which most of this column is drawn) should be required reading and I don’t say this lightly. It’s on my list of books to give to new Christians in addition to Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Phillip Yancey.

— 5 —

Srsly?!?!?!?!? I’m getting carded left and right these days. In the last week alone, I’ve been carded while buying Robitussin to fight my mutant death cold and also while buying wine at Trader Joe’s. I can’t really blame them for carding me for the wine (I think the rule is that they have to card anyone who appears to be under 30) but being carded for the cough syrup was interesting because I’m almost twice as old as I’m required to be to buy it! It also has only been a little over six months since the LAST TIME I was carded while buying it.

— 6 —

So why no takes on politics? I’m avoiding politics in my Quick Takes today because if/when I weigh in on the election on Tuesday, I want it to be well-researched and well-worded — something I can’t do in one Quick Take as I don’t want to flippantly post random quotes from people who may share my opinion but make other people stabby. I have to deal with enough trolls as it is.

— 7 —

A question for you. How do you pray? Leave your answer in the comments.

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

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 4, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 4, 2014

Outside my window… sunny. It’s allegedly 80F outside but it is freezing in the house. Well… either that or I’m having chills.

I am thinking… about Thanksgiving week and how to keep Daniel entertained on the 2.5 days he’ll be off of school before we leave for my parents’ house.

I am thankful… for my mother-in-law and Jon taking Daniel on errands so I can get some more rest and fight this stupid cold.

In the kitchen… all I’ve had today is Instant Breakfast and yogurt so nothing is cooking on my end. I smelled onions when I went in for water so I think Jon has a raw onion cut up in the fridge.

I am wearing… a wine-colored shirt and jeans.

I am praying for… friends traveling in the Holy Land, a call for Jon, for Katie and her husband as they adopt Felicity

I am going… to try not to go online to see any election returns today. It’s one of the few times I’m thankful I don’t have access to TV.

I am wondering… about how to work Christmas this year.

I am reading… Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs. Apparently, I was #1 on the list for it in the LA County library system.

I am hoping… to get back to walking every morning again once this stupid cold goes away.

I am looking forward to… being well again.

I am hearing… Daniel — they just got home.

Around the house… it was relatively quiet until a few minutes ago.

A favorite quote for today… “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” — Douglas Adams

One of my favorite things… being able to breathe easily. I miss it.

A few plans for the rest of the week: a trip to the grocery store that isn’t Trader Joe’s, the new dishwasher being installed tomorrow (the other one broke last week so we’ve been having to wash by hand… I know, #firstworldproblems), and whatever else comes up.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Baseball, Witchcraft, and Why I Despair At the State of Our Media

Posted on by

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Rules for eating and such rendered in the style of the Old Testament. I first read this 10+ years ago and it still makes me almost die from laughing so hard. Anyone with small children will understand. My favorite line is, “Leave the cat alone. For what has the cat done that you should so afflict it with tape?”

— 2 —

So… I guess you heard that the Giants won the World Series? It was an amazing series and I’m thankful that I got to watch/listen to all or part of 6 of the 7 games. (I watched all of Games 1-3, saw a portion of Game 4 in addition to my mom checking the score on her smartphone during dinner on Saturday, listened to Game 5 on my long drive home on Sunday, and got to watch/listen to over half of Game 7 last night.) I’m impressed that Madison Bumgarner pitched in Game 1, Game 5, and then 5 innings of Game 7 last night. (So is Jason Motte, my favorite closer with the St. Louis Cardinals. Real classy, Jason. It’s why I follow you.)

To the Royals fans who read: you guys have a kick-@$$ team and you made my boys work for that World Series victory. I wouldn’t doubt that y’all give the MLB a run for their money next year because Game 7 could have gone either way. And seriously… your team had the Kansas City Symphony play the national anthem one night and had one of your opera stars sing it the next night — y’all are classy. 🙂

— 3 —

Yet another baseball Quick Take. One interesting trend this season has been “Hunter Pence signs”. It was a weird trolling thing started by some Mets fans this past summer and it went viral. At all of the away games, fans of the home team bring the signs. There s a Twitter collection of them here.

There’s even a rap video based on the signs:

— 4 —

One of the few times I miss having a TV and cable. I’m kind of bummed that I likely won’t be able to watch Election Night stuff from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Apparently, it’s going to be fun.

— 5 —

The difference between the media in the USA and the media in Canada. Can we just say that the Canadian media won on this one?

(And for all the people who are going to tell me that I hate my country and should move to Canada, we did try in 2009.)

— 6 —

This one goes out to all the moronic conspiracy theorists claiming that vaccines cause autism. Actually, there are more than 100 genes that contribute. That many genes are a bit much to be turned on by the body’s response to a vaccine.

And for the morons who are citing a bad reading of a Canadian study linking the MMR vaccine to febrile seizures, you might want to read the part of the study which mentions the seizures occur most often in kids who had been selectively vaccinated or on delayed schedules. There’s also the fact that some kids get these seizures around ages 2.5 to 4 years old and said seizure is the first sign that the kid has a fever. I should know… Daniel is/was one of them and we made 3 trips to the ER for them in the year after his third birthday. (One of those trips was actually the night before his third birthday.) It’s terrifying to watch your kid seize like that, but it sure beats watching your kids on a ventilator because your delusion and paranoia over pseudoscience landed them in the hospital with a completely preventable disease.

— 7 —

Wow… a somewhat balanced look at Common Core. I don’t love everything Simcha Fisher has to say but her piece on Common Core was very balanced. I hear a lot of complaining about the math portion, but the way they’re doing math actually makes a great deal of sense to me. There was a teacher who taught my elementary school class how to do mental math, how math works, and how numbers relate to each other. This means that I have a better than average grasp of the metric system and scientific notation, both of which make infinitely more sense than the English/imperial system used in the United States.

As for literature, Simcha mentioned that they tend to err on the side of non-fiction which is fine with me. I always read things that interested me and my parents didn’t have to introduce me to good literature because I generally found it on my own.

— Bonus —

Here’s something for Halloween. I found this piece on the history of witchcraft to be pretty interesting. (Then again, my college degree dealt with this sort of thing, especially in the history and anthropology classes I took.) She’s not endorsing the practice of Wicca or anything (and she mentions that Wicca is a 20th century invention) and she makes some interesting points about cultures in which witchcraft is still an excuse for stuff going wrong. It’s definitely worth a read.

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

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: October 27, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY October 27, 2014

Outside my window… dark. I’m blogging late at night which seems to be my M.O.

I am thinking… about the things I need to get done tomorrow while Daniel is in school. Lots of papers to sort, insurance phone calls, etc.

I am thankful… for Katie of Blessed with Full Hands who got to meet her little girl today in China.

In the kitchen… dishes in the sink because the dishwasher isn’t working correctly.

I am wearing… my Run for the Little Flowers Virtual 5K shirt and capri sweats from Lands’ End that are about 10 years old.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, some special intentions, and continual discernment regarding a few aspects of my life.

I am going… to hopefully get my hair cut tomorrow. It’s definitely time.

I am reading… Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints by James Martin, S.J. and another murder mystery whose title is eluding me.

I am hoping… to find lots for Daniel to do on Friday when he is off school.

I am looking forward to… the costume parade at Daniel’s elementary school on Thursday morning. He’ll be dressed as a Giants fan so I’m also hoping that the Giants win the World Series. 😉

I am hearing… Jon’s CPAP.

Around the house… quiet because everyone else is asleep.

A favorite quote for today… “Isaiah 55 provides an entirely different framework for thinking about God’s justice, because it suggests that we have it backward — the mystery lies not in God’s unfathomable wrath but in his unfathomable mercy. God’s ways are higher than our ways because his capacity to love is infinitely greater than our own. Despite all that we do to alienate ourselves from God, all that we do to insult and disobey, God abundantly pardons again and again.” — Rachel Held Evans, Evolving in Monkey Town

One of my favorite things… watching “raccoon TV” in the evenings — there are raccoons nearby who stop by my in-laws’ yard for a snack and they get whatever leftovers there are that aren’t edible for the humans.

A few plans for the rest of the week: possible haircut tomorrow, some walks by myself/with Daniel, choir practice on Wednesday, Daniel’s costume parade for school on Thursday, and whatever comes up this weekend.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.