Category Archives: Silicon Valley Girl

7 Quick Takes: Bright Week Musings

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Bright Week. Bright Week is the week following Pascha (Easter) in the Orthodox Church and some other Christians use the term as well. Why am I using it instead of “Easter Week” or “the Octave of Easter”? No idea — I just like it.

— 2 —

Finally done! I took my last dose of Cipro today. Given how much nausea it has caused me in the last few days, I’m pretty thankful to be done with it. The bronchitis is wiped out as far as I can tell — I honestly didn’t realize how sick I felt all month until after the Cipro took effect and I started feeling *GOOD* for a change.

— 3 —

Interesting Easter song #1. I’m always looking for interesting Easter hymns to post at this time of year and this one is a flash mob Easter hymn from Lebanon.

— 4 —

Interesting Easter song #2. Here’s one from Serbia that seems to make the rounds on the pages of some of my friends who are Lutheran pastors. (I seem to have a fair number of Lutheran pastor friends who are closeted Eastern Orthodox.)

— 5 —

My favorite Easter hymn. This is an Easter hymn that has a special place in my heart because we sang it frequently at my high school church which is actually the church I am attending right now.

— 6 —

The prerequisite take on vaccination. Because, ya know, non-vaccinators don’t care if you die. I’m so thankful to live in a state that does not allow personal exemptions to being vaccinated and where many doctor’s offices are kicking out unvaccinated patients or requiring that they come into compliance with the vaccination schedule because of the risk to the vulnerable patients in the waiting room posed by kids with measles/mumps/rubella/pertussis whose parents were selfish enough not to vaccinate them or who listened to quacks online or on talk shows.

— 7 —

Mother Angelica. I was never a fan of Mother Angelica and I never watched EWTN other than during the Papal Conclave of 2013. However, she was quite a witty person and I found these sayings of hers quite humorous.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 27, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 27, 2016

Outside my window… sunny. I think it’s supposed to get to 69F today according to Weather Underground.

I am thinking… about the wrap-up post on my Lent that I’ll be writing for Laura.

I am thankful… that Christ is risen and the world is different as a result.

In the kitchen… my dad will be making tenderloin tonight and we’ll probably have it with tater tots and caesar salad.

I am wearing… charcoal fitted shirt from Old Navy and khaki shorts from Kohl’s.

This morning’s Easter finery was a dress I got at Goodwill 6 years ago and have worn on a couple of other occasions. Don’t worry — I had a choir robe on over it for most of the morning so my shoulders were covered! (Pardon the messy room and unmade bed in the first picture.)

A full-length shot. Pardon the messy room and unmade bed.
Head shot c/o Rebecca.

I am going… nowhere else today. I’m enjoying being home.

I am wondering… if Daniel is going to get my bronchitis.

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. Calmness is being shelved for the moment.

I am hoping… that I’m DONE with this bronchitis. I had flare-up #2 while by myself with Daniel this past week and was panicking about what I would do if I had to go to the hospital. Thankfully, Symbicort and a monster dose of Cipro seem to be knocking this remnant out. I *NEVER* get as sick as I’ve been this month so it has been really scary.

I am looking forward to… not being this sick.

I am hearing… Enya on the stereo, Daniel playing some game with Enya on his tablet, and the dishwasher running.

A Daniel story for today… I came home from church to find my parents’ two cats “nannying” Daniel:

Homer and Jethro taking care of Daniel.

Around the house… renovation projects being completed.

A favorite quote for today…

Dave Barry on coffee

One of my favorite things… Cadbury mini-eggs.

A few plans for the rest of the week: collateral services appointment tomorrow and games night on Saturday.

A peek into my day… Let’s just say that everyone is in agreement that I get to be the Easter Bunny again next year. (Yes, those are cans of Guinness in the Easter basket on the right. The recipient was over the age of 21 and allegedly doesn’t like sweets.)

Easter baskets for 2016.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 20, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 20, 2016

Outside my window… dark. It was cloudy and around 71F earlier today. We had a couple sprinkles in my area and I think there was some rain in the hills.

I am thinking… that I’ll be happy with some more rain to tamp down the pollen. Everyone in the house who is awake is having to lie back propped up on pillows because we’re all coughing from allergies.

I am thankful… for a chance to be a reader for the Passion reading at the end of worship today. I did well enough that my priest is going to put me in the rotation to be a lector. Woohoo!!!

In the kitchen… my dad made steak tonight and it was incredibly tender. So good.

I am wearing… charcoal v-neck and black sweats. (I’m lying in bed in my jammies.)

I am going… to Target tomorrow for my prescriptions and some more cough drops!

I am wondering… when Jahi McMath’s family is going to accept that she is not going to wake up. I remember when her case happened in Oakland 2 years ago — there were pediatric intensive care specialists from all over northern California who were brought in to do tests (three who were not affiliated at all with the hospital) and all of them declared her brain dead. If they were to take her off of life support, she would be dead in a very short period of time. Her mom is arguing that her kid has the same rights as any other disabled kid and I understand her argument; but her “disability” isn’t the same as a kid who has cerebral palsy or Tay-Sachs or a kid who just needs oxygen at night. The machines are breathing for her and keeping her alive and at a prohibitively high cost of care. (Seriously, I don’t know how her family is affording that level of care.) It would be nore merciful to just her go gently into this good night… and I say this as someone who has had to sign paperwork for ECMO and who has watched their kid code.

I am reading… Calmness by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. I’m only at about 20% completion so my Holy Week is going to involve a bit of reading!

I am hoping… this bleeping cough goes away!

I am looking forward to… quiet tomorrow while Daniel is at school.

I am hearing… my dad knocking on my bedroom door. He just handed me a bag of Ricola and told me to start sucking on those because obviously my cough drops aren’t doing squat for me!

A Daniel story for today… Kiddo ended up with contact dermatitis as a result of playing on grass in shorts for a long time on Friday. The hives are better but I feel so bad for the kid that it even happened!

Around the house… people trying to go to sleep. So far, I think only my mom and Daniel have succeeded!

A favorite quote for today… “If you’d like to experience a profound #passionlive, please attend a local Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, or other church for the Triduum.” — a tweet from Rev. Laurie Brock while she was live-tweeting “The Passion”

One of my favorite things… my parents’ grey cat Homer who was asleep on my bed up until a few minutes ago. (He had appointments…)

A few plans for the rest of the week: errands tomorrow, collateral services meeting on Tuesday, Morning Prayer with Stations of the Cross on Wednesday, possibly Maundy Thursday worship on Thursday (I would have to bring the kid and it’s during his bedtime), Good Friday worship at noon on Friday, and Easter Vigil on Saturday.

A peek into my day… regardless of whether or not you believe in evolution, this is an interesting video.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: St. Patrick’s Breastplate, the Faith of John Kasich, and Other Findings From The Web This Week

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

St. Patrick’s Breastplate. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, y’all! I thought I’d share the hymn form of St. Patrick’s Breastplate as it is a beautiful (but VERRRRRY long) hymn. Click here to read the whole prayer which is also quite long but very pretty.

— 2 —

Something penitential for meat eaters for today. 🙂 It’s not Friday so technically observant Catholics, Episcopalians, and some Lutherans aren’t having to abstain from meat… unless you went vegan like I did. I’m Irish-American, did my senior comps in college on Celtic Christianity, and have kissed the Blarney Stone so I’m treating today as a feast and *gasp* eating meat and having dairy. (Sorry, Laura.) As a penitential act for today (since, you know, I’m being a heathen and all), I’m listening to all of the videos on here, especially #6 and #7.

— 3 —

I knew there was a reason I kinda sorta like John Kasich. It turns out that boyfriend is Anglican and shares my view that it’s obnoxious to try and win votes using God’s name. I would rather see positive spiritual fruit in one’s life than have someone claim to be one on national television and see the opposite in how they treat people. (Ahem… Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.) I love also that Kasich is focused on living out Matthew 25 and not just on winning political office. It makes a difference to ne and this is why he would be the only Republican in the race for whom I would consider voting.

— 4 —

My scars are signs of life. A bunch of men and women bared their scars for everyone to see and explained the story of them. Mine would only all be visible if I was wearing a string bikini so we’ll just skip my c-section scar reveal even though that story is worth telling. Still, the account of each scar is worth a read and the video is worth a watch.

— 5 —

Passover Rube Goldberg-style. This is pretty amazing and would be a good tool to teach kids about the Passover story. Props to priest’s wife for sharing it with me on Facebook!

— 6 —

Why many women are skittish around men. This is a good read about why many women like me have no sense of humor when men make sexually-driven comments. Seriously, it pisses me off that I have to weave my keys between my fingers if I’m walking on the street to my car after dark in case someone decides to assault me.

— 7 —

Why victim-blaming falls apart. Two girls from Peru were traveling to Ecuador and were brutally murdered by two men they met, their bodies found several days later in plastic bags. In the midst of all the people decrying what happened were the people who were blaming the girls for their murder, saying that they put themselves at risk. A student from Paraguay thought this was incredibly wrong and wrote an account in the voices of the victims.

I share this because it pisses me off to no end that if I were to get raped, the first question would be “what were you wearing?” When we were doing the required self-defense class in high school so that we could fight off rapists and attackers, nobody ever mentioned teaching the boys not to rape. I shouldn’t have to be worried about walking down the street by myself or that some man is going to be turned on by what I’m wearing and decide to assault me. I mean, I have more than a few friends who were wearing a t-shirt and sweats when they were sexually assaulted!

We have a serious problem in our society when the victims of a crime receive blame than the person who committed the crime against them.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 13, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 13, 2016

Outside my window… rainy. It’s absolutely spectacular to have a rainy weekend here.

I am thinking… about some of the things that are happening this week. It’s not going to be as abnormal as last week but it will be relatively busy.

I am thankful… for the Dimetapp which finally helped get the kiddo to sleep at 1 a.m. after he woke up coughing. *shakes fist at all the pollen in the air*

In the kitchen… I think Dad is making steak tonight.

I am wearing… burgundy top from Old Navy and black sweats from Target.

I am going… to try and get caught up on my temperature afghan this week or at least get caught up with recording the temperatures. (My illness threw me off a bit.)

I am wondering… the structure of the readings in the Coptic lectionary. (Laura will have an email in her box tonight. :))

I am reading… Calmness by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. I still have Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber on my NOOK and got a little bit of that read this past week.

I am hoping… to get some walks in this week now that the bronchitis is (almost) gone and the rain should be going away. Now if only the bursitis would take a hike!

I am looking forward to… the games night on Saturday. Bob is making red beans and rice and someone else is bringing corn bread.

I am hearing… Coptic liturgical music (I’m keeping their Lenten fast so I’m checking out their music) and my dad drilling various things into walls.

A Daniel story for today… when I took the precious sweetling to Target on Friday to get his happy meds refilled, I was telling him “first shopping, then toys.” (First/then statements are an ABA thing.) Daniel’s response: “OK. Buh-bye.” I seriously need to record myself saying it the way he does because it was ADORABLE.

Around the house… Dad is attaching towel rods now that the painting of various bathrooms is done.

A favorite quote for today… I found this on Facebook and thought it was appropriate.

Political wisdom from the Lakota.

One of my favorite things… a fire in the fireplace on a rainy night.

A few plans for the rest of the week: catching up on things tomorrow morning, psych appointment for the kid on Tuesday, knitting/crocheting group on Tuesday night, morning prayer/Bible study/choir on Thursday, psych appointment for me on Friday, and games night on Saturday.

A peek into my day… I love this cover of “The Sounds of Silence” by the artist Disturbed. I’m a huge Simon & Garfunkel fan so I appreciate how he was faithful to the original song while giving it kind of a metal spin.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Politics and Other Musings From Bronchitis-Suffering Jen

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

#NeverTrump To the people who thought that last Thursday’s #GOPDebate was entertaining and who actually *LIKE* Trump: you are the embodiment of everything that is wrong with politics and America today and I really wonder if you think that the 2016 election is just another season of “The Apprentice”. Discussions of one’s genitalia are not remotely appropriate for policy debate and the candidates who participated in this immature exchange have made me even more resolute in my plans to stay as far away from the Republican Party as I can.

Twitter, you have my undying thanks for giving me the highlights of these debacles so that I don’t have to traumatize myself more by actually watching them.

— 2 —

Sorting out what is true and false. If you want help sorting out the truthfulness of what the various candidates in the presidential election are saying, Polifact is a pretty good source.

— 3 —

So who would I most likely vote for? At this point, I think I’m liking Bernie Sanders the best of everyone in the race. If Hilary got the Democratic nomination, I would most likely vote for her. If both Sanders and Clinton were abducted by aliens and I had to pick which Republican candidate I would be OK with having in office, I would probably go with John Kasich because he’s the least batcrap crazy person in the Republican Party that is currently running. One of my Facebook friends commented that he’s the Democrat’s Republican and my response was, “that’s probably why I like him ;)”

— 4 —

Most importantly… You need to vote for not only the presidential candidate of your choice but *ALSO* the local/state/congressional races. No presidential candidate can fix every single problem or ram every single piece of legislation through Congress but if you actually exercise some common sense in picking the other people involved in governing and legislating, you can reasonably survive a 4-8 year term of the candidate you hate most.

Please vote.

— 5 —

Update on the bronchitis. The Z-pack seems to have knocked out the worst of the bronchitis and the low grade fever is gone so I’m just left with a coughing reflex. My childhood apiarist friend is out of local honey so I’m having to make do with some from Safeway. 🙁

— 6 —

Finally home again. We had some painting going on and as the dust and paint fumes (and wet walls) were not good things for Daniel (or me recovering from the bronchitis), my parents stuck us in a motel room for two nights until the painters finished. When we got everything up to the room and I closed and locked the door, Daniel had a panic attack. At that point, it hit me that Daniel’s meltdowns at doctor’s appointments and when he was stuck in one room while living with in-laws was due to claustrophobia on his part and not necessarily bad behavior. It put me in a really tough spot because we couldn’t be home — it was not a good place for Daniel — so we had to really push through it. I ended up curling up with him and his tablet on one of the beds in the room and eventually he calmed down. He started panicking again when it was time to take his shower (motel bathrooms tend to be pretty small) but once he was in the shower, he was OK. I even got to take my own shower before he went to sleep because I was able to trust that he would stay on the bed and play with tablet instead of escaping the room.

The painters finished this morning and I am really happy to be home in my own bed with my parents’ grey cat Homer hanging out with me.

— 7 —

Self-promotion. On Monday, I went over to hang out with Laura of Coptic Dad and Mom to talk about my Lenten discipline of (kinda sorta) fasting Coptic-style. Go check it out!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 6, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 6, 2016

Outside my window… sunny after getting smacked by a monster rainstorm with high winds last night. We even lost power briefly. This meant my dad built a fire in the fireplace last night which brings back childhood memories of power outages where we’d be playing cards around the fire or reading around the fire.

I am thinking… about whether or not to try and find an urgent care today that will take my Medi-Cal or waiting until tomorrow and taking the chance that my doctor can’t see me during Daniel’s school hours. (My allergies are now full-on bronchitis.)

I am thankful… for my parents. My mom has Daniel outside playing so that I can be in bed resting right now. My mom also made me one of the best coffee drinks ever this morning.

In the kitchen… Dad is making shrimp pasta tonight which is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, my Lenten discipline of keeping a Coptic fast is suspended until I heal from this because I’m seriously needing chicken soup.

I am wearing… charcoal fitted shirt from Old Navy and navy/white striped pajama bottoms from Target.

I am going… to be doing the lectionary reading for today and listening to a friend’s sermon later.

I am wondering… if I can get a nap in this afternoon.

I am reading… Calmness by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. I’m not very far into it but I am liking it thus far.

I am hoping… I can see my doctor tomorrow and don’t have to spend the morning calling around to find an urgent care that will take my Medi-Cal.

I am looking forward to… not coughing up a lung or having to swallow shots of Robitussin every 4 hours.

I am hearing… a game on Daniel’s Kindle Fire.

A Daniel story for today… I attended the kid’s IEP meeting on Wednesday and discovered that someone can say “I want iPad” when he goes to see his speech therapist. We are now requiring him to use “I want” whenever he asks for something and he said, “I want a cookie!” on Wednesday afternoon after we started requiring it.

Around the house… the usual cleaning, painting, etc.

A favorite quote for today… “Vestry retreats do not need exercises with yarn. Yarn does not sow seeds of transformation. Jesus does. Yarn is good for knitting scarves.”– tweet from Rev. Tim Schenck of Clergy Confidential and Lent Madness

One of my favorite things… naps.

A few plans for the rest of the week: seeing a doctor in the next day or two, avoiding painters at home, meeting on Tuesday morning for collateral support for Daniel, Bible study and choir on Thursday, and whatever else comes up.

Post Script…

Thank you to everyone who has continued to offer me support right now. It means the world to me.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.