Thursday, September 29, 2011
Flopping Leaves
Last weekend we did our annual trip up to look at the aspens with Gavin and Sarah. Unfortunately the two sources we consulted about when the leaves would look the best were both wrong and most of the leaves were still quite green. There were patches here and there of gold, but only a few trees were sporting the brilliantly gold leaves we were seeking. It was an odd mix of leaves. Many aspen at higher elevations were greener than their counterparts at lower elevations. So we're going to try again this weekend. We'll see what happens.
Last week, we met in Bailey and then drove up to Kenosha Pass. The parking lot for the trails was full and the leaves were green, so we continued over and then headed through the colorful town of Como. That led us up Boreas Pass, which was pretty, but predominantly evergreens. We did come down into Breckenridge, which was sporting some golden colors. We took a walk and grabbed lunch before continuing over Loveland pass which is devoid of aspens. So, it was not too successful.
This week we're starting out in Golden, hoping that the auspicious name of that town will lend its tint to our trip. We'll head up towards Golden Gate State Park (there it is again) and then meander from there. Unfortunately we spent our time budget last week, so this has to be a quicker trip. We have disgusting bathrooms to be cleaned and pies to be made that demand our attention.
And on a limited culinary note, I made some ginger lime grape ice cream. The grapes were the base, but all you can taste are the ginger and lime. It's very tasty, but not what I was expecting. I think to get grape flavor, you may have to go with artificial flavors, or at least tarter grapes. But ice cream season is winding down. Perhaps now I need to be focusing on bread. Hmm...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Welcome Home
I've also been taking walks out to Waneka Lake in the evenings. I miss Nature and the connection I get with God when I'm out there. Tonight was no exception. There was a tremendous sunset. Swallows filled the air and dipped and weaved right above the surface of the lake. A light shower of raindrops rippled the lake, which was reflecting back a blazing sunset framed above rugged mountain peaks. Thanks, God!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Filler
Filler is one way to describe episodes of a TV show that don't advance the plot. Nothing really changes in the main important story line, and the characters run around in circles for a while trying to entertain the audience while nothing of import occurs. This is particularly apparent in anime shows adapted from manga (Japanese comic books). Anime series will have large stretches of filler while they wait for the manga to get far enough ahead of the series or for the animators to create the episodes that are part of the main story.
Not only is filler inconsequential, but it also tends to be lower quality. The writing is lower quality. The animation is lower quality. It's merely there to entertain the audience and keep them occupied and watching until the new episodes start with the good stuff.
Filler is also creeping into my life. The content that made me think about this was my phone. It has twitter and Facebook and RSS feeds to divert me whenever I have a spare second or two. It has become my interstitial activity. Whenever I have a spare moment between larger activities or events, I pick up my phone to see the latest from twitter or whichever piece of filler can wedge itself into my time. For a while there I even was taking my phone to the bathroom to fill that slice of time where I am somewhat idle.
It's filler content. It's low quality and only there to keep me entertained. What it has done is push out what used to occupy those nooks and crannies in my day. What used to be there was contemplation, prayer, daydreaming and just plain old space. These things give my brain a bit of a respite from work or errands and help keep me connected with God and the world around me. When I am constantly entertained by a screen in front of me, I don't look around and notice the world, the people in it, or the Spirit acting in it.
So today at church as I was running slides for the worship team's rehearsal, I put my phone in its sleeve and set it down. It felt good to have a bit more head space to prayer or contemplate or do whatever and let the mind uncoil and stretch. Let's see if I can make that a habit.
Not only is filler inconsequential, but it also tends to be lower quality. The writing is lower quality. The animation is lower quality. It's merely there to entertain the audience and keep them occupied and watching until the new episodes start with the good stuff.
Filler is also creeping into my life. The content that made me think about this was my phone. It has twitter and Facebook and RSS feeds to divert me whenever I have a spare second or two. It has become my interstitial activity. Whenever I have a spare moment between larger activities or events, I pick up my phone to see the latest from twitter or whichever piece of filler can wedge itself into my time. For a while there I even was taking my phone to the bathroom to fill that slice of time where I am somewhat idle.
It's filler content. It's low quality and only there to keep me entertained. What it has done is push out what used to occupy those nooks and crannies in my day. What used to be there was contemplation, prayer, daydreaming and just plain old space. These things give my brain a bit of a respite from work or errands and help keep me connected with God and the world around me. When I am constantly entertained by a screen in front of me, I don't look around and notice the world, the people in it, or the Spirit acting in it.
So today at church as I was running slides for the worship team's rehearsal, I put my phone in its sleeve and set it down. It felt good to have a bit more head space to prayer or contemplate or do whatever and let the mind uncoil and stretch. Let's see if I can make that a habit.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
A Narrow Escape
My brother-in-law Joe is in the Navy. Two months after getting married to Jen's sister Christie, he was deployed to Afghanistan for a year. The military is not known for having the best timing in personal matters. So, a year has passed and it is coming time for Joe to come home. In fact, he was supposed to leave Afghanistan on September 11th, not a particularly auspicious date. Indeed, there was a couple of attacks on US bases in Afghanistan, including Baghram Air Force base, so his departure was delayed an indeterminate amount of time until it was safer.
Following the delay, insurgents mounted a bold attack on the US Embassy in Kabul and the NATO bases near it. This definitely got our attention, as Joe's base was right next door to the embassy. We followed the reports of gunfire and rocket propelled grenades seeking out information on any casualties. Thankfully, there were no US or NATO casualties in the attack, though at least 7 Afghans were killed and many more were wounded. Shortly thereafter we got word that Joe had left Afghanistan and was headed to an intermediary base between there and the US for some debriefing. So either he left right in the midst of the attack or just before it.
We're so grateful he was able to get out of Afghanistan safely, though a bit curious as to what exactly happened and whether he was near Kabul when the attack on the 13th occurred. We definitely thank God for protecting him and we are praying for his safe return to the US and to his waiting bride.
Following the delay, insurgents mounted a bold attack on the US Embassy in Kabul and the NATO bases near it. This definitely got our attention, as Joe's base was right next door to the embassy. We followed the reports of gunfire and rocket propelled grenades seeking out information on any casualties. Thankfully, there were no US or NATO casualties in the attack, though at least 7 Afghans were killed and many more were wounded. Shortly thereafter we got word that Joe had left Afghanistan and was headed to an intermediary base between there and the US for some debriefing. So either he left right in the midst of the attack or just before it.
We're so grateful he was able to get out of Afghanistan safely, though a bit curious as to what exactly happened and whether he was near Kabul when the attack on the 13th occurred. We definitely thank God for protecting him and we are praying for his safe return to the US and to his waiting bride.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Hidden Servants
Labor Day seems a better day than most to post about servants. I've been reading Bill Bryson's book At Home recently. Bryson in the past has written some travel books that have left me helpless with laughter. His writing is now more historical than hysterical, but he certainly knows how to draw out the more interesting and entertaining tidbits from history which helps keep my eyes on the page.
At Home is a history of the home, or more accurately, how history ends up and accrues in our homes, making them the way they are today. One of the things Bryson covers is how servants kept a household running back in the 18th and 19th century. Mostly their tales were ones of hardship, humiliation and unreasonable employers. Yet they were lucky in a way, as they had a certain modicum of security and stability unavailable to peasant farmers. Still, they worked brutal hours, had no rooms of their own in many cases, and were not exactly treated like people.
It got me to thinking about the many hidden servants we have now. To live the middle class lifestyle Jen and I have grown accustomed to except transplanted to the 18th century would require a coterie of servants. This has made me more grateful for the hidden servants we do employ. Some of the obvious ones are our washer and dryer that keep us in clean clothes and the dishwasher that supports my cooking habits. Servants doing the laundry had one of the worst tasks. Not only were they having to scrub and rinse and mangle, but they had to come up with their own cleaning agents. There was no bleach or detergent back then, so they had to manufacture their own. They also had temperamental fabrics to work with that were treated with dyes that were less stable than their modern counterparts. And if fabrics were mixed, say a linen tablecloth with lace accents, a laundress might have to disassemble the tablecloth to wash each part separately and then reassemble the whole thing afterwards. Then they had to dry the laundry and hope no one stole the laundry (a common occurrence) and cost them their job.
We have more servants still, though less obvious ones. Instead of footmen, we have phones and email that carry our messages to their intended destinations. Plumbing takes the place of those servants that would do the difficult task of drawing a bath or the unpleasant task of emptying chamber pots. Electric lighting takes the place of a host of candles and lamps that would require constant attention from servants to keep lit and prevent them from burning down the house. Then there's the vacumn cleaner, the blender, my car engine, my sprinkler system, and more.
Of course, we no longer have some classes of servants. I dress myself, thank you very much. One noble back in the day was unable to work his own toothbrush because he had a servant who always handed it to him foaming. Without his servant, he thought his toothbrush was broken because it wasn't already foaming. I somehow manage to make it through this life without that service.
So, I am grateful for the hidden servants that support my bourgeois existence. I'm grateful that people no longer must suffer through laundry or larding knives to prevent rust or scrubbing flagstones. I am grateful for those who pick my fruit, ship it across continents and oceans, stock it in my store and manage the checkout process so I can get my pears in July. Thanks!
At Home is a history of the home, or more accurately, how history ends up and accrues in our homes, making them the way they are today. One of the things Bryson covers is how servants kept a household running back in the 18th and 19th century. Mostly their tales were ones of hardship, humiliation and unreasonable employers. Yet they were lucky in a way, as they had a certain modicum of security and stability unavailable to peasant farmers. Still, they worked brutal hours, had no rooms of their own in many cases, and were not exactly treated like people.
It got me to thinking about the many hidden servants we have now. To live the middle class lifestyle Jen and I have grown accustomed to except transplanted to the 18th century would require a coterie of servants. This has made me more grateful for the hidden servants we do employ. Some of the obvious ones are our washer and dryer that keep us in clean clothes and the dishwasher that supports my cooking habits. Servants doing the laundry had one of the worst tasks. Not only were they having to scrub and rinse and mangle, but they had to come up with their own cleaning agents. There was no bleach or detergent back then, so they had to manufacture their own. They also had temperamental fabrics to work with that were treated with dyes that were less stable than their modern counterparts. And if fabrics were mixed, say a linen tablecloth with lace accents, a laundress might have to disassemble the tablecloth to wash each part separately and then reassemble the whole thing afterwards. Then they had to dry the laundry and hope no one stole the laundry (a common occurrence) and cost them their job.
We have more servants still, though less obvious ones. Instead of footmen, we have phones and email that carry our messages to their intended destinations. Plumbing takes the place of those servants that would do the difficult task of drawing a bath or the unpleasant task of emptying chamber pots. Electric lighting takes the place of a host of candles and lamps that would require constant attention from servants to keep lit and prevent them from burning down the house. Then there's the vacumn cleaner, the blender, my car engine, my sprinkler system, and more.
Of course, we no longer have some classes of servants. I dress myself, thank you very much. One noble back in the day was unable to work his own toothbrush because he had a servant who always handed it to him foaming. Without his servant, he thought his toothbrush was broken because it wasn't already foaming. I somehow manage to make it through this life without that service.
So, I am grateful for the hidden servants that support my bourgeois existence. I'm grateful that people no longer must suffer through laundry or larding knives to prevent rust or scrubbing flagstones. I am grateful for those who pick my fruit, ship it across continents and oceans, stock it in my store and manage the checkout process so I can get my pears in July. Thanks!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Gold Life
There's a new series of Dunnies out called Gold Life. Rather than the normal pattern of having a group of artists design Dunnies around a theme, this whole series is by a single artist: Huck Gee. This particular series looks great and is all based around the Japanese feudal age. It's a great series. I don't think there is one figure in the series that I wouldn't like to have.
Today I picked up a few of the series. It's already sold out from the KidRobot site. I was happy to be able to pick up a few from Plastic Chapel including the two pack of a kabuki actor and samurai (on the right). I was also grateful to get the panda and the tiger (left and center), which were the key ones I wanted, though I didn't get the rhino with the eyepatch. I mean, it's a rhino with an eyepatch! How awesome is that?
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