Mea Culpa!

Despite committing to blog two weeks ago, I did not come through. Helping Chuck get ready for his knee replacement surgery plus Christmas preparations kept me busy the first week. Then one week ago today, Chuck's right knee was replaced by an excellent orthopedic surgeon and his staff. So this week has been even busier than the first one!

Although not true, I have been feeling overwhelmed by all there is to do. In fact, I cried and fell apart last Thursday when Chuck was released from the hospital. Getting him home, out of the car and into the house, I forgot that the car had been parked by the back door for easiest entry for him. However that meant the gate was NOT closed, and forgetting that, I let the dogs out--who streaked off.

Cisco, the older German Shepherd mix, came back when called, but crazy Maisie (Lab and hound mix) had disappeared. She does this at any opportunity and that's when my tears let forth. . . .as I went off to drive the neighborhood, trying to spot Maisie.

Somehow Chuck felt sorry for me in his own pain and called me up to tell me to come home. After I did, someone called to say they had found Maisie and would walk her home. Even though Maisie bolted again, this kind young woman ran her down and brought her back. People are so good.

I have not noticed Advent as much as usual, with Chuck's surgery. He had some rough days at the beginning, but has been doing better since the weekend. His mobility is increasing, and he has cut his pain meds way back.

I still have to drive him places, because his right knee was replaced. We've heard stories that it will take a month before he is able to lift his foot and leg quickly enough to drive. Only three more weeks! But it's easy to take him around, especially because he is so cheerful.

Procrastinating (through reading)

Went to Austin last weekend to help DC and AA move and to babysit Emma and Avery. Chuck stayed two days longer to paint rooms in their new house, where they move next week.

Chuck and I ordered our dinners from Mama Fu's two nights in a row (I like the Spice General Fu), while we babysat the girls. That's when we learned that Avery loves the fortune papers in fortune cookies, but she doesn't like to eat the cookies.

Coming home, I have been reading and reading. Since the Jung talks by Robert Moore at Oblate School of Theology, I have become very intrigued by dreams and books about them. Currently, I am reading several books about them, while starting others:

• Wisdom of the Heart: Working with Women's Dreams by Karen A. Signell, Ph.D.
• The Living Labyrinth: Exploring Universal Themes in Myths, Dreams, and the Symbolism of Waking Life by Jeremy Taylor
• The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales by Bruno Bettelheim (which I wish I had read when my children were young!)
• Primary Speech: A Psychology of Prayer by Ann and Barry Ulanov (which I read over a decade ago by the recommendation of Mary Jane and remember very little)

These are being read; no wonder I am confused!

Plus, I read a mystery on my Kindle, which turned out to be very similar to other mysteries by the same author, though I only noticed this at the end: Peter Pan Must Die by John Verdon.

All these books point to further procrastination, since I have not listed most of the books I have read  this year in my "2014" list. I might as well delete that!

(Not) Blogging = Procrastination

Well, at one point, I committed to blogging every day or at least more frequently. That started to fizzle when I had company from Canada and then recovery time afterwards. So this procrastination image fits me in connection to (not) blogging:

2014 Books: "Zealot"

I am definitely a reader, but also a procrastinator: So far in this third month of 2014, I have only listed one book I have read this year even though I have read many. I will try to write about some of these books in the coming weeks. This won't be in consecutive order though!

Today I feel triumphant for finishing the book, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan. Daughters AE and KA in Seattle sent it to me as a surprise some months ago, whenever there was all that hoopla about FOX News inadequately interviewing author Reza Aslan.

I put off reading it because I'd already spent years reading about the historical Jesus, both at Oblate
School of Theology and on my own. However, with our priest liking it and so many members of the Wisdom Class wanting to read it, I read it and am glad I did.

It is very historical, with lots of documentation. In fact, the author has 50 pages of expanded notes at the back of the book (219-272).  All that impresses me; I have always liked to read notes, especially extensive ones like these. Aslan sets the stage very well for the reader to imagine what the politics and culture were like in the time of Jesus and afterwards. This is important for people to read.

I found it especially interesting how he draws comparisons to Paul's view of Jesus and the experiences of those in Jerusalem who knew him in his life at the end of the book. I learned more than I ever knew before about "James the Just," the brother of Jesus, who was called "Bishop of Bishops" in Jerusalem before the decimation of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 c.e.

Zealot is an interesting book to read, one that will create questions that may be old or new to each reader. As a review by Dale B. Martin in the NY Times reveals:

"A real strength of the book is that it provides an introduction to first-century Palestine, including economics, politics and religion. Mr. Aslan uses previous scholarship to describe the precarious existence of Jewish peasants and the lower classes, and how the Romans and the Jewish upper class exploited the land and the people. He explains not just the religious but also the economic significance of the Temple, and therefore the power of the priestly class controlling it. 

“Zealot” shares some of the best traits of popular writing on scholarly subjects: it moves at a good pace; it explains complicated issues as simply as possible; it even provides notes for checking its claims. 

"But the book also suffers from common problems in popularization, like proposing outdated and simplistic theories for phenomena now seen as more complex."

(Go here to read the entire review.) 

I am glad I read it; I learned some new things; I want to investigate some aspects mentioned.  This will be a good book for our weekly book study group, the Wisdom Class, because it will prompt a lot of questions and discussion. It will be slower reading than usual, since it is more of a scholarly book, but they successfully read The Case for God by Karen Armstrong a few years ago.

Zealot is a good book to read for historical information of the area and times of Jesus; it is one that will prompt more questions, discussion and research.

Later? NO!!

My daughters AE and KA in Seattle like to create letterpressed items. They even have a shop on etsy.com.

They have spurred me on to be interested in such items, especially in cards, which I intend to write and mail off to friends and family. . . that is one aspect of my tendency to procrastinate lately, which includes blogging, exercising, letter-writing, working on my master's papers, and on and on.

I am stuck, but am earnestly sitting in meditation about the conflicting desires to proceed and to delay. Cynthia Bourgeault in her new book The Holy Trinity and The Law of Three: Discovering the Radical Truth at the Heart of Christianity advocates that the law of three produces an entirely new idea/way when opposing forces are held in tension. As I see the spring deadline for the papers completion approaches, there will be no alternative but go ahead!

Back to the picture--Unfortunately, the humor of these letterpress files listed are too true (but probably too much trouble to use):

1. maybe
2. sometime
3. never
4. unlikely 
5. later

Life: "Mediocrity Edition"

This is too easy to do in retirement and sometimes during vacations:

Serenity Prayer for CLUTTER

I used to pray the Serenity Prayer every day. Today Sue Fitzmaurice posted this clutter version on Facebook. I need to start saying this more than once a day. It seems meant for me, especially because my favorite color is green--AND I have too much junk in my house!

Procrastinating. . . again!

Unfortunately, I never got around to writing about books. As my father would always say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. . . . ." That will be delayed now until we get back from visiting our two sons, one in Houston and one in Austin. We are going to both those mega-TX-cities this weekend.

Procrastination

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Apps that Occupy Me!

My adult children introduce time-consuming and fun apps for my Ipod (Iphone for most people, but not me) that I certainly enjoy. The one that is the most fun at connecting me with others (most recently, my friend Mary Jane in CA) is Words with Friends. It is like playing Scrabble with a friend.

The one that my oldest son DC and his wife AA told me about over Easter is more infuriating at times than Words with Friends, but it is an enjoyable way to play a pictionary-like game, which is called Draw Something.

And still, the only spiritual app that I use is Equanimity, which brings me into meditation/prayer with a chime and ends whatever time I choose with three bells. I've used it to start and end centering prayer groups, also. In fact, our group at Lebh Shomea sat in centering silence with the aid of the Equanimity app each night.

 This image shows the different screens possible to look at for this app.

And here, there is the place to use it online right now on the computer, even with suggestions about how to meditate.

Friday Five: Scattered!

Revkjarla brings today's Friday Five for RevGalBlogPals:

So, I don't know about you, but I have had quite the scattered week. Sometimes, life is that way, right?

In the spirit of Scattered-ness, I offer you a scattery kind of Friday Five:

1. I lose my keys all of the time. Even if they are in my hand, I still am looking for them. Sigh!
What is something you chronically looking for, if anything?

My reading glasses! I have multiple pairs that I misplace. In contrast, my husband has three pairs--always kept in the same places, so he knows where they are. I cannot seem to do that.

Just a few days ago, I could not find my copy of Tattoos on the Heart, the book the Wisdom Class reading group is discussing every Tuesday morning. That's my well-read and highlighted copy, so I had to go on Tuesday to lead the discussion, without having re-read the chapter at all or having a book of my own. Then a few days later, I found the book on the chest by the front door in obvious sight, but that was one place I never looked when I was rushing around trying to find the book!

2. What movie are you looking forward to watching sometime in the future? (me, the new Footloose!)

I never saw "The Debt" in theaters, so I hope to rent that--plus, the last Harry Potter movie.

3. What is one of your favorite comfort foods? (me, pizza. hands down).

Chocolate!

4. Story time. Tell us a story of one your favorite people that has touched, blessed your life.

Too many people come to mind! I feel blessed that I am going to Russia in two weeks with some of my favorite people who meet with me in a weekly Renovare Spiritual Formation Group. Several are introverts like me, and I need to feel connected with them as many in the larger Methodist group are extroverts.

5. What do you do to focus or calm or center yourself? (please, I need ideas!!!)

Breath prayers, such as "All shall be well, all shall be well, all manner of things shall be well," help me to center myself, which actually occurred a few weeks ago when I ineptly gave myself my first Humira self-injection (for my RA).

The consistent practice of sitting in silence/meditation. If I can accept and remember that 1-2 minutes is enough, I manage to sit twice a day. And it would be possible to center for a few minutes throughout the day, if I would only remember.

BONUS: Share the first thing (or second thing) that comes to your mind after your read this!

I love the word "scattery" as used above, which reminds me of "cattery," which is a local haven for homeless cats. I think of "skittery" and "scattery" as the sound of a claws of dog or cat slipping and bounding on a slippery floor--an image that I can identify with when I pulled in too many directions and don't know where to go!

Also, the image of too many books comes to mind--stacks abound at my house.

I move but don't

SUDDENLY, it is time for our big trip north and west through the national parks, ending up eventually in Bellingham, WA. We leave Friday, and I feel like I am moving, without motion, to get ready and not getting enough accomplished.

So I am sorry I am not writing or reading blogs; I miss my friends and miss their comments.

I have not even finished writing postcards I got in Spain. I haven't blogged about the Spain trip OR labeled the 600+ pictures. Now I hope to write postcards to friends on this USA trip--as long as my fingers will allow me without too much pain.

I haven't gotten rid of piles of books or papers. Somehow I always think a trip is a deadline. With RA fatigue and sometimes pain, I am not meeting any of those odd goals I seem to set myself up for.

I have not written letters I meant to write--hopefully, postcards (maybe) will suffice. . .in the future.

I have no birthday present for husband CB, whose birthday will be celebrated on this trip.

The only packing I have done so far is putting a pile of books in a big bag to take along. That's one advantage to going in our own car.

There's more, but this is enough complaining. The time will get here on Friday morning; we will leave; that's that.

(Sarcasm: This is such a momentous 1,999 post!)

Future goals

Though it is Tuesday, which is a very busy day here, I stopped in at yesterday's RevGalBlogPals Meet and Greet and thus visited a new member's blog Fruitful Words, more specifically her category for "Declutter." I am struck by the idea of "Goal Planning Monday" (even though it is Tuesday):


There's a seed for my future. . . .as well as visiting the other new blog members, plus old regulars, since I have not been blogging much lately.

Last Minute Success

Unfortunately, that seems to be my motto. In high school, college and grad school, I lived this out--I always wrote papers the night before and got A's. Unfortunately, age has set in and I'm not as gifted on the spot like that anymore.

Today I was lucky enough to think of a way to get my car's annual safety inspection done while I was at my Tai Chi class. Last night CB noticed that the inspection sticker was expiring on Halloween, something I had completely ignored. Usually by waiting until the last minute, one spends hours waiting for one's turn.

Instead, this afternoon I left my car at the service station to be in the inspection queue and then I walked two blocks to the church for my Tai Chi Class. Two hours later I walked back, and the inspection had been completed.

What a satisfying day, especially with it being cooler and much less humid outdoors--in the mid 70s this afternoon. (Like a Bellingham summer day!)

Procrastinating

Thanks to Blue Eyed Ennis.

The caption is "No Words"

The caption for this is "no words," which is how I've been feeling lately.

I hope I am not joining the ranks of former bloggers who just leave. Since vacation to Alaska, where I pre-posted, I have had little interest in blogging, not even putting pictures from the trip here. To capture my interest tonight, I thought I'd do one of those me-me-me bullet points of what is/is not going on lately.

• My mouth has mostly healed from my splat accident in Seattle two weeks ago. I have an annoying bump that still needs to heal inside of my mouth, which seems to be the remnant of the hole.

• I continue in my reading of mysteries checked out from our public library. I really like the authors recommended in the "Newsweek" editorial that I mentioned here. Denise Mina and Benjamin Black are my current favorites. I am able to find more books by Denise Mina at the local libraries. I really like the young journalist in Glasgow that Mina writes about; she is an interesting character from an Irish Catholic background but in Scotland.

• I am reading too much to be de-cluttering. It's more than likely a procrastination ploy. I am enjoying these last few weeks before all the classes and commitments start up again with the advent of Labor Day.

• A friend asked me to help at the Green Fair she organized for next Sunday at First United Methodist Church. I was excited about reading Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices by Julie Clawson, which prompted my interest in participating in the Green Fair--especially about fair trade items. Today I bought a cardboard project board, which I will be decorating with info this week.

• Among the interesting and disturbing topics I have learned about is the slavery and human trafficking involved in the farming and production of cocoa beans. I learned much more when I read Bitter Chocolate: The Dark Side of the World's Most Seductive Sweet by Carol Off. The author dramatically quotes a young cocoa worker saying, "When people eat chocolate, they are eating my flesh." (134)

• Go here to see a chart that shows which chocolate companies have slave-free chocolate, as well as reading a well-researched articled about chocolate and its production.

• Oddly, both husband CB and I are called to show up for jury duty on the same date and time--next Monday, August 30 at 8 am.

• My friend Terry in Seattle will be 60 years old tomorrow. Happy Birthday to Terry! I will be 60 in two months.

• CB and I saw the movie "Inception" yesterday at a matinee. We really enjoyed it. I liked it better than CB, who said it got too complicated. I want to see it again to wait until after all the credits are run to see if the top stops spinning.

If only. . . .

Graduate?

by Bruce Tinsley, the conservative political cartoonist

Unfortunately, this seems to be my philosophy and I am much older than the guy pictured--so imagine a lady with white hair up there!

Oh, those papers. . . . after Alaska!

Friday Five: Running LATE!

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!

As I opened up my computer this morning, I directly went to my blog and RevGals to see what the newest Friday Five would be! Nothing was here, which seemed odd. Then I went to look at the calendar and counted the Fridays, and it is the THIRD Friday! How did that happen so quickly? It's my turn, so here's a quickie:

1. Do you tend to be a late person or one who is timely, arriving on time or earlier?
I am more likely to be a timely or early person. Living in slower South TX culture for more than 25 years has sometimes caused me to show up a few minutes late, but that does not happen too often. Having a Marine for a father had me learn the importance of timeliness when I was growing up.

2. Have you forgotten anything of importance lately?
First off, I forgot about this being the third Friday of the month!

I slept through a walking date with a friend last month, which now means I do not forget on Thursday mornings to show up at the mall at 7 am. That was a good teaching moment!

Over the years, I have forgotten a lunch date because I have not written it on the calendar--OR haven't looked at the calendar!

3. Is procrastination your inclination? Why or why not?
Yes, I admit that I tend to procrastinate. As I am continuing to put off those looming papers, I think it is due to my "all or nothing" outlook--for perfection. I am trying to learn that writing is a process with expected inadequacies; I would learn more quickly if I wrote every day (and not just on my blog!).

4. Do you like schedules or spontaneity? Which works best for you?
I'm in the middle here. Being an introvert, I function better with schedules, especially for meetings. I have some extrovert friends who espouse spontaneity, but they arrive late and talk excessively. That is not what I think of "spontaneity." A middle ground works better for all concerned.

5. How do you stay on track with the various things you need to, people you must meet, etc., etc.?
Keep my calendar up to date! Lately, I need to write myself notes, too.

One practice that keeps me on task is recording friends' and family's birthdays on the calendar so that I can send them birthday cards. When I was a teenager in Japan, I started writing those dates on the new calendar on January 1st. I still do this every year.

Is reading a waste of time?

For the past few days much of my time has been spent reading. Now, I don't really think that reading is a "waste of time," BUT I have avoided some "shoulds" while reading. Now that I've finished The Poet Prince by Kathleen McGowan, I must start tackling the "storage" in BJ's old room. He is coming home tomorrow with hyper dog Troy and needs room to sleep on his old bed!

I enjoyed this third book in the Magdaline Line of Kathleen McGowan. This series is described as "quasi-Christian historical fiction" and I would throw in "thriller," too. They are good summer books to read. The first one is The Expected One, which is followed by The Book of Love. These stories intertwine the contemporary fiction of Maureen Paschal, supposedly someone linked to Mary Magadalene, and Berenger Sinclair, the newest Poet Prince. These are all imaginatively related to the physical union and marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Heresies abound in a historical setting, where this time I learned about the Pazzi Conspiracy in 1526.

There are hints at the end of The Poet Prince that the next book will be about Henry the VIII and Anne Boleyn interspersed with more dramas of Maureen and Berenger.

There are varying opinions about the author, who believes that she (herself) is descended from Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Rollin McCleary writes a long post about her on his blog. Also, here is an article about her by Carol Memmott of USA Today on the publication of the first book in 2006, but it is still relevant.

I found the books fun.