Mamassage

PAINFUL HOT MUSCLES

I am so unfathomably sore. I am still waiting for the day when I start being strong, and stop JUST being unable to move. Some day I hope to be able to say, “Yeah, you like this body? Thank Pilates.” In the meantime, I’m just going to crawl over to the shower and try to keep standing long enough for some relief.

(Oh, and by the way, no, that’s not me in that photo. But with a little perseverance, it will be.)

RANDOM THOUGHTS

1. Baby step::  Cautious
2. Wasted:: Days & wasted nights
3. Reggie::  Jackson
4. Pitiful::  Merciless
5. Acting out::  Tantrum
6. Tomato::  To-mah-to
7. Bad night::  Nightmare
8. Trip::  Voyage
9. Finance charges:: Shitty
10. Sport::  Coupe

Unconscious Mutterings

BUMPING DUE TO IMPORTANCE

For those of you who read my blog, but are not part of the blogging community itself. I would like to make an appeal. For several months, I have been following the story of brave Annika and her equally courageous mother, Moreena.

Well, Annika has been in and out of the PICU at Chicago’s Children’s hospital for quite some time now. And just when we thought that things had about reached the bottom, their insurance company informed them that they’d reached their annual max...for 2006.

So folks all over the blogosphere are setting up fundraisers. And no, this isn’t a scam. In fact one of the immediately mobilized help-sites states:

DO NOT cut and paste this text and email it to all of your friends. We do not want to become spam; we do not want to have the email message show up in our inbox five years from now when Annika is happy and healthy and living at home and causing her mother no end of trouble. Practice responsible internet fundraising! Link to the pages so that interested people can always get the most recent information.

I cannot imagine the sheer horror that I, and many of you, would feel if this were to happen to Kajsa. So while I am not the most financially stable person in the world, I do have a big mouth. I figured that I could use it to share with others who may have more resources...or even ideas.

This page links to most of Annika's help pages.

Thank you for caring.

 

 

TAKING A NOSTALGIA BREATHER

I’ve really been looking forward to writing my Monday Memory for the past week. Unfortunately, when Sunday rolled around, I was simply not in the mood for the soul searching I generally experience when completing a MM. Please accept my humblest of apologies. I fully intend to participate next week.

JESUS PETS

As seen on Texas Dave’s blog. 

I am thinking that this might just be the answer to all my financial prayers.

SHIZ-KNIT

You might find the item unsightly. But it is sheer beauty, when compared to the comments of others.

(Yes, Jen, I was thinking of you when I saw this.) 

YOU TALK, I LISTEN

According to Wickepedia:

A Johari window is a metaphorical tool intended to help people better understand their interpersonal communication and relationships. It is used primarily in self-help groups and corporate settings as a heuristic exercise.

Well wouldn’t you know, I found an interactive online Johari window. So I’ve begun one for myself. And I would just love it if you would be willing to give me a little feedback. Yes, I truly am a sucker for these self-indulgent forms of pop therapy.

Oh, and by the way, anyone can create one. If you decide to do so, I’ll gladly share my thoughts about you, too.

Here’s MINE.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Don Knotts died today at 81. He won a several Emmys for his role as Barney Fife, and tickled our funny bones as Mr. Furley.  My favorites, though, will always be Theodore Ogelvie in The Apple Dumpling Gang and his repeat Scoobie-Doo performances as himself/detective/groundskeeper.

FRIDAY'S FEAST

POTATO PANCAKES WITH CHUNKY VEGETABLE STEW

Vegetable stew

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 12 ounces 1/2-inch cubes zucchini
• 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 15 1/2-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed, drained
• 12 Kalamata olives, pitted, chopped

Potato pancakes

• 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, coarsely grated, squeezed dry in towel
• 1/3 cup grated onion
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• Nonstick vegetable oil spray
• 4 teaspoons olive oil

For vegetable stew:

1. Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Add next 4 ingredients; stir 1 minute.
4. Add zucchini and tomatoes with juices; bring to boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer until zucchini is tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
6. Add garbanzos and olives; simmer 3 minutes.

For potato pancakes:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Mix first 3 ingredients in bowl.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Working in batches, spray large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray; add 1 teaspoon oil.
5. Heat over medium-high heat.
6. Add potato mixture by 1/3 cupfuls, spreading each to 3-inch round.
7. Cook until pancakes are brown, about 5 minutes per side.
8. Transfer to baking sheet; keep warm in oven.

• Place 3 pancakes on each of 4 plates.
• Spoon stew over and serve.

 

Per serving: calories, 420; total fat, 12 g; saturated fat, 1 g; cholesterol, 0

Makes 4 servings.

Recipe By: Bon Appétit January 2003 via Epicurious.com

SHAKING MY HEAD IN BEWILDERMENT

Thanks to my perusal of the website devoted to The Twin Cities Creation Science Association’s (TCCSA) science fair.

Yes you guessed it. This science fair was specifically for Christian Homeschoolers of Minnesota. Their science fair goals?

1. Know your material.
2. Be Confident.
3. Communicate well. 
4. Be thorough.
5. Pray your exhibit will witness to non-Christian visitors.

You know, that’s what I associate with science...conversion of heretics.  Oh, wait, that would be me. No wonder I don’t get it.

Bear in mind that every exhibit is required to display a bible verse. While this may seem a bit odd to me, I was unaware that the following was the perceived purpose of evolutionary biologists.

Evolutionists ask this question:
How can I prove that evolution is true (and God does not exist). This may not be stated in this way, but is inferred by their writings. Darwin and others have said that if evolution is true, there is no need for God.

Creation scientists need to ask this question:
What can I learn about myself, God, and God's plan for the universe as I study His creation today. I believe true science is a way to learn more about God and ourselves. It is a living class room in which God is the Instructor and we the students. Jesus used common things in nature to illustrate his principles as he taught.

It must be such beliefs which led them to proclaim:

Unlike Some Science Fair Sites
We Are For Real!
Unlike Many Secular Educators
We Teach The Scientific Method!

Each student is provided with a list of suggested creation science topics from which they may choose. Among my favorites are:

• How many shades of skin color are there? Use a paint scanner to test 100 people.
•  What affects skin color? Is one color better than another? What was God's purpose?
• Is intelligence influenced by physical attributes? i.e. are blondes "dumb" or does skin color influence intelligence?
• Statistical occurrence of giants, and midgets and dwarfs and giantism. Use Princess Flo, Goliath, and brothers.
• What can we learn from the Amish blood disease and sixth finger? Compare this to the half Jewish Samaritans.
• How much voltage or current can a human take before he is killed? Could do experiments on a plant.
• Build and run studies on a strata forming wave tank. This would confirm or disprove strata are all laid down at the same time.
• What was life like before the Flood?
•  Make a computer model of the Flood currents.
•  Trilobites prove Noah's flood because they are curled up or not?
•  Do Lilydale closed clam fossils support a world wide flood? Collect 100 shells and compare.
• What was the weather like before the Flood?
• Were all the animals friendly to man before the Flood? Idea: raise several baby animals like snake and mouse together to see if they remain friends as they are older.
• Why do they live longer before the Flood?
• Why did God create the moon to control the tides?
• Is there a way for humans to get to Jupiter? Mars? etc.
•  If there were aliens, why would they visit humans?
• What are aliens and are there really any in our world? see Lamentations 5:2, Eph 2:12, Heb 11:34.
• Why does the Bible say there is one glory of the sun, one glory of the moon, and one glory of the stars?
• Why did God make pests like bugs and mosquitoes?
•  Why did God make birds to fly?
• How long can flies survive freezing in a frig?
• Are humans mammals? We thought they were made in God's image and not related to animals.
• What is God made of?
• Where was the Garden of Eden? Is it around today?
• Why do people believe in Evolution?
• What events caused them to become evolutionists?

I still don’t get it.

I have no issue with people believing whatever they feel in their hearts. But why do some otherwise smart folks insist on using religion as an excuse to keep them from seeing facts & evidence clearly.
Evolution is not a theory people. It has been proven. Intelligent design is an interesting religious anecdote. But in my opinion, it belongs in a social studies class. Because, honestly, it has nothing to do with science.