Archive for the ‘Everyday Life’ Category

Kids, I blew up the honey

March 11th, 2010

There was a little over a tablespoon worth of honey in the honey bottle–just enough for my peanut butter and honey sandwich. The problem was, it was solid.

So I stuck the bottle in the microwave and, too lazy to push the buttons for just a couple of seconds, pushed the “minute plus” button.

Then, too industrious to do nothing while in the kitchen, I started emptying the dish drainer.

About 45 seconds later, I heard an enormous “POP!”

The lid had been blown off the now shriveled honey bottle and a thin layer of honey evenly coated all six internal surfaces of the microwave.

Well, at least the microwave got cleaned today.

Category: Everyday Life ◊ Comments (2)

Ridiculously busy

March 3rd, 2010

Why do I do things like this to myself? Why do I let myself get this busy? Why do I procrastinate to the point that I have days packed this full?

I don’t know why. But I do.

For instance, on today’s agenda?

Statistics homework
Statistics class
Prep tomorrow’s nutrition lab
Review nutrition student’s outline
Write quiz for tomorrow’s nutrition lab
Grade nutrition lab papers
Post practice test for Nutrition and Metabolism students
Statistics lab homework
Statistics lab
Shop for Rock Solid
Assemble fruit skewers for Rock Solid
Present on fruits and veggies to 2 groups at Rock Solid
Catch up on Experiencing God homework
Attend Experiencing God (as soon as I’m done with Rock Solid)

Just a minute–what am I doing on the internet right now?

Category: Everyday Life ◊ Comments (0)

A Brief Hiatus

February 10th, 2010

Sorry about not having a Love Month post today.

God is currently challenging me to be faithful in the little. The little things like getting my grading done and keeping up-to-date on school work, that is. So I spent the day getting caught up on grading (but now, at last, I am caught up!)

I’ll be planning on posting the next installment in between lab and my office hours tomorrow (early afternoon)–or, should unforeseen complication arise, I’ll have the next post ready for tomorrow evening.

In the meantime, I encourage you, also, to be faithful in the “little things” God has given to your charge–even when the “little things” aren’t exactly your favorite things.

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Today (in rhyme and meter, of a sort)

February 4th, 2010

The snow on my head
melts
and runs to my eyelid
It dissolves
my mascara
which drips into my eye
I cry

Once upon a time,
while snow came down
in a flurry,
a girl went out
in a hurry.
The ground was slick
and her glasses
were blurry.
Twice, she slipped.
But not to worry–
She fell into
a soft mud slurry.

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Our Shared Addiction

January 22nd, 2010

Although scientists have struggled to discover precise genes for addictions, it is generally recognized that certain addictions tend to run in families. Alcoholism. Nicotine addiction. Addiction to elicit drugs.

Just like most issues ascribed to genetics, the question always arises–is it nature or nurture? Do I act like my family acts because it is hard-wired into me or because I learn it from my family? I don’t know. Scientists don’t know. It’s been debated for years.

My family might be said to have an addiction. At least, my father and I share a common addiction. We’re both “information junkies”. We like to be surrounded by information constantly–whether reading it, listening to it on talk radio, discussing it with a friend, or watching a documentary. Give me information.

Cut off from information, I go through withdrawal–I start to twitch and make random noises. :-)

Thankfully, information is readily available at my local library, online, and across the yard at my parents’ house. So I rarely have to experience withdrawal.

You might say it’s genetic. My dad is a notorious information junkie.

But maybe it’s nurture. I grew up listening to Ravi Zacharias on the way to church, Rush Limbaugh on errands, and RTB Radio Podcasts while my dad showered in the room next door. I remember watching coverage of the Gulf War after dinner on the little television we took out of the closet expressly for that purpose. My family had (still has) three sets of encyclopedias. I read them regularly.

Nature or nurture, I’m an addict. So is my dad.

He got me hooked at a young age, as I took sips from the deep glasses he drank from. The encyclopedias acted as a gateway drug, the library my nearest pusher. Soon I was a full-fledged addict. Our drug choices and routes of delivery diverged throughout my teen years, although we still took time to snort together.

But now, again, we have come to share in our addiction freely.

I read blogs, a great variety. My dad reads blogs, mostly news, science, and politics. In Instapundit, we have again found a shared addiction.

“Did you read that article by the Instawife?” Dad asks.

I ask for a bit more description. I checked Insta early that morning–this hadn’t been posted until the afternoon. Dad catches me up on the latest.

“What do you think of that piece on electric cars?” I ask him right back.

We discuss nuclear energy, Supreme court rulings, male empowerment, and liberal extremism–all sparked by our new common link.

Maybe it runs in families, maybe it’s just us–but information is our shared addiction, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Tags: addictions, Family, genetics, information, Instapundit
Category: Everyday Life, Family, Reflections ◊ Comments (2)

Worship While You Work

January 19th, 2010

Women are said to be master multi-taskers. And for my part, I believe it.

We all know at least one mother who somehow manages to make lunch, do the breakfast dishes, carry on a conversation with her pre-teen, help her teen with geometry homework, and supervise her youngster’s piano practice, all while compiling a mental grocery list.

I don’t have those kind of skills.

But I do like to multi-task whenever possible (even if my multitasking is generally on the line of 2-4 tasks rather than half a dozen or more.)

One of my favorite ways to “multi-task” is to worship while I work. You’ve heard the ditty “Whistle while you work…” which advises you to whistle while you work because “it won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace.” I don’t whistle while I work to make my work go more quickly, I worship while I work to keep my focus on Christ instead of on all the other things that housework generally makes me focus on.

You know what kinds of things I’m talking about…
…frustration at always ending up with an odd sock (or worse, a half dozen odd socks, all from different pairs)
…anger at SOMEONE for tracking mud across the carpet
…self-pity because I’m the ONLY one who ever does the dishes
And lots more.

If I let it, housework can get me into a high dudgeon. So I don’t. I don’t let it, that is. Instead, I worship while I work.

I keep a hymnal in my kitchen. I open it up and set it in a corner of my counter. Then I sing hymns as I stir my sauce, knead my bread, or mop my floor.

I turn on worship music on my computer as I fold my laundry or tidy my bedroom.

I pray or sing “freestyle” as I wash dishes or vacuum the carpet.

It’s a little thing. Maybe even a silly thing. But worshipping while I work helps me keep my mind on who I’m working for.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Colossians 3:23

Category: Everyday Life, Home ◊ Comments (0)

Surprise Friendship

January 15th, 2010

She sat at the end of the table in our Advanced Nutrition Counseling class and asked good questions. Most of the girls (and the one guy) in the class were familiar faces. She wasn’t.

When I went down to my adviser’s lab for lunch, she was there. Dr. J is her adviser too–and she was TA-ing for one of Dr. J’s classes.

We grew acquainted over meals and meetings and sharing teaching horror stories.

Towards the end of the semester, she started asking questions and our friendship grew a bit deeper. She prefaced her questions “I know this is a kinda personal question, and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but…” I couldn’t help answering.

When I walked into Statistics this Monday and saw her sitting in the back row, I could have cried with relief. I needed something, someone, anything, anyone to keep my mind busy, to keep me occupied. Chante provided the perfect relief.

I knew she knew there was something going on, but she didn’t press. We talked school work and TA-ing and thesis. We looked forward to seeing each other again on Wednesday.

I didn’t want to do anything today–and thankfully, I didn’t have to do much. Just Statistics. I stopped and waited while she finished at the water fountain and then walked with her into class.

After class, we got to talking about this and that. Life, and all that entails. I knew the question would rise sometime–the conversation we’d started before break. I was ready to share when the question came.

Chante listened to me, encouraged me, patted me on the back. “That’s amazing, Rebekah” she told me. “That’s good. You’re growing, you’re learning, this has been a good experience for you.” She reminded me to not lose heart in prayer, to keep pouring my heart out before God. She laughed with me at my jumbled emotions, and told me I needn’t be afraid to cry.

And so I did. She told me she admires me, admires what God’s doing in my life. And she told me I’m in her prayers–and have been since we first started discussing the topic.

We said goodbye and I walked back to my car, tears rolling down my face.

Thank you, Thank you, Lord, for the unexpected blessing of a surprise friendship. Who’d have thought that I’d find such a precious sister, so dear to my heart, in the musty halls of Ruth Leverton? And who’d have dreamed we’d find ourselves in the same class this semester–just when I needed a friend?

God thought it. God dreamed it. He arranged the class time, arranged the news, arranged the mood, arranged it all–and blessed me with a sister at school.

Category: Everyday Life, Faith, Thankfulness ◊ Comments (0)

Thankful Thursday: Coulda been much worse

January 14th, 2010

Today I’m thankful that it coulda been much worse.

I coulda mistakenly bought $25 worth of unnecessary groceries instead of $5 worth.
I coulda budgeted 1/2 hour too little time to set up my lab instead of 5 minutes too little time.
I coulda broken my leg when I fell on the ice/slush today instead of just getting the left leg of my pants soaked through.
I coulda had a half dozen students upset that I missed half of my “office hour” when my meeting ran late.
I coulda not been able to get to class in time, instead of having to park at a meter in order to get to class on time.
My adviser coulda completely shot down my thesis proposal instead of just telling me to find a theory to tie it to.
I coulda been completely overwhelmed by the physical and emotional events of this week, but God’s grace has been all sufficient.

It coulda been much worse, but it wasn’t–and for that, I am thankful.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Category: Everyday Life, Thankful Thursday ◊ Comments (0)

Life, Facebook-ified

January 8th, 2010

When you spend fifteen minutes discussing emoticons at dinner…
When you debate the relative merits of “Live Feed”, “News Feed”, and “Status Updates”…
When conversation includes telling everyone else what your Facebook status is…
When you learn of your friends’ friendships, dating relationships, and engagements via Facebook and consider a “Facebook official” relationship more real than one that is not “Facebook official”…

Life has become just a bit too Facebook-ified.

Do you remember the days before Facebook?
Do you remember when if you wanted to catch up on somebody’s life, you’d call them?
Do you remember when you used to spend hours talking with actual people without a keyboard mediating?
Do you remember when you didn’t know what each of your “friends” ate for lunch and (horror!) what color bra they’re wearing?
Do you remember when you used to actually laugh out loud, rather than just “LOL”?

I remember those days, and I miss them.

Remember when Facebook first came out and you spent hours procrastinating homework while spying on all your friends?
Remember when said spying meant you had to actually click on their name and visit their page, where you could read what they had written and write a comment?
Remember when you started to get tired of Facebook, realizing it was a terrific time waster?
Remember when you started checking Facebook less and less frequently?

I remember those days. But then Facebook changed.

Now the progression has changed. People don’t grow tired of Facebook and log off anymore. Now they’re inundated with constant stimulation in the form of a feed of some sort. They’re offered countless opportunities for procrastination through games and “boxes”. They don’t have to actively stalk their friends anymore–they can do it without even thinking. Just log in and stay on.

You don’t need to talk to people anymore. Just Facebook chat them.
You don’t need to write a letter. Just send a Facebook message.
You don’t need to catch up on the news. Just check your news feed.
You don’t need board games or card games, just play on Facebook.
You don’t even need to send gifts anymore, send a cow or a cactus or a cupcake on Facebook.

I miss my life before Facebook.

But I doubt I’ll ever get it back.

So I do what I can to take advantage of Facebook’s strengths while minimizing its negative qualities.

I get status updates but not “news feed” or “live feed” items. I don’t need to know what you’re playing or whether your relationship status has changed (unless you tell me).

I turn off e-mail alerts so I have to actually log on to Facebook in order for it to inundate my life.

I choose to not add applications or join groups (generally speaking).

I don’t do the “poking thing” (except for my little sister and my out-laws).

I don’t give people birthday greetings on Facebook.

I try to be judicious about “liking” things–and never write *dislike* under someone’s status update.

I don’t do the “copy and paste” status update thing. I love Jesus, I want a cure for cancer, and I support the troops, but I’d rather not post meaningless drivel on my status.

I don’t tag people in notes. If they want to read what I’ve written, they can come find it. If I really want them to read what I’ve written, I can take the time to let them know personally by sending them a link or telling them about it.

I try to keep Facebook from taking over my life.

But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t try just as hard to resist my defenses. Facebook is an everyday companion. It loads every time I open my internet browser. I don’t check it that often, but it’s open in a tab. Because it’s open, my friends see that I’m “online”. My tab starts blinking when a friend wants to Facebook chat. And while I generally ignore it, I’m still sucked in on occasion (thankfully, my friends know that I don’t like the chat feature, so they tend to NOT open up chat communications.) People still send me invitations to groups, causes, and games. Most of the time, I decline.

But like it or not, my life, too, has been Facebook-ified.

Tags: Facebook, life
Category: Computers, Everyday Life ◊ Comment (1)

Braving the Elements

January 5th, 2010

“Wow, you’re brave,” she said as she passed me on my long trudge onto campus.

She was undoubtedly referring to my knee-length skirt and tights–and to the temperature in the mid-teens.

But her admiration (or was it?) of my bravery was misplaced. I was far warmer in my closely-fitting tights coming on to campus than in my loose-fitting workout pants coming off of campus. I was a comfortable temperature as I walked to the Nutrition offices to meet the instructor I’ll be TA-ing for this semester. Only my finger tips and ears really felt the cold.

On the way back, I felt the cold air on my legs–the air that my pants could not keep out. The fabric chafed as I walked briskly back to my car. I was COLD and UNCOMFORTABLE.

What she should have been impressed with was that I made it safely on to campus in my loafers. My black slip-on loafers look nothing if not sensible–but they’re actually the worst thing imaginable on ice, or snow, or wet, or anything with the potential of slickness.

As I confidently returned to my car wearing the tennis shoes I’d worked out in, I noticed my tracks going the opposite direction. Nearly every track includes a skid mark, as the practically nonexistent tread of my loafers failed to do its job.

I’m a big fan of skirts–I wear them from 50-80% of the time. I tend to go for a business casual look, either with skirts or with slacks and dress shoes. I wear jeans approximately twice a year (and I’m not under-stating that at all), and I wear tennis shoes MAYBE once a week (unless I’m exercising).

The skirts tend to do just fine, regardless of the weather–I just choose shorter or longer and add or remove tights as appropriate. The shoes? Not so much. Dress shoes aren’t exactly known for being warm (in the winter), and they’re not necessarily breathable (in the summer–between food and medicine, my profession doesn’t really make sandals an option). What’s more, they’re slick-soled and generally not waterproof.

What I’ve learned from braving the elements in business casual? It can be done, but choose your shoes wisely. If I don’t have much walking to do, but it’s really slick outside, I’ll often choose something with a spike heel. The spike provides more grip than most “flat” soles–and still allows me to walk pretty quickly. If I have lots of walking, I consider flatter to be better, but I have to take it slowly so I don’t slip.

I’m thinking what I need is a pair of business casual cleats for winter. Does anybody know where I might find some of those?