Best Laid Plans

I decided yesterday that I was going to be productive today. I warned Mike last night, so he could take cover if he wanted. His only question was, "So does that mean you're getting up early?" Isn't he just too much? Ha!

So after sleeping in until about 8am, I got up and announced my plan to install the doorbell today. We really hated the fake chime that was here when we moved in, and we took it down when we painted the place. It never went back up. So we've been doorbell-free for years now. A few months ago we purchased a $10 bell, but it's been sitting on the kitchen counter ever since.

Mike does not do anything dealing with electricity (except use it). So I'm the house electrician - I even have a soldering kit! Anyhoo, part of the difficulty is that the bell goes on the wall in the stairwell - like high up the wall. So Mike helped get the ladder stabilized on the stairs (with a cinder block and a stack of books - "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado managed to be on top of the stack, I kept noticing). And I climbed up to investigate what by all indications would be a simple install.

Hmmm....instead of the three wires I expected, there were six. Nothing labeled, of course. Not sure which circuit this would run on, and even though it's only supposed to be about 15 volts, I had turned off the stairwell and the bedroom circuits. That means I have no light. So I'm standing on a ladder that really isn't tall enough, balanced on a stack of books, with a flashlight in my mouth and not a clue.

After many trials and all errors, I got on the internet and confirmed that I was right - there should be only three wires. Unfortunately, that didn't help me with the reality I was looking at. I love these kinds of puzzles. So I turned it in to a story problem, drew some pictures, and tried again. Eureka! I got one button to work. But why not the other one? I figured out three of the wires. The other three were still in question. I also now know which circuit breaker I need off, and it's not the stairwell. So I can lose the flashlight.

After many trips up and down the ladder, to the circuit box in the closet, to the front door bell, to the back door bell, and back around, I finally got it working! I went in for my final trip up the ladder to clean up the wires, mount the bell, and put everything away. The bell broke. One of the main screws that the wires attach to (and to which I'd been putting wires on and off and tightening and loosening ad nauseum) popped out of its cardboard setting - and isn't going back. It breaks the circuit. I'm too tired to pull it all down and see if I can fix it. :P

So I know more about my doorbell's wiring than I did before, but I still don't have a working bell. Does it still count for a productive day?

There Will Be Consequences

I'm concerned that the average citizen of our great nation is losing something important - a voice. In fact, I'm starting to suspect that the "great" part of our great nation, is quickly fading. I could easily be convinced that the whole voting process is a sham. How would we know?

It appears to me that the people we have elected to office have stopped caring about the country and are only looking to increase their own power and wealth and other self-interests. What's so disturbing is that they keep telling us everything they are doing is on our behalf. They are lying.

The communist system was "for the people", too.

Our system is broken, and it can only be fixed by self-sacrifice. But everyone must sacrifice - sacrificing personal perks and handouts. And because not everyone is willing to do that, and it really has to be everyone, it won't happen. It won't be fixed.

Most people are apathetic. We talk politics. We complain. But we do nothing. Those who organize and try to take a stand are generally dismissed as wackos and extremists. The rest of us just go about our business assuming nothing will really change. And we're OK with that. And then when it really does change - and not in our favor - we will be caught completely by surprise. How could this happen? Why didn't anyone do something?

And I have no recommendations. I have no hope that I could make a difference. I continue to write my representatives, but am I alone? If not, why are we not heard? In some ways I look forward to when it all comes crashing down. Just get it over with. There are consequences to how the country has been going about its business, and those consequences can be delayed but not denied. It's going to be ugly.

On The Bright Side

(This post goes with the previous post.)

Lest anyone think I'm wallowing...

1) At least it will all be over before we leave for our trip next weekend
2) Swapping pillows seems to be solving this problem
3) I can't complain about starving
4) Even if I did, I'd have spent it all already
5) It rained this week
6) My husband is blind to dirt and clutter
7) We're going this week
8) I have a job
9) I have no fashionista expectations hanging over me
10) Mike loves me
11) I didn't lose the stone, just have to get it put back in
12) I know some people
13) I know it's out there, I just have to look
14) I have a weekend coming
15) Done!

At Least the Astros Won

Moody! Yes, I am! In fact, all conditions seem to have aligned perfectly to create in me a Perfect Storm (emotionally speaking). Blah!

Here's the list:
1) It's THAT time of the month - except it isn't - it's a week early!
2) I have a pain in my neck - for real
3) I'm fat
4) I have no money
5) It's HOT and humid - Oh so oppressive
6) My house is a mess
7) We've skipped church the last two weeks (I know this is a key ingredient in my emotional and spiritual health)
8) I'm feeling undervalued at work (and overworked and underpaid and...)
9) My clothes don't fit (see #3) or are old and ugly or worn out or all four
10) Mike feels as bad as or worse than I do (he's still not smoking though, mostly)
11) The diamond fell out of my engagement ring
12) Our computer is screwed up and horribly slow - I know it's gonna die any minute
13) I can't find purpose (existence is futile)
14) I have no beer
15) The sink is full of dirty dishes

But the Astros won two in a row!

Baby Steps

Mike and I are not typically very social. We enjoy each other; we make each other laugh. Other people generally don't seem to get us. We recognize, however that we need community.

And this weekend was full of other people. Friday night we had dinner at our place for Mom's birthday - that was 5 of us. Saturday was a trip up to the north side of town for lunch with the Payton's, my folks and my brother and niece. Followed up by the family coming back to our place again to hang out. Sunday we went to two different Sunday school classes (test driving) plus church. Then we spent the evening at my brother's place with his daughter, my parents, and my other brother's family. Today we went to a 4th of July party that one of the Sunday school classes we went to was having.

As we walked up the driveway, we looked at each other. Mike says, "This feels weird."

We're standing outside some one's house we don't know. We don't know anybody, in fact.

"Let's not go in," he says.

"We can do this."

"But why?"

Now another family is making it's way up the drive.

"You told them we were coming, right?" I ask. "We can do this."

We went in. It was weird, but nice. I'm not sure a lot of them really knew each other well anyway. We chatted. We ate. We hit overload and left after about 45 minutes. It probably didn't help that Mike decided to try and quit smoking today.

We'll do better next time. It's a marathon, not a sprint, right?

Baseball Time

No one goes to Astros games anymore - it's crazy expensive unless you're sitting in the upper deck. Plus just about every game is on t.v. now. Much better view from my couch and the snacks are cheaper and pretty tasty at that. And it's not like they're winning or anything.

However, they were running a 10 games for $20 special, and even in the upper deck, that's a pretty good deal. So we'll be going to 4 games over the course of 7 days starting Thursday. I'm really excited! I like being at the game. It's fun to keep score, and I hear they got a new awesome HD scoreboard. We'll get to see Lance play agin, too.

Downside is I can't see how my fantasy team is doing while we're at the game. Also, the concessions are still quite pricy. Plus we've never been to that many games in that short a time - do I have the stamina? Can I hang with the diehards? We shall see...



UPDATE: Last night's game was a lot of fun even though we lost. But just to show how few people actually go to the games anymore...we got to the ballpark about 10 minutes before game time, and we found street parking. I'm just sayin'...

Reading Luke

Mike's been teaching our Sunday School class and we just started Acts. We did a quick overview of Luke to get our bearings before jumping in, and so I went back and started to read Luke again. Luke is the first book I journaled through many years ago, and I really haven't sat down and read through it again since.

With his journalism background, Mike makes a big deal about reading the Bible with intent, looking at the who, what, when, where, and WOW! as you go. I didn't know that was what I was doing when I started reading the Bible and journaling as I went along, but I did recognize I needed to study not just read. I was always pretty good in school, but never really developed study habits to speak of. So the journaling was a recommendation from a pastor or someone, and I gave it a try.

I am not journaling Luke this time, but instead I'm reading and pondering, and then looking back at my old notes. I find it interesting that some things that jump off the page at me now I barely mentioned back then and vice versa. A lot of my notes are unanswered questions. I thought I might impress myself with now knowing the answers. But some things like, "How would someone recognize an angel as an angel?" just don't have answers. And of course, "Why?" is always a toughie.

It's also been interesting to compare Luke to Matthew. Luke writes a great deal about John the Baptist's birth. Matthew doesn't mention it. Matthew goes into detail about the wisemen and Herod; Luke doesn't mention it. So, why? (I ask again.) Lots of speculation but no one can really know.

The mystery of the Bible is fascinating, puzzling and often frustrating! But I never get tired of diving in.