Judging By The Water Falling From The Sky

It's raining again.
I know I should be thankful - the rest of the country is getting snow by the bucket load - and happy because we need the water for watering crops and drinking and bathing and all that, but I'm not. It's wet and cold and annoying and unpredictable and I would like to drive around my own town with the top down on my car.
There I said it.
Now you can judge me for being selfish.
Don't worry about it, I am judging me.
It's not like I haven't lived through precipitation before. My second year of college it rained so much the water was up to my knees when crossing the street. And I did live in The Frozen North for most of my life.
But in neither place did I own a convertible and I have found it is much more fun to drive with the top down.
On the way home from my parents' tonight I was increasingly anxious about the whistling noises coming from my car. It's true there can be quite a breeze out in The Desert - every car whistles an extraordinary amount - but earlier this week I had driven LBO home from school - with the top down natch - and apparently we did not put it up correctly because on the way to school in the morning one corner popped out and freaked me all kinds of out.
So it made me nervous to hear noises, loud noises, while driving home. There aren't any noises when the top is down.
Of course tonight, it also started raining on the way home.

This is me and look what nice things do to me.

Irrevocable

Is there some law that says these business things can't go smoothly?
I understand growing pains and getting into the swing of things and learning curve and all of that.
I do.
But why, once we've made all our mistakes and figured out the whole system and gotten some prospects that are promising and some people who like the way of life up here and want us to succeed - if only for their benefit - after all of that WHY does the roof still fall in?
Or the bottom fall out?
Or whatever the expression is. Whatever is happening, it is not me falling into a pile of money.

This is me and if I ever meet Murphy I'm going to punch him in the nose.

Hoo-Ah!

The family business was supposed to receive an order of horse feed this week. Monday was a complete debacle with the wrong order in the truck, a broken forklift, unhappy customers, suppliers, and employees. There were words exchanged with and about people. Such a bad vibe.

The replacement order was supposed to come this morning but the driver called yesterday and said could he come in the afternoon since he was arriving early.

We said sure.

Only the forklift was still busted and the repairs were not being completed until today. So with a grand total of three hours, I had to find a rental forklift and have it delivered to the house in the back of beyond. I asked for a small forklift - we were only moving eight pallets of feed - but with the time crunch, they sent the first one available.

Check out what I got to drive:

I had one of Tarzan's cousins tell me once that every woman should have the experience of driving heavy machinery. She said it was very empowering.

I think this qualifies.

Feed moved, deliveries made, happy customers, money in the bank, happy employees.

This is me on a much bigger forklift than planned.

Raining And Pouring

Today makes the second day I have been able to drive my car. Once home from the dealership and then today.
Logistics being what they were, I was not able to take the new car to my parents house this week.
And today it was raining. Which means half of the time I drive my new car, I can't put the top down and what's the point of having a convertible if you have to drive around with the lid on it?


This is me, wondering what lesson I should take from this...

Ginger

My sister, IWH's horse died today.

Nothing dramatic or violent, just old age. Ginger was 30, which in horse years is a lot. She's the first horse my family ever owned and she's always been the lead mare. She moved with them from The Real Desert and through every subsequent move Ginger has managed to stay in charge and manage the other, younger mares.

She had her share of horse challenges, getting strangles and a weird growth on her face that had to be removed a couple of times.

She was a tough old thing, never one for nuzzling in the hopes of a treat, but I think she was glad IHW was there at the end, holding her head and stroking her neck.

For IHW, it's not the sort of Valentine's Day I would wish on anyone.

And yet...

Her faith and trust blew me away, as she sat in the corral, stroking Ginger's head. She prayed and asked that Heavenly Father heal her horse or take her quickly so that she wouldn't suffer anymore.

"He knows best," she said when it was over.

That's some kind of strength.

This is me, rest in peace Ginger.

Because A New Car Wasn't Enough

Tarzan took me to The Melting Pot for dinner last night.
I sure love to eat there - the Baked Potato cheese fondue was amazing - but I feel just a teensy bit spoiled. All he got for the holiday was a card that called our relationship unnatural. (One of those joke cards.)
Before we went out ATL wanted to take pictures, so here you are:

For people who like our jeans and T-shirts we sure dress up a bunch.

This is me with two (2!) Valentine's Day presents.

Behind Door #3...A New Car!

In the past couple of weeks my trusty Saturn has developed some transmission issues. As in it no longer likes reverse - at all - and shifting from 2nd to 1st gear requires some serious negotiations with the engine. (It's an automatic transmission.) I took it to our mechanic and he said it wasn't worth the time and money to fix/replace the sensors and parts and possibly the whole transmission complete. He would if we wanted but his suggestion was to get a different car.
Tarzan, not one to bemoan material possessions, immediately started looking at slightly used vehicles in our area.
I was a little bit sad; I've driven this car for nearly four years, we've been through a lot. My quitting my job, working at the high school, volunteering, parents moving three times, transporting A LOT of kids to church and school activities, taking cats to and from the veterinarian. We knew each other very well.
And then Tarzan found a sweet little car which we'd always talked about wanting but never had the nerve to buy because it's not as practical as our other cars and we feel guilty getting anything flashy. But the price was good, the dealer was down the road and it had really low miles.
We went, we looked, we drove, we paid, we brought it home.
So I went from this:Which was very dependable, had FANTASTIC gas mileage, but didn't have a lot of flair. Manual locks and windows and it was small, which mattered not to me but bothered Tarzan a little bit. It had an itty bitty motor with not much power.

Driving up hills was a job that had to be planned well in advance.

I went from that to this:

My dream since moving here to The Jungle has been to drive a convertible. They're very much 'the thing' here because of the fabulous weather all year and I have been just the slightest bit envious of the top down driving I see. I fully expect to love this car. There are some serious luxury items in this 2004 Chrysler Sebring; the heated seats for one. NEVER expected that. All I was hoping for was power windows and door locks - which it does have. It's standard on all Chrysler's I believe - but since we've never owned one we didn't know - to have the estimated mileage for each tank of gas, the estimated miles before refueling is required, average miles per gallon and length of time the engine has been on. All very snazzy.

I'm going to need to invest in some hats or scarves or something to keep my hair out of my face and it only seats four - instead of the standard five - but I think I'll be okay with that.

I've been hit on once already and I haven't owned it for 12 hours yet.

This is me, and my groovy new car.

To My Tree Doctor

Dear Tree Doctor;

Is it a problem that my apricot tree is budding already?

It's February:

Also, I did the off-season pruning only last week. Is that bad?

This is me, respectfully.

Would Love Me A Train

How do commuters manage it? This back and forth from my parents house stuff is really messing with my sense of time and space.
I missed a meeting last week because I plumb forgot what day I was in.
Didn't remember it until three days later.
I can see how taking the train became such an advantage to the daily commuter. Get on, read, sleep, change clothes, make calls, drink, all while lettiing someone else do the driving.
It's a beautiful system.
Dang these Jungle inhabitants who love their Independence and never put trains in.

This is me and it's a good thing I have Internet in both places.

You Might Not Have To Have Been There To Get It

You may not read Robert Jordon's Wheel of Time series - honestly, it's a daunting task; fourteen books with at least one more to come and each epistle is 800+ pages, not for the faint of heart - but if you've heard anything at all about it you will appreciate this farcical book cover:

This is me, thanks QC for the joke.

Deep Breath

I'm all about the olfactory experiences right now it would seem.
Walking out of the post office today I caught the maintenance crews working hard.
Fresh cut grass in February. There's nothing like it.

This is me, loving the smells.

Completely Pure

I wish computers had that smell-o-vision stuff they were talking about in the 60's.
It would be so much easier to explain the difference between artificial vanilla flavoring and real vanilla flavoring if you could smell it. I lucked out the last time I went shopping - usually artificial vanilla is SO MUCH cheaper that I settle - the real stuff was on sale. And I had a coupon for a large bottle.
So I bought it.
It is awesome.
The cookies are baking right now and I can forget all the stresses, the worry of travel, the forty-seven things I haven't done and the sixty-two still to come.
I can ignore all of that when the real vanilla scent is wafting through the room.
I'd forgotten about the warmth of that pungent smell when one is baking, the extra zip in the air that comes from the real thing is just too good to forgo for a piddling little thing called price.

This is me and I will never go back.

The Great Secret - Unveiled

As you may recall Tarzan has been acting all secretive and stuff lately, giving thinly veiled references to our "big secret." As you further may recall I promised it wasn't that big a deal.
BUT
Tarzan wants the big unveiling, so here we are.
My family - my parents really - have opened a business.
As many of you know, my parents have horses and live in The Desert where there is much room for such things. The company that had been supplying their horse feed and supplies was going to be closed because the owner has a family thing and is moving down close to the border. With the opportunity presenting itself and the location right in their literal backyard it seemed a no-brainer to buy the feed company and continue the feed delivery service to the locals who have a surprising number of horses, goats, chickens and dogs.
This solves the problem of my parents horse feed delivery and who doesn't want to have their own business? One that can operate out of your house.
Okay, not everyone does, but it's ideal for us and that's the whole point.
My part in this grand plan has been to cart things and people around, offer opinions on how stupid bureaucracy is and order office supplies. Despite my love affair with post-its, or maybe because of it, we are proud to announce the opening of [my family's] Desert Feed Delivery!
If you and your horse/goat/chicken/dog are ever in our area and are really hungry stop on by and get a free sample. We even have our own Facebook page.

This is me, and we're in business.

The Healing Power Of Mystery Case Files

Do you remember being young and not always getting on with your siblings?
There being nine of us, I'm sure our mother wanted to run away from home on a regular basis, there were so many combinations of "s/he's picking on me!" we could get into.
Naturally, as we've gotten older, we have less of those incidents but the last two still living at home have their moments. When R3 left on his mission we joked with the others that if we saw a mushroom cloud coming from the desert area we'd know what had caused it.
Nearly two weeks in I've been surprised at how well they've adjusted. Part of the credit I believe is due to the Mystery Case Files series of games. They're hidden adventure puzzle games, simple on the surface but very easy to get addicted to. There are a lot of bonus features in each game that aren't necessary but add another level to the play.
IHW and LBO are spending a decent amount to time together working the games out. It's charming to see and good to know that when they pass the dramas of high school they are likely to become friends in the same way the other seven of us have.

This is me and I'm for whatever works.

All The Rage

I just thought of a brilliant new diet theme. (Along the lines of The Grapefruit Diet or The Hallelujah Diet.)
I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water and my kittens followed me. They ALWAYS follow me into the kitchen to see if there is food for them involved in the excursion. As a bonus if they hear rustling noises they climb the cabinets.
What a great way to track our snacking habits!
The premise is to only eat when the kittens go in the kitchen by themselves. They have little snacks all day long and drink a lot of water.
Think about it; it's rare to see a fat kitten and all they do is lay around and sleep the whole day.

This is me; I call it the Kitten Diet.

Six Of One

Why is it that the person in the car next to me can honk like they're on fire when the car in front of THEM didn't take off from the green light in less than two seconds and yet if that same person is texting, fixing their hair or something when the light turns green and the car behind them honks, there are middle fingers flipped and hand gestures out the window?

This is me, appreciative of the variety and diversity in the city where we live, but not a fan of the hypocrisy.

Ode to the Voyaging Wifey

Wifey, wifey where art thou wifey?
Hast thou sojourned to the far desert wastes
In search of the white whale in metal encased?
On a deep secret project of purpose unknown,
questing for foodstuffs and hay bales of renown.
Wielding phone, fax and Internet and building aright,
ventures and project to keep home safe and tight.

Keep it real babe. Love you, miss you. Good luck on the mission and come home safe.

From The Vault

In lieu of a real post, I give you this:

A picture from long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Back before I got this great haircut, back before certain people were married and/or expecting children - not me, don't worry - back when Tarzan wore his flash drive around his neck even when he wasn't at school.

(Oh wait, never mind. He does that now and with even more stuff.)

From those days when things were less stressed, less complex, we were younger, more wide eyed and innocent.

Ah, those were the days.

This is me and Tarzan, three years ago.

God vs Science

(I like that even if this whole discussion is fictitious it was a calm, respectful, logical debate. No anger, no yelling, no fear. I wish that more of us could have discussions and less hating.)
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes"
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil." (I don't agree with this part here but I know that it's considered standard in Christianity.)
The professor grins knowingly...'Ah Ha! The Bible! He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good..!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er... yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From God."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir..."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes"
"So who created evil?"
The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Again, the student has no answer.
"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The student squirms on his feet.
"Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question.
"Who created them?"
There is still no answer.
Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
"Tell me,' he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
"Yes, professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing.
"Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir.. I've never seen Him..."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not..."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes"
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith."
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God.. There is no evidence, only faith." The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own.
"Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet.
The student begins to explain.
"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation.. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester.
"So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.
"Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains..."You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."
"Now tell me, professor.. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed..
"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."
The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir..So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.
"I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responds,
"Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied,
"Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down.

PS: the student was Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein wrote a book titled God vs. Science in 1921...

This is me and nicely put Al old boy. Nicely put.

Called To Serve

My brother, R3, left this week to go on a mission for the church.
(This isn't the "secret" project we are working on.)
He's the second boy in the family but the eighth kid. My first brother is only the second child so it's been a while since we've sent a missionary out and the rules have changed just a teensy weensy bit.
Just when you think you know what to do...
But we did get it done, all the shopping and exchanges on things we bought earlier thinking that's what he would need, and packing and hugging and crying and joking and celebrating.
It was an interesting weekend.
But we're glad he's getting to go, is able to go and is happy to go. He'll have a fabulous time and then ROAD TRIP! when he's finished and we can go pick him up.
He may shoot me when he gets back because he dislikes having his picture taken but an oldest sister can not commemorate such a huge event without at least one:
This is my mind, boggled that he's old enough to leave home. Where does the time go?