An embarrassment of riches
Well, our childcare for spring is all worked out. Our sitter from the fall wants to continue watching Claire one day a week up until her due date (coincidentally Joel's last day of class). Her neighbor, who we know from our church, wants to watch Claire the other day. Her husband is a pediatrics resident, definitely a plus! And her little girl is about 8 months older than Claire, which will make her a fun playmate.
The most amazing thing is this is the third offer we received. The two others interested in watching Claire were seminary wives who don't live quite as close as Lisa and Kari. (They are about two miles from here--a five minute drive. )
We are rejoicing and praising God for his provision!
I'd better finish packing for my trip to Florida tomorrow. Thanks again, Sarah and others, for your travel with baby tips. I even bought the little travel packs of powdered formula so that I wouldn't freak out the security people who could mistake it for a biological weapon. (Boy do I wish I was kidding. But an airport was closed down when one mom spilled some formula powder, which security thought "might be anthrax." What an insane world we live in.)
1.28.2003
Finished
I zipped right through The High Flyer yesterday, thanks to being too sick to work. My very congested sinuses kept me in bed all day. I think it's the first time I've taken a sick day and not turned on the TV even once.
All I can say is wow. What a tremendous book. I'm amazed that I'd forgotten so much of the plot after two and a half years. My brain must be getting full of the many plots from all of the novels I read for my three book clubs.
BTW, last week I finished the Philadelphia book that Mayor Street chose for the "One city, one book" program. It's called Price of a Child by Lorene Cary. It's a fascinating look at the Underground Railway and abolitionism. I think it's a somewhat flawed book--charaters are hard to keep straight, and some plot points are sadly underdeveloped. But I did appreciate seeing white abolitionists though the eyes of African Americans--even those painted as "good guys" in our history books were far from saintly.
I'm beginning to realize my own ancestors' culpability, even if they did live in the Midwest and fight in the Union army in the Civil War, because it's likely they bought goods made cheap due to slave labor. Of course, that brings up the perennial question, How effective are boycotts?
I zipped right through The High Flyer yesterday, thanks to being too sick to work. My very congested sinuses kept me in bed all day. I think it's the first time I've taken a sick day and not turned on the TV even once.
All I can say is wow. What a tremendous book. I'm amazed that I'd forgotten so much of the plot after two and a half years. My brain must be getting full of the many plots from all of the novels I read for my three book clubs.
BTW, last week I finished the Philadelphia book that Mayor Street chose for the "One city, one book" program. It's called Price of a Child by Lorene Cary. It's a fascinating look at the Underground Railway and abolitionism. I think it's a somewhat flawed book--charaters are hard to keep straight, and some plot points are sadly underdeveloped. But I did appreciate seeing white abolitionists though the eyes of African Americans--even those painted as "good guys" in our history books were far from saintly.
I'm beginning to realize my own ancestors' culpability, even if they did live in the Midwest and fight in the Union army in the Civil War, because it's likely they bought goods made cheap due to slave labor. Of course, that brings up the perennial question, How effective are boycotts?
1.27.2003
Brian and Stacey's Wedding
Congratulations to Brian "barukatash" Davis and his new bride Stacey. We attended their lovely wedding last Saturday, along with fellow bloggers Valerie, Paulo and Daniel. Here are some pics that Joel took.
Congratulations to Brian "barukatash" Davis and his new bride Stacey. We attended their lovely wedding last Saturday, along with fellow bloggers Valerie, Paulo and Daniel. Here are some pics that Joel took.
1.24.2003
Suffering withdrawal...
from Susan Howatch. I don't want to work, I want to keep rereading The High Flyer. I'd forgotten how addicting Howatch's books are. February book club, discussing this page turner, will be delicious. :-)
However, I need to edit a yucky article on antibiotic resistance. (Should you use a fluoroquinolone to treat penicilin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae that present as meningitis? Ugh. Better order that medical spell checker today.) I also need to keep slogging though a pro bono editing job I'm doing on a friend's first novel. I never saw so many run-on sentences. *sigh*
I'll get back to you soon, Carter Graham, I promise.
from Susan Howatch. I don't want to work, I want to keep rereading The High Flyer. I'd forgotten how addicting Howatch's books are. February book club, discussing this page turner, will be delicious. :-)
However, I need to edit a yucky article on antibiotic resistance. (Should you use a fluoroquinolone to treat penicilin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae that present as meningitis? Ugh. Better order that medical spell checker today.) I also need to keep slogging though a pro bono editing job I'm doing on a friend's first novel. I never saw so many run-on sentences. *sigh*
I'll get back to you soon, Carter Graham, I promise.
1.21.2003
Just punishments
There's no doubt that America's penal system needs major reform. The question is, what reforms will really be effective?
I'm often troubled by the fact that our current system does little for victims. How helpful is it to a family who lost a mother to a drunk driver, or life savings to a fradulent broker, to know the perpetrator is sitting in jail at their expense? While I'm not in favor of returning to the O.T. law in its totality (for reasons I won't go into right now), I think we've lost something by not incorporating the biblical use of recompense or retribution.
Our current system is warped in particular ways because two camps have been in a tug of war trying to shape the philosophy of punishment. On one side are those who want criminals to suffer very greatly, and for more to receive the death penalty as a way of deterring crime. On the other side are those who want to reform prisoners and educate them to a better life, as a means of preventing future crimes.
In the meantime, our prisons are bulging. We're neither deterring crime nor putting whole, reformed people on the streets after they serve their time. I'm troubled not only by violent criminals who remain unchanged by having shattered lives, but also by "white collar criminals" who have little remorse for the financial ruin they have brought to others.
I doubt I'm the first to suggest this, but I think it might be a good thing to require criminals to compensate those they harm. As part of passing sentence, a price would be set that the criminal would have to earn during his or her inprisonment. The government would pay that amount to the victim or victims or victim's family, then the prisoner would work to reimburse the government. Not only that, but part of prisoners' wages should go to pay for their food and shelter, and part put in savings to help them start over on the outside (perhaps a 60/30/10 split of wages).
Of course, this would necessitate turning our prisons into houses of industry instead of houses of sloth. Some could become factories, some farms, some providing services like claims processing or groundskeeping. By being productive, prisoners would gain skills without putting excessive financial burdens on taxpayers. And working would give a sense of purpose--an element that's sadly absent in current models of rehabilitating criminals.
Prisoners would be reminded of their debt to those they harmed every time they received a wages statement. Hopefully this would cause them to see their victims as people, feel remorse, and at the same time feel that they are somewhat redeeming the situation.
I don't know that this would be effective in the cases of serial-killer psychopaths. But it might help some other criminals who steal, car-jack, deal drugs, extort, blackmail, commit fraud, rob using guns, burn down buildings, drive drunk and kill due to negligence.
This model may have some serious weaknesses, which you're welcome to point out. But I think the underlying idea of retribution and working prisons is more helpful to prisoners, victims and society that what we currently have.
There's no doubt that America's penal system needs major reform. The question is, what reforms will really be effective?
I'm often troubled by the fact that our current system does little for victims. How helpful is it to a family who lost a mother to a drunk driver, or life savings to a fradulent broker, to know the perpetrator is sitting in jail at their expense? While I'm not in favor of returning to the O.T. law in its totality (for reasons I won't go into right now), I think we've lost something by not incorporating the biblical use of recompense or retribution.
Our current system is warped in particular ways because two camps have been in a tug of war trying to shape the philosophy of punishment. On one side are those who want criminals to suffer very greatly, and for more to receive the death penalty as a way of deterring crime. On the other side are those who want to reform prisoners and educate them to a better life, as a means of preventing future crimes.
In the meantime, our prisons are bulging. We're neither deterring crime nor putting whole, reformed people on the streets after they serve their time. I'm troubled not only by violent criminals who remain unchanged by having shattered lives, but also by "white collar criminals" who have little remorse for the financial ruin they have brought to others.
I doubt I'm the first to suggest this, but I think it might be a good thing to require criminals to compensate those they harm. As part of passing sentence, a price would be set that the criminal would have to earn during his or her inprisonment. The government would pay that amount to the victim or victims or victim's family, then the prisoner would work to reimburse the government. Not only that, but part of prisoners' wages should go to pay for their food and shelter, and part put in savings to help them start over on the outside (perhaps a 60/30/10 split of wages).
Of course, this would necessitate turning our prisons into houses of industry instead of houses of sloth. Some could become factories, some farms, some providing services like claims processing or groundskeeping. By being productive, prisoners would gain skills without putting excessive financial burdens on taxpayers. And working would give a sense of purpose--an element that's sadly absent in current models of rehabilitating criminals.
Prisoners would be reminded of their debt to those they harmed every time they received a wages statement. Hopefully this would cause them to see their victims as people, feel remorse, and at the same time feel that they are somewhat redeeming the situation.
I don't know that this would be effective in the cases of serial-killer psychopaths. But it might help some other criminals who steal, car-jack, deal drugs, extort, blackmail, commit fraud, rob using guns, burn down buildings, drive drunk and kill due to negligence.
This model may have some serious weaknesses, which you're welcome to point out. But I think the underlying idea of retribution and working prisons is more helpful to prisoners, victims and society that what we currently have.
1.17.2003
Partial answer
Thank you everyone who has been praying about our childcare situation. We have a stopgap in place to get us through the next two months, which will buy us more time to find someone more permanent. Our autumn sitter's sister is watching Claire today and will watch her several more times in January and February. However, she's in the process of getting work as a social worker with the city, so once she fills out applications and takes the civil service exam, she expects to get hired and begin her new job.
It's a good situation while it lasts. Claire gets to stay at home and the sitter can earn some extra income until she starts working full time again. Meanwhile, the search continues....
Thank you everyone who has been praying about our childcare situation. We have a stopgap in place to get us through the next two months, which will buy us more time to find someone more permanent. Our autumn sitter's sister is watching Claire today and will watch her several more times in January and February. However, she's in the process of getting work as a social worker with the city, so once she fills out applications and takes the civil service exam, she expects to get hired and begin her new job.
It's a good situation while it lasts. Claire gets to stay at home and the sitter can earn some extra income until she starts working full time again. Meanwhile, the search continues....
1.13.2003
Still searching…
The semester began today and we still don’t have a solid childcare plan in place. We visited a local daycare center last week and didn’t hate it, but didn’t exactly love it either. Our preference is still for Claire to be in a private home.
We finally have one possible lead, though. Our autumn babysitter’s unemployed sister might be willing to watch Claire the two days a week we need while she job hunts. She’d probably watch Claire at our house, which would cut down our morning frenzy quite a bit.
We’re not “putting all our eggs in one basket,” however. We’ve also done a lot of calling around, posted an ad at church and are even running some ads in local newsletters for Christian moms.
Please pray that we can find the right person. What a blessing it would be to all involved if we could find someone who really needs the extra income.
The semester began today and we still don’t have a solid childcare plan in place. We visited a local daycare center last week and didn’t hate it, but didn’t exactly love it either. Our preference is still for Claire to be in a private home.
We finally have one possible lead, though. Our autumn babysitter’s unemployed sister might be willing to watch Claire the two days a week we need while she job hunts. She’d probably watch Claire at our house, which would cut down our morning frenzy quite a bit.
We’re not “putting all our eggs in one basket,” however. We’ve also done a lot of calling around, posted an ad at church and are even running some ads in local newsletters for Christian moms.
Please pray that we can find the right person. What a blessing it would be to all involved if we could find someone who really needs the extra income.
He’s here!
Berek arrived last Wednesday and started classes today. We’re so glad he’s here. I’m already amazed at what a difference it makes to have an extra set of hands here to help around the house.
Yesterday I actually had the freedom to give a solid chunk of the Lord’s day to ministry. I processed a huge pile of new materials for the church library—something I hadn’t had the energy or time to do since Claire was born. Starting next Sunday, many will begin benefiting from the new books, videos and tapes.
Berek arrived last Wednesday and started classes today. We’re so glad he’s here. I’m already amazed at what a difference it makes to have an extra set of hands here to help around the house.
Yesterday I actually had the freedom to give a solid chunk of the Lord’s day to ministry. I processed a huge pile of new materials for the church library—something I hadn’t had the energy or time to do since Claire was born. Starting next Sunday, many will begin benefiting from the new books, videos and tapes.
1.07.2003
Rum Tum Tugger
Mr. Keats (the wicked kitty) loves very much to go out onto our second-floor roof from our office on the third floor. But he just doesn't get the concept that the seasons change outdoors. Two days ago we got a light snow, but he sat by the door crying to be let out. Out he went, puzzled by this strange, cold, wet white stuff. Less than a minute later he wanted back in.
Today he sat crying by the door again.
"There's still snow out there, Keats," I told him.
Me-OW, Mee-ooow. (Translate: Let me OUT now!)
So I tossed him outside. His paws hit the snow and he immediately scurried back to the door, indignant.
"What had happened to the nice, warm place where I sun myself?" Walnut brain.
Mr. Keats (the wicked kitty) loves very much to go out onto our second-floor roof from our office on the third floor. But he just doesn't get the concept that the seasons change outdoors. Two days ago we got a light snow, but he sat by the door crying to be let out. Out he went, puzzled by this strange, cold, wet white stuff. Less than a minute later he wanted back in.
Today he sat crying by the door again.
"There's still snow out there, Keats," I told him.
Me-OW, Mee-ooow. (Translate: Let me OUT now!)
So I tossed him outside. His paws hit the snow and he immediately scurried back to the door, indignant.
"What had happened to the nice, warm place where I sun myself?" Walnut brain.
An editor's rant
Boy would I love to clobber the genius who got half the country to misuse the term consult. Last I checked, consult meant to seek advice or an opinion. Therefore, consultants to not consult their clients, but rather their clients consult them. Consultants (as well as attorneys, accountants, physicians and other such experts) in fact advise clients for a living. Is this really such a difficult concept?
Boy would I love to clobber the genius who got half the country to misuse the term consult. Last I checked, consult meant to seek advice or an opinion. Therefore, consultants to not consult their clients, but rather their clients consult them. Consultants (as well as attorneys, accountants, physicians and other such experts) in fact advise clients for a living. Is this really such a difficult concept?
1.04.2003
Just for the fun of it...
I've made up a really pointless quiz. Hey, it's one of those yawner Saturdays in January. The highlight of my day was walking the dog. Ooh boy.
1. What celebrities would you like to host at your home for dinner?
Emma Thompson and Wayne Brady, but not necessarily on the same night. ;-) Emma seems like a deep thinker and Wayne just makes me laugh until my sides ache.
2. If you could have your own TV or radio program, what would the content be?
A half-hour NPR radio program featuring percussion and percussionists :-)
3. If you could have any sci-fi technology at your disposal, what would you choose?
The Star Trek transporter. Never be late, and never pay shipping charges again!
4. If you had sufficient resources to start up a business, what would you do?
Publish a magazine for historic re-enactment weddings
5. If you could be an animal for a day, what would you choose and why?
A Canada goose. I could swim, fly and hang out with lots of friends.
6. When you were a kid, what careers did you aspire to?
A teacher, or a children's book writer like Madeleine L'Engle
7. What things terrified you as a child?
Fire, especially our burner barrell. Also clowns and creepy dolls.
8. What scenarios occur regularly in your dreams?
Chase dreams in which I discover I can fly, scary dreams involving aliens, performance anxiety dreams in which I have to play a band instrument I can't play, and mysterious dreams involving buildings with floor plans that change as you walk around in them
I've made up a really pointless quiz. Hey, it's one of those yawner Saturdays in January. The highlight of my day was walking the dog. Ooh boy.
1. What celebrities would you like to host at your home for dinner?
Emma Thompson and Wayne Brady, but not necessarily on the same night. ;-) Emma seems like a deep thinker and Wayne just makes me laugh until my sides ache.
2. If you could have your own TV or radio program, what would the content be?
A half-hour NPR radio program featuring percussion and percussionists :-)
3. If you could have any sci-fi technology at your disposal, what would you choose?
The Star Trek transporter. Never be late, and never pay shipping charges again!
4. If you had sufficient resources to start up a business, what would you do?
Publish a magazine for historic re-enactment weddings
5. If you could be an animal for a day, what would you choose and why?
A Canada goose. I could swim, fly and hang out with lots of friends.
6. When you were a kid, what careers did you aspire to?
A teacher, or a children's book writer like Madeleine L'Engle
7. What things terrified you as a child?
Fire, especially our burner barrell. Also clowns and creepy dolls.
8. What scenarios occur regularly in your dreams?
Chase dreams in which I discover I can fly, scary dreams involving aliens, performance anxiety dreams in which I have to play a band instrument I can't play, and mysterious dreams involving buildings with floor plans that change as you walk around in them
1.03.2003
Thought for food
I took a day off yesterday and got the rare opportunity to watch Oprah. The topic was building a weight loss plan that will work for you. “Lose weight” is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions that gets broken within days of January 1.
One of Oprah’s guests recommended getting at the root of why you eat the way you do before starting any program.
So, raise you hand if you are an emotional eater who eats to feel good.
Yup, that’s me. As I wrote in an earlier post, food was my dearest friend when we were having difficulty conceiving.
Ah, but it’s so much worse than that. I realize that I have several other major eating triggers:
--Boredom. It’s very easy to start munching at my desk when my workday is dull.
--Social awkwardness. At parties, I can hide my clumsiness at making small talk by keeping my mouth full.
--Scarcity mentality. This is my biggest Achilles’ heel. My parents grew up during the Depression and instilled the need to never waste anything. As a result, I have a hard time passing up free food when it is on offer.
I’ve made some good progress on overcoming the scarcity mentality the past few months, and did really well steering clear of the piles of goodies all over the office during the holidays. Addressing emotional eating will be the next hurdle.
This leads me to my blog question of the day: What is your favorite pick-me-up, feel-good activity other than eating?
I took a day off yesterday and got the rare opportunity to watch Oprah. The topic was building a weight loss plan that will work for you. “Lose weight” is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions that gets broken within days of January 1.
One of Oprah’s guests recommended getting at the root of why you eat the way you do before starting any program.
So, raise you hand if you are an emotional eater who eats to feel good.
Yup, that’s me. As I wrote in an earlier post, food was my dearest friend when we were having difficulty conceiving.
Ah, but it’s so much worse than that. I realize that I have several other major eating triggers:
--Boredom. It’s very easy to start munching at my desk when my workday is dull.
--Social awkwardness. At parties, I can hide my clumsiness at making small talk by keeping my mouth full.
--Scarcity mentality. This is my biggest Achilles’ heel. My parents grew up during the Depression and instilled the need to never waste anything. As a result, I have a hard time passing up free food when it is on offer.
I’ve made some good progress on overcoming the scarcity mentality the past few months, and did really well steering clear of the piles of goodies all over the office during the holidays. Addressing emotional eating will be the next hurdle.
This leads me to my blog question of the day: What is your favorite pick-me-up, feel-good activity other than eating?
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