Not quite an ode, but hip-hip-horray for moms!
It's almost the end of day 4, but from what I hear, my mom is missing us terribly already. :-) That California sun can't quite compare to the chilly, cold, overcast, and drizzly days that Western PA has!
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Today started slowly, with a little bit of work and then going to see Zorro with my dad. As my dad drove, I was asking him what he did and that started me recalling the long hours he would put in during heavy work periods. Dad would stop work very late, start very early, and that was without us to help and none of the jigs he's developed to help him get things done faster. Knowing now how much my dad likes to get a full nights sleep (we have similar needs in that area), it must have been very hard. As I was listening to a country song, I remembered this afternoon's conversation, and I hope when I get weary and the work gets tiring that I'll be like my dad and that I'll will keep pushing through with patience and courage until I'm through the tough spots.
I went ahead and put the lyrics below, but they don't give a complete story of what I was thinking at the time; so I'll translate my own version right now. :-) Here goes! "I said I wouldn't seek out or make trouble, but sometimes hard times come. So I'll keep fighting through the hard times, because I do remember what you taught me.
The actual lyrics:
I promised you, papa,
I walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please don’t think I’m weak,
I didn’t turn the other cheek,
And papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man.
I went ahead and put the lyrics below, but they don't give a complete story of what I was thinking at the time; so I'll translate my own version right now. :-) Here goes! "I said I wouldn't seek out or make trouble, but sometimes hard times come. So I'll keep fighting through the hard times, because I do remember what you taught me.
The actual lyrics:
I promised you, papa,
I walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please don’t think I’m weak,
I didn’t turn the other cheek,
And papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
I love reading the news!
As I read the news and listen to the news, it seems as though the world and it's governments no longer make sense... nothing new under the sun... I can't say that the news has ever made much sense, but war has tended to clarify things for the last few years. After all, if a nation is willing to openly declare war and proceeds to do so, things get clear really fast. In the case of the US, nations align themselves on one side of the issue or the other and walking a middle line becomes wishy-washy and a sign of weakness instead of a sign of temperance...
There were some bright spots in the news. Yesterday, in the Wall Street Journal, there were some very interesting articles on the attitudes blacks and whites have adopted. (It is the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' refusal to leaver her bus seat.) My favorite article was one Mr.Steele laments the weakness that blacks and whites have chosen so that no one need feel ashamed.
The bottom line of the article: blacks know that the fault of poverty has been the widespread oppression of generations and it is up to the old oppressors to set things right or things can never be set right;Whites have taken the easy way out and have chosen to eradicate racism on their side and to take responsibility for black poverty as their payment for past sins. The problem with these stances is that blacks have become so integrated into the US system for so long with so comparatively little racism still left that we can no longer blame racism for keeping blacks in poverty - at this point, it is the failure of blacks as a whole to take responsibility that has left them in their current condition - and it is the fault of whites for helping prolonging that position and not holding themselves and others to a high standard of responsibility. As a white, to say blacks have not been responsible for the past one or two decades is to commit racism,and to say that poverty is no longer the fault of whites raises the same cry: "Racist!"
The article and my explanation of it is a little blunt, but I recalled when Bill Crosby was speaking to a group of parents... and kids (I'll have to look that up). He told the group he was speaking to that blacks had to take responsibility, and that they were failing to take responsibility at the moment for their children's education. Oh! For about a week, there was a small uproar, and Bill Crosby was blatantly called racist, insensitive, and ignorant of black's true plight. I kept seeing news blurbs on that topic for almost a month. On the flip side,try arguing that the government doesn't owe inner city students better education, more vouchers, more funding.... try arguing instead that it is up to the parents and students to get a good education. The same cry rings out: racist, insensitive, and ignorant of who are the most poorly educated. "It would hurt inner city schools", "City students don't have transportation" - with the sad assumption that "inner city" means blacks incapable of helping themselves, and that whites must lend money and other help.
Fortunately, It is true that I have some great friends who would argue for personal responsibility on everybody with little emphasis on what the government can do for "me me me", but outside a small circle - To argue that blacks and not the government should stop black poverty is to commit political hari-kari. Imagine that getting played over the TV networks and the outcry! By saying the government must take care of poverty (almost always intended to be 'black' poverty) is to degrade blacks into permanent second class dependent citizens, and to put on the pedestal all of the years of horrendous failings of the government( whether we intend to or not, viewed as the elite of the white culture). And all those failings accomplish us not feeling ashamed of our role toward the other race: blacks don't need to feel responsible for their own failings/poverty ("because it's not their fault" ), and whites don't have to feel responsible for their abysmal failings ("We're throwing money at the problem. We're doing all we can").
The problems that personal responsibility for everyone would bring to the surface are numerous, but America has chosen to live with far more problems when they choose the easy way out because it is comfortable and we are used to it.
Final thought on the article... there was a lot of rhetoric, without much proof of his point... I'm not sure I was convinced that black poverty can mostly be explained by a whole group of people abdicating responsibility. It doesn't seem to leave room for the "one person can make a difference" idea (which I agree with). The main point of the article is the part I already agreed with, that government can't lift people out of poverty (black or white) unless the people themselves make an effort. An effort is no guarantee of success, but it puts the odds more in your favor.
In other news, the Sunnis have decided to participate more in elections(apparently not participating hurt their political representation. :-) )
In other news, Saddam Hussein's lawyers have boycotted until the get better protection. They have 10 demands before they come back. Most of them seem reasonable - especially the better protection so they don't die - but 15 bodyguards per lawyer? It seems a little much.
There were some bright spots in the news. Yesterday, in the Wall Street Journal, there were some very interesting articles on the attitudes blacks and whites have adopted. (It is the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' refusal to leaver her bus seat.) My favorite article was one Mr.Steele laments the weakness that blacks and whites have chosen so that no one need feel ashamed.
The bottom line of the article: blacks know that the fault of poverty has been the widespread oppression of generations and it is up to the old oppressors to set things right or things can never be set right;Whites have taken the easy way out and have chosen to eradicate racism on their side and to take responsibility for black poverty as their payment for past sins. The problem with these stances is that blacks have become so integrated into the US system for so long with so comparatively little racism still left that we can no longer blame racism for keeping blacks in poverty - at this point, it is the failure of blacks as a whole to take responsibility that has left them in their current condition - and it is the fault of whites for helping prolonging that position and not holding themselves and others to a high standard of responsibility. As a white, to say blacks have not been responsible for the past one or two decades is to commit racism,and to say that poverty is no longer the fault of whites raises the same cry: "Racist!"
The article and my explanation of it is a little blunt, but I recalled when Bill Crosby was speaking to a group of parents... and kids (I'll have to look that up). He told the group he was speaking to that blacks had to take responsibility, and that they were failing to take responsibility at the moment for their children's education. Oh! For about a week, there was a small uproar, and Bill Crosby was blatantly called racist, insensitive, and ignorant of black's true plight. I kept seeing news blurbs on that topic for almost a month. On the flip side,try arguing that the government doesn't owe inner city students better education, more vouchers, more funding.... try arguing instead that it is up to the parents and students to get a good education. The same cry rings out: racist, insensitive, and ignorant of who are the most poorly educated. "It would hurt inner city schools", "City students don't have transportation" - with the sad assumption that "inner city" means blacks incapable of helping themselves, and that whites must lend money and other help.
Fortunately, It is true that I have some great friends who would argue for personal responsibility on everybody with little emphasis on what the government can do for "me me me", but outside a small circle - To argue that blacks and not the government should stop black poverty is to commit political hari-kari. Imagine that getting played over the TV networks and the outcry! By saying the government must take care of poverty (almost always intended to be 'black' poverty) is to degrade blacks into permanent second class dependent citizens, and to put on the pedestal all of the years of horrendous failings of the government( whether we intend to or not, viewed as the elite of the white culture). And all those failings accomplish us not feeling ashamed of our role toward the other race: blacks don't need to feel responsible for their own failings/poverty ("because it's not their fault" ), and whites don't have to feel responsible for their abysmal failings ("We're throwing money at the problem. We're doing all we can").
The problems that personal responsibility for everyone would bring to the surface are numerous, but America has chosen to live with far more problems when they choose the easy way out because it is comfortable and we are used to it.
Final thought on the article... there was a lot of rhetoric, without much proof of his point... I'm not sure I was convinced that black poverty can mostly be explained by a whole group of people abdicating responsibility. It doesn't seem to leave room for the "one person can make a difference" idea (which I agree with). The main point of the article is the part I already agreed with, that government can't lift people out of poverty (black or white) unless the people themselves make an effort. An effort is no guarantee of success, but it puts the odds more in your favor.
In other news, the Sunnis have decided to participate more in elections(apparently not participating hurt their political representation. :-) )
In other news, Saddam Hussein's lawyers have boycotted until the get better protection. They have 10 demands before they come back. Most of them seem reasonable - especially the better protection so they don't die - but 15 bodyguards per lawyer? It seems a little much.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Aches and pains
I guess this is what it means to be OLD. As soon as you turn 21, it's all downhill and I've got a headstart!
I think I need to make a chiropractor appointment. I think it's all my sitting time while programming that making my lumbar hurt so much. When I was helping my dad this summer, I would always be standing, bending, moving, and doing something active that was not sitting down. Now that I'm doing a lot of sitting, my poor posture is coming back to haunt me. The last 4 years or so of high school, I did a lot of ABeka video classes, and everytime the teacher would tell a student to sit up straight, I would smile to myself and be just a bit smug about the fact that I didn't have to sit up and was in a very comfortable chair or glider. A sore lower back takes away some of the smugness, but not much. :-)
I have the weekend free, and I'm trying to think of something special to do Sunday. I was thinking rapelling, but it's not too much fun by myself... I could stay at the house and clean up ALL day like last Sunday (Which was great)... or I coudl get out "In His Steps" and read it again. I'm leaning towards staying home and cleaning up. It was a lot of fun to help my mom putsy around the house and straighten everything up and rearrange rooms, but I'll probably be sent outside to have fun weedeating! "In His Steps" is a good option, but I read that one one... or two months ago and I may wait a little longer before re-reading it. Rapelling just isn't fun by mytself... hmmmm.... or I could make a few calls. See what I turn up? :-) I know Jacqueline would love to come if there isn't schoolwork still to do, and so would Courtney, Dan, Mark, Steve,... but everyone else is busy I think. It's worth a try! It's time to pull a Holly!
Parting note to brother Jesse: 1152x864 - nice screen resolution. You didn't tell me how nice it was when I was visiting! You also might want to put a little more security on what cookies can be put one your computer. ::evil grin::
I think I need to make a chiropractor appointment. I think it's all my sitting time while programming that making my lumbar hurt so much. When I was helping my dad this summer, I would always be standing, bending, moving, and doing something active that was not sitting down. Now that I'm doing a lot of sitting, my poor posture is coming back to haunt me. The last 4 years or so of high school, I did a lot of ABeka video classes, and everytime the teacher would tell a student to sit up straight, I would smile to myself and be just a bit smug about the fact that I didn't have to sit up and was in a very comfortable chair or glider. A sore lower back takes away some of the smugness, but not much. :-)
I have the weekend free, and I'm trying to think of something special to do Sunday. I was thinking rapelling, but it's not too much fun by myself... I could stay at the house and clean up ALL day like last Sunday (Which was great)... or I coudl get out "In His Steps" and read it again. I'm leaning towards staying home and cleaning up. It was a lot of fun to help my mom putsy around the house and straighten everything up and rearrange rooms, but I'll probably be sent outside to have fun weedeating! "In His Steps" is a good option, but I read that one one... or two months ago and I may wait a little longer before re-reading it. Rapelling just isn't fun by mytself... hmmmm.... or I could make a few calls. See what I turn up? :-) I know Jacqueline would love to come if there isn't schoolwork still to do, and so would Courtney, Dan, Mark, Steve,... but everyone else is busy I think. It's worth a try! It's time to pull a Holly!
Parting note to brother Jesse: 1152x864 - nice screen resolution. You didn't tell me how nice it was when I was visiting! You also might want to put a little more security on what cookies can be put one your computer. ::evil grin::
Monday, October 17, 2005
Travelling Tale
I got online, checked mail, organized that mail, prepared to send some mail, and by the time I'm finished it's too late to post a lengthy blog. :-(
Not that there is too much to say. On the speech and debater front, GCC broke a few students at the recent tournament, so we know some more people will be going to nationals. I got to judge 4 rounds. I didn't feel too confident until the last round, finals of impromptu! That one was rather easy to judge because I've competed and watched so many others do it.
My new computer is up and working now. I finally managed to transfer a few of my E-mails and programs to my new computer so I hope to fully transfer everything by the end of this week.
Tomorrow morning, my mom leaves yet again for Michigan. She made one trip last week to breed one of my sister's dogs, and she's going tomorrow to pick up the dog. My sister has/will go along on both trips, but she has the added traveling of going to see my brother and nephew this weekend - a six hour drive one way. Both she, my mom, and my dad are ready to stay home for a while.
That's it for now. I can tell I've been programming to much when I start to end sentences with a ';'.
Not that there is too much to say. On the speech and debater front, GCC broke a few students at the recent tournament, so we know some more people will be going to nationals. I got to judge 4 rounds. I didn't feel too confident until the last round, finals of impromptu! That one was rather easy to judge because I've competed and watched so many others do it.
My new computer is up and working now. I finally managed to transfer a few of my E-mails and programs to my new computer so I hope to fully transfer everything by the end of this week.
Tomorrow morning, my mom leaves yet again for Michigan. She made one trip last week to breed one of my sister's dogs, and she's going tomorrow to pick up the dog. My sister has/will go along on both trips, but she has the added traveling of going to see my brother and nephew this weekend - a six hour drive one way. Both she, my mom, and my dad are ready to stay home for a while.
That's it for now. I can tell I've been programming to much when I start to end sentences with a ';'.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Another blog from a motel
Again, I sit in the dark, typing my blog, alone... while everyone else in my room sleeps. Although if I were to be completely honest, the light has been dimmed, and my mom and dad aren't quite asleep yet, but it sounds so much more... dramatic - if I'm left alone... in the dark... reaching out to connect to the world in the only method left to me - the World Wide Web. It's not accurate, but it adds a small flair to an otherwise unassuming blog.
How boring you ask?
Work is progressing slowly - it's just that I only had 2 days to get 40 hours of work done. Fortunately, my boss is fairly lenient and lets me do work on the weekends so I'm hoping to get the rest of the week's work done, but I am unsure how I should order my week. I know that I am ordering this week so that I am working on the Sabath, but should I? It's something to take to the Lord in prayer.
I must, before I go too far afield in my ramblings, give my regrets to the debate group. I didn't get the debate plans looked over and critiqued, but don't worry! Before I show up next week, I'll get the debate plans back to you.
Now for the rambling part:
I'm starting the process of looking for apartments. I'm trying to find possible housing starting December or January, so I'll be closer to work. My parents made a wonderful effort in raising me and managed to get me to all sorts of activities (gymnastics and piano being my favorite: I can still do a giant, but I don't have ANY music memorized), but now that I'm left to my own devices, without quick access to activities at college, I've floundered in the interesting hobbies category. At the moment, I wouldn't blame anyone who said my life was 'boring'! :-) Now that I'm moving to a slightly larger town, I hope to get involved in some more activities. (dance partner anyone?)
The move is still up in the air and of has a dubious probability, but I think the time has come. I just pray that God would give me the wisdom to listen to him through all of this, in good times, and in the hard time where it is hard to stay connected to friends and family.
How boring you ask?
Work is progressing slowly - it's just that I only had 2 days to get 40 hours of work done. Fortunately, my boss is fairly lenient and lets me do work on the weekends so I'm hoping to get the rest of the week's work done, but I am unsure how I should order my week. I know that I am ordering this week so that I am working on the Sabath, but should I? It's something to take to the Lord in prayer.
I must, before I go too far afield in my ramblings, give my regrets to the debate group. I didn't get the debate plans looked over and critiqued, but don't worry! Before I show up next week, I'll get the debate plans back to you.
Now for the rambling part:
I'm starting the process of looking for apartments. I'm trying to find possible housing starting December or January, so I'll be closer to work. My parents made a wonderful effort in raising me and managed to get me to all sorts of activities (gymnastics and piano being my favorite: I can still do a giant, but I don't have ANY music memorized), but now that I'm left to my own devices, without quick access to activities at college, I've floundered in the interesting hobbies category. At the moment, I wouldn't blame anyone who said my life was 'boring'! :-) Now that I'm moving to a slightly larger town, I hope to get involved in some more activities. (dance partner anyone?)
The move is still up in the air and of has a dubious probability, but I think the time has come. I just pray that God would give me the wisdom to listen to him through all of this, in good times, and in the hard time where it is hard to stay connected to friends and family.
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