tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208962532024-03-13T09:48:29.862-04:00Hubbard's CupboardRuth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.comBlogger514125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-27417639281282776752009-09-12T19:18:00.001-04:002009-09-12T19:23:15.511-04:00Hubbard's Cupboard has MOVED<strong></strong><br />If you have a bookmark for my blog, delet it and reset it to this: <strong>http://ruthhubbard.wordpress.com</strong> so you'll always return to the HOME page of the new blog (rather than to an outdated specific blog entry).<br /><br />If you access this blog via an <strong>RSS</strong> feed, you'll want (I hope) to unsubcribe the blogger one and newly subscribe to the wordpress one.<br /><br />I've been blogging on Blogger.com for a few years. I'd recently become frustrated by some of the limitations there which motivated me to look more closely at WordPress.com. After a bit of informal research and some dinking about (my way to describe what I've been doing to test this online software) I've decided to convert. Some of the features I'd hoped to have aren't possible on the FREE blog sites -- and for now, I don't want them badly enough to pay montly blog hosting fees or to spend the time it might take me to figure out my other options.<br /><br />I will leave the old blog where it is for a while (at least) -- mayby longer. I think, for instance, that the images that migrated are dependent on the old blog for the time being. We'll see.<br /><br />So, this will be here, but there will not be NEW POSTS here.Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-85469074896140971582009-09-11T04:44:00.007-04:002009-09-11T22:02:10.053-04:009.11<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqsBHH_T5_I/AAAAAAAAGhM/rw4F9T1JETM/s1600-h/911.gif.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 138px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqsBHH_T5_I/AAAAAAAAGhM/rw4F9T1JETM/s200/911.gif.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380395401739495410" /></a><br />"Nine one one. What is your emergency?" 911 is the number you dial on the phone when you need emergency services. It is the promise of help. The beginning of a rescue.<div><br /></div><div>September 11 is my mom's birthday. This has been a part of the rhythm of my life for my entire life. Labor Day/school starts and then we soon celebrate mom's birthday. Six weeks later it's dad's birthday followed by Halloween and my birthday. Soon after that is Thanksgiving and then Advent which leads to Christmas and New Year's. It has long marked the beginning of a long season of celebrations in our family. </div><div><div><br /></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 195px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqoUqlWhV_I/AAAAAAAAGg8/yrg1Z66GnjU/s320/300px-new_york_times_9-11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380135426661111794" /><div>Nine eleven is the day when terrorists flew commercial jets full of passengers into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and not into the White House (thanks to brave passengers who acted selflessly over Pennsylvania). Nine eleven is the traumatic event which has shaped American thinking and acting for almost a decade now. It is this generations' JFK assassination in a way.</div><div><br /></div><div>I remember that one of my early reactions to the news as it was unfolding was a totally selfish anger that "they" had turned my mom's birthday into something else. That morning I'd woken up and wondered what it was going to be like for me, living through Mom's birthday without her. She'd died just over nine months earlier. Part of my willful response to the events of that morning -- my "you can't beat us that easily" rebellion was to continue on with our quiet celebration of Mom. Dad and I went to Ritter's and had frozen custard sundaes for supper in her honor. Inside I was sticking my tongue out at "those terrorists" with one of the ultimate comfort foods. I think we were the only customers Ritter's had that night. Most Americans had begun to hunker down already. </div><div><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 176px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqoRsnKhR6I/AAAAAAAAGgs/_SME_l99iP8/s200/09.porsche.911.carrera.340.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380132162972501922" /><div>Three digits with multiple meanings. All depends on how you slice it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and Porsche makes a 911 model -- but that is pretty far from my life experience radar. I only remembered it when I Googled "911" to find these images for illustration. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div></div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-54447147665048008892009-09-10T06:36:00.002-04:002009-09-10T06:56:33.458-04:00Twitter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqjbWgmfKbI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/wQMnSmd3IsM/s1600-h/tweet-display.jpg.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqjbWgmfKbI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/wQMnSmd3IsM/s320/tweet-display.jpg.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379790934649022898" /></a><br />Because I Twitter <div><br /></div><div>I found out that there is an iPhone app I want with Fantasy Football season beginning this weekend. Thanks to Bycemaster who tweeted "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">@Ruthhubbard hey, did you see that there is a free app to track your yahoo fantasy team up in the app store</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">?</span>"</div><div><br /></div><div>I was reminded that Northland's NOW gathering began this week -- and found out that I could view via the web if that was an option that worked for me when vrain tweeted "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Join us online at Northland at 7PM for the launch of NOW! Web or iPhone www.northlandchurch.net</span>"</div><div><br /></div><div>I discovered that briggzay is not only dealing with a bit of a plague in his office, but has a sense of humor about. He tweeted, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">my office has become a den of fruit fly iniquity. calling in the swat team</span>."</div><div><br /></div><div>I also know that Kouya has a new phone, jlhufford's son had a good first day at kindergarten, threadless was selling all of their T's for $9 each yesterday and Relevant mag was selling 1-year subscriptions to their mag for $9.99 for that one day only. </div><div><br /></div><div>Do I need to know these things? Maybe not. Couldn't I find them out in different ways? Some of them...but some of them, no. Kouya lives in the UK and briggzay is from the Chicago area, for example.</div><div><br /></div><div>The point isn't really the information -- or at least not the information alone. It is about the relationships. I know some people view these relationships on Twitter and Facebook as "fake." I'm not going to argue. I'll also choose to not be swayed by the nay sayers. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm glad that I know that my friends (abudigan and his non-twittering wife) will have a/c installed today and that Joy_B has some shopping to do before the baby arrives. I happened to hear these things via Twitter this morning and last night. I could have heard them at the office later today -- but may have miss those conversations because, well, the Wycliffe USA Board is gathering and we're all hands on deck for that. </div><div><br /></div><div>Those who follow me on Twitter know that I'm looking at migrating my blog from Blogger to WordPress. And now, you know too. [<i>Word Press has some features which I like and I'm trying to determine whether it's worth the work. The literal migration itself is automated and, actually, I've already pushed the button. But there are things that don't move (some embedded video) and there is a learning curve on the software. For the moment, I'm still a Blogger.com blogger.] </i></div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-74927621657259534422009-09-09T09:09:00.001-04:002009-09-10T06:36:12.470-04:0009/09/09<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">09/09/09</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-19857481412081387492009-09-08T22:01:00.003-04:002009-09-08T22:19:16.182-04:00Cold Play: something about strawberries<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><i>This video plays automatically. The problem is, there is another in the post just below that will do the same thing. </i><b>How annoying</b><i>. I don't know what to do to make that not happen. I do know that if you <b>click on the one you don't want to hear</b> (or on both of them) it will pause the video. I guess I'll have to resist posting these more than every five blog entries -- or figure out how to change the settings. Hmmmm. Now back to your regularly scheduled blog...</i></span><br /><br /><object width="640" height="360"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="src" value="http://manage.infinovation.com/assets/player.swf?a=ogHxrXBWR5bCa2AuKR3pdm3z9&v=1"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="flashvars" value="AccountKey=ogHxrXBWR5bCa2AuKR3pdm3z9&VideoGuid=1753b874-e3cb-102c-bd23-12313d00b021&Signature=fa8pcGtS6Ly6wknNtOLoTJC8bAg%3D&AutoPlay=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://manage.infinovation.com/assets/player.swf?a=ogHxrXBWR5bCa2AuKR3pdm3z9&v=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="640" height="360" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="AccountKey=ogHxrXBWR5bCa2AuKR3pdm3z9&VideoGuid=1753b874-e3cb-102c-bd23-12313d00b021&Signature=fa8pcGtS6Ly6wknNtOLoTJC8bAg%3D&AutoPlay=1"></embed></object><br /><br />My friend Nancy likes Cold Play. She has an advantage these days that keeps her connected to new music: offspring. As a single and childless woman of 47 years I have done my time lamenting both of those realities from time to time -- though mostly I'm good with both. And mostly for the past decade or two if I have had anything even akin to regrets about my state is has related more to specific advantages or disadvantages and not so much to the whole picture. I am fully aware that there are two sides to this coin.<br /><br />One of the disadvantages of not having kids at this age in my life is that I don't have access to the music that seems to surround our nation's youth. Yes, I could be more intentional about it -- watch MTV or whatever it is I could do to change that. I could spend a boat load of money downloading things from iTunes when they tell me that this or that is a necessary addition to a complete collection.<br /><br />For more than a decade -- while many of my peers were disconnected from the music and lost in a land of Barney and Wiggles and Christopher Robin -- I was teaching high school and was one of those "cool" teachers who actually liked the music that my students listened to. Well, most of it.<br /><br />All of this is background. Context. Explanation to why I'm asking "where have I been?" as I explore Relevant tv and the music videos shared there. (David Gray and Cold Play. I wonder what's next?)Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-1294797437275326232009-09-08T13:15:00.003-04:002009-09-08T21:55:08.044-04:00David Gray<p><object width="640" height="360"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="src" value="http://manage.infinovation.com/assets/player.swf?a=ogHxrXBWR5bCa2AuKR3pdm3z9&v=1"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="flashvars" value="AccountKey=ogHxrXBWR5bCa2AuKR3pdm3z9&VideoGuid=e39699ce-e952-102c-bd23-12313d00b021&Signature=ayaMEYsIvgfa9IA7h0sV%2B7jnLfg%3D&AutoPlay=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://manage.infinovation.com/assets/player.swf?a=ogHxrXBWR5bCa2AuKR3pdm3z9&v=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="640" height="360" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="AccountKey=ogHxrXBWR5bCa2AuKR3pdm3z9&VideoGuid=e39699ce-e952-102c-bd23-12313d00b021&Signature=ayaMEYsIvgfa9IA7h0sV%2B7jnLfg%3D&AutoPlay=1"></embed></object><br /><br />According to Relevant TV, "If Chris Martin, Bob Dylan and Billy Joel had a love child, it'd be <a href="http://www.davidgray.com/">David Gray</a>." That TWEET worked with me and I clicked to view and listen. </p><p>I liked what I heard well enough to post the video here and give you a link to his website so you can listen and consider for yourself. </p>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-39540158481289661672009-09-07T20:26:00.007-04:002009-09-07T21:10:05.638-04:00Microwave Memories<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqWq31SKzwI/AAAAAAAAGew/x1eJ4_YcfVc/s1600-h/old-microwave-controls.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378893206136737538" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqWq31SKzwI/AAAAAAAAGew/x1eJ4_YcfVc/s400/old-microwave-controls.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Back in the day when I was living with my parents in Zionsville, I often found it helpful to suggest ways that they could improve their lives (and mine) through the purchase of some new something. By 1975 -- the year we moved to Z'ville and the year I started high school -- the popularity of microwave ovens in American homes had sky rocketed. I was quite sure that our lives would be significantly improved if we, too, had one of these appliances.<br /><br />I am not sure when I began campaigning toward this end, but I do know that over time, my recommendations grew in their intensity and passion. The bottom line reason we didn't get one was budgetary. So, one particular Christmas when the church my dad pastored gave my folks a monetary gift, I was sure we'd finally get our microwave.<br /><br />I was wrong.<br /><br />My mom had her eye on a chair. An Occasional Chair, to be more exact. <div><br /></div><div>One afternoon that winter my mom found me standing in the living room punching imaginary buttons on that chair and placing some sort of snack on the seat. She asked what I was doing and I told her that I was using the new microwave to heat up my food.<br /><br />It was a few years longer before my parents had their first microwave and truly, I don't think our lives were in any way less meaningful than they would have been had that technology arrived earlier. In fact, I'm quite sure of it.</div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-89557693228922593192009-09-06T19:12:00.005-04:002009-09-07T21:13:00.954-04:00trying a new look<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqWvVKc3a0I/AAAAAAAAGe4/8eEYiX5F1Bk/s1600-h/hubbards-cupboard.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 133px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqWvVKc3a0I/AAAAAAAAGe4/8eEYiX5F1Bk/s400/hubbards-cupboard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378898108081466178" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span></span></span>Blogger provides basic templates for their free blog service. Others create blog templates (more are created for WordPress than Blogger, from what I can tell) that they let people use (in exchange for a link to their websites and blogs OR for a price). I've found a few that I like a lot, but that require more HTML or XML skills than I even dream of having. The one I've used most recenlty is nice, but...maybe I just got bored with it. I've saved it incase I want to put it back.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I've resorted to one of the most basic templates that Blogger offers. I'm trying to add a header that I created in Photoshop (I've done that before) but Blogger.com is not cooperating. So, since the direct approach isn't working, I'm going to place the image here and then link to it from the header form. Maybe that will work. Maybe. </div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-23350642527039512162009-09-04T21:32:00.004-04:002009-09-06T20:06:56.375-04:00August Rush<img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377790353234001202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SqG_1WEI_TI/AAAAAAAAGcs/L_6pM0WJFL0/s400/August_Rush,_2007,_Freddie_Highmore,_Keri_Russell,_Robin_Williams.jpg" />I watched August Rush tonight. I picked it up at the library last weekend mostly because it looked like it might be interesting and, well, when it's free it's easier to take a risk on a movie that you might turn off in 10 minutes. <div><br /></div><div>I did not turn it off. In fact, I watched it and then hopped on iTunes and downloaded the CD (not the soundtrack, the "music from" one). </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not going to try to tell you that the story is anything but predictable. From the opening stanza I knew where this had to go. The thing is, this story isn't about the what and what -- and it's only barely about the who. This movie is about the mystical something that we call music. And yet the moment we name it, it has slipped into a new thing that we can't quite put our finger on. </div><div><br /></div><div>I found the movie to be affirming. Life-giving. Bright. True. And at had a good beat; you can dance to it. You almost have to dance to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>At least that's how I hear it. </div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-87139684371385502012009-09-03T15:22:00.006-04:002009-09-06T21:50:23.708-04:00Michelle's StoryI've been waiting for a few days for this media to be available to share with you. Listen to Michelle's story and consider all that you can learn about God and about your own story when you listen to hers. I love that God created us to live and grow in communitiy, to benefit from each other's stories as we are all written into God's story.<br /><br /><object width="578" height="325"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6419538&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6419538&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="578" height="325"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6419538">Michelle's Story</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/northland">Northland Media Design</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>From August 30, 2009</p><br />After hearing Michelle's story, listen to the song which she shared at Northland immediately following the video this past weekend. (The guy who is playing bass and singing back up? That's her husband.)<br /><br /><object width="578" height="325"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6399711&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6399711&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="591" height="325"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6399711">"Sweet Sweet Sound</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/northland">Northland Media Design</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>From August 30, 2009</p>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-65374805030264946422009-09-03T08:12:00.001-04:002009-09-06T21:51:00.076-04:00Let's NOT keep Christmas this year.<object width="578" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-RKF95H84MA&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-RKF95H84MA&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object><br /><br />Instead, let's give it away.Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-8228318407126505802009-09-02T06:42:00.000-04:002009-09-03T08:14:51.368-04:001st Day of School Photo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/Sp-dscW78vI/AAAAAAAAGRE/QVbejwZ69XI/s1600-h/5460_248956825323_797650323_8087337_5427344_n.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/Sp-dscW78vI/AAAAAAAAGRE/QVbejwZ69XI/s320/5460_248956825323_797650323_8087337_5427344_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377189866955862770" /></a>Scott and Cat serve with Youth For Christ in Asia -- they live in Thailand. This year when their three youngest (handsome young men in the photo) went back to school, their oldest was in the States preparing to start University. For the traditional back-to-school family photo, she Skyped in. You can see her there on the laptop screen.<div><br /></div><div>I've got a number of friends who have sent their first-born sons and daughters off to University in the past year or two. Many of them have sent back to the States while they continue to live and serve hither and yon around the globe. I've found myself praying more for MK's and their parents for these past few seasons because their reality is closer to me than it has been in the past, I guess. </div><div><br /></div><div>The technology we have today (Vonage phones, Skype, Facebook, etc) makes all of this less of a relational disruption than in the past, but it's not without cost. </div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-14358798933965538142009-09-01T20:53:00.004-04:002009-09-01T21:29:58.304-04:002 hot chicks in 1 hot car<div> <img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376666864567381826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/Sp3CBsom70I/AAAAAAAAGQg/DAiA9K0KECw/s320/ruth+becky+1966.jpg" />Becky, my cousin, posted this photo on her Facebook page recently. I grabbed it and tossed it here on the blog both because it's just such a cute pic which I had to share and because it brought back memories. This may have been the first appearance of these 2 hot chicks in 1 hot car, but it was not the last.</div><br /><div>Back when we were both in our 20-somethings (<i>days when I was teaching high school in Indianapolis, Indiana and Becky was running a day care center in Council Bluffs, Iowa</i>) Becky invited me to join her on a business trip. I was on summer break and visiting family in and around (mostly around) Omaha. Becky needed to make a run to Kansas City to get some supplies for the daycare. I could ride along.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, the fact that we got up rather early was carefully calculated. The plan was to get to the store when it opened, make the purchase, and then head to Worlds of Fun (was that the name?) for an afternoon of amusement park madness. It was a good plan. </div><div><br /></div><div>There was one more factor that made it a GREAT plan -- Becky was the proud owner of a brand new Mazda Miata. It was the premier year for that adorable, speedy, convertible. We had way too much fun speeding down the highway turning heads. And the drive home that night...top down...gazing up at the stars (benefit of being the passenger) was spectacular. </div><div><br /></div><div>Great memories. </div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-65195081760165730682009-08-31T22:05:00.002-04:002009-08-31T22:15:35.946-04:00Meerkats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpyB6Iz_aRI/AAAAAAAAGQU/ePIMU4USgQo/s1600-h/IMG_0330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpyB6Iz_aRI/AAAAAAAAGQU/ePIMU4USgQo/s400/IMG_0330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376314890971474194" /></a>There is a very good reason that these critters have their own "reality" television show -- they are adorable and, unlike most zoo animals that seem to be bored beyond words with the humans who trail past every day, these guys seem quite engaged. They may not be. That's not the issue. They give every appearance to be totally enthralled with whatever you might be saying or doing. <div><br /></div><div>I'd only seen them on the commercials for the <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/meerkat/meerkat.html">Meerkat Manor</a> show -- but after having seen them at the Lincoln Park Zoo recently, I may become a fan. Not of the show -- of the animal. </div><div><br /></div><div>I say that knowing full well that this is why I am more of a dog person than a cat person. I respond better to the "<i>you're here! oh, I've waited all day for you to return!! you smell great and i love you and can we just hang out and...you're here!!</i>" of a canine companion than I do to the "<i>you're back? hmmmm. I'd not noticed that you left. Well, it's about time. I'm hungry. You do know how to open those cans, don't yo</i><i>u? OR should I call someone else?</i>" of a feline.</div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-21493383187281832892009-08-30T19:56:00.001-04:002009-08-30T19:56:44.267-04:00Warehouse 13<p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpsK5MU8exI/AAAAAAAAGQM/kJZMqTxIFNM/s1600-h/warehouse+13.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375902557874715410" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpsK5MU8exI/AAAAAAAAGQM/kJZMqTxIFNM/s400/warehouse+13.jpg" /></a><br />Warehouse 13 is a new series on the SyFy network -- and it is, well, cool. I like it. I like it on a few levels, actually.<br /><br />First, I like the concept. The series follows United States Secret Service agents Myka Bering and Peter Lattimer as they are reassigned to the government's secret Warehouse 13, which houses supernatural objects. They are tasked to retrieve missing objects and investigate reports of new ones. The promos for this show call Warehouse 13 "America's Attic."<br /><br />Second, I like the ensemble cast. As the characters develop, they are growin growing on me. (<em>Here is a list of the characters that I grabbed from Wikipedia. I've added some of my comments to the list</em>.)</p><ul><li><span style="color:#999999;"><strong>Peter Lattimer</strong> (Eddie McClintock), a "rule-bender" Secret Service agent. Agent Lattimer is smart, handsome, athletic and has a knack for quick thinking. He's a recovering alcoholic and can sometimes be prone to petulance. He has a deaf sister who taught him lip reading. He has a sixth sense in regards to immediate dangers and a weakness for cookies. Peter reminds me of a cross between Tony on NCIS and they guy on Bones.<br /></span></li><li><span style="color:#999999;"><strong>Myka Bering</strong> (Joanne Kelly), Lattimer's "by-the-book" partner. She has more book smarts and an eye for details. She takes her job very seriously and has many clashes with Lattimer.<br /></span></li><li><span style="color:#999999;"><strong>Arthur "Artie" Nielsen</strong> (Saul Rubinek), the Secret Service agent in charge of Warehouse 13. Although incredibly smart, he is uncouth and lacks certain social skills. He has a fondness for baking cookies, which is good for Peter. (Arite is in the photo above.) He brings a good bit of comic relief to the story -- and add the important connection to the history of this multi-century operation at the Warehouse.<br /></span></li><li><span style="color:#999999;"><strong>Leena</strong> (Genelle Williams), the proprietor of the bed-and-breakfast where Lattimer and Bering stay. She can see auras and also knows about Warehouse 13. She has been aware of Warehouse 13 for quite a while and has known many of the Warehouse agents that have died -- making it seem as if she is much older than she appears to be. We'll see.<br /></span></li><li><span style="color:#999999;"><strong>Daniel Dickinson</strong> (Simon Reynolds), Lattimer and Bering's former boss at the Secret Service.<br /></span></li><li><span style="color:#999999;"><strong>Mrs. Frederick</strong> (C. C. H. Pounder), the director of a secret government organization, who IS older than she appears. She is a shadowy figure and is usually accompanied by her bodyguard. She is apparently Artie's superior. This woman is truly a trip.<br /></span></li><li><span style="color:#999999;"><strong>Claudia Donovan</strong> (Allison Scagliotti), a "young, hip, brilliant techno-wiz" whose brother was believed to be dead. She hacked into the warehouse computer systems and kidnapped Artie so that he would help her bring back her brother and now works in the warehouse with Artie. She's the Abby from NCIS character -- but not exactly.</span></li></ul><p><span style="color:#000000;">Finally, the gadgets are delicious. Not the artifacts, the gadgets. The ways they communicate and record or search for info, get around in the warehouse. That stuff. I imagine that the design team who creates these things is having a great time with this job. Set design and props. (What do that call it in television?)</span></p><span style="color:#000099;"><p><br /></p></span>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-49942934569724344452009-08-29T19:55:00.002-04:002009-08-29T20:01:47.207-04:00Prayer Cards<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpnAQ5GO7CI/AAAAAAAAGP4/nkFB4xLEekI/s1600-h/mini+9.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 172px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375539026680802338" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpnAQ5GO7CI/AAAAAAAAGP4/nkFB4xLEekI/s400/mini+9.jpg" /></a>I'm designing a set of mini prayer cards which I'm hoping will help people who've committed to pray for me and my ministry with Wycliffe to do just that. On Friday I posted a few of my initial draft designs on Facebook and recieved GREAT input from all sorts of people. I use that input to design a few more and gathered more input.<br /><br />Honestly, I was both surprised and honored by all the people who gave their opinions and shared their preferences and observations. How cool that people would take the time to invest themselves in this process.<br /><br />Today (while I watched a movie I picked up at the library -- love free dvd "rental"), I worked on what I think will be the final 10 designs. They are also posted on Facebook. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=113979&id=615581679&l=4719495837">Click this link </a>and you should be able to see all of them (one of them is the image above) whether or not you are a registered user of Facebook.Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-2923988593537253242009-08-28T18:02:00.000-04:002009-08-29T20:16:34.438-04:00Gifts Can be...Tricky<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpnB8t_v-6I/AAAAAAAAGQA/s7bfQohae_M/s1600-h/2009-bday-certificate.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375540879126690722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpnB8t_v-6I/AAAAAAAAGQA/s7bfQohae_M/s400/2009-bday-certificate.jpg" /></a> My friend, Charlene, is celebrating her birthday today. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!). I've blogged about her before -- told about the adventure that she's on with her husband, Mark, serving with SEND International in Ukraine. So, one of the things I was thinking about lately was what to give to her for her birthday. I wanted to do something different than I'd done in the past. This was complicated by the fact that she is living in Kiev, Ukraine -- so postage can be both expensive and unreliable AND there aren't places there that sell gift cards that can be purchased online and delivered.<br /><br />I decided to do something that people often do for missionaries -- I sent money to be deposited in her account (not as a ministry gift which is assessed, but as a personal gift -- I actually sent it directly to the person who manages their personal bank account here in the States). But I wanted to make it fun for Charlene so I created a "fake" gift certificate that I sent to her electronically.<br /><br />Because I'd been to Kiev this summer, I knew of this store (found a photo of it online so I could fake the logo) and wanted to give the gift from here. I saved the certificate as a .jpg file and had it ready for delivery. Oh, I also used an online currency converter to get the amount right in local currenty.<br /><br />I fired up Skype and watched for Charlene to come online and delivered the gift via Skype while we chatted a bit. It was kind of like stopping by to drop off the gift.<br /><br />Why am I blogging about this? I figure that most of you who read this support missionaries here and there or have friends/family living overseas. You may find yourself choosing to give cash gifts, but would like a way to make it feel more like a gift that has some thought behind it and less like a financial transaction. So, if this sparks any ideas for you -- then I've accomplished what I'd hoped.Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-14348317284991565442009-08-27T06:26:00.003-04:002009-08-27T06:38:02.461-04:00SOUR '日々の音色 (Hibi no neiro)'<div>The EP of Japanese group SOUR titled Water Flavor (or is the song title SOUR WATER FLAVOR by a group named Torrent? or visa versa?) was released in June of this year. This video (okay, there really are only bits and pieces about this group or this release that I can find on the internet -- in English -- so I'm reading between the lines a little) was created for that release. Anyhow, that's not really the point. The point is, this is brilliant. Eddie (friend/colleague with Wycliffe UK) posted this to FB today and I'm quite smitten with it.</div><div><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WfBlUQguvyw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WfBlUQguvyw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div><br /></div><div>I'd like to know what the song is about -- but I will continue to enjoy this whether I know or not. </div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-76083827001589850222009-08-26T20:59:00.008-04:002009-08-26T21:47:05.379-04:00A Day in the Life: Illustrated and Incomplete<div>I remember when I was in college and we were just beginning to have electric typewriters that offered more than one font type AND size. That meant that if I had a paper to write and the prof had given page number parameters, I could cram in more words with a smaller font. </div><div><br /></div><div>As a designer I've also known for a long time that if you don't have much to say (or nothing at all to say) you can do that more engagingly by illustrating it. </div><div><br /></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpXcC06C0CI/AAAAAAAAGPk/HvOXtf5zfN0/s320/2907587289_69d8bf7d96-480x360.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374443671456501794" /><div>If I have not yet convinced you to click to the next blog or return to Facebook or even go back outside for one last romp through the sprinklers, then I will simply say that you are reading (and viewing) at your own risk. </div><div><br /></div>My day began (well, after I left the house, anyhow) with a visit to Dr. Gabor's office for a blood draw. The first tech "missed" and the second one had to go for my other arm before striking a productive vein. Still, I was out of there quickly and on my way to the office. <div><br /></div><div>I am honestly fascinated by all that they can tell from testing the blood. As one who has a family history that includes all sorts of things (including diabetes) that are often diagnoses by blood tests, doctors seem to be happy to test mine annually and I am happy for them to do so.</div><div><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpXcCGsThSI/AAAAAAAAGPU/aG7XsV5U1X0/s320/skype+name.JPG.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374443659050845474" /><div>My day at the office was relatively routine. I'm not complaining about that at all and that should not be taken to mean that I didn't do anything interesting or important. I did spend a good bit of time interacting with people through email. I'm starting to forget how we functioned before we had it. </div><div><br /></div><div>My INBOX has been a little out of control for the past week or two. I was pleased to get it down to a manageable level between yesterday and today's focused attention on doing just that. And no, I didn't just DELETE things randomly, though I admit to having threatened that on occasion.</div><div><br /></div><div>On project I'm working on this week involved the production of a draft document (using WORD) which then needed to be shared with a colleague who works in Dallas with Wycliffe's primary strategic partner organization, SIL for his input and additions before we jointly share it more broadly. For various reasons that are even more irrelevant to this story than what I've already included, email was the chosen method of sharing. Problem is, somewhere between my OUTBOX and his INBOX, the file was converted into something that was useless (and huge). After a couple attempts, we resorted to other technology -- and I transfered the document to him through SKYPE. Click, zoom, done.</div><div><br /></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 276px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpXcBiWb0_I/AAAAAAAAGPM/WzaXNZmDNO8/s320/fantasy+football.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374443649295438834" /><div>Just before 5 pm, I gathered up my belongings and headed down to the computer training lab where I met with some of my colleagues with whom I am playing Fantasy Football this year for our player DRAFT. The process of ten teams/owners selecting fifteen players each took around two hours. It was fun -- at least I know I had fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometime later in the season I'll share my team logo and my drafted team. I will potentially blog about that again before the season is over -- but doubt it will be even as frequently as weekly. But then again, who knows. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="text-align: center;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpXcBFDFAcI/AAAAAAAAGPE/kTOy5eM6ULY/s320/213835main_08pd0697.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374443641429623234" /><div>Finally, I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my tomorrow-but-actually-Friday: the shuttle has been rescheduled to go just after midnight tomorrow night (making it technically Friday morning) and I plan to join a few other colleagues for the trip out to the coast to watch it up close. Not from the Cape itself -- we aren't fortunate enough to have tickets for that. But from the river. I've not seen a night launch from up close and fear there won't be many more opportunities. You will hear about that from me sometime before the weekend passes. </div><div><br /></div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-54661472841281295492009-08-25T20:44:00.004-04:002009-08-26T06:55:49.843-04:00Clean Teeth, et al<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpSINOXZy6I/AAAAAAAAGO4/Ji4hApXmf9k/s1600-h/1121.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpSINOXZy6I/AAAAAAAAGO4/Ji4hApXmf9k/s400/1121.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374070016135777186" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Something clicked this morning and I started making phone calls for the purpose of making appointments. <div><br /></div><div>Doctor (fasting blood draw and basic). </div><div><br /></div><div>Opthamologist (eye check and new Rx for new contacts). </div><div><br /></div><div>Dentist (cleaning, X-rays and exam). </div><div><br /></div><div>I figured that between my this and that, I would likely get all of this accomplished before the holidays kick into full swing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am only about a month late on the doctor appointment. No worries there. It has been nearly two years on the eyes and that means it's time. The dentist...well...it has been a very long time.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The dentist had a last-minute cancellation and so I went this afternoon. I go back in three weeks to spend a few hours dealing aggressively with the two issues that showed on the X-rays/exam. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll have the blood draw in the morning tomorrow and then go back for the rest in on week.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still waiting to hear from the opthamologist. I didn't call there, I requested the appointment via their website. Hey, I had to try to see if that worked. Theoretically it should be easy. Like I said, we'll see. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, whatever clicked in my head, I'm glad it did. </div></div></div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-45517154346434752672009-08-24T06:39:00.003-04:002009-08-24T06:53:40.901-04:00Immersion or Sprinkling?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpJue9r-zGI/AAAAAAAAGOs/r2c-67Fz-os/s1600-h/IMG_2572.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpJue9r-zGI/AAAAAAAAGOs/r2c-67Fz-os/s400/IMG_2572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373478783640587362" /></a>If you've been to Millennium Park in Chicago, you might recognize this fountain/art. This is one of two box buildings from which water gushes and which emit images of faces. (Inadequate description. Sorry.)<div><br /></div><div>When I was there this month with Tammy, Julie and Sandy (who took the photo -- thanks for sharing), I had an urge to stand under the falling water. It was, I suspect, somewhat motivated by the temperatures -- but not entirely. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had excuses both times we were near this installation -- spending the day in soaking wet clothes as the first and not wanting to get our borrowed car wet was the second. So, instead of taking the plunge, as it were, I stood close by the falling water and imagined what it might be light to take that last step back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it was the responsible thing to do. Still, I wonder what it would be like to stand, drenched to the skin. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure if I'm regretting having missed the experience or regretting having not overcome the excuses more. Now, don't get me wrong, I do know that I have (as John Ortberg would say it) stepped out of the boat on occasion -- but I also know that my natural tendency is to do the safe thing. To stay dry. To keep my arms and legs inside the vehicle and my seatbelt fastened.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe next time I visit the Windy City I will get a chance to submit myself to this baptism and will not hesitate. </div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-63417936196700218332009-08-23T21:49:00.003-04:002009-08-23T22:04:24.426-04:00Ketchup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpHx4SuBa2I/AAAAAAAAGOg/G-FlDqZFL4E/s1600-h/bottle_24.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 388px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpHx4SuBa2I/AAAAAAAAGOg/G-FlDqZFL4E/s400/bottle_24.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373341779829549922" /></a>I am not a ketchup fanatic, but I am sure I've consumed a fair quantity of this stuff in my lifetime. And yes, I'm pretty sure that this is my favorite brand.<div><br /></div><div>Heinz has been making and selling ketchup since 1869. One hundred and forty years. Crazy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the interesting thing (for me, anyhow) -- if you go to heinz.com you'll find that they are on message in every category to near perfection. I enjoy seeing companies who know what their BRAND identity is all about and are intentional and dogmatic about maintaining that identity in all they do. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of my early memories of the HEINZ brand via television is of a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_vssdys8lk">commercial</a>, but only recently did I realize that Matt Le Blanc was the actor who co-starred with the ketchup. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-82184122784993276462009-08-22T14:18:00.003-04:002009-08-22T17:48:55.913-04:00Zinger Pull Chain Switch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpA3_k39RMI/AAAAAAAAGOA/AhCxfuPKSx4/s1600-h/BIG.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpA3_k39RMI/AAAAAAAAGOA/AhCxfuPKSx4/s200/BIG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372855920822666434" /></a>I'm just stubborn enough that I will use a good bit of time in pursuit of fixing a thing that "should be" easy enough to fix. <div><br /></div><div>More than a week ago Dad pulled the chain that controls the speed of the ceiling fan's rotation and it broke off. He's been living with "fan ON and stuck at medium" for all this time. Yesterday he carried the ladder in to see if he could attach the new chain he picked up at Wal-Mart only to discover that there was nothing to attach that chain to. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I got up this morning, I thought I'd take a look myself and came to the same conclusion -- this was going to take more than just a climb up the ladder to remedy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took apart what needed to be taken apart to get a better look at (what I now know is) the Zinger Pull Chain Switch. [<i>The image is NOT the same switch...it is only a single switch and not a 4-wire, 3-way switch like I've bonded with on my Saturday.</i>] It didn't take too long to determine that we needed to find a replacement switch.</div><div><br /></div><div>And it certainly did not take any arm twisting to add Lowe's to Saturday's produce market and library list of errands. I had a few things I wanted to get "next time I'm at a Lowe's or Home Depot" so the agenda for our hot and humid August morning was quickly set.</div><div><br /></div><div>The very (very, very) helpful staff at Lowe's quickly found the replacement part of us and we were on our way. [<i>I'm wondering if they're putting customer service on steroids there -- we were warmly and happily approached by no less than 5 staff in our time there, all wanting to be so helpful and encouraging -- wondering if we're working on any projects that we'd like help on. I should have invited one of them home immediately</i>.] </div><div><br /></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 251px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/SpA8DUEAuWI/AAAAAAAAGOI/mARYYHHv8JI/s320/ceiling_fan_250x251.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860383075809634" /><div>Once home, I read the instructions (try not to pass out) and headed back up the ladder with confidence. </div><div><br /></div><div>An hour later, I'm admitting that this not going to be one of those project about which I wonder "why did I put that off for so long" because it turns out to be much easier than I'd thought. </div><div><br /></div><div>I "think" that the switch I purchased is faulty -- but really how would I know that. I'll pick up another on the way home from church tomorrow. I'm not driving 25 miles round trip to potentially fail again. [<i>You can see how my attitude has shifted from "DIY QUEEN of the UNIVERSE" to "Where is Andrew or any of the other (very handsome) handyman types from HGTV or DIY or any other network for that matter??"</i>]</div><div><br /></div><div>For now, I think I'll plant a plant in a pot and then take a nap. I'm very good at both of those activities.</div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-63055229507916871642009-08-21T22:54:00.002-04:002009-08-21T23:10:44.942-04:0010 conclusions from this day1. i must see my opthamologist soon for new contact lenses - my current ones have been a major contributor to far too many headaches these past two weeks<br />2. thunderstorms are brilliant!<br />3. i want to go to improv camp -- do that have that for middle-aged women?<br />4. the gator nation is a powerful force<br />5. a hand full of tootsie rolls in a little brown bag can be a fantastic treat<br />6. there's an ap for that<br />7. there is a reason they call it the rainy season<br />8. i'd best get to making a plan for the fantasy football draft -- like, what will I wear?<br />9. i am not insane<br />10. laughter oils the gearbox in my brainRuth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896253.post-60284231933617347742009-08-20T06:03:00.006-04:002009-08-20T06:44:30.472-04:00Open Sourcing the Gospel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/So0nTl-eqnI/AAAAAAAAGNk/i3CVo8Mt5o8/s1600-h/3821657267_057d623884_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/So0nTl-eqnI/AAAAAAAAGNk/i3CVo8Mt5o8/s400/3821657267_057d623884_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371993148088035954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EWQHTfH7Ux8/So0lY3FeDeI/AAAAAAAAGNc/ZA6AO2kusq0/s1600-h/WhyBibleTranslation.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div></a>Last night as I was pondering this idea of outsourcing sermons I let my mind wander. Before I knew it, I was asking what it looks like to open source the Gospel. <div><br /></div><div><i>(By this I don't mean outsource in the sense that we just hire other people to do the work or "open source" in a sense that everyone takes the parts they like and then uses those to create their own paths to redemption and reconciliation -- I still hold that Christ was not kidding when he said that "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.")</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thinking more in lines of making the platform of the Gospel available to everyone to apply to their own contexts. That's what I understand open source to be relative to software development anyhow (in my limited understanding). I'm pretty sure that a critical part of making that possible is that the Word of God -- the Word who created the earth and everything/everyone in it and the Word who became human and moved into the neighborhood, filled with grace and truth and the Word which has been translated into words and whose flesh has become the Church -- that Word must be translated to include everyone. That would suggest that the words must be translated into the languages of every people and that what will follow will be the incarnation of Christ as the Church is established among every people. </div><div><br /></div><div>I say "every" for two reasons -- the nature of Christ demands inclusion and the Word itself refers to people from every nation, tribe, tongue and people worshipping around the throne in heaven. "Every" is God's idea, not some political or social agenda.</div><div><br /></div><div>With this understanding of the Gospel, there are two interdependent movements that are essential: Bible translation and church planting. </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">----------------------</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">PHOTO: Reading Gapapaiwa New Testament. "</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">People enjoying reading New Testaments in their own language for the first time." </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo by Jonathan Federwitz. </span></span></span></i></div><div><br /></div></div>Ruth Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328808989997212603noreply@blogger.com1