Chop Suey, by Edward Hopper

Foundations

We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them. -Charles West

This and That

Yesterday we had a nice lunch with some old friends we hadn't seen in a while. They have a cozy oldish house across the street from a pretty big farm. The snowy farm fields made a nice scene. We enjoyed their company and hospitality. It was nice to get to know their children, also.

Today I did some work on the computer, trying to find the source of an annoying whine. I found it- it's the fan on the video card. For now the whine is gone but if it starts again soon I can replace the fan. Sunday I had to fix a leak in the bathtub and replace a headlight bulb in the van. Oh yeah, I also tried to find out why our CD player is having trouble starting each CD.

I bought some CD cleaner and cleaning the CD's seemed to help somewhat, but it's still not normal. Next I'll try cleaning the lens inside the CD player.

I'm enjoying some time off work to catch up on things and have some time to do things at my own pace, so to speak. It always seems like the clock is ahead of what time it seems it should be. In late morning, the "difference" is about an hour and it gets longer as the day goes on. But, with several days off with minimal plans, I get a sense of "catching-up."

My Posting of Dec. 23

It may be obvious to those who know me that "Border's," the posting from December 23, is a story based in fact. Only the names have been changed "to protect the innocent" (ha ha).

Margaret Bourke-White

I'm reading a biography of Margaret Bourke-White, the famous photographer of the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's (?). She was an interesting character and a ground-breaker as the first female photo journalist, etc. As far as her personal life, she didn't have a clue and she's just another example of a famous, respected person who accomplished big things but did not have her act together. She exalted her career above everything else in her life and, in my opinion, paid heavily for it. It's ironic that so many people I know are making the same mistake.

Click here if you want to see some of her black and white photography.

Christmas Eve

Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb,
Now leaves His well-belov'd imprisonment,
There He hath made Himself to His intent
Weak enought, now into the world to come....

-from Nativity, John Donne

Border's

After checking the Art section for books that might interest his daughter, he used the men’s room and then walked back to the front of Border’s to see if he had left his lights on. But the first thing that caught his eye through the window was Lynn and two of his three children walking toward the store entrance.

He enjoyed looking at them, wherever they were. It was interesting that he was at the appointed meeting place before his wife. The lights were off.

His wife smiled and kissed him and said, “Ethan said to tell you ‘hello;’ he took a shift for today.” They chatted a little about the store before separating to browse for fifteen minutes before meeting near the café. Emma borrowed her mother’s watch.

Years of these sorts of simple family get-togethers had not lessened his enjoyment of them. Sharing little activities together, especially that they could still do so even though the kids were at the age when many other families could not abide being together in public, was special.

They ordered sandwiches and drinks and waited while Curt and Emma went to sit at a table near the window. There had been a dirty plate and some smeared chocolate on the table which he had to clear as best as he could. The Border’s café he and Emma had visited on Madison Avenue the prior month had been even messier.

Emma gently pushed away the plate with her chicken roll-up. It tasted too much like spinach and the core was frozen. He offered to trade his smoked turkey and cheese sandwich if she would take the roll up back to the counter and ask for it be heated in the microwave.

“I don’t want to.”

This was the kind of thing that annoyed him, even though he understood and accepted her reluctance to be a focus of attention. Underneath, Emma had self-confidence and he knew this was not permanent. Nonetheless, his annoyance showed slightly; Emma saw it even knowing that it would probably happen as soon as the exchange started.
In the back of his mind he wondered how he could at the same time feel annoyance and yet feel how much she loved him and didn’t want to displease or annoy him, even though she just couldn’t go up to the counter with the frozen sandwich. He felt bad about it but could not retrieve the annoyance even as he felt warmth for her and liked her so.

Lynn gently turned the conversation to Christmas Eve plans. For the first time in years they wanted to go to a service, but that would complicate the evening plans with his mother at the house, who probably wouldn’t go with them. There wouldn’t be time for the traditional building of a large supper antipasto before leaving for the service, which would mean eating later.

“Someone will have to call her to let her know what’s going on, so she’s not surprised,” he suggested. Lynn didn’t really want to have to make another call, but accepted the responsibility without protest. As he said it he sensed that he should offer to call his mother, but still annoyed, didn't.

Curt’s manner at the table was adult; he didn’t evidence the discomfort that sometimes was so apparent in boys his age in public. They brought the dishes to the counter and went separate ways to browse more in the store. Lynn remarked in private that Emma couldn’t help being that way and that she had been the same way until after being married. He understood, but with a characteristic perspective he remarked that that fact made her behavior no less annoying. He saw in her eyes that she felt he was missing the point. He knew the point she thought he was missing but the lingering emotion was still too strongly there.

No biography section, instead they were spread around in other sections. In the military history section there were a couple of biographies that caught his eye. He made a mental note of titles and publishers, so he could look for bargain purchases on-line.

Curt got a paper scrap from his mother to write down the title of a book of illustrated sports rules, which he had previously borrowed from the library for the boy. Like his father, Curt had wide ranging interests, with one interest continually branching him into other related ones. This commonality made the boy all the more enjoyable. He took the paper as a reminder to get the book again.

There was a brief discussion of the different sets of Tolkien’s Trilogy- hardcover and paperback, large and small, one volume and three, illustrated, or not. It was time for them to leave. Curt wanted to look at sweatshirts in the sporting goods store that was across the parking lot. At fourteen, he was starting to show a slight interest in fashion, in addition to Red Sox shirts.

He moved toward the door with Lynn and Curt as Emma approached from the other side of the store.

“I’m sorry I got annoyed with you.”

Emma nodded slightly, looking at him; they all knew he had already been forgiven.

“See you tonight.”

“Bye.”

"Has Kind of a Nice Ring, Doesn't It?"

I Was Just Wide Awake for Some Reason...

I got up around 2:30 to use the facilities, went back to bed and found myself just wide awake. After thinking for a while, I decided to get up. Went downstairs and logged on to Boston Dirt Dogs to see what might be new. Low and behold, the Sox have signed Matt Clement, a pitcher formerly of the Cubs. This is excellent news; the rotation is shaping-up: Schilling, former Yankee nemesis Wells (a lefty), and now Clement.

Wells won 12 games for the Padres last year, with an ERA of 3.7; Clement's ERA was also 3.7 and he won 9 for the Cubbies.

Just the other day Chris was lamenting the fact that Carl Pavano didn't sign with the Sox and worrying they wouldn't get another good pitcher (he and his mother share an "Irish outlook" on some things.) He'll be pleased to hear the news when he gets up tomorrow.

"Who Is John Stott?"

This is the title of a November 30 editorial in the New York Times. Stott is an elderly English clergyman and a well-known writer. Here is something he said:

It is not because we are ultra-conservative, or obscurantist, or reactionary or the other horrid things which we are sometime said to be. It is rather because we love Jesus Christ, and because we are determined, God helping us, to bear witness to his unique glory and absolute sufficiency.

This is well-said and expresses what many of us believe, but rarely gets across because the great majority of newspaper and magazine and other media people don't get it (they think they do). Even so, I wonder if this really "connects" with those who don't see things the way Stott does...to many it probably sounds like holy clap-trap.

It would have to me, once.

Sundaes

Last night was my "birthday dinner."

We've talked about having ice cream sundaes for supper, but never done it. Well, last night we did it- vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, butterscotch, coconut, peanuts and whipped cream: "make your own." I recommend it.

Galleries

Today I took the day off work so Carolyn and I could spend the day together. In the morning we went to the Slater Museum and the NAC Art Gallery. In the NAC we saw some work by the daughter of a friend, which we didn't know was there.

Then, lunch (cumcumber roll sushi) at the Pagoda. It was good and the price was reasonable. The first pot of tea was only luke-warm, but the second was good and hot. We spent the afternoon visiting several galleries in downtown New London and having a snack and then the Lyman Allen Museum. A very nice day.

Christmas Concert

Last night we went to the Christmas concert put on by the choir at the church we attend. It was simple and refreshingly non-show bizzy, if you know what I mean, and fun. Afterwards, we had a dessert buffet and punch- a simple pleasure of the Season.

The choir director said, "You can clap if it makes you feel good, but we're not here to perform, we are here to convey a message in song." Amen and amen.

This coming Sunday Christopher will be Schroeder and Emily will be Violet in some sort of mini-pageant. They seem to be getting pleasure out of it, so we're glad to have them do it.

We've attended many and various churches over the years. I don't remember ever being so welcomed and accepted at a fully-established church. The absence of cliques and clique-y behavior on the parts of everyone is almost startling. It's a treat for all of us.

A Christmas Carol

Tonight we went to the Donald Oat Theater, on the third floor of an old building in downtown Norwich, to see a one-man production of Dicken's Carol. It was impressive- the actor played 17 different parts and portrayed the entire story in about 90 minutes. He wore modern clothes and the only props on the stage were a table, high desk and a high chair. With different voices and accents and different postures all of the characters were done by this one actor.

We know the story well because for several years we read it aloud together at Christmas. Some precious lines: "Marley was dead to begin with" and Marley's face on the door knocker glowed "like a bad lobster in a dark cellar."

One the way home we stopped at Tim Horton's for hot chocolate and a snack.

Music of the Season

This and the Messiah are my favorite Christmas music.

The Return of The King

Last night for supper we had homemade pizza. Carolyn uses a bread machine to make the dough and has special perforated pizza pans which make a nice, crispy thin-crust pizza. We ate in the living room and watched The Return of the King, the third in the series, where Frodo and Sam make it to Mt. Doom and the ring is destroyed, and then Sauron and his minions. I highly recommend both the Lord of The Rings books and movies. Even those of us who are not Tolkien "nuts" can get a lot of enjoyment from them. Tolkien was certainly a genius and Peter Jackson's movie versions approaches that level, in my opinion.

How's Your Christmas Shopping Going?

Barnes and Noble.com is the place to shop, if you don't like going to stores, especially this time of year. Internet shopping is a dream to non-shoppers like me. And it reduces the number of errands and running-around that can make this time too hectic. We're really getting good use out of it.

The Dunkin' Donuts Center

This afternoon I took Chris and Emily to Providence to watch Providence College play URI. This is a big rivalry and the game and the crowd were excellent. URI came back nicely and brought the game into overtime and the Donut center was really rockin'. Evan was working and Carolyn wanted to stay home. The game started at 4, so we stopped at McD to pick up some junk food on the way. A good time was had by all. I have to start wearing ear plugs at these kinds of things, though- the noise gave me a headache.

Cream of Wheat at 6:30

Most mornings C. and I have our breakfasts at different times since we run on different schedules in the morning. Now and then we make a "date" to have breakfast together. Today was such a day- he food was simple and the company was good. Nice to be able to discuss what's going on with the different kids, my job, homeschooling issues, friends, and so on- "catching-up" on things.

No. 9

Ted Williams- such an interesting man. He had so much, but his life was sad in ways. He saw himself as totally self-reliant- not needing others or anything, but only his brains and his skills and his intelligence. His great talents did serve him well, to the extent they could.

But did he understand that there are facets of our existence that aren't made complete by the accomplishments of our minds and bodies, however great? Even in the times of his great accomplishments, there was an underlying vulnerability- the same needs we all have to be accepted and respected.

A Friend

Meet one of my friends...She's a 2004 American Standard Stratocaster ("Strat" for short). She has a maple neck and an alder body. She is a classic in the true sense- basically the same guitar that Leo Fender developed 50 years ago and still one of the most popular. When she and I are together time stands still and we go all kinds of places. Another day I'll introduce you to another friend, our Deluxe Reverb amplifier.