Nancy

I met with Nancy, my 8th Grade through Graduation small group leader. She kept a group of girls together for five years, even when many of us were no longer involved in our own church youth group. (After three youth leaders in as many years, most of us signed off freshman year) Some of us were teaching Sunday school, others were attending services, but Nancy had us meet anywhere from weekly to monthly. Just to catch up, bible study and fellowship. It was wonderful to have that continuity, and someone who didn't pressure you to 'attend' but always let you know you were welcome when you had time. And most of us made it most of the time.

James 1:16-17

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:16-17)

A commentary I read in some church, somewhere on tour translated shifting shadows as an eclipse. The Eclipse image resonated with me. Isn't that sometimes how we see hardship? When the bad times come it's easy to think that God's goodness is somehow being overshadowed. Why can't he just break through and take it all away.

The sun isn't really being covered by the moon. It's an illusion. (Like those pictures we take, where your best friend is standing on your hand) The moon can only hide the sun from us because we are so small. Easier said than done, but when hardships come it would be good to remember that God cannot be blocked. We cannot see him sometimes because of circumstances, but he does not change.

Tsunami blogs

Here are some of the blogs that are getting so much attention by the media. So far, the most accurate and up to date news is coming from bloggers who are there, taking pictures, sending updates, and keeping an eye out for new aid.

South-Asia Tsunami and Earthquake Blog

Being Crafty

I've spent the evening resurrecting a pair of jeans that got all but destroyed last tour. I think they'll last four more months. So I chopped off the hem, (which was three inches too long, and had been shredded when I walked on it), took in the thinning side seams, embellished, and put on a belt.

It's the artsiest pair of jeans I've ever worn, but they should hold out. And there's room for more souvenir patches... I like getting to be creative. And I got to watch Sabrina. That is one of my favorite movies, and always makes me want to move to Paris immediately. French people may smoke too much as a whole, but I think they know how to live better than we do, for all money and stuff.

"The French work as hard as anyone, they just know when to quit."

Strange site statistics

And the #1 search that brings google to my site:

"ron weasley's least favorite sandwich filling"

I think we can safely say that none of them are British.

Stop the Madness

From yesterday's Yakima Herald Republic:

"Authentic Filipino dinners are available from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Filipino-American Hall in Wapato.

Thursday: Chicken adobo, pork stir fry, pancit, rice, cookie or fresh fruit."

Ha. We serve a cookie and fruit.

I made it

I made it into Yakima last night after one. Fourteen hours of driving later, I feel, this morning, like I was hit by a runaway semi. Which is, of course, ridiculous, because at some points in the evening, they were passing me on all sides. I don't handle curves well in the dark. My "in the dark driving strategy" is to find someone who is going the same speed I want to go, and latch onto their taillights at an appropriate distance.

So I'm here. I need to unpack my car and take a shower.

Oh, and on a slightly *sigh* ironic note, I drove RIGHT PAST my exit for tour in a few days...At 9:17 last night.

Happy New Year

Oh, and Happy New Year!

I spent mine bartending for about a zillion kids at a kareoke party.

Bad Kitty

Today was NOT a good day.

I woke up ready to finish out my year end financial report with Wendy, then head to Sacramento to crash at my sister's house on leg one of my trip back to the Northwest. I got as far as the Albertson's parking lot in Buellton. And Chloe, excuse me -- there's just no other way of putting this -- messed all over herself and Cai, and their carrier.

So I let them out of the cage, not knowing the extent of the damage, and ran into Riteaid to grab baby wipes. By the time I'd got back out there, they'd climbed all over my car, spreading the refuse on EVERYTHING. I spent half an hour in a parking lot, with people looking on, trying to clean cat....stuff... Off them, my things, and my bleeding CAR. Then I stuffed them both into the smaller carrier, threw away the bigger one (because I didn't pay enough for it to merit cleaning the hassle of trying to find a place in a parking lot to clean it out), and then had to drive six hours in a car that smelled suspiciously like cat feces and baby wipes.

OH I HOPE the next day or two of this drive don't go as badly as the first one.

And all the books say that cats can hold it for days if they need to. Bloody cat!

Year End Reports

It's that time again, final quarter and year end reports, and cash flow report time. Go to www.cheapskate.com to find out how!