Odds and Ends February 22, 2010

We watched an interesting movie, Temple Grandin , about an autistic young woman who came to grips with her special challenges. This one is a roller coaster of emotions; getting to be an old softie the older I get. We used the Video on Demand function on or cable service; but this might be one to add to our collection.

During one of our Sunday morning meetings mention was made of an upcoming basketball tournament and the need for volunteer officiators. I heard the comment, “Church basketball is the only gang fight where they start off with a prayer”. Think on that for a moment, a little like hockey but not as much protection.

I have a planter box in my kitchen nook full of freshly sprouted tomato plants. Spring is just around the corner; needless to say I won’t be planting them in the garden this week as we have a “slight” chance of snow tomorrow here in the Houston area. My guess is we won’t see any of the white stuff, just some more rain, any snow falling to the ground will be north and west of us.

Two of our Hobo Kitties , Brother and Cousin Head Buttr’, have been testing their opportunities to enter the house as mild temperatures of late have permitted me to leave the back door open. They will venture in cautiously and then exit, return and even enjoy the cat bed we placed under the kitchen nook table, its corners treated with cat nip, and then scurry outside at the hint of danger.

Head Buttr’ looks so much like the Princess , her sister/cousin; never were quite sure what the family tree looked like. Brother has been getting over a butt whuppin’, the skin nearly healed on his hind quarters where he got chewed up pretty good. They both live to have the back of their heads scratched; a chance to mingle with us without too much commitment.

Bubba, our senior kitty and inside cat of thirteen years, has a look about her which, if translated would come off as, “Hey, who keeps leaving the back door open? Can’t you see the Hobo Kitties are getting inside?” Bubba then takes up a position on the edge of the den next to one of the floor speakers as a warning to pretentious kittens, occasionally spouting off unpleasant remarks in their direction.

I had an interesting dream the other night having to do with Lucy’s camera. Some how it got left at a friend’s house, in the dream, and they engraved their name on it, believing it was theirs. Upon realizing the mistake they offered to replace it with a camera which had been recently given them on an out of the country business trip. It was a fancy SLR camera; but when you looked through the lens, instead of seeing a normal image it showed something from a hundred years earlier. I’m working on a way to write a short story out of that; should be fun.

Two friends from church are battling cancer; perhaps battling doesn’t properly cover what is happening, at least not with both of them. One went down to the local funeral home and made final arrangements while the other is looking for a way to come out on top, extend life and beat this thing.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and take away their pain and worry; but adversity is part of life, the refining process. I read an article by Kristine Frederickson the other day on the subject of adversity where she shared some interesting thoughts. Here’s a taste of that article:

“Imagine yourself living in a house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of; throwing out a new wing here, putting an extra floor there, running up towers, making court yards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage; but He is building a palace.”

Have you ever noticed how folks drive down the road, some are always preparing to stop while others are looking for a chance to go? My own observation; but think about it, are we more worried about our yesterdays to the point where we forget about tomorrow? Let me have a glimpse of tomorrow, a chance to let the engine roar a bit, put it in gear an stay out of my way. Brakes, we don’t need no stinkin’ brakes!