I wore my winter coat in the house all day. Typical winter day. It was probably about 15 C. Clothes hung out all day and are still wet. Mosquitoes are slow, but they're still around.
Church on Wednesday and Saturday was attended by several prisoners. Maybe "attended" isn't the word--they listened in by phone.
Jerusalem is an interesting place. But I didn't exactly have an interesting day. I was a bit sick so I didn't accomplish much. I don't have any cute kids that say cute things and do cute things. I didn't go anywhere except for a short walk and I saw nothing new. I did stop for a look at my favorite rosebush. I am tempted to cut a rose and take it home. Nobody loves that rose as much as I do. The bush usually looks pretty sad, but the roses on it are nice. I wonder if the bush were treated for rust would the flowers still be as good.
I didn't see the gray cat today. He's not an average cat, but a special breed of some kind. He frequently sits on a wall by the sidewalk, at a convenient height for me to stop and pet. After petting him for a minute I walk on, so he jumps down, runs ahead, jumps onto the wall again. He does this several times, then returns home. If I had a cat that nice I'd be worried someone would steal him.
I stopped to pet the fat yellow cat. I startled several wild black and tabby cats out of the garbage bin.
I transcribed several tune ideas from my recorder. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be able to finish a tune.
Supper was supposed to be a delicious potato soup. It turned out to be a so-so potato soup. Try again tomorrow. Only without the potatoes.
November 26, 2012
November 23, 2012
I Found It!
I just stumbled across the verses that intrigued me some time back.
Compare Psalm 71:3 and Psalm 31:3 (written with middle part scrunched). Switch tsaddi and dalet and consider that hand-written vav's and yud's are very similar.
הֱיֵה לִי לְצוּר מָעוֹן לָבוֹאתָּמִידצִוִּיתָ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי
הֱיֵה לִי לְצוּר-מָעוֹז לְבֵיתמְצוּדוֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי
Or simply leave out vav's and yud's and an alef and you get,
לבתמדצת
or
לבתמצדת
first is "be for me a rock of strength, and for a house of defense(s) to save me"
second is "be for me a strong habitation, to come continually, you commanded to save me"
Also I find interesting that in the Psalms you can often change the line breaks and verse breaks without changing the meaning.
Compare Psalm 71:3 and Psalm 31:3 (written with middle part scrunched). Switch tsaddi and dalet and consider that hand-written vav's and yud's are very similar.
הֱיֵה לִי לְצוּר מָעוֹן לָבוֹאתָּמִידצִוִּיתָ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי
הֱיֵה לִי לְצוּר-מָעוֹז לְבֵיתמְצוּדוֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי
Or simply leave out vav's and yud's and an alef and you get,
לבתמדצת
or
לבתמצדת
first is "be for me a rock of strength, and for a house of defense(s) to save me"
second is "be for me a strong habitation, to come continually, you commanded to save me"
Also I find interesting that in the Psalms you can often change the line breaks and verse breaks without changing the meaning.
Winter rains
Fortunately winter rain doesn't mean cold rain. At least so far. It's more like spring rain. A bit dreary, but nice to have everything getting a wash-down.
Unless it's the clothes on my clothesline. Then it's dirt that washes down from the sky.
After living in Israel for a while, I find myself thinking of myself as Israeli. It's "us," "our troops," "our" prime minister. The day Gilad Shalit came home was quite a day for me.
Most of what is missing here is nature. I have never wanted to be a city person. I miss the grass, the open spaces, the nice parks in Indiana, the nice park north of Dallas, trees, waterfalls, etc. I thought I would perk things up by buying 3 house plants. I was horrified when I got home and realized that one of them had cost me $17!!!!! It has grown 5 new leaves and dropped 20. Oh well, it's trying--probably busy growing more roots. The other two look about the same as when I got them.
Unless it's the clothes on my clothesline. Then it's dirt that washes down from the sky.
After living in Israel for a while, I find myself thinking of myself as Israeli. It's "us," "our troops," "our" prime minister. The day Gilad Shalit came home was quite a day for me.
Most of what is missing here is nature. I have never wanted to be a city person. I miss the grass, the open spaces, the nice parks in Indiana, the nice park north of Dallas, trees, waterfalls, etc. I thought I would perk things up by buying 3 house plants. I was horrified when I got home and realized that one of them had cost me $17!!!!! It has grown 5 new leaves and dropped 20. Oh well, it's trying--probably busy growing more roots. The other two look about the same as when I got them.
November 22, 2012
Cease-fire
A bus-bombing yesterday tied up traffic for a while. The last such incident, I hope, for a long time. Now all is quiet, and the air is full of a feeling of normalness. Almost boring. Nothing on the news, so now let's see, where was I...
For the last few weeks I've been working on power-points. Now, after finishing the job and getting a little burnt out on it, I'm ready to do something different. But first I need to re-arrange the flat. There, I said it. "Flat." Not a tire, but an apartment. I didn't know I would ever say that word. While being re-arranged, everything looks a bit worse, but it will look better in the end.
For the last few weeks I've been working on power-points. Now, after finishing the job and getting a little burnt out on it, I'm ready to do something different. But first I need to re-arrange the flat. There, I said it. "Flat." Not a tire, but an apartment. I didn't know I would ever say that word. While being re-arranged, everything looks a bit worse, but it will look better in the end.
November 21, 2012
Windows
I apparently napped through an alarm yesterday. A missile landed south of Bethlehem. I am on the ground floor, which is not as safe as the basement, but much better than the top.
Today is a beautiful day, sunny and cool. I spent quite a while in the laundry room. The laundry room has two big windows that have needed cleaning for some time. In the past three years I have washed mostly just the insides of them, reaching around the sides to get what I could of the outsides. I assumed they were too heavy for me to take down.
But today I decided I would just go ahead and take them down and clean them properly, even though, as I expected, they turned out to be quite heavy. It was very satisfying getting them down without incident, and washing all that dirt off. It was also a very satisfying moment when I managed to lift one heavy window with my weak little arms and push it into the top slot in order to put it back. But then I got a sudden leg cramp, so I had to let it down again before I could get it into the bottom slot. Oh well, Al will take care of that tonight. The windows are at least half-clean now, but that's 1000% better than they were. (What kind of math is that?)
I need to make some carrot-cauliflower soup. Sounds like a boring job, but maybe after I get started it won't be so bad. It is hard for me to imagine how some women actually like to cook.
Today is a beautiful day, sunny and cool. I spent quite a while in the laundry room. The laundry room has two big windows that have needed cleaning for some time. In the past three years I have washed mostly just the insides of them, reaching around the sides to get what I could of the outsides. I assumed they were too heavy for me to take down.
But today I decided I would just go ahead and take them down and clean them properly, even though, as I expected, they turned out to be quite heavy. It was very satisfying getting them down without incident, and washing all that dirt off. It was also a very satisfying moment when I managed to lift one heavy window with my weak little arms and push it into the top slot in order to put it back. But then I got a sudden leg cramp, so I had to let it down again before I could get it into the bottom slot. Oh well, Al will take care of that tonight. The windows are at least half-clean now, but that's 1000% better than they were. (What kind of math is that?)
I need to make some carrot-cauliflower soup. Sounds like a boring job, but maybe after I get started it won't be so bad. It is hard for me to imagine how some women actually like to cook.
November 19, 2012
Safety
Up till last week, I would have said that Israel, and especially Jerusalem, is one of the safest places you could possibly live. There isn't much crime, and I don't feel that there are very many weird or unpredictable people around. I don't worry about being out alone at night, unless in some very remote place. There are certain dangers which are the same as anywhere else, such as getting caught in a crowd of excited people, but mostly it is really civilized and sane.
After two rockets landed near Jerusalem last week, my feelings haven't changed much. But if I am out taking a walk, I look at my surroundings a little better. What do I do if the sirens go off? I wouldn't be able to run home in 90 seconds. So I look for stone walls, which are everywhere, stone stairways between stone walls, open parking garages, or simply the cubicles surrounding the garbage bins, cement and stone on three sides. The chances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time are very small. (Unless you are in the wrong place at the wrong time--then your chances are zero.) And "chances" are God-ordained. God is good, and we are in his hands.
Daily life has more struggles and conflicts than a "possible" missile strike. Reality is that every minute I am awake I am bombarded by complicated problems of my own and everybody else's. If anything, the possibility of something sudden and unusual helps me get in perspective, to a small degree, some of the other issues of life. Instead of getting into a downward spiral of trying to figure things out and getting deeper and deeper into a muddle, I can just "do it." Your instincts sometimes cause you to do what's right. Wash the dishes, now! Pray, now! Forget making plans and schedules, just forge ahead. With a more alert and composed mind, I can either do something or do nothing, and have confidence that "His eye is on the sparrow," knowing that to Him we are of more value than many sparrows.
And no doubt his eye is on cats, too. There are many stray cats in Israel. Thousands of them. (Not many mice, ha ha!) They look at you suspiciously, some of them almost wanting to be friendly, but they don't dare. Just like our life in this world. Since we don't belong here permanently, but are just passing through, we should be suspicious of earthly things that take too much of our time and affections, in order to preserve the health of our souls. God gives us all things richly to enjoy, but we are seeking the things above that cannot mold, rust, be stolen, or be bombed away.
After two rockets landed near Jerusalem last week, my feelings haven't changed much. But if I am out taking a walk, I look at my surroundings a little better. What do I do if the sirens go off? I wouldn't be able to run home in 90 seconds. So I look for stone walls, which are everywhere, stone stairways between stone walls, open parking garages, or simply the cubicles surrounding the garbage bins, cement and stone on three sides. The chances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time are very small. (Unless you are in the wrong place at the wrong time--then your chances are zero.) And "chances" are God-ordained. God is good, and we are in his hands.
Daily life has more struggles and conflicts than a "possible" missile strike. Reality is that every minute I am awake I am bombarded by complicated problems of my own and everybody else's. If anything, the possibility of something sudden and unusual helps me get in perspective, to a small degree, some of the other issues of life. Instead of getting into a downward spiral of trying to figure things out and getting deeper and deeper into a muddle, I can just "do it." Your instincts sometimes cause you to do what's right. Wash the dishes, now! Pray, now! Forget making plans and schedules, just forge ahead. With a more alert and composed mind, I can either do something or do nothing, and have confidence that "His eye is on the sparrow," knowing that to Him we are of more value than many sparrows.
And no doubt his eye is on cats, too. There are many stray cats in Israel. Thousands of them. (Not many mice, ha ha!) They look at you suspiciously, some of them almost wanting to be friendly, but they don't dare. Just like our life in this world. Since we don't belong here permanently, but are just passing through, we should be suspicious of earthly things that take too much of our time and affections, in order to preserve the health of our souls. God gives us all things richly to enjoy, but we are seeking the things above that cannot mold, rust, be stolen, or be bombed away.
November 15, 2012
Winter
Winter is here. In other words, it rained. And after having rained once (for the first time in several months) it will probably rain again. Especially when you need to hang out the laundry. Clouds come and go, rain comes and goes. It looks like it will be clear for a while, so I hang out the laundry and after an hour it is half dry but clouds are gathering. Do I dare wait another half hour? Do I bring them in half wet? Better than all wet. Or some days I leave them out all day, and it doesn't rain, but nothing drys because of the coolness and the humidity.
Rocket fire from Gaza is always on the edge of our minds. Not that we go around worried or scared all the time, but it adds something very serious to life, and our hearts are with people who are in real danger.
I have added several Psalms to my list. I avoided using them earlier, because they are usually just one or two verse, which is quite different from singing the Scottish metrical in groups of six or so verses each. But really they are quite nice, in spite of being very short.
Rocket fire from Gaza is always on the edge of our minds. Not that we go around worried or scared all the time, but it adds something very serious to life, and our hearts are with people who are in real danger.
I have added several Psalms to my list. I avoided using them earlier, because they are usually just one or two verse, which is quite different from singing the Scottish metrical in groups of six or so verses each. But really they are quite nice, in spite of being very short.
October 17, 2012
October
Simchat Torah is past now. That's when they complete the yearly cycle of Torah reading and start over again. No more holidays for awhile.
Two colors of sedum. The yellow ones can be up to 3 inches across.
.JPG)
Shasta daisies.
Two colors of sedum. The yellow ones can be up to 3 inches across.
.JPG)
Shasta daisies.
October 13, 2012
Handy Internet
Whenever I have an odd question, I simply search for it on the internet. Surprising what you can find and how easy it is.
I typed in "fall asleep forget to breathe," and found there are people with my exact same experience. I have to be careful how I fall asleep (not too fast), or I stop breathing and wake with a jerk and start gasping for air. This is worse when I am behind on sleep. So in other words, sleep too little, sleep incorrectly. Sleep more, sleep correctly.
One thing that probably isn't on the internet -- how to get carrot peels out of your kitchen drain when you know there's an earwig hiding under one of them.
I wonder why they don't make colored bug repellent, so you'll know when you missed a spot. I hate to wake up in the morning with 5 mosquito bites on my forehead. But with cooler weather coming I'll soon be able to skip the repellent and simply close the windows.
I typed in "fall asleep forget to breathe," and found there are people with my exact same experience. I have to be careful how I fall asleep (not too fast), or I stop breathing and wake with a jerk and start gasping for air. This is worse when I am behind on sleep. So in other words, sleep too little, sleep incorrectly. Sleep more, sleep correctly.
One thing that probably isn't on the internet -- how to get carrot peels out of your kitchen drain when you know there's an earwig hiding under one of them.
I wonder why they don't make colored bug repellent, so you'll know when you missed a spot. I hate to wake up in the morning with 5 mosquito bites on my forehead. But with cooler weather coming I'll soon be able to skip the repellent and simply close the windows.
October 8, 2012
More Flower Pictures
Pictures taken throughout the year.
Morning glory vine growing with bougainvillea.
Morning glory vine growing with bougainvillea.
.JPG)
Fruit
I don't often see seedless grapes in Israel. So I don't eat grapes. Too bad I'm so spoiled.
This is not a sponge.
It's a mango, cut and ready to eat.
This is not a sponge.
It's a mango, cut and ready to eat.
October 1, 2012
Yom Kippur and Succot
The greeting that you often hear during Yom Kippur is "htima tova," or "good signing."
According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into the Book of Life, on Rosh Hashanah. The following days are the Days of Awe, during wish a Jewish person tries to amend his behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God and against other human beings. On Yom Kippur God seals the verdict (for one year.)
The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt. At the end of Yom Kippur, one hopes that he has been forgiven by God.
After Yom Kippur comes Succot, a very enjoyable time for everyone. Everyone sets up an outdoor structure topped over with palm branches. They have some of their meals there, and some sleep there. Or you can eat in one Succa and sleep in a different one. You can also go Succa hopping, and help yourself to goodies at each one. Or so I've heard.
It rained yesterday evening, which is taken by some as a sign of God's displeasure, because it prohibits you from eating in your succa.
But apart from all that, I thought it was a lovely day yesterday. I saw three flocks of about 15 birds each flying over low in V-formation. They weren't geese, but a small white bird that flies with neck bent. In the evening there were a few cool breezes, some horizontal lightning, a little thunder, and a sprinkle of rain. My name is written in the book of life, because I have a sure atonement, through the blood of Jesus.
According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into the Book of Life, on Rosh Hashanah. The following days are the Days of Awe, during wish a Jewish person tries to amend his behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God and against other human beings. On Yom Kippur God seals the verdict (for one year.)
The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt. At the end of Yom Kippur, one hopes that he has been forgiven by God.
After Yom Kippur comes Succot, a very enjoyable time for everyone. Everyone sets up an outdoor structure topped over with palm branches. They have some of their meals there, and some sleep there. Or you can eat in one Succa and sleep in a different one. You can also go Succa hopping, and help yourself to goodies at each one. Or so I've heard.
It rained yesterday evening, which is taken by some as a sign of God's displeasure, because it prohibits you from eating in your succa.
But apart from all that, I thought it was a lovely day yesterday. I saw three flocks of about 15 birds each flying over low in V-formation. They weren't geese, but a small white bird that flies with neck bent. In the evening there were a few cool breezes, some horizontal lightning, a little thunder, and a sprinkle of rain. My name is written in the book of life, because I have a sure atonement, through the blood of Jesus.
September 11, 2012
September
In Israel you can find lots of things that you were never looking for. Like people that believe that the Jews control the world for their own ends, and that information on the Holocaust was greatly exaggerated.
Or that the resurrection happened in 70 A.D., or that the last day is simply the last day of each individual's life, and we are now living in the new heavens and new earth. It can't be so because the first heaven and earth have not passed away. "There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Don't mock me by saying there is now no more sorrow--I have plenty of sorrow, and death lurks everywhere. It is not a total sorrow or a hopeless one, but it is very real, and my hope is for the resurrection. The day I die, I will be alive with Christ, but millions of people will still be starving in Africa, and that isn't the new heavens and new earth. The tares and the wheat are still mixed together. That's not the new heavens and new earth. "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." At present every knee does not bow. That's not the new heavens and new earth.
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." "and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." If that happened at 70 A.D., there are no more ungodly men, and the sin that we see is just an illusion. "All that is in the world...is of the world", and "the world passeth away and the lust thereof:" If the elements have already melted, how does sin still thrive? "He that committeth sin is of the devil:" If the devil is already cast into the lake of fire, how does he still deceive men, and why is there still the "man of sin"?
Oh well, I give up. I just can't understand how we can be in the new heavens and new earth, any more than I can understand the earth being flat.
2 Peter 3:13-14 "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
Or that the resurrection happened in 70 A.D., or that the last day is simply the last day of each individual's life, and we are now living in the new heavens and new earth. It can't be so because the first heaven and earth have not passed away. "There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Don't mock me by saying there is now no more sorrow--I have plenty of sorrow, and death lurks everywhere. It is not a total sorrow or a hopeless one, but it is very real, and my hope is for the resurrection. The day I die, I will be alive with Christ, but millions of people will still be starving in Africa, and that isn't the new heavens and new earth. The tares and the wheat are still mixed together. That's not the new heavens and new earth. "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." At present every knee does not bow. That's not the new heavens and new earth.
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." "and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." If that happened at 70 A.D., there are no more ungodly men, and the sin that we see is just an illusion. "All that is in the world...is of the world", and "the world passeth away and the lust thereof:" If the elements have already melted, how does sin still thrive? "He that committeth sin is of the devil:" If the devil is already cast into the lake of fire, how does he still deceive men, and why is there still the "man of sin"?
Oh well, I give up. I just can't understand how we can be in the new heavens and new earth, any more than I can understand the earth being flat.
2 Peter 3:13-14 "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
August 17, 2012
Morning
It's about one in the morning. I should make some effort to get onto a normal schedule, but it's so nice and quiet at night. I spent some time going through photos, which tend to pile up, and decided on a hollyhock skyline for my desktop background. I wish I could put something as nice on my living room wall. I bought a 9 x 12 print of Hokusai's Great Wave and put it up in the kitchen, but it has no frame. If I get up early enough, maybe I can make it down to the mall and see if there's a store that sells frames; or if nothing else, I could make a fake frame with strips of paper. But my last two efforts at shopping didn't go so well. Sigh.
Ben:
Ben:
August 15, 2012
Israel to Texas and Back
The plane from Tel-Aviv to Amsterdam was almost comfortable. And there was free entertainment. I kept busy for the longest time just trying to figure out how to get through all the menus. Eventually I found a word unscramble game and some language lessons. I learned the numbers 1-10 in Tagalog, and dabbled with French and Russian. All I remember now is the number five in Tagalog, easy to remember because it is also the capital of Peru. Listening to music doesn't work on a plane, though I could have listened to a piano concerto played by Lang Lang. It's good to keep very busy, so I won't accidentally see someone else's movie, which might be pretty horrible.
I saw some nice cards and postcards at the Amsterdam airport by Dutch artists whose style I like, but they didn't say who they were, and they weren't big enough to put on my wall. Drawing squiggly designs occupied me for a while, and meals are always a help, not because the food is great, but it's something to do. Somehow we got from Amsterdam to Texas and it didn't seem to bother me too much that I didn't get a wink of sleep for two days. Other than being tired, of course. But at least day felt like day and night felt like night. Arriving home in the east from the west is another matter. You feel like eating lunch and you look outside and for some reason it's pitch dark. And if it's light out, that means it's day. Strange.
Home (in Texas) is a little less home now than it used to be. I have another life now, and so does everybody else. I would like to settle in and be at home again, but realistically, I am now a visitor. I have only a few days of doing really special things and wishing it would last longer but of course it won't.
One highlight of this visit was telling stories to Elijah and Noah, (Jeshurun listens, too, ha-ha). I never have any plan for my stories, which is what makes it fun. You never know what will happen, or what will make the kids laugh.
Why is it that kids are always better than adults at a memory card game? Noah would have beat me every time, but he kept giving some of me some of his cards so as to be sure that I would win.
Playing chess with a five-year-old is a different sort of experience. You sort of make up the rules as you go, and break them whenever you please. Noah's acting out the characters gave it an entirely different flavor. Frequently I had to tell him, "you can't do that," and "you can't do that either," and other times I let him do it anyway. Every time I captured one of his men, he was thrilled. He was really thrilled when I started saying "Check! Check! Checkmate!"
Going from high-speed Dawkins's to regular speed Olivia and Charlotte was something. Are these sweet little girls a little lethargic? No, it's just the contrast that makes it seem so. Cuddling with Olivia when she first wakes up in the morning, drawing mazes for her to complete--wonderfully pleasant and normal things for a grandma to do--alas--valuable moments fading into the past.
I made one of the worst pie crusts I have ever made, but the pumpkin pie was good anyway. Then we had more pumpkin pie with perfect crust made by Mercy. Sharon and Mercy and Leah are all great cooks, and Ben will dry tons of dishes if you get him talking.
My failed shopping trip in Jerusalem is no matter now, because Sharon had several skirts to give me. I came with a light suitcase and went back with a very heavy one--a few more clothes, some quality shampoo, a quilt, and other useful odds and ends.
I saw much less of everybody than I would have liked, with various ones flitting off to Canada, or Indiana, or Mexico, or going to work long hours. It wasn't exactly a restful vacation, but it was a good change of pace, with a taste of luxury--comfortable couches, instant hot water, luxury baths, good cooking, and fresh air. Not to mention Christian fellowship. Now I'm good for a whole long beachless, family-less year. Why are there so many planes flying over? Probably so I won't get bored.
I like this funny picture of Elijah:
I saw some nice cards and postcards at the Amsterdam airport by Dutch artists whose style I like, but they didn't say who they were, and they weren't big enough to put on my wall. Drawing squiggly designs occupied me for a while, and meals are always a help, not because the food is great, but it's something to do. Somehow we got from Amsterdam to Texas and it didn't seem to bother me too much that I didn't get a wink of sleep for two days. Other than being tired, of course. But at least day felt like day and night felt like night. Arriving home in the east from the west is another matter. You feel like eating lunch and you look outside and for some reason it's pitch dark. And if it's light out, that means it's day. Strange.
Home (in Texas) is a little less home now than it used to be. I have another life now, and so does everybody else. I would like to settle in and be at home again, but realistically, I am now a visitor. I have only a few days of doing really special things and wishing it would last longer but of course it won't.
One highlight of this visit was telling stories to Elijah and Noah, (Jeshurun listens, too, ha-ha). I never have any plan for my stories, which is what makes it fun. You never know what will happen, or what will make the kids laugh.
Why is it that kids are always better than adults at a memory card game? Noah would have beat me every time, but he kept giving some of me some of his cards so as to be sure that I would win.
Playing chess with a five-year-old is a different sort of experience. You sort of make up the rules as you go, and break them whenever you please. Noah's acting out the characters gave it an entirely different flavor. Frequently I had to tell him, "you can't do that," and "you can't do that either," and other times I let him do it anyway. Every time I captured one of his men, he was thrilled. He was really thrilled when I started saying "Check! Check! Checkmate!"
Going from high-speed Dawkins's to regular speed Olivia and Charlotte was something. Are these sweet little girls a little lethargic? No, it's just the contrast that makes it seem so. Cuddling with Olivia when she first wakes up in the morning, drawing mazes for her to complete--wonderfully pleasant and normal things for a grandma to do--alas--valuable moments fading into the past.
I made one of the worst pie crusts I have ever made, but the pumpkin pie was good anyway. Then we had more pumpkin pie with perfect crust made by Mercy. Sharon and Mercy and Leah are all great cooks, and Ben will dry tons of dishes if you get him talking.
My failed shopping trip in Jerusalem is no matter now, because Sharon had several skirts to give me. I came with a light suitcase and went back with a very heavy one--a few more clothes, some quality shampoo, a quilt, and other useful odds and ends.
I saw much less of everybody than I would have liked, with various ones flitting off to Canada, or Indiana, or Mexico, or going to work long hours. It wasn't exactly a restful vacation, but it was a good change of pace, with a taste of luxury--comfortable couches, instant hot water, luxury baths, good cooking, and fresh air. Not to mention Christian fellowship. Now I'm good for a whole long beachless, family-less year. Why are there so many planes flying over? Probably so I won't get bored.
I like this funny picture of Elijah:
August 11, 2012
Restart
Finally, I'm about to pick up where I left off. I was sick all week and did mostly nothing except sleep or wish I could do something besides sleep. Being sick is boring.
Next week I hope to put up pictures and notes of my trip, if I decide it's still relevant. Maybe something else will be happening by then.
Anyway here's Amsterdam:
Next week I hope to put up pictures and notes of my trip, if I decide it's still relevant. Maybe something else will be happening by then.
Anyway here's Amsterdam:
August 2, 2012
SCREAM
I wish I could scream. I wish I were allowed to scream. I wish screaming were a solution for impossible computers. What else can you do when your computer takes a mind of its own and starts messing up. And there's no way to fix it, and no one can help you, or no one cares to, and it's like an alien who's smarter than you trying to destroy your life's work, or put you in fear that it will. Of course I am careful to back everything up and yes I have virus software, although I am more and more suspicious that AVG isn't worth a dime.
It all started back in February. One suspicious thing after another. I de-installed and deleted everything that might be a problem, including several things that most assuredly weren't. One of these days I expect to turn on my computer and see nothing but a big purple blob sticking it's tongue out at me.
It all started back in February. One suspicious thing after another. I de-installed and deleted everything that might be a problem, including several things that most assuredly weren't. One of these days I expect to turn on my computer and see nothing but a big purple blob sticking it's tongue out at me.
July 9, 2012
Take a Break
My shopping day was pretty horrible. It was horribly strenuous and I couldn't find what I was looking for. Wrong part of the season, I guess. Salads have gone way up since last year, or their size has gone way down. I happened to sit down to eat near a loud radio and a loud live band. Fortunately they were equally loud, which sort of cancelled out the ugliness, leaving just a noisy confusion. I was gone for hours and have almost nothing to show for it. But I got through the day anyway.
Now it's only two hours until we leave for the airport. It took me all day to finish laundry, organize a bit, and pack. It was a pretty nice day, really, winding down, wrapping it up, and getting into a different gear.
Excellent news has come--an African man is going to be able to get the help he needs.
We are still praying for a better situation for our dear friend Lizy.
Church services have been attended by all sorts of interesting people, some students, some tourists, and many of those from the Netherlands.
It's the same temperature here as in Houston, except that Houston is more humid. I often think of Jerusalem weather as being comparable to Dallas, and Tel Aviv weather comparable to Houston.
Now it's only two hours until we leave for the airport. It took me all day to finish laundry, organize a bit, and pack. It was a pretty nice day, really, winding down, wrapping it up, and getting into a different gear.
Excellent news has come--an African man is going to be able to get the help he needs.
We are still praying for a better situation for our dear friend Lizy.
Church services have been attended by all sorts of interesting people, some students, some tourists, and many of those from the Netherlands.
It's the same temperature here as in Houston, except that Houston is more humid. I often think of Jerusalem weather as being comparable to Dallas, and Tel Aviv weather comparable to Houston.
July 3, 2012
The Last Minute
I'm trying to wrap up a few loose ends here to get ready for our trip next week. That means going through stacks of papers, cleaning house, and going shopping. I've been planning to go shopping for several months now, but it never works out. I've never figured out how a person with bad feet is supposed to go shopping. I look at all the people shopping, and it seems to be a rather simple process. You just walk. You go down the sidewalk, turn into a little shop, browse for a minute, come out and go to the next one, pass up several that don't look worthwhile, try another one, and another one, and eventually come out with several small packages and then you get on the bus and go home. If you're old or weak or tired, you can stop and rest, but you still cover a fairly good amount of ground.
If you're really in bad shape, you get someone to push you in a wheel chair, which you usually don't take into a shop because there isn't room. Just walking around in several smalls stores adds up to a fairly good amount of walking. If that someone is your husband, and he is willing and strong and patient, it can sort of work, but it isn't the same as shopping by yourself, and I worry about wasting too much of his time.
It will be fun to shop in Texas, where I can park close to the front door of several stores, and many places have scooters--at least the grocery stores, the hardware store, and one fabric store. But there are a few things I want to get here.
Maybe, just maybe, I will manage to go shopping tomorrow. Too bad I've waited till the last possible minute, and it's really hot out. I'll have to leave early, and drink lots of water -- oh, wait -- here's another problem--there aren't too many public restrooms in Jerusalem. (Some people aren't fazed by that--I won't tell you what they do.) So I'll have to figure my route and judge the distances carefully. It'll be a long day and I'll be exhausted. But I can stop and buy a huge, wonderful salad. If I can't find what I'm looking for, I'll comfort myself by buying a scarf. Wait a minute, get totally exhausted over a scarf worth not much more than a dollar? Sure! After all, I've waited several months for it. And I haven't had a chocolate bar for several weeks, either.
"If it weren't for the last minute, a lot of things would never get done."
If you're really in bad shape, you get someone to push you in a wheel chair, which you usually don't take into a shop because there isn't room. Just walking around in several smalls stores adds up to a fairly good amount of walking. If that someone is your husband, and he is willing and strong and patient, it can sort of work, but it isn't the same as shopping by yourself, and I worry about wasting too much of his time.
It will be fun to shop in Texas, where I can park close to the front door of several stores, and many places have scooters--at least the grocery stores, the hardware store, and one fabric store. But there are a few things I want to get here.
Maybe, just maybe, I will manage to go shopping tomorrow. Too bad I've waited till the last possible minute, and it's really hot out. I'll have to leave early, and drink lots of water -- oh, wait -- here's another problem--there aren't too many public restrooms in Jerusalem. (Some people aren't fazed by that--I won't tell you what they do.) So I'll have to figure my route and judge the distances carefully. It'll be a long day and I'll be exhausted. But I can stop and buy a huge, wonderful salad. If I can't find what I'm looking for, I'll comfort myself by buying a scarf. Wait a minute, get totally exhausted over a scarf worth not much more than a dollar? Sure! After all, I've waited several months for it. And I haven't had a chocolate bar for several weeks, either.
"If it weren't for the last minute, a lot of things would never get done."
May 21, 2012
Last week I was trying to book plane tickets. I wanted to get the lowest price possible, but that meant a twelve-hour layover on the way over, and a twelve-hour layover on the way back. I argued with myself for three hours. Every time I thought of how much it would cost to get a better flight, I felt sort of sick. But every time I thought about twelve-hour layovers, I felt sick, too. Twelve hours in a bright shiny airport, bored, nothing to do. Nothing except feel miserable, be bored, take naps on hard chairs, stare at boring expensive stuff in stores and be bored. So finally I decided I'm not going to order tickets today and I went outside and took a walk.
After a few minutes it became very clear to me: spend what it takes to get a comfortable (more or less) flight. So I came back, turned on my computer again, and the first flight I came to was the cheapest one I'd seen yet, and there was only one twelve-hour layover, and that on the way back, which isn't so bad.
So that much is settled, anyway. Now if I can just figure out how not to be bored on the plane. Read-- sure, on a plane? Maybe for 20 minutes here, another 15 minutes there. Get some markers and make designs. That would work for about 10 minutes. Write some poems about boredom. Another 10 minutes. Play Sudoku, another 10. Listen to music, no, can't do that on a plane, with the roaring air all around. Eat, drink, walk up and down the aisle a few times. 18 hours to go. Sleep--well--if you call it sleeping. You feel less pain when you're asleep.
If they'd just let me stretch out on the floor for 20 minutes, I'd feel 1000% better. But no, I have to keep my seat-belt fastened, and I can't do anything weird or annoying.
But that's several weeks away, so why am I even thinking about it.
After a few minutes it became very clear to me: spend what it takes to get a comfortable (more or less) flight. So I came back, turned on my computer again, and the first flight I came to was the cheapest one I'd seen yet, and there was only one twelve-hour layover, and that on the way back, which isn't so bad.
So that much is settled, anyway. Now if I can just figure out how not to be bored on the plane. Read-- sure, on a plane? Maybe for 20 minutes here, another 15 minutes there. Get some markers and make designs. That would work for about 10 minutes. Write some poems about boredom. Another 10 minutes. Play Sudoku, another 10. Listen to music, no, can't do that on a plane, with the roaring air all around. Eat, drink, walk up and down the aisle a few times. 18 hours to go. Sleep--well--if you call it sleeping. You feel less pain when you're asleep.
If they'd just let me stretch out on the floor for 20 minutes, I'd feel 1000% better. But no, I have to keep my seat-belt fastened, and I can't do anything weird or annoying.
But that's several weeks away, so why am I even thinking about it.
April 21, 2012
April 2012
I don't generally like religious or political discussions, for several reasons.
Number one. I'm chicken.
Number two. I don't know enough to be able to discuss anything accurately.
Number three. The truth is never simple. If you try to condense something into something simple, it isn't the whole truth, therefore every conversation and every debate is limited as to the amount of truth it can hold, and unlimited as to the amount of untruth and misunderstandings there can be.
Number four. I can't stand it when people interrupt each other.
Number five. You might be right.
Number five and a half. I might be right and you won't get it.
Number six. I'm really desperately hungry/thirsty/tired and I just can't keep up with you all.
That said, I have to comment on the differing estimations people have of the Bible. Some don't receive the New Testament. Some receive the Tanach as a holy book, but they count the Torah as more inspired than the Writings and the Prophets. Then there are some who seem to respect the Tanach as a somewhat holy book, but not actually inspired, and maybe full of fables. How can you have a religion without an inspired book? I suppose that would mean that God hasn't really revealed himself with any amount of clearness, so a) we have to guess, b) we have the ability to guess, and c) it's not so important that guessing isn't good enough.
But, since I do believe the whole Bible, Tanach and NT, is inspired, and that man can't find God without the word, and that it's really important to know what God wants us to know, I like to know what it says. And if you read what it says about itself, and all the promises it has for anyone who needs anything, it sounds like something that would be good to base your whole life on.
Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (also Deut 8:3)
Isa 66:2 For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Hbr 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Number one. I'm chicken.
Number two. I don't know enough to be able to discuss anything accurately.
Number three. The truth is never simple. If you try to condense something into something simple, it isn't the whole truth, therefore every conversation and every debate is limited as to the amount of truth it can hold, and unlimited as to the amount of untruth and misunderstandings there can be.
Number four. I can't stand it when people interrupt each other.
Number five. You might be right.
Number five and a half. I might be right and you won't get it.
Number six. I'm really desperately hungry/thirsty/tired and I just can't keep up with you all.
That said, I have to comment on the differing estimations people have of the Bible. Some don't receive the New Testament. Some receive the Tanach as a holy book, but they count the Torah as more inspired than the Writings and the Prophets. Then there are some who seem to respect the Tanach as a somewhat holy book, but not actually inspired, and maybe full of fables. How can you have a religion without an inspired book? I suppose that would mean that God hasn't really revealed himself with any amount of clearness, so a) we have to guess, b) we have the ability to guess, and c) it's not so important that guessing isn't good enough.
But, since I do believe the whole Bible, Tanach and NT, is inspired, and that man can't find God without the word, and that it's really important to know what God wants us to know, I like to know what it says. And if you read what it says about itself, and all the promises it has for anyone who needs anything, it sounds like something that would be good to base your whole life on.
Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (also Deut 8:3)
Isa 66:2 For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Hbr 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
April 19, 2012
Past Pesach
I have let Pesach go by without commenting. It's hard to know what to say. It's a nice holiday in a way. I attended a Christian Pesach, if that makes any sense. They explained some of the Jewish traditions and compared them with the Christian view. I'm not trying to mix Judaism with Christianity, just trying to be aware of what is going on.
Jeremiah 16:14-15 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
Jeremiah 16:14-15 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
April 17, 2012
Neglect
Just one example of neglect in Jerusalem.
A nice dark lily amid some of the worst stinging nettles I have ever touched.
A nice dark lily amid some of the worst stinging nettles I have ever touched.
Prickle Where You're Planted; or Chirp Lest You Prickle
Why am I not happy? The smallest, tiniest things make me happy, so why can I not just look for and think about those tiny things? The problem must be simply that there is noone to share them with. So I will share one of them with you, whoever you are.
Today I saw an interesting and impressive sight. It will be hard describe if you've never wandered along residential areas in Jerusalem, but I'll try.
Everything is on a hill. Actually, multiple hills. Everything is sort of dusty and neglected looking. But there are lots of plants. Neglected-looking plants, but someone at one time, for a time, put a little bit of effort to plant things. After that they walked away and left it all to chance.
Diverging a bit, interesting things happen when things are left to chance. My favorite almond tree died completely. A bougainvillea that was left alone climbed up a tree as tall as a three-story building. Hard on the tree, but the bougainvillea was glorious. Then it died. Or maybe someone cut it at the base to save the tree. I'll have to go back and look at the tree and see how it's doing. Now a nice dark-red-leaved bush with small clumps of tiny gold flowers is dying. I don't know what is needed to save it. A small shamrock has survived for over two years in a hollow between three rocks. In dry weather it disappears for several months, and then comes back again.
But what I saw today was some interesting and impressive cactus plants. I was passing a building that was a half-story down from the road I was walking on. Down on the patio I could see lots of plants that probably haven't had any special attention for years and years. On the patio, next to the sidewalk I was on, were a few cement posts that reached almost to the level of the sidewalk, and there were half-gallon pots on the posts containing huge-huge cactus plants. One cactus plant, in its half-gallon pot, had a thorny trunk about three inches thick at the base, and was about 15 feet high with several branches. I don't know what kept it from tipping over or cracking the pot. All together the cacti and other plants created a wild and wicked-looking hedge-canopy around the patio.
I don't love cactus plants. But I respect and admire them. Even the most harmless-appearing ones are very capable of shooting hair-like barbs at me whenever I pass within three feet of them.
On a less prickly subject, I have recently heard a very loud bird chirping musically overhead. It would have to be some sort of parrot, but not squawky like a parrot, -- something tropical and exotic.
Now that I'm done talking about prickles, I think I'll go eat some pickles--a good change from chocolate. Hmmm. Chocolate-covered pickles?
Today I saw an interesting and impressive sight. It will be hard describe if you've never wandered along residential areas in Jerusalem, but I'll try.
Everything is on a hill. Actually, multiple hills. Everything is sort of dusty and neglected looking. But there are lots of plants. Neglected-looking plants, but someone at one time, for a time, put a little bit of effort to plant things. After that they walked away and left it all to chance.
Diverging a bit, interesting things happen when things are left to chance. My favorite almond tree died completely. A bougainvillea that was left alone climbed up a tree as tall as a three-story building. Hard on the tree, but the bougainvillea was glorious. Then it died. Or maybe someone cut it at the base to save the tree. I'll have to go back and look at the tree and see how it's doing. Now a nice dark-red-leaved bush with small clumps of tiny gold flowers is dying. I don't know what is needed to save it. A small shamrock has survived for over two years in a hollow between three rocks. In dry weather it disappears for several months, and then comes back again.
But what I saw today was some interesting and impressive cactus plants. I was passing a building that was a half-story down from the road I was walking on. Down on the patio I could see lots of plants that probably haven't had any special attention for years and years. On the patio, next to the sidewalk I was on, were a few cement posts that reached almost to the level of the sidewalk, and there were half-gallon pots on the posts containing huge-huge cactus plants. One cactus plant, in its half-gallon pot, had a thorny trunk about three inches thick at the base, and was about 15 feet high with several branches. I don't know what kept it from tipping over or cracking the pot. All together the cacti and other plants created a wild and wicked-looking hedge-canopy around the patio.
I don't love cactus plants. But I respect and admire them. Even the most harmless-appearing ones are very capable of shooting hair-like barbs at me whenever I pass within three feet of them.
On a less prickly subject, I have recently heard a very loud bird chirping musically overhead. It would have to be some sort of parrot, but not squawky like a parrot, -- something tropical and exotic.
Now that I'm done talking about prickles, I think I'll go eat some pickles--a good change from chocolate. Hmmm. Chocolate-covered pickles?
April 15, 2012
Question One Heidelberg
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong--body and soul, in life and in death--to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
March 31, 2012
People
We meet various types of people here and in Tel-Aviv. Some very interesting and beautiful people. Some very lovable and talented people. And people with lots of trials and tragedies in their lives. Also the most miserable of all--those who don't know their misery, an expression we learned from the Dutch. There are multitudes of them in the U.S.
As you can imagine, we also have many interesting discussions with some of them. We see a little progress and we have a lot of hope. And there's a long way to go.
Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
As you can imagine, we also have many interesting discussions with some of them. We see a little progress and we have a lot of hope. And there's a long way to go.
Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
March 8, 2012
Glad and Sad
I follow a couple blogs. One is Shevet Achim, an organization that does heart operations on children from countries around Israel. Many of them come from Iraq, where there is a higher than usual number of heart defects due to people marrying their cousins. Sometimes I pick one of the patients to pray for. Recently one of my little friends, Jacoob, who was having a long difficult time recovering from heart surgery, improved to the point where he could walk up and down the hall.
Another blog I have followed is the one for Lucy Jarrett, who died yesterday. I hope they will continue the blog, though I suppose at some point they will rename it.
Another blog I have followed is the one for Lucy Jarrett, who died yesterday. I hope they will continue the blog, though I suppose at some point they will rename it.
February 25, 2012
Muse Score
The handbook says, if I remember right, "To get a courtesy accidental, just drag it from the palette." Easy enough. But it doesn't work. It does nothing at all. So I found at a forum what should have been more clearly explained in the handbook: "To get a courtesy accidental, select the note so that it turns blue, drag the accidental from the palette and hold it over the note (not beside it, where it is supposed to go) so that the note turns red, then release. To add parentheses, do the same." Easy as pie, actually.
Finding the answer took me at least half an hour of reading debates about whether or when to use courtesy accidentals, and other problems with accidentals, and which editions of Muse Score had which problems with them. The solution, when I discovered it, was in something that was mentioned only in passing.
Years ago I used to be a statistical typist. One of my most successful experiences was typing up charts of various kinds with columns of numbers. On an old-fashioned typewriter you had to count, add, subtract and divide to get the spacing of the columns and headers just right and make them look nice. I found it easy and fun. To get spacing right with a computer is not easy and not fun. (That's why I do everything on a spread sheet, rather than setting tabs or using tables or charts.) In this music program I have to figure out all sorts of spacing issues which are affected by one another, which sometimes causes a function to do the opposite of what you think it will. I have to consider staff and system spacing, accolade spacing, measure spacing, headings, line breaks, chords, lyrics, percentage of page fill, and to figure out why page two acts differently from page one, etc. (--and learn the terms in Hebrew, because they kindly gave me a mostly-Hebrew version when I downloaded it, without giving me a language choice.) When the handbook doesn't give sufficient explanation, I go to a forum where the musician-computerists debate what's the correct way to write music, the differences between musician logic and computer logic, and all sorts of issues that are incredibly interesting except that they are over my head and I don't have time for it all. Sometimes I feel like yelling, "I play piano, not computer!"
I waver between wishing it could all be written from top down and wishing it could all be pre-set, when really it does a little of both, which is the only way it can work, at least when you have playback. Without playback (as Crescendo does it) is a different situation entirely. After I get proficient at MuseScore, maybe I'll take another stab at a certain program created by some funny English guys, who have a different approach, which presently looks too complicated to me, but has some interesting aspects, and some different handy keystrokes.
Finding the answer took me at least half an hour of reading debates about whether or when to use courtesy accidentals, and other problems with accidentals, and which editions of Muse Score had which problems with them. The solution, when I discovered it, was in something that was mentioned only in passing.
Years ago I used to be a statistical typist. One of my most successful experiences was typing up charts of various kinds with columns of numbers. On an old-fashioned typewriter you had to count, add, subtract and divide to get the spacing of the columns and headers just right and make them look nice. I found it easy and fun. To get spacing right with a computer is not easy and not fun. (That's why I do everything on a spread sheet, rather than setting tabs or using tables or charts.) In this music program I have to figure out all sorts of spacing issues which are affected by one another, which sometimes causes a function to do the opposite of what you think it will. I have to consider staff and system spacing, accolade spacing, measure spacing, headings, line breaks, chords, lyrics, percentage of page fill, and to figure out why page two acts differently from page one, etc. (--and learn the terms in Hebrew, because they kindly gave me a mostly-Hebrew version when I downloaded it, without giving me a language choice.) When the handbook doesn't give sufficient explanation, I go to a forum where the musician-computerists debate what's the correct way to write music, the differences between musician logic and computer logic, and all sorts of issues that are incredibly interesting except that they are over my head and I don't have time for it all. Sometimes I feel like yelling, "I play piano, not computer!"
I waver between wishing it could all be written from top down and wishing it could all be pre-set, when really it does a little of both, which is the only way it can work, at least when you have playback. Without playback (as Crescendo does it) is a different situation entirely. After I get proficient at MuseScore, maybe I'll take another stab at a certain program created by some funny English guys, who have a different approach, which presently looks too complicated to me, but has some interesting aspects, and some different handy keystrokes.
February 16, 2012
Vegetable Oil
Yesterday I had a good lunch planned for myself--fried zucchini and sweet potatoes. I quickly oiled the pan and put in some zucchini slices. After a minute I thought, "Why does the zucchini smell so pretty? And why is it bubbling?" Oh no, did I put dishwashing liquid in it? Yep, I did. So I quickly rinsed the zucchini as thoroughly as I could and then cooked it in vegetable oil. It still had a faint smell of dishwashing liquid, but it was pretty good.
One Day Gone
Yesterday was one of those days when you wonder why you got out of bed.
I was quite proud of myself, actually, for figuring out, all by myself, lots of things on a music program. But after a while I did some very wrong things, and somehow deleted all my latest music files and their backup copies. But I was determined, and the things I couldn't figure out surely must have an answer, so I got on a forum where I thought I would surely get some help. But then I couldn't reproduce the original problem. So in the process of trying to explain it and another one that came up, I figured part of it out, and the other part I decided was a bug in the program. It seems so clear now. There was a point after which everything went wrong, and in spite of the usually-effective "Undo," I couldn't back out, couldn't cut and paste, couldn't restyle, couldn't anything without increasing the muddle.
So today is back to the drawing board. Ahh, drawing, painting. I dreamed that when I got old I would learn to paint. I never dreamed I would be writing music. Somehow painting sounds more fun right now. But it is more efficient to take something you already know and add to it or branch out from it than to start something completely new.
I was quite proud of myself, actually, for figuring out, all by myself, lots of things on a music program. But after a while I did some very wrong things, and somehow deleted all my latest music files and their backup copies. But I was determined, and the things I couldn't figure out surely must have an answer, so I got on a forum where I thought I would surely get some help. But then I couldn't reproduce the original problem. So in the process of trying to explain it and another one that came up, I figured part of it out, and the other part I decided was a bug in the program. It seems so clear now. There was a point after which everything went wrong, and in spite of the usually-effective "Undo," I couldn't back out, couldn't cut and paste, couldn't restyle, couldn't anything without increasing the muddle.
So today is back to the drawing board. Ahh, drawing, painting. I dreamed that when I got old I would learn to paint. I never dreamed I would be writing music. Somehow painting sounds more fun right now. But it is more efficient to take something you already know and add to it or branch out from it than to start something completely new.
February 15, 2012
Psalm Collection Log
My new log is for all the Psalms that I write lead sheets for. These will include tunes I have written myself, and also some that I copy from various sources. This way I feel like I am getting sort of organized. That doesn't mean I am organized, but I feel like I am. Verse numbering is the Hebrew version.
February 13, 2012
Some Psalm Success
After one year of trying to right Psalm tunes, I have one, yes one, tune I am truly satisfied with. Many others are under way and will soon be put to the test. What I really need is feedback, from someone who knows music, poetry and Hebrew. So many times I just don't know which way to go. A Psalm as it is is perfect poetry, but turning it into a song requires some bending, and there are a million ways of bending it, and I can't decide which way is best.
I have researched several different music notation programs, and have decided to keep using Crescendo but also use Muse Score, which is better for adding lyrics and will do pdf's. Many people like Finale, but I wasn't satisfied with the way it looked or the way it did lyrics. I downloaded a trial version of Sibelius but it crashed my computer, so forget it with Sibelius, which is overkill any. I'm just writing lead sheets, not symphonies. Several others are very awkward to use or hard to figure out, or will not type Hebrew characters, or my computer will not accept them. Anyway, Muse Score is free.
Some of the Psalms I most wanted to write tunes for I haven't been able to do, which is probably just as well; but now that I know a little more what I'm doing, maybe I'll come up with better tunes.
I have researched several different music notation programs, and have decided to keep using Crescendo but also use Muse Score, which is better for adding lyrics and will do pdf's. Many people like Finale, but I wasn't satisfied with the way it looked or the way it did lyrics. I downloaded a trial version of Sibelius but it crashed my computer, so forget it with Sibelius, which is overkill any. I'm just writing lead sheets, not symphonies. Several others are very awkward to use or hard to figure out, or will not type Hebrew characters, or my computer will not accept them. Anyway, Muse Score is free.
Some of the Psalms I most wanted to write tunes for I haven't been able to do, which is probably just as well; but now that I know a little more what I'm doing, maybe I'll come up with better tunes.
February 11, 2012
Walking and Running
I just noticed on Sharon's blog that she is actually publishing on her blog how far she runs every day. That is pretty bold. The whole world will know if you fail.
On the other hand, it isn't a bad idea. Both to run and to publish your intentions. So I am about to publish mine. But first, background.
Several years ago I started having problems with my feet. A little over 2 years ago I was down to where I was about to give up walking. But that is so impractical that I decided, no, I can't let it happen. So I started counting how many steps I walked. Ten steps to the kitchen, fifteen steps to the mailbox. Etc. I got up to 600 (steps each foot) the first week. I got up to 1500 steps/week pretty quickly, partly because I got more diligent about counting. It was 150 steps to the corner stop sign, so I didn't have to re-count that part. I even give myself some credit for standing still. Washing dishes, e.g., is really hard on feet. Waiting for the bus, standing around after church--quite an ordeal actually.
I hope you don't think I'm crazy for counting steps. I'm not crazy. Particularly. But if I do only what I feel like and what doesn't hurt, I won't do anything. And if I get really ambitious and do too much one day, I might be down for three days. So it's the only way.
Diverging for a moment, I once read an article about a woman who wanted to lose weight. She figured that the only way to do it was to count how many bites she was eating, and then cut the number down by a third. She did this for some time. Eventually she got tired of counting, but by that time she had gotten used to what was the right amount to eat, and it had become a habit, so she didn't need to count anymore. I admire people with that kind of determination. I don't have a weight problem, but I know that food is a complicated issue, and I rejoice anytime I see someone get the victory.
It's the same kind of issue when puny people (and others) try to change their habits and eat more and exercise more. 1 Cor 9:27 "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection." Probably one of the hardest battles you'll ever fight.
So anyway, I have been counting for two years now. I got up to about 7600/week last year, PTL. That still isn't enough to go shopping or do a whole day of housework, but it's something.
But I got stuck at that number for several weeks, so I decided to try something new--I'm going to run every day. Ha-ha-ha! Funny? No, fun! I am desperate for more exercise, and I don't have room for an exercycle (boring, anyway), or a rowing machine (not quite so boring).
So, uh, well, this is embarassing but, I'm hoping to run, uh...maybe I'll put the actual number on my next blog.
On the other hand, it isn't a bad idea. Both to run and to publish your intentions. So I am about to publish mine. But first, background.
Several years ago I started having problems with my feet. A little over 2 years ago I was down to where I was about to give up walking. But that is so impractical that I decided, no, I can't let it happen. So I started counting how many steps I walked. Ten steps to the kitchen, fifteen steps to the mailbox. Etc. I got up to 600 (steps each foot) the first week. I got up to 1500 steps/week pretty quickly, partly because I got more diligent about counting. It was 150 steps to the corner stop sign, so I didn't have to re-count that part. I even give myself some credit for standing still. Washing dishes, e.g., is really hard on feet. Waiting for the bus, standing around after church--quite an ordeal actually.
I hope you don't think I'm crazy for counting steps. I'm not crazy. Particularly. But if I do only what I feel like and what doesn't hurt, I won't do anything. And if I get really ambitious and do too much one day, I might be down for three days. So it's the only way.
Diverging for a moment, I once read an article about a woman who wanted to lose weight. She figured that the only way to do it was to count how many bites she was eating, and then cut the number down by a third. She did this for some time. Eventually she got tired of counting, but by that time she had gotten used to what was the right amount to eat, and it had become a habit, so she didn't need to count anymore. I admire people with that kind of determination. I don't have a weight problem, but I know that food is a complicated issue, and I rejoice anytime I see someone get the victory.
It's the same kind of issue when puny people (and others) try to change their habits and eat more and exercise more. 1 Cor 9:27 "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection." Probably one of the hardest battles you'll ever fight.
So anyway, I have been counting for two years now. I got up to about 7600/week last year, PTL. That still isn't enough to go shopping or do a whole day of housework, but it's something.
But I got stuck at that number for several weeks, so I decided to try something new--I'm going to run every day. Ha-ha-ha! Funny? No, fun! I am desperate for more exercise, and I don't have room for an exercycle (boring, anyway), or a rowing machine (not quite so boring).
So, uh, well, this is embarassing but, I'm hoping to run, uh...maybe I'll put the actual number on my next blog.
February 8, 2012
Non-towels and Summer
When you put a towel in a puddle and stand on it, it should absorb water, right? And if you put a towel in a bucket and it's hanging over the edge, water soaks upward, doesn't it? Or at least it does when I don't want it to. But my newest dishtowels from Wal-Mart don't absorb water at all. You can drown them and they still don't get wet. After an hour in the washing machine they get wet, maybe with the help of detergent.
And that's life.
I accidentally defrosted the refrigerator, which it needed anyway.
Spring is on it's way. I have an urge to do spring cleaning. I have an urge to thoroughly organize, clean, paint, buy some pictures or hangings for the walls. But I probably won't. I'll just do a little cleaning and organizing and I'll open all the windows wide first chance I get.
Israel doesn't really have a spring. It's just winter and then summer. But spring is a state of mind you acquire after living in Indiana for a while. Summer is even better than spring. In the spring you start having hope that the gloom is not going to last forever. You start realizing that you're still alive and that you like being alive. But in summer, it's...summer! And you hurry to enjoy it, because you know it won't last, and you can't waste a minute.
Summer -- we all have seen --
A few of us -- believed --
A few -- the more aspiring
Unquestionably loved --
by Emily Dickinson
And, as is usual for Emily Dickinson, the rest of the poem is about the vanity of life. Now don't you tell me she's weird. I love Emily Dickinson. But I'd hate to stop where she did, spinning my wheels, and stopping short of faith. It's true that everything under the sun is vanity. But you can go beyond the sun, to the Son, and then everything becomes new.
"In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
And that's life.
I accidentally defrosted the refrigerator, which it needed anyway.
Spring is on it's way. I have an urge to do spring cleaning. I have an urge to thoroughly organize, clean, paint, buy some pictures or hangings for the walls. But I probably won't. I'll just do a little cleaning and organizing and I'll open all the windows wide first chance I get.
Israel doesn't really have a spring. It's just winter and then summer. But spring is a state of mind you acquire after living in Indiana for a while. Summer is even better than spring. In the spring you start having hope that the gloom is not going to last forever. You start realizing that you're still alive and that you like being alive. But in summer, it's...summer! And you hurry to enjoy it, because you know it won't last, and you can't waste a minute.
Summer -- we all have seen --
A few of us -- believed --
A few -- the more aspiring
Unquestionably loved --
by Emily Dickinson
And, as is usual for Emily Dickinson, the rest of the poem is about the vanity of life. Now don't you tell me she's weird. I love Emily Dickinson. But I'd hate to stop where she did, spinning my wheels, and stopping short of faith. It's true that everything under the sun is vanity. But you can go beyond the sun, to the Son, and then everything becomes new.
"In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
January 17, 2012
Easy Life
I have a relatively easy life. For some it is not so.
Psalm 69:16-18
"Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies."
Psalm 69:16-18
"Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies."
January 16, 2012
New Year Resolutions
The New Year is a good time to re-evaluate and re-prioritize. They say that if you make a formal resolution, and publicize it, you are at least ten times more likely to succeed than someone who doesn't. Even so, most New Year's resolutions are broken by the end of January. The way to avoid that is to make a specific, easy resolution that doesn't have to be continued for a whole year.
One of my resolutions was to think about the things in my life I am dissatisfied with and either do something about them or quit complaining. Many times I do nothing about something because it seems like such a small thing it's hardly worth it. But if I do it anyway, sometimes it turns out to do more good than I would have thought.
e.g. One thing I am very dissatisfied with is having to be confined to a dark apartment all day. One day when I was particularly disgusted, I looked outside and saw that it was bright and sunny. It was also cold and windy. But if I want sunshine, there it is, just go get it. So I determined I would take a one-minute walk. You can't freeze to death in one minute, and if one minute out of 1440 of sunshine is all I can have, I'm going to have it. So I walked for one minute, found the cold not so unbearable after all, kept walking, turned the corner and sat down on a bench in the sun. Immediately the wind stopped and I sat and soaked up the warmth of the sun for about 20 minutes, and felt so good I took my coat off and walked all the way around the block!
Another problem I always encounter is wanting to do more of everything. Learn more Hebrew, write more music, do more sewing-cleaning-cooking-exercise, or whatever. It isn't possible to do more unless I do less of something. Less sleep, maybe. Nope, not in the winter. I really need more sleep, too. The only thing I can do less of is wasting time. When do I waste time? Not sure, but I think a lot of time is wasted in little bits here and there, I just need to catch myself doing it.
Another thing that would help is to do the obvious, not the urgent. If you compromise with the obvious, pretty soon everything becomes urgent and you're in a trap.
And it's obvious that it's past lunchtime, so quick, decide! eat it or skip it?
Eat!
Eat what?
Carrots!
Bye!!
One of my resolutions was to think about the things in my life I am dissatisfied with and either do something about them or quit complaining. Many times I do nothing about something because it seems like such a small thing it's hardly worth it. But if I do it anyway, sometimes it turns out to do more good than I would have thought.
e.g. One thing I am very dissatisfied with is having to be confined to a dark apartment all day. One day when I was particularly disgusted, I looked outside and saw that it was bright and sunny. It was also cold and windy. But if I want sunshine, there it is, just go get it. So I determined I would take a one-minute walk. You can't freeze to death in one minute, and if one minute out of 1440 of sunshine is all I can have, I'm going to have it. So I walked for one minute, found the cold not so unbearable after all, kept walking, turned the corner and sat down on a bench in the sun. Immediately the wind stopped and I sat and soaked up the warmth of the sun for about 20 minutes, and felt so good I took my coat off and walked all the way around the block!
Another problem I always encounter is wanting to do more of everything. Learn more Hebrew, write more music, do more sewing-cleaning-cooking-exercise, or whatever. It isn't possible to do more unless I do less of something. Less sleep, maybe. Nope, not in the winter. I really need more sleep, too. The only thing I can do less of is wasting time. When do I waste time? Not sure, but I think a lot of time is wasted in little bits here and there, I just need to catch myself doing it.
Another thing that would help is to do the obvious, not the urgent. If you compromise with the obvious, pretty soon everything becomes urgent and you're in a trap.
And it's obvious that it's past lunchtime, so quick, decide! eat it or skip it?
Eat!
Eat what?
Carrots!
Bye!!
Psalm 8
Important words/phrases from Psalm 8.
| אָרְחוֹת | paths | תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ | you will remember him, be mindful | |
| יֹנְקִים | sucklings | תִפְקְדֶנּוּ | you will visit him | |
| עוֹלְלִים | babes | תְּחַסְּרֵהוּ | you will make him lower, diminish | |
| שָׂדָי | field (poet.) | תְּעַטְּרֵהוּ | you will crown him | |
| מִתְנַקֵּם | avenger | תַּמְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּ | you will make him have dominion over | |
| לְהַשְׁבִּית | to still | יִסַּדְתָּ-עֹז | thou has ordained strength |
January 4, 2012
Psalm 7
Lots of violent words in this Psalm.
| זֹעֵם | he is furious | עָוֶל | iniquity |
| יִלְטוֹשׁ | he will sharpen | שָׁקֶר | falsehood |
| פֹּרֵק | he tears to pieces | שַׁחַת | ditch |
| יִרְמֹס | he will tread | עַבְרוֹת | rage |
| יְחַבֶּל-אָוֶן | he travaileth with iniquity | מָוֶת | death |
| חֲמָסוֹ | his violence, violent dealing | דֹלְקִים | persecutors |
| רֵיקָם | vainly, without cause | חִצָּיו | his arrows |
| פֶּן-יִטְרֹף | lest he devour | חַרְבּוֹ | his sword |
| רְשָׁעִים | wicked ones | קַשְׁתּוֹ | his bow |
| רֹדְפַי | my persecutors | עֲמָלוֹ | his mischief |
January 3, 2012
Breathe Cold Air
I wonder if anyone ever figured out how much energy is required when you breathe cold air compared to when you breathe warm air. Cold air makes me so sleepy. I've been sleeping an extra hour or two every day.
I've been eating more sugar, too. Not by choice--I don't go to the store and look for more sugar to eat. But when someone offers us free food, and that includes sweets, I almost never say no. The best I've tasted so far is a little log that has wheat shreds on the outside and is loaded with nuts and flavor.
I've been eating more sugar, too. Not by choice--I don't go to the store and look for more sugar to eat. But when someone offers us free food, and that includes sweets, I almost never say no. The best I've tasted so far is a little log that has wheat shreds on the outside and is loaded with nuts and flavor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)