Today, October 5, was Simchat Torah. That is all the holidays till December 7, which is Hanukkah.
Psalm 98:
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4H79WfGAWY |
October 5, 2015
September Holiday
Most of September is a holiday or observance of some kind. Rosh HaShana, Gedaliah's Fast, Yom Kippur, Succot.
Today, October 5, was Simchat Torah. That is all the holidays till December 7, which is Hanukkah.
Psalm 98:
Today, October 5, was Simchat Torah. That is all the holidays till December 7, which is Hanukkah.
Psalm 98:
September 8, 2015
Haze
A weird haze has settled over Jerusalem today. It's not humid enough to call it a mist. It looks a little like smoke, but I don't smell anything. I keep thinking my glasses are dirty, or my eyes are drier than usual, or my cataracts are getting worse. But it's just haze. Not gray enough to be smog, and not brown and gritty like a sandstorm.
Days like today I get an urge to do something different. I get tired of staying at home all the time, but I can't think of anything different to do. I guess I'll just have to do the ordinary stuff. So I guess that means I need to start washing dishes. That's pretty different, actually, since I haven't done any for 24 hours.
How can you take something extremely boring and ordinary and make something interesting about it? Sometimes by having something more interesting to look forward to doing later.
Let's see, I could look forward to eating that last piece of chocolate. But I eat chocolate almost every day anyway, so that's not really much different.
The only thing I can come up with is just to do the ordinary stuff as fast as possible, and eventually it will get interesting, or something will happen, or something.
Days like today I get an urge to do something different. I get tired of staying at home all the time, but I can't think of anything different to do. I guess I'll just have to do the ordinary stuff. So I guess that means I need to start washing dishes. That's pretty different, actually, since I haven't done any for 24 hours.
How can you take something extremely boring and ordinary and make something interesting about it? Sometimes by having something more interesting to look forward to doing later.
Let's see, I could look forward to eating that last piece of chocolate. But I eat chocolate almost every day anyway, so that's not really much different.
The only thing I can come up with is just to do the ordinary stuff as fast as possible, and eventually it will get interesting, or something will happen, or something.
August 28, 2015
Nothing to See
Since moving into a nicer apartment, I continually miss the old one. There's nothing new to see here. Since I can't walk very far, I can't see much besides buildings and same-o same-o.
The previous neighborhood had much more variety. I wish I could find a way to go back there and check out all the things that used to make life more interesting. There was a gorgeous white hollyhock that bloomed some years. There was a nice jade plant. Behind our apartment were some purple daisies. On one of the walls was a dense mat of pink flowers, and next to it some blue ones. By another wall at the edge of the sidewalk was some nice fumaria. There were roses of all kinds. I am not actually crazy about flowers, and especially roses, but when that's all there is, you appreciate them. I could show you where the prettiest pink-streaked roses are. And the single roses. And the two-tone roses. And the giant roses. And best of all, the most bestest-smelling rose. And white flowers with pink eyes trailing over a wooden fence. And the hugest cactus plant I have ever seen. And anchusa. And four-o-clocks. And the tame gray cat. And the fat yellow tame cat. And there were two parks within walking distance. One had a community garden where parents would bring kids and give them nature lessons. The other had a roundabout I could sit on and lazily coast around on it. And the great thing was that I could simply walk out my front door and be there. Here I have to go down the elevator, and not much to motivate me to do even that.
Here I have so far found an interesting redroot pigweed, only with better flowers then the wild weedy ones I've seen in the States. Not much else.
Lots of traffic. Late at night is when a few big trucks go through. And once in a while someone in a loud sportscar. I feel like telling him, "It takes that much noise to go just two blocks?" And lots of honking horns. I'm sure that if a tree fell across the road, everyone would sit there honking at it.
I am not actually complaining about the noise, though. At least it drowns out the ringing in my ears. It's just that there's nothing to balance out all the city stuff. Nothing soft, cozy, green, friendly. No pets, no lazy boy chair, or curtains, or carpet. No visitors. Nor is there a decent amount of junk mail. That's quite a handicap when you're trying to make a scrapbook and you don't have so much as a Wal-Mart ad.
And there are no thunderstorms, not much grass, no wind in the trees, no snakes, no rabbits. There's just a lot of nothing, everywhere you look.
Well that's enough of that. Next post I'll try to think of something more positive.
The previous neighborhood had much more variety. I wish I could find a way to go back there and check out all the things that used to make life more interesting. There was a gorgeous white hollyhock that bloomed some years. There was a nice jade plant. Behind our apartment were some purple daisies. On one of the walls was a dense mat of pink flowers, and next to it some blue ones. By another wall at the edge of the sidewalk was some nice fumaria. There were roses of all kinds. I am not actually crazy about flowers, and especially roses, but when that's all there is, you appreciate them. I could show you where the prettiest pink-streaked roses are. And the single roses. And the two-tone roses. And the giant roses. And best of all, the most bestest-smelling rose. And white flowers with pink eyes trailing over a wooden fence. And the hugest cactus plant I have ever seen. And anchusa. And four-o-clocks. And the tame gray cat. And the fat yellow tame cat. And there were two parks within walking distance. One had a community garden where parents would bring kids and give them nature lessons. The other had a roundabout I could sit on and lazily coast around on it. And the great thing was that I could simply walk out my front door and be there. Here I have to go down the elevator, and not much to motivate me to do even that.
Here I have so far found an interesting redroot pigweed, only with better flowers then the wild weedy ones I've seen in the States. Not much else.
Lots of traffic. Late at night is when a few big trucks go through. And once in a while someone in a loud sportscar. I feel like telling him, "It takes that much noise to go just two blocks?" And lots of honking horns. I'm sure that if a tree fell across the road, everyone would sit there honking at it.
I am not actually complaining about the noise, though. At least it drowns out the ringing in my ears. It's just that there's nothing to balance out all the city stuff. Nothing soft, cozy, green, friendly. No pets, no lazy boy chair, or curtains, or carpet. No visitors. Nor is there a decent amount of junk mail. That's quite a handicap when you're trying to make a scrapbook and you don't have so much as a Wal-Mart ad.
And there are no thunderstorms, not much grass, no wind in the trees, no snakes, no rabbits. There's just a lot of nothing, everywhere you look.
Well that's enough of that. Next post I'll try to think of something more positive.
August 25, 2015
Bugs
I think most monkeys and some insects are ugly. But even so, I hate watching them die. And I don't smash cockroaches. Sometimes I spray them, but I prefer to let them die on their own, out of sight. They never live more than three days anyway. Same with flies. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, I don't mind killing. But preferably I get a repeller (new word) that you plug in the wall and it disorients them so that they can't find you to bite you.
I was sleeping on a mattress on the floor once when a large cockroach crawled across my face. I must have been just awake enough to know that a large cockroach had crawled across my face. After that I was wide awake. I'm glad I don't sleep with my mouth open.
Once I sprayed a large cockroach that flew in my window. He/she immediately flew back out the window. Then I felt sad that I had poisoned him. It wasn't his fault that a building got in his flight path.
Come to think of it, we're on the third floor. Didn't realize cockroaches could fly so high.
I rarely see bees and butterflies here. Probably because it's a city. Whoever invented cities, anyway. But once I saw a dozen butterflies fluttering around a flowering bush. That gave me an idea--maybe I could fill my balcony with plants that attract butterflies. Or maybe I could see if I could attract birds with a bird feeder.
But my plants always die. And I never get out to buy anything.
Spiders vary in comeliness. Some are pretty nice, and some are fairly ugly. But you have to give them some credit for their handiwork. I was pretty disappointed to read Bunyan's comments about spiders. He makes them out all to be evil and poisonous. I prefer Gill's comments at http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-28.htm and also the ones at http://www.onlythebible.com/Bible-Gems/Wisdom-of-the-Spider.html.
Some think the spider mentioned in Proverbs is a lizard and say it is easy to catch with your hands. Crazy. I've never come within two feet of catching one. Whether spider or lizard, you can make analogies to both good and bad. They are not always poisonous/venomous. Some lizards are poisonous, and many spiders are venomous but not dangerous. I wonder what spider soup tastes like. They say you have to use the right spices for each kind of spider.
Uh-oh. I just noticed a grammatical problem in that paragraph. "Whether spider or lizard, you...."
Which means that if you are a spider, and also if you are a lizard, you can make these analogies. I'm too lazy to try to fix that sentence.
I was sleeping on a mattress on the floor once when a large cockroach crawled across my face. I must have been just awake enough to know that a large cockroach had crawled across my face. After that I was wide awake. I'm glad I don't sleep with my mouth open.
Once I sprayed a large cockroach that flew in my window. He/she immediately flew back out the window. Then I felt sad that I had poisoned him. It wasn't his fault that a building got in his flight path.
Come to think of it, we're on the third floor. Didn't realize cockroaches could fly so high.
I rarely see bees and butterflies here. Probably because it's a city. Whoever invented cities, anyway. But once I saw a dozen butterflies fluttering around a flowering bush. That gave me an idea--maybe I could fill my balcony with plants that attract butterflies. Or maybe I could see if I could attract birds with a bird feeder.
But my plants always die. And I never get out to buy anything.
Spiders vary in comeliness. Some are pretty nice, and some are fairly ugly. But you have to give them some credit for their handiwork. I was pretty disappointed to read Bunyan's comments about spiders. He makes them out all to be evil and poisonous. I prefer Gill's comments at http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-28.htm and also the ones at http://www.onlythebible.com/Bible-Gems/Wisdom-of-the-Spider.html.
Some think the spider mentioned in Proverbs is a lizard and say it is easy to catch with your hands. Crazy. I've never come within two feet of catching one. Whether spider or lizard, you can make analogies to both good and bad. They are not always poisonous/venomous. Some lizards are poisonous, and many spiders are venomous but not dangerous. I wonder what spider soup tastes like. They say you have to use the right spices for each kind of spider.
Uh-oh. I just noticed a grammatical problem in that paragraph. "Whether spider or lizard, you...."
Which means that if you are a spider, and also if you are a lizard, you can make these analogies. I'm too lazy to try to fix that sentence.
Helpful Books
Other books I have read that I consider to have been helpful are the Little House books. Regarded by some as "fiction," they are actually closely related to actual events, and the values taught in these books are endless. I especially enjoyed reading in "Farmer Boy" about Almanzo's efforts to train animals and the great patience it required. In "The First Four Years" you see how long you might have to persevere before a venture is successful. Each book takes place in a different location, each one supposedly better in some way than the previous. But whenever you move, you leave something behind, including some things that you will never find again. You hope that you are making some gain each time, but really it's no gain, it's just different, and what is required of you at the time.
A very helpful sermon is "A Memorial of the Deliverance of Essex County" by John Owen. The title is unfortunate. I would simple call it "Songs on Shigionoth." The first few pages are the best. I don't know if I ever got as far as Observation XXI, but I've read the first part several times. To read the whole thing in one or two sittings would be too much, but it's all good.
Just the other day I got considerable help from the second part of Pilgrim's Progress. I have never really cared for that book, but this time I found some applicable portions. When I first read the book, when I was quite young, I was completely confused by the fact that some of the characters that Pilgrim met, who traveled on the same road with him, seemed not to be Christians at all. Since they were on the same road, I assumed that they had come through the wicket gate, but I missed the fact that some of them had climbed over the wall. I should probably re-read it sometime and see if I can get it all straight this time, but it's hard to get interested. I do better just to read it in bits and pieces.
A very helpful sermon is "A Memorial of the Deliverance of Essex County" by John Owen. The title is unfortunate. I would simple call it "Songs on Shigionoth." The first few pages are the best. I don't know if I ever got as far as Observation XXI, but I've read the first part several times. To read the whole thing in one or two sittings would be too much, but it's all good.
Just the other day I got considerable help from the second part of Pilgrim's Progress. I have never really cared for that book, but this time I found some applicable portions. When I first read the book, when I was quite young, I was completely confused by the fact that some of the characters that Pilgrim met, who traveled on the same road with him, seemed not to be Christians at all. Since they were on the same road, I assumed that they had come through the wicket gate, but I missed the fact that some of them had climbed over the wall. I should probably re-read it sometime and see if I can get it all straight this time, but it's hard to get interested. I do better just to read it in bits and pieces.
Peeves
One of my pet peeves -- no, let's don't call it a pet, because I'd like to kick him out the door -- but anyway it's when people are so sure they know what you think that they don't listen to what you say. And sometimes, even if they are listening, they think you said what they thought you thought, even if it is totally opposite.
Invitation to readers -- what are your pet peeves?
Invitation to readers -- what are your pet peeves?
Clouds -- Not Boring
Clouds in Jersualem. In August. Clouds! In August!
I never know how much I like clouds until I have to do without them for a long time.
I remember when we moved to Dallas and there was blue sky every day for many days in a row. At first it was nice--Indiana had too many gray days. But one day I looked at the clear blue sky and said, "Blue sky. How boring."
In Israel, too, blue sky can be boring. Relief could be found by going outdoors at night to look at the moon. But in the city you don't so often get a good look at the moon. What a pity.
Now after a phrase such as "how nice!" or "how awful!" you normally put an exclamation point. "How boring" is the same type of sentence, grammatically speaking, but somehow it doesn't seem right to put an exclamation point after the word BORING. Boredom just isn't that exciting.
A saying from German, "If you're not a socialist at age 20, you don't have a heart. If you're a socialist at age 40, you don't have a brain."
I never know how much I like clouds until I have to do without them for a long time.
I remember when we moved to Dallas and there was blue sky every day for many days in a row. At first it was nice--Indiana had too many gray days. But one day I looked at the clear blue sky and said, "Blue sky. How boring."
In Israel, too, blue sky can be boring. Relief could be found by going outdoors at night to look at the moon. But in the city you don't so often get a good look at the moon. What a pity.
Now after a phrase such as "how nice!" or "how awful!" you normally put an exclamation point. "How boring" is the same type of sentence, grammatically speaking, but somehow it doesn't seem right to put an exclamation point after the word BORING. Boredom just isn't that exciting.
A saying from German, "If you're not a socialist at age 20, you don't have a heart. If you're a socialist at age 40, you don't have a brain."
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