Day 48
They say that the smile is the most contagious expression. I think ”they” should add that it can also be a rather awkward expression . . .
I smile a lot. I can’t help it. I’ll be trekking along down Wisconsin Ave and I’ll remember something funny, which will inevitably make me smile. It seems that most people don’t smile randomly while they walk. I do (smile, [...]
Archive for May, 2007
31 May
THAT was awkward
30 May
Climbers climb mountains because they’re there. But . . .
Day 49
“Why do writers write? Because it isn’t there.” – Thomas Berger
One of the many things that is so enjoyable about language is its infinite possibility. The combination of words and thoughts we can create is staggeringly vast. Each day we utter sentences that have never been uttered before.
The fluorescent green-striped and pink polka-dotted mollycoddle of [...]
29 May
Transportationally challenged
Day 50
I’m exhausted. Plumb tuckered out. My brain feels like it’s gone through the wringer.
Why, you may ask?
I’ve just spent a good hour or so trying to decipher the Milwaukee County Transit System Bus Schedule. It’s like trying to figure out clues on a treasure map, but the clues are in a different language. It’s [...]
28 May
Remembering
Day 51
In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To [...]
27 May
Doe, a deer, a female deer . . .
Day 52
This morning on the way to church, my friend Bill and I saw a doe and her tiny fawn. Very nearly unfortunately, they were standing like statues in a patch of shade in the middle of the road. But we stopped in time and all stared at each other for a while. The baby was beautiful – obviously quite [...]
26 May
The comfort of the melancholy
Day 53
I have this thing for sad music. I like it when a song brings tears to my eyes. It’s not that way with movies so much. With those, I want my happy ending. Yet I’m content to have a song that leaves me contemplative and a little wistful.
On my computer, I have a whole playlist [...]
25 May
Good morning, good night
Day 54
Right before I closed down the info desk last night at 10 PM Central Time, I took a quick glance over at home. This was the webcam capture at 5:59 AM East Africa Time:
You can just start to make out the images of the mountains in the gray morning, and as I walked home [...]
24 May
Mmm, grilled “shrimp”
Day 55
Did you know that cicadas taste like shrimp? Nor did I, until I heard a entomologist (insect guy) on the radio describing how he likes to grill them. Good to know, considering Brood XIII of this delicacy is soon going to emerge from the ground by the billions and start overrunning (overflying?) my part of the country, as [...]
23 May
“Blending” in
Day 56
This is “Pearls Before Swine” from earlier this week - reminds me of the good ol’ days back in Kenya. A little.
Being a cartoonist has got to be a fun gig. I’d take up a comic strip if I was a funny, over-the-top-creative person. Alas, I am not.
Onward.
Speaking of chameleons, believers shouldn’t be one of those:
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform [...]
22 May
Are you smarter than a second grader?
Day 57
When my family came back to the States for furlough in 2002 and I flew back to PA for a visit, I figured it would be a good time to catch up on the fulfillment of my sister-ly duties, which obviously included imparting my vast stores of wisdom to my younger siblings.
A great opportunity presented itself when we came back from the library [...]
21 May
To speak, or not to speak, that is the question.
Day 58
Growing up, there’d be those times when my mother would ask me, “Did you leave your brain under the bed?” Because it sure seemed like I had. At least then I would have had an excuse for the mindless things I did. (And still do. Sigh.)
For instance: talking. Too much. Without thinking. Lately it’s been occurring to me that I’m not [...]
20 May
Graduation Day
Day 59
Oh, no. Not for me. For about 2000 other MU students. For me, that day is still 364 days away, and . . . oh, there’s another good countdown. P’raps I shall take that into account when this one draws to a close.
Anyway, today got me to thinking about the ultimate Graduation Day, the [...]
19 May
Would you like some Cheerios with your news?
Day 60
Preface to today’s entry: I wasn’t going to write the following story. I didn’t want my readers to pity me or think this is a backdoor way of trying to get money. It’s not. But it is a way I see God working, so I’m going to share. Okay. Disclaimer aside. Read on.
It’s not unusual for [...]
18 May
“His parents must be so proud”
Day 61
One of the jobs I currently do is probably the most mind-numbing job I’ve had – and like any semi-skilled hourly-wage worker, I’ve had several of those. In this one, I go through Wisconsin charitable foundations’ tax forms (990s) and extract important information, like the type and amount of the grants they have given out, their directors’ names, etc. Doing this [...]
17 May
Is that so?
Day 62
Last week, I had a craving for kettle corn, so I went to the store and bought these single-serve packets of popcorn for 27 cents apiece. Splashed on the front of the package was the following: “Reduced cooking time!” (And in smaller letters, it mumbled something about compared with a regular-sized bag of popcorn.)
Please. That’s advertising [...]
16 May
Jasmine
Day 63
When I saw her face on the front page today, she caught my heart. The first thing I thought was, She could’ve been one of my kids – one of those dear little rascals I taught letters and sounds to last semester.
But she wasn’t one of “mine”. This 4-year-old in a pink tank top who smiled micheveously up at [...]
15 May
Jugglin’ the jargon
Day 64
As per the American Heritage Dictionary:
jar•gon n. The specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group.
Yesterday’s entry got me to thinking about what is commonly referred to as “lingo”. For the most part, we are all speakers of the same language. We can communicate; we understand each other. Then you get into a [...]
14 May
The IPA is for me
Day 65
There’s not a more fun way to write words than by using International Phonetic Alphabet.
I realize that, having written the above statement, I just lost half my readership for today’s entry. (Thank you to the 2.5 of you who are still bearing with me.) But I’m serious. What other alphabet can be used to write any language in the world? Not [...]
13 May
“Old Man River” and Noah Webster in Downtown Philly
Day 66
Around the blogosphere today, millions of people are writing about their moms. It’s Mother’s Day after all, so it is The Thing To Do.
Resistance is futile. I’m joining the masses. ‘Cause whatever any of you think, I, along with my five siblings, have the bestest mom in the world. Indubitably.
Nine or so Septembers ago, I had to [...]
12 May
Recurring nightmares
Day 67
Is there anything odder in our experience than dreams? When I was little I kept having these awful nightmares about someone close to me getting struck by lightning as we were walking down the street. (That’s not actually a warning to anyone to stay away from me during a thunderstorm, by the way.)
These days, the [...]
11 May
Just delightful
Day 68
Yesterday was a Good Day, circumstantially. I finished my second year of grad school. The weather was lovely, making my strolls around campus enjoyable. In the morning, I had fun IMing with Pete in Sudan and Emily in Kenya at the same time. I unexpectedly received two great tickets to a Brewers game. Even the cashier at Walgreens was extra nice.
And [...]
10 May
My mind, I do miss it
Day 69
Must’ve been the exams. Must’ve been. Yesterday was my brother’s birthday, and though I was cognizant of the fact that he turned 28 (and I did remember to call him), I completely forgot to write a blog entry for him, as has been my tradition for other Special People. Reminds me of the time we forgot [...]
9 May
Emerging from the haze
Day 70
Well, faithful reader, the battle is almost over. I’ve taken 3 finals, leaving a single one still hovering overhead like a cloud threatening to rain on this march toward the finish line.
I’ve learned one thing thus far this week - no matter how long or how hard you study for your neuromuscular disorders cumulative exam, if you fail to study [...]
8 May
Halfway Day
Day 71
Sometime between yesterday and today, we hit the halfway point in the countdown. It’s not exact because I started this blog on an odd number. So actually, we are over halfway there – hooray!
Also, by approximately 7 PM tonight, I’ll be halfway done with finals – double hooray!
And the white blossoms up top are what [...]
7 May
Uninteresting/uninterested
Day 72
“There is no such thing on earth as an uninteresting subject; the only thing that can exist is an uninterested person.” – G.K. Chesterson
And with that quote that Em sent me, I’m off to continue to study a very interesting subject; in essence, motor speech disorders.
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden upon the LORD and [...]
6 May
Getting on my nerves
Day 73
Since my life these days seems to revolve around the joys of neuroscience, I can’t think of anything else to write about. So here are some little tidbits for my readers:
You have 12 cranial nerves, which are apparently very crucial. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to see, smell, hear, taste, chew, swallow, sneeze, gag, smile, etc, [...]
5 May
Hitting the books
Day 74
Colossians 3:23-24 ”Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men . . .You are serving the Lord Christ.”
This is my theme verse for finals week. Even my studying should be to God’s glory.
4 May
Picking up pennies
Day 75
1 cent. That’s all it is, so I guess a lot of people don’t see the point of bending over and risking scraping your fingernails on the concrete for 1/100 of a dollar. For some reason, though, I do. I collect the pennies that have fallen through the cracks on the sidewalk, on the [...]
3 May
Good point
Day 76
Today’s “Non Sequitur” cartoon:
Onward.
Colossians 2:13 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the [...]
2 May
artificial importance
Day 77
Last night as I was walking home from class, I passed a couple of the MU basketball stars on the sidewalk. These are the guys, who barring major injury or disaster, will make it to the NBA someday (and for one of them, possibly this fall). They may become stars there, too, or at the [...]
1 May
Chance? What CHANCE?
Day 78
I find it irritating when the weather website posts the forecast of “100% chance of rain”. That’s not a chance! That’s a definite! If you want to put chance into the equation, make it a 99% chance of rain. Hey, you can even make it a 99.999999999 % chance of rain. That means there’s still a .000000001% [...]
