Hello all,
It's been a while, hasn't it? Instead of several posts for this week, I am going to try and smash it all into one. Settle in and read on!
This week has been crazy! I finally got credentials at the end of the day last Friday, which means I have been working in the O.R. all week. IT'S AWESOME! So nice to finally be able to do what I trained to do.
I need 30 cases for peer review, and managed to accomplish half of them this first week. It's almost been like being back in school, having late days and early mornings. One night I fell asleep by 8:30, and another night I was in zombie mode; staring off into space, not answering questions, etc. But it has been fun.
I did manage to get out of work in time to teach the Wednesday night Bible class, dealing with 2 Cor 2:7-10, talking about forgiveness. We had a great discussion, and I think that several members of the class actually learned something. One of the things that was brought up is that we, as a society, have a faulty understanding of what "forgiveness" means.
Forgiveness is not letting someone off the hook for whatever they do, no matter what. Forgiveness means that when a person asks us to forgive them, we do our best to forget it, blot it out as if it had never happened. That doesn't mean there aren't consequences for actions, but true forgiveness can only come when it is asked for. That is the example of God, who loves us so much He sent His son to die for us. How can we think to go beyond God and forgive someone who doesn't ask for us?
The other point that was brought out, and really hit home for me, is this: If we are wrong, would we want someone to "Forgive" us without letting us know we are in the wrong? How can we correct our mistakes, if we don't have them brought to our attention? This does need to be done in love, of course, not in a spirit of meanness.
Change of subject now: We are dog-sitting for one of my co-workers and his family while they are out of town to attend a funeral. A sad reason to go, but it has been good for us to have a dog in the house again. For those of you who don't know, we had to put our dog down last summer, and it has been an adjustment. While Mrs. Penguin has graciously made arrangements to add to the roll of little penguins wandering around the house (Due the end of May/1st part of June), we still like having a dog around. We are now on the adoption list for a miniature schnauzer, and hope to add one to the household in the coming months.
Boy Wonder's Tae Kwan Do class moved to later in the evening to accommodate the influx of new DoDos, so we are experiencing even later bedtimes on a regular basis. We also found out that Boo will have to take a break from tumbling this summer due to the deployment of her coach, so she also will become a DoDo for a few months!
Last night I got to reconnect with my family, and today has been a nice lazy day so far. In a few minutes I'm going to enjoy some wonderful cinnamon rolls (Thanks, Will at Alaska Cake Studio for the idea!) and then get to work on the oft-delayed bookshelves. Stay posted for pictures of the bookshelf project. I hope to have the trial set assembled this weekend.
Thanks to you all who have continued to spread the word about the Penguin. I was feeling a little blue, thinking about shutting it down since there had been so few comments or votes lately, that I wasn't sure anyone was reading what I was posting. However, there have been a few new fans added this week, so I will continue the wonderings for a while, at least.
That's the brief update of this week's wanderings of the penguin . . . and how was your week?
Finally, don't forget to vote in this week's poll.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Poll results
Last week's poll closed last night. The results, Abigail by 1 vote, Jael in 2nd place. I thought about biasing the results, but let them stand. This weeks poll deals with a simple yes/no question. Be sure and vote!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
What are you waiting for?
Yesterday morning, the kiddos, (Boy Wonder and Boo) were watching The Incredibles. This is a great show put out by Pixar. In our house it is often referred to as "The Impossibles!", the result of a little slip of the tongue one day that stuck. The key characters are a family of superheros with superpowers who are trying to live an ordinary life, since "supers" are no longer wanted by society.
If you've never watched it, I would recommend it. If you've seen it before, it's worth a rewatch. Besides the obvious superhero and James Bond nods, see how many other film, T.V., radio and literature references are there. If you think you already know all those, look for the inclusion of Pixar's other films. They are there. In addition to the multiple references, there are a multitude of messages, hidden, sometimes not so subtly throughout the movie. Here's an example. Right before I had to leave, the following scene flashed across the T.V.
[Bob notices the little boy on the tricycle staring at him for the second day in a row]
Bob: Well, what are *you* waiting for?
Little Boy on Tricycle: I don't know. Something amazing, I guess.
Bob: Me too, kid.
It is a profound scene, stuck in the middle of a very entertaining movie. Kids expect the amazing all the time. By the time we become adults, we have been ground down, worn on, and pounded into submission so that we no longer expect the amazing. Many of us spend our entire adult lives waiting on something amazing. How sad. How pitiful.
We live in an incredible world, full of mystery and wonder. Science is making discoveries that boggle the understanding. New species are still being discovered. Islands appear and disappear. Glaciers grow and retreat. Nature blasts us and blesses us, always defying the predictions. Relationships blossom and grow, or grow cold and die. Men and women defy the odds in sports, in exploration, in health, in life and in death.
How can we not be amazed? I don't understand. If you are spending your life waiting for something amazing, you are wasting your time. We get one chance on this terrestrial ball, and we can make it amazing. We can be an Incredible spouse or parent, and an Amazing teacher or friend. It's up to us!
It's been said that impossible means we just haven't figured it out yet. Putting a man on the moon was once considered impossible. Mapping the human genome was once considered impossible. Ending slavery in America was once considered impossible.
If your life isn't amazing, you aren't trying for the "impossible." Find a way to make the impossible possible. Start with yourself. Start with your family. Start with your house or your street. We have the blessing of living in a time and place where the amazing occurs all the time. Take a little time today to count your blessings. Let your family know that you think they are Incredible. They put up with you! Find your piece of amazing and make it possible!
If you've never watched it, I would recommend it. If you've seen it before, it's worth a rewatch. Besides the obvious superhero and James Bond nods, see how many other film, T.V., radio and literature references are there. If you think you already know all those, look for the inclusion of Pixar's other films. They are there. In addition to the multiple references, there are a multitude of messages, hidden, sometimes not so subtly throughout the movie. Here's an example. Right before I had to leave, the following scene flashed across the T.V.
[Bob notices the little boy on the tricycle staring at him for the second day in a row]
Bob: Well, what are *you* waiting for?
Little Boy on Tricycle: I don't know. Something amazing, I guess.
Bob: Me too, kid.
It is a profound scene, stuck in the middle of a very entertaining movie. Kids expect the amazing all the time. By the time we become adults, we have been ground down, worn on, and pounded into submission so that we no longer expect the amazing. Many of us spend our entire adult lives waiting on something amazing. How sad. How pitiful.
We live in an incredible world, full of mystery and wonder. Science is making discoveries that boggle the understanding. New species are still being discovered. Islands appear and disappear. Glaciers grow and retreat. Nature blasts us and blesses us, always defying the predictions. Relationships blossom and grow, or grow cold and die. Men and women defy the odds in sports, in exploration, in health, in life and in death.
How can we not be amazed? I don't understand. If you are spending your life waiting for something amazing, you are wasting your time. We get one chance on this terrestrial ball, and we can make it amazing. We can be an Incredible spouse or parent, and an Amazing teacher or friend. It's up to us!
It's been said that impossible means we just haven't figured it out yet. Putting a man on the moon was once considered impossible. Mapping the human genome was once considered impossible. Ending slavery in America was once considered impossible.
If your life isn't amazing, you aren't trying for the "impossible." Find a way to make the impossible possible. Start with yourself. Start with your family. Start with your house or your street. We have the blessing of living in a time and place where the amazing occurs all the time. Take a little time today to count your blessings. Let your family know that you think they are Incredible. They put up with you! Find your piece of amazing and make it possible!
Friday, February 19, 2010
A Letter To My Girls!
I didn't write this. I borrowed it from a friend of mine who had posted it on FB. It says some very wonderful things in a way that I don't think I could. Enjoy!
A Letter To My Girls!
To my girls:
A lesson about money and giving and “happiness”. We could ALL be more generous with the money the Lord has given us. Just one of the many reasons people list of why they can't help those in need or give to the church, etc... .we need to save for your future. If we give too generously, we would not be able to pay for your college education.
It's true.
You all have small college funds - college funds which recently took a terrible hit - but "they" say that by the time you're 18, college will cost anywhere between $200,000 to half a million dollars each. You might as well know now, we won't be covering that. I'm telling you now, babies.
The people said that the day would come when you would look at us with resentment because you had to apply for school loans while many of your friends got a free ride from their parents.
Maybe you will. Maybe you'll resent us. I really hope not. But maybe I should tell you now why your dad and I have decided to live the way that we try to live. And no, we don't live it perfectly.
I know you're going to think I am going off topic (I do that a lot) but awhile back I saw a story on a TV show about how the latest trend was for parents to give their daughters plastic surgery for high school graduation (I don't know what they gave their sons.) When interviewing one of the moms, she said, "I just want my daughter to be happy." And as I tossed a throw pillow at the television, this really huge and terrible-sounding thought occurred to me: I don't want my children to be happy.
My goal as your mom is not your happiness, sugars. In fact, I spend at least half my day making you unhappy. If I had a nickle for every tear that falls in this home on a daily basis, we wouldn't need to worry about college tuition at all.
Happiness is fleeting, sweet babies. That means it doesn't last. It's a quick feeling that comes from a funny movie or a heart shaped lollipop or a really good birthday present. It's great. I love to be happy. But happiness is a reaction that is based on our surroundings. And our surroundings are so very rarely under our control. Even when - especially when - we think they are. So no, I absolutely don't want you to spend your life chasing something that has so little to do with your own abilities or true well-being. You'll just be constantly frustrated.
There are two things I desire for you, precious loves. There are two things that I spend most of my time as a mother trying to cultivate in you. Even when I fail miserably. Happiness isn't one of them. (This means, sorry, no plastic surgery for you.)
The first is, I want you to be content. Being content is so very different from being happy. Being content is not based on your surroundings. Being content comes from within. Contentment is a spirit of gratitude. It's the choice you make to either be thankful for the things you do have, or to whine about the things you don't have.
As you know, because I've told you lots of times, Paul talked about being content. Paul said that he had "learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." And Paul was in some rotten situations, kiddos, really rotten.
How could Paul be content whether he was in prison or if his life was literally a shipwreck? Because Paul was constantly seeking to be in the will of God instead of his own, was constantly sacrificing his own comfort for the sake of the gospel, and was constantly being confirmed, strengthened, and blessed by God because of his obedience. He was given a supernatural power - that means something kind of like magic, but it's God magic - to do things that most other humans could not do. And guess what? The Bible tells us (in Ephesians 1) that God will give you the exact same power! If you want it!
Which leads me to my second desire for you.
I don't want you to be happy. I want you to be holy. That means that I want you to seek that God-power to make you content. I want you to want the Kingdom of God more than your own kingdom. And that's hard, babies, that is SO hard. And that usually means passing up a lot of what the world considers happiness. But it means that you will receive blessings directly from God that most of the world never dreams of because they are too occupied with achieving the perfect birthday present!
This means you may be poor, 'in want' as Paul said, and that's okay. It will never, ever be okay with the world for you to be poor. So you'll be up against the world. But not your dad and me - because it was never our goal for you to be wealthy - at least not in the way that the world considers wealthy.
My sweet children, we love you so much. You will never even grasp how much we love you until you have children of your own, and then you'll get it, and then you'll apologize for the ways you treated us ;) But our goal is not to please you. Our goal is to please our Heavenly Father. And nowhere in the Bible does the Lord command that we save all our money to send our kids to college – or buy them a bigger house or fancier clothes.
But the Lord does command us to care for the orphan around fifty times. He does tell us to care for the poor around 300 times. He does tell us that when we care for the neediest, we are caring for Jesus Himself. And in chapter six of the book of Matthew, He tells us to seek His kingdom first, and let Him worry about the rest, like college tuition. Because it's all His anyway.
They said that one day you would resent us for using 'your' college money to support the church or help those in need.
But I know my babies. Even at your ages, I know your hearts, and I have already seen you cry for the least of these. I know the prayers I offer up to God that He and not the world would shape the desires of your hearts. I am trusting Him to answer those prayers.
So, my sweet children - I just don't believe those people.
Love-
Mommy
A lesson about money and giving and “happiness”. We could ALL be more generous with the money the Lord has given us. Just one of the many reasons people list of why they can't help those in need or give to the church, etc... .we need to save for your future. If we give too generously, we would not be able to pay for your college education.
It's true.
You all have small college funds - college funds which recently took a terrible hit - but "they" say that by the time you're 18, college will cost anywhere between $200,000 to half a million dollars each. You might as well know now, we won't be covering that. I'm telling you now, babies.
The people said that the day would come when you would look at us with resentment because you had to apply for school loans while many of your friends got a free ride from their parents.
Maybe you will. Maybe you'll resent us. I really hope not. But maybe I should tell you now why your dad and I have decided to live the way that we try to live. And no, we don't live it perfectly.
I know you're going to think I am going off topic (I do that a lot) but awhile back I saw a story on a TV show about how the latest trend was for parents to give their daughters plastic surgery for high school graduation (I don't know what they gave their sons.) When interviewing one of the moms, she said, "I just want my daughter to be happy." And as I tossed a throw pillow at the television, this really huge and terrible-sounding thought occurred to me: I don't want my children to be happy.
My goal as your mom is not your happiness, sugars. In fact, I spend at least half my day making you unhappy. If I had a nickle for every tear that falls in this home on a daily basis, we wouldn't need to worry about college tuition at all.
Happiness is fleeting, sweet babies. That means it doesn't last. It's a quick feeling that comes from a funny movie or a heart shaped lollipop or a really good birthday present. It's great. I love to be happy. But happiness is a reaction that is based on our surroundings. And our surroundings are so very rarely under our control. Even when - especially when - we think they are. So no, I absolutely don't want you to spend your life chasing something that has so little to do with your own abilities or true well-being. You'll just be constantly frustrated.
There are two things I desire for you, precious loves. There are two things that I spend most of my time as a mother trying to cultivate in you. Even when I fail miserably. Happiness isn't one of them. (This means, sorry, no plastic surgery for you.)
The first is, I want you to be content. Being content is so very different from being happy. Being content is not based on your surroundings. Being content comes from within. Contentment is a spirit of gratitude. It's the choice you make to either be thankful for the things you do have, or to whine about the things you don't have.
As you know, because I've told you lots of times, Paul talked about being content. Paul said that he had "learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." And Paul was in some rotten situations, kiddos, really rotten.
How could Paul be content whether he was in prison or if his life was literally a shipwreck? Because Paul was constantly seeking to be in the will of God instead of his own, was constantly sacrificing his own comfort for the sake of the gospel, and was constantly being confirmed, strengthened, and blessed by God because of his obedience. He was given a supernatural power - that means something kind of like magic, but it's God magic - to do things that most other humans could not do. And guess what? The Bible tells us (in Ephesians 1) that God will give you the exact same power! If you want it!
Which leads me to my second desire for you.
I don't want you to be happy. I want you to be holy. That means that I want you to seek that God-power to make you content. I want you to want the Kingdom of God more than your own kingdom. And that's hard, babies, that is SO hard. And that usually means passing up a lot of what the world considers happiness. But it means that you will receive blessings directly from God that most of the world never dreams of because they are too occupied with achieving the perfect birthday present!
This means you may be poor, 'in want' as Paul said, and that's okay. It will never, ever be okay with the world for you to be poor. So you'll be up against the world. But not your dad and me - because it was never our goal for you to be wealthy - at least not in the way that the world considers wealthy.
My sweet children, we love you so much. You will never even grasp how much we love you until you have children of your own, and then you'll get it, and then you'll apologize for the ways you treated us ;) But our goal is not to please you. Our goal is to please our Heavenly Father. And nowhere in the Bible does the Lord command that we save all our money to send our kids to college – or buy them a bigger house or fancier clothes.
But the Lord does command us to care for the orphan around fifty times. He does tell us to care for the poor around 300 times. He does tell us that when we care for the neediest, we are caring for Jesus Himself. And in chapter six of the book of Matthew, He tells us to seek His kingdom first, and let Him worry about the rest, like college tuition. Because it's all His anyway.
They said that one day you would resent us for using 'your' college money to support the church or help those in need.
But I know my babies. Even at your ages, I know your hearts, and I have already seen you cry for the least of these. I know the prayers I offer up to God that He and not the world would shape the desires of your hearts. I am trusting Him to answer those prayers.
So, my sweet children - I just don't believe those people.
Love-
Mommy
Thursday, February 18, 2010
It's a Love Thing . . . part deux!
In the last post I laid out an argument that fellowship is all about love. Tonight I will posit a corollary concept, that disfellowship is also all about love. Consider this question, "Why do we disfellowship someone?" There are 4 reasons that I am aware of, each of them motivated by love.
1) We disfellowship an erring brother or sister because we love them and want them to see how seriously we take their choice to step off the path God has chosen for them.
2) We practice disfellowship because we love the church, and want to keep her the pure bride of Christ. Just as one bad apple spoils the bunch, one sinner left in the fold can bring many to their destruction.
3) We disfellowship because we love all the sinners in the world, and want them to see that we take such concepts as the sanctity of God's message (which tells us it is sometimes necessary to disfellowship an individual) very seriously.
4) We practice disfellowship because we love ourselves enough to recognize that at some point we may be in error, and therefore we need to examine ourselves. Also, we love each other enough that we are conscientious to correct a brother or sister when we first see a potential problem, and pray that they will do the same for us.
Disfellowship is an often uncomfortable topic, but if we truly understand the love that motivates it, it becomes less so. When talking about fellowship I mentioned the concept of family. If we love our children, we discipline them. If we love our parents, we correct them when they overstep their boundaries and start meddling in our lives. If we love our brother or sister, we let them know when we are concerned for them and the decisions they are making. If we love our Christian family the same way, we should have no trouble expressing our love in the same way.
Disfellowship - It's a Love Thing!
1) We disfellowship an erring brother or sister because we love them and want them to see how seriously we take their choice to step off the path God has chosen for them.
2) We practice disfellowship because we love the church, and want to keep her the pure bride of Christ. Just as one bad apple spoils the bunch, one sinner left in the fold can bring many to their destruction.
3) We disfellowship because we love all the sinners in the world, and want them to see that we take such concepts as the sanctity of God's message (which tells us it is sometimes necessary to disfellowship an individual) very seriously.
4) We practice disfellowship because we love ourselves enough to recognize that at some point we may be in error, and therefore we need to examine ourselves. Also, we love each other enough that we are conscientious to correct a brother or sister when we first see a potential problem, and pray that they will do the same for us.
Disfellowship is an often uncomfortable topic, but if we truly understand the love that motivates it, it becomes less so. When talking about fellowship I mentioned the concept of family. If we love our children, we discipline them. If we love our parents, we correct them when they overstep their boundaries and start meddling in our lives. If we love our brother or sister, we let them know when we are concerned for them and the decisions they are making. If we love our Christian family the same way, we should have no trouble expressing our love in the same way.
Disfellowship - It's a Love Thing!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
It's a Love Thing
I had the privilege of teaching the adult Bible class tonight. Our topic was 2 Corinthians 2. We spent very little time in that text, but it was still a good study. Well, I think so, at least. In 2 Corinthians Paul is dealing with the aftermath of his first letter to Corinth in regards to the sinful man mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5. The church there had done such a good job of correcting the sinful man, that they were in danger of pushing him out of the congregation even though he had repented.
Having given you the background, can you guess what our discussion involved tonight?
We spent the entire class discussing the concepts of fellowship and disfellowship. Disfellowship is talked about a lot, but practiced infrequently, and often very poorly if it is done at all. Why? It comes down to a couple reasons, but we will confine ourself to what must be in place first - fellowship!
What is fellowship? In the New Testament we can look at Acts 2:44-47 to get an idea. There we find that the first Christians: were together, had all things in common, were eating their meals together, and had gladness & sincerity of heart. How many so-called congregations or "churches" have that kind of fellowship? How many congregations seek to spend time together, share with each other, eat their meals with each other, enjoy spending time with each other? If that were the case, then fellowship would exist and disfellowship would be so much more effective!
When we look at the book of John 15 we see Jesus explaining the concept of abiding in Him. Over in 1st John 2 and 3 we see over and over the idea of family, through the use of terms such as children and Fathers, but tied back to the love and abiding in Christ.
We have no problem understanding the concept of love when it comes to our physical family, and the actions that love motivates us to perform. We want what's best for our family, and will sacrifice to make sure they get it. When that kind of love exists in the church, and then someone is cut off from that, that is when disfellowship is effective. If there is no fellowship, there cannot be effective disfellowshipping.
Fellowship - It's a Love Thing!
Having given you the background, can you guess what our discussion involved tonight?
We spent the entire class discussing the concepts of fellowship and disfellowship. Disfellowship is talked about a lot, but practiced infrequently, and often very poorly if it is done at all. Why? It comes down to a couple reasons, but we will confine ourself to what must be in place first - fellowship!
What is fellowship? In the New Testament we can look at Acts 2:44-47 to get an idea. There we find that the first Christians: were together, had all things in common, were eating their meals together, and had gladness & sincerity of heart. How many so-called congregations or "churches" have that kind of fellowship? How many congregations seek to spend time together, share with each other, eat their meals with each other, enjoy spending time with each other? If that were the case, then fellowship would exist and disfellowship would be so much more effective!
When we look at the book of John 15 we see Jesus explaining the concept of abiding in Him. Over in 1st John 2 and 3 we see over and over the idea of family, through the use of terms such as children and Fathers, but tied back to the love and abiding in Christ.
We have no problem understanding the concept of love when it comes to our physical family, and the actions that love motivates us to perform. We want what's best for our family, and will sacrifice to make sure they get it. When that kind of love exists in the church, and then someone is cut off from that, that is when disfellowship is effective. If there is no fellowship, there cannot be effective disfellowshipping.
Fellowship - It's a Love Thing!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Whose Line is it?
It appears that I am on a T.V. nostalgia kick at the moment. A couple days ago I posted about the "Animaniacs," today it is "Whose Line is it Anyway."
For those of you not familiar (which rock have you been living under, anyways?) with WLIIA, it is a sketch comedy show. I was first introduced to the idea back in 1995, while I was a freshman in college. I believe the concept originated in Britain.
Here in the States Together, Drew Carey was the host of WLIIIA, and there was a rotating cast of 4 different comedians. A couple of the comedians seemed to have fairly permanent spots on the show, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles and Wayne Brady. Apparently Colin & Ryan were transfers from the British show. Wikipedia gives the following information: "The show occasionally featured celebrity fourth-chairs: Robin Williams, Kathy Kinney, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg each made appearances. Other celebrities made guest appearances for individual games, including: Sid Caesar, David Hasselhoff, Florence Henderson, Jerry Springer, Joanie "Chyna" Laurer, Richard Simmons, Katie Harman, Jayne Trcka, Hugh Hefner and Lassie."
Drew would give two or more of the comedians different scenarios, words, or props, and the comedians would have to come up with a quick comedic scene incorporating the given item. Sometimes they had to make up a song on the spot and sing it with the accompanying music. There were points awarded, but as Drew said at the beginning of the show, "the points don't matter." A winner was chosen at the end of the show, the prize being either participating in a sketch with Drew, directing Drew and another player in a sketch, or reading the closing credits is a manner dictated by Drew.
Whose Line is it Anyway was a niche show. It was neither fish nor fowl. It was not a sitcom, not a cartoon, not a soap, a drama, or any of the other typical T.V. show categories. This lack of fitting into a classic definition may have been part of what contributed to its demise.
If you are not familiar with the genre, spend some time checking it out. A great resource is Mark's guide to Whose Line is it Anyway over at www.whoseline.net/index.html. Be sure and investigate the games guide link, which lists nearly all the different games played on the show over the course of its run. Be warned that Drew and Co. are not always clean or appropriate, which is why I will not include a clip in this post.
And remember, as is often true in life, "the points don't matter."
For those of you not familiar (which rock have you been living under, anyways?) with WLIIA, it is a sketch comedy show. I was first introduced to the idea back in 1995, while I was a freshman in college. I believe the concept originated in Britain.
Here in the States Together, Drew Carey was the host of WLIIIA, and there was a rotating cast of 4 different comedians. A couple of the comedians seemed to have fairly permanent spots on the show, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles and Wayne Brady. Apparently Colin & Ryan were transfers from the British show. Wikipedia gives the following information: "The show occasionally featured celebrity fourth-chairs: Robin Williams, Kathy Kinney, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg each made appearances. Other celebrities made guest appearances for individual games, including: Sid Caesar, David Hasselhoff, Florence Henderson, Jerry Springer, Joanie "Chyna" Laurer, Richard Simmons, Katie Harman, Jayne Trcka, Hugh Hefner and Lassie."
Drew would give two or more of the comedians different scenarios, words, or props, and the comedians would have to come up with a quick comedic scene incorporating the given item. Sometimes they had to make up a song on the spot and sing it with the accompanying music. There were points awarded, but as Drew said at the beginning of the show, "the points don't matter." A winner was chosen at the end of the show, the prize being either participating in a sketch with Drew, directing Drew and another player in a sketch, or reading the closing credits is a manner dictated by Drew.
Whose Line is it Anyway was a niche show. It was neither fish nor fowl. It was not a sitcom, not a cartoon, not a soap, a drama, or any of the other typical T.V. show categories. This lack of fitting into a classic definition may have been part of what contributed to its demise.
If you are not familiar with the genre, spend some time checking it out. A great resource is Mark's guide to Whose Line is it Anyway over at www.whoseline.net/index.html. Be sure and investigate the games guide link, which lists nearly all the different games played on the show over the course of its run. Be warned that Drew and Co. are not always clean or appropriate, which is why I will not include a clip in this post.
And remember, as is often true in life, "the points don't matter."
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Survey says . . .
Last week's survey is over, the winner being Paul with 2 votes.
I actually had almost as many comments as votes, most asking why there were no women listed in the survey of favorite Bible characters. You'll notice that this week's poll asks who indeed is your favorite female Bible character(s). Feel free to vote early and often. You may select more than one answer. Bonus points will be given if a comment is left explaining your choice!
I actually had almost as many comments as votes, most asking why there were no women listed in the survey of favorite Bible characters. You'll notice that this week's poll asks who indeed is your favorite female Bible character(s). Feel free to vote early and often. You may select more than one answer. Bonus points will be given if a comment is left explaining your choice!
Friday, February 12, 2010
We're Animaney, Totally Insane-y . . .
Yes, Ladies and Germs, This is a post about one of the best animated series ever to grace the television screen, the Animaniacs!
Holdeth thine applause, messieurs et madames! Thank you, thank you, you are too kind!
What can I tell you about the Animaniacs that a true Animaniacal fan doesn't already know? Probably not much.
For those of you not familiar with the show, a short primer. The three characters you see off to your left are the Warner Brothers, Wakko & Yakko, and the Warner Sister, Dot! They currently live in the Warner Bros. trademark water tower, locked away for their own safety.
According to that revered source of knowledge and learning, Wikipedia, "The comedy of Animaniacs was a broad mix of old-fashioned wit, slapstick, pop culture references, and cartoon violence and wackiness. The show featured a number of comedic educational segments that covered subjects such as history, mathematics, geography, astronomy science, and social studies, often in musical form. Animaniacs itself was a variety show, with short skits featuring a large cast of characters. While the show had no set format, episode structure varied to suit the needs of the segments included; the majority of episodes were composed of three short mini-episodes, each starring a different set of characters, and bridging segments.
Animaniacs was a very musical cartoon, with every episode featuring at least one original score. I personally benefitted from the 50 states song. The songs covered a variety of topics, from states and presidents, to ingredients in junk food, to making fun of popular culture.
The series won eight Daytime Emmy Awards and one Peabody Award during its run. While this show was no paragon of virtue, as it often contained adult humor, double entendre's and other less than appropriate content, it represented a change in the direction of animation, first started by the movie, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."
No discussion of the Animaniacs would be complete without mentioning Pinky and the Brain. While not the main characters, they had an appearance in almost every episode I recall ever watching.
Pinky's introductory phrase was, "Gee Brain, What do you want to do tonight?" His inevitable reply, "The same thing we do every night, Pinky. . . try to take over the world!"
I really related to these two characters, each on a different level. One part of me felt the frustration of Brain, who had grand plans but was always frustrated in his attempts to bring them to fruition. Another part of me closely identified with Pinky and his completely disregard for rational thought or safety. As you might have guessed by now, I was a teenager when I lived through the Animaniacs era.
I'll leave you with a couple of short clips for your enjoyment.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Debt
Whilst roaming aroundFB today, I came across the U.S. Debt Clock link. On it are all sorts of nifty numbers, national debt, per person, number of people employed, number that pay taxes, etc. One of the scariest numbers is the personal debt number. It averages out to over $54,000 for every man, woman and child in this country! Add on to that the over $40,000 per citizen national debt and the $104,000 per person discrepancy between assets and liability and you can see that we are in a whole world of hurt financially.
Why do I bring this up? Because it is counter to God's word. We are told "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." in Romans 13, where Paul is speaking of our obligation to the government. How are you doing with your debts? Are you thinking about cheating on your taxes? Remember, "No man can serve two masters . . ." Who are you serving?
Why do I bring this up? Because it is counter to God's word. We are told "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." in Romans 13, where Paul is speaking of our obligation to the government. How are you doing with your debts? Are you thinking about cheating on your taxes? Remember, "No man can serve two masters . . ." Who are you serving?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Frustration, Failure, and a Short Speach
I have now been working out for about a month, in my pursuit of physical fitness and weight loss. The results on the scale and tape measure are somewhat discouraging. In the first two weeks I lost about 9 pounds and took 2 inches off my waist. Since then, I've actually gained 2 pounds back. That still leaves me 26 pounds and at least 3 waist inches from my goal. Fortunately I have a couple more months to accomplish this in.
On the other hand, I have been able to increase both my speed and time on my running. I have been able to increase the weights when I work out, in some cases by as much as 30 or 40 pounds. While these are good things, they are still overshadowed in my mind by the lack of progress on the weights and measurements front.
Am I telling you this just because I am having a pity party? Well, maybe a little bit. But it reminds me of a story that I'm sure most of us have heard before, the story of Abraham Lincoln. We are probably all familiar with the numerous setbacks and failures he had before he ever was elected president. Once in office, he faced the greatest struggle our nation has ever faced since its inception, the Civil War. There was nothing civil about it. More Americans died in that war than any before or since.
It was while that war was going on that Mr. Lincoln was asked to give a speech. He did, and at the time, it was considered another failure. It was too short, too confusing, not worthy of the event were some of the criticisms leveled at the time.
Please read the following words, and remember that what often seems like failure on the surface is actually not . . . it is triumph that takes time to grow! My struggles with weight are hopefully like that, what appears to be failure now, but in actuality are triumph that will grow.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought on this continent a new nation conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who hear gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
The next time you feel like you are failing at something, remember the words of Mr. Lincoln, and recommit to being dedicated to the unfinished work, whatever it is. It may seem crass to compare my struggles with the Civil War, and if so, I apologize. I simply hope to show that in our struggles, hope remains, and that just like that great struggle which nearly broke our nation, we can triumph. Press on, my fellow Penguins . . . keep waddling!
On the other hand, I have been able to increase both my speed and time on my running. I have been able to increase the weights when I work out, in some cases by as much as 30 or 40 pounds. While these are good things, they are still overshadowed in my mind by the lack of progress on the weights and measurements front.
Am I telling you this just because I am having a pity party? Well, maybe a little bit. But it reminds me of a story that I'm sure most of us have heard before, the story of Abraham Lincoln. We are probably all familiar with the numerous setbacks and failures he had before he ever was elected president. Once in office, he faced the greatest struggle our nation has ever faced since its inception, the Civil War. There was nothing civil about it. More Americans died in that war than any before or since.
It was while that war was going on that Mr. Lincoln was asked to give a speech. He did, and at the time, it was considered another failure. It was too short, too confusing, not worthy of the event were some of the criticisms leveled at the time.
Please read the following words, and remember that what often seems like failure on the surface is actually not . . . it is triumph that takes time to grow! My struggles with weight are hopefully like that, what appears to be failure now, but in actuality are triumph that will grow.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought on this continent a new nation conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who hear gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
The next time you feel like you are failing at something, remember the words of Mr. Lincoln, and recommit to being dedicated to the unfinished work, whatever it is. It may seem crass to compare my struggles with the Civil War, and if so, I apologize. I simply hope to show that in our struggles, hope remains, and that just like that great struggle which nearly broke our nation, we can triumph. Press on, my fellow Penguins . . . keep waddling!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
True Love or The First Valentine's Day
My good friend and fellow blogger Peyton shared his thoughts over at Scatterbrained a couple days ago on the upcoming holiday, Valentine's day. Weeell . . . Peyton got me thinking about a couple of things with his post.
One, now that we have a sitter for the kids (Having wonderful friends is such a blessing!), what am I going to do for Mrs. Penguin for Valentines this year? Where should I take her? What should we do? She's been putting up with my wonderings and wanderings since 1996. I should do something really nice for her one of these Valentine's days. Our first Valentine's day together I payed for her to get the top of her ear pierced. Somehow I think she should get a little more this year, don't you?
B, I didn't used to like Valentine's day all that much. I thought it was pretty silly. In grade school, Valentines meant you had to give every kid in your class a valentine whether you really wanted them to be your valentine or not. As you I got older, it turned into a day to truly embarass myself and spend a lot of money trying to impress some girl that had no interest in me (former high school flames, you know who you are!) And then I got together with Mrs. Penguin and really messed things up for a few (read "multiple") Valentine's days. As she once put it, "I wish you would show me you love me on a day you didn't have too also, instead of just on the days you are expected to."
The other thought that got triggered by Peyton's post was this. The first Valentine's day, the true one, the only one in history that really matters, happened on a Friday some 2000 years ago. That's when God showed each and every one of us how much He truly loves us. Isn't that what Valentine's day is truly about; the expression of love towards another being?
We read in John 3:16 and 17, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." God SO LOVED!
And in Romans 5:6-8, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God knew we weren't righteous, that rather we were ugly, pitiful, vile sinners and He loved us anyhow, to the point of being willing to sacrifice His perfect Son, Jesus.
Ephesians chapter 2 talks also of God's love, and the state that we were in. Verse 1 says that we were dead, but verse 4 talks about His GREAT love, the richness of His mercy.
Yes ladies and gents, when I think of Valentine's day now, I think about the greatest gift that has ever been given, the sacrifice of Jesus for me. If that isn't love, I don't know what is. You may not think it's mushy or romantic or Valentines-ey, but that's okay. We talk about "true love" and "young love" and "puppy love" and "romantic love" and on and on. The love that matters most, the love which we are to emulate, the sacrificial love shown by God Himself is it. That love is the end-all, be-all of love, and that's what Valentines means to me. Happy Valentine's Day Everybody!
One, now that we have a sitter for the kids (Having wonderful friends is such a blessing!), what am I going to do for Mrs. Penguin for Valentines this year? Where should I take her? What should we do? She's been putting up with my wonderings and wanderings since 1996. I should do something really nice for her one of these Valentine's days. Our first Valentine's day together I payed for her to get the top of her ear pierced. Somehow I think she should get a little more this year, don't you?
B, I didn't used to like Valentine's day all that much. I thought it was pretty silly. In grade school, Valentines meant you had to give every kid in your class a valentine whether you really wanted them to be your valentine or not. As you I got older, it turned into a day to truly embarass myself and spend a lot of money trying to impress some girl that had no interest in me (former high school flames, you know who you are!) And then I got together with Mrs. Penguin and really messed things up for a few (read "multiple") Valentine's days. As she once put it, "I wish you would show me you love me on a day you didn't have too also, instead of just on the days you are expected to."
The other thought that got triggered by Peyton's post was this. The first Valentine's day, the true one, the only one in history that really matters, happened on a Friday some 2000 years ago. That's when God showed each and every one of us how much He truly loves us. Isn't that what Valentine's day is truly about; the expression of love towards another being?
We read in John 3:16 and 17, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." God SO LOVED!
And in Romans 5:6-8, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God knew we weren't righteous, that rather we were ugly, pitiful, vile sinners and He loved us anyhow, to the point of being willing to sacrifice His perfect Son, Jesus.
Ephesians chapter 2 talks also of God's love, and the state that we were in. Verse 1 says that we were dead, but verse 4 talks about His GREAT love, the richness of His mercy.
Yes ladies and gents, when I think of Valentine's day now, I think about the greatest gift that has ever been given, the sacrifice of Jesus for me. If that isn't love, I don't know what is. You may not think it's mushy or romantic or Valentines-ey, but that's okay. We talk about "true love" and "young love" and "puppy love" and "romantic love" and on and on. The love that matters most, the love which we are to emulate, the sacrificial love shown by God Himself is it. That love is the end-all, be-all of love, and that's what Valentines means to me. Happy Valentine's Day Everybody!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Poll closing
Yes, ladies and gentlegerms, the most recent poll asking who I remind you of most has just closed. The results were 2 to 1 in favor of Val Kilmer over the hairy guy from the Trinity series. So now I have another question. Which Val Kilmer do I remind you of? The full of bravado Iceman from Top Gun Val Kilmer? The not quite sure I belong in this role Batman Val Kilmer? The voice of KITT in the new Knight Rider TV series Val Kilmer? The totally cool while dying of consumption Doc Holiday (I'm your huckleberry!) from Tombstone Val Kilmer? Which Val Kilmer do I remind you of and why? Inquiring minds want to know. Please share . . .
Friday, February 5, 2010
Third Time's the Charm
Here is the final installment of trying to bring all my labels up to 2 each.
While the Penguin has had many travels, covering 4 continents, 7 countries and a multitude of states, both United and mental, I have to agree with Dorothy's statement in the Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home."
It is at home where one receives the warmest welcome. It is the home where one can engage in woodworking, knowing that the results, whether perfect or not, will be accepted and cherished. It is not at work, it is not when one is out treking the remote wilds, nor when one is on the golf course that he discovers what he cherishes most. It is when one is in his own domicile, surrounded by his family, gazing at the ultrasound of his unborn child, that one best understands the phrase, "All is right with the world, and God is in His heaven!"
For those of you who don't have a family of your own yet, I pray you get the opportunity to experience all the blessings that come with it. If you are blessed like I am, take this opportunity to give thanks to the Man Upstairs!
Good Night and God Bless!
While the Penguin has had many travels, covering 4 continents, 7 countries and a multitude of states, both United and mental, I have to agree with Dorothy's statement in the Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home."
It is at home where one receives the warmest welcome. It is the home where one can engage in woodworking, knowing that the results, whether perfect or not, will be accepted and cherished. It is not at work, it is not when one is out treking the remote wilds, nor when one is on the golf course that he discovers what he cherishes most. It is when one is in his own domicile, surrounded by his family, gazing at the ultrasound of his unborn child, that one best understands the phrase, "All is right with the world, and God is in His heaven!"
For those of you who don't have a family of your own yet, I pray you get the opportunity to experience all the blessings that come with it. If you are blessed like I am, take this opportunity to give thanks to the Man Upstairs!
Good Night and God Bless!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
More fun with labels
So I'm not going to get through all the labels in just two posts. There will be six remaining after this one. Maybe I can just scatter them throughout the next post. We'll see. I hope you enjoy this one. I had fun with it and the last one. Let me know what you think.
"Welcome to the military, grunts!" the DI yelled, sounding ridiculously like Tom Bodet of Motel
6 fame.
"This ain't no hospital where you get to lay around all day, and it sure ain't no golf camp,
ladies!"
His voice was making it hard not to laugh, and I needed to use the latrine. I struggled to
keep the smile off my face, unsuccessfully.
"We got us a funny boy here!" The DI yelled, stomping over to stand in front of me. "What's
your name, Mr. Giggles?"
"Cadet Thompson, Sir!" I managed to get out before he cut me off.
"Don't you 'Sir" me, Cadet. I work for a living. You will address me as 'Drill Instructor!' Do
you understand me?" By now he was so close the spittle was landing on my face, allowing
me to see the stubble on his right cheek where he had missed a spot shaving.
Chords of the Wagner's Ring Cycle ran through my head, along with the pictures of the
opening scenes of a war movie whose name I couldn't remember. "Yes, Drill Instructor!" I
replied in almost as loud a voice as his.
He seemed satisfied, because he backed away and addressed the group again. "You
ladies have just learned the first of many lessons. Your in-processing to the Air Corps began
30 seconds ago at that building across the way. YOU ARE LATE. MOVE IT!
As the group broke into a run, my self-examination began. "What are you doing here,
Thompson?" I asked myself. "Who is John Galt?" the sarcastic reply came back from the
funny little man who lived inside my head. I knew the answer to the first question. I had not
had much choice in the matter. It was join the Air Corps to get away from the mafia, or spend
another summer in Antarctica with the penguins and my very eccentric mother, "who just
ordered nine pizzas" I automatically added under my breath.
As all 30 of us tried to crowd through the door at once, my mind jumped to another topic.
Each person I jostled with received one of several labels; "sanctified Bible thumper," "scared
witless", "Not gonna make it," "wanna-be tough guy." The predictions came effortlessly, and
looking back now, I see that most were accurate.
We processed quickly through the building, giving vital information such as name, date of
birth, next-of-kin, and such. We were each issued the usual PT shorts, shoes, socks,
underwear, fatigues, boots, belt, toothbrush, razor, soap, shower sandals, toothpaste, shaving
creme, teeny-tiny towel and an even more microscopic washcloth. As we exited the other
side, we were rushed across the pavilion into a bunk house where we dumped our gear onto
the nearest empty bunk, changed into the PT gear as instructed and formed up again
outside.
A pompous looking man with stacks of ribbons on his chest was waiting on us, with what
seemed to be a swagger stick tucked under his right arm. When we were all assembled, he
addressed us. "Today begins your life in the Air Corps. We will train you to fly, fight, and win.
In the air, or on the ground." And that's when the swordplay began. He put on a display of
bladed weapon fighting technique that I have never seen rivaled. I, the most decorated
swordsman on 4 continents. I, the head of the Air Corps saber dueling program. I, the second
most decorated swordsman to ever live, was privileged to witness first-hand, and be trained
by the greatest sensei of any age, General Tso!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Labels, and the impossible writing that accompanies them!
As I was making changes to the blog this evening, I happened to notice that there are 41 links listed, each of them occurring only once. That is about to change. What follows is the Freestyle writing including 19 of the links that I have previously listed. I'll try to get the other 22 into the next post.
When Yakob was a little boy, he wanted to be in the Union Air Force. He wanted to fly airplanes and visit far-off places like California. The intervening years had instead immersed him in a world of automated phone calls and book reviews, baby news, frustration and e-mail. Too much of which was currently occupying his phone. He couldn't even load his Bible software without it crashing.
"What ever happened," he wondered, "to the good old days when family sent actual letters, and actual comic books like Boy Wonder sat on actual bookcases?" Instead, as a e-news blogger trying to make a living in the brutally competitive news media, Yakob experienced daily frustration as his technology became ever more rapidly obsolete.
Yakob's thoughts continued as he hurried across the street, dodging around one of the many barricades erected recently. "Beards were only for old men, gaming had gone from on-line to live. Christians were a persecuted people, and few of his readers could separate fantasy from fiction. God's word was often considered a relic from 3000 years ago."
Even the food had gone down hill. "When I was young," he remembered, "and Mama went on her diet, she never ate this poorly." Neither had he, not till the war. It was the war that changed it all. The war . . .
When Yakob was a little boy, he wanted to be in the Union Air Force. He wanted to fly airplanes and visit far-off places like California. The intervening years had instead immersed him in a world of automated phone calls and book reviews, baby news, frustration and e-mail. Too much of which was currently occupying his phone. He couldn't even load his Bible software without it crashing.
"What ever happened," he wondered, "to the good old days when family sent actual letters, and actual comic books like Boy Wonder sat on actual bookcases?" Instead, as a e-news blogger trying to make a living in the brutally competitive news media, Yakob experienced daily frustration as his technology became ever more rapidly obsolete.
Yakob's thoughts continued as he hurried across the street, dodging around one of the many barricades erected recently. "Beards were only for old men, gaming had gone from on-line to live. Christians were a persecuted people, and few of his readers could separate fantasy from fiction. God's word was often considered a relic from 3000 years ago."
Even the food had gone down hill. "When I was young," he remembered, "and Mama went on her diet, she never ate this poorly." Neither had he, not till the war. It was the war that changed it all. The war . . .
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
1,700 PS3s purchase by Air Force
In today's news of the weird . . . check out this article, reporting on the Air Force's attempt to build THE ultimate gaming machine! I wish I could have gotten even 1 PlayStation 3. Guess Boy Wonder and I will just have to plug along with our old PS2. Do you feel sorry for me yet?
P.S. If you click on the title, it will take you to the article. Good to know, hmm?
P.S. If you click on the title, it will take you to the article. Good to know, hmm?
Top 10 Predictions for 2010
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