Hometown Hero

I don't get to a movie theater too often, maybe twice a year. I am going to go see Monsters vs Aliens . Today I read that my hometown is featured in the movie as the hometown of one of the "Monsters". It is my understanding from an article in the Modesto Bee while the above scene isn't in the movie, it does feature Modesto's beloved arch.

Music Appreciation

I play the piano for our church congregation's children's "Sunday school". I was getting ready to play when a 3 year old boy, E, came and stood right next to the piano bench. "Why do you play the piano?" he asked. "To help you have a nice time in here." I replied. E then ran back to his seat. I played a song then looked to my right. E was standing next to me again. "That was good" he said and he ran back to his seat. I played a couple of other songs and looked to my right and there was E, yet again. "That was really good." he said and ran back to his seat. This happened a few more times. It made my day.

An Obituary and a Memory

This past week, I read the obituary section of the newspaper. Like my father-in-law says, one reads it to make sure one isn't in it. I came across an obituary of someone from our family's past.

Years ago, FHA and I were looking for student housing. We wanted to live in the same neighborhood we were in before housesitting for the summer. We found the perfect apartment: 2 bedroom, clean, well-maintained, upstairs with a washer and dryer in the apartment. The rent was affordable, but the trouble was we were so broke we didn't have enough money for a deposit and lacked significant steady work. The only money we had was from FHA's part time job (even though he wasn't supposed to be working while in law school) and a relatively small student loan. I had just lost my paid internship in the organization's budget cuts.

J was a smart, astute woman. And shrewd, in a good way, though. She would collect the rent in person on the first. This way, she could see how things were with each renter. She had been a widow and I believe she owned the apartment complex before marrying her second husband, A, who was a kind, quiet man. A would always accompany J on her monthly visits and would work hard maintaining the apartments.

We told her we really wanted to live there, but had one part-time job. We were anticipating another small student loan and told her if she rented to us we always pay rent.

J could have said no because we didn't have a significant income source. She could have said no because we didn't have money for a deposit. But she said yes. She said since FHA was studying law, she knew FHA had to have integrity to be in law school and we would be people who would be honest in our dealings with her. She took a leap of faith with us and we didn't let her down. We rented that terrific apartment for five years, never missing a payment or having to ask for help. J appreciated those we referred to her as well.

J died several years ago and I thought about this story then, but recently it was my reading A's obituary that made me think again about taking a leap of faith in trusting another's character.

What would YOU say to cancer?

I found the following video on Fat Cyclist's site.

It is very powerful. I have friends battling cancer and I have a few words to say to it too.

The Ultimate Bonk!

I have bonked. I was riding my bike when it happened and it was awful. To use a Bob Roll term, I was glued to the ground. No matter how hard I pedaled, I hardly moved.

What is bonking? It is slang for hypoglycemia and happens when one doesn't continue to fuel while riding. Therefore, the blood sugar tank is very empty. Muscle and brain function can be impaired. This last week in the Paris-Nice race, yellow jersey leader Alberto Contador bonked on the next to last day and it cost him the race.

Other creatures bonk too, I have learned. I read about a little guy today and his was a life or death bonk. Fortunately, it all works out for him. Read about him here.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Words: Jo­ach­im Ne­an­der, in A und Ω Glaub- und Lieb­es­ü­bung (Stras­lund: 1680); trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Cath­er­ine Wink­worth, 1863.

Family, Rain, Blossoms and Cycling!

Just got back from a trip to CA to visit family. We coincided our visit with the Amgen Tour of California. FHA and I went to the Prologue in Sacramento and then Astronerd joined us for Stage 3. It rained. And rained. And rained some more. Then the weather became sunny and warm when we left. I don't know how to watch a bike race in good weather! It was a lot of fun and I hope to post pictures soon.