Book of the Bible

I saw this on Cheryl's blog and I had to give it a try...


You are Proverbs.


Which book of the Bible are you?
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In recaplet...

That really isn't the right title as to have a recaplet you must be recapping the recap and if you don't have the first recap you can't have the recaplet. And that made a boatload of sense, I'm sure! What I meant to say is that I have a lot of stuff to tell you because I 1) procrastinated after the wedding then 2) got quite busy. And now I shall tell you all about it.

I did think of a few things that I could have written about for you between Sunday and Thursday but I was too lazy to do it. In that span of time I almost completely finished reading my history textbook and read books, both fiction and non fiction. Beth came home for a visit on Friday which meant that there was no way that I was going to read the last chapter for my U.S. history studies. I still have to read that chapter.

Beth and I spent most of Sabbath invading Ally's house. You see Beth has this little kitten called Mopsy who was staying at her Aunty Ally's house while her mommy went on vacation. Mopsy needed time to get used to her aunts house and her cousins, Molly and Nala, so mommy Beth left Mopsy there before she left for vacation, but to make baby Mopsy feel secure in the new environment Beth spent ALL DAY with her at Auntie’s house. And Aunty Debbie just had to come along to play with all of her "nieces".

Sunday was quite busy all around. Dad, Mom, Beth, and Ally all when to the Car Show at Pine Tree Academy for at least some of the day. Dad showed his new Hybrid car and got to gloat about the mileage. He, Ally, and Beth played in the band and Mom got to talk to people. All this is hearsay because I didn't go. I was at the Harpswell Festival. I have been volunteering at the Oasis Clinic for several weeks and one of the nurses told me that CHANS (Community Health and Nursing Services) were having a booth at the festival that would be taking free blood pressure readings and that I was welcome to come and get some practice with that if I wanted. I leapt at the offer. So from 11 to 5 on Sunday I sat under a small patio umbrella and took blood pressures. As an estimate I would say I took at least about 30 to 40 BP's in six hours. I discovered that after doing more that 8 BP's you hand doesn't work anymore. I had to switch hands back and forth to inflate the cuff.

For all that it was a good day. I got to watch the parade (there was a lot of classic cars), wander around the fairgrounds (mostly people trying to sell you things), eat gespato soup (spicier than I thought it would be), watch an ambulance try to get between very close rows of tents (a lady had heat stroke and passed out only three booths down), and get sunburnt (I forgot to bring sunscreen).


That evening Mom and I left to go usher at Maine State Music Theatre. It was Cats. What more should I have to say? I'll tell you anyway, as you know. Beth and Ally were watching it as patrons the same night as we were ushering it. Mom was seating people on Orchestra Left and I was taking tickets left. I wanted to seat people but that didn't work out. After everyone was seated we were given our seating assignments.

Here is what I LOVE about ushering. We got betters seats that what Beth and Ally had. They were in the balcony in good seats for balcony seats. We were in row H seats 103 and 104 which is right in the center. We had cats come up and sing at us! (The show wasn't limited to just the stage, the actors were in the isles {yes I know that's spelled wrong but at least it sounds right when you say it} and the box seats cavorting and singing.) And we could see perfectly. There were 2 seats next to us that were empty. Ally and Beth joined us after the intermission. Show-wise it was good. Really good. I can't even tell you. You have to know Cats to understand. If you've seen it live than, well, you would understand. It was a very, very good show.

Wedding stuff

Yesterday was Camille and Shawn's wedding and it was very nice and very hot as the church was absolutely packed. As most people know Camille is part of the "baby boomlet" that the church had and you definitely could tell by the number of early to middle 20 year olds there were both in the bridal party and in the church as a whole.

Knowing that can you guess how many people were actually in the bridal party? Try. No really, try guessing. No you can't peek! People are just no fun sometimes. Really. Ok, now that you've guessed (you have right?) I'll tell you. 18! Maybe I've just lived in New England too long or maybe it's just because I've mostly seen Adventist weddings but that seems to me to be a prodigious amount of people. They had to be in two rows to fit on the stage.

The bridesmaids wore misty purple, tea-length, strapless dresses with a deep pinkish (maroon-ish?) purple tie around their waist. The men had matching vests and ties. The church was simply decorated with vines, candles and some flowers of the appropriate color.

They had three musical selections. One was a Josh Groben song (don't know why I find that funny), the third was When God Made You, and the middle was very sweet. Shawn wrote it for Camille and sang it for her before the homily. Why is it that it is only weddings that have homilies in Adventist churches? I think in catholic churches the sermon is always called a homily, but here you can say "I'm giving a homily" and don't even need to add for a wedding because if your giving a homily it has to be for a wedding. That and it sound so odd. Listen: homily. It sounds homely. Either that or like a relative of humus. Such an odd word.

Music, right. Anyway his song was very sweet and was about how God had given him a blessing in Camille. I think she teared up, but I can't say for certain. What else to tell?

It was the first time they had kissed. eeeeeeee!
His father gave the "homily" and Pastor Harry helped.
They had an Anne of Avonlea quote on the back of the program which I will reproduce here because I like it. It is found on the last page of Anne of Avonlea (I looked it up last night).

Perhaps, after all, romance did not cone into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay night riding down; perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways;perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sodden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betraying the rhthym and the music. Perhaps...perhaps...love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.

Nice isn't it? Camille had "Anne's Theme" as her wedding march. I never would have thought of that, but it worked. It worked very well. It almost had me in tears. And I don't cry at weddings, not even my sisters'.

All in all it was a very nice wedding. The reception was outdoors at the Penner's house and it didn't rain, for all it threatened to all day. We didn't stay for the whole thing as our family just happens to be chalk-full of introverts who get tired out by a lot of people, and there were a lot of people!

I am so not going to do that if I get married. Be forwarned, if you think I my get married to someone, make sure you got to church with me. If I had my way I would just stand up in church and get it over with then. Unromantic? Yes, but very practical.

Church related ramblings

Thought I would pop on to say that all is well here in Maine. Our family had potluck today. Our church does potlucks a little differently then most. We have pre-selected teams (ten in total) that rotate weeks. Anyone who knows they are coming can definitely still bring food but there is guaranteed to be enough with the teams bringing food. Because of this system our church can have potluck every week without relying on the few people that always bring food and then wearing them out.

In the past we have had very bad experiences with this system. Our family, that is, no the church in general. For about a year and a half our group had two families that actually stayed for potluck (the half is for a family that only stayed half the time). One or two time the other faithful potluckers were gone over our week and we were the only family that we knew would be bringing food!

Praise God those days seem to be over! Apparently the potluck groups were altered recently and we got about three more families who not only bring food but stayed downstairs to help get everything together! This was the least stressful potluck that I have ever helped to put on. Of course, the change might have been made last year while I was at college and I was just clueless... That is always a possibility with me.

The church was absolutely packed today. This is mostly because tomorrow morning Camille Truby is getting married. Camille was part of this church as long as I can remember. She went to school with my older sister and her mom was my first and second grade teacher. Her dad moved away from B______ a few years ago when she was is college, but she choose to get married here, with us. That means that because officially this isn't "her" church both the groom and bride are importing a lot of people. Result: a really full church today.

I missed all of the church service today because I had to be downstairs. This is both good and bad. Bad because I missed the sermon. Good because it was SO much cooler downstairs than upstairs, even with three ovens running. It is interesting to note that 3 ovens running in the 300 to 400 degree range do not generate as much heat as 300 people sitting in one big room with very little ventilation. The good outnumbers the bad only because Dad got to hear the sermon and took notes on it for Mom and me and gave us the 20 minute tour of the 45 minute sermon.

quickly

Mom just called. Gail has just left and gone. It went quite well, all things considering. No fights, tears, or police. Gail even apologised, although I'm not sure about what as mom wasn't very clear. Mom will be leaving in a little bit, she's going to talk with family members and get herself packed up first. But if she leaves by 5 she should be home at eight as planned.

State Quiz

You're Maine!

Wild and untamed, you have a vibrant and independent spirit. Most of your time is spent contemplating yet another way to market lobster to the rest of the world. This makes you feel at sea from time to time, or even unable to see the forest for the
trees. Everyone thinks your hometown is a much more famous town on the other side of the world, but you vaguely enjoy the confusion and the secrecy that results from this. After all, every town everywhere has a street you like to think is named in your honor.


Take the State Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Who'd a' thunk it? I'm my own state.

Now then, what are you?

She's going/coming home!

Whether it is coming or going depends on which she you referring to. My mother is coming home tonight from all her adventures in New Hampshire. Gail, the cause of those adventures, is finally going home... for good! She did not stay in Grammie's house last night after Aunt Linda and Uncle Rodney threatened to call the police on her for trespassing if she didn't leave. She left.

I find it amazing that my relatives had as much patience with her as they did. She was there three days longer then she should have been. (She was supposed to be out by Sunday.) I would have called (not threatened to, but actually called) the police by day two if she didn't leave.

She came back today with her son and her son's truck to haul away to her son's house the mountain of rubbish she salvaged and stuffed in Gram's house. Beth was planning on taking Gram out during this move, in case the son is also peeved about his mother being fired as Grammie does not need to be exposed to that type of thing. Mom is leaving for home after she is completely moved out for good. She is staying around to give Aunt Linda moral support and to present a "united family front". Hopefully she (Mom) will be home by eight or nine tonight. God willing, that is.

Update

Mom has neither gotten nor left for home yet. She hit on a little snag called Gail. Apparently Gail decided that there was no reason for her to go home and planned on (loudly) convincing/ bullying everyone into letting her stay. She spent an hour and a half crying, arguing, and justifying her actions to Aunt Mary.

When she (finally) realized that that wouldn't work she arranged to have her son come with his truck today to help her move. She was originally suppose to be out by Sunday then she decided to stay at her son's for an extra day, and now she "conveniently" didn't arrange for anything to move all the copious junk that she bought and stuffed in Grammie's house.

Can you tell that I'm a little peeved about this?

Please remember that I'm hearing everything second hand at this point and then interpreting it. Hopefully when Mom does get back on Wednesday or Thursday she will write up everything herself and you'll know that you have an accurate first person narrative. Well, as accurate as first person narratives can be.

They're gone

Beth, Mom, and Mopsy have left for Gram's house. Some people may remember that today (Monday) was the original date for the move; however the current caretaker wouldn't be back from vacation until today to move her things out. Because of that Beth planned on traveling down there tomorrow (Tuesday). Neither of these things happened.

Mom was worried that Beth wouldn't be ready to go in time so she suggested yesterday that they leave that very same day, getting down there before Gail left, and spending more time with Grammie before Mom had to leave. What I understand is that Mom never expected to leave before Monday. This whole plan was just to give Beth a little motivation to get packing. It seems to have worked a little to well.

The three of them (that's counting Mopsy, remember?) left at about 7 o'clock last night and got there around 11 o'clock. I understand that the trip went well from a message they left. Today's the moving day. Gail out and Beth in. I'm sure that someone will be updating everyone on how that all goes.

Good Morning

It is currently past midnight. I am not normally up this late. In fact our house usually tries to be winding down by ten thirty. Tonight everyone is still up. I'm talking with friends both online and on the phone, Beth is cooking chili and packing, Dad is helping Beth pack (she leaves for Gram's house on Monday), and Mom is helping everyone. We are more active now than we were during the whole afternoon. We napped. All. Day.

I had two books recommended to me by a friend and I thought I would pass them on. The first is The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge. I have read one of his books and it was very good. This one is about Christian priorities and distinguishing Godly desires from worldly desires.


The second is the new Philip Yancy book Rumors of Another World. This is about finding God in the natural world and (I understand) evidences of heaven. I haven't read either of these yet but I am planning on it. I'll let you know what I think of it after I do.

I have been studying history all week, "helping" Ally after her wisdom teeth removal, and trying to get hospital experience via volunteering. I don't think that volunteering will work from something one of the CNA's dropped about not being able to see the patients. That means that I would be practicing vital signs et. al. which was kind of the purpose.

It looks like I will be going to the nursing homes and trying to work something out. The problem is that I doubt that anyone would want to hire me for only one month. I'm kind of nervous about that because I really do need the experience. It’s hard to believe that I will be back to school in about five weeks.

Anyway, good night all. Or perhaps good morning. It might be best merely to say "Rest well, where ever you are."

Popham Beach Pictures

It was very windy on Sabbath. You can see all the waves the wind kicked up.

All the sand is covered by water at hight tide. There is a bit more sand on either side of the picture. This is the farthest out we have seen the tide.

Drift log that I tried to take an artsy picture of. If yo look in the right hand corner you'll see someone in pink. That would be Mom.

On the far side on the island there were some pretty amazing waves crashing to the shore. That's me watching them come in.

One on the waves curling towards the shore.

Dad and I on the island watching the waves.

The waves we were watching.

Mica in the sand makes everythink shiny. Even feet.

Ahhh, summer

Summer has officially started. I have now been to the beach. In fact I went not once but twice in as many days. Dad and Mom and I decided to go to Popham beach for our after lunch Sabbath walk. It must have been an astronomical low tide because I have never seen the sandbar out to the island so wide. It was about 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile across. We sat on the top of the island with the wind strong in our faces and the sun shining on us for I don't know how long before we headed back.

On the way home we picked up medication for the cat (she injured her paw and it's infected) and stopped by Ally's to visit and practice some music that Dad and Ally were thinking of doing for special music one Sabbath. While we were there, or maybe when we were talking on the phone after, Ally invited me to go to the beach with her and Missy on Sunday. I accepted with pleasure.

So yesterday I packed up a beach bag and a cooler with food and the tree of up headed off to Popham. When we got there the parking lot was full and park wardens were directing cars to an alternate parking lot a mile away. That was full too. We then turned around, went back to Bath and took the road to Reid State Park.

Reid State is not as well known as Popham is, and with some reason. The sand is actually tiny pebbles that cause great discomfort when you walk on them and the beach isn't as long, the longer side is only a mile. However to make up for that there is waves. Waves like Popham only dreams of getting during a storm.

After walking down the beach at the waters edge where the sand isn't so bad and back calf deep in water we decided to play in the waves. Call it body surfing or wave jumping or whatever. It's fun.

Missy was the first one to get dunked. There had just been a huge wave and we (I, at least) hadn't figured out that big waves come in sets of two. It swept all of us down but Ally's and my head stayed out of the water. (That makes it sound like we share a head but I can't quite figure out how to fix that problem.)

By the time we were done all three of us had been soaked and were so cold that all our joints ached. We laid in the sun for half an hour trying to get warm again while we listened to music and ate cotton candy.

After we were done and went to the bath house to shower off I saw the sign that said the tide times (it was coming in) and the water temperature. For an hour we had been thigh-deep and head-deep in water that was 55 degrees! Are we crazy? Yes we are! But it was such a fun crazy that being sane can't be half so nice.

We had to leave at 3:30 because Beth and I had a dinner date. Oh, before I go on, photo credits. They aren't mine. I didn't take them and Reid really didn't look all empty. I found picture of the beaches in question online and that was the best I could do.

Dinner, right. We were planning on going to a Tai restaurant in town. We forgot to see if it would be open on Sunday. It wasn't. Neither was most of the other restaurants we have it town. This, we decided, was because of the blue laws.

When we moved here Sunday law (called blue laws for some reason I have never understood) were still in place that didn't allowed businesses to be open on Sunday. I think it was in the past eight years that that law was eliminated. I still remember that it was a big deal when we could go grocery shopping on Sunday, because before we couldn't go all weekend because of Sabbath.

Anyway, almost all of the restaurants were closed so we choice to go to an Indian restaurant. There are two in town and we kinda randomly picked. I love Indian food. I discovered it for the first time in April when the choir when to DC to sing and I stayed with an Indian family. They made the best. Food. Ever. I had Indian food before, a few years ago when Beth and Mom and I were going to England and we heard that Indian food was popular there. I liked it but it didn't go beyond that. Now? It's my new comfort food. Forget pizza, takeout Indian for movie night!

After dinner we proceeded to Pickard Theater. There we would see Miss Saigon. It is Madam Butterfly set in Vietnam. We cried through the whole second half.

It was a good day.

Oh Yum!

At 6:30 this evening Mom, Dad, and I headed out to Crystal Spring Farm. This is the farm that has the CSA program. That's community supported agriculture for all you poor uninformed and un-fruitified people.

Yes! There is fruit! Specifically strawberries. Fresh, juicy, eat from the plant ripe strawberries. We plundered, raped, and generally decimated those bushes. Dad guesses that we got about ten or twelve pints and now Mom is saying at least nine quarts.
When we got home Beth deloused, I beheaded, and Dad disemboweled. To normal, sane people this translates to washing, de-stemming, and chopping. (I have a disturbed imagination, especially when I cook.) Most of it will be frozen with sugar, but some was mashed into teeny, tiny pieces and will later be made into jam. I can't wait.

The most beautiful part of all this is that Sunday we get to do it All Over Again! And again on Tuesday and Friday and...

I hope the fruits and veggi-ta-bulls don't decide to revolute. It would be quite, quite gruesome.

Glory Hallelujah

I got my grade back for Micro today. The teacher provided envelopes and we self-addressed them and gave her money for postage. I got an A. In Microbiology. During the summer. I got 98 on my final. I am very happy. I wish that it was closer to an A+ than to an A-, but I'm still happy!

I took the above photo during Beth's graduation dinner. Just a reminder of where I will end up in a year. And it's pretty.

In other news, completely non-related to anything, Beth and I will be going Out this Sunday. We shall go first to dinner at a Tai restaurant and then we shall proceed to the theater. I am getting to go to two shows in a row this year because Dad wasn't up to going to his show earlier so I went to Swing. Miss Sagon is what I was supposed to see. I'm looking forward to it because I have heard the music for it but have never seen it.

We are also planning to go to Bath Heritage Days on the 4th of July. Lots of fun. It will be the first time I have seen live fireworks (not on TV that is) in about five year.