Month: March 2011

Saturday Stuff

Smart Enough to Know That Something Was Terribly Wrong

Karen

He had never been accused of being intelligent but Donald knew enough that he needed to help his momma.

She was lying on the floor and her lips were blue.

They didn’t have a phone in the apartment. His momma said they couldn’t afford one and her cell phone.

He didn’t know how to use her cell phone.

Donald poked her in the arm and began chanting, “Momma. Momma. Momma.”

He began crying, his voice rising until he was wailing.

Their neighbor pounded on the wall. “Shut up, retard!”

He cried harder.

He stumbled up, yanked open the door and stepped out into the big, scary world.

.

.

.

*************************

(My apologizes – this is late. But hey, better late than never, right? 🙂 )

Write up to 100 words, fact or fiction….

This is a themed writing meme hosted by Jenny Matlock. The goal is to write something that does not exceed 100 words (not including said prompt). The prompt is in italics above.

Life

This Just Annoys Me to Death and I Don’t Know Why

Karen

A while back, someone, and for the life of me I can’t remember where I read this, posted a writing prompt that went something like this:

“Write about something that unreasonably annoys you.”

I’ve had this writing prompt in the back of my head for several days now and finally, I have my answer (Hey, I never claimed to be a fast thinker. Oh wait, yes I have. Okay fine, I’m a fast thinker on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)

Coughing.

I don’t know what it is about coughing, but it drives me insane.

Whenever Jazz starts coughing because of his spring allergies, my whole body tenses.

Some of that is because I’m afraid his cough will turn into asthma and I’m worried about keeping that from happening. But it’s not just him. I get annoyed with Dude’s soft, puny coughs. I get annoyed with Kevin’s loud, let’s-get-it-out-of-my-throat-at-all-costs cough. I even get annoyed whenever I cough. There is just something so irritating about coughs.

Baby coughs? Cute, to a point. But if it’s persistent, it gets annoying.

I get annoyed with people when they cough during a concert, play, or a movie. I get annoyed when I’m trying to concentrate and someone next to me is hacking away.

Which brings up the whole germs issue. People who don’t cover their mouths REALLY annoy me. HELLO! I’m not interested in breathing in your lung mucus, thank you very much. People who cover their mouths with their hands annoy me. Because then I watch where they place their hands and know that the next unsuspecting person who lays their hands on that very item will likely contract the cougher’s germs.

I know this is an unreasonable irritation. I mean, people HAVE to cough, right? But it’s like sandpaper on my nerves. I can feel myself gritting my teeth, my hands ball into fists and my anger levels rise about six degrees. It. Just. Drives. Me. Nuts.

And though I’m okay with sneezes in general? Kevin’s sneezes grate on my nerves. I think it’s because he’s so LOUD with his sneezes. He’s the kind of sneezer who has to build up to it. You know the whole HUUUUUUUUUUUUH ACHOOOOOOOOO kind of person. He sounds like a quarter back right before he calls for the snap. That “hut-hut” sound and then the explosive sneeze. I want to sock him whenever I’m trying to concentrate and he does that right next to me.

It nearly gives me a heart attack.

I have no idea why these things irritate me so much. Kevin says I’m easily irritated, and he’s probably right, but that doesn’t particularly help me.

So there you have it. My irrational annoyance.

(And dare I say, one of many?)

Abundant Life

Audio Teaching: What is True Discipleship?

Karen

by Gary Theisen
In one of the clearest, most concise teachings on discipleship you’ll ever hear, Gary Theisen addresses the head, heart, and hands of the discipleship process. Because the Greek word “disciple” essentially means “learner,” discipling is a process of educating and training believers to help them be more like Christ. Jesus is the Master, but we all need to be mentored by others who demonstrate mature faith and practice in the Lord, and we also need to be mentoring others in what we have learned. This teaching identifies a six-step biblical pattern for the delegation of authority that gives structure to the process of moving from new follower to mature and empowered disciple who acts in Christ’s stead. Discussed in detail are the two aspects of discipleship–personal disciplines, and faithful doing for others.

Click the arrow to listen.

Handout

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Work Stuff

My First Interview in a LONG Time

Karen

So remember when I mentioned, a while back, that I have been submitting applications?

I got a call.

When I returned the call today (actually, I returned it yesterday, but the recruiter didn’t call me back, so I called again today because I WANT A JOB!), she had a cancellation later today and asked if I would be interested in coming in.

YES!

She asked if I knew how to work a certain program, which I do, but I’m rusty, so I’ve been doing some exercises with the program to reacquaint myself with it.

Thank goodness for YouTube. No really. I’ve picked up quite a few tricks that I didn’t know beforehand.

Am I nervous?

Yes. And no.

On one hand, it’s been FIFTEEN years since I’ve been on a job interview. I’m definitely out of practice. But then again, I’m more mature (I AM! Most days), so I feel more confident simply because I’m older and wiser. In addition, if I don’t get THIS job, it’s highly likely I’ll be interviewing with this same recruiter for future jobs with this same company, so I NEED to do well.

On the other hand, this is my first interview and though I would love to have this job, there will be other opportunities. So getting myself all worked up will only shoot myself in the foot.

I had planned on going out and buying a nice suit for when this day arrived, but the day is HERE and I don’t have time to go buy new clothes before my appointment. So I’m wearing something that would be appropriate for an office (I went home and changed at lunch) – I hope that’s okay. It’s not like I’m interviewing for a professional-level job, just a clerical job. (My thoughts being, I’ll have my foot in the door of this particular industry and can hopefully make some linear moves in the future). So, we’ll see.

If you don’t hear anything more about this interview, then you’ll know I didn’t get the job. I tend to just sweep disappointing things under the rug. But if anything happens, trust me, you’ll be the first to know about it.

Wish me luck!!!!!!

UPDATE: Interview over. Questions threw me for a loop. Nerve Wracking!! I think the recruiter is going to forward my information to my potential boss so I’m hoping (crossing fingers) that I get a second interview. We’ll see what happens!!

Can We Talk?

Japan Disaster and Ways You Can Help

Karen

I’m here.

Everything’s fine. I just haven’t felt like writing anything.

And then when I am in the mood to write something, everything seems so trivial and trite when compared to what’s happening in Japan right now.


(image via Google Images)

Hasn’t this disaster in Japan been something else?? First, the biggest earthquake to hit their region, EVER, happens. Then a tsunami destroys already weakened structures and sweeps everything in its path out of the way, then they have to battle their nuclear plants and exposed fuel rods … I just pray they get everything under control and no one gets radiation poisoning.

The poor Japanese people.

They (who exactly is “they”. The mass majority? The news media? If it’s the news media, I take it with a grain of salt) say this is the worst disaster to hit Japan since WWII.

That’s pretty serious, folks.

“They” also say that 1,900 have been found dead, and THOUSANDS are still missing. Holy smokes. Can you imagine trying to find your family in that mess!?!? I’d be FRANTIC.

I read this morning that the funeral parlors just can’t keep up. They only have the capacity to cremate 18 people a day. They’re also out of body bags and coffins and other parlors in the region are sending them both in an attempt to help them out.

This is the stuff of nightmares. Truly.

The pictures … oh Lord, the pictures that are coming in – people crying, their tortured expressions, the sheer devastation around them. It’s all so heart breaking. I just can’t imagine what they’re going through. I pray God we, the United States, never have to endure something so horrific.

For that’s what it is, horrific. There’s really no better word for what is happening over there right now.

When this first happened, my thoughts immediately went to a friend of mine who lives in Japan. Her husband is in the Marines and he’s stationed over there. She has two small boys. Thankfully, she’s far enough away from the mainland that she wasn’t affected and she posted on Facebook that she and her family were okay. I wonder about the radiation, though. If they can’t contain it, then “they” say that the radiation waves could travel as far as Hawaii.

I have a niece who lives in Hawaii.

Times like these, I feel so helpless. I know everyone does. It’s one small comfort to donate funds to the Red Cross so they may help the Japanese, but then what? We all sit idly by and watch in horror as thousands of people’s lives are destroyed.

It’s a very humbling and terribly devastating thing to watch.

Kevin emailed me a link to this video this morning. This guy, out walking his dog (I’m assuming, since the dog in the background won’t shush, but it’s probably just as freaked out as everyone else is by what’s happening), records the quake’s effects on the land around him. It’s pretty amazing to watch the land move back and forth.

Vodpod videos no longer available.


(RSS readers – you’ll have to click over to watch the video).

I’ve been scrolling through pictures of the tragedy … they’re just heartbreaking. Especially the ones where people are running their fingers down a list of survivors to see if loved ones made the list. Ugh! That just rips my heart in two. Can you IMAGINE that feeling? And then NOT finding your loved one listed??

This whole thing just boggles my mind. It’s truly all I can think about.

If you would like to help Japan by sending cash donations:

(“Bear in mind, it is extremely difficult and expensive to ship in-kind donations overseas…It is more efficient for disaster relief agencies to purchase needed resources locally for immediate distribution within the disaster area.”)

The Salvation Army has four ways you can help:

* Text “Japan” or “Quake” to 80888 to make a $10 donation

* Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY

* Donate online at http://www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org

* Send a check, marked “Japan earthquake relief” to:
The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-072800

Lady GaGa (I know, talk about a weird source, but it’s admirable that she’s doing this), designed a unique wristband that you can purchase for $5.00; the proceeds go to aid Japan. (You can donate more than $5.00 if you wish).

Here’s where you can go to help animals in Japan.

Convoy of Hope

Save the Children Foundation

GlobalGiving

International Medical Corps

Donate via Facebook

Buy virtual goods (via online games – which – COOL IDEA!)

Add a donation bar to your website (I’ll have to see if I can do something like this for the school websites I maintain).

Donate via iTunes.

Doctors without Borders

If you have loved ones in Japan, Google has launched Person Finder.

Shelterbox: Shelterbox provides assistance to afflicted countries by delivering large utility boxes that contain a shelter and other emergency relief tools. To donate online, click here.

Save the Children is moving quickly to address the situation there. Donations to its Children’s Emergency Fund will support this effort. To text your donation to Save the Children, text “JAPAN” or “TSUNAMI” to 20222 to donate $10.

And of course, you can donate to the Red Cross here or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10.00 from your phone

To help you make the most of your charitable donation, charity watchdog Charity Navigator has published donating tips and a list of charities responding. It will continue to update that list as the group learns of more charities assisting with the relief efforts.

Follow these hashtags on Twitter for more ideas on how you can help.

* #Jishin: focuses around general earthquake information
* #Anpi: a hashtag for the confirmation of the safety of individuals or places
* #Hinan: Evacuation information
* #311care: a hashtag regarding medical information for the victims
* #PrayforJapan: A general hashtag for support and best wishes for victims of the crisis

And please, don’t blame God for what happened to Japan. God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5): It’s not His fault.

God bless readers, and stay safe.

UPDATED: Just read an interesting article about the nuclear plants in Japan. Apparently, “they” say that a meltdown in Japan would be as bad as Chernobyl, however, an article in the Wall Street Journal today says it won’t get to that point. Though this man may be sugar coating the truth, I think my overall point is this: take what you read about the Japan nuclear plants, from whatever source, with a grain of salt. These “reports” are likely dramatized in order to sell more copies.

UPDATED II: Here is a link to some before and after pictures.