BeatriceG's Xanga

The Physical World Holds No Boundaries For You, Brave Outfielder!

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:59:00 GMT

This article is hilarious! (It also reminds us of a scene from yet another Terry Pratchett book, Interesting Times, in which they come up with peaceful revolutionary slogans in a parody of this very thing, lol.) And I quote:

This got me wondering what sort of cheers we would hear at baseball games if this procedure somehow made it to these shores and into the stadiums of our national game. How would cheers sound if they were coordinated and attitudinally adjusted to fit the Chinese model? I’m guessing something like this:

To the batter hit by a pitch: "Your pain resonates in us all!"
To the pitcher who hit the batter: "Please be more careful with your tosses!"
To the successful sacrifice bunter: "We are pleased with your devotion to the whole."
To the manager visiting the tired pitcher on the mound: "We will respect your decision regarding his possible replacement, regardless of the subsequent outcome."
To the outfielder who crashed into a wall trying to make a catch: "The physical world holds no boundaries for you, brave outfielder!"
To the pitcher trying to work his way out of a bases-loaded situation: "Your enemies are everywhere, but focus on the only one who can hurt you."
To the runner caught stealing: "Better to fall off a bridge too far than wait for the boat to carry you across the river."
To the infielders after a successful double play: "Great is the hunter who bags much prey with but one arrow."
To the batter who hit into the double play: "Too cautious is the warrior who has never killed a comrade."
To the beer man: "Noble vendor: slake our thirst!"
To all the players, while they take a hot dog break: "We will have our mouths full momentarily, but will return to our exultations as soon as possible."

What Plato Really Meant

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:08:18 GMT

"Life in this world," [Didactylos] said, "is, as it were, a sojourn in a cave. What can we know of reality? For all we see of the true nature of existence is, shall we say, no more than bewildering and amusing shadows cast upon the inner wall of the cave by the unseen blinding light of absolute truth, from wich we may or may not deduce some glimmer of veracity, and we as troglodyte seekers of wisdom can only lift our voices to the unseen and say, humbly, 'Go on, do Deformed Rabbit... it's my favorite.'"

- Terry Pratchett, Small Gods

The Best Thing

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:26:21 GMT

I better make a post so that xanga won't shut down my blog. Here is a great quote by my friend Jean (aka "Muddled Muse") on blogging:

The best thing about this online diary thing is that it doesn't have to have a pre-determined function. Sure, people use blogs to spread news and make political, social, religious, and cultural statements, but some of the most interesting blogs I have ever read are those of ordinary people talking about ordinary things they have encountered. It's the 'static' of the Internet that leaves me so awe-struck with God's creation--people living out their lives with their own unique perspectives, personalities, and hopes, and dreams. It's nothing new--it's always been that way throughout history--but now, through technology, there's a way to peek into other people's heads--quietly and anonymously.

Happy Birthday, Robert!!!

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:15:59 GMT

Happy birthday (yesterday), Robert!!! You are AWESOME. And I mean it literally and in the "like, dude" sense. ;) You are godly, strong, kind, hilarious, a really good shot, and wayyyy too much fun. As Faith said, you really do walk tall, and you really do carry a .44. :) I am REALLY proud to have you as a brother, Robert, and I think it's really cool that you are FIFTEEN (whoa man). Have fun driving on the public roads tomorrow!

Happy birthday, Faith!!!

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:18:52 GMT

Happy 18th Birthday (Thursday), Faith!!!

Faith, you are such a lovely, godly, cheerful, happy, hilarious sister! It is such a blessing to watch you grow up from a cute little girl who loved twirling to a pretty young woman who loves dancing, music, cooking, goofing off with brothers, causing random conversations (you know how it is), and Life in General. Aaron and I are both really excited about getting to have the chiquita da vita d'allegre (sp) visit next week! Woo hoo!

I love you, Faith! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Non sequiters in conversation

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:57:38 GMT

"Did Shakespeare spell his name with an 'e'? Asked my brother. "I believe -" I began, but my father interrupted, "I very much doubt he used the Italian calligraphy at all." - C. S. Lewis, "Surprised by Joy"

Jane Fairfax, trying to convince Mrs. Elton that she will find a job in her own time, and without the assistance of Mrs. E.'s brother, Mr. Suckling:

"There are places in town, offices, where inquiry would soon produce something - Offices for the sale - not quite of human flesh - but of the intellect."

"Oh! my dear, human flesh! You quite shock me; if you mean a fling at the slave-trade, I asusre you Mr. Suckling was always rather a friend of the abolition."

"I did not mean, I was not thinking of the slave-trade," replied Jane; "governess-trade, I assure you, was all that I had in view; widely different certainly as to the guilt of those who carry it on; but as the greater misery of the victims, I do not know where it lies."

- Jane Austen, "Emma"

Ha ha ha!!!!!!! "I assure you, Mr. Suckling was alwasy rather a friend of the abolition."

Husband of the Year Awards

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:13:13 GMT

Thanks to Ashleigh for this!

http://hollywoodflakes.blogspot.com/2007/12/husband-of-year-awards.html

A note to girls...

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:10:53 GMT

...when you get married, marry a persistent and loving man. This morning, I hung up on the man I love twice because I thought my cell phone's alarm going off. But when I finally did answer (I am so glad he kept trying!), he thought it was hilarious.

Needless to say, we didn't have as much time to talk while he was en route to work today, since SOMEBODY kept hanging up on her fiance'. When I expressed my disappointment, I was cheerfully told, "let this be a lesson to you." And it has been - I burst out laughing in the car twice today just thinking about it.

Loser Verbs OR Why I Should Have Had Coffee This Morning

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:04:40 GMT

Miss C: You will NEVER use sum, eram, or ero with another verb - they always stand alone. If you want to say "I was praising," you CAN'T say "eram laudo" - you can't put sum, eram, or ero with another verb. Besides, that means "I was I praise," ha ha ha.

Student: So you might say they are loners?

Miss C: Yes! They are LOSERS! I mean, loners! I mean... ha ha ha ha!

December in general

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:46:21 GMT

On my cell phone, the very first person in my phone book is "Aaron the Great." There is a reason he is called that. :) He is, to give an extreme understatement, a VERY GREAT man. Strong, wise, very compassionate, loving and kind to me, a great listener with great advice, the best sense of humor ever (he can make me laugh so hard), he knows more about baseball than ANYONE I know (ha! how cool is that!), extremely intelligent, and very unselfish. He makes decisions well, kindly and seriously considering my input and explaining to me his thoughts. Somehow, he sees all my sins and loves me in spite of them!!! He surrounds me with reminders of how he loves me ("when you do this or that, or see this or that, remember such-and-such"), so I walk through my days surrounded by reminders of his love, and he blesses me with physical things (like, an engagement ring to remind me that he loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me - that's a HUGE one, lol! Also, earrings which have significances of their own but they really deserve their own post, and candy, flowers, letters, emails...). All these things help a separation, but most of all his extremely faithful and wonderful phone calls! He somehow does all this while working very, very hard all day long, every day, to prepare for our life together. He is an incredible teacher - he challenges his students and doesn't let them get away with slacking off or short term memory, but he is also muy fun with projects that they enjoy and stretch them and help them, and he considers all their needs. He is also very calming to me, helping me with things I have trouble with, and guiding me with his wisdom.

In short (as Micawber would say), in 19 days I get to marry a man who constantly sets before me a picture of what Christ's love for the church is. I don't deserve any of it, but it is all, as Aaron himself reminds me, all grace.

He is REALLY good looking. Hoo boy. *looks at picture on desk and fans self*

This little episode happened while cleaning the basement bathroom a few weeks ago. :) Dad and Robert were on the other side of the basement wall, installing a new coat rack.

Me (enters stage left, into bathroom): AAAAUGGHGHH! I forgot the BROOM and I was going to SWEEP this!

Robert: Emily? Emilyyy.... EMILY! There's a broom out here!

Voice from bathroom (me): Oh, good. Is there a dustpan?

Robert: Um, no...

Voice (joking): AAAAUGHHH!!

Robert: Emilyyyy...

Voice: So, what, do you pick up the stuff with your hands or sweep it into the corners?

Robert: Hmmm...

Dad: Ta da! We got the coat rack up.

Me (gets broom and looks at coat rack, then returns to sweep bathroom): Looks good! I like how you put up the picture, too.

Dad: The picture? It... was there already. In fact, it's ALWAYS been there.

Voice: Really?

Robert: Ever since we remodeled the basement two years ago.

All three: WA ha ha ha!!

*pause*

Dad: Emily?

Voice from bathroom: Yes?

Dad: I'm sure going to miss you, lil' Em.

(I'm sure my students enjoyed reading that about the other side of Miss C, heh heh heh, the side that cleans bathrooms and laments dramatically the lack of dustpans.)

Last night, the power went out when my family was decorating the Christmas tree (I talked to Aaron the Great until my cell phone died). It was fun, we decorated the tree by candlelight, and Robert and Dad played their guitars. It was REALLY fun to hear Dad play songs I remembered him playing when we were young! Robert is getting pretty good, too, he played Silent Night for us and we sang along. Faith played Carol of the Bells on the piana (yes, piana).

And before we did all this music, we celebrated the tree as we do every year, with champagne. George first proposed a toast to Aaron and I. Then Robert proposed one for Jesse and Kate. Then Dad proposed one for Liz and Luke. Then Mom proposed one for "Faith and her future." Then Dad proposed one for George and his eternal bachelorhood, and then for Robert and a full gun cabinet. Then he proposed one to temperance, and George proposed one for moderation. (That makes it sound like we had a lot of champagne - we actually just had a small amount, anad took little sips with every toast to make it last.) There was much rejoicing, and when the power came back on after three hours, we turned the lights back off and kept hanging out. :) (And I got a wonderful voice message from Aaron when my phone recharged.)

My students are a hoot. Some of them wanted to start calling me "Mrs. W." back in September, for "practice." I told them they have to wait until I'm married. But I don't know if I can wait.

Speaking of Mrs. W., Aaron's family is WONDERFUL. I got to spend Thanksgiving with them. They are so welcoming and hospitable, wonderfully relaxed and enjoyable to be with. They also love the Lord so much. It was wonderful to spend time with them. His parents both have huge servants' hearts and are encouraging to talk to, and his brother and sister are hilarious to hang out with - I love seeing them, and look forward to when they finally come up for Christmas!

NINETEEN DAYS!