My Friday Night Social Life... at Work

War on Terror in London
Early today London police shot a man in the subway and have arrested two more men since. I hope this brings British law enforcement one step closer to quelling the horrible terror battle. Can you imagine what the people of London are going through? If anyone anywhere has doubt that terrorism is a serious and relevant threat to global welfare, let this prove otherwise and serve to strengthen the resolve of nations everywhere to pursue complete victory in the war on terror.

More on Flip Flops
Thanks to our readers for sharing your thoughts on the flip flop issue. I suggest we bring it up in the next General Conference session. “Flip flops on the platform: legal or no?”

Well, did you know flip flops can shrink? Oh, yes they can. My beloved cousin left some flip flops in the car, and with soaring afternoon temperatures here in great (hot) state of LA, the flip flops shrunk. I’m not kidding! So I suggested we apply cold to try to “reverse the charge.” But sure enough, after leaving the flip flops in the top (freezer) part of our fridge for several hours… nope. Still shrunk flip flops, just cold and icy. Live and learn.

Parenting 101
Parents: tired of toting around your kids? Just toss them the keys. That’s what this mother did. A San Bernadino Mom had a headache and didn’t feel like taking her 13 year-old to school, so she told him to drive himself the 14 miles to class. Both mother and son were ticketed. I’m all about teaching kids to drive, but I think you’re supposed to be “in” the vehicle with them. San Bernandino isn’t exactly a turnrow in a cotton field like many a’ 13 year-old has used as training camp. Leann Guzman needs to counsel this lady.

Poor Me
My Friday night (and momentary social life) has taken a nose dive. It’s coming up on 7:00 p.m. and I still have no idea when I’m getting out of here (work, that is). There’s a sectional youth rally I planned to go to tonight, but… What’s a working girl to do? I actually have wondered before what is the better witness: to draw the line when it’s church time and tell your co-workers you have to go, leaving them with a mountain of work and frustration, or to try to help the team at work, knowing there will be other services. Hmm… For some reason this reminds me of two great former Ninetyandnine articles and an e-panel:

“You Were Fired for What?”

“Work Issues: Religion and Reality, An Apostolic e-Panel - Part I”

“Faith in the Workplace Gains Force”

Hope you are work-free and enjoying a great weekend.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Perhaps a Duct Tape Shark?

More London Blasts
Once again we offer prayers and support to Londoners who’ve endured another set of blasts. Thankfully only one person was injured. Let’s hope the terrorists can be found and brought to justice quickly for the safety of the people of England.

Politics and Law
President Bush has named John Roberts as his Supreme Court nominee. I was kind of rooting for the Louisiana girl and had some high hopes given some of the rumors, but I trust that Roberts is more qualified. (Sort of that blind, optimistic faith that government is best left to elected officials. Don't all you PoliSci majors attack at once.)

Analysts all seem to agree that Roberts is conservative, and Christians are happy. However, Roberts has yet to speak out on his abortion stance, and when he does, that is going to rattle some cages.

Happy Ugly Truck Day!
July 20 was National Ugly Truck Day. Some county fairs even incorporate an “ugly truck contest” in their festivities. Not to be gender biased, but I think this is something more for the guys. Not to worry, we gals have Learn About Butterflies Day (March 14). Still, I do appreciate an old, comfortable, beat-up truck for a nice evening of mud riding now and again. Happy Ugly Truck Day!

Don’t Get Bit By This One
Massachusetts fishermen caught a nearly 1200 pound shark. Unfortunately for them, they missed the tournament weigh-in by six minutes.

Duct Tape Rides Again!
Did you know that the Grand Coulee Dam Area “Balde Eagle Festival” hosts a Duct Tape Pet Contest sponsored by Coulee Hardware every year as part of the festival? I didn't either, but boy am I excited. I may have missed 2005, but I’m already thinking about an entry for the 2006 competition.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Duct Tape and Flip Flops? Hmm…

New on NinetyandNine
Congratulations to Gabby on her 100th article. Check out my favorite advice columnist at 90&9’s “Happy Birthday Dear Gabby!”

The Great Flip Flop Debate
Northwestern’s champion ladies’ lacrosse team recently visited the White House. Four of the girls in the picture wore dressy flip flops. In so doing, they were thronged with criticism over the thongs. Turns out lots of folks don’t consider flip flops dressy. I’m hurt because I have a great pair of black flip flops with sequins that I just love, and I’m really planning on wearing them the next time I brunch with the Bush family.

This all reminds me of conversations I have with my mother regularly. My Mom is not very wild about the idea of t-shirts, jeans (pants/skirts), and/or flip flops on church grounds. This presents a problem because I’m usually at the church almost every night of the week. I’m discomforted by the thought that God may strike me with lightning if I swing by choir practice in my flip flops. Now in all fairness to my mother, she is thinking more along the lines of service times and she would never say a word regardless. But it’s a big deal to some people. I’m very confused. I think there’s nothing cuter on Sunday morning than a summer outfit topped off with sparkly sandals. What’s the consensus? Are flip flops a no-no for church? Maybe this is a generation gap thing?

Okay, so this also reminds me of the old Sunday morning / Sunday night debate. My parents come from the days when Sunday morning was THE dressy service. Sunday night was more of an afterthought—fashion-wise, that is. So they think nothing of a suit on Sunday morning and then basic shirt and skirt/slacks Sunday night. My friends and I, however, think of a.m. as the basic skirt and flip flops service, whereas Sunday night is the time to pull out the heels, new purse, and best suit. Who’s right?

Duct Tape Use #126
Once again, duct tape saves the day. My good friends Mandy and Hilary Naquin send this in from Arizona. They were trying to carve a watermelon basket, and the melon split during their creation. No problem. They broke out the duct tape and kept right on carving. You gotta see this, folks:
















Share your duct tape testimonies. E-mail me!

The Life and Times of a Youth Congress-Goer

Misc
Don’t ask me why I thought of this today, but have you ever analyzed any children’s nursery rhymes? It’s sort of disturbing when you look at what they actually mean. Take Alouette, the song we learned in elementary French class. It’s all about plucking off a bird’s head and subsequent body parts. Seriously. Then today I thought about Ring around the Rosy. Did you know it was all about people dying from the catastrophic Bubonic Plague in the 1600s? The “ring around the rosy” refers to the rash victims contracted, and the “posy” was herbs believed to ward off the plague. The next time you see kids chiming “Ashes to ashes / we all fall down,” think about it as they collapse to the ground in imitation of the many people who died from the plague and were cremated. Weird, huh?

Sports
Big win for Tiger. The Benchwarmer has more.

Scandal City
So what do you think about the Rove probe? President Bush has spoken strongly about it today in the face of growing developments that look bad for Rove. Yet another event that destroys confidence in our government officials. I am afraid we are getting dangerously close to the place where whatever the outcome of the investigation, public opinion for Rove will be irreversibly damaged.

More on Gluttony
Seriously, how big 'a deal is this gluttony thing to God? I wondered this as I sampled Aunt Connie’s lumpia, a delicious Filipino version of the eggroll; Aunt Darlene’s chocolate pie; Mom’s dressing; and a dozen other dishes by various aunts and cousins. Somebody once told me they thought Apostolics were guilty of making food a sport because other entertainment options were limited. I chafed under anyone’s accusation that we are in any way “limited” because of our beliefs. But that aside, do we really get carried away with eating?

Meanwhile one of my roommates and I got up before work to walk this morning. That is probably one of the most challenging accomplishments of my adult life to date. But what can I say? Youth congress is three weeks away and last week’s controversial NinetyandNine article “The Attraction Factor (Female Version)” really makes you think.

Speaking of…
Youth Congress! Who’s ready?! Who’s going?! Me! Me! My friends and I are finally at the stage where we’d sacrifice the “uncoolness” of the church van for the sake of not having to foot the gas bill. Alas, our church is not taking a formal group trip. (Did anyone else’s school districts start early this year? Our high schoolers couldn’t go because August 10-12 is during their first week of school.) Grown-ups that we are now, my best pals/roomates and I are flying to Columbus.

All this to say I’m looking into the legality of getting to Wal-Mart at 7 a.m. on every Saturday morning between now and Aug 10, roping off all parking spots within 50 yards of the door, and then selling them throughout the day to fund my trip.

But by far the greatest dilemma of the whole vacation experience is having to ask off for work. Not only can I not tell anyone "No," but I also cannot ask anyone to say "Yes" in a situation like that. I feel like I am somehow imposing, and my mother raised me better than that. The answer to any invitation always began with "Well, we wouldn't want to impose..." It doesn’t matter that I’m entitled to vacation time, I feel so guilty asking off. I don’t understand this. It is physically nerve-wracking for me to ask off. I feel like the world’s biggest slacker—not a good feeling for an self-diagnosed “must please all” syndromer. I was very fortunate, however, to escape the whole experience unscathed and with my precious two and a half vacation days safely in hand. So I will be going. ….Add to the “You Might Be Apostolic if” list: you spend your beloved work vacation hours at church conferences.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!