Fort Hood

At least six months ago, Hasan came to the attention of law enforcement officials because of Internet postings about suicide bombings and other threats, including posts that equated suicide bombers to soldiers who throw themselves on a grenade to save the lives of their comrades. (quoted from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091106/ap_on_re_us/us_fort_hood_shooting)

And yet, they kept him in the military, on active duty, and slated him to be sent to the Middle East? What's wrong with this picture?

Technology and Being Quiet

Are we too technologically dependent?

I'm currently writing this on my laptop, and find myself letting it catch my spelling mistakes rather than paying too close attention myself. As I'm writing this, I'm not connected to the Internet, and it amazes me how much it has become an everyday part of my life. I'm used to popping open a browser and checking things out as I have an idea, rather than having to remember things and look into them at a later point. Is that good? Is it good that I can just check out a thought as I have it, or do I lose something by not formulating my ideas into concrete to do lists? What does it say about me that I feel somewhat lost not being able to connect? I don't have access to Google, Facebook, Pandora, or any of the other sites that have become a part of my daily life. I can't sync my files using my dropbox (a great little program if I can give it my own little plug. If you're interested in using it, let me know and I'll invite you – that way we both get 250 Megabytes of storage added to our accounts) and since the laptop has been out of service for a few weeks, I don't have the current version of my files on it locally. Does this bother me? It's an inconvenience, but I think I can survive. However, the fact that being “unplugged,” so to speak, is so very noticeable to me when it happens, makes me more convinced than ever that perhaps we need to unplug regularly. I am becoming more and more of a fan of taking time to be quiet. Watch the sunset. Watch it rise. Sit and listen to the wind. Take some time to see what the Bible says about being quiet. I know I've written about this before, but I'm becoming more convinced that we really need to do it. We are so caught up in the busyness of life, we need to step apart for a time to really appreciate what we have, and to take stock of where we need to go. As it has been aptly said, “Take time to come apart before you come apart.”

What a month!

I'm about to start what may very well be the busiest month of my life. That may be an exaggeration, but if so, not by much. I'm starting the month with a weekend trip to New York. We have come down for the weekend to celebrate my Grandma's 95^th Birthday. I can't imagine the history she has lived through. In talking to her today, I found out that she has seen Glen Miller (among others) perform live.

I digress. Currently we are in New York. As of November 1, I am going to be attempting to take part in Nanowrimo, the North American Novel Writing Month. It is an annual contest challenging people to write a novel of 50000 words or more in the month of November. The only requirement is word count, not content. It is not meant to be an attempt to write the Great American Novel, only as a challenge actually get out there and write. I have so many story ideas banging around in my head, and I have started many of them, only to let them fall abandoned, lonely and forgotten about by the wayside. My goal with nanowrimo is to actually finish one, or at least put so much effort into it that I will not be able to leave it alone until it is finished. (For anyone who is interested, my story is titled Riftwalker. I will probably be posting updates throughout the month for any who are interested. Actually, considering what this month looks like, maybe I won't be posting any updates until December. We'll see.

So, New York, Nanowrimo, and work. At work, we are preparing for multiple visits from a couple big customers, and possibly a company wide audit. These visits usually mean extra hours as we make sure everything is in order and take care of details. They are also used as an excuse by top management to get certain projects finished.

On top of all these things, we are preparing to purchase a house, hopefully closing and moving by the end of the month. I still can't fully wrap my mind around that, but it really seems that the Lord is lining things up for us, and that this is actually going to happen. We really would like to be in by the end of November, since Gail's folks are coming up for a visit, and it would be nice for them to be able to see our new house.

I currently have three documents open that I'm working on, because I have so many things circling around in my head right now that I am trying to make lists so I remember them all. In fact, I just took a 15 minute intermission from writing this blog post to start another blog post (yes, that means I had four going at once) to challenge myself and others to take time to be quiet.

Well, that's all I have time for tonight. Good night all, and if I don't get around to posting any during the month of November, have a happy Thanksgiving!

Quick update

Things are crazy at work right now - we just had a visit from one of our biggest customers, and are going to have another visit from another customer next week. I'm thankful for the overtime, but I miss my family.

I've got to say - I'm sick and tired of  Joe Wilson or anyone else who disagrees with Obama being labelled a racist. My disagreement with the president has nothing to do with his skin color. Rather I disagree on a much more fundamental level - his character and belief system. He is a socialist, I am not. He lies about his policies and motivations, I do not. He has proven grossly inadequate to run this country, and that will remain a fact whether he is black, white, or turquoise. Odd how all the ones who were celebrating the end of racism in america when Obama was elected are now revealing themselves as the most bigoted racists out there by slandering all who disagree with them.

I'm tired and incoherent - I need sleep.

Good night!

The Lost art of Quietness

When was the last time you were quiet? I don't mean the peaceful sigh when they kids are finally in bed and you lay your head back and enjoy the peace for 30 seconds before drifting off to sleep. Sitting and watching a movie while shushing all comments doesn't count either. Nor am I referring to the time you spend sitting in Church, because then you are either listening to the message or letting your mind wander..."Oh, I need to remember to talk to them after the service. I need to remember to get gas before we head home - we're almost out. Well, that's an interesting outfit! I wonder how the game is going to go today. Did I remember to start the crockpot? Does it look like it's going to rain? I hope I turned the iron off before we left. She does know those perfume bottles aren't single use right?" I mean a peaceful stepping away from the stresses and worries of the world, setting aside the distractions, and simply sitting, appreciating creation and The Creator.

This last Monday, we had a great opportunity to be quiet. We hiked to the top of one of the mountains in the area and enjoyed the sunset. Ok, I'll admit, initially my quietness was not necesarily a conscious decision on my part, really it was more of an unconscious one (i.e. I was nearly unconscious after hiking up the mountain with 40+ pounds on my back). But as my overburdended lungs slowly returned oxygen to my brain and feeling returned to my extremities, I was able to appreciate the peaceful setting (even more so after the pounding in my ears lessened). Our goal was to see the sunset, and watch the moonrise. We arrived shortly after the sun had slipped behind one of the neighboring mountains, but it was still very beautiful. Most people were finishing up their hikes, so after waiting a while, the mountain top thinned out, and we had it to ourselves. Sitting there peacefully, I realized it had been a very long time since I had actually watched a sunset, and then continued watching as the stars came out. (If you've never done this, I encourage you to. There is nothing like it in the world.)

Our society is so schedule driven that we never have empty time. We have so much that we want to do, so we are always going, always doing. We truly don't know how to be quiet anymore. If you don't believe me, take 30 minutes and just sit. Don't read. Don't watch TV. Don't listen to music. Don't schedule what you're going to do with the rest of your evening. Don't sleep. Just sit. Pick a verse and meditate on it. Really notice the creation that surrounds you, and thank God for it. Contemplate what characteristics of God are emphasized by what surrounds you. As we were sitting on the mountain top, it's almost as if it takes a while for the echoes of the noise that daily surrounds us (both actual and metaphorical) to die down. But as they do finally die down, it becomes easier to sit and appreciate the quiet. After a while of sitting, we could faintly hear a loon cry drift up from the lake below. I love how after a while of sitting still in a quiet place, you begin to actually hear your surroundings

This musing on quietness led me to read the references to quiet in the Bible, and it was really eye-opening to me to see how quietness is referred to. Today, we often hear quietness described in a negative way, as in someplace is too quiet. Even when we are quiet, we usually need some sort of "white noise" to help. Reading the verses on quietness in the Bible, quietness is always referred to as something to be sought after. It was a blessing, a thing desired. Lack of quiet was a curse or a punishment. This made me ask the question, 'How could something that was seen as a blessing and a reward from God come to be viewed as undesireable?' The world tries to cover the void that exists in their lives in any way possible. They use flashing lights, amusement parks, music, and any number of other things to draw their attention away from the emptiness of their lives. I say the world, but really it is Satan. He is the one trying to cover the void, so people don't try to fill it, however he finds willing accomplices as people try anything and everything to fill the void in their lives. Magicians use lights and noise and a steady stream of chatter to direct our eyes away from what they are doing, so that we only see what they want us to see. It's the same with Satan. The real coup d’état for Satan is when we as Christians are drawn in by his distractions. He may no longer have a death-grip on us, but by drawing us into his distractions, he ensures that we will not share with others the true solution to their empty lives. By being drawn in, we effectively become no longer someone who is able to provide the solution, but rather an additional distraction.

Well, I've rambled on far too long, especially when I'm encouraging quietness! I'd like to leave you with they lyrics of a song I really like by Caedmon's Call that I think are quite appropriate to this monologue.

Masquerade
Caedmon's Call

On an open stretch of freeway
Underneath the canvas clouds
The blackness after evening
Swallowed everything around
But just up head on the open horizon
We caught the faintest glow
And as we drew near
it seemed so clear that the
dark would have to go

In the center of the city
Comes the illusion of the day
When everything looks pretty
It's easy to think you've found the way
But it's all just a big masquerade

It was thirty-six months earlier
On that same old lonesome road
And that same old darkness lingered
Just before the lightning show
And the thunder
cracked down
And His lightning conquered everything around
That dark had to flee
Now the light of the little town
Was as dark as the night compared to His light

Reorganization

Well, I've decided that managing one blog is too much work for me, so I'm going to try to manage three instead. That doesn't make sense you say? Acutally, in a twisted way it sort of does. I'm separating my thoughts out some more and compartmentalizing.

Thoughts from the North is going to remain my more personal/general blog where I'll try to keep posting about the family and things we're doing.

Views from my House is going to be my political soapbox for me to rant from, and hopefully educate about our political situation.

Digital Darkroom is going to be a place for me to record my experiments with Digital photography, especially from an Open Source/Linux point of view. While the main thrust is going to be Linux related software, I will endeavor to include options that are available on multiple platforms.

That's all for now - I've got to run and finish (read: start) packing for my trip!

Time slips away again!

It never ceases to amaze me how time slips by. I've actually tried to write a couple times this past week, but just didn't feel up to it. Monday afternoon, I came down with a bug/flu, and it really took it out of me for a couple days.

On a larger scale, I noticed the date today (6/12) and realized that I have been dating my current wonderful girlfriend for 12 years. I just can't believe it. It seems like yesterday we were talking about getting married and on our honeymoon. Now we've got a wonderful 2 year old, and are planning on celebrating our 10th anniversary next weekend.

In an unrelated side-note, those of you who know me, know that I love to cook. Tonight, Gail made a delicious Strawberry Shortcake, and I helped prepare the strawberries. I had heard on a cooking show about a quick and easy way to core your strawberries. First, to explain why coring is necessary, the inner white core of the strawberry is basically flavorless, and so by leaving it in the berry, it basically dilutes the flavor. However, if you've ever worked with strawberries, you know that they break down very quickly after slicing, and are generally a delicate fruit. The easiest way to core them is to use a large star frosting tip. Pull the leaves off, then gently insert the point of the tip into the top (where the leaves were) end of the strawberry. You may have to gently rock it back and forth or slightly twist it to get it in. After inserting it, give it a twist and remove it. If you did it properly, they complete hull of the strawberry should pop out.