Pictures tomorrow (hopefully)...

Merry Christmas!

P.S. I'll upload more pictures in the days to come.

P.P.S. Ignore the goofy look on my face.

P.P.P.S. Thanks for the cool new fleeces Grandma and Grandpa!

Perhaps some of you will recall the story of the young boy from our church. He has a tumor on his brain stem, and 7 weeks ago, doctors estimated that he would live for 6 weeks. Today, I learned that doctors have estimated that he will live for an additional 3 months! Keep praying. God listens.

I forgot to mention that, on Saturday, we went out to dinner with the Kents and some of their friends from Huntington Beach. We ate at Woodie's Warf (which I do NOT recommend) on Newport Harbor. Afterwards, we went for a walk. The picture shows the view from the boardwalk.

Today is a day for lots of fake quotes ('this' is an 'example' of what I 'mean' by 'fake quotes'). I read an interesting article about an Indian runner who won the silver medal at the recent Asian Games. Apparently, this runner was stripped of 'her' medal when 'she' failed the 'gender test.' Failed the gender test? (How bad of a student do you have to be to fail the gender test?)

Apparently, there was a 'panel' who decided this person wasn't 'enough' of a 'woman' to compete with other women; though they stopped short of calling her a man (though I think it was completely implied that she was a 'man'; they said she had 'too many' y-chromosomes to compete with the women). Who was on this 'panel', you ask. Well, there was a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist and internal medicine specialist.

In case anyone from the International Association of Athletics Federation is tuning in at home: YOU'RE OVERDOING IT WITH THE PANEL; anyone who's lived on a farm can tell the difference between a 'doodle' and a 'hoo hoo'.

P.S. For any out there who might be taking offense at my use of 'doodle' and 'hoo hoo', I apologize; Sarah made me write them.

P.P.S. I'll leave it up to you to decide which is which.

P.P.P.S. Read the story here.

Okay, not too much to report. I'm still recovering from that last two weeks of school. I played three hours of basketball on Saturday (I'm not really sure if that helped or hindered the recovery effort). I didn't do too much today except the laundry (which is quite the accomplishment: I hate doing the laundry). I think that's really about all I have. Maybe something more tomorrow...

1) I'm finally finished with school work for the semester.
2) Some of my posts now might have labels.
3) The victim of the Lapeer crime that I posted (the home invasion) turned out to be someone that I went to elementary school with. His name is Shawn Young. He was a bully. Huh.

P.S. The significance of the label is as follows: all posts with labels are linked together. For instance, I labeled this post "News" now, when you click on "News", all posts labeled "News" will come up (though only one is labeled this way so far...).

In the midst of yet another all-nighter, I'm comforted by the fact that the semester is almost over. 14 hours to go...14 hours to go...14 hours to go...several more pages to write...several more pages to write...several more pages to write...

Speaking of pages to write, once I finish this last paper, I'll have written 90 pages this semester (including 43 pages for one class--one class!!!). And all without a book deal.

Two papers down, one to go. All I had to do was stay up for a long, long time. No more writing. Must....watch.....tv....

Hebrew exam went as well as could be expected. Now I just have to write, write, write. And write. At least I don't have pink eye.

P.S. I think I've got pink eye.

To do list

Write 15 page paper: due Monday--done
Study for Monday's Hebrew exam--in a minute
Take Monday's Hebrew exam--on Monday
Write 10-12 page paper: due Tuesday--!!??!!??!?
Write 5-10 page paper: due Thursday--Wednesday, late into the evening
Prepare presentation for Thursday--in my head while others are doing their presentations
Give presentation: Thursday--no
Sue apartment complex for leaky roof in new apartment--Christmas day

How about this. In the short narrative within Job 42:8-9, God relates to Job’s three friends that God is angry with them. God tells the friends to offer a sacrifice and then says, “‘… My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.’" In short, God was angry; God says, Job will pray for you, and I will not be angry anymore. Job prays. God forgives the three friends.

Why did God wait for Job to ask?

In answering this question, don't forget that Job's three friends had really been, as Hannah might say, butts.

Read the story here.

Interesting note from my studies. Most of you are familiar with the story of the Exodus and the plagues God sent to 'encourage' Pharaoh to let God's people leave Egypt. In Exodus 8, God sends frogs to cover all of Egypt. In the homes, the beds, the ovens. If a frog could jump there, a frog would be there. First of all, this would probably be a lot more annoying than most people realize. Frogs in your bed? Lots of them. Ever had a frog on your face? How about 7 at once? It's not really something you want.

So anyway, Pharaoh says to Moses, "Pray to your God that the frogs go away, and I'll let your people go." Moses says, "Okay Pharaoh; I'll even let you pick when you want the frogs to go away." To which Pharaoh responds, and here's the kicker, "tomorrow."

Tomorrow? TOMORROW!?!?!?!? TOMORROW????!!!!!!????

What?!?!?!?

Read the story here.

I'm really stalled on my papers. I think I'm just ready for the semester to be over. In addition, I've come to the conclusion that either 1) I'm not happy doing anything, or 2) I'm not happy in my current academic program. So, I'm stuck either 1) doing something that I do not enjoy (yet am paying a lot of money to do), or 2) quitting something that I do not like (and finding myself, once again, with no future prospects).

Remember, your vote counts.

P.S. Not only do I not enjoy the program, it is not academically stimulating, and it does not lead to anything (e.g., a career, etc.). So don't try to tell me that it's good for me. In fact, I think it's bad for me. The end.

P.P.S. I am NOT in a good mood.

Just a few more days until break... (and by a few, I mean 10; and I need every one of them; I've got too many pages to write).

Just thought I'd give an update on that home invasion in lovely Lapeer. Police arrived at the home of one suspect to find him being severely beaten by two of the victims. Looks like they knew each other (worked for the same house-painting company). The suspect was taken to the hospital and will later be taken into custody. Items at this suspect's house led police to the home of a second suspect who was subsequently arrested (but not beaten--that we know of). Most of the stolen items and cash were recovered. So what did the criminals get for their efforts? Many years in prison, a beating, and very guilty consciences. The victims, of course, got their money back and were, undoubtedly, left with the bonus of PTSD. The fruits of sin. Fantastic. Read the story here.

I have A LOT of work to do. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be doing it. Also, it doesn't seem to be doing itself. What a rip. Someone's going to be REALLY busy between now and December 14 (I really hope it won't be me).