VAcation COntinues

SO here we are in the City enjoying vacation time. Last week we went to the local cheese farm and saw them making cheese. THe girls loved that. (we have pictures but they are stil on teh camera). ANd lots of time in grandma's pool to help break the heat.

And of course we went to the "big mall" as the girls call it. And all three have had a great time playing with Grandma.

Oh and there is looking at vans. Our lease comes due next MArch so we thought we would take time while we had it to start looking (have already had brochures sent to us for short-listing purposes). Now the first place we go we mention that we are just starting and looking to purchase/lease next winter and the salesperson is perfectly good with that. Just shows us the vehicle and asks of we have any question, takes my card in case an 8 seater comes in instead of the standard 7. The next place not so good. NO matter that we said repeated that we were just starting the process he didn't seem to hear. Wanted to give info about how they could help us pay our way out of the lease early and give number information (never mind that we have yet to decide purchase or lease--that will depend on payments--or that we have not even discussed price and options or anything).

WHat is it about "we aren't at that point yet" that salespeople (of a variety of types) have such trouble understanding?

Now we are relaxing. Well the rest of the family are relaxing while I do a 1st Aid Course. THen home for a while with a reliable internet connection--here we rely on intermittently picking up (borrowing) a wireless signal of enough strength from one of the neighbours.

Mischief Managed

THe battle is fought and won.

The hidden truths have been revealed.

THe true loyalties have been uncovered.

And now what shall I read?????

The Buzzing Tree

This is an absolutely beautiful tree. A couple (well three, it was the first fall we had the middle child) years ago it was still in full leaf when all around had fallen and the leaves were a brilliant gold. Very Striking.

Anyway, underneath all those leaves right now are flowers, flowers which now are fading but were fresh and open last week. ANd full of bees. As you walked past the tree it was literally buzzing, the whole thing.

Retraction

Dear Chapters,
I wish to apologize for yesterdays rant.

It is now apparent that your systems have simply failed to keep up in the flurry of Harry Potter mania. While the website still lists my order as awaiting shipment I have teh book in hand with a shipping invoice showing that it was indeed shipped on July 21.

Obviously the problem is in data entry not in your processes. I apologize.

A Time Waster (post #701)

Warning!!! This can be highly addictive!!!! (and is deceptively difficult)

Daffy Duck jumping out of planes

Truth in COmmunication

Dear Chapters,

I understand that some of us in small rural communities can not take advantage of a special Saturday delivery. And I am fine with that. However, when I read on your web-site:

If your address is ineligible for Saturday delivery, we will make every effort to deliver your order as quickly as possible: your order will arrive early the week of July 23. (see the bottom of the page)

then I interpret that to mean that it will arrive on Monday or Tuesday. I do not interpret that to mean that it will be shipped on the Monday (as it happens it is still listed as awaiting shipping as of 6:00 pm CDT on the Monday). With a 2-4 day delivery time this means the expected arrival is mid-late week not early in the week. If you plan to deliver on that schedule then please name that openly. AS it stands I find that you are guilty of providing false information. Had I had accurate information I would have ordered from the local bookstore despite the $15+ price differential.

Also I find your logic confusing. The Customer Service rep I spoke with said that the book was to be shipped today because it was the first business day following the launch. However every book that was delivered to readers on Saturday obviously was shipped out of your warehouse before the launch. Why do those of us in small communities not get the same treatment? Those copies could easily have been in the postal system to be delivered today or tomorrow. People in small rural communities are familiar with being treated unfairly. But that doesn't mean we accept it.

ANd HEre It Is...

Hooray, Holidays are here!

4 weeks of rest. Well as much rest as 3 kids 4 and under allows.

Harry Potter should be in the mailbox tomorrow (maybe Tuesday) and then I get to soak in to the world of wizards. And a trip to teh city later this week (to hopefully a place cooler than this house wil be given the weather forecast).

This SHow is Fun

Sometimes summer TV comes out with real gems. A couple years ago there wsa one called (I think) WHere ARe They NOw? about 80's acts coming back for a reprise.

This year NBC has one called The Singing Bee. THe premise is that if you know song lyrics then you win cash. Since many of the songs chosen the last 2 weeks have been from my teen years (or classics from the 70's) it has been a real hoot. Mind you last week the baby just sort of looked at mommy and daddy like they had lost their minds.

Oh and it appears that I would do relatively well on the show....

We'll Find Out in a Week.

A week ago I sought guesses as to how the Harry Potter saga might end. Here are some of my thoughts.

AS much as I thought it a silly idea when I first heard/read it I have been thinking about Harry as a Horcrux. At the end of Chamber of Secrets Harry asks Dumbledore why he is a parselmouth like Riddle. Dumbledore says that he believes Voldemort accidentally transmitted part of himself to Harry when he tried to kill him. But can a Horcrux be created accidentally?

Can Tom Riddle be redeemed? What we see of him as an 11 year old suggests that he may have his families inherent instability from birth, coupled with abandonment feelings and an over-defined sense of his own importance. But then again who believed taht Anakin Skywalker could emerge from the dark metal known as Darth Vader.

But Harry, I sense that Harry is walking on a fine line. Twice he has tried to use an Unforgiveable Curse (the Cruciatus at Bellatrix at the end of OOTP and an again at Snape at the end of HBP). Harry's sense of vengenance is over developed. He is passionate and quick to anger. WHat happens when an otherwise good person uses an Unforgiveable Curse succesfully? What does it do to one's psyche?

And I have been thinking tonight about Dumbledore's weak "Severus, please" at the end of Half-Blood Price. WAs he pleading for his life or for Snape to so what he did? Does the ending of HBP give Voldemort a false sense of security (Dumbledore was the one wizard Voldemort feared)? DOes this make him arrogant and lead him into a mis-step?

And if RAB was Regulus Black (which makes a lot of sense) then it seems likely that the locket Harry Ron and Hermione once found in the Grimmaud Place house was indeed the missing Horcrux. BUT who knows how to destroy it?

Diary, Ring--both accounted for. Locket--possibly located. Harry?? THat makes 4. Tom asked about making 6. 2 yet to be identified.

Oh and as an aside. This week as I was re-reading HBP and the memories of Tom Riddle as a child and also started reading Philosopher's Stone to the girls it struck me that there are strange similarities between Tom and Dudley Dursley. Mind you a bully is a bully whether magical or Muggle I suppose. WHat would have happened had DUdley somehow been born with wizarding abilities?

A Muggle Five

ALso from RGBP, for those who are less interested in HArry Potter mania:

1. Former U.S. First Lady "Lady Bird" Johnson died this week. In honor of her love of the land and the environment, share your favorite flower or wildflower. Dandelions, I really like the glden colour of a field full of them.
2. A man flew almost 200 miles in a lawn chair, held aloft by helium balloons. Share something zany you'd like to try someday. WEll that sounds, um interesting. Maybe I just don't have the "zany" impulse.
3. Do you have an iPhone? If not, would you want one? No and No.
4. Speaking of which, Blendtec Blenders put an iPhone in one of their super-duper blenders as part of their "Will It Blend?" series. What would YOU like to see ground up, whizzed up or otherwise pulverized in a blender? The whole concept of "reality" TV. Oh and some of those super-duper indestructible knives people keep hawking.
5. According to News of the Weird, a jury in Weld County, Colo., declined to hold Kathleen Ensz accountable for leaving a flier containing her dog's droppings on the doorstep of U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, apparently agreeing with Ensz that she was merely exercising free speech. What do you think? Is doggy doo-doo protected by the First Amendment? I think this is a case of overstepping. ANd if this action is covered then realy it is time for my USan neighbours to re-think their understanding of free speech. After all this counts as an assault in my book.

Accio Friday Five

(In honour of Harry Potter. For those who don't know or forgot, accio is a Summoning Charm)

THis week the RGBP actually have 2 Friday Fives, a non-Potter variation is available as well.

1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite and why? Really I am not sure I have a favourite. All of the books have their own strengths. Without a doubt I greatly prefer the books to the movies though -- mind you I always do when a bbook becomes a movie.
2. Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most like to get to know? Well according to this and this I am like Lupin but I find a lot of myself in Ron or (on a less than great day) Neville. I think the idea of a talk with Dumbledore about the nature of good and evil would be fascinating.
3. How careful are you about spoilers?
a) bring 'em on--even if I know the destination, the journey's still good
b) eh, I'd rather not know what happens, but I'm not going to commit Avada Kedavra if someone makes a slip
c) I will sequester myself in a geodesic dome to avoid finding anything out
Mind you, I waited for the paperback version of Half Blood PRince and still never heard about the ending until I read it (well not totally, I heard hints and was able to piece a reasonable guess together shortly into the book).
4. Make one prediction/share one hope about book 7. Hopefully we learn more about the transition of TOm Riddle to Lord Voldemort. ANd while it seems likely that Voldemort will be vanquished to some degree(not necessarily killed) I hope that it is done with an awareness that evil itself is not totally vanquished.
5. Rowling has said she's not planning any prequels or sequels, but are there characters or storylines (past or future) that you would like to see pursued? Without knowing where we end it is impossible to know what I might want continued. In terms of a prequel, the stories of VOldemorts first rising, how Lily and James got to be so crucial, where Neville's parents fit in) might make a good book (but likely only one book, and not that long either).

Now if I could just remember what this is...

You Are a Chimera

You are very outgoing and well connected to many people. Incredibly devoted to your family and friends, you find purpose in nurturing others. You are rarely alone, and you do best in the company of others. You are incredibly expressive, and people are sometimes overwhelmed by your strong emotions.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Hat tip to swandive

Actually this sounds close

free enneagram test

But really I know little about the Enneagram and the scoring on the 36 question test had a rating of 7 for #4 and 6 for both #5 & #9 (and those descriptors also sounded close)/

Oh and I am not sure what it means when I wanted to argue with 75% of the answers. Must be my P-ness in Meyers-Briggs terms coming out.

Hat tip to Cheesehead

Defectives WElcome.

SO the Holy Father has spoken. And there are many voices who are less than impressed.

The Vatican has confirmed that they are staying the course of tradition. In this case the traditional path re-affirms that only the Roman Catholic communion is the one true church.

NOw much as I disagree with the statement and the conclusions I have to agree with a colleague who points out that at least the Catholic Church is willing to draw the line and say "this we believe". My own denomination is not always (or is rarely) good at this. I think it is out of the fear we will make someone feel unwelcome.

But we do need to be able to stand tall and say "this is who we are".

Has Benedict hurt ecumenical relations? Probably, but somehow I doubt he will lose sleep over it.
HAs he said anything new? Not at all.
Will it make a real difference for all inter-church discussions? Nah. I suspect that many North American Catholics at least will roll their eyes and go about their business. AFter all they have done so on many other issues over the years.

ANd just possibly Stu is right -- you can have much more profitable discussions when people are willing to say forthrightly where they stand.

In the meantime, I am happy in my defective (oh so defective at times) faith tradition. And you are all welcome to join me.

Intrepid Boaters

THis picture was taken by the local paper

Can you see the fish???

The Words of the Prophets

Echo down through the ages. I heartily encourage you to go and read:

The Prophet Amos to the Priest Amaziah: Stop Pimping Religion for Political Empire

IT is a great reflection on where the words of prophecy can speak too our world today.

So Who Will IT Be??

In 2 short weeks many people will be carefully tucked in with a new book, catching up with an old (although just a teenager) friend. (Mind you some of us will have to wait until at least Monday the 23rd since we have no mail delivery on Saturday)

JK Rowling has announced that 2 main characters will die in this final book. NOw of course some main, and well-loved, characters are no longer in play (don't want to name names just in case someone who doesn't yet know who dies in 5 & 6 is reading). BUt who will be gone by the end of Deathly Hallows?

Bets I have seen include Harry, Lord Voldemort, Rone, Hermione, Ginny, HAgrid, Snape, Draco, and the DUrsleys.

Here is one thread of guesses (don't go here if you don't want to know who is already dead)

Here is another and here as well (again spoiler alert for these)

Other guesses I have seen include 2 dead characters making a miraculous reappearance but I find those to be unlikely.

I can make logical arguements for how many of them would follow the story line as created thus far. So who wants to make a prediction?

I totally Missed It!!!!

Apparently last Thursday was my 2nd blogiversary. And I totally missed it.

I always have thought it was later in July I started this collection of ramblings. I just checked tonight to see how many posts I had to write to get to 700 by the 2-year mark. Well I guess that is a non-issue now (this is 688)

Ravenclaw I think...

Purechristianithink has posted a description of ministry styles a la the Houses of Hogwarts. I figure I would be mosty Ravenclaw, with subshades of Gryffindor and possibly a touch of Hufflepuff.

She has also posted one on "House" churches. I woulodn't dare to publish a guess on that one...

New Toy!

LAst month we ordered a new toy. This week when Patty went in to visit her mom she picked it up.

We now have ourselves a djembe!

We got a 14" one from REMO. You can see more here. Ours has the Multi-Mask finish.

NOw I just am trying to figure out how to build Children's Time around it tomorrow

Cemetery Time

I had a couple of committal services today (in 2 different cemteries). As is my habit I arrived early to make sure all was ready and find where the grave was. This also gave me time to wander around. And that time reminded me of something. There is just something about cemeteries I like.

It goes back years actually. WHen I was growing up we often went to church weekends at a place called Rundle's Mission. At the back of the site is a municipal cemetery. Every year one of the first things we did was go and visit the cemetery. It was just a part of the weekend and it wasn't complete without at least a couple walks through.

Part of it is wandering around looking at names and dates and wondering about the stories behind them. Part of it is the peacefulness of the place. And part of it is a sense of the Holy One being very present.

Last summer when I went on retreat the retreat center was next to the oldest cemetery in town. Each day I spent a couple of hours or more wandering around the cemetery and found it very invigorating.

TOday wandering around I found that it provided a welcome break. Is it odd that I treasure time looking at graves???

HAppy Canada Day!!!

July 1, 1867: THe British North America Act took effect and Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia joined into the Dominion of Canada.

Over the next 82 years the country grew to have 10 provinces and 2 territories. THen within the last decade that changed to 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Canada Day is a time to celebrate our country and also (in my mind) a time to ask how we can help make the country a better place to live.

TOday following worship we got ready and launched our canoe from the church parking lot. We paddled upstream a ways until we met the canoe parade headed downstream then we paddled down to the party in the park. First time all five of us have been in a canoe at once (first time M has been in a canoe at all for that matter).

Alll went well once little one settled down. Once she saw there were other people out there she was perfectly happy, social child that she is. After the parade we had lunch, got the van, loaded up and headed home. A good Canada Day, all told.