Baby, it's hot outside! A scorching 115 with a heat advisory. Though, you probably wouldn't need to be adviiiiiised.
Hey! How hot is it?
It's so hot... that I'm pretty sure I saw several mirages from my apartment to the car.
It's SO HOT...that even reptiles are turning on the AC.
That's all I got. Well, actually I have another-- but I've already embarrassed myself enough today.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Say A Little Prayer For You
Recently, Isaiah has furnished my mind with many excellent thoughts for meditation. As our friends take their first step today in a long journey to the Middle East, I feel compelled to remember them. Isaiah 58:10-11 seemed appropriate:
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Show and Tell
Yesterday, I discovered two "meaningful-to-me" passages through very different sources. My first little treasure came from facebook. I added a NEW friend (I could DIE of happiness) and decided to glance at their info section. Always riveting stuff like, "I love hanging out with my friends, music, giving hugs, exercising and reading." You know, the usual nonsense to let people know that you aren't lazy, stupid or dull. So for the most part, I never find anything worth remembering. BUT THIS TIME...a few lines from C.S. Lewis:
Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
On to "meaningful-to-me" passage number two. This next snippet is from a more honorable use of my time: reading a book. In the first few pages of Opera's Second Death, the author relays lines from Monteverdi's Orfeo:
I am Music, who in sweet accents
can calm each troubled heart,
and now with noble anger, now with love,
can kindle the most frigid minds.
This concludes my "meaningful-to-me" show and tell. Next time, I'm bringing a pony.
Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
On to "meaningful-to-me" passage number two. This next snippet is from a more honorable use of my time: reading a book. In the first few pages of Opera's Second Death, the author relays lines from Monteverdi's Orfeo:
I am Music, who in sweet accents
can calm each troubled heart,
and now with noble anger, now with love,
can kindle the most frigid minds.
This concludes my "meaningful-to-me" show and tell. Next time, I'm bringing a pony.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
4-7-8
Each day, I receive an e-newsletter from Dr. Mercola. Sometimes I delete them, but most of the time I click them open and peruse the articles and videos. Adam can always TELL when I've made a visit to mercola.com, because I tend to become very afraid of petroleum, plastic products, chemicals, processed food, etc... While I don't want to live my life in fear, I'm convinced that Dr. Mercola brings up many valid health concerns and issues. Most of us would do well to practice what he preaches. Today, the topic was a beneficial breathing exercise. It's pretty straightforward:
The 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise
The key to this exercise is to remember the numbers 4, 7 and 8. It’s not important to focus on how much time you spend in each phase of the breathing activity, but rather that you get the ratio correct.
Here’s how it’s done:
1) Sit up straight
2) Place the tip of your tongue up against the back of your front teeth. Keep it there through the entire breathing process
3) Breathe in silently through your nose to the count of four
4) Hold your breath to the count of seven
5) Exhale through your mouth to the count of eight, making an audible “woosh” sound
That completes one full breath. Repeat the cycle another three times, for a total of four breaths
You can do this exercise as frequently as you want throughout the day, but it’s recommended you don’t do more than four full breaths during the first month or so of practice. Later you may work your way up to eight full breath cycles at a time.
I listened to the video and tried it out. He tends to ramble (takes one to know one)... but gets to the exercise after a few minutes. Any technique that promotes CALM and RELAXATION gets a star in my book.
The 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise
The key to this exercise is to remember the numbers 4, 7 and 8. It’s not important to focus on how much time you spend in each phase of the breathing activity, but rather that you get the ratio correct.
Here’s how it’s done:
1) Sit up straight
2) Place the tip of your tongue up against the back of your front teeth. Keep it there through the entire breathing process
3) Breathe in silently through your nose to the count of four
4) Hold your breath to the count of seven
5) Exhale through your mouth to the count of eight, making an audible “woosh” sound
That completes one full breath. Repeat the cycle another three times, for a total of four breaths
You can do this exercise as frequently as you want throughout the day, but it’s recommended you don’t do more than four full breaths during the first month or so of practice. Later you may work your way up to eight full breath cycles at a time.
I listened to the video and tried it out. He tends to ramble (takes one to know one)... but gets to the exercise after a few minutes. Any technique that promotes CALM and RELAXATION gets a star in my book.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Hoosier Daddy
Mesa cancelled their fireworks for the first time in 50 years due to budgetary constraints. Uncle Sam is looking seriously depressed. Oh come on...cheer up! Tempe is still having their annual 4th of July celebration at Tempe Town Lake Festival. And I'm sure most little towns across America will continue to light up the sky with explosive symbols of freedom and independence. Two in particular will be especially close to my heart on Saturday---Fairmount and Summitville Indiana. My daddy's home turf. A place where I first tasted homemade ice cream and fruit pizza. Where the flat Indiana landscape makes it easy to see fireworks from your porch. Last year, Adam, Katie and I drove down from Cleveland. In the midst of furious bar studying, Adam took short breaks to eat picnic food, swim, and dance with us to Eric Clapton (huh?) on the big screen outside. We watched fireworks on Aunt Marcia's deck and fireflies illuminate fields and trees. I belted out songs like America The Beautiful and Yankee Doodle Dandee while others of our group chimed in. So I guess I'm a little sad that I won't be back for one of my favorite holidays. Lucky for me, someone special is getting married in Summitville August 1st. I may miss the fourth, but I still get to celebrate with some of my most favorite people in the U*S*A.
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