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 |  I've maxed out. Closed this blog. |
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This is a way of making myself write something coherent and grammatically correct almost every day. I'm opinionated and need an outlet. I'm also prone to flights of fancy. Thanks for stopping by. |
| This week has double honors. First, it's National Volunteer Week April 22-April 26. The emphasis I'm seeing is on volunteers at hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. Tanks to all of you who volunteer to make hospitals run smoothly, appear more friendly and customer oriented, and provide amenities to patients, guests and visitors. Thanks for all the services you provide patients and residents that make them more comfortable and encouraged. The second celebration is Medical Lab Professionals Week, also April 22-April 26.There are over 300,000 medical lab professionals in the U.S. who perform over 10 billion lab tests each year.They are behind the scenes, so most people don't realize how important they are to our welfare and recovery. Thanks to all of you who work in a medical lab. Your attention to detail, and the pride you bring to your job make life better for all of us. To everyone else, take a volunteer or a lab professional to lunch or out on the town. Express your appreciation and then party down. |
| Bhutan is a very small and very beautiful country. It's in the Himalayas and is landlocked. China is to the North, India to the West, South, and Southeast. Nepal is to the West and Burma (Myanmar) is on the East. All of these influences come together to influence the country. Most people are Buddhists. Even the non-Buddhists have been influenced by the centuries of the Buddhists priests and monks. To give you an idea of the exotic nature, look at the animals. In the hardwood forests of the south, you find the Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, leopard, and the sloth bear (it eats insects, honeybee colonies, and fruit). You also find a short-earred rabbit with coarse, dark hair called a hispid hare. The temperate zone offers a gray langur (looks like a long, thin pale monkey), the Indian leopard, a goral-an antelope that looks like a goat, serow- an actual antelope. In the bamboo forests, you find the Himalayan black bear, the red panda, wild pigs, and barking deer.In the North you find the snow leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan musk deer, and the Tibetan wolf.The national animal is the Takin, a gnu-goat, that's related to sheep; it also lives in the north. The National Flower is the blue poppy. The National Bird is the raven Bhutan is called the Land of the Thunder Dragon. It's flag features a gold dragon. Food includes rice, buckwheat, and maize. Meat includes pork, yak, sheep, and mutton. They make a lot of soups and stews, using many spices, chili peppers, and cheese. They don't just use chili peppers for flavor; they have dishes of just peppers. Almost all milk, including yak milk, goes into cheese and butter. They drink tea, rice wine, and beer. No tobacco is sold in the country. There are many languages. The official written script is not used so much in every day life. It is named for a former emperor. Bhutanese may be the most common language, and used in government offices. There are 53 languages all together. Nepali is the one used most by the refugees who are going to Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK. Nepali is the language of Southern Bhutan, and is used by the people of Hindu descent. By some scale developed somewhere, Bhutan is listed as the happiest nation in all of Asia, and 5th happiest in all the world. The happiest quotient is deemed more important than financial success. Yet despite all this mountain beauty, the majestic temples posed on the sides of mountains, appearing to sit in the clouds, and this happiness and peace frame of mind, Bhutan is a place of great suffering and sorrow. |
| Rules have been established for polite emailing, but some people have missed their copies. However, I want to establish some rules for polite "chain letter" emails. I must admit I don't understand why chain letters continue to thrive in any form. You know the kind. Send copies to a specified number of people in the next 5 minutes or 24 hours or whatever. And usually with the promise that you'lll see something happen electronically. I've never observed anything happen from forwarding 5 copies or 10 copies or whatever. Nor have I noticed any particular blessings or whatever. So my first rule is: If you like a cutsey email or clever political statement or patriotic prose or whatever, just forward it. Period. Drop all references to any specified number of forwarding. Even if you're promising prayers or blessings, it should have nothing to do with the number of people who are on your forwarding list. There is no magic in numbers! And drop the time limit. What if no one sees it for a week? Number 2: Should be used with emails anyway. Always erase the mailing history before you hit "Send". It's laborious to scroll down to the "meat" of your message, but it also puts a lot of email addresses out there for the dishonest world. Addresses of your friends or your friends' friends and relatives. Number 3: If it's a blessing or spiritual message you're sending, drop all negative comments. If a message says something bad will happen if you don't forward, I delete it. I will not send such a terrible message to anyone, not even an enemy! Why would anyone attach a horrible statement to a prayer or a promise of good fortune? That's what I always hated about old-fashioned chain letters. You should never tell someone that something bad will happen if they don't do what you ask. That's an age old form of bullying, disguised with well wishing. Number 4: If you're adding comments of your own to a newspaper article or someone's short essay, do yours in italics or in color, so that they are easily separated from the comments attributed to someone else. Number 5: Keep it simple. I get a lot of messages with multiple themes. If I like part of it, but not all of it, I eliminate the "extra" unrelated stuff. Everything in your message should be coherent and consistent. Number 6: Don't feel obligated to forward everything someone asks you to forward. Some are NOT worthy. They're not cute, they're not clever, they're not tasteful. Only forward things that really made you laugh or warmed your heart or gave you something to think about. Whatever you're forwarding should be uplifting or enlightening or edifying. Things like how to handle choking, or what to do if you think you're having a heart attack, are good ones to forward, if they're well-written. Warning people about a new crime wave in your community is a good one. But just a lot of complaining or distasteful humor should be omitted. We're all too busy to read that junk. And there's enough whining and complaining about the status quo already. If in doubt, just don't forward the email. You might be breaking the chain, but don't worry about it. I for one have bad things happen whether I forward emails or not, so go ahead and break the chain. |
| As much as I have grown tired of the "bucket list", I've decided I'm old enough to have one. And it will be too late already for some of them. For instance, I will never be interviewed by Jay Leno on The Tonight Show. I didn't care about people actually seeing it. I just thought it would be fun to experience it. But it's not too late to learn to speak Nepali. I'm doing some online work. I just have to stick with it.I know plenty of people with whom to try what I learn. I also want to salsa. It may not be for public viewing, but I would like to feel confident about the steps, and get through a whole song without incident. The list includes publishing a book, starting a group for internationals, and a few personal things, just for the joy of experiencing those things one more time--maybe this time with more wisdom and appreciation. |
| I just have to share a thought from today's sermon, the children's sermon, that is. When Mom or Dad says, I've made a cake. Who wants to lick the beaters?", we all go running. But when they're cleaning, and one says, "Who wants to come clean the toilet?", no one budges. It's a job nobody wants to do, but it has to be done. After triumphal entry to Jerusalem with shouts and palm branches, they gathered for the meal. It was customary for a servant to wash the feet of travelers (who wore sandals) before reclining or sitting on the floor by the table. No servant was present, so they all looked around. What would they do? Not eat? But Jesus, the figurative king on the donkey, took the towel and the wash basin and washed their feet. The lesson is that we must serve each other. The one who would be great must be humble. Who is really great among us? The one who flashes diamonds and has drunken parties like a celebrity? The one who commands others to do his bidding? Or the one who sacrifices for others, for his country, for his family? The one who serves, like Mother Theresa? If we want to be great, we must find a way to serve our community, to serve others. This applies not only in grand gestures or volunteer work, but in every day relationships. No job is too small to be done well, too small to be appreciated. |
| There are 20 refugee relocation centers in America. I live in one of them. Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia are 3 more. By comparison, my town is small. But it's a university town, with many cultures and lots of open-mindedness in business and in the townspeople, as well as on campus. About ten years ago, when I lived elsewhere I heard a state level ministerial leader say that every possible world religion was represented in this area. That's not why I moved here. I came back to my home town. I love meeting these people. Most don't want to tell their stories. They don't speak the language, and some aren't willing to learn. Some become citizens. Some say they will never be citizens. When asked when they plan to go back to their country, the answer might be, "When I die", like one young man I heard. While I am passionate about their right to be here, and what they are escaping, I recognize logistical problems and varieties of attitudes. They have to have jobs. That means they're competing with Americans for a hand full of jobs. They have to have homes and transportation. They only get assistance for 90 days to six months for health and food, or less once they start receiving paychecks (longer for preschoolers only). They can't communicate with doctors, or social workers, or employers. After a while they know enough English to get by, but are frequently misunderstood or avoided by service people or co-workers.They still can't read English. They need help with their bills, their insurance, and banking. They don't read the newsletters or understand posters in the workplace. Most won't seek help. The employer must find resources and enforce their use. The individuals tend to stay with people they know or relatives. They don't socialize or mingle with society. Obviously, I'm not talking about students or doctors who have chosen to come here for fun or education, but about the working classes who came here in desperation. In my community this is a very real and present dilemma. I'm trying to determine my role. I'm not going to be a bystander. I've tried corralling some people at church to sponsor a quarterly social, where all they have to do is bring cookies or cheese and crackers and stand by smiling and charmingly ask questions in English. The visitors, from the large hospital and university staff and the refugee center would come only to practice listening or speaking English in a safe environment. There would be no fear of misinterpretation or hostility. We could have music or games. Now a co-worker and I are thinking of teaching reading to adults who are already getting by with a minimal knowledge of spoken English. She wants to do children's books. I want to do more work related words since they already know the alphabet and can do names and addresses and read enough for a driver's license. (How did they pass the test?) The pieces haven't come together yet. Somehow I will have a part in helping them acclimate to a better world. I want to be the kind of American that makes them happy they made this choice. |
| For those who like to cook, I recommend "Cook's Country". I only recently discovered it. I like the review of appliances and implements. I especially like the history of food trends and fads, and modern adaptations of older recipes. I've never been good at butchering meat from the market. I 've always cooked as purchased when possible. However, after watching their simple demonstration, I feel like I probably could trim a tenderloin and prep for roasting. For their recipes, the demonstrator explains her experimentation and why they chose the method they're using. This allows some freedom of choice in your own procedures and may explain why it's different from the way your grandmother used to do it. It's not exciting, or funny, or all that entertaining a show. It is informational, easy to comprehend, and could be a great help in your own attempt to be a good cook. Check it out on PBS. |
| Just a quick note. If you like old music, check out this website: www.llistentooldmusic.com. The sound quality may not be top notch, but they're the originals, and are even logged by year! I found the volume a little hard to adjust, but the list is very full, if not complete. From Elvis to Fats to Everly Brothers to Andy Williams, it's there. Check it out. |
| I don't shop for Christmas decorations before Christmas. I always look after Christmas for bargains on things I can't live without. This year, I can live without anything new. However, I can't help but notice all the beautiful angels, girl angels, and sexy girl angels! What an imagination. First, angels are genderless. They are not like humans. So, not only are girl angels so wrong, sexy girl angels are even further from the truth. The only angels with names had men's names, but that was for a male-oriented society. Generally, the scholars agree that angels are neither male nor female. According to the Bible, they're usually scary. Almost all encounters with angels, record the first words from the angel to be "Do not be afraid". The people shook and were afraid. That sounds scary looking. That doesn't mean they were angry-looking like a scary cartoon, just very out of the ordinary. People who encountered angels knew they had a supernatural experience. So pretty or handsome according to our human terms is out of the question. But how would you picture them? You can't be too literal about an artist's interpretation. And you certainly can't depend on department stores' version. Angels and cherubs are not the same thing. They are not cute little baby-like winged creatures. I've heard angels compared to a heavenly army, each with a rank, and a specific job. So what are angels? Humans do not become angels after they die. That would be a demotion for the human. The New Testament promises that some day, the saved humans will sit with the King of Heaven to judge over the angels. Angels are created by God, fully formed. They don't have to earn their wings. That's a misguided legend. No bells ring when angels get promotions. And angels apparently can fall from grace, the only similarity to man. This only deals with how angels look, not what they do, don't do, or the different kinds of angels. If you want to know more, there are several good books out finally. It was hard to find one for years. The easiest is by Billy Graham. It probably was published first. It's in every day language and dispels a lot of myths.It's called Angels, Angels, Angels. |
| In this time of advent, as we race through work and seasonal duties, we are perplexed and saddened by the tragedy at a grammar school. We hear “Joy to the World”, then see pictures of six year old children and their teachers, and we wonder where is the joy? Where is peace on earth, when even little children die needlessly at the hands of a mentally ill person, whose empathy switch turned off. We hear of the heroism of the teachers who lost their lives trying to protect the children. We hear of the screams of the frightened children being shot. Then we ask, where was God when this happened? There are no easy answers. There aren’t even complicated answers that make sense. I do know that God’s heart is breaking, even as ours break. I know that joy is not the same thing as happiness. I know that our tears are nothing compared to God’s tears. He does not desire for us to hurt one another. We are made in his image, so that when we hurt, he hurts; when we grieve, he grieves. This is small consolation, but I believe Christmas does not make peace on earth a finished deal; it offers us hope of peace as a reality. It lets us know that even though we live in a crime-filled, painful world, God loved us so much that he became one of us, and endured our sorrows as a human. He KNOWS how we feel. He knows how those parents feel, how that community feels, how confused and scared the surviving children feel. This poem was written several hundred years ago by someone horrified by the living conditions of the poor in London. It shows that man has been grappling with these issues probably since the first concept of pain and suffering. These questions are not new. Man still struggles to understand why the innocent suffer, why evil and good exist side by side. I wish for you this Christmas, and always, peace in your heart, good will toward others, and the strength to see you through your sorrows. On Another's Sorrow by William Blake Can I see another's woe, And not be in sorrow too? Can I see another's grief, And not seek for kind relief. Can I see a falling tear. And not feel my sorrows share, Can a father see his child, Weep, nor be with sorrow fill'd. Can a mother sit and hear. An infant groan an infant fear-- No no never can it be, Never never can it be. And can he who smiles on all Hear the wren with sorrows small. Hear the small bird's grief & care Hear the woes that infants bear-- And not sit beside the nest Pouring pity in their breast. And not sit the cradle near Weeping tear on infant's tear. And not sit both night & day. Wiping all our tears away. O! no never can it be. Never never can it be. He doth give his joy to all, He becomes an infant small, He becomes a man of woe He doth feel the sorrow too. Think not. thou canst sigh a sigh, And thy maker is not by. Think not, thou canst weep a tear, And thy maker is not near. O! he gives to us his joy. That our grief he may destroy Till our grief is fled & gone He doth sit by us and moan |
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