Contradance vs. Squaredance

There's some debate about the differences between contra- and squaredance among some of my friends. i personally can't tell a difference, except between the style of music. To add to it, a lot of contra dances go by other names, and are considered squaredances. It's all kinda confusing, but here's what i've found about both styles.

Contra dance refers to several partnered folk dance styles in which couples dance in two facing lines of indefinite length. Sometimes described as New England folk dance, contra dances can be found around the world, though they are especially popular in North America.

At the end of the 17th century, English country dances were taken up by French dancers. The French called these dances contra-dance or contredanse. As time progressed, English country dances were spread and reinterpreted throughout the Western world, and eventually the French form of the name came to be associated with the American folk dances, especially in New England.
Contra dances were fashionable in the United States until the early to mid-19th century, when they were supplanted in popularity by squaredances (such as the quadrill and lancers) and couple dances (such as the waltz and polka). By the late 19th century, square dances too had fallen out of favor, except in rural areas. When squares were revived (around 1925 to 1940, depending on the region), contra dances were generally not included. In the 1930s and 1940s, contra dances appear to have been done only in small towns in widely scattered parts of northeastern North America, such as Ohio, the Martime provinces of Canada, and particularly northern New England.

Square danceTraditional square dance is not standardized and can be subdivided into regional styles. The New England and Appalachian styles have been particularly well documented; both have survived to the present time. There are several other styles; some have survived or been revived in recent years, some have not.

Traditional square dance is frequently presented in alternation with contra dances or with some form of freestyle couple dancing. One ancestor of New England style square dances is the quadrill, and older New England callers occasionally refer to their squares as "quadrilles."

The basis of modern Western square dance was established during the 1930s and 1940s, in order to preserve traditional American folk dance. Since the 1970s modern Western square dance has been promoted and standardized by Callerlab, the "International Association of Square Dance Callers". Modern

Western square dance is sometimes presented in alternation with round dances.
The dance was first described in 17th century England but was also quite common in France and throughout Europe and bears a marked similarity to Scottish country dancing. It has become associated with the United States due to its historic development in that country. Nineteen US states have designated it as their official state dance.

The various square dance movements are based on the steps and figures used in traditional folk dances and social dances of the various people who migrated to the USA. Some of these traditional dances include Morris dance, English country dance, Caledonians and the quadrill. Square dancing is enjoyed by people around the world, and people around the world are involved in the continuing development of this dance. Square dancers are prompted or cued through a sequence of steps (square dance choreography) by a square dance caller to the beat of music. The caller leads, but usually does not participate in the dance.

J14 TV Show

"If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?"Prolly the Andy Griffith show. i love small towns, and i think it's be fun meet Floyd (the barber), and Otis, and go shopping with Aunt Bea. Climb trees with Opie, and hang around the courthouse with Andy. i'd prolly get sick of small-town life after a few weeks, but for amonth it's prolly be good.

The Dick van Dyke show is another i could like being trapped in. i'd just follow Rob to work adn be entertained by him, Buddy and Sally all day. Being in New York would be cool too. i really like Laura's character, so it'd be fun to hang out with her. i think i might get tired of black-and-white tho =P


Which show would you chose??

J 13 Possesions

"If you woke up suddenly because your house was on fire, which three things would you save as you ran outside?"

My books, my cds, and my clothes. What? It says three things, i chose three things... i just happend to chose whole collections lol Ok, for real. As much as i love my books, clothes and cds, i can replace all of them. If i had to grab just three things, i'd grab my flash drive with all my photos, papers, emails... pretty much my whole electronic life on it. i'd grab my memory box. It's just a photo box, but its filled with invitations, letters, ornaments, keychains, and random things i've collected that remind me of places i've been or things that have happend to me. i'd also grab my copy of Murder With Penguins by Donna Andrews. There's nothing special about this book, except that my dad bought it for me. You know, as one of those "just becasue i love you" gitfs. Its one of my favorite books, even more so cause my dad got it for me. There's a lot of other things i'd miss if i lost them, but i'd miss those the most.


Which three things would you grab??

Election

Why i didn't vote:

I'm almost 20 so you'd think i would have voted in the last election, right? Wrong. Now, I'm as concerned about political junk as the next person, but i didn't turn in my registration to vote till the beginning of October. They said that i wouldn't get registered in time, and i was ok with that... Until two days after the election... When i got the paper in the mail. Why couldn't they have sent it two days sooner?? i mean really... It wouldn't have been that hard. Of course i could have just turned in the registration sooner... that would have helped too. =P

Salt

Mathew 5:13
"Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of me."

Mark 9:50
"Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltiness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves and have peace one with another."

Colossions 4:6
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

James 3:12
"Can the fig tree, my bretheren, bear olive berries? Either vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh."

Jesus identifies His followers as salt. "You are the salt of the earth," says Jesus. "Earth" in this statement does not mean our planet. Earth, in this instance, means man or humanity. "You are the salt of humanity," says Jesus.


Salt is a preservative. As salt, Christians must do what they can to preserve life.
Christians not only preserve life – or prevent decay – but they also promote life and growth.

We live as the salt of the earth when we offer prayers of intercession for the world; when we pray to God to work in hearts with His Word and Spirit; when we ask God to be patient so that the ungodly can have time repent

Christians preserve life – they prevent destruction and decay – by resisting sin, evil, and wickedness in our land. All across our land and even within the church we see sin and immorality becoming more and more acceptable. If God's people live and function as salt then they are like the watchman on the walls of Jerusalem who call the people to arms because of the enemy's approach.

We are supposed to be like salt. Salt irritates, we're supossed to irritate people. We're not supossed to just love them and pray for them, (altho thats important too) we're supossed to show them they are wrong, and that they need God. Who do you need to talk to about God? Who is that person that you pray for, but only tell them the "good" parts about God. You never tell everything, you never make them uncomfortable. You're not being the Salt of the Earth.

Salt irritates. Go irritate someone.

Guys....

Ok, in the last month I've been asked out by two completely unsuitable guys, and it got me thinking... i attract the wrong kind of guy. I'm not kidding, i made a list of the people that (i know of) have liked/hit on me. It was slightly disturbing.

1. The first guy that ever liked me was a friend at a church i used to go to. He had anger issues, and was obsessed with me for about 3 years. He was convinced that we were going to get married someday. He asked me about every other month if my dad would let me date yet. We were about 12 at this point. I saw him a few years ago, i figured we're 17, he'll have matured. It won't be big deal. Wrong. He asked me out... multiple times.

2. The next guy that showed any interest in me was a guy at my high school. He was nice enough, but he had some learning issues and i found it hard to talk to him about anything other than country music, lawn mowers, and cars. He liked me a lot more than i liked him. i might have gone out with him a few times, but only a few, and not seriously. He also talked about getting married. (what is it with these guys??)

3. This random guy that stopped me in a parking lot to tell me that I'm "cute as hell" and ask for my phone number. That was just weird. He didn't get my number.

4. A guy that i met a few weeks ago. He asked me out for coffee today, he seems nice enough but i thought i'd check with some friends who know him better. Every single one's first reaction was "No!" Apparently he has some issues.

But really? Why do i attract these kinds of guys? What is it that makes them like me and the "good" guys i like not like me? And can they please be reversed? Please??

The Trouble With Harry

The Trouble with Harry: Authors Weigh in on the Potter Debate and Alternative Stories
Douglas LeBlanc
This article first appeared in the News Watch column of the Christian Research Journal, volume 31, number 1 (2008).
J. K. Rowling’s phenomenally popular Harry Potter series launched only a decade ago, and while millions of children happily immersed themselves in its fantasy world, many adults argued about the worldview behind the series. The argument has been perhaps most obvious among Christians. The bookend positions are that the Potter books spread interest in the occult (expressed in the film Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged) or, in contrast, that it is rich with Christian symbolism (expressed in a series of books by Eastern Orthodox layman John Granger). Many Christians find themselves somewhere in between those two interpretations.
Beyond churches and their theological critiques of the Potter series, mainstream journalists also disagreed. Just before the release of the series’ final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Lev Grossman of Time magazine argued that the series marked the death of God. He wrote, "In The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien fused his ardent Catholicism with a deep, nostalgic love for the unspoiled English landscape. C. S. Lewis was a devout Anglican whose Chronicles of Narnia forms an extended argument for Christian faith. Now look at Rowling’s books. What’s missing? If you want to know who dies in Harry Potter, the answer is easy: God." Grossman added, "Harry Potter lives in a world free of any religion or spirituality of any kind. He lives surrounded by ghosts but has no one to pray to, even if he were so inclined, which he isn’t. Rowling has more in common with celebrity atheists like Christopher Hitchens than she has with Tolkien and Lewis."
Like Grossman, Jeffrey Weiss of The Dallas Morning News noted the absence of "God, gods, heaven or hell" in Rowling’s books, but he also saw Deathly Hallows as Rowling’s having "the last laugh on the dwindling number of conservative Christians who have attacked her Harry Potter saga over the past decade."
"Most of the themes in Harry’s saga are common to many faiths: loyalty, love, friendship, courage, maturity, sacrifice, moral judgment," Weiss wrote. "But in ‘Deathly Hallows,’ the religious identity of Harry’s family is made stunningly and suddenly explicit. He visits the grave of his parents, on Christmas Eve in a church-side graveyard, and reads the inscription on the headstone: ‘The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.’"
Rowling is a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church. She has objected to arguments that the Potter series promotes interest in witchcraft, but she has not discussed her faith in any great detail during the past decade. Within the evangelical subculture, her series had the salutary effect of creating a new market—speculative fiction, or fantasy—that involves no magic charms or curses.
A Litmus Test.
Hinck had dabbled in speculative fiction before, but her novel The Restorer gave her the chance to immerse herself more fully in a genre she loves. The Restorer retells the story of the Old Testament prophet Deborah, setting it in a fallen and pre-Messianic world. The novel’s protagonist, a mother of four named Susan Mitchell, enters this world after discovering a box labeled "Dress Up" in her attic.
Like Hinck’s other books, The Restorer is aimed at a readership that’s mostly made up of Christian mothers. Hinck does not aspire for a wide readership beyond evangelical circles, simply because she’s found that’s not the kind of work she does best as a writer. "It’s the hope for a lot of Christian writers that their books will get beyond singing to the choir," she said. "My core audience is the Christian who is weary and disillusioned, and finding the whole Christian journey more challenging than expected." During the Fantasy Fiction Tour, "I think our largest order for the book was at Borders, but it’s often a Christian browsing Borders who finds it," she said.
Hinck’s previous series consisted of "humorous books with a tiny bit of speculative fiction snuck in," she said. "That was my sneaky way of getting to write what I love in a form that was sellable." Hinck had been told for several years that the core demographic served by bookstores for evangelicals was not interested enough in speculative fiction. From talking with her friends, Hinck found that evangelicals had many misgivings about the genre. Such books had overly elaborate backstories, geopolitical harangues—and, in the Potter series, the added complication of the debate about magic. Hinck set out to write speculative fiction that defied those expectations, and the fan mail she’s been receiving encourages her to believe she has succeeded.
"Some people in the Christian community are still nervous," she said. "They see speculative fiction as having something to do with the occult and with evil. Their hesitation is not coming from a place of ignorant hysteria."
Hinck is reticent to take sides in church conflicts about the Potter series. "In the Christian community, Harry Potter has become something of a litmus test," she said about both sides. "One of the things I love about the whole Harry Potter phenomenon is that families are getting excited about reading books together."
She’s also troubled by the concept of "reaction art," in which Christians create knockoff versions of successful books or music. "We can be free to write our stories without doing them as a reaction to other things that are being done," she said. She sees her novels, and those of her Fantasy Fiction Tour colleagues, not as offering alternatives to an evil Harry Potter but simply offering additional stories in which people make heroic choices.
Not a Good Kid.
Davis feels additional concerns about how authority figures are treated in the Potter series. "Every rule-keeper is portrayed in a bad light. Every authority figure is portrayed as a buffoon," he said. "It’s a worldview that is not Christian."
Davis said these themes became especially clear to him with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. "The one trend that was clear right at the get-go was that it’s cool to break the rules," he said. "We need to write stories where good behavior is uplifted and bad behavior is punished."
Davis was, by his own description, an unlikely author of fantasy novels. He was working as a computer technician and helping his wife homeschool their children. "I didn’t set out to write a novel or to become a writer, but to teach my children how to write and to show them how much fun writing can be," he said. He began writing a story and asking his children to give him more ideas to keep the story moving. Davis said he ended up having such a good time himself that a new career was born.
Davis saw the Fantasy Fiction Tour as a time to spread the love of such storytelling among his fellow Christians. "Let’s take fantasy back into the light, where it belongs," Davis said. "Fantasy is a story of things that cannot happen without a spiritual cause. Jesus used it with his story about a camel going through the eye of a needle."
He also cites the moment in Old Testament history when Elisha’s eyes are opened and he sees chariots of fire. "That’s exactly what fantasy literature does," Davis said. "It opens our eyes to see another realm that people cannot see with their eyes." Davis points out that the fantasy genre had been fairly dormant among evangelicals since John White’s acclaimed Archives of Anthropos series in the late 1970s and early 1980s. "I wrote the first book [Raising Dragons] before Harry Potter appeared," he said. "It just took me eight years to get it published."
Despite his efforts to bring the fantasy genre back into the light, Davis says, he has encountered occasional resistance—one time simply because a person thought that dragons were symbols of Satan. Davis said that when he is in bookstores, "people will come up and say, ‘Your books are of the Devil.’" When they sit with him and hear him out, however, they change their view. "I’ve yet to leave someone unconvinced" about the worthiness of fantasy literature, he said.
Davis does not concentrate his critique of the Harry Potter series on its use of magic, but he respects parents who feel misgivings about it—and about other stories that could influence their children. "Parents who are concerned and cautious, I think they’re awesome," he said. "I have your kids’ interests in mind and their spirits in mind, and I will not dishonor that."
Not a Bad Series.
Shea is especially pithy on charges of occultism. He writes,
The simple fact is this: The books are not occultic. Magic is not real, as Rowling repeatedly has had to state to interviewers who ask her if she "believes" in it. The magic of Harry is, as John Granger points out, "incantational," not "invocational," exactly like the magic of Gandalf. Born with the talent for magic, Gandalf says the magic words and fire leaps forth from his staff, just as from Harry’s wand. No principalities or powers are invoked in HP. Indeed, if any words are "invocational" they are the prayer to Elbereth and Gilthoniel uttered in Middle Earth. Yet nobody accuses Tolkien of promoting the worship of false gods. That’s because we understand Tolkien’s fictional sub-creation and its rootedness in Christian thought. I suggest Christian critics try to extend Rowling the same charity.
Shea’s essay makes clear that criticism of the Potter series is not limited to evangelical Protestants. Catholic novelist Michael O’Brien is a proponent of the view that the Potter series actually is an elaborate Gnostic myth. Shea counters: "Dumbledore’s consolation to Harry is that ‘it is our choices’—far more than our abilities—that really matter. And Harry’s choices concern, not ‘secret knowledge,’ but deeply human things such as love, mercy, forgiveness, courage, loyalty, and fidelity. None of this is gnostic."
"It’s very disturbing to me, as a Catholic, to see Catholics not getting it," Shea told the Journal. Shea believes nevertheless that evangelicals bear some of the responsibility for anti-Potter arguments. "I think there’s a fear of the Incarnation out there," he said. "If you let characters be what they are, rather than pitchmen for the Four Spiritual Laws, you’re getting off the program."
What’s the Trouble With Harry?
Ten years after Rowling’s first novel appeared, with her last Potter novel completed and the film series trotting along at an efficient pace, Shea said he hopes believers will not only show Christian charity toward the author, but toward one another. He shudders at the thought of how many anti-Potter books have been written by Christians. "People are going to be reading the Potter books in a hundred years," he said, and when they see anti-Potter books, they’re most likely to ask, "What was that all about?" Shea said he too felt some caution when he first heard about the Potter series. "I was a typical parent when the books first came out," he said, recalling his initial response as, "Another book about witches—great. But I read the first book, and at about three chapters into it I decided that this was nothing to worry about."One Christian who’s troubled by the Harry Potter debate is Mark Shea, an evangelical who became a Roman Catholic about twenty years ago. Shea recently published an essay, "Harry Potter and the Christian Critics," on the weblog for First Things magazine. In this brisk essay, Shea confronts every major criticism aimed at the Potter series, including occultism, Gnosticism, irreligion and the death of God, and moral problems (such as Harry’s lying). Shea told the Journal he wrote the essay because "I’ve gotten tired of people talking as though your views on Harry Potter are an article of faith." Bryan Davis is less reticent than Hinck about weighing in on the Harry Potter phenomenon. He’s troubled by it, but not so much because of the usual debate about magic. "I’m not a Harry Potter fan, even though I do understand fantasy and how magic can work," he told the Journal. "He is not a good kid. He lies, he cheats, he steals, and he’s never punished for it. In fact he gets worse as the series goes on." As Christians continue their decade-long debate about the Potter series, some authors in this genre offer alternative stories. During the summer of 2007, four of those authors—Wayne Thomas Batson, Bryan Davis, Sharon Hinck, and Christopher Hopper—made a whirlwind Fantasy Fiction Tour through twelve cities to meet their fans, find new readers, and help promote each other’s work.

How He Loves

How He Loves

David Crowder Band

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

That He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

In Remembrace Of Me...

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."

"After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me."

Tonight was the Thanksgiving & communion service at my church. It was very different from any other communion service i've been too. i've seen two other kinds of communion services: Where it's tacked on to the end of a regular service, and doesn't seem very important. Or where its all very solemn and somber.
This one was different. Where others focus on how holy we should be, this one focused on how we're not holy, and God chose to save us anyway. Several people gave testimonies, and the praise band lead us in several songs. That was really cool, most communion services i've been to didn't include music. It was a serious service, but more joyful, more thankful than i've seen before. i really liked it.

My Favorite Place

My favorite place.... i actually have two. One is about an hour away, and one is 5 minutes drive.

One is a campground up past Conway. It's really beautiful there, the grounds are very well cared for. There's a river that runs through the camp, i like to just sit and listen to it. There's a pasture bordering one side of the camp that has Bison in it. Its a pretty interesting site. The buildings on the camp have character, they just look interesting. i love walking around, just being there. Its relaxing for me, i feel closer to God there. Its miles away from the nearest town, and that town is pretty small. i usually feel closer to God when I'm off by myself in His creation. i've always wanted to drive up during the winter, i want to see what the grounds look like covered with snow. i imagine it as being a magical, icy wonderland. No one is there during the winter so it'll be unspoiled. That is prolly my favorite place on earth.

My second favorite place is much closer. It's only a 10 minute drive away. Its just as beautiful, but its a very different beauty. More sad, or somber almost. It too is part of nature, but in a different setting. i go here a lot. Its calming for me, i leave feeling more at peace. I'm not going to tell you where it is, or even what this place is. Its my place, where i go to get away, and i don't want anyone to know where t is. If you don't know where it is, you can't find me!

Where is your favorite place? Why is that your favorite? What makes it special to you?

Childhood Dreams...

Childhood dreams are sometimes improbable, impossible, impractical, or just plain silly. And yet, they can shape us so much...

Interestingly my dreams contradicted themselves, and are nothing like what i want now.
i had two most visited daydreams, the first was about Amy Carmicheal. If you don't know, she was a missionary in India, she worked with children, mostly orphans or the abandoned. i was about 5 or 6 when i first heard of Amy. i thought she was just the coolest person ever, and i wanted to be her when i grew up. Noe you'll notice i didn't want to be like her, no i wanted to be her. i asked some of my friends to start calling me Amy, and i daydreamed about what i'd do when i got to India. Today, i don't have any desire to go to India, and if you know me at all you'll know how i feel about kids. i still have a great deal of respect for Amy Carmicheal, i think she was an incredible woman. But i no longer want to be her.

The second dream i had was vastly different, and interestingly enough i'm a lot closer to fulfilling this one than i ever thought i would be (or wanted to be). When i was really young my dad would take me to work with him sometimes. i thought his work was so cool! It was a big building, with all kinds of neat equipment that the guys would give me rides on. i thought it smelled so interesting too, it reminded me of my dad. All the grease, oil, dirt, and general machine shop smells. And the girls who worked the front desk were so pretty, and nice. They'd give me pop and candy and let me sit at the counter and talk to the customers. A lot of the guys there, both employees and customers said i was "cute" or "adorable". i loved going to my dads work, and i wanted to work there when i grew up. Well, i don't work for RSC... but i do work in the office of a machine shop, i take orders, answer the phone , and talk to customers just like those other girls did. i spend all day talking to mechanics, and yes, it does smell like the shop my dad worked in. i know this is a pretty weird dream for a little girl, but i loved my dad, and i wanted to be like him.

So, those are two of my childhood daydreams. What are some of yours?

Zack

Dear Zack,
You prolly don't remember me, but I'll never forget you. You taught me more than you'll ever know. Four years later and i still think about you nearly every day, i think about what you taught me. You prolly have no idea what I'm talking about, i don't think you ever realized how much what you said affected me. But you helped me so much. Let me remind you....
We were sitting in a booth at a pizza place, talking non stop like we always did. i said something i used to say a lot, i don't remember the exact words but it was something like "i suck at that" or "I'll never be any better". You looked at me for a moment, and said "Why do you do that?" "Do what?" i answered. It never occurred to me that i was doing anything wrong. "You always say you're not good enough, or not smart enough, or not pretty enough. Don't you know you're amazing just the way you are?" i was completely shocked. I'd never been told that i was good enough how i was. i was told i needed to improve so much, that even when the adults stopped saying anything, i was still so critical of myself. i just looked at you, wondering "What does he see that i don't?" You smiled at me, and said "I like you that way you are, you should too." I'd never been told that before. For a girl of 15, being told that by a guy was a big deal. i said "Thank you" and we went back to our conversation, you never mentioned it again, but i still think about what you said. A lot of the time, when i start to say something critical of myself, i think of you. i think "Do i really mean this?" And a lot of the time i don't. So i don't say it, and now i think those things less.
So thank you Zack. You are changing me, even if you don't know it. That little conversation still affects me nearly every day. You are special, and i thank God we had the time He gave us, even if it was only a few years.
Someone once asked me why we didn't ever date. i told them that you were 3 years older, engaged, and that we prolly would have killed each other, we were so different. I'm glad we didn't ever date, what you said means more to me than the things other guys i dated told me. Your words are more real, more comforting, knowing that you truly meant them as a friend.
So Thank You. Thank you for caring, thank you for being my friend. But mostly , thank you for seeing me, and telling me what you see.
Forever,
Rachel

How to Photograph A New Puppy

Photographing a new puppy with a conventional camera (remember those?) isn't quite as simple as it may seem. Here are the instructions:
1. Remove film from box and load camera.
2. Remove film box from puppy's mouth and throw in trash.
3. Remove puppy from trash and brush coffee grounds from fur.
4. Choose a suitable background for photo.
5. Mount camera on tripod and focus.
6. Find puppy and yank dirty sock from mouth.
7. Place puppy in previous spot and return to camera.
8. Forget about selected spot and crawl after puppy on knees.
9. Focus with one hand and fend off puppy with other hand.
10. Get tissue and clean puppy-nose-print from lens.
11. Take flash bulb from puppy's mouth and throw in trash.
12. Put cat outside and put peroxide on the scratch on puppy's nose.
13. Place magazines back on coffee table.
14. Try to get puppy's attention by squeaking toy over your head.
15. Replace your eyeglasses and check camera for damage.
16. Jump up in time to grab puppy by scruff of neck and say, "No, outside! No, outside!"
17. Call spouse (or "significant other") to clean up mess.
18. Fix a drink. A strong one.

Top 10 Places To Visit

Here's a list of the top 10 places I'd like to visit before i die.

1. Great Britain. I'd actually like to live in London at some point, but visiting is absolutely essential. Great Britain has so much history, there's so much to learn. i want to see the castles, the gardens, the small villages and well as the big cities.
2. Appalachian Mountains. I'm not enough of a nature freak to want to hike the entire 2,179 mile trail, but i would like to go hiking for at least a weekend. i want to see the beauty of these mountains for myself, not just in photos. Although i plan on taking plenty of photos myself, of course!
3. Ireland. I'm Scotch-Irish so i want to see my ancestor's country, and i want to visit cause its so beautiful. i love the rain, so the climate sounds great to me! This country is still wild, and i want to see some of that before its gone.
4. Egypt. Egypt has such a unique culture. i want to see Alexandria, and the Nile. Ride a camel, and see a archaeological dig. There's so much to experience. It'll make a pretty interesting trip.
5. Rocky Mountains. i want to hike up to Pike's Peak. i also want to see some of the ghost towns, or old mining towns.
6. Fiji. What can i say? Its a tropical island. Great for a vacation.
7. Germany. A lot of history here too, both recent and older, religious and political. The culture is fascinating as well. I'd prolly take few side trips to Austria while I'm at it.
8. Greece. Ancient Greece is a fascinating subjects, and the modern culture is just as interesting. i love Greek Mythology and seeing where it originated will be incredible.
9. New Zealand. No snakes. Actually i like snakes, but i still want to visit New Zealand.
10. North pole. Santa & flying reindeer!! What could be better??

Ok, so i was Googling photos of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. So i now have another place i want to visit. *sigh* I'm not willing to bump one of these ^ from my list, so i now have 11 places i want to see before i die.

Good Muslim or Good American?

i got this as an email earlier this year. It's pretty interesting. What do you think?

"This does give one pause - - I don't believe that most Americans would choose to live under Sharia law. I do not, however, propose that ALL Muslims be summarily deported from the United States - that would be contrary to the Constitution."

 "If the Government were in charge of the Sahara Desert, there would be a shortage of sand" - Milton Friedman

Can a good Muslim be A good American?

This question was forwarded to a man who worked
in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. The following is his reply:

Theologically - no. . . .
Because his allegiance is to Allah,
The moon God of Arabia.

Religiously - no. . .
Because no other religion is accepted by His Allah
Except Islam (Quran, 2:256)(Koran)

Scripturally - no. . .
Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of
Islam and the Quran.

Geographically - no .
Because his allegiance is to Mecca ,
to which he Turns in prayer five times a day.

Socially - no. . .
Because his allegiance to Islam forbids
him to make Friends with Christians or Jews .

Politically - no. . .
Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual Leaders),
who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America ,
The great Satan.

Domestically - no. .. .
Because he is instructed to marry four Women and
Beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34 )

Intellectually - no. .
Because he cannot accept the American Constitution
since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes
the Bible to be corrupt.

Philosophically - no. . . .
Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran does Not allow
freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot
Co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Spiritually - no. . .
Because when we declare 'one nation under God,'
The Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah
is NEVER referred to As Heavenly father, nor is he
ever called love in the Quran's 99 Excellent names.

Therefore, after much study and deliberation....
Perhaps we should be Very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS
in this country. - - - it would seem difficult for them to be both
'good' Muslims and good Americans. Call it what you wish
it's still the truth. You had better believe it. The more who
understand This, the better it will be for our country and our future.

The religious war is bigger than we know or understand. ....

Footnote: The Muslims have said they will destroy us from within.

SO FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

J12 Iraq War

"How would you suggest we end the war against terror in Iraq? Explain at least three reasons why."

Two years ago i turned in a blank paper. i didn't have an answer then, and i don't now. There has always been conflict in the middle east. This newest "military action" against terror is just another scene.

Will it ever end? Will there ever be peace? 

Can the fighting stop? Can the war end?  



i don't know what can be done. i don't think it can be ended, not really. It will just start again a few years later. 

J11 One Hour

"If you could spend one hour with any person who ever lived, who would it be? Why that person? What would you ask?"

i originally wrote about my older brother, about how much i miss him and what i would tell him if i could see him again. But since i've already written about him, i'm going to find a new answer to this question. If i could spend one hour with anyone it would prolly be Elizabeth I. i've done a lot of research on her, she was an incredible lady and a magnificent ruler. Elizabeth proved that she could rule without a man, and be more than just ok, she could excel at running her country. i don't really know what i'd ask her, i wouldn't want to waste a minute on things i could find out for myself. i would just want to talk to her, to get to know her a little.


What about you? If you could spend one hour with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be??

J10 Seasons

"If you were a season, which would you be and why?"

If i could be a season i would be fall. i like fall ‘cause everything changes. Kids start school, the colors of the leaves change, the temperature drops. People start thinking about the holidays; they spend more time with their family and friends. The colors of fall are incredible; so many different shades and hues. For me fall is a new beginning, like spring is to most other people. Backwards, i know, but for me fall has always been a chance to change with the seasons.


What season do you think you would be??

J9 Best Friends

"Two of your best friends are angry at each other (each thinks that you are his/her best friend). You must choose only one, which will it be? Describe."

Hmmm... this is a tough one. When i answered this a few years ago my best friends were both guys, and didn't know each other. That isn't the case now. i have a lot of really great friends, but i really only have one 'Best' friend. She's the very best friend i've ever had and i wouldn't do anything to lose her, so i'll chose her. Although, just to clarify, niether she or any of my friends would get in a fight over who's my best friend. They're either to mature, or don't care about lables like 'best friend'. i really dont care about lables either, and i try not to make any of my friends feel less important than others. And really, all my friends are equelly important to me, just in different ways. however, i do have a closest friend, one that knows me better than anyone else.

I Will Believe

I Will Believe

We were meant to open doors
And we were meant to face the danger
Never knowing what's in store
And never having met a stranger

One of us is big and brave
And one of us is tenderhearted
One of us is tempting fate
And the last but not least of us
Has faith enough for each of us

And I know
That I could never go it alone
'Cause I believe
I'd be lost without You here beside me


It's like daylight
At midnight
It's my favorite dream when nothings really as it seems
Don't wake me
Just take me
Take me by the hand and I will believe

We have always been protected
Little ones should run and hide
But we expect the unexpected
When love arrives and calls us all inside

And I know
That even when the wind blows
I'll be fine
'Cause You and I will get by 'til Springtime


It's like daylight
At midnight
It's my favorite dream when nothings really as it seems
Don't wake me
Just take me
Take me by the hand and I will believe

Don't close your eyes, I'm right beside you
Don't be afraid, I'm never far
You and I were always meant to
Wake the dreamers from the dark
Come out, come out wherever you are


It's like daylight
At midnight
It's my favorite dream when nothings really as it seems
Don't wake me
Just take me
Take me by the hand and I will believe

Come out, come out wherever you are





J8 Fruit

"If you were a fruit, which would you be and why?"

If i was a fruit i would be a strawberry. Mostly because i have strawberry-blond hair. i think it would be fun to be a strawberry (aside from being eaten), most people would like me, and i could be made into many different things. i like strawberries cause they’re pretty, they're cute, and they smell kewl. i also like them cause they're really sweet.


What would you be?

Militray Fun

To our Soldiers: Thanks for all you do for our country, and i hope you enjoy this!

"A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit."
-Army's magazine of preventive maintenance.

"Aim towards the Enemy."
-Instruction printed on US Rocket Launcher
"Incoming fire has the right of way"
-Unknown


"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend."
-U.S. Marine Corps


"Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground."
-U.S.A.F. Ammo Troop


"If the enemy is in range, so are you."
-Infantry Journal


"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed."
-U.S. Air Force Manual
"The problem with taking the easy way out is that the enemy has already mined it."
-Unknown


"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons."
-Gen.Mac Arthur


"Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo."
-Infantry Journal


"You, you, and you . . . Panic. The rest of you, come with me."
-U.S. Marine Corp Gunnery Sgt.
"Friendly fire isn't"
-Unknown


"Tracers work both ways."
-U.S. Army Ordnance


"Five second fuses only last three seconds."
-Infantry Journal


"Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last, and don't ever volunteer to do anything."
-U. S Navy Swabbie


"If your attack is going too well, you're walking into an ambush."
-Infantry Journal
"The quatermaster has only two sizes: too small and to large."
-Unknown


"No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection."
-Joe Gay

No inspection ready unit has ever passed combat.

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. .. once."
-Anon


"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do."
-Unknown Marine Recruit


"Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around you."
-Your Buddies


"If you see a bomb technician running, follow him."
-U.S.A.F. Ammo Troop



"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid."
-David Hackworth

Recoilles rifles- aren't.

You are not Superman- Marines and fighter pilots take notice.

If it's stupid, but it works, it isn't stupid.

Never forget you're weapon was made by the lowest bidder.

Don’t look conspicuous; it draws fire. For this reason, it is not at all uncommon
for aircraft carriers to be known as bomb magnets.

If you are short of everything but the enemy, you are in the combat zone.

When you have secured the area, make sure the enemy knows it too.

The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.

Things which must be shipped together as a set, aren’t.

Things that must work together, can’t be carried to the field that way.

Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support.

Radar tends to fail at night and in bad weather, and especially during both.

Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.

Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you won’t be able to get out.

If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will get more than
your fair share of objectives to take.

When both sides are convinced they’re about to lose, they’re both right.

Professional soldiers are predictable; the world is full of dangerous amateurs.

Military Intelligence is a contradiction.

Fortify your front; you’ll get your rear shot up.

Weather ain’t neutral.

The Cavalry doesn’t always come to the rescue.

Napalm is an area support weapon.

Mines are equal opportunity weapons.

B-52s are the ultimate close support weapon.

Killing for peace is like screwing for virginity.

The one item you need is always in short supply

It’s not the one with your name on it; it’s the one addressed "to whom
it may concern" you’ve got to think about.

When in doubt, empty your magazine.

The side with the simplest uniforms wins.

Combat will occur on the ground between two adjoining maps.

If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you may
have misjudged the situation.

If you really need an officer in a hurry, take a nap.

There is nothing more satisfying than having someone take a shot at you, and
miss.

You’ll only remember your hand grenades when the sound is too close to use them.

So he said, "Cheer up: it could be worse!" So we cheered up. And it
got worse.

The spare batteries for the PRC-whatever your troops have been carrying are
either nearly dead or for the wrong radio.

The ping you heard was the antenna snapping off at 6 inches above the flexmount,
while a fire mission was being called in on a battalion of hostiles who know
your position.

Why is it the CO sticks his head in your radio hooch to see if anything has
come down from DIV when you are listening to the VOA broadcasting the baseball
games?

How come you are on one frequency when everyone else is on another?

Why does your 500-watt VRC-26 (real old) not make it across 200 miles while
a ham with 50 watts on the same MARS frequency can be heard from Stateside?

Know why short RTOs have long whips on their radios? So someone can find them
when they step in deep water.

Field experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

If your ambush is properly set the enemy won’t walk into it.

The only time you have too much fuel loaded is when your aircraft is on fire.

Growing

Growing

Brook Muller

I'm leaving now to slay the foe-

Fight the battles, high and low,

I'm leaving, Mother, hear me go,

Please wish me luck today.

I've grown my wings, i want to fly,

Seize my victories where they lie.

I'm going, Mom, but please don't cry,

Just let me find my way.

I want to see and touch and hear,

Though there are dangers, there are fears.

I'll smile my smile and dry my tears

Please let me speak my say.

I'm off to find my world, my dreams,

Carve my niche, sew my seams

Remember, as I sail my streams-

I'll love you all the way