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It’s rather sadly ironic; October 11, 2007

Posted by Anya in : I won't keep things purposely vague , 2comments

Rousseau finishes The Social Contract with the words, “I should always have kept [my eyes] fixed on things closer by.”  But in the preceding chapter (III, 8) it is obvious that his eyes are fixed on close things.  He writes against Christianity, saying that it is incompatible with a strong state, because a Christian “does his duty, certainly; but he does it without caring whether his efforts meet with success or with failure.”  He completely missed the point that while God’s kingdom is not of this world, that doesn’t mean that God is indifferent to this world – or that His people are to be, either. 

 Rousseau had the misimpression that Christians would be extremely likely to tolerate tyrants because “Christian charity does not lightly permit a man to think ill of his neighbor”.  However, in that same chapter, he excludes Christianity from being the state’s religion, because it is too intolerant.  He wrote, “One cannot live in peace with people one regards as damned.  To love them would be to despise God, who has decreed their punishment:  one must bring them back into the fold, or else make them suffer.”  This statement has so many problems, first from the problem of consistency with himself and then from a theological perspective.  First of all, if he thinks that we cannot live in peace with people who are damned, why in the world does he think that Christians would bow their heads to the rule of an ungodly tyrant?  Secondly:  this statement exhibits a stunning lack of grasp on how salvation works.  We don’t know who God has called to salvation, and therefore we have to live in a mixed culture – wheat and tares together, as Jesus put it – and the idea that we have to hate everyone around us is equally messed up.  God doesn’t tell us to hate other people.  He asked what fellowship light has with darkness, and the answer is, clearly, none.  But.  He commanded us to go into all the world, and disciple the nations.  Does that sounds as if we’re supposed to hunker down in our little cells, hating the rest of the world?   

The other sad thing was that Rousseau had no conception that there might be something more to life than earth… maybe we’re here for a bigger purpose than creating the perfect government.

 

Anyway.  That was probably enough of a rant to give you a quite sufficient idea of my thoughts reading parts of this book (The Social Contract). 

The weblog’s new look… October 10, 2007

Posted by Anya in : spontaneous degeneration , 1 comment so far

Which hopefully is an improvement on the emperor’s new clothes…  I’m still messing with it, because I desperately want to get the lime green titles out of there.  (Note:  if you’re now frantically searching for the lime-green parts on my reformed blogger, relax.  This is on the xanga.  You reformed-blog readers get plenty of layout changes.  )

Anyway.  Tonight at quiz practice it actually felt like we were doing something, which was a major improvement.  We actually got through three quizzes (upwards of 60 questions) in less than an hour.  We also had a fair amount of fun.

“All of my parents — BOTH, I mean, I mean BOTH — have blue eyes.”  ~ Christine.  (us:   ”So how many parents do you have?”)

Lizzy:  “And what would you do if I… erased this?”

me:  “Kill you.”

Lizzy:  “Um.  Oh.  Okay.”

*after talking about the original meaning of nice*

Lizzy:  “You are so nice.”

me:  *glareglare*  “I’m going to have to kill you.  Again.”

Jay:  “So, I got your email.  But I didn’t get a chance to reply.”

me:  “But apparently you’re surviving, because here you are.”

Jay:  “Yeah.  But I have a sore throat.”

Goodnight.

Not nearly so much like a ball… October 9, 2007

Posted by Anya in : spontaneous degeneration , 1 comment so far

We seem to have trouble with our balls at camp.

Last year, for instance, while playing kickball with bases (i.e., like baseball except kicking instead of hitting), Jesse kicked the ball and it went sailing up in the air.  It was rather flat, as was discovered by the unfortunate first-baseman who tried to kick it somewhere.

This year, though, topped that one as we were playing soccer.  The ball disappeared.  Jacob, who was our star player, and had gotten knocked down in the same hustle which lost the ball, looked about for it. 

After a moment, he realized where it was.

He was sitting on it.

I’m still a bit uncertain as to why it took him so long to discover that he was sitting on the soccer ball… perhaps it could be explained by his fondness for hitting the balls off his head.

Okay.  That was a short entry, but there it is.  To anyone concerned about the levity of my posts, I assure you, they will get more serious.  At some point.  When I feel like it.  But right now some randomness must spill out so that it doesn’t interfere with the general day-time stuff.

And besides, who wouldn’t enjoy hearing about Jacob looking for the ball which he was sitting on?  It was a great moment; he looked so sheepish.  This is the same Jacob who, while on crutches, kept doing a happy dance.

Yep.

Goodnight.  Dios le bendiga. 

Adrian would NOT be happy October 6, 2007

Posted by Anya in : spontaneous degeneration, smiling is good for you , 2comments

So.  Today we were at Target.  We were a lot of places first, touring different farms, but the part which has to do with Adrian (Monk, of course) happened at Target.

Dad found this:

 

If you cannot figure out “what is wrong with this picture”, you obviously do not understand Monk. 

 

A part of a farm

 

And am I not a good sister?  I rescued Ibey’s glow-in-the-dark plastic lizard from out of the light whereinto it had fallen while he was shining it up.  ^_^  I was petrified for a minute though that I might burn my fingers on the lightbulb.  Hey, don’t laugh!  You try fishing a lizard out of a light by flashlight while standing on a bed.

…Do lightbulbs rate on Adrian’s list of phobias?

Hello again! October 5, 2007

Posted by Anya in : spontaneous degeneration , 2comments

*hums*

*tries to think of how to start an entry*

You know, it used to be the easiest thing in the world to write blog entries, and I wondered why Abby didn’t do it more often.

Now, for some reason, entries no longer seem to write themselves, and apparently I’m too lazy to put much effort into it.  I think part of it is the fact that most of you who’d be reading this are people who I already talk to fairly often. 

And yes, in case you are wondering, I’m currently parallel-posting on xanga and reformedblogger.  Xanga’s layout is more fun and user-friendly.  Reformedblogger, obviously, has the lovely aspect of having “reformed” in the name.    The reason why I am not posting on my homeschoolblogger is because… It. Won’t. Let. Me. Log. In.  Grrrrr. 

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the idea of going to college.  The idea that in a year, I will be somewhere else (not at home), with other people (not my family or the youth group kids) is rather… boggling.  I think I like it, but it’s difficult to say.  Yikes.

This post, I see, is just going to degenerate into randomness.  So be it.

I killed two enormous mosquitos at church last night.  My sister would complain that it’s inhumane.  But really, from either point of view (the mosquito’s or mine) it’s extremely humane.  Mosquito - think of all the generations of little mosquito-lets which I am saving from being squished.  At one fell blow, too!  Mine - the mosquito is out for my blood.  It declares war.  Mosquitos are thin, mosquitos are rude, they feast on your skin for take-out food.  (From Insectlopedia by Douglas Florian.)

We’ve all been laughing at this… and… um… quoting it.  And trying to come up with a version for camp.  With the corresponding things the guys’ and girls’ counselors have to say.  Guys:  “Take a shower already.”  Girls:  “Get out of the shower already.”

Lyrics… “The Mom Song”Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepyhead
Here’s your clothes and your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now! Get up and make your bed
Are you hot? Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and gloves and your scarf and hat
Don’t forget! You gotta feed the cat
Eat your breakfast, the experts tell us it’s the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at 3 today
Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon so you must play
Don’t shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside, don’t play rough, will you just play fair?
Be polite, make a friend, don’t forget to share
Work it out, wait your turn, never take a dare
Get along! Don’t make me come down there
Clean your room, fold your clothes, put your stuff away
Make your bed, do it now, do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn? Would you like some hay?
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone! Get off the phone!
Don’t sit so close, turn it down, no texting at the table
No more computer time tonight!
Your iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up
Where are you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You’ll appreciate my wisdom someday when you’re older and you’re grown
Can’t wait till you have a couple little children of your own
You’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now I thank you not to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew, would appreciate
Take a bite maybe two of the stuff you hate
Use your fork, do not burp or I’ll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A, get the door, don’t get smart with me
Get a grip, get in here, I’ll count to three
Get a job, get a life, get a PHD
Get a dose of,
“I don’t care who started it!
You’re grounded until you’re 36″
Get your story straight and tell the truth for once, for heaven’s sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump, too?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before
That you’re too old to act this way
It must be your father’s DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything and everything must be in place
Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth, wash your face, put your PJs on
Get in bed, get up here, say a prayer with mom
Don’t forget, I love you
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never ends
You don’t need the reason why
Because, because, because, because
I said so, I said so, I said so, I said so
I’m the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom!!
Ta da!!!

And this also amused me… The Postmodern Medium-Length Catechism. 

I did two Spanish lessons today.  One on Rosetta Stone, one on Living Language.  Hopefully the stuff will be firmly thumped into my head. 

The church newsletter needs to be typed up.    I finally thought of something intelligent.  Rather than writing note-worthy news down on index cards, which have the annoying habit of getting mixed in with the other index cards in my Bible, and further misplaced through confusion over which Bible I put them in , I have begun writing it down in my notes-notebook.  Duh. 

Anyway… goodnight.

Look at what a classical education does to one: October 4, 2007

Posted by Anya in : spontaneous degeneration , 1 comment so far

Case in point:  Beowulf.

Madeline is reading it and says it is awesome.

I have a friend who has acquired the nickname of “Beowulf”.  Granted, it is of limited usage.  It’s his all the same.

A.W. and I have been discussing versions.  Heaney, he says, but I’m contending for Rabsamen.  He (A.W., not Rabsamen) recommends the performance by Benjamin Bagby. 

Yes. Long time, no post. October 3, 2007

Posted by Anya in : spontaneous degeneration, smiling is good for you , 2comments

And I’ve changed the layout again.  I’m sorry.  I’m having trouble finding one that I really like.  There’s a couple that I’d love if I could figure out how to customize, but, alas, that is not to be. 

Anyway.  For your reading enjoyment.  I got quite a kick out of it.  Mom thought it was too close to the truth, which it probably is.

From youth group tonight:

*all girls class*

*Eddie walks in*

*Eddie tries to look unconcerned*

*we all laugh*

*Eddie turns redder and redder until he matches his shirt*

*we all laugh to death*

[after teasing Anna about driving]  “Poor Anna!”

Brittney:  “Poor everyone else!”

[talking about getting old]  Mrs. B:  “Teeth fall out –”

Anna:  “THAT’S SICK.”

So.  Let’s see.  I’ve been doing a lot of schoolwork, reading a lot of Isaac Asimov (which is really interesting stuff, by the way… anyone want to discuss it?), and so forth.

And so goes life.