Impressions

This past Sunday (2/25/07), my family and I (plus The Amazing Zacchini) attended Amazing Grace, the new film from Bristol Bay Productions that tells the story of William Wilberforce and his crusade to abolish slavery in the British Empire. It is an exceptional film that I would highly recommend to everyone, most especially those whose schoolchildren may be studying slavery. But that is not what I wish to speak about here.

It only takes some cursory research to realize that William Wilberforce was an exceptionally gifted human being, in both ability and compassion, with an almost superhuman devotion to community service. He founded or participated in 69 different charitable organizations, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Church Mission Society; he spearheaded the construction of a church in his retirement neighborhood of Mill Hill, using largely his own money; and he was one of the youngest individuals ever to serve in the House of Commons. Interestingly, he did all this while suffering from colitis, a painful intestinal disorder, and while raising six children with his wife, Barbara. Though the son of a wealthy merchant, a Member of Parliament for 45 years, and a highly respected member of society, Wilberforce always found time for those less fortunate, the downtrodden of society. The film even gives us the idea that he regularly fed the poor in the dining room of his estate. I don’t think it would be a stretch, then, to conclude that Wilberforce was anything but elitist in his attitude toward and treatment of his fellowman. He truly understood that God created all men equal and continues to see them that way, regardless of life accomplishments or socioeconomic status.

What struck me this morning as I sat in my family room, cozily sheltered from the newly fallen snow outside my window, was the idea that if one of the many underprivileged, downtrodden individuals that Wilberforce so energetically aided during his lifetime had entered the “arts” theater that hosted Amazing Grace on Sunday, the hue and cry from the receptionist of this “upscale” movie house would have been more than audible. It would have been deafening. Now, I do not perceive myself as a tremendously “earthy,” “working class,” or “vulgar” individual, but even I felt a bit put-off by the greeting I received when I attempted to purchase my theater ticket. As I approached the door of the theater, I saw neither a sign indicating which credit/debit cards were accepted nor did I spy a notice stating, “cash only.” Still unaware of my payment requirements as I approached the ticket counter, I stated, as a question, that I assumed the establishment honored debit cards. “No, we do not take cards. We take cash.” Met with this restriction, I asked the location of a nearby ATM machine. The elitist snarl that graced the countenance of the receptionist was positively appalling, as she relayed (through gritted teeth) the location of the requested cash dispenser. Everyone in my party exited the theater to procure the necessary financial instruments. After a short trip across the street, my husband returned with the cash, purchased our tickets, and we enjoyed the film.

Now, I don’t know why this young woman’s attitude struck me so negatively. Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen such surliness in a long time. Or maybe it was because I felt convicted about the first (and often last) impression that I leave with people. I have often heard it said, usually in reference to embarrassing situations, “Relax. No one here knows you. Don’t worry about what they think. They will never see you again.” The thing is, they may remember you, and you may have made more of an impression than you think. I certainly don’t want to be remembered as I now recall the young lady at the theater ---surly and elitist. I would much rather be remembered as history recalls William Wilberforce --- a tireless servant.

Sick … Again!!!

When my husband was a cancer patient thirteen years ago, I can remember a physician telling me that the human body goes through health cycles: some years are up, you feel great, and you rarely get sick; some years are down and you are challenged my repeated illnesses. Well, I must be in a down cycle because I have the flu. This is after a cold in December for which I required an inhaler, an episode that followed a shorter cold in November. Hopefully, I won’t be sick again for a while because, frankly, this is getting really old.

Lenten Devotions

Now that we are five days into the Lenten season, I finally found a daily devotional for Gooseberry Lane. It is called Time for Renewal and it hails from Lutheran Hour Ministries. Here is the introduction from their website:

In these 40 days leading to Easter, we reflect on God’s love in action through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are renewed. For it is within these 40 days that we come face to face with the depth of our own sin, the very sin for which Jesus Christ died on the cross. And on Easter we rejoice in victory as we celebrate that Jesus’ death and resurrection give us life with Him for all eternity.

So, take a few minutes in the morning and listen to the daily podcast, accessible in the upper right-hand corner of the blog. It will help you focus your thinking and remain mindful of the reason for this current holiday season.

Evaluation: Rudolph Club JAN 2007

From January 25th-February 25th, my first month as a Rudolph Club member, these were my assignments (see below). How did I do? I finished almost all the tasks. For me, this is cause for celebration.

JANUARY TASK: Tie Up Loose Ends!
Almost all my Christmas items are now staged to go into the attic or into the basement. The only stragglers are some dishes and some ornaments. I purchased a number of tableware items on the after-Christmas sales that need to be stored a bit more systematically. As for the ornaments, my husband took them off the tree in haste because the lovely evergreen was so dry. Unfortunately, he didn’t pack them away in the special, sectioned box that I use; he merely set them in the handiest cardboard version. It will be a little extra work for me to organize the ornaments for final storage, but at least my dying tree didn’t catch fire and burn the house down.

JANUARY TASK: Set Up a Gift Closet
I do not have space in my 900-square-foot house for a closet dedicated entirely to buy-ahead gifts. Oh, what a luxury that would be! I do, however, have a red-and-green flip-top box that I plan to set at the foot of my bed for the sole purpose of storing early-purchase presents. Until my new front entry materializes (which will give me that dedicated closet), this system must suffice. To track my early purchases, I created a gift inventory form in my computer and I plan to update it whenever presents are stored in the “gift box.”

FRUGAL GIFT IDEA: Holiday Sock Collection
I contemplated this gift idea for a while before deciding whether collecting socks all year would be worth the effort for the few individuals on my list who would enjoy this kind of thing. Today (2/10/07), while shopping for some new bath towels, I checked out the Valentine’s Day novelty socks. Some of them were cute. The price wasn’t bad either: $1.99/pair. So, at that moment, standing in front of the sock rack next to the store checkout, I made the command decision to become a ridiculously early Christmas shopper and purchased four pairs of the fashionable footwear items. I brought them home, organized them into large gallon plastic storage bags, and dropped them in the Christmas gift box at the end of my bed. On February 24th, I added some St. Patrick’s Day socks as well.

HOLIDAY BOOKS & MOVIES
Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich
Only five chapters in length and 150 pages long, it didn’t take me long to polish off this holiday volume, and I am a slow reader. Visions of Sugar Plums is the story of bounty hunter/detective Stephanie Plum, a woman in search of bail-jumper Sandy Claws and, with only four days to go until Christmas, a woman woefully behind on her holiday preparations. Enter Diesel, a handsome stranger who (literally) pops into Stephanie’s kitchen. His plan: help the poor woman get her man AND get ready for Christmas. No easy task what with the mysterious villain Mr. Ring causing power outages all over town, the local elves pelting people with gingerbread cookies, and the dysfunctional antics of the Plum family distracting everyone.

Not being a seasoned reader of Janet Evanovich, I found this story simplistic and, in the words of my sixteen-year-old daughter, fluffy. The characters were poorly developed, the plot predictable, and the dysfunctional family disturbing. I certainly hope Ms. Evanovich was not attempting to portray an “average” American family: a mother who copes by drinking, an older sister in the midst of a divorce getting pregnant by a man whose virility she gauges by looks (please tell me woman aren’t that intellectually challenged), and a grandmother who flaunts her new “stud muffin,” the real villain of the story --- Mr. Ring --- in disguise.

In defense of the book, I understand that Ms. Evanovich writes stories in series and that this volume has many recurring characters. Perhaps if I had read more Stephanie Plum novels before Visions of Sugar Plums, I would have known more about the characters and more about other setting/plot devices, such as the relationship Ms. Plum has with her boyfriend, for example. That said, I would still opt for something “meatier.”

Recommended, but only if you have nothing better to read.

12 Days of Christmas Eve, starring Steven Weber & Molly Shannon
Billed as a cross between “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Groundhog Day,” this made-for-TV movie from 2004 has business executive Calvin Carter repeating Christmas Eve twelve times until he gets the clue that the people in his life are more important than money and material possessions.

This film wasn’t actually as bad as I thought it was going to be. The life-altering transformation was kept until late in the script or, rather, it unfolded gradually throughout the latter half of the film, a much more realistic approach. After all, most of us come to an awareness of well-ordered priorities in fits and starts over the course of a lifetime. Unfortunately, television and a 90-minute time limit don’t really lend themselves to incremental revelation. This movie, however, does a better job than most. Favorite line from the film: “This ‘best Christmas ever’ thing is not a destination. It is more like a journey. God is in the details.”

Recommended, but difficult to find. I had to purchase it from Amazon.com in order to view it out of season. Neither Netflix nor my local library had it in stock.

RUDOLPH CLUB BOOKS & MOVIES (December 2006)
Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright
Shorter than Visions of Sugar Plums (only 122 pages), this book was also a quick read, but of MUCH higher quality. It is unusual for me to read one fiction book every six months. Having read two in the same month is almost unheard of. Becoming emotionally invested in characters is even more rare for me, but that is exactly what happened with this tale.

The plot finds orphan Hope Jensen adopted, as an infant, by Louise, a woman who raises the little girl to adulthood before succumbing to ovarian cancer. From childhood, Hope is a gifted writer, a talent she uses to secure employment at the local newspaper, a job she holds throughout college and beyond, a position she uses to investigate the origin of a mysterious jar full of money that appears on her doorstep immediately after a Christmas Eve burglary relieves her of many personal possessions.

Hope discovers the origin of the Christmas Jar --- the Maxwell family, owners of a small and highly respected antique restoration business. On a mission to write a human-interest story about the wonderfully positive effects of the jars, Hope befriends the Maxwells. Though her motives are initially selfish, the intrepid reporter gains much in return: a family and some lessons in life, and about Chirstmas, that will stay with her long after the holiday ends.

Highly, highly recommended. I plan to purchase it for my Christmas library as soon as possible. Look for the movie, sometime in 2007.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, starring Chevy Chase
Much to the chagrin of Katherine the Great and King Richard III, I requested this movie from Netflix for the sole purpose of fulfilling my Rudolph Club “bonus” assignment. I really shouldn’t have bothered. Filled with poor physical humor, angry outbursts, and sexual innuendo, the storyline had less to do with Christmas and more to do with the inability of the main character, Clark Griswold, to formulate appropriate expectations and to cope with reality once those expectations were challenged. I suppose the director was attempting to convey the idea that Christmas never goes as planned, and that the holiday really isn’t about all the trappings anyway. I just think he could have found a better vehicle for his message.

Not recommended.

Hopefully, my remaining loose ends will be in the attic by February 28th. Watch for the next Rudolph Club assignment summary. It should be coming soon.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, that 40-day* observance in the Christian church when believers remember Christ’s journey to the cross. For those who may be unfamiliar with this “holy day,” it is believed to date from the eighth century, as evidenced by the discovery of the name “dies cinerum,” or day of ashes, in copies of the Gregorian Sacramentary from that era. The most common activity on this day: church attendance for the purpose of receiving ashes in the shape of a cross on your forehead. Generally, the ashes should remain in place until after sundown.

Why ashes? Penitence. In the words of Aelfric, a tenth-century Anglo-Saxon homilist:

In the books, both in the Old Law and in the New, that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent, that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins… (Aelfric, Lives of Saints, ed. Skeat, I, 262-266)

The application of ashes to the forehead is usually accompanied by one of three instructional phrases:

“Remember...that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.”**
“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”
“Repent, and hear the good news.”

Where does the Church acquire these ashes? By burning palm leaves from the previous Palm Sunday (March 1, 2006) and mixing them with olive oil as a fixative. Of course, in this day and age, you can purchase them as well. For more information about that, visit Ash-Wednesday.org.

My Ash Wednesday was quiet and due to a last-minute scheduling conflict I was unable to attend church. For anyone else who missed the corporate worship event of the day, may I suggest this short devotional, taken from the Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America, 1958? Note: I updated the “thee,” “thou,” and “-eth” usages in an effort to enhance readability. I also substituted the phrase “Holy Spirit” for the phrase “Holy Ghost.” Have a blessed day.

* Sundays are not included in this calculation.
** from Genesis 3:19.
------------------
INTROIT (prayer)
I will cry unto God most High : unto God that performs all things for me. Yea, in the shadow of your wings will I make my refuge : until these calamities be overpast. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me : for my soul trusts in you. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit : as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

PSALM
Psalm 51

COLLECT (prayer)
Almighty and everlasting God, who hates nothing that He has made, and does forgive the sins of all those who are peniten t: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

LESSON
Joel 2:12-19

EPISTLE
1 John 1:5-9

GRADUAL (response to the Epistle)
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me : for my soul trusts in you. He shall send from heaven : and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.

He has not dealt with us after our sins : nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. Help us, O God of our salvation; for the glory of your Name.

GOSPEL
Matthew 6:16-21

LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine upon you,
And be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace. Amen.

Shrove Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, or Carnivale, depending on where you live. It is a day for celebrating, eating pancakes (if you are English), and announcing the advent of Lent. So, why do people party so heartily before this holiday arrives?

To begin, let’s be honest, I could search the Bible until I turned green and I would find neither Christ nor his disciples celebrating Shrove Tuesday. It is a “holy day” that was probably created by the Church, has probably been around for centuries, and probably has some sort of ill will, corruption, or doctrinal error associated with it. Be that as it may, “holy days” remain useful tools for commemoration.

So what am I commemorating by observing Shrove Tuesday? A day of preparation. Personally, in practical terms, I make sure my plans for the Lenten season are solidified: my Bible study materials are set, my church attendance schedule is planned, and I am aware of special events and commitments that need my attention from February 21st-April 7th. Spiritually, I look back at Advent, the time of preparation for Christ’s birth, and I recognize that Shrove Tuesday marks the gateway to Lent, the time of preparation for Christ’s atoning death.

So why the grand celebrations? For centuries, Church tradition interpreted Lent as a time of deprivation. Parishioners were encouraged to “give something up,” usually meat, for the 40-day observance, an exercise intended (I suppose) to personalize the reality of sacrifice. If I suffer by sacrificing something for the duration of Lent, how much more did Christ suffer by sacrificing His life for an eternity? As often happens, though, what probably began as a theological activity to increase awareness, morphed into a requirement, and so and so on. If I know that I am expected to be serious, meditative, and deprived for forty days, I could be motivated to let off some steam before the entire episode begins; hence, the parties and celebrations of Fat Tuesday.

For the record, I don’t party on Shrove Tuesday. I eat pancakes for breakfast and make sure I am prepared for Christ’s journey to the cross. Lent begins tomorrow. Are you ready?

No Wal-Mart … For Now

After a week of attending meetings and listening to the deliberations of experts, I am happy to report that the Groton Planning Commission denied the application of Konover Development Corporation to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter in my community. I participated in the effort to defeat this “big box” store by submitting my opinion, in writing, to the individual members of the Planning Commission (see Basic Sector Development, Please). The gigantic Wal-Mart would have been extremely close to the reservoir that supplies my drinking water. The fight may not be over, however. Konover Development may appeal the decision. If they do, I am sure you will hear more about it.

Dinner In!

My family and I ate dinner in our own kitchen this evening. The menu:

Quiche
Round steak strips and onions sautéed in olive oil
Salad greens
Low-fat sesame ginger dressing
White tea

I actually cooked all this food and cleaned up the kitchen immediately after dinner. Breakfast will also be at home: pancakes, organic chicken sausage, blueberries, and green/white tea.

Chinese New Year

Did you know that today is Chinese New Year? It is the Year of the Pig. I was born in the Year of the Ox. Though I take absolutely no stock in any of the Chinese zodiac stuff, I am a fan of Chinese food. That is why I am on my way out the door to eat some of the delectable fare. Yes, that means I will be spending more money on restaurant food but, hey, it is a holiday, right? Forgive me.

Yellow Poop

Warning: Do not read during lunch or if squeamish.

Yesterday, The UmBlog referenced a story on the Fat Cyclist about one of the many pleasures of parenthood --- sick, vomiting children. At the end of his entry, Mr. Cyclist asked readers to send in their own “barf” tales. With 49 responses thus far on Fat Cylist, I decided to post my icky story here instead.

Katherine the Great was about two years old. It was 7:00 AM and I decided to take care of some early shopping errands at Bradlees, a now defunct discount store. Having finished breakfast (that included scrambled eggs), we headed to the Shopping Plaza. Part way through the store, Miss Katherine began to complain about a “tummy ache.” As I progressed through the store, these grumblings only got worse, so I cut my trip short and drove home. Upon pulling in the driveway and opening the door next to my toddler, the “tummy ache” began to manifest itself as projectile vomit. Do you have any idea what scrambled eggs look like after only 30 minutes or so in the stomach of a toddler? They are almost entirely unchanged. It is amazing.

Now, since my daughter was rarely sick, this was her first adventure with vomit, and she did not like the way it felt (or looked). Also, she understood that her body produced only one type of solid matter --- poop. In addition, since scrambled eggs are yellow, the vomit was yellow. So, naturally, she named the vomit “yellow poop.” For the rest of the day, every time she felt that tingly feeling in her cheeks that meant she was about to upchuck, Miss Katherine would cry and yell, “No more yellow poop, Mommy. No more yellow poop.”

To this day, my daughter has only vague recollections of this incident. Thank goodness, because it is emblazoned on my memory as one of the grossest, yet most adorable days of my parenting career. Motherhood, who knew?

Out of Season

On Thursday past (2/15/07), I was investigating faith-based podcasts for Gooseberry Lane and for another blog I started, CHOOSE CT Teens. In the midst of this search, I found a website called FaithStreams...Light for the Journey. Now, I have no idea of the overall quality of this site, having just encountered it; however, it did seem to have a rather extensive section on holidays/holy days. Being the celebratory nut that I am, I had to check it out. Being the Christmas nut that I am, I checked that link first. This is one of the items that caught my eye:

Questions for the Twelve Days of Christmas

1. Is Christmas a time of spiritual renewal for you?

2. Which receives the most attention in your household at Christmas, the “advent” of Santa Claus or of Jesus Christ?

3. Do you feel pressured at Christmas --- by the media, friends, and relatives --- to do things and spend in ways that do not honor the birth of Christ?

4. Are you comfortable with the gift-giving patterns of your family? Does your spending for Christmas reflect your faith?

5. The Gospels say that Christ’s coming was “good news to the poor.” Are your celebrations of His coming also “good news to the poor?”

6. Should your church provide resources and encouragement for members who want to find new ways to celebrate Christmas?

7. Santa is supposed to bring gifts to those who are good and not to those who are bad. What do you think that says to children who are too poor to get Christmas presents?

8. Do you find it ironic that some of the most popular gifts to children at the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace are war toys?

9. Three-fourths of advertising dollars are spent in the last quarter of the year. Does all that advertising influence the way you celebrate Christmas?

10. Is the environment better or worse off because of the way you celebrate Christmas?

11. When the bills came last January and February, did you wish you had spent less in December?

12. At the conclusion of last year’s celebration, did you wish your Christmas celebrations had been more in keeping with your faith and values? Do you want to resist the commercialization of Christmas?

Surprisingly enough (or maybe not so surprising), this list of questions had a reference line that read “Resources for responsible living and celebrating since 1973. Since 1973. Apparently, mine is not the first generation to be challenged by the commercialization of Christmas. Somehow, that does not surprise me.

Anyway, I just thought I would throw this list out there for consideration, even though it is out of season. Check back, soon. Maybe I will have a thought-provoking list for Lent in the next few days.

NationStates

Today, Koalagirl15 and The Amazing Zacchini gave my daughter and me the address of a website that, as a political science major who is currently teaching American Government, I think is totally cool: www.nationstates.net. Based on the book Jennifer Government by Max Barry, the site allows visitors to create their own nation, complete with flag, motto, and national animal. That is where the simplicity seems to end, however. Once a newly birthed nation begins conducting business, the game requires the ruler to make decisions on issues such as the legalization of euthanasia or whether voting should be voluntary or compulsory. Talk about conversation starters! Katherine the Great created an inoffensive, centrist, democracy. Her friend, The Amazing Zacchini, designed a compulsory, consumerist state. The type of country adjusts constantly based on how issues are decided. A benevolent dictatorship, for example, could morph into a socialist state, could change into a democracy, could become a left-leaning college state, and so on, and so on. I find it all very intriguing, plus it gives the kids a very real-time, hands-on way to understand various forms of government and how social/political behavior affects the foundations of authority and culture.

Check it out and create your own personalized country.

I Love Harold!

As readers of this blog know, I adore Gooseberry Lane by Bethany Tudor. It was, in fact, the inspiration for this site. Another favorite children’s book is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. For some reason, this morning, as I was surfing around on Amazon.com for a copy of Messenger by Lois Lowry (high school book club selection for March), I thought of lovable Harold and his magic, imaginative crayon. Upon checking, I discovered that 2005 was the 50th anniversary of the original Harold tale. Since then, many more yarns about the small boy and his crayon have been penned. If you and your children, or grandchildren, have never been introduced to Harold, let me do so now. These are his stories, all by Crockett Johnson. Enjoy!

Harold and the Purple Crayon
The lovable boy uses his purple crayon to draw a moon, a path, a forest, an ocean, and a balloon. He draws until he is tired and must find his way home. 1955.

Harold’s Fairy Tale
Harold goes for a walk in a magic garden where nothing grows. Why? To discover the answer, Harold draws a castle so that he may go inside to ask the king. 1956.

Harold’s Trip to the Sky
On his way to get a drink of water, Harold (along with his crayon and the moon) finds himself in a desert. Rather than stay in such a dull place, Harold goes to the moon, draws himself a rocket, and travels through the sky. 1957.

Harold’s Circus
Harold goes for a walk on a tightrope and tumbles into a circus where everyone puts on a great show under the big top. 1959.

Harold’s ABC
In this last Harold book, the adorable hero journeys through the alphabet. Using his crayon, he transforms each letter into something special. 1963.

Basic Sector Development, Please

On Tuesday night, I attended a meeting of the Groton Planning Commission. On the agenda was the application to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter at the intersection of Tollgate Road and Route 184, approximately one mile east of the existing Wal-Mart store and only five miles from the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Waterford. Amidst all the interesting and revealing information about water quality, storm water runoff, and the deleterious effect such land use could have (most likely, would have) on the Groton reservoir, not once did I hear anyone discuss the wisdom of such a large non-basic sector development project, especially one with such potentially high environmental costs. A few speakers alluded to it, but the Commission gave the impression that a judgment call on that subject was beyond the scope of their mandate. Really? I was under the impression that I elected the people who appointed this Commission so that they could make these types of judgment calls for me, a citizen whom they represent. But, I digress...

The point I wish to make is this: every community requires basic sector economic entities and acquires non-basic sector businesses. What exactly do I mean by that? Every town, area, or region of the country needs the capital investment made by manufacturing, agriculture, mining, research, etc. to bring “new money” onto the economic playing field. In Groton, our basic sector businesses are Pfizer, Electric Boat, and the military. As this engine of foundational investment creates an income stream, other businesses come onto the playing field as outlets for that income, places where it can be spent: restaurants, retail stores, car dealerships, and the like. Examples of local non-basic sector businesses are Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Stop & Shop, and (believe it or not) the casino. Though a large employer, the casino depends on the disposable income generated by basic sector jobs; therefore, it cannot be categorized as a basic sector economic entity.

A crucial component of responsible urban planning in any given community is to balance these basic and non-basic sectors, meaning that the outlets for spending (both discretionary and non-discretionary) should not outpace the existing/potential capital investment. When this does occur, blight can begin in the form of empty retail space or abandoned restaurants because excess capacity exists in the non-basic sector. An argument could be made that this phenomenon is already occurring in Groton, as evidenced, for example, by the empty Eblens location, the abandoned IHOP restaurant, and the space vacated by the Pizza Palace, just to name a few.

A more compelling point of discussion would be the tenuous nature of our foundational basic sector businesses. Pfizer has repeatedly restructured their operations, putting our community through several rounds of layoffs that saw employees both enter and exit our economic region. Electric Boat was hit hard by major downsizing efforts in both the 1980’s and 1990’s, and continues to live at the mercy of defense budget approvals and the awarding of military contracts even today. The submarine base narrowly escaped complete closure in the last round of BRAC and remains susceptible to this threat. What is the town doing to solidify the place of these companies and governmental agencies in our community? What is the town doing to attract more basic sector businesses to Groton? And why, if the local economic underpinnings are so precariously balanced does the Director of Planning and Development sound so eager to sacrifice our reservoir in a crusade to create excess retail capacity in the form of a Wal-Mart Supercenter when the current Wal-Mart is such an excellent match to the current level of capital investment?

I respectfully submit that the Office of Planning and Development should focus less on building a new Wal-Mart and more on basic sector development. Thank you.

Busy Sunday

As a practicing Christian, I understand that Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. The Scriptural references to this are numerous --- Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8 just to name two. Yet, somehow, come Sunday, I just can’t manage to meet the goal of peaceful relaxation.

Today, for example, I got up at 5:30 AM (30 minutes late if you ask my cats), fed the lovely beasties, completed my daily priorities list, checked my online mail, read the news, took my probiotic supplements, signed up with Constant Contact to publish the CHOOSE CT newsletter online, and watched “The Beltway Boys” on Fox News, all before 7:00 AM. At that point, I realized the glaring absence of a morning devotional in my day, so I grabbed my Bible and read through the book of James. My daughter and I are working through this book in a homeschool co-op, so when my reading was completed, I printed out two copies of James, Chapter 2 for later inductive analysis.

By that time, it was 7:30 AM, the last reasonable hour to begin processing churchgoers through the shower without a lot of stress and “verbal encouragement.“ Why is it that Sunday morning seems more deadline driven than any other morning? I ran through the shower in ten minutes, leaving enough hot water for other family members to clean up without waiting for the water heater to recover. I spent ten more minutes completing my “beauty routine,” or rather my anti-aging ritual, and got dressed.

While waiting for Katherine the Great and King Richard III to spruce up for the day, I updated my Quicken account, gathered my church/Sunday School items, checked my church offering calendar (man, Lent is coming fast!), checked my Saturday blog statistics on Sitemeter, called Applebee’s to complete a customer survey (much too long), worked on this blog entry, and checked my online mail one more time to make certain no last-minute church messages came through. Crazy, I know. What can I say, early morning is a VERY productive time for me!

At 9:15 AM, my daughter and I were out the door, headed for Dunkin Donuts. Where else would I go for a quick breakfast? “America Runs On Dunkin,” after all. Two bagels, one hot tea, and one hot chocolate later, we were on our way to church. My hubby opted out of the church schedule. As the morning progressed, he wasn’t feeling well, the victim of a caffeine-withdrawal headache. Sunday School was a discussion of Christian music; 11:00 AM worship was short (no communion this week); the Family Ministry meeting went a little long.

Exiting the church at 2:00 PM, I checked on my husband who was still under the weather so, teenager in tow, I headed to Russell’s Ribs for lunch. I knew I could get a decent-sized hamburger there with “real” vegetables on the side --- boiled collard greens and sweet potatoes --- instead of the gigantic burgers and fries sold at many other restaurants. With nothing but a bagel in my stomach, I was really rather hungry for protein. Being Sunday, I did indulge in a slice of peanut butter/chocolate pie that I shared with Katherine the Great. After lunch, I ran a quick errand to Kohl’s in search of Valentine’s Day socks (believe it or not, part of a Christmas gift) and a new bra, a successful effort that put us home in less than 30 minutes.

Once I was home, the pace settled down a bit, but I still had work to do: wash the new towels (2 loads), wash the new shower curtain (1 load), fold and stow all that clean laundry, prepare my chess lesson for CHOOSE CT Co-op tomorrow, do my assigned reading in Messenger for CHOOSE CT Book Club, call my mother, call my friend DC, work on this blog entry, and clean up the kitchen after my family made nachos for a late evening snack (no one was really hungry for a full-blown dinner, so we made munchies instead). By midnight, I called it quits. Tomorrow is another day with another list. Next week, though, I will try again for a Sunday of peaceful relaxation.

Handbell Ringing Is Work

This morning, in my car, I came across an old copy of The Stonington Times. In it was an article about carillons in Stonington Borough. As part of the feature, the author noted that one of the local churches no longer had a handbell choir. A preschool teacher at that same church was quoted as saying, in response to that information, “Handbell ringing is fun, but not easy,” as if the difficulty level was somehow responsible for the demise of the bell choir. Then she seemingly contradicted herself saying, “Children like real work,” referring (presumably) to the younger children in her congregation. If children like real work, then why would a handbell choir that required work be eliminated as a church asset? The whole conversation was very oddly transcribed.

Anyway, the point of all this rambling is to say that handbell ringing in hard work. To see just how hard, watch this video of The Raleigh Ringers, “an internationally-acclaimed, advanced community handbell choir based in Raleigh, North Carolina.” You've got to see it to believe it.

Marriage Bible Study

On Monday night (2/5/07), my husband and I attended a “Marriage Enrichment Workshop” that was held by our homeschool support group. We called the meeting a workshop on our schedule but, in reality, it was a Bible study on some verses from 1 Peter. I thought I would share some of what I learned, not because I am incredibly insightful or wise, but because I found it interesting to see what God revealed while we studied His word. The passage under discussion was 1 Peter 2:19-1 Peter 3:14.

First, I was intrigued that the moderator of our discussion chose to start in the middle of 1 Peter 2, with a passage that describes two things Christ did for us: he suffered (v. 21) and he left us an example to follow (v. 21). What was that example?

- He committed no sin (v. 22)
- no deceit was found in His mouth (v. 22)
- while being reviled, He did not revile in return (v. 23)
- while suffering, He uttered no threats (v. 23)
- He continues to entrust Himself to the Father (v.23)

In providing these standards, if you will, what was Christ doing? Obviously, He was being obedient to God the Father but, more than that, he was being a servant. He was serving.

The second interesting item was at the beginning of 1 Peter 3:

In the same way, wives be submissive to your own husbands.

In what way are wives to be submissive to their husbands? In the same way. The same as what? The same way as Christ, the actions that were just described in the preceding verses. Does that mean I can suffer and die for someone’s sins as outlined in 1 Peter 2:24-25? No, of course not, but it does mean that, like Christ, I can serve (as outlined in 1 Peter 2:22-23) and that I am expected to serve. I will always fall short, of course, because I am sinful by nature, but I am expected to try.

So if 1 Peter 3:1 states that wives are to be submissive to their husbands, what are husbands supposed to do? Whenever Scripture utters a word like “submissive" in the same sentence as wife, the general fear that runs through the female population is downright palpable. As women who are no longer relegated to stereotypical female roles, we look upon “submission” as giving up our ability to think, to grow in knowledge and skill, to be who we are. But look at 1 Peter 3:7:

You husbands likewise, live with your wives…

The use of the word “likewise” here implies the question, “like what?” Again, like Christ. Husbands, like their wives, are called to be servants too. Just as Christ serves the Church, so husbands are to serve their wives. This makes sense, given that marriage, according to the model presented in Scripture, is a picture of Christ’s relationship to the Church on earth. Looking further into 1 Peter 3:7:

…live with your wives in an understanding way…and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

A cursory examination of the word “fellow” from most dictionaries yields the meaning: “a person in the same position,” an equal. So husbands are to treat their wives in an honorable way and as equals. More importantly, though, what is the consequence for husbands who do not behave in this manner? Their prayers may be hindered. Wow! I don’t know about you, but I rely on prayer a lot and I certainly wouldn’t want to willfully hinder it in any way.

Idea that jumped out at me: once again, the Lord seems to present a paradox, the complexities of which must be worked out by faith. Women are equal, yet they should be submissive. Husbands are the head of the household, yet they should live as servants. Fascinating.

Accountability Update JANUARY 2007

Wow! I can hardly believe the first month of 2007 is already history. My father was right; time really does speed up as I age.

I had no stated goal for January in either accountability area as I was scrambling just to finish an evaluation of November and December 2006. However, that doesn’t mean I am absent a standard by which to judge my performance. I will use the two overall goals of reducing the amount of time it takes to complete organizational/remodeling projects in my home and reducing the amount of money spent on restaurant food.

Remember, my rating scale is as follows:

1: Failed miserably. No progress whatsoever.
2: Tried, but couldn’t do it. No significant progress.
3: Making progress. Halfway there.
4: Came close. More effort needed.
5: Did it! All goals met.

HOME ORGANIZATION
Overall rating: 2

In order to reduce the amount of time it takes to finish organizational/remodeling projects in my home (which implies completion of such a project), work on a project must actually occur. The only activity that qualified here was the ordering of a four-drawer cabinet unit for my bedroom closet. Since the trip to Home Depot to accomplish this task was something more than nothing, I chose to award myself a “2.” I tried, but I didn’t make any significant progress.

February goal: sort and clean the master bedroom closet & the armoire

RESTAURANT EXPENDITURES
Overall rating: 1

Since the December restaurant total fell to an unheard-of level below $1000, I have a new benchmark low to inspire my efforts. Unfortunately, January must have been a very uninspired month, as my restaurant expenditures once again soared beyond that magic $1000 mark. January total: $1202.26. One positive in this area: I am beginning to equate dollar amounts of restaurant visits to home improvement items. Example: $40.00 spent on Sunday lunch (tip included) would purchase 20% of the aforementioned four-drawer closet cabinet.

February goal: $600.00

Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established. --- Proverbs 16:3 NASB

Cancer Fundraising Challenge

The other day, on his blog, Lance Armstrong announced the Team Discovery Channel Challenge 2007. Quoting the Tour de France champion:

As most of you know I was at Discovery Team Camp over the past couple of weeks and while that led to fewer posts for the blog --- it also led to more funds for cancer survivors. The Team came up with a big idea to help support me in my new job (Chairman of the LAF): The Team Discovery Channel Challenge. Now, the Team will not only be riding for spots on the podium, they will also be riding to raise money…

For more information on the fundraising challenge, click here. To watch a video of Lance talking about the need for an army of cancer survivors asking tough questions about cancer research and cancer funding, click here. Join the LIVESTRONG Army.

An Early Valentine Gift

Earlier this month, I announced to my husband that he needn’t purchase a Valentine’s Day present for me, as I had already acquired my own gift --- a used copy of Gooseberry Lane by Bethany Tudor. Of course, being an out-of print children’s book, all copies of Gooseberry Lane are used. But I digress…This afternoon, on my way out the door for music composition class, what should I spy in the mailbox but a package from River Valley Books in Peru, Maine. Ah, ha! It was my book.

I immediately opened the padded envelope and started to read while my husband drove the car. Just as I remembered, Samuel and Samantha were, indeed, ducks made of plush, who lived in a beautiful white cardboard house with a red roof and a circular window above the door. Samantha kept the home exceptionally tidy, while Samuel tended the garden. One day, after Samuel was injured in the yard (the unfortunate victim of a fall into the burr patch), a rainstorm began to buffet the small abode. Soon, ceilings leaked and walls buckled, forcing Samuel and Samantha to pack their belongings and abandon their home, a sad occurrence indeed.

With great pluck, the ducks headed down Gooseberry Lane, in search of new lodging. Eventually, they settled on a large wooden box by a beautiful pond. “What a perfect house,” quacked Samuel. “All it needs is a proper roof and windows.” Unfortunately, when they looked inside, Samuel and Samantha found a woolen owl and a Gweek, a small blue and green bird. Nonplussed by this setback, Samuel boldly asked, “Would you sell or rent?”

Rather than answer this question, Mr. Owl proposed a trade. If Samuel fixed the wooden house and built a room where Owl could write his learned paper on mice, and if Samantha baked pies once in a while, the ducks could have the box. They must also allow Gweek to remain in the spare bedroom. In agreement with this proposal, Samuel and Samantha moved in. In short order, with the help of a woodpecker and two chipmunks, the home repairs were completed, the ducks threw a party to celebrate, and all lived happily ever after.

My mother tells me that I used to borrow this book from the Martin County Public Library as often as I could. I am not quite certain why she never purchased it for me. Lack of funds, I suppose, or lack of availability. In 1965, my hometown wasn’t exactly overflowing with bookstores (in 2007, my hometown isn’t exactly overflowing with bookstores). At any rate, I now have a copy of Gooseberry Lane that I can read anytime I want. A bit self-indulgent, yes, but, if carefully preserved, a book that can be enjoyed by several generations of family and friends.

Grinders Are … Different

This morning, after 17 years of living in Connecticut, I learned (courtesy of Koalagirl15) that grinders are different from submarine sandwiches, hero sandwiches, and hoagies. In fact, I am so slow on the sandwich understanding front that my beloved friend said to me, “I can’t believe, after all this time, you didn’t pick up on this.” It must be my permanently frozen Minnesota brain. I truly did not realize that southeastern Connecticut is the birthplace of the grinder, much like Philadelphia is the home of the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich. You can get a cheesesteak sandwich in other locations, but it just won’t taste the same. Apparently, you can eat a sub, a hoagie, and a hero anywhere in the country, but it isn’t a grinder.

“So, what makes a grinder a grinder?” I asked. Well, according to a forum posting on Roadfood.com, written by a former New London (Connecticut) resident, a grinder is a sandwich made on special bread with salami, provolone cheese, peppers, and olive oil. My girlfriend says the sandwich must also include shredded lettuce, tomato, salt, and pepper. Note: the olive oil must be dripping out of the sandwich and soaking through the paper used to wrap the tasty treat.

I am so glad that the Lord has blessed me with such a wonderful friend who, today, corrected my food knowledge deficiency so that I am no longer a sandwich ignoramus. By the way, on Friday, I am eating lunch with Koalgirl15 and her sister. Guess what we’re having? “Real” grinders. I can’t wait!

Persecution Continues in Germany

Yet another report of homeschooling persecution in Germany comes to us from HSDLA. A related article can be found on the website of the Network for Freedom of Education, headquartered in Nuremberg. Adolph Hitler outlawed home education and that prohibition is still enforced in Germany today. I am so grateful that I live in the United States!

The situation for homeschoolers in Germany is getting worse each week. Just last Thursday, a 17-year old homeschooled girl was forcibly removed from her parent’s custody by over 15 police officers. The homeschooled girl has been place in the child psychiatry unit of the Nuremberg clinic.

Homeschooling is not legal in germany. There are over 40 cases currently in court or being appealed. Christian families are fleeing Germany for safety in nearby countries. The unconscionable treatment of sincere and faithful Christian homeschool families is a sad legacy from Germany’s past. Homeschooling was first banned under Adolf Hitler, and that ban is still enforced today.

Many families who have had their children forcibly taken from their home each day and taken to government school have since fled Germany, but there are still homeschoolers. The latest incident involves 17-year old Melissa Busekros, the girl sent to the Nuremberg psychiatry unit. What is being done to this sensitive girl --- just to set an example of enforcing the compulsory schooling at all costs --- is reprehensible and causing trauma to unassuming and lovable Melissa.

In the summer of 2005, when Melissa was 15, she was told she would have to repeat the seventh grade at the government school because she was failing math and Latin. She had good grades in the rest of her classes, so her parents tutored her at home for those two subjects. When school officials found out, they were angry and then expelled Melissa, so the family began to homeschool full time.

However, the Youth Welfare office then took the family to court because they were homeschooling. Then, on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, social workers and police officers came to the Busekros home and forcibly took Melissa to the child psychiatric unit where she was questioned for four hours before she was returned home. Then two days later, 15 police officers and social workers came to the Busekros home and took Melissa away from her parents by force and places her in the child psychiatric unit.

According to Melissa’s father, Hubert Busekros, this treatment was justified by the psychiatrist’s finding two days previously that Melissa was supposedly developmentally delayed by one year and that she suffered from school phobia.

Nevertheless, one organization concerned with education expressed outrage at the treatment of Melissa Busekro.

“The Netzwerk Bildungsfreiheit [The Network for Freedom of Education] condemns this inconsiderate and totally incommensurate behavior on the part of the officials involved and demands that they give Melissa her freedom and return her to her family immediately,” the group was quoted in an article on its website.

An additional article about this situation can be found at the Free Republic: Police Take Home-Taught Student to Psych Ward.

Museum of Picture Book Art

One of the members of a homeschool support e-loop that I joined recently contributed this interesting link yesterday: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Being a picture book fan and the daughter of an artist-mother who dabbled in children’s book illustrations, I could not pass up the opportunity to share this information. I plan to put this museum on my list of places to visit.

Thank you, Laurel.

Discovery Channel Cycling Schedule 2007

Now that the Super Bowl is over, it is time for the professional cycling season to begin. The Discovery Channel team schedule starts next week. Hopefully, the Versus network will carry some of the races. The schedule listed here was copied from The Paceline, the official fan club of the Discovery Channel cycling team.

February
11-15: Vuelta a Mallorca (Spain)
18-22: Vuelta Andalucia (Sapin)
18-25: Tour of California (USA)
21-25: Volta Algarve (Portugal)

March
3: Omloop Het Volk (Belgium)
4: Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (Belgium)
9-11: Record- Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen (Belgium)
11-18: Paris-Nice (France)
14-20: Tirreno-Adriatico (Italy)
24: Milan-San Remo (Italy)
26-30: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon (Spain)
28: GP Waregem (Belgium)
31: E-3 Harlebeke (Belgium)

April
3-5: Three Days of De Panne (Belgium)
8: Tour of Flanders-Ronde von Vlaanderen (Belgium)
9-14: Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco (Spain)
10-13: Circuit de la Sarthe (France)
11: Gent-Wevelgem (Belgium)
15: Paris-Roubaix (France)
17-22: Tour of Georgia (USA)
22: Amstel Gold Race (Netherlands)
25: Fleche Wallone (Belgium)
29: Leige-Bastogne-Liege (Belgium)

May
1-6: Tour of Romandy (Switzerland)
8-13: Four Days of Dunkirk (France)
12-6/3: Giro d’Italia (Italy)
21-27: Volta a Catalunya (Spain)
30-6/3: Tour of Belgium

June
10-17: Criterium du Dauphine Libere (France)
12-16: Tour of Slovenia
16-24: Tour of Switzerland
24: Team Time Trial Eindhoven (Netherlands)

July
7-29: Tour de France
9-15: Tour of Austria
25-29: Sachsen Tour (Germany)
26-29: Brixia Tour (Italy)

August
4: Clasica San Sebastian (Spain)
8-16: Tour of Germany
12-15: Tour de l’Ain (France)
19: Cyclassics Hamburg (Germany)
22-29: Eneco Tour de Benelux (Netherlands, Germany, Belgium)

September
1-23: Vuelta a Espana (Spain)
1-3: US Pro Championships
2: GP Plouay (France)
10-16: Tour of Poland
27: World Time Trial Championships (Germany)
30: World Road Race Championships (Germany)

October
7: Zurich Championships (Switzerland)
14: Paris-Tours
20: Tour of Lombardy (Italy)
28: Japan Cup

Super Bowl XLI is History

After a lackluster season of football loyalty at my house, my family and I decided to watch the Super Bowl with Koalagirl15 and her clan. We brought chili. They made mini quesadillas with chips and salsa, and bananas foster for dessert (yum). Good friends. Good food. Good game, especially that opening kick return!!!

Speaking of that opening play, I did not realize that it was a “first” in Super Bowl history, or so I hear. Some other "firsts" from Super Bowl XLI:

- the first game to be won by a black coach
- the first game to be won by the Indianapolis Colts
- the first to have rain
- the first to have four turnovers in the first quarter

All in all, an historic game. Of course, I am waiting for another historic game --- when the Vikings actually win the Super Bowl.

Holy God, We Praise Your Name

This was the “Hymn of the Day” in church this morning. It is an 18th-century German tune, first published in 1774. I like it because the words speak to the concept of the Trinity and to the response that God’s existence should elicit from us --- praise and humility.

Holy God, we praise your Name;
Lord of all, we bow before you.
All on earth your scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain,
Everlasting is your reign.

Hark! The glad celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising,
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising;
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord!”

Lo, the apostolic train
Join your sacred Name to hallow;
Prophets swell the glad refrain,
And the white-robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun,
Through the Church the song goes on.

You are King of Glory, Christ;
Son of God, yet born of Mary.
For us sinners sacrificed,
As to death a Tributary,
First to break the bars of death,
You have opened heaven to faith.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, three we name you,
Though in essence only One;
Undivided God we claim you
And, adoring, bend the knee
While we own the mystery. Amen.

Guinness + Milk = Bilk?

Occasionally during our Friday night pizza dinners, I have a glass of Guinness Stout on tap (being Irish by descent, what other beer would I drink?). I have tried this beer in a can, but the flavor just didn’t compare. I never considered trying it with milk, though. Apparently, some Japanese brewers thought milk and beer would make a great flavor combination, and an excellent way to use up surplus dairy products, so they whipped up a batch of “bilk.” Quoting from Fox News:

“Bilk” reportedly has a fruity taste which manufacturers hope will be appealing to women.

After they [the brewers] added beer yeast and hops and began the fermentation process, the beverage looked and smelled like tea with milk. However, when fermentation was finished and the drink cooled, it had the same color as beer.

Seeing as I don’t like milk in my tea, I probably won't like milk in my beer, despite the fruity taste and the desperate hope of the brewers that the beer may appeal to women. I am a woman and, frankly, sweet or not, “bilk” sounds more like an effort to cheat me out of “real” beer than an effort to increase my calcium intake. Maybe a different name would be more appealing, like "meer," for instance. The company could always use a meerkat on their label.

In the meantime, one Guinness in a glass, please (but only in moderation, like once every three to six months).

The Amazing Zacchini

My friend, Koalagirl15, has three living children, two girls and a boy. The boy is her oldest. He is two years younger than Katherine the Great, but is easily eight inches taller with a shoe size double my own. If he hasn’t hit six feet in height yet, I imagine he will before summer. Besides being remarkable for his height, he is remarkable as a magician. He makes balloon animals, does strolling magic, performs card tricks, and more. Known to all as The Amazing Zacchini, he recently started both a blog and a website. I am writing this blurb today to feature the latter, as I just added it to “MyArtist Friends & Business Folk” in the sidebar. If you are in need of a magician for your next event or fundraiser, please visit his website, give him a call, or drop him a line at zach@zachivins.com. I am sure he would appreciate your consideration.

A Day for Celebration x2

At my house, February 2nd is a day for celebration. Not only is it Groundhog Day, it is Cancer-Free Anniversary Day. Thirteen years ago today, my husband was cured of medullary thyroid cancer! Yep, that’s right, he was cured upon removal of his thyroid gland because his tumor was completely encapsulated within the organ. Because medullary thyroid cancer does not respond to any type of chemotherapy or radiation, my husband had no adjunct therapy. His only follow-on treatment, that continues to this day, is a regular dose of synthetic thyroid hormone. Not a bad deal, considering how difficult the cancer journey could have been. Of course, living with a thyroid patient is no easy task sometimes. Synthroid has management issues of its own, but I would rather deal with those than mobilize for a full-blown cancer battle any day.

Frankly, I can hardly believe it has been thirteen years, especially since I have two friends who are currently in the throws of their own disease battles, one for brain cancer and the other for colon cancer. Unfortunately, this doesn’t surprise me since, when my husband was diagnosed, I was told that 67% of the American population would have some connection to cancer within the next ten years. They would either fight the disease themselves or they would care for a friend or family member who was ill. Well, it is now thirteen years later and ~3400 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every day, while another 1500 people die from the disease. Some experts even believe that almost 2/3 of these statistics could be eliminated if people would just get regular cancer screenings. It is no wonder that organizations like the American Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation are campaigning for an increase in cancer awareness education, as well as an increase in cancer research funding.

So, do yourself a favor, celebrate Groundhog Day by watching Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow (or not) and then make an appointment for your annual cancer screening tests.

Happy "Holidays!"

Driving Restrictions For All

In light of a fatal local automobile accident involving a 16-year-old boy and considering the fact that my 16-year-old daughter will soon be in this group of young drivers, I thought other parents in my part of southern New England might be interested in knowing the restrictions for teenage drivers in Connecticut.

After getting a license, 16- and 17-year-olds will have passenger restrictions during the first six months of driving. Other restrictions apply until a driver is 18.

- Passenger restrictions for first three months: Only parents or legal guardians (at least one of whom holds a license), or not more than one passenger who is a driving instructor licensed by the DMV, or a person who is at least 20 years old who has had a license for four years and has not had his or her license suspended during that period.

- Passenger restrictions during the second three months: The only additional passengers are members of the teenage driver’s immediate family.

- Until age 18, teenage drivers may not transport more passengers than the number of seat belts in the vehicle.

- Any driver issued a motorcycle endorsement may not transport a passenger for the first six months.

- Driving is prohibited between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. unless the teenager is traveling for employment, school, religious activities or for a medical necessity, or if he of she is an assigned driver in a Safe Ride program.

- These restrictions do not apply to active members of a volunteer fire company or department, a volunteer ambulance service or company, or an emergency medical service organization who are responding to emergency calls.

- Until 18, teenage drivers may not use cell phones, even if they are “hands-free,” or mobile electronic devices while driving. A “mobile electronic device” includes any hand-held computer or other device with any type of video display.

Frankly, I am a little confused by the restriction that teenage drivers may not transport more passengers than the number of seat belts in a vehicle. That seems like common sense for any driver, not just teenagers: four seat belts, four people in the car. What confuses me even more is a statement by a young friend of the boy who died, a statement that was published in a letter to the editor of The Day newspaper:

I do not know of one person who has followed the two laws that The Day accused Cam [the decedent] of defying.

The two laws referred to in this statement are the restriction about driving after midnight and the restriction about driving with passengers in the car. If I am to believe the young person who wrote this letter, then a majority of our local teens are habitually violating the driving laws. Also, the implication of this statement is that local parents are either unaware of this illegal activity or are complicit in the violation of the aforementioned driving restrictions (please note, I count silence and lack of intervention as complicity). If so, then all I have say is, poor form all around, folks. For the sake of everyone, obey and enforce these restrictions. They exist for our safety and protection. If they had been followed last Sunday, three people might still be alive.

List of driving restrictions was copied from an article in The Day newspaper, January 31, 2007.

Hugs for Healthier Hearts

Dr. Manny Alvarez, the physician consultant on Fox News, reports in an article today that a hug a day could save your life. How? It seems that studies from Britain and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill show that the physical and emotional contact provided by a hug lowers blood pressure, reduces heart rate, reduces cortisol, and increases oxytocin. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with these last two substances, the former is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress; the latter is known as the “bonding” hormone because it triggers caring responses in both sexes. It has long been understood that high levels of cortisol and low levels of oxytocin are detrimental to heart health, especially in women. So, help your spouse have a healthier heart and do a little huggin' today.

Harry Potter Month

Mark you calendars, all you Potter fans. July 2007 should be officially christened “Harry Potter Month.” Why, you ask? The fifth movie in the series, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” is scheduled for release on July 13th, while the last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it was announced today, will be available on July 21st. To pre-order a copy of the book, visit Amazon.com. To view a trailer of the movie, see my post from a few days ago, More Movies of Interest. For those of you who eschew everything “Potter,” just ignore this post and have a happy day.

The Ten O’Clock Rule

This Sunday past (1/28/07), a horrible auto accident occurred on the freeway overpass two exits from my house. Three people were killed, including a 16-year-old boy who had just gotten his driver’s license in November 2006. This was, by all accounts, his first winter behind the wheel, which could explain why he didn’t realize that the bridge he ventured onto was frozen and covered with black ice, even though the adjacent roadway remained clear. The crash also involved a fire upon impact. Like I said, pretty horrible.

Tragedies such as this are always so … well, tragic … not just because they rob someone of life, but because they rob an individual of life at such a young age. In this case, the story becomes even more agonizing because the young man who died was driving illegally. The driver’s license he possessed had some limitations, namely, that he wasn’t supposed to drive after midnight (the accident occurred at 1:30 AM) and he wasn’t supposed to have passengers in his vehicle (the sole survivor of the crash is the decedent’s friend, another 16-year old boy). The other victims were 52- and 33-years old respectively, two gentlemen who were heading home after work at Foxwoods casino. One of the men leaves behind children under the age of five. Now, because insurance companies and our legal system work the way they do, the possibility exists that the parents of this young driver may be held accountable, criminally, civilly, and financially, for the actions of the son they mourn.

Excluding the concomitant legal issues, I am no stranger to this type of scenario. As a middle school student, my cousin, who lived three blocks southwest of my house, drowned in the lake three blocks west of my home. As a high school student, my graduating class was the only one for a number of years that matriculated intact. The classes before me and after me all lost young people to accidental death. Being from Minnesota, a number of these mishaps involved either farm equipment, thin lake ice, or firearms during hunting season (hence, the reason my school offered gun safety classes in eighth grade). A nighttime boating mishap on one of the local lakes (there are five in my hometown) took several students at one time. An auto accident en route from a sports competition killed a star player on our girls basketball team. That crash occurred directly in front of the team bus. Five members of our gymnastics team were injured and one was killed, the result of a car crash directly across the street from the coach’s home. No matter when or where it happened, no matter how many people perished, it was tragic.

Yet, one lesson I learned from my exposure to these incidents was that life gets riskier after 10:00 PM. More drunken, or sleepy, drivers are on the road; weather conditions are more difficult to assess because of falling temperatures and reduced visibility; and the darkness alone makes it more difficult to observe hazards (dredge buoys on a lake, for example). To keep me safer, because no one is ever perfectly safe, my parents instituted what I refer to as the Ten O’Clock Rule: since the risk of exposure to dangerous or non-edifying life events increases dramatically after 10:00 PM, you need to be in the house at that hour. The only exception to this rule was if I was out with my parents, or another set of parents, attending some pre-approved event (e.g., basketball game, concert, etc.) at which I would be chaperoned and from which I would be escorted home. A corollary to the Ten O’Clock Rule was the Courtesy Call Rule: whenever you change locations, call your parents to inform them of your new planetary coordinates. That meant that if I left school and walked to the mall, I had to call home to inform someone of my whereabouts; or if I left a concert and went for ice cream, I had to ring home.

Now before you jump to the conclusion that my parents were ridiculously strict, let me add that these were the ONLY two hard-and-fast rules in my house. What I read was never censored; what I said was never discounted, ignored, or taken as unimportant. It had to be politely delivered, but it was never discounted. I understood that these rules were for my safety, protection, and education. I didn’t always like the rules and sometimes I would express my opinion about them but, ultimately, I understood that my parents were just doing their job.

If only the boy who died on Sunday had observed the Ten O-Clock Rule.

Podcasts Are Coming!

A few months back, I discovered “podcasts,” those Internet media files that seem to be popping up all over the web. Some of them are free, while others require a paid subscription. Some are quite intriguing and educational; others, due to their questionable content, should be avoided like the plague. I am currently in the process of learning how to add these novel little gems to Gooseberry Lane, so watch the sidebar for new additions in the coming weeks. It may take me a while to figure this out, so please be patient as I increase my computer skills. Thank you.

Podcasts added thus far:
- The Lutheran Hour
- Grammar Girl
- Mr. Manners

For a more complete explanation of podcasts, their history, and a technical explanation of how they work, check out this article on Wikipedia.