Rambling: Bad Dream?

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you know it's a bad dream, but all you can remember when you wake up is the part that isn't bad?

55555555555555540000000000000000
Sorry, my cat stepped on the numeric keypad. Anyway, in this case, I had this horrible bad dream, but all I can remember about it is that the light switches in my apartment weren't working right. The light switch for the bedroom turned on the hall lights. The light switch in the hall turned on the bedroom lights. The whole dream had this eerie, evil feel to it. Then, being disturbed by the dream, I woke up and was freaked out because my clock read "2:22". Now, why I was scared of the number 222, I have no idea. But at two in the morning after a nightmare, I think any number besides 37 would be scary to me.
Anyway, it was one of those weird experiences that I hope I never have to repeat. If you can't relate, and you just think I'm strange, fine. So there. Thank you; good night.

Rambling: Strange Event

When I came home today, it felt awfully cool in my apartment, and my air conditioner seemed to be running a lot. I finally went over to look at the thermostat. It was set down below 70! I usually keep at about 75 during the summer. The only reason I can think for it to be that way is that my cat decided to attack it while I was gone and accidentally bumped it down. Or was it an accident? :-)

Can you say electric bills through the roof? And the excuse? "It's my cat's fault! It's the one who sets the thermostat at 68."

Rambling: The Joy of Flea Control

Last night, before heading to Bible Study, I attempted to apply one of those flea control liquids to my cat. The resulting situation was less than enoyable.

If you've never tried to apply a flea control liquid to a cat, especially a young one, you know that it is not a simple task. It requires getting the cat's fur parted and squeezing a small of liquid somewhere that it can't lick. Sounds simple enough, but its difficulty level is slightly less than wrestling an alligator while attempting to land a 747 at an airport in a raging blizzard.
In this case, after wrestling with my cat for about 5-10 minutes, I managed to get the liquid squeezed on its back. The minute that the slightest bit of said substance touched its skin, though, my cat immediately turned in such a way that the liquid ran along the left side of its body. This unfortunate turn (pun intended) placed this toxic substance that cats are not supposed to lick in the perfect location to be licked.
Needless to say (but I will anyway), my cat promptly licked its fur right where some of the substance was. It immediately started licking its lips, attempting to get the (waterproof) liquid out. The resulting sound was less than pleasant. After a few attempts at trying to get rid of the substance, it promptly had a most unusual reaction: it stood on its hind legs and proceed to deliver a most amazing lecture on the nature of quantum mechanics and its relation to the control of insect pests on felines. (Okay, not really.)
What actually happened was that I had to spend about 20-30 minutes attempting to use water and a brush to remove all of the flea control liquid (which, you will remember, is waterproof) from my cat's fur. By the time I got through with this laborious task, which was almost as difficult as attempting to apply the substance in the first place, it was too late for me to make it to Bible Study.
So, I downloaded a sermon from the church I used to go to in Lawrence. It was a good study, but I did miss the social interaction that I normally get from the study.
Anyway, the moral of the story is: it may take two to tango, but it also takes two (maybe even three or four) to apply flea control liquid to a cat.

Rambling: Soccer Coaching

This may well be one of my last seasons coaching soccer. Ever since soccer started, I have been absolutely worn out. I enjoy doing it. I enjoy soccer, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to maintain the energy to do it, teach, and have any sort of social life. So, nothing definite, yet, but I am in definite need of God's grace and strength, because mine is all gone.

Grapefruit juice...

Rambling: One of Those Days

Have you ever had a day where you felt you stepped into some sort of alternate reality, where almost everything is the same, but a few things are different/wrong? Today was one of those days.

Things that I distinctly remembered throwing in the trash can mysteriously reappeared on the table that I took them off. Paperwork I already filled out for my apartment complex is stuck in an envelope on my door asking me to complete it and return it to the office. Two people I know (admittedly not very well) both wind up charged with different felony crimes and have their mugshots displayed on the local news. Even my cat is tearing around the apartment with four times its normal amount of energy.
So, I'm left to ponder this: if I had to fall into an alternate reality, why couldn't I fall into one where I was happily married?
Anyway, it's just been a strange, tiring day, but I know that there are no alternate realities, that this life is all that there is, that some days are just strange, and (most of all) that God is faithful and will sustain me even through a day as bizarre as this.

Rambling: Beautiful Lightning

I don't know if you looked outside at all while the rain rolled through ealier tonight.

If you didn't, you missed a beautiful lightning show. Cloud to ground and cloud to cloud bolts, some miles long, lit up the sky. The beautiful yellow trails were wonderful to watch (from a distance), and they were a wonderful reminder of God's creativity and power.

Rambling: A Funny Picture

Do you think if I study hard enough that they'll let me into Cair Paravel?


All this studying's got me worn out.

Poem: When

When daylight's sun shines bright
My soul echoes Your light
When in Your grace I rest
And admit Your way best

Lord God, fix my right gaze
Upon You all my days
Let not my heart waver
Nor my soul sin favor

When I can't understand
Your reasons for what's planned
When my dreams seem to crash
And hopes upon rocks dash

Lord God, open my eyes
For there discontent lies
Focused on this world all
Not things celestial

When prayers meet with silence
Nor sense I Your presence
When sin in me besets
And I'm filled with regrets

Lord God, help me, waiting
Have faith unabating
More like Your Son make me
Cleansed, redeemed, chosen, free

When one day all I see
Is Your holy glory
When pain is done away
And life is endless day

Lord God, still may my cry
Be how You brought me by
Waters quiet and still,
Preserved me in Your will

Commentary: Where's the Love?

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how selective the moral outrage is in the current Middle East conflict between Israel and Hezbollah?

Israel, in attempting to stop a para-military force that is funded and fueled by such rogue states as Syria and Iran, accidentally hits a group of civilians (who are in the war zone), and the world freaks out and screams for a cease fire. Nevermind that Hezbollah fighters are hiding among civilians to use them as shields. The minute even one Lebanese civilian accidentally gets hit, the world screams murder.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah, instead of firing rockets at the Israeli army, is shooting rockets over the Israeli army and attacking Israeli civilians who are not even in the war zone. The reaction from the world, though, is muted at best. I don't hear people condemning Hezbollah or screaming and rioting about the Israelis who were killed. Where's the condemnation from Kofi Annan against Hezbollah?
Now, don't get me wrong. It is sad that these civilians died, and I know that there families are mourning. It's not fair that noncombatants are getting killed. Yet why is the outrage not as great when Israeli civilians who are outside the warzone getting killed? Could it be that world hates Israel? Or is there something more complex going on here? I don't know.