bekahcubed

Categories Simple Sunday, Thankfulness

Simple Sunday: International Quilt Study Center

3 Comments by

~Thankful for quilting–and the long tradition of quilting that goes on before me. Thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the International Quilt Study Center with a friend and fellow quilter this afternoon.

State Flowers Quilt compliments of International Quilt Study Center

The above quilt was created from a kit–only the quilter appliqued each individual flower rather than embroidering it. Each piece is tiny–and incredibly intricate. Read more about the State Flowers Quilt on the IQSC website–and sign up for an e-mailed Quilt of the Month club if you’d like.

Simple Sunday icon

Visit Davene at Life on Sylvan Drive for more Simple Sunday posts.

Categories Book Notes

Case Studies in Greatness: Uncle Andrew

Leave a comment by

Uncle Andrew is a magician. He’s done much experimentation and explored many mysteries to get to where he is, and he’s quite proud of his accomplishments.

What’s more, he’s quite proud of himself in general–even without accomplishments to back him up. He describes himself to Digory as a man “who possess[es] hidden wisdom.” Once away from the terror of Jadis, he begins to think himself a rather “distinguished-looking man”. “‘Andrew, my boy,’ he said to himself as he looked in the glass, ‘you’re a devilish well preserved fellow for your age.'” When he finds himself in Narnia (by no act of his own) and observing a miraculous creation event, he is still full of his own greatness–“Ho, ho! They laughed at my magic….I wonder what they’ll say now? I have discovered a world where everything is bursting with life and growth. Columbus, now, they talk about Columbus. But what was America to this?”

Ultimately, though, Uncle Andrew’s “greatness” (or at least his perceived greatness) is an excuse to do whatever he likes without regard for rules or relationship. Digory had this figured out by the second chapter. Uncle Andrew says “But of course you must understand that rules…however excellent they may be for little boys–and servants–and women–and even people in general, can’t possibly be expected to apply to profound students and great thinkers and sages…” After hearing Uncle Andrew’s monologue, Digory reflects: “All it means…is that he thinks he can do anything he likes to get anything he wants.”

Andrew selfishly regards himself as great, while taking liberties with the lives of others. Asked why he did not travel to the other world himself, Andrew answers: “Me? Me?…A man at my time of life, and in my state of health, to risk the shock and the dangers of being flung suddently into a different universe?” For him to take risks for his magic would be preposterous–but he has no qualms with sending Polly and Digory where he himself would not go.

In Uncle Andrews mind, greatness means being above the law. For him, greatness means having the right to do whatever he pleases, never mind the consequences to others.

Categories Book Notes

The Point of The Magician’s Nephew

1 Comment by

What is the point of The Magician’s Nephew? Why was it written?

Ostensibly, the answer to this question is found in the very first chapter, in the very first paragraph, in the second sentence: “It is a very important story because it shows how all the coming and going between our world and the land of Narnia first began.” Really, The Magician’s Nephew is just a way to fill in the missing puzzle piece–how Narnian’s and Earth-folk got mixed up together. Or at least, that’s what Lewis would have you think. He carries this pretense along to the very end, stating in the second to last paragraph of the book: “That was the beginning of all the comings and goings between Narnia and our world, which you can read of in other books.”

Obviously, I think that there’s something more to The Magician’s Nephew than simply being a stage-setting story.

Okay, okay then–what is the point of The Magician’s Nephew?

Actually, that’s a hard question to answer. But I think that maybe the point of The Magician’s Nephew, the main theme that ties it all together is greatness.

Categories Reflections

How Others See Me

2 Comments by

As part of a professional development exercise, Dr. K asked the interns to have a friend fill out a little worksheet. The worksheet contained several dozen adjectives. The friend was supposed to circle ten to fifteen adjectives they felt described the person in question (the intern.)

The instructions read, “Ask someone who is close to you–spouse, sibling, roommate, or friend–to circle 10 to 15 traits that describe you.” I chose my sister–who fits into the “sibling”, “roommate”, and “friend” categories.

She circled the following traits:

  • Active
  • Frugal
  • Idealistic
  • Independent
  • Persuasive
  • Responsive
  • Scientific
  • Determined
  • Liberal :-P
  • Precise
  • Radical

When we were asked to read aloud the traits our friends had circled, Dr. K hummed and nodded for several of my classmates. She agreed with their friend’s analysis of them. For me, she didn’t so much. Her response was more of a “Hmm” (with the head nod that indicates she didn’t see it at all.)

I guess I’m not really surprised that she didn’t agree with my sister’s analysis (even if I agreed with her analysis just fine). You see, I’m rather good at compartmentalizing–at choosing which aspects of my personality to show in different settings.

Personally, I think it’s the radical that threw Dr. K off–and I can understand why it might. After all, I don’t generally broadcast the more radical aspects of my being within a professional setting. Class isn’t really the best place to bring up my radical views regarding childbirth. And I’d prefer not to discuss my more radical environmental choices with any but my closest friends. If I’m going to rant about politics (another area of radicalism), I’d rather do it in a setting in which 1) I won’t offend anyone or 2) it doesn’t matter if I offend someone. In class and on the job doesn’t really fulfill either qualification. Since I consider many of my most radical choices to be PERSONAL choices–that I don’t want to push on others–I steer clear of getting too passionate about them among people who don’t know me well enough to know that just because I’m getting excited about the topic doesn’t mean I’m judging them for their lack of excitement about the topic. (Environmentalism, certain feminist/anti-feminist ideas, education, childbirth…quite a few topics fit under this category.)

So what do you think? From what you’ve seen of me and know of me, do those adjectives describe me? What are the first words that come to your mind when you think of me?

On the other hand, have you ever been in a situation where someone thought they knew you when they really didn’t? How did you deal with it? Did it bother you or did it just run right off your back?

Do you feel like you act the same and show the same side of yourself in every setting? Or are you more like me, showing certain sides of yourself only to certain people? Do you think that’s two-faced? Or do you think it’s smart?

I’m curious, how do others see me? How do others see you?

Categories Everyday Life, Technology

Evading Hypocrisy

5 Comments by

In a last ditch effort to avoid hypocrisy after proclaiming (to my online class) that nutrition professionals should get familiar with current media and social-networking type sites, I have joined Twitter.

Yes. It’s ridiculous. I know.

Ultimately, it’s an ethical dilemma. Do I do as I say and get familiar with all the crazy technology and (ahem) time wasters of the present day? Or do I maintain my heretofore expressed disgust for said time-wasters?

While decrying the foolishness of this generation whiling away their lifetimes on the web, I find myself sucked deeper and deeper into its morass. I excuse the blog and website because 1) it allows me to develop my (marketable) skills as a web developer, 2) it allows me to hone my writing skills, and 3) it allows me to connect with (actual) people. I excuse Facebook because 1) it helps me keep track of people when they’re moving all around the globe and switching phones and addresses all the time, 2) it allows easy access to my fellow interns for class-related stuff, and 3) it helps me to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the “CLAN” (my extended family). I excuse my blog reading because 1) it helps me connect with people I actually know, 2) it informs and entertains me, and 3) at least I’m reading ;-). I excuse occasional forays to YouTube in the name of staying culturally literate. And now I’m calling Twitter professional development?

I mean, seriously.

Next thing you know, I’ll be excusing online gambling or Match.com.

If you’re on Twitter too, add me to your (just a sec while I look up the lingo) follow me–my name(?) is “bekahcubed”. And don’t forget to leave me a comment with your name(?) so I can follow you.

Categories Books

Done with the Dr.

2 Comments by

Something special happened today
Something extraordinary, something gay
Today I read just one picture book
And with it I took my last look
At the category of Splat-egories
Dr. Seuss wrote.

With today’s reading of Wacky Wednesday by Dr. Seuss (as Theo LeSieg), I closed the Dr. Seuss “first readers” category. I had already closed Dr. Seuss in the “picture books” category. Which means that I am officially done with Dr. Seuss.

Somehow I doubt I’ll be done for long. As I re-read several favorite Dr. Seuss stories and read a few for the first time, I couldn’t help thinking of who and how and when I might share the stories next. It’s been fun reading Dr. Seuss to myself, but Dr. Seuss was meant to be read aloud–preferably to children, who will take delight in the made up words and not too realistic drawings.

Old Favorites:
  • There’s a Wocket in my Pocket-in which strange things show up in the most ordinary places.
  • Green Eggs and Ham-in which a boy discovers that Sam’s novel dish is not so bad as he originally thought.
  • The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins-in which a king’s pride creates a bit of trouble for a fortunate boy unfortunate enough to have 500 hats.
  • The King’s Stilts-in which a king plays and his kingdom crumbles, until a boy sounds the alarm to awaken him to duty again.
  • I had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew-in which paradise is always just around the corner (and so is a roadblock)
New Finds:
  • Please Try to Remember the First of Octember-in which all your wildest dreams come true (don’t forget to mark your calendar for the First of Octember!)
  • The Shape of Me-in which I celebrate the many sizes and shapes of many different “me’s”
  • Did I ever Tell You How Lucky you are?-in which I discover that life really could be an awful lot worse.
Categories Simple Sunday

Simple Sunday-Silliness

2 Comments by

~Thankful for the little silly times with my Dad. Sticking our noses together and moving our heads–“Your eyes are bobbling up and down!” Kicks in the butt and flight lessons. Chasing us around the yard with a stick [a pencil, folks, calm down!] Dancing in the living room to “We wanna see Jesus lifted high”. Right angles in the library stacks. Exploring “evolution” by walking like an ape in the basement of Morril hall. And occasionally breaking out in loud and nerdy snorts in the midst of a game of Pit.

Dad and I

Simple Sunday icon

Visit Davene at Life on Sylvan Drive for more Simple Sunday posts.

Categories Health

Boys run in the Family

2 Comments by

**Warning: While I attempt to avoid vulgarity on my blog, I am one to speak frankly. While I do not go into details about “how babies are made”, this post contains mention of sperm and x and y chromosomes. If this is something you are uncomfortable with, please accept my apologies and feel free to not read further.**

Davene is 36 weeks pregnant with her fourth. After three boys, they’ve decided to not find out this baby’s sex in advance. Debate has been raging as to whether this baby is going to be a girl or a boy. Many of Davene’s blog readers think this one’s going to be a girl. To which Davene replies, “Do they realize what the odds are?”

I mentioned this to my sister, a newly minted Physician Assistant, and she said, “50-50”. Because the odds for a baby’s gender are just like the odds for tossing a penny and having it land heads up. Every time you toss a penny, the odds are 50-50 as to which side it’ll end up on, regardless of what’s gone on before. This is statistical fact.

I can think of plenty of couples who have thought their hopes were gone for a child of a certain sex–but who ended up with one nonetheless. One aunt and uncle had four girls–and were surprised when their fifth (a true surprise baby) turned out to be a boy. I’ve seen even more cases where the fourth was of the opposite sex than the three going on before. Another aunt and uncle, my former pastor’s family, Davene’s neighbor Wilma, to name just a few.

But that doesn’t stop me from thinking, in a radically unscientific way, that a certain sex does “run in the family.”

Take for instance, my dad’s family (4 boys, 1 girl). Three of the boys have children. One has 6 boys and 1 girl. One has 3 boys. My dad has 4 boys and 3 girls.

Then there’s my mom’s family (10 girls, 2 boys). Both of the boys have children. One has 4 girls and 1 boy. The other has 2 girls and 1 boy.

Notice that I’m only mentioning the boys. That’s because ultimately it’s the man that determines whether a baby’s a girl or a boy. Women have xx chromosomes, Men have xy chromosomes. Mom always contributes an x to baby, Dad contributes an x to make a girl baby or a y to make a boy baby. That’s why I haven’t mentioned the girls on my Mom’s side of the family.

But even those tend to support my theory that a certain sex “runs in the family”. My mom married into a family of boys–and has 4 boys and 3 girls. My aunt Rachel married into a family of boys and has 4 boys and 2 girls. My aunt Janet married into a family of boys and has 2 boys and a girl.

So I tend to think that maybe a certain sex does “run in a family”. I’ve thought that for quite a while. It’s just today, though, that I thought of something to take my unscientific theory to even higher scientific heights: “I wonder why a certain sex might ‘run in a family’. Is it because a certain family tends to have more x or y containing sperm–or is it because the x or y sperm in a particularly family have a competitive advantage?

Wow. Talk about stretching out pseudo-science. (Although, if you happen to know any real science concerning whether certain sexes “run in families”, please let me know so I can apply some real science to my hunch.)

**Note on the use of the word “sex”: I realize that by using the word “sex” rather than the more socially acceptable “gender”, I may have inadvertantly caused offense or caused this page to lose its family-friendly rating. However, according to Merriam-Webster, sex means “either of the two major forms of individuals that occur in many species and that are distinguished respectively as female or male especially on the basis of their reproductive organs and structures.” Gender, on the other hand, means “the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex.” Thus, sex is a biological term and gender is a cultural term. When I speak of a baby’s sex, I am referring to the child’s biological category, not to his or her cultural identification with a particular sex.**

Categories Books

Are you goin’ to Narnia?

2 Comments by

One small disadvantage to my “read every book in Eiseley Library” goal is that I find myself neglecting my old favorites in the press to read more and more and more NEW books. It’s liberating, in one sense, to finish an author and breathe a sigh of relief–I’ve closed that author and I won’t have to read that author ever again unless I CHOOSE to. It’s challenging, in another sense, to be constantly forcing myself outside of my reading “comfort zone.” And in another sense, it’s outright frustrating.

I’ve probably read each book in the Chronicles of Narnia through 20 times. But still, every so often, I get the hankering to curl up with C.S. Lewis and go to Narnia. Most recently, I’ve wanted to read through the series, not just for enjoyment but for meaning. I want to tease out the the allegory, the symbolism, the intended and unintended truths to be found in the Chronicles. Problem is, I’ve already read The Chronicles of Narnia.

I have a file on my computer entitled “A Catalogue of all I’ve read since September 5, 2006”. It contains, well, a log of all that I’ve read since September 5, 2006. And, as you can see from the following screenshot

screenshot

I’ve already read the Chronicles of Narnia since I started my “read every book” goal. What’s more, the books are in the pink font–indicating that I have read every juvenile fiction book by C.S. Lewis that Eiseley library owns. C.S. Lewis’s juvenile fiction works are officially “closed” to me.

Which is where Carrie’s challenge comes in handy. It just so happens that Carrie at Reading to Know is hosting a
Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge
Which offers me a perfect excuse to get some reading in. Thanks Carrie!

If you’d like to join in on the fun, go to Reading to Know and get linked up. Then read something Narnia related and blog about. Easy-peasy.

Non-bloggers are welcome to join in too–I’d love to talk with you or have you post comments on my blog related to Narnia. Or you could post your thoughts as Facebook notes. Or you could write a quick e-mail and send it to your friends (don’t forget to include me in your e-mail). Even if you don’t want to write about the experience, I encourage you to read the Chronicles of Narnia–they’re absolutely fantastic.