Happy Thanksgiving!

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Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

I woke up at 6:00 am, due to the time change. I went back to bed and arose again at 7:00. I went to church at 9:30 so that I could rehearse with the other musicians and the choir. After rehearsal, I socialized for a bit until it was time for church to start. The service was nice, especially the sermon. After church, I attended a meeting, then went home to take a nap. After my nap, my husband and I visited my Step-Grandmother and my Grandmother.

I've been using the CPAP machine for several weeks now, and I notice a big difference in my energy level. I still need to take iron and B12 supplements, because my iron level is still quite low.

Read this if you care about children and teens

I am appalled by President Bush's veto of the Children's Healthcare Bill. $35 billion dollars over 5 years to provide health care for needy children and teens is a bargain compared to the billions and billions of dollars spent on the war in Iraq, killing who knows how many innocent civilians, including who knows how many children and teens. Why does our president condone killing Iraqi children and teens while refusing to provide health care to American children and teens?

If you wish to contact your senators, please visit this link:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


If you wish to contact your representative, please visit this link:

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing

When I give bottled water to people who are homeless, I've been criticized for damaging the environment by purchasing plastic.

When I give McDonald's $1.00 gift certificates to people who are homeless, I've been criticized for encouraging unhealthy eating.

When I give socks to people who are homeless, I've been criticized for purchasing items that might have been made in sweatshops.

When I give pamphlets to people who are homeless, I've been criticized for not giving them phone money to call those resources.

When I give transit tokens to people who are homeless, I've been criticized for spending too much money. (A bag of five Adult Day Pass Tokens costs $22.50. I keep some with me, and I give some to the office manager at my church to give to those who need it.)

When I give things to people who are homeless instead of money, I've been criticized also. People ask me "Why don't you just give them money instead of stuff?" Well, if other people want to do that, that's their business.

I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing...

Inspirational

http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/?uc_full_date=20070826

I especially like the second letter and response. I now know that other people give bottled water to homeless people.

What's with that?

While listening to NPR and KKUP, I heard reports about the Koreans that are held hostage in Afghanistan.

While watching the 11:00 news, I watched an insipid story about Hillary Clinton's cleavage.

While perusing Austrailan and British news websites, I read stories about how the Mandaens have been mistreated.

While watching the 11:00 news, I watched another insipid story about a list of the most beautiful people on Capitol Hill.

What's with that? If I wanted that kind of fluff, I'd read the tabloids or watch "tabloid tv."

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Church was nice today. I'm happy to be back. After church, my husband and I went to Fry's, then to dinner, then home again. I did a load of laundry. A restful day.

I didn't go to church last Sunday, because my husband and I were recovering from a rather unpleasant stomach flu. On Monday, I felt better enough to finally finish my article about Donaldina Cameron, and email it to the editor of our church newsletter.

The week before last, I took a “sleep apnea class.” I didn't get to take home the testing equipment that day; however, I have an appointment in August to get the testing equipment, take it home, and return it the next day.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Church was nice today. We had a guest preacher and a hand bell choir. I enjoyed the sermon and the music. I've never heard hand bell music before, and it was delightful. After church, we had a small group meeting. After the meeting, I helped clean up, then went home. After I took a long nap, my husband and I went out to dinner, then returned home. I washed a load of laundry, watched a bit of tv, and practiced some songs on the ukulele.

I haven't blogged lately, because I was feeling quite low in energy. I've been so busy with work, church, dance and ukulele, that I haven't paid enough attention to my own self care. A few nights of sleeping for 10-12 hours, and one sick day from work, and I'm pretty much back to my normal energy level. Sunday afternoon naps also help! Anyway, I had an appointment at Kaiser, and took some blood tests. I don't have the results yet. I will also be tested for sleep apnea a week and a couple of days from now. My doctor told me that I need to avoid sugar and caffeine. The things that I thought gave me energy actually caused me to crash.

In order to effectively help other people, I need to take care of myself.

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Church was very nice today, as always. Our attendance was lower than usual, perhaps due to the beautiful sunny weather. I think that it would be neat if we had an outdoor sanctuary, the same size as the indoor sanctuary, that can be used when the weather is pleasant. Moving the piano, the pulpits and the communion table back and forth could be a nuisance, though.

I couldn't stay for the social time, because I had to pick up my husband in order to attend a birthday party. The party was fun. I enjoy visiting friends and relatives.

After the party, my husband and I went back home. I rested for a bit, then went to a concert with a choir, a pianist, and a man who uses a computer to create music. I enjoyed the songs.

A pleasant day.

A busy Monday

Today, my church's Mission Study Committee met for the third time. I like this group! I'm happy to have been invited to join this committee. After the meeting, I went to my dentist appointment. After that, I returned to church to work on a couple of small projects. After that, I had another medical appointment, a quick trip to the grocery store, then hula class. After that, I returned home, and I actually cooked something for my husband and me. More about this can be found in this 43 things entry.