54 posts from 2006

Check out this website for more information on this movie. 

I have DirecTV satellite and Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) is on channel 372.  I don't know what channel for cable or Dish.

My Mom and I have been wanting to see this movie.  I love the book of Esther in the Old Testament and I imagine this will be a good movie to watch.  This movie had a limited release in the theatres.   We missed viewing it on the big screen but Mom has informed me it can be viewed tonight on television.

How did you find out the secret behind Santa Claus?
Submitted by Carinish.

 

I hung out with mostly older boys in the neighborhood and I think they were starting to tease me because I still believed in Santa.  They were telling me there was no such thing and I refused to believe them.   

So one day around that time, I was 9 years old, my Mom told me to come grocery shopping with her.  My little sister stayed home with Dad and I pushed the cart while Mom and I walked the aisles and she put the items in the cart.

Susan, who is Santa Clause?  I said Santa was Saint Nick.  Who's Saint Nick?  I'd reply he was Santa Clause.   My Mom, who in my mind had ALL the answers, revealed to me that the neighborhood kids were right. 

So because Mom said so, I don't believe in Santa Claus.

  

 

 

Note:  It's just an inconvenience.  These things can be replaced.  What some of my Vox neighbors are going through right now, this is nothing in the whole scheme of things.    

This is the second time my Jeep has been vandalized. 

Jeep vandalized again

Bought the Jeep in May and then was vandalized the first time in June when someone/s slashed the back seat driver side plastic window and stole the radio.  I didn't have the face plate off.  Too tempting I suppose.  I learned a lesson.  I have a new radio now and I always take the face plate off.  This time the plastic was cut out for no reason and doesn't appear this person entered the Jeep.  Now why did this person have to go and do that? 

I really felt violated the first time this happened back in June.  There were foot prints on the back seat where someone/s entered.  Cigarette lighter sitting on the drivers seat.  Driver window rolled half-way down.  Both doors unlocked.  Glove compartment opened and everything strewn on the floor.  I didn't have anything valuable like an iPod in there so nothing was taken.  And the middle of the steering wheel that houses the air bag was cut (appeared incidental and not deliberate) but still had to be replaced.   

When my Jeep was vandalized in June there were 2 other vehicles vandalized in this apartment complex at the same time.  Last month my neighbors car was broken into and their radio was stolen as well as 3 other cars.  Hummmm.   

I didn't want to have to do this but I'm going to take the Jeep off this property and store it in the warehouse that my Dad has for sale.  Doesn't appear it's close to selling.  I'll park it around the side out of view of any passers-by.

Living here in the apartment I use the carport that's available because there are no garages.

One good thing that I can report is that back in the summer when I was dealing with getting the panel replaced they mistakenly sent the wrong side panel and told me to keep it.  So I have an extra panel that will replace the damaged one.  It's warming up in the apartment right now (I was storing it, rolled up, in the Jeep).  Didn't think I was going to have to ever use it.

This is the one (and only) entry in a journal I have.  It's dated August 23, 2006 shortly written after attending a Christian conference.  On the journals cover is one word, "Life".  That should cover just about everything!  I am considering journaling again.  This is a wonderful prayer and would be a good beginning for this journal.  

I have interjected personal pronouns into this Bible passage.

Colossians 1: 9-14

... fill me with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And I pray this in order that I may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to You, Father, who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light.  For You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son You love, in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Thanks be to God for His Word.

I hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday.

'Diesel' and he has made his way into my heart.  He is owned by a relatively new neighbor of mine.

Diesel at 12 weeks

Diesel is a Basset Hound.  I personally have never been drawn to Basset Hounds but this skinny, long-earned puppy has won me over.  

This is a camera phone photo that I took one evening last month sometime.   It's not a very good shot of 'Mr. Wiggles'.  I've been wondering recently if Diesel and his owner have moved.  I've not seen them for weeks.  

But last night I went outside before going to bed because it was thundering and it was warm (for December 11th anyway).  So I was enjoying the night air and as I started to walk along the side walk I had a tinge of sadness.  It reminded me of walking Max outside on that same sidewalk before bedtime.  But then...... from out of the shadows DIESEL came running to me.  His owner was outside too, standing on his patio.  I hadn't seen Diesel in such a long time!  He'd doubled in size it seemed.  His owner (need to find out his name) said he'd been working alot of over-time and that's why I hadn't seen them.  He always indulges me as he lets me love on Diesel.   Diesel gave me lots of puppy kisses and I scratched his belly.  Then the rain came pouring down on us so the love fest had to end.  

But I'm happy to know that Diesel is still near-by and I'll watch him grow into a humorously slow-moving, short-legged Basset with heavy bones

Diesel this evening! 4-1/2 months old

This photo was taken this evening!  I've seen my favorite Basset two days in a row!  He's 4-1/2 months old and his owner's name is Richard.  

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Chloe and her offspring

It's growing! Sunday 10th of December

I named my Christmas cactus, Chloe, and she is close to having her first bloom!  I received her as a small start about 5 or 6 years ago.  She has yet to bloom.  So this is pretty exciting here in Susan's home. 

Vox_sticker

Just a friendly reminder to vote for our friend, Amanda.  Voting is for the best 2006 Weblog awards (select Imago Dei).   Let's support her with our vote!  Check out her website that's up for the award. 

Julie and I sat together at the movie last night.  Before the movie started we were able to talk for several minutes.  I now am better able to understand what is wrong with her granddaughter, Sara.  Sara is 6 now but has the mental capacity of a 3 yr old.  She looks normal (I've not met her but I've seen pictures.  She's a beautiful blonde haired girl).  She has a feeding tube in her stomach to give her liquids and all her meds.  She does eat now but not in life sustaining amounts.  She has seizures once/twice a week and when they occur she needs her meds in her right away.  With meds they are still 15-20 minutes in duration and without the meds they will go on much longer.  It's getting more difficult to handle her during seizures, I am told, because she is 70 lbs now.  She said they pick her up during the seizure.  They are going to possibly look into 'seizure dogs'.  Dogs that sense when a seizure is about to occur and can break their fall.  Ever heard of this?  I haven't.   

There is still much I don't know about her condition or their day to day life with her.  I don't see Julie often but only during our 'Saturday night' outings when we do get together.  I do know Sara has had many surgeries.  She goes to school now and it's a class for special needs kids.

One thing I found out last night is her condition is a chromosome abnormality.  Right now the doctors are uncertain if her mental capacity will catch up to normal or not.  Also don't know about the developmental delays.  Julie said Sara's situation is rare and she is a mystery to the doctors.  The Number 2 Chromosome detached at conception and then reattached upside down.  In other words, there was an inversion of chromosome 2 and that's not a good thing.  It is mindboggling how Chromosome abnormalities can cause such problems.

Julie helps out with Sara and more so now that Sara's Mom and Dad recently divorced.  I don't know why they divorced but my thoughts are the liklihood of divorce increases with a special needs child.  Can either bring them closer together or can end up in divorce (that's what I've heard anyway.  Don't have data to support that statement)

Below is a rough sketch of a Chromosome.  I'm uncertain if Sara's detachment/reattachment of the Number 2 Chromosome was 'pericentric' or 'paracentric'.  If pericentric the breakpoint was at the centromere and involved each arm.  If it was the paracentric, then the breakpoint involved only one arm.

180px-Chromosome

Chromosome.
(1) Chromatid. One of the two identical parts of the chromosome after S phase.
(2) Centromere. The point where the two chromatids touch, and where the microtubules attach.
(3) Short arm
(4) Long arm.