dual personalities

Tag: family

October 16, 2023

Postcards from Maryland

by chuckofish

Well, I had a wonderful visit with daughter #2’s little family–the weather was perfect and we had quite an extended gabfest. We went to all the parks: green, red and blue. We went to the pumpkin patch.

I had a wonderful time.

My travel, though stressful (heightened security!) and exhausting, was incident-free and (relatively) easy-peasy. Daughter #1 was waiting for me at the airport when I returned and the OM did not burn the house down while I was gone. ☑️

On Sunday everything was back to normal and we went to church and watched the wee bud play soccer. But it was a lot colder this weekend and we had to dig out some hats and gloves!

Are we having fun yet?

Even so, it is good to be back in flyover country!

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,
make thy way plain before my face.
For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only,
that makest me dwell in safety.

Teach me, Lord, teach me truly how to live,
that I may come to know thee,
and in thy presence serve thee with gladness,
and sing songs of praise to thy glory.

(Samuel S. Wesley, 1810-1876)

6 Comments
October 10, 2023

Let no man take your crown

by chuckofish

I am traveling today to see darling daughter #2 and her sweet family, so I will be mostly off the internet for the rest of the week. Prayers for traveling mercies are much appreciated!

In the meantime, here are some good reads to keep you occupied.

This was fascinating about the humble chickadee.

Dear friends, we know that souls are not to be won by music. Heh heh.

10 things to know about the most famous blessing in the Bible.

The OM and I have joined a group at church that is reading The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. I have not read it in awhile, so I am really enjoying re-visiting it.

The Crown is before you, and it is an incorruptible one; so run that you may obtain it. Some there be that set out for this Crown, and after they have gone far for it, another comes in, and takes it from them; hold fast therefore that you have, let no man take your Crown; you are not yet out of reach of the gunshot of the Devil. You have not yet resisted unto death in your striving against sin. Let the Kingdom be always before you, and believe with certainty and consistency the things that are yet unseen. Let nothing that is on this side of eternal life get inside you. Above all, take care of your own hearts, and resist the lusts that tempt you, for your hearts are deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Set your faces like a flint; you have all the power of Heaven and earth on your side.

(Evangelist to Christian and Faithful)

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

(Numbers 6:24-16)

2 Comments
October 9, 2023

Tune my heart to sing thy grace

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Ours was a perfect flyover fall weekend–gorgeous blue sky weather with temperatures in the 60s. It doesn’t get much better than that.

We did all the things–1st grade soccer on Saturday… the boy(s) are getting better!

…and church on Sunday. We had a good guest preacher and an excellent adult ed class. Lots of good hymns.

I made Episcopal Presbyterian soufflé with all the trimmings for after church and it was very good if I don’t say so myself. The twins discovered that they really like garlic cheese breadsticks from Trader Joes. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful day and the twins covered the driveway in chalk drawings. Super fun fall frolics.

Later that afternoon, after everyone had gone home, our electricity went out so the OM and I entertained ourselves by driving through Lone Elk Park where we saw some buffs.

Daughter #1 also sent me this from Instagram…

This is perfect because it is my contention that Westies are the Mini Cooper of dogs, bringing joy to everyone who sees them.

And here’s a bear story for the week. Pretty gruesome. Lesson learned: don’t go into the woods armed only with bear spray. Bring a battle-ax.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night,
On an instrument of ten strings,
On the lute,
And on the harp,
With harmonious sound.
For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands.

(Psalm 92: 1-4) 

4 Comments
October 4, 2023

The swing of it

by chuckofish

Well, here we are and it’s already October 4th. September zoomed by even faster than expected.

If you like corn mazes, here is a list of super-duper ones across the country. I was disappointed not to see our local Eckert’s Millstadt Farm on the list. Everyone knows it’s the best.

Signs of Halloween are everywhere, including in my own home.

Just the other day we were discussing the fact that now that daughter #1 is a homeowner and lives in a neighborhood where there will undoubtedly be many trick-or-treaters, she will have to spend a fortune on Halloween candy. The price of candy has sky-rocketed (along with everything else)! Luckily we never get any trick-or-treaters, so as usual, I just buy Halloween candy for myself.

Well, I’m trying to get into the swing of fall…

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

3 Comments
October 2, 2023

Postcards from the weekend

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Mine was summer-y hot, but full of outdoor fun. We stayed cool in the shade watching the little bud run up and down the field in another victory for his first grade team. (Sorry, U. City.)

And Lottie lost a tooth!

After the game we celebrated Mr. Smith’s 1st birthday back at his house…

Lottie made him a birthday card–doesn’t this look just like Mr. Smith?

Mr. Smith got a lot of exercise playing catch in the back yard. Earlier in the day he and daughter #1 had walked up the street to see the U. City Homecoming parade. Field hockey girls never change.

On Sunday we heard a good sermon from a guest preacher. The church was full so the singing was especially robust. I cried as usual. Afterwards the boy and the twins came over for bagels. We sat outside and enjoyed the cooler temperature. Lottie and the bud ran around and quarreled and got very dirty playing on the driveway–good times.

Meanwhile Katie is ready for October with her new festive attire from her aunt Lauren:

I watched some of the Ryder Cup and one really good movie. Cinema Paradiso (1988) is one of my all-time favorite Italian movies (top five) and a favorite movie, period. (Just don’t watch the director’s cut.)

I always cry during the last 15 minutes–what movie lover doesn’t?

Speaking of movies, Charlton Heston is the star of the month on TCM, so be sure to check out the schedule on Wednesday nights!

And here’s Willie Nelson’s new bluegrass version of A Good Hearted Woman:

3 Comments
September 26, 2023

How’s it goin’?

by chuckofish

It is the last week of September…soon we will enter that long slide to Christmas which will zoom by in a flash. We have got to get organized!

Well, I am sticking to my routine and keeping up with my Bible reading plan. I also signed up for another free Hillsdale College course: “Supply-Side Economics and American Prosperity with Arthur Laffer.” I know you’re impressed, right? I passed the first quiz, so I am hopeful I can keep up. I have to do something to keep my brain cells from mutinying.

It is now that time of year when the Halloween displays pop up in people’s yards. It is quite a competition in my neck of the woods. The OM and I drove by one such yard display that looks like a pumpkin patch–do they really want people coming to their door hoping to buy a pumpkin? Because that’s what it looks like. I guess that growing “ginormous” pumpkins has become a thing as well. It takes a lot of effort.

This article reminded me of the bad experience we had at our Episcopal church years ago. “So, while no one denies that there are bad pastors, almost no one is discussing the fact that there are bad churches. Where are the documentaries and podcasts discussing pastor-destroying churches? There is precious little discussion about the fact that there is hardly a pastor out there who has not been wounded, slandered, bullied, or run off from a church by bad associate pastors and ungodly church members.” Amen to that.

Meanwhile everyone is sick in daughter #2’s family…

…but three-year old Katie is still on top of her game.

I watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) the other night on TCM. I had not seen it in a very long time. I am not a big fan of Frank Capra, but I have to say, this movie is good!

Jimmy Stewart is not too gangly and aw-shucks, but just right as the idealistic new senator and Jean Arthur does not whine, but takes charge as needed. It still resonates today with its message of governmental corruption–the swamp. The press comes off very badly. Its patriotic message needs to ring out anew–it should be required viewing for all fourth graders. And it’s a good lesson in basic civics, something about which most Americans are woefully ignorant.

By the way, daughter #1’s Mr. Smith was not named after the Mr. Smith who went to Washington, but the Mr. Smith who was a dog in The Awful Truth (1937).

Enjoy your Tuesday! Watch an old movie, learn something new, pet a nice dog.

4 Comments
September 25, 2023

“Thou art my Counselor, my pattern, and my Guide”*

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Mine was a quiet one. Daughter #1 was in Maryland visiting daughter #2. I picked her up at the airport on Saturday and we were both relieved that her flight back was uneventful and unaffected by the hurricane back east.

I watched a little SEC football–Alabama vs Ole Miss–so I would have a better grip on Matt Mitchell’s weekly SEC recap. He is so mean to Mizzou, but I love him anyway.

Can’t wait to see what he has to say this week!

We saw the boy and the twins at church and enjoyed an interesting adult ed class on AI (let us not forget that God is sovereign) as well as a good sermon by the seminary student who is our Youth Minister. It actually contained a little brimstone. I do like some brimstone in a sermon.

We went to the wee laddie’s soccer game later in the afternoon. His other grandparents were there, visiting from Florida–so he had quite the cheering section.

He is slowly but surely getting the idea of the game…

His team is still undefeated thanks to two players who look and play like fourth graders. God bless America.

Also, I appreciated this text from the boy:

*Isaac Watts, 1707

6 Comments
September 21, 2023

“Charles, if the goal was to offer a more interesting anecdote, we’re headed in the wrong direction.”*

by chuckofish

Yesterday I went to my friend’s house to watch I Am So Not Inviting You to My Bat Mitzvah (2023) on her big screen tv.

It stars Adam Sandler, his wife, and two daughters. It is Mean Girls for Jewish girls. I enjoyed it and understood most of the jokes. But it is a lot of seventh grade girls being girls. I lived through those years myself and through my daughters’ early adolescences as well. It was not easy. Now from the perspective of old ladyhood, it is still amusing, but I am glad I am through with all that drama.

I have also been watching season three of Only Murders In the Building with Steve, Marty and Selena.

It started off very slowly, but it is picking up steam and I am enjoying it. I always watch each episode twice so I won’t miss anything, but there are people out there who clearly are really obsessed.

Meanwhile daughter #1 flew to Maryland to spend a few days with daughter #2 and her delightful little family.

Let the good times roll!

*Oliver (Martin Short) on OMITB.

3 Comments
September 18, 2023

Just as I am

by chuckofish

The Greentree Festival was this weekend in our hometown, so, of course, we went to the parade. Per usual, there were bagpipers, army trucks, the KHS band, Shriners, floats, old cars, and more:

The twins had a great time–they couldn’t believe people were throwing candy at them…

…and Mr. Smith had fun being out and about too!

After church on Sunday we went to watch the wee bud’s soccer game. We have now officially entered the grandparents going to their grandchildrens’ sporting events phase of our lives–I am not complaining.

It was a beautiful day to sit outside and we had a lot fun. Once when the ball went out of bounds right in front of us, Lottie picked it up and threw it back in and all the boys yelled, “Lottieeeee, what are you doing?” It was pretty funny. She just laughed and gave them a fiddle-de-dee look.

The boy’s team won the game and they are 2 and 0 now. They have a couple of boys who can actually dribble and they score all the goals. The rest run up and down the field and try not to fall down.

So it’s Monday again and September is half over. May the God of every grace be with you today.

4 Comments
September 15, 2023

A simple walk in the park

by chuckofish

Friday again–where did the week go? I did the usual: reading, grocery shopping, lunch with a friend, preparing for Bible Study, going to Bible Study…and the unusual–having Mr. Smith as a house guest while daughter #1 was in Indiana working in the field.

Mr. Smith was pretty stressed because he was left again with us. I tried my best to reassure him. I read him a poem.

Dogs will also lick your face if you let them.

Their bodies will shiver with happiness.

A simple walk in the park is just about

the height of contentment for them, followed

by a bowl of food, a bowl of water,

a place to curl up and sleep. Someone

to scratch them where they can’t reach

and smooth their foreheads and talk to them.

Dogs also have a natural dislike of mailmen

and other bringers of bad news and will

bite them on your behalf. Dogs can smell

fear and also love with perfect accuracy.

There is no use pretending with them.

Nor do they pretend. If a dog is happy

or sad or nervous or bored or ashamed

or sunk in contemplation, everybody knows it.

They make no secret of themselves.

You can even tell what they’re dreaming about

by the way their legs jerk and try to run

on the slippery ground of sleep.

Nor are they given to pretentious self-importance.

They don’t try to impress you with how serious

or sensitive they are. They just feel everything

full blast. Everything is off the charts

with them. More than once I’ve seen a dog

waiting for its owner outside a café

practically implode with worry. “Oh, God,

what if she doesn’t come back this time?

What will I do? Who will take care of me?

I loved her so much and now she’s gone

and I’m tied to a post surrounded by people

who don’t look or smell or sound like her at all.”

And when she does come, what a flurry

of commotion, what a chorus of yelping

and cooing and leaps straight up into the air!

It’s almost unbearable, this sudden

fullness after such total loss, to see

the world made whole again by a hand

on the shoulder and a voice like no other.

(John Brehm, “If Feeling Isn’t In It”)

Meanwhile the babes in Maryland are redefining precious.

C’est la vie. Have a good weekend.

4 Comments