Sunday, December 25, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Weekend Before Michael Came
I was so glad to see my family! They pulled up just as I arrived in baggage claim. Just took a minute for my bag to appear, and we were on our way home. Puppy came downstairs to greet me, and then he wanted to go outside. :) I went to bed so fast... but first I looked at all the pretty lights in the living room with Mom. It was super late... didn't fall asleep until 2:30 am or so... I had to call my Darling first. :)
Don't remember when I woke up Saturday, but I'm sure it was healthy late. I spent most of the day as a lazy bum. I'm sure I played games with Meg and Dad, and took the dog on a walk... but besides that, it's a blur. Didn't even want to unpack. That night, Andie & Family came over to show us how they celebrate Hanuka at their house, starting this year.
Sunday I went to church at Woodin Valley Baptist with Mom and our renter (Andie's friend) Christina. It was a nice little service, and we sang a few Christmas hymns and talked with our previous neighbors the Boyers for a while. Back at home, family came over for dinner... Christina had made breaded chicken breast and eggplant, and it was great. That night we had WENNmas, and had another wonderful watch-through of the Christmas episode with a little bit of gift-giving.
It's so difficult to remember little days like this a couple weeks later... I know Dad and I helped Christina move a marble-top desk and easy chair from her previous place on Mercer Island back home. On the way, we stopped by Bellevue to see about getting a new driver's license for myself, but it was closed Mondays. After we got back I contented myself by putting lights on the Japanese Maple and the magnolia tree in the front yard. Mom and Dad had done everything else on and inside the house before I came.
Each night we did our regular advent traditions:
reading selections from the Bible that Mom picked out, typed out, and matched with a little cloth ornament to hang on the cloth tree she made, and then singing a song or two. Also watched a couple episodes of Monk each night, as Mom & Dad are still making their way through the series.
Oh, tomorrow morning! :)
Jw
Don't remember when I woke up Saturday, but I'm sure it was healthy late. I spent most of the day as a lazy bum. I'm sure I played games with Meg and Dad, and took the dog on a walk... but besides that, it's a blur. Didn't even want to unpack. That night, Andie & Family came over to show us how they celebrate Hanuka at their house, starting this year.
Sunday I went to church at Woodin Valley Baptist with Mom and our renter (Andie's friend) Christina. It was a nice little service, and we sang a few Christmas hymns and talked with our previous neighbors the Boyers for a while. Back at home, family came over for dinner... Christina had made breaded chicken breast and eggplant, and it was great. That night we had WENNmas, and had another wonderful watch-through of the Christmas episode with a little bit of gift-giving.
It's so difficult to remember little days like this a couple weeks later... I know Dad and I helped Christina move a marble-top desk and easy chair from her previous place on Mercer Island back home. On the way, we stopped by Bellevue to see about getting a new driver's license for myself, but it was closed Mondays. After we got back I contented myself by putting lights on the Japanese Maple and the magnolia tree in the front yard. Mom and Dad had done everything else on and inside the house before I came.
Each night we did our regular advent traditions:
reading selections from the Bible that Mom picked out, typed out, and matched with a little cloth ornament to hang on the cloth tree she made, and then singing a song or two. Also watched a couple episodes of Monk each night, as Mom & Dad are still making their way through the series.Oh, tomorrow morning! :)
Jw
Friday, December 16, 2011
Waiting and Waiting
This week I spent most of my time at home watching movies to make the time go by faster. Finished watching the film "Whales" on Monday while I had some tuna helper.
Tuesday night I watched Garden State from what I picked up at the library on Sunday, instead of Jane Eyre, which I waited to watch until after we graduated and had our celebratory breakfast at Perry's on Wednesday morning. Good thing too! Because it was 3 hours and 48 minutes long! It was the Masterpiece Theatre version from 1996. I loved it! Went to the library again that night to return the movies and volunteer for a while. When I was leaving, I noticed there was to be a concert starting in a few minutes in the community room... the Peninsula Singers were putting on a Christmas show, complete with an audible version of Carol of the Bells and ranging from some Hanukkah songs to the famous passages from Handel's Messiah. I loved their medley with Home for the Holidays, Let it Snow, & I'll be Home for Christmas. But while I volunteered, I picked up three more movies that I really wanted to see... and I watched last year's Robin Hood with Russell Crowe between talking to Mike. Thursday afternoon it was 2009's Up in the Air, with George Clooney, and then that night I saw a live radio play of It's a Wonderful Life at the Cygnet Theater in Old Town. Boy, I loved that! The costumes, the actors, the set! I sat in the dead center a few rows back. And the guy who played Jimmy's role spoke with certain inflections at certain times just like Jimmy did in '46.
Friday was a wild one. Got home at 11am... all checked out from the Navy and good to go for the next seventeen days! I managed to eat lunch, finish all my laundry, clean my room, do my dishes, watch A Newsreel History of the Third Reich (from the 1941 eastern front), return all three movies to the library, send a package of presents home via the post office, and pack, all before my friend Hibbard came to take me to the airport around 5:45. Whew! And United was not busy at all, so I went right through. Free checked bag for being in the military, and there were only a couple people at security... so I had tons of time to talk to Meg on the phone, as well as my Darling before they boarded us. And they gave me priority that way too... there were about 40 military flying this first leg, from SD to SF. A non-eventful flight... it was so short, and then I talked to Mom while charging my phone waiting for the final flight. And I slept my way through all of that one. :)
Tuesday night I watched Garden State from what I picked up at the library on Sunday, instead of Jane Eyre, which I waited to watch until after we graduated and had our celebratory breakfast at Perry's on Wednesday morning. Good thing too! Because it was 3 hours and 48 minutes long! It was the Masterpiece Theatre version from 1996. I loved it! Went to the library again that night to return the movies and volunteer for a while. When I was leaving, I noticed there was to be a concert starting in a few minutes in the community room... the Peninsula Singers were putting on a Christmas show, complete with an audible version of Carol of the Bells and ranging from some Hanukkah songs to the famous passages from Handel's Messiah. I loved their medley with Home for the Holidays, Let it Snow, & I'll be Home for Christmas. But while I volunteered, I picked up three more movies that I really wanted to see... and I watched last year's Robin Hood with Russell Crowe between talking to Mike. Thursday afternoon it was 2009's Up in the Air, with George Clooney, and then that night I saw a live radio play of It's a Wonderful Life at the Cygnet Theater in Old Town. Boy, I loved that! The costumes, the actors, the set! I sat in the dead center a few rows back. And the guy who played Jimmy's role spoke with certain inflections at certain times just like Jimmy did in '46.
Friday was a wild one. Got home at 11am... all checked out from the Navy and good to go for the next seventeen days! I managed to eat lunch, finish all my laundry, clean my room, do my dishes, watch A Newsreel History of the Third Reich (from the 1941 eastern front), return all three movies to the library, send a package of presents home via the post office, and pack, all before my friend Hibbard came to take me to the airport around 5:45. Whew! And United was not busy at all, so I went right through. Free checked bag for being in the military, and there were only a couple people at security... so I had tons of time to talk to Meg on the phone, as well as my Darling before they boarded us. And they gave me priority that way too... there were about 40 military flying this first leg, from SD to SF. A non-eventful flight... it was so short, and then I talked to Mom while charging my phone waiting for the final flight. And I slept my way through all of that one. :)
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Little Joys
That was, in fact, the topic of this third weekend of advent... Joy... following Hope and Peace. A good sermon, and I walked in on the singing of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
Then on my way to try and find Christmas cards... which I didn't find yet... I discovered a pair of presents for my niece and nephew that they will adore! And then I had a free sample of fried Swai fish... a river catfish from Asia... and discovered that $2.50 would buy me two filets, cooked the same way for free... takeout from the grocery store!
After eating that, a few of the shrimp I got and some Brussel sprouts for a tasty lunch, I went to the library again, for a cart-and-a-half of DVDs, and a single load of audio books. Took a good two hours! Then I picked up some free stuff... lots of people drop off boxes and bags of books they don't want anymore... more than the library can or wants to handle. Got Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a short collection of O'Henry with Gift of the Magi included, a CD of Vivaldi's Four Seasons (what timing), as well as The Empire Strikes Back Original Soundtrack and a few children's books.
Then I dropped by Stump's Market across the street to pick up some things for having hotdogs at the small group meeting tonight at the church. We read a couple chapters, but soon the church's program, Gifts for the King, was going to start. It's simply a few of the more talented members who get up and sing, read or play an instrument to the glory of God... sort of like a talent show with no voting. We began it by singing Christmas hymns from the hymnbook, and I enjoyed it all very much!
So winds down my last weekend before break! Tomorrow is my duty day, and the final practical test... after that, I won't have much of consequence before leaving Friday night!
Jw
Then on my way to try and find Christmas cards... which I didn't find yet... I discovered a pair of presents for my niece and nephew that they will adore! And then I had a free sample of fried Swai fish... a river catfish from Asia... and discovered that $2.50 would buy me two filets, cooked the same way for free... takeout from the grocery store!
After eating that, a few of the shrimp I got and some Brussel sprouts for a tasty lunch, I went to the library again, for a cart-and-a-half of DVDs, and a single load of audio books. Took a good two hours! Then I picked up some free stuff... lots of people drop off boxes and bags of books they don't want anymore... more than the library can or wants to handle. Got Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a short collection of O'Henry with Gift of the Magi included, a CD of Vivaldi's Four Seasons (what timing), as well as The Empire Strikes Back Original Soundtrack and a few children's books.
Then I dropped by Stump's Market across the street to pick up some things for having hotdogs at the small group meeting tonight at the church. We read a couple chapters, but soon the church's program, Gifts for the King, was going to start. It's simply a few of the more talented members who get up and sing, read or play an instrument to the glory of God... sort of like a talent show with no voting. We began it by singing Christmas hymns from the hymnbook, and I enjoyed it all very much!
So winds down my last weekend before break! Tomorrow is my duty day, and the final practical test... after that, I won't have much of consequence before leaving Friday night!
Jw
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Saturday, In & Out
Got up early enough to make & eat eggs, wash my dishes, and sweep the floor before going to the Presbyterian church, down Chatsworth, across from the library, to help sort Angel Tree presents for an hour. I thought we'd be wrapping them, but I guess not! There was another young lady there who had recently joined the church... a Naval officer from the air station, training to be a SH-60S pilot. She was a few years younger than I... that's amazing to me. We talked about our various situations a little. She's also newly married, but to a submarine man.
Since it didn't take long to finish, I crossed the street when we were done and volunteered at the library for a few hours. Checked in Hold items, and shelved them, then found a bunch more from the shelves and checked those in too. While in audiobooks, I found a misfiled copy of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", which I've had a hold on for months... 6th in a line of 16 for it... so I took that up to check if it was supposed to be on hold for somebody in front of me, but it said no! So I checked it out myself and cancelled my hold! :) Normally, I wouldn't read a self-help book like this, but it's on the Navy suggested reading list for E-4 and below. We'll see how it goes... it's only three discs. And I can listen to it in January, because they can be out that long!
Came home and ate my leftovers from last night: the little bit of orange chicken, and practically the whole egg flower soup. So good! Started my laundry, then decided to watch the rest of the Army/Navy game on channel 8... it worked when I put up the antenna, like my landlady said. And Navy won! It was a close game... I turned it on in the end of the 3rd quarter.
Then I headed over to the Naval Air Station on Coronado for a bit of the Holiday Navy Band Concert... with a wonderful carol sing-a-long medley at the end. Then I shopped at the commissary and got lots of good groceries for a pretty good price. Returned home, and folded the laundry, had some of my newly purchased Town House crackers with Tillamook cheese and summer sausage. And I watched the movie I got from the library a couple days ago... "A Patch of Blue" with Sidney Poitier from 1965. I loved it so much I cried a couple times. It was very good.
Fun little chat tonight! Practically everyone was on!
Jw
Since it didn't take long to finish, I crossed the street when we were done and volunteered at the library for a few hours. Checked in Hold items, and shelved them, then found a bunch more from the shelves and checked those in too. While in audiobooks, I found a misfiled copy of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", which I've had a hold on for months... 6th in a line of 16 for it... so I took that up to check if it was supposed to be on hold for somebody in front of me, but it said no! So I checked it out myself and cancelled my hold! :) Normally, I wouldn't read a self-help book like this, but it's on the Navy suggested reading list for E-4 and below. We'll see how it goes... it's only three discs. And I can listen to it in January, because they can be out that long!
Came home and ate my leftovers from last night: the little bit of orange chicken, and practically the whole egg flower soup. So good! Started my laundry, then decided to watch the rest of the Army/Navy game on channel 8... it worked when I put up the antenna, like my landlady said. And Navy won! It was a close game... I turned it on in the end of the 3rd quarter.
Then I headed over to the Naval Air Station on Coronado for a bit of the Holiday Navy Band Concert... with a wonderful carol sing-a-long medley at the end. Then I shopped at the commissary and got lots of good groceries for a pretty good price. Returned home, and folded the laundry, had some of my newly purchased Town House crackers with Tillamook cheese and summer sausage. And I watched the movie I got from the library a couple days ago... "A Patch of Blue" with Sidney Poitier from 1965. I loved it so much I cried a couple times. It was very good.
Fun little chat tonight! Practically everyone was on!
Jw
Friday, December 9, 2011
Free for the Weekend
We got out of class at 2pm... I checked the mail and got some cash out of the ATM before going home. At home, my dishes were dirty from the morning's oatmeal and in my room. My landlady was also making breakfast this morning and I needed to stay out of her way... so I left them dirty for the first time. :)
My housemate, Emily, came in to chat after I finished watching yesterday's event in the advent calendar (some days I get behind). She wanted someone to talk to... the first group of people from her internship with the Navy dolphin program left today... and her's ends the day I leave for home. I showed her the giant spider crab pic and video I put on FB, and she admired my wooden octopus on my wall as well. We have a common interest :)
Decided to go out to dinner together at the Chinese Food mom & pop place on Shelter Island Dr. at 5:30, but first I went to the library for an hour to exchange my Henry book for another (Justin Morgan) and do a little re-shelving. It seems I always do the audiobooks... suppose that's because I like them myself (and a lot of other people do too). Picked up "A Christmas Carol" because I've never read it before.
Dinner was great! Tried out some orange chicken for the first time, and I tried a little of Emily's Kung Pao chicken. Dropped her back at the house, then continued on to Balboa Park for the Globe's new musical romance "Some Lovers". I liked it alright... the songs were pretty good, but the storyline left a little to be desired. It was based on O'Henry's "Gift of the Magi", but the guy never figured out what to give until the very end of the play.
Jw
My housemate, Emily, came in to chat after I finished watching yesterday's event in the advent calendar (some days I get behind). She wanted someone to talk to... the first group of people from her internship with the Navy dolphin program left today... and her's ends the day I leave for home. I showed her the giant spider crab pic and video I put on FB, and she admired my wooden octopus on my wall as well. We have a common interest :)
Decided to go out to dinner together at the Chinese Food mom & pop place on Shelter Island Dr. at 5:30, but first I went to the library for an hour to exchange my Henry book for another (Justin Morgan) and do a little re-shelving. It seems I always do the audiobooks... suppose that's because I like them myself (and a lot of other people do too). Picked up "A Christmas Carol" because I've never read it before.
Dinner was great! Tried out some orange chicken for the first time, and I tried a little of Emily's Kung Pao chicken. Dropped her back at the house, then continued on to Balboa Park for the Globe's new musical romance "Some Lovers". I liked it alright... the songs were pretty good, but the storyline left a little to be desired. It was based on O'Henry's "Gift of the Magi", but the guy never figured out what to give until the very end of the play.
Jw
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Last Two Nights
Went out for dinner last night... had Rubio's again. Then I returned "War Horse", refiled a handful of audio books and the dozen or so dvds that had been taken off the shelves, but left. Since listening to "King of the Wind" the other day, I decided I wanted to read "Misty of Chincoteague". It would be good, especially if I get stationed in Norfolk.
Talked with Meg, and Mom & Dad when I got back home... can't wait for Christmas!
Tonight I stayed at home, made shell-noodle, white MAC'n cheese, along with the filet of sole with spinach from Trader Joe's. Watched a movie with my landlady that she had on TV... "The Matchmaker" from 1987.... it was an interesting little romance. We talked a while longer while I made myself some nachoes.
I've just about finished reading "Misty"... it's such a fun little book. It's a classic library edition too. The kind I remember my sister reading all the time when we were small. They have the rest of the books too... :)
Jw
Talked with Meg, and Mom & Dad when I got back home... can't wait for Christmas!
Tonight I stayed at home, made shell-noodle, white MAC'n cheese, along with the filet of sole with spinach from Trader Joe's. Watched a movie with my landlady that she had on TV... "The Matchmaker" from 1987.... it was an interesting little romance. We talked a while longer while I made myself some nachoes.
I've just about finished reading "Misty"... it's such a fun little book. It's a classic library edition too. The kind I remember my sister reading all the time when we were small. They have the rest of the books too... :)
Jw
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Seventy Years Ago
From the film taken by Captain Eric Haakensen from the hospital ship USS Solace as the 800kg bomb penetrated the forecastle deck.Felt proud to wear the uniform today.
Jp
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
At the Hospital
My friend Kristin from Bible study is in the middle of her master's program focusing on procedures for radiation oncology. She's developing (or supporting the development of) new ways to keep patient's heads still while they are being scanned for tumors. Previous methods (still used in some cases) involved drilling a form to the patient's head... another involved wearing this white thing...and thankfully, the ones I tried out for her were
much more comfortable than either of these! First I tried this one for 25 minutes (while listening to Johnny Cash)...
and then this for 25 minutes (while listening to Louie Armstrong)...
Another friend from church, Scott, did both, as well as Kristin herself. Her husband, Andy, pushed the buttons while she did it. So it took about three hours, but I was glad to help her out. Science projects always require lots of data, data, data. They picked me up at Carl's Jr. on Midway (I had a coupon for turkey burgers!) and then drove us all up to the hospital at UCSD in La Jolla.
This morning was very early... 5:30! Had hash browns like Mom used to make, 3 eggs, and later, toast on my way out the door as I was going to Quarters. And after that, I finished reading "War Horse". So I was wiped out by the time I got back home at night. I snuggled up in my bed under lots of covers, since the night was so cold.
Jp
Monday, December 5, 2011
Dinner and Some Whales
I had some mac'n cheese with turkey hotdogs for dinner... and finished watching the IMAX film on Whales that I had started the other night. It was very good food, and a very interesting movie, but a while after I turned the space heater on, the breaker turned the power off in the house. It's so awfully cold these nights... so I'm bundling up and using all my blankets tonight... along with sweatpants & sweatshirt.
Jp
Jp
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Another Fine Day in "America's Finest City"
That's San Diego's nickname... and as far as I've seen, they've lived up to it.
Started off by misplacing my wallet. I had got up in time to head to church, but after wracking my brain, and heading off to look for it at Presidio Park, I realized I had stuck it in the drawer with my camera... after taking pics at the park. :)
I made it to church in a reasonable time for leaving right around when it was starting. Sat next to Emily and Kristin from young adult group for the 2nd weekend of Advent. This time we talked about Peace, and the pastor started by talking about the world's peace: the colt peacemaker (through power), the peace sign (through protest), peace of pie (through comfort), peace treaties (fickle agreements) and the peace prize (for valiant efforts). But then he talked of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and how real peace transcends our understanding (Phil. 4:7) and can even be found in the face of death (Luke 2:29-30). And I thought it was neat that he mentioned Luke 2:14 (NIV) after Mike and I just had a long conversation about it a day or two ago (We finished Ephesians last night and started into Hebrews).
I love little churches! And the people to talk to when they have lunch served in the Fellowship Hall afterwords. Cheesy shredded potatoes and meatloaf! I'm now FB friends with Jenny, who makes or serves the meals every week. It's impossible to do that in anything bigger than this... maybe 80 people at the most. It allows for real interaction with other saints, which is exactly what "the church" is supposed to be. It's the same kind of church Robert and Julie introduced me to while I was in Chicago. And I love it!
Dropped off my Angel Tree gift, then made my way downtown. I parked at Seaport Village again, not realizing the metered parking by the Maritime Museum was free (it was only a loss of $2). But if I hadn't, I would have missed out on getting my Spiffy a Christmas present, and also missed out on the wood carvings I found: an octopus and a tropical fish... wow, are they neat... and boy, do they look nice on my wall! And on the walk to the Maritime Museum, I passed the shell of a Giant Spider Crab just sitting on the stone wall, and a Mexican guy playing his trumpet in the traditionally loud, Mexican way, so I dropped a dollar in his cup.
I was visiting the museum to look at their exhibit on "Three Voyages to Paradise": Captain Cook, explorer, Herman Melville, author and Paul Gauguin, artist. They had some neat stuff on display. I also made my way to the USS Dolphin, a research sub, and the US Navy's last diesel/electric which holds the world's deepest dive record for a working submarine. The sonar room was the first thing to see, and I enjoyed that... lots of 1960's equipment... very cool.
Made it to Symphony Hall with 4 minutes to spare before the concert started. It was Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Philip Glass's American Four Seasons, and Summer & Autumn from Glazunov's The Seasons. The guest soloist, Robert McDuffie, is touring this around the world... I got a good seat in the middle of the middle section for only $25 during their Thanksgiving sale. What a deal! As during the opening lines of the symphony performance I saw in Chicago, I nearly cried at the beginning of "Spring", it was so beautiful. The audience made it until the first part of Autumn before they started interrupting the breaks with applause... they just couldn't hold back. :) Vivaldi's Seasons were accompanied with descriptions projected on a screen above the orchestra. It definitely helped my poor imagination. :) Loved the sounds of rain, thunder & lightning. The first two composers had written for just strings with harpsichord. They had a real harpsichord for Vivaldi, and an electronic keyboard making harpsichord sounds for the Glass's American. A full orchestra with harp, percussion, winds and brass played during the final pieces.
Since there were a couple hours before small group, I stopped by Fred's Mexican Cafe for tortilla soup, rice & beans on 5th in the Gaslamp district (why not take full advantage of paying for unlimited parking?). As I sat down, I saw the Packers beat the Giants in the final seconds of the game. After all this, I had just enough time to swing by the house to pick up the cheese for the grilled sandwiches we were making at small group tonight before heading off to it.
The split pea soup was a good combination with grilled cheese... and we had a wonderful little meeting. Kind of a small group again, but we had a lively conversation. It was all about how sin (not plural) lives in us since we're stuck in the cursed world. And how trusting in the Lord gives us the ability to make the choice to deny sin's authority (Romans 7). The big conversation we had was about that age-old (and confusing) debate about wither Paul was describing a pre- or post-salvation experience. Gosh, I think that's a stupid debate. But we had a good talk about it.
Then, I finally went home, and rested. Talked to my Darling, fell asleep in my clothes, was wakened around 3:15 by Custer the cat clawing at my door and crying... so I let him in and he slept by my feet for the rest of the night.
Jp
Started off by misplacing my wallet. I had got up in time to head to church, but after wracking my brain, and heading off to look for it at Presidio Park, I realized I had stuck it in the drawer with my camera... after taking pics at the park. :)
I made it to church in a reasonable time for leaving right around when it was starting. Sat next to Emily and Kristin from young adult group for the 2nd weekend of Advent. This time we talked about Peace, and the pastor started by talking about the world's peace: the colt peacemaker (through power), the peace sign (through protest), peace of pie (through comfort), peace treaties (fickle agreements) and the peace prize (for valiant efforts). But then he talked of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and how real peace transcends our understanding (Phil. 4:7) and can even be found in the face of death (Luke 2:29-30). And I thought it was neat that he mentioned Luke 2:14 (NIV) after Mike and I just had a long conversation about it a day or two ago (We finished Ephesians last night and started into Hebrews).
I love little churches! And the people to talk to when they have lunch served in the Fellowship Hall afterwords. Cheesy shredded potatoes and meatloaf! I'm now FB friends with Jenny, who makes or serves the meals every week. It's impossible to do that in anything bigger than this... maybe 80 people at the most. It allows for real interaction with other saints, which is exactly what "the church" is supposed to be. It's the same kind of church Robert and Julie introduced me to while I was in Chicago. And I love it!
Dropped off my Angel Tree gift, then made my way downtown. I parked at Seaport Village again, not realizing the metered parking by the Maritime Museum was free (it was only a loss of $2). But if I hadn't, I would have missed out on getting my Spiffy a Christmas present, and also missed out on the wood carvings I found: an octopus and a tropical fish... wow, are they neat... and boy, do they look nice on my wall! And on the walk to the Maritime Museum, I passed the shell of a Giant Spider Crab just sitting on the stone wall, and a Mexican guy playing his trumpet in the traditionally loud, Mexican way, so I dropped a dollar in his cup.
I was visiting the museum to look at their exhibit on "Three Voyages to Paradise": Captain Cook, explorer, Herman Melville, author and Paul Gauguin, artist. They had some neat stuff on display. I also made my way to the USS Dolphin, a research sub, and the US Navy's last diesel/electric which holds the world's deepest dive record for a working submarine. The sonar room was the first thing to see, and I enjoyed that... lots of 1960's equipment... very cool.
Made it to Symphony Hall with 4 minutes to spare before the concert started. It was Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Philip Glass's American Four Seasons, and Summer & Autumn from Glazunov's The Seasons. The guest soloist, Robert McDuffie, is touring this around the world... I got a good seat in the middle of the middle section for only $25 during their Thanksgiving sale. What a deal! As during the opening lines of the symphony performance I saw in Chicago, I nearly cried at the beginning of "Spring", it was so beautiful. The audience made it until the first part of Autumn before they started interrupting the breaks with applause... they just couldn't hold back. :) Vivaldi's Seasons were accompanied with descriptions projected on a screen above the orchestra. It definitely helped my poor imagination. :) Loved the sounds of rain, thunder & lightning. The first two composers had written for just strings with harpsichord. They had a real harpsichord for Vivaldi, and an electronic keyboard making harpsichord sounds for the Glass's American. A full orchestra with harp, percussion, winds and brass played during the final pieces.
Since there were a couple hours before small group, I stopped by Fred's Mexican Cafe for tortilla soup, rice & beans on 5th in the Gaslamp district (why not take full advantage of paying for unlimited parking?). As I sat down, I saw the Packers beat the Giants in the final seconds of the game. After all this, I had just enough time to swing by the house to pick up the cheese for the grilled sandwiches we were making at small group tonight before heading off to it.
The split pea soup was a good combination with grilled cheese... and we had a wonderful little meeting. Kind of a small group again, but we had a lively conversation. It was all about how sin (not plural) lives in us since we're stuck in the cursed world. And how trusting in the Lord gives us the ability to make the choice to deny sin's authority (Romans 7). The big conversation we had was about that age-old (and confusing) debate about wither Paul was describing a pre- or post-salvation experience. Gosh, I think that's a stupid debate. But we had a good talk about it.
Then, I finally went home, and rested. Talked to my Darling, fell asleep in my clothes, was wakened around 3:15 by Custer the cat clawing at my door and crying... so I let him in and he slept by my feet for the rest of the night.
Jp
Saturday, December 3, 2011
World Away, Down the Street
at Cabrillo National Monument.
Didn't get off and going until noon, but I stayed two hours to enjoy the WWII reenactors and look at all their exhibits. They were demonstrating what it looked like to be a part of the coastal defense in 1941 (for the 70th anniversary this week). I talked with a few of them about their uniforms... I was surprised by the blue dungarees working uniform (1918 - 1943) and the first sergeant's stripes (3 on top, 2 on bottom w/diamond). Their attention to detail was outstanding... made everything look authentic, down to the buttons. Also talked with the guys at the crest of the hill about their machine guns. They had WWI 30 cal. water-cooled guns, as well as a very rare (only 25 in the US, they say) 50 cal. water-cooled anti-aircraft gun, like the kind Dorie Miller used at Pearl Harbor. The first guy had a BAR with him, and he took a picture of me holding it... and said I "had it bad" (a love for military history) when he saw my big grin. I told him I was geeky enough to be excited to see the Park Service flying a 48-star flag at the visitor center in honor of the occasion. I got to handle the 50 cal., aiming the cross-hairs at a passing seagull.
This was such a big group, they even had a couple people dressed up as civilians with PRESS cards in their pockets. One young lady even looked a bit like Betty... striped brown suit coat and skirt with accessories... including an old camera in a leather pouch, matching brown 40's hat, and nylons with seams in the back. Gosh! When I first arrived, the first thing I noticed was a 1932 style cathedral radio playing news broadcasts of the Japanese attacking the British.
I talked with the First Sergeant after they had the flyover (of an old Navy trainer) and it turns out, he used to be in the Navy as a "Opticalman", responsible for cleaning periscope and other lenses. How cool is that?! Well, when they disestablished it in 1999, they made him an ET, and he had no idea what he was doing. The sergeant who showed me the 50 cal. is still in the Army and talked about practicing with old equipment (like the coastal battery had to rely on) and then going to Iraq with the new stuff.
And when I went over to the visitor center, I met a former frigate officer with his sons who looking at the huge metal model of the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) they have just outside. And I didn't escape from the store without getting a couple postcards, grown-up picture books about PT Boats and the USS Arizona by David Doyle, and finally, A Harbor Worth Defending: A Military History of Point Loma.
Didn't mention yesterday, that after the movie and shopping at Target, I crossed the street to look inside the old Borders, where something called "Crown Point Books" was selling things for cheap. I picked up a beautiful book of poetry and photographs about Loons in the Wilderness. Very nice, but I should put the breaks on book-buying for a little while, at least. :)
I stopped at Papa's Pizza again for lunch and indulged in "lobster ravioli". Delicious, and only $10! Came with piping hot garlic bread and an iced tea. Mmm.
And because I've been curious for a while about the mission at Presidio Park, north of Old Town, I stopped by there too. The museum itself was inexplicably closed, but at least the grounds of the old Franciscan mission were very interesting to look at and enjoy.
What a day! I'm off to FB to create an album.
Jw
Didn't get off and going until noon, but I stayed two hours to enjoy the WWII reenactors and look at all their exhibits. They were demonstrating what it looked like to be a part of the coastal defense in 1941 (for the 70th anniversary this week). I talked with a few of them about their uniforms... I was surprised by the blue dungarees working uniform (1918 - 1943) and the first sergeant's stripes (3 on top, 2 on bottom w/diamond). Their attention to detail was outstanding... made everything look authentic, down to the buttons. Also talked with the guys at the crest of the hill about their machine guns. They had WWI 30 cal. water-cooled guns, as well as a very rare (only 25 in the US, they say) 50 cal. water-cooled anti-aircraft gun, like the kind Dorie Miller used at Pearl Harbor. The first guy had a BAR with him, and he took a picture of me holding it... and said I "had it bad" (a love for military history) when he saw my big grin. I told him I was geeky enough to be excited to see the Park Service flying a 48-star flag at the visitor center in honor of the occasion. I got to handle the 50 cal., aiming the cross-hairs at a passing seagull.
This was such a big group, they even had a couple people dressed up as civilians with PRESS cards in their pockets. One young lady even looked a bit like Betty... striped brown suit coat and skirt with accessories... including an old camera in a leather pouch, matching brown 40's hat, and nylons with seams in the back. Gosh! When I first arrived, the first thing I noticed was a 1932 style cathedral radio playing news broadcasts of the Japanese attacking the British.
I talked with the First Sergeant after they had the flyover (of an old Navy trainer) and it turns out, he used to be in the Navy as a "Opticalman", responsible for cleaning periscope and other lenses. How cool is that?! Well, when they disestablished it in 1999, they made him an ET, and he had no idea what he was doing. The sergeant who showed me the 50 cal. is still in the Army and talked about practicing with old equipment (like the coastal battery had to rely on) and then going to Iraq with the new stuff.
And when I went over to the visitor center, I met a former frigate officer with his sons who looking at the huge metal model of the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) they have just outside. And I didn't escape from the store without getting a couple postcards, grown-up picture books about PT Boats and the USS Arizona by David Doyle, and finally, A Harbor Worth Defending: A Military History of Point Loma.
Didn't mention yesterday, that after the movie and shopping at Target, I crossed the street to look inside the old Borders, where something called "Crown Point Books" was selling things for cheap. I picked up a beautiful book of poetry and photographs about Loons in the Wilderness. Very nice, but I should put the breaks on book-buying for a little while, at least. :)
I stopped at Papa's Pizza again for lunch and indulged in "lobster ravioli". Delicious, and only $10! Came with piping hot garlic bread and an iced tea. Mmm.
And because I've been curious for a while about the mission at Presidio Park, north of Old Town, I stopped by there too. The museum itself was inexplicably closed, but at least the grounds of the old Franciscan mission were very interesting to look at and enjoy.
What a day! I'm off to FB to create an album.
Jw
Friday, December 2, 2011
In Reveiw
Monday morning I headed to Target first thing: bought two, 100 multi-colored lights on white cords, a power strip and another extension cord and set them up... one around the double window, and the other back and forth along the beam on the ceiling and the top of the shelves. Used removable, clear plastic hooks, and they're working fabulously. Ate a big breakfast too, before heading off for PT.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights I worked at the library. They were way backed up from Thanksgiving... never seen it that bad before. It took a whole hour for just graphic novels! There was no more room on the shelves. Tuesday night I utilized some coupons at the grocery across the street for OJ & eggs, and picked up some other things as well: an avocado, a couple frozen dinners (tortellini for that night, and a chicken pot pie), some Tillamook cheese, bologna, and another Hamburger Helper, which I had Thursday night as I watched Midway. Wednesday night I enjoyed watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" for the 2nd time ever. It is so sweet and genuinely warming.
After class today, I went directly to "Papa's Pizza" on Canon St, picked up a 12", kept driving up the hill to Cabrillo Park, got out and ate my supreme, still in my uniform, and watched the sun and the sea... felt the chilly breeze, and reveled in the quiet, interrupted only by the sound of waves, crickets and the occasional bird. :)
As I sat in my car when I first arrived, I happened to be listening to Michelle Tumes's "Lovely" which mentions sea breezes. Lovely, indeed!
Tonight I went to see the new Muppet Movie in the theater at Mission Valley. Along with a cameo by Mickey Rooney!, it was very fun and funny too! I think poor Amy Adams is type-cast. :) I loved her in Enchanted too, though. Stopped by Target for more hooks for the sagging strands of lights in my room, and bread (since a mouse -or more- got into the loaf at home, and I ended up finding a wonderful elegant coat, dark grey, for looking nice and being warm when I go home in a couple weeks! Yay! :)
Jw
PS... and Mike and I finished I & II Thessalonians, and we started Ephesians last night.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights I worked at the library. They were way backed up from Thanksgiving... never seen it that bad before. It took a whole hour for just graphic novels! There was no more room on the shelves. Tuesday night I utilized some coupons at the grocery across the street for OJ & eggs, and picked up some other things as well: an avocado, a couple frozen dinners (tortellini for that night, and a chicken pot pie), some Tillamook cheese, bologna, and another Hamburger Helper, which I had Thursday night as I watched Midway. Wednesday night I enjoyed watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" for the 2nd time ever. It is so sweet and genuinely warming.
After class today, I went directly to "Papa's Pizza" on Canon St, picked up a 12", kept driving up the hill to Cabrillo Park, got out and ate my supreme, still in my uniform, and watched the sun and the sea... felt the chilly breeze, and reveled in the quiet, interrupted only by the sound of waves, crickets and the occasional bird. :)
As I sat in my car when I first arrived, I happened to be listening to Michelle Tumes's "Lovely" which mentions sea breezes. Lovely, indeed!Tonight I went to see the new Muppet Movie in the theater at Mission Valley. Along with a cameo by Mickey Rooney!, it was very fun and funny too! I think poor Amy Adams is type-cast. :) I loved her in Enchanted too, though. Stopped by Target for more hooks for the sagging strands of lights in my room, and bread (since a mouse -or more- got into the loaf at home, and I ended up finding a wonderful elegant coat, dark grey, for looking nice and being warm when I go home in a couple weeks! Yay! :)
Jw
PS... and Mike and I finished I & II Thessalonians, and we started Ephesians last night.
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