On the Road

Dave and I began another week of vacation last night. This year I got a head start on the poison ivy. Instead of waiting to catch it in the woods like I usually do, I caught it last weekend in my mother's garden. I think the worst of it is past, but Dave doesn't seem so sure about that.

Anyway, Dave, my poison ivy and I spent this afternoon at Pocono Downs watching some horse races. Here are a few photos I took.

This was taken during a warm-up session. The horses and drivers get about 15 minutes to warm up while people place their bets on the next race.



The start of a harness race is quite interesting. Unlike thoroughbred racing, in which the gates are in place and the horses start from a standing position, harness racers chase the gates about halfway around the track. By the time they reach the starting position, most of them are pretty much lined up behind the gate and they're moving at a pretty good speed.



The gates open and the race begins.



Things often get tense and interesting near the finish line.



About two minutes after the gates open, the race is finished.



Dave and I had not been to the races for several years, so it was fun to watch them again. It's not something I'd want to do every week, or even every month, but it's a fun way to spend an afternoon when one needs a break from the daily routine.

College World Series

I mentioned recently that I have little interest in Major League Baseball. Over the past few days, Dave and I have enjoyed watching the College World Series, which is being held in Omaha, Nebraska. We even stayed awake all the way through last night's 12-inning game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Arkansas Razorbacks - the Cavs lost. :(



Unfortunately, my beloved University of Iowa Hawkeyes did not participate in the series this year.



Joshua's LSU Tigers have made a great showing and have won the two games they've played so far. If they beat Arkansas in tomorrow night's game, they will play in the championship game next week.



Dave doesn't know it yet, but I think a vacation to the College World Series may in our future.

The Way to a Dog's Heart...

When Ally visits us, she bursts through the door, runs down the hallway and jumps onto the couch. She either lands on Dave's lap, or just to his left, from which position she immediately proceeds to sit on his lap. After she greets Dave, she greets me. If I'm sitting on the couch, she'll sit on my lap, too. If I'm sitting in a chair, she comes alongside the chair and pokes her nose into my lap or near my hand.

Over the past couple of months, Ally and Dave have formed a special bond: they love eating junk food together. Tonight's treat was popcorn:



As you can see, Ally waited patiently until Dave told her she could get the popcorn. I guess she learned something in obedience classes after all (and I thought the classes were for Jonathan and Maggie!). What I couldn't capture on camera is the amount of effort Ally expends consuming each kernel of popcorn. One piece requires several seconds of chomping, moving her tongue this way and that, and eventually manipulating the entire morsel down her throat. She hangs in there and gets her way in the end, though.

Strange Silence

As I drove to work this morning, I thought about a strange contrast in attitudes I've observed among my co-workers this week. Several weeks ago, the Carrie Prejean episode was a hot topic of discussion for several days. My colleagues were incensed that, in their opinion(s), a godless gay had inserted his intolerant political agenda into the pageant and robbed her of the Miss USA crown.

This week, American domestic news has been dominated by discussions of the murder of Dr. George Tiller by a Christian fundamentalist. No one in my workplace has mentioned this atrocity at all. I wonder why not?

Do they think that Scott Roeder (the accused murderer) was a nutcase and not a True Christian at all? Do they think the murder was justified, that Roeder was on a mission from God – it’s a dirty job, but someone had to do it? Do they think it's too bad that Dr. Tiller was murdered, and murder is absolutely wrong, of course - but it's sort of okay because now Tiller won't be performing any more abortions? God works all things together for good and all that? I have no idea what they think. All I know is that the silence has been strange.

Something to Discuss

Major Willis Howell, president/principal of The Salvation Army's Evangeline Booth College (which includes the USA southern territory's officer training college), wrote an interesting article in the latest edition of Journal of Aggressive Christianity. The following excerpts capture his essential point quite well:

As it was in Samuel’s day, there is a growing rumble of dissatisfaction in some Army circles. A subtle shift seems to be taking place. In a way rather reminiscent of the Israelites’ “give-us-a-king” cry of 1 Samuel, some Salvationists want to cast off what makes us distinct in order to adopt more of the style, methods, and “look” of the churches around them....

And to my Salvationist brothers and sisters who may be trying to move the Army in directions of liturgy, greater formality, a more “stained glass” setting, communion, more relaxed standards, or a mega-church mentality, may I lovingly set this idea on the table…? Could it be that the Army just might not be right for you? Please understand I’m not criticizing or condemning! I know full well that we aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Truth is we’re really more of an “acquired taste.” I’m simply suggesting that perhaps we work together to help find you some church or ministry – complete with the elements, practices, “look,” and “feel” you’re wanting – where you’ll be more comfortable, and not as frustrated....

What say ye? I know what I think, but I'd like to hear from some (lots?) of you before saying anything else.

Blog Challenge #1

Dave posted two challenges a few days ago. The first one was this:

Within 3 days of reading this blog, set a goal on the number of posts you would reasonably like to achieve over the course of 2009. Post that goal in your own blog, as well as in a comment here. Also note any milestones you would hit if you met your goal.

My answer: 450

Awwww!