State Champion

I was never much for competition.
So, while others in school would fight to be first at most everything, I could not have cared less.
But, I loved running and when I broke the men's national record at 13 in Germany, I was stunned.

Of course a few months later an adult set a new one!

Saturday, my oldest grand-daughter did win something:
State champion in Cheer Leading!
We are all stunned.

She is one of the nerds at her school - straight A's!
And she put up quite a fight to even join the cheer leading squad.
That would be with the coach and counselors....
Because she was - 'too smart to be a cheer leader'!
And now she is the State Champion!
At 12 years old ....

Yeah be interesting to see where this leads.

So, I took her to Olive Garden after the win.
As we were walking in, still in her outfit, a lady ran up to her and said,
"You know, you really rocked the house this morning!"
Grand-daughter was immensely pleased,
And I have no clue what that lady meant!

Yeah, I no speak this this language well .....

Warped

Okay, as you know (if you have read this Blog for any length of time),
I am warped.

So, as I have painted, I had a large number of movies on the ROKU device.
And some of them were quite good.
Some of them were TERRIBLE!
Then again, some I flat turned off!

Amongst the very best was, The Cyclotron.
A French film of  espionage during the WWII surrounding the Atomic race.
Best part was their showing the ambiguity over atomic theory!
If you are not up on that then you might get lost 2/3 the way through the film as they present Shroeder's Theory.

But, the campy film I just fell in love with was, believe it or not,
Rockula!
The worse of the worse!
And so terribly funny in a very dark way!

Brought to us by the trashy Globus-Cannon Groups,
It just leaves me laughing!
And, Dean Cameron does a his best work here,
which does not say much for his non-career!


Well, here is just a taste:


And yeah, I am still a hopeless romantic at heart ....

Here's Hoping

It was fun Sunday to see that the Pastor was off on Grandchild duty and one of my God-son's was doing the service!
An impressive young man
:)

So he spoke on Romans 12:12-14

Hope Fully
To be patient when life is hard.
Pray without ceasing for God's Will.
There is no hope without Jesus!

Give Freely
Meet the needs of believers.
Share in their burdens!
Know tghat God will meet your needs.

Get Even
The Christian way!
Pray for those whom oppose you.
Bless them.
Repay evil with kindness.
Witness God's love for them.

So Very Tired

I can't remember ever being this tired!
Found out that I was taking the Prednasone wrong,
I was supposed to take it in the morning,
But bottle did not specify!
So, for three weeks I was taking it at bedtime,
And, not sleeping because of it!

I really loath Prednasone!

Well, that error cost me three weeks sleep!
Now to just hang in there until it gets out of my system!

GG is back today from her crafting holiday.
Since I have been down to the camp multiple times seeing that she gets to her physical therapy,
So, I have been able to see what that group of women is producing.
But most importantly,
GG is resting and doing her exercises!

But, this Kris is plum tuckered out!
I even tried some Nyquil.
Alas, it only worked for 5 hours!
And yesterday the blistering started up again!
So, when the auto-immune doctor calls -
It will be back on the prednasone ...

sigh

Musical Saturday Morning

Shades of Green

Yesterday was a great day!
I got to putter at my painting!
And before I knew it, 18 hours had passed me by!

Of course, I accomplished nothing!
I did manage to mix a series of green paints.
I laid out a rough sketch of my picture.
And found all of my greens were the wrong shade!

Along the way, I discovered why Whistler did his version, the way he did.

And I marvel at the talent the man had!
An alcoholic, pretty much surrounded by immense talent he could not match,
Pushed to excel,
And slowly burning off his family's funds.

And he produced some of his most iconic works.

Yeah, maybe he did not know his subject matter,
But he more than made up for it in raw talent!
And as I always, quietly say to myself alone:
"Too bad he chose the Bohemian way ...
He could see the majesty of creation ...
And totally miss His Creator ... "

What We Know

We Have Eternal Life
Our real life.
Our assignment / service.
Know God.
Know Jesus is the Messiah.

No fear of the evil one.

God Hears Us
And answers according to HIS WILL!
Not ours!

We Don't Keep Sinning
God's goal isfor us to live Holy lives.
Man's will is fleeting / temporary happiness!


We Are From God
Our identity is to be wrapped up in God / Heaven.
Love God.
Love one another.

The Son Has Come

Jesus Is True

Painting

So, five days left to myself!
No GG to nurse back to health.
No psycho mother to drive me crazy .....
The kids doing what ever it is that kids do ...
Yes, Kris is left on his own to paint his guts out!

First up is attending the Northwest Watercolor Society!
Yes, I was invited to check them out!
And, I imagine visa-versa ....
"Does he have all of his toes?"
Whoops!
Lost half of those!
LOL

So, last night I went to their workshop they were holding at Daniel Smith.
Yup, people painting ...

It is $40 a year to belong ....
I can afford it, by scrimping on my coin collecting or maybe throwing some things up on eay.
(chewing on a knuckle)
Well, I don't have to decide until I have attended two meetings.
Maybe I will let it slide for now.

In the meantime this week, I am oil painting.
Making my own paints and working on a picture first thought of by Whistler ....
Unfortunately, he was not familiar with the subject and so got EVERY detail wrong in the painting!
Oh make no mistake, Whistler was immensely talented,
So, even this painting is an owner!

But, we will see what this week produces ....
Probably paint coated canvas of no interest.
But, suitable for burning ....

eBay

This past week, I have been playing on eBay!
So much fun looking for things that might well be a bargin!
Dang, it! Bid too much again!

Actually, I was an early user of eBay.
I ran a modest little antique book and rare print business.
I would pick up BOXES of paper at auctions in the US, usually for very little.
Piece out the items on eBay.
Of course that was BC, before kids!

Ater kids, I was lucky to have the time to take a bath!
In quiet anyways .....

But between all of the surgeries,
Heart attacks,
And the stroke,
I forgot no only about eBay,
But my ID and password!

And then last week - VIOLA!
I could get back in.
:)
And I had $50 in Christmas money burning as hole in my pocket!

Now, I collect Jefferson Nickels.
(this the point where you say, "Why?" ...)
I was greatly influenced in third grade as I was introduced to History.
Imagine mt young mind, already sharpened to the old west by the likes of:
Gene Autry
Roy Rogers
John Wayne
Tom Mix
my great uncle Leonard whio had fought in the American Indian Wars
and yes, the Cisco Kid

But here was rewal history!
Lewis and Clark, explorers, statesmen, and of course a visionary named Thomas Jefferson.
Oh, I dare say, I would owant him as a neighbor,
But, he rose to greatness in my mind - sponsoring the Journey of Discovery!

So, I started collecting US Nickels, with his likeness.

So, I am starting to get serious about my nickels.
And across the past week I have found and purchased all but one of the known error coins.
I can hardly wait for the mail man to come today!
The first of those rare little gems will be here!
Such fun!
And so cheap!
Since, I may be the only nickel collector, ever!

LOL!

Wendy's For Din

I am finally just starting to get a little energy back!
What has it been,  like almost four years kn my lips?!?!?!?
So, I volunteered to go get burgers for dinner.
Of course that means Wendy's in this household.

Through weird associations, I knew both Dave Thomas and Wendy in real life.
But I ate at Wendy's in my college days because McDonalds made me physically ill!
No idea why for years,
Until it was figured out that their patties were being made TVP!
Sure the beef content was real beef,
But the rest was textured vegetable protein,
And Kris is VIOLENTLY allergic to it!
Who knows what is in a McDonalds hamburger these days.
They lost me as a customer,
Long ago!

So, even though Wendy's burgers were about three times more costly,
I would eat there.
Of course because of my chosen refusal to KOWTOW to my father,
And his money,
That meant going to Wendy's was once a month and GG and I split the burger!
Yeah, good times.
But, those were simpler days of long ago .....

So,I am driving over to Wendys, about one mile, on a rainy evening.

Now, out there in Washington State,
When you have a four lane road,
There is a fith lane down the middle.
It is designated the, "turn lane".
So, if you are opposing traffic, you can get out of traffic and wait to turn.

Of course, most idiots out here,
Usually with California license plates,
Use it for a passing lane!
Idiots.

So, I am signalling to move into the turn lane,
I atill have 160feet before I am going to need it.
And what do I spy?
A pickup truck blowing down from behing me,
Doing perhaps 25 mph over the speed limit,
In the turn lane!

Yeah, wants to be first to the stoplight!

And just as suddenly,
An oppossite facing car moves into the turn lane,
To go into the Karate Academy.
And faster than you can say, "Greased lightening" .....
Eight cars smashed in rather bad head-on collisions!

It now took 1.5 hours to move those 160 feet,
So I could turn into Wendy's parking lot.
sigh
All because an idiot can't obey traffic laws.
Is it any wonder this society is going to Hell in a hand-basket?
sigh

Dodging all of the emergency equipment,
Thirty minutes later aditional,
I had my burgers and chili,
And was able to exit the parking lot!

And they were good to munch on.
Too bad it took NINE nitro pills to calm down my heart,
And then I could address this stinking PTSD!
I tell yah, I could have stayed home,
And, made soup .......

Would a,
Could a
Should a!

Musical Saturdsay Morning

Such an odd week musically for me!
Turn on my favorite 1980's station and it is nothing but:
Michael Jackson or Prince!
And I abhor both!


yeah, they made hundreds of millions of dollars each,
But that does not mean their body of works are worth listening to!

Well, music according to Kris!

So, how about a little eighties Hall and Oates?

Mothers!

Argy-Bargs!
Mothers!

So, I was on my birthday - a little over one month late!
But, we ended up sharing this day for life ....
As she so plainlky put it on my 18th birthdsy.
"Would you mind if I just beat rthe crap out of you?
You are the worse gift your father ever gave me!"

Her trauma, I did not get her a gift she liked!
Well, yah can't win all of the time,
Especially with her!

I took her to lunch for an endless complaint session!
Her fateher,
Her grandmother.,
Her mother,
Anyone and everyone is the source of all her evils!
But, no, not her!

It only took GG about an hour to experience substansial opain.
She felt much better after I dropped mother off back at her house!
Amazing how that worked out .....

But, she was happy.
So, I scorewd better than 46 years ago!

Happy Birthday!

Yeah, it is time of year again:
Happy Birthday, to me ....

So the good Lord saw to extending my life again, thus far.
sigh
Everyday is a gift when you are physically reminded everyday,
At how close death is to your body.
And remining your heart,
As your adoptive Father was moved to hospice over the weekend.
sigh

He probably will not make it to February,
Or perhaps not the first week of such!

Really not looking forward to surviving  this .....

Not Too Bad

So the shock of having tubes in my neck is wearing off.
And actually they have made dialysis trendously easier!
Yeah, NO needles.
Oh, scratch that.
I had to have a new HEP B series and only needles would do!
WAAAAAH!

So, it is like I have a tou car stuck in my throat.
Can't talk above a whisper.
And everybody suddenly wants to talk to me!
Oh well,
Silent Kris ...

Musical Saturday Morning

Auto-Immune

Based on the goings on of last Friday, I was in testing on Thursday.
Hence, no post.

So, the consensus of the exams on Thursday is that I have moved into the area of auto-immune reactions.

Still having problems with blisters popping out all over me.
:(
Still covered in hives.
:(

So, had to have numerous biopsies.
Somehow, they have tests to show what is up.
All in areas of things I know nothing about!

So, in two weeks perhaps we will know what whacked me!

In the meantime, I get to be on a drug that causes me to be less than civil.
But is supposed to clear up the blistering!
Not looking forward to this one!
Benadryl will conquer the itching.
And a creme to  overcome the scarring on my arm, so that needles can be inserted again!
And this tube pulled from my neck!

Just too flipping weird for me to understand ....
prayers gladly accepted!

Suicide

So, on top of my health issues and the whacking the weather has given this area - one of the more troubled youths decided to end it all.

Of course the kid was quite popular in the sub-culture of this area.
I never knew him, but my kids did.
And at least one of them is quite grieved.
Of course it would be troubled daughter.
sigh ....

It is hard for me to relate to someone whose whole goal in life is escapism.
Take what you want,
Accept no responsibility,
Live off of others,
Mutilate your appearance.
And limit all employment opportunities!
Yeah, it has been said, "No, loss there".
In reference to his death.

But this is exactly the youth, Jesus was sacrificed for!
No one had apparently taught this young man to look beyond his misery and see there is HOPE!
When we are at our lowest and death becomes the only answer,
Jesus IS there waiting.
But our culture and society have blinded the eyes and hearts of this generation!

If there is a lesson in here,
It is that workers are needed in youth ministries,
In this God-less area.

I know, it is much more fun to be a missionary to Europe,
Rather than tiptoeing through the dregs of the Rave Culture of Seattle,
But that is exactly where you as a Christian are needed!

So, another statistic.
Another family in despair,
More youth seeing only how senseless life really is.
We expect a few more copy-cats suicides.
It is almost unavoidable .....
sigh

And it frustrates me.
It is bad enough that this generation wastes their resources getting "connected",
Via Iphone and pharmaceuticals,
Yet totally ignoring their Creator!

My parent's generation created this god-less mess we live in today.
I really would not want to face God, one of these days, in their shoes .....

And yet, I continue to pray for a revival to breakout ....
Here,
In the northwest of American,
Amongst the youth,
Amongst my own generation.

Unpleasant Sunday

I did not sleep well on Saturday night.
A huge storm kicked up about 1:00 AM.
Winds in the 60 to 70 miles per hour range.
So, after a day of rain, trees coming down around here are a given.
What we were not prepared for was the main TRUNK line being taken out by a falling tree!

About midnight, I was awaken by the screams of the kids across the street.
Not unusual, they are always getting drunk and screaming in the wee hours.
Around their nightly campfire.
Large bonfire, high winds .....

Yeah, you can see this one coming!
Kids set on fire, fences, yards, trees!
Yeah, a non drunk would have seen that one coming!

So, the winds roared for hours,
The kids were put out and boo-boo's medicated,
Trees came down,
Knocking out the power to most of the area!
Even Oldest Daughter, 49 miles away, had no power as well!

Local stores had to throw away their frozen and refrigerated goods,
 As long as you were not looking for fresh food,
They had it in stock!

Even my Youngest Daughter's bakery was forced to toss much of their inventory,
Or be busy baking the held goodies!
Yeah, she will be late coming home today!

Slowly power was restored to the area on the main north-south drag route.
But, not quick enough for church to be in session.
It would have been nice to attend a service without wailing guitars and keyboards!
Yeah ... the utter bliss of it!

By noon, they had power to the town six miles away, so we had lunch there.
By two, our shopping district had power, but they were busy throwing away food!
By four, the house had power.
By six o'clock, warmth in the house,
TV and cable devices reset,
The rains came .....

I was able to get one large garbage can filled with broken branches
(and didn't I just do this last week?).
Having one of the few cars not stuck due to downed trees and branches,
I get to run people around in the neighborhood!
So, as I sign off,
I am off on an Arby's run for the neighbors!
Might get a gyro while I am at it!

So, from the wind whipped shores of Puget Sound,
May your lives be far less exciting!

Unpleasant Friday

I know I spend an unreasonable amount of time there, but I really do hate hospitals!

So, Friday, I go to dialysis, as usual at 4 AM.
At 7 AM, they send me to the emergency room because they can not get the needles in me!
And, I would rather have the needles than go ER!

So, after a day of being poked, squeezed and otherwise manhandled we now know what I already suspected:
I am allergic to latex based adhesives!
Really?
And, how much is that going to cost me?!?!?!?!

It is like taking your car to the shop and after a complete going over, they tell you that it is a car!
Gees!

No, they have no idea why
i am suddenly allergic to latex on that arm only,
Or alternatives to latex,
or any of the multitudes of possibilities that come to mind ...

So, being stuck, because I have to have my blood filtered,
I told them to install tubes.
Oh, retch!

And that took three more hours to install in my jugular artery.
So, later today I get to have them used for the first time in dialysis.
BLEEEEEECH!!!!!

Oh well.
God is apparently not done with me yet.
But honestly I am getting real close.

Musical Saturday Morning

Happy New Year!

I am not much of a lover of ballads.
They seem to drone endlessly on.
And they are almost always done by people whose voice is very reminiscent of nails on a chalkboard!
(shivers down my spine, just at the memory!)

But, I really like this guy's voice.
The words are sort of convoluted, like many it seems.
So settle back and dream of 1975 .....

The horrible disco scene was just starting out.
The talentles Brothers Gibb were just beginning to make a name that brought them wealth ...
Andt only tragedy in the end.
And let us not forget KC and the Sunshine Band, defining all that was wrong with music in the 1970's!

And out of nowhere, this song appeared.
Just an anomaly really.
In no short order KC would bury this song.
But just for a moment there was something beautiful on the airwaves.....

More Thoughts On John 5

So, I got thinking, always dangerous for me to do!
About all that is in John chapter 5 ....

Okay and odd tale, probably based on some ancient superstition.
And Jerusalem certainly would not be alone in this idea.
Mexico, France and even Greece had these traditions!
( there maybe more but we are working with a crippled mind these days )

Taken place on the Sabbath, just doing much of anything would break the Sabbath!
Rules and regulation always triumphs over any discussion of faith.
Even picking up his bedroll was a violation,
Much less the question of walking perhaps too far,
Or carrying a friend to the pool ...
Get the idea here?
Most likely, everyone had broken the Law here!

But the leaders want to nail Jesus.

And to make it worse, Jesus brings up the question of sin.
Was this man stricten due to sin?
Well, he was told to sin no more.
Or worse would come his way!

Of couse he told the Rabbis,
Whom now were stalking Jesus to accumulate mor blame for him ....

Yeah, Jesus confronted and challenged the faithless.
And it was rarely appreciated.

Question of Timing

Sometime passages or stories in the Bible can be a bit perplexing.
No., ?I am not talking hard grey area stuff, but just the story itself!
Take for example, 1 John 5 .....

A simple story of a healing ... or is it?

First up comes a problem with the modern Bible.
Its history is not necessarily valid.
When the Latin Vulgate was put together, only Greek manuscripts were thought to be valid.

There are two schools of thought here:
The Greek manuscripts are correct and the onkly ones valid,
Or, the more ancient Aramaic copies are the valid ones.

Aramaic was an archaic language, no spoke it really, except some Eastern slaves.
Greek was a culture and language the Roman culture had tried to aspire to.
Which would you choose had you been there?
Yeah, Greek was chosen as the preferred source language.
It was a simple choice for the Vulgate translators!

Of course, my refusal to even enter into allegiance to the Greek texts, has always made me a pain in Bible School.
Why would I prefer a circa 160 AD translation over the internally dated 78 AD text?
So modern scholars scoff atthe tale in Bible, because the best, "original", texts omitted this!
And yet the oldest Book of John we have flat out states it was wtitten in what would be 78 AD, to us!
Yes, there are Aramaic texts which did not have this either ... just to be fair with the argument.

This the story of Jesus going to a pool, which was rumored to have healing powers.
Somehow, a tradition rose up that once a year, angel would touch the waters of the pool.
First one in got healed.
Yeah, because that is how God works, right?

So, large numbers of people gather for this observance.
No different today, if you think of Lourdes, France and their annual gathering!
The one I was at, in 1966, I saw a dead girl restored to life.
Very weird, very frightening, and the police were very shaken!
But then, that is how superstition is validated - by observances just like that being misunderstood.
Then again, it did make my farher stop for a moment and think about God!

So Jesus goes to watch.
Will the water be troubled?
Will someone be healed?
What will Jesus do?!?!?!?

Why woulf Jesus not go with the Disciples there?
Why incognito?
We are not told!
Well, Jesus did healed a  single man there that day.
Why not the crowd gathered there?
We are  not told!

The observers, are of a split opinion as to what they had seen.
And of course, just like today, they discounted what they could not understand!
And many were silent, for this was politically incorrect!
Church leadership was not going to like this!

Did this event happen?/
More than likely.
I it is exactly how God works.
Quietly, in the background, not seeking to create a show for the crowd gathered.
Equally, it was observed by those within ear shot!

So, Jesus did not wait for the water to be troubled.
He healed, by command, when the time was right for this man and his faith in - albeit - superstition.
He showed the REAL power of God, not the ripple of superstition!

If the water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit,
And the resultant healing a work of the Holy Spirit,
Then we are observing Jesus, not as a man but by His power as God.
And the Church leadership knew this,
And hated him all the more for it .....

Blisters

Imagine my fun since Christmas with all of the heavy and hard I have had to do in the past two weeks!
And being handicapped both physically and by itching you would not believe!

Yeah, my body decided it was allergic to whatever the Bandaid adhesive is now!
Where ever one touches me, I breakout in huge blisters!
Tried differed brands, same results.
Even ones for sensitive skin!

But it is also true for all adhesives:
Medical tape
Silk tape
Paper tape
COBAN
COBAN for sensitive skin,
COBAN tape
COBAN tape for sensitive skin

In the meantime my access site to my viens for dialysis looks like a war zone!
And then, the ultimate insult.
Not just my,
But on Friday - my entire body!

Were it not for the size of the blisters, you would think I have shingles!
And they itch!
 h Lord how they itch!
And the blisters pop open,
And bleed,
And I can't put a Bandaid on them!

Oh Lord help me!
How I itch and scratch and there is no relief!

Well, I am going to go lean on a doorway and briskly scratch my back!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Happy New Year!

Yes, somehow civilization has survived yet another year!
Don't ask me how.
I am the cynic.

But it did.
Last night was fireworks and gun shots until the wee hours.
(three am!)
Any excuse to get drunk, party and make noise - I guess.

I never was much on New Years celebrations.
I just fall asleep at 10:00, as usual.
Next day I hear about how funny or weird I was.
But, I'm not there - I am sound asleep!
And yes, I have had to live down a few of the pranks I pulled in  my sleep!

I particularly enjoyed my friend Robbie talking me into skiing through the town's police station one New Years night!
Yeah, I had to go to court over that one!
But, who would have thought a building did not have a backdoor to vamoose out of!
Oh, that Robbie!, always coming up with new ways to get me in trouble!

I have no idea where this year will go.
I know where I wish it would go.
But, who knows!

So, from me to you:
Try to live at peace with all in this new year.
And remember we are just visiting this is life.
Nothing really matters in the end,
Except your relations with others,
And you investment in them!

I expect to make it through this year unless something goes awry!
So I hoist my tea cup and toast to your health!