3/31/08

Lamb, My Foot!










"March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb?" My foot it does! The only thing this 'going out' has in common with a lamb is the (A): WHITE and (B): FLUFFY... This little lamby's got some big nasty fangs and a rotten attitude. One last shovel, anyone?

P.S. Friends in warmer places - you deserve every bit of satisfaction you're feeling upon reading this post. 7 - 9 inches. Hmph. C'mon and share the spring with us nord'ners, will ya?

3/30/08

The Fruits










"You know how self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit? I was so bummed when I found that out..."

-A Dear Friend, over Friday brunch-

3/29/08

Priceless









1 package of size 2T-3T Huggies Pull-Ups: $14.99.

1st-ever purchase of Pull-Ups in preparation for long-awaited daughter: Priceless.

3/28/08

15 Minutes From Hades










10:35: In shower, hear dogs barking ferociously in kitchen.
10:40: Emerge from shower, flashing unsuspecting UPS guy.
10:41: Recover from humiliation.
10:41: Notice dog urine ALL over EVERYWHERE.
10:42: Let responsible dog out to pee - 5 more minutes straight.
10:43: Grab gross dog towel, mop up pee from EVERYWHERE.
10:45: Culligan man in driveway; peeing-barking dog runs amok.
10:45: Decision: dog-assault charges? Or flash the Culligan man?
10:46: Yank on jeans and sweatshirt, pull towel off unbrushed hair.
10:47: Fly out garage door, knock over Culligan man, saving him from wagging-peeing dog.
10:47: Feeling very grateful to be dressed.
10:48: Culligan man done and yells 'Thanks' from basement.
10:49: Dogs outside sniffing ground-squirrels, refuse to come back.
10:50: Trick mud-covered dogs to returning.
10:50: Grab gross dog-towel to mop up mud and remaining pee.

Poor UPS guy. Poor Culligan man. Poor large-bladdered, mud-spattered canines. Poor, poor, poor wood floors.

Welcome to 'fancy-free-Fridays' at the Rankin house...

3/27/08

Walter









His real name?

Walter. Willis.

(This changes nothing for me).

3/26/08

Ode to NyQuil








ODE TO NYQUIL

I love you, Ny-y-Quil, oh yes I do-oo.
I hate your licorice taste, yet I'll be tru-ue.
I drift right off to sleep - tongue blue.
Oh, Ny-y-Quil, I love you.

3/25/08

5 Years Home

5 years ago, on March 26th, we moved into our newly-constructed home here in Hudson. I remember little things: putting Guff's bed in the corner of the master bedroom for the first time, romping barefoot on the new 'soft-touch' carpet, Martha buying kitchen-organization accessories, Kara doing the linen-closet...

Months before that, the night before the construction crew broke ground, family and friends had gathered to pray on the still-dirt-floor of what would later be the center our living room. I remember Ed leading out in prayer for our family, our pastors joining in, Wade asking for safety for us during long commutes to and from work...

My most vivid memory is of the very first morning waking up in our home, looking out our sunny bedroom window. I had never seen so many bluebirds in one place, congregating joyfully on the old fence separating our back yard from the horse pasture. And I had never been so sure I was home. In church later that morning, my eyes welled up with tears of gratitude.

Thanks, God, for the 'homes' you make for us, wherever we go. For the Home that will, one day, be the culmination of all that comforts us. And thank you for bluebirds; that has been an amazing touch.

3/24/08

The Golden Rule Dethroned

Despite important differences, one theme somewhat similar amongst major world religions is the concept of 'The Golden Rule'. See evidence here:



Jesus: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Hinduism: "This is the sum of duty; do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you."
Buddhism: "Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
Islam: "Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself."
Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary."

In each of these statements, there is a standard of behavior that can be known, since each of us can know (or at least somewhat imagine) how we, personally, would - or would not- want to be treated in a given situation.

So, I was surprised today in entering a corporate training course to discover that The Golden Rule has now been replaced! Didn't you know? We must now embrace 'The Platinum Rule' instead: "Treat others as THEY want to be treated."

At first glance, this might not look like such a big difference; the main point is just for everyone to try to get along, right? What's the harm (especially to an 'F' - Feeler!) in a philosophy that advocates sensitivity to others' feelings? Well... let's first take a look at possible examples of what could be construed as 'unacceptable' (harassing) behavior:

Example 1
1. Jenny keeps a Bible on the corner of her cubicle - she likes to read it during lunch break.
2. Johnny walks by her cubicle and is offended by the Bible which, he feels, opposes his own religion.
3. Because "one person has found offense" with something sitting on Jenny's desk, or hanging on her cubicle wall, she must remove it, or deal with consequences.

Example 2
1. Jenny invites Johnny to a movie night at her church.
2. Johnny feels offended that Jenny would invite him to a religious event.
3. A couple weeks later, Jenny invites a group of co-workers to an Easter service and lunch - and includes Johnny on the email. Her second 'harassing' invitation could lead to consequences.

The problem, as I see it, is not in needing to be respectful of others' feelings. Certainly, that's a goal for all of us to the extent that it's possible. The problem is a re-defining of harassment. Whereas harassment used to be defined by a list of specific actions which you should NOT do to someone else, it now consists of only one (impossible) requirement: DON'T OFFEND ANYBODY. The question of whether or not one employee has harassed another is not at all dependent on what a person does or does not do - but, instead, solely on whether or not their co-worker FEELS offended by that action. Per the training, intent of any action is inconsequential; what matters is whether it results in a feeling of offense.

The shift is subtle, but changes everything. Instead of protecting freedoms, we are now protecting feelings. 'Tolerance' in its truest sense... it's not (as it claims to be) about 'live and let live', but instead, 'stop living so others can live unoffended'. In placing it above all other virtues (Truth, Integrity, Honesty, etc.), it begins to spit aggressively in the face of all the freedoms we claim to treasure and uphold.

In my opinion, an organization serious about enforcing such a subjective view of harassment can expect to see a shut-down of personal communication, creativity and expression amongst employees. And, if carried to extremes, perhaps an evacuation of precisely the type of honest, trustworthy employees they hope to hold on to.

It's been 6 months since my first blog post and I realized I haven't yet used 'Rants' as a post label. Thought it was about time... I'm "offended"; anyone have any bets on how much weight that carries in the opposite direction?

3/20/08

The Happy Dance

This was today's view from Eva's bedroom window. But 3 of them: black, white and tan. Full-grown 'neapolitan' horses with flailing heads, rearing hooves, and spunky hinders, chasing in gleeful bounce round and round their forest-extended field.

They were laughing and telling secrets in the late-afternoon sunshine, I think.

(Their secret is that this coming 'snow-storm' will be soon overcome by spring). Shhh... I can be bad with secrets.

3/19/08

Closer to Ready

People don't call and leave messages here a lot. Neither Ed nor I are phone people; we keep in touch best via email and calendar. So I was surprised to find 3 messages on our voice mail when I got home from work tonight:

1. Heather from the census bureau calling for her monthly follow up.
2. A friendly reminder from Blockbuster; they'd like their movies back please.
3. ....

Adoption Agency: We've been approved by the appropriate overseas committee to adopt our daughter!

5 months of stored-up (happy) tears are flooding down my face. The final shift from questioning to knowing (as much as we can 'know' anything from day to day).

One last mostly risk-free court process (pray for the fast judge!) and an estimated 2 and 1/2 months till monsoon-season travel. :-)

Now is the time for: kids' book sprees and car-seats and wagons and wardrobe details and bedsheets and lists of great ideas for family activities and childproofing and room-organizing and travel preparation and insurance arrangements and orange bean bags and video cameras and organizing recipes and still praying a lot and remembering what we read about parenting and scrap-booking and finishing the deck and prepping announcements and not necessarily all in that order and...

I have WAY too much to do in 2 and 1/2 months. Oh, and that feels so wonderful... :-) Ironically, it seems much closer to ready than having to have all 'ducks' aligned. Just come home to us, little Eva - just home. We'll figure it out together...

Thanks for waiting and joying with us!

3/16/08

Forgiveness










"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."

-Mark Twain-

3/15/08

First Kiss










First Kiss

Winter turned his back today
in icy jealousy,
and took no frozen look behind
at what there was to see.

I spurned his arms that held me white
and raised my fickle head
as Spring bent down with sunshine lips
and gently kissed me red.

-V, 1994-

P.S. The sequel poem will undoubtedly address the futility of a beach hat incapable of shading such an exotic beak as mine. ;-)

3/9/08

Quote For Today

Last night, we enjoyed a delightful little theatre production at the Southern Theatre: 'You're My Favorite Kind of Pretty'. Afterward, in a short discussion time with the cast, the Director (a friend's husband) said, "I'm finding lately that the more personal I make my work, the more universal its application becomes."

This is one of those concepts I have innately known, but have questioned at times. Hearing it from someone who creates art as a profession was powerful and encouraging - and reminded me of this C.S. Lewis quote:

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."

I love this.

Have a wonderful week, dear readers and blog friends! Looking forward to connecting again upon our return...

3/8/08

Hips

The appearance of hips, for me, has been kind of like, "Now you see'em; now you don't." - except the exact opposite. Did a little pre-trip shopping today and had a real 'come to Jesus' moment in the fitting room.

I've written a haiku in cautious wonder/celebration:

Buttons popped: SURPRISE!
Seams smiled wide before my eyes...
I'm a brand new size!

I was always a late bloomer... Had any (shareable) surprising fitting room moments lately?

3/7/08

What's In A Name?

I have a unique name. For that reason, newly meeting people often leads to questions about whether it's a family name, or has some other significant meaning. The answer, as I understand it, is that I was named after Vonda Kay Van Dyke (pictured here).



I don't know much about Vonda Kay except that my mom (Vonnie) was impressed with her beauty, grace and talent as she (my mom) watched 'Miss America' on TV as a young teen. My mom decided then and there that, if she had a daughter, she would name her Vonda. And so it came to be.

Growing up, I always liked my name. It was different and unique - and I sensed that I was different too, as a person, so it seemed fitting. Plus, it had a story behind it; my mom had dreamed of me before I was ever born. I really liked that.

To test how unique my name really is, I searched Google to see what it would come up with. Here were some of the results:

Vonda, the Cottage Style:






Snoho Vonda, the Flower







Vonda Shepard, the Singer/Actress









Vonda, the Collie Dog
(There's also at least one Rotweiler by this name)










Vonda, the Ancestor








How about you? Any cool history or story behind your name? What does Google have to say about you?

3/5/08

2 Hr. Shortcut

I could have ridden a freaking horse to work today and arrived there faster.

Note to future self: "I94 is backed up from Hudson to Minneapolis? Take it anyway."

1. West on McCutcheon
2. North on Scott
3. East on A
4. Curve around on I
5. Northwest on E
6. Over Stillwater bridge
7. South on Main St.
8. West on 36
9. South on White Bear
10. West on Larpenteur
11. North on Shore (dead end at Lake Phalen - whoops!)
12. Southwest on Frost
13. West on Larpenteur
14. Hit red lights through all of Oakdale, Maplewood and Roseville
15. Cross 280, rejoice at Hennepin
16. Hit all red lights between 280 and 35W
17. South into Hennepin Business Complex

...4 days to Cancun.

3/4/08

Wiggle

A recent 'Upnorthica' post showed master craftsman, Mors Kochanski, making a hunting bow. It took him just a minute to craft the bow and attach the string to it.

It seemed the most time-consuming part of his art was prepping the tool for use. Mors explained the importance of repeatedly pulling the string away from the bow, creating tension, and bending the wood - then letting it return to shape again. The repetition of this pulling, this tension, makes the wood more flexible prior to use. If one were to place full tension on a bow that hadn't been stretched, the bow would snap.

I'll be honest... this wait for Eva has gotten tough again. Oh, I trust Him. I know He's good. But I feel stretched out over the span of 3 years. I feel the bending of internal fibers each time I enter her room without full assurance that she's ours. The pull of tension when my throat lumps up at the sight of a toddler - or even randomly at work. Often, I've questioned, "Why the repetition? Why are we at this same place again? And again?"

But this video was a tangible reminder... the Master Craftsman hasn't taken His tender, expert Hand off me. The stretching is uncomfortable - at times, it feels like more than I'm ready for. In my humanness, I tire of the back and forth, back and forth of brief movement vs. waiting. But there's purpose in it; He knows I'll need this flexibility later on. Isn't it true that the further the bow can flex, but still snap back to shape, the stronger a tool it becomes?

I like this concept; have been chewing on it from different angles. With life, it seems there's 'wiggle' in a lot of things - a back and forth motion that's part of learning to find our 'groove' - the flexibility it takes to grow up and stop insisting that everything is either good or bad, right or wrong, useful or wasteful. Don't get me wrong - SOME things are. Just not everything. That's the point.

Maybe we all learn to 'walk' with a bit more of a 'wiggle' as we get older...

3/3/08

Zipping It

Remember when your mom told you, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?"

I should have taken that advice earlier today...

6 days till Cancun...

3/2/08

Night Sounds

Imaginary 'flies on the wall' micro-waved popcorn and settled back in their seats to enjoy the following drama that unfolded in our room at approximately midnight last night:


ED (SLEEP-TALKING): "GOOO-id! GOOOO-id!" [Holds his hand up, stiff, like a robot hand]. "GOOOOOOO-id!"

ED: [Sips from an imaginary coffee mug. Smacks his lips loudly.]

V: Giggles softly as Ed drifts back to sleep, unaware that he had awakened V from an alternate reality.

She (who was not really V) was a settler, a pioneer from days long ago. Newly married, she and her blond, German-speaking husband were choosing affordable Homestead land on which to build their home. Their acres were partially wooded with rolling hills and a beautiful lake.

Her husband and father-in-law were presently pushing the heavy, covered wagon up a steep, wooded incline (they had lowered it down to unload supplies). She thought about worrying whether she should stand just beneath them, in case the wagon should slip. But, the future was visible to her and she knew there was no cause for concern - not for now, anyway...

In future months, they would have to pay a traveling doctor handsomely to save her life during her excruciating delivery of their first son. The sum would require them to sell this beautiful property to her husband's brother in order to survive. Her husband would remain bitter about this to his dying days. Should she tell him now?

ED: Mmmmmmm... Chooooocoooooolate chips. [Smacks his lips loudly].

GUFFMAN: [Intermittent egregious snores and melodramatic Big Bird noises].

V: [Grabs and inserts earplugs]. Heartbeat...heartbeat...heartbeat. [Back to sleep...]

What alternate realities have you visited recently?

3/1/08

On The Way

As of late, my previous blog description, referencing ongoing struggle between The Ally (Bruce) and The Bully (Umbridge), no longer seems to fit as well. Umbridge has, indeed, taken a seat. My own voice, now in increasing alignment with the One who loves me most, has taken the place of Bruce's (and anyone else's) in coming to my defense.

Does that mean I have it all together? Of course not. But there's been progress on this particular front, and I am grateful.

At the risk of confusing those who know know me - and those who don't - let me clarify that I believe there's a difference between a Throne and a Director's Seat when it comes to oversight of my life. Let me be clear that my little Director's Seat is in submission to the Throne, and the Loving One who sits on it. I do not claim to have ultimate control over my life and circumstances. Wouldn't want it, in fact; I don't see, or love, well enough. He's given me some responsibility for my thoughts and decisions though, and, by His Grace, I am learning to step up and take leadership there.

Hope that all makes sense. Good to walk with you all 'on the way'.