Textasrophy

so...i have noticed an increasingly disturbing trend.

on friday nite, i went out with some friends for a girl's night. i'm at howl at the moon, sipping my gin and tonic, when suddenly i noticed that all the people i was with were all on there phones. texting. now...i'm all for technological advances...but at what expense. there i was...i was ready to converse...socialize...but everyone around me felt it necessary to be texting someone, updating their facebook, checking e-mail. don't get me wrong. i'm not mad...but my hide is a little chapped.

another example

after a concert last thursday, a group of us went out for some tortillas and margaritas when i look up from my chips and salsa and see that two of our tablemates were at their phones busily thumbing their way through various messages/e-mails/texts.

i've noticed in some rehearsals that when the conductor is working with another section, people drag out their phones and begin checking things...texting things...you get the idea.

does anyone else find this disturbing? i want to shake these people and say "EXCUSE ME. YOU ARE IN A SOCIAL SITUATION. THIS MEANS THAT YOU SHOULD BE COMMUNICATING AND INTERACTING WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. PUT DOWN YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICE."

that and something like: "HELLO. HELLO. I'M RIGHT HERE. YES. ME. I AM A REAL PERSON. YOUR E-MAIL CAN WAIT."

certainly i cannot be alone in feeling this way...right?

on a more important note: today was mamaw martin's wake. she looked really great. i am relieved that she is in heaven. lots of people, lots of beautiful flowers. the older i get the more thankful i am about people who send things, call, write, visit, etc. tomorrow is the funeral. i look forward to visiting more with "them martin's".

so dearest readers...i bid you good evening...but first...you know...

1. thank you Mamaw Martin for being a good example and for making the best scrambled eggs in the universe

2. applications are being accepted for my new "anti-text" task force.

3. do i have a legitimate compliant or is it just phone envy?

Out Of Clever Titles

so...i hate to admit it...but i'm really struggling to get thru the book of jeremiah. i'm about 1/2 way done now. i also struggled to get thru isaiah...pretty much i've struggled with most of the old testament. have you read the book of numbers lately? i feel so guilty about not just loving every minute of it. i did run across something last nite tho that put things into perspective.

God is speaking thru the prophet jeremiah (duh?) he is telling of the fall of Jerusalem, how wretched Israel has been - worshipping idols...just being regular heathens...anyway...God is telling them that yes...they will suffer and be punished...BUT they still have hope in Him...

Jeremiah 31:18-20
"I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God. After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the LORD."

(as an aside) Ephraim was a grandson of Jacob (son of Joseph). sometimes the name Ephraim was used in place of the northern kingdom of Israel. so in this passage, "Ephraim's moaning" is not speaking of Ephraim himself but is instead referring to Israel.)

anyway...i especially was thankful for the part about "Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him". Israel had been pretty ungrateful and unfaithful...God couldn't let them get away with it. They had to be punished...BUT...his heart "yearns" for them. i think that's amazing...and comforting...and most of all, humbling...

i'm on chapter 33...only 19 more to go! i have a renewed attitude!

so...what have we been up to lately?

b and i have been talking about veteran's day this week. we are making a poster for tomorrow's vet day parade here in uc.

m's list of words is getting bigger everyday: mom, mommy, dad, daddy, brother (uh...bru-bah), up, down, more, puppy, dog, ruff, baa, cow, duck, clapping, yay, NO, nose, mouth, cheek, chin, ear, hair, eye, tongue, teeth, knee, shoe, oo-wee, whee!, swing, slide, drink, hi, hello, bye-bye, pa-pa (w's dad), go, ball, baby...hmmm...i hadn't realized how many things there were until i typed them out...

w has the day off tomorrow. we'll go to the parade and enjoy some time together. i'm off to file mail and clean off this messy desk!

in summation:
1. nuggets of truth = motivation
2. m's vocab is moving along
3. i love days off!