Makin' Us Look GOOD...

This past week on a simply beautiful day, we took Maeby on a walk to Goodale Park. To paint a true picture of this park, you have to understand that it lands smack dab in the middle of Columbus' urban oasis known as Victorian Village. It is about the size of 2 city blocks, and is green with flowering trees and laced with sidewalks. At the center, above the pond and gazebo, the sidewalks join on a little hill. This is where the Dog People gather. On nice days, they emerge from their Victorian mansions, old and young, men and women, singles and couples, bring their purebred perfectly-trained pooches, and judge other dogs and owners. Some days, we can count upwards of 50 dogs in the park at once...each tempting Maeby to lose her mind and all of her training...

On our first trip to the park this Spring, Maeby took off into the park the second that we let her off her leash. She's always been well-behaved when we go to the park, but that day the most curious thing happened. She circled back to us as we walked through the park, gave us a little lick, then took off again. Time and time again, she checked in, then took off, checked in, took off. She would often sniff other dogs or people, but nothing obnoxious. We kept walking through the park, through Dog People territory, then past the gazebo, with Maeby following us all the way. When we started to make the loop around the pond, she trotted directly between us, heeling like her life depended on it. As we headed out of the park, she sat quiet as we put her leash back on and heeled like a champion all the way home.

I don't know where we got this dog. It seems so silly to wax poetic about an animal, but we've just heard so many horror stories about terrible dogs, that it is amazing when Maeby has moments of brilliance...especially when we never thought we could teach her to make US look good!

Overwhelmed.

I was just the recipient of a random act of kindness, and I am so humbled by it, I just had to share it. A woman who shops in the candle shop a lot just stopped by and said that I had commented on liking her purse a number of times before, which she had gotten on her annual medical mission to Cambodia. She then reached in a bag and handed me a STUNNING aqua and chocolate brown purse. She said she had been going through her car and found an extra one and decided to bring it by and give it to me. I just can't believe it...



She wouldn't take money, but I set her up with some candles...just a small token of appreciation that she has absolutely made my week and restored my hope in humanity. See? Multiple purses DO have purpose! And random acts of kindness DO matter!

The Surprise!

Nick's New Drums and Other Favorite Bedtime Stories...

As of Monday, Feb. 26th, Nicholas John Dekker has graced this earth for 28 years...and what better to celebrate this momentus occassion than a brand new shiny green drum set?!

Stop by for a personal concert...I'm sure Nick wouldn't mind showing them off for you....

Oh, the Pooch

How can you NOT love this little girl?!?!

Pre-Lost Routine!

Now that we're within a week of the newest Lost, I thought it was appropriate for everyone to get in the mood for that exciting day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z_zVROAdLU

Maeby and Her Bunny

A couple months ago we bought Maeby a bag full of stuffed animals from Good Will. Now, you have to understand that, when it comes to stuffed toys, Maeby makes it her mission to unravel and unstuff these poor animals. Their "guts" are usually strewn across the living room floor. Sometimes the carnage is unbelievable... everything from butterflies, monkeys ("Monkey!"), hedgehogs, turtles, reindeer boot skates (don't ask), and Mr. Bear have been disemboweled. After all the stuffing-shed, we finally came to our senses: rather than buying new stuffed toys for $5 each, why not pay that much for a whole bag of future victims from Good Will? Makes much more sense! We did so in late November, and all the unfortunate souls in that bag have since been turned into a shell of their former selves.

Except one... Bunny.

Why Bunny, you ask? Well, frankly, we don't know... Bunny seems as good a candidate as any for the ritual gutting. Yet he has survived because Maeby simply won't tear him to shreds. Sure, she chews on him, plays tug-o'-war with him, whips him around without mercy. But she also carries him around everywhere, sleeps with him, and even knows to bring him to us when we say, "Go get your bunny!" While we call him "Bunny," he was formerly a Peter Rabbit wearing a coat and holding a carrot; he has since been stripped naked and robbed of his one earthly possession. Still, she keeps him by like no other toy she's ever had.

Beth has said on multiple occasions that she'll probably shed tears if/when Bunny goes. I have to agree. There's something very meaningful in this unexplained behavior of our dog. We chalk it up to good parenting.

Nerdy Historian

This past week I finished my first major chapter of the dissertation. No doubt it will come back practically unrecognizable from all the markings (my adviser, Tom Postlewait, is an editor, and a very good one at that), but it feels good to have finished it and sent it away.

I spent a majority of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday finishing the chapter, and all Friday morning revising it. As I searched and re-searched some of 100+ library books sitting in my office, I found myself slowly taking on the role of historian, and really enjoying it. I even had a few nerdy historian moments: at one point I jumped up out of my chair in victory because of a particular reference I found in a footnote (a footnote!) of a secondary book. Tell me, does this excite you as much as me:

On page 235 of J.T. Grein's biography, written by his wife Alice and edited by George Bernard Shaw, is a footnote referencing playbills from one season (probably early 1900's) of the Committee on German Theatre in London. Isn't that awesome?! They have playbills at the Theatre Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London! Even the best scholars of the period only reference the Committee - they know little else about the plays, directors, actors, or critical reception. Sweet!

Ah... it feels great. Theatre historians have an added challenge, in that they're trying to recreate an event, and a fleeting one, at that. So we find ourselves relying on contemporary accounts (someone's journal, letters), reviews (from newspapers, magazines), or other histories (perhaps someone who lived closer to the event). So when we find little footnotes and casual references, we get excited and start jumping around our offices and when we convey that excitement to others, we usually get a "Oh, well... it's good that someone's researching that."

I like to think of it as unearthing information for future generations. And, well, in order to dig it up... can we say "research trip to London?"

History 180 Edition #2

George Michael Resurfaces!

Wee Fish Ewe a Mare Egrets Moose

When I was a little girl, I had a nightgown with the following phrases on it:

Wee fish ewe a mare egrets moose
Wee fish ewe a mare egrets moose
Wee fish ewe a mare egrets moose
Panda hippo gnu deer!

I think it's brilliant, though now this catchy version is now stuck in our heads permanantly...it doesn't help that I've been singing it at the top of my lungs for a few days now...

Sharing in a Glonous History

This past weekend our good friends Morgan and Dave visited the lot of us down here in Columbus. Our many adventures led us to the Hong Kong Buffet, where we discovered chopsticks with... let's say... a creative usage of English. For your reading pleasure, I repeat it here, exactly as it is printed on the paper packaging:

"Welcome to Chinese Restaurant.
Please try your Nice Chinese Food With Chopsticks
the traditional and typical of Chinese glonous history
and cultual."

Instructions on the other side read:

"Learn how to use your chopsticks

Tuk under
and held firmly

tnurnb

Add second chcostick
hold it as you hold
a pencil

Hold tirst chopstick
in originai position
move the second
one up and down
Now you can pick
up anything:"

The colon at the end of the instructions means - we think - that we are to provide examples of our picking-up prowess. Cars? Small children? Subatomic particles? We're also assuming that the phrase "traditional and typical of Chinese glonous history and cultual" is an invitation to share in years of glorious Chinese history and culture. Please note that the word "tnurnb" (read "thumb") is floating completely apart from the instruction to "Tuk under and held firmly."

One other note... we also found these chopsticks at a Vietnamese restaurant. Does Vietnam share a similar glonous culinary history?

Oh, the food was good, too. Great, actually.

What did they do to me?!

Look at those eyes! Yesterday our very own Maeby Ray Magic made a trip to the vet to get spayed. The surgery went fine, and everyone at the vet said she was such a well behaved, friendly dog (yay!). Despite a little whining and a lot of "Pay attention to me!" nuzzling, our The Pooch has been crashed on the couch, as pictured above. She's on some pain meds and a mild sedative for the next couple days, which tones down her puppy enthusiasm for life considerably. Man... watching your dog lope around the house with her head practically dragging on the ground almost breaks your heart. But it's all for the best in the long run, and I think it's a testament to her personality (and hopefully some of our dog-training skills) that above all, she just wants a comfortable place to lie down closest to Beth and I. Oh, The Pooch indeed.

Florence, Italy

After 10 glorious days in beautiful Tuscany, the scenery never got old. My first taste of it was flying over the Northern Italian Mountains as the colored leaves bled down the peaks.

I was visiting my sister Kate during her semester abroad in Florence, Italy. Her school is located directly across from the Duomo (Cathedral), one of the most famous in Italy. This is essentially her view during her voice lessons.

And even though there's NO way to NOT look like a tourist when that is exactly what you are. But it helps to remember that tourists come in all shapes and sizes...


Until the next time...in ROME!

A bit of autumn gardening...

I cleaned up some our plants for the winter this afternoon, trimming back day lilies and grasses, moving the jade plant inside, and cutting down the morning glories. The morning glories had taken over both sides of the porch. They wrapped around some of the day lilies, the downspout, the roof. I even had to cut free my bike from time to time. Once they were all cut down, I marveled at the huge pile of morning glory and how it had grown out of a pile of seeds that could easily fit in the palm of your hand.


Earlier in the season, as they slowly climbed the lower lattice-work on the porch, Beth and I feared that they would die there like last year. However, during one clean-up day, we discovered that they were actually growing under the porch itself. After Beth pulled them out from under the porch and trained them up the railings, they sprang to life again. Beth observed at the time: "There has to be a sermon illustration in this."

As I pulled down one of the banks of morning glories, this little buddy fell out. I thought he was a heavy leaf at first, until he started climbing back up the railing. I'm guessing he measured 4-5 inches long. I haven't named him yet.

The Greatest Free Show on Earth!

This past Friday, Karl, Jacqui, Ryan, Marcia, Chip, and I made the annual pilgrimage (yes, I think we can call it that) to Circleville, Ohio... home of “The Greatest Free Show on Earth,” the Circleville Pumpkin Show!


Of course, pumpkins are the main attraction there. Pictured above are the top three winners in the (you guessed it) pumpkin contest. On the left is this year’s winner at 1324 pounds!


Also adding largesse to the proceedings is the giant pie. At 14 feet in diameter, it probably re-took their record for World’s Largest Pumpkin Pie.


This year is the 100th anniversary of the show. A lot changes over the years, huh? This year they added webcams to their website.


There’s Miss Pumpkin 2006!


And the Mayor of Circleville!


Look at the line for pumpkin donuts at Lyndsey’s Bakery! Chip and Marcia waited 45 minutes for 2 dozen warm ones!

Leaving on a Jet...Well, a Plane, anyway...

I left Columbus yesterday. After two of the worst, most nightmarish days of my life, I left Columbus to come to Italy.

It's not that everything is resolved or that I even deserve a trip right now. Quite the opposite- I should probably stay in the states and fix everything. I should organize my business and oversee the process.

But what that would look like is most likely very similar to what I was doing over the past few days, crying cursing the heavens, hyperventilating, having anxiety attacks in Target, and more crying. Not to mention terrorizing every Microcenter, Radio Shack, and Mac Store employee in the Tri-State area. It was not pretty. It would be an understatement to say that Nick has been my guiding light and rock over the past few days.

Besides the fact that I get to spend 10 days in Italy with my best friend and sister, Kate, it is best that I leave the country, I'm thinking.

At the Columbus airport, as I was waiting in line to get a very unhealthy drink in a certain not-to-be-named coffee establishment, the woman in front of me was finishing her order, and there were clearly problems behind the counter. So she calmly started managing the situation, with grace, patience and humor. This drink is his, it goes here, the total is this much, give her this change. It was cool.

So as we were waiting for our drinks, and joking a bit, I said "You MUST run your own business." and she laughed and said "Is it that obvious? Well, it's hard to let go sometimes."

And HOW! But managers NEED to let go! The question is, how can a personality like the one it takes to run a business LET GO long enough for the experts to fix it? AND during a crisis?

Well, God orchestrates the motherboard on the store PC to self-destruct 48 hours before the manager's planned trip to go to Italy, thus clearing the way for her dear husband and brilliant friends to step in and help.

That's how.

Light of Passage

Check out this short video we posted on YouTube. It features the Paul Robinett candles that we all know and love. Put together by some of the employees of the shop. Enjoy!

What the Hail?!

Last Wednesday evening central Ohio got pounded with some pretty awesome storms. We're talking ice-cube-sized hail, tornado-siren, streets-flooded, end-of-the-world-black-skies, half-my-students-didn't-show-up-to-class storms. They were sweet. So we got some pictures of the hail that briefly pelted our houses and cars. Fortunately, no major damage, aside from the plants looking like they survived a hurricane.

White Water Rafting on the Lower Gauley