October 30
I managed to get out of my room twice, once for breakfast and church, and later, after a three-hour nap, for a literal blast from the past.
1979
Just washed my pen, can’t do a thing with it.
Here I am, doing nothing about the Cambodians. What can I do? I have no church, not much money, no courage.
Comment 2023
Here I am doing nothing about Ukraine, about Israel, and Palestine. I have more money than I did in grad school, I have a church community that is engaged in social justice, and I am a little braver than I was. But not enough.
1981
Finally, I’m going to the Textile Museum. I started going to help out this summer and had hope to continue going once a month after school started. But it’s since August. I had to skip a month because of all the meetings.
I am still pondering how to improve TEXT 445, the first half of the History of Costume class. Or whatever it is; it really isn’t the first 1/2, but a different class. I want to make it a survey of world costume, but I am too ignorant.
1997
I made a big decision last night, and I love it. This is the weekend of the American Studies Association conference, and it promises to be a busy couple of days in my personal life as well. So I looked at the program book and decided to only go tomorrow, during the day. I will miss the material culture caucus meeting, but I’d rather have the time at home instead.
It’s a gorgeous day, I have some nagging errands, and some planning that needs to be done. I have been rushing around much of the week. Enough!!
Where are the backyard starlings today?
2016
Today was the day my cold finally got the better of me. I managed to get out of my room twice, once for breakfast and church, and later, after a three-hour nap, for a literal blast from the past
Today was Reformation Sunday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church; it has been 499 years since Martin Luther posted his “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” also known as “The 95 Theses,” on the door of the Wittenburg Castle church. This is celebrated in Lutheran Churches worldwide; this year it was celebrated in Lund Cathedral in Sweden with a special visit by Pope Francis, beginning a year of observation of the events 500 years ago that resulted in the Protestant Reformation. Instead of the usual 8:15 and 10:30 services, this Sunday featured a single service followed by a potluck -- I thought I would do both, but was so whipped by the end of the service, I just headed back to bed.
But I did get a familiar dose of religion. The hymns were played fast. When we moved east and could only find Missouri Synod and Episcopalian churches that suited my parents, my mother's one complaint was that the music dragged. Here's a sample of the "praise band" playing "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" to give you a taste:
The chatter you hear is because they reprised it at the end of the service while people were leaving the sanctuary and greeting the minister. They've adopted a version of the passing of the peace, but instead of the responsive "peace be with you”, "and also with you", it was a lengthy round of "good mornings with people leaving their seats and walking all over the sanctuary. For the first time, this introvert was feeling overwhelmed!
One part of the sermon really impressed me. The pastor noted that the theological differences between Lutherans and Roman Catholics have not been resolved, and never will be, but that there is growing desire for reconciliation from a contentious and sometimes violent past. The goal is not agreement, but mutual respect.
I went back to room and crashed for a few hours, and was having a cup of tea when I heard this unmistakable sound:
A steam engine was making its way back to Cheyenne and stopping in North Platte overnight. The news article about it has given the ETA as about 4:30, but it arrived early. So I didn't get to see it in motion, but I did join the swarm of North Platters that converged on Front Street to look and listen and take pictures. It was the biggest crowd I had seen anywhere this week!
Tomorrow, if my voice is working, I will give Sharon a call, and start to plan my library talk for this Thursday.
2017
It’s a homemaking day. Laundry, grocery shopping. The cleaning crew comes this afternoon. I have things to do!
Daughter of Wands: She rushes forward to a new adventure, exploding with joy in life and freedom. She’s not held back by other’s judgements or limitations.
Yessssss
2017 (Facebook)
Best Halloween costume ever. Me as my husband.
2018
Inktober “jolt”
2019
Interesting visit to Riderwood. It still seems a bit strange, but also exciting and reassuring. It is time to get serious about reducing stuff!!
Comment 2023
Four and a half months later, we moved in. Brilliant move.
2021
And so went October 2021, from summery 80s to fall colors and chilly night. Our 51st (!!) anniversary in Rehoboth. Booster shots. Business and busy-ness. A little writing (very little). I knit instead. Is that so terrible? I started Inktober, then stopped within a couple of days, blaming the prompts.
High points: new friends. Good phone talks with Sandy. Did I mention the always glorious fall colors? I am going to leave the next page blank for design purposes.
Comment 2023
The page is still blank.
I miss Sandy.
2022
Our last day of the month. And we get sprung from quarantine!
Interesting month. Rehoboth, lots of post-cataract surgery eye drops, bocce, facilitating the Aging class, knitting and more knitting. Then Jim got COVID (again). So - jigsaw puzzle, cleaning, writing, more knitting, reading, more writing. This month’s discovery: half price sushi at our fancy new supermarket on Wednesdays.
2024
This year I gave up on the Inktober prompts with just six days to go. But I didn’t stop drawing! I will post the result later today, after I get home from Rehoboth and out a few finishing touches on it.