Never Say Never

Some of you may recall that I have said I would never buy a brand new car again. I seriously dislike the idea of a loan, etc. However, given my current circumstances, I think the warranty and the certainty of the car starting every morning is worth the expense. Not to mention that the money I had saved up won't buy much of a used car in the Northwest. So my dad graciously has loaned me the money for this little car. And I picked it up Tuesday.

It's a 2008 Hyundai Accent. I call it the RS model. For Roller Skate.

It's little. But, oh, the gas mileage.

Here's something funny. Did you know you can get a car without a stereo? I did. It's wired with speakers, but not getting the actual radio in the car saves you $400. And I can get one installed for $150.

All you have to do is ask for the base, base, base model. It also has no A/C, which I thought would not be a problem, since we don't live in the midwest. Then we got blasted with 90+ degree weather! :) Oh well!

So What Do I Do Now?

On the Market

Not me. Don't be ridiculous.

Dad's house, in which I live.

Is it ready? No. But I'm doing the best I can. The new carpet is in, the biggest rooms have fresh paint and are clean. Now I just need to really buckle down and do the deep cleaning. You know, under the fridge and the stove, and in the laundry room. Oh, and paint the master bath. And keep the almost 1/2 acre mowed and weeded. And re-texture and paint the entry way.

Coming to work at the hospital is almost like a day off!

Quote of the Day: Roald Dahl

A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
~Roald Dahl, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Happy Birthday, Barack

There is no doubt that it is easy to pick on President Bush's "Bushism"s. Here are a few of Candidate Obama's "better" quotes.

"I've now been in 57 states -- I think one left to go." --at a campaign event in Beaverton, Oregon

"It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." --explaining his troubles winning over some working-class voters

"The point I was making was not that Grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person, who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know, you know, there's a reaction that's been bred in our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way, and that's just the nature of race in our society."

"Come on! I just answered, like, eight questions." --exasperated by reporters after a news conference

"In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died -- an entire town destroyed." --on a Kansas tornado that killed 12 people

Typical white person? What the heck is that?! Grrr.

Just Dropping By...

...on my lunch break to say a quick "hi". I am still on the planet and have lots to write. So I will have to catch up tomorrow!

If You Don't Really Believe It...

Maybe I am in the minority here (and apparently, in America, I am), but it seems to me that if you have a "faith"...then you should actually believe in the tenets of that faith. Here is an article on the increase of pluralistic beliefs within the American evangelical church. More than half of people who identify themselves as christian believe that there is more than one path to eternity with God.

When Jesus said, "I am the Way..." did He mean it? And if He didn't, why did He say it!?

Working for a Living

I am working my first swing shift here at the hospital. Overtime. Hooray.

Nights are a lot different than days. The drug seekers are all asleep. Apparently. We've had three traumas tonight. My first since working in the ER. Not for the faint of heart. Or the stomach.

So far so good. The only thing is...at 9:30 pm my body said "bedtime". But since I don't work my normal 6:45 am tomorrow I am muddling through. Back to work!

Book Review: Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

When I began this book, I knew it would be one that I would blog about. I thought that I would be writing about the pros and cons of the death penalty. The book evolved into something quite different.

Change of Heart follows the story of a convicted murderer, a priest, an ACLU lawyer, and a little girl who needs a heart transplant. Throw in a lot of religious ferver and confusion, and you have a very interesting story.

Shay Bourne killed a little girl and her step-father. Those facts are never in doubt. A college student who sat on the jury that sentenced Shay to death is now a young priest, secure in his faith and what he knows, until he meets Shay, and his faith is challenged. For it seems that Shay can do miracles, quotes from the lost gospel of Thomas, and wants to die in a way that he can donate his heart to the younger sister of the murdered girl.

Is Shay Bourne the Messiah? Could Jesus come again in another form before his triumpant second coming?

As a Christian, I believe the Bible clearly answers the above questions, but it is interesting to read Jodi Picoult's research into some alternative viewpoints. I enjoyed the book, and the twists and turns that the story and the lives of the characters take. I suppose we could debate the death penalty, too...

*Just a note: much of the story takes place in a prison, so there is some foul language.

Out of Sync

I know, I know, I don't blog like I used to.

I'm working on getting back into a rhythm, and with the Boxer on swings, me on days, and only one vehicle, that takes a bit to get moving.

I have a prayer request to ask you to lift up. Yesterday, I spoke with my Wayward Offspring, and am hoping to actually meet up with him in the next couple of weeks. Perhaps I am a little too hopeful...but it is hard not to want to hug him and tell him I love him face to face. So I need to speak with my ex-husband and am not looking forward to it. So please pray for much grace and mercy and forgiveness on my part.