A Free Lunch --- There is no such thing.

They say there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Maybe not, but check this out. I have a fun announcement that I want to email you. So, leave a comment on here with your email address, and I might randomly buy you lunch.

In other words, I will pick someone (or two or three or...) at random to take to lunch at a location of my choosing.

Fun!

So leave me your comment. Maybe you win will a free lunch with me. No matter where you live. Or a lunch traded for your email address. Or maybe you will just get my fun announcement. We will see.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Becoming Emilist (From Becoming Minimalist)

One of the blogs that we follow around here is the Becoming Minimalist blog that Joshua Becker has put together, all about simplifying your life and inspiring others to "... others to pursue their greatest passions by owning fewer possessions."

 We were somewhat taken aback one day last year when we saw this photo on the page. It looked very much like our oldest daughter, Emily, who had just returned from 7 months in Quito, Ecuador.

Same wispy blond hair, which she often fashioned into braids of various styles.

Same dark jacket that rode the line of trendy with a nod to a bygone historical era that she often wore.

Hands and body staged in a way we had seen many times before, half posing as if for a photo shoot and and half absent mindedly fidgeting while thinking about something a little bigger than whatever else was going on.

We called her over to the computer and said "Hey Emily, this looks just like you."

"No", she adamantly denied "I didn't have a ribbon like that in my hair when I was at Pinchincha!"

It sort of reminds me of telling someone their friend was murdered and them asking, "How many times were they stabbed?"

But, I suppose we will never know for certain.

While you are thinking about that, be sure to check out Becoming Minimalist.

Some More Readings

Here's what I've taken in recently that I have also enjoyed, in case you need to find something to peruse:

A story of airmen trapped on the frozen glacial wastelands of Greenland during the Second World War. It is at times frustrating, compelling and inspiring, and manages to be interesting throughout.

It's been a long time since I've lived where tornadoes are common, but this definitely brings back some memories.

This is a story that has, like the summary says "...heart-wrenching stories...and dramatic storytelling".

I used to have SSgt. Barry Sadler's Album and had most of the tunes memorized and I must have seen John Wayne's movie at least a dozen times. So, of course I'm gonna read this book about today's SF.

Diane is working on this one, so we will have to ask her. But it looks interesting.

A Matter of Perspective

On Sunday, we headed over to Balboa Park in San Diego to enjoy the afternoon and see what was happening there.

They have a collection of "International Cottages", which are welcome and information places to tell about their particular country and to exchange cultural information. Some of our favorites included the Sweden, British, Czech and Slovakian houses.

On this particular day, the "House of Palestine", who is currently raising money for their own cottage, as they do not have one yet, was putting on a "lawn program". In this program, they had musicians, food booths, craft displays and even a tent where you could dress in traditional garb and get your picture taken, while reclining on Bedouinesque cushions.

In the picture above, the two young ladies had just led us in the national anthem and were singing some lovely song in Arabic.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying their presentation. At least until we stepped into the Israel cottage. Inside, we met to obviously Isreali young ladies who informed us that they had been in California for the summer helping out with a Children's camp. They said they were about to leave for New York the following day, then back to Israel next week.

Someone had suggested to them that they visit the international cottages as something interesting to do. When they arrived, they saw the Palestinian flags, all the Palestinians and were convinced they'd made a terrible mistake. In fear for their lives, they dashed into the Israeli cottage as a refuge.

We told them they would probably be ok, and we saw them again in the British Cottage, so they didn't make to quick of an exit. But they definitely had a different perspective on relations with Palestinians.

I am hoping to take a trip out that-away next year. You're welcome to come along. Maybe we will get a new perspective.

I've been reading....

In my never ending quest to keep my head working and to add a little knowledge whenever I am able, I have been looking at some of these. They are the ones that piqued my interest enough to, not just pick them up, but to keep reading them.

Looking for an interesting read? Consider one of these. They have been my summer reading this year.

These next two we listened to on audio on our summer travels. Surprisingly, the consensus was that we all enjoyed Sebastian Darke more than The Giver.

The Gospel According to Chuck

Gospel: literally,  "Good News". Generally refers to the biblical message concerning the kingdom of God, Salvation and the Messiah.

Chuck: One of our favorite Television shows ever about a computer geek who turns secret agent after a computer database is planted in his head and a gorgeous CIA operative is sent to be his handler.

Thanks to the wonders of Netflix, Diane and I have just finished watching the T.V. series Chuck for about the fourth time.

Full of unforgettable characters, such as Adam Baldwin's "John Casey", "Morgan Grimes", "Jeffster", "Awesome and Ellie" and a host of guest characters from Brandon Routh to Scott Bakula. Timothy Dalton, Chevy Chase, Mark Hamill and Morgan Fairchild to John Larroquette, Richard Chamberlain Lou Diamond Phillips and Bo Derek and many others.

The final episode of the series leads up to a scene where Chuck, the main character, is trying to remind his counterpart Sarah, who has had her memory of the previous five years erased by the most recent villain, that she had fallen in love with him, and he with her.

In this final scene, the words Chuck says to Sarah echo the message that the Almighty has for each of us. We, like Sarah, are broken, and have forgotten that their is one that loves us more than any other, and wants us to trust him.

Chuck says to Sarah:

I'm asking you to trust me.

... I don't I don't want anything from you.

I-I just need you to know that wherever you go, I'll always be there to help you.

Someone you can call.
Whenever.
Trust me... I'm here for you always. 

     Chuck vs. The Goodbye. Season 5, Episode 13 (27 January, 2012)
 
That sounds just like The Gospel - Its rare that I find something on TV that resonates with what God says to us. But that is the Good News that God speaks to us, in a few short words - "You don't have to do anything but trust me. I'm here for you and always will be."

So, what should we watch next?

Here's the segment:



And, just for fun, here's a little JEFFSTER

That Kind of Day

July 11 seems to be that kind of day. It had held import for me for some time because it was the day I joined the Air Force, and the day they finally let me out. It is also the birthday of a couple of my buddies from the war days.

It is also the last day I spent with my Dad.

Seven years ago, on the 11th, we were visiting my parents in the Denver area. Both of my brothers came over for dinner, and my Father was so pleased to have all the boys together with all of their families. He went to bed a little early that night, because he felt tired.

Some time in the middle of the night, my mom came in the room where Diane and I were sleeping and let me know that my dad had fallen out of bed and she could not wake him up. I immediately thought that this didn't sound good.

I went in the room and attempts to resuscitate him by myself, and by the paramedics after that did not work. He was pronounced deceased that night.

Fortunately, some friends of my parents came over to sit with my Mom and I am glad that we were able to be there with her when it happened. My Aunt and Uncle that also live in town were also great. They cooked up a bunch of food and made sure we were set.

The hardest part of the ordeal was first thing in the morning when my brother Michael and I had to go let our younger brother Kevin know that Dad had died so unexpectedly. 

So, I never really forget July 11th and always wonder what, if anything, will happen on this day. I don't think I am superstitious, but it often turns out to be that kind of a day.

I miss you Dad!