information overload

A poet wrote, "The world is too much with us, late and soon, getting and spending..." - and that was in the 19th century... I have been trying to find out more about the effects of video gaming on the pc; looking for woodwork projects for William online; getting sidetracked into garage organizing; and marking online essays...There is just too much information out there, it seems! In the midst of this, I heard a radio report that the European Union Human Rights Court had ruled (on appeal) that crucifixes should be allowed in Italian schools as they did not infringe on their right to secular education. The Italian government's clinching argument? - they are historical, simply pieces of art that have always been in schools...Well, I hope God might surprise a few children who have perhaps never seen a crucifix...

Apart from all of the above, I am reading "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" and trying to apply it, rather sporadically and ineffectually. It has helped me understand myself: now I must absorb the Martian part and put it to work! I also managed finally to buy a book recommended to us, Sheet Music, which looks to be pretty straight-talking about sex in marriage. True bed-time reading, I guess! But even with time to READ any of this, where is the time to PROCESS it?

I have been reminded this week of what lack of sleep feels like; but also how positive and boosting a good night's sleep is; so I think I will go off in search of the latter, now. Echoes of Pooh Bear, I think...

40th birthdays and other fractures

During a relaxing lunch yesterday with Steve's family, we were discussing birthdays and realized that my young(er) husband will be turning FORTY this year. Shock horror. This led of course to speculation about what to DO to celebrate this momentous event... His older sister reckons a quiet weekend away; I am more inclined to a gathering of his favourite friends and heroes. I also spent some time, while writing here, imagining the logistics of being delivered to his office door in a box/cake and emerging in fishnets and a top hat... All suggestions will be gratefully received!

I do pray that turning 40 will not be too much of a hurdle; it seems anyway that 50 is the new 40, so perhaps I won't make too much of a fuss. A fuss IS being made, however, over proposals to mine for gas in the Karoo: a process called hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" for short. If this sounds slightly rude or obscene, it seems that in fact it is: at least, I'd consider it very rude and unfriendly to pump millions of litres of water and chemicals into the underground rock (shale) so that it splits and releases the valuable gas--and leaves behind polluted water, by the sound of it... Watch this space for further rants and useful information about fracking.

Have you discovered yet that you sometimes need to know the answer in order to ask the question? This thought struck me yet again when Gary told us yesterday that a caterpillar has 280 muscles in its head. This was apropos of how amazing God is; but led me to wonder how on earth Gary KNEW this. What encyclopedia did he consult? What words did he Google? From what list of other trivia did he choose that particular gem? I will certainly never look at a caterpillar in the same way again...
May you find wonder in many things.

shawl

Today I completed the crocheting part of a shawl I have been making. It still needs edging and lining, but it is 99% complete. It has taken me a good year to finish, and I am proud of the way it has come together, all the colours I visualised working their magic, joining into a jewel-box whole.