Fifth

This obnoxious image now serves as the wallpaper to our family computer, which has a 20" screen. The caption is taken from the oft-spoken words of Anya's tutor when Anya starts whining that she doesn't want to learn something.

I think it looks like what Citizen Kane might have resembled if he had access to Prozac. 

And on goes my memory verses:

Blessed are you when they insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

These days I think of Sarah Palin when I contemplate this verse, but then again, this is not a political blog. 

Life is a miracle

I purchased Wendell Berry's "Life is a miracle" when it came out in 2000. The book had little appeal to me then; it struck me as being a bit Luddite in theme. I put it down after the first chapter. 

I picked it back up about two weeks ago and haven't been able to put it down. My favorite passage in it so far has been this:

When a metaphor is construed as an equation, it is out of control; when it is construed as an identity, it is preposterous. If we are to assume that our language means anything at all, then the world is not a machine, and neither is an organism. A machine, to state only the greatest and most obvious difference, is a human artifact, and a world or an organism is not. (page 46).

The only problem I have with it is that I've not read E. O. Wilson's "Consilience", and reading a critique of something without reading the critiqued article seems a bit Philistine. 

Fourth

This next year is my "younger next year" year, in which I'm supposed to exercise six days a week. My favorite sport is cycling, but the weather has not been very conducive to riding outdoors, so I've set up my road bike in the basement. Today I rode the Coach Troy disc "Time Trial special 2.0" or somesuch. 

John Patrick says I should read Gerald Manley Hopkins poetry, memorize the Beatitudes and memorize the Sermon on the Mount. I've done my best to read "The Wreck of the Deutschland" but as a migrainogenic activity it rates right up there with trying to learn Russian. 

I think I've got the Beatitudes down, though:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Time to go to church. It will be something for me to meditate on if the worship team gets on my nerves. 

Christmas 2008

On a Christian Doctors Digest disc, Dr. Dick Swenson addresses survival in our overloaded age:

Make sure your priorities are ordered properly:

1. People are more important than things. 

2. People are more important than things. 

3. People are more important than things. 

I kept this in mind as I enjoyed my Christmas. I received an IMac today, and I've spent about four quality hours with this seamless machine. 

I've taken two pictures and downloaded them on the computer. They are both of the computer. 

I could have taken pictures of my lovely family, especially of our newest very sweet granddaughter, but I didn't.

Speaking of granddaughters, I received a picture of my elder granddaughter Kendra. Once I learn how to insert photos I'll be able to comment on how beautiful Kendra is, and point out how beautiful the dress is, which was hand-sown by Karin, right down to the smocking. 

Exercise in past 24 hours: carrying very heavy presents downstairs to the Christmas tree. 

Third

Let's get this over with.

This is our cat, Rascal. He is evil.

When he dies, we get to buy a Shih-Tzu. We love Shih-Tzus.

I don't wish Rascal any harm, though.

Second

A few years ago I kept an anonymous blog which dealt with such things as death, malpractice, cycling, weight loss, and the lighter side of medicine. It was a decent blog. I was even linked briefly to someones A-listed blog, and received hundreds of hits in one day.

I was also out of the country and away from the computer at the time. I couldn't respond to the traffic, and the blog withered away and died a quiet death, never to be missed.

That was fine with me.

My blogging now is largely to record thoughts and musings. I have few original thoughts and musings, so I will be quoting and perhaps commenting on things I read or learn throughout the day. I'm hoping this will force me to ponder at least one new or interesting thing I learn over the next few years, or until I lose interest in blogging.

Given my attention span, this blog may not survive the year.

This is a kitty blog because I intend to post a picture of my cat in the near future.

It could have been a God blog, but you have to be pretty smart and devout to run one of those and I'm not those things. It could have been a Doc blog, but medicine gets enough of my time as it is. It couldn't have been a cycling blog; Fat Cyclist and Bike Snob have cornered the market on that genre for now. Political blogs are out of the question, and anyway they are a dime a dozen.

I hope you enjoy it.

First

The abdomen is the reason why man does not easily take himself for a god.

--F. Nietzsche

Insofar as I've made a career of dispensing Nexium and hyoscyamine, I should be held complicit in the relentless secularization of our culture.