a small car repair

This morning we, meaning my husband, discovered that one of the front low-beam headlights on the car was out, as in not lighting up.

If I had been home alone and discovered this, I would have called the dealer and made an appointment. Or I would have stopped in at the local auto parts to see if they sold, and then installed, whatever it was I needed.In the meantime I would have driven only during the daylight hours.

However, our handy glove box contained our car manual which, on page 83, showed in less than detailed detail, how to change this bulb at home, by yourself, without the added cost of labor. That appealed to my husband.

That would not have bothered me, paying the labor, having someone else under the hood, but my husband bless his heart, decided to purchase the bulb and change it himself. Please remember that my husband can write an iron-clad Will but missed out on the auto-mechanic class in high school.

He went out and bought two bulbs, with the thought that the second would soon be needed on the passenger side of the car and why not anticipate the need. He planned to replace both bulbs.

We have a foreign car; a foreign car built by nationals traditionally small in statue. And so when the manual called for my husband to reach in and release the dead bulb, by first grabbing both ends of the thingie and then pushing on the release button he ran into his first dilemma. Doing the math, that procedure would require three hands. That's where I came in, or out..to the garage.

First, I followed his instructions about how it should come apart. Then, after failing at that, I looked at the diagram in the manual. It was easier after that since I now knew what to push on to release the bulb which was not part of the oral instructions I was given.

After the bulbs were replaced came something called putting the panel back on with eight little black plastic thingies with came with a new set of instructions. One was supposed to squeeze the base, twist the inside, and the little plug would pop up. There was a video on this procedure which my husband had watched but I didn't want to get up from where I was watching "Undercover Boss" on TV to walk into the den to watch the video. I figured I could conquer this little implement. I turned the little thingie over and over in my hand, pushed, prodded, stretched and pondered. How would I work if I were this, I asked myself? By putting myself into the head of the little black thingie I was able to, quite by accident the first time, figure it out. My husband was happy.

He said that the whole procedure of changing the bulbs took him three hours. He guessed it should have been about a 45 minute job which included driving to Ace Hardware to get the bulbs. He thought that without my help it would have taken him four hours. To myself, I added two days to that estimate. If it had been me, I would have been at the Toyota dealer with my checkbook.

And that's what I think about it.

Farewell to Past Olympic Events

Even with the dozens of events at this year's summer Olympics, some events have not been offered in competition for decades. What ever happened to:

Solo Synchronized Swimming? From 1985 to 1992, this event featured one swimmer in sync with her music performing what could only be viewed as a lonely ballet in the pool.

Club Swinging? Clubs resembling bowling pins were used in a twisting, twirling kind of routine, the harder and more intricate the better. This was the precursor of the rhythmic hoops and ribbons. Club swinging ended as an event in 1932.

Live Pigeon Shooting? The 1900 Olympics in Paris had the great distinction of being the first Games where women competed. It also wore the ignoble badge for this sport, where athletes aimed to bring down as many pigeons as possible.  Nearly 300 birds were slain, historians say, leaving a bloody, feathery mess. The winner shot down 21 pigeons.

Swimming Obstacle Course? The venue was the Seine river, where swimmers had to dodge obstacles floating in the river and even climb a pole at one point. They climbed over and swam under boats and other flotsam placed there for the enjoyment of the spectators.

La Canne? Same as fencing but using a cane, yes the very type of cane used to steady one's wobbly legs as one ages.

Trampoline and Rope Climbing? Not anymore. Gym teachers took over these events and moved them into high school Physical Education classes.

How about long jump and high jump...for horses?

Only women could compete in croquet. This event garnered so little interest that only one spectator ticket was sold and the event was canceled in subsequent Olympics.


(thanks to CNN and npr on-line for most of the above information)

And that's what I think about it.

Olympics from the Couch

It's that time again. Every two years, first in the summer and then in mid-winter, sports figures fill the TV screen, and the phone screen, and the IPad, some streaming live feeds, others playbacks of events of the 30th Summer Olympiad.

Where my mind might never bring to mind rowing, badminton, boxing, archery or beach volleyball (to name a few) during the four years between summer games, suddenly I am not only watching these sports but am becoming an expert in their history, the players' bios, and receiving a renewed education of the ever-changing geography of the world.

Some countries have hundreds of athletes; others a few; a few just one. 

Some parade around the Opening Ceremonies in native dress of their countries. Others in designer duds, but all in the colors of their countries' flag.

I am again, as I am nearly every two years, appalled and incredulous regarding the commentaries that accompanying the games and even more so with the interviews of the athletes. One commentator asked an athlete who had just won a silver medal why she thought she hadn't gotten gold. An interview with a boxer offered this snippet, "Well, I just trained hard and kept hitting him until I found my pace."  Another boxer who "came to the ring through thunderous applause" was soon seen kissing the mat.

Another asked an obviously stunned loser what had happened. What had happened was that he lost. (I suppose I would not make a very good interviewee. I would be using the "Doh!" word way too often).

Another asked a swimmer what it would take for her to take home the gold. Doh! It would take her to swim faster than anyone else in the pool at that time.

I watched the road race (biking) like I watch NASCAR; it became interesting only when there was a spill and bikes and riders slid across the road knocking down everything in their path like bowling pins. Now that was worth watching. I was interested in seeing the women's road race because there was a horrific storm coming at them and I figured good TV was about to happen, but I had to get to church so I missed all the fun of the rain and wind.

That's enough for now about the games. Tonight there will be more foil (fencing) replays, men's soccer (although I already know the outcome since I have three apps on my phone for Olympic results and live streaming), and ping pong. I wonder what might have happened if my parents had purchased me a javelin instead of a clarinet.

We'll never know.

And that's what I think about it.

Arts Smarts Camp - 2012

Arts Smarts Camp was held last week. I may have written about it in years past but I am so impressed with this fun-filled creative arts offering for kids from preschool to grade five.

I was helping in Graffiti Art. Graffiti is best done outdoors, away from cars and buildings. It takes lots of spray paint and sturdy walls and a wide expanse of lawn. Dry weather helps. Last week the temperatures hovered around 100 degrees each day.

I mean, kids and aerosol spray paint cans. What could go wrong?

I asked the campers if anyone had ever had the opportunity to use spray paint. Not one hand was raised. Hmmmmm! A clue there somewhere.

Forty-seven campers, out of a total camp of 775 signed up for this graffiti. Some had to be turned away and the class enrollment reached its limit quickly during the registration period. First come, first served had to be the motto.

One day, toward Thursday, a very dark rain cloud crept closer to the graffiti boards. Since the geographical area is in a severe drought it was not appropriate to pray that the cloud would move on. But it did. Thank you.

Thirty-one different classes were offered to the kids during the week. The campers chose their top five and were assured of three of those. If kids liked music they could sign up for drumming, bells, keyboard, guitar, bass or signing. Teachers were skilled at what they were teaching including a certified American Sign Language instructor.

Perhaps quieter endeavors were needed. Kids could learn to knit, write short stories, publish a newspaper, build a board game, find and write to a pen pal, or learn to script in calligraphy.

Kids who like drama had the options of learning set production, acting, filming a movie, producing a daily news TV new report, dancing. or running the TV cameras.

Regular art offerings included: make-up (my personal least favorite), carpentry, drawing, duct tape art, graffiti, sewing, cooking, painting, scrap-book making, photography, cake decorating, jewelry making, pottery...well, you get the idea.

Kids' classes were in storerooms, coat closets, hallways; there was not a corner of the building which was not used for creativity.

What's the point of having this kind of activity in a church? Doesn't it abuse the building? What does it have to do with what churches are supposed to be doing. Doesn't it make it difficult for the staff? Don't parents just want their kids out of their hair for the morning?

Perhaps some of the above is true.

The point - and there is one - is that God has given talents to each person. He (God) would love for those talents to be used to bring him joy and praise. We try to encourage kids to use their talents for good, for God. It may not be the church you grew up in, but it is the church that values kids like God does.

And that's what I think about it.