http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd recent pleonast.com entries by user madtomkidd en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=616427 I hope everyone enjoyed their arbitrary-changing-of-the-calendar day. Back to work and finally read through all of the posts I've missed. I'm following Edwin's bible reading plan (his page devoted to it), and I'm going to post some thoughts myself. I've kicked blogger to the curb and have a new page up with wordpress here Have a happy Tuesday! 2009-01-06 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=613515 I hope you all have been enjoying your holiday festivities and were able to do something fun for this 6th day of the Festival of Lights. We had a good celebration of the midwinter holiday of Christmas. Among other things, I was given Manuals for my antique tractor, two really cool splitting mauls, enough materials to build 3 more bee hives, and a really cool book on organic apple husbandry that I didn't even know existed. Another really cool thing is that I was finally able to use my birthday present. on the 25th, Stacey, Kelly, and I played 2 games of Settlers of Catan. On the 26th, Leigh joined by coming with Kelly to spend the night and we played 3 games (technically the third started about midnight on the 27th and went 'til about 0140). Then, we played one more game late this morning before they took off. GREAT FUN! I'm back in the office Tuesday and Wednesday, then off unitl the 5th - hopefully I'll get a little rest before then (^_^) 2008-12-28 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=610412 - The family has been sick for a while and we're all in various states of repair. - Consequently, we had to cancel a visit from Wayne and Beth :o( - We're all decked out for the impending holidays. But I still have a couple of things I need to pick up for my splendid wife - We're finally heating with fire! (pictures forthcoming) Good timing since our heat pump is refusing to work! - Definitely check out Stacey's latest post - serious implications for mandating "the village" raising our children. Question: Hanukkah - ever done anything with this festival? I've been listening to Hanukkah Blessings by Barenaked Ladies and have been thinking about the festival of lights. Jesus celebrated it and I think it might be interesting to consider for next year. Experience or comments are appreciated. 2008-12-17 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=607584 With the reading we've done for home education and looking at other areas of interest, I've wondered about the role of the good ol' interwebs in tearing us down rather than building up. I'd like you to consider these thoughts from a blog I subscribe to:    Over the last five years, have you noticed a change in the way you read? Is it possible that we’re all getting dumber?    I was recently reading a well-known and somewhat disturbing article entitled “Is Google Making Us Stupid“. In the article, author Nicholas Carr argues that Internet has changed the way we read, and in turn, the way we think. I think he’s on to something. He says:    …what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles. Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. N... 2008-12-09 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=606565 In good news, Dad is doing pretty well now that the medication has been sorted out. Monday, I took all of my girls to see Madagascar 2. We enjoyed the first one and thought this would be more of the same. Well, it was pretty funny, but it had a message not unlike what Frederic talked about in his most recent post. On one hand, they're simply trying to portray a different life choice as acceptable. I mean, come on, a lion that thinks a fight means to do the dances to the fight scene in West Side Story - that's funny! But it isn't just that. They show the problems that come from these choices, they show the acceptance of everyone in New York City, they show the rejection of everyone in the small, remote village, and finally that everyone in the small village is willing to come around and accept this alternative. If one wants to blow that off as not promoting the homosexual agenda, then - at a minimum - it is rejecting "traditional roles" which our society disdains. Soc... 2008-12-06 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=605626 Dad's surgery went really well. The Doctors & Rehab folks were happy with his status and they let him go yesterday afternoon. The bad news is that there were some conflicting directions on medication and he's having some swelling which is causing a bit of pain. Structurally, the joint is where it's supposed to be. But, there was a lot of trauma to the tissue getting in there and replacing the part of the joint that needed work. So, please, keep Dad in your prayers for his recovery and healing and Mom, too, as she's trying to take care of him. 2008-12-03 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=604787 Our #2 turned the big 3 today (30th... i started posting this and I crossed the hour mark). She's a goofball, but I couldn't ask for anyone better than my Rosemary! Here are some pics to help refresh your memory. p.s. don't forget my Dad in your prayers as he's going for surgery VERY early Monday. *************************************************************** UPDATE: Dad went through surgery wonderfully, everyone was really happy with his progress and he came home today. He's having some pretty extreme pain and swelling so the next couple of days might be rough, so, please, continue to keep him in your prayers! 2008-12-01 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=603590 As you're enjoying this time of giving thanks with your loved ones, I'd ask you to keep my Dad, Mark Hastings, in your prayers. He's having knee replacement surgery on Monday and it's been a long time coming. Not only does he need prayers for that, but they won't let him have the surgery if he even has a fever, so please pray that he remains healthy through the surgery date, too, please. And, if you're reading this, I want you to know that I'm very thankful that God has blessed me with your friendship and encouragement! 2008-11-26 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=603158 Today is the last day for one of my colleagues who is going home to Java for 5 weeks (interestingly, he lived in the same apartment complex that I did at Ohio State and walked in the same graduation ceremony, now, he's probably my best work friend and sits across the aisle). Tomorrow, though, is the final day with the company with the last of our team who was outsourced. Thankfully, he just found a job last week, so that's a relief. It's going to be weird without the old team. Oh well, I'm looking forward to thanksgiving with my family and a few days off! I hope you have a marvelous weekend with your loved ones! 2008-11-25 http://www.pleonast.com/user/madtomkidd?l=5&entryID=601081 If you read my outstanding wife's recent post, you know we bought 6 more goats. They are, indisputably, meat goats. Well, I took the first one in this morning (along with a runt from the last set we bought). I was on the road at 5:30 and it was as dark as a night gets. I make the 50 minute drive, drop off the goats and head back. Thanks to the daylight savings (maybe the ONLY benefit), the sun started to rise as I returned home. After a while, I saw some of the most amazingly beautiful clouds lit with an entire palette of colors and texture so bold... well, I almost had a tear well up and just had to thank God for letting me see such a beautiful sight and for being so awesome to create such things. I hope you are/have been able to see something truly beautiful in God's creation today! 2008-11-19