Pre-posting a Christmas day blog update as I’m expecting to be busy with our family … and for the record … I am finally getting in the spirit and correct mood to celebrate Christ’s birthday.
Since this is a Music Monday, it is appropriate to include the most popular Christmas song in America … BUT since I’m not a Mariah Carey or “All I Want For Christmas” song fan, I also though I would share what is playing non-stop at our house … ugh. Brenda has been TV streaming “It’s A Wonderful Life” in black and white non-stop since mid-December. I actually don’t mind the movie and enjoy it … but unlike “The Christmas Story” … I can only take so much.
It is becoming more and more difficult to remember what I’ve added to the blog and what I have not when it comes to woodworkingprojects? I had thought I might have mentioned a few of the steps back in November regarding doweling a couple of unique joints when building a Puppet Stage for my granddaughters? Obviously I merely put the photos in the archive, but never made a comment — which is fine, but does start to concern my mental state!
So for a Christmas Eve post this year, I ‘ll update the blog with a photo of the finished Red, White and Blue Puppet Stage for my granddaughters, even though I was really disappointed in the curtains — perhaps I can remake them later? Anyway, I suspect Katelyn will appreciate the effort … even though a purchased one would probably be more polished? Besides the joinery (covered by paint), the “stand” parts are removable with a thumb knob so that everything lays flat for storage (ie. against a wall in a closet or something).
The girls are getting older so I’m not sure how much “hand puppeteering” they will enjoy, but it was an idea mentioned by Katelyn (so I’ll blame her if they don’t enjoy it)!
A couple weeks ago I mentioned ordering a $20 battery on Amazon for my iPhone 7 Plus. I probably really should be in the market to replace this phone, but even though the iOS can’t be upgraded, it still functions pretty well. The camera on ALL phones has been improved, but at $1000+ dollars, I’m just not ready for an iPhone 14 or 15 yet. Perhaps if Apple starts to discount a few dollars?
Anyway, I somewhat failed in replacing the battery as getting the old one released from the sticky tape had me prying (after the white ribbon glue snapped). In the process, I broke the ribbon cable that connects the Taptic Engine. Ugh. Somewhat thankfully Brenda’s old iPhone 7 was in the pile of gadgets and so thought perhaps it used the same Taptic Engine … it does not … BUT it could be modified and the plug fits!
After an hour of tinkering, I managed to Jerry-Rig my phone back together, charge it up and it pretty much works as before. My assumption is that with the smaller Taptic Engine, there isn’t quite the same feedback as from the larger one found in the iPhone 7 Plus?
It is the time of year when we reflect on the past year … or in my case … the WAY past years. Last month, my brother Ron mentioned that the property (just the land) that our childhood home was being listed for sale. We were both intrigued and shocked to see the asking price of $450,000 on Zillow … yikes!
Following the listing, Ron was also corresponding with one of the neighbor friends we grew up with who still owns the cottage next door (mentioned Jim Raab before). He ran across a old photo of our house — after we moved to Sidney — 15 or so years after our parents sold the house. The dilapidated shape of our once beautiful home was depressing; as Ron commented, “I can understand why the house was leveled.”
Ok, so I’m not focused this year on “the reason for the season”(or frankly even the secular celebration of Christmas) … therefore it is really time to do something about it.
Thankfully turning to Truth For Life and Alistair Begg’s teachings and message “It is HIStory” and from the Book of Isaiah 9:1-7, I’ll soon be better prepared for Christmas and our family this coming weekend. For now, let me send out a Merry Christmas to those who occasionally check in with MyDesultoryBlog.
Alistair Begg – Truth For Life | “It is HIStory” (mp3)
Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. These phrases from the prophecy of Isaiah are familiar to many—but have you taken the time to consider who it is that they describe? In this series of messages on Isaiah 9, Alistair Begg takes us on a journey to the heart of the Christmas narrative, helping us to see that the incarnation of Jesus Christ was and is the fulfillment of God’s plans and purposes in redemption. The season of Advent provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the Lord Jesus as all that Isaiah anticipated. He is the Light that overcomes darkness, our sinless Substitute, the risen Savior and reigning King.
This past weekend was enjoyable for our family as we celebrated Brenda’s sister Chris Skinner‘s 70th Birthday.
It was a surprise party planned by her grown children and it was pulled off wonderfully. Ann and Gary drove up to our house from Atlanta and we drove 30 minutes to meet up with the family and some of her friends at Bishop’s Quarter Bar in Loveland, Ohio. What a great night and surprise.
This week was also the first snow (video below break) … nothing crazy as of yet, but as I look out the window on Monday evening, the grass is still showing … but only a little bit. 😉
My buddy Jeff and I enjoy debatingand learning from each other while sharing what we are reading. We are far from experts on anything (I should speak for myself), but that doesn’t stop us from opining. HA!
Last week with the Federal Reserve “pausing” on interest rate hikes with inflation coming down and semi-telegraphed that in 2024 we may likely see the first of rate cuts (and possibly three — although dialed back that optimism a day later) … so the two of us dove head first into economics and the economy.
NASA’s Perseverance rover continues on its Mars exploration mission that I’ve followed from the start. The Twitter feed along with the geology exploration and rock sample collection is spacescience at its best. For those not following the mission as closely, a YahooNews/CNN story last week that summarized the 1000 days of “roving” and of Ingenuity flights (the rover’s helicopter companion) is a quick way to catch up (link to PDF saved version).
Martian rocks tell a story
Scientists believe that Jezero Crater formed when an asteroid slammed into Mars 4 billion years ago. Perseverance began its mission by studying and sampling the crater floor soon after landing. The rover’s detective work helped scientists determine that the crater floor is made of volcanic rock that formed either due to magma that bubbled up to the surface or volcanic activity on the Martian surface.
As Perseverance rolled along, the rover came across examples of sandstone and mudstone, suggesting that a river flowed into the crater millions of years after it formed. A top layer of mudstones rich with salt is all that remains to signify that a shallow lake filled the crater, reaching 22 miles (35 kilometers) wide and 100 feet (30 meters) deep, before some climatic shift caused the lake to evaporate.
Pre-posting a Christmas day blog update as I’m expecting to be busy with our family … and for the record … I am finally getting in the spirit and correct mood to celebrate Christ’s birthday.
house … ugh. Brenda has been TV streaming “It’s A Wonderful Life” in black and white non-stop since mid-December. I actually don’t mind the movie and enjoy it … but unlike “The Christmas Story” … I can only take so much. 
much “hand puppeteering” they will enjoy, but it was an idea mentioned by Katelyn (so I’ll blame her if they don’t enjoy it)! 
