29 July 2009

0530 Woke to alarm. Called Lora and talked a bit. She was still up doing stuff.

Worked out.

Called her back and said her goodnight.

Breakfast: oatmeal/strawberry yogurt. Fruit cocktail nectar/GJ/coffee

Mid-morning snack: 1 scoop chocolate whey protein shake w water and water chaser.

Bible reading: Exodus 30-35. God made Moses wait until he finished telling him all the stuff he wanted Moses to build/construct/fabricate to let him know that he had help: Bezaleel and Aholiab (31:2-11, 35:30-35). God filled these two “…with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship… And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Aholiab.” God told Moses what to do then gave him pre-motivated foremen to do AND teach. Who says those who do can’t teach, too? What does that say about what God asks of us?

Why did God change his mind about killing all the Hebrews when Moses interceded? (32:11-14)

Why did Aaron make the golden calf? Was he more afraid of the people than of God? (32:21-24)

33:3 – God sends his angel ahead of the people instead of going himself as before because he might “consume thee in the way.” God was fed up with the griping of the Hebrews. He had shown them so many mighty works, yet they continued to disbelieve.

33:11 – “And the Lord spake unto Moses, face-to-face, as a man speaketh unto his friend…” Imagine that.

33:19 – “…and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” I want to be on the right side of those decisions!!!

34:1 – God made Moses hew new tablets of stone since Moses “brakest” the first set. 34:24 – God promised to protect the Hebrews land when they would leave to worship three times a year.

34:29 – God performs the first facial. “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone and they were afraid to come nigh him.” Another reason to go to Heaven – our faces will shine in the presence of God.

35:23 – Here we are with the badger skins, again. AND people just happened to have some lying around…

Lunch w Gonzalez twins: meatball primavera (broccoli/corn), cottage cheese w applesauce, 2 x V-8

Mid-afternoon snack: Peanut-Peanut Bora Bora bar (7 out of 10)

Also, grapped an ice coppee at Filipino clup. My name is Jepp.

TPDL reading: Chapter 5, Seeing Life from God’s View.

"Character is both developed and revealed by tests and all if life is a test. You are always being tested. God constantly watches your response to people, problems, succss, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather! He even watches the simplest actions such as when you open a door for others, when you pick up a piece of trash, or when you’re polite toward a clerk or waitress."

"We don’t know all the tests God will give us, but we can predict some of them, based on the Bible. Wewill be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies. In my own life, I have noticed that God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions and tests my love through people."

Bowel Movement Reading (henceforth, BMR): Book reviews on Thomas Jefferson: Architect (been to Monticello with Lora – cool place), Dear First Lady: Letters to the White House, including one from Maria von Trapp (aka Julie Andrews) to Betty Ford, and The American Patriot’s Almanac: Daily Readings on America, which I would not mind having a copy of. Also, an article on St Augustine, Florida. Both articles from Southern Lady magazine with a distinctly feminine slant. I’ve been to St Augustine, too. Nothing like Monticello.

Heard a car alarm – been a long time – headed for the bunker before I realized what it was.

Rich complained about all the Hajis clearing their nostrils into sinks and phlegming on shower walls. I asked him, “Do you mean to tell me that you don’t wear your rubber gloves when you shower? I have an extra pair if you need them.” He chuckled and turned to Yael Caligiuri, a New York Jewess - married to an Italian, and asked her the Hebrew word for “booger”. Without missing a beat, I said “schmutz” as in “Hey, schmuck, you spritzed schmutz on my schmatta.”Those Yiddish – such kidders. Rich and Yael and all others within earshot pee’d themselves.

First of many bi-weekly pedicures by Melody, today. I took more pictures of the Filipinos: Lorna (who does my laundry), Mira Luna (who does my iced coppee), Melody who does my feet, massage and hair cutting and all the he-she’s who start singing “How do I get you alone…” every time I go in there. Melody wants me to help her find a close male friend she knows from Iraq. Jay Addington, supervisor of DFACs.

Dinner: Fried catfish, cauliflower au gratin, sweet potatoes, V-8 x 2

Attend first of many to come staff synchronization meetings. TF Spartan is test-bed for CIED experiment proof of concept. I hope to be a big part of that and will ask Ed Negrelli for backfill if he has it.