Hobbit-Sense at OneFreeGarden.com

So… it’s been a strange week and I’m feeling a bit lazy today… it’s been an interesting week this time round… delaying a nearly complete post, but allowing me to post these once again in this moment of laziness. Please do check out Jen F’s host page on Quick Takes and all the other participants’ page. Continue reading

American Idol and shows like it are great at introducing us to people with great talent and interesting stories. But I imagine that many other people also found these three stories particularly touching, and these three talented people endearing. And I think it’s because these three people have close relationships with people whose lives are very different from the norm– Continue reading

Here’s hoping the link is correct, because the time difference has put me ahead– wooohooo!  Well… technically I should be getting dressed, etc., so we’ll see how quick these quick takes can be!

1.  I need lists.  You know why?  Because otherwise I’ll plan a shopping trip, get to the store, and have no clue why I’m there.  Luckily… Continue reading

Logically, I think it’s fairly easy to come to the conclusion that that annoying person you don’t really know (or perhaps do know) who’s currently driving you nuts may have something on their plate– and that it may be a lot bigger than whatever is really bothering you, even though it doesn’t seem that way.  It’s really hard to swallow it, though, when you’re driving, or are counting

I’d saved up some quick takes and then I didn’t even get them up last week! But oh well, better late than never, right? They include photos as well. Continue reading

I first heard of Father Stan Fortuna when my parents were looking for an alternative to rap for my brother, whose classmates had gotten heavily into the generally seedier mainstream rap. My brother actually went to a Fr. Stan concert and came home with a couple of CDs. Naturally, without even thinking about it, I put them in my iTunes- hey, a musical priest was inherently awesome. Continue reading

There are some obligatory bets in Hold’em – a bigger one and a smaller one (half the bigger one)- called “blinds.” Then those who haven’t put in the largest amount in have three options: “fold” and be out of the round, spending nothing; “call” and put in enough to match the big blind; “raise” by putting in more money. The trick of the raise is that after that, everyone has to put in enough to match it or else fold. And players can “re-raise.”
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And God saw my bet, and re-raised me. Continue reading

But the beggars are largely old women and disabled people, some on the metro, some old women in the streets prostrating and crossing themselves. And for the past few weeks I’ve walked right by them into the church I attend, where I put a few rubles in the collection basket and felt like a hypocrite. Continue reading

Okay so last week I was so on the ball and this week I’m back to not being so on the ball.. but on the bright side, I’m now 9 hours ahead of Jen… which makes me 9 hours less late! Continue reading

Remember, a good Chirstian is not someone who doesn’t ever sin, but someone who repents every time he does. That means that, ultimately, the definition of a successful life is one in which we repent one more time than we sin. Continue reading