Thursday, November 19, 2009

Something borrowed,

something green.


Two weeks ago we worded a cover letter, last week we scowered the mall for blazers. Julie had two interviews earlier this week for accounting positions with different companies in our town.

Thus, she had to have interview clothes. After unsuccessfully trying on enough blazers to warrant a sundae at the food court, we headed to the Salvation Army as our last resort. We left with a black blazer with green pinstripes and a black skirt for ten dollars. Julie had a green shell in her closet. In her consultation earlier in the week, Aunt Carolyn told Julie she wasn't allowed to wear green to the interview. But Aunt Carolyn is in Arizona, and the rest of her shopping-weary companions conceded that the outfit would work.

After the blazer, skirt and shell came the shoes. Julie is a casual person. Brown and comfortable describe her choice of shoes. I offered her the use of my black pumps, which she immediately deemed too "Minnie Mouse-ish." Mom produced a pair of shiny black shoes with little bows to no avail.

The lady Julie babysits for came to the rescue and loaned Julie her collection of black pumps. After declaring one too dressy and one too high, Julie settled on a suitable pair and spent Saturday afternoon practicing her high-heel saunter.

On Sunday afternoon Julie realized her purse wouldn't match her shoes. This time our friend Elizabeth came to the rescue. On the way home from church Sunday evening we stopped by her house and Elizabeth ran out with a cute, black handbag.

On Monday afternoon, after purchasing a professional black resume folder, Julie layered her black blazer with green pinstripes over her green shell, and added her black skirt and Elizabeth's cute purse that matched the black pumps. Then, borrowed heels clicking against the floor, she was off for her first interview.



Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Lens


I bought a birthday present for myself. It wasn't actually a birthday present, but since I ordered it on my birthday it felt a little like a present to myself.

I indulged in the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens as a fun way to spend some of the money I earned this summer at the blueberry farm (a non-fun way included three fillings at the dentist). Though I haven't had as much time to play with my new lens, I've been pleased with its performance so far (I can't say the same for the fillings).





Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Lancaster

...where cattle feed is advertised on the radio.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Unicycle practice


A couple of truckers chuckled as they watched a kid pull a unicycle from the back of a mini-van and circle the parking lot of the service plaza on it. Betsy hopped on for a turn too, and she and Logan put in their daily unicycle practice during one of the restroom/fuel/sanity breaks on our trip home from Pennsylvania.




Sunday, November 15, 2009

Choice

If you try to imitate Christ,
the world will praise you;
if you become Christlike
it will hate you.
~ D. M. Lloyd-Jones


"Are you presenting the Jesus Christ in you in a way that calls the people around you to make a choice?"

Luke Martin
New Covenant Mennonite Fellowship
November 8, 2009

Saturday, November 14, 2009

New Holland


During our visit in Pennsylvania, Joel arranged for us to tour the New Holland Baler Plant. Wearing safety glasses and dodging forklifts we watched the transformation from sheets of metal to round and square balers*, ready to be transported to dealerships across the country.

The tour was especially interesting for two reasons (not counting the fact that our family is dominated by engineers and any factory tour is intriguing). First, Joel is employed by Case New Holland and while he isn't directly involved in the production of round balers, we were able to see where he works. Second, we use New Holland equipment in our hay business and my Dad and brothers are intimately familiar with many of the parts in a square baler.

Glossary of terms for non-farmers
*A baler is a machine that picks up hay or straw from the ground and forms it into individual bundles tied with twine. A round baler produces large cylinder-shaped bales while a square baler makes smaller rectangular bales. A baler is usually pulled behind a tractor.











Friday, November 13, 2009

A question


I was substitute teaching in a seventh grade math class when a girl in the back of the room raised her hand.

"Yes," I said, acknowledging her question.

"Do the Amish shave their armpits?"