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Aunts and Uncles, Daily Life

Important News Bulletin

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This just in. My brother has abandoned his career as an Interior Decorator.

“The pressure was just too intense,” he moaned. “I’m just too sensitive for this racket.”

Thrust into international limelight by my blogging indiscretion, Mark began to feel that his work as an interior decorator was being judged by too many, too fast. The scrutiny and armchair quarterbacking by the masses was more than a sensitive artist like Mark could bear.

So he’s set his face like oatmeal against the world of abstract art. Now he’s a short order cook, or possibly, a chef (If we can get him a big fancy hat).

Fortunately, Liz was there to help the career transition.

Fortunately, Liz was there to help the career transition.

You heard it first here. Further bulletins as events warrant.

Project 365, Day 67
Tim (again)

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Aunts and Uncles, Project 365, Silliness

My Brother’s New Career

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A while back I had the opportunity to attend my brother’s retirement party as he finished his Army career — full-circle from where it started, in Williamsburg, Virginia. I was so proud of him that he had served his country for so many years, having earned the rank of full Colonel.

But what does a man do, when he finishes one career, but is still young and healthy and full of drive and purpose? He starts another career, that’s what he does. So my brother went back to school.

My brother and his beloved bride, at Pioneer Square, in Portland.

My brother and his beloved bride, at Pioneer Square, in Portland. Mark’s forward momentum got the better of him, in this photo.

First, he completed an Executive MBA program, and then he jumped into a Masters in Accounting. Few of us suspected, however, that this was all a clever blind. Unbeknownst to us all, he has craftily embarked on a new career as an interior decorator.

I got a strange call from my brother a few weeks back.

We think this was one of Gandalf's early attempts at an out-of-scale wizard's staff.

Mind you, the call wasn’t as strange as this strange piece of kitchen decor. We think this was one of Gandalf’s early attempts at an out-of-scale wizard’s staff.

“Hey, Tim, Liz and I are coming out to the West Coast for our 30th Anniversary trip — we’re thinking of renting a house in the Portland area. Would you like to come down and spend a weekend with us?”

Naturally, I jumped at the chance, but I was a bit suspicious. Why would my brother want me and Kathy around for his 30th anniversary? Surely he and Liz would rather spend time with each other? I sensed an ulterior motive; warning bells rang.

Kathy and I managed a visit to Powell's Book store, so the weekend was at least partially redeemed, whatever surprises my brother has for us.

Kathy and I managed a visit to Powell’s Book store, so the weekend was at least partially redeemed, whatever surprises my brother had for us.

We drove down to Portland and found the house, and I immediately realized why we had been so ‘casually’ invited. My brother has obviously been moonlighting as an Interior Decorator, and he wanted to showcase his latest client’s home.

Apparently Mark likes crude woodcarving 'art' -- I'm thinking he maybe carved this piece himself.

Apparently Mark likes crude woodcarving ‘art’ — I’m thinking he maybe carved this piece himself.

He blathered on about Accounting for an hour or so to put us off the scent, but I saw right through his clumsy attempts to conceal his real purpose.

“So, you see, when you subtract liabilities from assets, whatever is left over is the value of the company,” Mark droned. “Say, speaking of value, what do you think of that cool wall hanging over there?”

I was afraid to look inside this weird lacquered hanging box, but I half expected to see my brother's initials carved in a corner, somewhere.

I was afraid to look inside this weird lacquered hanging box, but I half expected to see my brother’s initials carved in a corner, somewhere.

I don’t know how to tell him this — but I think he should have stuck with his ‘cover’. After all, a Masters in Accounting program is a perfectly good start to a legitimate career, even if it isn’t as glamorous as being a computer programmer. Maybe he could grow a beard, or something.

This one looks like someone randomly threw spaghetti, paint and plaster onto a canvas. Maybe Mark felt like having some pasta, that day?

This one looks like someone randomly threw spaghetti, paint and plaster onto a canvas. Maybe Mark felt like having some pasta, that day?

I hate to be the one to hurt Mark’s feelings — he is very sensitive, as ‘artistic’ people often are. Of course, I know that he deeply respects my credentials as an art critic, so I need to be careful not to crush his dream. Maybe he’ll read this blog post and get a hint … but I’m not very hopeful. Subtlety has never been our family watchword.

Project 365, Day 66
Tim

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Project 365, Sarah

Time for Tomatoes

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This is the time of year when a man’s fancy turns to …

Tomatoes.

Last year I waited too long to start my seedlings, but this year I was ready. I start with peat disks in early February, and then later transplant them into larger pots when the roots begin to fill the peat.

Sarah and David helped me plant this batch of seedlings. Loop

Sarah and David helped me plant this batch of seedlings. Loop

Hopefully by July or maybe August I will have a dozen healthy, tomato-producing plants. It is always a race against the Fall, with tomatoes in Washington. They need sunshine, and we don’t get enough until August. Then hopefully we get a crop in September, before the cold nights of October put an end to the growing season.

I’ll keep you posted.

Project 365, Day 64
Tim

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Project 365, Thankfulness

A Thankful Commute

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I’ve been thinking, lately, about the many blessings from God that I take for granted, and even (in some cases) despise. One of them is the bus and train that bring me to my office in Seattle and (hopefully) home again.

When either the bus or the train is late, and I miss my connection, I’m quick to fuss and berate the mass transit system. When I have to stand more than ten minutes, waiting for my bus, I am quick to complain. If I have to stand for the 20-minute bus ride, I am quick to grumble against the swarms of other passengers. When I think about how long it takes me to get to and from work, I’m quick to consider myself a martyr.

Faithful number 217, with a driver who almost always greets me with a cheerful "Hello!"

Faithful number 217, with a driver who almost always greets me with a cheerful “Hello!”

But do I thank God for the men and women who drive my bus and operate my train? Am I appreciative of the relative ease with which I am transported? Am I grateful for the pre-paid transit pass that my employer provides, so the entire trip costs me not a penny?

Not very often, I’m afraid. So, let’s make a change.

The north end of my Sounder train, shortly before it whisks me home.

The north end of my Sounder train, shortly before it whisks me home.

Thank you, God, for the faithful bus drivers who get up at all hours to drive my bus. Thank you for their patience and care in dealing with the maniacal drivers, so I don’t have to. Thank you for the many people who labor on the buses and trains to make sure they don’t break down. Thank you for my employer, who foots the bill for my transit pass. Thank you that I have a job to which to commute, and thank you that the other passengers are generally courteous.

Thank you, God, for loving me and for providing a way for me to get to work.

Project 365, Day 62
Tim

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Bible Study, Project 365

Chopped Manna

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Our Sunday School class is studying Exodus, these days. Today we reached chapter 16, in which God provides for the starving people of Israel with Manna from Heaven (and some quail). Since our class is a full-family operation, I decided to include an activity that would involve everyone, from youngest to oldest.

Nathaniel and Cooper were eager to gather the flakes from the chairs.

Nathaniel and Cooper were eager to gather the flakes from the chairs.

First, I had two of the younger kids gather an Omer (not quite a gallon) of ‘Manna’ (we used frosted flakes to simulate). I had previously coated the classroom furniture with a thin layer of the ‘Manna’. It was interesting to see that, although it took minimal effort to gather the daily ration of food, it was still a task that required some ten or fifteen minutes.

David doesn't really like cream cheese, which was a key ingredient of his team's pancake.

David doesn’t really like cream cheese, which was a key ingredient of his team’s pancake.

Dividing the class into four teams, I gave them each a supply of Manna (frosted flakes), one egg, about a teaspoon of baking powder and roughly 1/3 cup of oil. Then I let each team choose, in turn, two of the eight ‘optional’ ingredients:

  • Almond flour
  • Cream cheese
  • Pistachios
  • Cinnamon
  • Salt
  • Honey
  • Goat cheese
  • Raisins

We provided mixing bowls and griddles, as each tried to convert their frosted flakes into some kind of flour and to construct a pancake that would hold together enough to cook on the griddle. I shanghaied two passing church members into being judges, and we held a competition, sort of like the TV series, Chopped, but with a much smaller budget.

This team took a little while to pull their idea together, in spite of Tung's culinary prowess.

This team took a little while to pull their idea together, in spite of Tung’s culinary prowess.

It was a fun way to think about what it must have been like for the Hebrews to eat manna every day, for forty years. I imagine they tried every possible combination of ingredients to add some variety to God’s generous provision. We talked about how even the most awesome of God’s blessings can become mundane and even (if we aren’t careful) despised.

All four teams created a very tasty final product, but the teams with sweeteners (honey and raisins) had a clear advantage.

All four teams created a very tasty final product, but the teams with sweeteners (honey and raisins) had a clear advantage.

It was also sobering to reflect on how much we are like the people of Israel in the way that we complain. We are constantly devaluing God’s abundant gifts to us, and showing great lack of faith, when we complain about our jobs, our spouses, our church, our children, or any other detail in which God has provided for us so abundantly.

Project 365, Day 60
Tim

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