blanket

I am feeling a little odd. I think it's because I got very hot, then very cold, then later very hot and quite cold again. The second time, I ended up huddling in a blanket. In the middle of the day. That is not normal. I think the kitty and I just don't quite know how to handle cooler weather.

She, too, is not feeling quite herself. That's because we took her to the vet for her deworming shot today. I sincerely doubt that she has worms, because she eats nothing but dry cat food. She does drink out of the toilet now and then, when we forget to close the lid, but there's not much I can do about that.

Come to think of it, maybe I could use a little deworming myself. My stomach still acts up from time to time.

On the bright side, my knee is doing better today. Maybe it really was the weather. Or partly the weather, at least. It hurt just a few times during my exercises this morning, but the rest of the day it was OK. Hope it keeps getting better.

I asked Mr. if he sees any difference in me after a month of exercise. (Yes, it's been four whole weeks, missing only ONE day so far!) He says he sees changes in my body, and asked if I didn't. I have to admit, no. I don't feel like I see much progress, but it was sweet of him to say he did. Maybe I can't be objective. I guess I'll stick with it, though. He has quietly encouraged me to keep going. Hopefully by 40 it will be worth it…

Mr. is pretty discouraged today. He has begun grading the tests he gave to his Bible school class. The final exam. He made it as easy as he felt he could. Unfortunately, he has graded two tests so far, and both got below a 50%. They didn't even try to fill in half the blanks. I mean, we're talking questions such as, "In the fourth year of Solomon's reign he started building the temple. How many years did Solomon reign before he started building the temple?" Nothing. Not even a guess. I'm hoping he'll find a few bright lights as he grades more of the papers.

He fees like he failed. I know he wanted to inspire and encourage his students to think. I'm just afraid they didn't rise up to the challenge. Mr. was fighting against the whole culture, the system, the very structure of the school he was teaching in. Those have always been the odds here. It is hard to effect change when no one else is challenging the status quo. (or very few)

So, they're tearing down this old French colonial building near our house. It has been featured in a few of the photos for this blog. I have watched it slowly crumble for years, wishing someone would do something with it. And now they are. Unfortunately, they're demolishing it brick by brick. Not restoring it.

Now, I'm not sentimental. I'm not against progress and modernization. But it kind of makes me sad. I guess it's because I have always seen potential in that building; this hidden, dormant beauty. I guess it makes me sad to see that no one else thought that it was worth reawakening. No one valued it enough to expend the effort. And now it's being destroyed. Sad.

And speaking of sad, it's my dad's birthday today. I guess I will skype him when I get done with this entry. When I think of my dad, I typically feel a mixture of sorrow and bewilderment, with a bit of pity thrown in. He is one of the most unhappy people I know. And it's all (always) other people's fault. Mostly my mom's, in his opinion. On his birthday I pray freedom and life for him. I doubt he'll get that for his birthday, but at least I'll give him a call.

Sad, isn't it? Why can I see beauty in a crumbling old building, but I struggle to find hope or beauty in people sometimes? I don't have God's eyes for things; that's for sure.