What to do...

Throw a question mark in there, and you've got it. Clearly, I've not been feeling very "bloggy" lately. Additionally, in retrospect, I've decided that there's probably a good reason why I've never heard anyone say "bloggy" before. It's not good. I don't like it. I shan't attempt to use it again.

Back on track now.

I really like the idea of blogging. I rarely utilize this blog, however. Maybe it's a discipline thing, or maybe I just don't feel like I have anything good to write about. I'm thinking though...when I remember to think.

Please, all three of you, answer me this question: is this current template simply too spectacular to change? I like it, but I also like change sometimes. The idea of something new sounds nice.

Plus, I can always change it back.

So, type on your keyboards and input me an answer.

Whether you're a LOST fan or not...

...there's amusement to be found in this video.



Seriously, Sayid, why haven't we seen any of these moves on the island?

That time

Yes indeedy...it is in fact that time again. Time for me to post something in this abandoned space that Blogger has provided to me. It's been quite a while this time...I'll refrain from referring to any of the seemingly myriad warnings I've uttered in the past with regards to posting irregularity. I don't believe there are too many individuals out there that have been simply chomping at the bit whilst waiting for me to post something again (Disclaimer: this statement is not intended to generate any self-perceived necessity to leave a comment. Disclaimer disclaimer: please feel free to leave a comment).

As those of you that have any sort of semi-regular interaction with me likely already know, I am once again in the employ of the Southern Illinois Miners baseball team. Whereas last season I interned in the box office, I am now the Box Office Manager. All things considered, I have a challenging seven months ahead of me, but have been given a great professional opportunity regardless of where my career path meanders over the next several decades. I started last week, but spent the entire week at a ticketing conference in Chicago, where I promptly took ill. Those be the breaks. In any case, I'm in the office this week and pushing on a snowball that will get considerably larger in the coming months, metaphorically speaking. Literally speaking, I have had my fill of snow and would like few things more than to not see any for the next nine months.

In addition to my well-(self-) documented issues with irregular blogging, I also tend to be an irregular blog reader. I have, however, been better about that of late (thanks in no small part to the valiant efforts of Google Reader). I am hoping this will transition into more fruitful and frequent blog commenting and posting.

Until next time...and may it be soon,
Madly Hatter

I'm no calligrapher...

Indeed, I am a much better typist than handwriterist. I never received "A's" in handwriting in grade school. I generally prefer typing to writing. Much faster, much more legible.

That said, I do have favorite pens that I enjoy writing with. They are manufactured by the Japanese company Sakura. The fine folks at Sakura are the inventors of gel pens. They have many pen and marker-type products for art-type people. They also have a dedicated fan base that use some of their writing utensils for everyday use.

A few years ago, I accompanied my then-fiancé, now-wife on a trip to Michaels in Champaign. I was wandering the store and happened upon these pens, where I purchased one on a whim. It seemed to write well and looked pretty decent. Sakura has provided my writing utensil of choice ever since.

Futalog-wha?

As per this article from the BBC, apparently some science-types in that other hemisphere found some new dinosaur bones. Isn't that great? Obviously, they're calling it the "futalognkosaurus" (pronounced foo-ta-long-
koh-sohr-us). I mean, the really good names are already taken.

The diagram to our right displays the bones that they found, leading to such exclamations as "It's like a whole lost world for us," and "It's among the biggest dinosaur finds and the most complete for a giant dinosaur."

I'm counting six bones over there. Six. That's all it takes to be one of the "most complete for a giant dinosaur?" We really have lowered our standards...back in my day, we had to assemble an entire limb of a paleontological find before we started including it in the upper echelon of completeness for "giant dinosaurs."

One Month Later

Ok, yeah...I know. I've done it again. Here we are, a month since this page was last active. Let's see...in the past month the Cardinals went from sneaking back in to the playoff race to a colossal nose-dive back to third place. Bummer. Illinois football is enjoying its best start since 2001, however. Oskee-Wow-Wow, Illinois!

I've been working, which is good. It's not the type of thing I'd really like to be doing, but God has been gracious to provide for us. Our families have been tremendous blessings to us over the past month, helping meet our needs. We are very, very grateful to them and thankful for them. Most of all, we praise God and thank Him for meeting our needs each and every day. I am reminded of the Israelites and their trek through the forbidding desert after their exodus from Egypt. Each day, the Lord provided manna and quail for the people to eat. He provided enough for the day, with explicit instructions to take only what was needed, rather than trying to stockpile. The people of Israel had to trust God each day to meet their needs.

Our needs are being met on a daily basis, and then some. We are thankful that God has blessed us so much.