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If I had a rant, it would be the Japanese-American history

I am a current volunteer at our local library. As I was shelving non-fiction, I stumbled on "All they Could Carry," about the internment process. It's a poignant, bitter, and unbelievable. I can't put the right words to it, but the poems, the sketches, and various journals news pieces almost unsettle my sleep.

Now I am listening to a CD on tape--7 CD's--a historical fiction piece about the small town that had the most difficult time adjusting to Japanese nearby. So much pain, so much harsh reality, and only a little positive from a few good men and their families.

It's "Tallgrass" by Sandra Dallas. Listening to a book has its benefits--you can do other menial tasks around the house, listen in the car, rest on the couch or in bed. Most books have a wonderfully talented narrator.

My tour of fiction found a historical fiction novel tied into the same theme. My next book on CD has other ethnicities with the theme that you never really fit in even after 30 years.

Well, consider my lead on some topic of your own. If you liked Wallender on PBS Mystery (Kenneth Branagh), that's a series of great books also. Next is an adolesent version of Sherlock Holmes, which should be fun--still not my best versions. Feels like we are really dumbing down our literature.

JoAnn (JD)

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No substitute

This title is sort of a double entendre. There is no substitute for my new living situation on the coast. I am constantly awed, subdued, and captivated by the ocean and its waves. With multiple accesses up and down the coast, this is truly a blessed area. I find myself more content and happy than I have been in awhile.

The other meaning of substitute is that I was hired yesterday as an official Substitute in Lincoln County. Apparently there are lots of days available, especially for those who can work from primary to high school. We start soon.

Beyond that, I am in a women's study at my church which starts in about an hour. I also got to participate in a ladies' retreat here that was held last weekend from the church we attended in Cottage Grove. That was fun and inspiring as well. The pinball machine was ruled by Grammy--about 90 years old.

I need to go. Please stick with me. I will try to keep me up to date.

JoAnn (JD)

This is a test. Do not be alarmed!

I have mislead my Facebook fans on the way to find and log into my blog. If you already have an account, nothing has changed. If not, I am fixing it now. Thanks for conversing with me.

JoAnn (JD)

Practical in-home coverage

It's been a little while so here I am. I have selected this color type as it almost matches the color of my morning toothbrush. My evening toothbrush is deep blue. By the way, I have two toothbrushes because a dentist whose name I can no longer recommended it, suggested it as a good dental habit. So, you decided if his suggestion is wise, but keep in mind this color is like soft grass, or light flowing through leaves. My blue one matches the blue evening skies, particularly the incredible skies here at the Oregon Coast. The Pacific Ocean is a wonder.

Beyond colors, toothbrushes, morning and evening nature scenes, I am now almost completely moved in. I have a few projects yet, particularly a clothesline of hooks for my hats to decorate a wall in my small bedroom. Most are various brightly-colored ball caps. I love those hat and they suit me--sporty and fun. I have a few others--a couple that make me look like Audrey Hepburn (not close at all but vaguely), a racing hat, and one that makes me look like a newsie. That's to be done this week. Plus a rather quirky project to replace the vertical blinds in the back wall of my townhouse.

To give you a bit of a visual, the house has a vaulted ceiling that creates a huge feeling of space in the living area, and also makes the back wall all windows, and a sliding door to the back deck. This wall of windows allows a wonderful view of trees and plants, plus a family of deer. The speckled twins are breathtaking beautiful and adorably cute. I am watching them grow out my window.

Outside these walls, I train as a library volunteer on Monday. I am planning to put in 2-3 hours on Saturday afternoons. I definitely asked not to put plastic covers on paperbacks--I am terrible at that, don't even wrap presents well. I will probably shelve books, and read them--going over others work and just fixing up mistakes. I would also like to help with children's activities as allowable. The other library job that appeals is tracking down the hold requests as this can be items all over the library--they even call a detective hunt.

If possible, I want to get the SMART training. It's a program here in Oregon that is Start Making a Reading Today. Adults read with select younger elementary students for two sessions a week. Has good researched results.

Then it's time for subbing in the schools in September. With three budget cuts, local schools consolidated classes and released some teachers. Even though there was a special ed opening, larger classes were the solution which is really too bad. Hopefully, next year will be better. Beyond that, I will poke around for other jobs working with kids--head start, social service/transition programs..

Well, that's my update. Nothing too philosophical. I realized that I can all my bills withing walking distance or online. That was a eco-friendly discovery. I also realized that I can drive from my home, 22 miles south to Newport, and then east on 20 to visit my daughter and return in one day. It's a nice drive. They are well.

JD

Life on the beach

Actually I walk on the beach almost every day. Sometimes the wind makes it really cold. Still a little jetty from the "D" river flows under a bridge and sweeps through the sand into the surf. The water is quite warm, a haven for children, and a wonderful place to make sand castles or fill tonka truck with sand then dump it out to start all over again.

I, who vowed not to bring "coast-y" things into my home as I already live here-not a tourist--have started collected hard black stones with holes in them. I believe it is a symbiotic relationship as the holes appear appear to be dug by clinging fauna. Some are quite large and sturdy. Others are very small, as if they chipped off, and dissolve into tiny pieces if handled too roughly. Anyway, they are beautiful in an elegant black way. The holes often make the rock resemble a key or hook or other common element in our lives. I have them decorating from my from garden areas. I also have an array decorating my old Nike shoes--one of the first pairs over marketed to the public--blue with the yellow swoosh. In fact, the postal woman slid my graduation certificate behind the shoes so that it would not bend!

I am getting to know my neigbors, who are by and large women over 50. We do have two young couples, and a divorced guy who is very nice. The most affable tenant is Kay, a traveling nurse practitioner, who will be with us for 3 months. As we have so many medical professionals in my family, she and I relate quite well. I also am the bearer of the extra set of keys for a month, which compels me to meet everyone. Kay is a delight and I will be sorry to see her go.

Nothing too prosaic this time. I have found a fourquare church on 22nd--about 25 blocks from me. On good days, I can walk in under an hour. Very strong sense of faith and I have made some female friends already. The church has dipped in attendees so that I am about the only new person which brings me lots of attention in the meet and greet time. One new friend works in the same school district that I hope to and has invited me out to lunch.

One of my neighbors wants to see Eat, Love, Pray, or whichever the order is with Julia Roberts next month. A local theater still in the period of an organ for silent movies is the site. It is a rare experience, and one I recommend if you ever come visit me.

Happy Sunday!

JoAnn

"JD"

A time to think, read, and "remodel"

The comfort of being at the beach everyday is incredibly soothing. In the evenings, I read a broader range of titles--in bed. That has always been my dessert--reading in bed. Our little library has an eclectic assortment of dvd's and even vhs's. I have been able to enjoy some of the most well produced BBC series, such as Foyle's War, Inspector Lynley, and Ballykissangel.

At present, I am watching the A & E version of Pride and Prejudice. I could almost state the dialogue word for word, but it never ceases to amaze how rich the setting, the plot, the acting, and the web of characters that Jane Austen created.

In the "remodel" or rather decorating, I am making good progress. The loft which is to be my office is a bit of a challenge, but a afternoon here or a morning there seem to make the project less daunting.

This is a "Faithful recording of all my dealings with 248 SE Keel Ave., Lincoln City, Oregon"

JD

One goal down

In my profile I mentioned that after completing my teaching degree, I wanted to live and work on the Oregon Coast. I have graduated. And I am sitting in my little townhouse in Lincoln City, Oregon. I am up the hill about four blocks from the main highway-101- which stretches up and down the whole of our west coast. But when I step outside my door is it so quiet--no highway noise at all-just a hint of ocean waves. My back wall is all windows with a sliding door to the deck. We have a two adult deer, and two twins--spotted identically and adorable. Of course, we don't feed the deer or we would attract goals, which are fun to look at buy raspy and indecently "droppings" all the time.

The position I have applied for is still open as this district, as well as many across the country, is grappling with balancing its budget. Special ed openings have to be filled by law so that door is still open. Interviewing should be happening soon as school starts Aug 26--for staff. I am also applying for subbing both as a teacher and an aide. That can be a good way to become part of the staff also.

As for the other goals in my profile, I still love God, my kids..., but that Hummer H1 still has not shown up. However, I did spot a picture of one splashing through a creek in a magazines devoted to lovers of cigars--mainly men as you can imagine. Quite glossy, sexist, and irrelevant, but that ad was great, plus a column by George Plimpton almost helped to zero out the negative effects of all the other articles and ads of every sort of person minimizing their lifespan by smoking cigars. I couldn't get all the way through by just skimming.

I've been checking out dvd's from the local library, which is about a 5 block walk away. The nearest beach is about 7 blocks. I love to walk as much as possible so its fun to have things close. Anyway, I have been enjoying bbc television shows like "Foyle's War" and "Ballykissangel." Not all of the segments are available but both are worth the characterizations, plots, and drama/comedy depending on the show. The BallyK has wonderful writing and I laugh out loud so much.

The library also has hbo films and some Sundance. Not much new or fairly new, but I am enjoying this eclectic selection. I do have to say that I have rented "Leap Year" from the RedBox 4 times--once when my 20 year old son was here--he liked it also.

Nothing too profound this time. I am endeavoring to decorate a bit differently this time, and I am looking forward to using my loft office for school stuff, writing this blog, etc. It is a very peaceful and thoughtful space. I am very glad to have it.

JD

I am watching Foyle's War on Pbs. I think it was on once before but I never followed it through. What a fascinating picture of England shortly after the war ended. The tension between american and English soldiers, segregation of blacks from whites--with only our honorable Detective Chief voting against. It's offensive to hear the men called colored.

There is also a British-sanctioned covert action in alliance with Stalin's Russia to kill off all the Russian soldiers who fought against Stalin and know of a horrendous killing zone in Odessa of Russians who fought for the wrong side--red or white depending on where they stood back in 1917.

It has made me think, just mull over history, especially those parts I didn't really know about it.

I am also getting ready to move to the Coast. My leave is up June 30 and I have no cause to renew here for another year. I will be looking for a place to rent, month-to-month, until making a permanent decision such as buy a condo. I go searching this weekend so please help me with your thoughts and prayers. I would like to be comfortable, with easy access to the coast, as well as paths up into the east hills.

I am applying to schools there as well, so that's important of course.

Still, I know this is the right course. Sounds a little funny, but I have such peace that this is the right way to go forward at this time.

JoAnn (JD)

Guess what I got in the mail yesterday? My initial teaching license from the state of Oregon. I am thrilled and humbled and intimidated all at the same time. If you know of a teaching job on the Coast (in a low income area, which they all are), let me know.

My goal is the Lincoln County School District--Newport, Taft, Toledo, and Waldport. If (or should I say, when) I will rent for awhile. When that seems like home both as a person and a professional teacher, I'll buy a condo.

So much for my educational journey, or its start after three years of graduate school. I do have one last class and a few paperwork stuff, but this is it. I told Will that I am experiencing a little loss being in the last term, as if I have to start acting and being an adult. No more sweats, hoodies, and fun hats every day. No more running shoes every day. No more letting my hair grow way past the time I need a cut. That includes body hair in other areas as well. No more aggressively crossing intersections near the university , making cars wait or navigating the actual campus as if we were driving streets of Rome or some city in Pakistan. Bikes, skateboards, pedestrians in ones and sixes, some cars, and a lot of go wherever you want with reflexes not to hit each other. We rarely do. No keeping to the right or keeping anywhere specifically and consistently. But it makes me feel young, just part of things even though I triple some of their ages. I am also experimenting with some rec classess--fitness yoga, hip hop, yoga, and soon Zumba--whatever that is.

I look forward to your comments and your own thoughts.

JD (JoAnn)

Next phase of last class and final term

Tomorrow's class in Biblical Lit is our midterm with a sheet of study notes that was incredibly long for an estimate 15 minute objective class. After the rough treatment on the first round of papers the undergrads were required to do, we are all a bit sobered. Most of the class is English majors that want that "A." I feel the sense of challenge in thinking, writing, and discussing, but I think that some classes have been a little dumbed down. In any case, off we go with more class, first test that separates the greats for the goods or low averages.

Beyond that, I am starting to apply using a service called Ed ZAPP. More schools want it, although some schools still want the paper product. Prayers and thoughts are appreciated.

To all of you, happy Mother's Day or wonderful weekend, or read a book on your deck or in a bubble bath.

JoAnn (JD)

Catching up a bit...

I am enjoying a storm of various types today: windy, then rain and wind, and now just pouring rain. I have had the patio door open all day to sense it all, smell the freshness, take it the flotsam and jetsam whirling around...and just enjoying the natural sound of rain. It's almost like the roaring ocean offshore in a beach home.

Now I just finished up some easy solitaire (difficult towards the end), to clear my head before prepping for a midterm in "Bible as Literature." This quiz is defined as a 15-minute short quiz=like assessment with a full study guide sheet with 99 items on it, plus the assurance that there may also be items in the test that are not on the study guide. Oh well, we are all in it together--as amazed as we were are all in class.

I am starting to apply for teaching jobs along a slice of the coast--Florence (central) to Astoria (the uppermost north districts). Then I have a slice about 20 miles in that is not right on the coast, but not far away.

Will and Sarah are doing fairly well. As Kurt, Sarah's husband, is preparing for the Art Institute in Graphic Design, Sarah is still working the human services brokerage as well as teaching horse riding lessons and even small seminars on Saturdays.

Will and I are studying together in my living room which brings accountable to both of us, plus proximity is nice without talking a lot--except for really fascination psychology point from his textbook, or mine from the Bible.

That's it for now. Your thoughts and prayers for my new teaching position--on the Coast if at all possible--and for Will as he continues through school, works out his major, and learns more and more study skills, budgeting.... He is really doing great.

JD (JoAnn)

Signs of spring

When my kids were little we read these very sweet books in the "Frog and Toad" series. Great friends, although one large, one small, they mirrored the friendships of so many young people, and not so young at that. One book had the two friends looking for signs for spring. They had such fun finding flowers that had come out of hiding, birds that returned and had chirping young, and especially the warm breezes returning.

Today I went to one of the parks near my place just to walk, call my mom, and see the geese. I was surprised and amazed at the "signs of spring"! Although not completely a warm day--high 60's--the park was practically teeming with signs of spring. Skateboarders going on in and out of bikes, just waiting for the inevitably injury. Moms teaching little girls how to throw a frisbee. A recipe for disaster, don't you think? Dogs retrieving sticks from the river and doing that wonderful physics shake that drowns everyone with some who laugh and some who are not laughing. The volleyball net that never makes up quite right, but provides a lot of laughter and friendly competition. Well, maybe not all that friendly. And the wonderful plastic play structure with slides, tubes, swings, monkey bars, and the inevitable scratch or two. Bandaids are a must amidst in all the fun.

I love the daffodils, the young geese, and all the young humans in strollers. I enjoy the little toddler girls with their hair banded on top in styles that later they will simply kill their parents for ever doing and showing them to their boyfriend or fiance.

Yes, signs of spring. People out in their yards sharing horror stories about gophers and weeds. Young people playing sidewalk hopscotch, roller blading, and maybe some things the young adults are doing that we might now want to know--hopefully this experimentation will teach a good lesson. We did some of the same things and look at how we turned out. Well, that may not always be comforting but I think for most of you reading this, it is.

I hope you are a sign of spring as well--someone growing anew, warm, friendship, and sunshiney to those you meet.

JD (JoAnn)

Lots of information today. Lots to think about. I am getting to know one of my neighbors--living next door to each other since last July 15. She came in to talk after her church. I was in my threshold fixing my vacuum--changing the bag, fixing up the problems with electrical tape. In the process my neighbor, female, came home. We had talked last week about her state, very depressed and being forced to move out in 72 hours. Things have turned around on those fronts.

Today was about wondering if she was ready to date again--me too, actually. We confided, encouraged, and decided to walk and talk some more. The day was so beautiful here, we had a little lunch, and walked back. We watched people, houses, yards and landscaping, and fun talking. And more a little serious.

I was reminded that I let a lot of time go by before I invited this woman into my life. What was taking up my time? Classes of course. Shop. Errands. And just holing up in my townhouse watching tv, reading, and whatever else takes up time. In other words, wasting a lot of important time for time with God, as well as time for people--Christian or not, particularly not. It's time to turn that time use around. How about you?

The study brain conflict

I was just noticing that I choose trebuchet as my font, and it is an implement of war--sort of like a catapult or the mechanical force military unit that is used to break down the walls of a castle.

In any rate, I am finding my final grad paper/thesis quite a challenge. It is testing my brain, my personal convictions, as well as deciding on a thesis--all dealing with topics that I have no real background knowledge in. I must master Gilgamesh, the Enum Elish, Babylonian/Mesopotamian cult rituals, and compare/contrast them to the Sacred History as recorded in the Old Testament. I have books, I have journal articles from the U of O library and from Google Scholar. I have two used bookstores to visit, and I am slowly building a bibliography and complementing text.

Remember me in thought and prayer. I know the final product will be at least good, but getting there will be a challenge--probably a needed one...but still.
Thanks for hearing me rant a little. I look forward to your comments--on anything, not just me.

Worship service Saturday, and then Sunday

My son Will and I just soaked up the worship last night--not just the singing, but also the message and fellowship afterwards. Our pastor has just opened his heart to Will. They talk after service. They meet every other week for lunch at a different restaurant for fun--our pastor chooses, my son is surprised.

This part of our church life is a complete answer to prayer. On the way home, God said to me. "You did a good job, Mom. It's time to let go and let others, especially godly men, mentor and support my son along his young man way. With all the losses all of the members suffered due to a mentally ill husband and father, we have lacks. A strong, compassionate godly man that listens and guides is indeed a blessing to my son and me.

For me, the songs and voices excited and cleansed and released my heart to the Lord. For those who understand, I sang in tongues--a part of worship for me. I haven't done that for awhile, and the closeness to God was so intimate and wonderful. If all that's a foreign concept, it's in the New Testament and is not weird at all.

We have studying the Book of Luke, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. What an eye-opener! Taking it slowly, really listening, is changing us all--seeing what applies to us, how events fit together historically, and what God is saying. It's so focused that it's easy to mediate on during the week. The worship leader even suggests a song or two to keep singing also. It works.

The goal now is to make the rest of the week a goal to live up to, a prod to listen to God in new ways, and just allow Him to help us. Always sounds so simple. We make it so hard though. Or we just get in the way of what God could do much better than we can. We're control freaks, fixers, and sure whe know what's best even better than God's ideas on the subject.

For me, Sunday is a different sort of day since we go to worship on Saturday evening. I walk, I finish up little jobs around the house, I even cook a meal. I try to find something really uplifting to watch. Today it's a Hallmark movie that I put on the DVR last night. It's "The Valley of Light" with an elegant, understated set of performances. The faces of post WWII soldiers, wives, fathers, and mourners at a funeral packed a punch of true emotion and so many conflicts resolved but not in sugar-coated ways. I recommend it.

That's enough for now. I just saw Taye Diggs flirting with Miss Piggy in the Disneyland teacup ride. I think that's a good way to end.
JD (JoAnn)

Friday night

What a day. I had an insightful and deeply encouraging counseling session with an incredibly gifted trauma specialist. Then a widely varied voray into the outside world with my son.

We cruised the local community college bookstore after an eye-opening conversation in the car. I always felt that the best, open discussions with my kids, especially my son, happen in the car. Maybe it's because you are not looking at each other. Maybe it's because it's a contained environment. Anyway, some things opened up and were resolved. One particularly surprised me, as my son was beginning to make peace with the loss of his ipod. His thinking? Maybe it was just something he really didn't need after all. My take on the stealing of this device which I thought was important to him? Track down the people he thought stole it, do something!! And there he is expressing a decision to just be at peace with it all, even grow. Another shorter conversation helped bring out some helpful info to my son while reinforcing the trust--incredible level of trust--he has in me.

After that was food shopping at Winco where he went in with a budget and stuck with it--choosing healthy foods to boot. In fact, both of my children are working at eating better and exercising more far better than I am. It used to be the other way around. Oh the humiliation. But I am falling in line to their good example.

So it was everyday, it was out of the ordinary. Tomorrow I clean the house and take one more examination for my teaching license. Then reading for Monday class. And reading for the most challenging grad paper I have been asked to write. I will let you know about that a bit later.

Bible as literature

My last class in grad school--The Bible as Literature--is inspiring, fascinating, and a constant battle to think of the Bible as literature and not necessarily theological--study of God as the Word of Life. As a teacher (in a new position soon, I hope!), I can teaching English with my endorsement. It would an intellectual challenge to teach this course.

Now I am balancing the course with a master's paper. Most of the students are undergrad, so the four of us who are grad are excused from the small papers and instead do one much larger analysis. In conferring with my professor, I am exploring the polytheistic culture of Mesopotamia (Babylonia) and their myths, including creation, in contrast to the Hebrew Sacred History. I have already hit the library, checked out several books for 6 months!!--a graduate privilege unless they are called in a different patron., and am all over the search strategies on the site.

I have to admit my initial knowledge is sketchy. Still the idea that the Hebrew view of history is considered Sacred to them, and to others, is intriguing. So many people view the Old Testament, especially the early chapters of Genesis as just myth. The scholarship of Hebrews over the centuries challenge and intrigue them as well.

As a Christian, studying the Bible from a different perspective is also a journey. I suppose I could take the intellectual look and let it water down my faith in God and His Word. Instead, this is all having the opposite effect. I am inspired and deepened in my faith.

Think about it. Sometimes we all need to travel against the tide...

I am still getting the hang of this blog. Please comment on my comment if I mess up with how I make my posts.

I am taking a class as "Bible as Literature"--my last class for my grad adventure. I have elected to do my grad paper on the origin stories around the globe. Those of you who read about the supercollider event last week may have noticed the comment that the success of colliding the molecules deep in the earth created enough energy to add up to 3 times the energy needed for the Big Bang--one origin theory. One of the scientists commented that they had just rewritten

Genesis 1:1. Thoughtful idea. In any case, the event and comment will make its way into my paper with many other colorful and fascinating stories about how the earth came to be. Ireland is so sure of itself that it believes they were always there--needed no earthly start. Hmm.....

Easter

Just a lovely day to rejoice and ponder. For me no dinner, no egg hunts, just quiet--well homework too--but just right.

Dear Friends,
I have decided to create a blog as a better way to stay in touch with with those of you who have become friends on Facebook. A blog gives us all more room to talk, share thoughts, respond to my thoughts or others as postings continues. I would like to think that this may be a more thoughtful conversation, but humor is still appreciated. As we cannot copy and paste much into a blog, let's just share our own ideas. If you wish to ask me something that is more private, you may still use my address-- vjdeneen@gmail.com. Otherwise, meet me here for updates, ideas, and where I am being led by God. The title of my blog is "Against the Tide" because I am also striving and searching to make my life and thoughts go against the tide of the world and with the path of God. Still any topic can be thrown out for discussion. Let's be willing to learn from our own mistakes and not pretend we are perfect.

My url or way to find the blog is: http://jdagainstthetide.blogspot@blogspot.com

I look forward to this forum for serious and light conversation.
JD