THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024 - LEAP DAY THOUGHTS

 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024 - AMAZING

There is a lot I don’t understand - some things that I take and say, “Okay,” and let it be.

We have sent men to the moon and back.  The moon rotates around the earth, and the earth rotates around our sun.  All in the near vacuum of space.  There is a gravity pull of the earth on the moon - and a smaller one from the moon on the earth (which, as I understand it, brings high and low tides on the oceans).  How can “we” (that is, the Earth) be 93,000,000 miles from the sun, and yet, it pulls “us” towards it - and we try to pull away?  

From little things - like ice is less dense than water.  If ice were denser than water, it would sink to the bottom of lakes, and eventually, the whole lake would be ice.  But, because ice floats on water, it puts a ‘film’ on the surface, and there is open water underneath - for fish and whatever else. 

You can put two gas elements together, and they make a liquid (two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen). 

I’ve written that astronomers estimate there are over eight trillion galaxies.  And those galaxies can have thousands of stars - and maybe some planets in a system around the stars.

And this all just happened?  

From the things that can be seen, there must have been a DIVINE nature behind the physical things.  This divine nature seems to be called “God” by some people (including me).  I’ve said many times that “infinity” is so beyond me.  God is far beyond me. 

Some living things on this planet require oxygen to live (whether through lungs or gills or some other mechanism).  Some survive in hot deserts, and others in the frozen Arctic.  Some of these living things eat animals, and some eat only grasses. Whales supposedly live on krill, which are small, shrimp-like crustaceans.

On this rock called “Earth,” men have analyzed the length of time to make an exact circuit around the sun - and have called that a year - and today, as leap day - the calendar is changed to allow for that exact circuit.  

Men have created internal combustion engines.  (I can imagine God laughing at us and saying, “If you only had figured out how to use “the force” you could get to the moon and back instantly.  

I can imagine a ‘perfect’ world - call it heaven.  It doesn’t have to be a real place - maybe only one with brains, souls, and thoughts.  Who knows.  Man doesn’t understand infinity.  Maybe our cells - or our atoms get recycled. Even rocks seemingly have atoms.

“Rocks are abiotic, meaning they cannot produce DNA like living organisms. Non-living things are mostly made of simple atoms and molecules and do not contain the complex protein combinations like DNA does

In the most basic terms, I “am” a rock; I “am” an island.  We all have atoms.  We all exist.  Do ideas exist?  Yes, Can I hold an idea?  Not directly.  I can hold what the idea created (like a car or a dinner).  

We are all in this together - somehow.  All living things have the basic skills for living - intake, energy, and outflow. That plant is giving off oxygen, and we are giving off carbon dioxide - each one feeding all - mostly indirectly.

*****

So, on this leap day - I end up appreciating the vastness that I know a little about and the infinite vastness that I know nothing about!!!  

So, I say:

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White. ©, February 29, 2024

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024 - LEAPDAY

 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024

GOODBYE FEBRUARY 

FIRST - tomorrow is “LEAP DAY” - that extra day we get every fourth year!!  

The actual rule is: A year is a leap year if it is divisible by four, except for years that are divisible by 100 but not divisible by 400. For example, 2000 was a leap year, but 1900 was not. The next time a leap year will be skipped is 2100

There are also sometimes “Leap Seconds”.  The Earth’s rotation isn’t exactly 365.25 days long, and sometimes a second needs to added to make the year precisely right.

At one time the year was 365 days long - so every fourth year was the same as all the others.  Over the span of 100 years, the calendar was off by 25 days.  

In 46 BCE, the Julian calendar introduced a leap day every four years. Still, a problem with the measurement used led to a mounting discrepancy over several centuries. The Gregorian calendar reformed the concept in 1582 by eliminating leap years in century years that weren't exactly divisible by 400.

LEAP DAY JOKES

What do athletes wear on Leap Day? Jumpsuits. 

What do you call a talking Kangaroo? Unbe-Leap-able. 

Where do most people eat on Leap Day? IHOP. 

What kind of music do you listen to on Leap Day? Hip Hop. 

What do kids play on Leap Day? Hop-scotch 

What do you tell a hitchhiker on Leap Day? Hop In. 

What did the baby kangaroo say to mama kangaroo? Don't leap me hanging. 

What does a lawyer do on Leap Day? Jump to conclusions.

 Why don't lions like Leap Day? Because they are always jumping through hoops. 

Why did the sprinter get disqualified on Leap Day? He tried to jump the gun. 

What does a butterfly do on Leap Day? Jump out of his own skin. 

What is a frog's favorite time of year? Leap Day. 

What happens to a baby wallaby on February 29th? He grows by leaps and bounds. 

What do you call a talking frog? A quantum leap. 

How do you know it's almost Leap Day? When it is only a hop, skip, and a jump away. 

What does a captain do on Leap Day? Jump ship.

*****

AND CAN WOMEN PROPOSE ON LEAP DAY?

Bachelor's Day, sometimes known as Ladies' Privilege, is an Irish tradition by which women can propose to men on Leap Day, 29 February, based on a legend of Saint Bridget and Saint Patrick. It once had a legal basis in Scotland and England.

The tradition is supposed to originate from a deal that Saint Bridget struck with Saint Patrick. In the 5th century, Bridget is said to have gone to Patrick to complain that women had to wait too long to marry because men were slow to propose, asking that women be given the opportunity. Patrick is said to have offered that women be allowed to propose on one day every seven years, but Bridget convinced him to make it one day every four years.

****

To my friend SA, who is celebrating her 18th physical birthday tomorrow!!!  (She is 72 years old,)

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen A. White, ©, FEBRUARY 28, 2024

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024 - IN-BETWEEN SEASONS

 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024 THAT BETWEEN SEASON

Depending on where you live, this may be you currently - or in a month or so.

I turned off my heat last Saturday. Yesterday it was 88 degrees in Georgetown Texas. It is currently 67 degrees outside, and I’m just fine in my apartment with the heat off.

I have electric heat and cooling.  The temperature is the main factor in my electricity bill - and I’m trying to be “frugal”. 

It is that “in-between season”.  Not quite warm yet - and yet with warm days.  The forecast for the next two days will have me turning the heat back on.  For Wednesday, the forecast is for a high of 60 and a low of 45; and for Thursday it is to be around 53 degrees with a low of 47.  After that in the ten day forecast the daytime highs will be in the 70s or 80s.  

Yes, I’ll have to turn the heat back on tonight and the next two days.  Then off again.

*****

Weatherwise, it is the in-between season.  I’ll call it “Spring” - although the official start of spring is three weeks away.  (Of course, Texas weather isn’t the same as South Dakota weather.)

*****

I liken this to our lives - sometimes we are in an “in-between” season.  My last year of teaching was an in-between year - getting my mind to focus on teaching, students, and work related activities.  But at the same time, looking to retirement.  

And, even in retirement there were (and still are) in-between areas.  Should I continue to play my tuba?  Should I still be the scorekeeper for the Fire Ants Granny Basketball team? [I’m not playing this year.]

In most of my academic life I was tenured.  I knew I had a job and income - and didn’t have to worry about those things.  I have a friend who lost his job three months ago (company was bought out) and is definitely in-between on most issues of life.  

*****

I do write about spiritual things frequently.  Am I in-between there to?  I’m assuming there is a heaven - but I really don’t know.  Christian Scriptures talk about it - but other religions have different views.  And, will I be welcomed into heaven?  

I’m single and in-between on that.  I have friends but I miss the companionship and love of a committed marriage.  

James 1:6-8 talks about being “double-minded’. “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

*****

Maybe I need to set down, pray, seek for directions, do more planning.  Maybe I need to find that “peace and rest”.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, ©, February 27, 2024

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2024 - COMPETITION

 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2024 - COMPETITION

Competition can be both good and bad. I have been a competitor for years - in some form.

I do German Language studies on Duolingo. I’m writing this on Sunday evening when the week's competition is just about over. This Sunday night, I’m in the Diamond League - the top level of competition. I will be in the top 25 and move on to the next level - and that is the semi-finals of the Diamond competition. And if I’m in the top ten of that group, I’ll move on to the finals. Yes - I like to win.

From Duolingo’s viewpoint, the more competition, the more people (like me) will want to study and do lessons in the language they are learning. (I moved from the free version - with many ads to the paid version - no ads about two months ago). And Duolingo can pay their staff to develop more and better lessons.

But, I’m not focused as much on the learning as I am on the competition. Can I complete this next week with enough lessons and points to go to the Diamond League Finals?

But - I’ve done the Diamond League Finals before and came in as one of the top finishers. I don’t need to do that. And (a subtle groan), I spend about an hour daily on German Duolingo lessons.

I get a 15-minute bonus time in the morning; if I do some things right, I’ll get an extra 15 minutes - so thirty minutes in the morning. That translates to another 15-minute bonus time in the evening - and I can (and generally do) “buy” another 15 minutes (“buy the extra time with all the points I’ve accumulated over almost ten years in the app.

I’ve played Words with Friends for about twelve years (ever since one of my students at Quinnipiac University suggested it). This is a Scrabble game with two people. The computer randomly gives each person seven tiles to make a word. BUT - I want to win, I want to come up with the highest point words (and words with X, Z, Q, and J get more raw points - and if you can put your words on a square that said “Triple Word” - I’ll get more points.

That game has hurt over time. I played my sister in five or six games. And I would beat her 90% of the time - and she stopped playing me. Why am I not satisfied with just playing the game with my sister? Why do I have to be competitive? Why did I hurt my sister?

*****

In the world, there is competition. I liked being the AITP-EDSIG “Information Systems Educator of the Year” (you can only win once). I liked being elected to office - even though it meant more time and more commitment.

I have always wanted to be “number one.” (I can hear the chant in my brain (“We’re Number One; We’re Number One”). We are going into a very competitive season in the United States - the political season. Each candidate wants to be number one - and get elected to a job. (My local congressman had been in the United States House of Representatives for 22 years and is up for reelection. He is 84 years old and will be 86 when the next term is over. Why does he want to be elected again? He must have a very competitive spirit.

We have two main political parties going at each other - there will be scandals, mudslinging, half-truths, outright lies, innuendos, and debates. It is very competitive - and will be very expensive. We will have television ads, online ads, mailings, and more by September and October. I may want to live in a mountain cave for several months. The zealots will be fiercely promoting their candidate as “the best.”

Sometimes competition leads to stealing ideas and even crime. Seemingly, President Nixon wanted to win the election so had a group steal idea from his opponent's office. Businesses do "industrial espionage" to gain a competitive advantage. In sports some teams cheat like stealing signs (baseball).

Likewise, there is competition between companies - sometimes good and sometimes not so good. Atre Hondas better cars than Chevrolets? Are Cheetos better than the HEB brand? (HEB being the main local grocery store). But Cheetos are over a dollar higher priced than HEB cheese snacks. Is Coke better than Pepsi, so is the generic HEB Cola at a dollar per two-liter bottle a better buy?

And - competition between nations. OH NO - China has bigger armed forces - we need to increase our military spending. Russia is in competition with Ukraine over land ownership. Do we need to stop spending money on Chinese technology products - they are undermining American products. Do we need to put government dollars into computer chip development?

*****

Last weekend, our community recreation center hosted a Granny Basketball event. Sure, each team wanted to win, but I find the comradery between players more important than winning. (I hope my coach isn’t reading this). Maxie is a great friend on the G-Force team; I like players from other teams.

The competition will not stop. But, may competition be with love in mind?

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, ©, February 26, 2024

SUNDAY FUNDAY - FEBRUARY 25, 2024

 SUNDAY FUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2024

WARM-UP

The full moon was last night.  It is called “The Snow Moon”. 

After a cold weekend, it has warmed up nicely. I’ve seen some bushes putting out new growth.  I covered my patio garden, but now it is soaking in the sun.

On Saturday, March 2nd, and Sunday, March 3rd, The Bluebonnet Philharmonic Orchestra plays a concert.

Saturday night at 7:30 at the First United Methodist Church in Round Rock.  

Sunday afternoon at Cedar Park High School at 3:00. 

It promises to be a lively concert with Bolero, the Firebird Suite (I love the finale), Shostakovich’s Waltz from his Jazz Suite, two super fast dances from Latin American (Danzon and Antropolis), and a lovely strings-only piece by Benjamin Britten).  The concert is FREE and will be about an hour long!!!

Early Voting for the primary started and goes through March 1st.  Regular voting for the primary is March 5th (also known as “Super Tuesday”).  You probably have been getting mail from candidates.

******

Some February Jokes

Can February March?  No, but April may.

What month is the best for coffee?  Feb-BREW-ary

What is a frog’s favorite month?  February. It has a Leap Year.

Which is the month in which a person would talk the least?  February, because it has the least number of days.

What’s for breakfast on frigid days in February?  Frosted Snowflakes.

What do you say on the last day of the second month?  February is ending today, but that’s okay. We’ll March on.

*****

Some Quotes:

“I thought growing old would take longer.”

“We witness other people’s storms from the shelter of our perspectives. Don’t add the cold rain of judgment to their already soaked spirits.”

“It is said, ‘Time heals all wounds.’  But that’s not quite true.  The wounds remain.  The mind covers them with scar tissue, and the pain lessens.  But, it is never gone.”

If you spend your time chasing butterflies, they’ll fly away.  But if you spend time making a beautiful garden, the butterflies will come to you.  When you focus on improving yourself, things you want will come.  We attract based on who we are, not what we want.  Love wins.

Positive people are happier and build healthier relationships.  Master the art of positivity, and it will pay off for you.

A scammer called me and said he had all my passwords.  I got excited and asked, can you please give them to me!!

*****

An Old West Story

An Old Woman Walked Up And Tied Her Old Mule To The Hitching Post.

As she stood there, brushing some of the dust from her face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. The young gunslinger looked at the old woman and laughed, "Hey, old woman, have you ever danced?"

The old woman looked up at the gunslinger and said, "No... I never did dance... never really wanted to."

A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, "Well, you're gonna dance now," and started shooting at the old woman's feet.

The old woman prospector started hopping around, not wanting to get her toe blown off. Everybody was laughing. When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon.

The old woman turned to her pack mule, pulled out a double-barreled shotgun, and cocked both hammers. The loud clicks carried clearly through the desert air, and the crowd stopped laughing immediately.

The young gunslinger heard the sounds, too, and he turned around very slowly. The silence was almost deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old woman and the large gaping holes of those twin barrels.

She quietly said, "Son, have you ever kissed a mule's ass?"

The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, "No, ma'am... but I've always wanted to.

There Are Five Lessons Here For All Of Us:

1 - Never Be Arrogant.

2 - Don't Waste Ammunition.

3 - Whiskey Makes You Think You're Smarter Than You Are.

4 - Always Make Sure You Know Who Has The Power.

5 - Don't Mess With Old Women; They Didn't Get Old By Being Stupid

*****

Have a great week!!!  

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen A. White ©, February 25, 2024