Tea, Pee, and Halloween

I must say that I am flattered that so many people find little notes from my personal life so interesting that they would make it a habit to come by here and actually read them. It really makes my day. That is as close to positive verbal communication with others on many of my days. So, as Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

I have continued to consume tea like there's no tomorrow. I am still really enjoying it. I am feeling as if I am deriving some health benefits from it. And, even though I'm drinking 8 to 12 cups a day, it isn't making my bladder run non-stop. I'm thankful for that. One thing I do know: My "morning breath" is actually no where nearly as bad as it used to be. I wouldn't call it pleasant, but it is in comparison to what it used to be. I think this is due to the fact that I am largely drinking a lot more green and white tea. I don't like green tea (the "bagged" kind) on its own. To me, it tastes like dirt. But I drink green tea blended with honey, lemongrass, and ginseng, or with blueberries. Today, I'm drinking white tea with tangerine (Bigelow brand) and honey, lemon, ginseng green tea (Fred Meyer/Kroger store brand, which is surprisingly excellent and surprisingly inexpensive). Go drink more tea. You'll be glad you did. BTW, Bigelow brand makes a great chai tea. It is the only chai I have ever tasted that could replicate the flavor of a coffee house chai latte with a strong tea brewed from it. I'd say 2 tea bags brewed in 8oz of water, add some vanilla syrup and frothed milk, and you'd have yourself a coffee house quality beverage.

By the way, for those of you who disparage coffee (you know who you are), coffee has almost as much antioxidant content as green tea, and a far greater content than black tea. Keep in mind, the lighter the roast, the greater the antioxidant levels. I only drink light to full-city roast coffees anyway.

Someone changed the password for the voicemail at my shared desk and didn't tell me. That little blinking light that tells me I have a message is about to make me go nuts. I may unplug the stupid thing just to get it to quit blinking. It's a good thing we're not allowed to bring guns to work (lol).

I used to attend Calvary Chapel churches, the un-denomination (kinda like 7-Up). I was always bothered by their hyper-sensitivity to Harry Potter and Halloween. For those of you who don't know, Halloween is short for "All Hallows Eve" which happens the night before "All Hallows Day" or better known as "All Saints Day." It has an "Eve" like Christmas has an "Eve." It kinda hearkens at the Jewish roots of the church by getting the celebration going the evening/day before the festival happens on the calendar (since dates turn at midnight). I have yet to read in the Bible where going out dressed up to ask for candy surrenders your soul to satan. It is much more popular to believe today then it was 40 years ago. When my mom and dad were growing up, everyone did stuff on Halloween. I have yet to see them exhibit signs of demon possession. Truth be told, everyone celebrated Halloween when I was a kid, and I turned out just fine from a salvific/theological perspective. I think the church is starting to become hyper-reactionary to things, which isn't good for anyone. It makes us look like fools to the culture (not in the way that the Bible means that the wisdom of God is foolishness to the unsaved) and it becomes another point of contention in the "Us Vs. Them" battle, which detracts from the valid points that already exist (like whether or not there is absolute truth). Paul said some would esteem every day alike and others would esteem one day special over another. The point is to use that perspective to God's glory, not to be divisive. I am still irked whenever I hear someone tell me I should be worshipping on Saturday. I wonder if they ever pick up their Bible. I don't care if they do it Saturday or Sunday (or even Thursday) as long as it is to God's glory, but they don't glorify God for playing the role of judge on already settled matters. So, if you do or don't celebrate Halloween, do or don't to the glory of God, but don't get any ideas that you are any better or holier than someone else. It is just the new pharisaism. I had to unlearn being one of the "don't police" and to allow others to act on their conscience. It's incredible how freeing it is.

Time for today's edition of "Great Blunders In History!"

In 1988 Apple Computer, Inc. hired a small computer company from Virginia called Quantum Computer Services to develop an online service for its customers. It was to be called AppleLink Personal Edition and was set to come out in 1989. But before Quantum could launch the service, Apple changed its mind and terminated the contract. Bad idea. Quantum had negotiated a clause in the contract: If Apple backed out, Quantum got to keep the technology. It launched the service itself in late 1989, with a new name . . . America Online.

What's for sale in the classifieds (for real):

• 1 man, 7 woman hot tub—$850/offer
• Amana washer $100. Owned by clean bachelor who seldom washed.
• 2 wire mesh butchering gloves, 1 5-finger, 1 3-finger, pair: $15
• Tickle Me Elmo, still in box, comes with its own 1988 mustang, 5L, excellent condition $6,800
• Cows, calves never bred . . . also 1 gay bull for sale.

Well, I think that is about all of the genius I feel coming on today. Behave, and brush your teeth.

Blessings,

Big J

"Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it." Fyodor Dostoevsky