Me and My First Bike (Circa 1965)

Back to Baseball

The World Series resumes tonight in New York City. Well... in the Bronx. I've never been there but I believe that's part of New York City.

From here on, it's sudden death for the Phillies. Actually it was for the last game too, but they one that one. I sure hope that they can pull it out. I think it would be great to see them repeat. But the task ahead of them is fairly monumental.

We'll see.

Instant Replay Gets It Wrong

In last night's World Series game the instant replay came into play. In Major League Baseball the instant replay can only be used at this time for verifying home runs. Alex Rodriguez hit a ball that bounced off the lens of a T.V. camera in the stands in right field and fell back into play. It was initially called a double, but after reviewing the instant replay it was changed to a home run.

Now I was watching the game with the mute on, and listening to music as I watched, so I don't know if the commentators discussed this or not. But the lens of the camera was hanging out over the railing of the stands. And the downward angle of the ball's flight at the time it hit the lens did not look to me like the ball would have been a home run had the camera not been there. I sincerely doubt from the angle of descent that it would have cleared the railing and been a home run. It might have bounced off the top of the railing and into the stands, making it a home run. But it looked to me more like it would have hit off the front of the railing and fallen back into play... making the original call of "double" correct.

In sports the instant replay is only supposed to be used to reverse a call made in real time if the evidence is conclusive. To me the evidence in this case was anything but conclusive. I like the instant replay. I have been a proponent of expanding its use for close calls on the bases, etc. But if you're going to use the technology, use it right. Examine all the aspects of the evidence before making a ruling.

Phillies 1 - Yankees 1

The series is tied one game apiece. What's going to happen tonight as the series moves to Philadelphia? I sure would like to see the Phillies win the series. The Yankees knocked out my Angels.

A Simple Lyric... But So Important

A Baseball Day

Yesterday the National League Championship Series began. The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Dodgers in Game 1 on the Dodgers home turf. Although I live in Los Angeles, as an Angel fan it didn't break my heart. I know lots of folks here in L.A. want a freeway series, but a bi-coastal World Series usually attracts a larger viewing audience. So I'd prefer an Angels/Phillies series to an Angels/Dodgers one. On the other hand, the Angels have beaten the Dodgers in interleague play with remarkable consistency over the last decade.

Today we get Game 2 of the NLCS early in the day followed by Game 1 of the American League Championship Series in the evening. In that series the Angels will be taking on the New York Yankees in the new Yankee Stadium. Go Angels!!!

It's October

Where did the last two weeks go? I know... it was the end of regular season baseball. What a finale the Twins and Tigers gave us in an American League Central tiebreaker!

Now we're into the playoffs. I love October. One month of multiple games per day leading up to the World Series. Sadly, it's followed by five months of no baseball.

GoD and DoG

Wendy Francisco has created this marvelous video, "GoD and DoG". It really gives us something to think about. Take a look at GoD and DoG. I think you'll like it... especially if you're a dog lover. I certainly see the truth in it.

Trains and Movies

It's been a fun weekend. On Friday I went to the model train store and purchased a train set. Those who know me well are probably thinking that another train set is the last thing that I need. But this is a tiny Z scale (1/220th scale) set. I can set it up on a board on the foot of my bed. This will get me by until I have a real train table again.

Friday night two friends came and watched "Elizabethtown" with me. If you haven't seen it, its a wonderful off-beat film. Kirsten Dunst gives a marvelous performance. Orlando Bloom isn't bad either. And Susan Sarandon is absolutely hysterical.

On Saturday my cousin came early in the day and we watched "Morgan Stuarts Coming Home". That's a kind of wacky comedy with John Cryer. I hadn't seen it in years. It was fun to see it again.

Saturday Evening my dear special friend came, and we watched the original "Father of the Bride" with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. When I bought it I thought it would be fun to see again, because I hadn't seen it since I was a teenager. As I watched it I realized that, in fact, I'd never seen it at all before. And, interestingly, neither had my friend. When she comes to visit again I have the sequel "Father's Little Dividend" for us.

Hula Hoops

I was getting a little stir crazy this evening, so I got in the car and drove to the park. There I sat by the fountain and watched the water change colors as the lights of the fountain cycled through their phases. By the fountain were four young people practicing tricks with hula hoops. They were listening to 70s music. It was wonderful.

Memorial Day Visitors

I had two visitors last night. These are dear friends, a mother and her adult son. I introduced them to the BBC science fiction series Dr. Who. For those who may not know, Dr. Who started as a children's show in 1963 and ran through 1989. A lot of Americans made fun of the special effects in the show, as not up to par with "Star Treck", but I always loved the imagination of the program. "Dr. Who" was revived in 2005, and the new series is easily as popular as the old one ever was.

The series "Dr. Who" is about an mysterious character known only as "the Doctor" (his name is not Dr. Who) who travels through space and time with various companions he acquires here and there. In 1965, although the series was incredibly successful, the star decided to quit due to health considerations. The writers on "Dr. Who" came up with the idea that, as an alien the Doctor's race doesn't die... they regenerate their bodies. After regeneration they look entirely different, but have the same memories. The audience bought into the concept and now, well over 40 years later, there have been 10 actors who have starred in "Dr. Who", with 11th taking over for next year.

If you're not familiar with "Dr. Who", you might want to check it out. I believe it shows on the Sci Fi channel (SyFy?) here in the U.S. I, personally, have many classic episodes and all the new ones on DVD.

It's September

I spoke to an old friend on the phone the other day. He remarked that I hadn't posted anything since Aug. 6th. I told him, as I've said here, that I can't always think of things to write and that I don't want this journal to become stale or trite. He said that it's a blog, and I don't have to write about metaphysics and healing all the time; just say what I'm doing with my day and let people know that I'm still doing okay.

I am still doing okay. I went to church this morning and did my grocery shopping afterward. One of our wonderful Christian Science nurses came later in the day to see me and we listened to some uplifting readings. Tonight I'm going to watch the Sunday evening baseball game on T.V. Then I think I'll watch some old Dr. Who videos. Of course, I still read from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy daily. It's still a long road back... but, despite a minor setback or two, I'm still taking steps in the right direction each day.

Much Love to all!

God Multiplies Us

I know I need to write more here. I really enjoyed writing almost daily back in May. But I was concerned that I'd become repetitive, or so esoteric as to sound foolish to new readers. When writing about Spiritual Healing one must be circumspect, in order not to be a target for ridicule. I have been blessed on this blog so far in that there have been no negative comments.

In the study of Christian Science it is the practice of serious students to read the Christian Science Lesson Sermon on Monday through Saturday. This lesson sermon is then read in all Churches of Christ, Scientist the following Sunday. The lesson is comprised of passages from the Bible and correlative passages from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

This week's lesson sermon repeatedly mentions that God will multiply us. All week I've been thinking what a nice lesson this is for couples desiring or expecting children. But today this passage from Science and Health jumped out at me, "Divine Love blesses its own ideas, and causes them to multiply,--to manifest His power." (S&H 517:30)

So now I'm waiting on God to multiply me... to manifest more of His power; His Love, Truth, Mind, Life, and Spirit. And I hope he is multiplying you too.

Amazing Results

Yesterday morning the hospice doctor came to visit me. When I left the hospital, because I was considered "terminal" I was put into a hospice program. In this program the doctors and nurses do all they can to make the dying as comfortable as possible. The nurse has come weekly, but this was the doctor's first visit since the day after I came home from the hospital.

The doctor came in, sat down, took one look at me and said "amazing". Without even asking me to take the bandanna off of my neck he could see the unmistakable progress I have made. I told him that the tube that had been implanted in my neck to assist my breathing had started coming out of its own accord, so I'd removed it two months ago. And that I had been breathing normally and unaided since that time. This also seemed to impress him.

Then I told him that I'd changed a tire a few days ago. He said, "Don't do that!"... so I didn't tell him that I'd walked half a mile afterward to a payphone because there hadn't been any air in the spare. (I wrote about that back on Sunday).

Then he asked me to remove the bandanna from my neck. He looked at my neck and said, "Just amazing." This was a great lesson for me. I seldom look at my neck because I always see how much is left to be healed. But what he was seeing was how far I've come.

Then, before he left, he said, "Whatever you've been doing, keep doing it."

Here is proof of the progress I have been reporting in this blog. Christian Science, when properly applied, does heal!

"More Honored in the Breach"

In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Mary Baker Eddy writes (pg. 382)...

He, who is ignorant of what is termed hygienic law, is more receptive of spiritual power and of faith in one God, than is the devotee of supposed hygienic law, who comes to teach the so-called ignorant one. Must we not then consider the so-called law of matter a canon "more honored in the breach than the observance"? A patient thoroughly booked in medical theories is more difficult to heal through Mind than one who is not. This verifies the saying of our Master: "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter therein."

That got me to wondering, how can a canon ("a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council" according to Miriam-Webster) be more honored by breaching (breaking) it than by following it? To understand this better I looked up the source she is quoting. It is from the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespear. The explanation on enotes is very interesting.

Hamlet is explaining to someone that it is a local custom to drink and carouse late into the night. But he further says that although he's a native of the region he considers it more homorable to break this custom that to follow it.

Mrs. Eddy is pointing out that it isn't wise to obsess over the supposed laws of matter, but to ignore them in favor of the law of God, Spirit. Although she uses the term "hygenic law" she isn't telling us to stop bathing or brushing our teeth. She is telling us not to give these activities power over our bodies... not to fear that omitting to do them occasionally will result in illness.

As I've worked to spiritualize my thought and rise to a fuller understanding of my being as spiritual, it has become painfully obvious to me what a popular custom it is to discuss medical issues in social gatherings. I'm sorry to say that more and more it is making me feel a need to avoid participating in gatherings with my friends. Hopefully I'll reach a point in my spiritual progress where I can be exposed to it without taking it into my consciousness. But as my healing progresses, I really feel I need to avoid conversations about medicine and such.

Flat Tire on Sunday

Yesterday I woke up tired. I think I'd played online too late the night before. But I was determined that no suggestion of fatigue could keep me from church. I got out early and ran a couple of errands. Then headed in the direction of church. But while fatigue couldn't keep me from church, a flat tire could and did.

Changing the tire was a challenge, but the biggest challenge was lifting the flat to mount it on the tire carrier on the back of my car. I became quite light headed for a moment. But I declared that God was my Life and that whatever strength I had came from Him. This declaration of spiritual truth gave me the lift that I needed, and shortly I succeeded in the task.

Of course I then found that the spare had no air in it. Because there had been a cover on the spare, apparently no one ever checked it when I took the car in for regular service. I had to walk about half a mile to a pay phone to call for help. A friend came and, after a quick visit to Pep Boys to purchase a compressor that runs off the car's battery, we inflated the tire. By then church had been over for 20 minutes.

Oh well... I'll make it next week.

Confessions of a Gamer

Last Friday I downloaded the ten day free trial for World of Warcraft. As a long time player of Everquest, I have to confess that I missed the virtual fantasy world. But Everquest was a frustrating game to play. It's impossible to advance at higher levels without help. It was only with the help of a player whose character was names Zabbaz that I ever saw any of the high-end game. Besides help, it takes persistence and patience to play Everquest. That's why most of the kids have left it, and those remaining loyal to EQ are mostly older players.

So far World of Warcraft isn't nearly as frustrating as Everquest. I'm enjoying the game very much. I consider the joy it brings me to be part of my healing. I am still studying Christian Science daily. And while playing, I listen to recordings of hymns and lectures. So my healing work is continuing, confident in God's promise.

A Mistaken Basis

As I've told you, I've been posting less because I've been busy. Ironically, I became so obsessed with the things I was accomplishing as demonstration of my healing that I was working from a mistaken basis. This is plain in my previous post where I talk about all the things I had to do.

Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing of himself..." but, even though my Christian Science Nurse friend warned me that God was responsible for all these arrangements, I worked from the mistaken basis that I was responsible. As a result, I exhausted myself.

Since my last post I have slept more hours than I've been awake. But in my waking hours I have been making a sincere effort to get back to the study and prayer habits of the early days of my healing. There is still much work to be done... not cooking and cleaning work (though that's always necessary), but prayerful study work. And I'm grateful to God for the opportunity to pursue it.

My First Mexican Barbecue

Yet another week has gone by, and I don't know where it went. I seem to remember cleaning my windows and taking my car in for its 175,000 mile service. That set me back a bit in the financial department. But if I can get another 100,000 miles out of the car (and it looks like I should), it will be money well spent.

The last couple of days were largely taken up with shopping, cooking, and setting up for a special friend's birthday party. The party took place last night and was, by all accounts, a huge success. Of course, I'd planned for twelve people and only seven showed up. I grilled three large chickens, and there was a lot left over.

The birthday lady's favorite food is Mexican. So grilled chicken seemed to be a logical choice for a Mexican barbecue. I did a web search for "Mexican marinade" and found this recipe. Everyone liked the chicken, so there was no problem with the leftovers... almost everyone took some home.

Even though I'm still on a mostly liquid diet, I managed to eat one drumstick. I sort of felt like I had to; after making the marinade and grilling the chicken I had to know what it tasted like.

A Grand Day Out (With Apologies to Nick Park)

My gosh! Where did the week go? I've been so busy cleaning around the house and yard that I didn't realize that I hadn't posted since last Sunday. Still much left to do though.

So why am I apologizing to Nick Park? He's the creator of Wallace and Gromit. I'm a big W&G fan. (Gromit is my hero). "A Grand Day Out" is the title of the first W&G short film. I have the first three W&G short films and the feature length Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit on DVD. I have yet to see the latest two W&G adventures though. Something to look forward to.

Anyway, today I went with a couple of friends to the Irish Fair in Irvine Meadows. It's a long drive down to Irvine and back, but it was worth it. My friends did a lot of walking around. I did a little walking, but spent most of my time watching the dancers. When the only accompaniment is one accordian it doesn't quite pack the punch of Riverdance. But it's still fun to watch. Especially the young people, many of whom seem ready to audition for Riverdance.

If you've been following my blog for a while you may remember me telling about a woman who ate eight mangoes and then called a Christian Science practitioner complaining of a stomach ache. The practitioner told her that CS didn't just stand for Christian Science, it also stood for common sense. Along those same lines, I saw a wonderful ceramic tile wall plaque that read, "God is good but don't dance in a small boat." I'd have bought it, but I thought $40 was a little steep for a ceramic tile in a wood frame.