when to wear a jacket...

It's getting cold now in North America. Especially for one with still warm South Asian blood in her veins.

I was discussing with my European-born friend (who's new to Fahrenheit) about how to check the outside temperature. If my memory serves right, what's outside the window can look the same if it's 40 degrees above or 4 degrees below. "You do have an outside thermometer you can see from inside the house?" I asked. "I don't know," she answered.

Yes, there is an outside thermometer, visible from the kitchen sink window. Her North American husband used it the other day, that's how I know.

I thought there was something on the internet long ago to help children (and maybe foriegners and ATCK's) know what to wear before going outside in winter. After a bit of searching I came up with this.

Whew! Now I know what to wear today!!

back to my brain...

Ok, I admit it. I'm old enough to have experienced that ugly 'm' word, and it's not 'mid-life'. Since I'm female, I think you'll figure it out.

The good news is, though it started early for me, I'm pretty much through the worst of it. All in less than five years. I think I'm blessed!

And even better news is I've found a great website to help me battle the mental fuzzies that have plagued me for the last half-decade.

Really.

I've been doing these brain exercises for a couple weeks now, and already am experiencing more ability to pay attention in busy traffic, and less insecurity about basic short-term memory.

Try it and let me know what you think!

gone fishin'...

Erm...sorry for the huge gap in blog posts here! Had some major computer problems back in January and February, then changed my photo editing program which turned out to be harder to use than I anticipated, after that had some more fatigue issues, and so lost all blogging steam.

Yesterday I left South Asia for a three month trip. Last night got picked up at the airport in Germany by a couple of good friends. We decided I was posting too much on the memorization scheme, changing myasianside into a 'performance' treadmill, which ended up turning me, the author, off! See how perfectionism can hurt you?

Well, and sometimes you need a real change of pace to give yourself a fresh perspective. This trip is doing that already. I'll be off to the US in about a week. While gone, I'll be fishing around in my heart for a refined blogging purpose.

But for today, it's brisk, chilly air with practically no humidity, and the pleasure of sharing face to face with real life friends about the last couple years.
I raise my cup of cappucino to you! And will see you back here eventually...I think!

chapter four, after a long break...

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche, to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord, always! I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, whatever is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in [want] need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do [anything] everything through him who gives me strength.

learning to e-pray...

A few minutes ago I found myself e-praying. Mouse under my right palm, my face turned to the laptop screen, I'd just read a prayer request sent by email from my home church. And I'd halted my tech interaction, closed my eyes, and prayed for her.

It felt a bit weird, the posture. For a long time I've felt this wasn't right, that I should print the various emails, add them to the devotional pile, and pray in 'real life'. Yet that doesn't happen. I don't take the time to print them. Or I get bogged down in perfectionism: which ones need printing? should I search through all my emails for them? should I create a new text file and copy/paste them all there and then print? So the 'real life' praying never happens.

Today's e-praying happened because of the real life praying before I came to my laptop. That seems to be the key. So may I turn that key in the door of prayer more often, and be active in 'real life' praying and in e-praying.