Hebrew Fun

We're learning about the Vav Consecutive this week in class. Here's what it does. When it's attached to a Perfect verb (completed action), the verb is translated as an Imperfect verb. When it's attached to an Imperfect verb (incomplete action), the verb is translated as a Perfect verb. Oh, and the Vav Consecutive is spelled differently for each type of verb. For Imperfect verbs, it has a distinct spelling. For Perfect verbs, it is spelled exactly the same way the Hebrew word "and" is spelled.
I'm not making this stuff up. How could I?

Hebrew

I am not good at languages. I look at people blithely talking in other languages, I hear a friend casually mention taking a third language, and I think, wow, that is something I just can't do. I'm ok with that. The problem is, I still have 3/4's of my year of Hebrew to go. I spent most of this weekend studying for a quiz, just a quiz, today. Literally spent hours on it. The last time I spent hours studying for anything it was, well, Hebrew. Pre-Hebrew, the last time I spent hours studying for something was probably, oh, maybe in undergrad? I literally can't remember. This either points to bad study habits, or a decided lack of talent in languages. I'm voting for the latter.
I think that when this class is over, I will have gained a lot of compassion for people learning English. See, I hear people talk about how English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. I say, well, Hebrew is probably more difficult, but I'll go ahead and say they're equally hard. So to all those out there struggling with English, I offer all my compassion and sympathy! Keep it up! When you're done, you will be able to communicate with millions of people around the world! When I finish studying Hebrew, I'll be able to, well, to write letters to any ancient Israelite who appears in the 21st century via a time machine...

politically correct or stupid?

Plural family vs. polygamy. This is the choice here. I just watched Oprah's show on polygamy (you note my choice) and she used the term plural family, informing us that that is the politically correct term. Now see, I don't mind political correctness that is also semantically correct. Like "African-American" vs. "black." Whatever you think of that, you have to admit that "African-American" is a correct definition. Those people are from Africa, originally. And frankly, none of them are even close to having black skin: they have brown skin. So "black" isn't even accurate as a description.
But polygamy is a correct term. It means a marriage with more than 2 people. It covers a woman with more than 1 husband (polyandry) and a man with more than 1 wife (polygyny). Plural family is just a vague phrase that could mean anything. When Dale and I visit my parents at Thanksgiving, will their house temporarily hold a "plural family?"
Can we just call it what it is and let that be that?
See, I'm thinking that prettier phrases are being created in preparation for a push to legalize, or at least decriminalize, polygamy. I mean, heck, that's what every single guest, including the woman who "escaped" (her word, not mine) her polygamous marriage, wanted: the decriminalization of polygamy. And one of the wives made the exact point that Dale and I have been talking about: with all the alternative lifestyles in America, why not this one?
So, aside from the Christian view that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman, what's wrong with non-abusive, non-pedophiliac, polygamy? Is there something inherently abusive about any form of polygamy? Is it possible for a feminist to want to be someone's third wife?

Bayless Choice for President

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,304096,00.html
This just in: Chuck Norris supports Mike Huckabee for President. And if he's good enough for Chuck Norris, he's good enough for Dale and I!

iPhone commercial

So I've been enjoying the new iPhone commercials where someone stands in front of a black backdrop and talk about how they use their iPhone. Dale and I decided how my commercial would go:
"Hi, I'm Elaine, a full time divinity student with an iPhone. My husband and I use to have light hearted disagreements about trivial issues, and we also use to spend time idly wondering about random things like how milk becomes cheese. Now that I have my iPhone, we can resolve our disagreements, as well as satisfy our random curiosity, at the touch of a button. It's great to drive past a sign for the Hiddenite Center Museum and be able to find out exactly what it is! It's also very vindicating to find out that I'm right, yet again, when we dispute the rotation time of the moon. I guess I could be wrong sometimes, but signals can be so unreliable, especially while driving..."

Kit-Kat III

In the original colors!

Giving it up

So I had a long conversation with a good friend and I'm giving up the idea that all my appointments will have conflicts and people only call me when I'm busy.
Because here's the thing: I'm busy, but I also create my life. So I'm going to allow myself some freedom, by not scheduling every free minute (and I'm not even going to "schedule" me time by setting up appointments with myself - I'm just going to leave space in my calendar). And I'm going to accept the abundance of my life. The abundance of my life means that when I commit to one great activity, there will probably be another great activity I must say no to. And that's ok. The abundance of my life means that when I start talking with 1 friend, 1 or 2 others may call, and that's ok. That's why God created voicemail. :)
So bring on the cosmic conflicts! I'm embracing the freedom and abundance that God is providing!

The Law of Scheduling

I'm actually looking for a snappier name for this. It's the general principle that people are only available for meetings when I'm already booked and people only call when I can't talk. Seriously.
Drastic action is lurking in the sidewings of my mind. Action like only taking 1 meeting a week. Action like becoming a hermit. Drastic measures.

Kit Kat Clock II