The Maxwell House

This past weekend we enjoyed a night together at the Alaska State fair, hanging out with friends (old and new) at the Collective Soul concert. I remember back in college before we were dating, Kevin and I spent a super-de-duper fun night cruising Anchorage, listening to our favorite tunes (including Collective Soul’s “Run”) while flipping a quarter to determine whether we should turn left or right at each light. So here, for your perusing pleasure, the lyrics for “Run”. Oh, and by the way, I don’t get most lyrics. I mean, I wanna be cool and understand what the artist is trying to convey, but usually I just don’t get “it”. This reminds me of my inability to understand poetry until I’ve read the piece aloud several times. Anyway…

“Run”

Are these times contagious
I’ve never been this bored before
Is this the prize I’ve waited for
Now as the hours passing
There’s nothing left here to mature
I long to find a messenger

Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x2]

Is there a cure among us
From this processed sanity
I weaken with each voice that sings
In this world of purchase
I’m going to buy back memories
To awaken some old qualities

Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x2]
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x4]
[background:]
Have I got a long way to run [x4]

Although still in a bit of a pensive state, I feel compelled to share about our recent adventures in Sitka, if only to entice you for a visit someday. So here’s my attempt to drag you along (kicking and screaming?)

• We introduced Sitka’s Highliner Cafe to the Bratte (thanks Kaladis!) Alright, so it wasn’t their first time making a half latte, half breve, but they sure gave hubby a wierd look when he ordered the first time. I wonder if they noticed the abrupt stop to this daily order after our week long vacation? “That half-late, half-breve girl must be gone. Oh good, she sounded like such a dork always asking for a ‘Bratte’. Some people are just strange…”
• I miss my boots. In Sitka you can wear your x-tra tuffs everyday and no one looks at you funny. Try that here and people think you’re wierd.
• This is Sandy Beach. Much of the time the actual sand is underwater, but we still call it Sandy Beach. It’s as close to a real beach as you can get. Unless of course you have the time to load the family into your skiff and hunt for beach out of town. Local kids can be found swimming here. It’s freezing, even in July. Those kids are crazy.

• One of the highlites of the trip was our excursion out to the “bunkers”. During the 1940’s the military emplaced 3 large caliber guns along a causeway stretching out into Sitka Sound. Along with the batteries were built several support facilities. Several of these abandoned structures are accesible by a short skiff ride from town.

This is one of the first structures you’ll encounter, a concrete quonset-hut style built in the side of the hill.Once you step in the door, you’re inside a huge open area. Can you imagine exploring inside this cavern alone, and hearing a ghostly voice calling to you from a far corner? As Kevin about his experience 😉

This is the dual-level observation post. Kevin says this structure looks like something out of Halo. The gun battery is located just down the hill. Now the area is covered by moss, underbrush, and trees, but it’s easy to imagine what it must have looked like during its heyday.

Our picnic spot. Notice the gun emplacement location in the foreground? You can also see the entrance to the largest structure. Up the hill is the observation post.

Again, the entrance to the structure located behind the battery. This is a large concrete building with several rooms, two (or more?) floors, and two additional large entrances/exits. We spent the majority of our time exploring this area. I say “we”, but I really don’t mean me because, honestly, I was too chicken to do much exploring. Even with a flashlight it was just a bit too eery for me. The best part about these buildings is that there is no tour guide, signs, or anything to indicate that more than a handful of people explore this are each year. A high school friend maintains a very informative site about all of the war time operations and structures built in Sitka. There are some neat pictures from this site’s operating days. It gives me shivers to imagine all the men stationed here, keeping watch and manning these huge guns, anticipating an attack at any moment. They had every reason to believe an attack on the air station was imminent. Perhaps we’ll make a point of exploring some of the other areas next time we’re in town.

I almost accomplished a political post in time for the primaries. Almost. Seriously, there’s even a draft half-finished. Sigh. Perhaps I’ll get it finished in time for the general election. And you know what else? I’m still not even sure who I’m voting for in the senate race. Terrible, huh? It’s the day before the election and I’m still wavering. Kevin and I are planning to review the KTOO debate tonight (we TIVO’d it, but I think it’s also available on youtube), and then we’ll decide. I’m kind of silly about voting for people. I might like 99 percent of what someone says, but if they do one goofy thing (like, uh, I dunno, produce ads that do nothing but knock their opponent) I’m torn.

So, I don’t yet know how I’m going to vote tomorrow, but I do know one thing: I AM A FOOL. Ouch. That kind of hurts to write and mean it, but I do. A majority of the time when I read in the bible about something a fool does vs. a wise man, my actions are easily joined to that of the fool. Ugh. And then today, a reminder from James’ letter to the scattered Christians (I recently learned those folks are called the diaspora. Don’t you just love all those theologicky soundin’ words?!):

Who among you is wise and understanding? (not me!) Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart (I do, I do!), do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. (Aaaaah!) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peacable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (3:13-18)

Let’s just say that I have more in common with the first part of that section than I’d prefer to admit. Ugh. But wait! There it is, my hope! “But the wisdom from above is…” James knows where to find what I need. I want that kind of wisdom, because without it I’ll just live and die a fool. Lucky for me (ha) earlier in the letter, James explains how to obtain this wisdom from above.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  (1:5,6)

Alrighty then, that sounds simple enough. I’ll ask, because I know I’m just a fool. Lord, I don’t doubt you! You have done nothing but good for me, though I have deserved nothing. Rather, I deserve the eternal Hell that you have redeemed me from. I am forever indebted. Come to think of it, a bit of wisdom would really just be “icing on the cake”.

I find it ironic that yesterday morning, at the EXACT moment LK was encouraging our congregation to enjoy the delicacies of the local donut shop, my sweet hubby was driving to said shop in search of a hot breakfast treat. No, we weren’t just flat-out skipping church, we had spent the full day Saturday (and night) with two pukey boys. Sunday morning (seeing that we wouldn’t be heading to corporate worship) a sugar-packed sweet and a giant americano were necessities. And they were mostly enjoyed to the fullest, although I admit to feeling a little bit of guilt after inhaling the donut(s). Upon hearing the missed (boo hoo!) sermon today, I hereby promise in the future to (1) slow down and savor the next donut, and (2) not feel guilty.

And for a little proof that our absence was excused, here are the sickies:

Oh, and the real irony? The shop was closed.