Anniston 5 July 2024 - The sickness spreads

I am feeling somewhat better today, but Jo is not, and Karen and Robbie are also sick. Not much happened - which is a good thing for all of us.

Lunch from Chick-fil-A. Dinner was cooked by Robert - he is a good cook, and I always enjoy the meals he cooks.

The general election has produced the promised Labour Landslide, although with the lowest turnout in recent years and also the lowest vote share for the winning party. This makes the government less than legitimate, but that is not how they will see it.  Reform (a right wing party) has split the Tory vote in many seats so our 'First-past-the-post' system has delivered a labour (left-wing) government, when the will of those who voted was for a more right-wing government.

Anniston 4 July 2024 - Fireworks and other wasteful things

The world in America is different today, shops have limited opening hours. The place we tried to go to for lunch was heaving. So we headed to Whataburger. This was one of three choices offered by our host.  It was his least favourite, but democracy has a role to play in every family, so off we went - 3 votes for, 1 against and 2 abstentions.  It was nice enough, but there was a huge amount of plastic waste. The trays containing the food are great quality and just dumped in the rubbish (trash) after use - maybe 'whatawaste' instead of WhataBurger.

After lunch, we were driven around JSU, and some of Robert's childhood / student haunts.  It is fascinating to hear his stories.  Then we drove out to Chimney Peak Lookout tower.  On the way saw deer and turkeys on the ‘country’ road.

The view from Chimney Peak Lookout tower

We then went out again to see the fireworks at 9pm. As we have in previous years, in other places, we watched from well away from the main display. We are in a car park (parking lot) near a church, and have to select our spot carefully to see through the trees. There are quite a few others around, the atmosphere is jovial and friendly.

In the UK, the general election is going well. The exit poll is predicting a labour landslide.

The video is 20 seconds from the middle of the display. The finale is truly amazing, but by then I was 'in the moment'.

Now, I am suspecting that my illness was not from the vaccination, as Jo has stayed in the house and is sleeping because she is not feeling well. 

4 July 
Just this year, I have heard of Native Americans, in particular, who do not celebrate Independence Day, because it did not give them independence.  There are others, too, who find themselves in that category - descendants of slaves, for example. This is just another one of those things that divides us. In my earlier life, the complaint against fireworks was always the waste of money - which in one sense it is. Of course, we do need something to bring us together as our society seems more fractured every year.

Anniston 3 July 2024 - Pools and Guns

After a poor night's sleep, I am not feeling great today.  I have a fever, a headache, a groggy throat and am beyond tired.  My assumption is that the cause is the recent Pneumonia vaccination.

Nothing much is planned, and even less happens.  Karen gets lunch from Panera Bread.  The soup is lovely.  The Crosby's arrive soon after we finish eating, and everyone gets ready to visit the pool, which is part of the 'estate' Karen and Robert live on.  I retire to sleep.  Later all of us go to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner.  I have salmon, (I don't eat cow), with rice and a side salad that is covered in too much blue cheese dressing.  Rarely if ever will I complain about blue cheese anything.

I spoke to the waitress a little when I got the 'credit card protocol' wrong, and explained that I was English.  England is a place she has always wanted to visit, and was asking about the differences. I mentioned guns, that we don't own them, and she said most of the people in the restaurant were probably carrying a gun.  That was not a comfort - it did not make me feel safer.  I was glad to be out of there. 

Sunday, April 29th @ 10:00am at Christ Church, and the week leading up to it

It's a 5th Sunday - so different things happen. Today is also the AGM day. We had a short service of the word. I was leading and Jane preaching - a short reflection on the reinstatement of Peter in John. Warner was leading the music. Then there was coffee - a very long queue today. Then there was the Annual General Meeting. Quite a lot of people stayed - more than usual, so this format has worked well.

From Thursday until today I have not been well again. Jo had a stomach upset last weekend and into Monday and Tuesday. Mine started Wednesday, and allowed by sinus infection to take hold again. So I was not at work Thursday and Friday. I wasn't much better on Saturday, but did manage some reading for the God & Evil Essay. (I haven't had a bet that I can list the days of the week in a blog entry in order and have it make sense on Sunday.)

Then it was back to God and Evil - Theodicy. I'll pose a question:

If the creation was perfect, how come there is sin? Surely if there is sin there must have be some imperfection in creation?

I'd like to offer a prize to any really good answers, but it's impractical, however I might be able to credit you in my essay.