Thanksgiving turned out well. We went to Brandon's mom's house to eat, and I actually baked pumpkin pies for the occasion. The food was great and we all pretty much stuffed ourselves as is tradition. Sean came over to our apartment later and we played Scrabble and video games for the rest of the night. Get this. Sean won. He beat Brandon, the Scrabble champion in pretty much any game he played. But the best part was, he beat us mostly with one teeny tiny word. Zig. Lucky devil.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Don't glutton too much, and don't choke on dry turkey or anything.

Wendy and I were married on the same day as Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley. They're now getting a divorce. We, on the other hand, love being married.

The "Santa Ana Winds" were blowing today. I really hate those things. They're basically those desert winds you can only compare to something in a movie that cause you to severly regret wearing contacts while you're outside. I don't know, maybe they aren't so bad. Perhaps I'll start growing really long eyelashes to protect my eyes from the dust. Oh, and all of the cars in the parking lot at work were united in their dirtiness. I can't count how many times I overheard a conversation about how clean someone's car was before they came to work. I like this wind okay, I think.

On Friday night, Wendy and I went to a class that Seth was teaching. The class was on apologetics at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Costa Mesa. Wendy and I paid close attention to everything that Seth was teaching. We took notes (or drew) on old reciepts. Here is my presentation of Seth's class:

Tonight we got our most recent wedding gift. It was a gift card, so we used it to get a couch cover. See, we love the couch we have, which Brandon's mom so kindly is letting us use. It's extremely comfortable and is made perfectly for tall people, which is great for Brandon yet doesn't hurt short little me. However, we wanted a navy blue couch. So, it was logical to get a couch cover. There's just one thing. Because of the way our couch is made, the one-size-fits-all thing is a load of crap. When we first put it on, we stared in extreme disappointment for a few minutes.
"It's horrible. Maybe it would be okay if we knew how to sew, but it's hopeless." Brandon lamented.
I wasn't as quick to pack the couch cover back up and hunt down the receipt, even if it did resemble a big blue shar-pei.
"But sweeetie... Look how well the color goes with the painting on the wall. Oh, and it looks so good with the beech wood on the tables and shelf. And it won't show stains at all...almost. C'mon. All we need to do is tuck it in like crazy."
"And the wrinkles?" Judging by his tone, he wasn't nearly convinced.
"Err... They'll smooth out eventually I'm sure."
After tucking the thing in for a while and spraying it with water, it's looking normal. I'm happy, and Brandon said we can keep it.

Heheh. I have my own revenge when it comes to what we watch. I mentioned earlier how Brandon loves to subject me to such hits as Super Mario Brothers and Free Willy 2. Well, I happen to like The Cosby Show. I don't really know why. Maybe it's to acheive that euphoric feeling. I dunno. But they're a perfectly nondysfunctional family, and it's great. However, if I could find Good Times I'd watch that, too. Growing up, my friend Boo and I would call each other when Good Times came on and sing the opening song together. If you've never heard the opening song, the humour is lost on you. Hehe. Brandon would like that way better than watching the Cosby's.

Jesus loves me, this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.

Speaking of music... I think my boss is trying to torture me with the music at my work. Okay, so he probably isn't, but think about the evidence. For one thing, I'm the only one in my building who can clearly hear the overhead speakers. The salespeople's area has the speakers turned down. The musical torment started with a cheesy station that played a bunch of 80's and Kenny G. A month or two later, he turned it to a station that forced a barrage of Janet Jackson, beastly pop, and a bit of country. That was a struggle, but I adjusted to it.

But not this. It's the all Christmas music station, all the time. At first I was highly amused. The first song I actually heard was "Gloria" composed of meowing cat sounds. Afterward it was some lady crooning something about "Santa Baby" which was kind of sickening since I never imagined Santa being someone's baby. Bleh. But then it got not so funny. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" reminded me that I wouldn't. I know, here is home. But California doesn't feel like home just yet. Then "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" which would seriously be a weird dream considering it was 80 degrees today. Then some stupid song about how there's no place like home for the holidays drilled it in, and afterward some song actually listed off how Christmas with your mom, dad, and sister (not brother, mind you) would be better. This sent me into a bad mood. I knew it would be this way when I moved, and it was worth it. I love my husband and generally am extremely happy, but I miss my friends and family. Hopefully I won't let the Christmas commercialized propaganda get to me in the future. I'll just focus on songs like "Jingle Bells" by barking dogs, and maybe I won't get homesick.

Certain songs are just better than others. This of course applies also to worship music. Today, I was reminded of a song I like, "God of Wonders" by Third day. One of the reason why some songs are better than others are because of the lyrics. This is a song that glorifies God, while many other songs just say, "Help me. Make me feel good."

God Of Wonders - Third Day (on the City on a Hill album)

Lord of all creation
Of water, earth, and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
Precious Lord reveal Your heart to me
Father holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

And when we woke up this morning, Lord Byron was back in his cage. We'd left the cage open on the floor, not really expecting him to return. I guess he thought he'd sneak back in and get food and water before we woke, but Brandon woke up early and snapped the hamster cage shut upon seeing Lord Byron inside. Now the cage door is locked. That oughta keep him.

"Wendy, wake up! Lord Byron is out of his cage!"

Not exactly the best way to wake up on a Saturday morning. I knew his cage was shut last night, because I saw him inside while I was cleaning and he ran to his little tunnel upon seeing me. I guess the cage door wasn't shut well, because he was able to get out. I don't think Lord Byron knows what he's in for, because if he gets outside he'll find every one of our neighbors has a cat. And their cat is probably outside. Brandon's afraid to sit down because he might smoosh the hamster. Hopefully he'll run back to his cage when he get's hungry. Though, if he were smart, he would have stored a week's worth of food in his cheeks. "Come back, Hammy," Brandon is saying.

We tried to make some carrot bread tonight, but something went wrong. The bread wouldn't stop from being mushy in the middle. The outsides were great, but the middle kinda stunk. Well, I just thought that I'd blog to let you all know that we're all still alive. :·)

I dreamed last night that Brandon and I had to go back to high school because we took a semester off from college. I dreamed the principal was talking to us, and he said "Now, Brandon, you're going to probably stand out because you look so old compared to the students. Wendy, you'll fit in fine." I woke up annoyed.

Today I put laundry in two of the washing machines in the laundry room near our apartment. The third machine was broken, no surprise. There are two other laundry rooms at our small complex. Anyway, I totally forgot about the clothes for about an hour, which is only about 15 minutes after they're done anyway. When I neared the laundry room, I noticed that the washing machines were silent. I ventured inside and was startled by a girl standing behind the door. The lights weren't even on. She'd been brooding in the dark, accompanied by her laundry and detergent. Waiting for the culprit, me. The insensitive beast who'd forgotten her clothes. I immediately began tossing my clothes into two dryers. I was delighted when, as soon as I cleared out the first washing machine, another lady walked in and started packing her laundry into it. The brooding girl had been waiting for me, the enemy, to leave before she put her clothes in and now she'd lost her chance. Har.

It's raining here in Southern California for the first time in I don't know how long. This means that everybody drives super slow, my car is the cleanest it's been in weeks, and all the major headlines have something to do with "Stormwatch 2002." Also, the answer to Guess that Heretic! is Clarence Larkin (Dispensational Truth · Chapter 25).

So in my desperation because Brandon and I have yet to visit a library or a bookstore this week (not counting Archives Bookshop), I've been reading the Encyclopedia at work. That's right, and it's dated as well. The computer is still the size of a room, the Berlin wall is standing strong, and they're hoping to cure the black plague. Okay, so the last was exaggerated. Anyway, I've made it all the way to F, though I must admit much was skimmed. Highlights of book D are when you learn all about dogs and how to play with or escape the attack one. "To play with a dog, get on all fours. Make bright facial expressions and pant (panting in dog language is equivalent to laughter). Lunge forward to say 'I'm going to get you.' Lunge backward to say 'come catch me!'"

And what if Fido goes bad? "Do not make direct eye contact with an angry dog, he may see it as a challenge. Even if a dog is growling, if he wags his tail, he may simply want to play. Do not run from the dog, because this may spark his chase impulse and you may get bitten. Lean forward toward the dog, partially to show that you are unafraid, partially so you can withstand an attack. If the dog does attack, cover your face with anything you may have. Bring your knee up into the dog's chest and firmly scream 'GO HOME!'" The rules for protecting yourself from an attacking dog also apply to an overly zealous admirer.

And now for a game of Guess that Heretic! Okay, here's how it works. I list a piece of material from someone's book, and you have to guess the guy who wrote it. Sounds easy, huh? Just place your guess in the comments section. Let's play:

If God could take off Elijah for the purpose of sending him back again to herald the Second Coming of the Lord, surely God can take off representative men from the nations and put them back again on the New Earth to repopulate it. If this is not God's plan then we have one type in the Scriptures that has no antitype, for Noah's Ark, which is a type, has no antitype unless it be this.

It is clear from the Scriptures that God does not purpose to create a new race for the New Earth. His promise as to Israel is that the descendants of Abraham shall inherit this earth for a "thousand generations," or 33,000 years; now this is not possible unless they are transplanted to the New Earth. And this is just what God has promised.

"For as the New Heavens and the New Earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall Your 'Seed' and Your 'Name' REMAIN." Isa. 66:22.

It seems clear from the presence of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, that God intended the human race to populate the Earth, and when it became too thickly populated, to use the surplus population to colonize other spheres. Our "Solar System" is only in its infancy. The Earth is the only one of its planets as yet habitable. Where are the inhabitants for the other planets to come from? Think you that the planets of our Solar System, and the planets of other solar systems, of which the stars are the suns, were made simply to adorn the heavens for our little earth? God does not plan things on a Small Scale, and it magnifies His power and wisdom to believe that He created man in His own likeness, a created being higher than the angels, and gifted with the power of Procreation, that He might by means of him populate the Universe. This magnifies the Scheme of Redemption. Think you that God gave His Son to die on Calvary just to redeem a few millions of the human race? Why He could have blotted them out, as He probably did the Preadamite race, and created a new race, and Satan would have laughed because he had the second time blocked God's plan for the peopling of this earth.

No, God will not permit Satan to block His plan for peopling this earth with a Sinless Human Race. The death of Christ was not merely to redeem a few millions of the human race, but to redeem the Earth, and the Race Itself from the curse of sin, and the dominion of Satan.

The Apostle James tells us that we are only the "First Fruits" of His Creatures." James 1:18. What then must the HARVEST BE?

The Universe is young yet. We are only in the beginning of things, for "Of the increase of His government and peace THERE SHALL BE NO END." Isa. 9:7.

When this Earth shall have gone through its "Baptism of Fire," and shall be again fit for the occupancy of man, the representatives of the "Saved Nations" (Rev. 21:24) will be men and women in whom no taint of sin will remain, and who cannot therefore impart it to their offspring, who will be like the offspring of Adam and Eve would have been if they had not sinned. This magnifies the whole scheme of redemption, and justifies God in the creation of the human race.

I must love Brandon a lot. I'm missing the National Peanut Festival for him!

We spent much of the day in Pasadena at Archives Bookshop (Brandon's heaven). I was good for a whole hour, silently reading a book I'd found, until finally it felt like I was at work (seeing as how much of my job is reading, waiting for the phone to ring). So I got up and started urging Brandon to wrap things up so we could go. Unfortunately, just as the novelty of the book store was wearing off, our friend arrived and they spent another hour trying to agree on a book.

The remainder of the day (after stopping at In N Out for lunch) was spent cleaning our apartment. Heheh. The news just announced something about a conspiracy to kidnap Posh Spice. They're late! Everyone wanted that back when they were popular.

Alright, I added the Halloween 2002 pictures to our site. Enjoy!