Book Reviews and Miscellanous Happenings...

Book Reviews:



Ehrman presents the New Testament gospels with a very practicle assessment, "...authors of the New Testament were very much like the scribes who would later transmit those authors' writings. The authors too were human beings with needs, beliefs, worldviews, opinions, loves, hates, longings, desires, stuations, problems-and surely all those things affected what they wrote." (p.211) The Gospels present Jesus from different perspectives. Ehrman says people want to make the Gospels say the same things when, in fact, they don't. Anytime you try to make one gospel meld into another and encompass everything you are creating your own gospel. The canonized scriptures have gone through a whinnowing process with some seen as heretical during one generation to become the orthodoxy of another. When you pick up your Bible try to read vertically and take the stories at their face value to see what the author was trying to convey without trying to meld them into one.




The gals at my book group did not even get a smidge interested in my most recent read. The Lives of Ants by Laurent Keller and Elisabeth Gordon. I did not let that deter me in my enthusiasm to learn about ants. This book did not dissappoint. To preface my comments I was the kid who was forever fascinated by ants in their various forms and also quite happy to mow them over with the lawn mower.

To pull the lawn mower stunt, do the following:

1. Wear long pants (light colors are best)
2. white socks (the better to see, flick, fling and squish)
3. Tennis shoes (they love to sting the webbing of your toes)
4. make sure the bagger attachment is off
5. zoom over them...feel free to giggle manically...and make sure you don't step in the very angry swarm of ants.

I used to grab my brother, Denny's, cool Matchbox cars (the ones that the doors opened and the trunk) and would create people out of juniper berries or ants. Apparently the ants I used were not fire ants or Solenopsis Invicta, because they were larger and didn't sting me.
Once,my brother was attacked by fire ants, and being autistic, didn't know what to do. Luckily my mom thought quickly and tore off his tube socks (rockin' 70's coolness) and put them on her hands to create gloves and slap them off. Poor Denny spent awhile in the tub as mom lanced the venom sites and gave him Benadryl for the antihistamine.
I used to feed the ants whole Ritz crackers just to watch what they would do with it. (This can create a good hour of fun for kids you just don't know what else to do with). My grandmother would get the small black ants in her kitchen in Phenix City, Alabama. She called them "Piss Ants", but my mother says that is not the correct term, nor is it polite. I think it pretty muched summed up how Mama Doris felt when they got into her kitchen.
At Girls' Camp, one year, we feed peanut M&Ms to the ants to change them colors. It was so cool to see a bunch of yellow ants walk by, then the next day to turn them green. This history should give you a little insight into why I'm fascinated by ants.

Back to the book, ants are in every part of the world and invasive species have hit in a big way with no turning back. Thanks to the trade we get to live with fire ants in the South. I've heard that Texas officials are using Crazy Ants to combat Fire Ants, but I don't know if anyone wins in the long term with that approach. The writers of the book would love to see the genome decoded for the fire ant since it is the most studied. They hope to learn about the disparity of aging among the queen, workers and males. Humans may benefit by learning how to live longer. We may learn how to use some of the chemicals that ants use as fungicides among other helpful uses.
This book explains that ants evolved from solitary wasps. They have an advanced chemical communication system. Some can produce sexually, asexually and some can clone themselves. There are monogynous and polygynous colonies. There are even supercolonies. Scientists have used computer modeling based on ants to help with traffic patters, telephone networks, and identifying defaulters for bank loans. There is so much to learn and so much we don't know. This book is well written and presents some amazing information about the ever present ant.


*Eve stated incredulously, "Why would someone blog about ants? That is weird!"

:::::::::::::New Vehicle:::::::

Well I am happy to say that I'm driving a manual transmission again! It is funny that Americans have such a disdain for stick shifts. I do have to keep readjusting the seat because Michael loves to drive it too. We got a 2009 Subaru Forester. The kids love the moon roof and the reclining back seats. Did I say I get to shift the car when I went. (Control Freak...NOT). Bonus, it is green. Michael asked the salesman if it came with an optional bumper sticker package that had a "Love Your Mother" and "Coexist". He wondered if there was a "no shaving your legs" clause. This dealership did not, apparently, participate in such programs. In fact, I had shaved my legs that very day and they let me drive off the lot with the car.

Our other vehicle was donated to WABE, a public radio station, and we are waiting to see if they get anything for it. Any funds will be tax deductible. We remembered to take the cotton candy machine out of the back for the guy came to pick it up. Can't be without that thingy.

:::::::::School Stuff:::::::

I'm back to being "The Yearbook Lady", volunteering in the Media Center and being Eve's Room Mom. One of the biggest struggles is making sure everyone has clean socks. It is one of the few things I can control to some degree.

::::::::::Nursery Stuff:::::

The nursery was split this Sunday. As overwhelming as it is with the sheer numbers of kids I still miss the little ones. The sisters in the younger nursery are awesome ladies. The young woman who help are behind amazing. I was running back and forth to get the new nursery their snacks, extra toys and books. The new nursery got a locking cabinet, so we will get everything set up by Sunday.
One of our little girls is having a hard time readjusting after summer vacation. The young woman I mentioned brought in a couple of Barbies which helped a lot. About an hour into the day our little one sat next to me when I invited her to play with blocks with another girl and she said, "I'm sorry." I said what are you sorry about? Crying?" She said yes. Then I asked her if she wanted a hug, but that it was okay if she didn't want one. She said, "No." I told her that was cool and I was glad she was feeling better. Michael was listening to this exchange and trying not to laugh at loud at how serious she was when say this. I told her mom and her mom said she is in a "Sorry" phase. Never a dull moment, people!
We have a new nursery chorister and she is so enthusiastic. Michael helped her husband change a flat tire on Sunday. I'm so thankful that Michael is a Jack of All Trades, so he can help people. He didnt' even get his tie, or white shirt dirty...sweet!

:::::::::::Busy Night:::::

Michael took Eve to gymnastics so I could attend a PTA Board Meeting. More good hubby and dad points for him.

:::::::::::Cake Final::::



This cake was for my Wilton Art Class III final. Eve loved eating the green leaves. The girls requested the Easter Lily, so I piped 33 of them. A few are left in the shoe box. It is a white cake with buttercream icing and covered in vanilla fondant. Michael and I are collaborating on a cool cake that is a surprise for someone and I hope it turns out they way we envision it.

Well, that hateful laundry calls. I usually subscribe anthropromorphic traits to my laundry. It makes me feel better somehow.

Later, gators!