Monday, October 30, 2006

Today was Becca and my second outing… and power outage. We woke up to no power this morning. There was power when the guys left for work, but when us girls got up a couple hours later, nothing, nada, zilch!

Becca got dressed and went outside to check the breaker box. They were all flipped to the ‘on’ side. She used her cell phone to call Jariah and see if he had any ideas. He just told her to turn them all off and then back on. It was a miracle and came back on… for a few minutes, then shut back off again. I don’t understand it, because we didn’t plug anything new in, but, I guess that’s what you get with wiring like there is on this fine, fine home.

Becca went back out and tried again, nothing. She called Jariah back, and he told her to check some weird plug thing in our hallway. We changed all 4 of those plugs, and then Becca headed back outside to try the breaker again. Nothing. So she called Jariah yet again and he just said he would come home and check it out. Becca and I headed out to get Brandon something to eat because he was starving and not very accepting about the fact that we couldn’t make him anything.

When we came back, Jariah had already figured it out and got the power back on for us. There is actually a whole other power box up above the one Becca kept messing with that controls everything else. We were just going to come back in and stay at home, however, there was a vagabond/gangster looking guy standing across the street watching the whole proceeding, so we jumped back in the car and took off the same time as Jariah.

We went to Olive Garden for salad, breadsticks and of course some Bellini Iced Tea!!! Then we headed back to our house because Brandon was ready for a nap. When we got back to where the house is, there was a group of about 6 shady looking characters hanging out right in front of our fence, so we decided to drive around the block, and wait them out. When we came back by about 10 minutes later, there was no one around, so we got the gate unlocked and got into the house safe and sound. No other incidents to report at this time. I’ll keep you posted. =)

44 comments:

Sharla said...

See, its just as Zion expected. You girls are finally used to the neighborhood and feeling right at home!

BeccaHolsapple said...

Yeah aren't we brave...of course we're not quite official members of the 'hood yet, but we're well on our way...hehe

Hully said...

Crackers.

Jeshanah said...

LoL

Unknown said...

The guys didn't have a problem with the power going off because they were up early.

The moral of the story: don't sleep in.

*ducks*

Hully said...

LOL PMB. That is a snap-dog-job post!

Jeshanah said...

Hahaha, you guys. We still would have had a power outage, we just would have already been awake for a while before it happened. So, I don't get it, but it was wise of you to duck! =)

Sharla said...

Ha Ha. Justin did something well at the store today and he said he did a snap-dog job! We all cracked up. You are so funny, Shan, we all miss you so much.

Sharla said...

Zion

What did Brother Branham say about the (spirit?) being close by the mother right before the birth of a baby? Has Brother Jeff said things about unborn babies not having souls yet?
I know I've heard that somewhere cause I've wondered before about how bad abortion really is in light of that argument.
I've decide even if ther baby doesn't have a soul yet, it is still a life. Due to that, I still believe it should be against the law. A kitten doesn't have a soul but there are laws against abuse to animals, Why not sweet little babies, with or without souls. It still has to hurt.
I'm sure this is another absurd non sequitor. I hope Israel doesn't feel the need to explain it's definition to me again, like I've never heard the words sequence or sequel! lol. < rolls eyes >

Jeshanah said...

He was probably just trying to help us out, in case our pea-size, ultra conservative brains couldn't break down such a difficult word.

But of course, even I know what a sequel is!!! (He must have been talking about the dumb 2nd or 3rd movie that comes out after a blockbuster hit!!) =)

Israel said...

Sharla:

I think that's a great question...

I guess the question in my mind would be how long after conception does it become a "sweet little baby?"

At some point it goes from being a potential baby, to a baby -- so when does this happen?

I think "the quickening," might be the point.

I do have a problem with people who claim that the morning-after pill should be outlawed because it kills "sweet little babies."

Or people who claim that all contraception should be outlawed because it kills "sweet little babies."

I just like to see a little more technical definition of your "sweet little baby" term, so that I can know what you are talking about.

I also think that your choice of language might be an attempt to guilt trip me, because I don't think it's the government's role to ban all contraception, (morning after pills etc.) and to force women to have these potential babies even if they decide the very next day that they don't want to have a the child or later on it is determined that they can't have the child because they have a medical condition which would cause them to lose their own lives in the process.

Plus, I also don't like bringing this subject up completely out of context and I think it should have been posted on John's Blog where I clearly stated that I was very much against abortion.

Sharla said...

Well, I was hoping Zion would weigh in on this because we always look to him for questions about the word. He is great with that. He has spent so much time listening to Brother Branham and he can remember things and put them together with scriptures. I don't know if everyone knows that about Zion. I've never seen him on John's blog and John had moved onto other things before I found time to comment.
Israel, I didn't mean to make it look on here like you supported abortion, I know you don't. This was a sincere question for Zion because I really have wondered about this topic for years. I know probably the VAST majority of children that would be born into families that would want to abort them would be coming into lousy homes anyway. I remember Bro Branham talking about the spirit making the expectant mother be real sweet, was that the baby's spirit or the baby's guardian angel or what?
But I have seen lots of pics and models of unborn babies and they say they can feel pain and back away from instrument trying to kill them. Is that just a bunch of fanatics making that up or what? I don't think birth control is the same as abortion. I don't know how old they are when they can feel pain. I brought up kittens because they are about the same size as very small babies. They don't have souls, but it is and should be illegal to torture them. I said sweet little babies because that is how I think of little babies, not to make you feel guilty. Why should that make you feel guilty? I don't get that.

Sharla said...

Israel
I think you really are a little paranoid, you should probably be seeing someone for that. I know I am not as intelligent as you are. If I were I would have people paying me five hundred bucks and hour for being smart. But, on the other hand, I also know that I am not a moron. Neither are any of the members of our family or most of our friends. When you call us morons, or insinuate that you are the only one on here who has ever considered anything deeper than color wheels or cute clothes, I laugh at you because you are being silly. I assure you that not every thing I say is meant to give you a guilt trip, or set you up in any way.

Sharla said...

I also said "sweet little babies" as opposed to the kittens about the same size. Everyone thinks little kittens are cute, but babies are even sweeter. I actually hate cats, but I don't want to see anything suffer.

Israel said...

Paint fumes?

Israel said...

Perhaps?

Sharla said...

perhaps

Israel said...

Here's the thing...

You have twice brought up the subject of abortion right out of the blue and for no apparant reason other than to hit me over the head with it.

Lemme tell you how much Republicans care about abortion.

I had an 18-year-old client who showed up for a routine prenatal physical and the doctor gave her an abortion by mistake.

He ran one of those abortion mills and he assumed that she didn't speak English (she did) He just drugged her and went right to work without talking to her about what he was doing. No informed consent, no paperwork filled out, nothing, just straight to the abortion.

I sued him and he lost his license as a result.

I contacted every major anti-abortion advocate in California and Washington D.C., told them about the case and offered to help change the law in California to require informed consent and a waiting period before someone could get an abortion.

Thousands of sweet little babies could be saved and my client was willing to use her horror story to prevent something like this from happening again.

Guess what, numerous, numerous long detailed voice messages and e-mails later, and not a single returned Phone Call from your big shot Republican Anti-abortion advocates.

Not a single call or e-mail returned. Not one.

They don't care Sharla.

All they care about is that Republican Christians keep pulling the lever for their candidates every election like a bunch of trained monkeys.

If abortion was outlawed, maybe those Christians would open their eyes and see that the Republicans are a disgusting cess pool of hypocrisy and stop supporting them.

They can't get rid of abortion, it's their meal ticket...

I don't want to talk about abortion, I told you how I feel about it, but you keep bringing it up.

Jeshanah said...

That's just it, Israel, she wasn't talking to YOU about it, she was asking HER SON- IN- LAW a question! Back off and stop thinking everything is about you. It's not. Not everything everyone says is about you or directed towards you or requires your input. If you re-read my moms post, you'll notice that she addressed Zion at the beginning, and didn't in any way say Israel, I need your opinion on this. She was asking a biblical question, why would you feel the need to respond to that?

Jeshanah said...

Or was your whole previous post a joke?....

Israel said...

Nope it wasn't a joke. It's 100% true.

Was she also addressing Zion on John's blog?

Go back and look, because it sure seems like she was addressing me on John's blog. That's why I thought the question here was for my benefit and that's why I responded.

I still want to hear what Zion has to say and I have no problem with discussing this issue on John's blog or not discussing it at all.

I have already been chided twice by different people about discussing it here, so I thought you might want us to take it elsewhere.

I'll respect your wishes on this so just let me know...

Israel said...

Also if you check John's blog you will see the terms "baby killer" and "murderer" bandied about.

Maybe that's why I'm a little sensitive.

Or maybe I am paranoid and I should take your mom's advice and seek professional help.

Israel said...

This comment was directed directly to me I believe...

SHARLA:

"I for one am dumber than a box of rocks. I am so ignorant and unlearned that when I was pregnant I thought that first mass of tissue inside of me was Jessica. I didn't know it was just tissue and I had evey right to kill it. All the intelligent people know that was actually part of MY body. Come to find out it had nothing to do with Gary either. Just part of my own body. Boy am I dumb!"

TO WHICH I RESPONDED:

"I am against unfettered access to abortion. (I am personally very much against abortion. I would advise anyone who was considering getting one not to. I believe there should be reasonable restrictions imposed, and I have contacted anti-abortion groups to try to assist in passing reasonable waiting-time and informed consent legislation. HOWEVER I do not believe it is the government's role to be making medical decisions that would be best left to a woman, her husband and her doctor. If I had to chose between the life of my wife or that of an unborn fetus, I would chose my wife. I would hope that does not make me a murdering baby-killer. I do not believe a fetus has a soul or is a human being until "the quickening" occurs. I do not believe that a sperm and an egg or a collection of fewer than 10 cells equals a human being.

People who are extremists on either side of this issue and cannot see shades of gray or understand its complexity scare me."

TO WHICH THE RTESPONSE WAS:

Zion

What did Brother Branham say about the (spirit?) being close by the mother right before the birth of a baby? Has Brother Jeff said things about unborn babies not having souls yet?
I know I've heard that somewhere cause I've wondered before about how bad abortion really is in light of that argument.
I've decide even if ther baby doesn't have a soul yet, it is still a life. Due to that, I still believe it should be against the law. A kitten doesn't have a soul but there are laws against abuse to animals, Why not sweet little babies, with or without souls. It still has to hurt.
I'm sure this is another absurd non sequitor. I hope Israel doesn't feel the need to explain it's definition to me again, like I've never heard the words sequence or sequel! lol. < rolls eyes >"

DOES THAT GIVE YOU A CLUE AS TO WHY I THOUGHT THAT COMMENT WAS DIRECTED AT ME?

If it wasn't then I apologize, but you can see how I might be confused, right?

Israel said...

"Quickening"

This is when the fetus first moves in the womb. This happens about 16 to 17 weeks after fertilization.

Israel said...

This is interesting...

paste on your url.

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Quickening

Hully said...

Israel,

You and I have discussed abortion at length in private. And for the most part we see eye-to-eye. I hope the use of "murderer" and "baby-killer" was not directed at you by me, because that is not how I think of you.

Israel said...

Nope. Not you, John.

I don't have all the answers and I'm interested in what Zion has to say.

I asked my Dad about the issue long ago and he told me about the quickening and the soul. He said that technically you can't "murder" something that has no soul.

Although I would definitely feel like a "murderer" if I terminated a pregnacy that had the potential to create a baby, for any reason other than to save the life of the mother.

And so my Dad's opinion carries some weight with me even, though it's just his opinion and I'm not sure where he got it.

Hully said...

As best as I know, Bro. Branham never addressed abortion directly. But he did emphatically warn us about the Catholic church. He also told us that politics is of the devil. Now we have a situation where the abortion issue has become so politicized that Protestants have sold out and embraced the Catholic church solely because of the its opposition to abortion. And as a result we now have five Catholics, a majority, sitting on the bench of the Supreme Court. It is just one more example of Bro. Branham's ministry being vindicated.

Sharla said...

Israel,
I will try once again to explain myself, albeit with some trepidation. It seems to me the more I try to explain what I mean, the more I am misunderstood by you.

All I was doing was trying to defend my beliefs, not on abortion, but just stand up for my right to believe the way I do about what is right or wrong, and at the same time defend Paul Michael and Johns right to defend their beliefs without being called morons. What I hear you saying is that all the smart people are democrats and all republicans are ignorant. You can say that, but I can say it's not true. Of course you can make a much better argument than I can, which helps your case, but just because I am not as smart as you, or as capable of making a good argument, doesn't mean I am not as bright as your average democrat or republican. The argument I was trying to make but obviously failed miserably with is that
1. I have THOUGHT about abortion and lots of things. You seem to think that all conservatives just say whatever Bill O'Reilly or somebody says.
2. That I feel there might be some gray areas in the abortion argument, too. Mostly because of Brother Branham seeming to say the baby didn't have a spirit untill birth. But I wasn't able to really remember exactly what he had said about that. You seem to think we (as in me, my kids, Paul Michael) have never considered that there are gray areas. I was trying to say that we have and know that there are.
3. Just because I'm not educated does not mean I am wrong. This was the main thing I was trying to say when I said the whole smart people think Jess was a mass of tissue. Most democrats seem to be in favor of abortion, some even in partial birth abortion. I already knew you did not support abortion because I live with John and he told me he agrees with you on most things and only disagrees with you on a few things. SO I IN NO WAY WAS DIRECTING THAT COMMENT TO YOU IN THAT WAY. I thought we were on the same side on that. I just meant those democrats which you think are all so smart think that one thing, and they are not right. Jess was Jess while she was inside of me. "while you were yet in your mother's womb, I knew you"
Maybe not the first day or even the first month or even the first few months, I don't claim to know. But the day before she was born, I'm pretty sure she was Jess.
Nobody likes to be misunderstood, it makes me very sad for you to be so hostile towards me. I was seriously asking Zion for some answers from the message and I know he doesn't read John's blog. I think he is wise. I believe I will never comment on that one again. I will leave that to the lawyer types which is what I should have done all along. Shan won't care if I talk about anything on here, she understands me.
I'm sorry you thought I was somehow putting you down in some way. I would never seriously do that. I have always respected you very much. Now you can laugh at me for being in too many paint fumes or whatever.

Hully said...

Sharla sed: I know he [Zion] doesn't read John's blog. I think he is wise.

So what is that supposed to mean?!

Israel said...

Sharla:

1) I wasn't trying to be hostile, I definitely feel no hostility toward you. However, I was a little frustrated with the fact that I tried to explain my position on abortion and then you brought it up again so soon in this forum -- for my benefit I felt. (I kinda felt like "well there she goes again about abortion!") But I wasn't hostile and I was definitely consciously trying not to come across as hostile.

2) I don't think you, John and PMB are morons. I appreciate the fact that you defend them. I know that my mother-in-law would definitely agree with anyone who called me a moron so I'm a little jealous of John that's all.

3) The paint fumes, were my misguided attempt to make light of the situation. I did however notice that in all your other postings you made quite a bit of sense and then you just started posting about abortion out of the blue and I was left scratching my head and wondering "Huh?"

I just figured you had just been working way too hard and you had been smelling too many paint fumes and that's why those particular posts were a little hard to follow.

4) Since you have disavowed the Republican party you are now the perfect M-I-L and I renew my invitation to come visit and I continue to offer you honorary M-I-L status, should you wish to accept it.

What else can I do to make you happy? I'll tell you what, next time George W. Bush runs for President I'll vote for him-- how about that!

Israel said...

Please keep posting on John's blog.

I think having your mother-in-law post on your blog is hilarious!

Sharla said...

Israel
Thank you. I've always been so proud to be your honorary M-I-L.
I just took a shower so I could cry a little bit. I HAVE been under a lot of stress these last few weeks. Now when I read your latest comment I've got tears coming down again, but better ones this time. :)

Sharla said...

Israel
I do have a question for you. You said your father-in-law was the smartest man you ever knew. Did he sometimes call you a moron or insinuate that you were dumb? I seriously want to know if he did or not. Also you had great respect for your dad. Did he do that?

(There is no hidden message here, it is an actual question)

Israel said...

My Dad-

He loved to say "Hey Israel, you're not as dumb as you look!" and we would both laugh uproariously as I took it as a high compliment.

That's not the same as calling me dumb obviously, but my dad like to poke fun at lots of stuff I did, especially when I messed up playing sports.

Hey used to yell "Hey Israel, spread Eagle, spread Eagle!" When I was playing football.

See I played on the Eagles and one time when I was running down to cover a kickoff, I fell down without anybody ever touching me and my dad claims I was "Spread Eagle" on the turf.

He recounted that story often and never let me forget it. So he would make fun of me once in a while and I didn't mind, because I knew it was all in fun.

I guess I probably make fun of people a little too much sometimes. I am told that women are these strange sensitive creatures, who take offense at the slightest thing, but I never had any women in my immediate family other than my mom (and she's pretty tough) so what do I know?

My Father-in-Law tried to make me feel dumb once and he lived to regret it (barely.)

We were around the dinner table once early in the courtship while I was taking a bar exam review course (which over 95 percent of law students take while studying for the bar) It's a full time course 8 hours a day five days a week.

So my father-in-law asked me if I was working and I said I wasn't because I was taking the bar review course full time.

He kind of sniffed at that and said that he knew someone who worked full time, didn't take the course and passed the bar no problem on his first try, so why did I feel the need to take this course? Everyone else at the table agreed with him (per usual) and nodded to themselves while giving me disapproving looks.

At this point, my future wife angrily and emphatically jumped to my defense, loudly told him and everyone else that everyone took the course, that he didn't know what he was talking about and that he shouldn't be commenting on things that were beyond his area of expertise.

He got angry and pointed his chopsticks at her and began lecturing her for losing control and being disrespectful, whereupon she grabbed and held his chopsticks and proceeded to raise the volume of the discussion threefold as I tried to quietly melt under the table in embarassment.

Anyway, it was a huge knock-down drag-out affair where her Dad accused her of calling him "stupid." He said "I run an organization with thousands of employees and never once have I been treated so disrespectfully."

Needless to say he never again tried to make me look dumb again (I told you he was smart.) He did tell me once or twice in jest "Control your wife. I'm scared of your wife!"

I would reply, "You've had her for well over twenty years and you can't control her, how do you expect me to?"

Israel said...

That said, I will now begin packing for my guilt trip. (This one's a doozy.)

Sharla said...

I will just say that if "Casey" had talked down to me or called us stupid, I wouldn't have hit the showers when I did. :)

Jeshanah said...

Israel said:

2) I don't think you, John and PMB are morons.




Gee thanks. I noticed that MY name was not included in that little list. It's cause I live in the ghetto, isn't it? Admit it!!



Oh, yeah, and I can hardly wait to meet your wife, she sounds terrific!!! Just scary enough to be really fun! I even bet she could give me some pointers!!! =)

Sharla said...

Lol Shan! I like her more and more all the time! She sounds just like you, only with degrees! lol. Love you Shan.

Jeshanah said...

Yeah, the more I hear about her, the more I want to meet her!!

Maybe I could get a degree, too, if I wasn't a moron, but alas... I wasn't on the list... =(

Israel said...

Shanah,

It's true that people like you who live in the ghetto are often an afterthought.

However, I didn't put you on the list because it goes without saying that you're not a moron.

And, uhh, Ohio is lovely in the winter.

Lessee what else, Zion is just big- boned...

Jeshanah said...

hahaha, Next you'll try to convince me that John Kerry doesn't have a big nose... !!!

Sharla said...

Something tells me we're going to be talking about the shiny moon here pretty soon. lol.

BeccaHolsapple said...

Yep, dat dere moon sure is perty and shiny...haha