Happy November. Today, a few loose ends that need to be taken care of.
To Scratch, or Not to Scratch
This is the second survey I have conducted on my blog. And, just like last time, it has proven to be utterly useless. Here are the results in a pretty ‘donut’ graph. I like donuts.
As you can see, we are nowhere near consensus. One thing I would like to point out is that while the largest group was pro-backscratching, they were pretty quiet about it. The most vociferous commenters were the “Anti” crowd. But then again, isn’t the “Anti” crowd always a little louder?
So, the take-away from this survey is that there is no agreement. The best we can do is remember that a) we might be distracting someone else while they are about important spiritual business – so we really should be careful not to go overboard, and b) pay less attention to what is going on around us, and more attention to what is gong on inside us.
Another thing learned: If you have an anonymous blog, but choose to tell your EC about it, don’t blog about backscratching in church – because she will immediately stop.
Chili
If you brag about your EC’s superior chili, be prepared for some pushback. Especially form people in West Virginia. Especialy women from West Virginia. Especially women named Megan from West Virginia. One good thing – through all of this, I have learned that people in West Virginia do NOT use possum and chitlins in their chili. Sunday dinner, sure, but not in their chili.
I have also learned that many people don’t know beans about the word chili. (Man, that was so lame, I can’t believe I just typed it. How embarrassing.) Quick lesson:
Chili: The food. If you want to see how to stir it, look here: Chili Can be Served With Cheese.
chile: The peppers. Lots of different kinds. They produce the heat.
Chile: The country. Where they don’t eat chili, or use chiles.
Chilly: The weather when you want to eat chili with lots of chiles.
HALLOWEEN
Lots of strong feelings about Halloween. As you know, I can’t bring myself to hate Halloween, but one of the things that bugs me most is how adults are the ones who have corrupted the holiday. As older people get more involved, the level of gruesomeness increases, and more and more people use it as an excuse to be what they are not for a weekend. (I refuse to believe that all of those women dressed as prostitutes are actually “in the business”.) Basically, I liked it better when it was more about playing dress-up and candy. Sigh.
4th Quarter is 1/3 Gone!
I’m sure some of ye of little faith figured my 4th Quarter Comeback had lost its way and would never be mentioned again. How wrong you are. Tomorrow I will give you a full update on how October went, and what is in store for November. If you are playing the home version, please be prepared to spill the beans share with us – your successes, your failures, and your plans for November. 60 days until 2012.
Last thing. Thanks for reading and participating – you are all lovely people.
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Frankly, I think back scratching is the least of our worries as a church. Kind of a mote and beam issue. Course, I’m just amazed I get thru each week w/o laying across the pew with a pillow and blankie ..
The church is true with or without back scratching.
so glad I proofread this comment…. some interesting “typos” were involved..
Megan: Nice deflection to Virginia!
Amen to the tart-like getups this time of year. I never fail to be shocked at the amount of skin that mother will allow their daughters to show as a part of their “costume”. The costume parade at my kids’ school was just sad and repetitive. My number 2 son had 12 look-alikes with his ninja-from-WalMart-costume.
I’m honored to have been mentioned by name in a post and for the record, I have never cooked with possum or chitlins. Although, one of our more recent sister missionaries told me the story about eating squirrel for dinner on her first night in the mission field……in Virginia.
Great post … I’m on your side about Halloween!
You’re welcome, thanks for blogging!
Ha! I think it’s pretty funny that your little survey came up useless. ( : I agree with your final analysis of the results. And yes- let’s give Halloween back to the kids!
I usually don’t scratch my husband’s back in church. Although every once in a while I might reach over and give him a rub for a second or two. Same with my boys. A few weeks ago, though, our whole family was supremely distracted by the woman giving a major back scratch to the younger brother of her new fiance in the pew in front of us. The age and the relationship were all wrong for that level of intimacy (which also just happened to be the most intimate back scratching I had ever witnessed in my life).
What’s worse than the women dressing up like prostitutes is that the little girls are too. I was shockedl at what some of those teenie boppers were wearing! And some of the little girls too. All I can say is I am so glad I have boys!
I agree with you about Halloween. Keep the grown-ups out of it!
=)