My laptop is old -- 7 or 8 years old, which for a laptop nowadays is positively ancient.

The battery is a joke, barely lasting 5 minutes. The "N" and "M" keys are completely blank, and many other keys have letters that are almost totally worn away -- OK for me, with the touch-typing, but not OK for someone like the hypermuffin, who doesn't know where all the keys are by feel. And for a long time now, it's had less than 3% free disk space -- I've filled it up with music, pictures, short fiction, work files, graduate school files, voice clips, and the other electronic detritus of modern life. 

I've been worried about the low disk space, but figured I could hold out until June, when Andrew plans to buy me a new laptop for my birthday (squeeeee!!!). But then today the transformer on the power cord decided to stop working. It came back, but only if you wiggle and waggle the cord "just so," and sometimes it cuts in and out, and I see exposed wires right at the juncture of cord and transformer box. And once I saw a spark. Not safe.

So, while it's (capriciously) still working, I'm transferring off all my important files tonight, via memory stick, to Andrew's big computer, there to hibernate until such time as a New Laptop shall come upon the land like a longed-for spring.

Sipping tea and watching files transfer is curiously soothing. Popped on my beautiful little cherry red iRiver portable music-delivery device, and listened to the girliest girly music I own, "Ghost of a Rose" by Blackmore's Night (thanks, skylerannesmom!).

(Sorry, but you have to admit that the title track is like a romance novel -- designed to appeal to women. "Promise me, when you see, a white rose, you'll think of me. I love you so, Never let go, I will beeeeeeee -- your ghost of a rose." I recognize that it was designed to appeal to me and my ilk. But still, I can't help admitting that it works. Ah, the perils of being overly self-aware.)

In other news, my father leaves tomorrow in the early morning, after an 8-day visit. Things will be back to normal and my attic will be empty, but I know both granddaughters will miss him. Luckily, that's what insanely cute pictures are for -- to bridge that geographic gap.

Yanked from mevennen: Things I Learned from British Folk Ballads.

By Jim Macdonald, who writes, "I have four children, two daughters and two sons. Naturally, I worry about their moral upbringing. As everyone knows who’s paying attention, “Just say no” doesn’t work. Instead, I made sure they were constantly exposed to the traditional folksongs and legends of Great Britain. Nothing’s more certain to give you a strong sense of the negative consequences of immoral or imprudent behavior."

Needed some soothing, so popped in Seattle Pro Musica's CD from 2001, "Alnight By the Rose."

Soooooo good. (Much better than Enya, which was what first came to mind.) Yummy Morten Lauridsen, yummy Arvo Pärt, the kind of chords you can sink down into forever.

As soon as the hypermuffin is finally done with her transparent attempts to extend bedtime by falsely claiming she needs to poop in the potty -- I am giving her the benefit of the doubt anyway -- it will be time for a little drink, I think. And then bath and then bed.

Today I am kind of deaf.

I have a very very good reason. The reason is NEW MODEL ARMY, a band that must be written in ALL CAPS, because they are a VERY LOUD BAND.

What? What? I can't hear you. Speak up, sonny.

Today is one of the most glorious days of the church year for liturgical music. I encourage anyone who digs that kind of thing to tune in to your local classical music station and revel in the sheer variety, depth, and creativity of the musical outpourings of centuries of religious devotion.

Right now I'm rocking out to "Dixit Dominus" by Handel, while feeding the wren her morning oatmeal / applesauce.

I have to say, though, looking at the schedule for the rest of the day, I might be better off with my CD collection. A lot of these seem not particularly Easter-y. Instead of lots of excerpts from Handel's "Messiah," they have only one chunk of it, way late at night after 10 PM.

During the morning churchgoing hours, we get "Four Seasons in Buenos Aries" by Piazzolla? A suite from Bizet?? What the heck? It's as though they're purposely trying to pretend that Easter doesn't exist today, music-wise. So very odd.

Come on, people. Throw in Bach's "Easter Oratorio" and then we'll talk.

-- This appears to be localized here in Seattle. Check out the programming for today down at KMFA in Austin, Texas (you have to click on today's date to see the list). They've got Easter music out the wazoo.

Here's a YouTube clip of bloopers from various Star Trek shows... funny in its own right, of course.

But after the "credits," around time 5:30, there's a musical song and dance number (really!) by Patrick Stewart (really!) that made me laugh and laugh. :-D

You must watch this. It's hi-larious!

Order of Service, April 1, 2007

Prelude: Rhosymedre, by Ralph Vaughan Williams. David Lines, organ

Introit: At Peace, by Enrique Granados. Bell Choir

Service Awards (I was pleased to see several people I know up there receiving service awards!)

Hymn #281: O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Offertory: O how amiable, by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Loft Choir

Prayer / Meditation

Interlude: Fruhlingsglaube, op. 20 no. 2, by Franz Schubert. Rick Scheyer, baritone; David Lines, piano

Reading 1: Psalm 27 ("The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?...")
Reading 2: A selection about hope and optimism in the early 20th century, from one of Arthur Schlesinger's books

Hymn # 271: Come Down, O Love Divine

Sermon: "Is There Any Reason for Hope?" Dr. Hubert Locke

Hymn #21: For the Beauty of the Earth

Benediction

Choral Response: O, for the Peace, by W. J. Evans. Loft Choir

Postlude: "St. Anne" Fugue, by J. S. Bach. David Lines, organ

Well, after not attending last week due to illness, and walking out the week before, I was back at UUC this morning. And I really enjoyed it.

The February 11, 2007 service at UUC was all about sending off the senior minister, Jon Luopa, on a 6-month sabbatical. It inspired me to think about transitions in my own life, as I'm starting to worry more about Baby # 2 and how another addition will affect our lives. Jon reminded us that change is always frightening, but that we need to have enough trust to take the next step forward in faith that we will find the inner reserves to handle what may come.



This sabbatical, which is only for 6 months, has been very well-planned. There's an associate minister in place, plus the staff, the board of trustees, etc., and also a "Sabbatical Committee," which has put out a pamphlet (!) with the Sunday speakers in Jon's absence! I was a bit surprised, although it shouldn't have surprised me that the sabbatical would have been well-choreographed months in advance.

But really, they are way more prepared for this than I was for my own wedding, or for either pregnancy. 

Last night was the 37th annual Messiah sing-and-play-along at UUC. I didn't buy a ticket in advance, because I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to make it. But just after Andrew got home from work (he was drenched with rain! Drenched!), I scooted out the door, clutching my Watkins Shaw Novello score and water bottle in one hand and an umbrella in the other.