"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby

We dropped down to 74 overnight! (The low happens about 6 a.m. here, shortly after sunrise.) I opened everything up and turned all the ceiling fans on high to get fresh air moving through the house, the first time since mid-June. It's humid because of thunderstorms overnight and more expected this afternoon, but that's OK. It felt SO good to turn the AC off, if only for a few hours (we'll hit 100 this afternoon).

After watching the qualifying session for this weekend's F-1 race in Monza, Italy I left it on Speed Channel for some show about  muscle car races they have every year at an event in San Diego. Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers.... all racing in manufacturer-based classes. They interviewed some of the owners, all guys in their 50's and 60's. One said, "When we were kids growing up these were the cars we dreamt about. Then we got older and got a little money and went out and bought them.
I thought, "I don't remember dreaming about VW Beetles." Something is wrong somewhere.

I spent an hour or so this morning sanding the air cleaner. Took it as far as 800 grit. Whew! It's all good. (Trust me, it looks a lot better than this pic would indicate.) First coat of paint is on and everything is OK. They sell replicas of the decal that VW originally put on the front of the air cleaner and I'll get one when the time comes. Same for the tire pressure decal that goes under the front hood.

Look what came in today's mail. It's a copy of my book in Afrikaans, the language spoken by about 6 million people in South Africa. I thumbed through it and recognized some of the diagrams so I'm assuming it's my book. I didn't know it was being translated until I got an email from him a few weeks ago. It's now in English, French, Spanish and Afrikaans. Color me flabbergasted.

Roger Federer is the man. Win or lose he is the class of men's tennis. More career wins, more slam titles and his own line of clothing. Other guys are acting like a 5-year old when they hit a bad shot - it would be one thing if they were all Italians -, whining to their posse up in the player's box, while Roger just goes about his business, equally workman like after good shot or bad. And who else could get away with wearing tall black socks with athletic shorts?
I also like that he doesn't have the standard issue jock's trophy wife. Mrs. Federer is pretty, but she looks like a mother of two (twin girls).
It drives Djokovic crazy that Roger is the crowd favorite. Maybe that's partly because it drives him crazy.

Ten years ago Pam and I were in Canada with my folks to do some sightseeing. We'd driven up the day before and got motel rooms. That morning I turned on the TV while Pam was showering and saw what was happening in NY. Before long they were talking about closing all the borders so I went to my folks' room - they didn't have the TV on - told them we had to hit the road as soon as possible, and even then we might not get back to Seattle. I drove, we listened to the news on the car radio, and when we got to the border crossing the guy asked to look in the trunk. My dad was indignant and told the guy he had no right to do that. The guard was gracious but firm and I convinced dad it was in our best interests to let him see our suitcases. We were at the front of a growing line of cars doing the same thing we were. Two or three minutes later we were back in the U.S.

All flights were cancelled but after several calls I managed to reserve one of the few rental cars still available in Seattle. We left at midnight and drove straight through to Grand Rapids so I could be in the pulpit the following Sunday. I drove all but 45 minutes of the two and a half day drive (Pam doesn't do well with over-the-road driving). Exhausting, but I felt it was important for the shepherd to be in front of the flock in those emotionally uneasy and politically uncertain days.

It's amazing to think about all the things that have changed because of that attack, things we now take for granted that we would have considered ridiculous of someone had suggested them then.
One thing remains the same: God is in control and this uncertain world is not our home.
T'ank you, Fadder.