The Blue Screen of Death

There have been several topics that I have wanted to blog about lately, however it's been prett busy around here so I have falen behind. About 2 weeks ago my computer crashed and I got the blue screen of death, more than once. I, not being so great at fixing nonfunctioning computers, took it to a place in Murray that does fix them. When I took my precious laptop in, the asked for my contact info. I told them to please call me during bussiness hours at my office at Murray State. The guy said "oh your a Murray State student?" I said "No, I am employed by the athletic department." I might add that this wasn't a day that I was wearing sweats and sneakers, I was actually dressed professionally in khakis and a polo and shoes that don't have a nike swoosh. I left and spent several days computerless while they fixed my computer. Several times I talked to them on the phone and they told me that they would give me the Murray State discount. At no time did the specify that the Murray State discount is for student, and I had clearly communicated that I am not a student, so I just assumed it was a discount for faculty and staff. So finally my computer was fixed. They were able to save all my documents, pictures, etc... I went to pick it up, they charged my debit card. AND then they showed me the bill and said "and this is the Murray State student discount." I AM NOT A STUDENT PEOPLE. I didn't say anything. I was so frustrated, I am constantly mistaken for a student. I know sometimes it's because I go to work at 5:30 am in sweat pants and t-shirts. But seriously, sometimes, when I dressed for games, in suits and high heels, people still think I am a student, or at least a graduate assistant.

Lately I have been thinking about those versus in Matthew 25 where Jesus talks about the final judgement. If you need a refresher, here it is

31 “But when the Son of Man[d] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations[e] will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[f] you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.[g] 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Recently there was a situation in my life where I had to call and report a little boy and his parents to the Department of Social Services. I wonder if I did enough in this little boy's life.

Then last week on campus there was this group of people who had this HUGE display of babies who had been aborted out in the middle of campus so that you couldn't walk by with out looking.

So it makes me wonder, how do I live out that teaching? I don't think it's enough to just give away money to causes I care about, but how do I make time in my busy schedule to get my hands dirty? How does it effect the way I vote a week from today? How do I apply it as a single woman who lives alone? Like do I even worry about personal safety? I mean honestly I don't often have random strangers knocking on my door asking for a place to sleep, but what if someone did?

Cate and Arwen 2008

So every year, starting last year, my roommate from college and dear friend Arwen and I take a hike. Last year went swimmingly well with a 30 mile hike over 2 4000 ft mountains in the white mountains of New Hampshire over a 3 day period. So this year we were optimistic about a hike through the Land Between the Lake here in KY. It started with Arwen's flight, which was suppose to get in at 6pm Thursday night, getting delayed multiple times, rerouted multiple times, and finally arriving at 11:30pm. Needless to say it was rather late when Arwen and I finally made if back to Murray and went to bed. We were suppose to hike the 60 miles of the north south trail in three days over undulating terrain, but since we didn't start until after 2 pm on Friday, we opted to only hike 30, from the South station to the Golden Pond visitors center. No big deal right. So the first day we made our tenish mile hike to the tent site/ water spring. When we got there we were starting to run low on water so we went to fill up. YEAH, so the "spring" water was nasty stagnate water which we boiled, AND filter, and drank. The next morning we set out to hike about 15 miles to another tent site/ "spring" water. We were planning on filling up about half way. This is where it starts to get rather interesting. First, due to storm damage from IKE, part of the trail was closed and we had a detour. The place where we had planned on filling up, we had to bypass and we had to walk down the Trace highway till we were finally able to get back on the trail. So we look at our handy dandy LBL map and think, "well we can make it to the next water place." So off we hike. Occasionally we stop so Arwen can lubricated her blisters, with, Chap Stick. Yes, Arwen forgot the first aid kit so she improvised. We finally get to the place to turn off the trail to get water, and decide that we are going to camp there, it's only 6 miles the next morning. The sign said .8 miles to the camp site, and supposed water. At this point I think between the two of us we maybe have 2 Tablespoons of water left. After I'd say 1.5 miles we decide that the supposed camp site /"Spring water" site is not here. Arwen is now walking down hill backwards, her feet REALLY hurt and she is REALLY thirsty. So I ask Arwen "Arwen, are you having fun?" So she says "At this particular moment, NO." So we make a plan, we are going to hike back to the N/S trail and up to the next "Pic Nic/ Water" area. I would to remind you all that we did not make up these "Spring water" places, they are clearly marked on the map and my Murrayan friends told about also. So we get to the next lovely green sign and low and behold we realize, someone thinks they are funny and has rearrange some of them. We see a little map in the wooden box thing and we "sprint" ahead to read it. It looks like about 1/2 miles down a gravel road will get us back to the Trace. We decide we are DONE with this whole LBL hiking extravaganza and we hike to the road. We use my trust and ever true compass, purchased for 99 cents, last year at Walmart and we head NORTh on the Trace. Every car going North, we turn and stick out our thumbs. Yes Chris Talcott, it is true Cate and Arwen hitch hiked. Arwen at this present time has switch to the crocs and Cate is alternating between bare feet and flip flops. NO ONE STOPS. We finally make it to the pic nic area, NO SPRING WATER HERE. At this point my lips are crusty and I think I may be hallucinating. Finally some dears souls in a white car, with a messier backseat than mine pull over to get us. They have no water but they do drive us 4 miles to the law enforcement and administrative building for LBL. NO ONE is there and NEITHER IS THERE WATER. There is a vending machine, but I only have a 20 dollar bill. It's 7 pm so we leave our gear in front of the building cause we are not carrying any of it ANYMORE. We walk/ slash shuffle from the law enforcement building about 500 yards to the Golden Pond visitors center. Arwen is jogging in her socks. We know there is beverage in the trunk of my car and that my car is in that parking lot. Several people pass us with perplexed looks, it's also getting dark. We to the entrance, the gates are shut, it is past 5 pm. We get to the car and we chug, and I mean chug. I have never chugged alcoholic beverage, ever, but I'm pretty sure I could win a water chugging contest with my performance this evening. I mean were talking close to 9 ish miles with NO WATER. So now we are sitting in my car, chugging water and juice figuring out how to get home with no cell phone reception, no pay phones and the gate locked. Arwen is convinced that we can bust of the Golden Pond visitors center so I drive down and she directs me, still in socks, around several trees and out of the center. Yes my Ford Contour drove OFF the road and around several obstacles we shall say. At this point we have seen NO stunning views, pumped water in No running streams, but we are laughing at our lawlessness. So we head back to the law enforcement center to load up our gear. We pull and start packing the car when a kind gentleman, with, according to Arwen, a cute beard, what can I say, she like beards, asks us if we are okay. I'd just like to point out, that this is the first time someone has asked us that. We tell him of our trial, his face speaks of major confusion. He says "well would you like some water." NO thanks got that already, and juice, in the trunk. We drive out and towards home, cross the Kentucky lake, now there is also some water. As we are driving down 68/80 I notice that there is a car coming straight at me in the fast lane of the divided highway. I swerve to just barely miss a head on collision and I honk my horn. SO we head over to Culver;s for ice cream, and to the RSEC for a cold whirlpool because we have hiked over 20 miles today. Note to self, we will never hike again in the LBL. We will continue our annual tradition in a place where, when the map says water in 2.5 miles, there will be water in 2.5 miles. And I know this sounds like an amazingly fun trip and you are sad you missed it this year, but no, no guests will be allowed on the Cate and Arwen annual adventure. We finally made it home, Arwen had not fallen once, and she stubbed her toe going up my stairs, so now she is bleeding.