It’s that time again… HTML: A Beginner’s Guide is now back on my plate to update. I love that Osborne/McGraw-Hill keeps this book current. Even though there isn’t a new version of HTML/XHTML, the new browser releases really require these types of books to be updated on a regular basis.

One new chapter to be included this time will cover HTML email (finally!). This is a chapter I’ve wanted to include for years, but for one reason or another it never got picked up. It’ll be a tough chapter to write, given all the less-than-stellar (i.e., crappy) email programs out there, but I’m just really excited to include it in the book.

So if you’ve read the current version and have comments/suggestions, bring ‘em on!

Anyone seen the recent US Weekly cover? In case you haven’t, here’s a pic showing this week’s cover–which “highlights” Sarah Palin–contrasted next to a previous cover gushing over Barack & Michelle Obama.

This is as far from “fair and unbiased” reporting as you can get. Instead, it’s a clear attempt to influence voters. As reported on Foxnews.com, the publisher of US Weekly (as well as Rolling Stone) is an out-spoken supporter of Barack Obama. That’s fine. He can support whichever candidate he wishes, but this is taking “political commentary” to a new level.

Since when are the mistakes of a VP candidate’s child worthy of a celebrity gossip rag’s front cover? If this content is fair game, why is no one reporting about the mischievous activities of Obama’s two kids? I’m sure they must have some skeletons in their closet too.

And while we’re at it, why hasn’t anyone asked Obama if he can handle the pressure of raising a family and working in the White House? He’s never run a city, a state, or anything similar. (Yes, senators are important, but they just don’t have the leadership experience governors and military officers do.) But no one is suggesting he should withdraw from the race to take care of his family. Why not? Because the media is clearly biased in its reporting of this presidental election. I pray the American people can see through these lies, and make an informed decision based on the facts (not the fabricated myths created by the media).

Rarely do I so fall in love with someone’s music that I write about it. In fact, this is the first time! (Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t fall in love with certain musicians… I do… sometimes too much during my last year in college I actually went to three Jars of Clay shows, and even once came home with a drum stick that the drummer threw into the crowd *blush*)

Earlier this year, I was introduced to the music of Laura Story, through her January 2008 release entitled “Great God Who Saves”. While you may not have heard of Laura Story, if you follow Christian music, you’ve undoubtedly heard a little song she wrote that was recorded by Chris Tomlin that goes like this… “Indescribeable. Uncontainable. You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.”

That song, as well as nine others, make up the album that has been in played daily in my home for weeks. Laura has an amazing ability to put into words what I so often feel when considering my Creator. In fact, while I listen to these songs, I often feel as if the words are not her’s, but God’s. (Makes sense, since she describes most of her music as scripture-based.)

“Might to Save” is an obvious favorite, especially since we also sing it in church. But there are a few other standouts as well, including “Perfect Peace” and “Grace”. It was the later song that actually caused me to write this post. Here are the lyrics:

My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused.
I see the things You do through me as great things I have done. And now You gently break me, then lovingly You take me and hold me as my father and mold me as my maker.

Chorus:
I ask you: “How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abound?”
And you answer: ” My child, I love you.
And as long as you’re seeking My face, You’ll walk in the pow’r of My daily sufficient grace.”

At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged, knowing that someone, somewhere could do a better job. For who am I to serve You? I know I don’t deserve You. And that’s the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on.

Chorus
You are so patient with me, Lord.

As I walk with You, I’m learning what Your grace really means. The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary. So, instead of trying to repay You, I’m learning to simply obey You
by giving up my life to you For all that You’ve given to me.

Chorus

The part that always gets me is the chorus. It reminds me of one of my favorite Third Day songs - Take My Life - which also talks about the seemingly endless need for forgiveness. I find both of these songs to be hugely encouraging, particularly when I listen to them right after I’ve just screwed up again! And as I was comforted, I decided to share this with whoever might read my blog, in the hope that you might also find comfort in Christ’s daily sufficient grace.

What family with kids doesn’t want to go to the zoo at least once? When we considered a trip to our local zoo, we were surprised at how much it was going to cost. A trip to the Maryland Zoo on a weekend would cost us $52 ($15 x 2 adults + $11 x 2 kids). You can save a little by going during the week, or by purchasing your tickets ahead of time online. Parking is free.
A family membership at the Maryland Zoo costs $87. This gives us a year of admission and several other benefits. If we planned to visit the Maryland Zoo more than once in a year, it’s definitely worth the price of membership.

But wait, there’s another option.

The National Zoo in Washington D.C. offers free admission, as part of the Smithsonian Institution. However, it does cost to park at the National Zoo ($20 for 3+ hours). And, the National Zoo offers memberships, just like other zoos. You’re probably wondering why I would suggest paying to get into a FREE zoo, right? Well, here’s the bonus: a $60 family membership at the National Zoo gets your in FREE to tons of other zoos in the country (and offers discounted rates at even more). Plus, you get FREE parking at the National Zoo and a host of other benefits.

So, I opted for a family membership to the National Zoo. It cost just $8 more than the cost of one trip (for a family of 4) to the Maryland Zoo, but offered a whole year of FREE zoo visits at the Maryland Zoo, the National Zoo, and many others. (As an added bonus, the membership got us a double stroller at the National Zoo for $4 instead of the normal $11. Plus, have your kids wear their Club button to receive free animal cookies at the Zoo.)
Side note… if you have never visited the National Zoo in DC, it’s definitely worth the trip! You could easily spend several days trying to see all the animals. Enjoy!

Well, we’ve been in Maine a whole week. They say it takes a week of vacation before you start to relax. I’ve been working remotely most of the week, so I’m not sure this past week even counts, but I am just starting to feel relaxed. The weather here is absolutely gorgeous - mid 70s, low humidity, mostly sunny…

At the bottom of my browser it still says the weather forecast for Maryland. On Wednesday, I saw 103 degrees and was ever so grateful for Maine! Here’s a picture of the view out our bedroom door. I keep the door open when I’m working, and the desk is angled so this is really what I see while I’m typing this! I am so blessed to have a job that allows me to work from home, wherever home is on a particular day!
That yellow and blue “blob” out in the water is fun. Someone sits or stands on the end, until another person jumps and bumps the first person out into the water. It’s even fun for me to sit and watch the kids being propelled off the blob. It takes some big and heavy to really make you go far…

The other day I overheard the following conversation between two cousins:

Anna (age 5): Caeli, chapel is boring. But if you color dots all over yourself, your mom will think you have chicken pox and won’t make you go. Try it. It works.