Something's a-brewin'

I mentioned last week that Victor would be needing to wear a tie sometime this week. Sadly, I was unable to find the Roy Williams tie due to the fact that it sold out within 30 minutes of this store opening on the day after the championship game. Apparently I'm not all that creative. Victor has plenty of other ties to choose from, thankfully, which is good because...

He has a job interview!

This interview is only the second one he's had in a year. Finding a good job during recession when you are very specialized in something that is not too applicable to the non-academic world (Victor has a Ph.D in astrophysics) is pretty difficult. But today he is interviewing at a good company where most of the other people in the group are former astro people. The catch? It's 2662 miles from here. I'm alternating between being super-excited about a new adventure and scared to death of moving across the country where I know very few people. Today I'm trying to avoid thinking about any of the possibilities. I'm sure by next week I will be a hot mess, but for now I'm just praying for my husband to show the interviewers that he's as wonderful as I know he is. Please send good interviewing vibes to Victor today.

Book Review: The Language of God

I recently read The Language of God by Francis Collins and have been meaning to write my thoughts on it. Francis Collins is a ROCK STAR scientist. Have you ever heard of (genetic) breast cancer? What about Cystic Fibrosis? Well he was instrumental in discovering the genes that are responsible for both diseases. He also led the Human Genome Project. Needless to say, he commands a great deal of respect from the scientific community. I think this fact makes it even more awesome that he’s also an evangelical Christian and wrote this book. Because you probably won’t be surprised to know that a lot of scientists look down on religious types, to the point of assuming that they are not intelligent. But Francis Collins is helping to prove them wrong.

In his book, Collins examines both sides of the argument. He discusses the evidence for an atheistic worldview where everything is random and also for a Creationist worldview where everything was directed by God. And then he eloquently points out that neither worldview is wholly accurate. Collins believes in things like the Big Bang theory and evolution and he also believes in an omnipotent God who created the world and is involved in the lives of His people. He argues that the scientific explanations for the origins of the world and life are in no way incompatible with Christianity when one simply examines the evidence and holds back on the assumptions. Just because God said “let there be” doesn’t mean He didn't mean for particles to slam into each other to create the earth. Our genetic similarity to primates in no way precludes the fact that we are different from them in that we have souls. And even the Bible says that time is different for God, showing that the young earth philosophy is incredibly misguided.

This book hit home for me. I was raised in a very fundamental church where the anti-evolution drum was beat loudly. As I became more interested in science during college I started wondering, why all the fuss? The Bible is not a scientific document. It is a compiled book with history, poetry, and prophecy genres of writing and a literal reading of it misses the point (case in point: Song of Solomon). Likewise, science can admit that it is an incomplete discipline and that there are some things we do not know.

Science is the study of the visible world and theology is the study of the unseen world. They do not need to compete with each other, and in fact, they can complement each other nicely. I’m not saying that we should use God as a placeholder for things that are unknown in science. A God of the blanks is not the One I worship. But if we look at the scientific explanations of the world we can say, “Wow! God did that, he used these elegant processes to bring about the world and its inhabitants.” Every day as I read papers and do experiments I am struck with this feeling.

And it is beautiful.

Will Sacrifice Self-Respect for Free Stuff

That's right. You see, Mrs. Newlywed is having ANOTHER giveaway and I could really use a new beach towel. I have to post on my blog to get that third entry. So go and check out her blog. But don't enter the giveaway, because I want to win!

How to Woo Your Wife

"You are superior to every other woman, and most men."

When asked which men were superior to me? "Jesus", Victor says.

Pictures, as promised

View from the top of a slope
Victor and I in our uber-hawt ski gear

Purty, no?

A little late, perhaps, but here are some pictures from our vacation in Tahoe. We had to use a disposable camera so most of them did not turn out too well.

Earwax Fantasies

Even after a course of antibiotics my ear is still killing me. Last week the doctor at the Urgent Care center said that she couldn't even see my eardrum because the canal was so small and blocked. I have been having dreams about a doctor sucking or surgically removing the gunk I feel in my ear and let me tell you Internet, they are such divine dreams. I can almost feel the relief. Until I wake up. My dreams better come true on Friday because I have an appointment with a real ear doctor.

I'm hoping I'll be feeling better by the weekend because Victor and I have a great few days planned to celebrate our anniversary. We're staying at a cute little inn by the water near where we live. We're going to enjoy our city by walking, shopping, and eating good food. And maybe something extra, if Victor behaves himself (wink wink). Also, I get to give Victor his gift. And get mine! I actually know what I'm getting because I generally tell Victor exactly what I want for various occasions (thus no trouble for him). So that it will be a surprise for someone, I won't tell until after it is delivered. Stay tuned!

Also, I suppose I promised some more Carolina haiku to celebrate the championship.

Roy Williams' blue tie
Wasn't as bad as others
Where can I find it?

You see, I want to buy it for Victor. He has something coming up where he could use a sweet tie. More on that next week

Sonnets are too long

...so instead I am writing some love haiku in honor of tonight.

Tar Heel basketball
I started cheering for you
To piss off my dad.

Tonight is the game
My husband will scream loudly
Please send tequila

(Note: the tequila is for Victor, it calms him a bit. I'll be drinking wine)

The great Roy Williams
Carolina's saving grace!
but needs better ties.

Michigan State Green
We beat you by 35
Tonight, let's repeat. More poetry shall surely ensue if the mighty Tar Heels succeed tonight. If not, I may be too busy convincing Victor life is still worth living to write. Rah rah Carolina-lina!