]]> http://cocotminut.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/the-mighty-one-the-worm/feed/ 0 Cloclo http://cocotminut.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/sleeping-or-sleeping-pills/ http://cocotminut.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/sleeping-or-sleeping-pills/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:47:53 +0000 Cloclo http://cocotminut.wordpress.com/?p=428 ]]> “Oh my Gosh, I look absolutely terrible!” I thought, looking at my reflection in the mirror. It is common knowledge that a girl’s appearance determines if the day will go well or not. This was a bad start. No make-up could ever conceal the huge, bluish bags circling my watery eyes. I turned away in disgust, inwardly moaning over my lack of sleep. Stumbling down the stairs, I carelessly pushed the door of the classroom open. I was definitively not in the mood to accommodate people today. Beware the grumpy bear!
As the morning went on, my head regularly dropped to the side, and it definitively took all my willpower to stay awake. The teacher kept casting worried glances in my direction, which I assumed was because of my blank stare. By the end of class, I could have been categorized “out of order.” While everybody made their way down to the dining hall, I remained in my seat. Putting my head between my hands, I squeezed it in an attempt to wake the remnants of brain that lived there.
The morning lecture had proved to be a real ordeal, and a lump formed in my throat as I struggled to find a way out. I mean, is there anything worse than the lack of sleep? Of course, I could be among starving children in some African country, or mourning the death of some close family member, or even living in a time of war. But that I didn’t want to hear. I was in for a pity-party and nobody would have taken that luxury from me.
The hours dragged on and I often looked at the clock, willing it to speed up. Finally, it was bedtime. Early on, leaving my friends to their conversation, I climbed up to my bunk, feeling purposeful for the first time of the day. After turning around a few times –just picture a cat- I found the best position and contentedly allowed my body to relax. I was ready to sleep… I said sleep. But sleep wouldn’t come. You know this counting-the-sheep thing to fall asleep? Well, it doesn’t work. One by one, my roomates came into the room until the last light was turned off. My eyes however remained wide open as I still tried to convince my brain it should be asleep. Ideas kept coming and going, and I just didn’t seem to find the command “off.”
I then undertook to pray, alternatively telling God all the reasons why He should help me get some rest and why I could not do so. After a few hours of that game, one of my friends found me in the bathroom crying in despair. “God doesn’t answer me,” I sobbed. She wisely sent me to bed with a sleeping pill, but not after debating with me whether or not it could become an addiction. The situation was slowly turning into a comic tragedy.
I was glad when morning came. Goodness, had I ever appreciated sunlight before now! But even so, I felt very tired. Grumpily sitting on my bed, I glanced at my roommates. Somewhere inside of me, I almost wished they hadn’t slept as well so that they could sympathize with me.
Now, for the sake of my surroundings, the best I could do was to go outside and spend some time with God. At first, I marched on the path leading to the nearby forest. Nature didn’t ease my frustration as it usually would. Everything looked black and white today. Bugs and those of your kind, you’d better not find yourselves in my way, or else…
After a while, a thought pierced my overloaded mind. I tried to focus. It had something to do with what the pastor had preached last Sunday. During the Exodus, the people of Israel would often suffered from thirst. On one of these occasions, God told Moses He would provide water to His people from a rock. Probably out of anger and frustration, Moses ended up hitting the rock instead of waiting on God.
I stopped abruptly in my tracks. Lord, what are you trying to tell me? Have I too tried to hit the Rock instead of humbling myself before You ? Forgive me for doubting Your words, Your faithfulness, Your power. At that moment, I decided to surrender everything to God. Insomnia, bitterness, fear and anger… Everything was laid down at the foot of the Rock. Looking up, I found myself able to picture that mighty mountain, so stable and unchanging. A cry rose from my heart: “Oh God, quench my thirst with your living water.”
Coming back to reality, I cast a glance to my watch and… GASP. My goodness, everybody must wonder where I disappeared. I quickly turned on my heels, feeling like skipping on the way. Life was so much better without that heavy yoke on my shoulders. I found myself recalling  a story I had read in my childhood. The main character, Tooty, was a young eagle whose mission consisted in delivering a package to a far-away country. During his journey, he met Gunster, an older eagle who kindly offered him a ride on his back to cover part of the distance. Tooty accepted and boarded contentedly on Gunster’s back. After a moment, Gunster turned his head to make sure his passenger was comfortable. To his surprise, the little eagle stood on his back, tightly holding on to the package. The youngster looked so tired and sweaty. Rolling his eyes, wise Gunster gently remarked, “Tooty, it doesn’t make any difference to me if you decide to put down your package. But it could be a mite easier for you boy!” Although he obviously showed signs of fatigue, the youngster stubbornly shook his head. He was going to show him what he was capable of, big time!
That sounds a lot like me, I smiled to myself. If only I would listen to my Heavenly Father instead of being so independent. I quickened my pace, suddenly eager to share my story with my friends. Somehow, there was no doubt in my mind that I would sleep better. And indeed, the day after, I woke up after a good night of rest, feeling lighter than I had been in a while. Tumbling down my bunk bed, I went to my duties humming to myself. Around me, the room quickly became a hive of activity as everyone strived to get ready on time. As I gathered my books, I couldn’t  help but give a thumbs-up to God. Lord, I know, it has taken me a long time to listen and obey! But thanks for meeting me where I was at!

Reflection:
“If only you had listened to my commands! Your peace would be like a river that never runs dry. Your righteousness would be like waves on the sea” (Isaiah 48:18).
(God’s Word version)

I come from haunts of coot and hern,
I make a sudden sally
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.

By thirty hills I hurry down,
Or slip between the ridges,
By twenty thorpes, a little town,
And half a hundred bridges.

Till last by Philip’s farm I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles,
I bubble into eddying bays,
I babble on the pebbles.

With many a curve my banks I fret
By many a field and fallow,
And many a fairy foreland set
With willow-weed and mallow.

I chatter, chatter, as I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

I wind about, and in and out,
With here a blossom sailing,
And here and there a lusty trout,
And here and there a grayling,

And here and there a foamy flake
Upon me, as I travel
With many a silvery waterbreak
Above the golden gravel,

And draw them all along, and flow
To join the brimming river
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

I steal by lawns and grassy plots,
I slide by hazel covers;
I move the sweet forget-me-nots
That grow for happy lovers.

I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,
Among my skimming swallows;
I make the netted sunbeam dance
Against my sandy shallows.

I murmur under moon and stars
In brambly wildernesses;
I linger by my shingly bars;
I loiter round my cresses;

And out again I curve and flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

So here it is. The latest exercice I gave my international English class was to deal with oral expression, as well as with common language. Indeed, in France, our school system is known for its ability to turn pupils into little grammar machines rather than speakers.

So this is how it goes. Your pupils are to spy a conversation, record it if possible, if not at least write it down. It can be a phone conversation, or a dialogue at a shopping center, between friends, at a café… the possibilities are endless.

The second step will be to translate the conversation. Of course, given the register, the students will have to work on common ways of speaking, using simple words and phrases rather than … well what they are taught in school (sad to say!).

This experience proved immensely good! I was able to correct the students and teach them actual spoken English; and we had a good laugh as far as the conversations that came out.

Of course, once I gave away the assignment, I had to happen upon a good conversation myself This is how it went:)

(The scene takes place at home. Mom’s checking out classified ads on internet to find a lawn mower. J. and C. are playing cards and chatting).

-How do I do to save an ad?
-Hold on, I’ll show you…
-They’re telling me I’ve reached the limit!
-How many did you save?
-Two! Only two!
-Now, it’s telling me there are cookies!
-Hmmm
-Oh my word, the wall outside… it’s so dark!
-Your go!
-Didn’t you take one card too many?
-Nah…
-I’m only playing one at a time, it’s disgusting!
-Bah, I’m not going very far either!
-Wait, wait, what did you put down?
-I’ve helped you twice already!
-Pfrlll
-You’re a jerk!
-180€
-3, 4, 5
-You’re catching up, hey!
-What are you writing down here? She’s got that smile on her face… What you plotting?
-Is that for your class?… My kids are going very fast, can’t keep up!
-Hmm
-Hey, tomorrow, we gotta go very early, I’ve got photocopies to make!
-Shush!
-Here is a new ad!
-I’m fed up with mowers!

So far, Moket has made a few important steps in his education; a few months ago, he caught his first fly, supported by my sister who carried him around, as he chased the poor animal against the window. Not a glorious end for the insect!

The second accomplishment has been to watch the miracle of snow falling. Now, despite all my efforts, I was unable to explain my cat where the snow came from or how it could so change the world … He’s still watching and wondering.

Now, before I brag on and on, I’d like to introduce to you a virtual cat, which I believe has been made by an expert on cats. To the extend that I refused to let my cat watch this video, for fear he would become unbearable (yes, he does watch movies with me! and I mean watch!). Now, if you’ve never heard of Simon’s cat, you are in for a treat!

Want some more? Go on YouTube and type “Simon’s cat!)

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 4,600 times in 2010. That’s about 11 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 14 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 111 posts. There were 9 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 2mb. That’s about a picture per month.

The busiest day of the year was March 13th with 33 views. The most popular post that day was ONOMATOPOEIA.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were underskog.no, facebook.com, translate.google.com.eg, statistics.bestproceed.com, and hopeamidstdesperation.blogspot.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for cheese naan, cheese naan recipe, french teacher, rosebud, and french onomatopoeia.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

ONOMATOPOEIA March 2008
2 comments

TODAY’S CHEF RECIPE: CHEESE NAN January 2008

TONGUE TWISTERS IN THE MOVIE “SINGING IN THE RAIN” February 2009

THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD August 2007
2 comments

FRENCH FOR SURVIVAL August 2007
3 comments

Hope… I’m sorry but I don’t want to be an Emperor – that’s not my business – I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We all want to live by each other’s happiness, not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men’s souls – has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The Dictator Art Print Buy at AllPosters.com The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say “Do not despair”. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish… Soldiers – don’t give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you – who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don’t hate – only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers – don’t fight for slavery, fight for liberty. In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written ” the kingdom of God is within man ” – not one man, nor a group of men – but in all men – in you, the people. You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let’s use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers – in the name of democracy, let us all unite! Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting – the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality. The soul of man has been given wings – and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow – into the light of hope – into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up.”

Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free.

Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.

I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand;

Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.

My heart is weak and poor until its master finds;

It has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind.

It cannot freely move till Thou has wrought its chain;

Enslave it with Thy matchless love, and deathless it shall reign.

My power is faint and low till I have learned to serve;

It lacks the needed fire to glow, it lacks the breeze to nerve.

It cannot drive the world until itself be driven;

Its flag can only be unfurled when Thou shalt breathe from heaven.

My will is not my own till Thou hast made it Thine;

If it would reach a monarch’s throne, it must its crown resign.

It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife,

When on Thy bosom it has leant, and found in Thee its life.

Hymn by George Matheson

“It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.”

“The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so easily,
But in my hands they die.”

“If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God’s design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?”

“So I’ll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step of the way.”

“The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I’ll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.”