Postcrossing Favorites for April

This month's favorite postcards received via Postcrossing.com are both unusual.

Commentary on the current turmoil in the USA

Designed and made by Daria in Russia

Art from McSweeney's #10, 2002

From Joel in Texas

However, for just plain weird, nothing so far has bested the postcard titled Jesus Spits on Child Abusers, from Benjamin in Germany.  (See previous blog post, "Postcard Christianity.")


(See http://myturntodayyourstomorrow-cheryl.blogspot.com/2010/07/postcrossing.html for more information about Postcrossing.com.)

Postcard Christianity

In the preferences section of my Postcrossing.com profile, I write that I like postcards that are a "little weird," but that any card sent to me will be welcome. Last week's mail brought two very different postcards from Postcrossers.

  

The first postcard, from Poland, was a typical "cute animal" card:

The second postcard, from Germany, definitely fell into the "weird" category:

Here's what was written on the back:

"My name is Benjamin.  I live in Hamburg, Germany. 
I like sports and tattoos.  The name of the card is Jesus Spits on Child Abusers.  Happy Postcrossing!"

If you look closely, you'll see that this Jesus is actually spitting on the priest.  For several minutes, I just stared at the postcard, thinking "Well, I asked for weird, and I got it!"  

While I certainly am not a defender of child abusers, I did wonder if Jesus really would have put aside his "turn the other cheek" philosophy in favor of hacking a lugie on the pervert.  This is rather different Christian behavior than I was previously acquainted with, and I found it thought-provoking.  What happened to "hate the sin, love the sinner?"

When I registered the postcard on the Postcrossing website, I discovered that Benjamin's screen name is "Pukemuckl."  Seems fitting, somehow.

In spite of the above (or because of it), if you're interested in joining Postcrossing, see  
http://myturntodayyourstomorrow-cheryl.blogspot.com/2010/07/postcrossing.html for more information about Postcrossing.com.

Carcass Quality Assessment

A few weeks ago, I was scheduled to have a CT scan. Never having done this before, I was nervous.  In an effort to reassure me, my daughter Mary sent this photo of a sheep undergoing a "carcass quality assessment."  After seeing how gently (foam padding), yet how firmly the sheep was strapped in, I wasn't sure whether to be comforted or frightened. 


At the radiology clinic, the technician typed my first name into the computer.  Then, she asked me to spell my last name, which has only four letters. When I did, she said, "Oh! I thought it was a much longer name."  I replied, "Actually, my last name is Schnitzennburgher."  (It's not, and I don't even know any Schnitzennburghers.)  That's when I realized just how nervous I really was.  


The morning of my appointment, I gulped down two pints of Contrast solution, which tasted like a milky Orange Julius drink from the mall.  Although I'd been told that the solution "isn't designed to clean you out," I'm sorry to report that that was the immediate effect.  My neighbor Joann volunteered to drive me to the clinic in her car, and I worried that we wouldn't arrive with the car's upholstery and our friendship unsullied.


When we got to the clinic (without incident), they hooked me up to an IV, through which even more Contrast solution was administered. They said the CT machine would "talk" to me and I should follow its instructions carefully.  I waited for the straps and green foam restraints, but they apparently trusted me not to jump up and run off to hide in the barn.


The CT machine had a pleasant, female voice which told me when to "Take a deep breath and hold it," and when to "Resume breathing normally," as I was trundled in and out of the giant horseshoe-shaped scanner and the quality of my carcass was assessed. 


Luckily, I was able to resist the urge to bleat, "Baa Ram Ewe!"*




*See the movie, Babe, for elucidation.

GivePrayLove

The posts in February and March were devoted to "Michelle's Excellent Adventure in Guatemala," and beginning this month, her adventure continues on a separate blog that I recently set up for her. I'll be posting for her on that blog until she's able to take it over herself. To continue reading about Michelle's experiences in Guatemala, go to http://givepraylove-michelle.blogspot.com


Today, I'll resume posting on this blog (Hodie mihi, cras tibi) about my little Idaho life.