IVP - Strangely Dim

Rabbit Rage

This morning, as is often the case on the first day of a month, I had the double pleasure of saying "Rabbit" to Lisa before she could say it to me, and of actually seeing a rabbit bounding across my driveway before I came to work. That's right, folks: today's the day wherein countless friends of Strangely Dim develop a funky case of rabbit rage.

For the uninitiated, "Rabbit" is a game I learned from my brother and then forced Lisa and my other coworkers to play with me. It's now sweeping the nation, complete with a group on Facebook--"Rabbit Uber Alles"--and late-night phone calls, text messages and e-mails. The first to say "Rabbit" on the first of the month wins, well, nothing actually, except the fleeting satisfaction of a hollow victory.

We've now, however, had to adapt the game thanks to all these eager beavers. From here on out we'll acknowledge two winners: the night owl, who stays up late enough to be closest to midnight with their communique, and the early bird, who achieves mental acuity first in the morning. So now, on to this month's big winners:

The Night Owl: Dan Webster, who also gets props for his multimedia and multiple-persona assault.

The Early Bird: Andy Crouch, who thinks the game's so nice he says it twice.

Better luck next time, losers!

Oh, that didn't come out like I meant it . . .

Rabbit

Well, it's the first of the month again, which means all over the world people are clamoring to be the first in their networks to say the word rabbit--or, on the East Coast, "rabbit, rabbit." I always get late night/early morning calls and e-mails when the calendar flips, and our Facebook group "Rabbit Uber Alles!" sees its only action for an entire lunar cycle.

Kudos to Dan, who posted first on Facebook. And a group hug for Andy, who only yesterday was psyching himself up for the challenge but today declared publicly that he "totally forgot." There there, Andy, you're good at some things, like culture making, for example.

To all the rest of you, keep trying. If you need a reminder, hop on by my house; I just saw a rabbit nibbling its way through my back yard.

Snow Bunnies

Well, it's the first of the month again, which means it's time to play everybody's favorite viral adventure game, "Rabbit"! This month's contest takes place against a backdrop of a freshly fallen, silent shroud of snow--twelve inches in some Chicago neighborhoods. Nevertheless, plenty of people soldiered on and played the game to great effect.

Kudos first to Pete, who left his mark at the Rabbit Uber Alles group on Facebook. Feel free to join us there for all things bunnilicious.

Most creative are the Hsus, who started planning their attack last night by digging all the stuffed rabbits out of their toy chests. Al came in early this morning to the InterVarsity Press offices, as is typical for him, and left rabbits on several desks, proving you don't even have to say it to play it.

And then there's Dan, the overachiever, who attacked on multiple fronts--among them a message on Facebook and an e-mail and (most likely) another e-mail to an address I haven't checked yet and phone calls to my cell and my home phone and my office.

I used to be good at this game, but today I'm afraid that I'm only good at drinking coffee and muttering about the weather. But in any event, congratulations to all the winners.

In other news, happy birthday to friends of Likewise Anthony Smith and Matt Conner. Keep the candles on the cake lit, my friends: it's cold outside.

Ode to a Rabbit

Today is the first of the month, which means that once again we're participating in our friendly Rabbit competition. Today also, however, falls within our Fortnight of Odes, so that ups the ante a bit. And to top it off, today is the birthday of Don Everts, author of four-soon-to-be-nine books. So I hope you'll forgive my infelicities as I try to marry these three phenomena together in today's post.

Ode to a Rabbit Named Don Everts

He hops in beauty as the knight
Hops to duty and sits down to write
All the ideas living in his head
This knight writes nightly; he'll sleep when he's dead.

He's heard everything in his short little life--
From "I did . . ." from his students to "I do" from his wife.
His feet may be dirty, but they're covered in luck--
For example, book contracts seem to fall off the truck

Into his laptop, where he mines all his senses
For a way to convey best our cosmic offenses.
And just when you think he's said all that needs saying,
He twitches his nose and continues conveying.

So here's to Don Everts, our favorite bunny;
He's cute, warm and friendly, decidedly funny.
A preacher, a writer, who's highly regarded;
Here's hoping he's still only just getting started.

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Don . . .
Happy birthday to you!

Trick or Treat

How was your halloween? I dressed up as a RABBIT.

Christa and Dan get A's for effort in the ongoing Rabbit contest; they both pounced on me at 12:01 a.m., one by e-mail and the other by Facebook.

As for the rest of you: too bad, so sad. Have a happy November.

Coming soon to Strangely Dim: A Fortnight of Odes!

You Really Got Me, You Really Got Me

So far I've been scooped on the "Rabbit" trail this October 1 by four or five people. They've all been pretty cocky about it; Lisa's was the smoothest, as she sauntered by me in the hallway muttering "Yeah, rabbit" under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear it but not loud enough to explain my sudden, loud, exasperated groan of defeat. Even she, however, got beat to the punch by Dan, Craver VII and Kara. I can tell it's going to be a rough month.

If you're on Facebook, by any chance, join the group "Rabbit Uber Alles" and you can play along with various friends of Likewise Books.

I'm sure the next post here at Strangely Dim will be full of profundity, but as is our tradition, today it is merely full of fuzzy bunnies. Enjoy!

One Less Rabbit

Well, today begins a new month and a new, post-Ann Swindell era at Strangely Dim. Rabbits are supposed to multiply, not subtract, aren't they?

The site feels a little less strange today and yet a little bit dimmer. We'll miss Ann here at Strangely Dim, but we wish her well. Here are the highlights of her all-too-brief tenure as a Likewise blogger:

Product-ivity
Academic Polemic
A Walk Down Memory Lane (from the now-fabled Fortnight of Cliches)
A Short Reflection on a Little Cicada
Saying Goodbye

Ann will, of course, keep writing, so keep an eye out for her byline. And if you happen to see her on the first of the month--any month--be sure to tell her "Rabbit" for me.