Secrets, Secrets....

So, I can’t go to sleep...and as I sit here in the glow of the most beautiful Christmas tree ever…(that coincidently, because of tradition, will not come down until at least January 15th…so if you haven’t checked it out, you should, its hot) I have something to admit. This has been a well-kept secret, known to only a few precious souls who also have dabbled in such amazingness. They shall remain nameless, because it is their secret to keep or, if they are brave enough, to tell. But in the spirit of the approaching new year I feel like I need to get this off my chest. Okay here it goes……

I’m in love with PBS. Yes, Public Broadcasting System. I am truly, unashamedly, madly, in love with it. Call me old. Call me lame. Whatever. I can take it. I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no other channel on television that gives me such delight and satisfaction than the channel that is PBS. Sometimes I like to call it the public biased system…because they love to slip in their little political correctness slant. I tend not to watch those shows anyway. But there are two shows in particular that I would be fine with if they were on every day of the week.

The Antique Roadshow: In my personal opinion I think the roadshow was the first reality show. Before the over-saturation of trashy reality shows, there was the roadshow. Where you’d see real people bring in their real treasures or real junk to real appraisers who gives them a two-minute summary on what exactly it is. And in the final moments of the segment they either deliver them a tragic blow; that their aunts, grandmothers, third cousins, little wooden horse was actually a replica made by a knockoff, and it is only good for kindling a fire. OR, the unsuspecting grandfather figure that brings in a side table that is actually a missing piece of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate…and it’s a happy day for grandfather – or Mr. Moneybags, as he’ll be referred to for the rest of his life.

Austin City Limits: This is actually my muse for this entry. I couldn’t get to sleep. So I’m up folding laundry and a flip through channels (livin’ the dream, I know) when I come across Austin City Limits. And although, I didn’t know who the artist was, I stopped and listened. Come to find out in the end, it was Wilco. I had heard about them…but never really listened, but liked what I heard. Anyway, when I try to dissect what is so alluring about said show, I think it’s a little of all of the following: its void of intermission, it doesn’t have any of that awkward “in between songs time filler conversation”. I can go to the concert curled up in a blanket while Chris Martin rocks out to “Clocks”. But I won’t get annoyed because there is a middle aged intoxicated lady standing in my line of view, swaying back in forth out of rhythm. I won’t have that “I immediately need to take a shower because that concert venue might have just given me a disease” feeling, I don’t have to wait in line, and I don’t have to pay $6 for a bottle of water and $78 for a ticket.

Not to mention the countless documentaries I’ve watched. That have taught me the history behind the WW2 or given me a glimpse of what it looks like for families who have children who suffer with leukemia. Regardless of what show I watch, I always walk away feeling a little more cultured…a little more well-rounded and a little more sophisticated.

Thank you PBS for being free and being good.

Random.

So this morning, I woke up with the following Hall & Oates lyrics running through my mind:

Oh here she comes
Watch out boy shell chew you up
Oh here she comes
Shes a maneater
Oh here she comes
Watch out boy shell chew you up
Oh here she comes
Shes a maneater

It took almost two consecutive hours of Christmas Song Quick Mix from Pandora to kill that beast. Anyway, I know I owe a post for what was the whole month of November. Hopefully, that will happen in the next few days.

ode to jode.

Today is the birthday one of my best friends, Jody. This short post to is say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Everyone should have a little Jody in their lives. As part of her birthday celebration I have written her a poem:

Ode to Jode (Imagine Ode of Joy playing in the background)
Have an amazing birthday my dear friend!
Without you, my heart would need a mend.
You bring me great gladness and joy.
And you've produced such a cute little boy.
Thanks for your friendship, love, and food.
If it weren't for you, or delicious ash-flavored soup, I might continually be in a bad mood.
Vacations without you just aren't the same,
They lack the excitement and sometimes, are quite lame.
Relaxing with you to watch Tim & Heidi, Michael, and "Dog" is great.
And although, yet to be successful, its interesting, your quest to find me a mate.
You have filled my life with happiness, fun, laughter, and lots of opportunities at beating the boys at games.
When will they ever learn, that if we are on a team together, we will put them to shames. (Meaning continually shaming.)
I wish for you, the day of your birth,
Many more years of being beautiful and still having the same, small girth.

I love you. And have come to realize the need for us to take more pictures together...



And in case you're wondering, I will keep my day job and not pursue a career as a poetess.

Love & Hate, Hate & Love

LOVE: The brilliant colors of the leaves, mums, pumpkins, spiced things from drinks to desserts, football, going to bed with my windows open but lost under a mound of blankets, and the smell of burning leaves.
HATE: The smell of wet drying leaves, having to wear socks, knowing that fall is a precursor to the long bleak winter, that is Ohio.
LOVE: Unseasonably warm days coupled with crisp mornings and evenings. I could get use to that.

LOVE: Organizing things and getting rid of unnecessary junk that only complicates life. Maybe its because of the visual sense of instant gratification from all the hard work. I got to do a little of that this weekend. I love helping make others lives a little less burdensome.
HATE: Not having more time to devote to that.

LOVE: The music renderings of Bon Iver. Can't get enough.
HATE: Three Doors Down. I actually use to like them. However, they now grate on my last nerve. Get some new material already.

LOVE: Started to read "Searching for God knows What" by Donald Miller. Lots of good thoughts.
HATE: (Not hate, more of a strong disliking...) I haven't gotten use to his structure of writing.

LOVE: Studying Genesis. Amazed how many times some of the "Spiritual Giants" of the Bible did really shady things, yet God still loved them and used them as cornerstones of our mutual faith.

HATE: HATE HATE HATE politics. But I'm still going to vote.

LOVE: Being resourceful.
HATE: That I can easily get caught up in a materialistic frame of mind.

Vote.

It is my honor and privilege to live in a country where I have the right to vote. And I don't take that role lightly. Even in elections that aren't considered "cool", where you only end up voting for say a low ranking county official or issues regarding an obscure wetland on farmer Joe's lot, I still drag myself out of bed earlier than normal, and trudged down to my polling place. I stand in line with a demographic that consists primarily of people twice my age, give or take a decade or two. As big of a dork as this next statement will make me, I can't wait to get that sticker that says "I voted today". Regardless, that its just a stupid sticker, that day I have more of a bounce in my step, I walk a little taller, and I feel more American than I ever do even after eating way too much and watching a fireworks on July Fourth.

The more I listen to people about the impending election, the more I am convinced that EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE TO PASS A SHORT CIVICS EXAM BEFORE YOU'RE ABLE TO VOTE. (If you fail the test, sorry. You are excluded from getting to vote this round. However, because this is a democracy, you'll get a chance to take the same exam next opportunity to vote.)

This stems from unintelligent reasons why people are voting for a particular candidate. They included, 1). he's is just cool, 2). he has the hottest wife, 3). I like how he talks, 4). I was raised by a single mom too, 5). I want a v.p. that looks like Tina Fey, 6). I like how he dresses. Unfortunately there are more reasons, these are just the ones I hear the most.

I mean REALLY?! You're going to choose the next leader of the free world because he wears the nicest tailored suits??!! Know the issues. Know where you, as a free American, stands on the issues. Put down your US Weekly, step away from Facebook, turn off You Tube, and actually research both candidates. Don't vote merely because you usually vote for the Democratic or Republican party. Don't let forwarded bulk emails from your Grandma, who has always voted Republican, be your deciding source. Get down and dirty, and do some old fashion research. Don't take the overwhelmingly liberal media's slant on the election as truth. Everything you read and hear about the candidate is NOT TRUTH. Look at both sides and vote for which candidate you think will do the best job as the leader of our country. Which candidate do you agree with on how they propose to handle foreign policy, their value on human life, health care, the increasing debt, the ongoing war, etc. Make a decision, and then go and vote. (You can even document every aspect of your voting experience via camera and then post them on your Facebook letting the world know just how American you are.)

It matters every time you vote, but for whatever reason, there is this misconception that it only matters when you are voting for someone in Washington. But hey, if you've never voted start now. By taking this baby step, maybe, just maybe, I'll see you at the polling place come Spring 2009, voting for some obscure ballot issue. I'll nod to you, in quiet respect, that you actually take your freedom seriously.

Comforting wind storm?

In all my twenty seven years of life I don’t remember ever having winds like we had last Sunday. Crazy mad winds which, at one point, peaked at 74 miles per hour. A wishbone shaped tree branch still presides on our main power line toying with us. With every gust of wind, our lights would flicker. Taunting us…will you have power or will you not have power? But amidst the chaos of stockpiling candles, readying our coolers with ice in case the refrigerator lost power, and making sure that we contained the meltdown that our two old large trees were having, there was something so amazingly comforting about the whole thing.

I find a peace from the circumstances that wind storms, huge snow falls, or city wide power outages bring. The world stops. Schedules and busyness are traded for pulling resources together to survive. Neighbors don’t mind stopping to help you pull a heavy branch out of the street or lending you an extension cord. A camaraderie that usually lies dormant, for fear of impeding on each other’s independence, is awakened. We realize that relationships and survival supersede errand running and house cleaning. Relationships are started or strengthened. What a great opportunity to put into practice loving each other like Christ has commanded us.

I think that we should petition to have more power outages. Perhaps it would help us keep a healthy perspective of what should be most important in our lives...

Fading Fast...

This week, even though its been sweltering hot here, there is a bitter coldness undercurrent to it...at least in my mind. Labor Day has come and gone. And even though summer doesn’t officially come to end until September 22, it is fading fast. Time that once was relaxed and easy, is now shrugged off for scheduled lives and strict routine.

For me summer has always meant freedom. Freedom to stay up longer. Freedom to make the most of the daylight. Freedom from close toed shoes. Freedom to relax. Freedom to be outdoors and breath deeply the fresh air. Freedom to eat Rita’s Italian ice three times a week if I want to. For others, especially in my neighborhood it means freedom to not wear a shirt...even if you REALLY should.

I enjoy each season for different reasons…even winter. But summer will always hold a special place in my heart. This summer is no different and I walk away from this summer with so many fond memories.

Losing a dear roommate is always hard…but easier because I love Amy & Greg together.


A day spent in Mount Adams….picnicking, napping, laughing, discovering, talking, reflecting…

Going to Chicago to see James Taylor. To get to see him at the Ravinia was remarkable…Its such a great venue! I loved Zimm really enjoying his time at the concert, fresh strawberry orange juice, good conversations, and firsts.


Celebrating my parent’s 40 years of marriage by spending a week in June with my immediate and extended family in North Carolina was such a delight. However, getting a speeding ticket coming home…not so delightful.


House Church...Fireworks...Rita’s

Spending lots of time on front porches and back decks. Whether it was watching thunderstorms roll thru, camping out on them, grilling, or laughing until I wanted to cry.

Visiting with friends who live far away, who have come home.




Seeing Beck grow up right before my eyes.


Redoing our front room. Ripping carpet up to discover beautiful floors. New style…. However, I did NOT enjoy painting for eleven hours.

NYC.


So this is my farewell to the sweetness of summer. You'll be missed. I'll think of you often. Farewell, until we meet again.....

Carpe Diem

I love love love movies that develop, not just a story line, but spend time developing the character’s lives to complement the story line. I, in turn, get even more excited when the roles reverse and the narrative of the character’s seem to be the driving force of the movie. Some might argue that you have to have both faucets, to even have a movie. However, I disagree. I’ve watched too many movies recently were we are served up shallow, lackluster characters that are just mere puppets to push a silly horribly written script. Please know I do not consider myself a movie critic. But the older I get, the more my time means to me. Therefore, it frustrates me when I end up wasting my time watching some type of propaganda or mindless fluff. I want something with substance.

With that being said, I finally watched Dead Poets Society on Monday night. I’ve wanted to watch it since it was released in 1989. I don’t think I was old enough to be allowed to watch it, at the ripe old age of 8. That was probably a wise move on my parent’s part. I probably would have started to “seize the day” and “think freer” a lot sooner than later. That would have ultimately led me to getting spanked and sent to my room. Where, subsequently I would have all the time I wanted to think freely and plan how I would seize the NEXT day. Because, of course, that day would be spent in my room, where I would have been expected to think about why I had been spanked and sent to my room.

Anyway, I recommend watching the movie if you haven’t already. Don’t expect it to be a fasted paced, easy unfolding movie. It’s enjoyable, but only because it spurred me to think about my life. To question whether or not I’m seizing each day I live. And for me, it is not about questioning whether or not I’m successful or adventurous. But more importantly, am I sharing Christ’s love and grace with others? Am I thinking outside my little box about how Christ can use me to impact those in which I come into contact.

Watch the movie. Start thinking.

“To quote from Whitman, ‘O me! O life!...of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?’ Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” -John Keating (Robin Williams Character in Dead Poets)


“I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life... to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
-Henry David Thoreau

Labor Day Love

This past weekend I completed what will be considered the last road trip of the summer. Adrianne and I headed up to Brooklyn, NY to visit some long time best friends Corrie and Matt.


Twenty Hours roundtrip in a car, countless miles walked around the city, a couple of disease possibly contracted from the subway, and lots of funny things said this weekend. Here are some of the random observations and things we learned on our trip.

1. Bobo (Adrianne) used cruise control for the first time. I'm so proud of her.
2. Pennsylvania and 1-80 do not love Wendy's. We waited at least one hour before coming across an exit that donned that glorious picture of the pigtailed red headed girl... I think Dave Thomas would roll in his grave if he knew about that.
3. Boyz II Men & Dashboard Confessional make for great "sing-a-long in the wee hours of the morning" cd's.
4. NYC is hard to navigate when you haven't slept in over 19 hours. They need to quit hiding tiny street signs behind big steel poles. I will say that FDR Blvd. IS a nice drive, but does NOT have many options to turn around if you need to.
5. Brooklyn is sterotypically right on the money in regards to how it is portrayed in movies. Complete with a) lots of Italians who love to decorate what little property they have with statues of the mother Mary, b) Mobsters, and c) women with big hair, thick accents, and fake nails.
6. I love the oversaturated market of nail salons on the east coast. It makes getting a manicure and pedicure for $19.99 possible.
7. People in Manhattan are mean. People in Brooklyn are nice.
8. I love the variety of good food that NYC has to offer. But hate the prices.
9. I miss living close to Corrie and Matt.
10. Going to Brooklyn Tabernacle is one of the highlights of the trip. It made me long to be in Heaven singing praises to my God.

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment...

Le Petite, The coolest restaurant in Brooklyn.














The best dessert offered in NYC. Pinkberry is a must, if you're ever there.

This would only happen in NYC. Just to let you know that a) This is a man b)thankfully we only saw him from this perspective c)i lose my appetite everytime i see this.


Thanks to Corrie and Matt for letting us stay at their beautiful apartment. I had a good time...

Obama and Lion Love

Two things:

First, I know in the world of media this is really old news. But I laugh every time I think about it. That a person who is jockeying for the position of the President of the United States can think that this will solve the energy solution.

Properly inflate your tires.

Someone probably lost their job on Obama's campaign team.



Secondly, I know this video has been out a long time. I saw it for the first time last week on t.v. I probably would have cried, except at that exact moment I was trying not to puke from the video's hokey sound track.

I want a lion.

Laugh Out Loud

(Be aware that this post will waste a couple minutes of your life)

It was my sophomore or junior year of high school. Al Gore's invention, the world wide web, was just catching on. It was those times, when it was tolerable to wait two to five minutes for your computer to dial up and connect to the internet. Those who had email accounts had one of two servers. The cheapskates went with Juno (not the movie), while those who were willing to spend a little $, or didn't want to hear their teenagers complain, had American Online. Instant messaging was then, what texting is now. Countless hours were spent online talking to friends and strangers in chatrooms. (Mind you, this was before all those skeezeballs from dateline "to trap a predator" realized how to use the internet to start jailbait relationships.)

Anyway, one afternoon a group of us girls were at a friend's house. We decided to go online and talk in one of those chatrooms. I remember coming in and out of the computer room, reading the conversation. Finally, after several minutes, I posed the question, "Who is LOL? And why does this person keep talking about him?". Immediately, the girls started laughing at me and explained that "LOL" wasn't a guy but an abbreviation that stood for "Laugh out Loud."

Flash forward to today, over ten years later, and I see that abbreviation almost everyday. For the most part its with people, girls more specifically, eighteen years or younger. To be quite frank, if anyone of my friends or family, nineteen years or older started using this as a standard tag line, then I would probably distance myself from them. So, as a handy dandy resource, I've decided to come up with a collective list of "LOL" etiquette. (Taken from my real life experiences). When and when not to use "LOL".

A Few Examples of When Not to Use "LOL":

1. Never end a sentence with a preposition or LOL.
Me: I'm running late, I'll be there in ten minutes.
Texter: Its okay. LOL.

(I mean did it really warrant a Laugh out Loud? Is that person really laughing out Loud that I'm running Late?)

2. Never use LOL as a follow up to a joke YOU just told. Ever. Its up to the second party to decide whether or not, said joke, is worthy of a LOL. (And if you ever tell me a joke, hope you're not look for LOL affirmation...cause it'll never EVER happen.)

3. When texting back and forth with another person, don't ever use one of your texts with just the letters "LOL."
Me: I just saw the dark knight, what about watching another movie?
Texter: LOL.

(What?! First you didn't even answer my question. Secondly, you inconsiderate FOOL, you just wasted one of my available texts! Texts don't grow on little magic text trees in cell phone land. Someone has to pay for it!)

A Few Examples of When to Use "LOL":
1. Never
2. Neverever
3. NEVEREVEREVER

In a day and age where America is getting more dumb by the minute, where we are being surpassed in education by many other countries, lets push ourselves to come up with more creative ways to express what we are thinking or feeling. Like using real, unabbreviated words.

I blame Al Gore for this.

Having trouble comprehending...

40 years. That equals:
480 months.
2,080 weeks.
14,600 days.
350,400 hours.
21,024,000 minutes.

This past June my parents celebrated 40 years of marriage to each other. When I actually sit and think about all that means, it makes my head spin. I have yet to be married, but even on this side, that particular task seems so daunting. We are all part of a culture where we choose who we marry almost as flippantly as we decide which shoes to purchase. And when we get bored, they look too worn down, or there is a more intriguing version available, we easily toss our faithful parters to the curb. Forgetting the commitment, the faithfulness, the trust once shared. More importantly our word, our vow, our commitment is now void. I could honestly go on for hours but I regress...Back to Dan & Karen.

So here's to Mom & Dad. Thanks for being such a shining example of dedication and commitment. Even when it was hard, you didn't quit. Thanks for sticking your nose to the proverbial grind of marriage and pounding out 40 years of hard work. Your Godly example has spoken volumes to those in whom your lives have come into contact with. I love you and am thankful for your impact in my life.

If you don't know my parents, you should. They are the salt of the earth.

Proven True to Form

You know how in my first ever blog I wrote I'm consistent in only three things:
Sarcasm
Saying "your mom" a lot
Sticking my foot in my mouth

Well, true to form, I have ALREADY proved my point. For those who read my entry right away you might have caught my error, and had a laugh, or ten. Or perhaps maybe thought that I was being incredibly bold in confessing some issues I have. For those who put off reading my blog until later, just learned that anything I say should be read or listened to RIGHT AWAY. Not only because I'm ridiculously popular and important, but because you never know what I'm going to do on a given day to make a fool of myself.

Thanks to those who pointed out the mistake so that it could be rectified. And for those who caught it but didn't mention it until afterwards, consider yourself dead to me.

For those who have no clue as to what I'm talking about...well, too bad, suckas, I have already edited the post.

Stepping in Line...

Okay, for those who truly know me, know that at my core is a rebellious nature. (I'm not talking in a spiritual sense of how we are all born deprived sinful rebellious beings....) I'm talking on a mere superficial level. And this rebelliousness usually rears its head when someone makes a blanket statement like "We should all bring back the word 'radical' from the mid 1990's" or "You should read that book that EVERYONE is reading. You know, the one where that guy is a crack addict from Michigan who overcomes his many life obstacles, who then proceeds uncovers the story that Mary Magdalene was actually married to Jesus...but then his lies are exposed on Oprah."

There is a 97% chance that I will just smile and nod at whatever conformist I'm talking to at that given moment, while thinking to myself, "Not a chance, lemming." However, there is that 3% chance that I might get on board with the idea. But know, if I do get on board, it'll probably be really late. Hence, where I am right now. I am stepping onto the blog board in typical late fashion.

As I get older, and life gets busier, I find it harder to have those hour long "catch up" phone conversations with cherished dear friends. I have become addicted to reading the blogs of those said friends to find out whats going on in their lives. And I confess that sometimes I even secretly read blogs of those I know from a distance.

Also let it be known, that I am NOT consistent with anything in my life except sarcasm, saying "your mom" as a response, and putting my foot in my mouth. Guarantee that there will be long spells in which you won't hear from me. And know that you won't walk away any smarter from reading this page. In fact, it'll probably have the adverse affect and you be most dumber.