Goldenweb

(I didn't take the original photo, but merely modified it)

...And if You Swallow One?

So...West Nile hey? I've tried to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible, but can you get West Nile from swallowing a mosquito? Say, if you were walking down the street and you had the (rather gross) misfortune of having one fly into your mouth and down your throat?
Just wondering...

2nd Avenue Sidewalk Sale

Today was the first day of the 2nd Ave Sidewalk Sale. I took my lunch hour to peruse the goods displayed all along 2nd Avenue, basking in the sunshine while meandering from booth to booth. I love street fairs. The sun, the music, the aroma of street meat...and the deals.
I found The Neverending Story on VHS. This was one of my all-time favorite movies as a kid, and I'm looking forward to watching it again. I'm sure it will be completely different from what I remember, as most things are when you experience them again as an adult. But nevertheless, you can't go too wrong with a $5 movie.
Also, I found a store selling used books for $1-$5, so I picked up a few. One of them was bought (almost) purely for name's sake - The Frumious Bandersnatch. Now if that doesn't peak your interest...

And that is how I enjoyed my lunch hour today.

Worlds Apart

I'm reading a book right now called "Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson."

The other night I watched an episode of the new reality show "Who Wants to be a Hilton."

What a difference between these two!

The Hilton show is all about how to fit in in high society - how to act, what to wear, what to say. In a word - superficial. And the book is about what becomes important to a man when he is preparing for death. While there are so many ideas in the book to stop and make you think, I'll offer this latest one that I read today because it is such a contradiction to the Hilton tv show.

"We've got a form of brainwashing going on in our country...do you know how they brainwash people? They repeat something over and over. And that's what we do in this country. Owning things is good. More money is good. More property is good. More commercialism is good. More is good. More is good. We repeat it - and have it repeated to us - over and over until nobody bothers to even think otherwise. The average person is so fogged up by all this, he has no perspective on what's really important anymore."

As aptly shown on tv. And in magazines. And every form of media really. So what do we do with this then?

"You have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it. Create your own."

I love that line.

And with that unfinished thought, I'll head off to bed, and hopefully write more tomorrow.

My Heart Will Choose to Say

We sang this song in church this past Sunday, and it's still echoing in my head. It's a simple song, but the more I think about what it means, the more meaning it takes on.

Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name when I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in , Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me
When the world's "all as it should be"
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name

Just be a Tourist

I did a little walking downtown today. I needed to pick up an attachment for my vacuum and thought it would be easier to walk than to find parking. (As it turns out it was quite a bit further than I thought, and I could have found parking, but then I would have missed this moment.) Eventually I arrived at the vacuum store and found and paid for the part. Then I was offered a cookie. That's right - a homemade cookie. That would be a first I think; being offered homebaked goodies in a vacuum store. Or any store for that matter. Now I have to admit that upon hearing the offer of a cookie, my first thought was, "don't take candy from strangers" and close on the heels of that was "but she's probably not going to poison her customers." So I took the cookie. And it was good. And then I had my moment.

I was walking back to work, the sun was shining brilliantly, and I felt for a brief moment like a tourist walking through the downtown of an unknown city. This is a wonderful feeling. You have no pre-conceived notions about anything, and everything is interesting. I had the desire to peek in little shops I'd never been in, and perhaps try the little Chinese food restaurant on the corner. I admired the old buildings, window shopped a little, and hoped that I would make the time to come back downtown one day this summer and just be a tourist.

The Artist

I was recently in Victoria, BC for a weekend, and I had the chance to wander around downtown, going here and there and wherever my heart desired. I happened upon a craft market that stretched for several blocks, and was filled with an amazing assortment of crafts, artwork, jewelry, soaps, woodwork, gadgets, books, and just about anything a person could think of. It was all very good quality, and I had the fortune of speaking with some of the people selling their wares. While they were all very interesting, one in particular stood out to me. He is a Metis artist who rendered some of the best pencil drawings I have ever seen. The detail and life in the pictures at first had me believing they were photos. Upon closer inspection I could see that they were indeed drawings. The artist was quite a quiet man, and was drawing a new picture as he sat by his kiosk. He spoke fondly of the people in his pictures, both those historical figures and those still alive. I regret not having bought a picture, and if I am ever back in Victoria I hope that he will be there again, selling his art.

Sunday

As the weekend is almost officially over, I now pronounce it good. I went to bed early Friday night, and woke up early Saturday morning. I ate my breakfast on the balcony, enjoying the sunshine and happily chirping birds. What a great way to start a productive day. I saw the Broadway production "Grease" in the evening, which was good. Not spectacular, but good.
And then came Sunday.
Today was a great day. Church was awesome - the service was done entirely by the kids. They sang, and acted, and ushered and put on a wonderful production of "Cool in the Furnace" - the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then I went to Mom and Dad's for Mother's Day, and had a wonderful afternoon. The highlight of my weekend may well have been flying paper airplanes in the backyard with my nephew. The evening was calm and the temperature moderate - that perfect "not-so-hot-and-not-so-cold" in between temperature.
And now it's time for bed, and so another week begins...

Stop and Take Notice

Note to self: When you happen across a good quote in a book, write it down so that later you don't have to go and re-check the book out of the library and spend hours (or what seemed like it) flipping page by page through the book to find it again. Because once you think about the quote, and the fact that you forgot to write it down, then you must go and find it. Or maybe that's just me. Most probably the latter.

So here's the quote I had just about given up finding. It's not even so much a "quote" as it is a thought that popped out from the page; a thought that struck a chord; that made me want to remember it.

"One thing that leads a person to poetry is an inner life of some activity - often even turbulence. There is a weight of emotion, a burden of feeling that has to come out."
- from the Vinyl Cafe: Unplugged by Stuart McLean

Mmmmm....Barbecue

I had my first BBQ of the season today. Mmmm...homemade hamburgers.
The day was brilliantly sunny, enough to make me believe that Spring is finally here. It's amazing the anticipation I feel every year at this time; as though I've never experienced Spring before. I guess it just brings with it so much promise. It feels like a new beginning - more so even than the start of a new year. Spring is the time when anything is possible. Sigh...I should go before I break into song...

Happy Springtime!

Welcome to My Salad.

And that is Inspiration

Having another happy moment...tossing together a salad for supper, snacking on Havarti and crackers, listening to Lonestar.

Pausing to photograph the lettuce.

It's all good.

Thoughts Before Bed...

So I've been working out to country music lately. Yoga and Faith Hill. Seems like an odd combination, but it works.

---

I've decided (again) only to read good books. Now that should go without saying, but I'm the kind of person who feels like they need to finish a book once they've started. As if it's the cardinal sin to put down a book half-read knowing that you will never pick it up again. This decision came about while reading "The Roommating Season" by Rona Jaffe. I was incredibly disappointed with it, and read 100 pages before tossing it aside. When a main character suddenly dies and the reader couldn't care less, it's not worth the time. I had previously read (and own) Jaffe's novel "The Road Taken," which was superb. I suppose because it dealt with more serious and somewhat controversial subjects, (if I remember correctly), it held my attention quite easily. It seemed worthwhile.
And so on to the next novel I went, and I'm enjoying this one considerably more. It falls perfectly between the books about nothing, and the ones that steal your emotions and entangle you so completely in their story that you grieve and laugh and live alongside the characters. (I recently finished such a book and will write about it tomorrow.)
For now, though, I will continue reading "The Good People of New York," by Thisbe Nissen, and leave you with this quote from it:

"...she wonders if that's just what growing up is: the process of that space
between you and your self getting bigger and bigger and bigger until one can't
see the other anymore, and you don't remember what it was like to be a kid, or
what it was like to want something so badly that you can't ever imagine not
wanting [it], least of all imagine wanting something and not knowing what that
something is."

The Castle in the City

winter moon

Sunset near Cranberry Flats.

Sunset over the lake.

Kneeling Man

On a Related Note...

Funny thing - when I ran the spell check on my previous entry, "pics" was not in the dictionary, but "boo-yah" was. Huh. Go figure.

I'm Back!

Boo-yah baby! I'm back! Inspired today, for the first time in a long time, to take out my camera and create something. To actually get out my tripod (the joints of which were rather in need of WD-40 since I haven't used it in so long), create, and properly capture my idea. It's so great now that I have a digital camera, because I can take the picture over and over with minor variations to find what I like best.
Anyhow, thanks to my friend for showing me her travels pics today - that just may have been my inspiration!
And of course I should be in bed right now, but that's when I get my best ideas - when I should be doing something else!
Check out the last photo I posted on carmsclicks to see the pic I took tonight.

Wheels

Westminster Abbey, British Columbia

Three Junes

I recently finished reading a fantastic book. Filled with richness and depth, it was a solid novel; weighty. Split into three parts, the first told the father's story; the second told the son's story; and the third told the story of a character introduced in the second part - an outsider almost. It was a story about now, and about the past. About love and families. About trying to figure out where you belong. It reminded me a lot of the musical "Rent". It was filled with a tangible sadness; not the kind that makes you want to cry, that's born of an unfortunate event, but a sadness that life does not always turn out the way you want it to. The kind of emotion that dwells in you; that underlies even the happiest occasion; a companion, of sorts, through all things good and bad. This is not to say it was mirthless. It wasn't one of those books that takes place entirely at night, in the shadows, where it's always raining. There was sunlight and new beginnings; births and friendships; varied scenery and new experiences. And in the end, you walk away knowing that the story isn't really finished, but that's ok, because

"Here we are - despite the delays, the confusion, and the shadows en route
- at last, or for the moment, where we always intended to be."

Light a Match

Now this is what all music sites should be like. You can listen to 4 complete albums, song by song, and access the lyrics for all of them. And they're a great band to boot. Too bad I didn't go and see them the last time they were here.

"...you're laughing out loud at just the thought of being alive..."

tears

Sunsets

I had the priviledge this past week of doing some highway driving during sunset. The first time, I had to drive Nicole out to Perdue to pick up her car, and then drive back by myself. It was the perfect "golden hour" - that time before sunset when the light is rich and warm and absolutely wonderful. Because there is still quite a bit of snow, everything around me was reflecting this perfect light. And then the sunset was spectacular. I love that moment when the clouds are lit from underneath and you can see the pink sunset behind you reflected in the clouds before you. After a somewhat hectic day, it was the perfect calming drive.

A few days later I was driving out to Martensville when I witnessed another wonderful sunset. I used to love that drive into the city before work. The landscape is so wide open, it seemed as though the sky was breaking open each morning, flooding the world with beauty and the promise of another day. What a wonderful way to start out.

"The heavens declare the

glory of God;

the skies proclaim the

work of his hands.

Day after day they pour

forth speech;

night after night they

display knowledge.

There is no speech or

language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into

all the earth,

their words to the ends of

the world."

Contemplating

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"O Lord...you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar...you are familiar with all my ways...you created my inmost being...ALL THE DAYS ORDAINED FOR ME WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK BEFORE ONE OF THEM CAME TO BE..." from Psalm 139

Still thinking about this sermon.

dance

splinter

music

This Guy is so talented, and I am SO EXCITED to see him live on June 8. Check out his website - you can hear 3 of his songs by using the >> arrows in the top right hand corner. (You have to enter the site first.)

Shakespeare: Sonnet 18

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

Color

Feb 27, 2005. Frosty tree as seen from my balcony.

FGBI Football Weekend 1997

Impending Storm

Dreaming

Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

The sermon this past Sunday was about dreams. Not the kind of dreams you have at night, but the dreams people have for their lives. It was the kind of inspirational message that shakes you awake, and reminds you that there is more to life than what you are living right now. Pastor Dean challenged us to take some time to figure out what our dreams are, and then to pursue them. For some people this is easy; they have always had a great, overriding ambition to do a particular thing. For others, like me, it's harder to figure out exactly what your dream might be. Sort of. When I quiet my thoughts, when I still myself, it's like there's this whole other world that opens up to me. And then it seems that my dream is right there in front of me, in caps lock and bold, underlined, with multiple exclamation marks. But that quietness is hard to hold onto. Before long the "real" world crowds back in - there's laundry and other various housework that needs to be done; supper to start; groceries and birthday presents to be bought; decisions to be made. Oh ya and I should probably exercise, too.

But despite all these distractions, I'm trying to take some time this week to be quiet, to think about what kind of dream God has given me. To think about the fact that every person is unique, and has something that they are destined to do. And when I think about it that way; that in the whole scheme of things I have been cast for a very specific part; then it seems pretty important that I figure out what that thing is. Because whatever IT is, it's the reason for my being here. And I just don't want to miss it.

Fall 2004

Scrapbooking

So I decided awhile back that I would start scrapbooking again. I bought an album and some paper and was so excited! That was about 2 months ago. I finally started my album last night. Sort of. My sister invited me to go with her to a local store that offers "Late Night Crop" - they have a room in the back that stays open till midnight, and anyone can come and scrapbook there, using their tools and such. So I dragged Nicole along with me, and off we went. As it turned out, I spent all of my time there wandering the store and picking out paper, trying to formulate my ideas. Nicole made one very nice page, and my sister made 2 or 3.
I think my problem may have been just a little intimidation. It seems there is this whole scrapbooking subculture that I was unaware of. Almost all of the women in the room had these giant scrapbooking-suitcases-on-wheels full of paper, tools, pictures, etc. And here I was with my plastic bag containing a few pictures, some paper, and an album.
However, I had another go at it tonight, in the comfort of my own home, and voila! I have completed my first page. (In just a few short hours, to boot.)
You can check out my first page here, as well as viewing Nicole's first two pages. Thus, my scrapbooking journey has begun...

Singular Beauty

Double Vision

They call me "legs."

Thankful

Feeling thankful for the people in my life.

Thankful for the great supper my aunt made last night for a few of her nieces. (Myself included, obviously.)

That seems to be the theme this week: good food and conversation shared with friends and family.

Food, Friends, and Fun

What a wonderful evening! 9 friends sharing a great meal and 3 1/2 hours of conversation.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Feeling Good

I am in the midst of a happy moment. I just posted a new picture to carmsclicks. I love my pictures. Because they are something that I've created. Something that did not exist before I decided to create it. Sometimes it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and I do have those kinds of pictures, but my "fine art" pictures are my treasures because they happened purposefully.

Also, I'm listening to one of my favorite CD's - a mix of some fantastic songs. Some great 80's songs that require an air guitar/air drum accompaniment; others that just cut right to the soul; and those that require a little hip hop action. Some days I could sit and listen to music for hours. Today could be one of those days, but that is just not practical. Aaahh, the tyranny of the urgent. I love music. I miss my guitar. One of these days, I'll buy a new one...

I had a great conversation at lunch today. It wasn't about anything spectacular, but it was so nice to genuinely converse with someone, and not just make small talk.

And while I haven't written much here and it's probably a little disjointed because I'm listening to music and "air guitaring", I just wanted to share these happy moments with you. Right at this moment, listening to my music, writing here, I wouldn't change a thing.

inspiration

Footprint?

The Conversation That Almost Happened

It still makes me laugh. Yesterday my friend Kyla called. I was in my bedroom, where I do have a phone, but the call display was not working. As per usual, I waited until the answering machine clicked on and the caller started leaving a message. (Yes, I do screen my calls. Diligently.) So the machine clicks on and Kyla starts leaving a message. I think "Yay! My friend is calling" so I pick up the phone. And here's where it starts to get fuzzy...I mean funny.
I say "Hello" and she says "Hi it's Kyla" and we start having a conversation about our upcoming Valentine's Day party. She suggests that we go to a movie after supper and I agree wholeheartedly. This carries on for a minute or so until she says something very strange - "So anyways, call me back when you get this. Bye."
Then I realize that we were not having a conversation at all. She was in fact still leaving a message because when I picked up the phone, it did not disconnect the answering machine (like it usually does)! It just so happened that she paused in all the right places to accommodate my end of the "conversation."
So I guess I need to call her back now, seeing as we didn't actually talk the other day. (Much as I thought we had.)

My Guitar

That Sinking Feeling

That Sinking Feeling

So I'm at a church meeting last night when it happens. We're sitting on these orange plastic chairs with the metal legs. You know the ones? And all of a sudden I feel as though I'm sliding down in my chair. So I straighten myself up only to realize that I have a problem of another sort. The seat of my chair is slowly caving in! Trying not to draw attention to myself I discreetly re-position my body over the frame of the chair, in an effort to avoid ending up with my knees around my chin, my bottom half sinking slowly towards the floor. That seemed to do the trick, and I made it out unscathed.

Of course, I could have just moved to a different chair.

The Bessborough Hotel at night.

Mittens Reunite

Canada now has a National Mitten Registry. Yes that's right. No more mittens going MIA. Check it out here and here.

Belonging

I attended a membership meeting tonight at my church. It was so great! I met some very friendly people and learned a few things about the Free Methodist denomination; but most importantly I found where I belong. With every passing minute I felt a growing desire to belong to this church, this particular group of people. They are people I can learn from; people I can grow alongside, and minister with. Their vision and mission inspire me. I haven't felt "at home" in a church since I moved to Saskatoon 6 years ago. You know, that comfortableness of knowing where things are, having people to sit with Sunday morning, being involved in the goings-on of the church, feeling like you are an integral part of the ministry.
I know all I've done so far is attended one meeting, but it feels like I'm on the edge of something great! Praise God! He is patient and wise, and leads us into good things.

Summer 2004. Tiger Lilies in Mom's garden.

Autumn Splendor

Autumn 2004. One day after work. At the park behind my condo.

Another New Blog

Check out my photo blog, over on the left called The Way I See It. Because I didn't have quite enough to keep me busy.

Christmas Review

This Christmas was, I think, one of the busiest on record. For me anyway. I seemed to have an event every weekend, and a "to do" list a mile long for every other day of the week. Not that I'm complaining. I enjoyed all of the Christmas festivities, culminating with our family gathering on the 25th, which is always the highlight for me. My nephew is 4 1/2 and has figured out this whole Christmas thing - as evidenced by his suggestion that we all form a line and pass the presents along, with him at the end!
Seriously, though, I do enjoy our gift opening time after the meal. I suppose if my family has one tradition, this would be it. The youngest child hands out the presents, (I remember oh so well when this was me, handing out presents at Grandma and Grandpa's house), and we open them one by one. This year I decided to do something different and treat my family to a night at the Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, instead of buying gifts. While the food was delicious, and the play was hilariously well done, I found that I missed buying gifts for my family. I realized that it's not about needing something, or thinking that I have to buy something, but wanting to buy gifts for the people I love. (So I did end up buying a couple of things.)

---

This year I attended the big Christmas work party, for only the 2nd time in my almost 7 years at work. It was a lot of fun, shopping for a new outfit, and getting my hair done on the day of the party. In fact, I think the preparation and the "getting dressed up and going out" was almost more fun than the party itself. The food was fine, but not spectacular. (I think it's hard to do spectacular when you're feeding 325 people.) And because I'm not much of a drinker (in fact, water was my beverage of the night), or a dancer (although I do cut a rug pretty good in the comfort of my living room!) that pretty much just left small talk. Needless to say I was home by 10:30. But it was fun to get all dolled up for a night out.

---

This year my roommate and I hosted our 4th annual Christmas party, which was a huge hit. (In my very unbiased opinion.) This year we had an hors d'oeuvre night. (In the past we've had a "sit down" meal and last year was fondue. Mmmmm...) So we're thinking "hors d'oeuvres...small food...kind of a late night snack idea." Wrong. Small food does not mean small quantities. We had SO MUCH food. Of course, that was probably due in part to my roommate making 4 items and me making 3. You think? So everybody was absolutely stuffed by the end of the night, which I consider a good indicator of how the party went. There was also that little deal about the prize for the best homemade hors d'oeuvre. The prize that my roommate won. Is it right to win the prize at your own party? I'm not sure. I think the vote was split on that one. Anyways, we also indulged in the $5.00 gift exchange (where everybody buys something that is most definitely more than $5.00). And we got to steal. So I stole. And I wound up with some real pearls from China, and a salad set. But mostly I was excited about the pearls. Yay for stealing!
To top off the night we played CatchPhrase, which is a great game. Highly recommended. To those of you not playing Cranium, which seems to be the game of the year.

---

Well, those are my highlights of Christmas 2004. I am hoping to start my photoblog soon, where I will post pics of these and other events. For the last time this season, I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This is Your Life

Thought-provoking lines from a novel I recently finished:

[This] is not something to be gotten through. It is not some
fleeting phase of life - it is your life..

The lines in the book are referring to motherhood, but I think it applies to all areas of life. Too often I find myself thinking, "I just want to get through this," without realizing that "this" is my life. That every part of every day makes up the whole of my life. That life will go by fast enough without me wishing it away.

This is your life...

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you've broken

Don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes,
This is your life.
And today is all you've got now.
And today is all you'll ever have.
Don't close your eyes.

This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything that you dreamed
that it would be when the world was younger,
and you had everything to lose?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?

*book quote from "amanda bright @ home" by Danielle Crittenden

*lyrics by Switchfoot "This is Your Life"

Not Really So Bad

It's that time of the year again. Time to pull out the 10 year old winter boots and lament that I didn't buy new ones, again, this year. Time for multi-layers, and doing the shuffle so as not to freeze when filling up the car with gas. Time to get up earlier to allow for snow removal off the car, and the treacherously slow drive to work. Also time for a little tradition of mine. That is, I like to wait until it's at least -20 degrees C and dark out before I find the extension cord for my car. This was not so bad this year, so I thought I'd spice it up a little. Maybe stay out in the cold an extra 10 min or so. I thought I'd be nice and get my roommate's cord out of the shed and bring it down and set it up so that she just has to plug in when she gets home from work tonight. This would be the orange cord. The 30 foot orange cord. The tangled 30 foot orange cord, that I didn't decide to untangle until I was already outside. Thankfully I'd thought ahead and had on that 2nd winter layer of clothing, complete with hood and all. But I'm not really complaining, as I am now nice and warm inside my house, with the Christmas lights turned on, and feeling merry. And with that, Happy Holidays! May you stay safe and warm.

It's the Small Things

Sitting at my computer, writing a poem, listening to jazz music. I close my eyes and pretend to play the saxophone. Hearing footsteps in the hall, I turn and look over to see my roommate pretending to plays drums in the doorway. And that is why we are best friends.

It's the Most Wonderful Time

I would like to extend my first Merry Christmas, as tomorrow is December 1. Yay! Happy Holidays! The other day I put up my Christmas lights, and since then have been very much in the holiday spirit. This week the tree will go up, and presents will be wrapped, and isn't it just the most wonderful time of the year? It's nice to be in the mood so early, as it often takes me awhile to "catch" the Christmas spirit.

I've heard several Christmas songs on the radio already, which seems to be earlier than usual, but it may just be my imagination. Whatever the case, I had a "well that's interesting" moment the other day when I heard a carol on the radio. Have you ever noticed that Christmas is the only time of year when adults can legitimately sing children's songs? The song I heard was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sung by Gene Autry. Adults can even make whole CDs of children's songs and not be thought strange. You can't do this any other time of the year. For instance, I don't think good ol' Gene would make a CD featuring Sesame Street songs. (You never know, but probably not...) And I think that is just wonderful. (Adults singing kids tunes, not Gene and Sesame Street).

Anyways, those are my Christmas ponderings for today. I'm sure there will be more to come as the month progresses. Once again, Merry Christmas all!

Adjectives

Amazing. Heart-rending. Hilarious. Spell-binding. Impressive. Desperate. Magnificent. Tragic. Eye-opening. Poignant. Light-hearted. Emotional. Inspiring. Intense.

This was Les Miserables. I saw the Broadway production last night, and it was all of this and so much more.

Mary and Joseph

Better late than never?

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

...But sometimes you need the words to explain the picture.

Now what do you suppose is going on here?

It's Been Decided

She's keeping The Beautiful Purse. A replacement has been found to give away, and the necessary arguments made to justify keeping the original Beautiful Purse. This makes me happy, because now I can borrow it for my Christmas party that is coming up in a few weeks. Three cheers for The Beautiful Purse! (And for My Friend deciding to keep said purse!) (And also for My Friend letting me borrow The Purse for my Christmas party.) (And perhaps one more cheer for when she reads this and discovers that she's lending me The Beautiful Purse.)

Cheerio!

Cheerio!

So I'm sitting at my desk, daintily trying to eat my nuts and bolts and not make a mess, when it happens. I grab several cheerios at once, kind of pinching them together to get a grip, and I squeeze so hard they fly out all over the place. I remind myself that I am not 3 years old, and perhaps I could find a snack more appropriate for an adult workplace.

To Give or Not to Give

A friend of mine is in a bit of a quandary. She has in her possession a Beautiful Purse that was purchased with the intent of giving it as a gift to her friend. Alas, she has fallen in love with The Beautiful Purse. Oh how she longs to keep it! Unfortunately, her friend specifically pointed out The Beautiful Purse the other day when they were shopping. To keep The Beautiful Purse now would mean never using it when aforementioned friend is present; secreting it away to keep from causing a scene. What to do? What to do? *wringing hands*

Stay tuned to find out whether our heroine unselfishly gives up The Beautiful Purse or gives in to desire...

but can you do creme brule?

But Can You do Creme Brule?

It's coming. I can feel it. One of these days I will cross the threshold from "Well at Least it's Cheaper than Ordering in," to Chef Extraordinaire. That's right. I will make fancy dishes that require precise timing in order to turn out, and they will turn out. The chicken will be done the first time I check it. The pork chops will not be overdone. The sauce will thicken gosh darnit! The first mouthful will elicit ooh's and aah's, followed by rave reviews at the meal's end. My table will be graced by succulent, flavor-infused masterpieces! Watch out world, Canada, Saskatoon, Roommate, here comes Chef Carmen!

When Scissors Go AWOL

Why is it that scissors never seem to be in the right place? Not in the kitchen drawer, where they're supposed to be, but in the last place you left them. (Which is always the last place you look.) This is a phenomena that has been going on since I was little. Mom would go to use the scissors, and of course they would not be where they were supposed to be. Then I would hear, "Carmen, where are the scissors?!?" To which I would respond, without even thinking, "I don't know!!"
Mom: "Well where did you put them?"
Me: "I didn't have them!"
This would carry on for awhile, Mom sure that I had misplaced them, and me wondering why I always got blamed for the missing scissors, all the while scouring the house to find said scissors. They always got found, and without fail they were exactly where they had been left the last time they were used. (Not necessarily by me.)

Well I'm an adult now, and I have my own scissors to worry about. And they are consistently AWOL. And although I don't have children, I do have a roommate, and when the scissors go missing, the first thing out of my mouth is, "[Roommate] where are the scissors?!?"

mmmm....chocolate

This weekend was all about The Chocolates. My roommate and I spent most of yesterday and today making all sorts - milk, dark, coffee flavored, amaretto flavored, pink, yellow, white, green, with nuts, with crushed candy canes, with ganache, and more! So many chocolates...so little time. I have to admit, though, that having spent this long with The Chocolates, I'm not all that inclined to eat them. After 12 hours or so, I almost go into sugar shock just looking at them. Therefore, they will become little gifts to just about everyone I know. Can't you just wait? :-)

What a great movie! It had the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud and please-pass-the-kleenex moments. With a story that moves along exactly as you expect it will, this movie garners a genuine "nice" rating. No shock value, special effects or unnecessarily vulgar scenes; just a wonderfully nice movie.

When Fact Mirrors Fiction

...or is it the other way around? This reminds of the recently released movie The Day After Tomorrow.

Don't Judge a Book...

Here's a great article published on The Ooze awhile ago about The Passion of the Christ.

Pure Delight

For a Monday, it's been pretty good. I got home from work and decided to try some more Fall photography in the park behind my house. And everything just worked. The sun was blazing, and the leaves were pure gold. I found some images that I loved; some that I looked for and some that just materialized in front of me. (Like the ducks swimming in the lake.)

There are times when photography just sweeps me away. When I see everything around me through a lens, and it all looks like magic. Those moments are joy and happiness in it's purest form. When you wouldn't change even the tiniest thing, because at that moment, everything seems perfect.

That was the kind of photography moment I had today. So of course I needed to finish off my film (only 2 pics left!) so that I could take it in to London Drugs tonight and get it developed. I used the last 2 frames for a still-life and an abstract pic at home. And I have to confess, I was so excited to get my pictures developed that I could hardly sit still in my car on the way to the store! Like a kid at Christmas...

Alas, I will not be able to pick up the photos until tomorrow, as they were already full for tonight. Sigh.....

So I settled for buying a book :-)

And that was my fantabulous photography day. I'll let you know tomorrow how the pictures turned out.

Sunday in September

It was an absolutely beautiful Fall day today. The leaves rustled across the parking lot with the breeze, and the sun shone warm on my face. I went to the early service at church, and it was fantastic! The sermon today was the 3rd in a series, all based on music, and it was entitled "Faith that Sounds like Blues." The worship team did a few amazing blues numbers, aside from our regular worship songs. Then I went for lunch and was out and about all afternoon, enjoying the day. (Complete with ice cream from Dairy Queen!) I capped it all off with a productive yet relaxing night.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Aaarrgghh!

For some reason I am unable to add any of the links promised in my previous post. I will try again tomorrow...

The Missing Link

The Missing Link

I've added a few links....

Compassion Canada - because I sponsor a child through them, and I think they are an amazing organization. One day I would love to be able to visit my sponsored child...

The Off Broadway Dinner Theatre - because they rock! Seriously, the food is fantastic and the acting is top notch!

[Aside: While surfing the web, I happened across a site entitled Canada Only. Apparently if you're outside Canada and you have a hankering for some good old fashioned canuck food, you can order it here. The funny thing is, if you go to the Marketplace section, where you can order your food, you have to change the currency because "All prices in the Marketplace are in U.S. dollars." It's an all-Canadian site and still the prices are in US dollars?!? How much sense does that make? I mean, I suppose if you're ordering from the site you're probably not in Canada, but wouldn't it make more sense to have it in Canadian dollars and then convert to whatever the currency is wherever you are? Anyways...I didn't know that Maynards Wine Gums are Canadian. They have the funniest commercial right now....the one where the girl backs into the car? Funny. As an aside inside an aside, you can find reviews on just about anything on the web. Here's one on Maynards Wine Gums. Incidentally, it was posted by someone in Ireland. A former canuck??? Possibly ordered from the Canada Only site??]

The Motley Fool - a good place for unbiased financial advice that anyone can understand.

Fabulous Fall Foliage

Fabulous Fall Foliage

Aahhh...Autumn. The trees are awash in color, longing to be photographed. So out I went, in search of stunning Fall photos. With my camera bag strapped to my back, I hopped on my bike and took a tour of the neighbourhood. I started with the wonderful park behind my apartment complex, and found one shot along the bike path. Lying on my back, looking up through the lens, I captured this tall golden tree, flanked by the tops of two evergreens. With such a promising start, I carried on to a few more parks across the way. Alas, I was only to find one photo tonight. The sun was almost a bit too bright, and washed out the colors a bit. (Although I'm not complaining about the gorgeous weather we had today!)

I decided to check out my favorite spot next - the grasslands. I love to hike and take pictures out there, but hadn't been there yet this year. (That I can recall, anyway). I figured that with so many different kinds of trees and grasses it would yield at least a few amazing shots.
Well. It was not exactly the picture-paradise I'd been hoping for. Rather, it was bug central. So here's me, walking down the skinny paths waving my arms like a windmill, mouth clenched tight lest I swallow a swarm of flies, barely even noticing the beautiful riverside scenery. Needless to say, my hike did not last too long.

And now I am home. I hope to go out again tomorrow, perhaps into some of the older neighborhoods, to photograph this city that is daily changing. Today it is greens and yellows and reds, tomorrow browns, until the snow-white of winter covers the land...

Melange

I went to the library today after work. I love going to the library. I could spend hours there. Sighhh....so many books, so little time. I went to see if they had a particular book in - The Wealthy Barber. I've read it before, but I want to try and implement some of the guidelines into my own life. The book was not at the branch I was at, so I decided to look some other financial planning/investing books. There are a lot of them. And while I do know a little bit about investing, I would like to learn more, and be able to apply it as well. The problem with me is that I like to learn things, but I have a short attention span. I would like to read a few pages of a book and then know how to successfully invest my money. Or read part of a tutorial on HTML and then be able to design a really cool web page. Or learn a few chords on the guitar and then be able to solo with the best of them. So....I must learn to be patient and methodically study something, anything!, and then apply and practice what I know. Just one more thing on the "to do" list....

---

I've been getting back into photography a bit. I would like to start a photo blog, but at the moment I do not have access to either a scanner or a digital camera. But hopefully I will have one or the other soon. Until then, stay tuned.

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I came across this interesting article the other day. (When I googled "Mary Poppins".)

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I added a new blog (dooce) to the list of blogs that I like to read. It can be quite comical and also quite touching. The last sentence of yesterday's post is one of those that just cycles through your brain because it is so poignant...."my soul wrapped inside the palm of a baby." Read the whole post to get the big picture.

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melange: a motley assortment of things (as per dictionary.com)

Oddly enough, the word, omnium-gatherum means the same thing. wha...???

Mary Poppins

I had an original thought today while dusting and cleaning up my house. I wonder if my mom is actually Mary Poppins? The reason being, her house is never dirty. Ever. I have never accidentally come across some forgotten layer of dust in some out-of-the-way place. At my house on the other hand, there are forgotten layers of dust in just about every room. That may be because I rarely dust. And the reason I rarely dust is because there are so many surfaces in my house! I started yesterday and still am not finished today. How in the world can someone possibly keep all of those surfaces dust-free? All the time? That's what got me thinking....Mary Poppins.

The View Is So Much More Colorful

Good Article.
link

An Investment in Happiness

You know, it's funny how inconsistent I can be. I'll drive to the store specifically to pick up toilet paper if it's on sale, and then pick up a bunch of other stuff that I really don't need while I'm there. So I decided today to make a concerted effort not to spend money unnecessarily. As a result, I talked myself out of buying everything that was on my shopping list tonight. Except for a gorgeous spray of yellow daisies for my kitchen table. How can I justify cut flowers that will just die in a little while? Well, I consider it an investment in happiness. They are so bright and cheerful, they improve my mood as soon as I walk into the kitchen. And while I am trying to be a little more frugal, I think that you still need to make room for those little extras that can mean so much.
Hey, they even made the checkout lady at Superstore smile!

Hang a Question Mark

Hang a Question Mark

"In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted."
Bertrand Russell
English author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)

The Casino

So I've been watching the reality show The Casino, which is about the Las Vegas casino The Golden Nugget. One of the current storylines in the last couple of episodes is about a couple who wants to get married at the casino but is having some financial difficulties. Case in point, the running total cost for their wedding is at $113, 000 and they had only budgeted for something like $42, 000. Hellooo-oo?!? Perhaps they need to think about scaling back a bit. But no. Instead the groom-to-be decided to try and win some money to finance this wedding el grande. Instead, he lost $25,000. In 2 bets. Then he makes a comment which triggered a memory of a sermon I heard not too long ago. He says, "I don't know how I got here." In other words, I don't know how I ended up on the verge of a massive wedding with no cash to pay for it. To anyone watching the show, it seems pretty obvious how he got there.

The sermon I heard was about the paths we choose in life, and how the destination of a particular path is always the same. In the same way that a physical road will always end up in the same place, the paths we choose in life all have pre-determined outcomes. I always follow the same streets when I go to work, and in 6 years, they have never taken me anywhere but my place of employment. In the same way, if you choose a path of physical fitness, you will end up healthier than the person who chooses to eat bonbons and watch tv all day. Or if you choose the path of compulsive gambling, (some might argue that if people are addicted to something, they're not really choosing it, but that's a whole other blog), then at some point you will lose a lot of money. Probably when you can least afford it. The point of the sermon was to wake us up and make us realize that the path we're on will not lead to any destination other than where it's always led. And hopefully, if we sit back and figure out what paths we're on and make any necessary adjustments, we won't end up saying "I don't know how I got here."

Amen

If anyone knows the whereabouts of this restaurant...

Desk Drawer

In the first chapter of the book, True to Form, by Elizabeth Berg, the main character ( a 13 yr old girl) is describing all the things she has in her desk drawer. One of the last things on her list is a box of crayons.

I have a box of crayons that I intend never to use, I just like to look at them all perfect and read the names of the colors out loud, and I like to smell them deep, like I smell the test papers at school that have just come off the mimeograph machine.

And then she says something that I can totally relate to:

Sometimes I think, what if I died and someone looked in my drawer? I wonder what they would understand about me. Probably not so much - for one thing, they would get the crayons wrong. I think, actually, that none of us understands anyone else very well, because we're all too shy to show what matters the most. If you ask me, it's a major design flaw. We ought to be able to say, Here, look what I am. I think it would be quite a relief.

So true...

Passing Along a Comment

Passing Along a Comment

I received an interesting comment on my "simplicity" entry awhile back, and I thought I'd pass it along.

Interesting to me that people spend so much time trying to make their life so much more simple. Seems to me as though they are making it more difficult by "trying" to make it simple. What ever just happened to a breath of fresh air to feel pure contentment?

It's That Good

It's That Good

I just finished reading a fantastic book by Harlan Coben entitled No Second Chance. The storyline itself is not necessarily original - a guy wakes up in the hospital recovering from life-threatening wounds only to discover that somebody shot and tried to kill him; his wife was murdered, and his 6 month old daughter is missing - your typical murder mystery, right? Not so.
First of all, it's written in the first person, which I love. It seems like the character is actually talking to you, the reader.
Secondly, there are many unexpected twists, and a surprising ending. Now, the book I read previously to this one was a run-of-the-mill murder mystery with no surprises whatsoever. (Capital Crimes, by Stuart Woods.) It tried to leave you dangling at the end, but I just wasn't having it. That may have influenced my intense enjoyment of this book, because it was so much better by comparison.
Finally, it has that certain "je ne sais quoi." That creative cocktail that elevates a book from good to great. That elusive quality that you can't quite capture in words, so that when someone asks you why it was so great, the only possible response is, "read it yourself and you'll know."

Now, having extolled the virtues of this book, I feel the need to add a little disclaimer here. I'm not trying to sell this as the best book ever written, only to say that I quite enjoyed it. Sometimes I get a little carried away with words....

Enjoy!

Not So Surprising, I Guess

I noticed something tonight while I was at the library, browsing through the biographies section. The books on Madonna, Shania Twain, and various other music and movie stars were rather dog-eared and tattered, and the book on Mother Theresa looked almost pristine. Not so surprising I guess. But rather unfortunate, I think.

To Eat or Not to Eat

So it's 10:00pm and I realized that I forgot to eat supper. I pull out a package of Mr. Noodles, and the though occurs to me, "is it better to eat this, or not to eat it?" I mean, really, how much nutrition am I going to get from a package of dried noodles? I don't have the answer and I must go now, before my noodles boil over....

I Wanna Do It All

I Wanna Do It All

What a great song by Terri Clark....the bolding is mine....

I'm sitting in traffic
For the 5th year in a row
Wasting my time
Just to get
Where I don't even wanna go
I started jotting things down
On a krispy kreme sack
Everything I'd do
If I could leave this place
And never look back

I wanna do it all
Visit Paris in the fall
Watch the Yankees play ball
I wanna take it all in
Catch a few beads
Down at Mardi Gras
Start a tradition
Lay down the law
I wanna do it all

I want to drink tequila
Down in Tijuana
Say why not
When somebody says
Hey do you wanna
I wanna get my heart broke
Once or twice
Settle down with the love of my life
Rock little babies to sleep at night

I wanna do it all
Visit Paris in the fall
Watch the Yankees play ball
I wanna take it all in
Catch a few beads
Down at Mardi Gras
Start a tradition
Lay down the law
I wanna do it all

I wanna spend a day
Every now and then
Just doin what I want to do
When I wanna do it
Anytime I wanna do it

I wanna do it all
Visit Paris in the fall
Watch the Yankee's play ball
I wanna take it all in
Catch a few beads
Down at Mardi Gras
Start a tradition
Lay down the law

I wanna do it all
See Niagara falls
Fight city hall
Feel good in my skin
Beating the odds
With my back to the wall
Try to rob Peter
Without paying Paul
I wanna do it all
I wanna do it all
I wanna do it all

2lb Smoothie

2lb Smoothie

When I get home from work each day, usually around 4:45, I like to fix myself a snack. Often the snack of choice is chips, which I know, require little "fixing." But on occasion, like today, I prefer to make a smoothie. Now, smoothie-making is an interesting process. For me, anyway. You throw in the frozen fruit (a la Costco), and you use the "pulse" feature to chop it up into little bits. Usually there are no problems at this point. In fact, it may bring back memories of cruising on 8th St, revving your engine at the lights, knowing that you can beat that Chevette off the line at the first hint of green. (Or not. Probably not. Probably that's just me. And it's not even really me, cause I've never dragged on a public street.) Anyways, the pulse feature is fun. Then you throw in a little yogurt, and juice and commence the mixing. There are a few key things to pay attention to when using your blender. When it starts to whine like an engine that's red-lining, it's reasonable to think that something might be stuck. If so, open up the top and giving it all a good stir with the wooden spoon. Additionally, a faint burning electrical smell indicates that the blender needs a rest, so why don't you just pop off that top and do a little manual "blending." Replace top. Wait a few seconds. Commence mixing. Stop when you hear a ringing in your ears, signally another go-around with the spoon. Repeat several times. When it's just about done, add the ice cream. What's a frozen treat that doesn't involve ice cream? Give it an initial stir and finish up your blending. (I sometimes wonder if it wouldn't be easier to just chop up the fruit and then mix the rest by hand.) Voila! Your cold, fruity, treat! Thick and yummy. I like my smoothies thick, which is good, because that seems to be the only way I can make them!

The Waiting Game

So there I was, sitting by myself at a table for six. Have you ever experienced this? You make plans to meet people for lunch, and you're the first to arrive. So you get the table, and then you wait. The waiter/ess comes by to fill your water glass and leave some menus. Then he/she comes by again to see if you want something to drink. At this point you're thinking that the rest of your party is probably just running late. Time passes and you start to wonder if you've got the right restaurant. You are very aware of the fact that you are sitting by yourself at a table for six. You want to somehow reassure the other patrons that, yes, you will be joined shortly, and no, you did not just get a large table to make it seem like you have a lot of friends. (Or family, as was the case this time.) Now almost 30 min have gone by and you start to wonder if you ever really had plans to meet them at all. Maybe the plans were changed and you just forgot. But surely not. You go over the phone conversation in your head - yes this is the right restaurant and the correct time. By this point you've read the menu, and the kids menu, and your drink is half gone. You anxiously watch the door, thinking that the next person to walk in will be the one you're waiting for. After all, you don't need to the entire party to show up, just one more person. And that will validate your sitting and waiting, because it means that the others will soon materialize. (Have you ever noticed that when you're waiting for someone in a restaurant, you are acutely aware of the door opening and closing?)
At last, you spot that familiar face, and you breathe a sigh of relief. (As does the waiter/ess, cause you know they've started to feel sorry for you, thinking that you may have been stood up.) And one by one, everyone else arrives, unaware of the "waiting game" that's been going on....

Simplicity

I've been thinking a lot lately about simplicity; wondering if there are ways that I can simplify my life. As I usually do when I'm wondering about something, I googled it. And I discovered a "movement" called Voluntary Simplicity. It's very interesting to me, and I'm in the process of discovering more about it, but I think the following sums it up pretty well:

"Voluntary simplicity calls into question North American society's tendency to equate money and material possessions with the good life. Proponents of simplicity as a way of life reject the notion that our life goal should be to amass as much material wealth and prestigious accomplishments as we possibly can. Their lifestyles tend to involve patterns of working less, wanting less and spending less...Living simply does not require adherence to a rigid set of rules, but rather it challenges the individual to live consciously and deliberately. Simplicity is not a destination. It is a life long journey that is not always easy, but ultimately deeply satisfying. "
Link

Now, this "movement" is relatively new, having been formed within the last 10 years or so (according to what I've read). But it's funny to me how much of this "new" movment could actually be taken from the Bible. The biblical exhortation to not store up treasures on earth but instead to store up treasure in heaven seems to echo the main point of this movement - that life is not about amassing material wealth, but instead, it's about living the abundant life, the life that is filled with great non-material possessions - relationships, experiences, spiritual things.

I have so many more thoughts about this but am too tired to try and organize them tonight. (I've already spent too much time staring at my computer screen trying to figure out if I make sense!) Please feel free to comment on this subject....or any other that interests you!

Be Your Own Idol

So, Theresa is safe once again....whew! I have to admit I've gotten a bit caught up in this whole Canadian Idol phenomenon. It's kind of hard not to be, when you've got someone from your home town in the top 6. I think it's a shame that Elena has been in the bottom 3 now for 2 weeks...she has such an amazing voice and stage presence. I'm tempted to vote for her next week. Out of the 7 that were left, I'm not too sad to see Kaleb go; the judges loved him but he always sounded a bit out of tune to me.
That being said, I don't think I could stand up on stage and subject myself to criticism week after week in front of millions of people. Kudos to all Canadian Idols, and anyone else who follows their dreams, particularly when they enter a field (like music) that is so subjective. I mean, take Lionel Ritchie - the guy's sold millions of records, and has oodles of fans, but I'm not one of them. He may be good at what he does, but that doesn't mean his music appeals to all people.
On that note, and the following one, goodnight!

"Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Success

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last Comic Standing

I watched Last Comic Standing tonight....Gary Gulman is definitely my favorite. If you know who that is. I don't actually know anyone else who has watched the show....
Stand up comedy can be so funny if it's done well, and his comedy draws on the everyday stuff that we can all relate to - plus it's clean!
Anyways, I suppose I should go do something productive now that I've maxed out my tv quota for the day!

three times a lady?

The thought process goes like this....Awhile back I bought a cd by FM Static . I quite like it, even if it is a little bit "high-schoolish." It's perfect car music - easy to remember lyrics and a quick beat. So they have this one song The Notion. And in this song are the lyrics, "1,2,3 times a lady" and for some reason that line always stuck in my head.

Flash to Canadian Idol. This week they will be doing songs by Lionel Ritchie, who at one point sang a song called Three Times a Lady with the Commodores.

Lionel Ritchie meets FM Static?? Hmmm....strange.

Ok, so that's my thought. Not quite as interesting now that I've put it down in black and white. But we'll run with it, cause that's all I have for now :-)

Good Night, and Happy Tuesday

Thank You

Thank you, God....
for the rain
for new life
for portable stereos, and listening to worship music in the office while I write
for friends who chat on msn....(thanks for sharing my "happy moment" Kyla!)
for cell phones, to keep in touch with roommates who are on the way back from Regina
for insuite laundry. amen.
for high thread count bedsheets....luxurious
for second chances
for my church
for being a good God, in the truest sense of the word
for music, and art, and every creative expression
for coffee crisp bars and dill pickle chips
for talented people who share their gifts with the world
for blue skies, and puffy white clouds...("Simpsons" clouds)
....thank you for giving me more than I could ever ask or imagine.....

Fascinating, Really

So then, first things first: I figured out how to get my title to show up! Yay! It's the small victories that count....
The other day, yesterday in fact, I was reading the paper (which is not too strange since I work there), and I came across a very funny picture - it's of an old man (82 to be exact) and he's pole-vaulting. I'll wait a minute for that to sink in. Yes, I did say pole vaulting. At a track and field meet. Who does track and field when they're 82?!? A lot of people, as it turns out. (Well, they're not all 82, but a lot of them are 60-80ish). And they all competed in the United States masters track and field meet in Decatur Ill. recently. Among them was a lady who's known as Granny . What a fascinating person...
Speaking of which, I've had so many great conversations with people lately. At restaurants, at work, over the phone, at home.....and it struck me that everybody has a story (channeling a little Amanda Marshall here). And while most people don't make the paper for doing extraordinary things, that doesn't mean that they are any less interesting. If I should ever be an author, I think I would like to go around talking to people, and then write a book with all of their stories; the stories about the "ordinary" people that you meet every day.

Letting the Song Speak for Itself

I could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, climb the mountains
Just to share Your story, bring You glory, and win souls You.
I could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful
Full of drama and emotion, so the world would know Your truth.
I could give away my money and my clothes and my food
To restore those people who are poor, and lost, and down-and-out.
I could succeed at all these things,
Find favor with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.

I could live a flawless life,
Never cheat or steal or lie,
And always speak so kindly, smile warmly, and go about doing good.
I could dedicate myself to do what everyone else wants me to-
Listen to them, compliment them, say the things I should.
I could show up every Sunday, lead the choir and bible study
And they all might come to know me as a leader and a friend.
Oh, I could achieve success on Earth, but success cannot define
my worth
And all these actions, all these words, will not matter in
the end -

Songs will fade to silence,
Stories, they will cease.
The dust will settle, covering all my selfless deeds.
So as I strive to serve You,
Won't you make it clear to me,
That if I do not love, I am nothing.

And if I cannot live my life loving my brother,
Then how can I love the One who lived His life for me?

Sent to Earth from Heaven.
Humble Servant, Holy King.
Come to share a story, get no glory, and save my searching soul,
You knew that I'd deny You, crucify You, but nothing could stop You
from living for me, dying for me,
so that I would know -

That songs will fade to silence,
Stories they will cease.
The dust will settle covering all my selfless deeds.
But your life here has made it clear enough for me to see
That if I do not love, I am nothing.

Ginny Owens "I am Nothing"