Done! done-done-done-done-DONE!

This isn't even remotely close to as important as the work Christ did, but it is finished. Kinda.
Most, some or maybe none of you know that I'm going to start taking master degree courses long distance from Covenant Sem. Primarily I'll work on Systematic Theology courses. (Quoth Mentor Dave as he looked at my course schedule: "Yeah, that's a good idea. All of these have LOTS of reading. Get it done now.") Sooo...

My application essay (for the non-degree program) is FINISHED! Yea! (Ok, kinda finished, but it just need another set of eyes to edit it. Then it will be emailed off.)

I have to set small deadlines to accomplish anything. So, yes, this is much easier of an app essay than the one I may do in a year, but it's still done. Now the scary part begins.

Joke of the Day

What did the Snowman say when he recieved two pieces of coal for Christmas?









"I can see, I can see!"


(Yes, cheesy, but light. Just the ticket for my last day of work for the week!)

D'oh!

I'm an idiot - one of the best gifts I got was "Dear Frankie" -- from my sweet brother. One of his little known talents is gift buying. I plan on watching "Frankie" sometime tonight, which is what brought it to mind.

Breaking the blogging silence (i.e., laziness.)

Well, it seems as thought not much has happened since I last blogged, but thinking about that statement for 2 seconds proves me wrong.

LSG came home - Although I didn't get to see her for almost the entire first week she was home because I picked up those hours at the other job. I'll be really happy when I see my next paycheck, though! I worked two nights and a day (about 13 hours) the week leading up to Christmas. Keep in mind I log somewhere around 3-6 hours a week during the typical season. So, even though I didn't even get close to 20 hours (part-time) it felt like I lived there.

Friday was pretty good, because I didn't have much planned - that evening our church did have a wonderful Christmas Concert, in which Melodee sang wonderfully from Handel's Messiah (not. an easy song) and I sang "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." I'm happy with the result, but I'm happiest that I took a fairly substantial step forward in reducing my nerves prior to singing. (I've literally had my knees shake while I was singing at a wedding.)

Saturday was wonderful and horrible all at the same time - I had some sort of stomach thing going on, so I spent most of the day sitting in front of the TV with a blanket and reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The wonderful part was that I really didn't have to go anywhere or do anything, so I could just nurse myself back to health. I was SHOCKED at the end of HP (AMANDA!!! I can't believe that character DIED! There HAS to be some mistake. I'll just write to Rowling and she'll see how she was wrong and she'll write an addendum). I'm a purist - ha! Or, rather, I don't keep up with Harry Potter enough to know any spoilers, so the end of that book had me thinking, "no...this will be a joke or something."

Christmas Sunday was wild, crazy and great.

I got my sister, brother and GPB new jackets that haven't been released by Northface yet and won't come until May, but they really rock. Pops got a Leki walking stick from me that he's wanted for a year and I got mom an Astaire/Rogers DVD pack - some really great movies we love.

LSG and GPB gave me the beautiful watch I shamelessly hinted about when we girls took this trip. Mom gave me the work clothing (business casual) that she graciously bought me during that trip (delayed gratification is really worth it.) I'm a happy, happy girl. My New Year's resolution is going to be "I will only buy clothing that is classic." Specifically my goal is to search online sales for clothes every other week or so. And Dad got me a bracelet that is very, very pretty. My aunt got me When I don't desire God - How to fight for Joy by John Piper in our big family exchange. Amazon Wishlist Rocks.

Alfred's sermon was absolutely one of the best I've heard.

Yesterday, my eldest cousin and his wife - with the first great-grandchild-not-yet-born - and his sister and her husband (yes, also my cousins) and various other cousins and aunts met for coffee. We howled at old videotape of Christmases past --mostly at the little cousins (all around 4-6 yrs at that time) falling down, pushing each other (when adults weren't looking, of course) stealing Easter chocolate, and "helping" each other open gifts. The biggest laughs of all: Jr High late 80's hair. Hello, Aquanet!

Then I went home and cleaned out my closets of clothes I haven't worn in this past year as I talked to LSG and let the doggies out to play - I'm housesitting. "Grandpa" Piper just oozes "Get outta my way, young pup! you are so exuberant and annoying!" every time Migo comes to play! It's hilarious.

And finally, last night LSG got us hooked on what she has threatening to hook us on for the last 3 months: LOST. And are we ever hooked! :)

God is good, and so gracious - I don't deserve it.

Cute little story

It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco. The
pastor of the church was looking over the Nativity scene when he noticed that
the baby Jesus was missing from among the figures.

Immediately he turned, went outside, and saw a little boy with a
red wagon.

In the wagon was the figure of the infant Jesus. So, he walked up
to the boy and said, "Well, where did you get Him, my fine
friend?"

The little boy replied, "I got Him from the church."

"And why did you take Him?"

The boy said, "Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to
the Lord Jesus and I told Him if He would bring me a red wagon for Christmas
I would give Him a ride around the block in it."

Ha! I thought this was good

You Are French Food

Snobby yet ubiquitous. People act like they understand you more than they actually do.

What Kind of Food Are You?

It's almost embarrassing

It's been so long since I've blogged my friends are emailing me! I guess the good thing is that I know they check my blog!

I've been picking up hours at the second job, so the retail life has obliterated my typical routine. If you were wondering, it's been a REALLY good season for retail. I'm not sure about the rest of America, but it seems like everyone is throwing down tons of money for materialistic happiness.

Anyway, I'm going to go to bed right now - the head has started aching. But I'll be sure to blog a little more frequently next week.

Tuesday Quote

“Yeah, everyone loses in this one.”

The Subway girl, on why the stickers were discontinued. Seems you can buy completed coupons on Ebay. Obviously, Subway didn’t want their sandwiches stolen (It seems as though the stamps are stolen, likely by employees), so they discontinued the promotion. Unfortunately, as Subway Girl noted, Tuesdays were their busiest day (2 stamps on Tuesdays deal) and now the business has dropped. I counted 4 people in there, and only a few months ago the line went out the door.

Serious Pride; (Or) "It seems Lewis hit a nerve."

Ok, I can't wait until Tuesday.

Saturday Quote:

"Of all the elements of Christianity, the most repugnant is the notion of the Christ who took our sins upon himself and sacrificed his body in agony to save our souls. Did we ask him to?"

He[Aslan] is an emblem for everything an atheist objects to in religion. His divine presence is a way to avoid humans taking responsibility for everything here and now on earth, where no one is watching, no one is guiding, no one is judging and there is no other place yet to come. Without an Aslan, there is no one here but ourselves to suffer for our sins, no one to redeem us but ourselves: we are obliged to settle our own disputes and do what we can. We need no holy guide books, only a very human moral compass. Everyone needs ghosts, spirits, marvels and poetic imaginings, but we can do well without an Aslan.

~Polly Toynbee, The Guardian

Narnia

Well, interestingly, the person I thought would HATE this movie absolutely gushes.

MaryAnn Johanson is not a Christian - In fact, I think of her as the Dooce of film reviews. She's funny and oftentimes nails the movie, just as I would expect a critic to. I'm usually disappointed by critics - they've seen so many movies that what they do like is far too cutting edge for me. Ms. Johanson is often immensely critical of movies I think are awful and sometimes even critical of movies I somewhat like (I overlook cheese fairly easily). More importantly, she gives great reviews to great movies.

So, I waited for her to review this movie. And for a while I didn't think she would even review it, it being overly Christian (she believes that Christians "misunderstand that the allegorical stuff of Lewis's book far predates Christianity"). But She gives is two BIG thumbs up, which makes me look forward to it even more.

Friday Photo

This was taken last year - but the weather is just as cold! I need to get out and take a few more photos. LSG, remind me to kipe your digital when you're back. ;) (I expected it to be spelled with a 'y')

Wednesday

Hm, ok. I'm having difficulty thinking up posts because all I've done lately is buy christmas gifts or look for christmas gifts. Since three of the 8 people I'm getting gifts for regularly read this blog, I can't really say what I'm buying. BUT I can say, I love giving gifts.

The hardest one to get a gift for is my cousin's wife. She's beautiful and lives in New York, and with people like her (she's INCREDIBLY fun to be around) you just want to spend tons of money, because, well, people in NY spend a lot of money. I don't have tons of money to spend, but I also don't want to get her something that looks and seems cheap. So, I've been looking, but I've got to get going, otherwise I'll be WAY too late.

All the other gifts, I've got to keep secret, at least until about December 17th.

I'm REALLY bad with secrets/gifts. I can keep secrets (especaially if they're painful or serious) but good secrets, where it's just a matter of time? horrible.

Criminey.

I can't believe it's already Tuesday. As Christmas nears, time seems to fly away.

So, Tuesday Quote

Peace and Justice are just two sides of the same coin
~Dwight D. Eisenhower

I have to say that I'm very grateful to the one who completed true justice so that we could have peace!

Friday Photo

Quick Shots

Friday Photo will be up tonight. In the meantime, a few interesting moments from yesterday

1. I noticed that Forever 21 prints "John 3:16" on the bottom of their bags. Now LSG has another reason to shop there! This conversation thread leaves me baffled and sad.


2. The reason I noticed the John 3:16 - I put my workout clothes in it. I went running with my co-worker. At noon. In 8 degree weather.

and 3. It's beginning to feel a lot like Minnesota. Montana rarely stays this cold, but we're in for a week of it, they say.

'tis the season

A. It's Real.
B. You'll be shocked (pleasantly. Be sure to listen to the music along with it, otherwise it won't be that cool.)

C. Interview with the creator

College! Yea!

What classes should Big Little Brother take next semester?
	Principles of Accounting I
	English - Business Writing
	The Bible As Literature
	Writing Poetry
	US History to 1877
	Principles of Marketing
	Elementary French II
	The Phys World Around Us
	Intro to Theater & Performance
	Intro to Alternative Dispute Resolution
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

.....

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

President Abraham Lincoln
1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Tuesday Quote

God writes a lot of comedy....The trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny.

Garrison Keillor

True Life Funny

I recently received the second birth announcement from college friends - this seems unusual that so many women I know (or aware of) are giving birth within the same 2 to 3 weeks. Which caused me to ask the question, "What was going on about nine months before November 17?"

They're all very original. :D

Weekend Round up

1. I lost my voice cheering here - and we went home at halftime (freezing cold) to watch it on the tube.
2. I broke down and went to this - and I had a good time (though there's a whole history as to why I hate to admit it.)
3. and I prepared for a major decision in 9 or 21 months, depending on circumstances. Though vague, you can feel free to pray that I'll have wisdom in this matter.

Friday Photo

I like this photo. I'm not sure why, except it was taken in an antique shop, and harkens back to a different time. So, Happy Friday!

Wanting to see (or not)

DMM and I Caught a bit of the A&E Pride and Prejudice last night. The mother is (appropriately) annoying, but she is very humorous if you can like her for the foolish woman that she is. "I do not see that, why should I see that!?" It's also very scary how much of that movie I can recite.

Which reminds me - This Pride and Prejudice hasn't intrigued me ("That preview makes it look like it's about a meddlesome aunt." ~DMM)

But this, I'm thinking I'd even pay full price for.

And I Can't Wait. for this.

Figures

I have the incredible luck of running into my ex-boyfriend when I'm looking Particularly...uh..."casual."
As in I-just-went-on-a-run-with-my-coworker/friend-and-have-a-nice-case-of-hat-hair
-but-in-my-typical-idiotic-way-figured-that-NO-ONE-would-be-at-the-new-coffee-shop-
what-was-I-thinking?" casual. Of course, to counteract my too-large sweatshirt, icky face and old adidas warmups, he was all put together in his business casual "I'm-6-foot-5-and-need-my-shirts-taken-in-because-I'm-THAT-tall-and-svelt."

Don't forget the last time I ran into him (almost literally) It was in walmart on a Saturday. No shower.

Yes, I have a gift.

(Real life) Tuesday Quote

Real life, because it's what Christian wrote yesterday.

"Too many times, what I really want from the church is my own little wish dream. I want friends for my sake, not Christ's. What I need to desire is not others, not even the church (at least not as an end). I need to desire God."

You just nailed my nature, Christian.


and the gospel:

Fortunately, God's grace doesn't leave us to ourselves. It shatters us with a life full of hardship and dissappointments - it will not let us find rest anywhere but in God.

Read his post here.

TulipGirl always has the best Memes

Seven 7s

Seven things to do before I die:
1. Go to Austria
2. Learn to make my grandma's stewed chicken recipe
3. Have as good a relationship (or better) with LSG as Madre and her sister’s friendship.
4. Immediately trust God fully in a moment of confusion or fear
5. Learn web design
6. Own a German Shephard
7. Be the coolest aunt ever


Seven things I cannot do:
1. Give up pasta or bread
2. Ignore my mother’s advice
3. Hide what I’m thinking
4. Sit quietly at a basketball game
5. Like raw onions
6. Coffee without cream
7. Stay angry

Because I can't fill in "Seven things that attract me to Hubby"
Seven things that attract me to a guy (not necessarily in this order):
1. Intelligence
2. Wisdom/Loving God
3. Good humor and wit
4. Looking me in the eye (Confidence)
5. Chuckling at my passionate rants (not taking me too seriously)
6. Creativity (Artist, musician, etc).
7. Kind


Seven things I say most often:
1. Love ya
2. Pookie-Boo!/Hey Buddy!/Hi Sweetie! (or joyfully exclaiming another nickname of one of my siblings or friends)
3. For all intents and purposes.
4. Dear. Goodness.
5. Holy Crap!
6. If my head weren’t (wasn’t?) screwed on…
7. Anyway.


Seven books I love:
1. Valley of Vision
2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
3. A Time to Kill/The Testament (Grisham)
4. The Peacemaker
5. Gone with the Wind
6. Psalms
7. Back in my younger years, Jeanette Oke and Little House on the Prairie books

Seven movies you watch over and over again:
1. Swing Time (or any Astaire/Rogers flick)
2. French Kiss/How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days/ 13 going on 30 (typical chick flicks)
3. Office Space
4. “In this White House” West Wing episode. (Ok, it’s not a movie, but Ainsley makes her debut, and verbally whips Rob Lowe’s Sam into shape!)
5. Emma
6. An Affair to Remember
7. Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Seasons 1-3.


Seven people I want to join in, too:
1. Little Shoe Girl
2. Divine Miss M
3. My Other Brain
4. Anne
5. Andrea
6. Amanda
7. Melodie

(Originally there was also “7 celebrity crushes.” Hm. Rob Lowe, Harrison Ford, Cary Grant and Hugh Jackman top the list. The problem with celebrity crushes is that these people aren’t “real” and they're just as sinful as the next person...)

Maybe I shouldn't admit this

When I was in 4th grade, our sunday school teacher made us memorize Psalm 19. I remember my friend (now attending Covenant Seminary) REALLY liking it.

I never liked it.

Madre and I were just discussing that. How there are passages of scripture you memorize, and you know you SHOULD like it, but it just doesn't hit home. (Madre really likes Psalm 19, and doesn't share my apathy toward it.)

Now, Scripture that just blows me over? Romans 8:24-27. Psalm 25. Psalm 3. Love 'em. And there are also verses I've memorized when I was young, the ones I look back on, and I at least go "Yeah, that really did meet me where I needed it, back then."

Psalm 19? Well, I love verse 14, but other than that, the whole bridegroom thing just makes me go "huh."

Now that I've admitted that, I'll eat my words in about 3 months. It's generally the way my life goes. :D

Friday Photo (reeeaally late).

Reminding myself that this was a frequent part of my life!

More things that just shouldn't exist in our known universe.

Gingerbread creamer is living in our downstairs fridge. Obviously someone (I love dearly) didn't get the memo.

Also, tough, wood-y tasting Granny Smith Apples. (They're SO. GOOD. usually. Nothing worse than a good thing gone wrong.)

Things that are wrong with the Universe

Buttered Popcorn flavored Jelly Belly(s).












Bleeeuuch.

Fun times with Walmart.com

CD1

Burn for you - TobyMac
Brave - Nichole Nordeman
I can't do this - Plumb
Rain Down - Delirious?
More to Life - Stacie Orrico
The space inbetween us - Building 429
Walk by faith - Jeremy Camp
Unnoticed - Plumb
Holy - Nichole Nordeman
Leaving ninety nine - Audio Adrenaline
Undignified - Matt Redman
Take me away - Sarah Kelly
Release the Deep - Telecast
This Man - Jeremy Camp
The Way - Telecast
We Live - Superchic[k]

(and a for a little humor)
Taylor, the Latte Boy - Kristen Chenoweth

CD 2

What if - Jadon Lavik
All I want to do - Ginny Owens
Word of God Speak - Kristen Chenoweth
Held - Natalie Grant
Strong Enough - Stacie Orrico
My Offering - Nichole Nordeman
Worthy - Salvador
Legacy - Nichole Nordeman
Broken World - Across the sky
Be Still My Soul - Ginny Owens
Healed -Nichole Nordeman
Nice Naïve and beautiful - Plumb
beauty from pain - Superchic[k]

Tuesday Quote(s)

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heal that has crushed it.
~Mark Twain

Unforgiveness is the poison we drink hoping others will die.
~Unknown

(Ok, and look at those puppies and think about not forgiving someone. Betcha ya can't.

Ta-daaaa!

Hey, Anniversaire heureux à moi! (I would have written it "Bon Anniversaire pour moi" but this would just prove that my french is just about as bad as it was in college, when I squeeked by with a "C"!)

It's been (about) a year of posting thoughts, and for the last few weeks I've been working on my template - very bored with the old one. So, welcome to the second year of thoughts - Random, funny and (mostly) otherwise.

The only sad part is that the comments posted to the old template have been lost. :( I think I've downloaded them somewhere, but according to haloscan, I have to cut and copy them into the proper places. We'll see if I get bored enough to do that.

And just know I'm glad that you're reading this. And not just for my ego's sake...

mostly. ;)


Oh, and no. I'm not above using puppies for the "awwww!" factor.

Wow, what a feminist.

No, not really, but I suppose that you might think so, after having the Tuesday quote up all week (or thereabouts.)

I went to oversee a nearby event for work with no internet access (to speak of). The best part was the 2 hours in the car on the way back with my mentor and biblical counselor. Its just the tiniest bit creepy how she can uncover things in my heart that I've never thought about, and yet make absolute sense. I feel a bit free-er after talking with her. I guess that makes for a great biblical counselor.

I'll get some stories ready for you, but in the meantime, here's a real life quote.

Ains: "So I was in Walmart, looking for pajamas, talking to my mom on the phone."
Co-worker "You are not one of those people who talks on the phone all the time in stores because they're afraid of being alone, are you?"
"No. I'm afraid of being bored."

Tuesday Quote

Personally, I think if a woman hasn't met the right man by the time she's 24, she may be lucky.
Deborah Kerr

The cutest children on earth, that I'm not related to :)

Last year at Reformation day - Princess, a Knight and a Cheerleader --

This year -Sacajawea, Elvis and a Poodle!

Friday Photo

"What are you going to post for your Friday Photo?"
"I don't know, what do you think?"
"Something from Minneapolis. Oh! You should post one of my pictures!"
"I'm going to post that picture of you guys at the bluff! I thought that was an awesome picture!"
"Yeah, but we totally didn't mean to take it that way."
"Good ol' backlighting."


I love that "mistakes" can be as interesting as planned photos.

Well, anyway, it made me laugh

A tourist walks into a curio shop in San Francisco. Looking around at everything, he notices a very lifelike life-sized bronze statue of a rat. It has no price tag, but is so striking that he decides he must have it. He takes it to the owner and asks, "How much for the bronze rat?"

The owner replies, "$12 for the rat and $100 for the story". The tourist gives the man $12 and says, "I'll just take the rat, you can keep the story."

As he walks down the street carrying his bronze rat, he notices that a few real rats have crawled out of the alleys and sewers and begun following him down the street. This is disconcerting, and he begins walking faster. But within a couple of blocks, the herd of rats behind him has grown to hundreds, and they begin squealing. He begins to trot toward the Bay, looking around to see that the rats now number in the MILLIONS, and are squealing and coming toward him faster and faster.

Concerned, even scared, he runs to the edge of the Bay, and throws the bronze rat as far out into the water as he can. Amazingly, the millions of rats all jump into the Bay after it, and are all drowned.

The man walks back to the curio shop.

"Ah ha," says the owner, "you have come back for the story?"

"No," says the man, "I came back to see if you have a bronze Democrat, a bronze Muslim cleric & anything French."

A funny Wednesday post for the Girls

"It Never Fails"

Yup.

Tuesday Quote

"Providence is like Hebrew - It only makes sense when read backwards."

The Seminary prof of Professor Hallstrom (LSG's Speech prof).

A Beginning worth Filming

Big Little Bro bought Batman Begins a few days ago. We watched it twice. In a row (practically).

Things I liked about Begins

1. Christian Bale. Believable as both Bruce Wayne ("Billionaire Playboy") and The Dark Knight.

2. I can't believe I'm actually going to say it, but the new Batman ..."car," if that's what you'd call it. Tank-Tumbler-Thingy. That thing makes ANYONE want one, even though its a bit ugly at first. Gives Batman a bit more powerful edge, instead of the romanticized ideal of the sports car from Batman and Batman Returns.

3. The supporting cast did a great job, creating characters you actually were interested in.I wasn't as annoyed with Katie Holmes as I thought I would be. (Kirsten Dunst just grates on me when I watch Spidey 1 or 2.)

Also, most of the cast for Begins is British, and you'd. never. know. it.

4. Finally villains that don't make you roll your eyes, but still have a comic book feel to them.

5. No nipples on the Batsuit.

6. Alfred. How can you not love Michael Caine? He played the best Scrooge, in a Christmas Carol that's largely overlooked.

7.Oh my gosh, Wayne Manor. Holy buckets.

8. Did I say Christian Bale?

In the Meantime

Check out this post by Christian. Really great point by Piper, and by Christian, as well.

(Friday Photo is on it's way.)

Back Home

Oh, it's good to be home. I loved hanging out with LSG and Madre as well as planning for next year's conference, but not being able to see my friends (or even talk to them much) made this seem like I was in a familiar city, but just not the same.

I guess the funniest part of today had to be the automated voice on the airport tram. Some little glitch gave her a lisp, which added to the recorded proper British accent, had all three of us giggling to hear "Pleath wait for the tram to come to a complete thtop. Pleath exist for gateth eight to twenty-thix."

It's good to be home.

I am..

Going to have a very comfortable life, and

success and happiness will come my way.

Thank you, Mr. PF Chang, for those words of "wisdom." (I thought fortune cookies were trying to be more vague, so as to seem more believable.)

Midnight Plane to (meet) Georgia

(Ok, the destination is Minneapolis, but someone from GA is IN Minneapolis!)

SURPRISE LITTLE SHOE GIRL, I bought a ticket two days ago for Minneapolis, because work is helping to send me there! I'm Here! You and Madre have had this planned for a month, but HAHA, the sister that plans EVERYTHING jumped on a red-eye flight to see you and Mom and do some work for the 06 Conference!

The silence darn near killed me, because the thing I SOOO wanted to blog, I couldn't. There are things that you just can't put on your personal blog when your sister reads it daily.

This is still so unbelievable.

Added this morning (That was written a day or two ago):
Well, the look on her face was ab.so.lutely worth it. LSG is one of the more difficult people to surprise, but anything is possible when you do something last minute, walk in at quarter after 5 (in the morning) and watch her eyes blink open, look over at the other bed (searching for Mom) and then blink back, all as her mouth drops open in a perfect 'O' and out comes, "Ainsley! What? Wha..??" Ohhh, it was so worth it. I'll never forget the look on her face, or her "We were just talking about how weird it was that you weren't here!"

Off to have a GREAT weekend in my home away from home. (And to my MN friends, Hey guys! I don't know if I'll be able to see you on this whirlwind trip, but give me a call!)

Highlights and Lowlights

I've had both 'lights' put in my hair over the last 9 years, thanks to my college roommate, the one who firmly believed that life should never be lacking in good, bright, red hair dye. Yes, in college, I was Auburn for a very long time.

That's not what I was really thinking about, though, when I thought of this post. I was thinking,

"Gosh, it is addicting, having a 100 pound Black Lab follow you everywhere you go, just to flop down and sleep, even though you've tried to put him to bed two or three times. Guess he wants to be near me." It's likely he'll be sleeping in my room tonight.

So, I also thought of some other really fun times (highlights) during my week in Dallas:

• Being able to shoot over 400 photos using the incredibly expensive camera equipment at my disposal. (a DIGITAL SLR! With two amazing telephoto lenses. Holy Buckets, it was so nice!)
• Hangin' with Madre, who taught while I coordinated.
• Laughing with DMM, sharing stories of "Oh, and then THIS happened!" until 1:00 a.m. one night (The next morning was filled with much consumption of Wolfgang Puck coffee!)
• Seeing one of my best friends, the one that I've known since 5th grade, and picking up right where we left off. (Love ya Jen!)
• Realizing that I could easily call the instructors my friends and mentors - regardless of age or education level.
• Spending 3 hours flying back with my senior pastor, and spending an hour with my associate pastor during the conference, just soaking up their wisdom.

And thennnn, the lowlights.

• Not many of them, but this was definitely one: Knowing I had 5.5 hours to sleep before getting up for the plane on Sunday, and awakening at 2:30 to loud, drunk, obnoxious next-door neighbors. Not sleeping for another 1/2 hour until they quieted down (by smoking so much that we could smell it through the adjoining door).
• 
• Packing my cute but not-the-most-comfortable shoes, and being on my feet for 16 hours a day. To the left: Me hawking product, in my typical footwear.
• Wishing LSG and the Boys could have been there (...but!! --> Minneapolis 2006 National Conference, baby!)

Like I said, not that much to complain about! :)

Ok, the Lab is snoring. I'm going to bed.

Tuesday Quote (Kinda)

Before Saturday's game against Trinity, assistant coach Beau Taylor handed each one of his linebackers a piece of chalk. One by one, in front of their teammates, they went up to a chalkboard and wrote the answer to Taylor's oversized question:

Brian Tanning/Northwestern College

What Will You Give?

In a room overwhelmed with silence, one player wrote "love." Another, "respect." Yet another, "intensity." Then senior defensive back Dan Pazurek stepped to the board and wrote, "all the glory to Jesus Christ."

Read the full story from ESPN for a refreshingly even-handed article.

What would I do without you stuck in MN? And why weren't you in church?! :D

On 10/10/05, MOB wrote:

Your alma mater made Sportscenter on Sunday morning, as ESPN's Mark May included them in his top 5 college football highlights countdown for playing two games on Saturday, defeating Trinity College 59-0 and Macalester College 47-14. Not bad!

On 10/10/05, Ains wrote:

wow!!
That's just crazy on two fronts.
I'm blogging that!

On 10/10/05, MOB wrote:

I thought you might want to do that :)

Besides ESPN, Check this out for a listing of the major news outlets that carried the story. (Of course, they decide to break out the really good team 5 years after I completed my stint as Sports Editor!)
It's really unbelievable coverage for a NCAA III team!

Tagged by a Kindred

"List five songs that you are currently enjoying. It doesn't matter what genre they are from, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artist and the song in your blog along with your five songs."

I'm going to copy Andrea and just list the last 5 songs I've been groovin' to in my car - a mix cd I made in college that still gets a surprising amount of play. It's rarely out of my disc-changer.

All the Small Things - Blink 182

Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf

Local God - Everclear

Smells like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Love Rollercoaster - Red Hot Chili Peppers

I also listened to Loreena McKinnett at work today, and the other CDs in my changer (that I can think of off the top of my head) are a 'Girl Power' Mix CD by DMM, Captive Thought's Better than Life, The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack, Roxette's Don't Bore us Get to the Chorus and the Jackson 5's Greatest Hits. Hopefully that makes me a well rounded girl.

Edited to Add:

Whoops, sorry Guys (all you Blogliners out there). Forgot to Tag Anne, MOB, LSG, Drew and iTones in the comments, as is our norm.

Dedicated to LSG/ Needed Monday Humor

Some of you may have noticed that I've been writing to Little Shoe Girl a lot - Do I not love you all? Is she the only one I think of? No, not hardly! However, she is my sister, and her being in the far, far away world of GA makes it easy to think, "Hey! This reminded me of you!" And it's happened again - a link that I can't resist posting, thinking to myself "LSG's other name must be Kate, except she wouldn't have asked the question!"

For those of you who read Manolo, you'll have already seen this, but it's worth reading again. For those of you who don't, He is one of the most worthwhile of bloggers!

Friday Photo

This totally made my day.

Thanks for the letter, LSG! I love you too!

(So much better than a Hallmark Card!)

Friday Photo ... Almost

I posted 3 images this week...do I need another one for today? ;)

I usually prep Friday's photo on Thursday night, but since I was at a job-required NorthFace Clinic (i.e. they wine and dine us while telling us all about Primaloft, Infused Polymers [heh, I think!] as well as the miracles of HyVent [80% of the waterproof durability of GoreTex!!...! I know. Your life will never be the same. ]), I wasn't able to make it up to Madre and Dad's, where my photos and computer reside. I'll try to do so tonight.

More carnage

It seems the Dogs like the taste of stuffing more than the numerous rahide bones available to them!

Dogs: 3
Dead stuffed animals: 2

So gross that it has to be blogged

Python tries to eat Alligator, Explodes.

Snow is worth it when...

..you walk outside from any building, and the smell that greets you is that of a wood-burning stove!

(Of course, the electricity being out for almost 24 hours in various parts of the city contributes to that wonderful smell, as people are looking for alternative heating solutions!)

Tuesday Quote

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
Corrie Ten Boom

And now

I love my jacket even more. Talk about timing!

I'm in Love

NorthFace
It only took two winters to get it, but it is pretty dang great! I love my second job. It's so worth it today.

96 hours

The number of hours I worked this past week! I'm slightly amazed. I was up and running events by 7:00 am each day and in bed around 11 each evening. Considering that the lunches and dinners revolved around work and work items and work errands and meeting new work employees, I figured I just put in 2.4 normal weeks of work in 6 days. Not bad for combating a personal view of myself - the one that I'm lazy. ;) (Sometimes I am. My Other Brain disagrees.)

I had a great time. DMM and I roomed together, and between her and MMc, the other staff event coordinator, I was kept sane as I answered question after question on training/"Can we get another mic?" /"Do you know where the Church manuals are?"/"If I don't take this event right this second will I lose my Certification status?" and on and on.

There were a lot of difficulties and plenty of Plan B's, but overall I was shown love and encouraged beyond what I deserve. El Presidente had a whole shtick about "If the mafia was after us, we are SO LOVED we could just go from home to home to home.” Our Development Director took any potential saccharine feel out of it and had the room roaring with laughter, but nonetheless it really was the feeling you left the conference with: There were so many people from across the nation who loved you simply because they are Christians and you're siblings.

So, thanks to all of you who actually checked the blog after Tuesday. I'm sure I've got a few funny stories that will come out during the next few days, but for today and tomorrow, I'm just going to take it easy and love takin' care of this guy until his Mistress gets home.

I'll end with the verse given to us last night:
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength."

Tuesday Quote

From Mr. and Mrs. Smith - they've spent a good part of the movie trying to kill each other, by this point.

John Smith: Admit it - you still think this will have a happy ending.
Jane: Happy endings are just stories that haven't ended yet.


(I'm sure I didn't get the quote quite right (noisy airplane, bad headphones), but it was just the thing I needed on that monday.)

Sunday Update

Yessss!

Really Packing a Punch

I thought this was very interesting.

Occasionally, somebody suggests detonating a nuclear weapon to shatter a storm.

Researchers say hurricanes would dwarf such measures. For example, Hurricane Rita measures about 400 miles across.

According to the center for atmospheric research, the heat energy released by a hurricane equals 50 to 200 trillion watts or about the same amount of energy released by exploding a 10-megaton nuclear bomb every 20 minutes.

Friday Photo

It doesn't even begin to show how amazing the sunset was, but it's there nonetheless....

It was actually Eponine...

Your French Name is:

Amarante Renaud

What's Your French Name?

LSG will know why my chosen name in French was Eponine, but if anyone else knows (the Mattsons also would know immediately) feel free to guess. OR if you feel like telling me what you chose as your High school Spanish, French or German name, I'm very curious...

Tuesday Quote on Wed

(This week is fly.ing by...)

"You don't have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."

~C.S. Lewis

The sort of day that makes you want to drink your lunch

Ok, it isn't quite that bad, but a quick margarita vacation from 12-1 would have been nice. Mostly, it was just a pressure filled day at the office, realizing that the shoe you were waiting for finally dropped, but then wondering (in quite a horrified manner), "Gosh, if the shoe dropped so early in the week, what will Friday bring?"

That's when you decide to wander downstairs to the other Event Coordinator's cube, the teetotaller, or at least she goes to a church that highly frowns upon adult beverages of the fermented kind, and ask, "Feel like drinking lunch today?" To which she responds with a delighted, slightly giddy-crazy laugh; You both sigh and then return to the responsibility of not drinking your lunch.

Heartbreak Season

If you love 'em in the good times, you gotta stand by 'em in the hard times. But they are consistant in breaking my heart each year.

Frustrating

Knowing that if I had just been a bit more careful with the present CD, I wouldn't be trying to download songs from Napster, Walmart, iTunes, Yahoo, & MSN that I already have on CD. Unfortunately, the CD I have happens to be hard to get, and not downloadable. But I CAN buy it for $14.80 from Amazon. {roll eyes here}

Friday Photo

Taken outside my cousins new home - it's very likely that this view is now blocked by a house, knowing Bozeman's housing market.

Ohhhh

That poor, poor child.

Tuesday Quote/Her Inner History Nerd comes out

"They basically gave them unlimited amounts of whiskey to deal with the horror of it."

~Erik Larson, author of Isaac's Storm.

The hurricane of 1900 that hit Galveston killed over 6,000 people (with estimates up to 8,000). The waterlogged sand refused to allow burials, so the residents first forced poor black workers to load up the thousands of bodies onto boats and barges and dump them into the Gulf of Mexico (the quote refers to this situation) . It didn't work, and the bodies floated back to the city. The residents were then forced to burn the bodies.

I know this post seems morbid, but the documentary by The History Channel was excellant. This was actually the deadliest natural disaster in US history - Katrina being the most expensive/most destructive.

The point Madre made: Most people in the 19th century couldn't swim.

The few photos on NOAA's website on the storm are worth the click.

And finally, How different this reporter's writing is from what we are hearing today regarding Katrina:

The story of Galveston's tragedy can never be written as it is. Since the cataclysm of Saturday night a force of faithful men have been struggling to convey to humanity from time to time some of the particulars of the tragedy.

They have told much, but it was impossible for them to tell all, and the world, at best, can never know all, for the thousands of tragedies written by the storm must forever remain mysteries until eternity shall reveal all. Perhaps it were best that it should be so, for the horror and anguish of those fatal and fateful hours were mercifully lost in the screaming tempest and buried forever beneath the raging billows.

Only God knows, and for the rest let it remain forever in the boundlessness of His omniscience.

But in the realm of finity, the weak and staggered senses of mankind may gather fragments of the disaster, and may strive with inevitable incompleteness to convey the merest impression of the saddest story which ever engaged the efforts of a reporter.

- As published Sept. 13, 1900, in The Galveston Daily News

I love days like today.

It's mushy-wet and drizzly and gray outside today. I often think that days like this one are perfect days - If you can stay home from work. These days were prevalent when I lived in the Cities, and had an especially nostalgic/reflective feel when I lived in my apartment in Downtown St. Paul (built in 1912). Things I would have done today if I still lived in STP (it goes without saying that I would have played hooky!) :

1) Made and consumed tons of coffee at home - best feeling: Wrapping your hands around a nice, thick, warm mug and staring out of the window.

2) picked up an old book and read a few chapters.

3) Listened to Trespassers William.

4) curled up in a nice, soft, warm blanket.

5) Watched a few episodes of Buffy, Season Two.

6) arranged to meet MOB for Mochas and politic talk in the afternoon

7) Made a warm, tasty casserole-y something for iTones for dinner when she got home (my apartment being on the second floor, it was warmer, comparatively speaking).

8) talked all evening with Tones, usually laughing hysterically over something no one else would have gotten.

9) wished I could repeat it the next day

As it stands, I'm going to have to corrupt Andrea or DMM or someone else to play hooky with me on these days.

A Modified Birthday Letter

GPB and LSG last summer - photo by DMM

I wrote this two days ago, on GPB's birthday (Sept 9). I vacillated as to whether or not I should actually post it -today I decided that I didn't really care if it was a tiny bit mushy - he deserves this post!

Happy Birthday, Ghetto Phone Boy!

G, you grow daily in your spiritual walk, and you're a true Barnabas - and I hope someday everyone you know will read of him and think of you. Your care, respect and appreciation for my sister is the very best, and I'm so happy that God brought her such a great guy. You are such a steadfast friend - you've been my brother's good buddy, and you've been my good friend - especially when you've given advice and encouragement exactly when I needed it.

Most of all, though, I've watched you grow and mature during difficult situations God has given you, and I see you desire to be a real peacemaker.

We love you dearly.

(and no, I didn't get through writing this without tearing up just a little bit. I'm a softie!)

All my love. Happy Birthday G!
Ains

PS, Today you were awesome as usual, proving to me how caring and respectful you are of all of us in our family. Thank you for trusting me, and being my friend.

A day dedicated to God, but relaxing by ....

watching sports!

I wonder if most would define me as a fanatic...? I can't believe I forgot how exhilarating it is to watch football! I can't say that I'm terribly upset that Moss has been traded, and I'll miss the incredible catches he's able to accomplish, but the drama off the field...not so much. My Vikings Jersey (kids size - far less expensive!) will need to be changed, as I've worn #84 for 7 years. Number 11 will be next up.

And then, of course, there is THIS! We are waiting with bated breath - our two favorite players are in the final! Not so bad. Our favorite to win the US grand slam is Agassi (US citizen), but Federer is the likely winner, and with his ability, we're just wishing he'd resign his Swiss citizenship and come play for the U.S!

Too late to read blogs

So, I was just surfing blogs, and as I clicked from one to another, I coulda sworn I saw a very creatively named blog. I clicked back, and stared at Manolo's for a good. long. time. Not seeing it, and knowing that The Pioneer Press used to have a section of their Bulletin Board called creative hearing, I figured this was a case of creative seeing (not hard, considering my contacts are in desperate need of change.)

But then, I threw it into Google - and I didn't believe it, but there is a blog out there named
"Narcoleptic Squirrel."

I haven't read through it much, but the title itself made me laugh. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to read about its namesake.

I'm going to stop watching it, but it was worth it today.

This post could be subtitled "See Katie Couric speechless -- for two seconds."

Mississippi Governor gives Network News a polite smack down.

MSN Video tends to take the video clips down within about 48 hours, so check out the video titled "Mississippi Governor talks about cleanup" with that in mind.

Does Jesse need a dictionary?

Ok, so I decided that my original post bordered on the mean, instead of snarky, as meant.

So, here's another equally snarky post , and enjoy the "Pearls" below, which is hysterical no matter which way you cut it. :)

Much Better than what the Today Show is saying

I found this on www.simuljustusetpeccator.blogspot.com , a website by David Skinner, a PCA pastor in Beloxi, MS. It was linked to by www.PCAnet.org, the PCA's (my denomination)website. This was his post on September 3rd.
I thought I would just link and post a short part, but it is Just. So. Good. From C.H. Spurgeon, I'm assuming it is from his "Morning and Evening Devotions."

Morning, August 31

"On mine arm shall they trust."--Isaiah 51:5

In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone!

There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time.

Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in Him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as He built the heavens and the earth, glorify Himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress.

The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.

Thoughts on Katrina

I have to admit, during the past week, the words of my mouth have not been overwhelmingly sorrowful for the people of New Orleans. I am sad and sorrowful for those who have truly lost their belongings and even lives to the storm; However, most of what the news is reporting are people whining in the face of disaster. I suppose the mourning will come later. For now, the news and blogs feel justified in pointing fingers.

And so, John Piper has once again risen with his words to help us re-adjust our view of humanity and God in this disaster.

Was Katrina Intelligent Design?

Contained in that article is this quote, one that struck me as so powerful:

Our guilt in the face of Katrina is not that we can’t see the intelligence in God’s design, but that we can’t see arrogance in our own heart. God will always be guilty of high crimes for those who think they’ve never committed any.

Update on Andy's Mojo

Yeah, the fact that I'm blogging about this is a bit stupid, but American Express actually came up with something clever in response to Andy Roddick's loss, and the subsequent jokes.

Friday Photo

DMM, and I'm fairly certain Migo is on her lap.

Before she went to the cabin, We were noticing how big Migo is getting, and how he's already starting to lose the puppy look, and get the doggie-look (still obscenely cute). So I thought I would post one of the first pictures we have of him with her.

I kinda retract my statement

McEnroe isn't completely worthless.

Courier: (regarding Nadal, and his skintight shirt). "Also, Nadal has said that he doesn't work out at the gym."
McEnroe: "I've also never yelled at an ump."



Nadal is not my favorite. This is an understatment. I made mom smile by saying, "Can you imagine his conversation with Nike about his shirt?"

"I want it TIGHT! So the women, they can see my pectorals!"

Holy. Cows.

(That's a shout out to iTones, by the way.)

I used think Bill Gates was pretty cool, but now? Google, You have my heart.

HUGE hat tip to Andrea. Click over to her post, she does a better review than I would.

Do it. You'll like it!

(I just flew from Red Lodge, MT to LSG's college - high atop a "mountain." Un.believable.)

Noooooooooooooooo! and Random Thoughts on the US Open

Madre made both of these points:

So, (1) this will probably be the last time American Express makes a tongue in cheek assumption about Andy's Mojo; (ackkk, you've got to watch the conclusion for true irony)

But (2) we don't believe in jinxing.

(Insult to injury: It was Andy's birthday).


Still, it's quite unbelievable that we won't get to see Roddick for the rest of the US Open. While I am always an Agassi fan first, Roddick has been moving up in the Ainsley stock lately.


-I'd MUCH rather have heard Brad Gilbert call this game, instead of McEnroe. McEnroe and Courier blather on about themselves far too much, saying nothing of consequence or interest about the players or their game. Gilbert is even handed, speaks from the view of a coach, therefore not needing to deal with the monstrous ego McEnroe can't see around.

-Second in the Noooo! category is that LSG and my favorite former-number-one-now-underdog once again has lost. As much as I admire Federer's game, am astonished by Safin, and grow to like Roddick, all the while loving Andre, nothing will keep me from watching -if they show the match - and cheering on Fererro. No matter how many times he loses!


(Photo from www.usopen.org . )

Tuesday Comic (replacing Tuesday Quote for this week) 

The offical start of National Conference Season:

I had a panic dream last night.

In it, a director of a different department was pointing out (in a fairly cavalier way, I might say!) that I only had 6 days, not four weeks, to get all my events in order, and process the 30-some registration items I'm doing.

Thankfully it wasn't the last dream I had, so I didn't wake up in the panic!

I'm a hypocrite

In this contest your challenge is to take modern products and display them in a vintage light, through advertisements.
From Worth 1000.

A Better, Larger, Clearer version


I'm a hypocrite because I think the dig at Starbucks is accurate and funny. And I'm still going to visit this business - frequently.

A word of warning: Worth 1000 is a cool website, a compilation of contests of the best and funniest photoshopped images under different categories (for example, "Mate a Movie" merges two movies to make a funnier version - "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" includes another famous Smith - not Brad Pitt.) I didn't see a lot of inappropriate images, except in the "Vintage Ads" category. A few of them were sexual in nature, and I'd rate of them as PG-13 to R. So, enjoy, but be aware that those are there.

Back to School, Reading Blogs

Dear LSG (and everyone else),

You're back at school! And now that you're back, you'll be studying, studying, studying and...reading blogs. So, here's my update on what I read daily. (most of these are on my blogroll, but, eh. I need something to write about...)

Brittle Crazy Glass. DMM is my good friend, who lives directly upstairs for the next two days, before she moves to her new home. :) DMM, we need an update! It's almost been a week!

Dooce. LSG, we know better than for you to check the blog, of course. The rest of you, this is one of the funnier, crass-but-not-overwhelmingly-offensive weblogs on the web. She's also the most frequently read private blog in blogdom.

LarkNews. Some months its better than The Onion in satire. Actually, it IS funnier. Especially finding out your Horoscope and your Prophetic word. I highly recommend.

Of course, Ask The Pope, but LSG, you already know about it. You'll get to know Pope Benedict in ways you'd never think possible.

For the very best reminder of home: LBImaging.

See Life Differently and Palm Tree Pundit have both been on mini-hiatus, as has Le Sabot, but worthwhile blogs when you have more time to browse and read.

For the exercise of your brain, The Banty Rooster and his sister, The Radley Porch.

And finally, the blog I'm reading with much of the anticipation every day is The Shoe Blog by the Monolo. He rocks in every way. This is the blog of the clean, funny and informative, and Little Shoe Girl, It revolves around SHOES! More importantly, his latest entries have been on the shoes of the tennis! Can we ask for more? I think not.

Lv,
Ains

Its official

GPB: Yellow, Green, Orange, Purple, Red
Me: Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple.

I'd tell you Madre's, but she says that the order she eats her Skittles is private. Big Little Bro eats peanut-butter M&Ms, so he doesn't enter in.

Which ones do you eat first and last?

Defeating the purpose

Seen on the side of a popular running route: Young woman, in running gear, walking and talking on her cell phone.

You can't leave it at home for 30 minutes?

Tuesday Quote

My 6th Grade teacher would put a weekly quote up on the chalkboard (before whiteboards) each week. This one stuck with me.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
Abraham Lincoln

Here are a few more from Mr. Lincoln:

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day. "

And

"I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it."

:(

The opposite of this post now needs to be said. I know Thanksgiving will come around WAY faster than I think, but I really hate saying goodbye to my sister.

Luv ya, LSG.

A Tale of Two Movies

Within the last 4 days, I've watched two movies that both firmly live within the category of "Chick Flick."

The first, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" sounds as though guys would go running, and honestly, they very well should. BUT, it was a date with my sister, and we both thought it was fairly cute and even a bit poignant. By the world's standard this movie is squeeky clean. By ours, it's better than average. I'd say that most people on Christian Spotlight had it right. There are a few there that took some parts a little too seriously, but as you get older, I guess you're just relieved when a movie gets through itself without those scenes that make you go, "why would they put that in there!?"

Which is the perfect segue my second movie, "The Wedding Date." Now that the guys went screaming for the exits on "Sisterhood," ladies, it's your turn. I can't tell you how glad I am that things prevented my sister and me from going to this in the theater a few months ago. I can say with full confidence that there is not a movie I can recall that nears this one in utter ...."terrible-ness." It's just horrid.
Mostly it feels as though they showed the movie to preview audiences, got such a bad review that they went back and forced it into formula. Beyond that, the script obviously wasn't very good to begin with, and with the choppy editing, you have no idea why Dermot Mulroney would fall for Debra Messing's character. I agree with Christian Spotlight again: She's always beautiful in the movie, but it's not enough for this movie. And I'm not that picky of a romantic comedy watcher.

To be perfectly honest, at the end I wished they would remake it with a FAR better writing, directing and editing. They really ruined it. Like the one lady says, just go watch Pretty Woman again.

house hunters

cute little place. We'll see if it's still available tomorrow.

Filed under "Innnteresting."

Windows Worm Spreads Quickly - Yahoo! News

ABC News producers had to use electric typewriters Tuesday to prepare copy for their "World News Tonight" broadcast, according to spokesman Jeffrey Schneider

One wonders if the worm affected the use of the teleprompter, as I'm a (not so devoted) Fox news watcher, and didn't see it. I'm supposing not.

I'll tell you what I AM a devoted watcher of: This!

Tuesday Quote on Wednesday

"I'm just glad I made it through yesterday"
~Ainsley


Ok, granted, I'm being the tinest bit 'cheap' on the quote, but it's true! And it's also the only thing going through my head right now. Up yesterday and at work by 6:30 a.m., worked until 8:30 p.m. between both jobs.

Now, my brother does this daily, so I shouldn't think too much of myself, but the last hour was both mind and feet numbing. Actually, come to think of it, his last day working 12-13 hour days is tomorrow! Congrats, B!

My new addiction

http://sudoku.com.au/ - the ones I do
http://sudoku.com./ - the rules (click on the left hand side)

I read about the craze a while ago. I started out yesterday on the one our local paper prints up. I worked on it from 1:30 to 7:30, (heh, also watching a tennis match) and finished it! In the interest of full disclosure, I should also say that we found the site that "helps you out" if you need it. I needed it - in the form of 3 filled boxes, a filled-in column and Madre and the Bro helping out in the end
(The one above is not that difficulty level, by any stretch).

Note the check mark next to "easy" on the ones I do! The Bro is more naturally talented at Sudoku, which stands to reason - computer guru, guy, blah blah blah.

Friday Photo

Sunset Sky

Well, most people don't anyway, so do we really need to?

Late one night, at the event I recently went to oversee, the instructor teaching basic Peacemaking skills noticed that a page was "missing" from the manual going over the "Four G's of Reconciliation." (Glorify God, Get the Log out of your own eye, Gently Restore, Go and be Reconciled) She figured out the mystery, and said this to the students the next day:

"As I was preparing to teach this, I noticed something. If you look at page 24, you'll see that 25 seems to be missing and it jumps to page 26. Now, you'll also notice that it's the second "G" - "Get the Log out of your own eye" that is missing. And as that's my least favorite "G" of the four, I wasn't too upset. BUT if you turn page 26, you'll notice that the page was just bound backwards and page 25 is there. So, we'll still have to keep "Get the Log out," but I suppose it's good that we not mess with scripture."

I get to work with the funniest people ever.

And I thought I had it bad...

MSN Money - Extra: Even affordable housing increasingly out of reach

I'm currently looking at the Billings housing market, planning on buying something (condo/townhome/1950's house) within the next year and a half or so. In reading this article (which I nerdily find facinating), I noticed two things:

First off, my CA Friends, you're so screwed

and secondly, My Minneapolis friends, you're going to be screwed soon: "But Lipman said cities like Tulsa and Minneapolis, which had traditionally been thought of as more affordable, are now a concern."

If you really want to feel good about your chances at owning a house(or bad - I'm not sure what Hawaii's housing is like, but I'm thinking "not cheap" ) check out the "Gauging affordibility" table about halfway down the article.

Tuesday Quote

A little background: Jenn is a Minneapolis friend of mine (now in CA)- one of the most fun people on earth, and can get me to go out with her just about anytime she asks - and STAY out, far past my bedtime. I returned home Saturday night after staying up with Jenn and friends until 4:30 Friday night/Saturday morning.

Ains at church: "I'm so tired."
Madre: "Jet-lag?"
Ains: "Jenn-Lag."

Strange things happen when you grow up

Like kyping an alcoholic drink from your younger brother's legitmate stash. With his permission, of course.

But, he's legit! Its so odd to think he's old enough to buy alcohol.

Checking in.

Well, I've made it to the second part of my trip. Last weekend I was in St. Louis - finished that event up.

This week I'm hanging out with friends, and marveling at how few of them have either a) internet or b) a phone cord. I'm seeing the depth of my addiction - Quoth Ains to iTones (one of the few with internet): "Uh, can I get my internet fix?"

I've got a few work things to get done, and -ha ha! - neither a or b is available to me. I may end up getting my work done the old fashioned way - document to floppy, floppy to different computer, one hopefully with internet. Strangely the port in my computer (very, very old laptop) allowed me internet in STL now doesn't in minneapolis. Not sure what that's all about.

Well, I'm off. iTones and I are heading out for either a walk or shopping. I'm betting it's the latter.

Friday Photo

Tough Guy.

Blogging lite

Well, I'm off. I'm heading out for work to oversee an event and hang out with some of the best counselors and conciliators in the nation. Heh. I get paid for this!

Then I'm heading to The Cities, my old stomping grounds. Hanging out with all my college girlfriends and buddies. Hopefully it'll be a really relaxing vacation.

God is sovereign! Amazingly, almost all of our "crowd" will be in town, even though none of us specifically planned it, and we're spread around the nation from California, Montana, Wisconsin and China. A small window of opportunity to hang out, but God knew from the beginning. It was a great surprise He planned, really.

The only downer is that I'm feeling something coming on - and I'm not sure if its allergies (I am one of the most allergic people on earth) or if it's a cold. Please pray for me - traveling with a cold is so miserable, but so far it hasn't slowed me down that much.

Blogging: sporadic, as determined by my internet access, but I'll try. Until then!

A tiny bit belated, but...

Happy Birthday to you, Trae. I love ya. See you Sunday!

Tuesday Quotes again on Wednesday

Watching Jay Leno last night (while packing). Bill Maher was on. Very common philosophies on fidelity by humorists:

Bill Maher: Any woman over the age of 9 who asks why a man cheats is an idiot. Men are wired that way. (He went on to say that most women want to get married. And as men are wired to cheat, women are wired to create a nest.)

Chris Rock: A man is basically as faithful as his options.

Of course, Chris Rock’s statement is funnier, but they both hold the same worldview. By the way, I don’t buy either one. But Chris Rock’s made me laugh. Bill Maher was mildly funny at times, but not enough that I’m going to buy his book.

Really good Therapy

One of the best photos I've ever taken, in my opinion. Probably just because I love my sister!

There are more here - DMM got herself a black lab puppy from the litter. (my aunt and uncle have bred labs for 20 or so years. They again swear this is the last litter.)

I get my film developed today, so I'm sure you'll see more of these.

Real Sex Follow up

Following up on my comment here. From Real Sex, by Lauren Winner:

"This is how sin works: it whispers to us about the goodness of something not good. It makes distortions feel good. It tells us we'd be better off with pleasure in hell than sanctification in heaven."

- and later she makes this very good point -

"If our feelings could be trusted - If we felt good every time we did something good, and felt bad every time we did somthing bad - we would need neither biblical guidelines of right behavior nor a community to help hold us accountable to those biblical standards."

Friday Photos

Photos from our recent Peacemaker Puppets, mentioned here.

Puppets dancing....

Kids dancing (or Jumping, rather)

Blessed are the Peacemakers

For they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9