For the Men out there!

Girls, this is the funniest thing I've seen all week.

Better than chocolate, I guess!

(click on the "Download Milk.wmv" link on her page.)

She's (kinda sorta) back!

Actually, I'm still in Minnesota. (You're in MINNESOTA?) yeahh...Sorry about not updating that on the blog. Last week, I had a mediation meeting on Monday (gathering data and the story of both of the parties), my midterm on Tuesday, and flying out to oversee an event for work on Wednesday for the event that occurred Thurs - Sat. Today and yesterday I got a bit of time off to spend with friends - although every work event also includes some of my best friends!

I finally have access to a computer for a few moments, so I thought I would update you. Many things happened out here, but the best was the reminder to me that I have a whole 'nother church that I love dearly and that shows grace and kindness like no other! I was telling most of the staff at Bethlehem that I can't wait for heaven, because my Presbyterian church and my Baptist church will be together, praising God. No "hundreds of miles" and difference in views will separate us!

And with that, I'll leave you with the verse(s) I read this morning in my devotions:

Peace I leave with you, Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27

Creation, Fall, Redemption, Constipation

My Professor has a sense of humor! I took my Midterm test today and I think I did fairly well on it.

As for the post title, the question on the test asked about the biblical storyline or narrative:

• The introduction (Creation)
• the conflict (The Fall)
• Resolution of the conflict (Redemption)
• and then the conclusion (Consummation)

Consummation is the regeneration of the fallen earth into the perfect creation God intended it to be. It seems obvious to me that Professor Williams must have had someone accidentally write the answer as "Constipation" and found it funny enough to add it as an answer in our multiple choice. It gave me a good laugh midway through my test.

By the way,

I got the LG 8100 - the tunes are pretty good!

ETA: We were so close to being able to get both a LG 8100 AND a Razr in a "2 for 1" deal, (I was going to give it to BLB) but then the guy got all "you can't update your hardward for another year." We're still trying to figure that one out, because our family has swapped hardware before - twice!

Morbid?

I did not think "horse" when I first read the following on a personalized plate:


HRSE LVR


Monty Python: Bring out your deeeaad!"

Inerrancy

My midterm on "God and his Word" is on Tuesday - and I've got to say, I'm pretty nervous about it - No Study Guide! I've lived by study guides.

So, I'm diligently studying and this quote on the inerrancy of the Bible (i.e. "the Bible is free from mistake") caught my attention:

If the Bible were capable of error, it would then be subject to correction by some other authority.

It seems obvious, but as I thought about it, this thought blew me away.

Another Vote ( Because they're fun, that's why!)

Which phone should I buy?



Razr:
Pros:

• Sleek and cool
• compact

Cons:

• Hands-free Headset? Oh, that'll be $50-100 for a bluetooth headset
• Want a MP3 player? Buy an IPod (of course, buying an Ipod can be considered a "Pro")

LG 8100 (MP3 player)

Pros: MP3 player and phone in one - consolodation, baby!

Cons:

• $30 just for the headset and music converter
• $30-75 for the disk (so you can hold more than 10 songs on your phone)

Which Phone should I buy?
	LG 8100
	The Razr
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Editing. So misleading!

A few weeks ago, I was presented with a delightful pair of shoes from Ma soeur délicieuse. I, not being the shoe goddess that she is, submitted a question to a favorite of fashion commentators.

yes, I am blogging about Manolo two days in a row. Too bad.

Dear Manolo,

My sister, the Imelda Marcos of our family, informed me a few years ago that chunky shoes are out. I immediately started buying higher, thinner heeled shoes. Now the Wedge is in and my sister bought me a pair. What do you think of the wedge? Can you show us girls an example of a good wedge to buy, and the kind that would cross the line of "chunky and ugly." You've been most helpful in refining my knowledge of shoes. I appreciate your help.

Ainsley

And this morning, I woke to find his reply:

Hello to the Ainsley!

The Manolo he has selected your question to use in his weekly columnat the Express of the Washington Post. It will also be published tomorrow morning at the Manolo's humble shoe blog. Many thanks for submitting it.

Muchos Besos!

Manolo

P.S. You are indeed super fantastic!

Now, being a newspaper editor for our college gives me an understanding of editing, but his particular editing is a bit.... misleading. His response is humorous, as always, though based upon a false premise. Have fun reading!

So I post my original email for corrections' sake, to say that Little Shoe Girl is actually my very sweetest friend and the maestro of all things shoes. Sorry Manolo! She'll beat you out every time - she not only finds great shoes, but finds them in "the poor girls" price range!

Manolo for the Brides

Well, I thought that I had mentioned "Never teh Bride" a while ago, but it seems not. She took over "Manolo for the Brides" website and even though I have absolutely no 'reason' to read, she gives me a reason: She's funny, smart and she's not a bride. (Hey! that sounds like....!)

I think yesterday's post is REALLY helpful. There are quite a few girls in our Church looking forward to matrimonial bliss - And matrimonial bliss can too often mean Bling. Bling. {Cue "Hey Big Spender"}

That's why this is such a great idea.

Let me take this opportunity to say that each bride will do it her way, and moreover, she should do it her way. (To quote Monica, "[She] has probably been planning it since she was five.") So none of the wedding day opinions that I post here at Soul's apply to anyone other than myself, and those who say, 'hey, that's a good idea!" too.

I'm sorry, Mauve? No.

Your Birthdate: January 2

You're so intuitive, it's like you have a sixth, seventh, and eighth sense. You connect with others freely and easily - and you tend to have many best friends. Warm and caring, it's hard for you to close your heart to anyone. Affection is like air for you - you need to give and receive it to survive. Your strength: Your universal compassion Your weakness: Your unpredictable mood swings Your power color: Mauve Your power symbol: Butterfly Your power month: February

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?


Also? I'm not a really big fan of Butterflies.

Quote from my Lesson

All of life is religious. Both God and Satan lay claim to all things. No aspect of life is uncontested or neutral.
Dr. Michael Williams.

With a Cherry On Top

One of my closest friends - Stranded on a Desert Island - made it into a "Death cab for Cutie" video. Check her out doin' the ice cream thing on the bridge (about 3/4 the way through). And if you can't tell from that short clip that she's is literally the most fun person on earth, well. She is.

Love ya, Strandie!

Sick

Egh. Monday the throat was scratchy, Tuesday it came on in that "You're sick, and you could function, if you drugged yourself up real good" way, but then the HR Guy's voice came into my head: "If you're sick, stay home. You have sick time for a reason" - or as one of our Instructors said a little better, "We love you, we don't love your germs!"

Wednesday was worse - I don't remember thinking one thing of intellect, and I slept for 11 hours straight - and today is a bit better. I also got a few antihistamines which are great - except that they put me to sleep!

So basically this week I've zoned out, slept and ate my mom's soup: "Soup for you!"

Moms are great, aren't they?

12 whole days

I told Melodee today, "everytime I think up something to blog, I realize it's REALLY boring." So I haven't been blogging that much. We commiserated that, yes, it does seem like a slow time of blogging.

Poor excuses as to why I haven't blogged:

LSG got engaged! That's actually taken up a lot of time, because now ...Ok, it hasn't, but she's around! for spring break! which means I'm at home a lot.

I haven't balanced my checkbook yet this month, which means I feel bad that I'm blogging and not paying bills and such.

Work has been nuts, which causes me to not desire being one the computer that much.

I'm typing out my theology notes, which causes me to not desire being on the computer that much.

My ipaq rings at me, reminding me that I haven't exercised yet this week, which makes me not want to be on the computer that much.

My knee hurts. Tack on above statement.


Ok, yes, they are bad, stupid an in all other ways unconvincing reasons for not blogging, but so it is. OOPS! It's 4:16, and I promised myself I'd start studying at 4:15. Gotta go!

This reminds me....

Check out Christian's blog for a very funny church anecdote - It reminded me of a humorous clip I read a few years ago in the Pioneer Press "Bulletin Board."

A woman took her 4 year old son to a wedding - his first time at a wedding. He quietly sat all through the prelude, until the groom and groomsmen filed in. As the Bride began her processional, he leaned over to his mom and whispered, "Which one do you think she's going to pick?"

I know, LSG, this will make you laugh heartily!

Tuesday Qutote on Wednesday

"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters."

- Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)

I know, I know.

It's mean, but it's SO FUNNY.

All during her skating, her interviews...we couldn't figure out who she looked like. Then we did.

Holy Weddings Batman! (Vote now)

Within a 1 hour period yesterday, I listened to a voicemessage asking for my address so my friend could send me a wedding invitation for April 29th and received two wedding invitations, one for April 8th and one for the 15th. So I guess April is the new June.

It's just wedding mania - I can't believe how many weddings are on my radar right now - iTones is getting married in May (in Prague!), her reception is in July, and then these three. Madre always says that weddings come in packs, or bunches, and I'm believing her. When it rains, and all that.

As for going to any of these weddings, April 8th is out - I'd go, but I'll be out of town. I'm actually going to be in Minneapolis, the place where "April 29" will be having her wedding. I'm the most bummed that I won't be able to go to that one - she and I had hoped (without planning) that her wedding would magically fall on the weekend I'd be out in the Cities.

The REALLY REALLY hard one is April 15th. It's on the day between Good Friday and Easter! But here are the circumstances: K (bride) and W (groom) are buddies of mine from my second job. They are literally 2 out of 4 people I'm friends with that aren't associated with a) my church b) my main workplace or c) my family - Which Madre rightly commented last night "All three are really the same thing." I love both K and W, and to make matters (or guilt!) worse, I think I'm the only one from my 2nd job that they invited! But they are also getting married 6 hours away, the DAY BEFORE EASTER. Have I mentioned this? ugh.

Every time I decide against it, I think "Of all the weddings I want to go to - barring family ones - THIS would be the wedding I'd love to go to!"

So here's a poll (I like multiple choice, so you can too - just tell me in the comments which order you picked!):

What should I do about the wedding on April 15th?
	Go! Dancing! Food! the bride is a blast the groom is hilarious and Easter comes around every year! It's a wedding full of new people! Drive back Sun.
	Go! Just get up at 6 the next morning, Drive back with your friend Mr. Espresso, and make it in time for the extendeds' celebration of Easter!
	Go! Find someone from 2nd job to go, or hire someone to drive with you. (LSG! Where are you when I need you!??) Drive back at 6 am Sunday.
	Don't go! Take K and W out for a nice dinner, Spend the gas money and hotel cost on 'em and go dancing afterward. Almost as fun, much less $$
	Don't go! And Don't do that previous option! You're a Sunday School teacher for crying out loud!
	Don't go! Throw a huge 2nd job party with all of the 30 and under crowd (Plus the Awesome-Coworker-over-30-Guru-of-all-things-Outdoors)
	Don't go! Buy yourself something nice from Banana Republic. I'M. JUST. KIDDING!
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Snarky Ice Skating Quote of the Week

"I asked skaters, 'Why does the costume always have all this stuff?' " said Jef Billings, a longtime designer who has dressed Peggy Fleming, Michelle Kwan and Sarah Hughes, as well as Canadian Jeff Buttle, the men's bronze medalist."They said, 'Because it makes it look like we're skating faster.'

My comment was, 'Why don't you just skate faster?"

Read CNN for the rest of the snark.

Last Week

This past week, I -

• housesat
• Froze - holy cow it was cold!
  
• watched my first lesson for Seminary
• read an article on Christ's view of scripture, got through it
• tried to read a JI Packer article on inerrancy and scripture, and realized it's like eating a seriously thick steak
• Took our new Marketing and Strategy Director and his son to the high school cross-town rivalry basketball game
• Had an AWESOME time watching my alma mater win
• enjoyed his and his son's British accent.
• laughed heartily as he informed me that GPB has the kind of wiry Scottish look that, should he ever meet GPB in a pub, he'd high tail it. Dangerous man! Watch out LSG- Your boyfriend is Scottish, wiry and the kind of man you don't mess with in a bar!
  
• Watched the first episode of "From the Earth to the Moon"
• Thought, "I need to email my friend." (missionary-ing in China. Like my new word?) She emailed today!
  
• Watched 3 of the last 5 Olympic ice dancers bite it. OUCH!
• Worked, worked, worked. Well, the last two days of last week, anyway. I worked all the time, or so it seemed.
  
• Found out that my co-worker who had a seizure at work (2nd job) is going into the doctor. As his self-appointed big sister, I felt relieved.
• Caught the middle to the end of "About last night" - Rob Lowe and Demi Moore. No wonder he has no respect. What a horrendous 80s movie!
• Taught Sunday school - God will give you every good thing!
  
• fought a scratchy-throat-cold. blech.

So, that's about it! Actually, most of that happened during the weekend. This week I'm booked with things to do - studying, working and meeting with our pastor's wife/my friend for accountability/spiritual growth. Good times. This week, I hope to post interesting thoughts on what I'm learning.