So here's the honest truth: I love doing laundry.
The sad part is, it is down three flights of stairs in a scary basement/cellar/dungeon. Also, I never have the time to set aside to get it done so when I finally DO laundry, I have about three loads. Because one (of two) of our washing machines downstairs won't drain, this limits us to ONE washer. So who really cares that you have two dryers? Anyway, the point is, I love doing laundry.
I think part of it is my anal retentiveness. Any one of you that has EVER watched me fold laundry like I really like it folded can attest to the fact. I scared Taren and Nessa to death on our mission trip in AZ when I was folding baby blankets for a woman's shelter right off the rez. I had to have them perfect. They thought (...think?) I was crazy.
This laundry problem gives me an excuse to fully express my anal retentiveness in semi-productive and useful ways. Not that it really matters that all my pants are tri folded to right about the same size so they'll fit in my drawer perfectly. Or that my shirts aren't curled up on the bottom sides. I'm sure it doesn't make a bit of difference that my underwear is also tri folded perfectly. I suppose to some extent, I always know what is clean. If it isn't perfectly folded, chances are I wore it. The things that are sloppily refolded are the things I tried on and rejected. The things hung on hooks over my door or on doorknobs are the things I wore for too short a time for them to be dirty. But they aren't clean. So they hang out. On laundry day, all of them go into the to-be cleaned pile.
Okay, it's true - I'm so not green when it comes to laundry. But I like clean clothes. Something to do with smelling good? Haha. Whit got me to convert to scent free simple detergent. The W's got me to convert back. I like clothes that smell fresh and clean. And yes "fresh and clean" is a scent! It says so on my detergent.
Okay, enough about laundry. Basically I just enjoy the excuse to be a perfectionist. :)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
LOVE is RED
Um... This gave me chills. I don't know where you all stand on the issue of gay marriage or even of gay rights, but I think everyone needs to hear this. I couldn't say it any better. (Transcript follows. I bolded the parts that spoke to me.)
Finally tonight as promised, a Special Comment on the passage, last week, of Proposition Eight in California, which rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry, and tilted the balance on this issue, from coast to coast.
Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.
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And yet to me this vote is horrible. Horrible. Because this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics. This is about the human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.
If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want—a chance to be a little less alone in the world.
Only now you are saying to them—no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights—even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?
I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage. If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal in 1967. 1967.
The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.
You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are gay.
And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing, centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children, all because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage.
How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?
What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.
It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.
And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?
With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness—this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness—share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate.
You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know. It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow person just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.
This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.
But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:
"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge. "It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all: So I be written in the Book of Love; I do not care about that Book above. Erase my name, or write it as you will, So I be written in the Book of Love."
Finally tonight as promised, a Special Comment on the passage, last week, of Proposition Eight in California, which rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry, and tilted the balance on this issue, from coast to coast.
Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here
And yet to me this vote is horrible. Horrible. Because this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics. This is about the human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.
If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want—a chance to be a little less alone in the world.
Only now you are saying to them—no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights—even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?
I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage. If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal in 1967. 1967.
The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.
You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are gay.
And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing, centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children, all because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage.
How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?
What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.
It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.
And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?
With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness—this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness—share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate.
You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know. It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow person just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.
This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.
But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:
"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge. "It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all: So I be written in the Book of Love; I do not care about that Book above. Erase my name, or write it as you will, So I be written in the Book of Love."
Hippos are not RED, but mine is minty green!
Some of you may remember Hippo. This is Hippo. Upside down on his back with his left leg crossed in front of his body. Awesome.
Hippo slept with me last night for the second night in a row. Hippo hasn't slept with me for a long time so this has to say something. I'm just not sure exactly what it says. He could tell you that I successfully spent 12 hours in bed last night, though. At 7:30, I crawled into bed to check email and watch Pushing Daises. Then I read a little for class and turned off the light. I was just that tired from the day (it didn't help that someone in one of my groups essentially yelled at us for not truly being involved in the community - and he was right). So I turned off the light. Around 4am, I was awake. Trying to decide if it was okay to get up then knowing I had class until 9:30pm tonight. No, I'd never make it. So I went back to sleep after some honest prayer about my future.
Of course now I have a headache and feel just as tired since I OVER slept. I just can't win! I'm days behind on laundry and am currently in what I refer to as my "skinny" jeans. Oh today!
To top it all off, I had a troubling dream. (Yes, trust me, I didn't want to get out of bed, even after 12 hours.) I was hugging on and laughing with an old friend. And by "old friend" I mean a guy I used to be friends with. I might see him soon. So I guess I've been thinking on that recently.
So my question is, what do you do about getting back together with an old friend? Perhaps it needs to be said that he completely burned me. I've never truly gotten over it, either. Though I have been able to listen to music we enjoyed together (which is kind of a sacred thing for me). Do you forgive? Move on? How do you speak to the pain? How do you say that you hurt me and I'm not sure if we can ever be friends again knowing that is how you treat your friends? On the other hand, I'm sure he needs people that love him in his life. Don't we all? My question is if I can get over the hurt and be his friend if and when I do see him. Can I? Could you?
EDIT: From my fabulous mother: "Some times I think dreams are meant to be our soul doing its healing work." Which I think is definitely true. Thanks mama!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Sound is not RED, it is a wave and not a color!
Hamilton randomly likes to be silent for no reason.
I found this today:
http://www.pchell.com/support/no_active_mixer_devices_available.shtml
Please note the website is called PC HELL.
Hamilton is now happily singing to me.
JOY!
I found this today:
http://www.pchell.com/support/no_active_mixer_devices_available.shtml
Please note the website is called PC HELL.
Hamilton is now happily singing to me.
JOY!
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Sundays are not RED, unless you are in that liturgical season...
And this Sunday I shall attend.....
A Roman Catholic church with Sally and whoever else decides to join us. We leave in a few minutes!
Let me say, however, that when I first got here, I didn't go to church for a few weeks. The city was too big, too scary, and everyone and everything was new. But in the past few weeks, I have really enjoyed going to all kinds of different churches. It actually started off with the Greek Orthodox church. Then for Reformation sunday I went to Holy Trinity and loved it. Last week I was with the Tyce man watching him get water poured on his head (he slept through - success!!). And this week, I'm going to a Roman Catholic.
Something else that has changed, I guess, is my actually enjoying attending church. I'll be honest and say that it is difficult to go some, er most, days. I wanted to sleep in or I wanted to stay in pajamas. Or I didn't want to deal with fake smiles. I didn't want to deal with my own thoughts about how the sermon wasn't up to par or the bread was Hawaiian bread (yum) for communion and that was both fantastic and frightening. It was so easy to cast a critical eye, especially since I was off to seminary. I kept thinking how I could and would do it differently.
I think it has been particular comments that have really been changing my view. I'm not sure who said the first one, but I think it was the W's friend, Michael, that if you go to church seeking God, he will meet you there. No matter where it is. I love that. It is completely true. If you are going because you are supposed to, chances are you won't get very much out of it. The second one was here at LSTC during chapel orientation. He said we had to be forgiving of each other and open to the different ways of doing things. He said he knew that we'd be thinking how we could have done it better. So put those thoughts aside and just sit back and experience God.
So, friends, I'm off to experience God. And no matter where you are, I hope you get a taste of his presence in your day, too.
A Roman Catholic church with Sally and whoever else decides to join us. We leave in a few minutes!
Let me say, however, that when I first got here, I didn't go to church for a few weeks. The city was too big, too scary, and everyone and everything was new. But in the past few weeks, I have really enjoyed going to all kinds of different churches. It actually started off with the Greek Orthodox church. Then for Reformation sunday I went to Holy Trinity and loved it. Last week I was with the Tyce man watching him get water poured on his head (he slept through - success!!). And this week, I'm going to a Roman Catholic.
Something else that has changed, I guess, is my actually enjoying attending church. I'll be honest and say that it is difficult to go some, er most, days. I wanted to sleep in or I wanted to stay in pajamas. Or I didn't want to deal with fake smiles. I didn't want to deal with my own thoughts about how the sermon wasn't up to par or the bread was Hawaiian bread (yum) for communion and that was both fantastic and frightening. It was so easy to cast a critical eye, especially since I was off to seminary. I kept thinking how I could and would do it differently.
I think it has been particular comments that have really been changing my view. I'm not sure who said the first one, but I think it was the W's friend, Michael, that if you go to church seeking God, he will meet you there. No matter where it is. I love that. It is completely true. If you are going because you are supposed to, chances are you won't get very much out of it. The second one was here at LSTC during chapel orientation. He said we had to be forgiving of each other and open to the different ways of doing things. He said he knew that we'd be thinking how we could have done it better. So put those thoughts aside and just sit back and experience God.
So, friends, I'm off to experience God. And no matter where you are, I hope you get a taste of his presence in your day, too.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Pinky toes are RED, especially when they are COLD!
This is the view from my window. The trees are just gorgeous. Of course, the weather has turned cold again (and REALLY windy) so I am once again bundled up in sweaters and fuzzy blankets with stars on them. ;) The great irony, however, is that I am still in flip flops. This is partially due to the fact that I don't have much winter footwear... but mostly because my poor little pinky toe refuses all footwear besides flip flops. This also means no fuzzy socks for me. So sad... and cold!
So when you say your prayers tonight, say a little one (and I mean a really little one) for my toe and for the outcome of these blocks of ice as I trudge through piles of leaves. Oh the joy!!
In other news, it is a quiet weekend here on campus. I think we all have so much work to do and it is been rather dreary outside, that we are keeping indoors and buckling down. I worked on Greek this morning/afternoon. I did history last night. Later this afternoon I am hoping to retake the test I failed so he'll average them together and I'll have a semi-decent grade. I'm also finishing up my collage project on the Iconoclastic Controversy. Here, see what you think:
The title is buried in the middle: Iconoclasts & The Faces of the Modern Church: Redefined.Like it? It had been so long since I had done a collage. I got two bottles of elmers glue and went to town. I felt like I was back in fourth grade picking the glue off my skin and pretending it was skin peeling. Remember those days? *Sigh* I do, I do.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Henry and Hamilton are not RED, they are pretty much gray
While with Henry last Thursday:
We drove to Washington.
Rocked out and sang to Lady Antebellum and Sasha's Mix.
Reorganized my wallet and purse.
Enjoyed a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. Mmm...
Talked to Sasha, Whitney, Em, and Aunt Susan.
Enjoyed weather in the 60's.
Composed this list.
Watched a beautiful sunset (no really, crisp blue and warm shades of orange...).
Arrived safely to "Welcome Home."
While sitting at my desk today so far today (some with Hamilton):
I called USAA and set up banking, car insurance, and renters insurance. YAY!!
Listened to my sibling's mix to make sure it is fabulous before burning it.
Prepared to mail magazine clippings to a friend (Yes, I'm turning into my grandma... and I think that's okay!!)
Called Joy back about a job for J-term at the church across the street.
Hamilton and I wished the footballers luck on their victory (follow) and typed this blog.
Updated my calendar for November and December (events include Thanksgiving with the W's, Wicked with family, test dates, and the end of the semester... WOW!).
We drove to Washington.
Rocked out and sang to Lady Antebellum and Sasha's Mix.
Reorganized my wallet and purse.
Enjoyed a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. Mmm...
Talked to Sasha, Whitney, Em, and Aunt Susan.
Enjoyed weather in the 60's.
Composed this list.
Watched a beautiful sunset (no really, crisp blue and warm shades of orange...).
Arrived safely to "Welcome Home."
While sitting at my desk today so far today (some with Hamilton):
I called USAA and set up banking, car insurance, and renters insurance. YAY!!
Listened to my sibling's mix to make sure it is fabulous before burning it.
Prepared to mail magazine clippings to a friend (Yes, I'm turning into my grandma... and I think that's okay!!)
Called Joy back about a job for J-term at the church across the street.
Hamilton and I wished the footballers luck on their victory (follow) and typed this blog.
Updated my calendar for November and December (events include Thanksgiving with the W's, Wicked with family, test dates, and the end of the semester... WOW!).
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
OBAMA WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is my celebration toast with Jen and Sarah! We started crying during his speech... 
Our next President of the United States of America: BARACK OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s. I can say that I bled for Obama. ---Yeah, I got cut on the stone steps at Freebies. My left pinky toe is bleeding. For Obama. Lol.
p.s.s. You wouldn't believe the noise on the streets here in Chicago. Honking horns and cries of celebration. I didn't go to Grant Park but why, when the nation is celebrating!!!!!!!!!!?
Our next President of the United States of America: BARACK OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s. I can say that I bled for Obama. ---Yeah, I got cut on the stone steps at Freebies. My left pinky toe is bleeding. For Obama. Lol.
p.s.s. You wouldn't believe the noise on the streets here in Chicago. Honking horns and cries of celebration. I didn't go to Grant Park but why, when the nation is celebrating!!!!!!!!!!?
This Blog is not RED, it is actually BLUE - Can't you see it?
I am cautiously optimistic.... and hopeful... and scared to death.
There is one thing I know for sure, however, and that is:
I'll be up late... and I'll be with friends.
There is one thing I know for sure, however, and that is:
I'll be up late... and I'll be with friends.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Other blogs are not RED, but who cares? They still make me laugh.
(My 100th post!!!!! )
Note: I deleted a random interim post with a link because I dated my Dirty Dancing post to a few days ago when I actually began composing it and didn't want to confuse you (if you didn't follow what I just said, ignore what I just said and read on). So I thought instead I would post a post about posts and explain what I've been reading lately....
I Know My First Name Is Cooper (link)
-I discovered this last night. This is a cat blog (yes, momma, some people have too much time on their hands, but don't we all wonder what our pets REALLY think??) and it makes me laugh. Pictures, too! This post is a one about the cat being black and being raised by a single white woman and how he's voting for Obama because he can relate to him. HA.
Stuff Christians Like (link)
-a witty blog by a Christian making fun of Christians and the traditions that generally surround church. "I would make a pretty sucktacular almighty." That's from this post that made me laugh out loud. Bonus: wise and sage commentary on life in the trenches (aka Christian living). I love it!
Hype Machine (link to my page)
-This is a site that combines all the popular music blogs that are out there and categorizes them by artist and song. So if you've heard a few whispers here and there about MGMT and want to hear their sound, you go here. Type MGMT. Then you can hit the triangle and listen to it on the page. Generally if you "read full post" you will find you can download the tracks to listen to on your own time. This site has been my link to some amazing new music. I'm hooked to Noah and the Whale right now. - - You can also listen by individual blog. My favorite is generally Music for Kids Who Can't Read Good (link to blog on hype machine)(link to actual blog).
That should be enough to keep you busy. What are your favorite online reads?
Note: I deleted a random interim post with a link because I dated my Dirty Dancing post to a few days ago when I actually began composing it and didn't want to confuse you (if you didn't follow what I just said, ignore what I just said and read on). So I thought instead I would post a post about posts and explain what I've been reading lately....
I Know My First Name Is Cooper (link)
-I discovered this last night. This is a cat blog (yes, momma, some people have too much time on their hands, but don't we all wonder what our pets REALLY think??) and it makes me laugh. Pictures, too! This post is a one about the cat being black and being raised by a single white woman and how he's voting for Obama because he can relate to him. HA.
Stuff Christians Like (link)
-a witty blog by a Christian making fun of Christians and the traditions that generally surround church. "I would make a pretty sucktacular almighty." That's from this post that made me laugh out loud. Bonus: wise and sage commentary on life in the trenches (aka Christian living). I love it!
Hype Machine (link to my page)
-This is a site that combines all the popular music blogs that are out there and categorizes them by artist and song. So if you've heard a few whispers here and there about MGMT and want to hear their sound, you go here. Type MGMT. Then you can hit the triangle and listen to it on the page. Generally if you "read full post" you will find you can download the tracks to listen to on your own time. This site has been my link to some amazing new music. I'm hooked to Noah and the Whale right now. - - You can also listen by individual blog. My favorite is generally Music for Kids Who Can't Read Good (link to blog on hype machine)(link to actual blog).
That should be enough to keep you busy. What are your favorite online reads?
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