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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Reading

I've been on a bit of a reading kick, which has been quite refreshing. It has been a while since I've been this motivated to read, strangely enough, considering how much I adore a creatively constructed thought. I don't think I've been this eager to read since probably high school or early college. After being bogged down in textbooks and papers for years on end, studying and memorizing for the test, my desire to read for pleasure turned weak - only appearing in short spurts, or else the book had to be insatiably interesting. Recently, I've read A Pastor's Wife, The Shack, and nearly finished with Blue Like Jazz. And that's the most impressive part - I'm actually finishing the books! There are shelves of books that I started over the years only to be bookmarked and set aside collecting dust and now sitting unpacked in my guest bedroom closet (shhhhhh, don't tell anyone - I still haven't fully unpacked yet! ooops) Which reminds me I've got a couple of novels I need to finish - The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie (divine - classic Hugh Laurie humor with a parody of a 007 Bond character - can it get any better than that?) and Pride & Prejudice by the beloved Jane Austen. What an amazing woman, that miss Austen! I love that her female characters are a combination of wit and grace...oh to be the center of one of her novels...sigh.

Anyways, back to the reading...The more I read, the more I feel like I want to write - but what about? That is always the question that smacks me in the face as I contemplate writing. Nearly each time I sit down to blog, I wonder - what could I possibly have to write about now? I wonder how writers get these ideas for their books. How does that happen, exactly? If I were to write a book, what would it be about? I don't think I'm cut out for fiction writing as I'm not a very good story-teller or at least I don't believe I'm creative enough to develop characters and plot and conflict, etc. I don't have any untold stories swimming around in twisted crevices of my brain. Well, that's not entirely true - I might not have untold stories nesting up there, but I've definitely got ideas for conversations I'd like to have with people or wish I'd had or might have in the future, but then again we all do that - right? (please tell me we all do that - or I may end up in one of those fun padded rooms with the nice jacket that lets you hug yourself...hmmmmm, that might not be so bad) And as for non-fiction - what would I have to say that hasn't already been said? But then again maybe I'm just being too practical about it all...I don't know. Still, there has to be a topic, a theme, a thesis that is the core of an essay or book. What would that be for me? What would I expound on?

But back to my reading - for real this time...If you haven't yet, I'd definitely suggest reading Blue Like Jazz. I know, I know - my first thought of reading it was - ugh - are you kidding me? Everyone and their freaking dog is or has read that book. I've heard enough about it to feel like I've already read it. Is it popular? You betcha! Then, NO, I don't want to read it - geez. But I've been on this reading kick, and then my home group watched one of Donald Miller's DVDs (not the most exciting speaker - at first he seemed almost bored with himself), but I liked what he was saying, and my sister gave me the book as a gift this past Christmas. (Oh, and this is after I'd even given this book to one of my aunts as a gift - I hadn't even read it - but I knew it was popular and people LOVED it, so I figured, "she loves to read, people love it, she'll enjoy it"). Once, I finished The Shack (that is a post all in itself - at some point - when I'm ready to delve back into that still tender ground again), I started Blue Like Jazz. It has been a very quick read because I feel like he writes the way my mind thinks - there is an over-arching order and structure to it with plenty of randomness and tangents that all come together to make the overriding point. And the humor of his seeming randomness appeals to me and my desire for authenticity - it's a very House-ian / Hugh Laurie-esque sense of humor - frank and real and unapologetic. And I don't get the sense from reading him that he's this huge revolutionary that a lot of people keep trying to tout that he is (granted he could be that way now for all I know - the book was published back in 2003) but from this book I don't take that away from what I read. Lots of people like to raise him and this book up to say, "Christianity in America is wrong - turn or burn!" They don't really say that, but they get very emphatic about how wonderful Donald Miller and his grasp of true Christian spirituality....when the book clearly depicts that he's just as self-admittedly messed up about it all as the rest of us. All of that to say, I'd suggest reading it - not because it's popular or will transform your life and relationship with God, but because it's a good read. It's interesting and kind of refreshing to peek in on the thoughts of someone else who is navigating this crazy journey of being a Christian.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

More movies!

Good Night, and Good Luck


Not only did I get my super-awesome new haircut this weekend, but I managed to get in some good movie watching. My Netflix rental for the weekend was Good Night, and Good Luck. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this film, it is the story of how esteemed television journalist Edward R. Murrow took on Senator McCarthy and his crusade against the supposed Communists in the U.S. This film was directed and co-written by George Clooney, who also plays the role of Fred Friendly - Murrow's producer. Personally, I feel this film gives us a glimpse of what journalism should be when it is done well. Yes, Murrow took a side rather than strictly reporting both "sides" of the story, but by taking a side and reporting the facts as they were presented in the public forum - he was able to point out the inconsistencies and holes in McCarthy's bulldozing of innocent people. His team made sure to do an impeccable job of researching the facts and footage available to them - what a novel idea in today's speedy journalism of half-truths just to get the story whether it's completely factual or not. It appears to me that most journalists today subscribe to the idea that rather than asking for permission now (or making sure they get all the correct facts), they'll just seek forgiveness (and write a retraction) later. It seems to me that Mr. Murrow was a prophet as he foretold the direction that television news would end up if it continued on it's current path. Some of my favorite Edward R. Murrow quotes:

"We must not confuse dissent from disloyalty. We must remember always, that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another, we will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason. If we dig deep into our history and our doctrine, we will remember we are not descended from fearful men. Not from men who dared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular...We can deny our heritage and our history but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of the republic to abdicate his responsibilities. As a nation we have come into our full inheritance at a tender age. We proclaim ourselves as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom wherever it still exists in the world. But we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home." (from his television show See It Now).

"It is not necessary to remind you that the fact that your voice is amplified to the degree where it reaches from one end of the country to the other does not confer upon you greater wisdom or understanding than you possessed when your voice reached only from one end of the bar to the other. " (to the Radio & Television New Directors Association)

"When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained."

"The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue." (on receiving the "Family of Man" award)

"Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them."

"
We cannot make good news out of bad practice."



Indiana Jones
Sunday afternoon, I took time out of my busy schedule (HA!) to watch the first three Indiana Jones movies: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and Last Crusade (umm...obviously it was not quite the "last crusade"). All of this was in preparation for the new Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull movie which I immersed myself in on Monday morning. My personal favorite is Last Crusade mostly because of Sean Connery's role as Indy's father. And I know a lot of people knock Temple of Doom as being the weakest Indiana movie, but I like it with all it's slithering "snake surprise" dinner and "chilled monkey brains" for dessert....hehehe...yes, I am one sick puppy :-) And, I would suggest that to keep perspective on the new Indiana film, it's good for people to revisit the first three films - that way there's no building up in your mind of the quality of the previous films. By rewatching them, I could see them for what they were - fun, cheesy, action flicks with silly gags and punny humor. None of the previous scripts were indelibly clever or riddled with amazing dialog. So as you go to watch the new film, keep that in mind. It is a fun, silly, action-filled ride...there are a few spoilers (although seriously no tightly held secrets) but in the event you haven't watched the movie yet and want to be "surprised" by the story line stop reading NOW...




I found it not surprising but quite fitting how they reveal Shia LeBeouf's character, Mutt, to be Indiana's son with Marion (from the first Indy film). Indiana and Mutt's interaction even before finding out this information is quite amusing, but afterwards it's down-right hilarious! Of course, you can guess where all of that is heading from their first meeting when Mutt reveals who his mother is. There are no true "surprises" in this film; you just have to remember to suspend all good sense and enjoy it for what it is. The lamest part of the movie comes at the very end (although still not a surprise) when the crystal skull is confirmed to be from an alien (there is a whole pack of them actually) and there's a this flying saucer type thing at the end....LAME. George Lucas should not have mixed his Star Wars sci-fi genre with the Indiana films - but well it's too late for that now...If he'd only asked me (and pretty much most Indiana Jones fans) he could have avoided that faux pas. However, despite the ridiculous alien aspect of the movie - I believe it is worth going to see on the big screen (although I would suggest a matinée so you don't feel quite so cheated). WARNING: the special effects leave something to be desired - especially considering how far technology has come in this arena. The CGI used by Speilberg (so disappointing) looks about as well done as the last Indiana Jones film, and well that was The Last Crusade made in 1989. Anyways, go enjoy it for what it is - pure entertainment.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

And the winner is...

The Katie Holmes bob!



Yes, friends, the Katie Holmes bob won by one vote! Well, that and it was my personal favorite, too - so even if it hadn't won, I still would have gone with it (just being honest!)

Here is the finished look:



Left side:



Right side:

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio



This is another movie that I feel everyone (at least every woman) ought to see. When my sister and I visited our aunt in California, we ended up watching this movie at the home of one of the families who had befriended my sister when she worked at Casa de Ama. We had actually watched another film just before this one and got completely sucked into staying for this one because it was just that compelling. The film is based on a true story of a woman who as the tagline says, "raised ten kids on twenty-five words or less." Evelyn Ryan raised ten children with no real help from her drunk husband (more complication than help) by competing in jingle writing contests. This was how products solicited nearly "free" advertising by turning it into a competition. They gave away a one-time prize and used the ingenuity of the competitors for their own gain (delightful), but back to the story. This woman who was skilled in writing and had dreamed of a career in journalism used her skills to keep her large family afloat. And I loved that while her career dreams were interrupted by her burgeoning family, she wasn't bitter or resentful of her children or even her husband. One of the things I enjoyed the most about this film was that through the process of entering all these different contests Evelyn discovered a community of women who were all doing this to help support and supplement their family's income. And those women didn't get catty with one another or steal someone else's idea to get the prize, instead they met together regularly to spur on each other's creativity and encourage one another in their writing. The eldest daughter is the one who decided to tell her mother's story of integrity and strength through this film. Definitely something to look for at your local Blockbuster or add to your Netflix list.

Vote for my next haircut!

This coming Friday I am going in for another haircut. The old one is growing out a bit and getting a little annoying, as I can feel it get caught in the collar of my shirts. It is time to spruce up my new short hair in order to keep it short at least for a while longer. Place your vote in the column on the right! Here are 6 options in no particular order of preference (some much more daring than others):

Option #1: Pretty short



Option #2: Pretty darn short



Option #3: Super short (but I really like the bangs)



Option #4: Short bob (I like this length, but with bangs)



Option #5: Layered bob with bangs (but picture it shorter, my hair is already close in length to this)



Option #6: Katie Holmes bob (2 pics)





And be sure to leave comments about which haircut you like and why :-)

Friday, May 16, 2008

The simple things...

After having been annoyed to the point of exhaustion and frustration by the neediest Labrador known to man, I had to take some time to myself last night. For those who don't know, I have been animal-sitting (dog & cat) for one of my co-workers since last Friday. This dog, while extremely sweet-natured, has some of the worst attachment issues of any animal I have encountered. It follows my every move around the house, which is one thing with a small dog that you can step over...with this big dog...ugh. And she whines, a lot, and barks, a lot, in the middle of the night even. And the cat has also taken up whining - meowing, as some people may term it - whatever, sounds like whining to me. And the cat, who usually will not lower herself to spend time with humans, for whatever reason has been wanting to be close to me - the ultimate cat-hater! It keeps trying to walk near me and wanting to rub up beside me, and I have to keep telling it, "We are NOT friends - GO AWAY." I am allergic to cats, so I can feed it and keep it hydrated, but I do not and will not pet or hold cats, and I will not allow them to rub their nasty, allergy-ridden fur up against me.

So having had enough of the whining and being constantly followed by the neediest dog EVER, I went to my apartment for a night alone. Now, don't worry the poor helpless animals had been sufficiently taken care of - they'd been fed and loved, given treats, let outside, blah blah blah. I didn't leave the house until about 8:30pm so they were fine. I went home to enjoy the peacefulness of my apartment. I popped myself a snack bag of popcorn, melted a teensy bit of extra butter to drizzle on top, and poured some Coke to complete my yummy snack. Then I plopped down on my sofa to watch the one hour season finale of The Office (for the love Jim! you needed to move quicker on the proposal - geez), and Lost (I am sooooo confused this season, I'm gonna have to re-watch them online...like that's gonna help! HA!) And then I slept in my own glorious bed without a whining, attention hungry dog at my side and no barking in the middle of the night! (sigh) It was great. I woke up refreshed and rested and ready to drive all the way back out to the house to feed the animals their breakfast. Only two more days, and then I get a five day reprieve before the next round of animal-sitting. Pray for me...

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Summer Movie List

Woohoo! It's that time when all the new summer blockbusters make their appearance on screens around the country :-) I look forward to it every year, and I have compiled my list of movies. Some are must-see and others just look interesting...Check it out:

May 22nd: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Seriously, who doesn't love a good Indiana Jones flick? Harrison Ford crackin' jokes and a whip all at the same time - it's greatness. And this sequel has the added bonus of that young sarcastic genius Shia LaBeouf. I can't wait for next weekend to get here!

June 13th: The Incredible Hulk
As silly as I think it is that they are making another Hulk movie while the disappointment of the last attempt is still somewhat fresh in people's memory, using a completely different actor as Bruce Banner, and yet still keeping the general look and feel of the last Hulk movie (this CGI Hulk looks only slightly less cartoonish compared to the last one), I am intrigued if only because Edward Norton is portraying Bruce Banner. As someone who can easily lead a film or seamlessly fit into the background as a minor character, I look forward to seeing what he brings to the character of Bruce Banner.

June 13: The Happening
I really hope this M. Night Shyamalan movie is better than last couple. Neither "The Village" nor "Lady in the Water" really did much to hold my attention or produce anxious suspense. This time we've got a whole new cast. No star power hold-overs from the last movie as was also becoming rather predictable. Although, we do have a sibling to one of Shyamalan's former actors...Spencer Breslin - brother to "Signs" Abigail Breslin.

June 20th: Get Smart
I have not seen the television show, nor do I know much about it. The only thing driving me to see this film is because I LOVE Steve Carrell and thoroughly enjoy Anne Hathaway. I figure it should be fairly amusing!

June 27th: Wanted
Have I mentioned that James McAvoy is one of my new favorite actors? Granted, this film has quite a star-worthy cast with Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman also headlining. It looks like it should be a nice action thrill ride, but of course I'm most looking forward to seeing my beloved McAvoy up on the big screen again...sigh

July 2nd: Hancock
Yet another fun summer thrill ride of a movie. Will Smith in all his action star glory and Jason Bateman as comic relief, and then there's the "monster" herself Charlize Theron. Yeah, I'm not really a fan of her - kind grates on my nerves, but hopefully her role is minor even though she is billed above Jason Bateman.

July 2nd: Kit Kittredge - An American Girl
Didn't really know about this movie until I was compiling this list, but it has a cast of actors that I typically enjoy: Abigail Breslin, Julia Ormond (haven't seen her do much in a while, so glad to see her in the line-up), Chris O'Donnell, and Joan Cusak. It looks like it will be a cute family comedy. It'll probably end up on my Netflix list, but who knows I might get around to seeing it at the theater this summer.

July 18th: The Dark Knight
I have been waiting for this sequel since the moment Batman Begins ended! Even with all the crazy hub-bub surrounding it because of Heath Ledger's death, I am purely looking forward to it for the sake of seeing Christian Bale shirtless.....just kidding (kind of)... I love the darker look and seemingly plausible nature of the recent Batman movies. Can't wait to see Christopher Nolan's creepier rendition of The Joker.

July 18th: Mamma Mia
I've heard all the rave reviews of the Broadway version of this musical, and the trailer for this film makes it seem like it could at least be a fun, silly escape amidst all the summer action films. Plus, I'm intrigued by Meryl Streep being in this kind of kooky musical.

August 1st: The Mummy - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
I enjoyed the first two films and the Universal roller-coaster patterned after the films, so I'm hoping this film will be at least an interesting adventure. However, I am thoroughly disappointed again because here is yet another movie with an annoying re-cast...the wife is no longer being played by Rachel Weisz but by Maria Bello. These kinds of re-casts undoubtedly make me think of soap operas who keep key characters but change out the actors that play them like they change the wardrobe.

August 8th: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
The first movie was poignant and displayed a great representation of strong female relationships. I look forward to seeing the progression of these relationships and how the girls continue to lean on one another.

August 22nd: The Accidental Husband
It seems this might be the only true romantic comedy coming out this summer in the midst of all the fun action flicks, and it's at the end of the summer. Oh well, the premise seems thin (per usual) but it has Jeffery Dean Morgan as the leading man, so it's at least worth adding to the list even if it just ends up in my Netflix queue.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Been tagged

Hmmm, not sure about this tagging thing, but I'm game for playing along...

The way to play - copy the information on your site and fill in with your answers, and then leave a comment on my site to let me know you participated. Let's play.

Two names I go by: Kris (mostly by family), Little One or Lucy (Dave Dionne at SYSCO), Princess Peanut ("the old broads" at SYSCO)

Two things I am wearing right now: jeans and a cute coral shirt

Two of my favorite things to do: dance and cook

Two things I want very badly at the moment: to watch The Office and then Lost

Two favorite pets I’ve had: my sweet Grace - the bestest, cuddliest, dog EVER; Penny - she's a close second to Grace

Two things I did last night: Ate dinner and watched "Lars and the Real Girl" again

Two things I ate today: lemon blueberry muffins (yes, a Homemade Gourmet item - miss Becca), Altendorfs' mac & cheese, cream cheese filled crescent rolls (a Kraftfoods.com recipe)

Two longest car rides: Houston to Las Vegas, and Houston to Louisville - driving anywhere from the Gulf Coast of Texas takes a while

Two favorite beverages: Milk, Coke, and red wine

I followed the rules.......uh, most of the time.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

A movie you should see


Lars & The Real Girl:
The premise is definitely a little odd - a young man, Lars, who lives in his married brother's garage apartment begins a delusional, yet chaste courtship with a life-size sex doll that he ordered online. Now, I know this sounds like it would end up being one of those gross, ridiculously over-the-top comedies, but it is so far removed from that. Instead, this film is one of the sweetest, most uniquely poignant stories I've seen in a long time. Lars (played by Ryan Gosling) is in his late twenties, living a rather solitary life and cannot stand to be touched. His sister-in-law tries to reach out to him, but his way of coping with life leads him to develop a delusional relationship with a life-size doll. The spectacular part of the film is how the entire town begins to participate with him in his delusion in an effort to help him see that he is loved and does not need this created/imagined relationship - that it is safe for him to interact with the community without her.

As I watched it for the second time this evening, it seemed to me a great picture of how the body of Christ should also respond to the lost and to those who have wandered away. Just as Lars was unable to hear the truth about his delusion in the beginning, so often those who are far from God cannot hear the truth of Him. They have been wounded, neglected, abandoned most likely by the very people who want to bring them the truth. However, building relationships and allowing people to experience the grace and love of Christ opens them up to hearing the truth in love.

Ryan Gosling continues to make his mark as an incredible actor. In this film, he and the entire cast communicated with this inanimate object so well that you often have to remind yourself that Bianca is in fact a doll and not a real person. Add it to your Netflix queue! It's cute, clean, and charming - and a little quirky, but we all need a little quirkiness now and then :-)

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

City on a Hill Video Blogs

Our City on a Hill video blogs make me happy :) Of course, I think you should check out the website directly to see these amazing blogs, but here are a couple that I particularly enjoy!


What it would be like to be in on a City on a Hill iChat conference call:




Guess what?! Kevin is gonna be out of the office for a whole month!

Monday, May 5, 2008

New Office :-)

Woohoo! Guess who is finally in her new office?...oh yes, that would be ME! I've actually been in it for over a week now, but finally got around to taking some pictures of it today. It could still use a little work as far as adding my own personal touch to it...but I feel like I'm off to a good start :)

Enjoy the pics!







Friday, May 2, 2008

Dancing Queen

Dancing is so much fun...whether it's a choreographed ballet or salsa at friend's wedding, I love it all. I started dancing at four years old. My parents put me in ballet, tap, and jazz, which I continued all the way through the fifth grade. I was briefly out of the realm of dance throughout middle school, but never too far from it (cheerleading isn't all that much different from dancing, really). In high school, dancing and I were reunited. During that time, I was opened up to even more forms of dance - modern, funk, lyrical, military, pom, high-kick, etc. But, it was at a youth camp at the end of high school where I first learned swing. Now that is a blast! One of my sister's friends taught several of us how to swing dance, and the best part was learning all the acrobatics - being tossed around from side to side like a rag doll. And just a couple of years ago, I learned to salsa. After having spent most of my life learning how to dance according to someone else's or my own choreography, learning how to follow the lead of someone else and depending on them was a little annoying at first (I've got some trust issues - okay - geez) but really freeing all at the same time.

Choreographing a ballet, lyrical or modern dance provides me a creative outlet, whereas swing, salsa, and even that good 'ole Texas two-step allow me to relax and follow the lead of my partner. In Texas, I had lots of opportunity to go out dancing, take classes to learn new dances, and to perform choreographed dances at church. Somehow, some way, I'm going to have to find a way to fulfill this need here. It's kind of like Maverick in Top Gun, except I don't have a need for speed (well, actually I do - I like to speed when I drive)..."I feel the need - the need to dance!"

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Mmmmmm, food!

I think about food a LOT. It's pretty ridiculous how much I think about food - cooking it, creating new dishes or variations on recipes, baking, the melding of all the flavors in my mouth. Mmmmmm! Like tonight, I'm thinking about making a pizza with a pesto alfredo sauce base, mushrooms, sliced tomato, torn baby spinach leaves, chopped garlic, chopped artichoke hearts, and of course mozzarella (and probably some crushed red pepper - gotta have some kick to it). The problem I run into is that I like to cook but always end up with more than I can eat. Thankfully, a lot of it freezes really well, so I can freeze it in serving sizes and pull stuff out and heat it up whenever. This method works especially well with the Altendorf mac & cheese recipe, and my friend Caran's chili recipe. And also, a lot of times I'll bring in some of the leftovers to share with co-workers.

I also get easily sucked into looking at recipe websites. Several of my favorites are Kraftfoods.com, BHG.com (Better Homes & Gardens), FoodNetwork.com, AllRecipes.com, and most recently and most addictive is ThePioneerWoman.com. This last website has to be my favorite by far, even though the others have LOADS more recipes and I use them more often. The Pioneer Woman website gives step by step instructions with excellent pictures to guide you through the process, and her comments with the instructions are hilarious. I've already noticed several recipes I am eager to test - one which even includes shrimp (Penne a la Betsy), and I'm not that big a fan of seafood!

Since I love coming across new recipes on other friends' blogs, here is a recipe I made earlier this week for a potluck:

Velvet Chicken with Mushroom Wine Sauce

  • 2 cans cream of mushroom soup, condensed
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 cup uncooked rice
  • 1 package onion soup mix
  • 6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 6 tbs butter
  • sliced baby portabello mushrooms
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation
In a large bowl, mix the cream of mushroom soup, milk, wine, rice, and onion soup mix. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the stoneware. Place one tablespoon of butter on each chicken breast. Sprinkle mushroom slices over the chicken. Pour the soup mixture over the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cook on Low for 8-10 hours, or on High for 4-6 hours.

I got this recipe off the side of my Rival slow-cooker's box! I brought the leftovers into the office on Tuesday, and my co-workers who tried it loved it. I've only made it one other time for the girls who regularly came over to watch "24," and they enjoyed it, as well. Definitely an easy and hearty recipe to keep in one's repertoire.