Want to know why I'm blogging??

Take a gander at my introductory blog: Explicate Your Analog


Friday, June 20, 2008

Laugh!

I LOVE to laugh. Which makes another one of my television watching guilty pleasures, so fitting....Last Comic Standing! And since they have to be tame enough for network television, the comedy is fairly clean (not entirely clean, but better than it would be on cable!) This is also one of the few shows that they do not post full episodes for online (which totally sucks - it's lame I tell ya! LAME!) If you're gonna get sucked into it, you have to be willing to catch it on Thursday nights, or be one of those technically savvy people with TiVo or DVR (which I'm not). Here is a montage of the 32 finalists:





So next week, pop yourself some popcorn, grab a Coke, and get ready to laugh at Last Comic Standing! If you become addicted, we'll just all blame my friend Bonnie because she's the one who got me hooked on it ;)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

NKOTB




Now, who is not excited about the return of the New Kids on the Block? Come on, now...granted they're not exactly - uh - "new" any more...kinda old, really - but still it's fun to have them back. I remember having a huge poster of Jordan hanging over the desk in my bedroom right across from the bed so I could see his beautiful face each morning. My sister and I had all of their albums on cassette tape, even the Christmas one. We had T-shirts, sweaters, and even an afghan blanket sporting our NKOTB pride. However, our crowning glory of NKOTB fan-dome was that we each had our own NKOTB ken doll...for my sister it was Donnie, and for me Jordan (of course). So as we celebrate their return to pop music, reminisce with me a bit and enjoy one of their former music videos: Step by Step





Step by step, ooh, baby
Gonna get to you girl
Step by step

Step by step, ooh, baby
Gonna get to you girl
Step by step, ooh, baby
Really want you in my world

Step, hey, girl in your eyes
I see a picture of me all the time
Step, and girl when you smile
You got to know that you drive me wild

Step by step, ooh, baby
You're always on my mind
Step by step, ooh, girl
Really think it's just a matter of time

Step by step, ooh, baby
Gonna get to you girl
Step by step, ooh, baby
Really want you in my world

Step, hey, girl can't you see?
I've got to have you all just for me
Step, and girl yes it's true
No one else will ever do

Step by step, ooh, baby
You're always on my mind
Step by step, ooh, girl
Really think it's just a matter of time

Step by step, ooh, baby
Gonna get to you girl
Step by step, ooh, baby
Really want you in my world

Step, step
Step, step by step

Step one, we can have lots of fun
Step two, there's so much we can do
Step three, it's just you and me
Step four, I can give you more
Step five, don't you know that the time has arrived
Huh!

Step by step
Don't you know I need you?
Step by step
Yes, I do, girl

Step by step, ooh, baby
You're always on my mind
Step by step, ooh, girl
Really think it's just a matter of time

Step by step, ooh, baby
Gonna get to you girl
Step by step, ooh, baby
Really want you in my world

Step by step, you girl
Step by step, oh girl
Really want you in my world
Step by step, ooh, baby
Gonna get to you girl

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The Bachelorette

Okay, I must confess - I have gotten sucked into (see I'm going to make this seem as though I'm a victim) watching this season of The Bachelorette. I'm not usually a watcher of reality TV. I like Last Comic Standing, but was really only turned on to that show last season. I've caught a couple of seasons of The Bachelor only because it's a favorite of my mom and grandma, and when I would have dinner with either of them on a Monday - that is what they wanted to watch. Of course, it also seems they'd like me to be one of the "lucky" contestants on The Bachelor - but no thanks. That's part of what this particular blog is about. I know this will sound "sexist" or whatever to some, but I am diametrically opposed to The Bachelor. Twenty-five women competing and desperately chasing after the attention of one man (while it is a dream come true for those lazy men out there) makes everything in me well-up with a big, "NO - that is so wrong! You should not have to pursue him!" Yet, (and this is where I'm sure many men will declare that I am sexist - and well tough luck, I'm right and you're wrong)...The Bachelorette is less offensive to me because I believe that men should be the ones chasing and competing for the attention of a woman. And what I find somewhat amusing and also disheartening about this season of The Bachelorette is that many of the men on this show are behaving just as badly (if not worse) than the women on The Bachelor. They are whining like a bunch of gossipy girls! Are you kidding me???!!! Several of the men don't think this Bachelorette is doing enough to find out about them or to talk to them....HELLO! Why don't you stop whining to the group of guys you're hanging out with and go grab some time with her yourself? And not only are they whining that she's not making enough effort to seek them out (which is not her responsibility in the first place - they are the ones competing for her affections) but then they're also whining about the few guys who are making the effort to be aggressive and seek out her attention. Um, don't whine about the guys who are making head-way when you're not willing to step up to the plate. Bunch of whiny-babies...

My prediction for this season of The Bachelorette is that (barring any horribly missteps) Jeremy and Jason will be in the final 3 if not the final 2. I think Jesse also has a chance of being in the final 3. Jeremy is definitely up for the challenge of pursing DeAnna and making his intentions known to her. Jason also seems up for the task. Jesse is just adorable and continues to show progress in being vulnerable before her. The rest of them appear to be in varying stages of whiny-ness. If the guys are as "into her" and think as highly of her as they claim to be, then they better step up soon and take a risk to win her heart. What is up with men taking the easy route? Is it because more women are stepping up and doing the hard work and asking men out? I refuse to do that. Even the secular book, "He's Just Not That Into You" reminds women that they are the ones who should be pursued. Women will do whatever it takes to manipulate, catch, and hold onto a man....but in the end if he's not that into you, he' ll use you for the time being and move onto someone he is actually motivated to pursue all on his own. I'm hoping this Bachelorette picks-off these remaining guys for those who are willing to make the effort and those who aren't.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Spanglish


I remember when this movie came out several years ago people seemed to have rather strong reactions to it. They either liked or couldn't stand it. Having finally watched it, I believe some of the fault for people's disposition towards the film lies in the deceptive way it was marketed to audiences. It was marketed as another Adam Sandler comedy - not as outlandish as most of his other ones, but still a movie full of humor. Yet, this movie is FAR from being an Adam Sandler comedy, and truthfully has very little to do with his character at all. He just happens to be the biggest named star in the film, so the easy way to sell the film is to make it seem as though it's all about his character.

The film starts off as a narrative told in the form of a young Mexican-American girl's college application essay. In it she lays out for the reader the important lessons that she learned from her mother. And what amazing lessons of strength, risk, and integrity they were! After being abandoned by the girl's father, Flor (the mother), stays as long as she can in Mexico to raise her daughter until she feels it is absolutely necessary to move to the US.  Even after they move to the US, Flor raises her daughter in a densely populated Hispanic section of Los Angeles - not making the entry into white suburban America until forced to find a well-paying 9 to 5 job.  Throughout the film, Flor (who is gorgeous) maintains amazing integrity as an example to her daughter of hard work and values.  Men continually make fools of themselves in her presence, but Flor is steadfast in remaining a positive influence in the life of her daughter.  One example is when Flor and her daughter go out to eat.  A couple of business men at the bar decide they'd like to buy her a drink and have the waitress relay this proposition to Flor.  Being the amazing woman that she is, she has the waitress relay the message of how inappropriate it is for them to offer to buy her a drink while she is out to dinner with her very young daughter.  I love it!  Also, in the film Flor is tempted to engage in adultery with the husband of the family that she works for - and while they do engage in a kiss - she firmly puts a stop to it and quits the job afterwards.  For me, the whole film revolved around this woman and what she was willing to do for her daughter and the example she wanted to set for her.  The other characters were background noise to me - some louder and more annoying than others (Tea Leoni's character was obnoxious and INSANE) - for me they only served to emphasize the remarkableness of Flor.  There are many humorous aspects to the film - even some of Tea Leoni's antics are quite funny - but I would suggest watching it if only to admire the strength and grace of Flor in the midst of this chaotic suburban family.


Next up on my Netflix adventures are "Gone Baby Gone" and "Water Horse: Legend of the Deep."

Friday, June 6, 2008

This made me laugh...


I just have to share this comic because it made me laugh...I'm in a weird mood because I've got a nasty headache that's making me a bit nauseous, so I think I'm in kind of a miserably mean mood. Yes, I know this isn't how God is, but it's definitely how I feel sometimes....like now.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Boundaries

Setting boundaries...ugh, what a painful but necessary process. A friend of mine, her husband, is having to go through this very NOT fun process with his parents. And unfortunately, it's a process that I'm not sure really ever has an end - especially when your parents don't ever intend to change. With setting boundaries comes confronting the lies that have been ingrained in your consciousness and subconsciousness for years and years...overcoming those lies and discovering who you truly are in Christ and how He sees you is freeing and draining all at the same time. It requires this crazy paradox of work and rest. Work because you are constantly having to fight against those instinctual responses to your parents and situations in life...And resting in the knowledge and love and acceptance and forgiveness and freedom that comes with being alive and enjoyed by God our ultimate Father in a way that you never experienced with your biological parents. Someone from my home group explained it in a way that I think describes this transition best - it is more than just making a decision to break the familial/generational dysfunctional cycle (although that is definitely a component) but there just comes a point where you break free from the "parenting" (control and manipulation and lies) of your biological parents and rely upon the parenting (guidance and love) of God. For those who grew up in relatively healthy homes where they were cherished, disciplined in love, respected...it seems as though their picture of God as Father isn't all that distorted. However, growing up in a home where performance is key yet also never quite good enough to receive that dearly hoped for desire of being cherished and enjoyed by your parents - well this can leave a person with a distorted view of imagining God as Father. This is where both the work and rest come into play. Working at changing my distorted views of God that aren't true to His nature and love, reminding myself of His Word and promises, but also resting in that same love - crawling up into His lap and open arms, resting in the comfort of the Daddy who enjoys and delights in me the way I'd always dreamed of experiencing with my own parents.

Boundaries are a necessary struggle and in the end ABSOLUTELY worth it. It hurts to set them and feels like you are limiting or damaging your relationship with your parents - not respecting them, honoring them, or loving them as a dutiful child should. However, it is exactly the opposite. By setting those boundaries, I have been freed up to love and enjoy my mom, to accept her for where she is at and for her own struggles. At the same time, her skewed opinions of me (tinted by her own hurts and past) have less and less hold on defining me as I grow in intimacy with my Father and am encouraged by an amazing community of believers (both near and far).