oops!

I missed posting on the 19th...I didn't mean to miss it! I just forgot! How could I?! I've worked so hard!! I've dragged myself out of bed a few times so that something would be posted...and one simple slip of the mind and my record is shot! ugh! ...well, I'm dating this post for the 19th! It was there in spirit! Ok, here it is:

Have you seen this? (would have been my title if I were not readily admitting my indiscretion)

I have gmail and it often has random little website advertisements at the top of the page. I usually ignore them, but one will catch my eye from time to time. The particular line that caught me today was: Ben Stein is EXPELLED. I've been a fan of Ben Stein since the days of Ferris Bueller, so my interest was piqued and I clicked the link. This is what I found:

Ben Stein is EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed

It's a documentary of sorts by Ben Stein on the ways that "Big Science" has ostracized those who might believe in Intelligent Design. Here is the site's overview of the film that I found on the site:

Who: Ben Stein, in the new film EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed

What: His heroic and, at times, shocking journey confronting the world’s top scientists, educators and philosophers, regarding the persecution of the many by an elite few.

When: In theatres near you, starting February 2008

Where: Ben travels the world on his quest, and learns an awe-inspiring truth…that bewilders him, then angers him…and then spurs him to action!

Why: Ben realizes that he has been “Expelled,” and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the “crime” of merely believing that there might be evidence of “design” in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.

To which Ben Says: "Enough!" And then gets busy. NOBODY messes with Ben.

The site is funny (Ben Stein in a prep school uniform is kinda funny to me) and the premise seems interesting! I'm curious to see this...which, I guess, is why gmail has the little advertisement ticker over the top of my inbox! Clever people!!

Still a place like no other!

Earlier tonight a friend and I were talking about going to New Orleans around the Christmas holidays which reminded me of the really cool tradition of Reveillon and Papa Noel hotel rates. If you've never heard of these really neat New Orleans traditions, here is a brief explanation taken directly from the neworleansonline.com site:

Revellion--A French Dining Tradition

During the mid-1800s, New Orleans' Creole families celebrated the "Reveillon" (French for "awakening") twice during the holidays. The first Reveillon came after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, when families returned from St. Louis Cathedral to break a daylong fast with an elaborate meal. The meal consisted of egg dishes, sweetbreads, and Creole specialties such as daube glace. It often ended with a cake filled with fruit confection, dripping with wine or rum, and topped with whipped cream.
New Year's Eve brought another Reveillon, usually shared among several families. This more festive meal featured eggnog, fancy pastries, meringues, sugar sculptures, and crystallized fruits. By late afternoon, families would return home to a light supper followed by a night of singing and dancing, with wine and whiskey for the gentlemen and cordials and liqueurs for the ladies.
Today's Reveillon is celebrated nightly during the Christmas season in restaurants throughout the city. Menus combine ageless Creole cuisine with more contemporary New Orleans dishes, but the spirit of the past remains. In fact, three of our Reveillon restaurants–Commander's Palace, Galatoire's, and Tujague's–are more than 100 years old! So revel in nostalgia. Join us for the Reveillon–the authentic taste of Christmas New Orleans Style. (Taken directly from http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/seasonal/christmas/reveillonmenus.html)


Papa Noel Hotel Rates

December 1-31, 2007 based on availability
Linger longer with lower rates created just for the holidays!
Hotels throughout the city welcome you to Christmas New Orleans Style with discounted Papa Noël room rates. These special rates make it easier for you to spend more time enjoying the great food, music and events of the season.
This page details the offerings of the wide variety of participating hotels, bed & breakfasts and guesthouses. From historic homes along Esplanade Avenue to the courtyard classics of the French Quarter, from full-service, modern downtown hotels to luxurious inns in the heart of the Garden District—you choose the corner of New Orleans you want to experience this December.
Thanks to Papa Noël, your New Orleans holiday vacation will be more affordable than ever! (Taken directly from http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/seasonal/christmas/papanoel.html)

redecorating...

I am bored with my blog template (not to mention all of the other blog templates that blogger has available). I have a few friends who've recently redecorated using pyzam.com templates, but I haven't found any of there that really grab me. Anyone have any bright ideas on interesting blog templates? Perhaps I should design my own...but that sounds like alot of work! Anyone want to design one for me?! yeah, I didn't think so! ;)

Yeah, go ahead and laugh!

Alright, in a desperate attempt to find something to post, I am making myself a little vulnerable by admitting this: I watch (and quite enjoy) Moonlight. It plays on CBS on Fridays at 8:00pm. Other than my love for Smallville which has brought me ridicule on this blog before, I typically don't like shows of a supernatural vein. I've never been interested in shows like Ghost Whisperer, much preferring the copious who-did-it crime dramas that tend to dominate prime time television these days, but Moonlight has captured my fancy for the time being. I do need to say that the main drawing factor for me would be Alex O'Loughlin who plays Mic St. John, the main character. Oh, he's a cute one alright! I will not defend the writing or the story lines because I'm not immune from judging them myself, but I don't care! Mic is a cutie and that's why I watch! ...that and I LOVE the criss-cross built-in bookshelves that are in Mic's apartment! They are beautiful! I'm trying to find a picture but have had no luck as yet.

Reflections on what never was

On a random Tuesday night while driving to my small-group, I had a phone conversation that I thought had the potential to seriously alter life as I knew it. The call came because of a well-intentioned and well-timed reference from a close friend regarding an open editing position at a Christian publishing company which primarily produces student Bible study materials. The call was exciting and all-the-more surprising because I had decided only the week before to not renew my contract with the school I'd been with for three years. My plans were to apply for a position with the Lafayette Parish School System unless something more interesting came along, and this call seemed serendipitous...God-ordained, even!

The call lead to a job interview which, after a couple of nail-biting days, lead to a tentative job offer and an opportunity to do some contract work for the organization. The contract work--something I have had no experience with before then--gradually turned from a simple, straight-forward lesson update sort of situation to an overwhelming, disorganized mess. I was in way over my head while still teaching full-time and tutoring 3 hours a day! After being shuffled around between editors, I landed with my third and final editor and pressure was mounting.

I trudged through as best I could while also dealing with all of the end-of-the-school-year hoo-rah. Once summer started, I felt that I would have the time to devote to this time-devouring contract work. I worked 10-12 hours a day in an effort to catch-up because I was not working at the pace they wanted. Some reorganization started happening in the office and, as I heard more and more, I began to have an impending feeling of doom.

Eventually, the call came--they decided to go with someone who had more experience and had been working with them on a contract basis for a while. I can't say that I was surprised. I think I knew it was coming. Suffering from a strong case of wounded pride, I struggled with understanding what had happened. What was this all about? Why did God bring this amazing opportunity before me and wave it under my nose only to snatch it back? It just seemed so mean.

I would never call this an unanswered prayer--oh, no! This was a clear and definite, "NO!" But I still couldn't understand why. Mom always said that my favorite question as a child was, "Why?" and almost 30 years later, that doesn't seem to have changed much! Once the pain and tears subsided, I realized that I was actually relieve that it had not worked out. I was so overwhelmed and, had I been hired, I don't know that I would have enjoyed life in that particular field!

I may never know how that small piece of fabric will be woven into the tapestry of my life, but I do recognized so many reasons that I'm glad it didn't happen. Most specifically, I am glad that I have been here through Erica's recent medical situation and near my family in the wake of Brandon's death. Had the job become a reality and I had really moved, I would have felt so isolated and alone as I watched from afar. I am not saying that I would never move away from home, but I can see God's hand in keeping me here for this time and these events.

I will probably go on asking why, but I continue to do so with the understanding that my life is in God's hands and He ordains my path. Some people prefer to think that we determine our own paths, but I see no comfort in that way of thinking. I would never want to think that I might be stumbling around blindly trying to find my own way to oblivion. I am comforted by the fact that I have a relationship with a personal God who created me and has a plan for my life. I live a life of faith and hope. I may doubt at times and question often, but I continue to follow by faith.

FYI

Well, I have nothing to post today...but in an effort to follow through on my commitment to post everyday for the month of November, I'm writing a post to tell you that I have nothing to post...it's been a long--and not particularly fun--day. For those of you who are familiar with my extended family, my Aunt Sussie's 22-year-old son Brandon died Friday from complications following an epileptic seizure. His wake was today and his funeral is tomorrow. Please keep his parents and older sister Kristen in your prayers in the days and weeks ahead. He was a sweetheart, and I still don't think I've realized that he's really gone. I will miss him.

Help! Help!

Ok, I need your help! I don't often ask anything of you, dear reader, so in this you MUST indulge me!! Alright, now that I've declared my need in glaringly dramatic fashion, I shall humbly present my request. What novels do you remember reading (and liking) in high school and why? I will finally be teaching full-time starting in January and the unit I start with is "the novel." I'll be teaching regular freshman English classes and the kids in there are predominantly 1) male, and 2) completely uninterested in literature. As I am an almost 32-year-old woman who loves literature, I'm having a little difficulty coming up with novels that they might possibly be interested in reading. I doubt that we'll have time to read more than one novel (I may do a class novel and have them pick their own for a second novel if time allows) and I have a few ideas that would be both convenient and obvious picks for a 9th grade novel assignment, but I thought I'd throw it out to you just in case you had some great ideas! So, let's hear it!! Thanks for your help!!

If 24 were filmed in 1994...

I don't watch 24, but I thought that this was pretty entertaining!

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1788161

So, is the whole world going on strike?!

...ok, perhaps it's just MY world! Ha! Now Broadway stagehands are on strike:

Theatres turn away thousands as Broadway stagehands strike

The entertainment world has surely gone amuck! What's next?! The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon holders?!?! When will it end?! Where is the justice, people?!?! ...ok, I really don't know what I'm talking about. I'm just glad I didn't have Broadway tix! Those suckers are expensive! I wish someone would form a picket line in support for cheaper tickets! Now, that's a picket line I could get behind!

The Mysteries of TVland

A random collection of observations and curiosities...

• In TVland, people always drive with their windows down. I only ever roll my window down to engage in some drive-thru transaction, but people in TVland always ride with their windows down all of the time...and their hair never gets messed up...and they're usually not listening to the radio, either.
• No one ever goes to the bathroom (unless it progresses the storyline, that is.)
• It would be really cool (and convenient) to have background music--it lets you know when you should be concerned, it enhances the romance and drama of significant moments, it sets the mood...background music would be SO neat in real life!
• If my car ever becomes a crime scene, I could only hope that it would be as clean as the crime scene cars in TVland! Seriously, they would never find significant fibers or scene-stealing clues in MY car...but they would find lots of random junk and a dashboard in serious need of some detail work!
• The plethora of beautiful people always amazes me. I realize that TVland does not represent reality, in part, because the whole idea of TV is to escape reality, but seriously, there are no ugly people...and if they are ugly, it's bizarro ugliness that is intended to set the character off as an odd-ball or quirky. (i.e., I have NEVER been on a plane with as many beautiful people as those that populate the cast of LOST!)
• And, while fat leading men can be found--usually with stick-insects for wives--you rarely, if ever, see fat women in leading roles unless they are the mother-figure of the show.
• No one ever runs out of anything--like bread or toothpaste or clean underwear--unless it progresses the storyline and you never see anyone going grocery shopping or doing laundry.
• No one pays bills.
• Broke people still manage to have amazing apartments and great furniture.
• Children are only rolled out when it advances the storyline...and then the rest of the time they seem to only be in the living areas of the house when it's time for meals or bed.
• No one in TVland seems to have a living room lay-out designed around the location of the TV--ironically, most TVland homes don't seem to have TV's in their living rooms at all!

Alright, I could go on-and-on, but I'm sure you get the gist. And I know that having these things would take away that which makes TVland special and fun...but it's just stuff I've noticed in my wide range of TV viewing! Anyone have their own observations...other than the fact that I watch and/or think about TV too much?!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my sweet momma's birthday! I'm quite sure that she will never see this unless I show her myself, but I just thought I'd write the post anyway. Happy 55th birthday, Mom! I love you!!

Someday...

I've wanted a Mini for a while now (go ahead and laugh Phillip!) ...it may just happen one of these days. But i don't think it will be blue...not sure what color I want, but I do want a convertible. This much I know!

A thought to ponder...

Topic: Plastic...what would life be like without it?! Talk amongst yourselves.

Wise words from Currier Bell

As I am an English teacher on occasion, I do enjoy a good literary classic every now and again. I spent my summer reading, for the most part, pure junk. Since school started and I wasn't doing any thing other than babysitting semi-functioning middle schoolers, I thought I'd delve into something challenging; something that I've always wanted to read but was never assigned. I had a fine at the public library, so I decided to search my own shelves for this heretofore undiscovered (by me) literary classic. I eventually decided on Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. With my copy coming in at just over 500 pages, it's always seemed a daunting task, but as I wasn't being daunted by anything else at the moment, I thought I'd give it a try. I won't give a synopsis of the novel, but if you're interested in the storyline, you can check out the Sparknotes for the story here.

I don't typically read novels with a highlighter unless I'm preparing to teach them, but the wisdom of this particular passage really struck me, so I thought I'd post it here:

Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?

Isn't that a good quote?! I'm a fan of good quotes and I'm always excited when I discover one on my own. The book was (surprisingly) really good and not hard to read at all. I highly recommend it!



...and in case you're wondering, Currier Bell was Charlotte Bronte's pen name.



...and in case you're keeping track, I am trying to use the word heretofore in as many posts as I can, just for fun!

strike = STROKE

Having had a natural mistrust of the recording capabilities of VCR's in their heyday, I have--at times--been somewhat metaphorically chained to my TV set because of my love of prime time television programming. With the creation of such wonderful new inventions as the DVR, I've experienced a freedom heretofore unheard of...I could be a die-hard fan AND be away from home between the hours of 7-10pm! This independence has been sweet...but now we face another foe. Soon there will be no new shows for my lovely little DVR player to record! Yikes!!

Perhaps you have discovered by this point that the Writer's Guild has gone on strike over contract disputes with regard to DVD and Internet sales of the TV shows that they write for...I don't quite understand the fine details of this matter, but, based on what I'm hearing, I am beginning to understand how this will effect ME and I'm not so happy!!! Dear reader, you must understand: I am a single woman of limited financial means and no children or small animals to keep me occupied. I must have SOMETHING to fill up my evenings and keep my mind off of my impending spinsterhood!

If you're looking for a little info on this most unfortunate turn of events, check out this short interview and article. I will cut-and-paste a portion of the article that causes the most pain:

Are shows like 24 and Lost in Jeopardy? USA Today runs down the many other ways the one-day-old strike has already impacted the TV season, including the cancellation of NBC’s planned Heroes spin-off, a possible postponement of the new season of 24 and a potentially shortened (to eight episodes!) season of Lost.

Oh my!! What will we do?! This is just too much! The cost is too high!! Give these writers what they want oh present-day money barons of the network conglomerates!! Can't you see what you're doing to us common folk! I might be forced out of my home--bored with re-runs and suffocated by obnoxious reality TV--and forced to interact with actual human beings for evenings on end! This is something I cannot comprehend! Please, for the love of all that is good and pure in this sad little world of ours, don't let this drag on for months as some are predicting! Give us our first-runs back!!! Thank you for your prompt attention in this matter.

PS...I'm with the writers on this one. I realize that this could cause me much pain if it continues, but I do think it's only right that they are fairly compensated for their work in all areas of revenue. That's my two cents, anyway!

Christmas (music) comes early...

Now, I am not one to start the Christmas festivities too early--I'm a fan of my birthday AND Thanksgiving, both of which come before--but I must say that, when I learned that Josh Groban had FINALLY recorded a Christmas CD, I rushed out to buy it! I've been waiting for this for years now!! So, sad as it is, if you happen to see me on the road, suffice it to say that you will probably catch me listening to some Christmas tunes a month too early. . .I mean, it's Josh Groban, people!!

Day 3: pics from Josh and Ashley's wedding

My cousin Josh married this beautiful girl named Ashley--who's WAY out of his league, if you ask me! ;)--this summer and I realized that I never posted any of the pics from our trip. So, here are some pics from the trip!

Grayson and Erica before the service...and right before a very active Grayson went to meet his new cousin Mikey in the back!

Josh (the groom) with his nephew Jackson and Uncle Donald in the background.

I wasn't a shutterbug during the ceremony, so I'm afraid those are all of the pics from the ceremony. The rest are really just us entertaining ourselves at the reception. I've tried to limit those to spare the innocent (which would be you, my dear readers!)

Grayson being his jolly self at the reception.

My Uncle Warren showing his better side...and if you think this pic is weird, I'll spare you from the REALLY interesting ones that he took! My family has a warped sense of humor! ha!

Erica in rare (?) form...with Damon looking on in the background and probably wondering what he's gotten himself into! ha!

Warren teaching Grayson how to play with fire.

More playing with fire while Aunt Frieda looks on.

My Uncle Donald...I really look up to him!

The happy couple! Aren't they cute?!

It was a really fun trip, and I'd like to thank Josh and Ashley for getting married so that we could visit again so soon--that's twice in less than a year, I'd like to point out!

We enjoyed visiting with other people who aren't pictured here like Phillip, Jenny, Mikey, and Aunt Debbie...but I really didn't take very many pictures (and I'm not sure what's ok to post on their end), so I didn't get a very good representation of the fam. Sorry guys! Maybe next visit!

Day 2 and already out of ideas!

Hmmmmm...this posting everyday thing used to be a breeze! What happened?! I guess I'm just out of practice. I did find something the other day that might be of interest to any LOST fans out there!

http://dispatchesfromtheisland.blogspot.com/

It's Jorge Garcia (Hurley)'s blog. He doesn't give away any plot spoilers (by way of contractual obligations, I assume) but it's fun to see what the other side blogs about! Enjoy!

abandon...sweet and otherwise

Ok, so I was chastised today for my lack of blogging. I don't even think anyone (other than Lynette, the said chastiser) even reads this anymore, but I am repenting of my lack of blogging by committing to a full month of blogging fun! That's right, I commit to posting every day in the glorious month of November...so let's see how long THAT will last!

For my November 1st post, I have pictures of Grayson in his Halloween costume! Enjoy!

A cheery pirate, he is!

Arrrrgggghhhhh!

Damon got in on the act!

Damon and Grayson playing around.

An impromptu Shakespearean performance, mayhaps?

Hey, Pirates like to look good!

in my humble opinion...

SOMEONE needs to tell the Jolie-Pitt conglomerate that they need to slow their roll! Now, perhaps you have a different opinion, and you are perfectly entitled to that opinion--so go write about it on your own blog--but I'm kinda tired of hearing these two talk about having children like they're collecting webkinz or something! As reported in an article on people.com, "When asked by Italian state TV if he and partner Angelina Jolie were ready for a fifth child, Pitt replied: 'Yeah, we're ready.'" What?! Can someone please remind Brad that they already have four kids! And has anyone stopped to add up the months in between each of these new additions: Jolie adopted Maddox in March, 2002; three years later, she adopts Zahara in July 2005; 10 months later, Shiloh is born in May, 2006; 10 months later they adopt Pax in March 2007...other than the gap between the first and second, that's only a 10-month stretch! Most mothers I know would have had a stroke by this point! It MUST be nice to have nannies!

Ok, I have no problem with the idea that the Jolie-Pitts are genuine, open-hearted people who want to create a loving environment for international orphans and the like, but they aren't running an orphanage, they're adopting these kids--taking on the responsibility of raising them to become mature, reasonably normal adults. I guess my burning question is how do they give each of these children the nurturing and attention that they need from both their mother and their father? Yes, children often grow up in much less desirable environments, but ole' Brad and Angie are choosing to live and raise these children as a couple--a Hollywood couple, at that. Yes, rich people have been letting other people raise their children for hundreds of years, but those are generally the children that they choose to bring into the world. The J-P's are choosing to create this environment and then hiring other people to make it all happen. I am having trouble seeing their benevolence as anything other than the newest collecting trend among the rich and eccentric.

The report goes on to say, "Brad Pitt says that with four children, 'sleep is non-existent' and some days fatherhood is a roller coaster ride." How in the world do they expect anyone to believe that, if one of the children cries out in the night, Brad is the one who jumps up to calm the tears?! When do you ever see ole' Angie trying to wrestle all four kids into the family mini-van so that she can get Maddox to school on time?! OH, and where in the world is Maddox in school? They're in a different state every other week...and Angie's off in Iraq!

"It's the most fun I have ever had and also the biggest pain in the ass I have ever experienced," [Brad] told reporters at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday. "(But) I love it and I can't recommend it any more highly." Well sure, Brad...I'm sure everyone would love to be a father when they want to...and then hand them off to the nannies when it's time to go play cards with Clooney and the boys! bleh...

[Please note: this is only MY humble, uneducated opinion based on info I'm getting from People.com and Entertainment Tonight! I have not thoroughly researched the effects of stacking up kids like cordwood and hiring a hoard of people to care for them so that you can jet-set off to Venice and Hollywood for glamorous film-festival after glamorous film festival. I'm sure the kids are fine...and living in much better digs than I ever will!]