Forget avatars...now you can be an M&M!

It's me! Neat, neat fun!! Try it out!

external motivators

Everybody loves the lofty ideals that are at the base of intrinsic motivators--to know that you're doing something because you love it on some deep, soul-satisfying level, or because at it's essence, this activity or behavior is leading to a higher quality of life. Heck, it's the stuff of blockbuster movies and best-selling novels! But we all know that intrinsic motivators aren't always enough, otherwise we'd stop at red lights and obey speed limits because it feels so good to do so, and we'd pay all of our bills on time because it fulfills some deep emotional level in our souls.

Yeah, I'm afraid to say that external motivators are here to stay because it becomes exhausting to live with our fingers on the pulse of our deep psychological needs. Rules are easier. Negative consequences, while ugly and hard to accept, are often larger motivators than simply doing things for the right reasons...and no, I'm not making some big argument for legalism vs. grace.

What I'm talking about here is dieting! I'm awful at it and I need to get a whole lot better. There have been times when it's not been as hard. I've psyched myself up and developed a plan and a system--and I achieved modest results. But it's so much easier to fall into not doing anything, and so often I have. Part of my problem is, while I realize the intrinsic benefits that come with exercising and losing weight, I don't have any extrinsic motivators that are strong enough to kick-start my psyche into action...until now! I've made a 25-week dieting and exercise pact with a dear friend and I created my own external motivator: a haircut! If I don't lose a rather significant amount of weight (the amount of which is known only to her and a few others) by December 21, 2007, I will have to submit to a boy-short haircut! Yikes!


I realize that this may not sound so awful to boys and women who have embraced the short haircut, but for one who's instructions to her hairdresser always include the stipulation, "it needs to be long enough to pull into a pony-tail," this consequence invokes pure terror! And so now I have my external motivator--and a friend who will hold me to it--and I'm raring to go!! So look for me at Christmas...a good bit thinner with flowing locks, OR chunky and boy-short! It scares me just to think of it...I'll leave you with a parting shot for visual reference (although I have a feeling that the look won't be quite as cute on me as it is on Natalie Portman!)

I'm no Jay Leno, but...

When did orange juice become a dairy product?!

Bar-be-que: ordained by God?!

Verses I found after a recent search on BibleGateway.com:

Exodus 29:18Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Exodus 29:25Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Exodus 29:41Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Leviticus 1:13He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:17He shall tear it open by the wings, not severing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Now, is it just me, or does it seem like the LORD likes the smell of a good bar-be-que?! And apparently, he prefers his well-done. ;) [Please know that I mean no disrespect...it's just what I always think of when I read those passages about burnt offering...and ya know, since we were made in His image...]

huh?

Ok, I have no real interest in the details of this particular story, but I loved the title so I thought I'd link it for fun!

Brown favors Green over White

...those colors just never seem to get along, do they! ha!

random funniness

Ok, I'm sure you know (or have figured out by this point) that I enjoy good, random humor--unique and interesting ways to be funny in a positive yet up-beat manner. Well, I have stumbled upon yet another new item of random funniness today: Improv Everywhere

Here's the 'about me' info from the site:

Improv Everywhere causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Created in August of 2001 by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere has executed over 60 missions involving hundreds of undercover agents. The group is based in New York City.

My favorites thus far have been Best Buy , Slo-mo Home Depot and Best Gig Ever.

the first day of summer...for me, anyway

This is it! School ended yesterday and now I have arrived at those glorious lazy days of summer that I've heard so much about over the last several years. No rushing off to camp this year! (I would have been there for four days already--deep in the midst of bonding and planning--had I worked this summer.) Not to worry. I have plenty to keep me busy and the uncertainty of potential unemployment or a big move looming in the distance. But for now, I think not of that. I appreciate the fact that school is OVER and my time is my own...sort of. ;) [No, that is not ME in that hammock. This picture is just representative of the plans I have for the summer...first on the list: get a hammock!]

So what might you imagine my life is like now that the days of summer have begun? Well, around 2am I am awakened by strange dreams of having messed up while grading my 7th graders' final exams to find that I have heartburn (ugh!)...so I stumble to the dark bathroom, chew on a few of those awful, chalky flavored wafers (a side question: why do they flavor those things? is ANY flavor going be appealing if your stomach isn't feeling well???) and return to bed, planning to sleep until I wake up naturally...something I rarely have the luxury to do. And so after a period of lovely, restful dozing, I awaken imagining it to be oh, probably 8:30 or 9am by this point. I hear birds chirping; the sunlight is streaming through my dinky mini-blinds. My curiosity as to the time finally gets the better of me and I open my eyes to look: 7:20am!! ugh! And then I'm almost simultaneously struck by another awful realization: My throat is sore. It figures! My first day of freedom and I wake up early and with a sore throat. Blah.

So far these lazy days of summer haven't been so glorious to me! Perhaps they'll get better...perhaps not, but for the moment they are mine. A glorious paid summer off. And do not ever let anyone fool you. These long breaks are not for the students. They are so that the teachers can forget why they were on the verge of resigning before the break!

every new beginning...

'every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end'

It's a line from an over-played song by Semisonic circa 1999, but while the song is out of vogue--forgotten, along with a plethora of other songs that are relegated to the dungeon of non-peak play lists--the sentiment is timeless. Graduation was last night. It was our school's first graduation. And while it was beautiful and special, I can't help but be a little melancholy today as I think back over the last three years and recognize all that has brought us to this point.

I started teaching at Highland as a last-minute replacement for a middle/high school math position that had become vacant at the end of the first quarter. My initial encounter with the then 10th graders was probably less than warm. They were not happy about the turn of events that brought me to the school, and--according to Hanna--they had planned to dislike me from the start. I was stressed out about teaching Geometry, so I really didn't pick up on the coolness of the group, and, as I was a close friend of their class sponsor, I tagged along on many of their fundraisers and outings. I guess they eventually came to accept me and we all survived that year of Geometry.

And then the next year I transitioned into teaching English and Bible. I was their Apologetics teacher and as we had a very open curriculum, the class gave us wonderful opportunities to plumb the depths of many ponderous mysteries--mainly those of God and boys. I continued to participate in those fundraisers and we went to NYC that spring. Now, you haven't really been to NYC until you've been there with a group of 16-year-old girls...and Aggie! Truly one of the most memorable experiences of my life!

And then this year they were seniors. I had a mixed class of juniors and seniors for Speech I--a class that no one wanted to take! Gone were the days of in-depth conversation which could be considered class discussion. We now had a defined subject matter and a classroom infiltrated by another group. With a larger group and some serious cases of senioritis, we lost some of the camaraderie of before. No princess parties to commiserate over. No trip itineraries to plan. It was par-for-the-course, so to speak. Relationships ebb and flow, and I thought it a natural separation as these girls began to plan for the next phase of their lives.

And then came graduation. I expected to be more emotional about the whole thing, but I had a camera in my hands and I was more concerned with preserving memories than I was about processing them. I listened to speeches and presentations with the ear of a speech teacher and I watched it all with the eyes of a photographer. I was excited to see them in their caps and gowns. I was amazed to see Brittney looking out at the crowd as she gave her speech. I laughed at this ridiculously entertaining German in his Italian suit as he talked of his upcoming debate with the guest speaker. (Becca's gonna be the only one who gets that.) I hurriedly ate my meal and chatted with co-workers and then I wandered around the restaurant snapping pictures of the chatty family and friends of the graduates.

And then I brought the film in to be developed. As I looked through the pictures, I was struck with a bittersweet reality--it's over. We are now at 'some other beginning's end'. They've graduated. They're moving on to exciting new beginnings. They will never all be together again as they have been...and for a group of five girls who have been in school together since elementary school, that's a big deal. And while I'm sure that each of them will be successful in the days and years ahead, I still grieve for the days and years left behind. Time is such an interesting concept. You cannot speed it up, you cannot slow it down, and it will not be stopped. I just wish that it came with a pause button! Change is exciting and surprising and a necessity, I know...but it involves some growing pains and loss that catch me by surprise from time to time.

So to the class of 2007, I will remember you...

• every time I see a Louis Vuitton purse


• every time I hale a cab


• every time I see a crystal tiara


• every time I hear The Prayer


• every time I eat an airplane biscotti cookie


• every time I avoid a geometry proof ;)


• every time I see a little Chinese man fall through a wall (...hopefully never again!)


• every time I wear camo


• every time I see Christmas decorations


• every time I eat a 'Big Bertha' or a Caramel Cream


• every time I hear Wicked or Phantom


• every time I read Donald Miller


• every time I see prom dresses


• every time I run into Brittney's future husband!!


• every time I encounter a group of girls as diverse as can be, but who still know and love each other like sisters

...in short, I will think of you often! I love you!!

an open letter to the seniors of 2007

a few months ago i had some deep thoughts regarding that annual launch into the real world that our little bunch of seniors (along with many others) will be experiencing in the next few weeks. this was the result. i post it here just because it's something that i enjoyed writing and i wanted to share.

Ok, here it is…Hintze’s long-winded letter of unsolicited advice and admonition! You had to know it was coming!! I tease, but please know that I’ve been writing this letter for a while now. It is a composition that has grown in my heart over a vast multitude of experiences—some directly related to you and others of a personal nature—that have caused me to pause and ponder the deeper significance of the new and exciting opportunities you will face as you graduate and enter a different stage of life. So without further ado, here is that unsolicited advice!

First of all, I encourage you to develop relationships with your professors and then work to make them proud. We will strive to blossom in the light of those to whom we admire and recognize as people of significance in our lives. One of the most dangerous choices you can make is to stay on the side-lines and look for ways to do the bare minimum. Yes, you will find that the route of mediocrity has it’s immediate benefits, but you will rob yourself of the rich feeling of a job well-done and eventually, that habit of mediocrity will combine to launch you into a mediocre job in a field where you will then have to exercise long-atrophied muscles in an attempt to climb a ladder of increasing opportunity. Whereas, if you strive at the little things—that first big paper or project in your chosen field, shooting for the high ‘A’ rather than the minimum requirement in your field ‘C’, making a dedicated effort to work far enough ahead of time so that you can sleep the whole night when something is due the next day—you will earn the respect of people who are in positions to advise and direct you and to recommend you highly when the time comes. And yes, perhaps you may still land that mediocre job, but you will be far more prepared to climb that same ladder where better opportunities are waiting.

Remember that, if you are a Christian, you are always a representative of Christ. If you are kind and sincerely helpful to a fellow classmate who is struggling with the course, gracious to a rude graduate student, or dignified in a heated class discussion, you represent Christ. If you are easily swayed into trying “new things” that you know you should abstain from, curled over the edge of the nearest waste-holding receptacle in your body’s effort to right itself after an evening of over-indulgence, or develop a reputation as a very friendly, helpful girl amongst the guys in your circle but find yourself at the sharp end of every gal-pal’s tongue, you represent Christ. Being a Christian does not hinder your ability to make your own decisions because we are all given the free will to choose how we will behave in every instance. Being a Christian means you should desire to make those choices in a way that will glorify the One through whom you claim Life. You can and will make mistakes, but your mistakes should be innocent in their intent. Be on guard, because Satan can use a new “church” friend just as easily as he can the hard-partying frat boy. Some of his efforts will be more obvious than others.

The world has developed a sense of what Christianity is based on the people who claim to represent its values. Oftentimes, those people only represent particular ideals that they naively believe to be biblical rather than seeking to represent the One to whom they claim relationship. Show your world the authenticity of a true relationship with Christ in such a way that they will notice that even though you claim the same Christ, you behave in a very different manner. In order to do that, you must know for yourself how Christ behaved and then seek to actively model that behavior. He did not shrink away from those of lowly profession or design, but neither did he engage in the deviant behavior of others in a way to “connect.” He stood as one of compassionate strength in the face of embarrassing weakness, and he stood as one of uncompromising integrity in the face of misapplied religious intolerance. He was gracious with those who recognized their errors and adamant against those who sought to mangle the Truth that he came to fulfill. He was an advocate for the down-trodden and the mighty hand of judgment for those who used religion to judge. Seek to emulate Him in ALL you do.

Finally, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).” Wise words from Paul—a man repeatedly tested in his faith and who had every right to harbor bitterness and seek revenge. Choose peace—a peace that comes from doing the right thing; a peace that recognizes the trials of life, but chooses not to succumb to the cowardice and self-loathing that come with compromise. There will be times when you will be falsely accused, discriminated against, and rejected, but let these experiences be an act of pruning rather than a source of bitterness.

I love you dearly and I will always hold a special place in my heart for each of you. I pray God’s blessings and favor upon your lives and I hope that you continue to recognize His guidance as you grow and mature. You are beautiful young ladies with such promise…I look forward to the day when I’m able to see the fruition of the hopes and dreams you carry today. The choices that you will make in the next few years are significant—make them wisely and with much prayer.

I leave you with the words of Peter, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Ptr 3:18)”

Blessings,
Beth Hintze

long time no see!!

no, i have not forgotten that i have a blog. yes, i do miss blogging. i still find myself composing potential posts in my head from time to time. my absence has been a forced hiatus of sorts. i just have not had the time these days...well, "not having the time" is not truly accurate. i'm still finding the time to watch LOST and Grey's Anatomy pretty religiously. i got a new camera that i've been having fun playing with. i just found a new nail color that i'm loving something fierce so now i have really cute toes!

i guess it's better to say that i've been mentally removing a few irons from the fire. blogging is fun, but when i'm creating a bevy of notes and assignments and tests, and then doing contract editing in the meantime, my words are maxed out--and no commenting from the peanut gallery! ;) i'm only blogging now because i'm looking for a way to procrastinate a little before going back to work! yep, too many irons in the fire. hopefully, things will be easing up soon. school is finished on May 25th. I'm not working camp for the first time in SIX years, so i plan to spend the time catching up on the contract work and enjoying the down time. i'm still not sure what will happen this fall with regard to jobs and where i'll be living and all, but i don't need to decide any of that in the next two weeks, so i won't worry about it now.

i just wanted to say hi and apologize to my one reader for abandoning my blog! i'll do better this summer, i promise!

Is anyone else addicted?

I'm one of the millions who have Google as my Internet default page and recently I've made it my own and I must say I've quickly become addicted to the how-to of the day! The topics range from the helpful to the truly bizarre. I've read about finding the ideal apartment and planning a trip to Europe, and then there appears to be a whole bunch of tips for having and creating an appealing environment for your pet rock. And yes, as a matter of fact I have managed to whittle wasting time down to a fine art!

They don't call it "going postal" for nothing!

I think my postman hates me and I'm not really sure why. True, I've never done the "Christmas bonus" stuff that the etiquette books say we should do for everyone-and-their-mother, but I have never seen the guy (or gal? as I've never seen him/her, I have no clue!) and isn't a paycheck payment enough? It's not like I get a bonus--and I'm busy shaping young, impressionable minds all day long! Anyway, I digress... But is that one seasonal etiquette faux pas enough to deserve mangled mail all year long?? Seriously. I do have one of those ridiculously small apartment boxes...but I'm thinking, so do alot of people! And does their mail get treated so poorly? I'm pretty good about clearing my box out on a daily basis, but I do go out of town from time to time, so in the matter of a couple of days the junk mail really starts to stack up...but there are no stacks! It's like he/she just jams the new stuff in behind the day-old stuff so that I can see it all in a rather misshapened chronological order. Sometimes it looks like he/she has literally balled the letter up and shoved it in there! I've actually had a cd broken in this process...and has anyone ever tried to call the post office to complain?! Yeah, don't bother. And then this morning I hear the truck back up to the building and then I hear a loud thud. Thinking that a truck has hit the building, I stick my head out of the door to find that I have a package on my mat. No one walked up to my second story apt. to place this at my door. No, the postal person chunked it at my door from the ground level! Is that not a little scary???

Wisdom of the ages

My aunt Sussie took this picture at Thanksgiving. This is my Pawpaw with two of his great-grandchildren--Grayson and Austin. I ran across this while I was looking for something else, and I love it, so I thought I'd post it.

uncanny

Ok, this really only applies to people who 1)actually read my blog, 2)live in Lafayette, and 3) watch Grey's Anatomy AND watch the evening news on KATC...so that's pretty much Brian and Erica, as far as I know! ...but have you noticed the uncanny resemblance between KATC's Julia Kelley and Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) on Grey's Anatomy?! I do say that kinda tongue-in-cheek, but the hair is especially reminiscent. These aren't the best pics for comparison but they've both been doing the hot-roller hair lately and I must say that they both have good hair! Feel free to chime in!

classmates

I'm taking a continuing ed. intro to photography class this spring (nothing to report yet. the weather has been miserable and tonight was my second class. i'll post assignment pics if it ever stops raining so that i can get out! anyway, i digress...) and the class contains 29 adults and Uzi Tenenbaum! I will have a stroke if this kid comes to class in a red warm-up suit! He's also one of those annoyingly vocal kids (now, not all vocal kids are annoying, but the ones who think they're cute are!) who likes to tell pointless stories in a room full of adults. Ah, gotta love public education! ;)

if you're looking for a nifty little time waster...

check this out! :)

reflections on 2006

as this year is still pretty new, i don't think it will mind if i pause for a moment to randomly reflect on the last 365 days. most of this won't make sense to most of you, but as this is a personal reflection, i guess you're just kinda along for the ride! ;)

• having nephews is fun!
• a year that starts out rough can still turn into a pretty good thing by the end
• Grey's Anatomy can have a tremendous influence on one's musical interests
• setting up the ipod is no guarantee that actual exercise will follow (...but that was my plan!!)
• you can have the best of intentions and still be a crumby friend
• camp is a lot of fun even when you're 30...and your camp friends are always the most exciting...and the most random
• traumatic events, while awful at the moment, don't always lead to death...sometimes they lead to life! (...or at least I hope so)
• roadtrips are always an adventure...i wish i'd have taken a few more
• i love the mountains!
• people can have high-flown ideals and godly callings...and still come off as manipulative and self-serving...experience and perspective are truly double-edged swords
• i got lots of compliments as a brunette...but i still prefer being a blond
• if your tv seems to be going out, be sure you check the $10 cable before shelling out the $$$ for a new one! (and making your poor brother-in-law haul it up to your second floor apartment for you!)
• knowing your way around New York City has it's ups and downs
• if you find something that you REALLY want, you should get it then instead of waiting and figuring that you'll be able to find it again later...because chances are, you won't and then you'll always think of it as the one that got away!
• Chinatown is a dangerous place! ;)
• film SLR cameras are lots of fun
• sometimes you only get one shot...and you have to be ready to take it when it comes
• good books make themselves known in the strangest of ways sometimes
• sometimes it's easier to know what you don't want, than to figure out what you do!
• you can have profiles on myspace and facebook and still feel disconnected
• feeling significant has little to do with how much the people around you seem to value you--knowing that God has placed you here--in these circumstances, with these quirks and foibles--for such a time as this (...whatever that might be) and knowing that HE sees you and that HE will sustain you is where you find true significance.
• executing a tyrannical leader does little to wipe out tyranny in the world
• consumer-driven philanthropy is a CROCK! (i'm gonna be blogging about this soon because it drives me absolutely nuts!!) if you want to give, then GIVE...it shouldn't be about what you get in exchange!
• those who find beauty in ugliness are truly blessed in this world. and we should learn to look beyond the seemingly repulsive surface to see the beauty of God's creation.

i'm sure there is more...2006 has been a full year! i'm excited to see what 2007 has in store!

Me...the budding photographer ;)

I took these pics for Erica and Damon the weekend after Thanksgiving, but she wouldn't let me post them because she was giving some of them for Christmas presents...so now i can finally post them!! (They're scanned from 4x6 prints.) I am having lots of fun with my Aunt Sussie's old Cannon AE-1 Film SLR camera! (I don't know what I'm doing, so I'm always excited when the pics turn out well!!)

Grayson actually looked AT the camera and said "cheeeeessssseeee"!!!

I believe it was THE only time he actually looked at the camera the whole time!

Grayson hasn't quite started walking on his own yet, but he loves to toddle around with help. I just thought this was a cute, candid pic.

Damon, Grayson, and Erica
Christmas 2006

He was always more interested in what was going on somewhere else, so this was a common occurance. We just thought it made for a neat shot.

I love the colors in the stones and columns in this shot.

And here Grayson looks like an old cajun man telling a story. He's a hand-talker, for sure!

just one more day...

yes, we ARE still in school! Crazy, i know! And we're all feeling it, but just one more day to go and then two glorious weeks (plus weekends)!!! i just felt like sharing that. i feel quite neglegent in my blogging and i'm sure i've lost my one dear reader, but perhaps i'll pick it back up over the break. tonight i'm getting together with my lovely friend Joni. Kyle, Katie and David are coming in on Friday night and we might hang out a little this weekend. ;) Grayson turned one this week (on the 20th). We had a birthday party for him Sunday. I'll post pics as soon as I have them on my computer...which will be whenever I figure out where I put my camera! ok, this is quite random and very boring, so I'll stop now.

Apparently, the world no longer lay in sin and error pining

Il Divo was on Oprah the other day performing the song, "O Holy Night." I wasn't paying much attention but I was following the song in my head and I thought something sounded off, so I backed it up on my handy ole' DVR and watched a little more carefully. I was right. Something WAS missing! They jumped from the dear Savior's birth straight to a thrill of hope with nary a pause! I was prepared to rip Il Divo a new one as I googled their lyrics to the song but I found this:

"O Holy Night"

[Urs:]

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.

[David:]

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

[Carlos:]

A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

[Sebastien:]

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine, oh night when Christ was born; etc.

So apprently it's Oprah who doesn't like the idea of recognizing that the world lay in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. Hmmmmm...how interesting!