Book Commercials & Misanthropic Observations

Nothing new under the sun

I keep telling myself: self, you are young. Probably none of this legalistic overreaction is new. While it seems to be everywhere, it is not really taking over, overshadowing grace. God is in control.

I try to remember past furor over pop culture items, - Disney, this or that apocryphal fairy tale. See, no monster, it’s gone now, honey. The daVinci code did not somehow wipe the truth of Jesus from the face of the earth like we American evangelicals feared…

(oh! and remember the anti-rock rock concerts of the 80’s complete with altar call? Rumor has it that they are the only reason my generation did not run around biting the heads off a dove in the streets. Thank you, Thank you, anti-rock youth leader!)

Evan Almighty is not some boogeyman who will to tear down through humor the Holy Majesty that is God. It’s the latest thing, and looks kinda cute. That’s all.

I haven’t seen it yet, Yvonne Larson did. She said the animals were fascinating to watch and it was fun. And clean. And I believe she didn’t lose her faith either.

And really, come on- I think Noah really had to have a sense of humor, Much like the one that develops in moms as they live daily in the trenches. You don’t think what he did has as many opportunities for humor? He was a friend of God- that makes joy, people. I’m guessing from the fact that he liked wine that he was not some dour, austere moldy figure.

Went to the Zoo yesterday

I took photos in the butterfly gardens- Wow- that Canon G7 takes great macro photos.

I had an even better time in the Family Farm. The goat petting area was just a riot. While 2 goats looking to be fed or pet, one was trying to eat my camera, and another chewing on my shorts. I called Paul laughing, (I usually go alone on a Monday) and counted 17 baby goats for him. I can’t wait to bring him, although we’ll have to go on a weekend and it will be way busier. It was wonderful!

Why I exercise

Vanity is a powerful force and has given me many skills I would not have bothered with for any other reason; I can sew simply because I want something specific, I can pop in my contacts without holding my eyes open with my other hand because I’m sure that will cause wrinkles (Paul is amazed by that one), and I can walk without twisting an ankle in any shoe, no matter how uncomfortable, if they look good and match the outfit.

However, not even my own vanity has been able to make me consistently drag my butt onto the wonderful treadmill we have in our home. I sometimes look at my skinny legs and poochy belly and dream of being buff, but apparently I don’t want it enough to actually WORK at it.

But, one reason has worked: I am not a friendly person. This brain of mine seems to fall naturally to being cynical and solitary. Where I run into a wall is when I consider what God is calling me to. And you and I both know it’s not misanthropy, as much as I wish it were.

The fact that “I’m Just That Way” doesn’t cut it. I have to be different – even if it’s not natural. So if I’m gonna take this expectation seriously, I need all the help I can get to snap out of this mood.

Exercise appears to affect brain chemistry and brain cells in much the same way, perhaps exactly the same way, as antidepressant medications. See study results below. My point here is that if this can put me in a better mood, well, I have a better chance at being a little nicer. You smell what I’m stepping in?

(Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC - One hundred fifty-six men and women with MDD – Major depressive Disorder - were assigned randomly to a program of aerobic exercise, antidepressants (sertraline hydrochloride), or combined exercise and medication. RESULTS: After 16 weeks of treatment, the groups did not differ statistically on HAM-D or BDI scores (P = .67); CONCLUSIONS: Although antidepressants may facilitate a more rapid initial therapeutic response than exercise, after 16 weeks of treatment exercise was equally effective in reducing depression among patients with MDD.)

Adventures in Sewing

I should have taken a picture- This was so great. Alas, my automatic response was to attack it with a seam ripper and start over.

I was all set to wear a new skirt today. All I had to do was add the zipper. You should know that zippers are ALWAYS funny for me. I invariably insert them backwards, sometimes upside down. This Time it was PERFECT. I zipped it together and opened the skirt, and I had somehow attached one side of the zipper to the bottom hem of the skirt instead of the other side of the side seam.

5 daisies in a teacup

Paulers brought me flowers yesterday. He picked a quintet of daisies from our field and put them in a teacup from our seriously underused china set, the one Mommers bought for me as a teenager. they all fall to one side and look so cheery. They are on my desk right now. Fantastically sweet. I like them very much.

Dear big black stray cat,

This is public notice that the 2.5 acres surrounding my owner’s home, and anything else I can see from the front window, for that matter, is my property. You think I am stuck in this little fenced in area - well I’m not. I could get out any time. I am the boss, I just happen to like it in here.

You may not make your home in our pine tree. You think you are so smart – you climb right up your safe little tree every time I come out the front door at lightning speed. If you are so smart, how come you are missing your tail?

I am fast, cat. I am like a thief in the night. I will get you one day. Muhuhhahahahaa.

Signed, Spud

Things I don’t blog about but want to

See rule: Q. what to do when you think “should I really say that?” A. Don’t.

1. Family frustrations – cuz this can be printed or read by ANYBODY
2. Work – see reason # 1
3. Paul and I have been discussing whether or not to navigate the adoption process AGAIN. – without the whole long history anything I would have to say about me being a mother sounds, well, cold and unwomanly. I don’t feel like being told again that I should be clinically depressed that I don’t have children. I’m not. There you go.

I grieved before- HARD. Poor Larry Szyman got the brunt of my venom. Why not Paul, you may ask? Because grieving with him, for me, felt like reminding him what he was missing.

But I’m done now. I believe it’s a blessing for God to give you contentment, not a curse.

Dear Uncle Jeffrey

I was thinking about you today. I realized that never, since you began dating Kelli on to this day, have I ever felt that you were anything less than happy to see me. I know you are not superhuman and so I can guess that on at least one of these occasions you had something big on your mind, or were struggling with a lack of patience. I bet once or twice you just didn’t have the extra strength to be thrilled to see the teenager that called you “U.J.” But you took the time to ask me about my day or life or whatever is going on.

You accepted Paul with the same genuine interest in our lives. He has never once felt like you were not glad he walked in the room.

Even now, when you are on an errand, like stopping in to pick up a music packet at church, you take the 12 extra steps to come into my office and say “hi” even though you could slip by and I would have never known.

You are not blind; you know who’s mad at who or who did what in the family dynamic. And you never seem to let it color your reactions. You are a peacemaker and a bridge builder.

I think that Alex has always felt the same way. Accepted and loved by you year in and year out.

Thanks.

Hannah the Trail Forger

Hannah Banana’s picture book is done. I ordered 2 so Hannah and Mom & Dad could each have a copy. Supposed to be shipped by July 12th so it looks like it’ll be here for her grad party.

here is the link to see the book online(Warning- long time to load at first)

I know some, like Laurie Green, use Snapfish, (we got our christmas cards from Snapfish, I like it too) but I really prefer MyPublisher for books because it’s a program download and you can create the book offline and upload it when you are done.

just for the record

I’m only about 1/2 way through “the possessed”. I know, what’s the deal? I read, like, 3 books a week. But I got over my mini-depression and didn’t feel the need for the immersion in Russian names anymore. I think I got distracted by something shiny, a penny or something.

I’ll get back to it when it’s right… Golly I love books- they are such wonderful things. Isn’t life fun, you guys? Maybe I’m just in a good mood because I just heard David Bowie sing “under pressure” on VH1.