Amy's World of Random Thoughts

SXSW Recap and Clips

2010-05-30T21:44:00.002-05:00

As you know it's been 2 1/2 months since SXSW 2010, but I'm still processing everything I saw and heard.

As you know, my first night I saw Leaves of Grass. Here's a trailer. And here are part one and part two of the q&a following the screening. Last I heard it was releasing wide in July. I'll definitely be seeing it again. By the way, I missed Kick Ass, because it screen at the same time, but I've since seen it and it rocks!! (Here are the words of Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz at their panel.)

Saturday, March 13, my first full day, I started off the day gently... with blood and gore at the Directing the Dead: Genre Directors Spill Their Guts panel. Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth were supposed to be there, but they ditched at the last minute, even though hundreds of people had already been waiting for hours to get into the panel. Those guys have class. But, since Tarantino wasn't there, the other directors actually got a chance to speak, which was awesome! Ti West, Ruben Fleischer (his Zombieland is awesome!), Scott Weinberg, Matt Reeves, Robert Rodriguez, Neil Marshall were great speakers. Here are clips of the panel. 1 2 By far, my favorite part of the panel was this section where Matt Reeves talks about being true to source material when making adaptations. Also, I got to speak to Ti West later in the day at another panel, and he was very friendly and kind. All in all, a great experience.

My next panel of the day was The Kids Are Alright: Jay and Mark Duplass Plus. Their film Cyrus showed later that night. The Duplass brothers direct is a way that is completely opposite of how I like to direct. They know the goals of each scene, but the dialogue, mood, pace, and blocking of a scene changes dramatically from take to take. I like to plan every angle and every shot, but I did like the idea of casting actors you can trust and giving them freedom to be creative and spontaneous and allowing them to use their intuition and stretch their acting muscles. Cyrus, the story of a single mother (Marissa Tomei), her new boyfriend (John C. Reilly), and her clingy grown son (Jonah Hill) was amazing - both surprisingly touching and surprisingly funny. It opens on June 18. Go see it! (Here's the trailer.) My favorite part of the screening, though, was during the q&a when Jonah Hill heckled the audience for not asking good enough questions! Hilarious! (For the whole Q&A, see 1 2 3 4 5)

Also that day, I saw the short Star Wars: Retold, where a girl who has never seen any of the Star Wars movies gives her analysis of the films based on the bits she's seen. So funny!! This was a warm-up to The People Vs. George Lucas which was a brilliant documentary full of great interviews detailing the amazing rise of George Lucas' fandom, and then their spectacular turn on him. Definitely check it out. Also, if you like Star Wars, check out Saber, starring two of my Twitter "friends"- Rileah Vanderbilt (the brunette) and Clare Grant, (the blonde) who is now Mrs. Seth Green. Awesome!

Sunday, March 14, I went to some interesting panels, but, by far, the highlight of the day was the Jeffrey Tambor acting workshop. (SXSW hasn't posted a clip of this panel, but here's a bit of the '08 workshop.)

The feature I saw that night wasn't very good, but the short before it, Always a Bride, was hilarious!

Monday, March 15, I went to two of my favorite panels, but neither are posted online. One was how to use storyboards in direction, and the other was how to plan for sound ahead of shooting. I wish I could share! March 15 is a sad anniversary for me, so I went home early that night to watch Chuck and go to bed early.

Tuesday, March 16, began with the MacGruber panel. I didn't see the film, but the panel was awesome! (Including a fun NSFW cameo by Seth Meyers.) I also really enjoyed the Filmmaker War Stories panel.

That evening, I saw World Peace & Other 4th Grade Achievements, which was outstanding. It's preceding short, Diplomacy, was also outstanding. That was a really good session.

Wednesday, March 17, was my last day of SXSW, but I ended with two great films, and by meeting one of my favorite singer/actresses! The first film was a documentary called For the Sake of the Song: the Story of Anderson Fair, and it chronicled the life of an amazing music venue in Houston. I wanted to see it because Lyle Lovett, one of my favorites, was interviewed in it, and I walked away with a deeper understanding of Texas music and a desire to go to this place myself someday.

The second film of the night was Get Low, the story of an old man (Robert Duvall) who wants to cause a stir and maybe find a bit of redemption in his final days. Sissy Spacek plays his old friend and former sister-in-law, and her daughter, Schuyler Fisk, is one of my favorite musicians and actresses. Since I'm apparently all bold now, I approached her, told her how much I loved her music, and asked to take a picture. I admit, I wasn't quite as cool as when I approached Edward Norton, I was maybe a little enthusiastic, but she was very gracious.

All in all, it was another great festival, and I am already making plans for 2011. Wanna come? :)

Leaves of Grass and Baby Steps

2010-03-13T01:13:00.001-06:00

Tonight was the first night of SXSW 2010. For my first film of the festival, I chose to see Leaves of Grass, which was written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson and stars Edward Norton (as twins), Tim Blake Nelson, Keri Russell, and Melanie Lynskey. I have deep respect for all of these actors, so it was the obvious choice for the evening.

I arrived over an hour before the screening, but became worried when I saw the 100 or so people who were already in line. I was in the last group to be let into the lobby, and almost didn't make it inside. I was third in line, behind a pair of friends, when the usher came out and said that there was only one seat left. Rather than be separated, these lovely ladies decided to give me the one remaining seat, since I was alone. I have been praying since then that God bless these two women with something amazing this week to thank them for the wonderful experience they gave me. I was literally the last person seated.

The movie, about an academic who returns home to rural Oklahoma when he believes his twin brother has been murdered, was really well done. Norton and Nelson create a fascinating world that is both fantastic and believable at the same time. The film is hilarious, but also touching and surprising. Very few films surprise me, and this story had more than one shocking moment that I never saw coming. Norton is brilliant as both the tightly controlled professor Bill and charming pot dealer loser Brady. Leaves of Grass is truly a special experience.

After the film Nelson and Norton did a q&a, and both were well spoken and kind. After the movie let out, Edward Norton came up next to me in the hallway. Now, I have to explain that I have been near celebrities before, both in public and professional settings, but I never approach them. I feel that if an actor is just out and about, living their life, that they deserve their privacy. Also, because of my previous size, I felt embarrassed to be seen, so I didn't seek attention.

Tonight, though, I approached Mr. Norton, shook his hand, told him that I have a great respect for his talent and that I thought he had made a wonderful film. He was gracious and charming, and went on with his night. This was really important to me for three reasons. First of all, it's EDWARD NORTON!!! Squee!! Secondly, I was given the rare chance to express my appreciation to a film actor. In theater productions, the actors give their all, and the audience gives back to them by appropriate responses during the performance and applause at the end. The audience gets to thank the cast and crew for their hard work. In film and television, that rarely happens. I felt really good getting to give something back to an actor who had given a great performance. Finally, I was excited because I stepped out of my shell and didn't feel ashamed of myself. I felt normal and not-at-all-freakish, which is a new feeling for me.

It was a really special night, that I hope is just a preview of the magic waiting for me this week.

I'm famous!

2008-03-11T10:06:00.004-05:00

I was in a panel yesterday about how movie trailers are made, which was awesome. As I was waiting for the panel to begin when, no kidding, five different people said, "Oh, you're the interpreter from yesterday." (in the Jeffrey Tambor workshop.) It was insane. I have to admit, though, that I kind of liked it. :)

I heart Jeffrey Tambor

2008-03-09T19:42:00.002-05:00

By far the highlight of my week so far has been an acting workshop given by the amazing Jeffrey Tambor. He led two actors, Greta Gerwig and Kent Osborne, through a scene while demonstrating directing techniques. It was amazing. It felt like taking a year of film school in two hours. If I were in LA, I would definitely try to take a class from him at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. The best moment, by FAR, was when I actually talked to him! The girl next to me had asked him a question, but in a roundabout kind of way. He didn't understand what she was asking, so I restated her question. Jeffrey Tambor said that I used wonderful logic and had a beautiful mind. How awesome is that!?!?! I'll be high for a week off that. :)

Harold and Kumar are my new buds (ha!-buds)

2008-03-09T19:17:00.002-05:00

OK, so I've only seen parts of Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, and raunchy humor usually isn't my thing, but when given an opportunity to go to a panel with celebs, I jumped. The panel was made up of Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, creators of H&K, Neil Patrick Harris, Kal Penn, and John Cho. They were all charming and well spoken, and I may just have to join the church of NPK. (When you see the sequel, it will make total sense.) Later that night, I went to the world premiere of Harold & Kumar 2: Escape from Guantanamo Bay. The whole cast was there, and it was a really great crowd, so it was a riot. I laughed until my sides hurt. It was awesome!

Opening Night

2008-03-09T18:53:00.003-05:00

With great excitement, I attended my very first film festival - South By Southwest 2008. The opening night film was 21, starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth. Well, actually the real star of the film is Jim Sturgess, a Brit who is absolutely adorable. The film is the story of a group of MIT students who made a fortune counting cards in Las Vegas that is based on the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. The book focuses on (former) card counter Jeffrey Ma. The film was good, but the best part was a Q&A session following the film with Sturgess, Mezrich, and Ma. They were funny and entertaining. It was a really fun night.

Oscar Nominations Reactions

2008-01-22T12:46:00.000-06:00

I was up early this morning, getting ready to go sub, so I got to see the Oscar noms live.

First of all, I'm so excited for Juno (my personal choice for best film of the year), and for Diablo Cody (nominated for her first film!!).

Not all all surprised at the love for No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood, although one day I hope the Academy will realize that dark and violent doesn't automatically equal good filmmaking. Very surprised at all the love for Michael Clayton, which critics loved, but didn't really find an audience.

BTW, where was the love for Into the Wild? And Hairspray?

Also very surprised at Cate Blanchett's nomination for Elizabeth: The Golden Age instead of Keira Knightley for Atonement.

As usual, there were a couple out of far left field - like Ruby Dee for American Gangster and Marion Cotillard for La Vie En Rose.

Also, as usual, there were a couple of nominations that seem to be based on a strong career, rather than the actual film, e.g. Philip Seymour Hoffman (who was phenomenal in Capote) for Charlie Wilson's War, Laura Linney for The Savages, and Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah.

If only I ran the Oscars....

Quick Media Update

2008-01-08T21:20:00.000-06:00

So, I'll be writing a few longer posts soon, but there are a few nuggets I want to share.

1. Dexter is the best television show I've ever seen. (Yes, ever. Even better than Firefly - only by a little.) The season 2 finale is one of the best hours of television ever made. (Yes, it's really that good.)

2. I love Juno. It's everything a movie should be - clever, funny, touching, strange - and it has a cheeseburger phone. Love it!

3. I have completely fallen in love with Jeff & Jen's big screen/flat screen/HD/all the channels on Earth entertainment system and am completely spoiled.

4. Lost is back in 23 days! Yea!!!

I'm Thankful For...

2007-11-21T14:47:00.000-06:00

Hey there, friends,

Once again it's time for us to sit around the table, in a tryptophan haze, and say what we're thankful for. I am thankful for many things, including:

*an amazing family (those genetically related, as well as those connected by hearts and minds)-especially this year's newest members (Amelia Laurel, Haley Ellise, and Jensen Michael)

*my health (no surgery this year - yea!)

*employment (a steady paycheck is a very good thing)

*a safe, dry, warm place to live (with a sweet, warm, soft kitty to love)

*fresh food to eat and safe, clean water to drink

*creative opportunities in writing and film making

*the fact that I live in the greatest nation in the world, where even in our not-quite-finest hours we live in freedom (Had I been born in Eastern Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, or Central America, my life would be very, very different)

What are you thankful for?

Mourning TV

2007-11-12T10:23:00.000-06:00

by Damon Lindelof
New York Times Op-Ed
Nov. 11, 2007

TELEVISION is dying.

I should have realized this four years ago when I first got my TiVo box, but denial is always the first stage of grief. I simply couldn’t acknowledge that this wonderful invention heralded the beginning of the end.

TiVo stores your favorite movies and shows on its hard drive, allowing you to pull up last night’s episode of “The Daily Show” as easily as you click open documents on your laptop. In fact, once you download the original broadcast — sorry, I meant to say “record” it — you can watch it at your leisure. The next morning. Next year. Your call. Because now? You own that episode. Best of all, you got it free.

Television has always been free. Sure, if you want all the N.F.L. games in high definition, you have to pay the piper, but the broadcast networks still offer their entire schedules for absolutely nothing. The only catch, of course, is that you have to watch commercials. Economically, it’s a fair deal. The network pays for the shows, gives them to viewers, and makes its cash back through advertising. Which regrettably brings us to the most wonderful thing TiVo does: It enables you to ignore the commercials that keep the whole system running.

Twenty percent of American homes now contain hard drives that store movies and television shows indefinitely and allows you to fast-forward through commercials. These devices will probably proliferate at a significant rate and soon, almost everyone will have them. They’ll also get smaller and smaller, rendering the box that holds them obsolete, and the rectangular screen in your living room won’t really be a television anymore, it’ll be a computer. And running into the back of that computer, the wire that delivers unto you everything you watch? It won’t be cable; it will be the Internet.

This probably sounds exciting if you’re a TV viewer, but if you’re in the business of producing these shows, it’s nothing short of terrifying. This is how vaudevillians must have felt the first time they saw a silent movie; sitting there, suddenly realizing they just became extinct: after all, who wants another soft-shoe number when you can see Harold Lloyd hanging off a clock 50 feet tall?

Change always provokes fear, but I’d once believed that the death of our beloved television would unify all those affected, talent and studios, creators and suits. We’re all afraid and we’d all be afraid together. Instead we find ourselves so deeply divided.
The Writers Guild of America (of which I am a proud member) has gone on strike. I have spent the past week on the picket line outside Walt Disney Studios, my employer, chanting slogans and trudging slowly across the crosswalk.

The motivation for this drastic action — and a strike is drastic, a fact I grow more aware of every passing day — is the guild’s desire for a portion of revenues derived from the Internet. This is nothing new: for more than 50 years, writers have been entitled to a small cut of the studios’ profits from the reuse of our shows or movies; whenever something we created ends up in syndication or is sold on DVD, we receive royalties. But the studios refuse to apply the same rules to the Internet.

My show, “Lost,” has been streamed hundreds of millions of times since it was made available on ABC’s Web site. The downloads require the viewer to first watch an advertisement, from which the network obviously generates some income. The writers of the episodes get nothing. We’re also a hit on iTunes (where shows are sold for $1.99 each). Again, we get nothing.
If this strike lasts longer than three months, an entire season of television will end this December. No dramas. No comedies. No “Daily Show.” The strike will also prevent any pilots from being shot in the spring, so even if the strike is settled by then, you won’t see any new shows until the following January. As in 2009. Both the guild and the studios we are negotiating with do agree on one thing: this situation would be brutal.

I will probably be dragged through the streets and burned in effigy if fans have to wait another year for “Lost” to come back. And who could blame them? Public sentiment may have swung toward the guild for now, but once the viewing audience has spent a month or so subsisting on “America’s Next Hottest Cop” and “Celebrity Eating Contest,” I have little doubt that the tide will turn against us. Which brings me to the second stage of grief: anger.

I am angry because I am accused of being greedy by studios that are being greedy. I am angry because my greed is fair and reasonable: if money is made off of my product through the Internet, then I am entitled to a small piece. The studios’ greed, on the other hand, is hidden behind cynical, disingenuous claims that they make nothing on the Web — that the streaming and downloading of our shows is purely “promotional.” Seriously?

Most of all, I’m angry that I’m not working. Not working means not getting paid. My weekly salary is considerably more than the small percentage of Internet gains we are hoping to make in this negotiation and if I’m on the picket line for just three months, I will never recoup those losses, no matter what deal gets made.

But I am willing to hold firm for considerably longer than three months because this is a fight for the livelihoods of a future generation of writers, whose work will never “air,” but instead be streamed, beamed or zapped onto a tiny chip.

Things have gotten ugly and the lines of communication have broken down completely between the guild and the studios. Perhaps it’s not too late, though, for both sides to rally around the one thing we still have in common: our mourning for the way things used to be. Instead of fighting each other, maybe we should be throwing a wake for our beloved TV.
Because the third stage of grief is bargaining.

And bargain we must, because when television finally passes on, there will still be entertainment; there will still be shows and films and videos, right there on a screen in your living room. And just as the owners of vaudeville theaters broke down and bought hand-crank movie cameras, the studios will figure out a way to make absurd amounts of money off of whatever is beaming onto whichever sort of screen.

And we’ll still be writing every word.

Damon Lindelof is the co-creator and head writer of the television series “Lost.”

WGA Strike

2007-11-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

I fully support the Writers Guild of America and the decision they've made to strike. I know the amount of personal labor that goes into writing a film, and I believe that those people who create films or television shows (or "webisodes") are entitled to a share of any profits. For the latest strike information, go here.

My Annual 9/11 Challenenge

2007-09-11T14:12:00.000-05:00

Hey friends,

Please take some time today to reflect on the thousands of innocent lives lost on that horrible day 6 years ago, as well as the thousands of lives lost since then. Pray for our troops and the families waiting at home for them.

A few years ago, I decided that every September 11 could be a day of mourning or a day of celebration. Of course, I will always mourn those lost that day, but I choose to honor them by performing an act of giving toward our future, rather than lamenting the past. Every year I choose a non-profit organization and send them whatever small gift I can afford.

In the past I've given to the Red Cross, the Peace Corps, and the United Nations. This year, in an act of thanksgiving for the opportunities I've been given in the last year, as well as an act of remembrance of another innocent life cut short, I am giving to the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. I challenge you to follow my lead. Choose an organization that contributes to a healthy, free society and make a donation.

I'm Baaack

2007-09-05T15:22:00.000-05:00

Hey there friends,

I have decided to start writing again. So much has changed this year. I had a short film produced, I've directed 2 shorts of my own, and I'm about to produce and direct my next short. My next goal is to finally write my teen rehab film. I'm also contemplating writing a television pilot.

Speaking of television, I want to practice my reviewing skills, so there will probably be a lot of posts in the near future regarding the new fall tv offerings. I'm the most excited about Heroes and the debut of Pushing Daisies. Oh, and I've just started watching season 1 of Dexter on DVD, and it's probably the most brilliant series I've ever seen. It's truly outstanding.

Time to go to work. Have a great day!

Cruisin' With the Getaway Girls

2007-02-27T13:40:00.000-06:00

This weekend, my friend Laura took her girlfriends on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate her 30th birthday. It was awesome!! We flew to Orlando from our homes around the country and met up to take a shuttle to Cape Canaveral. Although we (the friends) hadn't really met before, we all got along REALLY well. Nassau wasn't great, although I liked the pirate museum, but Castaway Cay was really cool. We all ate, drank, and were merry, including some karaoke performances that I really hope do not remain on anyone's handicams. We actually decided to form a vacation club, the Getaway Girls, who should travel together every two years or so. God help wherever we decide to go next! I'll post pics when I get some.

Take care!

My Grown Up Christmas List

2006-11-16T18:10:00.000-06:00

In addition to ending poverty, genocide, war, and violence, these are the things I want for Christmas. (Well, if money grew on trees...)

1. a Ford Escape Hybrid

2. an Airstream Trailer

3. an iPod

4. a MacBook Pro

5. a mini-DV camera

6. my complete DVD dream library (which is always under construction)

7. a drop of Joss Whedon's talent

8. a body like Evangeline Lilly

9. a man like Nathan Fillion

What else could a girl need?

Glory? Me?

2006-11-16T14:03:00.000-06:00

Of all the Buffy characters, I would have NEVER picked Glory as the closest to me. Who would you be?

Glorificus

63% amorality, 63% passion, 54% spirituality, 36% selflessness

You probably have a complicated, multi-faceted personality. Kind of like Glory-Ben-Glorificus.

Passionate and driven with a spiritual side that comes out at times, a healthy taste for the finer things in life and a willingness to do what's necessary to achieve your ends. You're assertive and have no problems standing up for yourself.
And, push come to shove, you're the closest anyone's ever come to straight-up beating the Slayer and her gang.

Congratulations!

On Hiatus

2006-05-20T14:21:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, my life continues to be in flux, so I'm going to officially take a blogging break. As soon as I am moving forward again, I'll return to the blogosphere refreshed and full of new random thoughts. Until then, please visit my links from time to time to keep up with who and what are inportant to me.

Take care!

Spirits on the Rise

2006-04-09T16:09:00.000-05:00

Today is a beautiful spring day in central Texas. The sun is shining. The sky is cloudless, and wildflowers are popping up everywhere. I slept through church and met Dad for lunch. I then took a drive through the cemetery and past my granparents' and our old houses. It was a nice re-connection to who I am and where I come from. For the first time in a long time, I can see some brightness around me.

Two of my friends, who know who they are, have also been instrumental in providing me with emotional and financial support during this trying time, and I am more grateful than they can ever know.

For the rest of this beautiful day, I am going to go home and write. My first writing goal is to finish a screenplay in time to enter it in the Austin Film Festival this year. It may suck, but at least it will be a learning experience. Who knows? I may even be good at it! :)

Enjoy these bluebonnets!

LOST: My Mojo

2006-04-01T16:09:00.000-06:00

LOST!

One wispy cloud of mojo. Normally active and bright. Last seen sometime last year. REWARD!! Owner is lost, melancholy, and hopeless without it.

Rumors of my Death...

2006-03-06T18:34:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the very long absence from cyberspace. Since I have been without employment, it has been difficult to get to a computer regularly. I am working part time at a tutoring center, and I am still looking for something full time. I admit I am discouraged, but I have no choice but to keep moving forward. I hope something comes along soon.

I went to an Oscar party last night at Alamo Drafthouse. It was fun. I was really surprised by Crash's win for Best Picture. I didn't think it was that great. I was very happy for Reese Witherspoon. The whole theatre cheered when they called out her name. Good for her!

2005 Amy Awards

2006-01-24T13:47:00.000-06:00

In the spirit of the awards show season, here are my picks for my favorite entertainment of 2005.

Favorite Film - Serenity - Joss Whedon's continuation of Firefly. Wonderful characters, humor, action, heart. Ahhhhh.... I {heart} Joss.

Best Musical - Rent - I loved it on stage, I loved it on screen. Outstanding performances by all. I laughed, I cried, I sang...

Best Family Film - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - love the novel, loved the film. Performances and effects are strong without being cheesy.

Best Film That Will Probably Be Overlooked- Cinderella Man - Released early in the year, and with a cast and crew who have won many awards in recent years, this film isn't really receiving it's due. Paul Giamatti won a Golden Globe for his supporting role, but may be overlooked at Oscar time.

Best Film - Brokeback Mountain and Walk the Line - I like each of these for very different reasons. I like Brokeback for the subtlety of its storytelling. I think that what isn't said is even more powerful than what is. I like Walk the Line for its sheer excellence. Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix shine as Johnny and June Carter Cash. They each deserve awards for the best performances of the year.

Special Award in Cinematography - March of the Penguins - As a girl who is not made for cold weather, I applaud the filmmakers who braved ungodly temperatures and conditions to document this charming story.

Most Guilty Pleasure - The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Wedding Crashers - Normally I reject silly, bawdy films like these, but I have to say I really enjoyed both of these. Each had a vein of sweetness in them that made the silliness bearable.

And finally, the TV Triple Crown - Lost, Veronica Mars, and Survivor - They all just keep getting better. Action, adventure, wit, romance...they've got it all.

Happy New Year!

2006-01-06T16:11:00.000-06:00

I just returned from New York, where I had a great time. I got some much needed hangin' out time with friends, and got to do a few cool things.

I saw the Rockettes at Radio City, and they were fabulous.

We also saw the tree at Rockefeller Center, which was wonderful. I felt like I was six years old, staring at a towering tree with child-like delight.

My favorite was hanging around the Met for two whole days. I saw my favorite statue, Degas' Little Dancer. I love the American wing, and the costume institute, but they were closed for construction. I did get to spend lots of time in the European painting galleries, though. I love the VerMeers and the impressionists, like this Renoir.

It was great! Thanks so much to Laura and the Happys for taking me in. I love you guys!!

Death Penalty

2005-12-13T15:33:00.001-06:00

Early this morning, Crips founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams was executed in the execution chamber of the San Quentin prison. While I have no personal connection to Williams or his world, his execution does raise some interesting questions.

As a founder of the Crips street gang in Los Angeles, Williams was instrumental in creating and perpetuating an African-American gang culture in America that caused thousands, if not millions, of deaths. This gang culture has also laid the groundwork in distributing crack and other drugs throughout the country. Williams was in prison for murdering four people.

While in prison, Williams published several books encouraging kids to reject the gang lifestyle and seemed to become an activist for peace. He seems to have undergone a real change for the better.

Now the questions. What is the purpose of incarceration? Is it to punish offenders, or to rehabilitate and release? Is it to protect society from criminals? What is the purpose of the death penalty? Does it deter further violent crimes? It doesn't seem to. If an inmate shows what seems to be a real change of heart, as in the cases of Williams or Karla Faye Tucker, is death justified? Why not commute to life sentences and hope the inmates can continue to have a positive influence on those around them? What of those who are wrongly convicted? Is it okay to kill one innocent person if it means you kill a hundred guilty? Maybe there's a line of severity to be considered. Hitler, killer of millions - fry him; John Doe, killer of one - prison time? I don't know.

I do feel that criminals should have to pay for their crimes, and that a government has a duty to protect its citizens. I just don't know if killing achieves that goal.

Now: My soapbox moment.

I would rather prevent crime than punish criminals. I believe that if our government would invest in education and economic initiatives that eventually we wouldn't need to invest so heavily in prisons. We need early childhood programs, more teachers, smaller classrooms, more materials, more field trips, less standardized tests, strong vocational education programs, and adult education programs. And as much as I love my summers, I think we need to go to year-round school programs. I think we need to completely overhaul the way we do education in this country.

Anyway, as you can see, I have lots of questions, but no real answers. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts or questions as well.

Out of the Whooping Cough, Into the Fire

2005-12-05T19:05:00.000-06:00

First of all, I am recovering from whooping cough. Did ya know that the vaccine you get as an infant wears of when you're a teenager? Yeah, neither did I. We caught it early, so I'm recovering really quickly. Thank God for antibiotics!

My first day back from being sick, I got the wonderful news that I am out of a job. I can't say more until all the legal matters are settled. I'm both relieved and upset. Oh well, whatever's next around the corner HAS to be better. Baby Joel is obviously working hard to think of a solution for me. Isn't he the cutest thing?!?

Trivia Goddess

2005-11-16T16:12:00.000-06:00

I scored a 92. How will you do?

Enough

2005-11-15T16:53:00.000-06:00

I quit. I give up.
Nothing's good enough for anybody else it seems
Edie Brickell Circle (Click on Play Sample)

Well, I've had it. I hate my job, and the powers that be hate me. It's time to go, but I don't have anywhere to go yet. (Anyone want to hire me?) This is SO not what I thought my life would be. I'm 31, never even had a real boyfriend, much less a husband. I hate my career. I have NO money. I'm in horrible shape.

Now I know that I have many good things in my life, and I know that the majority of the world has a much harder life than I do. However, that is cold comfort when I'm battered and bruised each day by a job situation that is toxic.

It's not like I want to be Melania Trump or anything, I just want a few simple things; loving husband, kids, comfortable home, decent job... I'm just so tired of feeling like my peers are racing ahead to the Candy Castle while I'm stuck in the Swamp. }}sigh{{

I need a hug.

He's Here!

2005-11-04T07:57:00.000-06:00

Joel Caedmon was born yesterday at 2:42 pm. Mama Happy and baby Joel are perfect, and Daddy Happy is over the moon. Yea!!!

UPDATE: Here's another photo. So cute!!

A Humble Request

2005-10-28T10:21:00.000-05:00

We are now within a month of my favorite day of the year - my birthday. For me, my birthday, November 20, is the only day of the year when I get to be special. Other people get anniversaries, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Grandparents' Day, bosses' day, secretaries day, etc. Since there is no Teachers' Day or Singletons' Day, my birthday is the only shot I get to be special. This year, I am in desperate need of relaxation for my big day, so if you are one of the few, the proud, the gift-giving, my choice for a birthday gift is a gift certificate from the Lake Austin Spa's day spa. I really hope to be able to get a river rock massage and a river rock pedicure. With my work situation, I REALLY need a day to unwind. Thank you in advance for your overwhelming generosity. :)

I'm Gandalf, Who are you?

2005-10-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

The Winds of Change

2005-10-19T14:34:00.000-05:00

Well, once again I have decided that teaching is not the career for me. Last year was really bad, and this year is shaping up to be even worse. It's time for me to step out of what I know and try something new - something that is rewarding, and challenging, and decently-paid where no one yells in my ear or sneezes on me. So, knowing that looking for a job can take months, I am already putting out applications, mainly in conference planning and communications type jobs. I'm also planning on taking the foreign service exam this spring. So far, the avenues I'm most excited about pursuing are foreign service, Missions work, and communications at a university. I would like to stay in the Austin area, but for a good job I'll go anywhere. (Except, maybe, someplace like Saudi or Qatar.) I am open to any suggestions and/or job offers you feel like sending my way.

Biological and Adopted Kids

2005-10-06T15:29:00.000-05:00

I read a story yesterday on CNN that announced that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are expecting a baby. Since I am not a fan of either, I just skimmed the article. One sentence grabbed my attention and really angered me.

"The child would be Cruise's first biological child. He adopted two children with actress Nicole Kidman before their marriage ended in divorce in 2001."

I have seen this before, but it never ceases to anger me when the media treats adopted children as though they don't count as much as biological children. What does the fact that Cruise's kids are adopted have to do with anything? His kids are his kids. The article should have read something like "This will be Holmes' first child and Cruise's third." I am not adopted, but I plan on adopting my own daughter from China in a few years. Does CNN think that my daughter won't be just as loved or as legitimate as any children I might give birth to?

When you let a child into your heart, they're yours. Forever. My daughter will be my daughter from day one, and I'll be the only Mommy she ever knows. I intend to love the stuffin' out of her and no one, not even CNN, will be able to weaken our bond.

Happy Serenity Day

2005-09-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

It's finally here!!! Serenity, based on Joss Whedon and Tim Minear's Firefly is finally in theaters. Even if you're not a big sci-fi buff, which I'm not, the film is well worth seeing. Clever, funny, smart, with a beautiful cast... It's totally gonna rock. When Firefly was on TV, Fox didn't promote it, didn't play the pilot that explained everything, and played the episodes out of order. It didn't have a chance. A huge box office this weekend would show them how wrong they were. Please go see Serenity this weekend. You'll be glad you did.

Hurricanes, Hysteria, Heat, and Hope

2005-09-27T14:40:00.000-05:00

Living in Central Texas, our focus for the past few weeks has been hurricanes. Austin is housing thousands of survivors from Katrina and Rita. Again, please continue to give every month until these people are settled. As Rita crossed the Keys and went into the gulf, Austinites went a little nuts. Across two counties, there wasn't a single bottle of water to be had. People panicked and bought weeks worth of canned food, water, batteries, candles, matches, etc. We also ran out of gas. Literally every station I passed had signs out front that said their tanks were empty, or that they only had diesel left. It was crazy. Thankfully, the Austin area felt only a few strong breezes. Ironically, we could have really used the rain. We are in a heat wave that just won't end. Yesterday, when I had car duty at school, it was a balmy 107 degrees. Today it was about the same. I'd expect temps like this in August, but it's almost October! A cold front is supposed to come in on Thursday and drop the temps into the eighties. What a relief that will be!

My second-mom, Linda, and I went to a women's conference at Shoreline this weekend. The music and the speakers were awesome! If you get a chance to see Chris Caine or Lisa Bevere in person, I highly recommend it. I really got a lot out of the conference. It's always nice to have the change to stop for a few days to take a look at you life and decide what areas need a little work. As usual, the conference stirred up my restless spirit and made me start thinking about what I want to do next in my life. Peace Corps? Missions work? Mercy Ships? writing? Who knows...when I figure it out, I'll let you know.

Rumors of my death...

2005-09-06T17:31:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I am indeed alive and well. The month surrounding the beginning of school is always insane! Plus I really haven't been doing that much outside of school. So, here is my last month in a nutshell.

1. Katrina - My deepest sympathies go out to all those whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. If I could take them all into my house and clothe and feed and hug them, I would. If you haven't already, please donate to an aid organization, not only this month, but every month until the Big Easy is back on its feet. The cleanup will be toxic and dangerous and rebuilding will take a while. We should be willing to support our fellow citizens for the long haul. As for the thousands of lost souls, may God bless them.

2. Punkin - My sweet baby is growing like a weed! He goes to get fixed on Saturday, and his Mama is a little nervous.
Isn't he precious?!? ( I know, I know, it's nauseating. Moving on...)

3. Movies - Amy's 2 second movie reviews - The Island 3 stars, pretty but forgettable; Dukes of Hazzard 4 stars, great 70's nostalgia, questionable casting choices; Red Eye 3 stars, loved Rachel McAdams, but a pretty flat script. On Netflix, Spartan was surprisingly good, A Very Long Engagement was pretty, but confusing, and the Manor House series was great.

4. TV - With the fall season upon us, my new absolutely-can't-miss favorites are Lost, Veronica Mars, Survivor:Guatemala, House, and Desperate Housewives. Newcomers Prison Break, Reunion, and Commander in Chief look promising. We'll see. For great TV dish, read Kristen's column each week. I love this girl!! If stalking was legal, I would be this girl's shadow in a heartbeat. :)

5. Serenity opens September 30! - If you haven't seen Firefly, see it. It's awesome. (You can rent in on 4 discs, or just buy it. It's worth it. It's also on SciFi on Friday evenings for the next few weeks.) If you can only see a few episodes, watch "Serenity", "Ariel", "Out of Gas", "Bushwhacked", and "Objects in Space" to get the gist of the series. Serenity, the film, picks up with the Firefly crew six months after the series ends. Please give the series (and the film) a chance. It is smart and clever and worth a look.

Baby Pictures

2005-08-19T15:24:00.000-05:00

I finally have pictures of my baby Punkin. Isn't he the cutest thing! I love him so much! I've never had a cat before, so all this mama-love is new to me. My favorite parts of the day are when I fall asleep to his purring (he sleeps on my pillow above my head) and when he gives me kisses and cuddles in the morning. It's so nice having another warm body in the apartment.

In other news, we began school on Tuesday. So far my kids are talkative, but pretty good. I really hope that this year is better than last. I wonder if I'll ever have a year where I don't spend every day thinking of how to get out and do something else. A sign of unhappiness maybe? Hmmmmm.....

A few other Random notes.....My friend Lisa is back in Austin for a while. Yea! While I wish her husband wasn't stationed in Baghdad, I'm glad to have her close by again....There exists a small possibility that my best friends, the Happys, might return to Texas before Baby Happy comes to join us. Just the thought gives me shivers of happiness and causes spontaneous giggles...My friend Laura has been wonderful in helping me settle into becoming a cat mama. She has been checking in on me, but I've been so busy I haven't called back. Sorry Vel, I love you, and I swear I'll call you soon... {{big sigh}} I love my friends :)

Sad News

2005-08-11T17:13:00.000-05:00

My father just called to tell me that my Uncle Wayne passed away this afternoon. He was diagnosed with breast cancer about two years ago and with pancreatic cancer several months ago. My uncle was never very close with his family and had no children of his own. He and my Aunt Vivian were married for about 30 years. I'm sad for her loss, even though I barely knew them. What breaks my heart is that I know for sure that he never gave his heart to Christ, so he will spend eternity away from God. To learn more about a life with Christ, please give me a call. To learn about cancer research and survivor stories visit the Komen Foundation, LiveStrong, or the American Cancer Society.

Favorite TV Episodes

2005-08-09T17:55:00.000-05:00

Last night I was watching television when Fresh Prince of Bel-Air came on. Always a fun show, I kept it on while I was making dinner. I soon realized that it was my favorite episode, the one where Will's father (played by the wonderful Ben Vereen) returns for a brief moment, only to disappear and disappoint again. I thought to myself, "Of all the episodes of this show, I think this one is the absolute best." I started thinking through old television shows and picking my "best" of each of them.

My next thought was The Jeffersons. I vaguely remember a Halloween show where "Weezy", who I think was dressed as Mae West, witnessed a murder and then the murderer, who I think wore a rabbit costume, came after her.

My favorite episodes of All in the Family were both sad ones. I loved the one where Edith was assaulted in her home while Archie was next door planning a party for her. I also love the one after Edith died, when Archie sits alone on their bed and talks to her about how lost he is without her. This scene remains one of the most touching in my TV memory.

Archie walks into his and Edith's bedroom. And closed two empty drawers in the dresser. Archie sits down on the bed and finds one of Edith's slippers on the floor. Sadness encompasses him. To Archie the slipper represents Edith.

ARCHIE
It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was supposed to be the first one to go. I always used to kid you about you going first. You know I never meant none of that and that morning when yous was laying there. I was shaking you and yelling at you to go down and fix my breakfast. I didn't know. You had no rite to leave me that way.
[Archie starts to cry.]

ARCHIE
Without giving me just one more chance to say I love you.

Not all my favorites were sad, though. I love the episode of The Cosby Show where Theo moves into the "real world," the early episode of Facts of Life where the school flooded, and the Maltese Falcon episode of Kate and Allie.

I'm sure there are many, many more that I'll think of later. What are your favorites?

Hot, hot, hot!

2005-07-13T16:08:00.000-05:00

It has been even hotter than usual lately in Texas, so it is pretty uncomfortable down here. I have been uber-busy with getting ready for the next school year. I trained for two weeks in the use of Lego RoboLab in the classroom, and I did another few days on language-arts curriculum improvements. I've also been house/dog sitting, and I have a friend in town for a couple of weeks, so I've been REALLY busy.

Punkin is great, although he is growing WAY too fast. Also, we found out last week that my best friends, the Happy family, are having a boy. Yea!

Thanks in part to the One Campaign, major changes are heading to Africa. Another yea! I've been thinking a lot about preparing for foreign aid/mission work in Africa in a year or two. Please pray for me to recieve strong guidance from the Lord.

On a final note for the day, I send my very best, most peaceful, loving, healing thoughts and prayer to all those effected by the London bombing. Go in peace.

Here Kitty, Kitty...

2005-07-03T14:50:00.000-05:00

I am finally an official Mama. I brought my new kitten home on Tuesday, and he is so cute! He is an orangey-blond with pale stripes on his back and little pale spots on his tummy. He is about eight weeks old, so he is still a baby. After a few mishaps, he is now using his litter box like an old pro. (Thank God!) He purrs like a little warm motor. I think I'm gonna like having a kitty. His name is Pumpkin, which in Texan is Punkin. When he's being good, I can coo over my little Punkin-head. When he's bad, I can call him a little Punk. As soon as I get some pictures, I'll post a pic.

In other random news, my interest of the week is Airstream trailers. The main character of one of my favorite series, Wonderfalls, lives in an Airstream that looks like the inside of Jeannie's bottle. I went to an RV dealer the other day to see what they're really like. They are awesome!! Cute, distinctive, roomy.... so cool! I could absolutely see myself hooking a trailer up to a truck and hitting the road. There is so much of America and Canada that I would LOVE to see. Ahhhh.... Maybe someday, when I can be a writer and work from anywhere.

Speaking of great writing, Wil wrote a great post called "the seat with the clearest view" on video games and his youth. He is such a good writer! Also, check out Amanda's new British roadster. Wow!

I've been using Netflix to relive some old TV shows. Right now I'm watching Popular and Freaks and Geeks. I'd forgotten how good they were. I love how many series are on DVD now.

Have a great 4th of July!!

Africa

2005-06-17T15:00:00.000-05:00

Years ago, I read I Dreamed of Africa and The Poisonwood Bible, and I became enthralled by this vision of Africa as a hot, dangerous, beautiful land. The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series is also fabulous. For years I have been planning my future trips to Kenya and Tanzania to climb Kilamanjaro and go on safari. After watching The Endless Summer, I also want to go surfing in Jeffrey's Bay in South Africa. Africa seems beautiful, and parts of it are, but the reality of what the majority of Africans face every day is horrific.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to east Texas for a week to chaperone a group of about a hundred junior and senior high kids from my church at Student Life Camp. We had a great time, and I think I got as much from it as the kids did. One of the things that really affected me was a video we saw by an aid group called Compassion International. The video showed the work that Compassion does in Africa, and it was amazing. Not long after, I saw the Brad Pitt interview with Diane Sawyer that focused on the One campaign. The more I learn about Africa, the more my heart breaks for these people, especially the millions of children caught in the crossfire.

I can't do anything for at least a year, but I am seriously comtemplating mission or foreign aid work in Africa in the next few years. We have SO much in this nation. Even our poor are the richest poor in the world. Please visit the sites above, as well as the One campaign's partners page to see how you can help. Even small donations make a big difference.

You did what?!?!

2005-06-15T13:03:00.000-05:00

I can understand certain mix-ups, like mistaking sugar for salt or pyrite for gold, but hydraulic fluid for surgical detergent?!?! You've GOT to be kidding me!

Spam Lady Blitzes Homes

2005-06-15T11:38:00.000-05:00

Heather Simpson, star of that creepy teacher Spam commercial, and sister of my friend Jen, is now hosting a show on CMT called Home Blitz. Heather is really enjoying getting to work with country music stars while she gets to help families receive a home from Habitat for Humanity. She is a great girl, and the show is pretty good. Give it a look!

School's Out for Summer!!

2005-05-25T14:56:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day of school. Yea!! It will be so good to have a break. My current teaching situation is a very poor one, and I am so excited because I have an interview in a much better district on Friday morning. I want this job SO bad!! Wish me luck! On a darker note, some sort of virus has hit our school today. About 30 kids went home today with a stomach virus, and several teachers are sick. They think it might be the Norwalk virus. Fun! :) At least I'm not sick - yet. I have to at least make it through the Lost finale tonight. I hope Sawyer doesn't die. He is so hot! I haven't mentioned that before, have I? :)

The Boys of Stand By Me

2005-05-20T16:43:00.000-05:00

A week or two ago, I rented Rob Reiner's Stand By Me. I have seen pieces of the film several times, but I'd never really sat down to watch the whole thing. I was amazed at the way Rob Reiner took four green kids and created such a masterpiece. As I've soaked in pieces of the film over the last few weeks, I've thought of the boys of Stand By Me and the effects they've had on my life.

Corey Feldman - When I was growing up, I always was a sucker for the tortured, misunderstood bad boy. Even now, I live to see Sawyer on Lost. My favorite New Kid was Donnie, my favorite 90210 boy was Dylan, and my favorite soap hunks were Port Charles gangster Sonny Corinthos and Days of Our Lives', Steve Johnson, aka Patch. I had major crushes on Christian Slater, during his Pump Up the Volume rehab years, and Corey Feldman around the time License to Drive came out. The story of the Coreys was really a cautionary tale to my generation. The two Coreys were on top of the world one minute, and unemployable addicts the next. Showered with inappropriate attention as children, their perceptions of the world around them became so skewed that they became unable to function in normal situations. Feldman was on The Surreal Life a few years ago, and he really made me sad. How can someone with so much talent follow such a bizarre path in his life?

Jerry O'Connell - OK, the boy is just hot! Who would've thought that fat little Vern would grow into such a hunk? He's beautiful, he's talented, he's goofy, and he's single (for now). Could he be any more perfect for me? Come on, Jerry, give me a call.

Wil Wheaton - As we all know, I am a big fan of Wil's blog. He is a great writer, as well as a talented actor. He also seems to be a good husband and father, which is better than all the rest, in my book.

River Phoenix - What can you say about River? He was amazing. He was so talented! I have been watching a lot of his films, and they make me so sad. He could have been phenomenal - one of those actors whose longevity and diverse body of work become touchstones for those who follow in their footsteps. Instead he chose drugs, which ended his life at 23. I never understood how someone who was a strict vegan and nature activist could put such poison into his body. River's family has a tribute site that is pretty sweet.

Both sweet and sad, the lives of these boys, now men, in some ways reflect the tone of the film. The boys without guidance self destructed, and the others contine to live good lives. Throughout the journey, we all just want to belong somewhere. Triumphant or tragic, or somewhere in between, each of these boys are a part of my life and of our collective experience.

Summer Break

2005-05-09T10:27:00.000-05:00

Wow! Spring has been so busy! I always forget how much work it is to close down the school year. In looking over my summer calendar, I laugh at the idea that teachers get three months a year off. Ha! We actually get two months off, and and least four of my eight weeks are filled with week long inservice institutes. Don't get me wrong, I love the time off that I will get, I just wish I didn't have to work so much (for free!) on my time "off".

I found a new blog today that I like a lot. The Evangelical Ecologist combines my love of God and love of nature. Check him out. A funny that was on his site a while back -

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10." Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter.

Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."

***

My TV shows are finally all new again. I am LOVING Lost, of course, (Sawyer is so hot!!) but if there turns out to be an alien in the hatch, I am never watching it again! I am so happy that Desperate Housewives is starting to fill in some blanks about Dana and Dierdre, and I love the new twists. How priceless was Bree getting marriage advice from Edie?!? Too fun! My other must-sees (Survivor - Go Ian!, Crossing Jordan, Medium, ER, One Tree Hill, and Gilmore Girls) are also continuing to entertain.
I know it's a lot of TV, but when you have no kids, no pets, no significant other, and no money, it's a good way to entertain yourself. :)

In a final note, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!

UPDATE: It's here, it's here!! The trailer for Serenity is now online. Woo-hoo! Serenity is the film continuation of Firefly. The trailer looks great. I didn't see Shepherd Book, though. Anyone know why? BTW, you can catch a screening of the film on these dates. You can bet I'll be there!

UPDATE: Well, I would have been there if tickets hadn't sold out in literally 5 seconds. :(

This and That

2005-04-27T11:41:00.000-05:00

I had a great weekend! I was house/dogsitting for Jeff and Jen this weekend, so I got some serious human/golden retriever bonding time. Their dog Bodie is SUCH a great dog. It makes me want one of my own.

Saturday, my second-mom, Linda, called to see if I wanted to shopping with her. It was Linda's husband, Robert, that we lost in December. I saw her a great deal in December, but have only seen her a few times since, so I was very excited to have a girls' day with her. She had a problem with her heart about two weeks ago, but she's doing great now. We had so much fun! I got some new clothes and we went to see Off the Map, which was a little slow, but good. It actually made me miss the desert. (I lived in El Paso, Texas, until I was 9. The thing I miss the most? The sunsets and our favorite Mexican food. Leo's is the best Mexican food restaurant on the planet!)

For the next few weeks, life will be crazy as school shuts down. It seems we have more meetings and more paperwork every day. When the sun is shining outside, the last thing I want to do is sit and do paperwork....oh well, only 19 more days.

Some random news -

Some buffalo in Maryland made quite a stir the other day.

I guess hunting is more dangerous that I thought.

Every girl wants some serious ice on her wedding day, but this is ridiculous!

Finally, please send good thoughts to Wil whose cat passed away yesterday.

Spring Fever

2005-04-19T10:25:00.000-05:00

Hey y'all, as you can see, I'm experimenting with a new look for springtime. The wildflowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and I am definitely in the throes of Spring Fever. I LOVE the time of year when the Bluebonnets bloom. I went to a retreat this weekend, and the flowers are bursting out all over the countryside. Ahhhh....I love Texas!

Get the lead out!

2005-04-14T10:54:00.000-05:00

As I've mentioned a few times before, I am writing a screenplay. I have been developing the characters and the story for a few months. I'm now actually writing the thing, and it's been a little overwhelming. I am one of those people who wants each line to be perfect before I move to the next, so I keep revising what I have as I go along. As a result, I've only finished the first 4-5 pages. At this rate, I'll be in a home before I'm finished. I think I need to begin a more dedicated effort. For instance, tonight my plan is to watch Survivor and then tape my other shows so I can write. Watching The Starlet(s) go through different acting classes gave me some good perspective on how actors approach playing characters, and I realized that I needed to add more depth to mine. Also, reading Wil's posts on acting have given me even more insight on how actors approach their craft. (He is SUCH a good writer!) I am going to a retreat this weekend, and I hope to use my free time to write even more. If I work every day, especially once school's out in summer, I should be finished by the time I return to school in August. So that means, what?, February 2007 for my Oscar? I'll be sure to thank my blogbuddies in my acceptance speech. :)

Surprisingly good film of the week: Confessions of an American Girl with Jena Malone and Brad Renfro. Harsh, but hopeful, tale of a trailer park girl and her messed up family. Check it out.

On a final note, some of you may not know that I am freakishly afraid of large birds. (I always think they will peck out my eyes and scratch my face off.) Although I have yet to encounter a goose, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has problems with birds.

Hidden Jewels

2005-04-06T20:04:00.000-05:00

Another new episode of Lost tonight. Woo-hoo! What am I going to this summer when it's only re-runs?!? Also, Michellelynne is the new Starlet. Watch her on One Tree Hill in two weeks. It's so fun watching someone's dream come true!

One of the things I love about Netflix is that I can catch up on all sorts of TV shows and films that I missed the first time around. I've discovered that I am a big fan of Joss Whedon and Tim Minear. I've just ordered Firefly on DVD and soon I'll order Wonderfalls. Both are SOOOO good. I can't believe that they were both cancelled so soon! What was Fox thinking?!? One of my other favorite one-season wonders, Higher Ground, isn't available on DVD yet, but I'll snatch it up as soon as it's out.

Oddly enough, the same actress appears in all three. I first noticed Jewel Staite in a kids show called Flash Forward. Since then, I've really liked her in everything I've seen. I really hope that over the years her star continues to rise. Please visit her fan site and get to know her work.

Not the Mama

2005-03-30T14:52:00.000-06:00

Well, it seems that I am not going to be getting my kittens after all. The lady who has them never contacted me to come get them. Instead, I think I might adopt a dog in May, when school's out. I can spend all summer training him/her, so I won't have to come home at lunch each day for potty breaks. Our standardized test pressure is insane right now, so summer is looking REALLY attractive right about now. I'm going to Las Vegas for the first time, and maybe some small road trips to some area campgrounds. Only two more months. Ahhhhhhhh............

I am SO excited that Lost is back on tonight!! I am also really liking The Starlet. I am writing my first screenplay, and the show has helped me to look at my scenes the way an actor might.

In baby news, my friend Julie had her first son, Jeffrey Connell, yesterday afternoon. Both Mama and baby are perfectly fine. Yea Julie! Also, Baby Happy is causing some commotion. Let's hope this is an isolated incident. :)

Thought for the day: Even under insane stress, life is good.

Fertility Goddess

2005-03-17T21:38:00.000-06:00

I think I may be something of a fertility goddess. Not only do we have at least 10 confirmed pregnancies at my school, but a couple of my friends are now also pregnant, including my best friend, Mrs. Happy. Maybe it's something in the water, or maybe my own lack of action is shifting the cosmic forces of love to those around me. Or, maybe I just have a lot of happily married young friends. Whatever the case, I wish them all well. (Especially Baby Happy. Yea!!)

Wil's on CSI

2005-03-10T16:15:00.000-06:00

Tonight is Wil Wheaton's guest spot on CSI. I read Wil's blog every day. While I don't always understand the techincal posts, I am always impressed with his writing. He has been an inspiration for me to continue blogging. Please watch CSI tonight. If you like what you see, please leave Wil a comment and let him know.

Save Our Shows

2005-03-08T15:54:00.000-06:00

Right now the major networks are deciding which shows to renew and which to cancel. You can vote on e-online to save you favorite show. Read Kristen's article and vote today!

Almost Weekend Update

2005-03-04T15:34:00.000-06:00

Did anyone see Lost on Wednesday. That is the best show!! I even knew that Hurley had won the lottery, but I had no idea about all the other number stuff. I can't believe that the next new episode won't be until April 13!! How will I make it?!

In other news, my best friend's husband, Curt, lost his job yesterday. They currently live on Long Island, but may decide to move back to Texas. I want Curt to find whatever job will be best for him and Elizabeth, but I'm also kinda pullin' for a return to Texas. I know it's selfish, but it would be nice to see them once in a while.

On a final note, I'm a little disturbed by a blog I read today. One of the blogs I visit daily had a reference to another blog by a woman involved in a relationship with a married man. Now, I know that my beliefs are much more conservative than many. I am a Christian, and I have very high standards for behavior. That's not to say that I don't have compassion, or that I am anywhere close to living perfectly, but there are certain areas where there are lines that just shouldn't be crossed. I believe that it is never ok to have a romantic relationship with a married person. I know there are a thousand justifications that people tell themselves to make it sound alright, but I have never seen a relationship flourish that began with lies. All the cheaters I've known have been selfish liars who are only interested in getting the best of two worlds without really committing to either. A dear friend of mine was raked over the coals more than once by a married lover, and it was torture to watch her be hurt again and again. Also, as a teacher, I have to deal daily with the intense damage that cheating and divorce inflict on the children of these relationships. I just wish people would consider the damage they might cause before beginning these relationships. Camerin Courtney had an experience with this on an airplane recently. Read her story here.

Oscars, etc.

2005-02-28T16:34:00.000-06:00

The Oscars were pretty good last night. I liked how in some categories they brought all the nominees on stage so everyone got a moment in the sun, but I hated the awards they presented in the balconies and in the aisles. Almost everyone looked great. I especially liked Natalie Portman(my brother's wife), Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Drew Barrymore (wow!)and Julia Roberts. Charlize, Scarlett, and the usually yummy Johnny Depp should have gone with a different stylist. I was pretty happy with all the major awards, although I wish Kate would've won best actress. Isn't Morgan Freeman just the coolest man alive? I love him! I haven't seen Million Dollar Baby because I know how it ends and I don't want to go there having lost someone just a few months ago, but I will see it when it comes out on DVD. On a final note, Beyonce is alright, I guess, but singing three songs!! Please. I would have rather heard Antonio Banderas for three songs. Could we please have a little more variety next time? Thank you.

My favorite part of Oscar night, though, is always my acceptance speech. Every Oscar night, as I go to sleep, I daydream about my Oscar night. In a few years, when I've written a few screenplays, and I've finally written that one that is made into an incredible film, I'll wear a classically beautiful dress. My hair will be soft and wavy, and my makeup will be perfect. I'll have a wicked handsome man by my side, and I'll win the Oscar. I'll cry as I remember my mom and my grandparents, and I'll go to the after parties and dance the night away. Ahhhh... Someday....

The Spam Lady

2005-02-24T21:57:00.000-06:00

At the end of Dr. Phil yesterday, there was an ad for the new Spam singles. It shows a teacher having lunch in the room when the kids turn on her. The teacher is my friend Jen's sister, Heather Simpson. It was so cool to see someone I know on TV!! She also has a Lowe's commercial coming out soon, so I'll keep my eyes peeled.

I'm Gonna Be a Mommy!!

2005-02-24T15:29:00.000-06:00

My librarian's cat had kittens and they need a home, so I am going to have two new babies. They are both orange and white striped, and I get to take them home in about three weeks. I'll post pictures as soon as I have some. I decided to get two so they can keep each other company when I'm at work. I am so excited!! The only other pets I've had have been fish, so it will be nice to have a pet that is huggable. Now I need help finding names. I don't want to do something common, like Pumpkin or Tiger, but I do want a name that has to do with their orange coloring. I was thinking maybe something fiery, like Spark, Flame, or Ember. Any ideas??

Thank God for Drugs!!

2005-02-22T15:47:00.000-06:00

After a month of hacking like a cigar chain-smoker, I finally went to the doctor. (I know, I should have gone three weeks ago...) I got some wonderful drugs, and I am already feeling better. Within the next few days, I should be as good as new. What did people do before antibiotics?

In other news, tomorrow my kids take the big state reading test, which they have to pass in order to go to the sixth grade. Please send them good thoughts so they will all do their best.

I have a few more hours of work to do to have my room totally ready. Wish us luck!

Feed Muffin the Cereal?

2005-02-18T15:30:00.000-06:00

There's a cereal ad on TV right now that shows a family coming downstairs to leave for the day. Each of them says that they'd fed Muffin, so now they can go. After realizing they'd all fed Muffin, they look over at their horribly overstuffed family dog. The ad then says that their cereal is a better way to start the day. So.....should we feed the cereal to Muffin, 'cause I'm pretty sure that's not good for her. No people food for puppies!! Argh! I hate when ads don't really sell the product they're selling. The ads they did on The Apprentice are a great example of that.

Anyway, I've been sick for weeks thanks to the germ sharing of my 21 kiddos, and the big state reading test is on Wednesday, so posting will be a little sparse for the time being.

Take care!

Here are two fun links: one for scary but kind of cute cat costumes (I love the frog!) and one for cute guitars.

Blog Buddies

2005-02-08T15:53:00.000-06:00

When I first became aware of blogging, I only knew of a couple of blogs to read. My friends Curt and Jeff had blogs, and slowly I began linking to other blogs from there. Now, I've grown a happy little garden of blogs that I visit about every day. It's a little odd, because I've never met these people, but I feel something of a friendship with these bloggers. I feel sad when they're down, I celebrate with them when they're up, and I wonder where they are when they haven't posted for a while.

Lately, my blog buddies have been doing really well. Wil just got a part on CSI. Yea! (Please send healing thoughts to his cat, Sketch.) Samira seems to be settling into life in Grenada pretty well. Dana just got her new car (Finally!)and a promotion, and her sister, Sharoni, just got a job and a $500 Super Bowl win. Maybe their good fortune will rub off on me and I'll be inspired to finish my screenplay soon.

Also, thanks to Wil, I have also discovered Geocaching, which just may be my new favorite hobby. Using a GPS receiver, you follow coordinates to find a hidden Geocache. It's treasure hunting for the common man. It's so cool!!

Icky Day

2005-02-02T16:28:00.000-06:00

Today has been one of those crazy days when everything is off kilter and I feel like I'm bugging the crap out of everyone I see. I'm also sick, which makes me cranky. (Which may be why I'm bugging the crap out of people.......)

Last night I watched two movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Ray. Both were really good. Eternal Sunshine was odd, as is everthing from Charlie Kaufman, but also interesting and unusual. Both Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet gave excellent performances. Ray was outstanding. Jamie Foxx deserves every bit of attention he is getting for the role. To be honest, I always thought he was just some goofy comedian. I had no idea he was such a good actor. Good for him! I highly recommend watching both.

Films, etc.

2005-01-31T15:38:00.000-06:00

I just finished watching Firefly for the second time. Man that was a good series! I don't know what Fox was thinking when they pulled it so early. The film version, Serenity, is only a few months away. Yea!

I also recently watched Garden State. I'm going to have to watch it again to get all the details, but I really enjoyed it. Kudos to Zach Braff!

Tonight I plan to watch one of my new favorite shows - Medium. I didn't expect to like it at all, in fact I think that all of that ghost-y, spirit-y hocus pocus is a bunch of nonsense. But, it's a really good show. It's actually inspired a screenplay idea for me.

Although I have yet to finish one, I have several screenplays in different stages of development. I hope to finish my first, a story of teens in a wilderness therapy program, in the next few months. After watching Medium and The Gift, I began to wonder how a deeply Christian person, such as myself, would react if their dreams or visions suddenly began coming true. Would this ability be a gift from God or a curse from Satan? To me the desire to be true to your faith in the face of contradictory evidence is intriguing. I'll keep thinking about it while I finish my current story.

On a final note, it's Girl Scout cookie time!! As a former Girl Scout Camp program director, I can tell you that cookie money is used to give a lot of girls a summer camp experience that they wouldn't otherwise have. Please support this worthy (and yummy!)cause!!

Unexpected Therapy

2005-01-27T15:49:00.000-06:00

For those of you who don't know me, you should know that a large part of who I am comes from an event that happened almost eleven years ago, when I was 19. My mother (a beautiful, giving, intelligent, kind woman) died from a drug interaction when she took the allergy drug Seldane, which is now off the market. She died very suddenly, but was revived by paramedics and existed in a coma for 10 days before her body quit working. In addition to major depression and an eating disorder that is still ravaging my mind and body, my relationships with my loved ones became a major source of pain. I tried to handle everything on my own for about eight years, and when I finally realized that I couldn't heal on my own, I found an outstanding therapist while I was at school in Miami who really got me on the road to recovery.

A few weeks ago, I was watching Lost, which is definitely one of my favorite shows, and I was fascinated by Boone's relationship with his step-sister Shannon. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't have any pseudo-incestual relationships or anything like that, but I did realize that I've allowed a few of my relationships to reach a level of co-dependence that isn't healthy. So, thanks to Boone, I've decided to subtly re-define the boundaries of a few of my relationships so there will be a healthy balance.

Earlier this week, I read a children's book called Ida B. . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan. It is the story of a spunky, creative little girl and the way she reacts to her mother's battle with cancer. It is funny and emotional. Now, I didn't know that Ida's problem in the book was facing her mother's mortality, or I may not have read it as a light evening read. Once I was under Ida B.'s spell, however, my heart just ached as she went through the pain of her story. After I finished the book, I sobbed and wailed for about an hour. Now, if you don't know me, you should know that I am usually not an overtly emotional person, so this was really unusual for me. For years after Mom died, I refused to even begin to feel the pain that came with the loss because I was so afraid that once I opened the floodgates I'd never be able to shut them again. I learned in therapy that I can release the pain bit by bit, but each bit is still going to hurt. I'm always surprised by how raw and sharp the pain is. It's like my heart is infused with shards of glass - sure it aches as a whole, but removing each sliver causes a sharp pain that is even harder to bear.

I never expected to make therapy breakthroughs from Lost or a kids' book, but I guess you take life's lessons wherever you can find them.

A Trampoline World

2005-01-19T14:54:00.000-06:00

I wish the world were made of trampolines. On Sunday mornings I teach a 10th grade life group (aka Sunday school)with one of the owners of AcroTex Gymnastics. This past Sunday we had our annual Gladiator Games at AcroTex, where the 9th and 10th grade classes compete in a wide range of games. It was so fun!! I have never been athletic or coordinated, but I have always dreamt of being able to play in a big gym (or ice rink, or dance studio). My favorite part was bouncing on a long, rectangular trampoline they use to practice tumbling runs. You could bounce from one end to the other like a kangaroo. I could have bounced on it for days. So now, I wish the world was made of trampolines so I could bounce and flip my way through the world.

Support Greg

2005-01-11T16:23:00.000-06:00

Please visit Greg's site today to raise money in memory of his wife, Cheryl. You don't need to give money, just leave a comment. Please help!

Brad & Jen, Ben & Jen, Trash & Lies

2005-01-11T16:19:00.000-06:00

As most of the country has, I'm sure, heard, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have separated. Last night I saw that one of those entertainment shows was doing a whole 30 minutes on the breakup. Another led with it for, I guess, about fifteen minutes or so. The major questions these "journalists" attempted to answer were things like What caused the breakup? Was it a baby? (One wants kids, the other doesn't) Was it Angelina Jolie? Was there a pre-nup? (Who cares?) Are they dating anyone else yet? (Good lord! They just broke up on Friday!!) I also caught clips in the last few weeks of celebs like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. The focus on them seems to be all about if they're getting married and if she's pregnant.

Now, it must be said that I love entertainment. I love movies and television. In fact, I even have a few screenplays in progress. However, I think there is a very definite limit on what I have a right to know. I could watch a dozen shows a day on what movies are in the works, who's starring in what, and how movies are made. I also like shows like Inside the Actors' Studio. I think that when you choose a public career, that your work and talent are up for public critique.

However, some topics, like home life, marriage, children, illnesses, family members' troubles, etc. should be off limits. If someone wants to share their wedding pictures, great, I'd love to see them. If a celeb wants to show off their new baby or a new house, bring it on. Like anyone else, I hope they're happy, I pray they know Christ, and I wish them well. All other aspects of their personal lives are just that - personal, and none of our business.

The most troubling part of this whole Hollywood scene are the media. I've always known that supermarket tabloids were trash, but I used to think that magazines like People and US Weekly were alright. In the past few years, though they seem to cover pretty much the same topics the tabloids do. They all feed the paparazzi machine of lies and personal invasion.

So, in light of these events and realizations, I commit to even further scour down my entertainment sources. No more lifestyle shows and gossip shows. No more magazines that use others' pain as entertainment. I invite you all to look at your own sources of entertainment and do a similar bit of housecleaning.

Something in the Water!!

2005-01-05T14:58:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a great holiday break. I got a lot of sleep and saw a lot of friends and family, so I'm pretty happy. Before I left for Christmas, I knew that two of the teachers I teach with were pregnant. One is due in April and one in May. I now know of at least SIX others who are due at the end of the summer. That makes eight pregnant teachers, four of whom are on my hallway. What is in the water around here? No angels have visited me in my sleep yet, so I know I'm not next, but it will be interesting to see if any more Mommies pop up around here.

UPDATE I forgot one. There are NINE pregnant teachers in my school. Wow!

Merry Christmas!

2004-12-23T15:02:00.000-06:00

Over the holidays, my internet access is quite limited, so I probably won't post again until the new year. So, to all of you I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Template Change

2004-12-16T15:23:00.000-06:00

I am having problems with adding links to my blog. It keeps erasing the entire template. I am going to try this simpler one for now. For today's link of the day, see Jeff's travel journal at Peachwater, TX.

Touching the Void

2004-12-14T11:30:00.000-06:00

First of all, thanks for those of you that sent your condolences about Robert. Last week was a blur. The family received a great deal of support, which was really appreciated. The funeral was wonderful. It was truly a celebration of Robert's life and the joy and love he brought to others. It was also a celebration of the certainty we have that he met Jesus last Monday morning and that we'll see him again. It was beautiful and Robert's kids did a great job planning it.

This weekend I was so tired. I tried to rest all I could, and I'm still exhausted. I forgot how tiring grieving is.

Last night I watched a movie from Netflix called Touching the Void. It was absolutely outstanding. It is the story of two young British mountaineers who climbed Peru's Siula Grande in 1985. After a successful ascent, the climbers face disastrous obstacles on the descent. It is breathtaking and frightening. This DVD is one where the extras are really good. I especially enjoyed watching Back to Siula Grande. It is an amazing story of the choices a person can make in order to survive. Although the climbers are not Christian, to me it was such an example of how God can bring us through anything if it's His will. I highly recommend it.

In Memoriam

2004-12-07T08:10:00.000-06:00

A dear friend of mine, Robert Brannon, went home to the Lord yesterday morning at the age of 51. His passing was very unexpected and left many in shock. There are not words enough to describe the impact Robert had on those who knew him. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother in Christ. He is dearly loved and will be sorely missed. Henry Van Dyke wrote a poem about death called Gone From My Sight. I have modified it to fit Robert's love of flying.

I am watching from the control tower.
A plane on the ground lifts its white wings to the sky.
It is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch him until at length he hangs like a speck of white cloud on the horizon.

Then someone at my side says: “There, he is gone!”

“Gone where?”

Gone from my sight. That is all.

His diminished size is in me, not in him.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says:
“There, he is gone!” there are other eyes watching him coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:

“Here he comes!”

And that is dying.

Please keep Linda, Josh, Jessica, Angela, Anna, Becky, Rhonda, and James in your prayers.

World AIDS Day

2004-12-01T15:57:00.000-06:00

Today is World AIDS Day. This horrible disease continues to grow and destroy lives around the world. Africa and India are especially cursed by the disease. I blame ignorance as one of the major culprits for the spread of AIDS in these areas. In some areas of Africa, the average life expectancy is now in the early 30's. Women and girls are especially at risk. Please pray today for all those affected by this disease. Pray to ease the suffering of those with the disease, those left behind by the disease, and those finding a cure for the disease.

Trivial Pursuit

2004-11-30T14:13:00.000-06:00

My best friends, Mr. and Mrs. Happy, are in town for the week, so we had dinner at Chuy's and played games last night with our friend Jeff. We played the 1980's edition of Trivial Pursuit. It went really late, so today I'm really tired, but I had a great time. We were getting a little punchy when a certain Sports and Leisure question had us on the floor with laughter. I know our minds hit the bottom of the gutter, but, hey, it was funny.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2004-11-23T15:27:00.000-06:00

The Top Five Things I'm Thankful For

1. My salvation.
2. My family and friends.
3. My freedom.
4. My health.
5. My job and my apartment.

What are you thankful for?

Have a great Thanksgiving! (And Gig 'Em Aggies!!!)

Happy Birthday to Me!

2004-11-22T15:30:00.000-06:00

This weekend, I hit a milestone. I am now 30. Mostly, I'm okay with this. I have been playing the comparison game a bit. I thought that by thirty I would be married with a few kids, and that hasn't happened, although it has happened to many of my friends. However, I have had some good times and traveled to some great places. I still have a lot of freedom to do whatever I want, and that's good. (I could do without the gray hairs and eye wrinkles, but that's another story.)

On my birthday I had lunch with my dad, which was really nice. My brother called, which was great, and I talked to a few friends. A couple of my best friends didn't call, but I guess I'll hear from them soon. I went out to dinner and a movie with Jeff and Jen and had a great time. We saw National Treasure, which was totally implausible but entertaining. I really enjoyed seeing some of the national monuments in the film. Maybe this summer I'll do a national history tour of Boston, Philadelphia, and D.C. I think I could Amtrak between the three for pretty cheap. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

In classroom news, it is STILL raining. With this being a two day week, the kids are bouncing off the walls. Only one more day until a five day break. Yea!

My favorite discussion point from Sunday school this week: I am a princess. I am the daughter of the King and little sister of the Prince. I am an heir to the greatest estate ever imagined. Yeah God!! Romans 8:15-17

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Caged Monsters

2004-11-15T14:58:00.000-06:00

It's been rainy and cold for the last 3 or 4 days, so my kids haven't been able to play outside. They are now bouncing off the wall. Pray for sunshine! :)

Over the past week or so, I've been watching the DVD's of a short-lived TV series called Firefly. Curt recommended it on his site a few weeks ago. From the mind of Joss Whedon, Firefly chronicles the adventures of the rebellious crew of a small space freighter. It only ran for about half a season and then was pulled off the air. The viewing audience was small but very devoted, so the entire season was released on DVD. They are also filming a full length feature called Serenity based on the series. It took an episode or two to get used to the concept - a combination of a frontier western and science fiction, but it has been really interesting. One episode in particular, called Out of Gas, was very good. I highly recommend renting it.

The Happy Husband recommended this link this week. I can't wait until I get to be a Tickle Monster.

:) I've heard of stashing money away for a rainy day, but this is ridiculous.

Hot for Teacher

2004-11-09T09:27:00.000-06:00

Hey y'all. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I had a few technical difficulties. Hopefully now everything is back on track.

I write today to address a disturbing trend in television programming. I had been looking forward to ABC's life as we know it for some time, and the first few episodes were pretty good. A new storyline, however, has forced me to remove it from my viewing options. The show chronicles a group of three friends and their lives. Each has a girlfriend-one with Kelly Osbourne, one with a beautiful soccer player, and one with the high school English/dance teacher. {{scratching record}} What!?! That's right, one of the featured "romances" is between a 16 year old boy and his 23 year-old English teacher. When did this become ok? We all know that if the genders were reversed, a network would never air a romance between a young female student and an adult male teacher. Dawson's Creek ran a similar story line in it's first season, and Mary Kay LeTourneau is on television every other week, it seems. Why does our society continue to perpetuate this horrible double standard. I didn't think this would need to be stated, but a physical relationship with a minor is never ok. What are these people thinking? Anyway, as I said before, I now no longer watch life as we know it . I may, however, tape it to get a list of sponsors so I can let them know my feelings as well.

On a final note, congratulations Jeff W. on finishing Race for the Cure! I'm proud of you!

Prince Charming

2004-10-28T08:26:00.000-05:00

For years I've been thinking about all of the roles women in our society are supposed to play. We should be smart, but gracious; strong, but gentle; firm, but yielding; independent, but team players. Basically, we are supposed to be Cinderella - a hardworking, nurturing, domestic expert who never complains, and a beautiful, flawless, innocent temptress. It's a lot to live up to.

I wonder, though, if it's just as hard to be Prince Charming. Are those expectations just as unreal? We expect a "real man" to be strong, hardworking, handy, charming, and wealthy. He is supposed to be sensitive and intuitive, but must do so without revealing any emotions of his own. He is supposed to be there in an instant in times of trouble, solution in hand, sword drawn, ready to fight dragons, but isn't really necessary the rest of the time. (Except for the Royal Ball, of course.)

Maybe we should chuck both ideas and choose new role models. Or, maybe we should look to ourselves and not try to emulate others.

Nice Breasts!

2004-10-25T15:00:00.000-05:00

Thoughts for the day -

1. Breast is not a dirty word. It is a major body part on roughly 51% of the world's population.

2. My grandmother died of breast cancer at around age 50, having been diagnosed before she was 40. My brother and I never met her.

3. This is breast cancer awareness month. Please make a donation of money and time to help those affected by this disease. You can go the the Komen Foundation, the American Cancer Society, The Wellness Community, the Breast Cancer site, and even Target, Lee, or Ford to help the cause.

4. What's your cause?

Patience and Politics

2004-10-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, I spend my day surrounded by 19 fifth graders. Most days, we all get along just fine and I really like being around them. This week, however, my patience is almost gone. Maybe it's the warm front, but the kids are bouncing off the walls. So, my question for the day - other than prayer, how do you refill your patience jar when there's only one marble left in it? (Bonus question - how do you keep that last marble in the jar?)

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

With the elections drawing nearer, there has been much lunchroom discussion about people's opinions and beliefs. I consider myself a moderate independent. Sometimes I agree with one side, sometimes the other. Sometimes I disagree with both. In the spirit of free speech, here are my beliefs.

I believe that the majority of people are good, hardworking citizens who just want a comfortable life for themselves and their families.

I believe in the old adage about fishing. If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he eats for life. I believe in creating jobs that pay a decent wage, rather than increasing government handouts.

I believe that education is the foundation of a strong society. I think that if we invested more resources in education (academic, vocational, community, & family) that we would eventually need to invest less in the penal and welfare systems.

I believe that the best defense is a strong offense - that we should have the strongest intelligence and military forces in the world. I believe that service members and veterans should be thanked on a daily basis.

I believe that we are destroying our world. Every day, species become extinct and ecosystems are unalterably changed. I believe that we continue to be poor stewards of the resources we've been blessed with. I believe that alternatives to fossil fuels, such as solar power, wind power, and vegetable oils, must be utilized.

I think we are returning to a Robber Baron state, if we ever really left one - that a handful of millionaires and billionaires determine the majority of what America reads, watches, listens to, and purchases. This scares me quite a bit. I also think that big lobbyists, like the gun, pharmaceutical, and tobacco lobbies have WAY too much power.

Finally, I believe in America. I think the ideas our country is based upon still hold true. I think we are a young nation with much promise, even with our growing pains.

Whatever you believe, please put those thoughts into actions and VOTE!!

Women of Virtue

2004-10-11T15:18:00.000-05:00

This weekend, I attended a women's conference at my church. The main speaker was a woman named Vicki Courtney. Her latest book, The Virtuous Woman: Shattering the Superwoman Myth, takes a look at the Proverbs 31 woman and what she might be like today. Vicki was a great speaker, and I learned a lot. The music was also wonderful. Praise songs were led by Amy Nobles and her all girl band. They were awesome!! I highly recommend checking out their CD's. (On a side note, their producer, Ross King is also worth checking out.) It is so great when praise and worship time is really a time on focusing on God and not just a time to sing. I was really moved by both Vicki and Amy, and I am even thinking of writing a book based on some of the things I learned. I'll get back to y'all as that idea develops.

I also went to a wedding reception of an old friend this weekend. My friend Jonathan married a beautiful girl named Ela in Turkey last month, and they had a reception for all of his Texas friends and family. I had a wonderful time catching up with a few old friends and reliving good times. I always find it so interesting that friends can be apart for years, even decades, and yet when reunited the same warmth and rapport still exists. Friends rock!!

Finally, a verse for the day. Praise God for always being great, even in our times of adversity.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD , I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

Friends For Life

2004-10-06T16:47:00.000-05:00

I read the other day that there are three kinds of friends: friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for life. I've had all three. Probably because I am a rather talkative person, I have never had a problem making friends for a reason. I am usually the first in a group to break the ice and get to know people. Friends for a season are harder for me. I tend to grow really attached to people, and it is hard for me when those bonds are released. Finding a friend for life is the hardest of all, but, of course, also the most rewarding. I have been so blessed to find my soul sisters. My original soul sister, Elizabeth, turned thirty yesterday. (Happy Birthday!) When we met at the age of 13, I never thought we'd play such a large role in each other's lives. Thank God for filling our lives with surprises. For some wonderful tales of other soul sisters, read the Sisterchick books. They're awesome!

On an unrelated note, I just thought I'd update my TV reviews. I saw Desperate Housewives on Sunday, and I really liked it. I'm also getting into Lost. If life as we know it is any good, ABC just might pull a comeback in the ratings. I am still loving Jack and Bobby, but Father of the Pride has turned out to be a dud. Of course Survivor and The Apprentice continue to thrill. (Gotta love that Mark Burnett!) Actually, my favorite show right now is on the WAM! network. It is called Higher Ground, about an outdoor school for troubled teens. I liked it when it was originally on a few years ago, and I love catching it again. Man, I would love to run a school like that one day.

Anyway, real life is calling.....

The Big 3-0

2004-09-27T15:03:00.000-05:00

My best friend, Elizabeth, was surprised by her husband with a 30th birthday party on Saturday. (Her husband, Curt, has a wonderful blog supporting marriage. They are absolutely a concrete example of how a married couple can live in a modern world and still embrace Godly principles.) She turns 30 on October 5, and I turn 30 on November 20. Several people have made little comments to me suggesting that 30 is the threshold to being old. I disagree. I don't know about everyone else, but I think my twenties were pretty horrible. I spent so much time being unsure of who I was and wondering what path in life to take. I usually felt lost and adrift, even though I already had become a Christian. I have to admit that I did face an unusual number of challenges in my twenties, losing Mom and all of my grandparents, which led to many of my feelings. Luckily, I found a wonderful therapist in Miami who has helped me get on the road to recovering from all that pain. As I enter my thirties, I am excited. I feel that I am leaving choppy seas and entering more still waters. My goals are more concrete and my support system is tried and true.

So, Happy 30th Liz, Happy 30th Me, and Happy 30th Sowders, Rhonda, Lisa, Michelle, Jeff, and all my other 29 year old friends. May our next 30 years be filled with a true enjoyment of life.

On a final happy note, I have finally moved into my own apartment!! Ahh! I am exhausted from the moving, and I have a few more days to go, but I am so happy to be in my own space. I bought a pillowtop mattress that feels like sleeping on a cloud. Also, I bought 400 thread-count sheets that are the softest things I've ever seen. I love my apartment. :)

Survivor Night!

2004-09-23T19:19:00.000-05:00

I love Thursdays!! I don't know what it is that makes me love adventure games and races so much. My ultimate crazy yeah-right one-of-these-days dreams is to compete in a game like Survivor or Eco-Challenge. I may never get there, but it sure is fun to imagine it. (P.S. If anyone wants to join my Survivor fantasy team, let me know.)

Speaking of travelling, I am planning on taking a trip to Europe either this May or next. (Most likely next.) I plan to leave as soon as school's out and spend at least a month wandering extensively around the British Isles and visiting Lisa and David in Portugal, of course seeing some of France on the way. If anyone wants to come with for part or all of the time, just let me know.

Miss America

2004-09-20T16:34:00.000-05:00

Well, my sore throat turned out to be more than just allergies, so I spent most of the weekend in misery on the couch. Saturday night, I watched the Miss America Pageant. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved pageantry. From the time I was old enough to play Barbies, I have been fascinated with pretty dresses and sparkling crowns. When I was little, I was torn between whether to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Daisy Duke, or Princess Ardala when I grew up. Unfortunately, I missed out on those career choices. I wonder why people are so drawn to sparkling icons. In every recorded culture, there have been people held up as paragons of beauty or virtue. Why do we need these examples? Is it to give us a higher standard to aspire to? Or possibly an impossible standard to escape to? I'm not sure. All I know is that in life decisions I take my guidance from the Bible, and I seek counsel from Godly friends. The older I get, the less I admire external things, and the more I try to "fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.." (2 Corinthinans 1:18) However, if anyone were to come up and crown me with a tiara of sparkles, I certainly wouldn't say no. :)

Allergies

2004-09-17T15:15:00.000-05:00

I hate allergies! I have spent all day with a sore throat and without a voice - which is not a great way to control a group of 20 ten-year olds. Anyway, this brings me to a random medical question.

When I rode Mission:SPACE at Disney World, all the spinning made me very ill. (They now have barf bags installed in the ride.) My unpleasant experience led me to wonder why. I know that all of the systems of the body are designed to protect vital functions. For example, tearing of the eyes washes out impurities and pain alerts us to a problem. How do nausea and vomiting restore equilibrium? I have asked a few doctors and they haven't been able to answer. If you know, please fill me in.

On a completely unrelated track, here are my TV opinions for the week. I love Jack & Bobby on the WB. This week's series premiere was enthralling. I hope future episodes can maintain my interest. I have been surprised that I like Father of the Pride. It's animated, but it's been really funny. Joey's cute, but I don't think it will pull me away from Survivor, which, by the way, did not have that strong of a premiere. Oh well, it will get better as the field shrinks. Finally, The Apprentice is already brimming with excitement. In both of the first two episodes, I was surprised by Trump's choices. I love a show that keeps you guessing!

I can't wait for the season premieres of Crossing Jordan, ER, and Joan of Arcadia next week.

Can you tell I'm a complete media geek? :)

Anyway, I am going to spend the weekend shopping for my new apartment. I'm so excited to FINALLY be creating my own space, and to be able to tap into my inner Ty Pennington.

In case you have some time to catch a DVD this weekend, my pick for the week is Rabbit Proof Fence. It is an intriguing story of three aboriginal girls who are forceably removed from their parents and their attempt to return home. If you have time, watch the making of featurette on the DVD extras.

Have a good weekend!

Welcome!

2004-09-16T16:35:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

Since my wonderful group of loved ones is now spread out over several countries, I thought a blog might be an easier way to keep in touch with people. I hope this blog will be a combination of life updates, random observances, movie and television reviews, and reflections on Christian teachings. Please let me know when you visit the site for the first time and let me know what you think.