Wanna check out my Wedding and honeymoon pictures? Click on the link and check them out! I split it up into different albums...
getting ready,
ceremony,
reception,
portraits,
and honeymoon parts 1, 2 and 3.
Enjoy!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
New Project!
I added some pictures to the blog! No need to go searching...I only added two...to recent posts...check out "locks of love" and "so what happened was..."
Also, I added a bunch of pics to our honeymoon blog so check out the July and Aug archives if you want to see a few pics!
Also, I added a bunch of pics to our honeymoon blog so check out the July and Aug archives if you want to see a few pics!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Guilt...iiiick!
Guilt is the curse of the caring.
It is true. The "evil" don't feel remorse, do they? For the most part, if someone feels truly guilty, then you can have some sympathy for them...even if the act they commited is unforgivable.
Guilt is the worse feeling ever.
Guilt can eat people alive....make them wallow away.
Sometimes, people even feel guilt over things which they have no control over. (This is a comon trait in Gifted kids....)
Other times, people truly make mistakes which they feel remorse about...and should...
Obviously, the best thing to do in these situations is to make amends, make things right, and then move on...you can't live your life feeling guilty about something...
"Forget regret, or life is yours to miss...."
But other times you can't make amends...there are many circumstances when this is true... and thats when guilt is the worst, at least in my opinion.
If you can't make amends, then you still need to find a way to get over it and move on... but what if something keeps reminding you of what you did? A person, a place, your own damn mind... and you keep feeling the guilt? Sometimes, that's my worst problem.
For me, it was worst in high school...probably because then I did things that maybe I should have felt guilty about (nothing too serious, but let me tell you...I am glad high school is over... ) but seriously...that was 10 years ago (and would you believe that sometimes I still look back on that with regret?)!
Since then, I am pretty proud of who I've become, and I've tried very hard to do things right...things that I wouldn't regret...things I would be proud of. For the most part, I think I've succeeded. For the most part, I think I've made amends if I have done something wrong. So, for the most part, I haven't had those aching, stomach flutters that were once so common for me...
But when I read stories or watch movies or shows that involves a person feling guilt or remorse, it can really hit home...
Ugh...and sometimes, someone or something.. or my own damn mind... can bring things up that make me feel so guilty... and sometimes I can't, for whatever reason, make amends.
And that is just the worst.
Could this be a Catholic thing?
It is true. The "evil" don't feel remorse, do they? For the most part, if someone feels truly guilty, then you can have some sympathy for them...even if the act they commited is unforgivable.
Guilt is the worse feeling ever.
Guilt can eat people alive....make them wallow away.
Sometimes, people even feel guilt over things which they have no control over. (This is a comon trait in Gifted kids....)
Other times, people truly make mistakes which they feel remorse about...and should...
Obviously, the best thing to do in these situations is to make amends, make things right, and then move on...you can't live your life feeling guilty about something...
"Forget regret, or life is yours to miss...."
But other times you can't make amends...there are many circumstances when this is true... and thats when guilt is the worst, at least in my opinion.
If you can't make amends, then you still need to find a way to get over it and move on... but what if something keeps reminding you of what you did? A person, a place, your own damn mind... and you keep feeling the guilt? Sometimes, that's my worst problem.
For me, it was worst in high school...probably because then I did things that maybe I should have felt guilty about (nothing too serious, but let me tell you...I am glad high school is over... ) but seriously...that was 10 years ago (and would you believe that sometimes I still look back on that with regret?)!
Since then, I am pretty proud of who I've become, and I've tried very hard to do things right...things that I wouldn't regret...things I would be proud of. For the most part, I think I've succeeded. For the most part, I think I've made amends if I have done something wrong. So, for the most part, I haven't had those aching, stomach flutters that were once so common for me...
But when I read stories or watch movies or shows that involves a person feling guilt or remorse, it can really hit home...
Ugh...and sometimes, someone or something.. or my own damn mind... can bring things up that make me feel so guilty... and sometimes I can't, for whatever reason, make amends.
And that is just the worst.
Could this be a Catholic thing?
12 Days of Christmas
Just a reminder: The 12 Days of Christmas start on Dec. 25 and last until Jan 5th,ending with the epiphany on Jan. 6th. So if you celebrate Christmas....please leave your lights up until then! They are so festive, and really brighten up those dark winter nights!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Locks of Love
Well, I cut my hair last week. I cut off 13 inches and donated it to Locks of Love. This is the second time I've done it. I think I can cut off 10 inches every two years or so. I cut my hair three years ago at Christmas for locks of love, but I kept it very trimmed and neat and I wanted it long at my wedding. I don't like it short, but I think its worth it. Its pretty short this time...I can't even put it all in a pony tail, but I must admit, that even though I don't like it...it doesn't look bad...its actually kinda cute...
Monday, December 26, 2005
43 things
I found this really newt website called 43 things. The premise is to list "things" that you want to do in your life...goals if you will...both short term and long term...whatever or however you want to use it. You can post up to 43 things, look at others, cheer others on, update your progress, and the website will even email you to ask you how you are doing on your goals if you want it to. Its really kind of cool, I think!
It also has a sister site called 43 places. The premise here is...guess what? 43 places you'd like to visit!
It also has a sister site called 43 places. The premise here is...guess what? 43 places you'd like to visit!
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Dear Mr. Columbus
Dear Mr. Columbus,
I have now seen your wonderful film, RENT, four times. I have enjoyed the film each and every time I've seen it. I want to applaud your decision to keep the movie true to the play, and your excellent choice in casting. The six original cast members have a spark that truly makes their characters real, and the two new cast members were perfect fits for the already outstanding cast. Overall, I truly feel that the film was very well done.
I do have one critique to make, however, and I hope you'll forgive me. I honestly feel that it was a mistake to cut "Halloween" and the rest of "Goodbye Love," from the film. Every time I see the film, I become more confirmed in my conviction that the argument between Mark and Roger really needs to be in the film to make it complete. There are too many holes otherwise. You spent a lot of thought, I am sure, in how to stage every aspect of the film, including Mark and Roger's hug at the end of "What You Own." I believe that the embrace between those two friends could have been one of the most powerful moments in the film, but instead it fell a bit flat, due to a lack of follow through in explaining what terms the two parted on.
Also, each time I see the movie, I feel more and more that additional emotion is needed, beyond the key scene in the film that precedes "Halloween" and "Goodbye Love." We need to deal with the emotions of the other characters too. Roger's car coming around the bend came too soon...we needed more time to deal with the pain...and so did the characters. I read that you and your editor felt that it was too much emotion for the screen. I disagree, and I think that is exactly why those scenes SHOULD have been in the film. There was more to mourn...the breaking up of a family, Mimi's goodbye, Mark and Roger's fight... the film as is leaves so many loose ends, and didn’t allow the audience to face some realities with the characters they have grown to know.
Mark and Roger, especially, really had a chance to shine here.
Mark and Roger had important messages for each other in "Goodbye Love." Despite them being said in anger, the messages were critically important. "Mark hides in his work, from facing your failure facing your loneliness...Your always preaching not to be numb, when that's how you thrive...." is but one example.
You said that the scenes would be on the DVD, but as deleted scenes and not as part of a completed film. I beg you to reconsider and have an option on the DVD so that those of us who believe with their hearts that these scenes must be there, because they are so important, can watch it whole and complete. For some people, it will be to hear Mimi say goodbye to Roger, for others, like me, it is too see the fullness of the relationship between Mark and Roger be brought to a deeper level.
Please, reconsider, and include an option on the DVD that has the full movie with all of the scenes.
Again, I really want to say that I appreciate with the deepest sincerity your work on this film, and they way you honored and immortalized the original work. I think you did a brilliant job.
I have now seen your wonderful film, RENT, four times. I have enjoyed the film each and every time I've seen it. I want to applaud your decision to keep the movie true to the play, and your excellent choice in casting. The six original cast members have a spark that truly makes their characters real, and the two new cast members were perfect fits for the already outstanding cast. Overall, I truly feel that the film was very well done.
I do have one critique to make, however, and I hope you'll forgive me. I honestly feel that it was a mistake to cut "Halloween" and the rest of "Goodbye Love," from the film. Every time I see the film, I become more confirmed in my conviction that the argument between Mark and Roger really needs to be in the film to make it complete. There are too many holes otherwise. You spent a lot of thought, I am sure, in how to stage every aspect of the film, including Mark and Roger's hug at the end of "What You Own." I believe that the embrace between those two friends could have been one of the most powerful moments in the film, but instead it fell a bit flat, due to a lack of follow through in explaining what terms the two parted on.
Also, each time I see the movie, I feel more and more that additional emotion is needed, beyond the key scene in the film that precedes "Halloween" and "Goodbye Love." We need to deal with the emotions of the other characters too. Roger's car coming around the bend came too soon...we needed more time to deal with the pain...and so did the characters. I read that you and your editor felt that it was too much emotion for the screen. I disagree, and I think that is exactly why those scenes SHOULD have been in the film. There was more to mourn...the breaking up of a family, Mimi's goodbye, Mark and Roger's fight... the film as is leaves so many loose ends, and didn’t allow the audience to face some realities with the characters they have grown to know.
Mark and Roger, especially, really had a chance to shine here.
Mark and Roger had important messages for each other in "Goodbye Love." Despite them being said in anger, the messages were critically important. "Mark hides in his work, from facing your failure facing your loneliness...Your always preaching not to be numb, when that's how you thrive...." is but one example.
You said that the scenes would be on the DVD, but as deleted scenes and not as part of a completed film. I beg you to reconsider and have an option on the DVD so that those of us who believe with their hearts that these scenes must be there, because they are so important, can watch it whole and complete. For some people, it will be to hear Mimi say goodbye to Roger, for others, like me, it is too see the fullness of the relationship between Mark and Roger be brought to a deeper level.
Please, reconsider, and include an option on the DVD that has the full movie with all of the scenes.
Again, I really want to say that I appreciate with the deepest sincerity your work on this film, and they way you honored and immortalized the original work. I think you did a brilliant job.
Viva la vie boheme!
Here you go, Donna!
Ever wonder about the lyrics to La Vie Boheme, from Rent? Read on, my friends!
**Note, I didn't include the entire introduction to the song as sung in the stage version, Just a bit of the dialouge leading up to the major song. I am focusing on getting the lyrics to everything they were toasting to, so if you're singing along, I stopeed at the end of La Vie Boheme before Roger and Mimi start their conversation.**
I also found this awesome website that researched the different people mentioned in the song. I will link it to the bottom of the page as well as here so that you can read it if you want!
La Vie Boheme and La Vie Boheme B (Film version - mostly..the two versions get a bit mixed in my head...)
ROGER
"Why did Muffy-"
BENNY
"Alison"
ROGER
"Miss the show?"
BENNY
"There was a death in the family
If you must know"
ANGEL
"Who died?"
BENNY
"Our Akita"
BENNY, MARK, ANGEL, COLLINS
"Evita"
BENNY
"You make fun yet I'm the one
Attempting to do some good
Or do you really want a neighborhood
Where people piss on your stoop every night?
Bohemia, Bohemia's
A fallacy in your head
This is Calcutta
Bohemia is dead"
MARK and cast
"Dearly beloved we gather here to say our goodbyes
(Dies irae dies illa
Kyrie eleison)
Here she lies
No one knew her worth
The late great daughter of mother earth
On this night when we celebrate the birth
In that little town of Bethlehem
We raise our glass- you bet your ass to-
La vie Boheme
La vie Boheme
La vie Boheme
La vie Boheme
La vie Boheme
To days of inspiration
Playing hookie, making something out of nothing
The need to express
To communicate,
To going against the grain,
Going insane
Going mad
To loving tension, no pension
To more than one dimension,
To starving for attention,
Hating convention, hating pretension
Not to mention of course,
Hating dear old mom and dad
To riding your bike,
Midday past the three- piece suits
To fruits, to no absolutes
To Absolute- to choice
To the "Village Voice"
To any passing fad
To being an us, for once, instead of a them -
La vie Boheme!
La vie Boheme"
MAUREEN
"Hey Mister- she's my sister!"
RESTAURANT MAN
"So that's five miso soup, four seaweed salad
Three soy burger dinner, two tofu dog platter
And one pasta with meatless balls"
"eeew"
Collins
"It tastes the same"
Mimi
"If you close your eyes"
RESTAURANT MAN
"And thirteen orders of fries
Is that it here?"
CAST
"Wine and beer!
To hand-crafted beers made in local breweries
To yoga, to yogurt, to rice and beans and cheese
To leather, to dildos, to curry vindaloo
To huevos rancheros and Maya Angelou
Emotion, devotion, to causing a commotion
Creation, vacation
Mucho masturbation.
Compassion, to fashion, to passion when it's new
To Sontag
To Sondheim
To anything taboo
Ginsberg, Dylan, Cunningham and Cage
Lenny Bruce
Langston Hughes
To the stage!
To Uta
To Buddha
Pablo Neruda, too
Why Dorothy and Toto went over the rainbow
To blow off Auntie Em!
La vie Boheme
MR. GREY
Sisters?
MAUREEN & JOANNE
We're close
CAST:
Brothers!
Bisexuals, trisexuals, homo sapiens,
Carcinogens, hallucinogens, men, Pee Wee Herman
German wine, turpentine, Gertrude Stein
Antonioni, Bertolucci, Kurosawa
Carmina Burana
To apathy, to entropy, to empathy, ecstasy
Vaclav Havel - The Sex Pistols, 8BC,
To no shame - never playing the Fame Game
To marijuana
To sodomy,
It's between God and me
To S & M
La vie Boheme
COLLINS
In honor of the death of Bohemia an impromptu salon will commence
immediately following dinner
Maureen Johnson, back from her spectacular one-night engagement at the
eleventh street lot,
Will sing native american tribal chants backwards through her vocoder,
While accompanying herself on the electric cello....
Which she aint never studied
...and Mark Cohen will preview his new documentary about his inability to hold an
erection on high holy days
Mimi Marquez, clad only in bubble wrap, will perform her famous lawn
chair-handcuff dance to the sounds of iced tea being stirred.
...and Roger will attempt to write a bittersweet, evocative song ..........
That doesn't remind us of "Musetta's Waltz"
Angel Dumott Schunard will model the latest fall fashions from Paris
While accompanying herself on the 10 gallon plastic pickle tub
And Collins will recount his exploits as an anarchist
Including the tale of his successful reprogramming of the M.I.T. virtual reality equipment
To self-destruct, as it broadcast the words:
ALL
"Actual reality -- Act Up -- Fight AIDS"
BENNY
"Check!..............."
...............
La Vie Boheme - B
To Dance!
No Way To Make A Living, Masochism,
Pain, Perfection,
Muscle Spasm, Chiropractors,
Short- Careers, Eating Disorders
Film!
Adventure, Tedium, No Family,
Boring Locations,
Dark Rooms, Perfect Faces, Egos,
Money, Hollywood And Sleaze
Music!
Food Of Love, Emotion, Mathematics,
Isolation,
Power, Rhythm, Feeling, Harmony,
And Heavy Competition
Anarchy!
Revolution, Justice,
Screaming For Solutions,
Forcing Changes, Risk, And Danger
Making Noise And Making Pleas
To Faggots, Lezzies, Dykes,
Cross Dressers Too
To Me
To Me
To Me
To You, And You And You, You And You
To People living With,
Living With,
Living With,
Not Dying From Disease!
Let He Among Us Without Sin
Be The First To Condemn
La Vie Boheme
La Vie Boheme
La Vie Boheme
MARK
Anyone Out Of The
Mainstream
Is Anyone In The
Mainstream?
Anyone Alive - With A
Sex Drive
Tear Down The Wall
Aren't We All?
The Opposite Of War
Isn't Peace...
It's Creation
La Vie Boheme
Viva La Vie Boheme!
Ever wonder about the lyrics to La Vie Boheme, from Rent? Read on, my friends!
**Note, I didn't include the entire introduction to the song as sung in the stage version, Just a bit of the dialouge leading up to the major song. I am focusing on getting the lyrics to everything they were toasting to, so if you're singing along, I stopeed at the end of La Vie Boheme before Roger and Mimi start their conversation.**
I also found this awesome website that researched the different people mentioned in the song. I will link it to the bottom of the page as well as here so that you can read it if you want!
La Vie Boheme and La Vie Boheme B (Film version - mostly..the two versions get a bit mixed in my head...)
ROGER
"Why did Muffy-"
BENNY
"Alison"
ROGER
"Miss the show?"
BENNY
"There was a death in the family
If you must know"
ANGEL
"Who died?"
BENNY
"Our Akita"
BENNY, MARK, ANGEL, COLLINS
"Evita"
BENNY
"You make fun yet I'm the one
Attempting to do some good
Or do you really want a neighborhood
Where people piss on your stoop every night?
Bohemia, Bohemia's
A fallacy in your head
This is Calcutta
Bohemia is dead"
MARK and cast
"Dearly beloved we gather here to say our goodbyes
(Dies irae dies illa
Kyrie eleison)
Here she lies
No one knew her worth
The late great daughter of mother earth
On this night when we celebrate the birth
In that little town of Bethlehem
We raise our glass- you bet your ass to-
La vie Boheme
La vie Boheme
La vie Boheme
La vie Boheme
La vie Boheme
To days of inspiration
Playing hookie, making something out of nothing
The need to express
To communicate,
To going against the grain,
Going insane
Going mad
To loving tension, no pension
To more than one dimension,
To starving for attention,
Hating convention, hating pretension
Not to mention of course,
Hating dear old mom and dad
To riding your bike,
Midday past the three- piece suits
To fruits, to no absolutes
To Absolute- to choice
To the "Village Voice"
To any passing fad
To being an us, for once, instead of a them -
La vie Boheme!
La vie Boheme"
MAUREEN
"Hey Mister- she's my sister!"
RESTAURANT MAN
"So that's five miso soup, four seaweed salad
Three soy burger dinner, two tofu dog platter
And one pasta with meatless balls"
"eeew"
Collins
"It tastes the same"
Mimi
"If you close your eyes"
RESTAURANT MAN
"And thirteen orders of fries
Is that it here?"
CAST
"Wine and beer!
To hand-crafted beers made in local breweries
To yoga, to yogurt, to rice and beans and cheese
To leather, to dildos, to curry vindaloo
To huevos rancheros and Maya Angelou
Emotion, devotion, to causing a commotion
Creation, vacation
Mucho masturbation.
Compassion, to fashion, to passion when it's new
To Sontag
To Sondheim
To anything taboo
Ginsberg, Dylan, Cunningham and Cage
Lenny Bruce
Langston Hughes
To the stage!
To Uta
To Buddha
Pablo Neruda, too
Why Dorothy and Toto went over the rainbow
To blow off Auntie Em!
La vie Boheme
MR. GREY
Sisters?
MAUREEN & JOANNE
We're close
CAST:
Brothers!
Bisexuals, trisexuals, homo sapiens,
Carcinogens, hallucinogens, men, Pee Wee Herman
German wine, turpentine, Gertrude Stein
Antonioni, Bertolucci, Kurosawa
Carmina Burana
To apathy, to entropy, to empathy, ecstasy
Vaclav Havel - The Sex Pistols, 8BC,
To no shame - never playing the Fame Game
To marijuana
To sodomy,
It's between God and me
To S & M
La vie Boheme
COLLINS
In honor of the death of Bohemia an impromptu salon will commence
immediately following dinner
Maureen Johnson, back from her spectacular one-night engagement at the
eleventh street lot,
Will sing native american tribal chants backwards through her vocoder,
While accompanying herself on the electric cello....
Which she aint never studied
...and Mark Cohen will preview his new documentary about his inability to hold an
erection on high holy days
Mimi Marquez, clad only in bubble wrap, will perform her famous lawn
chair-handcuff dance to the sounds of iced tea being stirred.
...and Roger will attempt to write a bittersweet, evocative song ..........
That doesn't remind us of "Musetta's Waltz"
Angel Dumott Schunard will model the latest fall fashions from Paris
While accompanying herself on the 10 gallon plastic pickle tub
And Collins will recount his exploits as an anarchist
Including the tale of his successful reprogramming of the M.I.T. virtual reality equipment
To self-destruct, as it broadcast the words:
ALL
"Actual reality -- Act Up -- Fight AIDS"
BENNY
"Check!..............."
...............
La Vie Boheme - B
To Dance!
No Way To Make A Living, Masochism,
Pain, Perfection,
Muscle Spasm, Chiropractors,
Short- Careers, Eating Disorders
Film!
Adventure, Tedium, No Family,
Boring Locations,
Dark Rooms, Perfect Faces, Egos,
Money, Hollywood And Sleaze
Music!
Food Of Love, Emotion, Mathematics,
Isolation,
Power, Rhythm, Feeling, Harmony,
And Heavy Competition
Anarchy!
Revolution, Justice,
Screaming For Solutions,
Forcing Changes, Risk, And Danger
Making Noise And Making Pleas
To Faggots, Lezzies, Dykes,
Cross Dressers Too
To Me
To Me
To Me
To You, And You And You, You And You
To People living With,
Living With,
Living With,
Not Dying From Disease!
Let He Among Us Without Sin
Be The First To Condemn
La Vie Boheme
La Vie Boheme
La Vie Boheme
MARK
Anyone Out Of The
Mainstream
Is Anyone In The
Mainstream?
Anyone Alive - With A
Sex Drive
Tear Down The Wall
Aren't We All?
The Opposite Of War
Isn't Peace...
It's Creation
La Vie Boheme
Viva La Vie Boheme!
So what happened was...
So last night, I come home from Disneyland and Grant calls and he's all, "What time are you going to be home?" So I tell him that I'm home already, and he says, "Oh, I thought you were going to be home later, I stopped at the mall to pick up a few things." So I'm like, ok, well, I'll be here working on Christmas cards. So like an hour and a hald later he's still not home, so I call him and I'm like, "Any new info on an ETA?" and he says "Yeah I'm on my way." So I ask him, " Well, do you want to pick something up for dinner?" And he says, "How about we go out to Polly's?" Cool by me!
So a few minutes later Danny come home and I ask him if he wants to come, and then Grant calls and he tells me to come on out. Out I go and....there is our brand new 2006 Hyundai Sonata parked in the driveway! Danny and Grant had gone to pick it up and take care of the whole thing without me! Aren't they awesome! Grant was on the phone all, "Oh, I am ready to go get your car so we'll go get it tomorrow morning." Totally didn't catch on!
(I don't think I blogged yet about my car accident? Last Monday I got in a car accident and my old car was totaled. Nobody was hurt, both me and the other driver are all right. Grant and I had talked about getting a new car next year...it just happended a little earlier then anticipated!)
So anyway, my car is beautiful. A 2oo6 Hyundai Sonata LX in aquamarine. It has a ton of safety features, and comfort features (I must say I am very excited about the seat warmers...) So, I am very excited!
So a few minutes later Danny come home and I ask him if he wants to come, and then Grant calls and he tells me to come on out. Out I go and....there is our brand new 2006 Hyundai Sonata parked in the driveway! Danny and Grant had gone to pick it up and take care of the whole thing without me! Aren't they awesome! Grant was on the phone all, "Oh, I am ready to go get your car so we'll go get it tomorrow morning." Totally didn't catch on!
(I don't think I blogged yet about my car accident? Last Monday I got in a car accident and my old car was totaled. Nobody was hurt, both me and the other driver are all right. Grant and I had talked about getting a new car next year...it just happended a little earlier then anticipated!)
So anyway, my car is beautiful. A 2oo6 Hyundai Sonata LX in aquamarine. It has a ton of safety features, and comfort features (I must say I am very excited about the seat warmers...) So, I am very excited!
Rent...my sad lament
I can't believe it, but Rent is only playing in two theaters near by now. What is wrong with people? Sigh.
Monday, December 19, 2005
The dentist shot
I have to go to the dentist in 20 minutes. I have to get a cavity fixed and anotherone next to it filled. I am not looking forward to this. I hate the shot. I am such a baby about it. The pressure, the painful pinches, the sharp pushing...yuck...I am drooling as I think about it. I will probably cry. I hate that I am such a baby about this. Other things don't bother me. Why this? I hate waiting.
Yuck.
Yuck.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Happy Holidays??? or Angry Christmas???
I am really getting sick of hearing about this uproar about stores using” Happy Holidays," instead of Merry Christmas.
Its like, "are you serious?" Who cares either way?
First of all, I don't think the shopping aspect is exactly what the "Christmas" part of the season is supposed to be about, so who cares if secular, non religious businesses (like restaurants and shopping centers) decide to make every single person who walks in the door feel included and welcome? Not just the majority! What’s wrong with making sure that no feels excluded? (um, hello, Happy Holidays INCLUDES Christmas...) Why should anyone be expected to stereotype and assume you celebrate Christmas?
Besides, every major store I walk into is completely decked out for Christmas, including nativity stuff, and very rarely do you see even a fraction of all other winter holidays combined.
But most importantly, I think its pure hypocrisy for "Christians" to be out boycotting, picketing, or sending out rude or demanding letters. None of these actions bring about feelings of peace, love, generosity, joy, or goodwill that are supposed to be what the season is all about.
Instead, they promote anger and irritation...from store employees and management, to shoppers who have to walk by the picketers, to people at home checking their email and instead of getting kind Christmas wishes, they get angry letters urging you to join in their angry party.
Jesus was the last one to exclude anyone, as I understand it. So why do these people want businesses to do just that?
Jesus was born in lambing season, which was not the end of December. The early Christian church used the pagan holiday of Yule, or Winter solstice, as a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus to incorporate "old beliefs" with the new. As such it is really appropriate to say "Happy Holidays," acknowledging the need for holidays, gathering, community and love and light in the darkest, coldest nights of our year. That's why so many holidays are clustered around this time of year!
A celebration of Jesus's birthday maybe important to many people, but it is not the only thing this season is about, even for those who celebrate Christmas.
"What?" You say? Well, it is not!
This season is about love, and family. Light through the darkest nights. Hope and peace and kindness. Its about making children of all ages laugh and believe in magic, and learn about the joy of giving. It is about gathering with friends and family, and giving and receiving, gifts and time, and love.
Happy Holidays is the term used for the season, spanning Thanksgiving, to New Years. Jesus's birth, like the birth of any child, should be greeted with the best of humanities intentions, trying their best to welcome the new life into a world full of peace and love and compassion.
If you spend the season any other way, particularly in anger, then I'm afraid that you may be missing the whole point of the season.
Its like, "are you serious?" Who cares either way?
First of all, I don't think the shopping aspect is exactly what the "Christmas" part of the season is supposed to be about, so who cares if secular, non religious businesses (like restaurants and shopping centers) decide to make every single person who walks in the door feel included and welcome? Not just the majority! What’s wrong with making sure that no feels excluded? (um, hello, Happy Holidays INCLUDES Christmas...) Why should anyone be expected to stereotype and assume you celebrate Christmas?
Besides, every major store I walk into is completely decked out for Christmas, including nativity stuff, and very rarely do you see even a fraction of all other winter holidays combined.
But most importantly, I think its pure hypocrisy for "Christians" to be out boycotting, picketing, or sending out rude or demanding letters. None of these actions bring about feelings of peace, love, generosity, joy, or goodwill that are supposed to be what the season is all about.
Instead, they promote anger and irritation...from store employees and management, to shoppers who have to walk by the picketers, to people at home checking their email and instead of getting kind Christmas wishes, they get angry letters urging you to join in their angry party.
Jesus was the last one to exclude anyone, as I understand it. So why do these people want businesses to do just that?
Jesus was born in lambing season, which was not the end of December. The early Christian church used the pagan holiday of Yule, or Winter solstice, as a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus to incorporate "old beliefs" with the new. As such it is really appropriate to say "Happy Holidays," acknowledging the need for holidays, gathering, community and love and light in the darkest, coldest nights of our year. That's why so many holidays are clustered around this time of year!
A celebration of Jesus's birthday maybe important to many people, but it is not the only thing this season is about, even for those who celebrate Christmas.
"What?" You say? Well, it is not!
This season is about love, and family. Light through the darkest nights. Hope and peace and kindness. Its about making children of all ages laugh and believe in magic, and learn about the joy of giving. It is about gathering with friends and family, and giving and receiving, gifts and time, and love.
Happy Holidays is the term used for the season, spanning Thanksgiving, to New Years. Jesus's birth, like the birth of any child, should be greeted with the best of humanities intentions, trying their best to welcome the new life into a world full of peace and love and compassion.
If you spend the season any other way, particularly in anger, then I'm afraid that you may be missing the whole point of the season.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Sims update (Generation 1 and 2)
Ok, Generation 2 is ready yo take off, so I wanted to do an update to help me remember thier family histories.
I started out with four families. Lisa and Kelly Terra, Carson and Jai Blaze, Jeff and Casey Aquarius, and Jim and Kate Windes.
Each family had two children:
Lisa and Kelly Terra adopted Brandi and Beatrice
Jeff and Casey Aquarius had twin boys, Bryan and Kyan.
Carson and Jai Blaze adopted Hannah and Aaron
Kim and Kate Windes had James and Gina.
All the children grew up and became close friends, and all eight children went on to attend Sim State University.
Bryan Aquarius graduated with honors with a degree in mathematics, and Brandi Terra graduated with honors with a degree in Philosophy. Bryan and Brandi became engaged in their senior year of college. They got married after graduation, and now have a toddler, named Bradley, and a newborn neamed Bridget.
James Windes, who was Bryan's roommate in college, also graduated with honors with a degree in mathmatics. He married Brandi's sorority sister, Hannah Blaze, who graduated Sim U with honors with a degree in Biology. They have a newborn named Amy, and I have the suspicion that there will be another on the way, soon!
Aaron Blaze, Gina Windes, and Beatrice Terra started their junior year at Sim State U by moving out of the dorms and into thier own small house. Aaron and Gina are quite the couple on campus. They are so in love! Beatrice has a crush of her own on Kyan Aquarius, who is currently residing with the popular Sim State Fraternity.
Ah, they grow up so fast!
And of the first genreation sims? Well, Jeff, Casey, Carson, Jai, Jim, Kate, Kelly, and Lisa retired and moved to Shady Acres. A peaceful, quiet community with a small pond, chess sets, book cases....and a balcony full of juke boxes, bars and hot tubs! These sims are living life in the lap of luxury! Recently, Lisa passed away. But her ghost is till around...haunting the halls of Shady Acres...and with good reason. Apparently, her lover, Kelly, has had a crush on Jim...and neither the living Kate, nor the ghost of Lisa, are too pleased with the situation.
Life never gets old in Veronaville!
I started out with four families. Lisa and Kelly Terra, Carson and Jai Blaze, Jeff and Casey Aquarius, and Jim and Kate Windes.
Each family had two children:
Lisa and Kelly Terra adopted Brandi and Beatrice
Jeff and Casey Aquarius had twin boys, Bryan and Kyan.
Carson and Jai Blaze adopted Hannah and Aaron
Kim and Kate Windes had James and Gina.
All the children grew up and became close friends, and all eight children went on to attend Sim State University.
Bryan Aquarius graduated with honors with a degree in mathematics, and Brandi Terra graduated with honors with a degree in Philosophy. Bryan and Brandi became engaged in their senior year of college. They got married after graduation, and now have a toddler, named Bradley, and a newborn neamed Bridget.
James Windes, who was Bryan's roommate in college, also graduated with honors with a degree in mathmatics. He married Brandi's sorority sister, Hannah Blaze, who graduated Sim U with honors with a degree in Biology. They have a newborn named Amy, and I have the suspicion that there will be another on the way, soon!
Aaron Blaze, Gina Windes, and Beatrice Terra started their junior year at Sim State U by moving out of the dorms and into thier own small house. Aaron and Gina are quite the couple on campus. They are so in love! Beatrice has a crush of her own on Kyan Aquarius, who is currently residing with the popular Sim State Fraternity.
Ah, they grow up so fast!
And of the first genreation sims? Well, Jeff, Casey, Carson, Jai, Jim, Kate, Kelly, and Lisa retired and moved to Shady Acres. A peaceful, quiet community with a small pond, chess sets, book cases....and a balcony full of juke boxes, bars and hot tubs! These sims are living life in the lap of luxury! Recently, Lisa passed away. But her ghost is till around...haunting the halls of Shady Acres...and with good reason. Apparently, her lover, Kelly, has had a crush on Jim...and neither the living Kate, nor the ghost of Lisa, are too pleased with the situation.
Life never gets old in Veronaville!
Monday, December 05, 2005
Sounds good to me!
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road.
It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like Mother of Pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"
"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.
"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveller asked.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there". The man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in."
"How about my friend here?" the traveller gestured to the dog.
"There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveller filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.
"What do you call this place?" the traveller asked. "This is Heaven," he answered. "Well, that's confusing," the traveller said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell."
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"
"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."
It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like Mother of Pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"
"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.
"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveller asked.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there". The man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in."
"How about my friend here?" the traveller gestured to the dog.
"There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveller filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.
"What do you call this place?" the traveller asked. "This is Heaven," he answered. "Well, that's confusing," the traveller said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell."
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"
"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Rent, 3rd time around
GOD I can not wait for the DVD. Anyway, I have further observations to make about this fantastic film, but I will be blogging about that tomorrow morning, in between finishing my report cards and playing the Sims (Hannah and Brandi need to finish their second semester of junior year, at the very least) but I digress...
So yes, I went to see Rent again with Grant tonight, and yes I loved LoVeD LOVED it again. Real standouts are Angel, Collins and that Roger...total cuties, I am so drawn to them...and Mark, of course, Mark.
Today 4 U - Proof Positive
God, I have thought about so many things to blog about in the past few days but it is always RENT that gets me on here. You guys must be so sick of hearing about it! Oh well, some observations tomorrow, and then we'll see abotu moving on...that is until I see it again!
So yes, I went to see Rent again with Grant tonight, and yes I loved LoVeD LOVED it again. Real standouts are Angel, Collins and that Roger...total cuties, I am so drawn to them...and Mark, of course, Mark.
Today 4 U - Proof Positive
God, I have thought about so many things to blog about in the past few days but it is always RENT that gets me on here. You guys must be so sick of hearing about it! Oh well, some observations tomorrow, and then we'll see abotu moving on...that is until I see it again!
Echinacea is not an appropriate form of health insurance.
Just thought you should know.
Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe, andf save from devestation our brains...
Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe, andf save from devestation our brains...
Report Cards
It's that time of year already.
Have I mentioned how much I love this class??? They are seriously an all around awesome group of kids! I am so lucky this year!
Have I mentioned how much I love this class??? They are seriously an all around awesome group of kids! I am so lucky this year!