Today is my one year anniversary as a blogger. I'm making a big deal out of this mainly because it's the only anniversary I can make a big deal out of. One day (hopefully) I'll be talking about my wedding anniversary, and that will be fabulous, but until then, happy anniversary, blog! Technically speaking, this isn't my xanga anniversary, but it is the day that I started my blog on Blogger. I was feeling sentimental, so I reread some of my entries on Blogger, and I'm starting to think the stuff I was writing there is better than what I've been writing here, at least for the most part. I wonder if any of that has to do with the fact that I didn't have much of an audience over on blogspot, so I could just write without being aware of 78 subscribers, but who knows. Anyway, here's what I wrote on that oh-so-monumental day of January 31, 2005:
Hello, dear reader. I'm starting off this blog by being optimistic enough to think that someone will actually read this, in which case that person would be very dear. When I first thought about starting a blog I decided not to because my life is, well, not all that spectacular. However, after further rumination, I determined that life itself is spectacular (yes, I could write for Hallmark), and it's our attitudes that determine what kind of life we live day by day. Every day when I wake up I have a choice: to be happy or to be sad, to be positive or to be negative, to be excited or bored. (That was more than one choice, but it's my blog, so I'll do what I want. And in case you haven't noticed, I am overly fond of parenthetical statements.) Today, for instance, I have to say that I woke up with dread, for several reasons. For one, it was Monday, and Mondays just come much too quickly after Sundays. Secondly, it's month-end, which means that I had all sorts of reports to run at work, and the computer almost always fights against me, which in turn means that I spend all day with the phone glued to my ear, talking to a computer techie. And third, my bed was super warm. Why, you ask? Two words, my friends: flannel sheets. They are absolutely marvelous. After purchasing said flannel sheets, I named my bed "Happy Bed." (Before it was just "That Thing I Sleep In," which is decidedly less interesting.) But I digress. So this morning I had the choice to go to work and be grumpy and let my mood match the gloomy weather outside, but I opted not to. Instead, I decided that Monday should be no different from any other day of the week, and wouldn't you know it? I had a great day! Nothing went wrong with the computer, I got all of my work done, and I found a book on teaching yourself Latin for a really cheap price! (I want to learn Latin since I plan to get my doctorate in medieval literature.) With that said, embrace each day you're given. You never know, it may be your last.
Interesting, huh? A lot has changed in a year. For one, I'm no longer at that job, and for that I offer up a great big "Hallelujah!" Secondly, I'm in a completely different city doing a completely different thing. The transition period, as my long-term readers know, was difficult, but now I can honestly say that I'm grateful God brought me to the city of Knoxville to become a grad student. And that's a huge thing for me. Then of course there's the fact that sadly I no longer am in possession of those wonderful flannel sheets. I got a new bedroom suite when I moved, and my sheets were for a full-sized bed, but my new bed is a queen. Very sad day when I realized the Happy Bed would be a little less happy. But then I got sateen sheets, and they are pretty marvelous as well. I can adapt. (And I'm moving on because no one cares about my sheets.) What's funny about this entry is that I wrote about finding a book on learning Latin, and I still have yet to learn any Latin. That's pretty sad. I did, however, open up the book the other day and read the introduction. I really must learn Latin. I pretty much can't be a bona fide medievalist unless I do, so if anyone knows Latin and wants to give me some tips, please do!
Anywho, I will say that the reminder to make the most of every day is a timely one. As a fairly pessimistic kind of person I'm often tempted to dwell on the negatives, but I do really think that perspective is key, so I'm working a lot on changing that. With God's invaluable help and guidance, I'm learning the meaning of Paul's command to "rejoice in the Lord always." It's no easy command, but trying is half the battle. So, my dear readers, remember that this day is what you make of it. This is the day the Lord has made, so rejoice and be glad in it!
P.S. New Gilmore Girls tonight! Get ready for a showdown with the grandparents!
EDIT: GG was a-MAZ-ing! The last 10 minutes were probably some of the best in the entire show's history. Absolutely brilliant. Stay tuned for more of that commentary you all know and love. Or at least know about. Whatever.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
New Home
Apparently everyone in my subscription list decided to update their blogs yesterday (and for those of you who didn't: where the heck are you??). Makes for good reading, and I promise I will get around to commenting sometime soon.
Anywho, I think I just may have found a new church home. And I owe it all to my sweet friend Sorina. And God of course. You know how sometimes you step into a church and it just feels like a family? That's what this church felt like. It's really unlike any other church I've ever been to, and I pumped about it! Praise the Lord for leading me there!
In other news, I saw King Kong Saturday night , and I have to say that I have not cried so much during a movie since I saw Titanic. I'm not even kidding. I wasn't expecting to become so emotionally involved in this movie, but I did. Clearly there's something wrong with me. If I wasn't laughing, I was terrified, and if I wasn't terrified, I was bawling. I was so tense that I had to go to the bathroom just to escape it for a minute, only to come back just as some guy was being swallowed by a big slimy thing. Nice. It was completely exhausting, but it's a really great movie. One of my other friends was also bawling (both of us were making that ugly heaving noise that is so embarrassing if you're in public), so I didn't feel quite so ridiculous. However, I do realize that admitting that I cried about a giant CGI creature opens me up to mockery, so mock away. I don't care, it was great! I'll probably watch it again, too. At least then I'll know what's coming.
Currently watching: The Ellen DeGeneres show, where this completely adorable little girl is about to sing a song with all the states in alphabetical order. Alabama is her favorite state because "gramma and grampa live there." Awww.
Anywho, I think I just may have found a new church home. And I owe it all to my sweet friend Sorina. And God of course. You know how sometimes you step into a church and it just feels like a family? That's what this church felt like. It's really unlike any other church I've ever been to, and I pumped about it! Praise the Lord for leading me there!
In other news, I saw King Kong Saturday night , and I have to say that I have not cried so much during a movie since I saw Titanic. I'm not even kidding. I wasn't expecting to become so emotionally involved in this movie, but I did. Clearly there's something wrong with me. If I wasn't laughing, I was terrified, and if I wasn't terrified, I was bawling. I was so tense that I had to go to the bathroom just to escape it for a minute, only to come back just as some guy was being swallowed by a big slimy thing. Nice. It was completely exhausting, but it's a really great movie. One of my other friends was also bawling (both of us were making that ugly heaving noise that is so embarrassing if you're in public), so I didn't feel quite so ridiculous. However, I do realize that admitting that I cried about a giant CGI creature opens me up to mockery, so mock away. I don't care, it was great! I'll probably watch it again, too. At least then I'll know what's coming.
Currently watching: The Ellen DeGeneres show, where this completely adorable little girl is about to sing a song with all the states in alphabetical order. Alabama is her favorite state because "gramma and grampa live there." Awww.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
That's Just Stupid
I have one of those desk calendars with sheets that you can tear off every day, and the one I bought this year is called "The 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said." Some of them aren't all that funny. (In fact, a couple of them have just caused me and Elizabeth to say, "What?!") Anyway, there have been some gems that I'm going to share for your reading amusement.
Paris Hilton, when asked if she would like to go to Wal-Mart: "Do they sell walls there?" Paris, Paris, are you really that disconnected from the rest of the world?
President Bush: "I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today...He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me." Now, I'm certainly not a Bush hater, but good grief.
Major General Bui Quoc Huy, Ho Chi Minh City's police commander: "If we sack officers for corruption, we will be seriously short of staff." HA.
Headline in Ohio newspaper: "Local Woman Dog Show Winner" Oh snap!
I've been trying to think of stupid things that I have said because I know there are lots (my parents often have wondered how someone so smart can be so dumb at times), but I can't remember any. I do remember this time when I was in fourth grade or something and we were eating dinner. My brother refused to eat his pork chops, so my mom told him he had to stay at the dinner table until he did. Of course, I, loving that he was in trouble, taunted him and then said, "I bet you my allowance that you won't eat those pork chops." (My allowance at the time was $4, corresponding to the grade I was in.) Of course my brother--money-hungry even then--was like, "Okay," and preceded to eat every last bite. Definitely not my smartest moment. We still laugh at that today.
What is something stupid you've said or done?
Paris Hilton, when asked if she would like to go to Wal-Mart: "Do they sell walls there?" Paris, Paris, are you really that disconnected from the rest of the world?
President Bush: "I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today...He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me." Now, I'm certainly not a Bush hater, but good grief.
Major General Bui Quoc Huy, Ho Chi Minh City's police commander: "If we sack officers for corruption, we will be seriously short of staff." HA.
Headline in Ohio newspaper: "Local Woman Dog Show Winner" Oh snap!
I've been trying to think of stupid things that I have said because I know there are lots (my parents often have wondered how someone so smart can be so dumb at times), but I can't remember any. I do remember this time when I was in fourth grade or something and we were eating dinner. My brother refused to eat his pork chops, so my mom told him he had to stay at the dinner table until he did. Of course, I, loving that he was in trouble, taunted him and then said, "I bet you my allowance that you won't eat those pork chops." (My allowance at the time was $4, corresponding to the grade I was in.) Of course my brother--money-hungry even then--was like, "Okay," and preceded to eat every last bite. Definitely not my smartest moment. We still laugh at that today.
What is something stupid you've said or done?
Thursday, January 26, 2006
The Value of Truth
Today on Oprah, James Frey, the author of bestseller and Oprah Book Club book A Million Little Pieces, admitted to fabricating parts of his memoir. A lot of you may have heard about the investigation The Smoking Gun did and the story it published on its website about the many discrepancies between Frey's real life and the events depicted in his memoir. Oprah even called into Larry King Live to defend Frey when he appeared on King's show earlier this month, saying that the investigation did not change her feelings about the book because the message of redemption is the same. However, she has since realized that her comments led people to believe she didn't care about the truth, which is not the case, so she publicly apologized to the American public and admitted her embarrassment over the whole debacle. Oprah really deserves a lot of credit for what she did because I know it can't have been easy to be publicly embarrassed as she was and then have to apologize for also misleading her viewers. She bluntly tells him she felt duped and betrayed, and she held nothing back in her questions of him without coming across as mean or vindictive. Apparently, she and her producers had been told by the publishers that the book was true and real, and so they believed them, as did virtually everyone else who has read the book. Oprah made it clear several times during the show that she regretted making the phone call and that the truth really does matter to her.
Frey's publisher, Nan Talese, also appeared on the show, and when asked by Oprah if she ever doubted the truth of Frey's story, she said no. When Oprah asked if they had done anything to verify the facts, she replied with something along the lines of, "Can you ask an author if their life is true?" Oprah (and me, sitting in my living room) said emphatically, "Yes!" Talese then talked about how it was a "memoir" and not an "autobiography" and that it's understood that the work is a tale of the author's memories of events. So if the author is said to remember things a certain way, that is what's reported. Okay, Talese, point taken. BUT the thing is, several details that Frey embellished, such as the length of his stay in jail, the manner in which a woman in his life committed suicide, his visit to the dentist, etc., all could have been verified within maybe an hour's worth of research. It's not as though he said the shirt he wore when he left the rehab facility was blue when it was really black. The details he altered are big ones, details that affect how the reader views the work. And Frey admitted to altering these details, so it's not just that he "remembered" them the way he told them, he blatantly lied. He tried, not very well in my opinion, to defend himself, saying that part of his alterations were to protect the people involved and also saying it was a type of "coping mechanism." What? How is lying to yourself and other people about serious things a way of coping? It's more like denial. Even after Oprah pressed him, he seemed to admit to lying very begrudgingly. I'm not at all trying to be insensitive, and I can imagine this whole ordeal has been difficult for Frey, but there's a thing called personal integrity, and if you're going to present a certain picture of yourself to millions of readers, make sure it's the right picture.
Not only that, but this could have implications much bigger than Frey's tainted reputation. Undoubtedly this will cause many people to question the validity of every memoir. If publishers don't think it necessary to check facts, then who's to say what's true or not? And as Oprah pointed out, what's to stop any Joe on the street from bringing in a story they claim to be their life but is actually a bunch of lies? There needs to be better accountability, more responsibility on the part of publishers to verify facts. I've read a couple of articles that say staffing fact-checkers is too expensive and time consuming, but what does that say about the price we put on truth? Postmodern world aside, I still believe in truth, as do millions of other people, and the pursuit of it should be priceless.
You can read about Frey's appearance on Oprah here.
EDIT: Beth's comment reminded me that I forgot to add that the next printing of the book will contain an author's note explaining the fabrications but that it will still be marketed as a memoir. I agree with Beth that a book is good if it grabs your attention and keeps it, but why couldn't Frey have just written a novel? Or just told the truth? Or even have the book say something like "based on a true story"? Sure, it's entertaining, but should it just stop there? Couldn't it be both entertaining and truthful?
Frey's publisher, Nan Talese, also appeared on the show, and when asked by Oprah if she ever doubted the truth of Frey's story, she said no. When Oprah asked if they had done anything to verify the facts, she replied with something along the lines of, "Can you ask an author if their life is true?" Oprah (and me, sitting in my living room) said emphatically, "Yes!" Talese then talked about how it was a "memoir" and not an "autobiography" and that it's understood that the work is a tale of the author's memories of events. So if the author is said to remember things a certain way, that is what's reported. Okay, Talese, point taken. BUT the thing is, several details that Frey embellished, such as the length of his stay in jail, the manner in which a woman in his life committed suicide, his visit to the dentist, etc., all could have been verified within maybe an hour's worth of research. It's not as though he said the shirt he wore when he left the rehab facility was blue when it was really black. The details he altered are big ones, details that affect how the reader views the work. And Frey admitted to altering these details, so it's not just that he "remembered" them the way he told them, he blatantly lied. He tried, not very well in my opinion, to defend himself, saying that part of his alterations were to protect the people involved and also saying it was a type of "coping mechanism." What? How is lying to yourself and other people about serious things a way of coping? It's more like denial. Even after Oprah pressed him, he seemed to admit to lying very begrudgingly. I'm not at all trying to be insensitive, and I can imagine this whole ordeal has been difficult for Frey, but there's a thing called personal integrity, and if you're going to present a certain picture of yourself to millions of readers, make sure it's the right picture.
Not only that, but this could have implications much bigger than Frey's tainted reputation. Undoubtedly this will cause many people to question the validity of every memoir. If publishers don't think it necessary to check facts, then who's to say what's true or not? And as Oprah pointed out, what's to stop any Joe on the street from bringing in a story they claim to be their life but is actually a bunch of lies? There needs to be better accountability, more responsibility on the part of publishers to verify facts. I've read a couple of articles that say staffing fact-checkers is too expensive and time consuming, but what does that say about the price we put on truth? Postmodern world aside, I still believe in truth, as do millions of other people, and the pursuit of it should be priceless.
You can read about Frey's appearance on Oprah here.
EDIT: Beth's comment reminded me that I forgot to add that the next printing of the book will contain an author's note explaining the fabrications but that it will still be marketed as a memoir. I agree with Beth that a book is good if it grabs your attention and keeps it, but why couldn't Frey have just written a novel? Or just told the truth? Or even have the book say something like "based on a true story"? Sure, it's entertaining, but should it just stop there? Couldn't it be both entertaining and truthful?
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
UPN and the WB are merging into one company. I'm cool with that as long as they don't mess with my Girls. I'm just sayin'.
And because I don't have anything else to say, I'm going to steal this from Mary:
Open iTunes to answer the following. Go to your library. Answer, no matter how embarrasing it is.
How many songs? 1079
Sort by song title--
Top: "40" by U2
Bottom: "Your Grace is Sufficient" by Shane and Shane
Sort by time--
Shortest Song: "Repeat/Return or When the Seventh Angel Sounded His Trumpet...(this is the world's longest song title so I'm not putting the whole thing on here) by David Crowder* Band, :10. (Does anyone know the reason for the *? I don't think it used to be there.)
Longest Song: "Wait for Your Rain" by Todd Agnew, 15:07. (The longest thing on the list is actually a Harry Potter podcast that lasts 1:23:44, but since it's not a song I'm not counting it.)
Sort by album--
First Song: "Maybe Tomorrow" by Nouveaux, from the album ...And This is How I Feel.
Last Song: "I Will Come to You" by Hanson (I know, I know. But it's on a mix CD my friend Lindsay made me, and I don't have the album title. Stop laughing!)
Top Five Most Played Songs:
1. "These Hazel Eyes" by Kelly Clarkson
2. "The Innocent's Corner" by Caedmon's Call (I didn't think I listened to this song that much, especially not compared to some other Caedmon songs, but I guess I was wrong.)
3. "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson (There were seriously about two weeks when this album was all I listened to. I have a sickness.)
4. "River God" by Nichole Nordeman
5. "Why" by Bethany Dillon
Most repeated artist on your entire Most Played list: Bethany Dillon, with 7 songs (I added this category myself)
First song that comes up on Shuffle:
"She Has No Time" by Keane
Second song that comes up on Shuffle:
"Only Hope" by Caedmon's Call
Third song that comes up on Shuffle:
"Per Te" by Josh Groban (man he makes me swoon)
And because I don't have anything else to say, I'm going to steal this from Mary:
Open iTunes to answer the following. Go to your library. Answer, no matter how embarrasing it is.
How many songs? 1079
Sort by song title--
Top: "40" by U2
Bottom: "Your Grace is Sufficient" by Shane and Shane
Sort by time--
Shortest Song: "Repeat/Return or When the Seventh Angel Sounded His Trumpet...(this is the world's longest song title so I'm not putting the whole thing on here) by David Crowder* Band, :10. (Does anyone know the reason for the *? I don't think it used to be there.)
Longest Song: "Wait for Your Rain" by Todd Agnew, 15:07. (The longest thing on the list is actually a Harry Potter podcast that lasts 1:23:44, but since it's not a song I'm not counting it.)
Sort by album--
First Song: "Maybe Tomorrow" by Nouveaux, from the album ...And This is How I Feel.
Last Song: "I Will Come to You" by Hanson (I know, I know. But it's on a mix CD my friend Lindsay made me, and I don't have the album title. Stop laughing!)
Top Five Most Played Songs:
1. "These Hazel Eyes" by Kelly Clarkson
2. "The Innocent's Corner" by Caedmon's Call (I didn't think I listened to this song that much, especially not compared to some other Caedmon songs, but I guess I was wrong.)
3. "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson (There were seriously about two weeks when this album was all I listened to. I have a sickness.)
4. "River God" by Nichole Nordeman
5. "Why" by Bethany Dillon
Most repeated artist on your entire Most Played list: Bethany Dillon, with 7 songs (I added this category myself)
First song that comes up on Shuffle:
"She Has No Time" by Keane
Second song that comes up on Shuffle:
"Only Hope" by Caedmon's Call
Third song that comes up on Shuffle:
"Per Te" by Josh Groban (man he makes me swoon)
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Get In Focus
Every year I plan on reading all of My Utmost for His Highest, and every year I make it through to about March. Then there's a really long gap, with occasional April and May readings but almost none in the summer months until about mid-August. I usually get motivated again sometime around October, but by the end of December I'm back where I started. All of this is made evident just by glancing at my well-worn copy of My Utmost, for the days that I actually have read (for the most part) are filled with underlinings and/or comments whereas the other days are still virginal white. (I don't know that I've ever referred to pages of a book as being "virginal," but it really fits. Unless you carry that metaphor too far, which I'm not because I'm stopping right there.) What is the point of this rambling? Well, there isn't one really except that this year I'm going to try to read all of it. And if I can't do that, I hope that I can at least cover the portions that I seem to miss every year. What does Mr. Oswald Chambers have to say on July 24? (Oh wait, I just flipped there, and I've read that day. But you get the idea.) I've though about just reading all of it regardless of what day it is, but that just seems to defeat the purpose somehow.
Anyway, all of this was just a really long preface to today's entry, of which I will provide an excerpt here:
"The great difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and it is His blessings that make it difficult. Troubles nearly always make us look to God; His blessings are apt to make us look elsewhere. The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount is, in effect--Narrow all your interests until the attitude of mind and heart and body is concentration on Jesus Christ...The very thing we look for we shall find if we concentrate on Him."
How true is this? I know the great struggle of my walk with God is just focusing on Him. It's much easier to focus on me and my problems or how much my life is harder than the next person's (which is of course completely ridiculous because my life isn't hard at all, not really anyway). But to focus on God? This means everything. It means putting aside myself and my selfishness; it means literally killing self so that Christ may live in me. I'm the first one to become confident when things are going well in my life and the first to come crawling meekly back to God when everything crumbles before my feet. How much I have missed because I spend countless hours thinking about myself instead of thinking about God? It's so silly and stupid the way I constantly worship my little manmade idols of school and money and me, hoping to find joy and satisfaction, when right in front of me is Joy itself. And really, what Chambers describes, this attitude of mind and heart and body concentrating on Jesus, isn't this the very form of worship? It all comes back to worship.
And what's even cooler about all of this is the way that a lot of what I'm reading in Chambers corresponds so nicely with what I'm reading in Philippians. I've been going through the book, taking a chunk of verses each day, and here's what I read today. It happens to be one of my most favorite passages of Scripture:
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." ~Philippians 3:7-11
Okay, enough rambling. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Anyway, all of this was just a really long preface to today's entry, of which I will provide an excerpt here:
"The great difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and it is His blessings that make it difficult. Troubles nearly always make us look to God; His blessings are apt to make us look elsewhere. The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount is, in effect--Narrow all your interests until the attitude of mind and heart and body is concentration on Jesus Christ...The very thing we look for we shall find if we concentrate on Him."
How true is this? I know the great struggle of my walk with God is just focusing on Him. It's much easier to focus on me and my problems or how much my life is harder than the next person's (which is of course completely ridiculous because my life isn't hard at all, not really anyway). But to focus on God? This means everything. It means putting aside myself and my selfishness; it means literally killing self so that Christ may live in me. I'm the first one to become confident when things are going well in my life and the first to come crawling meekly back to God when everything crumbles before my feet. How much I have missed because I spend countless hours thinking about myself instead of thinking about God? It's so silly and stupid the way I constantly worship my little manmade idols of school and money and me, hoping to find joy and satisfaction, when right in front of me is Joy itself. And really, what Chambers describes, this attitude of mind and heart and body concentrating on Jesus, isn't this the very form of worship? It all comes back to worship.
And what's even cooler about all of this is the way that a lot of what I'm reading in Chambers corresponds so nicely with what I'm reading in Philippians. I've been going through the book, taking a chunk of verses each day, and here's what I read today. It happens to be one of my most favorite passages of Scripture:
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." ~Philippians 3:7-11
Okay, enough rambling. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
A Dilemma
So I've been really pumped about seeing a new movie, End of the Spear. It's based on the true story of five missionaries who journey to Ecuador to minister to the Waodonis, one of the most violent tribes in history. It's a really amazing story, chronicled in Elisabeth Elliot's book, Through Gates of Splendor (an absolutely riveting and beautifully written book that is a must read), and so when I read about this movie I was absolutely pumped. A movie about missionaries actually being released nationwide? How awesome!
Then I read Tommy's blog earlier, and now I'm very torn. I urge you to visit Tommy's site and read the article he linked, but in case you don't, the gist of it is that Chad Allen, who plays Nate Saint (and later his son Steve), one of the missionaries, is a very vocal gay activist whose been in and produced movies and plays promoting the homosexual lifestyle. Even more troubling is that Every Tribe Entertainment, who produced this film and has evangelical ties, knew about this when they cast Allen in the film. They, and the real life Steve Saint, saw no problem with this. The article on Tommy's site delineates several problems the writer finds with this, and I find myself struggling with whether or not to see it. The cons are listed in the article. On the pro side, the story itself is a truly incredible story, and the fact that it was made into a movie at all is encouraging, and I would like to support films that promote wholesome, even godly, messages. Furthermore, Allen is simply an actor playing a role. That's what all actors do. So if I were not to see this movie because he's a homosexual and I disagree with that lifestyle, wouldn't I also have to abstain from seeing movies with actors who are known to be adulterers, alcoholics, etc.? Should we judge the quality of a movie based on the people portraying its characters? And is this movie a different matter, since it's not just any character, but the character of a Christian? I hate that I can't make up my mind about this. What does everyone else think?
EDIT: The more I think about this, the more I feel like I might be making a bigger deal out of this than is necessary. I guess what bothers me is that, as Mary pointed out, this is going to be what people talk about concerning this movie (and I'm not helping things, obviously), and if they had just gone with someone else that controversy might have been avoided. Then again, for all I know people would find problems with a different actor, for a different reason, but aren't there more pressing issues that deserve our attention? Because in the end, we're all horribly sinful and flawed. Keep commenting; I'm enjoying the responses.
EDIT 2: I'm going to see the movie. (Not today probably, but I'm going.)
Then I read Tommy's blog earlier, and now I'm very torn. I urge you to visit Tommy's site and read the article he linked, but in case you don't, the gist of it is that Chad Allen, who plays Nate Saint (and later his son Steve), one of the missionaries, is a very vocal gay activist whose been in and produced movies and plays promoting the homosexual lifestyle. Even more troubling is that Every Tribe Entertainment, who produced this film and has evangelical ties, knew about this when they cast Allen in the film. They, and the real life Steve Saint, saw no problem with this. The article on Tommy's site delineates several problems the writer finds with this, and I find myself struggling with whether or not to see it. The cons are listed in the article. On the pro side, the story itself is a truly incredible story, and the fact that it was made into a movie at all is encouraging, and I would like to support films that promote wholesome, even godly, messages. Furthermore, Allen is simply an actor playing a role. That's what all actors do. So if I were not to see this movie because he's a homosexual and I disagree with that lifestyle, wouldn't I also have to abstain from seeing movies with actors who are known to be adulterers, alcoholics, etc.? Should we judge the quality of a movie based on the people portraying its characters? And is this movie a different matter, since it's not just any character, but the character of a Christian? I hate that I can't make up my mind about this. What does everyone else think?
EDIT: The more I think about this, the more I feel like I might be making a bigger deal out of this than is necessary. I guess what bothers me is that, as Mary pointed out, this is going to be what people talk about concerning this movie (and I'm not helping things, obviously), and if they had just gone with someone else that controversy might have been avoided. Then again, for all I know people would find problems with a different actor, for a different reason, but aren't there more pressing issues that deserve our attention? Because in the end, we're all horribly sinful and flawed. Keep commenting; I'm enjoying the responses.
EDIT 2: I'm going to see the movie. (Not today probably, but I'm going.)
Friday, January 20, 2006
This week on Gilmore Girls...
We open on Luke and Lorelai fast asleep but quickly awakened by loud clanging bells. They jolt upright, find out it's 3:12, and hear Kirk yelling that there's a town meeting. Right now. At 3:12 a.m. I know this town is kooky, but come on. Who calls a town meeting at 3 a.m.? More importantly, who would actually show up to a town meeting at 3 a.m.? (The best part of this ridiculous opener is when, after Kirk's announcement, Lorelai immediately says, "Okay, let's go" at the same time Luke is rolling over to go back to sleep, like normal people do, unless they're nocturnal.) In Stars Hollow, a lot of people, that's who. Turns out Taylor called the meeting because he's snowed in at his sister's and therefore won't be in Stars Hollow to run the annual winter carnival. He announces this with great fanfare, obviously expecting shocks of dismay, but he is met with silence. The problem is quickly resolved with Kirk agreeing to take over. (Which in my opinion is never a good idea. Anyone remember the egg fiasco from season 4?)
Switch to the diner the next morning. A very chipper Lorelai babbles excitedly about how much work she's already gotten done, and she even got to see the first hour of Matt and Katie, which has never happened. (Never happened for me either. No way am I getting up that early.) Luke is noticeably tired and distracted (he pours Lorelai two separate cups of coffee), and methinks more than a few hours of lost sleep is the cause.
In Yaleland, Rory returns to the ghettofied apartment to find flowers from Logan all over the place. Paris of course tells her to deal with this floral flood (clever, huh?), and Rory's all flustered and irritated, with due cause. Then another delivery comes, this time one of "fancy fruit." Good grief.
Back in kooky town, we see Luke in a park meeting up with April. They sit on a bench after a cute but awkward greeting, April asks why he wanted to meet there, and Luke said he thought kids liked parks. She replies astutely, "It's 41 degrees out. Not exactly peak park season." I have to say, as much as I hate this whole daughter-out-of-the- woodworks storyline, April's cute. A little too Rory-like, but cute. After informing April that he wants to see her on a weekly basis, Luke asks what she likes to do, and she lists the typical 12 year-old activities: Morse code and pen pals from Bangalore. Hee. He says, "I'm not sure I'd be help with any of that." Aw. Turns out what April would really like is to come to the diner. Because diners are the most fascinating places ever. Right. Luke looks less than thrilled with this little arrangement, but what's he going to do, tell his newly found daughter no? No. SOS, Luke. Trouble ahead!
Cut to the Dragonfly Inn, where Kirk is pestering Lorelai (as usual) and Lorelai greets a group of maple syrup tasters. Because there's lots of those around (believe me, I did a Google search). This scene was kind of pointless, so moving on.
Ah, the Yale Daily News. We see Paris reaching a new level of insanity, hovering over the desks of the writers, correcting their stories, and creating a board with everyone's names and colored magnets that correspond to what the staff member is doing. Purple for at home, orange for outside the office, etc. It saves "extraneous glancing," says Paris. Oh, Paris. After looking at this new system in disbelief, Rory leaves the newsroom only to be accosted by a guy with a coffee cart who informs her he's been paid to follow her around all day and provide her with whatever coffee beverage she wants. Rory tries to shoo him away, but he insists he has to follow her and that he's already been paid. Rory says, "Fine" in a voice that indicates it's not fine, and she and coffee dude exit.
Later on, Luke's on the phone with April's mother Anna, trying to get out of the plans he just made with April. He's totally nervous and uncomfortable, but instead of being upfront with Anna and just telling her he still needs to tell people about April, he's vague and says that the diner will be busy, people will be "swooshing around," and there will be pans of hot grease. Anna shoots down all of his excuses, but he keeps pushing until he finally says that day just won't work. She says, "No, it doesn't work that way. There's no great time to be a parent, you just are one. If you're going to make plans to be with my daughter and then cancel, then our deal is canceled." Luke then backpedals, saying he doesn't want that at all and he'll see April tomorrow. After he hangs up the phone, he looks worried, and rightfully so, since he STILL HASN'T TOLD LORELAI. Sheesh, men can be dense.
Since this is already long and I haven't even gotten to the juicy stuff yet, I'm stopping here. I'll continue the rest tomorrow. (If I get some comments, that is! Hehe.)
Switch to the diner the next morning. A very chipper Lorelai babbles excitedly about how much work she's already gotten done, and she even got to see the first hour of Matt and Katie, which has never happened. (Never happened for me either. No way am I getting up that early.) Luke is noticeably tired and distracted (he pours Lorelai two separate cups of coffee), and methinks more than a few hours of lost sleep is the cause.
In Yaleland, Rory returns to the ghettofied apartment to find flowers from Logan all over the place. Paris of course tells her to deal with this floral flood (clever, huh?), and Rory's all flustered and irritated, with due cause. Then another delivery comes, this time one of "fancy fruit." Good grief.
Back in kooky town, we see Luke in a park meeting up with April. They sit on a bench after a cute but awkward greeting, April asks why he wanted to meet there, and Luke said he thought kids liked parks. She replies astutely, "It's 41 degrees out. Not exactly peak park season." I have to say, as much as I hate this whole daughter-out-of-the- woodworks storyline, April's cute. A little too Rory-like, but cute. After informing April that he wants to see her on a weekly basis, Luke asks what she likes to do, and she lists the typical 12 year-old activities: Morse code and pen pals from Bangalore. Hee. He says, "I'm not sure I'd be help with any of that." Aw. Turns out what April would really like is to come to the diner. Because diners are the most fascinating places ever. Right. Luke looks less than thrilled with this little arrangement, but what's he going to do, tell his newly found daughter no? No. SOS, Luke. Trouble ahead!
Cut to the Dragonfly Inn, where Kirk is pestering Lorelai (as usual) and Lorelai greets a group of maple syrup tasters. Because there's lots of those around (believe me, I did a Google search). This scene was kind of pointless, so moving on.
Ah, the Yale Daily News. We see Paris reaching a new level of insanity, hovering over the desks of the writers, correcting their stories, and creating a board with everyone's names and colored magnets that correspond to what the staff member is doing. Purple for at home, orange for outside the office, etc. It saves "extraneous glancing," says Paris. Oh, Paris. After looking at this new system in disbelief, Rory leaves the newsroom only to be accosted by a guy with a coffee cart who informs her he's been paid to follow her around all day and provide her with whatever coffee beverage she wants. Rory tries to shoo him away, but he insists he has to follow her and that he's already been paid. Rory says, "Fine" in a voice that indicates it's not fine, and she and coffee dude exit.
Later on, Luke's on the phone with April's mother Anna, trying to get out of the plans he just made with April. He's totally nervous and uncomfortable, but instead of being upfront with Anna and just telling her he still needs to tell people about April, he's vague and says that the diner will be busy, people will be "swooshing around," and there will be pans of hot grease. Anna shoots down all of his excuses, but he keeps pushing until he finally says that day just won't work. She says, "No, it doesn't work that way. There's no great time to be a parent, you just are one. If you're going to make plans to be with my daughter and then cancel, then our deal is canceled." Luke then backpedals, saying he doesn't want that at all and he'll see April tomorrow. After he hangs up the phone, he looks worried, and rightfully so, since he STILL HASN'T TOLD LORELAI. Sheesh, men can be dense.
Since this is already long and I haven't even gotten to the juicy stuff yet, I'm stopping here. I'll continue the rest tomorrow. (If I get some comments, that is! Hehe.)
Thursday, January 19, 2006
American Idol: Criminal Intent
What is it about American Idol contestants and felonies? Every season it seems like there's been a scandal related to contestants' run-ins with the law, and this season is no exception. This time around it's the twin brothers we saw make it to Hollywood on Tuesday. Even better, they're from Memphis. As if Memphis' reputation isn't soiled enough. Sigh.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Okay, so I'm totally drowning in readings and can't provide the GG update that I would like, but I promise one will be forthcoming, probably tomorrow after all of my classes or on Friday, when I have no classes at all! Let me just say that if you didn't see it, you can be glad you were spared the frustration, anger, and dismay I felt upon hearing Luke postpone the wedding. Yes, that's right, the wedding is postponed. It was Lorelai's stupid idea, but you could tell when she suggested it that she didn't mean it, but Luke was all like, "That would be great." What??? It makes no sense to me whatsoever that Luke would want to postpone the wedding when he was the one saying things like, "When we get married? When's that going to happen?" just a few episodes ago. Grrr. This season is without a doubt the most inconsistent and frustrating one yet, and all I can say is the Palladinos need to get their act together.
Still no snow. Booo. I'm moving to Alaska. Oh, and what's up with Spazz Boy making it to Hollywood on American Idol? Did anyone see him? He was ridiculous, and he wasn't even good. Plus, he'll totally get cut in the first round. Good grief.
Still no snow. Booo. I'm moving to Alaska. Oh, and what's up with Spazz Boy making it to Hollywood on American Idol? Did anyone see him? He was ridiculous, and he wasn't even good. Plus, he'll totally get cut in the first round. Good grief.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Stranger Things Have Happened
A strange thing happened to me today: I had fun in class. All 3 of them. I even laughed. How marvelous! Long live academia!
EDIT: Okay, I just want to say that I don't want to read any more blogs about snow. Until I get some, that is. It's completely not fair that everyone in Memphis and Jackson got snow today, and all we have is lots and lots and lots of rain. Granted, it's forecasted (can I make forecast a verb? I don't know that I've ever seen it as such, but oh well) to turn to snow sometime in the night and remain as flurries in the morning, but it's only like the 80th time they've predicted snow and none has come. Boo.
And yes, as Beth pointed out in her comment, there is quite the dilemma tonight. Gilmore Girls and American Idol come on at the same time. While I lost a lot of faith in American Idol when Latoya London was wrongly eliminated, I still love the audition shows. They are by far the best. But there's also a "fresh" episode of GG! What's a girl to do??
EDIT: Okay, I just want to say that I don't want to read any more blogs about snow. Until I get some, that is. It's completely not fair that everyone in Memphis and Jackson got snow today, and all we have is lots and lots and lots of rain. Granted, it's forecasted (can I make forecast a verb? I don't know that I've ever seen it as such, but oh well) to turn to snow sometime in the night and remain as flurries in the morning, but it's only like the 80th time they've predicted snow and none has come. Boo.
And yes, as Beth pointed out in her comment, there is quite the dilemma tonight. Gilmore Girls and American Idol come on at the same time. While I lost a lot of faith in American Idol when Latoya London was wrongly eliminated, I still love the audition shows. They are by far the best. But there's also a "fresh" episode of GG! What's a girl to do??
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Tristan & Isolde
So tonight I and some gals from the English department went to see Tristan & Isolde. I don't think I've ever laughed so much at a movie that's meant to be a drama. I was going to try and take it seriously, but the movie blew it when the first screenshot listed the setting as "Brittain, The Dark Ages." The Dark Ages? I'm not even going to get into how much of a misnomer that is, but it was enough to offend this medievalist. On top of that, when Isolde discovers Tristan washed up on the beach, she and her maid strip themselves and rub against him to warm him up since they couldn't start a fire. I kid you not. Then half the scenes in the movie just reminded us all of other movies. It was either "Hey, they stole that from Lord of the Rings" or "Can we say Rocky?" or "Hello, Romeo and Juliet." Seriously.
In one of the scenes Isolde is reading this poem, and Diana asks, "What is that?" and I said sarcastically, "Probably Shakespeare." So when the movie ends we're sitting there still talking about it, and the credits say that the poem is by John Donne. John Donne, who was not even alive in the so-called "dark ages." That sort of anachronism in a movie that's supposed to be based on a literary legend is just absurd and embarrassing. Not to mention the fact that the love potion that plays an integral part in several versions of the legend was completely missing in this movie, which I guess in one way is in the movie's favor, since it makes it seem like the love between Tristan and Isolde was real. (For more info on the story of Tristan and Isolde, go here.) But then on the other hand most of what we were shown was not love, but lust, as is typical in Hollywood's depictions of love. We did feel a little bad after it was over because several people around us were sniffling and out-and-out bawling and we were all snickering through a good portion of it. I didn't think we were all that loud, but pretty sure that when we were talking about it after it ended and giggling some more, we got glares from a whole row full of girls sitting a few rows in front of us. Oops.
The movie wasn't without its redeeming qualities. All of the leads were good, and I especially liked Rufus Sewell, who played Lord Marke. Sophia Myles, the actress who played Isolde, reminded me a lot of Kate Winslet, and that's a good thing in my opinion. And the film did attempt to make this more than just a love triangle; the choices of the characters affected not only themselves but nations. In the end, it was great to see it with other English majors, but I recommend saving your money and renting it.
In unrelated news, I'm super excited about the long weekend. Turns out that Paul Rusesabagina, the man on whom Hotel Rwanda is based, is speaking at UT on Monday, so that should be really interesting. Not only that, but there's also a possible marathon of the British version of The Office in the works for Sunday night. Fun times. Have a great weekend!
In one of the scenes Isolde is reading this poem, and Diana asks, "What is that?" and I said sarcastically, "Probably Shakespeare." So when the movie ends we're sitting there still talking about it, and the credits say that the poem is by John Donne. John Donne, who was not even alive in the so-called "dark ages." That sort of anachronism in a movie that's supposed to be based on a literary legend is just absurd and embarrassing. Not to mention the fact that the love potion that plays an integral part in several versions of the legend was completely missing in this movie, which I guess in one way is in the movie's favor, since it makes it seem like the love between Tristan and Isolde was real. (For more info on the story of Tristan and Isolde, go here.) But then on the other hand most of what we were shown was not love, but lust, as is typical in Hollywood's depictions of love. We did feel a little bad after it was over because several people around us were sniffling and out-and-out bawling and we were all snickering through a good portion of it. I didn't think we were all that loud, but pretty sure that when we were talking about it after it ended and giggling some more, we got glares from a whole row full of girls sitting a few rows in front of us. Oops.
The movie wasn't without its redeeming qualities. All of the leads were good, and I especially liked Rufus Sewell, who played Lord Marke. Sophia Myles, the actress who played Isolde, reminded me a lot of Kate Winslet, and that's a good thing in my opinion. And the film did attempt to make this more than just a love triangle; the choices of the characters affected not only themselves but nations. In the end, it was great to see it with other English majors, but I recommend saving your money and renting it.
In unrelated news, I'm super excited about the long weekend. Turns out that Paul Rusesabagina, the man on whom Hotel Rwanda is based, is speaking at UT on Monday, so that should be really interesting. Not only that, but there's also a possible marathon of the British version of The Office in the works for Sunday night. Fun times. Have a great weekend!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
I'm excited about my classes! They're going to be challenging and tons of work, but I'm interested in them, so it's great. It feels sooo much better than last semester already, praise the Lord! Plus, my hair was a huge hit. Even guys complimented me. I wanted to be like, "There's more where that came from." HA. I should get new haircuts more often.
So I'm watching this show Beauty and the Geek, and it's completely cracking me up. I haven't quite decided exactly how I feel about it because I don't love the category of "beauty" or "geek" because they instantly limit a person's identity to that, but it seems to be promoting healthy dialogue between people who otherwise probably would never talk to each other. For example, they were all sitting around the table at breakfast, and some of the guys were talking about how they just don't have the confidence to approach girls, and some of the girls were like, "Do you think we were thrilled about being in that bathing suit earlier? I felt totally self-conscious. Every girl does. But you have to get beyond that." It's true, too. Everyone is self-conscious about something, but you can't let it cripple you. Is anyone else watching this? Thoughts?
So I'm watching this show Beauty and the Geek, and it's completely cracking me up. I haven't quite decided exactly how I feel about it because I don't love the category of "beauty" or "geek" because they instantly limit a person's identity to that, but it seems to be promoting healthy dialogue between people who otherwise probably would never talk to each other. For example, they were all sitting around the table at breakfast, and some of the guys were talking about how they just don't have the confidence to approach girls, and some of the girls were like, "Do you think we were thrilled about being in that bathing suit earlier? I felt totally self-conscious. Every girl does. But you have to get beyond that." It's true, too. Everyone is self-conscious about something, but you can't let it cripple you. Is anyone else watching this? Thoughts?
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Gilmore Gab
After an excruciating six week hiatus, Gilmore Girls is back with a vengeance! I have to say I loved this episode; it was definitely one of the better ones in a season that has been consistently inconsistent. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions, and the relationship between Lorelai and Rory seemed back to normal and not quite so forced as the previous episode. I'm not inspired enough to post a full recap of the show, but if you want a pretty good one, I found one here. Instead, I'll just list the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Good:
Continuity! Lorelai and Rory actually took their Atlantic City trip to celebrate Rory's 21st birthday. Sure, it was a little belated, but the fact that for once the writers remembered something they made a big deal out of in a previous episode and continued the story!
Use of the word "doppelganger." I mean, really, what show uses such great but obscure words? (You know you all looked it up!)
Paris and Doyle's ghetto apartment and the five locks/door kick. (People on the GG forum of which I'm a member have just been appalled at it, but to me it didn't seem THAT terrible. A little rundown, but certainly not the worst I've seen. Any thoughts?)
Paris and Doyle practicing their self-defense.
Paris telling Rory to inform any guests that the guys downstairs are members of a "doowop group."
Paris in general. (Liza Weil's a genius.)
Sookie calling Lorelai's ring the "golden ticket."
Kirk roaming around Stars Hollow trying to pick up a wireless connection.
Snow falling as Lorelai talks about the perfect dress and all of the arrangements being complete. (More continuity--Lorelai has a long-standing relationship with snow that has not been without its conflicts, i.e., "Women of Questionable Morals" from season five.)
Mrs. Kim and Lane's bonding over what I guess is some sort of Korean whiskey. (It was much more touching than that makes it sound.)
Rory ignoring Logan's charms.
Logan telling Rory he loves her. (I'm not a huge fan of Logan, but I felt like he meant it. I don't know.)
The expression on Luke's face when he's looking at April's website. It's so sweet.
Fabulously quoteable lines:
Lorelai telling Rory not to talk bad about her but to start with "My mother is very hot" when she meets with the psychologist.
Paris to Rory, after the latter thinks she hears a gunshot: "No, that's just a car backfiring. The real thing actually sounds fake. You'll pick it up eventually. It's called ghetto ear."
Paris to Doyle in the middle of their wrestling match: "Someone's been practicing behind my back. I love you."
Zach in Kim's antiques: "Yeah, I can tell there's a major rush on ancient crap."
Paris to the new newspaper staff: "I'm not your mother, or a hugger. If you need some love, get a hooker.
Rory crying and saying, "Yeah, I'm a treat" to the psychologist.
Rory crying and saying, "I really love coffee" to the psychologist.
The Bad:
Sookie being all "I'm the best friend of the bride and Luke gets no say in anything." She was way too over the top.
Lorelai and Sookie basically disregarding whatever Luke said.
Rory's hair: bangs there one minute, gone the next.
Sad Lane. I hated to see her all snippy and miserable.
Luke still hasn't told Lorelai about April, but he did go see April's mom Anna and then later decided he wants an active part in April's life. I smell trouble with a capital T.
The scene with the psychologist. It was too comical or something. And Alexis Bledel just isn't a good crier.
Logan pulling a Jess by appearing out of the blue and telling her he loves her. (It's not exactly the same, but what is it about Rory that causes guys to constantly declare their love for her?)
Rory stalking the professor to try and get into a class. She can be really obnoxious. Ugh.
The Ugly:
Lorelai's dress. It's not at all what I pictured for Lorelai. It's too busy and too fluffy.
The final scene of the episode was once again the scene the promo made a big deal of. They really need to stop that; it's driving me bonkers!
Okay, that's all. The preview for next week makes me want to pull out my hair! I knew this was going to happen. If Lorelai and Luke don't get married, I seriously will quit watching. Well, maybe.
Tomorrow I have real classes. (The afternoon class I had today is the class I have to observe/assist.) Here's my schedule:
9:40-10:55: Teaching Composition
11:10-12:25: Readings in the 16th/17th Century
12:40-1:55: Studies in Chaucer: Troilus and Criseyde (I'm SO excited about this class!)
So basically my Tuesdays and Thursdays will be nuts. Hopefully I won't have papers due in all 3 classes on the same day or something. And I think the whole having class late in the afternoon thing is no good. I slept till noon, which was nice but not exactly productive. I need to have a reason to get up, but having a class at 3:35 isn't enough of one. And none of you care about this, so I'm shutting up now.
The Good:
Continuity! Lorelai and Rory actually took their Atlantic City trip to celebrate Rory's 21st birthday. Sure, it was a little belated, but the fact that for once the writers remembered something they made a big deal out of in a previous episode and continued the story!
Use of the word "doppelganger." I mean, really, what show uses such great but obscure words? (You know you all looked it up!)
Paris and Doyle's ghetto apartment and the five locks/door kick. (People on the GG forum of which I'm a member have just been appalled at it, but to me it didn't seem THAT terrible. A little rundown, but certainly not the worst I've seen. Any thoughts?)
Paris and Doyle practicing their self-defense.
Paris telling Rory to inform any guests that the guys downstairs are members of a "doowop group."
Paris in general. (Liza Weil's a genius.)
Sookie calling Lorelai's ring the "golden ticket."
Kirk roaming around Stars Hollow trying to pick up a wireless connection.
Snow falling as Lorelai talks about the perfect dress and all of the arrangements being complete. (More continuity--Lorelai has a long-standing relationship with snow that has not been without its conflicts, i.e., "Women of Questionable Morals" from season five.)
Mrs. Kim and Lane's bonding over what I guess is some sort of Korean whiskey. (It was much more touching than that makes it sound.)
Rory ignoring Logan's charms.
Logan telling Rory he loves her. (I'm not a huge fan of Logan, but I felt like he meant it. I don't know.)
The expression on Luke's face when he's looking at April's website. It's so sweet.
Fabulously quoteable lines:
Lorelai telling Rory not to talk bad about her but to start with "My mother is very hot" when she meets with the psychologist.
Paris to Rory, after the latter thinks she hears a gunshot: "No, that's just a car backfiring. The real thing actually sounds fake. You'll pick it up eventually. It's called ghetto ear."
Paris to Doyle in the middle of their wrestling match: "Someone's been practicing behind my back. I love you."
Zach in Kim's antiques: "Yeah, I can tell there's a major rush on ancient crap."
Paris to the new newspaper staff: "I'm not your mother, or a hugger. If you need some love, get a hooker.
Rory crying and saying, "Yeah, I'm a treat" to the psychologist.
Rory crying and saying, "I really love coffee" to the psychologist.
The Bad:
Sookie being all "I'm the best friend of the bride and Luke gets no say in anything." She was way too over the top.
Lorelai and Sookie basically disregarding whatever Luke said.
Rory's hair: bangs there one minute, gone the next.
Sad Lane. I hated to see her all snippy and miserable.
Luke still hasn't told Lorelai about April, but he did go see April's mom Anna and then later decided he wants an active part in April's life. I smell trouble with a capital T.
The scene with the psychologist. It was too comical or something. And Alexis Bledel just isn't a good crier.
Logan pulling a Jess by appearing out of the blue and telling her he loves her. (It's not exactly the same, but what is it about Rory that causes guys to constantly declare their love for her?)
Rory stalking the professor to try and get into a class. She can be really obnoxious. Ugh.
The Ugly:
Lorelai's dress. It's not at all what I pictured for Lorelai. It's too busy and too fluffy.
The final scene of the episode was once again the scene the promo made a big deal of. They really need to stop that; it's driving me bonkers!
Okay, that's all. The preview for next week makes me want to pull out my hair! I knew this was going to happen. If Lorelai and Luke don't get married, I seriously will quit watching. Well, maybe.
Tomorrow I have real classes. (The afternoon class I had today is the class I have to observe/assist.) Here's my schedule:
9:40-10:55: Teaching Composition
11:10-12:25: Readings in the 16th/17th Century
12:40-1:55: Studies in Chaucer: Troilus and Criseyde (I'm SO excited about this class!)
So basically my Tuesdays and Thursdays will be nuts. Hopefully I won't have papers due in all 3 classes on the same day or something. And I think the whole having class late in the afternoon thing is no good. I slept till noon, which was nice but not exactly productive. I need to have a reason to get up, but having a class at 3:35 isn't enough of one. And none of you care about this, so I'm shutting up now.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Work in Progress
I don't do content well. In fact, I don't do it all, really. I'm notorious for living so much in the future that I disregard the present. I waste a lot of time worrying about things that never happen, planning things I have no reason/business to plan, and generally freaking out about things that, once they actually happen, weren't really freak-worthy in the first place. (It's like that saying that says 90% of the things we worry about don't come true, and the 10% that do come true aren't the big deal we thought they would be. If I could grasp this statement, really know it deepdeep down, just think of all the brainpower I'd save!) I've known this about myself for years, and yet I've been stuck in the same cycle, like the spindle on a record playing that keeps jumping back to the same place in the song, over and over and over again. Not only have I know this for years, but for years I've allowed my worry and lack of contentment to steal my joy and weigh me down. And of course nothing is more un-glorifying to God than a Christian who can't seem to truly practice Christianity.
What I've come to realize over the past few weeks, in a new way, is if I want to change this, I must start from the beginning. I have to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ," (2 Cor. 5:10) which means I have to stop believing the lies I tell myself and replace them with the Truth. (Remember my "truths to live by"? That's where those come in handy.) Ideally, no matter the situation, I should be content, I should be joyful, I should be grateful for the place God has me. I should be able to say like Paul that "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Phil. 4:11). And if Paul, who experienced trials that I will more than likely never have to face, can say that, then certainly I can get over myself, my selfishness, and my worldly perspective and start being more eternally minded. Not only that, but our God commands that we "be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:16-18). There's God's will in a nutshell: be joyful, fellowship with Him, and give Him thanks in every situation. Small words, overwhelming task, but a more than capable God whose grace is sufficient for us to accomplish it all. (Now if I can just remember that it's not me but Him who works in me to will and to act according to His good purpose!) Will you join me on the journey?
Are you lacking joy in your life? Do you long for contentment? It's yours for the taking. Look no further than Jesus.
ETA: Classes start tomorrow. Guess what time my first class is? 3:35. It will be like that every M, W, F. Yippee skippy! And I am totally posting about Gilmore Girls tomorrow, so stay tuned!
What I've come to realize over the past few weeks, in a new way, is if I want to change this, I must start from the beginning. I have to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ," (2 Cor. 5:10) which means I have to stop believing the lies I tell myself and replace them with the Truth. (Remember my "truths to live by"? That's where those come in handy.) Ideally, no matter the situation, I should be content, I should be joyful, I should be grateful for the place God has me. I should be able to say like Paul that "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Phil. 4:11). And if Paul, who experienced trials that I will more than likely never have to face, can say that, then certainly I can get over myself, my selfishness, and my worldly perspective and start being more eternally minded. Not only that, but our God commands that we "be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:16-18). There's God's will in a nutshell: be joyful, fellowship with Him, and give Him thanks in every situation. Small words, overwhelming task, but a more than capable God whose grace is sufficient for us to accomplish it all. (Now if I can just remember that it's not me but Him who works in me to will and to act according to His good purpose!) Will you join me on the journey?
Are you lacking joy in your life? Do you long for contentment? It's yours for the taking. Look no further than Jesus.
ETA: Classes start tomorrow. Guess what time my first class is? 3:35. It will be like that every M, W, F. Yippee skippy! And I am totally posting about Gilmore Girls tomorrow, so stay tuned!
Monday, January 9, 2006
Out of the Pit
Philippians 4:12: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I’ve been doing something radical recently: I’ve been reading my Bible. I know, I know, it’s a novel idea, isn’t it? I don’t think it’s any secret that my first semester in grad school was hard, and I doubt it would surprise any of you further to know that I wanted to quit. I was completely dissatisfied with my life, and I wanted something more, something better, something different.
Now that I’ve had the chance to reflect on the events of the past few months, I’ve wondered if a lot of my dissatisfaction with the semester is due mainly to my misplaced priorities. Truth be told, God took the backburner in my life. In typical, sinful fashion, the more I felt overwhelmed about grad school or life in general, the more I retreated into self-pity and away from the truths of Scripture. No wonder I was miserable! No wonder I cried myself to sleep on more than one occasion, wondering when I would feel joy again. No wonder I questioned the very meaning of my existence. I cut myself off from the Lifeline, and so I felt like dying.
Yet because of His great mercies I was not consumed, but instead upon reaching the bottom of the pit, I found Him there to lift me out. Did I deserve it? No. Am I grateful? Every day.
I haven’t even gotten to my keywords yet, but I think I’m going to stop here. I have learned several important lessons in the last few weeks, and I don’t know that I would have learned them so well had I not reached the end of myself. And really, where else is Jesus to be found but where we’ve reached the end of ourselves?
Stay tuned for more.
I’ve been doing something radical recently: I’ve been reading my Bible. I know, I know, it’s a novel idea, isn’t it? I don’t think it’s any secret that my first semester in grad school was hard, and I doubt it would surprise any of you further to know that I wanted to quit. I was completely dissatisfied with my life, and I wanted something more, something better, something different.
Now that I’ve had the chance to reflect on the events of the past few months, I’ve wondered if a lot of my dissatisfaction with the semester is due mainly to my misplaced priorities. Truth be told, God took the backburner in my life. In typical, sinful fashion, the more I felt overwhelmed about grad school or life in general, the more I retreated into self-pity and away from the truths of Scripture. No wonder I was miserable! No wonder I cried myself to sleep on more than one occasion, wondering when I would feel joy again. No wonder I questioned the very meaning of my existence. I cut myself off from the Lifeline, and so I felt like dying.
Yet because of His great mercies I was not consumed, but instead upon reaching the bottom of the pit, I found Him there to lift me out. Did I deserve it? No. Am I grateful? Every day.
I haven’t even gotten to my keywords yet, but I think I’m going to stop here. I have learned several important lessons in the last few weeks, and I don’t know that I would have learned them so well had I not reached the end of myself. And really, where else is Jesus to be found but where we’ve reached the end of ourselves?
Stay tuned for more.
Saturday, January 7, 2006
Thursday, January 5, 2006
I got my Greenwood CD in the mail today, and I can't stop listening to it! For those of you who don't know who Greenwood is, they're a group of guys who started playing together at Union. I remember going to hear them when they were fairly new, and they've just gotten better and better over the years. You can find their website here, and you can hear songs from their new album on their myspace page. Definitely give them a listen; they've got a really unique rock sound that utilizes the violin wonderfully, plus great lyrics. If you want to order their CD, visit their listing on Amazon.com. It's only $10, and it's worth every penny! /End plug. (You guys know I don't plug music unless it's good, so trust me on this.)
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Well, I'm back in Knoxville! All holed up in my little empty apartment, my down throw tucked around my legs, Gilmore Girls playing in the background. All is right in the world. I don't start classes until the 11th, so I have some time to unpack, take down the Christmas tree (I hope I can get it back in the box), buy my books, and of course, be a complete couch potato.
On my drive back here I pondered something: why is it that people vandalize bathroom stalls? I mean, really, does anyone care if "PJ wuz here 9-13-5"? No. What are we supposed to do when we see that PJ was there, congratulate them? "Hey, good job, PJ. So glad you're a big girl and can use the bathroom." I also don't understand the insults. Making statements like "all white girls are sluts" on a bathroom wall isn't exactly going to rock the world, you know? Why bother? And who has time for that sort of thing, anyway? When I use a public bathroom, the only thing on my mind is getting in and getting out, no time for thinking up not-so-clever or unique insults to write on the wall. So please, the next time any of you think about vandalizing a bathroom wall (and I'm hoping that none of you reading this actually think about that), realize this: no one cares what you have to write on the bathroom wall!
Okay, rant over! Have a lovely evening!
On my drive back here I pondered something: why is it that people vandalize bathroom stalls? I mean, really, does anyone care if "PJ wuz here 9-13-5"? No. What are we supposed to do when we see that PJ was there, congratulate them? "Hey, good job, PJ. So glad you're a big girl and can use the bathroom." I also don't understand the insults. Making statements like "all white girls are sluts" on a bathroom wall isn't exactly going to rock the world, you know? Why bother? And who has time for that sort of thing, anyway? When I use a public bathroom, the only thing on my mind is getting in and getting out, no time for thinking up not-so-clever or unique insults to write on the wall. So please, the next time any of you think about vandalizing a bathroom wall (and I'm hoping that none of you reading this actually think about that), realize this: no one cares what you have to write on the bathroom wall!
Okay, rant over! Have a lovely evening!
Monday, January 2, 2006
Hello, 2006!
New Year's in a nutshell:
1. Facial masques
2. Five movies: Walk the Line (amazing movie-everyone should see it!), Wimbledon, Hidalgo, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, and Crash.
3. Sparkling cider in champagne glasses
4. Noisemakers
5. Roommate reunion (long live the girls of Craig 5!)
6. Playing Taboo and Life
7. Seeing my friend Shannon's baby girl
8. Late-night girl talk and Gilmore Girls
9. Good food
10.GREAT company
I am happy happy happy. I love my friends.
P.S. Eddie and Lynette reminded me that I left off one of the year's highlights: blogging! 2005 was the year I entered the blogosphere and made many wonderful Xanga friends. (Hi, Stef and Lynette!) I don't know what I did before I had a blog. It's such a great outlet for me. And one day when I've written the great American novel, you can all say, "I knew her when all she had was a Xanga." Riiight, Erin, riight.
1. Facial masques
2. Five movies: Walk the Line (amazing movie-everyone should see it!), Wimbledon, Hidalgo, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, and Crash.
3. Sparkling cider in champagne glasses
4. Noisemakers
5. Roommate reunion (long live the girls of Craig 5!)
6. Playing Taboo and Life
7. Seeing my friend Shannon's baby girl
8. Late-night girl talk and Gilmore Girls
9. Good food
10.GREAT company
I am happy happy happy. I love my friends.
P.S. Eddie and Lynette reminded me that I left off one of the year's highlights: blogging! 2005 was the year I entered the blogosphere and made many wonderful Xanga friends. (Hi, Stef and Lynette!) I don't know what I did before I had a blog. It's such a great outlet for me. And one day when I've written the great American novel, you can all say, "I knew her when all she had was a Xanga." Riiight, Erin, riight.
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