my personal DNA

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Advocating Creator

madness

I wish that I could show you how crazy my sister and brother-in-law's garage looks right now. She and I just finished getting all of our crap out there for a garage sale tomorrow and Saturday morning, and I'm pretty sure you couldn't fit another darn thing in there. It looks like a freakin Value City or TJ Maxx or Marshalls or something.

She said if anyone drives by thinking "ah, there's not much there..." she'll chase them down. There is bound to be something for everyone in that garage...

and considering it's midnight and i'm tired from an evening of retail arrangements in the garage and a glass of wine and the fact that i'm getting up even EARLIER on a Friday off than I would on a day of work to sell our wares...I should publish this most pointless blog ever and go to bed.

Goodnight.

mecca lecca hi mecca hiny ho

-the other night while watching Ace of Cakes, one of my fave shows, they cast a spell on a cake (joking, of course, they're not satanic, people!) with Pee-Wee Herman's old genie's phrase that you see above. i miss it. i want to start using it more often. along with gangsta words like "shawty" and "boo" and "grill" and whatever else I can come up with. just for fun.

-i am somewhat seriously considering going on the show Don't Forget the Lyrics, as remembering many songs' lyrics is one of my specialties. i've already printed out the application but haven't a clue what i'd do on my video...any ideas of what I should do to show my personality?

-as per my previous statement, i'm also taking willing and knowledgeable volunteers who may be good candidates for my 2 people to have as support in case i do not know a certain lyric or genre. anyone wanna be my "backup singers?" should i win some big money and you actually provide me with lyrical assistance, you will obviously get something out of it.

-continuing on with TV shows, I'm missing last year's cast of SYTYCD (So You Think You Can Dance) like we were BFF. I watched 4 episodes on videotape from last year 2 nights in a row last week just to rekindle our friendship. So far this year I think I'm going to like Dominic & Sabra the best...who do you like?

-If you didn't watch The Next Food Network Star, it's too late. This Sunday they'll reveal who wins, and I strongly hope it's Amy and not Rory. And the drama with JAG was quite interesting and overdramatic, in my opinion. Thoughts, anyone?

-SOAPnet--thank you for playing reruns of The O.C. during the hour of 5-6 p.m. when my evening is most boring.

-Budweiser--thank you for beginning to play the Real Men of Genius commercials once again. I think they are creative genius.

and p.s. I do have a life outside of TV...i think.

the cost of entertainment...

I have a hard time enjoying fireworks, and this just began a few years ago for me. I think they're beautiful, and they're such a uniting way to celebrate our country's independence for the 4th, but something in me has had a hard time fully enjoying their beauty. I grew up in the big metropolis of Streator, IL, and we have always had great fireworks. In fact, just in case you didn't already know, Streator is ranked in the top 5 of the best fireworks displays in the state of Illinois. We're right up there in battle with Peoria, and I believe Chicago may be the only other city that has us all beat. (Though Chicago's fireworks on the 4th @ the Taste were lame...I'm hoping their display on the 3rd was better...otherwise I'd say Streator's got them beat for sure!) We don't have much else to boast about, so our fireworks have become our claim to fame. They really are very good.

Just a few years ago I realized how very expensive fireworks are. I must have read an article in the Streator Times-Press about how much they cost a long time ago when it was around $10,000, and now Streator's display averages around $35,000 in cost. This money is raised by donations, raffles, 50-50 drawings, etc. It's amazing to see a community donate so much money to something like this, and it baffles me.

People are willing to give their money to something that lasts for about 30 minutes and it becomes a city-wide, regionally-acclaimed and highly attended event. Over the past few years I've struggled with wondering why people donate to such a thing and not to something that could actually make a difference in the lives of people. Fireworks are beautiful, but they don't do much other than provide entertainment. I wish our city could forego fireworks for even one year and donate the $35,000 to people who actually need it in countries that may not be so blessed with freedom and independence. Maybe that's just wishful thinking...

But this year I got to thinking as we watched the fireworks that a mere $35,000 is nothing in comparison to the money we spend on other forms of entertainment. I can't blame Streator or other cities for spending money on that when millions and billions of dollars go into making movies and TV shows for our entertainment as well. If, instead of giving up fireworks, someone would give up the money it takes to make a big name film or the ridiculous money spent on stupid movies made like Beer Fest or Snakes on a Plane or Knocked Up or any movie Eddie Murphy or the Wayans brothers have ever made trying to dress up like a fat black lady, then maybe...just maybe we could make a dent in the needs of the world.

I just have a dream for America that is different than being known for our freedom and our rights and independence. I wish we would be known for being people of compassion and people that care about the countries of the world that are not like our own. I wish people were more conscious of what they spend their money on. I'm as guilty as the next person, and entertainment is a completely valid thing that God has given us to enjoy. Afterall, He's the one who has given people the ability to create and imagine and provide entertainment.

Now realizing that the costs of fireworks are nothing in comparison to what we spend gobs of money on every single day, I think I'll be able to enjoy them from now on. At least I hope I can, because I think it's alright to be thankful for and celebrate what we have. I just hope we can extend that to the world.

And all of these thoughts sparked just from a few fireworks...
Imagine what a little change could do.

oh blue sky, you got somethin on me...

please know that the title of this blog has absolutely nothing to do with anything else I'll write, except for the fact that it's the first line of "Ancient Voices" by The Gabe Dixon Band, which I love.

I'm thinking about a lot of things lately, and I'd love to expound on them more. For now, these are just fleeting thoughts in no particular order:

-----It's funny how when we're little we just want to be older. And when we're older we just want to be young again. I definitely fear getting old...I hate seeing what it does to people I love. Alzheimer's is hitting our family a little closer to home w/ my grandma, and it's scary how our bodies and minds can do something so strange. It's hard to watch someone suffer through it and not know what's going on.

-----The sunset has this incredible power to mesmerize me every time. And no matter what anyone says, I love the flatlands of Illinois. We have the most beautiful horizons with blue skies, green grass or corn fields, a country barn here and there, all against the backdrop of a beautifully painted sky. I think mountains would just get in the way...I just enjoy seeing for miles and miles...call me crazy.

-----Yesterday at church I was reminded that no matter what we do, we are never beyond God's reach. I know this and have always known this, but I think I am learning to really know it. Does that make sense? There is no depth we can sink to--whether that be in sin, anger, depression, doubt, indifference--that is beyond his reach. He'll stoop as low as it takes to bring us back. That's a loving God.

-----The iPhone...let's talk about this for just a second. I appreciate Apple's brilliance and the fact that this phone has just about every feature one might find need for with the touch of a button. However, I'm saddened daily by our need to hold the world in the palm of our hands. We make everything convenient. We make everything fit into our world and at the touch of a button. It scares me for the future, because a life of convenience means a life without much dependence on anything or anyone else. We're already too independent and reliant on ourselves or technology. Besides that, most people who are going to purchase an iPhone or who have waited in line for one are likely already owners of a mac computer, an iPod, and who knows what other gadgets. I just think it can be bad stewardship... (not in every case...there are legitimage reasons why some have need for these things, don't get me wrong here! and of course i'd love to have an iPhone, but i certainly don't have money for one and it's not a priority on my 'things to spend money on' list)

-----Completely random: Last week when I was running I found myself praying for Whitney Houston. What? I know...random. I had the song "Fine" on my music list and wondered why she had to go and mess herself up with drugs. I feel bad for her b/c she really needs serious help. So I prayed for her. Celebrities need Jesus too. :)

-----I found a sweet red wine that I've really been enjoying the past few nights before bed. I normally only like whites, but I really like this one that I found at Wal-Mart, and it's from a local winery near St. Louis. However, it's making me have some crazy dreams the past few nights...

While all of these things are somewhat fleeting thoughts, they're all ones (except for the last one, really) that I have mentally made note of and want to think/write about more. Someday I will. Just not today.