What a Wikipedia Search Will Show

I picked up a book at Chapters last Friday, and after reading it, felt compelled to find out a bit more about the author. Things you might not have known about Anne Perry:

• she writes books – predominantly Victorian mysteries
• she lives in Scotland
• she is a member of the Latter Day Saints
• she is a convicted murderer

I am tempted to comment on these facts, but my thoughts are mixed. I am definitely surprised and fascinated though.

In This Morning’s Humidity

At the best Starbucks/Chapters combo I’ve ever been to, I thought about the following things:

• downloading Carla Bruni’s Quelqu’un m’a dit.
• who I want to become – as opposed to what I want to do.
• my current favourite song, “Suffocation Keep” by The Slip.
• tea, and how, without milk, it has such a small window of proper drinking temperature.
• reading A Suit of Light by Anne Hebert. I almost bought it.
• Shakespearean sonnets. I bought a book of them for one dollar. ONE DOLLAR.
• what it means to be yoked to someone or something.
• my shoulder/neck pain and whether I will find a long-term solution anytime soon.

Always Room for More Music

I don’t go for the crazy heady over-the-top awe of “famous” people. I do, however, admire/appreciate people who seem to have a good head on their shoulders alongside all that talent. As of today, I have great respect for William Fitzsimmons. This is why.

1. He is a talented musician.
2. He lists Keith Green as an early influence.
3. He describes his writing as “arguably inappropriate lyrical self-disclosure.”
4. He is opening for Brooke Fraser.
5. He seems to reply personally to fan messages on his myspace site.
6. He used to work with mentally ill individuals.

When You Were (Are) Young

Time for something a little less personal (ie, not a list of how I spent my day). So, I give you “things I think are beneficial to learn before the age of 25.” As an adult, one should know:

1. how to do laundry. (whites, darks, perma, regular, delicates)
2. how to take advice. (believe it or not, there are wiser people out there)
3. how to keep a budget. (we suggested at lunch that personal finance be a mandatory class for all humans)
4. how to deal with conflict. (ie, don’t avoid, don’t attack. just deal.)
5. how to cook. (not just hot dogs and eggs)
6. how to bake. (yes, these are different things)
7. how to drive. (I don’t think you need your license, but a basic ability to maneouver a vehicle is vital)
8. how to drive standard. (because I can, so should you)
9. how to ask verifying questions. (“I hear you say…. Is that right?)
10. how to change a diaper. (it’s an attractive skill in mate-hunting, and implies a certain level of comfort and interest in those little things we call babies)

Day ‘o Smiles

Today, I have felt happy more than I have felt stressed. The good moments have included:

• deciding to volunteer at the WFDF World Ultimate Championships (if they’ll have me, of course)
• getting my car back from the garage and driving standard again without stalling
• having my boss’ boss be thoroughly encouraged by the task I’ve been managing
• knowing that my voice has been heard on things I believe are important
• eating cherry Oreo Yogen Fruz
• making supper for friends, because I can
• anticipating baking & a chick flick
• knowing that TOMORROW I get a haircut

Random Facts About Me

At the request of Dan Ray, ten facts you may not know about me. You might, because I like to talk about the obscure things. But you might not.

1. I worked at a mental hospital/rehab facility for almost a year.
2. In Grade 12, I was President of the Library Club. For real.
3. I once caused my younger brother’s arm to break by helping him fall of some stairs.
4. Although outgoing, I am actually an introvert.
5. I used to have my nose (and ears) pierced. However, my body seems to reject all such types of decoration.
6. I started school when I was three.
7. I will not play chess or Monopoly with my older brother. Monopoly, because he used to cheat when we were little, and chess because I won last time we played and want to keep it that way.
8. I have scoliosis. (sounds bad, doesn’t it?)
9. I do not like the colour green. I really don’t, although I’m trying to grow in this area.
10. I have visited every province in Canada except PEI.

I am not going to tag anyone, but if you want to share your own list, you can leave it in a comment or leave a comment directing me to the list on your own site.

June 21

Today’s plans:

7am: pay for a student’s airport shuttle

8am: up again

8:15: breakfast with Charlotte & Meredith. I love these girls.

9:15: still hanging out with Charlotte & Meredith.

10am: blog

10:15: paint my toenails with Jen & daughter

10:30: off to the coffee shop with Jen

noon: Asian lunch with Jen

afternoon: shop with Jen

suppertime: babysit for Jen

evening: watch a movie? read a book? something of the sort.

A Short List

Today, I discovered:

• Catherine Tate – I love British humour.
• The Stupid-Ninja Game – a great fun game that could pass hours. Trying to explain it here would be too much…

Also, I Finally Bought Juice

Today, I enjoyed the following:

• waking up just before my alarm.
• listening to others sing.
• giving myself grace for not being on time.
• being asked a rather personal question in a non-intrusive way.
• eating cookies that I did not make.
• setting up a video shoot.
• listening to The Backstreet Boys.
• purchasing a dock for my iPod.
• driving standard BY MYSELF.
• having some good conversations.
• getting some book recommendations. (I like reading.)
• watching Remington Steele. (I really like Pierce Brosnan.)
• playing RockBand. (I LOVE RockBand.)

Chewing the Cud

Last summer, I took a class taught by a man named Erik Thoennes. I appreciated many things about him and about the class, and was flipping through my notes this morning. A year later, the following quotes (along with many others) still make me stop and think:

• We’re latent gnostics, most of us. We don’t think real stuff has anything to do with eternal reality.
• We are masters at talking about nothing.
• We’ve got lots of rhetoric without reason, and we’re living on that rhetoric.
• If I have a conversation with you and right after I find out I have broccoli in my teeth, you are not my friend!
• Some say that the only heresy is that there is such a thing as heresy.
• Theology without devotion is cold, dead, stale orthodoxy. Devotion without theology is fanaticism.
• I feel like we could just stay in therapy forever…
• If you start losing [your heart of wonder], do whatever you can to get it back.
• If people leave and don’t get to know Jesus a little better when they spend time with you, we’re missing it.
• Spirituality is wonderful until you have answers. Then it’s problematic.