Books On The Go

I am currently reading:

unChristian: how Christianity is perceived by 16-29 year olds and why it matters

Wide Awake: why our dreams (hopes) matter, and how to start pursuing them

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: exactly how it sounds. Emotional health + spirituality = goodness

I love them all. I can’t wait to finish them. But I’m taking my time. Maybe I will post excerpts or quotes sometime.

Wavering on Coldplay

On Friday, I had a bus conversation with a friend. We talked about Coldplay and established that:

• we both like the Violet Hill track (although there is one she likes better but couldn’t remember the name of)
• Viva La Vida is a great album
• Coldplay has some sweet skills

But then on Saturday, I watched them perform on SNL and thought:

• Is Chris Martin on drugs? It’s like he has energy exploding out of his body.
• Why is he playing an acoustic guitar for Yellow? I can’t even pick it out…all I hear are the electrics.
• “Barack Obama!” ?? How is that relevant to anything? You’re not even American…

Clearly, I was less than impressed. Chris Martin lost a bit of my respect. But I like the music. Stellar Music. Unhinged Musician. Music. Musician…so do I buy the album or not?

Commonly Mispronounced Words

I rarely say these words as they are spelled:

• Wednesday
• frustrated
• asked

What other words go on this list?

Quality of Life

I think if I did the following three things, it would considerably improve my quality of life. Why don’t I already do these things? Sheer laziness combined with a side dish of busy, busy work.

1. Go to bed at the same time every night: 11pm.
2. Stretch daily (working out would be even better, but stretching is a good place to start).
3. Stop eating foods that disagree with my stomach.

edit (9:08pm, same day): I remembered that there was a number four on the list.

4. Wear shoes with good arch support.

Going to the Highest Bidder

This morning (and into this afternoon), I went to an auction with my mom.

I now own:

• an old glass jar
• a Nippon bowl w/ lid (Japanese made fine china)
• a couple old teacups & saucers
• a Nippon vase – this was the highlight. Just after I bought it for $22.50, a man tells me that I got a great deal on it. A regular auction attender (four a week!), he thinks that at the right auction, it would easily have gone for $50-75.

Things I enjoyed about the auction:

• The way the auctioneers speak. They intentionally fill space with mumbling and persuasive phrases. They speak incredibly fast. And they crack jokes.
• The unending opportunity for good deals! Especially with so much stuff. There are things no one wants, and then I am tempted to bid, even when I don’t want it.  Because for $2, who doesn’t want a box of stuff!?
• The thrill of bidding. Nodding your head, scratching your ear – be careful that you aren’t making eye contact with an auctioneer, or you may end up with a $70 dresser that you didn’t know you wanted.
• Discovering I like Nippon china. I kept picking up pieces and turning them over to see whether they were a specific brand…nine times out of ten, I’d picked the Japanese maker.
• The ugly items. Who wants a giant brass owl? Or a ceramic, slightly chipped eagle? What about…a random rusty tin?
• Hanging out with my mom. It was fun.

Quotable Quotes (3)

Today I went to a conference with a panel of mostly Christian thinkers, on the topic of 18-29 year olds’ perceptions of Christianity. These are the notes I jotted in the margins of my notes…

• “Pizza can’t be the big draw to a function.”
• “It (her past) must be sexual; that’s how you get a reputation.”
• “I feel as nervous as an atheist at a Christian conference.” (said by an atheist at a Christian conference)
• “Most senior citizens don’t know they’re old.”
• “20 year-olds are running DC. Interns are writing papers and setting up signings…”
• “I can only speak in our context…” (this seems the obvious statement of the day, kind of assumed in my generation.)
• “…then I can have another night of the week to make love to my wife.” (on the benefits of cutting back on church programs)
• “You need to understand something about Mennonites. There’s no pride in anything.” (on a Mennonite youth group who accidentally found themselves in the middle of a Gay Pride parade)

I have lots of thoughts spinning. Mostly from other comments that were made. I enjoy being challenged. Even when it’s a bit overwhelming.

Stereotyping Women

My class is comprised of 2 teachers, 11 women, and 1 absentee man. If you’ll give me grace for a moment, I will introduce you to them. In clockwise order from the front of the room:

• The Profs: good friends, excited to teach together. Both a bit hippy-ish. We started class with a vocal exercise that was much like chanting an “Om.”
• The Professional: middle-aged, a bit reserved. Potentially funny. Dry. Perhaps cynical.
• The Mom: young middle-aged, friendly. Normal looking. Probably is exactly what she seems.
• The Beauty: foreign. Lovely accent, just moved to our country.
• The Fembot: womyn, womyn, ra-ra-ra.
• The Children’s Librarian: middle-aged, soft-spoken. Potentially surprising.
• The Traveler: grew up overseas, definitely has been bitten by the same bug as I
• (Me)
• The Quirky Woman: not sure how to read her. Could go boring or brilliant.
• The Goth: maybe just borderline? Quiet. Dyed dark hair. Oozes angst.
• The Drama Queen: her presence is not dictated by her size. She has a voice.
• The Airy Lady: does she know what’s going on? I think she’s in her own world…

This leaves me with two questions:

1. who does that make me?
2. how will these stereotypes be shattered in the next 8 weeks?

I hope I am pleasantly surprised.

In Waiting

Blog topics I’ve contemplated writing but have failed to materialize due to lack of time and an excess of discretion:

Things Boys Say That Don’t Make Sense To Girls

Things Girls Say That Boys Don’t Like To Hear

Top 5 Things I Liked About Passion Vancouver

Top 5 Things I Didn’t Like About Passion Vancouver

People Who Alarm Me

Things I’ve Been Told To Keep Secret

Ways To Waste Your Day

TV Relationships That I Feel Invested In

Reasons I Love The Show Bones