MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Bah Humbug?

Alright, I have a confession to make. I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas. I pretty much love everything about it on the surface. And you know, the underlying reason for celebration and all. But, for me, it is the absolute loneliest time of the year. And that's even when I get to be with my family (honestly, sometimes that's when I feel the most alone). So no lectures about how I should just move back to Arkansas!

Being ridiculously single is somewhat tolerable most other times of the year. But there's something about Christmas. Seeing everyone out shopping for their kids and spouses. And the idea of waking up on Christmas morning to celebrate with them. And all the stupid commercials that shove it in your face. Yeah, it's difficult.

It's funny because I've been able to cope with it a little bit better this year simply because of one little thing my pastor said during his sermon on Sunday. It was one of those lines where you're left in awe because you feel as if it was directed right at you. He simply acknowledged in passing that it is a difficult time of the year when people often feel alone. But we can't let Satan succeed in distracting us from the fact that we should be satisfied in Christ alone. I belong to the Lord, but it's amazing what a great job Satan can do in distracting me from worship. Now obviously, this is easier said than done. But I am thankful that God laid it on his heart to share with us because it's amazing what a little acknowledgement of the loneliness that many people feel during this time of year and a few words of encouragement can do to lift your spirits when most of the time people just gloss over it.

On a happier note, Merry Christmas!! What an awesome God we serve that sent his only son to die on the cross for our sins!!

Movies, movies, movies

I hadn't been to the movies in over a month before Thanksgiving day. That's highly unusual for me. But this has been a crappy year for movies, and there just hasn't been anything I've wanted to pay money to see. However, we've made it to the holiday season and things I want to see are finally starting to come out. So, in typical overdone fashion, I've seen three movies over the last three days.

The Road

First up, The Road. All I can say is don't see this. It was a waste of my money. If ever there's been a movie to label pretentious, this is it. I don't even know what this movie was trying to say. All I got out of it was a story and characters I cared nothing about. The pacing was horrendous. Definitely one of the slower movies I've ever seen.

Pros: Excellent performances from the two main stars and beautiful cinematography. Cons: Everything else. Bottom line: Avoid it like the

plague.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Next up, New Moon. I was pleasantly surprised by the latest installment of The Twilight Saga. I definitely think this one was a step or two up production wise from the first film. That being said, this is again only a movie that fans of the book will appreciate. I disagree with many of the negative reviews that complained about it lacking the chemistry of the original and being too dark and depressing. They obviously didn't read the books and fail to understand that that's exactly what New Moon is. It's a transition book that we must slog through to get to the good stuff. I'm also sick of those feminist manifestos saying it sends a crappy message to teenage girls about pining away for the perfect man. Blah, blah, blah. To them, I simply say, "lighten up!" or better yet, "SHUT UP!"

Pros: Better production value, faithful to the story, and alright, I'm going to say it...the werewolves and their uniform. Cons: I wish they would've spent a little more time developing Bella and Jacob's relationship. Despite the length, I feel they still managed to gloss over this too quickly. And the dialogue is so amazingly cheesy. It's the main reason I don't think outsiders will enjoy this film too much. Bottom line: If you're a Twilight fan, see this in the theater. If you're not, then you'll likely want to skip it. If you're just curious, wait and add it to your Netflix queue.

The Blind Side

Lastly, The Blind Side. This was hands down the best movie I've seen so far this year (or at least that I remember seeing). Even though I already knew the story from the endless profiles they did of Michael Oher during SEC games, I was still so inspired by the family that took him in and by Michael himself. Talk about Christians walking the walk. I hope more of us can strive to live our lives showing the kind of selfless love the Tuohy's did. The only negative reviews I read about the film complained that it was a typical white washing of a story. I take issue with that, it's a true story. Yes, he was a black kid, and yes, they were a white family. But that's exactly how it happened! This stuff wasn't made up. And my guess? Those reviewers are probably all sitting on their butts in their comfy houses not doing a dang thing for the underprivileged. So, to them, I also give a big fat "SHUT UP!" One last thing. I loved, loved, loved the visits by all of the SEC coaches - none of whom still coach at their represented schools. Houston Nutt even uttered one of my favorite lines, which I won't divulge. Let's just say it involves a cup, so be on the lookout for that little inside joke.

Pros: Great story, well executed, and a great turn by Sandra Bullock. That girl really can act, and it's about time people start recognizing that (see Crash for another prime example). Cons: None. Bottom line: What are you waiting for? Go see it!

New Moon Mania

The time has come for everyone to choose. Who will it be?

In one corner we have the dreamy vampire, Edward, who sports an oh-so-lovely British accent in real life. In the other corner, we have the little boy from Shark Boy and Lava Girl who has transformed overnight into the incredibly bulked up Jacob (and let's be honest, he's still only 17 so all the drooling really is highly inappropriate ladies). The gorgeous brooding boyfriend? Or the gorgeous protective best friend? Life is tough for Bella Swan.

So, in honor of this momentous weekend, I would like to dedicate this post to my favorite vampire and officially declare my allegiance.

TEAM EDWARD!!

P.S. As much of a Twilight junkie as I am, I probably will be foregoing opening weekend and the throngs of crazy teenage girls in favor of a weekend after viewing. Granted, if I had any friends out here who shared my obsession, that probably wouldn't hold true. So I will withhold judgment against all of you crazies who I'm pretty confident showed up for the midnight screening. Own it!!

Won't You Tell Me How To Get...

Thanks to Google and their cute little logos, I learned that tomorrow is the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street. Oh how I loved Sesame Street as a child. I loved me some Big Bird and Snuffleupagus (and yes, I did have to look up that spelling). But Elmo, he was my favorite of them all. He didn't come around until a little later in my Sesame Street viewing days, but he captured my heart and still holds it to this day. I remember singing songs and spelling and counting and learning little life lessons along the way. In fact, the first movie I ever remember seeing in the theater was Follow That Bird.

But as much as I loved Sesame Street, I loved me some Mister Rogers' Neighborhood even more. That was, hands down, my FAVORITE show. The cardigan. The sneakers. The hand puppets of Make-Believe. Now that was some good TV. I can't believe it's not on anymore. I guess it will just have to live on in my memories. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood...oh won't you be my neighbor?

Hmm, has their ever been a time in my life when I wasn't in love with TV?!

Happy Daylight Savings Day!

I don't do Halloween, so I thought I'd just wish everybody a Happy Daylight Savings Day. Or as I like to call it, the best day of the year!! An extra hour of sleep? Yes, please!

Maybe if I ever have kids I'll jump back into the festivities. But I haven't really done anything for Halloween since high school. And even then, I was only handing out candy. No trick-or-treating after elementary school in the Turner household. I like that rule, and it's probably one I'll carry on.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not the bah humbug of Halloween. I just don't see it as being anything other than a kid's holiday. So I look forward to seeing pics on your blogs of all the little kiddos in their cute little outfits.

As for me, I think I'll snuggle up on the couch and watch my latest Netflix arrival. Then I'm going to enjoy my extra hour of sleep. And tomorrow, I'll head to Target to load up on cheap candy. Woohoo!

Goodbye, Pappaw

Today, my pappaw passed away. I was lucky enough to get to fly home on Saturday and spend a couple of days with him in the hospital, and I will forever be thankful for that.

Pappaw, thank you for being the best grandpa around. Thank you for coming to my ballgames and cheering me on. Thank you for taking us on trips in the camper. Thank you for the hours upon hours of table talk after our meals. Thank you for taking care of grandma when she could no longer take care of herself. And most of all, thanks for being you. I am so happy to know that today you are with Jesus. I LOVE YOU!!

Dear Jon & Kate:

Please go away. That is all.

Respectfully yours,

A former fan who is sorry for the part she played in making you famous

Twitter

Do any of you twitter? I opened an account earlier this summer on the off chance that I jump on the bandwagon at some point. I don't have a data plan on my phone, so I don't think I'd get as much enjoyment out of it at this point in time.

However, I have found a newfound time killer, which is stalking everyone else's twitter accounts. And not people I know. Just random people. I like to go to the main page and type in something random and start clicking through people's accounts. I find it fascinating. I've always loved people watching and wondering what was going on inside their head and twitter has now taken me there. I'm sure the fascination will pass, but it's been providing me hours of entertainment and distraction which I've been in need of lately.

So if you tweet, beware...I may just be stalking you.

My Summer So Far...

Alright Blogger world, after multiple requests from my loyal followers (i.e. 3 whole comments from all of 2 of you), I've decided to post again. Maybe I'll even be consistent and we can just call the last few months a summer hiatus.

Not much is going on out here in my world. I moved, which I think I've already mentioned. I'm back in the valley where I belong, and I love it! I'm just not hip enough to live over the hill. I'm meant to be in the 'burbs of the valley where there are tree lined streets, driveways in every yard, and < gasp > free parking!! Plus I like living right next to all the studios. I can practically reach out and touch Universal, Warner Bros, NBC, and Disney. Don't ever let anyone tell you that NoHoBurLake (a self coined phrase for the area encompassing North Hollywood/Burbank/Toluca Lake) is not one of the most awesome spots in America.

This summer, I've done a lot of going to work. They pay me, so I keep going back. I've done a lot of hanging out in my apartment and had a lot of good times here. Occasionally, I've ventured out to hang with friends outside of the abode. It usually involves getting food because we like to eat (and sadly, it shows!).

I got to go to Orlando in June to hang out with the fam. That was a lot of fun! Evidently I didn't really take any pics, so I don't have anything to share. But then Jolee and mom got to come visit me, and....I still don't have any pics to share. I distinctly remember taking pictures during both of these occasions, but I'm guessing it just wasn't with my camera. Below is the only picture I have taken during the latter occasion and I only share it with you because it's just so true.


I went to a Faith Hill concert at the gorgeous Hollywood Bowl and actually got to meet her. That was definitely the highlight of the summer. Lucky for you, I do have a picture to share of this spectacular event. And now this wonderfully upbeat association with the Hollywood Bowl has replaced the extremely negative previous association as being the site of totaling my car. Snaps all around.


Snaps, you say? Yes, snaps. I just went to see Legally Blonde: The Musical, so snaps are stuck in my head. That was super fun also. Did any of you get to see it? I'm pretty sure it's the same tour that made its way through Fayetteville earlier this summer. I bought the CD after seeing the musical, but I realize I like the girl playing Elle in the touring company better than the girl on the CD. Still enjoyable though. It closes on Sunday. I think I might just have to sneak back in for another show before then. We'll see if time permits.

So that's the grand total of what I've been up to this summer. Maybe the fall will be more exciting...

Life...and Stuff

Hello everyone. Long time, no blog. Unfortunately, life has just gotten in the way a little bit. And it's going to continue to be in the way for another couple of weeks as I'm in the process of moving. I hope to get back to my usual blogging once everything settles down a bit.

On a side note, we just had a nice little earthquake. That's always fun. Makes you want to move out here, doesn't it?

The Grove (at the Farmer's Market)

The Grove at The Farmer's Market, or The Grove for short, is one of those rare LA landmarks where both tourists and locals mingle. It's about a mile from my house, and I still don't go as much as I would like. Though I do get there fairly often. I don't know what I like about it really. I don't really do much shopping in the regular mall-type stores in the actual Grove area. Though I do love to browse around the Apple store and the best Barnes & Noble known to man is located here (I could spend hours upon hours in there). I prefer to meander around the Farmer's Market looking at all the little knick-knacks and eating the food. It's my go-to spot when I want to get someone something LA themed.

LA in Pics: Part 1

To start off my LA pictorial, I thought I'd stick close to home. The rooftop to be exact. It's one of my favorite places. Anytime I'm feeling down in the dumps or overwhelmed with life, I like to pop up there and look out over the city and spend some time with God. It reminds me of how lucky I am to live where I do.

The view of the Hollywood Hills:


The view of downtown:


Sunset to the West:

Los Angeles

The past few weeks, we've been doing a series on Jonah at church. All this time I thought that book was just about Jonah and the giant whale. Who knew I was so wrong. I'm sure had I actually read the book in my adult life I would've noticed that there was so much more to it, but in all honesty I hadn't looked at it since the last time I probably learned about it in Sunday School growing up. And I've never really gone to a church that does much preaching from the Old Testament. I've only become engrossed in the Old Testament in the last couple of years and boy is it amazing! You should check it out some time. Jesus is everywhere in it...even in Jonah.

But I'm not here to type about Jesus symbolism in Jonah. I'm here to talk about the city. During my community group this past week, I was struck with the following realization. Los Angeles is much more similar to Nineveh. But most people from middle America look at it as a modern day Sodom & Gomorrah. What's the difference you ask? Gen 18:20-21 says, "Then the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know." Abraham even interceded for Sodom & Gomorrah and God agreed to spare it if He found 10 righteous people. He sent two angels into the city, but the treatment they received was how shall we say...less than hospitable. We all know the story, so obviously there weren't any righteous people to be found. The inhabitants of Sodom & Gomorrah rejected God and were thus destroyed.

Now Nineveh was a great city in the days of the prophets. Much like Sodom & Gomorroh, they had turned over to evil ways. Jonah 1:2 says that God told Jonah, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But if you read Jonah, the story plays out quite a bit differently. After the whole whale action, Jonah finally goes to Nineveh. But here we see the Ninevites having an entirely different reaction. Jonah 3:5 states that after hearing Jonah call out that God was going to overthrow Nineveh , "the people of Nineveh believed God." They fasted and called out to the Lord. We see God's response in Jonah 3:10, "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it."

Here we have two similar cities, but two vastly different results. One city believed, the other did not. Now who are we to label Los Angeles (or any city for that matter) a Sodom & Gomorrah? Should we not treat it like Nineveh? Is it not worth saving? Should we not flock to the cities and live missionally, spreading God's word among the unbelievers? Let me tell you, Los Angeles is not rejecting Jesus. Far from it. It is full of broken individuals who are coming to know the Lord because Christians are investing their time in the city. And I have the privilege of being a part of it! Now I'm not saying we're all called to live in the city. I'm just asking that you change your attitudes toward the city and that you remember to pray for its inhabitants and those of us here trying to reach out.

I've been struggling for topics to post about lately. I have a friend who's a photographer, and he's always posting pictures he takes on his facebook. This has inspired me to share with you the things I love about LA via pictures. So I'm going to try to post a picture every few days or so and write a little description of why I love it. Some will be serious. Most will be silly. But all will give you an idea of my life in LA.

Really?!

America, I do not understand you. I want to call you stupid, but I feel that might be judgmental. What am I talking about? Fast & Furious made $72.5 million this weekend!!!!! Are you kidding me?! Please tell me none of y'all went to see that. I mean, I'll allow a rental of a movie like that, but to pay 10+ bucks to see it is just ludicrous. And I'm not trying to single out Fast & Furious. It just happens to be the movie of the moment so it gets my pinpointed ire. Now I enjoyed the first one, but did we really need a second, third, and fourth?! And Knowing a couple of weekends ago? I mean, c'mon! Has Nicolas Cage even made a good movie in the last several years?

Here's a challenge for America. Don't go see a movie unless it's gotten at least 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. Now I've said before that I don't always agree with critics, but rarely do I enjoy a movie that got less than 50% on RT. I'll even give you a few suggestions. Try Adventureland or Sunshine Cleaning or Duplicity. Those are all enjoyable, well-made films that deserve your hard earned dollars. I'm sorry, but films like Fast & Furious just don't.

My Phone's Point of View

I just downloaded the pics on my phone to my computer and thought I'd post a few.

Some super-creepy looking models. I wonder if they come alive at night?


Are iridescent cars really that cool?


Sitting in traffic...my daily ritual. Though this was actually a pretty light day if you can believe it.


Fuzzy pic of my cubicle.


Who wants an Obama hat? I'm betting they sell a lot of those camouflage ones.

I wish I had more to post...

This week has been super-boring!!

On the plus side, my eyes may have actually recovered. At least, it's looking that way. I started wearing my contacts on Tuesday and three days later, still no sign of redness. The eyeballs are still white! And I got my new glasses which I think are super-cute. Maybe I'll add a picture later.

I've been obsessively listening to my Cabaret CD since Natasha Richardson died because I'm bizarre like that. She sings on the broadway CD in case you're wondering what the connection is. I mentioned on facebook that we shared a birthday and had sisters named Jolee/Joely, so I've been aware of her for quite awhile whereas others may not know her so much. Freak accidents like that are scary and always get my mind racing wondering what I'd do if something like that happened to one of my family members. Here's hoping I don't ever find out!

I've had a hard time getting up this week. It's still so dark when I wake up. It's just not right!! I shouldn't be up before the sun.

Alright, that's all I've got for now. I'll try to think of something more interesting to post next time.

Student loan forgiveness?

All this stimulus crap annoys me. I hate that I have the wrong kind of debt. No one out there is trying to give me a handout. Sure, we'll give money to all of the idiots who got us into this mess. And we'll even give help to those people that got in over there heads with mortgages they couldn't afford. But no one's even offering to give any help to those of us who play by the rules. I bought in to the idea that a higher education is the way to go. You'll earn more money, they all said. Now I'm stuck with massive student loan debt and a crazy low paying job in this horrible economy. All of the firms, even the big guys with the fancy offices in all the big cities, are laying off everyone left and right. Which leaves even more lawyers in the pool competing for the same limited number of jobs, and companies/firms are taking advantage of the situation by paying measly salaries. So now there are lots of lawyers out there like me. Just out of law school, tons of debt, and being paid slightly more than just out of college salaries, i.e. barely scraping by. Ergo, spending absolutely no money because we have none to spend. But no one seems to care because it's just not the right kind of debt.

Turns out, there's a whole group of folks who have the same thinking I do, and they're actually doing something about it. Here are a couple of links in case you're interested.

Forgiving Student Loan Debt Would Stimulate Economy (Serious)
Student Loan Bailout. Just Do It. (Funny)

Student loan forgiveness? Ahhh, wishful thinking!

Walkin' in WeHo

I finally got off my lazy behind and went for a walk tonight. I went on my usual route. And by usual, I mean I think I've walked it maybe two other times.

I headed down Santa Monica Blvd.

Past the Abbey.

Behind Dan Tana's.

In front of John Krasinski's house (I may or may not have picked this route because I'm a stalker).

Up to Sunset Blvd.

Past the Whisky a Go Go.

Right by the Viper Room.

And past all the fancy people shopping at the fancy shops and eating at the fancy restaurants on the strip.

And I thought to myself? Why don't I do this more often?

The Week That Was

Part 1: The Car

Well folks, my car was officially totaled. It was a good car...no, a great car! And I have shed a couple of tears for its demise. But it's time to move on to bigger and better things. Or at least, 2 more doors and cheaper. After much debate, I've opted to buy my friend's 2004 Hyundai Elantra instead of a shiny, new...er, slightly used Camry. Someday soon I'll get me one of those snazzy cars. But the Elantra was in my budget. And it's got 4 doors. And power locks and windows. Now that's just fancy!

Part 2: The Eyes


I made the mistake of putting in my contacts on Friday. Let's just say the eyes didn't react so well. I've been trying to tell the eye doctor that it was my contacts, but he wouldn't listen. It's like college all over again when my eyes rejected my contacts. Evidently, my eyes only like super-thin daily disposables, which aren't cheap. And really aren't strong enough to correct my vision. I think I'm just going to become a nerdy 4 eyes for the time being. Glasses are in style, aren't they?

Oscar Predictions

It’s that time of year again and you know how I love to give my predictions, so let’s get started!

Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Who Will Win: Obviously, Slumdog.
My Pick: I’ve already said I thought the best movie was Doubt, but that didn’t make the cut. I liked Slumdog and won’t be disappointed to see it win. But, given these choices, if I were a member of the academy, I would’ve voted for Frost/Nixon.

Actor
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Who Will Win: It’s a toss-up between Penn & Rourke, with the oh-so-slight edge going to Rourke.
My Pick: I didn’t see Milk, so I can’t make a fair assessment of Penn. My pick is Rourke. He was great in The Wrestler and deserves the win.

Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Who Will Win: I hate to say it, but I think Kate’s got the momentum, though Meryl and Anne are more deserving.
My Pick: This one is hard for me. I have a tough time deciding between Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. On the one hand you have Streep who put on an acting clinic in Doubt. You know she’s great, but she can still blow you away. On the other hand, you have Hathaway who blew me away because I didn’t know she had it in her. If I put the two performances up side-by-side, I’d probably give the upper hand to Streep. But factoring in the intangibles, I would’ve put in my vote for Hathaway.

Supporting Actor
James Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Who Will Win: Ledger. Slam dunk.
My Pick: Ledger

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marissa Tomei, The Wrestler
Who Will Win: I think this is the category that’s most up in the air. I’m afraid Amy Adams and Viola Davis are going to split the Doubt vote opening the door for Penelope Cruz to walk away the victor. But I think I’ll go out on a limb and say Viola sneaks in for the much deserved win.
My Pick: Viola Davis. She stole the show in Doubt. Seriously, she had one scene - opposite Meryl Streep no less - and she knocked it so far out of the park people are still looking for it. How she doesn’t win this is beyond me.

Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Who Will Win: Danny Boyle
My Pick: Danny Boyle. Even though I don’t think it was the best movie, I definitely think it was the best directed. It was well shot and he got some good performances out of virtual unknowns. He did more with less and deserves the win.

So there you have it, folks. My 2009 Oscar predictions. And, for the record, these are all done without the help of others. I like to make my picks and then read what everyone else is thinking. It’s more fun that way.

My First Wreck...

And it only took 28 years.

I was headed back home after seeing He's Just Not That Into You, and I completely ran a red light. Yep, I'm a genius. I was having one of those completely zoned out moments. Absolutely had my eyes on the road, but my brain stopped working. And rather than me slam into the guy turning left, the guy turning left slammed into me. It's a weird intersection. Let's just say there's a little bit of a parking lot/median to cross, so he had time to speed up a bit. Granted, I don't know how he didn't see me because he had to have had time to stop or at least notice that I wasn't stopping. I'm thinking that he was zoned out a little bit, too, but that's neither here nor there. It was my fault. I'm the one who ran the red light.

I'm ok, but my poor little car is not. I have a feeling they're going to total it. Honestly, I don't know how I didn't get hurt. If you could see my car, the entire driver's side is just squished. He was driving a big truck and t-boned me. I spun around and came to a stop facing the opposite direction. But Honda's are awesome, and I was still able to drive it off the road and out of the way of traffic.

I'm sure I'll be sore in the morning. The adrenaline is fading away and the left side of my body is slowly starting to feel the impact. But my mind is going to take longer to recover because every time I close my eyes I see the truck slamming into me. It's not a pleasant feeling.

Ah well, such is life. I'm alive and well and, more importantly, insured.

On a side note, the movie was really good!!

A Valentine's Funeral

Today was a first for me. A funeral on Valentine's Day. Usually I'm annoyed by this holiday and like to wallow in my loneliness. But instead, I sit here both somber and filled with joy. My friend Jessica's twin sister passed away last week. I had only met Jennifer once, but have gotten to know Jessica and their mother, Helen, over the last year as I've become more involved in my church. I can remember Jessica sitting on the floor of my bedroom back a few months ago and sharing her frustrations and concerns over both her and her sister's sickness. Jennifer was fighting through her third bout with cancer and Jessica, her first. I remember telling her what a wonderful witness her entire family was to me. They kept getting knocked down, but their faith never waivered. I can only hope that my faith is as strong as theirs when tough times approach. In the interim, Helen was also diagnosed with cancer, but both she and Jessica have successfully attacked it and have clean bills of health.

Jennifer's funeral was the most moving one I have ever attended. She was a woman of strong faith, even through her sickness. During the service, they shared some of her writings which painted the picture of a young woman who was secure in her salvation, but struggling through life's battles as we all are. Most funerals focus on the fact that our loved one is in a better place or as Jessica said in her eulogy how everyone is a saint on the day of their funeral, but rarely do they focus much on the brokenness and struggles of the individual. But through her writings, Jennifer was able to share her struggles and hope with everyone one last time. Yes she was battling cancer, yes she was sad to see her loved ones sad and yes she longed for more time to spend here on earth, but she was comforted by the fact that she knew she was headed to her eternal home.

I feel we too often gloss over death and reflect on life with too bright of a view. Life is hard. We're going to struggle. Just because we know Jesus doesn't mean we aren't going to experience loss and hurt and anger. We still live in a fallen world. But we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus has already rescued us from this world. He's just chosen to take some of us home earlier than others.

Jennifer, thank you for your wonderful witness and for reminding us all that it's ok to struggle and question. I rejoice that you're no longer suffering and are in the presence of Jesus! And I continue to hold Jessica, your parents, and your husband close to my heart as they are left to carry on without you until the day that you are all together again.


Suppose you are a gardener employed by another. It is not your garden, but you are called upon to tend it. You have taken great care with a certain number of roses; you have trained them up, and there they are, blooming in their beauty. You come one morning into the garden, and you find that the best rose has been taken away. You are angry. You go to your fellow servants and charge them with having taken the rose. They declare that they had nothing to do with it, and one says, "I saw the master walking here this morning; I think he took it." Is the gardner angry then? No, at once he says, "I am happy that my rose should have been so fair as to attract the attention of the master. It is his own. He has taken it, let him do what seems good."

-Charles Haddon Spurgeon

#26: Yes, I do watch the Disney Channel...a lot!

I was just thinking that I left off my Disney Channel love on my 25 Random Things list. For a 28 year old, that's pretty random. But at the same time, it's no secret. Everyone that knows me, knows I love all things Disney Channel related.

I don't remember the Disney Channel having many teen centered shows when I was an actual teen. Just the Mickey Mouse Club, which I guess is what started it all. I was obsessed with that show. Then, in college, my Disney Channel love exploded. I loved Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, Flash Forward, The Famous Jett Jackson, so on and so forth. The only one I didn't watch was So Weird, which is "so weird" because one of the stars of that show is the worship leader at my church. And the Disney Channel love is why I sat there for several weeks trying to figure out why the heck he was so familiar.

The love continued with That's So Raven, High School Musical, and occasionally The Suite Life of Zach and Cody. Then, the Hannah Montana phenomenon hit. I don't get Hannah Montana. I stopped watching for a little while. But then I was sucked back in by repeats of the old shows I liked. And I discovered Wizards of Waverly Place, which is a new one I quite enjoy. And yes, I tuned in last night for the premiere of the new show Sonny With A Chance. It was cute. I'll watch it. And Jo from Facts of Life plays the mom, so that just sold me on it even more.

Now, don't misunderstand me here. I don't know when any of these shows actually come on. I'm just saying that on the weekends I often find myself flipping to the Disney Channel and watching it for a couple of hours. And I like to think it helps me bond with my oldest niece and nephew. Caroline and I had an hourlong Disney conversation while floating in the Atlantic Ocean this summer. And Landen and I watched Camp Rock together when I was visiting them in Germany.

It's cute. It's harmless. I'm not ashamed. Hmm, I wonder if the Disney Channel is hiring?

HIMYM

This week, I got to partake in one of those fun "I live in Hollywood" activities. My friend Cassie works for Wheel of Fortune and is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The ATAS periodically has panels with the actors and creators of current television shows, and this week they did How I Met Your Mother. Cassie invited me along since she knew I was a fan.

We sat and listened to them talk about the show for about an hour and a half. And if you're a TV junkie, this is just pure heaven! They were all incredibly charming and wonderful and I had a blast. And now I'm crushing on Josh Radnor even more! They hung around momentarily afterward to sign autographs and take pictures. But, unfortunately, they had publicists pulling them away after a very brief time. Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel hung around a little longer than everyone else. A few people I was with got pictures with them, but I didn't feel like dealing with the crowd. I just stood back and took a couple of pics from afar. I get a little claustrophobic and don't have a need to have my picture taken with celebs. I was just enjoying taking it all in and soaking up some memories. My pics aren't very good, and I didn't get a good one of Josh. But you get the idea

Oh, and I almost ran Neil Patrick Harris over with my car. But luckily catastrophe was averted. Whew!

Oscar Noms

And now for my reflections on this years Oscar nominations...

What's with the Benjamin Button lovefest? I just don't get why that movie is nominated or Brad Pitt for that matter. And I like Brad. I think he's a good actor, but I didn't think he did much in this movie other than stand there with cool looking makeup on. Though I'm ok with Taraji P. Henson being nominated. She's the only character I cared about in that movie. And I don't mind the directing nod and all the technical nominations because it looked pretty impressive on screen.

And don't even get me started on The Reader. I saw this last night, and I urge you to stay away. The entire first half is just nudity and sex. I had to shut my eyes and wished I could shut my ears. The second half of the movie I found very interesting and moving. But the first half just corrupted the whole thing. We get it! Kate Winslet's character had an affair with a 15 year old boy. But we don't need to see it over and over and over again. Enough!

Me, I would throw out Benjamin Button and The Reader and replace them with Doubt and The Dark Knight. Those were both far superior movies, in my opinion. I can't make a comment on Milk because I haven't seen it, nor do I plan to. But I'm a-ok with the other best picture noms. I guess I'll jump on the Slumdog bandwagon and pull for it. I don't think it's the best movie of the year, but it's the best of the bunch that were nominated and I hope it wins. It'll be nice to see an uplifting film win for a change.

As for the individual noms, everything went about as expected. The only changes I'd make would be to nominate Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road instead of The Reader. She was much better in that film. And I would've liked to have seen Rosemarie Dewitt nominated in the Supporting Actress category. She played the titular character in Rachel Getting Married opposite Anne Hathaway. And while I think Anne was amazing, I think Rosemarie was even better. I also would've given Christopher Nolan a directing nom for The Dark Knight and not given one to The Reader.

So there you have it. Those are my thoughts on the nominations. All in all, it went like I expected. What did y'all think?

As far as predictions, I'll post those closer to awards time.

That's my cuz!

Check it out...

Todd Turner Named Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman


Finally! Someone in our family is semi-famous...well, at least Arkansas famous. Nice job, Todd!

My Week

Can I just express once again how I don't have anything to post about? I know I've said that before, but it just continues. I could post about TV and movies and sports all day long, but I don't know how interesting you guys find that. And the original purpose of this blog was to keep people back home updated on my life. But what I'm slowly realizing is that I don't have an exciting life. I don't have kids or pets or such to post about. I suppose I could post about hanging out with my friends. But you don't know them, and we don't really do anything exciting. We usually gather at someone's place and chat and watch TV. Good times, but not too exciting to read about.

For today, I guess I'll post a bit about some things I've been thinking about or have been happening this week.

1) I seriously am in need of a new picture to post on here. That was my summer look. I don't look like that anymore. The hair is a bit longer and the color a bit darker as the highlights are fading. Maybe I'll get around to snapping a new one one of these days.

2) I started a new job. You think that could've been a new post or at least my #1, but it's not. I'm thankful for the job, but the pay sucks and it's doing the same crap I was doing before. I had hoped tax resolution was in the past, but evidently God had other plans. Bottom line: I'm still looking elsewhere.

3) I can't shake this cold that has taken over my life. It's going on two weeks now, and it just won't go away. It's going around out here though, so lots of people are in the same boat. I'm hoping it'll run its course this week.

4) I went to a friend's place last week. She has a cat. I'm allergic, and it manifests itself in my eyes. So I've been walking around all week with beet red eyes and wearing my glasses. I hate wearing my glasses!


The pic is from mid-week. As you can see, my right eye is having a particularly harder time than my left eye. But I think they're starting to get better. They're less red and more pink now. And I can see the white parts again, so that's a plus!

So there you have it. That's been what's going on and what's been on my mind this week. There's actually been some deeper stuff, such as debating whether Jews are still God's chosen people or where I fall in the Calvinism/Arminianism debate. But I'll save that for another post.

Til next time...

It's time for a new post...

...and maybe I'll get to it in a few days.

I'm wondering...

Why are all the blog layouts so girly? Isn't there anybody out there that can design one without flowers and frills? After much searching, I finally found one that'll do since the flowers are hidden and it has my favorite colors. But seriously, what do I expect from a website called TheCutestBlogOnTheBlock.com?!

Today's Movie...Revolutionary Road

I'm beginning to think Sam Mendes has a particular disdain for the American suburbs. Though I don't really know why considering he's British, and I believe he and Kate split their time between NYC and London. Which leaves me doubting he's ever actually lived in an American suburb. So that leads me to believe he just hates the idea of the American dream. Ergo, he hates America. Ok, that's harsh, and I'm kidding...a little. But this really did feel like American Beauty, version 2.0.

I had high hopes for this movie because what girl my age doesn't hold a special place in her heart for Kate and Leo?! I think both of them have developed into mighty fine actors. Unfortunately for Leonardo, too many people can't see past his Titanic induced heartthrob status and baby face to see that he's one of the best actors out there. Luckily, Kate hasn't had this problem. I thought both of them gave great performances, but that wasn't enough. I just didn't find myself caring about their characters. So I didn't care that their marriage was crumbling and life wasn't what they thought it would be. And who decided the suburbs were such a bad thing?! There are people out there who enjoy them. Just as there are people out there who enjoy the city life. But I don't really see many movies bashing the city life. Oh wait, that's because all the moviemakers live in the city. That's right. How silly of me.

I was reading reviews after I watched it and came across the following one in The Hollywood Reporter that I think sums up my feelings exactly. I've included a link in case you care to read it. But be warned, there are spoilers.

The Hollywood Reporter Review