The good kind of waiting

It's almost 3 months since my last blog. That should tell you how the summer has gone - like a whirlwind. The ideas have come and gone with out the time to put the ... well I almost said pen to paper, but I guess no one does that anymore. So what is it that we do? I suppose it's now the pixel to monitor/screen. Seems like we are living in "Star Trek times" these days. Last year for my birthday I got an Ipod Touch. I've spent the last 12 months reveling in the fact that I can access the internet and all it's joys anywhere there was wifi on this tiny little communication device I held in my hand. This year I purchased a new phone that can access the internet anywhere (almost) so now I don't even need wifi. I gone from hifi to wifi and beyond in my lifetime. I am old. Being a Scifi fan I just love the gadgets but... you just gotta worry about the kids. They are going to miss a lot of joy(?) that I experienced. Today we hate to wait. Everything needs to be instant (oatmeal, one-touch dialing, or tanning) or fast (food, divorce, or high speed Internet). But I remember the wonderful, delicious anticipation of waiting for that thing you just had to have. One year, as a teenager, it was a 35mm camera that I was so hoping to get it for Christmas. About 1 week before the big day, everyone was gone, so I picked one of the presents with my name on it and very carefully unwrapped it. It was a flash attachment for the camera that I was obviously also getting. The rest of Christmas was ruined for me. The anticipation was gone and so was the joy of waiting. I have never again opened a present early. It takes away the specialness of the occasion. Maybe that's why I have never been excited about studying the book of Revelations. All these folks have tried to tell us what will happen at the end of this time on earth. Why? Yhwh will surprise us all. Won't that be great for those of us who belong. Ah... there's a whole 'nother subject for a whole 'nother blog - BELONGING.

I'm in a mood today. I'm not sure what mood, but I'm in a strange one. I want to talk about movies. I have been pleasantly surprised by a couple of movies lately (just rentals). The guys were all gone last weekend and I rented some romantic comedies. The first I watched was bride wars with Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway. Frankly, the promos made it appear mean and anti- love. I'm not sure why I rented it except that the stars are usually more upbeat so I gave it a "no-expectations shot" at entertaining me. Since my expectations were so low, I was pleasantly surprised. I was glad the wedding divas finally got over themselves and remembered who they loved and not just what they loved. After seeing it I don't hate the idea of it and could say, other than the couples living together (before marriage), it was fairly cute. The second movie I watched was new in town with Renee Zellwigger and Harry Connick. I was leery of it because the critics hated it. When will I learn! I loved it! It was way up there on the cute, uplifting meter. Oh don't go thinking it's Pride and Prejudice. Once again my expectations were pretty low so I really liked it more, I am sure, than it I had high expectations for it. Harry is a much better singer than actor but he had a super cast around him and they kept it fun and thoughtful. I'll buy it at blockbuster when they offer it in the pre-viewed section. I also rented 7 Pounds with Will Smith but we haven't watched it yet, (got till Sat.).
Of the new TV pilots I have watched this year I like Lie to Me, The Mentalist, Flashpoint and I think I like The Listener (only 2 shows so far, the 3rd is tonight). The Mentalist had the best pilot I have ever seen. Last year there were 3 shows that didn't make it that I liked: Journeyman, Men in Trees, and October Road. None had good morality but they were quirky and well acted. I'm seeing their actors in new shows already. I can't believe I have yet to find a new show on Sci Fi that I like. I'm still waiting for the new installment in the Stargate series. That reminds me that I also like Sarah Conner Chronicles, Heroes, and the goofy Chuck. Can you tell I like Sci Fi? Oh and I forgot Castle. I loved Nathan Fillion in Firefly and he's just a good in Castle. It's a light hearted cop/ murder mystery show and always leaves me with a smile despite the gory crimes. Perhaps it's just CSI-lite or a romantic's version of the genre. So far I haven't mentioned anything from the USA network, sorry, I'll do that now. Here's the list of cuties in no particular order: Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, In Plain Sight, and the newest - Royal Pains. These all have a serious side with a LOT of humor. Did you notice that I have not mentioned one single reality show. Nuff said. My old favorites are NCIS, CSI NY, House (but his meanness is wearing VERY thin, Bones (but the lack of sexual morality is really PAINFUL), Smallville, and The Closer.
You are probably wondering why someone like me likes to watch all these shows. i have always liked people. Books, movies, and TV shows, at least the ones I like, are about interesting people, their lives, and their responses to others. I find that interesting and an escape from laundry, vacuuming, dusting, and so on. Gee that sounds sad. I have a great life but I love adventure too. It's sort of fun to watch these characters navigate through their lives, especially since the consequences aren't real. In the real world it's tough to watch your friends and family struggle with alcohol and drugs, and know that your girl friend while afraid of her abusive husband still wants to be married- even if that means it's to him. Don't get me started on all my loved ones who have cancer, Lou Gehrig's, heart disease, Alzheimers, and mental illness. It's a rough world we live in and we have no one to blame but ourselves. Don't you just get tired of the folks who whine "life's not fair" or worse "God's not fair"? How could it be fair when God gave us the power to choose? Oh well... that's a whole 'nother blog. Just remember, God is the one who loves you. And the rest of the world? Mmmmm... not so much. Trust God! and don't take anything on a screen or tube too seriously (especially this blog).

What was God thinking?

Did you ever wonder that? I do, a lot. Why did God create mosquitoes and flies? They are so irksome, and nasty, and plentiful, and just awful. Well, they probably are necessary in the "circle of life" and all but really... there's got to be another way. What I was really wondering though was why did God make a man first? And don't give me the tired jokes about, " 'He' realized 'he' could do better so 'he' made a woman..." I know the "rib" illustration (close to mans heart and under his arm). I mean making man first and bigger and stronger really put him in control. We women are the "helpers", and we do meet the deficiencies that they are born with. Therefore, “Man” was incomplete. Don’t get me wrong; I’m definitely not a man/boy hater. I’m not a crazy fema-nazi. I love men, I live with 4 of them and they are the best! It’s just that God put men in charge and that get so annoying. If all the good men were in charge of things it wouldn’t be so bad. Things could be different. I think they would realize what a pain it is to be ignored in some things. Like when we use a pronoun for God it’s always “He”. Sorry to burst some bubbles but God’s not a man. I know Jesus was, and he had to be, by the very nature of society and customs he was born into. Can you imagine him accomplishing 1/3 of the things he did as a girl/woman in the Middle East during that time. That’s a no-brainer. I just don’t think/believe that men or women are complete on our own. We have these wonderful strengths and weakness that mesh together to make something better and stronger as a unit. It works great in a marriage and it’s also profitable in other relationships too, like siblings, coworkers, partners, etc. It’s just that I see God as complete and men and women are not. God has to be so much more than what “we” are. That’s why I hate to refer to God as “he”. It’s a bit of a slam to me as a woman but it’s such a demotion for the God of all creation. Could that concession be the start of men thinking that they are or can become God? Various religions teach you that God is in you or that you can work your way up to God-status. That’s why I’ll try not to refer to God by pronoun even though using the title God again and again sounds redundant. Anyway, back to the idea of making man first in creation. I don’t mind the ‘right’ men being in charge. Just like I don’t mind men holding the door open for me. And I am so thankful for all the men that have changed my flat tires and lifted the heavy bags I was struggling to maneuver. Still, when I see a man treat a woman like property I wonder… “What was God thinking?” and “How did it come to this?” Sorry I’ve rambled so much I was just... wondering…

Does God need an Umbrella?

Since this is my very first blog it may get ugly for some of you. I never made it out of the first round in any spelling bee and I've basically been raising kids for the last 20 years (boys). Anyway, it's been raining outside and that prompted the question, does God need an umbrella. What do you think? Does God get wet? Does God care if God gets wet? See, I always have way more questions than answers. Answers are just so finite and I love a little change sometimes. Anyway, If God uses a body I'm not sure God would care if it got wet. I don't think God gets cold, even in the rain. I think Jesus would have, but not in his new body. Would God care if the rain messed up the outfit God was wearing? Just what would God wear? I'd dress God in a Tshirt and khacki pants... with sandals and a hat of course. (Hey, don't assume God is gona be a man again!) All of that is pretty wash and wear. I don't think God will care about getting wet, especially with a hat on. So I don't guess God will need an umbrella. And remember, that's just a guess NOT an actual answer. So why not take a walk in the rain the next time the opportunity arrises? Be a kid again and feel the drops on your face and hands. God is in the little things and we often blow right by them. Be blessed today!