Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
"Just send money. How about tens and twenties."
My friend Torrey made me the nicest CD of Christmas music this week and I've been thinking about my favorite holiday songs. I'll have to take the time to compile a list and then make sure that I have all of the wonderful favorites in one place, but I know right away which songs I DON"T like. The number one on this list has got to be the 'Christmas Shoes' song made famous (infamous?) by Michael Bolton. I know, Michael. Bolton. I was reading some funny stuff by the great Eric D. Snider when I stumbled upon this lovely bit:
"While we're on the subject of songs that are supposed to make you cry whose doctrine I find questionable, there's the recent sappy, crappy country hit "Christmas Shoes" (not to be confused with "Live Like You Were Dyin'," "Already There," or any of the other sappy, crappy country hits that are produced at the rate of one song per week). It's about a guy standing in line in a store at Christmastime, and this filthy urchin in front of him is buying a pair of women's shoes, which he declares to be for his mother:
"Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight"
Because, what, Jesus can't abide a barefoot woman? Or a woman who has shoes on that aren't beautiful? And who says Mama will be wearing shoes when she gets to heaven anyway? I believe the old saying is, "You can't take it with you." Does that not apply to shoes? Is there supposed to be an asterisk next to it?
You can't take it with you.*
*(except shoes)
Anyway, the kid in the song winds up getting the singer to buy him the shoes, because of course he's too poor to pay for them himself. I picture him thanking the man profusely, then hurrying out the door with the shoes to his mother, who's waiting in the car, smoking a cigarette:
"What took you so long? Here, let's see 'em ... What, these are the best you could find?! Pumps! I told you pumps! These are heels! I can't wear these, they make my feet hurt, you stupid brat! You better get it right at the next store. And would it kill you to cry a little? See if you can get someone to give you some cash, too. Mama can't buy lottery tickets with shoes."
And my question is, does this make me a bad person?"
And that to me, is Christmas spirit.
"While we're on the subject of songs that are supposed to make you cry whose doctrine I find questionable, there's the recent sappy, crappy country hit "Christmas Shoes" (not to be confused with "Live Like You Were Dyin'," "Already There," or any of the other sappy, crappy country hits that are produced at the rate of one song per week). It's about a guy standing in line in a store at Christmastime, and this filthy urchin in front of him is buying a pair of women's shoes, which he declares to be for his mother:
"Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight"
Because, what, Jesus can't abide a barefoot woman? Or a woman who has shoes on that aren't beautiful? And who says Mama will be wearing shoes when she gets to heaven anyway? I believe the old saying is, "You can't take it with you." Does that not apply to shoes? Is there supposed to be an asterisk next to it?
You can't take it with you.*
*(except shoes)
Anyway, the kid in the song winds up getting the singer to buy him the shoes, because of course he's too poor to pay for them himself. I picture him thanking the man profusely, then hurrying out the door with the shoes to his mother, who's waiting in the car, smoking a cigarette:
"What took you so long? Here, let's see 'em ... What, these are the best you could find?! Pumps! I told you pumps! These are heels! I can't wear these, they make my feet hurt, you stupid brat! You better get it right at the next store. And would it kill you to cry a little? See if you can get someone to give you some cash, too. Mama can't buy lottery tickets with shoes."
And my question is, does this make me a bad person?"
And that to me, is Christmas spirit.
Oh my
I received a call this morning from one of the secretary's in my ward asking if I could make it to church a few minutes earlier than usual and quickly meet with one the bishopric counselors. Although I was hoping for a little explanation of my current calling (activities committee member), I was instead surprised with a new calling: Sunday School teacher. Yikes.
I've definitely been wary of past callings I've received, but I was a million times for comfortable with the idea of being a counselor in Relief Society or ward music-whatever than I am with this. So, kids, I am definitely going to be needing some advice. The thought of standing in front of strangers and teaching ANYTHING makes me a little sick. Maybe there will be some good/humorous stories to come out of this experience in this ward; although if there is some cosmic joke that dictates I lose my skirt again in front of any ward members, I may just apostatize.
Also - I am going to be speaking in sacrament meeting next Sunday and would appreciate any good recommendation on books/talks about forgiveness. Seriously folks, any help would be appreciated!
I've definitely been wary of past callings I've received, but I was a million times for comfortable with the idea of being a counselor in Relief Society or ward music-whatever than I am with this. So, kids, I am definitely going to be needing some advice. The thought of standing in front of strangers and teaching ANYTHING makes me a little sick. Maybe there will be some good/humorous stories to come out of this experience in this ward; although if there is some cosmic joke that dictates I lose my skirt again in front of any ward members, I may just apostatize.
Also - I am going to be speaking in sacrament meeting next Sunday and would appreciate any good recommendation on books/talks about forgiveness. Seriously folks, any help would be appreciated!
Friday, November 30, 2007
A List, A List, A List
I sometimes go through periods where I have trouble sleeping. I haven't pinpointed what the trigger(s) might be for insomnia or me waking up unexpectedly in the middle of the night, and this past Sunday began a pretty interesting 5-day run. It's so strange - I haven't been going to bed at a reasonable hour since Thanksgiving but I can usually fall asleep within thirty minutes or so anyway. But, while I've been getting to bed around 1:30, I have woken up every night between 4:00 and 4:30 and staying awake for at least an hour and a half.
What, you might ask, has kept me entertained during these one and-a-half to two hour intervals each night? Well. Let me tell you what I've been accomplishing while the rest of you have been sleeping soundly:
What, you might ask, has kept me entertained during these one and-a-half to two hour intervals each night? Well. Let me tell you what I've been accomplishing while the rest of you have been sleeping soundly:
- Rearranging all shoes according to type and frequency of being worn
- Packing away all summer sandals and shoes in light of impending snow
- Lining up winter boots according to height
- Gathering all scarves, hats, and mittens in one cute box
- Looking for econo-size static guard that I require during winter
- Taking inventory of coats (I need a decent navy)
- Clearing out accumulated junk under my bed
- Online Christmas shopping
- Online Christmas wishlist making
- Planning possible Christmas activities
- Eating one red apple
- Organizing all CD's according to genre AND color
- Dusting entire room - - no allergens for me, thank you!
- Cleaning bathroom sink
- Re-folding sheets and towels that were stacked haphazardly in closet
- Obliterating drawer of junk in console table
- Gathering DVD's back to bookshelf and coordinating each correct disc with correct case
- Resetting pre-programmed stations on stereo
- Setting all clocks to same time EXACTLY
- Deleting embarassing songs from itunes library (I'm looking at you, Spice Girls)
- Creating verb-based playlists (ie - Driving Fast, Running in Rain, Dancing in Car, etc.)
- Doing one load of dark laundry
- Finishing two books
- Catching up on many, many blogs
- Lots of wikipedia-ing
- Drawing floorplans for library I someday want in my house
- Updating list of what I want to read, hear, and watch
- Throwing out past-expiration prescriptions
- Getting rid of makeup that was a bad idea to begin with
- Taking super long shower
- Doing excellent conditioning treatment on hair. Twice. (Redken All-Soft Heavy Cream)
- Using exfoliating mask and renewing cucumber eye-things
- Moisturizing like a fiend
- Beginning to straighten hair, and then going to sleep halfway through
Things that I haven't been doing but really should:
- Sleeping
- Studying
It seems that my priorities and self-discipline need to be reconciled at some point...
Note: The hair thing was interesting, I had to finish in the morning, of course.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Introspection? Anyone?
So. I was not disappointed with the BYU-Utah game on Saturday. It was a good game with a satisfactory amount of drama that probably did bad things to my heart. I love very few things in this world more than I love BYU football and a competitive fourth quarter. Go Cougars.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the "perfect moments" in life. I don't remember when, but my dad coined the phrase/thought/philosophy that we are occasionally caught in the perfect moment and that it's beneficial if not important to pay pointed attention to situation or circumstance. Someone (my parents I'm sure) began taking note of perfect moments as we were together and the idea has been with me for a number of years. I mostly remember being conscious of pieces of perfection while enjoying time spent with family or friends, seeing beatiful places, or even the sense of contentment that accompanies a good book or nice walk.
Although it lends itself to scientific process more than I like to admit, I've been trying to remember and pay attention to the role I play in creating the perfect moment; my actions or attitude that may make it easier for me to enjoy a brief interlude of calm in everyday life. I haven't come to a satisfactory conclusion, but have certainly enjoyed taking the time to consider it. It's probably just the impending end-of-semester rush and mental preparation for a new year but what a great opportunity to look at old pictures stored on the computer, review great books read and music listened to, and think about all of the new stuff that we've learned in the past weeks and months. I don't know that any of these things will make me appreciate the good things in life any more than usual, but at least they help to remind me of perfect moments that I've been lucky enough to enjoy.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the "perfect moments" in life. I don't remember when, but my dad coined the phrase/thought/philosophy that we are occasionally caught in the perfect moment and that it's beneficial if not important to pay pointed attention to situation or circumstance. Someone (my parents I'm sure) began taking note of perfect moments as we were together and the idea has been with me for a number of years. I mostly remember being conscious of pieces of perfection while enjoying time spent with family or friends, seeing beatiful places, or even the sense of contentment that accompanies a good book or nice walk.
Although it lends itself to scientific process more than I like to admit, I've been trying to remember and pay attention to the role I play in creating the perfect moment; my actions or attitude that may make it easier for me to enjoy a brief interlude of calm in everyday life. I haven't come to a satisfactory conclusion, but have certainly enjoyed taking the time to consider it. It's probably just the impending end-of-semester rush and mental preparation for a new year but what a great opportunity to look at old pictures stored on the computer, review great books read and music listened to, and think about all of the new stuff that we've learned in the past weeks and months. I don't know that any of these things will make me appreciate the good things in life any more than usual, but at least they help to remind me of perfect moments that I've been lucky enough to enjoy.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
"I feel really warm around you, and my tongue swells up..."
... and that's pretty much how I am feeling right now. In a good way, though. I actually just heard this line while watching the movie "Elf" with my roommate. I know it's a special breed of cheesy, but I've been thinking recently that I need to be more diligent in vocalizing the things that I am appreciative of and express thanks to people in my life.
I'll give you a moment to catch your breath and dry your tears. That was, after all, the most emotion I've put out in the world for a while.
It just so happens that this sentiment seems to fall right in line with the Thanksgiving holiday, making it very convenient for me to be just another one of the crowd of seasonal thanks-givers. Nonetheless, I'm going to make the effort. A 10-day countdown to Thanksgiving day seems appropriate. I'll have to start on that tomorrow though, because I am definitely feeling grateful for a warm bed and the joy that is the heated mattress pad.
I'll give you a moment to catch your breath and dry your tears. That was, after all, the most emotion I've put out in the world for a while.
It just so happens that this sentiment seems to fall right in line with the Thanksgiving holiday, making it very convenient for me to be just another one of the crowd of seasonal thanks-givers. Nonetheless, I'm going to make the effort. A 10-day countdown to Thanksgiving day seems appropriate. I'll have to start on that tomorrow though, because I am definitely feeling grateful for a warm bed and the joy that is the heated mattress pad.
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