I woke up early this morning to go to church. It was rather foggy out.
I traveled highway 14 as I usually do and I was watching the sun come up as I drove. I had Scott Krippayne on the cd player (if you don't know who he is, christian rock) and I was just cruising along thinking about the bible study I was going to and the fact that I was becoming an official member of Centenary UMC today.
As I drove through the fog the sun was shining like a beacon guiding me along through the fog. It was such a nice moment because it is like a metaphor for when we all travel through life in what sometimes feels like a fog. Through the hard to see area shines a light that can guide us through and bring us warmth and comfort. It was a nice feeling.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
spelling does count!
I know I am not a great speller. But I am a decent one usually. Sometimes I have to write things out to see if they look right or wrong. And no matter what I make sure the words are correct after I have finished a sentence.
What in the world has happened to the spelling in the world? I don't know when it started but bad spelling is driving me nuts!
I have no proof but part of me wonders if part of the problem is the tendency for people to abbreviate words.
LOL, TTYL, FYI, and others have become so common place in our society that nobody bothers to spell words anymore. Other things like "U 2" instead of "you too" also are like this.
(to, too, and two are one of the ones that drive me nuts because it seems like more and more kids don't know the difference between them!)
No matter what the cause, bad spelling drives me crazy. Do people not realize how dumb you sound when you cannot spell correctly? Is it just me that is bothered by this?
I shudder to think of what business owners and managers have to go through when they look at applications.
Is the world really getting dumber or is it just becoming so lazy that it doesn't care about things like this?
What in the world has happened to the spelling in the world? I don't know when it started but bad spelling is driving me nuts!
I have no proof but part of me wonders if part of the problem is the tendency for people to abbreviate words.
LOL, TTYL, FYI, and others have become so common place in our society that nobody bothers to spell words anymore. Other things like "U 2" instead of "you too" also are like this.
(to, too, and two are one of the ones that drive me nuts because it seems like more and more kids don't know the difference between them!)
No matter what the cause, bad spelling drives me crazy. Do people not realize how dumb you sound when you cannot spell correctly? Is it just me that is bothered by this?
I shudder to think of what business owners and managers have to go through when they look at applications.
Is the world really getting dumber or is it just becoming so lazy that it doesn't care about things like this?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Harry Potter vs. the Nazis?!?!?!?
The Twins were busy getting their butts handed to them by the Angels this afternoon so tonight when I usually turn on the game while I make dinner I had to find something else to watch instead.
ABC Family channel is running Harry Potter movies this weekend I guess so I watch The Goblet of Fire.
I have seen this movie before and I have read the books. But tonight I noticed something for the first time about the schools participating in the Tri-Wizard tournament.
Am I the only one out there that has never noticed before this that we have a reference to battles between European countries?
Hogwarts, which is Harry's school is located in England. The basis of all the Harry Potter books is based in England and that works because I believe the author is from England herself.
In the story there are 2 more schools that visit Hogwarts to participate in the tournament.
Beauxbatons (not sure of the spelling, I don't have the books in front of me) is the school from France. You can tell this by their school name, their accents, and the names of the teacher and students.
Durmstrang is the other school. While the books and the movie never reference this place to be in Germany there is definitely a "German flavor" to the participants from this school.
The spelling and pronunciation of this school suggest German or Prussian background as well as the main student, a young man with the name of Viktor Krum.
During the Tri-Wizard tournament these three countries compete with each country having a role.
The English school, which is of course the good guys, comes out in first place in the tournament in the events and while they have adversity they manage to pull through with bravery and determination.
The German school seems to be their main competition and in the story the German student goes as far as to become bewitched and to attack the English and French competitors. (The German attacks the French first and defeats them as the English comes to the rescue a little too late to save the initial attack but is able to assist after it takes place. WW II anyone?)
The French school has the weakest competitor and while resilient she just doesn't have the ability to take the competitions head on and requires help from the English on a regular basis in order to survive.
To throw another kicker in there the teacher and helper of the German is Igor Karkaroff which is a Russian name origin. He assists in the beginning but by the end is a person of no consequence in the large scale of the specific competition. He is however portrayed as someone that has done evil in the past and while he does acts considered vile in the beginning of the story he will run in the end, effectively terminating his aid to the German. (Once again think Russia in WW II. They were originally German allies to take over Poland but then when Germany attacked them they quit on them and would become a force the Germans have to worry about)
When you look at the story you have to wonder how much of the author's subconscious or even intent was to write in a way that mirrors the history of Western Civilization.
Am I the last person to notice this? Has everyone else already thought of this and I found myself outside the discussion? I do wonder.
ABC Family channel is running Harry Potter movies this weekend I guess so I watch The Goblet of Fire.
I have seen this movie before and I have read the books. But tonight I noticed something for the first time about the schools participating in the Tri-Wizard tournament.
Am I the only one out there that has never noticed before this that we have a reference to battles between European countries?
Hogwarts, which is Harry's school is located in England. The basis of all the Harry Potter books is based in England and that works because I believe the author is from England herself.
In the story there are 2 more schools that visit Hogwarts to participate in the tournament.
Beauxbatons (not sure of the spelling, I don't have the books in front of me) is the school from France. You can tell this by their school name, their accents, and the names of the teacher and students.
Durmstrang is the other school. While the books and the movie never reference this place to be in Germany there is definitely a "German flavor" to the participants from this school.
The spelling and pronunciation of this school suggest German or Prussian background as well as the main student, a young man with the name of Viktor Krum.
During the Tri-Wizard tournament these three countries compete with each country having a role.
The English school, which is of course the good guys, comes out in first place in the tournament in the events and while they have adversity they manage to pull through with bravery and determination.
The German school seems to be their main competition and in the story the German student goes as far as to become bewitched and to attack the English and French competitors. (The German attacks the French first and defeats them as the English comes to the rescue a little too late to save the initial attack but is able to assist after it takes place. WW II anyone?)
The French school has the weakest competitor and while resilient she just doesn't have the ability to take the competitions head on and requires help from the English on a regular basis in order to survive.
To throw another kicker in there the teacher and helper of the German is Igor Karkaroff which is a Russian name origin. He assists in the beginning but by the end is a person of no consequence in the large scale of the specific competition. He is however portrayed as someone that has done evil in the past and while he does acts considered vile in the beginning of the story he will run in the end, effectively terminating his aid to the German. (Once again think Russia in WW II. They were originally German allies to take over Poland but then when Germany attacked them they quit on them and would become a force the Germans have to worry about)
When you look at the story you have to wonder how much of the author's subconscious or even intent was to write in a way that mirrors the history of Western Civilization.
Am I the last person to notice this? Has everyone else already thought of this and I found myself outside the discussion? I do wonder.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
To thine own self be true
I am 32 and I have been up and down. I have gone through a roller coaster of a life and the younger me is very much different than the me of now. I don't know if I would call it growing up or just defining myself as who I truly am.
I think that we all go through a stage like this in some ways. I know some people take longer than others and some people they know from such a young age you wonder if they changed at all.
But one of the things I think of is the fact that I know what I love and don't love.
It is just sometimes I forget.
I have a quote board at school. Once a week a new quote goes up. Every Monday to be precise.
This is the one I started with.
I think that it is important to sit back and think about this every once in a while. Because as I go through life watching movies or reading books or just watching other people I want to be various things. Or I want to be various people.
But I know that ultimately a lot of those people aren't me and I am never going to be them.
So what I really need to do is sit back and remember to be true to myself. What I love I love for a reason and I need to have my life revolve around that.
For me personally, that is God and faith. Then softball. Then music. There are others that come close after and many things I enjoy. But these are my top 3.
I need to stop thinking of other things in my life that don't seem to be as important and remember that what makes me happy is those things and those are what I need to do. And I need to stop concerning myself with things that I sometimes think of but aren't one of my true loves.
As long as I put God first, then enjoy my softball I am going to have to make sure I leave the rest behind. Those are my true loves and they have never let me down.
To thine own self be true.
Everyone should find their own selves no matter who they are and be true to what they are and stop trying to be what they are not.
That is what I think.
I think that we all go through a stage like this in some ways. I know some people take longer than others and some people they know from such a young age you wonder if they changed at all.
But one of the things I think of is the fact that I know what I love and don't love.
It is just sometimes I forget.
I have a quote board at school. Once a week a new quote goes up. Every Monday to be precise.
This is the one I started with.
I think that it is important to sit back and think about this every once in a while. Because as I go through life watching movies or reading books or just watching other people I want to be various things. Or I want to be various people.
But I know that ultimately a lot of those people aren't me and I am never going to be them.
So what I really need to do is sit back and remember to be true to myself. What I love I love for a reason and I need to have my life revolve around that.
For me personally, that is God and faith. Then softball. Then music. There are others that come close after and many things I enjoy. But these are my top 3.
I need to stop thinking of other things in my life that don't seem to be as important and remember that what makes me happy is those things and those are what I need to do. And I need to stop concerning myself with things that I sometimes think of but aren't one of my true loves.
As long as I put God first, then enjoy my softball I am going to have to make sure I leave the rest behind. Those are my true loves and they have never let me down.
To thine own self be true.
Everyone should find their own selves no matter who they are and be true to what they are and stop trying to be what they are not.
That is what I think.
Monday, August 16, 2010
alcohol free
My knee injury has had me on antibiotics for 20 days now. And for another 10.
So it has been 20 days since I have had any alcohol because alcohol doesn't mix with medications.
I don't miss it.
I am not going to become and advocate of only non-alcoholic beverages. And it wasn't like I was a drunk before this. But it is funny that I have had no urge at all to have a beer or a shot or even wine (and you who know me I am kind of snobbish about my wine).
I just thought of this randomly right now so just wanted to say that it is not the worst thing in the world to not drink.
AYP and low test scores. Kudos to the Scholls.
In-service days started today at school. It felt good to be in there actually. I am nervous but excited for the upcoming year. I spent 11 hours there today and it went by fast!
For those of you who aren't in education or related fields there are these tests that students have to take to make AYP. (Annual Yearly Progress)
Basically the government wants everyone to be up to snuff on education standards in the US and these tests are to make sure that schools are making adequate progress on their test scores.
These tests are standardized tests and in many ways the same as what we all took when we were in school.
But now if the students don't do well enough the school suffers in funds.
I think that the government wants us to care about how educated the public is and I think that is fine.
I think the government is making many smart and gifted people go through hard times when students that aren't theirs don't do well and I think that is very wrong.
But mostly I think that if we all valued education as a culture and society we wouldn't have this kind of problem at all.
A lot of the countries that are at the head of education right now have kids that want to be in the classroom and learning. They value their education and where it can take them.
In the US, we have a good number of people that do as well. But I don't think it is the majority anymore.
I think there are a lot of people that don't grow up in a family where the kids are taught that your education and your social skills are really important in the world at large.
If all kids grew up hearing how important education was and how the US wants to be at the head of the world and that they are the ones who make a difference in that then more kids would want to learn and more kids would naturally be more anxious to learn.
Our test scores would be better because the kids would be immersed in their education in a positive and active way.
I love the fact that I know some families personally that value education and their kids do as well.
A great example is the Scholl family. Ryan and Jenn have done a great job of letting their kids know that educated people are the ones who succeed in the world. That if you complete school and do your best it takes you places other than the unemployment line or the welfare office.
And I appreciate that they do that as a teacher!
It all starts with the family and home life at a young age; we can't wait until they get to school because that is years of education already done.
I hope that more people will start to raise their children to appreciate their education and we can retake what we once had in the world. (that being a place at the head of the table in ingenuity and smart ideas)
Instead of valuing being sexy or stupid (which is what some of these reality shows seem to value in a way) I hope that people can remember that what made us great as a country in our history was our drive to be the best, the smartest, and the more creative.
For those of you who aren't in education or related fields there are these tests that students have to take to make AYP. (Annual Yearly Progress)
Basically the government wants everyone to be up to snuff on education standards in the US and these tests are to make sure that schools are making adequate progress on their test scores.
These tests are standardized tests and in many ways the same as what we all took when we were in school.
But now if the students don't do well enough the school suffers in funds.
I think that the government wants us to care about how educated the public is and I think that is fine.
I think the government is making many smart and gifted people go through hard times when students that aren't theirs don't do well and I think that is very wrong.
But mostly I think that if we all valued education as a culture and society we wouldn't have this kind of problem at all.
A lot of the countries that are at the head of education right now have kids that want to be in the classroom and learning. They value their education and where it can take them.
In the US, we have a good number of people that do as well. But I don't think it is the majority anymore.
I think there are a lot of people that don't grow up in a family where the kids are taught that your education and your social skills are really important in the world at large.
If all kids grew up hearing how important education was and how the US wants to be at the head of the world and that they are the ones who make a difference in that then more kids would want to learn and more kids would naturally be more anxious to learn.
Our test scores would be better because the kids would be immersed in their education in a positive and active way.
I love the fact that I know some families personally that value education and their kids do as well.
A great example is the Scholl family. Ryan and Jenn have done a great job of letting their kids know that educated people are the ones who succeed in the world. That if you complete school and do your best it takes you places other than the unemployment line or the welfare office.
And I appreciate that they do that as a teacher!
It all starts with the family and home life at a young age; we can't wait until they get to school because that is years of education already done.
I hope that more people will start to raise their children to appreciate their education and we can retake what we once had in the world. (that being a place at the head of the table in ingenuity and smart ideas)
Instead of valuing being sexy or stupid (which is what some of these reality shows seem to value in a way) I hope that people can remember that what made us great as a country in our history was our drive to be the best, the smartest, and the more creative.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Acting and morals
I have been watching various tv shows tonight. It seems like all the good shows are on at the same time on the same day. If only they spread them out more......
I have seen a lot of kissing scenes today or even more passionate. Good movies like X2 have been on and ok movies like Cocktail (which I do enjoy even if it isn't the greatest movie ever made) and unbelievable movies like Remember the Titans. Remember the Titans doesn't apply here but it is a great movie and it was on.
I used to do some acting in high school and junior college. I was in my share of plays and musicals and I enjoyed them. I have done a couple kissing scenes before myself.
I found kissing someone in the musicals and plays rather awkward at times. Part of the reason was because they usually had a boyfriend already and I didn't want them to have to worry about kissing another guy they didn't usually want to kiss.
It was acting and when you get into character and you also don't think of it that way usually because it is a part of being a thespian.
Watching today on tv seeing some of these scenes that actors and actresses have to go through it makes me realize why these people seem to fail in their relationships so much.
I watch these shows and I see some of these love scenes and I wonder how the spouses feel about this whole deal. I realize that a lot of the couples are hollywood so they have their own love scenes to do but it gets a little ridiculous when you really stop and think about it.
I am so glad I haven't had to do more scenes with kissing and I don't think I would ever want to be an actor involving scenes like that because I would rather know that I am giving my all to my significant other. All my love, all my passion, all my kisses and all my desire.
Even if you are just acting it is so much better to not have to worry about the physical aspect even in a relationship because I have always felt so strongly about cheating and how wrong it is in relationships.
I find myself pitying the people in the world that have to deal with these sorts of problems and I wonder if they understand how much they are missing out of at times in their lives.
I have seen a lot of kissing scenes today or even more passionate. Good movies like X2 have been on and ok movies like Cocktail (which I do enjoy even if it isn't the greatest movie ever made) and unbelievable movies like Remember the Titans. Remember the Titans doesn't apply here but it is a great movie and it was on.
I used to do some acting in high school and junior college. I was in my share of plays and musicals and I enjoyed them. I have done a couple kissing scenes before myself.
I found kissing someone in the musicals and plays rather awkward at times. Part of the reason was because they usually had a boyfriend already and I didn't want them to have to worry about kissing another guy they didn't usually want to kiss.
It was acting and when you get into character and you also don't think of it that way usually because it is a part of being a thespian.
Watching today on tv seeing some of these scenes that actors and actresses have to go through it makes me realize why these people seem to fail in their relationships so much.
I watch these shows and I see some of these love scenes and I wonder how the spouses feel about this whole deal. I realize that a lot of the couples are hollywood so they have their own love scenes to do but it gets a little ridiculous when you really stop and think about it.
I am so glad I haven't had to do more scenes with kissing and I don't think I would ever want to be an actor involving scenes like that because I would rather know that I am giving my all to my significant other. All my love, all my passion, all my kisses and all my desire.
Even if you are just acting it is so much better to not have to worry about the physical aspect even in a relationship because I have always felt so strongly about cheating and how wrong it is in relationships.
I find myself pitying the people in the world that have to deal with these sorts of problems and I wonder if they understand how much they are missing out of at times in their lives.
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