Category Archives: Media/TV

7 Quick Takes: Jesus Music, Political Grumping, and Brett’s Blogathon

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

I downloaded a Mandisa song. Hades hath officially frozen over. It’s the “Good Morning” song and I got it off iTunes because I love the Toby Mac section in which he starts out going, “Top of the morning to ya ‘Disa!” It got stuck in my head and I finally had to download the song to get it out. I would normally rather have my nails pulled out with pliers than listen to Mandisa but this song is OK even if it has a “Jesus is my boyfriend” feel. Here’s the video:

— 2 —

The song blowing me away at the moment is “Jesus, Friend of Sinners” by Casting Crowns. Casting Crowns does it again in coming up with a song that is completely quotable. I honestly can’t come up with a “best” lyric because it’s all wonderful. The more interesting of the lyric videos is below.

— 3 —

In case anyone doesn’t normally read my blog, I have a cool eclipse pic. My suburb of Sacramento was too far south to get the full ring but I got what looks like a cat’s eye. My parents brought eclipse glasses up with them when they came for the communal birthday on Saturday so I got to watch it staring at the sun. It was quite spectacular and if Jon hadn’t had baccalaureate on Sunday night, we might have gone north to a place where we could get the full ring. Here’s the pic:

The eclipse from my porch.

— 4 —

I’ve had large amounts of insomnia which leads to naps while Daniel is at preschool. I’ve found that if NPR or Airline Pilot Guy don’t manage to put me to sleep, a good episode of old school “Mythbusters” does. Explosions calm me. If only I could get “World’s Wildest Police Chases” or COPS streaming on Netflix…

— 5 —

I’m continuing to be thankful for my pledge not to discuss electoral politics this election season. I’m blown away by the rhetoric from both sides in the presidential, Congressional, and Prop 29 campaigns. Some of it, especially in the presidential campaign, are outright lies. I knew our country was polarized but seriously… get a grip, people. Even if you think someone is a complete idiot for supporting the candidate they do, you don’t have to be rude about it. I wish I could actually do some of my own campaigning but it would really not be good to do as the pastor’s wife. Anything I say/do reflects on Jon and has the significance of Jon saying it which isn’t great because he and I are on opposite sides of the political coin.

— 6 —

The one thing we do agree on is that the “No on 29” campaign is the work of Satan in the form of the tobacco companies. It’s absolutely hideous that those monsters have come into California and are outspending the “Yes on 29” campaign 8-1. I don’t believe smokers have rights. It’s a filthy and disgusting habit and I think it should have as high a tax as possible to discourage people from doing it. I also believe those jerks who drop their butts on highways and streets should have to dodge cars to pick them up. I definitely don’t believe it should be allowed in any public place, especially since I’m asthmatic and cigarette smoke triggers respiratory distress in both me and Daniel. I’d love to make the people who land us in the hospital pay our ER bills. OK… off my soapbox.

— 7 —

Even though Brett’s Blogathon is two months off, I’m working on it now. I have some Pioneer Woman type entries so I’m trying to get the pictures for those while I’m actually cooking them. (I’ll add the text later.) I also need to compile links and such so that I have them at my fingertips for the event. Come check out the fun at http://peacefulwaters.org/brett. While you’re there, consider donating to his adoption fund.

Brett

C’mon… he’s really cute and he needs to get to the USA so he can get some therapy for his cerebral palsy.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

7 Quick Takes: Voicing My Thoughts

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7 Quick Takes

For a change this week, I thought I’d do my Quick Takes as an audio file. Click on the “Continue reading ->” to see the text of them.

Oh yes… comments regarding Quick Take #2 can be left here. Anything about it (other than unfettered praise) left on this entry will be either edited or deleted.

Continue reading →

7 Quick Takes — Season Finales, It’s Too Darn Hot, and Promise Walk Highlights

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Oh. Em. Gee. CSI season finale!!! I so do NOT approve of it being a cliffhanger! I will be grumping about this until September. What oh what will I do on Wednesday nights?!?!?!?!?!? (Answer: He-Man reruns and Netflix probably.) It was good to find out what had happened between Finn and Russell and to find out that it was something innocuous and not that they had been involved romantically in an adulterous fashion.

— 2 —

Hart of Dixie was good this week. This show is my guilty pleasure. (I usually watch forensic shows or stuff like The Big Bang Theory.) I loved the scene where Lemon gets her head stuck in the bed frame. It was an interesting message this week in that we see that Zoe’s presence in Bluebell does make a difference. I think it’s applicable to us in that what we do has repercussions and we have the blessing/curse of impacting other peoples’ lives.

— 3 —

I totally loved Abby’s outfit on NCIS this week. I really wish I’d known what had been planned for the bachelor party by Abby because that so did NOT end up happening! I also wonder if there’s anyone else who finds Dr. Samantha Ryan (Jamie Lee Curtis) to have undertones of naughtiness. She evokes a feeling kind of like a few of the characters in an Austin Powers movie.

— 4 —

The wedding on The Big Bang Theory was awesome. I love that all the members of the group of friends were ordained so they all performed the marriage ceremony. I wonder if anything will happen with Penny and Leonard next season…

— 5 —

It has been in the 90’s for the past few days here in Gold Country. Have I mentioned that I hate heat? It’s awful regardless of whether or not it’s a dry heat. Additionally, it’s allergy season so all of us in the house are miserable and I’ve had to find something to work for Daniel. The only good thing is that the heat has tired him out and he’s usually gone down for a decent nap. He only got a 20 minute nap today because he fell asleep while we were running errands and I couldn’t get him back down. Enter in wailing and gnashing teeth on Daniel’s part. We just got him back down. I’m hoping that he was just overtired and that he doesn’t have an ear infection — it would be really hard to diagnose and I’m not sure when I could get him into the doctor tomorrow as we have his IEP in the afternoon.

— 6 —

I’d still love to hear from any parents of special needs kids on their experiences getting services for their kids as well as adventures in raising them. I’m the Guardian Angel for an adorable little boy through Reece’s Rainbow and I’m doing a series on this on my blog dedicated to getting Brett adopted. Please let me know if you’re interested.

— 7 —

The Promise Walk was awesome. I erroneously thought it was Saturday and showed up at Lake Vasona to find nobody there. Go me. I went back on Sunday (without Jon who had to head back up to Gold Country to lead worship) and had a great time. My parents participated too and Mom and I did the three mile walk with Daniel. (My dad bailed out at some unknown distance so we don’t know how far he walked — only that he cheated. :p) It wasn’t as many people as last year but it was still fun. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital was one of the sponsors and when I told them that I had been in their NICU about 32 years ago (when it was just Stanford Children’s Hospital), they took pictures. I’m guessing they don’t see many of their alumni that often? 🙂 I personally raised about $600 (will have the exact number this weekend) so I’m pretty jazzed.

For more Quick Takes, visit Hallie at BettyBeguiles.Com who is hosting this week while Jen takes some time off. Please keep Jen in your prayers — she witnessed a horrific motorcycle accident and is trying to process all the emotions and images in her brain.

7 Quick Takes — TV and Other Things

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7 Quick Takes

More than a few takes on TV this week because we’re headed into Sweeps Week and season finales.

— 1 —

The previews of next week’s “Hart of Dixie” have me pretty nervous. Does Rose live? Do things get repaired between her and Zoe? Does Zoe go back to New York permanently? I have a feeling that she doesn’t but it was still a cliffhanger on Monday night! I’m also totally irritated that Lemon and George got back together — I was hoping that they were over but I think the wedding is necessary for the show’s plot.

— 2 —

The “Hawaii 5-0″/”NCIS: Los Angeles” crossover was awesome. I don’t know that it will make me watch “Hawaii 5-0” on Monday nights (it conflicts with “Hart of Dixie” where I am) but it gives me another option if there are crappy re-runs on Monday nights for “Hart of Dixie”. (I watched Monday’s episode online.) Anyway, it was excellent as a series of episodes and there were some interesting spiritual takeaways that I may have to expound on at a later time.

— 3 —

Speaking of cliffhangers, the regular NCIS is headed into at least two more related episodes. It was an intense episode on Tuesday night and there promises to be two more like it. I’d love to know why Harper Dearing has become a terrorist though I’m sure we’ll find out next week. It’s also weird seeing Abby outside the lab and next to Ducky in the final scene — I think it was seeing those two together that made me realize how strange and out of place she looks in her black clothes and chains.

— 4 —

I’m starting to love “The Mentalist”. I didn’t think I’d ever get into the show but I’m loving the episodes I’ve seen. I don’t really need another show to follow but this one is fun to watch. It’s kind of interesting to watch because it takes place in northern California and references Sacramento.

— 5 —

“The Big Bang Theory” was pretty forgettable this week. Last week was fun with Howard’s bachelor party and this one had potential with Amy and Sheldon but it kind of fizzled. Having said all that, the next week or two should be interesting. All the sites who care about these things have talked about how the gang is going to be trying to get Howard married off despite the launch.

— 6 —

I need a favor from any parents with special needs kids. I’m doing a series over at Blogging for Brett called “Raising Special Needs Kids” with the purpose of maybe convincing people that raising a special needs kid like Brett is totally possible. If you’re interested, email me. I’m jen at grace-filled dot net.

— 7 —

The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia is on Saturday. Please sponsor me and help make a difference in the lives of pregnant mommies everywhere.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

Rosen vs. Romney

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NOTE: I’m blogging to add my two cents on the whole dust-up and not to compare the merits of Romney as a candidate vs. Obama or Ron Paul or anything else. My commitment not to trash any of the candidates stands firm.

I’m sure this is going to be a SHOCKER but I agree that Hillary Rosen misspoke in saying that Ann Romney “never worked a day in her life.” Why, pray tell, do I agree?

1.) The way she phrased it made it sound to some like she was assuming that stay-at-home mothers don’t work. (Huh. I didn’t construe it that way and neither did a number of people I know.) What she probably intended to say was that Ann Romney had never worked a day outside the home in her life. Funny that I somehow figured that out when the mainstream media couldn’t…

2.) It is considered really bad manners to attack a candidate’s family. I mean, you can question whether or not Romney is correct in relying on Ann for advice on women and finances, but it is unfair to attack Ann Romney herself or to attack their kids. The same thing goes for Michelle, Malia, and Sasha — you can criticize President Obama and his policies but you sound really rude when you go after Michelle and the girls.

In the interest of being fair, Hillary Rosen did have a valid point in that Romney should probably be receiving advice on his policies on women from a female campaign staffer who is working full-time and raising her kids without the aid of a housekeepers and nannies like Ann Romney had. You could bring up her MS but then you’d have to bring up the fact that there are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of women in this country who work full-time and raise their kids while simultaneously dealing with autoimmune diseases like lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia (the one I deal with on a daily basis).

According to just about every major news source, Rosen apologized and Romney graciously accepted her apology. Can we stop hating on her now?

Mind Blown and The Book of Eli

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During our last Bible study, one of the women brought up the movie The Book of Eli in the context of how much Scripture we could remember. It was decided that we would watch the movie at the next Bible study. I went home and read the wiki on it, deciding to skip the movie. Well, the movie plans got made and I decided to just bring crocheting with me so I could look down if necessary.

I should probably insert here that C and M (our Bible study leaders) are freaking geniuses when it comes to creating interesting environments. We had a haunted hallway for Halloween that was awesome, a Valentine’s Day dinner in the fellowship hall which they decorated to look like a 5-star restaurant (and pulled it off!), and they didn’t disappoint for tonight. They took all the couches from the Fireside Room and the narthex and arranged them in a semi-circle around the projection screen. On the coffee table (also from the Fireside Room, I think), there were individual movie buckets of popcorn, caramel corn, bowls, bottles of green tea, and brownies that someone else had made. (I donated cupcakes from Daniel’s birthday.) C had dared me to wear my penguin pajama bottoms and she came in her jammies too.

(I seriously believe that there has to exist a picture of the two of them holding the Marauder’s Map from Harry Potter that says, “I do solemnly swear that I am up to no good.)

The movie was awesome. It was less bloody than I thought it would be and they did a great job with the plot twist at the end. (I can’t say much more because I don’t want to give away the ending.) I got a few rows crocheted on the baby blanket I’m working on intermittently and I’m glad I went.

Mostly, I’m blown away at how quickly the set-up was able to be taken down. When I came back from taking a couple people home, they had the couches removed and everything looking like it did before. It furthered strengthened my conviction that these are the two people I’d want to be stranded with on a deserted island because the two of them could hatch a plan to get OFF the island while making it into a five-star resort in the meantime.

Maundy Thursday Music

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For those wondering, I managed to get through my phone call to Social Security without swearing at them… at least over the phone. I was not having charitable thoughts. I’ll take this up the next time I do confession.

Today is Maundy Thursday (at least that’s what the Anglicans and Lutherans call it) with Maundy coming from the Latin word “mandatum”. If you read the story in John 12-14, you see Jesus commanding his apostles to wash each other’s feet, eating the bread and drinking the wine in His memory, and to love each other.

I could probably attempt to write a treatise on the Eucharist and how it’s an example of anamnesis but I don’t feel called to do that. I have the theological knowledge and the Greek knowledge but it’s late and forced recall is not a strong suit when I’m tired. Instead, I’m posting two YouTube videos.

First Youtube video: “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris with scenes from “The Passion of the Christ”. I first heard this song 10 years ago when the church I was attending based their midweek Lent sermons around it. It’s beautiful and somewhat ironic that it’s used for weddings and for Holy Week.

The second video is of the song “The Summons” which came out of the Iona community. I sang it 15 years ago and it embedded itself in my brain. The reason I include it is the repetition of “will you _______ and never be the same?” I know for me that my life has never been the same since I came to faith and if it was the same, I would wonder what was going wrong. Living out our faith changes us and I fully believe that it prevents us from ever being the same as we were before knowing Jesus.