Jesus told his disciples that they would always have with them the poor. Also, I add, will always be the nonconformists. In this age there are technological nonconformist: people who refuse to own cell phones; those who own mobiles, but refuse to answer or check them; those who don't want to learn how to use a computer or the internet. For all the hassles I am still glad I live in this age. If I woke up in the 1800's, life would be rough. Not because I mind peeing in an outhouse or bush or bathing once a week or growing my own food. It's the conveniences that contribute to life in a meaningful way that would be the hardest hit.
Except for a few (sad number) remote areas, it is possible and even convenient to communicate with family and friends across the globe. I love this. No email or letter or phone call replaces a hug, eye contact, or face to face time with another person. Still, our technology helps span the miles and I'm so grateful. I can't imagine waiting weeks just to get a reply to a letter. Go ask some people from the 1800's if they'd accept and learn a new mail system if it meant they could hear back from their lover, sister or son immediately instead of waiting weeks. Pretty sure there wouldn't be a bunch of griping about being too old to learn, or it being too complicated. It's the doing without that really gets us willing to work for what we could have. There is something to the idea that we 2009 Americans are impatient, selfishly entitled jerks. But there is waiting to be done no matter which age a person exists in. It's universal--Tom Petty says so.
I've always felt I would not marry until I was older and that I wouldn't have kids in my twenties. I'm pretty sure this wouldn't fly in the 1800's either. It barely flies in the 21st century in many families. However, if I have the choice of time travel, I know a few concerts I'd like to catch.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Dream House
Traveling I love. Vagabond living I like. Commitment I shy away from. Even so, the desire to get into a house where I can start my own garden is growing by the day. I imagine this is how other women feel when they get baby fever. I have baby squash fever. Or something.
My dream house borders a forest and is a 10 minute walk from the beach. I have a back yard with a garden. Next to the garden is my studio, which is a small, two room building with a half bath. One room for my desk and lots of bookshelves. The other room has a drawing table, an easel, a throwing wheel and lots of shelf space. Many windows included. Also, on the border of my land/forest I'll have a big tree house in which binoculars will be kept, along with some RTE foods, sleeping bag, and a radio.
When it comes to rooms, the most important to me is the kitchen. I want a large kitchen with a big island with a cutting board surface. Not overly large, just spacious enough to cook and spread out a little. It'll open into the dining and living rooms and the kitchen window will face the backyard. Visiting my parents in Abilene, espescially during the holiday seasons I stand in the kitchen, sometimes helping, sometimes just running my mouth and getting in the way because that is precious time of talking, laughing and getting silly with my mom. Kitchens offer the right amount of diversion in conversation for me.
Patios and porches are the other main necessities (luxuries) for my dream house. A front porch just big enough for a couple chairs and table with three steps leading down to the yard will do. The back patio should be bigger, covered and will house some chairs, a chimenea, and a grill, all bordered by citrenella plants. I want a natural fence made simply from live bamboo.
I will have at least one dog, probably a great dane since I am newly in love with this breed and I'll own a gun to protect against snakes, wild animals and commies.
What is the most important room to you?
My dream house borders a forest and is a 10 minute walk from the beach. I have a back yard with a garden. Next to the garden is my studio, which is a small, two room building with a half bath. One room for my desk and lots of bookshelves. The other room has a drawing table, an easel, a throwing wheel and lots of shelf space. Many windows included. Also, on the border of my land/forest I'll have a big tree house in which binoculars will be kept, along with some RTE foods, sleeping bag, and a radio.
When it comes to rooms, the most important to me is the kitchen. I want a large kitchen with a big island with a cutting board surface. Not overly large, just spacious enough to cook and spread out a little. It'll open into the dining and living rooms and the kitchen window will face the backyard. Visiting my parents in Abilene, espescially during the holiday seasons I stand in the kitchen, sometimes helping, sometimes just running my mouth and getting in the way because that is precious time of talking, laughing and getting silly with my mom. Kitchens offer the right amount of diversion in conversation for me.
Patios and porches are the other main necessities (luxuries) for my dream house. A front porch just big enough for a couple chairs and table with three steps leading down to the yard will do. The back patio should be bigger, covered and will house some chairs, a chimenea, and a grill, all bordered by citrenella plants. I want a natural fence made simply from live bamboo.
I will have at least one dog, probably a great dane since I am newly in love with this breed and I'll own a gun to protect against snakes, wild animals and commies.
What is the most important room to you?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
30 Days, 5 of them bloody
For my 30 days of writing project the group leader provides a topic everyday. Today's topic is physical pain. I've been sick, as so many have, from battling a sore throat to throwing up mucus. Lovely, I know. But it's not much to write about.
I mentioned that my cousin had a baby last week. When we were all admiring her new daughter, I told her she set a standard in the family in giving birth. With barely a shot of pain reliever she made it through labor and I say that's super admirable.
I don't think either sex has a higher pain tolerance than the other. It seems to be much more person specific to me. But I will say that women have expected pain. In fourth grade sex education class, I was horrified, petrified, furious to find out about menstrual cycles. Thanks, God. Thanks a lot. My life was worry free until then. I couldn't have cared less about sex, what goes where, Fallopian shmalopian, who gives a prostrate? A sweet, hunchbacked little lady just told me I'm going to bleed for one week every month. My life is screwed!
There are mile markers in every girl's period. Her first time to start, of course. The first time she wants to swim, but can't because she doesn't know how (or really want) to use a tampon. The first (and only, I hope) time she bleeds through her pants in public. Yikes. In the words of Uncle Jesse, have mercy. Worse than all that is the first time a cramp takes her to her adolescent knees, gasping and breathing like she's practicing lamaze.
I used to think that maybe our menstrual cycles prepare us for the pain of childbirth. But cramps don't get easier because you've had them before, and I suspect that childbirth doesn't feel easy because you've had cramps.
I mentioned that my cousin had a baby last week. When we were all admiring her new daughter, I told her she set a standard in the family in giving birth. With barely a shot of pain reliever she made it through labor and I say that's super admirable.
I don't think either sex has a higher pain tolerance than the other. It seems to be much more person specific to me. But I will say that women have expected pain. In fourth grade sex education class, I was horrified, petrified, furious to find out about menstrual cycles. Thanks, God. Thanks a lot. My life was worry free until then. I couldn't have cared less about sex, what goes where, Fallopian shmalopian, who gives a prostrate? A sweet, hunchbacked little lady just told me I'm going to bleed for one week every month. My life is screwed!
There are mile markers in every girl's period. Her first time to start, of course. The first time she wants to swim, but can't because she doesn't know how (or really want) to use a tampon. The first (and only, I hope) time she bleeds through her pants in public. Yikes. In the words of Uncle Jesse, have mercy. Worse than all that is the first time a cramp takes her to her adolescent knees, gasping and breathing like she's practicing lamaze.
I used to think that maybe our menstrual cycles prepare us for the pain of childbirth. But cramps don't get easier because you've had them before, and I suspect that childbirth doesn't feel easy because you've had cramps.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
30 Days
So, I'm doing this thing. This writing thing. I joined a writer's group committed to writing a post every day for the next 30 days. The meaning of this first post is only that you, precious reader, will be hearing from me daily. Expect randomness. Expect at least 100 words. I'm challenging myself to be less intentional and more followthroughional.
Today I finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeenegger. I enjoyed it very much. The story and the characters were fresh and unique and inspired in me many ponderings (and I do love to ponder) about love between a man and woman, what brings them together and makes them last as husband and wife; also time, how long, how fleeting, insert an excerpt from a poem here. My man's grandfather passed away last week. How slowly the painful moments dragged by. In the same 24 hours my great Aunt passed, quickly, as though she stopped in to the hospital to get a cup of coffee and then she left. Maybe 12 hours later and after nine months of waiting and a short labor, my cousin birthed a healthy and a lovely baby girl.
A theme in the book is waiting. It's beautifully threaded through the book. People don't like to wait. I know this because I am often the reason people around me have to do this. I'm changing this about me, trying really hard to. I'm realizing that I also wait on myself. I wait until I'm ready, until I feel readiness. Then I move. I guess I've been okay with this, content to wait until the time feels right to me to begin something. There's a biblical parable about virgins waiting for the groom and when he comes, when he finally comes only a few of them have enough oil in their lamps to go and meet with him. (Sidenote: Not sure why a lamp is so urgently relevant to a virgin and her groom.)
I want to do everything I can to make sure when an opportunity arises for me that I have prepared. Preparation has everything to do with feeling ready and with actually having the resources or the freedom to act when the time is right.
Today I finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeenegger. I enjoyed it very much. The story and the characters were fresh and unique and inspired in me many ponderings (and I do love to ponder) about love between a man and woman, what brings them together and makes them last as husband and wife; also time, how long, how fleeting, insert an excerpt from a poem here. My man's grandfather passed away last week. How slowly the painful moments dragged by. In the same 24 hours my great Aunt passed, quickly, as though she stopped in to the hospital to get a cup of coffee and then she left. Maybe 12 hours later and after nine months of waiting and a short labor, my cousin birthed a healthy and a lovely baby girl.
A theme in the book is waiting. It's beautifully threaded through the book. People don't like to wait. I know this because I am often the reason people around me have to do this. I'm changing this about me, trying really hard to. I'm realizing that I also wait on myself. I wait until I'm ready, until I feel readiness. Then I move. I guess I've been okay with this, content to wait until the time feels right to me to begin something. There's a biblical parable about virgins waiting for the groom and when he comes, when he finally comes only a few of them have enough oil in their lamps to go and meet with him. (Sidenote: Not sure why a lamp is so urgently relevant to a virgin and her groom.)
I want to do everything I can to make sure when an opportunity arises for me that I have prepared. Preparation has everything to do with feeling ready and with actually having the resources or the freedom to act when the time is right.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Hello. Hi. Hi.
It’s 2009.
Last year I resolved to
A) Not live in Dallas, Texas
B) Blog more
That being my first go at making resolutions, I didn't do too badly. I still live in Texas, but I live in Austin, which is WAY better. I’ve wanted to live here for several years and so far I love it. As for blogging, I doubled my blog entries in 2008. Yep, in 2007 I had 8 entries and last year I blogged 16 times. Booyah.
The following held special meaning/comfort for me in 2008:
There are years that ask questions and years that answer. -Zora Neale Hurston
Songs:
The Lowering -The Avett Brothers
Colorshow -The Avett Brothers
Fire nor Ice -Ben Harper
I'm Yours -Jason Mraz
Arms of a Woman -Amos Lee
The Film Did Not Go Round -Nada Surf
So Young -Thriftstore Cowboys
Change is Hard -She & Him
Dreamer -Supertramp
Miscellaneous
-the dreams about animals eating me
-breakthru moments on the phone with my man
-Beck laser show
-random Loaded Questions w/roomies and friends
-meeting Glen that first weekend
-saying bye to Miata
- taking Mikayla and Mara for drives in Mia
It’s 2009.
Last year I resolved to
A) Not live in Dallas, Texas
B) Blog more
That being my first go at making resolutions, I didn't do too badly. I still live in Texas, but I live in Austin, which is WAY better. I’ve wanted to live here for several years and so far I love it. As for blogging, I doubled my blog entries in 2008. Yep, in 2007 I had 8 entries and last year I blogged 16 times. Booyah.
The following held special meaning/comfort for me in 2008:
There are years that ask questions and years that answer. -Zora Neale Hurston
Songs:
The Lowering -The Avett Brothers
Colorshow -The Avett Brothers
Fire nor Ice -Ben Harper
I'm Yours -Jason Mraz
Arms of a Woman -Amos Lee
The Film Did Not Go Round -Nada Surf
So Young -Thriftstore Cowboys
Change is Hard -She & Him
Dreamer -Supertramp
Miscellaneous
-the dreams about animals eating me
-breakthru moments on the phone with my man
-Beck laser show
-random Loaded Questions w/roomies and friends
-meeting Glen that first weekend
-saying bye to Miata
- taking Mikayla and Mara for drives in Mia
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Update
Last week I saw the Avett Brothers live and tonight I'm stoked about seeing Amos Lee. Next weekend I go to ACL to revel in live music!
If you are a friend or acquaintance of mine who lives/lived in DFW, enjoy music, and have not seen the Avetts live show, I'd like you to know that I'm mad at you.
In case you don't know, I'm moving to Austin exactly 3 weeks from today. Despite the pains of moving things around, I love beginnings and I'm especially excited about this one.
Last night I dreamed that a bunch of guys had a long distance peeing contest. Concentrated exertion showed on their scrunched up faces and their golden arches stretched 20 feet in the air, and 30 or so yards in front of them. I stood from a safe, splash-free distance with the other girls and watched in amazement. I think there was cheering.
I'm listening to Heather's collection of Snow Patrol and I'm smitten. Check out the newest Kings of Leon album Only By the Night. It's polished and beautiful.
If you are a friend or acquaintance of mine who lives/lived in DFW, enjoy music, and have not seen the Avetts live show, I'd like you to know that I'm mad at you.
In case you don't know, I'm moving to Austin exactly 3 weeks from today. Despite the pains of moving things around, I love beginnings and I'm especially excited about this one.
Last night I dreamed that a bunch of guys had a long distance peeing contest. Concentrated exertion showed on their scrunched up faces and their golden arches stretched 20 feet in the air, and 30 or so yards in front of them. I stood from a safe, splash-free distance with the other girls and watched in amazement. I think there was cheering.
I'm listening to Heather's collection of Snow Patrol and I'm smitten. Check out the newest Kings of Leon album Only By the Night. It's polished and beautiful.
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