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23 October, 2006

Eastern Treats

We went for a walk yesterday and took our usual shortcut to the park via this road behind the hospital. We passed a cop car on the road. It was empty. Then when we got to the park, it was deserted except for this younger guy with a camera, and four cop cars. We got out of there fast (without arousing suspicion, of course). A couple blocks away from the park, we almost got run over by three different cop cars rushing to the park. We have no idea what was going on there.

ANYWAY, part of the purpose of our walk was to go down to the convenience store to find a slurpee. No luck. When we got there though, we found pop in bottles that was only 79 cents! Except really it turned out to be $1.29. Argh! Bait & Switch! On the way home, the urge hit. Out here on the East Coast, you apparently haven't lived until you've tried a whoopie pie. A whoopie pie is essentially a chocolate and cream 'hamburger' - two cakey chocolate rounds with vanilla custard or buttercream icing sandwiched between. You can get small ones, or giant ones (as in the picture below). Luke had a craving for a whoopie pie. So off we went to IGA. We also got some Fox Family Farms Chips so we could make it a truly Eastern Experience while we watched our movie.*

So for your enjoyment, I'm including some pictures of our tasty treats. The whoopie pie turned out to be more than we could handle. We felt awful and also decided we probably could make a better one ourselves. Luke liked the chips, I thought they were boring.

Just wanted to share.

*Tonight's movie choice was Ushpizin. We'd highly recommend it (particulary to TP and DKB). It's in Hebrew with subtitles and tells the story of a couple celebrating Succoth. Funny. Plus, you get to hear Jewish rap.

22 October, 2006

The Church-Hunting Chronicles, Part 4: The Great Escape!

Sigh. Sigh. Really long drawn out sigh….

We have since determined that indeed we should’ve taken the sticky door as a sign. Or well, no. Rather, we should’ve listened to that prompting that it turns out we both felt, not to go through those doors.

“Hi! I’m Sister Sarah.” (Not in the nun sense.) The first warning bell goes off.

There weren’t very many people there, so we sat down in the back row (on the right side this time) trying to take in our surroundings. There were some very weird posters on the wall. (Wait, was that warning bell number two?).

We weren’t sitting there for very long when I started thinking about my friend BB and how her mom once told me about a morning before church when she was rushing around trying to figure out what to wear to church. The eventual conclusion (which I’m sure plagues thousands of women every Sunday morning): I have nothing to wear! (I'm sure some of you are surprised that I ever have this dilemma - CE...Luckily for BB, this was a dilemma shortened by a haul of great new back to school clothes the next week!)

I had such a dilemma this morning. Unfortunately, the khaki pants and black sweater I settled on was the WRONG choice. Fortunately, I can take comfort in the fact that the RIGHT choice doesn’t actually exist in my closet so even had I known, it would’ve been impossible! That’s right, Friends, this week’s MIA item: A Skirt; an ankle-length skirt to be exact. (*Hangs head in shame*) That was one of the first things I noticed when we sat down: I was the only female wearing pants. Uh oh. I could feel the icy stares penetrating to the core of my khakis. Gulp.

At any rate, we sat down and everybody was milling about greeting people and telling us how glad, “how really, truly glad” they were that we were there. (It should be noted that this is the second time Luke’s been confused with some local obviously rather elusive drummer – perhaps why they were all so excited to see us – they thought we’d returned!) The pastor greeted us too. He said hello and asked us if we were musical. “Are you singers?” I said ‘yes,’ Luke said ‘a little.’ Then, he turned to me and said, “Would you like to come up and sing this morning?” Answered by nervous laughter and ‘no, thanks.’

Really. Um. What the??? No. Of course not! What am I? Crazy? Or just a lunatic?

And then it started. The music. Loud, crazy, gospel revival music (why aren’t these churches merging already!??!). We were stuck on the same song for I don’t even know how long. There were three verses plus a chorus and I’m sure we were on the third or fourth time through and finally, that was it. We’d had enough. One bad church-hunting experience too many. And folks, we did it. We got up and – GASP - left. That’s right, we left. I smiled at one lady as we were leaving, gave her a ‘mea culpa’ look and pointed to my ears. Seriously, we’ve been to concerts that weren’t that loud!!! Good grief!

And flipping through the hymnbook was an experience unto itself. Old Fashioned Meeting. No kidding, it’s a real song. We might as well be Tevya singing Tradition. It was all about longing for the old gospel tent meeting of old. <- And those might’ve actually been some of the lyrics too.

As it turned out, my watch said 10:45. We raced to the car and were just in time to catch the last verse of the first hymn at the Baptist church (from two weeks ago). Ahhh…It was like stepping into an air-conditioned building on a 115 degree Washington day. Everybody was standing in the right spot. No bouncing, no dancing, no random children scattered about playing guitars or tambourines - and no weird posters on the wall about The Will of Man and the Five Senses. Oi. We sang hymns, had a responsive reading, prayer time, offering, and a really good sermon by a guest preacher. He preached from 1 Corinthians 6 (end of the chapter) about how our bodies are not our own. In fact, nothing we have is really our own. Not our car, not our house, not our money. Everything belongs to God. Anything we have has just been given to us for our use while we’re on Earth. And all of it is at God’s disposal at any time He chooses. In fact, the man preaching even used the word CARNAL!!! (More than once, EF! More than once!!!)

So what began as a horrid Sunday experience in Skirts-Only-Where-Are-the-Snakes? Land, ended up a really great Sunday experience in Let’s-Serve-Them-Some-Meat-and-See-What-God-Does Land. Brilliant!

(And I’m not even sorry we didn’t get a pen!)

19 October, 2006

Pedro's Permanent

So what we're really hoping for here is that somebody from Brewster will give us an update on Pedro's Permanent. It's probably not really called that, that's just the name we decided to give the new 'permanent' Taco Wagon Pedro is building on the corner of Bridge Street and Main. The title seemed highly apropos considering that this version of a taco wagon will be permanent and of course, as a nod to Pedro's lovely coif.
So if anybody knows anything about the status of this new eatery (or better yet, has a picture to share), we'd appreciate it.

Also, something along a similar vein. Driving through NB last Saturday, we drove through a reservation. There was this poster up that said, "Dave for Chief: Power to the People." We laughed for a long time about that one. Mostly because it reminded us of the infamous Vote for Pedro posters plastered around town (oh! and the super cool tshirts!).

17 October, 2006

New Brunswick, Land of the Useless Door

As a bonus, I’m posting a synopsis of our ‘first’ trip to Canada last Saturday.

For whatever reason, it took us forever to get going and we finally made it to the Port by about 2pm. This port was NOTHING like the one in Oroville/Osoyoos. Wow! Talk about Podunk! It almost looks like it might be the last shack on the frontier before no-man’s-land. (It should be noted that it DOES look like the Canadian side is in the process of making a new building, but the present buildings looked like an ’82 Honda Civic could run into them and they’d come crashing down.) I digress. Going through the Canadian side was pretty easy. Not a lot of questions, but the Customs guy stands on the passenger side. That was weird. And they actually come out of the building. We had pulled up to the stop sign and weren’t really sure what to do. There were no instructions. Do we get out? Stay in? Is there a secret code we’re supposed to use a mirror to flash them?

Anyway, on to New Brunswick. The first town was small but had lots of neat white churches lined up along the river – quite scenic. We ended up taking the scenic route (read: Crappy Highway On the Wrong Side of the River) and got rather lost. We finally got back on the right road and drove up to Grand Falls.

Two important observations must be noted here:
1)New Brunswick truly is the Land of the Useless Door. In actual fact, Luke remembers being told about this at Prov by one of our Eastern friends. People build houses that have maybe one door connecting the garage to the house. They have another door on the front of the house, but it’s on the main level of the house, which might be 8 feet off the ground, and they don’t build any staircase to it. It’s USELESS!! (My profuse apologies for not taking a picture – again.) I mean, what is it? The Bad Boyfriend Door? Is it like walking the plank for a misbehaving child. “That’s it Barney! Go stand by the FRONT door. I’m going to get the blindfold!”
2) Grand Falls isn’t very ‘grand’ at all. At least not in Fall. Evidently, in Spring, there is so much water pouring over this dam that it really does warrant billing as the biggest waterfall East of Niagara Falls. But after the Spring Thaw, all the water is diverted to the hydro facility and the falls becomes somewhat of a trickle. Bummer.

However, after driving around the city for a while trying to find a certain street (really much better attempted with a map, wouldn’t you say?), we found the restaurant we were looking for. Part of the restaurant is built out over the hill so you can see out over the top of the ‘Grand’ Falls. The view was still nice since all the leaves are still turning and it was overlooking the river. I had soupy Caesar salad – with enough croutons to almost be ridiculous. Luke had this local (?) dish called Crouquille de Jean Baptiste, which should really have been called ‘Dejeuner de Jacques Cousteau.’ (CL: are you impressed with my French or what?!?!) It was a mashed potato moat filled with various and sundry seafoods in a white sauce, covered in cheese and baked. Every child’s mashed potato/gravy volcano fun GONE WRONG!! But Luke loved it. We also had some of the best (and may I add, authentically French) poutine we’ve ever had! It was SO GOOD!!!

After lunch we drove to the Falls visitor’s centre, which was closed, so we drove home. Not too much trouble at the border here either. Same deal where the officer is on the passenger side (so from now on, I’m driving), and the US side one-upped the Canadians by offering a stop sign with a red/green traffic light! WOW!! This customs officer must’ve been at least a little bored because he decided to give us the third degree about how long we’d been in Canada. ‘Since two o’clock? You must’ve done something besides just drive to Grand Falls for lunch. You’ve been gone a while.’ But how do you explain (without embarrassing the DRIVER) how yes, you had lunch, but you took the… ‘Scenic Route’ and really actually got lost?

At any rate, we made it home. It was a fun, rather uneventful trip. Next stop, Quebec?!?!

Other interesting facts about Grand Falls:

- The town is one of the only ones in New Brunswick to actually have an official French Name.
- Tim Horton’s is Toujours Frais!

- Main Street is the widest street in Canada East of Winnipeg!
- If you pick up a New Brunswick travel guide in a bi-lingual province, make sure you choose the ENGLISH version.
- Even if you only pretended to read/listen in high school French class, and even if you had to constantly rely on your friend Erin for translation assistance, you’d be surprised how much information you can still glean from a French travel guide. Vive la Nouveau Brunswick!

Oh! One closing note: Congratulations to our friends E & J who just had a baby boy last Friday. Welcome & hugs to little Milo!

The Church-Hunting Chronicles, Part Three: MIA: Snake Handlers*

*Disclaimer: So here I go again, I’m probably offending somebody in writing this. But that truly is not my intention. I merely publicly exposing my own biases about what’s appropriate in a church service and what isn’t. Growing up in a relatively conservative church doesn’t always prepare one for the ‘bizarre’ things that might be witnessed in future church experiences. I’m not trying to be a relativist, but sometimes, what makes church comfortable is just what you’re used to and what is normal for some is insane to others. On the other hand, I was deeply disturbed by some of the things we heard during this particular service. Things that I know are fundamentally wrong. The obligation to speak in tongues, for example, is a falsehood that I believe can be devastating (not to mention theologically distracting), particularly for a new or younger Christian.

Moving along, here’s the post:
Well, don’t worry. I won’t let the title try to speak for itself this week, but settle in for a longer read.

Now you’d think that it would only take one time for us to learn our lesson. One brush with an ‘exuberant’ church service to make us at least a little more diligent to check BEFOREHAND what we’re getting ourselves in to. Alas, we must be more than a little naïve and we ended up in a slightly stranger repeat of Church-Hunting Week Number One.

This past Sunday was our first (and need I say, ONLY) trip to the Family Christian Center – “An Oasis of Love.” We pulled up in the parking lot at the same time as a guy Luke knows from work, and his fiancée. I had never met them, but they both seemed nice enough. We went inside and everything seemed okay. A nice open, well-lit foyer, lots of brochures around, a nice little library, and a coffee table for the youth group to raise money for activities and missions trips. All very normal.

The sanctuary was one of those large rooms that can double as an ‘all purpose’ room or gym, with a giant stage up front and a high ceiling that looks like the roof of The Ark. It was here that we made our first mistake. So a word for the novice church hunter: If you come upon a sanctuary and there is only one major entrance to it, DO NOT make a beeline for the far side of the seating just because according to your personal tradition, you always sit on the left side. Just don’t do it. It can only lead to disaster, and it does not for an expeditious exit make.

Then the music started. That part was actually not so bad, although the majority of the songs were unfamiliar to us, and the majority were 7/11 songs as my Grampa used to call them. They had a drummer, a flutist (I really don’t know how to spell that), bass guitar, regular acoustic guitar, a saxaphone player who doubled as the resident harmonicist (one who plays a harmonica – if it’s not a real word, I’m sorry). They also had a pianist and an organ player who looked like he really meant to show up at the Episcopal service downtown. Oops. The only real downside to the music was the leader guy who kept singing his own thing and not really following the lyrics. So, is the next phrase ‘hallelujah? Or amen? Or what??’ He also reminded me more than a little of one of those televangelists. Oh and I guess I should mention the mosh pit, or lack thereof. It was the funniest thing to see grown men in Sunday suits jumping up and down as if they were 15 and at an MXPX concert (yes, MXPX. I am old.) And women dancing. And the amen-ing and hallelujah-ing. Man, did I grow up in a conservative church or what?!?

After singing, this other guy got up. We think he was supposed to do announcements, but instead he started rambling and he ended up deciding there should be a prayer time instead. So there was praying. All very normal. But then it started. The prophecy. Now, I do believe that prophecy is a gift that God still gives for use in churches today, but I really didn’t expect it to look like this. Weird people who looked like they were in some sort of prayer-like trance speaking words that sounded all well and good, but weren’t necessarily direct quotes from scripture, which is somehow what I’ve always expected modern prophecy to look like – bringing appropriate (and ACTUAL) scripture to light for the edification of the body. Luckily, this ‘prophecy’ didn’t last long.

Then the greeting. Over came the burgundy folder. This time with a multicoloured card, which we did not fill out OR leave behind in any offering plate. This handy little welcome folder (again, complete with PEN – KB! CLC has really got to get on the bandwagon here!), contained the document we most wanted to see: the Statement of Faith. My ‘favourite’ point was the one that equated the gift of the Holy Spirit with tongues and insinuated that if you don’t speak in tongues, you have not really been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Say what? We were quite ready to get up and leave at this point, but again, be sure to note your proximity to the nearest major exit BEFORE you sit down…it was too late. [In actual fact, I didn’t even notice until now that we had stopped reading at that point and completely missed the statement about divine healing – John 5:14 was referenced. Umm….)

Then came the sermon. Major bonus point in his favour, is the fact that the pastor is from South Africa, so he’s got a dang cool accent. He was preaching from 1 Samuel 17 about David & Goliath. His sermon was titled ‘How to Be a Giant Killer.’ I walked away thoroughly confused about this guy’s theology. For one, he made it sound like trials and tribulations in our lives just ‘happen.’ We just wake up one morning, open the door, and there’s our ‘Goliath.’ So, you’re saying it has nothing to do with our personal sin? We never bring these problems on ourselves through our sinful, rebellious acts? Hmmm. He also insinuated other things I completely disagreed with (call it picky semantics on my part, but still): 1) “God has created us with a purpose….That’s what makes us happy.” 2) “God’s not using angels today to do His work, He’s using Jesses.” (as in Jesse, King David’s father.) 3) “The problem is not how big the giant is, it’s how small he makes us feel.” <-emphasis mine.
So, a Charismatic church pastor doesn’t believe God uses angels?? What?? I’m confused. At the same time though, he did work to hammer home the point that we are saved entirely by grace. (See Ephesians 2, it is only by God’s Grace that we are saved.)

I feel like the way I’m describing this church service is really not doing it justice. I felt a little like I might be watching one of those crazy services that EF often watches, (pardon me, ‘flips through’) on TBN. Yet, in retrospect, it still truly feels like all they were missing were the snake handlers. (Unfortunately, handling a Garter Snake would hardly be convincing and there are no poisonous snakes in Maine.)

11 October, 2006

The Church-Hunting Chronicles, Part Two: The IVORY Card

Well, it's already Wednesday and I owe you all a post about our church hunt on Sunday. The problem is, church was so normal there really isn't much to tell you. There just wasn't enough fodder for a super-funny blog entry, so this is what you get:

There weren't many people there because a bunch were away at some youth retreat in Augusta. The Pastor was with them, so we didn't get to hear him preach in the morning. The guy that spoke was a lay minister and his sermon was okay - more 'milk' than 'meat' though. Solid hymn singing, but it was nice cause they were all songs we knew.

At any rate, we had barely sat down when over comes, Curtis maybe (?) with The Packet. One of those really nice burgundy folders with all the church info in it and the ominous Ivory Card. BUT, good news! We filled out this one and there was no conspicuous 'Passing of the Card' to the pastor, and no making us stand up for introductions - we just had to raise our hands this time, but there was another new guy there too so we didn't feel too weird. Nice welcome folders though. Pricey, I know, but this one even came with a Doctrinal Statement! We could hardly believe it! Imagine! A church telling newcomers what they believe - and on the first Sunday!! *gasp*

Let it not be said, however, that people in PI aren't friendly! The guy sitting in front of us, a really nice Grampa-type, even told us where he lived and that we should stop by any time! By the end of church, we also knew that his oldest son had been conceived in Washington but born in PI! (We're not sure a visit to his house is warranted anymore - we might know all there is to know already.)

We met a few more people that work at the hospital though. Good grief! Everybody knows somebody...'my mother's cousin's uncle's dog's groomer's brother works in the [fill in the blank] department!' I'm beginning to feel a little left out.

Back to church. They invited us back for an evening service, 'geared more for the younger generation.' So we went back. There weren't many people there again, but there never are at evening services, so it seems. We sang some songs, prayed, the pastor preached. It was good. A lot more Reformed than we were expecting, so that was nice. [Sidebar: We sang some song that had actions and the pastor's younger daughter got up to demonstrate. It was really sweet. She looked embarrassed, but knew what she was doing. She also looked just like B - about the same height, same hair, and I had a moment of homesickness because I miss my office visits from B&B, but I'm okay now.] After the service we were invited to stay for refreshments. Hot chocolate and cookies. It was nice. The people we met, mostly a lady whose name I can't remember, were really pretty welcoming.

Not sure if we'll go back right away. We've got a few more to check out first, but this place shows promise! Anyway, off to meet with the mortgage guy!

07 October, 2006

Argh! The Camera....

A guy we know has this blog. He often reminds his readers how important it is to always travel with a camera in the car, and oh, how true it often proves. Like tonight for example.

Today we decided to go to Canada after we had met with the realtor to go over a contract for a house purchase. After our meeting, we came home and searched high and low but couldn't find Luke's passport anywhere. So we headed out to do errands instead. We got good bargains on all our purchases, got one item for half price (and less than a dollar!), AND FINALLY found a store that carries bulk products and a large assortment of organic and natural foods. Hooray!

BUT, the icing on the cake was our trip to Mars Hill. (DB: Mars Hill is the first spot the sun hits America every morning. Not Katahdin. So we were all wrong.) The drive to M.H. was nice because the sun was setting and the leaves were beautiful. But that's not even the best part!

We were coming over this little hill and I was just saying how Luke needed to remind his friends at work that we still hadn't seen a moose - the elusive, I was beginning to believe, non-existent, moose. And then, THERE IT WAS!!! A MOOSE! A MOOSE! I think I yelled so loud it heard me! It was munching on some supper in a field. It was a female.
Then, not even two miles later, I had started singing a song about seeing moose in a field. Then we were passing some farmers harvesting potatoes and I said, "Do you think that the moose eat the broccoli and potatoes?"

Now, this next part is truly amazing, because not only had I just been singing my new moose song, but I had also just asked about the moose diet and what do you think we saw?!?!? FOUR, yes, that's FOUR moose in the BROCCOLI field EATING BROCCOLI!!!!

Anyway, just wanted to share my excitement and apologize profusely that I don't have any pictures to show for it. There was a young man in the field taking a picture of the moose family. They ran away. Lucky for him, they didn't charge - for the picture of course. :)

Confirmed Moose Sightings to Date: 5
Wanna Eat Like a Moose?: broccoli is in.

05 October, 2006

A Couple of Pictures for You

The quintessential New England home in fall. Can you smell pumpkin pie??
Our new chipmunk friend. He lives under the front step and the cats have taken quite a 'liking' to him. He's the first chipmunk they've ever seen.

04 October, 2006

Cheap Housing...and Other Untruths About P.I.

Okay, well the good news first: Luke's job is secure, we're not going anywhere...or at least back home. The department head and manager both decided that they would put him to work wherever they could until his license comes through and he's 'legal' here.

The bad news: This house-hunting business is bunk! We looked at two more houses yesterday. The first one had a bit more potentital than we're prepared to deal with, though it did have ample RV parking (we'd probably have to charge rent though) and a large unbelievably clean garage with storage. The main bedroom upstairs had this absolutely bizarre floor. Tiles, tiles everywhere! No specific pattern, just maybe 8 different colours of tiles all random-like - and no guarantee they're not asbestos.

The second house was, I can't quite think of one word to describe it other than DISASTER. There was no rhyme or reason to this house at all! Fake brick paneling throughout, that damp, dank smell that makes you think you've just crawled down a sewer, and the most ridiculous staircases we've seen yet! (Luke apologizes profusely for not taking pictures!) The staircases were made to just meet code. They have no landings at the bottom. They have no railing either on one side, which is handy as it allows you to actually step up to the second stair in the first place. This house was deceptively cheap. It had a decent yard and newer siding, but who can tell what the sellers were thinking!? TEAR IT DOWN! I say 'were thinking' because they can't still be. Any seller who is still thinking about selling this house would know that tearing it down and selling the lot would be more successful.

So, as a matter of prayer, please remember us in our house hunting. We've decided we might start looking in a couple of other towns close to here which wouldn't be nearly as convenient, but would be still suitable. One town is about 14 miles north of here, but isn't too tiny, and still comes nicely equipped with a Family Dollar and Tim Horton's (service = A-).

Moose Sitings to Date: still ZERO!
Amazing sunsets to Date: at least four. See below for example.

01 October, 2006

The Church-Hunting Chronicles, Part One: The Yellow Card

This Sunday morning started off much like any other Sunday morning. Various alarms were set for various times and after the fifth or sixth alarm went off, we finally rolled, bleary eyed, out of bed.
Everything was on schedule until of course it came time to put the cats away in their cat room before we left for church. The situation was quickly rectified and we left for church.
We had decided last night to try out the church that's right next door to the house we may hopefully end up buying, so here it is, your synopsis for the Church-Hunting Chronicles, Part One.**

Full Gospel Assembly - The Yellow Card:
Oi. Vey.
I could summarize it all in that phrase and let you draw your own conclusions, but where would the fun be in that? Let me start by saying that being at this church made us miss our home church even more than we already do.

Beginning with music. Music at CLC has seen some transitions in recent weeks, from a 'full-service' worship team, to the dedicated sincerity of a few individuals God has called to remain faithful to providing worship leadership. Worship has been simplified, fruitful, and appreciated.

Music this morning at FGA reminded me of a band one might find on the D Stage at a small country fair in the backwoods of West Virginia (and we can almost say we know, now that we've been to the backwoods of West VA). I may be exaggerating (but only slightly) when I say that all that was missing was the washboard and the possum hats. One woman on piano, one man on bass, one man on guitar (country TWANG geee-tarrr). The pastor started out the singing (chorus books, hymn books, and overhead machine in sight but not in use). Then he suddenly walked away and a lady took over. Now I'm not necessarily doubting the sincerity of this lady, but some people were just meant to be solo singers. Or perhaps not singers at all. It was awful! I couldn't even look at Luke! I was trying to concentrate on figuring out the lyrics to the Old Time Revival Favourites, but it just wasn't working. And it went on forever, and ever, and ever! But I digress; I needed to make an important point about this lady's singing. Seriously, she should be commanding an army overseas! Because I'm sure they could hear her from where she was standing this morning! It was 'singing' only because it followed some sort of 'tune.' To the uninitiated, it could've easily been interpreted as yelling.

Between every song there was an equally exuberant chorus of hallelujahs and amens and thank you Jesuses, all said in a manner to rival the 'ohm mani padme ohms' of any Buddhist church. We decided we had accidentally stumbled on the Full Gospel (and Did We Forget to Mention Pentecostal) Assembly. It was a bit crazy.

Well, the music finally ended (I was sitting there wishing I could take pictures to send back home) and then it was time for the special number. I don't remember the name of the guy who was going to sing, but he was also the geeee-tarrrrr player and had this crazy beard. (Are there such people as Pentecostal Hippies?) Anyway, he got up to sing, but something happened with the tape ("technical difficulties") and it never panned out. I think we were saved from some early 80s revival-style tune.

Prayer time was a concert of prayer (which I've participated in before, but never during a Sunday morning service). And guess who we could hear praying the loudest? (And she STILL sounded like she was singing).

After that, the preaching. The sermon started out okay. Beginning of Jeremiah 18 - the Potter and the clay. It was only about halfway through the sermon that we realized when he had earlier asked us to open our Bibles, he had actually forgotten his on his chair and was just now going to get it. It was then that the sermon took a sort of, how shall I say it? Downward spiral, of sorts. He concluded by implying that as Christians we have a choice about whether or not we want to be clay on God's potter's wheel. We can get off any time we choose (although doing so won't allow God to form you into what He wants you to be). Hm.

Oh, and about the yellow card. We had hardly come in and sat down before the pastor came over and handed me an envelope. He introduced himself and told us there was yellow card in the envelope and could we fill it out and put it in the offering plate. No problem. And hey, free pen! Did you read that, KB?? Free pen! Just like the ones we always used to get in the mail, only it actually had the name of the church and address instead of the name of the pen and 'your organization's name here' written on it! AND, the envelope was pre-printed with service times on it, AND we got two free blue ribbon bookmarks - complete with, you guessed it - the FGA info all over it! No sign of a doctrinal statement, but hey, let's not scare people away...

The yellow card was completed. In the offering plate it went. The ushers handed it directly to the pastor up front who pocketed it just before starting his sermon. He also proceeded to introduce us just before the whole prayer time started (we were standing up already of course). At the end, not very inconspicuously, he pulled the card out of his pocket to double check our names before he went to greet everybody at the back. Note to self: don't be so hasty with the yellow card filling.

I'm not sure I'm missing much in my synopsis here. We decided that these people were either white people born the wrong colour in the wrong state, or else they had all gone on a missions trip to Mississippi 'some years back' and were now trying to emulate what they'd heard in their own services. I wonder if at Pentecostal seminaries, when pastors take homiletics classes, if they're taught that instead of saying, 'um' or 'er' when you don't know what to say, you should say AMEN!! or HALLELUJAH! or I CAN'T HEAR YOU BROTHER LOWELL!

Now again, they were sweet people. We felt like as visitors and young people we were sort of an anomaly there. There were three junior high-ish kids there and us. There's a very good chance that nobody else was under 60.

Probably next week, we'll try some place else.

**Now, we went to this church this morning fully aware that we probably wouldn't find the perfect church right off. And we realize that perhaps there are those for whom these events occur every Sunday. But for us it was quickly obvious, that this is NOT the right church for us. The worship may have been completely sincere in its own right, but we were more than just a little out of our element. Like wild boars in a palace maybe.

Stay tuned for more Sunday Reports.


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21 February, 2007

Strike Two

So before I even elaborate slightly on the title, let me write a post-Shrove Tuesday report. I still haven't come up with anything to 'do' for Lent, but I'm considering giving up gluttony....ohh....the heartburn. Here' s a little lesson in Shrove Tuesday/German Pancake overindulgence: Just try to avoid it! The pancakes and sauce were both SO tasty, but since my stomach is 'shrinking' due to You-Know-Who and since heartburn is a regular issue now anyway, it sure didn't make my night any better. It was 2am and I still felt awful. Plus, Husband was on call last night and had to go in just after two. He wasn't even gone long enough for my heartburn to go away. Ugh.

I thought about giving up complaining about the house for Lent but realized that would just be silly - if not impossible. That's the thing about Lent though, isn't it? You make these resolutions or promises or whatever you want to call them, but whose to enforce them? If you don't follow through, what are the consequences? A stern look from Husband who saw you sneak that cookie? The only real consequence that I can see is a prick from your own conscience; that nagging guilt you 'might' feel for breaking that promise.

The way I see it, Lent would've been much easier in a bygone society when EVERYBODY participated. Like say in medieval England. It was a given that you abstained from various things during Lent (meat other than fish, weddings, sex - which by the way was already considered reprehensible on at least three out of seven days in a week). It wasn't just YOU adhering to a fish diet and it wasn't considered a fad either. Everybody suffered the same fishy fate. [I'm picking on fish because it's the Lenten tradition that I've read about the most. Good Catholics already had to abide by the Fish on Fridays rule, but for FORTY days during Lent? Nothing but fish? I mean, this was when people ate (perhaps they still do?) eels, from the Thames, in PIE. <- as an interesting tidbit, two medieval English kings (names escape me at the moment) died whilst eating an eel dish.] So, if you ate mutton for dinner instead of fish, everybody around you knew it was forbidden. There was a collective conscience to come down on you and little doubt somebody would report you to the nearest priest.

Nowadays, Sally might give up chocolate, Sue might give up pop. Larry might give up red meat (not the Larry we know, but maybe another Larry somewhere) and his next door neighbour might give up his morning bacon ration. People are encouraged to choose things which hold some personal significance. Come to think of it, environmentalists should get on the Lenten boat.

Truly! Imagine if a national observation of Lent was instigated and you had to give up driving your car! It would be just like Russian secret police, only it would be environmentalists rapping on your door demanding justice because "Er, Ma'am, your neighbour, Bob, saw you downtown yesterday...in your CAR...."

I'm rambling. Needlessly. Let's get to the title. I had another ultrasound today. This was the 'fun' one that Husband's coworkers did. They didn't spend as much time as the Midwife because obviously, they're not looking for all the same things when it's only for fun. Believe it or not, though, we had zero cooperation yet again! This child must be camera shy. It was moving all around when I was in the hospital parking lot, but from there to Husband's staff room, it must've fallen asleep. P and W couldn't even get a decent shot of the face nevermind seeing through curled up little legs. Harumph! The nerve of some people's children! (And for those of you who know me, you will know that I HATE SURPRISES! HATE! HATE! I can hardly think of a worse 'joke' than a HUMAN BEING coming out of me and something as life-affecting as its GENDER being a surprise! The horror!)

So we will have to continue on our little sojourn here based on the assumptions gleaned from the ultrasound in January. Maybe by the next one in March, Little Being will be getting used to it and will give us a little peek. We did get to see an ear though. That was kind of neat. We also got a CD with about a billion pictures on it - labeled, I hope.

20 February, 2007

I wasn't even going to post today at all because I couldn't think of ANYTHING even halfway intelligent to write (and I still can't), but I have exciting news to share!

No, we're not suddenly having twins (THANKFULLY!). My good friend Erin, as true and Canadian as they come, just started a blog! Please check it out: Erin's Blog.

Also, as I've been reminded several times this afternoon, today is Shrove Tuesday. I completely forgot. This happens every year. I usually forget about Shrove Tuesday until Ash Wednesday when I must hastily contrive some sort of Lenten promises that usually all go out the window within a week. It's sad when you think about it because Lent only lasts for 40 days. When we make resolutions every New Year (well, some of you still do, don't you?), we go into it optimistically expecting to pursue them for a whole year - at least - but realize after about a week that they were really just that - good intentions, not really resolutions.

So I guess tonight I will have to set aside some time to think about Lent and my own Lenten intentions: giving up sweets would deprive the baby of much-needed...sweets. Giving up blogging would simply be a travesty. Giving up reading other peoples' blogs would be equally devastating. No, I will have to come up with something much more meaningful.

All this thinking, will of course take place AFTER I finish revising the menu for the week (yes, KB, we've been faithfully writing up and following a menu for more than a month now! It's such a RELIEF!!!). Thankfully, the spaghetti sauce I've been inventing in my head all morning hasn't been started yet; which also means I've still got another day to get some celery. I had been planning on making a double batch of my Grama's (tasty) Waffles on Thursday so Husband would have leftovers to toast while I'm away next week. But pancakes and waffles in the same week? In my family, we're no strangers to having breakfast foods for supper; in fact it's a favourite little habit (I suppose it really could be a sort of tradition) of ours, but I'm not sure so much fun should be crammed into only one week.

No, tonight we'll celebrate with pancakes and leave the waffles for another time. Not just any pancakes, mind you. "German Pancakes." Most of you will be familiar with them as 'crepes,' but in our family, they have always been and always will be German Pancakes. I realize they're flat which defeats at least a portion of the Shrove Tuesday Pancake purpose (using up the leaven so it's gone before Lent officially begins, right?), but that's just the way we do things in my Menno kitchen. Oh, and forget maple syrup or Aunt Jemima's or any of that other crap. Nope, we go all out in my family. Pure cream and brown sugar cooked up into a tasty sauce. And no, for the love of all things good, we DO NOT for any reason, RUIN our German Pancakes by eating them with any sort of 'savoury' filling(s). THAT is an abomination of the worst kind! You have pancakes and brown sugar cream sauce, maybe bacon and a fried egg ON THE SIDE, but nothing else goes inside the cake, with the possible exception of some sliced banana.

I should at least tell you that we didn't exactly eat these Heart Attack Cakes every week growing up. Because of my brother's and my dad's combined inability to LIMIT their sauce per pancake ratio to something at least somewhat reasonable, Mom would make German Pancake meals only on occasion. Maybe when I'm home next week, we'll even be lucky enough to have one of those occasions. (Did you catch that, Mom?)

So now that my brain is thoroughly ensconced in the culinary dreamland that is German Pancakes, I'll go and clean up my spaghetti sauce ingredients until tomorrow and haul out the frying pan. Mmmmm....I can hardly wait till supper!

Also, in other news which I alluded to a paragraph or two ago, I'm headed Home for a week on Saturday. If you're 'lucky' (or probably more like if I'm looking for something to do to kill a half hour), I'll post a blog 'on location' in MB. Otherwise, I'm forewarning you that after this Friday, you may see nothing new from me for a week or so.

Happy Lent!

15 February, 2007

A Wee Bit of Advice For Yous

Okay, well if any of you were thinking of ever moving to Northern Maine, on behalf of Husband and myself, we offer you one word of advice:

All the nastiness you've seen on the weather reports is true! Even the Farmer's Almanac predicted such a monstrosity of storm! We had at least 6 inches (about 12cm?) yesterday. I woke up at 4:45 this morning to go out and start shoveling/cleaning off the car while Husband got ready for work (he was feeling well enough to at least try going today and it's after noon and he isn't home yet, so I'm guessing he's faring all right). So I shoveled those 6 inches away this morning (and rewarded myself with a lime popsicle at 5:50am) and since then, we've had at least another three or four. Now, however, to add to the mix, the snow is blowing all around. You know, just to make things more interesting....*grumble, grumble*

I've been watching the
neighbour kid across the street try to push out his little Honda for the last two hours. He got it hung up on the snow the plow left at the end of the driveway. Ah...the inexperience of youth. It's really been quite hilarious. And for those of you who think I'm being cruel by watching and laughing, remember this is the same neighbour that didn't even come to the door when we brought over his grandmother's (?) package the other day.

In other news, the wee clothes I ordered from Old Navy came today. So I'm going to post a picture of one of the 'onesies' we picked out. It's actually from the girls' section, but we figured it would work for either. It's darn cute, we think.

Hm, I think I'll also post a picture of the bagels we made the other day. We need to perfect the shaping a little, but they tasted fabulous! (We've been rather industrious in the kitchen lately.)

14 February, 2007

The Meeting That Almost Was

Yesterday, we got a package in the mail. Only it wasn't for us, it was for the neighbours across the street. So as soon as Husband got home from work, we bundled up and trudged *all the way* across the street. The first door we went to had a table on the other side, so we went to the garage door and rang the bell. No dice. We could hear those two terrible little white dogs yapping away inside, but no answer. We left the package and headed home quite disappointed that yet another perfect opportunity to meet another neighbour was foiled. Nobody home.
However, not ten minutes later, I could hear the dogs. They were outside and the package was gone and what the heck? Somebody was home after all! ARGH! What is with these people!?!? Seriously, the sign on the way into town - from all THREE directions - says "Friendly" on it...could've fooled us!!

In other news, yesterday I made Husband his Valentine's present - chocolate chocolate chip cranberry cookies which turned out fabulous! And it turns out it's a good thing he ate them yesterday. As much as I love the idea of spending all of Valentine's Day with Husband (though we weren't planning on celebrating today anyway), I hadn't figured he would spend the whole day sick. Boo! He's been up and down since just after midnight.

I should count my blessings that since lately I haven't felt much like eating either, I don't have to whip up some fancy-pants Valentine's dinner since he likely won't be eating by then anyway. We will look forward to our pizza date on Friday and I will have a baked potato for supper.

So here's hoping this V-day finds you doing something for or with somebody you love - sick or otherwise.

P.S. EK - can you email me? Something's wrong with that email address and I can't find your address!!

08 February, 2007

An Original Quiz

Last week the CBC evening news showed a series of segments about driving, focusing particularly on bad driving. They asked viewers to write in and tell them where in Canada the worst drivers could be found (in my humble estimation, that would be Vancouver, but since I'm no longer a Canadian resident....). When it comes to which city or province has the worst drivers, one could find many differing opinions, I'm sure, but today, I'd like to present to you my a quiz to exhibit my findings about driving in Northern Maine. This quiz, cleverly titled "Am I Qualified to Drive in Northern Maine?" will, by answering a series of questions, enable you to find out if YOU are qualified to drive in Northern Maine.

Quiz: Am I Qualified to Drive in Northern Maine?
For each question, choose the answer that best represents your own driving habits.

Question 1:
You are driving down Main Street where the speed limit is 25mph. You:
a) drive 25mph because that's the speed limit and you are a law-abiding citizen (even though you too secretly agree that the limit should be more like 40mph).
b) drive at least 40mph because that's what they really meant to write on those signs.
c) honk your horn and tailgate, barely missing the bumper of the car in front of you, just so you can arrive at your destination 30 seconds sooner than 'the slow guy.'
d) Both b and c are correct.

Question 2:
You are approaching a stop light that has just turned yellow. You
a) start slowing down and prepare to stop.
b) curse at the car in front of you whose driver was too stupid to rush through the light so that you could still make it through at the beginning of the red light.
c) wait for the car in front of you to go through the red light and then do the same.
d) Both b and c are correct.

Question 3:
It's winter and the blue paint of the 'handy spot' is nearly obscured by snow. You:
a) realize you've parked in a handy spot and promptly move your car.
b) realize you've parked in a handy spot and stay where you are - you're only going to be five minutes.
c) realize you've parked in a handy spot but decide to ignore the blue paint and secretly congratulate yourself on scoring such a great parking spot at the MALL on SATURDAY.
d) Both b and c are correct.

Question 4:
You're backing into your garage just as you notice your neighbour is leaving. You:
a) smile and wave and think, 'hm, I really should go over and introduce myself one of these days.'
b) glare at them.
c) hope that by pretending to ignore them, they'll go away, even though they've smiled and waved at you four times since spotting you - you're too busy trying not to hit your garbage can anyway.
d) Both b and c are correct.

Question 5:
You are a cop out on traffic patrol in Northern Maine. You
a) get all excited when you see a car pull through a red light. It's your fifth ticket for such an offense just this morning!
b) decide to follow the law-abiding, non-speeding, non-red-light-running station wagon in front of you, just because it will make the driver nervous.
c) decide to go for coffee - somebody else will catch traffic law violators today.
d) Both b and c are correct.

Question 6:
You are a Northern Maine resident. Your most frequent driving dream is:
a) to have just one safe, uneventful commute to work. Just once a month, even one-way will do!
b) getting that handy spot at the mall every Saturday.
c) successfully talking your way out of tickets for speeding and running a red light - on the same day!
d) Both b and c are correct.

How Did You Do?
If you chose all A's, under NO circumstances should you attempt to drive in Northern Maine if it is at all avoidable. You could be involved in a serious car accident.

If you chose mostly A's with maybe one B thrown in, you should probably stay where you are, though venturing into Maine once in a while could prove quite the adrenaline rush for you.

If you chose mostly B's or C's, you should seriously think about what kind of driving hazard you present in your very own town or city of residence. Consider staying home today and giving other drivers some much-needed peace.

If you chose mostly D's: It's YOU! YOU!!!!! Shame on you! Shame!!!! You park in handy spaces, don't you?! When the only thing you're probably handy with is a butter knife! I'm appalled! (So...when are you moving out here?)

05 February, 2007

Are YOU a Superhero??

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Magnetic Hornet
Your Superpower is Meditation
Your Weakness is Kittens
Your Weapon is Your Lunar Catapult
Your Mode of Transportation is Cable
What's your Superhero Name?

I'd really like to SEE this lunar catapult...

01 February, 2007

For Enquiring Minds....

So the 'results' were leaning, but not conclusive.

Another ultrasound is scheduled for March to look at something else, so the midwife will check again then.

Sorry to disappoint. You'll all just have to wait in suspense a little longer. In the meantime, we're still hoping for our little Ben.

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text:
Is This City Damned? Third Sinkhole Opens Up in Seffner, Florida – March 25 2013

another sinkhole in seffner florida march 2013

ANOTHER sinkhole, approximately 8 ft wide opened up in Seffner, Florida, in between two homes just a few blocks from where Jeff Bush was killed at the beginning of March 2013. The first sinkhole was filled in, entombing the body of Bush, 37, who was pulled into the cavity under his home. Days later a second sinkhole, 12 ft, appeared just streets away on Monday straddling two properties. – Herald Tribune

The houses have been evacuated as a precaution.

seffner florida sinkhole march 2013

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February 18, 2014

Leonard Jones - Spontanious Worship

Suzy Yaraei "Dance" - MorningStar Ministries

Ocean - Put Your Hand In The Hand (1971 - HQ) (Original Live Audio)

a classic  song, from 43 years ago !

MESSAGE "You Cannot Harness the Wind' (repost)

"You cannot harness the wind.

You call for Me to come ... But will you welcome Me?
You sing of My power ... But do you know of it?
Of the enormity, the magnitude?

You know not what you ask.

You resist Me and My wooings, just as your fathers did, for you are a stiff-necked generation.

I calm the seas and I calm the storms, the winds ... *but* I also stir up the seas, the storms (and) the winds.

My presence is often preceded by tempest, by storm.

I walk on the wings of the wind.

I am the ultimate 'turbine':  most powerful.

These forces can be either detrimental or advantageous.
They can bring cleansing or death.

So many misunderstand My movings.

They are accustomed to neat little church 'socials' and 3-day 'revivals'.

They assume, in arrogance and in ignorance, that *they* have Me -- that *they* have control of Me.
Not so.

How many 'clergy' and 'denominations' presumptuously and proudly boast of *their* 'god'?

(Who is this 'god'?)
I know not of 'their' god.

'Send forth the fires of revival', 'send the fire' -- you do not know what you are asking.

 (It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.)

'Send the glory! Send the rain! Send the power! Send the flame!'

 You do not realize (for) what you ask.

Are you prepared for My visitation?

Are you able to recognize Me when I come?

(For I visited in times past and many did *not* recognize Me.)

And when I come, will I find faith?

Are your prayers mixed with faith ... or with doubt?

Have you learned faith? Have you experienced faith?

For I control all:  the skies, the seas, the waves, the clouds.

I walk on the wings of the wind.

I am amongst the cloudy atmospheres.

I shine down from the heavenlies.

I come in the blazing glory of My sun ... and also in the darkest tempest.

Power, energy, vibrance ... *SWIRL* around Me.

Glaciers break before Me.

I carve out forests, canyons, valleys.

For the world is Mine and all that is upon it.

I own the cattle on 1000 hills ... and the beasts of the forest are Mine.

I know the fowls, the birds of the wild and all the creatures of the fields.

I know, for I designed and created them ... for My glory.

I also created man and woman.

Male and female I made them upon the earth.

Earthquake. tremor.

Shaking ... sifting.

"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the LORD will lift up a standard against him."- Isaiah 59:19b

The greater the battle, the greater the victory.

If nothing is fought for, there will be no victory, no spoils.

I am able and well-equipped to push back the enemy.

He is at My disposal.
My whim.
My fancy.

I can blot him out:  I am control of all, including your enemy.

I speak, he obeys ... he must.

He is My subservient to Me, the Most high.

He is My subservient.

He once reigned with Me in the Heavens, but he has lost his place.

He has fallen, fallen from My presence.

He has lost his glory.

He now (only) portrays a false glory: a dim glory of what he once was.

(Oh, how the mighty have fallen...).

Yes, Satan is a defeated foe ... I have had to thrust him (and his devotees) from My celestial garden.

He has lost his standing in My courts of glory.

His pride, his arrogance -- have befallen him.

What once was beautiful has become grossly evil.

Light has become darkness.

His choice--his pride-- has caused the fall.

Learn from his error.

Pride comes before a fall.

Do not fall into this trap.

Instead, be wise and lean on Me ... lean on My everlasting arms

Cleave to the Rock ... the Rock of your salvation.

Hide yourself in Me: in the cleft of My Rock.

Anchor your feet -- your souls -- to My Solid Rock.

Honor and glory and power and majesty ... these are My attributes.

I will *NOT* give my glory to another.

I will not share My glory with anyone or anything ... with any person or any spiritual power.

I alone am God ... I know not of any other ... all others are beneath Me ... all others are false 'gods'.

They desire My power, My glory, My honor and My majesty ... but they cannot take My place.

I am the only God .. .the Most High God.

I am above all ... I am in all.... I made all.

I alone am Holy.

I alone inhabit the Third Heaven.

I am the Lord of hosts: of all the heavenly hosts.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom ...

The awesome, fearful respect of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

Do you seek wisdom?

If you earnestly desire these things, you will be on the right track.

If you seek Him, you will find Him ... but are you truly seeking *Him*?

Or are you looking for your own version?

Your own preconceived idea of God?

Do you know of Whom you seek?

The secret things belong to the Lord.

The mysteries of all time are His.

He is a mystery.

He is the Ancient of Days and the Messiah.

He holds the keys to hell and death, and also of Heaven's paradise.

(And eternal life with Him.)

So, humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord.

Deny your fleshly -- (your) carnal desires --  that so easily entangle you and your days.

Break loose from your cemented mindsets.

Defy the established religious rules.

(Caution: Do *only* as I lead!)

My enemies fall before Me.

I am a devouring fire ... I am a consuming fire.

I clear a path before Me.

Whirlwinds, heavy gusts and hailstones accompany Me.

Therefore, do not blindly plead for My arrival ... for you are not informed, not truly comprehensive; of what that entail

My people *perish* for lack of knowledge.

Ask for revelation, for wisdom, for understanding, for information.

I see the truly-seeking. (I *seek* the truly-seeking.)

Wait on Me ... wait on My words ... wait on My direction(s).

I am waiting on you: I am waiting and watching.

I look down from Heaven to see if any desire to understand.

Do not accept the human 'status quo' of religion ... I am *SO* much more.

Yes, I am in the winds,
in the storms,
in the waves, in the fires,
in the clouds, in the skies,
in the lightning,
in the thunder, in the earthquake.

So, again, I ask you ... Can you harness the wind?

I think not."

~untitled writing

~ untitled writing

I am a friend of the wind
I am as one with him
He whistles his doleful cry
I stand quiet
Alert to the wail

Be still child
I am here now
A silent calm has dropped
As a sacred hush
It falls around me

Shaking, my eyes open
I see,
  but not what's there
I am seeing into
  this wind

And now I am also aware
Of a sound
A ghostly sound
It is Him ... My wind
He is swirling now
Picking up speed

With mystical excitement
Trees start rustling
Branches are moving
Commotion, movement
There is a high pitch

I look I look
Up, up in amazement
Stunned, frightened

I feel fear
Raw fear
I tremble highly
My heart runs fast
It is a fear,
yet also a comfort

I feel Him
I feel his nearness
He is in my close proximity

Slowly, it all stops
Goes away

I feel thrilled
That He has noticed me
Once again

He has come
He has visited
He has shown His strength
His might
His power
His Presence

will be back

~~ written, as heard ... on February 118, 2014 ... in the over night hours

in Him was life

in Him was life


text:
It’s the first of the year, and in California a slew of new laws are going into effect.

In the past, survivors only had until they turned 28 to press charges for sexual abuse offenses in their childhood. Today the statute of limitations was raised to the victim’s age 40.

It’s a change in the law that makes total sense. It can take time to realize that what happened to you was a crime, or even that it happened.

A lot of the coping mechanisms we used to get through our childhoods–denial, self-blame, dissociation, self-medication, to name just a few–can stand in the way of acknowledging what happened to us.

Often, remembering and dealing with abuse can be disabling for a while. Healing is a slow process. This extra time gives survivors a chance to heal and get their feet under them so that they can participate in making a criminal case that will stand up in a court of law.

Hooray for California and the advocates and legislators who crafted and passed this law. Hooray for Governor Brown for signing it.

What’s happening with the statue of limitations on child sexual abuse in your state?


text:
Monday, June 16, 2014

Shaky Camera Not Cutting It In Last Year's Hunger Games

Shaky Camera Not Cutting It In Last Year's Hunger Games

A Rachel L'Antigua Critique

It is remarkable how far the film industry has come in the area of special effects and filming techniques. As little as thirty years ago, films like E.T and Indiana Jones were the cream of the crop for films with special film techniques. Nowadays, a film with superior effects and techniques is released at least every other week. In this day and age it takes a film being extraordinary in the area of effects or extra-awful in order to stand out from what has become the norm.
         I would like to review one such film; a film that stood out to me, while in theatres, as extra-awful in the area of effects. This film is none other than The Hunger Games. Don’t get me wrong; I love Peeta just as much as the next girl, but the awful camera angles throughout the film just weren’t cutting it for me. In fact, instead of feeling lovesick over the attractive men in the film, I felt sea sick from the shaky camera and bizarre angles.
         According to Film Racket, “While we like to think of it as a recent development in the history of cinema, directors have been experimenting with handheld camerawork as far back as the ’40s. Usually employed for a singular effect, it wasn’t until the ’60s, and the dawn of the cinema verite movement in documentaries, when filmmakers in general felt they could employ the device to feature -length ends. Now, handheld photography is a regular part of the Cineplex experience, especially popular with action films and horror offerings employing a first-person POV perspective to up the audience’s identification with the events onscreen.”
         I have no question that the director’s had good intentions with their seemingly strange POV filming (especially within the first 30 minutes of the film). However, they simply failed to fulfill their goals. I believe they had desired to use the appeal of pathos through their filming style by appealing to the viewer’s sense of vitality. By vitality, I mean that the director’s hoped that the weird camera angles would somehow make the viewers feel as if they were seeing the action first hand. For instance, the opening scene of the movie shows a shaky camera focusing on Katniss hunting. What is perhaps most annoying about this scene is that it had so much potential; the hunting scene could have introduced the viewers to Katniss’s brooding personality but it instead hastily flipped between the huntress and her prey in a haphazard mayday. Not surprisingly, the viewers surrounding me audibly complained about feeling dizzy and confused by the camera jolts.
         The director’s were probably banking on the majority of the audience reading the book before seeing the movie. In fact, they were probably hoping that the ethos appeal would work, in that the filming angles would make the film seem more credible as it would be more closely related to the books and characters. However, this appeal fails miserably because in actuality both of the main characters, Katniss and Peeta, are arguably extremely rational, calm, and steady people. They are not flighty, nor are they “all over the place” as the camera filming implies.
         Finally, the film used the logos appeal by using the shaky camera and strange angles to appeal to the viewer’s sense of logic. For example, obviously a person’s sense of sight is not as stable and flowing as a steady video camera. Unfortunately, this final appeal failed as well since viewers don’t want to have to think to hard about what they are watching.
         In conclusion, director, Gary Ross, should have stuck with the tried and true method of normal camera angles and left the use of shaky POV up to Blair Witch’s project. Poor Gary; I guess he didn’t know his methods would cost him the rest of the film trilogy. Did I mention that he got replaced as director for the second film? According to, “Catching Fire is now in director, Francis Lawrence’s steady hands, and gone are the previous film’s needlessly spastic camera moves.” Like they all say, “you win some, you lose some”; however, usually our losses don’t equal as much as the bizarre filming cost The Hunger Games. Needless to say, I give the film’s shaking camera angles a one out of three rating; mostly because I feel bad for them. In reality the film shouldn’t even receive a 'one', but let’s keep that between you and I.

Sidenote: I tried to find some normal photos; but everything was blurry because of the shake...

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text:
Capturing the Craft

Capturing the Craft

Studio 120 is gearing up to shoot a reality series on craft beer brewing.  The network television pilot for “Capturing the Craft” will be executed in the month of August located in and around the Twin Cities.  Each one hour episode highlights three breweries crafting their own flavorful, unique variety of locally brewed, one of a kind beer.  Studio 120 will be on site throughout the brewing process to get a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes.

The episodes will showcase elements of the brewing method as to how they are formulated down to a science beginning with the milling process followed by mashing, lautering, boiling, fermentation and finalizing with conditioning.

In addition to the brewing process, Studio 120 would like to hone in on what sets local craft breweries apart, the differences of operation, branding techniques and what obstacles are faced on a daily basis owning and working at a brewery.

Candidates for “Capturing the Craft” will attend an event at a local taproom open to the general public where judging will take place and the winner will be based on ballots completed by event attendees.  All candidates will brew the same style of beer that includes a secret ingredient announced by Studio 120.

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JoJo + Josh – Claremont Hotel – UC Berkeley Faculty Club Wedding

JoJo and Josh’s wedding was my first one of 2017 and what a way to kick off the year! Their wedding was filled with so many fun moments, like Josh sweeping JoJo up off of her feet during the recessional and carrying her away. I had an amazing time documenting everything, and I hope looking at these photos will make you feel like you were there too.

Wedding Planner: Lan Huynh


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Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limted Recruitment 2014 – Junior Account Officer Vacancies

BSNL Recruitment 2014 – Junior Account Officer Vacancies

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limted has announced an attractive notification for the recruitment of Junior Account Officers (JAO).

Starting date of Online Application: 01.12.2014

Important Study Material for Upcoming Exams

Current Affairs GK Capsule 2014 PDF Download
150 Computer Knowledge Questions
50 Banking Awareness Questions
500 Marketing Knowledge Questions for Bank Exams
Online GK Test

Last date to register online: 31.12.2014

Post: Junior Account Officers

Number of posts: 962

Scale of Pay: Rs. 16400 – Rs. 40500

Official Notification Here

Filed Under: Government Jobs

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  1. Nayan Nath says:

    Pleace add me

  2. RAJESH says:

    Pl.give full details of rect.

  3. devendra gurjar says:

    how we are applied for these?

  4. AJAY KR JENA says:

    I need this job…..

  5. AJAY KR JENA says:

    I need a good job.

  6. srikanth g says:

    respected sir,right now im pursuing my engneering 3rd year .can i right this exam in punjab ?

  7. suraj chavan says:

    12 pass

  8. rajesh dhakar says:

    I need

  9. Pradeep kumar says:

  10. ASHUTOSH says:

  11. pankaj paswan says:

    I want to Government job. bcz I do some ………………..,..?

  12. Subrata Sur says:

    I am in MSc (CS) m i eligible for this job

  13. class khone sha hai…..yr

  14. Sagar khatal says:

    i am 12th sci.passed with pcmb.sub.

  15. mahesh meena says:

    sir i’m 12th pass….or i am doing engineering from bmit,jaipur….what i can apply for this job…..plz rply

  16. suraj desai says:

    12 pass bsc 1st year

  17. Bantee says:

    give full details of rect.

  18. mukesh kumar sharma says:

    I’m 10th pass

  19. tarachand choudhary says:

    Sir I am working in retail at lifestyle part of landmark group
    Dubai my working post as a TM (team leader).

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Bio-Battery Seminar and PPT with PDF Report: In simple words, a bio-battery can be defined as a device in which electric energy is produced by converting the substrate material. This operation is performed by using many different types of biochemical or biological agents like micro-organisms or enzymes. The protons and electrons are released by breaking down the substrate in the presence of these agents. This way the electricity is generated by continuous circulation of the protons and electrons within the battery.

Also See: Digital Watermarking Seminar and PPT with PDF Report

Bio Battery Seminar PPT with pdf reportBio-Battery Seminar PPT with PDF Report

Why is a bio-battery needed?
A battery is defined as a device which is used for converting the chemical energy into electrical energy in the electrical field. There are several types of batteries used in the different electronic and electrical devices. But, these batteries come with certain chemicals including compounds of mercury and lead having the highly toxic nature. Apart from that, the batteries having chemicals are prone to leakages and explosions.
Using bio-batteries eliminates this problem because they have a greater potential for using instead of the chemical batteries.

Advantages of a Bio-battery
Have a look at the top advantages of using a bio-battery:
1. Bio-battery charges at a much faster rate as compared to the other types of batteries because of the fast action of the enzymes. Due to the lack of this process, the chemical batteries can be charged at this rate.
2. This type of batteries always keep them charge with the continuous supply of sugar or glucose and they don’t need any external power supply.
3. These batteries come with a high energy density and can use at the room temperature easily.
4. It can be used as a clean alternative renewable source of power because they are sources of non-flammable and non-toxic fuel. These batteries are completely renewable, non-polluting and environmentally friendly.
5. These batteries are safer to use and don’t cause any explosions and leakages as in the case of the chemical batteries.

Disadvantages of Bio-battery:
Although it looks perfect, but still the bio-battery has some disadvantages stated below:
1. The bio-battery retains less energy as compared to the conventional batteries such as lithium based batteries.
2. They are not a good choice for the long term use and storage.

Applications of a bio-battery:
There are many applications of a bio-battery and some of them are stated below:
1. They can be used in the medical implants such as insulin pumps, pacemakers, and many others.
2. A bio-battery can work as a portage charger for devices such as cell phones, power banks, etc.
3. These batteries are perfect to use on the greeting cards and toys.
4. They are extensively used as the generators and remote power in the disaster relief works.
5. These batteries are also used in the defense field for the purposes of the spying devices, remote sensing, and surveillance.

Future Scope
Bio-batteries have a very bright future ahead of them as test productions and research has been increasing over recent years. They serve as a new form of energy that is proving to be environmentally friendly, as well as successful, in producing and preserving energy.
Fully-integrated demonstrations are to be executed in close collaboration with the customer, for relevant applications.

Also See: Domain Name System (DNS) Seminar and PPT with PDF Report

Fully-integrated Bio-Battery charging prototypes are already developed. Funding secured from multiple Department of Defense (DOD) agencies for multiple target applications over the next 3-5 years. The bio-batteries are environmentally friendly as they did not use harmful chemicals or metals.

Content of the Seminar and pdf report for Bio-Battery

  • Introduction
  • What is Bio-Battery
  • History
  • Working of Bio-Battery
  • Need of Bio-Battery
  • Types of Bio-Battery
  • Future Scope
  • Advantages
  • Disadvantages
  • Applications
  • Conclusion

Here we are giving you Embedded Systems Seminar and PPT with PDF report. All you need to do is just click on the download link and get it.

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styleberry BLOG » where pretty meets practical

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Everett’s Dreamy Nursery

I haven’t yet decided if nurseries are actually for the baby. I kind of think they are mostly for the mama. She saw four walls and had a vision. A vision full of hopes and little moments, of snuggles and kisses. This is the place where her dreams come true…the dream of becoming a mother.

The first time I got to plan a nursery I planned two. See, we are the rare few parents left that love having a “surprise,” but this means that there has to be some grace given when it comes to completing the nursery decor. Since I knew I would not have the same time to finish the space as I did with just one child, I planned this room as a gender neutral space, and left the details for after delivery. This way I could customize the room in either direction. It’s definitely less masculine than it would be had I known I was having a boy, but the truth is, we’re moving in less than two years. He’ll be transitioning to a big boy bed at that time & most of the boy details are going to translate to the “big boy room” I have in my head, full of oranges and greens and navy. But this room is about NOW. I spent every night for his first six months rocking him in the chair in this nursery, staring at the details that I adore so much. And I am so glad I invested the time in to this space. I love it. By the time he’s old enough to have an opinion, he can help me create a room of his own. But right now, this is the perfect place to love on my sweet baby boy.

I am not a buy a bedroom in a bag kind of gal. I want rooms that look like none other on the planet, with pieces collected along the way, often irreplaceable and unique to our home. This room was no exception. The very first piece that I found to inspire this room & the color palette here was the quilt. It set the tone for everything. I originally intended to have a bed in here, but I later changed my mind, when I figured out a way to make it work in our guest room/office space. So orange, turquoise, lime, white, grey and pops of bright red were where I was headed. Here’s my mood board (created before we knew “it” was a boy!):

Now, some of my plans have changed (as all good designs do) and I just love how it is coming along. I am sure we’ll be making little adjustments here & there, but for now, welcome to Everett’s Dreamy Nursery. All resources linked throughout the post. Feel free to comment with any additional questions…enjoy the eye candy!

  • GIANT BUTTON: Hobby Lobby
  • STAR KNOBS: Hobby Lobby (spray painted with rustoleum in stainless steel)
  • QUILT HANGER: Ikea Dignetet Curtain Wire, (with four brackets total)

Oh, the painting. I love painting. Sometimes. [ha!] We (my dad and I) painted this room beige the first time. Then a chocolately orange when I got bored. Then (four years later) we painted it what I thought was the perfect gray….only to hate it as soon as we (and by we, I mean he) got two coats on. I looked and looked and the first gray, Wickham Gray, was just too blue. What if it was a girl? It was just not right. [sorry Dad!!] Back to the paint store we went again. Stonington Gray was the PERFECT shade. Whew!

I planned out the stripes based on the top and bottom color–I knew I wanted both to be turquoise. So I needed an odd number of stripes. I wanted them at least 12 in wide, so I did the math & started marking. (we had already painted the wall white.) I used a level to mark the lines in pencil on the wall first, then ran a line of Frog Tape along my mark. Don’t bother with the blue tape. The green is a far superior option! After I had the tape up and rubbed it on well, but instead of doing my perfectly straight line trick like usual, I brushed a stroke of white over the tape line (in the section where the turquoise would go), sealing the tape to the wall. After it dried, I painted the Turquoise, Valspar’s Sprinkle, over top. It took two coats to cover the white. It is the perfect shade of not too minty, not too blue turquoise. & trust me, I tried out a TON. Like, at least a dozen. The perfect turquoise is really hard to find.

  • DRESSER: Ikea Expedit, on its side + feet (found in store) + (2) two drawer inserts + (2) one drawer inserts (found in store)
  • ORANGE POT: Homegoods
  • STRIPEY BIN: Anthropologie
  • CHANGING PAD COVER: DIY (using this tutorial), fabric from Hobby Lobby
  • LAMP: Homegoods
  • WALL SHELF: Homegoods
  • CHAIR: PB Kids Comfort Grand Swivel Glider (scored for a mere $200 at the outlet, un-upholstered) + DIY slipcover (oommmmgg) fabric: Premier Prints Chipper Twill Storm
  • THROW PILLOW: Homegoods
  • VARIEGATED KNIT POUF: Land of Nod (it usually sits in front of the rocker…my feet don’t touch the ground without it! It’s necessary!!)

& for the record, I finished sewing the slipcover for that chair exactly five hours before I birthed a baby. WHEW. :)

Ahhh. My favorite wall in the room! Too bad my back is usually to it. I originally intended for this to be an alphabet wall, but after I got the room together I decided it would be too much. AND there was no place for pictures in this room if I did just letters, so I decided to make this an eclectic treasury of goodies. All of the frames are either from Homegoods or Target. I’ll source it all from left to right, top to bottom:

  • CUSTOM WHALE PRINT: Tree Top Studio
  • (2) STANDOUT MOUNTS: WHCC, of my work
  • BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: my work & design
  • DREAM BIG: Barking Bird Art
  • WRAPPING PAPER: World Market
  • PRINT: WHCC, my work
  • LINEN PINBOARD: Homegoods, I color-washed it turquoise & it’s full of Instagrams. More on it here.
  • BALLOON PRINT: Card, World Market
  • CRYING IS FOR BABIES (letterpress): Sycamore Street Press
  • WOOD FRAME: Hobby Lobby, “e”: Pottery Barn Outlet (I bought a standout print for in the frame and had that random “e” lying around since our girl name started with “e” too, and threw it up there to hold the place…but it has actually become one of my very favorite things on that wall!)

& finally, my DIY Night Light that casts the most beautiful glow on this room at night. Lord only knows how many hours I have spent staring at it. Good thing I love it so much. Full Night Light Canvas DIY here. The dresser (an old piece from college with at least three layers of paint underneath) is painted the same as the stripes, Valspar Sprinkle.

It makes me sad that this will be my very last nursery to decorate, but I am also very excited about the room evolutions that will take place as my babies grow up. I had so much fun doing this nursery and caroline’s over the top girly nursery and I just know that I will be so sad to leave this house! Both rooms are so different and so fun in their own way. Both such lovely places to spend so much time in. BUT…I am sure I will be ready to redecorate when we move! If I missed anything, let me know and I’ll answer in the comments section! :)

For more inspiration & to see what design direction I’m heading in next, check out my pinterest boards!

Related Posts with Thumbnails
  • Rebecca - Gorgeous room! Is the crib bumper a pain to remove before naps and bedtime thou? I left that off since it was cute but the baby couldn’t sleep with it and I couldn’t imagine taking it out and putting it back in so many times a day.

    I love all the beautiful artwork!ReplyCancel

    • -shawna- - I use bumpers. I know it makes some parents nervous and each mama should make the right decision for her baby. But they never bothered me, and when I tried to remove them, it was a nightmare (dropped pacis, legs in the slats and tears galore) so I left them on.ReplyCancel

  • Nicole - Shawna, this is perfect. I love you! Please move to Colorado and come help me with this house! Ha! I will buy your tickets :)ReplyCancel

  • Beth - It is such a beautiful space and will be hard to leave, but at least you won’t have to paint over it when he gets bigger and wants to start making design decisions. Now THAT would be hard! :) I’m 100% positive this will be blowing up on pinterest.ReplyCancel

  • hanna - Thanks so much for sharing. I am so making the night light for my son’s room. Lately he has been scared of a dark room and I have been trying to find a solution. Love this quick, simple and inexpensive project.ReplyCancel

  • Lani - Inspirational, as always :)ReplyCancel

  • Amber - Will you share what your girl name was? I’m curious now! My guesses based on your other two choices are: Elsie, Etta, Eleanor, Eliza, Elise, or Evelyn. : PReplyCancel

    • -shawna- - haha! that name is going in the vault. God forbid our permanent contraception measure fails, I’ll have it as a backup! :)ReplyCancel

  • Mal - I’m curious about the girl name too :)ReplyCancel

  • Ashley - Love love LOVE his room. And I love the nightlight. Thinking I might have to do something like it for our little girl on the way. Thanks for sharing! Also love that you must be getting more sleep. Your blog posts are always my favorites :).ReplyCancel

  • April M - I love it! You must’ve slept last night :) I’m soooo happy for you :) yay Everett!ReplyCancel

  • ella @ lifeologia - I’ll be honest. I should be working and I googled frames for ideas for a client…. and here I go scrolling up and down your photos for over 15 minutes to be exact.
    And I’m not even needing a nursery – but I sure do want one now when I see this!
    Incredible design. What a beautiful space mama ;D
    Well done.

  • Christina - Love this. I just found out I was having a boy and was thinking of blue/orange for his nursery and this gives me even more inspiration!

    Also, I have tried finding it on your blog but have had no luck. I would love to know how you approached diapering as infants. Did you cloth diaper? Did the OS fit the newborns? Did you just do disposables until they fit into them? Prefolds? I frequent the bump and it seems that many of the CD mommies advise that OS do not fit newborns and that you will need to do prefolds or disposables initially. I really want to avoid both, so looking for more information since your posts on CDing really helped me to feel that this is something that I can actually tackle!ReplyCancel

    • -shawna- - 2012 Project 52, week 7! :) I rented newborn dipes from Go Baby Go! OS were definitely too big for the first 4 weeks.ReplyCancel

  • Amber - Shawna, I knew you were going to say that! I can’t say I blame you though, because I would do the same.ReplyCancel

  • Lauren - Beautiful, Shawna! I love the colors you picked. I especially love how you updated the crib. What an easy way to make a piece modern.ReplyCancel

  • Aarti - Beautiful with so many details and touches! Thank you for sharing the process and the details.ReplyCancel

  • Michelle R - I agree, nurseries are for the mamas! We moved from the home my daughter was born in when she was six months old. I knew we were going to leave, so the first draft of the nursery was simple. Now with a little inspiration from this here blog, I’m working on Nursery 2.0! Same color as before, but with a little more personalization and pizzaz! Love your blog and that your life seems to be letting you blog more!ReplyCancel

  • Sae - Hi Shawna, I love the nursery! Do you have a good DIY tutorial for the slipcover you made? Thanks so much!ReplyCancel

  • Carrie - pillow in the rocker?? I love the fabric!!!! love the room and your style!!ReplyCancel

  • Emma - I am expecting a little boy in april and was having a hard time finding the perfect nursery “look” until i found your blog. This room is perfect! I also have a pb glider from the outlet and am debating whether to buy the slipcover or try to make one myself. Do you feel like that fabric has held up well? Also, do you remember how many yard of fabric you purchased? I would love any slipcover advice you may have. Thanks!!!ReplyCancel

    • -shawna- - It has held up great! I’ve even washed it–very happy! I bought 17 yards, which was WAY too much. I bet I could have done it with 10-12. :) Good luck! (& it was not easy…and took forever…so just know what you are getting into! I finished it the day I delivered!)ReplyCancel

  • Jodi Flint - I love this room. I first saw it on Pinterest and was so glad it was pinned correctly and brought me to the right site! I have a question on your dresser. I found one similar with the open sides at Land of Nod but hoping to save a little money when I found this one I was so excited! I think I found everything at ikea and also think my husband and I (who are virgins to DIY) can do it. But are there any tips to how to attach the legs? The building material seems like it would split or something if we made a pilot screw hole. Oh and the one drawer inserts are can’t be found…are they the door inserts turned sideways? Love it! Thanks!!ReplyCancel

    • -shawna- - I would not use a pilot hole I would screw right in. I know it seems flimsy, but it’s been fine! & the drawers were in the same section as the double drawers when I bought them! they do slide out, not swing open. Good luck! I still love it!ReplyCancel

  • A Mom’s Guide to San Antonio » styleberry BLOG - […] the end of a significant chapter–and then it hits. We’re leaving her nursery. & his nursery. & I will never rock a baby in them again. The home where we became a family will live on in […]ReplyCancel

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CIVIDINI Trunk Show hosted by BUTCH BLUM

CIVIDINI Trunk Show hosted by BUTCH BLUM

BUTCH BLUM invites you to join us for a special preview of the CIVIDINI Fall/Winter 2017 collection for men and women. A long time BUTCH BLUM exclusive, CIVIDINI features hand-washed patterns on cashmere, abstract limited edition prints and the most fashion forward accessories.

DATES: Friday, March 17th & Saturday, March 18th (Enjoy a St. Paddy’s Day happy hour from 4 – 6 pm on Friday, March 17th)
TIME: 10 am – 6 pm
LOCATION: BUTCH BLUM in Downtown Seattle – 1332 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
RSVP: Send email to

Contact Information:
Melissa Kessenich, Promotions Director
206.622.5760  |

Dress better than you have to…

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Agencies & Brokerages

Risk Management Solutions for Agencies and Brokerages: Win New Business and Build Customer Loyalty with the Risk Management Center

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You are the Solution Provider

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Clients gain access to the platform through the agency’s website. By providing this valuable resource to your clients you can differentiate your agency from your competition and deepen your existing client relationships because of the efficiencies and cost savings your clients will experience. Your close ratios and retention rates will improve, resulting in potential significant revenue growth!

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The Risk Management Center is right for any organization that wants to proactively manage their risk exposures and develop effective workplace safety programs to reduce claims, losses, and associated costs.

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Sunday, February 15, 2009

V~tines supper and treats!

I made these yummerific Lasagna rolled instead of layered.. I made home made ricotta cheese Then rolled hamburger and sausage w/ sauce and the cheese.. There was enough left over to freeze a pan.. Very exciting! We had a great Valentines Day! The kids were all gone doing their own thing... SnS came home and helped me set the table and put the finishing touches on the Peanut butter/dark Chocolate Heart shaped confections.... Which were a great hit.. I got the recipe from Tanyas Blog over at Sunday Baker I didn't have little heart shaped cookie cutter, Just one big one so that what I did I made HUGE peanut butter hearts... Very filling, hard to even finish one. They did turn out so beautiful.All in all it was a wonderful night.. S. Daddy, SnS and Sugaababy and I sat down to a GREAT meal.. Lots of LOVE. I heart daz like this...

  1. Love your heart dessert, but , hey, you didnt tell us how you made the ricotta or did I miss that? And Oh also the recipe for the homemade noodles. Please share. Its ok if you just share with me,no one else:)

  2. Yum yum yum I shoulda been at yer house!