Blogging and Exploitation

I love my friends and family. I love their funny sayings and their stories. Some things I hear are so funny that I want to share them, but I don't want to exploit people I love, nor do I want to devalue informal and intimate conversation. I try and keep my friends' privacy and trust, and I believe I've done a good job. This topic has come up in the book I'm reading on blogging, and more importantly, it's come up in life. The Golden Rule of life is to do to others only what you'd have done to you, right? I like it when my friends and family ask me how I am because they care, and not just because I'm a good source of material for their blog. This sincerity is what I want to be evident in my life.

Mystery

I have been writing to Brandy for over a year now. She has the same physical limitations I do, but she also has mental limitations. I would say she has the mental capacity of a second grader. Her letters consist mostly of one question written in the large characters of a 5-year-old. There are so many questions I have, but I know Brandy couldn't answer them. I wonder if Brandy can take care of herself. I wonder if her brother has ataxia. I wonder if she ever goes outside or if she has any friends. I've ordered a book where the author interviews family members of mentally ill people. Maybe reading this will make up for my curiosity about Brandy, and my desire to interview her family.

Walking the Walk

I bought a pedometer, and I am going to start walking 5k routes. I may pay to walk an organized walk/run, but with my own pedometer, I can walk when I want, where I want, and do it for free. I won't get the bragging rights that come with an official t-shirt, but, hey, I could just make my own shirts!

Blogging

The book I got on blogging has a picture of a megaphone on the cover. That is so apropos. Writing a blog post is similar to yelling out your thoughts into a megaphone. It is like nailing up your journal entries on several telephone poles around town so that anyone can read them. Posting to your blog begs the question, "Why do you write?" And, "Does your online journal replace your personal, private journal?" My personal journal, and I've always kept one, rarely overlaps with my blog. I use my blog to encourage and entertain, and to get feedback. I don't use my blog to tell the world, "I feel crummy today." Just like I wouldn't go around town with a megaphone telling everyone that I felt crummy. That would be something for my private journal. It is interesting, though, to think about how I'd feel if my blog were erased. Having my journals, I don't think I'd feel like I'd lost a lot. I just hope I never have to find out.

This Week in the M House

I know technology has become the domain made mainly of men, but last night after watching "The Women of SNL", Mr. M and I watched "This Week in Tech" with Leo LaPort. It is some kind of computer show that was somehow on our television. (Obviously, I'm not the tech-savvy half of our marriage who watches the show regularly.) It is one of Leo's-yes, we here at the M house are on a first name basis with Leo-many shows on the Twit network, and it is fascinating. No kidding, I was riveted.

While we humans and our canine were all sitting together on the couch, I noticed Rufus' leg twitching. I rubbed it, and he rested, and now he is fine. However, during my workout this morning, I noticed that my leg was twitching in the same way, which can only lead to one conclusion--Rufus has been using my weight set to work out when I am not looking. Oh, the mischief these dogs can get into!!! (Though I must say he is looking very toned and sculpted!)


I just ordered a book about blogging. I am especially interested in the societal implications of it, and our altered perceptions of privacy. A friend of mine is coming soon to pick me up for our coffee date. I'm sure my interest in the philosophy of the internet culture will be a subject of conversation. I feel so stereotypical, going to Starbucks and discussing the societal implications of a society with no secrets over coffee.

Fathers and Daughters

Recording artist John Mayer knows the influence fathers have on their daughters. It is well noted that a girl will date and eventually marry a man who reminds her in some way of her father. I was fortunate to grow up with a father who loved my mother, and enjoyed spending time with her. I found and married a man who loves me and enjoys spending time with me. We are a team. I'm so glad I saw this as a girl at home. I grew up with a couple very much in love, and now I'm part of a couple very much in love. My dad, without his knowledge, showed me what kind of guy to marry, and now I want to allow Mr. M. to set an example for our girls in college of a good man. We plan to do this as much as we can in our ministry to the college kids. I also want to remind my male friends with daughters what an influence they have on who their daughters date and marry. "Fathers, be good to your daughters." -John Mayer.

And I would add, "Fathers, be good to your wives and love them and enjoy their company."

A Tale of Three Crumb Cakes

I am writing from San Francisco, a mecca of artists and creative types. I consider myself to be a creative type, but I think I'm too straight-laced and conservative to be considered creative by anyone else. I've been on a shopping spree, but not before sitting down to a big and fancy breakfast. I had, among other edible things, a chocolate crumb cake. I went shopping right after breakfast. I bought a small book called You Know You're a Writer When . . . . Some of the descriptions fit me to a T: like, "You know you're a writer when you interrupt a big and fancy breakfast because you need to write down the title you thought of for your next post." (OK, it didn't say that exactly, but that's the general idea.) We had our first San Francisco breakfast on Friday. We always start our San Francisco days at Mama's. I had the original crumb cake, which is what I dream about between visits. Flawlessly delicious and completely perfect. On Saturday, I decided to try their chocolate crumb cake. Good and gooey and warm, but the original is so perfect that the chocolate only got in the way. (I know. I usually live for chocolate-what does that say about the original crumb cake??!) Today, Sunday, I had the cranberry crumb cake for breakfast. Tasty and tangy, but still it can't beat the original. So I'll still go to bed dreaming about a slice of Mama's original crumb cake and a nice, steaming mocha.

Counsel From the Bible

I don't know a whole lot about psychology, but I do know that all patients are told that they need to deal with their pasts in order to move on with their lives. Psychologists believe this is a breakthrough idea they've discovered. However, I believe this was God's idea, and it was revealed to us way back in Genesis. Two men went to make an offering to God. Cain, and his brother, Abel. Abel's offering was accepted, but Cain's wasn't. Cain became furious and jealous. God saw the fury and jealousy in his heart, and He said to Cain that if he did not do what was right, his sin would be his constant companion, crouching at his door, seeking to destroy him. Cain did not do what was right (deal with his sin), and his sin did destroy him-he killed his brother soon after that. I believe this very thing happens today-people have sin in their past (either their sin or someone else's),and when it is not dealt with (repented of, if the sin is theirs, or forgiven, if the sin belongs to someone else), that sin haunts the person and is their constant companion, and leads to more and more sin. Sin, whether in the form of abuse or family dysfunction or addiction or any cause, is always a vicious cycle that must be broken. This is the only way we can do what God tells us to do in Philippians 3:13,14; "Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I press on to win the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus."