Media and Vegas, Baby!

Mr. M and I just got home from Las Vegas. While we were lingering over a sumptuous and relaxing breakfast, I was reading the newspaper. This paper had named 2010 The Year We Stopped Talking To Each Other. The article went on to relate the pros and cons of the ever-increasing number of hand-held, personal, mobile, palm-sized distractions in society. As I was reading, and giving my summary to Mr. M, he pointed out to me a young couple ignoring each other and yet completely immersed in their distracting mobile devises. Mr. M also pointed out my absolute disgust of technological distractions, while at the same time harboring a love for books. Although seen as more refined, and considered an acceptable distraction, are books (and newspapers) really more than that . . . distractions? I love everything about reading (I just started Why We Love The Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck), but is reading a newspaper really any different from reading a series of text messages when you're out to breakfast with a friend?

The Great Laundry Quandry, and Trash Embargo of 2010.

The M house is once again undergoing changes; this time, to the loft. As a consequence, our garage is filled to the brim with boxes and boxes of stuff that belongs in the loft, and will eventually find its way there. Until then, though, there is a very unstable and narrow pathway to the washer and dryer. Only a billy goat-or Mr.M-is sure footed enough to tread this path. So the dirty laundry is piling up, and our clothing choices are getting weirder and weirder.

We also have trash bags and recyclables piling up, as the unceasing rain has made access to our outside trash can and recycle can impossible. After watching an episode of Hoarders today, I decided the bags needed to go outside no matter what. So I put on my funny knit hat that I'm told makes me look like a garden gnome, and I put plastic bags on my shoes and I braved the elements to deal with the stuff. I had to stand inside of a cardboard box to avoid sinking into the mud. A friendly neighbor stopped to say, "hello", and, I suspect, to check on my mental state.

A Christmas gift to my readers.

I'm afraid you'll have to work a little for your gift, as I can't seem to copy the link here. It is a youtube of Mercy Me's version of my favorite carol, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

May you all enjoy tidings of comfort and joy, for the consolation of Israel has come, a light for the Gentiles. We Christians have great cause to rejoice!

Career Path

I've thought long and hard, and finally settled on a career path. I don't know how to start, though. I just know I don't want to go to school anymore. I want to get paid to do something I like to do, and know how to do, and would do even if I weren't getting paid (but I want to get paid.) I want to get paid to read . . . but only good books. I had an opportunity to get paid to read Danielle Steele books, but I didn't want to waste my eye strength. I want to be a respected reviewer, someone who writes a short summary and endorsement that gets printed on the back cover of a book. (Those endorsements have often been the deciding factor in my choice of reading material. You know what they say: You can judge a book by its cover.) How do I get in that line of business? Maybe I need to talk one of my friends-either the entertaining socialite or the globe trotting dancer-into writing a book. I'll endorse their books for free (because they would be AWESOME-my friends are great writers and story tellers), and once I am established as a reliable and respected reviewer, I can start making some sweet moolah.

Exciting Friends

The other day on a long and arduous, albeit therapeutic drive, my sister and I were discussing the benefits of having exciting friends, and being thrown into unexpected scenarios as a result of your(sometimes nefarious but always surprising)associations.
I would say my life is adventurous almost solely as a result of the wild collection of friends I have maintained over the years. My friends absolutely inspire me in every way, and bring out the best in me. (Sometimes, they simply bring me out, and I'm grateful for that.) I know moms, dads, authors, dentists, beauticians, former child stars, singers, dancers (exotic and global!), and rocket scientists. I am blessed beyond measure.

Rufus Shows Extaordinary Emotion. (And athletic prowess.)

Rufus and I walked to Starbucks. There, I met a girl who lives solely off the money she makes as a house sitter. She also pays no rent or mortgage. Apparently, she is such a good house sitter that her word-of-mouth popularity allows her to live all year in other peoples' houses. This girl keeps all of her clothes in her minivan and travels around the valley house sitting. She's never had to sleep in her car. Amazing!!

Speaking of house sitters, our favorite house sitter will be here soon, and when I told Rufus, he did a full back flip, followed by a cartwheel.

I would be remiss here if I failed to mention my friend of little sleep. Thinking back over my own experiences with sleep, I recalled a night in high school. I had been up late, studying. When I finally hit the hay, I turned on some tunes on the old tape deck I kept right by my bed. I fell asleep gently to the romantic ballads of Debbie Gibson, but shortly after falling asleep, I woke myself-or rather, my radio antenna awoke me by poking me in the eye. Tired and sleepy teenager that I was, I went back to sleep figuring that whatever happened, I'd deal with it in the morning. I woke up to an eye with a big blood blister where the antenna got me. (And I didn't even do very well on the test!) I hope the same fate doesn't befall my friend who will soon be having sleepless days.