I recently heard on the radio that a guy could almost certainly point to a couple of girls he went to college with as the original instigators of No-shave November. At least he said he'd never been able to find anyone who could trace the annual event further back than these two girls in Texas. Apparently, in a season of singleness, they'd decided not to shave their legs for a month. I think the idea was that no one would know the difference--but word got out, and a holiday-month was born.
Well, that is my introduction--an anecdote of interest relative to this month. However, it is merely the reason I began thinking about this blog topic, not the focus of it. You see, I am here to tell you why I believe in a No-shave Life. I'm not being funny, silly, or sarcastic--I'm being serious. So if you don't ind, lend your eyes, your brain, and your heart for just a few moments.
I began not-shaving a couple of years ago. I've always been a fan of not-shaving during the winter. I mean, who really wants extra-cold legs when nobody will see them anyway? But in 2008, my nonconformity grew gradually bolder. You see, I had a dear friend and housemate who had never shaved her legs in her life, and she inspired me to do away with the senseless, uncomfortable, time-consuming practice.
My mother and younger sister were not fans, to say the least*, but their insistence for conformity strengthened my feelings of rebellion on the subject. Their attitudes and the prejudicial ones I encountered--or sometimes, perhaps, merely imagined--forced me to think:
~Why am I doing this?
~Why do I care?
~Why does the urging of the crowd--family, friends, random
acquaintances--make my generally docile self feel ready to boil
over?
~TBC~
*My father and older sister did not care, and my brother applauded my action--or rather, inaction.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
October
Saturday, October 16, 2010
11:39 PM
Sticky notes turn up in the oddest of places. This week I found three.
1) In the front cover of my Bible.
2) Under the white flip-flops that used to be Megan's.
3) Under the rug.
I learned some very interesting things through these sticky notes, such as,
1) Evil Sticky-noters have very good imaginations for where to place things,
2) Jennifer Jaff turned into a giraffe,
and 3) Jennifer Mutton turned into a button.
Had the urge to sticky-note someone's room, workplace, or car lately? You probably should. Someone will learn important things as a result.
11:39 PM
Sticky notes turn up in the oddest of places. This week I found three.
1) In the front cover of my Bible.
2) Under the white flip-flops that used to be Megan's.
3) Under the rug.
I learned some very interesting things through these sticky notes, such as,
1) Evil Sticky-noters have very good imaginations for where to place things,
2) Jennifer Jaff turned into a giraffe,
and 3) Jennifer Mutton turned into a button.
Had the urge to sticky-note someone's room, workplace, or car lately? You probably should. Someone will learn important things as a result.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
An Inadvertent Win:
I posted the following for Inklings Bookshop's Poetry Day contest on Thursday. I merely wanted to be involved in the discussion, because it was about children's poetry, and if there are two genres of literature that are my favorite, they are children's lit and poetry. If you put the two together, fireworks explode in my heart, and I can't help but grin. Why, just today a fourth grade girl came up to me and showed me Sharon Creech's Love That Dog and Hate That Cat, and I could hardly contain myself in a professional manner as I tried to communicate to her my enthusiasm for poetry and Sharon Creech. So here's my little snippet--I hope it gets you reading children's poetry! :D
"One of my favorite childhood poems is'Disobedience' by A.A. Milne, which is about how a 3 year old takes such good care of his mother, but unfortunately she disobeys him and ends up lost. Despite King George's offer of "forty shillings reward," James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree's mother is never found again. Alas! But it's hilarious..."
P.S. I was just perusing the blogs in my little subscription inbox (RSS feed? I don't know what it's called, for sure). In doing so, I have realized that I am ONE MONTH behind in my reading! How did this happen? I'm sorry, dear ones--I will begin catching up on your lives ASAP. (Which probably means after I get back from California on the 12th of October:(...) I'm sorry! Will catch up; cross my heart and kiss my elbow. Hasta luego.
"One of my favorite childhood poems is'Disobedience' by A.A. Milne, which is about how a 3 year old takes such good care of his mother, but unfortunately she disobeys him and ends up lost. Despite King George's offer of "forty shillings reward," James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree's mother is never found again. Alas! But it's hilarious..."
P.S. I was just perusing the blogs in my little subscription inbox (RSS feed? I don't know what it's called, for sure). In doing so, I have realized that I am ONE MONTH behind in my reading! How did this happen? I'm sorry, dear ones--I will begin catching up on your lives ASAP. (Which probably means after I get back from California on the 12th of October:(...) I'm sorry! Will catch up; cross my heart and kiss my elbow. Hasta luego.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Borrowing From an Email, While I've Got it So Concisely Written:
Here are three little internet videos that I have found helpful to both my mind and the way are relate to God and his world; maybe you've even heard of or seen them. All three videos touch on thoughts about consumerism.
"The Story of Stuff" was a video Nathaniel had me watch a couple years ago, and it gives legitimate concerns about our consumer society and why it isn't as great as a lot of Americans--Christians included--seem to think.
One of the Advent Conspiracy videos was shared with me by Brian a few months before Nate shared "The Story of Stuff" with me. (And I think I shared that one with Brian.) These videos are a specifically Christian and Christmas-oriented look at things--"stuff." I would say they're applicable to all of life, though, not only Christmas. I advise first watching "Enter the Story" then the "[AC] Promo 2009" videos, which are respectively the 5th and 4th videos down on this page. Or even better, watch "[AC] 2009 Promo" here so that you can make it full-screen and actually read the tiny print:). The other videos are probably great, too, but those are the only two I have watched, and I think it's good to watch them both, with "Enter the Story" coming first.
"The Story of Stuff" was a video Nathaniel had me watch a couple years ago, and it gives legitimate concerns about our consumer society and why it isn't as great as a lot of Americans--Christians included--seem to think.
One of the Advent Conspiracy videos was shared with me by Brian a few months before Nate shared "The Story of Stuff" with me. (And I think I shared that one with Brian.) These videos are a specifically Christian and Christmas-oriented look at things--"stuff." I would say they're applicable to all of life, though, not only Christmas. I advise first watching "Enter the Story" then the "[AC] Promo 2009" videos, which are respectively the 5th and 4th videos down on this page. Or even better, watch "[AC] 2009 Promo" here so that you can make it full-screen and actually read the tiny print:). The other videos are probably great, too, but those are the only two I have watched, and I think it's good to watch them both, with "Enter the Story" coming first.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
A Frustration:
Allow me, briefly, to mention a frustration I have with the Christian sub-culture.
Disclaimer: I am in no way saying I am perfect and amazing and do the right thing all the time, neither from pure nor calculated motives. However, it frustrates me to listen to a Christian radio station that sends listeners to foreign countries purely for the sake of going to a concert. I keep hearing this contest go on, and I think, "Really? A trip to Ireland? What about the starving kids all over the world? What about humanitarian efforts?" I can understand sending people free CDs; it's both marketing and a source of encouragement and the Message of Christ. I can kind of understand sending people to concerts, though that's iffy, depending on the amount of money going into the whole thing. But the stations are provided those kinds of giveaways. But who is funding transporting people to foreign countries to go to concerts? I want to be a part of a sub-culture that focuses its energies and monies toward curing diseases or curing people of preventable diseases or providing drinking water and food to those who need it.
As I said before, I am far from perfect, but is it just me or does sending people on overseas vacations sound a little too much like American pop culture than being the hands and feet of Christ?
Feel free to argue.
Disclaimer: I am in no way saying I am perfect and amazing and do the right thing all the time, neither from pure nor calculated motives. However, it frustrates me to listen to a Christian radio station that sends listeners to foreign countries purely for the sake of going to a concert. I keep hearing this contest go on, and I think, "Really? A trip to Ireland? What about the starving kids all over the world? What about humanitarian efforts?" I can understand sending people free CDs; it's both marketing and a source of encouragement and the Message of Christ. I can kind of understand sending people to concerts, though that's iffy, depending on the amount of money going into the whole thing. But the stations are provided those kinds of giveaways. But who is funding transporting people to foreign countries to go to concerts? I want to be a part of a sub-culture that focuses its energies and monies toward curing diseases or curing people of preventable diseases or providing drinking water and food to those who need it.
As I said before, I am far from perfect, but is it just me or does sending people on overseas vacations sound a little too much like American pop culture than being the hands and feet of Christ?
Feel free to argue.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Changer of Lives
It is late, and I am going to school tomorrow, but I could not let tonight escape without some news. Tonight I learned that one of my youth group kids became a Christian!!! Praise God! That is a huge encouragement that what I am doing is somehow really changing people's lives. That's what I want to be, a Life-Changer, but sometimes I question it. There are so many job types out there, and each one has it's place. Just today I was wondering what kind of jobs are truly meant for me and I for them, and I'm still not sure. But it IS good to know that what I am doing right now, in this silly, humdrum, interim period of life-after-college-but-before-"REAL"-life can meaningfully impact those around me and help people find the love of a Saviour who provides the "peace that passeth understanding." He is the Changer of Lives who gives me the ability to help change others' lives. To God alone be the glory!
Other brief update: I have applied for a job at a bookshop in hopes of working there part-time and subbing, as well. I would like some kind of regular income, as my loan is soon coming due. Thank God that I have plenty of food, clothes, and options for shelter; I need only repay my loan until such a time as I have enough to finish it off. (After that, my family willlll charge me rent, unfortunately but understandably.) August has been a whirlwind, but a new season is beginning with the start-up of schools all over the valley. Also, I read a very meaningful, to me, short story by Roald Dahl today called "Lucky Break," and last week my mom & I went to visit my brother in California. That's not much, but it's all I have time for today. Tomorrow I'm observing a first grade teacher throughout her first day of school--should be fun, and educational!
TTFN!
Other brief update: I have applied for a job at a bookshop in hopes of working there part-time and subbing, as well. I would like some kind of regular income, as my loan is soon coming due. Thank God that I have plenty of food, clothes, and options for shelter; I need only repay my loan until such a time as I have enough to finish it off. (After that, my family willlll charge me rent, unfortunately but understandably.) August has been a whirlwind, but a new season is beginning with the start-up of schools all over the valley. Also, I read a very meaningful, to me, short story by Roald Dahl today called "Lucky Break," and last week my mom & I went to visit my brother in California. That's not much, but it's all I have time for today. Tomorrow I'm observing a first grade teacher throughout her first day of school--should be fun, and educational!
TTFN!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Ha HA!
As it says above...ha HA! I have figured out how to beat the beast that turns all my titles and labels into a foreign language! One must simply type the title and labels in the body and then cut and paste them into the proper locations. Not a cure, exactly; I still don't know why it does it to begin with. However, I have fixed all my run-together titles and labels and shall not have to run them together any longer, and THAT makes me quite glad!
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