So we did a couple of test shots to check on the appropriate lighting to use. While we were trying to figure out the best camera settings, he had me for his model. (He also is a photographer and he wants to assess which settings to use.)
We had a couple of random shots and this picture WON the "iLikey!" vote.
I don't care if my hair's a mess. Heck, I don't even fit the description of someone being "dressed down"!. However, I honestly like this, sans not being the prettiest. :-)
Purchased from: Amazon
Rating: 10 out of 10 (Can I give this an 11 out of 10?)
Synopsis: Miller, the accidental memoirist who struck gold with the likable ramble Blue Like Jazz, writes about the challenges inherent in getting unstuck creatively and spiritually. After Jazz sold more than a million copies but his other books didn't follow suit, he had a classic case of writer's block. Two movie producers contacted him about creating a film out of his life, but Miller's initial enthusiasm was dampened when they concluded that his real life needed doctoring lest it be too directionless for the screen. Real stories, he learned, require characters who suffer and overcome. In desultory fashion, Miller sets out to change his own life—to be the kind of guy who seeks out his father, chases the girl and undertakes a quest. Along the way, he comes to understand God as a master storyteller who doesn't quite control where his characters are going. An unexpected bonus of this book is Miller's insights into the writing process. Readers who loved Blue Like Jazz will find here a somewhat more mature Miller, still funny as hell but more concerned about making a difference in the world than in merely commenting on it.
My Review: Well holy crap. Just after I thought my book life couldn't get any better after reading Susan Isaac's memoir Angry Conversations with God, I got my copy of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years in the mail. I could not tear through this book fast enough. Miller really knows how to put words together in incredible ways. AND, in addition to being an organic, funny, inspiring memoir, it was also a story about story, and if you know me -- I love stories. If you're someone who loves plot and character and conflict (all the things memoirists sometimes struggle with), you have got to get this book. Miller realizes his own story is lacking all the things that make great stories that we love to read and watch in the movies, so he sets off to make his story a STORY, letting the Master Storyteller scrawl across the pages of this life. It was so inspiring, I literally cried through the last hundred pages or so, especially during the stories about his friend Bob and his family. It made me want to evaluate my own life in relation to the elements of a story, and adjust things so that my life isn't just boring words on a page. It's my favorite book of the year so far. Seriously, you have to go out and read this book. Now. Do it. I'll be here when you get back because I want to know what you thought.
My latest post on Wordpress is a review of Time Was Soft There by Jeremy Mercer.
Today I went with Cakes (the bride) and Ari (a bridesmaid) to try on bridesmaid dresses at David's Bridal. I have never set foot in a bridal store before (I designed my wedding dress, and had a local seamstress make it when I got married). It's amazing how much stuff they can pack inside! It was a little nerve wracking at first, because we didn't have a clear idea of what we wanted. Cakes is really cool, though, and told us to pick dresses that we liked. The main stipulation was that they weren't satin and that they were long an flowey. There was a lot to choose from, so once we both had an armload we started trying them on.
I normally don't like trying on clothes, but even I have to admit that this was kind of fun. Ari and I would both put on a dress, and then climb up on the pedestal in the main part of the store for Cakes to check us out. She took pictures of us in various dresses, and we quickly pared the pile down to just a few that we liked. After another round of trying these dresses on, we both chose the dress that we liked the best. Cakes doesn't care if we are "matchy-matchy", which is pretty nice. She picked the colors we are going to wear, but matched each color to our individual skin tone. So, the three bridesmaids will be in three different dresses in three different colors, but each style and color will compliment our individual body types and skin tones. I think that is incredibly thoughtful of her, and speaks to how awesome she is as a person.
Even though we were there for serious business, we did manage to have a little bit of fun. We did an impromptu wedding cheer before trying on the dresses (which is funny, because we aren't the cheerleader types). We had a lot of fun joking around with the sales ladies, too. It was nice to spend an afternoon with the girls, being "girly", and helping Cakes check things off of her wedding to-do list. The three of us are really good friends, and we work together as well. We all try to get together away from school every couple of months or so, but with our schedules it is sometimes pretty hard. I'm really happy the three of us could spend the day together today.
After the dresses Ari had to go, and Cakes and I decided to head to Sam's Club. I've only ever been there once, so today I had a better feel for what they have to offer. I'm amazed by the sheer amount of stuff, and also by the ecclectic nature of it all. If I was in the mood to buy flowers, or a pizza, or a guitar, or a sofa, or some laminate flooring, I was in the right place! I also got a kick out of all of the food sampling stations that were set up. We did manage to eat our way around the store as we shopped, which was nice, because we hadn't had any lunch. I bought some cleaning supplies and a couple of things for school, so I didn't go too crazy. It would be easy to do in there, though!
After "The Club" we visited some more stores, and then decided to call it a night. We left at noon, and it is now 8:30. We had a busy day today, that is for sure! It was a good day, though. I'm so excited to be a bridesmaid, because Cakes is such a wonderful friend. I am going to do everything I can to help to make her wedding day run as smoothly as possible. She has so many fantastic ideas....I can't wait to see how it all comes together!
Borrowed from: the Sacramento Library (although, if someone wanted to get it for me for Christmas, I would love them forever and ever)
Rating: 10 out of 10
Synopsis: God in couples counseling? Sounds sacrilegious, but in the adept hands of comedian, writer and actress Isaacs, it's a success. Isaacs reached bottom at age 40: no job, no boyfriend, no home. Of course, she blamed God. So off they went to counseling with the ever-patient therapist Rudy. Isaacs moves easily between recounting her life story and her counseling sessions. She describes encounters with the Nice Jesus of her Lutheran upbringing; the Oakie Pentecostal church and the militant counselor; the Rock-n-Roll church and the Orthopraxy, Dude church, plus her rocky acting career and her love life, including guilt-ridden sex and Mostly Mister Right. Isaacs readily admits to being snarky, but she's honest about her quest and its conclusion. She's funny, biting, earthy and brilliant.
Review: I've been putting off writing this review because of just how much I loved this book and I don't feel like my review can do it justice. Susan Isaacs is a) raw, b) brilliant, and c) hilarious. The literary device she created —of taking God to couples counseling—worked perfectly and did a great job of giving the whole book a cohesive feel that is sometimes absent from memoir. The evolution of God's voice throughout the book is especially well done. Reading about the difficulties Isaacs went through in her walk with God felt so much more real than a lot of other Christian books I've read in the past. It's like she's, this is going to sound crazy, an actual person. She is refreshingly honest and I just fell in love with her story and the way she dealt with what came her way. And did I mention she's funny? Bitingly funny. I couldn't recommend this book more highly to all of my Christian girlfriends and to anyone who's disillusioned with the church. We ended up reading it for my book club and every single person absolutely loved it.
Neutral ground?
More news: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/stories/200911/s2757866.htm
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I am a Christian and the news pretty much concerns the Muslim community. I won't be saying much since this is a sensitive subject.
However, allow me to point out that each has a right to choose and express themselves. Apparently, the choice was made by a country who has claimed neutrality. And the expression was made clear.
Pardon, but please don't take this as an offense.
I'm just saying.
And it would prolly make more sense if I do it myself; but sometimes, writing something about yourself is harder than writing something about others. Big dilemma here.
(Oh...and incase you were wondering what's that all about --- I'm currently doing a mini-project. Which by the way, I'm hoping to be of big help in the long run.)
Sigh. I love weekends. In that note, I leave you one my my favorite songs:
I'm working on preparing the house for Christmas decorations. I took today off of work - because in the morning I actually did feel a little crummy, but quickly felt better. Partly due to the coffee, and partly because I made my family a great breakfast, at least by weekday standards. Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls, strawberry-banana smoothies, and - for the first time ever - Ziploc omelets. Those were kind of fun - I got the recipe from someone at work a long time ago and had never made them until today. They'd be fun for the morning after a sleepover.
I get a daily newsletter from Better Homes & Gardens. The other day they had some really great ideas for Christmas decorations using cranberries, and also some cool ideas for a mantle. Of course I'm always looking for new ideas - the thought of doing my Christmas decorations the same year after year bores me to death - so I was happy to see some concepts that I thought I could actually do (I'm not especially crafty). Today when I was at the store, I bought the stuff to make my own version of a candy-cane-themed mantle.
It may not be designer-quality, but I thought it turned out pretty cool, for my feeble attempts at doing anything. And it was cheap, too. The candle in the middle smells like Cocoa Mint. Yummy. I can't quite decide if it's done or if it needs something more - height, a string of white lights, etc. I kind of like it the way it is.
Another thing I did was to go through the Christmas cards I still had from last year. I took another look at pictures and noted how much older the kids that I see on a regular basis look now, one year later. I re-read all of the Christmas letters. More than once I thought how interesting it was to read them with a knowledge of what had happened in 2009. More than one lost or changed a job. One of Brian's uncles passed away - in January, probably two months after the picture had been taken. It felt strangely ironic to think of all the pain of loss that family has endured this year - and they had no idea at the time that it was so imminent. It felt strangely ironic, and yet once again reminded me of the frailty of life on this earth. You just never know what's going to happen tomorrow. I don't want to sound depressing, but it's true.
Tip for college:
When a proffessor gives you a 100 question take home final with really difficult questions, they are probably directly out of a book. A book that is probably at the school library.
I missed one question and got a 99. Go me!
So, for the last week or so, Penny's been dealing with the after effects of picking up an infection after having worms (ick). But after a couple of days of antibiotics, she seemed to be doing pretty well. And today was the first day back on the mountain after having had her put on a steady diet of bland food, antibiotics (which she will eat disguised in Gruyere cheese --- that's right --- not cheese slices, not cheese sticks, not peanut butter, Gruyere) and boring old leash walks.
She had a great time and ran and ran and ran. As we were heading home, she still had plenty of energy and ran way ahead and I called her back. She came running with something being lightly chewed in her mouth. I think -- oh great, worm-filled coyote poop. She comes up and I tell her, "Drop It!" and (somewhat surprisingly) she does. Expecting to see some half-masticated turd, I look down and there is what is pretty clearly something's liver. About 3" by 2" with what I was pretty sure was the gall bladder port still attached. Mmmmm....yummy!
I think maybe it was a rabbit's -- though it seemed a little big (though honestly I don't know how big a rabbit's liver is...) -- maybe it was from a raccoon?
Anyway, Penny got some treats for dropping on command -- which I doubt were as appetizing as that liver, and she seemed quite pleased with herself all morning.
Happy Friday!
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