Favs from 2009

Just a few of my favorite things from this past year…

Fav Concerts
John Legend
Kings of Leon
K’naan
Regina Spektor
Bassnectar

Fav Albums
Jay Z – The Blueprint 3
K’naan – Troubadour
Regina Spektor – Far
KiD CuDi – Man on the Moon – The End of Day
Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You

Fav Travel Locations
Kalimpong, India
London, England
Austin, TX
Nashville, TN
Branson, MO

Fav Books
Stephanie Plum Novels 1-7 – Janet Evanovich
Up Country – Nelson DeMille
Twilight (a little embarrassing to admit) – Stephenie Meyer
Informed Consent – Sandra Glahn
Dead Until Dark – Charlaine Harris

Fav movies
Slumdog Millionaire
Inglorious Bastards
The Hangover
Confessions of a Shopaholic
I Love You, Man

Fav TV Shows
The Office
True Blood
Dexter
House
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelpha

Fav iPhone Games
Bejeweled 2
Sims 3
Word Warp
Arcade Bowl
Sol 3

Vampires: Glamouring Humans for Centuries

I must admit, I have turned into one…a vampire enthusiast that is. Vampires (V’s) have been written about since the 1700’s and myths about these fascinating creatures exist in most cultures. In 1746 Benedictine monk Antoine Augustin Calmet (whose Biblical writings established him as a leading scholar of his time) wrote “Treatise on Vampires and Revenants” The revelations he proclaimed in his writings sent waves of shock and hysteria throughout Europe. Several years later, in 1897 Bram Stoker’s book “Dracula” was published. This was the beginning of a fear/love fascination that humans continue to hold V’s throughout history.

In early stories V’s were not the attractive blood suckers we have come to adore; they were creatures of fear and disgust. Their only goal was survival, by means of consuming as much human blood as possible. Today’s V is cool (figuratively and literally), impossibly attractive and seem to possess some form of human emotion. The modern day Vampire also has more positive interactions with humans and attempts to fit in the modern world, for the most part.

In 1922 V’s made their debut on the big screen in a silent German Vampire film called “Nosferatu,” based on Stoker’s infamous book and directed by F.W. Murnau.

In the 1960’s V’s became more human friendly, and when Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire” was published in 1976, she infused sex appeal Vampire’s brilliantly.

From that point forward, V’s have been portrayed by the media in many ways, however the shift from hunched over creatures to hunky beauties has changed how many of us view V’s. So what hold do Vampire’s have on many of us that is so irresistibly intriguing?

It’s all about representation; V’s remind us of forbidden and/or unrequited love, dangerous relationships bursting with excitement (whether it be good or bad) and eternal life/love. Add the sadistic twist of draining the blood of a helpless victim to the mix and the recipe is complete. So is it really V’s that we are fascinated with, or the concept behind what they are?

Think back to a “dangerous” guy/girl with which you held an intense desire for. Were they more appealing because they were supposedly off limits? Of course they were, that’s was probably a main driving factor in your desire for that person. The modern day portrayal of V’s makes them out to be a combination of beautiful and dangerous and also sparks curiosity and desire among those with whom they interact. A forbidden person/love interest may put you in dangerous situations; however in that moment in time, it all seems worth it for the rush that accompanies the risk. Another curious attraction we have with V’s is their absolute possessiveness, for those of you who aren’t up to speed on Vampire etiquette, once a human belongs to a V, the Vampire is extremely possessive and attempts to keep their human from others of their kind and also other humans who might interfere in the relationship. Been in a relationship like this before? It’s not as romantic as it may sound, and in real life this type of affair typically takes an ugly turn, ending badly (i.e. restraining order). But sometimes we confuse possessiveness with love which can also lead to great danger and peril. Why do we still seek out these relationships? Because danger often equals excitement which many people undeniably find appealing.

Would you want to wander the planet as an “undead” and unofficial member of society for all of eternity? I think most of us would answer no, but it does hold some appeal. You could perfect any skill you want, go anywhere and do almost anything imaginable because time does not exist in the same manner it does for humans. The positive aspects also have intense counteracting negatives which include: watching everyone you know die, going crazy knowing that you will exist and roam the earth “undead” forever and not having the ability to grow older like your human counterparts do.

Yes I admit, Edward is beautiful in Twilight and there is something sadistically sexy about the fact that Bill will only suck Sookie’s blood (and only when they are being intimate) on True Blood. Our fascination with V’s is merely an escape from reality mixed with morbid curiosity, they make for amazing story plots and are wonderfully entertaining but fantasies are not meant to be real, this one being no exception.

The current obsession with Vampires will quickly dissolve once the media finds the next craze to exploit, but for now it is a fun escape from reality.

Tags: blood, desire, eternal, fangs, obsession, undead, vampire

Murder, Life & Choice

I in no way condone abortion, in fact I believe it to be murder and scarring to women around the world. That being said, I have friends who have chose to go through this procedure and I supported them regardless of my beliefs. A woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body, but terminating human life involves making a decision about the woman’s body and the child’s life. I don’t have to stand in the grey area to see it, and I understand that because of circumstance, when faced with an unplanned pregnancy many women feel that abortion is their only choice. I am also saddened that many women make this their choice because pregnancy doesn’t fit within their current plans. Where is the social accountability in that? If I make a mistake I am responsible for doing my best to fix that mistake, which should also be applicable when mistakes deal with human life.

In May, Dr. George Tiller was tragically killed in the foyer of his church, and his death stirred up the eternal debate over a woman’s legal right to her body and a vigilante seeking his own justice. I say Dr. Tiller’s death was a tragedy not because he died, but because he has now been made a martyr for his cause. Also, the individual who committed this crime has further tarnished the generalization that “pro-choice” (PC) individuals have of people who are “pro-life” (PL). Extremists like this man feel that they are doing God’s work just as many Muslims believe that their murder/suicide attacks will send them to paradise. So now because this man acted on a crazy idea, PL organizations have spoken out to confirm that they do not condone this type of behavior, and although they wanted to see his clinic shut down, it should have been through the proper legal channels.

Read more…

Tags: abortion, baby, choice, life, murder, rights

Music Is…

…a beautiful and artistic expression which has been used for centuries to entertain, communicate and express feelings. Growing up in a very conservative Christian home meant that my parents listened to gospel music exclusively, not to say that’s bad but like many others I knew, I didn’t grow up with parents who were musically diverse. It was either gospel or country music and that was it. It took some time to catch up but now, at 28, I enjoy Ella Fitzgerald, Jay-Z, Jeremy Camp, Justin Timberlake, Janis Joplin and everything in between. I also have to mention Amy Winehouse whose musical talent is far beyond most others in her generation, but she is yet another musician who has fallen prey to the infamous life of drinking and drugs. I hope she comes back but at the moment, things aren’t looking too good…I digress

I distinctly remember the first time I heard Steve Miller Band; I was 14 and at a Halloween party with my boyfriend, I remember thinking “The Joker” was amazing. Little did I know that the band had been around since before I was born, and the musical goodness I had been missing out on for the first 14 years of my life. That’s when I discovered classic rock, then gangster rap and on to the alternative scene, etc. In 8th grade The Fugee’s came out with their rendition of “Killing Me Softly” and to this day it is one of my favorite songs (Credit to Lori Lieberman and Roberta Flack who sang it before Lauryn Hill revived the beautiful song).

Think back to a certain time in your life that you remember distinctly…what song comes to mind? Because it is expressive in nature, music naturally plays a role in the defining moments of our lives. Pain, love, loss and every emotion in between are incorporated into the lyrical art of music. Most is expressed with instruments and vocals, however many forms of music are expressed in raw form, without the aid of the human voice.

People find healing in music and it is therapeutic to the soul; often expressing feelings we could never articulate on our own. We all have a life soundtrack, some songs stay on the play list indefinitely and others are added as they reveal themselves to us. We even feel music in our body and move rhythmically (most of us) to the beat of the song. Next time you feel stressed, turn on your favorite song then sing and dance your heart out. Anyone who says they don’t feel better after that is lying.

I recently read an interview with an old high school friend (who is now in a famous band) about his musical background and influences. He recounted making up for lost time for all of the music he missed out on in childhood as the son of a United Pentecostal preacher. He introduced me to The Fugee’s and his interview reminded me of that time period in our lives when we my group of friends first began to discover the beauty and diversity in music.

Now I have a respectable musical collection, and if you hit shuffle you never know what you might get which is great. There is a song for every mood, and every mood can be lightened, even for just a few minutes by meditating on the therapeutic power of music.

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. ~ Victor Hugo

Tags: inspiration, mood, music, song, theapeudic

Blue Tuesday

Attempting to explain a personal situation/problem to someone who has never dealt with that particular issue is both frustrating and difficult. Since the other person hasn’t dealt with the same thing they are truly incapable of understanding the situation. We’ve all had people tell us they know how we’ll feel and all that silver lining crap but it’s just lip service even if it’s meant to be heartfelt. The vacant yet slightly concerned look in the eyes is always a dead giveaway.

It can make you feel crazy like, why am I the only one I know going through and/or dealing with (insert situation here)? Why does everyone think they need to offer a solution when they should just listen?

These are issues cannot be fixed by a friend, etc. it is something you have to accomplish yourself. In the end there’s no easy solution, no take backs and no shortcuts, just you, God and your loving yet clueless friends and family at your side.

They say, “Without pain there would be no joy”. I don’t know who they are but I am betting they are probably an eternal optimist or something of the sort.

Tags: complicated, friends, issues, optimism, pessimism

Thank You India

For showing me the beauty of God’s creation unlike anything I have ever seen

For teaching me that beauty has many forms and can be found in the most unlikely places

For reminding me to be thankful for my life and the many things I take for granted

For allowing me to step out of my comfort zone to explore beautiful people and places

For encouraging me to share my love for Christ with others

For giving my life a fresh breath of air even when the smells were often unique and pungent

For proving that driving can be an extreme sport

For helping me not sweat the small stuff quite as much

For using my life to reach out to others

For the beautiful tailor made kurta’s with intricate embroidery

For the great friends I made

For a reason to go back

Tags: adventure, God, India, memories, thankful, travel

Dreams of Octopuses

I have strange, detailed and often disturbing dreams, I always have. Last night’s dream was definitely odd.

I bought 2 exotic fish and a small octopus to put in a salt water tank in my house. I got home, put the aquatic life in the aquarium and sat back to watch. At first the octopus was amazing, it started expanding and spreading its’ tentacles out and was beautiful.

Then I noticed that it kept growing until it was almost too big for the tank. It fell out and onto the floor so I picked it up and tried to get it back into the water. The octopus freaked out and got sucked into the air pump, the tank exploded and all the fish died.

I have analyzed the dream with several different meanings but I think the chocolate/caramel/nuts loaded ice cream I ate last night might have given my brain an extra boost during REM.

Tags: die, dream, fish, octopus, water

India – 2009

So, Heather and I had an amazing opportunity to go overseas, a first for both of us, to visit some long-term “M” workers in the field in India. This trip was truly life changing for us.

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect since I’d never gone on a trip like this before, but I can tell you that God opened up so many doors and changed the lives of numerous people during that trip. Of those included Heather and I.

All the people we had the opportunity to meet with were wonderful. We met some amazing Bhutanese, Indian, Nepali people and even some other Americans living abroad. They were so amazed to see some people from Oklahoma visit them in India.

What I found quite interesting were the cultural differences between the people in these areas and here in the States. You just get used to doing things a certain way or having small things like waiting in lines or even weird smells – things that you get used to just being that way. Then you step off the plane in a country half-way around the world and things are not like they are at home…not by far. That said, the generosity of these people is overwhelmingly different than here.

We had a great opportunity to invest in the lives of numerous students, young people, and locals in that specific area of India. We enjoyed our chances to share the Truth with them as well as spend time blessing those who were giving their lives to do “M” work in this region.

All-in-all, it was a wonderful experience and I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I could…and I just might! We’ll just have to see what doors God opens for us next.

Check out the slideshow after the break.
Read more…

Tags: 2009, India, M, overseas, travel, trip

The Many Faces of Injustice

I have always fancied myself to be somewhat of a rebel, but as the saying goes, I was without a justifiable cause. The America of the 1960’s was both complex and fascinating for many reasons, one of them was the mass of young people who spoke out against social and economical injustice. Today, we (self included) are so wrapped up in ourselves and all of the gadgets that constantly entertain us. We grumble about the state of our Nation but quickly become apathetic and return to playing on our newest iPhone application.

For the last eight years our Country has been in a steady downward spiral both politically and economically and I think one feeds the other. The Administration got us into a pointless war and spent trillions of dollars in vain, and this is a huge contributor to the recession like conditions we are living in now. One wonders how the atmosphere changed so drastically from the success of the 1980’s and 1990’s we now fondly look back on, but it really wasn’t a drastic change, rather a happened at a slow and consistent rate.

How would our counterparts in the 60’s have handled the current U.S. outlook, which is dismal at best? Better than us that’s for sure. There were protests, passion and a quest for justice led by the youth of the Nation and young adults truly cared about the America of the future.

I am not suggesting a protest or anything radical, just some interest and concern for the decisions the Government is making without our knowledge. Be informed and know what is going on, knowledge is power and sharing knowledge is important to help spread concern and care.

The workplace has also changed for most of us and the old feeling that the company also a family went out the door. Feeling valued as a vital part of an organization is very rare in today’s current market and we are simply told to be happy that we at least have a job. Trust me, I am happy that I have a job, and most of us are, but that doesn’t mean we should just lie down and let ourselves be ran over by a place/person who doesn’t value hard work and dedication. Instead, executives are trying to cut costs in whatever way possible, and could care less if you have been with the company for many years and/or have a family to provide for. Corporate America literally makes me nauseated and when I entered the workforce I quickly discovered that this is not the lifestyle I desire. Executives make and spend millions of dollars when their corporation is sinking, then ask the Government to bail them out which is absurd and the Government sends mixed messages by helping them out. That isn’t how a Democratic Republic acts; in fact it is the opposite of capitalism. So, where is the consistency and accountability? I don’t think anyone knows.

Tags: economy, government, money, spending

Hello Blog, I Missed You

It feels good to have a blog again. I quit blogging about two years ago and have recently been writing for tulsafoodblog.com, and decided to do some personal blogging again.

Since T and I are sharing a blog the contents should  be a combination of amusing, geeky, informative and random. Should be interesting…