Betrayal and Star Wars

Ok I watched the third Star Wars this past weekend, as in Revenge of the Sith. Not for kids! But VERY POWERFUL: power of love ("I'll do anything for you, even giving up my soul") power of pride ("I'm the chosen one but they don't appreciate me") power of betrayal ("I give up my soul to save my wife but the Dark Side betrays me anyway"). The movie is hard to watch because---in case you've been under a rock since 1976---the bad guys win. Not in the end of course, eventually Return of the Jedi saves the day! But in this particular episode cute little Anakin grows up and gradually joins the Dark Side, kills children in the process, gets burned alive at the end and eventually puts on "the suit." And is still betrayed at the end! So here's what I was chewing on about betrayal: the reason it hurts so bad is because, by definition, it comes from the one person you trust the most to hurt you the least. Think about it. Who lives on this planet that you are absolutely safe with? Absolutely vulnerable with? Tell your deepest secrets to? It's the pain THAT person causes that hurts worse than pain from anyone else...that's what makes betrayal so evil. This movie just really made me think about that; in my family, my Christianity, my relationships with my friends, everything... I've been betrayed, and I don't EVER want to be the cause of that kind of pain to anyone!

TV

Ok so Elizabeth has been influencing me to expand my blogosphere by visiting sites that have been giving stuff away. In all honesty I didn't get to any of them in time for the giveaways, but have had fun checking out the new blogs nonetheless. WELL. On 5 Minutes for Mom there's a drawing not for starbucks or target--which are also fabulous for all of us mommies who sorely need new clothes and/or caffeine!--but this drawing is for a flat screen tv. HUH? yep, head over there or even to the Best Buy site to check out details. Some mommies on there have claimed they want the tv for their hubbies. Well it's just us 3 chicks in my house so that tv will be GIRLLYYY!!!

Eco-Friendly Mommy?

I read an article in People recently about this guy who, in an attempt to be green, wears the same clothes over and over, only showers for like 30 seconds every other day, and brushes his teeth in the shower with the same organic home-made cleansing whatever that he uses on his body. THIS GOT ME THINKING. There is something in my capitalistic brainwashed self that says that's like washing my body with Colgate or brushing my teeth with Dove. But you know what? It's not!! I just took a shower and did an inventory of my toiletries. Do I need different soap for my face than for the rest of me? Do I need handsoap that's different than soap for the rest of me? Do I need separate shaving creams/lathers/gels? Then I get out of the shower. There are feet lotions, body lotions, lotions for stretch marks (that after almost 7 years apparently aren't going away), there are firming lotions (for thighs and tummies that, also, are not going anywhere)! Then there are face lotions, hand lotions, then the hair stuff. Those of you who've seen my mane can only imagine. IT'S RIDICULOUS. There are factories who have to make this stuff, diesel fueled-trucks that have to ship it, local box trucks that have to deliver it, fork lifts that have to stock it, and my car that has to buy it and cart it home. Then I use the stuff (chemical-laden to say the least) and yes I recycle the bottles, but there are deisel-fueled trucks that have to come to my house once a week to pick up the stuff, factories that have to recycle it, and more factories that have to turn the recycled stuff into new stuff. WHAT ARE WE DOING????????????????????????????????

Summer Vacation (Finally!) Pics

These are some of the Dells pics. The roller coaster is called Hades and, unbeknownst to me, goes below the parking lot into the dark and loud underground--somewhat overstimulating for the autistic 9 year old. Oops! Also a pic of the Wisconsin River, our hotel, and of course my cute kids

MY Way!

Is it really so wrong to just want to be in control all the time? I mean come on, I'm a good person and smart and educated so if everyone would just do what I want we'd all be happier. At least I THINK SO!!!!!!!!! Case in point: I'm doing a very elegant pool party tomorrow for a client of mine whom I've never worked with. This is a big deal! She's being fabulous fortunately; the rental company I'm working with to help me pull this thing off has also been fabulous...until today. We were (according to my meticulous phone log notes) scheduled to be at my client's house sometime between 8-12 today(kind of like the cable or phone company!) to set up her rental items. The rental company instead logged the delivery time between 12-4. So when I called them at 12 to find out where they were they told me the window had just started...they had until 4. I told them their window had just ended...they'd had since 8. So the dispute is over the notes...and I now have to call my client and explain to her that somewhere along the line the ball has been dropped, she still has another 4 hrs to wait. Again she's being wonderful THANK GOD but this MAKES ME LOOK BAD!!!!!! UGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

Summer Modesty

Water parks are an interesting place. My girls and I went to Wisconsin Dells for 5 days (aren't you all proud of me? only grown-up, did all the packing/driving/spending thank you very much). Anyway we did a couple of different water parks, and it struck me how..."unmodest"...we all become. And you all have done it: groomed and bathed and deodorized to go out ANYWHERE ELSE. And yet at water parks people wear swimsuits that show things they'd never show. They sweat, spit, pull things out of their noses. They yell at their children and look like idiots. They go down slides they're too old to go down and look like idiots. They get wedgies. They slip on the wet tiles by the pool. They're out of shape and out of breath. And yet we all go back for more!! I love summer!! Anybody got any good/gross summer stories?

Korn

I still need to blog about the Dells, and I will when I get time to add some pics. But tomorrow is 7/7/07, and (among many other things going on in the media) a book is being released by the guy from the metal band Korn that got saved 2 years ago. His name is Head, and his website is headtochrist.com. His story is amazing, and hits so close to home in light of everything I've had to watch Dave go through the last three years. The enemy lies to musicians...especially good musicians. So much can be done for the Kingdom through music and worship...and I hate to give the devil too much credit but boy he loves to go after the artists that mights actually do somethingg through that music and worship. So do me a favor and pray for Head, for his book sales, for the teenagers who hear his story. While you're at it pray for the other musicians in Korn's world (which Head left, to pursue Christian art projects) who need a story of their own. The "counter-culture" is such a cool place to be, and such a scary one.

We're Baaaaaaaccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkk

Back from the Dells, crazy weekend mowing and grocery-grabbing. Now finishing yard work and laundry, returning phonecalls, holiday tomorrow. Will post vacation pics later... Happy 4th!