Song Review: "Imaginary Girl," by The New Velvet

I've posted this twice in comments on facebook, but then I lose it and don't remember who sings it or even the name, just that my neighbor sang some song sometime and I liked it. So I'm putting it here so I can find it again if ever I need to. Good song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvG3S_FZ2zY
["When I wake up without you, I wish somehow that I could make you real." - love that line. it's so honest.]

Leg Review: Mine

my legs are so itchy i might die

Book Review: "Data, A Love Story: How I Gamed Online Dating to Meet My Match," by Amy Webb

Wow. This woman took online dating way seriously; research, algorithms, math equations. Can't give her a hard time about it, though. She found her man. If only I had read this before my account ran out.

Movie Review: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

I wasn't sure if I wanted to see this, but I finally gave in and ordered it from the library. And it finally came.
Charlie is a lonely freshman, who gets taken under the wings of seniors Sam and her step-brother Patrick. There's some typical high school stuff, making fun of the kids who don't fit in and whatnot, and of course people being mean to Patrick, who's gay; so in those respects it was nothing special. But there was more to it than that. These kids had been through a lot, and were fighting to keep afloat. I came away from it aching for every kid who's ever been hurt. The world is cruel. It's amazing that people even bother fighting, let alone that people actually get past stuff. And it's amazing how often kids are the victims, so all they know is the world's brutality, and yet they keep fighting.
I'll recommend this movie.

shame on me, yes, i know, i know

but i'd totally have his babies

no seriously, it's happy

happy matthew lewis's birthday!

i'm such a good aunt (at least)

i'm staying up right now because josh groban is tweeting about wanting supper, and deciding where to go for supper, and sitting down to supper, and ordering supper, and eating supper, and ordering more supper, and talking to the waiter about supper, and i have a sneaking suspicion he's not done tweeting this excitement yet. scout follows him on twitter and is missing out on all this because of being at training camp. and so, as a good, nay, great aunt, i am copying all his tweets into an email to send to her. i'm sure she'll find it a fascinating read.

i should do this sometimes

one of the women in my small group occasionally, very sincerely, will say, 'i like you.' she's not a touchy-feely person at all, but she's very honest. when she says that it is so encouraging and makes me feel so good. and so i'd just like to take this opportunity to say to each one of you individually:

i like you.

laugh at me if you want

i've wanted a tattoo since long before everyone had them. now that everyone has them, it's not as exciting of a thought (as dan slowey once said, 'not having a tattoo is the new having a tattoo'), but i still think about it once in awhile. of course, if i got one i would want something more creative than a butterfly or a flower. what would i want? i would want something written in elvish. the script is so beautiful and it would be fairly unique. i just can't figure out what i would want it to say. i've considered 'eucatrastrophe,' but i'm not totally sold on it. and so i've been stumped for years. and then theonering.net tweeted this:

and someone responded with this:

that's tolkien's symbol, guys. so cool. 

Book Review: "The Naked Gospel," by Andrew Farley

I should've reviewed this right away, but I didn't, so I don't know how good this will be, but I want to review it, so there.
This book came highly recommended by Zachary Levi. Curious, I put myself of the waiting list at the library. Even if I don't like getting religious books out of the library because then I can't underline in them, I figured I'd check it out anyway.
The author's point was to cut through "churchisms" and see what JESUS actually taught. The first 100 pages or so had me wondering where this guy was going (and what Zac believes - not judgingly, more curiously). I felt like he was completely throwing the Old Testament out the window, and also like he was saying we should cut through "churchisms," but not telling us how. I think, however, that the point was to break down defenses that would be built up from years of going to church.
One thing he's big on is how we word things, which I agree is a big deal. If we don't word things correctly, we start to believe the things we say rather than the things we claim to mean. (I'm very frustrated with myself because now it's been a month or two since I've read this so I can't find the quotes I wanted to use here.)
Another thing I really liked was the stress he placed on CHRIST living in us. Our sinful natures are gone. Completely. They have been eradicated. Do we still battle against the flesh? Yes, because we are still in our bodies. But our bodies have nothing to do with our spirits. Any battles we have with sin are independent of who we are, because our spirits are one with CHRIST, and CHRIST cannot be united with sin. It's a liberating thought. We don't have to try to "die to self" anymore. That's been done. Our "selves" are gone. We aren't fighting our desires, because our desires now, truly, are CHRIST's desires. Any time we are fighting sin it is something outside of us. We are not our own worst enemies. (Again, I wish I could find the quotes for which I'm looking.)
As I was reading this book I was really wishing I was reading it with someone, or some ones. There is a lot to discuss. (And yes, I told Zac that.) I don't agree with everything he put forth, but I think that would make the discussions all the better. I think I would recommend it, provided whoever reads it has a solid base to his or her faith. The point is to get church people to think outside the box, not to bring new Believers to an understanding of Scripture. At least that's the way I see it. The author may disagree.

heard outside a restaurant tonight

pregnant lady walking to the car: every time after i eat i feel like i'm two inches bigger.
husband: you are.
pregnant lady: oh, shut up.

poor guy

he's trying so hard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egiy3i3WmOQ
[just a warning, there's some language]

haha

i just got called awesome by a random teenage girl (well, my cousin bobo's friend) for linking to an hp clip on bobo's fb status. totally made my day.
i then went to her page because i was curious as to who she is, and saw a picture of a couple necklaces...one with her name, and one with her boyfriend's. oh, won-won.

the only thing i hate more than going to bed

is going to bed

Book Review: "Eat, Pray, Love," by Elizabeth Gilbert

I didn't really have an interest in this, it seemed too touchy feely, but my new Australian friend Sheila highly recommended it. In the short time we had getting to know each other, she decided it would be good for me to read about a woman going out and living life and finding herself. I decided that was probably an astute observation.
And so I got it out of the library. Mostly I liked it. If I had money and time at the same time, I would love to do what Ms. Gilbert did and just take a year to experience things. She went to Italy to experience pleasure, India to experience spirituality, and Indonesia to figure out how to balance the two. I would love to do something like that. Though I'd probably go to the UK for pleasure, Austria for spirituality (they have mountains and woods), and hm...I don't know where I'd balance it, but somewhere wonderful, I'm sure. Maybe Hawaii.
For the most part it was interesting and fast reading. The "Pray" part was a little boring, though. Not much to say when you're living in a commune in India meditating for four months, and yet she went on for about 100 pages. I'm sure I'm probably biased. I would have found it more interesting if she had been studying Christianity or Judaism for four months. It's harder to get excited about something when it's not the Truth.
Overall I would say, if you want to read it, read it, if not, don't. It's one I could take or leave. Though if I ever get to do this, I do expect you all to read my book.

great way to start the day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtPiGYsllos&feature=youtu.be

BBC Series Review: "The Syndicate"

Five co-workers win the lottery, and their lives are changed forever.
I had been hoping my library would get this, but considering it's BBC, one never knows. (Though my library does have a high volume of BBC detective and period dramas, I wasn't sure if it would get a regular, modern show.)  Why did I want it, you ask?

Bam.

'Nuff said. It sounded like it could be good, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too high, since I knew it would be a different role for him. As in drugs and cars and girls and all that. And one never knows how someone will do when they're trying to break away from the image people have of them. But at the same time, I really wanted to see how he'd do. And so I've been on the waiting list for this since before the libraries had gotten any copies. It finally came.
The whole series is 5 episodes long. I wish there had been more, but I give the Brits credit in that they know that quality is more important than quantity. Another one or two episodes wouldn't have hurt, though. (There's now a second season with a different cast and new storylines, but I want more of this one.)
It took everything in me not to watch the whole thing at once. I managed to spread it out over three or four days, though. (I now have a friend coming over the next two days to watch the whole thing. She doesn't get to ration it so much because I have to return it.)
I feel like if I say anything I'll be giving stuff away. Just know that you might not actually want to win the lottery. Your past might catch up with you. As might your present. Also, be forewarned that Matthew Lewis's character is not a good person. Oh, but Timothy Spall is in it, and his character is. I was glad I liked his character so much, because when I think of him I think of Peter Pettigrew and the servant guy in "Enchanted" and guy in "Sweeney Todd" - all such weenie, unlikeable roles. I was kind of dreading seeing him in another thing. But he was very good.
Also, I (this is going to be a shocker) developed a bit of a crush on Matthew McNulty, the guy who plays Matthew Lewis's brother.

But not on Anthony Lewis, who is in it and actually is Matthew Lewis's brother. He's a little too pretty for me.

Got all that?

At any rate, I recommend this series. It was quite compelling. (And if you can, see it before the knock-off American version ["Lucky 7"] comes out this fall. Either that will be bad and die, or be a hit and therefore ruined by American TV's insistence that they milk shows for all they're worth, forfeiting quality for the big bucks. Again, props to British television for keeping things short.)

Book Review: "Everything Is Perfect When You're a Liar," by Kelly Oxford

It was kind of refreshing. It was kind of refreshing in that I didn't read it. I started it, and got about ten pages in, and stopped. I liked her style of writing, but it had no plot. I skipped ahead some to see if one had surfaced, but it appeared not. And so, with so many books out there that I want to read, I made the decision to go ahead and not read this one. Some people might enjoy it, but I didn't find it worth my time.

nba finals thought

san antonio spur manu ginobili looks a bit like crown prince haakon

i finally wrote a profile for twitter

I described myself as: 
"Humble Christian, Proud Ringer, Crazy Twins Fan, Faithful Hufflepuff, Nerdy Language Buff. And books. I love books."
I then said to myself, "I'm humble, proud, crazy, faithful, and nerdy." And then realized I sounded like I was playing Apples to Apples.

ah...

apparently the point is to let trevor plouffe be plouffilicious. way to kick bum on your birthday, plouffe.

question

what's the point of playing the tigers if i don't get to watch the handsome justin verlander?

something to think about

"If heretics no longer horrify us today, as they once did our forefathers, is it certain that it is because there is more charity in our hearts? Or would it not too often be, perhaps, without our daring to say so, because the bone of contention, that is to say, the very substance of our faith, no longer interests us? Men of too familiar and too passive a faith, perhaps for us dogmas are no longer the Mystery on which we live, the Mystery which is to be accomplished in us. Consequently then, heresy no longer shocks us; at least, it no longer convulses us like something trying to tear the soul of our souls away from us...And that is why we have no trouble being kind to heretics, and no repugnance in rubbing shoulders with them...It is not always charity, alas, which has grown greater, or has become more enlightened; it is often faith, the taste for the things of eternity, which has grown less..." - Cardinal Henri de Lubac

doin' my part

getting the message out there:

Damon Wayans Yunior? ‏@wayansjr                 

Just saw a guy on the news named Mardravius. make sure that never happens again

my sister is not dead

which is good to know, because i was beginning to wonder

celebrity look-alikes

whilst watching an interview after a game the other night, my father said that twins pitcher scott diamond looks like woody.
he's not totally wrong:

dear people of leeds,

new rule: you have to speak more slowly. takes a bit for the rest of us to catch up with your glottal stops, fronting of 'th' to 'f', and funny vowels. you can still have the accent, i like it, but you need to slow down just a hair. thank you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJSIiqvAmoY

[sorry, the clip is really quiet. you gotta crank up the sound.]

dear melilot,

no matter how much you love it, don't listen to 'falling slowly.'
sincerely,
melilot

casting change

josh groban was given the opportunity to audition for "les miserables," but didn't because it didn't fit into his schedule. it's an interesting thought. it would've been different. i've been trying to figure out if it would've worked or not. here - you decide if you can see him in this role:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lfQJe_UkaE

the problem with going to a 12-step ministry

we break into small groups which consist of either all men or all women, but the larger group consists of both. and come on, this is me. you think i'm not going to notice if there are attractive men in this church? but it's a 12-step ministry, so who knows what you'd be taking on.
thankfully at meal time the men and women don't really mingle (not even the married ones), and thankfully tonight i caught the one who catches my eye every week smoking, so there's at least that as a sure sign that i wouldn't want to go there.
i don't think his buddy was smoking, though...

And finally...

In case anyone's counting, 4 years until Carl Philip is 38.

The Swedish Joan Rivers

After the wedding they were talking with the fashion police about the dress. (My thought - the lace on top looks a little dated to me, but I understand that when you can't go strapless you're limited, especially considering how many royal dresses have gone before her in the last 10 years. It is pretty, and of course she looked gorgeous.) Now, considering that I always watch the Oscars, I'm used to Joan Rivers as the fashion police. Which I always find just sad. I mean, really - Joan Rivers.
I was pleased to see that the Swedish fashion police lady was classy and quite pretty (not hot, but pretty, in a unique way).

Her Little Royal Highness

Princess Estelle really did quite well, considering the whole she's one-year-old thing.

But a wedding is really long when you're really little.

The royal couple (though I don't technically know if you call them that, since he declined any title), so we'll go with...

The happy couple:

 The crazy tall shoes:

The fist-pumping kiss:

The stroll to the boat that would take them to where they would alight the carriage:

The official portrait:

Why I had to get a new computer, or the royal wedding

Come now, did you think I'd fail you?
On Saturday, Princess Madeleine of Sweden married Christopher O'Neill of Britain and the United States. I missed it live because of the lack of computer, but like Crown Princess Victoria's it is on the Swedish TV website for a little bit, so I did get to see it. It was lovely (and mostly in English).
But of course, we need pictures. So here we go.

 

Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Martha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (spell check does not disapprove of Haakon, btw)

Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle, and Prince Daniel

Queen Silvia and Prince Carl Philip

Christopher O'Neill as he watches his bride come down the aisle

The second princess who defied Swedish tradition and had her daddy walk her down the aisle,

Princess Madeleine, and King Carl XVI Gustaf

 

[okay, this became part 1 of more, cuz it's 1:59am. better pics of the dress coming.]

not my status on anywhere cuz, yeah

surprised to wake up this morning and discover i'm not 7 months pregnant with a baby girl

my computer died

which is a shame, cuz i have some posts in my head

fb conversation i had today

i'm not trying to say that i'm wonderful. i just really liked how this conversation went down.
my friend posted something about the outrageousness of people being upset by the cute new cheerios commercial with the mixed race family. her friend responded with this:
"There is one comment on the main page that mentions something to the effect of if you don't like this ad go kill yourself and then mentions "God"......now is it just me or does anyone else find it to be a little hypocritical that someone actually says go kill yourself and thank "God" all in one breath? Isn't "God" supposed to love everyone and "preach" that no one on earth should judge someone else? That's why I find ALL religion to be a crock because in one breath people preach about how their "God" loves you and all his creatures and at the same time say shit like "that person should rot in hell" or this person is better off dead....."
i debated whether or not to reply, but it makes me really sad (and mad) when the crazies are what non-Christians see and then believe. and so, knowing the conversation could deteriorate (but somehow believing it wouldn't), i replied with:
"I don't want to start a religious debate here; I'm not trying to convert you or anything, but I just want to say please don't judge Christians (and people of other faiths) by those outspoken, unkind people who in no way reflect our beliefs. If you were to look at the majority of Christians, I think you'd find a lot of love and care, and no one who would want people to rot in hell. I'm sorry for any hurt that has been caused you by those who claim to believe our tenants, and yet in no way live them out. Know that it hurts us as well."
to which he answered:
"Wow thanks for that very logical response....most people throw logic out the window when religion is brought up however you didn't. I think that if more people would respond the way you did then religion wouldn't be such a "taboo" subject. Bravo and thank you" 
moral of the story is our words can make a difference, for good or ill. 

prayer request

i have got to be one of the prayer requestingest bloggers out there.

my aunt fell down our stairs this morning, hitting her head, knocking her out and causing bleeding on the brain. last i knew she was in a drug-induced coma and they were doing more ct scans to see if it had gotten worse or plateaued.
she's from out of town, so my uncle will be staying with us for now, but her kids are scattered all over the state. if you could pray for all of them, and my mom and her other siblings, that would be great. thank you.

yes, i am grateful

if mr. george washington carver only knew how often i thank him for the invention of peanut butter

oh, no she di'n'

Norse Mythology ‏@NorseMythNews

Actual #Viking woman-to-woman insult from the Icelandic sagas: "Thou hast hangnails on every finger, and thy husband is beardless." #Snap