ha ha...i didn't even mean to allude to a britney spears song circa 2001.
i just wanted to share with you all that i have once again enrolled myself in a course in which i might just be the stupid one.
as you may recall...a few semesters ago, i sat in my class and nodded uncontrollably and made really unsophisticated comments on the material we were covering. it may be happening again.
i am now enrolled in Romantic Literature...which may sound sappy and all Jane Austen-y, but let me assure you it is not. Romantic Lit is a time period from 1780 something to about 1830...and it is all about the politics and freedoms and stuff that went on during that time - like the French Revolution.
it is most definitely NOT about matthew macfadden striding through a dewey morning mist to the whimsical sounds of a masterful pianist playing "mr. darcy's" song...
my favorite room in our house is currently the little office.
why?
it is my reading spot. i have a giant comfy chair, next to my front window, next to all my books.
and while i really, really enjoy reading books, i mostly love the way they look on our shelves. so i can really only imagine what they could look like in much larger quantities!
i don't know what it is about books that i love so much, but i always have. it's a bit of a complusion...
ask my dad, he packed them ALL up from when i was a kid and brought them all to out house. apparently, he needed the closet space.
and yes, in case you noticed, i take the covers off all my hard backs and have them stored in a little bin in the closet (this makes Ryan crazy, but I say they look better on the shelf that way).
and yes, that picture was taking in 2004 or 2005...we were so young.
as evidenced by my pins on pinterest, i have big dreams for my future library.
so hopefully, our next house shall have a library full of leather bound books and will smell of rich mahogany.
10 points to you if you can name that movie reference...
enjoy these awesome libraries and be jealous that some day i plan to have one. you can even come check out my books if you want.
did you get that one, by the way, check out my books...in my library...it was funny, you should have laughed.
and if you were wondering, the movie reference was Anchorman. and no, i haven't seen it but Ryan quotes it all the time. and by all the time, i mean probably once a week.
Recommended by Pastor Loren - his blog is undecided. Perhaps you should leave him a comment, telling him what you think he should write about.
So far, so good.
Interesting read - he writes like he would talk - which I obviously identify with...
Wondering where it is going - in a good way.
Wanting to know more.
So back to the thought of the day.
Get ready.
It's kind of a doozy...
"I've wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don't want the responsibility inherent in the acknowledgment."
Go ahead. Read it again. It takes a couple times.
"I've wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don't want the responsibility inherent in the acknowledgment."
He continues, "...And if life isn't remarkable...we can be unwilling victims rahter than grateful participants."
seriously some of the best nights are spent in the company of a good friend, a good movie and an opportunity to talk about whatever we want. luckily tonight was one of those nights.
first i would like to say thanks to my friend jill who kept me company on this very cold night while ryan was on the road home from minnesota. we share a love of Jane Austen and are making our way through the movies. and i must say:
what a movie...
what a book...
don't you just love pride and prejudice?
have you read it?
if you haven't, you should. bet you didn't know literature from 1813 could be witty.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
Seriously it just gets better...doesn't this just make you melt?
"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
How could you say no to such a proposal?
i am pretty sure that i couldn't. not when it is said with such an accent.
I have a new page at the top. It is a page of my papers for the American Literature class I am taking. I need someone to hold me accountable to finish them. Since I stink at personal accountability, I am posting them on here so everyone can see them!
Now, I know that only two readers might puruse this section - my mom because she's nice and my friend from Oregon because it was his idea and he's a good proof reader.
Just wanted to let you know what's going on.
Happy Saturday morning at 8:45.
And yes, in case you are wondering, I wrote a paper already and had a breakfast burrito and enjoyed the sunrise this morning.
Well I just got finished with my first session of Book Club here in Newton. Its hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, but I think anyone can join.
So if you like to read interesting, non-fiction (I usually don't), it is a great way to meet some new people and have stimulating conversation.
Anyway, I am reviewing the book, not the club.
Here is my review:
READ IT!
It doesn't matter if you are a business person or a stay at home person or a person like me, this book can and will totally change your perspective on our country today.
I am not usually a consumer of non-fiction, because I have found so many times the authors use big words and overwhelming context that I don't always understand. The Age Curve by Kenneth Gronbach is the exact opposite.
He provides some big picture ideas and conclusions without getting too technical. It is a great picture of what our world looks like, has looked like and will look like in the next 30 years.
The math, the thoughts, the figures, the research all speak for themselves.
If you want to borrow it, let me know. I will loan it and let others learn too.
Perhaps this is something that will continue and perhaps not.
One never knows.
Anyway...here it is.
"I call it the two-percent rule: Two percent do the work; two percent cause the trouble; the rest eat the food."
- Kenneth W. Gronbach, in The Age Curve
The Age Curve is an interesting read...if you have time, check it out. Its a quick read too. Very conversational. It the summer book club book for the Newton Chamber of Commerce too.
Get it here or at Pages (literally here - you know - in Newton).
Heard a great song by a great band. "Lay 'em Down" NeedToBreathe
Shout out to Toby who plays with them, and I kinda know him.
Makes me feel a little bit cooler than I really am. : )
Couldn't find that song in the right format, so check out this track. Seriously, listen.
So that was my morning. It was fabulous.
I am going to try it again tomorrow.
Hopefully its kind of like the If/Then statements I learned about in geometry in high school (sophomore year - and I remember).
You know, the ones that were like: If angle A is 50 degrees and angle B is 75 degrees, Then angle C = 180 - (angle A + angle B). If you are trying to find the angles of a triangle.
Anyway...this is my new if/then.
If I wake up earlier and I spend a little time with Jesus, Then I will have a relaxed morning and better outlook for the day ahead.
I made this at the craft retreat a couple weeks ago. It was super easy and a great gift when paired with a bible study or other book!
Here's how you do it.
You will need: one notebook, I used this one. , 4 12x12 coordinating sheets of scrapbooking pages, letter stickers to coordinate, glue stick, Modgepodge, foam brush, and scissors or exacto knife and cutting board.
Total cost of the project (I already had the modge podge, scissors and foam brush) $7.60. : )
Total time spent (didn't time it exactly) about 30 minutes plus drying time.
For the rest of the directions, check here from Ashley Ann. *Side note: use a very thin layer of modge podge, otherwise the paper might wrinkle.
I paired the notebook with this book to make a perfect birthday gift. I think the recipient loved them both!
I really like Philip Yancey - I would recommend him!
