The Month in Review

July has seen London overcome terror, the beginning of the changing of the guard in the U.S. Supreme Court, and America return to space. You could really look at the month as a case study in optimism for the globe. I know as Christians we are aware that God's sovereign Will is going to be implemented regardless. I am just content that right now finds us in a time of joint resolve to bring down the threat of global terrorism and to make our nations safer places. Just as there is a great capacity in man for evil, there is also a great capacity in man for good.

July has seen me change my lifestyle (if--admittedly--only temporarily) through exercise and a healthy diet, achieving a record stretch of being ice cream-free. The enforcement of self-discipline has felt as good as the new energy level from the exercise and good eats. Also I broke my previous record at work for most hours worked in a week, but somehow balanced it out, only missing one Bible study and choir practice. Two out of five church events ain't bad. But I'm still not happy about this. I still want to know if it's okay for Christians to miss church functions for work. And I still want to know how we balance the busy-ness of life's business.

July has also seen me enter a new dimension of technology and communication through blogging. Thanks to Ninetyandnine and its staff for allowing me this wonderful opportunity. And to the readers of Ninetyandnine, this experience has been so much fun because of the dialogue we have created together. Thank you for your participation. Let's keep it up for another great month of blogging in August as welcome a new blogger whom I know you'll enjoy.

Much love and duct tape,
Lee Ann

P.s. - NAYC
I hope to get to see you at Youth Congress. It's T-9 and counting. Remember to pack your essential traveling buddy: duct tape! Prayers for a safe journey. Godspeed.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

The Weekend in Review

News
The mother of missing teen Natalee Holloway has left Aruba after the draining of a pond turned up no evidence. This is such a sad situation, and we can only hope someone will finally come forward with some real information.

More arrests in London. The tally is high on number of arrests, but police need to take advantage of this impetus and completely crush the terrorists cells in the U.K. at this urgent time.

What will America do to protect against the threat? Much debate on racial profiling has arisen. I agree civil liberties are important, but if including racial profiling among the other security check factors saves us from just one act of terror, wouldn't it be worth it? Ask London commuters if they mind security checks.

Offbeat
Woman chases car -- I don't know if the message here is wear your seatbelt or don't spit out of a moving vehicle?

I'm Walkin' to N'awlins
To celebrate a non-working weekend, I went back to New Orleans with my roomates for a major shopping excursion. I am now three purchases away from having my Youth Congress outfits complete (not counting the 14 Wal-Mart trips the night before to get stuff we'll never possibly need or use). Anyways, I'm proud to say that I resisted beignets from Cafe du Monde, much to my own amazement. My friends are equally weirded out by the new Lee Ann. But I must come clean to having a little ice cream at a birthday party at the coercion of several friends. As much as I've heard the "peer pressure" topic ran in the ground, turns out it's real. The good news, however, is that studies are showing dark chocolate is healthy.

It's Shake 'n Bake, and I Helped
No shaking, but I did get to take a swim over the weekend. This replaces some much-enjoyed sun I've missed out on since my Dad and I have been too busy to take the boat out in over a month. (This fact is noted with appropriate sadness.) In its wake (ha ha), I've lost my sunny glow from being out on the Gulf. My friends have suggested the tanning bed repeatedly, but try as I may, I cannot bring myself to crawl in an oven, close the lid, and broil for ten minutes. I know it's supposed to be as (un)healthy as being in the natural sun, but I just can't do it. ...So I'm wondering, do tans really look better, or is it just a culturally-induced fashion trend? And are tanning beds the way to go?

P.s.
Check out Wendy's very articulate and well-thought version of the attraction factor. What's funny is that all of this controversy is in response to the "what must I do to be married?" question. Does that mean we're all secretly desperate to be paired off? I personally believe that I am single because for the last three or four years now I have refused to forward that touching e-mail about poor little Timmy to 2974 people within .02188 seconds, and so I am enduring my 375 years of bad luck. But whatever works, right?

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Top Ten Fun #2

In closing (as preachers say to give us hope), I share one last top ten. I conclude the last day of blogging with the gentle reminder not to take yourself too seriously and that nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems.

All my life I've heard about how life is so different once you're out of school and in the "real world." Well that might be true. But the more I think about it, the more I notice it's really just more of the same, regardless. In that spirit, here are the top 10 things that don't change when the real world comes calling:

10. Checks still bounce
3 per week on average. It's so amazing how the extra income just means extra bills. There's a clause in the whole Murphy's Law thing that says rules are made to be broken and checks are made to be bounced. And somebody puleeze explain to me NSF fees. ...You don't have enough money to cover a debit, so we're going to charge you more money. Well how 'bout you just add another NSF fee to that NSF fee because it's going to bounce too. I could be NSF'ed exponentially into eternity.

9. Sleep
It's sort of like food. Every time you almost get yourself weaned off it, wouldn't you know you go and do something stupid like take the camry "off road" (a.k.a. in the ditch) to try to miss an armadillo. Oh yeah. Don't ask. Thankfully Snowflake (my car) and I are both okay after quite a little scare. I'm sorry to report that I can't say the same for the armadillo.

8. Attention span
I would like to think that receiving that diploma magically transforms us into older and wiser individuals the minute the rolled up paper touches our eager fingers. But it doesn’t work that way. I’ve noticed this firsthand in Sunday School. If somebody's not blowing something up or employing an object lesson that involves at least 3 or 4 live animals, forget it.

7. Driving skills
Refer to #9

6. Appreciation for fine art
Bluegrass is timeless, be it '97 or '07. Now that's good stuff, I don't care who you are.

5. Current events cluelessness
I thought once I got out of school that I would start reading the newspaper, listening to national public radio, and become this incredibly well-informed individual. Turns out I'm just as busy as before and still think of scoping a copy of People in the Wal-mart line as keeping up to speed on the news.

4. Housekeeping conditions
The piles remain: a) clean, b) not so clean, c) maybe, and d) don't even think about it

3. Maturity levels
I'm sorry but watching someone trip is still the highlight of my day. And so help me, I'm still awfully proud of this cool trick I can do involving a suspended peanut m&m.

2. Cooking is still a challenge
Did you know that you have to stir jambalaya? Yep. Come to find out, if you just dump everything in the pot and come back 30 minutes later, the bottom 1/2 of the pot is completely burnt. It's crazy--and not in the fun way.

1. The "R" word
Responsibility. While your one full-time job now is less stressful than your previous full-time college schedule and 2 part-time jobs, family now enters your picture. The minute you bring home your first pet fish from Wal-mart, your whole world changes. You now have to start thinking abt IRAs, college funds, and retirement planning. Suddenly you care about #10 above because you've got a hungry mouth to feed, and generic brand Betta fish food just won't cut it. Oh and just WAIT till she (the fish) starts talking about wanting a little brother...

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Happy National Baked Bean Month!

Stem Cell
Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) broke from President Bush and announced his support of pro-stem cell research legislation. It could hurt Frist politically since Christian conservatives will not be happy, but it did gain him the praise of people like Nancy Regan who support stem cell research in hopes it will provide help for Alzheimer patients. The article quotes Frist:

"It's not just a matter of faith, it's a matter of science,"

Where’s the line?

Check out a previous Ninetyandnine article: "Stem Cells: Objections and Answers."

Catastrophe in India
Nearly 750 people have been confirmed dead as a result of monsoon rains in India. Our prayers are with them as rescuers search for survivors.

Wowsers
18 inning baseball game between the Jays and Angels—almost five hours long. Toronto finally edged past.

Un-UnSolved Mysteries
There is no Bigfoot. Sorry, everyone. DNA results show that the suspicious hair sample of a monster in the woods is actually bison, and thus the mystery ends until the next time someone sees another fuzzy clump of hair, etc. Reminds of this bumper sticker I saw yesterday: “Elvis is dead. Get over it.”

Balance
I’ve bored you with details about my work life, but in thinking about it again, I’m brought back to one of the biggest challenges I think young Christians face: balancing life. There’s school, work, church, family, friends, occasional sleep, and how dare you think you could throw personal time or a hobby in there. (And maybe it’s not fair to limit this to “young Christians.”) How do we cope? I would love to see more instruction on the balancing act. Granted we need doctrinal teaching, but is there a way to supplement some updated practical living teaching? Some resources, such as Life is a Three-Legged Stool by Sis. Thetus Tenney, are out there. Check it out.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Top 10 Fun

An Extra by Me
I told you I was going to bombard you with off-the-wall stuff I hadn’t gotten around to yet. Here’s one of my top 10s I compiled, many of which are based on actual hotels I’ve stayed in that didn’t quite live up to the one-star advertised rating.

top 13 signs you know you're in a cheap hotel:
1. listed as guess amenities: alarm clock
2. postcards are available at the hotel conceirge inside the bait shop
3. aluminum foil bunny ears on the tv
4. gutted deer in motel parking lot
5. you're awakened at 4 a.m. to the sound inside the bathroom walls of quarreling chihuhuas (otherwise referred to as mice by hotel management)
6. hotel clerk: "what do you mean, 'air conditioning'?"
7. you find out the whirlpool advertised on the billboard involves a blow-up kiddie pool and a boat trolling motor
8. you ask for a non-smoking room and the clerk laughs.
9. sign over the bed: "please dispose of all toe nail clippings properly."
10. wake-up calls involve a bullhorn.
11. you inquire about continental breakfast and the desk clerk tosses you a little debbie.
12. listed as nearby attraction: Stuckey's
13. hotel clerk: "don't forget to jiggle the handle when you flush."

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Making up for Lost Time

I’m Back!
I apologize for my infrequent blogging this week. But (yay!) my big deadline at work has ended! I helped with a presentation in New Orleans on Tchoupitoulas St (I’ve been waiting all day to say that word!), and so that became all-consuming for the last week. Now life goes back to “normal,” but we know “normal” is just a setting on the washing machine. However, I can now add sleep and blogging to my to-do list once again.

The home stretch looms, however. I only have 4 blogging days left (if you count the weekend), so be forewarned that I’m about to bombard you with all the weird, off-the-wall thoughts I haven’t got around to yet.

Jaws XVII
Another shark bite… but this time in the Atlantic off Daytona beach. Does anyone remember a summer like this?

NASA News
Discovery successfully docked to a space station. NASA says the debris that fell away is foam insulation and the shuttle is in no danger.

Where There’s a Will…
A blind teenager in Nebraska has amazed many with his video game skills. You’ve got to check this out.

More from London
London Police now have 20 people in custody after nine more arrests were made in connection with the recent terrorist activities.

Links of the week
http://www.leaderu.com/ - Sponsored by Christian Leadership Ministries (for Christian professors), this site offers articles, reviews, and commentary from an academic angle. Should especially interest collegiate readers.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,1524121,00.html – review of new book that mixes faith and fiction. Did The Da Vinci Code and other books like it open a new door for Christian writers to use adventure novels as a promotion tool for religious beliefs? Also, note that the review writer ends with a bitter note that Christians are starting to “gradually shape the cultural agenda.” Why is that a problem? What are non-Christians afraid of?

Wouldn’t You Love to See This?
Wild ponies made their annual swim across Assateague (a barrier island in Maryland) to Chincoteague (a Virginia resort island) where the ponies will be auctioned off as part of herd control management and to benefit the Chincoteague Fire Department.

We Want Wendy!
My good buddy Wendy has submitted an application to date Lance (see previous post). As I hear preachers sometimes say about their congregations, I am so Godly proud (what does that mean?). Anyways, in this case it means that I thought Wendy’s application was absolutely hilarious and posed some interesting food for thought. Make sure you check it out.

I’m still not up for submitting an application myself, but if I had any pull on the selection committee, I would rally for Wendy. If she winds up with Lance, I suggest the happy couple come to Youth Congress and moderate a panel discussion on the joys and woes of online dating.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Happy Milk Chocolate Day!

The Gift of Chocolate
July 28 is national milk chocolate day. I would normally observe this special holiday by devouring any combination of the beloved dietary staple (i.e. chocolate covered pretzels, peanut butter cups, m&m's, and so on). However, I have turned a new leaf. For nine days now, I have been chocolate-free (and also ice cream-free, which is even harder). I'm also still walking before work, which has my friends seriously contemplating a mental health evaluation since this is so un-Lee Ann. What can I say, Youth Congress is exactly 2 weeks away and I'm trying to make up for the last 2 years of late night-snacking and considering "holding down the couch" a form of exercise. I'm hoping that I can keep this up post-Congress, but I've already promised everyone at work I'd bring donuts the first day back to break this health craze. We'll see. In the meantime, somebody eat a Caramello for me.

We Have Liftoff!
Thankfully the shuttle launched successfully today. I have to admit to some serious concern, especially after the decision was made to launch despite past problems and incomplete testing. But so far so good. There was some debris that fell away from the shuttle, which I’m anxious to hear an explanation about. (Shame on me for ending that sentence with a preposition.)

Continued Activity in East
Oh, this is nice--mobs of angry Afghans chanting “Die America!” The U.S. is naïve if she thinks change can be implemented overnight against the backdrop of centuries of a completely different culture. I’m not trying to make a pro/anti-war statement, I’m just stating that regardless, we need to realize the challenges facing our troops and policymakers.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested five Egyptian men in New York with video equipment, a large amount of money, and maps of the subway system. They are being deported. ...Is America about to experience another wave?

New on Ninetyandnine
In response to the recent controversy on what ladies should do to attract a spouse, Joseph Castorina has contributed this week’s cover: “The Real Attraction Factor (God’s Version)”.

From the Homefront
Tonight I ran across some observations I once noted about life where I live. There’s a lot of hype about “rednecks” these days. Last week I heard someone on NPR, of all places, offer commentary on the “redneck” culture. Lately it’s becoming a subset of society or something. I don’t know about all that. These are just things I know about my world--for better or worse. Not proud, not ashamed. For no particular reason, I feel like sharing:

• Nothing like arriving home from your local university one afternoon and finding the goat staked out in the front yard having a hay day (no pun intended) on the lawn.
  
• You aren't surprised by this because you remember that the REAL weedeater is still in pieces in the barn from when dad decided to "add a little muscle" to it.
  
• You are expected to report the play-by-play of the funeral home visit to those who couldn't attend.
  
• You accidentally go to the wrong funeral home but use it as a chance to catch up on a little community gossip and meet interesting new people!
  
• You do "the happy dance" in the gas station parking lot on the rare occasion you are able to open your gas tank without the aid of your trusty flathead screwdriver.
  
• Where I come from, we call duct tape chrome.

And Now the Home Stretch
My tenure as guest blogger is rapidly expiring. If you have special comments, stories, or duct tape testimonies to share, e-mail me now. I’ve actually been putting in insane hours at my job the last few days, but that deadline is in sight and I’m looking forward to a great final week of blogging. This has been such a fun experience, largely because of your participation; please take a moment and share your thoughts. Thanks to all our readers for the dialogue. E-mail me!

Something Smelly

Lance
Congrats to Lance Armstrong on a record and a legacy. Keep an eye out for the full scoop from The Bench Warmer.

Another Lance
This poor guy will either love or hate his friends for this one. Friends in Utah took out a billboard advertising the (un)lucky bachelor. Lance Archibald is a 31 year-old Mormon, and his friends think he should be married by now. Sounds eerily like our Apostolic take on it and also reminds me of last Youth Congress when people were walking around introducing themselves, “Hi, I’m ApostoliGrl777, s/w/f.” Guess this story proves Apostolic or not, the whole connection process is an animal all its own. Any which way you can, huh? Still, don’t be expecting a “Date Lee Ann” billboard going up in Baton Rouge or I know some friends who are going to be excommunicated.

Speaking of...
Pope Benedict XVI has angered Israelis. He prayed for God to stop terrorism, and in that prayer he mentioned Egypt, Britain, Turkey, and Iraq—no Israel. Honest mistake? Who knows. It is true that we shouldn’t overlook Israel. While not minimizing what recent countries have suffered, we should realize that this level of violence is something Israelis confront constantly.

Also on a related note, I want to mention that the new Pope has repeatedly made it a point to suggest possible "bridges" with the Islam world. Christians, that should be food for thought.

What Smell?
Bringing Hobart, Indiana, to the map, Debra Fields lost in court over her right to keep two hogs (Bacon and Molly) in her residential home. I can’t make this stuff up, folks. The “pets” weigh in at about 300 lbs each and can produce up to 35 lbs of ahem…waste each. Neighbors sued and won. I would imagine one of the greatest courtroom moments was when Debra took the stand and dismissed the neighbors' complaints about the odor on the grounds that she couldn’t smell anything. …I guess you just get used to it?

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

My Friday Night Social Life... at Work

War on Terror in London
Early today London police shot a man in the subway and have arrested two more men since. I hope this brings British law enforcement one step closer to quelling the horrible terror battle. Can you imagine what the people of London are going through? If anyone anywhere has doubt that terrorism is a serious and relevant threat to global welfare, let this prove otherwise and serve to strengthen the resolve of nations everywhere to pursue complete victory in the war on terror.

More on Flip Flops
Thanks to our readers for sharing your thoughts on the flip flop issue. I suggest we bring it up in the next General Conference session. “Flip flops on the platform: legal or no?”

Well, did you know flip flops can shrink? Oh, yes they can. My beloved cousin left some flip flops in the car, and with soaring afternoon temperatures here in great (hot) state of LA, the flip flops shrunk. I’m not kidding! So I suggested we apply cold to try to “reverse the charge.” But sure enough, after leaving the flip flops in the top (freezer) part of our fridge for several hours… nope. Still shrunk flip flops, just cold and icy. Live and learn.

Parenting 101
Parents: tired of toting around your kids? Just toss them the keys. That’s what this mother did. A San Bernadino Mom had a headache and didn’t feel like taking her 13 year-old to school, so she told him to drive himself the 14 miles to class. Both mother and son were ticketed. I’m all about teaching kids to drive, but I think you’re supposed to be “in” the vehicle with them. San Bernandino isn’t exactly a turnrow in a cotton field like many a’ 13 year-old has used as training camp. Leann Guzman needs to counsel this lady.

Poor Me
My Friday night (and momentary social life) has taken a nose dive. It’s coming up on 7:00 p.m. and I still have no idea when I’m getting out of here (work, that is). There’s a sectional youth rally I planned to go to tonight, but… What’s a working girl to do? I actually have wondered before what is the better witness: to draw the line when it’s church time and tell your co-workers you have to go, leaving them with a mountain of work and frustration, or to try to help the team at work, knowing there will be other services. Hmm… For some reason this reminds me of two great former Ninetyandnine articles and an e-panel:

“You Were Fired for What?”

“Work Issues: Religion and Reality, An Apostolic e-Panel - Part I”

“Faith in the Workplace Gains Force”

Hope you are work-free and enjoying a great weekend.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Perhaps a Duct Tape Shark?

More London Blasts
Once again we offer prayers and support to Londoners who’ve endured another set of blasts. Thankfully only one person was injured. Let’s hope the terrorists can be found and brought to justice quickly for the safety of the people of England.

Politics and Law
President Bush has named John Roberts as his Supreme Court nominee. I was kind of rooting for the Louisiana girl and had some high hopes given some of the rumors, but I trust that Roberts is more qualified. (Sort of that blind, optimistic faith that government is best left to elected officials. Don't all you PoliSci majors attack at once.)

Analysts all seem to agree that Roberts is conservative, and Christians are happy. However, Roberts has yet to speak out on his abortion stance, and when he does, that is going to rattle some cages.

Happy Ugly Truck Day!
July 20 was National Ugly Truck Day. Some county fairs even incorporate an “ugly truck contest” in their festivities. Not to be gender biased, but I think this is something more for the guys. Not to worry, we gals have Learn About Butterflies Day (March 14). Still, I do appreciate an old, comfortable, beat-up truck for a nice evening of mud riding now and again. Happy Ugly Truck Day!

Don’t Get Bit By This One
Massachusetts fishermen caught a nearly 1200 pound shark. Unfortunately for them, they missed the tournament weigh-in by six minutes.

Duct Tape Rides Again!
Did you know that the Grand Coulee Dam Area “Balde Eagle Festival” hosts a Duct Tape Pet Contest sponsored by Coulee Hardware every year as part of the festival? I didn't either, but boy am I excited. I may have missed 2005, but I’m already thinking about an entry for the 2006 competition.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Duct Tape and Flip Flops? Hmm…

New on NinetyandNine
Congratulations to Gabby on her 100th article. Check out my favorite advice columnist at 90&9’s “Happy Birthday Dear Gabby!”

The Great Flip Flop Debate
Northwestern’s champion ladies’ lacrosse team recently visited the White House. Four of the girls in the picture wore dressy flip flops. In so doing, they were thronged with criticism over the thongs. Turns out lots of folks don’t consider flip flops dressy. I’m hurt because I have a great pair of black flip flops with sequins that I just love, and I’m really planning on wearing them the next time I brunch with the Bush family.

This all reminds me of conversations I have with my mother regularly. My Mom is not very wild about the idea of t-shirts, jeans (pants/skirts), and/or flip flops on church grounds. This presents a problem because I’m usually at the church almost every night of the week. I’m discomforted by the thought that God may strike me with lightning if I swing by choir practice in my flip flops. Now in all fairness to my mother, she is thinking more along the lines of service times and she would never say a word regardless. But it’s a big deal to some people. I’m very confused. I think there’s nothing cuter on Sunday morning than a summer outfit topped off with sparkly sandals. What’s the consensus? Are flip flops a no-no for church? Maybe this is a generation gap thing?

Okay, so this also reminds me of the old Sunday morning / Sunday night debate. My parents come from the days when Sunday morning was THE dressy service. Sunday night was more of an afterthought—fashion-wise, that is. So they think nothing of a suit on Sunday morning and then basic shirt and skirt/slacks Sunday night. My friends and I, however, think of a.m. as the basic skirt and flip flops service, whereas Sunday night is the time to pull out the heels, new purse, and best suit. Who’s right?

Duct Tape Use #126
Once again, duct tape saves the day. My good friends Mandy and Hilary Naquin send this in from Arizona. They were trying to carve a watermelon basket, and the melon split during their creation. No problem. They broke out the duct tape and kept right on carving. You gotta see this, folks:
















Share your duct tape testimonies. E-mail me!

The Life and Times of a Youth Congress-Goer

Misc
Don’t ask me why I thought of this today, but have you ever analyzed any children’s nursery rhymes? It’s sort of disturbing when you look at what they actually mean. Take Alouette, the song we learned in elementary French class. It’s all about plucking off a bird’s head and subsequent body parts. Seriously. Then today I thought about Ring around the Rosy. Did you know it was all about people dying from the catastrophic Bubonic Plague in the 1600s? The “ring around the rosy” refers to the rash victims contracted, and the “posy” was herbs believed to ward off the plague. The next time you see kids chiming “Ashes to ashes / we all fall down,” think about it as they collapse to the ground in imitation of the many people who died from the plague and were cremated. Weird, huh?

Sports
Big win for Tiger. The Benchwarmer has more.

Scandal City
So what do you think about the Rove probe? President Bush has spoken strongly about it today in the face of growing developments that look bad for Rove. Yet another event that destroys confidence in our government officials. I am afraid we are getting dangerously close to the place where whatever the outcome of the investigation, public opinion for Rove will be irreversibly damaged.

More on Gluttony
Seriously, how big 'a deal is this gluttony thing to God? I wondered this as I sampled Aunt Connie’s lumpia, a delicious Filipino version of the eggroll; Aunt Darlene’s chocolate pie; Mom’s dressing; and a dozen other dishes by various aunts and cousins. Somebody once told me they thought Apostolics were guilty of making food a sport because other entertainment options were limited. I chafed under anyone’s accusation that we are in any way “limited” because of our beliefs. But that aside, do we really get carried away with eating?

Meanwhile one of my roommates and I got up before work to walk this morning. That is probably one of the most challenging accomplishments of my adult life to date. But what can I say? Youth congress is three weeks away and last week’s controversial NinetyandNine article “The Attraction Factor (Female Version)” really makes you think.

Speaking of…
Youth Congress! Who’s ready?! Who’s going?! Me! Me! My friends and I are finally at the stage where we’d sacrifice the “uncoolness” of the church van for the sake of not having to foot the gas bill. Alas, our church is not taking a formal group trip. (Did anyone else’s school districts start early this year? Our high schoolers couldn’t go because August 10-12 is during their first week of school.) Grown-ups that we are now, my best pals/roomates and I are flying to Columbus.

All this to say I’m looking into the legality of getting to Wal-Mart at 7 a.m. on every Saturday morning between now and Aug 10, roping off all parking spots within 50 yards of the door, and then selling them throughout the day to fund my trip.

But by far the greatest dilemma of the whole vacation experience is having to ask off for work. Not only can I not tell anyone "No," but I also cannot ask anyone to say "Yes" in a situation like that. I feel like I am somehow imposing, and my mother raised me better than that. The answer to any invitation always began with "Well, we wouldn't want to impose..." It doesn’t matter that I’m entitled to vacation time, I feel so guilty asking off. I don’t understand this. It is physically nerve-wracking for me to ask off. I feel like the world’s biggest slacker—not a good feeling for an self-diagnosed “must please all” syndromer. I was very fortunate, however, to escape the whole experience unscathed and with my precious two and a half vacation days safely in hand. So I will be going. ….Add to the “You Might Be Apostolic if” list: you spend your beloved work vacation hours at church conferences.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Beware the Ides of July

Bombing Plotter Captured
A U.S.-trained biochemist was arrested in Egypt for suspected involvement in the London bombings. I still cannot understand the kind of thinking that can motivate someone to take the lives of over 50 innocent people. But then again, we are deluding ourselves if we ever think we can rationalize terrorism.

From Sharks to Marlins
It’s time I fess up to a little addiction. Besides duct tape and ice cream, I am obsessed hopelessly with fishing. Yes, it’s true. I love being on the water and the thrill of hearing the ‘zzzzzz’ of a fish stripping line. I guess it’s because I live in Louisiana and have access to the world’s finest saltwater fishing. All that said, I’ve only been out to bluewater (water far enough offshore to allow sport fishing for sailfish, etc) once, and the largest thing we caught was a blackfin tuna. But I know a little bit about it, and folks this could be the most rare event ever recorded on camera. A marlin, estimated at 600 pounds, struck an 18 year-old angler while fighting near the boat. I’ve never seen anything like it. From seeing the video, I thought since the fish is so big that it just accidentally struck the boat and angler. But the boy’s father has been sport fishing all over the Caribbean for 46 years and thinks the aggressive marlin was actually attacking the boat/angler.

Brain Freeze Breakdown
Here’s the skinny on our beloved friend, ice cream. The truth behind all this technical stuff is that with enough practice, you can master brain freeze. I don’t mean to brag, but… there are people, of which I proudly am one, who have eaten so much ice cream, we’ve burned out those nerves and whatever other brain mechanisms cause brain freeze. I've had so much practice that I can eat ice cream and never feel a thing except the joy of the ice cream itself. It’s a gift really.

Happy Weekending
I'm off to a family reunion to see people who love me for all my weirdness and to push the line of "how serious is God about that 'gluttony thing'" with Aunt Darlene's good homecooking. Hope you have a great weekend too!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Sharks, Cows, and Christian Fiction-Haters, Oh My!

Today’s Spotlight
Now I’ve heard it all. Did you know that Christian fiction is filled with “bigotry and comic book morality”—all as a guise by Christian readers to prove their superiority and pretend religion has meaning? Such is the case according to the July 12 post by “Canada’s Premier Independent Book Site” (self-hailed).

The post is written in response to this recent article by the Denver Post which shows that the religious book market is rocketing. Instead of merely disagreeing with the Denver Post article or separately critiquing religious literature, the writer launches into a bash on Christian fiction specifically, posing the idea that it’s low-brow and meaningless rhetoric. Beyond just his disdainful opinion of Christian fiction, the writer is convinced religion itself is not “a vital force in modern life.”

As Christians we could argue our personal convictions, but isn’t this debate itself and the articles surrounding it proof enough? If religion is so meaningless, why is the religious book market soaring? Why posts bashing Christian fiction?

What do you think?

More from London
Two minutes of silence were observed across the Untied Kingdom and Europe at large today in honor of those who perished in the terrorist bombings. We will not forget.

Authorities believe they’ve identified four bombers who were among those killed in the horrible explosions. Blair is confident Al-Qaida is behind it.

Meanwhile President Bush asked the U.S. Senate to continue the Patriot Act.

Another Shark Attack
A 14 year-old North Carolina girl was bitten by a shark while in waist-deep waters at Galveston. (See if you can find the grammar error in the article.) Thankfully she is okay and with some surgery will not lose her leg. Meanwhile the young man from Tennessee who was attacked in Florida and unfortunately had to have his leg amputated returned home today.

These shark attacks are getting out of control. I don't ever remember so many attacks in a single summer. You can’t tell me the uncanny migration earlier in the year didn’t have something to do with it.

Cow Appreciation Day
July 15 is Cow Appreciation Day. Rumor has it that you get a free meal at chic-Fil-A if you dress like a cow! Mooorah!

Reader Rave
This is E-mail me!

Oh, No! It’s Wednesday the 13th!

13
Where did the Friday 13th stuff come from? From the movie or did the movie play off an already existing paranoia? Chicken? Egg? This site claims the phobia dates back to ancient times and is called paraskevidekatriaphobia (word of the day). Me? I’m not superstitious. I have been know to turn my cap around backwards when a black cat crosses in front of me to “reverse the charge.” But I'm not superstitious.

Oops
Think you’ve had a rough day at the office? Here’s living proof it could definitely be worse.

Houston, We Have a Problem
Sure enough, they have found a problem with a fuel sensor, and NASA is delaying today’s launch. We don’t have an estimate yet for the new launch time. I don’t like to say I told you so, but…

Folks, I’m getting nervous. I guess part of it is due to the fact that this is the first shuttle launch since Columbia. But I’ve studied software testing methods at work. When you discover a problem during development and can’t figure it out, you don’t just plop a new part on without testing it, stick your head in the sand, and hope it works when you eventually flip the switch. Why wasn’t this fixed right and properly tested when the problem was first discovered? Saving time is not more important that safety.

Hopefully it can be figured out and corrected now, and hopefully all of these technical snafus are not signs of larger underlying problems with the shuttle. At least we are seeing more detailed testing and the discipline to stop and fix problems, even if it is the midnight hour.

Beware the Paper—er…Cyber Trail
Remind me to be careful with this gig. Nobody kidnap my phone or drag up my duct tape addiction when I run for President of the Camp Meeting Alumni Association in 2056.

Back to the Classroom, Guys
Some school systems are looking for more male teachers to try to balance the predominantly female education field. According to this article:

"The proportion of men in teaching today is at its lowest level in 40 years, according to the National Education Association, the country's largest teachers union.

Only 21 percent of teachers in U.S. public schools are men."

Any guys out there in need of a job? Might what to think about it.

Mother Nature at Work
Amidst the Dennis destruction, comes this great story. That reminds me... do we believe in Mother Nature? Call it my Apostolic paranoia, but I'm always terrified to acknowledge any life/universe force other than J-E-S-U-S... How Apostolic am I? Can we add that to Wendy's list?

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Tuesdays with the Duct Tape Lady

Headlines
Some tiles had to be replaced on Discovery because a window panel fell off? That’s not very reassuring. Kinda scary if you ask me. I hope they’ve got some duct tape on board. The good news is that they do go through an extensive check-off procedure—20,000 parameters--before launch. Here’s hoping everything’s really okay with the shuttle.

Lance took the lead back.

What do you think about the Karl Rove situation? I’m not sure what to think. I’m tired of drama, but then again, I realize we need to get to the bottom of this for the future safety of our operatives and to uphold accountability among our national leaders.

More from Camp
I failed to mention yet another great thing about the annual trip to camp: stopping in Opelousas for boudin. What is boudin? Glad you asked. Basically you stuff pork, sausage, dirty rice, and lots of seasoning into casing. It looks like raw sausage. To eat the boudin, you squeeze it out of the casing with your teeth, like a popsicle. It’s absolutely delicious and I look for any excuse I can to go through Opelousas or Krotz Springs to get some of Ray’s boudin. That is yet another positive thing about the camp meeting trip I remembered in my effort to think on the bright side.

Duct Tape Use #113
One day they're going to make cell phones that bounce. Until then, there is duct tape. So after weeks of monkeying around with my phone, not to mention throwing/dropping/ kicking/ dropkicking my phone, the antenna is stripped out and will no longer stay screwed in. Did I let my dilemma perplex me? No, because I have the blessed hope that comes from having been rescued oh so many times by duct tape. So thanks to the help of my trusty cousin, we successfully duct taped my cell phone antenna back in. Sure it doesn’t work as good as it used to, but the duct tape is pink, so that counts for something.









Do you have a special duct tape story? Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

The Sands of Time & The Winds of Dennis

The Camp Report
I suppose the burning question in your minds is "how was camp?" Well, let's just say it's best to go for Jesus. Just as we measure how good a service is by how many bobby pins we pick up later, we usually measure how good the social end of it is by how late we stay up. My crew and I were in bed shortly after one.

Turns out a lot of people my age have real jobs too. Of the pack of us that used to hang out all week, a lot couldn't go because of work, many have married and moved away, and many have just married. It's the weirdest thing. But I did see some great familiar faces--even if there were only a few of the old gang, and it was fun to watch the younger generation do their thing.

What's more, church was awesome. Two words: Matt Madix. I hope you've experienced his ministry. We all need to. This is my third time, and even when you know what's coming, there's still something about his brutal honesty and a brush face-to-face with the facts that we have a lot of work to do that is disturbing (in a good way). For years we've went to camp, heard the rhetoric, and determined to take action. But always the issue is just "why" you should be active, never "how." I believe Rev. Maddix has a plan. I earnestly pray his voice will be heard and a program can be developed that will mobilize Apostolic young people to fulfill the Great Commission. There are no doubt many more like me who would give anything to be involved in a well structured, proven-effective evangelism program. In the meantime, I'm determined to baby-step my way into seeing that my weekly Bible study is more anointed and that my other personal outreach is more diligent.

Addendum
Check out more "You Might Be Apostolic If" on Wendy’s blog. Funny stuff. Somebody has mentioned peanut brittle. That reminds me… Years ago, my aunt was one of the first women to enter the computer programming field, which was then in its infancy. She became very successful and at one point was working for a major software firm in Connecticut. One day on the way to work in her high rise building, a young man entered the elevator and proclaimed with absolute joy, "Oh, you must be Pentecostal!" Confident her modest apparel and Godly glow had affected him, she replied in the affirmative. "Wonderful!" he continued, "I'm dying for some peanut brittle!"

News from the Religious World
A friend shared these links with me, and I thought I would pass them on. I’m not one to draw lines in the sand or throw stones at others, and yet I think these incidents remind us of how important it is to proclaim emphatically who we are and what we stand for, and then to live it.

Billy Graham's Daughter Arrested

Pastor Apologizes For Not ‘Communicating Convictions’ on ‘Larry King Live’

Gone With the Wind
Hurricane Dennis weakened before U.S. landfall and was not as bad as expected. There was still much destruction to the already damaged Florida panhandle. However, let's approach it with the "it could have been worse" paradigm.

Haiti, Cuba, and other Caribbean islands are still in much need of help. Remember them and remember your support to international aid organizations and charities are important. Also keep in mind that wherever you are, and in especially during the time of emergencies, one of the most helpful things you can do is give blood.

Wow
I can just feel the 90&9 letters pouring in over this one. Mailbag, lookout! http://www.ninetyandnine.com/Archives/20050711/cover.htm

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Bring on the Weekend!

Howdy, boys and girls. Ye ol’ blogger is off for a fun-filled night on the ol’ camp grounds. That’s right, it’s camp meeting time! The Louisiana District UPCI has been holding camp meetings since 1948, citing Dr. Vinson Synan’s assertion that it is the longest-running camp in America.

I’ve been in a responsible mood lately, which means I’ve been grown-up and boring, thanks to post-college, real-job life. So I almost considered not going for the first time in my formative Apostolic social bunny years. But the illusion of “camp” beckoned greater.

I’m excited. I said I wasn’t going to eat today so I could fit into my dress. I made it till 9:04 a.m.

I know this year is going to be great. However, I am all too familiar with last year’s brush with reality. I wrote this when I got home from camp last year:

Signs You're Getting Too Old for Camp Meeting

1. For the first time you consider going to the main camp meeting services rather than the youth services across town.
2. You keep catching yourself beginning sentences with "I remember back in the day..."
3. You are at first frustrated with the "Yes, ma'ams" over and over from all the little rugrats until you realize your old authority-figure status redeems you from practical jokes in the hotel.
4. You actually lock your hotel room now instead of throwing open the door for the weekend and putting a sign in the hall directing folks to “Le Par-tay.”
5. The only thing you invaded at the “Invade the Mall” social was the no. 7 "La Chimichanga Dinner" at El Rodeo.
6. People don't call your room after 11 p.m. because they know you're in bed.
7. One of the youth committee members suggests you join the fun at the Ramada for the Singles event.
8. You actually didn’t exceed the hotel occupancy level for your room! Gone are the days of 12 to a room (seriously), and crawling over bodies to get in the five-people-deep line to the community bathroom.
9. You spend the whole weekend (when you're not asleep) making sure the younger ones from your church have lunch money, rides, curler pins, towels, and yes, toilet paper.

Even Better News
Yesterday I bemoaned the lack of good news in the world. Today I will counter that by sharing 5 positive stories.

1. Unemployment is down to its lowest in almost 4 years.

2. The market is up because of the employment report.

3. America’s deficit is in better shape than expected.

4. At G8, $50 billion was pledged to Africa. Perhaps you have mixed feelings on the issue, but at least that shows apathy has not completely paralyzed the globe.

5. And there are still good people out there.

In Closing
The globe is reeling over the London blasts. I think we all were instantly overwhelmed with 9/11 flashbacks, and it’s not hard for Americans to imagine what Londoners are feeling right now. In this age of global terror, we must harbor hope that evil forces can be conquered by the power of those united for good. God bless Great Britain.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N

Early Childhood Memories of an Apostolic
I should tell you now (make that warn you now) that I'm a compulsive top-tenner. I like to make stupid lists. Wendy and I both read the same blog last night, and she has posted a hilarious “You Might Be Apostolic If.” I actually thought back to some of my earliest church memories, and here’s my take based on the way we youngsters process it all.

Top 10 early childhood memories for your typical Apostolic:

1. Perhaps no mixed bathing, but definitely the ritual baptismal of any and all animals stupid enough to be still long enough for you to get your hands on them.
   
2. The cheap “ring” cookies in Sunday School… you know the kind you put on your fingers?
   
3. Sleeping under the pews.
   
4. Dodging high-heels and bobby pins on Sunday nights before falling asleep under the pews.
   
5. First concept of multi-media: reading the Sunday funnies while listening to a Vestal Goodman record in your non-TV home.
   
6. Oh the thrill of "stonewashed" blue jean skirts!
   
7. Having a victory march the Sunday Wal-Mart came to town.
   
8. Having a breakdown the day you came home from school and Mom wasn’t there so you thought you’d missed the rapture.
   
9. 21 words for you: "I'm a One-God, Apostolic, tongue-talking, holy roller, born again, heaven-bound, believer in the liberating power of Jesus name...”
   
10. Gals: swapping badges at youth camp with a boy who had a side spike and/or bowl cut. Guys: being begged by 9* gals with poofs and stonewashed blue jean jumpers to swap badges.
    *based on the usual 9:1 guy-girl ratio in Apostolic congregations

The News
Between the Idaho girl and the terrorist bombings in London, it’s a challenge today to find some good news. And even though I promised to be simple and positive, it bothers me that in this world, there is so much evil. I suppose since we Christians know Christ’s teachings about good and evil, we should not be shocked when malicious things happen. But it’s still appalling. Days like today make it hard to believe in an innate goodness in human nature.

And still in the middle of it all, the headlines would just as soon gossip about Holmes/Cruise and Jolie/Pitt. How bout they make a movie where Mr. and Mrs. Smith are hired to assassinate Batman’s girl until an ordinary Joe escaping aliens convinces the foursome to join forces to fight the paparazzi.

Better News
Today was the running of the bulls! This year officials used an anti-slip spray on some of the more dangerous areas of the course. ….Now com’on! That really takes all of the fun out of it. If they have to slip-proof the cobblestones, I say they toss a bone to us folks who just watch it to see people get trampled. How ‘bout a 3-Mississippi running start for the bulls?

And in my promise to make fun of people taking themselves/life too seriously, check out (not literally) these nude protesters. Now I guess because my family raises animals (my shameless plug for the week), I’ve always had a hard time understanding animal rights advocates. But a nude protest of the running of the bulls? I’m an English major and I can’t even find the symbolism here.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Twinkletoes

Over the weekend I participated in my first foot-washing. I’m twenty-neveryoumind, but somehow I had never been to a foot-washing. The logistics of the whole thing has been a challenge for our church. But we had a ladies meeting with the incomparable Sis. Vonnie Lopez, and we were able to spread out in the main sanctuary to facilitate all the people. It was a great night of prayer, preaching, worship, communion, and certainly not last nor least--foot-washing. It was incredible.

I have to tell you that I was a little scared of the foot-washing thing. I’m self-diagnosed borderline OCD, so the idea of touching other people’s toe cheese turns my tummy. Turns out there was none of the scrub-between-the-toes action I had imagined. In fact, it was more like foot-rinsing if you want to get technical about it. The physical aspect of it is just a gesture of humility. It’s not literally an attempt to scrub down your buddy’s feet. So there was no grossness at all.

What it was was humbling. It was done in a time of prayer, and it was a very beautiful experience. We prayed for each other with such humility and sincerity. As ladies finished, we went around and prayed with others. Not only could we feel a special presence of God, but there was also a spirit of unity in the sanctuary unlike anything else I’ve ever felt.

So here’s my question: given how awesome this is, why isn’t it observed more frequently? Is this too old-school for the church of today?

What You’ve All Been Waiting For…
Check out this site for some special fashion ideas, all thanks to the gift that keeps on giving: duct tape!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

The Tempest, The Thrifty, and Those Who Love Neon

It Is a Dark and Stormy Night
I’m listening to the re-re-re-re-mix of “Shout to the Lord” and waiting for Tropical Storm Cindy in my car in the parking lot of a coffee shop that fortunately has a decent wireless connection. Don’t tell my Mom, but there’s a man that keeps walking back and forth down the sidewalk in a neon shirt. I find this interesting because I was just thinking that no one wears neon these days.

So this is the first storm of the season to blow our way. In the spirit of hurricane preparedness, I thought I would share my favorite hurricane moment. You see, around here, hurricanes are like the villains you love to hate. My friends in the North get snow days; we get hurricane days.

There was the time we were supposed to get a hurricane, but it weakened near landfall and showed up a disappointing Tropical Depression. So we threw an impromptu “Tropical Depression Party.” When that lulled we grabbed the camcorder (to watch later on our "monitors", of course) and filmed a spoof of all the horrible Weather Channel live hurricane coverage we’d ever seen. We did it up right, I mean to tell you. We even made one friend don rain slicker, umbrella, and pretend microphone (yes we used duct tape to make it). We turned on shop fans, shook trees in the background, and hosed her down as she gave her report. It was great. Almost as entertaining as listening to national news anchors try to pronounce rural Louisiana Coastal towns like Des Allemands or Pointe a la Hache or Calcasieu Parish....

We’re grown up now, and we’d rather wait this one out from the comfort of sound sleep. Some things never change though—just like in the days of praying for cancelled classes, this finds us all hoping by some divine miracle that Cindy will get bad enough for work to be cancelled. Not likely. We’ll just drive to work in ten inches of flood waters and 70 mph winds and wonder why insurance in Louisiana is so expensive.

Where's M-Diddy When You Need Her?
I find especially entertaining that French President Chirac got caught griping about British chow on the eve of landmark meetings to save starving people in Africa. Lay off our friends across the pond, Jacques. Let's just feed the hungry. I don't know, send some cheese to Africa or something if you know food so well. We'll send over M-Diddy (aka Martha Stewart) if you don't watch it. (I'm so resisting a "let them eat cake" line right now.) More about G8 later…

Did You Know…
On this day in 1865, William Booth started what would become the Salvation Army. I find this relevant because over the weekend I was in a search-and-rescue-mission mood and went thrift store shopping. I rescued a sign for the kitchen in our cozy (translation=small) apartment my two friends and I share. The sign: “Kissing not allowed in kitchen unless the cook participates.” My Mom upon entering the thrift store and noticing some “gently used” items: “You mean this stuff isn’t new?” …New to you, Mom. New to you.

Song of the Week
I’m praying any minute now that “All My Praise” by Selah will come on. It is my fave of the moment (with Chris Tomlin's "The Song of Heaven" a close second). There’s something about the combination of the lyrics and the building chord progression in the bridge. They should have done the bridge in the radio version about sixteen times in true Pentecostal fashion. But even still, it’s a great song, and if it comes on, I might even invite neon shirt man over to share in my joy. Here’s the lyrics to the bridge:

You made every star/
And You taught it how to shine/
You knew my name before there was time/
And all this was just part of Your glorious design/
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Long live duct tape! Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Liberty and Justice For All

Happy Fourth of July! Today Americans celebrate Independence Day. I hope this finds everyone safe and enjoying a fun time with family and friends.

This is a good time to reflect on this young nation's plight for liberty. Have you read the Declaration of Independence lately? It reminds us of America's thesis statement:

"that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness"

I'm thankful for a country that recognizes the Creator and that is founded to give men and women a chance to pursue these unalienable rights.

I'm also thankful for the many brave patriots who have defended America in centuries past, and I'm reminded now of the soldiers currently on foreign soils. Today I received a prayer request from a mother who found out her son has been wounded in Falujah. I feel for her and the many others whose loved ones are in harm's way to protect us. Let us pray for our troops on this day and always. God bless America!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Name That Justice

The Supreme Court Shuffleboard
The overwhelming current event is the Supreme Court fracas and Justice O'Connor's decision to step down. I will begin with a disclaimer that I don't keep up with politics, so don't demand brilliant insight. In a way, though, this is more of a legal/government issue. But then where is the line between government and politics? Someone once said life is politics. Regardless, I do recognize that this is a significant and far-reaching legal juncture facing our nation. Not to mention, there are a lot of important cases on next year's docket.

O'Connors Service
There is something to be said for Justice O'Connor's very bold service. Of course we all know that she was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, but she was also a very important swing vote in several major cases. In the words of President Bush: "For an old ranching girl, you turned out pretty good." Hats off to Justice O'Connor for swinging with both fists.

You're How Old?
And I'm also going to go out on a limb and say hats off to Justice O'Connor for retiring while still in good health. I don't want to disrespect the outstanding service records of present justices, but is there any possibility at all of an age cap? Conceivably we could see justices in their nineties on the bench. Not only might an elder justice have trouble bridging generational gaps, but what's the recourse if their health/mental capabilities become questionable? With a life tenure the legality in forcing a justice out would be shaky. The role they play in our judicial system is too crucial to be jeapordized. Does it bother anyone besides me that guaranteeing the faculties of the decision-makers in highest legal court in the land is a gray issue?

The Hopefuls
Check out this list of speculative replacements for O'Connor. I'm glad to see such diversity. My main hope is that all parties involved will try to work together and think of the long-term good of the nation--not just partisan politics.

In reference to my goal of keeping it simple, I add commentary from a friend (who's weary of it all) regarding the debate over Bush's decision: "He's the president for crying out loud. Just do what he says. Let him pick whoever he wants and get over it." I'm trying to keep my goal of being positive, but I foresee the possiblity of a long, vicious battle over the appointment. We could be "getting over it" for a long time.

Names in the News
The music world has lost Luther Vandross at age 54.
Venus Williams has won a thrilling Wimbeldon victory.
Lance Armstrong is living strong and looking promising for a 637,295th Tour de France win.

Because I Love You...
I want to share the incredulity, the magic, the awe of the unique gift to mankind commonly referred to as duct tape. Occasionally (translation = when I run out of meaningful things to share), I will relate a personal duct tape testimony, such as the time I repaired my car with duct tape and the time my friend gave me a duct tape handbag. In the meantime, here are other exciting stories about the greatness that is duct tape.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Name That Blogger!

Greetings all from the July guest blogger.

Farewell…
First and foremost: Godspeed to Eric, who did a terrific job with the June blog. He is now off to pursue an exciting missions trip to South Africa, and our prayers and best wishes are with him.

And Hello…
I’m excited to share this 90&9 moment with you. My name is Lee Ann, and I’m the book columnist. For any of you who haven’t checked it out yet, please humor me and read a review or two or six. Basically I cover the latest book news in true bookworm form and fuss at myself for my lack of reading. The nitty-gritty details about myself are probably best summed up in this bio—you know: technical writing profession, single, active in my church, etc. So that covers the basics. I think the important stuff is:

1. I like duct tape. It will fix most anything.

2. Red is my favorite flavor snowball. (And don’t you go getting analytical on me and start in about red not being a flavor and how I need to specify strawberry, cherry, etc. Believe me, the snowball stand vendors have tried that. I think that’s just another example of life getting too complicated.) I like red snowballs. Period.

3. I laugh at people when they fall down. I'm sorry, I do. Admit it, it's funny.

4. My favorite food is ice cream. It cures what ails you.

Our Blog
We could worry about little know mysteries, such as if Dr. Seuss was really a communist, plot out new ways to sue McDonald's, and petition to have the next Youth Congress in Honolulu. But I will leave that to the more brilliant minds out there. Instead, my goal for the month (I guess I shouldn’t have told you so we could see at the end of the month who was paying attention) is to just keep it simple.

I want this month to be fun. My core beliefs (beyond the religious stuff) #1 – we take life too seriously. #2 – nothing is ever as bad (or as good) as it seems. From these pre-dispositions (word of the day!), I will approach the blog with an objective to comment on the world around us in a simple fashion with the disclaimer that it could be better, but it could be worse. I will also mercilessly rib people (a.k.a. me) who take themselves too seriously. And in all of this, I'm going to try to look on the bright side. We're surrounded by negativity and cynicism; maybe with this blog we can open our eyes to some of the good things around us.

And You…
Your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to help me find the positive in life to highlight. You can do that by sending me links to positive/fun stuff, sharing your own thoughts, etc. As with all of 90&9, this blog is made complete by your participation. I invite you to e-mail me. I’m looking forward to a lot of fun. Tomorrow I will be back with less boring details about me, and more comments on the world around us, the greatness of duct tape, etc.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!