Getting to Know Me
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The Creative Nerd
Celebrity Memoirs
I am excited about this week's Booking Through Thursday question. I have a great book to recommend.
Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read? Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?
Most of the memoirs I've read are by writers. Wither or not they are celebrities is a matter of debate. Writing is not a profession which lends itself to public notoriety.
I'd like to provide a small list of author memoirs I have enjoyed:
On Writing
by Stephen KingThe Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life
by Amy TanMadeleine L'Engle's four autobiographical books collectively called The Crosswicks Journal: A Circle of Quiet
, The Summer of the Great-Grandmother
, The Irrational Season
and Two-Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage
. For this question, the word 'celebrity' leads me to a need to include at least one non-writer. As far as I can think of, I only have read only one book. The good news is I love this memoir. It made me laugh and cry. I came away feeling I understood the person on a deep level, not just a story of what happened in his life. To me, this is the essence of what separates a memoir from an autobiography.
Right off the bat, I'm going to explain my contempt for the modern concept of celebrity. Famous for being famous people annoy the crap out of me.
As a result, I've not read Paris Hilton's books. Those young Hollywood types who haven't even lived and write memoirs frustrate me to no end. If the sum of your wisdom involves the name of the best acne treatments. it is not time to pen a memoir.
Live a little before you put out an autobiography, would ya?
The author of Kiss Me Like A Stranger had lived a rich life both publicly and privately. Gene Wilder is not my idea of a celebrity, but a craftsman who's craft is acting.
I vividly remember watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on a rented (yes, rented) VCR when I was in first grade. I was mesmerized by Gene Wilder. It was only a few years later when I saw Young Frankenstein. Some quality in Gene was attractive to me as a child.
It has been a while since I checked the book out of our library, so I'm not at a place of doing a review. I can say, while famous friends like Mel Brooks and Richard Prior are discussed along with his marriage to
Gilda Radner, the book is about Gene as person. It was wonderful to find him as poignant and captivating as I did (and still do) as Wonka.
The ABC Meme
Sunday Stealing: The ABC Meme
A – An advantage you have – great parents. Two full sets.
B – Blue or brown eyes – Mine are blue.
C – Chore you hate – I don't do chores.
D – Dad’s name – Jerry and James (see A)
E – Essential start of your day – peeing
F – Favorite color – red
G – Greatest thing you’ve ever done that made you feel really good – getting a good night sleep
H – Habit you have – books. Not just reading, mind you, but books. In my house, I have hundreds. In my work bag, I have at least two.
I – Issue you hate that the world tries to make you pursue – Not sure what they mean by this. I don't follow the herd on issues by any means. I make up my own mind.
J – Job title – Customer service rep
K – Kohls or Target – Target. But I love Kohls, too.
L – Living arrangements – tiny apartment with husband and cats.
M – Music you like – classic rock is my favorite, but I like lots of other things, too
N - Nicknames – Tina, for one.
O – Overnight hospital stay – When I had heel cord lengthening surgery at five.
P – Pet Peeve – people who call into customer care (me) and proceed to talk for 10 - 15 minutes. Did you want me to fix the problem? Or just complain? 'Cause I can fix it in 5 minutes if you shut up and let me do my job.
Q – Quote that you like most – To pick one: "A book must be an ice-axe to break the seas frozen inside our soul." ~Franz Kafka
R – Right or left handed – Right
S – Siblings – One brother, James.
T – Time you wake up – Workdays, 5 am.
U – Underwear – cotton
V – Vegetable you dislike – Okra
W – What makes you run late – procrastination. I'm an expert.
X – X-rays you’ve had – mostly lungs.
Y – Yummy food you make – Grilled cheese sandwich.
Z – Zoo animal – Jade. St Louis Zoo. March 2008:
Posts I Did Not Publish or Staying Positive On the Web
I had a bad week last week. For no reason, I woke up on Monday June 15th in down in the dumps. My mood didn't lift until Saturday morning. The weekend lifted my fog. By this last Monday, I was back to normal.
Don't misunderstand, I have stressful and depressing things in my life. More than some people. Less that others. Some are honest treats to livelihood. Some are vestiges of anxiety past. None of this changed in the last two weeks.
I wrote a post late Wednesday night detailing some at work issues contributing to my feelings. We've had some difficult changes at work.
In a nutshell, half of the agents were not meeting an important metric. As often it can be in a call center, the thing we were being held accountable to isn't even mostly within our control. Last month, I was below goal. My job was in danger. I was freaked out, then came to terms with the idea of drawing unemployment, then figured out how to fix my statistic.
By the middle of June, I was back on tract. Not to say work is worry free, but I'd have to be under goal for at least eight weeks to get fired. Now that I've figured out what I wasn't doing before, it's unlikely I'll have such a bad run again. It doesn't fix all the pressure, but every day I earn a paycheck is a good day.
I went to bed intending to proofread and publish the next day. Obviously, I didn't publish. I haven't even read what I wrote. I decided not to inflict my negativity on the world. I certainly wasn't enjoying it. Plus, complaining about work publicly, even without naming the company, isn't a good idea.
I could have edited into neutrality and focused more on my feelings. I didn't. I seldom do when it comes to the unpleasant things in life. Sometimes it feels like plan complaining when some of my stress would be fixed with a week long vacation. Even rv camping would work provided the campground offers wifi. Peace and relaxation would be a nice breather. I've never had an honest vacation as an adult. Just a tiny frustration, but a fact. I am ever aware my life is not so bad.
In a way, my bad week was about the fear being gone. The immediate danger releaved and the hard work behind me, I could get a little blue. It's not uncommon. But I don't have to like it.
Most of the time, I deal with my issues. I consider my depression to be in remission. My anxiety is manageable.
I keep myself busy. I keep my thoughts positive. I read constantly. I've never been able to meditate, but the centered feeling I get when I read is like the descriptions of meditation I've seen. If the point is to relax and clear my mind of distractions, books work. Music played loud in a dark room also has the effect I need.
Most of the time, keep myself on track. Happy, hopeful, and optimistic is the real Tina. Depression and hopelessness are interlopers.
My worst problem on those days I do feel down is the fear of depression itself. Knowing if one bad day turns into two weeks, I must not wait to contact my doctor to go back on medication. I cannot afford to wait like I did when I was initially diagnosed. It is hard to admit when you can't handle your life even when you know full well your family history of mental illness makes your having issues almost inevitable.
Now that blogging and other online activities are such a large part of my life, I'm in the position of making choices to what I discuss.
I have no problem admitting I suffer with depression and anxiety. While I was treated in my mid twenties, I know at certain points in my teens I would have been diagnosed. The reason I managed without bottoming out and into treatment as a teen is the lack of pressures and responsibilities. If I missed some school, nothing bad happened. If I miss work, our lives could fall apart. The fear of getting depressed enough I can't go to work caused anxiety that leads to depression. Sucks, doesn't it?
In Real Life, I've always been a master of hiding my troubles. My coworkers back when I went to counseling had no idea I was depressed until I made it know I needed days off to go to appointments. I even made the choice not to tell my mother right away. I couldn't bear how much it would hurt her before I was feeling better. Living 2600 miles away would make her feel so helpless. Once the medication kicked in, six to eight weeks, I told her everything, explaining she'd already helped me by being open about her own issues with depression. She gave me the information I needed to know what was happening and how to seek help.
As an outgrowth of my real life tendencies, I don't post about sadness and frustration. It's not natural for me. I don't want to be Eeyore. I don't want to be sad in the first place, let alone set it on my Facebook status.
Yet, part of me knows owning up to what is going on is a good thing. I have no problem when other people do it. In fact, I admire the honesty. In the online world I live in, people are supportive and helpful. Well wishes abound for those in trouble. I've seen it when I've posted about
being sick. I got tons of nice comments. So warm and fuzzy.
In real life, I have gotten to the point where I can tell those closest to me I'm having a bad go of it. My husband is the one who would figure it out anyway. I can be snippy. I'll have insomnia. I'll be painfully tired. If it wasn't obvious, he'd not be paying attention. And, thankfully, he does. Being alone would be too hard.
Will I ever post about these experiences as they happen? It's appropriate for a personal blog to include information on personal struggles.
I can't say for sure. I'm torn. I likely always will be torn. My choices are being honest with my online community or putting the best part of me forward on the web. The best choice is a balance.
Tell me, how do you handle negative life experiences on your blogs? Or social networking? Do you handle the two area diffrently, say, admit things on Facebook or Twitter you don't post on your blog?
As for me, I reserve the right to type up and not publish the occasional post.
Finish the Sentence Meme
Sunday Stealing!
Cheers to all us thieves!
Sunday Stealing: The Finish The Sentence Meme
1. I've come to realize that my last kiss... is one in a long series of perfect kisses.
2. I am listening to... the news. Keeping up with the latest out of Iran.
3. I talk... often.
4. I love... unconditionally. Otherwise, why bother.
5. My best friend/s... help me though the hard times.
6. My first real kiss... was a long time ago.
7. Love is... a verb. If you cannot tell you are loved by a person's actions, there is no love.
8. Marriage is... a bond and a partnership.
9. Somewhere, someone is thinking... thoughts I will never understand.
10. I'll always... over think the past, present and future.
11. The last time I really cried was because... I was stressed out over work stuff that is beyond my control, yet I am held responsible.
12. My cell phone... doesn't exist.
13. When I wake up in the morning... I swear at the alarm clock.
14. Before I go to bed... I read for a few minutes.
15. Right now I am thinking about... how hot my apartment is right now.
16. Babies are... innocent.
17. I get on Myspace... every six months.
18. Today I... am spending time with my husband and my laptop
19. Tomorrow I will be... back at work.
20. I really want to be... financially secure.
Girly Survey
Lifted from Jenn of Kitty.nu
Come on, it'll be fun:
Does your Facebook password have to do with a boy?
No.
Big or small purses?
Big. I've been carrying canvas tote for days out. Got to pack my camera, wallet, drink and snack.
Do you enjoy drama?
I hate drama with every inch of my being.
Did you dress up on Halloween?
No. My family quit celebrating Halloween after my first grade year.
Do you call anybody by their last name?
I'm very uncomfortable with being called by just my last name, so I don't it to others. It always strikes me as very masculine. I'll happily answer to "Mrs. Kubala" but not "Kubala" - what, did I join the Army and not realize it?
Can you put on mascara without opening your mouth?
I cannot remember the last time I put on mascara. I haven't worn makeup in years.
Eyeliner or mascara?
If I had to pick, mascara. But I'm clearly not girly enough for this survey.
American Eagle or Hollister?
None of the above. I've never been preppy. And overpriced brand names are pointless.
Heels or Flats?
I wear flats, I love heels.
Skirts or jeans?
Skirts. I feel better about myself when I dress like a grown up instead of pulling on the denim every day.
Curly or straight hair?
Straight. My hair won't hold a curl.
Hoops or dangling earrings?
Dangling. Big and bold, or why bother?
Have you ever had your heart broken?
Yes. Not so much by a guy.
Do you prefer light or dark haired guys?
No preference, really.
Do you have a best friend?
Three way tie: my husband, Mom and best friend Kate.
Do you like your life?
Too big a question. I love my family. I don't like my job much. If I don't get to move forward in some areas, it won't be easy to stay happy.
Have you ever walked into the boy’s bathroom?
Sometimes you just have to go.
Have you ever jumped in the pool with your clothes on?
No. Without my clothes, yes.
Ever slapped a guy in the face?
No. Remember, I don't like drama.
Have you ever cried yourself to sleep?
Yes. Sometimes it helps.
Have you ever not been able to get someone off of your mind?
Yeah.
Do you ever wish you were famous?
Never. I won't mind being known as a blogger and writer. I would not want to be a 'celebrity' or reality show star famous.
Cat and Laptop
When I say I overcome obstacles in order to produce my blog posts, you can see what I mean.
My dear little Cubby is a very demanding cat. Much of the time, she hides. But when she wants attention, she will not take no for an answer. Move her and she just returns to her desired spot.
It is best just to pet her until she has her fill of attention. Truth be told, I'm thrilled to be loved by my little princess.
Niche Books
There are certain types of books that I more or less assume all readers read. (Novels, for example.)
But then there are books that only YOU read. Instructional manuals for fly-fishing. How-to books for spinning yarn. How to cook the perfect souffle. Rebuilding car engines in three easy steps. Dog training for dummies. Rewiring your house without electrocuting yourself. Tips on how to build a NASCAR course in your backyard. Stuff like that.
What niche books do YOU read?
When I first read the question, I said to myself, I guess I won't be answering the Booking Through Thursday this week. I read tons of books, all sorts of books. But books in an unusual niche? No, not really. It's not like I've ever read a book on how to install an undermount sink.
Upon refection, I've come up with two categories of books I read that are not exactly typical.
Let's go with the more typical of my two odd-ball book habits: Star Trek novels. I started reading them a year ago. While there is nothing that says geek like fan fiction, I am not ashamed. I am thrilled to experience my favorite people in new adventures. The most exciting part is reading a book that ties together series and episodes while expanding on key Trek concepts.
I must recommend Q-Squared
as a wonderful romp involving three series - TNG, TOS, and DS9. However, if you don't know exactly what those codes signify and have a strong opinion on the each, you wouldn't like the novel as much as I did. Heck, it could be a little confusing. On the other hand, if you smiles at the "Q" reference, you'll love the book. Now, clearly, lots of people read Star Trek books, even if they are not, say, Da Vinci Code popular.
My other niche book interest is a tad less mainstream: Books about grammar and evolution of languages.
The best book in this group is, for a word geek like me, laugh out loud funny. Not only does Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
have a panda joke in the title, it also sports an implication of violence over grammatical errors. Awesome! 
I read a handful of more serious books from the same section at the library. Now I'm no linguist, so I'm not afraid to admit some the heavy stuff is above my head. Okay, in Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language
, I was in over my head for much of it. Still, the mind boggling wonder of language and how the human brain processes thoughts into coherent words and phrases interested me enough to keep reading for the tip of the iceberg I did understand. More for the amateur linguist than Words and Rules, The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention
bought me to look at language as a living thing, not a set of hard and fast rules. I guess I always knew that on an intellectual level. It's just that I grew up speaking proper English - the Queen's English - I was even picked on about my speech in school. Seeing how we got from Shakespeare to txt spk doesn't make me happy about it, but I understand the how and why much better than before. On both counts, I'm a big geek. Life is good.
Join in the Booking Through Thursday discussion, on your blog or leave your answer in the BTT comments.
Called into Work and Phoning In the Post
Last night, I slipped on a puddle of leakage from our air conditioning unit. You can't turn the dang thing off for more than a few hours without it releasing a gallon or more of water. I was hurting this morning, so I called in.
It was one of those call ins that, yes, I could have toughed it out, but with a flex day and comp time to use in a job where my work does not go undone when I'm not there. Calling out once in a while is good for the soul. When it feels like all the moving companies New York has to over have stomped on my knees and hips seems like an appropriate time.
I slept, took some painkillers and feel much better. I've been Tweeting, Facebooking and cleaning out my Google Reader.
Since my brain is devoid of unique content tonight, I swiped a meme from Kwizgiver:
Did anyone watch you the last time you kissed someone?
More than likely, one or more cats.
When you're walking, do you stop to drink?
I can walk and drink, but don't always.
Do you believe that if you want something bad enough you'll get it?
No. This is why I can't get into all of Oprah's The Secret and Eckhart Tolle crap.
Have you ever kissed someone in a vehicle?
Yeah
Ever snuck out of your house?
No need.
What did you do today?
Virtually nothing of consequence
Would you ever get a tattoo?
My problem is that there is nothing I would care enough about to want a tattoo of on my body for the rest of my life.
What was the last thing you ate?
Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night person who has to be at work at 6 am
Do you snore?
Not anymore. Thank goodness for my CPAP machine.
Do you like to spend time with people?
Yes, but I need my alone time, too.
Are you hungry?
No.
Are you a forgiving person?
Not as much as I'd like to be.
When was the last time you did the dishes?
It's been a while since I did the dishes, like years. One of the benefits of having a stay-at-home husband. I will, on occasion, wash an item I need to use just then.
Are you talking to anyone while doing this?
No. Chris is asleep.
Do you want a relationship right now?
Only the one I already have.
What are you about to do?
Publish a post, check Tweet deck
Have you ever thought someone died, when they really didn't?
Abe Vigoda is still alive. Who would have thought?
If you could be a superhero what would you want to do?
Give the gift of education to all the world's children.
Your name plus "ness"?
Tinaness?
Three feelings at the moment?
blah. almost tired. unproductive.
Done anything you regret so far in life?
Yes.
Are you listening to anything?
Got the TV on and thunder outside.
Where are you right now?
On the sofa.
What are you scared of?
Mostly abstract concepts. Like, for example, becoming depressed again.
Last movie you watched?
Star Trek
Last song you sang out loud?
No idea, usually the last song I heard
Are you thinking of someone right now?
Yes.
Who is the last person you talked to on the phone?
The person who took my "call out" this morning
Last thing you downloaded on your computer?
Paint.net
Have you changed much this year?
Yes. I got my CPAP machine in February. Sleep changes everything.
Where was the last place you went besides where you are?
Work
Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
No
Do you speak any other language?
Nope.
Do you dress for style or comfort?
Comfort with a nod to style
Ever had a drunken night in Mexico?
I don't drink and I've never set foot in Mexico.
Favorite color(s)?
Red and Gray
What are you looking forward to this summer?
What's different about summer than any other time?
Last time you smiled?
Yesterday.
If you could have anything in the world, what would you want?
A college education
Read the Bible in 90 Days: Genesis 17:1 to Genesis 28:19
Between June and August, I have committed to reading the entire Bible. In a mere ninety days, I will be experiencing a vast array of writings relevant to religion, history, and literature. While I cannot commit to blogging on the topic daily, I would like to periodically share my thoughts as I undertake this exciting endeavor. I'm following (roughly) the reading guide put out by Faith and Victory Church.
Rebekah
As I read, I have been focusing on finding meaning in the stories. The story itself is familiar. I understand what happened - the plot. I will admit, sometimes, with the cultural barrier inherent in reading ancient text, it can be difficult to be sure of the point the author intended.
When you believe the Bible was divinely inspired and preserved with a purpose by a loving God who has something to say to us in these writings, it can be frustrating to reads pages of events not knowing what lesson was intended.
I have always said, these problems are not so acute in the New Testaments because our world is so much closer to the culture which produced it.
Certain events in this section of Genesis are, well, bizarre. Before you start thinking how sacrilegious I am, let me present the specter that is two generations of patriarchs masquerading as siblings with their wives. Both were in unfamiliar territories and feared for their lives lest the king kill them for their wives. If I'm missing something in these parallel stories of Abram and Sarai, then Issac and Rebekah, please feel free to help me understand the meaning behind the tails.
As I was reading, one theme that resonated was "leap of faith."
Specifically, when Abraham sends a man to secure an appropriate wife for his son Issac. He dispatches a trusted agent back to the land they had come from because God has told Abraham not to allow Issac to take a wife from the women of Canaan.
The trusted agent meets Rebekah at her family's well, and as God reveled to him, she is the woman who is meant for Issac. He proceeds to negotiate for Rebekah, explaining to her family what God had reveled to him.
What I find amazing is what happens when they ask Rebekah for approval:
"And they called Rebekah and said unto her, 'Wilt thou go with this man?' And she said, I will go." (Genesis 24:58)
The Biblical account does not tell use her thoughts on the subject. Unlike the men in the story, we are not told if God revealed some important key to Rebekah. We only are told she went freely whatever her reasons.
The fact that she walked out into the desert wilderness with strangers amazes me. She trusted. It was her very life at stake.
Beyond that, she was accepting a husband, sight unseen. She would have no way to return home if her betrothed turned out to be an old man with one leg. There would be no tearful phone call home to her father for a plane ticket home.
Nor could her family be assured to know her fate. Even during the settling of the Western United States, when lonely pioneers sent for brides, letters would be sent home to assure Ma and Pa their daughters were safe. These days, we don't send a young woman to the mall without her cell phone.
Maybe one of the things that makes faith tricky for modern man is how little faith it takes to live our day to day lives. When you can get up in the morning and check an online weather report for your town and you know food is located down the street at the local mega-mart, it is unnecessary to believe anything to get out of bed in the morning. We know so much about about our lives, have so many options, and so much control.
Maybe we could learn something from Rebekah's willing leap of faith. She must have been scared, but she went. I am amazed at the strength of my cultural foremother.
Now if I could only figure out the lesson from Rebekah pretending to be Issac's sister, I'd be on a roll.
Reflection at the Science Center
Another picture from my last trip to the St Louis Science Center. Last week, I was outside with a triceratops.
Today's picture was taken in an area devoted to exhibits about the human brain, vision and perceptions. They have lots of optical illusions on a life sized scale.
Next time, I'll have to figure out how to get the shot without a reflection of my flash. The problem didn't even cross my mind at the time.
Now, it's time to go see who has played Self Portrait Sunday.
The Hate Meme
Hate is a strong word. I'll be honest, most of my answers are exaggerated. For the sake of discussion, I'll say I hate the following things: Sunday Stealing: The Hate Meme
1. Most hated food: shrimp. Seafood will never be the thing that drives me to seek best diet pills
2. Most hated person: um... Hitler
3. Most hated job: vacuuming
4. Most hated city: can't say I hate any city
5. Most hated band: New Kids on the Block
6. Most hated (non-blog) website: Homepage for the Church of Scientology
7. Most hated TV program: America's Funniest Home Videos
8. Most hated politician: Nancy Pelosi
9. Most hated artist: I've seen some bad art, but I don't have any names
10. Most hated book: As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
11. Most hated shop or store: Victoria's Secret (I once went in to see about a new bra. Told the little sales bimbo my size and she asked if I could wear one size smaller. They do not carry anything for me in store.)
12. Most hated organization: anything that supports violence, oppression or terrorism.
13. Most hated historical event: Holocaust (aren't these a tad obvious?)
14. Most hated sport: soccer
15. Most hated technology: cellphones and the people who are obsessed with them
16. Most hated annual event: Valentine's Day
17. Most hated daily task: waking up
18. Most hated comedian: Dave Chappelle
19. Most hated blog: I plead the fifth. Got to keep my reputation for being nice.
20. Most hated song: Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice. You do not rip off Queen and David Bowie and expect me to live your song.
Stuck with Me
“This can be a quick one. Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.”
Only 15? Okay, Okay. Just remember, it's the tip of the iceberg:
To Live Again
by Robert Silverberg
A Wrinkle in Time
Nightfall
by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg
The Kitchen God's Wife
by Amy Tan
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith
Oryx and Crake
by Margaret Atwood
Girl with a Pearl Earring
by Tracy Chevalier
The R ed Tent
Anita Diamant
The Egypt Game
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Small Rain
by Madeleine L'Engle
A Live Coal In The Sea
by Madeleine L'Engle
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams
Prelude to Foundation
Isaac Asimov
Skeleton Crew
by Stephen King
Spock's World
Diane Duane
Diane Duane I have read each of the books on the list at least twice. Some of them untold rereads since I first discovered them. Think once a year for 15 years or more.
The discovery dates range from grade school to last year. A Wrinkle in Time and The Egypt Game I read for the first time in fourth grade. Since Mom had a copy of Wrinkle, I may have read it first, but I cannot be sure.
Last year, I gave into reading Star Trek novels when I had my friend Kate pick out a handful for me at a book sale. I've borrowed and acquired other since the first half dozen. By far, Spock's World is my favorite and likely always will be. It's an epic history of Vulcan from it's creation. I laughed and cried.
A obvious majority of my books are science fiction in some form. Eight of fifteen. I have always said SF is my first love. This list proves the romance is going strong.
If you'd like to see what books stick for other Booking Through Thursday players or add yours, visit this week's Sticky question.
Happy Reading!
Creation to Abram and Shari: Genesis 1:1 to 16:16
Between June and August, I have committed to reading the entire Bible. In a mere ninety days, I will be experiencing a vast array of writings relevant to religion, history, and literature. While I cannot commit to blogging on the topic daily, I would like to periodically share my thoughts as I undertake this exciting endeavor.
Creation
While I am unsure who said it, I have adopted the idea that I should take the Bible too seriously to take it literally. There is no better time than the beginning to discuss these issue as I begin blogging about the Bible. My overall take on the matter was much influenced by fiction and nonfiction writings of Madeleine L'Engle, among other important ideas from all kinds of thinkers.
What matters about the creation story is more fundamental than answering the how of creation. The who and why questions illuminate the bigger picture of existence.
It is a crying shame how many people get stuck not believing in God only because they have been told they must believe in a creation story in seven twenty-four hour days. Is it a lynch pin of Judaeochristian faith to take literally an account of Eve being formed of Adam's rib?
When it comes to faith and storytelling, I see no reason to confuse fact and truth.
Truth about the nature of God, man, and the universe is valuable without confusing the matter with science. It is a circular argument which misses the point.
As I read the familiar words contained in chapters one and two of Genesis, I thought about those experiences which, for me, have given me those awe inspiring moments of clarity about the majesty of the universe created with careful detail.
Just Saturday, I looked up at a simulated night sky at the St Louis Science Center Planetarium. Seeing the night sky as it appears without light pollution is one level of amazing. When the presentation moved to pictures of other galaxies, our finite mind cannot begin to understand the magnitude of our universe and the details of it's operation. It's the feeling the word "Wow" was invented to describe.
Another perfect example is the found in a fictional creation story. The Chronicles of Narnia are well known as a Christian allegory. In The Magician's Nephew, Aslan, the Christ figure, calls Narnia into existence. One of the strongest pieces of writing in the books, I've cried every time I read it to think of the power behind existence
Tina's suggested further reading:
The Magician's Nephew (by C.S. Lewis)
(by C.S. Lewis)How it Happened (short story by Isaac Asimov)
)Noah
The story of the flood is a Bible tail which is victimized by it's popularity. Children are brought up on an Ark full of animals in picture books, toys and songs. Even when I try to read about Noah in a serious context, in my head I hear The Unicorn, Shel Silverstein's poem about the ark, set to the music of The Irish Rovers.
You can sing along:
"There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn
The Lord seen some
sinning and it gave Him pain
And He says, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain"
He says, "Hey Noah, I'll tell you what to do
Build me a floating zoo, b
and take some of those..."
What humanity I can see in the story is partly going back to Many Waters, a Madeleine L'Engle young adult novel about two modern day boys who accidentally time travel back to Noah's time shortly before the flood. I love when an author skillfully expands on the Biblical narrative.
Tina's suggested further reading:
Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle
I've got plenty more to read over the next eighty-seven days. While I could find something to say about every story, but there are only so many hours in the day for reading and blogging. I'd love to hear reader's thoughts on these or any other passages.
Read the Bible in 90 Days
Starting today, I'm planning to read the Bible in ninety days. I've been challenged. Okay, not me specifically, it is an open invitation issued by Faith and Victory Church in Auburn, WA for a big happy read along this summer.
My parents, brother, and sister-in-law are active members. They are sure to participate. I've been keeping up with goings on with the via Facebook and Pastor Matt's blog. As I explained in a post on Window in the Web, Matt is a natural in the blogging business.
I considered Matt's post today, Do Something Most Will Never Do, a throwing down of the gauntlet to a bookworm like me. I've never read the whole Bible in one fell swoop, but I've read most, if not all, in the years since I got my first Bible (pale pink mock leather cover) at the age of seven.
How hard to it be to read the Bible in three months when I read The Fountain Head in two weeks? Seriously, check out my reading list so far this year. It is obvious reading is serious business in my life.
As always, I plan to blog as I go. My results with those type of plans have always been mixed, but I ought to get a post or two out of a three month reading adventure. Religion, history, and literature are just the tip of the iceberg in the most widely read book ever.
I'll be reading King James Version. I'm not a snob, even though I grew up with the classic translation. Of what I have on hand, it is the best for straight reading rather than study like the Amplified Bible. Everything that makes the Amplified Bible awesome makes it distracting to read outright. We have an New International Version, but I'm not a fan. Especially when you get to Psalms and the other poetry, the language is too flat for me. What can I say? I like to think God sounds a little like Shakespeare.
If you find the statement that most people will never read the whole Bible, let alone read it in three months, as much of personal dare as I do, the official reading schedule is posted on the church website.
Not a Real Triceratops
I spent the whole day out yesterday with Kate and her daughter Sabrina. We went to the St Louis Science Center then stopped at the mall and Target before heading home.
Four year old Sabrina was very certain the triceratops and his neighbor the t-rex were - gasp - not real despite the signs warning not to feed the dinosaurs. We tried to convince her the science center would have real dinos and they are the right size. She would have none of it. She's just too smart for us.
Kate decided to camp it up for her picture. I'd have run to her aid in an attack from a big scary creature, but I remembered my second grade science. Silly Kate, Triceratops is a plant eater.
Monkey Meme: Stealing Sunday
Cheers to all us thieves!
Sunday Stealing: The Monkey's Meme
1. Name one person who made you smile today: Chris. My sweet husband always makes me smile.
2. What were you doing at 8am this morning? Sleeping.
3. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Writing a post for Window in the Web.
4. What is your favorite candy bar? Twix - perfect when you can't decide if you want a cookie or a candy bar. Goes great with milk and, therefore, is a health food.
5. Have you ever been to a strip club? I prefer my nudity at home.
6. What was the last thing you had to drink? Drinking water, just finished a Diet Dr. Pepper.
7. What was the last thing you ate? Chocolate Chip Cookies.
8. The last sporting event you watched? AWA Wresting. Chris is watching old episodes on DVR as I write.
9. Do you go to church every Sunday? No. Haven't gone to church in a couple years.
10. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza? Yes, but I eat pizza more often.
11. What are you doing tomorrow? Going to work.
12. What do you think of when you hear Australia? Marsupials and The Thorn Birds.
13. Biggest annoyance right now? Craziness at work.
14. Last song listened to? Something off Mika's Life in Cartoon Motion in Kate's car yesterday.
15. Do you have a maid service clean your house? If I called my husband a maid service, he'd be rather annoyed.
16. Are you jealous of anyone? People who don't have to stress about money.
17. Is anyone jealous of you? I doubt it.
18. What do you usually do during the day? Work while reading as much as possible.
19. Do you hate anyone that you know right now? Hate? Too much energy is expended in hate. I do dislike a modest number of people.
20. Are you thinking about someone right now? My small circle of loved ones.
If I Stole a Meme
… it would be from The Gal Herself by way of Kwizgiver!
If I were a direction I’d be… this-a-way or that-a-way
If I were furniture I’d be… fainting couch in a room full of area rugs
If I were a liquid I’d be… hot tea
If I were a sin I’d be… envy
If I were a gem/stone I’d be… ruby
If I were a metal I’d be… copper
If I were a tree I’d be… bonsai
If I were a fruit I’d be… coconut
If I were a flower I’d be… lilac
If I were weather I’d be… light rain, 65 degrees
If I were a musical instrument I’d be… tambourine
If I were an element I’d be… water
If I were a color I’d be… red
If I were an animal I’d be… elephant
If I were a sound I’d be… giggle
If I were a lyric I’d be… "I get by with a little help from my friends"
If I were a song I’d be… I'm Going Slightly Mad - Queen
If I were a music type I’d be… Classic Rock
If I were a perfume/cologne I’d be… Chanel Number 5
If I were a feeling I’d be… excited
If I were a book I’d be… Mostly Harmless
If I were food I’d be… whoopee pie
If I were a city I’d be… Seattle
If I were a taste I’d be… Vanilla
If I were a scent I’d be… Cinnamon
If I were a word I’d be… serendipity
If I were a verb I’d be… reading
If I were an object I’d be… red pen
If I were a piece of clothing I’d be… sports socks
If I were a body part I’d be… fingers
If I were an facial expression I’d be… big smile
If I were a cartoon character I'd be… Bubbles
If I were a movie I’d be… screwball comedy with highbrow references
If I were a geometrical figure I’d be… circle
If I were one of the 4 seasons I’d be… fall
If I were a sentence I’d be… "You're joking, right?"
Unread
Is there a book that you wish you could “unread”? One that you disliked so thoroughly you wish you could just forget that you ever read it?
Wuhering Heights.
. I should have put it down. Less than a third of the way in, I knew wasn't enjoying it. I kept going because it's a classic - one of those books you should read.
I should have remembered what Mark Twain defined a classic- "a book which people praise and don't read" - and skipped 's depressing tale of dysfunctional love.
After almost two weeks of painful reading, I finished it. I'd hope someone in the story would turn out to have a good ending or a positive relationship. It never the happened. For a book billed as a great romance, I found it especially depressing. If people who loved me treated me like the characters treated each other, I would choose to be alone.
The real reason I would unread Wuthering Heights if I could is the books' popularity. It is uncomfortable to find you have told someone their favorite book stinks. Awkward. Better to say, "I've never read it."
Oh, and, I'd like to have my two weeks of reading time back.
To participate visit the Booking Through Thursday homepage.
My Ideal Decor
Last week, my self portrait was a pile of books I'd picked up on the cheap at a library book sale. Here I'm sitting in front of the "library" in our bedroom. All four shelves are stacked with double rows books expect for the hardcovers.
The top section on the shelf over my left shoulder holds the books I've got up for trade on PaperBackSwap.I currently have thirty-nine listed under "TinaKubala" - take a look, I'd love to ship some out.
This week, I decided o try out the timer on my camera for the first time. I've been doing SPS for ages, but up to this point I've either had someone else take the picture or done the arm's length. Using the timer was easier than I thought. I had one photo that missed entirely, then I realized my mistake. I needed to check the LCD screen to line myself up to the spot I was going to be in. Basic, I know, but I'm looking forward more flattering self portraits in the future. I like to be able to do something a little different revery time. Who knows, maybe sometime I'll try wearing a tuxedo or a fancy dress.
I'm looking for some advice from my self portrait pals - I need some free photo editing software for my laptop. Any suggestions would be welcomed. I'd been the stuff that came with our printer on the desktop. My laptop doesn't have disk drive, so I can only get what I can download from the net for now. As you can see, I'll need red eye reduction sooner than I'll invest in a disk drive.
It's time to head over to Cass' Blog to see who posted a self portrait this fine Sunday.
The A to Z Meme
Sunday Stealing: The A to Z MemeA
• Are you available? I book months in advance.
• What is your age? twenty-eight in chronology, old in memory
• What annoys you? This question deserves it's own post. Or maybe, a reoccurring feature.
B
• Do you know anyone named Billy? No.
• When is your birthday? August 17.
• Who is your best friend? It's a three way tie. My friend Kate, my husband Chris, and Mom
C
• What's your favorite candy? Chocolate.
• Crush? Orange.Grape is too sweet for me.
• When was the last time you cried? At work last week out of frustration.
D
• Do you daydream? Of course.How else does a person survive the workday?
• What's your favorite kind of dog? Friendly with low drooling
• What day of the week is it? If I say it's Saturday, can I not go to work tomorrow?
E
• How do you like your eggs? Any style, as long as they are cooked until the yoke is firm. Runny yokes make me queasy.
• Have you ever been in the emergency room? Has anyone avoided the ER they're whole life?
• Ever pet an elephant? Not pet, exactly. I rode an elephant at the San Diego Zoo when I was in kindergarten.
F
• Do you use fly swatters? No. My cats handle fly killing
• Have you ever used a foghorn? No.
• Is there a fan in your room? Yes. Hubby can't sleep without the white noise.
G
• Do you chew gum? Yes. I start chewing gum regularly in seventh grade for two reasons. First, I had braces. Short of carrying a toothbrush and one of those brushes that look like tiny toilet brushes, carefully chewing a small piece of gum was the best way to dislodge the gunk after a meal. Second, our middle school had an all out ban on gum on campus, even in the cafeteria and outside. Seemed a little extreme to me. I learned to swallow my used pieces. In a full year of chewing before school and at lunch, no one ever noticed.
• Do you like gummy candies? Once in a great while I'll get some Haribo Gummi Bears, the German imports in the gold bag. Otherwise, my reaction to gummy stuff is mostly, "do you have any chocolate?"
• Do you like gory movies? Not extremely gory. I close my eyes at lots of gory stuff. In Watchmen, I may have missed twenty minutes.
H
• How are you? Stressed, but holding on.
• What's your height? 4 feet 10 inches
• What color is your hair? Dark blonde. Note to self: need to get some sun.
I
• What's your favorite ice cream? Baskin-Robbins' World Class Chocolate
• Have you ever ice skated? No.
• Ever been in an igloo? Ah, no.
J
• What's your favorite Jelly Bean? Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn
• Have you ever heard a really hilarious joke? Yes.
• Do you wear jewelry? My wedding ring 24/7/365. Anything else, only when I remember/can find it.
K
• Who do you want to kill? I don't want to kill anyone. There is, however, a short list of people I would not be sad to hear got hit by a bus.
• Have you ever flown a kite? Yes.
• Do you think kangaroos are cute? Of course. However, koalas and wombats are tied for my favorite marsupials.
L
• Are you laid back? I have carefully cultivated this trait to preserve my sanity. By nature, I'm a worrier and a perfectionist.
• Lions or Tigers? Both are amazing proof of the glory of creation.
• Do you like black licorice? No.
M
• Favorite movie as a kid? The Last Unicorn
• Ever shopped at Moosejaw? Never heard of it. Maybe they should have had an "M" question about mesothelioma instead.
• Favorite store at the mall? Another tie: Torrid and Teavana
N
• Do you have a nickname? Tina is technically a nickname. My ID says Christina
• Whats your favorite number? 3.14159265...
• Do you prefer night or day? Night. But now that I have to be to work by 6 am my preference is becoming an issue.
O
• What's your one wish? Financial freedom. Not even necessarily vast wealth, just enough so I don't have to fret about money.
• Are you an only child? No. I have a wonderful little brother.
• Do you like the color orange? Yes. Yesterday, I helped Kate paint her new bedroom the color of a creamsicle. It's beautiful.
P
• What are you most paranoid about? Financial security.
• Piercings? Only the ear lobes, one hole each, since I was nine.
• Do you know anyone named Penelope? No.
Q
• Are you quick to judge people? Yes, it's human nature. But I do not allow those judgments make me blind to new information.
• Do you like Quaker Oats? Yummy, oatmeal.
• Know anyone that makes quilts? My gram and my sister-in-law Robyn.
R
• Do you think you're always right? I'd like to think it, but then I'd be wrong.
• Do you watch reality TV? Not really.
• Reason to cry? It's a great stress reliever.
S
• Do you prefer sun or rain? A nice balance.
• Do you like snow? Snow is fine. Ice sucks.
• What's your favorite season? Fall.
T
• time is it? 1:20 pm
• What time did you wake up? 10 am
U
• Can you ride a unicycle? No.
• Do you know anyone with a unibrow? Not any bad ones.
• Uncles do you have? Yes. Why was this question written by Yoda?
V
• What’s the worst vegetable? I like pretty much every vegetable I've tried. I could do without lima beans.
• Did you ever watch Veggie Tales? I'm too old to have watched as a kid. Never seen it.
• Ever considered being vegan? Not vegan. I couldn't give up milk and cheese, and would have a hard time giving up eggs. Meat, I could give up if need be.
W
• What's your worst habit? Awfulizing
• Do you like water rides? Like Pirates of the Caribbean or It's a Small World? Yes. Like a water park? No.
• Ever been inside a windmill? No.
X
• Have you ever had an x-ray? Yes. Mostly chest x-rays to examine my lungs.
• Ever used a Xerox machine? Xerox? I suspect not. A copy machine? Yes. I was a library assistant in middle school and high school and was trained in basic copy machine maintenance.
Y
• Do you like the color yellow? A nice pale yellow can look very nice.
• What year were you born in? 1980.
• Do you yell when you're angry? Not usually. I don't do conflict.
Z
• Do you believe in the zodiac? I think it was created by the best scientific observers alive at the time. I do not believe it's the truth but if used to with a grain of salt to better understand yourselves, I don't see any harm. Daily horoscopes, on the other hand, are no better than a fortune cookie.
• What's your zodiac sign? Leo, of course.
• When was the last time you went to the zoo? October 22. Chris and I went to the St Louis Zoo for his birthday.