Yesterday I awoke to a warm breeze and the smell of spring sprinkling through my room. I looked over my alarm clock, which happens to double as my cell phone. The time read 9:30. I had a brief panic attack thinking I was late to work, but my panic quickly turned to utter joy as I realized it was Sunday. I inhaled deeply and stretched; it’s beautiful out, and I don’t have to get up – this day was definitely beginning on the right side of the bed.
“The right side of the bed,” I exclaimed as I decided to let my words reflect my thoughts. Suddenly, I got to thinking about the oddity of that phrase. Well actually, the phrase is “someone got up on the wrong side of the bed,” but you know, same difference.
So intrigued, and unable to hold in curiosity when an eternity of information can be obtained with a couple clicks, I stumbled out of bed and over a couple shoes to my computer. One visit to Google and this is what I found:
GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED - "The wrong side of the bed is the left side, according to a superstition that goes back to the time of the Romans. People have been saying other people 'got up on the wrong side of the bed,' 'awoke surly or grouchy,' for well over three centuries now, usually not knowing the real meaning of what they are saying, but the equally old expression 'got up left foot forward' tells the story. The supposedly sinister nature of the left is reflected in many English superstitions and expressions, such as the belief that it is unlucky to put your left shoe first, or to walk into a house left foot first. The Romans, especially Augustus Caesar, were very careful that they got up on the right side of the bed, but there is no evidence that they were less grouchy than anyone else."
Ummm…this did not really explain anything, except that Caesar got up on the right side of the bed. Excuse me ‘Origins of Phrases Dictionary,’ my appetite for legend and reason was not satisfied by that explanation. I could have come up with something better myself. I can’t believe I just got up for that, what a waste.
I retreated back into bed with the goal of somehow spiting the phrase’s derivation for being lame. So I lay down for another half-hour and then rose. I scooted as far left on the bed as possible, stuck out my left foot and jumped as hard as I could to the floor. If I’m not going to get an interesting explanation, I’m going to prove the phrase wrong.
And you know what? I did – because the warm, breezy, spring-smelling day turned out to be just as pleasant as I first anticipated.
And I just wanted you all to know.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Bienvenue Spring
Today officially marks the end of the solemn stretch of time we call winter. Although winter is technically over, let’s face it, physically, it’s still cold out and I don’t see any cherry blossoms on the trees. But regardless, I thought today was an appropriate day to write about my top accomplishments/highlights of the winter. They are as follows:
1. I got a job with benefits! That meant I could go to the doctor for the first time in two years!
2. I committed to staying at my job (nothing short of miraculous, really).
3. I committed to staying at the Upper Room, finally
4. From the looks of the above two – I committed to actually committing to things (which btw, wasn’t a problem for me until college graduation – the real world will bring down the best of us…).
5. I took the first step towards leaving the country, and introducing myself to the third world – signing up for Africa
6. Technologically, I bought a video iPod, and discovered the wonder that is gmail.
7. Oh and I almost forgot! I set up a couple that is still together! This should be number one, but that would look lame so I’ll keep it at seven
In other news:
I had a fairly adventurous and random St. Patrick’s Day. It consisted of the downtown Hyatt, the backroads of Minneapolis, and an unusual rowdiness at Gasthof’s. Not rowdiness on my friends or my part – but on everyone else’s. People were getting a little too crazy.
I started my hip hop class yesterday. It is super sweet. I am excited. I will teach you my dance moves if you ask. This Sunday I switched from listening to Mark Driscoll to Rob Bell again. You got to switch it up a bit. If anyone hasn’t read any of Rob Bell’s books – you are missing out on quite possibly the greatest experience you will ever have, apart from C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce and Mere Christianity that is. Read those first.
1. I got a job with benefits! That meant I could go to the doctor for the first time in two years!
2. I committed to staying at my job (nothing short of miraculous, really).
3. I committed to staying at the Upper Room, finally
4. From the looks of the above two – I committed to actually committing to things (which btw, wasn’t a problem for me until college graduation – the real world will bring down the best of us…).
5. I took the first step towards leaving the country, and introducing myself to the third world – signing up for Africa
6. Technologically, I bought a video iPod, and discovered the wonder that is gmail.
7. Oh and I almost forgot! I set up a couple that is still together! This should be number one, but that would look lame so I’ll keep it at seven
In other news:
I had a fairly adventurous and random St. Patrick’s Day. It consisted of the downtown Hyatt, the backroads of Minneapolis, and an unusual rowdiness at Gasthof’s. Not rowdiness on my friends or my part – but on everyone else’s. People were getting a little too crazy.
I started my hip hop class yesterday. It is super sweet. I am excited. I will teach you my dance moves if you ask. This Sunday I switched from listening to Mark Driscoll to Rob Bell again. You got to switch it up a bit. If anyone hasn’t read any of Rob Bell’s books – you are missing out on quite possibly the greatest experience you will ever have, apart from C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce and Mere Christianity that is. Read those first.
Friday, March 16, 2007
All I ever needed to know, I learned from bumper stickers
Yesterday as I was driving down my usual route of the bumpy terrain, known universally as 394E – a bumper sticker caught my eye. It read as so:
I had a stunning revelation.
I have never realized that the south has been fighting terrorism since 1861, and actually, I never realized that the South still had its own flag! I mean, I knew that the Civil War began in 1861. But I thought that was fought over territories and slavery (well, as an afterthought). Maybe I was wrong? Which got me thinking, did I even need to go to college, if they are going to teach me all this false information? Like, that the Civil War ended in 1865 and that ‘slavery,’ and ‘northern territories’ weren’t synonymous for ‘terrorism.’
You know, I probably didn’t even need to go to school at all. As my eyes wandered throughout the busy lanes and dashing cars, more and more educational bumper stickers caught my eye, and this thought became more of a reality. All I ever needed to know could have been learned through bumper stickers! What a waste. Here are some more examples of the didactic messages I was enlightened with via this vehicular channel of communication:
“A Kid On The Ice Is Not In Hot Water” This nouveau proverb was authored by some hockey association, and it absolutely amazed me!! Whenever I looked at kids in ice rinks in the past, I was for sure that the solid ice was in fact hot water! And I always thought those hockey players had it easy – skating on ice that was like a hot tub. I’m glad someone finally alerted me to my misunderstanding!
“Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History” Seriously? So Jackie Kennedy, Queen Victoria, Mary Magdalene, Mother Theresa, Princess Diana, Grace Kelly, Betsy Ross, Eleanor Roosevelt, etc… etc… were all radically misbehaved women! Time to look for new role models…
This is a favorite from high school “You Can’t Hug Children with Nuclear Arms.” Wow. I always thought that nuclear missiles were the most ideal tool to hug little kids with. I never had any though. Well now that I know you can’t use them to hug kids, maybe I can be more affectionate toward little children. (And yes, I get that the phrase is a play on words).
Or my favorite “My Kid Could Beat Up Your Honor Student.” Great! Next time I need someone to beat up my honor student, I will contact license plate number KYC 455. Have a nice day.
I had a stunning revelation.
I have never realized that the south has been fighting terrorism since 1861, and actually, I never realized that the South still had its own flag! I mean, I knew that the Civil War began in 1861. But I thought that was fought over territories and slavery (well, as an afterthought). Maybe I was wrong? Which got me thinking, did I even need to go to college, if they are going to teach me all this false information? Like, that the Civil War ended in 1865 and that ‘slavery,’ and ‘northern territories’ weren’t synonymous for ‘terrorism.’
You know, I probably didn’t even need to go to school at all. As my eyes wandered throughout the busy lanes and dashing cars, more and more educational bumper stickers caught my eye, and this thought became more of a reality. All I ever needed to know could have been learned through bumper stickers! What a waste. Here are some more examples of the didactic messages I was enlightened with via this vehicular channel of communication:
“A Kid On The Ice Is Not In Hot Water” This nouveau proverb was authored by some hockey association, and it absolutely amazed me!! Whenever I looked at kids in ice rinks in the past, I was for sure that the solid ice was in fact hot water! And I always thought those hockey players had it easy – skating on ice that was like a hot tub. I’m glad someone finally alerted me to my misunderstanding!
“Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History” Seriously? So Jackie Kennedy, Queen Victoria, Mary Magdalene, Mother Theresa, Princess Diana, Grace Kelly, Betsy Ross, Eleanor Roosevelt, etc… etc… were all radically misbehaved women! Time to look for new role models…
This is a favorite from high school “You Can’t Hug Children with Nuclear Arms.” Wow. I always thought that nuclear missiles were the most ideal tool to hug little kids with. I never had any though. Well now that I know you can’t use them to hug kids, maybe I can be more affectionate toward little children. (And yes, I get that the phrase is a play on words).
Or my favorite “My Kid Could Beat Up Your Honor Student.” Great! Next time I need someone to beat up my honor student, I will contact license plate number KYC 455. Have a nice day.
Monday, March 12, 2007
My journey to the heart of darkness
This is how Lonely Planet describes
Democratic
The Democratic Republic of Congo remains violent, dangerous and notoriously unstable. But should peace ever break out in this long-suffering cauldron of chaos, the potential for adventurous travellers is nothing short of mind-blowing
Hahaha…are you kidding me? I am going to the “proverbial heart of darkness,” which “continues to live up to its grisly image?” “A cauldron of chaos?”
Who talked me into this?? Oh man – I am still excited though. I have come a long way from having anxiety attacks over going to
Check back later this week for my analysis on recent news that married Americans are beginning a trend of sleeping in separate rooms. Here's a preview: lame.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Warning: abnormally serious post ahead...
So I have had a lot on my mind lately. And because I have a problem with organizing my thoughts cognitively – I have to write them out. This is an abnormally deep post so please skip if you are looking for entertainment.
Lately, I’ve been hung up on this idea of intellect, and its place among the gifts God gives us. Personally, I admit I idolize this gift – particularly in others - which is great in itself, but I feel like Christians everywhere have made this idolatry okay. In fact, we almost pride ourselves in it –and we try to box people in with grades and test scores and trivial pursuit pop culture(ok maybe that's just me…). I’ll admit, I relate to a specific kind of intelligence, and I like being around people who know a lot and can challenge me and give me well thought out answers to the eternal barrage of questions that run through my mind daily. But is this the best kind of intellect? Why do we value this version of smart over other kinds. And why do we make it okay to do this? I feel that even in the Christian church – like I heard Greg Boyd say once “I thought that no intelligent person could be a Christian,” we separate people into intelligent and not intelligent. But I think there’s more to it that that – and I think that by calling someone unintelligent we are ignoring the gifts God specifically gave them (see Howard Gardners’ Theory of Multiple Intelligences for more info…). Like who’s to say that the guy who is really good at astrophysics is way smarter than a good drummer?
Anyway, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to come to terms with this – esp. since I really appreciate hanging out with people who know what they are talking about when it comes to worldviews and philosophies and such. But I’m just throwing it out there. I heard a sermon recently that called the things we think are so great about ourselves, our ‘false sense of self.’ And by ‘losing your life’ as Jesus says – we need to get rid of all our ideas that we think make us better than others, and come to see our worth and identity in Christ alone. If we could see that – then perhaps we could start seeing others in this way as well. I can only pray for that day to come I guess. Anyway, back to my unrelenting thought patterns - next post I promise will be on the best pop songs ever.
Lately, I’ve been hung up on this idea of intellect, and its place among the gifts God gives us. Personally, I admit I idolize this gift – particularly in others - which is great in itself, but I feel like Christians everywhere have made this idolatry okay. In fact, we almost pride ourselves in it –and we try to box people in with grades and test scores and trivial pursuit pop culture(ok maybe that's just me…). I’ll admit, I relate to a specific kind of intelligence, and I like being around people who know a lot and can challenge me and give me well thought out answers to the eternal barrage of questions that run through my mind daily. But is this the best kind of intellect? Why do we value this version of smart over other kinds. And why do we make it okay to do this? I feel that even in the Christian church – like I heard Greg Boyd say once “I thought that no intelligent person could be a Christian,” we separate people into intelligent and not intelligent. But I think there’s more to it that that – and I think that by calling someone unintelligent we are ignoring the gifts God specifically gave them (see Howard Gardners’ Theory of Multiple Intelligences for more info…). Like who’s to say that the guy who is really good at astrophysics is way smarter than a good drummer?
Anyway, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to come to terms with this – esp. since I really appreciate hanging out with people who know what they are talking about when it comes to worldviews and philosophies and such. But I’m just throwing it out there. I heard a sermon recently that called the things we think are so great about ourselves, our ‘false sense of self.’ And by ‘losing your life’ as Jesus says – we need to get rid of all our ideas that we think make us better than others, and come to see our worth and identity in Christ alone. If we could see that – then perhaps we could start seeing others in this way as well. I can only pray for that day to come I guess. Anyway, back to my unrelenting thought patterns - next post I promise will be on the best pop songs ever.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Of March and Tyrannosaurus Rex
Garrison Keillor once said that “God designed the month of March to show people who don’t drink what a hangover feels like.” I agree, well at least with the inference of March’s repulsiveness. March gives you a headache; it makes you depressed, and is a yearly reminder of why I don’t drink that much. Why would I want to experience March every weekend?
Anyway, now that I’ve impressively pulled out a Garrison Keillor quote, (don’t deny you’re impressed) allow me to elaborate on why March is so horrible. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is the worst month of the year, at least for us in the land of sky-tinted water. You see March presents us with hope – and then crushes it. It’s like someone dangling the most exquisite piece of chocolate in front of you, letting you have a bite, and then taking the rest away. In March’s case – the hope, and the chocolate, is spring. Even though I have been through March twenty-three times in Minnesota, each time I think that the month brings spring and the onset of warmth. But every year, I am vexingly wrong. Not only are we completely sick of winter by March, but this conning month thinks its funny to make us marinate in our depression by throwing things like freezing temperatures, despairingly gray streets and skies, and 20 feet of snow in our face. Do you know how many times I’ve slipped in front of people this week – I’ve started to pretend it’s a new dance move, that’s how many.
And also – the term “In like a lion, out like a lamb,” doesn’t describe the third month. The end of March doesn’t resemble a soft and gentle lamb. I guess a lion is an OK description – minus the beauty. So what animal is ugly and ferocious….a tyrannosaurus rex. Yes – that is my new depiction of March, a tyrannosaurus rex. I hope this explains the title. I like May – now that is a good month.
Anyway, now that I’ve impressively pulled out a Garrison Keillor quote, (don’t deny you’re impressed) allow me to elaborate on why March is so horrible. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is the worst month of the year, at least for us in the land of sky-tinted water. You see March presents us with hope – and then crushes it. It’s like someone dangling the most exquisite piece of chocolate in front of you, letting you have a bite, and then taking the rest away. In March’s case – the hope, and the chocolate, is spring. Even though I have been through March twenty-three times in Minnesota, each time I think that the month brings spring and the onset of warmth. But every year, I am vexingly wrong. Not only are we completely sick of winter by March, but this conning month thinks its funny to make us marinate in our depression by throwing things like freezing temperatures, despairingly gray streets and skies, and 20 feet of snow in our face. Do you know how many times I’ve slipped in front of people this week – I’ve started to pretend it’s a new dance move, that’s how many.
And also – the term “In like a lion, out like a lamb,” doesn’t describe the third month. The end of March doesn’t resemble a soft and gentle lamb. I guess a lion is an OK description – minus the beauty. So what animal is ugly and ferocious….a tyrannosaurus rex. Yes – that is my new depiction of March, a tyrannosaurus rex. I hope this explains the title. I like May – now that is a good month.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Happy Day
What a great day. Seriously - it's beautiful outside and I don't have to work. Could it get any better?? I have the best boss ever. She said she didn't want me to have to worry about getting stuck. So this is day two of corporate America's snow vacation. I haven't had a snow day since high school - and now I get two!!
It's little surprises like this that make life great. And on that note I had another surprise today that made life even better. Harper emailed me and said that I was going to the Congo. YEAH!!! She said they would call me in a couple days - so I hope it's true! It's great to have friends in powerful places:). She said her love ran so deep for me that she hired someone to take a crowbar to one of the people going on the trip - and that now that person is questioning her faith in God and decided not to go on the trip. Ohh...the things we joke about that shouldn't be joked about.
So it's noon, on Friday, and my roommates and I are going to see a movie. Music and Lyrics, a cheesy romantic comedy to add the perfection of the day. Thank you God.
It's little surprises like this that make life great. And on that note I had another surprise today that made life even better. Harper emailed me and said that I was going to the Congo. YEAH!!! She said they would call me in a couple days - so I hope it's true! It's great to have friends in powerful places:). She said her love ran so deep for me that she hired someone to take a crowbar to one of the people going on the trip - and that now that person is questioning her faith in God and decided not to go on the trip. Ohh...the things we joke about that shouldn't be joked about.
So it's noon, on Friday, and my roommates and I are going to see a movie. Music and Lyrics, a cheesy romantic comedy to add the perfection of the day. Thank you God.
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