Walking into Sam's yesterday you're immediately greeted not only with the Club "id checker" or "bouncer" haha as I like to think about it, but you're also immediately reminded of the holiday with all of their great Christmas presents right there at the door.
But giving the greeter a hearty "Merry Christmas" only got us a mere "same to you" causing us to realize they're probably not allowed to say it back.
"Sam Walton would be rolling over in his grave" I said as we walked away.
After that a "Merry Christmas" was dished out to the McDonalds drive through employee who looked for a second as if he were going to say it back and instead gave a weak, "thanks."
What my husband and I found so fascinated yesterday as we drove home was the number of employees that can't say it back to us. You would think that if someone offers up a Merry Christmas they would at least be allowed to return it, but apparently they can't.
What I would like to know is if these people who have raised such a rucus about saying Christmas..do they not slip up and say it at all themselves? Do they never say Christmas presents or Christmas time? I would really like to know someone who was of the opinion that we "shouldn't be inforcing our religious beliefs by saying "Christmas"' cause if I did, I would so call them out on it every. single. time. they said the word.
It's sad that such a loud mouth minority like that has rule over what we wish each other as we get our change.
I'm not completely against saying Happy Holidays, I used to say it all the time when I was a cashier at Target. It's a phrase that does encompass all the holidays, and if that's the reason you say it, then more power to you. It's the "political correctness" that I don't like, or not returning "Merry Christmas" at all that's weak sauce.
So I double dare you, in the next week, overstate your Merry Christmas. Do it.
At the mall on Saturday my sister and I encountered a man who was standing at the door wishing everyone a Merry Christmas as they walked in. As we walked out she said, "You know maybe he's trying to make a statement." I hope she's right. And if I see him again I may just stand next to him and offer my voice next to his. Because it's Christ that starts this whole thing, not "Same to you."
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Raw Eggs and Great Lines
Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief…I’ve found a book to latch onto.
I know I said I was going to read “The Great Gatsby” and I did start into it, but didn’t get past the first chapter. It didn’t hook me. Granted I didn’t give it time to, but I’ll not write it off I’ll just pick it up another time.
My new found love is actually by Ms. E. L. Konigsburg. I know, I know, the last book I read of hers I ended up complaining about. But I’ve picked up another one the other night at 10:30 while Dayton slept soundly next to me, and I don’t know, maybe it was the magic of reading under the covers with my book light that just made it love at first read.
What does it for me is a good first line. I’m such a first line kind of person with everything really. My favorite Norah Jones song (well, ok I’ve got 5 contending for that spot so one of my favorite) is the one that starts off,
You’ve got a famous last name, but you’re not to blame. Baby, I see you for who you are.
I am incessantly drawn in by the mystery of that line—what is the last name, why is it famous, what does she see in him? It’s something I savor every time I hear it.
Konigsburg draws the same curious picture in my current read, T-backs, T-shirts, COAT, and Suit, with an opening line that goes like this,
“Going to Peco for the summer was not Chloe’s first choice. Or her second or her third. It was her only choice.”
A line like that deserves further investigation.
The delight of her writing continues, but takes new shape as the mystery of why it wasn’t Chloe’s choice is quickly dispelled. Konigsburg keeps you there with a smattering of really great descriptions.
I used to look at writing, and singing for that matter, as something you have to do extraordinarily well with every note and every word. Pick a sentence structure that will wow them every time and use words never before combined; sing a song so well the notes sound as if you’ve just created them from your own set of vocal chords…but no pressure.
It wasn’t until, well, I don’t remember the exact moment, but I soon realized that good writing, and good singing, involves not a string of heavenly sounds or words, but rather a body of well-crafted work with a surprising glimpse of talent here and there.
I don’t have to re-invent the wheel when I write a children’s story, I just have to have a good plot and some colorful characters and make sure that I have a humorous nugget or a clever description thrown in here and there like cookie dough to vanilla ice cream. It’s those bites with the cookie dough that we love so much, but if the whole cone were a ball of cookie dough with pockets of vanilla it just wouldn’t be the same.
Plus we’d probably get a stomachache, but that has nothing to do with my writing metaphor I just ran out of ways to end this thing.
I know I said I was going to read “The Great Gatsby” and I did start into it, but didn’t get past the first chapter. It didn’t hook me. Granted I didn’t give it time to, but I’ll not write it off I’ll just pick it up another time.
My new found love is actually by Ms. E. L. Konigsburg. I know, I know, the last book I read of hers I ended up complaining about. But I’ve picked up another one the other night at 10:30 while Dayton slept soundly next to me, and I don’t know, maybe it was the magic of reading under the covers with my book light that just made it love at first read.
What does it for me is a good first line. I’m such a first line kind of person with everything really. My favorite Norah Jones song (well, ok I’ve got 5 contending for that spot so one of my favorite) is the one that starts off,
You’ve got a famous last name, but you’re not to blame. Baby, I see you for who you are.
I am incessantly drawn in by the mystery of that line—what is the last name, why is it famous, what does she see in him? It’s something I savor every time I hear it.
Konigsburg draws the same curious picture in my current read, T-backs, T-shirts, COAT, and Suit, with an opening line that goes like this,
“Going to Peco for the summer was not Chloe’s first choice. Or her second or her third. It was her only choice.”
A line like that deserves further investigation.
The delight of her writing continues, but takes new shape as the mystery of why it wasn’t Chloe’s choice is quickly dispelled. Konigsburg keeps you there with a smattering of really great descriptions.
I used to look at writing, and singing for that matter, as something you have to do extraordinarily well with every note and every word. Pick a sentence structure that will wow them every time and use words never before combined; sing a song so well the notes sound as if you’ve just created them from your own set of vocal chords…but no pressure.
It wasn’t until, well, I don’t remember the exact moment, but I soon realized that good writing, and good singing, involves not a string of heavenly sounds or words, but rather a body of well-crafted work with a surprising glimpse of talent here and there.
I don’t have to re-invent the wheel when I write a children’s story, I just have to have a good plot and some colorful characters and make sure that I have a humorous nugget or a clever description thrown in here and there like cookie dough to vanilla ice cream. It’s those bites with the cookie dough that we love so much, but if the whole cone were a ball of cookie dough with pockets of vanilla it just wouldn’t be the same.
Plus we’d probably get a stomachache, but that has nothing to do with my writing metaphor I just ran out of ways to end this thing.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A few...ok maybe a lot of my favorite things...
Can I just say, I really love Christmas time.
Ha of course I can it's my own flippen' blog.
I do love it, I especially love telling people Merry Christmas or Happy Thanksgiving. That's probably my favorite part. That whole spreading good cheer thing. Love it.
And I really love winter. The bundling and the cozy inside-ness of it, how you get to have all these cool extra accessories like scarves and gloves and hats and what they look like all piled up near your front door.
I love fire burning dvd's and the smell of wood burning when you walk outside.
I love getting to eat soup for lunch and drinking coffee or hot tea any time of day cause you're cold.
Oo Oo and I love how the Christmas version of everything comes on tv and how there's always something good on the radio cause at least one station does Christmas music 24/7.
Boots are my favorite shoe, I've decided, and I love rushing inside and watching windy, cold weather from underneath a blanket (until you reach for something and your arms freeze up and you think..oh man if only my blanket had SLEEVES!).
Mmm Winter is my favorite, and Christmas is my favorite.
So I'm going to sit back and enjoy.
Ha of course I can it's my own flippen' blog.
I do love it, I especially love telling people Merry Christmas or Happy Thanksgiving. That's probably my favorite part. That whole spreading good cheer thing. Love it.
And I really love winter. The bundling and the cozy inside-ness of it, how you get to have all these cool extra accessories like scarves and gloves and hats and what they look like all piled up near your front door.
I love fire burning dvd's and the smell of wood burning when you walk outside.
I love getting to eat soup for lunch and drinking coffee or hot tea any time of day cause you're cold.
Oo Oo and I love how the Christmas version of everything comes on tv and how there's always something good on the radio cause at least one station does Christmas music 24/7.
Boots are my favorite shoe, I've decided, and I love rushing inside and watching windy, cold weather from underneath a blanket (until you reach for something and your arms freeze up and you think..oh man if only my blanket had SLEEVES!).
Mmm Winter is my favorite, and Christmas is my favorite.
So I'm going to sit back and enjoy.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Good
I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
-Ephesians 1:15-19 (the message)
-Ephesians 1:15-19 (the message)
Friday, December 4, 2009
Psalm 34:1
"I will bless the Lord at all times His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
What's something that's in your mouth for long periods of time?
Gum.
When you think about it, we chew gum and know that we're chewing gum, but the whole time we're not thinking, "I'm chewing gum, I'm chewing gum, I'm chewing gum." It's in our mind, just not the tip of it.
When I read this scripture the first thing I thought of was "His praise shall continually be in my mouth" like gum.
How gross is it though, when we're chewing gum and then decide to eat a cracker (if you can actually reference a time when you've done this don't tell anyone).
It's at least a very imaginable gross-ness.
If you compare it again to the scripture it would be like chewing on the praises of God, then sticking a complain cracker in your mouth--they don't mix well.
I chewed on this scripture all day yesterday and plan to invoke the taste of cracker-gum next time I decide to complain about something.
You should do the same, and if you have trouble imagining the cracker-gum combo, try it-I double dare you.
What's something that's in your mouth for long periods of time?
Gum.
When you think about it, we chew gum and know that we're chewing gum, but the whole time we're not thinking, "I'm chewing gum, I'm chewing gum, I'm chewing gum." It's in our mind, just not the tip of it.
When I read this scripture the first thing I thought of was "His praise shall continually be in my mouth" like gum.
How gross is it though, when we're chewing gum and then decide to eat a cracker (if you can actually reference a time when you've done this don't tell anyone).
It's at least a very imaginable gross-ness.
If you compare it again to the scripture it would be like chewing on the praises of God, then sticking a complain cracker in your mouth--they don't mix well.
I chewed on this scripture all day yesterday and plan to invoke the taste of cracker-gum next time I decide to complain about something.
You should do the same, and if you have trouble imagining the cracker-gum combo, try it-I double dare you.
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