Stepping Off the Edge of Perfect and Polished Into the Chasm of Random Uncertainty

I actually have some time to blog. Well, I could be grading papers but why when the room is quiet and the computer is beckoning? So now that I have time, I have no topic in mind. No topic that is polished an ready to type. So I decided to write the random stuff that pops into my head. I'm a little frightened already.

I have been reading, rereading mostly, Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh who was married to Charles Lindbergh. I've had the book a while. I am not sure where or when or why I bought the book. I do remember reading, perusing rather, a biography of Charles Lindbergh several years ago. Perhaps that prompted the interest in her book. At any rate, it is a lovely little book. I'm not sure what the original cover looked like (It was first published sometime in the fifties, I believe), but my paperback copy is a lovely light shade of turquoise with an embossed shell on the front. Like this. So, as I was reading through this I found myself thinking that this author apparently knew exactly how I would feel way before I was even born. There are tons of blog posts I could pull from this book, but for now I'll just say that I've been inspired. I've always loved the beach and even dreamed of having a small beach cottage someday for me and my family. Lindbergh apparently took some time (about 4 weeks, I think), leaving behind her five kids and husband, to escape to a little house off the coast of Florida to think and write. That is every writer's dream, I'm sure. Even back in the fifties she recognized the need for women (the book is primarily addressed to women) to take some time regularly to be alone, to center themselves, to be still. I think we all need this--time to process all of the junk life throws our way. I have a friend who seems to have a fear of any unscheduled time as if she is afraid of being alone with herself. I think people like this who call themselves "people persons" need quiet time more so than people like me who thrive on solitude. People like me will find solitude come hell or high water, but people like my friend have to make themselves find it. We all need to recognize our need to disengage from our daily routine and just be still and quiet. Jesus withdrew to pray and encouraged His disciples to "come apart and rest awhile" (Mark 6:31). Psalm 46 tells us to "be still and know" God.

Well, that's about as random as I'm going to get right now. And on second thought, my title is kind of presumptuous--as if I ever stood on the edge of perfect and polished! I can dream though.

Whiners, Occupiers, and Wal-mart Shoppers

I've got to stop complaining. I have kept thinking about what I wrote a couple of posts back about not liking my job. I sound like a whiner, and I'm too old for that. I don't always like my job, but who doesn't? The more I hear about the state of the country, the more I am thankful that my husband and I still do have jobs.

At any rate, since my dad is the only one presently reading this blog (and I'm totally okay with that), I think I owe him an apology for having to read my grumbling and complaining. So, I'm sorry, Dad. I will try to be more positive and uplifting.

Oh, who am I kidding? I probably won't be positive because I seem to only blog when something is bothering me, but I can try not to grumble about my trivial personal issues.

So, I guess I'll just grumble about current events though I can't say I stay too current on what's happening in the world. My own world occupies my immediate attention most of the time, but when I do have time to catch up on what's going on, I find myself discouraged and want to stick my head even further in the sand.

Take this Occupy Wall Street thing. It has me perplexed. I mean, I certainly don't claim to be any kind of economic expert. Far from it, but I'm not sure why they are occupying. Frankly, it sounds like a lot of grown ups acting like spoiled kids who aren't getting their fair share of the candy. But we all know life isn't fair. Now, some of those people may actually have legitimate concerns. However, from what I gather, most of them are upset that big corporations, banks, what-have-you are controlling this country. So, the Occupiers want big government instead? Is that what they are saying? How is that going to be any better. Are there greedy big corporations out there? Well, sure, but isn't it the big businesses that create jobs for the middle and even lower classes? How many people would be out of jobs if McDonald's closed up shop? I really wish I could get an objective opinion from both sides of the issue, but I don't think that's gonna happen.

I recently bought Halloween costumes for my kids to go trick-or-treating this year. (This really isn't a totally random topic change. I promise.) Originally, I was going to be all Martha Stewart and make my kids their costumes. I found patterns for $.99 at Jo Ann's, but when I went to buy the material and notions, I realized I was going to be spending a whole heck of a lot more than I wanteed to; plus, I was going to have to make it, too. Not only was it going to be expensive but also time consuming. This was just for one kid. My other kid hadn't yet decided what she wanted to be yet. To make a long story short, I happened to be in Wal-Mart with the kid who had set her heart on being Cleopatra. Sure, I told her, we'll look at the costumes, but we are not buying one. I ate those words in a hurry when we found the perfect Cleopatra costume with all the adornments, and it was on sale! Later I took my other kid back who found a ladybug costume that she liked. (She's 13. It's her last year of trick-or-treating, and she wants to be a ladybug. I didn't see that coming at all.) Plus, it was on sale, too. Woohoo! All said and done, I got two costumes that I do not have to make for a lot less than it would have cost me to buy all of the stuff to make one. Granted I could have spent no money and let my kids figure something out for themselves as a friend of mine is doing, but that's not me. Anyway, I came away from the whole experience in praise of cheap Chinese manufacturing--I, who used to be so critical of Wal-Mart. (Okay, I still am on some points but I'll save that for another post.) Oh, I didn't mention that I had already bought material from Jo Ann's to make the cleopatra costume when I came across the one at Wal-Mart? Well, since Jo Ann's is one of those big box chain craft stores, I was able to return it (unused, of course) for a full refund. Not too many mom and pop stores can offer that kind of service, unfortunately.

My point being that I think many of these people opposed to big business, opposed to capitalism, etc. would not be really happy with the results should their ideology be put into practice. We enjoy a lot of customer service benefits at these big box stores. Now, not being of any kind of business or economic intelligence, I may be completely off base as to what these occupiers of Wall Street really mean. Based on what I have read and heard and my own experience, I can't say as I'm very sympathetic to them right now. I would invite someone to try to convince me otherwise. I am always open to enlightenment.

I'll Never Be a Guest on Oprah

My creative juices are flowing. My family is doing a craft show this Saturday. We have been busily making earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and magnets among other things. We've never had our own booth at a craft show before. My daughters are super excited. They love to make things and to make money. I figure even if we just break even, this will be a good learning experience for them. I am, however, hoping we make a bit of a profit.

I think it would be fun to be able to craft for a living, but just about anything one can find at a craft show can be found at a big box store much cheaper. Nevertheless there are still some people out there who appreciate handmade items and are realistic about what they will have to pay for those items. Many people, unfortunately, are not so realistic. My husband has made several lovely little wooden boxes out of some reclaimed heart pine flooring. But to price them so they will sell will not compensate him for his time. He said he'd be glad to make minimum wage off of them.

I suppose it's rare for hobbyist to get to a point that they can turn their crafting into a full-time job that pays the bills. It can be done, I suppose. I read enough artsy craftsy magazines to know that there are a few success stories out there. I'd love to be one of those success stories one day. My goal at one time was to be featured in Mary Englebreit's Home Companion magazine, but it is no longer being published. Such a tragedy. I loved that magazine. I still have old issues I peruse just for inspirations sake. My other goal after I achieved success was to be a guest on Oprah, but she had to go and retire before I could get there.

Well, if nothing else, perhaps I've sparked a creative interest in my two daughters who will one day achieve what I did not. Even if our creative endeavors don't lead to fame and fortune, they are not a waste of time. I think everyone needs some type of creative outlet.

At any rate, I'm curious to see how we'll do Saturday. Even if sales are slow, my kids are learning a lot, and at the very least we'll be way ahead on Christmas gifts.

Julie, Julia et Moi

I watched the movie Julie and Julia the other day. I really enjoyed it. I found it inspiring actually. I wish I could wake up in the middle of the night with an epiphany about what to do that would change my life as the author of the book on which the movie was based did. She said she decided to cook her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and it was going to change her life. It did.

I don't like my current job. I know, I know. I should just be grateful that I have one. It's only part time, and I am thankful for the little extra income it brings in, but still I don't like it. I happen to be firmly of the opinion that one shouldn't persist in doing something one does not like to do. I like the philosophy that says do what you love and the money will follow. Unfortunately, doing what you love doesn't always pay the bills. Still, it's sad that so many people spend so much time doing stuff they don't really enjoy just to earn a living.

I asked myself what I would do if money were no object. Create stuff. I'd be an artist. Not a paint and easel kind of artist, but a crafty kind of artist. I'd design handbags or crochet stuffed animals or design my own fabric. How cool would that be? Maybe, like Julie Powell, the author of the book Julie and Julia, I'll wake up one night and decide to sew my way through my pattern collection and it will change my life. Oh, and I'd have to blog about it 'cause that's what Julie did. Of course then I 'd be a total copycat and who likes a copycat?

I'll find my niche. Inspiration is just around the corner. I know it.

It's So Dusty in Here

Hello, Little Blog, it has been a long time hasn't it? I haven't completely forgotten about you despite the evidence to the contrary. Many are the times I think, "I should blog about that," but of course, I don't. Time is an issue. Honestly, when do people have time to work, keep house, Tweet, text, Facebook, parent, blog, etc., etc.? How do they do all of those things and not let something slide? But there's the rub. Something does slide and it's usually not the computery, techno stuff. It's usually the boring, but necessary stuff like housework. At any rate that has been my personal experience. So, though I would love to sit all day and write, write, write, doing so would not get my house clean, my kids disciplined, my dinner cooked and so forth.

But, Little Blog, I will try to visit you occasionally, just to exercise my writing muscles. I may only come once in a blue moon, but that's just because I have a life to live. Don't take it too personally.

Embracing the Oxymoron Within

I am a Christian.
I am a Christian who reads Mother Earth News and books entitled Serve God, Save the Planet.
I am a Christian who listens to NPR.
I am a Christian who watches documentaries such as Food, Inc.
I am a Christian who is a big fan of Michael Pollan's work.
I am a Christian who is on the brink of becoming a vegetarian. (But that brink is pretty big right now so it may be a while if at all.)
I am a Christian who enjoys sixties folk music.
My husband calls me a hippie.
I'm not, but given the right decade and circumstances, I might have been.
In my circle, all of this makes me somewhat of a walking contradiction so I keep my opinions to myself except when I put them hear for anyone to read. (That one being my dad. Hi, Dad!)
And, I am okay with this for the most part. What I am not so much okay with is those who would paint people like me with the same brush as they would liberal environmental extremists.
I have not bought into the myth of global warming.
I am still conservative politically.
I firmly believe God is sovereign, but I do not believe that means we should be indifferent to how we treat God's creation.

More to come as my thoughts gel. Currently they are a swirling dervish of activity.

Question of the Day

So, the other day, Little Munchkin (aka Bethany) asked, "Mommy, do you love Satan?"
Of course I answered no. Then she said, "Mommy, doesn't the Bible tells us to love our enemies?"
"Yes, that's right," I replied. I knew where this was heading.
"Well, doesn't that mean we have to love Satan because he's our enemy?"
Hmm, that was a tough one for me. I explained that the "love your enemies" command concerned our earthly enemies and that Satan was our spiritual enemy. My answer sounded shallow, but it was all that came to mind. I told her to ask her daddy and that he could probably give her a better answer.

Bethany, she's a thinker that one.