i am getting married in six days.

Law and Order: CI

Most of you know that I am a die hard Law & Order fan. ALL of them. I used to TiVo it, but then we got rid of TiVo, and now I watch it semi-religiously on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Tuesday 9pm being Criminal Intent and 10 pm being Special Victims Unit, Friday 10pm being 'the original".
When I can't watch, I iTunes the episodes and watch later. I even have Paul sucked in and it is part of date night. We just gotta be home by 10. Paul mentioned in his "I love you but I am calling you out on your junk" way that I am dedicated to Law & Order, and supposedly dedicated to the faith/culture dialogue, yet he has yet to see a post on the show and all the theological things that I rant about in relation to it. So here is the first:

Two L&O's in the past month have been using the “preacher gone gay” subject matter as material for screenplays. What is fascinating to me is not the whole "ripped from the headlines" thing (L&O has always done that) but how people of faith are being portrayed in these episodes. I have to applaud and shake my finger at the writer of "Brother's Keeper", Marsha Norman (with story help from Warren Leight) for her/their eerily realistic portrayal of how some Evangelicals act, and her/their lack of seeing the scope of Christianity.

Newsflash to culture: NOT ALL CHRISTIANS THINK THE SAME THINGAll story aside, as I would hate to spoil anything, we see many instances in L&O where the faith people portrayed are Neo-Fundamentalist, not Evangelical, but the label Evangelical is used to describe said Neo-Fundamentalists. This disturbs me greatly – but it also informs me as to why most people who may not be Christ-driven think that Evangelicals are people who believe certain things like, say, anyone who doesn’t believe the Bible is perfect will go to a literal Hell.

People care about the “Godtalk” of TV. People are in culture and they are thinking about this show theologically… Even if they don’t phrase it like that.
Check out this comment from the official website:
“Moving on, I agree in that Stabler is cute... And I know divorce is a sin. My parents got divorced, and it was my mom's fault. My father was a devout Catholic and would never have consented but my mom moved us to Florida from North Carolina because in North Carolina you need the consent of both adults to go through with a divorce but in Florida you only need one. Too bad my father never caught on to her little manipulative game... I feel for him though. I miss my father very much and i hate that Stabler's relationship with his daughters is strained.
sMyRnaBeaCHBabE21
March 4 - 5:07pm PT”


Now to be fair, there was one episode of SVU where we got to see a gentler version; maybe even we could call it a more grace-filled version, of Christianity. Several women who had been raped were searching for their rapist before the statute of limitations ran out. One of the victims knew her rapist, but refused to turn him in. Why? Because she was Brethren. That was the show’s explanation. Her faith prompted her to but action behind the thought that forgiveness outweighs (in this case) New York state law. BTW: the link to the episode no longer exists.

L&O – highly theological, not necessarily highly accurate. So maybe our job is to help explain.

Hollywood in Financial Crisis?

I heard on NPR this morning that Hollywood is making waves in Washington DC. They want the government to stand up against pirates. And Johnny Depp has nothing to do with it. Or maybe he does. At least his films made money. So what that they made some crazy amount like $300,000,000 world-wide on Curse of the Black Pearl - they made it on a projected budget of $140,000,000. We should all know that a film is NEVER made at or below budget. So, they only doubled their money.

Click this and then click the link to "Hollywood Has a Tough Audience in Congree" to hear what KPCC and Dan Glickman has to say about it.

Who is Dan Glickman? An ex-politician turned head of the MPAA and is afraid that people will think that film people are "a bunch of rich people in Hollywood making a lot of money on the movies."
-----But wait?!
-----Aren't they????

Yes and No. It's more like, "a bunch a rich people in Hollywood using other rich people's money to make a lot of money on movies while nickel and diming a lot of the people who put in the most hours." At least that is what I hear.

I also hear that Hollywood is one of the last professional arenas in the USA where hard work, dedication, and persistance will get you where you want to be just as much as a degree from Harvard.

Perhaps because Hollywood is so glamorized in the rest of the nation, we forget that there are people who are in LA on sets and shoots and in production offices that are there because they love it AND get to make money doing it! Isn't that a deep desire in us all anyway?

Your thoughts....

Might as well have fun with it.

I figured since they made me "upgrade", I might as well play around with the look of things. Take advantage of the new features I have given my email soul up for.

POOP!

So, they no longer let me sign in using the "old blogger" account, so I had to sign up for a Google account, which I never wanted and now I have to remember a new password and a new username because they wouldn't use the old one. On top of that, I can't switch over to any other site without having access to "new blogger".

I guess Google bought blogger and now they are the gatekeepers of the domain, which means they want to know everything about you before they let you do anything of interest. It is like, so, totally Brave New World/1984.


grrrr.

FINALLY!!!!

HOLY COW!
It only took me a week to figure out how to log in to my blog and post without having to change up all these fancy new log in account things.

NOTE TO ALL WHO READ THIS!
I am working on a new blog/website/domain thing... so be informed that soon and very soon you may be typing in some new letters to read all about it.

I need to apologize, first of all, for totally flaking on my vow for a post a day. Writing is like scrubbing the toilet to me. I hate actually doing it, but I sure do love the way it looks and smells after. It's like you can sit your little tushie down worry free. And THAT is something to be happy about.

I have come to the realization that wedding planning is a pain in the ass and that if I knew that six months ago, I would have hired a wedding planner, told him or her that the colors are purple, silver and black, and Paul and I will see you on March 30th. Have your way with it.
Now, I am absolutely sure that this would backfire and that this is not REALLY what Paul and I want, but just as Dr. Clay Schmidt's office and two witnesses sounds better everyday - so does the wedding planner.

I guess I am having fun when I am not busy with other stuff, like, ya know, work. I can definitely see that this was a lot of happy good times to young lovelies who had/have nothing else to do but plan their weddings. Today however, we lovelies have lots to do beside plan a wedding, so it can be a bit stressful - especially for those who aren't called to be planners in the first place (pick me! pick me!)

Some good stuff to know:
I am on a mission to facilitate the faith/culture/media dialogue. I thought I would let you know so that it will not surprise you if the tone of the muse changes a bit.

I read this great blog the other day, where the tagline was:
"Blogging is easy, commenting is hard."

Gotta love it.

OUCH!

I just got stung by a bee.

it is ugly and looks like an eye.

Home from the Holidays

So PDog and I arrived safe and sound from Atlanta via NorCal yesterday. I slept through my alarm and woke up after a 10 hour slumber to be late for work.
Way to go, genius. Start the year off right! Wahoo.

I was so excited and pleased to meet PDog's parents and other members of the fam.
I got to meet his Uncle, several Aunts, some cousins, Grammie, and neighbors of his parents.
It was a wonderfully large Christmas. I will have to get used to that, for sure. I think there were like twenty people there and they were all commenting on different levels about who wasn't there and who is missing and who was missable.

New Year's eve was spent with my fam. There were five of us.

I am gearing up for a conference I am singing at in a couple weeks and for the Sundance Film Festival. Also trying to decide what to get the Mister for his birthday.
February brings Mom down for a D-land trip and several appointments with the seamstress.
Then, March is full of packing and moving and marrying. Everything is happening so fast! I am tired already :)

WOW

Ok, So I am probably way behind on this but ERock just introduced me to this. It is probably one of the most impressive digs into music and its amazing connectivity that I have ever encountered. Launchcast seriously has nothing on this free web radio.
So these peeps founded the Music Genome Project which is RAD!
Please look into this ang get your kids hooked right away so that we can save teh culture from mindless music listenings!
This site may have exactly what it takes to re-educate the listening iPod generation about what they allow in their ears!
Hallelujah!

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock

Elphie & Sara & Me, oh my! I love my new neice and my best friend. I miss them already. BUT - I get to see them on New Years! Yippie!

I Love Christmas!

Happy Christmas my friends!
Take a minute or two out of your busy holiday bustling to smile and reminisce! I've always liked this song and the animation is a really neat style too!

Exegeting Beatles

I have always had a funny relationship with the John Lennon song "Imagine."
The chord progression is mediocre and touching; the melody gloriously simplistic and restful.
The lyrics are really where I get caught in a conundrum of emotions. I don't really like the lyrics, never really have, yet I feel some fiery-hot pressure that I should. Almost as, that because I don't like the song, I am an ungrateful, wretched, war-loving...Dare I say it?... CONSERVATIVE! (gasp!)
So, I have pretended to enjoy this mid/post Vietnam tribute to love and justice - just to make sure I wouldn't be contradicting my hippie soul. Yet there it sat.... bothering me.

But this morning there was light shed, so immaculately, so advent-ready, on my paradox.

The lyrics to "Imagine" prove the juxtaposition between the hope of humanity and the ability of God.
The song is the ultimate representation of the fact that without the hand of God, all we can do is imagine. (May I be so bold to remind you, "With God, nothing is impossible." )
The lyrics long for a time of peace, yet asks for it without accountability. They search out human ability to "Imagine there is no heaven, It's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky" "imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do. No greed or hunger, no religion too."
The message is humanity's reality. We want peace, comfort, brother/sisterhood, unity - yet are unable to give up the very thing that keeps us from attaining such - our belief that we can do it in the first place.
How can there be hope without the source of all hope? It seems to me that in reality the "Imagine" message is one of hopelessness. It is the relinquishing of the human ability to bring peace and joy to the world.
Perhaps one could witness the irony that when we dream, when two or more are gathered, when people join together, we can and do live in unity and harmony when the spirit of God manifests. "You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world with live as one." I believe God agrees with this song, yet is saddened by our unwillingness to dream God into the process, to imagine God being the bearer and creator of the hope that stirs deep within the songwriters', and perhaps the worlds' soul.

These are my initial thoughts. And my boss just walked in. So, for now, gotta go.

Ahhhhh....

beach13
Originally uploaded by Princess Babydoll.

I wish I was here. But it's like 1 degree.

Back to Business

We are home in LA from a tortuous driving extravaganza to NorCal and back. I think out of 96 hours "on vacation" we spent 30 of it in the car. Boo.
BUT it was well worth it, since I got to see the Mumsy and Puppsy and the Brotherly Brother... I also had the privilege of meeting my "niece" Lucy. She is so cute. And looks like and elf. So my nickname for her is Elfie. Interesting that this coincides with my new obsession with the story of "Wicked" - the story behind the witches of Oz. I read the book last month, and will see the musical here in LA in April.
Anyway, the main character is the Wicked Witch of the West - Elphaba. Her nickname? Elphie.
Now, before you think I am a terrible aunt for naming Lucy after such insufferable people, you should check out Wicked. No more spoilers out of me! HAHA!
I think the girls and I had a wonderful time and we will soon be on to more obnoxiously grandious things as decorating tips for chapels and food selection at the ATC Christmas snack party.
It is back to business pronto and I need to get back on my goal of writing everyday. :P

RAD!

Jenn, Anny, Sara, Krissy and Michelle will all be in the same place at the same time.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.


In almost a "dream come true" event, Jenn and Anny are able to sit in the car with me for 10 hours (cuz that is how long its going to take with traffic) to go up north to see the fam and meet the other bridespeeps.
Mom and Dad are rad - they are getting us a room to share. Personally, I think this is my mothers way of not having 6 people share one bathroom Thanksgiving morning.
That is what I like about my mom though. She would rather have convience than overcrowding. And hey - it benefits everybody! Especially my back, which will spend copius amounts of time in the hot tub.

It will also give us ladies time to chill and pray and hang and think, something devestatingly difficult to do when trying to get work and school and wedding and life taken care of.

So to all, happy Thanksgiving. Too bad the whole pilgram/indiginous people story is a sham of US history - but at least it created an event on which to ponder our extreme wealth and blessedness.

As P-Dog would say: Yay-men!

Profound

My mom has this t-shirt by the "Life is Good" brand.


Upon which seeing it my brother replied, "Man. I'm just glad I have a glass."


What a perfect thing to say this Thanksgiving Season. May we all be so grateful.

nothing to say

In order to write a book you have to write everyday even if you have nothing to say. This is a sobering prospect to me because I view myself as lazy. Let me tell you, being engaged to
Mr. Turns-out-something-phenomenal-just-for-fun
doesn't make it any easier.

I know, I know, it's not a competition. BUT, I can't help but feel a little under-acheiver-ish when every night the man has some rant on theology and politics and history and whatever. Most nights, I want to watch TV. I guess I could rant about the shameful story lines. The content I have little problem. It's the poor quality of the writing that concerns me. No wonder our children speak poorly. They gets da gramma' fro' the telley!

Still, everyday writing is a discipline I suppose.

Whether for good or ill, spontaneous writing is like jazz for me.
It only sounds good if I know what key to play in; the theme on which to muse.

sigh.


I'm gonna go watch TV.

ARGH!

I am so sad. The A's are going to sell out for a bigger, "better" field in freaking Fremont. I mean really people. Fremont?! Holy Crap! That is like bringing an NFL team to Pasadena! Or Hayward! Or Arcadia!
What the hell is this about anyway? I think I know. And it's all Al Davis' fault with his big-ass monster wall ugly as sin football whatever stands Colossium addition. Who the hell wanted the Raiders back anyway?! (At least I don't have to look at them in LA though).
I HATE AL DAVIS AND I HATE THE RAIDERS AND I HATE THEIR FANS AND I APPARENTLY LIKE THE WORD HATE RIGHT NOW. ARGH!!!!!!!

My humble prayer is that they don't rename the A's to the "Fremont A's". That would be a wuss name for sure.

My vote, since they are moving and I can't stop them, is the East Bay Athletics. At least that name has SOME dignity.

Man I'm pissed.

If the A's move to Fremont, I am becoming a Yankees fan.

My Fiance is FIRED!

So the "You are so fired" quote of the day goes to P-Dog, who whilst determining our votes for tomorrow morning quipped, "It's too much work to vote."
SO FIRED!
Don't worry fans - I rudely commented on his, shall we say, nearsightedness, and then we bantered about my fabulous father or thinking out loud or pizza or something. I can't remember.

To defend the man, he was kidding (kind of), and we did finish up on our readings and sample ballot-ings (for your convenience!) and the decision was mutual to skip the whole judicial/attorney section because who the hell are these people anyway? (Like I can pick a judge with NO history or reference to how they rule!? Sorry - I have been influenced by Law & Order and I KNOW how the judge can make or break a case! So there!)

But the point is that perhaps the Mr. hit on what I was referring to in the post below.... we just don't care enough to vote.
It is difficult to care about something that feels that is has no impact. I am not going to lie to you: your vote doesn't do jack squat.
BUT you have to vote anyway because NOT voting is falling into the trap of forgetting that even as long as we have the illusion of voice we won't stop trying to use it.
Seriously - if they banned voting - no one would fight back except... ummmm... nut jobs! AND we already have enough of those in Alaska and Sonora County! AND - who wants to be known as a nut job?! (besides me of course).
All I am saying is that if we continue to have the ability to speak, if we have the wonderful opportunity to appear as though we are affecting the nation, if we have the nut job idea that we too can make a difference, then we MIGHT think we can do other impossible things too. Like sing the Star Spangled Banner at the World Series or build the next World's Largest Jelly Bean model of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon! That would be an especially great feat considering we don't even know what they looked like. See! Impossible things can happen! So you better vote because you never know.