I haven't written anything it what seems like forever, so I thought I'd tell you about the last book I read called Rurally Screwed about a woman from New York who marries a cowboy and ends up in rural Virginia in a life she didn't imagine for herself. If this scenario sounds interesting to you, I suggest you read The Pioneer Woman's book because it is basically the exact same premise. Apparently the Green Acres storyline of a city girl transplanted by the man she loves to the country is a popular fad in non-fiction these days. I'm finding that book publishers are a lot like television producers that way. They tend to publish multiple books with the exact same plot by different authors.
The thing that bothered me about this story was that the author married a man who is a Christian, but isn't one herself and can't bring herself to share any of his beliefs. I am irritated at the man for marrying someone he knew didn't share his faith and irritated that author couldn't see that faith is what makes her husband who he is. I understand that two people can have different beliefs from one another and still be happily married. However, there are levels of intimacy a person can only share with someone who shares their worldview and finds their purpose and meaning in the same source. My husband and I have different beliefs about a lot of things but if we didn't share a foundational belief in a sovereign God who cares about our lives, it would create a huge void in our relationship. I couldn't help but feel there was a void in the author's marriage, which made it less of a love story and more of a whinny journal about moving to the country.
The author broke up the women she met into three groups: the Southern belles, the Horse People, and the Earth Mamas. The Belles were described as the traditional Southern girls that care about hair and fashion, marry pillars of the community, go to church, and vote Republican. These are the ladies that gather at Beth Moore Bible Studies. (I have some experience with this group and her description was spot-on.) The Horse People care primarily about horses and have lives that revolve around them. There wasn't much more description provided than that, but I guess I have met people who on the surface seemed one-dimensional because of their passion for something I had no interest in. The Earth Mamas are mostly transplants from other places that don't vote Republican and focus on issues of health, environment, and sustainability. They grow organic produce, use cloth diapers, do yoga and meditation, avoid processed anything, and swap homeopathic cold remedies. The author found most of her husbands friends came from the first two groups but she eventually found her niche with the third...which is one more reason I didn't think this was a great love story.
.
I like non-fiction memoir books. This one wasn't terrible but I doubt I'd be friends with the author. She smokes pot, ignores her own motivations, and blames circumstances and other people for her unhappiness. I guess I can learn something from her though. If you don't like living in the country, don't marry a cowboy.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Pros and Cons of Running
The PROS:
The CONS:
- Running provides a sense of accomplishment.
- Running clears your mind. It helps you to organize your thoughts and problem solve.
- Running gives you energy.
- Running strengthens your heart and other muscles.
- Running raises your metabolism.
- Running doesn't require any skill or equipment.
- Running allows you the time to pray and/or listen to music.
- Running gives you a sense of ownership of your surroundings.
- Running makes you familiar with streets and landmarks.
- Running opens your senses to delightful smells like lilac bushes and air after the rain.
- Running can be social or anti-social. It is up to you.
- Running makes your calves look hot.
- Running is something you can do all year long.
- Running helps maintain your body weight.
- Running can calm and relax the anxious or worried soul.
The CONS:
- Running is hard on your feet, knees, and boobs. You can get really good shoes to take care of your feet and knees, but good sports bras are hard to find. They are either really uncomfortable or totally unsupportive.
- Running shorts rid up your thighs.
- Running tights reveal too much for the modest or self-conscious.
- Running can cause chaffing and rashes. They actually sell a kind of grease to prevent it. I need to get some because otherwise I'm going to be a bloody mess after 26 miles.
- Running exposes you to dangers like bad drivers and dogs.
- Running doesn't help you lose weight, You'd have to eat less for that to happen.
- Running makes you HUNGRY.
- Running causes you to sweat, A LOT. Sweat makes you stink and burns your eyes and it is not very attractive either.
- Running does not make you look cute. If you look cute while you are running, you are not really running.
- Running might lead to strange injuries like pulled muscles in places you didn't know existed on your body.
- Running can make you competitive, in a not good way.
- Running can become addictive because you feel like crap if you don't do it.
- Running can kill you. I've had at least three people tell me that they knew someone who ran a lot and one day dropped dead. That proves running is deadly.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Spring Break
Even though Spring Break really doesn't apply when you homeschool, we took advantage in the change in our schedule to do more socializing and undertake some projects. The girls scheduled lots of play dates with friends and I went to the library to prepare the bookdrop boxes for new decals.
Ben and I recovered an ottoman and I made pillows to match.
I worked on a dress project and got it close to completion, but not quite.
I met our 4-H club at the park and they took pictures of the animals, seeing what happens when light comes from different directions. We also got some action shots of them jumping off the raised flowerbeds.
I got my nails done by my best friend and Carolyn had a friend over and made scones.
Next week, I will probably have forgotten what we did this week, so this will be a good way for me to remember. Every day seems to run into the next, so I need to be reminded that each day is a new adventure, a chance to make some memories....if only I wasn't so forgetful!
Last, but not least, Ben's parents came to visit for the first time in over four years. The girls were thrilled to see Grandma and Grandpa.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
In Time
Have you seen the movie In Time with Justin Timberlake? If you haven't, it's a science fiction story about a world where everyone is genetically engineered to stop aging at 25. After that, they have one year to live and then they die, unless they gain more time. Instead of money, time is the currency of the economy. People spend and are paid in time. The rich have years, sometimes centuries, banked and the poor live one day at a time, literally. The very rich could live forever while the poor drop like flies.
I won't get into the plot of the movie too much because I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't seen it yet. It's a mildly entertaining film and you could watch it when you're in the mood for mindless entertainment. However, it wasn't mindless for me. It really got me thinking.
First, I thought about how I am thankful for the aging process. When we are young, we compete with other young, attractive people for attention. Luckily, our competition is as dumb, naive, and inexperienced as we are. That makes it a little less unfair. To some extent, we depend on our youth and good looks to open doors in order to gain knowledge and skills. The beautiful people have an unfair advantage, but age is the great equalizer. Beauty fades, but character grows and matures. As we age, we learn not to judge a book based on its cover and value wisdom and experience over physical appearance. Now, imagine a world where you don't age. You compete based on appearance FOREVER. What a nightmare.
Second, I don't live my life one day at a time. I have about two months of living expenses in the bank. With time as the metaphor for money, you could say I have banked two month at any given time. If I only had what I needed for the day and each day needed to figure out how to stay alive one more day, life would be a lot more stressful. Many people live paycheck to paycheck. One could say they only have two weeks on their clock. It would be nice to have years and years in the bank, but really all we need is a day, one day at a time.
Third, price inflation keeps the poor from getting ahead. Even if they get paid more, the prices of basic necessities continually rise, negating any raise. It doesn't matter if the currency is time or money, the principle remains the same. Inflation is the enemy of the poor. One has to figure out how to invest in assets or activities that appreciate in value in order to not end up a wage slave.
Lastly, I thought about how the solution to the problem of inflation is not income redistribution. Even if you take away from the rich and give it to the poor, eventually the inequality would resurface. Wealth, unlike time, isn't finite. It is a product of human creative power, not the exploitation or distribution of natural resources. The future holds solutions for global poverty and hunger but robbing banks isn't it. It's finding ways to meet needs in more efficient and effective ways. Those solutions were not explored by this film. They robbed banks instead. Oops. I just spoiled it. Oh well, you can still watch it.
I won't get into the plot of the movie too much because I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't seen it yet. It's a mildly entertaining film and you could watch it when you're in the mood for mindless entertainment. However, it wasn't mindless for me. It really got me thinking.
First, I thought about how I am thankful for the aging process. When we are young, we compete with other young, attractive people for attention. Luckily, our competition is as dumb, naive, and inexperienced as we are. That makes it a little less unfair. To some extent, we depend on our youth and good looks to open doors in order to gain knowledge and skills. The beautiful people have an unfair advantage, but age is the great equalizer. Beauty fades, but character grows and matures. As we age, we learn not to judge a book based on its cover and value wisdom and experience over physical appearance. Now, imagine a world where you don't age. You compete based on appearance FOREVER. What a nightmare.
Second, I don't live my life one day at a time. I have about two months of living expenses in the bank. With time as the metaphor for money, you could say I have banked two month at any given time. If I only had what I needed for the day and each day needed to figure out how to stay alive one more day, life would be a lot more stressful. Many people live paycheck to paycheck. One could say they only have two weeks on their clock. It would be nice to have years and years in the bank, but really all we need is a day, one day at a time.
Third, price inflation keeps the poor from getting ahead. Even if they get paid more, the prices of basic necessities continually rise, negating any raise. It doesn't matter if the currency is time or money, the principle remains the same. Inflation is the enemy of the poor. One has to figure out how to invest in assets or activities that appreciate in value in order to not end up a wage slave.
Lastly, I thought about how the solution to the problem of inflation is not income redistribution. Even if you take away from the rich and give it to the poor, eventually the inequality would resurface. Wealth, unlike time, isn't finite. It is a product of human creative power, not the exploitation or distribution of natural resources. The future holds solutions for global poverty and hunger but robbing banks isn't it. It's finding ways to meet needs in more efficient and effective ways. Those solutions were not explored by this film. They robbed banks instead. Oops. I just spoiled it. Oh well, you can still watch it.
Friday, March 30, 2012
I hate the Biggest Loser!
My opinion of the show The Biggest Loser has gradually soured to the point that I now can no longer stand watching it. I used to think it was inspiring and uplifting. Now, I find it annoying and degrading for a number of reasons. People are treated with disrespect and disdain because of their appearance. Being thin is equated to being a good or whole person. Exercise is exalted as the key factor in achieving weight loss. The whole tone of the show is negative and perpetuates lies.
Bob used to be nice, help his team with yoga and meditation, and tell them how great they doing. Now, he cusses at them and tells them how terrible it is to be fat, just like Jillian used to do. He reminds them of how miserable and worthless they were in their "old" life and how better and stronger they are as people because they are losing weight.
The thing that bothers me the most is the implication that if you are overweight, you don't really live. You sit on the sidelines and watch other people have happy lives while you wade in an ice cream pity party. That may be true for some people, but not everyone. Having a high body mass index number doesn't mean that you are unhealthy or inactive. Professional athletes have been labeled obese on some charts. You can be big and still live an incredible life of white water rafting, marathon running, and mountain climbing. I'm living proof!
I had a friend when my husband was in the military that often said things to me that I probably should have been offended by, but I wasn't. She was a silly girl. One of the things she said to me was that she didn't know anyone else my size that had as much energy as I do. She said her other large friend didn't like to be very physically active and enjoyed watching movies more than anything. I don't think it occurred to her that her friend might have other reasons besides her size that kept her from wanting to exercise. A lot of skinny people don't like to exercise.
Exercise is essential for optimal health. It is not essential for losing or maintaining weight. I have lost a lot more weight having a stomach virus than I ever have exercising. I don't dislike The Biggest Loser because they promote exercise as a healthy way to achieve a weight loss goal. I dislike it because they implication is that exercise is a magic bullet and if a person just works hard enough, that hard work will pay off in the end. Evidenced by what happens on the scale each week, it is clear that sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. Every body is different. Two people can eat exactly the same food and do the exact same activities and get different results. It has nothing to do with that person's effort or work ethic. Hard work or disipline isn't always measured by a scale.
I'm tried of being bombarded by messages in popular culture that equate value and virtue with body image. I allow them into my mind and let them run free to torment me. No longer. I will never sit on the sidelines of my life regardless of how big my belly gets and I won't let the numbers on my clothes or my scale keep me from being a blessing to the world around me. And I won't want television that implies that a life is better or more valuable because it is housed in a smaller package. That's nonsense.
Bob used to be nice, help his team with yoga and meditation, and tell them how great they doing. Now, he cusses at them and tells them how terrible it is to be fat, just like Jillian used to do. He reminds them of how miserable and worthless they were in their "old" life and how better and stronger they are as people because they are losing weight.
The thing that bothers me the most is the implication that if you are overweight, you don't really live. You sit on the sidelines and watch other people have happy lives while you wade in an ice cream pity party. That may be true for some people, but not everyone. Having a high body mass index number doesn't mean that you are unhealthy or inactive. Professional athletes have been labeled obese on some charts. You can be big and still live an incredible life of white water rafting, marathon running, and mountain climbing. I'm living proof!
I had a friend when my husband was in the military that often said things to me that I probably should have been offended by, but I wasn't. She was a silly girl. One of the things she said to me was that she didn't know anyone else my size that had as much energy as I do. She said her other large friend didn't like to be very physically active and enjoyed watching movies more than anything. I don't think it occurred to her that her friend might have other reasons besides her size that kept her from wanting to exercise. A lot of skinny people don't like to exercise.
Exercise is essential for optimal health. It is not essential for losing or maintaining weight. I have lost a lot more weight having a stomach virus than I ever have exercising. I don't dislike The Biggest Loser because they promote exercise as a healthy way to achieve a weight loss goal. I dislike it because they implication is that exercise is a magic bullet and if a person just works hard enough, that hard work will pay off in the end. Evidenced by what happens on the scale each week, it is clear that sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. Every body is different. Two people can eat exactly the same food and do the exact same activities and get different results. It has nothing to do with that person's effort or work ethic. Hard work or disipline isn't always measured by a scale.
I'm tried of being bombarded by messages in popular culture that equate value and virtue with body image. I allow them into my mind and let them run free to torment me. No longer. I will never sit on the sidelines of my life regardless of how big my belly gets and I won't let the numbers on my clothes or my scale keep me from being a blessing to the world around me. And I won't want television that implies that a life is better or more valuable because it is housed in a smaller package. That's nonsense.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The ideal age
At small group last night, we talked about an article someone had read about older people reflecting on their favorite year of life. Many over the age of 50 said their favorite year was when they were 33 years old. I think all that proves is that after 50, you start losing your memory.
Thirty three was only two years ago for me, but I'm pretty sure I can do better. Not that it was a bad year. It wasn't. It just wasn't spectacular. I don't actually remember much. The years I remember most are the ones I'd like to re-live the least. The good ones are just a blur.
A friend posted on his facebook status he wanted to relive high school. I commented by asking if he has had a lobotomy recently.
I actually really liked being 17. It represented for me all the thrills of adulthood with none of the responsibilities. It didn't work out that way for a couple of my good friends. They got knocked up, so their 17th year was not one they would choose to do over again.
I'm looking forward to an age where I am still physically healthy and active but no longer strive to reach some ideal body shape, weight, or appearance. I'm looking forward to being completely comfortable in my own skin and unafraid of the judgment or dismissal of others. I want to be completely content and at peace with what I have, who I am, and where I live. I want meaningful work and relationships. I want to travel and experience new things. Hopefully, I can get there before I'm dead. I turn 36 in a little over a month. Maybe that can be my year.
Thirty three was only two years ago for me, but I'm pretty sure I can do better. Not that it was a bad year. It wasn't. It just wasn't spectacular. I don't actually remember much. The years I remember most are the ones I'd like to re-live the least. The good ones are just a blur.
A friend posted on his facebook status he wanted to relive high school. I commented by asking if he has had a lobotomy recently.
I actually really liked being 17. It represented for me all the thrills of adulthood with none of the responsibilities. It didn't work out that way for a couple of my good friends. They got knocked up, so their 17th year was not one they would choose to do over again.
I'm looking forward to an age where I am still physically healthy and active but no longer strive to reach some ideal body shape, weight, or appearance. I'm looking forward to being completely comfortable in my own skin and unafraid of the judgment or dismissal of others. I want to be completely content and at peace with what I have, who I am, and where I live. I want meaningful work and relationships. I want to travel and experience new things. Hopefully, I can get there before I'm dead. I turn 36 in a little over a month. Maybe that can be my year.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Elusive sleep
The more I learn about the importance of sleep, the more stressed I feel about having insomnia, which doesn't help the situation. I lay in bed thinking about how not sleeping will shorten my life expectancy, cause weight gain, and make me less able to function in daytime hours and none of those thoughts make me the least bit sleepy. I visualize myself getting up and doing jumping jacks or push-up or I think about eating a big bowl of granola. (Sometimes I actually do those things.) Sometimes I make lists in my head or pray that God will empty my head so I can drift back to sleep.
It doesn't help that I wake up in the middle of the night too hot to fall back to sleep, having to go to the bathroom, or recovering from a strange dream. For the second time this week, Ben woke me up from a dream because I was breathing heavy and it was freaking him out. I don't remember the details of the dream, only that I was feeling frustrated and out of control. Psychoanalysis anyone?
I've taken measures to improve the odds that I'll sleep through the night. I don't drink any caffeine, I limit my intake of fluids before bedtime, and I keep my room dark and cool. (My husband is a radiator and I can't control his temperature.) I don't watch television just before sleep and I try to have a calming routine. I say try because children can make evening rituals less than restful with their stall tactics and incessant questioning. I hate the question, "What are we doing tomorrow?" I'm sure if we eliminated the husband and children from the equation, I'd have a better chance of sleeping through the night, but then I'd have nothing to wake up for.
Maybe sleep is over-rated. Maybe I'm at a stage of life where I don't need as much sleep as I once did. I might just need to institute a mandatory siesta in the afternoon to get me through the day and pray that my body doesn't confuse tired with hungry and compel me to eat more than I should. If insomnia made me skinny, I'd welcome waking at 3 am. I should stop caring about that kind of crap. Then, I'd probably fall right to sleep.
It doesn't help that I wake up in the middle of the night too hot to fall back to sleep, having to go to the bathroom, or recovering from a strange dream. For the second time this week, Ben woke me up from a dream because I was breathing heavy and it was freaking him out. I don't remember the details of the dream, only that I was feeling frustrated and out of control. Psychoanalysis anyone?
I've taken measures to improve the odds that I'll sleep through the night. I don't drink any caffeine, I limit my intake of fluids before bedtime, and I keep my room dark and cool. (My husband is a radiator and I can't control his temperature.) I don't watch television just before sleep and I try to have a calming routine. I say try because children can make evening rituals less than restful with their stall tactics and incessant questioning. I hate the question, "What are we doing tomorrow?" I'm sure if we eliminated the husband and children from the equation, I'd have a better chance of sleeping through the night, but then I'd have nothing to wake up for.
Maybe sleep is over-rated. Maybe I'm at a stage of life where I don't need as much sleep as I once did. I might just need to institute a mandatory siesta in the afternoon to get me through the day and pray that my body doesn't confuse tired with hungry and compel me to eat more than I should. If insomnia made me skinny, I'd welcome waking at 3 am. I should stop caring about that kind of crap. Then, I'd probably fall right to sleep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)