MI3

Something cool I just found out the other day.... In May they are coming out with not only another X-Men movie, but a 3rd installment of Mission Impossible. Ok, so I'm not really a big Tom Cruise guy, but I love a good action flick AND the coolest thing about this movie is it is directed by one of my favorite directors J.J. Abrams (the guy who is to "blame" for two of my favorite shows-- Alias & Lost) so hopefully it will have a decent story line.. or at least pleanty of sweet action. Check out the trailer here. Yeah.. it's just a little something to look forward to and perhaps get us through these cold winter months.

JJ Abrams(center-dark shirt & glasses) with some of the Alias crew. Is it just me, or does he sorta look like Rob Bell in this picture?!

It's a Wonderful Wednesday

One of the classic movies of this time of year is "It's a Wonderful Life." Ok.. so I know some of you may think this movie is sooo over-played, but I happen to love it, and could watch it every year just because it has such a great message and too often we forget how important and meaningful our lives really are-- even if they don't maybe turn out they way we had invisioned them when we were "young" and still had HUGE get-out-of-this-crummy-town dreams.

No matter what you think, or what lies Satan is wispering in your ear this Christmas Season-- you ARE important. YOU matter to people and to God. No, the world wouldn't be better off without you around. And if you already believe that, or are starting to wonder... give me a call... there is a warm cup of coffee someplace with your name written all over it and I'd be more than happy to sit down and enjoy it with you and let you know that you are someone worth spending time with.

PS- check out the 30 second Bunny version of It's a Wonderful Life here

Tunes Tuesday- Lifesong

If you haven't listened to this CD yet do it... NOW! I think it has to be one of the most amazing CDs I've heard in a long time. Maybe not rythm-wise, but lyric-wise this album hits a homerun. It totally has challanged my faith in so many ways.

Here are some of my favorite songs-- and a few lyrics from each of them:

My personal fav, I find it to be so true... especially in the Church today.. and unfortunatly sometimes even in my own life. This past Sunday night we watched one of Rob Bell's Nooma videos called "Sunday"
"Why do we do the things we do? Why do we go to church or give money away? Because we’re supposed to or because we think God needs it? Do we honestly put on our best clothes for an hour once a week, stand and sit at all the right times, and sing all the appropriate songs for God’s sake, or because it’ll make us look better to the world around us? We’re tired of all the empty rituals and routines. And so is God. God hates it when we call ourselves Christians but ignore all the things he really cares about. He hates it when we go through hollow religious routines out of some feeling of duty or obligation. God doesn’t want the meaningless rituals. God wants our hearts."
God wants us to stop "acting" on the church stage and start acting with our actions. Are you giving God your whole heart, or are you just putting on a show?

Stained glass masquerade-
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the heart again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay"
__________________________
People all around us are broken. What are we doing to help them see the REAL hope-- that's not found in money, material goods, or even mortal man. During the holidays, despite all the "cheer", parties and outer happiness, things can seem especially dismal & empty... especially for those who don't know what the real meaning of the season is.

Does Anybody Hear Her- (chorus)
"Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me"
__________________________
Even though I am a Christ follower, there are times in my life where I try to push Christ off the thrown of my life and run it MY way. You know what? It doesn't work all to well. There are friends in my life that have turned away from God and decided that they could do things better alone. They want their "inheritance" now.. here on earth. So like the prodigal son they party and do everything in life that the world tells them will make them happy-- sex, drinking, fast cars, money-- and maybe it does make them feel happy for awhile... but many times(and I know not ALL the time because life isn't the same for everyone) they find themselves at the bottom of the heap eating pigs slop. I wish we didn't have to go through all the pain sometimes to see the truth, but unfortunatly sometimes that is the only way we humans learn. *sigh*

Prodigal
Living on my own, thinking for myself
Castles in sand, temporary wealth
Walls arefalling down, storms are closing in
Tears have filled my eyes, here I am again

And I've held out as long as I can
Now I'm letting go and holding out my hand

Chrous:
Daddy, here I am again, will you take me back tonight
I went and made the world my friend, and it left me high and dry
I drag Your name back through the mud
That You first found me in
Not worthy to be called Your son
Is this to be my end?
Daddy, here I am
Here I am again

Curse this morning sun, drags me in to one more day
Of reaping what I've sown, of living with my shame
Welcome to my world, and the life that I have made
Where one day you're a prince, the next day your a slave

Mondays....

Mondays are DEFINITELY Ellen Feiss (girl pictured above.. you can see here commercial if you click on the link) days... oh.. and by the way, can I just tell you how much I love Macs. I spent most of my weekend at home trying to fix my silly PC-- hence the reason for no weekend posts-- and Windows updates are STILL making it do the crazy- crash thing. *sigh* Have lots of fun pictures and stuff coming soon... well, as soon as I can find the cord that connects my camera to the computer that is! ;-) Hope everyone has a good week!


**Edit**
Ok... so.. something cool happened this morning that I didn't have time to share earlier that made today that helped alleviate my Monday "blahs" considerably... I won a 1 1/2 lbs. of Chocolate Charlie (basically a huge mass of chocolate, with other stuff thrown in to make it that much more yummy... only sold around here at Christmas). Yup, I was caller number 9 for our local Cat Country 99.9. woot! This time of year all they do is play Christmas music, so I enjoy listening and singing a long as I make my way through the snow to work. Anyway. They announced the contest, I called, and somebody picked up and wola! All I had to do was sing part of a Christmas song... um, I "tried" to sing "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" but forgot the words half way into the first verse! They still let me have the chocolate anyway. It was fun. I get to work and my boss Tammy starts telling me about this girl she heard on the radio whose voice didn't sound like me at all, but totally sounded like something I would say/do.. and I was like "um, yup! That was ME!" ha. What a fun morning. Now I have lots of chocolate... anybody want some?! ;-)

Fortune Cookies

My "fortune" for today (yay for Chinese take-out! Especially on days when you don't feel like driving on the snowy roads!)

"You are bright so give out that light!"

Yeah, I just thought that was cool on so many levels.

YAY!! Tonight I get to experience Narnia on the big screen!! I will have movie review sometime soon! Until then.. uh, enjoy the snow or something! ;-)

Christmas Thoughts

There are some things I just LOVE about the Christmas & Winter season--the cookies, the goofy hats you can wear to keep your head warm and make people smile, the Christmas lights & decorations (it is amazing how many people go waaaaaaaaay overboard with those inflatable character things!), making snowmen and igloos in your yard (I am getting better at the igloo thing... think buckets and sandcastles... maybe sometime I will post a picture of one I have made) and all the festive music they play during this time of year. Sure, you can get tires of hearing the same Christmas music for a whole month, month and a half, but for me there is just something fun about it. Like the other day going shopping with my little sister and belting out "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" at the top of our lungs as we drove to and from the different stores. Now I can't help when I hear that song to smile and think of her and that memory. (we love jamming out in my car-- and with the hula girl it makes it even more fun because she dances right along)

Anyway, just having a moment of nostalgia today. I know for some the holidays(I'm counting Thanksgiving thru New Years) can hold a lot of painful memories... but for me they hold a lot of good memories. Fun family times, Christmas trees falling over, visiting the local nursing home each year and singing carols by accordion (yes, my mom's parents made her learn how to play), staying up all night with friends on New Years and being so tired the next day I thought I would hurl (I am NOT an all nighter person). Honestly I could really care less about what I get, after-all, it's not about that anyway-- or at least it shouldn't be.

For me, Christmas is about remembering the real reasons Christians celebrate-- Jesus Birth-- and just loving others. Kinda putting actions to the two greatest commandments-- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself. We don't really need a bunch of holidays to remind us to do this(be thankful, love others, not be so selfish etc) but I guess it is helpful to a bunch of fallen humans who tend to forget all the time (think about the people of Israel-- God was always having them set up monuments and markers, or having them do something to help them remember and event or a time when He was faithful to them).

So how are YOU doing this holiday season? Have you been so caught up with Christmas shopping and holiday "business" that you have not left any time for God in your everyday schedule? (I know I'm guilty of this one myself) Have you been more focused on what YOU want for Christmas than on what you can give or do for others around you? Especially those who have little and are hurting? How can you put action in to loving God and loving others?

Just some thought to ponder as you chow down on yet another frosting & sprinkle covered cookie.

How do you show the love of Christ to someone who drives you absolutely crazy??

I guess I have this situation. Ha-- I guess life itself is a "situation" sometimes. Anyway-- last year I meet "Jill". Now Jill is a fun person and seems nice, and I'm always open to meeting new friends and people. I've been over to hang at her place a few times now and suddenly I feel like I am being "leached." You know-- when the person calls you all the time, won't leave you alone? It just sort of sucks the life out. And now when she calls I just want to hide.
I don't want to be mean. I want to be Christlike. but. i don't know how. I am bad at setting boundaries with people sometimes because I don't want to hurt them. Have any of you been in situations like this? What did you do?

p.s.-don't worry neveaH peeps... this isn't about any of you ;-) I would be much more OBVIOUS if it was! ha

Happy *Sigh*

It's snowing... and it's a payday...almost the weekend... going to Chicago tomorrow... and I get snacks by my desk.. and get Chinese food for lunch... and yeah... God is good-- life is good.
It's been over a year and a half now that I've been done with college, but sometimes I still feel like I'm stuck in the "college" mind set-- eat whatever you want, stay up as late as you want, do as you please whenever you choose, laze around in your pj pants.... *sigh* It's been changing though and the signs are everywhere. Maybe it's the fact that in a few months I will be turning yet another year older, or perhaps it's the fact that I get tired now at 9:30 pm-even on the weekends, or maybe the sign was when my favorite pants started to squish me(I guess no more mid-night pizza runs for me!), or when the job called for professional dress-ware. Growing up is weird.

And my job is officially awesome. It's been just over a year since I started working here as a web-designer and I never in a million years saw it coming. Me, work with stuff on cars?! ha! I thought it may get boring after awhile, and who knows, maybe eventually it will, but I find that there is something new to do everyday. I am the official email "queen" and I get to make all the emails that go to the consumers who sign up to recieve them. (which I just found out is about 10,000 people! wowzers! That number just boggles my brain) I also get to do ads for AOL, MSN and other sites that advertise with us. It's really fun because they are always introducing some new campaign or promotion.

I just found out something amazing though. I get to go on a BUSINESS TRIP!! aaaaaaah! And it's actually a COOL one! Yes folks... this officially means I am a business gal! One more link on the adult ladder. I guess it's just funny to me because I don't think of myself as a business woman. Come on! I drive a flower car, wear retro clothes, and like to watch home star runner. Anyway, at the end of January me and another web designer get to go to a web design convention... in SAN FRANSISCO!! oh my. it's just too exciting for me to handle. It's just crazy to me that I have a real job, that pays real money (not the Monopoly stuff), that I went to school for this. Amazing. So yeah. 3 days in California. Paid for by my job. Going to a conference that actually sounds like it will be fun & interesting. wow... I am in awe. Maybe this grown up thing isn't going to be quite as bad as I thought...

Wife 1.0

Ok... so I'm a computer "geek" (an artsy one.... come on.. I'm a WEB designer!) so this just struck me as funny. HAD to share with you all. More serious matter soon... maybe. ;-)

The reply...

Wacky Wednesday--Burger Boy

Just in time for the holiday Season....Ok.. majorly cheezy, but that is why I like it. Check out the little "movie" (with lyrics included) HERE.

Happy Turkey Day

Hope everyone had a great Turkey Day! There is so much to be thankful of in this life God has blessed us with... and a lot of times I think we come down with a case of the "complain about everything" syndrome that the world seems to think is the norm. I think it is good that we have a holiday that reminds us to be thankful, but I think we should be thankful more than just once a year... but rather at all times and in all things--especially if we are identifying ourselves with Christ.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)When we woke up friday morning still a bit weary from our whirlwind trip to Cincinnati we found out that we had a new "neighbor." Perched high in a tree in our neighbor's yard was a turkey. My dad said he must be singing- "I'm a survivor". ha! Happy Thanksgiving indeed.

Today in entertainment news...

A tribute to actor Pat Morita, whose portrayal of the wise and dry-witted Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid" earned him an Oscar nomination, died yesterday at age 73. As a kid I love the Karate Kid movies. This guy--who caught flies with chopsticks--was a part of what made those movies so memorable. *sigh* I guess it's time to pull out and dust off those old VHS taps and have a moment of silence...

And in other "death" related news...I just found out that this season will be the last for my dear Alias. We all knew it was coming, what with JJ Abrams hopping over to the now crazy popular Lost, but it is still sad (I know you might kindly disagree with me there Stephen, but that's ok, I forgive you.) It was always fun to see what crazy disguise/alias Jennifer Garner would be wearing next, or what kind of crazy missions they would go on. Ok, so the whole show was a little far-fetched, but that is prime-time TV for ya!. I'm happy to say that over the course of 5 years I managed to get my whole family addicted. *muwhahaha!* So... another one bites the dust.. but hey.. I get a whole hour of my life to do something more productive. Maybe I'll take up flossing. ;-)

Wicked Wednesday-- Bill Gates Goes to College

Ok... so I am really excited about today's random fun website/movie. I laughed when I saw this. Yes, I am a Napoleon Dynomite fan... perhaps not so much of a freak as other people I know, but still. Anyway. This weeks "wicked" website features a spoof film that was shown at a Microsoft conference this year. It's basically trying to sell Office, and really is quite a "cheeze-ball" attempt, but it is just great to see Bill Gates working with John Heder. They even have the amazing Napoleon Dynamite background music... and check out those suits!

I was thinking the other day that John Heder must get asked all the time now to do Napoleon impersonations... I wonder if he will ever be able to act in another movie without people thinking back to his first major role, and taking him seriously-- or is he doomed to be type-cast forever? I guess only time will tell. Some people just get "stuck". You know-- the kind of people that always play the villans in movies, but if they try to play the good guy it just doesn't "feel" right? Yeah.. that kind of stuck.

Anyway. Check out this film. It's totally boot-legged, so the quality isn't the best, but I'm sure you'll get the idea.

For those of you who actually frequent my blog... can I ask a favor?
I need some extra prayer right now. Do you ever wish you could take something back but you can't? Rewind and erase? Yeah, something like that... and Satan-being the master accuser that he is-- is kicking my butt right now. So yeah... prayer would definitely be appreciated.

Thanks

Game Day

So... originally I was going to "celebrate" the last Notre Dame home game today by posting some pictures that my little sister and I took during the USC game (we rode our bikes over there since we live so close and it was quite a thrill... even though we weren't even in the stadium. Something about watching the game right next to the stadium at the ESPN zone was just as exciting. Especially to a 12 year old girl who is wide-eyed and exciting from just being on campus) But things all changed...in a good way.

I was raking huge piles of leaves this morning wondering how I would spend my afternoon when I got a call from a guy at my church who answered that question. He asked if I would be interested in some free ND tickets. Um--do you have to be psychic to answer that question?!? um-- I don't think so-- of COURSE I would like the tickets! We asked my dad if he wanted to go, because he is the REAL football buff in our family, but he was too busy, and since it was so last min (we got the call about 12:45--and had to leave for the game at about 1:30) it was just too crazy. So I asked Stephanie (my little sis) if she would be interested, and of course-- she get's all wide-eyed again and jumps up and down.

We get dressed up in our "game gear"-- ND shirts that no one will ever see because we have to pill on so many layers of other stuff just to stay warm. Even on a nice sunny day like today there was still a bone chill in the air. Since we only live a few blocks from the stadium dad decided he would just drop us off. We found our seats in the 25th row in one of the end zones. Maybe not the perfect spot (I prefer the side seats) but dude, who was complaining! It was so much fun explaining the rules and terms of football to my sister. She was wondering how we would be able to tell when they made a first down since there wasn't a little yellow line on the field telling us where it was like on tv. (haha) It was also a lot of fun watching the ND student section-- have marshmallow fights, do crowd surf pushups (this is just awesomely cool to see!) and even throw tortillas around too (they might be going to the Fiesta bowl) I guess somebody even threw an orange on the field (the could go to the orange bowl as well)

We loaded up on fun football snacks-- hot dogs, natchos, soft pretzels, and washed it all down with some good hot chocolate. Sugar rush buddy! The final game score was 34-10. Nice way end it.. especially if you are a senior and it's your last game at home. It may have not been the best game ND has ever played, but the finished on top and that's what matters. What a great game... and a great memory.

thanks God... for the smell of fall leaves, football, spending time with little sisters... and just the little daily reminders that inspite of all the craziness in the world you still care about each one of us.

Charlie Weiss sends in #10 Brady Quinn

Me... and touchdown Jesus.

"Wicked" Wednesday-- Honda:Piece by Piece

So.. for those of you who don't know, I happen to drive an 89 Honda Accord. I LOVE it. Last night it just so happened to click over 166,000 miles & I think it wants to start collecting it's Social security check. It groans at me sometimes, and I wonder if it's going to make it through another cold Indiana weather. It has too... otherwise I just might cry.

It's a happy little car--covered with flowers due to my last job at the vinyl/decal siding company. People have stopped me at lights and asked if I was a hippie. I just smile and say--I could be! :-D It's fun because often I forget that I HAVE flowers on my car and suddenly people will be looking at me, waving, giving me peace signs and I have no idea why! Until I remember. I especially love the reaction of children. Perhaps that was my biggest motivator to decorate my car in the first place-- besides the fact that it was old, so why not?!-- but just to make someone smile... especially kids. I still haven't gotten tired of hearing "Mommy, mommy!! Look at that cool car with flowers on it!" :-D

Anyway. Site of the day if you haven't already seen it-- The Honda Cog Movie. What a sweet commercial. These things have always fascinated me... showing a great example of cause and effect. I don't know if any of you ever have watched a McGee & Me video, but this sort of thing happens at the beginning of every movie, and I always thought it was amazing. Anyway. I'm out. Hope you all are having a great week so far.

Quick note about the commercial:
"Six hundred and six takes it took, and if they had been forced to do a 607th it is probable, if not downright certain, that one of the film crew would have snapped and gone mad.

On the first 605 occasions something small, usually infuriatingly minute, went just slightly awry and the whole delicate arrangement was wrecked. A drop too much oil there, or here maybe one ball-bearing too many giving a fraction too much impetus to the movement. Whirr, creak, crash, the entire, card-house of consequences was a write-off and they had to start again.

Honda's latest television advertisement, a two-minute film called "Cog", is like a fine-lubricated line of dominoes. It begins with a transmission bearing which rolls into a synchro hub which in turn rolls into a gear wheel cog and plummets off a table on to a camshaft and pulley wheel. All the parts are from the new Honda Accord"
(read the rest of this article here)

Ok... I like Jones Soda (who wouldn't with all those crazy pictures that people submit on the lables and the random "fortions" under the caps?!) but THIS is just TOO much for me....

Crash

I was halfway through watching the movie Crash when I thought I hated it. I hated it because it was showing me the raw truth. I hated it because it was uttering the sad ugly reality of life. I hated it because sometimes seeing the raw truth that is outside your little safe "bubble" of life hurts. But.. it is also good for you. Sometimes it is only when you are put in a place of discomfort that you actually decide to DO something.. change the way you think or live... basically ACT.
Crash is a movie that is woven together very well. I believe that in a movie there should be more than, actors, stages and visuals, and this moviedespitete being on veryey low budget--seems to have that more that I really enjoy in a good film. We are invited for two hours to peak into the lives of a variety of people. A Brentwood housewife and her DA husband. A Persian storeowner. Two police detectives. A black television director and his wife. A Mexican locksmith. Two car-jackers. A rookie cop. A middle-aged Korean couple. They all live in Los Angeles. In 36 hours, they will all collide in some form or another.
Sadly, crash includes every aspect in our life related to prejudice and racism. It questions us and bothers us that how true all of these things are. People are insulting other people without knowing him/her. We see small glimpses of each character but every character is complex, filled and personally.The story is what we will be and we were as fallen human beings. I find it very interesting that protagonists are people like us but the antagonist are humans like us.
"...I think we miss that sense of touch so much, that we crash into each other just so we can feel SOMETHING."
I agree with that statement made by one of the characters. I thinsometimeses when people fail to get a healthy amount of touch, they result to anything just to feel. They can resort to very twisted things-- like putting people down, hurting those that are closest to them, even resorting to violence, because their touch "gas tank" is completely on empty. It's sad, but it happens. Think of how low you feel at the end of a day or week without a hug?

Moving at the speed of life, we are bound to collide into each other.


Check out this movie. It iguaranteeded to make you think.

PS- Just so you know, this movie isn't for everyone. It's rated R for language and some nutity.

I'll fly away...

How many of you watched Peter Pan when you were a kid? I'd have to say one of my favorite parts of that movie was when the kids took off out their bedroom window to fly off to Neverland and there below was poor Nana the dog wondering what in the world was going on... *grin* ANYWAY... get to the point Jen... yesterday I had the chance to go flying with a co-worker of mine. Friday late in the afternoon he pops his head over my cubicle and says "whatcha doing tomorrow morning?!"
Me: "Um.. pretty much nothing"
Him: "Wanna go flying?"
Me: "You KNOW it!" (Yeah.. I'm always in when it comes to something adventurous... although I think just by looking at me you might never know) HA!
So early yesterday morning before all the wind kicked up we went up for a joy-ride in a little 4 seater plane. It was AWESOME! So much fun to see the earth from way up there... everything is just so pretty. Took about a 45 min triangle tour all the way up to Lake Michigan and back around... on the way back I even managed to spot my church... too bad it was on the other side or else I would have tried to get a pic for my dad. :-) I even got to try and fly the plane myself at one point (I could NOT keep that thing in a straight line to save myself!)
Near the end of our trip it started getting really windy & bouncy... and that is when things almost got disaterous as far as my stomach goes... I had a "just in case" bag, but I managed to keep all my guts where they belonged (I knew that if I would have had to use that bag I would have NEVER lived it down at work) and we made it down just fine. I even got to steer the plane around the runway! It was a great time and I am oh so grateful that my coworker offered the experience to me.
Yeah.. I thought this was going to be a boring lazy weekend.. boy was I wrong!

Some views from the Air

This is Warren Dunes. sweet!
Plane controls
Navy fighter jets parked at the airport getting ready to do a fly over for the ND/Navy game
oooo... I wonder WHAT is behind THIS door at the flight hangers??!