This is the only shot I monkeyed with before posting.
The hubby and I were hoping to see some glorious fall leaves when we drove through Shenandoah National Park along Skyline Drive today. There were a few golden hues, but the leaves were definitely past their peak by a couple weeks (duly noted for next year). It was still a lovely day out though…a leisurely drive, a tasty lunch, and a chance to play with the camera feature on my new iPhone. Gotta say, I’m impressed with the color and detail it captures. I think the days of point-and-shoot cameras are numbered. Why carry an extra piece of equipment if you’ve got such a quality camera in your phone?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to research photo editing apps. If you’ve got a favorite, please share!
I didn’t consciously set out to make this a week of new undertakings, although upon reflection that wouldn’t be a bad approach to life. Completely by accident, the past week was filled with firsts.
First first–spaghetti squash. In my four decades on the planet, I’ve never met a squash I like. I avoid it whenever it’s polite and possible. But then about a year ago, spaghetti squash came as a side dish with my salmon at Bonefish Grill during a friend’s retirement dinner. I thought it’d be rude to leave it untouched, since the retiring friend was picking up the tab for everyone’s meal, so I took as small a bite as humanly possible. Then another bite. Before I knew it, I’d cleaned my plate. Hallelujah! A squash I like! Well, this week I decided to cook it myself for the first time. After quite a bit of Googling, I found directions I liked for cooking it in the microwave (there were lots of sites that recommended just poking the squash with a fork and popping it in the microwave, but that sounded like an explosion waiting to happen). In just 15 minutes I had a whole bowlful of steaming, stringy goodness–which the hubby absolutely refused to share. Apparently, he’s never met a squash he likes either.
Second first–smart phone. There was no point in getting an iPhone while we lived overseas, because it would not work in the States…unless I bought the full-price, unlocked phone and a handful of different SIM cards. So I got el cheapo pre-paid dumb phones to use overseas and an el cheapo pre-paid dumb phone to use over here during the times we were back for family visits, business trips, etc. I’ve continued using the US dumb phone the past two months, in an attempt to burn through the 800+ minutes I’d already purchased. Except the phone never has a signal when I need to dial out, and never rings when someone calls me. Enough is enough already. So this week, I got my very first iPhone. The hubby’s been coaching me in which apps to download, but my attention is focused on finding the perfect case. First things first, dear. I can’t go around with a naked phone.
Third first–screening a movie before its release. I’m a sucker for loyalty cards, so when we went to the movies a few weeks ago, I signed up for the theater chain’s reward program. The spam email commenced immediately, but buried in there was an offer for free tickets (in return for a review, I thought, but there’s been no follow up for that) to see About Time before it officially opens November 8. I’d seen the trailer (which was a bit ambiguous–date movie or chick flick?), and I didn’t think there was much chance of getting the hubby into a seat at regular price, but he was happy to go along for free. Apparently lots of people were…the theater was nearly full, unlike all the movies we’ve paid to see recently. Turns out About Time is quite suitable as either a date movie or a chick flick. You won’t find any novel twists on the traditional time travel plot, but the dialogue is good and there are lots of laughs. The fact that most of the characters were British even helped to ease my homesickness for England for just a little while.
Fourth first–cream eyeshadow. I don’t use eyeshadow often, but when I do, it’s always been the powdered variety. I can’t seem to apply it, especially if there is the slightest hint of sparkle, without getting it all over my face. At a friend’s Mary Kay party this week, I tried cream eyeshadow for the first time. I like the idea of it–no wayward sprinkles drifting down on my cheeks, but as this was also the sparkly kind, I thought it looked kinda greasy on my eyelids. Now I’ll have to investigate the existence of a matte finish shadow. If one is out there, this could be the start of a whole new era in face painting.
Fifth and final first–craigslist. In the process of moving back into our house, we found some stuff we just don’t need any more. A lot of the little stuff has made its way to Goodwill, but there are some larger items in excellent condition that we’d like to sell. I’ve heard countless people talk about items they’ve bought and sold on craigslist–its main appeal in this case is that its local, unlike ebay. I don’t have to worry about how to ship a four-piece patio set, I can just tell the buyer where to come pick it up. So I took photos and posted ads on craigslist–they’ve been active just over 24 hours. Holy wack-jobs, Batman. Gmail’s filters can’t figure out which messages to send to my inbox and which ones to send to the spam folder. I’ve gotten aggressive demands for my address, hostile inquiries (in very poor scammer grammar) about whether my ad is legit, and half-naked pictures of some chick. I’m thinking I should have paid to run classified ads in the local paper. Some firsts just don’t pan out.
Question 6 (The Complete Book of Questionsby Garry Poole) What’s something you intended to do today, but didn’t? Why not?
I intended to post some items for sale on craigslist, but didn’t.
The hubby was working through his to-do list and had come to “repair shed,” which required an extra set of hands. Well, ditching my to-do list didn’t help him get anything crossed off his, because neither of the cordless drills was charged and the screws we purchased specifically for this project weren’t long enough. By the time we’d done as much as we could (we measured and cut all the boards, and marked where the screws will go, once I get the right ones) and cleaned up the mess, it was time for lunch.
Then it was time to wash up and change clothes so I could head into town.
Then it was time to go to the AT&T store so they could fix the new phone I got last night so it would actually make or receive a call.
Then it was time to go to the eye doctor for my yearly exam (two years late).
Then it was time to go to Office Depot, Walmart, Hobby Lobby (OMG–it’s only the second time in my life I’ve ever been in there and I almost totally derailed the whole rest of my evening walking up and down the aisles drooling), and Lowes–to buy new, longer screws for the shed project.
Then it was time for Wine and Whine.
Then it was time to pick up Chinese for dinner on the way back from town.
Then it was time to eat–the hubby had nearly fainted from hunger by the time I arrived home.
Then it was time to finish and submit a job application.
Then it was time to wash off the war paint and find my jammies.
I usually watch the evening news with one eye and half an ear, because there is only so much nonsense I can stomach. If the American media weren’t so determined to give the idiots, miscreants, and sociopaths their fifteen minutes of fame, I would be more inclined to pay attention. But what I see most evenings saddens, disgusts, and embarrasses me, so I’ve taken to tuning it out.
But last Friday evening, one story snagged my hopeful attention. At the top of the broadcast, with that half an ear I normally use, I heard Anne Curry (sitting in for Brian Williams) mention “ancient treasure,” “Boy Scout leaders,” and “caught on camera.“ I was eagerly anticipating an uplifting, feel-good story for a change…possibly some previously undiscovered wonder that would now be known to the masses because of selfless action by the Boy Scout leaders.
Ten minutes into the program, that naïve expectation was literally crushed by a giant boulder.
Maybe you saw it, too. In the haunting landscape of Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park, scout leader David Hall sings, “Wiggle it, just a little bit” and rolls tape (okay, he shoots a cell phone video) while his massive friend Glenn Taylor throws his bulk around and finally manages to topple a boulder from the pedestal it’s rested upon for the last 170 million years. Hall, Taylor, and Taylor’s teenage son, proud that they have “now modified Goblin Valley,” whoop, dance, laugh, and exchange high fives after their blatant act of vandalism. Then Hall, ignorant heedless of the Boy Scout principle “leave no trace,” uploads the video to Facebook, and the men are subsequently baffled by the public outrage that ensues.
They claim that they are heroes because their action has saved some little kid from imminent death. “It’s all about saving lives,” they smugly boast.
I call BS!! In fact, fighting back tears of utter fury, I screamed it repeatedly at the TV screen Friday night (only I used the unabridged version). BS! BS!! BEEEE ESSSSSS!!!
They destroyed the goblin simply to prove they could. Why else would they record it and post it on Facebook?
That boulder has stood there for 170 million years. ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY MILLION YEARS!!!!! What are the odds that it was going to just fall over and crush some unsuspecting kid now? The deputy director of Utah State Parks and Recreation said in his 22 years on the job, he’s never known a goblin to roll off its pedestal. Ever.
Look at the video. Look how many times Taylor had to hurl his sloppy several hundred pound self at that rock before it finally broke free. No “stiff wind” was going to blow that sucker off. I suspect small children could have safely passed by that rock for another million years before it posed any real danger. If and when it was ever identified as a safety hazard, the park service should have been the entity to deal with it—its employees are quite skilled at erecting barriers around things you want to touch but shouldn’t.
I would have been angry about the vandalism regardless of who caused it. It’s just another example of how our society has gotten off track, with individuals so focused on their own wants and desires that they completely ignore common decency and disregard previously sacred norms of acceptable behavior. But, right or wrong, I hold Boy Scout leaders to a higher moral standard than the average dude hiking through a state park. Back in the day, my brother was in Scouts, so I know that they teach (or used to teach) the value of natural areas, and how to properly respect, conserve, and protect such treasures. How did these yahoos miss such an important tenet of Boy Scouting?
I cannot even bear to imagine the havoc these guys and their troop would cause on an overnight camping trip, in some ordinary woods that were not part of a protected state park. “See all this dead brush? Those poor neighboring towns are just one lightning strike away from being toast. It’s all about saving lives; this brush has got to go. Let’s light it up, boys!”
A few months ago, I signed up at BookSneeze to receive a free book in exchange for an honest review, posted on my blog and at a consumer website like Amazon.com. So long as I read and review within the required time frame, I can continue to receive free books. I love to read, I don’t mind giving my opinion, and I adore free, so it sounded like a great deal to me!
Anyone who has a personal, public blog to which they post at least once a week and a minimum of 30 followers can apply to BookSneeze. Be aware, however, that “BookSneeze is a blogger review program owned and operated by HarperCollins Christian Publishing.” I missed the Christian part when I joined. This is not a genre I generally read, because the couple of Christian novels I’ve read in the past have been quite preachy, which interferes with the escapism I am looking for when I pick up a book. Nevertheless, I made a commitment which I intended to honor, so I tentatively cracked the cover of The Merciful Scar.
I’m not proud of how long it took me to get through my first book–simply a reflection on how many other things have been going on around here, and NOT the quality of the novel. I finished the story on Saturday, while babysitting pumpkins in the rain, and loved every page of it. Here’s my official review:
The Merciful Scar by Rebecca St. James & Nancy Rue
For Kirsten, cutting is a physical outlet for the emotional pain that seethes beneath her skin. When a meddling boyfriend and a slip of the blade lead to an especially serious injury, Kirsten finds herself in the psychiatric ward. She knows she does not belong there—she is certain that she is not suicidal, but unsure how to convince others and unable to promise she will stop the self-injury—so on the suggestion of her pastor, Kirsten chooses a former Anglican nun’s 30-day residential program at a Montana ranch. There, she finds the time, space, and support she needs to examine her painful past and reach towards a more hopeful future.
I generally steer clear of Christian fiction because the preachiness of the author’s tone often overwhelms any pleasure I would get from the story itself; therefore this is the first work I’ve read by Rebecca St. James or Nancy Rue. I have to say, this novel was a refreshing change from what I expected—though God, prayer, and spirituality were cornerstones of the storyline, I never felt like the authors were forcing their religious views on me. The characters were extremely well-developed and believable; neither their dialogue nor their interactions ever felt contrived. I was immediately drawn into their stories, and felt personally invested in the progress of their self-discovery and healing throughout the book, laughing and crying right along with them. The pacing of the action was just right—the authors revealed just enough detail at the right time to answer some of my questions, but concealed enough to keep me turning the pages. I would have liked an epilogue—I really wanted to know if the characters were able to apply what they’d learned, maintain their well-being, and perhaps even help others through future stresses.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through theBookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Thick russet hair of an Icelandic horse shimmers in the sunlight, near Reykjavik, Iceland
Warm sepia tones of this wooden boat invite a paddle around the lake, near Keswick, England
Varied hues of fresh brown eggs, Cropredy, England
Shades of dark umber highlight a winking grimace in this old tree, near Keswick, England
Honeyed timbers of an ancient shipwreck, Outer Banks, North Carolina
Minerals are responsible for the many shades of brown i the strata of the Grand Canyon
Trolled the archives to play along with Ailsa’s weekly photo challenge at Where’s my backpack? Sure wish I had my box of Crayola crayons to correctly name all the shades!
I want to be a writer, yet Henry David Thoreau's cautionary words echo in my brain: "How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live." Knowing I have promised to blog daily for the coming year, I am committed to living the next 365 days to the fullest by seizing new opportunities, making old routines less mundane, and immersing myself in the details of ordinary situations. Building these habits will be key to convincing myself that I can legitimately sit down to write a future bestseller!
Things I See and Know 