Don't step on the crack, you'll break your mother's back

How to convince someone to be pro-choice. Or better yet, how to convince someone to be pro-abortion:

Get them addicted to crack.

Consequently, crack numbs their value of life over death by making fuzzy that line between reality and their next high. This allows them to see murder in a justified light, if the chips fall in your favor.

No, not all abortion advocates rode the train to Pro-Choice Town by smoking a rock. But their mindsets are similar and they both reached the not-so-equilibrium of murder on their terms. This is the crux of the pro-choice argument. If someone feels it's okay to murder their baby, then it should be okay.

I watched "The Fighter" the other day and was blown away by the performances. Producer Mark Wahlberg is a daily Mass, Latin Mass Catholic who generously funds the Church and programs in his hometown. Though many of you know that, it's a surprise to others considering the number of F-bombs dropped in each of his productions. He knows what he's doing, you'll see.

Christian Bale's performance, in particular, really drove home the character of a crack-addicted, family man who selfishly fools his mother into believing he's still her little boy even after he spends two weeks in a crack house, high as a kite.

Click to watch the documentary, "High on Crack Street." Viewer discretion advised.

I was so fascinated by the idea of gangs of people who do nothing but work toward their next fix, either by stealing, prostitution, or get-rich-quick schemes, that I found the documentary portrayed in the Hollywood version of this true life story. The Wahlberg film showed an HBO film crew following around the older brother of Mark Wahlberg's boxer character. It turns out this HBO flick was a special on the effect of crack cocaine on a small town and its inhabitants on a community and an individual level.

I couldn't resist finding and watching the documentary that same night. It was like watching a turtle take the first few steps toward a busy highway. I could follow the patterns, see the monotonous progression, and witness the determination of these folks to spend their lives getting high, but I could also see where they were headed. These addicts couldn't hear the oncoming cars over the call of the pipe.

Three of the most conversely pro-life moments I have ever witnessed in my life stood out (minute 10:25 through 13:55; and 34:22 through 36:31; and 37:11 through 39:25).

One woman, Brenda, who speaks as if she's a sociologist explaining the habitat of the addicts seconds before taking a drag on her homemade crack pipe, turned to prostitution to pay for her habit. Her strange, sexual business partners opt for "safe sex," but the man who loves her (and his crack pipe and dirty needles) doesn't like condoms. She gets pregnant and states that it is time for an abortion.

How do you convince someone to be pro-life?

Let them watch a 20-year-addicted, toothless woman breakdown her confidence in her "right-to-choose" as a trigger for the memory of her first abortion. Her mother forced her to have an abortion as  a 15-year-old and Brenda sobbed about her intense emotional pain, dealing with the fact that she "murdered her baby." Continue reading at IGNITUM TODAY.

What I feel like when I run, 7QT, Volume 52

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*1*

I am SO PROUD to announce that my brilliant beau is now a certified Professional Engineer! He is now known as Prince Charming, PE.

After a long, long, long two month stint of 200 pounds of engineering books, hours in a review classroom, and an eight-hour, butt-numbing test... not to mention the two month wait, he received his scores!

What a champion. I knew it!

*2*

His view from the stage

You know when you walk out of a great movie, hear a mind-blowing homily, or go to a comedy show and you can't remember ANYTHING said? I know how you feel.

But I have to assume Jerry Seinfeld was hilarious last week when I saw him in Richmond because I woke up with sore abs and a tight jaw. My dimples were aching.

He doesn't go to very many places when he tours for his comedy show, but he always seems to stop in Richmond at our Landmark Theatre (the Mosque, as we call it). Thank you, Jerry, for keeping it clean, for pointing out the nuances we all think about but can never articulate, and for entertaining me in my very own city!

*3*

About 5 minutes before their flirty snowball fight

My sister and I agreed, independently, that Beauty and the Beast is in great want of a five minute scene of Belle and the Beast falling in Love.

Brief synopsis covering about 15 minutes of the movie:

• Belle finds her father in a dungeon
• Beast takes Belle prisoner instead of father
• Belle escapes, Beast finds her and fends off wolves
• Belle and Beast are in love

Maybe I'm doing this wrong, but it doesn't work that way for me.

Speaking of Disney movies that don't portray Love accurately, I created a new pinboard and I think the ladies out there might enjoy it.

*4*

RunPee.com. Nuff said.

I just learned about this incredibly efficient use of the Internet and other people's time to save your bladder and prevent you from wasting your $46 on a movie ticket. Brilliant.

*5*

Speaking of running... Kayla of The Alluring World and Emily of A Day in the Life and I are on a team. We're virtual running buddies, motivating each other from afar to run and get into shape for our respective races.

I have a 10K run to look forward to on March 31, so if you could file away your prayers a little prematurely, me and my poor muscles would greatly appreciate it.

I ran this race last year, but I'm going to run it without stopping this year. I'm promising myself, and I never back down on a self-promise. The first line in my post from last year's race is:

"Oh man, y'all. I rediscovered something about myself: I am not a runner."

That will change, my friends. Care to join Kayla, Emily, and me?

*6*

After my accidental weeks-long break from blogging due to busyness, I think I made up for it this week with perhaps too many posts!

Our Deepest Fear - A short one that includes a quote that has been a necessary reminder for several years.

Chastity Carnal-val - I enjoy puns about chastity.

Carrying Baby Jesus into Christmas Mass - A call to action for all of us!

Lime spelled backwards - On the anniversary of my Emil Daddy's death

*7*

The Bright Maidens came back strong this week! I hope you didn't notice me skip out on the last one... if you didn't, I'm telling you now.

This week we "reviewed" TLC's new "reality" The Virgin Diaries. I enjoyed the responses, I hope you do too:

Mine, "Chastity Carnal-val"
Julie, "Kiss the Girl!"
Trista, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Virgin"

Katie, "Virgin 'Diaries'" - The woman behind the topic idea.
Alicia, "Virgin is the New Mermaid"
Beth Anne, "Virgin Diaries Review"
Sarah, "Unicorns in Our Midst: 21st Century Virgins"

Like Pulling Snowman Teeth - 7QT, Volume 51

Visit Conversion Diary for more!

*1*

I didn't post for Thanksgiving A) because I was enjoying time with my family and B) I prayed all of you were enjoying your Thanksgiving instead of reading blogs!

So......... I enjoyed time with my cousins, the Twinsies, and the rest of my family. They are almost a year old! I can't believe it. I have a sliver of the feeling that I would feel if I was their mother, I'm sure.

*2*

Cyber Monday came and went without a penny spent by me. *Pats self on back*

I hear the best deals come later anyway. Plus, do I really need anything else?

(Check out Decide.com if you're considering buying some electronics or gadgets.)

Though I constantly resist the sales, I'm still enticed by some really delicious feeling of spending money, even though I HATE SPENDING MONEY.

I wrote this quick take on Wednesday... and Thursday I went on a Target.com spree... sigh.

*3*

How do you feel about the Victoria's Secret show? I never had a very strong opinion about it, but it occurred to me that I probably should...

My short opinion: yes, they are objectifying women. Absolutely, though the women choose to and even DREAM of walking down that catwalk. They also dress it up with the fanciful, costume atmosphere that the fashion world is famous for.

Therefore, no, it's not as bad as porn, but the subtlety allows more of the negative messages that discredit TOB to sneak by, under the guise of a carnival show.

Victorian Secret fashion show

*4*

Liesl introduced me to 1000 Awesome Things, such as when the first person starts the standing ovation. That person, if you look around next time you're at a performance, is usually my father or my sister. I admire them for that because, unfortunately, I don't think that will ever be me.

Check out their books for a dose of positivity in your Christmas shopping:

The Book of (Holiday) Awesome
The Book of Awesome

*5*

One thing I really love about my beau is also something that attracts a lot of playful teasing from my family and friends.

A cruel little game my family (and I) play is to name a movie, any movie, hoping to nail one of the 14 movies he's seen (I'm kidding, my love :) ). He's seen more than 14, but probably less than 80.

Again, I love this about him. He spent his childhood DOING things instead of watching movies. He is an expert on almost everything handy or crafty (seriously, everything). I learn something new every single day and without the time to learn all of that, he wouldn't be able to teach me the quirky, genius ways to fix things.

Plus, now we have the chance to watch some of my favorite movies together, should he wish to watch them.

He's putting in surround sound in his living room so we can enjoy some movies together. :)

I still prefer our hiking and travel outing most of all.

*6*

I just watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and .... the first thing I thought of when the Dentist took out the teeth of the Abominable Snowman was, "Eugenics!"

As we know, the delightful founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, was a strong voice in the eugenics movement. She advocated for birth control and sterilization to clean up the human race (taking out the "mentally inferior" and black), treating fertility like a disease.

Now here we have this gigantic, fearsome (misunderstood?) monster whose unappealing feature is his man-and-reindeer appetite and accompanying teeth. Pop, pop, pop. Get those things out of there. Presto-chango, he's tame and puts stars on your 15 ft. Christmas trees at the end of a leash.

Are you picking up what I'm putting down? To clarify: I'm not accusing the writer of Rudolph of supporting eugenics, nor am I belittling serializing to removing a monster's teeth.

*7*

Do you think Santa picked up a Canadian accent up there?

Being nun the wiser

With the help of a winky face, Sister Lisa challenged me to reach into the deep end of my spirituality.

Her honest and beautiful approach to a recent wedding led to a curiosity of my perspective on the possibility of religious life today. The winky face was for effect.

Other than the occasional pop culture reference, the majority of my childhood exposure to women in religious life was at family events (several non-habit-wearing nuns in my family) and from the 1966 classic, The Trouble with Angels. If you have never seen this film (shame on you), I suggest you stop reading.

The goofiness of 1960s films culminates in this story about a trouble-maker and her partner in crime. These teenage "captives in a nunnery" spend three years throughout the movie at a boarding school populated by nuns and other teen girls. Heads butt and rules break at every turn.

By the grace of God, after a lot of trial and much more error, the trouble-maker comes to understand a purpose in self-sacrifice, especially that which it takes to be a religious sister.

 



"But how could you give it up?" Mary presses. Reverend Mother smiles and says, "I found something better."

Read more at VirtuousPla.net...

Arr'ray Pottah - 7QT, Volume 37

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

I have to be awake in 4 hours for work... because I just got home from watching my childhood end.

I saw the final chapter of Harry Potter close onscreen tonight (this morning?). I am grateful, as my sisters said, that the books will always be there, preserved, for me to read.

*2*

This is the first midnight showing I attended and as it was the final opportunity, I had to dress up! I have more photos than this and I will post them after I sleep, but here I am in my car mirror.

... oh no wait, that's Rita Skeeter after she went brunette (you didn't know she went brunette? You must have missed that part of the book...)

UPDATE: I was not happy with most of the pictures we took before going to King's Cross, I mean, the movie theater, so I only have this photo of my sisters (Hermione and Tonks). Tonks is doing her pig nose, obviously:

*3*

The rest of this 7QT will be quotes from my sisters chronically quotable nannyees (those kids whom she nannies). All names have been changed:

My sister and the kids were talking about getting shots at the doctor.

Hermione (what? I'm sticking with a theme, here): "One time I had a shot and it felt really good."

Ron: "It couldn't feel as good as a hot dog would feel. Or a piece of pizza."

*4*

Friend from pool, Harry: "Have you ever been to the solar system?"

My sister: "No I've never been."

Harry: "Well, I'm going to go one day, I just have to pick a day."

Harry walks away.

Ron: "I'm going tell him that he needs to wait until he's a grown up because he might forget his oxygen suit."

*5*

Hermione: "What if your nose is underneath of your mouth?"

*6*

About an 80-year-old woman at the pool with notoriously healthy-sized teeth:

Ron: "That lady never frowns!"

*7*

Hermione to my sister: "I'm splashing water up your boogery nose!"

7 Quick Takes Friday, Volume 30

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

Catholic World Missions just started following me on Twitter, so I checked 'em out. It looks like a great project! See what they're raising money for in Central America here!

*2*

It's not this bad.

Spring cleaning has taken over. Not in the "now I'm up to my elbows in efficiency and a crazy craving to clean," but the "I know I need to clean like a madwoman, but I just can't muster up the umpf to do it right now, thanks though" way.

I really need to get to that...

*3*

I'm inviting everyone, because the "rules" said I could only tag three in the post, to do your own "My favorite scripture verses" post. I know I could use some more time with my nose in a Bible and this was a great, quick exercise for that.

*4*

In one week, one of my best friends marries her best friend! This has been a beautiful love to witness from the sidelines and I can't wait to see them enter the Sacrament!

And PAR-TAY!

(I don't own the rights)

*5*

Speaking of weddings... I saw Bridesmaids this week. Maybe I'm turning into a huge prude (what's so wrong with that?), but it was so unbelievable gross and crude that I'm going to go ahead and recommend that no one go see it.

Did I laugh a bunch? Heck yes. Did I laugh to keep from crying? Heck yes.

Do I wish I could get some of the images and dialog out of my head? Oh, yeah, you got it.

*6*

Wow, do I have to say anything about this photo? The title is "Squirrel hit with snowball."

These guys own the rights.

*7*

The next Bright Maidens topic will be "On Dating Nice Catholic Girls." This is different than our dating post from a while ago because we're starting by reacting to this article on Patheos, which boiled our blood.

Watch out, y'all. Bright Maidens on a rampage. Join us!

7 Quick Takes Friday, Volume 22

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

Head colds are for losers. This loser's "How to survive a month-long cold:"

*1*

Look at creative pictures a fun dad took of his giggly daughters.

Rights belong to Jason Lee

Don't miss the one about baby pooping faces.

*2*

Overdose on Vitamin C, H2O and echinacea because two weeks from now, you're expected to be perky, smiling, and looking well-rested.

The theme was ARrrgh Matey! meets Luck O' the Irish

I'm a bridesmaid in two weeks! Another good friend of mine is getting married in about two months, so when I saw the title for this post, "It's about the Experience: A Post that Will Probably Be Uninteresting to Those Not Planning Weddings," I was paradoxically intrigued.

This young bride dated her now-husband for 5 years before they got married. They also waited until their wedding day for their first kiss.... whoa. That takes some serious commitment...

She's a Catholic blogger, but she has some interesting disagreements with some of the teachings of the Church. I disagree with her on many points, but if you can't read something you disagree with, you have a hard time getting along with new people.

*3*

Avoid staying up until 1:00am to finish a post about when God V8-smacked you in the forehead.

*4*

In a cloudy state of mind, attempt to do a write-up about how two saints picked you and are now making your worst faults abundantly clear to you. Proceed to confession and Mass.

Reminder: next week's Bright Maiden's post is about our "issues with the Church." Scandalous? Perhaps.

*5*

Watch The Sound of Music for the 470th time with someone who has never seen it before. Launch a thorough Child Services investigation into said person's childhood, looking for other instances of child abuse or neglect.

(I don't own the rights)

Additionally, realize that you no longer want to fast forward through "Something Good" because it's adorable instead of "ew gross, stop kissing."

*6*

Get your blood boiling by reading baby "feminists" grace the world with their misinterpretations and conclusion-jumping.  

This blog written by self-proclaimed "feminists" at my alma mater makes me laugh and angers me at the same time. The writer misconstrued the Catholic Campus Ministry's man-treat that was held last weekend frightfully.

Preview: "Tell me what, is an unmanly world? One with women in it?"

The Man-treat's poster and catalyst for feminist rage

Good grief.

The school newspaper and the blog writer failed to do their homework. The man-treat was to talk to men about an epidemic amongst young men: pornography addiction. Pornography objectifies women; if the newspaper or this blogger had asked questions instead of jumping to conclusions, they might have understood and applauded the effort of this retreat.

Beware: if you click, you will be tempted to comment. Remember to remain composed, unlike one of the male, Catholic commenters who reduced himself to insulting.

*7*

Spend way too many hours cleaning out your inbox... and then admit it to the world. Five thousand unsorted emails are now neatly tucked away in folders. I have totally clean inboxes... until you comment...

Nerd alert!

Scarf-face

"Say hello to my little friend."

Apparently Quentin Tarantino created Kill Bill to comment on how violence-focused our society has become. You could have fooled me, it seemed to raise the bar and make us more desensitized to gore, machine guns, and sensational death with symphony music in the background.

However, the violent culture is nothing compared to the sexual culture. This claim has been made for centuries and it will continue to be used for centuries more: kids these days are more promiscuous and know more about sex than any other generation. Back in my day... yada, yada, yada.

Humor me and remind yourself of the last time you saw a TV show or movie where the first kiss didn't immediately lead to the bedroom. Or the couch, if it was more than one room's walk to the bed.

My favorite Canadian TV show, Being Erica, disappointed me when two women friends exclaimed that sleeping in the same bed, but not having sex was "taking it extremely slow." There was a scoff and a pair of rolling eyes thrown in there. We get the picture, she was a puritan for keeping her pants on.

Sex and passion in TV shows like Grey's Anatomy look like the two characters are as famished for Love as the kids in the Christian Children's fund commercials with flies buzzing around their heads are famished for rice. They're addicted to the other person, they must have them right now.

In this country, we've resigned to the fact that we're all fat. We shame the fat people, put them on reality weight loss shows, and make them the butt of jokes (yes, we've made that easy joke many times). This has become a free space for ridicule...

(I don't own the rights)

If a 400 pound guy were to attack a hamburger with the kind of inertia that Dr. McSweaty and Dr. Doe Eyes come at each other in a moment of passion, he would have ketchup on his shirt, a mouth full of meat and cheese, and an audience rippling with laughter. It would be hilarious.

I'm picturing Will Ferrel as the 400 pound guy. You would go see that movie, wouldn't you?

Why do we get to make fun of the fat guy? "Because they should go on a reality show and get control of their waistline and eating habits."

Why does valuing temperance end there? Shouldn't we extend it to sex? It seems like we're rationing our moments of seriousness instead of rationing moments of spontaneously indulging passion.

When you watch a movie like "It Happened One Night," where the man and woman characters separated their room with a "Wall of Jericho" layer of fabric for modesty's sake, it is appalling to realize we've come to the decade of Grey's Anatomy, Sex and the City, and passionate moments that inevitably lead to "just sex."

All this ranting and I have no solution for you. All I can hope is that people will see the emptiness and realize the true freedom in looking at their counterparts with respect and a desire to know them without the lustful use of their bodies. Call me a puritan, I dare you.

7 Quick Takes Friday, Volume 12

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

I came across this nun's blog (Monastics on a Journey) the other day and realized I'VE MET HER! She came to talk to my theology class when I was in high school and then again when we went on our senior year recruiting trip visit to the local Order of Saint Benedict.

*2*

Two posts on other blogs that I read in the same hour the other day. They were eerily linked...

A piece by Charlotte Upah on The Practicing Catholic about her daughter's vows of "in sickness and in health" on the day of her wedding (also one of the worst days of her flu). Her brand new husband hung out with her as she napped for an hour after the ceremony instead of taking a tour of the city with the bridal party.

A post by Homeboy McCoy, one of my personal favorites, about old tendencies in his new relationship as he studies to become a monk. He dips back into his history before the monastery and asks for your prayers. His closing comment is, " I find solace knowing the ultimate vocation we are all called to is to get to Heaven. Beyond that, nothing matters."

*3*

Let me tell you something. I've never been an tween or teenage boy growing up in the 1960s. However, I really enjoy watching The Wonder Years.

(I don't own the rights)

The writing is brilliant, most of the time, and it creates a balance between creating a TV haven and breaking tough ground seldom (if ever) seen on TV in 2011. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching Kevin Arnold awkwardly bounce his way around life before college, you're missing out on rewinding time in your own mind.

The producers seemed to be aware that the cult show is in high demand because I just signed up to receive an email when they finally create a DVD set.

“Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves... for growing up.”

*4*

God blessed my family with the CUTEST TWINS EVER BORN. This week I got to hang out with them, hold them, Love them, and coo at them for a few short minutes. Their grand-daddy is so wonderful with them and their gramma is watching out for them.

Cell phone cameras are the new pinhole cameras.

One of them yawns so big, it looks like her face is half yawn. She looked like Emil Daddy! His yawns were epic.


The other twinzie squirmed and wormed in my arms as she was... relieving herself, crying the cutest little cry you've ever heard. It hit me: how can people seen these brand new bundles of life, with their curious, yet cloudy eyes, watch them take in the world and deny the existence of God?


It's not simply chemical. You would have to invest a heck of a lot of faith to convince yourself of that when you see a brand new life in your arms. Jen Fulwiler has a brilliantly written post about this very phenomenon. She was freed by an exchange of eye contact with her first son.

*5*

There are a lot of wonderful Catholic mom blogs out there and I enjoy reading them. However, I'm not a mom and I have little use for some of the excellent lessons they espouse in the writing. 

I'm happy to have found the following Catholic young people blogs! Some writers are discerning or pursuing religious vocation and some are just young and telling it like it is.

• From Punk to Monk
• The Corner with a View
• Spiritual Workout Blog
• Vita Consecrata 
• Not a minx, a moron, or a parasite
• Modestia
• Secret Vatican Spy
• The Practical Catholic
• Billy Atwell

*6*

We're having my family over for a on-purpose-dinner this Saturday. After these last several months, we've all learned to make an effort to show each other Love on non-holidays too.

*7*

Do I really have to comment on this? It's an animal-loving type of week.

I know what I like

There is a distinct difference between "good art" and art. Conveniently, the literary and art world has set up an elite system to figure out the difference. On many occasions I buy into this system because I really think "good art" sustains itself over generations.

However, if you can enjoy the same books and movies dozens of times without getting sick of them, you've stumbled upon your own definition of good art. That's nothing to be ashamed of! Below is my no holds barred list of books I have read at least 5 times and movies of which I will never get tired. If I wanted to impress you, I'd share classic literature titles and indie movies..... It's good to know what you like, isn't it?

Books:

*Ella Enchanted - Haven't heard of it? That's because it's written for 5th grade girls. I haven't read it in several years, but I was at least 16 the last time I read this. Good, romantic, fantasy stories never get old.

*Pride and Prejudice - Yes, I'm a girl. Sue me.

From the Screwtape Letters play I saw in NYC!

*Persuasion - This is my favorite Austen novel because it shows how long love lasts when you don't abandon it.

*The Screwtape Letters - A new lesson learned each time I read it. If you haven't read this, what's wrong with you? Go to get it!

*The Bible -- I've heard this several times... but I have never read it from cover to cover in one fell swoop.

*Any Little House on the Prairie book - These are stories about the richest people on Earth. Often it seems like it would be easier to live like good people if we had as little and if life was as hard as it was for this family. It's all relative, so we should make just as much effort and be just as loving as the Ingalls.

*The Lord of the Flies - We all turn on Simon every once in a while, just as we turn on the Holy Trinity. It's helpful to remind ourselves about darkness, too.

P.S. - I just found this site called Catholic Fiction: jackpot!

Movies: 

*"Indian Summer" - Chances are you haven't heard of this, but it's a great movie (with shaky morality) about our childhood expectations for adulthood. When we reach adulthood, those expectations can haunt us or motivate us. Oh! And it takes place in Canada. Win-win.

*"Sound of Music" - Doe, a deer, a female deer. Ray, a drop of golden suuuuuuuuuuun!

*"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" - AKA, 7b47b. What's not to love about a group of rugged, singing, dancing brothers in Oregon Territory, 19th century?

*"Meet Me in St. Louis" - I already mentioned this once.

*"Calendar Girls" - Anglophile here, so this movie gives me the right dose of British accents and English countryside. It's also an interesting story about a bunch of moms who take their clothes off to buy a couch, so it's a crowd pleaser.

*"What Dreams May Come" - Beautiful images in a beautiful story. Who cares if it's accurate or not? It makes me bawl every time I watch it.

7 Quick Takes Friday, Volume 6

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

I'm no Gleek, but Finn is my new "celebrity" crush (Finn's character, I know nothing about the actor). He's such a nice guy, I love his voice (of course), and I ... really applaud God's work with that kid. Typical me: he's Canadian. I should have known because he reminds me of Gilbert Blythe, my literary crush.

I haven't raved much about Canada on this blog, but it's a joke in my family: Oh Canada, you put a spell on me.

*2*

We needed a movie with a good message:

A Walk In My Shoes - 2:33 TRLR from Moms4FamilyTV.com on Vimeo.

*3*

You may have noticed that I added a new blog to my roll over there: From Punk to Monk is a blog written by "Homeboy McCoy," a self-proclaimed former "punk." He was in the fast lane as a musician and heard God's call to become a monk. He has a great voice (I have it on good authority that he has an MFA in creative writing) and some powerful insight.

Help a brother out...

*4*

Warning: Shameless self-promotion below (that's not true, I'm feeling plenty of shame for this):

I have another site and it features my jewelry business. As soon as I lasso some time, I will make some winter-friendly jewelry, but there are plenty of pieces on there.

My friends and family make fun of me because "Elizabeth changes her mind at least once a week" (as my cousin said Wednesday night). Jewelry making (not so much jewelry wearing, actually), drawing, painting, writing, reading, swimming, kids, God, Catholicism, and more -- I have a lot of passions. I can't help it.

*5*

As I mentioned last week, my class reunited at our 5-year high school reunion on Saturday. I loved seeing my former classmates and I had a great night out! We hopped around to a few bars, though I only planned on going to the first.

Let's just say I wasn't missing anything by not knowing the boys at the guy's school... I'm sure some of them are very nice and good guys (I met several), but overall... I wasn't missing much.

*6*

I am a terrible test-taker. I have always been a terrible test-taker. I will not go into my list of reasons why tests are terrible ways to measure aptitude. Last night, I took the GRE in preparation for applying for grad school... ouch.

I scored significantly higher on the math section. And yes, you remember correctly. I'm applying to ENGLISH graduate programs.

Some of the math questions gave the option to say, "Hey! There isn't enough info here to determine this!"

I wish the verbal section had that option. "Hey! I read a lot, but apparently never came across this word in my 2 decades of literacy. Give me a break, huh?"

*7*

I'm going to be a bridesmaid! You know that old "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" bit? Not me. I have been excited about being a bridesmaid forever. Yes, there is some responsibility and there will be some challenges to juggle, but I'm light on my feet and quick to solve problems. I'm so honored that my friend chose me to be with her up there on a big catalytic day in her life!

"Arranged"

Netflix, with the help of my Wii, brought me to a cute little movie the other night. Arranged takes place in Brooklyn where two teachers of orthodox faiths, one Muslim, one Jewish, find friendship sparked by a mutual tradition in their faiths: arranged marriages.

The movie probably cost a buck and a song to make. It is not going to excite you or wake up your action-movie-core, but these quiet movies are helpful in slowing down the pace of our lives.



I really do understand the purpose behind arranged marriages and I respect them, in a way. No, this does not make me weird.

They are more statistically successful than whatever process is going into half of the marriages in America, which are failing. This is likely due to the respect for the commitment to marriage and to honoring God in that marriage, a common goal in Islam and Judaism.

Several religions practice arranged marriages and not all of them end up peachy keen -- consider that acknowledged.

In several jabs throughout the movie, the principal of the school ignorantly attempts to show Rochel Meshenberg and Nasira Khaldi how much their religion offends womanhood, according to her. "There was a women's movement, you know?"

The writer and director tastefully sprinkled blatant examples of ignorance, planted in fear and overgrown into intolerance. The principal thinks she's teaching the girls about how intolerant their religion is for female choices and that they should want to remove themselves from those chains immediately. Her arrogance and ignorance shield her from seeing just how intolerant she is.

This is a charming movie, one that I recommend for its obvious respect of devout religious lifestyles and for its unapologetic mirror for intolerance. The two women spend their lives practicing true love and devout faith, though their world surrounds them with reasons to abandon that.

After watching this movie, I am grateful for Netflix, I am grateful that I will not attempt to find true love under the hawk eyes of my Jewish mother, and I'm grateful there is a non-Christian movie that still touts a Christian message of Love.

Theology of the Body, Week 2

A big theme in Theology of the Body is that being pure does not mean to build brick walls around yourself, avoiding everything and "surviving" life sex-free until marriage. We're actually working toward something. By making purity a part of your life, you're moving toward a goal of a whole self.

Today's chapter is called "Love Defined: Giving versus Using." Last time we talked about how we were created for Love and this time we went over how to give real Love.

"The person is a 'good' toward which the only proper and adequate attitude is love." -John Paul II

Ahhh what a wise man. He really had his finger on the pulse of communicating ideas. Though it is seemingly impossible to show love to people at all times, what is the alternative? If we're not giving love, we're not doing as God asks us to do. We're also completely disrespecting ourselves in the long run because we're altering our own concept of love by mistreating others.

Boy, Buttercup is a real pain in the tush, huh? She has the pretentious London accent (in Florin?) to round out her snobbery toward Wesley. However, bless his heart, Wesley treats her with patience, respect and human love.

I have NO idea how Wesley fell in love with Buttercup, but he did and she fell in love with him. I won't spoil the end for the 6 or 7 of you who haven't seen The Princess Bride, but they preserve their concepts of love for one another.

Love vs. Using

Men get a bad rap sheet for using women for sex. Sometimes, they certainly do. However, women also use men. They will give or have sex in order to get the lovey dovey, iconic "love" feelings from men. They use men to feel loved.

Love is not selfish, it is generous. Loving as goodwill for another is closest to the love with which God loves us, or agape.

Love is the greatest commandment that Jesus gave us: "Love one another, even as I have loved you" (John 13:34).

Jesus gave all of himself for us as He willed us to be with Him for eternity.

7 Quick Takes Friday, Volume 3

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

"Lipitor heart throbs"

That's my new catchphrase for having celebrity crushes on attractive leading men who are could be on medicare (if they were alive).  Tab Hunter, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Tom Drake (see #3), Gene Kelly, Marlon Brando, Cary Grant... I admit, I'm a little creepy, but think about it: half of them could sing and all of them knew how to dance well enough to put on a suit, shine their shoes, buy a corny corsage, and take you to a ball. Does anyone else hear the Zoot Suit Riot playing in the back of their mind?

*2*

Speaking of young men I love: Gilbert Blythe. Swoon.

I love Canada. Canada, I really love you. If you weren't so darn cold, I'd come visit you.  

Anne of Green Gables may be the book that made me fall in love with literature. In turn, it led me to love writing. The Darcy-Elizabeth, hate-secret-admiration relationship (obviously, the most romantic of all possible scenarios) is perfectly played in Anne of Green Gables.

The audience falls in love with him before Anne realizes she's got a grade A sweetheart on her hands.... plus he's super cute. Swoon.

*3*

I listen to Christmas music earlier than most people (July). I just love it so much, I don't think I'll ever get sick of it. However, I do ration my Christmas movies, so right now I'm in the Meet Me in St. Louis layer.

The only section of Christmas comes at the end, so not only is it a legitimate November movie, it's also a great transition to the White Christmases of the world. It also shows the investment of year-round family bonding involved in a truly beautiful Christmas experience.

Meet Me in St. Louis (I sing it, I don't say it) climaxes with my very favorite secular Christmas songs of all time: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

One gem in this movie that guys should notice is that eldest daughters scheme to "convince" the men in their sight to "take the first step." It's hilarious to watch it 1903-style because YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA how slow and scared-i-cat-y you can be! We have to move it along sometimes.

*4*

I am down a third notch in my belt since last year. Woot! I kind of whined about Starbucks last Friday, but apparently I owe them an apology.

*5*

I'm going to Lisbon! This New Year's Eve I will be celebrating the new year in a former world trade-power's capital with people I love! I haven't seen these friends in more than a year; most of them are from and live in Europe or South America, so this will be an epic reunion. In honor of my excitement, I'm sharing some of my favorite pictures from my Europe trip last year.

My mom and I went to London (where we met up with my good friend from Belgium), Barcelona (narrowly missing a good friend who was in North America for the exact days we were in Europe. The luck), Torino, La Spetzia, Cinque Terre, Pisa (yuck, thank you Europe for creating a nasty city so we feel better about ours), Roma (<3 Vatican City), and Florence.

Casa Batllo, Barcelona

Vatican City

Casa Batllo, Barcelona

 

Rome, Italy

Inside of St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

*6*

Thursday is my kickball night and this week it was EPIC! I've been really nervous and terrible every week on a team with which I had no chemistry. This week I played with a new team of great people, most of whom are married (that ups the maturity factor), who welcomed me with encouragement.

In exchange, I kicked BOOTY and walked away with: a strawberry on my knee, a bruise on my kicking ankle, awesome new teammates, three runs (one sliding), and the distinct pleasure of getting 3 MEN out.


Did I brush my shoulder off? (What year is this?) Well, I did it anyway. Yes.
 

*7*

This one is a prayer for vocations for every person reading or not reading this. Remember: Jeremiah 29:11.

What eye has not seen...

"I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-Shirt because it says I want to be formal, but I'm here to party." -Talladega Nights

Hmmm... starting with some Cal Naughton Jr. theory for this post... I hope I haven't lost you yet.

Just like Cal, I like to picture Jesus as I pray, which is why I am grateful that we portray Jesus in His final moments on Earth on the crucifix. It helps pull me back to the power of real Love and entirely selfless sacrifice.

In the last two years, as my relationship with Jesus Christ has matured and deepened, I have asked Jesus to sit with me during prayer. This started off as a symbol, but as I learn to transcend my busy thoughts and actually quiet my head to hear my heart, I occasionally feel His true presence.

Newsflash: images help us take in the world. Even when we imagine, we are using "sight" to describe things to ourselves. I can only imagine that the blind have some version, perhaps even richer than mine, of painting emotion and thoughts in the mind with images.

Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ gives us this tangible example of the suffering and doubt Jesus chose to face in his last hours.

I watch this movie with a knot in my throat, especially in the flashbacks to happier times with Mother Mary, until I explode in the torture scenes. Each lash of the whip is a witness to the hatred we inflict on Him. Some of the Romans grow in their hatred and obviously want to make Him fall apart, literally. Other Romans show remorse when they see how much He is willing to endure.

The people fall to the feet of fear as they yell out for Jesus' Crucifixion, as mirrored in our lives.

We find familiarity in Pontius Pilate, as Jen at Conversion Diary put so eloquently, and get a miniscule taste of Mary's life as the woman chosen by God to bring His Son to life on Earth. She watched Him give his life back to her and to us.

The warmest color peering out from suffering.

As I pray, I see Gibson's choice for James Caviezel's eyes in my rendition of the Lord. He puts His arm around me and asks me to sink into Him. All it takes is surrender of my stubbornness. He wants to take all of this mess from us.

But as it is written: "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him," this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Small plug: Ricky Bobby's wife in Talladega Nights went to my high school. No big deal.

A Whole New World?

Aladdin, one of the greatest Disney movies of all time, came on TV this week.

I remember when it came out, I giggled my teeth out when Robin Williams, aka Genie, said things like "Rick 'em, rack 'em, rock 'em, rake. Stick that sword into that snake!" A blue man, in a cheerleader outfit: classic! I still know all the lyrics and melody of "A Whole New World," including the duet parts. I was Jasmine for Halloween one year (obviously, my fear of Halloween didn't play a role when I got to wear long, black soccer socks from my turquoise headband to stand as beautiful raven princess hair). This movie had a profound impact on my young life.

Only this week did it occur to me that the "grown ups" who pieced this movie together probably spent years in and out of meetings. They held focus groups to determine what to do about an Urdu accent or what shape to make Jasmine's eyes. It never crossed my mind that we're listening to white bread DJ Tanner's boyfriend Steve every time Aladdin's voice cracked. Donnie Osmond, the whitest, most American "boy" out there, sang through the "street rat's" lips. Donnie Osmond? He's just a little bit rock and roll... sitar not included.

The producers needed to make sure this painstaking cartoon work was a worthwhile investment of time and money. They need to be sure that my dad and mom would watch the trailer, decide to pack up my sisters and me into our car seats, drive to the theater and put up with the surprises three small children bring to that kind of experience. They needed our money, our impulsive Abu-lunchbox buying, and our decades-later realization that we know that Aladdin can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder, over, sideways and under on a magic carpet ride.

Sadly, something that hasn't changed is that the culmination of the focus groups and marketing discussions meant audience members watched characters prance around Agra, India and the Taj Mahal with inoffensive, white skin and almond eyes. These people looked like they could be from North Carolina in the beginning of the summer.

The hard data told Disney that the only way to get ticket money from the Smiths and the Johnsons (the Goldsteins, the De Lucas and the O'Reillys) was if the cartoons onscreen were white enough.

This is not a groundbreaking uncovering of the discomfort with the "other," it just struck me because I never realized how much our prejudices shaped my childhood. Just think about that office memo:

Hey gang,

Remember, we have to have another facial shape brainstorm session at 10am tomorrow. Last time, we almost nailed it on the big ugly palace guard. It was just shy of unanimous to knock out his front tooth because it makes him look that much more untrustworthy. We think if we darken his skin and leave the tooth out, we can appease all parties on this one.

Thanks! See you then!