South.

I was Bizarre Foods today on the Travel Channel. If you have a strong stomach, I definitely recommend this show. It's amazing the things the host can eat. He must not care about taste...or bacteria...

Anyways. He was actually in the US for this particular episode. Down south, in fact. And I know many of you know how I feel about the southern portion of this country. I love it down there. I've been three times in the last three years. Every single time I feel so comfortable with the culture. Well...minus the music and the backhills population.

I was thinking about the midwest. I always love the midwest. I've lived out east and it doesn't even stand to compare. My thought was...I know the south has a lot of traditions and it's a very cultural place. You can see the culture of the south. Does the midwest have culture and traditions?? Is there something that we are known for? And I don't mean just Michigan. I mean the midwest as a whole. I need originality here, not just things we stole from other cultures. If anyone has any clue what our cultures and traditions are, please enlighten me.

Next.

I was watching the Kids Choice Awards (yes, I watched a lot of tv today). And the Pussycat Dolls "performed". I quote the word performed, because, really...you know. I was little bothered to see them performing on a kids award show. Especially sing they were "singing" When I Grow Up. Which talks about wanting to grow up famous, to have lots of things, and "grow boobies". Really Nickelodeon? Really? They should be encouraging kids to grow up and read books and do well in school and do things to change the world. NOT "growing boobies". *shakes head* I'm worried for our future.

AND next.

I am really considering grad school. I know I've talked about it for some time now, but I really feel like its something I should and could do. My supervisor and my co-workers say I should. I honestly believe I could find an awesome job that I really enjoy and find rewarding if I got my Masters. I am now considering the MSW (Masters in Social Work). I wasn't aware of how many jobs were available with that until now. How many different doors could be opened.

I'm praying about it, and that's all I can do.

Traditions.

I really enjoy traditions. And I usually forget how much I enjoy them, until I experiene them again. For example. Last night, my dad informs me that the International Space Station (ISS for those who speak nerd) and the freshly launched shuttle will be visible to us in short time frame that evening. He also informed me we'd be walking to the park to watch it. To this I said "absolutely".

There was no question of whether or not I was going, I just was. I remember being just a kid and my dad telling me that him and myself and my brother would be bringing the blanket out in the backyard that night to watch the meteor shower, or bringing out that same blanket to watch the Hale-Bopp comet fly overhead. And even when I was at school last year, the ISS and a shuttle flew over in a celestial game of tag (one right after the other). I went out to watch even then. And satellite counting up north while laying on the spider-infested dock. But I didn't care about the spiders because its tradition.

I love having moments like that with my dad. I love having moments like that with anyone. Things that I do just because that is the only way.

I can't wait to create moments like that with my kids. (That I'll apparently be popping out around age 35, according to Zombie) I will take my kids outside to watch satellites, and coments, and the space station. I will send the boys away a weekend close to Christmas just so I can wrap presents with my daughter. I will give my daughter flowers on her birthday when she hits her teens. I will turn off all the lights in my house and play capture the flag with my kids with glow-in-the-dark flags. And I will make snow forts in the backyard and fling snow balls at my kids as they laugh and hide while the dog chases them around.

I'm glad I had loving parents to give me these things.


What traditions did you have??

Sick.

I'm sick guys. I wish I wasn't. Duh.

Remember when we were youngin's and your mom would do special things for you when you were sick. My mom always made whatever food I wanted (always soup). And brought me blankets, and tissues. And I always had Vernors. Always. I want some now.

The awesome thing is, is that my mom will still bring me whatever I want when I don't feel good. I like that.

When I get married, I want my husband to do that same thing. Baby me. hehe. By bringing me blankets and Vernors and Vicks and tissues and chick flicks to watch all day.





What did your mom do for you when you were sick?

Return.

It bothers me that my schedule is solely dependent on other people. Especially as I sit in a florescently lit office, in a basement, with no windows when I know it is sunny and 60 out. A rare day in Michigan in March...so sad.

So. Random entertainment related post for you all. I have nothing deep to say today because my head hurts. Have any of you seen Return to Oz? If you have, hopefully you can agree with me here. I love this movie. Angie, Patrick, and I used to watch it. The premise of it is that Dorothy returns from Oz (appearing younger than in the original, it's weird, but I like it) and tells everyone about Oz. Auntie Em (who is also younger looking and not as sweet) believes Dorothy is crazy and sends her to get electoshock therapy. While at the institution, Dorothy escapes with the help of a mysterious girl. One things leads to another and she ends up back in Oz. Oddly enough with her pet chicken, Bulena. Who is now talking. Alright, stay with me here.

Along the way she finds that Oz has been taken over by the knome king and Mombi with the help of her Wheelers. Mombi has also turned everything living in Oz to stone. Including the scarecrow, tinman, and lion.

Long story short, Dorothy meets some new friends along the way. Including Tic-Tok, Jack Pumpkin Head, and Moose. With them she has to save Oz from the Knome King and Mombi.

I know it sounds SO out there. And I will admit the movie itself is a little strange, but I really love. I ordered online and have been waiting for it for a while now. That's waht inspired this post.

Anywhoo. That's it. Still just waiting for my phone call...

Ideas.

I work in Detroit. You all know that. What I don't talk about as much is the amount of poverty and sickness I see everyday working Detroit. It's one of those things I don't really bring up because it hurts me. I'll definitely talk about how I work in the ghetto, but that's as far as it goes.

Except now. My church is doing a series called "Hope Lives". The church, the small groups, and the student ministries are all participating together (which, by the way, I think is awesome). The series talks about poverty.

I feel like I have some definite insight to this topic. Only because I work in poverty. I see it every single day. But like I said before, I don't talk about it that much because I don't want to pretend to be a saint. I only complain when my families are getting out of control.

With that said, I'd been thinking about some things lately. That I briefly talked about at my small group last night. There is on part of town I am in often. And this part of town has more beggers than any other part of town. Everytime I see them, it breaks my heart. However, this part of town is notorious for drug use. So, hopefully you will see why I am hesitant to hand cash out my window. I feel like just handing out cash is a)feeding a habit and b) such a callous, un-loving response to the problem.

So here is my thing. I need some ideas. I need to figure out some kind of goody bag to keep in my car and to hand out to these individuals when I see them. Unparishable food I can keep in my car. So far I have the ideas of gift cards for local restaurants, bottles of water and possibly bus cards. I need to stay away from crunchy, sugary things due to possible poor dental hygiene.

Alrighty, that's all. Give me ideas!!