A Triflin' Friend Indeed

I am not a rap music person. Never have been. Something about the incessant use of curse words paired with lurid descriptions of women's physical attributes disturbs me...Anywhooooo...I must break my rule of "TURN THAT OFF" whenever I hear the song "Gold Digger" by what's-his-name (you know, the one who turned the entire world of teenage girls, moms, and creepy-stalker guys against him when he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech...that guy). Admittedly, I only heard the song because it was on Glee and subsequently, is on the GleeCd, which is, of course, on my iPod. Just thought it was important to preface this discussion of "Gold Digger" by giving you some basis as to why I would be listening to that guy...what IS his name? The Taylor-Swift-Interrupter-guy. So much for notoriety being better than anonymity.

So, back to the topic...yeah, "Gold Digger". Have you ever actually listened to it? It is a fitting illustration of that old adage that we have all been quoted, "You made your bed..." I always hated hearing those adages, but as I hear those words pop out of my mouth in conversations with my children, I am amazed that there is ever any debate over evolution - I mean, really, if we have been evolving into higher life forms, wouldn't we have come up with some better sayings by now?

Ok...where was I? Hmmmm...rap music, Taylor Swift, Glee, "Gold Digger", stalkers, iPod, adages, evolution...just a day in the life, people.

So, why on earth was this guy in a beauty salon (if he is a hairdresser, I do not think he would be going after said gold-digging female. It is highly more likely that he would be discussing and/or coveting her Louis Vuitton, if you ask me)? Also, if he met her in a salon with this designer (hence, expensive) purse, would not alarm bells be gonging in his head? 'Cause any woman could have told him that beauty salon + designer accessories = WATCH OUT AND HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLET BECAUSE YOU JUST WON YOURSELF A HIGH MAINTENANCE WOMAN...just sayin'...

I am just thrilled that I will be able to label this blog with evolution and Louis Vuitton. That is the coolest thing ever. Now, I have a goal to come up with the most interesting combinations of blog labels, because that is just how I roll. Now I gotta figure out how to put pictures in this thing...because I could have soooooo much fun with that.

Back on topic. Oh, by the way, if you are going to read this, be prepared. I have a very difficult time staying on topic. I like to attribute it to a brilliant mind that moves at the speed of light, but my husband attributes it to ADD. Who said we have to agree on everything?

Why does "Gold Digger" hold a special spot in my playlist? It just makes me laugh. It is a classic example of what happens to us humans when we "follow our hearts" (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it was not his heart he was concerned with, but gotta keep it family-friendly here). When we pursue things that look good to us at the moment, blindly and without careful consideration, disappointment and regret usually occur. I have fallen victim to that so many times, and am just now to the point at thirty-thr...er, you know, in my adult life, that I actually think before I speak (sometimes) and do not chase down all the shiny things that catch my attention without first weighing the list of possible consequences against the potential benefits. Impulsivity (is that even a word?)can be endearing, but at some point, it becomes as old and irritating as the temper tantrums kids throw in the store for candy.

My point is (although, dear reader, you may doubt there is one) that "Gold Digger" embraces and promotes the ideals of modern society. Have the fun of your choosing (after all, this is a republic), then complain, whine, moan, gripe, and take microphones away from award recipients when things turn sour (like how I worked that back in there?). I guess my amusement at this song is an ironic, wry sort. A flicker of recognition at the foibles of the (this) human heart. Although a cutie with a Louis Vuitton is not my particular brand of poison...

Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont

I have never had a "Women of Faith" experience, so I was looking forward to reading "Kaleidoscope" by Patsy Clairmont. I wanted to love it. I really, really wanted to love it.

Here's the layout:
Tile page with a clever title and fitting verse of Scripture,then a cute two to four page personal anecdote or applicable story, followed by some focus questions and more related Scripture verses. This is the basic outline for each chapter (a few exceptions), and it seems like a fail-proof recipe. I just cannot love this book. No matter how hard I try to be satisfied, I am left wanting more! The subtitle set my expectations really high: "Seeing God's Wit and Wisdom in a Whole New Light". I expected some revelatory, angel-choir singing, eye-opening "AHA" moments - but I did not even experience one.

I am not saying that the book was not good. It was certainly amusing, and had some really cute stories. The applications were correct, so no argument to the Biblical accuracy will you find here. The questions are definitely not always easy ones to answer honestly, and the additional Scripture verses were a nice addition.

Loving this book was my intention, but I came away with a lukewarm, "we can still be friends" feeling. So, yes, I like it, but I just cannot add it to my list of books I love, nor would I recommend it to anyone looking for a serious study on Proverbs.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This is Your Brain in Love by Dr. Earl Hensin

I recently read "This is Your Brain in Love" by Dr. Earl Hensin for BookSneeze. I really enjoyed reading the book, as I am fascinated by how God's creation works. I love learning about the human brain, so this was right up my alley. :)The real-life stories and short foray into Jewish customs were fun to read. The quizzes to help a person figure out his particular tendencies as a "lover" were helpful and helped me to gain clarity. The appendices are also helpful and give a lot of good information. I was surprised at the focus on ADD, but enjoyed reading about it. This book may not have been about what I thought it would be, but it was nice to be wrong!

Jesus Lives by Sarah Young

Jesus Lives by Sarah Young is a thoughtful, beautiful, Biblically sound devotional. I have not read Jesus Calling, the book to which this is a companion piece. This book is visually appealing, well-made, and pretty enough to give as a gift. It is small enough to carry in a purse or briefcase, with a lovely crimson ribbon to helpfully mark your place. The color scheme is simple and elegant, as is the art work. Don't let the diminutive size mislead you. This devotional is packed full of Scripture and Biblically sound life applications. Written as though Jesus is speaking directly to the reader, the format is two pages per devotional topic. The first page is the main idea and the words that Ms. Young envisions Jesus writing to His child, while the opposite page highlights the Scripture verses that served as inspiration. The underlying theme of this devotional is trusting in the promise that nothing can separate the believer from Jesus' love. Ms. Young successfully communicates this promise with Jesus Calling in an inspiring, comforting, and truthful manner. I am a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program. Find details at: http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher purports to take the reader on a historical journey to delve into the mystery of Communion. The reader searching for a true Biblical and historical viewpoint on this topic will be sorely disappointed. The anecdotal writing style was great for another type of book, just not one in "The Ancient Practices Series." The style of Ms. Gallagher's writing was not the problem for me; however, the content and substance were. I do not discount Ms. Gallagher's talent as a writer, just her questionable handling of this topic. I enjoy reading about people's experiences, especially within the faith community. This said, the focus was more on the author's personal experience than anything else. My expectation for a book of this nature is scholarly research backing up a well presented and Biblically accurate work on a fascinating topic. That the slant was Episcopalian, and not a general Christian one or at least an overview of the major Christian groups, was frustrating. The procedures and practice of modern Episcopalian Communion tell me nothing about "the ancient practices" of Communion. In light of the title and intention of the series, it seems to me that this work missed the mark entirely. If you are interested in a well-written personal opinion story about how an ancient practice makes the writer feel more connected to her fellow man, this is the book for you. If you are interested in a Biblically sound examination of the practice of Communion both in historical and modern contexts, this work is not recommended. I am a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program. Find details at: http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

I am a blogger

I am doing this. I am blogging. As soon as blogging crossed my radar, I found the practice fascinating. I cannot explain why reading about someone else's life is so interesting. I sometimes find myself following link after link to read blog after blog...mostly from people I do not even know!

Maybe this curiosity comes from the innate need to reconnect with other humans in this hectic and often disconnected(from real people, that is) world. The more "connected" I become(in terms of technology), the less time I spend with actual people. Maybe just knowing that there is a real person behind the words and pictures on the computer screen makes up for all the voice-automated systems and pre-recorded sales calls with which we are daily barraged.

Whatever the reason, I have heeded the call of technology. I am a blogger.