Party Like it's 1999 [or You Only Graduate from High School Ten Years Ago Once]

[The pictures on the left and below:Class of 1999 reunioning last Saturday]

I almost did it again. I almost just ruined my blog by trying to title it before it was written. The only problem is, now, I don't know what the heck to write about.

It feels like an update blog. With some shout-outs for good measure. I added a couple of blogs to the Blogs I Love. One of my favorite people ever, Amie Furryhill [name has been changed to protect the ridiculous], started a blog. So, of course, it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway - it's awesome. And not just plain old awesome, but awesome awesome. She has a book list on there that will leave even the most astute reader feeling filled with slack.

And Amie, I think I'm funny, too.

My other new favorite blog - funkyfatgirl.com. My friend Betsy is huh-larious. And the video she posted a couple days ago will make you grin from earlobe to earlobe.

But that's not all. James-Michael, yes, the James-Michael has been promoted from Charlotte Methodist Examiner to National Methodist Examiner.

Yeah, he's that good. My favorite articles so far - the Star Trek one [what can I say, I love me some Star Trek] and the Great Debate articles. Sweet, sweet stuff.

10 year reunion last Saturday. Wow. I'm, like, old. I learned two valuable lessons last weekend. Number One - there are few greater pleasures for me in this world than visiting with or being visited by people I just love. Nothing like it.

Number Two - don't drink and dance. Yikes!

Pimping People: Part 2

It's been a long day of mostly nothing. It's not gone well, though. It's not gone well.

Lots of little things. A stupid fight with Jermaine. A provoking professor that just keeps going a little too far. Unexpected [and unwelcome] knowledge that we owe American University another $13,000. A call from my kid at 4pm - a mix-up with the sitter meant that she never got picked up. And then, to top it off, they gave us the wrong kind of meat in our Chalupa at Taco Bell.

I suppose I could add "getting a Chalupa at Taco Bell when we're flat broke".

I'm spent. In more ways than one. I want to go outside and get some fresh air. I hope I do, I think it would be good for boosting morale.

Before I wander off, though, I thought I'd take a moment to boost some other people's morale. Pimping in the purest sense of the word.

You might have noticed, if you've visited my blog before, that I've decorated it for Spring. I've also added some things. I am now a friend of the Emergent Village. This is the third time today I've added a link to that site. And for some reason, that gives me great pleasure.

I've also added some websites on the left that make me very happy. I've added a link to Jermaine's profile on Threadless. Now everyone go there right now and hype him up so he can win some money and we can throw it at the bill collectors.

I'm not sure if this is a shameless plug [or outright bragging] but, God forgive me, I've decided to mention it, anyway. I'm attending this conference in a couple weeks, which is hosted by Sojourners, called the Mobilization to End Poverty. I'd explain what it's about, but I fear it's too difficult to understand. It's going to be pretty wicked, though. You should go, if you want to be as cool as me [in which case you'd be thrice as cool as the 87,000th coolest person on the planet].

You may have also noticed that I added a couple more blogs to my "blogs I love" list [or you may have had better things to do than to check daily to see if I've updated my blog list [I do not, however, have better things to do and so I check hourly]].

A kind of love. is not the latest track by Enigma Records, but rather, a fabulous new interior design blog by my friend Priscilla. You should check it out, she's quite inspirational.

My lovely friend Jess has just recently updated her blog with a beautiful true story about her adventures with the Justice Project. I can't think of anything funny to say about it, so I'll just clamp up and move on.

A little pimp for me: I'm trying to bring traffic to my blog. If you feel so inclined, you would absolutely make my day if you were to become a follower of my blog. The benefit of following me: I'll have to go first down the big scary holes.

An upcoming bloggeriffic event: I'm going to blog the Bible! It's a bit of a copycat adventure, with a twist. David Plotz, editor of Slate Magazine, recently wrote the Good Book, a book inspired by his column in Slate, in which he blogged the entire Hebrew Bible. The real draw has to do with the fact that when it comes to the Bible, Plotz is a novice. I really want to read this book. I planned on buying it at a discount online before I started my Bible blogging adventure, but, unfortunately, we have to stick to the essentials for now, so it'll have to wait.

My blog will be a little different. I have a book called The Bible in 90 Days. So, the plan is, I guess, pretty self explanatory. I'm going to read what it tells me to read each day, and then blog my thoughts in the evenings. It will be similar to Mr. Plotz's undertaking, with some differences: 1) I am not the editor of an amazing online magazine [although, if a job opens up . . . ] 2) He blogged the Hebrew Bible [what some Christians call the Old Testament], I will be blogging both the Old and the New 3) He is a Jewish man and I am a Christian gal 4) He started his project because he realized that he hadn't read much of his Bible [especially the scary bits] and I am starting because I have read some of the scary bits and would like to explore them further [and hopefully generate some interesting conversations in the process].

I am going to try a contact him before I begin. I would like to attempt to get a go ahead, since he is the source of my inspiration for the project.

I have to go! I've been trying to finish this blog for a half an hour! I was going to complain about how our dear young dog is refusing flat out to be potty trained - but no there is no time!

Oh, wait, I just did.

PS. I am a Harry Potter convert!! Go Gryffindor!
PPS. I just finished book 4. Please don't spoil the ending by leaving a well-intended but not-helpful message. I will cry.

Pimping People

It's not what you think.

Er, I mean, I guess I don't know what you think, so I suppose it could be.

Whateve.

Dot, dot, dot.

Hi!

Surprise, surprise, I'm in a random mood again. Thought I'd attempt to put it to good use by name-dropping [wonderful, ordinary people] and showing off some good God stuff.

My 2pm class got canceled today. I used the extra time to peruse interesting reads online that I do not usually have time to browse. Decided it might be fun to share with you [both of you].

But before we get started: Random Tidbit About Me Time [one of the drawbacks of reading this blog]: I realized today that when I'm in class and the professor is not making much sense [to me] and it all seems a bit foggy, I always have this strange urge to paint my face. Or well, mark my face - usually with thick black crosses on my cheeks and one large charcoal line down the middle of my forehead and nose. Oh dear. It sounds much stranger on paper than it does in my head. I don't know if this makes it any better, but I have not yet acted on these urges.

Anyhoo. If you still want to listen to my opinion after that confession [or the same thing mysteriously happens to you, too] then feel free to keep reading. If not, I understand. I promise I won't cry too much after you leave.

First up, The Discipleship Dojo. My friend, James-Michael's blog about the real Saint Patrick caught my eye. It's fascinating. Although I am a little embarrassed that I had no knowledge of him whatsoever. If you're in the same boat, I'll let JM fill you in.

I follow three different blogs; CRCC Lenten Devotions, The Creative Year and the Not For Sale Campaign Blog. All are, in my humble opinion, noteworthy.

CRCC [Cedar Ridge Community Church] Lenten Devotions is a short term blog that is running through the Lenten season [am I supposed to capitalize the word Lenten?]. Each day there is a new [surprise] devotion. I don't do them everyday [I wish I did] but I find the ones I do to be quite refreshing.

My good friend, Daniel started The Creative Year in January as an outlet for his excessive [and wonderful] creativity. Each day brings something fresh and new [and pleasing to mine eyes]. He has acquired quite a following and I am a little jealous [because, of course, I struggle with horrible bouts of jealousy], but he is so freaking talented that I cannot hold it against him [that and I think his wife, Amie, is the absolute Bee's Knees].

I just began following the Not For Sale Blog today. Mostly to stay abreast [what a wonderful word!]. Not For Sale is an organization you may have already heard me drone on about. David Batstone started it [and wrote a fabulous book that carries the same name]. Another noteworthy note: they are doing this thing called The Investigator Certification Academy this summer. It's two intensive weeks of training to become an abolitionist investigator. I REALLY REALLY want to go. I told J about it. He thinks I'm nuts. He's probably right. It costs, like, $1000. And it's in San Francisco. So I'm sure that number doesn't include airfare. Sigh. I'm praying. If you would pray, too, that would be lovely. If this is something God wants me to do, then pray that he meets the financial need to make it happen. If it's not, then pray that he channels the abolitionist passion he's given me into something equally as wonderful.

Something else that caught my eye - a new article from Radiant Magazine. It's about the importance of sticking with your local congregation. I am just about to leave a church that I have called home for the past three years. I wholeheartedly think it's a good God thing for us to leave. But, this article raises some uncomfortable questions and I love to be uncomfortable. This situation is a bit personal and still a little raw so I don't feel that it's appropriate to discuss it at length on this blog, but if you know me and the situation and want to dive into a theological discussion from questions raised from the article, then, you know, get at me, dawg.

I have a few other wonderful bloggerific friends on my "Blogs I Love" section. But they haven't updated their blogs in a while so I will silently pout and hope that they get the message [ahem: ANDREA, MEGHAN & JESS]. I mean, I know you guys are insanely busy, but, I don't care - I LOVE READING YOUR BLOGS!

Okay. That's quite enough type yelling for one blog. And I've been at this computer station so long that the librarians are starting to glare at me a little.

Happy Thursday!